Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-11-13

SIC uiu .ron those poilcemen. am not wholly
a devil find have got a heart that beats
with humanity, and feels with tenderness. But
! must go forward as 1 am driven. This night
decides my destiny for veal or woe. knew
not till | met this soft-voiced and interesting
little barefOoted beggar- girl, that had any
emotion left Thank God, my heart is not all
trQH-aU iron ~
A man here met him, beneath lamp which
was suspended over porticO entrance opening
on the right side of the archway, up a fight Of
stairs
Sir Paul Varney?"
Yes, my Lord. L did not at the first sight
know you. We are well met" said the stran-
ger. " hardly looked for you to meet your
engagement, and accept my challenge, such
night as this.''
!" Sir Paul, had the skies rained fire instead
OF water, and the air were dark with the thick
breath OF pestilence instead of fog. L should
have kept such promise as stands between me
and thee,''
The other made no reply, but smiled darkly
as ne bowed eourteously, and yet defiantly, and
passed up the stairs; first, however, with a
wave OF his hand offering the precedence in as
cendIng to the nObleman, who hautily declined
this amenity
!he stairway was broad, of green, variega-
ted marble. and paneled with gold FURNISHED
compartments, within which were inches con-
tanning statutes of Apollo, Euphrosyne, Thalia,
and all OF the nine muses.. A rose-colored light
was softly shed over them from the delicate
crimson argand shades of gorgeous chandelier,
suspended at the head of the noble staircase
Upon reaching the landing, Sir Paul Varney,
when was the name of the stranger, placed in
the hands of porter, who was dressed in black
velvet, and with bright red mask upon his
lace, small silver ticket. with the device of
the king of diamonds elegantly engraved upon
IL: LORD lnglis tossed hautily a similar ticket
IN on to Al
silver bell, which stood upon a little round
ta6ie, covered with scarlet cloth, fringed with
gold, that stood by his side. and into little
drawer in which he dropped the cards of silver.
At the tinkle of the bell, pair of green cloth
doors before them were thrown open, and the
nobieman and baronet passed through, when
they were instantly closed behind them. by
servant also dressed in black velvet and with a
crimson mask concealing his features They
were now IN lofty domed vestibule, supported
Dy circular range of Doric columns with
orOnzed capitals, supporting an architrave of
the richest carved work This vestibule was
paved with blue and white marble slabs, and
gorgeous as 1T was with paintings and sculp-
ture, ii was but the ante room of an apartment
the splend0r OF which was without parallel in
London. This room was a vast hall one hun
dred and eighty feet in length and one hundred
In breadth, and seventeen yards high II was
lighted by day from u dome of the richest
stained glass, and by highland at the time
these two gentlemen passed into it-by two
hundred brilliant jets of gas, blazing in the
shape of every graceful flower, supported by
braechia of gold. and of bronze, and of silver.
OF the most exquisite devices and grace.
The walls were divided into compartments
by clusters Of arched columns, and the spaces
hlled by paintings of the most costly and gor-
geous description, wherein the purest taste.
and the most wonderful richness of color. com
blned to please the eye and captivate the i'm
aginatiOn.
The ceiling was a representation. in fresco
and gold, upon an azure sky tinted ground. of
feast OF the gods. The panels between the
columns which surrounded this grand chamber
OF luxury were enriched with paintings from
the first periods of England, France, and Italy.
and were designed to fascinate the senses and
administer to the emotions Of voluptuOusness,
and often In conception were so free, that even
the divinity of genius could not wholly veil
their gross licentiousness.
hanged along the sides Of this splendid area
were numerous roulette and faro tables around
every one Of which save one-and the most con-
spicuous-were gathered crowds of gentlemen
deeply absorbed in play. Others in parties
were grouped here and there, up and down the
vast foOr, cOnversing and smoking: while some.
by twos and threes, marched up and down the
apartment-the thick, rich crimson and black
carpet giving back no sound to the fall of their
leet; some idly lOunged on fauteuls. or watched
the players. Servants, all dressed in black
velvet. here and there silently moved about.
carrying sherbet or iced water to such of the
guests rs desired such refreshments The voices
OF the two hundred men who were present
caused constant, mOnOtOnOus buzz, varied by
the sharp flap Of a card laid down with empba-
Sis, or the rattle Of the roulette ball in the
wheel, or the clear ring Of silver and the crisper
cllnk OF gold pieces while, at intervals, a sud
den outbreaking vOice-either of pleasure or of
pam, as betters won or lOst-rOse above all
and, at long intervals, was heard a deep oath
OF disappointment from some desperate loser
In this superb and glittering arena. under
the glittering mask of fashion and style the
darkest passions Of the human heart were let
loose, and here more victims had perished than
fell In the ampitheatre of Rome when Nero
presided at the great games. The only differ
ence Is that at Rome beasts fought and tore
men, while here men tear and devour each other
The entrance of the two gentlemen into the
room seemed to create immediate and extraor-
binary excitement. No sooner were they dis
covered than those who were promenading
stopped full, and those who were seated rose
Only the moment before their appearance,
two young nOblemen, who were standing near
the door. had been talking together as follows:
:" Do you think that Lord Inglis will be here
1t must now be past ten o'clock" and he drew
out hunting watch from his pocket, and,
springing it, looked at the hour.
The other drew from his fob lady's watch,
all glittering with a set of brlliants and said,
yawningy. - Yes minute and quarter be-
hind time
We always allow three minutes in Paris for
difference in each man time" said the owner
Of the hunting watch. whose large, blue eyes
betrayed his Saxon blood.
E. How much was it that Inglis lost in all last
night l was not here, you know
- SOmewheres about thirty thousand pounds.
But he has been losing enormously every night
for q week, - answered the blue-eyed lord.
And all to Varney! Sir Paul is the luck
lest man ia London would as soon cast my
money into the Thames as play with him"
- lie has won, it is said, every pound of Lord
Inglis' fortune but fifty thousand Inglis is
mad to play with him" answered the young
lord with the jeweled me-keeper.
- lie hopes to win back. And all this he is
TO stake tonight rejoined the other. 80
hear. When he lost his last thousand to Sir
Paul Varney, he. in moment of desperation,