her cabinet. Presenting her a paper, he said with a smile-" It is an old fashioned "act of civility to present a birth-day gift ; "and yet it is among the number of "those little antiquated interchanges of "social courtesy which time seems wil"ling to rescue from the revolutions of "fashion." "And this, I suppose, my dear friend," said Imogen, looking at the paper, "is a "letter patent of immortality, drawn out by your long silent muse in favour of your humble servant, and in the form of a birth-day ode." "No," said the chevalier, smiling; "it is a more humble conveyancer of poor "temporal dignity." Imogen looked again at the paper-the royal seal was attached to it-Imogen changed colour. The chevalier in a graver tone continued "That ancient and illustrious title "which a series of ages have witnessed in VOL. IV. "possession of your ancestors, but which by the influence of the Salique law be"came extinct with your father's life, the king has been graciously pleased to 86 grant to his daughter. This paper con"tains the letters patent of your nobility : "that which by inheritance you could "not possess, by the king's royal grant is yours. Long may the countess de St. "Dorval wear the coronet of her ances 66 tors, and shed new lustre on her distinguished rank-from the light of her more distinguished virtues." The important paper still trembled unopened in the hand of the youthful countess-the deepest tint of crimson burnt on her cheek-bright was the beam of her flashing eye-nor was its brightness dimmed by the tear of grateful emotion through which it sparkled. "Your silence," continued the chevalier, "is eloquent; but to the grateful "feelings which now swell your breast I 酱 "have no other claim than that which a "wish to serve you confers; the power (enviable power!) was reserved for an"other, whose ability, though not his will, far surpasses mine. I have only interested those in your favour whose interest is more powerful in every respect than my own, and acted but a "subordinate part to a successful, though a concealed agent." "A concealed agent!" repeated Imo gen. "On this subject," said de Sorville, you must suffer me to be silent. Suffice "it to say, that those whom you least "suspect are most anxious for your hap"piness and honour; and that the king "met the wishes of your friends more than half way, and this morning, in "the midst of a large circle at the apart"ments of the duchess de Beaufort, made "public the honours he had conferred on you. Prepare yourself, therefore, this " evening for the felicitations of an aduIlatory crowd; but in the midst of its "interested homage recollect that one glance of approbation which virtue "elicits, one look of applause which "merit attracts, is worth all that servility ever paid to rank, or interest ever of "fered at the shrine of power." CHAP. XXXI. Innumerabile Son l'incantissima Son, l'arte magica Del Dia d'amer." GUARINI, Assumes a various feature to attract, With charms responsive to each gazer's eye, THE court was never more brilliant, never more crowded, than on the festival of St. Denis, the patron saint of Paris, the day on which the countess de St. Dorval, supported by the duchess de Guise and the marchioness de Bellisle, went to kiss the king's hands on her elevation to the dignity and title of her ancestors. Although still in the habit of filial grief, on this occasion she cast her "nighted co |