deeds, my lord has not even acquainted M. d'Harville with the
fact of his having relieved his kinswoman from such severe distress."

"I comprehend now the twofold interest which my lord has in desiring to
discover the traces of the son of this poor woman."

"You may also judge by that, my dear baron, of the affection which his
royal highness bears to the whole family, and how deep is his vexation
at seeing the young marquis so sad, with so many reasons to be happy."

"What can there be wanting to M. d'Harville? He unites all,--birth,
fortune, wit, youth; his wife is charming, and as prudent as she is
lovely."

"True, and his royal highness only had recourse to the inquiries we have
been talking over after having in vain endeavoured to penetrate the
cause of M. d'Harville's deep melancholy; he showed himself deeply
affected by the kind attentions of monseigneur, but still has been
entirely reserved on the subject of his low spirits. It may be some
_peine de coeur_."

"Yet it is said that he is excessively fond of his wife, and she does
not give him the least cause for jealousy. I often meet her in society,
and, although she is constantly surrounded by admirers (as every young
and lovely woman is), still her reputation is unsullied."

"The marquis is always speaking of her in the highest terms; he has had,
however, one little discussion with her on the subject of the Countess
Sarah Macgregor."

"Has she, then, seen her?"

"By a most unlucky chance, the father of the Marquis d'Harville knew
Sarah Seyton of Halsburg, and her brother Tom, seventeen or eighteen
years ago, during their residence in Paris, and when they were much
noticed by the lady of the English ambassador. Learning that the brother
and sister were going into Germany, the old marquis gave them letters of
introduction to the father of our noble lord, with whom he kept up a
constant correspondence. Alas! my dear De Grauen, perhaps but for these
introductions many misfortunes would have been avoided, for then
monseigneur would not have known this woman. When the Countess Sarah
returned hither, knowing the friendship of his royal highness for the
marquis, she presented herself at the Hotel d'Harville, in the hope of
meeting monseigneur; for she shows as much pertinacity in pursuing him
as he evinces resolution to avoid her."

"Only imagine her disguising herself in male attire, and following him
into the Cite! No woman but she would have dreamt of such