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The least Divertising of the Vo∣lume.
IT was true, that Madam Angelica was newly ar∣rived, being Conducted by Leanders Servant, which Servant had wit enough not to discover that Leander was his Master, and Madam Angelica pre∣tended some wonder to see him so well clad, and did that out of Discretion, which Rancour and O∣live did out of Ignorance. Leander asked Madam Angelica, and his own Servant, whom he dissem∣bled as one of his acquaintance or friends, how he
had found her out, when Ragotin came into the Room leading in Destiny as in Triumph, or rather training him after him, because he went not fast e∣nough to his hot apprehension. Destiny and An∣gelica embraced with great testimonies of Friend∣ship, and with that tenderness, which is resented by those that love, when after a long absence, or where they had lost all hopes of ever seeing one another again, they happen to meet by some un∣expected adventure. Leander and she entertained each other but only with their mutual looks, whereby they expressed a great deal, omitting the rest till a more convenient enterview. Mean time, Leanders Servant began his Narration, and told his Master, as if he had spoken to a Friend, That after he had left him to follow Angelica's Ravishers, as he had conjured him, he did not loose sight of them till night, and then the next morning at the entrance into a Wood, he was amazed to find An∣gelica alone on foot, and all in tears; and added, that having told her, he was Leanders Friend, and had pursued her on his behalf, she was very joy∣ful, and beseeched him to Conduct her to Manse, or to the place where Leander was, if he knew where to find him. It belongs to you Madam, said he, to relate how those that had forced you away, then left you: for I durst not inquire of you, finding you so deeply afflicted, all the time I waited on you, that I feared your sighs and moans would have broke your heart. The least concerned, were greatly impatient to learn from her own mouth, an adventure which appeared so strange to them. For what could any one con∣jecture
of a young Woman hurried away so vio∣lently, and then forsaken or abandoned so quiet∣ly, without being compelled thereto? Madam Angelica intreated that she might go to bed; but the Inn being taken up already, the good Curate got her a Chamber at his Sisters who dwelt the next door, and was then the Widdow of one of the richest Farmers in that Country. Angelica, did not so much want sleep, as rest; wherefore De∣stiny and Leander went to visit her as soon as they were informed she was in her bed: Although she were glad that Destiny was made a confident of her Amour, yet could she not behold him without a blush. Destiny pitied her confusion, and to divert her from shaping any excuses, courted her to give them an account of what the fellow that came with her had no knowledge of, which she did in this manner. You may guess what a surprize my Mo∣ther and my self was in, when walking in the Park belonging to that House we were at, we saw a lit∣tle back-door open towards the Fields, and four or five men running towards us, who seized upon me, without scarce looking on my Mother, and dragged me half dead through fear to the place where their Horses stood ready. My Mother whom you know to be one of the most resolute Women in the world, furiously assaulted the first she could light upon, and used him so coursly, that not being able to get himself free, he was forced to call his Companions for assistance. He that relieved him, and was so barbarous as to beat my Mother, as I heard him brag upon the way, was the Author of the enterprize. He came not
near me, so long as the night lasted, during which time, we marched like those that fly and are pur∣sued. Had we past through any places inhabited, my cries were loud enough to have caused them to be stopt; but they avoided all such Roads as much as they possibly could, only one little Ham∣let they were constrained to ride by, where I awaked all the Inhabitants with my noise. The day appeared, my Ravisher came near me, and had no sooner looked upon my face, but giving a great Whoop, he assembled his Companions, and held a counsel with them, which lasted in my opi∣nion about half an hour. My Ravisher appeared as much enraged, as I was afflicted; He swore so desperately as startled them all, and quarrelled with most of them. In fine, their tumultuous counsel ended, and I know not what they had re∣solved. They began their march again, and I be∣gan to be treated with less respect then I had been. They were very angry with me, every time I bemoaned my condition, and made many imprecations as if I had done them great wrong. They had torn me away as you know with the cloaths I acted in, and to conceal it, had put one of their coats over it. They met a man upon the way, of whom they inquired somewhat. I was much amazed to find it was Leander, and I believe he admired no less to see me, whom he knew, as soon as I made him see my cloaths, which were not unknown to him, and which I discovered at the same instant that he was gazing on my face. He may have told you how he behaved himself. For my part seeing so many drawn Swords, I
fainted in his arms that held me on Horse-back, and when I had recovered my spirits again, I found we pursued our way, but could not find Leander in the Company. My shreeks re-doubled, and my Ravishers, whereof one was wounded, took their way through the Fields, and made a halt yesterday in a Village, where they quartered as Souldiers. This morning at the entrance of a wood, they met a man that was Conducting a La∣dy. They unmasked her, knew her, and expres∣sing the like joy of such as have found what they sought for, hurried her away, after they had mis∣used him that Conducted her. This Lady cryed out as much as I had done before, and my thought her Voice was no stranger to my ear. We had gotten above fifty paces within the Wood, when he whom as I told you, seemed to command the rest, approaching near the fellow that carried me, and speaking of me, said, Set that bauling thing down. He was obeyed; they left me, hastned out of my view, and I was left alone, and a foot. The fright I was in, knowing my self to be alone was enough to have killed me, if he that brought me back hither, and had followed us afar off as he in∣formed you, had not come to me. The rest you know. But, continued she, addressing her speech to Destiny, I think I ought to tell you, that the Woman, they thus prefered before me, resembles your Sister, my Companion; hath the same Voice, yet I know not what to think; for the man that was with her, is very like the Servant you took after Leander quitted you, nor can I put it out of my thoughts, but it was he. What's this
you tell me, said Destiny, very much troubled? This is what I conjecture, replied Angelica: One ••ay be deceived in the resemblance of people, ••aid she but I am much afraid I am not mistaken at ••his time. I am possessed with the same fear like∣wise, said Destiny, with a changed countenance, ••nd I believe I have an enemy in this Province from whom I may fear the worst: But who could have brought my Sister to that Wood, whom Ra∣••••tin left yesterday at Manse? I must go and in∣treat some of our Company to follow them with all speed, whilst I remain here, to determine of things according as I shall receive intelligence from them; as he ended these words, he heard some body call him in the street, he looked forth at the Windore, and beheld Mounsieur Garrouf∣fiere, who was returned from making his Visit, and assured him he had an Affair of importance to communicate to him. He went to him, and left Leander and Angelica together, who had thus the liberty of entertaining each other, after a trouble∣some absence, discovering what fears and troubles their hearts resented all that while. I doubt not, but it would have been very pleasant to have over∣heard them, but it was the better for them that their enterview was so secret. In the interim, Destiny demanded of Garouffiere what the business was? Do you know a Gentleman named Verville, and is he a Friend of yours, said Garouffiere? He is a person to whom I am the most obliged, and ho∣nour the most in the world, and I believe he does not hate me, said Destiny. I think so indeed, re∣plied Garouffiere: I saw him to day at the Gentle∣mans
whom I went to visit; at Dinner they talke of you, and after you had once been mentioned Verville could speak of nothing else, he asked me hundred questions concerning you, which I could not resolve, and had I not promised him, to per∣swade you to go to him, which he doubts not bu•• you will perform at his entreaty, he would have come hither, though he have much business where he is. Destiny returned him civil thanks for the good News he had brought him, and having in∣formed himself of the place where he should find him, resolved to go, hoping to hear somewhat from him concerning his enemy Saldaigne, whom he confidently guessed to be the Author of steal∣ing away Angelica, and the present Possessor, and Usurper of his dear Star, if it were certainly she whom Angelica imagined she saw ceazed upon when they quitted her. He intreated his Compa∣ny to return to Manse, and comfort Cave with the good News of her Daughter, and engaged them to send him an express, or to come one of them∣selves, to let him know, what had befallen Madam Star. He got Garouffiere to instruct him in the way, and the name of the Town he was to meet Verville in. He made the Curate promise his Si∣ster should take care of Angelica, till they fetched her from Manse; took Leanders Horse, and arri∣ved that Evening at the place he intended. He thought it inconvenient to go to Verville himself, for fear least Saldaigne whom he judged to be in that Country should be with him at that time. He alighted therefore at a pitiful Inn, from whence he dispatched a little youth to tell Verville that the
Gentleman he desired to see, waited there for him. Verville came, threw his arms about his ••eck, and embraced him a long while, before he ••ad the power to express the tenderness he che∣rished for him. Let us leave them thus hugging one another, like two friends that dearly love, and meet thus fortunately, after they had lost all hopes of ever being so happy, and pass on to the next Chapter.