The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XI RAO AND THE MILLINER Mrs. Brace at once led the black page into her parlour, where the. lights were still burning upon the table; and, having requested him to be seated, she could not help ad- miring the great beauty of his person. The symmetry of his shape was admirably set off by the livery which he wore; and there was an air of gracefulness and gentility about him which was well calculated to interest even the most callous observer. His hair was of the glossiest sable, but fine as silk; and it showered in a thousand ringlets over his sloping shoulders. His large black eyes beamed with the fires of intellect, and between the scarlet lips the teeth shone like rows of pearls. Rao, for the reader has doubtless experienced no difficulty in recognizing Lord Florimel’s sable page in the person of Mrs. Brace’s visitor, — Rao, we say, seated himself in com- pliance with the invitation so courteously given. But whether he felt somewhat embarrassed at the earnest atten- tion with which the milliner surveyed him from the moment she escorted him into the room, or whether it were a purely accidental circumstance, we cannot say. Sure enough, however, it was that scarcely had he taken a chair when he turned himself around in such a manner as to place his back to the candles. His looks then wandered rapidly over Mrs. Brace’s countenance and entire form, and for a moment — a single moment — his dark eyes flamed with the light oi malignant satisfaction. But this expression was so transi- tory, so evanescent, that the milliner could not have ob- served it, even if Rao’s face had been turned toward the candles. ‘“‘ Madam,” he said, at length breaking silence, ‘‘ I have to 82 GOMmichdooks (E(©)