The Three Spaniards (Volume 1); A Romance

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1833. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE THREE SPANIARDS. CHAPTER I. Dark were hie brows, and gloomy to the sight, like clouds--His eyes like meteors of the night.--Ossian. The Duke D'Alcantery gave a splendid entertainment at his palace in Madrid, on occasion of a public exhibition, to which all the nobility and gentry were invited, in the true spirit of Castilian magnificence and hospitality. Madrid scarcely before had witnessed so great an assemblage of beauty; and no person of note Was absent. The night was beautiful and mild, such as the spring produces when warming into summer, and the gentle airs, that passed over a delightful garden, wafted a thousand perfumes through the gauze lattices which surrounded the large saloon, where the dancers were performing. The brilliance of dress shone amidst a blaze of tapers; and large Venetian mirrors reflected and multiplied the various groups, animated with ever changing motions, with a sort of magic elegance; while the lively music of the orchestra awakened joy, and gave birth to pleasure in the coldest heart. In the midst of this festivity a stranger entered, conducting a young lady, whose modesty appeared to shrink from the inquiring gaze of so numerous an assembly. The stranger appeared a man of near sixty, unbent by the pressure of time; his features were darkened by an heavy gloom which hung upon his brow. No smile illuminated his countenance as he entered the temple of gaiety; and, while he walked solemnly forward to tha upper end, every eye bent upon him, and every tongue inquired who he could be. The young Marquis De los Velos was conversing with the Marquis Albert de Denia, when these interesting strangers entered. The Marquis of Denia started and turned pale as the strangers advanced; but recovering himself, he attended with a smile ...