The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

he ee — en a YC - 70 fHE MYSTERIES. placed in a situation which afforded an opportunity that could scarcely be resisted. And the reader must make all pc sible allowances for him, if his firmness did rapidly obb away. For there he was— encircled in the warm and tender embrace of an amorous woman, who was strikingly handsome,—a@ woman who, although in the meridian of ber life, nevertheless appeared several years younger, inas- much as care and attention had wonderfully pre- served her ocharms,—a woman, therefore, who pos- sessed all the attractions of a young girl, combined with the dangerous fascinations of an accomplished syren. Alas! we must confess that Florimel was on the point of surrendering—was on the very verge of suffering himself to be seduced by that artful and voluptuous creature, as if he were the coy young woman and she was the experienced man of matyre age,—yes, he was about to yield to the opportunity, the place, and the temptation,—when his gaud genius interposed. Or was it for thy sweet sake, O innocent and beauteous Pauline! that some pro- pitious power manifested its saving influence at that moment when the vows pledged to thee were on the point of being lost in perjury ? We know not: suffice it to say that at the instant when Mrs. Brace was about to triamph and Lord Florimel to succumb, a hasty kngck was heard at the door of her chamber. The young nobleman burst from the armg of the milliner, who instantly threw herself back upon the pillows, drawing her vesture oveg her palpi- tating bosom: then, in a voice as composed gad collected as she could render ij, she exolaimed, “Come in f” Harriet, the lady’s-maid, entered the room bear- ing a letter. “T shall now say farewell,” cried Lord Florimel, inwardly rejoicing at this providential interruption: for a sudden revulsion of feeling had revived all | his good resolutions in a moment. “I see that you ‘have business to attend to, my dear friend,” he _ ee added: then, having pressed her hand, he hurried away, regardless of the look which she cest to im- plore him to remain. “From whom does this note come ?” demanded the disappointed and enraged milliner, scarcely able to subdue an inclination to wreak her spite and annoyance upon the abigail. “A young woman, dressed in widow's weeds, brought it, ma'am,” wasthe answer. “I should not haveintruded until you were disengaged, but that she said the letter was of the utmost importance to you as well as to others.” “Strange!—whom can it be from t* murmured} Mrs. Brace. “Is the person waiting?” “Yes, ma’am. But I’m inclined to think that there’s something strange about her—for the moment I opened the street-door, she rushed in and shut the door again of her own accord, just for all the world as if she was afraid of being seen coming here, or as if some one was watching her outside.” “Wait an instant,” said Mrs. Brace, a vague mie- | | giving seizing her: for, as she turned the soiled and |: ill-folded letter over in her hand, she could not help associating it in some way or another with her hus- band, the Mageman. At length mustering up courage to open it, she saw that the contents were written in a scrawling female hand, as was also the address outside; and, om oe@f £62 4242 eo, @® oe. & 2 oD B.A a4 — GOLAAL eee ar@)(o) Ss COMM