"
Moireau did not disappoint me; and so soon as his letter reached
me I hastened to copy it, merely suppressing the date of the place
from which it was written, and forwarded it immediately to the
comtesse d'Egmont, with the following note:--
"The many proofs of tender attachment with which the widow
Rossin honored young Moireau make me believe that she will learn
with pleasure of my having the good fortune to rescue the ill-fated
youth from the cruelty of the comtesse d'Egmont. This interesting
young man no longer groans a wretched prisoner in the gloomy
abode that haughty lady had selected for him, but is at this minute
safe in a neighboring kingdom, under the powerful patronage of
king of France, who is in possession of every circumstance relative
to the affair. I likewise know the whole of the matter, and have in
my keeping the most irrefragable proofs of all that took place and
should I henceforward have any reason to complain of the comtesse
d'Egmont, I shall publish these documents with permission of those
concerned.
"The public will then be enabled to judge of the virtue and
humanity of one who affects to treat me with a ridiculous disdain.
There exists no law against a fair lady having lovers and admirers,
but a stern one forbids her to command or procure their destruction.
I KNOW ALL; and madame d'Egmont's future conduct will decide my
silence and discretion. The affair with Moireau is not the only one,
others of even a graver sin preceded it.
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