The Black Mendicant, Tr. by E. Plunkett - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1848. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... BLACK MENDICANT. CHAPTER I. AFTER VESPERS. About the middle of Autumn, 1816, two young men were smoking cigars and conversing, while leaning over the iron-work which surrounded the second story balcony of a house that stood next to the Church in the Place St. Germain-des-Pres, Paris. It was Sunday, and the hands of the dial in the church-steeple marked the hour of four. Our two smokers were no doubt awaiting the termination of the evening service, to review the fair ones who would then leave the neighbouring house of prayer. They were both tall and handsome, but their physiognomies offered a striking contrast. The oldest of the two, whose exceedingly dark features bore an expression of mingled self-indulgence, thoughtlessness, and vain pride, seemed to be verging on that cautious period which forms the extreme frontier between youth and mature age. He had certainly celebrated his thirty-fifth birthday, but it would have been impossible to say when, for his brow was free from Time's furrows, and his hair, although it was too crisp to be beautiful, still retained its raven hue under the layer of pomatum which overspread it. His eyes were brilliant and full of fire, but they would often seek the earth whenever they met either a bold or scrutinising glance. His finely-shaped moustache was as black as his locks, and yet its extremities could not hide from the glance of an attentive observer the deep wrinkles which stole down from either side of his mouth. Bitter indeed, and oft repeated, must have been the smile that had left such an indelible characteristic mark behind. In truth, this sign, more than any other, belied the youthful air that his features still retained, and was only in unison with the bluish tinge which encircled his eyelids and lost itself under the ...