Даниэль Дефо - Roxana

This Amy thought it was time enough to tell me of, when she came over; and besides she did not find this Dutch Skipper, till she had spent four or five Months, and been again at Paris , and then come back to Roan for farther Information: But in the mean time she wrote me from Paris , that he was not to be found by any means; that he had been gone from Paris seven or eight Years; that she was told he had liv’d at Roan , and she was a-going thither to enquire, but that she had heard afterward, that he was gone also from thence to Holland , so she did not go.

This, I say, was Amy’s first Account; and I not satisfied with it, had sent her an Order to go to Roan , to enquire there also, as above .

While this was negociating, and I received these Accounts from Amy at several times, a strange Adventure happen’d to me, which I must mention just here; I had been Abroad to take the Air, as usual, with my QUAKER, as far as Epping-Forrest , and we were driving back towards London ;, when on the Road between Bow and MileEnd , [248] the Road between Bow and Mile-End : Stratford le Bow (Chaucer’s Stratford atte Bowe), about a mile east of Mile End. Mile End (which is exactly a mile from Aldgate and hence from the City of London) was still a hamlet in the country in Defoe’s day. two Gentlemen on Horseback came riding-by, having over-taken the Coach, and pass’d it, and went forwards towards London .

They did not ride apace, tho’ they pass’d the Coach, for we went very softly, nor did they look into the Coach at-all, but rode side by side, earnestly talking to one another, and inclining their Faces side-ways a little towards one another, he that went nearest the Coach, with his Face from it, and he that was farthest from the Coach, with his Face towards it, and passing in the very next Tract to the Coach, I could hear them talk Dutch very distinctly; but it is impossible to describe the Confusion I was in, when I plainly saw that the farthest of the two, him whose Face look’d towards the Coach, was my Friend, the Dutch Merchant of Paris .

If it had been possible to conceal my Disorder from my Friend, the QUAKER, I would have done it, but I found she was too well acquainted with such things, not to take the Hint; dost Thou understand Dutch? said she; Why? said I; Why, says she , ’tis easie to suppose that Thou art a little concern’d at somewhat those Men say; I suppose they are talking of Thee: Indeed my good Friend, said I , thou art mistaken this time, for I know very well what they are talking of, but ’tis all about Ships, and Trading Affairs: Well, says she , then one of them is a Man-Friend of Thine, or somewhat is the Case; for tho’ thy Tongue will not confess it, thy Face does.

I was going to have told a bold Lye, and said, I knew nothing of them, but I found it was impossible to conceal it, so I said , indeed, I think I know the farthest of them; but I have neither spoken to him, or so much as seen him for above 11 Years: Well then, says she , Thou hast seen him with more than common Eyes, when thou did’st see him; or else seeing him now would not be such a Surprize to Thee; Indeed, said I , ’tis true I am a little surpriz’d at seeing him just now, for I thought he had been in quite another Part of the World; and I can assure you, I never saw him in England in my Life: Well then, ’tis the more likely he is come over now on purpose to seek Thee: No, no, said I , Knight-Errantry is over, Women are not so hard to come at, that Men should not be able to please themselves without running from one Kingdom to another: Well, well, says she , I would have him see Thee for-all that, as plainly as Thou hast seen him; No, but he shan’t, says I , for I am sure he don’t know me in this Dress, and I’ll take Care he shan’t see my Face, if I can help it; so I held up my Fan before my Face, and she saw me resolute in that, so she press’d me no farther.

We had several Discourses upon the Subject, but still I let her know I was resolv’d he should not know me; but, at last, I confess’d so much, that tho’ I would not let him know who I was, or where I liv’d, I did not care if I knew where he liv’d, and how I might enquire about him: She took the Hint immediately, and her Servant being behind the Coach, she call’d him to the Coach-side, and bade him keep his Eye upon that Gentleman, and as soon as the Coach came to the End of White-Chappel , he should get down, and follow him closely, so as to see where he put up his Horse, and then to go into the Inn, and enquire, if he could, who he was, and where he liv’d.

The Fellow follow’d diligently to the Gate of an Inn in Bishopsgate-Street , and seeing him go in, made no doubt but he had him fast, but was confounded, when upon Enquiry he found the Inn was a Thorowfare into another Street, and that the two Gentlemen had only rode thorow the Inn, as the Way to the Street where they were going, and so, in short, came back no wiser than he went.

My kind QUAKER was more vex’d at the Disappointment, at least apparently so, than I was; and asking the Fellow, if he was sure he knew the Gentleman again if he saw him; the Fellow said, he had follow’d him so close, and took so much Notice of him, in order to do his Errand as it ought to be done, that he was very sure he should know him again; and that besides, he was sure he should know his Horse.

This Part was, indeed, likely enough; and the kind QUAKER, without telling me any-thing of the Matter, caus’d her Man to place himself just at the corner of Whitechappel-Church-Wall [249] Whitechappel-Church-Wall : the church of St Mary Whitechapel (or St Mary Matfellon), located in Whitechapel street, part of the road from Aldgate to Mile End. every Saturday in the Afternoon, that being the Day when the Citizens chiefly ride Abroad to take the Air; and there to watch all the Afternoon, and look for him.

It was not till the fifth Saturday , that her Man came, with a great deal of Joy, and gave her an Account, that he had found out the Gentleman; that he was a Dutchman , but a French Merchant; that he came from Roan , and his Name was —; and that he lodg’d at Mr. — on Lawrence Pountney’s-Hill: [250] Lawrence Pountney’s-Hill ; inhabited by eminent City merchants. I was surpriz’d, you may be sure, when she came and told me one Evening, all the Particulars, except that of having set her Man to watch: I have found out thy Dutch Friend, says she , and can tell THEE how to find him too; I colour’d again as red as Fire: Then THOU hast dealt with the Evil One, Friend, said I very gravely : No, no, says she , I have no Familiar; [251] Familiar : familiar spirit, demon associated with an individual. but I tell Thee, I have found him for Thee, and his Name is so and so ; and he lives as above recited.

I was surpriz’d again at this, not being able to imagine how she shou’d come to know all this: However, to put me out of Pain, she told me what she had done; well, said I , Thou art very kind, but this is not worth thy Pains; for now I know it, ’tis only to satisfie my Curiosity, for I shall not send to him upon any Account: Be that as thou wilt, says she ; besides, added she , Thou art in the right to say so to me; for, why shou’d I be trusted with it? tho’ if I were, I assure thee , I shou’d not betray thee: That is very kind, said I , and I believe thee; and assure Thy-self, if I do send to him, Thou shalt know it, and be trusted with it too.