The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 247: what you’re looking at

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

240 very serious tone: “ but it was with the expecta- tion of finding that you had thought better of your yesterday's folly, and that in order to make amends you would not be here to-day.” “Then you understood me not! you compre- hended not the passion with which your charms had inspired me! Oh, believe me when I declare that not for one single moment has your image been absent from my mind. Not once did I close my eyes in slumber last night : I lay thinking of you —TI did not wish to sleep—my reverie was delicious. I knew that you would come to-day: I had no doubt of it! I felt that such a love as that which I cherished towards you, could not fail to inspire at least some small amount of compassion—some trifling degree of sympathy—some particle of in- terest. You must have reflected that a man who offers to devote himself entirely to you—to elevate you in his heart’s tabernacle as the idol of his wor- ship—is not one whose love is to be treated with indifference. All this I said to myself; and there- fore I knew that you would come.” ‘And is it possible,” asked Mrs. Chesterfield “that you are still in this frame of mind? What am I to do to reason you into a more rational course? Did I not tell you that I was married?” “And did I not assure you in return, that no husband shall bar me from you? But he is absent —he neglects the treasure that he possesses———”” “Speak not of him thus,” interrupted the lady : “he is on his way to India, whither imperious duties summon him.” “To India?’ echoed the Viscount, enthusiastic joy lighting up his featuros, and rendering them so supremely handsome that the lady's countenance flushed with a deeper dye and her eyes-swam in a more voluptuous lustre, as she gazed upon him. “To India, say youP Then has he left the arena open for another competitor to carry off the prise ! To India P—and he could leave you behind him! Oh, he loves.you not !——believe me, he loves you not—while I offer you the devotion of the ten- dereat heart and the adoration of a whole life- time !” The lady gave no answer—but bent down her looks as she walked slowly by the side of the im- passioned young Viscount. He gazed upon her— that is to say, as much as he could discern of that gloriously handsome countenance which was thus bent downward: he gazed upon her with rapture and with hope! Then his eyes slowly wandered over the sweeping length of her magnificent shape ; and he felt that he could seize her in his arms—he could strain her to his breast—he could cover her ips, her cheeks, and her brow with kisses. But he dared not yet go thus far: and yet he saw that his triumph was aseured. For if she intended to reject him altogether, why did she continue silent now P why did she keep her looks bent down? why was she evidently reflecting? Ah! says not the old proverb that the woman who deliberates is host ?— and was she not deliberating at that moment ? “ Tell me—teil me,” he said, after a long pause, “that I am not altogether indifferent to you.” “T know not how to address you,” she answered, in a low murmuring voice, as she gently raised her blushing countenance. “If I beseech you to leave me, you will not; and if I were to fly stealthily away from Paris, you would pursue me. If I in- woke the aid of the law—which perhaps is my duty —-— «<.——— THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. —I nevertheless foel that it would be a too cruel punishment for the love which you proclaim, and which seems to have become your master. In every way, therefore, do I find myself compromised with you. Four-and-twenty hours have elapsed since we parted; you have had leisure to reflect upon what yesterday took place—and yet you are still the same. The s of your passion is thus shown—I cannot doubt it: and it were to take the highest stand on the pedestal of female pride—or shall I say to fall into the very extreme of female affectation P—if I were to declare that I am neither flattered mor complimented by the tribute of such a love as this.” The Viscount de Chateauneuf, literally trem- bling with the thrill of ecstacy and wild delight which shot through his frame, seized the lady’s hand again—pressed it in his own—and this time found that it was not so immediately withdrawn. As he thus pressed it too, he fancied that it qui- vered somewhat to his touch: he likewise thought that the colour heightened upon her cheeks—and that therefore she lf was not inaccessible to the emotions that throbbed in his own heart. He offered her his arm; and she took it,—her hand however not leaning upon it, but merely resting there light as if it were a feather. “TJ will not therefore say,” she continued, in the same low murmuring voice as before, “that I am altogether indifferent to the proofs of love which you have offered me: but still I feel as if standing on the brink of a precipice into which one false step will precipitate me, and whence all return is impossible. Now, M. de Chateauneuf, it is no light thing for you to seek the accomplishment of this immense change in my circumstances: nor can I consent, as if it were in a moment of frenzy, to rush blindly and precipitately on such a new phase of existence. Let not our pregent interview be prolonged: it is for you to regard it as a proof that whatsoever I may promise will be faithfully “ Promise me, therefore,” exclaimed the young nobleman, “ that to-morrow, at fhe same hour and the same place, you will meet me. Promise mo this—and I am your slave, ready to obey you in all things.” “I promise,” answered Mrs.Chesterfield. “And now leave me——Go—let us separate: and above all things, take care how you compromise me at the respectable dwelling where I am residing.” “Compromise you !” ejaculated the Viscount, as if he thought the injunction seemed to throw a damp upon his hopes. “ Assuredly I will nut seck your presence until I receive your full permission : but if when you come to know me bettcr—if when you catch more of the inspiration of that love which I feel for you,—if then, I say, you decide upon abandoning yourself altogether unto me, you will have to dare the opinion of the world—you will be- come what is called compromised; and from this you must not shrink. Do you understand me? It is no mere passing intrigue of gallantry which I propose: T should loathe myself if I were capable of offering you such an insult: I should loathe you if you were capable of accepting it. No:—what I require of you is the utter and total renunciation of all other tics; so that when your husband returns from India, he may not find you ready to receive him with open arms—put he may know the tree- (COL 5 DOO CS (COL