ceived unqualified approval. In other respects the dinner passed off as usual. Evenings are short in London, and we have no time to reflect on the marvellous. When the ladies retired to the drawing-room, the facetious Graf betrayed his mortal nature by falling asleep. However, he awoke directly on the summons to coffee.

"Ah, ha!" said he, "de café! That is goot tings! Je dormais. Mille pardons! Maintenant, je suis tout prêt. Allons donc !"

a

Without ceremony, the Graf, on his entering the drawing-room, scated himself at the piano-forte, and proposed affording his new friends" leetle example" how music was performed in Hungary. And he did so. Never had such performance been before heard in Park Lane. The very instrument itself must have been astonished at such execution. The Hungarian Graf could do every thing. Who but the Graf? Unanimously it was admitted that "these foreigners," though very odd, were very entertaining. But after coffee and ligneurs, the Graf probably would have outdone all his former doings, having just betted to a considerable amount, with Torpor Vivian (who had vice in his eye), that he would stand for three minutes on his head, spinning round! Nay, he seemed mad enough to be disposed to try the experiment. However Mr. Price quietly, though dictatorially, ended that matter, by saying that amusements were very well in their way, but he wished to have a few minutes' conversation on business, especially on the present state of the IIamburg markets.

"If you desire it, with all my heart!" answered the Graf, "and now that you remind me of business, I have one leetle ting to tell you, and I should, peut-être, have forgotten him altogether. Est-il permis to retire for one petit moment to yon chambre d'étude, and I will expliquer?"

"By all means," said Mr. Price. "I am de trop here for the present."

*

*

**

None ever clearly knew what was the precise tenor of the conversation then addressed by the Hungarian to Mr. Dickars Price. After a good deal of question and answer, however, it ended with the Graf receiving from his host an oblong piece of paper, on one corner of which were inscribed

the figures 3501., which the former deposited in his pocket-book. Another circumstance transpired-namely, an appointment in the city for two o'clock the following day, upon which considerable store seemed to be set.

On their return to the drawingroom, Mr. Dickars Price felt somehow or another as if he had made a blunder, but it was too late to recover. By some chance it was proposed that the foreigner should be the duchess's partner at whist, to which he agreed with alacrity. Deep and profound was the Hungarian's attention to the game, yet he played and betted with as much nonchalance as if the stakes had been nothing. During every deal he talked gaily if any body addressed him, but became silent and calm thereafter. Never had the old duchess been better pleased with any partner. Indeed her grace had every reason to be so. The Graf needed no remind as to his duty. He recollected every card, was always wide awake, and he and the duchess were so pertinaciously gainers, that it became difficult to break up the table. Such a run of luck at whist had never before been known in Park Lane.

Strange to say, notwithstanding all his eccentricities, the majority of voices towards the close of the evening were in favour of the Graf, who took leave about two o'clock, saying that he knew exceedingly well the way to his hotel, and naming one at no great distance. Indeed the only dissentient voices were those of Mr. Torpor Vivian and Mr. Dickars Price, the latter of whom had from the first moment of meeting detected certain points in the Graf's conduct such as he could by no means reconcile with the character which he would have wished to find in the son of his honoured correspondent.

But, as already said, the majority were strongly unanimous. As to Miss Theodosia, be the truth at once declared her mind was made up. She had, indeed, read and dreamed of such wonderful men as the Graf, but never before seen one. Her susceptible heart had been touched, and her affections were engaged for ever!

Such was the state of affairs as the Graf left it in Park Lane, and such it continued the next morning, when Mr. Price intended going as usual to the city. He seldom betook himself

thither at a very early hour; for all the business of a well-ordered counting-house moved on, like machinery, without him, every clerk fulfilling his allotted duties although the mainspring was invisible. But at length he sallied forth. Every afternoon had its important business of one sort or another; and this day in particular was not to be blinked. Three hundred pounds embarked for a foreigner, although the son of an ancient ally, must be returned punctually to the moment appointed; otherwise, woe to the heedless borrower! Mr. Price was not a man to be trifled with in money matters — not he!

At two o'clock he was at his desk, ready to receive the Hungarian, for whose advent he had prepared the clerks. But two o'clock approached, came, and passed away. The Hungarian was not punctual. Then arrived about five-and-twenty other people, who were audienced and dismissed one after another; the day wore on till four o'clock, and still no news of the Graf! But the dictator did not usually leave the city till five; and about half-past four a travelling carriage, with four post-horses, drew up to the counting-house gates; a stylish arrival, more like that of a dashing M.P. at the west end than aught which is commonly observable in the city. A card was brought up, and presented to Mr. Price,-“ Mr. Ferdinand de Tropp!" The "same, but yet another!" that is to say, another copy from the original of that identical card which had rather disturbed his equanimity at yesterday's dinner-hour. Probably, this was some new crotchet of the facetious Graf's. He might have driven out to see the country,-to Richmond, for example, and returned from thence in his post-chaise. But if so, why on earth go through the ceremony of sending up his visiting-card at a counting-house?

Where was

the fun or humour of this thing? It was, to say the truth, but a childish trick, and too much in keeping with other tricks, such as cobbling oranges, and swallowing knives and mustardpots!

The merchant's perplexity on this point, however, was soon diversified by a greater. The visitor in due

time followed his card; but, good Heavens! what a difference! The Monsieur de Tropp who now entered was a little, fat, punchy youth, with light hair, light blue eyes, and an obtusely comfortable expression of countenance, sufficiently indicating that the possessor thereof would not be diverted from the quiet path of common-sense by any delusive gleams of genius. Never, surely, was there exhibited a more striking contrast than that existing between the Hungarian Graf of yesterday and his present representative!

Again,- Mr. Dickars Price's countenance would have made a good study for Hogarth. His reception of the new comer was not cordial, and did no credit to his character for gentlemanly politeness. The truth. was, that he desiderated another Graf, and especially looked for the repayment of three hundred pounds, which on very specious grounds had been advanced for use early in the morning, previous to the liberation of a certain portmanteau, with certain credentials from the custom-house, and other important arrangements. But unluckily, as it has happened on divers other occasions in this motley world, explanations came, but hard cash did not.

"There must be some strange mistake, sir," said Mr. Price, coldly. "You will excuse me, but this identical card-I mean another from the same stamp--was presented at my private house yesterday, accompanied with a letter of introduction."

"And you received the bearer ?" "Unquestionably I did! How could I act otherwise, when he presented a letter of recommendation from our honoured correspondents at Vienna ?"

"The impudent rascal !" said Monsieur de Tropp secundus. "But I hope your London police will catch him!"

"Why, what on earth is the matter ?" said Mr. Dickars Price. What is the meaning of all this?"

"In the first place," said Monsieur de Tropp, "being necessitated to pay my respects here without any direct letter of introduction, I must beg to assure you, that our bankers in Lombard Street, on whom I have already waited, are fully empowered, by the

"Well, sir; but to the point," said Mr. Price, impatiently. "How did your letter fall into such very improper hands ?"

"I had been in Ireland," said M. De Tropp; "that rascal was a passenger in the steam-boat by which I crossed from thence to Liverpool. He had travelled in Germany, and spoke the language passably well: he also told me long stories about his various acquaintances in London,indeed seemed to feel completely at home there,-describing its locale, manners, and amusements, to the detail of which I listened with civility, though I distrusted the man. Unfortunately, he put up at the same hotel, and heard me say that I should unavoidably be detained for a week, on business, at Liverpool. One afternoon, on returning to my private parlour, in which I had been writing letters all the previous morning, I discovered that a pocket-book, containing only a few memoranda, and some introductory letters, had been stolen-I always suspected that this vagabond might be the thief, be

cause

"But who on earth is he?"

"I found out his history," said Monsieur De Tropp; "he is a rascally itinerant French juggler!!"

We need scarcely add that the strenuous efforts which were made through the Bow Street police establishment to discover the soi-disant Hungarian Graf proved in vain. In fact, that gentleman, having duly received payment from Mr. Price's bankers of a cheque for 350l., seemed impressed with the notion that this amount of ready money would procure him far more of the blessings of life upon the Continent than it could possibly do in London. Consequently, after having pocketted a canvass bag full of sovereigns, which he carried about him with admirable facility, he stepped on board the Magnet steam-boat, which was just then conveniently departing for Boulogne.

With regard to the veritable Monsieur De Tropp, the "Simon Pure," he was of course invited to the hospitable mansion of Mr. Price, in Park Lane; but he turned out a mere man of business, and a dull companion. He ate sparingly, and mixed his wine with water; he had no remarkable anecdotes about longevity in Hungary, and played no tricks with oranges, knives, or mustard-pots; he did play whist, however, but blundered and lost, his head apparently being confused, and preoccupied with abstruse calculations. On the whole, he was stupid and opiniâtre,-sometimes almost morose and sullen. Nor did it ever occur to him as an act of duty to offer restitution of the money, which had been lost to Mr. Dickars Price solely through his folly and carelessness in allowing his pocketbook to be stolen. It must be owned, therefore, that Simon Pure's appearance at the mansion in Park Lane was a failure.

As for Miss Theodosia, we have already hinted that she was rather odd; and in order to keep up the character for bizarrerie, she actually took the adventure of the Hungarian to heart, has never been her own woman since, and still (if we may be allowed the phrase) swears by the moustachios! Nay, she has got the orangebasket which he made for her, and keeps it as a relic; and she possesses also an iron cross and chain with which it is supposed he presented her, and wears it round her neck. She has even been known in trying the effects of a "Perry-yan" pen upon satin paper, with blue ink, to write these words :

"I have a silent sorrow here, A grief I'll ne'er impart." And truly, if she should wish to speak of the Hungarian Graf primus -him of the moustaches and mustardpots-it is better to hold her tongue in the domestic circle, at all events; for, on the remotest allusion to that subject, Mr. Dickars Price looks as black as midnight.

crew of a British ship of war the credit which is due to them, but because the conduct of the enemy ap pears to have been disgraceful in the extreme. The French frigates Danae and Floré were each of them equal, in point of size and weight of metal, to the Alceste. As for the relative numbers of their people, they were probably superior; while the corvette, mounting from twenty-eight to thirty-two guns, was an opponent in a scrambling fight not lightly to be spoken of. It may be that the enemy had strict orders to avoid a battle. It is possible, though not very probable, that their looking into Archangelo Bay was a mistake from beginning to end; but of one fact there can be no doubt, that seeing the Alceste there, and failing to attack her, they covered themselves with disgrace. Whether the French commodore was ever called to account, is more than we can tell; but the fate of an Englishman who should have acted as he did, supposing any English captain capable of such cowardice, would not have been doubtful for one hour.

A rigid scrutinist, a strict observer of the rules of stratégé, would be apt to blame Captain Maxwell for an excess of boldness on this occasion. Let us justify him from the charge by stating, first, that when he offered battle to such a superior force, he had the whole of his ship's company on board; and, next, that except during the chase he fell upon the only expedient which appeared to be open to him. The enemy being in possession of the mouth of the bay, all means of retreat were cut off; his choice, therefore, lay between a determined resistance and the doing that which never would have been done by him-the hauling down his colours. And if the chase do appear somewhat more Quixotic than prudent, let its propriety be judged of by considering not the mere isolated fact, but the ends which the British commander desired to attain by it.

"I think," says Lieutenant Howard Moore, who served at that time as master on board the Alceste, and wrote a letter on the subject which has been put into our hands, "I think that it was one of the most daring and gallant attempts I ever knew or heard of, our giving chase to the two frigates and corvette from Arch

angelo. They came there expecting to find the Acorn sloop of war which we relieved a few days before, and they hauled off when they saw a frigate ready to receive them. It was late in the evening; and as soon as it became dusk, Captain Maxwell ordered the cable to be cut and all sail made in chase, to cut off the rear frigate, which he thought he could do before the others would be able to shorten sail, haul to the wind, and assist her, as they were sailing before the wind with studding - sails. We kept

sight of them with the night-glasses for some time, but the night became dark and squally and they were lost sight of; and though we carried a press of sail in the direction we last saw them, they escaped by changing their course."

The French squadron, after a brief stay at Pola, proceeded to Trieste, where a formidable armament had for some time been assembling for the avowed purpose of recovering Lissa, and throwing supplies into Corfu. One ship, indeed, was all that was wanting to complete their force, namely, the Rivoli of 74 guns, which lay in Venice; but the Rivoli was destined not to join them, either then or at any subsequent period.

"I have much pleasure in informing you," writes Captain Maxwell on the 10th of October to Commodore Rowley, "that I have received information, by three vessels arrived from Venice, that the Rivoli, while attempting about nineteen days ago to come out upon the Camel, has been so much damaged, that they were obliged to send her back into the arsenal, and totally to dismantle her.

They had tried her with her lowerdeck guns in, after getting her on the Camel; and their weight, it is supposed, was the cause of such an increased pressure upon the ship's sides, that a great many knees were broken below, and they say the Camel is ruined. This is a fortunate accident for our tenure of Lissa, which I trust we shall now be able to protect until the troops arrive. The expedition against us was to have sailed from Trieste, where all but the Rivoli are now assembled, namely, the Danae, Floré, Uranice, and a Russian 40-gun frigate, with three corvettes. The French government have purchased large quantities of grain, which they have shipped or are shipping in Greek and Turkish polacres taken up for the purpose. A Russian corvette is also fitted out and laden with grain.

"Five hundred seamen have lately arrived at Venice from the ports of France to man this expedition; and I