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 so many dangers: He approved of his design of returning to the army, and repeated his readiness to furnish him with money upon all emergencies—congratulated him upon the welfare of his son, without making a single observation on the late occurrences at the Castle, or once mentioning Claudina. He added, that his health not being very good he had some thoughts of travelling, as the spring advanced, therefore might possibly not be so regular in his correspondence, but earnestly requested, that his brother would inform him when it was his intention to join his quarters at Vienna."

This letter was so cold, so uncircumstantial, and in some respects so inconsistent, that Ferdinand, after looking it twice over, felt a dissatisfaction that he could hardly account for.—"He does not press my return (said he) nor lament my absence; it is true, had he done so, I should not have acceded to his wishes; yet methinks he ought to have done it; but perhaps I expect too much, for