The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

pot in women,” he added, his eyes gloating upon the milliner’s well-developed charms. “And it I were thin, you would found a compli- ‘ meat upon sylph-like elegance and delicate sym- metry, said Oders. Brace, smiling archly. “ Ah! | Mr. Harley—the English people may well boast of youss being the most polished gentleman in Ey- rope.” | 4No—does any one say thai of me ?” demanded the Prince, his countenance lighting up with a | satisfaction and a@ triumph which he could not con- ceal. 4 Most assuredly,” responded Mrs. Brace. “The ‘newspapers—the Magazines—the poets—the no- | velista, allagree on that pvint.” | “Bat don’t you kuow, Fauny, that the public press of England is the most grovelling, debased, ‘aad despicably lickspittle towards Royalty ——’” : “Oh! this vituperation frum your lips!” ejacu- ‘lated the milliner, affecting to be shocked. “The _press only does its duty and tells the truth when it | ‘peaks highly in favour of the heir-apparent to the | “] think that last phrase of yours comes within ' the range of offences which I threatened to punish ip a certain manner,” exclaimed the Prince ;—and guce more he pressed his lips to those of the hand- some milliner, who, to use the words of Sir Giles Uverreachin the Play, “ kissed close again.” “ Every car23s that you thus bestow is an act of treason to the lovely girl whom you are to meet presently,” said Mrs. Grace, after a short pause, during which she re-adjusted the lace that fringed the bosom of her gown, the Prince having some- what disturbed it with his intrusive hand. “ Nay—these innvucent toyings only render me more anxious to embrace the charmiag Octavia,” retarned his Royal Highness. “ According to the mote which | received from her, she will be here panctually at seven: but I sent you word that I should call at six, because you have been so good aad kind to me lately that I thought you deserved this little attention o1 my part. In fact, I came early on purpose to have an hour’s chat with you— as I knew that you would not be busy on a Sunday “ it ia really very condescending on your part,” observed Mrs. Brace, with another of her sweetest smiles. “ But bow do you manage to correspond with the young lady, since the letters do not pass through my hands ?” “ They receive letters for me, addressed to Mfr. | Harley, at Long’s Hotel,” answered tho Prince. “Octavia, believing me tu be a country g3utieman \ having a seat in some part of Kent, would have _ been surprised if I had not told her where I was staying—or rather pretended to be staying—in 1 Londun ;—and therefore [ made her believe that I idi the fashivnable hotel in Bond = ng at | * LE understand,” said Mrs. Brace. “You have | pot seen her since you passed the night together my house ?” | “No: but you told me all that had occurred— | how her father had returned, and how Lord F lori- , mel had escorted her home. She herself likewise | mentioned those circumstances in her letter tu me | yesterday. It appears that Mr. Clarendon’s posi- tion has undergone a sudden and remarkable | change—that his income is considerably increased | THE MYSTERIES. —and that he is about to remove with his dauchters to a handsome house in Cavendish Square. Le will be all the more easy for Octavia to get away from home at times : because young ladies who have the means to go out shopping and who have friends to visit, can always invent a thousand excuses fora frequent absence of several hours. Besides, you have assured me that her sister Pauline is already engaged in a love-intrigue on her part ” “ No—not exactly au intrigue,” exclaimed Mrs. Brace ; “ because she triumphed over the tempta- tion of the moment, and reduced her admirer Flo- rimel to as sickly a state of sentimentality as ever I had the misfortune to contemplate.” “ And is he not recovered from that condition ” demanded the Prince. “ Far from it. I saw him yesterday—and he was devising a thousand schemes to obtain a formal in- troduction to the Clarendon family—so that he may visit them on a proper footing and in daé time propose for the younger daughter.” “Thi3 must not be, Fanny, of Pauline, a sense of honour will indace him to rescue Octavia from this intrigue:—and such # proceeding will by no means suit me. Fam really desperately enamoured of this girl, and cannot part from her yet awhile. Is Florimel incurablo with his sentimentality ” “It would be at least avery difficult matter to effect such a cure,” answered the milliner. “He ‘has taken a solemn vow to abjure what he now calls his profligate life—he has sworn to forbear from al intrigue—in fine, he has resolved to become worthy of possessing the innocent; amiable, and virtuous Pauline. Those are his very words.” “ This is nauseating in the extreme,” observed the Prince, in atone of unfeigned disgust: for the royal voluptuary could not understand the existence of such a pure and holy feeling as that which Pau- line had awakened in the breast of Lord Florimel. “Iam not acquainted with the young nobleman— or [ might perhaps undertake the task of making him sensible of his folly in yielding to such maudlin emotions. But you, my dear Fanny——Now tell me candidly,” he exclaimed, suddenly interrupting himself ;—“has anything beyond mere friendship ever yet existed between you and Lord Florimel?* ‘ Nothing—on my honour!” answered Mrs. Brace, emphatically. “ Thea it is for you to take the young nobleman in hand, and subduo him,” rejoined the Pringe. “Do you comprehend me? Yes—by the blush that rises to your cheeks, I perceive that you not only understand me, bat that the suggestion affurds you pleasure. Promise me to do your best in this inatter—as it is of the highest importance to me, in my amour with Octavia, that she should not obtain a defender—a monitor—and perhaps an avenger, in the person of a brother-in-law.” “ TI will do all that yoa have recommended,” said Mrs. Brace. The Prince was about to bestow upon her another tender caress as a reward for her ready complai- gance, wheu the door opened and Harriet entered — or rather burst iato the room—with an affrighted countenance. “What means this intrusion?” demanded his Royal Highness, haughtily. “O madam” exclaimed the lady’s-maid, address- 1.7 ‘ness. “Should Lord Florimel become the husband GOLAAL FD) bole Ss