Prince Eugene and His Times

sifies pleasure, and whose gentle influence soothes pain; which, to the joyous heart seem to prefigure heaven; to the s

carriage. But for the glare of her large, black eyes, as they reflected the light of the lamps on either side, she might have been asleep, so motionless she lay; but, whenever Eugene turned a timid gl

rks she had made such curt and random replies, that he desi

avelled so swiftly, that when morning dawned, the lofty towers of the Cathedral of

vance to order it, no relay was there. The

hange horses at the royal post-house. While arrangements are being made there, wil

riage passed the old Roman gate, and entered the city, made famous by the coronation of so many kings of France. The rattle of the whee

s carriage cannot awaken our foes," said s

post-horses came leisurely forward, his face expressi

ses?" asked he, wi

said he, "that you do not know to whom you have the h

untess de Soissons, and you are the little abbe, her son. But I keep on

hen, to be a boo

e; in spite of the undue hour, how many men are around our carriage. They are not here by accident. Their presence only pr

ise this varlet! I must sit tame

the instrument, and strike the

es stood staring at Olympia with an expression of familiarity that would have cost him his l

g as to furnish us with eight hors

ooks much as if you were trying to make you

aid she, in tones of distress; "h

an hour," said he, turning on hi

f her footmen: "Go, see if we ca

almost immediately, with a

s need not trouble yourself to leave the carriage, i

a cup of chocolate," replie

me returned, accompanied by a woman, who, in

de Soissons?" asked

e you will do me the favor to

ll you that I shall do no such thing. How do I k

ugene, springing

periously. Then, resuming her colloquy with the woman who stood by, with arms

, pr

ut the cups that contain it. I will

cups of chocolate!" said she to herself, "that is a brave trade for me

The countess then addressed her son, who, leaning back in a c

e soldier. If you incense these people against us, your indiscreet zeal will cause me to be captured. I have no longing for dea

mine! I have the burning shame of yesterday to wipe out,

it imposes that must come the strength wherewith we retaliate; from the depths of our wounded hearts that must spring the geysers of our seething revenge. It would gratify me to have you the companion of my flight, but, if in the impotence of your

en care to select the worst of her wares to barter away. The countess smilingly accepted hers,

rieties with which we must daily anticipate a skirmish. And above all, on the eve of a great battle, the soul, which is the chief, must see to it that his soldier, which is the body, is in a

ching destruction, which, spite of the tremendous price at which they had been purchased, she looked upon as a sacrifice greatly to be deplored. Seeing that the catast

you have had your chocolat

ieces, which she offered to the woman. But, instead

hours I may venture to touch the gold

awn around the carriage, now bur

prudent woman! Nobody knows what mig

and, as a token of my admiration for your prudence, here

re astonished, and here and there were heard a few murmured words of sympathy. "That was very kind, was it

e. The woman still lingered at the carriage-door. "And the cups?"

o, my good woman, I will not break them: they shall lie in the basin, so that, li

d, and from her slender fingers the cup

I hope you will forgive my rudeness. I would not have been so forgetful of the respect I owe to a lady

customed to contumely, and when unjustly persecuted I follow th

"And do you mark what a beautiful countenance she has? Instea

and into the basin and withdrawing her louis d'ors, "no,

ple, and in less than five minutes the countess was a

wn forth, and two more louis d'ors g

this to those good people, that they

rgot, while her eyes grew mo

the crowd. "So beautiful

ur had expired, and the post-horses were brought out and harnessed

ng live her highness!" echoed the converts, while the carriage thunder

populi vox Dei,' forsooth!"-Then, turning to Eugene, who, during the whole performance, had remained sullenly silent, she continued: "Have you deci

purse. "I have no right to despise this tiny necromancer, for, by its beneficent power, you have been rescued from dangers which I, a man, and

nd at its conclusion his eyes were veiled by tears of burning humiliation. His m

r head have proved to me that, whatever may be your career, you are destined to render it illustrious: either by stat

ree to feel the power of my manhood, and to shape my fortunes with my own hand. Let women rise to dignity through royal favor and family influence; man's only ally

ourt of Louis XIV.," replied his mother. "It would be

France-perchance some of which may never obtain his forgiveness," replied E

he back of the carriage. "Rather let us speak of nothing, my child.

ms. In a few moments, the humiliations, the fears, and the sufferings of

er vulgar crowd, that swarmed like hornets about the carriage-windows. They had arrived at another station, where, i

rioters, he drew out his pistols. "The first one of you," cried he, "that

e is trying to browbeat us!"

to browbeat us!"

s!" exclaimed the prince. "The firs

was so commanding, that the people, ever co

tepped to the ground, and, with one of her bewitching smiles, made her way to the very center of her foes. Her voice was soft

," continued she, turning to a woman who had been most vociferous in her maledictions, "is it not true, dear friend, that a son is excusable who grows indignant when he hears his mother accused of deeds

yes, madame, I have a son who certainly would def

our friends here, for we mothers understand one another, do we not? And any

er arms upraised, she dashed through the crowd, and addressed those who were nearest to Eugene, and who

e been deceived by those who told us that she had poisoned her

efully imposed upon, if you were told that I poisoned my dear children. I have give

aimed the "dear friend" whom Olympia had specially addres

e women were heard repeating the words, "S

e they precede me on my journey with slanderous falsehoods, and try to turn the honest hearts of the vill

ough voices. "We were paid to insul

"I, too, will give you money, but it shall not be to bribe you to rese

and scramble, while others, emboldened by the sight of such a lar

s me eight fresh horses, shall receive eight louis d'ors

ken. In less than a minute the ground was cleared, and naught was to be s

gene, looking embarrassed and ashamed. He immediately apo

eroism. I see how very much wiser you are than I; and I solemnly promise to attempt no more violence, where personal violence is n

in time, when you will have learned to despise your fellows

to receive the gold, and, amid the huzzas of the mul