Andsteppedatonceintoacoolerclime。CowperKEATSfellbyacriticism。Whowasitdiedof“TheAndromache“？{*1}
Ignoblesouls！DeL’Omeletteperishedofanortolan。L’histoireenestbreve。Assistme，SpiritofApicius！
Agoldencageborethelittlewingedwanderer，enamored，melting，indolent，totheChausseeD’Antin，fromitshomeinfarPeru。FromitsqueenlypossessorLaBellissima，totheDucDeL’Omelette，sixpeersoftheempireconveyedthehappybird。
ThatnighttheDucwastosupalone。IntheprivacyofhisbureauhereclinedlanguidlyonthatottomanforwhichhesacrificedhisloyaltyinoutbiddinghiskingthenotoriousottomanofCadet。
Heburieshisfaceinthepillow。Theclockstrikes！Unabletorestrainhisfeelings，hisGraceswallowsanolive。Atthismomentthedoorgentlyopenstothesoundofsoftmusic，andlo！themostdelicateofbirdsisbeforethemostenamoredofmen！ButwhatinexpressibledismaynowovershadowsthecountenanceoftheDuc？
“Horreur！chien！Baptiste！l’oiseau！ah，bonDieu！cetoiseaumodestequetuasdeshabilledesesplumes，etquetuasservisanspapier！”Itissuperfluoustosaymore：theDucexpiredinaparoxysmofdisgust。
“Ha！ha！ha！”saidhisGraceonthethirddayafterhisdecease。
“He！he！he！”repliedtheDevilfaintly，drawinghimselfupwithanairofhauteur。
“Why，surelyyouarenotserious。”retortedDeL’Omelette。“Ihavesinnedc’estvraibut，mygoodsir，consider！youhavenoactualintentionofputtingsuchsuchbarbarousthreatsintoexecution。”
“Nowhat？”saidhismajesty“come，sir，strip！”
“Strip，indeed！veryprettyi’faith！no，sir，Ishallnotstrip。Whoareyou，pray，thatI，DucDeL’Omelette，PrincedeFoie-Gras，justcomeofage，authorofthe’Mazurkiad，’andMemberoftheAcademy，shoulddivestmyselfatyourbiddingofthesweetestpantaloonsevermadebyBourdon，thedaintiestrobe-de-chambreeverputtogetherbyRomberttosaynothingofthetakingmyhairoutofpapernottomentionthetroubleIshouldhaveindrawingoffmygloves？”
“WhoamI？ah，true！IamBaal-Zebub，PrinceoftheFly。Itookthee，justnow，fromarose-woodcoffininlaidwithivory。Thouwastcuriouslyscented，andlabelledasperinvoice。Belialsentthee，
myInspectorofCemeteries。Thepantaloons，whichthousayestweremadebyBourdon，areanexcellentpairoflinendrawers，andthyrobe-de-chambreisashroudofnoscantydimensions。”
“Sir！”repliedtheDuc，“Iamnottobeinsultedwithimpunity！-Sir！
Ishalltaketheearliestopportunityofavengingthisinsult！-Sir！
youshallhearfromme！inthemeantimeaurevoir！”andtheDucwasbowinghimselfoutoftheSatanicpresence，whenhewasinterruptedandbroughtbackbyagentlemaninwaiting。HereuponhisGracerubbedhiseyes，yawned，shruggedhisshoulders，reflected。
Havingbecomesatisfiedofhisidentity，hetookabird’seyeviewofhiswhereabouts。
Theapartmentwassuperb。EvenDeL’Omelettepronounceditbiencommeilfaut。Itwasnotitslengthnoritsbreadth，butitsheight
ah，thatwasappalling！Therewasnoceilingcertainlynone-
butadensewhirlingmassoffiery-coloredclouds。HisGrace’sbrainreeledasheglancedupward。Fromabove，hungachainofanunknownblood-redmetalitsupperendlost，likethecityofBoston，parmilesnues。Fromitsnetherextremityswungalargecresset。TheDucknewittobearuby；butfromittherepouredalightsointense，sostill，soterrible，PersianeverworshippedsuchGheberneverimaginedsuchMussulmanneverdreamedofsuchwhen，druggedwithopium，hehastotteredtoabedofpoppies，hisbacktotheflowers，andhisfacetotheGodApollo。TheDucmutteredaslightoath，decidedlyapprobatory。
Thecornersoftheroomwereroundedintoniches。Threeofthesewerefilledwithstatuesofgiganticproportions。TheirbeautywasGrecian，theirdeformityEgyptian，theirtoutensembleFrench。Inthefourthnichethestatuewasveiled；itwasnotcolossal。Butthentherewasataperankle，asandalledfoot。DeL’Omelettepressedhishanduponhisheart，closedhiseyes，raisedthem，andcaughthisSatanicMajestyinablush。
Butthepaintings！Kupris！Astarte！Astoreth！athousandandthesame！AndRafaellehasbeheldthem！Yes，Rafaellehasbeenhere，fordidhenotpaintthe-？andwashenotconsequentlydamned？Thepaintingsthepaintings！Oluxury！Olove！who，gazingonthoseforbiddenbeauties，shallhaveeyesforthedaintydevicesofthegoldenframesthatbesprinkled，likestars，thehyacinthandtheporphyrywalls？
ButtheDuc’sheartisfaintingwithinhim。Heisnot，however，asyousuppose，dizzywithmagnificence，nordrunkwiththeecstaticbreathofthoseinnumerablecensers。C’estvraiquedetoutesceschosesilapensebeaucoupmais！TheDucDeL’Omeletteisterror-stricken；for，throughtheluridvistawhichasingleuncurtainedwindowisaffording，lo！gleamsthemostghastlyofallfires！
LepauvreDuc！Hecouldnothelpimaginingthattheglorious，thevoluptuous，thenever-dyingmelodieswhichpervadedthathall，astheypassedfilteredandtransmutedthroughthealchemyoftheenchantedwindow-panes，werethewailingsandthehowlingsofthehopelessandthedamned！Andthere，too！there！upontheottoman！whocouldhebe？he，thepetitmaitreno，theDeitywhosatasifcarvedinmarble，etquisourit，withhispalecountenance，siamerement？
Maisilfautagirthatistosay，aFrenchmanneverfaintsoutright。Besides，hisGracehatedasceneDeL’Omeletteishimselfagain。Thereweresomefoilsuponatablesomepointsalso。TheDucs’echapper。Hemeasurestwopoints，and，withagraceinimitable，offershisMajestythechoice。Horreur！hisMajestydoesnotfence！
Maisiljoue！howhappyathought！buthisGracehadalwaysanexcellentmemory。Hehaddippedinthe“Diable“ofAbbeGualtier。
Thereinitissaid“queleDiablen’osepasrefuserunjeud’ecarte。”
Butthechancesthechances！Truedesperate：butscarcelymoredesperatethantheDuc。Besides，washenotinthesecret？hadhenotskimmedoverPereLeBrun？washenotamemberoftheClubVingt-un？“Sijeperds。”saidhe，“jeseraideuxfoisperduI
shallbedoublydammedvoilatout！HerehisGraceshruggedhisshoulders。Sijegagne，jereviendraiamesortolansquelescartessoientpreparees！”
HisGracewasallcare，allattentionhisMajestyallconfidence。
AspectatorwouldhavethoughtofFrancisandCharles。HisGracethoughtofhisgame。HisMajestydidnotthink；heshuffled。TheDuccut。
Thecardsweredealt。Thetrumpisturneditisitistheking！Noitwasthequeen。HisMajestycursedhermasculinehabiliments。DeL’Omeletteplacedhishanduponhisheart。
Theyplay。TheDuccounts。Thehandisout。HisMajestycountsheavily，smiles，andistakingwine。TheDucslipsacard。
“C’estavousafaire。”saidhisMajesty，cutting。HisGracebowed，dealt，andarosefromthetableenpresentantleRoi。
HisMajestylookedchagrined。
HadAlexandernotbeenAlexander，hewouldhavebeenDiogenes；andtheDucassuredhisantagonistintakingleave，“ques’iln’euteteDeL’Omeletteiln’auraitpointd’objectiond’etreleDiable。”
SOMEyearsago，IengagedpassagefromCharleston，S。C，tothecityofNewYork，inthefinepacket-ship“Independence。”CaptainHardy。WeweretosailonthefifteenthofthemonthJune，weatherpermitting；andonthefourteenth，Iwentonboardtoarrangesomemattersinmystate-room。
Ifoundthatweweretohaveagreatmanypassengers，includingamorethanusualnumberofladies。Onthelistwereseveralofmyacquaintances，andamongothernames，IwasrejoicedtoseethatofMr。CorneliusWyatt，ayoungartist，forwhomIentertainedfeelingsofwarmfriendship。Hehadbeenwithmeafellow-studentatC
University，wherewewereverymuchtogether。Hehadtheordinarytemperamentofgenius，andwasacompoundofmisanthropy，sensibility，andenthusiasm。Tothesequalitiesheunitedthewarmestandtruestheartwhicheverbeatinahumanbosom。
Iobservedthathisnamewascardeduponthreestate-rooms；and，uponagainreferringtothelistofpassengers，Ifoundthathehadengagedpassageforhimself，wife，andtwosistershisown。Thestate-roomsweresufficientlyroomy，andeachhadtwoberths，oneabovetheother。Theseberths，tobesure，weresoexceedinglynarrowastobeinsufficientformorethanoneperson；still，Icouldnotcomprehendwhytherewerethreestate-roomsforthesefourpersons。I
was，justatthatepoch，inoneofthosemoodyframesofmindwhichmakeamanabnormallyinquisitiveabouttrifles：andIconfess，withshame，thatIbusiedmyselfinavarietyofill-bredandpreposterousconjecturesaboutthismatterofthesupernumerarystate-room。Itwasnobusinessofmine，tobesure，butwithnonethelesspertinacitydidIoccupymyselfinattemptstoresolvetheenigma。AtlastI
reachedaconclusionwhichwroughtinmegreatwonderwhyIhadnotarrivedatitbefore。“Itisaservantofcourse。”Isaid；“whatafoolIam，notsoonertohavethoughtofsoobviousasolution！”AndthenIagainrepairedtothelistbuthereIsawdistinctlythatnoservantwastocomewiththeparty，although，infact，ithadbeentheoriginaldesigntobringoneforthewords“andservant“hadbeenfirstwrittenandthenoverscored。“Oh，extrabaggage，tobesure。”Inowsaidtomyself“somethinghewishesnottobeputintheholdsomethingtobekeptunderhisowneyeah，IhaveitapaintingorsoandthisiswhathehasbeenbargainingaboutwithNicolino，theItalianJew。”Thisideasatisfiedme，andI
dismissedmycuriosityforthenonce。
Wyatt’stwosistersIknewverywell，andmostamiableandclevergirlstheywere。Hiswifehehadnewlymarried，andIhadneveryetseenher。Hehadoftentalkedaboutherinmypresence，however，andinhisusualstyleofenthusiasm。Hedescribedherasofsurpassingbeauty，wit，andaccomplishment。Iwas，therefore，quiteanxioustomakeheracquaintance。
OnthedayinwhichIvisitedtheshipthefourteenth，WyattandpartywerealsotovisititsothecaptaininformedmeandI
waitedonboardanhourlongerthanIhaddesigned，inhopeofbeingpresentedtothebride，butthenanapologycame。“Mrs。W。wasalittleindisposed，andwoulddeclinecomingonboarduntilto-morrow，atthehourofsailing。”
Themorrowhavingarrived，Iwasgoingfrommyhoteltothewharf，whenCaptainHardymetmeandsaidthat，“owingtocircumstances“astupidbutconvenientphrase，“heratherthoughtthe’Independence’
wouldnotsailforadayortwo，andthatwhenallwasready，hewouldsendupandletmeknow。”ThisIthoughtstrange，fortherewasastiffsoutherlybreeze；butas“thecircumstances“werenotforthcoming，althoughIpumpedforthemwithmuchperseverance，Ihadnothingtodobuttoreturnhomeanddigestmyimpatienceatleisure。
Ididnotreceivetheexpectedmessagefromthecaptainfornearlyaweek。Itcameatlength，however，andIimmediatelywentonboard。
Theshipwascrowdedwithpassengers，andeverythingwasinthebustleattendantuponmakingsail。Wyatt’spartyarrivedinabouttenminutesaftermyself。Therewerethetwosisters，thebride，andtheartistthelatterinoneofhiscustomaryfitsofmoodymisanthropy。Iwastoowellusedtothese，however，topaythemanyspecialattention。Hedidnotevenintroducemetohiswifethiscourtesydevolving，perforce，uponhissisterMarianaverysweetandintelligentgirl，who，inafewhurriedwords，madeusacquainted。
Mrs。Wyatthadbeencloselyveiled；andwhensheraisedherveil，inacknowledgingmybow，IconfessthatIwasveryprofoundlyastonished。Ishouldhavebeenmuchmoreso，however，hadnotlongexperienceadvisedmenottotrust，withtooimplicitareliance，theenthusiasticdescriptionsofmyfriend，theartist，whenindulgingincommentsuponthelovelinessofwoman。Whenbeautywasthetheme，I
wellknewwithwhatfacilityhesoaredintotheregionsofthepurelyideal。
Thetruthis，IcouldnothelpregardingMrs。Wyattasadecidedlyplain-lookingwoman。Ifnotpositivelyugly，shewasnot，Ithink，veryfarfromit。Shewasdressed，however，inexquisitetasteandthenIhadnodoubtthatshehadcaptivatedmyfriend’sheartbythemoreenduringgracesoftheintellectandsoul。Shesaidveryfewwords，andpassedatonceintoherstate-roomwithMr。W。
Myoldinquisitivenessnowreturned。Therewasnoservantthatwasasettledpoint。Ilooked，therefore，fortheextrabaggage。Aftersomedelay，acartarrivedatthewharf，withanoblongpinebox，whichwaseverythingthatseemedtobeexpected。Immediatelyuponitsarrivalwemadesail，andinashorttimeweresafelyoverthebarandstandingouttosea。
Theboxinquestionwas，asIsay，oblong。Itwasaboutsixfeetinlengthbytwoandahalfinbreadth；Iobserveditattentively，andliketobeprecise。Nowthisshapewaspeculiar；andnosoonerhadI
seenit，thanItookcredittomyselffortheaccuracyofmyguessing。Ihadreachedtheconclusion，itwillberemembered，thattheextrabaggageofmyfriend，theartist，wouldprovetobepictures，oratleastapicture；forIknewhehadbeenforseveralweeksinconferencewithNicolino：andnowherewasabox，which，fromitsshape，couldpossiblycontainnothingintheworldbutacopyofLeonardo’s“LastSupper；“andacopyofthisvery“LastSupper。”donebyRubinitheyounger，atFlorence，Ihadknown，forsometime，tobeinthepossessionofNicolino。Thispoint，therefore，Iconsideredassufficientlysettled。IchuckledexcessivelywhenIthoughtofmyacumen。ItwasthefirsttimeIhadeverknownWyatttokeepfrommeanyofhisartisticalsecrets；buthereheevidentlyintendedtostealamarchuponme，andsmuggleafinepicturetoNewYork，undermyverynose；expectingmetoknownothingofthematter。Iresolvedtoquizhimwell，nowandhereafter。