The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 354: what you’re looking at

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320 THE COURT OF LONDON to restrain his vexation; and once more he caught the eyes of Rao fixed upon him with a significancy which he could not, however, fathom. But the next moment the boy glided away with the dom- ino; and Montgomery rose to take his leave. ‘By the bye, have you seen our buxom and agreeable friend, Mrs. Brace, lately? ’’ inquired Lord Florimel. ‘‘ Not very long ago,’ answered Montgomery. “ Indeed, to tell you the candid truth, I passed the night in her so- ciety.” ‘In her arms, you mean,” said Florimel, laughing. “T do not deny the soft imputation,’ rejoined Mont- gomery. “ But I do not think that she will ever again be honoured with my company in the same manner.” “And why so?” demanded Florimel. “ Have you grown weary of her ¢ée-d-téte suppers and buxom charms? ”’ ‘“ Not exactly,’ responded Montgomery. “ But a little incident happened on the last occasion, rather a disagreeable occurrence, indeed, in some respects— However, I must not reveal the secrets of a gallant woman,” he exclaimed, hastily interrupting himself. ‘‘ So farewell, my dear friend.” ‘“‘ Farewell,” said the young nobleman. Lord Montgomery took his departure; but as he was passing through the hall of Florimel’s mansion, he observed the sable page Rao standing in a windowrecess, and evidently watching him with an interest more profound and definite than that of mere curiosity. But two or three liveried lackeys were lounging about in the place, and a footman was ceremoniously preceding Lord Montgomery toward the front door, which the hall-porter had already opened; and therefore the earl was more than half-inclined to disobey a sudden impulse which now prompted him to address the boy. But still perceiving that Rao’s eyes were following him with a strange significancy, he could no longer resist the secret and almost mysterious influence which urged him to address the lad. He accordingly stepped up to him, and said, in a laughing manner, “ Well, Rao, have you burned the domino? ”’ | The boy’s large black eyes swept rapidly around the hall, for the evident purpose of ascertaining whether any of the domestics might be within ear-shot; and satisfied with the COMmicooolks CO