- She Dispatched The Same Person Afterwards To All The
Public Places That She Heard Gentlemen Frequented, But Met Not With The
Least Success In Her Enquiries.
It would prolong this narrative to a
tedious length, should I attempt any description of what she felt in
this situation, or the reflections she made on the odd circumstances of
her life:
- The greatness of her spirit, and the most perfect resignation
to the divine will, however, made her support even this last and
severest trial with fortitude and patience; and as soon as she had put
herself into a convenient neat garb, but plain, befitting her condition,
she went out with a design to take a private lodging, where she might
live more cheaply than she could at the hotel, till providence should
throw some person in the way that might recommend her either to work, or
to teach young ladies music.
She was wandering thro' several of the streets of Paris, without being
able, as yet, to find such a chamber as she wanted, when a great shower
of rain happening to fall, she stood up under the porch of a large house
for shelter till it should be over, which it was not for a considerable
time; and the street being very dirty, she returned to the hotel,
intending to renew her search the next day: she had not been come in
above half an hour, before the man of the house told her that a servant,
in a very rich livery, who, he perceived, had followed her, and had
asked many questions concerning her, was now returned, and desired to
speak with her.
As du Plessis was ever in her thoughts, a sudden rush of joy overflowed
her heart, which seemed to her the presage of seeing him, tho' how he
should imagine she was in Paris was a mystery: - but she gave herself not
much time for reflection, before she ordered the man to be admitted.
The manner of his approaching her was very respectful; but the message
he had to deliver seemed of a contrary nature. - After having asked if
her name was Louisa, and she answering that it was, I come, madam, said
he, from a gentleman who saw you stand just now at the gate of a house
in the Fauxbourg St. Germains, he commands me to tell you, that he has
something of moment to acquaint you with, and desires you will permit me
to call a chair, and attend you to his house, where he is impatient to
receive you.
What, indeed, could Louisa think of a person who should send for her in
this manner? - all the late transport she was in, was immediately
converted into disdain and vexation at being taken, as she had all the
reason in the world to suppose, for one of those common creatures who
prostitute their charms for bread. -
Tell your master, said she, that by whatever accident he has learned my
name, he is wholly ignorant of the character of the person he has sent
you to: - that I am an entire stranger at Paris, and he must have
mistaken me for some other, who, perhaps, I may have the misfortune to
resemble, and may be also called as I am; - at least I am willing to
think so, as the only excuse can be made for his offering this
insult: - but go, continued she, with that pride which is natural to
affronted virtue; - go, and convince him of his error; - and let me hear
no more of it.
It was in vain he assured her that his master was a person of the
highest honour, and that he was not unknown to her. All he could say had
not the least effect unless to enflame her more; when, after asking his
name, the fellow told her he was forbid to reveal it, but that he was
confident she would not deny having been acquainted with him when once
she saw him.
I shall neither own the one, cried she, nor consent to the other; then
bid him a second time be gone, with an air which shewed she was not to
be prevailed upon to listen to his arguments.
This man had no sooner left her than she fell into a deep study, from
which a sudden thought made her immediately start: - the count de
Bellfleur came into her head; and she was certain it could be no other
than that cruel persecutor of her virtue, that her ill fate had once
more thrown in her way. - As she knew very well, by what he had done,
that he was of a disposition to scruple nothing for the attainment of
his wishes, she trembled for the consequences of his discovering where
she was. - The only way she could think on to avoid the dangers she might
be exposed to on his account, was to draw up a petition to the prince of
Conti, acquainting him that she was the person who was near suffering so
much from the ill designs he had on her at Padua, when so generously
referred by monsieur du Plessis, and to entreat his highness's
protection against any attempts he might be safe enough to make.
She was just sitting down, in order to form a remonstrance of this kind,
when a chariot and six stopping at the door, she was informed the
gentleman who had sent to her was come in person, and that they knew it
was the same by the livery. - Louisa run hastily to the window and saw a
person alight, whom, by the bulk and stature, she knew could not be the
count she so much dreaded, this having much the advantage of the other
in both. Somewhat reassured by this sight, she ordered the master of the
hotel to desire him to walk into a parlour, and let him know she would
attend him there.
As she saw not the face of this visitor, she could not be certain
whether it were not some of those she had been acquainted with at
Venice, who having, by accident, seen her at Paris, might, according to
the freedom of the French nation, take the liberty of visiting her; - but
whoever it were, or on what score soever brought, she thought it best to
receive him in a place where, in case of any ill usage, she might
readily have assistance.
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