her win 400 louis without resisting in the least. Her
caprices with the officers and ladies of her household were ceaseless:
but they adored her. She was the only one of the reigning family whom
the people worshipped. She never went abroad but they followed her
carriage with shouts of acclamation: and, to be generous to them, she
would borrow the last penny from one of her poor maids of honour,
whom she would never pay. In the early days her husband was as much
fascinated by her as all the rest of the world was; but her caprices had
caused frightful outbreaks of temper on his part, and an estrangement
which, though interrupted by almost mad returns of love, was still
general. I speak of her Royal Highness with perfect candour and
admiration, although I might be pardoned for judging her more severely,
considering her opinion of myself. She said the elder Monsieur de
Balibari was a finished old gentleman, and the younger one had the
manners of a courier. The world has given a different opinion, and I can
afford to chronicle this almost single sentence against me. Besides, she
had a reason for her dislike to me, which you shall hear.

Five years in the army, long experience of the world, had ere now
dispelled any of those romantic notions regarding love with which I
commenced life; and I had determined, as is proper with gentlemen (it
is only your low people who marry for mere affection), to consolidate my
fortunes by marriage. In the course of our peregrinations, my uncle
and I had made several attempts to carry this object into effect; but
numerous disappointments had occurred which are not worth mentioning
here, and had prevented me hitherto from making such a match as I
thought was worthy of a man of my birth, abilities, and personal
appearance. Ladies are not in the habit of running away on the
Continent, as is the custom in England (a custom whereby many
honourable gentlemen of my country have much benefited!); guardians, and
ceremonies, and difficulties of all kinds intervene; true love is not
allowed to have its course, and poor women cannot give away their honest
hearts to the gallant fellows who have won them. Now it was settlements
that were asked for; now it was my pedigree and title-deeds that were
not satisfactory: though I had a plan and rent-roll of the Ballybarry
estates, and the genealogy of the family up to King Brian Boru, or
Barry, most handsomely designed on paper; now it was a young lady who
was whi