“Mrs. Falconer, I have no money; and if I had,”
said the commissioner, who always lost his temper
when that subject was touched upon, “if I had,
I would not give it to you to throw away upon such
a losing game—a nonsensical speculation!
Georgiana has not the least chance, nor has any other
English woman, were she as handsome as Venus and dressed
in bank notes—why, Mrs. Falconer, since
you put me in a passion, I must tell you a secret.”
But checking himself, Mr. Falconer stood for a moment
silent, and went on with “Count Altenberg has
made up his quarrel with the hereditary prince, and
I have it from undoubted authority, that he is to be
the prince’s prime minister when he comes to
the throne; and the present prince, you know, as Cunningham
says, is so infirm and asthmatic, that he may be carried
off at any moment.”
“Very well—very likely—I
am glad of it,” said Mrs. Falconer: “but
where’s the secret?”
“I’ve thought better of that, and I cannot
tell it to you. But this much I tell you positively,
Mrs. Falconer, that you will lose your labour, if you
speculate upon the Count for Georgiana.”
“Is he married? Answer me that question,
and I will ask no more—and that I have
a right to ask.”
“No—not married; but I can tell no
more. Only let me beg that you will just put
all love notions out of Georgiana’s head and
your own, or you’ll make the girl ridiculous,
and expose yourself, my dear. But, on the other
hand, let there be no deficiency of attention to the
count, for all our civilities to him will pay a hundred
fold, and, perhaps, sooner than you expect—for
he may be prime minister and prime favourite at Cunningham’s
court in a month, and of course will have it in his
power to forward Cunningham’s interests.
That is what I look to, Mrs. Falconer; for I am long-sighted
in my views, as you will find.”
“Well, time will show. I am glad you tell
me he positively is not married,” concluded
Mrs. Falconer: “as to the rest, we shall
see.”
The evening appointed for Mrs. Falconer’s ball
at length arrived; and all the neighbouring gentry
assembled at Falconer-court. They were received
by Mrs. Falconer in a splendid saloon, newly furnished
for this occasion, which displayed in its decorations
the utmost perfection of modern taste and magnificence.
Mrs. Falconer was fitted, both by art and nature,
to adorn a ball-room, and conduct a ball. With
that ease of manner which a perfect knowledge of the
world and long practice alone can give, she floated
round the circle, conscious that she was in her element.
Her eye, with one glance, seemed to pervade the whole
assembly; her ear divided itself amongst a multitude
of voices; and her attention diffused itself over
all with equal grace. Yet that attention, universal
as it seemed, was nicely discriminative. Mistress
of the art of pleasing, and perfectly acquainted with
