not done so, my friend, with tears? But as years passed on, and
brought no word of him, it became less and less desirable. While
Louis XVIII. continued to reign there was no reason to wish to find
Louis XVII., you understand. For there was still a Bourbon, of the
direct line, upon the throne. Louis XVIII. would scarcely desire
it. One would not expect him to seek very diligently for one who
would deprive him of the crown. Charles X., knowing he must succeed
his brother, was no more enthusiastic in the search. And the
Duchess d'Angouleme herself, you ask? I can see the question in
your face."

"Yes," conceded Colville. "For, after all, he was her brother."

"Yes--and if she found him, what would be the result? Her uncle
would be driven from the throne; her father-in-law would not
inherit; her own husband, the Dauphin, would be Dauphin no longer.
She herself could never be Queen of France. It is a hard thing to
say of a woman--"

Monsieur de Gemosac paused for a moment in reflection.

"Yes," he said at length, "a hard thing. But this is a hard world,
Monsieur Colville, and will not allow either men or women to be
angels. I have known and served the Duchess all my life, and I
confess that she has never lost sight of the fact that, should Louis
XVII. be found, she herself would never be Queen of France. One is
not a Bourbon for nothing."

"One is not a stateswoman and a daughter of kings for nothing,"
amended Colville, with his tolerant laugh; for he was always ready