THE INTERREGNUM.

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host, “it is but a melancholy service that I am rendering you chap.to-day. I hope that I may be able hereafter to render you—■services greater and more pleasing. ” He embraced the littlePrince of Wales, and made the Queen seat herself in theroyal state coach on the right hand. The cavalcade thenturned towards Saint Germains.

At Saint Germains, on the verge of a forest swarming withbeasts of chase, and on the brow of a hill which looks down onthe windings of the Seine, Francis the First had built a castle,and Henry the Fourth had constructed a noble terrace. Ofthe residences of the French kings none stood in a moresalubrious air or commanded a fairer prospect. The hugesize and venerable age of the trees, the beauty of the gardens,the abundance of the springs, were widely famed. Lewis theFourteenth had been, born there, had, when a young man,held his court there, had added several stately pavilions tothe mansion of Francis, and had completed the terrace ofHenry. Soon, however, the magnificent King conceived aninexplicable disgust for his birthplace. He quitted SaintGermains for Versailles, and expended sums almost fabulousin the vain attempt to create a paradise on a spot singularlysterile and unwholesome, all sand or mud, without wood,without water, and without game. Saint Germains had nowbeen selected to be the abode of the royal family of England.Sumptuous furniture had been hastily sent in. The nurseryof the Prince of Wales had been carefully furnished with every-thing that an infant could require. One of the attendantspresented to the Queen the key of a superb casket which stoodin her apartmeut. . She opened the casket, and found in itsix thousand pistoles.

On the following day James arrived at Saint Germains. Arrival ofLewis was already there to welcome him. The unfortunate atexile bowed so low that it seemed as if he was about to em- Ger_brace the knees of his protector. Lewis raised him, and em-braced him with brotherly tenderness. The two Kings thenentered the Queen’s room. “Here is a gentleman,” said Lewisto Mary, “whom you will be glad to see.” Then, after en-treating his guests to visit him next day at Versailles, and to