Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/278

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The Adventures of David Simple

might have miscarried, and you were yet ignorant of all I had suffered. This thought infused such inexpressible and sudden joy all over me, it hastened my recovery so much, that in two days' time I was able to walk about my room.

"'As I was sitting and considering with myself which way I should bring about an interview with you, without directly sending my name, my landlord said, "Now, sir, if you have a mind to see your benefactor, the Marquis de Stainville, at that window, you may satisfy your curiosity, for he is coming this way." I immediately placed myself in such a position that it was impossible for you to pass by without seeing me; but how, ladies, shall I describe my raptures when I saw the Marquis de Stainville start at the first sight of me; fly in a moment back to the door, and run into my arms with all the joy which attends the unexpected meeting of a long-absent friend! This sudden transport, with the shame I felt for having ever suspected his affection, joined to the great weakness of my body, quite overcame me, and it was some time before my words could find an utterance; but as soon as I was able to speak, I asked him ten thousand questions at once, talked confusedly of a letter; in short, we could not presently understand one another; but at last I found out that all I had endured was owing to accidently directing my letter to the Marquis at Paris, when he was at his father's villa, which occasioned its being lost; nor did I ever receive that my friend wrote to me at the academy, having left that place, as I at first told you, the day after we were separated.'

"Here my brother interrupted the Chevalier Dumont, and said there had nothing more happened worth mentioning till they met us in the garden; but we were so pleased with this happy meeting of the two friends, that we begged to know