od name than for his love of her. It would have
been so easy to remain in the full enjoyment of his conquest; but he
was too chivalrous for that, or, rather, he knew that the various
ambassadors in Paris had told their respective governments of the
rising scandal. In fact, the following secret despatch was sent to the
King of Sweden by his envoy:

I must confide to your majesty that the young Count Fersen has been so
well received by the queen that various persons have taken it amiss. I
own that I am sure that she has a liking for him. I have seen proofs of
it too certain to be doubted. During the last few days the queen has
not taken her eyes off him, and as she gazed they were full of tears. I
beg your majesty to keep their secret to yourself.

The queen wept because Fersen had resolved to leave her lest she should
be exposed to further gossip. If he left her without any apparent
reason, the gossip would only be the more intense. Therefore he decided
to join the French troops who were going to America to fight under
Lafayette. A brilliant but dissolute duchess taunted him when the news
became known.

"How is this?" said she. "Do you forsake your conquest?"

But, "lying like a gentleman," Fersen answered, quietly:

"Had I made a conquest I should not forsake it. I go away free, and,
unfortunately, without leaving any regret."

Nothing could have been more chivalrous than the pains which Fersen
took to shield the reputation of the queen. He even allowed it to be
supposed that he was planning a marriage with a rich young Swedish
woman who had been naturalized in England. As a matter of fact, he
departed for America, and not very long afterward the young woman in
question married an Englishman.

Fersen served in America for a time, returning, however, at the end of
three years. He was one of the original Cincinnati, being admitted to
the order by Washington himself. When he returned to France he was
received with high honors and was made colonel of the royal Swedish
regiment.

The dangers threatening Louis and his court, which were now gigantic
and appalling, forbade him to forsake the queen. By her side he did
what he could to check the revolution; and, failing this, he helped her
to maintain an imperial dignity of manner which she might otherwise
have lacked. He faced the bellowing mob which surrounded the Tuileries.
Lafayette tried to make the National Guard obey his orders, but he was
jeered at for his pains