The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 391: what you’re looking at

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

THE MASQUERADE—SCENE THIRD = 357 hands! How taper are the fingers! No, she does not wear a wedding ring.” “Then she is a kept mistress, perhaps,” suggested Ger- main. “T’ll swear she is no such thing,” exclaimed the heir apparent, almost indignant at the allegation, as if it posi- tively reflected upon himself or in some way wounded his own feelings. ‘‘ I am sufficiently experienced in womankind, or, to speak more delicately upon the subject, I am quite connoisseur enough in all that relates to the fair sex to be able to form some estimate of a female’s rank, position, and social standing by her general deportment, her mien, her walk, her manner, and her apparel, ay, even though her coun- tenance be masked and her dress be a fancy costume. Now, in the present instance, Germain,” continued the prince, ““T have observed about that charming creature a certain reserve and bashfulness, a shrinking from the contact of the mu titudes around her, a sense of isolation and of a position unusually friendless and unprotected, all of which may be regarded as striking proofs that she is not accustomed to such scenes as this, and that she assuredly is not here for her amusement. She has not the effrontery of a kept mistress, and she is scarcely bold enough for a girl who is looking after a lover to whom she has surrendered her virtue. Be- sides, there is a virgin air about her, a perfume of innocence, as it were, an odour of chastity, combined with all that first freshness of youth which nothing in the shape of amorous pleasure has yet marred.” ‘Behold, your Royal Highness! ”’ exclaimed Germain, suddenly catching his master by the sleeve, “a masque has ‘accosted the Blue Domino.” ‘‘ Ah! a Circassian Slave,” said the prince. ‘‘ And, by Jove! she is a splendid woman likewise. But I prefer my favourite, the Flower Girl. Where is she? ” “There,” returned the valet. ‘‘ She has posted herself in such a position that she can observe everything which passes between the Blue Domino with the singular braiding and the superb Circassian Slave.” Pe 3 ‘A decided case of love and jealousy,” said the prince, his eyes dwelling with a gloating and devouring look upon the beauteous form of the Flower Girl. ‘ But it is a pure love, and —” (C(O) ANC DOO