The Argosy — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

The Sapphire Cross. 195 The pressure of Signor Renzo’s hand grew heavier. “Lucia loved your child,” he said. ‘‘ And Lucia’s heart is breaking for Guido, who is in prison for your sin.” Then Tito bowed his head. CPAP area X AT THE BALL. Lent, that year, began at the latest possible date in the calendar, and Shrove Tuesday only fell a week and a day after Isoletta was buried. Signor Renzo, back in his native town, had forgotten the law momentarily in the pursuit of pleasure. On the last Monday of the Carnival a ball was given, in an old historic palace, in honour of the Russian Grand Dukes. The féte was one of unusual splendour, and semi-official in character. All the noblesse d’épée were invited and all the noblesse de robe. Among the latter came Signor Renzo. About midnight, when the dancing only waited for the royal guests to begin, he might have been seen ascending the broad, softly-carpeted, brilliantly-lghted staircase, which had been transformed into a hanging garden of exotic plants. Just in front of him trailed the satin train of a jewelled dowager, so thoroughly grande dame that her very ugliness (which was pheno- menal) appeared a patent of nobility. Behind him puffed a stout general in full uniform, whose breast was covered with orders. Upstairs all details were lost in a general impression of dazzling light, intoxicating perfumes, bewildering smiles, and scintillating jewels ; of old lace, gorgeous velvet, golden epaulets, French phrases, flirtations, bows, and music. Grand old portraits looked down on the scene, and the lustres illuminated the carved and gilded beams of oaken ceilings which some contemporary of Alberti had designed. When the quadrille d’honneur had taken place, Signor Renzo looked about him for a partner, and was presently enchanted to meet the friendly smile of a little Grafin, with whom he had waltzed already several times that season. She was very lively, wilful, and impertinent, and had shown the young lawyer a degree of favour which had caused her mother’s eighteen quarterings to descend upon her several times with a totally disregarded crash. ‘This time again she departed smiling and defiant on his arm. Just as they concluded their first turn, and stopped breathless, Countess Hildegarde was confronted by a tall and pallid figure, which greeted her with a profound bow, then passed on, silent, ab- stracted, gloomy as before. ‘Merciful heavens! he might have stepped out of one of those frames !” exclaimed the young girl with a gasp, and then a laugh at the gasp. “Truly, the ghost of Banquo must have been about as enlivening CONnNICLOOKS.E® mn