The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 90: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES. 78 af doing anything to strengthen the suspicion with which she already appeared to view him. Again she passed him by—closer this time than before :—and he could even catch the bright and searching looks which she fixed upon him. Yes— and be heard, too, the subdued sigh which came from her bosom, and which seemed to torture her with a suffocating effect. The impulse which now eeized upon him was irre- sistible ; gnd stepping forward, he took her hand, saying in a low whisper, “ Beauteous lady, wherefore are you unhappy?” For un instant he felt her hand tremble even through the white kid glove which covered it: the next moment that hand was snatched back with a strange abruptness—and her looke appeared to flash through her mask, as she said in a tone that was musically fluid though evidently feigned, * Who are you f” “Tam Lord Florimel to the world— Gabriel to you, sweet lady, whoever you may be,” was the re- sponse delivered hy Montgomery, in a key so soft and low that it was impossible it could either confirm of Juli a suspicion as to whose voice it really was. “You are Lord Florimel %” said the Flower-Girl, her own voice now sounding so tremulously as to be scarcely audible—and the Earl could perceive that her entire frame writhed as if with a sudden con- valsion, but whether of frenzied joy or searching anguish he could not at the instant conjecture: for that abrupt vibration so much resembled the spasm of a bitter affliction—and yet what other feeling could influence her save a thrill of eostacy ? “Yee—I am Lord Fiorimel,” repeated Mont- gomery, stil) sendering his voice utterly impossible to be recognised; “ and you, dearest lady——” “Traitor !—perjurer !” murmured the unknown, in a dying voice—and she appeared suddenly to stagger aa if about to fall. Montgomery, though struck with dismay at the tremendous epithets which had just been hurled at his head, stretched out his arms to save her: but this movement on bis part seemed to recall her to herself in an instant—and repelling his attentions With am evident mingling of hatred and scorn, she darted away—glided with the aerial lightness of a Bayadere amidst the crowd—and was lest to his view. “Damnation !” murmured Lord Montgomery to himself: “the adventure is spoilt—the trick is dia- covered—the game is lost! She perceived that I was not Lord Fiorimel: and as it was Lord Florimel !—and Lord Florimel only—whom she was resolved to have, no substitute would answer her purposa But what on earth did she mean by calling mea @ perjurer? The word ‘trailor,’ is intelligible enongh—for it is doubtless a treacherous act to personate one’s friend in a love-intrigue of so deli- cate a nature aa thie, But perjurer—perjurer—how can I bea perjurer? Perhaps she meant that I was the traitor and Florimel the perjurer: and yet he assured me that she never bound him by aay oath or pledge at all. Be that, however, as it will—it is not the less annoying to experience so signal a failure in an enterprise which promised to be of so delicious ®& piquancy. She must assuredly be a splendid creature! What a glorious complexion—what ad- mirably-moulded arms—what a superb length of limb—and what an elegant figure! Then the bust —just ample enough to be voluptuous—and yet ap- pearing to possess a virginal plampness and firmness ! Albeit she is no virgin, if Florimel’s tale be true: and who can doubt it? Still there is about this charming being a certain maiden freshness and all that wholesome fiush of youthfulness which do not bespeak a long nor an intimate acquaintance with amorous pursuits and exciting pleasures. Oh! it ig enough to drive me mad with rage and disappoint- ment, to think that I should have lost so golden an opportunity! But I may yet make my peace with her—it is not perhaps too Jate—and who knows what may be the result? I will plead the strength of a passion excited almost to delirium by the tale whioh Lord Florimel narrated ;—and I will reveal the whole truth—who I sam—and by what stratagem I hoped to take the place of the young noble whose puritanical devotion to his Pauline would not permit him to plunge into this intrigue! Yea—let me seek the mysterious Flower Girl—and all will yet be well |” With this last reflection still traversing his brain, Lord Montgomery hastened in search of the dis- guised lady who had already excited so deep an interest in his heart. Guataa=ap CHAPTER CXLIII. THE MASQUERADE.—SCENE THE SECOND. Wa must now inform the reader of a ciroumstance which we did not choose to interrupt our narrative to relate before. This was, that while the Flower Girl was timidly hovering about the spot where Lord Montgomery had been posted, in the manner already related, her movements were observed and keenly though cautjously watched by two in- dividuals in masquerade costume. One was a tall and somewhat portly map, of fine proportions and robust symmetry. He was at- tired in a Turkish garb remarkable for the richness of its material and tho elegance of its ornaments ; aod his countenance was carefully congealed by a black satin mask. His companion, who was of shorter atature, was dressed in a biack domino, and likewise wore a mask, These two persons had entered the theatre almost at the same time as the Flower Gisi; aad as the Tork was immediately struck by the winaing grace and seductive elegance of her appearance, concealed though her featares were, he had fol- lowed her amidst the mazes of the crowd—though atesuch a distance as to avoid exciting her sus- picions. His companion in the black doming kept constantly a few paces in the rear; and whenever the Turk addressed a word to him, he received the communication with the profound deferenee of an iuferior. From the first moment, we say, that they had caught sight of the Flower Girl, they had watched her motions, in order to ascertain whether she was altogether alone, or whether she had an appoint. ment with some one for whom she was searching. They had seen her approach Lord Moatgomery ia the first instance—they had observed the soruti- nizing look which she threw upon him—and they had marked the rapidity with which she tarned back and plunged again fate the crowd. Then they followed her at a distance ; and they perceived GOH GOO (COLUM