for that child of her love had shared his warmest affection as well as his ample fortune. Perhaps, to an indulgence too unlimited might have been ascribed the restless and uncurbed spirit which looked with contempt on all present happiness; and Victor Delorme passed hours, and days, and sleepless nights in the anticipation of events which, if "taken at the flood," were to lead him to the pinnacle of fortune.

He had friends, young, ardent and zealous friends, as well as innumerable satellites, for there was a strange fascination about him, that awed while it attracted, Quick, refined and subtile, his mind was eagerly turned to every new theory of the day, however startling; and with rare gifts of grace and eloquence, he found little difficulty in imparting his own ideas to those who came within the magical sphere of his influence. Beatrice, the gentle, inexperienced Beatrice, was the only being on whom he had in vain endeavored to exercise this mysterious power. Years had passed away since she had been deprived of the guardian angel who had watched over the morning of her life; yet there were sweet and holy memories remaining-there were impressions made on that young, pure heart, as ineffaceable as if they had been engraven on adamant; and these impressions were her only shield against his refined subtleties.

The relations of Delorme with his kinsman were naturally of the most intimate character, and Beatrice had, in childhood, regarded him as a brother; but time passed on, and every added day brought new feelings and events. He saw her, almost without jealousy, promised to another, and the personal attractions

and fine qualities of his rival only stimulated an ardent desire to supplant him. Those who were far more powerful had yielded to his influence, nor did he doubt for a moment that one so gentle, so timid, so self-distrusting, would easily submit to his ascendency.

But the obstacles thrown in his way by the quiet yet persevering resolution of Beatrice to avoid him, as far as possible, perplexed and embarrassed him, while his impatient temper could ill brook these symptoms of distrust on her part, which amounted almost to aversion. She rarely afforded him any opportunity of speaking to her except in the presence of her father; and he was betrayed suddenly, and as he knew, prematurely, into the declaration of his sentiments toward her, by the temptation of an occurrence so rare as an unwitnessed interview with her.

How he reconciled the high ideas of honor, which he professed, with his determination to persuade her to a union with him, knowing, as he well did, the indignant surprise that the discovery of such a design would awaken in the breast of his kind and indulgent protector, it would be difficult to decide. Yet he formed this determination at the same moment that he professed a warm attachment to his rival, and with the certainty before him that the object of his blind passion would forfeit the favor and protection of her fond but proud and haughty parent, by a step so unwarrantable.

But to those whose principles, if they deserve the name, are warped by the vagaries of a fervid imagination, it is easy to surmount all difficulties; and to his "destiny" Victor Delorme blindly committed him

self, in the belief (he might have thought it sincere) that this destiny would guide him in the path of rectitude as well as fortune.

To the influence of the same mysterious but irresistible destiny did he ascribe the impulses of his wayward temper, which often led him, against his better judgment, amid scenes dangerous alike to his fortunes and his character. The unsettled and feverish state of public sentiment afforded a wide scope for the wild imaginations of bold and youthful adventurers, and the doctrines of la jeune France, though ridiculed in the public journals, were secretly conspiring with other causes in laying the train that was soon to explode with fearful and startling effect.

relied on.

Insensibly he found himself led on from a group of listening friends and admirers to enlarge the sphere of his attractive influence. He was sought, consulted, Schemes of government, which might have succeeded if men could have been converted into angels, were proposed for his consideration. The freedom, with which such dangerous topics were openly discussed, naturally excited jealousy and alarm on the part of the ruling government; but the feeble attempts made to repress this license, while they momentarily smothered the flame, only served to give it more deep and deadly power, when it should burst forth with renewed life and vigor. But as yet all was tranquil in the metropolis, as "the smooth surface of

a summer sea."

CHAPTER XI.

A COURT AND A MINIATURE BALL.

As it is not our intention to lead our reader into the mazes of a historical novel, the period to which we refer being too near the present day to be invested with the romance afforded by the enchantment of distance, only three of the personages of the reigning court will be mentioned in the presentation which we have seen practised, in anticipation, in the salon of the Princesse de P.

An event so brief and so unimportant to our story would not have been recorded but that it was of some consequence, at the epoch referred to, as the beginning of a social career in the brilliant circles of the metropolis, and it might appear strange, to those acquainted with the customs of the time, to omit all notice of it.

A rapid drive of a few minutes sufficed to transport Mrs. Melville and her daughter to the Pavillon d'Horloge at the Palace of the Tuileries, where, with other ladies, they were ushered through files of liveried domestics and some well-armed guards-unnecessary precaution for such gentle visitors! and conducted up

the great stairway into an ante-room, where they were received by the Princesse de P.

The ladies were as elegantly attired as the "mockery of woe" still worn by the court admitted, and the delicately fair complexion of Constance looked almost dazzling by the contrast with her black dress. The conch-shell tint of her cheek was heightened by the excitement of the novel scene on which she was about to enter; and it is not possible to imagine a more beautiful young creature than she looked at that moment. The group assembled there and unused to see such youth and loveliness awaiting an introduction to the sovereign, from whose presence custom had habitually excluded these graces, looked at her with a surprise and admiration that heightened still farther her embarrassment and her beauty; for the timidity she manifested had a peculiar charm in eyes accustomed to see only the blasé votaries of fashion.

"We shall be compelled to wait here," said the princess in a low voice, as if afraid of being overheard in the adjoining salon, "until the gentlemen who have preceded us, pass into the apartments of the Dauphiness and the Duchesse de Berri. I hope my lessons have not been forgotten," she added smiling, as she looked at Constance.

The folding doors were at that moment thrown open, and revealed a superb and brilliantly-lighted salon, at the extremity of which stood the Sovereign, surrounded by the attending nobles of his court. The throne, with its regal decorations, was on the side of the room, as the princess had indicated in the rehearsal of the presentation made in her drawing

room.