166 Zuma: a Tale, by Madame de Genlis. [VOL. 2 mate; but her indisposition daily aug- of the patient, kindled a ray of hope mented, alarm was entertained for her which beamed for the space of a day or safety, and she was at length suddenly two. The physician, overjoyed, proattacked with a tertian fever. Every nounced her recovery to be almost cerremedy known at that period was em- tain, suspicion gradually slumbered, and ployed without effect. The anxiety of Beatrice seemed restored to new exisBeatrice knew no bounds; she privately tence. She did not however revoke the questioned the physician who had come private orders she had given, for secretly from Spain in the suite of the Viceroy, watching Zuma, and never permitting but who, regarding the case as hopeless, her to enter the chamber in which were spoke in a mysterious way, and even deposited the various medicinal draughts hinted that he attributed the illness of prepared for the Countess. the Countess to some extraordinary cause, of which he could give no account. His air of dismay and apparent wish to conceal his real opinon, all tended to inspire Beatrice with the horrible idea that her friend was dying by the effect of slow poison.... She enjoyed not a moment's rest though she cautiously hid her suspicions from the Countess, and even from the Count, yet she found it impossible to dissemble with two of the Countess's women, who used every effort to strengthen the notion she had imbibed..... But who could have committed this horrible crime?.... None but Zuma...... Zuma, who was privileged to enter the apartment of the Vice-queen at every hour..... But Zuma, whom the Countess had overwhelmed with acts of bounty!.... What interest could have prompted her to this atrocity? Hatred is'ever ready with replies to serve her own purposes !.... Zuma was hypocritical, vain and ambitious, and she moreover entertained a secret and criminal passion for the Viceroy..... In a word, she was an Indian, and had been familiarized from her infancy with the blackest of crimes. Amidst all these different agitations, the thoughts of the innocent and sensible Zuma were turned wholly on the Vicequeen, whom she loved with all the sincerity of a pure and grateful soul. She was afflicted to the utmost on reflecting that there existed an infallible remedy to which she dared not direct her. Zuma well knew the horrible oaths by which the Indians had bound themselves never to reveal this secret. Had her own life alone been marked out as the sacrifice, she would not for a moment have hesitated to divulge all she knew; but her husband and her son must have been the certain victims of such a declaration : finally, she was aware that the vindictive Ximeo, the better to insure himself of ber discretion, had placed her beloved child as a hostage in the hands of the ferocious Azan and Thamis, another Indian Chief, who, though less cruel than Azan, was animated by an equal hatred of the Spaniards. Zuma, therefore, dared not confide her grief to Mirvan; she smothered her tears, and deplored her fate in silence. Her affliction was suddenly increased, for the feeble hope which had been entertained of the Countess's recovery,soon vanished; the fever returned with redoubled violence, the physician declared her life to be in danger, and that the Countess could not support another suck attack, should it be renewed within twelve days or a fortnight....! Universal dismay prevailed throughout the Beatrice for some time laboured to repel these horrible suspicions, but she beheld the existence of her friend rapidly declining, and her terror no longer allowed her to reason and observe with her own eyes; she lent a ready ear to every accusation, and gave credit to the most extravagant calumny. In the palace....! This cruel declaration plunmean-while, the Viceroy experienced the bitterest anguish of mind, and without imagining the commission of any crime, he felt the utmost alarm at the long continuation of the Countess's indisposition. However, a favorable change in the state ged the Count and Beatrice into despair, and rent the heart of Zuma. The Vicequeen, who was fully aware of her situation, manifested as much courage as gentleness and piety; the resignation of the happiest life, when accompanied by the VOL. 2.] Zuma: a Tale, by Madame de Genlis. turies. 171 consciousness of perfect purity, is always .... Yes, by the sacred light of the S a calm sacrifice she received, by her I swear that I will save you." own desire, all her sacraments. She With these words Zuma wrapped up took a tender farewell of her friend and the powder of the Quinquina, concealed her husband, having exhorted the latter it in her bosom, and rose from her chair; to watch over the happiness of the In- then suddenly stopping, she began to redians, and particularly that of her dear flect on the means of introducing herself Zuma; and she resigned herself wholly unperceived into the closet where the to the consolations of religion. Zuma, drink intended for the Countess was who had been a witness to this pathetic placed. She had no idea of the suspiscene, could no longer withstand the cions entertained against her, nor of the excess of her grief; her health, which precautions which had been adopted to had been in a declining state for the render this closet inaccessible to her as space of three months, now yielded to well as the rest of the Indian slaves; the weight of her affliction, and she was she merely supposed that since the illness attacked that very evening with the dis- of the Vice-Queen her Spanish women order which threatened the life of the had appropriated to themselves the task Countess, the tertian fever. After she of attending on her person, either through had sustained two or three violent attacks, fear or jealousy, or one of those customs Mirvan, with the consent of the Indians, to which she had heard them so frequently secretly conveyed to her the precious allude, and which they termed etiquette. powder which was to operate her cure, She resolved to enter the closet during on condition, however, that she should the night, after the maid, who slept there not be entrusted with it in any large quan- had retired to rest; and in case of her tity, but should daily receive an allowance being discovered, she had determined to sufficient for one dose. Zuma received say, anxiety had induced her to quit her in the morning the first dose, which was chamber to enquire after the state of the to be taken before she retired to rest in Countess. At the same time, wishing to the evening. When she was alone, she ascertain whether she could introduce herBooked steadfastly on the powder, her self into the closet without passing through countenance was bathed in tears, and the apartment of the Vice-Queen, she deraising her eyes to heaven, "Great God!" scended into a long corridor, and having she exclaimed," I am inspired by thee! looked cautiously around her, she dis....I can only save her, by sacrificing covered a small side door, which, as she my own life; my resolution is fixed-I had previously supposed, communicated will never disclose the mighty secret.... with the closet; the key was in the lock, My death will expiate my compassion, and she determined to enter in this way even in their eyes: besides, they will during the night. She then speedily never suspect such an act of devotion, returned to her chamber. and will attribute her cure to the help of In conformity with the orders of BeaLaedicine. I shall neither endanger the safe- trice, Zuma's conduct was watched with ty of Mirvan nor my child; I shall not be the utmost minuteness, and the servants tray the secrets of my countrymen. Ishall of the palace hastened to inform Beatrice, die; but the Countess will live. What that Mirvan had been to visit her that signifies the existence of poor Zuma?... very day; that one of the maids who had and how precious is the life of that Daugh- been stationed at the door to listen to their er of Heaven, who has employed her conversation, had not been able to collect power only to assist the unfortunate and a single word in consequence of the low console the afflicted; that generous Pro- tone of voice in which they discoursed, tectress of all who pine in poverty and but that Mirvan was excessively agitated slavery, and whose faultering voice, but on departing; that Zuma had descended now, sent forth a prayer for the cruel In- the staircase, had searched about the dians who suffer her to languish! Oh, corridor, examining every door, and that my Benefactress! even though surround- on discovering that which led into the ed by the shades of death, you did not for- closet, she iu dicated evident signs of fear, get your faithful Zuma! I heard your lest she should be surprised, and that lips pronounce a blessing on her name! she finally escaped to her own apartment. 166 ches of Society-The Elegant of the 18th and 19th Centuries. [voL. 2 She looked around the chamber with a countenance which announced distress and fear; she listened for some time at the door which communicated with the apartment of the Vice-Queen: all was silent. eatrice shuddered at this recital, she apparent effort. immediately foresaw that Zuma entertained the design of introducing herself into the closet during the night; she ordered the woman to warn her of the moment when Zuma should quit her chamber, and at the same time directed Zuma then approached the table, on them to avoid entering the closet and to which a medicinal draught had been leave the key in the door. Beatrice placed in a decanter of crystal, for the without delay communicated all she purpose of being administered to the had heard to the Viceroy, who, without adopting her suspicions, was nevertheless filled with amazement at the story, and agreed to conceal himself in the closet. Countess; she drew from her bosom the paper containing the quinquina powder; opened it and shook the powder into the decanter. The Viceroy seized with hor About one hour after sunset, the ser- ror rushed into the closet, exclaiming, vants came to inform Beatrice that Zuma "Wretched woman! what have you was descending the staircase, but without thrown into the liquor?".... At any light and with all the precautions of this unexpected sight, at this terrible mystery and fear. Beatrice and the question, Zuma started with dismay, the Count immediately proceeded to their decanter fell from her hands and shivered place of concealment. In a few moments in pieces; she threw herself into a chair, they heard the door gently open, and uttering the words, I am undone ! . . . Zuma appeared. She was pale and and swooned away. trembling, she walked slowly and with Concluded in our next. SKETCHES OF LONDON SOCIETY. From the Literary Gazette. THE ELEGANT OF THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES COMPARED. "The Elegant of the Eighteenth Century. of the field, for gaming, drinking, and SP PRUNG from a stock of quality our horse-racing, and often excelled in many, elegant bore some degree of nobility in feature and form but from the scale of sinking, which had even then been going on for a century and more, he appeared like a bright polished coin, the impression of which was much effaced, and the intrinsic value greatly diminished: in a word he was light but very passable. Beloved by his father, and indulged too much by his mother, he was not allowed to learn any laborious task; of course, his private tutor had orders to make him appear as decently without trouble as possible; and he accordingly used to write his theses, translate the authors in the dead languages, make Latin and other verses for him, nay, sometimes write a whole book in his name, which gained him the reputation of a classic, a poet or a politician, according to the genius and bent of the Reverend Mr. so and so, who thus assisted his outset in life. always in some of these accomplishments. Idle as these habits might be, they did not however disqualify the sprig of quality from taking his degree, or from figuring in the beau monde, since the good tutor's assiduity always kept pace with his pupil's neglect, and thus made up his leeway. At the expiration of his university soi disant studies, our elegant, having learned enough, and being a little in debt, My Lord, or Sir John, his father, sent him to make the tour of the most attractive parts of the Continent, accompanied by his Reverend friend, unless promoted in church preferment, or disgusted by the froward temper of his charge, in which case a second man of talent was found to varnish our elegant, to skim the cream of authors for him, to read to him at breakfast, and to keep him out of scrapes. During his stay at the university, he During the heir's residence on the generally acquired a taste for the sports Continent, it frequently occurred that the VOL. 2] London Sketches-The Elegante of the 18th and 19th Centuries. 171 juvenile excesses of his papa's life induced formed, vulgar daughter of a retail snuff gout, or decay, from various causes and shop-man, a retired slop-seller, or with of various kinds, and produced a prema- the judaical spes gregis of an old clothesture death. My Lord or the Baronet now man turned money-lender; or, perchance, returned home, and occupied his allotted he disclosed his flame to a tallow-chansituation in the senate, or as a placeman dler's widow, or a great soap-boiler's at court. If in the former, his fidus natural child, with the view, however, of Achates continued his services in return washing his hands of the business as soon for patronage, and made his speeches as possible. for him so eloquently, that if not obliged Here generally his grandmother, who to reply in the house, he continued to pass was a Right Honorable, died of grief; for a man of high talent. If unconnected his lady mother, who was a banker or with the legislature of his country, a host merchant's daughter, fell into fits for the of foreigners, imported by him, directed degradation of the family; My Lord or his taste so exquisitely in painting, sculp- Sir John fell in love with another man's ture, architecture, poetry, and the other wife, or eloped with a respectable neighfine arts, that, added to dancing, fencing, bour's daughter, and either resided on and speaking a foreign language or two, the Continent for life, to avoid paying he was accounted a nobleman of univer- the heavy damages of a trial for crim.con., sal knowledge and brilliant acquirements. or was shot through the thorax or Amongst the elegant's good qualities abdomen and expired by the hand of a were politeness, and a respect for the fair hot-brained ensign in a marching regiment, sex, mellowed by usage du monde and or a halfpay lieutenant in the navy, enhanced by natural humanity. Amid brother to the unfortunate young lady. his vices, obstinacy in opinion, personal -Sic transit gloria mundi. conceit, luxurious habits, and credulity, were most conspicuous. These last led him into many errors, whilst a contempt for all domestic prejudices, lax principles respecting religion, and a devotion to foreign manners, and foreign dependents, generally brought his estates to the hammer, and his other property to ruin.Thousands expended on foreign cooks, valets, quacks, and artists-tens of thousands on opera dancers, singers, actresses, and fashionable mistresses-scores of thousands lost to titled and other foreign gamblers, with other large sums out of which he was duped for pictures, books, coins, and antiquities, generally reduced by the age of thirty his fortune to something worse than nothing. The Pseudo-Elegant of the 19th Century. Produced on the decline of the 18th century, the modern elegant comes into The Then, to redeem mortgages, pay off The son of a Baronet and of a Jewess, annuitants, rescue seized family plate and his relations of both sides of the house pictures, to defray the pension of four are of divers ranks and appearances. He French and Italian ladies placed upon has as uncles and cousins-peers, knights, half-pay; to place six fiddlers and useful members of parliament, admirals, genenvoys on love missions on the retired erals, and opulent merchants: he has fist, to discharge a score and half of saucy also cousins and half uncles who are discontented servants, and to keep up brokers and slop-sellers, tripe-shop and the establishment of Arabian horses, old-clothes-men, money-lenders and Spanish sheep, German musicians, Poodle orange-venders, prize-fighters and menial dogs, Muscovy ducks monkies, parrots, servants. Amongst the former classes &c., the great man formed alliance with his relatives mostly cut him on account he dwarf, hideous, blear-eyed, or de- of the mis-alliance of his father; and, Y ATHENEUM. Vol. 2 of the latter tribes, he cats the whole, exe 170 Legends of Lumpidosa.-The Spaniard. [VOL. fortune were irretrievable, as, on her cau- the English ambassadress gave a fête, tious return to the chamber-door, she which all the nobility of Madrid were found it closed and bolted. In silent invited to partake. Juana eagerly emand profound agony, sharpened by the braced the opportunity to seek a friendnecessity of disguise, Juana awaited the ship with this distinguished lady, half return of her husband, whose counte- determining to deposit the stolen jewels nance only expressed its usual sullen in her hands, that they might be restored coldness, while he completed her con- to their owner by her aid. Many officers fusion by enquiring for what purpose of high rank, attendants on the "Great she had privately ordered the bracelets Lord," were mingled with the assembly, which a jeweller had delivered to his whose chief attention was fixed on the page. Unprepared, disordered, and con- Conde del Tormes' beautiful wife. scious of error, Juana made a timid and With that quick and constant suspicion hesitating reply, which, though strictly which creates the danger it fears, Juana true, had all the aspect of falsehood. imagined some peculiar meaning in the She alleged, that compassion for a dis- occasional glance of a young Englishtressed and deserving artisan, had in- man, whose military dress resembled the duced her to order a pair of bracelets, portrait in the bracelet. A thousand which she had not thought sufficiently blushes pursued each other over her face, important to mention. Don Manuel and her downcast, yet attentive eye heard her with a mysterious smile, and seemed to give assent to the enquiry excarelessly answered, that he had deter- pressed by his. The gracious gaiety of mined to leave Bareges because he had been required to cede the chamber usually allotted to his siesta, for the accommodation of one of the numerous strangers lately arrived at the venta where they lodged. This last intelligence explained one part of the fatal mistake committed by Juana, and deepened the possible calamity. She had been seen, perhaps, by the new guest feloniously conveying away his jewels, and leaving in exchange a deposit which he might receive and expose as a token of preference! The loveliest rose-colour of modest shame spread over her cheeks at this thought, and her husband throwing the bracelets she had clandestinely purchased into her lap, smiled on her and departed in silence. This silence and this forgiving smile touched her innocent and generous heart with more remorse than his utmost bitterness could have excited. Softened by selfreproach into respectful timidity, she obeyed his commands to prepare for an immediate removal with unusual yet unaffected meekness. During their long journey to Madrid, she received no other notice than a cold monysyllable or an indirect glance, but the spirit of youth and innocence sustained her hopes and her efforts to conciliate. Many months passed without any recurrence to the unfortunate mistake at Bareges, when the ambassadress encouraged her young guest to ask the name of this Englishman. ""Tis my brother," replied her excellency smiling, "and he dares not ask an introduction to any Spanish belle because he has forfeited my favour by his negligence." Juana hazarded another question which her entertainer's sprightly tone invited, and the ambassadress uncovering her arm answered, "He promised to bring me bracelets of your purest Peruvian gold for this night, and you see me without any !-Listen to his exuse and praise its ingenuity. He tells me that his usual infirmity of walking in his sleep seized him at Bareges, where he dreamed that a music book lay before him, in which a Spanish ballad so strongly touched his fancy, that to distinguish the page, he left a folded paper in it; when he awoke, the packet which contained the bracelets intended for me, was gone. He remembers the room, the ballad, and the music-book, in which he pretends that he deposited it, most accurately: and if I may believe him, the ballad was ""One of Lopez de Vega's," hastily interrupted Juana, and the music book was mine. We left Bareges suddenly before the owner of the bracelets could be guessed; but I have brought them to night, hoping that your kindness might assist me in restoring them." The ambassadress, with a smile |