The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

i) TUE MYSTERIES. relieved from some apprehension which had started up in his mind, the sable youth resumed his noise- less course, and approaching his master, he placed a large parcel upon the taole before him. “Well, Rao—what is thia?” demanded Florimel, perceiving that the youth had something to say but did not choose to speak until questioned. “It was delivered, my lord, at the same time with the letter,” said the boy, in his subdued tone of musical cadence; “but the hall-porter forgot to give it to me.” “And who brought the letter and this parcel ?” inquired Florimel. A ticket-porter, who immediately departed, my lord,” was the boy’s response. Rao then retired, Earl Montgomery following him with his eyes until he disappeared by the door which it seemed he had a knack of cpening and shutting in a manner as noiseless as his own footsteps. “What have you got now, Gabriel?” inquired the Ear], turning towards his young friend, who was epening the large brown paper parcel which had just been brought in. “ A blue domino, by heavena!” ejaculated Flori- mel, unfolding the ample garment, which was edged with a peculiar braiding and had a sort of star made ef the same material upon the crown of the hood. “The fair unknown whose heart you have capti- vated,” said Montgomery, “is determined that the adventure shall be as completely romantic and as well defended by judicious precautions as possible. You are to wear this domino in order that she may recognise you at the masquera‘le for which she has sent you a card; and the costume is purposely sig- nalised with braiding in such a manner that no mis- take may arise, even should there be a dozen blue dominos in the room. You are a fortunate fellow, Gabriel,” added Earl Montgomery: “for all these precautions and the evident anxiety which exists to shroud the adventure in as profound a secrecy as possible, naturally lead us to infer that the fair un- known is some lady of exalted rank and uatarnished reputation. Altogether, the intrigue promises to be of a piquancy sufficient to move an anchorite.” “ And yet [ shall not keep the appointment nor accept the overtures thus mysteriously made,” said Lord Florimel, whose manner had gradually fallen inte a strange abstraction. “Not keep the appointment! — not aocept the overtures!’ echoed Montgomery, with the most un- feigned astonishment “Are you in earnest, Florimel ?—or have you so li:tle faith in my friend- ship and discretion, that you sre afraid I shall betray you to the beautiful Miss Pauline Clarendon %” “Those are not my reasons, Engene,” said the goung nobleman, in a very serious tone: “ but I will anhesitatingly admit, even at the risk of being well -aughed at by you, that [I am resolved—indeed, I have sworo—never to comit an act of perfidy to- wards Pauline. Therefore, my dear Eugene, [ shall not take any further notice of the overtures whereby I have been honoured; and if you really value my friendship, you will not make the slightest attempt to dissuade me from my purpose. Poor Paniine! ehe loves me so devotedly—and she has latterly expe- rienced se much affliction on account ef her father’s mauspicious marriage and other circumstances of a domestic nature, that I could not find it in my heart co plunge headlong into this intrigue, even though [ were certain that it would mever reach her eara.” Pe 8 Wee, “ After all you have said, my dear Gabriel,” cried Lord Montgomery, “I cannot do otherwise thas reapect your decision. At the same time, [ most sincerely wish that such an adventure would offze itself to me By Jove! nothing could be more amusing—nothing more exciting! I suppose you would not like the idea of allowing me to assume that blue domino and take your place at the approach- ing masquerade f"’ “My dear Eugene, such a proposal is unworthy of you,” said Lord Florimel, ia a tone of grave re- monstrance. “ Would it be honourable to the lady in question, whoever she may be——”* “I was only joking, Gabriel,” interrupted the Earl, who nevertheless bit his lip with vexation. “Of course this isa seeret which you must keep religiously and as a man of honour. But wherefore are you thus serious ?—and why is your air so pre- occupied? There is evidently something on your mind besides the present topic of conversation.” “To speak candidly,” said Lord Florimel, after nearly a minute’s profound silence and deep medi- tation, “ the overtures conveyed by that masquerade- ticket and the blue domino, have reminded me of an adventure which occurred fifteen months ago, before my brother’s sudden death conferred upon me the family title and estates. The adventure to which I allude was of a most extraordinary character; and [I could not help just fow associating it somewhat with the present overtures—although there is not any substantial ground to warrant the supposition that the lady concerned in the former affair is the same who has sent me the masquerade-card and the blue costume.” “ And that adventure of which you are speaking,” said Lord Montgomery, whose curiosity was ex- cited,—“ is it a secret? or may | without indiscre- tion beg you to relate it ?” “T do not think that there can be any breach of honour on my part in making you acquainted with the singular occurrence,” returned Florimel : “es- pecially as no pledge of secrecy was exacted from me at the time, and no particular lady’s reputation can possibly suffer by the narrative.” “Pray proceed: I am all attention,” sald Lord Montgomery, drawing his chair closer to that of his young friend. ‘You are aware, my dear Eugene,” began Florimel, “that as my late brother was unmarried and was ofan exceedingly nervous temperament, [ dwelt with him in this house after I left College; and although he exercised a species of parental es- pionage over me, ashe was so much older than myself, yet I deemed it a duty to bestow as much of my time and attention upon him as possible One day wo received an invitation to 8 grand en- tertainment which was to take place at Devonshire House; and much as my brother disliked the bustle, brilliancy, and splendid confusion of such [étes, he nevertheless felt himself bound to be present at this one, inasmuch as her Grace of Devonshire is related to our family. Thither we accordingly re- paired on the appointed evening; and the magni- ficent saloons were already crowded with the dlife of fashion when we were announced. In a short time the heat of the rooms became overpowering, despite the vases of refreshing perfume which stood in the corners of the apartments, and the green-house plants and flowers which were profusely arranged around be landing-places and in the brilliantly-lighted ecomilcooolks