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justice； that I should fly with detestation from the embraces of
a Murderer。 Eight years of possession had not abated his love
for me； and He cautiously removed from my knowledge every
circumstance； which might lead me to suspect the crimes in which
He but too often participated。 He succeeded perfectly： It was
not till after my Seducer's death； that I discovered his hands to
have been stained with the blood of innocence。
'One fatal night He was brought back to the Cavern covered with
wounds： He received them in attacking an English Traveller； whom
his Companions immediately sacrificed to their resentment。 He
had only time to entreat my pardon for all the sorrows which He
had caused me： He pressed my hand to his lips； and expired。 My
grief was inexpressible。 As soon as its violence abated； I
resolved to return to Strasbourg； to throw myself with my two
Children at my Father's feet； and implore his forgiveness； though
I little hoped to obtain it。 What was my consternation when
informed that no one entrusted with the secret of their retreat
was ever permitted to quit the troop of the Banditti； That I must
give up all hopes of ever rejoining society； and consent
instantly to accepting one of their Band for my Husband！ My
prayers and remonstrances were vain。 They cast lots to decide to
whose possession I should fall； I became the property of the
infamous Baptiste。 A Robber； who had once been a Monk；
pronounced over us a burlesque rather than a religious Ceremony：
I and my Children were delivered into the hands of my new
Husband； and He conveyed us immediately to his home。
'He assured me that He had long entertained for me the most
ardent regard； But that Friendship for my deceased Lover had
obliged him to stifle his desires。 He endeavoured to reconcile
me to my fate； and for some time treated me with respect and
gentleness： At length finding that my aversion rather increased
than diminished； He obtained those favours by violence； which I
persisted to refuse him。 No resource remained for me but to bear
my sorrows with patience； I was conscious that I deserved them
but too well。 Flight was forbidden： My Children were in the
power of Baptiste； and He had sworn that if I attempted to
escape； their lives should pay for it。 I had had too many
opportunities of witnessing the barbarity of his nature to doubt
his fulfilling his oath to the very letter。 Sad experience had
convinced me of the horrors of my situation： My first Lover had
carefully concealed them from me； Baptiste rather rejoiced in
opening my eyes to the cruelties of his profession； and strove to
familiarise me with blood and slaughter。
'My nature was licentious and warm； but not cruel： My conduct had
been imprudent； but my heart was not unprincipled。 Judge then
what I must have felt at being a continual witness of crimes the
most horrible and revolting！ Judge how I must have grieved at
being united to a Man who received the unsuspecting Guest with
an air of openness and hospitality； at the very moment that He
meditated his destruction。 Chagrin and discontent preyed upon my
constitution： The few charms bestowed on me by nature withered
away； and the dejection of my countenance denoted the sufferings
of my heart。 I was tempted a thousand times to put an end to my
existence； But the remembrance of my Children held my hand。 I
trembled to leave my dear Boys in my Tyrant's power； and trembled
yet more for their virtue than their lives。 The Second was still
too young to benefit by my instructions； But in the heart of my
Eldest I laboured unceasingly to plant those principles； which
might enable him to avoid the crimes of his Parents。 He listened
to me with docility； or rather with eagerness。 Even at his early
age； He showed that He was not calculated for the society of
Villains； and the only comfort which I enjoyed among my sorrows；
was to witness the dawning virtues of my Theodore。
'Such was my situation； when the perfidy of Don Alphonso's
postillion conducted him to the Cottage。 His youth； air； and
manners interested me most forcibly in his behalf。 The absence
of my Husband's Sons gave me an opportunity which I had long
wished to find； and I resolved to risque every thing to preserve
the Stranger。 The vigilance of Baptiste prevented me from
warning Don Alphonso of his danger： I knew that my betraying the
secret would be immediately punished with death； and however
embittered was my life by calamities； I wanted courage to
sacrifice it for the sake of preserving that of another Person。
My only hope rested upon procuring succour from Strasbourg： At
this I resolved to try； and should an opportunity offer of
warning Don Alphonso of his danger unobserved； I was determined
to seize it with avidity。 By Baptiste's orders I went upstairs
to make the Stranger's Bed： I spread upon it Sheets in which a
Traveller had been murdered but a few nights before； and which
still were stained with blood。 I hoped that these marks would
not escape the vigilance of our Guest； and that He would collect
from them the designs of my perfidious Husband。 Neither was this
the only step which I took to preserve the Stranger。 Theodore
was confined to his bed by illness。 I stole into his room
unobserved by my Tyrant； communicated to him my project； and He
entered into it with eagerness。 He rose in spite of his malady；
and dressed himself with all speed。 I fastened one of the Sheets
round his arms； and lowered him from the Window。 He flew to the
Stable； took Claude's Horse； and hastened to Strasbourg。 Had He
been accosted by the Banditti； He was to have declared himself
sent upon a message by Baptiste； but fortunately He reached the
Town without meeting any obstacle。 Immediately upon his arrival
at Strasbourg； He entreated assistance from the Magistrature：
His Story passed from mouth to mouth； and at length came to the
knowledge of my Lord the Baron。 Anxious for the safety of his
Lady； whom He knew would be upon the road that Evening； it struck
him that She might have fallen into the power of the Robbers。 He
accompanied Theodore who guided the Soldiers towards the Cottage；
and arrived just in time to save us from falling once more into
the hands of our Enemies。'
Here I interrupted Marguerite to enquire why the sleepy potion
had been presented to me。 She said that Baptiste supposed me to
have arms about me； and wished to incapacitate me from making
resistance： It was a precaution which He always took； since as
the Travellers had no hopes of escaping； Despair would have
incited them to sell their lives dearly。
The Baron then desired Marguerite to inform him； what were her
present plans。 I joined him in declaring my readiness to show my
gratitude to her for the preservation of my life。
'Disgusted with a world；' She replied； 'in which I have met with
nothing but misfortunes； my only wish is to retire into a
Convent。 But first I must provide for my Children。 I find that
my Mother is no more； probably driven to an untimely grave by my
desertion！ My Father is still living； He is not an hard Man；
Perhaps； Gentlemen； in spite of my ingratitude and imprudence；
your intercessions may induce him to forgive me； and to take
charge of his unfortunate Grand…sons。 If you obtain this boon
for me； you will repay my services a thousand…fold！'
Both the Baron and myself assured Marguerite； that we would spare
no pains to obtain her pardon： and that even should her Father be
inflexible； She need be under no apprehensions respecting the
fate of her Children。 I engaged myself to provide for Theodore；
and the Baron promised to take the youngest under his protection。
The grateful Mother thanked us with tears for what She called
generosity； but which in fact was no more than a proper sense of
our obligations to her。 She then left the room to put her little
Boy to bed； whom fatigue and sleep had compleatly overpowered。
The Baroness； on recovering and being informed from what dangers
I had rescued her； set no bounds to the expressions of her
gratitude。 She was joined so warmly by her Husband in pressing
me to accompany them to their Castle in Bavaria；