1831.] The Wife of the Polish Patriot. 377 



affection towards a certain quarter, as that we would withdraw our pro- 

 tection from, or denounce, every one who dared venture to see a mad 

 head in a mad act. Besides, you have been educated in the old school. 

 All with you are usurpers that cannot count a whole muster-roll of 

 ancestors as far back as Socrates, king of Egypt ! Eh ?" (t I have 

 heard," said Aimee, in a conciliatory tone, but rather puzzled " I have 

 heard that the Emperor of France hath gentle blood in his veins." The 

 regal son of a pastrycook coloured high, and the viceroy smiled in spite 

 of himself. 



Aimee saw that something was wrong, and was preparing to prefer 

 one more petition and depart, when an aide-de-camp of the Neapolitan 

 Sovereign made his appearance. " So please your Majesty/' he said, 

 I received your gracious orders, and only failed to execute them because 

 " " Oh, sirrah, you found it convenient to disobey orders perhaps 

 then I shall find it convenient to send a brace of bullets through your 

 breast to inquire your gracious reasons." The officer, apparently accus- 

 tomed to such ebullitions, seemed to wait with an air equally removed 

 from fear or boldness, to see whether this dignified burst were ended, 

 and then continued in the same tone as if the last sentence had not been 

 dismembered from his first address " because your majesty's orders 

 reached me not until my brother officers had examined such wain- 

 drivers as they could fall in with, who protest that Captain Ladoinski 

 died of cold and of his wounds on the night of the 7th, and was, conse- 

 quently, ejected from the baggage- waggon. This they are ready to 

 swear before your highness." ff Let them keep their swearing to warm 

 their own frosty breath," said King Joachim. ' ' You perceive how it is, 

 Madam splash my uniform, if I would not have these wain-driving 

 knaves complimented with a retributive shot or two, on mere suspicion, 

 and out of respect to you, but you see there is no coming at the truth ; 

 and as our captain is surely gone, and the frost will probably take all 

 vengeance into its own hands, I discern not (I say it with regret) aught 

 else in which we can serve you." 



" Then God's will be done," said Aimee, sinking pale and powerless 

 on the chair that had been proffered her. The benevolent Viceroy of 

 Italy supported her, and cast a wistful glance or two towards the potent 

 spirit on the table, as if nought but the absence of any intermediate mode 

 of conveyance between the flask and the lips prevented his humanely 

 tendering a cordial to the half-fainting wife. She recovered herself, 

 however, almost immediately, and quickly rising, said, with great self- 

 command, tf I thank your Highness your Majesty " (she involuntarily 

 paid the first homage to Eugene) " for the humanity which has turned 

 your eye, for an instant, on a grieved and powerless woman. I feel at 

 this moment all the courage of one who has little left to fear of evil in 

 this world. For me, it now holds nothing nothing that belongs to me, 

 save this frail creature." She drew the child towards her, and the feel- 

 ings she had hitherto controlled began to force their natural vent. Tear 

 after tear fell on the wan cheek of that fading child. She held him 

 towards the princes, as if his helpless infancy might better plead for 

 him than the words for which she found no utterance. Both potentates 

 were as much affected as we can possibly conceive those to be whose 

 feelings must necessarily become blunted by the frequent sight of 

 human woe. " And now," said the lovely woman, " I would only be 

 bold to crave a safe conduct for this helpless being, and the solitary 



M.M. New Scries. VOL. XI. No. 64. 3 C 



