- I would recompence what you have done for me with any thing but my
daughter, and as a proof of my concern for your happiness, I exclude you
from all society with her, in order to prevent so unavailing a passion
from taking too deep a root.
Ah, my lord, cried Horatio, perceiving all dissimulation would be vain,
the man who once adored mademoiselle de Palfoy can never cease to do so.
He ought therefore, replied the baron, without being moved, to consider
the consequences well before he begins to adore: - if I had been
consulted in the matter I should have advised you better; but it is now
too late, and all I can do is to prevent your ever meeting more: - this,
Horatio, is all I have to say, and that if in any other affair I can be
serviceable to you, communicate your request in writing, and depend on
its being granted.
In speaking these last words he withdrew, and left Horatio in a
situation of mind not easy to be conceived. - He was once about to
entreat him to turn back, but had nothing to offer which could make him
hope would prevail on him to alter his resolution. - He never had been
insensible of the vast disparity there was at present between him and
the noble family of de Palfoy: he could expect no other, or rather worse
treatment than what he had now received, if his passion was ever
discovered, and had no excuse to make for what himself allowed so great
a presumption.
With a countenance dejected, and a heart oppressed with various
agitations, did he quit the house which contained what was most valuable
to him in the world, while poor Charlotta endured, if possible, a
greater shock.
The baron de Palfoy, now convinced that all he had been informed of was
true, was more incensed against her than he had been on the mistaken
supposition of her being influenced in favour of monsieur de Coigney: he
had no sooner left Horatio than he flew to her apartment, and reproached
her in terms the most severe that words could form. - It was in vain she
protested that she never had any design of giving herself to Horatio
without having first received his permission. - He looked on all she said
as an augmentation of her crime, and soon came to a determination to put
it past her power to give him more than she had already done.
Early next morning he sent her, under the conduct of a person he could
confide in, to a monastry about thirty miles from Paris, without even
letting her know whither she was about being carried, or giving her the
least notice of her departure till the coach was at the door, into which
he put, her himself with these words, - adeiu Charlotta, expect not to
see Paris, or me again, till you desire no more to see Horatio.
CHAP. X.
The reasons that induced Horatio to leave France; with the chevalier
St. George's behaviour on knowing his resolution. He receives an
unexpected favour from the baron de Palfoy.
While Charlotta, under the displeasure of her father, and divided, as
she believed, for ever from her lover, was pursuing her melancholy
journey, Horatio was giving way to a grief which knew no bounds, and
which preyed with the greater feirceness on his soul, as he had no
friend to whom he could disburden it. The baron's estrang'd behaviour
was no small addition to his other discontents, and he lamented the
cruel necessity which had enforced him to disoblige a person to whom he
owed so many favours, and whose advice would now have been the greatest
consolation.
He could not now hope Charlotta would be permitted to come to St.
Germains, and doubted not but her father would take effectual methods to
prevent her visiting at any place where even accident might occasion a
meeting between them: he knew the watch had been set over her on the
account of monsieur de Coigney, and might be assured it would not now be
less strict, and that it would be equally impossible for either to
communicate their thoughts by writing as it was to see each other.
He was in the midst of these reflections when he heard, by some people
who were acquainted with the baron de Palfoy, that he had sent his
daughter away, but none knew where: this, instead of lessening his
despair, was a very great aggravation of it: - he imagined she was
confined in some monastry, and was not insensible of the difficulties
that attend seeing a young lady who is sent there purposely to avoid the
world; yet, said he to himself, could I be happy enough to discover even
to what province she was carried, I would go from convent to convent
till I had found which of them contained her.
It was in vain that he made all possible enquiry: every one he asked was
in reality as ignorant as himself. - The baron de Palfoy had trusted
none, so could not be deceived but by those persons who had the charge
of conducting her, and of their fidelity he had many proofs. Yet how
impossible is it for human prudence to resist the decrees of fate. - The
secret was betrayed, without any one being guilty of accusing the
confidence reposed in them, and by the strangest accident that perhaps
ever was, Horatio learned all he wished to know when he had given over
all his endeavours for that purpose, and was totally despairing of it.
He came one day to Paris, in order to alleviate his melancholy, in the
company of some young gentlemen, who had expressed a very great regard
for him; but his mind being taken up with various and perplexed thoughts
on his entrance into that city, he mistook his way, and turned into the
rue St. Dennis instead of the rue St. Honore, where he had been
accustomed to leave his horses and servant.
