ABSTRACT
It was late in the evening when D’Alonville reached the end of his journey: Fatigued not so much by travelling in so uneasy a vehicle, as by the solicitude of his mind, and the care which his old and helpless companion required of him. Having seen him provided for at an inn, D’Alonville hastened to the hotel where he expected to find his friends, and delighted himself with thinking that those deeds being saved, would mitigate their vexation for the destruction of their castle; but he had the mortification to find they had left Coblentz the next day but one after his departure from Rosenheim, and that they were gone to Vienna. Thither, indeed, he was cordially invited by the letter Madame de Rosenheim had left for him; but he felt himself hurt and depressed by this unexpected absence; and retired uneasy and sorrowful to his former lodgings: nor could he, till after some consideration, determine whether to go to Vienna, or send thither, charged with his successful commission, his ancient companion, while he himself sought to join some of the corps of emigrant French that were again forming. The next day he met the same friend who had formerly supplied him with money; and for whose advice, from his age and the friendship his father had borne him, D’Alonville had a great respect. This nobleman, the Marquis de Magnevilliers, advised him by all means to go to Vienna; where, after he had seen his friends, he might take such measures as the circumstances required; and either enlist himself under the Prince of Conde,b42 or in despite of the late decrees against the emigrants,43 endeavour to return into France: a part which Monsieur de Magnevilliers himself meant to take, though well aware of all the hazard that attended it. He was of Picardy as well as D’Alonville; and persuaded himself that they might by returning, raise yet a party in favour of the unhappy monarch, whose cruel and unjust imprisonment would, he thought, estrange from the usurped tyranny of the men who had inflicted it, many who now shrunk under their power and submitted to their government. But, as whoever ventured 170to return must do it singly and with artifice and caution, Monsieur de Magnevilliers, without pressing his friend to accompany, or even to join him on his way, contented himself with informing him in confidence, what he intended himself, and thought best for him to do; but not till he had visited his German friends, whose regard was of too much value to be neglected. Monsieur de Magnevilliers then gave D’Alonville another small supply of money, who received it without scruple; and the next day set off for Vienna, with Rodolph, by the diligence,44 already crowded with French, who, dispersed and uncertain what to do, were travelling, some towards the capital of the German empire, and others towards Italy. D’Alonville felt not that consolation which arises from the contemplation of fellow-sufferers in calamity; on the contrary, his heart sunk in reflecting on the sad condition to which so many brave men were reduced; and the deplorable state of the country from whence they were driven, for no other crime than adherence to the king whom they had sworn to defend; and to a government which, however defective, was infinitely preferable to the tyrannical anarchy which had, under the presence of curing those defects, brought an everlasting disgrace on the French name. Among his fellow-travellers were the aged and the helpless, who knew not where to find shelter for their weary heads; and who seemed to repent that they had not submitted their necks to the stroke of the executioner, rather than have been driven forth to linger out, in foreign countries, their few and miserable days. Women, who had been accustomed to the elegancies of life, were now accompanied by helpless children, wandering round the world without the requisites of existence; some deploring the death of their fathers, brothers; or husbands; others uncertain what was become of those most dear to them, and dreading to be assured.
