" At this threat Noel 's courage melted away
and he lay still as a frightened child. "Listen," said Henriette,
"if you do not quit this place to-morrow at break of day, without
seeking to see madame again, I will denounce you to the king,
who will inflict upon you the most dreadful punishment."
Whilst these things were passing in the chamber of Henriette, I
did not feel perfectly at ease on my side, and many were the wise
reflections I made upon my folly, as well as the promises I gave
never again to expose myself to such imminent danger. Nor did my
terrors abate till after the king had quitted me. At the sound of
my bell Henriette hastened to my bed-side.
"My good Henriette," said I to her, trembling from head to foot,
"what a night of anxiety have I passed, I must indeed confess--"
"Fear not, my beloved mistress," replied she; "I will watch over
your safety, and trust to be enabled fully to provide for it."
I durst not then ask for any further explanation of her words, for
such was the ascendancy her good and steady conduct had given her
over me, that she would certainly have blamed me for my glaring
imprudence. I pressed her hand in mute thankfulness; she
comprehended my silence and left me to myself.
At the end of some days, seeing nothing of Noel, I ventured to
question her as to his fate: she then related to me all you have
been told, and added, that the day following this shameful and
unfortunate night she had lost no time in apprizing the comte
Jean of all that had occurred, who had quickly despatched Noel
out of the kingdom, furnishing him with a purse of ten thousand
livres to defray his travelling expenses.
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