The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

LORD FLORIMEL 135 and dissipated friend, he would drop a guinea into the hand of the poor mendicant who appeared to be a worthy object for relief. He was unmarried, and likely to remain so; for the idea of linking himself to one woman was, in his estimation, something too dreadful to contemplate. Possessed of immense wealth, and with no parents nor elderly relatives to advise him, he devoted all his time and all his thoughts to the pleasures of love; and, extravagant in nothing else, he lavished large sums upon these objects of his desires. Mrs. Brace — the accommodating Mrs. Brace — was a very use- ful person to such a character as Lord Florimel; and of the dozen young ladies in her service at least two-thirds had ministered to the passing and transitory fantasies of this nobleman. “ Well, my dear friend,’ said Florimel, half-rising from his seat and immediately sinking back again, when Mrs. Brace entered the room, ‘‘ I am come to consult you as usual. You see before you a man completely dependent upon your kind offices to procure him a little variety in the sphere of Venus; tor I can assure you that during the last ten days I have not encountered, either in my walks or drives, a single face that has excited a new emotion in my breast.”’ “Your lordship is greatly to be pitied,’’ observed Mrs. Brace, with a smile. “ Pitied!’’ he ejaculated; ‘“‘I am indeed. But permit me to tell you, my good friend,’ he continued, his eyes settling upon the milliner’s ample bust, a considerable portion of which was exposed by the low corsage that was then in fashion, — “‘ permit me to tell you that you are looking quite delightful this evening. One would scarcely believe that you could be seven and twenty,’’ — Florimel knew that she was forty, — ‘‘ for your complexion is perfectly brilliant, your teeth are like pearls, your eyes flash fires, — yes, fires most wanton and seductive at the same time, — and your hair is radiant in its glossy blackness.’’ “Ts it possible, my dear Florimel,’’ asked Mrs. Brace, with her sweetest smile, — “1s 1t possible that you are going to make love to me, by way of a change? ”’ “Upon my word, I have very serious thoughts of so do- ing,’ responded the young noble, drawing his chair closer to that on which the milliner sat. ‘‘ Ah! now I have caught CONnnicloool KS (GO)