The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

a ee SS SE eS a, See TT TTT TST eR ie ee was alone with the beauteous occupant of the apart- ment, and that the door had been closed behind him. For an instant a vague and unknown terror seized upon him: the very mystery of the whole occurrence struck him as ominous and even more than strange —he dreaded some snare, some treachery—and he trembled with bewilderment and doubt. But as his eyes were again turned upon the lady, and as they rested—or rather, were rivetted upon that lovely countenance still glowing with a warm blush, and that form the luxuriant charms of which were dis- played so unreservedly and yet without the positive indelicacy that shocks rather than intoxicates the senses,—moreover, as he now met a gaze that, in- stead of being softly wanton, was all vibrating with desire,—the magic of that beauty and the fire of those glances thrilled like an electric influence through every yein and pierced to his very heart’s core. “ Adorable being, who art thou?” he cried, now obeying only the maddening impulse of his feel- ings: and he advanced towards her. She rose from the sofa and made him a salutation so full of witching grace that it heightened his emo- tions to a positive delirium of pleasure: and now that he beheld her close, and saw that all the charms which had ravished him at a distance lost nothing of their glowing Joveliness by this near contemplation, —when his eye swept over the flowing outlines and rounded contours of that form which, though not above the middle height, was sultana-like in its im- posing as well as dazzling beauty,—he was so ravished, so enchanted, so overpowered, that he felt as if he were in the presence of a being that was something more than mortal. Resuming her seat upon the sofa, she invited him with a winning gesture and a delicious smile to place himself by her side: then fixing her magnificent eyes upon him, she said in a voice that was soft, timid, and tremulous in its soul-enchanting melody, ‘‘ Your Royal Highness has asked me who I am: but this is a secret which I dare not reveal ?” “ That so divine a creature cannot possibly be con- nected with a gang of veritable desperadoes, I am well assured,” returned the Prince: ‘ and therefore I am at a loss to conceive who or what the men could be that brought me hither.” “ Pardon the outrage, sir,” exclaimed the lady, in an imploring voice and with looks of the tenderest entreaty. “JT can pardon anything for your sake,” was the response, as his Royal Highness fixed gloating looks upon his fair companion’s person. ‘“ But wherefore was such a course adopted in order to introduce me to your presence?” The lady threw a glance full of passion and fervid with desire upon the countenance of the enraptured Prince: then, casting down her eyes, while a deep blush suffused her cheeks and spread over her neck, she murmured in a low voice, “ Because I love you !” “OQ adorable woman!” he exclaimed, with an almost frenzied impetuosity, as he flung his arms around her and strained that warm, glowing, palpi- tating form to his breast with passionate ardour. And, as if taken with complete surprise by the suddenness of the action on his part, she offered no instantaneous resistance, but abandoned herself as it were for a few moments to the embrace in which she was thus enfolded and to the burning kisses which the Regent imprinted upon her lips and cheeks: then apparently recovering all her self-possession—and THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. starting as if a sudden thought flashed a oa omas i cetastiha ah eine emddons aboot aaa her brain to enlighten her upon the danger of her posi- tion—she disengaged herself from his arms and sank palpitating with excitement upon the farther extre- mity of the sofa. But that contact with the beauteous creature,—the sensation which seemed as if the impress of her per- son remained upon his arms as the image of her loveliness was stamped upon his soul,—excited the passions of the Prince to a frenzied point: and he sate gazing upon her with deyouring looks—longing to rush forward and snatch her to his breast once more—but fearing to offend by too great a precipita- tion. “You said that you loved me” he observed at length. « And I spoke truly, great Prince !” she replied, now seeming partially to recover herself: but still the rapid swelling and sinking of her bosom was visible through the gossamerdrapery. ‘“ psen to me fora short time :—and then—and then “You will be mine?—all mine?” exclaimed she Prince, with the hurried tone and impatient look of a fervid suspense, in which rapturous hope nevertheless predominated. * Yes—all thine,” was the response given murmur- ingly, and with downeast eyes and glowing cheeks. “Then speak, lady—speak !” cried the Prince: “but for heaven’s sake let not the preface to my per- fect bliss be unnecessarily prolonged !” *‘T said that I loved your Royal Highness,” resumed the lady, in a voice which although low as the mur- muring of a silver stream, was tremulously clear as the flow of that rivulet in its pebbly bed;—‘“and I said truly! Descended from an English father and a Persian mother, my intelligence, my habits, and my language are those of your cold northern clime: but my soul burns with the impassioned and enthusiastic fervour that animates the breasts of those who are born in the far-off orient.” “Charming and mysterious creature!” exclaimed the Prince, gazing on her with an increasing rapture. “The love that I bear for you,’ she continued, in that same melting tone which was full of a plain- tive harmony, indescribably sweet and profoundly touching, “was engendered in my bosom by the fame of your admirable qualities. I heard that your man- ners were polished to a degree of refinement seldom attained by the most finished gentlemen,—that your mind was well stored with all valuable knowledge,— that your conversation was fraught with irresistible attractions,—and that you were capable of displaying a winning tenderness, the power of which no woman could feel with impunity. Ina word, while sojourning in the east, such rumours and reports reached me con- cerning you, that I sent to England to procure your portrait : and—of that portrait I became enamoured!” she added, with a bashful hesitation which rendered her voice still more touchingly tremulous and called up a fresh blush to her damask cheeks. “Oh! if this be all true,” exclaimed the Prince, “the adventure is imbued with a tinge of romance “hich renders it indescribably enchanting !” “True!” she ejaculated, raising her superb eyes and bending them reproachfully upon him: “Oh! can you suppose that I am capable of deceiving you? Have I journeyed from the east which I loye so well, to thls cold clime of yours, merely to be received with distrust and asinine a tates cohabit teamiestileett Aislindaad cnc | sus )| Oi nme mee <.GoMmIGbooks.co om