The Mysteries of Paris, illustrated with etchings, Vol. 1Sue, Eugène
General
The Mysteries of Paris, illustrated with etchings, Vol. 1
Sue, Eugène
Paris (France) -- Fiction
Sarah, who was an accomplished musician, knowing the taste of the Grand
Duchess for the old masters, and, above all, for Gluck, sent for the
_chef-d'oeuvre_ of this attractive composer, and fascinated the old
princess by her unfailing complaisance, as well as the remarkable skill
with which she sang those old airs, so beautiful in their melody, so
expressive in their character.
As for Seyton, he knew how to make himself very useful in the occupation
which had been conferred upon him. He was a good judge of horses, was
orderly and firm in his conduct and arrangements, and so, in a short
time, completely remodelled the stables of the Grand Duke, which, up to
that time, had been neglected, and become disorganised.
The brother and sister were soon equally beloved, fêted, and admired in
this court. The master's preference soon commands the preference of
those below him. Sarah required, in aid of her future projects, too much
aid not to employ her insinuating powers in acquiring partisans. Her
hypocrisy, clothed in most attractive shapes, easily deluded the
simple-hearted Germans, and the general feeling soon authorised the
extreme kindness of the Grand Duke.
Thus, then, our designing pair were established at the court of
Gerolstein, agreeably and securely placed without any reference to
Rodolph. By a lucky chance, some days after the arrival of Sarah, the
young prince had gone away to the inspection of troops, with an
aide-de-camp and the faithful Murphy. This absence, doubly auspicious to
the views of Sarah, allowed her to arrange at her ease the principal
threads of the fillet she was weaving, without being deterred by the
presence of the young prince, whose too open admiration might, perhaps,
have awakened the suspicions of the Grand Duke. On the contrary, in the
absence of his son, he did not, unfortunately, reflect that he was
admitting into the closest intimacy a young girl of surpassing beauty,
and of lively wit, as Rodolph must discover at every moment of the day.
Sarah was perfectly insensible to a reception so kind and generous,--to
the full confidence with which she was introduced into the very heart of
this sovereign family. Neither brother nor sister paused for a moment in
their bad designs; they determined upon a principle to bring trouble and
annoyance into this peaceable and happy court; they calmly calculated
the probable results of the cruel divisions they should establish
between a father and son, up to that period so tenderly united.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account