England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
“I did not mind what he said, so that he would assist me. I was pretty
sure that she was in a state to require opiates; and I had not forgotten
Christopher Sly, you may be sure, so I told him what I had in my head.
That in the dead of night,--the quiet time in the streets,--she should
be carried in a hospital litter, softly and warmly covered over, from
the Leicester Square lodging-house to rooms that I would have in perfect
readiness for her. As I planned, so it was done. I let Clément know, by
a note, of my design. I had all prepared at home, and we walked about my
house as though shod with velvet, while the porter watched at the open
door. At last, through the darkness, I saw the lanterns carried by my
men, who were leading the little procession. The litter looked like a
hearse; on one side walked the doctor, on the other Clément: they came
softly and swiftly along. I could not try any farther experiment; we
dared not change her clothes; she was laid in the bed in the landlady’s
coarse night-gear, and covered over warmly, and left in the shaded,
scented room, with a nurse and the doctor watching by her, while I led
Clément to the dressing-room adjoining, in which I had had a bed placed
for him. Farther than that he would not go; and there I had refreshments
brought. Meanwhile, he had shown his gratitude by every possible action
(for we none of us dared to speak): he had kneeled at my feet, and
kissed my hand, and left it wet with his tears. He had thrown up his
arms to Heaven, and prayed earnestly, as I could see by the movement of
his lips. I allowed him to relieve himself by these dumb expressions, if
I may so call them,--and then I left him, and went to my own rooms to
sit up for my lord, and tell him what I had done.
“Of course, it was all right; and neither my lord nor I could sleep for
wondering how Madame de Créquy would bear her awakening. I had engaged
the doctor, to whose face and voice she was accustomed, to remain with
her all night: the nurse was experienced, and Clément was within call.
But it was with the greatest relief that I heard from my own woman, when
she brought me my chocolate, that Madame de Créquy (Monsieur had said)
had awakened more tranquil than she had been for many days. To be sure,
the whole aspect of the bed-chamber must have been more familiar to her
than the miserable place where I had found her, and she must have
intuitively felt herself among friends.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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