The Sun.
London, England, 1838-05-09 00:00:00

EVENINGS AT THE OPERA.

[From the Court Gazette.)
There are many pleasant things in this pleasant world of ours ; and
such it is, though disappointed politicians sneer, and worn out roues
rail at it, and one is a partie quornee in a box at the Opera, There is the
piquant piece of news concerning one's friend opposite (it is so pleasant
to have friends, if they will but be frail); then there is the criticism on
the new ballet, to show we can criticize; and the applause of the prima
donna, because it is the custom to applaud. Besides this, there is the
pleasant task of watching the progress of the various flirtations, of laugh.
ing at the Baroness --'s vulgarity, and quizzing Lady-'a last party,
of smiling at pretty Miss A.'s vanity, and a thousand little things, all so
very pleasant to a man about town, who knows they will add a pignancy
to his next visit at the Countess -; and on the night of the last draw.
ing room did I find myself thus situated in Lady B.'s box.
" Do you see our friend opposite?" murmured into my ear Louisa
Hautaine; "how devoted he is to the heiress !"
" Yes! no doubt he thinks that moustache of his irresistible; but, to
my mind, he certainly has more hairs than graces." The whitest of
teeth and the most gentlemanly of laughs from Sir George attested the
effect of the sally. How fond people are of laughing when they can show
a good set of teeth

" How thankful we should be," said Louisa Hautaine, " that we are
not heiresses."

" Are you ❑ot ?"
" How ?"

" Heiress of all that is charming ?"
" A very pretty compliment, but--"
" Not true ?" inquired Lady William.
" No! but not new, which is more unpardonable."
" Oh ! do look at that odious coquette," lithped Sir George, " how
some people can allow their wives to be so open in their flertations, I
cannot imagine."

" The good man is not much given to imagine,"whispered Lady William
" You would be like those of old." I replied, " who punished the dis.
covery, and not the crime."

" Ha! ha! very good," and again the white teeth gleamed on our
sight and wonder :--I wonder if they are real I
At this moment, even our• attention was commanded by the splendid
voice of Persian; which, without effort, filled the house with its melody.
" What a splendid complexion Lady R. has," said Louisa when the
scene was concluded.

" Yes, and so convenient—comes and goes whenever she pleases."
" Ah I Lady William, you arc too severe."
" I ? you wrong me, cousin : but I remember hearing my mamma
talk of its chameleon-like hues as a thing of twenty years."
" Do you see young Fitzjames—his collar a la Byron, with those wild
elf locks of his ? I do believe he fancies he's a poet."
" I can assure you fancy has little enough to do with him. The epi-
gram on a bad singer would suit him admirably."
" Swans sing before they die ; no bad thing did certain persons die
before they sing. Now, who is severe ? Do you see young S-- and
his wife ?"

" Sce them ! I see them wherever I so ; but, apropos of nothing, did
you hear of the elopement some time since ?
No!

Allow me to tell you then.—l pique myself on a being a raconteur.
Not a hundred miles from Belgrave-square, resided a gallant officer, with
a fair daughter, heiress of his wealth ; guarded with the eyes of a hun-
dred Arguses, it became very difficult for any of our younger sons to
whisper those soft things said to be so attractive to your sex. However,
" Love will creep in where it claurna wed be seen,"
and at last the lady's heart became touched. Almack's listened to their
vows, and Hyde Park responded to their sighs; and the upshot was (for
I see you are getting ennuyee), an elopement to Gretna. Within an
hour after their departure, papa had received intelligence, and his car-
riage and four of his finest horses gave chase to the fugitives. Imagine
their consternation when they beheld papa, first at a distance, then that
distance diminishing by degrees, until they were within hearing. Young
-- promised the wealth of Crcesus to the Post boy if he evaded them.
The lady shut her eyes, and went into hysterics. At that moment the
gallant pursuer was not ten yards behind them, when the lover, who is
a dead shot, and one of the coolest fellows in the world, bethought him
of his duelling pistols, which he luckily had with him.
Waiting until time heads of the leaders were even with the window
of his carriage, he took a delightful aim at the foremost; the horse
rolled, the postillion rolled with him, and the carriage was unable to
proceed. The gentleman took off his hat to his future father-in-law,
dashed on to Gretna Green, and a month afterwards was laughing at the
adventure with the General over a bottle of claret.
" How interesting !" said Louisa.
" Charm' ng," said Lady William.
" No doubt you think so ; but allow me to remind you that the Opera
is concluded; and as Lady J-- is beckoning ►o me, I can only say
au rceoir. We shall meet at the Duchss -- after the ballet, I pre-
sume. As Sir Benjamin Backbite says, I leave my character in your
bands once more, au revoir.