The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

ra placed in a situation which afforded an opportunity that could scarcely be resisted. must make all povsible allowances for him, if his firmness did rapidly ebb away. For there he was— encircled in the warm and tender embrace of an amorous woman, who was strikingly handsome,—a woman who, although in the meridian of her life, nevertheless appeared several years younger, inas- much as care and attention had wonderfully pre- served her charms,—a woman, therefore, who pos- sessed ali the attractions of a young girl, combined with the dangerous fascinations of an accomplished syren. Alas! we must confess that Florimel was on the point of surrendering-—was on the very verge of suffering himself to be seduced by that artful and voluptuous creature, as if he were the coy young woman and she was the experienced man of mature age,—yes, he was about to yield to the opportunity, the place, and the temptation,—when his good eenius interposed, Or was it for thy sweet sake, O innocent and beauteous Pauline! that some pro- pitious power manifested its saving influence at that moment when the vows pledged to thee were on the point of being lost in perjury ? We know not: suffice it to say that at the instant when Mrs. Brace was about to triumph and Lord Florimel to succumb, a hasty knock was heard at the door of her chamber. The young nobleman burst from the arms of the milliner, who instantly threw herself back upon the pillows, drawing her vesture over her palpi- tating bosom: then, in a voice as composed and collected as she could render if, she exclaimed, * Come in!” Harriet, the lady’s-maid, entered the room bear- ing a letter. “JT shall now say farewell,” cried Lord Florime’, inwardly rejoicing at this providential interruption: for a sudden revulsion of feeling had zeyiyed all his good resolutions ina moment. I see that you —— have business to attend to, my dear friend,’ he added: then, having pressed her hand, he hurried | away, regardless of the look which she cast to im- | plore him to remain. “From whom does this note come ?* demanded the disappointed and enraged milliner, scarcely able to subdue an inclination to wreak her spite and annoyance upon the abigail. “A young woman, dressed in widow’s weeds, brought it, ma'am,” was the answer. “I should not have intruded until you were disengaged, but that she said the letter was of the utmost importance to you as well as to others.” “Strange!—whom can it be from 2” murmured Mrs. Brace. “Is the person waiting ?” “Yes, ma’am. But I’m inclined to think that there’s something strange about her—for the moment I opened the street-door, she rushed in and shut the door again of her own accord, just for all the world as if she was afraid of being seen coming here, or as if some one was watching her outside.” “ Wait an instant,” said Mrs. Brace, a vague mis- giving seizing her: for, as she turned the soiled and ill-folded letter over in her hand, she could not help associating it in some way or another with her hus- band, the Magsman. At length mustering up courage to open it, she saw that the contents were written in a scrawling female hand, as was also the address outside; and, And the reader fmE MYSTERIES. with a sinking of the heart and a changing counte- nance, she perused the following lines :— * Wapam,— Fearful that when you hear a stranger wanted to speak to you at this early hour, you might send down a message to Say you was engaged, or some- thing of that sort, I take the liberty of sending you this note while I wait for your answer. I want you to see me at once and without delay ; because I’ve something of the greatest importance to tell you about Joe Warren, and something or another that you must do, since he is in trouble and I’m unable to help him as Icould wish. Soif you want to avoid bother and exposure and all that, you'll be so good as to see me in private at once; and if not, I shall know what to think and how to act. ButI mean no offence, only to let you see that I'm firm. * Your humble servant, ** ELIZABETH MARKS.” Harriet, the lady’s-maid, saw that her mistress changed colour and grew considerably agitated as she read the note: for indeed Mrs. Brace was utterly unable to conceal, much less subdue, the painful emotions which its contents exeited in her bosom. “ You may conduct the woman hither,” she said, in a low and hoarse tone. The abigail withdrew; and the milliner instantly rose, slipped on her dressing-gown, and seated her- self in a chair near the toilette-table to await the coming of this most unwelcome visitress, The colour had completely fled from her cheeks, which, though retaining all their natural plumpness, were now ghastly in appearance: for the voluptuous thoughts and libidinous ideas which so recently filled her bosom, giving animation to her fine countenance, had been suddenly dispersed, like chaff upon the whirlwind, by the incident that had broken in on her guilty pleasures, Presently the door opened; and a young woman in widow’s weeds was introduced by Harriet, who immediately retired, leaving her mistress alone with the stranger. *« Sit down,” said the milliner, in a suffocating tone, as she pointed tg a chair; * and now tell me what has ocecurred—who you are—and what you require of me.” ‘Tn the first place, ma’am,” said the Gallows’ Widow—foy she it was,—“ Joseph Warren was ar- rested last night—and he’s in prisonnow. Secondly, —— I suppose there’s no offence in my telling you that | I’m his very particular friend——” “J understand you, young woman, claimed Mrs. Brace. “ Thirdly, then, | want you to doa certain some- thing which I can’t explain in a moment, and which will help him to get out of gaol as comfortable as possible,” added the Gallows’ Widow: “ or else he'll be hung, to a certainty.” The milliner shuddered—not so much at the idea of the probable fate of the Magsman, but at the thought that she should have the misfortune to be so closely linked to such a wretch. “Ah! you may well be shocked, ma’am,” observed the Gallows’ Widow, on whom the tremor which thus convulsed the entire frame of Mrs. Brace was not lost: “ it would indeed be an awful thing for you to know that your own husband was hung up like a dog.” ‘“ Spare your comments, young woman,” said the milliner, in a stifling voice. “I see that you know all—everything ?” she added, fixing a searching look upon her. “ Yes: all—everything,’ responded the Gallows’ Go on !” ex- sd a COM EloOOKS. COR