The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

smiles. THE MYSTERIES. point {in wounen,” he added, his eyes gloating upon the mifliner’s well-developed charms. “And it I were thin, you would found a compli- ment upon sylph-like elegance and delicate sym- métry,” said Mrs. Brace, smiling archly. “Ah! Mr. Harley—the English people may well boast of you as being the most polished gentleman in Eu- rope.” “ No—does any one say that of me ?” demanded the Prince, his countenance lighting up with a satisfaction and a triumph which he could not con- ceal. “ Most assuredly,” responded Mra. Brace. “The newspapers—the Magazines -the poets—the no- velists, all agree on that point.” “But don’t you know, Fanny, that the public press of England is the most grovelling, debased, and despicably lickspittle towards Royalty ——” “Oh! this vituperation from your lips!” ejacu- ated the milliner, affecting to be shocked. “The oress only does its duty and tells the truth when it speaks highly in favour of the heir-apparent to the throue.” . “1 think that last phrase of yours comes within che range of offences which I threatened to punish ma certain manner,” exclaimed the Prince ;—and pnoe more he pressed his lips to those of the hand- some milliner, who, to use the words of Sir Giles Overreach in the Play, “ kissed close again.” “ Every caress that you thus bestow is an act of treason to the lovely girl whom you are to meet presently,” said Mrs. Brace, after a short pause, luring which she re-adjusted the lace that fringed the bosom of her gown, the Prince having some- what disturbed it with his intrusive hand. “ Nay—these innocent toyings only render me more anxious to embrace the charming Octavia,” ‘eturned his Royal Highness. “ According to the aote which I received from her, she will be here ounctually at seven: but I sent you word that I should call at six, because you have been so good and kind to me lately that I thought you deserved this little attention on my part. In fact, I came early on purpose to have an hour’s chat with you— as I knew that you would not be busy on a Sunday evening.” “ It is really very condescending on your part,” obsecved Mrs. Brace, with another of her sweetest “ But how do you manage to correspond with the young lady, since the letters do not pass through my hands?” “ They receive letters for me, addressed to Mr. Harley, at Long’s Hotel,” answered the Prince. ‘Octavia, believing me to be a country g3ntleman having a seat in some part of Kent, would have been surprised if I had not told her where I was staying—Oor rather pretended to be staying—in London ;—and therefore I made her believe that I was residing at the fashionable hotel in Bond Street.” “T understand,” said Mrs. Brace. “You have not seen her since you passed the night together in my house ?” “No: but you told me all that had occurred— bow her father had returned, and how Lord Flori- mel had escorted her home. She herself likewise mentioned those circumstances in her letter to me yesterday. It appears that Mr. Clarendon’s posi- tion has undergone a sudden and remarkable change—that his income is considerably increased 123 a > —and that he {fs about to remove with his daughters’ to 1 handsome house in Cavendish Square. I will be all the more easy for Octavia to get away from home at times : because young ladies who have the means to go out shopping and who have friends te visit, can always invent a thousand excuses for a frequent absence of several hours. Besides, you have assured me that her sister Pauline is already engaged in a love-intrigue on her part——” “ No—not exactly an intrigue,” exclaimed Mrs. Brace ; “because she triumphed over the tempta- tion of the moment, and reduced her admirer Flo- rime! to as sickly a state of sentimentality as ever [ had the misfortane to contemplate.” “ And is he not recovered from that condition ™ demanded the Prince. “ Far from it. I saw him yesterday—and he was devising a thousand schemes to obtain a formal in- troduction to the Clarendon family—so that he may visit them on a proper footing and in due time propose for the younger dauyhter.” “This must not be, Fanny,” said his Royal High- ness. “Should Lord Florimel become the husband of Pauline, a sense of honour will induce him ta rescue Octavia from this intrigue:—and such a proceeding will by no means suit me. I am really desperately enamoured of this girl, and cannot part from her yet awhitfe. Is Florimel incurable with his sentimentality 7” “It would be at least avery difficult matter to effect such a cure,” answered the milliner. “ He has taloon a solemn vow to abjure what he now calls his profligate life—he has sworn to forbear from all intrigue —in fine, he has resolved to become worthy of possessing the innocent, amiable, and virluous Pauline. Those are his very words.” “This is nauseating in the extreme,” observed the Prince, in atone of unfeigned disgust: for the royal voluptuary could not understand the existence of such a pure and holy feeling as that which Pau- line had awakened in the breast of Lord Florimel. “Iam not acquainted with the young nobleman— or I might perhaps undertake the task of making him sensible of his folly in yielding to such maudlin emotions. But you, my dear Fanny——Now tell me candidly,” he exclaimed, suddenly interrupting himself ;—“has anything beyond mere friendship ever yet existed between you and Lord Florimel 2” * Nothing—on my honour!” answered Mrs, Brace, emphatically. «“ Then it is for you to take the young nobleman in hand, and subdue him,” rejoined the Prince. “Do you comprehend me? Yes—by the blush that rises to your cheeks, I perceive that you not only understand me, but that the suggestion affords you pleasure. Promise mo to do your best in this matter—as it is of the highest importance to me, in my amour with Octavia, that she should not obtain a defender—a monitor—and perhaps an avenger, in the person of a brother-in-law.” “1 will do all that you have recommended,” said Mrs. Brace. The Prince was about to bestow upon her another tender caress as a reward for her ready complai- sance, when the door opened and Harriet entered— or rather burst into the room—with an affrighted countenance. * What means this intrusion?” demanded his Royal Highness, haughtily. “© madam? exclaimed the lady’s-mald, add. we- ee, | CORNICE LOO SS eo iin