Although everybody was aware of this blot in his scutcheon, he was mortally angry if ever his origin was suspected; and made up for his fathers' errors by outrageous professions of religion, and the most austere practices of devotion.

He visited church every morning, confessed once a week, and hated Jews and Protestants as much as an inquisitor could do.

He never lost an opportunity of proving his sincerity, by persecuting one or the other whenever occasion fell in his way.
'He hated the Princess mortally; for her Highness in some whim had insulted him with his origin, caused pork to be removed from before him at table, or injured him in some such silly way; and he had a violent animosity to the old Baron de Magny, both in his capacity of Protestant, and because the latter in some haughty mood had publicly turned his back upon him as a sharper and a spy.

Perpetual quarrels were taking place between them in council; where it was only the presence of his august masters that restrained the Baron from publicly and frequently expressing the contempt which he felt for the officer of police.
'Thus Geldern had hatred as one reason for ruining the Princess, and it is my belief he had a stronger motive still--interest.

You remember whom the Duke married, after the death of his first wife ?--a princess of the house of F----.