He

have need of rest, farewell, farewell.' She disappeared through that very door, against which Lord Cowley is leaning now, and the company withdrew. The contract was signed with all the due forms and ceremonies on the morrow, and the story became a nine day's wonder, like so many other astounding' events, and then was forgotten."

"Well, countess, the miracle is not yet accomplished; I see nothing so meritorious in the conduct of the old fright, rich, as you describe him, marrying a pretty woman in spite of her poverty-no such great sacrifice after all!"

"Wait a moment, I have not yet done."

"Tant pis," thought I, for I was dying to know the history of Madame de Versac; "there is a conclusion to the romance."

"Oh, I can guess it, M. de Caudys and the widow married and had heirs, who, fortunately for them, not being so ugly as himself, M. de Caudys took umbrage, and so"

"Peste! comme vous y allez !" exclaimed the countess, laughing heartily; "nothing of the kind took place, my dear; they were never married!" "Ah!" said I, you are as base and artful in plots' as Eugène Sue. However, go on: I listen."

impossible tasks which, in malice,' she allotted to them. In our manner of playing forfeits, you must know that much of the mirth is caused by the fertility of fancy displayed in the invention of the penances, and the queen dearly loved to exercise her ingenuity in the imagination of the impossible tasks to her courtiers. They were always chosen with some sly allusion to the different foibles of the penitent, The countess paused: she was again looking toMadame Jules de Polignac always whispering the wards the thin frail form of Madame de Versac, who name of the person to whom the gage touché belong-was re-entering the room, leaning on her husband's ed. On the evening in question, I myself heard the arm, and immediately behind them walked M. de whisper- Le Baron de Caudys, the enemy of love Caudys himself. Certainly, he is very ugly, and I and marriage.' 'Oh, then we will torment him,' felt so angry with myself at the interest which I had said the queen, and then called aloud, ‘De trois cho- felt concerning him, and the fable about his beauty ses l'une to take the moon with his teeth, to show and elegance, which I had been dupe enough to beme his marriage contract, or to name aloud the fair-lieve, that I could not help exclaiming, with impaest lady in the room.' M. de Caudys drew forward tience, with a peculiar smile upon his countenance, to claim his forfeit the Cross of St. Louis, which he had taken from his button-hole. A murmur of laughter ran round the room at the supposed coincidence of the sentence with the person on whom it had been pronounced, when, to the surprise of all, he approached the queen, and, falling on one knee, drew from his pocket a roll of parchment, which he presented to her majesty, exclaiming, in a clear voice, and with an irresistible grace, as he bent low over the fair hand extended towards him with gracious condescension, I were indeed a truant knight did I execute, and to the very letter, but one of my liege lady's royal commands; here is my marriage contract, which needs but the royal signature to render it complete, and as for the fairest lady in the company, there can be but one opinion on that score.' looked around the room, as if in doubt, and then gazed once more upon the queen, while he added, firmly, her name is Antionette. The queen blush- "This is the story. The Countess de Linar, the ed-I never could tell with what sentiment. There fair Rosalie, who had considered herself neglected was a murmur of surprise throughout the company, and injured by the concealment of their engagement, and the Madame de Linar, whose name was Rosa- furious and full of hate at the preference shown to lie, pale with vexation, pushed back her seat with her poor dependent cousin, so worked and underminsuch violence that she almost crushed the poor de-ed their plans, throwing such obstacles in the way of pendent cousin standing against the wall. You are a final settlement, that it was deemed advisable to ever in the way, Toinon,' exclaimed she, peevishly. postpone the marriage until the utmost exigencies of The queen started at the name, and glanced towards the law had been duly appeased. Meanwhile, the Madame de Linar, then downwards at the paper uncle of M. de Caudys having been appointed amwhich she held, and, as her eye ran over its contents, bassador to the court of England, it was decided that said, in her own sweet voice, from which had passed it would be better for the young baron to accompany now all trace of agitation, M. de Caudys, will you him on his journey, and remain in London until all permit our mutual friends to unite with me in con- the difficulties conjured up by the artful malice of gratulating you upon this happy prospect?' And, Madame de Linar had been set at rest. Of course, without waiting for his answer, she read aloud from there was the usual sum of grief, on the part of the the paper: Contrat de Mariage-entre Guillaume lady, at the news of this approaching separation; the Amadée de Germenil, Baron de Caudys, et Dame prescribed quantity of oaths and protestations, and Antoinette de Laval, veuve de Sieur Henri Comte the due share of gratitude also, which latter sentide Rozan. With one single movement the whole ment was well earned by the baron; for ever since assembly turned to the poor little widow, who still the day of the signing of the contract, he had esstood humbly leaning against the wall behind the tablished his fiancée in a mansion, with a settlechair of her proud relative. At a sign from the ment and equipage suited to her future rank, not to queen, M. de Caudys stepped towards her and her present poverty. Well, he set sail for England brought her to the feet of her majesty, who kindly with his uncle, and there remained for some timetook her hand and kissed her on the forehead, then constant, faithful to his love-and looking forward to said, in a low sweet voice, I give you joy, madame, a long life of happiness. you have won the most galant homme, the bravest and the truest knight of my whole court. Ladies and gentlemen, we will have the king's violins and grand jeu to-morrow night, for the signing of the contract. And, now, bon soir, à demain, we all

"He was preparing to return, when he was laid low by sickness, by that fell disease which, sometimes not content with destroying the constitution of its victim, brands him, as with a searing-iron, for ever-small-pox, in its most virulent form, declared

"No matter, I will wait until you are free,' said he.

"The lovely widow pouted, but at length granted him the seventh, and he bowed and retired to hide his misery behind one of those columns beneath the gallery where the musicians are now stationed. Here he watched her movements with feelings no language can describe. He saw at once that his case was hopeless; that his absence was unmourned; his return, perhaps, even dreaded. And yet with strange pertinacity did he resolve to bear up with his misfortune, and to proceed until the end; and when the moment came to claim her promise, he was so over

itself, and all the symptoms, exaggerated by anxiety | menced, but he was resolved to proceed, even though and disappointment, brought him to the very verge his heart should be torn in the fearful struggle he of the grave. He recovered, however, though slowly had yet to undergo. At once he turned to Madame and with difficulty, and it was, alas! when he was de Rozan, and slided over the polished floor towards saved, that he suffered most. A glance at the mir- where she was seated. She did not greet him with ror, to which, with the terror natural to his situation, any token of recognition, she did not bow, she did he hurried as soon as he was allowed to leave his not even smile, but turned away almost with disgust bed, convinced him at once that henceforth he must as he requested her hand for the next minuet. She depend upon his mind alone to acquire that favour was engaged, and the second still engaged, and the which had hitherto been surrendered so readily to his next after that engaged again; in short, she was personal appearance. It is singular that, from the engaged nearly the whole evening,' and she bent first, he relied not an instant upon the strength of down to look with eagerness into her calpin, merely mind of Madame de Rozan, nor yet upon her kindly to avoid meeting the hard glance of those discoloured feeling, nor her gratitude. His uncle, who knew the blood-shot eyes! world, tried, with the bland experience of his age and character, to comfort him. He knew that fortune and old association can do much, and inspired with the hope of calming the anguish of his nephew, he wrote to the fair Antoinette, disclosing to her the fatal truth, and the horrid doubts and fears with which his misfortune had filled the mind of M. de Caudys. Her answer was all that could be desired, and it was with no little pride that the good old uncle handed the epistle to his nephew, bidding him dismiss all uneasiness from his mind. But the strong heart of M. de Caudys was not to be satisfied with idle words. He was resolved to be convinced by his own experience alone. Accordingly, under pre-come by emotion that he scarcely had power to stand. tence of retiring to the country for a few days to facilitate the entire recovery of his health, without admitting any one to his confidence, he set off post for Paris. He arrived here on the very evening of the great ball given to the Archduke Joseph, and although still suffering, he determined not to lose the opportunity of testing the faith and affection of his "Once or twice he spoke to her, but in vain, he mistress. He was both pleased and mortified at the could not for a single instant claim her attention. same time, to find that he passed through the crowd His voice was so disguised by his despair, that it of well-remembered faces unknown and unregarded. struck not on her ear even as one which she had Who, in fact, could have recognized, in the swollen ever heard before. Her heart was evidently not with limbs, the scorched and bloated features, of the indi- him, or how should those accents have failed to revidual, whose emotion contributed to render him even call him to her memory? Nevertheless he hoped on more repulsive, the gay and courtly cavalier who, until the dance was over and he had led her to her but so short a time before, had been honoured with seat, wondering whether she would address him in the tender notice of Marie Antoinette, and the jeal- answer to the compliments he had, by great effort, ousy of M. de Narbonne ? What must have been been offering to her elegance and beauty. It was his sensations when his eye first discovered among while he stood in gloomy doubt that the chamberlain the bevy of beauties, seated near the queen, the ob- passed hurriedly by, flying to execute some order for ject of his adoration, no longer humbly placed behind the queen. Madame de Rozan caught him by the to serve as girl to her brilliant cousin, but now, in skirt, and whispered in his ear, but not so low as to her turn, surrounded by flatterers covered with jew-escape the hearing of M. de Caudys, els, gay with the consciousness of beauty? He dared not trust himself to gaze, lest his resolution might fail him, but walked towards the queen. At the name, when pronounced by the chamberlain, she started slightly, and glancing at the person thus announced, she finished the conversation upon which she was engaged when thus interrupted, then turned to the baron, and asked him if the Baron de Caudys, then in England, was any relation of his ?"

"Yes, madame, a very near one,' was the answer, in a broken voice.

His whole frame thrilled as he took her passive hand to lead her to the dance, but she perceived it not: she was thinking of her own success and of her own appearance, and of the manifest admiration of the young Chevalier de Pontac, who was dancing opposite to her in the same figures

666

Pray, for mercy's sake, tell me who is this horrid rustre whose conquest I have made? I saw you announce him, what is his name?'

The chamberlain looked round carelessly, 'Oh, that is the Baron de Caudys, some relation to yours, no doubt,' said he, rushing forth upon his errand, while the unfortunate countess sank upon the shoulder of M. de Pontac, who was standing by her side, and swooned away! Ere she had recovered, M. de Caudys had disappeared; he fled, none knew whither, and was lost sight of for many years. By deed, "Tant mieux, monsieur,' responded the silver par devant notaire, he made over the whole of his tones of the queen, ‘je vous en fais mon compli- fortune to Madame de Rozan, who, after having taken ment,' and turning to the person with whom she had every step to discover his retreat, followed the advice been speaking before, she renewed her conversation of her friends; accepted the generosity of her former without taking further heed of the baron, who, hum-lover; questioned not the source from which such bled and mortified to the very quick, withdrew at good was all derived, and married the Chevalier de He felt that his martyrdom had now com- Pontac! More than fifteen years elapsed ere the

once.

Baron de Caudys re-appeared amongst us, with the title of Knight of Malta added to his name. None can tell what were his fortunes during that time; he seemed to have acquired wealth, for his establishment and mode of life were on a princely footing. Some say that he turned pirate during all those years, (the sabre-cut across his forehead gave rise to this report ;) some that he went to the woods of America and lived the life of the wild savage tribes. I have even heard it affirmed that the indelible tatooing of his skin is sometimes plainly visible through his silken hose."

The countess paused; she had almost won her wager, for after all I had felt deeply interested in the story of M. de Caudys, and, in spite of prejudice, caught myself glancing eagerly above the multitude of heads in search of the very ugliest amongst them all. But I saw him not again; he had, according to his usual custom, made one tour of the apartments and then retired, and I was fain to content myself with the memory of those features which no longer appeared to me so very ugly, or so very repulsive. The countess understood what was passing in my

We hurried among the crowd of ladies already assembled before the door, through which the queen was to pass, and ere long the crowding and pushing became so tremendous, that I inwardly thanked my friend for having hurried forward, even with the loss of my story. It was, indeed, a scene never to be forgotten, and many of the diamond-decked ladies assembled there would not have needed help or assistance in a mob of poissardes de la Halle. I was much pleased with the good-humour of M. de Rumigny, who merely requested, when the torrent was let loose upon him, that "the ladies would crush him to death, if they thought fit, but entreated they How could I help would not jostle the queen!" thinking at that moment of Queen Victoria, and of her stately entrance into the banqueting hall, and of her chamberlains and pages, and all the panoply of Remark," said she, "this story is true-not a word exaggerated. M. de Caudys is old, and it may occasions. The supper in the Salle de Spectacle, is greatness, with which she is surrounded on these state be forgotten by those who have only heard it from the contemporaries of his youth, but I remember the Three thousand ladies all seated at one moment, the one of the finest sights than can be well imagined. occurrence of all that I have been telling you as well diversity of brilliant colours in their attire, the splenas if it had taken place but yesterday." She took a dour of the jewels, the glare of light, the soft music, pinch of snuff, and added, Thus, you see, the very made the scene more like an infant's dream of fairyfirst person, upon whom our attention fell, has fur-land, than a living, breathing reality in this sober nished a subject which might be worked out into a tale of as much power and passion as any of those provided for us by antiquity. Believe me, there are many such beneath our eyes."

mind.

66

Ah!" exclaimed I, catching at the idea, "and Madame de Versac"

"Hush!" exclaimed she, "her's is a story of a different nature, too dark, too fearful for such a place as this; but I have given you one of constancy in man, this is constancy in woman-more pure, more devoted than even M. de Caudys."

work-day world of ours.

"Is it not splendid?" exclaimed Madame de Popincourt, gazing around. "Are you not thankful to be so well placed, so near the royal table?"

"I am, indeed," I replied, "and should be more so still, if, by your kindly haste, I had not been deprived of the story of Madame de Versac."

"Well, never mind, perhaps you may have it still, she will be at the concert here next week, I will tell you it then, and you will find you have not perdu pour attendre."

FASHIONS IN FEET;

OR,

THE TALE OF THE BEAUTIFUL TO-TO.

Min-Te, Min-Te, Min-Te,
Oh Emperor, bold and free;
Do as I bid,

words. No wonder that Min-Te should value a min- other; whilst the tune was still discernible in the ister whose simple eloquence, and of course great words, and the motions of the characters kept time to argumentative powers, sufficed at once, upon what-it. This was the song: ever subject they were exercised, to carry conviction even to an Empress. To testify his great esteem for Hum, he ordered that he should be lodged in the palace, in chambers not far distant from the imperial apartments. He frequently employed him to instil into the lovely To-To, a proper sense of all the duties she should aim at fulfiling as a woman and a wife; but above all, as the chosen lady of the Emperor.

The beautiful Empress received meekly and graciously the lessons of virtue thus imparted to her. Nothing, to her apprehension, could be more agreeable than the councils given by Hum; and she delighted in the low and earnest voice in which they were uttered. The Emperor, looking on at a little distance, was overjoyed at seeing with how much attention she listened to the instructions of so excellent an adviser; and when at other times he heard her discourse of virtue and the duties of wifehood, "This is all Hum," thought he. Thus she gained still more of his affection, and Hum of his esteem; and the fame of both went abroad throughout all the celestial dominions. When Hum appeared abroad in the streets, the people flocked about him. "A Hum! a Hum!" they cried, "the Emperor's favoured counsellor. Three cheers for Hum!" Then they shouted aloud, and no sound could be heard except a "Hum!"

The Emperor was a sound sleeper; that is to say, he could sleep in spite of a sound. It is strange that a sound sleeper and a quiet sleeper, should be nearly synonymous expressions; not quite, indeed, for one who snores may be a sound sleeper. The Empress was a sound sleeper also, a very determined sleeper; for she was addicted to somnambulism, and somnambulists must be very determined sleepers.

From being himself such a decided somnulist it was some time before the Emperor became aware of his lady's peculiarity. A little whisper, however, no bigger than a musquito, which had for several days been fluttering about the palace, and buzzing into people's ears, one morning came dancing about his; and having awhile piped into it in a very small voice, gave it a sting which caused considerable irritation, then flew out at the window, and in short time had treated every mother's son, and no less father's daughter, throughout the celestial dominions, in nearly the same

way.

That little provoking noise kept ringing in his imperial music-box, and the smart continued, so that his majesty at night was quite unable to sleep; but, in the hope, no doubt, of bringing the customary drowsy influence upon him, he lay quite still (by his lady's side,) and breathed hard, as though he had been in slumber. Unquestionably it must have been very trying to his feelings as a husband, to know that his wife was all the while very comfortably reposing in the arms-nay, don't be frightened-in the arms of Morpheus.

He fell, however, into a sort of half-doze, a dreamy mood, in which the little tune of the small whisper seemed to split into two parts; the one consisted of a number of minikin figures made up of queer bars very strangely put together, which kept dancing about his closed eyes; the other still sounded in his ear, but its members assumed an articulate character, and the sounds and the figures mutually interpreted each

Open your lid,

You'd better be wise and see.

With a chee, chee, chee, chee, chee, chec, chee.
Lest it betide (chee, chee,)

That your wise should creep (chee, chee,)*
Away from your side, (chee, chee,)

For she walks in her sleep, (chee, chee.)

With a chee, chee, chee, chee, cheeee, cheee, chee,
And a chee, chee, cheeee, cheee, cheee, chee, cheeeeeeee.

Min-Te, Min-Te, Min-Te,

Lend the loan of your lug to me!
I'd have you be wise,

And open your eyes,

And see what you shall see.

With a chee, chee, chee, chee, cheee, cheee, chee.
There's Hum in his bed (chee, chee,)

At the end of the gallery, (chee,)
Best cut off his head, (chee, chee,)

Or at least his salary, (chee.),

With a cheee, chee, chee, chee, cheee, cheee, chee,
And a cheee, chee, chee, chee, cheee, cheee, cheeeeee.

And so the song was proceeding, like the moon, all made of cheese, when his imperial majesty (who lay dos-à-dos with his wife, for the greater convenience of dozing a doze,) was suddenly aroused to full consciousness by a gentle pull of the silken coverlet. He lay quite quiet, (though a gnat at the moment settled on his nose,) and soon perceived that the Empress was getting out of bed in her sleep, and evidently taking the greatest possible care not to awaken herself in so doing. Having no doubt at allnone whatever-not the slightest in the world-not the least possible-that she was altogether unconscious of what she was about, he thought, like a kind Emperor, that it would be right she should be looked to, lest she should break her neck down the stairs or out of the window, the palace being two stories high; and as he discovered that she moved towards the door, he rose from bed as quietly as she had done, and followed; she all the while treading as noiselessly as though she were a fly, and he as though he were a spider,

She proceeded along the gallery, and passed the stairs without accident; and she had arrived almost at the bottom of the corridor, when the Emperor, alarmed lest she might make a false step, (a fox's paw, as the French express it,) seized her by throwing his left arm around her waist, at the same moment placing his right hand over her mouth, to prevent that natural utterance of alarm which might be expected from a lady suddenly awakened under such circumstances. Startled, she was, and she certainly would have screamed had it not been for his precaution. Being quite in the dark, both as to where she was, and as to who had laid such violent hands upon her, you may imagine how greatly she was frightened. She struggled to get loose, though still without making much noise; for, upon a moment's reflection, it occurred to her that it would be unpleasant to rouse the whole house from their slumbers at that hour of night; and, indeed, it would not be amiss if she could get back to her chamber as quietly

given a specimen of the Mosquito language, very closely reIt is either Capt. Marryatt, or Capt. Basil Hall, who has sembling this.