desired of seeing
the Countess Ida there. I cannot say that she received me with any
particular favour; the silly young creature's affections were, as I have
said, engaged ignobly elsewhere; and, however captivating my own person
and manners may have been, it was not to be expected that she should all
of a sudden forget her lover for the sake of the young Irish gentleman
who was paying his addresses to her. But such little rebuffs as I got
were far from discouraging me. I had very powerful friends, who were to
aid me in my undertaking; and knew that, sooner or later, the victory
must be mine. In fact, I only waited my time to press my suit. Who
could tell the dreadful stroke of fortune which was impending over my
illustrious protectress, and which was to involve me partially in her
ruin?

All things seemed for a while quite prosperous to my wishes; and in
spite of the Countess Ida's disinclination, it was much easier to
bring her to her senses than, perhaps, may be supposed in a silly
constitutional country like England, where people are not brought up
with those wholesome sentiments of obedience to Royalty which were
customary in Europe at the time when I was a young man.

I have stated how, through Magny, I had the Princess, as it were, at my
feet. Her Highness had only to press the match upon the old Duke, over
whom her influence was unbounded, and to secure the goodwill of
the Countess of Liliengarten, (which was the romantic title of his
Highness's morganatic spouse), and the easy old man would give an
order for the marriage: which his ward would perforce obey. Madame de
Liliengarten was, too, from her position, extremely anxious to oblige
the Princess Olivia; who might be called upon any day to occupy the
throne. The old Duke was tottering, apoplectic, and exceedingly fond of
good living. When he was gone, his relict would find the patronage of
the Duchess Olivia most necessary to her. Hence there was a close
mutual understanding between the two ladies; and the world said that the
Hereditary Princess was already indebted to the favourite for help on
various occasions. Her Highness had obtained, through the Countess,
several large grants of money for the payment of her multifarious debts;
and she was now good enough to exert her gracious influence over Madame
de Liliengarten in order to obtain for me the object so near my
heart. It is not to be supposed that my end was to be obtained without
continual unwillingne