Her circumstances, not
that she wanted any farther proofs of his sincerity, but that she
reserved the pleasure of so agreeable a surprize to their meeting. This
letter was dispatched immediately, to the end he might receive it, at
least, as soon as that from his sister with the expected remittances.
CHAP. XXV.
Monsieur du Plessis arrives at Paris: his reception from Dorilaus and
Louisa: the marriage of these lovers agreed upon.
The innocent pleasure Louisa felt in picturing to herself the extacy
which du Plessis would be in at the receipt of her letter, was not a
flattering idea: - to know she was in Paris, where, in all probability,
she had come to seek him, and to have the intelligence of it from
herself, had all the effect on him that the most raptured fancy
can invent.
His orders to madam d' Espargnes being punctually complied with, his
bills of exchange also came soon after to hand; and the little hurts he
had received from the robbers, as well as those of his mind, being
perfectly healed, he set out with a lover's expedition, and arrived in
Paris to the pleasing surprize of a sister who tenderly loved him, and
expected not this satisfaction of a long time.
He took but one night's repose before he enquired concerning Dorilaus,
and was told that he was a person of quality in England; but, on some
disgust he had received in his native country, was come to settle in
France. As Louisa was extremely admired, they told him also that he had
a very beautiful daughter, of whom he was extremely fond. This last
information gave not a little ease to the mind of him who heard it, and
dissipated those apprehensions which the high character they gave of
Dorilaus had, in spite of himself, excited in him: he now imagined that
as they were English, his Louisa might possibly have been acquainted
with the daughter of this gentleman in their own country, and meeting
her at Paris, might have put herself under her protection.
Full of those impatiencies which are inseparable from a sincere passion,
he borrowed his sister's chariot, and went to the Fauxbourg St.
Germains; and being told one of the best houses in the place was that of
Dorilaus, he asked for mademoiselle Louisa, on which he was desired to
alight, and shewed into a handsome parlour while a servant went in to
inform her: after this, he was ushered up stairs into a room, the
furniture of which shewed the elegance of the owner's taste; but
accustomed to every thing that was great and magnificent, the gilded
scenes, the rich tapestry, the pictures, had no effect on him, till
casting his eyes on one that hung over the chimney, he found the exact
resemblance of the dear object never absent from his heart.
