When _Villenoys_, who would, for the Safety of _Isabella’s_ Honour, be
the sole Actor in the disposing of this Body; and since he was Young,
Vigorous, and Strong, and able to bear it, would trust no one with the
Secret, he having put up the Body, and ty’d it fast, set it on a Chair,
turning his Back towards it, with the more conveniency to take it upon
his Back, bidding _Isabella_ give him the two Corners of the Sack in his
Hands; telling her, They must do this last office for the Dead, more, in
order to the securing their Honour and Tranquility hereafter, than for
any other Reason, and bid her be of good Courage, till he came back, for
it was not far to the Bridge, and it being the dead of the Night, he
should pass well enough. When he had the Sack on his Back, and ready to
go with it, she cry’d, Stay, my Dear, some of his Clothes hang out,
which I will put in; and with that, taking the Pack-needle with the
Thread, sew’d the Sack, with several strong Stitches, to the Collar of
_Villenoy’s_ Coat, without his perceiving it, and bid him go now; and
when you come to the Bridge, (said she) and that you are throwing him
over the Rail, (which is not above Breast high) be sure you give him a
good swing, least the Sack should hang on any thing at the side of the
Bridge, and not fall into the Stream; I’le warrant you, (said
_Villenoys_) I know how to secure his falling. And going his way with
it, Love lent him Strength, and he soon arriv’d at the Bridge; where,
turning his Back to the Rail, and heaving the Body over, he threw
himself with all his force backward, the better to swing the Body into
the River, whose weight (it being made fast to his Collar) pull’d
_Villenoys_ after it, and both the live and the dead Man falling into
the River, which, being rapid at the Bridge, soon drown’d him,
especially when so great a weight hung to his Neck; so that he dy’d,
without considering what was the occasion of his Fate.
_Isabella_ remain’d the most part of the Night sitting in her Chamber,
without going to Bed, to see what would become of her Damnable Design;
but when it was towards Morning, and she heard no News, she put herself
into Bed, but not to find Repose or Rest there, for that she thought
impossible, after so great a Barbarity as she had committed; No, (said
she) it is but just I should for ever wake, who have, in one fatal
Night, destroy’d two such Innocents. Oh! what Fate, what Destiny, is
mine? Under what cursed Planet was I born, that Heaven it self could not
divert my Ruine? It was not many Hours since I thought my self the most
happy and blest of Women, and now am fallen to the Misery of one of the
worst Fiends of Hell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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