of this loss, the original cause gained a stronger ascendency.-More and more disgusted with the world, and offended by the discovered inconstancy or perfidiousness of his supposed friends, he became in reality what he had hitherto only worn the external semblance of, haughty and disdainful. The king, who was attached to him with fraternal affection, knew not at first how to reconcile himself to this extraordinary change, which, though gradual in its progress, had risen to too great a height for his partiality to overlook. At one time he was induced to give ear to the malicious insinuation of his favorite's enemies, who hinted at remorse for some hidden crime: at another, acquainted as he was with De Bellefonde's elevation of sentiment, he could not forbear imagining that the intoxication of power had perverted the natural candor of his mind, and produced in him that self-importance and false pride of rank which he saw exemplified in so many instances around him from the same cause. Neither of these suggestions however could obtain a permanent hold in the King's mind. De Bellefonde's unfeigned detestation of every species of turpitude silenced the former; and, though the latter was apparently more demonstrable, his original sentiments were so foreign from pride, and his deep dejection so incompatible with vanity or the arrogance of adventitious elevation, that the King soon became persuaded that his change of manners proceeded rather from pride wounded than elated. He saw clearly that some hidden grief preyed upon his mind; but, as De Bellefonde studiously evaded his inquiries, and even betrayed. a degree of impatience whenever the topic was introduced, he ceased to urge it to him, and only lamented that a mind so exalted should be depressed by any affliction which he possessed not the power to alleviate. De Bellefonde was still the affectionate friend, the faithful servant, L 2 servant, and the judicious counsellor, of his sovereign; inflexible in justice, and studious to promote the interests of his country. No domestic cares ever impeded his public duties, no private sor-rows ever interfered with the scrupulousdischarge of these; and the King, far from condemning his obstinate silence on the subject of his secret griefs, admired him the more for a forbearance which he. now imagined to be the result of that magnanimity which despises the ebullitions of a fruitless regret.. He once indeed had let fall an expression which on: reflection confirmed the King in this opinion. It was during some court-cabal. which needed all De Bellefonde's firmness and impartiality to repress, when the King, talking with him of indifferent matters, suddenly adverted to the affair. in agitation, and lamented that he who seemed involved in sorrows of his own should be so often harassed with adjusting the differences of others... 2 * Sire," Sire," replied he with unusual coldness, "the sorrows of the individual are but as a grain of sand to, the ocean: they are peculiarly his own, and ought never to intrude upon the quiet of o hers; much less are they worthy of coming in competition with what a man owes to the community."-Ever more ready to lean to the side of clemency than of condemnation in his decisions on the motives of others, the King embraced with sincere pleasure every conjecture which spoke favorably of the man whom he loved; and, if De Rosier lost some summer-friends by the growing chillness of his deportment, and the haughty distance with which he repulsed their sycophant intrusions on his notice, he gained a warmer friend, a more zealous advocate, in the benevolent Louis; who, attached to him through all the revolutions of his manners, found a new and warmer claim on his sympathy in the severity of that hidden sorrow which could L 3. could have wrought such a change on a character once equally insinuating and animated. CHAP. IX. My heart had still some foolish fondness for thee's AT the death of the Marchioness de Bellefonde, her large fortune had devolved upon her husband without any limitation; and this fortune, except a small estate in Normandy which he inherited from his father, was all that the Marquis could properly call his own; for he was not of a disposition to accumulate wealth by the emoluments of his situation, |