The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

e PS AS yr LOO A LR aaa a a a a a a A I A A A ICCC ACAI CTIA OAT Anne qm? ait gHs misrtarks. a “Now then, fist coach there!” exclaimed the fellow;—and up drove a vehicle into which the Flower Girl immediately ascended. “Where to, me’am f” was the next and last demand. “To some respectable hotel,” replied the Flower Girl, after a few moments’ reflection. * All nght!” ejaculated the man, banging the door and touching his hat for the silver coin which the Flower Girl dropped into his hand. And away drove the hackney-coach: but Ger- main, who had etripped off his mask and domino, was ecated by the side of the coachman upon the box—and after a few minutes’ conversation together, the valet handed five guineas to that individual, who secured them about his person, chuckling at the handsome amount of the bribe given for so easy a service as that which was required from him. la about ten minutes the coach stopped ; and down jumped Germain to open the door. * What hotel is this?” inquired the Flower Gir], looking up and observing what appeared to her to be only a row of handsome private houses. “The St. James’s Family Hotel, ma’am,” said Germain, officiousiy letting down the steps and handing the Flower Girl out of the vehicle. Meantime the coachman had rang and knocked at the house door, which was almost instantaneously opened; and the appearance of a female servant with a candle in her hand reassured the Fiower Girl, if indeed she had even for a moment enter- tained a suspicion that anything was wrong. The night was piercing cold—eleven o'clock had struck—and therefore it was no wonder if Germain harried the Flower Girl into the house: while the promptitude of his proceedings and the despatch which characterised the attentiuns he thus appeared to be showing to the lady, left her not an instant to ask herself who the courteous and obliging in- dividual could possibly be. But as the light, which the female servant held in her hand, flashed upon hig countenance, it instantly struck the Flower Giri thas his features were not altogether un- familiar ¢o her. Still she had no time to pause and reficct where or when she had scen that genteel- looking man in black before,—for the female ser- Vant began to lead the way np a handsome and well-lighted staircase. ° The Flower Girl followed mechanically —and she bad jast began to reflect that it was somewhat ex- traordinary that such prompt and even officious attentions should be shown her, a stranger though she were at the bouse and not having even opened her lips to express what she required,—ooming too alone at that huur of the night and in a masquerade dress ;—upoo all these points had she begun to reflect, we say—aud a distant suspicion had even raised its nascent glimmering in ber mind—wheu the servant threw open the door of an apartment, seying, “ Walk in, if you please, madam.” The Flower Girl paused for an instant: then, feeling how ridiculous her hesitation would seem if her faint misgiving should prove unfounded, she threw her cluak upon a chair on the landing and advanced boldly forward. The door closed behind her—she found herself in a large, handsomely furnished, and well-lighted hry tall figure, disyuised in the garb of ® ,urk and wearing a mask upon his countenance, advanced to reosive her. ™ “There must be some terrible mistake in all a a this,” exclaimed the Flower Girl, stepping becb and glancing round uneasily towards the door. “No, charming lady,” said the Tark; “there is no tnistake, I can aseure you! A little stratagem has been it is true—bat you will pardey me, I feel convinced. And now let me introduce ede Geiheewwesss,.- - myself to you as Ms. Harley,” added the Prince, removing the mask from his feateres, “ And J,” said the lady whose whole frame had quivered violently when the familiar sound of the heir- voice first struck upon her ears, bus whohad recovered all herself-command and natural strength of mind ere he had broaght his speech to a conolusion ;—* and I,” she exclaimed, slowly re- CHAPTER CXLY. THE HEIR-APPARERT AXKD THE SISTER OF HIS VICTIM. A suppEN stupefaction appeared to seize upon the Prince of Wales the moment that the melodious but firm voice of Pauline breathed her well known mame and that her fair hand took the satin cover- ing from her lovely face. Shame and humiliation were the first which he experienced as the stapor of astonishment began to subside ;~and then the fiendish thought suddenly struck him that as Pauline was ravish- ingly beantiful, there was no reason why he shoald not make an attempt upon her virtue. On the other hand, the hatred which Pauline Clarendon bore towards the Prince of Wales, whom she loathed and detested as the cause of her sister's ruin and miefortunes, inspired her with feelings which not only prevented her from experiencing any apprehension on account of the position where- in she was now placed, but even prompted her to seize this opportunity of unfolding her sentiments upon certain matters. “Upon my soul, this is the most remarkable coincidence that ever happened [” exclaimed the Prince of Wales at length. “ But did you not ob- serve me at the masquerade just now, Pauline 7” “Base aud black indeed must your heart be,” said the young lady, every levely lineament of het countenance expressing the magaitede of the re- sentment and aversion which filled her soul,—- “since you can so readily adopt a tone of ineclent familiarity towards the sister of your victim [” “You know that 1 am profoundly grieved for all that has happened in respect to Ootavia,” said the Prinoe: “but 1 really could not help it—'twas an ordinary case of love and gallantry the o:rcum- stances of which afterwards expanded into an ig» portance and assumed a gravity which I ogaid neither foresee nor prevent,” “The very observations which you have just made, Prince of Wales,” exclaimed Pauline, bitterly “prove the truth of my assertion relative to the blackness and baseness of your heart.” “Your words are more than rade, young lady” said the heir-apparent, biting his lip: “but I de not feel disposed to suffer them to goad me inte anger. (a the contrary, | had rather that you should unberthen your busum of all and every- thing you may have to allege against me—and then, AOOLK a a Gu qaa==-- (CO