THE SPORT OF FORTUNE. ^ 13 



fion of the heart of the prince ere Aioylius could have 

 the fmalleft. furmife that he fhared it with another. 



It may be thought fomewhat furprifmg, that fo 

 confiderablc a change fhould efcape the attention of the 

 fagacious minirter : but Aioylius was too fecure in his 

 own importance for admitting the thought that fuch a 

 man as Martinengo was likely to become his rival ; 

 and the latter was too prefent to himfelf, too much on 

 his guard, to awaken his opponent from this prefump- 

 tuous fecurity, by any inconiiderate act of his. What 

 had made thoufands before him to, trip on the flippery 

 ground of princely favour, caufed Aioylius alfo to fall — 

 too much confidence in himfelf. The private familia- 

 rities that pafTed between Martinengo and his mafter, 

 gave him no difturbance at all. He readily granted the 

 %ipftart of his own erection a happinefs which he in his 

 heart defpifed, and which he had never made the object 

 of his purfuit. The friendfhip of the prince had never 

 any charms for him but as it alone could fmoothen his 

 way to fovereign power ; and he carelefsly kicked down 

 the ladder behind him as foon as it had helped him to 

 the elevation he fought. 



. Martinengo was not the man to content himfelf with 

 jplaying fo fubordinate a part. At every advance in the 

 favour of his mafter, he gave his wifhes a bolder fcope, 

 and his ambition began to thirft after more folid grati- 

 fications. The artificial difplay of fubmiffion he had 

 hitherto made to his benefactor, became daily more 

 irkfome to him as the growth of his profperity awa- 

 kened his arrogance. The refinement of the minister's 

 behaviour towards him, not proceeding in equal pace 

 with the rapid advances he made in the favour of the 

 vol. 11. l l prince, 



