Among The Number She Hoped To Gain To Her Party Was Mattakesa, The
Relique Of A General Who Had Been In Great Favour With His Prince.
This
lady, who could speak French, having learned it of a recusant that took
shelter in Russia, consented to go with her one day to the prison, and
no sooner saw Horatio, than, unfortunately for him, Edella, and herself,
she became charmed with him:
As she was of the number of those who think
nothing a crime that suits their own inclination, she took not the least
pains to subdue the growing passion, but rather indulged it, in order to
receive the highest degree of pleasure in the gratification. She doubted
not but Edella was her rival, and that it was for his sake alone she had
been so beneficent to his fellow-sufferers: to supplant her, therefore,
was the first step she had to take, and she resolved to omit nothing for
that purpose.
CHAP. XX.
The treachery of a Russian lady to her friend: her passion for Horatio:
the method he took to avoid making any return, and some other
entertaining occurrences.
It is easy to believe that Horatio, tho' relieved from that extremity of
misery he suffered while in the dungeon, was far from being able to
content himself with his present condition: - a thousand times he
reproached himself for pursuing the dictates of a glory which now seemed
so tyrannic: - Have I, cried he, hazarded the eternal displeasure of the
best of men, - refused the invitation of the adorable
Charlotta, - slighted the condescentions of her father, - been deaf both
to interest and love, to become a prisoner to the worst of
barbarians!
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 280 of 369
Words from 77808 to 78089
of 102800
