take
such a treasure from France, at the same time flattering him for his
cleverness as an impresario.

La Luigia then sang an air from the "Nina" of Paesiello; and in
that--the part being very dramatic--she showed a talent for comedy
second only to her vocal gift. It was received with truly genuine
applause; but what assured and completed her success with these trained
judges was her modesty and the sort of ignorance in which she still
remained of her amazing talent,--in the midst, too, of praises which
might have turned her head. Accustomed to frenzied self-love and
the insolent pretensions of the veriest sparrow of the opera, these
journalists were amazed and touched by the humility, the simplicity of
this empress, who seemed quite astonished at the effect she produced.

The success of the trial passed all expectation. There was but one voice
as to the desirability of immediately engaging her; and Sir Francis
Drake, Vautrin, and Desroches presently passed into an adjoining room
to draw up the terms of the contract. As soon as that was done, Vautrin
returned to the salon for _la diva_, requesting her to hear the contract
read and to affix her signature. Her departure for London without
further delay was fixed for the following day in company with Sir
Francis Drake.

A few days later the packet-boat from Boulogne conveyed to England
another personage of this history. Jacques Bricheteau, having obtained
Sallenauve's present address from Madame de l'Estorade, and considering
the danger which threatened the new deputy extremely urgent, decided not
to write, but to go himself to England and confer with him in person.
When he reached London, he was surprised to learn that Hanwell was the
most celebrated insane asylum in Great Britain. Had he reflected on the
mental condition of Marie-Gaston, he might have guessed the truth. As
it was, he felt completely bewildered; but not committing the blunder
of losing his time in useless conjectures, he went on without a moment's
delay to Hanwell, which establishment is only about nine miles from
London, pleasantly situated at the foot of a hill on the borders of
Middlesex and Surrey.

After a long detention in the waiting-room, he was at last enabled
to see his friend at a moment when Marie-Gaston's insanity, which for
several days had been in the stages of mania, was yielding to the care
of the doctor, and showed some symptoms of a probable recovery. As soon
as Sallenauve was alo