The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 322: what you’re looking at

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

THY MYSTERIES OF GONDON. ——— neck, and exclaim, ‘La I adore yous’? But when I had excited m to tho highest possible pitch, I suddenly directed his attention to some sub- ject of comparative indifference; and thus did I Play with his feelings during two long hours, He went away half crazy—dazzled, bowildered, not knowing what to think or how to act—intoxicated with sensual passions mingling with tho purer senti- ments of a profound admiration and a cordial esteem. Then this morning he called again, and I made him become my companion at luncheon. I affected to bo rejoiced that he had thus unexpectedly dropped in, as I had previously felt low-spirited and dull. Je seemed charmed that his presence was calculated to cheer me: it was a delicate compli- mont paid to his conversational powers—and he was flattered and pleased. Oh! how admirabls did I wind myself, as it were, around him during _tho three hours that ho remained with mo this morning: how successfully did I insinuate mysolf, 4S ono may say, into his very soul;—not seizing upon his heart by a sudden attack—but gaining possession of it by means the moro sure because so stealtby,—not carrying that heart by storm—but gradually and imperceptibly enmeshing it in snares and toils whence it never can escape, so long as my réal character shall remain a mystery to him. Yes —and this morning, too, was he not a thousand times on the point of falling upon his knees, and eaclaiming, ‘aura, Ladore your But still I tan- talised him—still I worked him up to tho highest possiblo pitch of excitement, and then suddenly dis- couraged him by somo word or gesture that threw a coldness on all I had before said, and which yet would admit of no positive interprotation £0 as to render him hopeless altogother. Aud now ho is to return again—this evcuing,—to return, by his own solicitation ;—and this ovening—yes—this evening,” thought Laura, her lips wreathing into a smile of triumph,—“he shall fall down at my feot and ex- claim, ‘ Laura, I adore yous’” Thus ran the meditations of this dangerous wo- man,—so strong in tle consciousness of her almost superhuman beauty—so confident in the power of her matchless charms and in tho witchery of ber guileful tongus! “Yes—four days will lave been sufficiont to re- duce tho proud English noblo to the condition of a captive knoeling at my feet,’ she continued, in her silent but triumphant reverie. “ What other wo- man in the world can thus effect a conquest with such amazing rapidity? The tigress hunts for her ‘ prey—pursuing the affrighted deer through bramble and through brake—by tho margin of the lako in the depths of the forest—~ amidst the trackless mazes of the wild woods,—a long—tedious—and fatiguing chase, with the possibility of escapo for the intended victim nfter all, But the boa-con- strictor fixes its eyes upon its proy—fascinates it— renders it incapable of rotreat—compels it even to advance nearer and nearer toits mouth—plays with it—tantalizes it—sets every fecling and overy emo- tion into fluttering agitation—and even when about to gorge it, licks it over with his caresses. And thus do I secure my proy! I am tho anaconda amongst women: none whom I choose to make my victim can escapo from tho influcnce of my witchory —tho sphero of my fascination] With me it is no long, tedious, and wearisome chase: ’tis instan- taneous capture and an easy triumph!” And again tho peculjar smile—half haughtiness, A i —w ——: 317 half sweetness—returnod to the lips of the peeriess boanty, who felt herself to be ten thousand times more powerful in tho possession of her transcendant charms, than an Amazonian Queen clothed in ar- mour of proof from head to heel. Suddenly the bell at the outer door of hor suite of apartments announced the coming of a visitor; and in a few moments the Marquis of Delmour was ushered into tho room, Laura had already assumed 2 sitting posturo; and she now rose to receive the English nobleman. “‘Good evening, charming Miss Mortimer,” said the Marquis, taking her hand and gontly touching it with his lips: then, leading her to the ottoman, and placing himself at a short distanco from her, ho looked at her tenderly, observing, You perceive that Iam punctual to the hour at which I was to make my appoaranco according to the kind permis- sion rou granted me,” ; * “Your lordship is most generous thus to con- descond to enliven an hour that would otherwise bo passed in loneliness by me,” said Laura, bending upon him all the glory of her fine bright eyes and rovealing the splendour of her brilliant teeth, “ Beautiful, intellectual, and agreeable as you are, Miss Mortimer,” obsorved the nobloman, “it is utterly impossiblo that you can feel yourself in- debted toan old man like me for the recreation of a leisure hour. You would only need to throw open your drawing-rooms to the élite of Paris, to be sur- rounded by admiring guests.” “And what if I prefer an hour of intellectual conversation to an entire evening of empty formali- ties, ceremonial frivolitics, and the inano routine of fashionable réunions 2?” asked Laura, with an affec- tation of candour which seemed most real—most natural, “You possess a mind tho strength and soundness of which surpriso me,’ exclaimed the Marquis of Delmour, enthusiastically. “How is it that, rich and beautiful, young and courted, as you are, you can have taken so just a viow of the world,—that you haye learnt to prefer solid enjoyments to arti- ficial pleasures,—and that you can so well discrimi- nate between the real on which the gay and piddy closo their eyes, and the ideal or tho unreal which they so much worship ?” “You would ask me, my lord, I presume, where- tore I disliko that turmoil of fashionable lifo which brings one in contact with porsons who flatter ina meaningless manner, and who believe that a woman is best pleased with him who most skilfully gilds his pretty nothings. Itis, my lord, because I do not estimato the world according to the usual standard, —because I am not dazzled by outside glitter and external show. If an officer in the army bo intro- duced to me, Tam not captivated by his splendid epaulets and his waving plumes: I wait to hear him discourse bofore I form my estimato of his cha- racter.” “Then neither youth nor riches will provo the principa! qualifications of him who shall bo fortu- nate enough to win your hand?” said the Marquis, fixing hig oyes in an impassioned manner upon the syron, “Oh! you would spoak to mc upon the topic of marriage?” exclaimed Laura, laughing gaily. “To tell your lordship the truth, I should be sorry to surrender up my froedom beyond all possibility of rolease, to any man in existence.” “What!” ojaculated the old nobleman: ‘do a rr A iy te a ene ene n nee ee nnn ene eene meen cence ccm nena LC A SA Pay, a (C(O) (C DOO <S LL (SO)