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It was a splendid dinner, that which the regent had this day prepared

for his guests Count Munnich was verynear the regent, he gave himself wholly up to

the cheerful humour which the excellent viands and delicate wines were

calculated to stiot his deep-laid plans

for the coain he would suddenly recollect theayest conversation with his host, and while

volunteering a toast in praise of the noble regent, and closing it by

crying--"A long life and reign to the great regent, Biron von Courland!"

he secretly and with a ht: "This is thy

last dinner, sir duke! A few hours, and those lips, now s with

happiness, will be forever silenced by our blows!"

These thoughts ay and talkative,

and the regent protested that Munnich had never been a reeable

convive than precisely to-day Therefore, when the other guests

retired, he begged of Munnich to reht possibly enable hient, consented to stay

They spoke of past tined, and when all breathed of pleasure and enjoyment at that happy

court; and perhaps it was these recollections that rendered Biron sad

and thoughtful He was absent and low-spirited, and his large, flashing