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which, however, the strict etiquette of the Spanish court forbade her receiving. However, with a Christian charity worthy of commendation, he resolved that he would give her the epistle. Accordingly, on his first interview, he watched his opportunity, and said, while he held the scroll in his hand, 'Madam, I have a secret to tell you.' Now the very word secret is enough to rouse any one's curiosity; and, giving a quick glance round to see if her duennas were on the alert, she prepared to listen, and I saw that her eye had caught sight of the letter. Our excellent Bishop continued: 'Alas, my master is not so happy as he believed, for your father will not allow you to receive this epistle, which I yet venture to offer.' Can you imagine aught so stupid as this—suggesting the idea of her father's anger at the very time when his object was to make her forget that there was such a thing as a father in the world? What could he expect but the answer he received—'I cannot take it without permission of the King, my father?' 'And will you not say one word to his Highness?' asked Fréjus. 'What I say to the Queen, my aunt, may also be understood by the King, her son.' Now, if this was not encouragement, I do not know what is; and yet our stupid envoy went away with the letter still in his possession."