The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

222 thing surprising in the circumstance of her husband having given such an invitation, yet the fact that the Prince had accepted it—nay, she felt assured, must have thrown out some hint which elicited it—was too significant not to be understood by the Jady. Then—Oh! then, how violent was the struggle Ww ier in on Ww ‘al Di ct be an in er he he er Oo d- in Ne pz he bs ig- 0) id ye 1e n¢ to ae a pl é- té er on ie 20 7 ns)» y appearance. o wondey, then, that het cheeks were flushed— that her eyes shone with a brilliancy that was wild and feverish : no wonder that her heart palpitated vio- lently and she gave a sudden convulsive start, as the heir-apparent placed himself by het side upon the sofa. And he noticed her emotions, but divined not the true cause: his licentious, profligate,and demoralised nature led him to mistake the results of that severe internal wrestling for the evidences of a passion as heated, as inflamed, and as longing as his own. The Earl, having thrown one rapid glance upon his wife, ernaments which had he mantel-piece : it was if he either did not per- ' appearance, or that if leasant suspicion in his the cifcumstance that n escaped the observa- mmoning all her forti- 2ss of Desborough as- ging to a gaiety, which d in the endeavour to fred from any cause of ; t, she over-played her part. The consequence was that her manner ap- peared so supremely happy—her discourse sparkled with such gems of wit and flashes of intellect—her laugh was so melodiously hearty—and her smiles were so enchantingly radiant, that it was impossible for her to prove more agreeable. The coffee was handed round—the Prince and the Earl each took a small glass of exquisite ligueur— and the conversation was progressing in the same brilliant style as before, when his Royal Highness, in quoting a line of poetry, attributed it to the wrong author. Eleanor corrected him: but he declared that he was right. Thereupon the Earl, statting from his segt, volunteered to fetch from the library a volume which would set the matter at rest; and he left the room. — But scarcely had the door closed behind him, li ee Oe rr i = THE MYSTERIES. when the Prince, seizing the hands of the Countess. pressed them to his lips, covering them with kisses. “Oh! you are determined to ruin me, body and oul!” murmured Eleanor, allowing her head to droop upon his shoulder, so that her hair mingled with his and her soft warm cheek lay agaist his own. “Ruin you, my angel !” cried the Prince, throwing his arms about her neck and straining her to his bosom : “I would die to promote your happiness! O Eleanor—dearest Eleanor—I love—I adore you: drive me not to despair !” And, unwinding his arms, he raised her head with his hands, and imprinted a thousand kisses upon her | lips,—burning kisses which she returned—yes, rad retarned—for she was now borne headlong on the | torrent of voluptuous feelings into which her fate appeared to plunge her. “ Dearest — dearest Eleanor!” whispered the Prince; “you cannot fail to suspect wherefore 1 have remained here to-night. Again, therefore, [ | say—do not drive me to despair. Murmor in my | ears a single word—an instruction to guide me to your chamber——” And oncé more he strained her to his breast: once | more he covered her charming, blushing, burming ' countenancé with kisses ;—and, in the delirium of | the moment— in the intoxication of ineffable feelings —in the whirl of all the tenderest emotions which woman’s heart can know, the yieldmg Eleanor did murmut the few words of instruction which her daring companion craved. Then, tearing herself from his embrace, she smoothed her hair and her dress, and strove to tran- quillise her sensations and compose her features éfe her husband returned to the room. Fortunately on her account, several minates yet elapsed before he made his appearance: otherwise he could not have failed to observe the thrilhag e- citement which possessed his wife, and whence she found it so difficult to recover. Apologising for his prolonged absence on the ground that he could not immediately find the book which he sought, the Earl of Desborough a the volume he carried in his hand; and tHe of Wales was compelled to acknowledge that he was Wrong in his opinion and that the Countess wat right. This point being settled, the conversation wa pursued until near twelve, when Eleanor rose ‘0 withdraw. The Prince took her hand; and, as pressed it warmly but rapidly, he darted upon her a glance so full of meaning that she was forced to turn away immediately in order to conceal the burning blush which that look called up to her features. The moment the Countess had quitted the room, a deep and sudden sadness fell upon the Earl—® sadness so profound, so strange, so irresistible, that the heir-apparent could not help observing it. The nobleman complained that iudisposition had thas abruptly seized on him; and, endeavouring (| smile, he declared it to be nothing—a mere hl —and already passing away. Bat that smile—oh! it was so ghastly —so death-like —so positively hideous, that the Prince was alarmed; and, ima gining that the Earl was about to faint, he rashed towards the bell. Lord Desborough started up—caught the hand of his Royal Highness just as it touched the bell a a NN a Ss COMIGLOO COMM