The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 321: what you’re looking at

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816 TILE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. assisted her with as much kindliness of manner and good-tempered alacrity as if he were her brother, or already her son-in-law. In this manner the hours passed away until the time-picce struck nine, when Agnes descended to the breakfast which was now served up. A messenger was despatched to tho Misses Theobald to give them an assurance of the young maiden’s safety; and in the course of the day the mother and daughter, accompanied by Lord William, removed to the beautiful villa pre- pared for the ladies’ reception at Bayswater. Lord William remained with them until the’ evening, when he took his leare—but not without observing that pleasure beamed in the eyes of Agnes as ho intimated his intention of becomine a frequent visitor at tho villa. CHAPTER CLAXAILI. LAURA MORTIMER’S NEW INTRIGUES, Wer must now return to Laura Mortimer, whom wo left in Paris, and of whom we have lost sight for somo time. It was in the evening of the fourth day after the incidents recorded in the preceding chapter, that Laura was seated in her handsome drawing-room, wrapped up in decp meditation. Her thoughts were not, however, of a disagree- able naturo;—for ever and anon tho fire of triumph flashed from her fine eyes, and hor rich moist lips were wreathed into a smile. Sho held s book open in her hand; but her gaze was fixed upon the ceiling as sho lay, rather than sate, on tho voluptuous cushions of the purple volvet ottoman. The windows wero open, and a gentlo evening breeze, which had succeeded tho stifling heat of a Parisian summer-day, fanned her countenance and wantoned with the luxuriant ringlets that floated over her naked shoulders,— those shoulders so white, so plump, so exquisitely shaped! The perfumes of choice flowers and the odour of ravishing oriental scents rendered the atmosphere fragrant: gold and silver fish wore disporting in an immense crystal globe which stood upon a marblo table between the casements;—and two beautiful canaries were carolling in a superb cago suspended in one of those open windows. On the tablo near which Laura was placed, stood several crystal dishes containing tho finest fruit that the Parisian market could yield,—the luscious pino, the refreshing melon, strawberries of oxtra- ordinary sizo and exquisite flavour, cherries of the richest red, and mulberries of tho deepest purple. A bottle of champagne stood in a cooler filled with ice; and in the middle of the table was a superb nosegay of flowers. Tho entire appearance of the room and its ap- pointments was luxurious in the extreme,—comfort being combined with olegance, and the means of enjoymont distributed with taste ;—whilo she—the mistress of the place—the presiding genius of the scone—was pillowed voluptuously upon the im- mense relvet cushions. So complete was the aban- donment of her attitude, in her deep reverie, that she scemed ten hundred times more charming than when het artifice devised a thousand studied graces in order to effect a conquest and captivate a lover. fully formed, lay across her person as the hand held tho book, on which the oyes rested not, and against tho dark binding of which the taper fingers were set off in the dazzling purity of their complexion and the rosy tint of the almond-shaped nails: the other arm hung down negligently—not quite straight, but gontly rounded—the fingers of that hand playing mechanically with the ottoman’s golden fringe that swept the thick carpet. One of , her legs lay stretched completely upon the ottoman: tho other hung over the side, displaying the well- formed foot, the delicate ankle, and the robust swell of the calf. More voluptuously modelled than Venus, but with all the elegance attributed to the form of that fabled divinity,—handsome as Juno, without the stern imperiousness that charac- terised the queen of heaven,—and with that sub- dued nobility of domeanour which Diana, when out of sight of her attendant huntresses, might have . been supposed to wear,—Laura Mortimer united in her own person tho most fascinating of the charms belonging to the three principal goddesses of heathon worship. “But let us endeavour to ascertain the subject of her thoughts, as sho lay thus wrapped up in a deep reverie. ‘Fortune appears resolved to favour me, and I accept the auspicious omen with joy. The Marquis is in my power—is my slave—inextricably shackled by my silken chains! Jour short days have been sufficient to accomplish this victory. When first introduced to him in the Champs Elysees, I saw that he regarded mo with attention—nay, with admira- tion; and I that momont signalled him out as the man who is destined to place me in a proud position —to render me independent of Charles Hatfield’s hated father! The evening before last I met him for the second time: this was at the party given by my music-mastor. The nobleman was almost in- stantly by my side, as soon as I mado my appear- ance: and I know full well how to gain his favour. When handsome young men approached me, I re- ceived them coldly, and continued my discourse with the Marquis in a more animated and friendly style than before, I even hinted to him—or rather suffered him to belicve that it was a relief to escapo from the frivolities of tho average run of conversa- tion, in the indulgence of discourse on intellectual subjects. I saw that tho old man was flattered— that he thought highly of me: in a word, I secured his esteem as I had already acquired his admiration. Wesate noxt tocach other at supper; and ho lavished all his attentions upon mc—attentions which I ac- cepted with an air asif thoy came from a young and handsome gallant. Tho Marquis handed me to my carriage, and solicited permission to call. I signi- fiod an assent with an ingenuousness that could not possibly have soemed affected; and he squeezed my hand slightly as he bade me farewell. On the following afternoon he called: this was yesterday— and he remained a long time. Two hours passed— doubtless like two minutes tu him; and I was cor/ pletely triumphant. Never did I appear to such advantage: my glass told me that I was radiantly beautiful—and I could observo full well that my manner—myconrersation—and the delicate artifices I called to aid, wore pre-ominently successful. Tho old man was ready to fall upon his knees and ’ worship me: he was in that humour when he would have laid his whole fortuno at my feet. He ap- Ono of her naked arms, plump, white, and beauti- } peared to be longing to throw his arms around my EConnicloooks (CO)