“‘Mademoiselle, Seraphina is in your father’s closet.’
“‘Alone?’
“‘No with his excellency.’
“I ran to the boudoir: the door, which was previously shut, at that instant opened, and my father with Seraphina came out: the latter was in tears. I remarked that my father had an air of chagrin and doubt which not even the storms of public life had ever produced in his countenance.
“He made us a sign full of gentleness, and Seraphina followed me into another room: but she first assured my father she would remember the promise he had exacted, and of which I was still ignorant.
“Seraphina appeared to me so tormented by the internal conflicts she endured, that I several times endeavoured, but in vain, to draw from her the mysterious event which had so recently thrown her into so alarming a situation. At last I overcame her scruples, and she answered me as follows:
“‘Your curiosity shall be satisfied, in part. I will develop some of the mystery to you; but only on one irrevocable condition.’
“I entreated her instantly to name the condition: and she thus continued:—
“‘Swear to me, that you will rest satisfied with what I shall disclose to you, and that you will
