ite a Judith;
but after the hours that have elapsed you will probably be relieved to
hear that he is fairly well. I took his news this morning ere I left.
Doing fairly well, they said, but suffering acutely. Hey?--acutely. They
could hear his groans in the next room."

"And the Prince," she asked, "is anything known of him?"

"It is reported," replied Sir John, with the same pleasurable
deliberation, "that upon that point your Highness is the best
authority."

"Sir John," she said eagerly, "you were generous enough to speak about
your carriage. Will you, I beseech you, will you take me to the
Felsenburg? I have business there of an extreme importance."

"I can refuse you nothing," replied the old gentleman, gravely and
seriously enough. "Whatever, madam, it is in my power to do for you,
that shall be done with pleasure. As soon as my chaise shall overtake
us, it is yours to carry you where you will. But," added he, reverting
to his former manner, "I observe you ask me nothing of the Palace."

"I do not care," she said. "I thought I saw it burning."

"Prodigious!" said the Baronet. "You thought? And can the loss of forty
toilettes leave you cold? Well, madam, I admire your fortitude. And the
state, too? As I left, the government was sitting,--the new government,
of which at least two members must be known to you by name: Sabra, who
had, I believe, the benefit of being formed in your employment--a
footman,--am I right?--and our old friend the Chancellor, in something
of a subaltern position. But in these convulsions the last shall be
first, and the first last."

"Sir John," she said, with an air of perfect honesty, "I am sure you
mean most kindly, but these matters have no interest for me."

The Baronet was so utterly discountenanced that he hailed the appearance
of his chaise with welcome, and, by way of saying something, proposed
that they should walk back to meet it. So it was done; and he helped her
in with courtesy, mounted to her side, and from various receptacles (for
the chaise was most completely fitted out) produced fruits and truffled
liver, beautiful white bread, and a bottle of delicate wine. With these
he served her like a father, coaxing and praising her to fresh
exertions; and during all that time, as though silenced by the laws of
hospitality, he was not guilty of the shadow of a sneer. Indeed, his
kindness seemed so genuine that Seraphina was moved to gratitude.

"Sir John," she said, "you hate