The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 333: what you’re looking at

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

THE TWO NOBLEMEN 299 this boy, who appeared to belong to some East Indian race, yet were his manners so subdued that it was impossible to converse with him many minutes without receiving the impression that he was either of a sullen and morose dispo- sition, or that he had some profound grief preying upon his mind. He spoke English perfectly; but his replies were always given in the fewest words, and in monosyllables if possible. He was, nevertheless, active and willing in the performance of his duties; and there was something almost amounting to the mysterious in the manner in which he glided in and out of the rooms with his tread so light and noiseless. Such was the strange but interesting boy that now entered the breakfast-parlour where Lord Florimel was seated; but he did not open his lips until the young nobleman, hearing the door close very gently, raised his eyes and beheld the sable page. ““ Well, Rao?” he said, inquiringly. “Lord Montgomery, may it please your lordship,” returned the boy, in a low and silvery voice, his form bending slightly, but with a graceful inclination at the same time. ‘‘ Show his lordship in, Rao,”’ exclaimed Florimel. ‘‘ You should not have made him wait in the hall.” ‘““T am sorry, .my lord,’ responded the boy, in the same low, quiet, and harmonious, voice; “ and I will not do it again.” : ‘‘ You are a good youth, Rao,” said the young nobleman, in a kind tone. The black page acknowledged this compliment with a more perceptible inclination of his slender form; and, gliding from the room, he almost immediately returned to usher in. Earl Montgomery. This nobleman, whose name has already been more than once mentioned in our narrative, was about thirty years of age. His countenance was a perfect specimen of manly beauty, the facial outline being of the pure Greek form, and the fire of the large dark eyes being only subdued by the long jetty lashes which shaded them. His brows were ~ grandly arched, and his fine forehead seemed fitted to serve as the throne of the noblest thoughts; but there was a certain expression about the mouth which somewhat nulli- fied the effect of the upper part of the countenance. Yet CORNUC DOO