of Prince
Otto himself. The modest epigraph--"Le rime n'est pas riche"--may be
attributed, with a good show of likelihood, to the same collaborator. It
is strikingly appropriate, and I have found the volume very dreary.
Those pieces in which I seem to trace the hand of the Princess are
particularly dull and conscientious. But the booklet had a fair success
with that public for which it was designed; and I have come across some
evidences of a second venture of the same sort, now unprocurable. Here,
at least, we may take leave of Otto and Seraphina--what do I say? of
Frederic and Amelie--ageing together peaceably at the court of the
wife's father, jingling French rhymes and correcting joint proofs.

Still following the book-lists, I perceive that Mr. Swinburne has
dedicated a rousing lyric and some vigorous sonnets to the memory of
Gondremark; that name appears twice at least in Victor Hugo's
trumpet-blasts of patriot enumeration; and I came latterly, when I
supposed my task already ended, on a trace of the fallen politician and
his Countess. It is in the "Diary of J. Hogg Cotterill, Esq." (that very
interesting work). Mr. Cotterill, being at Naples, is introduced (May
27th) to "a Baron and Baroness Gondremark--he a man who once made a
noise--she still beautiful--both witty. She complimented me much upon my
French--should never have known me to be English--had known my uncle,
Sir John, in Germany--recognised in me, as a family trait, some of his
_grand air_ and studious courtesy--asked me to call." And again (May
30th), "visited the Baronne de Gondremark--much gratified--a most
_refined_, _intelligent_ woman, quite of the old school, now, _helas!_
extinct--had read my 'Remarks on Sicily'--it reminds her of my uncle,
but with more of grace--I feared she thought there was less
energy--assured no--a softer style of presentation, more of the
_literary grace_, but the same first grasp of circumstance and force of
thought--in short, just Buttonhole's opinion. Much encouraged. I have a
real esteem for this patrician lady." The acquaintance lasted some time;
and when Mr. Cotterill left in the suite of Lord Protocol, and, as he is
careful to inform us, in Admiral Yardarm's flagship, one of his chief
causes of regret is to leave "that most _spirituelle_ and sympathetic
lady, who already regards me as a younger brother."

THE WRONG BOX

WRITTEN IN COLLABORATION WITH LLOYD OSBOURNE

PREFACE

_"Nothing like a littl