One great difficulty equally affected all parties; it was essential to the Baron, that the death of his relation should be publicly announced, that all doubts should be removed, and his possession of the estates be unquestionably his right. How this matter could be elucidated, without involving the names and story of Count M——— and Eugenia, puzzled them all. Several plans and stories were suggested, but all liable to objections, until Ferdinand being requested to give his opinion, proposed that the account should be as simple as possible, and that his name only should be brought forward, in the following manner:—"Having lost the road, he was conducted by chance to this Castle, where he was admitted by the late Baron, who acquainted him with his retirement from the world in consequence of his wife's leaving him on the day of marriage, and flying to a Convent; that unable to discover her retreat, and conscious of her utter dislike to him, he had grown weary and disgusted with mankind,
