Though he seemed to have talked without any design, except to amuse himself and the company in general, yet in all he had said there had been a prospective view to his object. He chose his means well, and in Mademoiselle he found, at once, a happy dupe and a confederate. Without previous concert, they raised visions of Parisian glory which were to prepare the young lady’s imagination for a French lover or a French husband. M. de Connal was well aware that no matter who touched her heart, if he could pique her vanity. After dinner, when the ladies retired, old Mr. Connal began to enter upon the question of the intended union between the families--Ormond left the room, and Corny suppressed a deep sigh. M. de Connal took an early opportunity of declaring that there was no truth in the report of his going to be married in England: he confessed that such a thing had been in question--he must speak with delicacy--but the family and connexions did not suit him; he had a strong prejudice, he owned, in favour of ancient family--Irish family; he had always wished to marry an Irish woman--for that reason he had avoided opportunities that might have occurred of connecting himself, perhaps advantageously, in France; he was really ambitious of the honour of an alliance with the O’Shanes. Nothing could be more fortunate for him than the friendship which had subsisted between his father and Mr. O’Shane.--And the promise?--Relinquish it!--Oh! that, he assured Mr. O’Shane, was quite impossible, provided the young lady herself should not make a decided objection--he should abide by her decision--he could not possibly think of pressing his suit, if there should appear any repugnance: in that case, he should be infinitely mortified--he should be absolutely in despair; but he should know how to submit--cost him what it would: he should think, as a man of honour, it was his part to sacrifice his wishes, to what the young lady might conceive to be for her happiness. He added a profusion of compliments on the young lady’s charms, with a declaration of the effect they had already produced on his heart. This was all said with a sort of nonchalance, which Corny did not at all like. But Mademoiselle, who was summoned to Corny’s private council, gave it as her opinion, that M. de Connal was already quite in love--quite as much as a French husband ever was. She was glad that her brother-in-law was bound by his promise to a gentleman who would really be a proper husband for her niece. Mademoiselle, in short, saw every thing _couleur de rose_; and she urged, that, since M. de Connal had come to Ireland for the express purpose of forwarding his present suit, he ought to be invited to stay at Corny Castle, that he might endeavour to make himself acceptable to Dora.