through the folding-doors, at least so I supposed, though I had yet to learn what was beyond them. Independently, too, of any other consideration, I was exceedingly taken with the plan itself, to which I do not remember to have previously met with anything similar; for by means of the four smaller octagons the diagonal extent was increased to fifty feet; and the space might be contracted at pleasure by closing the draperies.

"Verily this single room," thought I, "is sufficient to inspire any man with the eloquence of George Robins! What a theme for his oratory would that worthy of the hammer find in Monplaisir! how would he expatiate on its magnificence!"

While I was standing in one of the front oriels, gazing on the landscape below, in order to compose my thoughts a little after the excitement occasioned by the view of so much splendour, touched a

spring in a compartment forming one of the sides, and beckoned me to follow him through this concealed entrance. "What fresh scene of enchantment is this?" inquired I, as we turned into a small cabinet of most peregrine architecture,—

an alcove well worth

To be the abode of a sylph on earth.

The style in which it was fitted up partook considerably of an Oriental character, without, however, being a professed imitation of it, or, indeed, reducible to any standard at all, so capricious appeared to have been the fancy that directed the design. With the view, no doubt, of concealing what would hardly have accorded with the rest of the apartment, the external window was shut out from sight by an inner one, or rather by lattice shutters, whose interstices appeared to be filled with jewellery, forming an arabesque mosaic of gems. The room, therefore, received nearly all its light from a lanthorn in the ceiling, which diffused a mysterious twilight around. The ceiling itself was certainly not the least remarkable feature; for it seemed to be constructed of a tracery of ivory, whose innumerable interlacings and crossings were studded by bosses of mother-of-pearl, while the delicate tones of these materials acquired a glow from the deep ruby velvet that, gathered into minute folds or flutes, seemed to rest upon this species of framework, and gave the idea of the apartment being roofed by a sumptuous canopy extended over it. The tracery of the ceiling extended downward for several feet on the upper part of the wall: the rest was hung with crimson velvet; and around the room on a level with the top of the chimney-piece ran a continuous framing richly carved and gilt, in whose subdivisions were arranged a series of water

colour paintings, some of the choicest and most wonderful specimens of what English Art has been able to achieve in that style. The furniture consisted only of an inlaid table in the centre of the room, some low ottomans of most luxurious aspect, and a few stools to correspond. On the door being closed, there was no appearance of egress; and so completely was all indication of aperture concealed, that it was impossible for me to distinguish it by my eye, although I was conscious that it existed.

"If the wall has closed upon us by enchantment, and I am indeed entombed in this treacherous abode of delight, I think I can resign myself to my fate with decent resignation."

"I have denominated this the Eastern Bower' (14), from its relative situation to the Saloon."

Let its situation have been what it might, you would not have erred had you so called it, for it realizes the most glowing descriptions of Eastern magnificence of Oriental luxuriousness. Really, for a 'plain man and an economist,' you have some exceedingly prodigal fancies." "Not in the least; I live quite like a hermit."

I did not at all like this last remark. It appeared to me to savour too decidedly of insanity to allow me to feel comfortable, shut up as I was with a madman between four walls, and ignorant of the mystic 'Open sesame' that would liberate me. I reminded him that it was getting late; nor was I sorry when I again found myself in the oriel of the Saloon. It proved with me, however, as with most other people,— no sooner had my alarm passed away than I considered it absolutely ridiculous; and in two or three seconds, while passing from one oriel to the other, had made up my determination to explore the mysteries of the Western Bower' (15), let come what might. This proved, as I had anticipated, a room of precisely the same dimensions as the preceding cabinet; and presented quite as singular, though a somewhat different specimen of architectural extravaganza. The lower part of the walls, to the height of the chimney-piece, was wainscoted with rose-wood, into which were let panels of porcelain. The rest of the walls was incrusted with various spars and ores, divided into compartments by vertical mouldings and arches, painted and lacquered in imitation of coral; the roof was the same, fretted with pendant spars and crystals in the meshes of the coral net-work that formed the vault. For what fair sea-nymph have you constructed this grotto pavilion, which seems to be enriched with the spoils of the Western' main?" So I would have spoken had not discretion kept me silent, fearful of rendering this

Western bower the scene of an Atlantic storm, I therefore chose rather to examine some of the numerous architectural models which were placed on stands around the room. I was, however, obliged to tear myself away from the fascinations of these exquisite monuments of Art; and perceiving that my conductor was about to mount his hobby, and expatiate on their strongly contrasted beauties, inquired whether there was any other concealed door besides the one by which we entered. Here is one," replied he, "that will admit us into the Music-room,' which forms the south-west wing of the house."

In its architecture this apartment was very similar to the Boudoir, but the walls were black!—a singular colour it will be thought for any room, more especially for one devoted-at least as far as its name went to minstrelsy and sound. It was, however, if not so superb, certainly more gay than any of the preceding ones, for the black surface I have mentioned was so inlaid, or appeared to be inlaid, with foliage and figures of ivory, silver, and mother-of-pearl, outlined with gold, that the effect was as brilliant as it was delicate. The draperies and furniture were of figured gold-coloured velvet upon a ground of black satin.

On quitting this apartment we again made a tour of the rooms, leaving the doors open as we passed along, that I might have an opportunity of observing the vista from one into another, in both directions, through the cross galleries; and judge how well this mode of communication was contrived for parade and effect. At length we stopped in the Saloon of the Four Oriels; when threw open the foldingdoors opposite the window, and displayed to me a new vista across the lower part of a staircase and the octagon to the entrance from the lower vestibule into that hall. As the communication between the saloon and the staircase was beneath the centre landing of the latter, where was formed a kind of porch, only the lower part of each fold of the door was made to open, but this aperture formed a sufficiently lofty frame to the architectural picture seen beyond it.

After the numerous splendours I had been beholding, this staircase (which conducted into the clerestory gallery round the upper part of the octagon, and thence through corridors and transepts to the principal bedchambers and dressing-rooms,) seemed more distinguished by the simplicity and elegance of its architecture than by magnificence. The chief thing that struck me as a peculiarity was the design of the roof, the light being admitted not through a lanthorn, but through a pendent skylight-if it may be so termed; for beneath an external skylight was an inner one in the form of a perforated pendant, glazed with in

tagliated glass, which flashed with scintillations of sparkling silver radiance *.

Twilight had been creeping on; and when, after concluding our perambulation, we re-entered the octagon, it seemed involved in gloom, when on a sudden a blaze of light diffused itself in every direction; the galleries, the lobbies, the apartment that terminated each vista, shone in various tones of light, from that of a faint twilight halo, to more than noonday splendour; the candelabra in the hall formed a pyramid of flame; numerous tapers emitted their starry rays from the galleries above; the pellucid vaulting of the roof glowed with a supernal splendour. Strains of exquisite melody, wafted from the vaulted tribunes, seemed to float in mid air, suspended, like the fabled coffin of Mahomet, between upper and nether radiance; while the atmosphere was impregnated with the mingled aroma emitted from burning censers.

"Heavens!" exclaimed I; "surely this must be enchantment!" Aye," responded my guide, "the very coinage of the brain." "What mean you?"

"That Monplaisir is constructed of such stuff as dreams are made of. We are in the land of nothingness.—Adieu!"

He took my hand:-his touch was colder than hyperborean ice. It seemed to congeal all my senses-my thoughts themselves. I did not start, for my limbs refused their office: my being seemed almost annihilated, when a loud voice thundered in my ear," What the devil is the matter with you! You have dipped your confounded hand into the jar of water, and upset it all over my drawing!-Why, you surely have not been asleep, have you?"

"Really," said I, shaking myself, rubbing my eyes, and glancing around the room, which was tolerably familiar to me, being my friend ***'s studio, “I suppose I must have been; but if so, have had the most waking dream I ever had in my life.-What do I behold!" cried I, looking at the drawing, from which *** was pouring off the inundation it had received.

"What do you behold!-why, a plaguy deal of mischief you have been doing. I am afraid it will take some time to repair it."

"If there be any truth in my eyesight, that is Monplaisir itself!". "Heyday!—I do not think you are altogether in your senses to-day. Monplaisir-what do you mean by that?"

“Mean!—Oh, that word conjures up ten thousand meanings. It is fraught with reminiscences of never-to-be-forgotten splendours.'

"

Out upon it! This is the very style of George Robins himself!- PRIN

Why, what the devil is it that you do mean?" exclaimed ***, throwing himself back in his chair, and eyeing me with an authoritative look. If you are really mad, say so at once."

"Not exactly mad yet, my dear fellow; but I shall be so if you will not allow me to make a sketch of that plan. It is mine, by all the rights of imagination."

"

"By all the flights of a fiddlestick, you mean!"

"Nay, but do hear me; I will explain everything:"-and thereupon I began to relate what the reader would certainly not endure to have repeated.