The boy looked up in his face well pleased, and answered with so much intelligence, and such winning grace, that the Earl, employing exactly the same caress that Sherbrooke had often done before, parted the fair hair on his forehead, and kissed his lofty brow.

When the servants were gone, Sherbrooke instantly resumed the conversation.  “My request, my lord,” he said, “is to be a very strange one; a request that will put you to some expense, though not a very great one; and will give you some trouble, though, would to God both the trouble and expense could be undertaken by myself.”

“Perhaps,” said the Earl, turning his eyes to the boy, “it may be better, sir, that we speak alone for a minute or two.  I am now sure that I cannot be mistaken in the person to whom I speak, although I took you at first for one that is no more.  We will leave your son here, and he can amuse himself with this book of pictures.”

Thus saying he rose, patted the boy’s head, and pointed out the book he referred to.  He then threw open a door between that room and the next, which was a large saloon, well lighted, and having led the way thither with Sherbrooke, he held with him a low, but earnest conversation for some minutes.

“Well, sir,” he said at length, “well, sir, I will not, and must not refuse, though it places me in a strange and somewhat difficult situation; but indeed, indeed, I wish you would listen to my remonstrances.  Abandon a hopeless, and what, depend upon it, is an unjust cause,—­a cause which the only person who could gain by it has abandoned and betrayed.  Yield to the universal voice of the people; or if you cannot co-operate with the government that the popular voice has called to power, at all events submit; and, I doubt not in the least, that if, coupled with promises and engagements to be a peaceful subject, you claim the titles and estates—­”

“My lord, it cannot be,” replied Sherbrooke, interrupting him:  “you forget that I belong to the Catholic church.  However, you will remember our agreement respecting the papers, and other things which I shall deposit with you this night:  they are not to be given to him till he is of age, under any circumstances, except that of the King’s restoration, when you may immediately make them public.”

As he spoke, he was turning away to return to the library; but the Earl stopped him, saying, “Stay yet one moment:  would it not be better to give me some farther explanations? and have you nothing to say with regard to the boy’s education? for you must remember how I, too, am situated.”

“I have no farther explanations to give, my lord,” replied Sherbrooke; “and as to the boy’s education, I must leave it entirely with yourself.  Neither on his religious nor his political education will I say a word.  In regard to the latter, indeed, I may beg you to let him hear the truth, and, reading what is written on both sides, to judge for himself.  Farther I have nothing to say.”