possession of my mind--the absurd desire to know what had become of
Noel since we separated, and by what accident I now found him wearing
my livery in the castle. With this intent I availed myself of the first
moment I was secure from interruption, to summon him to my presence. He
threw himself at my feet, imploring of me to pardon his audacity. "Alas,
madam!" said he, "I am more unfortunate than guilty. I saw you walking
some time since, and I could obtain no rest or peace till I was
fortunate enough to obtain admission to your establishment. Punish me
for my temerity if you will; expel me from the castle, have me confined
in a prison, I deserve it all; but, voluntarily, I cannot leave this
house; and if you will only permit my stay, I solemnly vow you shall
see nothing in my conduct but the zeal of an attached and respectful
servant."

I was weak enough to pardon Noel and shortly after to raise him to the
rank of _valet de chambre_, which brought him infinitely too much about
me.

Yes, my friend, the woman is, after all attempts to excuse it, blamable
for bestowing her affection on one below herself in the scale of
society. Nature herself appears to have planted in our bosoms a kind of
instinct, which warns us from it, and a prejudice against all those who
so degrade themselves. It is different with men; they can confer rank
and elevation on the beloved object. A woman should always have reason
to look up to and feel proud of the man to whom she consigns her heart;
this species of vanity is mixed with the noblest love, and the woman who
can overlook it, acts from passion of the lowest, basest kind. How easy
is it to reason! Alas! Why have I not always acted as well as I speak.

I was thus again a second time enthralled by Noel, and much more so,
too, than I will now tell you. My faithful Henriette, whose devoted
attachment for me kept her ever watchful of my safety and reputation,
was thunderstruck at perceiving what I vainly strove to conceal from
her; and, as she has since told me, was long in deciding whether to
speak to me of the affair, when an unexpected incident arose, which
determined her, at every risk of my displeasure, to use her endeavors
to put an end to so disgraceful a connexion, which must infallibly have
ended in my disgrace.

One night, or rather midnight, all was at rest in the castle, and I was
sleeping peacefully in the arms of Noel, when all at once I was awakened
by the sudden opening of an