Chapter 40: April

⁠​​​‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​​​‌‌⁠Thanks for both your letters. I delayed my reply, and withheld this letter, till I should obtain an answer from the court. I feared my mother might apply to the minister to defeat my purpose. But my request is granted, my resignation is accepted. I shall not recount with what reluctance it was accorded, nor relate what the minister has written: you would only renew your lamentations. The crown pri