“I am ashamed of my emotion,” said Prince Florizel; “I feel it is a weakness unworthy of my station, but the continued existence of that hound of hell had begun to prey upon me like a disease, and his death has more refreshed me than a night of slumber. Look, Geraldine,” he continued, throwing his sword upon the floor, “there is the blood of the man who killed your brother. It should be a welcome sight. And yet,” he added, “see how strangely we men are made! my revenge is not yet five minutes old, and already I am beginning to ask myself if even revenge be attainable on this precarious stage of life. The ill he did, who can undo it? The career in which he amassed a huge fortune (for the house itself in which we stand belonged to him)—that career is now a part of the destiny of mankind for ever; and I might weary myself making thrusts in carte until the crack of judgment, and Geraldine’s brother would be none the less dead, and a thousand other innocent persons would be none the less dishonoured and debauched! The existence of a man is so small a thing to take, so mighty a thing to employ! Alas!” he cried, “is there anything in life so disenchanting as attainment?” “God’s justice has been done,” replied the Doctor. “So much I behold. The lesson, your Highness, has been a cruel one for me; and I await my own turn with deadly apprehension.” “What was I saying?” cried the Prince. “I have punished, and here is the man beside us who can help me to undo. Ah, Dr. Noel! you and I have before us many a day of hard and honourable toil; and perhaps, before we have none, you may have more than redeemed your early errors.” “And in the meantime,” said the Doctor, “let me go and bury my oldest friend.” (_And this_, observes the erudite Arabian, _is the fortunate conclusion of the tale_. _The Prince_, _it is superfluous to mention_, _forgot none of those who served him in this great exploit_; _and to this day his authority and influence help them forward in their public career_, _while his condescending friendship adds a charm to their private life_. _To collect_, continues my author, _all the strange events in which this Prince has played the part of Providence were to fill the habitable globe with books_. _But the stories which relate to the fortunes of_ The Rajah’s Diamond _are of too entertaining a description_, says he, _to be omitted_. _Following prudently in the footsteps of this Oriental_, _we shall now begin the series to which he refers with the_ Story of the Bandbox.) THE RAJAH’S DIAMOND STORY OF THE BANDBOX