tes."

"Very true, your Highness," chimed in the Abbe; "but such boys ought to
be watched,--their conduct inquired strictly into."

"Or better still, Monsieur l'Abbe," said the Archduke, sternly,
"dismissed the service. I see no profit in retaining amongst us the
seeds of this French malady."

"I believe your Highness takes the true view of the difficulty," said
D'Esmonde, as though reflecting over it. "And yet you will be asked to
make an officer of him in a day or two."

"An officer of this boy, and why, or by whom?"

"The Princess, his sister, will make the request; probably through Von
Auersberg."

"But when I tell the Feld--"

"Ah, your Imperial Highness could not betray a confidence!" said
D'Esmonde. "I have ventured to disclose to you what has come to my
knowledge by means only accessible to myself; I therefore rely on your
Highness not to divulge, however you may use it."

"He shall not continue to wear our cloth; that you may certainly rely
on, Monsieur l'Abbe," said the Archduke, sternly.

"In any case, wait for his sister's departure, sir," said D'Esmonde,
anxiously; "a few days or hours. As soon as this silly old lady has made
up that budget of gossip and scandal she fancies to be political news,
we 'll see her leave this, and then he can be dealt with as you think
proper."

The Archduke made no reply,--not seeming either to assent to or reject
the counsel. "It would break the old Marshal's heart," said he, at last;
"that gallant old soldier would never survive it."

"A treason might, indeed, kill him," said D'Esmonde. "But your Highness
will anticipate exposure by dismissal--dismissal, peremptory and
unexplained."

Again the Archduke was silent, but his lowering brow and dark expression
told that the subject was giving him deep and serious thought. "I paid
no attention to your conversation this evening, Abbe," said be, at last;
"but it struck me, from a chance word here and there, that you suspect
these same 'Liberal' notions are gaining ground."

"Heresies against the Faith, sir, have begotten their natural offspring,
heresies against the State; and Governments do not yet awaken to the
fact that they who scorn the altar will not respect the throne. The
whole force of what are called Liberal institutions has been to weaken
the influence of the clergy; and yet it is precisely on that same
influence you will have to fall back. It is beneath the solemn shadow of
the Church you'll seek your ref