ds assured him that it
was her opinion he could not take a more ready way to raise his own
fortune, yet her looks at the same time made him plainly see how much
she would suffer in his taking that step.

Many reasons, both for and against following his inclination in this
point, presented themselves to him; and he had no sooner, as he thought,
determined for the one, than the other rose with double vehemence and
overthrew the former. In this fluctuating situation of mind did he
remain for some time, and perhaps had done so much longer, had not an
accident happened which proved decisive, and indeed left him no other
party to take than that he afterwards did.

Charlotta, being now entirely mistress of herself, gave him frequent
meetings in the Tuilleries, judging it safer to converse with him there
than at the house of any person, whom, in such a case, must be the
confidante of the whole affair; whereas, if they were seen together in
the walks, it might be judged they met by accident, and not give any
grounds of suspicion, which hitherto they had been so fortunate as
to avoid.

It was in one of those appointments, when entered into a very tender
conversation, they forgot themselves so far as to suffer the moon to
rise upon them: the stillness of the evening, and the little company
which happened to be there that night, seemed to indulge their
inclinations of continuing in so sweet a recess:--they were seated on a
bench at the foot of a large tree, when Charlotta, in answer to some
tender professions he had been making, said, depend on this, Horatio,
that as you are the first who has ever been capable of making me
sensible of love, so nothing shall have power to change my sentiments
while you continue to deserve, or to desire I should think of you as I
now do. He shall not long continue to desire it,--cried a voice behind
them, and immediately rushed from the other side of the thicket a man
with his sword drawn, and ran full upon Horatio, who not having time to
be upon his guard, had certainly fallen a victim to his rival's fury,
had not a gentleman seized his arm, and, by superior strength, forced
him some paces back.--Are you mad, monsieur, said he; do you forget the
place you are in, or the danger you so lately escaped for an enterprize
of this nature?

Mademoiselle Charlotta, now a little recovered from her first, surprize,
and knowing it was young monsieur de Coigney who had given her this
alarm, had presence eno