chamber of Bianca, but he stationed himself in an antechamber,
through which every one who visited her must necessarily pass.
There he began to say his breviary, walking solemnly to and
fro. After praying and promenading thus for about an hour, a
message was brought to him from the invalid, requesting him to
go into another room, as his tread disturbed her. 'Let her
attend to her affairs, and I to mine,' was the only answer he
gave, and the Cardinal recommenced his walk and his prayer.

"Soon after this the confessor of the Grand-duchess entered--a
Capuchin, in a long robe. The Cardinal went up to him, and
embraced him in his arms, recommending his sister most
affectionately to his pious care. While embracing the good
monk, the Cardinal felt, or thought he felt, something strange
in his long sleeve. He groped under the Capuchin's robe, and
drew out--a fine boy.

"'My dear brother,' said the Cardinal, 'I am now more tranquil.
I am sure, at least, that my dear sister-in-law will not die
this time in childbirth.'

"The monk saw that all that remained was to avoid, if possible,
the scandal; and he asked the Cardinal himself what he should
do. The Cardinal told him to enter into the chamber of the
Duchess, whisper to her what had happened, and, as she acted,
so would he act. Silence should purchase silence; clamour,
clamour.

"Bianca saw that she must renounce at present her design to
give a successor to the ducal crown; she submitted to a