Page:Ernestus Berchtold or the Modern Œdipus.djvu/110

 the shock; had retired from all those gaieties in which he had been once engaged, and devoted himself to the education of his children. For their sake he had, however, again entered into society, but in a very different style from his former magnificence. These are the circumstances which I heard of his history, from those friends with whom I spoke in the course of the two first years of my stay at Milan; besides this, I also found the reports of his supernatural powers to be believed: and whenever I enquired concerning them, the speaker always looked round the room, before he ventured to speak, and would then only answer in whispers.

I have mentioned our evening assembly in the saloon of the palace; thither all distinguished by rank or science came—all visitors were alike welcome. There, no ceremony, which is but the vain-pointing of selfishness to its sacrifices, incommoded those, who, invited by the society they