with a sharp look, now and then, toward the lighted window, as if
the revellers disturb'd him. His back was partly turn'd to me; and
what with this and the growing dusk, I could but make a guess at his
face: but a plenty of silver hair fell over his fur collar, and his
shoulders were bent a great deal. I judged him between fifty and
sixty. For the rest, he wore a dark, simple suit, very straitly cut,
with an ample furr'd cloak, and a hat rather tall, after the fashion
of the last reign.

Now, why the man's behavior so engaged me, I don't know: but at the
end of half an hour I was still watching him. By this, 'twas near
dark, bitter cold, and his pretence to read mere fondness: yet he
persevered--though with longer glances at the casement above, where
the din at times was fit to wake the dead.

And now one of the dicers upsets his chair with a curse, and gets on
his feet. Looking up, I saw his features for a moment--a slight,
pretty boy, scarce above eighteen, with fair curls and flush'd
cheeks like a girl's. It made me admire to see him in this ring of
purple, villainous faces. 'Twas evident he was a young gentleman of
quality, as well by his bearing as his handsome cloak of amber satin
barr'd with black. "I think the devil's in these dice!" I heard him
crying, and a pretty hubbub all about him: but presently the drawer
enters with more wine, and he sits down quietly to a fresh game.

As soon as 'twas started, one of the crew, that had been playing but
was now dropp'd out, lounges up from his seat, and coming to the
casement pushes it open for fresh air. He was one that till now had
sat in full view--a tall bully, with a gross pimpled nose; and led
the catches in a bull's voice. The rest of the players paid no heed