He took the paper, and as he did so, the stranger suddenly drew a pistol and discharged it at the head of the Prince.

The ball entered the neck under the right ear, passed through the roof of the mouth, and came out under the left jaw-bone, carrying with it two teeth.

The pistol had been held so near, that the hair and beard of the Prince were set on fire by the discharge.

He remained standing, but blinded, stunned, and for a moment entirely ignorant of what had occurred.

As he afterwards observed, he thought perhaps that a part of the house had suddenly fallen.