of the four orders, was immediately to be carried into effect.
Lady St Julians had the first information of this important
circumstance; it confirmed her original conviction: she
determined to go on with her quadrille. Egremont, with
something interesting at stake himself, was staggered by this
announcement, and by Lady St Julians' unshaken faith. He
consulted his mother: Lady Marney shook her head. "Poor
woman!" said Lady Marney, "she is always wrong. I know,"
continued her ladyship, placing her finger to her lip, "that
Prince Esterhazy has been pressing his long-postponed
investiture as a Grand Cross, in order that he may dine at
this very banquet; and it has been announced to him that it is
impossible, the king's health will not admit of it. When a
simple investiture is impossible, a state banquet to the four
orders is very probable. No," said Lady Marney with a sigh;
"it is a great blow for all of us, but it is no use shutting
our eyes to the fact. The poor dear king will never show
again.

And about a week after this there appeared the first bulletin.
From that instant, though the gullish multitude studied the
daily reports with grave interest; their hopes and
speculations and arrangements changing with each phrase; for
the initiated there was no suspense. All knew that it was
over; and Lady St Julians, giving up her quadrille, began to
look about for seats in parliament for her sons.

"What a happiness it is to have a clever mother," exclaimed
Egremont, as he pondered over the returns of his election
agent. Lady Marney, duly warned of the impending catastrophe,