302 



Life of Count Rumford. 



" After much bustle all was stillness as the word went forth 

 the General and his suit descend, then a rustling on the 

 magnificent looking-glass staircase, nearly multiplying objects 

 into innumerability. And what objects ! The Baron, a hand- 

 some man, about forty, decorated with honors, star and garter, 

 appeared accompanied by his ladies, one under each arm, beauti- 

 fully dressed in the English style, excepting more richly, in 

 scarlet with feathers and ermine. One of the ladies was sixteen 

 [better, twenty-two] ; the other, twenty-six. Lambkin being 

 brought forward for the elder of the ladies, and it requiring 

 some time to get her mounted, on account of her being no 

 horsewoman, the younger lady became impatient, and very 

 much so, being fond of the amusement, giving one of the 

 grooms a look, had the horse destined for her brought forward, 

 skipped on with trifling assistance, and almost immediately 

 disappeared ; not going far, however, for when the party passed 

 the porte-cochere, she and her Tancred were found perched at one 

 side of it. This appeared amusing to the company, occasioning 

 a general laugh. But not so to the Baron. He frowned, and 

 particularly so when he perceived the young lady's whip 

 dropped, and the young aid, Count Taxis, dismount to pick 

 it" up. 



" This accident was followed by a detention from this young 



