The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 322: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES. 11. for a moment—a single moment—his dark eyes flamed with the light.of malignant satisfaction. But this expression was #0 transitory——so evanescent, that the millimer eouki not have observed it, even if Rao’s face had been turned towards the candles. “ Madam,” he said, at length breaking silence, ‘I have to apologise in the first instance for disturbing you st this unseemly hour: bat I was led to be- lieve that you are not in the habit of retiring very early, and moreover that the mention of Lord Flori- me's mame would guarantee me against your dis- pleasure-——” “Ah! you are in the service of his lordship?’ in- quired Mrs. Brace, who, from old habits and associa- tions, felt herself suddenly cheered by the evident fact. that she was not altogether forgotten by one of her best and most liberal patrons. “J am not only in the service, but likewise in the confidence of hw lordship,” retarned Rao: “and he has depute! me to wait epon you, madam, to assist in a somewhat dificult and certainly very romantic enterprise in which he ie engaged. He moreover charged me to intimate, with all due delicacy, that your reward shall be liberal.” “It is by no means necessary to give me that assurance, my pretty boy,” said the milliner, with a more sunny emile than any that had played upon her countenance for some time past. “Tell me how I can forward the views of my dear friend Florimel-—-and he shall find me as ready and anxious to serve him as ever.” “No doubt,” rgnarked the sable page with a laco- nic dryness which for a moment struck the milliner as peouliay. “His lordship,” Hao hastened to observe, “ bas always spoken of you, madam, in the Kindest and imdecd the most afactionate terme-——-” “Iam charmed to hear that I still retain your master’s friendship,” observed Mrs. Brace, now ceas- ing to remember the strange tone in which the curt remark of Eao had been uttered a few moments previously. “I heard that his lordship had been ab- eent from homefor some weeks; and I was likewise “And now, with your permission,” be continued, “I will give yoo such explanations as time and cireumstances permit.” “I am all attention,” observed the milliner, for- getting for the moment her cares and troubles in the excitement of a resuscitating spirit of intrigue.” “JY must begin, madam, by informing you,” pro- ceeded Rao, “that my master Lord Fierimel has be- come desperately enamoured of a lady———”" “Do you mean Miss Paulime Clarendon? inter- cupted the milliner. “Wo, madam : his lordship is completely cared of that silly and romantic passion,” answered Rao; “ and he now loves one who pomesses an ardour of tan- perament and a voluptuousness of disposition quite equal to his own. Bat the splendid creature who has thus ensnared his heart and gained a complete empire over him, is a being shreuded in the deepest and mest impenetrable mystery,—a mystery which, for some reasons unknown alike to my noble master and my- self, must endure until afier the nuptial knot shall have been fRd. In plain terms, madam, this lady will not reveal either her name or her countenance until the matrimonial ceremony shall have united her to Lord Florimel by indissoiuble bonds.” “What! ejaculated the milliner, profoundly sur- prised: “‘do you mean to tell me that his lordship ia in leve with a lady whose features he has never seen ?” “Sueh is indeed the fact, madam,” replied Rao, “ extraordinary as it may seem. But that she is glo- riously handsome, Lord Filorimel is convinced; and assuredly a disagreeable countenance never could have been united by nature with such a splendid form. That her features are perfect, however, he entertains no doubt: for in the darkness and secrecy of the boudoirs of love where they have met—alike at Dover and in London—his hand has wandered over her countenance, tracing its configuration and thereby ascertaining the shape of every lincament.” “Then this lady is not a model of chastity and virtue ?”’ said the milliner, inquiringly.” “ With that, madam, you and I have no coneern,” answered Rao. “Saffice it for us to know that she chooses to enshroud herself in the deepest, darkest, most impenetrable mystery, until the bonds of marrage shall have made Lord Filorimel her own—and then the inmsperious necessity which now renders her as it were a living, breathing, loving enigma, will exist no longer. The veil will be torm from her countenance as well as from her rank and name ;—and from all that she has told my master, it appears certain that he will not have to repent of the match.” “ But this isthe most extraordinary romance that I ever became acquainted with!” cried Mrs. Brace, in unfeigned amazement. “Surely no such infatuation was ever heard of before: and for an experienced, intelligent, worldly-minded man like Lord Florimel to have yielded to this enchantment and succumb to what after all may prove a dreadful delusion——”" “ Madam,” said Rao, now interrupting the milliner with some degree of impatienee, “I beseech you to observe that I heave not sought your presence for the purpose of discussing these affaixs. My object is to learn whether you will aid in conducting them to that issue on which both the lady and my nob.. master are fally and unalterably agreed >” “T have already given you my aesurances in that respect,” answered Mrs. Brace. “ Proceed, you in- teresting boy—and I will endeavour to forbear from any further comment upon this adventure, singular and almost incredible though it be.” , “Ah! madam,” exclaimed Kao, “the world is full of singular and scarcely credible proceedings; and doubtless your experience will at.once suggest many particulars and inaidents only too weil calcalated to confirm the remark that I have just made.” “Trae, true!” cried Mrs. Brace, somewhat troubled for the instant by the piercing, searching, peculiar look which the black page fixed upon her; but as his eyes were aimost immediatel? withdrawn from her countenance, the effect of that deeply penctrating gaze Was as speedily forgotten. “ And now, my young friend, in what manner can I assist your noble master’s projects?” she inquired: “what is the nature of the service that is demanded of me?” “ To-morrow evening, madam,” returned Rao, “Lord Florimel will bein London. His mysterious charmer was to have come back to the metropolis to-day: and no doubt she has fulfilled her intention in this re- spect. I also arrived from Dover this evening, having been admitted into the confidence of hie lordship and “Ah! then the ceremony is te take place shortly ”” said Mrs. Brace. ElOOO® SS