, however, this exclusive
intercourse with one so generally detested, alienated from Florian the
good-will of his schoolfellows. Even the few who had most esteemed him,
now shunned his society; and the two friends, finding themselves
excluded from all participation in the sports and feelings of others,
became more than ever essential to each other. This enduring intimacy of
two beings so opposite had been long watched by the Jesuits who
conducted the establishment; but, with their wonted sagacity, they
forbore to check this singular friendship; not, however, in the hope of
any amelioration in the habits of Bartholdy, but with a view to learn
from the unqualified sincerity of Florian what the duplicity of the
other would have concealed. Hoping that the trying spectacle of a public
execution would make a salutary impression upon the hitherto callous
feelings of Bartholdy, the reverend fathers had permitted him and his
friend to be present on this awful occasion. Florian, who, at the
urgent and often-repeated entreaties of Bartholdy, had applied for this
permission, followed him with reluctant steps, and a heart beating with
terror, and was prevented only by the jeers and remonstrances of his
companion from running back to school, and burying his head under his
bed-clothes, until the rush of the excited multitude, and the deep
rolling of the drums and deathbells, had ceased. As usual, however, his
complying temper yielded to the persuasion of his plausible and reckless
friend, with whom he gained an elevated station, and so near the
scaffold as to enable them to discern the features of the hapless
criminal. Florian saw him kneel before the headsman; the broad weapon
glittered in the sun-beams, and the assumed firmness of the trembling
gazer utterly failed him. An ashy paleness overspread his features; his
joints shook with terror; and closing his eyes, he saved himself from
falling by clinging to the arm of Bartholdy, who, with unshaken nerves,
opened to their full extent his large dull eyes, and glutted his savage
curiosity by gazing with intense eagerness on the appalling scene. In a
few seconds the severed head fell upon the scaffold; the headsman's
assistant, grasping the matted locks, held it aloft to the gazing crowd;
and Bartholdy exclaimed, with heartless indifference, "Come along,
Florian! 'tis all over, and capitally done! I would bet a louis that you
saw nothing, and yet your face looks as white as if it had left