denotes the rank and fortune of these charming strangers, and
denies us the power to make them amends, as an exchange of presents can
only be made with our equals; we must, therefore, take care of the
handsome shawl till we can discover the person who has sent it.' Also
the gloves and fans were carefully preserved in the elegant basket, and
they contented themselves with doing justice to the delicacies.

Gustavus, although one of the first pupils at the Imperial Academy,
frequently shared them with his sister, and daily repeated, while eating
them: 'Oh, generous and charming green hat, I will find thee. Who would
not, even the most callous, aspire to the honour and happiness of
knowing thee? Yes, yes, I will discover thee....'

But, alas, his renewed researches were as unsuccessful as the former. In
vain did he pursue every green hat he perceived at a distance in Paris,
but could not find that similarity of grace, youth, beauty, and
expression of which his sister had drawn so faithful and prepossessing a
picture.

Emmelina, being no less desirous than her brother to gain a knowledge of
the person with whom she had divided her cherries, prepared a note for
the porter to deliver, at the same time giving him strict orders to send
it by the next person that came, which note was directed _To the
charming Green Hat_ ... as follows:

'If the sensibility of your heart correspond with the charms of
your countenance, you must approve of the resolution I have
taken not to make use of all the presents with which you have
favoured me. I therefore assure you they are placed under my
mother's care, who suffers no less than myself from the cruel
secrecy in which you persist.

'EMMELINA DE CLINVILLE.'

The porter, faithful to the execution of his orders, was not long the
holder of the note. Two days after the same messenger presented himself
at the lodge, and was preparing to go away as usual, after having left
the parcel, when the porter, formerly a soldier, and still full of
vigour, seized him by the collar, and called loudly for Gustavus, who,
followed by his mother and sister, quickly descended to know from whence
he came, but neither entreaties, threats, nor the promise of reward
could prevail with this good man, who merely said the parcel was
delivered to him by an old servant in red livery, who had given him a
crown for his trouble, and being well recompensed he would