Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 208: what you’re looking at

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

A NIGHT AT THE VILLA 191 feverish gleaming in those eyes usually so soft and melting, ‘if you were to save my sister from incurring our father’s suspicions — our father’s wrath.” _ “What would you have me do?” asked Florimel, his breast a prey to desires which were almost maddening, as he contemplated the lovely girl; for in the agitation that had latterly seized upon her, and when she covered her face with her hands, as she now recovered, she had thrust her naked arms forth from beneath the ample cloak, and the licentious voluptuary was enabled to feast his eyes upon those arms so white and round. “ What would I have you do?” she repeated, suddenly noticing the disordered condition of her déshabillé, and once more gathering the folds of the mantle around her lovely form. ‘‘ I would have you —if your lordship really loves me— save my sister’s fault from being discovered by her father. You know where she is at this moment — I am sure that you are not ignorant on this head. No, everything you have said regarding her convinces me that I err not in this belief. ’Tis for you, then, Lord Florimel — ”’ “Call me Gabriel,’’ interjected the nobleman, now fancying that the maiden was rapidly falling into his power. “ Yes, I will call you Gabriel — my dear friend Gabriel,’’ repeated Pauline, emphatically; for she was ready to do almost anything in order to screen her sister; “‘ and I will never, never forget your kindness, 1f you will serve me in this instance. It is for you, I say, to quit this house as speedily and as cautiously as possible, to repair to the place where you know my sister to be, to insist upon obtain- ing an interview with her to tell her that our father has returned suddenly, and almost unexpectedly, and to compel her to hasten home ere he shall have descended from his chamber in the morning. And you must also assure her that I, on my part, will leave nothing unattempted or undone in order to cover her secret with an impenetrable veil. Now, my dear Gabriel, will you do all this for me — ”’ ‘And my reward, Pauline? — what shall be my reward? ”’ exclaimed the nobleman, extending his arms toward her. But a sudden change came over the young maiden. All her agitation, all her excitement abandoned her in a moment, —sinking down into a cold astonishment, if we may be allowed the expression; or, in other and more explicit GOMmiicdooks (Sc)