The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 348: what you’re looking at

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

314 THE COURT OF LONDON o’clock in the morning when I was precipitated, as it were, into the midst of that romantic adventure, as a man may be suddenly hurled from a rock to be received upon a bed of roses in the abyss beneath. Well, our ride to the unknown dwelling did not occupy more than twenty minutes, at the outside; and therefore by half-past two I was comfortably located in the voluptuous but dark boudoir. For about four hours did I there enjoy the companionship of the mysterious genius of the place. Oh, those four hours of intoxicating passion and Elysian ecstasy! Often and often have I since asked myself whether it was a delicious dream or a bewilder- ing reality. And that it was the latter I am well assured: for who that had experienced the raptures which it was my blessed fortune to enjoy could possibly attribute them to a delusion? No, the thrilling ecstasy of those devouring kisses which were lavished upon me, the delicious contact of that full and voluptuous form which, naked and palpitating with the frenzied desires of a bacchanal, I clasped in my arms, the burning moments of pleasure which I tasted in the embrace of that woman who imparted all the electricity of her own maddening passions to the soul of her lover, oh, these were not the fantasies of a vision, but the never-to- be-forgotten experiences of such a night of love and mystery and voluptuousness as only occurs once in the lifetime of a man.” 3 ‘“‘ T would give ten years of my own existence to have been the hero of this adventure,” said Lord Montgomery, survey- ing his friend with the most unfeigned envy. ‘‘ But let me hear the result, for I see that you have more yet to tell me.”’ ‘“‘ Indeed, the narrative is nearly brought to a close,”’ returned Lord Florimel; ‘‘ for at the expiration of the four hours, which glided away as if they were only as many minutes — ”’ | “But how could you tell what time it was?’ demanded Montgomery. ‘‘ Because a clock, apparently belonging to some adjacent church or chapel, chimed the half-hour,” said Florimel, in explanation; ‘‘ and then my fair companion murmured, in a plaintive voice, that it was half-past six and that we must separate. Literally tearing myself from her arms, I rose and put on my apparel in the dark, while she herself like- wise resumed her clothing in a hurried manner. She then CORnICLOO© (C(O)