DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0042
28 AN INSTANCE OF FEMALE FORTITUDE.
house of a neighbour. Madame O. with perfect compo-
sure, went out to meet them, and received them in the
most gracious manner. They sternly demanded Mons. O.
She informed them that he had left the country; and after
engaging them in conversation, she conducted them into
her drawing-room, and regaled them with her best wines,
and made her servants attend upon them with unusual de-
ference and ceremony. Their appearance was altogether
horrible ; they wore leather aprons, which were sprinkled
all over with blood, they had large horse-^pistols in their
belts, and a dirk and sabre by their sides. Their looks were
full of ferocity, and they spoke a harsh dissonant, patois, or
country language. Over their cups they talked about the
bloody business of that day’s occupation ; in the course of
which they drew out their dirks, and wiped from their
handles clots of blood and hair. Madame O. sat with
them, undismayed by their frightful deportment. After
drinking several bottles of Champaign and Burgundy, these
savages began to grow good-humoured, and seemed to
be completely fascinated by the amiable, unembarrassed,
and hospitable behaviour of their fair landlady. After
carousing till midnight, they pressed her to retire, observing,
that they had been received so handsomely, that they were
convinced Mons. O. had been misrepresented, and was no
enemy to the good cause ; they added, that they found the
wines excellent, and after drinking two or three bottles
more, they would leave the house, without causing her
any reason to regret their admission. Madame O. with all
the appearance of perfect tranquillity and confidence in
their promises, wished her unwelcome visitors a good night;
and after visiting her children in their rooms, she threw her-
self upon her bed, with a loaded pistol in each hand, and
overwhelmed with suppressed agony and agitation, she
soundly slept till she was called by her servants, two hours
after the wretches were gone.
SINGULAR
house of a neighbour. Madame O. with perfect compo-
sure, went out to meet them, and received them in the
most gracious manner. They sternly demanded Mons. O.
She informed them that he had left the country; and after
engaging them in conversation, she conducted them into
her drawing-room, and regaled them with her best wines,
and made her servants attend upon them with unusual de-
ference and ceremony. Their appearance was altogether
horrible ; they wore leather aprons, which were sprinkled
all over with blood, they had large horse-^pistols in their
belts, and a dirk and sabre by their sides. Their looks were
full of ferocity, and they spoke a harsh dissonant, patois, or
country language. Over their cups they talked about the
bloody business of that day’s occupation ; in the course of
which they drew out their dirks, and wiped from their
handles clots of blood and hair. Madame O. sat with
them, undismayed by their frightful deportment. After
drinking several bottles of Champaign and Burgundy, these
savages began to grow good-humoured, and seemed to
be completely fascinated by the amiable, unembarrassed,
and hospitable behaviour of their fair landlady. After
carousing till midnight, they pressed her to retire, observing,
that they had been received so handsomely, that they were
convinced Mons. O. had been misrepresented, and was no
enemy to the good cause ; they added, that they found the
wines excellent, and after drinking two or three bottles
more, they would leave the house, without causing her
any reason to regret their admission. Madame O. with all
the appearance of perfect tranquillity and confidence in
their promises, wished her unwelcome visitors a good night;
and after visiting her children in their rooms, she threw her-
self upon her bed, with a loaded pistol in each hand, and
overwhelmed with suppressed agony and agitation, she
soundly slept till she was called by her servants, two hours
after the wretches were gone.
SINGULAR