The river pageant

           Atnineintheeveningthewholevastriver-frontofthepalacewasblazingwithlight.Theriveritself,asfarastheeyecouldreachcitywards,wassothicklycoveredwithwatermen’sboatsandwithpleasure-barges,allfringedwithcolouredlanterns,andgentlyagitatedbythewaves,thatitresembledaglowingandlimitlessgardenofflowersstirredtosoftmotionbysummerwinds.Thegrandterraceofstonestepsleadingdowntothewater,spaciousenoughtomassthearmyofaGermanprincipalityupon,wasapicturetosee,withitsranksofroyalhalberdiersinpolishedarmour,anditstroopsofbrilliantlycostumedservitorsflittingupanddown,andtoandfro,inthehurryofpreparation.

           Presentlyacommandwasgiven,andimmediatelyalllivingcreaturesvanishedfromthesteps.Nowtheairwasheavywiththehushofsuspenseandexpectancy.Asfarasone’svisioncouldcarry,hemightseethemyriadsofpeopleintheboatsriseup,andshadetheireyesfromtheglareoflanternsandtorches,andgazetowardthepalace.

           Afileoffortyorfiftystatebargesdrewuptothesteps.Theywererichlygilt,andtheirloftyprowsandsternswereelaboratelycarved.