It was a magnificent spectacle, indeed--this immense square, filled with regiments, their helmets, swords, and gold embroideries glittering in the May sun.

Officers, mounted on richly caparisoned steeds, drew up in the centre, or galloped along the front of the lines, censuring with a thundering invective any deviation or irregularity.

In the rear of the troops stood the equipages of the distinguished spectators on the one side, while on the other the people in compact masses swayed to and fro, gayly passing judgment upon the different regiments and their generals.

The people--that means all those who were not rich enough to have a carriage, or sufficiently distinguished to claim a place upon the tribune reserved for noble ladies and gentlemen--here they stood, the educated and uneducated, shoemaker and tailor, savant and artist--a motley mixture! Two gentlemen of the high citizen class apparently were among the crowd.

They were dressed in the favorite style, which, since the "Sorrows of Werther" had appeared, was the fashion--tight-fitting boots, reaching to the knee, with yellow tops; white breeches, over which fell the long-bodied green vest; a gray frock with long pointed tails and large metal buttons, well-powdered cue, tied with little ribbons, surmounted with a low, wide-brimmed hat.