The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 152: what you’re looking at

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| tone and manner which Eleanor could not avoid , but which she effected not to perceive. * There is one point, however, which you must clear up, beauteous lady,” he continued, after a few moments’ pause : “and we will then change the oonvergation, — nay, more we will consign the topic to oblivion, at least so far as words are con- cerned.” - “ And that point?” said the Countess, interro- y: . “ The name of the individual in whose arms my sister forgot her duty and her chastity,” was the prompt reply. “You will reygal that secret to me——” “ Never !° ejaculated Eleanor, in a determined tone. “Your Royal Highness must indeed enter- tain a despicable opinion of me, to imagine even for an instant that I should betray the illustrious Princess who has honoured me with her conf- dence, and whose friendship I enjoy.” - And the magnificent eyes of the lady flashed forth the fires of indignation and wounded pride. “Pardon me, lovely Countess—pardon mg !” ex- claimed the Prince, falling on his knees at her feet, and seizing one of her hands, which he pressed to his Nps. Eleanor was 80 amazed and bewildered by this sudden action on his part, that she had not presence of mind sufficient to enable her immediately to withdraw her hand; and the royal voluptuary, who mever entertained a very high opinion of female virtue, pressed that fair hand all the more warmly to his lips, with the idea that it was now voluntarily abandoned to him. For an instant living lightning seemed to circu- late with thrilling transport through the veins of the lady—and an ineffable sensation of bliss seized upon her: but in another moment her virtue triumphed over the ardour of her nature—and, enatching back her hand, she exclaimed, “ Your Royal Highness forgets who I am !” The dignity of this reproach—the tone in which it was uttered—and the manner with which it was accompanied, would have covered with confasiun and shame any other libertine than the Prince of Wales. But being accustomed to an almost un- precedented success amongst women, and setting little value upon the first display of resistance to his will, he was unabashed by the reproof which he aow experienced. . “Never will I rise from my knees, dearest lady,” he exclaimed, “until you declare that you | were have pardoned me fur the rndeness—nay, $he insult which I offered you a few minutes ago. Tell me that I am forgiven “To relieve myself from the embarrassment of the present proceeding, I at once comply with the demand of your Royal Highness,” said the Countess, in a cold and dignified manner. the past—so far as it in any way regards the late painful subject of our discourse-—be buried in com- plete oblivion.” “ A thousand thanks for this kind proposal !’’ ex- claimed the Prince, rising from his knees, and resum- ing his seat upon the sofa. “ But how was .it, charming lady, that you’appeared to be offended by the slight-compliment which I ere now paid to your beauty and your amiability !—wherefore did you withdraw your hand as if it were ia the grasp of some hideous monster {” “ Let | claimed 141 “Rather let me inquire wherefore your Royal Highness should imagine that I could Have acted otherwise than as I did?” asked the Countess, some- what moved by the melting tone in which he spoke and by the tenderness of his manner. “I must confess that I am utterly unworthy of any mark of favour at the hands of your ladyship,” said the Prince. “A being so radiant in beauty as yourself—enjoying a reputation which is like the spotless mirror whence the breath breathed on its pure surface passes rapidly away—endowed with an inteltect as bright as your virtues are eatimable,— such a being, I say, is eo far above a poor miserable mortal like myself———” “Surely your Royal Highness must be delivering a satire Sgainst me!” exclaimed the Countest, scarcely knowing whether to be offtnded or to laugh, as this panegyric on herself, involving such an absurd contrast, was poured upon her ears. “I never was more in_ earnest in my life!” cried the Prince, in an impassioned tone. “I have ob- served you at the Court—I have seen your lovely | form moving in the mazes of the dance—and I now behold you by the domestic hearth ;—and you ap- pear more beauteous in my eyes, in that compa- ratively simple dress than when the diamonds on your brow glisten amidst the blazing lamps of fashion’s busy scena. Think not that I am paying you an idle compliment—fancy not that I am offer- ing up to you the incense of a passing . No —on my soul, sweet Countess, I could again fal] at your feet—I could worship you—only that I fear you would repulse my adoration with scorn and over- whelm me with reproaches.” “ And you dare not venture to encounter this ter- rible wrath ?” said the Countess, smiling, while the warm blood rushed to her cheeks—for all the fires of her ardent nature were kindled rapidly by the burn- ing and impassioned looks which the Prince fixed upon her. “ Ah} then you could not be cruel towards me !” he exclaimed, devouring with those looks the charms which shone so resplendently in the mellowed lustre shed by the lamp on the table and the wax-candies on the mantel : for lights were already burning in the room when his visit was announced. “ Believe me, your Royal Highness, that I am taking all you say as a series of very pretty compli- ments, for which, as in duty bound, I tender you my most grateful thanks,” said Eleanor, resolved to ‘wrestle against the ardour of those passions which exercising so powerful an influenee over her; and therefore,” in pursuance of this ahe affected not to perceive the real drift of the Prince’s language. “Oh! wherefore do you treat as a jest that which is so solemaly serious ?’’ demanded the heir-appa- rent: and, placing his hand upon his heart, he ex- in a tone of enthusiasm, “By heaven divine creature, I love you—and. if you scorn this avowal of my passion, you will plunge me into de- | . spair !” . Thus speaking, he threw his arms round Eleanor’s form and clasped her in a fervemt embrace ere she could even‘ recover from the surprise into which this sudden threw her ;—and in an instant his lips were pressed to her’e—and the delicious trans- ports which animated him were transfused, warm and impassioned, throughout her entire being. For a few moments she yisided to the profound sense of enjoy- COMIC OOO SS co