The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

30 THE COURT OF LONDON Indeed, the Earl of Desborough had sought the solitude of his library more than ever since the arrival of Ramsey at the mansion; and had Eleanor found leisure to observe her husband’s manner or notice his personal appearance with any degree of attention, she would have perceived beneath an air of extreme kindness toward herself and of affability toward her lover there was a profound melancholy devouring the nobleman’s very vitals, and that his cheeks were growing pale, his form emaciated, and his brow furrowed, with a rapidity that was but too awfully perceptible to all about him save his own adulterous wife and her unprincipled paramour. Having recorded these few necessary observations, we now resume the thread of our narrative. It was on the Monday following the Saturday on which Ramsey had returned to his comfortable quarters in Berkeley Square, and at about three o’clock in the afternoon we find him seated in the drawing-room with the lovely and loving Countess of Desborough. Her ladyship had instructed the domestics that she was not “at home” to any visitors; and she was accordingly giving herself up to all the blandishments of a téte-d-téie with him whom she called her “‘ dear Gustavus.”’ Her splen- did eyes looked burning fondness and enthusiastic passion upon him, while his reflected the more sensual feeling and fixed their gaze on her countenance with a fervour which she mistook for unalloyed affection as profound and intense as her own. Never had she seemed more beautiful, nor he more hand- some; and, so far as personal appearance went, there was a remarkable fitness in this couple for each other. Their dark hair, olive complexions, large black eyes, brilliant teeth, and classical outline of feature, made them look like brother and sister; while the ardour of their temperament and the strength of the fires that burned within their breasts rendered them suitable partners in the dalliance of love. “Tell me, my Gustavus, do you indeed entertain for me all the fondness which breathes in your words and gives a glory to your looks? ” asked Eleanor, in a tone that was low and tremulous with the soft feelings that prompted the question. “Can you doubt my love? Do you suspect the truth. of (C(O) ANC 6)(0)©)