He, On His Side,
Would Not Acquaint Her With The Sentiments Which The Above-Mentioned
Suggestions Had Inspired Him With, Thinking He Should Discover More Of
The Truth By Keeping A Watchful Eye Over Her Behaviour Without
Seeming To Do So.
During the time of their little journey from the palace of St. Germains
to Paris, where monsieur the baron de Palfoy ordinarily resided, nothing
farther was discoursed on:
But when they arrived, and mademoiselle
Charlotta had opportunity of reflecting on this sudden turn, she gave a
loose to all the anxieties it occasioned: - she was not only snatch'd
from the presence of what was most dear to her on earth, but as she had
no confidante, nor durst make any, was also without any means either of
conveying a letter to him, or receiving the least intelligence from him.
She had been in Paris but a very little time before she perceived the
baron artfully kept her in the most severe restraint under a shew of
liberty; pretending to her, as he had done to the princess, that he was
not well enough to go abroad, he would stay at home whole days together,
and oblige her to read, or play to him on the spinnet, which frequently
she did with an aking heart; and when she went out, it was always in
company with a relation whom he kept at his house on purpose, as he
said, as a companion to divert her, but in reality to be a spy over all
her actions; and had orders to dive, by all the insinuations she was
mistress of, into her very thoughts. All this mademoiselle Charlotta had
penetration enough to discover, and, spite of the discontent she
laboured under, so well concealed what they endeavoured to find out,
that all the traps laid for her were wholly ineffectual.
But in what manner did the enamoured Horatio support so cruel an
affliction! he was no sooner informed at his return from hunting of what
had happened, than he was seized with agonies, which, in the force he
did himself to conceal, threw him into a fever that confined him to his
bed for several days: as his passion for mademoiselle Charlotta was not
in the least suspected, every body imputed his disorder to be occasioned
by having over-heated himself in the chace, and during his indisposition
was visited by all the court: - the Chevalier St. George sent two or
three times a day to enquire of the health of his countryman, as he was
pleased to call him, and gave him many other tokens how greatly he was
in his favour; but all the civilities he received were not capable of
lessening the anguish of his mind, which kept his body so weak, that
tho' youth and an excellent constitution threw off the fever in a short
time, yet he was unable to quit his chamber in near three weeks, and
when he did, appeared so wan and so dejected, that he seemed no more
than the shadow of the once gay and sprightly Horatio.
But while he was thus sinking under the burden of his griefs, and
despairing ever to see his adorable Charlotta any more, fate was
providing for him a relief as unexpected as the cause of his present
unhappy situation had been, and to the very same persons also was he
indebted both for the one and the other.
Young monsieur de Coigney was not less alarmed than Horatio at the
removal of Charlotta, tho' it had not the same effect on him; he was
continually teizing his sister to make her a visit and repeat her
intercessions in his behalf; but she had received such tart answers on
that score, that she was very unwilling to undertake the embassy:
however, she complied at last, and was received by mademoiselle
Charlotta in the most obliging manner, but had not the least opportunity
of executing her commission, that lady having a good deal of company
with her, whom she purposely detained to avoid entering into any
particular conversation with her, till the hour in which she knew her
attendance on the queen would oblige her to take leave.
The baron de Palfoy was at that time abroad; but when he was informed
who had been there, was a little disturbed that the sister of de Coigney
endeavoured still to keep up her intimacy with his daughter, not
doubting but she had either brought some letter or message from him, as
he was fully persuaded in his mind that there was a mutual affection
between them; but he took no notice of it as yet, thinking that probably
she might make a second visit, and that then he should be better able to
judge of the motive.
In the mean time the father of monsieur de Coigney being informed of
these proceedings, thought it beneath his son to carry on a clandestine
courtship; and the great share he possessed of the royal favour, he
having been instrumental in gaining some point in the parliament of
Paris, rendered him vain enough to imagine his alliance would not be
refused, tho' there was a superiority both of birth and fortune on the
side of monsieur the baron de Palfoy.
In a perfect confidence of succeeding in his request, he went to his
house, and, after some little preparation, proposed a match between his
son and mademoiselle de Palfoy. The baron was not at all surprized at
what he said, because he expected, if the young people were kept
asunder, an offer would be made of this kind; and after hearing calmly
all he had to say, in order to induce him to give his consent, he told
him, that he was very sorry he had asked a thing which it was impossible
to grant, because he had already determined to dispose otherwise of his
daughter. Monsieur de Coigney then asked to whom. I know not as yet,
replied the other, but when I said I had determined to dispose her
otherways, I only meant to one who is of blood at least equal to her
own, and who has never, by any public debaucheries, rendered himself
contemptible to the discreet part of mankind.
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