The Morning herald., 1877-09-08
CHAPTER XVI.
y A ,CAPRICIOUs BEAUTY.

L
to him the moment he pulls the bell-han-
die.
The porter in the lodge salutes him
deferentially, yet with an affability that is
not only respectful. but cordial.
This sort Of "silvery" welcome will be
we'll understood by those of our readers
who have been in Paris, and know the ar
rangements of those huge houses, or ho-
ltels, of what was once the Queen City Of
the world.
Houses which can only be compared to
small London street stuck up on end,
each floor being occupied by an entire
family, with nothing to connect them one
with the other, but a general staircase
staircase which is generally kept in ex-
quisite order and cleanliness by the porter
at the lodge. Sometimes . nobleman or
rich banker may occupy the ground-hoor
or luxurious trst-foor, while the topmost
flight, or sky-parlor serves as a shlverng
refuge in winter, or an over-heated oven
in summer, for millinels, fower-lnakers,
water-carriers, and others of. those who
live OF starve by labor. =.
Dropping silver piece into the hand Of
the obsequious porter, Noel ascends the
polished oak staircase, and only pauses
when he reaches the third floor.
Then, taking small latch-key from his
waistcoat-pocket, he inserts it in the lock
Of the door to the right and enters.
But at the faint sound that the key
makes in the lock, maid-servant, coquet-
tishly dressed in light muslin dress, with
mauve ribbons in her saucy little cap,
rushes into the hall.
"Oh, it's you, sir!" she says, clapping
her hands. "Missus has been expecting
YOU for ever so long,"
This exclamation bursts from her in
such extremely loud tones, that it must
have been heard at the other end OF the
rooms, and might have served as signal
of warning to some one beyond but the
Young barrister seems too preoccupled to
remark the ruse, if, indeed, any rwse were
meant.
els your mistress at home?" he said.
eyes, sir; and in nice temper too. 1t
was as much as 1 could do to prevent her
calling on you at your mothers house.
She's pinched me black and blue because
told her it was against your orders"
"You did quite right" said Noel, looking
frightened. "Where is she2'
"In the smoking-room. I'm getting tea
ready. Will you take some, sira"
"Yes; place an extra cup for me. How
confoundedly dark it is! give me your
light;" and, taking it from her hand, he
traversed successfully several sumptu-
ously furnished rooms. until he reached
the one indicated by the maid-servant.
It is an apartment of an oval shape,
with a remarkably high ceiling, formed
like dome, painted in sky-blue, and dot
ted with stars.
An ordinary mortal would have thought
himself three thousand leagues from Paris
or London, and in the house of some opu.
lent inhabitant of the Celestial Empire.
The fantastic furniture, with its extra.
ordinary and incoherent ornaments; the
delicious yet brilliantly-colored tissues,
that hung from the walls; the beautiful
rose-colored lamps, that bloomed rather
than shed light, transported one at once
to Hong Kong or Shanghai.
A divan, or sofa, very large, and very
low, furnished with piles of cushions, COW
cred with the same tissues that hung from
the walls, was placed at the further end Of
this smoking-room, upon which, smothered
up in cashmere shawls, a young woman
was lying, smoking a cigarette. vi
She was a tiny little creature, but her
throat, shoulders, and arms were exquis-
itely round and faultless in shape; whilst.
her di1npled, vet slender hands, with their
rose-tinted nails, looked like costly jewels,
only made to be caressed. w
She was not beautiful-hardly even
what could have been called very pretty;
bnt she had one of those faces which,
once seen, are never to be forgotten.
Her forehead was rather too high, and
her mouth, Notwithstanding its charming
freshness of color, too large. Her eye
brows were perfectly arched, but they
were 80 palpably artificial in their mky
b1acknpss, and extreme decision OF line,
that they gave certain hardness to the
whole face; but, to compensate Tor thls
defect. her complexion was beautifully
clear, and of pale olive color, that had
an inexpressibly cool and soft appearance.
Her dark, velvety eyes had q ma&neuc
power in them very rarely seen. Her teeth
were very white and even; and hef oAach
! hair WAS long and fine, with blue g1eahs
| in its rich, WMVy MISSES -,
On ne,caiving Noel. who raised the SILK
curtains that hung before the door as ne
entered, she half raised herself ana
leaned upon her elbow. ~,
$50. you've come at last" she sald'
speaking in a sharp voice; "and it's high
| time, too'
The barrister paused for moment al
most suffocated by the tropical heat OF '"'
smoking-room. w, o;1
"What sitting atmosphere" ne sald'
dts like an oven"
"Do you think so9" remarked the young
lady. "Im sorry we differ in OPINION J.
think it awfully chilly; but that's because
Pm ill. / hate lying down; it lrrl'a'es me,