.

THE EXECUTION.
In an instant all was confusion.

Everybody sprang to their feet--ladies shrieked in chorus, gentlemen swore and drew their swords, and looked to see if they might not expect a whole army to drop from the sky upon them, as they stood.

No other battalion, however, followed this forlorn hope; and seeing it, the gentlemen took heart of grace and closed around the unceremonious intruder.

The queen had sprung from her royal seat, and stood with her bright lips parted, and her brighter eyes dilating in speechless wonder.