"Happy Leopold!" murmured de Reichs tadt. "The Baron cannot arrive for some hours; to-morrow he shall be admitted to the honour of presenting his respects to your Highness," continued the jesuit, apparently unconscious of the observation which had escaped the Prince. "I am auxious to see him; therefore let my wishes be intimated," rejoined de Reichstadt. Certainly Monseigneur," said the reverend father," you shall be obeyed; but allow me to suggest a little amusement for the present, your Highness has been engaged all day, some music may afford an agreeable recreation; the maestro is in attendance, or perhaps an airing on the banks of the Danube might be better adapted to your present disposition, for the excitement. of conversation has produced considerable debility." "Music, no; I have little inclination for the enjoyment of harmony, and still less for the tediousness of carriage airings. Oh! father, when shall I be free from the trammels of routine? I could now, for very weariness seek my bed, and weep myself to sleep like a sick child." "Let us then resume our holy exercises," said Clement, with fervour, "let us implore relief, whence alone it can be obtained; for when the pleasures of this life cease to captivate, the joys of Heaven become more acceptable." "Even as you will, father," answered the Duke languidly, dreading further discussion. "We can construe a few pages of christian doctrine, from the vernacular, into a more classic idiom, thus blending our serious duties with the pleasing task of mental improvement," As he uttered these words the priest drew forth a book from his bosom, and his pupil applied once more to his theological studies. CHAPTER V. Des sceptres étaient mes hochets. Mon bourlet fut une couronne. Et cependant je suis à Vienne, Béranger. CONSIGNED to the guardianship of Austria, the son of Napoleon, the infant King of Rome, designated by the more modest title of Duc de Reichstadt, was educated rather according to the method best calculated to facilitate the views of the Italian alliance, than consistently either with his natural talents or his hereditary bias. A distinguished disciple of St. Ignatius Loyola had been appointed to the important and responsible office of preceptor and spiritual director to the Prince. In this double capacity it was not a difficult task for a man of Clement's endowments to acquire unbounded ascendancy over the duc tile mind intrusted to his guidance, and which, in many instances, he moulded entirely to his will. Every instruction received by the royal pupil emanated either from Clement himself, or was communicated by professors selected by his superior penetration. No other source being permitted to contribute to the mental culture of his charge, he held, as it were, the clue to every thought, the key to every unformed idea, and the curb-rein to every passion. It need not be added that the impressions allowed, through such a medium, to fix themselves indelibly on the youthful perception of de Reichstadt were only such as were deemed desirable by the frigid calculations of an abso VOL. I. E lute government, rendered still more arbitrary by bigotry and political expediency. For several years, father Clement had fulfilled the arduous duties confided to his zeal and abilities, with perfect success. Extreme eaution had been exerted in securing from the Prince's observation those branches of liberal education which bore, what might be consi dered, a dangerous tendency; and this was deemed the more necessary, as a decided military taste had very early manifested it self. The most studious care was taken to prevent his warlike predilection from developing itself in the breast of one who was reserved, by the short-sighted speculations of his guardians, for the seclusion of a religious life; for one whom the cowl and scapulary were awaiting, and before whom the prospective dignity of the scarlet hat and purple hose dimly showed itself on the distant horizon of futurity. But |