How could she choose aright when her beauty roused men's
passion before she had had time to gain experience or judgment
enough to defend herself?
There were a thousand other attractions in this room. A picture, or
rather a sketch, by Goya, with all the fantastic want of finish, the
gorgeous dabs of color that make so many of that master's works like
the visions of delirium; on an inlaid table, a little Moorish
casket, through the crystal lid of which one saw a collection of old
Spanish coins of astounding dimensions; a small cabinet on the wall,
containing stars and orders, with their chains, on a white satin
ground; a trophy formed of a sword, gold spurs, epaulettes, and a
gold-fringed scarf; here and there great Catalonian knives with open
blades, daggers in rich sheaths and with engraved handles, and even
an open velvet-lined case with a pair of chased ivory pistols. Some
photographs on the chimney-piece and on the gold brocade-covered
piano arrested Wilhelm's attention. First of all, Pilar in two
different positions, then the pictures of three children, a girl and
two boys, and finally the full-length portrait of a gentleman in the
embroidered dress coat and sword of the diplomatic service, and the
handsome, vacuous, carefully groomed head of a fashion plate.
Pages:
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452