the deceased Marquis d'Harville was enabled to render most
effectual service to the father of our patron. The emperor, whose warm
regard for the late marquis had taken its date from the period of that
nobleman's emigration to Russia, exerted his powerful influence in
congress so successfully, that at the grand meeting to decide the
destinies of the princes of Germany, the father of our noble employer
was reinstated in all his pristine rights. As for the friendship now
subsisting between the present marquis and his royal highness, I believe
it commenced when, as mere boys, they met together on a visit paid by
the then reigning grand duke to the late Marquis d'Harville."

"So I have heard; and they appear to have retained a most lively
recollection of this happy period of their youth. Nor is this all I have
to say on the subject of the interest our noble master takes in every
matter concerning the house of D'Harville. So profound is his gratitude
for the services rendered to his father, that all bearing the honoured
name of D'Harville, or belonging to the family, possess a powerful claim
on the kindness of the prince. Thus, not alone to her virtues or her
misfortunes does poor Madame Georges owe the increasing and unwearied
goodness of my lord."

"Madame Georges!" exclaimed the astounded baron. "What, the wife of
Duresnel, the felon known as the Schoolmaster?"

"And the mother of Francois Germain, the youth we are seeking for, and
whom, I trust, we shall find."

"Is the relation of M. d'Harville?"

"She was his mother's cousin, and her most intimate friend; the old
marquis entertained the most perfect friendship and esteem for Madame
Georges."

"But how, for heaven's sake, my dear Murphy, did it ever come about that
the D'Harville family ever permitted a descendant of theirs to marry
such a monster as this Duresnel?"

"Why, thus it was. The father of this unfortunate woman was a M. de
Lagny, who, previous to the Revolution, possessed considerable property
in Languedoc, and who, having fortunately escaped the proscription so
fatal to many, availed himself of the first tranquillity which succeeded
these days of discord and anarchy to establish his only daughter in
marriage. Among the various candidates for the hand of the young heiress
was this Duresnel, the representative of a wealthy and respectable
family, possessing powerful parliamentary influence, and concealing the
depravity of his disposition beneath the mo