The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

THE LODGING - HOUSE 167 whom lodgers were certain to remain on the best possible terms so long as their weekly bills were settled with regu- larity. The ground floor, consisting of two rooms, was occupied by herself, — the front being her parlour, the back her bed- chamber. The first floor was very handsomely furnished, and was sure to be “ well let,” as Mrs. Macaulay termed it, in the season, perhaps to a member of Parliament, whose regular residence was in the country. The second floor was far more plainly appointed, but still comfortable enough, and above were the chambers of the servants, with a spare one in case the first-floor lodger should have a servant of his own. It was about ten o’clock in the forenoon on the very day that the duel took place, that a tall man, of gentlemanly appearance, and well though plainly dressed, — that is to say, his apparel was genteel and of good materials, but without pretension, — passed slowly along Mortimer Street, and observing a card in a window, announcing a first floor to let ready furnished, he knocked at the door. On one of the servants answering it, he requested to look at the rooms, and he was in the first instance shown into Mrs. Macaulay’s parlour, while that respectable female “ tidied herself up a bit,” to use her own phrase. Having washed her face and hands, slipped on her silk gown and her cap with pink ribbons, Mrs. Macaulay entered the parlour, with a simpering mien and a hali-curtesy. She prided herself upon being an excellent physiognomist, for she always scrutinized well every applicant for her lodgings, so that she might calculate the chances of being paid her rent, or of having her tenants decamp suddenly some fine day. Asa matter of course such disagreeable incidents as these had been within the range of her experience, and by treasuring up in her mind the countenances of the delinquents, she regarded them as eriterions for the formation of her judgment in future. Therefore, on entering into the presence of the gentleman to whom we have alluded, she studied him with all the keenness of her perception, yet without appearing to do SO. As we have said, he was of tall stature; we may add that he was of commanding aspect. His hair, which was of an iron gray, was worn much away from above the forehead, EORNICLIOOKS (EO)