516 THE SPORT OP FORTUNE, 



He entered careleflly the well-known circle, w1k5 

 ftoocl around hirn to day with the fame reverence as 

 ever* expecting his commands, as ignorant of what 

 was to happen as he was himfelf. It was not long be- 

 fore Martinengo appeared, attended by fome adjutants ; 

 no longer the fupple^ cringing, fmilrng courtier — 

 arrogant and flrutting with pride, like a lackey raifed 

 to a lord, he went up to him with bold and refolute 

 fleps, and Handing before him with his hat on his 

 head, demanded his fword in the name of the prince. 

 It was delivered to him with a look of filent furprife - r 

 when, fetting the point againfl the ground, and put- 

 ting his heel upon the middle of the blade, he fnapped 

 it in two, and let fall the pieces- at the feet of Aloyfias- 

 This fignal being given, two adjutants feized him by 

 the collar, a third fell to cutting out the flar on the 

 breafl of his coat, and another proceeded to take the 

 ribband from his moulder, the epaulets from the tini- 

 form, and the feather from his hat. During the whole 

 of this amazing operation, which went on with incre- 

 dible rapidity, among more than five hundred men 

 who flood elofe round, not a fingle found was to be 

 heard, not a breath in the whole aflembly. The ter- 

 rified multitude flood fixt, with pallid countenances, 

 with palpitating hearts, and with a death-like flare, 

 round him, who in this wretched condition — a Angu- 

 lar fpeclacle of ridicule and horror ! — pail a moment 

 that is only to be felt under the hands of the execu- 

 tioner. Thoufands in his place would have fallen fenfe- 

 I'efs to the earth at the firft impulfe of terror, but his 

 rpbufl nervous fyflem, and his vigorous fplrit, outflood 



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