The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

174 THE COURT OF LONDON seat which they had previously occupied at the other end of the room. ‘‘ And now, my Pauline,” said Lord Florimel, ‘ will you explain to me all that is still bewildering and mysterious to me, relative to the blue domino? ”’ ‘‘ Read this letter,’’ observed the younger Miss Clarendon, producing the document from a desk which stood upon a table close by, “‘ and you will then judge what my feelings must. have been.”’ ‘ Ah! itis as I thought,” ejaculated the nobleman, instan- taneously recognizing the handwriting of Caroline Walters. He then ran his eyes hastily over the contents of the letter, which has already been given in our narrative, but which we shall reproduce in this place, as the precise terms in which it was worded may have escaped the memory of the reader: ‘Lord Florimel is unfaithful to you. While affecting a complete reformation in his conduct, his private life is as profligate as ever; but his intrigues are carried on with a greater circumspection. To-morrow night he will be present at a masquerade at Covent Garden Theatre, disguised in a blue domino edged with a peculiar braiding and having a star of the same material on the top or crown of the hood. The object of his visit to that scene is a new love intrigue; and you may convince yourself with your own eyes that such is the fact. The writer of this note is animated by no other desire than a sincere wish to prevent so much virtue, generous confidence, amiability, and candour being sacrificed to such profound hypocrisy, such foul deceit, and such unpardonable treachery; for by all those virtues are you characterized, and by all these faults is Lord Florimel distinguished. -“¢ Well aware that you are so utterly unacquainted with all the arts of London dissipation as to be ignorant even how to proceed in order to procure at so short a notice a suitable disguise for the purpose which this letter naturally suggests, the writer has made the necessary arrangements at a respect- able fancy dress warehouse in London (the card of which is enclosed). The mistress of the establishment will have a chamber prepared for you to perform your toilet in the strictest privacy, and you can proceed thence in a hackney- coach to the theatre, which is at no great distance from the warehouse. Gomichdoo cS m