Даниэль Дефо - Roxana

While I stood thus amusing the Lady that was with me, with Questions, he walk’d, talking with another Man of the same Cloth, back again, just by me; and to my particular Satisfaction, or Dissatisfaction, take it which way you will, I heard him speak English , the other being, it seems, an Englishman .

I then ask’d the Lady some other Questions; Pray, Madam, says I , what are these Troopers, here? are they the KING’S Guards? No, says she , they are the Gensd’arms ; a small Detachment of them, I suppose, attended the KING to-Day, but they are not his Majesty’s ordinary Guard; another Lady that was with her, said, No, Madam, it seems that is not the Case; for I heard them saying, the Gensd’arms were here to-day by special Order, some of them being to march towards the Rhine , and these attend for Orders; but they go back to-Morrow to Orleans , where they are expected.

This satisfied me in Part, but I found Means after this, to enquire, whose particular Troop it was that the Gentlemen that were here, belong’d to; and with that, I heard, they would all be at Paris the Week after.

Two Days after this, we return’d for Paris , when I took Occasion to speak to my Lord, that I heard the Gens d’arms were to be in the City the next Week, and that I should be charm’d with seeing them March, if they came in a Body: He was so obliging in such things, that I need but just name a thing of that Kind, and it was done; so he order’d his Gentleman (I shou’d now call him Amy’s Gentleman ,) to get me a Place in a certain House, where I might see them March.

As he did not appear with me on this Occasion, so I had the Liberty of taking my Woman, Amy , with me; and stood where we were very well accommodated for the Observation which I was to make: I told Amy what I had seen, and she was as forward to make the Discovery, as I was to have her, and almost as much surpriz’d at the thing itself; in a Word, the Gensd’arms enter’d the City, as was expected, and made a most glorious Show indeed, being new-cloath’d and arm’d, and being to have their Standards bless’d by the Archbishop of Paris ; on this Occasion, they indeed, look’d very gay; and as they march’d very leisurely, I had time to take as critical a View, and make as nice a Search among them, as I pleas’d: Here, in a particular Rank, eminent for one monstrous siz’d Man on the Right; here, I say, I saw my Gentleman again, and a very handsome jolly Fellow he was, as any in the Troop, tho’ not so monstrous large as that great one I speak of, who it seems was, however, a Gentleman of a good Family in Gascogne , and was call’d the Giant of Gascogne .

It was a kind of a good Fortune to us, among the other Circumstances of it, that something caus’d the Troops to Halt in their March, a little before that particular Rank came right-against that Window which I stood in, so that then we had Occasion to take our full View of him, at a small Distance, and so, as not to doubt of his being the same Person.

Amy , who thought she might, on many Accounts, venture with more Safety to be particular, than I cou’d, ask’d her Gentleman, how a particular Man, who she saw there, among the Gensd’arms , might be enquir’d after, and found out; she having seen an Englishman riding there, which was suppos’d to be dead in England for several Years before she came out of London , and that his Wife had marry’d again: It was a Question the Gentleman did not well understand how to answer; but another Person, that stood by, told her, if she wou’d tell him the Gentleman’s Name, he wou’d endeavour to find him out for her, and ask’d jestingly, if he was her Lover? Amy put that off with a Laugh, but still continued her Enquiry, and in such a Manner, as the Gentleman easily perceiv’d she was in earnest; so he left bantering, and ask’d her in what Part of the Troop he rode; she foolishly told him his Name, which she shou’d not have done; and pointing to the Cornet that Troop carried, which was not then quite out of Sight, she let him easily know whereabouts he rode, only she cou’d not name the Captain; however, he gave her such Directions afterwards, that, in short, Amy , who was an indefatigable Girl, found him out; it seems he had not chang’d his Name, not supposing any Enquiry would be made after him here; but, I say, Amy found him out, and went boldly to his Quarters, ask’d for him, and he came out to her immediately.

I believe I was not more confounded at my first seeing him at Meudon , than he was at seeing Amy ; he started, and turn’d pale as Death; Amy believ’d, if he had seen her at first, in any convenient Place for sovillainous a Purpose, he would have murther’d her.

But he started, as I say above, and ask’d in English , with an Admiration, [119] an Admiration : an exclamation of astonishment. What are you! Sir , says she, don’t you know me? Yes , says he, I knew you when you were alive, but what you are now , whether Ghost or Substance, I know not: Be not afraid, Sir, of that , says Amy, I am the same Amy that I was in your Service, and do not speak to you now for any Hurt, but that I saw you accidentally, Yesterday, ride among the Soldiers, I thought you might be glad to hear from your Friends at London: Well, Amy , says he, then , having a little recover’d himself, How does every-body do? What, is your Mistress here ? Thus they begun.

Amy . My Mistress, Sir, alass! not the Mistress you mean, poor Gentlewoman, you left her in a sad Condition.

Gent . Why, that’s true, Amy , but it cou’d not be help’d; I was in a sad Condition myself.

Amy . I believe so, indeed, Sir, or else you had not gone away as you did; for it was a very terrible Condition you left them all in, that I must say.

Gent . What did they do, after I was gone?

Amy . Do, Sir! very miserably, you may be sure; how could it be otherwise?

Gent . Well, that’s true indeed; but you may tell me, Amy , what became of them, if you please; for tho’ I went so away, it was not because I did not love them all very well, but because I could not bear to see the Poverty that was coming upon them, and which it was not in my Power to help; what could I do ?

Amy . Nay, I believe so, indeed, and I have heard my Mistress say, many times, she did not doubt but your Affliction was as great as hers, almost, wherever you were .

Gent . Why, did she believe I was alive then?

Amy . Yes, Sir, she always said, she believ’d you were alive; because she thought she should have heard something of you, if you had been dead.

Gent. Ay, ay , my Perplexity was very great, indeed, or else I had never gone away.

Amy . It was very cruel tho’, to the poor Lady, Sir, my Mistress ; she almost broke her Heart for you at first, for fear of what might befal you, and at last, because she cou’d not hear from you.

Gent . Alas, Amy! what cou’d I do? things were driven to the last Extremity before I went; I cou’d have done nothing, but help starve them all, if I had stay’d; and besides, I cou’d not bear to see it.

Amy . You know, Sir, I can say little to what pass’d before, but I am a melancholly Witness to the sad Distresses of my poor Mistress, as long as I stay’d with her, and which would grieve your Heart to *hear them.

Gent . Well, Amy , I have heard enough so far; what did she do afterwards?