CHAPTER IX.

Je connais la valeur réelle du clinquant que les femmes du monde s'appliquent pour se faire scintiller, et des paillettes qu'elles sément autour d'elles. Leur personne, leur esprit, et leur coeur ne porte que du faux. Devant dieu, ces femmes là n'entendent que le soufflet de l'orgue,-incapable d'apprécier l'hymne sacrée.

GAUTIER.

Great Lady,

Canst thou be sad?-Then I forgive thee all.

BARRY CORNWALL.

INFIRM of health as he was able and active in mind, the venerable representative of the court of Austria rarely accompanied his lady into the circles where his predominant position compelled their appearance. And as it happened that Count Adolph von Stahremberg, the attaché to whom devolved the charge of escorting her on such occasions,

was young, handsome, and an endangerer of reputations, as a matter of prudence, the countess frequently forestalled their tête-àtête, by securing the company of Cleve; a man sans conséquence in the estimation of the court circle.

Still, the young savant was too pre-eminently handsome and the ambassadress young enough, for the intimacy to excite more observation than she surmised; and while he was assisting to remove her shawl in the cloak-room of the Palazzo Pietracatella, all present stood aloof, as if in deference to an established liaison.

While delivering to the gorgeous chasseur her excellency's shawl and snow shoes, to be forthcoming after the ball, Cleve became the object of observation to some English ladies who were waiting to receive a number in exchange for their cloaks. Not that they recognized him.-Dazzled by the brilliancy of the scene, bewildered by the prospect of

a new fête in a new country, and doubtful till a few hours before of obtaining an invitation, Mrs Hecksworth was little likely to surmise that, in the attendant of one of the greatest ladies of Naples, she beheld the humble protégé of her late brother.

To the two girls, Cleve was a perfect stranger; and though their mother fancied that the face of the handsome young man who was giving his arm to the lady in the blue crape dress so profusely trimmed with diamonds was not unfamiliar to her, her attention was divided between the brilliant attire of the countess and the expressive countenance of her companion.

The

On the part of Cleve, on the other hand, the recognition was instantaneous. colour that overspread his sallow cheeks, even to the roots of his hair, avouched that the presence of his benefactress had cowed his better part of man!

In spite of the distinctions to which he had

was young, handsome, and an endangerer of reputations, as a matter of prudence, the countess frequently forestalled their tête-àtête, by securing the company of Cleve; a man sans conséquence in the estimation of the court circle.

Still, the young savant was too pre-eminently handsome and the ambassadress young enough, for the intimacy to excite more observation than she surmised; and while he was assisting to remove her shawl in the cloak-room of the Palazzo Pietracatella, all present stood aloof, as if in deference to an established liaison.

While delivering to the gorgeous chasseur her excellency's shawl and snow shoes, to be forthcoming after the ball, Cleve became the object of observation to some English ladies who were waiting to receive a number in exchange for their cloaks. Not that they recognized him.-Dazzled by the brilliancy of the scene, bewildered by the prospect of

a new fête in a new country, and doubtful till a few hours before of obtaining an invitation, Mrs Hecksworth was little likely to surmise that, in the attendant of one of the greatest ladies of Naples, she beheld the humble protégé of her late brother.

To the two girls, Cleve was a perfect stranger; and though their mother fancied that the face of the handsome young man who was giving his arm to the lady in the blue crape dress so profusely trimmed with diamonds was not unfamiliar to her, her attention was divided between the brilliant attire of the countess and the expressive countenance of her companion.

The

On the part of Cleve, on the other hand, the recognition was instantaneous. colour that overspread his sallow cheeks, even to the roots of his hair, avouched that the presence of his benefactress had cowed his better part of man!—

In spite of the distinctions to which he had