The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

CONTINUATION OF THE MYSTERIES 191 Thus was it that Clara Stanley unconsciously fell into the hands of one of the vilest women in existence, for this human personification of hypocrisy was none other than Mrs. Gale, and it was to her house of fashionable resort that the innocent young lady was introduced. Nevertheless, Mrs. Gale did not at once shock Clara’s delicacy or awaken her suspicions by throwing her in contact with any frail creature who might at the moment have been in the house; but, installing her in a room to herself, she at once hastened away to Albemarle Street for the purpose of driving a bargain with the Marquis of Leveson for the sale of Clara’s virtue. She failed, however, to see the marquis on the occasion, and was returning to Soho Square when she bethought herself of a certain commission which she had received some time previously from a lady of fashion at the West End and with whom she was acquainted. She accord- ingly, without a moment’s delay, proceeded to call upon Miss Bathurst, at No. 18, Stratton Street, Piccadilly, for this was the lady alluded to. Miss Bathurst was at home, and at once gave an audience to Mrs. Gale. ‘“ T have at length found,” said the infamous woman, when closeted with Miss Bathurst, ‘‘ a young lady who, if I mis- take not, will exactly suit your requirements, whatever they may be. Into the nature thereof I do not pretend to inquire; but the beautiful creature whom accident has thrown in my way will be worth at least a couple of hundred guineas to me from the Marquis of Leveson or some other fashionable patron, and if you like to give me that sum this phoenix of perfection shall be placed in your hands for you to model her to suit your own purposes. She exactly answers all the points in the description you gave of what you wanted when you first entrusted me with the commission to obtain such a person. That she is innocence itself and of unblemished chastity, there can be no doubt. When you hear her artless tale from her own lips, as I have heard it, you will be of the Same opinion. . “ As for her beauty, I do not exaggerate when I pronounce it to be not only of the highest order, but likewise of the most voluptuous style, combined with a sufficient degree of intellectuality to redeem it from mere brute sensuousness. She has not a single fault. Tall in stature, inclined to be stout, and with a magnificent development of the bust, her COMmMiclooo® S (C(O) im