de Soissons, and messengers were dispatched with official announcement of the same to the royal household. The ponderous gates were flung wide open to admit the carria

ed in gold. To this sumptuous vehicle were harnessed six white horses, whose head-gear of velvet was adorned with ostrich-plumes so delicate, that, as the air breathed upon them, they looked like wreaths of snowy vapor. Perched high above the hammer-cloth, which in color and material corresponded with the inner decorations of the carriage, sat the chub-faced co

lowed by the prince, who, as the equerry advanced to assist his mistress, gently waved him away, and took his

hman drive leisurely through the streets, and st

his mother, inclining her head to the eq

every house, as they passed, the windows were cautiously opened, and sneering faces looked down upon

ugh the crowded streets. As soon as the people recognized the liveries, all the conventiona

he braves us in the open streets! Away with

n! her unhappy son blushed with shame and anger. He turned his sympathizing eyes upon her, whom he believ

eive, sometimes, in the case of the former, to pay homage. How often had he leaned upon the carriage of Olympia, while princes and princesses of the blood had been obliged to wai

aised her head to see if the king was in sight. "The philter will work: f

those of the court. Olympia cast aside her nonchalance, and raised her head that she might be seen. The cris

was in advance, and whom Olympia could not recognize. One moment more, and her equipage would pass! He

ry; the equerry sprang forward, and presently the royal equipages came rushing by, close, close to the caleche of the c

ncesses of the blood,-dukes, counts, and marquises,-duchesses and marchionesses, rushed by so swiftly that not one of her court

. "Is it the will of your highness

ry passed the word to the coachman: "Follow t

e me, and I should be despised by every coachman of distinction, were I so far to forget my duty as to suffer that an equipage bearing the du

ivered the portentous

rights than the noble families they serve. Not long ago, the Duchesses of Chartres and of Luynes waited four hours in the rain, because, having met in a very narrow street, neithe

stand," replied he. "Our place is after the Duchess de Bourbon, the sixth carriage from that of his majesty. The coachman

glances down the avenue through which the king was expected to return. And so passed an hour, at the end of which the avenue was still and empty as a desert. It now became apparent that his majesty had selected some oth

e countess in Italian: "Mother," said he, "if we

uerry. "Home! Quick! Urge your

e front was one blaze of light. But the steward had been obliged to close the gates, and station four armed me

erged until compelled to make her toilet for the evening. Her temporary discouragement overcome, she entered the throne-room magnificently attired, sparkling with jewels, and radi

mpty rooms, she beheld not one visitor!-no living being besides her own three daughters, the young Prince

dered from door to door, where not a form was seen but those of the four lack

truction, no rats were ever known to leave port in its hold. Was she a sinking ship? Was her doom sealed? Once more her longing eyes sought the lofty, open doors, through which so often the court had passed to do her homage on her t

mburg, mamma, is not vet here." re

together? That only five days before, they had met in the den of the soothsayer, to have their horoscope drawn for the last time? Did Johanna know that through De Luxemburg's efforts Louis's valet had been bribed to rob him of a lock of his hair, witho

the faces of those who served her; to-night she could not resist an inclination to glance for one moment at their countenances. As she looked athwart tho

her, sometimes raising their anxious eyes to her stormy face, sometimes exchanging uneasy glanc

g. The door of the anteroom was opened, and a solitary

elighted to put an end to their embarrassment, the sis

pale, sinister face, and a tall, haughty figure; his mother, attired with regal splendor, looking every inch a queen; b

d, he covered it with loving kisses. "I had hardly expected

ugene?" as

tion was fixed for nine o'clock,

e clock on the sculptured mantel-

Eugene, who had followed the direction of hi

is slow. Eugene. You knew, then, before yo

responded Eugen

is almost an hour past the time I had appointed; but that signifies nothing. It was not known until late that I would receive to-night,

tter for you to retire to your cabinet and rest until the comp

d be cowardly to retire now. Let us calmly await our

y the side of his sisters. There was another long silence, interrupted by t

The countess alone looked resolute: her features betrayed no emotion whatever; but about her mouth there hovered a vindictive smile

d she to herself. "Would that I could blind their staring eyes with lightning! But for them I

Joanna unconsciously clasped her hands with

s there anything remarkable in the sound of a carriage, that it should occasion so m

eman-usher, with his gilded st

anin," cried he, and the lady f

a reception. She was tolerated in the salons of Paris on account of her high birth and connections; added to which she had a tongue in he

which brought the olive-branch to Noah, the marquise was a messenger from

f surprise. With her sharp old eyes, she traversed the empty vastness of the gilded halls that were wont to swarm with the creme de la creme of Paris, and understood the matter at once.

longed to the species whom the world is compelled to invite, but whom it detests, because they never have been known to decline an invitation. But the

tained window, sometimes looking gloomily out into the night, anon glancing at the little knot of adventurers, and personages of doubtful reputation, who occasionally added a

d find out why the king returned to the Louvre by an unusual route. Heavens! how long will I be

ensions or soothe the wounded pride of the haughty Countess de Soissons. But late-very late-when she had relinquished all hopes