The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 344: what you’re looking at

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

MADAME ANGELIQUE’S THREE BILLETS 313 devilish sorry figure with the old lady, and should have lost the French beauty.” ‘Dear me, what creatures you young Guardsmen are!”’ said Madame Angelique, as if musing to herself, but taking very good care that the Honourable Augustus Softly should catch the words which she uttered. ‘I never saw such killing men, — their very looks are sufficient to conquer female hearts in a moment.”’ ‘Where is the beauty?” asked Softly, drinking in all this pleasant flattery. ‘‘T will go and fetch her,’ said Madame Angelique, and she issued from the boudoir. Mademoiselle Armantine had passed the preceding night in the arms of an attaché to a foreign embassy, — not a German one, for Madame Angelique, knowing very well that the German representatives of their native princes were a set of scurvy paupers, never allowed them to set foot in her establishment. ‘The French girl was in an elegant evening toilet, and she looked ravishingly beautiful. Madame Angelique complimented her upon her bewitching appearance, and then addressed her in the ensuing manner: ‘You are already aware, my dear Armantine, that I am about to give up my business, and that I have already pro- vided in the handsomest manner for those dear girls Eglan- tine and Linda. Your turn is now come, and between you and me, my dear, you are the best off. What think you of a young, handsome, and elegant officer of the Guards, exceedingly intelligent and accomplished, witty and clever, not yet of age, but able to raise as much money as he thinks fit? ”’ Armantine’s countenance expressed her satisfaction with the proposed arrangement. ‘““T am glad that you are pleased,’ continued Madame Angelique, “‘ and it is all the more delightful to me inas- much as the trouble I am taking is purely disinterested. But there are one or two little things that I must tell you, my dear young friend.” She then explained the particulars of the tale which she had told the Honourable Augustus Softly, adding, ‘‘ You can safely give him the same assurance, for I will take care that Marchmont shall not contradict you. I can do any- thing I like with the duke, and as for that part of the history CORNICLOO© <S (CO)