The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

172 THE COURT OF LONDON Gabriel? ”’ said Pauline, in a low tone of upbraiding, while her countenance suddenly became serious and mournful. “Ah! I have consented to forgive you this once, for the last time; but do not affect ignorance, instead of manifesting contrition.” | ‘“ Pauline,” replied the young nobleman, with the im- passioned accents and fervid manner of unmistakable sin- cerity, ‘‘ your words are but a continuation of that dreadful enigma which has so much perplexed me and almost driven me to despair. If I have erred since that day on which you wrote to tell me that everything was at an end between us, my offence must be looked upon with a compassionate con- sideration, because your own inexplicable conduct was but too well calculated to plunge me into any excesses that might divert my mind from pondering on its blasted hopes and its stricken affections. But until that letter came, I take God to witness that I was true and faithful in word and deed unto you — “Oh, Gabriel! add not this per] ury to your other offences,”’ exclaimed Pauline, emphatically; “ or I shall withdraw my promise of pardon —I shall refuse all reconciliation.”’ “Then, in the name of God! explain yourself,’ cried Florimel, with a vehemence equally impassioned, ‘‘ in order that I may enter upon my justification! You cannot, at least, refuse me that demand? ”’ “One word will suffice, Gabriel,” said Pauline, in a tone profoundly mournful; then, in a scarcely audible whisper, she added, “ I coacied that you could not have been at a loss to conjecture who the Flower Girl was at the masquerade.’’ ‘‘By Heaven! this enigma is intolerable, this mystery is more than I can endure,;’ exclaimed the young nobleman, completely bewildered. ‘‘.Ah! I recollect,” he cried, as a sudden reminiscence struck him; ‘“‘I was invited to a masquerade at Covent Garden Theatre, but I take God to witness that I did not go.” ‘Then has there been some foul treachery played upon me,” said Pauline, staggered and confounded by the air of sincerity and the tone of confidence with which her lover’s denial was given. ‘‘ And, to speak candidly,” she continued, in a musing tone, ‘I was struck then — at the time — by the circumstance that the masque in the blue domino with the braiding and the star was taller than you — ”’ ECORNIELNOOLKKS (E(©)