The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 224: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THI BITSTERIES OF LONDON. ——— = er . , . ra o —— | i AT i i ili! i i tt a | t i i MM Ih a a i i, t 4 | i! ry rn li Me sh hf if ty me all a i 5 So = ~ il Wt bt if | ' iif. ii a ‘| | " a a { ca i inf Hy He HIN Z A ii h if Ve wr, ee < yy es i 4 i AL HY i i" A ui Mt | Bist oA HN Hi AN ~ ua ght SNe SSS =o, WY i } ry ‘ iy = “ ey’ qx’ ee 141 LAURA IN PARIS. Wr must now return for a short time to the beautiful, but licentious and profligate Laura, whom we left in Paris, Although shoe reckonod materially upon her mother’s ae in respect to her new designs, she nevertheless resolved to enjoy herself during the old woman’s absenco; and the thought even struck her that it was possible—though not very probable— for her to form some brilliant connexion without the assistance of her parent. At all ovents, sho reasoned that thero was no harm in making the trial; and therefore, the moment Mrs, Mortimer had taken her departure for England, Laura com- menced her preparations for pleasuro, and perhaps for intrigue. She hired a private box at each of tho principal thoatres, and purchased a handsome carriage anda pair of beautiful horses; and then she engaged a celebrated artist to paint her portrait, well know- ing that his studio was frequented by men of rank and fortune, and calculating that a view of the splendid countenance on the canyass would inspire No 80* —Mvererres oF LONDON, Se ———— SS = ae ay Allie ; aT a : \ i 4) “ 7 Cd t i a ~ ia a = i 1 wf ¢ ‘ v : ‘ ‘ aN : Wa : Ss BS a ” , 8 fa ne ‘ j 4 ; ii , Z - o o ¢ Cf ‘ ‘ g z ’ i AS TSS ( ry r - a : : a SAS AES ; os IN N ‘ . \ ) t ‘ _ é , . \ 1 Ls = BA we . 2 ‘4 — , « ea Py ‘ , a fa . \s "= r, ¢ e Le o' ‘ < « s ce > — as i \ | = = he = - ~~ ae Se ee Ss 1 a Se ee - 3" — we ae eee ee - —_ ~ CHAPTER CUXII, eS —e at a == a: ii a il i en ‘| ht He ===> —— ps ie ! Sees Te ‘ al Tey fi ii ts “i ah 4 | i i Ns 7 M Mi i ; it mh iis ia ii t ve MN i a (i ee ” gl ia ty uli h f by i | | 1 ? nih A ul hb) a ii ie (it NX a iN AN - . \\ \ hy ay sah se i A\ \% ‘ ae a Bn A my {i I ! ot E Me MW i " | Ik Mh it ili ih oo { wht seb lL ts Cs WN tho liveliest curiosity to behold tho living original, Sho likewise secured the services of an eminent musician to give her lessons in the divino art; and this gentleman, believing her to be highly respect- able, introduced her to his wife, and invited her to a musical soirée, where her beauty and tho report which had been sprend to tho effect that she was an heiress who had just succeeded to her property, rendered her tho centre of attraction. By tho ineans just enumerated, Laura gained one grand object—an entrance into respectable society ; nd this difficult point was accomplished in less than four days niter her inother’s departure from Paris. She soon bogan 10 be talked about—but not with suspicion. No—it was her transcendent benus: that became tle theme of discourse: and the ad- miration with which she had inspired both the French and English gentlemen at the soirée, ren- dered thom s0 enthusiastic in her praise, that they unconsciously suffered themselves to be hurried into assertions guarantecing her respectability and vir- tue, as well as expatiating on her charms. Thus was it, for instance, that one of her Freno} admirers would speak :— (C(O) DOO SS (SO)