The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

PLANS AND INTRIGUES 97 how I do feel, my boy,’’ answered the young nobleman. “ It. seems to me as if I were about to take a very desperate step; and now that the supreme moment draws. near, I ask myself a thousand different questions in a minute, I am tortured by anxieties strangely blending with fond hopes and glowing thoughts of bliss — ”’ “ But your lordship loves this lady whom you are about to espouse?’’ said Rao, looking from beneath his darkly fringed lids with a strange intentness at. his noble master, though all the while.affecting to be busied in arranging upon the bed the clean linen and other apparel which he was taking from the valise. “TI love her, yes, I love her, I have already told you so, boy, when I took you into my confidence,”’ exclaimed Florimel, with all the pettishness of one who is agitated by a thousand conflicting ideas and antagonistic feelings. “‘ And yet — and yet,’ he added, in a more measured tone, “ I could almost have wished that it were Pauline Clarendon to whom I am about to bind myself for ever. You are certain, boy,” cried the nobleman, turning with feverish abruptness toward the sable page, ‘‘ that the intelligence you gave me relative to Pauline was correct? ”’ ~“T merely told your lordship what I had read in a news- paper ten days ago, when you sent me up to London from Dover in order to transact a, little business for your lordship,”’ said Rao. “ On rejoining your lordship again at Dover, I deemed it my duty to inform you that I had read of Miss Clarendon’s marriage in the paper -H “Ah! enough — enough!:”’ ejaculated Florimel, in a tone of bitterness. ‘‘ I deserved to lose her. Yes, I deserved it. Nevertheless, had she remained single, had she continued to love me, and had I been assured that it was only necessary for us to meet in order to be reconciled, I do not think that my Unknown would have sustained her empire.over me. But it is done — Pauline is another’s,’’ added the young nobleman, in a low musing tone; ‘‘ and I-may as well save my peerage and my fortune by giving my hand to this mysterious being who promises to raise me above all the perils and all the difficulties which now environ me.” Rao fixed his eyes intently upon his noble master, as he thus mused in an audible tone; and again did that singular expression of triumph and vindictiveness sweep rapidly over Gomie 0)(0Y6) cS m