ontingent of young presumptive
sovereigns. Seyton was not ignorant of the sort of German wedlock which
is called a "left-handed marriage," to which, as being legitimate to a
certain extent, he would, as a last resource, have resigned his sister.
To Germany, then, it was resolved to bend their steps, in order to
commence this search for the royal spouse.

If the project appears improbable, such hopes ridiculous, let us first
reply by saying that unbridled ambition, excited by superstitious
belief, rarely claims for itself the light of reason in its enterprises,
and will dare the wildest impossibilities; yet, when we recall certain
events, even in our own times, from high and most reputable morganatic
marriages between sovereigns and female subjects, down to the loving
elopement of Miss Penelope Smith and the Prince of Capua, we cannot
refuse some chance of fortunate result to the imagination of Seyton and
Sarah. Let us add that the lady united to a very lovely person, singular
abilities and very varied talents; whilst there were added a power of
seduction the more dangerous as it was united to a mind unbending and
calculating, a disposition cunning and selfish, a deep hypocrisy, a
stubborn and despotic will,--all covered by the outward show of a
generous, warm, and impassioned nature.

In her appearance, there was as much deceit as in her mind. Her full and
dark eyes, now sparkling, now languishing, beneath her coal black brow,
could well dissimulate all the warmth of love and desire. Yet the
burning impulses of love never throbbed beneath her icy bosom; no
surprise of the heart or of the senses ever intervened to disturb the
cold and pitiless calculations of this woman,--crafty, selfish, and
ambitious. When she reached the Continent, she resolved, in accordance
with her brother's advice, not to commence her conjugal and regal
campaign until she had resided some time in Paris, where she determined
to complete her education, and rub off the rust of her native country,
by associating with a society which was embellished by all that was
elegant, tasteful, and refined. Sarah was introduced into the best
society and the highest circles, thanks to the letters of recommendation
and considerate patronage of the English "ambassador's" lady and the old
Marquis d'Harville, who had known Tom and Sarah's father in England.

Persons of deceitful, calculating, and cold dispositions acquire with
great facility language and manners qui