THE DESERTED CHATEAU.

I

table near her, on which, also, stood an ivory and [drops stood upon her brow, as she feebly address-
ebony crucifix, fell upon the white pillows that ed her attentive listener.
supported her pale form. The rest of the furni-
ture in the apartment consisted only of a couch for
the confidential attendant, and two large fauteuils.
Though the night was chill and tempestuous,
there was no fire on the wide hearth, and the
walls being hung with dark arras, the gloom was

unbroken.

"I confide to you my will," she said, and a low cry, feeble as that of a new-born infant's, burst from her lips at these words. "Oh! my God! pardon!" she murmured, snatching a crucifix which lay on the bed beside her, and carrying it rapidly to her lips, expired.

Previously there had been suffering and intense sorrow in her eye, but her last look was one of joy; and the bright expression remained fixed on her countenance after death.

On approaching the bed, the notary nearly started at the sight of the spectral figure within. The comtesse was sitting almost upright, supWhen the will was opened, it was found that ported by pillows; her large, dark, and glazing eyes immoveably fixed in their sockets, seemed the Comtesse de Merset had nominated the notaalready those of the dead; her face was of the ry of Vendome her executor, leaving all her large hue of a waxen image; her fine black hair, parted property, with the exception of a few legacies, to across her pale, damp brow, was in parts inter- the Hospital of Vendome. Her dispositions with mingled with gray, though her years did not ex-regard to La Grande Bréteche were very particuceed thirty, and her hands were painfully shri- lar, and excited much surprise.

veled; the skin was stretched tightly over the and all its appurtenances were to be left, for the bones, and the veins and muscles distinctly visi-space of fifty years from the day of her death, ble. Her whole form, thin to emaciation, still exactly in the same state in which they then All the apartments were to be strictly bore the traces of past beauty, although it was were. almost impossible to imagine how any human shut up, and no person whatever allowed to creature could have retained life in so frail a tene-enter them, upon any pretext; no repairs to be ment. She was worn to a shadow by fever-permitted, either about the chateau or gardens, fever which had struck directly at the root of her but all was to be suffered to fall into the natural existence. Her lips were of a pale violet colour, state of decay, which so long a period as that and when she spoke, they scarcely moved sufficiently to show that they had life; and the upper one, which was beautifully formed, was marked by that soft, dark shade, which is the sign of a naturally strong constitution, and forcibly showed the intensity of the sufferings through which she must have passed, before arriving at that state of artificial existence, now so near the period of its termination. The notary, in the course of his profession, had seen many dying persons; but, their expiring agonies, nay, even the tears and Many years passed away; and with them much despair of whole sorrowing families, had failed of making the impression upon him, which the sight of the interest and curiosity excited by the desof that lady, alone, and perishing in the silence cription which the notary failed not to give of the of her vast and deserted chateau, had done on Comtesse de Merset's death-bed, her strange testhis fearful night. The whole scene lay before tament, and the subsequent decay and ruin of her his eyes like a picture of the dead, for not a liv-once beautiful chateau. At length, an incident ing sound interrupted the awful stillness of the occurred, which, by throwing light on her mysplace; even the respiration of the expiring com- terious history, revived in some degree the curiotesse was so low as to be inaudible, and stirred sity of the public. A priest belonging to a neighnot the sheets which covered her scarce animat-bouring monastery had been summoned to shrive ed form. At length, her large glassy eyes moved; a dying woman of the name of Rosalie Lebas, she made an effort to raise her right hand, but it fell again powerless on the coverlid; words like faint breathings issued from her lips, for her voice was soundless and extinct.

sash windows opening upon the lawn, which sloped pleasantly towards its banks. Within this apartment was a small recess with a glass door, which served as an oratory; it was about four feet square, and constructed within the thickness of the wall. On the night in question, by one of those strange fatalities for which there is no explanation, the comte returned home two hours

And there was an ineffable dignity in her look and manner which awed the comte's suspicions, and made him pause in his purpose.

"No, Josephine!" he exclaimed, "I open not that door, as, guilty or innocent, we then must part. But listen: I know all thy purity of heart, and the sanctity of the life thou leadest:-thou wouldst not commit a mortal sin at the expense of thy soul !"-she looked at him wildly.-"Here is thy crucifix-take it !-swear to me, before that image, there is no one there, and I will never seek to enter."

The comtesse took the crucifix and murmured "I swear."

"Louder!" said her husband, and repeat-“I swear before the virgin, there is no one concealed in that oratory."

later than usual, from a club where he usually spent his evenings in reading the papers or discussing politics. The invasion of France had formed the leading topic of conversation, and the subject for a long and animated discussion; after which, being already excited by argument, the compte had lost a considerable sum at billiards. On returning home, he had usually satisfied himself, for some time past, by asking the comtesse's attendant, Rosalie, if her lady were retired to rest, ere he proceeded to his own apartments; but, on this night, it occurred to him he would visit her himself that he might recount his ill luck. Accordingly, instead of summoning Rosalie, he proceeded directly to the chamber of the comtesse. His well-known step resounded along the corridor, and at the instant he turned the handle of the door, he fancied he heard that of the oratory within, closed suddenly: but, when he entered the apartment, he saw Madame de Merset stand- "Tis well :" M. de Merset coldly said; then ing before the hearth, on which smouldered the added, after a moment's silence-his eye resting embers of a half-extinguished fire. It immedi-upon the crucifix she had just laid down, which ately occurred to him it must have been Rosalie was of ebony and silver, and of exquisite workwho went into the oratory, from which, however, manship-"You have something there, which I there was no egress but through the comtesse's never saw before, or knew that you possessed." apartments. Yet a suspicion of a darker nature, "I met with it accidentally at Duvivier's, who nevertheless, crossed his imagination, like a sud-bought it of one of the Spanish prisoners of war, den flash of dazzling light, which could not be when they passed through Vendome on their extinguished. He looked fixedly at his wife; and way to the frontier." there seemed a troubled expression in her eye as she avoided his searching glance.

"You are late to-night," she said: and there was a slight tremor in her voice, usually so clear and musical.

The comte did not reply, for at that instant, as if to strengthen the horrid thoughts which possessed his secret soul, Rosalie entered the room. Turning abruptly from her, he folded his arms moodily across his breast, and impetuously but mechanically paced the apartment.

And she repeated the words of the oath without any visible emotion.

"Ah!" said the comte, replacing the crucifix on its gilt nail over the chimney-piece: in doing which, at the same moment, he rang the bell. Rosalie came immediately. M. de Merset advanced to meet her, and leading her into the embrasure of the window which opened upon the lawn, abruptly, and in an under tone, said, “I understand that poverty alone prevents your union with Philippe, and that you have declared your intention not to become his wife until he shall have found the means of establishing himself in his business as a master mason. Now, mark me!-go seek him!-bring him hither with his tools. Let him do what I desire, and his fortune shall surpass your utmost wishes. But take especial care to wake no one besides himself in the house :-above all, let not a word escape your lips-a whisper, and- His brow darkened as he looked menacingly upon her; she was As soon as Rosalie was gone, or supposed to about to leave the room to obey his orders, when be so, for she took care to remain within hearing, he added: "Hold! take my passe partout." He M. de Merset approached his lady, and said, then called "Louis!" in a voice of thunder, along coldly, with an attempt at serenity, though his lips the corridor. Louis, his confidential servant, aptrembled and his whole face was pale with emo-peared at the hasty summons of his master, who tion, "Some one is concealed within that oratory." added, in the same tone of authority, "Get you The comtesse looked calmly, and somewhat all to bed!" Then making a sign for him to approudly, at her husband; and simply answered, proach nearer, and lowering his voice, When "No! my lord." they shall be all asleep-asleep, mind, you come and inform me of it."

"You are ill, my lord, I fear-or bring you evil tidings?" gently enquired the comtesse, as Rosalie proceeded to undress her. But he still continued silent. "You may retire," added Madame de Merset to her attendant, for she foresaw something more than usual was gathering on the disturbed brow of her lord, and she wished to meet it alone.

That No smote like a knife across his heart, for he dared not believe her: and yet, never had she seemed more pure to him, than at that moment. He was advancing a step towards the door of the oratory, as if to convince himself, when the comtesse, placing her hand upon his arm, arrested him; and, looking at him for a moment, with an expression of deep melancholy, said, in a voice which trembled with emotion,

"Should you find no one there, remember, all must be at an end between us for ever!"

י.

During none of these extraordinary arrangements had the comte once lost sight of his lady; and when he had finished giving his orders, he returned to where she was seated by the fire-side.

When Rosalie re-entered the room, she found the comte and comtesse conversing together, to all appearance mechanically.

Philippe is here, monsieur," said Rosalie. ""Tis well," answered her master, "bid him enter."

mason.

แ

The comtesse grew slightly pale on seeing the | herself, beheld within it, the dark and handsome countenance of a man, whose intrepid look of Philippe," said the comte, "you will find courage and devotion fell upon her pale and materials in the court-yard for walling up the guilty countenance. Ere her husband turned door of yonder cabinet." again in his walk, she had made a hasty sign to the stranger, which seemed to say, There is yet hope!

And drawing Rosalie and her lover aside: "Listen, Philippe," he continued, "you remain here to-night, but to-morrow you will receive from me a passport which shall enable you to leave this place for some distant town in a foreign land, which I will indicate. I give you the sum of 6000 francs for your journey; and you will remain ten years either in the town to which I shall direct you, or in any other, you may yourself select, provided you continue in the country in which it is situated. But you will first proceed hence, to Paris, where you will await my arrival ; then, I will insure you the possession of another 6000 francs, to be paid you, on your return from your expatriation, provided you have strictly complied with my conditions. At this price, understand, whatever you may be called upon to do this night, must remain for ever secret. For you, Rosalie," he continued, turning towards her as he spoke, "I will settle 10,000 francs on you, the day of your marriage with Philippe : but, mark me, this promise is made on the sole condition of your marrying him."

It was near day-break, that is to say, about four o'clock, for it was the month of May, ere the construction was completed; and the mason having been delivered to the care of Louis, the comte and comtesse retired to rest.

The next morning, on rising, the comte seized his hat, and making a step towards the door, said, with the utmost appearance of indifference, he must go to the mayoralty for a passport. Then, suddenly turning back, as his eye chanced to rest upon the crucifix, he took it from the chimney-piece, and, as he did so, a thrill of satisfaction passed through the bosom of the comtesse. "He is going to Duvivier's," she thought, "and will be the longer absent."

Scarcely had he left the apartment, when she rang the bell violently, to summon Rosalie; and in a voice that was rendered fearful by excess of agitation, cried, "to work! to work!" Then franticly seizing an iron bar which Rosalie, by her direction brought for the purpose, commenced At this moment, the comtesse's voice was heard demolishing the yet undried work of Philippe. calling to Rosalie; and the comte, turning away, Desperate were her efforts, in the hopes of being proceeded quietly to pace the apartment, appa- able to repair the destruction of the walled-up rently watching the movements of his wife, Ro-doorway, before the dreaded return of the comte. salie, and the mason, but without allowing any Despair lent her energy, and a voice within, indications of suspicion to be discernible. Phi- which penetrated to her sharpened and her nervlippe, meanwhile, in pursuance of the task im-ous ear alone, encouraged her to proceed. Alposed on him, made a considerable degree of ready a part of the brickwork had yielded, and noise; and, seizing this chance of her voice not she was in the act of applying a yet more vigorreaching the ears of the comte, who had just at-ous blow for the removal of the remaining imtained the further end of the chamber, the com- pediments, when the comte, pale and menacing, tesse hurriedly addressed Rosalie, in a tone that stood before her. She shrieked not-spoke notwas scarcely above a whisper, "A hundred but fell insensible on the floor. crowns yearly, for thy life, are thine," she said, if thou canst only obtain one crevice there, pointing to the door of the oratory, which Philippe had commenced building up with brick and plaster. Then, in a louder voice, and with a fearful calmness as her husband approached she added, "Go, Rosalie, to the assistance of Philippe."

"Place your lady on her bed," M. de Merset coldly said. The truth was, he had foreseen the probable result of his absence; and had accordingly laid a snare, into which his wretched wife had but too surely fallen. He had written to the mayor, and sent for Duvivier; who arrived just as the comtesse's apartment was again restored to order, and herself recovered from her swoon.

"Duviviers," said the comte addressing the unconscious jeweller, "Did you receive this crucifix from any of the Spanish officers who passed through this town as prisoners of war, on their way to the frontier, a short time since ?"

"I did not, monsieur, nor have I ever seen it before," was the reply.

The husband and wife, as by a sort of tacit agreement, remained mutually silent during the time employed in filling up the doorway. This silence might perhaps have been assumed, on the part of the comte, to prevent the comtesse from having it in her power to convey any double meaning in her words; while, on her side, it might have been pride, or prudence, perhaps, "Enough-I thank you," rejoined the comte, which prevented her from breaking it. By this calmly restoring the relie to its former place; time, the wall being about half-way completed, then, as the jeweller left the room, he desired the artful mason, seizing his opportunity when Louis to see that his repasts were served regularthe comte's back was turned towards the scene ly in the apartments of the comtesse, of his operations, struck a blow on the door of too ill," continued he, "for me to think of leaving the cabinet which shattered one of the panes of her till her health is in some degree re-establishglass. This action gave Madame de Merset to ed." understand the success of the intelligence which subsisted between Rosalie and her lover; and casting a glance of intense anxiety towards the now darkened aperture, the mason, as well as

"who is

And for fifteen days, did the Comte de Merset continue to keep watch over her. During the first six, a noise was from time to time heard in that closed-up cabinet, which struck terror to the

From the Asiatic Journal.
MAHOMEDAN FESTIVALS IN INDIA.

soul of the guilty woman, and horror and despair | hundred thousand persons, may be imagined. crept through her veins; but, when she would Since our acquaintance with the interior of have thrown herself at his feet to implore for South America has increased, we have become mercy on herself and the stranger that was dying familiar with the appearance of beggars on horsethere, without allowing her to give utterance to back; but it is only, we believe, at Lucknow, the agonised prayer which rose to her parched that one of the fraternity aspires to an elephant. lips, with a fierce and cruel emphasis, he checked A few years ago, a mendicant, who went by the her, saying, "You have sworn on that crucifix, name of Shah Jee, being in high favour with the there is no one there." king, to whom, it is said, he had predicted things which afterwards came to pass, was permitted to levy contributions through the city, and, mounted upon an elephant, demanded five cowries daily of every shopkeeper. The tax upon each individual The poor remnants of splendour still possessed was very small, it taking four score of these by the court of Delhi, are mustered and display-shells to make up the value of a half-penny; but ed with some approximation of former pomp at the sum, when collected throughout all the the annual celebration of the Buckra Eade; but bazaars of the place, amounted to a very conit is at Lucknow that the most opposing spectacle siderable revenue. takes place at this festival. The followers of After the elephants have been well washed in Mahomed claim to be descendants of the patri- the river, their skins are oiled, and their heads archs, through his son Ishmael, who they aver to painted with various devices; they are then have been chosen for the offering of the Almighty, decorated in their embroidered jhools, many of and not Isaac: thus differing from the belief of which have gold borders a quarter of a yard in Jews and Christians, and supporting their asser- depth, and these are surmounted by howdahs, tion, in contradiction to the authority of the either painted to resemble enamel, or formed Bible, by writings which, in their opinion, con- entirely of silver. The caparisons of the horses tain sufficient evidence in favour of their claims. are not less magnificent; the saddles and stirrups The offering thus made to Heaven, is commemo- are of solid silver, and large silver necklaces, rated by the sacrifice of particular animals, composed of pendant medallions, spread over the camels, sheep, goats, kids, or lambs, according to chest, have a very beautiful effect, and give out a each person's means; this is supposed to answer tinkling sound, as the animal, proud of his trapa double purpose, not only honouring the memory pings, prances along. The tails are dyed of a of Abraham and Ishmael, but the sacrifices assist- bright scarlet, and some have stars and crescents ing in a time of great need. It is supposed that painted on their haunches. Gold is sometimes the entrance to paradise is guarded by a bridge substituted for silver in the caparisons of these made of a scythe or some instrument equally animals, and where ornaments of this kind are sharp, and affording as unstable a footing. The too costly for the purses of the owners, decorafollowers of the prophet are required to skait or tions not so rich, but equally gay, are substituted. skim over this passage, and it will be attended The necklace is composed of beads, and the with more or less difficulty, according to the de- head is adorned with tufts of variegated silk, gree of favour they have obtained in the sight of which have a very picturesque effect. Camels heaven. The truly pious will be wafted over in are usually decorated in the same manner, it not safety, but the undeserving must struggle many being very often that, with the exception of the times, and be often cut down in the attempt, be-bells attached to their collars, silver ornaments fore they can gain the opposite side. In this are bestowed upon animals more esteemed for extremity, it is imagined that the same number their utility than for the beauty of their appearand kind of animals, which, being clean and ance, or as an appendage of state. The camel is esteemed fitting for sacrifice, they have offered up perhaps underrated, for, as an adjunct to an at the celebration of the Buckra Eade, will be in oriental pageant, he is of great importance; the waiting to convey them in safety along the peril-nodding heads, arched necks, and conical backs ous passage of the bridge. Under this belief, the of these animals, though grotesque in themselves, richer classes of Mahomedans supply their indi- add greatly to the effect of a mingled body of gent brethren with goats and sheep for the sacri- elephants, horses, and men; an Asiatic group fice: a work of charity incited by the purest never being perfect except when camels form a motives, and which, if not possessing all the portion of it. The animals intended for sacrifice, efficacy ascribed to it, at least furnishes the poor at the celebration of the Buckra Eade, are conman's house with an ample and a welcome veyed to a place at some distance from the city, feast; for though poverty compels the lower built for the purpose of containing them, and classes of Mussulmans to imitate the Hindoos in called the Eade-Gaarh, a court or quadrangle, the frugality of a vegetable meal, they never surrounded by a bastioned wall, and entered by refuse meat when it is procurable. lofty gateways. The processions at Delhi and Lucknow are particularly imposing, that of Delhi owing the greater portion of its splendour to the retinues of the Omrahs and great men of the court, while at Lucknow the cortège of the king renders every attempt at imitation hopeless. All his troops appear upon this day in new clothing, and the coup d'œil is rendered more effective

Great preparations are made at Lucknow for the celebration of the Buckra Eade; a busy scene takes place upon the river, where the elephants are sent to bathe for the occasion. One at least of these animals being kept by every person who can afford to maintain them, the multitude of elephants, in a population estimated at three

announces

by an attention to minute particulars generally their colours unfurled, and their bands playing, neglected in native arrangements; Asiatics pay-while hundreds of banneroles, of gold and silver ing little regard to consistence. The van of the tissue, flaunt in the air in every direction. cavalcade is formed of fifty camels, carrying Notwithstanding the want of order and disswivels, each accompanied by a driver and two cipline, which seems essential to the movement gunners, in white uniforms, with turbans and of so large a body, the procession arrives at its cummerbunds of red and green, the colours of place of destination without being materially disthe cloth composing the housings of the camels. arranged by the apparent confusion, which is A park of artillery succeeds, the gunners being considerably augmented by the clashing of instruclothed in blue uniforms; next two troops of ments, those of Europe striving, with hopeless cavalry, in the picturesque vests worn by suwars, efforts, to vie with the clang and clamour of the of scarlet cloth, with pointed caps of black lamb-native trumpet and drum. The cavalcade being skin. After these, a regiment of foot, only half-drawn up at the place appointed, the superior clad, in wild barbaric costume, the trowser priest or moollah, after going through the usual scarcely extending mid-way down the thigh, religious service, presents a knife to the king, where it is vandyked with black points: they who, repeating a prayer, plunges his weapon into have red jackets, and small turbans of black the throat of a camel, the victim selected for leather, and the warlike, but dissonant, music of sacrifice. The artillery-men are all in readiness, the dunkah, or kettle-drum, assimilates well with and when the signal is given of the completion the strange fantastic display made by these of the ceremony by the king himself, a general troops. The nujeebs are closely followed by the discharge of musketry and cannon most gorgeous portion of the spectacle, the the circumstance to the whole of the city. The elephant-carriages of the king and his court; the religious part of the festival is then ended, and great satrap himself sits enthroned in a sort of the rejoicings begin. The camel thus slaughtertriumphal car of silver, canopied and curtained ed is served up at the royal table, on the only with crimson velvet, embroidered and fringed occasion in which the flesh of this animal is with gold, and drawn by four elephants exactly eaten in Hindostan; portions are sent as prematched in colour, height, and size. The others sents, a gift which is supposed to confer no small have only two elephants each, but all glitter degree of honour, and the European residents, with gold and silver, and the gallant company, both at Lucknow and at Delhi, are often compliso proudly borne along, shine from head to foot mented with a share. The feasting is universal, in gems and brocade. Their turbans are adorned for it being an essential duty on the part of the with costly aigrettes of jewels; clasps, studs, Mahomedans to dispense to others the bounties belts, rings, and bracelets, of the most precious and blessings which they themselves receive, the treasures of the mine, appear in the greatest pro-poor on this day partake of the luxuries of the fusion, down to the gem-enameled slipper, and rich man's table. Upon his return to the city, these are set off by the graceful flow of drapery the king of Oude holds a court, and the Buckra composed of the most beautiful woven tissues, Eade is often chosen as the period of conferring and shawls of the finest fabric. Round these honour and titles. Formerly it was the custom chariots, chobdars (mace-bearers), chuprassies, for Europeans to receive regular patents of hurkaras, and other state attendants, some brand-nobility from native courts; but this does not ishing sheathed scymetars, and others fanning the appear to be common at present, the honour is air with chowries, shout out the titles of the little coveted by people who affect to look down illustrious and puissant personages to whom they upon Asiatic dignities. On the presentation of a belong, while a cloud of irregular horse hover on khillaut, titles of honour are always included, either side, tilting and curveting apparently and the heralds are very liberal in their proclawith disorderly recklessness, yet in reality con- mations, especially at Delhi, where it is cheaper, ducting their evolutions with the most consum- and consequently more expedient to substitute mate skill. The king's led horses follow to swell high-sounding words for more solid marks of the pomp and the parade; they are all richly royal favour. Many governor-generals and comcaparisoned, and attended by grooms in hand-manders-in-chief have been made omrahs, khans, some liveries. The royal paalkie and palanquin or nawabs, by the king of Delhi; yet it is very next appear; these native vehicles are of the questionable whether any have thought it worth most splendid description, constructed entirely of their while to have these titles confirmed accordwrought gold, each carried by bearers clad in ing to the etiquette practised concerning those long scariet vests, embroidered with gold, their conferred at European courts, and both the turbans ornamented with the emblems of royalty. khillaut and the title seem now to have degeneThe state-carriage also forms a portion of this rated into an idle ceremony, which, as far as part of the show; it is of English make, drawn Europeans are concerned, means nothing but an by eight black horses, driven in hand by a empty compliment. With natives, however, the European coachman in scarlet livery, or rather rank and consequence of each individual mateuniform. The English gentlemen composing rially depend upon the degree of estimation in the foreign portion of the king's suite appear in which he is known to be held at court; certain their court-dresses, mounted upon elephants, and distinctions are withheld from the multitude, after them a long train of the native nobility, which are eagerly coveted, and made the subject also mounted in the same manner, the whole of much cabal and intrigue. The rank of a party being closed by horse and foot soldiers, those is known by his equipage, palanquins of a belonging to the India Company marching with peculiar construction being only permitted to