I believe Solivet really meant to be a good brother; but his words
were hard to endure, when he lectured us each apart, with all the
authority of a senior--told me that Eustace was dying, and that every
mile he traveled was hastening his end, laughing to scorn that one
hope which buoyed me up, the Dirkius could do more for him than any
one else, and almost commanding me to take him home again to Paris
while it was possible.
And he equally harassed Eustace the next morning with representations
of the folly of taking me away to Holland, and breaking off the
advantageous Poligny match, to gratify my headstrong opposition and
desire for a mesalliance, which would now happily be impossible, the
fellow having ruined himself.
The fellow entered at that moment with M. le Baron's coat and boots,
and Eustace could hardly repress a smile. We could not but rejoice
when Solivet took leave of us at the carriage door, very
affectionate, but shrugging his shoulders at our madness, and leaving
a corporal and his party to guard us to the frontier. They prolonged
the sense of constraint, and forced us to be very guarded with poor
Clement, but otherwise they were very useful. The inhabitants
fancied us by turns great princes or great criminals, or both, being
escorted out of the country. Once we were taken for the Queen
escaping with the Cardinal, another time for the Prince of Conde
eloping with Mademoiselle; but any way of soldiers secured for us
plenty of civility, and the best food and lodgings to be had.
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