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to me.

The Marquis entered the court with his whole family: he supported
his lady,--his eldest son supported his sister, and his youngest
was at the other extreme of the line next his mother;--he put his
handkerchief to his face twice. -

- There was a dead silence. When the Marquis had approached within
six paces of the tribunal, he gave the Marchioness to his youngest
son, and advancing three steps before his family,--he reclaim'd his
sword. His sword was given him, and the moment he got it into his
hand he drew it almost out of the scabbard: --'twas the shining
face of a friend he had once given up--he look'd attentively along
it, beginning at the hilt, as if to see whether it was the same,--
when, observing a little rust which it had contracted near the
point, he brought it near his eye, and bending his head down over
it,--I think--I saw a tear fall upon the place. I could not be
deceived by what followed.

"I shall find," said he, "some OTHER WAY to get it off."

When the Marquis had said this, he returned his sword into its
scabbard, made a bow to the guardians of it,--and, with his wife
and daughter, and his two sons following him, walk'd out.

O, how I envied him his feelings!


THE PASSPORT. VERSAILLES.


I found no difficulty in getting admittance to Monsieur le Count de
B-. The set of Shakespeares was laid upon the table, and he was
tumbling them over. I walk'd up close to the table, and giving
first such a look at the books as to make him conceive I knew what
they were,--I told him I had come without any one to present me,
knowing I should meet with a friend in his apartment, who, I
trusted, would do it for me: --it is my countryman, the great
Shakespeare, said I, pointing to his works--et ayez la boute, mon
cher ami, apostrophizing his spirit, added I, de me faire cet
honneur-la. -

The Count smiled at the singularity of the introduction; and seeing
I look'd a little pale and sickly, insisted upon my taking an arm-
chair; so I sat down; and to save him conjectures upon a visit so
out of all rule, I told him simply of the incident in the
bookseller's shop, and how that had impelled me rather to go to him
with the story of a little embarrassment I was under, than to any
other man in France.--And what is your embarrassment? let me hear
it, said the Count. So I told him the story just as I have told it
the reader.

- And the master of my hotel, said I, as I concluded it, will needs
have it, Monsieur le Count, that I shall be sent to the Bastile;--
but I have no apprehensions, continued I;--for, in falling into the
hands of the most polish'd people in the world, and being conscious
I was a true man, and not come to spy the nakedness of the land, I
scarce thought I lay at their mercy.--It does not suit the
gallantry of the French, Monsieur le Count, said I, to show it
against invalids.

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