The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-17
For the National Era
WHAT IT COSTS TO KNOW A COUNTESS.
By MRS. BELL SMITH.
PART III.

By MRS. BELL SMITH.
PART II.
In getting upon favorite theme, l have
wandered from the little incident / sat out to
relate, which goes to show what it cost to know
a French Countess.
Our two friends might have lived out their
stupidity elegant life, with great comfort to their
anxioas parents and interested friends; but they
were smitten, like all of our unhappy country
people, with an insane desire to know some of
the European aristocracy. And what luxury
one of the European aristocracy is to an Amer
lean, | propose setting forth.
One. night, at the Opera, Percival was staring
at the house, and practicing with his eye-gass,
when he started. walked up Drayton, and beg
ged him to look at the lady in the fifth loge
from the stage. Drayton did look, and ex-
claimed, "superb," and slept no more. The
lady in question certainly appeared WELL thus
framed in and lit up. She Yves inclined to
stoutness, not more, however, than goes to
make up what men call "a magnificent crea-
ture." 1t gave roundness to the snowy shout
ders-a fullness to the bust, without spelling the
hgure-while the perfect neck rose above the
plump arms, holding easily and gracefully a
head that an artist might paint as that of Ju-
dith. The features were regular, the chin prom
inent, the lips full, eyes large and lustrous,
while over all fell the raven hair, dressed as
only French coiffeur can dress that beauti-
full yet troublesome article. And diamonds
were on the rounded arms, the snowy shout
ders, the columned neck, and sparkled like fire.
flies in her night of head. BY her side sat a
stout gentleman, with a profusion of beard a
profusion of frogs on coat faced with black
velvet, decoration, profusion of gold chain,
and diamond ring. He, too, had regular fea-
lures, resting quietly under head with bald
spot, looking like an egg in crows nest.
For once, our friend Dungleson was delight
ed with the Opera. He could scarcely remove
his eyes from the fair occupant of Loge No. s.,
counting from the Emperors box. He waken.
ed Drayton repeatedly, by punching him and
when Drayton walked, he heard only an excla-
nation. ii Trovatore found an end at last and
Dungleson dragged his friend into the lobby, to
see his divinity pass out, and, if possible follow
her. They saw the beautiful face, under a
superb opera cloak fash by like vision of
delight. They hurried through the crowd, mind
less of the cries of "Sacre" and 4" Imbecile,"
and arrived before a coach just in time to see
the combinations of a supposed coat, with vel
vet facings and decoration, disappear in at
tie. door. The door was banged to with that
aristocratic ring pertaining only to coach
with arms on the panel, footman mounted by
tho driuor opd hofora u+o Gould
Dungleson sprang on behind. AS there was
place for a footman, and no footman in the
place, Dungleson passed the police as such.
The carriage whirled into rue Neuve St. Au-
gustin, then followed rue de la Paix to Place
Vend6me, where Dungleson, looking up saw
the columned, bronzed Napoleon gazing quiet
ly at the stars from Place Vend6me, in rue
Castiglione and rue Rivol, to Place de Ia Con.
corde, where the fountains did not play and the
obelisk made our hero think of Egypt; and he
found himself sweeping along the Champs
Elysees, soon saw the Arc de Triomphe at his
right then the country all about him. This
was more of an excursion, at midnight, than he
cared to take. But he was in for it, and so
held on, taking good note of his route, for by
that route he was to return.
The anxiety was uncaled for, as he did not
have to find his way back that night. The
carriage continued for an hour, when it sud
denly was pulled up, and the footman, jumping
down, sang out, Gordon" Prudence dictated
to Dungleson proper place to jump off; but
he held on, and heard the gates swing to be-
hind, as they rolled along the gravel carriage
way, lined with trees trimmed almost to death,
to circular road before the door, where Dun
gleson jumped off, and hid himself in the shrub.
berry. From the coach issued two muffled fig
ures, who entered the house. The carriage
was driven away, and Percival was alone.
Satisfying himself upon this point, he csutious-
ly approached the mansion. The drawing room
windows, from which now came light, we're
some distance from the ground; and our friend,
clambering upon rack built for vines, looked
in. The sight was unexpected. He saw a
tall, sandy haired man unroll himself. He was
a very tall gentleman, very tall indeed, with a
good-humored, quizzical expression playing
over his features, as if ready at any moment
to gather into hearty laugh. The lady was a
middle-aged lady, well to do certainly, so far
as fair looks went, but not the beautiful I'M
known our hero was in pursuit of. His con-
temptation of this domestic scene was suddenly
interrupted by some one opening and then shut
ting the front door. Percival discovered, with
out the help of much thinking, that he had
followed up the wrong game, and, getting down,
pTcpdTcu w WltnuEdW IOul q QudItcT WHICH, udu
suddenly lost all interest to him. To leave
the grounds he had so imprudently invaded,
was not of easy accomplishment. By dint of
creeping and stealing along, he arrived at a
high wall, surrounding the grounds. A French
mans idea of a country residence is lofty
stone house, surrounded by high stone wall.
These walls are built to destroy the prospect,
aud shut out intruders; so our hero found the
inside of this one thickly covered with vines,
and trellis work built to support them. Per-
cival hesitated about climbing but his hesita
ton was brought to an abrupt termination by
a fierce, low growl, and then loud bark, from
an English mastiff, that had tracked him from
the house. He sprang up the side, just in time
to escape. He gained the top without much
difficulty, when he was met by new trouble.
He had missed the proper direction and on
the other side of the wall upon which he sat
perched was another enclosure, with wall
quite as high, and without vines. To gain the
road, he would have to make the corner, some
twenty PAGES off. This was by no means of
easy Accomplishment The wall was pointed
on top. Nothing daunted, he commenced the
psrilous feat. Below, the dog was making a
terrible noise, tearing the vines, and barking
nary dogs. "Confound the beast !" said Per-
cival; ahe'n awaken the neighborhood. Poor
fellow Good dog!" but the animal only
barked the more furiously.
Qui Ca taP" squealed a thin, French voice.
"What's up now? Halo, there, you thief"
chimed in gruff English bass.
"Here, John, bring me my gun. There's
fellow on the wall.'
Then followed confused rushing to and fro,
while our friend, without responding to the ques-
tons, made greater efforts to reach the corner,
which he did, hearing the porte cochere bang
to-having his movements somewhat quicken
ed by the click of gun. To avoid a charge
of ANAL ahot he made a hrino lean. The