The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 207: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE GOURT. ST aa aA a EG DS “No, no—not until you have given me proofs the most donvincing that you love me! Then—then— it is not my hand that you shall take—but it is to my arms you shali come——” And he stopped short, gasping as with excess of pleasure at the bare idea of joys which he was conjuring up to his imagination. “Ah! ask me some question and you will see whether I am prompt fo reply’ said Emma, whose head was turning and whose senses were becoming bewildered in the tumult of blissful emo- tions which her easy triumph over Bergami had naturally excited, and which were all the more ex- travagant—all the more thrilling and intoxicating —iuasmuch as they had succeeded cn interval of such blank despair and eruel terror. " “ Well then,” sald Bergami, speaking quickly as if putting at random the firat thing that entered his head,—* tell me, dear Emma—tell me--which of you three sisters it is who, not content with Masquerading on one or two occasions in male costume, must actually have imitated so closely the very garb that I sometimes wear as to be taken for me?” “Oh! if I tell you—if I tell you,” exclaimed Eimina, now elevated to the highest degree of ex- citement, as If she felt she was touching on the very brink of that paradise which containcd the consummation of her desires and would be the re~ ward as well as the proof of her trumph,—* if I tell you everything which regards that subject, sliall I the next moment be enfolded in your em- brave ?” “ Yos, yes,” you shall !” “Then it was I who have worn a costume re- semb'ing your's " she answered, in the delirium that filled her brain, “It was J who personated you, having sveretly procured a dress the counter- part of yourown. Yes —and likewise whiskers and tmnoustache-——-OQh 1! a. beautiful moustache,” she cried, almost with childest delight, in the exulta- tion that filled? +r soul and was thus hurrying her go quickly a:ong in the giddy whirl of her thoughts. “In every respect did I assume your external ap- pearance—cuoat—boots——And all that costume, so neat, so perfect, so elegant, I have it still—- it is in my own room—and one of these days, when you have time and choose to humotir me, I will put it on and you will tell me how I look——»”’ “Oh, Emma, Emma! you are intoxicating iny brain—you are making me drunk with wicked thoughts f” murmured the royal equerry, as he crow closer towards the syren. “Come into my, arnis !" And the next momeot &Emma—the wanton, glowing, impassioned Emma — was palpitating upon his breast, with her arms thrown round his neck and her lips pressed to his cheek. But scarcely had this incident of the scene endured for a moment—scarcely indeed had she thus pre- e-pitated herself into his embrace —when appear- ing to be suddenly alarmed, he said, “ We shall be observed—we shall be observed ——Good heavens! what will thin be thought? what will be said of us?” —and disen aging himself from her clasp, he start = to hi» feet. Oh! you are mine—you are mine!” she ex- claimed, in a voice full of rapture: “and I am answered Bergami: “ you shall— | ing to a piteh of thrilling exultation. “But when shall we meet‘again——Ah! we shall meet in the presence of others: bu%..I1 mean, when shall we meet alone *” \ “ Listen, Emma,” said Bergami, taking her hand and pressing it with every appearance of enthu- siastic warmth: “I long to see you in that dress of which you have spoken—that ceatume where- With you imitate me. ‘Will you then put it on to- night and come to my chamber——” “To-night!" echoed Emma, in rapturous joy. “'Yes—but that appointment at Maravelli’s house, with Jocelyn Loftus-——” “ Must be kept,” answered Bergami, “ because I dare not appear in any way to lepart one tittle from the arrangements entered into between him and me; and if you were not to go, you would have to allege av an excuse some new understanding with me. This would be to betray what has now taken place— to betray my Weakness, in a word—to prove that I had succumbed to the fascination of your charms. And this must not be! Not even to your sisters must you state what has occurred! If you do—if to a living soul you breathe a syliable of this love of our’s—I will then stifle it—I will renounce it—I will tear your image from my heart—=-yes, and all this love of mine, this frantic passion with which you have inspired me, shall turn into the deadliest hate! Do yon understand me f—and will you pledge yourself sacredly and solemnly——” “TI do, I do,” answered Emma, trembling all over with the fever of joyous excitement: for this seemed to be a triumph so wondrous, go complete, go crowning on her part, that while it promised to minister unto all her devouring desires, it was likewise most eminently flattering t her vanity. « T swear that I will not mention to a soul—no, not to a soul—one syllable of what has now taken place bétween us! I will keep the appointment too at Maraveili’s house, in company with my sisters ———And afterwards,” she said, with a look full of wanton wickedness and sensuous mischief— “ afterwards——”" “ Yes—afterwards—-no matter at what hour you may come back to the villa. from that appointment,” aaid Bergami, “ you will apparel yourself in the costume of which you have spoken, aud you will come stealthily to my chamber?” © 6¥es_Oh! yes—I will not fail you! she mur- mured, her heart already panting with voluptuous longings, as with eyes brimful of passion she surveyed theehandsome Bergami from head to foot—devouring bim as it were with her luxurious looks. “And now return to your sisters,” he said, seizing her hand and again pressing it with cordial warmth. “ But remember,” he added, fixing upon her au earnest, warning gaze, “ if you betray me, then farewell love—farewell the safety which I may guarantee to your sisters and yourself—fare- well everything, save the implacable vengeance which I will wreak upon you!” Having thus spokeu, the royal equerry hurried away towards the villa, avoiding altogether the border of the lake as he thus retraced his steps homeward. , Some minutes elapsed before Emma covwld in any way succeed"in calmiug the flutterings of her haypy—I am happy,” she repeated, her tone swell- | heart or reason herself into tranquillity. She was —s Se — — nm a i eT EET ST NA: SE gt IE a EE IN, COMMU O) LDOC cS) CO