So，afterourlittlesonwasborn，welefthiminmysister’scare，andsecretlyreturnedtoParis。Afewdayslater，intheearlymorning，havingkeptournocturnalvigilofprayerunknowntoallinacertainchurch，wewereunitedthereinthebenedictionofwedlockheruncleandafewfriendsofhisandminebeingpresent。Wedepartedforthwithstealthilyandbyseparateways，northereafterdidweseeeachothersaverarelyandinprivate，thusstrivingourutmosttoconcealwhatwehaddone。Butheruncleandthoseofhishousehold，seekingsolacefortheirdisgrace，begantodivulgethestoryofourmarriage，andtherebytoviolatethepledgetheyhadgivenmeonthispoint。Heloise，onthecontrary，denouncedherownkinandsworethattheywerespeakingthemostabsolutelies。Heruncle，arousedtofurythereby，visitedherrepeatedlywithpunishments。
NosoonerhadIlearnedthisthanIsenthertoaconventofnunsatArgenteuil，notfarfromParis，wheresheherselfhadbeenbroughtupandeducatedasayounggirl。Ihadthemmakereadyforherallthegarmentsofanun，suitableforthelifeofaconvent，exceptingonlytheveil，andtheseIbadeherputon。
Whenheruncleandhiskinsmenheardofthis，theywereconvincedthatnowIhadcompletelyplayedthemfalseandhadridmyselfforeverofHeloisebyforcinghertobecomeanun。Violentlyincensed，theylaidaplotagainstme，andonenightwhileIallunsuspectingwasasleepinasecretroominmylodgings，theybrokeinwiththehelpofoneofmyservantswhomtheyhadbribed。Theretheyhadvengeanceonmewithamostcruelandmostshamefulpunishment，suchasastoundedthewholeworld;fortheycutoffthosepartsofmybodywithwhichIhaddonethatwhichwasthecauseoftheirsorrow。Thisdone，straightwaytheyfled，buttwoofthemwerecapturedandsufferedthelossoftheireyesandtheirgenitalorgans。Oneofthesetwowastheaforesaidservant，whoevenwhilehewasstillinmyservice，hadbeenledbyhisavaricetobetrayme。CHAPTERVIIIOFTHESUFFERINGOFHISBODYOFHOWHEBECAMEAMONKINTHEMONASTERYOFST。DENISANDHELOISE
ANUNATARGENTEUIL
WHENmorningcamethewholecitywasassembledbeforemydwelling。Itisdifficult，nay，impossible，forwordsofminetodescribetheamazementwhichbewilderedthem，thelamentationstheyuttered，theuproarwithwhichtheyharassedme，orthegriefwithwhichtheyincreasedmyownsuffering。