The whole book aims chiefly at satisfying the passion of curiosity.
However unimportant a secret may be, it is pleasant to know what all
Europe was once vainly anxious to discover. In the revelation of
manners, too, and in tracing the relations of famous wits and
beauties with a person then so celebrated as Prince Charles, there is
a certain amount of entertainment which may excuse some labour of
research. Our history is of next to no political value, but it
revives as in a magic mirror somewhat dim, certain scenes of actual
human life. Now and again the mist breaks, and real passionate
faces, gestures of living men and women, are beheld in the clear-
obscure. We see Lochgarry throw his dirk after his son, and
pronounce his curse. We mark Pickle furtively scribbling after
midnight in French inns. We note Charles hiding in the alcove of a
lady's chamber in a convent. We admire the 'rich anger' of his
Polish mistress, and the sullen rage of Lord Hyndford, baffled by
'the perfidious Court' of Frederick the Great. The old histories
emerge into light, like the writing in sympathetic ink on the secret
despatches of King James.



CHAPTER II--CHARLES EDWARD STUART



Prince Charles--Contradictions in his character--Extremes of bad and
good--Evolution of character--The Prince's personal advantages--
Common mistake as to the colour of his eyes--His portraits from youth
to age--Descriptions of Charles by the Duc de Liria; the President de