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84 the place of Italian reader; and I assure you the offer was made with many kind expressions of interest. You will enter upon the duties, which are almost nominal, immediately."

Francesca felt at first too much affected to utter the negative which suggested itself; for an instant she was silent, but the necessity of acknowledgment was imperative.

"I cannot thank you," exclaimed she, after a brief struggle with herself; "if you could know how unutterably grateful I am. But as to the place you offer me, add to your kindness by forgiving my refusal."

Mazarin looked astonished.

"What do you then wish for—what do you expect?" asked be, more coldly.

"Nothing—indeed nothing," interrupted his companion, deeply pained by his altered manner.

"I think you are scarcely aware of the advantages of your post: it places you immediately about the Queen—it gives you every opportunity of pleasing, and I,"—with a slight stress on the words,—"need scarcely tell you the importance of the royal favour. Besides," added he, with a smile, "you cannot fail eventually in securing for yourself a brilliant settlement."

"As much beyond my merits as my wishes,"