The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER IX MR. HARLEY WE must now return to Paradise Villas. Several hours had elapsed since the departure of Mrs. Mordaunt and Mrs. Smith, with their domestics, in the travelling-carriage; and the sisters were just sitting down to the afternoon repast in the back parlour, when a hackney- coach drove up to the door. A middle-aged man, dressed in black, with a white neckcloth, and having the appearance of a valet, or “ gentleman’s gentleman,” hastily alighted; and while he quietly traversed the little garden and gave a loud knock at the door, the coachman took two or three small hampers out of the vehicle. The charwoman having answered the summons, the in- dividual in black requested to speak to Miss Clarendon; and he was accordingly shown into the front parlour, where the sisters immediately joined him. ‘““T have the honour to be in the service of Mr. Harley, ladies,” said the valet, with a low bow and speaking in a tone of deep respect. ‘* My master has directed me to call in order to apologize for his abrupt departure the evening before last, but the cause of which he will satisfactorily explain when next he has the pleasure of seeing you. He has likewise made me the bearer of some game and hothouse fruit, which he hopes you will condescend to accept; and, lastly, he has desired me to intimate that if you are likely to be perfectly disengaged this evening, he will do himself the honour of waiting upon you for an hour, in order to give those explana- tions to which [ have alluded.” ‘You will have the kindness to give our respectful com- pliments to Mr. Harley,” said Octavia, whose heart palpi- tated with a joy till then unknown, “ and assure him that 71 (C(O) anil L@O (CO)