a cart and a couple of oxen our business can be managed. The cart must be tastefully ornamented; and if you and I dress ourselves as Neapolitan reapers, we may get up a striking tableau, after the manner of that splendid picture by Léopold Robert. It would add greatly to the effect if the countess would join us in the costume of a peasant from Puzzoli or Sorrento. Our group would then be quite complete, more especially as the countess is quite beautiful enough to represent a Madonna.”
“Well,” said Franz, “this time, M. Albert, I am bound to give you credit for having hit upon a most capital idea.”
“And quite a national one, too,” replied Albert with gratified pride. > “A mere masque borrowed from our own festivities. Ha, ha, ye Romans! you thought to make us, unhappy strangers,