The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 371: what you’re looking at

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

A J THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. >) wok! Vie a “It has indeed passed drearily. There is no play, I | trust ?”’ ** Sometimes.” “Then I'll not go,” said Wilmott firmly. “Pshaw!” replied the tempter; “’tis merely child’s play. The women join, and frequently stake more | than their money. You understand? Cupid holds | the stakes, and love pays forfeit.” Wilmott was too weak and too wretched to hold | out. Excitement promised forgetfulness, and forget- | fulness to him was happiness; for, from continually | brooding on his crime, he had sunk into a morbid state | almost berdering upon insanity. Indeed at times poor Rose trembled for his reason. Jumping into a fiacre, they drove to the Rue Richelieu, the residence of the Count de Villa, who | kept open house for all who were properly introduced | or had money to lose. His doors were only shut to | those whom he had plundered. The party assembled at the Count de Villa’s was | & mixed company of English and other foreigners. There were comparatively few French there, and 53>: = b> >» —= = . 369 4 | >" wes NaS WN’ . NS \* iy vd Yj OM " “é j PB ‘\ i \ \ than doubtful character. Although tho meeting was styled a conversazione, the real purpose was play; music and conversation were merely the blinds to mislead the police, who had long had an eye upor the house, and strong suspictons as to the rea) pursuits of its master, whose antecedents in bis own country rendered a residence in Paris more than eonvenient —it was necessary to his safety. He was a tall, stout man, about fifty, whose grey moustache and closely cropped hair gave him a military appearance, of which he was not a little vain. He possessed that vulgar style of beauty which characterises the low adventurer. The great decoy was Madame la Con- tesse, whose manners were really elegant, and whose pale, intelligent features bespoke, to a close observer, a heart but i!l at ease, At times, when the eyes of her husband encountered hers, which they frequently would when she appeared lost in abstraction, the guests would observe an involuntary shudder creep over her, and she instantly exerted herself to promote conversation and gaiety, with the eagerness of « child who had been caught neglecting its task. Men fre’ those chiefly well-dressed, showy women, of more | quently used to say they were an ill-assorted pair- a ET SS TT 47 é COMO! <S) (C(O)