318 EPISODE FROM AN UNPUBLISHED NOVEL. 



The French and Italian languages were familiar to us, and we spoke 

 every thing but English. When questioned concerning my country, 

 as I had often been, my answers were always evasive. I called my- 

 self Leonhardi, a name common to various countries. I delayed not 

 a moment to thoroughly study the German tongue in its idioms and 

 proverbial expressions. I suffered my whiskers to half hide my face, 

 dressed like a f German, and in every respect conformed myself 

 to the habits and manners of the people around me. Fortunate 

 was it for me that I had taken this precaution. As it may be sup- 

 posed, I was in great favour with the General-in-chief. Soon after my 

 health was re-established, I was invited by him to a public dinner, 

 which he meant to give to the English ambassador, who, accompa- 

 nied by his son, was passing through the camp in his way to Vienna. 

 The message alarmed me : I consulted with Lady Elizabeth j her 

 advice had always been good, and it was that I should accept the in- 

 vitation. There was no probability, under my present appearance, 

 that I could be discovered ; and, if I went, I should see the English, 

 and learn how far there was any danger. When I entered the 

 General's tent, I was struck speechless : the ambassador and his son 



were the Earl of P and Lionel. I was presented by the General, 



with all the encomiums which he thought I deserved. They looked 

 at me with a degree of surprise, which I knew not how to interpret, 

 but fortunately it was surprise excited by what they had heard, and 

 by the military appearance I made. By degrees I recovered my 

 presence of mind, and answered their compliments as briefly as 

 possible. 



However, their curiosity was excited ; they inquired who I was, 

 and of what country, family, and birth ? Nobody knew : some had 

 supposed me a ruined merchant ; others an Italian monk who had 

 fallen in love, married, and deserted his order ; a third party per- 

 suaded themselves I was a Polish rebel of high rank : none could 

 think me a peasant, as it was at first supposed ; but it was all con- 

 jecture. 



Hearing the beauty of Lady Elizabeth extolled, Lionel was de- 

 sirous to see her, and with many professions of admiration and 

 esteem, proposed to visit me the next morning. I could not but an- 

 swer his seeming condescension with politeness ; but the distress of 

 my thoughts cannot easily be conceived. I took the first opportunity 

 to retire, and came home with this dreadful intelligence to Lady 

 Elizabeth. 



Immediate flight only could save us, but how was this to effected ? 

 Fortunately we had been such strict economists that we had a thou- 

 sand ducats : a post-house was within three French leagues, and 

 from thence it was less than half a day's journey to the Turkish 

 frontiers. By my office, I knew the watchword, or we could never 

 have passed the camp. Nothing could exceed the anxieties of that 

 night. Lady Elizabeth, disguised like a country girl, and I, with 

 our child in my arms, and little more than a change of linen, but 

 provided with a pair of pistols and my side-arms, alternately ran 

 walked and hastened forward, till we arrived at the post-house. 



The authority of an officer is not lightly disputed, especially when 



