ABEY. IV.]

ST. JOHN OP JERUSALEM.

229

he chose to he spoken to as a prince, or as a simpleknight, as between equals from a knight to anotherknight, and upon his deigning to prefer the latter:“ Then let me remind you that though born on thesteps of the throne, yon can never become emperorwithout the deaths of many whom you cannot andought not to wish dead. You absolutely are cutoff from all hopes of that kind. Nor probablywould you be one of the new small kings—as ofGreece for example,” and the Arch-duke smiled withscorn, and replied no !—“ Then the only way for youto become a legitimate sovereign is to restore yourorder and become its grand master. It is easy, youhave but to wish it. The only real diffi cult, thingyon have already got over ! It may be some specialprovidence, beyond all human calculation. I cer-tainly never should have dared proposing the fearfulstep to a young man of your rank and means; but itwas taken before we met. You had pronounced themof yourself in the most solemn manner, those irrevo-cable oaths which bind you never to marry. Thenwhy not take the good as you have taken the hard ?Nothing easier than thus to acquire a sovereigntywhich, however, small is full of fair fame; and whichplacing you amongst the most legitimate of sovereigns,will cany your name with glory to all ages. Nor isit to be lightly prized that you will always walk sur-