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well singed. But he would have been burnt to a cinder, but for the interference of Diogenes-for neither the old anchorite himself, nor any of the screamers who surrounded him-(and who kept calling out with all their might for help!' but giving none,)-thought of this simple expedient of saving him from the flames, by rolling him into the lake. The long flowing beard of this unlucky recluse, which was composed of flax, had, it appeared, received a spark from some squibs and crackers which an ill-advised juggler had set up near him; and he now stood drenched, and scorched, and frightened, and shivering, beneath the conjoined effects of the opposite elements of fire and water. That he was a wellfed Englishman, was evident, both from his portly roast beef figure, and from his appearing as a hermit; no disguise in the slightest degree connected with religion, being permitted, or ever used, abroad;-but what was our amazement when his mask, which had materially saved his face from injury, was taken off, to see the visage of Lord Lumbercourt! Certainly his Lordship never made such a blaze in the world, in his own character, as in that of hermit,—and never did he look so rueful; not even when he issued from the classic waters of the Sorgue. During the time this quenching of Lord Lumbercourt's unaccustomed fires was going on, we were insensibly drawn towards the spot, and the monkey, who still closely adhered to Mrs. Cleveland, seeing the empty tub, thought it would be very witty to take possession of it. Accordingly he got into it, and squatted down. But Diogenes turning round and seeing him, seized upon the tub, composedly set it upon his head, with the monkey still in it, deliberately

marched to the water, and finally tossed the screaming and supplicating monkey into the lake, out of which he at last struggled and buffeted, and crawled to land, thoroughly soused, amidst the shouts and laughter, of the delighted spectators.

During the confusion, I succeeded in meeting Diogenes, who evidently endeavoured to avoid me. I earnestly entreated him to hear me, and answer me one question.

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No! no!' he exclaimed, impatiently interrupting me-'Speak to you I cannot-Hear you I will not-Look on you I dare not-I must fly you-and for ever.'

And he broke away from me, and with rapid strides was lost in the crowd. I saw him no more. Whether he left the gardens, or whether he assumed another disguise, I know not-but when at the signal call of a trumpet from the water, all the company unmasked, I looked round at every man -with more anxiety than I ever looked at man before but I saw none who could have been Diogenes, and indeed no Englishman whom I knew. I believe I should have forgotten to have thrown aside the conjurer's garb, and revealed myself as Sultana, had not Mrs. Cleveland reminded me of it.

Immediately after the general unmasking, a large party of men, masked and attired in splendid Turkish dresses, as Corsairs, were seen dashing towards the shore, in gay pleasure boats, round a woody point, behind which they had embarked unseen, and landing at the gardens, each seized upon a lady and carried her off by force to the boats. The screams and affected resistance of the fair Italians, and even of some of my own countrywomen, were supremely ridiculous, since it was

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clear this was a part of the fête, and that we were only going to supper-breakfast I mean ;-so therefore, however silly, it was best to be passive. For my part, when the chief of the Corsairs himself seized upon me-having a mortal antipathy to be pulled about-I only quietly begged he would not carry me off by force, assuring him I would go with him with all my heart, at which the Corsair laughed, and we walked away together most amicably. But he was so much amused, that he told every body of my offer to run away with him, and continually repeated to me my words, 'Je vous suivrai trés Volontiers, M. Le Turque ;'-for I had spoken in French, not knowing whether he was an Italian or an Englishman, and resolved, at all events, to be understood. He proved to be the Conte Montini himself; and as, in consequence of this'enlèvement,' I sat next him at the collation, and danced with him afterwards, I hear that I am in danger of being poisoned by the Italian ladies, who are all contending for the homage of this paragon of cavaliers. Observe he is married, but 'ce ne fait rien'-here. He is a man of the world, and a perfect gentleman--elegant, accomplished, and insinuating-but, I suspect, unprincipled and a libertine. All persons, however, were the same to me. Of the two men I knew best, poor Lord Lumbercourt was half burnt-and the poor little Count half drowned; consequently neither was visible, and certainly neither was interesting. The little Count however, at last appeared, differently attired, but looking nearly as like a monkey as before.

I can tell you little more of the fête, which really would have been delightful, but for this mysterious and most unpleasant rencontre. We

had music and dancing, and infinite amusement of every sort-if I could have enjoyed it; but I was obliged to force smiles on my lips, when heaviness oppressed my heart-and to dance when I could have cried. You know I do not easily give way to grief, but I never before felt so completely overcome, and so thoroughly wretched. Any other

misfortune I think I could have borne better; but to a woman, there is no misfortune equal to the loss of character. The faintest breath of suspicion sullies the delicacy of female purity. But in the eyes of one at least among mankind, perhaps many, it is not suspicion which attaches to me, it is imaginary certainty. It is by the evidence of their senses that they pronounce me infamous; and the certain loss of respect, of honour, of reputation, the ignominious imputations which are heaped upon me, without the power of disproving them, overpower my spirits, poison my enjoyments, and incessantly prey upon my heart.

--

But I will not yield even to this bitter trial. -Conscious of innocence, I will struggle to be happy.

CHAPTER XLII.

MORNING VISITS.

Tout lui plait, tout convient à son vaste génie
Les livres, les bijoux, les sciences, les pompons,
Les vers, les diamans, les brèbis, l'optique
L'algébre, les soupers, le Latin les jupons,
L'Opera, les procés, le bal and la physique.

VOLTAIRE.

LETTER XLI.

CAROLINE ST. CLAIR TO MRS. BALCARRIS.

Wednesday Evening.

WHILE Colonel Cleveland was gone to call upon Lord Lumbercourt this morning, at his inn on the lake a short distance from this, we had a visit from the Ceres, Pomona, and Flora of the fête, who proved to be a Lady Bellairs and her daughtersacquaintances of Mrs. Cleveland's.

In the fair Flora-Miss Emily Harriet Theodosia Bellairs-I recognised a Blue of the very deepest die, who dined with us at the Table d' Hôte, at Meyringen, and made a desperate attack upon the imperturbable Armenian. Much did she now lament over the loss of her flowers; not certainly with their sweetness, but rather with the