The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

se I A I LCL LE LCL LED LED ELLA EE LL A 76 THE MYSTERIES. dishes, sweets, preserved fruits, and wines, were spread with no niggard hand upon the board, at the head of which Mrs. Brace took her seat. And it was an enchanting spectacle to behold that really very handsome woman thus presiding at a table so well appointed in all its arrangements, and sur- rounded by a bevy of the most lovely girls that couid possibly have been collected together. In fact the milliner was accustomed to regale her young ladies with the most luxurious living. She likewise paid them good salaries, and spared no expense in ensuring their comfort beneath her roof. Had they been her own daughters, she could not have treated them better. But this was of course a matter of calculation on her part. They were useful to her: they constituted the main at- traction of what may be termed the public depart- ment of her establishment;—for not only do fashionable ladies love to be attended upon by beautiful women,—but husbands, brothers, and even friends are sure to take wives, sisters, and female acquaintances to those shops where the most charming girls are to be seen. Then again, they ensured her a choice, select, and lucrative patronage in the private branch of her avocations. For every one was sold over and over again to the aristocratic debauchees and noble or wealthy voluptuaries for whose special behoof the house in St. James’s Square was kept up; and as each of the houris in her establishment yielded Mrs. Brace hundreds of guineas per annum, she could well afford to regale them in excellent style, as it was also her interest to render them satisfied with their position and retain them in her employment. But let us glance at their behaviour at the sup- per table. A stranger would have fancied that he was contemplating one of the most pleasing scenes which could possibly be presented to his gaze,—a kind-hearted, motherly, well-bred woman presiding at a table surrounded by yeung ladies of elegant manners, strict propriety of conduct, and of prin- ciples as excellent as their personal loveliness was ravishing. For although they were well aware that Mrs. Brace’s establishment was nothing more nor less than a brothel of the first fashion,—and although Mrs. Brace herself knew that not an eye which met her own, reflected the thoughts of a chaste soul,—although, in a word, the charms which graced the banquetting-board were a market- able commodity, constantly obtaining a high price, nevertheless, not an improper word was uttered— not an impure idea nor even an indelicate allusion was ever syllabled by those mouths on which the hot lips of lust had been so often pressed. After supper, Mrs. Brace and her attendant sa- tellites proceeded into an adjoining apartment, which was denominated the Ladies’ Diawing- Room; and there they diverted themselves in a variety of ways until eleven o’clock. Some read romances—others played at cards,—a few whiled away the time in embroidery for themselyes,—one or two had recourse to music,—and the rest ga- thered round the cheerful fire to converse. When the usual hour for retiring was proclaimed by a handsome time-piece upon the mantle, the young ladies all bade Mrs. Brace an affectionate “sood night,” and departed in an orderly manner —without noise, giggling, or confusion—to their respective chambers, ing, and which was characterised by so many and such varied incidents, Mrs. Brace rewred to her own bed-room immediately after the work-girls had quitted her; and in half-an-hour she sought her couch. Sleep soon visited her eyes; for, in spite of the equivocal nature of her avocation, she was not at any time much troubled with qualms of conscience. But on the present occasion she was haunted by unpleasant dreams. The image of the unhappy Caroline Walters rose up before her mental view, —reproaching her for a base violation of solemn pledges made to the deceased parents of the girl, and for foul treachery practised towards the friend- less orphan. At length—as it is often the case with dreams—the figure of the wronged and out- raged Caroline changed suddenly into some ghastly shape, which seated itself upon the bosom of the sleeper ;—and for a few minutes Mrs. Brace endured all the horrors of a night-mare. She awoke in a cold tremor, and with a conster- nation in the brain. For a short time she could not persuade herself that she had been made the spert of a disordered imagination: but, as there was a light in the room, her eyes began to remark fami- liar objects ; and she at length acquired the cer- tainty that she was indeed safe in her own bed, and that nothing which her fevered fancy had conjured up was present to her view. Referring to her watch, which lay on a night-table within reach, she found that it was only one o’clock in the morning, and that she had not slept more than an hourand a half. Settling herself, therefore, in the most comfortable position to woo the em. braces of slumber, she closed her eyes, and was al- ready beginning to feel a soft and dreamy repose stealing over her; when astrange sound caused her to wake suddenly up with a nervous start. She listened with breathless attention—and all was still! Was it, then, a false alarm ?—perhaps the first phase in another hideous dream that was about to whirl her in imagination through the horrors of a second night-mare? Her mouth was parched— and she refreshed her palate with some sweet and delicious beverage that stood upon the night-table. But as she put down the glass another strange sound fell upon her ears. Again she listened; the noise was continued—and, as she racked her ima- gination to conjecture what it could be, the thought flashed to her mind that it resembled the sawing of wood. Mrs. Brace was a courageous woman naturally : she moreover knew that there were three persons of the male sex beneath the roof at that moment— namely, her two footmen and Mr. Harley. Suc- cour might therefore be reckoned upon in case of danger ;—and this reflection decided the milliner how to act. Hastily thrusting her feet into slippers and en- veloping herself in her cloak, she stole cautiously forth from her bed-chamber. Then she paused on the landing—and listened. The strange noise had ceased: but she fancied that she heard voices whispering somewhere below. It often seems as if our organs had the faculty of rendering themselves more sensitive and keen on those occasions when their ordinary powers would scarcely answer the desired purpose or serve the On the particular night of which we are speak- ; sudden emergency :—and thus it was in the present a COLMA (EloOO KS .EOK