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'Oh！ I am secure of her silence； She is too much afraid of me；
and fond of her children； to dare to betray my secret。 Besides；
Jacques and Robert keep a strict eye over her； and She is not
permitted to set a foot out of the Cottage。 The Servants are
safely lodged in the Barn； I shall endeavour to keep all quiet
till the arrival of our Friends。 Were I assured of your finding
them； the Strangers should be dispatched this instant； But as it
is possible for you to miss the Banditti； I am fearful of being
summoned to produce them by their Domestics in the Morning。'
'And suppose either of the Travellers should discover your
design？'
'Then we must poignard those in our power； and take our chance
about mastering the rest。 However； to avoid running such a
risque； hasten to the Cavern： The Banditti never leave it before
eleven； and if you use diligence； you may reach it in time to
stop them。'
'Tell Robert that I have taken his Horse： My own has broken his
bridle； and escaped into the Wood。 What is the watch…word？'
'The reward of Courage。'
' 'Tis sufficient。 I hasten to the Cavern。'
'And I to rejoin my Guests； lest my absence should create
suspicion。 Farewell； and be diligent。'
These worthy Associates now separated： The One bent his course
towards the Stable； while the Other returned to the House。
You may judge； what must have been my feelings during this
conversation； of which I lost not a single syllable。 I dared not
trust myself to my reflections； nor did any means present itself
to escape the dangers which threatened me。 Resistance； I knew to
be vain； I was unarmed； and a single Man against Three： However；
I resolved at least to sell my life as dearly as I could。
Dreading lest Baptiste should perceive my absence； and suspect me
to have overheard the message with which Claude was dispatched； I
hastily relighted my candle and quitted the chamber。 On
descending； I found the Table spread for six Persons。 The
Baroness sat by the fireside： Marguerite was employed in
dressing a sallad； and her Step…sons were whispering together at
the further end of the room。 Baptiste having the round of the
Garden to make； ere He could reach the Cottage door； was not yet
arrived。 I seated myself quietly opposite to the Baroness。
A glance upon Marguerite told her that her hint had not been
thrown away upon me。 How different did She now appear to me！
What before seemed gloom and sullenness； I now found to be
disgust at her Associates； and compassion for my danger。 I
looked up to her as to my only resource； Yet knowing her to be
watched by her Husband with a suspicious eye； I could place but
little reliance on the exertions of her good…will。
In spite of all my endeavours to conceal it； my agitation was but
too visibly expressed upon my countenance。 I was pale； and both
my words and actions were disordered and embarrassed。 The young
Men observed this； and enquired the cause。 I attributed it to
excess of fatigue； and the violent effect produced on me by the
severity of the season。 Whether they believed me or not； I will
not pretend to say： They at least ceased to embarrass me with
their questions。 I strove to divert my attention from the perils
which surrounded me； by conversing on different subjects with the
Baroness。 I talked of Germany； declaring my intention of
visiting it immediately： God knows； that I little thought at
that moment of ever seeing it！ She replied to me with great ease
and politeness； professed that the pleasure of making my
acquaintance amply compensated for the delay in her journey； and
gave me a pressing invitation to make some stay at the Castle of
Lindenberg。 As She spoke thus； the Youths exchanged a malicious
smile； which declared that She would be fortunate if She ever
reached that Castle herself。 This action did not escape me； But
I concealed the emotion which it excited in my breast。 I
continued to converse with the Lady； But my discourse was so
frequently incoherent； that as She has since informed me； She
began to doubt whether I was in my right senses。 The fact was；
that while my conversation turned upon one subject； my thoughts
were entirely occupied by another。 I meditated upon the means of
quitting the Cottage； finding my way to the Barn； and giving the
Domestics information of our Host's designs。 I was soon
convinced； how impracticable was the attempt。 Jacques and Robert
watched my every movement with an attentive eye； and I was
obliged to abandon the idea。 All my hopes now rested upon
Claude's not finding the Banditti： In that case； according to
what I had overheard； we should be permitted to depart unhurt。
I shuddered involuntarily as Baptiste entered the room。 He made
many apologies for his long absence； but 'He had been detained by
affairs impossible to be delayed。' He then entreated permission
for his family to sup at the same table with us； without which；
respect would not authorize his taking such a liberty。 Oh！ how
in my heart I cursed the Hypocrite！ How I loathed his presence；
who was on the point of depriving me of an existence； at that
time infinitely dear！ I had every reason to be satisfied with
life； I had youth； wealth； rank； and education； and the fairest
prospects presented themselves before me。 I saw those prospects
on the point of closing in the most horrible manner： Yet was I
obliged to dissimulate； and to receive with a semblance of
gratitude the false civilities of him who held the dagger to my
bosom。
The permission which our Host demanded； was easily obtained。 We
seated ourselves at the Table。 The Baroness and myself occupied
one side： The Sons were opposite to us with their backs to the
door。 Baptiste took his seat by the Baroness at the upper end；
and the place next to him was left for his Wife。 She soon
entered the room； and placed before us a plain but comfortable
Peasant's repast。 Our Host thought it necessary to apologize for
the poorness of the supper： 'He had not been apprized of our
coming； He could only offer us such fare as had been intended for
his own family：'
'But；' added He； 'should any accident detain my noble Guests
longer than they at present intend； I hope to give them a better
treatment。'
The Villain！ I well knew the accident to which He alluded； I
shuddered at the treatment which He taught us to expect！
My Companion in danger seemed entirely to have got rid of her
chagrin at being delayed。 She laughed； and conversed with the
family with infinite gaiety。 I strove but in vain to follow her
example。 My spirits were evidently forced； and the constraint
which I put upon myself escaped not Baptiste's observation。
'Come； come； Monsieur； cheer up！' said He； 'You seem not quite
recovered from your fatigue。 To raise your spirits； what say you
to a glass of excellent old wine which was left me by my Father？
God rest his soul； He is in a better world！ I seldom produce
this wine； But as I am not honoured with such Guests every day；
this is an occasion which deserves a Bottle。'
He then gave his Wife a Key； and instructed her where to find the
wine of which He spoke。 She seemed by no means pleased with the
commission； She took the Key with an embarrassed air； and
hesitated to quit the Table。
'Did you hear me？' said Baptiste in an angry tone。
Marguerite darted upon him a look of mingled anger and fear； and
left the chamber。 His eyes followed her suspiciously； till She
had closed the door。
She soon returned with a bottle sealed with yellow wax。 She
placed it upon the table； and gave the Key back to her Husband。
I suspected that this liquor was not presented to us without
design； and I watched Marguerite's movements with inquietude。
She was employed in rinsing some small horn Goblets。 As She
placed them before Baptiste； She saw that my eye was fixed upon
her； and at the moment when She thought herself unobserved by the
Banditti； She motioned to me with her head not to taste the
liquor； She then resumed her place。
In the mean while our Host had drawn the Cork； and filling two of
the Goblets； offered them to the Lady and myself。 She at first
made some objections； but the in