The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

102 THE COURT OF LONDON Gabriel, in a tone of feverish impatience, which was however of no unpleasurable nature. ‘‘ The world has never before seen such charms, my lord,” responded the page. ‘‘I was struck with wonder and amazement at the splendour of that glorious beauty of which I obtained so brief a glimpse. Ah! my lord, you will be well rewarded for your blind devotion to that superb creature! ”’ “Rao, you have ravished me, you have enchanted all my senses, you have steeped me in a fount of ecstatic bliss,” cried the young nobleman, in a voice full of enthusiastic fervour. ‘‘ Oh! hasten and let the ceremony proceed, and assure my beauteous Unknown that she has but to dictate her will in all things, to render me her willing slave.” ‘Then I shall extinguish the lights, my lord,” said Rao, ‘“and your lordship must consent to remain in darkness until the lady shall have completed her bridal toilet.” ‘* Do so—do whatever you choose — whatever she or- dains, Rao! ’’ exclaimed the infatuated nobleman, rendered almost delirious with the ardour of hope and the sense of indescribable bliss. The black page accordingly put out the candles, and the room was involved in total darkness. ‘‘T shall now introduce the minister, my lord,’ observed Rao. Thus speaking he quitted the apartment and returned to the parlour where he had left Mr. Tobias Colwell. ‘“* Now, reverend sir,’”’ he said, ‘‘ you will have the goodness to follow me to the apartment where the ceremony is to take place. Lord Florimel is there, and the lights are already extinguished. Should his lordship say a word to you relative to the marriage license, you will have the kindness to answer that you have it in your pocket, but by no means mention the lady’s name figuring therein.”’ “T shall fulfil your instructions with all due fidelity,” returned the reverend gentleman. Rao then proceeded to escort him to the apartment where Lord Florimel was waiting with such thrilling impatience and ecstatic hope, and, having thus far perfected his arrange- ments and combined his plans, the sable page repaired to the chamber of the Unknown. CORUICLOOOKS (E(0)