 The character of Mattlin is a truly vicious villain, while the mood is down-beat -- in fact, mock-Gothic in the Poe-inspired sub-plot involving the renovation of the Manor House.The book is shot through with mordant wit, but there are also lighter moments of tenderness and near-slapstick.On its publication, "The Girl at the Lion d'Or" was lauded in reviews for Faulks' ability to evoke a sense of time and place and for his adroitness in creating engaging characters.