their superiority, so as to make all men regret you as well as himself. If I may presume to add any thing of my own to this, I would ask leave to remind of the maxim of statesmen and moralists, as well as lawyers, De non apparentibus, et non existentibus, eadem est ratio.' you "There may be something in that," said he, quickly, and he somewhat changed. Then, as if soliloquising, and at intervals, which I did not like to interrupt, he said, in a lower tone, "I believe Castleton loves me is honourable and open-no tricks or backbiting-much respected by the king, though not perhaps first in favour-ought to be supported-yet ridiculous if Here he made a full stop, which lasted so long that I could not help asking, "If what, my lord marquess? Surely such a word as ridiculous can never be applied to any thing Lord Rochfort could do which he felt to be right." "I must do you the justice," said he, in reply, "to say I honour the temper you have shewn under taunts which I had no right to indulge, whatever my determination; nor does Castleton deserve such a reception of his frank communication. I own, too, there is a great deal in what you last observed; still it would be ridiculous in the eye of the world, and it would not be lost upon my ill-wishers, if, like a pouting boy or girl, I appeared to have fled away only to be brought back. This shall never be said—as it certainly would be if I returned, and the cabinet remained the same. As a sort of mezzo termine, however, and to shew that I wish well to Lord Castleton personally, I will give him my proxy, which, on taking leave of politics, as I intended, for ever, I declined to do by anybody. And, in doing this, let me tell you I make a considerable advance; nor would I do it if I did not entirely approve the measures he has communicated to me." "O! my lord," said I, "pause not here; do not a good thing by halves. Your superiority to the duke is so acknowledged, that you have but to appear, to reap the fruits of it. It is not impossible that he may consent to take a high court office, which, though it remove him from the government, will bring him nearer to the king. This will be more agreeable to both, and thus all parties will be satisfied." "If I thought that," said Lord Rochfort"but, then, the ridicule "And has Lord Rochfort," I exclaimed, "so little weight in the country-is he so little known in the world, or of so low a reputation, as to fear ridicule, which, even if attempted, he would shake off as a dew-drop from a lion's mane? It is for little people to be afraid of ridicule.” 66 Upon my faith," replied the marquess, "" I must repeat my felicitation to Lord Castleton upon having so good a second; and but that it would spoil your's, to come to me, I could envy him his good fortune in having such a secretary." I blushed at these words, not certainly altogether from modesty, for they kindled ambitious hopes; and ambitious hopes, and some others, had been always so united in me, that the association, spite of all that had occurred, had not yet been severed. At that instant the great trumpet at the gate sounded. "It is the post," said Lord Rochfort, looking at his watch. The letters were brought in. One, signed Castleton, another on mourning paper. The marquess begged me to excuse him, and was leaving the room; but I requested leave to visit the garden, which I had not seen, and left him to his letters, alone. END OF VOL. III. Printed by J. L. Cox and Sons, 75, Great Queen-street, |