have known her only in the time of change and adversity. This lady, Madam Frances Mary Louise (I don't know how to render this last name in English, for it an't used among us, though very common in France) Anne Amanda Heliodora, daughter and only child to his lordship the most noble Gasper Deodatus, Marquis of Tourvel, and Madam Mary Margaret of Cheverenches, his wife, was born in the early part of the year 1645-46, and though thus no longer in the first bloom of her youth, preserved such an admirable beauty as might well make envious many younger dames. In stature, she was above the common height of women, but so just and excellent a proportion was observable in every several part of her frame as made her figure to seem absolutely perfect. Her eyes were brown, large and melting, her hair of a most lovely brown, tending to black, her skin of a marble whiteness not often seen by us in England. I might go on to write down every feature and describe its beauties, for all were beautiful; but when all is said, 'twas not so much the beauty of the several parts as the sweet and beautiful spirit of the lady herself that shone through and illuminated them with a double loveliness. There was in all her motions so exquisite a grace as drew your eyes to her irresistibly, so that did she but lift a glass from the table. you were forced to look at her and admire, yet not so much for the beauty of her hand and arm (though these were the finest imaginable) as for the elegance of the action itself. Her constitution 1 was extreme devout, and a little inclined to sadness, yet in time of need she could display so indomitable a courage as I have never seen equalled. Of her kindness and goodness it would ill become me, who have profited so much by 'em, to say naught, and yet to describe them fitly were equally difficult, so that I can only say that both were excessive. At this 1 Character or temperament.

THE CHARACTER OF MADAM HELIODORA. 155

time she was something wont, as Mad. de Chesnac complained, to affect a certain singularity and strangeness in her dress and carriage, choosing to dress herself in sad colours when she so could, and to resign herself to overmuch musing. But this, as it seems to me, is fully accounted for when all is known touching her, which won't be yet for you, even as it wan't for me.

Now in conclusion of this piece of description and vindication (being a description of Madam Heliodora, and a vindication, in so far as may be, of myself), I will add only this, that whereas those enemies that have left nothing undone to blacken even the most innocent actions of my life, have made foul charges against me, I do most solemnly declare that I never erred against that dear lady otherwise than by folly and presumption, and that those who speak to the contrary wrong not me only, but her also, whose virtues and misfortunes alone should protect her against calumny, let alone that desire for truth which should refrain from assailing her spotless name.

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CHAPTER X.

OF THE CONFIDENCE REPOSED IN ME BY MY LORD,
AND OF THE PITFALL WHEREIN I FELL.

Now the next morning I came, as I had been bidden, to speak with my lord marquis in his privy closet, and was received of him very courteously, and asked to wait while he made an end of his matters. And this done, I looked that he should have laid some command upon me, but he turned himself about in his chair, and began to talk with me familiarly.

"Pray, Mr Carlyon," says he, "what do you think of my situation here? No doubt it seems to you that I have all that I could wish for, with six hundred stout fellows to do my bidding, and this fair town and palace for to dwell in."

So greatly was I astonished by the suddenness of this question, that 'twas all I could do to answer with some hesitation that his lordship had indeed seemed to me to be highly favoured in his lot.

"So I thought," said he, "but you must learn, sir, that power and high place are naught when there are around enemies that grudge 'em to you. And chiefly this is true of the Hollanders, that are jealous of our footing here, and would not willingly allow us even this poor little town

THE MARQUIS'S CONFIDENCES.

157

from which to trade. But also it is true of those that are set in command under me in the conduct of this adventure, that are for ever plotting and striving to ruin me, and may yet succeed in this. They know that their power is great. Already more than one of our captains, that had proved his fidelity to me, has been summoned to France upon a sealed letter,1 to linger out the remainder of his life in prison, and I know that the base wretches among whom my lot is cast would willingly see the same done by Tell me, sir, what you would consider the duty of a person of honour in such a case, whether to obey his majesty's order, or to resist, if resistance were possible?"

me.

"Truly, my lord," says I, "my impulse would be to escape, if this could be done without loss of credit, though I conceive it should be most honourable to abide and receive the blow."

He

"Ah!" cried he, with sudden passion, rising from his seat and walking to and fro in the chamber," would that I had always at my side a man that I could trust! He should be related to me, if that were possible, either by blood or by marriage" (here he cast a look at my face, yet suddenly and hastily, not as doing it with intention)," and 'twould be all as well if he wan't a Frenchman. should be next to me in all things, and I would always seek his counsel, feeling assured that such a man was the immediate gift of heaven. What do you say, Mr Carlyon? Are you acquainted with any such person? You will think upon the matter, and if there come to your mind one that may seem to you worthy of my trust and of such a high place, you will give me to know of him."

He

"Most gladly, my lord," said I, though somewhat slowly, for he was regarding me strangely, as I thought. remained silent for some time, his chin on his hand, and then spake again.

1 Lettre de cachet.

"Mr Carlyon, I am about to repose a great trust in you. You must perceive that I entertain the highest confidence in your honour and discretion before I should so far outrage the customs of my great nation as to prefer you to the charge I now propose to you. You have heard that a Dutch fleet has lain of late before our walls, and left us only in that hurracan that preceded your coming hither?"

"Yes, my lord," says I. "Mr Marigny hath told me.

on't."

Now that our harbour is once more free," saith his lordship, "it is in my mind to go out with the ships that are left us, and voyage along the coast, seeking whether there be any place more propitious than this for us poor exiles. On such a voyage as this there may well be both hardship and danger, and I don't desire that my daughter shall accompany me. She must remain here, but I am interested to leave with her a protector in whom I can repose confidence. Will you be so good as accept this office?"

"My lord," says I, struck with amazement, "you do me a very great honour, but sure your own officers will take it very ill in me to pretend to such a post."

"I am indifferent to that," says he, "and you will do well to be so too. As to my officers, moreover, the most of 'em will go with me, leaving only enough to hold the place. These are generally very young, and might venture to presume upon the favour granted 'em, and as for Laborde, the commandant of the fort, to whom I should naturally have intrusted this office, he thought fit, some time ago (I am speaking to you freely and in confidence, sir), to pretend to my daughter's hand. Mademoiselle de Tourvel rejected his vows, with my approbation, but you can well perceive, sir, how unpleasant 'twould be to her sensibilities to be brought into close relation with him.”