"We always get an interesting mix of people,"said Virginia De Sciascio, whose booth is filled with old and new linens.

Wherever they struck, old linen and resin-impregnated skin began to flicker and flame.

Especially as he had no sunlight-just smog-filtered north light, soft as old linen.

The shop, at 11, rue d'Assas, will also dye your old linens.

She pulled a piece of old linen from the table and wrapped the child.

And some Americans are starting to collect old linens as well.

London is a wonderful place to look for old linens and lace, with a growing number of dealers specializing in them.

Yes, she preferred the old smooth Irish linen to that new rough French grass-bleached stuff.

"But on your Web site, you say old linens are sturdy," I said.

He too had dressed for her, all in brilliant red velvet, with his old fancy linen and his white gloves.