This produces many pleasant allusions to last night's intemperance among the good souls; and they go to breakfast without me. Now, in the steward's room, one wonders Mr. Griffiths is not come home, a second wonders at my good nature and his faults, and a fourth wonders I do not awake. Amidst all this wit and wonder, another hour or two passes; and then two or three more probably in the surmises occasioned by the discovery of my absence. The servants of the castle in the mean time are employed in their usual occupations, not at all surprised that their visitors had quitted them early unseen, because it had been so intended by them. Andrew, indeed, waits Miss Valmont's summons for breakfast, and deems it somewhat tardy. He concludes her walk to be unusually pleasing, and eats his own repast in peace and quietness. At length, his thoughts verge towards the extraordinary, and he inclines to seek further. No, Andrew, 'tis in vain you search. No fair wood-nymph greets your eye. No voice answers to your call.----Ay! ay! assemble them:--hold your convocations in the great hall:--crowd, closer and closer:--whisper your suspicions, lest the dread ear of Valmont catch the tidings, that--_she is gone!_--Who shall carry these tidings to Mr. Valmont?--Not I! not I! not I! answers every voice at once; and up to the hall door drives his coach and six. Away fly the pale culprits!--Jostling against each other, confusion retards their speed, and the dreadful secret is in part betrayed. Fye! Mr. Valmont, fye! don't swear! don't call hard names! Can't you hear him, Walter, declaring his rage, and threatening his vengeance?--I can. Ill news fly fast. Mr. Valmont's horses are not unharnessed.--Turn your eyes to Monkton Hall. See the squire enter--See the earl turn pale; the baronet attempt to look sorry; and see them, as I before observed, sitting in judgment on me, and putting their own black constructions on my innocent praise-worthy intentions. Assuredly, Walter, could I have commanded every circumstance in my own way, it could not have happened more favourably. Mr. Valmont's porter is ill, and has been removed from the lodge into the house to be better nursed. Two grooms were deputed to take care of the draw-bridge. Mr. Valmont absent, we found it down; and down it remains now.--With what art Griffiths drew off the postilion, while I got into the chaise! The lad had not a suspicion he carried more than two--I crouched to the bottom, as they got out; and Griffiths whip'd up the blinds in an instant. He gave me one complete fright, for we had agreed the postilion should follow them into the house to be paid, while I freed myself; imagine how I trembled to hear them discharging him on the spot, and he thanking and wishing their honours good night. 'Stop my boy,' at length, cried Griffiths; 'hasn't thou got a wet jacket?' 'Yes, indeed, master,' replied the postilion, ''tis well soaked.'