Part 13

"I do love her," returned he, "but not in the way your observation would imply. I love her, as becomes the son of the Baroness de Ripperda to love the daughter of her sister; that sister, who has been to him in the place of the mother heaven took from him at his birth! Alice Coningsby is the person to whom I have bound myself to release her conscience from the bonds of an artful man. And, after this explanation, I cannot believe that the friend of my father will longer withhold my letter!"

The Sieur listened with his eyes bent to the ground. He looked up when Louis ceased speaking; and saw, by his proud indignant air, that he rather expected occasion for further braving a refusal, than to receive the permission he affected to think could no longer be denied. "Louis," said he, "I see what is passing in your mind; but I will not be rigid to your present feelings. Your letter shall go to Don Ferdinand. But you must expunge from it all reference to where you are, and tell him, to send the acquittal of your imprudent cousin, direct to herself."

Surprised and thankful, Louis readily undertook to re-write the letter according to these injunctions; a few minutes put it into the form required, and inclosing the irresistible appeal of Alice herself, to her ungenerous lover, he sealed the packet, and delivered it to the Sieur. The dispatches being fastened up, it was to be committed to the particular charge of Castanos, who was to carry the bag to Madrid. Louis's grateful heart was again going to pour itself out, but Ignatius checked the ingenuous effusion, by turning severely round, as he moved to the door.

"This time," said he, "I have yielded to your request, in consideration of its pious motive. But you must fully understand me; and then you will not presume more on this indulgence, than the spirit of your recent oath will sanction. Here not only ends your correspondence with Don Ferdinand, but closes your communication with every person without these walls, until our affair is terminated. Not even the inhabitants of Lindisfarne must know of your being at Vienna."

"I lament my ignorance of the necessity for such precaution," replied Louis, "but the interdicted intimation is now beyond my recall. I wrote to both my uncles from Ostend; and twice during my journey to Vienna."

"Such an accident was provided against," answered Ignatius; "Castanos had the Baron de Ripperda's orders to destroy all such letters in their way to the post; so be at rest on that head. Your father himself will take care to let Mr. Athelstone and Sir Anthony know that you are well, and conducting yourself to his satisfaction."

"I am in his hands, and in your's," said Louis, bowing his head; while struck by so strange an act of precaution, he had not power to utter a word more. The Sieur drew his cloak over the dispatches, and without further observations, left the apartment.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

Printed by A. Strahan, New-Street-Square, London.

Transcriber's Notes

page 85, firecely changed to fiercely (said the baronet fiercely) page 96, extacy changed to ecstacy (and he was in so wrapt an ecstacy) page 119, indecison changed to indecision (He felt his own indecision) page 122, supicion changed to suspicion (He had no suspicion) page 143, thrink changed to shrink (seemed ready to shrink) page 154 "clapsed" changed to "clasped" (He was bending before a table, and leaning his head upon his clasped hands.) page 160, hand's changed to hands (least take it out of the Marquis's hands) page 163, license changed to licence (My dear Alice, licence in your sex is more) page 180, States General changed to States-General to standardize spelling page 187, agrandize changed to aggrandize (was developed to aggrandize) page 196, evey changed to every (reposed every day) page 206, corrected printer's error by adding missing "to" (to explain) page 209, meandring changed to meandering (along the meandering banks of the Coquet) page 242, enthusiam changed to enthusiasm (the disinterested enthusiasm of the other) page 284, Athelstone manor changed to Athelstone-manor to standardize spelling page 284, effeminancy changed to effeminacy to standardize spelling (then smiling at the effeminacy of his disgust) page 262, paxoxysms changed to paroxysms (amidst paroxysms of tears) page 273, s changed to is (venerable uncle is on his knees) page 314, postcript changed to postscript (a postscript was written in the Baron's own hand)

List of Archaic Spelling (not an exhaustive list)

weasel is spelled weazel control/uncontrolled are spelled controul/uncontrouled suprise is spelled surprize ecstasy is spelled ecstacy ante-room is spelled anti-room ethereal is spelled etherial eavesdropper is spelled eve's dropper negotiation is spelled negociation choked is spelled choaked expense is spelled expence pleasurable is spelled pleasureable