In Sight of St. Paul's — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

- 194 THE PANTHER’S BIRTHDAY. CHAPTER XIII. THE PANTHER’S BIRTHDAY. _ The double drawing-rooms of the Panther’s villa were ablaze with light, and filled with brilliantly attired women of all shades of complexion, both natural and assumed. Not a masculine black-coat among them all. Even the servants, who circulated the champagne, of which there was a never-ending flow, were girls in the silk stockings, plush breeches, and liveried coats of footmen. The music of the latest comic operas floated through the perfumed atmosphere from a band con- cealed behind a screen of palms, a band composed of female musicians from Vienna. The music, it must be confessed, however, was not listened to, nor, if any one had desired, would it have been possible to enjoy it, so persistent was the chatter and so loud the laughter of the guests who were all just a little exhilarated by the wine sa had imbibed in honor of their hostess. The Panther was here, there, and everywhere, eraceful as a houri, overflowing with musical laugh- EOmMmIchooks: co