said, for the sake of one whom he might not think to wed, the Princess Matilda of England, whom he had seen at her father's court just before she sailed to share the crown of Denmark, perhaps not dreaming then of the grave so soon to close over her youth, and the blot that fell so darkly on her royal name; it might have been but a whisper of the court gossips, for the marquis never mentioned it to me, though I had his confidence in all other matters, and we were friends from childhood, but many a true tale is untold.

but Christmas always finds him at Versailles with his little portable theatre, established in the same spot, a corner of the Rue de Savonier; he is manager and proprietor himself; but who his actors are is yet a mystery, for none are ever seen, nor indeed does the stage present any scenery whatever; the benefit of the audience, it seems, lies all in hearing. The theatre can accommodate comparatively few; yet I am told it is always crowded by the lowest of the people, who pour from Paris for the sole purpose of attending it; and they say,' continued the marquis, 'that none who ever witness will forget the performance.'

"I took the opportunity of a pause in their conversation to approach De Marigny, and give him the nun's message; he recognised me immediately, and rose with a most respectful adieu to the masqued sultana, and a sign for me to follow him, and was turning to the door when the duke suddenly stopped him with, 'Whither so fast, most noble Roman? we little imagined that the descendants of Eneas were so far subject to the cord and cowl of St. Francis as to leave even a sultana's converse at the bidding of a monk.' "Valiant Templar,' said De Marigny, who could be gallant at times, as he was frank in speech, 'the rose of royal grace and full moon of beauty should be but poorly entertained with far more brilliant company than mine; but, to drop masquerading, he added, as your highness has dropped your masque, my monastic friend and I are going to a petty theatre established in the Rue de Savonier, which, if all tales be true, has mysteries enough to fill much wiser heads with curiosity.'

"What is remarkable about it, monsieur?' said the sultana, in a voice whose clear and silvery tones I still remember, and could even then guess.

666

Why, madame,' said the marquis, in the same respectful manner with which he always addressed that masque, 'it is a moveable concern, and said to be the property of a travelling Italian, or perhaps a charlatan who comes here only once ayear, and has done so at the Christ

mas holydays ever since the birth of the Dauphin, punctually taking his departure on the Jour de l'Anée. It is added, that where he spends the intervening time remains unknown,

"We'll go, De Marigny,-by heavens! we'll go. What say you, sister of the Sun?' said the Duke of Orleans, addressing the sultana, who shook her head, and for a moment seemed to hesitate; then, rising, whispered something to the duke, which of course we could not hear, but his highness's reply was in a louder key. Ah, nothing easier, we go in our masques, of course; De Marigny will provide us in hackney-coaches; won't you, marquis?'

666

"My friend nodded assent, though I thought him, but why I could not guess, less anxious to oblige than usual; for De Marigny was always a willing assistant in every frolic of his friends, which we, of course, considered the visit to Le Jeu de Noël, as it was called. However, all was arranged in a few minutes, for even the ladies seemed eager to go, and a couple of hackney-coaches being provided by De Marigny, we all slipped out by a small postern which opened from the palace-garden, and with masks firmly fastened, and high glee at the adventure, away we drove to the Rue de Savonier.

"The street was an obscure one, and but dimly lighted by a single lamp, which burned before its crucifix, for gas had not yet enlightened the cities of Europe. The night was keen with intense frost, but bright with a thousand stars; and we found the neigh, bourhood thronged with hundreds, though, as De Marigny observed, apparently belonging to what we then called the canaille, hurrying like ourselves to that attractive theatre. It was a portable wooden fabric, like those with which itinerant players

are accustomed to perambulate the provinces, which, when fairly set up, form pretty substantial edifices, and can be removed at a quarter of an hour's notice. We had some difficulty in finding room, for the house was densely crowded, but that might be accounted for by the terms of admission being three sous for the boxes, two for the pit, and one for the gallery; for the arrangements were perfect, though on a small scale, but it had only one entrance, at which stood the Italian himself, in his double capacity of manager and door-keeper. He was a small activelooking man, dressed in an ultrafashionable style, with long queue and flash jewellery, and a countenance that would have been strikingly handsome but for an expression of mingled craft and keen penetration which blended with the never-varying smile of welcome bestowed on all

comers.

"It is strange," continued the narrator, "that though many chequered years have passed since that period, with all their troubled and stirring scenes, the smallest circumstance connected with that night's adventure, then deemed so trifling, remains indelibly written in my memory; and I still recollect, though it might have been the work of imagination, the look of malicious recognition with which he marshalled us to the boxes; but whether imaginary or not, it had a singular effect on all our party; for, in spite of their masques, I could perceive they felt strangely disconcerted, especially the sultana, and even the duke,though he tried to assume his usual careless air, and enjoy the general surprise which our appearance excited,evidently wished himself safe back in the palace; but the Italian closed with the announcement, that the house could accommodate no more, and at the same time gave the signal for the play to commence, by ringing a small bell which he held in his hand.

"The dark curtain which hid the stage still remained unlifted, and indeed seemed fastened down; but from behind it came a rushing sound like the march of a moving city, thousands on thousands of trampling feet, and wild shouts, words of fury, and hate, and vengeance, sent up by countless voices, till they grew into

a tumult so tremendous that we thought all France might hear. Then came the clash of weapons, the uproar of a conflict, and the thunder of cannon; but, above all, we could hear the cry, Vive la Liberté !''Down with the Bastille!' I heard it, messieurs, as plain as I hear my own voice now; not a feeble theatrical imitation, but near and strong, as if conveyed to our ears in all its terrible reality, the noise of some old embattled fortress assailed by a fierce and fearless multitude. The cannon ceased in a few minutes, and then cheer after cheer made the very walls round us tremble, and we felt it was the joy of a people in their victory; but amongst the thousand cries, some for retribution of past wrong, and others of wild congratulation, as if to men set free. We could catch the words, Here are the bones from the lower dungeons!'-'Death to the tools of tyranny!'-'Destruction to the accursed hold!'-'Level it, brothers! -Level it to the ground!' There was a rushing forth and a sound of combined labour, like what thousands of masons and miners might make if working together with all their instruments. We heard the removal of heavy stones, the falling of walls, and the toppling down of turrets, and another prolonged and piercing shout which said that the work was done, and the Bastille demolished for ever. The curtain moved, and quivered from top to bottom; and the Italian, who had hitherto stood in front, calmly surveying the effect of his invisible play on the audience, with his wonted smile and a profound bow, said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, this is the first act.'

"There was silence for some minutes, so deep that we could hear each other's respiration; for every sense seemed merged into that of the ear, and never before had I imagined the perceptive power which dwelt in that wondrous organ.

"Again, there came a sound of hurrying steps, like the tread of coming thousands; but now they seemed pouring into some vast chamber or hall of assembly. We could distinguish the various sounds produced by the entrance of a crowd, the noise of opening doors, the tramp of feet on the floor, and even the people taking their seats, but the din ra

time could never fulfil; there were
pæans of triumph that had in them
the waving of all the Delphian lau-
rels, blended with sounds of frantic
strife and imprecations of relentless
fury; and still, through the vary-
ing tumult, growing more frequent.
Through all its changes there fell on
our ears a dull heavy clank, like
no sound of earth that I had ever
heard, except the descending axe of
the guillotine.

pidly subsided, and then we heard a
voice distinctly reading the order of
the day which styled the assembly
the National Convention. There was
something of fearful interest in feel-
ing, as we all did, with the force of
actual truth, that only that coarse
dark curtain divided us from a
mighty, though invisible assembly,
whose every word and movement
were so plainly heard; but how com-
posed or summoned, God knows, for
we could never learn. This feeling
rose to an overpowering degree, when
another voice, which I knew not
then, in clear and very audible tones,
delivered a decree of the Convention,
by which all rank, names, and titles
of nobility and priesthood, were abo-
lished for ever in France. Messieurs,
I lived, and so did others of our
company, to hear that decrce, long
after read under the broad noonday
sun in an assembly of living men;
and it was our unanimous belief that
both its words, and the voice which
read them, were the same; but even
at the moment the effect on our
party was electric. De Marigny
started from his seat with a gesture
of wild joy, as if all his visions of
the victorious march of liberty had
been at last realised; but he was re-
called to himself by the thunder of
deafening acclamation that burst from
the invisible multitude; and as it
ceased, the Italian who still kept his
former place, with another bow and
smile, informed us that this was the
second act.

66

By degrees the noise decreased, and the sounds grew more definite, but they were changed, and now seemed to be those of some great and important trial held in a city's crowded court, and before a supreme tribunal, which that dingy curtain covered from our view. At first we I could catch but faint and broken outlines of the proceedings, through the noise of the crowd within and the wilder clamour without, but think how felt that party of masqueraders from the palace of Versailles to hear a voice proclaiming, The capital indictment of Louis Capet, formerly called King of France.' The clamour still continued, and nothing reached us but confused sentences from the court, lost at times amid the loud applause, or no less violent disapproval of the listening throng, but my eye involuntarily turned on the sultana, who sat bending forward as if to catch the tones of a low and sad, but firm voice that still went on reading what seemed a long defence; it ceased at last, and we heard another say, 'Let the sentence be decided by vote.'

"Even as he spake there came from the shrouded stage a mingled murmur of many voices, like the sound of some far-off tumult that swelled as it came nearer; at times it sunk away, and then we heard strong and earnest voices that seemed to reason deeply; but, again, it grew into a very Babel of confusion. Some of the voices were familiar in their tones, but others were strange, stranger far were the things they uttered. There were words of bitter and boundless scorn of all that mankind regarded, in throne, in hearth, and in altar, of powers held sacred in the reverence of ages, and of rights which generations had found and left unquestioned. And there were brief but half-told tales of the deep strong heart's devotion; and bursts of unbounded hope, whose promise

6

"There was a dead silence, like the pause of a thoughtful moment, falling on a maddened multitude; but, messieurs, the horrors of that moment I shall never forget, for, from amidst that viewless court, clear and audible came the very voice of the Duke of Orleans, saying, Citizens, I vote for death.' Instinctively I cast a look on the living man by my side, -masque and all, he seemed actually paralysed. Then came a sound like the rising of a crowded house and a din of approving voices; but through it sounded a shriek so loud, and long, and piercing, that it seemed the very outbreak of pent-up fear and horror, and the masqued sultana dropped as if struck by lightning from her seat. Another instant,

and De Marigny and I had borne her to the door, which the Italian opened with the rapidity of thought. 'Give her air,' said he, and I unfastened her masque; the lady was already reviving, but the broad light, flashing from that open door, fell full upon the ghastly and horrorstricken features, and well I knew them, for it was the Queen Maria Antoinette.

"The first act of her returning powers was to take the masque from my hand, as she said,Fasten it again, monsieur, and many thanks for the service you have rendered me; but call the coach immediately, for I wish to return to the palace.' By this time Madame de Genlis, with the duke and his son, were beside us; and the people, who were now pouring from the theatre, crowded round, anxious to learn the explanation of so strange an occurrence. I, of course, hastened to call our vehicles, into which the whole party stepped; but when about to take my place, I discovered that De Marigny had left us, and requesting them to drive on without me, I followed him into the half-empty theatre, for there he was, in earnest conversation with the Italian, who wore the same smile, and bowed low as my friend said hastily, Ten thousand francs, signior, for one peep behind that curtain ?'

"It is a large price, monsieur,' remarked the imperturbable manager. It is, but I will pay it,' said De Marigny; Signior, I am serious.'

666

666

"I hope so,' said the Italian, approaching him and speaking low. 'Monsieur, there are few that have seen that sight; but I agree, for your offer is handsome, though it cannot be done before this rabble; but, an hour hence, the street will be cleared; come then, and bring your friend, if

you please.'

"At this moment one of the postilions arrived out of breath, to tell us that our company had requested us to come, and would wait no longer. We knew they could not be detained, and were evidently unwilling to go without us, as I believe, from a vague apprehension of danger. Therefore, go we must, and the last words Í heard from the Italian was a warning to be punctual. With the ten thousand francs,' murmured De Ma

rigny, as we took our places in the coach. We reached the palace in safety and unobserved, for our absence had not been more than an hour; but the sultana and the Templar were seen no more in the masquerade that night; as for De Marigny and me, we perambulated the rooms for some time, and took the opportunity of the company going to supper to hasten to the house of the marquis, where we changed our dresses, and half wild with curiosity and expectation, were once more in the Rue de Savonier, provided with 6 the one thing needful,' at least fifteen minutes before the appointed time. It was now a quarter to twelve; the lamp was still burning before the crucifix; but there was neither step nor stir in the street, so thronged but an hour before; and when we reached the spot where it had stood, there was neither sign nor trace of the Italian or his theatre. All were gone, and the solitary corner lay dark and cold between the old brick houses; and had it not been for the traces of many feet in the thawing ground where such numbers had trodden, we could scarcely have believed that the place was indeed the same. Terrible was our disappointment; but scarce had we turned from the spot, when a party of gendarmes approached it and examined it with the greatest care. Like ourselves they were too late, and for weeks and months after a secret and silent search was carried on through all France, but at length given up as hopeless, for nothing ever transpired to throw light on that mysterious transaction. But from that period the whole court remarked that a growing enmity subsisted between the royal family and the Duke of Orleans.

Versailles, nor was he ever seen in "The Italian never returned to any other city of Europe, at least as far as we could learn; and who the actors were in that dark and fearful drama our search could never discover, for time, that so terribly fulfilled its omens, brought no explanation of its mystery.

"De Marigny never lost hopes of finding the Italian, and sought him over all the continent, through the storms and changes of his after years. In the early glories of the revolu tion he took an active part, for his

TO ONE WHO WAS MOVED TO TEARS AT SIGHT OF IMHoff's STATUE OF HAGAR AT ROME.

I.

ОH! turn not aside, nor that tear conceal,
Should thy manhood blush, because thou canst feel?
Whilst yet unconscious Jerusalem slept

'Neath her fated wall,

Predicting her fall,

The eyes of a God-of a Saviour wept.

II.

If e'er Man's nature reveal the divine,

And something of God in the mortal shine,
Not science, not beauty that spark may disclose;

But the sigh that tells

That a kind heart swells,'

And the eye that fills for another's woes.