The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 53: what you’re looking at

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effect npen Me. -eapentions —and -his upon bar: end, dsemebling allover with sage and with bleed, inflamed alike hy last aad gotnnt jiquer, |e countenance that ehewed ws deadiy pallor oven appeared to boil in his veins. The milliner tock fom her vriting-deek a cqem- ber ef Bank -netes; and whenshe retaraed to bar epal, she was mose prefemndiy etrack aad moze seviomily alarmed then af-firss by the cingular -cx- pression of countenance with which Mr. Geamiey veagarded her: end pesicnoedin all the looks and glances wick con- atitate on index to the siroag, fiery, or libidianas passisas of the aoul, yet ber ptkie would searealy permit ber io betienc that she ooasse, vuigasz, ill- fasoured, ber part. “Here is your meney, Mr. Geumley,” she aaid, affecting a pleasant bat patronising emile : then, the more firmly to doqprese upen hismind the fast that the razarded him.as.se inferiearwhomshe was paying fur bis hireling services, ase observed, “ You have peally well earned the amount—aad I have every reason to be satisfied with your conduct. I sould nat.passibly have employed a better agent in ‘the matter.” “I\m glad .you'ne aatisiied, my dear creatar’,” Ye- tummed the countable, equeesiag her hand as he took the Bank-notes which she gave him, and accom- panying-that evidence of bis admization by a look of amoreus grosaness. diss. Brace drew back her hand rapidly, and as- ausoed 40 severe al expression of countenance that Mr Peter Gramiley could not help observing that she was offended: but he only iaughed—and then preeeaded to count the Bank-notes with a business- ike deliberation. “Right as a trivet,” he exclaimed when this methodical task was acoomplished: and securing the meney about his person, he fixed his eyes long and earnestly on the milliner’s countenance. “ You're a wery handso ne woman—a wery handsome woman,” he repeated ; “ and I don't know whan I've bean eo much excited by any lady’s pexsonal appearance. la fact, I feel ali over no-how, maam—and that’s Gou's tzuth.’”’ “Mr. Grumiley, [ am surprieed at you,” said the milliner, her cheeks becoming scariest. “ But you cappot mean apything eave a joke,” she exclaimed, inetantamcously recovering her presence of mind and foscing heraclf to smile. “ By goles! I never was less inclined to jake in all my life, my dear creatur’,” asied Mr. Grunaloy. “There seems to be a wery devil in my heat and heil-fize in my blood, prompting ane to do anythink 60 26———" “What do yeu mean, air?” exclaimed the milliser, etarting from her seat in alarm: for the eyes of the cnnsiabis anpcaced 10 devour ber with their oeks of oT giean, may dear beautifal a Grum- ley, also qutting his chair and extemling his arms towards her,—“ that I mast and will have a kise— even if I die for it” And before Mrs. Brace could offer any resistance @x even give utteranue to a word of remousizanoe, she was locked ia the rude embrace of the herculean censtable, and his coarse mouth was fastened to her own Juacious lps. “ Now will you Jeave me A ng Tepid and excited tone, as he at length relieguished his ithaengh the-eslt tat-of rouge that was went to. sender ‘her cheaks a0 captivating with ste sasente bleem, ehe clang to the mantel-picce fer support. “leaw you!—-no—by-heavans, [I won't leave yeu till to-morrow morning !" exclaimed Gramleg, maad- dened ‘with the content of the millimer’s lips, the ‘sueets of which he bad just enjoyed, and longing enee acse to deal the warm pressure of her gloniag bosom against his cheet. “This is an insolance —~ ansupportable — inte- lerable! \"’ gasped Mrs. Brace, ber eyes actually be- eoumieg haggard with mingled alarm aad horreres she ros: vead upoa the countenance of the officer all the forncity :of those passions which were raging in his soni: then sil on a sudden she extended her hand with frantic desperation towards the bellpull. But Gramley, anticipating the movement, once more caugit hero his arma; and, in spite of her desperate struggies — for she feared to alarm the whole house-by siieking lor help-—he suceceded in imprinting a dagen kisscs-upen her lips that were now parched with rage, and.on- har cheeks that wer burning from the same eination, Atmost annihilated ‘by the intolerable diggust arising rom these odious caresses, and hy the sar- ‘gible apprehensions which the rabid lesciviousnesr of the monster's manner and looks excited in, hes brain, the milliner sank, breathless aad exhausted Upon a seal “ Now, listen to me,” aaid the constable, speaking with the hot breath and parched tengue of a brutal lust. “I've taken a faney to you—anad I'm deter- mined to gratify my whim. I know you ain’t over particular yourself—and I also know taat a strange man’s sleeping in your house won't be any unusual thing. So, let us have no palaver ——” “Ah!” ejaculated the miserable Mra. Brace, her tongue unlocking through the very peignancy of her despair: “that ungrateful Caroline Waliers has vilified me and my establishment—I see it all!” “ Well, she did tell me a few plain truths, my dear creatur,” observed Grumiey: “ but not more than I had guensed beforehand. Fer the instant that you made me go with you to the Priace, and when I found that his Royal {lighness was so very much idterested m you, and eo anxious that them young gals should be got off—oh! oh! thought I to my- “Enough! enough” cried Mra. Brace in a tene of almost abject entseaty. “Tell me what tum of moucy you sow require to induce yon to leave me at once.” “Lord bless your dear heart,” returned Mr. Grumley, “ what 3 mercenary son af a gun you must take me to be! But] should be ashamed to receive another suverin at your hands—whereass I do mean to help myself to me end af kisees.” “ Dare not approach me again—or I will alarm the house!” said Airs. Brace, in a hoarse, thick, aod repid tone, while her hands were clenched until the nails of her fingers alinest penetrated the plump white flesh. “ My dear angel, a chap as is accustomed to ¢rapple with thieves and the inmost desperatest wag- eabones, isn’t likely to be afeard of a pretty wainan’s anger,’ eaid Grumley. “So let us bave MO more nonsense—it's only delaying pleasure—aad sny resolution’s ixed to pass tle night with you——” B a a eminem ee eee i ee i er a i i ed ag ae (COU ~ oo (C DOO (CO