e the son of the Emperor of China, and the man who believed himself
to be dead. The former wore on his head a splendid crown, made of gilt
paper; and the latter, who was enveloped in a white sheet, stalked about
with the grave and solemn air which he conceived to be common to a
ghost. A melancholy madman, who evidently shared in the festivity with
reluctance and regret, and who was, from time to time, urged on by his
keepers, and a woman, who fancied herself to be Saint Catharine, and was
subject to strange fits of ecstasy and improvisation, were also
conspicuous among the dancers. Lucca, who played the violin with
extraordinary spirit, every now and then marked the time by stamping his
foot on the ground, while, in a stentorian voice, he called out the
figures, to which, however, the dancers paid not the slightest
attention. The scene was indescribable, it was like one of those
fantastic visions which are sometimes conjured up in a dream.

As we were passing through the court-yard, on our way out, I espied
Costanza, the young lady who had so determinedly refused to join in the
dance. She was now kneeling down on the edge of a fountain, and intently
gazing on her own countenance, which was reflected from the limpid water
as from a mirror.

I asked the count what had caused the insanity of this interesting
patient. "Alas!" replied he, "it is a melancholy story of romantic
_vendetta_, which might almost figure in a work of fiction." Costanza's
husband had been murdered on her bridal day by a rival.

When Costanza was first brought to the establishment, her madness was of
a very violent character; but, by degrees it had softened down into a
placid melancholy. Nevertheless, her case was one which admitted of no
hope.

Some time after my visit to Palermo, I met Lucca in Paris. He was then,
to all appearance, perfectly himself. He conversed very rationally, and
even appeared to recollect having seen and conversed with me before. I
inquired after poor Costanza; but he shook his head sorrowfully. The
count's prediction was fully verified. Lucca had recovered his senses:
but Costanza was still an inmate of the _Casa dei Matti_.

SLOPED FOR TEXAS.--A TALE OF THE WEST.

This is an answer given in some of the States of America when a
gentleman has decamped from his wife, from his creditors, or from any
other responsibility which he finds it troublesome to meet or to
support. Among the curious instances of the applicat