"Paul Clifford", Chapter 15, by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

There is a festival where knights and dames,
And aught that wealth or lofty lineage claims,
Appear.

'T is he,-how came he thence?
What doth he here?

Lara.

----

There were several instances in this chapter of a name blanked out. Lord -- or Mr --. Ugh. I had to tweak the wording around those to make it work for this format. Super annoying.

éclat: social distinction or conspicuous success.

I'm a bit unclear on the usage of the term "rubber" in the context of card games. I see it used in connection with the game Bridge, but it's not obvious that by card games, the author means games of Bridge. Maybe? Is gambling at Bridge a thing? Any British people in the audience have any insight into this?

valetudinarian: a person who is unduly anxious about their health

turbot - a species of flatfish native to the northeast Atlantic, Baltic, and Mediterranean

Volontiers: French meaning 'gladly'

hatchment: a large tablet, typically diamond-shaped, bearing the coat of arms of someone who has died, displayed in their honor

Game laws: laws regulating hunting and fishing (i.e. wild game)

Miss Burney: Frances Burney, 1752 to 1840, a.k.a. Fanny Burney and Madame d'Arblay. English satirical novelist, diarist and playwright. Her first, and most successful, novel was "Evelina" (1778).

chapeau bras: a bicorn hat designed to be compressed and carried under the arm, formerly worn on dress occasions by men in the 18th century, and later in the United States Army by general and staff officers.

The picture used is "Highest Life in London - Tom & Jerry 'sporting a toe' among the Corinthians at Almacks in the West" by IR & G Cruikshank, in Tom and Jerry: Life in London by P Egan (1869 first pub 1821)

To follow along: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7735/7735-h/7735-h.htm#link2HCH0015