And a little old French handbook for gardeners, with quaintly tinted plates; or a first edition of Palgrave, or a historical work from the library of the Garde Royale Hussars! Then the discovery of Ripperda's memoirs--Ripperda, that fine Hollander who became a Spaniard, wearing the collar of the Golden Fleece and ruling all the wide realms of Spain, then passed into Morocco and ruled that land as pasha--Ripperda, who took new religions or families at will, but ruled always until the gout fetched him to a devout Christian end--here was the crowning find! I staggered home that night freighted with treasure. A few days later I returned, with the intent of further March and seizure; but this time I did not enter. I only turned mournfully from the doorway, above which flaunted the dire announcement: THIS PLACE HAS CHANGED HANDS With a Branch of Semper-virens Unto the end that age to age shall know The perfect love which Ronsard gave in fee, How your warm beauty laid cold reason low And held in fetters all his liberty; Unto the end that age to age shall see How your sweet face shrined in his life was lying, How in his heart you dwelt eternally-- I bring to you this flowered branch, undying, Which knows no frost to sere its radiant spring! When you are dead I shall revive you, chaste And lovely; such the tribute that I bring, Who in your service find all bliss embraced! Like Laura, loved of Petrarch, you will live-- At least, while books immortal life can give! THE LITTLE VISITORS [1] This final title has been altered since the printing of the Table of Contents. It was lately my good fortune--and I so term it advisedly--to entertain a budding Bolshevist in my midst. He was an excellent young man and a fellow writer, who had been discharged as an officer of the nation's armed forces. Not knowing him intimately, I invited him, with his brother, to spend a part of the summer in a cottage which I maintained as an office. In due time the twain arrived and were heartily welcomed. They were made quite at home in my studio, which was furnished to my own fancy with books, rugs, tools of the trade, rare and curious objects from foreign parts, and, what occasioned much interest, an amount of correspondence filed away. The young gentlemen made themselves very much at home, and, in the course of a few days' intimacy, confessed to a boyishly intense sympathy with the Bolsheviki. They reveled in a white-collar abstinence, oblivious that the hated uniforms were vastly more becoming than their present garb, and took a keen delight in tearing to shreds the integrity of the press and the administration. One must admit that the latter was rather silly; but to think the press of the world in a vast conspiracy of lies against Lenine et al., savored too much of a de Quincy phantasy.