The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

~ THE VIRGIN AND THE VOLUPTUARY 181 losing its expression of alarm, assumed a sovereign dignity alike interesting and imposing, she said, ‘‘ Whoever you may be, I command you to leave me this moment.” ‘Sooner than thus quit you, sooner than leave you mor- tally offended against me,” cried Florimel, who had risen from his suppliant posture at the same moment that Pauline started from her seat, “‘ I will commit suicide in your pres- ence! My God, have pity upon me! I love, I adore you, Pauline, and your indignation, if unappeased, will reduce me to despair.”’ “It is impossible that this interview can be prolonged,”’ said the young maiden, her tone becoming a trifle less severe and her countenance losing a small portion of its inflexi- bility. “‘I again command you to leave me, as the only condition on which you may ever hope to obtain my pardon for this black treachery and cowardly outrage.”’ ‘Your words are cutting — too cutting, Miss Clarendon,”’ exclaimed the nobleman, with quivering lips. Then, in a sudden access of generous fervour, he hastily added, ‘‘ But I deserve all that you can say to me — yes, I deserve it all! My conduct has indeed been treacherously black, and the outrage was cowardly. Yes, yes, you are right, beauteous maiden, and I am a villain! ”’ “Prove your contrition by leaving me instantaneously,” ejaculated Pauline, whose gentle soul was secretly moved to pity the handsome, or, rather, beautiful youth whom she had already begun to love sincerely while believing that her new friend’s attire was suited to the sex. ‘My God! can nothing induce you to pardon me? ”’ cried Florimel,: whose agitation and excitement were very far from being feigned, inasmuch as the noble and dignified bearing of the young virgin had commanded his respect; and when such an impression is made upon a man of natu- rally generous feelings, remorse and compunction are certain to follow under such circumstances as those which we are detailing. ‘‘ Pauline, adored Pauline,’’ he exclaimed, clasping his hands, “ hear me for afew moments! The fame of your beauty reached me, — never mind by what means, — and I was already in love with you before I saw you. I resolved to become acquainted with you; and my object has been thus far attained. I have outraged you, I have treated you in @ manner which you have denounced in the terms prop- COMIC OOO SS (E(O)