- He Made
Her Also Add A Postscript To The Letter, To Give A Direction In What
Part Of Paris He
Might find her on his arrival; but Louisa would by no
means give the least hint of the alteration in
Her circumstances, not
that she wanted any farther proofs of his sincerity, but that she
reserved the pleasure of so agreeable a surprize to their meeting. This
letter was dispatched immediately, to the end he might receive it, at
least, as soon as that from his sister with the expected remittances.
CHAP. XXV.
Monsieur du Plessis arrives at Paris: his reception from Dorilaus and
Louisa: the marriage of these lovers agreed upon.
The innocent pleasure Louisa felt in picturing to herself the extacy
which du Plessis would be in at the receipt of her letter, was not a
flattering idea: - to know she was in Paris, where, in all probability,
she had come to seek him, and to have the intelligence of it from
herself, had all the effect on him that the most raptured fancy
can invent.
His orders to madam d' Espargnes being punctually complied with, his
bills of exchange also came soon after to hand; and the little hurts he
had received from the robbers, as well as those of his mind, being
perfectly healed, he set out with a lover's expedition, and arrived in
Paris to the pleasing surprize of a sister who tenderly loved him, and
expected not this satisfaction of a long time.
He took but one night's repose before he enquired concerning Dorilaus,
and was told that he was a person of quality in England; but, on some
disgust he had received in his native country, was come to settle in
France. As Louisa was extremely admired, they told him also that he had
a very beautiful daughter, of whom he was extremely fond. This last
information gave not a little ease to the mind of him who heard it, and
dissipated those apprehensions which the high character they gave of
Dorilaus had, in spite of himself, excited in him: he now imagined that
as they were English, his Louisa might possibly have been acquainted
with the daughter of this gentleman in their own country, and meeting
her at Paris, might have put herself under her protection.
Full of those impatiencies which are inseparable from a sincere passion,
he borrowed his sister's chariot, and went to the Fauxbourg St.
Germains; and being told one of the best houses in the place was that of
Dorilaus, he asked for mademoiselle Louisa, on which he was desired to
alight, and shewed into a handsome parlour while a servant went in to
inform her: after this, he was ushered up stairs into a room, the
furniture of which shewed the elegance of the owner's taste; but
accustomed to every thing that was great and magnificent, the gilded
scenes, the rich tapestry, the pictures, had no effect on him, till
casting his eyes on one that hung over the chimney, he found the exact
resemblance of the dear object never absent from his heart. - It was
indeed the picture of Louisa, which her father, soon after her arrival,
had caused to be drawn by one of the best painters at that time in
Paris. This sight gave him a double pleasure, because it, in some
measure, anticipated that of the original, and also convinced him that
she was not indifferent to the person she was with.
He was fixed in contemplation on this delightful copy, when the original
appeared in all the advantages that jewels and rich dress could give
her. - Tho' he loved her only for herself, and nothing could add to the
sincere respect his heart had always paid her, yet to see her so
different from what he expected, filled him with a surprize and a kind
of enforced awe, which hindered him from giving that loose to his
transports, which, after so long an absence, might have been very
excusable; - and he could only say - my dear adorable Louisa, am I so
blessed to see you once more! - She met his embrace half way, and
replied, monsieur du Plessis, heaven has given me all I had to wish in
restoring to me so faithful a friend; - but come, continued she, permit
me to lead you to a father, who longs to embrace the protector of his
daughter's innocence. Your father, madam! cried he; yes, answered she;
in seeking a lover at Paris I found a father; Dorilaus is my father: - I
have acquainted him with all the particulars of our story, and, I
believe, the sincere affection I have for you will not be less pleasing
for receiving his sanction to it.
With these words she took his hand and led him, all astonishment, into
an inner room where Dorilaus was sitting, who rose to meet him with the
greatest politeness, and which shewed that to be master of, it was not
necessary to be born in France; and on Louisa's acquainting him with the
name of the person she presented, embraced him with the tenderness of a
father, and made him such obliging and affectionate compliments, as
confirmed to the transported du Plessis the character had been given
of him.
After the utmost testimonies of respect on both side, Dorilaus told his
daughter she ought to make her excuses to monsieur for having eloped
from the monastry where he had been so good to place her, which, said
he, I think you can do in no better a manner than by telling the truth,
and as I am already sufficiently acquainted with the whole, will leave
you to relate it, while I dispatch a little business that at present
calls me hence. He went out of the room in speaking this, and Louisa had
a more full opportunity of informing her lover of all she had suffered
since their parting, till this happy change in her fortune, than she
could have had in the presence of her father, tho' no stranger to her
most inmost thoughts on this occasion.
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