pointment of the Count,
and, according to which, the guardianship of the Prince Royal was
to devolve upon Duke Karl Sundermanland, the brother of Gustavus.
This was a weak, sensual, and vindictive prince, of limited
capacity, and easily led by flattery and deceit. He belonged to a
secret society, of which Baron Reuterholm was grand-master. A
couple of mysterious and well-managed apparitions were sufficient
to terrify the duke, and render him ductile as wax. The most
implicit submission was required of him, and soon the crafty
Reuterholm got the royal authority entirely into his own hands.
There was discontent and murmuring amongst the true friends of the
royal family, but Reuterholm's spies were ubiquitous, and a
frowning brow or dissatisfied look was punished as a crime. Amongst
others, Count Armfelt, who took no pains to conceal his indignation
at the scandalous proceedings of those in power, was stripped of
his offices, and ordered to set out immediately as ambassador to
Naples.

"This command fell like a thunderbolt upon the head of the Count,
whom every public and private consideration combined to retain in
Stockholm. Loath as he was to leave his country an undisputed prey
to the knaves into whose hands it had fallen, he was perhaps still
more unwilling to abandon one beloved being to the snares and
dangers of a sensual and corrupt court.

"It was on a September evening of the year 1792, and the light of
the moon fell cold and clear upon the white houses of Stockholm,
though the streets that intersected their masses were plunged in
deep shadow, when a man, muffled in a cloak, and evidently desirous
of avoiding observation, was seen making his way hastily through
the darkest and least frequented lanes of that city. Stopping at
last, he knocked thrice against a window-shutter; an adjacent door
was opened at the signal, and he passed through a corridor into a
cheerful and well-lighted apartment. Throwing off his cloak, he
received and returned the affectionate greeting of a beautiful
woman, who advanced with outstretched hand to meet him. The
stranger was Count Armfelt--the lady, Miss Rudenskjoeld--the most
charming of the court beauties of the day. The colour left her
cheek when she perceived the uneasiness of her lover; but when he