EL LOBO DE LAS SIERRAS. A TALE OF THE CARLIST WARS DE BARANTE'S HISTORY OF THE CONVENTION MR. LONGHEAD'S FIRST NIGHT AT MESS. BY CAPTAIN LEVINGE. THE CRYSTAL PALACE A CONSERVATORY OF SCIENCE, Arts, and INDUSTRY. 454 1 22 34 A NEW CHAPTER IN THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF MARTIN CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY. To whom all Communications for the Editor are to be addressed. ** REJECTED ARTICLES CANNOT BE RETURNED. SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. PRINTED BY CHARLES WHITING, BEAUFORT HOUSE, STRAND. NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. ALL THE WORLD AND HIS WIFE; OB, WHAT BROUGHT EVERYBODY TO LONDON IN 1851. CHAPTER VIII. HOW MR. POPPYHEAD LET HIS HOUSE IN BELGRAVIA TO A GENTLEMAN OF QUIET HABITS." 66 [THERE is a certain square at the West-end of the town which "all the world" is acquainted with. It lies in the midst, and may, indeed, be considered the head-quarters of everything that is fashionable, whatever shape the fashion of the day may wear. The houses in this square are about the best in London-spacious, lofty, well constructed, and adapted to the most modern wants. If any one of these mansions can claim priority over another for magnificent convenience, it is that which belongs to Percival Poppyhead, Esquire, whose country seat, called "Pinnacles," is the admiration of all lovers of hyper-gothic, or, as he himself prefers calling it, "semi-monastic" architecture. Mr. Poppyhead's tastes and tendencies may be inferred from this allusion to his family residence, and the locality in which he had settled in London was by no means ill-adapted for their cultivation. He had bestowed considerable pains on the internal decoration of his abode; the pictures were choice, the furniture rich, and all the embellishments costly; he had, in short, made the house perfectly Belgravian, though it cost him a good round sum to do so. This fact began, possibly, to make itself felt; for, having received a circular shortly before Christmas from a well-known house-agent, informing him that houses like his were likely to be in demand during the approaching season, Mr. Poppyhead thought he might as well take advantage of the circumstance, and indemnify himself for, at least some part of, his outlay. Moreover, as he meditated a journey to Rome-literally as well as figuratively-a good let, he said, might also help to pay the travelling expenses. In a manner, therefore, which was at once both bland and dignified, he signified to the agent that his name might be placed on the list. Having sacrificed his sense of pride to his hope of profit, Mr. Poppyhead became impatient for a tenant. One morning, about the middle of March, in a fit of ill-humour at not having yet received an offer, he beMay.-VOL. XCII. NO. CCCLXV. B took himself to his library to write a letter to the Times on the subject of the forthcoming Exhibition. His feelings being those of a disappointed householder and a Belgravian, he had just got as far as the assertion that he "viewed the approaching influx of foreigners into London with equal indignation and alarm," when Blithers, the butler, tapped gently at the door and, having entered, informed Mr. Poppyhead, in the subdued tone of voice which harmonised with everything belonging to his establishment, that a foreign gentleman was outside, who requested the honour of an interview; at the same time he presented the stranger's card. When Mr. Poppyhead saw that it bore on it the name of the Vicomte de Pigarreau, he quietly placed the unfinished letter between the leaves of a blotting-book, and desired Blithers to admit the gentleman. He was a person of distinguished appearance, and the first words he uttered relieved Mr. Poppyhead from a certain degree of embarrassment; for our Puseyite friend was not, like Lav-engro, a "word-master;" and though, as he was in the habit of saying, "he understood the language" (meaning French), he felt morally certain he should break down in the very first sentence, if he attempted to speak it. But the Vicomte was an accomplished man, and spoke English so well, that the closest attention to his pronunciation failed to detect even the slightest accent. He was, however, a thorough Frenchman in appearance; the thick moustache which he wore was quite of the Presidential cut, and his tailor evidently lived in the Rue de Grammont. "I have been told, sir," he said, bowing gracefully to Mr. Poppyhead, and then looking round him with an air of admiration, "that to let this beautiful house for the season?" you intend "Hem! hem!" returned Mr. Poppyhead, clearing his throat, after the semi-monastic, amateur-clerical fashion; "yes, Musseer-I beg pardon-yes, sir, I do think of letting it, if I can meet with a suitable tenant. But, sir," he continued, in the pompous tone of an Englishman about to discuss money matters with a foreigner, "I cannot afford to let my house go for nothing. I look for rather a long price, I can assure you, sir." The Vicomte bowed again. Nothing," he said, as he once more made a mental inventory of the library furniture, absorbing its easy chairs and comfortable tables in one rapid glance" nothing could be more just. Where so much taste had been displayed, and, without doubt, so much expense incurred, nobody could expect a bargain. He was prepared to pay anything in reason. Would Mr. Poppyhead permit one of his servants to show him over the house ?" There was a suavity in the Vicomte's manner which, combined with the compliment paid to his taste, had its effect on Mr. Poppyhead. As a Christian his humility was profound, and, to give a proof of it, he offered himself to accompany the Vicomte; perhaps, as a "Decorative Christian," he was not unwilling to have the opportunity of expatiating before a foreigner on what he had done for "Art." "You will observe," he said, as he led the way into the hall, "that I have chiefly adhered to one style in fitting up this house. I am fond of colour and ornament, but not to the extent of rendering them meretricious. Cloistral effects have a great charm for me, and where it |