_An explanation of the foregoing adventure, with a continuation of the
intrigues of some French ladies, and the policy of mademoiselle Coigney
in regard of her brother_.
It cannot be supposed that either of our young lovers enjoyed much true
repose that night, tho' the fatigue of the dance might naturally require
it: the one did but just know herself a lover before she felt the worst
torments of that passion in her jealousy; and the other having been
compelled, as it were, to lay open his heart in order to convince his
charmer it had no object but herself in view, knew not but his temerity
in doing so might be imputed to him as no less a crime than that from
which he attempted to be cleared: each had their different anxieties;
but those of Horatio were the least severe, because thro' all the
indignation of his mistress he saw marks of an affection, which he could
not have flattered himself with if they had not been evident; and
conscious of his innocence, doubted not but time would both explain that
and reconcile the offended fair:--whereas Charlotta was far from being
able to assure herself of her lover's fidelity: she could not conceive
how, in the compass of one night, such a plurality of mistakes should
happen to the same man, and trembled at the reflection that this man,
who possibly was the falsest of his sex, should not only have made an
impression on her heart, but also, by the concern she had so unwarily
expressed, have reason to triumph in his conquest:--ashamed therefore of
what she felt, and determined to make use of her utmost efforts to
conceal it for the future, if not to conquer it, she thought to shun all
occasions of seeing or speaking to this dangerous invader of her peace
was the first step she ought to take; but how little is a heart,
possessed of the passion her's was, capable of judging for itself, or
maintaining any resolutions in prejudice of the darling object!--she had
no sooner set it down as a rule to avoid him, than she began to wish for
his presence, and contented herself with thinking she desired it only
out of curiosity to hear what he would say, and to have an opportunity,
by a rallying manner of behaviour, to destroy whatever conjectures he
might have form'd in favour of his passion; but all this time she
deceived herself, and in reality only longed for an interview with him,
in hopes he would find means to justify himself. Horatio, who was
impatient to attempt it, seeing her at a distance walking on the terrass
with no other company than mademoiselle de Coigney, went immediately to
join them, thinking that if the presence of this lady might be a bar to
many things he wanted to say to Charlotta, it would be of service to him
another way, by preventing her from making him any reproaches.
As soon as he came near, I owe you little thanks, Horatio, said
mademoiselle de Coigney laughing, for the interruption you gave me last
night. In the multiplicity of those reflections which his own affairs
had occasioned him, he had entirely forgot the lady in the window; and
imagining some other accident had happened which should make him appear
yet more guilty in the eyes of Charlotta, ask'd her, with some
impatience, what she meant? don't you remember, answered she, that you
brought me a message from a certain lady? Yes, madam, said he, and in
that, thought I did no more than my duty obliged me to, as she seemed
under some perplexity, which I supposed she was impatient to
acquaint you with.
You judged rightly, indeed, resumed de Coigney; but had you known how
gladly I would have dispensed with the honour of her confidence, I dare
answer you would have spared it me:--I'll tell you, my dear, pursued she
turning to Charlotta, for the secrets of this lady are pretty universal;
and I am certain that I have heard from no less than fifty different
persons, that very affair she was in such a hurry to inform me of last
night: you must needs have heard of the amour between madam la Boissy
and the chevalier de Mourenbeau? frequently, replied Charlotta; her
ridiculous jealousies of him have long been the jest of the whole court;
and I never go to Marli or Versailles, but I am told of some new
instance of it. And yet to relate a long story of her passion, and his
ingratitude, said mademoiselle de Coigney, was I last night dragged into
a dark corner, and deprived for an hour together of all the pleasures of
the masquerade: it seems she had over-heard some gallant things between
him and the daughter of the count de Granpree, and that gave her the
occasion of running into a recapitulation of all the professions of
constancy he had made to herself, the proofs she had given him of a too
easy belief, and the little regard he now paid to her peace of mind.--I
was obliged to affect a pity for her misfortunes, and gratitude for the
trust she reposed in me, tho' neither the one or the other merited in
reality any thing but contempt.
One often suffers a good deal from one's complaisance this way, said
Charlotta; and for my part there is nothing I would more carefully avoid
than secrets of this nature; but you have not told me how far Horatio
was accessary to bringing you into this trouble.
He them said that he would save mademoiselle de Coigney the labour, and
immediately related how the lady they were speaking of threw herself
upon him, and afterwards enjoined him to deliver the message. But, added
he, I think last night was one of the most unfortunate ones I have ever
known, since, with all the care I could take, I was continually
prevented by other people's concerns from prosecuting my own.--I was not
only insulted and reproached for being mistaken for some other person,
for it could happen no other way, but also soon after received a letter
no less mysterious to me than the blow, which doubtless came from the
same quarter: as there is no name subscribed, or if there were, I should
look on myself as under no obligation of secrecy, I will beg leave to
communicate it to you, ladies.
With these words he took the letter out of his pocket and held it open
between them: Charlotta conquered her impatience so far as not to take
it out of his hand; but mademoiselle Coigney snatched it hastily,
imagining she knew the hand; nor was she deceived in her conjecture: she
had no sooner read it slightly over;--see here, mademoiselle Charlotta,
said she, a new proof of madam de Olonne's folly, and my brother's
continued attachment to that vile woman.
Charlotta then looked over the letter with a satisfaction that was
visible in her countenance; and as soon as she had done, then it is
plain, said she, that Horatio was mistaken for monsieur de Coigney: but
how it happened so is what I cannot conceive.
I can easily solve the riddle, replied mademoiselle de Coigney: I heard
my brother say he intended to wear a hunting dress at the masquerade;
but being disappointed of going to it, by his most christian majesty
sending for him to Marli, I suppose too suddenly for him to give notice
of his enforced absence to madame d' Olonne, and Horatio by chance
appearing in the same habit which he had doubtless told her he would be
in, and their sizes being pretty much alike, she might very well be
deceived, and also have a seeming reason for the jealousy and rage her
letter testifies.
Nothing could exceed the joy Horatio felt at this unexpected
eclaircisement of his innocence, which was also doubled by the pleasure
which, in spight of all her endeavours to restrain it, he saw sparkle in
the eyes of his beloved Charlotta. Neither of them, however, had any
opportunity of expressing their sentiments at this time, de Coigney
continuing with them till dinner, when they all separated to go to their
respective tables.
The next day afforded what in this he had sought in vain:--he found her
alone in her own apartment; and having broke the ice, was now grown bold
enough to declare his passion, with all the embellishments necessary to
render it successful: mademoiselle Charlotta knew very well what became
the decorum of her sex, and was too nice an observer of it not to behave
with all the reserve imaginable on this occasion. All the freedom she
had been accustomed to treat him with, while ignorant of his or her own
inclination, was now banished from her words and actions, and she
gravely told him, that if he were in earnest, it was utterly improper
for her to receive any professions of that kind without the approbation
of monsieur de Palfoy her father; and as there was but very little
probability of his granting it, on many considerations, she would wish
him to quell in its infancy an affection which might otherwise be
attended with misfortunes to them both.
It is certain, indeed, that in this she spoke no more than what her
reason suggested: she knew very well that her father had much higher
expectations in view for her, and that on the least suspicion of her
entertaining a foreigner, and one who seemed to have no other dependance
than that of favour, she should be immediately removed from St.
Germains; so that it behoved her to be very circumspect in any
encouragement she gave him: but tho' she spoke to him in this manner, it
was not, as her actions afterwards fully demonstrated, that she really
designed what she said should make him desist his pretensions, but that
he should be careful how he let any one into the secret of his heart.
She foresaw little prospect of their love ever being crown'd with
success, yet found too much pleasure in indulging it to be able to wish
an extinction of it, either in him or herself; and in spight of all the
distance she assumed, he easily perceived that whatever difficulties he
should have to struggle with in the prosecution of his addresses, they
would not be owing to her cruelty. They were both of them too young to
attend much to consequences; and as securing the affections of each
other was what each equally aimed at, neither of them reflected how
terrible a separation would be, and how great the likelihood that it
must happen they knew not how soon.
As the remonstrances of mademoiselle Charlotta had all the effect she
intended them for on Horatio, he so well commanding himself that no
person in the world, except the baron de la Valiere, who was absent, had
the least intimation of his passion, they might probably have lived a
long time together in the contentment they now enjoyed, had not an
accident, of which neither of them could have any notion, put a stop
to it.
Horatio thought no more on the affair of madame de Olonne and monsieur
de Coigney, from the time he had been cleared of having any concern with
that lady, yet was that night's adventure productive of what he looked
upon as the greatest misfortune could befal him. But to make this matter
conspicuous to the reader, it is necessary to give a brief detail of the
circumstances that led to it.
This lady, who was wife to the baron de Olonne, was one of the most
beautiful, and most vicious women in the kingdom; she entertained a
great number of lovers; but there was none more attached to her, or more
loved by her than young monsieur de Coigney: he had for a long time
maintained a criminal correspondence with her, to the great trouble of
all his friends, who endeavoured all they could, but in vain, to wean
him from her: he had lately a recounter with one of her former lovers,
which had like to have cost him his life; and it was with great
difficulty, and as much as the relations on both sides could do, by
representing to the king that they were set upon by street-robbers, that
they avoided the punishment the law inflicts on duelists. De Coigney was
but just recovered of the hurts he had received, when, so far from
resolving to quit the occasion of them, he made an appointment to meet
her at the masquerade:--they had described to each other the habit they
intended to wear, when, as he was preparing for the rendezvous, an
express came from the king, commanding his immediate attendance at
Marli, where the court then was: this was occasioned by old monsieur de
Coigney, who having, by some spies he kept about his son, received
intelligence of this assignation, had no other way to disappoint it than
by the royal authority, which he easily procured, as he was very much in
favour with his majesty; and had laid the matter before him.
The person who came with the mandate had orders not to quit the presence
of young Coigney, but bring him directly; by which means he was deprived
of all opportunity of sending his excuses to madame de Olonne, who
coming to the masquerade big with expectation of seeing her favourite
lover, and finding him, as she imagined, engaged with others, and wholly
regardless of herself, was seized with the most violent jealousy; and
not able to continue in a place where she had received so manifest a
slight, desired mademoiselle de Freville, her confidant and companion,
to upbraid him with his inconstancy; which request she complied with in
the manner already related, and which gave mademoiselle Charlotta such
matter of disquiet.
The amorous madame de Olonne, however, having given vent to the first
transports of her fury, could not hinder those of a softer nature from
returning with the same violence as ever; and for the gratification of
them wrote that letter which Horatio received, and occasioned afterward
the explanation of the whole affair, which explanation he then thought
fortunate for him; but by a whimsical effect of chance it proved utterly
the reverse.
Mademoiselle de Coigney, who had the most tender affection for her
brother, and passionately wished to make him break off all engagements
with a woman of madame de Olonne's character, and who might possibly
bring him under many inconveniencies, took the hint which mademoiselle
Charlotta unthinkingly gave, by telling her how she had been affronted
on his account by de Freville, of putting something into his head which
might probably succeed better than all the attempts had hitherto been
practised to make him quit his present criminal amour.
The first time she saw mademoiselle de Freville, she told her as a great
secret that her brother was fallen in love with mademoiselle Charlotta,
and that she believed it would be a match, for he had already engaged
friends to sollicit monsieur de Palfoy on that score. This she knew would
be carried directly to madame de Olonne, and doubted not but it would so
increase her jealous rage, that all he could say in his defence would
pass for nothing: she also added, that he was in the masquerade that
night, tho' for some private reasons best known to himself, said she, he
had ordered his people to give out he was gone to Marli.
De Freville, who was the creature of madame de Olonne, no sooner
received this intelligence than she flew with it to her, as mademoiselle
de Coigney had imagined: neither did it fail of the desired effect. When
he came to visit her, as he did on the moment of his return from Marli,
the violence of her temper made her break out into such reproaches and
exclamations, as a man had need be very much in love to endure: he
endeavoured to make her sensible of her error by a thousand
protestations; but the more he talk'd of Marli and the king's command,
the more she told him of Charlotta and the masquerade; and almost
distracted to find he still persisted in denying he was there, or had
ever made any tender professions to that lady, she proceeded to such
extravagancies as he, who knew himself innocent, could not forbear
replying to in terms which were far from being softening:--in fine, they
quarrelled to a very high degree, and some company happening to come in
at the same time, hindered either of them from saying any thing which
might palliate the resentment of the other.
Before they had an opportunity of meeting again, mademoiselle de Coigney
saw her brother; and artfully introducing some discourse of mademoiselle
Charlotta de Palfoy, began to run into the utmost encomiums on that
lady's beauty, virtue, wit, and sweetness of disposition, and at last
added, that she should think herself happy in having her for a sister.
Young de Coigney listened attentively to what she said: he had often
been in her company, but being prepossessed with his passion for madame
de Olonne, her charms had not that effect on him as now that the
behaviour of the other had very much lessened his esteem of her.
He replied, that he knew no lady more deserving than the person she
mentioned, and should be glad if, by her interest, he might have
permission to visit her: this was all mademoiselle de Coigney wanted;
she doubted not but if he were once engaged in an honourable passion, it
would entirely cure him of all regard for madame de Olonne, and as she
knew he had a good share of understanding, thought that when he should
come to a more near acquaintance with the perfections of Charlotta, the
loose airs of the other would appear in their true colours, and become
as odious to him as once they had been infatuating.
Finding him so well inclined to her purpose, she took upon herself the
care of introducing him, as it was indeed easy to do, considering the
intimacy there was between her and Charlotta. That young lady received
him as the brother of a person she extremely loved; and little
suspecting the design on which he came, treated him with a gaity which
heightened her charms, and at the same time flattered his hopes, that
there was something in his person not disagreeable to her.
Mademoiselle de Coigney took care that every visit he made to Charlotta
should be reported to de Olonne, which still heightening her resentment,
together with his little assiduity to moderate it, made a total breach
between them, to the great satisfaction of all his friends in general.
Those of them whom mademoiselle had acquainted with the stratagem by
which she brought it about, praised her wit and address; and as they
knew the family and fortune of mademoiselle Charlotta, encouraged her to
do every thing in her power for turning that into reality which she at
first had made use of only as a feint for the reclaiming of her brother.
The young gentleman himself stood in need of no remonstrances of the
advantages he might propose by a marriage with Charlotta; her beauty and
the charms of her conversation had made a conquest of his heart far more
complete than any prospect of interest could have done: not only de
Olonne, but the whole sex would now in vain have endeavoured to attract
the least regard from him, and as he was naturally vain, he thought
nothing but Charlotta de Palfoy worthy of him.
The success he had been accustomed to meet in his love affairs,
emboldened him to declare himself much sooner than he would have done
had he followed the advice of his sister, and too soon to be received in
a manner agreeable to his wishes by a lady of Charlotta's modesty and
delicacy, even had she not been prepossessed in favour of another; for
tho' she respected him as the brother of her friend, that consideration
was too weak to hinder her from letting him know how displeasing his
pretensions were to her, and that if he persisted in them she should be
obliged to refuse seeing him any more. He was now sensible of his error,
and endeavoured to excuse it by the violence of his passion, which he
said would not suffer him to conceal what he felt; but as, when a heart
is truly devoted to one object, the sound of love from any other mouth
is harsh and disagreeable; the more he aimed to vindicate himself in
this point the more guilty he became, and all he said served only to
increase her dislike.
Mademoiselle de Coigney after this took upon her to intercede for her
brother's passion, but with as ill success as he had done; and being one
day more importunate than usual, mademoiselle Charlotta grew in so ill a
humour, that she told her she was determined to give no encouragement to
the amorous addresses of any man, unless commanded to do so by those who
had the power of disposing her; but, added she, I would not have
monsieur de Coigney make any efforts that way; for were he to gain the
consent of my father, which I am far from believing he would do, I have
so little inclination to give him those returns of affection he may
expect, that in such a case I should venture being guilty of
disobedience.
Is there any thing so odious then, madam, in the person of my brother?
said de Coigney with a tone that shewed how much she was picqued. I
never gave myself the trouble of examining into the merits either of his
person or behaviour, replied she; but to deal sincerely with you, I have
a perfect aversion to the thoughts of changing my condition, and if you
desire the friendship between us should subsist, you will never mention
any thing of it to me;--and as to your brother, when I am convinced I
shall receive no farther persecutions from him of the nature I have
lately had, he may depend on my treating him with my former regard; till
then, you will do me a favour, and him a service, to desire he would
refrain his visits.
These expressions may be thought little conformable to the natural
politeness of the French, or to that sweetness of disposition which
mademoiselle Charlotta testified on other occasions; but she found
herself so incessantly pressed both by the brother and the sister, and
that all the denials she had given in a different manner had been
without effect, therefore was obliged to assume a harshness, which was
far from being natural to her, in order to prevent consequences which
she had too much reason to apprehend.
Horatio soon discovered he had a rival in monsieur de Coigney; and tho'
he easily saw by Charlotta's behaviour that he had nothing to fear on
this score, yet the interruptions he received from the addresses of this
new lover, made him little able to endure his presence, and he sometimes
could not refrain himself from saying such things as, had not the other
been too much buoyed up with his vanity to take them as meant to
himself, must have occasioned a quarrel.
She made use of all the power she had over him in order to curb the
impetuosity of his temper whenever he met this disturber of his wishes;
but his jealousy would frequently get the better of the respect he paid
her, and they never were together in her apartment without filling her
with mortal fears. She therefore found it absolutely necessary to get
rid of an adorer she hated, in order to hinder one she loved from doing
any thing which might deprive her of him; and tho' she had a real
friendship for mademoiselle de Coigney, yet she chose rather to break
with her, than run the hazard she was continually exposed to by her
brother's indefatigable pursuit.
But all her precaution was of no effect, as well as, the enforced
patience of Horatio: what most she trembled at now fell upon her, and by
a means she had least thought of. Madame de Olonne, full of malice at
being forsaken by her lover, and soon informed by whose charms her
misfortune was occasioned, got a person to represent to the baron de
Palfoy the conquest his daughter had made in such terms, as made him
imagine she encouraged his passion. Neither the character, family, or
fortune of de Coigney being equal to what he thought Charlotta might
deserve, made him very uneasy at this report; and as he looked on her
not having acquainted him with his pretensions as an indication of her
having an affection for him; he resolved to put a stop to the progress
of it at once, which could be done no way so effectually as by removing
her from St. Germains.
To this end the careful Father came himself to that court, and waited on
the princess: he told her highness, that being in an ill state of health
and obliged to keep much at home, Charlotta must exchange the honour she
enjoyed in her service, for the observance of her duty to a parent, who
was now incapable of any other pleasures than her society.
The princess, to whom she was extremely dear, could not think of parting
with her without an extreme concern, but after the reasons he had given
for desiring it, would offer nothing for detaining her, on which she was
immediately called in, and made acquainted with this sudden alteration
in her affairs.