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falling； and sustain those who persevere in the way of the righteous！
〃And； peradventure； their struggles； devotion； virtue； and grief； may
expiate my faultthat of a man； whom misfortune alone rendered unjust
and wicked。
〃Oh！ since Thy Almighty hand hath led me hitherto what end I know not
lay aside Thy wrath； I beseech Theelet me be no longer the instrument
of Thy vengeance！
〃Enough of woe upon the earth！ for the last two years； Thy creatures have
fallen by thousands upon my track。 The world is decimated。 A veil of
mourning extends over all the globe。
〃From Asia to the icy Pole； they died upon the path of the wanderer。
Dost Thou not hear the long…drawn sigh that rises from the earth unto
Thee； O Lord？
〃Mercy for all！ mercy for me！Let me but unite the descendants of my
sister for a single day； and they will be saved！〃
As he pronounced these words； the wayfarer sank upon his knees； and
raised to heaven； his supplicating hands。 Suddenly； the wind blew with
redoubled violence； its sharp whistlings were changed into the roar of a
tempest。
The traveller shuddered； in a voice of terror he exclaimed： 〃The blast of
death rises in its furythe whirlwind carries me onLord！ Thou art then
deaf to my prayer？〃
〃The spectre！ oh； the spectre！ it is again here！ its green face twitching
with convulsive spasmsits red eyes rolling in their orbits。 Begone！
begone！its hand； oh！ its icy hand has again laid hold of mine。 Have
mercy； heaven！〃
〃GO ON！〃
〃Oh； Lord！ the pestilencethe terrible plaguemust I carry it into this
city？And my brethren will perish the firstthey； who are so sorely
smitten even now！ Mercy！〃
〃GO ON！〃
〃And the descendants of my sister。 Mercy！ Mercy！〃
〃GO ON！〃
〃Oh； Lord； have pity！I can no longer keep my ground； the spectre drags
me to the slope of the hill； my walk is rapid as the deadly blast that
rages behind me； already do I behold the city gates。 Have mercy； Lord；
on the descendants of my sister！ Spare them； do not make me their
executioner； let them triumph over their enemies！〃
〃GO ON！ GO ON！〃
〃The ground flies beneath my feet； there is the city gate。 Lord； it is
yet time！ Oh； mercy for that sleeping town！ Let it not waken to cries of
terror； despair； and death！ Lord； I am on the threshold。 Must it be？
Yes； it is done。 Paris； the plague is in thy bosom。 The curseoh； the
eternal curse！〃
〃GO ON！ GO ON！ GO ON！〃
CHAPTER XVI。
THE LUNCHEON。
The morning after the doomed traveller； descending the heights of
Montmartre； had entered the walls of Paris； great activity reigned in St。
Dizier House。 Though it was hardly noon； the Princess de St。 Dizier；
without being exactly in full dress （she had too much taste for that）；
was yet arrayed with more care than usual。 Her light hair； instead of
being merely banded； was arranged in two bunches of curls； which suited
very well with her full and florid cheeks。 Her cap was trimmed with
bright rose…colored ribbon； and whoever had seen the lady in her tight…
fitting dress of gray…watered silk would have easily guessed that Mrs。
Grivois； her tirewoman； must have required the assistance and the efforts
of another of the princess's women to achieve so remarkable a reduction
in the ample figure of their mistress。
We shall explain the edifying cause of this partial return to the
vanities of the world。 The princess； attended by Mrs。 Grivois； who acted
as housekeeper； was giving her final orders with regard to some
preparations that were going on in a vast parlor。 In the midst of this
room was a large round table； covered with crimson velvet； and near it
stood several chairs； amongst which； in the place of honor； was an arm…
chair of gilded wood。 In one corner； not far from the chimney； in which
burned an excellent fire； was a buffet。 On it were the divers materials
for a most dainty and exquisite collation。 Upon silver dishes were piled
pyramids of sandwiches composed of the roes of carp and anchovy paste；
with slices of pickled tunny…fish and Lenigord truffles （it was in Lent）；
on silver dishes； placed over burning spirits of wine； so as to keep them
very hot； tails of Meuse crawfish boiled in cream； smoked in golden…
colored pastry； and seemed to challenge comparison with delicious little
Marennes oyster…patties； stewed in Madeira； and flavored with a seasoning
of spiced sturgeon。 By the side of these substantial dishes were some of
a lighter character； such as pineapple tarts； strawberry…creams （it was
early for such fruit）； and orange…jelly served in the peel； which had
been artistically emptied for that purpose。 Bordeaux； Madeira； and
Alicant sparkled like rubies and topazes in large glass decanters； while
two Sevres ewers were filled； one with coffee a la creme； the other with
vanilla chocolate； almost in the state of sherbet； from being plunged in
a large cooler of chiselled silver； containing ice。
But what gave to this dainty collation a singularly apostolic and papal
character were sundry symbols of religious worship carefully represented。
Thus there were charming little Calvaries in apricot paste； sacerdotal
mitres in burnt almonds； episcopal croziers in sweet cake； to which the
princess added； as a mark of delicate attention； a little cardinal's hat
in cherry sweetmeat； ornamented with bands in burnt sugar。 The most
important； however； of these Catholic delicacies； the masterpiece of the
cook； was a superb crucifix in angelica； with a crown of candied berries。
These are strange profanations； which scandalize even the least devout。
But； from the impudent juggle of the coat of Triers； down to the
shameless jest of the shrine at Argenteuil； people； who are pious after
the fashion of the princess； seem to take delight in bringing ridicule
upon the most respectable traditions。
After glancing with an air of satisfaction at these preparations for the
collation； the lady said to Mrs。 Grivois； as she pointed to the gilded
arm…chair； which seemed destined for the president of the meeting： 〃Is
there a cushion under the table； for his Eminence to rest his feet on？
He always complains of cold。〃
〃Yes； your highness；〃 said Mrs。 Grivois； when she had looked under the
table； 〃the cushion is there。〃
〃Let also a pewter bottle be filled with boiling water； in case his
Eminence should not find the cushion enough to keep his feet warm。〃
〃Yes； my lady。〃
〃And put some more wood on the fire。〃
〃But； my lady； it is already a very furnace。 And if his Eminence is
always too cold； my lord the Bishop of Halfagen is always too hot。 He
perspires dreadfully。〃
The princess shrugged her shoulders； and said to Mrs。 Grivois： 〃Is not
his Eminence Cardinal Malipieri the superior of his Lordship the Bishop
of Halfagen？〃
〃Yes； your highness。〃
〃Then； according to the rules of the hierarchy； it is for his Lordship to
suffer from the heat； rather than his Eminence from the cold。 Therefore；
do as I tell you； and put more wood on the fire。 Nothing is more
natural； his Eminence being an Italian； and his Lordship coming from the
north of Belgium； they are accustomed to different temperatures。〃
〃Just as your highness pleases；〃 said Mrs。 Gri