The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 268: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES. 253 and in her eyes there was an expression of intense anxiety mingling with the fires of burning—scorch- ing —devouring passion. Was it that she knew she was doing wrong, but that she could not wrestle against the fury of her desires ?—did she experience, at the bottom of her soul, a regret that she had gone thus far ?—would she have retreated and repented even yet, if it were possible to overcome these sensual longings which consumed and devoured her? We know not—and we have not leisure now to analyse the feelings of the Countess of Desborough : for, hark—a footstep in the passage reaches her ear——Oh! how audibly her heart beats—how tumultuously her bosom heaves!—the door opens— and Ramsey appears! Scarcely can he restrain his impatience sutfi- ciently to spare a moment to lock the door: an- other instant—and he is clasped in the arms of the Countess. “Dearest, dearest Eleanor!” he exclaims, as he ‘enfolds that warm, yielding, and lovely form in an embrace rendered almost frantic by the maddening influence of desire. “Dearest, dearest Gustavus !” she murmurs, straining him to her heaving bosom. And if hell’s flames were immediately to follow the consummation of her frailty, she would not resign these few moments of elysium to save herself from that eternity of pain. Forgotten is her husband — forgotten is every sense of duty—forgotten is all the world beyond the four walls of this chamber of love and volup- tuousness : she abandons herself to that delirium of bliss in which her enraptured soul now floats—she flings herself headlong into the whirlpool of passion —she yields herself up to the intoxication of a full and overflowing sensuality. It seemed as if the gates of paradise were open- ing to her comprehension for the first time; and Ramsey understood, without being told in words, the nature of that secret which Eleanor had pro- mised to reveal to him, anc the knowledge of which instantly accounted for all that had hitherto ap- peared so extraordinary and mysterious between herself and her husband. a CHAPTER LXXII. FRESH SCHEMES AND PLOTS. Lravine the Countess of Desborough and the re- suscitated to enjoy the delights of love in each Other’s arms, we must go back three or four hours and request our readers to accompany us, at about half-past eight o’clock on that Sunday evening, to the dwelling of Mrs. Brace in Pall Mall. It will be remembered that this delectable lady had invited Lord Florimel to sup with her on the Sabbath now so particularly referred to—and she had promised that Camilla Morton should be pre- sent. Since the previous Monday evening, when the invitation was given, Mrs. Brace had not heard from the young nobleman; and she therefore con- cluded that he meant to honour her with his com- pany. Due arrangements were accordingly made for the select banquet ;—and Camilla, experiencing not the remotest suspicion of Mrs. Brace’s treach- erous intentions, had suffered herself to be per- _—_——_.— suaded to keep her mistress company in entertain- ing the noble guest. It is true that the young girl would in reality have preferred the privacy of her own chamber: but this feeling on her part was solely on account of the recent loss of her parents, and not through any misgiving with respect to the integrity of the milliner: on the contrary, in the artlessness and innocence of her soul, she had fancied that it was from motives of delicacy that Mrs. Brace had invited her, as she might have chosen any other of her young ladies, to be present on an occasion when she was to receive a male guest. The preparations for the little banquet, then, were in progress: the cook was busy in the kitchen —Mrs. Brace, elegantly dressed, was already seated in her parlour—and Camilla was arranging her toilette in her own chamber,—when, at half-past eight, a letter was delivered at the house by one of Lord Florimel’s footmen. Mrs. Brace opened it hurriedly, and read the following words :— “T regret, my dear friend, to occasion you any dis- appointment: but it is totally impossible for me to par. take of your hospitality this evening. Nor do I think it likely that I shall ever be enabled to visit you again. For I have this day succeeded in making my peace with the charming and well-beloved Pauline: nay, more—I have demanded her in marriage of her father, who at once accepted my proposal. ‘Now, look you, my dear friend—understand—and be reasonable. It suits me to throw off my bad habits and to enter on a more steady career. This I am resolved to do—and nothing shall deter me from my purpose. Be so kind, then, as to throw no more temptations in my Wway—to send no more young ladies to my house with letters —indeed, to forget that I was ever a patronor client of yours. Your friend I will with pleasure re. main—that is, to render you a service whenever I may do so with honour to myself; but in any case, our future correspondence must be through the post. Now, do not think that Iam angry with you: itis no suchthing. I have not turned saint—but am merely reformed in that point of conduct which did indeed most deplorably lack amendment. Ido not intend to cut you—nor yet to act ungratefully towards you; because I have received many kindnesses at your hands. ButIam going to be steady —and that declaration explains everything. “Rest assured, my dear friend, that you have no well- wisher more sincere than myself. As a proof of my good feeling I will give you a hint which may not be un- serviceable: but I rely on your honour to keep the mat- ter entirely to yourself, It is this:—The plot in which poor Octavia Clarendon is the heroine, thickens rapidly. My beloved Pauline is not idle on behalf of her sister; and of course I cannot stay her wvroceedings, evenif I felt inclined. In less than forty-eight hours she will have cleared up all doubt respecting the identity of Octavia’s lover ! “ Again I implore you to retain these hints a profound secret, at least so far as my name is concerned. But be assured that there is a storm brewing—and you will do well to adopt some measure to screen yourself. “FLORIMEL.” The letter fell from Mrs. Brace’s hand—and at the same instant the Prince of Wales was ushered into the room by Harriet. The lady’s-maid retired immediately, closing the door behind her;and his Royal Highness advanced towards Mrs. Brace, who had risen from her seat on his entrance. But the moment he obtained a nearer view of her countenance, he was struck by the expression of trouble and annoyance which it wore; and, seizing both her hands, he exclaimed, NO — (CONAN) [|CC 6)(0)©) cS. (Cl QO)