is an eternal law, that sufferers must give up hope of relief, that it is a crime to sigh for welfare in this world, since the crown of glory on high is the only reward for misery here), then the stupefied people will resignedly wallow in the mire, all their impatient aspirations for better days smothered, and the volcano-blasts blown aside, which made the future of rulers so horrid and so dark?  They see not, in truth, that this blind and passive faith which we demand from the mass, furnishes their rulers with a bridle with which both to conduct and curb them; whilst we ask from the happy of the world only some appearances which ought, if they had only the knowledge of their own corruption, to give an increased stimulant to their pleasures.

“It signifies not,” resumed the princess; “since, as you say, a great day is at hand, bringing nearly forty millions, of which the Order can become possessed by the happy success of the affair of the medals.  We certainly can attempt very great things.  Like a lever in your hands, such a means of action would be of incalculable power, in times during which all men buy and sell one another.”

“And then,” resumed M. d’Aigrigny, with a thoughtful air, “here the reaction continues:  the example of France is everything.  In Austria and Holland we can rarely maintain ourselves; while the resources of the Order diminish from day to day.  We have arrived at a crisis; but it can be made to prolong itself.  Thus, thanks to the immense resource of the affair of the medals, we can not only brave all eventualities, but we can again powerfully establish ourselves, thanks to the offer of the Duke d’Orbano, which we accept; and then, from that inassailable centre, our radiations will be incalculable.  Ah! the 13th of February!” added M. d’Aigrigny, after a moment of silence, and shaking his head:  “the 13th of February, a date perhaps fortunate and famous for our power as that of the council which gave to us (so to say) a new life!”

“And nothing must be spared.” resumed the princess, “in order to succeed at any price.  Of the six persons whom we have to fear, five are or will be out of any condition to hurt us.  There remains then only my niece; and you know that I have waited but for your arrival in order to take my last resolution.  All my preparations are completed; and this very morning we will begin to act.”

“Have your suspicions increased since your last letter?”

“Yes, I am certain that she is more instructed than she wishes to appear; and if so, we shall not have a more dangerous enemy.”

“Such has always been my opinion.  Thus it is six month:  since I advised you to take in all cases the measures which you have adopted, in order to provoke, on her part, that demand of emancipation, the consequences of which now render quite easy that which would have been impossible without it.”

“At last,” said the princess, with an expression of joy, hateful and bitter, “this indomitable spirit will be broken.  I am at length about to be avenged of the many insolent sarcasms which I have been compelled to swallow, lest I should awaken her suspicions.  I!  I to have borne so much till now! for this Adrienne has made it her business (imprudent as she is!) to irritate me against herself!”