The Marquis made immediate preparations for his journey, and soon set
out, accompanied by his friend Mr Worthy, Mrs Worthy accompanying Lady
Eliza to Munster-house--Soon after their arrival Lord and Lady Darnley
rejoined them with their little son, her ladyship being too tender a
mother to leave him behind her, or to commit him to the care of any but
herself. The tender brain of _Newton_, or _Alexander_, altered in their
infancy by a small compression, or slight commotion, might have rendered
the first stupid, and the other a wise King--Yet people in general,
though emulous of obtaining wealth for their heirs, commit them to the
care of uninterested hirelings. Sir Harry Bingley, his aunt and sister,
and most of the parties already introduced to the reader, assembled at
Munster house to spend the summer.
Mrs Lee had rejected every overture from her husband for a
reconciliation, whilst his health and fortune lasted--but to a mind
like hers, misfortunes cancelled every injury--His fortune ruined,
his health impaired, he plunged deeper and deeper into every species
of excess. This soon brought him to the greatest distress, and he was
so much reduced as to be in want of the common necessaries of life.
Mrs Lee, upon being informed of his deplorable situation, immediately
converted that villa in Wales, of which there has been a description
given[39], into money, paid her husband's debts, and accompanied him at
a wretched hovel, to which his poverty, the consequence of his crimes,
and infidelity (_to her_) had reduced him.--There she continued, shewing
him every attention until his decease; when she came with Lady Darnley
to Munster-house.
Lady Eliza soon received the following Letter from the Marquis de
Villeroy.
Madam, Venice.
On my arrival at this place, I found that, on the report of my
death, my father had consigned over his estate to a near relation
of mine--who knew me at once, though so emaciated, and has acted in
the most honorable manner to me. My father has retired to La-Trappe
in France: thither my duty must lead me, previous to the happiness I
shall receive in throwing myself at your feet.
Were I disposed to draw the most engaging _portrait_ imaginable,
I could easily find a subject; but as you may possibly wish for an
intimate acquaintance with the original, I shall omit the attempt,
since it would be difficult for you to obtain it from that principle
in human nature which makes us strangers _to ourselves_.
I shall detain your ladyship no longer, than to request you will
inform my friend, your brother, that I am mortified to be unable to
deliver his letter to Mademoiselle de Querci--no such person can be
found.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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