At perusing these lines my transports exceeded all bounds; Neither did
I set any to the expressions of gratitude which I heaped upon Theodore.
In fact his address and attention merited my warmest praise. You will
readily believe that I had not entrusted him with my passion for Agnes;
But the arch Youth had too much discernment not to discover my secret,
and too much discretion not to conceal his knowledge of it. He observed
in silence what was going on, nor strove to make himself an Agent in
the business till my interests required his interference. I equally
admired his judgment, his penetration, his address, and his fidelity.
This was not the first occasion in which I had found him of infinite
use, and I was every day more convinced of his quickness and capacity.
During my short stay at Strasbourg, He had applied himself diligently
to learning the rudiments of Spanish: He continued to study it, and
with so much success that He spoke it with the same facility as his
native language. He past the greatest part of his time in reading; He
had acquired much information for his Age; and united the advantages of
a lively countenance and prepossessing figure to an excellent
understanding and the very best of hearts. He is now fifteen; He is
still in my service, and when you see him, I am sure that He will
please you. But excuse this digression: I return to the subject which I
quitted.
I obeyed the instructions of Agnes. I proceeded to Munich. There I left
my Chaise under the care of Lucas, my French Servant, and then returned
on Horseback to a small Village about four miles distant from the
Castle of Lindenberg. Upon arriving there a story was related to the
Host at whose Inn I descended, which prevented his wondering at my
making so long a stay in his House. The old Man fortunately was
credulous and incurious: He believed all I said, and sought to know no
more than what I thought proper to tell him. Nobody was with me but
Theodore; Both were disguised, and as we kept ourselves close, we were
not suspected to be other than what we seemed. In this manner the
fortnight passed away. During that time I had the pleasing conviction
that Agnes was once more at liberty. She past through the Village with
Dame Cunegonda: She seemed in health and spirits, and talked to her
Companion without any appearance of constraint.
“Who are those Ladies?” said I to my Host, as the Carriage past.
“Baron Lindenberg’s Niece with her Governess,” He replied; “She goes
regularly every Friday to the Convent of St. Catharine, in which She
was brought up, and which is situated about a mile from hence.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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