having secured Frank's secrecy and enthusiasm,
he left him to continue his journey, and see the other personages on
whom its success depended. The place whither Mr. Simon next travelled
was Bar, in Lorraine, where that merchant arrived with a consignment
of broadcloths, valuable laces from Malines, and letters for his
correspondent there.

Would you know how a prince, heroic from misfortunes, and descended
from a line of kings, whose race seemed to be doomed like the Atridae of
old--would you know how he was employed, when the envoy who came to him
through danger and difficulty beheld him for the first time? The young
king, in a flannel jacket, was at tennis with the gentlemen of his
suite, crying out after the balls, and swearing like the meanest of his
subjects. The next time Mr. Esmond saw him, 'twas when Monsieur Simon
took a packet of laces to Miss Oglethorpe: the Prince's ante-chamber in
those days, at which ignoble door men were forced to knock for admission
to his Majesty. The admission was given, the envoy found the King and
the mistress together; the pair were at cards and his Majesty was
in liquor. He cared more for three honors than three kingdoms; and
a half-dozen glasses of ratafia made him forget all his woes and his
losses, his father's crown, and his grandfather's head.

Mr. Esmond did not open himself to the Prince then. His Majesty was
scarce in a condition to hear him; and he doubted whether a King who
drank so much could keep a secret in his fuddled head; or whether a hand
that shook so, was strong enough to grasp at a crown. However, at last,
and after taking counsel with the Prince's advisers, amongst whom were
many gentlemen, honest and faithful, Esmond's plan was laid before the
King, and her actual Majesty Queen Oglethorpe, in council. The Prince
liked the scheme well enough; 'twas easy and daring, and suited to his
reckless gayety and lively youthful spirit. In the morning after he had
slept his wine off, he was very gay, lively, and agreeable. His manner
had an extreme charm of archness, and a kind simplicity; and, to do her
justice, her Oglethorpean Majesty was kind, acute, resolute, and of good
counsel; she gave the Prince much good advice that he was too weak
to follow, and loved him with a fidelity which he returned with an
ingratitude quite Royal.

Having his own forebodings regarding his scheme should it ever be
fulfilled, and his usual sceptic doubts as to the benefit which might
a