The Mysteries of London; or, Revelations of the British Metropolis — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

32 NYSTERIES Percival by name, The distinguished favour be- stowed upon this suitor by the young lady hers self, and by her annt also, had driven all rivals from the field, when a new champion appearingin the person of the Marquis of Rio Santo, The dazzling and incomparable Marquis of Rio Santo, who danced athwart the fashonable sphere in 183~—, was an actual living and breath- ing distinguwe—every one remembers his oriental magnificence ; all the world knows that he spent five hundred thousand franesa month, three mil- lions every wintor ; and yet the marquis was no nabob. December came one year and brought not Rio Santo witao it; he was not visible in any of his wonted haunts; he was not installed in his palace on Pall Mall. The Jockey Ciub veiled its face, as if it were rolled into a single sportsman. Hyde Park put on mourning, and the corps de- ballet, a& the King’s Theatre, danced a funeral step to his lamentable memory. What had be- come of Rio Santo? washe dead? was he ruined? There is no need of people, like the marquis, living long; they coudense a yearinto a day, a life int) a year, which they pass in some city, and then disappear, but the odour of their memory remains. Hvery man who carries a riding whip, and lifts his hat as he pronounces his name; and when nis exploits are mentioned, the ladies cast down their heads, and attempt to smile, : As if Rio Santo had not created sensation enough in the fashionable circles, he was now taken up by the all-prevailing voice of the political organs, It was whispered in the clubs, and in- comiclbooks.conn