The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XII. { THE APPOINTMENT. , Ir is necessary to inform the reader who may be unacquainted with London, that St. James's Square is immediately behind Pall Mall West, and that the backs of the houses in the former are contiguous ' with the backs of those in the latter. The dwelling of Mrs. Brace, the celebrated milli- ner, was in Pall Mall: bat she likewise tenanted the house immediately behind it, and the front of which accorilingly looked into St. James’s Square. The one in Pall Mall had the shop, show-rooms, and tuilette-chambers usual in a large and fashionable millinery establishment: the other, in the Square, had all the appearance of a handsome private re- sidence. Between these two houses there was a means of communication; aud as Mrs. Brace’s abode was a place of assignation for the voluptuaries and demi- reps of the West End, nothing could possibly be more convenient for the‘ purpose—the lady entering by the shop in Pall Mall, and the gentleman by the door in St. James's Square. Mrs. Brace now a lady of about forty years of age; and though her charms had expanded into a ,| maturity even more voluptavus than the fulness of embonpoint, she nevertheless might still be pro- neunced a very fine womaao. Her features were mas- culine, large, and expressive of a sensual disposition; but their outline was handsome—and a splendid set of well-preserved teeth, a fine pair of dark eyes, and black hair which Timo had left unmarred by a single streak of grey, gave her a certain air of beauty which failed not to find admirers. She was always dressed with elegance—sometimes | with splendour also; but even in the magnificence | of her apparel, good taste was invariably recog- nised. Nothing could be more charming than the coquettish mourning cap, with flowing ribands, in which she appeared at the breakfast table: nothing more graceful than the wrapper which she wore en deshabillée until about eleven in | the forenoon. At that hour she would retire to ) her chamber, whence in the course of ten mi- : nutes she emerged in a morning-gown of the _ newest pattern; and her morocco slippers were exchanged for well-fitting shoes—for Mrs. Brace i was justly proud of a nicely shaped foot and ankle. | But it was at about three in the afternoon that this lady might be seen in the perfection of her toilette. | If it were summer time, she would appear ina mus- | lin dress of the most exquisite material, or in a light silk: but whichever it were, be well assured that its make and style were faultless. In winter she would wear either the richest satin or the most glossy velvet; and as her complexion was good—enhanced, perhaps, a little by means of . cesmetics—the dark hues of these dresses set her off to the greatest advantage. Instead of bedizen- ing herself with a profusion of jewellery, she dis- played but little about her person: nevertheless, the ear-pendants, the chain, and the one ring which she might wear in addition to the wedding.-riny, ' were certain to be chaste, elegant, and costly. | ‘Then her manners were so fascinating,—oblizing and affable, without sycophancyv—polite and re- ' spectful, without the slightest taint of cringing ser- | a ae —. - — Ee EO ie, ih — THE MYSTERIES. vility. All the young ladies in her establishment partook of their meals ata large table where she presided; aud the honours were done by her with as winning a courtesy and as strict a pro- priety as if she were entertaining a number of selcct guests instead of her own work-girls. And a bevy of beauteons creatures were they—upwards of a dozen in number, and forming a combination of charms as well as displaying a variety of loveliness enchanting to behold. But, alas! every one of these captivating beings had been sacrificed in her turn tosome stripling of the aristocracy or hoary voluptaary whose gold was deemed a sufficient price to purchase gems of female chastity. For upwards of fifteen years had Mrs. Brace been established in Pall Mall: what she was pre- viously to her appearance there, noone knew. She represented herself as a widow—and perhaps was : bat she never volunteered any explanation relative to the calling, profession, or business of her late husband. She had set up in business with a large capital, and was not only able to pay her own way without an effort, but likewise to give one—two—or even three years’ credit to her aristocratic cus- tomers. No one, therefore, took any trouble to fathom her antecedents ; and as her establishment was conducted with all the outward appearance of the strictest propriety, its real nature was known only toa very limited circle. Precisely at six o'clock in the evening, Octavia Clarendon alighted from a hackney-coach at the door of Mrs. Brace’s shop in Pall Mall; and on entering, ehe was immediately accosted by that lady herself, who had no trouble in recognising the lovely creature whose personal appearance had already been fully described to her. “ Be so kind as to walk this way, Miss,” said Mrs. Brace, with such a winning smile and such a pleas- ing manner that Octavia instantly recovered from the embarrassment into which she had been thrown on finding herself in a large shop, splendidly fitted up, and filled with beautiful girls whose brilliant eyes were all simultaneously raised towards her. Miss Clarendon followed the amiable and hand- some lady up a magnificent staircase, into a small but elegantly furnished room; and the moment she crossed the threshold, Mr. Harley, who was already there, came forward to receive her. The door closed behind Octavia, Mrs. Brace gliding noiselessly out as she drew it after her ;— and the young maiden was now alone with her lover. “How can I sufficiently thank you, charming girl, for proving thas mindful of your promise ?” exclaimed Harley, leading her to a sofa, and placing himself by her side. “Oh! I was fearful that you would disappoint me—I trembled lest something might occur to retain you at home !” “ Had I obeyed the dictates of prudence, I should not have come,” responded Octavia, casting down her eyes and blushing deeply : “ but——” “But inclination prompted you, dearest girl,” added Mr. Harley, perceiving that she stopped short with increasing embarrassment. “ Yes—tell me the truth—confess that you were not alto- gether displeased at the idea of seeing me n——” “ Were it otherwise than as you wish me to say, 1 should not be here now,” observed Octavia: then, as usudden thought struck her, she glanced has- “Gum eo =» — = SS = ere erence gear PS a ST TE cS a — ee a EE GCORNGRDOOKS COMM