rincess mortally; for her Highness in some whim had
insulted him with his origin, caused pork to be removed from before him
at table, or injured him in some such silly way; and he had a violent
animosity to the old Baron de Magny, both in his capacity of Protestant,
and because the latter in some haughty mood had publicly turned his back
upon him as a sharper and a spy. Perpetual quarrels were taking place
between them in council; where it was only the presence of his
august masters that restrained the Baron from publicly and frequently
expressing the contempt which he felt for the officer of police.

'Thus Geldern had hatred as one reason for ruining the Princess, and it
is my belief he had a stronger motive still--interest. You remember whom
the Duke married, after the death of his first wife?--a princess of the
house of F----. Geldern built his fine palace two years after, and, as I
feel convinced, with the money which was paid to him by the F----family
for forwarding the match.

'To go to Prince Victor, and report to his Highness a case which
everybody knew, was not by any means Geldern's desire. He knew the man
would be ruined for ever in the Prince's estimation who carried him
intelligence so disastrous. His aim, therefore, was to leave the matter
to explain itself to his Highness; and, when the time was ripe, he cast
about for a means of carrying his point. He had spies in the houses of
the elder and younger Magny; but this you know, of course, from your
experience of Continental customs. We had all spies over each other.
Your black (Zamor, I think, was his name) used to give me reports every
morning; and I used to entertain the dear old Duke with stories of you
and your uncle practising picquet and dice in the morning, and with your
quarrels and intrigues. We levied similar contributions on everybody
in X----, to amuse the dear old man. Monsieur de Magny's valet used to
report both to me and Monsieur de Geldern.

'I knew of the fact of the emerald being in pawn; and it was out of my
exchequer that the poor Princess drew the funds which were spent upon
the odious Lowe, and the still more worthless young Chevalier. How the
Princess could trust the latter as she persisted in doing, is beyond my
comprehension; but there is no infatuation like that of a woman in
love: and you will remark, my dear Monsieur de Balibari, that our sex
generally fix upon a bad man.'

'Not always, madam,' I interposed; 'your humble serv