midnight
Every gentle grace belonging to this unfortunate lady had been stamped in undying beauty on the canvas by the hand of Lely , breathing a spell on the picture , almost as powerful as that which had dwelt around the exquisite original . Over the high carved mantelpiece was suspended the portrait of Sir Reginald . It had been painted in early youth ; the features were beautiful , disdainful , -- with a fierceness breaking through the courtly air . The eyes were very fine , black as midnight , and piercing as those of Cæsar Borgia , as seen in Raphael 's wonderful picture in the Borghese Palace at Rome . They seemed to fascinate the gazer -- to rivet his glances -- to follow him whithersoever he went -- and to search into his soul , as did the dark orbs of Sir Reginald in his lifetime . It was the work likewise of Lely , and had all the fidelity and graceful refinement of that great master ; nor was the haughty countenance of Sir Reginald unworthy the patrician painter . No portrait of Sir Piers was to be met with .