The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

He MYSTERIES. carriage. Bat by degrees as he spoke, and as his volce gradually grew more tender, his language more impassioned, and his manner more appealing, he insinuated himself as it were closer and closer to the Circassian Slave ; and she evidently became interested in his speech and evinced a soft yielding in her own conduct, by not withdrawing herself in proportion as he drew nearer to her. Thus was it that his hand y touehed her own—and the Earl felt every nerve in his frame vibrate with pleasure at the warm contact. Then he took that band—and gently, gently he sank down until he was upon his knees again—and he pressed the hand to his heart as he continned in the fervid strain whichwe have described. By degrees he felt the hand trembling in his own —then the arm was more completely abandoned to him ;—and gradually did he become aware that the entire form of the lady was approaching nearer and nearer towards him. At length ber breath fanned his cheek—he could even hear the pulsation of her heart as ite beating indicated the trouble of conflicting emotions — and fin a few instants a amooth forehead was laid upon his own. Then with apparent timidity did he circle her waist with his arms; and as the last words of his‘ impassioned appeal fell from his lips, she threw herself upon his breast, murmuring in a faint and tremulous tone, “Yes—I pardon thee—I pardon thee f° Ecatatic was the thrill of triumph which passed through the form of Montgomery as these words fe:l upon his ears; and in the next moment, burning was the kiss which he imprinted apon the moist plump mouth of his charming unknown. And he felt her entire person undulate with a soft, gradual, and sensuous writhing, as that kiss seemed to pour fluods of transport in unto her soul ; while low and scarcely articulate accents of pleasure escaped in @ continuous billing murmur from her lips—so that the depth of this ardent woman's passion resembled the cord of a harp which curls with a wavy move- ment and gives forth a gentle humming sound when thrown upon the scorching hearth. Bat all of a sudden the mysterious unknown seemed to recollect herself again and once more recover at least a considerable portion if not the whole of her presence of mind: for gently but firmly disengaging herself from the nobleman’s embrace, she said, “ You have not yet told me who you are.” “Lady, it was an oversight, but unintentional, I ean assure you, returned the patrician: “for, if youwill remember, I alluded to my rank when I. declared it to be superior to that of Lord Flori- mel.” “ Then, without farther preface, who are you?” demanded the lady in a somewhat peremptory sone. “fam the Earl Montgomery,” was the response It seemed to the nobleman that a strong spasm shook the lady's form aa he thus proclaimed him- self: at least he fancied that he caught that kind of start which is perceived in the midst of an intense darkness only by the sudden rustling which it occasions to the dress. But he was- not gure: and 23 a profound silence and a complete immoveabiity instantaneously followed on the part of the lady, he began to think that he must have been mistaken an@ tilat instead of the aanounce- Ment of his name end rank having prodaced any 87 particular effect upon her, she was even now me- ditating what course she ought to pursue. “She doubtiess knows me by reputation,” he thought witdin himself; “and she mistrusts me. She has perhaps heard that 1 am dissipated—gay —addicted to women—and loose in money matters; and she trembles at the ides of pushing this ad- ventare any farther. It is even possible that she may know me—that we are acquaintances—that we have met in the saloons of fashian—and that she entertains an autipathy towards me, or a dread that I should discover who ske is. And yet I havo not the slightest suspicion whe she can be! But then I am acquainted with so many ladies of splendid figure ; and moreover those whom I have been accustomed to see in their ordinary apparel, would eppear in a different light and to greater or lesser advantage in the fancy costume of a Cir- cassian Slave. No— assuredly I cannot think of any one, within the range of my acquaintance, whom I can identify with my mysterious companion. Or rather, I remember a dozen whose superb forms would probably look equally well if similarly attired. But how can I pick out one of those and fix upon her as my anknown charmer opposite ? No—all is mystery in that respect ;—and whether wo are indeed known to each other in the glitter. ing world of fashion, or whether we are total strangers, her secret seems safe enough. Why, then, does she thus appear to heajtate ?” These refiections occupied about a minute, during which the Circassian Slave continged silent and motionless, as if she were plunged in ghe pro- foundest reverie. “And you are Eugene Montgomery?” she at length said, with so pecaliar an expression in her tone that the Earl could not for the life of him at the moment determine whether it were indicative of satisfaction, swayed by astonishment, or in- fluenced by vexation. “1 have heard of your lordship— yes —1 have heard of you-—and re. port represents you as somewhat wild and ansteady. But still—you are handsome — yes — very hand. some, Eugene,” she continued, her voice suddenly becoming kind and tender beyond all possibility of mistake ;—“and your nature is fervid and impas. sioned! Oh! let me then hesitate no longer,” she cried, ina gushing enthusiasm of voice, manner, and feelings: “but let me devote myself to love and pleasure, with you as my companion! Yes, Eugene—I pardon you for the perfidy which you practised in order to be received as a substitute for your friend; and I rely upon your honour that Lord Florimel shall remain ignorant of all this, Not that he is now anything to me—-or over was— otherwise than as the object of a transitory caprice which seized upon me fifteen months ago and which revived again this week. Nor do I dread digoovery : for the precautions I adopted with him and shall adopt this night with you, defy the utmost keenness of penetration and the deepest of curiosity. Nevertheless I would not that these adventures should become a common toplie of con- versation, inasmach as they might be alluded to in my presence and cause me to experience a tem- porary confusion. If, then, you be really grateful for the pardon whieh i have accorded you, Eagene —and if you only entertain towards me one hun. dredth part of all those impassioned feelings which you ere now depicted so eloquently, you ElOOO® SS