Leaning upon her elbow, she inclined toward Rizzio, who, lute in hand, was looking up to her with a countenance expressive of the deepest love.

It was a glorious picture, this young and charming couple, in their bliss of love; and never, in the course of this century, have I forgotten this exquisite picture--never have its bright tints faded from my memory.

How often have I begged my friend, Antonio Vandyck, to make this picture eternal, with his immortal pencil.

He promised to do it, but at the moment he was occupied with the portraits of Charles I.and his family--the grandson of Queen Mary.

Later, as I was not with him, unfortunately, to save him, death seized him before he had fulfilled his promise.