158 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



with evident signs of joy and satisfaction, who had been 

 accustomed to leave it for some time past with very different 

 feelings; but this change was not then ascribed to their 

 triumph over the honourable indecision of Charles X. 



If anything can increase our ideas of the majesty of 

 heaven, it is to see an earthly sovereign in humble adoration 

 before the altar. Charles X. was sincerely religious; his 

 faith was that of a true Christian, and it was not in his 

 position as a king alone, that he loved and practised piety. 

 At all times, and during his days of exile, he showed the 

 same disposition; and his first act upon returning to his 

 native soil was to attend mass in a little village church 

 situated at the extremity of the frontiers. 



"Oh, my God," prayed Charles X., "Thou who knowest 

 my heart, inspire me with the means of accomplishing the 

 task I have imposed on myself; that my kingdom may be 

 prosperous, my people happy, and, freed from a depraved and 

 revolutionary spirit, they may learn to do justice to the good 

 intentions of their king." 



He was still under the impression of the last words, when 

 the Domine salvumfac regem pealed in loud notes from the 

 organ, a sunbeam glanced upon his forehead, lighting up 

 his face with a ray of satisfaction. This coincidence of his 

 personal prayer and the conventional one of the church, 

 appeared to him a happy presage of the accomplishment of 

 his wishes. 



After the service, an animated conversation took place in 

 the Salon de Mars, amongst the various persons of distinc- 

 tion who were in attendance on the king. 



" At length things will go on right," said M. Duchesne, 

 addressing himself to the persons who composed the same 

 group as himself, and rubbing his hands at the same time 

 with an air of satisfaction that most of his companions were 

 far from partaking. 



