The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 343: what you’re looking at

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

THE TWO NOBLEMEN 309 muster them appeared to have been singularly neglected. I had undertaken to escort Lady Bonnycastle and her daughter; and, having after some difficulty succeeded in getting up their barouche to the gate, I had just handed them in and bowed the parting salutation, when, as their carriage was whirled away, another dashed up to the en- trance. ‘ Who’s next?’ demanded the stentorian voice of the porter of Devonshire House. ‘ Lord Florimel’s carriage,’ replied a tall footman in dark livery, springing down from behind the vehicle which had just driven up and opening the door with alacrity. ‘ That is not my brother’s carriage,’ I exclaimed, the hasty glance which I threw at it convincing me there must be some mistake. ‘ All right, sir. This is for the Honourable Mr. Florimel,’ said the tall footman in dark livery, touching his hat; and before I could utter another syllable or ask a word of explanation, I was lifted, as it were, by the fellow’s vigorous arm up the steps into the vehicle, the door was banged, I became suddenly envel- oped in total darkness, and the abrupt jerk with which the carriage whirled away threw me completely back upon the seat. At that moment my hand came in contact with the silken skirt of a female dress; and before even an ejaculation of astonishment could escape my lips, I was clasped in the arms of a lady whose warm cheek instantaneously came in contact with my own, whose bosom heaved against my chest, and whose voice, tremulous with mingled fervour and triumph, whispered in my ear, ‘ Fear nothing, Florimel, and pardon one who loves you.’ Then, returning the ardour of the embrace in which I was so suddenly caught and so firmly locked, I gave back the impassioned kisses which were the next moment lavished upon me; and for many minutes not another word was spoken inside that vehicle.” “You gave back the kisses,” said Lord Montgomery, laughing; ‘“ and it might have been some old woman who had adopted this stratagem to win you to her arms.”’ ‘““Oh, believe me, my dear Eugene,” exclaimed Florimel, “that although the darkness of the tomb prevailed within that carriage, for the wooden blinds were all drawn up, yet~ no sooner did I come in contact with that warm and glowing form, no sooner did I feel the firm, plump bosom heaving in its rich luxuriance against my breast, and no sooner did I taste, as it were, the luscious moisture of the lips and (C(O) AG 6)(0)(©) So