as royalty to be among the witnesses of my shame? When a man's thoughts
do take the turn of self-tormenting, what ingenuity will they not
exhibit,--what astonishing resources of annoyance! I am convinced that
my greatest enemy in life could never have inflicted a tenth part of
that suffering which now I experienced from my own fancies! Among the
thoughts which crossed my mind, one kept continually recurring, and made
an impression that my memory will probably never lose,--it was my doubt
whether I ought not to return and exchange my uniform for plain clothes,
and thus avoid exposing the epaulette of a French officer, and the proud
cordon I wore, to the chances of open insult.

This question was yet unsolved in my mind as I drove into the court-yard
of the palace. The turmoil and confusion of the scene--carriages
interlocked, poles smashing panels, and horses rearing--was an actual
relief to me, and I would have felt a heart-warm gratitude for any
accident that might have upset half the company, and broken up the
reception in disorder. Such "good-luck" was, however, not in store for
me. My caleche at length drew up at the door, and I handed my card with
my name to the major-domo, who stood at the top of the stairs with an
army of liveried lacqueys around him. "Le Comte de Creganne!" resounded
now through the spacious antechamber, and the voices of others took it
up, and the echo without repeated it, every syllable falling upon my
heart like the bang of a death-bell!

Although our progress was soon arrested by the dense crowd, and all
chance of moving farther, for a time at least, out of the question,
the lacquey continued to call my name aloud, with what I deemed a most
needless importunity of announcement. At last he ceased, leaving me to
the enjoyment of a momentary tranquillity in mixing with the crowd. It
was indeed but momentary; for the young attache had made his way through
the throng, and whispered in my ear, "Let us retire this way, and I 'll
lead you by another passage, otherwise you will run a great risk of
never being presented to the Marchesa." I could have told him that I
would have borne even this misfortune like a man; but I did not, and
merely followed him as he led the way through a suite of rooms, of which
only one was occupied, and that by a card-party.

The buzz and hum of voices apprised me that we were again approaching
the company, and suddenly, on opening a door, we found ourselves in a
small b