To Prove How Much He Was In Earnest, He Called His Secretary, And
Ordered Him To Make Out Their Passports
With all expedition, that they
might be ready to depart next morning; after which he made them repose
themselves in
His palace the remainder of the night; which being in a
manner vastly different from what they had been accustomed to of a long
time, indeed ever since their quitting Alranstadt, they did not fail to
do, notwithstanding the discontent of their minds.
Prince Menzikoff, being now convinced of the fidelity of Edella, passed
into her apartment, where the reconciliation between them took up so
much time, that it was near noon next day before he appeared: his new
guests had not quitted their chambers much sooner; but after reproaching
themselves for having been so tardy, went altogether to take leave of
the prince, and accept the passports he had been so good to order. As
they were got ready, he gave them immediately into their hands, and told
them, they were at liberty to quit Petersburg that moment, if they
pleased; or if they had any curiosity to take a view of that city, they
might gratify it, and begin their journey next morning. As it was now so
late in the day, they accepted his highness's offer, and walked out to
see a place which had excited so much admiration in the world, since
from a wild waste, in ten years time, a spacious and most beautiful city
had arose in the midst of war, and proved the genius of the founder
greater in civil than in military arts, tho' it must be owned he was
indefatigable in the study of both.
The officers of the king of Sweden were entertained with the same
elegance and good humour they had been the night before; and as they
were now resolved to quit the city extremely early, the prince took
leave of them that night, and in doing so put a purse of gold into the
hands of every one to defray the expenses of their travelling. This
behaviour obliged them to own there was a possibility of sowing the
seeds of humanity in Muscovy, and that the czar had made some progress
in influencing those about him with the manners he had himself learned
in the politer courts.
CHAP. XXII.
What befel Louisa in the monastery: the stratagem she put in practice
to get out of it: her travels thro' Italy, and arrival in Paris.
But while Horatio was thus experiencing the vicissitudes of fortune, his
beautiful sister suffered little less from the caprice of that fickle
goddess. Placed as she was, one would have thought she had been secure
from all the temptations, hurries, and dangers of the world, and that
nothing but the death or inconstancy of monsieur du Plessis could have
again involved her in them. These, indeed, were the sole evils she
trembled at, and which she chiefly prayed might not befal her. Yet as it
often happens that those disasters which seem most remote are nearest to
us, so did the disappointments she was ordained to suffer, rise from a
quarter she had the least reason to apprehend.
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