\"ThePrinceseizedholdoftheglassanddrankthelastdropofit，\"Castlewoodsaid，\"andmymother，lookingveryanxious，roseupandaskedleavetoretire。ButthatTrixismymother\'sdaughter，Harry，\"Frankcontinued，\"Idon\'tknowwhatahorridfearIshouldhaveofher。Iwish——Iwishthisbusinesswereover。YouareolderthanIam，andwiser，andbetter，andIoweyoueverything，andwoulddieforyou——beforeGeorgeIwould;butIwishtheendofthiswerecome。\"
Neitherofusverylikelypassedatranquilnight;horribledoubtsandtormentsrackedEsmond\'ssoul:\'twasaschemeofpersonalambition，adaringstrokeforaselfishend——heknewit。Whatcaredhe，inhisheart，whowasKing？Werenothisverysympathiesandsecretconvictionsontheotherside——onthesideofPeople，Parliament，Freedom？Andherewashe，engagedforaPrincethathadscarceheardthewordliberty;thatpriestsandwomen，tyrantsbynature，bothmadeatoolof。Themisanthropewasinnobetterhumorafterhearingthatstory，andhisgrimfacemoreblackandyellowthanever。
CHAPTERX。
WEENTERTAINAVERYDISTINGUISHEDGUESTATKENSINGTON。
ShouldanycluebefoundtothedarkintriguesatthelatterendofQueenAnne\'stime，oranyhistorianbeinclinedtofollowit，\'twillbediscovered，Ihavelittledoubt，thatnotoneofthegreatpersonagesabouttheQueenhadadefinedschemeofpolicy，independentofthatprivateandselfishinterestwhicheachwasbentonpursuing:St。JohnwasforSt。John，andHarleyforOxford，andMarlboroughforJohnChurchill，always;andaccordingastheycouldgethelpfromSt。GermainsorHanover，theysentoverproffersofallegiancetothePrincesthere，orbetrayedonetotheother:onecause，oronesovereign，wasasgoodasanothertothem，sothattheycouldholdthebestplaceunderhim;andlikeLockitandPeachem，theNewgatechiefsinthe\"Rogues\'Opera，\"Mr。Gaywroteafterwards，hadeachinhishanddocumentsandproofsoftreasonwhichwouldhangtheother，onlyhedidnotdaretousetheweapon，forfearofthatonewhichhisneighboralsocarriedinhispocket。ThinkofthegreatMarlborough，thegreatestsubjectinalltheworld，aconquerorofprinces，thathadmarchedvictoriousoverGermany，Flanders，andFrance，thathadgiventhelawtosovereignsabroad，andbeenworshippedasadivinityathome，forcedtosneakoutofEngland——hiscredit，honors，places，alltakenfromhim;hisfriendsinthearmybrokeandruined;andflyingbeforeHarley，asabjectandpowerlessasapoordebtorbeforeabailiffwithawrit。Apaper，ofwhichHarleygotpossession，andshowingbeyonddoubtthattheDukewasengagedwiththeStuartfamily，wastheweaponwithwhichtheTreasurerdroveMarlboroughoutofthekingdom。HefledtoAntwerp，andbeganintriguinginstantlyontheotherside，andcamebacktoEngland，asallknow，aWhigandaHanoverian。