Mysteries of Paris -- Volume 03

, August 2

have not failed in this resolution), never to utter a word which might lead my cousin to suspect the love that I was nourishing; but I feared that my emotion, my glances, might betray me. In spite of myself, however, this sentiment, silent and concealed as it must be, seemed guilty to me. I had time to make these reflections while the Princess Amelia was dancing the first contra-dance with the Archduke Stanislaus. Here, as everywhere, dancing is no more than a kind of march which follows the measure of the orchestra; nothing could show t

I to her, "to say always my cousin,

kindly answered me; "I am al

, my cousin; I have learned through my aunt to

midly, "I know you already, if I may say so, by sight. The lady superior of St. Hermangilda, for wh

nted as a page of th

of one of our relations of the olden time, adding such kind words toward this cousin of for

ral portrait that the grand duke designed to make

the end of the concert, casting my eyes, by chance, toward the side ga

rsation that embarrassed her, she said to me, "What a w

what pleasure you

yed with excellent execution, but we can in a moment apply our own thoughts to the melodies that we

hen, the words that we adapt me

n of pleased satisfaction; "I fear I should explain but ill what I felt

her, smiling, "that you may have

she had not understood it, the Princess Amelia immediately said to me, pointing out the gran

and fine his air! how eagerly all glances follow him! It

he is cherished. If the blessings of the people should be echoed to post

know, my friend, that the dominions of the prince a

grateful glance my cousin threw upon

he to him, with emotion, "is to be wor

those rare qualities that make great princes, has he

ou speak," exclaimed the

sorrows, as they rejoice in his happiness; the eagerness of all to come and offer their homage to the Marchioness

n any one of the attachment of my father; this

appreciate her justly.

, my c

believe still, that my allusion to the abode of the princess in France, having recalled to her the death of her mother, created in her the painful impression of which I have just spoken to you. During this evening, I remarked a circumstance which will, perhaps, appear to you puerile, but which has been to me a new proof of the fascination this young girl inspires in all. Her bandeau of pearls being a little deranged, the Archduchess Sophia, who was leaning

he celebration of the marriage of the grand duke and the Marchioness d'Harville. I never saw the countenance of the Princess Amelia more radiant and more serene than during this ceremony. She gazed upon her father and the marchioness with a kind of religious ecstasy, that gave a new charm to her features; it might have been said that they reflected the ineffable happiness of the prince and the Marchioness d'H

uite a long conversation with him. He asked me of the past, of my plans for the future: he gave me the wisest counsel, the most flattering encouragement; he even spoke to me of several of his plans for government, with a confidence that made me feel as proud

ight have, before many years, a noble and great part to play in political affairs, and might thus do much good; he proposed to me, in short, the assistance of his high patronage to facilitate me at the outset of the career in which he solicited me to embark. You understand, my friend, that if the prince had had the least design upon me, he had not made me such overtures. I thanked him for his offers with warm gratitude, adding, that I felt all the worth of his counsel, and was determined to follow it. I had at first used some reserve in my visits to the palace, but in consequence of the urgency of the grand duke, I soon went there every day about three o'clock. They lived there in all the simplicity of our German courts. It was the life of the great castles in England, rendered sti

r and sister, meeting again after a long separation, would not have enjoyed a sweeter intimacy. Let me add that, when, by some unusual chance, we were left alone, the entrance of a third could never have changed the subject, or even the accent of our conversation. You will be perhaps astonished, my friend, at this brotherly feeling between two young people, especially as you recall what I have acknowledged to you; but the more confidence and familiarity my cousin showed me, the more I watched over, the more I constrained myself, for fear of putting an end to the adorable familiarity. And then, what increased still more my reserve, the princess showed, in her intercourse with me, so much frankness, so much noble confidence, and especially so little coquetry, that I am almost certain that she has always been ignorant of my violent passion, though t

ather treats you almost as a son; everybody l

to conquer my emotion, "it is not ennui; it i

ppened to you?" she a

loved me. Ah! well, before long, I must renounce these precious attachments; I must,

e that are dear to us-is thi

ut events bring so ma

u. What I feel for you is of this kind, you know full well; we are brother and sister-never

on the point of betraying myself

cumstances alter. For instance, my cousin, when in a few years I shall return, do

ld it not

ied, my cousin-you will have other duties-an

*

was a little unwell, that I might entrust to him my last words to her; he pressed me to his heart, like a father, regretting, he added, my sudden departure, and especially that this departure was occasioned by the anxiety that the health of my father gave me; then, recalling to me, with the greatest kindness, his counsel on the subject of the new career which he begged me to embrace immediately, he added, that on my return from my embassies, or on my leaves of absence, he should see me again at Gerolstein with warm pleasure. Happily, on my arrival here I found the state of my father a little improved; he still keeps his bed, and is constantly feeble, but his health no longer gives me any serious anxiety. Unfortunately, he has already noticed my depression, my gloomy taciturn

ounce his project. I will tell you what has just happened; just now I had finished this letter, when, to my great astonishment, my father, whom I beli

ite so at length?"

milian,

ectionate reproach, "I know that he possessed

tone, that, touched by his accent, I replied to him, givi

u know what he said to me, after

the grand duke all that passed

conjure you,

ate to Maximilia

my f

hould not show yourself unworthy of his noble confidence; you would do so if, abusing his offer, you shoul

, could yo

sion, and that passion is, soon

you will write to

our cousin d

my father, I supplicate

love you

r to idola

ase, I shall write to the grand duke to dem

such a claim is

deceive him. I know the greatness of his soul; he will feel that I am dealing as an honest man; if he refuses to give you his daughter, and this is almost unquestionable, he will know at least that in future, if you should return to Gerolstein, you ought to be

, my terror. Though the step he is going to take may be, after all, frank and honorable, it does not trouble me less. How will the grand duke receive this mad of

nk. It seems as though I were looking upon an

re pity me, for, in truth, I fear I shall become crazy if the fever tha

Y D'

*

e of Gerolstein, where Fleur-de-Marie