Year: 1877




er. This family habit of the Bourbons
was so well known that it was not con
sidered any mark of impatience, and the
poor King in vain looked round to find
anyone who would sympathize with
what he was suffering At last he
caught the eye of his nephew, the Duke
de Berri, who was not paying much at
tention to the discourse. He made him
a sign to come nearer.


Yes, indeed, sire


Wont he be soon done?"


Indeed, | am as impatient as youl
Majesty"


No, you are not, for you have good
legs. The gout has not left me leg tC
stand on; this standing hurts me horri-
bly,. Isn't there some way to put an end
to it?"


Certainly, sire. can do that easily
enough if you authorize me-


All right; | authorize you. But, Ber-
ri, take care nobody knows | had any
thing to do with it,


The Duke de Berri went up to an off,
Ger of the body-guard and whispered
something in his ear. Louis XVIII
looked all attention to the sermon; the
cure, quite encouraged, rolled out his
sentences and grew proud of his own ell
oquence. All of sudden that elo-
quence was lost in the boom! boom
boom! of the big drum, the clash of the
ophicleides and the roar of the from
bone


The bands struck up the air, 'Vive la
Roi, Vivc la France!" the crowd began
to shout, the bells began to ring. There
was universal uproar. The immediate
attendants of the King looked utterly
astonished. Louis XVIII. seemed to
take it very quietly, but faint smile for
one moment on his face thanked Duke
de Berri for his happy intervention
He stepped forward, the cure and his
clergy turned and preceded him into the
building, his suit followed him, and very
soon he was comfortably seated in one
of the gilded arm-chairs placed in the
open space before the chancel for the
use of the royal family. The crowd was
only admitted into the side aisles, the
nave was filled by the attendants of the
King, so that behind he was protected
by the most faithful of his subjects,
while in front there was an open space
between him and the chancel


High Mass began. 1t might last as
long as they liked. Louis XVIII was
now very comfortable. Soft cushions
had been placed before his seat, so that
even his kneeling was made as easy as
possible. The chorister began to sing
the psalms at the beginning of High
Mass, the priests were in their stalls,
the chancel was nearly empty, when
some one came in haste from the vestry.
He was tall young man, gaunt, and eX-
cited, as it appeared, dressed in a cas-
sock and a surplice He crossed the
chancel to one of the vacant stalls, and
then, perceiving that in his haste he had
omitted the accustomed genufeXion be-
fore the Host, turned back and bent his
knee on the lowest marble step of the
high alter.


As he did so a strange noise was heard
the clank Of sword, concealed under
his cassock, slipping against the marble
floor of the chancel. The young man
drew up in haste, hid it carefully under
his sacredotal garments, and went back
to his place, where he opened his book
and joined in with the rest who were
singing psalm.


Those persons placed behind the King
were far from sharing his composure.-
They grew pale; they whispered; they
were all on the alert; the stocks of the
soldiers muskets were heard striking on
the church pavement; orderlies We're
sent off; orders were given, and the
crowd was forced back by the troops,
who were crowded into the side isles
The King perceived that something was
amiss, and asked the cause of this dis
turbance. One of his aids -de-camp
whispered in his ear and rumor ran
all through the church that an armed
priest was about to assassinate His Ma
jesty! All this while the unhappy au-
thor of this hurly- -burly went on quietly
singing his psalm, with great effect for
his voice was very fine one.


Suddenly two general officers appear
ed behind him. One touched him on the
arm and spoke:


Follow me Immediately! y


Excuse me, Monsieur, but | cannot
till after mass am wanted here. As
soon as service is over, shall be happy
to wait upon you" And he began sing
ing again.


You must follow us this moment,
said the other, We can take no ex-
cuses. But try and make as little noise
and disturbance as possible. Come into
the vestry. All resistance will be use
less. Do not oblige us to use force"


Well, gentlemen, if l can't help my
self | must go, )" replied the chorister;-
but bear witness, you have forced me to
quit my duty. | follow you"


The vestry was full of soldiers. The
young man found himself, as soon as he
came in with tall grenadier on each
side of him, who evidently regarded him
as prisoner.


What is it all about? Tell mc-what
is it?' cried he


answer the questions that that gen
tleman will ask you" said some one,
pointing to man in a white scarf, seat
ed at table, beside him clerk with pa
per and pens.


The examination begun.


:" Have you arms about you? -


Arms? No-yes. | have a sword.
That's all y


Write down that he confesses to car
rying concealed weapons"


Why did you hide this sword so
carefully under your cassOck?" "


Because it is not the fashion now
days to wear it outside"


No joking, sir" said the official
Remember a very grave charge is hang
ing over you. 1t is a matter of life and
DEATH"


"Of life or death! Good powers! 1t
must be some mistake! OF what do you
accuse me?


9 What is your profession?"


am musician"


'And why, being a musician, should
you disguise yourself as a priest, and
carry concealed sword under clothes
that do not belong to you? I"


They do belong to me, and this
sword too. | play the trombone in one
of the bands of the National Guard, and
| am chorister in this church. besides.
l was waiting for the end of NJ lie Cure S
address, and then was coming in here
and change my dress, put on my cassock
and my surplice, and sing my part in the
service. But the good old gentleman S
sermon was broken short off before he
had half done. Orders were given us to
strike up in the middle of his discourse
And when / got in here | had no time to
change my uniform. ] had to slip my
cassock over it just as it was, and now |
may as well take it off again, for service
is almost over and | have to go back to