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.

178 THE COURT OF LONDON observed Florimel. ‘‘ A sincere friendship exists between me and the object of my love.” ‘And on your side that friendship has already ripened into love? ”’ said Pauline, interrogatively. ‘Yes,’ answered the disguised nobleman; “ and if it be true that love begets love, I may yet see all my hopes fulfilled and my fears dissipated.”’ ‘ Heaven send that you may, my dear Gabrielle!’ ex- claimed Pauline, in a tone of profound sincerity. “If I were a man I am certain that I could love you deeply and tenderly, and the more so when I learned that you already loved me.” ‘“ And what makes you hold this opinion, which is so flattering to me? ”’ asked Florimel, trembling all over through very joy and pleasure. ‘Because you are beautiful —extremely beautiful,” said Pauline, turning around toward him, “ and because you are so amiable, and good, and pleasing in your manners. Do you think, my dear Gabrielle, that I should have con- ceived so sudden a friendship for you if you were not all that I represent? Oh, I am sure that you will be happy in the affection that you have formed, for to know you is to love you.” ‘‘ Dearest Pauline,’’ murmured Florimel, in a tremulous tone, ‘“‘ I may repeat all your own words and apply them to yourself, for to know you is to love you also.” “We will love each other as very sincere friends,” said the young maiden; and while she was thus giving utterance to words that were the outpourings of her artless and in- genuous soul, she was simultaneously laying aside further portions of her dress, until she stood in a state of semi- nudity in the presence of the disguised nobleman, who was a prey to such varied and conflicting emotions that he was riveted as it were to his seat. “Yes, we will love each other as sincere friends,”’ he said, his voice so full of profound feeling that the beauteous, unsuspecting Pauline was touched to the very soul by its soft and melodious tone; and throwing her arms around the traitor’s neck, she imprinted a fervent kiss upon his forehead. But how did Florimel restrain his feelings now? how exercise the least control over a passion that was excited almost to madness? For, by the young maiden’s movement, ) 2) Gomichbooks