not read a good deal of it written which Ernestine rose, and, without upon the faces before her.

a word or a look towards uncle or “I thought I should find you in niece, left the room. this room," she said sweetly ; “what She could not at the moment a lovely room it is. I die with envy pause to speculate what Dr. Doldy of it whenever I come in.” Laura would think of her conduct. said this, unfortunately losing the Laura laughed to herself. She pleasure of knowing that she had wished to get rid of Ernestine stabbed Ernestine to the heart before she went on with another For Ernestine, to whom to think a part of her business; and she thing right was to do it, had already thought she had succeeded very endured the first pang of saying well, although she was a little dis. farewell to this room, which was as turbed as to what Dr. Doldy might it were the physical embodiment of think. It was her principal dread the dreamland she had entered with regard to Ernestine, lest that into.

lady's inability to conceal her feel. “You don't look well,” went on ings should rouse Dr. Doldy's sus. the quick tongue of Laura. “It's picions. But she might have been the weather, I suppose. It is very easy in her mind to-day had she unbecoming weather; I have had known all. Dr. Doldy would to put on a spotted veil to-day, scarcely have been astonished at which makes my eyes ache and anything which Ernestine might makes me cross.”

have done. And indeed he himself Her remarks did not seem likely felt in anything but a favourable to elicit any very enthusiastic frame of mind to offer congratularesponse, so she plunged into her tions even upon a marriage which business.

so much concerned him as Laura's. “Uncle,” she said, fluttering her “I want to tell you—to ask fan and her feathers, as she turned your advice," said Laura, as soon to Dr. Doldy, who was still walking as the door had closed upon up and down, “I hope you have Ernestine, “about another matter time to receive a visitor to-day, as which is as distressing as it well a friend of mine wishes to call upon can be. In what I have to say

you will see one whom you always “Indeed!” said Dr. Doldy, not disliked in a less favourable light in a very encouraging tone.

than ever.” “ Sir Percy Flaxen," said Laura; Dr. Doldy stopped in his pro“ you know him, do you not ? He menade and stared at her. He wants to see you at once, and I hope could not conjecture what was you will have no objection to make, coming. but will instead give me your con- Laura found it much more gratulations."

difficult to tell her uncle than to “Does he want to marry you?” tell Lewis Lingen; and before she said Dr. Doldy, gloomily.

had said many more words she took “He says so," said Laura, refuge in handing him Yriarte's in her archest manner.

letters, trusting to them to tell “ And so," said Dr. Doldy, drily, their own tale discreetly. “ you have found an eligible part. Dr. Doldy read them with a ner at last?"

rising fury written on his face. “I think,” returned Laura, with Having finished them he flung great demureness, “no objection them down on the table, and turned can be made to him or his family." to walk the room again.

Silence followed, in the midst of “This comes of connecting

you."

yourself with a monkeyman like inflamed when she began to irritate that, worthy of nothing but to be it, and it was a vast relief to him regarded as a possible specimen to have a subject upon which it of the missing link," then, might safely explode. suddenly looking at her, “but “Let us go down to Lingen at what is there in these letters once," went on Dr. Doldy, with which you are ashamed of?”

suppressed excitement; “ will you “Nothing," said Laura, “what come, Laura ? — we will punish should there be ? ”

nim ; the little eur! he shali learn “ Then why have you already what it is to insult a lady.” given him money ?”

He hurried out of the room to “What woman,” she replied, fetch his hat. Laura, preparing in with a quick droop of those clever a more leisurely manner to follow eyelids, “would not pay money him, saw that Ernestine had rerather than run the risk of her turned, and stood near. She was love letters being made public?” startled, although certainly it was,

This seemed true enough to natural enough that Ernestine Dr. Doldy, on whose high ideal of should be in her own room. But her sex Laura was partly calculating something in the look that came in making her impression on him. upon her from out those deep-set She went on to tell him that she eyes affected her strangely, almost had been to Mr. Lingen for advice, as if an uncanny presence were and that he recommended her to beside her. Ernestine made her prosecute Yriarte for obtaining feel, by her intensity, that she came money from her on false pretences from another world of thought. “What do you think, uncle ?" she “Who is to be punished ?” asked pathetically, “It will be asked Ernestine. very, very painful.”

“Do you wish to know ?-I did "Punish him, Laura,” exclaimed not think you cared for gossip. I Dr. Doldy angrily; “punish him don't mind telling you, as you even at the expense of your own must soon know unless you shut feelings. It will not really be your eyes and ears. Don Jose painful, because you are so plainly Yriarte is the cur my uncle is so in the right; you will have the anxious to correct.” sympathies of all who know you. “The man you were engaged And he must be punished. I to ?” exclaimed Ernestine, “your should like to horsewhip him lover?” myself !”

“Don't jump to conclusions," Laura had no idea her uncle said Laura, “it is unprofessional. could be so angry—could so depart Good morning.” from his usual manner, and lose And so saying she hurried outhimself in passion. Two great for Dr. Doldy was impatiently veins had swollen out upon his calling her — and left Ernestine forehead ; she had never seen them half-blinded by the mental cloud before. She did not know that she which had risen before her eyes. had but added the match to a well. On all sides the world was dark. laid fire. His mind was already

THE CIRCLE OF THE REGICIDES.

A Dramatic Scene.
BY RICHARD HENGIST HORNE.

Dramatis Personce.
DR. KOBOLD ............... Professor of Agriculture and Rifle Practice.
FRANZ TOLLKOPF ............

............ A discarded Socialist. TOBIAS TRÄGHEIT

... A drunken idler. Hans ARBEITSDULDER ............................ A discontented workman. JEREMIAS GELDLIEB ................................................... A usurer. OTTO SELBSTOLL ........................................................ A morbid egoist. BARON DUMM VON EJRSUCHT

An ambitious imbecile. LUCAS BLUTDURST ... Espelled from the Club of the Social Democrats. Apparitions of BRUTUS, CROMWELL, MAZZINI, RAVAILLAC, ANKARSTROMM, MARAT, A POLISI EXILE, ROBERT OWEN, and Chorus of Russian Regicides.

Scene: A dilapidated gambling room in a house in a back street near the Teufelschwager's Beer-Gardens of Pumpernikel.

A petroleum lamp burning upon a large table : Men seated round smoking. FRANZ. -Not so—not so-I will not have it so. OTTO. —You will not? FRANZ. — I have sworn it. LUCAS. - Who are you

More than the rest here met to plan a death,

And settle how best dealt ? FRANZ. –That will I settle. LUCAS. -I'd slay a dozen while you rave of one! FRANZ (starting up).—Leopard-face! tinker-thumb! you, who were kicked out

Of more than one societyVoices. —No quarrels !

(Confusion-gesticulation of pipes through the smoke.) DR. Kob.-Dracos, be patient! I have summoned you

To show you how-at one blow-we may reap
The bloody harvest of the grain long sown
And chemically nourished. Golden heads
Of monarchs bask and nod beneath the sun,

Nor dream of our sure sickles.
HANS.

-Down with all kings!
DR. KOB.-But our gray tyrant first-for regicide,

Like charity, begins at home.
Voices (laughing).--That's true.
HANS. -Let other countries follow as we lead,

So shall the working man's long-sufferings
Be brought to an end, and sacrificial labours
Of building pyramids of wealth and pomp
For this born Thing—and That-be no more seen
Than gorgeous sun-down clouds of yesterday.

JEREY. But we who are the people—we should hold

All their great stores of money in our hands !
TOBIAS. —Yes—and not have to work. (Drinks). Now for your-hic!
DR. KOB.—My plan is this.
Voices. -For killing--
DR. KOB.—Why, of course.
BARON D.But the great fame of such a regicide

Will crown us all !--those who agree-look on-
Guide, and applaud the striker of the blow,

As well as him who strikes.
TOBIAS. -But possibly

You'll show your skill ? BARON D.-I! No-we must not rob

The doctor of his patient; but we shall all

Share his renown in history.
LUCAS. -My blado

Is ready; bill-hook, sword, short knife or pike?
And, by my own red heart, I think a pike
Would best reach to the mark, whether he ride

Or drive. I'll do the deed forthwith.
OTTO (moodily).—Not you.
DR. KOB.—No, no—some court-slave would avert a thrust.

I have devised the means; and have well practised
For certain aim. A front room I've secured,
Some weeks past, in the avenue thro' which

The despot oft is driven.
Hans. - You may miss.
DR. KOB.—A single bullet might, but I will send

A dozen at one shot; and yet again

Another volley, screen'd by the window blind.
Voices (applauding).-Schön!
OTTO. —And I feel almost as sure of this

As I myself had done it.
JEREM. —Your escape

Have you arranged ?-
DR. KOB.- I have not, and I scorn it!

This death shall be the glory of my life,
Which I will close in crowned martyrdom,
As vengeance for my long.neglected claims,
And retribution for the rights denied

Of many a man,-and sereral who are here.
Voices. -Mine! mine!
TOBIAS. – We'll roast the phonix like a goose,

Drinking (drinks) perdition to his son and heir!
BARON D.-All Europe will grow fat on this :-our name

Will burst from every mouth throughout the world! OTTO. – Why should your name be mention'd? Hare not I

A hundred times held forth about this act ?
LUCAS. –There have been many talkers, but the deed

I'll thoroughly do-
DR. KOB.-If that my aim should fail ! -

But I'll send home two volleys that shall need

No further aid from heaven,
Fraxz. -Or a better place!
TOBIAS. --One is as good as another, so he leave us-

Hic! leave us a butt of lager-
Hays. -Silence, sot!
TOBIAS. –The doctor is inspired !--
Dr. Kol.-Shade of great Brutus !

Hear me, and fill my mind with patriot thoughts
To lighten up my heart like altar-flames !
England's Protector !-Sweden's liberator !
Shades also of heroic sons of France
And Russia !-and the Shades of every land
That brought forth glorious Regicides, now, hear!
Likewise ye Socialistic Democrats,
Hear, and bear witness to the oath I swear,

To slay the tyrant of vur fatherland ! (The lamp grows dim—the flame flaps to and fro—then spits, and goes out. The Apparition of Marcus Junius Brutus advances from the distant wall.)

Brutus.
Invoke not thou my name for such a deed !

Do not profane the record of a blow

O'er which I wept--for which my tears still flow,
Because I loved the man I caused to bleed :

But 'twas for Liberty-not the gross bloom
Of craving self's gall-nurtured pestilent weed,

That flourishes on banks of Stygian gloom,

Exbaling death's despair-and curses for a Tomb. (The Apparition slowly retires, and disappears. Hans ARBEITSDULDER re-illumes

the lamp.) HANS (to Dr. K.).—What say you to that? BARON D.-Methinks I have seen a head

As marked as that, perhaps 'twas Julius Cæsar

On some old coins exhumed from Roman cainps. JEREM (in a whisper).-- Where ? OTTO. —'Twas a Ghost from far-off, doubtful days. Distant thunder. The lamp trembles, and falls to the floor. The oil blazes up;

they extinguish the flame with their coats. The Apparition of Olirer
Cromwell, in armour, advances from the distant wall.)

CROMWELL.
Ye godless squad of apes in guise of men !

Ye brains that rot in cast-off helms of brass !
Let plague-carts bear ye from the city's ken

To nourish thistles for each honest ass.
To earth !-unpray'd for, save by hangmen's hags,
Who mourn the loss of your sin-tainted rags.

(The Apparition strides back into the darkness.) OTTO. If all these men were living, I would snap

My fingers at their wisdom and best words.
DR. KOB.-But dead, the greater reason we should do so.

We are our country, being her best sons ! (Music, as of an anthem, heard in the distance. The Spirit of Mazzini

appears.)

MAZZINI.
O Patriot Soul-heart-and sword !

Pure spirit of land and of sea !
My country, like heaven, I adored,

As life's hope and last home to me.
But I saw men with energies strong,

Who thought themselves noble and true,
But they mix'd up the right with the wrong,
And were drunk with base self-love, like you.

(Disappears.)