The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

e — — -~ee o eg e — CE ee ee Ob 100 ‘ dearest unknown,” exclaimed the Earl. “I will therefore at once resume my confession by touch- ing upon that law-suit in which I am engaged against the Marchioness of: Bellenden. Do you know that lady ?" “T have scen her; but we are not acquainted,” was the response; and the Circassian Slave pressed the nobleman’s hand, as if to encourage him to And he did proceed; and, in thus continuing hig narrative he spoke in a lower, deeper, and more solemn tone—as if his words were now things, gnd his language was conveying matters of the gravest import. And again in utter silence and with a respiration almost entirely suspended, did the lady listen to the revealings which grew more astounding—more awe-inspiring as they progressed ;—until at last the nobleman breathed one fact— gave utterance to one circumstance ‘which made her whole frame vibrate with a - sudden tremor as she lay reclining in his arme. Twas as if a galvanic shock had been imparted all in a moment and unexpectedly ;—and the Earl stopped short beneath the influence of a consternation which fell upon him with a similar abruptness. . “Ah! now you loathe—you abhor—you detest me,” he exclaimed in a wild tone; “and I have said too much !” “No, no, dearest Eugene—not a syllable too much !" hastily cried the Circaadian Slave, starting up and for the tenth time throwing her arms about his neck and folding him ina fervid embrace. “ I rejoice—Oh ! I rejoice that you have done that deed—at least for one reason: because now I can look you without shame in the face, and moreover you have indeed placed yourself in my power. But such a noble confidefice shall never, never be betrayed by me: on the contrary, I will cherish your secret as religiously as if it were mine own. And now you must give meal! the details of that event, my Eugene—for it is invested with a thrilling and éxciting interest!” And the insensate nobleman, once again aban- doning himself to that tcstacy of feeling in which the wiles, the witchory, and the fascination of this i woman appeared to be able to plange him at will—continued to breathe in her ear the explanatory details which she sought, and o the narration of which she encouraged him by the tenderest caresses. At length he ceased speaking—and every in- cident of his life was now made kyown to her! “You have told me all, Eugene—you have told me all,” she marmured, as Seated upon his knees, with herarms round his neck, shelavished upon him such kisses that the very air of that dark chamber seemed filled with their fervour : ‘you havetold me all, and I thank you—Oh! I thank you from the bottom of my soul. But now let us seek the couch of love—and when the morning dawns, the sun- beams shall shine upon my countenance! Then will I reveal to you my name—and all the first conditions of our compact will be fulfilled !” “ Beit as you say, adorable woman!" exclaimed the Earl, maddened with desire; and he covered her face with devouring kisses. — “‘Stay—wo mast seal our compact with wine as well as with love,” said tho lady, as ifinspired with the sudden thought of enhancing the thrill of sensual longing by the influence of the generous grape: and reaching towards the table but with- THE MYSTERIES. out quitting her position upon his knees, she felt with her fair hands for what she sought.. In a few moments the sharp sound of an ex- ploding cork, followed by the hissing of efferves- cent wine, and by the exhalation of a delicious aroma, made Lord Montgomery aware that it was in champagne the compact was to be ratified ;-— and immediately afterwards he felt a giass raised to his lips. “TI pledge thee, my Eugene,” said the lady, “in the generous juice of Epernay, and long may the bond of our affection endure.” “J thee in return, my adorable un- known,” exclaimed Montgomery; “andmay death | alone be enabled to quench the flame of that passion which we now cherish for each other!” Having thus spoken, he drained the glass; but as he withdrew it from his lips, it fell from his hands—and a mortal terror suddenly seized upon him as he experienced a sensation of giddi- ness fasten on his brain as it were all in an instant. A cry of alarm escaped him—and the lady sprang from her seat upon his knees, her musical tones now sounding in a laugh of triumph. He endeavoured to raise himself from the sofa: but his limbs were heavy as lead—in- sensibility gained upon him—all his ideas fell suddenly into confusion—bhe heard nothing more —he felt nothing more—and the scene of mystery, and love, and romance terminated all in a moment in an utter blank! * ; = * S & ¥ = s » ‘When Lord Montgomery awoke again to con- . sciousness, the light was streaming in upon him from the window facing the couch in which he waslying. Herubbed his eyes and looked around. Where was he? Why assuredly in his own chamber in Grafton Street—in his own bed! Then wagit alladream? were all those circum- stances which now came slowly back to his ‘me- mory, mere incidents of a fantastic vision? nd had he been the prey of a delusion in Which the Circassian Slave was a heroine supplied by his own over-heated imagination ? Yes; it must beso! And yet, as he raised him- self up in his bed and looked all about the apart- ment with the bewilderment of one who knows not yet whether he be really awake or still dream- ing, his oyes caught the sight of the blue domino upon the chair by the side of the couch. Unable to endure the agonising suspense which row seized upon him, he rang the bell violently. Thesummons wasalmost immediately answered his valet. ‘Gilbert, what time was it when I came home last night?” demanded the nobleman, assuming a tone of indifference: for he did not choose his de- pendent to observe the excitement of feeling under which he was labouring. ‘It was about two o'clock this morning, my lord,” was the response. “Ah!” was the Ear!’s involuntary ejaculation : for the conviction struck him, with the withering effect of lightning, that the adventures of the past night wefe indeed no dream. “ Well—was I in | rather a curfous state?—or how was it?” he de- manded impatiently. ‘Since your lordship asks the question,” said Gilbert, “I am bound to reply. The truth, then, ie that your lordship was so exceedingly over-. cone by liquor as to be entirely insensible.” ‘ ElOOO® SS