The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES 141 of tone and manoner which Eleanor could not avoid noticing, but which she affected 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 conversation, — 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 ber duty and her chastity,” was the prompt reply. “You will reveal that secret to ne———" “ Never I” 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 confi- 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 me !” ex- claimed the Prinoe, falling on his knees at her feet, and seizing one of her hands, which he pressed to his lips. Eleanor was so 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 never entertained a very high opinion of female virtue, preased 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: bat in another moment her virtue triumphed over the ardour of her nature—and, snatching back her hand, she exclaimed, * Your Royal Highness forgets who I am !” The dignity of this reproach—the tone in which i was uttered—and the manner with which it was accompanied, would have covered with confusion 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 now experienced. “Never will I rise from my knees, dearest lady,” he exclaimed, “until you declare that you have pardoned me fur the rudenese—nay, the insult which I offered you a few minutes ago. Tell me that I am forgiven !” “To retieve myself from the embarrassment of the present proceeding, I at once comply with the demand of your Royai Highness,” said the ' Countess, in a cold and dignified manner. “Let | 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 in the grasp of some hideous monster ?” ‘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 intellect as bright as your virtues are estimable,— such a being, I say, is 80 far above a poor miserable mortal like myself-—— “Surely your Royal Highnees must be delivering @ satire against me?” exclaimed the Countess, scarcely knowing whether to be offended or to laugh, as this pauegyric on herself, involving such an absurd contrast, was poured upon her ears. “T 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 scene. 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 flattery. 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 ali 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 Jamp on the table and the wax-candles 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 were exercising so powerful an influence over her; and therefore, in pursuance of this determination, she affected not to perceive the real drift of the Prince’s language. “Oh! wherefore do you treat as a jest that which is eo solemnly serious?’ demanded the heir-appa~ rent: and, placing his hand upon his heart, he ex- claimed 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- ir "9 Thus speaking, he threw his arms round Eleanor’s form and clasped her in a fervent embrace ere she could even recover from the surprise into which this sudden proceeding threw her ;—and in an instay:t his lips were pressed to her’s—and the licentious trans- ports which animated him were transfused, warm and impassioned, throughout her entire being. 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