"For one sad losel soils a name for aye:
Nor all that heralds rake from coffined clay,
Or poets say in honied lines of rhyme,

Can blazon evil deeds or consecrate a crime."

Thus spoke Edward Gibbon, and he spoke right. But with what a mean opinion of human nature must it impress us! How few, how very few persons are there in the world, born with sufficient greatness of mind and intellect to own the commission of a fault! One sees people who, having passed through a life replete with acts of profligacy,just as they are about to leave the world, and are La Rochefaucault says no longer able to give practical lessons of immorality,-think it incumbent on them to rail against and punish evil deeds. But this is very, very pitiful— indeed it is!

as

The King having transacted whatever business he might have had to do with the person who entered; again turned to bid adieu to Inez. But she who saw, that, if he persisted in the design of ordering D'Artois to be arrested, the entire plan of her operations would

be at once overthrown and herself ruined; perceived also that the moment was now arrived, in which it was necessary for her to take a decisive step and make that effort which she reserved for the last, and which she well knew must-terminate as it mightbe final, either to save or sink her.

Collecting her thoughts, therefore, and standing with her body erect, she called in a calm, clear, firm voice, and begged-she, it might be said, almost commanded him to stay; and then placing herself in front of him, with the grave and solemn air of one about to utter a final determination, began:

"Sire! that in first listening to the assurances of love, your Grace was pleased to make to me, I sinned against the laws of Heaven and the Queen's rights I not deny; yet have I ever hoped the love which did occasion that offence might palliate it. But, Sire, how can this be, if I not only persevere in sin, but am guilty of new offences;-if to one crime I add another-strike blow on blow -add wound to wound!

I wronged the Queen-I dreamed not at the first that this had led to other mischief:

yet see, my Lord, how evil springs from evil! What is the consequence of this my error?I am placed where had I ne'er been placed, I ne'er had seen the Count of Artois. Mine, therefore, is the crime, for having listened to your Grace, when honor, justice, prudence, and indeed every virtue, counselled me to shun him.

"This sin lies heavy on me. What shall it henceforth do, if thereunto I add another, and destroy the confidence your sister hath towards the Count, her Lord ?"

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But, Inez!-Hear"

My Lord," she said, interrupting him and imposing silence; "let me at least entreat your Grace to hear me to the end. I have now made a covenant with myself. This it is :I do most solemnly assure your Grace-believe me, Sire, I speak this earnestly and that no power on earth shall cause me to retractthat should I prove the means of causing so much evil, I, knowing no other manner of

atoning for the crime,

thus, in solitude and

a pardon of the sin.

will take the veil; that prayer, I may buy out My Lord!-fulfil this

threat!-in two hours hence I shall have left this spot for ever."

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During the time that Inez was speaking, the King remained listening attentively, and wondering to what point her discourse tended; but when she asserted her irrevocable determination of instantly quitting the palace, if he should still persist in punishing the Countbeing unable to support the idea of so great a loss, he addressed her in a far more conciliatory tone of voice than he had before used, and said :

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But, Inez!-reflect-think only but for an instant on that you ask of me. What a sacrifice you demand! I am then to forego mine anger, and dismiss unscathed and safe the Count of Artois-a traitor!-Ay, Inez, a traitor, who, in defiance of the laws of friendship and of the love which I have felt for him, insults me."

"In troth, my Lord,"-Inez replied, inter

rupting him, without at all diminishing the high and solemn tone of authority she had assumed," methinks if either of us two have cause for anger it is I. Hath he not insulted me? - Hath he not deemed me capable of breaking faith with one to whom I plighted faith? Yet, my Lord, I do forgive himheartily and from my soul forgive him. If, therefore, I have done so-I, the humble Inez, is it too much to hope that PhilipPhilip de Valois-the Sovereign of Franceelevated by virtue more than by his station far above all other Princes, is it too much to hope that he will be as generous?"

The King now began to feel a most sincere delight at finding himself supplied with a handsome excuse for doing that which he plainly perceived he either must do, or consent to lose his mistress; and thinking it would appear better to yield out of respect to her opinion, and admiration of her virtues, rather than from the mere dread of losing her, he threw his arms round her neck, and replied:

"Well, Inez, I before knew thee for a nobly