In Sight of St. Paul's — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

104 THE ASPASIA CLUB. pasia, Lais, and Phryne, illuminated by amber electric lights. ‘he hard-wood floor was covered with superb and costly rugs and the furniture was a glitter of gilding and glistening brocade. At one side was a large plate-glass window, open- ing on to a broad veranda, from which could be seen a view of the Thames looking up toward London Bridge. Opposite was an archway partially vailed by rich portieres, through which was revealed a glimpse of the ball-room, where every evening fashionable inen and elegantly dressed women waltzed to the strains of an excellent string band. Nothing was spared by the proprietors, who, by the way, preserved a strict incognito, to make the place a success, and they were generally supposed to be coining money. It was certainly the most popular place of its class in London, and some of the best known names in society, among the men, of course, occasionally figtired in its list of guests. On the night in which we shall venture to intro- duce our readers to the Aspasia Club, the drawing- room was empty. The ball-room, however, was crowded with a brilliant company, and the music of a sensuous waltz floated on the air. Suddenly the portieres were pushed aside impa- tiently, and a very handsome woman entered the room. Her gown of blue velvet and her exquisite or- . naments of sapphires were exceedingly becoming to (E(0) comicbooks