The important paper still trembled unopened in the hand of the youthful countess -the deepest tint of crimson burnt on her cheek-bright was the beam of her flashing eye-nor was its brightness dimmed by the tear of grateful emotion through which it sparkled. "Your silence," continued the chevalier, is eloquent; but to the grateful "feelings which now swell your breast I "have no other claim than that which a "wish to serve you confers; the power 2 (enviable power!) was reserved for ano"ther, whose ability, though not his will, "far surpasses mine. I have only in"terested those in your favour whose in"terest is more powerful in every respect "than my own, and acted but a subordi"nate part to a successful though a con❝cealed agent." "A concealed agent!" repeated Imogen, "On this subject," said De Sorville, you must suffer me to be silent. Suffice "it to say, that those whom you least sus pect are most anxious for your happi"ness and honour; and that the king met "the wishes of your friends more than "half way, and this morning, in the midst "of a large circle at the apartments of "the duchess de Beaufort, made public "the honours he had conferred on you. "Prepare yourself, therefore, this even"ing, for the felicitations of an adulatory "crowd; but in the midst of its interested "homage recollect that one glance of ap"probation which virtue elicits, one look "of applause which merit attracts, is worth "all that servility ever paid to rank, or in"terest ever offered at the shrine of power." CHAP. XXXI. "Innumerabile Son l'incantissima Son l'arte magica Del Dio d'amor." GUARINI. Assumes a various feature to attract, With charms responsive to each gazer's eye, THE court was never more brilliant, never more crowded, than on the festival of St. Denis, the patron saint of Paris, the day on which the countess de St. Dorval,' supported by the duchess de Guise and the marchioness de Belleisle, went to kiss the king's hands on her elevation to the dignity and title of her ancestors. Although stillin the habit of filial grief, on this occasion she cast her "nighted colour off:" the brilliant diadem of peerage for the first time encircled her polished brow, and glittered amidst the luxuriance of hershiningtresses; the purple folds of her velvet robe were confined to the symmetry of her arms, waist, and bosom, with diamond clasps of immense value; and her zone (which, like the mysterious cestus of Venus, seemed endowed with the power of conferring on its wearer a grace even more than human) was composed of the most precious gems: never had she before appeared so splendid in her attire, so beautiful in her person, so animated in her air, or so bewitching in her manner. De Sancy made her the subject of an impromptu epigram; D'Aubigné said she recalled to his mind the queen Margaret de Valois in her nuptial robes; and the old baron de Roquelaure swore by his patron saint that nothing more captivating had appeared at court since the days of the beautiful Mary Gaudoin, who in the reign of Francis the First had conquered by her charms the sacred infallibility of the pope himself. The king received her grace* Pope Leo X. ful acknowledgments in a manner so gallantand flattering, that it almost transferred the homage he received to the object from whom it flowed; and, as he condescendingly fastened a bracelet that fell from the arm of the blooming countess, he impressed the tribute of a kiss on her hand as he relinquished it. The fair Gabrielle turned pale; the ladies immediately within the circle exchanged looks of equivocal expression; and the courtiers, flocking in crowds round the "Cynthia of the moment," traced preferment in every soft propitiatory smile, and beheld in the intelligent beauty of her countenance an index to a volume of honours. Meantime the youthful peeress, delighted and delighting, conversed alternately with her gracious sovereign, or received the felicitations of the crowd who surrounded him, with dignified and graceful ease, the glow of modest confusion and triumphant pride blushing on her cheek, her eyes beaming with the brilliant emanation of |