26
THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS.
was to assist Sarah in contriving the conjugal plot, by
which she hoped to catch a crown. Tom was to be half
concerned in all the stratagems, in all the intrigues
which might bring about this result; but he would
sooner have killed his sister than to have seen her the
chre amie of a prince, even with the certainty of a
marriage of reparation.
The kind of matrimonial inventory which resulted
from the researches of Tom and Sarah in the "Alma-
nac of Gotha " was satisfactory. The Germanic Confed-
eration furnished, above all, a numerous contingency
of young, presumptive sovereigns. Sarah was a Prot-
estant; Tom was not ignorant of tlie facility of the
left-handed German marriages, marriages otherwise
legitimate, and to which he would be resigned for his
sister, in the last extremity. It was, then, determined
between them that Germany should be the first field of
their operations.
If this project appears impossible, these hopes insen-
sate, we answrer, that an unbounded ambition, much
increased by a superstitious belief, is very rarely rea-
sonable in its views, or staggered by impossibilities;
besides, in recalling to mind certain contemporaneous
facts from the august and "morganatique " marriages
between sovereigns and subjects, to the "amoureuse
odysee" of Miss Penelope Smyth and the Prince of
Capua, one cannot but allow some probabilities of suc-
cess to the views of Tom and Sarah.
We will add, that the latter joined to wonderful
beauty great aptitude for the most varied accomplish-
ments, and a power of seduction so much the more
dangerous, as, with a hard and selfish heart, a cunning
and wicked mind, a profound dissimulation, a deter-
mined and wilful disposition, she united all under the
appearance of a generous, ardent, and impassioned
nature. Her physical organization was quite as decep-
tive. Her large black eyes, now sparkling, now lan-
guishing under her ebony eyebrows, could feign the
ardent gaze of the voluptuary, yet the burning aspira-
tions of love never caused her heart to beat in her
frozen bosom; no surprise of the heart or the senses
ever could derange the merciless calculations of this
cunning, egotistic, ambitious woman.
In arriving on the Continent, Sarah, from the coun-
sels of her brother, did not wish to commence her un-
dertaking without first making a visit to Paris, where
she desired to finish her education, and to soften down
her English roughness, by mixing with the most pol-
ished society. She was introduced into the best and
most fashionable circles of the "grande monde,"
thanks to the letters and kind patronage of the English
ambassadress and the old Marquis d'Harville, who had
known in England the father of Tom and Sarah,
After a sojourn of six months in-Paris, Sarah could
compete with the Parisienne, the most "Parisienne"
Inthe world, for the " grace piquante " of her mind, the
charm of her gayety, and the provoking naivete of the
glance of her eye, the ingenuity of her coquetry, at
once chaste and passionne.
Finding his sister sufficiently armed, Tom set out
with her for Germany, furnished with excellent letters
of introduction.
The first state of the Germanic Confederation which
was found on the itinerary of Sarah was the Grand-
duchy of Gerolstein, thus designated in the diplomatic
and infallible Almanac of Gotha, for the year 1819:
Genealogy of the Sovereigns of Europe and of their
Families.
GEROLSTEIN.
Grand-duke Maximilian Rodolphe, born the 10th De-
cember, 17B4.   Succeeded his father Charles Fred-
eric Rodolphe, the 21st April, 1785.   Widower, Jan-
uary, 1808, of Louisa, daughter of the Prince John
Augustus, of Burglen.
SON,
Gustavus Rodolphe, born 17th April, 1803.
mother,
Grand-duchess Judith, dowager widow of the Grand-
l duke Charles Frederic Rodolphe, the 21st April.
1785.                                                                        v    '
Tom had sense enough to inscribe first on his list the
youngest of the princes whom he desired for his
brother-in-law, thinking that extreme youih was more
easily seduced than riper age. And, besides, as we
have said, Tom and Sarah had been particularly re-
commended to the reigning Grand-duke of Gerolstein
by the old Marquis d'Harville, infatuated, like every-
body else, with Sarah, whose beauty, grace, and
charming manners he never could sufficiently admire.
It is useless to say that the heir presumptive of the
Grand-duchy of Gerolstein was Gustavus Rodolphe; he
was scarcely eighteen, when Tom and Sarah were pre-
sented to his father.
The arrival of the young Scotch girl was quite an
event in this little German court, calm, simple, serious,
and thus to speak, patriarchal. The grand-duke, the
best of men, governed his state with paternal kindness;
nothing could be more materially, more morally happy,
than this principality; its population, industrious and
sedate, frugal and religious, presented "the type ideal"
of the German character.
These good people enjoyed a happiness so profound,
they were so completely satisfied with their condition,
that the enlightened solicitude of the grand-duke had
but little to do to preserve them from the mania of
constitutional innovations.
As to modern discoveries, as to practical ideas, which
might have a salutary influence on the well-being, and
on the morality of the people, the grand-duke kept him-
self well-advised, and applied them immediately, his
ministers,resident at- the different courts of Europe.hav-
ing, as it were, no other mission than to keep their
master well advised of the progress of science, in a
point of view of public and practical utility.
We have already said that the grand-duke felt as
much affection as gratitude for the old Marquis d'Har-
ville: thanks to the letters of this last, Tom and Sarah
Seyton, of Halsbury, were received at the court of
Uerolstein with a very marked and kind distinction.
Fifteen days after her arrival, Sarah, endowed with a
profound spirit of observation, had easily penetrated
the firm, loyal, and open character of the grand-duke.
Before she vanquished the son, and infallible business,
she had wisely resolved to assure herself of the dis-
position of the father, who appeared to love his son so
blindly, that for a mom- nt Sarah believed him capable
of consenting to a misalliance, rather than see his dear
son eternally unhappy. But soon she was convinced
that this affectionate parent would never depart from
certain principles, certain ideas of the duties of
princes. It was not on account of his pride; it was
conscience, reason, dignity.   Now a man of this ener-
good, as it is firmer and stronger, never accedes to any-
thing that touches his conscience, his reason, his dig-
nity.
Sarah was on the point of renouncing her under-
taking, in face of these obstacles almost insurmount-
able; but reflecting, on the other hand, that Rodolphe
was very young, that they praised, generally, his
sweetness, his kindness of disposition, his character, at
once timid and pensive, she thought the young prince
weak and irresolute: so she persisted, then, in her
projects and hopes. On this occasion, the conduct of
her brother and herself was a model of generalship.
The y.ung girl sought to conciliate everybody, and,
above all, those who might be jealous of her advan-
tages; she made her beauty and grace forgotten by
the modest simplicity with which she concealed them.
Soon she became the idol, not only of the grand-duke,
but of his mother the grand-duchess dowager, who, in
spite of, or on account of her ninety years, loved all
that was young and charming.
Several times Tom and Sarah had spoken of their
departure ; but never would the sovereign of Gerolstein
listen to the proposal: aud to keep near him both the
brother and sister, he begged the baronet, Tom Seyton,
of Halsbury, to accept the vacant situation of first
master ef ihe horse, and he instructed Sarah not to
leave the grand-duchess, who could not exist without
her. After a long hesitation, combated by the most
powerful influence, Tom and Sarah accepted these
brilliant propositions, and established themselves at
the court of Gerolstein, where they had been about
two months.
Sarah, an excellent musician, knowing the taste of
the grand-duchess for the old masters, and amongothers
for Gluck, sent for the works of this illustrions man,
and fascinated the princess by her inexhaustible " com-
plaisance," and by the remarkable talent with which
she sang these old airs, of a beauty so simple and
touching.
Tom, on his part, knew how to render himself very
useful in the employment the grand-duke had con-
fided to him. The Scotchman was perfectly familiar
with horses; he had much method and firmness, and
in a short time completely reorganized the service of
the stables, a service heretofore much neglected.
The brother and sister were soon equally loved,
feted, and caressed in this court. The preference of
the master commanded the secondary preferences.
Sarah had, besides, need, for her future projects, of too
many " points d'appui " not to employ all her arts to
make partisans. Her hypocrisy, clothed in the most
attractive garb, easily deceived the most of these loyal
Germans, and the general affection of all soon Tsealed
the excessive benevolence of the grand-duke.'
And now behold our couple established at the court
of Gerolstein, and honorably placed, without, as yet,
anything said about Rodolphe. By a lucky chance,
some days after the arrival of Sarah, he set out on a
tour of inspection, accompanied by an aid-de-camp
and the faithful Murphy. This absence, doubly favor-
able to the views of Sarah, permitted her to dispose at
her ease of the principal threads of the net that she
was warping without being restrained by the presence
of the young prince, whose admiration, too open,
might have awakened the fears of the grand-duke. On
the contrary, in the absence of his son, unfortunately
he never thought that he had admitted to his intimacy
a young girl of rare beauty and charming mind, who
naturally would associate with Rodolphe every hour in
the day. Sarah remained insensible".to this reception
so touching so generous, to this noble confidence with
which she was introduced to the bosom of this sover-
eign family. Neither this young girl nor her brother
drew back a moment from their evil designs : they came
knowingly to bring trouble and sorrow into this peace-
able and happy court. They coldly calculated the
probable results of the cruel divisions which they were
about to sow between a father and son until then ten-
derly united.
Chapter X.Sir  Walter Murphy and the  Abbe
Polidori.
Rodolphe during his childhood had been of a very
frail constitution. His father reasoned thus, strange iii
appearance, but in reality very sensible.
The English country gentlemen are generally re-
markable for robust health. This advantage is de-
rived from their physical education; plain, rugged,
rustic, it develops their strength. Rodolphe will soon
be out of the hands of his nurses; bis temperament is
delicate; perhaps, in accustoming this child to live like
the son of an English farmer (save some attentions), I
shall strengthen his constitution. The grand-duke
sent to England for a man worthy and capable to direct
this kind of physical education. Sir Walter Murphy, a
fine specimen of a Yorkshire country gentleman, was
intrusted with this important task. The course he
pointed out to the young duke answered perfectly to
the views of the father. Murphy and his pupil lived
for several years on a. small farm, situated in the midst
of woods, at some leagues distant from the city of
Gerolstein, in a most salubrious and picturesque posi-
tion. Rodolphe, free from all restraints of etiquette,
engaged with Murphy in agricultural pursuits suitable
to his age, living a quiet, sober, regular life, having for
pleasure and relaxation the manly exercises of the
chase, pugilism, hunting, and shooting. In the pure air
of the meadows, woods, and mountains, the young
prince seemed regenerated, shooting upward like a
young oak ; the unhealthy pallor of his cheeks gave place
to the robust colors of health ; although light and slender,
yet he always endured the greatest fatigues. By his
address, energy, and courage, he was soon able to
wrestle, with success, with young men much older
than himself; he was then about fifteen or sixteen
years of age.
His scientific education naturally was neglected for
the physical one. Rodolphe knew but little ; but fhe
grand-duke wisely thought that, to expect much from
the mind, it was necessary that the mind should be
sustained by a strong physical organization; then al-
though instruction should come late, yet the intellec-
tual faculties would be rapidly developed.
The good Murphy was no scholar; he could only give
to Rodolphe some primitive instructions; but no one
better than he could inspire a pupil with the conscious-
ness of what was base, ignoble, and contemptible.
This hatred of vice, this energetic and salutary ad-
miration of virtue, took root forever in the bosom of
Rodolphe; later, these principles were violently shaken
by the storms of passion ; but never were they torn
from his heart. The thunderbolt strikes and shatters
the tree firmly planted, but the sap lives in its roots,
, and a thousand green branches soon cover the un-
getic temperament, so much the more affectionate and   sightly, and withered trunk.   Murphy gave,'then, to
Rodolphe, if it may be said, the health of both bodj
and mind; he made him robust, active, and hardy,
sympathetical with that which was great and good, re-
pugnant to that which was wicked and bad.
His task thus admirably fulfilled, the squire, recalled
to England by important business, left Germany for
some time, to the great regret of Rodolphe, who loved
him tenderly.
Murphy had agreed to return and fix himself perma-
nently at Gerolstein, with his family, as soon as he
could arrange some important affairs; he hoped not to
be absent more than one year. Reassured concerning
the health of his son, the grand-duke thought seriously
of his future education. A certain Abbe Polidori, a
renowned physiologist, distinguished physician, his-
torian, and very learned in the studies of physical and
ordinary sciences, was intrusted with the cultivation
of this rich, but virgin soil, so perfectly prepared by
Murphy.
This time the choice of the grand-duke was unfortu-
nate, or, rather, his religion was cruelly deceived by
the person who presented the abbe to him, and caused
him to be accepted; he, a Catholic priest, as a precep-
tor for a Protestant prince. This innovation was very
much disapproved by many, and thought to be of
" funeste presage " for the education of Rodolphe.
Chance, or, rather, the abominable character of the
abbe, realized a part of these sad predictions.
Impious imposter, hypocrite, sacrilegious despiser of
all that is held most sacred among men ; full of cunning
and address, concealing the most dangerous immor-
ality, the most frightful skepticism, under a pious and
austere exterior; exaggerating a false Christian hu-
mility to conceal his insinuating suppleness, even so
far that he affected an expansive benevolence, an in-
genuous optimism to conceal the perfidy of his inter-
ested flattery; with a profound knowledge of man-
kind, or, rather, being only experienced in the baser
passions of mankind, the Abbe Polidori was the most
detestable mentor that could have been given to a
young man. Rodolphe, abandoning with extreme re-
gret the independent, animated life which he had led
until then, with Murphy, for the ceremonious usages of
father's court, for musty books, took, at first, tho
abbe in great aversion.   It could hardly be otherwise.
On leaving his pupil, the poor squire had compared
him, and not without reason, to a wild young colt, full
of grace and vigor, just taken from the prairies,
where he had sported free and joyful, to be submitted
to the bridle and spur, and to be taught to mod-
erate and use his strength, which, until then, he had
employed only to run and bound according to his
caprice.
Rodolphe commenced by declaring to the abbe that
he felt no inclination to study; .that he had, before
everything, need of exercising his arms and legs; to
breathe the pure air of the fields; to rove over woods
and mountains; besides, a good horse and gun seemed
to him preferable to all the books in the world.
The priest answered his pupil, that there was in ef-
fect, nothing more tiresome than study; but that noth-
ing was more clownish than the pleasures he preferred
to study; pleasures entirely worthy of a stupidGerman
farmer; and the abbe drew such a ridiculous picture
of this simple and rustic life, that, for the first time,
Rodolphe was ashamed to have found it so happy.
Then he naively asked the priest how he should pass
his time, if he loved neither the chase, study, nor the
free life of the country.
The aobe answered him, mysteriously, that he would
instruct him by-and-by. Under another point of view
the hopes of this priest were as ambitious as those of
Sarah. Although the Grand-duchy of Gerolstein was
only a secondary state, the abbe imagined himself one
day become a Richelieu, and Rodolphe playing the
partof "Prince Faineant."*
He began then to endeavor to render himself agree-
able to his pupil, and to cause him to forget Murphy,
by means of his condescension and obsequiousness.
Rodolphe continuing to be refractory respecting the
cause of science, the abbe concealed from the grand
duke the repugnance of Rodolphe for study; on the
contrary, he boasted of his assiduity and his astonish-
ing progress; and some few question prepared before-
hand between him and Rodolphe, but which seemed al-
together accidental, continued the grand-duke (not
very learned, it must be avowed) in his blind confid-
ence.
By degrees the indifference with which the priest had
at first inspired Rodolphe changed, on the part of the
young prince, to a cavalier familiarity, very different
from the serious attachment that he had for Murphy.
Soon Rodolphe found himself united to the abbe (al-
though by very innocent causes)by the kind of ties whieh
unite two accomplices. Sooner or later he would de-
spise a man of. the character and age of this priest,
who could lies so unworthily to excuse the idleness of
his pupil. The abbe knew this, but he also knew that,
if one did not fly at once from the corruption of cor-
rupt beings, that, in spite of themselves, by degrees
they became accustomed to their wit, too often at-
tracting; and that insensibly they arrived at the point
of hearing, without shame and indignation, ridiculed
and sneared at what before they had held in veneration
and respect.
The abbe, besides, was too cunning to attack directly
certain noble conviction, fruits of the education of
Murphy. After having redoubled his railleries on th
vulgarity of the pastimes of his early years, the priest,
half laying aside his mask of austerity, had vividly ex-
cited his curiosity by a relation of the enchanting life
led by princes of a time gone by; finally, ceding to tho
requests of Rodolphe, after a good deal of manage-
ment, and many jokes on the ceremonious gravity of
the court of the grand-duke, the abbe inflamed the im-
agination of the young prince by the exaggerated and
highly colored recitals ofthe pleasures and gallantries
which had illustrated the reigns of Louis XIV., the re-
gent, and, above all, Louis XV., the hero of Cesar Poli-
dori.
He assured this unfortunate boy, who listened to him
with fatal avidity, that even excessive voluptuousness,
far from demoralizing a prince happily endowed, on
the contrary, often rendered him merciful and gener-
ous; for this reason, that fine minds are never mors
predisposed to benevolence and affection than by hap.
piness.
Louis XV., " le bien aime," was an irrefragable proof
of this assertion. "And besides," said the abbe, "how-
many men of ancient and modern times have largely
sacrificed to an epicurianism the most refined, from
* Idleor l&sy.