From the time Horatio had this discourse with the baron, the king of
Sweden was ever uppermost in his thoughts: he had always reflected that,
in the station he then was, it would be impossible to obtain any more of
mademoiselle Charlotta than her heart, at least while the baron de
Palfoy lived, and that a thousand accidents might deprive him of all
hopes of ever being more happy; but, said he to himself, were I among
the number of those who attend this hero in his martial exploits, I
might at least have an opportunity of proving how far fortune would
befriend me;--who knows but I might be able to do something which might
engage that just and generous monarch to raise me to a degree capable of
avowing my pretensions even to her father, and the same blessed day that
joined our principals, might also make me blessed in the possession of
my dear Charlotta.

With these ideas did he often flatter himself; but the manner in which
he should accomplish his desires was yet doubtless to him. The chevalier
St. George treated him with so much kindness, that he had no room to
doubt his having a great share in his favour; and was fully perswaded,
that if he communicated his intentions to him, he would vouchsafe to
give him letters of recommendation to a prince who was to be his
brother-in-law: but this he feared to ask, lest it should be looked upon
as ingratitude in him to desire to leave a court where he had been so
graciously received, and had many favours, besides the perquisites of
his post, heaped upon him, not only by the chevalier himself, but also
by the queen and princess, who, following the example of the late king,
behaved with a kind of natural affection to all the English.

He sometimes communicated his sentiments on this head to mademoiselle
Charlotta, who was too discreet not to allow the justness of them; and
well knew, that in the station her lover now was, they never could be on
any terms with each other than those they were at present: her reason,
therefore, and the advantage of her love, made her sometimes wish he
would follow the dictates of so laudable an ambition; but then the
dangers he must inevitably be exposed to in following a monarch who
never set any bounds to his courage, and the thoughts how long it might
possibly be before she saw him again, alarmed all her tenderness; and he
had the satisfaction of seeing the tears stand in her eyes whenever they
had any discourse of this nature; and tho' her wor