The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

apc a APSE, a iT: NILE TE a TT TEE AB TS GG a a THE MYSTERIES. filled out—slightly rounded—and beautifully sloping; —and her waist was of a symmetry properly consis- ‘ent with the amplitude of this magnificent bust and the large projection of the hipa. Her arms were of sculptural massiveness, but admirably moulded— round, plump, and of dazzling whiteness ;—and her hands were perfectly ravishing with their long taper fingers and their vellucid almond-shaped nails. Her feet and ankles were of corresponding beauty ;—-and altogether her form, from the throat to the sule of the foot, was of a splendour and a voluptuousness which denoted a woman grandly handsome and fervently impassioned. For who could doubt that the black silk mask concealed a face whose features were in perfect keeping with the richness of contour, the fineness of proportion, and the elegance of figure which we have endeavoured to describe ? Lord Montgomery's eyes, in sweeping over the lady’s person, embraced at a glance all that we have taken some minutes to delineate. “Yes—lI am Lord Florimel,” he said at length, and with a voice as effectually disguised as when he excha those brief and rapid observations with the Flower Girl. “And are you, lady, that same adorable but mysterious creatare who fifteen months ago——""_—_ “Hush, my lord—hush!* murmured the Cir- cassian Slave, althongh Montgomery was speaking only in a whisper. “You remember the promise which I then made you——” “Yes—that we should meet again, dear lady,” continued the Earl: “ but an age has elapsed since then—and { began to fear that the pledge on your part would be never kept.” “Then you have wished to meet me again, Ga- briel #’ said the lady, in 4 voice trembling with in- effable emotions; and she walked slowly aside with Earl Montgomery as she thus spoke. “Ob! how can you ask me, adorable creature ?” exciluimed the nobleman, who remembered, as his ooks now dwelt devouringly upon her superb form, all that Florimel had told him of the {impassioned ardour and frenetic desires which animated the heroine of his four hours’ enjoyment: and the Earl felt his own imagination already wandering amidst those elysian blieses which had been so faithfully described to him, and of which the mysterious being now by his side was at the time alike the creatress and the partaker. “¥ ask you whether you wished to meet me again, Gabriel,” said the lady, in reply to his own ejacula- tory observation,—* because it is sweet to receive such an assurance—and because I must learp, cre we proceed farther in the renewal of our amour, whether you are prepared to be as docile, submis- | @8*q sive, and obedient to all I shall suggest or require, és you were upon the former occasion ” © Dearest Jady, do you imagine that by word or deed on my part I would forfeit the bliss which is derived from your society?” asked Lord Mont- gomery, still speaking in a low and assamed tone: and it struck him that through the holes in the lady’s mask came burning looks vibrating with de- sire. Then, a6 from behind his own mask he fixed his eyes taore ardently than before upon te splendid form of the Circassinn Slave, his devouring looks sought to penetrate tliroagh her very garments and feast as it were upon the charms of her entire persun,—s0 that in imagination did he fiaish and ua See eee - a, SD complete all the flowing lines which traced the contours of her shape, and all the inflections and swelling reliefs of her luxuriant figure,—until her apparel grew diapbanous, and her whole form be- came visible through the transparent vesture. Then, still giving the rein to his wanton fancy, he felt as if he were already folding In his embrace that fine person and revelling in all the sensuous enjoyment of its charms;—and maddened by tne desires which were consuming him, he seized her hand, marmuring in that tone of half-suffocation which is caused by extreme emotion, whether of bliss or pain—" Lady, dear ‘ady, let us depart to thine abode of love, and mystery, and pleasure !” “Yes—we will hasten away from this scene which has no longer any attractions for me, since I have encountered you, my Gabriel,” returned the Circassian Slave, her voice trembling with a pro- found sigh of pleasare. At that moment Lord Montgomery perceived the Fiower Girl standing ata little distance and evidently surveying himself and his companion with the mést absorbing attention ; and suspecting that her views were far from friendly ff not down- right mischievous,—though who she was or what her aims might be, he could not for the life of him conjecture,—he hastened to lead the Ciresssian Slave away from the busy, brilliant scene. “Do you know that female masque who seemed to be watching us?” inquired the jady in a voice auddenly denoting a profound agitation es she “Who?—ihe Flower Girl?” said Lord Mont gomery, now absolutely hurrying the Circassian Siave along towards the nearest avenue of egress. * No—I do not think that she was paying any at- tention to us-——”" “But I am certain she was,” interrupted the lady, with a struog emphasis. “Ah! Filorimel, is some fair one who loves you--who knows that you were coming hither disguised—and whe sur- veys mé with all the rage of jealousy! Heavens— if there should be a scene—a disturbance—-—” And Lord Montgomery not only felt his un- known companion’s haud trembiiog nervougly, bus also observed her entire frame* vibrating and quivering with alarm. « Fear nothing, lady—we are neither watobed nor. followed,” he said, in a tone of joyous reassarance, after having cast a rapid glance behind. % —7 “Ob! whats a weight is lited from my soal[” | murmured the Circassian Slave, likewise looking hastily back and perceiving that the Flower Giri was now in earnest conversation with a female ue representing a Gipsy. “ Bus I feel as if [ should faint, Gabriel—the terror I have experi- enced has been, crucl—and now this sudden re- action——" “Will you not be able to reach yous carsiage, dearest lady ?” inquired Montgomery, in a tone which evinced his alarm although he still had the presence of mind to disguise his voice. “No—I fear not—sa faintness is coming over me——Oh! for a glaes of water!” murmured the Circassian Slave, now supporting herself in such & manner that her two arms were passed as it were in his own and her bosom jeant against his shoulder. Fortunately they at this moment emerged from the midet of the maequerade-scene and entered the corridor whence opened the lower tier of boxes—se AOOLK co