"And what has become of her?" asked the Russian. His face was agitated, the lips were almost white. "I do not know," said Raphael, almost in a whisper, his voice failing in a sudden upwelling of tumultuous feeling. The ever-whirling wheel of journalism that modern realization of the labor of Sisyphus had carried him round without giving him even time to remember that time was flying.

His leading forth or sending forth of troops, his multiplex negotiations, solemn ceremonials, sad changes of ministry, sometimes transacted "with tears," are mostly ended; the ever-whirling dust-vortex of intrigues, of which he has been the centre for a five-and-twenty years, is settling down finally towards everlasting rest.

Deceived, alas! no single place exempt, in every birth incessant pain! Alas! the sea of birth and death revolving thus an ever-whirling wheel all flesh immersed within its waves cast here and there without reliance! thus with his pure Deva eyes he thoughtfully considered the five domains of life. He saw that all was empty and vain alike! with no dependence! like the plantain or the bubble.