At last, the chemise flew over her head, and Lady Flashington remained almost naked, shivering with fright and horror, in the arms of a lustful valet, who was exploring every corner of her charms without his master thinking of stopping him. He pulled off her shoes, then her pearl-grey silk stockings, and when the noble lady was as naked as when she was born, and scarlet with shame, and almost dead with fright, John laid her across his knees, the backside uppermost, and with his muscular hand reddened the white globes, which jumped furiously at every fresh blow.

The...