It was a large apartment, decorated in the
Adams style and furnished as a luxurious drawing-room. At the
side near the window there was a long table covered with green
baize. Round this several gentlemen in evening dress were
standing. Others played games of their own at separate small
tables, but most of them devoted themselves to baccarat.
Maraquito held the bank. Her couch was drawn up against the
wall, and the red silk curtains of the window made a vivid
background to her dark beauty.
She was, indeed, a handsome woman--so much of her as could
be seen. Half-sitting, half-reclining on her couch, the lower
part of her frame was swathed in eastern stuffs sparkling with
gold threads. She wore a yellow silk dress trimmed about the
shoulders with black lace and glittering with valuable jewels.
Her neck and arms were finely moulded and of a dazzling
whiteness. Her small head was proudly set on her shoulders,
and her magnificent black hair smoothly coiled in lustrous
tresses above her white forehead. Her lips were full and
rich, her eyes large and black, and her nose was thin and
high. The most marked feature of her face were the eyebrows,
which almost met over her nose. She had delicate hands and
beautiful arms which showed themselves to advantage as she
manipulated the cards. From the gorgeous coverlet her bust
rose like a splendid flower, and for an invalid she had a
surprising color. She was indeed, as Jennings had remarked,
like a tropical flower.
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