cape me; But I concealed the emotion
which it excited in my breast. I continued to converse with the Lady;
But my discourse was so frequently incoherent, that as She has since
informed me, She began to doubt whether I was in my right senses. The
fact was, that while my conversation turned upon one subject, my
thoughts were entirely occupied by another. I meditated upon the means
of quitting the Cottage, finding my way to the Barn, and giving the
Domestics information of our Host's designs. I was soon convinced, how
impracticable was the attempt. Jacques and Robert watched my every
movement with an attentive eye, and I was obliged to abandon the idea.
All my hopes now rested upon Claude's not finding the Banditti: In
that case, according to what I had overheard, we should be permitted to
depart unhurt.

I shuddered involuntarily as Baptiste entered the room. He made many
apologies for his long absence, but 'He had been detained by affairs
impossible to be delayed.' He then entreated permission for his family
to sup at the same table with us, without which, respect would not
authorize his taking such a liberty. Oh! how in my heart I cursed the
Hypocrite! How I loathed his presence, who was on the point of
depriving me of an existence, at that time infinitely dear! I had
every reason to be satisfied with life; I had youth, wealth, rank, and
education; and the fairest prospects presented themselves before me. I
saw those prospects on the point of closing in the most horrible
manner: Yet was I obliged to dissimulate, and to receive with a
semblance of gratitude the false civilities of him who held the dagger
to my bosom.

The permission which our Host demanded, was easily obtained. We seated
ourselves at the Table. The Baroness and myself occupied one side:
The Sons were opposite to us with their backs to the door. Baptiste
took his seat by the Baroness at the upper end, and the place next to
him was left for his Wife. She soon entered the room, and placed
before us a plain but comfortable Peasant's repast. Our Host thought
it necessary to apologize for the poorness of the supper: 'He had not
been apprized of our coming; He could only offer us such fare as had
been intended for his own family:'

'But,' added He, 'should any accident detain my noble Guests longer
than they at present intend, I hope to give them a better treatment.'

The Villain! I well knew the accident to which He alluded; I shuddered