Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-11-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
From Hoods Magazine.
The Gamblers last Stake.
A SCENE IN MADRID

In an inner room of his counting
room, which occupied a wing of his
splendid mansion in the Gale Alcala,
sat Don Jose Solano, one of the richest
bankers in Madrid, Illuminating with
much self-complacency upon the prof.
table results of a recent speculation
He was interrupted in his meditations
by the entrance of one of his clerks
ushering in a stranger, who brought
letter of introduction from a banker at
Mexico, with whom Don Jose had had
occasional transactions. The letter
stated that the bearer, the count de
Vallejo, was of a highly respectable
family of Mexican nobility, that he
was DESTROYS of visiting Europe, and
more especially the country of his an
cestors, Spain; and it then went on to
recommend him in the strongest terms
to the Madrid banker, as one whose
intimacy and friendship could not fail
to be sought after by all who became
acquainted with his many excellent
ana eedolc QUALITIES.
The appearance Of the count seemed
to Justify, as far as appearance can do,
the high terms in which he was spo-
ken of in his letter. He was about
Extraordinarily years of age, dark
complexioned, with high, clear fore
head, short, crisp, curling hair, and in
telligent and regular countenance, and
smile of singular beauty and fascina-
ton. His eyes were the only feature
which could be pronounced otherwise
than extremely pleasing; although
large, black and Iustrous, they had a
certain fxity and hardness of express
sion, that produced an unpleasant i'm.
preston upon the beholder, and would
perhaps have been more disagreeable,
had not the mellow tones Of the counts
voice, and his suavity and polish of
manner, served in great measure to
counteract the effect of this peculiarly.
Doing due honor to the strong recon
mendation of his esteemed correspon-
dent, Don Jose welcomed the young
Condo with the utmost hospitality, in
sisted on taking charge of him for the
whole of the day, and, without allow
ing him to return to his hotel, dragged
him into the house, presented him to
his son and daughter, and charged
them to use their utmost exertions to
entertain their guest, while he himself
returned to his occupations till dinner
|. time. At one o'clock the old banker
reappeared in the sala, where he found
Rafael and Mariquita Solano listening
with avidity to the agreeable converse
ton of the count, who, in his rich and
characteristic Mexican Spanish, was
giving the most interesting details
concerning the country he had recent
ly left. The magni6cence of the Mex
lean scenery, the peculiarities of the
Indian races, the gorgeous vegetation
and strange animals of the tropics, for
med the subjects of his discourse, not
little interesting to young man of
of three-and-twenty, and girl of eigh-
teen, who had never as yet been fifty
leagues away from Madrid. Nor had
the strangers conversation less charms
for the old banker. Vallejo had been
at the Havana was acquainted with
scenes, if not with persons, with which
were associated some of Don Jose's
most agreeable "reminiscences; scenes
that he visited in the days of his youth,
when he laid the foundation Of his
princely fortune. To be brief: the a
greeable manner and conversation OF
the count SO won upon father, son, and
daughter, that at nightfall he rose to
take his leave, the banker put his house
a su disposition, and followed up what
is usually mere verbal compliment,