ney: but
how it happened so is what I cannot conceive.

I can easily solve the riddle, replied mademoiselle de Coigney: I heard
my brother say he intended to wear a hunting dress at the masquerade;
but being disappointed of going to it, by his most christian majesty
sending for him to Marli, I suppose too suddenly for him to give notice
of his enforced absence to madame d' Olonne, and Horatio by chance
appearing in the same habit which he had doubtless told her he would be
in, and their sizes being pretty much alike, she might very well be
deceived, and also have a seeming reason for the jealousy and rage her
letter testifies.

Nothing could exceed the joy Horatio felt at this unexpected
eclaircisement of his innocence, which was also doubled by the pleasure
which, in spight of all her endeavours to restrain it, he saw sparkle in
the eyes of his beloved Charlotta. Neither of them, however, had any
opportunity of expressing their sentiments at this time, de Coigney
continuing with them till dinner, when they all separated to go to their
respective tables.

The next day afforded what in this he had sought in vain:--he found her
alone in her own apartment; and having broke the ice, was now grown bold
enough to declare his passion, with all the embellishments necessary to
render it successful: mademoiselle Charlotta knew very well what became
the decorum of her sex, and was too nice an observer of it not to behave
with all the reserve imaginable on this occasion. All the freedom she
had been accustomed to treat him with, while ignorant of his or her own
inclination, was now banished from her words and actions, and she
gravely told him, that if he were in earnest, it was utterly improper
for her to receive any professions of that kind without the approbation
of monsieur de Palfoy her father; and as there was but very little
probability of his granting it, on many considerations, she would wish
him to quell in its infancy an affection which might otherwise be
attended with misfortunes to them both.

It is certain, indeed, that in this she spoke no more than what her
reason suggested: she knew very well that her father had much higher
expectations in view for her, and that on the least suspicion of her
entertaining a foreigner, and one who seemed to have no other dependance
than that of favour, she should be immediately removed from St.
Germains; so that it behoved her to be very circumspect in any
encouragement she gave