~ 
692 
that he is mad, for he preserves a most 
serious countenance!’ Jn another part, 
itis said ina loud voice: ¢ Do not you 
pereeive that he is joking, for you well 
know, that somewhat of the marvellous 
always enters ito his pleasantries.’ 
“ Yes (replies Gitta fate), but his 
marvellous is deficient in respect to gai- 
ety; his jokes have too much of the gal- 
lows in them; and pray when is all this 
to occur? 
«© Six years will not ee away, when 
all that I have said is to be fully accom- 
plished.’ 
“« Here is plenty of miracles, observed 
one (it was { myself who spoke), and 
don’t you dispose of me on this eccésion?? 
‘You will be a miracle, at least as ex- 
traordinary as any of the rest, for you 
will then become a christian 1? 
Great and general exclamations on the 
part of the whole company now took 
place. 
“ Ah! (cries Chamfort), 1 am at 
Jength comtorted; if we are not to perish 
until La Harpe turns christian, we must 
prove immortal !— 
“ On this occasion, (acd ds Madame la 
Duchesse de Grammont*) we ladies ap- 
pear to be very fortunate, as we are to 
take no part whatsoever im these revolu- 
tiows. When I say xe part, I dont mean 
that we shall not always intermeddle a 
little; but it seems to be allowed, that 
we are not to suffer on this occasion; our 
sex— 
“Your sex, ladies, will not defend you 
on the present occasion; and yeur inter- 
meddling or not, will prove of no manner 
of service, as you will be treated exactly 
like men, without any other difference 
whatsoever.’ 
« But what do you mean by all this, 
M. de Cazotte? Is it the end of the 
world, that you are preaching up!’ 
* This distinguished Jady was a daughter of 
the celebrated family of Choiseul, which had 
given aprime minister (M. le Duc de Choi- 
seul), and an ambassador, a man of letters 
{Le Comte de Choiseul- Gouffer), to France. 
Her name was Eeatrix, she was born at Lu- 
neville, resided at Paris, and was condemned 
to death by the Revolutionary Tribunal of that 
city, on the 3d of Florea!, in the second year 
of the pritenced Repuvlic, under the frivo- 
lous pretext of being ‘* ceunter-rev rolution- 
ari 
“Her husband, the Duke de Grammont, was 
descended frcm the celebrated count of the 
same name, who visited England, during the 
gn of Charles II. and whese Bemis are 
até, ailed in 2vols 4to, by his relative count 
Axsthony Hamilton. 
/ 
Retrospect of French Literature-—Afiscellaneous. 
“« T know nothing as to that, but what 
I know is, that you “Madame A Duchesse 
—you will be conducted to the scaffold, 
together with many other ladies, in the 
same sledge with an executioner, with 
eee hands tied behind your back.’ 
4h! I hope, that in that case, I shall 
at least have a carriage covered with 
black.’ P 
“ No, Madam! still greater ladies 
than you will be condueted 3 ma sledge, 
with their hands tied like yours? | 
“‘ Greater ladies! what! the princes- 
ses of the blood royal?” 
“ Stull greater— 
Hidecs considerable commotion took 
place on the part of the whole company, 
and the countenance of our host began 
to turn pale: in short, it was venerally 
agreed, that the pleasantry was rather 
carried too far. Meanwhile, Madame 
de Grammont, by way of dissipating the 
cloud, did not insist on replying to the 
last part of the speech, and contented 
herself by observing ina gay and. indif- 
ferent tone, ‘ You perceive, that he will 
not even allow me a confessor! 
“‘ No, Madam! neither you, nor any 
other female will have one. The last 
person executed who will obtain one, and 
that too as a favour, will 2. 2.) 2 
“On this M. de Cazotte stopped a mow 
ment, as if to recollect himself. 
i Eh! very good! who then, 1s to be 
that happy mortal, who will enjoy this 
distinguished prerogative ? 
“ It is the only one that will remain 
to him—it will be the king of France.’ 
“On this the master of the house started 
up from his ces and all his guests rase 
at the same time. He then advanced toz 
wards the last ee and iis 
him as follows, with an uncommon de- 
gree of earnestness: ‘ My dear M. de 
Cazotte, this mournful kind of pleasantry 
has arnved quite far enough. You have 
indeed carricd it too far; even 50 as to 
endanger the whole campany present, as 
well as yourself 
““ Cazotte did not say a single word in 
reply, and was about to retire, when Ma- 
dame Grammont, who wasstill desirous to 
avoid whatsover had the «ppearance of se~ 
riousness, and restore gaiety,advanced to- 
wards him: ‘Sir Prophet, who has told all 
our fortunes, you conceal every thing 
respecting your own?” 
“ Atter remaining some time in silence, 
with his eyes fixed to the ground, he re- 
suined as follows: ‘ Have you read, Ma- 
dam, the Siege of Jerusalem, as describ- 
ed in Josephus?’ 
Ob! 
