his victories to his friends of the PETITES MAISONS
at Paris, where he longed to be considered as a wit and a VAINQUEUR DE
DAMES.

Seeing the young man's recklessness, and the danger of his position,
I became very anxious that MY little scheme should be brought to a
satisfactory end, and pressed him warmly on the matter.

My solicitations with him were, I need not say, from the nature of the
connection between us, generally pretty successful; and, in fact, the
poor fellow could REFUSE ME NOTHING: as I used often laughingly to say
to him, very little to his liking. But I used more than threats, or the
legitimate influence I had over him. I used delicacy and generosity;
as a proof of which, I may mention that I promised to give back to the
Princess the family emerald, which I mentioned in the last chapter that
I had won from her unprincipled admirer at play.

This was done by my uncle's consent, and was one of the usual acts of
prudence and foresight which distinguish that clever man. "Press the
matter now, Redmond my boy," he would urge. "This affair between her
Highness and Magny must end ill for both of them, and that soon; and
where will be your chance to win the Countess then? Now is your time!
win her and wear her before the month is over, and we will give up the
punting business, and go live like noblemen at our castle in Swabia. Get
rid of that emerald, too," he added: "should an accident happen, it will
be an ugly deposit found in our hand." This it was that made me agree to
forego the possession of the trinket; which, I must confess, I was
loth to part with. It was lucky for us both that I did: as you shall
presently hear.

Meanwhile, then, I urged Magny: I myself spoke strongly to the Countess
of Liliengarten, who promised formally to back my claim with his
Highness the reigning Duke; and Monsieur de Magny was instructed to
induce the Princess Olivia to make a similar application to the old
sovereign in my behalf. It was done. The two ladies urged the Prince;
his Highness (at a supper of oysters and champagne) was brought to
consent, and her Highness the Hereditary Princess did me the honour of
notifying personally to the Countess Ida that it was the Prince's will
that she should marry the young Irish nobleman, the Chevalier Redmond de
Balibari. The notification was made in my presence; and though the young
Countess said 'Never!' and fell down in a swoon at her lady's feet, I
was, you may be sure, entirely