The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 234: what you’re looking at

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

eee THE AWYSTERIES OF LONDON, minutes’ silence. “The young woman promised me that if I wero discroot, I might expect the hap- pincss of meoting you—yes, you, sweetest lady— again: but I confess that I doubted her—and Icamo that I might not throw away a chance of felicity, rather than in the sanguino hope of attaining it.” “And, when you havo leisure for reflection ” said Laura, casting down her eyes and blushing, “ you will despiso me for my imprudence—my indelicacy of conduct in thus sending to invite a stranger to visit me.” “ Adorable woman !” exclaimed the impassioned Italian; “I shall think of you with gratitude—with devotion—with love,—and nover lightly, Oh! be assured of that/”—and, seizing her hand, he con- veyed it to his lips, and covered It with kisses, “Nevertheless, you must be surprised at my bold- ness in directing my servant to seck you, and to make this appointment with you,” pursucd Laura, her bosom heaving so as almost to burst from its confinement, as she felt the warm mouth of the Castelcicalan glued to the hand which she did not attempt to withdraw. “Tam only surprised at my own happiness,” ob- served the young officer. “Sweetest Laura—for I now know your uame—tell me how I have thus been deemed worthy of a favour of which a prince might envy me the enjoyient!” “ An accident threw us together for a few minutes this afternoon,” said Laura; “and I was struck by your personal appearance — your manners — your conversation——” “And, oh! how profoundly was I impressed dy the magic of your beauty, Laura!” interrupted the ardent Italian; “how carnestly I longed to hear once moro the music of that melodious roice—to -ook again into the depths of those magnificent eyos —to contomplate that glorious countenance—that admirable form ;—and now—oh! now tho desire ia realised—and no human language has words power- ful enough to convoy to you an idea of tho happi- ness which I experience at this moment !” Ashe thus spoke he threw his arms around her waist, and drew her towards him. “ Charming creature !’’ he exclaimed, after a fow moments’ pause, during which ho gazed upon her with a rapture which can only be conceived and not explained: “how can I mako thee comprehend the extent of my lore—my adoration 1y worship? I have travelled much—havo seen beauties of all climes and of all varicties of loveliness ;—but never did mine eyes settle upon one so transcendently charming as thou! WhenJI parted from theo this afternoon in the Champs Elysées, it was as if 1 were tearing myself away from some one whom I had loved all my life, and whom I was never to goa again, I was a second Adam, expelled from another Eden! And nosw—now,I beliold thee once more —I am seated in thy presence—thou smilest upon me oh! itis heaven—it is heaven !”’—and, as if in a transport of fury—so impassioned was his soul —he drew her still closer towards him, and literally seizing her head with both his hands, glued his lips to hers—sucking in her very breath. Intoxicated with sensual happiness, Laura of- fered no resistance to the ardour of tho handsome young man; butere she completely yielded herself up to him, sho remembered that something was une to prudence as woll as to the delights of love. Accordingly, withdrawing herself from his em- oraco, though still permitting his arm to oncircle LT 229 her waist, she said, “I can refuso you nothing; but first swear, by all you deom most sacred, that vou will never betray me !” “ Nevor—nover !” ejaculated Barthelma; “I take God to witness that my lips shall never breatho a word injurious to your honour! On the contrary,” he cried, in a tone of deep sincerity, “should I ever hear a man speak lightly of you, £ will provoke him to a duel that shall terminate only in the death of onc—if not both; and should a woman daro to mention your name irreverently, I will even fabri- cate a tale injurious to her honour, that I may avenge you?” “Thanks —a thOusand thanks, my genocrous friend!” murmured Laura, one of her white hands playing with the long, dark, curling hair of the Castelcicalan. “ But may you not—in an unguarded moment — when carousing, perhaps, with your brother-officers,—may you not inadvertently allude to the adventure which happened to you in Paris, and then be unconsciously drawn out—under thin influonce of wino—to make revelations which will prove the rnin—the utter ruin—of the weak, but confiding woman who trusts so much to your honour this night 2?” “May my tongue blister—may lightnings strike me—may I be cast down a corpse at the feet of those to whom I ever open my lips to speak irrevo- rently or ungratefully of thee!” oxclainied tho Italian, with a terrible energy. “No—my adored Laura! you have not the slightest ground for ap- prehensions of that nature. Tamaman of honour— and 1 would rather shed the last drop of my blood to serve thee, than raiso a fingor to harm thee, Beautiful creaturo — adorable woman! who that possesses n spark of human feeling, could do aught to bring a tear into thine eye or chase away the smilo from thy lips? I am thy slave, Laura—and J rejoico in wearing the chains which thy magic loveliness has cast around me!” In this impassioned strain did tho Italian pour forth his adoration; and, as Laura gazed upon him With eyes swimming in very wantonness, slio thought that he was far more handsome than sho had fancied him to be in the afternoon, or even when he had first appeared before her that evening. Ife, too, on his part, found the syren a thousand times more witching—more beauteous—moro at- tractive than she had scomed in her carriage; and yet even then he had been roady to fall down and worship lier. Now he beheld her in a light evening toilette—with naked neck and naked arms,—no scarf—not cven the most transparent gauzo veiling her shoulders of alabaster whiteness,—and with her hair dressed in massive curls, instead of hyperion ringlets ;— now, too, he could percoive, by the undue lntions of her attire, that her limbs were turned with a symmotry that was clegant and yet robust— admirable in shape, though full in their proportions. “J thank you most sincerely for the assurances of secresy which you have given me,” said Laura, in tho sweotest, most melting cadenco of her delicious voice; “ likewiso for the chivalrous professions with Which you have coupled them. You declare your- self to be my slave,” she added; “ but it will be for tnis night only!” And sho hid her countenanco on his breast, as if ashamed of the invitation which her werds implicd —an invitation that welcomed him at her aboda until the morning ! ; “fn one sense [ understand you, my oharmer.’ (C(O) (C DOO <S LL (SO)