inued to be fought; victory seemed to hang in
doubtful scales--sometimes on the one, sometimes on the other side of Mr
Evans, who preserved throughout (as it was his bounden duty to preserve)
a uniform, impartial, and steady course; and who may be said on that
occasion, if not 'to have rode the whirlwind,' at least to have
'directed the storm.'"

But the dignity and power of the historian's narrative cannot be fully
appreciated until we find him in the midst of the climax of the
contest--the battle, which gradually merged into a single combat, for
the possession of the Venetian Boccaccio. According to the established
historical practice, we have in the first place a statement of the
position taken up by the respective "forces."

"At length the moment of sale arrived. Evans prefaced the putting-up of
the article by an appropriate oration, in which he expatiated on its
extreme rarity, and concluding by informing the company of the regret,
and even anguish of heart, expressed by Mr Van Praet that such a
treasure was not to be found in the Imperial collection at Paris.
Silence followed the address of Mr Evans. On his right hand, leaning
against the wall, stood Earl Spencer; a little lower down, and standing
at right angles with his Lordship, appeared the Marquess of Bland-ford.
Lord Althorp stood a little backward, to the right of his father, Earl
Spencer."

The first movement of the forces gives the historian an opportunity of
dropping a withering sneer at an unfortunate man, so provincial in his
notions as to suppose that a hundred pounds or two would be of any avail
in such a contest.

"The honour of firing the first shot was due to a gentleman of
Shropshire, unused to this species of warfare, and who seemed to recoil
from the reverberation of the report himself had made. 'One hundred
guineas,' he exclaimed. Again a pause ensued; but anon the biddings rose
rapidly to five hundred guineas. Hitherto, however, it was evident that
the firing was but masked and desultory. At length all random shots
ceased, and the champions before named stood gallantly up to each other,
resolving not to flinch from a trial of their respective strengths. _A
thousand guineas_ were bid by Earl Spencer--to which the Marquess added
_ten_. You might have heard a pin drop. All eyes were turned--all
breathing wellnigh stopped--every sword was put home within its
scabbard--and not a piece of steel was seen to move or to glitter except
that which