The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 334: what you’re looking at

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

300 THE COURT OF LONDON that mouth was perfect as a feature, small, with lips neither too thin nor too full, and furnished with teeth white and pure as those of a charming woman. Nevertheless there was at times a certain curl, or rather, a mingled wreathing and compression of those lips, which gave a sinister look to the whole countenance, and thus marred the open, frank, and generous aspect of the noble forehead and the magnificent brows. It must, however, have been a tolerably acute observer to notice this effect; and thus to the world in gen- eral Lord Montgomery’s countenance appeared to combine every essential to perfect manly beauty. His hair was black, curling naturally, and shining with so rich a gloss of its own as to render needless the unguents of perfumers; and he possessed a superb pair of whiskers which were slightly tinged with a dark auburn at the roots, but speedily grew into a black as jetty and as bright as the hair. His stature was of the middling height, and his form combined graceful symmetry with muscular power. He dressed well, had a rich, melodious voice, sang an excellent song, was a famous horseman, had a taste for literature, and wrote beautiful poetry, danced gracefully, fenced admirably, was considered to be somewhat addicted to all kinds of fashionable dissipation, and was therefore a great favourite both with the male and female portions of the aristocratic world. Such was Lord Montgomery, a British peer, with an estate tolerably well encumbered by mortgages, and whose signa- ture was by no means unknown amongst the bill-discounters in the city; but he was wont to profess great confidence as to the lawsuit which was pending in Chancery with regard to the Bellenden estates, and in the result of which process he had no mean interest. Rao, the black page, having duly ushered Lord Mont- gomery into the presence of his master, immediately retired, and the greetings which took place between the two noble- men indicated the very friendly terms whereon they stood with each other. ‘* We have been quite strangers lately, my dear Gabriel,’’ said the earl, taking a seat; ‘‘ and therefore I was resolved to call upon you thus early this morning, and have a friendly confabulation.”’ “No one could possibly be more welcome, Eugene,”’ GOnMGoOO S (©