The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

138 THE COURT OF LONDON Still she remained motionless. He advanced a little, and now obtained a glimpse of the bust which glowed in the un- veiled luxuriance of its charms against the harp. Upon that grandly developed bosom did the eyes of the royal voluptu- ary settle; and at the same instant Ernestina, affecting still to remain unconscious of his presence, and with half- averted countenance, began to touch the strings of the instrument. She was an accomplished musician, and the harp gave forth such sounds that ravished the ears of the prince. The melody stole softly and sensuously upon him, in unison with the voluptuous feelings engendered by the beauteous form on which his eyes rested. The very warmth of the room and fragrance of the atmosphere increased this melting effect, dissolving all his soul into an ineffable tenderness. He stood like one enchanted; his pulses thrilled, the colour deepened upon his countenance, his eyes swam in passion’s liquid fire. It seemed as if some unknown paradise on earth were open- ing to his comprehension at a moment when he had little expected that any such blissful development was in store for him. And now, gradually did the lady turn her countenance in such a way toward the harp that he caught her profile with that half-vanishing effect which Rembrandt loved so well to depict upon his canvas; and as the light, borrowing a roseate tint from the hue of the crimson curtains which shaded the windows, fell upon that faultless profile, the prince started with a sudden recollection. But the lady still affected to perceive him not, and at the instant that he thus started, she made the splendid instrument give forth such a glorious volume of gushing golden melody that he was again struck motionless and transfixed with ineffable rapture. But now he studied that profile intently; he marked also the glossy hight brown hair, the high and polished brow. He saw the long silken lashes, he observed the dark eye flashing beneath; he traced the outline of the aquiline nose, the well- cut lips of vivid scarlet, and the softly rounded chin. Then again did his looks settle upon the grand exuberance of the bosom that was now heaving visibly, white as snow, but warm and glowing to the eye; and then his looks once again travelled upward to the face which was gradually turning more and more toward him. The seashell pink which (COUN (Q) IDooks (E(0)