stationed on guard, mounted on their black
horses, two soldiers of the regiment of the guards of the grand
duke. You would have been struck with the stern and warlike
appearance of these two giants, whose cuirasses and helmets,
made like those of the ancients, without crest or plume,
sparkled in the sun.

These soldiers wore blue coats with yellow collars, buckskin
breeches, and jack-boots. To please you who are so fond of
military details, I add, that at the top landing of the
staircase were stationed, as sentinels, two grenadiers of the
foot-guards of the duke. Their uniform, with the exception of
the colour of the coat and facings, resembles, I am told, that
of Napoleon's grenadiers.

After traversing the vestibule, where the porters of the duke
were stationed, halberd in hand, I ascended a splendid staircase
of white marble, which opened upon a portico, ornamented with
jasper columns, and surmounted by a painted and gilt cupola.
There were two long files of domestics.

I then entered the guard-room, at the door of which I found a
chamberlain and an aide-de-camp, whose duty it was to present to
his royal highness those persons who were entitled to this
honour. My relationship, though distant, procured me a special
presentation. An aide-de-camp preceded me into a long gallery,
filled with gentlemen in full court dress or uniform, and
splendidly attired ladies.

Whilst I passed through this brilliant assembly, I heard here
and there remarks that augmented my embarrassment. Every one
admired the angelic beauty of the Princess Amelie, the charming
appearance of the Marquise d'Harville, and the imperial air of
the Archduchess Sophia, who, recently arrived from Munich with
the Archduke Stanislaus, was about to depart for Warsaw; but
whilst rendering their just tribute of admiration to the lofty
bearing of the duchess and to the charms of the Marquise
d'Harville, every one agreed that nothing could exceed the
loveliness of the Princess Amelie.

As I approached the spot where the grand duke and the princess
were I felt my heart beat more and more violently. At the moment
that I entered the salon (I forgot to tell you there was a
concert and ball at court) the famous Liszt sat down to the
piano, and instantly the most profound silence succeeded to the
conversa