Page:Adventures of Rachel Cunningham.djvu/27

 his seat, took his hat, and mere); saying, "Monsieur, je prends conge—bon soir!" immediately departed.

Whether the observations of this French friend had any weight or share in moving his reflections to the recovery of his reason and stimulating a resolution to dissolve the charm of his amorous enchantment, cannot on certainty be said, but most certain it is, that at a very short distance of time subsequent to the conversation mentioned^ he, Mr. L, as if suddenly struck with remorse from his past conduct, summoned sufficient courage to break the spell that bound him, and by a successful stratagem, effected through the aid of one of his confidential clerks, he finally succeeded in extricating himself.

This stratagem was as follows: having made up his mind to the sticking-point of determined execution of his purpose, he private communicated with the clerk alluded to upon that subject, and the plan to be pursued was thus arranged: a letter, purporting the highest importance in money affairs requiring his (Mr. L's) personal attendance without delay to meet the parties at a place considerably distant from Franklin County, was written and signed, as if from one of those parties,) by the said clerk, and brought to Mr. L, in a packet with others. On reading this particular letter, he affected sudden and very great concern at the painful necessity it imposed upon him of separating himself, though but for a short time from her; (Rachel,) and promising his return should be as speedy as possible, he kissed her fervently and immediately set off, as she believed, for the place of appointment, but his journey was not a long one. The clerk, who was personally unknown to her, went the same evening to the house, as agreed upon, provided with a large sum of money about him, as a bait to be shown as needful to the occasion; he begged the lady would, though a stranger, allow a short interview with her in private, which he was readily admitted to; and having made proposals, with representations of himself as a gentleman of immense possessions, she as readily agreed to accompany him on the next day to a small town named, some few miles off, where it was settled they should sleep together, as he heeded not, he told her what sum of money should purchase such a delectable