The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XIX THE VIRGIN AND THE VOLUPTUARY As Lord Florimel followed the beauteous Pauline up the stairs, that pang which had already smitten him again shot through his heart; for the reader will remember that we have described him as being by no means naturally deficient in generous sentiments, and now that his atrocious perfidy seemed to be approaching its consummation, those finer feelings that lay crushed and subdued beneath the influence of voluptuous passions and selfish desires suddenly put forth a latent power. But it was when he crossed the threshold of the virgin sanctuary and the door oi the bedchamber was closed behind him, it was then that his remorse became invested with a horror such as he had never known nor experienced before. Sinking upon a chair, he pressed his hand to his brow as if to steady the thoughts that were racking his brain; and Pauline, observing his emotion, though very far from sus- pecting the cause, smoothed down his hair with the unpre-- meditated manner of one who offers a tender sympathy, observing at the same time, ‘‘ My poor friend, you feel unhappy at the idea of passing the night beneath a stranger’s root.”’ These words, falling upon the ears of the young nobleman in all the silver melody of Pauline’s sweet voice, and the simultaneous contact of her warm hand which swept over his forehead, produced an effect upon him as if lightning had been suddenly poured into his veins; and, taking that hand, he pressed it to his lips in the rapture of a passion which the unsuspicious maiden believed to be a grateful iriendship. “No, my dearest Pauline,” he said, — ‘‘ for you will 174 Gomicbooks (E(0) m