- I Am Now At Her
House, Where I Impatiently Expect You - The
Baron Is Secure For Some Hours; - Those We May
Pass Together, If You Still Think There Is Any Thing
Worth Quitting The Masquerade For, To Be Found
In The Arms Of
Yours, &c,
P.S. If you now fail, no excuse hereafter shall
ever plead your pardon.'
This letter confirmed Horatio in the belief he had before, that he had
been mistaken by the lady for some favorite person; but who the lady
was, he was as much in the dark as ever; nor would he have given himself
any trouble concerning it, if he had not hoped by that means to have
retrieved the good opinion of Charlotta. He was however impatient to
shew her the letter, as he doubted not but she had seen it delivered to
him; but with all his assiduity he could not obtain one word in private
during the masquerade; and when it was broke up, which was not till near
morning, and they returned to St. Germains, it was impossible, because
he knew she must be in the princess's chamber, as he in that of the
Chevalier St. George: he was therefore obliged to content himself with
the hope that the next day would be more favourable.
CHAP. VII.
An explanation of the foregoing adventure, with a continuation of the
intrigues of some French ladies, and the policy of mademoiselle Coigney
in regard of her brother.
It cannot be supposed that either of our young lovers enjoyed much true
repose that night, tho' the fatigue of the dance might naturally require
it: the one did but just know herself a lover before she felt the worst
torments of that passion in her jealousy; and the other having been
compelled, as it were, to lay open his heart in order to convince his
charmer it had no object but herself in view, knew not but his temerity
in doing so might be imputed to him as no less a crime than that from
which he attempted to be cleared: each had their different anxieties;
but those of Horatio were the least severe, because thro' all the
indignation of his mistress he saw marks of an affection, which he could
not have flattered himself with if they had not been evident; and
conscious of his innocence, doubted not but time would both explain that
and reconcile the offended fair: - whereas Charlotta was far from being
able to assure herself of her lover's fidelity: she could not conceive
how, in the compass of one night, such a plurality of mistakes should
happen to the same man, and trembled at the reflection that this man,
who possibly was the falsest of his sex, should not only have made an
impression on her heart, but also, by the concern she had so unwarily
expressed, have reason to triumph in his conquest: - ashamed therefore of
what she felt, and determined to make use of her utmost efforts to
conceal it for the future, if not to conquer it, she thought to shun all
occasions of seeing or speaking to this dangerous invader of her peace
was the first step she ought to take; but how little is a heart,
possessed of the passion her's was, capable of judging for itself, or
maintaining any resolutions in prejudice of the darling object! - she had
no sooner set it down as a rule to avoid him, than she began to wish for
his presence, and contented herself with thinking she desired it only
out of curiosity to hear what he would say, and to have an opportunity,
by a rallying manner of behaviour, to destroy whatever conjectures he
might have form'd in favour of his passion; but all this time she
deceived herself, and in reality only longed for an interview with him,
in hopes he would find means to justify himself. Horatio, who was
impatient to attempt it, seeing her at a distance walking on the terrass
with no other company than mademoiselle de Coigney, went immediately to
join them, thinking that if the presence of this lady might be a bar to
many things he wanted to say to Charlotta, it would be of service to him
another way, by preventing her from making him any reproaches.
As soon as he came near, I owe you little thanks, Horatio, said
mademoiselle de Coigney laughing, for the interruption you gave me last
night. In the multiplicity of those reflections which his own affairs
had occasioned him, he had entirely forgot the lady in the window; and
imagining some other accident had happened which should make him appear
yet more guilty in the eyes of Charlotta, ask'd her, with some
impatience, what she meant? don't you remember, answered she, that you
brought me a message from a certain lady? Yes, madam, said he, and in
that, thought I did no more than my duty obliged me to, as she seemed
under some perplexity, which I supposed she was impatient to
acquaint you with.
You judged rightly, indeed, resumed de Coigney; but had you known how
gladly I would have dispensed with the honour of her confidence, I dare
answer you would have spared it me: - I'll tell you, my dear, pursued she
turning to Charlotta, for the secrets of this lady are pretty universal;
and I am certain that I have heard from no less than fifty different
persons, that very affair she was in such a hurry to inform me of last
night: you must needs have heard of the amour between madam la Boissy
and the chevalier de Mourenbeau? frequently, replied Charlotta; her
ridiculous jealousies of him have long been the jest of the whole court;
and I never go to Marli or Versailles, but I am told of some new
instance of it. And yet to relate a long story of her passion, and his
ingratitude, said mademoiselle de Coigney, was I last night dragged into
a dark corner, and deprived for an hour together of all the pleasures of
the masquerade:
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