The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

(alg i a I POT LIT I OT TT TDS: a THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. but now, as he gazed upon her, they beamed with , sible! it were an anomaly in human nature!—and the light of raptarous joy. The brilliant teeth | I am not without the hope that destiny haz re- shone between the half-parting lps; and in this | served for me the happiness of thawing that glacial moment of his ineffable delight, the rich warm blood | soul of your’s!” of his trans-Pyrenean natare was mantling through | “Don Diego Christoval,” answered Elisabeth, the transparent olive of his complexion. He was | still speaking seriously, but with a certain degree of dressed as a private gentleman: his apparel was | kindness in her agpents, as well as with the fullest handsome, yet in the best possible taste; and the | candour in her looks, “it is my firm belief that I closely fitting frock-coat displayed the fine symmetry | never can regard you with any other eontiment than of his tall form to ite fallest advantage. that of friendship. And now, I appeal to the gene- Elisabeth Paton quickly recovered from the | rosity of your nature, and to every feeling of delicacy startled surprise into which the sudden appearance | which must harbour in such a heart as your's, that of Don Diego had thrown her ; and with the natural | you will leave me at once. Yon mansion where I generosity of her heart, she chose to lose sight of | dwell, is the house of a benefactor—and I dare not the forced prisonage she had endured at his hands, | stand the chance of suffering in his estimation. He and to think only of the kindness and attention ' is absent too, at this moment: but my brother is received from himself and his associates in the there—and a very dear friend also—there are Catalan hille. But while she extended her hand, numerous servants likewisee—I am well known in abe nevertheless assumed a certain degree of reserve this neighbourhood——lIn short, every instant that in gentle rebuke for the unceremonious manner in you remain here threatens to compromise me mot which he had burst into her presence. Yet it must eeriously. What would be thought if I were seen be confessed that her mien was not exceedingly walking here with a stranger f” reproachful—beosase strong-minded though she; “A stranger to those whom you have named,” were, she was nevertheless sufficiently a woman | rejoined the Count reproachful!y,—* but no stranger to feel that his conduct was most flattering to her- | tO you! Will you not accord me a few minutes, — self. only a few minutes,—while I tell you all that I have Addressing bim in the French language, she said, | thought—all that I have done—and all that I have “Don Diego, what brings you to England ?” hoped, during the four years which have clapsod “Your image!” he replied in the English tongue, | since last I saw you?’ at the same time carrying her hand to his lips; and} “Well, then—a few minutes,” answered Elisa- kissing it rapturously ere she could withdraw it, he | beth: “and only a few minutes,” she added im- said, “That image which has nevér once been absent | pressively ; “because I must not be cumpromised.” from my mind since you fled from the tower in the/ “Oh! this coldness—this coldness!” ejaculated wilds of Catalonia !” the Count vehemently ;—“after I have told you ‘Elizabeth gazed upon him with the utmost aston- | that I came te England expressly to search after ishment: for he was addressing her in the English | you! It is more than I can endure! Have pity language,—spoken too with the utmost accuracy | upun me, Elisabeth—I beseech you to have pity and with but so little of a foreign accent that it was | upon me!—for never in this world was a woman barely perceptible. She knew at the time when ehe | the object of a love so devoted as: that which my was in Spain be was utterly unacquainted with | hoart cherishes for you. Love!—it is a passion her native tongue; and she naturally marvelled | transcending far all that poets ever dreamt or to perceive that he had acquired it to sush perfeo- | romancists ever depicted in the form of love !—it is a Hon. passion which has become so interwoven with the “TI have learnt the English for your | very principles of my existence, that if it be doomed sake,” he said, with a deep tenderness of voice and | to prolonged disappointment, it will drive me to & corresponding look—but both alike mingled with | put an end to my sorrows and perish in the blvod of a chivalrous respect, just as he was wont to deport | a distracted suicide |” himself towards ber during her ouptivity in Cate-| The Count spoke with a wild impetucsity, min- lonia. “And you asked me wherefore I came to | gied with a solemn earnestness, that for the moment England?’ he continued: “need you have put joverawed Elisabeth Paton, and even made her that question? But let me put a question to you— | afraid. Not afraid for herself—for she was a woman and I beseech and implore you to respond to it at | who scarcely knew the name of fear; and there was once. Have you ever thought of me with kindness | no Catalonian tower at hand to which she might be since you fled from Spain P” conveyed, and where she might be retained captive. “I have thought of yeu with friendship,” But she was afraid on account of that man whew Elisabeth Paton, seriously but frankly; “and loved her with an ardour so indubitable--a dopth of within the last few days, when relating my adven- | passion so sincere—and a constancy so well proven, , tures m Catalonia, I have spoken of you in similar | that she felt this menace of suicide to be no idle nor ; terme.’ inconsiderate one. ° e “Friendship !" murmured Count Ohristoval| “Count Christoval,” she said, giving him her mournfully : bat with a sudden access of hopeful- | hand—epeaking kindly, but with a half-reproechful pees, he exolaimed, “ Yet may not friendship prove look,—“it is not gunerous of you to address me ia the germ of a more tender feeling? I know you | these terms. Much as I may pity you—deeply as I ate not married—I have every reason to believe | may compassionate you—and even flattered and that you do mot love another--—Indeed, I have | honoured as I may feel by this love of your’s—yet beeu assured that you pride yourtelf on being un-|a woman’s heart is not to be won by passionate sasceptible of love. © Elisabeth! so bright and | threats and impetuous cutpourings.” beautiful a creature as you—-fo possess a heart that} “No!—but her heart is to be won by a devoter is unsusceptible of love! No, no—it were impus- | love,” exclaimed the Count; “and all that J say— — —-- - —-@ wa = GOoOHMG DOO CS (COL