direction, offering every variety of hill and valley, precipice and
plain, in even the smallest space. As yet no peasant was stirring, no
smoke curled from a single chimney, and all, save the song of the lark,
was silent. It was a peaceful scene, and a strong contrast to that we
left behind us, and whatever ambitious yearnings filled my heart as I
looked upon the armed ranks of the mailed cuirassiers, I felt a deeper
sense of happiness as I strayed along those green alleys through which
the sun came slanting sparingly, and where the leaves only stirred as
their winged tenants moved among them.

We travelled for some hours through the dark paths of the Bois de
Boulogne, and again emerged in a country wild and verdant as before. And
thus passed our day; till the setting sun rested on the tall roof of the
great Palace, and lit up every window in golden splendor as we entered
the town of Versailles.

I could scarce avoid halting as I rode up the wide terrace of the
Palace. Never had I felt before the overcoming sense of grandeur which
architecture can bestow. The great facade in its chaste and simple
beauty, stretched away to a distance, where dark lime-trees closed the
background, their tall summits only peeping above the lofty terrace in
which the chateau stands. On that terrace, too, were walking a crowd of
persons of the Court, the full-dress costume showing that they had but
left the salons to enjoy the cool and refreshing air of the evening.
I saw some turn and look after our travel-stained and dusty party, and
confess I felt a half sense of shame at our wayworn appearance.

I had not long to suffer such mortification, for ere we marched
more than a few minutes, we were joined by a Marechal de Logis, who
accompanied us to our quarters,--one of the buildings adjoining the
Palace,--where we found everything in readiness for our arrival. And
there! to my surprise, discovered that a most sumptuous supper awaited
me,--a politeness I was utterly a stranger to, not being over-cognizant
of the etiquette and privilege which await the officer on guard at a
Royal Palace.

CHAPTER XXVIII. THE PARK OF VERSAILLES

The instructions delivered to me soon after my arrival in Versailles
convinced me that the transmission of despatches was not the service we
were called on to discharge, but merely a pretence to blind others as to
our presence; the real duty being the establishment of a cordon
around the Royal Palace, permitting