VICTOR DUCANGE. 543 



be of use to my husband ; and ray Gustavus will certainly be rich enough 

 to seek rather an alliance which will connect him with the grande monde, 

 and the honours of the Court, than an increase of fortune, which would 

 add nothing to happiness.' " 



Between Gustavus, the son of Jean Phol, and the gentle and de- 

 licate Isaurine, daughter of the Marquis, a tender attachment had 

 subsisted from childhood, and time had ripened it into a more 

 decided passion. But the catechizing and reiterated religious lec- 

 turings of the bigotted Andoche, the ex-nun, had so wrought upon 

 the mind of the sensitive little girl, that her partiality for Gustavus 

 caused a perpetual struggle within her bosom, as she was taught to 

 believe that she would certainly be damned if she married a heretic. 

 Meantime events proceed, and the fate of Isaurine is from day to day 

 depending on a conspiracy, or a coalition, on peace or war, on a de- 

 feat or victory, on an imperial whim or a telegraphic despatch, and a 

 thousand cunning devices of the Cabinets of London, Berlin, and 

 Vienna, as her union with Gustavus must be determined by these 

 various occurrences. The Empire had displaced the Republic. 

 Buonaparte sat upon a throne, surrounded by a newly created nobility. 

 The Marquis was in favour ; he obtained places for his family ; he 

 became rich ; he communicated with the Cabinets of London, Berlin, 

 and Vienna ; legitimate treasons grew dearer by coming from better 

 sources, and English, Austrian, and Russian pensions went on in- 

 creasing. Jean Phol too had almost kept pace with him in prefer- 

 ment : from Imperial manufacturer and Government contractor he 

 had been created a Baron of the Empire, and shortly after a member 

 of the Council. The influence which these changed positions of 

 both parties exercise over the destinies of Gustavus and Isaurine, and 

 the new ideas and speculations they give rise to, are happily shewn in 

 their letters. The Marquis, for instance, seeing that Jean Phol was 

 ennobled, no matter how ; that he was in possession of a castle and 

 eighty thousand a year ; and that the continental system of blockade 

 confiscated conspiracies as well as merchandize, writes to the Mar- 

 chioness in this style : 



" Madame. Continue to pursue your present course ; hasten on the mar- 

 riage. My fidelity, the sacred cause, and the important interests of the 

 unfortunate monarchy, require this further sacrifice ; the more so as it will 

 restore, indirectly it is true, but better so than not at all, my castle of Git- 

 au-Diable, to which I adhere from principle and fidelity, for this you know 

 is my immutable device. So lose not a moment ; hasten on the marriage : 

 the Empire is up Legitimacy is down St. Cloud is very brilliant, and the 

 conspiracy has proved smoke since the crowning at Notre Dame. Not that 

 we do not know how to estimate these matters. His legitimacy is but so 

 much whipped cream : but he makes barons ; this is monarchical, a good 

 beginning, and for want of better meantime even though marry my 

 daughter she may become a Duchess, and this will be a point gained." 



So much for the Marquis ; now for the matrimonial epistle of Jean 

 :>!, the Baron and legislator: 



" My dearest spouse. Our love, our marriage, and above all, Heaven, 

 have given us but one son, and nature has endowed him with virtue, sense, 

 and talents. The success which accompanies me, the fortune which awaits 

 him, and the happy dispositions of his character, presage for him a brilliant 



Ph0, 



