Year: 1878

The day of our Baroness delight only began to dawn after it had been long over for the majority of her fellow-creatures. The Shah was not expected at Evelyn Lodge till eleven o'clock D. m., and his movements were so er- ratio; that he might not make his appearance till even a vet later hour. Long before eleven o'clock, however and indeed immediately af- ter the time named in the invitation for the ball, Evelyn Lodge was thronged with rank and fashion. The Baron and the Baroness stood to receive their company on either side of the ballroom door, which opened upon the great hall; the former behaved like well-con- structed automatOn his head inclined his lips parted with smile, he put out his hand and arm like pump-handle at every arrival. The ladv. on the other hand, had, it was evident, her heart in the matter; she had gracious look and a pleasant word (pretty much tho same look and the same word, 1t must be own ed, however, for everybody; but when any body very magnificent was announced-on the arrival of the Duchess of Doldrum, for ex- ample--she advanced q step over the thresll- old, beckoning with an imperious gesture her lord and master to do the like. The latter ma nnuvre was repeated about twenty times; the ordinary welcome movements about eight hun- dred So the papers had not been far wrong in predicting that there would be thousand persons of rank and fashion at Evelyn Lodge

  distinction; there were were even rumors of the presence of a royal duke (the circulation of which, between ourselves, cost the baron- ess pretty penny but that was merely It. garnish to the affair. Her Imperial guest, as she delighted to call him, was an attraction that could afford to be independent of all oth- CTS.

 In the mean time Cyril Clarke and some of his trusty friends did their very best to set &I1o a languid dances were got through but there was sense of expectation upon the company that dulled it and forbade enjoyment. They could dance and eat and drink and go to garden fete any day of the week.; but they had come to Evelyn Lodge to meet the Shah of Persia. At quarter past eleven the last guest of the Patterinis had arrived, except the one for whom all eyes were straining, all ears up- on the stretch. The Baroness sent for Cyril, ann suggested that messenger should be dis patched to Buckingham Palace to inquire the cause of the delay.

 '"That would be madness" was his reply; ''to be hurried would be intolerable to his lm- perial Majesty. He would propably cut the messengers head of"

 The Baroness would not have minded ttGt if he would only have started for Evelyn LOdg5 immediately afterward, and it was with some difficulty that she refrained from saying so.

 

 There was chatter of hoofs at the house door greater than any that had preceded it, and wild cheer broke ferth from the crowd assem- bled without.

 At last the Shah had come.

 Through the long hall of marble, between the banks of flowers and the rows of statues, the Baroness could perceive his dusky Majes- ty coming slowly towards her, followed by the officers of his household. On one side of him, but a little behind walked Jack De- layne, the supernumerary or flying inter preter. as he called himself Tine presence of this gentleman gave the Baroness almost as much pleasure as that of her imperial guest himself for she knew about as much French as the Shah did, and could never have made herself intelligible to him without assistance. It had cost her days to make up her mind what to say to him, for dreadful tales had been told her of his quickness to take Offense; how somebody, for example, had observed to him that the sun was very bright; to which he had replied that that was more his the ShahsI lookout than that of the person making the ob- servation, inasmuch as the sun was the object of worship. She had resolved, after much eogitation to say, ''Welcome to our humble roof, your Imperial Majesty" and then leave him to choose his own topics of conversation.

 s1 don't think much of his suit" observed the Baron, beneath his breath He meant his SItEC6--WIllcu was CcEIuUly ohAoAASA have been expected-but he pronounced the word like suit of clothes.

 ssWhat sc0stI you have ?" replied the Bar cnass, angrily. "Look at his feZ cap; look at his sabre; he is one blaze of diamonds, and every diamond worth million at least,

 The Baron shook his head; he very seldom dared to do so at anything his wife observed, but upon question of moneys worth he con sidered he had some right to an opinion. He thought within his breast that if his distin- guished guest should be driven tosraise money. upon his personal apparel, million would he a long price for the whole of it.

 The general style of progression of the Shah of Persia when put in motion was as every body knew by that time, species of imbecile shamble that at once distinguished him from the common herd but on the present occasion it was remarked that he moved with certain dignity y-ill-natured persons said because he was aware that he was performing an act of unusual condescension in coming to Evelyn Lodge at all. This dignity, combined with the splendor of his garments, which gilstened like q suit of mail with precious stones, made his way the hall, as the Baroness said, "a truly imperial spectacle" His attendants glistened little less than himself, and would have cast the flying interpreter, in his ordinary evening clothes. quite into the shade, but for the eX. traor,iinary brightness and intelligence or Iack's eyes. q He was person not easily oc- nressed by hereditary greatness ot any kind, and wac Accustomed to describe his peregrifi- lions with the Shah in confidence, as "a Joiiy ffanna 4a4gA naF-