The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 336: what you’re looking at

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

306 THE COURT OF LONDON occurrence, — an incident so full of mystery that I am as much at a loss to comprehend it now as I was on the morning after it took place! Fatal, accursed longing that impelled me to accept that domino and proceed to the masquerade. Madman, idiot, dolt, and dotard that I was to suffer myself to be so completely enmeshed in the fascinations of that siren, whoever she might be! And who could she have been? who was she?” exclaimed the earl aloud, his tone and manner both indicating the excitement and petulance of a most pain- ful, torturing perplexity. ‘‘ The only being really and posi- tively interested in playing such a part in order to worm out of me all my most precious secrets is Laura Bellenden herself; and she could not have been the wanton who found a Montgomery in her embraces when she expected to receivé a Florimel! ”’ , The earl’s musings were interrupted by the entrance of Gilbert, his confidential valet, who was somewhat surprised to find that his noble master had risen so early. “It is scarcely seven o’clock, my lord,” observed the dependent. ‘“‘T am aware of it, Gilbert,”’ replied the nobleman; ‘“‘ but I could sleep no longer, and my bed became irksome. Where- fore have you sought my chamber so early, — a full hour before the usual time? ” ‘‘ An old man requests an immediate audience, my lord,’ returned the valet, “‘ and I therefore came to see whether your lordship was awake. He says that his business is im- portant — ” ‘“‘ His name? ”’ demanded the earl, impatiently. ‘““Chapman, my lord,” was the response. “‘ Ah! Chapman from the village of Bellenden,’’ exclaimed Montgomery, his heart sinking within him; for he could not possibly augur anything favourable from the visit of the old stone-mason. ‘ Tell him that I will be with him in a few minutes.”’ And while Gilbert was absent from the room delivering this message, the earl performed the remainder of his toilet with feverish impatience; for, the longer he reflected upon the singularity of Chapman’s visit, the greater became his apprehension that it could have originated in nothing favourable to his own interests. Having at length dressed EORNIELOOOKS. eC)