The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

aes —™ SS 1 ee a a 6 a ee we EE ea ee (5 ce eT t See Dacia —- == er ee ee ee Jo ae ee ae ee iticident of the past hight ha vd Jett ttpon thei, @ cosmetic skilfully applied gave lier the complexion of so soft a rose that it was impossible to recognise this triumph of art over nature. It was shortly after six o’clock that Mrs. Brace descended to her own parlour, where the fire was al- ready lighted. But scarcely had she entered that room, when the lady’s-maid burst in with terror de- picted upon her countenance, and exclaiming, “ Oh! madam—a robbery has been committed during this night!” Mrs. Brace affected to be sadly alarmed at this announcement; and, following the abigail, she hur- ried to the dining-room, the door of which had been opened by sawing partially round the lock and then breaking the wood away witha crow-bar—none of the burglars’ skeleton-keys having previously suc- ceeded in enabling them to eflect an entrance. The side-board had likewise been forced, and all the plate taken out: but, on examining it, not a single article was missing. ‘This circumstance naturally induced the lady’s-maid to observe that the burglars were most probably interrupted by some false alarm in the middle of their work—a belief which the mil- ; liner took care to encourage, protesting however that it was very strange how so much violence could have been used without in reality disturbing a single seul, From the dining-room Mrs. Brace and Harriet proceeded to the shop, where nothing had been med- dled with. ‘This was not, however, astonishing—as the robbers could not be supposed likely to trouble themselves with bonnets, dresses, and lace-caps. The front door had been forced in the manner already de- scribed: but as nothing appeared to have been stolen in the house, full confirmation was thus given to the abigail’s opinion that the burglars were unexpectedly disturbed by some false alarm which however had the effect of inducing them to beat a precipitate re- treat. While Mrs. Brace and Harriet were conducting their investigations in the shop, the young ladies made their appearance in twos and threes at a time; and they were much alarmed at first on hearing that thieves liad visited the house during the night :—but they were speedily tranquillised by the assurance that nothing had been stolen. Mrs. Brace intimated her desire that no unpleasant notice on the part of the public should be attracted towards the establish- ment by suffering the particulars of the attempted robbery to transpire; and thus the affair was eflec- tually hushed up. Scarcely had the milliner returned to her own par- lour—it being now nearly seven o’clock in the morn- ing—when Lord }lorimel was announced by the foot- man whose duty if was to attend the door in St. James’s Square, by which means of entrance, be it recollected, all persons of the male sex were in- troduced into the establishment. The young nobleman had been home to his splendid mansion in Piccadilly, and had resumed his male attire: but it were really difficult to decide which became him most—and this, indeed, was the obser- vation that Mrs. Brace made the moment tlie foot- man had retired. “ And now tell me of your success, my dear Flo- rimel,” she continued, with an arch smile which enabled her to display her very fine teeth: “ your countenance is pale and pensively interesting ¢ “Tell me, my dear friend,” he abruptly exclaimed, *has Octavia taken her departure yet?” eg ee — regener a fo, - og Sate Ue emanate ee —_e atin M hk 23 gad Biamewiiikey a Ri a a ect ae a aD, eae tienes “Oh! no,” responded the milline?, “She ean scarcely have slept off the effects of the wine in which the narcotic was mixed, and a glass of which her gallant administered to her. For Harriet was present at the time, and saw her take it.” “'Then she is safe!” ejaculated Florimel, with strange emphasis. “What do you mean?” demanded Mrs. Brace, gazing upon the nobleman in unfeigned surprise. “ My dear friend, do not seek explanations at pre- sent,” he returned, in a tone slightly petulant: “ you shall learn everything in the course of the day. I will come presently and have a long discourse with you. Nay—do not appear angry and pout,’ he added, patting her plump cheek with his delicate white hand, and resuming his wonted kindness of manner towards her. “JT caunot possibly be angry with you, Florimel,” said Mrs. Brace, instantly recovering a gay expres- sion of countenance, while her eves beamed with de- sire as he thus caressed her. “ But has anything ex- traordinary occurred 2” * Nothng very particular—only that I have noé sueceeded with Pauline, and that I am far from sorry | at the failure of my enterprise.” | “You speak in enigmas,” exclaimed the milliner. *T will explain the whole by and bye, my dear friend. In the meantime I must fulfila solemn pro- | mise which I have made to Pauline,” eontinued the | nobleman: “and this is to induce Octavia to return home without delay—for her father has come back !”” “Fler father come back!’ repeated Mrs. Brace, turning pale even through the artificial tint of her complexion. “Then all will be diseovered——” | © Nothing wiil be discovered if you only consent | to do as I require,” interrupted Florimel. Fr At this moment Harriet entered the room, and ' i ee es eee whispered something in the ear of Mrs. Brace. * You wish to see Octavia?” said the latter, tum- ing towards Ilorimel, as soon as she had received the communication thus privately made to her by the abigail. | “ Yes—without delay,” emphatically. Mrs. Brace made a sign to Harriet, who instantly | quitted the room. “Ts anything the matter?” demanded Florimel, uneasily. ; ‘ Nothing of any consequence. Octavia’s gallant has taken his departure—and the young Jady herself, though comparatively pacified by all her lover has said to her this morning, nevertheless slirinks from the idea of returning home.” “7 will undertake to tranquillise her completely,” said Florimel. “ Have the kindness to order a hack- ney-coach at once.’ Mrs. Brace rang the bell, and gave the footman the requisite instructions. Immediately afterwards Oc- tavia, dressed in her bonnet and shawl, was intro- duced by Harriet; but on perceiving that Mrs. Brace was not alone, she was about to retire, when the mil- liner hastily observed, “ Fear nothing, Miss Claren- don—this nobleman is a friend. Indeed, you may place the utmost confidence in Lord F ‘lorimel, ” she added, by way of making her acquainted with his name and rank. Octavia, who was very pale and had evidently been weeping, survey ed the young peer with a counte- ance expressive of mingled surprise and shame,— eurprise at the emphatic way in which Mrs. Brace answered the nobleman, a ee te ee re rrr mee 1 | COLMA (El NOO|KS,COM