The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 301: what you’re looking at

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

——_——— =~ — ~~ — Sp 298 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Ce bosom than was consistent with modesty: the| wife. I cannot renounce you, my Auguste, whom luxuriant masses of her raven hair floated over her | I love so devotedly: but I will renounce her whom half-naked shoulders; and her large dark eyes/ I love not and have never loved. The world must swam in a delicious languor, as she smilingly | know it at length: but the world shall say I heve welcomed the Viscount’s presence. The logs | not been unjust towards her. I will give her half crackled and blazed in the fire-place: the atmo- | my fortune: the remaining half will leave me still sphere of the apartment was warm and slightly | rich—amply rich enough for you and me to live perfumed. Though not yet mid-day, the appear- | in comfort, and even in ance of that voluptuous creature and the 0 tragragpe “Then do you mean, my beloved Jules,” asked which seemed to breathe around her, aade Augusta, “that we are to live openly together hour appear as fitted for the blandishments of love | henceforth—that the necessity for secrecy shall exist as if night were upon the earth, the curtains were | no more—that caution shall no longer be used ?” drawn, and the lamps lighted. “Buch is my meaning,” ejaculated the Viscount “You are later than usual, my dear Jules,” said | vehemently. “Do you object, Augusta P do you Augusta, as he placed himself on the sofa by her | still tremble at the idea of all this coming to your side and encircled her waist with his arm. “Ah! husband's knowledge ?” and I perceive that something has troubled you,”| “Candidly I do,” she answered, raising her she added, her taper fingers pushing back the | head and looking him earnestly in the face. masees of naturally curling hair from over the “'You have something in your mind P” he said: high forehead of that youthful countenance which | “speak—what is it? Have I not sworn to be as was so fine a specimen of masculine beauty.|a husband unto you ?—wherefore need you care “Tell me, dearest Jules,”—and she imprinted aj for him who is absent? Have I not vowed to be glowing kiss upon his cheek,—“ what is it that has | a father for your expected babe f—what anxiety, annoyed you P” then, can yon entertain for the fature welfare of “ Augusta,” he replied, with the suddenness of| your as yee eon child? Speak, Auguste— a resolve taken in a moment, “I cannot lead this speak life any longer! I cannot divide my time between| “Oh! it is ‘all this,” she murmured, forcing you and my wife: my heart is Aere—and I am/| tears from her eyes, “which troubles me and wearied of playing the dissembler there. It is | makes me wretched. It is only when you are cruel and unjust towards every one: cruel and | with me that I am happy: because then I forget unjust towards you—cruel and unjust towards my e virtuous past—the guilty present wife—cruel and unjust towards myself! No, 1! —the uncertain future! Bat when I am alone, a can endure it no longer! I must be all in all to| thousand terrors haunt me. I have a husband morning-wrapper, somewhat more open at the{ imperative. I must either renounce you or my you, as you are.all in all o me——lI will leave | who is rich, and under whose care neither myself nor my expected offepring need ever tremble at the idea of want. It is not even now too late for me to take a step which will still leave me in that state of confidence! My husband need not know that I have been guilty—that I have dishonoured him: these people here are bribable; and you, as aman of honour, would never breathe to a soul’ what has taken place between us. But I must fly hence—I must see you no more !” “Qh, wherefore this language P’’ exclaimed the Viscount : “what have I done to deserve i¢? You ‘Tell me, dear Jules, what has taken place,” nese upon her paramoun “ Have you had words with the Viscountess P” “Words?” he ejaculated: “henceforth I feel that we ahall always have words, if we continue to live together! It cannot be! It is impossible that I can receive her caresses only to repulse them : that is a part my better feelings will not longer allow me to play. No, [ cannot! Much rather would I break with her at idly confess to her that I love another—and beseech her not to interfere with my happiness!” apprehend poverty———Good heavens! am I not far richer than your husband, from all that you have told me? and can I not at any moment place you in a state of independence? Ah, I compre hend !—your fears are natural, as the world goes; though in respect to me, they are not just. You fancy that my love may cool-——-” “Remember, my dear Jules,” interrupted the syren, murmuringly, “the love of man is different from thet of a woman. A woman may conceive a all the rest of her life-time: but a man who loves thereon,—as if she felt thet she had now him to the point towards which she had gradually, and cautiously, and skilfully been leading him on. And if he could only have seen that look, transient though it were, a veil would have fallen from his eyes in a moment: he would have nees of true love which she professed for him, was naught but a delusion and a snare ! “What would you do?” she asked, assuming a low tremulous voice: “would you precipitate matéers ?” “There ean be no rash precipitation,” he ex- claimed, “in doing that which has now become entire being. But itis my aim and my ensure your happiness——Oh! full well do I ap- the immensity of the sacrifice which you have already made for me, but which has still te be consummated! Now hsten, Augusta; and you shall have proof that I love you-—-you shall bave proof toe that I am an honourable man !” CO IMULUG 5 DOO CS (COL