good-natured youth, and who was quite sure that the Count had been condemned to suffer for his sake, was engaged in carefully adjusting his behaviour to that nice balance, which might secure him from wounding the feelings of his defeated rival, either by an expression of compassion, which might offend his pride, or an appearance of exultation in his own more prosperous success, which might be construed into ungenerous triumph; while, in fact, no one thought about him, for Casimir, although he would have given much for but one of those smiles which he so easily obtained, never for a moment vouchsafed to regard him as a rival. Poor Lindau's study had a most unhappy effect; his lively foppery, which became him well, being exchanged for a solemn ostentation of forbearance, which provoked the anger of Louisa, and excited the smile of less concerned spectators, while it was all lost on him for whose advantage it was designed. As the group separated, "Poor fellow !" exclaimed the

VOL. II.

N

Margrave, "I pity him from the centre

of

my

soul!"

Pity whom?" asked the Baroness.

Why, Vallenstein :-do you not see to what a shadow your frown has shrunk him?-He has the arrow in his side, Baroness! I would not be that man for all his father's dukedoms!"

"I should think," retorted the Lady of Marchfeldt, "that if all his father's possessions were limited to a square tower on the banks of the Danube, even then, Casimir of Vallenstein might be a fair mark for the envy of the most accom. plished courtier in the Emperor's circle! Now, how can you, Lindau, indulge yourself in such a gasconade? How can you talk of pitying Vallenstein ?"

The Margrave felt that she had not expended all her arrows; she meant, indeed, that the rebuke should not fall pointless, for she began to weary of the young courtier's presumptions, and to think it might be for her dignity to repress them.

Ere the dispersion of the company the Emperor beckoned Vallenstein, and the Duke of Bavaria advancing at the same moment, Ferdinand mutually introduced them.

"His highness," said his Imperial Majesty, is disposed to coalesce with the measures which the situation of the empire render necessary, and I trust all my friends will now evince their loyalty by cordial and sincere co-operation."

There was something in the look of Maximilian which did not answer for his cordiality, but he received young Vallenstein with forced politeness, and more at such a juncture could hardly be expected from him. After a few words of ceremony he retired, when the Emperor, drawing Casimir beyond the circle, imparted to him the important intelligence, that all things were finally arranged for his father's reinstatement in all his powers and honours; and signified that Prince Schaumberg would set off for Prague the following day, invested with the fullest credentials for that purpose.

CHAPTER XII.

"Say that some lady, as perhaps there is,
Has for your love as great a pang of heart

As

you have for Olivia."

Shakspeare.

PRINCESS Stolberg, who openly professed her friendship for young Vallensteïn, was, as matter of course, the avowed partisan of his house, and resolved to be the first who should celebrate the triumph of the Duke of Friedland; in whose honour she announced a masquerade and supper at her apartments for the following evening. This entertainment was to be considered a test of the temper of the court, and those who avoided appearing at it tacitly declared themselves malcontents. The party given by Princess Stolberg, therefore, was a subject of infinite interest not only to the gay and the dissipated, but to the politicians of the

hour, and the Emperor and Empress not only graced the festivities with their presence, but resolved to mingle in them; for the late arrangements had lifted from the bosoms of the Imperial pair the in supportable weight of care and anxiety which had borne down their spirits.

It was long since so superb and distinguished a fête as the one now anticipated had been given; for the nobles and electors had divided and subdivided into parties and factions, and mistrust and jealousy had for some time saddened the German capital. The Empress, to mark her approbation of the part Princess Stolberg took in the present revolution, permitted her the use of an ample and magnificent suite of state apartments, adjoining those which, as first lady of the key, she occupied in the palace, in order that nothing might be wanting to the splendour of the gala. The platonic attachment subsisting between the Princess and Vallenstein placed them on the most confidential footing; and, when the