CHAPTER I.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2048, 22 August 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER I.

Thk day before I left London, to occupy the post of eeoond secretary of legation at a small German court, I took leave of ray excellent French singing-master, Monsieur Bonnefoy, and of his young and pretty daughter named Jeanne. Oar farewell interview was saddened by family anxieties. Monsieur Bonnefoy'i* eld"r brother, known in the household as Uncle David, had been recently summoned to Paris by his republican associate*. Hi* relations in London (whether reasonably or not, I am unable to say) were in ootno frar of the political consequences that rninbt follow. At parting, I mado Mademoiselle Jeanne a present m the shaps of a plain gold brooch. For some tune past, I had taken my lessons at Monsieur Bonnefoy'ii house ; hia daughter and I often sans together under his direction. Seeing much of Jeanne, under these circumstances, the little gift that I had offered to her was only tho natural expression of a true interest in her welfare. Idlo rumor asserted — quite falsely — that I was in love with her. I was fsioc3rely the young lady's friend : no more no leas. Having alluded to my lessons in singing, it may not be out of place to mention the Gircumstanoes under which I became Monsieur Bonne'oy's pupil, and to allude to the change in my life that followed in due course of time. Oar family property— exaepting tho mm of five thousand pounds left to me by my mother— is landed property, strictly entailed. Tho estates were inherited by my only brother Lord Medhurat : the kindest, the best, and, I grieve to say it, the unhappisst of men. He lived separated from a bad wife ; he had no children to consols htm ; and ha only enjoyed at rare intervals the hlcssing of good health. Having myself nothing ti liva on but the interest of my motherV httlefortnno, I had to make my own way in tho worlO. Poor younger sons, not possessed of the cornminding ability which aohieves distinction, find ths roads that lead to prosperity oloaed to them, with one exception. They can always apply themselves to tho social art 3 wkioh make a man agreeable in society. I had naturally a good voice, and I cultivated it. I was ready to aing, without being subjeofc to the wretched vanity which malccj objections and excuses — I pleased the ladwa — the ladies spoke favorably of ma to the r husbands— and some of tioir husbands were persons of rank and infl uenoe. After no very long lapse of time, tho result of this eombmation of circumstances declared itself. Monsieur Bonnefoy's lesson became the indirect means of starting me on a diplomatic career — and the diplomatic career mtde poor Ernest Medhurst, to his own unutterable astonishment, the hero of a. lovo story 1 The atory being truo, I must beg to be excused, if I abstain from mentioning names, places, »nd dates, when I enter on German ground. L^t it be enough to say that lam writing of a bygone year in tho present century, when no such thing as a Gorman Empire existed, and when the revolutionary spirit of Franca was still an objsafc of wellfounded siupioion to rulers by right divine on the continent of Europe.