The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 327: what you’re looking at

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—— nn eet a a a a eee are» ene epi nin gS Ok ee a ee anaemia g i a I Cee en en eemnmmeemamatl Mode 0) ao na TMuI> MYST URIES 32 / OF LONDON. “Ves—my angel: itis I!’ oxelaimed the enthn- Fiastic young Italian, as, boundine towards Tura, he caught her in his arme. His lips wero instantaneously fastened to her ripe mouth; and, remembering the night of love and pleasure which she had passed with him, eho experienced no vexation at his sadden and most unexpected ¢ TP PSURSU BES: “Can vou pardon me for this intrusion 1? he de- manded, at lenrth loosening her from his embrace, but seating hirnwlf clozely by her siie on the otto- man and en le her hands in his own: “can you pardon me, 1 ask, adorable woman &” he repeated, pazing upon her in boundless and passionate admi- ration. “Tt rcems that it were useless to be offended with you,” she replicd, smiling with voluptuous syrectness, “Ohl then you will not upbraid me—you will not reprosch me with having broken the solemn promize that Imade sou to depart and seek to cca yourrmore in Paris fhe exclaimed. “ But even if vor were Inclined t2 bo anpgry, Laura, it could not In jJuctien bo upon me that your wrath would fall. You muct blame your orn matechlers beauty—you mast take all the fault unto yourself T feel that J snnot live withont rau, Tver since we parted, my brain has heen in a ceaseless ferment—my sonl a pres toinersrant excitement. Byday and bs night has your lovely image been before me: by day and by night have I fancied that F heard sour solce pours ing forth the most eloquent musici—I hese dreamt that your lips, breathing odours and bathed with sweets, Were pressed to mine:—and your looks, beaming love, and happiness, and joy, havo over been fixedon mine! Oh! my imagination has maintained me ina condition of snch plessing pain that T havo been in s species of restless clycium,—s piddy and cometimes agonising whirl, althourh the eceno wes paradice ! At length Teould endure this state no jonger: andswwhen st vs considerable distance from s,on the road to Itals, I suddenly ond seerctly 7 Eris cnitted tho servico of the Grand Duke ‘Oh! what madness—what insanity 1” exclaimed Laura, grieved that the Landsome young Castelci- ealan should have mado so deep a sacrifice for her —inasmuch 2s his generous devotion had not only flattered her pride, but alco touched her sont. “Tt may bo madness—it may bo insanity,” repeat- ef Lorenzo Barthelma, with iriparsioned warmth: ’ but those words must in that caso be taken only as other terms for the dec¢pest—sinecerest—and most ardent devotion. Were I a beggar on the faco of the carth, I should Lave acted in tho samo manner; because I should have come to yon—I should have thrown myself at your feet—I should havo implored you to render nic happy, —and in return I should have toiled from merning to night to make up for tho deficiency of my means.” “Generous Torenzo!"” exclaimed Laura, speaking | m sith more sinecrity than had characterised ber words for years. “Ah! then you arc somewhat touched by my devotion, angelic woman!” cricd the handsome soung Officer, drawing her still more closely to- wards him, and passing bis arm round her slen- der waist. “But happily lam no psuper—fortu- nately Lam not dependont upon my own exertions. When I was with you before, my adoravle Laura, I told you that I possessed a competency; and I thon offered to link my destinics with yours for over. Now my circumstances have materially altered— amie U rejoice inthe fact! For the French papers of thir duy contain intelligence of the death of my cousir, the Count of Crrignano, at Montoni; ond by that unexpected event I have succeeded alike to his title anJ his Prinecly revenues.” “Oh! my beloved Torenzo,’ exclaimed Taura now citing way to all that tendtraers towards him Which was really in accordance with her inclina- tions, butarhich her more selfish h.terests would have prompted her to subdue and stiffe had not this last annonnecinent mit her cars: “Olt my beloved Lorenzo,” che cried, pressing clocer to him, so that he could feel her bosom throbbing like the undula- tions of a mighty tidc—for she was now powerfully excited, alike morally and sensually: “how can I reward—how recompense this generosity on your part?” “By becoming my wife—yes, my wife, Laura—if you will,” returned the enraptured young man. “For you know rat how Ll love you—how intense is the passion with which you have inspired me | am blind and deaf to all—everything, save your beauties and your witching voice. Jf you be the rreatest profligate the world ever caw, I care not —ro madly do‘f love you.” “And when this delirini shell have passed away, Lorenzo,” murmured Laura, concealing her burning countenance on his breast, “ vou will repent the rashness which indaced you to wed with one who bad 50 easily abandoned herself to you when a complete stranger—and whom—whom—you Iinew to bo unchaste even then!” she added, her voice becoming tonchingly low aud tremutously plain- tive. “To suspect even for an instant that I should ever repent of making you my wife, Inura, is to doubt my love,” cnid the Count of Carignano—for such we may now eall him; “and that wounds me to the very cont! ’Tis sufficient for me to know that you arean angel of besuty—and I reck not if you are 2 demoness in character, But that I am sure is impossible. Your loveliness may have led you into temptations, and your temperament may have induced vou to yield: but that you are gene- raus—good—amiable, Iam convinced, Laura ;—and that you will prove faithful to ono who places all his own happiness in you, and who will study in- cessantly to promote sours—oh ! of that Jam well assured also. Savy, then, my adored onc—can yon consent to become the Countess of Carignano, with a revenue of twelrvo thousand, a year {” “Not for the dross—oh! not for tho despicablo dross,” murmured Laura, scarcely ablo to restrain lier joy within reasonable bounds, and induco her suitor to beHiovo tliat no selfish interests were mixed up with the motives for that assent which she was aboutto give, —" not for vile and sordid gold, Lorenzo, do T respond in the affirmative to the gencrous pro- posal that you have now made to me—becauso I yself am possessed of a fortuno of sixty thousand aude but it is because I love you—yes—I love you, my linndsome Lorenzo——” “Say no more, Laura—beloved Leura!’ inter- rupted the impassioned young nobleman, straining her to his breast: then fondly—olh! how fondly did he gaze upon her—upon her, that guileful woman— reading tho reflection of Lis own voluptuous fcel- ings in her fino large cycs, and then bestowing upon her the most ardent caresses. Soreral minutes passed away,—minutes that glided by with rapid and silent wings;—and tho > (SO) C DOO SS (SO)