The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 43: what you’re looking at

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ne ee ieee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 29 a all possible despatch. He accordingly passed behind the drapery, and found himself in the recess of a door-way. His masked companion let the curtain fall again, he himself remaining outside on the landing. “ Now open the door—and enter boldly!” he ex- claimed, in a voice of assurance and encourage- ment. The Prince Regent unhesitatingly followed this recommendation : the door yielded to his touch—he flung it open—a blaze of light burst upon his vision —and he found himself in a splendid apartment, where a lady of ravishing beauty was reclining upon a sofa. ——Ste ee CHAPTER VII. THE LADY IN THE GOSSAMER DRESS. We must pause to describe this splendid creature, whose loveliness burst upon the Prince Regent with an effect that in a moment chased from his memory all the disagreeable portions of an adventure which had thus assumed at length so delightful a phase. She appeared to be dressed in a kind of oriental costume,—if indeed that garment could be denomi- nated a dress which was made of so gauzy a material as to be almost transparent,—indeed, so diaphanous that although in reality of the purest white, it took a roseate tint from the flesh that showed through. Down to the waist, at all events, this was the effect of a garment which, scarcely thicker than a veil, veiled not the charms of which it formed the only covering; for neither corset nor linen intervened be- twixt the lady’s glowing bust and that Semi-transpa- rent raiment of silken gossamer. Through this singular dress, therefore, the outlines of all the upper part of her form could be distinguished and traced as easily as the eye of a concealed observer may feast upon the beauties of a nymph bathing in a crystal stream, though plunged to the neck in the pellucid water. And how voluptuous were the contours that might be seen through the gauzy drapery,—how soft and yet how firm in their swelling fulness! No portrait by Vandyke or Rubens, in which woman’s charms are delineated in such soft luxuriance and with so rich a tone of colour, ever glowed so sensuously upon the canvass as did this lady’s fine proportions in their living, warm, and palpitating beauty:—no model which antique statuary has left behind, could exceed the admirable symmetry of the rounded arm! Then her countenance—how ravishingly beautiful! —her features—how enchantingly lovely!—her looks —how melting, how, dreamily soft, how wantonly overpowering ! A profusion of light brown tresses showered on the nude shoulders: and above her polished brow was a wreath of pearls. Her eyes were large and dark,— contrasting strongly with the colour of her hair ;— and being full of passion’s lustre, they heightened the animation of a countenance every feature of which was eloyuent with fervid feelings. Indeed, the aqui- line nose—the scarlet lips—the rounded chin,—all indicated an ardent mind and a glowing tempera- ment: while the delicate and scarcely perceptible tinge of the pink which relieved the polished skin from the insipid whiteness of alabaster, would in a moment deepen into warm carnation blushes at the least incident that quickened the pulse and made the blood flow faster in the throbbing veins ! We said that her dress was of an oriental style. A rich veil depended from the pearl-wreath that she wore upon her hair: but that veil flowed behind her, and neither concealed the wanton, impassioned, amorous looks of the countenance, nor the meretri- cious display of the person. Around her waist a splendid shawl was loosely tied in the fashion of Eastern women: a string of pearls encircled the neck that arched so gracefully ;—and rich bracelets defined the rounded shape of the matchless arms. From her waist to her feet the gossamer garment flowed over a pink satin petticoat, the very folds and plaits of which were but so many outward indications of the fine symmetry of those limbs which they concealed: and the small, narrow, shapely foot, imprisoned in an embroidered shoe, rested negligently upon a stool— thus adding to the air of soft and sensuous abandon- ment in which the lady’s form half-reclined on the crimson velvet cushions of the sofa. The room in which this splendid woman was thus revealed, like an enchanting vision, to the eyes of the Prince Regent, was handsomely furnished and bril- liantly lighted. The atmosphere was warm and per- fumed—as if the loveliness of its occupant were alike a halo and a fragrance, stealing with intoxicating effect upon the senses. The flood of light which filled the apartment, borrowed a softly roseate hue from the crimson draperies that were drawn close over the windows—the paper on the walls, the cushions of the furniture, and the rich pattern of the carpet,—all being of a corresponding colour. For some minutes his Royal Highness remained transfixed just within the threshold of the door that had ushered him to this scene of enchantment,— transfixed, we say, and gazing in a wonder that sub- sided not and with a rapture that cooled not, upon the divinity of the place. At first she either did not notice him, or affected not to do so—but sate, or rather half-reclined in a pensive mood: and thus the perfect abandonment of her attitude developed the charms and graces of her person to the fullest advan- tage. But at the expiration of a few minutes she turned her head slowly in the direction where the Prince stood ;—and as her large dark eyes rested upon his countenance, she started not, nor seemed in any way surprised or alarmed—but a glow of tender delight and melting joy spread over her countenance, de- scended to her neck, and blushed through the trans- parent drapery that covered her bosom. Nor was the look withdrawn: but it settled upon the Regent with a liquid lustre so full of amorous ex- pression and oriental languor, that he felt its influence stealing and growing upon him like that of a delicious dream in which the sleeper is wafted amidst realms of beatific enjoyment. And that look which the lady thus fixed upon him was accompanied by a smile which seemed to welcome him to that abode of bliss, —a smile wherein was concentrated all the profusion of glowing sentiments, burning words, and eloquent avowals which constitute the language of passion,—a smile, too, that revealed teeth white as ivory and parted the scarlet lips which seemed the fitting por- tals for a balmy breath and a musical voice. Suddenly remembering the whole train of circum- stances which had preceded his introduction to the presence of this heavenly being, the Prince turned to inquire of his masked guide who the lady was and what the adventure signified: but_he found that he CONMIC IOOLS (C(O) ————— —_—_ ore ss