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sufficiently powerful to have filled the San Carlos； executed； with
the minutest precision； every difficulty of vocal
composition…ascending and descending scales； cadences； or fiorituri。
In the final of the Somnambula； she brought about a most remarkable
effect at the words：
Ah！ non guinge uman pensiero
Al contento ond 'io son piena。
Here； in imitation of Malibran； she modified the original phrase of
Bellini； so as to let her voice descend to the tenor G； when； by a
rapid transition； she struck the G above the treble stave； springing
over an interval of two octaves。
Upon rising from the piano after these miracles of vocal execution；
she resumed her seat by my side； when I expressed to her； in terms of
the deepest enthusiasm； my delight at her performance。 Of my surprise
I said nothing； and yet was I most unfeignedly surprised； for a
certain feebleness； or rather a certain tremulous indecision of voice
in ordinary conversation； had prepared me to anticipate that； in
singing； she would not acquit herself with any remarkable ability。
Our conversation was now long； earnest； uninterrupted； and totally
unreserved。 She made me relate many of the earlier passages of my
life； and listened with breathless attention to every word of the
narrative。 I concealed nothing felt that I had a right to conceal
nothing from her confiding affection。 Encouraged by her candor
upon the delicate point of her age； I entered； with perfect
frankness； not only into a detail of my many minor vices； but made
full confession of those moral and even of those physical
infirmities； the disclosure of which； in demanding so much higher a
degree of courage； is so much surer an evidence of love。 I touched
upon my college indiscretions upon my extravagances upon my
carousals… upon my debts upon my flirtations。 I even went so far
as to speak of a slightly hectic cough with which； at one time； I had
been troubled of a chronic rheumatism of a twinge of hereditary
gout… and； in conclusion； of the disagreeable and inconvenient； but
hitherto carefully concealed； weakness of my eyes。
〃Upon this latter point；〃 said Madame Lalande； laughingly； 〃you have
been surely injudicious in coming to confession； for； without the
confession； I take it for granted that no one would have accused you
of the crime。 By the by；〃 she continued； 〃have you any recollection…〃
and here I fancied that a blush； even through the gloom of the
apartment； became distinctly visible upon her cheek 〃have you any
recollection； mon cher ami of this little ocular assistant； which now
depends from my neck？〃
As she spoke she twirled in her fingers the identical double
eye…glass which had so overwhelmed me with confusion at the opera。
〃Full well alas！ do I remember it；〃 I exclaimed； pressing
passionately the delicate hand which offered the glasses for my
inspection。 They formed a complex and magnificent toy； richly chased
and filigreed； and gleaming with jewels； which； even in the deficient
light； I could not help perceiving were of high value。
〃Eh bien！ mon ami〃 she resumed with a certain empressment of manner
that rather surprised me 〃Eh bien！ mon ami； you have earnestly
besought of me a favor which you have been pleased to denominate
priceless。 You have demanded of me my hand upon the morrow。 Should I
yield to your entreaties and； I may add； to the pleadings of my
own bosom would I not be entitled to demand of you a very a
very little boon in return？〃
〃Name it！〃 I exclaimed with an energy that had nearly drawn upon us
the observation of the company； and restrained by their presence
alone from throwing myself impetuously at her feet。 〃Name it； my
beloved； my Eugenie； my own！ name it！ but； alas！ it is already
yielded ere named。〃
〃You shall conquer； then； mon ami；〃 said she； 〃for the sake of the
Eugenie whom you love； this little weakness which you have at last
confessed this weakness more moral than physical and which； let
me assure you； is so unbecoming the nobility of your real nature
so inconsistent with the candor of your usual character and which；
if permitted further control； will assuredly involve you； sooner or
later； in some very disagreeable scrape。 You shall conquer； for my
sake； this affectation which leads you； as you yourself acknowledge；
to the tacit or implied denial of your infirmity of vision。 For； this
infirmity you virtually deny； in refusing to employ the customary
means for its relief。 You will understand me to say； then； that I
wish you to wear spectacles； ah； hush！ you have already
consented to wear them； for my sake。 You shall accept the little toy
which I now hold in my hand； and which； though admirable as an aid to
vision； is really of no very immense value as a gem。 You perceive
that； by a trifling modification thus or thus it can be adapted
to the eyes in the form of spectacles； or worn in the waistcoat
pocket as an eye…glass。 It is in the former mode； however； and
habitually； that you have already consented to wear it for my sake。〃
This request must I confess it？ confused me in no little
degree。 But the condition with which it was coupled rendered
hesitation； of course； a matter altogether out of the question。
〃It is done！〃 I cried； with all the enthusiasm that I could muster at
the moment。 〃It is done it is most cheerfully agreed。 I sacrifice
every feeling for your sake。 To…night I wear this dear eye…glass； as
an eye…glass； and upon my heart； but with the earliest dawn of that
morning which gives me the pleasure of calling you wife； I will place
it upon my upon my nose； and there wear it ever afterward； in
the less romantic； and less fashionable； but certainly in the more
serviceable； form which you desire。〃
Our conversation now turned upon the details of our arrangements for
the morrow。 Talbot； I learned from my betrothed； had just arrived in
town。 I was to see him at once； and procure a carriage。 The soiree
would scarcely break up before two； and by this hour the vehicle was
to be at the door； when； in the confusion occasioned by the departure
of the company； Madame L。 could easily enter it unobserved。 We were
then to call at the house of a clergyman who would be in waiting；
there be married； drop Talbot； and proceed on a short tour to the
East； leaving the fashionable world at home to make whatever comments
upon the matter it thought best。
Having planned all this； I immediately took leave； and went in search
of Talbot； but； on the way； I could not refrain from stepping into a
hotel； for the purpose of inspecting the miniature； and this I did by
the powerful aid of the glasses。 The countenance was a surpassingly
beautiful one！ Those large luminous eyes！ that proud Grecian nose！
those dark luxuriant curls！ 〃Ah！〃 said I； exultingly to myself；
〃this is indeed the speaking image of my beloved！〃 I turned the
reverse； and discovered the words 〃Eugenie Lalande aged
twenty…seven years and seven months。〃
I found Talbot at home； and proceeded at once to acquaint him with my
good fortune。 He professed excessive astonishment； of course； but
congratulated me most cordially； and proffered every assistance in
his power。 In a word； we carried out our arrangement to the letter；
and； at two in the morning； just ten minutes after the ceremony； I
found myself in a close carriage with Madame Lalande with Mrs。
Simpson； I should say and driving at a great rate out of town； in
a direction Northeast by North； half…North。
It had been determined for us by Talbot； that； as we were to be up
all night； we should make our first stop at C； a village about
twenty miles from the city； and there get an early breakfast and some
repose； before proceeding upon our route。 At four precisely；
therefore； the carriage drew up at the door of the principal inn。 I
handed my adored wife out； and ordered breakfast forthwith。 In the
meantime we were shown into a small parlor； and sat down。
It was now nearly if not altogether daylight； and； as I gazed；
enraptured； at the angel by my side； the singular idea came； all at
once； into my head； that this was really the very first moment since
my acquaintance with the celebrated loveliness of Madame Lalande；
that I had enjoyed a near inspection of that loveliness by daylight
at all。
〃And now； mon ami；〃 said she； taking my hand； and so interrupting
this train of reflection； 〃and now； mon cher ami； since we are
indissolubly one since I have yielded to your passionate
entreaties； and performed my portion of our agreement I presume
you have not forgotten that you also have a little favor to bestow
a little promise which it is your intention to keep。 Ah！ let me see！
Let me remember！ Yes； full easily do I call to mind the precise words
of the dear promise you made to Eugenie last night。 Listen！ You spoke
thus： 'It is done！ it is most cheerfully agreed！ I sacrifice every
feeling for your sake。 To…night I wear this dear eye…glass as an
eye…glass； and upon my heart； but with the earliest dawn of that
morning which gives me the privilege of calling you wife； I will
place it upon my upon my nose； and there wear it ever
afterward； in the less romantic； and less fashionable； but certainly
i