Sir Charles stopt, and looked at the apprehensive lady with such a sweet benignity, and, on her eye meeting his, with such tender and downcast modesty (all the graces of gentle persuasion are his!) chevalier! your request! j^our request! Tell me in what I can oblige the most obliging of friends, of men!

I will tell you, madam bowing on the hand he held Consent, if it be not with too much pain to yourself, to see the Count of Belvedere.

See him. Sir! How? When? Where? As what?

As afriend to your family a well-wisher to your glory, and happiness; and as a man ready and desirous to promote the latter at the expense of his own. He wishes but, while he stays here

“Stays here,” Sir!

To be allowed to visit your family, and to see you once, twice, thrice, as you please but entirely under the conditions of the articles to be signed tomorrow.

And is then the count in England?

He is, madam. Me attended his and your friends over. He has not once desired to appear in your presence: he keeps himself close in privatclodgings. Hence judge of his resolution not to disturb or offend you. He will depart the kingdom without an inter-view, if you will liave it so: but I could not bear that so good a man should be obliged to depart disgracefulltj, as I may say, and as if” he were undeserv — ing of pity, though he could not obtain favour.

O chevalier!

Secured, madam, by the articles, though Ids emotion maybe aj)prehendcd to be great,?/ori’ cannot There is not the saniL; reason for the one as for the other: I make it ivjj request, that the Count of Ik’l-vederemay be allowed, as one of the chosen frieiuls of your house, but as no more {.iwre the articles for-bid) a place at my table tomorrow.

To-morrow, Sir! and I present!

He bowed affirmatively.

O how the penetrating man looked into the heart of the lady at her eyes! As sure as you are alive, madam, he thought of guessing by her then emotion, whether any hopes could distantly lie for the count, by the consequence his presence or absence would <rive him with her.

She paused At last And is this, chevalier, the request you had to make me? it is, madam; and if my Harriet had not had the honour of this visit, I should have unule the same re-quest for his admission in the evening tomorrow as now 1 do to dinner.

^Vell, Sir; I can suspect no double-dealing from Sir Charles Grandison.

I ask lor no favour for thc count more than I have mentioned, madam: I am bound by the articles I have drawn, as if I were a party to them.

Well, Sir, I consent to see the count. lie will be prudent. I hope 1 AvcM be so. Jn Italy, more than once, after you left it, I saw him: and I always wished him happy.