The Byzantine And Turkish Empires.

tions . Besides sending these objects of art to every known region of the world , there can be no doubt that incalcuable sums of money were flowing into the Byzantine Empire . The consequence was that public ancl private incomes amounted to sums Avhich may noAv be thought fabulousbut

, which are by no means incredible , when we bear in mind the exceptional position which this Empire was holding in the Avorld . We must also confess that taxation , both direct and indirect , Avas far more oppressive then than it is UOAVand

, that the inhabitants of the Empire Avere taxed not like the inhabitants of the present civilized nations , Avith a lenient consideration for their income , but in a more rapacious fashion according to the absolute judgement of the Sovereign .

But Ave must say that this oppressive taxation had its limits , ancl never reached such a point as to render agricultural , commercial , manufacturing , ancl , in fact , all life impracticable . If this had not been the case , it Avould have been impossible for the Empire to last for 700 years or more , and to continue during all this Avhile to levy those enormous supplies . "

Gerard Montagu:

GERARD MONTAGU :

A Winter ' s Tale . BY E 51 R A HOLMES , Author of "The Lady Muriel , " "Wailing for Her , " etc . ( Continued from page 379 . )

CHAPTER V . DE MORTUIS . THE end of July , 1870 , Gerard came in upon us at Weston quite unexpectedly . Mildred Avas shocked at bis appearance , for he

looked haggard to a degree , and almost Avild at times . He bad lost a great deal of money lately through some unfortunate ventures , " and he had been to bis lawyer in London about the estates , and evidentl y had not received good news , though for some days lie Avas

taciturn , almost morose , Avhen we approached the subject . He had heard that Lady Muriel Avas at Sneyd Park , but seemed to expect that she Avould have been home again ere this . My Avife was distressed about him . II 0

didn't seem to knoAV Avhat to do Avith himself—he Avas ahvays in and out , but he seemed restless and not himself at all . He Avas very anxious to hear everything about Muriel , IIOAV her relatives treated her , how she liked her cousin , and above

all , Avhen she Avas coining back . My Avife had her suspicions , from certain letters she had received from the little lady , that all was not as it should be , and Gerard ' s chance Avas small , but she did ' nt seem to have an opportunity of saying anything ,

because he neither made her or me his confidante in the matter . Tlie last ni ght he Avas Avith us ( I had gone down to Falconbridge ' s for a quiet smoke , as he Avas rather lonely in Muriel's absence ) he seemed more hopefulMildred

, thought , but he AA'as beAvailing his poverty , and Avondering IIOAV it was poor men ever got married . "Well , " Mildred said , " I suppose it all depends upon Avhether people love eich other very much ; but if le

peopmarry Avhen they are poor the love must not bo all on one side . " " Well , I ' ve nothing to marry on noAV , he said .

Then Mildred ansAvered quietly , whilst she took little Ethel on her knee , and was apparently busying herself in fastening baby ' s shoe" It Avould not be honourable , Avould it , for any one to propose if there Avere not

enough to live on ? " NOAV , baby dear , I will sing you one of your OAVII Jittle nursery rhymes , and Mr . Montagu shall listen to us , shan ' t he , dear 1 " aud she Avarbled to baby , much to that little innocent ' s delight , AVIIO tried to join :

There was a little man , and he wooed a little maid , And he said , " Little maid , will you wed , Aved , Aved ? I have a little more to say , then will yon yea or nay 1 For least said is soonest mended—ded , ded , dcd . "