But mademoiselle de Coigney had no sooner been informed by her brother
of the discovery he had made, than she doubted not that it was on the
score of Horatio that he had met with such ill success in his courtship;
and also imagined, that it had been owing to some ill impressions
mademoiselle Charlotta had given the baron de Palfoy, that her father
had been treated by him in the manner already recited. She complained of
it to the baron de la Valiere, and told him, her whole family had been
affronted, and her brother rendered miserable, for the sake of a young
man, who, said she, can neither have birth or fortune to boast of, since
he has been so long a prisoner without any ransom paid, or interposition
offered to redeem him.
The baron was too generous not to vindicate the merits of Horatio, as
much as was consistent with his love and complaisance for his mistress:
he was notwithstanding very much picqued in his mind that a person, to
whom he had given the greatest proofs of a sincere and disinterested
friendship, should have concealed a secret of this nature from him, and
the more so, as he had seemed to expect and desire his confidence. From
this time forward he behaved to him with a coldness which was sufficient
to convince the other of the motive, especially as he found mademoiselle
de Coigney took all opportunities of throwing the most picquant
reflections on him. It is certain that lady was so full of spight at the
indignity she thought her family had received, that she could not help
whispering the attachment of Horatio and Charlotta, not only at St.
Germains, but at Paris also, with inunendo's little less cruel than
those her brother had made use of to his companions; so that between
them, the amour was talked of among all who were acquainted with
either of them.
At length the report reached the ears of the baron de Palfoy, who, tho'
he did not immediately give an entire credit to it, thought it became
him to do every thing in his power to silence it.
Accordingly he called his daughter to him one day, and having told her
the liberty which the world took in censuring her conduct on Horatio's
account, commanded her to avoid all occasions of it for the future, by
seeing him no more.
The confusion she was in, and which she had not artifice wholly to
conceal from the penetrating baron, more convinced him, than all he had
been told, that there was in reality some tender intercourse between
them; but resolving to be fully ascertained, he said no more to her at
that time, but dispatched a messenger immediately to St. Germains,
desiring Horatio to come to him the same day.
The lover readily obeyed this summons, but not without some
apprehensions of the motive: the hints daily given him, joined to the
alteration, not only in the behaviour of mademoiselle de Coigney, but
likewise of the baron de la Valiere, gave him but too just room to fear
his passion was no longer a secret.
The father of Charlotta received him with great courtesy, but nothing of
that pleasantness with which he had looked on him ever since he had
defended him from the robbers. Horatio, said he, I am indebted to you
for my life, and would willingly make what recompence is in my power for
the obligation I have to you: - think therefore what I can do for you;
and if your demands exceed not what is fit for you to ask, or would
become me to grant, you may be assured of my compliance.
The astonishment Horatio was in at these words is impossible to be
expressed; but having an admirable presence of mind, my lord, answered
he, I should be unworthy of the favours you do me, could I be capable of
presuming on them so far as to make any requests beyond the
continuance of them.
No, Horatio, resumed the baron, I acknowledge my gratitude has been too
deficient, since it has extended only to those civilities which are due
to your merit, exclusive of any obligation; the conversation we have had
together has hitherto afforded a pleasure to myself, and it is with a
good deal of mortification I now find a necessity to break it off: - I
would therefore have the satisfaction of doing something that might
convince you of my esteem, at the same time that I desire you to refrain
your visits.
Not all Horatio's courage could enable him to stand this shock, without
testifying some part of what passed in his mind: - he was utterly
incapable of making any reply, tho' the silence of the other shewed he
expected it, but stood like one confounded, and conscious of deserving
the banishment he heard pronounced against him. - At last recollecting
himself a little, - my lord, said he, I see not how I can be happy enough
to preserve any part of your esteem, since looked upon as unworthy an
honour you were once pleased to confer upon me.
You affect, said the baron, a slowness of apprehension, which is far
from being natural to you, and perhaps imagine, that by not seeming to
understand me, I should believe there were no grounds for me to forbid
you my house; but, young man, I am not so easily deceived; and since you
oblige me to speak plain, must tell you, I am sorry to find you have
entertained any projects, which, if you had the least consulted your
reason, you would have known could never be accomplished.
