- I Will Therefore Take Care Of
Her This Night, And If You Have Any Real Claim To Her, You May Make It
Out Before The Magistrate To-Morrow.
The count was so enraged to find it had been by monsieur du Plessis he
had been disappointed, that
He snatched his sword from Louisa, who had
all this time held it in her hand, and made so furious a thrust at him,
that, had he not been more than ordinary nimble in avoiding it, by
stepping aside, it must have infallibly gone thro' his body. - He
immediately drew and stood on his defence, but the innkeeper and several
other people, whom Louisa's cries had by this time brought into the
hall, prevented any mischief.
The confusion of voices and uproar which this accident occasioned, would
suffer nothing to be heard distinctly; but the guilt of count Bellfleur
might easily be read in his looks, and not able to stand the test of any
enquiry, he departed with his servant, casting the most malicious
reflections as he went out, both on Louisa and her deliverer.
Du Plessis less affected, because innocent, gave every one the
satisfaction they desired: he said that the young lady being of English
birth, came along with a lady of her own country, to visit several parts
of Europe merely for pleasure; that the lady was still at Venice, and
that on some little disgust between them, she who was there, meaning
Louisa, had quitted her, and was now returning home by the way of
Leghorn; of the truth of what he told them, he added, they might be
informed, by sending to Venice the next day.
He also said, that having a business to be negotiated in England, he had
followed this young lady, in order to beg the favour of her to deliver
letters to some friends he had there, not having the opportunity of
making this request before, by reason of her departure having been so
sudden, that he knew nothing of it before she was gone.
The truth of all this Louisa confirmed, and on farther talk of the
affair, acquainted them, that the gentleman who had occasioned this
disturbance, for she forbore mentioning his name, had often sollicited
her love on unlawful terms, and being rejected by her, had taken this
dishonourable way of compassing his desires, at a place where he knew
she was alone, and wholly a stranger.
The fright and confusion she had been in, had rendered her so faint,
that it was with infinite difficulty she brought out these words; but
having something given her to refresh her spirits, and being conducted
into another room out of the crowd, she began, by degrees, to
recover herself.
Monsieur du Plessis then informed her, that on coming to Melanthe's, and
hearing she was gone, he immediately took boat, resolving to prevail on
her to alter her resolution of going to England, or dye at her feet:
that he easily found the inn she was at, and that the man of the house
presently told him, such a person as he described was there; but that he
understood she had eloped from her husband, who had pursued, and was now
above with her.
Never, said this faithful lover, did any horror equal what I felt at
this intelligence! - The base count de Bellfleur came presently into my
mind: - I thought it could be no other who had taken this abhored method
of accomplishing the menaces you may remember I repeated to you: - I was
going to fly up stairs that instant, but was withheld, and found it best
to argue the man into reason, who, I found, was fully prepossessed you
were his wife: as I was giving some part of your history, I saw the
count's man passing thro' the hall; he saw me too, and would have
avoided me, but I ran to him, seized him by the throat, and asked him
what business had brought either him or his master to this place: the
disorder he was in, and the hesitation with which he spoke, together
with refusing to give any direct answer, very much staggered the
innkeeper, who was just consenting to go up with me to your chamber, and
examine into the truth of this affair, when we saw you come down, armed
as your virtue prompted, and at the same time flying from the
villain's pursuit.
Louisa could not help confessing that she owed the preservation of her
honour wholly to him; for, said she, the people were so fully persuaded
not only that I was his wife, but also that I had fled from him on some
unwarrantable intent, that all I did, or could have done, would only
have served to render me more guilty in their opinion; and it must have
been by death alone I could have escaped the monster's more
detested lust.
Monsieur du Plessis now made use of every argument that love and wit
could inspire, to prevail with her to accept of the offer contained in
the letter he had wrote to her; and concluded with reminding her, that
if the charming confession her answer had made him was to be depended
on, and that she had indeed a heart not wholly uninfluenced by his
passion, she would not refuse agreeing to a proposal, which not the most
rigid virtue and honour could disapprove.
Louisa on this replied with blushes, that since, by the belief she
should never see him more, she had been unwarily drawn in to declare
herself so far, she neither could, nor would attempt to deny what she
had said; but, added she, it is perhaps, by being too much influenced by
your merits, that I find myself obliged to refuse what you require of
me: - I cannot think, cried she, of rendering unhappy a person who so
much deserves to be blessed: - and what but misery would attend a match
so unequal as yours would be with me!
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