Of love himself
for the temple of his purest offerings, than which
which none can be offered with greater passion
and sincerity than those of the adorable Melanthe's
Most devoted, and
Everlasting Slave,
DE BELLFLEUR.
P.S.. To prevent your fair friend Louisa from
any suspicion on account of being left at
home, I have engaged a gentleman to make
her a visit in form, just before the time of
your coming out: - favour me, I beseech
you, with knowing if my contrivances in
both these points have the sanction of your
approbation."
Tho' Melanthe, as may have been already observed in the foregoing part
of her character, was no slave to reputation in England, and thought
herself much less obliged to be so in a place where she was a stranger,
and among people who, when she once quitted, she might probably never
see again, yet she looked on this caution in her lover as a new proof of
his sincerity and regard for her. She was also fond of every thing that
had an air of luxury, and doubted not to find the elegance of the French
taste in the entertainment he would cause to be prepared for her
reception, therefore hesitated not a moment to send him the
following answer:
To the engaging count DE BELLFLEUR.
"Sensible, as you are, of the ascendant your
merits have gained over me, you cannot
doubt of my compliance with every thing that seems
reasonable to you: - I will not fail to be
at the place you mention; but oh! my dear
count, I hope you will never give me cause to
repent this step; - if you should, I must be
the most miserable of all created beings; but I
am resolved to believe you are all that man ought
to be, or that fond tenacious woman can desire;
and in that confidence attend with impatience
the hour in which there shall be no more reserve
between us, and I be wholly yours.
MELANTHE."
Thus every thing being fixed for her undoing, she spent the best part of
the day in preparing for the rendezvous: nothing was omitted in the
article of dress, which might heighten her charms and secure her
conquest: - the glass was consulted every moment, and every look and
various kind of languishment essayed, in order to continue in that which
she thought would most become the occasion. As she ordinarily past a
great deal of time in this employment, Louisa was not surprized that she
now wasted somewhat more than usual; and the discourse they had together
while she was dressing, and all the time of dinner, being very much on
the ball and the company who were at it, her thoughts were so much taken
up with the remembrance of du Plessis, that she perceived not the hurry
of spirits which would else have been visible enough to her in all the
words and motions of the other, and which increased in proportion as the
hour of her appointment drew nearer.
