to aid him?' On which the King turned on his heel, and I made my bow out
of the presence-chamber. When Lady Lyndon kissed the Queen's hand at the
drawing-room, I found that precisely the same question had been put to
her Ladyship; and she came home much agitated at the rebuke which had
been administered to her. Thus it was that my loyalty was rewarded,
and my sacrifice, in favour of my country, viewed! I took away my
establishment abruptly to Paris, where I met with a very different
reception: but my stay amidst the enchanting pleasures of that capital
was extremely short; for the French Government, which had been long
tampering with the American rebels, now openly acknowledged the
independence of the United States. A declaration of war ensued: all we
happy English were ordered away from Paris; and I think I left one
or two fair ladies there inconsolable. It is the only place where a
gentleman can live as he likes without being incommoded by his wife.
The Countess and I, during our stay, scarcely saw each other except upon
public occasions, at Versailles, or at the Queen's play-table; and our
dear little Bryan advanced in a thousand elegant accomplishments which
rendered him the delight of all who knew him.

I must not forget to mention here my last interview with my good
uncle, the Chevalier de Ballybarry, whom I left at Brussels with strong
intentions of making his salut, as the phrase is, and who had gone into
retirement at a convent there. Since then he had come into the world
again, much to his annoyance and repentance; having fallen desperately
in love in his old age with a French actress, who had done, as most
ladies of her character do,--ruined him, left him, and laughed at him.
His repentance was very edifying. Under the guidance of Messieurs of the
Irish College, he once more turned his thoughts towards religion; and
his only prayer to me when I saw him and asked in what I could relieve
him, was to pay a handsome fee to the convent into which he proposed to
enter.

This I could not, of course, do: my religious principles forbidding me
to encourage superstition in any way; and the old gentleman and I parted
rather coolly, in consequence of my refusal, as he said, to make his old
days comfortable.

I was very poor at the time, that is the fact; and entre nous, the
Rosemont of the French Opera, an indifferent dancer, but a charming
figure and ankle, was ruining me in diamonds, equipages, and furniture
bills,