Page:The Castle of Wolfenbach - Parsons - 1854.djvu/236

 tilda. She is again in the power of that villain, Weimar; who, contrary to his engagements, has procured an order from the king, and carried her off, we know not where. We wait with impatience to hear further."

This letter from the Marquis found the Count De Bouville at Bath; where he vainly sought amusement to remove the anguish which preyed upon his mind, arising from the impossibility of ever calling Matilda his. He viewed the gay females of fashion with birth, beauty, and accomplishments to boast of, with perfect indifference. Ah! thought he, where is the modest retiring sweetness of Matilda? Where those unaffected charms—those natural graces of her deportment? Never shall I meet with a woman that I can admire or love, after knowing that lovely girl, whose very virtues preclude my happiness. He was in one of these reveries when the letter from the Marquis was delivered to him. The happiness of his friends gave him infinite delight; but how changed were his emotions on reading the postscript: his rage exceeded all bounds; he determined to leave Bath instantly. "I will hunt the villain through the world, (cried he;) I will find her, if she is on earth, and no power shall ever take her from me again. O, Matilda too scrupulous girl, you have undone us both, and ruined my peace for ever." He called his servants, and ordered the necessary arrangements for leaving Bath that night. He went out to call on some friends he had formed an engagement with, and to whom he thought more than a card was due. Crossing the parade, he saw, coming towards him, Madame Le Brune, Mademoiselle De Fontelle, and Mrs. Courtney, who had arrived from Tunbridge together the preceding evening. Nothing could have happened more unfortunate than this meeting. His temper irritated before, at the sight of the two ladies together, both of whom he considered as enemies to Matilda, his passion increased beyond the bounds of