THE SPORT OF FORTUNE 515 



prince as the mofl ungrateful and blackeft of traitors, 

 whofe treafon was placed fo far out of doubt, that it 

 was thought proper to proceed immediately againft 

 him without any formal trial. The whole was managed 

 with the profoundeft fecrecy between Martinengo and 

 his mafter, fo that Aloyfius never once perceived the 

 florm that was gathering over his head. Obftinate in 

 his baneful fecurity, till the awful moment, when he 

 was funk from an object: of general adoration and erivy 

 to an object of the deepeft companion. 



On the arrival of the decifive day, Aloyfius, accord- 

 ing to cuftom, went to take a turn on the parade. 

 From enlign he had become, in the fpace of a few 

 years, colonel of the guards; and even this poft was 

 no more than a modeller name for the office of prime 

 minifter, which in fact he filled, and diftinguiined him 

 above the foremofl in the country. The guard-parade 

 was the place where his pride was wont to receive the 

 general homage, where in one fhort hour he enjoyed a 

 grandeur and glory which amply repaid him for the 

 toils of the preceding day. Here perfons of the higheffc 

 ranks approached him only with refpeclful timidity, 

 and thole who did not feel themfelves fure of his 

 fmiles, with trembling. The prinee himfelf, if occa- 

 fionally he prefented himfelf here, faw himfelf neg- 

 lected in companion of his grand viiier, as it was far 

 more dangerous to difpleafe the latter than it was of 

 ufe to have the former for a friend. And this very 

 place, where he was accuftomed to be revered as a god, 

 was now pitched upon to be the dreadful theatre of his 

 degradation, 



r t l 2. lie 



