Part 14

_Lidola_ was lain down on a Bed so fragrant, that it perfum'd the whole House. Her Head-Dress was in the careless Air, her Neck bare, as was also her left Breast, her Arms at Liberty, and her whole Posture was like one between Sleeping and Waking. _La Foret_ made his Approach to her so softly, that she did not perceive it. At the unexpected Sight of so many Beauties he stood like a Statue, with his Eyes so fix'd on the Person of this charming _Venus_, that they had no Motion. A secret Desire, on which he was incapable of making the least Reflection, push'd him forward to view her more nearly. She was like a Loadstone that attracted him imperceptibly and irresistibly. This adorable Beauty happening to open her Eyes, seem'd to the last Degree astonish'd to see her Lover by her Bed-side. She blush'd, and having rais'd her self up, and put on a Veil that lay in a Chair, just at hand, You have surpris'd me, said she, and perhaps seen things you ought not to have seen. Nay, Madam, he reply'd, the Fates will'd it, and not you, that I should have the Opportunity of contemplating Beauties that had like to have thrown me into a Trance. However, what I have seen will be so far from diminishing the Respect I owe you, that it has infinitely heighten'd a Passion which I thought could not have been stronger than it was before. You deserve tho' to be chastis'd, reply'd the Fair One, for not letting me know that you was present. But what made you come so soon? It cannot be Night yet, and I did not appoint you 'till Eleven o' Clock. You mistake, said _La Foret_, you only upbraid me for coming so late, tho' you don't consider how long I have been here. You deceive your self, said the Queen; if you consult your Watch, you'll find that you are in the Wrong to contradict me. I have no Watch, reply'd _La Foret_, nor have I need of one, for on these Occasions my Head is a Minute-Watch, so that I would not lose one Moment. Have you not a Watch? said _Lidola_; 'tis surprising that you should be without those Jewels which you bestow upon others? If I had the Skill to make such pretty Machines, it should never be said that I had not one for my own Use, and another at the Service of my Mistress. This was a mortifying Compliment to the _Frenchman_, who very well understood the Tendency of the Rebuke, and was mad with himself that he had not prevented it. The Queen perceiving him in some Confusion, thought fit to put him out of his Pain. I only banter, _La Foret_, said she, and you are studying for a serious Answer. Sit down upon my Bed, continu'd she, the Moments are precious, let us not squander them to no purpose. At the same time she went to grasp his Hand, but Love render'd her so weak, that she gave a Sigh, and fell back on her Pillow. So far things went on swimmingly, and the two young Hearts did not doubt that their Bliss was upon the Point of being compleated. But Fortune envying their Felicity, chang'd all their Hopes on a sudden into mortal Terrors.

The King had a real Love for _Lidola_, the Violence he had done himself in not seeing her so long was such a Burden upon his Mind, that he could bear it no longer; and a fresh Report which she had given out of her Indisposition, adding to his former Uneasiness, he was resolv'd to keep her Company that Night. The Waiting-woman, who was always at the Window, hearing a confused Noise at a distance, like that of a Company of Men, immediately had a Mistrust, because 'twas but just Midnight, and the King never went to Bed before that time: At length, seeing the Train approach, she ran and gave the Alarm, crying out, _We are all undone, Madam, here is the King just at the Gate_. As warm as our two Lovers were before, their Blood immediately chill'd in their Veins. _La Foret_ knew not what would be his Doom. It was no time to demur, and he was immediately hurry'd into a Closet which fronted that Chamber. He was no sooner enter'd but a Domestic who stepp'd before, knock'd at the Gate. The Chamber-maid made him stay just as long as she thought it might have taken her up to rise, and as Visits of this sort were pretty frequent, she did not seem to be at all surpriz'd. As the King was close at the Domestic's Heels, he enter'd the very Moment that the Gate was open'd. The Queen, who heard him coming, found it no very hard Task to counterfeit an Indisposition, to which the Fear she was in, both for her self and her Spark, did not a little contribute; and the King verily believing that she was not well, had not the least Suspicion, tho' he saw her more disorder'd than usual. He shew'd a greater Fondness for her than ever, and said to her, that notwithstanding the ill State of Health he found her in, he intended to spend the Night with her. Sire, reply'd _Lidola_, you do me a great deal of Honour, but I am not now in a Condition either to give Pleasure, or to receive it; I fear that if I were to stir ever so little, it would do me an Injury, and I find that I want Rest. I would not incommode you, said the King, for the World; if you can't admit of my Company, I'll go and rest upon the Tent Bed in that Closet, being determin'd to stay here all Night. This Answer quite unexpected by the Fair One, so alarm'd her, that after abundance of Excuses for the Coldness wherewith she had treated him, which she ascrib'd entirely to her Illness, she began to be very sweet upon him, and begg'd him earnestly to undress himself.

As soon as he was in Bed, and the Domestics gone, the Chamber-maid took an Opportunity to go into the Closet to consult with the Prisoner what shift to make for his Liberty, when, to her great Surprize, she could not find him, tho' there was no Door but what he went in at, and the Windows were so close, that they did not seem to have been open'd. While she was rummaging the Bed and other Furniture in that Apartment, the Lady, who was perplex'd to think what was become of her Lover, call'd to her to raise her Pillow, and bring her some Drink, and having by that means an Opportunity to whisper, and to hear that he was gone, tho' she knew not which way, it put her out of Pain, and she slept the remainder of the Night very quietly. _La Foret_ imagining that the King would make a very short Stay, had shut himself up in the Privy, but he found himself terribly mistaken when he heard soon after that he design'd to pass the whole Night with his Wife, or at least in the Closet where he was, in case that she could not admit him to her Bed. Then it was, as he has own'd to me since, more than once, that he was seiz'd with a Panick which he had never felt the like of before. He could not return thro' the Chamber where the King was, without the Hazard of being seen; he thought all the Windows of the Apartment were secur'd with Iron Bars: Besides, he was afraid the Noise would betray him, if he open'd them, especially if he leap'd into the Canal, which the Closet over-look'd. Having resolv'd all this in his Mind, in the utmost Hurry, he thought of no better Expedient, than to slip into the Water thro' the Hole of the Privy, and so to save himself by Swimming.

By good Luck for him, the Room where I lay was low, and next the Road, so that he came and rapp'd with his Fingers at one of my Windows. I presently imagin'd that his Affairs had taken a wrong Turn, got up in a Trice, and had no sooner open'd the Window, but he bolted in like a hunted Hare, pull'd off his Clothes, and went into Bed, where he gave me a full and true Account of his nocturnal Adventures. You see now, said I, dear Boy, how Love and Fortune trifle with you. They seldom agree, and if ever, 'tis in order to deceive us the more terribly in the After-Game. Believe me, you are in a very dangerous way, and if you don't abandon it, as I have already advis'd you, it will assuredly prove your Ruine. Let me hear no more of it, said he, she is worth all my Trouble; and provided I can but once enjoy her, I fear not to die. What vexes me most of all is, that I know not how to gratify her. She ask'd me for a Watch; whereas I have not one to give her, and it will take me up at least a Week to finish that we have in hand. If she wants you to give her a Watch, said I, 'tis a plain Sign that her Love is self-interested, and tho' it were not so, how do you propose she should make use of it? The King who will know it presently, will also be satisfy'd where she had it, upon which the Mystery will break out, and then farewel the two Lovers. You are in the right, upon my Word, said my Friend, I had not that Foresight; but in short, we must make an end of it, and by that time, I warrant we shall find some Expedient or other to bring us off; for Love is too ingenious to lurch us when we are in so fair a way.

Mean time we heard five or six great Strokes upon the Bason of our Clock which were given so fast one after another, that they made us start; we could not imagine the Meaning of it; not considering that we our selves had advis'd the King to make use of this Method, in Imitation of the _Europeans_, to raise an Alarm, and give the Inhabitants of the Canton Notice, when any thing happen'd to the Disadvantage of the Quarter, that they might all flock together to the Place, and endeavour to remedy it. A Man running by just after, and calling out Fire, as loud as ever he could, deliver'd us from that Fright, and threw us into another. Not knowing where it was, we leap'd to the Bed's-feet and put on each a dirty Gown, which we girt close round our Bodies, with a Design to lend a Helping-hand to quench it, and going out, we presently saw that Queen _Lidola_'s House was in Flames. Ladders were brought from all Parts, and there was such Plenty of Water at hand, that by the Force of it the Fire was hindered from spreading to the neighbouring Apartments, so that the Damage was not very considerable. As it began in the Closet where _La Foret_ was conceal'd, we did not doubt but the Waiting-woman, when she was looking for him, let some Spark fall into the Tent-Bed, or some other Moveable or combustible Matter, which had been the Cause of the Fire. Mean time the King retir'd as soon as a Domestic brought him the News. We went immediately to condole with him, but he only laugh'd, and told us, that neither the Fright nor the Damage deserv'd our Compliment, especially with regard to a Man of his natural Temper, whom nothing could put out of Humour. The Queen was no sooner recover'd of her Fright, on account of this sad Fire, but she took Pen in Hand and drew up a second Letter, in Substance almost as follows.

To _La Foret_.

_My Chamber-maid has already been abroad. I know where you are retired, but I give a shrewd guess which way you made your Escape. The Conjuncture was dangerous, and altogether as alarming to me as to you, insomuch that the Fire which afterwards broke out in my Closet, by the Imprudence of my People, was nothing to it, in comparison. But let not this discourage you, we shall be more happy another time. Be constant and tranquil. I will give you notice when 'tis a proper Season, and take such Precautions that at our next Interview, I hope for an Opportunity of giving you a convincing Testimony, that I am truly your Friend._

LIDOLA.

It was no difficult Matter for the Messenger of Love to Hide this Billet into the Hands of the Lover, who seldom fail'd of walking by her Mistress's Door every Morning, Noon, and Night, so that she might meet and talk with him whenever she pleas'd, without any Notice taken of her. Mean time, _La Foret_ seriously went to work upon her Watch, and labour'd so hard at it, that it was ready by the fifth Day. It was extremely pretty; the Graving of the Box was beautiful, nor was the Case inferior to the Workmanship within. The Evening was hardly shut in, but he went out with his Machine in his Pocket, and finding the young Woman of whom he was in quest, he put it into her Hand, and desir'd her to present it for him to the Queen, to whose Favour he always recommended himself. If ever Woman, discover'd her Joy, _Lidola_ did at the Sight of this pretty Watch. We were told that she kiss'd it a thousand times, and bless'd herself for having succeeded so well in her Intrigue.

One would have thought that this fine Pledge of _La Foret_'s Love would have hasten'd the Happiness he expected for his Reward, but in truth, he heard no more of it. The Waiting-maid who formerly was so eager to find him out, was as watchful afterwards to avoid him. This made him very uneasy; but as he had no room to suspect the Lady, he imagin'd that the young Woman was disgusted to find her Mistress so highly gratify'd, and herself unrewarded in companion, of the Pains she had taken. In short, not long after, when he scarce thought any thing of it, the young Woman to his great Surprize accosted him at a Place where there was no Witness, and after having dropp'd a Sigh, you are wretchedly deceived, _said she_, I really pity you, and have the utmost Abhorrence of my Mistress's unjust Proceeding. All that she has done hitherto was only to coax you out of a Watch, and now she has it, she has order'd me to tell you, that she finds it too difficult and dangerous for her to receive you at her Apartments any more, that she is troubled for it to the last Degree, that her Grief is even inexpressible, that it will certainly break her Heart, and a great deal more of such Cant which is all meer Hypocrisy.

The King, _continued she_, was with us Yesterday, and hearing the Beat of the Watch, immediately ask'd what it was. Being under a Necessity of telling him, he seem'd surpriz'd at it, and would needs know how Madam came by that Jewel. The ungrateful Creature, as she herself confess'd to me, was just going to tell him, that you had sent it to her with a Design to make use of it as a Bribe to debauch her, and that you had actually made an Attempt to that end; but for fear of involving herself in a Scrape, wherein perhaps she would have run as great a Risque as you, or at least have been in Danger of restoring the Watch, she told him that I had found it, and that she had it from me. Upon this, I was call'd, and question'd as to the Truth of it. I perceiv'd by her tipping the Wink on me at every Word, that she was in a Plunge, and that there was a Necessity for my confirming every thing she had said. Very well, if it be so, _said the King_, I know whose it is, and Justice demands the Restitution of it to the Right Owner. I would have done so before, _said the Queen_, for as soon as my Maid found it, I imagin'd it belong'd to those Foreigners who made yours, and I sent it back to them that Instant, but when my Servant told from whom she came, they protested that they would never take it again, and that their Design was to make one for the Empress, and for all the other Queens. Thus, _said the Chambermaid_, have I told you what Turn the Matter has taken. Possibly you expect some Reward for your Present, but I don't think you will have any as long as you live. 'Tis enough, _said La Foret_, I thank you my Dear; undoubtedly I shall remember your Hint, and will take my Measures accordingly.

It being then past Supper-time, _La Foret_ made haste to his Chamber, and went to Bed without saying a Word. You are in the Dumps, Friend, _said I_, what ails you? Don't Affairs go to your Mind? No verily, they don't, _said he_, for I heard that just now, which I should never have thought of; and thereupon he gave me the Relation of every Thing that the Maid had told him. Alas! _said I_, did nor I tell you as much before? However, you are come off better than I thought you would. But after all, consider the Consequences of this Affair. You are hereby brought under a Necessity of making Watches with all Speed for all the King's Wives on Pain of incurring their Displeasure, and perhaps too the Monarch's Hatred, who if you should fail in that Point, might well mistrust that you gave that Watch with a Design to insinuate yourself into the Affections of the most beautiful of all his Wives, which Suspicion you know would be corroborated upon the least Noise of your having been seen Abroad at an unseasonable Hour, either in the Water, or going in at our Window, if any Body has ever so little Hint of it. The D---l take all Women then, _said he in a Passion_, I'll never trust another be she of what Quality she will. Fair and softly, _said I_, your being in a Rage won't help the Matter. I plainly see what is to be done. That we may have at least some Respite, we must desire the King to let us go and spend the Summer at our former Village, and then we will consider what we have to do.

Next Day the King came as usual to see what we were about, and banter'd us on the Affair of the Watch. _La Foret_ confirmed every Tittle that the Chamber-maid had said about it, and then added, that it being hot Weather, and not so proper for working as the Winter Season, he desir'd that his Majesty would consent that we might go and spend some Months in our old Village. With all my Heart, _said the King_, and after having order'd us a hundred Pieces, he wish'd us a happy Journey. We went soon after to take our Leaves of the Court, and the Cook in particular being our very good Friend, we thought it our Duty to crack a Bottle with him. The Moment that we told him of our Resolution, the Man seem'd Thunder struck, which we both mistook for the Effect of his Friendship and his Concern to part with us for so long a Time, but when he recover'd his Speech, he said to our very great Surprize, are you really going away, Gentlemen, do you consider well what you are doing? Don't you know what People say of you? God forbid that I should suspect you of the least foul Action. You never gave me any Occasion for it, nor any one else that I know of; but every Body does not know you so well as I do. If you will be rul'd by me, you ought to justify yourselves before you change your Quarters, otherwise you'll run the Risque of being accus'd as Incendiaries; for they who have spread the Report will triumph in your Absence; and who knows but such as doubt of it at this present will then give Credit to it? How! Incendiaries! _said I_, are we charg'd with a Design of laying the Place in Ashes before we go away? No, _reply'd he_, but they give out, that _La Foret_ is the Man who set Fire to Queen _Lidola_'s House. We are very much oblig'd to you, _said I_, for your good Caution, and we'll go this Moment and inquire into the Cause of so groundless a Scandal, of which I don't think it will be very difficult to clear ourselves. As soon as we were gone out, I'll lay a Wager, _said I to my Comrade_, that you were seen returning to your Lodging at a late Hour the very Night the Fire happen'd, and that some ill-designing Person has drawn this Conclusion from it to your Disadvantage. Let us go to the King, _said I_, and open the Matter to him, when we shall presently see what he will say of it.

As soon as the Monarch saw us, What's the Matter, _said he_, my dear Friends? have you not receiv'd the Money I order'd for you, or do you want any more? What is it you stand in need of, I conjure you to tell me freely. We want nothing, Sir, _said I_, but the Continuance of your Favour; for we have just heard something which very much afflicts us, and we must lie inconsolably at your Feet 'till your Majesty has procur'd us Satisfaction. We are slander'd with having form'd a Design to reduce this Royal Canton to Ashes. If we are guilty, we deserve to be punish'd, if not, the Calumny is so heinous, that we hope from your Clemency, the Inventor of it will have exemplary Chastisement. Tush, _said the King_, I heard this several Days ago, but I gave so little Heed to it that I did not think it worth while to mention it to you. However, to satisfy you, I'll go straight and order Informations to be taken about it with all Speed. And indeed they who had the Commission, discharg'd it with such Diligence, that by tracing the Matter from one to another, the Person that first invented the Lye was found out in an Hour's time, who prov'd to be one of the King's Equerries, an honest sober Man of exemplary Modesty.

The King at our Sollicitation was pleas'd to send for him in our Presence, and having ask'd him what Motive he had to give out a Rumor so prejudicial to our Reputation, he made this Defence. I had been a little indispos'd for some Days, _said he_, when the Court Physician whom I consulted, prescrib'd a Purge to me which operated 36 Hours after I had taken it. Being obliged during this to rise in the Night, I heard a great Noise in the Canal facing my Chamber, at the Entrance of the neighbouring Canton. My Curiosity to know what it was, made me look out at the Window, and it being not very dark, I saw a Man in the Canal who got Ashore over-against the Queen's Pavilion, shook his Clothes, and ran towards the Temple-Bridge. Upon this I open'd my Door softly, ran after him as hard as I could, and having watch'd him towards the Senate-House, I saw him rap at a Window, and on its being open'd, he got thro' it into the House. I knew it was the Apartment of these Gentlemen by their Stature, and a certain Air which I know is peculiar to them. A little after this, _Lidola_'s Apartment was in a Flame. Now, Sir, said he, I ask whether putting all these Circumstances together, my Conjectures were so ill founded, and if wiser Men than I might not have been as much mistaken? I own, _said the King_, there was a Probability, but something more was requisite in order to ground an Accusation. But before I determine any thing on the Point, what say you to all this? said the King to _La Foret_. Nothing, Sir, _reply'd my Comrade_, every Tittle that the Gentleman has told you, is true, only the Inference he draws from it is false, so that I have nothing to reproach him with but Want of Charity. My Companion, _continued he_, is an Astronomer, of which, Sir, you are not ignorant: He has been teaching me for some time past to find out the principal Stars, and my Desire to perfect myself in that Science, makes me often rise in the Night to see if the Sky is clear, and then I am us'd to take a Tour in one of the four Cantons, because the Buildings being lower there than in this, I have a better View of the Stars. That very Night I went Abroad for the very same Purpose, and having cast my Eyes on _Sirius_ and _Procion_, and observing their Situation and Distance as I walk'd along, I had the Misfortune to fall into the Canal before I was aware of it. Being stun'd as it were with such an unexpected Fall, I made a little Pause to look about me, and fell a swimming without knowing where I should land, 'till at last I got Ashore where this honest Gentleman saw me, and from whence I made all the Haste I could directly to my Chamber into which I enter'd thro' the Window, not only for fear of awaking our People, but of being seen in a Pickle which would no doubt have rais'd their Laughter. You see, Sir, that we agree perfectly in our Depositions, but that Mr. _Equerry_ is quite mistaken in the Cause of my being sous'd in the Water; I hope however that after this, he will be fully convinc'd of my Innocence. I am sorry that this Misfortune occasion'd such an ill Opinion of me. My own Destiny is properly speaking, the Cause of it; therefore I owe you no Grudge for it. I am oblig'd to you, _reply'd the_ Equerry, and beg Pardon for the Injury I have done you, for which I am really sorry. I see plainly that I was too rash upon this Occasion; but it will teach me to be more cautious another time. Are you both satisfy'd, _said the King_. Yes, Sir, _reply'd they_. Very well, _said the King again_, shake Hands, and let it be never mention'd more. Thereupon we again took our Leaves, and render'd as well pleas'd as a Couple of Kings. _La Foret_ with his Presence of Mind, and I with the Civilities of our Prince, and because we had so happily escap'd a Scouring.