me with money; but I could not bring myself to make use of their
friendship, or even to own my distress, except to one person, of whom I
borrowed a small sum. To crown my misfortunes, I was taken very ill,
at a time when there was no other way of avoiding the clutches of my
persecutor but by a precipitate flight. In this emergency, I applied
to a worthy gentleman of Brussels, a very good friend of mine, but no
lover. I say no lover, because every man is supposed to act in that
capacity who befriends a young woman in distress. This generous Fleming
set out with me in the night from Brussels, and conducted me to the
frontier of France. Being very much indisposed both in mind and body
when I was obliged to undertake this expedition, I should in all
probability have sunk under the fatigue of travelling, had not my
spirits been kept up by the conversation of my companion, who was a man
of business and consequence, and undertook to manage my affairs in such
a manner as would enable me to re-establish my residence in the place I
had left. He was young and active, attended me with the utmost care and
assiduity, and left nothing undone which he thought would contribute to
my ease and satisfaction. I believe his friendship for me was a little
tinctured with another passion; but he was married, and lived very well
with his wife, who was also my friend; so that he knew I would never
think of him in the light of a lover.

"Upon our arrival at Valenciennes, he accommodated me with a little
money, for a little was all I would take, and returned to his own city,
after we had settled a correspondence by letters. I was detained a
day or two in this place by my indisposition, which increased; but,
nevertheless, proceeded to Paris, to make interest for a protection from
the king of France, which that monarch graciously accorded me, in three
days after my first application, and his minister sent orders to all the
governors and intendants of the province towns, to protect me against
the efforts of Lord ----, in whatever place I should choose to reside.

"Having returned my thanks at Versailles for this favour, and tarried
a few days at Paris, which was a place altogether unsuitable to the
low ebb of my fortune, I repaired to Lisle, where I intended to fix my
habitation; and there my disorder recurred with such violence, that I
was obliged to send for a physician, who seemed to have been a disciple
of Sangrado; for he scarce left a drop of b