Prince Eugene and His Times

ive form of her son with an expression that savored of disdain. The look was unmotherly, and seemed t

gave an expression of boldness to his countenance, increased by the shortness of his upper lip, which exposed to view two large front teeth that were almost ferocious in their size. On either side of his high, narrow forehead, his hair, instead of being worn according to the prevailing fashion, was suffered to fall in long elf-locks about his ears.

tender sadness, while, in a respectful attitude ne

, Eugene coming forward, bent over a

then consents?"

vine wherefore you make your request in a tone of such unusual solemnity. One would suppose that the

aimed he, earnestly; "would I could look into

to catechise your mother, then?"

e to ask of you whether I may walk with head erect before

; and I confess that I am very curious to learn how it happens that

m- chair, and motioned Eugene to a seat. But he only advanced a s

husky voice, "the soothsayer

ed the countess, wit

orner has been searched, and h

e?" repeated

Paris," continued he, "but the strange revelations connected with her arrest. It is said that she no

he countess as

'La poudre de succession,' was specially designed for the

ilent; her brow contracted,

lips of her son, which recalled

ly. "Have you seen a ghost, that y

ountess grew pale, and her eyes dilated with fear, her unhappy son sank up

in the anguish of my writhing soul, I ask you

to accuse me?" aske

who to me has been the ideal of beauty, goodness, and excellence, which my heart has worshipped to the exclusion of all other loves! My brain was on fire as I dashed through the scornful crowd,

erful love struggling with his anguish, that her heart was tou

, Eugene," said she, after a pause. "Follow me, and in

l crown, were the two thrones which, on the days of these state receptions, the Count and Countess de Soissons were privileged to occupy in presence of their guests, provided his majesty were not of the number. This right they held by virtue of their connection with the royal house of France, and their close relationship to the Duke of Savoy. At the time of

armor, in ducal or episcopal robes, in doublet and hose, or in flowing wigs. Silently the mother and son w

court-suit, which well became his aristocratic figure. As he gazed upon the pleasant smile tha

eyed him with a

before the portrait of your father,

son, eagerly, "I d

And by your inquiry you insinuate that such a crime by th

than once seen La Voisin

ing of his mother whether or not she poisoned his father; he should do so with the

uestion, for I read your innocence in the noble scorn that flashes from your eye, and beams from

should avenge like a man. But I forgot. The little abbe of Savoy is not accustomed to wear a sword; HIS weapon is the missal. Go, then,

pity!" sobbed Eugene, s

r heart for me when you as

dened by the sneers that were fl

in the popular cry. 'Vox populi vox

stretch me upon the rack of your scorn. I am no devotee; and, if the king, my family, and yourself, are, forcing

olence. Go, faint heart! You are fit for nothing but a whining priest, for there is not a spark of manhood within your sluggish brea

ou shall go no further in your disdain of me, for the blood of Savoy is seething within my

ss, coldly. "My answer to your infamous charge s

rd the ducal throne, and seating h

, and Piedmont, bend your knee before the mot

and knelt at the

as been put upon me to-day by him who inherits your name, but not your worth. If I am the guilty wretch which he has pronounced me to be, strike me to the ear

ugene. "It is, then, tr

ess, "he was murdered, b

"He loved me unspeakably, and wherefore should I have taken the life of him whose whole pleasure lay in ministering to my happiness? What could I gain by the death of the dearest friend I ever had? Ah, never would he have mi

," murmured

picture, "they accuse me of murdering thee, bec

ssionately. "Who are the fiends that murd

," exclaimed the cou

mistresses, De Montes

fury, that his mother turned her eyes from t

king?" said

his eyes flashing fi

d w

; I dare not say where

read throughout Europe as regards my relations, in years gone by, with Louis. You believe that your mother

made no

e infamous suspicions! Why must I live and die

d Eugene, joyfully. "You did

," said she, calmly,

alone ca

nd covered his fa

a queen; and when he did so he added a recommendation to me to be a good, dutiful niece, and never to forget who it was had helped me to a crown. I saw the youth whom

t my mother was belo

e, st

olent enjoyment to the starry realms of poetry, art, and science; and, had Louis ever risen to the fame of Numa, I should have merited that of Egeria. But this conflicted with the ambition of the cardinal. He had no sooner comprehended the nature of the influence I exerted over his royal tool, than he poisoned his ear by insinuating that ambiti

respect

uis never received a word or look of reproach for his faithlessness. Meanwhile your father offered his hand, and before I accepted it he was made a

, tenderly. "In the name of all your childr

enemy. Not even after he had consoled himself with the insipid charms of that poor, flimsy creature, La Valliere, did Louis relent; his animosity, because of some witticism of mine on the subject of his hysterical mistress, has pursued me throughout life; not only me, but every member of my family. For a mere epigram I was banished from Paris, and your father stripped of a lucrative and honorable office. We managed after a time to return to court, but my enemies were more powerful than I. Through the jealousy of the Marquise de Montespan I w

er the curse," cried he, "and it shall be

d discreet as I was, when, on being allowed to return to Paris, I humbled myself for my dear children's sake, and n

ie obscurely in some provincial village, than purchase our

vendetta could I carry out in a provincial village. Do you remember w

f a conspiracy that never could be proved, Louis XIV. sequestered the estates of the Counts de Soissons.' These were your words, and you see that I have not forgotten them. They are the steel on which I have sharpened

e king is your guardian, and he it is that from

upon to utter compulsory vows, I feel that I shall disgrace my cloth. Dear mother, loosen the detested bonds that bind

minutive figure of her son, and raised her

have trained my body for earthly strife. Look not so compassionately upon my stature, mother. This body is slender, but 'tis the coat of mail that covers an intrepid soul, and I have hardened it until it can bid defiance to wind or weather. With this arm I curb

wards of the king: your royal guardian has chosen your profession

ve me my freedom, and I will promise n

brother's scandalous marriage has forever marred our hopes of seeing him heir to the duchy of Savoy. To think

ene, with a smile. "He followed the example of his father, and may G

ogy for his brother, could not resist this filial fla

and murmured: "Pardon, dear, dear mother! My life will be all to

ot exasperate the king

t's gown will no longe

field and in the cabi

er, for both were t

ut Olympia raised her hand i

ands of the king. But, for the present, breathe not the name of Louis above a whisper. I have a deadlier foe than he to encounter now. Louvois, Louvois, I dread above all other men; and

you, mother. Revenge!-yes, revenge for your wro

ave heart these Princes of Carignan commit my cause! Come, let us leave our ancestors to their grim repos

of the lion which supported the throne. Eugene stooped hastily to release it, and, instead of drop

n, and said, "Have you learned, among your

r trainbearer, but to no other mortal

was day-dreaming again, and the sub

feel the glow of the philter as it courses through my veins, warming the blood that shall mantle in my cheeks, kindling the fire that shall flash fro

pened the door of her cabinet, she was confronted by her steward, w