'Alas, no,' said Madame de Bourke. 'If the Chevalier de St. George
were other than he is, it would be easier to act in his behalf.'

'And you agree with me, Madame,' continued the visitor, 'that nothing
can be worse or more hopeless for a youth than the life to which we are
constrained here, with our whole shadow of hope in intrigue; and for
our men, no occupation worthy of their sex. We women are not so ill
off, with our children and domestic affairs; but it breaks my heart to
see brave gentlemen's lives thus wasted. We have done our best for
Arthur. He has studied with one of our good clergy, and my Lord
himself has taught him to fence; but we cannot treat him any longer as
a boy, and I know not what is to be his future, unless we can return
him to his own country.'

'Our army,' suggested Madame de Bourke.

'Ah! but he is Protestant.'

'A heretic!' exclaimed the lady, drawing herself up. 'But--'

'Oh, do not refuse me on that account. He is a good lad, and has lived
enough among Catholics to keep his opinions in the background. But you
understand that it is another reason for wishing to convey him, if not
to Scotland, to some land like Sweden or Prussia, where his faith would
not be a bar to his promotion.'

'What is it you would have me do?' said Madame de Bourke, more coldly.

'If Madame would permit him to be included in her passport, as about to