nute
afterwards, and, so soon as the domestics had quitted the apartment,
Castlewood and Esmond uncovered, and the two ladies went down on their
knees before the prince, who graciously gave a hand to each. He looked his
part of prince much more naturally than that of servant, which he had just
been trying, and raised them both with a great deal of nobility, as well
as kindness in his air. "Madam," says he, "my mother will thank your
ladyship for your hospitality to her son; for you, madam," turning to
Beatrix, "I cannot bear to see so much beauty in such a posture. You will
betray Monsieur Baptiste if you kneel to him; sure 'tis his place rather
to kneel to you."

A light shone out of her eyes; a gleam bright enough to kindle passion in
any breast. There were times when this creature was so handsome, that she
seemed, as it were, like Venus revealing herself a goddess in a flash of
brightness. She appeared so now; radiant, and with eyes bright with a
wonderful lustre. A pang, as of rage and jealousy, shot through Esmond's
heart, as he caught the look she gave the prince; and he clenched his hand
involuntarily and looked across to Castlewood, whose eyes answered his
alarm-signal, and were also on the alert. The prince gave his subjects an
audience of a few minutes, and then the two ladies and Colonel Esmond
quitted the chamber. Lady Castlewood pressed his hand as they descended
the stair, and the three went down to the lower rooms, where they waited
awhile till the travellers above should be refreshed and ready for their
meal.

Esmond looked at Beatrix, blazing with her jewels on her beautiful neck.
"I have kept my word," says he: "And I mine," says Beatrix, looking down
on the diamonds.

"Were I the Mogul emperor," says the colonel, "you should have all that
were dug out of Golconda."

"These are a great deal too good for me," says Beatrix, dropping her head
on her beautiful breast,--"so are you all, all:" and when she looked up
again, as she did in a moment, and after a sigh, her eyes, as they gazed
at her cousin, wore that melancholy and inscrutable look which 'twas
always impossible to sound.

When the time came for the supper, of which we were advertised by a
knocking overhead, Colonel Esmond and the two ladies went to the upper
apartment, where the prince already was, and by his side the young
viscount, of exactly the same age, shape, and with features not
dissimilar, though Frank's were the handsomer of the t