is Arms, where she fell into
a swound, but quickly recovering, he set her down in a Chair, and,
kneeling before her, implor'd to know what she ayl'd, and why she fled
from him, who ador'd her? She only fix'd a ghastly Look upon him, and
said, She was not well: 'Oh! (said he) put not me off with such poor
Excuses, _Isabella_ never fled from me, when Ill, but came to my Arms,
and to my Bosom, to find a Cure; therefore, tell me, what's the matter?'
At that, she fell a weeping in a most violent manner, and cry'd, She was
for ever undone: He, being mov'd with Love and Compassion, conjur'd her
to tell what she ayl'd: 'Ah! (said she) thou and I, and all of us, are
undone!' At this, he lost all Patience and rav'd, and cry'd, Tell me,
and tell me immediately, what's the matter? When she saw his Face pale,
and his Eyes fierce, she fell on her knees, and cry'd, 'Oh! you can
never Pardon me, if I should tell you, and yet, alas! I am innocent of
Ill, by all that's good, I am.' But her Conscience accusing her at that
word, she was silent. If thou art Innocent, said _Villenoys_, taking her
up in his Arms, and kissing her wet Face, 'By all that's Good, I Pardon
thee, what ever thou hast done.' 'Alas! (said she) Oh! but I dare not
name it, 'till you swear.' 'By all that's Sacred, (reply'd he) and by
whatever Oath you can oblige me to; by my inviolable Love to thee, and
by thy own dear Self, I swear, whate're it be, I do forgive thee;
I know, thou art too good to commit a Sin I may not with Honour,
pardon.'

With this, and hearten'd by his Caresses, she told him, That _Henault_
was return'd; and repeating to him his Escape, she said, She had put him
to Bed, and when he expected her to come, she fell on her Knees at the
Bedside, and confess'd, She was married to _Villenoys_; at that word
(said she) he fetch'd a deep Sigh or two, and presently after, with a
very little struggling, dy'd; and, yonder, he lyes still in the Bed.
After this, she wept so abundantly, that all _Villenoys_ could do, could
hardly calm her Spirits; but after, consulting what they should do in
this Affair, _Villenoys_ ask'd her, Who of the House saw him? She said,
Only _Maria_, who knew not who he was; so that, resolving to save
_Isabella's_ Honour, which was the only Misfortune to come, _Villenoys_
himself propos'd the carrying him out to the Bridge, and throwing him
into the River, where the Stream would carry him down to the Sea, and
lose him; or, if he were found,