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journey。 Later in the day； to my unspeakable disgust； I found that
I had not done with the Englishman yet。 In Mr。 Fairbank's absence；
Mrs。 Fairbank took an incomprehensible interest in the question of
my delirious fellow…servant's repose at night。 Again； one or the
other of us was to watch at his bedside； and report it； if anything
happened。 Expecting my fair friend to supper； it was necessary to
make sure that the other servants at the stables would be safe in
their beds that night。 Accordingly； I volunteered once more to be
the man who kept watch。 Mrs。 Fairbank complimented me on my
humanity。 I possess great command over my feelings。 I accepted
the compliment without a blush。
Twice； after nightfall； my mistress and the doctor （the last
staying in the house in Mr。 Fairbank's absence） came to make
inquiries。 Once BEFORE the arrival of my fair friendand once
AFTER。 On the second occasion （my apartment being next door to the
Englishman's） I was obliged to hide my charming guest in the
harness room。 She consented； with angelic resignation； to immolate
her dignity to the servile necessities of my position。 A more
amiable woman （so far） I never met with！
After the second visit I was left free。 It was then close on
midnight。 Up to that time there was nothing in the behavior of the
mad Englishman to reward Mrs。 Fairbank and the doctor for
presenting themselves at his bedside。 He lay half awake； half
asleep； with an odd wondering kind of look in his face。 My
mistress at parting warned me to be particularly watchful of him
toward two in the morning。 The doctor （in case anything happened）
left me a large hand bell to ring； which could easily be heard at
the house。
Restored to the society of my fair friend； I spread the supper
table。 A pate； a sausage； and a few bottles of generous Moselle
wine； composed our simple meal。 When persons adore each other； the
intoxicating illusion of Love transforms the simplest meal into a
banquet。 With immeasurable capacities for enjoyment； we sat down
to table。 At the very moment when I placed my fascinating
companion in a chair； the infamous Englishman in the next room took
that occasion； of all others； to become restless and noisy once
more。 He struck with his stick on the floor； he cried out； in a
delirious access of terror； 〃Rigobert！ Rigobert！〃
The sound of that lamentable voice； suddenly assailing our ears；
terrified my fair friend。 She lost all her charming color in an
instant。 〃Good heavens！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Who is that in the next
room？〃
〃A mad Englishman。〃
〃An Englishman？〃
〃Compose yourself； my angel。 I will quiet him。〃 The lamentable
voice called out on me again； 〃Rigobert！ Rigobert！〃
My fair friend caught me by the arm。 〃Who is he？〃 she cried。
〃What is his name？〃
Something in her face struck me as she put that question。 A spasm
of jealousy shook me to the soul。 〃You know him？〃 I said。
〃His name！〃 she vehemently repeated； 〃his name！〃
〃Francis；〃 I answered。
〃FrancisWHAT？〃
I shrugged my shoulders。 I could neither remember nor pronounce
the barbarous English surname。 I could only tell her it began with
an 〃R。〃
She dropped back into the chair。 Was she going to faint？ No： she
recovered； and more than recovered； her lost color。 Her eyes
flashed superbly。 What did it mean？ Profoundly as I understand
women in general； I was puzzled by THIS woman！
〃You know him？〃 I repeated。
She laughed at me。 〃What nonsense！ How should I know him？ Go and
quiet the wretch。〃
My looking…glass was near。 One glance at it satisfied me that no
woman in her senses could prefer the Englishman to Me。 I recovered
my self…respect。 I hastened to the Englishman's bedside。
The moment I appeared he pointed eagerly toward my room。 He
overwhelmed me with a torrent of words in his own language。 I made
out； from his gestures and his looks； that he had； in some
incomprehensible manner； discovered the presence of my guest； and；
stranger still； that he was scared by the idea of a person in my
room。 I endeavored to compose him on the system which I have
already mentionedthat is to say； I swore at him in MY language。
The result not proving satisfactory； I own I shook my fist in his
face； and left the bedchamber。
Returning to my fair friend； I found her walking backward and
forward in a state of excitement wonderful to behold。 She had not
waited for me to fill her glassshe had begun the generous Moselle
in my absence。 I prevailed on her with difficulty to place herself
at the table。 Nothing would induce her to eat。 〃My appetite is
gone；〃 she said。 〃Give me wine。〃
The generous Moselle deserves its namedelicate on the palate；
with prodigious 〃body。〃 The strength of this fine wine produced no
stupefying effect on my remarkable guest。 It appeared to
strengthen and exhilarate hernothing more。 She always spoke in
the same low tone； and always； turn the conversation as I might；
brought it back with the same dexterity to the subject of the
Englishman in the next room。 In any other woman this persistency
would have offended me。 My lovely guest was irresistible； I
answered her questions with the docility of a child。 She possessed
all the amusing eccentricity of her nation。 When I told her of the
accident which confined the Englishman to his bed； she sprang to
her feet。 An extraordinary smile irradiated her countenance。 She
said； 〃Show me the horse who broke the Englishman's leg！ I must
see that horse！〃 I took her to the stables。 She kissed the horse…
…on my word of honor； she kissed the horse！ That struck me。 I
said。 〃You DO know the man； and he has wronged you in some way。〃
No！ she would not admit it； even then。 〃I kiss all beautiful
animals；〃 she said。 〃Haven't I kissed YOU？〃 With that charming
explanation of her conduct； she ran back up the stairs。 I only
remained behind to lock the stable door again。 When I rejoined
her； I made a startling discovery。 I caught her coming out of the
Englishman's room。
〃I was just going downstairs again to call you；〃 she said。 〃The
man in there is getting noisy once more。〃
The mad Englishman's voice assailed our ears once again。
〃Rigobert！ Rigobert！〃
He was a frightful object to look at when I saw him this time。 His
eyes were staring wildly； the perspiration was pouring over his
face。 In a panic of terror he clasped his hands； he pointed up to
heaven。 By every sign and gesture that a man can make； he
entreated me not to leave him again。 I really could not help
smiling。 The idea of my staying with HIM； and leaving my fair
friend by herself in the next room！
I turned to the door。 When the mad wretch saw me leaving him he
burst out into a screech of despairso shrill that I feared it
might awaken the sleeping servants。
My presence of mind in emergencies is proverbial among those who
know me。 I tore