door opened, and, to my great
surprise, my father, whom I believed to be in bed, entered; he
saw the letter on the table.

"To whom are you writing so long a letter?" said he, smiling.

"To Maximilian, father."

"Oh," said he, with an expression of affectionate reproach, "he
has all your confidence! He is very happy!"

He pronounced these last words in so sorrowful a tone that I
held out the letter to him, almost without reflection, saying:

"Read it, father."

My friend, he has read all! After having remained musing some
time he said to me:

"Henry, I shall write and inform the grand duke of all that
passed during your stay at Gerolstein."

"Father, I entreat you not!"

"Is what you have written to Maximilian scrupulously true?"

"Yes."

"Do you love your cousin?"

"I adore her; but--"

My father interrupted me.

"Then, in that case, I shall write to the grand duke and demand
her hand for you."

"But, father, such a demand will be madness on my part!"

"It is true; but still, in making this demand, I shall acquaint
the prince with my reasons for making it. He has received you
with the greatest kindness, and it would be unworthy of me to
deceive him. He will be touched at the frankness of my demand,
and, though he refuse it, as he certainly will, he will yet know
that, should you ever again visit Gerolstein, you cannot be on
the same familiar terms with the princess."

You know that, although so tenderly attached to me, my father is
inflexible in whatever concerns his duty; judge, then, of my
fears, of my anxiety.

I hastily terminate this long letter, but I will soon write
again. Sympathise with me, for I fear I shall go mad if the
fever that preys on me does not soon abate. Adieu, adieu! Ever
yours,

HENRY D'H.-O.

We will now conduct the reader to the palace of Gerolstein, inhabited by
Fleur-de-Marie since her return from France.

CHAPTER II.

THE PRINCESS AMELIE.

The apartment of Fleur-de-Marie (we only call her the Princess Amelie
officially) had been by Rodolph's orders splendidly furnished. From the
balcony of the oratory the two towers of the Convent of Ste. Hermangeld
were visible, which, embosomed in the woods, were in their turn
overtopped by a high hill, at the foot of which th