The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

— —— eg A nS eeeerr—_eEeE__ee_ 50 THE MYSTERIES. “ Then you forgive me for any indiscretion that I may have committed by so silly an allusion to your late husband?” said Florimel, not altogether believ- ing the story of the sudden indisposition. ‘“ How- eyer, we will change the conversation,” he added, ob- serving that Mrs. Brace darted upon him a look so strange and sinister that it made him feel uneasy. “ Let us go back to the object of my visit. I was telling you, my dear friend, that for the last ten days or a fortnight I have not encountered a new face deserving a sigh or worthy of a tender emotion; and it struck me that you might have it in your power———” “T think that I can put you in the way of an ad- venture alike original] and agreeable,” observed Mrs. Brace, who had this time recovered her wonted equanimity and affabilify. “Indeed !” exclatmed Lord Florimel. “ Speak— I am dying to heay your explanations.” “ Have a little patience,” said the milliner, now again smiling sweetly; “ and you shall know every- thing is good time. A certain gay gentleman of m acquaintance has @stovered in a secluded wilderness with their presente.” “ Sisters, doubtless {”” gatively. “ Yes—and of a beauty eclipsmg all the brilliant charms that dazzIé the eye i the circle of fashion,” continued Nfrs. Brace ‘“Oné of these delightful creatures I have already seen—indeed, to speak can- didly, shé is at thts very moment beneath my ronf___? observed Florimel, interro- hi n¢ Ww tu to 0! c] FR tuary. | “ i have not seen her yet,” responded Mrs. Brace: “but I am assured that she is equal fd her sister— ship will have at length found an object on whom your affections will probably settle for a considerable period.”’ “You enchant me!” ejaculated Florimel. “When and where can I see this angel?” “ Permit me to give you a brief but necessary ex- planation,” said the milliner. “These sisters are the children of a poor but respectable and highly con- nected gentleman, whois at present away from home. Octavia, the elder, has already fallen into good hands; —Pauline, the younger, may belong to you. Oc- tavia of course believes that her lover intends to marry her: whereas I need scarcely inform you that nothing is farther from his intention. Last night he declared his affection—to-night she has met him in this house: you may therefore imagine that her heart is very susceptible of the tender passion. It is fair to presume that Pauline may be won with equal ease ;—and no one is better calculated to achieve such & conquest than yourself.” “J shall undertake it with all the ardour of a most impassioned wooer,” exclaimed Lord Florimel, “ Nay—I have thought of a scheme by which the Se Roe fortress may be surprised and the victory won with ease,’’ observed Mrs. Brace. ‘‘ Moreover, the adven- ture which I propose has in it something so roman- tic—so truly original—so piquant, to use a French expression—that [am certain beforehand of the de- light with which you will enter into it.” “My curiosity is even painfully excited,” cried the young voluptuary. “Do you not think that you would look well in female attire?” demanded Mrs. Brace, surveying him with an arch smile. “Oh! now I comprehend you, my dear friend !” exclaimed Florimel. “It will be delicious! A young lady—separated from her mother in a crowd—lost her way—late in the evening—dreadfully alarmed— implores an asylum for the night——” “Excellent!” cried Mrs. Brace. “Your lordship enters fully into the spirit of my meaning. And now that I have thus far gratified your curiosity, my dear Florrme!, you will perhaps grant me your patience -whilt I make a few very necessary observations in y |connexion with these charming sisters. I have , already told you that a certain gay gentleman, to two of the fairest ffowers fhat ever graced the earth | whose kind patronage I am as much indebted as to your own, has won the affections of Octavia, the elder: but as cogent reasons will prevent him from visiting her at her own abode when the father returns home, he is naturally desirous that she should con- sent to meet him here as frequently as it may suit his fancy to receive her. It would however be a difficult task for Octavia to remain long and often absent from home, without having the company ot her sister s—and I have therefore concluded that in order to secure the connivance of Pauline in Octavia’s love intrigues, it is absolntely necessary that Pauline herself should be léd into a similar adventure. The two sisters will then make conffdants of each other— and, by acting in concert, they will set the watchful- ness of the father at defiance.”’ “ Most admirably reasoned !” exclaimed Lord Florimel. “ Each sister being provided with a lover, they cannot reproach each other, but will mutually assist in the delightful intrigues! JE must therefore presume that Octavia’s gallant has already recom- ‘mended you to provide a lover for Pauline; and that ae ‘ you have honoured me with the preference.” and if this be the case, it strikes me that your lord- } “ Octavia’s admirer consulted me upon the subject just now, before his fair one arrived,” answered Mrs. Brace: “and he left it to my discretion to manage matters in such a way that his intrigue with the young lady should be enveloped in as much mystery and shrouded in as much security as possible.” “ Then I presume that he is a man of rank, and married to a jealous wife?” said Florimel. ‘‘ He is a man of rank, and shortly to be married,” responded Mrs. Brace. “But you know that I never mention to the gentlemen of my acquaintance any- thing that regards each other. ‘ Honour and secrecy’ —that is my motto, Florimel.” “Tam well aware how discreet you are on those points, my dear friend,” observed the young noble- man ; “and you will give me credit for a total absence of curiosity relative to the affairs of other people, Little does it matter to me who or what Octavia’s lover is, 80 long as I possess the charming Pauline. But you have not yet told me when I am to com- mence the pleasing adventure which so much suits my fancy.” “In all probability to-morrow evening,” answered Mrs. Brace. “I will however send you a line in the a ee a GOLAAL A ayey(0) Ss COMM