So perfect was the hospitality of the Emperor that they had things as English as possible at the Palace-even providing an English chaplain for Sunday morning. In the afternoon, however, he backslid into French irreligion and natural depravity, and they all went to enjoy the fresh air, the sight of the trees, the flowers and the children in the Bois de Boulogne. The next day they went into the city to the _Exposition des Beaux Arts,_ and to the _Elysée_ for lunch and a reception--then they all drove to the lovely _Sainte Chapelle_ and the _Palais de Justice_. There the Emperor pointed out the old _Conciergerie_, and said--"There is where I was imprisoned." Doubtless he thought that was a more interesting historical fact than the imprisonment of poor Marie Antoinette, in the same grim building. There was also a visit to the Italian opera, where a very pretty surprise awaited the guests. At the close of the ballet, the scene suddenly changed to a view of Windsor--including the arrival of the Emperor and Empress. "_God Save the Queen_" was sung superbly, and rapturously applauded. One day the Queen, Prince, and Princess Royal, dressed very plainly, took a hired carriage and had a long _incognito_ drive through Paris. They enjoyed this "lark" immensely. Then there was a grand ball at the _Hotel de Ville_, and a grand review on the _Champ de Mars_, and a visit by torchlight to the tomb of _the_ Napoleon, under the dome of the _Invalides_, with the accompaniment of solemn organ- playing within the church, and a grand midsummer storm outside, with thunder and lightning. The French do so well understand how to manage these things! The grandest thing of all was a State ball in Versailles;--that magnificent but mournful, almost monumental pile, being gaily decorated and illuminated--almost transformed out of its tragic traditions. What a charming picture of her hostess the Queen gives us: "The Empress met us at the top of the staircase, looking like a fairy queen, or nymph, in a white dress, trimmed with grass and diamonds,--a beautiful _tour de corsage_ of diamonds round the top of her dress;--the same round her waist, and a corresponding _coiffure_, with her Spanish and Portuguese orders." She must have been a lovely vision. The Emperor thought so, for (according to the Queen) forgetting that it is not "good form" for a man to admire or compliment his own wife, he exclaimed, as she appeared: "_Comme tu es belle! _" ("How beautiful you are!")