Page:Once a Week, Series 1, Volume II Dec 1859 to June 1860.pdf/399

386 Germany, Austria, and Russia. Thus much is certain, that the government of France for the time being was the only party that got an advantage from this assassination, for the news of it created a boundless excitement throughout the Republic, so that hundreds of thousands of volunteers kept on rushing to the standards to revenge the foul crime committed on the national representatives of their country.

For fifteen long years the legions of Republican and Imperial France swept, whirlwind-like, from one point of Europe to the other, unchecked by treaties, peace meetings, and diplomatic action of any kind. At the end of this period, however statesmanshiphowever, statesmanship [sic] got the upper hand again over swordmanship; and as if to revel in its victory, produced the most brilliant meeting of peace negotiators the world had ever seen, namely, The Congress of Vienna.

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“! Frank! it is all right, you are an honourable member of the first eleven now. Jones and Staveley wanted to stick in that ass, Middleton, because he is in the sixth, and one of their set, and pretended they must have him for a long-stop; but Fox and I stuck up for you, and we have pulled it off. I expect you will be second bowler in our match with Harrow.”

“Well, you are a brick, Herbert—a genuine Bath, and no mistake,” replied Frank Ainslie to his friend’s communication; and in the excitement of the moment he delivered the Lexicon which he had been using, after the fashion of a round-hand ball, at a plaster cast of Homer,—a recent purchase of Herbert’s,—on which it took fatal effect, reducing it to smithereens.

“You are an ungrateful card, and no mistake,” said Herbert, holding up one smithereen, consisting of the left eye, and a fragment of the nose and chin of the great bard.

’Pon my soul, I am very sorry, but I did not think my hand was in. But about the match: I hear Harrow has a strong team this year.”

“They have two or three pretty bats, and their bowling is decidedly good; but they don’t work well together in the field. Altogether, I think the odds are in our favour.”

“Mr. Ainslie to Mr. Hardlines,” said a servant, knocking at the door at this moment.

“What’s up now, I wonder?” said Herbert.

“Haven’t an idea,” replied his friend, taking his departure. “No row, that I know of.”

Mr. Hardlines’ countenance, always solemn in