h, and death alone, could save me; and it is no fault of
mine if I continue to exist.

"But you, madam," continued the young man, addressing himself more
directly to myself, "were doubtless born to save the prince and to
confound our purposes. My life you have prolonged; and by turning the
key on my companion, you have made me the author of his death. He heard
the hour strike; he was impotent to help; and thinking himself forfeit
to honour, thinking that I should fall alone upon his highness and
perish for lack of his support, he has turned his pistol on himself."

"You are right," said Prince Florizel: "it was in no ungenerous spirit
that you brought these burthens on yourself; and when I see you so nobly
to blame, so tragically punished, I stand like one reproved. For is it
not strange, madam, that you and I, by practising accepted and
inconsiderable virtues, and commonplace but still unpardonable faults,
should stand here, in the sight of God, with what we call clean hands
and quiet consciences; while this poor youth, for an error that I could
almost envy him, should be sunk beyond the reach of hope?

"Sir," resumed the prince, turning to the young man, "I cannot help you;
my help would but unchain the thunderbolt that overhangs you; and I can
but leave you free."

"And, sir," said I, "as this house belongs to me, I will ask you to have
the kindness to remove the body. You and your conspirators, it appears
to me, can hardly in civility do less."

"It shall be done," said the young man, with a dismal accent.

"And you, dear madam," said the prince, "you, to whom I owe my life, how
can I serve you?"

"Your highness," I said, "to be very plain, this is my favourite house,
being not only a valuable property, but endeared to me by various
associations. I have endless troubles with tenants of the ordinary
class; and at first applauded my good fortune when I found one of the
station of your Master of the Horse. I now begin to think otherwise;
dangers set a siege about great personages; and I do not wish my
tenement to share these risks. Procure me the resiliation of the lease,
and I shall feel myself your debtor."

"I must tell you, madam," replied his highness, "that Colonel Geraldine
is but a cloak for myself; and I should be sorry indeed to think myself
so unacceptable a tenant."

"Your highness," said I, "I have conceived a sincere admiration for your
character; but on the subject of house property I cannot al