The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

3 THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. was alone with the beauteous occupant of the apart- ment, and that the door had been closed behind him. For an instant a vague and unknown terror seized upon him: the very mystery of the whole occurrence struck him as ominous and even more than strange --he dreaded some snare, some treachery—and he trembled with bewilderment and doubt. But as his eyes were again turned upon the lady, and as they sested—or rather, were rivetted upon that lovey countenance still glowing with a warm blush, and that form the luxuriant charms of which were dis- played so unreservedly and yet without the positive indelicacy that shocks rather than intoxicates the eenses,—moreover, as he now met a gaze that, in- stead of being softly wanton, was all vibrating with desire,—the magic of that beauty and the fire of those giances thrilled like an electric influence through every vein and pierced to his very heart's core. “ Adorable being, who art thou” he cried, now obeyiny only the maddening impulse of his feel- ings: and he advanced towards her. She roee from the sofa and made him a salutation 80 ull of witching grace that it heightened his emo- tions to a positive delirium of pleasure: and now that he beheld her close, and saw that all the charms which had ravished him at a distance lost nothing of their glowing loveliness by this near contemplation, —when his eye swept over the flowing outlines and rounded contours of that form which, though not above the middle height, was eultana-like in ite im- posing as well as dazzling beanty,—he was so ravished, so enchanted, so overpowered, that he felt as if he were in the presence of a being that was something more than mortal. Resuming her seat upon the sofa, she invited him with a winning gesture and a delicious smile to place Simself by her side: then fixing her magnificent eyes -pon him, she said in a voice that was soft, timid, and tremulous in its sou!-enchanting melody, “ Your Royal Highness has asked me who I am: but this is a secret which I dare not reveal ?” “ That so divine a creature cannot possibly be con- mected with a gang of veritable desperadoes, I am well assured,” returned the Prince: “ and therefore I am ata loss to conceive who or what tae men could be that brought me hither.” * Pardon the outrage, sir,” exclaimed the lady, in an imploring voice aad with looks ‘of the tenderest entreaty. “Y can pardon anything for your sake,” was the response, as his Royal Highness fixed gloating looks upon his fair companion’s person. “ Bat wherefore was such a course adopted in order to introduce me to your presence?” The lady threw a glance full of passion and fervid with desire upon the countenance of the enraptured Prince: then, casting down her eyes, while a deep blush suffused her cheeks and spread over her neck, che murmured in a low volee, “‘ Because I love yon !” “© adorable woman!” he exclaimed, with an almost frenzied impetuosity, as he flung his arms around her and strained that warm, glowing, palpi- tating form to his breast with passionate ardour. And, as if taken with complete surprise by the ‘uddenness of the action on his part, she offered no ostantaneous resistance, but abandoned herself as it were for a few moments to the embrace in which she was thus enfolded and to the burning kisses which be Regent imprinted upon her lips and cheeks: then prarently recovering all her self-posseasian-—and rere EoEoooEEeEeEeEeEeeeEee—————eee—e starting as if a sudden thought flashed through her brain to enlighten her upon the danger ef ber posi- tion—ehe disengaged herself from his arms and sank palpitating with excitement upon the farther extre- mity of the sofa. But that contact with the beautecus creature,—the sensation which seemed as if the impress of her per son remained upon his arms as the image of ber loveliness was stamped upon his soul,—excited fhe passions of the Prince to a frenzied point: and be sate gaking upon her with devouring lookse—longing to rush forward and snatch her to his breast once more—but fearing to offend by too great a precipite- tion. “You said that you loved me? he observed at length. “ And I spoke truly, great Prince !” she replied, now seeming partially to recover herself: Out still the rapid swelling aud sinking of her bosom was visible through the gossamer drapery. “ Listen to me fora short time :—and then—and then——”" “You will be mine?—all mine” éxclaimed she Prince, with the burried tone and impatient look of a fervid suspense, in which rapturous hope nevertheless predominated. “ Yes—all thinc,” was the response given murmur- ingly, and with cowncast eyes and glowing cheeks. “Then speak, lady—speak !” cricd thc Prince: “but for heaven's sake let not the preface to my per fect bliss be unnecessarily prolonged !" “TI said that I loved your Royal Highness,” reenmed the lady, in a voice which although low as t:: mor muring of a silver stream, was tremulously clear as the flow of that rivulet in its pebbly bed ;—“and I said truly! Descended from an English father and a Persian mother, my intelligence, my habits, and my language are those of your cold northern clime: but my soul burns with the impassioned and enthusiastic fervour that animates the breasts of those who arr born in the far-off orient.” “Charming and mysterious creature!” exclit nee the Prince, gazing on her with an increasing rapture. “The love that I bear for you,” she continued, , in that same melting tone which was fall of z rain | tive harmony, indescribably sweet and profo-, Ils touching, ‘was engendered in my bosom by the *s:-ne of your admirable qualities. I heard that vow :nan ners were polished to a degree of refinement s+: cos attained by the most finished gentlemen,—ths‘ your ' mind was well stored with all valuable knowletgc,— that your conversation was fraught with irresistible attractions,—and that you were capable of displaying a winning tenderness, the power of which no wonan could feel with impunity. In a word, while eqjourning in the east, such rumoars and reports reached me ccu- cerning you, that I sent to England to procure your portrait: and—of that portrait [ became enamoured !* she added, with a bashful hesitation which rendered her voice still more touchingly tremulous and called up a fresh blush to her damask cheeks. “Oh! if thia be all truc,” exclaimed the Princa “the adventure is imbued with a tinge of romance which renders it indescribably enchanting ” “True!” she ejaculated, raising her superb eyes and bending them reproachfally upon him: “Oh! can you suppose that I am capable of deceiving you? Have I journeyed from the east which I love eo well, to this cold clime of yours, mercly to be received with distrust and experience a chilling suse GORMGOOOKXS f ” tf COMM