The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

RAO AND THE MILLINER 83 *apologize in the first instance for disturbing you at this unseemly hour; but I was led to believe that you are not in the habit of retiring very early, and moreover that the men- tion of Lord Florimel’s name would guarantee me against your displeasure — ”’ ‘““ Ah! you are in the service of his lordship? ”’ inquired Mrs. Brace, who, from old habits and associations, felt her- self suddenly cheered by the evident fact that she was not altogether forgotten by one of her best and most liberal patrons. ‘“T am not only in the service, but likewise in the confi- dence of his lordship,’ returned Rao; “ and he has deputed me to wait upon you, madam, to assist in a some- what difficult and certainly very romantic enterprise in which he is. engaged. He moreover charged me to intimate, with all due delicacy, that your reward shall be liberal.” “Tt is by no means necessary to give me that assurance, my pretty boy,” said the milliner, with a more sunny smile than any that had played upon her countenance for some time past. ‘‘ Tell me how I can forward the views of my dear friend Florimel, and he shall find me as ready and anxious to serve him as ever.’’ ‘““No doubt,” remarked the sable page, with a laconic dryness which for a moment struck the milliner as peculiar. “His lordship,’’ Rao hastened to observe, “ has always spoken of you, madam, in the kindest and indeed the most affectionate terms.”’ ‘“T am charmed to hear that I still retain your master’s friendship,’’ observed Mrs. Brace, now ceasing to remember the strange tone in which the curt remark of Rao had been uttered a few moments previously. ‘‘I heard that his lordship had been absent from home for some weeks; and I was likewise informed that his lordship had suffered from severe indisposition previous to his departure.”’ “True enough, madam,” said Rao. ‘‘ And now, with your permission,” he continued, ‘‘ I will give you such ex- planations as time and circumstances permit.”’ “I am all attention,” observed the milliner, forgetting — for the moment her cares and troubles in the excitement of a resuscitating spirit of intrigue. “I must begin, madam, by informing you,” proceeded GomilGyaooks (S©)