and obliging manner wherewith she spake to me the resolution I had taken to break with her began to give me some pain and without the presence of her Sister she had been powerful enough perhaps to have made me repent it There was always two or three other Nuns of the Abbess's Friends that used to eat with us whom she subtilly rid her self of so soon as she had dined There was no need of Witnesses to what past between the Abbess her Sister and my Self The Abbess toucht again upon the Sadness she saw in my Looks and said that she had never seen me in so ill a humour and that I would oblige her to let her know the cause of it I answered her as before that it was a great pain in my head But not satisfied with that she told me that she saw something in my Eyes that made her judge that my Distemper was something more than I seemed willing to discover and that I was unjust to conceal from my Friends who were equally concerned with my self in any misfortune that couâ—d befal me any thing wherewith I was so much affected and that I ought to give her the satisfaction at least of trusting her though perhaps it was not in her power to cure me I do not believe said her Sister to save me the trouble of answering her that there is any other cause than what he has told you One often sees continued she that people who have so much Wit as Monsieur Le Chevalier are subject to these terrible Headachs and that they pass from one extremity to the other that is from great Mirth to as great Melancholy You believe then Sister answered the Abbess coldly that you know Monsieur's distemper since you take upon you to answer for him yet I will imagine that it is not as you say but believe what he shall tell me of it And if he 'l follow my advice said Egidia he shall tell you nothing I do know it and it is so much the harder for people that know it not to judge well of it Believe me said the Abbess with a malicious Smile if I ask to know it 't is not that I am ignorant of it but to disabuse others who I see are so fond of what they fancy they enjoy that they fear to be undeceived I conjure you Ladies interrupted I all of a sudden leave me as I am Whatsoever my Disease is and whencesoever it comes I neither can nor will be cured of it if I cou'd I would only suffer less For my part said the Abbess I who pretend not to divine nor to penetrate so deep into Hearts as my Sister would willingly be told of what nature this Distemper is and perhaps insensibility not being my Vice for certain people in the World I might give 'em ease if it lay in me to sweeten their Torments There could not be any thing more Gallant nor Favourably said for me and I believe that I should have answered her as she desired had not Egidia looking suddenly upon me made me remember my promise and put me in a state of not knowing what to say This amiable Lady perceived the Confusion I was in and very opportunely put in to the discourse It is true said she there are certain ills that one must have recourse to the person that caused them for a remedy but if I be'nt mistaken this is not Monsieur's case and you are deceived if you believe that you are capable of curing his Distemper Whatever it is pursued she I am so sensible for all that concerns him that I shall not be inquisitous to hear any of his misfortunes For you Madam continued she speaking to her Sister if you have this desire you may satisfie your self but you shall permit me if you please to retire And after these Words she went away and left me alone with the Abbess who believing she had cause to triumph told me with a joy she cou'd not conceal that she saw well that my Heart was quitted to her since the place was and that it was she must cure me of the ills whereof I complained but she said She must know of my self how she was established in my Heart and how much above her Sister that she had given me time enough to consider of it and that I must resolve one way either not to hope any thing from her Tenderness or not divide a good that she desired the intire possession of That she 'd allow I should have a tender esteem for her Sister but for my Heart she would fill it wholly her self and that she had merit enough for it She was silent here to see a little what I would say but I made no answer and I believe that my silence told her enough and that she took it for a wicked Omen Some moments after seeing me ready to speak as one that had studied what to say she prevented me apprehending it is likely that I would explain my self contrary to what she desired My God! said she one has little reason to be satisfied with you to day if one were not of a humour to pardon you every thing and that one had not pity for you in this disorder Go and repose your self in your Chamber the pain in your Head requires it and I shall take care that none disturbs you I retired with this permission with so much Confusion that I scarce knew what I did but I was not got to the door when she called me back Hark ye Monsieur said she with an Air full of sweetness I will see you at eight of the Clock this Night in the Arbour of the farther Alley where I 'll expect you with one of my Friends and if you love me you 'l not fail to be there What do I say continued she hastily if you love me Though you should not love me you are too much a Gentleman to fail at a Rendezvous that I give you there not being any thing that I know that can dispence with you from it Adien fail not to be there Finishing these words she smiled and went into her Closet to conceal from me a Blush that came into her Face Behold continued Monsieur Le Chevalier how I came out of this Conversation that I had so much dreaded which was much more lucky for me than I expected having escaped a terrible Confusion that I should have been in to have declared my self before these two Ladies what choice my Heart had made But I was not without fear of my Evening assignation I saw well she would expect me and that it was the last favour I was like to receive from her But since there was no avoiding of it I was resolved not to disguise any thing by unworthy Equivocatings thinking I should do well to serve my self of this occasion that I should find her alone to disabuse her and not delay it to a longer time The honours and favours she did me augmented dayly and so did
In the last I received from the Abbess she desired me to come the day after the receipt of it to the same place where I last saw her and very secretly especially not to let her Sister know any thing of it That she would be there at Nine a Clock at Night and expect me till Eleven I saw well enough by this Letter that the Abbess was calm'd I believed I could not handsomly balk the assignation but by apology of Love I thought fit to advertize her Sister of it that she might not complain of me if she came to know it as she did the other assignation I answered the Abbess that I would not fail to wait on her at Nine a Clock and this Letter I sent to her Sister IF you were in my place you would without doubt do what I am going to do this day but I assure you 't is with all the regret in the world I received a Letter yesterday from your Sister wherein she desires me to meet her at Nine a Clock in the Evening in the Garden and forbids me above all things to let you know any thing of it I believe it will not displease you that I obey her and that you would counsel me to it your self if you were here Fear not any thing my Fidelity is proof against all her charms for I am never more yours than when I am with her Adieu I gave to the Abbess's Boy my answer to her and sent this by a Servant of mine to Egidia but a little before I went away my self that it might be dark when he came to the Abby to deliver it more securely He was there at the hour I desired and got into the Parlour without any bodies taking notice of him When he was there he heard some body go but the Night hindered him from knowing who it was He ask'd at a venture if they would do him the favour to call Madam N You must know this was the Abbess who was walking in the Parlour and expecting with extreme impatience the hour of our meeting She knew at first my Mans voice and said if he would have any thing with that Lady 't was she These two Ladies voices were so like that sometimes their most familiar friends were deceiv'd My Man that knew not the danger of a mistake and believed that it was she he ask'd for gave the Letter without delay into her hands and believed he had acquitted himself very well of the Commission I had given him The Abbess after she had taken the Letter dispatcht my Man and told him it required no Answer You may easily guess at her impatience to see what I had writ to her Sister but it would be difficult to represent her trouble after she had satisfied her curiosity She was not naturally very wicked and if jealousie had not been in it she would perhaps have contented her self with reproaches But this passion does not usually rest in such weak revenge it always carries its designs to extremity a love offended is the most terrible of all furies The Abbess went immediately into her Sisters Chamber where she found her alone Confess after all my Sister said the Abbess to her after having spoke indifferently enough of me before that we are both deceived in the advantagious thoughts we have for this Gentleman who has paid with Treasons all that goodness we have show'd him For my part added she I am now sufficiently disabus'd and it is true that I am partly obliged to you for it and that without seeing the Letters in your Cabinet I should have been yet in a strange error If you please I 'll in exchange do you the same service But my poor Sister you are so prepossest to his advantage that whatever one shall say to you you will not believe that any thing is so true as what he has told you What do you mean answered Egidia coldly I see not any thing that Monsieur does that I can blame him for nor but what discovers he has much respect for me and till I have cause for the contrary I am reasonable enough not to change the Sentiments I have for him But if one makes you see said the Abbess that you deceive your self in those Sentiments that he betrays you and is the basest of all men What would you then say Perhaps replyed Egidia I should not be so acknowledging as such a Service might merit For not to lye though commonly one takes no pleasure in being deceived yet in this I must confess my weakness that I love to be in an error an evil is not so till one knows it How you are to be pitied replyed the Abbess again and yet you deserve not to be disabus'd but you are my Sister and against your will I must pity you Know then that this honest Man this faithful Friend and what else you are pleased to call him begg'd of me by a Note yesterday to have an interview with him in the Garden this Evening and conjured me as much as he cou'd that it might be secret and especially that you knew nothing of it If you will not believe me continued she seeing she was troubled and had changed colour ' twice or thrice you may but come along with me to believe your own eyes Whatever constancy of Spirit this amiable Lady had she was shaken by this discourse The infidelity was manifest and she could not doubt of it when her Rival assured her so positively of the thing and offered to bring her to the rendezvouz to be witness of it her self She agreed to the proposal gave her Arms to poniard her self and would not defer a moment to see her death since the hour of it was come THE CONTINUATION Of this HISTORY Told by a Lady of Company I Cannot tell whether Monsieur Le Chevalier's account be all true because he was acquainted with these Ladies a year before I came to the Convent but this I can say that it bears good report with what I have heard But I will warrant what I am going to tell you for a very faithful relation of all that passed in my time I was very well received in this Abby which some cross affairs obliged me to make use of for a retreat 'T was near a Month when I came there since Monsieur Le Chevalier had been absent I heard him spoke of sometimes as a very gallant man for whom the Abbess had a great esteem and from whom she received Letters often I perceived quickly that this esteem had something in it very tender and that there was something in this friendship above what we ordinarily see in that passion The Abbess who had much goodness and confidence in me said to me a thousand advantagious things of him She put him above all men and she could have wish'd that I had not only commended him to her but that I judg'd it reasonable in her As long as things seemed not to me to go far I
and that he is not the discreetest Person in the world perhaps this visit might have been talk'd of we are at least assured that we have taken a Frolick that none knows of That none knows of replied this distracted Lover alas seest thou not that my Sister knew our design and that 't was she without doubt that sent this Valet to advertize him of what we intended and to oblige him to avoid me But how is it possible answered her companion that this should be as you say If Monsieur has been so long gone from this place as the Host tells us you had then scarce framed the design of coming hither But what cause replyed the Abbess wilt thou then find for his sudden departure In fine whatever her Companion said to her and whatever arguments her wit could frame to perswade her she always ended with saying her Sister had done the business and that nothing could have oblig'd him to leave his Lodging at that hour but she This thought furiously tormented her her jealousie was augmented by it and she was assaulted with so many pains at once that she saw on all sides her nothing but despair How far different was it with her now to what it was some moments before when she was fill'd with the joyful expectation of seeing her dear Chevalier Whatever her Companion said to her to divert her musings she answered her only with sighs Being at length got home again they were a little troubled how to dispose of their Horses but at last they judg'd it the safest and easiest way to draw them into the Garden and tye them to a Tree till it was day that they might send them back to the Farmer After that they had no more to do than to go strait to the Convent but they were scarce come to the middle of the Garden when they fancied that they heard people talk The Maid who was three or four paces before the Abbess and had not her Spirit so pre-occupyed was the first that perceived it and turning to her all of a sudden extremely surprized told her that assuredly there was some body in the Garden The Abbess hearkned very attentively and found that she was not deceived 'T was now that all her pains were suspended and that she labour'd not under any but curiosity Whatever cause we have of trouble if we meet with any thing that surprizes it diverts our pains for the time and they are as it were asleep in us All her suspicion awak'd at this noise she knew that only she and her Sister had a Key from the Convent to the Garden and this reason alone was sufficient to make her believe that 't was certainly she and Monsieur Le Chevalier that entertained an amorous conversation at least she was resolved to be satisfied Jealousie serves instead of courage to women and Love makes them hazard every thing This Lady that perhaps upon another occasion would have been terrified with less cause now feared not to go forward to discover if her Suspicions were true or no bidding the Maid who trembled with fear to follow her softly They went so lightly as they could under the covert of a Hedg for the Night was very clear and they might be seen at a distance towards a thick Arbor from whence they were a little troubled how to dispose of their Horses but at last they judg'd it the safest and easiest way to draw them into the Garden and tye them to a Tree till it was day that they might send them back to the Farmer After that they had no more to do than to go strait to the Convent but they were scarce come to the middle of the Garden when they fancied that they heard people talk The Maid who was three or four paces before the Abbess and had not her Spirit so pre-occupyed was the first that perceived it and turning to her all of a sudden extremely surprized told her that assuredly there was some body in the Garden The Abbess hearkned very attentively and found that she was not deceived 'T was now that all her pains were suspended and that she labour'd not under any but curiosity Whatever cause we have of trouble if we meet with any thing that surprizes it diverts our pains for the time and they are as it were asleep in us All her suspicion awak'd at this noise she knew that only she and her Sister had a Key from the Convent to the Garden and this reason alone was sufficient to make her believe that 't was certainly she and Monsieur Le Chevalier that entertained an amorous conversation at least she was resolved to be satisfied Jealousie serves instead of courage to women and Love makes them hazard every thing This Lady that perhaps upon another occasion would have been terrified with less cause now feared not to go forward to discover if her Suspicions were true or no bidding the Maid who trembled with fear to follow her softly They went so lightly as they could under the covert of a Hedg for the Night was very clear and they might be seen at a distance towards a thick Arbor from whence they heard the voice The Abbess soon knew Monsieur Le Chevalier's but could not understand distinctly what he said therefore advancing a little forward she heard her Sister speak But do not you consider said she to what you expose me and how you hazard your self for without speaking of what has happen'd to so many other unhappy Maids that have abandon'd themselves on the Faith of Men whereof there have been but too many deceiv'd but granting you to have more honesty and honour than all the World besides think what discourse my flight will occasion the furious search my Parents will make for us and into what strange misery I should cast you if you should fall into their hands My God! continued she once again attempt not any thing so dangerous Leave me rather to dye here with grief than precipitate our selves to so hazardous an enterprize You will have me then answered the other that the Abbess knew at first to be Monsieur Le Chevalier to expose you to all the ills that Jealousie can contrive against you to all the affronts and injuries that you may receive from your furious Sister and a hundred other things that makes me tremble for you You know that I have no longer the liberty to see you here and that it is forbidden me and that I cannot for shame present my self here any more after the ill treatment that I have received and it is to say that you will have me dye If you love me Madam If I love you interrupted she you know it but too well If you would not have me doubt of it pursued Monsieur Le Chevalier and that my Love and Assiduity have merited that you should do every thing for me as you have told me several times give me this demonstrative proof of it Let us render our selves happy my
preserve her to oblige the world with a most rare example of constancy and a most honest and sincere friendship wherein we have since lived You know not perhaps said Madam d' Eyrac to him that none contributed so much to her recovery as I which was in this manner This Maid or if you please the Companion of the Abbess which as I told you more than once had much confidence in me failed not to give me an account of this last adventure in the Garden and the fear your Mistress was in that it was not hard for me to guess the cause of her illness and to find out means for her cure Every body observ'd an extraordinary trouble in her eyes and such disorder in her words as though she were in a continual study I pitied her extremely and though it was an injustice to my Friend to declare the secret wherewith she had trusted me I believed that in the extremity whereto this poor Lady was reduced I ought not to omit any thing for her recovery I took my time when there was none with her but a young Wench that serv'd her and that I could not suspect and ask'd her with an air of confidence if her indisposition proceeded not from some disturbance in her Mind and if she believed me not enough her friend to trust me with it She look'd fixtly on me and blush'd believing I meant to speak to her of Monsieur Le Chevalier but when I told her afterwards that I knew the cause of her illness perhaps better than she her self and that I could deliver her from the fear she had been in in the Garden she raised her self of a sudden upon her Bed My God! Madam said she is it possible that in my ravings I have spoke of any such things No no answered I interrupting her I know it by another way and I believe no body has heard any such thing from you The persons that caused you this fear told it me and I believed I ought not to leave you longer in this pain I imagine you 'l be so discreet as I shall have no reason to complain of you and that you 'l use as you ought the confidence I have in you She promised me secrecy and I told her all that had pass'd in the Garden as I was inform'd of it at which she was so astonish'd she could scarce believe it if I had not told her all that had happened to her self to the discourse between her and Monsieur Le Chevalier She blush'd at it and I saw well she was asham'd that I knew this particular of her Life But to be short since that time her Mind was composed by degrees till it came to its first settledness She recovered her health and in a little time her strength also I do not know how she has since carried her self towards you but this I know that she made strong resolutions though she could not forbear loving you to do it in such a manner as should not offend God I 'll assure you Madam answered Monsieur Le Chevalier she had kept them and that our friendship is no more than what might be between a Brother and Sister though in truth I have had much pain to reduce my self to it but at last I have brought my will to hers Tell us a little I beg of you said the Marchioness de Sandal what you did with the Abbess and how you were rid of her I believe pursu'd Monsieur Le Chevalier that the Abbes was furiously exasperated since that last evening and that what she heard when I was in the Arbor perfected her cure I always avoided being alone with her that little time I was in the Abby and when I took my leave of her 't was in the presence of five or six Ladies her Friends Thus Monsieur Le Chevalier finish'd his History to the general satisfaction of the Company
appeared very complaisant but when I came to know that these importments were more of Love than Friendship that it excited jealousie between the two Sisters that it caused Tears Sighs and Langueors I could not forbear speaking my thoughts of it freely to the Abbess and to represent to her that an ingagement of this nature would do her an injury one day and that an amorous affair ought not to enter into a Religious House She in appearance took pleasure in my freedom but indeed it begot in her coldness to me She would have been glad of a little more complaisance in my friendship and her pain being without remedy could have wish'd I would have help'd her to support it This was the cause that I had less converse with her and seldom saw her but as my duty that I might not break altogether with a Person that commanded where I was and to whom I had many obligations Her Sister manag'd her self a little better and though she had not less esteem and tenderness for Monsieur she acted nevertheless before the world as if she were indifferent for she had much more wit than her Sister though not so much beauty I will begin my recital if the company please where Monsieur left yesterday all that he has yet said being nothing in comparison of what I have to tell you Into what anger and transports fell the fair Abbess when she saw the Treason of her Lover The least thing her passion suggested to her was to be revenged of the Traytor and to make him be kill'd A Maid that she most confided in and who was too young to take the liberty of advising her came every night before she went to Bed to recount to me part of these follies with which in truth I could but divert my self The Abbess took then as Monsieur has told you her Sister with her to this assignation where he failed not to be at the hour appointed His surprise was great as you will imagine to see the two Sisters together after what the Abbess had writ to him that none should know of this enterview especially her Sister He remembred moreover what he had writ to her and the request he made her in his Letter that she should not be troubled at this assignation He knew not in fine what to believe and of a thousand thoughts which passed through his Mind none came near the right so little likelihood there was that such a thing should happen In the midst of those cruel pains that Spite and Jealousie made the Abbess suffer she tasted an extreme joy to see the trouble that Monsieur was in but her Sister had nothing to allay her grief and used the greatest violence to her self imaginable to forbear reproaching him She had not patience to stay long there but went from them after she had view'd him from head to foot with an air of Scorn and Indignation without saying a word to him This poor Lover who began to recover of his first surprize when he saw how she look'd upon and avoided him fell into a second much more cruel I know not said he speaking to the Abbess what I have done to your Sister that my presence drives her hence It is answered the Abbess coldly because your return here was not expected so soon where you have but little business Ah! if it be as you say Madam replyed Monsieur I swear to you I will not continue here long for I hate above all things to be troublesom to people But yet Madam added he suddenly you must not take it ill if I go and know of your Sister if this be the reason that she treats me thus after that I shall stay no longer with you than is necessary to bid you adieu In saying this he run after the fair afflicted whom he overtook just as she was going into the Convent What 's the matter with you Madam said he to her almost out of breath that you fly from me And why did I find you in a place where I ought not to see you Say rather thou most perfidious answered she that I ought not to see thee there But at last thy Treasons are discovered and thou shalt not deceive me any longer for I will not see thee again all my life After these words she went into the Convent shut the door upon her and left Monsieur in the most deplorable condition that a man could be reduced to He can tell you that he was a hundred times going to kill himself and that he would have made a thousand reproaches to this ungrateful if she could have heard them His Conscience accus'd him not of any infidelity he believed he had not done any thing contrary to his duty in this Assignation since he had given her notice of it and he knew well that in relation to this fair one he deserved not the name of perfidious So severe a treatment made him resolve to depart without expecting any longer hoping time would convince his Mistress of the wrong she had done him or that despight and absence would cure him of his Love The Abbess who had followed him and was not desirous the mistake should be clear'd arriv'd as he was in this resolution He accosted her of a fashion as sufficiently testified his despair and scarce looking on her What you told me Madam said he to her was more than ever I could have thought and I am treated here with so strange an air that I am astonish'd There 's no other way to take than not to stay a moment longer in a place where my presence is so odious Behold answered the Abbess how Traytors ought to be recompenc'd for their Treachery I have not time Madam answered Monsieur to ask you what reason you have to give me that name I must depart this instant to deliver you from a Man that is more than troublesom to you 'T is enough if you 'l be pleased to remember that 't was you that caused my coming here at this time I am come as I promised you and you perhaps brought your Sister that you so strictly charged me should know nothing of it Yes Traytor answered she transported by her passion and it was in that that thy base heart has failed thee Speak Tell me base If thou hast not writ to her what thou wert desired to conceal Monsieur was so strangely surprized here that he remained immovable and believ'd effectually that Egidia to continue the Name which he gave her in his relation had made her privy to the Letter he had writ her So soon as he was recover'd a little from the disorder he was in I know not well Madam said he to her what you mean but if all these injurious reproaches are but to drive me from hence I assure you that you give your self this trouble without need and less would serve to make me resolve never to see you more I am just going from this Country continued he going away and bid you