The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXI CAROLINE WALTERS Ir will be remembered that Lord Florimel had by some means or other acquired the certainty that Octavia Claren- don would not return home until the morning. The fact was that when Mrs. Brace was occupied in dressing the young nobleman in the female attire suited to the evening’s ad- venture, she had said to him, ‘‘ You have now the whole night before you, Florimel; for Octavia’s lover ere now intimated to me his desire that she should sleep here with him, and as her timidity may perhaps engender some scruples on this score, measures will be taken to enforce her complhance with her gallant’s wishes. It is fortunate that the gentleman should have been seized with this caprice, inasmuch as it ensures your lordship an uninterrupted téte-a-téte with the lovely Pauline.” It was this speech on the part of Mrs. Brace that gave the nobleman the certainty above referred to. As soon as he had quitted Pall Mall in his feminine dis- guise, the milliner rang the bell; and her lady’s-maid — a handsome young woman of about twenty — answered the summons. “ Harriet,’ said Mrs. Brace, waiting ere she spoke until the dependent had closed the door, “I have some very particular instructions to give you. In the first place, Mr. Harley intends to remain here all night with Miss Clarendon; and he has commanded supper to be served up at ten o'clock precisely. You will, of course, order the cook to provide the choicest delicacies; and you will wait at table yourself, receiving the dishes on the landing outside from the footman. Do you understand? ”’ “Perfectly, madam,” was the respectful answer. 198 ECORNIE DOO KS (Elo) m