cried Matilda. "Go to your apartment, set about packing, my dear girl; we must take a few necessaries with us, and set off immediately after dinner." She obeyed. The Marquis set about the arrangements for their journey, and promised to follow in four or five days.
Poor Joseph and Albert deplored their fate, in being too old to accompany the ladies, and were the only domestics left in the house who knew to what place they were going.
Every thing being settled in a few hours, it was given out in the family, they were going into the country for a short time; even Marianne and Pierre knew no more for the present; and the ladies, attended by Louison and Antione set off, with all expedition; fortunately, Antione had been in England once before, with a former master; he was therefore acquainted with the roads and accommodations, and consequently extremely useful.
The Marquis found the following day he had been right in his conjectures. Two men came to his hotel armed with authority, to demand a lady commonly known by the name of Matilda Weimar, with a description of her person, then under the protection of the Marquis De Melfort. The Marquis was not at home; the men were informed the young lady was gone with their mistress, into the country. They searched the house, and being disappointed, waited till the Marquis returned; he gave them the same information, and drew up a paper, signifying, that having taken the young lady under his protection, by the consent of Mr. Weimar, who called himself her guardian, she had accompanied the Marchioness on a visit to some friends; that he pledged his honour for her safety, also to answer any charges that could be brought against her. With this declaration the men departed and returned no more; but a person was observed to watch the house for some days after.
The Marquis made no secret to the Bouville family
