The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XII THE APPOINTMENT Ir is necessary to inform the reader who may be un- acquainted with London, that St. James’s Square is 1m- mediately behind Pall Mall West, and that the backs of the houses in the former are contiguous with the backs of those in the latter. The dwelling of Mrs. Brace, the celebrated milliner, was in Pall Mall; but she likewise tenanted the house immedi- ately behind it, and the front of which accordingly looked into St. James’s Square. The one in Pall Mall had the shop, show-rooms, and toilet-chambers usual in a large and fashionable millinery establishment; the other, in the square, had all the appearance of a handsome private residence. Between these two houses was a means of communica- tion; and as Mrs. Brace’s abode was a place of assignation for the voluptuaries and demireps of the West End, nothing could possibly be more convenient for the purpose, — the lady entering by the shop in Pall Mall, and the gentleman by the door in St. James’s Square. Mrs. Brace was now a lady of about forty years of age; and though her charms had expanded into a maturity even more voluptuous than the fulness of embonpoint, she nevertheless might still be pronounced a very fine woman. Her features were masculine, large, and expressive of a sensual disposition; but their outline was handsome, and a splendid set of well-preserved teeth, a fine pair of dark eyes, and black hair which time had left unmarred by a single streak of gray, gave her a certain air of beauty which failed not to find admirers. She was always dressed with elegance -— sometimes 110 COMME NCO KS (Elo) m