Herself, the proofs she had given him of a too
easy belief, and the little regard he now paid to her peace of mind. - I
was obliged to affect a pity for her misfortunes, and gratitude for the
trust she reposed in me, tho' neither the one or the other merited in
reality any thing but contempt.
One often suffers a good deal from one's complaisance this way, said
Charlotta; and for my part there is nothing I would more carefully avoid
than secrets of this nature; but you have not told me how far Horatio
was accessary to bringing you into this trouble.
He them said that he would save mademoiselle de Coigney the labour, and
immediately related how the lady they were speaking of threw herself
upon him, and afterwards enjoined him to deliver the message. But, added
he, I think last night was one of the most unfortunate ones I have ever
known, since, with all the care I could take, I was continually
prevented by other people's concerns from prosecuting my own. - I was not
only insulted and reproached for being mistaken for some other person,
for it could happen no other way, but also soon after received a letter
no less mysterious to me than the blow, which doubtless came from the
same quarter: as there is no name subscribed, or if there were, I should
look on myself as under no obligation of secrecy, I will beg leave to
communicate it to you, ladies.
With these words he took the letter out of his pocket and held it open
between them: Charlotta conquered her impatience so far as not to take
it out of his hand; but mademoiselle Coigney snatched it hastily,
imagining she knew the hand; nor was she deceived in her conjecture: she
had no sooner read it slightly over; - see here, mademoiselle Charlotta,
said she, a new proof of madam de Olonne's folly, and my brother's
continued attachment to that vile woman.
Charlotta then looked over the letter with a satisfaction that was
visible in her countenance; and as soon as she had done, then it is
plain, said she, that Horatio was mistaken for monsieur de Coigney: but
how it happened so is what I cannot conceive.
I can easily solve the riddle, replied mademoiselle de Coigney: I heard
my brother say he intended to wear a hunting dress at the masquerade;
but being disappointed of going to it, by his most christian majesty
sending for him to Marli, I suppose too suddenly for him to give notice
of his enforced absence to madame d' Olonne, and Horatio by chance
appearing in the same habit which he had doubtless told her he would be
in, and their sizes being pretty much alike, she might very well be
deceived, and also have a seeming reason for the jealousy and rage her
letter testifies.
Nothing could exceed the joy Horatio felt at this unexpected
eclaircisement of his innocence, which was also doubled by the pleasure
which, in spight of all her endeavours to restrain it, he saw sparkle in
the eyes of his beloved Charlotta. Neither of them, however, had any
opportunity of expressing their sentiments at this time, de Coigney
continuing with them till dinner, when they all separated to go to their
respective tables.
The next day afforded what in this he had sought in vain: - he found her
alone in her own apartment; and having broke the ice, was now grown bold
enough to declare his passion, with all the embellishments necessary to
render it successful: mademoiselle Charlotta knew very well what became
the decorum of her sex, and was too nice an observer of it not to behave
with all the reserve imaginable on this occasion. All the freedom she
had been accustomed to treat him with, while ignorant of his or her own
inclination, was now banished from her words and actions, and she
gravely told him, that if he were in earnest, it was utterly improper
for her to receive any professions of that kind without the approbation
of monsieur de Palfoy her father; and as there was but very little
probability of his granting it, on many considerations, she would wish
him to quell in its infancy an affection which might otherwise be
attended with misfortunes to them both.
It is certain, indeed, that in this she spoke no more than what her
reason suggested: she knew very well that her father had much higher
expectations in view for her, and that on the least suspicion of her
entertaining a foreigner, and one who seemed to have no other dependance
than that of favour, she should be immediately removed from St.
Germains; so that it behoved her to be very circumspect in any
encouragement she gave him: but tho' she spoke to him in this manner, it
was not, as her actions afterwards fully demonstrated, that she really
designed what she said should make him desist his pretensions, but that
he should be careful how he let any one into the secret of his heart.
She foresaw little prospect of their love ever being crown'd with
success, yet found too much pleasure in indulging it to be able to wish
an extinction of it, either in him or herself; and in spight of all the
distance she assumed, he easily perceived that whatever difficulties he
should have to struggle with in the prosecution of his addresses, they
would not be owing to her cruelty. They were both of them too young to
attend much to consequences; and as securing the affections of each
other was what each equally aimed at, neither of them reflected how
terrible a separation would be, and how great the likelihood that it
must happen they knew not how soon.
