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 x^-rj'r^
 
 THE 
 
 REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS.
 
 THE 
 
 REPUBLICAN S MISTRESS; 
 
 FOUNDED UPON FACTS. 
 
 BY CHARLOTTE SMITH. 
 
 Boiium est fugienda aspicere in alieno malo.' - Syrus. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR W. WRIGHT, FLEET-STREET, 
 
 1821.
 
 LONDON : 
 BHACKELL AND aRROWSMITH, JOHNSON'S-COURT.
 
 
 THE 
 
 REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS, 
 
 »'' CHAP. I. 
 
 *' Her eye's black charm 'twere vain to tell, 
 But gaze on those of the gazelle ; 
 It will assist thy fancy well." 
 
 LORD BYRON. 
 
 In one of those beautiful valleys 
 which lay at the feet of the Pyrenees, 
 in the province of Gascony, stood the 
 vine-covered cottage of Justin D'Au- 
 bois, an aged peasant ; a small vine- 
 yard lay contiguous to the dwelling, 
 and formed the principal occupation 
 of its inmates ; in front was a garden, 
 properly stocked with every flower 
 that flourishes in that delightful cli • 
 mate, bounded with a lovely and 
 
 VOL. I. B
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 luxuriant prospect^ and at the back 
 the wood crowned heights of the 
 Pyrenees reared their rugged, and 
 in many places, impassable precipices. 
 The family of Justin consisted of him- 
 self, his wife Suzette, and a son and 
 daughter, named Jaques and Janetta. 
 Justin had been a faithful and at- 
 tached servant in the family of the 
 Count D'Humeires, whose chateau 
 was situated at some distance from 
 the cottage, amidst the gloomy forests 
 of the Pyrenees. Justin was rather 
 advanced in life when he married 
 Suzette, (a favourite attendant of the 
 Countess Philippa D'Humeires) but 
 considerably younger than himself: 
 by the bounty of the Count and 
 Countess they were, upon their mar- 
 riage, settled at the cottage in the 
 valley; and industry, aided by the 
 produce of the vineyard, supported 
 them with a degree of comfort French
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS, 
 
 peasants at that period seldom en- 
 joyed. 
 
 Suzette was the mother of two 
 children only, and from the day of 
 their marriage, they had never known 
 a sorrow till the time arrived that 
 Jaques, their eldest child, had com- 
 pleted his twentieth year ; both their 
 children had from their infancy ma- 
 nifested a haughtiness of disposition 
 seldom observed in humble life ; their 
 persons were both eminently beautiful, 
 and the fond parents, as they often 
 gazed upon them, had whispered to 
 each other, '^ how noble ! Sure they 
 were born to grace a chateau, not in- 
 habit this humble cottage." Alas! 
 they little thought that those rare 
 endowments which were then their 
 pride, would one day be the cause of 
 anguish and unavailing regret, " and 
 bring their grey hairs with sorrow to 
 
 the grave." 
 
 B 2
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 When Jaques had attained the age 
 of twenty^ his conduct began to wear 
 a mysterious aspect ; he oftentimes 
 absented himself for weeks from the 
 cottage, and when questioned as to 
 the cause refused an answer ; his man- 
 ners, naturally grave and haughty, 
 became severe and imperious ; and he 
 addressed his parents with the air of 
 a master commanding his slaves, ra- 
 ther than that of an affectionate son. 
 
 The society of Janetta alone ap- 
 peared to please him, as she, like him- 
 self, disdained the drudgery of a cottage 
 life, and would talk of brighter scenes 
 and higher ranks in society, with which 
 they longed to mingle in that world 
 to which they were at present almost 
 equal strangers ; but even to her his 
 reserve was continued as to the cause 
 of his absence from home, for having 
 once asked the question, she received 
 so severe an answer, as to render her
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 silent upon the subject in future. He 
 had been absent longer than usual, and 
 the vineyard requiring more attention 
 than Justin was able to bestow upon 
 it, the vines had suffered greatly by 
 the neglect, and the irritated old man, 
 upon his son's return, sharply repri- 
 manded him for his absence ; but 
 Jaques, impatient of controul, haugh- 
 tily bade his father " consider him no 
 longer in the light of a vine-dresser, 
 but prepare himself to hear that he 
 had adopted a line of life more suit- 
 able to his talents and inclinations," 
 He then, without even a sigh, or a fare- 
 well, quitted the cottage which had 
 sheltered him from infancy, and bent 
 his steps towards the neighbouring 
 mountains ; nor did he ever return, 
 and his parents soon received the heart- 
 rending information, that Jaques was 
 the captain of a desperate horde of
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 banditti which infested the passes of 
 the Pyrenean mountains. 
 
 No sooner were they acquainted 
 with the truth, than Justin resolved 
 to make one effort to reclaim his fugi- 
 tive son ; and quitting his cottage, he 
 ascended the mountains ; he had not 
 wandered far before he encountered 
 some of the band, to whom he told his 
 errand, and besought them to conduct 
 him to their chief. They obeyed, and 
 Jaques started with surprise when he 
 beheld his father ; but in vain did the 
 old man kneel at the feet of his son : 
 Jaques avowed his determination not 
 to toil when the necessaries of life 
 might be so much easier procured, by 
 forcing from the rich some of their 
 abundance ; and when Justin urged 
 the too probable consequences of such 
 a way of life, Jaques sternly com- 
 manded his absence, threatening, ^Hhat
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS, 
 
 should he ever dare return upon the 
 same mission, he should be treated as 
 a stranger." 
 
 The almost heart-broken old man 
 returned to his cottage, and the name 
 of Jaques was never afterwards uttered 
 beneath its roof, though his remem- 
 brance lived in the hearts of all, 
 particularly of Janetta, who enthu- 
 siastically loved her brother ; who 
 indeed possessed many virtues though 
 sullied and destroyed by pride ; but 
 their dispositions were as similar as 
 their persons, between which there 
 was a most striking and even extraor- 
 dinary resemblance. 
 
 Janetta was just turned of eighteen, 
 (and though as yet no one had ever 
 told her so) the finest woman Gascony 
 could boast : more than commonly 
 tall, her form was moulded both with 
 dignity and grace, her countenance 
 was noble and expressive ; and glow-
 
 THE republican's MISTRES8, 
 
 ing with the richest vermilion of 
 health, her sparkling full dark eyes 
 alternately appeared to search the se- 
 cret soul of the beholder, or glisten 
 with the most enchanting vivacity ; a 
 profusion of soft glossy hair hung in 
 natural ringlets around a neck and fore- 
 head whose snowy whiteness formed a 
 striking contrast to its jetty black ; to 
 these rare personal endowments were 
 added a mind of unusual strength, and 
 a great portion of sensibility ; all her 
 feelings bordered on extremes, and she 
 loved or hated with ardour ; hitherto 
 her love had been confined to her own 
 family, and all her hatred had devolved 
 upon a female who was totally igno» 
 rant of ever having given cause for it. 
 Suzette twice since her marriage 
 had been to the Chateau d'Humeires, 
 to pay her respects to the Countess 
 (now a widow.) Upon the last of these 
 visits she took Janetta, then about
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 twelve years of age, with her. The 
 only daughter of the Countess had 
 married a Spanish Nobleman of the 
 name of De Castro, and went with him 
 to reside in Spain. De Castro was 
 unfortunately killed at a bull fight, 
 leaving his lady pregnant ; her terror 
 and grief brought on a premature 
 labour, and she lived only long 
 enough to give birth to a daughter, 
 who, as the only representative of two 
 noble houses, was confided to the 
 care of her maternal grandmother, 
 the Countess D'Humeires. This little 
 orphan, the Lady Genevieve De Cas- 
 tro, was at the chateau at the time of 
 Suzette's visit, and three yearsy ounger 
 than Janetta, whom she immediately 
 elected as her playfellow ; but Gene- 
 vieve, an idolized child, and a flattered 
 heiress, was unused to controul, and 
 requesting some trivial service of her 
 companion,whichwasrather haughtily 
 B 5
 
 10 THE REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS. 
 
 refused, in the consciousness of power, 
 she threw one of her toys at her head, 
 which Janetta revenged by trampling 
 the instrument of her disgrace to atoms 
 beneath her feet. As it was a present 
 which she had been strictly charged 
 to preserve, Genevieve, when she be- 
 held its destruction, flew, bathed in 
 tears, to her grandmother, who after 
 hearing her complaint (perhaps not 
 candidly related,) sent for Janetta to 
 her dressing-room, and reprimanding 
 her in very strong terms, insisted upon 
 her begging Lady Genevieve's par- 
 don ; this Janetta firmly refused, and 
 the Countess banished her from her's 
 and her grandchild's presence during 
 the remainder of her stay. 
 
 This unpleasant occurrence made 
 Suzette resolve upon returning home, 
 which she did the following day, and 
 Janetta was not even permitted to pay 
 her parting duty to her mother's bene*
 
 fHE republican's MISTRESS, 11 
 
 factress, or the youthful heiress, ex- 
 cept upon the terms of submission, 
 which all the persuasions of her 
 mother could not prevail upon her to 
 accede to; from that moment the most 
 rooted hatred existed in the breast of 
 Janetta against the imperious Gene- 
 vieve, and far from diminishing, it 
 seemed to increase, though from cir- 
 cumstances it lay some years dormant ; 
 but she never heard her name casually 
 mentioned without the blood rushing 
 to her cheeks, and her eye sparkling 
 with indignation, at the remembrance 
 of the disgrace which she had caused 
 her. 
 
 A twelvemonth had nearly past 
 away since the flight of Jaques, and 
 the family were retired to rest, when 
 they were disturbed by a knocking at 
 the door of the cottage, Justin in- 
 stantly arose, and opening the lattice, 
 demanded the cause of the interrup- 
 tion. He was answered by a feeble
 
 12 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 voice, imploring his aid " for a person 
 robbed and ill-treated by banditti.-' 
 
 As hastily as his trembling limbs 
 would permit, Justin aroused his fa- 
 mily, and descended to the relief of the 
 stranger. Upon opening the door he 
 beheld a young man, whose dress de- 
 noted him of superior rank, and of 
 great personal beauty, though his gar- 
 ments were much stained with blood 
 and dirt, and his face disfigured by a 
 cut from a sabre on the forehead ; the 
 little skill Justin possessed vras em- 
 ployed in dressing the wound of the 
 stranger, which was neither very deep 
 or dangerous, but he had been stunned 
 with a blow from the butt-end of a 
 musket almost at the same time he 
 received it, and the contusion was 
 more painful than the wound. He 
 related that he was crossing the Pyre- 
 nees, from a visit at the chateau of a 
 friend, when himself and only one
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 13 
 
 servant were attacked by a party of 
 banditti, his servant killed as a punish- 
 ment for resistance, and himself left 
 for dead upon the spot ; that when he 
 recovered his senses he had with much 
 pain descended to the valley, and for- 
 tunately obtained their assistance. 
 
 The agitation of the poor old couple 
 and Janetta, whilst he told his story, 
 was too evident to escape the notice 
 of the stranger, for they beheld in this 
 occurrence another cause for regret- 
 ting the turpitude of Jaques, by whose 
 hand, or that of his band, the wounds 
 of the stranger had doubtless been in- 
 flicted. A silence of some minutes 
 followed, and the stranger, when Su- 
 zette enquired his name, hesitated as 
 he answered, " Ferdinand Stainville, 
 an officer in the French service." 
 Every attention that the sympathis- 
 ing inhabitants of the cottage could 
 exert towards the wounded Ferdinand,
 
 14 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 was cheerfully displayed, and in a few 
 days he began to recover his health 
 and spirits. Janetta was excused 
 from her portion of household duty to 
 attend upon him, and he seemed never 
 weary of expressing his gratitude to 
 his charming nurse, and of gazing 
 upon her dignified figure, which, con- 
 trasted with her simple habit, pos- 
 sessed an indescribable charm. Ferdi- 
 nand had seen the most celebrated 
 beauties of France and Spain, but he 
 never beheld but one that could for 
 an instant stand in competition with 
 Janetta ; he told her so, and the blush 
 which dyed her cheek, spoke her 
 not displeased with the compliment, 
 though who that excepted one was 
 she would almost given her beauty to 
 know. 
 
 The season of the vintage now ap- 
 proached, yet Ferdinand, upon the 
 pretext of health not restored, still
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 15 
 
 lingered at the cottage ; but the ser- 
 vices of Janetta could no lono;er be 
 dispensed with, yet Ferdinand was 
 still her shadow, he assisted her to 
 gather her grapes, and bore her fruit 
 for her, to its destined station. In 
 vain did Justin and Suzette exclaim, 
 '^they were ashamed to see him so 
 employed, they hoped he would not 
 trouble himself again." Morning re- 
 gularly beheld him her assistant in 
 her task, and evening, her partner in 
 the dance ; the ardent inexperienced 
 heart of Janetta was lost before she 
 suspected it was in danger, and she 
 loved the interesting Ferdinand with 
 a violence that coloured both their 
 future days with misery. Ferdinand, 
 lost in a delirium of passion and admi- 
 ration, gave Janetta every reason to 
 suppose her love was more than equally 
 returned, and the season of the vint- 
 age was the happiest of her life. They
 
 16 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 were sitting one evening in a little ar- 
 bour that terminated the garden, the 
 day had been unusually warm, the 
 glow of health and exercise mantled 
 on the cheek of Janetta; her hair, 
 which was generally confined by a silk 
 net, now flowed unrestrained upon 
 her shoulders, and her eyes were bril- 
 4iant with the emanations of love and 
 hope. Ferdinand gazed upon her 
 with rapture, " how beautiful ! (he ex- 
 claimed.) I have before told you, dear 
 Janetta, I never saw but one female, 
 who could dispute the palm of loveli- 
 ness with you ; I will shew you her 
 portrait, and you will be convinced, 
 that you need not be ashamed of your 
 rival, and indeed you are so dissimilar, 
 that it is almost impossible to know 
 which to prefer ; dignity is your charac- 
 teristic, softness hers." Opening a small 
 case, he put the portrait into her hand, 
 saying, " Is it not beautiful !" Janetta 
 1
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 17 
 
 cast her eyes upon the resemblance, 
 and a crimson glow mounted to her 
 cheek as she gazed upon it in silence. 
 <^ What a contrast, (continued Ferdi- 
 nand) your hair is black as the raven's 
 wing, her's as fair as Cupid's bow- 
 strings ; your eyes are sparkling bril- 
 liants of jet." — " Her's blue, soft, and 
 detestable !" interrupted Janetta, dash- 
 ing the portrait violently on the 
 ground. " I never but once saw such 
 eyes, and the difference between the 
 child and woman is not so great but I 
 well remember them, — it is the portrait 
 of the hated Genevieve De Castro." 
 
 Ferdinand gazed upon her with 
 astonishment as she stood before him, 
 her eyes sparkling with rage, and 
 her features agitated with passion. 
 Hastily snatching up the portrait, he 
 consigned it to his pocket, as he said, 
 " you amaze me, Janetta ! — wliat 
 cause of dislike can you possibly have
 
 18 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 to the lovely Genevieve de Castro ?" 
 '' What cause" ! she repeated, " ask 
 me not ; — she was always my hatred, 
 my aversion ; and you have deceiv- 
 ed me," Ferdinand endeavoured to 
 explain, but she indignantly burst 
 from him, and flew to her own 
 apartment ; nor would she see Fer- 
 dinand the whole of the following 
 day, but kept her room upon the 
 pretence of illness. 
 
 Her former hatred of Genevieve 
 now received the augmentation of jea- 
 lousy, which Ferdinand endeavoured 
 to removed, by asserting that Gene- 
 vieve was a relation of his mother's, 
 for whom he had been intrusted with 
 the portrait ; but in revenge of the 
 disturbance it had given his beloved 
 Janetta, he solemnly declared he had 
 thrown it into the fire. Janetta wished 
 that what he asserted might be true, 
 and suffered herself to be persuaded
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 19 
 
 that it was so, and Genevieve and the 
 demolished portrait were both con- 
 signed to oblivion. 
 
 But the time was now arrived that 
 Ferdinand could no longer feign in- 
 disposition, and he accordingly an- 
 nounced his departure as fixed for the 
 following week, which Justin and 
 Suzette heard with pleasure, as they 
 saw the influence he had obtained 
 over their child, and augured no good 
 from his lengthened stay, though 
 their hospitality forbade their even 
 hinting a wish for his departure. 
 The last day of his abode at the cot- 
 tage was passed by Janetta in her 
 own chamber ; her feelings of anguish 
 at the approaching separation were 
 too keen for concealment, and her 
 pride bade her veil her sorrow from 
 the view of that man who was now 
 about to quit her, perhaps for ever. 
 
 Ferdinand was to take leave of the
 
 20 THE KEPUBLICAN's MISTRESS. 
 
 family at the supper hour, and depart 
 early the following morning, with a 
 young man, a native of the valley, 
 that Justin had hired for him to sup- 
 ply the place of his murdered servant. 
 When supper was ready, Janetta 
 heard the voice of her father calling 
 her to partake of it. Composing her 
 feelings as much as possible, she 
 descended ; her step was firm, but 
 her face was pale, and she scarcely 
 dared to trust herself to articulate a 
 word. During the meal, Ferdinand 
 contrived to whisper to her his wish 
 that she would meet him in the gar- 
 den after her father and mother were 
 retired to rest ; she gave him no an- 
 swer, and when the supper was con- 
 cluded, hastily left the apartment, 
 unable to say, " farewell !" 
 
 When she was retired to her room, 
 she gave free vent to her tears, but 
 resolved against the imprudence of
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 21 
 
 the solicited private meeting. ^^ No, 
 Ferdinand," she exclaimed: " go to 
 the happy Genevieve, — we part for 
 ever !" The thought was agony, and 
 she sunk upon a seat almost insensible : 
 in a few minutes she heard her father 
 and mother retire to their apart- 
 ments, and for near an hour the 
 silence of the cottage was unbroken. 
 Janetta remained in a state of stupe- 
 faction on her seat. " All then is 
 over," she murmured, " Ferdinand 
 has retired to rest, and we meet no 
 more." At that moment a blow of a 
 pebble on her windov*r made her start, 
 — the warm blood rushed to her heart. 
 " It is him !" she repeated : the signal 
 was again heard, and she flew to the 
 window. Ferdinand was below it- — 
 he dared not to speak, lest Justin or 
 Suzette should overhear him ; but his 
 actions were those of entreaty, and 
 Janetta instantly disappeared from
 
 22 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 the window. What an hour before she 
 had resolved against as imprudent, 
 she now hailed with transport — Fer- 
 dinand wished again to behold her — 
 he was not indifferent, and every 
 misfortune (that excepted) Janetta 
 felt she could endure for his love. 
 Opening her chamber door, she stole 
 with noiseless step down the stairs, and 
 was met in the garden by her lover ; 
 he led her to the arbour where he had 
 shewn her the portrait of Genevieve; 
 but that was now forgotten, and every 
 feeling absorbed in love and regret at 
 parting; and she wept in silence, 
 whilst Ferdinand, clasping her in his 
 arms, uttered the most fervent vows 
 of affection and eternal fidelity ; the 
 heart of Janetta dilated with trans- 
 port, and she listened with pleasure 
 to a proposal he made her, of flying 
 from the cottage, and becoming " his 
 wife." At first she faintly refused.
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 23 
 
 but when prest falteringly gave her 
 consent. Ferdinand clasping her in 
 his arms, called her " his wife, his 
 destined bride," and determined upon 
 not allowing her time to recall her 
 consent, was leading her from the 
 arbour, when their progress was in- 
 tercepted by the figure of a man 
 which appeared at the entrance. 
 Janetta gazed at him for a moment 
 with horror, then exclaiming, " My 
 brother ! Oh, my brother !" rushed 
 forward, and fell senseless at his feet. 
 When she recovered she was alone ; 
 the cool air of the morning blew upon 
 her fevered forehead, and her clothes 
 felt damp with the dew of the night ; 
 rising, she looked around— no one was 
 to be seen ; yet that she had beheld 
 Jaques she was convinced, and she 
 shook with horror at the idea of what 
 the event of his meeting with Fer- 
 dinand might be. She approached
 
 24 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 the house, all was stilly Justin and 
 Suzette slumbered unconscious of the 
 events of the nighty — happily for 
 their peace not even dreaming how 
 near they were of being rendered 
 childless. Janetta retired unheard to 
 her chamber, but no sleep closed her 
 eyelids, and she arose in the morning 
 restless and unhappy. Justin and 
 Suzette were more cheerful than 
 usual, the guest they had begun to 
 dread was gone, and they fondly 
 hoped Janetta would soon recover her 
 health and spirits, which (as they ex- 
 pected) appeared now greatly de- 
 pressed. The events of the preceding 
 night dwelt upon her mind, but as 
 she dared not mention them, the pain 
 was all her own. 
 
 In the course of the day, her mo- 
 ther sent her to arrange the bed-room 
 that had been occupied by Ferdinand ; 
 in removing the pillow, something
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 25 
 
 fell upon the ground, and stooping 
 to pick it up, she beheld the very 
 portrait he had so solemnly assured 
 her he had destroyed — not in a case, 
 but attached to a blue ribbon, and 
 appeared as if it had been worn round 
 the neck. In a transport of rage she 
 threw it on the ground, and trampled 
 on it till the likeness was reduced to 
 powder, then picking up the gold 
 which encased the enamel, she flung 
 it from the window. Her emotions 
 at finding this hated portrait so 
 cherished, caused her an illness of 
 several days ; but love, ingenious at 
 inventing excuses for the object be- 
 loved, reminded her, that Ferdinand 
 had asserted Genevieve was a relation, 
 and she outwardly recovered her tran- 
 quillity; but she could not so easily 
 persuade herself that he would resign 
 her without a struggle, and nightly, 
 
 VOL. I. c
 
 26 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 instead of retiring to her couch, she 
 would pace the room in expectation 
 of a signal for his appearance ; then, 
 opening the casement, fancy the 
 figure of Ferdinand in the distant 
 shadows, and when convinced of her 
 mistake, weep at the disappointment : 
 several times she silently descended 
 the stairs, and stole to the arbour, 
 hoping at least to see her brother; 
 but she waited till the morning 
 dawned, and neither Jaques or Fer- 
 dinand appeared, and she returned 
 to her chamber a prey to wretched- 
 ness. 
 
 The winter wasted away in these 
 alternate hopes and disappointments, 
 and the spring was advancing in 
 bloom, when Suzetta and Justin re- 
 ceived an invitation for themselves 
 and family to repair to the Chateau 
 .D'Hwmeires, to attend the celebration
 
 THE RfiPUBLICAN's MISTRESS. 27 
 
 of the marriage of the Lady Gene- 
 vieve de Castro, (who had just attain- 
 ed her sixteenth year) with the Mar- 
 quis D'Uxelles. The letter was from 
 the Countess herself, and the old peo- 
 ple prepared to obey what they esteem- 
 ed a command. Janetta would have 
 excused her attendance — but her 
 father and mother (who had no sus- 
 picion that her dislike for Genevieve 
 still existed,) were so seriously angry 
 at her refusal, that she was obliged to 
 drop all opposition and prepare for 
 her departure likewise. 
 
 A few days before the one appoint- 
 ed for the nuptials, Justin, in his best 
 apparel, drove his wife and daughter 
 in a little cabriolet to the Chateau 
 D'Humeires ; — they were welcomed 
 by the Countess^ with the kindness of 
 an old friend — not the slightest re- 
 membrance of Janetta's juvenile fault 
 c %
 
 28 THE REPUBLICAN S MISTRESS. 
 
 appeared to live in her memory ; on 
 the contrary, she was particularly 
 lavish of her praise and amazement 
 at the beauty and native grace of the 
 fair cottager. The cheeks of Janetta 
 glowed with pleasure at a reception 
 so different from the one she had ex- 
 pected ; but the youthful heiress en- 
 tering the apartment, every faculty 
 of her soul was absorbed in involun- 
 tary admiration — the radiant beauty 
 of Genevieve, aided by every adven- 
 titious ornament wealth could procure, 
 was so brilliant as to astonish one who 
 knew of splendor but by name ; — 
 the fascination of her manners com- 
 pleted the enchantment, and as she 
 smilingly offered her hand, Janetta 
 dropped upon her knee and prest it 
 to her lips : but when retired to her 
 apartment, and her enthusiasm abated, 
 she felt a pang at her heart as she
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 29 
 
 reflected that Ferdinand Stainville 
 had seen this dazzling beauty, and 
 possessed her portrait. True, he said 
 she was a relation, but love Janetta 
 knew to be omnipotent, and reluc- 
 tantly she owned to herself that the 
 charms of Genevieve were too potent 
 to be seen with indifference. 
 
 Upon the third day the Marquis 
 D'Uxelles was expected to arrive 
 with a splendid retinue, the maidens, 
 attendants of the Ladies Genevieve 
 and Philippa, were dressed in vir- 
 gin white, and crowned with garlands 
 to attend the bride to the altar ; and 
 by the desire of the Countess, Ja- 
 netta was one of the number distin- 
 guished by being the immediate atten- 
 dant of the bride. It was almost 
 noon when the gay procession was 
 observed approaching the chateau. 
 The Lady Gene vie s^e, surrounded by
 
 30 THE RE|>UBL1CAN's MISTRESS. 
 
 her maidens, awaited the entrance 
 of her lover in the grand hall ; the 
 varying colour of her cheek spoke 
 the emotions of her heart, but the 
 most superficial observer might per- 
 ceive, that neither fear or hatred was 
 the cause of her agitation. Janetta 
 cast her eyes toward her, and the con- 
 trast between herself and the high- 
 born heiress caused her a sickening 
 sensation of envy. Genevieve, in 
 the pride of youth and beauty, be- 
 decked with costly gems, surround- 
 ed by the banners and trophies of 
 her ancestors, and a numerous band of 
 menials obedient to her nod — would 
 in a few minutes be clasped to the 
 heart of the man she loved, and by 
 whom she was adored ; whilst herself^ 
 possessing every grace and beauty that 
 could ornament her sex, was left to 
 pine in comparative poverty, deserted
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 31 
 
 by the man she loved^ and who had 
 sworn to her eternal fidelity. 
 
 In the midst of her regrets she rais- 
 ed her eyes, and beheld the object of 
 her thought senter the room, but at- 
 tired with a splendor that made her 
 almost doubt his identity. He ap- 
 proached, and Janetta was springing 
 forward when he threw himself at the 
 feet of Genevieve, who instantly faint- 
 ed on his shoulder. The truth rushed 
 like lightning through the brain of 
 Janetta — Ferdinand Stainville and 
 the Marquis D'Uxelles were the same. 
 The incident of Genevieve's fainting 
 • caused a bustle which attracted the 
 , attention of all, and gave Janetta 
 time to recover herself. Ferdinand 
 had not observed her, and as she now 
 reclined upon the base of a statue for 
 support, she watched his attentions 
 towards her rival ; his looks spoke the
 
 32 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 most agonized apprehensions, and as? 
 Genevieve recovered^hissparklingeyes 
 and glowing cheeks were daggers to 
 the heart of Janetta, and involuntari- 
 ly she uttered " an oath of revenge ;" 
 but though she stifled her feelings, 
 she could not so far conquer them but 
 she felt the effect in every fibre of 
 her frame. 
 
 As soon as Genevieve was perfectly 
 recovered, the Countess directed re- 
 freshments to be presented, and it fell 
 to the lot of Janetta to present the 
 Marquis with a basket of fruit — an 
 occupation so like the one he had 
 frequently beheld her employed in, 
 she thought could not fail to attract 
 his regard, and with a desperate re- 
 solution she approached ; her hands 
 did not tremble, but her cheeks wore 
 the pallid hue of death as she placed 
 herself before him \ — he was talking
 
 THE KEPUBLICAn's MISTREgS. 33 
 
 with animation to his intended bride 
 when the fruit was presented to him, 
 but with his usual courtesy to the 
 sex, he raised his eyes to thank the 
 fair presenter — when they encoun- 
 tered the stedfast gaze of Janetta. 
 Had he beheld the celebrated gor- 
 gon's head, instead of the lovely 
 countenance that then met his view, 
 he could not have changed more in- 
 stantaneously — Ije trembled, and the 
 fruit dropped from his hand. Janetta 
 cast upon him a look of the most 
 superlative contempt^ and throwing 
 the basket and its contents with scorn 
 from her, instantly quitted the apart- 
 ment. All present gazed with won- 
 der and astonishment, though no one 
 made any comment. The emotion of 
 the Marquis struck the Countess as 
 something wrong, and she sat expect- 
 ing an explanation, which, however, 
 he seemed incapable of making. A 
 c 5
 
 34 THE HEPUBLICAN's MISTRESg* 
 
 presentiment of evil struck like a chill 
 upon the heart of Genevieve, and 
 after vainly striving to check the 
 tears which rushed unbidden to her 
 eyes, she complained of illness, and 
 solicited permission to withdravr. 
 
 The ceremony of the marriage was 
 not to be performed till the evening, 
 jet Ferdinand would with reluctance 
 have parted from her, had not this 
 sudden vision of Janetta fallen like a 
 bolt of ice upon his heart and be- 
 numbed all hi^ faculties ; without 
 speaking, therefore, he instantly rose 
 from his seat, and offered her his hand 
 to lead her from the hall. In passing 
 through the adjoining apartment. Jus-* 
 tin and Suzetta (who had recognized 
 him as their former visitor and learnt 
 his rank) approached to pay their re- 
 spects ; he dared not feign forgetful- 
 ness, but his heart throbbed with ago- 
 ny as the expressive countenance of
 
 THE REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS. 35 
 
 Genevieve betrayed the extreme sur- 
 prize she felt, when the mystery of 
 his long abode at the cottage, and his 
 change of name were developed by 
 the rustic congratulations and excuses 
 of his late hosts, a surprize in which 
 the Countess likewise fully shared, 
 as he had often related his encounter 
 with the banditti, and lamented the 
 fate of his old and faithful attendant ; 
 but the cottage, or it inhabitants, 
 had never made any part of the reci- 
 tal. Suspicion instantly darted across 
 her mind, and with all the character- 
 istic pride and dignity of her family, 
 she drew the arm of her trembling 
 grandchild within her own, and 
 coolly wishing the Marquis good 
 morning, retired with her to her ap- 
 partment. 
 
 But what in the estimation of the 
 Countess was his greatest fault, (his 
 change of name) was the point in
 
 36 THE republican's MiSTIIESfe. 
 
 which he was least culpable. He was 
 returning" from the Chateau D'Hu- 
 meires, and on his way to Paris, when 
 the accident which he truly repre- 
 sented befel him, and he became an 
 inmate of Justin's cottage ; — the agi- 
 tation these worthy people evinced, 
 as his tale brought their deluded son to 
 their remembrance, was by him (igno- 
 rant of its cause) naturally enough 
 ascribed to a wrong one, namely, a 
 league with the banditti, and an inter- 
 est in their proceedings ; — self preser- 
 vation, therefore, and caution, bade 
 him conceal his rank and fortune, be- 
 neath the name of Stainville, which 
 having belonged to his murdered ser- 
 vant, was instantly remembered and 
 substituted for his own. The impres- 
 sion Janetta soon made upon his fancy 
 (although he was even then engaged 
 to Genevieve) induced him to conti-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 37 
 
 nue the deception ; no excuse can be 
 found for such conduct, but the pre- 
 vailing' levity of French manners, 
 which induced a young and volatile 
 man to conclude there could be no 
 crime in admiring two beautiful young 
 women at the same time, and farther 
 than admiration he had no intention 
 of proceeding, although passion after- 
 wards induced him to press the daughter 
 of his preserver to elope with him, 
 but without the most distant intention 
 of fulfilling his repeated promises of 
 making her his wife, which he re- 
 peated as words of course, concluding 
 she would suppose them the same, 
 and only use them as an excuse for 
 yielding to her own inclinations : and 
 thus do men in general judge of those 
 imprudent young females who listen 
 to concealed addresses. The plans of 
 Ferdinand succeeded, and Janetta
 
 88 THE REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS* 
 
 would have been irretrievably ruined, 
 had not her brother providentially 
 stepped in and saved her. 
 
 Though Jaques had abandoned his 
 family, (impelled by pride to quit a 
 life of labour and independence for 
 the precarious yet independent life of 
 a bandit) it was his custom frequently 
 during the solitude and darkness of 
 the night, to descend from his haunts 
 in the mountains, and wander around 
 the lonely, yet peaceful abode of his 
 parents. His feelings during these noc- 
 turnal rambles, were not unlike those 
 of the fallen angel, whilst perambu- 
 lating the forbidden bowers of Eden : 
 but chance or rather Providence sent 
 him to save an Eve, not to corrupt 
 one. Upon the night of Ferdinand and 
 Janetta's meeting, their voices drew 
 him to the arbour, where he over- 
 heard their discourse ; the offered 
 marriage he supposed sincere, but the
 
 THE UEPUBLICAN's MISTRESS 39 
 
 proposed elopement raised his suspi- 
 cions, and he intercepted their progress, 
 when Janetta fainted. Ferdinand 
 haughtily demanded the cause of the 
 interruption ; Jaques avowed himself 
 her brother, and in return enquired 
 why his love for Janetta was con- 
 cealed from her parents ? Ferdinand 
 hesitated to reply, and at this moment 
 the servant^ engaged by Justin to ac- 
 company him^ entered the garden, and 
 approached the house to give him no- 
 tice that it was time to depart. 
 
 Jaques started when he beheld the 
 man, and hastily said, '^ I nightly 
 guard this dwelling : dare not again 
 to approach it, or to offer violence to 
 the innocent being I perceive you 
 have unworthily endeavoured to ob- 
 tain — remember my prohibition. I 
 have the means of punishing your pre- 
 sumption, should you dare to disobey 
 me." Then darting from the arbour,
 
 40 THE REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS. 
 
 he was out of sight before Ferdinand 
 (whose blood boiled with rage at what 
 he considered a menace from a pea- 
 sant) could offer to detain him. 
 Perceiving his attendant approach the 
 arbour, he hastily quitted it, lest the 
 lad (whose name v^els Henri) should 
 perceive Janetta, and make conjec- 
 tures injurious to her character ; but 
 the trepidation he found him in at- 
 tracted his attention, occupied as his 
 thoughts then were ; " What has 
 alarmed you, Henri ?" 
 
 " The Captain of the Banditti, ray 
 Lord." 
 
 '' The Captain of the Banditti ; 
 when did you see him ?" 
 
 "• He passed by me when he left the 
 arbour, my Lord. I was coming to- 
 wards you, fearful some misfortune 
 had happened.'' 
 
 During Ferdinand's residence in 
 the cottage, the most distant hint of
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 41 
 
 Jaques had never met his ear, but he 
 now drew from his communicative 
 attendant a concise history of the 
 whole affair, and not wishing to cope 
 v/ith the leader of the Pyrenean 
 banditti, he (though reluctantly) re- 
 signed all thoughts of Janetta, and 
 pursued his journey. 
 
 Removed from the influence of her 
 fascinating beauty, the mild loveliness 
 of Genevieve resumed its empire over 
 his heart, nor did the remembrance of 
 Janetta cost him a sigh, till their mul 
 apropos meeting in the Chateau D'Hu- 
 meires, when her looks reminded him 
 of past promises and professions, which 
 he doubted not would now rise up in 
 array against him. 
 
 When the Countess led Genevieve 
 to her own apartment, Ferdinand re- 
 mained alone nearly three hours, before 
 a female messenger from the Counte^js 
 requested " his immediate presence."
 
 42 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 He obeyed, and followed her to the 
 apartment of her lady. Upon enter- 
 ing it, he perceived his worst fears 
 were confirmed. Genevieve, divested 
 of her ornaments, her dress disordered, 
 pale as death, and evidently but just 
 recovered from a fainting fit, was re- 
 clining on a sofa, supported by Su- 
 zetta, whose aged face was bathed in 
 tears. The Countess was pacing the 
 apartment with a disordered step and 
 haughty air ; she approached the Mar- 
 quis, and extending her hand towards 
 him, oiFered him a rosary with a 
 small gold crucifix attached to it. 
 Ferdinand recoiled with surprize : it 
 had been a present from himself to 
 Janetta, to confirm the promises he 
 had made her to destroy the portrait 
 of Genevieve, and he gazed upon it 
 with silence, without attempting to 
 touch it. The Countess observed him, 
 but endeavouring to suppress her an-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 43 
 
 ger said, " your emotioD, Marquis, 
 proves that I am not mistaken in my 
 conjectures; this rosary once belonged 
 to you ?" 
 
 Ferdinand^ incapable of asserting 
 a falsehood (love affairs excepted^) 
 bowed assent, and the Countess con- 
 tinued — 
 
 " The unfortunate girl, (to whom 
 you doubtless gave it) has rashly fled 
 the chateau, and sought destruction 
 amidst the surrounding wilds rather 
 than endure the sight of her betrayer : 
 as she passed through the entrance 
 hall, she bade a servant give this to 
 the most perfidious of men." It was 
 brought to me, and your initials upon 
 it, blended with those of that unfortu- 
 nate girl, proves that you are indeed 
 deserving of that title. " Therefore, 
 Marquis, from this moment we are 
 strangers : my sentiments are those of 
 my child, she will never wed the man,
 
 44 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 capable of repaying hospitality with 
 ingratitude ; the seducer of Janetta 
 shall never be the husband of Gene- 
 viete,^^ 
 
 The feelings of Ferdinand were now 
 beyond restraint^ and he impetuously 
 exclaimed^ ^^you wrong me. Countess, 
 I am no seducer ; I do not deny that 
 the beauty of Janetta dazzled my 
 senses for a time, but she is innocent, 
 nor would I for worlds now injure 
 her ;" then rushing to Genevieve, he 
 fell upon his knees before her, as he 
 continued, " banish me not, dearest, 
 best beloved Genevieve, my affianced 
 wife ; distract me not by those averted 
 looks, your image alone is impressed 
 upon my heart ; let not then the cold 
 dictates of age or resentment separate 
 us ; you are, you shall be mine, nor 
 can the mandates of another tear you 
 from me."
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 45 
 
 Genevieve had with difficulty sup- 
 ported the interview ; her heart was 
 deeply wounded, but that heart was all 
 his own, nor could her resentment for 
 his conduct, nor her pity for Janetta, 
 stifle her affection sufficiently to make 
 her insensible to his agony ; and as 
 he franticly caught her in his arms, 
 she fainted on his shoulder. The 
 Countess then with difficulty persua- 
 ded him to quit the room, but he 
 would not relinquish his insensible bur- 
 den, till he was promised another in- 
 terview as soon as she recovered. He 
 then retired, and dispatched the whole 
 of his retinue different ways in search 
 of Janetta, for whose rashness, in thus 
 exposing herself to the horrors of the 
 night, amidst the precipices of the 
 Pyrenees, he felt most acutely. 
 
 The day closed in, and every mes- 
 senger from the chamber of Gene-
 
 46 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 vieve, brought intelligence of her 
 increasing indisposition, and before 
 night, she was declared alarmingly 
 ill of a fever^ and no person but her 
 immediate attendants suffered to ap- 
 proach her. Ferdinand raved, de- 
 claring it was a plot to banish him 
 from her presence, and insisting upon 
 admittance, but the Countess was in- 
 exorable in her refusal, and he was 
 obliged to submit. 
 
 His attendants returned late, with- 
 out any tidings of Janetta, and to 
 avoid the reproachful looks of her 
 parents he retired to his chamber, a 
 prey to the most poignant remorse 
 and regret for his past follies. 
 
 For several days Genevieve con- 
 tinued secluded, and the Countess 
 politely informed the Marquis that 
 she thought his absence from the 
 chateau was necessary, for restoring
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 47 
 
 her grand-child's peace of mind. He 
 refused to take his dismissal from any 
 one but Genevieve herself, in conse- 
 quence of which he received the fol- 
 lowing billet : 
 
 " The Lady Genevieve De Castro 
 is extremely sorry that she is under 
 the necessity of avowing that her 
 sentiments, with regard to the con- 
 duct of the Marquis D'Uxelles, are 
 the same as the Countess D'Humeires, 
 and that solitude and the presence of 
 her friends alone can restore her usual 
 tranquillity of mind." 
 
 Upon the receipt of this cold epis- 
 tle, pride forbade the Marquis's longer 
 stay ; instant orders were given for 
 his departure, and an hour beheld him 
 without the walls of the chateau, 
 when he endeavoured, by the celerity 
 of his progress, to fly from himself. 
 
 Genevieve, whose indisposition had
 
 48 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 been much exaggerated, beheld from 
 the window of her apartment his 
 carriage roll rapidly along, and as 
 amidst the distant blue mists of the 
 mountains, it vanished from her sight, 
 ghe wept with unrepressed agony.
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 49 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 «^Twas but one instant that she stood, 
 Then sped as if by death pursued ; 
 But in that instant o'er her soul, 
 Winters of memory seem'd to roll." 
 
 LORD BYRON. 
 
 JanettAj after delivering the rosary 
 to a servant, in an agony of despair 
 quitted the chateau, and plunged 
 into the deepest gloom of the sur- 
 rounding woods ; — uncertain of her 
 course, and only anxious to avoid the 
 presence of her rival, and the per* 
 fidious Ferdinand, the day had closed 
 before the agitation of her mind suf- 
 ficiently subsided for her to observe 
 the path she hetd taken, and determine 
 for the future. The increasing dark- 
 ness, and the distant howling of the 
 wolves (which numerously infest 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 50 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 those almost impenetrable forests) 
 first awoke her to the danger of her 
 present situation ; — she paused^ and 
 looked around ; she was in a deep 
 defile, which led between two preci- 
 pices, that rose not more than twenty 
 yards asunder upon each side of her ; 
 the tall fir and pine cloathed them to 
 their summits, and hung darkling o'er 
 the path beneath, casting even at 
 noon -day the gloom of evening upon 
 the rugged road she trod. Janetta 
 seated herself upon the withered 
 trunk of a blasted pine, that the wind 
 had hurled from the lofty summit of 
 the precipice, to rest for a few minutes 
 her almost exhausted frame. The 
 moon was just rising, and shedding 
 its silvery light upon the summit of 
 the woods; their shadow fell in dark 
 masses upon the defile, and totally 
 obscured the path, — whilst the baying 
 of the wolves from their hollow ca-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 51 
 
 verns reverberated from rock to rock, 
 and formed a concert of a most ap- 
 palling nature. Janetta was naturally 
 fearless, yet a situation so new to her 
 filled her with horror ; a torpid chill 
 crept through her frame, and, sinking 
 on the ground, she clung to the tree 
 on which she had rested, as if for suc- 
 cour and protection. She had re- 
 mained some time in this situation 
 scarcely sensible, yet not unconscious 
 of the surrounding objects, when a 
 distant light gleamed up the defile. 
 Janetta kept her eyes fixed upon it — 
 it remained stationary ; but it was evi- 
 dently not the moon's pale beams 
 which caused it. — '^ It is a fire (ex- 
 claimed Janetta) perhaps kindled by 
 some wanderer like myself, as a pro- 
 tection against the beasts of prey ; at 
 any rate 1 risk nothing by approach- 
 ing it," — Then imploring the protec- 
 tion of the Virgin, in her present 
 D 2
 
 52 THE REPUBLICANS MISTRESS. 
 
 perilous situation^ and her aid in re- 
 venging her wrongs ; she descended 
 the defile as hastily as her fatigue and 
 the ruggedness of the road would 
 permit. She had reached within a 
 few paces of the place, when she 
 paused, at perceiving the fire was sur- 
 rounded by a band of armed men, 
 upon whose swarthy countenances the 
 light threw a red and dusky glare, 
 which was reflected from their po- 
 lished arms and accoutrements. A 
 sudden thought darted across the 
 brain of Janetta, it was her brother's 
 band, and with a cry of joy she placed 
 herself before them. The suddenness 
 of her appearance in such a place 
 caused the men to start from their 
 recumbent posture with alarm; in- 
 stinctively each one grasped his pistol 
 or his dagger, but the figure that pre- 
 sented itself to their view made them 
 quit their hold.
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 53 
 
 Janetta had left the chateau with- 
 out any other covering than that which 
 she had worn as an attendant of the 
 marriage ; her thin white garments 
 floated on the breeze^ and her long- 
 dark hair^ escaped from its confining 
 bands, waved loosely on her shoulders ; 
 fatigue had robbed her cheek of its 
 bloom, but the coronet of white roses 
 still encircled her polished brow ; and 
 as the fire gleamed upon her majestic 
 form, she appeared almost super-hu- 
 man. Superstition has its votaries, 
 even among the wild bandits of the 
 forest, and the lawless wanderer who 
 would not scruple to shed the blood 
 of the unresisting passenger, will 
 tremble at the well-remembered le- 
 gends of his grandam. 
 
 Near the spot where the fire was 
 kindled, was a cross erected to the 
 memory of St. Rosa, who had perished 
 there, and was nightly supposed to
 
 64 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 walk the neighbouring wilds, and the 
 rough bandits shuddered, as on Janetta 
 they gazed (as they thought) upon 
 St. Rosa's apparition ; their appalled 
 silence was broken by the near sound- 
 ing of a horn, and a man completely 
 armed approached them — it was 
 Jaques. Janetta, who had perceived 
 his absence with dismay, no sooner 
 recognized him than she flew towards 
 him, and fell senseless at his feet. — 
 Jaques, almost petrified with surprize, 
 raised her in his arms ; — her appear- 
 ^ ance at such an hour, and in such a 
 place, astonished him, and he looked 
 around, expecting to see her compa- 
 nions, but beheld only his own band^ 
 who, now divested of fear, thronged 
 around them. In a few minutes Ja- 
 netta recovered, and intreated her 
 brother to take her to some place of 
 safety, as she was too much enfeebled 
 to walk fui'ther— and too weak, from
 
 THE RBPUBLICAn's MISTRESS. 55 
 
 fatigue, to explain the cause of her 
 appearance there. 
 
 At her request the bandits gazed 
 in silence at each other. Jaques read 
 their thoughts, and laying his hand 
 upon his sword, said—^^ She is my 
 sister, I engage for her secresy — this 
 sword is pledged to you ; if she break 
 it, I will present it to you, crimsoned 
 with the dearest blood that flows 
 around her heart." 
 
 " Enough (replied one of the ban- 
 dits) we are engaged to each other ; 
 have you any commands ?" 
 
 ^^ None ; you already have my 
 orders." 
 
 They bowed their heads in token of 
 obedience, and instantly disappeared 
 amidst the surrounding woods. 
 
 Janetta had listened during this 
 short dialogue with wonder, yet un- 
 mixed with fear : as soon as she found
 
 56 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 herself alone with Jaques^she enquired 
 what perilous secret she was to be in- 
 trusted with ? 
 
 " The secret of our retreat (he re- 
 plied.) Can you condescend to dwell 
 with lawless plunderers ? I have no 
 other asylum to offer you — but why 
 are you a wanderer from your home?" 
 
 " I have no longer a home (said 
 Janetta) I seek revenge ; — assist me 
 to obtain it, and the plunderers' dwel- 
 ling shall henceforth be mine." 
 
 " Your wrongs be mine then (said 
 her brother) ; but come you are faint 
 with fatigue, yet must you walk a full 
 quarter of a league to our abode — have 
 you strength enough to proceed ?" 
 
 " Revenge will give me strength," 
 she replied as she placed her arm 
 within his, and they proceeded in 
 silence to the summit of a precipice, 
 upon whose brow was a chasm that
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS, 57 
 
 appeared as if rent by some awful 
 convulsion of nature. 
 
 Janetta recoiled as she reached its 
 edge, and perceived an almost imper- 
 ceptible path wind down the chasm. 
 — 'Jaques paused, " Down this road/' 
 said he, " must we go to our retreat ; 
 the path is perilous to strangers, but 
 perfectly safe to those who know the 
 road ; — let me blindfold you, and lead 
 you down.'' 
 
 Janetta smiled contemptuously, ^^ I 
 am not an infant (she replied) I hope 
 one day to know it well ; — proceed, I 
 will follow you," 
 
 Jaques instantly began to descend, 
 and Janetta cautiously, but firmly fol- 
 lowed him. The descent was pre- 
 cipitous and dangerous, and one fahe 
 step must inevitably plunge them in 
 an unfathomable abyss ; — but the 
 moon shone with refulgent brightness, 
 and they reached the bottom in safety. 
 D 5
 
 58 THE republican's MISTRESSr 
 
 Janetta then found herself in a spa- 
 cious and verdant amphitheatre, sur- 
 rounded with stupendous rocks, be- 
 tween whose lefty precipices were 
 numerous caverns, the abode of the 
 bandits, who had grappled with the 
 wolves, the native inhabitants of the 
 spot, and driving them from their 
 dwellings, enlarged them for the ac- 
 commodation of a race scarce less 
 ferocious. Jaques led her to the 
 cavern appropriated to himself, which 
 was large and commodious, and seat- 
 ing her upon a couch, placed a small 
 table before her, with wine and fruit. 
 — Janetta gaaed around her with 
 astonishment ; every thing was ar- 
 ranged with a degree of luxury she 
 had never beheld any where (except 
 in the Chateau D'Humieres). Jaques 
 smiled at the wonder her countenance 
 betrayed, and said — 
 
 " Did you suppose, Janetta, that
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 59 
 
 in quitting the cottage I embraced 
 the life of a hermit — and swore like a 
 monk to abstain from the good things 
 of this world, and condemn myself to 
 a life of penance and mortification ?" 
 
 " No, (she replied ;) but I wonder, 
 in such a place, to find every conve- 
 nience of the rich ;-— and you appear 
 cheerful — is it possible you can be 
 happy, my brother ?" 
 
 A light crimson tinged his cheek, 
 as with an assumed air of pleasantry, 
 he replied, " very possible — but pray 
 what cause has brought a wandering 
 maiden to the abode of a recreant 
 knight? — (Then changing his tone, he 
 added) No ill news from the valley 
 I hope ?" 
 
 The tremor of his voice, whilst he 
 made this enquiry, proved that though 
 he was an alien to his family, he was 
 not insensible of their welfare, and
 
 60 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 Janetta instantly replied in the nega- 
 tive ; then beseeching his patience to. 
 the narrative she had to recount, 
 she began with the introduction of the 
 Marquis to their cottage^ and finished 
 with the discovery of the morning. 
 
 Jaques listened with interest : pride 
 was the predominant feeling of his 
 soul, and his varying colour, as she 
 proceeded in her tale, told how deeply 
 he felt the insult she had received: 
 when she had concluded he vowed to 
 assist her oath of revenge. 
 
 " Were you his equal in rank," he 
 cried, " his blood must atone for the 
 insult ; and he shall feel, that though 
 cottage born, we have hearts as 
 haughty and as conscious of inborn 
 worth as if we had first drawn breath 
 in a palace. — I swear to bring your 
 hated rival to your feet." 
 
 " Part her (she exclaimed) from
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 61 
 
 Ferdinand, and I am happy ; — let me 
 but live to behold his agonies for her 
 loss, and my wrongs will be in part 
 revenged." 
 
 Promising to think of some plan, 
 Jaqiies left the cavern, that she might 
 seek repose; — but sleep fled her pil- 
 low, the image of Genevieve united 
 to Ferdinand swam before her eyes, 
 and broke her rest, for she knew not 
 that her flight had already prevented 
 the union she was forming plans to 
 destroy. 
 
 The following morning she arose 
 at an early hour ; Jaques was already 
 pacing the amphitheatre before the 
 caverns, she joined him, and continued 
 in discourse upon the subject nearest 
 her heart till one of the band an- 
 nounced her breakfast waited. They 
 then returned to the cavern, and whilst 
 they took their repast, it was resolved 
 to send a scout to the chateau to leari^
 
 26 THE REPUBLirAN's MISTRESS. 
 
 the situation of affairs there, and how 
 they might best proceed to get the 
 bride within their power. The day- 
 passed heavily with Janetta, and the 
 night the same ; for it was late the 
 following day before her messenger 
 returned with the intelligence that the 
 marriage had not taken place, and 
 that her elopement had probably pre- 
 vented it for ever, and spread confu- 
 sion throughout the chateau. A gleam 
 of joy lighted up the features of Ja- 
 netta at the recital ; the misery and 
 mortification of D'Uxelles fell like 
 drops of balm upon her lacerated 
 heart, and for the first time since she 
 quitted the chateau, her eyes sought 
 repose undimmed with tears. 
 
 The following day the scout was 
 again dispatched, and Jaques and his 
 band [likewise quitted the caverns. 
 Janetta, left to solitude and her own 
 thoughts, passed the day in pacing the
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 63 
 
 amphitheatre^ and listeniDg to every 
 sound ; — it was evening when she 
 beheld Jaques first wind down the 
 chasm ; his whole form wore an air 
 of exultation, and he exclaimed^ 
 
 " Rejoice, Janetta, you are re- 
 venged — D'Uxelles has fallen the 
 victim of his perfidy, I saw him drop 
 lifeless in his carriage, and this tube 
 conveyed the deadly blow." 
 
 As he spoke, he extended towards 
 her his hand, which grasped a pistol, 
 but to his utter astonishment she 
 shrunk from the murderous instru- 
 ment, and uttering a shriek of horror, 
 sunk senseless on the ground. When 
 she recovered, her love for Ferdinand 
 seemed to have revived with her con- 
 viction of his death, and she lamented 
 his fate in the most heart-rending 
 terms, till Jaques (not allowing for the 
 caprices of love and jealousy — and 
 provoked at her instability) over-
 
 64 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 whelmed her with reproaches.— She 
 uttered no more complaints^ but her 
 grief was so deep as to render her 
 incapable of taking either rest or re- 
 freshment^ and Jaques, fearing for her 
 life^ dispatched his scouts to track the 
 carriage and ascertain whether D'Ux- 
 elles had really fallen a victim, as he 
 had merely seen him sink back when 
 he received the shot, and his affrighted 
 steeds bore him from farther outrage. 
 — This messenger quickly returned 
 with information that the carriage had 
 halted at a house in the valley, where 
 the Marquis, who was only hurt in 
 one of his arms, had the wound 
 dressed, and proceeded on his journey. 
 Upon receiving this intelligence^ 
 Janetta's love and regrets instantly 
 vanished together, and she employed 
 all her arts to prevail on Jaques to 
 further her plan of separating Ferdi- 
 nand and Genevieve for ever, as she
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 65 
 
 dreaded the Marquis would return to 
 the chateau, and induce Genevieve 
 privately to listen to his passion^ as 
 she truly judged that the influence of 
 the Countess had caused his present 
 dismissal. — Jaques, who really loved 
 her, consented to carry into execution 
 the scheme she proposed of forcing 
 Genevieve from the chateau, and im- 
 prisoning her in the caverns till the 
 Marquis had fixed his affections else- 
 where, and chance rendered their 
 plan more feasible than they had 
 either hoped or expected. 
 
 The Countess possessed immense 
 estates in Gascony, upon the river 
 Adair ; it was some time since she had 
 seen them, as the Count preferred the 
 chateau in the Pyrenees. To dissi- 
 pate the melancholy which still preyed 
 upon Genevieve, she determined now 
 to visit them, as she thought change 
 of scene might banish Ferdinand from
 
 66 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 her remembrance ; — accordingly the 
 day was fixed for their departure, and 
 the intelligence was brought to the 
 cavern, to the great joy of Janetta. 
 — On the appointed day, Jaques, at 
 the head of his band, quitted the 
 cavern, and intercepting the carriage 
 of the Countess, forced the shrieking 
 Genevieve from the bosom of her 
 grand-mother. In this exploit no 
 blood was shed, for the few aged at- 
 tendants of the Countess were too 
 much intimidated by the numbers and 
 fierce deportment of the bandits to 
 offer any opposition, and tying a 
 bandage round Genevieve's eyes, they 
 placed her in a litter, and bore her to 
 the caverns, where Janetta awaited 
 her arrival with mingled feelings of 
 hatred and exultation. When the 
 bandage was taken from the eyes of 
 the timid weeping Genevieve, she 
 beheld Janetta, and forgetful of the
 
 THE REPUBLICAN S MISTRESS. 67 
 
 past^ she sprung from the grasp of the 
 men who held her, and would have 
 flung herself into her arms, at the sight 
 of a female, wearing to her the aspect 
 of a friend : but with extended hands 
 Janetta contemptuously repulsed her, 
 exclaiming, " the aflSanced bride of 
 the Marquis D'Uxelles will surely not 
 condescend to notice the low born 
 Janetta D'Aubois — that Janetta, 
 whom her arts have twice driven from 
 the shelter of her grand-mother's 
 roof; — but in return she welcomes the 
 Lady Genevieve to an abode where 
 all her favours shall be repaid with 
 interest." 
 
 The irony of her tone, and the ma- 
 levolence which shone in her full 
 dark eye, froze the blood of Gene- 
 vieve, and she stood the statue of 
 surprize, unable to speak. Janetta, 
 turning to the men, with an air of 
 authority, ordered them to convey
 
 68 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 the prisoner to the place of her desti- 
 nation. The bandits approaching her 
 to obey^ Genevieve sprung forwards, 
 and kneeling, clung to the garments 
 of Janetta in speechless agony, who 
 spurned the hapless girl from her with 
 scorn, and the men instantly seizing 
 her, she fainted ; — in the struggle her 
 travelling robe flew open, and Janetta 
 discovered suspended from the neck 
 of the lovely sufferer the well-remem- 
 bered rosary and crucifix, which, 
 having remained in the hands of the 
 Countess, love had tempted Genevieve 
 to purloin, as a remembrance of the 
 man she was forbad again to think of ; 
 and she had concealed it beneath her 
 robe for the pleasure of weeping over 
 it during her journey, as often as 
 night left her unobserved. — With 
 eager hands Janetta tore it from her 
 neck, and motioning the men to obey 
 her mandate, they bore the insensible
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 69 
 
 Genevieve to a cavern on the oppo- 
 site part of the amphitheatre, which 
 was closed in with massy doors, and 
 used as a prison for any refractory 
 member of the band. There laying 
 her, still insensible, upon a bed of 
 dried leaves, they closed the door and 
 left her. 
 
 Janetta stood for several minutes 
 holding the rosary in her hand ; its 
 appearance brought afresh to her 
 mind the ardent expressions of affec- 
 tion and attachment which Ferdinand 
 made use of when he presented it to 
 herself in the cottage arbour : its being 
 so carefully treasured by her rival, 
 awakened every feeling of rage and 
 jealousy, and she furiously dashed the 
 sacred symbol from her. Raising her 
 eyes, with astonishment, she beheld 
 Jaques, with his arms folded, gazing 
 pensively and earnestly upon the 
 doors of the dungeon where Gene-
 
 70 THE REPUBLICAN S MISTRESS. 
 
 vieve was confined ; — he seemed ab- 
 sorbed in thought^ and when she ad- 
 dressed him, startled^ and complaining 
 of sudden indisposition, hastily re- 
 tired. — Sudden as the lightning's flash, 
 it darted across the brain of Janetta, 
 that Jaques loved the all fascinating 
 Genevieve, whose beauty with a 
 glance had triumphed and subdued 
 the heart of the hitherto insensible 
 bandit ; her own was wrung with an- 
 guish at the thought, and impetuously 
 she exclaimed, " Am I for her to be 
 forsaken by every being that I love — 
 may her accursed beauty become her 
 perdition and theirs !" — then hastily 
 pacing the cavern, she wept with 
 agony ; but by degrees other ideas 
 supplanted those tormenting ones, and 
 she smiled as she reflected, how com- 
 pleat would be her triumph over 
 D'Uxelles, could she force his affianced 
 bride to become the wife of a bandit.
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 71 
 
 Full of these thoughts, she instantly 
 sought her brother, determined to tax 
 him with his new born passion, and 
 propose his instantly wedding his cap- 
 tive. 
 
 When Genevieve revived, she found 
 herself the inhabitant of a vaulted ca- 
 vern, receiving only a small portion of 
 light through a grating in the centre 
 of the door ; her clothes were dis- 
 ordered, and her cherished rosary torn 
 from her bosom, and amidst the tor- 
 rent of tears that fell from her eyes at 
 the remembrance of her grand-mo- 
 ther, were many that had the rosary 
 for their source. — The conduct of Ja- 
 netta had disclosed to her that re- 
 venge and jealousy were the causes of 
 her confinement, and she felt that she 
 had every thing to fear. — As she lay 
 ruminating upon the bed of leaves on 
 which she had been placed whilst in- 
 sensible, she heard the door of her
 
 72 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 cell unlock, and raising her eyes, she 
 beheld a man of low stature enter, in 
 the dress of a bandit ; involuntarily 
 she shrunk back as the fellow ap- 
 proached her, but making a surly 
 kind of half bow he told her — " to rise 
 and follow him." — Surprized at the 
 dogged kind of respect he evinced, 
 she instantly obeyed, and as steadily 
 as her trembling limbs would permit 
 her, she followed him from the cell. 
 
 The evening was already far ad- 
 vanced, and the high precipices which 
 overtopped the cavern early threw 
 the gloom of night beneath, and nu- 
 merous lamps were already lit up in 
 the different abodes of the bandits, 
 and as Genevieve gained the entrance 
 of the cave she had beheld Janetta in, 
 in the morning, she "started back as 
 she perceived that female alone, dress- 
 ed with a degree of elegance and 
 splendor, and seated on a settee, with
 
 73 
 
 a table before her^ on which was a 
 very handsome tea equipage. Ja- 
 netta beheld her half retiring figure 
 as she shrunk from the entrance, and 
 rising from her seat, came forward, 
 and taking one of her hands in her own 
 led her to the settee, and then placed 
 herself by her side. — Her looks of 
 anger and scorn were changed ta 
 smiles and tender attention, and as 
 she pressed her captive to take some 
 refreshment, she intreated her pardon 
 for her former conduct with such ap- 
 parent contrition and candour, that, 
 overcome by the unexpected kind- 
 ness, Genevieve melted again into 
 tears. — Janetta soothed her, and at 
 length prevailed upon her to take a 
 cup of coffee ; ever prompt and de- 
 cisive in all her actions, she avoided 
 not an explanation, but when Gene- 
 vieve intreated to be informed why 
 she had so rudely been torn from th 
 
 VOL* I. E
 
 74 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 arms of her nearest relative, she unhe- 
 sitatingly replied — 
 
 " To give you a nearer and dearer 
 relative. — A man whose personal 
 graces few can excel, by me demands 
 your hand ; in three days you must 
 become his wife, and let not any lurk- 
 ing passion for the Marquis D'Uxelles 
 tempt you to refuse this offer, for you 
 never shall be his — his hand is mine 
 — and by every thing dearest to my 
 soul, I swear to plunge a poignard in 
 the heart of any other woman that 
 shall dare to become his bride." 
 
 As she spoke, her sparkling eyes 
 and glowing cheeks gave to her fine 
 formed features and majestic figure 
 an air of intrepidity and malevolence 
 almost demoniac, though exquisitely 
 beautiful ; and Genevieve, shudder- 
 ing as she gazed, averted her head fis 
 she said, " And who is this person, 
 who with such gentleness wooes the
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 75 
 
 heiress of the noble house of Hu- 
 meires ?" 
 
 ^' My brother (replied Janetta, 
 with an air of mingled triumph and 
 audacity) my brother, Jaques D'Au- 
 bois, the leader of the band in whose 
 power you now are.'- 
 
 " How !" exclaimed Genevieve, 
 starting from her seat, "arobber !" and 
 the fire which darted from her bright 
 blue eye, was not surpassed even by 
 the angry glances of her rival — ^' A 
 robber ! — You did well, Janetta, to 
 bring me here, before you insulted me 
 with such a proposal ; in the halls of 
 my forefathers you would not have 
 dared even to whisper to yourself a 
 thought so degrading." 
 
 Janetta's frame shook with passion, 
 but she was prevented replying by 
 the entrance of Jaques, and as he ap- 
 proached the settee, she scornfully 
 withdrew. The entrance of the ban- 
 E 2
 
 T6 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 dit chief instantly subdued the tran- 
 sient spirit which wounded pride had 
 excited in the bosom of the mild Ge- 
 nevieve, and she sunk upon her seat as 
 he approached her, with a look so 
 appalled, as to excite his commisera- 
 tion, and placing' himself by her side, 
 he tenderly besought her to calm her 
 agitated spirit, and view him in the 
 light of a friend, rather than a lover. 
 — The term lover raised again all the 
 pride of the high born heiress, and she 
 cast upon the suppliant, Jaques, such 
 a glance of scorn and contempt, that 
 all his new-born passion was scarcely 
 sufficient to prevent his showing his 
 resentment of it; — but stifling his 
 indignation, he urged his suit with 
 ardour, describing in the most impas- 
 sioned manner the effect her charms 
 had taken on his heart, and changed 
 a bitter enemy to a sincere and fer- 
 vent adorer. — But ail his rhetorie
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 77 
 
 could gain no other answer than tears 
 and disdainful looks, till at length his 
 own pride being aroused, he hastily 
 arose, and summoned the man who 
 had brought her from her cell, to 
 conduct her thither again, adding, 
 "that she would find it rendered 
 more commodious, though her safety 
 required, that till the ceremony of 
 their marriage was performed, it must 
 remain the same." — He then forcibly 
 prest her struggling hand to his lips 
 and withdrew, and Genevieve, her 
 heart swelling almost to bursting, in 
 silence followed her guide to her pri- 
 son, where she found a small truckle 
 bed substituted for the one of leaves, 
 some old tapestry had been hastily 
 nailed round the rocky walls, and a 
 thick matting laid upon the ground. 
 The bandit placed the lamp he carried 
 upon a small table, and without speak- 
 ing, suddenly withdrew; but the
 
 78 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 barring of the doors convinced her 
 she was still a prisoner, and she flung 
 herself upon the bed in an agony of 
 sorrow. 
 
 The following morning she beheld 
 the same bandit again enter ; he bore 
 a tray with refreshments, which he 
 laid upon the table, and presenting her 
 with a folded paper, instantly with- 
 drew. — Genevieve hastily tore open 
 the billet, and read as follows : — 
 
 " Adored Genevieve, 
 
 ^' Your lover will not again pre- 
 sume to intrude himself into your 
 presence, till the moment which shall 
 make him the happiest of men ; dur- 
 ing my absence all within the caverns 
 are at your command ; ask what you 
 will (liberty excepted) and it is yours 
 — if you prefer the company of my 
 sister to solitude, speak but the word, 
 and she will with pleasure attend you.
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 — I go to secure a priest that shall 
 bind you irrevocably to me alone — 
 to-morrow; before midnight, you 
 will be the wife of the devoted 
 
 " Jaques D'Aubofs." 
 
 With horror Genevieve perused 
 what appeared to seal her doom for 
 misery. — Not the smallest hopes of 
 escaping her dreadful destiny appear- 
 ed, immured as she was in the bosom 
 of a rock — in the power of a ruffian 
 lover — and a jealous rival. She had 
 scarcely concluded it, when her door 
 re-opened, and the bandit requested to 
 know if she would breakfast in her 
 ov/n cell, or in the cave with Madame 
 Janetta? Genevieve haughtily re- 
 plied, " that she preferred solitude to 
 any company the caverns could afford 
 her ;" — and the fellow, with a scowl, 
 instantly withdrew.
 
 80 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 As soon as she was alone, she threw 
 herself upon her knees, to solicit aid 
 from that power alone who could 
 effectually send help. She was not 
 again disturbed with messages, but 
 left the whole of the day to that soli- 
 tude she had chosen. At night she 
 threw herself, without undressing, 
 again upon her couch ; she slept not — 
 but fatigued with the excessive agita- 
 tion she had for so many hours en- 
 dured, towards morning, she began to 
 glumber, when her light sleep was 
 suddenly broken by the fall of some 
 heavy substance upon the floor of her 
 cell ; trembling with terror, she scarce- 
 ly dared to breathe : her lamp was 
 extinguished, and she was in total 
 darkness. She doubted not but that 
 the noise she had so indistinctly heard 
 was that of some midnight ruffian, 
 who meant to enter her cell, and
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 8l 
 
 bring her misery to a climax by death, 
 or treatiiient, compared with which, 
 death would be a blessing. In breath- 
 less silence she listened for a repeti- 
 tion of the noise, but no sound met 
 her ear, save the awful rolling of the 
 thunder, which, as the night was unu- 
 sually tempestuous, reverberated from 
 rock to rock, in a manner the most 
 appalling, to persons unused to its 
 sound, within those caverns, and she 
 began to think that her alarm had 
 been occasioned by the storm alone, 
 when, as the first faint beams of the 
 morning fell upon the grating, she 
 perceived something lying just within 
 the door of her cell ; it was some 
 time before she dared rise from her 
 couch to examine it, but when she did 
 so, she perceived it was a pistol, 
 which had been forced through the 
 bars of the aperture by some friend 
 E 5
 
 82 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 from without, but for what purpose 
 she could not imagine, as she had no 
 ammunition, or if she had, neither 
 courage or skill sufficient to know 
 how to use it, had it been possible for 
 her to conceal it about her person as a 
 defence from insult. As she stood mu- 
 sing and examining it with great at- 
 tention — she perceived something 
 concealed in the muzzle ; hastily she 
 drew it forth, and upon a small crum- 
 pled bit of paper, she read the follow- 
 ing lines, written, with a pencil, in 
 the well-known hand of Ferdinand : 
 
 " Beloved Genevieve^ 
 
 '^ If I may still presume to call you 
 by that name, fear not — ^the guardian 
 of innocence watches unceasingly 
 over you ; — to-morrow, an hour be- 
 fore midnight, the doors of your 
 prison will be opened — hesitate not to
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 83 
 
 follow the person you will then be- 
 hold, who will conduct you in safety 
 to your repentant lover. 
 
 *^ Ferdinand," 
 
 It was with diflSculty, by the dubi- 
 ous light which streamed through the 
 narrow aperture, that she read this 
 billet ; but its contents conveyed the 
 most ecstatic pleasure to her heart. — 
 She fell upon her knees, and returned 
 fervent thanks for this merciful inter- 
 position of Providence. An hour 
 before midnight would remove her 
 from the power of Janetta, and Jaques 
 was no longer feared, yet might not 
 her deliverer come too late to prevent 
 her becoming the bride of the bandit ? 
 Endeavouring to turn her thoughts 
 from so distressing a supposition, she 
 tore the welcome billet to atoms, and 
 hid its remains, with the pistol, behind 
 the tapestry ; then throwing herself
 
 84 THE REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS. 
 
 upon the couch^she laid, endeavouring' 
 to frame her countenance to conceal 
 the agitation of her heart. 
 
 At the usual hour the bandit again 
 entered with an invitation to break- 
 fast from Janetta, and wishing to lull 
 all suspicion, she accepted the oiFer, 
 and followed the man to the cave, 
 where Janetta was already seated; 
 her look of triumph and surprize, 
 when she beheld her captive, plainly 
 told she did not expect her invited 
 guest, but rising, she welcomed her 
 with smiles. Genevieve, for the first 
 time in her life, practised duplicity ; 
 yet the mask sat but ill upon her, for 
 when she found herself seated by the 
 side of her grand-mother's dependant, 
 treated as an equal, and a relative, her 
 heart swelled almost to bursting, and 
 in spite of her wish to appear calm 
 and courteous, her manner was cold 
 and constrained.
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS 85 
 
 Jatietta, who beheld in the ap- 
 proaching marriage her revenge and 
 pride both gratified, endeavoured by 
 the softness of her demeanour, to obli- 
 terate the remembrance of her former 
 violence ; but the silence and abstrac- 
 tion of Genevieve alarmed her pride, 
 and she resumed her native haugh- 
 tiness of manner, and, though cottage 
 born, a throne could not have given 
 greater dignity to her mien. As soon 
 as the repast was ended, Genevieve 
 rose to retire, nor did Janetta attempt 
 to detain her ; the bandit accompanied 
 her to her cell, which was again care- 
 fully secured, and she was left to the 
 indulgence of her own thoughts. As 
 the day advanced, her agitation was 
 so uncontrollable as to make her re- 
 joice at being alone, and as night drew 
 near, her perturbation increased ; the 
 evening was uncommonly dark, and 
 threatened to be as tempestuous as the
 
 86 THE republican's mistress, 
 
 preceding one. The bandit did not 
 appear to light her lamp, and she felt 
 sensations of horror for which she 
 could not account, as the last fading 
 glimmering of twilight vanished from 
 her cell, and, kneeling down, she ad- 
 dressed her prayers to the Virgin for 
 fortitude and protection. 
 
 She had not been long thus em- 
 ployed, when she was startled by loud 
 and repeated cries, and the fall of 
 some heavy substance from the sum- 
 mit of the precipice, which was fol • 
 lowed by deep and appalling groans. 
 Instantly all was confusion within the 
 caverns, torches borne by the band 
 illuminated the space before her cell, 
 and the distracted shrieks of a woman 
 rung upon her ear. In vain did Ge- 
 nevieve call through the aperture, her 
 voice was unheard, or unheeded, 
 amidst the general tumult, and she 
 was obliged to remain the prey of
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 87 
 
 uncertain and agonized apprehension ; 
 that some unfortunate being hadfallen 
 from the precipice^ she was convinced, 
 as the groans of the sufferer were still 
 mingled with the sobs and suppressed 
 cries of a female ; but in a few mi- 
 nutes all were removed to the interior 
 of the caverns, and she was again left 
 to darkness and solitude. Ideas the 
 most horrid to be born now crossed her 
 imagination — was it possible that Fer- 
 dinand, anticipating the hour of her 
 release, had wandered to the edge of 
 the precipice ? Her head grew giddy 
 as the dreadful vision presented itself 
 to her mind's eye, and she sunk upon 
 her couch, scarcely sensible of the 
 surrounding objects. 
 
 Hour after hour passed away, and still 
 neither the promised release nor Ferdi- 
 nand came, and she had just concluded 
 her dreadful surmise was truth, when, 
 she heard the doors of her dungeon
 
 88 THE uepubltcan's mistress, 
 
 unclose ; starting up^ she eagerly cast 
 her eyes to the entrance, but the sick- 
 ness of death came over her as she 
 beheld several of the bandits, with 
 lighted torches, enter; all hopes of 
 escape were now vanished, and she 
 fell nearly senseless again upon her 
 pillow. One of the men, approaching 
 her with a tone of respect, [informed 
 her, ^' that the priest was arrived, and 
 his chief awaited her presence in the 
 large cavern." 
 
 ^'^ Oh leave me ! — leave me ! (she 
 replied) I can die, but I will not be- 
 come his wife." 
 
 " Why, as to that, lady (said the 
 man) it is all one to us, and no busi- 
 ness of ours ; you may do which you 
 like best, but we must obey orders — if 
 you will not go, we must carry you." 
 
 Approaching her, as he spoke, Gene- 
 vieve sprung hastily from the couch » 
 and waving her hand to repel him,
 
 THE KEPUBLICAn's MISTRESS. 89 
 
 said^ " I will accompany you ; only 
 inform me who is the unfortunate 
 being that this evening fell from the 
 precipice." 
 
 The men shuddered as she spoke, 
 and strong feelings of agitation shook 
 their rugged frames ; it was but mo- 
 mentary, for they instantly stifled the 
 sensation, as if ashamed of the weak- 
 ness of humanity ; and the one that 
 had before addressed her, assuming 
 an air of sternness, bade her '^ not en- 
 quire about what could not possibly 
 concern her, but instantly to follow 
 them, unless she intended they should 
 use force." 
 
 Perceiving that she should gain no 
 information, she motioned them to 
 proceed, and inwardly addressing the 
 Virgin for fortitude, she followed 
 them to the entrance of a cavern she 
 had never seen before. It was of an 
 immense extent, dimly illuminated by
 
 90 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 a few torches held by some of the 
 band ; at its extremity was a tempo- 
 rary altar erected, and by its side stood 
 a man in the habit of a priest, con- 
 versing with another, whose back was 
 towards her ; but the dress was that of 
 Jaques, and Genevieve's heart died 
 within her ; yet without a moment's 
 hesitation she approached the priest, 
 and throwing herself upon her knees 
 before him, she exclaimed, " Have 
 compassion, holy father, upon a help- 
 less female, torn from her friends, and 
 compelled to appear here before you. 
 I protest against this marriage ; my 
 heart is another's, and were it free, 
 never could be given to the man that 
 would now possess it." 
 
 The priest, stooping to raise her, 
 replied, " You speak like a wayward 
 child, who knows not her own will. 
 I have been assured that you consented 
 to the performance of the ceremony, 
 and shall proceed accordingly."
 
 The bandit then siezed her hand, 
 and the priest began ; but Genevieve 
 struggled, and called upon all around 
 for aid ; she implored even the help 
 of Janetta, but Janetta was not there, 
 or if she were, so shrouded in the gloom 
 of the half illuminated cavern, that 
 Genevieve beheld her not. The cere- 
 mony proceeded, and though she 
 audibly answered in the negative, the 
 bandit chief placed the ring upon her 
 shrinking hand ; the ceremony was 
 concluded, the cavern rung with the 
 shouts of the band, and Genevieve 
 fell lifeless in the arms of the being 
 that now called her wife.
 
 92 THE REPUBLICAN S MISTRESS. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 '* Though far and near the bullets hiss, 
 She 'scaped a bloodier hour than this ; 
 And now the foe their covert quit, 
 And call his vassals to submit." 
 
 LORD BTRON. 
 
 When Ferdinand Marquis D'Ux- 
 elles left the Chateau D'Humeires, 
 his mind, agitated by regret and re- 
 morse, he heeded not the progress of 
 time, till aroused by a general shout, 
 he raised his eyes, and beheld the 
 mountain band intercepting his pro- 
 gress, with their captain placed upon 
 a small eminence to command the 
 attack ; his eye met that of Jaques, 
 who instantly recognized him, and 
 eager to revenge the wrongs of his 
 sister, he fired — the Marquis sunk 
 back in the chaise, and the band rushed
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 93 
 
 forward on their prey ; but the driver 
 instantly applied the lash to the horses, 
 and they bore down all opposition ; 
 the band then discharged their mus- 
 kets in a volley, but they did no mis- 
 chief, and the affrighted steeds flew 
 like the wind, bearing their master in 
 safety from the bandits. As soon as 
 they were at a proper distance they 
 halted, and a slight wound, which 
 Ferdinand had received in his arm, 
 was bound up, and they proceeded ; 
 but they had scarcely reached the 
 valley, when they perceived that he 
 had fainted, and his attendants (who 
 loved him to enthusiasm) bore him 
 into a cottage by the road side, and 
 procured a surgeon. A ball was then 
 extracted from his arm, and quiet 
 recommended, to prevent a fever 
 which threatened ; but the agitation 
 of his mind prevented his resting, nor 
 was his tranquillity restored by be-
 
 94 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 holding the following morning from 
 the window of his apartment, the well 
 known cottage of Justin. 
 
 " Why am I here, (he exclaimed) 
 let us instantly depart ; who brought 
 me here ?" 
 
 " It was I, my Lord, (replied his 
 valet) this cottage is my father's ; I 
 have not seen him till now since Jus- 
 tin engaged me to attend upon your 
 Lordship. He is very proud of the 
 honour conferred upon him by your 
 reposing beneath his roof ; I hope you 
 will not mortify him by quitting it 
 before you are recovered." 
 
 Ferdinand endeavoured to recollect 
 himself, and then dismissed Henri, with 
 a trifling excuse for his impetuosity ; 
 he then again threw his eyes over the 
 lovely landscape before him, but its 
 roses were armed with thorns, which 
 pressed deep into his heart, for amidst 
 it stood the little arbour in which he
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 95 
 
 had often uttered vows he then deem- 
 ed so immaterial, but which now 
 threatened to colour his future days 
 with misery, and bitterly did he regret 
 the unprincipled levity which had 
 made him offer love to one woman, 
 whilst his heart was another's. 
 
 He had been some days at the cot- 
 tage, and his arm was sufficiently re- 
 covered for him to wear it in a sling, 
 when, walking one day for exercise in 
 the garden before his abode, he saw a 
 carriage driving furiously towards 
 him, and as he approached, he recog- 
 nized the livery of the Countess 
 D'Humeires ; astonishment rivetted 
 him to the spot, and he stood gazing 
 upon it till it approached him, when, 
 instead of passing, it halted, and one 
 of the attendants exclaimed, 
 
 " Hasten, my lord, pray hasten to 
 the assistance of my lady !" 
 
 Ferdinand flew to the carriage, but
 
 96 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 beheld, instead of Genevieve, only the 
 Countess and her woman bathed in 
 tears. 
 
 " Where is Genevieve (he impe- 
 tuously demanded) what may those 
 tears portend ?'• 
 
 " That she is lost to us for ever ! 
 (replied the Countess) Oh, Marquis ! 
 all that is past shall be forgotten ; 
 restore Genevieve to my widowed 
 arms, and I will no longer oppose the 
 wishes of your heart ; rescue her, and 
 she shall be your wife." 
 
 With horror he learnt that she had 
 then been forced from the arms of her 
 grand-mother by banditti : instantly 
 the truth flashed upon his mind — 
 Jaques was the ravisher, instigated by 
 his sister ; and he trembled as he re- 
 flected what might be her treatment. 
 
 The Countess's attendants, after her 
 loss, afraid to retrace their steps, had 
 driven forward to the valley ; but now
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 97 
 
 reinforced by the Marquis and his reti- 
 nue, they returned and reached the 
 Chateau D'Humeires in safety, where 
 as soon as he had seen the Countess a 
 little composed, Ferdinand left them, 
 and taking only Henri with him, 
 plung-ed into the intricacies of the 
 forest, in the hope of succouring Ge- 
 nevieve : force he knew would not 
 avail, therefore, as upon stratagem 
 and fortune only he must depend, 
 he would have gone alone, but for 
 the intreaties of his attendant, who 
 urged his knowledge of the forests 
 from infancy as an inducement to his 
 master to allow of his attendance. 
 
 Except the road from the chateau 
 to the valley, there was no other in 
 which a horse could pass ; therefore 
 they went on foot, and Henri's local 
 knowledge of the spot was of great 
 service ; but the object of their search, 
 the retreat of the bandits, had been 
 
 VOL. I. F
 
 98 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 so often sought by the sufferers from 
 their violence without success, that 
 they proceeded, scarcely hoping to 
 succeed. Evening drew on, and they 
 were still clambering over rocks and 
 precipices. Henri endeavoured to be- 
 guile the time with numberless anec- 
 dotes of the mountain band, and their 
 chief, whom Henri acknowledged to 
 be a great favorite of his, having been 
 school- fellows. The night was fast 
 closing, when they heard at a short 
 distance loud cries of distress. 
 
 Ferdinand, ever alive to the calls of 
 humanity, and careless of his own 
 safety, darted towards the spot, and 
 forcing his way through a thicket j, 
 beheld a man sinking beneath the 
 gripe of a ravenous wolf, with whom 
 he had been vainly contending, as the 
 animal had fastened upon his right 
 arm and shoulder. Ferdinand was an 
 excellent marksman, and instantly
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 99 
 
 fired a pistol at the furious animal, 
 though he was in such close contact 
 with the sufferer, that to miss would 
 have been the death of him he wished 
 to save ; the ball took effect^ and the 
 savage fell lifeless upon his prostrate 
 victim, who was thus bathed with the 
 blood of his enemy. Henri, who 
 had closely followed the steps of his 
 master, assisted the terrified man to 
 rise, who, kneeling at the feet of Fer- 
 dinand, thanked him for his life ; his 
 voice seemed to awaken strange sen- 
 sations in the breast of Henri, he ap- 
 proached, and gazing earnestly upon 
 the disfigured features of the stranger, 
 exclaimed, " Roberto !" 
 
 The man, starting up, looked for a 
 minute in his face, then made an at- 
 tempt to fly, but, exhausted by his 
 struggle with the wolf, sunk again 
 upon the ground ; the big tears chaced 
 F 2
 
 100 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 each other down the cheek of Henri, 
 as he said — 
 
 " Oh, my lord, it is Roberto, my 
 dear, my only brother ! how miserable 
 has his life for the last three years 
 made all that know him — he is a mem- 
 ber of the mountain band." 
 
 Ferdinand, now much interested, 
 besought the man to rise, and assist 
 them in procuring shelter for the 
 night ; but mixed feelings of pride, 
 shame and remorse, kept him silent, 
 till, moved by the tender pleadings of 
 his brother, he at length threw his 
 arms around his neck, and pressed 
 him to his heart. The wounds of 
 Roberto were more painful than dan- 
 gerous ; the fangs of the animal had 
 torn his right arm, and both his hands 
 were deeply bitten. Ferdinand rent 
 his handkerchief in pieces to make 
 bandages ; the bandit had a bottle of
 
 THE REPDBLICAn's MISTRESS. 101 
 
 drops in his pocket, which were car- 
 ried by all the band, to be ready upon 
 an emergency, and Henri steeped the 
 handkerchief in them^ and bound 
 around the wounds, when Roberto 
 expressed his conviction that they 
 would be no farther troublesome ; then 
 rising from the ground, he motioned 
 them to follow him, and led the way 
 through thickets and defiles, impervi- 
 ous to the"mid-day sun, through tracks 
 and paths which none but the foot of 
 a bandit had ever trod before, and 
 which all but a bandit, would have 
 considered impassable. 
 
 They had followed him for some 
 time, and the increasing gloom almost 
 hid him from their view, as he, not- 
 withstanding his wounds, moved at a 
 quicker rate than either Ferdinand or 
 Henri could do through^ such uneven 
 paths, when suddenly they lost sight 
 of him : they followed to the spot
 
 102 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 where he had disappeared, and re- 
 coiled but just in time to save them- 
 selves from falling down a precipice, 
 whose depth the darkness prevented 
 their ascertaining. Ferdinand stood 
 in silent amazement, whilst Henri 
 trembled with terror; — at length, 
 after a silence of several minutes, Fer- 
 dinand drew his sword, exclaiming — 
 
 " The villain has betrayed us ; but 
 he shall not find us an easy prey." 
 
 '' Oh, no, no, my lord ! (replied 
 Henri) it is impossible, Roberto will 
 never sacrifice the life of that man 
 who preserved his own." 
 
 '^ Right, boy '•" (exclaimed a voice 
 they knew to be Roberto's) and turn- 
 ing round, beheld him at their elbow. 
 " Right, Henri, a bandit has nothing 
 to do with the vice of ingratitude ; 
 we leave that to civilized society. — 
 Follow me, my lord, your situation 
 alone can excuse your doubts; you
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 103 
 
 may follow me in safety^ which my 
 temporary absence was only to ascer- 
 tain." 
 
 He then pressed through a thicket 
 on one side of them, and Ferdinand 
 beheld the entrance to a cave^ which 
 appeared more like the resort of wild 
 beasts of the forest, than the abode of 
 men ; the opening was so narrow that 
 only one person could enter at a time, 
 and so low that they were obliged to 
 walk almost double. Roberto led tjie 
 way ; it wound for a considerable dis- 
 tance through the rock, and at length 
 terminated in a large and lofty cavern, 
 lit by a lamp depending from its 
 centre, which shed a gloomy light 
 around ; the place appeared so chear- 
 less, with so many nooks and passages 
 branching from it, that Ferdinand 
 alternately viewed the place and his 
 guide with an eye of suspicion. 
 
 " Fear nothing," said Roberto, who
 
 104 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 perceived his glances^ " you are safe 
 from danger here ; this is not our 
 dwelling, but only used as a place of 
 refreshment and occasional retreat ; 
 there is no entrance to it but the one 
 we have just passed through, and 
 should we hear footsteps approaching, 
 you will have plenty of time to con- 
 ceal yourselves in the inner caverns, 
 one of which is plentifully stored with 
 good wine, and I dare say you will 
 have no objection to taste it, although 
 it is the fruits of plunder ; but, as the 
 philosophers tell us, we are all the 
 slaves of circumstances, and were one 
 of the reverend grey-beards them- 
 selves, lost like you, in a dark forest at 
 night, he would, like you, be glad of 
 an asylum, though in a bandit's lair." 
 Ashe was speaking, he took from 
 a niehe a flask of wine, some biscuits, 
 and an immense baked ham, uncut, 
 which he placed upon a table, and.
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 105 
 
 drawing some stools towards it^ invited 
 Ferdinand to be seated, who, by his 
 ready acceptance of his offer, and a 
 goblet of wine he handed to him, 
 proved the truth of his philosophical 
 remark. 
 
 Henri, keeping a respectful dis- 
 tance, Ferdinand bid him take a seat 
 by his side, and he timidly obeyed. — 
 Roberto appeared to view the obse- 
 quiousness of his brother with inward 
 indignation, and, as he seated himself 
 at a distance from the table, ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 " Pshaw, boy ! — what art thou 
 afraid of; the sons of Adam are all 
 equal, and though the rich deny the 
 rights of their poorer brethren, yet 
 misfortunes can easily reduce the one 
 to the level of the other, and then 
 who has the superiority — the strong- 
 est arm, to be sure." 
 F 5
 
 106 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 The revolution, which for many 
 years afterwards drenched France 
 with blood, had just then began to 
 appear^ and equality was the favourite 
 topic of every tongue, therefore Fer- 
 dinand was not so surprized at hearing 
 such sentiments as a French noble 
 would have been a few years previous 
 to that era ; but a flush of mingled 
 anger and surprize past over his coun- 
 tenance as he said — 
 
 ^' You speak your mind freely, 
 friend, with such sentiments you 
 would be an acquisition to the leading 
 party in Paris?" 
 
 " Not exactly (he replied) I ad- 
 mire the cause, but reprobate the 
 manner in which I perceive it will be 
 conducted ; but come, we are not met 
 hereto discuss politics, liberty is the 
 natural inheritance of a bandit, he 
 forsakes every domestic comfort for
 
 THE REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS. 107 
 
 the free enjoyment of his birthright, 
 therefore, my lord, if you are treated 
 here with too little ceremony, do not 
 construe into an affront what is the 
 mere effect of habit ; I am indebted 
 to you for my life, yet I scorn to be- 
 come your slave ; but come, eat and 
 drink cheerfully of what the table 
 affords, and when the repast is ended, 
 task my power as you will, and you 
 shall find I am not ungrateful." 
 
 Ferdinand accepted the invitation, 
 and the meal past in silence, though 
 during it he could not withdraw his 
 gaze from the striking form and figure 
 of the bandit, whose features were 
 strongly marked with an expression 
 of acuteness, and more than common 
 intelligence ; his limbs were formed 
 in a mould of almost Herculean 
 strength, his wild habits had bronzed 
 his countenance, and given a character 
 of fierceness to the quick glances of
 
 ]08 THE republican's MISTRESS, 
 
 his full dark eye ; but as the lamP 
 shed its rays upon his colossal figure, 
 Ferdinand imagined he beheld strong 
 traits of benevolence in the contour 
 of his physiognomy, which made him 
 unhesitatingly impart to him, as soon 
 as requested, the cause of his wan- 
 derings. 
 
 Roberto listened with fixed atten" 
 tion, and when he had concluded, a 
 contemptuous smile played round his 
 mouth, as he said — 
 
 " So then, my lord, you have risked 
 your life in thus exploring the bandits' 
 haunts for a woman, who, ere this, 
 perhaps, may have taught her to pre- 
 fer my commander to yourself." 
 
 " Impossible ! (replied Ferdinand) 
 the bare surmise is a sacrilege ; Gene- 
 vieve is my affianced bride." 
 
 " May be so (added Roberto, with 
 unusual asperity) but my captain is 
 bold, handsome, and amorous ; such
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 109 
 
 qualities have e'er now seduced a 
 wedded wife." 
 
 Ferdinand was about to reply indig- 
 nantly, when the sound of many 
 voices made them start from their 
 seats. " Follow me (exclaimed Ro- 
 berto) your lives depend upon con- 
 cealment — my comrades are ap- 
 proaching." 
 
 He darted, as he spoke, down a 
 narrow passage that led from the 
 cavern, followed by Ferdinand and 
 Henri; it was entirely dark, but the 
 50und of his footsteps were their 
 guides. In a few minutes he opened 
 a door in the side of the passage, and 
 pushing them in, closed and locked it 
 on the outside, and putting the key 
 in his pocket, retreated up the pas- 
 sage. Ferdinand was far from tran- 
 quil, when he found himself thus un- 
 expectedly a prisoner; but silencing 
 the exclamations of the affrighted
 
 110 THE REPUBLCIAn's MISTRESS. 
 
 Henri, he listened attentively to the 
 numerous voices which resounded 
 through the cavern, and which their 
 proximity to, allowed them plainly 
 to distinguish. 
 
 " Why, Roberto (exclaimed a 
 rough voice) what the devil is the 
 matter with the man? Why, thou 
 lookest as if thou hadst fought upon 
 even terms, and got the worst of it — 
 what the plague art thou bandaged 
 up for, have the thorns in the bushes 
 scratched thee ?" 
 
 " Thorns !" repeated Roberto in- 
 dignantly, " have a care, Pierre, or 
 untimely jesting will be a thorn of 
 steel in thy side ere long ; if thou pro- 
 vokest me too far." 
 
 ^^ Nay (replied Pierre) I know 
 thou would'st not fear to pull the 
 devil by his tail, if his Satanic ma- 
 jesty would so far relax in his vigi- 
 lance as for an instant to turn his
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. Ill 
 
 back upon thee ; but jesting apart, I 
 meant not to move your anger — how 
 didst get wounded ?" 
 
 " Bv an encounter with a wolf, who 
 sprung upon my sword arm, and by 
 his firm gripe disabled me for some 
 time from defending myself." 
 
 "^ By the mass (rejoined another 
 voice) thou seemest to have stole the 
 wolfs appetite from him ; I fear the 
 animal was the greatest sufferer by 
 your encounter ; I brought this ham 
 here this morning, uncut, from the 
 cavern larder ; but if a whole levy of 
 fat monks had said their vespers over 
 it, I doubt if it would have been more 
 diminished." 
 
 '^ A truce with your raillery (said 
 Roberto) I have been two days from 
 the cavern ; is there any news ?" 
 
 " Aye, marry (repliedPierre) news 
 enough, our captain has brought
 
 112 THE REPUBLirAx's MISTRESS. 
 
 home a wife, and in future our stand- 
 ard will be her petticoat." 
 
 " Wife ! (ejaculated Roberto) aye, 
 wife (replied the other) to-morrow 
 night you will have to assist at the 
 ceremony, and drink the bride's 
 health." 
 
 "To-morrow night ! (repeated Fer- 
 dinand to himself) thank Heaven I 
 am yet in time to save her — oh, dear- 
 est Genevieve ! how bitterly do I la- 
 ment the indiscretion that has placed 
 thee in so perilous a situation." 
 
 The review of the past which now 
 rushed upon his mind, overwhelmed 
 him with feelings of self-accusation, 
 and he heard no more of w^hat past in 
 the cavern till their receding footsteps 
 told him they were departing. Impa- 
 tiently did they listen for the approach 
 of Roberto, proclaiming their release, 
 but in vain were their expectations,
 
 THE REPUBLICANS MISTRESS. 113 
 
 he came not, and the continued silence 
 induced them to believe that he had 
 departed with his comrades. 
 
 " Oh, my master ! my dear master ! 
 (said Henri) we are indeed betrayed, 
 could I have thought that Roberto, 
 once so generous and kind, would 
 have acted thus." 
 
 " Peace (replied Ferdinand) you 
 wrong your brother; circumstances 
 may have compelled him to leave us 
 here for a time, no doubt he will soon 
 return ; but in case any thing should 
 happen to detain him, let us endea- 
 vour to discover in what sort of place 
 we are confined, and if escape at the 
 worst is impossible." 
 
 They then carefully felt around the 
 rocky walls, and discovered that they 
 were in a small cell, with a door ex- 
 actly opposite to the one they had 
 entered by ; it was fastened by a bolt, 
 which yielded easily to the hand, and
 
 114 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 the door fell back. They could not 
 distinguish any object, all within 
 being wrapt in impenetrable dark- 
 ness ; but a noisome smell issued from 
 the interior, and Ferdinand would 
 again have shut the door, had not the 
 intreaties of Henri persuaded him to 
 advance; but his sense of smelling 
 being more acute than that of his com- 
 panion, he stood for a moment to 
 regain his breath, while his servant led 
 the way ; in a few minutes he re- 
 treated with such haste, as almost to 
 throw Ferdinand, who stood in the 
 door-way, to the ground, and instantly 
 closing the door, precipitately drew 
 the bolt. It was some minutes before 
 he recovered from his alarm suffici- 
 ently to answer the reiterated ques- 
 tions of his master, and he then aver- 
 red, that, in crossing the interior ca- 
 vern, he stumbled against something, 
 and stooping down to discover what
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 115 
 
 it was, he had grasped the cold hand 
 of a corpse. 
 
 This relation by no means tran- 
 quillized Ferdinand, but he endea- 
 voured to persuade Henri the hand 
 might not be that of a corpse, but 
 belong to some unhappy person to 
 whom their assistance might still be 
 useful, and desired him again to open 
 the door, a command which Henri 
 opposed with all the eloquence he was 
 master of, and that his tremor would 
 permit him to use. In the midst of 
 this contest they heard footsteps in 
 the passage, and the other door un- 
 bolting, the voice of Roberto bade 
 them, " come to the outer cavern." 
 
 Joyfully they obeyed ; but when 
 they came to the light, Roberto, per- 
 ceiving the trembling limbs and fear 
 blanched countenance of his brother, 
 viewed him for a moment with con-
 
 116 THE 
 
 tempt ; then turning to Ferdinand^ 
 said — 
 
 ^^ I congratulate your lordship on 
 your choice of a companion ; a doughty 
 hero you have selected to assist you 
 in the arduous task of rescuing an un- 
 willing captive from the gripe of the 
 mountain band ; but we have no time 
 to waste in words, I gave my comrades 
 the slip, and must hasten to our re- 
 treat, or we shall be suspected ; my 
 absence will be observed, and excite 
 suspicion. To you, my lord, I owe 
 my life, and I would sacrifice it in 
 the service of my commander ; but in 
 endeavouring to restore the Lady Ge- 
 nevieve to your arms, I shall in part 
 pay my debt to you, and do him no 
 essential injury, nay, perhaps, confer 
 on him a blessing ; by wresting from 
 his arms a woman, I most likely pluck 
 from him a serpent that would here-
 
 117 
 
 after be destructive of his peace ; 
 why should the retreat of the banditti 
 be infested with a being so deadly." 
 
 His powerful emotion now pre- 
 vented his proceeding, and Ferdinand 
 gazed at him with a look of wonder 
 and enquiry. In a few minutes he 
 recovered himself, and said — 
 
 " My language to a man under the 
 delirium of passion, must appear harsh 
 and unjust ; Henri may hereafter, 
 perhaps, explain to your lordship, 
 why I cherish such a hatred towards 
 the sex ; but come, if you have any 
 implements about you, write, and 
 before the morning's dawn, I will con- 
 trive to convey it to the lady." 
 
 Ferdinand, with a heart bounding 
 with rapture and gratitude, instantly 
 took out his pocket book, and with 
 his pencil hastily traced a few lines, 
 which he gave to Roberto, who placed 
 it in his bosom, and then said—
 
 118 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 " To-morrow evening, you may 
 expect me ; I will then lead you to a 
 place where you may await the com- 
 ing ot the Lady Genevieve. I will 
 procure her escape, if possible, before 
 the hour upon which the m^arriage is 
 to take place, unless she should prefer 
 remaining in the caverns.'^ 
 
 " You torture me by such a suppo- 
 sition," replied Ferdinand. 
 
 " It is not my intention (said the 
 bandit.) I only wish to prepare you 
 for what may not unlikely take place ; 
 you may safely remain in the interior 
 caverns till I return, where there is a 
 couch, which you may repose on for 
 the night ; I will shew it you ;" and, 
 lighting a small lamp by the one 
 which hung from the centre of the 
 cavern, he was proceeding down the 
 passage, when the voice of Henri ar- 
 rested his progress, and, turning, he 
 beheld the pallid countenance of his
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 119 
 
 brother, who, in a voice almost inar- 
 ticulate, besought his lord, " not to 
 venture." 
 
 Ferdinand, pitying his alarm, yet 
 fearing to irritate the bandit, hesitat- 
 ingly recounted, " that seeking an 
 outlet from the cavern, Henri, had by 
 chance, in an interior cell, grasped in 
 the dark something he had mistaken 
 for the hand of a corpse." 
 
 A look of anger and derision flashed 
 from the piercing eye of the bandit, 
 as he replied, " It was no mistake, 
 my lord ; but follow me, and your 
 curiosity shall be fully satisfied." He 
 then strode hastily down the passage, 
 followed by Ferdinand, and Henri, 
 not daring to remain behind, kept 
 close to the side of his lord. Passing 
 through the small cavern, he unbolted 
 the dreaded door, and, ad v^ancing be- 
 yond the threshold, he held up the 
 lamp, saying —
 
 120 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 " Behold, my lord, a bandit is mor- 
 tal, as well as his fellow men;" and 
 Ferdinand perceived, ranged on low 
 biers, many bodies in diiferent stages 
 of decay. 
 
 '^ I understand (said Ferdinand) 
 this is the cemetry of your band ?" 
 
 '' It is so, my lord ; but I suppose 
 yon foolish boy thought them the 
 bodies of murdered travellers. — No ; 
 whenever such an event as that 
 happens, a bandit will not encum- 
 ber his dwelling with such unpro- 
 fitable lumber ; a wolf, man, is an ex- 
 cellent sepulchre, and the air of the 
 forest much sweeter than this cave, 
 which though the last place of many 
 honest fellows, does not emit a very 
 pleasant perfume ; therefore we will 
 leave them to their dreamless repose, 
 and show you to a more convenient 
 lodging." 
 
 So saying, he drew the bolts, and
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 121 
 
 crossing the passage, entered a larger 
 cavern, where there were several 
 pallets ranged side by side, and looked 
 not much unlike the biers they had 
 just left. 
 
 Ferdinand gazed upon them a mi- 
 nute, then said, " we need fear no 
 interruption here ?" 
 
 '' None, my lord, the band are all 
 retired to their home ; it threatens a 
 storm, and no expedition will take 
 place to night. What provisions you 
 may have occasion for, you may safely 
 venture to the outer cavern to fetch ; 
 I will take care to be the first here 
 to-morrow." 
 
 Then, turning to his brother, he 
 shook his hand, as he said, " thou wert 
 ever a faint-hearted fellow, Henri ; 
 by heaven I shall think thee some 
 wench in disguise, if I do not see ano- 
 ther colour in thy face to-morrow ; 
 for shame, man, for shame, thou art 
 
 VOL. I. o
 
 122 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 not my brother, if one drop of cow- 
 ard's blood lurks in thy veins." Then, 
 bowing to Ferdinand, he gave the 
 lamp to Henri, and in a few minutes 
 the echo of his heavy steps died away 
 in the distance. 
 
 Ferdinand, after ascertaining that 
 their door was unfastened outwardly, 
 drew a ponderous bolt, which secured 
 it on the inside, and threw himself 
 upon a pallet, to ruminate upon his 
 present situation, and the promises of 
 the bandit. The fears of Henri, over- 
 coming his habitual difference to his 
 master, he threw himself upon the 
 couch nearest him, wishing, yet scarce 
 daring, to begin a conversation. 
 
 It was not long before the storm, 
 mentioned by Roberto, raged with 
 uncommon fury, and the awful rolling 
 of the thunder was most terrifically 
 echoed by the various hollows of the 
 caverns with which they were sur-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 123 
 
 rounded, and Henri, unable any 
 longer to keep silence, with a deep 
 sigh exclaimed — " Holy St. Dennis, 
 I never heard any thing so dreadful ; 
 I have heard, my lord, that storms 
 are caused by the souls of the sinners 
 conveying to purgatory, flying from 
 the presence of the angels of the 
 Lord ; does your lordship think it is 
 true ?" 
 
 " Really, Henri (replied the Mar- 
 quis, smiling) I am not sufficiently 
 learned to answer your question, but 
 I should suppose it a mere matter of 
 supposition ; you may think as you 
 please upon the subject." 
 
 " Well, Heaven rest them, if it is 
 so ; I hope Roberto has found a 
 shelter." 
 
 " No doubt but he has, and I hope 
 Genevieve will receive my note ; but 
 he seems such an enemy to aught in a 
 G 2
 
 124 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 female form, that I almost fear he 
 will not condescend to approach 
 her." 
 
 ^' If Roberto hates a woman, my 
 lord, he has just cause ; a woman 
 ruined him, and drove him to the 
 desperate life he now leads; before 
 that event took place there was no 
 young man in the valley more indus- 
 trious, and more respected than Ro- 
 berto D'Arcy. — If your lordship 
 pleases I will tell you his little his- 
 tory, it may serve to pass away the 
 time, for I am sure till the storm 
 abates we cannot sleep." 
 
 Ferdinand gave his assent to the 
 proposal, and Henri continued — 
 
 '^ Your lordship has seen the cot- 
 tage in which he was born, and know 
 that our father is an humble vine- 
 dresser. His family was numerous, 
 but they all died young except Ro-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 125 
 
 berto, who was the eldest child, and 
 myself the younger. 
 
 '' As Roberto grew up to man- 
 hood, his industry and prudence ena- 
 bled his parents to live with a degi-ee 
 of comfort hitherto unknown to them ; 
 his generosity and kindness was ex- 
 tolled by all, added to which, his 
 sense and information were so superior 
 to all around him, that his advice in 
 every difficult proceeding was re- 
 quested ; he was looked up to as an 
 oracle, and his conduct proposed as a 
 pattern to all. Thus was he situated 
 when he attained the age of twenty, 
 and this fair prospect was all blighted 
 and changed to misery, and guilt, by 
 a woman. 
 
 " About this time he first noticed 
 Madelon, the only child of a neigh- 
 bouring peasant. Roberto was the 
 handsomest youth in the valley, and 
 Madelon, a rural coquette, endea-
 
 126 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 voured to attract his attention^ and it 
 was scarcely possible for such charms 
 as this wild flower of nature possessed 
 to fail, for even to this hour ^ as hand- 
 some as Madelon' is constantly used 
 to express superior beauty. Her 
 sparkling hazle eyes gave animation 
 to a face whose every feature was 
 loveliness itself ; a profusion of glossy 
 auburn hair curled in natural ringlets 
 around a forehead and bosom, over 
 whose transparent whiteness the sun 
 seemed to possess no power, neither 
 had labour spoiled the delicacy of her 
 hands and arms, or destroyed the 
 symmetry of her fine turned form. — 
 Such as she was, Roberto loved her 
 with a passion almost amounting to 
 idolatry, and his passion was appa- 
 rently repaid with interest. After 
 near a twelvemonth's courtship she 
 consented to become his wife, and the 
 day was fix edfor their nuptials ; when
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 127 
 
 one evejiing, in their way homeward 
 from the vineyard (where together 
 they pursued their daily toil) Made- 
 Ion, in sportive gaiety, ran forward 
 and crossed the public road which 
 led through the valley, just as two 
 gentlemen, attended by their servants, 
 were hastily passing at a quick pace. 
 Madelon sprung so suddenly from a 
 thicket, before she was perceived, that 
 she must have been seriously injured 
 by the horses, had not the strangers 
 very skilfully reined in their steeds, 
 and wheeled about. Madelon scream- 
 ed, and fell through fright ; her cries 
 instantly brought Roberto to her as- 
 sistance ; he raised her in his arms, 
 and in the tenderest manner enquired 
 if she was hurt. The strangers gazed 
 at them in silence, but their looks un- 
 equivocally declared their surprize 
 and admiration of Madelon's loveli- 
 ness.
 
 128 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 '' At length, after whispering each 
 other, they approached Roberto, and 
 enquired if he could direct them to 
 any place where they could be accom- 
 modated for the night, as they were 
 fatigued, and wished to proceed no 
 farther. There was no public house 
 of entertainment for some miles, but 
 the rights of hospitality are scrupu- 
 lously observed in the valley, and the 
 shelter of a cottage was immediately 
 offered, and eagerly accepted. 
 
 " My father's cottage was small, 
 and his family numerous. Made- 
 Ion was an only child, and their 
 accommodations much superior, there- 
 fore they instantly preceded the 
 strangers thither, where they were 
 received with courtesy by the old 
 people. But the extreme attention 
 the strangers seemed disposed to pay 
 Madelon created an uneasy sensation 
 in the heart of Roberto, and as he
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 129 
 
 walked homeward, he felt that, for 
 the first time in his life, he was in- 
 fected with the baneful passion of 
 jealousy. Early the next morning,' 
 he (as usual) in his way to the vine- 
 yard, called at the cottage for Ma- 
 del on ; but was informed by her 
 mother that the youngest stranger, 
 the Marquis de Montreal, was indis- 
 posed, and Madelon was to remain at 
 home to attend him. Too angry to 
 express his astonishment, Roberto 
 turned in silence from the door ; yet 
 work was irksome to him, the day past 
 heavily, uncheared by the smile and 
 «ong of Madelon, and when evening 
 returned, he again called at the cot- 
 tage, and saw his betrothed bride for 
 a few minutes ; but she appeared so 
 occupied with her attendance on the 
 invalid, that he remained there only a 
 short time. 
 
 " A week past away, the Marquis
 
 130 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 was still confined to bis chamber, and 
 Madelon his attendant (the other 
 stranger had pursued his journey) 
 when one evening, for the first time 
 since her seclusion, Roberto found 
 Madelon alone in a little arbour in 
 the garden ; she was more dressed 
 than usual, and her beautiful hair was 
 confined in a knot at the back of 
 her head with a bouquet of fresh 
 gathered roses. Roberto gazed at 
 her for several minutes in silence, her 
 bewitching beauty calmed in an in- 
 stant the tumult of his soul, and he 
 forgot what he meant to complain of, 
 in the transport of again beholding 
 her : placing himself by her side, and 
 throwing one arm round her waist, he 
 seized both her hands with his other, ^ 
 and gazed so stedfastly in her face, 
 that blushing, she enquired if he saw 
 any thing unusual there. He replied, 
 in terms of unbounded love and admi-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 131 
 
 ration, concluding with asking her 
 why she was so adorned, and what 
 had induced her to dress her head in a 
 manner so unusual with her ? The 
 tint of her cheeks rivalled the ruby 
 of her lip, as she replied, ^ the Mar- 
 quis de Montreal had himself orna- 
 mented her head to his own fancy.' 
 
 " Ever impetuous, Roberto, in a 
 transport of jealous rage snatched the 
 flowers from her hair, and tore them 
 in pieces. Madelon uttered a scream 
 as she beheld the destruction of her 
 ornaments, and the Marquis appearing 
 that instant at the entrance of the 
 arbour, she flew to him bathed in 
 tears, and he clasped his arms around 
 her to support her. Roberto imme- 
 diately endeavoured to take her from 
 him, but the Marquis haughtily resist- 
 ing his attempt ; Roberto, with one 
 blow of his nervous arm, felled him to 
 the ground ; then seizing Madelon, he
 
 132 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 bore her trembling and unresisting 
 into the house, where he found that 
 the old couple highly disapproved of 
 his behaviour ; for with many excla- 
 mations of anger and reproach, they 
 hastened to the assistance of the Mar- 
 quis, and Madelon remaining sullenly 
 silent, he left her, and went home in a 
 state of mind bordering on distrac- 
 tion, as he plainly saw that Madelon 's 
 heart was wavering, if not lost to him 
 for ever : but the following morning 
 brought his misery to a climax, as he 
 learnt that Madelon was fled with the 
 Marquis. He hastened to the cottage, 
 but was received by her parents with 
 reproaches, as they avowed that his 
 violence had caused the desertion of 
 their child. 
 
 '^ By the reports of some peasants, 
 he learnt that the fugitives had taken 
 the road to Paris ; thither he followed 
 them on foot, and arrived in that ca«
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 133 
 
 pital, haggard with excessive fatigue, 
 pennyless, and heart-broken , but 
 with his mind fully bent upon revenge. 
 For several days he wandered about 
 the streets in search of his injurers, 
 subsisting upon the alms which are 
 daily distributed at the gates of the 
 different convents. He was one day 
 amidst a crowd of needy wretches, 
 waiting for his portion, when a su- 
 perb equipage drove furiously along ; 
 he, like the rest, made way for it, but 
 in doing so, accidentally raising his 
 eyes, he beheld within the carriage, 
 Madelon ; but so sumptuously dressed, 
 that had not her features been en- 
 graven on his heart, he would never 
 have recognized the simple cottage 
 maid beneath the blaze of jewels 
 which now adorned her. By her 
 side sat the triumphant Marquis, 
 playing with her fan, which she was
 
 134 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 sportively endeavouring to recover 
 as the carriage past. 
 
 "^ With the lightning's speed, Ro- 
 berto flew after the vehicle : it stopped 
 at the door of a magnificent hotel, and 
 they had just alighted and ascended 
 a lofty marble staircase as Roberto 
 arrived at the door ; the domestic had 
 left the hall, and unseen he followed 
 their steps. Madelon, with an affect- 
 ed air of languor, had thrown herself 
 upon a sofa, raising her eyes as she 
 beheld Roberto enter the saloon. She 
 started up and would have fled ; but 
 terror and surprize appeared to para- 
 lize her frame, and she stood gazing 
 upon him in silence, whilst the Mar- 
 quis advancing towards him, bade him 
 begone, or expect the chastisement his 
 presumption demanded. Roberto, 
 with a glance of contempt, pushed 
 him aside, and proceeded towards
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 135 
 
 Madelon, who, shrinking from him, 
 fell upon the sofa, and covered her 
 face with her hands. The Marquis 
 then, in a paroxysm of rage, drew a 
 stiletto from his side, and rushed upon 
 the unarmed intruder. Roberto, ani- 
 mated both by rage and revenge, 
 grappled with him, wrenched the 
 weapon from his grasp, and plunged 
 it to the hilt in the heart of his anta- 
 gonist. The Marquis fell at his feet, 
 and with a heavy groan expired. — 
 Roberto gazed on him in silence for a 
 few minutes, and his horror and re- 
 morse were as acute as that of the 
 first murderer ; then siezing Madelon 
 by the arm, he said — 
 
 '^ * Woman ! behold the issue of thy 
 perfidy : but come, return with me to 
 thy sorrowing parents, and they may 
 forgive thee, though I never can.' 
 
 '' He raised her in his arms, to force 
 her from the room, but with the
 
 136 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 strength of frantic despeiir she slid 
 from his hold^ and throwing herself 
 upon the body, held it with the grasp 
 of desperation, as she exclaimed — 
 * We will not be separated ! Wretch, 
 talk not of my parents, their presence 
 would be my curse. — Montreal ! Mon- 
 treal ! arise and revenge thy wrongs ;' 
 but his hand, which she had siezed, fell 
 as she relinquished her hold nerveless 
 by her side. That he was really dead 
 then first rushed upon her mind, and, 
 with a scream of agony and despair, 
 she fell senseless upon the body. 
 
 " Roberto cast one last lingering look 
 upon that face whose beauty had hur- 
 ried him into crime, then rushed from 
 the saloon, and out of the hotel with- 
 out being molested, and travelled back 
 to his native valley. His haggard 
 looks, and unwonted silence, told a 
 tale of woe ; but no one dared to 
 question him, and the dreadful event
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 137 
 
 of his journey was not even surmised, 
 till one night his father's cottage was 
 surrounded by the officers of justice. 
 
 " Madelon had denounced him as 
 the murderer of the Marquis, but, 
 leaping from a window, he eluded 
 their pursuit, and fled to these moun- 
 tains, where he joined the roving band 
 that infest their fastnesses. Ten years 
 have elapised since that time, and once 
 only has he seen his parents, but that 
 solitary visit renewed their grief: they 
 weep for his present way of life, yet 
 know that on no other terms can his 
 existence be preserved, as in the 
 world justice would quickly overtake 
 him for the murder of Montreal." 
 
 '^ Yet (replied Ferdinand) there he 
 was as much to be pitied as blamed ; 
 what became of the unhappy girl ?" 
 
 ^^ After the death of the Marquis, 
 she assumed his name ; but shortly
 
 138 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 formed other connections, by which 
 she is supported in affluence ; and in 
 the city of Paris there is no woman 
 more beautiful, more brilliant, nor 
 more despicable than the once inno- 
 cent Madelon."
 
 THE KEPUBLICAN's MISTRESS. 139 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Full were the rites of horror and despair ; 
 In some dark spell, not holy vow 
 They bound me,^' 
 
 Maturin. 
 
 When Genevieve recovered her 
 senses, she found herself lying upon her 
 pallet ; all was dark, but some person 
 stood by her side, who had evidently 
 been endeavouring to restore her to 
 life. Supposing it the captain of the 
 bandits, with a faint shriek she shrunk 
 from his supporting arm, when a deep 
 toned voice, exclaimed — 
 
 '^ Silence, lady, or we are un- 
 done." 
 
 " Who are you ?" she enquired. 
 
 " The friend you were to expect 
 (replied the voice) rise and follow 
 me."
 
 140 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 The past instantly rushed clearly 
 upon her mind, and in tones of the 
 deepest anguish she said, ^' Oh leave 
 me, leave me, you are too late." 
 
 " Not too late (replied the voice) 
 to save your innocence, your honour, 
 that you have your own free will to 
 preserve. I intended to have seen 
 you earlier, but events are in the hand 
 of Providence alone." 
 
 Surprized at such a remark, she 
 said, " Are you a bandit ?" 
 
 " I am." 
 
 " Where is the Marquis D'Ux- 
 elles ?" 
 
 '^ Waiting for us at a short dis- 
 tance ; but the dawn draws on apace, 
 the dreadful event which last night 
 — I mean, lady, we have no time to 
 lose ; decide to go with me, or re- 
 main here — I can no longer delay." 
 
 Genevieve leaped hastily from her 
 pallet, but her limbs trembled so she
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 141 
 
 was near falling, and the stranger 
 taking her hand, led her from her pri • 
 son, the door of which he again care- 
 fully fastened. By the pale glimmer of 
 the fading stars she could just per- 
 ceive that her conductor was tall and 
 athletic ; his features it was still too 
 dark to discriminate with accuracy. 
 He led her across the space before the 
 caverns, and wound up the steep path 
 that she well remembered to have 
 descended when brought thither ; — 
 they proceeded in silence till they came 
 to a spot where the rock appeared 
 to have been rent away by some con- 
 vulsion of nature, leaving a path 
 scarcely broader than a man's hand 
 for several feet. They paused, and 
 her guide, taking from a cleft of the 
 rock a plank, laid it across the chasm, 
 and upon this frail bridge they cross- 
 ed the abyss ; then placing it on his 
 shoulder, the bandit bore it to the
 
 142 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 summit^ when he laid it on the grass, 
 and they proceeded. 
 
 Genevieve then said, " You will 
 want that, I suppose, to assist your re- 
 turn ?" 
 
 '^ Yes," was the laconic reply, and 
 they still proceeded onward. 
 
 " I do not remember (she added) 
 to have seen that breach in the rock 
 when I descended it." 
 
 " No ; (he replied) it was rent last 
 night by the tempest ; it has occa- 
 sioned many heart-aches, but a woman 
 was the instigator of that too. — Had 
 a woman never entered the caverns, 
 happiness might still have dwelt 
 there." 
 
 The tone in which this was spoke 
 was so harsh and bitter, that Gene- 
 vieve dared not reply, suspecting that 
 it was to herself he alluded : she fol- 
 lowed in silence the gigantic strides 
 of her deliverer, till her strength
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 143 
 
 failings she was compelled to request 
 his halting for a few minutes. 
 
 " We have not much farther to 
 go," was the reply — and he still pro- 
 ceeded. Genevieve, faint and ex- 
 hausted, answered not, her heart 
 seemed bursting, and a passionate 
 flood of tears coming to her relief, 
 happily saved her from insensibility ; 
 her harsh friend appeared touched by 
 her distress, and turning round, said — 
 
 " Forgive me, lady, I am not much 
 used to the converse of your sex. I 
 forgot whom I was conducting, for 
 the events of this night have lacerated 
 more hearts than your own ; but no 
 matter, take my arm, and in a few mi- 
 nutes I shall relinquish my trust." 
 
 Genevieve passed her hand through 
 the offered arm, but to her surprize 
 she felt it tremble as much as her 
 own, and she pitied feelings, whe- 
 ther of remorse or anguish, that could
 
 144 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 thus unnerve a form so wiuscular and 
 firmly built. As they had now reach- 
 ed the level ground, their forms by the 
 grey light of the dawning morning 
 were clearly discernable, and two 
 men bursting from a thicket ap- 
 proached them. Genevieve alarmed, 
 clung to her protector, but the voice 
 of Ferdinand filled her whole soul 
 with delight, and she flew into his 
 expanded arms. For a few moments 
 her terrors and fatigue were buried in 
 oblivion, and the joy of this meeting 
 occupied their attention, but as soon 
 as their transport subsided, they both 
 looked round to thank their bene- 
 factor, but he was gone, and Henri 
 had been so occupied in rejoicing at 
 his master's happiness, that he had 
 not even observed his departure. 
 
 ^^ Noble, unfortunate being (said 
 Ferdinand) I was to blame ; I might 
 have reflected that our meeting would
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 145 
 
 revive the remembrance of circum- 
 stances that ought, for his peace, to 
 be buried in oblivion ; but though he 
 now shuns me, he shall one day expe- 
 rience my gratitude. Dearest Gene- 
 vieve (he continued) taking her hand, 
 can you walk much further ; we have 
 still some way to go before we can 
 reach the chateau, where the Coun- 
 tess is anxiously expecting us." 
 
 Genevieve, who in her excess of 
 happiness at beholding Ferdinand, 
 had forgot the past, now as he held 
 her hand in his, felt the pressure of 
 her wedding ring ; a cold chill ran 
 through her veins, and hastily snatch- 
 ing her hand away, she mentally eja- 
 culated, "• I am the wife of another!" 
 The recollection gave her such excru- 
 ciating agony, that she groaned with 
 mental anguish. 
 
 " Merciful powers ! (exclaimed 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 146 THE REPUBLICAN S MISTRESS. 
 
 Ferdinand) you are ill^ dearest Gene- 
 vieve, very ill.-' 
 
 " No^ (she faintly replied) only 
 fatigued ; let us hasten to the cha- 
 teau." — She then took his offered arm, 
 and Kenri supporting her on the other 
 side, they slowly procee ded, but were 
 often obliged to rest ; and though Ro- 
 berto had as clearly as possible ex- 
 plained their route, they often devi- 
 ated from their path, but these obsta- 
 cles would by Ferdinand only have 
 been felt for Genevieve, had not her 
 altered behaviour, tears and abstrac- 
 tion wrung his heart, with fears for 
 himself. It was almost mid-day when 
 they reached the chateau, and the 
 moment they entered it, the domestics 
 crowded around to welcome their be- 
 loved young lady again to her home ; 
 but the agony, not to say horror, 
 which clouded her face, damped their
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 147 
 
 joy, and they gazed upon her with 
 surprize. 
 
 Genevieve, without daring to look 
 at Ferdinand, withdrew herself from 
 his supporting arm, and faultering 
 out her wish to be permitted to meet 
 her grand-mother alone, instantly left 
 the hall, leaning upon her favourite 
 maid. 
 
 The obsequious servants now crowd- 
 ed around the Marquis, and conducted 
 him to the apartments he had before 
 occupied, but notwithstanding his pre- 
 vious fatigue, he could not rest — the 
 strangeness of Genevieve's manner, 
 her averted looks, and the deadly 
 paleness of her countenance, could 
 not be asbribed to indisposition alone. 
 He felt that he had some tale of hor- 
 ror to hear, and imagination, ever busy 
 to conjecture the worst, harassed him 
 with almost unheard of misery. 
 
 Genevieve, when she quitted the 
 h2
 
 148 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 hall;, went instantly to the apartment 
 ofthe Countess, who uttered a scream 
 of joy when she beheld her; but the 
 agony with which her beloved child 
 clung to her^ the tears which she shed, 
 and the death-like paleness of her 
 countenance^ banished her transports 
 and awakened her maternal fears. — 
 Dismissing the attendants^ she be- 
 sought Genevieve to explain the 
 cause of her dreadful agitation, and 
 relate what had happened to her dur- 
 ing her enforced absence. 
 
 Genevieve, unable to articulate, 
 extended towards her grand-mother 
 the hand upon which still remained 
 the fatal ring, the pledge of her forced 
 nuptials. As soon as it met the eye 
 of the Countess, her cheeks were 
 blanched as pale as those of her unfor- 
 tunate grand-child, and with a faul- 
 tering voice, she exclaimed — 
 
 ^' Is it possible — has then the Mar-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 149 
 
 quis D'Uxelles deceived me, and en- 
 ticed my once obedient child to forget 
 her duty." 
 
 ^^ Oh, no ! (replied the weeping 
 Genevieve) would to heaven it was 
 the Marquis, but we are now irrevo- 
 cably separated ; and you, my dear 
 grand-mother, must send him hence 
 — for though now another's, 1 cannot 
 yet teach my heart the lesson of for- 
 getfulness." 
 
 She then gave a succinct account 
 of what had befallen her during 
 her absence, and with horror too 
 great for speech, the Countess learnt 
 that her beloved child, the heiress, 
 and only descendant of two noble 
 families, was the wife of a bandit, 
 the son of one of her own menials. 
 Genevieve had scarce strength to 
 finish her tale before she was attacked 
 with repeated fainting fits, caused by 
 excessive emotion. The Countess
 
 150 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 taking the ring from the hand of the 
 insensible bride, summoned her atten- 
 dants, and the family physician, who 
 declared her illness the offspring of 
 agitation, and that nothing but res- 
 tored tranquillity could preserve her 
 life. The Countess listened, with 
 tears, for under such circumstances, 
 peace she well knew had fled the suf- 
 ferer for ever; but recollecting the 
 Marquis, she sent to request an inter- 
 view in an adjoining apartment. 
 
 Ferdinand readily obeyed her sum- 
 mons, but the moment they met, her 
 countenance told him his worst fears 
 were confirmed, and, dropping upon a 
 seat, he remained gazing upon her un- 
 able to speak, whilst the silence was 
 only broken by the heavy sobs of the 
 Countess. At length he faintly en- 
 quired for Genevieve. 
 
 " She is ill, and insensible (she re- 
 plied) and that she may never reco*
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 151 
 
 ver to a recollection of her dreadful 
 fate, ought to be our joint wish. 
 Marquis, were not our affection for 
 her too earthly to be devoid of selfish- 
 ness." 
 
 Ferdinand gazed her upon with asto- 
 nishment, as in as few words as pos- 
 sible she related the painful tale, con- 
 cluding by repeating Genevieve's 
 wish, that he would quit the chateau 
 immediately, as she dare not again 
 venture to see him. The story, fatal 
 as it was to his hopes, was yet not so 
 direful as his apprehensions had been, 
 for that the ceremony had actually 
 taken place had never entered his ima- 
 gination : as he had supposed the case, 
 she would have been removed from 
 her solitary cell, and escape rendered 
 impossible ; but now the hopes that 
 the chain, which at present separated 
 them, might one day be broken, ena- 
 bled him to bear the tidings with
 
 152 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 more calmness than the Countess had 
 expected, he replied — 
 
 " And Genevieve banishes me her 
 presence — bids me depart — that Gene- 
 vieve v^ho this morning flew to my 
 arms with such transport." 
 
 " The circumstance of her escape 
 (said the Countess) might for a mo- 
 ment have made her forgetful of, her 
 vow; but this symbol (shewing the 
 ring) is sacred, unless we can prove 
 that the ceremony was performed by 
 one not entitled to bestow so sacred a 
 benediction." 
 
 Roberto instantly glanced across 
 the mind of Ferdinand, and he re- 
 plied, " be that discovery my care ; 
 yet did I understand you rightly — 
 Who is the husband ? the captain of 
 the bandits, and the brother of Ja- 
 netta!" His eyes fell as he pro- 
 nounced the last word, but without 
 noticing his confusion, the Countess
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 153 
 
 replied in the affirmative. Ferdinand 
 then related his encounter with Ro- 
 berto, and his determination of again 
 exploring the foresi in search of him, 
 and by an appeal to his native bene- 
 volence, endeavour to discover the 
 name of the priest, if not learn the 
 whole truth of the transaction — 
 " though (he added) should I fail, 
 Genevieve will not surely persist in 
 thinking a mere enforced ceremony 
 binding." 
 
 The Countess rose with dignity, 
 saying, " for the T^elings of a lover, 
 my lord, I can allow much, but I 
 would not willingly 1 r any thing 
 that would lower the Marquis D'Ux- 
 lles in my esteem ; should Genevieve 
 de Castro ever again meet a husband 
 at the altar, it must be with the fullest 
 conviction, that no other has the least 
 claim to the vows there pledged. At 
 present (humiliating as is the acknow- 
 H 5
 
 154 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 ledgment even to myself) she is the 
 wife of a bandit^ and should not death 
 shortly release her from his power, 
 her forced engagement must be strict- 
 ly observed, although to avoid his 
 presence, she will quit even her coun- 
 try." 
 
 So saying, the Countess retired, 
 and Ferdinand returned to his own 
 apartment, where he gave the faithful 
 and attached Henri a full account of 
 their interview: he fully coincided 
 with his master in opinion that Rober- 
 to would clear their difficulties, and 
 obtained permission to attend him upon 
 his intended excursion. With diffi- 
 culty Henri prevailed upon his master 
 to take a few hours repose, but with 
 the dawn of the following morning 
 they quitted the chateau, and sought 
 amidst the rocky fastnesses of the Py- 
 renees, the wild horde that infested its 
 rugged paths ; but in vain was their
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 155 
 
 search, during the day, no human 
 being met their eye, or human voice 
 struck upon their ear ; they followed 
 (as near as they could guess) the 
 track they had taken homeward with 
 Genevieve, but they had been sta- 
 tioned by Roberto at a sufficient dis- 
 tance from the entrance of the ban- 
 dits retreat, to prevent their disco- 
 vering it. 
 
 Genevieve had mentioned a chasm 
 on the brow of a precipice, and they 
 mounted every rock and precipice 
 that was practicable, in search of it, 
 but without success ; woods, rocks, 
 precipices and defiles followed in such 
 quick succession, and with such simi- 
 larity of aspect, that it was almost 
 impossible for any one not reared in 
 their seclusion to distinguish their dif- 
 ferent features, and even Henri, who 
 was acquainted with many features 
 of the scenery, was bewildered in
 
 156 THE REPUBLICAI;'S MISTRESS. 
 
 their mazes. Night drew on^ and they 
 found themselves near the borders of 
 the valley, where dw:; Henri's 
 father ; fatigued and faint for want 
 of food, they repaired thither for re- 
 freshment and repose. The old people 
 welcomed them with their usual cor- 
 diality; but Henri (by his master's 
 desire) avoided the mention of Ro- 
 berto, though, as if by chance, he 
 enquired after Justin, and learnt that 
 he and Suzette were at their cottage, 
 but Janetta was still absent. 
 
 After recruiting their strength by 
 a few hours rest, Ferdinand liberally 
 rewarded the cottagers, and they 
 renewed their ramble, taking, as they 
 supposed, the track they had followed 
 when they met with Roberto, hoping 
 to find their way to the cavern in 
 which they had passed a night under 
 his protection. It was early in the 
 morning when they left the cottage,
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 157 
 
 and they wandered till evening- with- 
 out success ; when Henri discovered a 
 small hutj now deserted, and falling to 
 ruin, which had been the abode either 
 of a hermit or a hunter, and in which 
 he conjured his master to remain dur- 
 ing the night. Ferdinand consented to 
 stay there a few hours, and Henri 
 gathering some dried leaves, made 
 them a bed to repose on, and a bottle 
 of wine and some dried grapes, which 
 he had brought from his father's, 
 served for their repast. The loud 
 yelling of the wolves around their 
 frail dwelling, b ^rished all inclination 
 to sleep ; and as soon as silence pro- 
 claimed them retired to their dens, 
 and the morn's approach, although 
 still dark, Ferdinand and his servant 
 left the hut, and just as the morning 
 dawned they discovered the thicket 
 which they knew led to the cave they 
 were in search of. Ferdinand hastily
 
 158 THE REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS, 
 
 pressed through the bushes, but what 
 was his surprize to jfind the mouth of 
 the cave completely filled up with 
 earth, and pieces of rock, so as to 
 prevent an entrance. Henri, who 
 had followed the steps of his master, 
 stood gazing in silent astonishment. 
 
 '' What can this mean ?" said Fer- 
 dinand. 
 
 '' That the band has deserted the 
 cave, my lord ; let us endeavour to 
 retrace our way to the Chateau 
 D'Humeires.'" 
 
 " No, this is only a feint of your 
 brother's ; he knew that I should 
 seek him here, but I am not so easily 
 imposed on ; assist me to remove 
 these stones, and force an entrance." 
 
 " Pray, my lord, be advised; should 
 any of the band arrive whilst we are 
 so occupied, we should have reason to 
 repent our morning's work." 
 
 '^ Coward ! assist me instantly, I
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 159 
 
 fear them not^ but will proceed in my 
 intentions^ should the whole band ap- 
 pear, with their detested captain at 
 their head." 
 
 So saying, Ferdinand stooped, and 
 applied his whole strength to a huge 
 fragment which lay at the entrance, 
 when a deep sonorous voice sounding, 
 as if from the bosom of the rock, ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 ^^ Rash man, desist, nor disturb the 
 repose of the dead." — With the ut- 
 most speed Henri flew through the 
 thicket, and fell almost senseless with 
 affright on the other side. Ferdinand 
 paused for a moment, then drawing 
 his sword, rushed through the thicket, 
 but not seeing any person, scrambled 
 up the rock which contained the ca- 
 ^ vern, but no human being met his 
 eye. The thicket, the low ground 
 around, the rock, and every place ca- 
 pable of concealment, he alike ex-
 
 160 THE REPUBLirAN's MISTRESS. 
 
 plored ; but though the daj ' /as now 
 breaking in faint streaks a "^^ ^^^ 
 eastern horizon, and the light was 
 strong enough to discern objects at 
 some distance, all was still, neither 
 motion nor noise disturbed the breath- 
 less silence of nature, which a fine still 
 morning spread all around. The law- 
 less inhabitants of the woods were 
 retired to their dens, the birds had 
 not yet sung their matin song of 
 thankfulness to their creator, and man 
 " the chartered savage," had not yet 
 left his dwelling. Irritated and im- 
 patient, he returned to Henri, who 
 had risen from the ground, and stood 
 watching his approach, the pale spec- 
 tre of fear. To Ferdinand's enquiry, 
 if he had seen any person, he replied 
 in the negative. 
 
 " Nevertheless (said the Marquis) 
 I am resolved to proceed in my 
 search;" and he would again have
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 161 
 
 pressed through the thicket, had not 
 Henri clung around him, and with 
 prayers, and almost tears, besought 
 him to desist in an attempt which he 
 was convinced was attended with 
 much danger, and totally useless, as it 
 was not to be supposed Roberto was 
 concealed within a blockaded cavern, 
 which themselves knew had no other 
 outlet. 
 
 This representation prevailed on 
 Ferdinand to desist, and sheathing his 
 sword, he left the cavern, and again 
 wandered through the forest, but 
 without making any discovery of the 
 bandits retreat ; and with joy Henri 
 discovered the setting sun glisten on 
 the gilded pinnacles of the Chateau 
 D'Humeires. 
 
 " Thank heaven ! (he ejaculated) I 
 wonder how the Lady Genevieve is ?" 
 
 *^ Genevieve (repeated Ferdinand) 
 what said you of Genevieve ?"
 
 162 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 " I was only hoping, my lord, that 
 she was recovered ; and yonder is the 
 chateau, if your lordship wishes to be 
 informed ?" 
 
 '^ True, my good fellow, let us 
 hasten thither," said Ferdinand, and 
 to the great delight of his servant, 
 turned his steps towards it, and 
 quickly pursuing the path, which 
 soon became the level road to the 
 chateau, they, before the sun was 
 sunk totally beneath the horizon, en- 
 tered its magnificent portals. 
 
 The Countess was in the chamber 
 of Genevieve, who remained much 
 the same, and the Marquis retired to 
 his own apartment, after sending a 
 message to the Countess to inform her 
 that he had hitherto been unsuccessful 
 in his search. As he had borne much 
 fatigue both in body and mind, during 
 the last two days, he retired to bed 
 at an early hour, and dismissed his
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 163 
 
 servant^ but he was awoke a little 
 after day-break by Henri. 
 
 " Why have you disturbed me so 
 early (he enquired) is Genevieve 
 worse?" 
 
 " No, my lord, but something ex- 
 traordinary has occurred during the 
 night, and the Countess wishes to see 
 you immediately." 
 
 As hastily as possible, Ferdinand 
 endeavoured to obey her mandate, 
 but was much surprized at entering 
 her apartment to behold her pale and 
 bathed in tears, with an open letter 
 in her hand. His hasty enquiry for 
 Genevieve was answered by the in- 
 telligence, that since her faintings had 
 left her, she continued in a state of 
 melancholy abstraction, that caused a 
 doubt whether her indisposition would 
 not terminate in a settled derange- 
 ment of her intellects. He had 
 gcarcely recovered from the shock
 
 164 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 this information had given him^ before 
 the Countess presented him with the 
 letter she held in her hand, and he has- 
 tily ran his eye over the following 
 lines — " Although the heiress of the 
 Countess D'Humieres has withdrawn 
 herself from the protection of her hus- 
 band, she is not to suppose she is eman- 
 cipated from his power ; he could with 
 a breath recall her, but in considera- 
 tion of her peculiar timidity of dispo- 
 sition, and her present illness, he per- 
 mits her for a time to remain with 
 her grand-mother ; circumstances 
 must determine the duration of this 
 permission. — Ferdinand, Marquis 
 D'Uxelles must instantly quit the 
 chateau. Genevieve is the wife of 
 one who will not tamely behold his 
 rights infringed. If this mandate is 
 not obeyed before night — ere to-mor- 
 row's dawn Genevieve will be re- 
 moved to a place where she will be
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 165 
 
 allowed the society of her husband 
 alone." 
 
 When Ferdinand had concluded 
 it, the Countess said — " This scroll, 
 my lord, I found about an hour 
 since upon the pillow of my sleep- 
 ing child ; I had not long left her 
 and retired to my own apart- 
 ment; anxiety prevented me from 
 taking any repose, and I softly stole 
 back to see if any change had taken 
 place during my absence. She was 
 still sleeping, and her attendants like- 
 wise ; but this paper was lying upon 
 her pillow. I have closely interro- 
 gated her attendants, and they all 
 profess a total ignorance of how it 
 came there, and their evident sur- 
 prize and known attachment to my 
 family, incline me to believe them." 
 
 Ferdinand returned the Countess 
 the scroll, saying, " it is most extra-
 
 166 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 ordinary, but is your ladyship sure 
 no stranger entered her room during 
 your absence ?" 
 
 '^ Most certain, I was not absent 
 more than a quarter of an hour ; and 
 no one (except a domestic) could 
 have obtained admission to her apart- 
 ment. I am thus placed in the power 
 of some invisible enemy, that can in 
 an instant destroy the small portion of 
 happiness that remains to me ; but 
 your lordship perceives the mandate 
 the letter contains, it grieves me to 
 turn the deliverer of my child from 
 the shelter of my roof, but you see 
 the alternative, the deprivation of 
 that loved child's presence." 
 
 " I will instantly (replied Ferdi- 
 nand, with animation) release you 
 from all fears upon that account, to 
 contribute to Genevieve's happiness ; 
 I will banish myself from her pre-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 167 
 
 sence — let me but once more behold 
 her, and I will quit for ever a place 
 that has been so fatal to my peace." 
 
 To this request the Countess at first 
 gave a decided negative, but at length, 
 moved by his earnest intreaties, she 
 consented to allow him a last view of 
 her changed features, if she still slept ; 
 but added, if she were awake, nothing 
 should prevail upon her to grant an 
 interview which might be fatal to the 
 intellects or life of her child." — She 
 then left the room to ascertain if Ge- 
 nevieve still slumbered, and returning 
 in a few minutes, she beckoned Fer- 
 dinand to follow her, which he did, 
 without speaking, to the chamber of 
 the unfortunate bride. The satin 
 curtains of her bed were drawn back, 
 and only thin muslin ones shaded her 
 from his view ; her face was pale as the 
 cambric on which it reposed, and she 
 looked indeed " a blighted lily on its
 
 168 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 icy bed !" one fair hand lay upon the 
 pale blue satin coverlit, and resembled 
 the polished marble limb of a statue. 
 Ferdinand knelt, and putting aside 
 the muslin, pressed the cold hand to 
 his lips, but the Countess, fearing 
 Genevieve might awake, instantly 
 forced him from the apartment. — 
 Every thing was soon prepared for 
 his departure, and before noon Fer- 
 dinand quitted the chateau which 
 contained all that was now dear to 
 him, and took the road to Paris, 
 where he arrived in perfect safety. 
 
 The dawning terrors of the Revo- 
 lution now called every loyal hand 
 and heart to the defence of their in- 
 jured sovereign, and D'Uxelles, who 
 inherited loyalty and true patriotism 
 from a long illustrious line of ances- 
 try, hastened to offer his feeble aid to 
 oppose a torrent which the event 
 proved to be irresistible ; and various
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 169 
 
 and distressing were the scenes he was 
 engaged in, before he again met the 
 loved and regretted inhabitants of the 
 Pyrenees. 
 
 For several weeks after the depar- 
 ture of the Marquis, the health of 
 Genevieve remained in a very preca- 
 rious state : at length her youth, and 
 a naturally fine constitution (not ener- 
 vated by dissipation) triumphed over 
 a malady whose seat was the mind, 
 and the Countess with rapture beheld 
 the hue of the rose again begin to 
 tincture the lily of her cheek ; — her 
 convalescence approached by slow de- 
 grees, and a languid melancholy had 
 taken such firm possession of her mind, 
 that it was many months before a 
 smile was seen to mantle on her 
 cheek. The Countess beheld with 
 agony this " slow consuming sorrow,'' 
 blighting so fair a bud, even in its 
 
 VOL. 1. I
 
 170 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 earliest bloom^ and endeavoured, by- 
 conversation and various amusements, 
 to turn the current of her thoughts ; 
 but in vain were her cares — G enevieve 
 had lost that inward peace which can 
 alone render amusement delightful : 
 she was wearied, not delighted, by 
 the entertainments devised for her, 
 and often retired in silence from the 
 festive scene, to indulge in the '^ lux- 
 ury of grief" in her own apartments. 
 The suite appropriated to her use 
 opened upon a terrace, which ran 
 along the whole length of one side of 
 the chateau. This terrace, and the 
 long range of rooms which opened 
 upon it, were sacred to her own use 
 and that of her domestics ; — even the 
 Countess was a visitor when she en- 
 tered them — for Genevieve's immense 
 fortune intitled her to a separate esta- 
 blishment of her own, although her
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 171 
 
 extreme youth made a residence with 
 her grandmother not only proper, but 
 desirable. 
 
 She had one evening retired to a 
 saloon, whose windows, reaching to 
 the ground, opened upon the centre 
 of the terrace ; a profusion of rare 
 exotics (of which she was remarka- 
 bly fond) decorated every window, 
 both within and without : the evening 
 was uncommonly warm, and the win- 
 dows thrown open to admit the air ; 
 Genevieve placed a seat without one 
 of them, in the midst of the flowers, 
 and sat to inhale their fragrance, ren- 
 dered more pungent by the evening 
 breeze ; a little marmoset, of which 
 she was extremely fond, gamboled 
 backward and forward on the terrace, 
 as far as its chain would permit, en- 
 deavouring, by his tricks, to obtain the 
 caresses of his mistress, but his sport- 
 iveness was unheeded by Genevieve, 
 i2
 
 172 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 her soft blue eyes were fixed upon 
 the distant landscape, but her thoughts 
 wandered far beyond. Paris and 
 D'Uxelles rose to her remembrance, 
 mingled with that of Jaques, Janetta, 
 and the midnight marriage, which se- 
 parated her from Ferdinand for ever ; 
 — but these recollections, tormenting 
 as they were, possessed not the bitter- 
 ness which the dread of the future 
 conveyed to her heart, should Jaques 
 claim her as his wife, and in the face 
 of the world avow the disgraceful al- 
 liance. 
 
 The thought was agony, and the 
 tears gushed in torrents from her eyes, 
 as, clasping her hands, she emphati- 
 cally exclaimed, " Oh, that I may lie 
 cold in my grave before that hour 
 arrives !" — Raising her head as she 
 spoke, she beheld standing before her, 
 in the garb of a bandit, a tall figure 
 attentively observing her ; — the shades
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 173 
 
 of the evening, and her eyes being 
 obscured with tears, prevented her 
 recognizing him ; but supposing him 
 to be the object of her thoughts, she 
 uttered a piercing scream, though 
 without power to move from her seat 
 and avoid him ; her scream apparently 
 aroused him from a deep reverie, for 
 starting, he advanced towards her and 
 dropped a folded paper close to her 
 feet — then vanished in an instant 
 over the palisades, which skirted the 
 terrace. 
 
 Her cries had alarmed the Countess, 
 who now entered with several attend- 
 ants, and approached her grandchild. 
 Genevieve was too agitated to articu- 
 late, but she pointed to the paper, and 
 the Countess, surmising that some- 
 thing extraordinary had taken place, 
 put it in her pocket, without any re- 
 mark, and then leading her into ano- 
 ther apartment, dismissed the attend-
 
 174 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 ants, and requested to know what 
 had alarmed her so as to cause her 
 to scream. 
 
 Genevieve related the appearance 
 of the bandit, and his method of es- 
 cape, in which, indeed, there was no- 
 thing extraordinary, as the terrace 
 overlooked the grounds of the cha- 
 teau, which in many places were open 
 to the forest ; — the Countess then took 
 the paper from her pocket, and pre- 
 sented it to Genevieve, who trem- 
 blingly unfolded it, and read the fol- 
 lowing lines : — 
 
 " If change of air is necessary to 
 the restoration of the health of Ge- 
 nevieve D'Aubois, she is permitted to 
 repair to Italy for renovation — the 
 interior of France is by her husband's 
 mandate strictly interdicted." 
 
 The glow of offended pride and 
 wounded dignity crimsoned the cheek 
 of Genevieve as she repeated — " Ge-»
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 175 
 
 nevieve D'Aubois! Oh, no! never, 
 never will I be known by that humi- 
 liating appellation ; I will throw my- 
 self at the feet of my King ; I will 
 perish e'er I will submit to such con- 
 tumely !" — and in a paroxysm of anger 
 she tore the billet into atoms. 
 
 The Countess endeavoured to soothe 
 her irritated feelings, and to convince 
 her that she would be farther removed 
 from the power of the bandit in Italy, 
 than in the chateau of the Pyrenees, 
 and that appealing to the King was 
 useless, as daily intelligence proved to 
 them that so far from being able to 
 succour others, be would soon want 
 an asylum himself. Genevieve offer- 
 ed no opposition to her reasoning, 
 but when the first burst of indigna- 
 tion was subsided, her naturally mild 
 spirit sunk below its usual level, and 
 she beheld the preparations the Coun- 
 tess immediately commenced for their
 
 176 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 journey, with inanity and hopeless de- 
 spondence. 
 
 In a few weeks all was in readi- 
 ness, and Genevieve reluctantly left 
 the chateau, to travel in search of 
 peace and health ; but with a feeling 
 not unlike pleasure she beheld the 
 rugged summits of the Pyrenees 
 slowly receding from her view, with- 
 out her again encountering any mem- 
 ber of the mountain band. It was 
 the intention of the Countess to travel 
 leisurely, and seek for amusement in 
 every place likely to afford it. She 
 made a tour of the coast before she 
 quitted France, staying for some time 
 both at Montpelier and Marseilles ; 
 then proceeded to Genoa, where she 
 remained for some time to recruit 
 from the fatigue of crossing the Alps, 
 and their long journey. Here they 
 remained till the carnival of Venice 
 approaching, the Countess thought
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 177 
 
 the novelty and variety of the scene 
 might dispel the melancholy which 
 still hovered over Genevieve; and 
 removing to that city of luxury and 
 pleasure, she hired a superb mansion, 
 and endeavoured to prevail on her 
 grandchild to mix with the nobility, 
 who, attracted by their rank and for- 
 tune, sought their acquaintance. 
 
 The marriage of Genevieve with 
 the bandit had, from motives of pride, 
 been carefully concealed, even from 
 the knowledge of her own domestics, 
 and her resplendent beauty, rendered 
 even more interesting by the air of 
 pensiveness which shaded it, soon ob- 
 tained her numberless admirers, — the 
 most conspicuous of whom were the 
 Duca de Sebastina and the Count de 
 Tolly, both men of immense fortunes 
 ixnd noble birth, but diametrically op- 
 posite both in their persons and dis- 
 positions. The Duca, a Spaniard by 
 I 5
 
 178 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 birth, although his title was softened 
 by Italian pronunciation, possessed 
 much of the pride and grandeur of 
 soul inherent in a Spanish grandee, 
 although travel had banished his na- 
 tional prejudices, and rendered him 
 in air and manner a native of Italy 
 rather than of Spain ; his figure was 
 tall, dignified, and robust ; his face 
 animated, expressive, and glowing 
 with intelligence and manly beauty ; 
 his country had not as yet required 
 his aid, but in every movement of his 
 fine- turned form, and in every glance 
 of his piercing dark eye, might be 
 read the soul of a hero, and a mind 
 incapable of deceit. With such an 
 exterior, he had hitherto possessed a 
 heart insensible of the softer passions, 
 although numberless were the Vene- 
 tian dames that sighed for the posses- 
 sion of so rich a prize — and, as prudery 
 is not the vice of Venice, many of them
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 179 
 
 bad not scrupled to make him acquaint- 
 ed with their inclinations ; — but their 
 advances were in vain — and till he 
 beheld Genevieve, the Duca imagined 
 the lovely being his fancy had formed 
 existed only in his imagination, but in 
 her he beheld even fancy's self sur- 
 passed, and he immediately devoted 
 himself to her with all the ardour of 
 youth, and a first passion. 
 
 The Count, a Frenchman by birth, 
 and insinuating, appeared to live but 
 for the fair sex, to whom all his time 
 and attention were apparently de- 
 voted ; a moralist in precept, but a li- 
 bertine in principle, with a heart more 
 resolute and depraved, than the most 
 skilful disciple of Lavater could pos- 
 sibly imagine to exist beneath so soft 
 an exterior. Gifted by nature with im- 
 moderate ambition, yet without bril- 
 liant talents, he was ever upon the 
 watch to place himself as the most
 
 180 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 prominent feature in the picture, and 
 as the beauty and fortune of the fashion- 
 able heiress of Gascony was now the 
 theme in Venice, he endeavoured^ by 
 getting introduced to her, and ap- 
 pearing devoted to her alone, to share 
 the attention she universally excited ; 
 but Genevieve invariably preferred 
 the conversation of the Duca, and she 
 almost thought herself ungrateful to 
 the Count for his attentions, as her 
 heart (she knew not why) felt a 
 repugnance she could not conquer to 
 receive his civilities, although they 
 were apparently disinterested ; for 
 friendship, not love, was his theme. 
 
 When the carnival commenced, 
 Venice was crowded to excess, and 
 even Genevieve began to enjoy the 
 universal gaiety; when one evening she 
 was prevailed upon to put on her 
 mask, and accompany a party to St. 
 Mark's Place, from whence they were
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 181 
 
 to retire to a cassino of the Duca's. 
 The crowd, the variety of grotesque 
 figures, and the novelty of the scene 
 appeared like enchantment, or the 
 delusions of fairy land, to Genevieve, 
 accustomed as she had been from her 
 infancy to the secluded scenes of the 
 Pyrenees, and she gazed around her 
 with an unusual appearance of inter- 
 est and enjoyment, when her atten- 
 tion was suddenly arrested by a voice 
 immediately behind her, exclaiming — 
 " that is the wife of Jaques D'Au- 
 bois!" 
 
 Convinced that herself was meant, 
 she turned hastily round, but no one 
 was near her (except a female, mask- 
 ed and attired as a Savoyard, with a 
 band of men in the same costume.) 
 They appeared not to be observing 
 her, but instantly beginning one of 
 their national airs, the crowd flocked 
 around to listen to the voice of the
 
 182 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 female, which possessed the most ex- 
 quisite sweetness, though unadorned 
 by cultivation. 
 
 The Duca, upon whose arm Gene- 
 vieve was leaning, perceiving her 
 tremble, anxiously turned towards 
 her, and was shocked at perceiving 
 her pale as death, and every feature 
 betraying the most exquisite mental 
 agony ; he had not heard the words 
 that had so alarmed her, or if he had, 
 could not have surmised that they al- 
 luded to her, and he tenderly enquired 
 the cause of her excessive agitation; 
 she faulteringly expressed herself 
 much fatigued, and requested that 
 they might instantly repair to the 
 cassino. The Duca looked at her in- 
 credulously, then glanced around to 
 discover, if possible, the cause of her 
 emotion, but no object of suspicion 
 met his eye ; yet his heart felt a pang, 
 for jealousy whispered to him^ that
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 183 
 
 the unexpected recollection of a loved 
 and regretted object could alone have 
 so violently agitated the usually serene 
 and pensive Genevieve ; but stifling 
 his own feelings, he breathed a half 
 smothered sigh as he attentively led 
 her to the cassino, where the Countess 
 perceived the apparent indisposition 
 of her child, and would instantly have 
 returned home, had not Genevieve, 
 (confused at the notice she excited) 
 with an exertion of fortitude, com- 
 pelled herself to appear cheerful ; but 
 while a smile played upon her lip, to 
 a penetrating observer the contraction 
 of her brow betrayed the anguish of 
 her heart; and such an observer was 
 the Duca, and his tender attentions to 
 her during the evening evinced the 
 urbanity of his disposition. Gene- 
 vieve felt grateful for his kindness, 
 but nothing could remove the weight 
 those few words she had heard spoken
 
 184 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 had left upon her heart ; she fancied 
 Jaques was come to Venice to de- 
 mand her as his bride, and she sat 
 trembling with agony, expecting 
 every instant to behold him enter the 
 cassino. The music, the most de- 
 lightful compositions of Italian har- 
 mony, were unheard by her ; and 
 the soft beams of an Italian moon- 
 light, as it plays with brilliant efful- 
 gence on the gilded lattices of the 
 cassino, failed in restoring serenity to 
 her bosom, and the heavy hours she 
 had passed in the caverns of the 
 mountain band, were scarcely more 
 irksome to her than those she was 
 compelled to pass in the superb cassino 
 of the Duca. 
 
 As soon as she returned home, she 
 related to the Countess the incident 
 which had so alarmed her, and they 
 in vain hazarded conjectures as to the 
 :er — the voice was evidently
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 185 
 
 suppressed, and the extreme agitation 
 of Genevieve at the words^ obliter- 
 ated the remembrance of the tone ; 
 she thought they were masculine. 
 The only conclusion they could form 
 was, that some emissary of Jaques, 
 followed their footsteps, a spy upon 
 their actions, and by whom, perhaps, 
 when they least expected it, her dis- 
 graceful enthralment would be made 
 public — for this reason, Genevieve 
 determined upon seclusion in future. 
 The Countess would instantly have 
 quitted Venice, but Genevieve op- 
 posed it, as their tormentor would 
 doubtless follow their track, and 
 every place was alike indifferent to 
 her, since France was forbidden, 
 where alone she wished to be, for 
 there she could hear of Ferdinand, 
 though not permitted to see him. 
 His joining his regiment she had seen 
 announced in the public prints, and
 
 186 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 that was the only intelligence con- 
 cerning him that had reached her 
 since he left the Chateau D'Humeires, 
 as the Countess, from motives of pru- 
 dence, had forbidden his writing, and 
 that intelligence alone had removed 
 a load from her heart ; for she had 
 scarcely dared to hope that he would 
 be suffered to pass the forest unmo- 
 lested. 
 
 For several weeks after the carni- 
 val, Genevieve confined herself to the 
 house, receiving the daily visits of her 
 friends, but refusing all their solicita* 
 tions to appear abroad, or increase the 
 circle of her acquaintance, notwith- 
 standing the intreaties of the Count de 
 Tolly to permit him to introduce to 
 her a countrywoman of his own, a 
 French Marchioness de Bourge, whose 
 elegance, beauty, and fascinating 
 manners, he was so lavish in his de- 
 scription of, but ia vain 5 Genevieve
 
 187 
 
 still declined the honour of adding 
 the Marchioness to her list of friends. 
 The Duca receiving advice from Spain 
 that his presence would shortly be 
 necessary there, determined before he 
 quitted Italy, to take a tour to several 
 places he had not yet seen, and ap- 
 pointed a day to give a farewell ball 
 to the nobility of Venice, and he ap- 
 peared so much hurt at Genevieve's 
 refusal to be present at it, that at 
 length, rather yielding to the wishes 
 of the Countess, than her own, she 
 gave a reluctant consent. 
 
 The Count de Tolly called upon 
 them on the morning of the appointed 
 day, and appeared enraptured at her 
 compliance, exclaiming, " I shall then 
 be completely happy, the charming 
 Marchioness de Bourge will be there 
 also, and experience a pleasure she 
 has long panted for — an introduction
 
 188 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 to the peerless Genevieve de Cas- 
 tro." 
 
 ^^ I am obliged (replied Genevieve) 
 by the anxiety the Marchioness has 
 manifested to be introduced to me, 
 and can only plead the indifferent 
 state of my health and spirits, as an 
 excuse for (perhaps rather rudely) 
 rejecting her advances. — Pray is the 
 Marchioness a young or middle aged 
 woman ?" 
 
 " Oh young ! — very young ! — ^al- 
 most as young as yourself, and (your- 
 self excepted) the loveliest woman in 
 Italy." 
 
 " I have no wish to dispute the 
 palm of beauty with her (said Gene- 
 vieve, with a languid smile) but is the 
 Marchioness married ?" 
 
 " No, a widow, just emerged from 
 the solitary seclusion of an old chateau 
 in Provence, where etiquette has, till
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS, 189 
 
 within a few weeks, detained her — 
 when she flew to Venice to dispel the 
 melancholy her situation had engen- 
 dered." 
 
 " I should rather have supposed 
 (said the Countess) that an amiable 
 woman, as you represent the Mar- 
 chioness to be, would have cherished 
 the remembrance of a husband she 
 loved, rather than endeavour to lose 
 his idea in scenes of dissipation ; but 
 perhaps, you knew the Marquis, and 
 he was not worthy of her regrets ?" 
 " I believe so — indeed I think so 
 (replied- the Count, rather embar- 
 rassed) I have but lately known the 
 Marchioness — she is shy of speaking 
 upon the subject ; but I undei^stand 
 the Marquis was old, and tyrannical. 
 It was my good fortune to render her 
 some assistance upon her arrival in 
 Venice, when her gondola overset,
 
 190 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 with her and her attendants, near the 
 gardens of my palazzo. Finding 
 that she was a stranger and unpro- 
 tected, I offered her my assistance in 
 procuring her a suitable establishment; 
 her wealth is abundant, and her beauty 
 so perfectly celestial, that she is uni- 
 versally followed and admired ; she is 
 admitted to the first circles, but has 
 always expressed such a desire to be 
 introduced to your ladyship, and your 
 beauteous grand-daughter, that to 
 serve her I have been more than com- 
 monly urgent upon the subject." 
 
 The Count soon after took his 
 leave, and it was at a late hour in the 
 evening, when the Countess's gon- 
 dola bore them to the palazzo of the 
 Duca. Genevieve endeavoured to 
 appear chearful, and the Countess 
 was delighted at observing her naiive 
 vivacity again sparkle in her eve.
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS, 191 
 
 and tint with the brightest vermillion 
 her dimpled cheek. As she entered 
 the saloon at the Duca's, every eye 
 was turned with admiration upon her 
 graceful figure ; she was simply, yet 
 richly habited in a vest of white satin, 
 embroidered at the bottom with gold 
 vine leaves, and tendrils ; over it was 
 a shorter vest and drapery of the 
 finest white lace, embroidered to cor- 
 respond ; her fair hair was confined 
 in a knot upon the back of her head, 
 and prevented from totally shading 
 her polished forehead by a bandeau 
 composed entirely of rubies and eme- 
 ralds, elegantly set to resemble a 
 wreath of vine leaves, and the fruit ; 
 her neck and arms were decorated 
 with corresponding ornaments, and as 
 she moved up the saloon, her light 
 drapery floating around her, the sim- 
 ple sweetness of her air bespoke her
 
 192 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 totally unconscious of her own ex- 
 treme loveliness. 
 
 The Duca led her to a seat, and re- 
 freshments were presented to the 
 party. 
 
 In a short time the Count de Tolly 
 approached them^ — " Ma Belle Gene- 
 vieve (he exclaimed) till you entered 
 the saloon, I thought the brilliant 
 beauty of the Marchioness de Bourge 
 this evening unrivalled, even by you ; 
 but you broke upon us with such un- 
 wonted radiance, that even the Mar- 
 chioness unwillingly resigns the crown 
 of loveliness to you, and is anxious to 
 be introduced to offer the homage of 
 an inferior ; have I your permission 
 to present her to her sovereign ?" 
 
 To his half serious, half ludicrous, 
 address, Genevieve playfully bowed, 
 and he flew off towards the Mar- 
 chioness, who was seated at the other
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 193 
 
 end of the saloon surrounded by a 
 crowd of beaux, each more anxious 
 than the other to obtain her atten- 
 tion ; her figure, tall, elegant, dignified 
 and impresssive, was habited in a Ve- 
 netian robe of black velvet, clasped at 
 the waist and bosom with diamonds; 
 her fine turned neck was adorned 
 with a necklace of brilliants, and her 
 dark hair, which was banded in the 
 Grecian style, was confined by seve- 
 ral brilliant circlets, whose radiance 
 rivalled the lustre of her fine dark 
 eyes. 
 
 When the Count delivered his per- 
 mission, a slight hectic tinged her 
 cheek, but giving him her hand, he 
 led her up the saloon; her majestic 
 mien, as she approached Genevieve, 
 struck her with admiration, and she 
 rose from her seat to receive her ; 
 but as she came nearer, both Gene- 
 vieve and the Countess started with 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 194 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 dismay — for in the highly praised 
 brilliant Alarchioness de Boiirge^ they 
 recognized the humble Janetta D'Au- 
 bois. The Count introduced, in an 
 elaborate speech, the Marchioness de 
 Bourge, but no answer was re- 
 turned : they still gazed upon her with 
 looks of horror, and a quivering lip, 
 that denied them utterance ; but Ja- 
 netta instantly stepped forward, and 
 seizing the hand of Genevieve, whis- 
 pered — *•' Beware ! this moment de- 
 cides thy fate — receive me as the 
 Marchioness, or I instantly claim you 
 as the wife of my brother, the leader 
 of the mountain band !" 
 
 Genevieve essayed to speak, but 
 her tongue refused the office ; a deadly 
 shivering seized her frame, and with a 
 deep sigh she fell senseless on the bosom 
 of the scarce less agitated Countess — 
 all was instantly in confusion, the 
 Duca took her in his arms, and con-^ 
 veyed her into a colonnade for air.
 
 THE REPUBLTCAn's MISTRESS. 195 
 
 As soon as she began to show symp- 
 toms of returning life, the Countess 
 insisted upon returning home, fearing 
 that, in her disorder, Genevieve might 
 betray her secret ; her gondola was 
 immediately ordered, and the Duca 
 himself conveyed them to their resi- 
 dence, and then returned to his own 
 palazza, musing upon the cause of 
 Genevieve's sudden indisposition, and 
 determined to sift the Count tho- 
 roughly upon the subject of the Mar- 
 chioness, as he now began to suspect 
 she was other than she appeared, 
 and should she prove so, the odium of 
 her introduction must fall upon the 
 Count, as he had roundly asserted 
 himself well acquainted with her 
 family. 
 
 It had been the Duca's intention to 
 
 have solicited a private interview with 
 
 Genevieve the morning after the ball, 
 
 and demand a final answer to the pro- 
 
 K 2
 
 196 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 fessions of attachment he had so 
 repeatedly made, but he now post- 
 poned his declaration till the myste- 
 rious incident of the evening should 
 be explained. Were Genevieve por- 
 tionless, he felt he should not love her 
 less, but were any thing like dishonour 
 attached to her, he owed too much to 
 his family, a line of unblemished nobi- 
 lity, to dare to sully it at the impulse 
 of a blind passion.
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 197 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 ** Insolence and) barbarism triumphed, 
 And swept away distinction! 
 Peasants trod upon the necks of nobles. 
 Low were laid the reverend crosier and the holy mitre, 
 And desolation covered all the land.'' 
 
 ROWE. 
 
 When Ferdinand Marquis D'Ux- 
 elles arrived in Paris, he drove to his 
 own hotel, where his numerous do- 
 mestics hailed his return with trans- 
 port, although they almost trembled 
 for his safety, as the infuriated mob 
 daily paraded the streets, insulting 
 and murdering all whom their blind 
 zeal denominated enemies to the 
 people, and many whose sentiments 
 were privately the same as their own, 
 though they were backward in dis- 
 covering them, fell sacrifices to their
 
 198 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 fury, as they were led on by a set of 
 wretches who made patriotism a plea 
 for plunder, and who endeavoured to 
 raise their own fortunes upon the ruin 
 of others ; and could they succeed in 
 this their grand aim, they cared little 
 what became of that people for whose 
 rights they so loudly and energetically 
 declaimed. And such in general are 
 the views of those men who style 
 themselves patriots, and wish to bring 
 themselves into notice by the ruin of 
 their fellow men ; with such patriots 
 riches alone were a crime, and Ferdi- 
 nand soon found that to these wor- 
 thies he was an object of suspicion, as 
 both himself and his attendants were 
 insulted whenever they ventured to 
 quit their hotel. The king and queen 
 were at Versailles, and thither Ferdi- 
 nand hastened, and procured an au- 
 dience; he was received with manly 
 firmness by his monarchy and by the
 
 THE REPUBLICAN S MISTRESS. 199 
 
 beauteous Antoinette with that be- 
 witching sweetness that ever won the 
 hearts of all that approached her. 
 
 They were not unconscious of the 
 state of the public mind, though they 
 endeavoured to appear unmoved by 
 it, and Louis, with the bold front of 
 conscious worth and integrity, still 
 showed himself in public as usual ; 
 but Antoinette, with the timidity of 
 her sex, secluded herself with her 
 ladies and family, and seldom ap- 
 peared but to greet those friends who 
 had proved themselves unalterably 
 attached to them. Such a friend was 
 the Marquis deemed, and leading the 
 Dauphin by the hand, she entered the 
 apartment where Ferdinand was re- 
 ceiving from his monarch some in- 
 structions which he was instantly to 
 convey to his general, who, with his 
 regiment, were then at Arras. As she 
 entered the apartment, Ferdinand
 
 200 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 knelt to her, and she extended her 
 fair hand to him, which he respect- 
 fully pressed to his lips. 
 
 Louis, with a languid smile, said — 
 *^ You see, Madame, we have not yet 
 lost all our friends ; the Marquis has 
 flown from the extremity of Gascony 
 to offer us his aid." 
 
 The colour of Ferdinand mounted 
 to his cheek at a compliment he felt 
 he did not deserve, as he feared had 
 Genevieve not been torn from him, 
 love would have stifled loyalty, and 
 he should still have remained in Gas- 
 cony ; yet he dared not deny the con- 
 struction the king had put upon his 
 unexpected arrival. But his emotion 
 was unnoticed, for a tear rose in the 
 bright eye of the queen as her royal 
 partner spoke, and a sigh swelled her 
 bosom, but quickly chasing from her 
 brow all traces of sorrow, she said — 
 " My thanks for the offered aid of
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 201 
 
 the Marquis are too trifling to be 
 worth his acceptance ; but do you, 
 my child," she added, taking an amu- 
 let, attached to a slender gold chain, 
 from her bosom, " do you present 
 this to the Marquis, and bid him re- 
 member to be your friend, when, 
 perhaps, your parents may no longer 
 stand in need of his assistance." 
 
 The Dauphin approached him, and 
 Ferdinand again knelt, whilst he 
 placed the chain around his neck, 
 repeating the words of his royal mo- 
 ther, and, with the native grace of 
 childhood, pressed the amulet to his 
 lips. The heart of the Marquis was 
 too full for speech, he raised the amu- 
 let to his lips, then pressed it to his 
 heart, and bowed ; tears dimmed the 
 eyes of all, but each one from differ- 
 ent motives endeavoured to suppress 
 their feelings. 
 
 Ferdinand received his instructions, 
 K 5
 
 202 THE republican's mistress, 
 
 quitted the aportment^ and instantly 
 returned to Paris^ where he left Henri 
 as a guard to his hotel, and departed 
 with a few domestics to Arras. He 
 was received by his general with 
 much pleasure, and the instructions he 
 brought carefully obeyed ; but Fer- 
 dinand observed^ with sorrow, that 
 the prevailing opinions had pervaded 
 all ranks^ even the military were 
 biassed by them, and, in consequence^ 
 Arras was already become a scene of 
 anarchy and confusion, which was 
 the more difficult to quell, as their 
 guardians and dictators were of oppo- 
 site opinions, and while some privately 
 fanned the flame, others were endea- 
 vouring to extinguish it. 
 
 One evening, exhausted with fa- 
 tigue in a fruitless attempt to save an 
 unhappy, unoffending family from the 
 violence of these self-erected reform- 
 ers of mankind, Ferdinand retired
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 203 
 
 early to his lodgings^ and throwing 
 himself upon a seat, remained rumi- 
 nating upon the probable end of these 
 distressing scenes^ when his reveries 
 were suddenly interrupted by a horse- 
 man dashing furiously up to his door : 
 he started up, and went to a window, 
 but it was too dark to discern the 
 rider, yet he had but little time al- 
 lowed him for suspense, for in a few 
 seconds the door of his apartment 
 opened, and Henri entered, covered 
 with dirt, disfigured with bruises, his 
 face pale, and his limbs trembling with 
 excessive fatigue. 
 
 Ferdinand was transfixed with 
 amazement, and incapable of uttering 
 a word ; but Henri, tottering to- 
 wards a sofa, fell upon it, saying — 
 <« Forgive me, my lord, my limbs 
 are too much enfeebled to support me 
 longer."
 
 204 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 ^^ Gracious God ! (exclaimed his 
 master) what has happened — what 
 brought you hither, and where did 
 you receive those dreadful bruises ?" 
 
 " In defending; your property, my 
 lord. In Paris you have no longer a 
 home — your hotel was two nights ago 
 ransacked by the mob : some of your 
 domestics joined the plunderers ; my- 
 self and a few others endeavoured to 
 oppose them, but were so roughly 
 handled, that we were glad to escape 
 with life, and it was with great diffi- 
 culty that I have preserved the noble 
 animal that has brought me hither." 
 
 " Thank God! (returned Ferdi- 
 nand) that your intelligence is no 
 worse — have you heard any thing 
 from Gascony?" 
 
 " No, my lord, that remote pro- 
 vince is, as yet, I believe in peace — - 
 but our monarch, and his family, even
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 205 
 
 on the day that your hotel was plun- 
 dered^ were forced from their retire- 
 ment at Versailles, and brought to 
 Paris, attended by all the poinards and 
 rabble of the city. No personal vio- 
 lence was, I believe, offered them, 
 but how long they will be secure, 
 even from that, it is impossible to 
 say." 
 
 Ferdinand was more grieved at the 
 insult offered to his king than for his 
 own loss ; but aware that his single 
 arm would not avail him, he deter- 
 mined to remain where he was, and 
 as much as was in his power preserve 
 the peace of Arras. But a short time 
 rendered his services there useless; 
 for when the news arrived of the at- 
 tempted elopement of the royal 
 family, their arrest and confinement 
 in the prison of the Conciergere, the 
 soldiers throw off all restraint, and
 
 206 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 those who professed republican prm- 
 ciples either compelled their com- 
 rades to join their caiise^ or forced 
 them to fly to save their lives. 
 
 Among the latter party was the Mar- 
 quis and his faithful servant, Henri. 
 Ferdinand was too ardent in the cause 
 of loyalty, and too impetuous, for his 
 principles to be concealed: he had been 
 so active in endeavouring to succour a 
 few unfortunate victims of this blood- 
 stained goddess, misnamed Liberty, 
 that he was become particularly ob- 
 noxious to the furious zealots who sa- 
 crificed at her shrine, and as soon as 
 they had broken through the bonds 
 that had hitherto restrained them, 
 they surrounded his lodgings, and with 
 loud cries demanded him to appear 
 before them, and answer for his con- 
 duct. His serv^ants affirmed he was 
 from home, and they entered the
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 207 
 
 house to ascertain the truth of the in- 
 formation, breaking and destroying 
 every thing they met with, venting 
 their rage and disappointment upon 
 the unoffending ornaments and fur- 
 niture of the apartments. 
 
 In the midst of this scene of havoc, 
 and destruction, Henri entered the 
 street, and beheld what was going for- 
 ward. With the lightning's speed he 
 flew from the spot to his master, 
 whom he had been attending to the 
 house of an acquaintance a short dis- 
 tance from Arras ; and pretending 
 urgent business required his imme- 
 diate return, drew him from the 
 house, where he began to fear he 
 might be detained, and in a few words 
 he explained his errand. Ferdinand 
 was shocked, but not surprized ; 
 where now should be bend his steps? 
 Returning to Arras was meeting cer- 
 tain death, and to fly, perhaps, was
 
 208 THE republican's MISTRESiS. 
 
 uselesS;, as most likely he would be 
 pursued. At Paris he had no longer 
 a home, yet thither he resolved to go. 
 Henri endeavoured to oppose this 
 resolution, but in vain : Ferdinand 
 pressed the amulet he had received 
 from the queen to his lips, and vowed 
 to fulfil the oath he had mentally 
 sworn on receiving it, to dedicate his 
 life to the service of herself and child; 
 an oath not the less sacred in his opi- 
 nion, because pity and emotion pre- 
 vented its utterance, and had more 
 of the French nobility in the early 
 part of the revolution been actuated 
 by the same motives, and devoted 
 themselves to stem the torrent of 
 anarchy and rebellion, instead of 
 cowardly flying from danger, desert- 
 ing their monarch and his family, 
 anxious only for themselves, much of 
 the blood that afterwards streamed 
 from their scaffolds, might for years
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 209 
 
 have flowed in their natural chan- 
 nels. 
 
 Turning their backs upon Arras, 
 they travelled with all the speed they 
 could exert, and before night fall 
 peached Peronne, where they entered 
 an humble auberge, and requested a 
 lodging : the landlord, a mean spirited 
 petty fellow, who had by dint of 
 pilfering and hard labour risen from 
 an itinerant grinder of knives and 
 scissors to the dignity of the landlord 
 of an inn, seeing by the garb of 
 Ferdinand that he was what he had 
 been used to consider as his superior, 
 determined te revenge it, by now 
 treating him with contempt ; for it 
 was the universal practice of those 
 levellers, who boasted of equality, to 
 treat those they fancied beneath them 
 (when in power) with an arrogance 
 and pride that no class of nobility 
 that ever existed could equal, much
 
 210 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 less surpass. In consequence of this 
 resolution he placed himself in the 
 doorway of a dirty smoaky room, 
 dignified with the appellation of the 
 best, and opposed their entrance, 
 pointing with an air of what he 
 thought dignity, to the common 
 room. Ferdinand was about to seize 
 the fellow by the collar, and push 
 him aside, but Henri hastily stepped 
 between them, and with an humble 
 bow entered the apartment pointed 
 out to them, followed by his master, 
 who could scarcely restrain the indig- 
 nation he felt at the supercilious 
 glances of the innkeeper, who with- 
 out deigning to attend them, retired 
 to his room to indulge in the contem- 
 plation of his own dignity ; and it 
 was a long time before a dirty, half 
 naked girl (that was busily employed 
 in tying the distinguishing coloured 
 ribbons that were already adopted by
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 211 
 
 the republicans around the neck of a 
 small lap dog) could be prevailed upon 
 to fetch them some wine and a few 
 eggs^ which was all the provision that 
 could be procured, which she placed 
 upon the table with a jerk, saying — 
 '^ that they must wait upon them- 
 selves, as in future she should not be 
 the slave of any one." 
 
 Ferdinand scarcely heard her re- 
 mark, but Henri took the task of 
 cooking upon himself, and did it with 
 such alacrity and readiness, that the 
 girl began to suppose herself mistaken 
 in her conjectures of his being a gen- 
 tleman, and condescending to enter 
 into conversation with him, related 
 many anecdotes of outrages that had 
 already taken place in the neighbour- 
 hood, with a savage ferocity, that 
 made Henri view her rather in the 
 light of a fiend than a young female ; 
 and yet, to the eternal disgrace of
 
 212 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 French women, thousands of her sex 
 were, during the revolution, embrued 
 with the same sanguinary spirit ; the 
 only instance upon record of such 
 blood-thirsty sentiments being display- 
 ed by the softer sex, and, for the credit 
 of human nature, it is be hoped it will 
 be the last. 
 
 '^ Your master (said Henri) is I sup- 
 pose the friend of the people?" — 
 ^^Undoubtedly (she replied) Monsieur, 
 my master led the people to the at- 
 tack of the chateau of our late Lord, 
 who has been forced to fly ; — Monsieur 
 assures us we Lre free to act exactly as 
 we please, and tells me that I am the 
 equal of Louis Capet's wife, the proud 
 Antoinette; and for that matter, I 
 think myself greatly her superior, 
 and she may be made to feel so e'er 
 long." 
 
 Ferdinand looked at the little dingy 
 savage, who boasted herself the supe-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 21S 
 
 rior of the highly gifted, beauteous 
 Antoinette, with that sort of contempt 
 one views a noxious reptile, which 
 chance throws in one's path, that one 
 is too merciful to trample under foot, 
 but which is too loathsome to excite 
 any other sentiment than disgust. 
 
 When they had finished their repast, 
 they were shown to a loft over a 
 stable, where was plenty of hay and a 
 couple of blankets ; and the superior 
 of Antoinette, after condecending to 
 wish them a good night, closed the 
 door with a bang, and left them. — 
 Rude as was their lodging, fatigue 
 obtained for them a few hours of sound 
 repose, but they were up with the dawn, 
 and scarcely thought themselves in safe- 
 ty from the landlord and his crispining 
 servant till they were some miles from 
 Peronne. Upon their arrival at Nij- 
 on, Henri purchased some peasants 
 dresses, v^hich at the first stage be-
 
 214 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 yond they put on, leaving their mili- 
 tary habits bundled up together in a 
 field, for the benefit of the first tra- 
 veller that should chance to find them, 
 and proceeded to Senlis, where they 
 passed the night ; their host, they 
 discovered, was secretly attached to 
 the king, though the system of terror 
 already adopted by the revolutionists 
 had taught him caution^ but Ferdi- 
 nand felt himself more secure beneath 
 his roof, than he did in the miserable 
 apartments of his host at Peronne. — 
 He here learnt that Paris was one 
 scene of universal havoc and destruc- 
 tion, and Henri again endeavoured to 
 persuade his lord to turn his steps ano- 
 ther way, but in vain — and they 
 hastily proceeded to the capital. 
 
 Upon their arrival they found the 
 barriers strictly guarded, but they 
 had joined some peasants with market 
 carts, and their dresses being the same,
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 215 
 
 they were suffered to pass. They wan- 
 dered about the streets some hours, 
 seeking in vain for some face they 
 knew, but the very features of the 
 inhabitants appeared changed with 
 their sentiments, and that city, late so 
 smiling, brilliant, and splendid, was 
 now one wide scene of horror, feroci- 
 ty, dirt, and rags. They past the ho- 
 tel which Ferdinand had so recently 
 called his own ; it was now occupied 
 by a leader of the people, a furious 
 democrat, who daily harrangued the 
 mob from its windows, and then plac- 
 ing himself at their head, led them 
 on to scenes of blood and plunder : — 
 this distinguished character had lived 
 for many years in a garret, in one of 
 the most obscure parts of the city, 
 and gained a livelihood by making 
 toys and nick-nacks, in which his 
 countrymen so much excel; but as 
 he was devoid of all principle and
 
 216 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 morality, the revolution gave him an 
 opportunity of emerging from his 
 obscurity, which he eagerly seized, 
 and abandoned his harmless occupa- 
 tion for the dangerous post of leader 
 of a band of democrats. His first re- 
 ward was a magnificent mansion for 
 his dwelling, despoiled of its furniture 
 it is true, but he was unused to luxuries, 
 and would not have known the use 
 of half the articles the hotel contain- 
 ed, had his energetic friends been kind 
 enough to leave them for him. 
 
 With a groan of mingled indigna- 
 tion and horror Henri glanced his eye 
 from the building to the features of 
 his master ; Ferdinand saw his emo- 
 tion, but with a placid smile he turned 
 his back upon the mansion of his an- 
 cestors, and walked on towards the 
 prison where his royal master was 
 confined with his family. The even- 
 ing was now closed in, but the tocsin
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 217 
 
 run^ loudly throughout the city, and 
 instantly every house was illuminated 
 from top to bottom, so that the streets 
 v/ere as light as noon-day, and no sus- 
 pected person could leave their hiding- 
 place under cover of the night. 
 
 Hitherto the dress of Ferdinand 
 and Henri had been their protection, 
 but they could not hope it would long 
 avail them, as they knew not where to 
 obtain a shelter, for the hotels of all the 
 nobles v/liere either deserted by their 
 owners, or in possession of the mob, 
 and to enter any house of public en- 
 tertainment was certain detection.—- 
 The shouts and noise of an immense 
 multitude now seemed approaching 
 them from all parts, and they were 
 soon surrounded by a confused crowd 
 of men and women, bearing flags and 
 pikes, which they carried erect, and 
 as they came near, Ferdinand felt a 
 sickening sensation as he perceived 
 
 ^ VOL. I. L
 
 218 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 human heads upon the points of the 
 pikes — the blood still flowing from the 
 necks, and covering with the ensan- 
 guined stream the brutes in human 
 shape that carried them. The ap- 
 pearance of Ferdinand and his servant 
 excited their suspicions ; they instant- 
 ly surrounded them, and forcing off 
 their hats, the Marquis was immedi- 
 ately recognized ; — a shout that might 
 have become the regions of Pandsemo- 
 nium was immediately uttered by the 
 whole blood-stained crew. Henri, 
 although still an attendant on his lord, 
 was,from his situation,supposed friend- 
 ly to their cause, and a pike, upon 
 which was the head of a young and 
 lovely girl, was offered him to carry 
 as a touchstone of his faith ; he reject- 
 ed it with scorn, and was instantly 
 knocked down by a blow with a club, 
 which laid him senseless on the earth. 
 — Ferdinand sprung forward to his
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 219 
 
 assistance^ but a hundred arms were 
 opposed against him. 
 
 " Stop ! stop ! (was exclaimed by 
 a female voice in a tone of command) 
 deaist on peril of your lives ! " 
 
 The crowd fell back, but the words 
 were spoke too late to save him^ 
 a violent blow on the back of his 
 head had stretched Ferdinand sense- 
 less by the side of his faithful servant. 
 
 When recollection again revisited 
 the Marquis, he was lying in a mag- 
 nificent bed in a small apartment, ele- 
 gantly furnished ; he endeavoured to 
 turn himself, but found by the in- 
 effectual efforts he made, and the 
 bandages around his head and body, 
 that he was severely bruised; his head 
 felt giddy, and he closed his eyes to 
 endeavour perfectly to recollect what 
 had happened, and where he now was. 
 — The scene of the mob floated in 
 L 2
 
 220 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 his imagination like a horrid dream^ 
 and he wondered how he had been 
 transported from it to a place of com- 
 fort and safety ; — he again opened his 
 eyes, and looked around — it was either 
 evening, or the light of day was so 
 excluded from his apartment as to re- 
 semble twilight. — He saw a figure 
 glide dimly along the room, a white 
 bandage was wrapped around the head, 
 and, approaching the bed, it leant over 
 him, and he felt a tear drop upon his 
 cheek. Though pale and emaciated, 
 Ferdinand thought he recognized the 
 features, and he murmured the name 
 of Henri faintly. 
 
 As he spoke the ear of affection 
 caught the sound, '^ my lord ! my dear 
 lord ! (exclaimed the faithful lad, for 
 it was indeed him) do you again enjoy 
 yoursenses,orisit adream that deludes 
 me thus?" "It is no dream, Henri
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 221 
 
 — where am I, how came I here, and 
 what has happened to us both ? You 
 look extremely ill." 
 
 " Oh my dear lord, ask not of the 
 past, you are now in a place of safety ; 
 endeavour to get well, and you shall 
 know all." 
 
 The entrance of an elderly woman 
 now put a stop to their conversation ; 
 she expressed herself much delighted 
 at the Marquis's recovery of his reason, 
 exclaiming, '^ Now my mistress will 
 indeed be happy ! " — but, positively 
 prohibiting all further conversation, 
 she dismissed Henri to his own room, 
 least his presence should agitate his 
 master, and prevent his sleeping, 
 which, after giving him a cordial, she 
 strongly recommended, and drawing 
 the curtains of his bed, she imposed 
 silence both upon him and herself. 
 
 Ferdinand, prohibited the use of his 
 tongue, was obliged to confine him-
 
 222 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 self to thinking, but that only be- 
 wildered him^ without giving him 
 light upon the subject of where he was, 
 and who could be sufficiently interest- 
 ed about him^ or have influence suffi- 
 cient to snatch him from the grasp of 
 an infuriated mob, drenched with 
 blood, and frantic with success; surely 
 the female voice that he heard as he 
 fell, must have been that of his pre- 
 server, and he was now indebted to 
 her for an asylum ; yet how a female, 
 possessing softness and humanity, 
 could be mingled with such a mass of 
 daemons in human shape, and have 
 authority over them, he could not 
 imagine: the splendour of his apart- 
 ment too, would have puzzled him, 
 had he not recollected the transfer of 
 his own hotel, and supposed the one 
 he was now in might have experienced 
 the same fate. 
 
 He was awoke the following morn-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 223 
 
 ing by the nurse, speaking in a low- 
 voice to some one in his apartment ; 
 wishing to know who it was, he gently- 
 put his hand out of bed, and drew back 
 the curtain ; his motion disturbed the 
 speakers, and he saw a female glide 
 hastily from the apartment. " Who 
 was that?" he exclaimed. 
 
 " Of whom are you speaking, Mon- 
 sieur ? " replied the nurse. 
 
 " Of the lady who has just now left 
 my apartment." 
 
 ^^Lady, Monsieur, you are deceived* 
 no one but myself has entered your 
 apartment this morning ; I hope your 
 delirium hasnot returned, come, in case 
 it should, take this draught which I was 
 ordered to give you, the moment you 
 awoke. Ferdinand obeyed without re- 
 ply, but he was convinced he was in no 
 delirium, nor deceived, when he ima- 
 gined he beheld a female quit his apart- 
 ment ; he had not seen her face, but her
 
 224 THE uepublican's mistress. 
 
 white flowing robes, and bright auburn 
 hair that floated loose about her shoul- 
 ders, convinced him she was no domes- 
 ticjbut most probably the lady to whom 
 he was indebted for his life. Suppos- 
 ing the nurse was instructed to con- 
 ceal the seeming impropriety of her 
 entering his chamber whilst sleeping, 
 he dropt^the subject. 
 
 Henri soon after entered, and his un- 
 remitting attentions, joined to that of 
 the nurse, in a few days restored Fer- 
 dinand to his usual health ; but he 
 could not avoid remarking that Henri 
 was never left alone with him, and 
 all his questions concerning his rescue, 
 or present situation, were either un- 
 answered, or referred to a distant pe- 
 riod ; that he was still in Paris, the 
 oft repeated and alarming sound of the 
 tocsin convinced him, and in the house 
 of a republican he had likewise no 
 doubt for though Henri still addressed
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 225 
 
 him by the title of " my lord," the 
 nurse never used any other term than 
 " Citizen," or " Monsieur." 
 
 Both his ov/n health and Henri's were 
 perfectly restored ; yet his seclusion 
 continued, although he was very ur- 
 gent with the nurse for an interview 
 with his preserver, and to be allowed 
 to depart, both which he was assured 
 should take place in a few days. The 
 increasing melancholy of Henri like- 
 wise much disquieted him, for he was 
 convinced that some secret grief 
 preyed upon his mind, though the 
 presence of the nurse forbad its com- 
 munication. 
 
 One Bvening Henri had retired to 
 rest, when his attendant entered, say- 
 ing "come. Monsieur, banish care and 
 melancholy, the moment you have so 
 long wished for is arrived at last ; my 
 mistress will allow you to sup with her, 
 alone, this evening, and will explain 
 L 5
 
 226 TH^E republican's mistress. 
 
 to you why she rescued you from the 
 people^ and what return she expects 
 for her kindness." 
 
 Ferdinand^ with aglow of pleasure^ 
 prepared for the interview^ and his fine 
 form and Apollo-like countenance, at- 
 tracted even the admiration of the 
 nurse, who^ as she led the way to the 
 supper-room, muttered to herself, 
 " what a pity he is not a leader of the 
 people, his looks might persuade them 
 to any thing." 
 
 With a heart buoyant with hope 
 and gratitude, Ferdinand entered the 
 saloon ; it was vacant, and the nurse 
 retired, saying, " she would inform 
 her lady that he awaited her." 
 
 Ferdinand looked around him with 
 astonishment, his own hotel had been 
 thought the most superbly furnished 
 of any house in Paris, but no apart- 
 ment in it could bear the slightest 
 competition with the one he was now
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 227 
 
 in ; it was an extensive saloon, with 
 numberless windows of an immense 
 height, but blue satin curtains fringed 
 with gold were now drawn before 
 them, and floated in folds upon the 
 ground ; the compartments between 
 the windows were wholly occupied 
 by Venetian mirrors, bordered with 
 flowers aud candelabras, bearing nu- 
 merous wax tapers, that shed the ra- 
 diance of day around : — the dome 
 formed ceiling was painted to resemble 
 the azure vault of heaven, and a car- 
 pet beneath the feet of white velvet 
 was ornamented with the most beauti- 
 ful flowers that the pencil of the artist 
 could imitate. Ottomans of blue satin 
 and gold, to correspond with the 
 curtains, decorated in profusion the 
 apartment, and two were placed by a 
 table of ebony inlaid with gold, which 
 stood at one end of the saloon, and 
 was covered with fruits^ wines, and
 
 228 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 every delicacy that epicurism could 
 invent, or opulence purchase. 
 
 Can this temple of luxury (thought 
 Ferdinand) be the dwelling of a re- 
 publican ; but casting his eyes from the 
 table to the other end of the apart- 
 ment, he beheld a pedestal^upon which 
 was a statue of liberty, with the in- 
 signia attributed to that goddess, and 
 clothed in the costume of an Amazon. 
 Ferdinand approached it, and did 
 the artist the justice to admire a 
 work, that, though it was not finish- 
 ed with the masterly touches* of a 
 Praxitiles, was a model of as fine a 
 female form as even imagination could 
 produce, and which as it was not en- 
 cumbered with too much drapery, the 
 artist had full power to display to ad- 
 vantage. 
 
 He was lost in observation, and 
 the thoughts of how little the lovely 
 appearance of the goddess assimilated
 
 THE UEPUBLICAn's MISTRESS. 229 
 
 with the blood-stained rites of her 
 votaries^ when a slight noise be- 
 hind him made him start from his 
 reverie, and turning round, he beheld 
 by his side the exact resemblance of 
 the statue he was gazing upon, in the 
 form of a very lovely woman, whose 
 eyes were rivetted upon himself. 
 Involuntarily he turned his gaze 
 again upon the statue, and then 
 upon the stranger ; they weVe an 
 exact fac simile, both in dress and 
 person ; his astonishment brought a 
 smile upon the face of the female, 
 and laying her hand upon his arm, 
 she archly said — 
 
 " If your examination is at an end, 
 tell me if you think the artist has not 
 flattered me." 
 
 "That would be impossible, replied 
 Ferdinand with animation, and pres- 
 sing the hand which she had laid on 
 his arm to his lips, but tell me, (he
 
 230 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 continued) have I the happiness of 
 beholding my preserver ? " 
 
 " You see a friend, (she replied) 
 but come, allude not to the past, I am 
 sorry I have detained you so long ; 
 the goddess you have honoured with 
 so strict a scrutiny must be my ex- 
 cuse, as it is in her service I have 
 been engaged. — I equally with your- 
 self, require reproachment ; after our 
 repast, we will discourse apon the bu- 
 siness that lies nearest my heart. At 
 present I will think of nothing, that 
 can mar the few social hours I am 
 destined to enjoy." So saying, she 
 extended her hand to Ferdinand, and 
 he led her to the table, w^here, as she 
 gracefully reclined upon an ottoman, 
 he gazed upon her with the admira- 
 tion her beauty could not fail to in- 
 spire in all that beheld her. 
 
 She was rather taller than the mid- 
 dle size, and blended the dignity of
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 23i 
 
 Janetta, with the softness and simpli- 
 city of Genevieve ; although some 
 years older than either of them^ she 
 still retained the freshness^ and bloom 
 of extreme youth ; her figure was in- 
 clining to the en-bon-point, and her 
 dress such as would have brought a 
 blush upon the face of modesty, but 
 it was universally sanctioned by re- 
 publican females, and worn as an in- 
 dication of their priciples ; a transpa- 
 rent muslin chemise, drawn very low 
 upon her neck and shoulders, gave to 
 full view a very lovely bosom, whose 
 exquisite whiteness was rivalled by 
 that of her dimpled arms and should- 
 ers ; and a vest, or rather a short pet- 
 ticoat of fine crimson cloth, was girt 
 below her bosom by a brilliant cestus, 
 and formed the whole of her attire. 
 
 Her finely turned ancles were orna- 
 mented with sandals, in the Roman 
 style, and her dress was not of suflici-
 
 232 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 ent length to obscure them from the 
 view of the gazer ; a profusion of 
 beautiful auburn hair was confined 
 from flowing on her shoulders by a 
 silver net;, and her naked arms were 
 adorned with rich armlets ; her mouth 
 and teeth were perhaps the most lovely 
 in the world, and her large hazel eyes 
 sparkled with unreprsesed vivacity^and 
 gave unsjDcakable animation to a face 
 and figure that Ovid himself might 
 have chosen for his Venus, — Her very 
 glance and movement inspired love, 
 but it was such love as Calypso might 
 be supposed to kindle — love unawed 
 by prudence, unchecked by respect; 
 and the conversation of Ferdinand as 
 he gazed upon her insensibly became 
 divested of ceremony, though he inva- 
 riably wondered hov/ such softness 
 could ever for a moment harmonize 
 with republican principles and prac- 
 tices ; but he had yet to learn that mo-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 233 
 
 dern liberty, and libertinism are syno- 
 nimous terms, and that no two race of 
 people that ever existed upon the ha- 
 bitable globe, could be more widely 
 different, than the heroes and chaste 
 dames of ancient Rome, and the self- 
 erected Brutusses and Lucretians of 
 modern days. But whatever were the 
 principles of the stranger, she had been 
 the preserver of the Marquis, and her 
 aim was evidently to attract his re- 
 gard ; and Ferdinand, though he had 
 suffered sufficiently from the conse- 
 quences of his former levity, to teach 
 him not again to dare to trifle with 
 the feelings of a woman, yet it had 
 not so thoroughly steeled his heart 
 against the sex as to enable him to 
 treat the attention of a lovely female 
 either with harshness or contempt ; 
 but, endeavouring to avoid the parley 
 of her eyes, as soon as possible he 
 returned her thanks for her care of
 
 234 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 him during his illness, and for pre- 
 vServing him from the fmy of the 
 people. 
 
 No event of the revolution (she re- 
 plied) has given me so much plea- 
 sure as the exercise of my power in 
 the preservation of your life. Some 
 months back I saw you at the Italian 
 Opera, you made such an impression 
 on my heart, that the next day I 
 sent to your hotel ; you had left 
 Paris but an hour before, and I never 
 heard of you again till I beheld you 
 in the street, and without giving my- 
 self a moment's time to deliberate, I 
 sprung forward to your rescue ; the 
 event proved the extent of my powder 
 —you w^ere unconditionally delivered 
 'to me, but my friends expect that I 
 shall (when perfectly recovered) pre- 
 sent you to them as a proselyte. — 
 Tell me citizen, Ferdinand, (she 
 added, laying her white arm upon
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 235 
 
 his shoulder,) can you reject the in- 
 treaties of the goddess of Liberty her- 
 self to join her standard — to her open 
 declaration of love ? 
 
 Ferdinand perhaps would have 
 needed the full remembrance of Ge- 
 nevieve to make him insensible^ but 
 the conclusion of her speech drove 
 from his fancy in an instant the 
 impression of her beauty, and he 
 steadfastly replied, " to liberty ma- 
 dam, I am and ever must be a de- 
 voted friend; but to the blood-stained 
 altars, raised to that name in France, 
 I am a decided foe. Banish from 
 your mind all idea of presenting me 
 to those you style your friends., as a 
 proselyte to the present system." 
 
 " If liberty fails to attract you (she 
 replied) has love no charms? I have 
 confessed I love you, I from whom that 
 confession would be by many received 
 with rapture, although your averted
 
 236 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 eye seems to speak disgust ; surely 
 in love your principles do not differ 
 from that of all your sex, you are 
 in that a republican, and like 
 
 " Love free as air, 
 
 That at sight of human ties 
 
 Spread his light wings, and in a moment flies.^' 
 
 " The libertine's plea, (replied Fer- 
 dinand) and think me not ungrateful, 
 Madame, but I love another, and 
 those ties you revile, it would be my 
 proudest boast to assume, if ever my 
 wayward fate should grant me such 
 happiness." — He thought of Gene- 
 vieve, as he spoke, and her purity, 
 opposed against the wanton that sat 
 by his side, rendered him invulnerable 
 to her attacks ; but she was not so 
 easily foiled, and, leaning her head 
 on his shoulder, she said — 
 
 " Happy woman, who e'er she is — 
 but you are separated ; 1 ask you not
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 237 
 
 to forget her — but am I worthless 
 because she is unattainable ? Think of 
 the present moment, dear Ferdinand, 
 the future is hid in clouds and mys- 
 tery." 
 
 The Marquis averted his eyes from 
 her lovely countenance, as, twining 
 her arms around him, she laid her 
 head upon his bosom ; but after a mo- 
 ment's pause, he disengaged himself 
 from her embrace, saying — *^Urge me 
 no more, Madame ; neither my love 
 or loyalty shall ever more be shaken, 
 and if for this purpose you gave me a 
 shelter beneath this roof, open your 
 gates and abandon me again to the 
 fury of that multitude you rescued 
 me from. I can bear death, but will 
 not brook dishonour." The lovely 
 countenance of the female turned pale 
 with anger as he spoke, but her eyes 
 were fixed on his manly countenance, 
 glowing with animation and energy,
 
 238 THE kepublican's mistress. 
 
 and her admiration of his person sup- 
 pressed her feelings of disapointment, 
 and she added — 
 
 " Why so impetuous, perhaps you 
 regret your loss of rank ; my counte- 
 nance will raise vou his/her in the 
 republic, than you stood before, and I 
 have lost equal rank with yourself." 
 
 ^' Indeed! (replied Ferdinand) are 
 you a Marchioness ?" 
 
 '^ I was so (she replied) but I have 
 abjured the bauble ; I was once the 
 Marchioness deMontreal !" 
 
 '^ De Montreal !" repeated Ferdi- 
 nand, with accents of astonishment. 
 
 " Yes, Montreal!" she reiterated, 
 " Madeion, Marchioness of Mon- 
 treal — now Madeion alone — your 
 Madeion, dear Ferdinand," and she 
 flung herself upon his bosom ; but 
 starting from her grasp, he ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 " Sorceress ! my Madeion ! — no
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 239 
 
 you disgrace your sex ; and the title 
 you unjustly assume — perhaps it was 
 in this very apartment that Mon- 
 treal fell a sacrifice to your crimes, 
 and the injured Roberto became a 
 murderer !" 
 
 The name of Roberto appeared 
 almost to annihilate her being, for 
 with a shriek of horror she fell appa- 
 rently lifeless on the ground. Ferdi- 
 nand could not behold her situation 
 unmoved ; he raised her in his arms, 
 and placed her on a couch, then 
 taking some water from a vase, he 
 bathed her temples with it, and sighed 
 that in so fair a form there should 
 exist such depravity. It was a long 
 time before suspended animation re- 
 turned, and when it did so, strong 
 convulsions shook her frame. Fer- 
 dinand would have called for assist- 
 ance, but her clenched hands firmly 
 grasped his coat ; at length speech
 
 240 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 returned to her, but not her recol- 
 lection. 
 
 ^^ Who are you ? (said she) Mon- 
 treal risen from the dead to upbraid 
 me ! yet why ? — I never loved but 
 him." 
 
 " Compose yourself (said Ferdi- 
 nand ) I will call for assistance." 
 
 " Hold ! hold ! she replied, seizing 
 him wildly by the arm — " you can- 
 not pass — see, the blood bars your 
 passage — the blood of Montreal — the 
 blood of all! — and see (she added, 
 lowering her voice) the viands are 
 polluted with human gore !" 
 
 A deadly shivering seized her as 
 she spoke, and she again fell on the 
 couch, senseless. In a few minutes 
 she recovered, and casting her eyes 
 on Ferdinand who stood anxiously 
 watching her, she appeared to recol- 
 lect instantly what hadjpassed ; a deep 
 crimson flush superseded the pallid
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 241 
 
 hue of her cheek, and, turning from 
 him, she murmured, '^ leave me, leave 
 me. " 
 
 " Can I not procure you assist- 
 ance, (he replied) — your women" — 
 
 '^ No one! (she furiously inter- 
 rupted) leave me ; or I cannot an- 
 swer the consequences." 
 
 Ferdinand walked to the door of 
 the saloon, but turned round to see if 
 she was still sensible. She was seated 
 on the couch, her eyes wildly glaring' 
 round - the room as if in search of 
 some object that avoided her ; she 
 appeared as if unconscious of his pre- 
 sence, and the beautiful symmetry of 
 her features were distorted with 
 agony. Averse to leaving her alone 
 in so dreadful a situation, he returned 
 towards the couch; but fixing her 
 eyes on him, she screamed wildly, 
 and exclaiming — " Roberto, detested 
 Roberto ! let me avoid thee I'' — rose 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 242 THE UEPUBUCAn's MISTRESS'r 
 
 from her seat and attempted to fly, 
 but again fell lifeless on the floor. — 
 Ferdinand stooped to raise her, and 
 at that instant the door of the saloon 
 opened, and the woman, who had 
 been his nurse, entered. 
 
 "^^ What mean those screams?" 
 said she. 
 
 '"^ Your lady is ill (replied Ferdi- 
 nand) assist me to raise Ker." 
 
 The woman obeyed without reply, 
 and ringing a bell, as soon as she had 
 done so, said, ^' Follow me, Monsieur, 
 I have summoned her women ; they 
 are used to these fits, but must not 
 see you here." 
 
 Ferdinand follo^/ed her to his own 
 apartment, inwardly exclaiming — 
 "Oh guilt, if these are thy agonies, 
 how preferable is innocence, though 
 clothed in the garments of misery." 
 — He threw himself on his bed, and 
 the w^oman left him ; but scarcely
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 243 
 
 two hours had elapsed before she 
 returned, and said, '' Follow me in- 
 instaiitly !" 
 
 He would have hesitated, but she 
 seized his arm, and he mechanically 
 followed her steps through several pas- 
 sages, till she opened a door, which, 
 passingthrough,he was instantly seized 
 on each side by two men, who threw 
 a mantle over his head, and lifting him 
 into a carriage, it instantly drove 
 away at full speed. 
 
 m2
 
 244 THE kepvblican's mistress. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Ti.« he !— lis he !— I know him now, 
 I know him by his pallid brow ; 
 I kuow him by that evil eye, 
 That aids his envious treacher}." 
 
 LORD BYROX. 
 
 After the eventful evening which 
 had introduced Janettato Genevieve 
 as the Marchioness de Bourge, the 
 Countess D'Humeires gradually found 
 her doors deserted by those who had 
 hitherto courted her acquaintance. 
 The whisper of Janetta had been ob- 
 served, though not heard, and various 
 were the comments made upon the 
 incident ; but as the Count de Tolly 
 persisted in his tale of the respect- 
 abilty of the Marchioness, and as she 
 still continued in public^ whilst Gene-
 
 THE republican's MISTREi>S. 245 
 
 vieve was secluded^ it was concluded 
 that there was some stain in the cha- 
 racter of the latter, which the former 
 was too generous to reveal ; and un- 
 der this impression the society of the 
 Countess and her injured grandchild 
 was sedulously avoided. The Count de 
 Tolly, and the pretended Marchioness, 
 had the assurance several times 
 to present themselves at their door, 
 though they were not admitted. — 
 This insult was an aggravation of 
 Genevieve's grief, and she petitioned 
 the Countess to quit Venice, as she 
 thought change of scene might pre- 
 vent her dwelling too much on the 
 past. 
 
 As the Duca had left Venice, the 
 Countess consented, and determined to 
 pass a short time in the Pope's terri- 
 tories. She hired a small bark to 
 convey them to Ancona, intending to 
 go from thence by land to Rome. At
 
 246 THE KEFUBLICAn's MISTRE.SS. 
 
 an early hour of a lovely morning they 
 embarked, and Genevieve, seated 
 under an awning upon deck, beheld 
 with emotions almost amounting to 
 pleasure the vessel pursue its way 
 over the smiling Adriatic sea, now 
 smooth as a mirror, whilst the gilded 
 domes and gay palazzo's of Venice 
 gradually receded to their view. 
 Several barks hovered around them, 
 and their white sails contrasting with 
 the deep blue of the ocean gave addi^ 
 tional beauty to the scene. Their little 
 voyage was delightful, and they ar- 
 rived at their destined port with a 
 feeling of enjoyment, and renovated 
 spirits, that made Genevieve eager 
 again to venture upon an element 
 that had yielded her such unmixed 
 delight. 
 
 They remained at Ancona for some 
 days, then visited the far famed Lo- 
 retto, and made a tour of the coast,
 
 THE REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS. 247 
 
 till they reached Troja, from whence 
 they proceeded to Naples, where they 
 remained several weeks, delighted 
 with the beauty of the spot ; from 
 thence they went to Rome, and 
 thence to Leghorn, where Genevieve 
 had persuaded the Countess to go and 
 embark for Genoa, as she had been so 
 much delighted with her voyage 
 from Venice that she wished to re- 
 peat the pleasure. Her slightest inti- 
 mation of a wish was a law with her 
 indulgent grandmother, and after a 
 few days repose, a bark was hired to 
 convey them to Genoa, and they 
 went on board. They had scarcely 
 left the harbour of Leghorn before a 
 contrary wind opposed their passage, 
 which was succeeded by a dead calm, 
 and the master of the bark, saying, 
 ^' it was impossible to proceed with- 
 out a wind," threw out an anchor.
 
 248 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 and advised the ladies to retire for 
 the night to their cabin. The 
 Countess and Genevieve, not feeling 
 at all incommoded by the element^ 
 had supped upon deck, and amused 
 themselves by remarks on the sur- 
 rounding objects ; only one vessel 
 was near them/ and it appeared by 
 its movements to be following the 
 same track with themselves ; it was 
 much larger than their own, and 
 very gaily ornamented, and was se- 
 veral times near enough for them 
 to discover a person upon deck, 
 so enveloped with warmer clothing 
 than the climate required, that they 
 concluded it must be an invalid. 
 
 When the captain advised their 
 retiring, they descended to the ca- 
 bin. Genevieve laid down upon a 
 couch to repose herself, and the 
 Countess sat by her side, reading a
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 249 
 
 political pamphlet, which she had 
 newly purchased, but which Gene- 
 vieve was so little interested in 
 that she insensibly dropped asleep. 
 She had slept but a short time when 
 she was awoke b}^ a violent shriek, 
 and starting up, she beheld the ca- 
 bin filled with men, and among them 
 the muffled stranger they had ob- 
 served in the larger vessel. Their 
 sudden appearance had alarmed the 
 Countess, who at the instant ima- 
 gined they had been boarded by 
 pirates, but recollecting that she had 
 heard no sounds of contention, she 
 now calmly demanded the cause of 
 their intrusion. One of the men 
 stepping forward in silence, present- 
 ed Genevieve with a folded paper, 
 which she hastily opened, and pe- 
 rused the following lines : — " Gene- 
 vieve D^Aubois, will recognize in this 
 M 5
 
 250 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 the writing of the person to whom 
 she plighted her faith at the altar; 
 the time is now arrived when he 
 can no longer, in respect to her fas- 
 tidious delicacy, deprive himself of 
 the happiness of her society — let her 
 therefore obey this mandate, and 
 quietly accompany the bearer of it — 
 or the lives of those she loves best 
 may be the sacrifice of her rashness/' 
 Genevieve perused it, and casting 
 a glance of despair upon the party 
 before her, presented the paper to 
 the Countess, who hastily looking it 
 over, let the cruel mandate fall to 
 the ground, and turning to the muf- 
 fled stranger, who was apparently 
 the chief of the party, she enquired 
 if she was not to accompany her 
 child ? 
 
 " Certainly not," was the reply. 
 " We will not be separated, (she
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 251 
 
 passionately exclaimed) this is a plot 
 to deprive my heiress of her liberty — 
 probably of her life ;" then turning 
 towards the men that belonged to the 
 vessel she was in, she continued, " I 
 will no longer, thi^ough a foolish 
 pride, conceal what places her in such 
 peril — she has by treachery been com- 
 pelled to wed one of the outcasts of 
 society, who would, from a mere en- 
 forced ceremony, claim a right of 
 controul over her actions. Assist my 
 own domestics then to rescue her 
 from his usurped authority, and I here 
 publicly promise you the one half of 
 the wealth I possess as your reward." 
 The men looked as if irresolute ; 
 they had already taken a bribe from 
 the other parties, but the magnitude 
 of the one now offered them inclined 
 them to change sides, but they w^ere 
 not allowed time for deliberation, 
 for the strangers rushing forward.
 
 252 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 seized on their shrieking prize, who 
 clung for protection to her grandmo- 
 ther, but in vain. They were sepa- 
 rated ; Genevieve was torn from the 
 frantic grasp of the Countess, and 
 borne to the other vessel — not in a 
 state of absolute insensibility, but in- 
 capable, from the acuteness of her des- 
 pair of making any resistance. 
 
 She was carried down to her ca- 
 bin, which was superbly furnished, 
 and laid upon a sofa, and all but the 
 disguised stranger quitted the place. 
 He presented her with some aromatic 
 scents, and when he saw her begin to 
 revive, and gaze around her, he said — 
 
 *^* Can the beauteous Genevieve for- 
 give the violence that has been of- 
 fered her, and bear the sight of a 
 friend?" 
 
 The tone in which he spok^, so 
 different from the one he had address- 
 ed the Countess in, startled and sur-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 253 
 
 prised her, and rising from her seat, 
 she exclaimed — 
 
 " Is it possible ! — can it he !" 
 
 " Yes, adorable Genevieve/' he re- 
 turned^ '^ it is the man^ who to obtain 
 your smiles would venture the sacri- 
 fice of life itself," and kneeling at her 
 feet as he threw of his disguise, she 
 beheld the Count de Tolly. 
 
 Yf ith a look of the most frigid and 
 apathetic indilf erence,Genevieve with- 
 drew her hand from his grasp, and 
 seating herself with apparent calm- 
 ness, she enquired, " w^hat could have 
 induced him to commit the outrage he 
 had insulted her with ?" 
 
 Though mortified by her cold 
 glances, he replied, " love, angelic, 
 insensible girl — love, w^hich every one 
 that beholds those charms are doomed 
 to feel." 
 
 With cool contempt, she replied, 
 ^' the manner in which the Count de
 
 254 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 Tolly has evinced his passion, must 
 certainly gain him belief as to its ar- 
 dency ; but as this is the first time he 
 has honoured the object of it with a 
 disclosure of his sentiments, ^he will, 
 with as little ceremony, give her an- 
 swer, and assure him, that no feelings 
 but those of contempt are excited in 
 her bosom by this unwelcome decla- 
 ration." 
 
 The eyes of the Count flashed fire, 
 as he retorted, " the Lady Genevieve 
 manifested no such scorn before the 
 disguise that concealed the person of 
 her adorer was removed. Had the 
 Marquis D'Uxelles then had the hap- 
 piness of appearing before her, al- 
 though alone, and torn from her 
 friends, her reception of him might 
 have been warm enough to erase the 
 charge of prudery from the catalogue 
 of the Lady Genevieve's faults.'' 
 
 Although stung to the soul by this
 
 THE REPUBLICAM S MISTRESS. 255 
 
 insult, she replied with spirit, '^ that 
 her affection for a man of honour she 
 was too proud of to attempt to deny, 
 but that she well knew the source of 
 his information, and congratulated 
 him upon being made the agent of 
 the nefarious designs of a bandit." 
 
 Her reproach seemed to pierce the 
 heart of the Count, and a silence of 
 several minutes ensued ; when hastily 
 approaching her, he snatched her 
 hand, as he said, ^' listen to me Ge- 
 nevieve, it is in my power to save you 
 from the evils you dread ; I love you 
 to madness, promise but to be mine, if 
 I can prove that the bandit has no 
 power over you , and this instant I 
 will bear you to France, and insure 
 you wealth, rank, and happiness. If 
 you refuse, I place you in the power 
 of your persecutor, where you will 
 be exposed to the society you most 
 dread, and become the victim of
 
 256 THE republican's mistrses. 
 
 the machinations of a demon, in an 
 angel's form. Reflect, Genevieve, 
 your answer must decide -^I adore 
 you, but I cannot stoop to supplicate 
 even you." 
 
 "' Your conduct, my lord, (re- 
 plied Genevieve) has made it impos- 
 sible to give any credit to your pro- 
 fessions ; you have tern me from my 
 friends, by the authority of this ban- 
 dit, the existence of whose power 
 you now pretend to doubt ; but let 
 my future fate be what it may, 
 your's I never can — T never will be — 
 nay, I might, perhajis, lose by the ex- 
 change ; you have already shewn me 
 how easy it is to assum.e a character 
 you have no title to in a foreign land, 
 and as the sister of a bandit could 
 personate a Marchioness, the emissary 
 of a bandit may take the title of a 
 Count." 
 
 Starting from his seat, the Count
 
 THE REPtBLtCAN's xMISTRESS. 2oT 
 
 cast at her a look of such fury and 
 male violence, that she almost repented 
 the taunt her irritated feelings had 
 bestowed on him, and her spirits 
 sunk, as muttering curses, he quitted 
 the cabin. 
 
 She was several hours left to re- 
 flection, and her thoughts were tinged 
 with no slight portion of bitterness 
 and apprehension. The Count did 
 not again appear before her during 
 the nighty and the following day it 
 was evening when they cast anchor ; 
 and the Count, entering the cabin, 
 threw over her a cloak, then stood 
 for a minute as if irresolute. 
 
 " Obstinate woman ! (he at length 
 exclaimed) must I again sue to you — 
 if you repent your yesterday's deci- 
 sion, I am willing to forget the past ; 
 throw off your mantle — the anchor 
 shall again be weighed, and we will
 
 258 THE REPUBLICAN S MISTRESS. 
 
 instantly steer for France ; if you 
 land even I cannot then save you." 
 
 Genevieve, w it houtansweringjdrew 
 her mantle closer round her, and led 
 the way from the cabin. 
 
 " Diable," muttered the Count, 
 through his half-shut teeth, and fol- 
 lowed her upon deck. G enevieve cast 
 her eyes around, and saw they were at 
 no great distance from the main land ; 
 she determined, as soon as on shore, 
 to request the assistance of the first 
 passenger, and she stept into the boat 
 with her heart beating with new 
 raised hopes of escape, but they were 
 suddenly checked by their rowing to 
 a small island, whose rocky shore was 
 almost inaccessible. They landed 
 with difficulty, and she beheld no hu- 
 man creature but those that attended 
 her, nor any dwelling near, except a 
 mass of ruins upon the summit of a pro-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 259 
 
 montoiy, which might be called such. 
 This she found was her destined place 
 of abode, and they slowly approached 
 it ; but as she entered beneath a ruined 
 archway of what appeared to have 
 been once a magnificent palace, her 
 heart died within her, and she would 
 have fallen senseless to the ground 
 had not the Count, who walked sul- 
 lenly by her side, caught her as she 
 was sinking in his arms. 
 
 When she recovered her senses, she 
 found herself alone in a subterranean 
 apartment, lit by a lamp depending 
 from the dome-formed ceiling ; the 
 furniture was scanty and mean, but 
 the place itself bore tokens of former 
 magnificence ; the apartment was of 
 immense extent, and gilded cornices, 
 broken statues, and half-decayed 
 paintings, evidently the work of the 
 first masters, every where met the 
 eye. At one end a raised platform
 
 260 THE republican's MISTRESS. 
 
 (over which still depended the tat- 
 tered remains of a canopy) supported 
 a homely pallet bed, which formed a 
 strong contrast with the vestiges of 
 grandeur that surrounded it. Gene- 
 vieve rose from the bed on which she 
 had been laid whilst insensible, and 
 examined her prison ; there was only 
 one entrance to it that she could per- 
 ceive, and that was through folding- 
 doors beneath an archway, and firmly 
 barricaded upon the outside. A table 
 was spread with fruits, and biscuits, 
 and a small jug of wine : judging by 
 the appearance of all around her, 
 that her confinement would be of 
 some duration, she endeavoured to 
 arm herself with sufficient fortitude 
 to endure it. 
 
 In this confinement several days 
 passed away, no one entered her 
 dwelling, and her stock of provisions 
 were exhausted; the most dreadful
 
 THE REPUBLICAN S MISTRESS. 261 
 
 ideas now took possession of her 
 mindj she was immured in this sub- 
 terranean recess^ and left to perish 
 unknown and unlamented. She 
 thought of her beloved grandmother, 
 of Ferdinand, and Gascony, till her 
 senses were wound up to a pitch of 
 frenzy, and she uttered repeated 
 screams that resounded through the 
 vaulted roof, but no voice answered 
 to her cries, and in an agony of de- 
 spair she threw herself on the ground, 
 and endeavoured to compose her mind 
 sufficiently to solicit help from that 
 power that alone could send re- 
 lief. She had remained prostrate on 
 the earth for some hours, her frenzy 
 sunk into the calm of resignation, and 
 she was uttering a prayer for increased 
 fortitude, to support without murmur- 
 ing the dreadful death apparently as- 
 signed her, when she heard the door 
 of her dungeon unlock. Hastily she
 
 262 THE REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS. 
 
 sprung from the floor and flew to- 
 wards the entrance ; the sight of a 
 human countenance, after she had de- 
 spaired of ever again beholding it, 
 inspired her with delight ; two men 
 entered, and she was about to precipi- 
 tate herself with rapture into the arms 
 of the first, when she recognized tbe 
 features of the Count and hastily avert- 
 ing her eyes from his face, she meekly 
 folded her arms upon her bosom, and 
 unable to support her trembling frame, 
 sunk upon her knees. Her pale and 
 agitated countenance appeared to touch 
 his heart with commiseration, and gen- 
 tly raising her, led her to a couch, and 
 seating himself by her side, endea- 
 voured to sooth her with the apparent 
 warmth of unaffected kindness. A 
 flood of tears relieved her throbbing 
 temples, and she soon recovered com- 
 posure sufficient to thank him for his 
 attention, and withdraw herself from
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 263 
 
 his supporting arms. — The man that at- 
 tended him had placed a fresh stock of 
 provisions on the table, and withdrew, 
 and Genevieve, when she found her- 
 self left alone with the Count, felt a 
 fresh subject of alarm, and cast her eyes 
 with an apprehensive look towards 
 the door, which the man had closed 
 after him but not fastened. The Count 
 observed her wandering gaze, and 
 supposing it proceeded from her eager 
 desire of food, arose, and placing the 
 table before her, besought her to eat. 
 Almost two days had elapsed since 
 she had tasted refreshment, and she 
 partook of what was set before her 
 w^ith an avidity which none but a being 
 half-famished can feel or imagine. 
 The Count watched in silence for se- 
 veral minutes this hitherto indulged 
 child of luxury eagerly devouring the 
 common viands she had set before 
 her ; his countenance betrayed the
 
 264 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 most evident symtoms of remorse and 
 anguish, and hastily pacing the apart- 
 ment, he struck his forehead with 
 agony, as he muttered, "Fiend! fiend! 
 diabolical and detestable ! " Then re- 
 suming his seat by her side, tenderly 
 pressed her to be wary how she in- 
 dulged her appetite too far, after so 
 long a fast ; besought her pardon for 
 his neglect in not visiting her before, 
 and uttered the most sacred assevera- 
 tions that she need not have the least 
 fear of a repetition of such cruelty, 
 for which he himself indeed was not 
 to blame. 
 
 Genevieve listened to him with 
 complacency, and her hopes of escape 
 revived from the remorse which ap- 
 peared to have taken possession of 
 his mind, and she exerted all her elo- 
 quence to prevail on him to restore 
 her to the arms of the Countess, but 
 her energy defeated its aim, for as he
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 265 
 
 listened to her pleadings, and gazed 
 on her interesting countenance, as her 
 soft blue eyes were fixed in imploring 
 earnestness on his, the love which her 
 contempt had stifled, rekindled in his 
 bosom, and eagerly snatching her to 
 his heart, he said — 
 
 *^ You have prevailed, promise but at 
 some future period to become my 
 wife, and in spite of the obstacles 
 I shall have to encounter, I will this 
 night restore you to liberty." 
 
 Genevieve forcibly extricated her- 
 self from his embrace ; " you forget 
 (she replied) that I am the wife of 
 another." 
 
 " The bandit! (he eagerly inter- 
 rupted) I have already said that 1 will 
 prove he has no power over you ; if 
 you will give me your written promise, 
 I will unfold a tale that shall carry con- 
 viction to your heart." So saying, he 
 took from his vest a pocket book, and 
 
 VOL. I. N
 
 266 THE REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS, 
 
 talcing from it a pencil, placed it in 
 her hand, saying, write, dearest Ge- 
 nevieve," but with a repulsive motion 
 she rejected it, saying, 
 
 " My lord, your offer is an insult to 
 the small portion of common sense it 
 has pleased providence to assign me ; 
 either the bandit has or has not a 
 power over my actions ; if he has, 
 they are of such a nature as he him- 
 self cannot relinquish ; if he has not, 
 I am the victim of an imposition, 
 and that I am so, your lordship's con- 
 duct strongly impresses me with the 
 idea. I have already rejected you as 
 a lover, my heart is not in my power 
 to bestow ; prove then that you have 
 generosity enough to restore me to 
 my friends, and accept the gratitude 
 of my future life as payment." 
 
 Impassioned and amorous, the 
 Count pos^sessed not generosity enough 
 to esteem the gratitude she offered,
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 26t 
 
 and forcibly pressing her hand to 
 his lips, he said — '' Love is even 
 scorn from the Lady Genevieve ; 
 but does she not reflect that here 1 
 am master; that neither marquis 
 or bandit can interfere to rob me 
 of my prize, and that if happiness 
 is peevishly denied me, I have it 
 in my power to seize by force the 
 blessing rendered still sweeter by gra- 
 tified revenge." 
 
 The mixed feelings of licentious- 
 ness and malevolence that now tinged 
 his features with the deepest crim- 
 son, made Genevieve shudder with 
 terror, and she endeavoured to force 
 herself from his grasp; he appeared 
 to enjoy her confusion, but pressing 
 his lips to her averted cheek, re- 
 leased her, saying, " I leave you a 
 few hours for reflection — when next 
 we meet, my love must be rewarded 
 n2.
 
 268 THE REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS. 
 
 with compliance," and instantly quit- 
 ting the apartment, the door was bar- 
 ricaded as usual. 
 
 Genevieve felt relie^ved by his ab- 
 sence, and passed the remainder of the 
 d^y in prayer, but retired early to her 
 couch, as the dreadful feelings she 
 had experienced for several preceding 
 days had precluded sleep. It was 
 midnight when her uneasy repose 
 was broken by the touch of a cold 
 hand upon her forehead ; with a 
 piercing scream she awoke, and start- 
 ing up in her bed, shuddered with 
 horror as she perceived the tall figure 
 of a man standing by her bed-side ; 
 her lamp gave an imperfect light, 
 and she as^ain shrieked as she ima- 
 gined she beheld the Count before her, 
 but the voice instantly banished that 
 idea, and she recognised her deliverer 
 f:om (he caverns of the Pyrenees, as
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 263 
 
 he said, " Lady be not alarmed — you 
 have a friend near you — but be upon 
 
 your guard, for even your life 
 
 The sound of approaching footsteps 
 now made the nocturnal visitant pausa 
 —then only saying^ *' it is too late," — 
 he fled across the chamber and disap- 
 peared in the gloom, whilst the bolts 
 and bars of the door were hastily un- 
 closed, and the Count, with an atten- 
 dant, entered. He approached and 
 enquired the cause of her shrieks? 
 Genevieve, with a faultering tongue, 
 attributed it to a fearful dream — but 
 her eyes wildly glanced around the 
 apartment to see if the light which 
 the Count's attendant carried, would 
 discover Roberto hid amongst its nu- 
 merous recesses ; but all was vacancy, 
 and with a heart relieved of its fears, 
 she turned her regards upon the 
 Count, who had been narrowly observ-
 
 270 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 ing her, and his scrutinizing glances 
 seemed to read her very soul. 
 
 He paused for a few minutes, then 
 said, " I was on my way to your 
 chamber, when your cries quickened 
 my steps; retire, Paoli, I cannot 
 again permit the Lady Genevieve to 
 remain alone, lest her fears should 
 terrify her into frenzy." 
 
 The man instantly obeyed his mas- 
 ter's mandate, whilst Genevieve in 
 vain asserted she had no fears re- 
 maining, and begged to be left to her 
 repose ; but the Count, regardless of 
 her intreaties, seated himself by her 
 couch ; and as he took her hand and 
 pressed it to his lips, Genevieve with 
 terror perceived that he was flushed 
 with wine, whilst into his manner he 
 threw all that insinuating softness he 
 so well knew how to assume. Gene- 
 vieve, though retired to repose, was
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 271 
 
 not entirely undressed^ as, fearful of 
 surprise, she constantly wrapt herself 
 in a loose morning gown, and leaping 
 from her bed, she again begged the 
 Count to retire ; but deaf to her soli- 
 citations, he caught her in his arms, 
 and insisted upon her again hearing 
 him declare his love ; but his looks 
 were so impassioned, and his gestures 
 so vehement, that Genevieve in vain 
 endeavoured to preserve her tran- 
 quillity ; and she trembled with alarm, 
 as he proceeded to take liberties at 
 which her delicacy recoiled ; but her 
 reluctance and aversion were alike 
 unheeded by the Count, and Gene- 
 vieve, convinced that he intended 
 every outrage he had threatened, 
 uttered the most piercing cries for 
 help, but the Count still held her 
 firmly locked in his arms, and she 
 began to despair of aid, when a vio- 
 lent blow struck her assailant to the
 
 272 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 ground, and Genevieve would have 
 fallen with him, had she not been 
 caught by the nervous arm of Ro- 
 berto—who for an instant gazed upon 
 the prostrate Count, then said, " he 
 is past harming you at present lady — 
 if you wish to escape from his power 
 follow me." 
 
 The handkerchief which had con- 
 fined the hair of Genevieve had fallen 
 off in the struggle, and her luxuriant 
 tresses fell in wild disorder over her 
 shoulders ; but Roberto, snatching up 
 her veil, threw it over her, and taking 
 her hand, led her to a recess, in which 
 was placed a painting still glowing 
 with sufficient colouring to show that 
 it had once been a very fine represen- 
 tation of the judgment of Paris. He 
 touched the apple, which acted as a 
 spring, and the painting receding, 
 they passed through the opening and 
 found themselves in a long gallery.
 
 273 
 
 decorated with the mutilated marble 
 statues of heathen deities; they passed 
 on as rapidly as the fragments of 
 statues and ornaments would permit, 
 and Genevieve observed, that on every 
 side the devastation of this noble pile 
 of buil4ing appeared to have been as 
 much occasioned by violence, as the 
 crumbling hand of time. At the ex- 
 tremity of the gallery they ascended 
 a very broad flight of steps, that led 
 to a spacious apartment, which pass- 
 ing through another flight, brought 
 them into a hall of such vast dimen- 
 sions, and so lofty a roof, as to strike 
 the intruder with awe and wonder. 
 It was floored with marble in mosaic 
 work, and two rows of gigantic mar- 
 ble pillars ran at equal distances, the 
 whole length of the hall, into which 
 several immense folding doors opened, 
 and at the other extremity a broad 
 flight of marble steps, similar to those
 
 274 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 they had just descended, appeared to 
 lead from the edifice. Genevieve 
 clung trembling to the arm of Ro- 
 berto for support, as they began to 
 cross the hall, whose vaulted roof 
 echoed to their hasty steps. 
 
 Roberto had brought from the 
 prison of Genevieve the lamp, to assist 
 them in their progress, and raising it 
 above his head to penetrate the sur- 
 rounding gloom, without dazzling his 
 eyes, he proceeded in silence, and 
 they had reached the centre of the 
 hall, when a pair of folding-doors 
 upon one side of them, was suddenly 
 thrown open, and two female atten- 
 dants, bearing wax tapers came forth, 
 followed by a youthful female, mag- 
 nificently habited, and of a very com- 
 manding mien. 
 
 The interior of the apartment they 
 issued from, was brilliantly illumi- 
 nated, and threw a strong glare across
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 275 
 
 the hall, direct upon the figures of 
 Roberto and Genevieve, who, para- 
 lyzed by the sudden appearance of the 
 females, stood like statues. The white 
 veil of Genevieve instantly attracted 
 the attention of the mistress, and she 
 hastily approached them ; but Gene- 
 vieve, shrieking, clung to the arm of 
 Roberto, exclaiming — " Oh save me ! 
 save me ! it is Janetta !" 
 
 Janetta, (for it was indeed her) 
 with the rapidity of lightning drew a 
 stiletto from her vest, and, rushing 
 towards Genevieve, attempted to 
 plunge it in her bosom ; but missing 
 her aim, it only slightly wounded her 
 arm. 
 
 u Wretch ! thou shalt not again 
 escape me (she exclaimed) and would 
 have repeated the blow ; but Roberto 
 seized her hand, and Genevieve, with 
 the swiftness of a fawn, flew from the 
 spot through the hall and gallery she
 
 276 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 had before passed, and had traversed 
 a long range of ruins before the in- 
 creasing difficulties of her path com- 
 pelled her to stop; yet she still con- 
 tinued to force her way over the 
 crumbling ruins, sometimes in total 
 darkness, at others lit by the bright 
 beams of the moon, that shone through 
 the dilapidated windows, or broken 
 apertures. 
 
 It was not long before she heard se- 
 veral voices, as if in pursuit of her ; but 
 determining to die rather than again 
 fall into the power of the Count, she 
 crept upon her hands and knees into 
 a ruined recess, where she lay con- 
 cealed, and heard her pursuers pass, and 
 again return from their unsuccessful 
 search. . It was broad day when she 
 ventured to quit her concealment, and 
 she proceeded cautiously, and with a 
 slow pace, for the wound in her arm 
 had bled profusely, though she had en-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 277 
 
 deavoured to staunch it with her veil ; 
 a faint sickness at intervals came over 
 her, and made her almost incapable of 
 proceeding. 
 
 She had now extricated herself 
 from the ruins, and reached a long 
 colonade, in fine preservation, which 
 appeared to lead towards the shore ; 
 but she was now liable to be seen by 
 those, who were doubtless still in 
 quest of her, and she walked trem- 
 bling on, expecting to see the dreaded 
 Count, or still more dreaded Janetta, 
 start from the concealment of every 
 pillar she came to, but no object of 
 alarm met her eye, till turning an 
 angle, she saw almost close to her, two 
 men, who instantly perceived her, and 
 hastily approached ; she had not suf- 
 ficient strength to fly, but she at- 
 tempted it, and tottering a few paces, 
 she fell senseless to the earth.
 
 278 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 In a few minutes she revived, and 
 found herself (not in the power either 
 of the Count or Janetta) but supported 
 in the arms of the Duca de Sehastino, 
 whilst the other stranger, his attend- 
 ant, was occupied in tying a handker- 
 chief over her wound. Unable to 
 speak, she pressed the hand of the 
 Duca to her feverish forehead, with 
 silent rapture, and bathed it with her 
 tears. 
 
 *^ Compose yourself, dearest Lady 
 Genevieve, (he exclaimed) you see 
 in me a friend, deputed by your 
 grandmother to endeavour to obtain 
 your release. I have a vessel at the 
 foot of the rocks waiting to bear 
 you hence ; can you find sufficient 
 strength to accompany us to the 
 shore, or shall we seek for some 
 place of rest till you are recovered, 
 where myself and my attendant will
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 279 
 
 defend you from insult at the risk 
 of our lives?" 
 
 "Oh no, no! (replied Genevieve,) 
 I am quite recovered, let us quit this 
 horrible place — indeed I am quite 
 strong enough to proceed." 
 
 Accept, then, my assistance, and 
 that of my servant, and in a few 
 minutes we shall be safe from pur- 
 suit." 
 
 Genevieve, without any hesitation, 
 passed her hands through the arms of 
 the Duca and his servant, and thus 
 supported, soon reached the foot of 
 the promontory, where several of the 
 Duca's attendants, well armed, were 
 concealed with a small boat behind a 
 cleft of the rock, but at a signal from 
 the Duca, they instantly appeared ; 
 he lifted Genevieve into the little 
 bark, and it swiftly rowed away to 
 a vessel at a short distance, where, 
 as soon as they arrived on board, Ge-
 
 280 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 nevieve was conveyed to the cabin, 
 her wounded arm dressed, and a com- 
 posing cordial given her ; she was 
 left to repose, the Duca refusing to 
 answer any of her various questions 
 till after she had recruited her ex- 
 hausted frame bv rest. 
 
 When Genevieve was torn from 
 her grandmother, the Countess was 
 detained some hours before the mas- 
 ter of the bark she was in, would 
 consent to return with her to Leghorn ; 
 where upon her landing, she learned 
 that the Duca de Sabastino was just 
 arrived. Relying upon her know- 
 ledge of the generosity of his temper, 
 she immediately sent to him ; he 
 obeyed her mandate with prompt- 
 ness, and she candidly related to him 
 the whole history of Genevieve's en- 
 Ihralment with the bandit, and her 
 recent loss. 
 
 The Duca listened to the recital
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 281 
 
 with attention, and suspecting that 
 the master of the bark they had sailed 
 in, had been bribed to permit his pas- 
 senger to be taken from him, he found 
 out the man, and by the offer of a 
 larger bribe to him, discovered, that a 
 gentleman (whom by description he 
 instantly recognized as the Count) 
 had given him a large sum of money 
 to permit his vessel to be boarded, 
 that he might rescue his wife, as he 
 said, from her relations, by whom she 
 was detained from him against her 
 inclination. The explanation of the 
 Countess had shewn them the falsity 
 of this assertion, but the bribe they 
 had taken, and the promptitude of 
 the Count's movements, prevented 
 their interfering ; but they now in- 
 formed the Duca of the direction the 
 vessel had taken, which bore her 
 away, and the Duca, dreading the 
 fate of the interesting Genevieve,
 
 282 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 should she remain in the possession of 
 so licentious a man as the Count, 
 hired a vessel to follow her, and send- 
 ing* the Countess word to remain at 
 Leghorn till his return, he success- 
 fully followed the track of the Count, 
 and rescued his victim at the moment 
 of extreme peril. 
 
 Fatigue, and the potion Genevieve 
 had drank, soon steeped her senses in 
 forgetfulness, and when she awoke, 
 she found herself so much recovered 
 that she rose, and arranging her dress 
 as well as circumstances would permit, 
 she sent for the Duca, from whom 
 she received a brief recital of the 
 past ; and as he was now acquainted 
 with the peculiar delicacy of her situa- 
 tion, he no longer felt pained by her 
 former reserve, but a feeling of pleasure 
 stole over his mind as he reflected 
 that duty, not aversion, had been the 
 cause of it, and unlike the Count, he
 
 tHE republican's MISTRESS. 283 
 
 respected her motives, and treated her 
 during their little voyage with the 
 tender respect of a brother. Con- 
 versing upon the subject of the place 
 of her confinement, the Duca informed 
 her that it was on the little island of 
 Capria, at the entrance of the Gulph 
 of Naples ; and the ruins, the remains 
 of a palace built by the Emperor 
 Adrian, but which had been so dis- 
 graced by the obscene pleasures to 
 which it was dedicated, that popular 
 fury had levelled great part of it with 
 the dust, and its remains were now 
 abandoned by the inhabitants of the 
 island, except by a few fishermen, 
 who occasionally resorted thither, and 
 from whose information the Count 
 had doubtless learned the places of 
 concealment the ruins contained, so 
 admirably adapted to a scheme of vio- 
 lence, such as he had planned, but
 
 284 THE republican's mistress. 
 
 which an all wise Providence had 
 overruled. 
 
 The cause of the appearance of 
 Roberto among the ruins so provi- 
 dentially to her assistance, Genevieve 
 could not comprehend; had he de- 
 serted the fortunes of Jaques to fol- 
 low that of his sister ? If so, why- 
 did he endeavour to counteract her 
 schemes ; but she recollected that Fer- 
 dinand had saved Roberto's life, and 
 she doubted not but gratitude for 
 that had moved Roberto to run some 
 risk to save the honour of the woman 
 Ferdinand loved ; and her heart 
 warmed with transport, as she reflect- 
 ed, that Ferdinand, though absent, 
 had in fact been her preserver. 
 
 Upon their arrival at Leghorn, Ge- 
 nevieve flew to the embrace of her 
 grandmother, who strained her to 
 her heart with rapture, and over-
 
 THE republican's MISTRESS. 285 
 
 whelmed the Duca with thanks, and 
 acknowledgements for his almost un- 
 hoped success. The Duca shared her 
 pleasure, and the mild glance of friend- 
 ship and gratitude that beamed upon 
 him from the soft blue eyes of Gene- 
 vieve gave him more transport than 
 all the blandishments of a wanton 
 could have bestowed. Upon a review 
 of the hints thrown out by the Count, 
 it was the opinion- both of the Coun- 
 tess and the Duca that some imposi- 
 tion had been practised in the celebra- 
 tion of the marriage in the bandit's 
 caverns, and the Countess resolved to 
 return immediately to the chateau, 
 and offer the bandit one half of her 
 wealth for an elucidation of the mys- 
 tery ; for she felt that any certainty 
 would be preferable to the suspense, 
 which was now daily and hourly 
 undermining the health of Genevieve. 
 In consequence of this resolution she
 
 286 THE REPUBLICAN'S MISTRESS. 
 
 again hired a felucca, to carry them to 
 Genoa. The Duca had not yet com- 
 pleted his tour of Italy, but he pro- 
 mised to visit them at the chateau 
 D'Humeires before his return to 
 Spain. He saw them safely on board 
 their vessel, and vv^ith feelings of re- 
 gret and admiration, Genevieve bade 
 adieu to this amiable man. A favour- 
 ble gale wafted them swiftly from the 
 shore on which he stood, and she re- 
 mained upon deck gazing upon his 
 majestic form until it was lost in the 
 distance. 
 
 THE END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 LONDON : 
 SHACKELL AND ARROWSMITH, JOHNSON'S-COURT.
 
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