The Mysteries of London; or, Revelations of the British Metropolis — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

OF LONDON. BB ee sinuated i in the newspapers, that the marquis. was a secret envoy from a foreign court, of the oad be rank, and intrusted with a most nocientiias aa curkest as an Leaoatied ‘truth. Whigs ace Tories contended for the’ first interview. Thirty invita- tions crossed each other, signed by distinguished names, backed by palaces and millions, Rio-Santo -wasin no hurry to chocse; he was satisfied that his society was courted, and after waiting a suita- ble time, and making an excursion to Richmond, he ordered his carriage one evening to drive to Derby House. . Lady Opheiia Barnwood, Countess of Derby, was a widow of a knight of the garter. Her for- tune surpassed that of the bankers in Thames- street. She was twenty five years of age, and was universally ackaowiedged to be the loveliest woman on King’s Road. a long avenue, thickly peopled with charming women. When Rio-Santo was announced, a perceptible emotion ran through the double rank of ladies who crowded the fashiona- | bie saloons of the countess. The first rank trem- bled with a delicious curiosity; the second rank advanced fifty dowager faces abeve the fresh — countenances of youthful belles,asthe secondline = fire their guns above the shoulders of the first in some military manceuvre. Rio-Santo entered. He proved to be a handsome man, but there was some dizappointment because his tout ensemble was not moreromantic. At the first glance there Was a general astonishment that, although. the 2 ian COMMGCOOOKSKeEOmn