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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2962.txt b/2962.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc191b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/2962.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5211 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Eternal Quest: Return to Paris +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Eternal Quest: Return to Paris + The Memoirs Of Jacques Casanova De Seingalt 1725-1798 + +Author: Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Release Date: October 31, 2006 [EBook #2962] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ETERNAL QUEST: RETURN TO PARIS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 + +THE ETERNAL QUEST, Volume 3b--RETURN TO PARIS + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR MACHEN TO +WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR SYMONS. +THE ETERNAL QUEST +RETURN TO PARIS + + + + +CHAPTER V + +My Fortune in Holland--My Return to Paris with Young Pompeati + +Amongst the letters which were waiting for me was one from the +comptroller-general, which advised me that twenty millions in Government +securities had been placed in the hands of M. d'Afri, who was not to go +beyond a loss of eight per cent.; and another letter from my good patron, +M. de Bernis, telling me to do the best I could, and to be assured that +the ambassador would be instructed to consent to whatever bargain might +be made, provided the rate was not more disadvantageous than that of the +exchange at Paris. Boaz, who was astonished at the bargain I had made +with my shares, wanted to discount the Government securities for me, and +I should very likely have agreed to his terms if he had not required me +to give him three months, and the promise that the agreement should hold +even in the case of peace being concluded in the meanwhile. It was not +long before I saw that I should do well to get back to Amsterdam, but I +did not care to break my word to Therese, whom I had promised to meet at +the Hague. I received a letter from her while I was at the play, and the +servant who brought it told me he was waiting to conduct me to her. I +sent my own servant home, and set out on my quest. + +My guide made me climb to the fourth floor of a somewhat wretched house, +and there I found this strange woman in a small room, attended by her son +and daughter. The table stood in the midst of the room, and was covered +with a black cloth, and the two candles standing upon it made it look +like some sort of sepulchral altar. The Hague was a Court town. I was +richly dressed; my elaborate attire made the saddest possible contrast +with the gloom of my surroundings. Therese, dressed in black and seated +between her children at that black table, reminded me of Medea. To see +these two fair young creatures vowed to a lot of misery and disgrace was +a sad and touching sight. I took the boy between my arms, and pressing +him to my breast called him my son. His mother told him to look upon me +as his father from henceforth. The lad recognized me; he remembered, much +to my delight, seeing me in the May of 1753, in Venice, at Madame +Manzoni's. He was slight but strong; his limbs were well proportioned, +and his features intellectual. He was thirteen years old. + +His sister sat perfectly still, apparently waiting for her turn to come. +I took her on my knee, and as I embraced her, nature herself seemed to +tell me that she was my daughter. She took my kisses in silence, but it +was easy to see that she thought herself preferred to her brother, and +was charmed with the idea. All her clothing was a slight frock, and I was +able to feel every limb and to kiss her pretty little body all over, +delighted that so sweet a being owed her existence to me. + +"Mamma, dear," said she, "is not this fine gentleman the same we saw at +Amsterdam, and who was taken for my papa because I am like him? But that +cannot be, for my papa is dead." + +"So he is, sweetheart; but I may be your dear friend, mayn't I? Would you +like to have me for a friend?" + +"Yes, yes!" she cried, and throwing her arms about my neck gave me a +thousand kisses, which I returned with delight. + +After we had talked and laughed together we sat down at table, and the +heroine Therese gave me a delicate supper accompanied by exquisite wines. +"I have never given the margrave better fare," said she, "at those nice +little suppers we used to take together." + +Wishing to probe the disposition of her son, whom I had engaged to take +away with me, I addressed several remarks to him, and soon discovered +that he was of a false and deceitful nature, always on his guard, taking +care of what he said, and consequently speaking only from his head and +not from his heart. Every word was delivered with a quiet politeness +which, no doubt, was intended to please me. + +I told him that this sort of thing was all very well on occasion; but +that there were times when a man's happiness depended on his freedom from +constraint; then and only then was his amiability, if he had any, +displayed. His mother, thinking to praise him, told me that reserve was +his chief characteristic, that she had trained him to keep his counsel at +all times and places, and that she was thus used to his being reserved +with her as with everyone else. + +"All I can say is," said I, "your system is an abominable one. You may +have strangled in their infancy all the finer qualities with which nature +has endowed your son, and have fairly set him on the way to become a +monster instead of an angel. I don't see how the most devoted father can +possibly have any affection for a son who keeps all his emotions under +lock and key." + +This outburst, which proceeded from the tenderness I would fain have felt +for the boy, seemed to strike his mother dumb. + +"Tell me, my dear, if you feel yourself capable of shewing me that +confidence which a father has a right to expect of a good son, and if you +can promise to be perfectly open and unreserved towards me?" + +"I promise that I will die rather than tell you a falsehood." + +"That's just like him," said the mother. "I have succeeded in inspiring +him with the utmost horror of untruthfulness." + +"That's all very well, my dear madam, but you might have pursued a still +better course, and one which would have been still more conducive to his +happiness." + +"What is that?" + +"I will tell you. It was necessary to make him detest a lie; you should +have rather endeavoured to make him a lover of the truth by displaying it +to him in all its native beauty. This is the only way to make him +lovable, and love is the sole bestower of happiness in this world." + +"But isn't it the same thing not to lie and to tell the truth," said the +boy, with a smile which charmed his mother and displeased me. + +"Certainly not; there is a great difference--for to avoid lying you have +only to hold your tongue; and do you think that comes to the same thing +as speaking the truth? You must open your mind to me, my son, and tell +me all your thoughts, even if you blush in the recital. I will teach you +how to blush, and soon you will have nothing to fear in laying open all +your thoughts and deeds. When we know each other a little longer we shall +see how we agree together. You must understand that I cannot look upon +you as my son until I see cause to love you, and I cannot have you call +me father till you treat me as the best friend you have. You may be quite +sure that I shall find a way to discover your thoughts, however cleverly +you try to hide them. If I find you deceitful and suspicious I shall +certainly entertain no regard for you. As soon as I have finished my +business at Amsterdam we will set out for Paris. I am leaving the Hague +to-morrow, and on my return I hope to find you instructed by your mother +in a system of morality more consonant with my views, and more likely to +lead to your happiness." + +On glancing at my little daughter, who had been listening to me with the +greatest attention, I saw that her eyes were swimming with tears, which +she could hardly retain. + +"Why are you crying?" said the mother; "it is silly to cry." And with +that the child ran to her mother and threw her arms round her neck. + +"Would you like to come to Paris, too?" said I to her. + +"Oh, yes! But mamma must come too, as she would die without me." + +"What would you do if I told you to go?" said the mother. + +"I would obey you, mamma, but how could I exist away from you?" + +Thereupon my little daughter pretended to cry. I say pretended, as it was +quite evident that the child did not mean what she said, and I am sure +that her mother knew it as well as I. + +It was really a melancholy thing to see the effects of a bad education on +this young child, to whom nature had given intelligence and feeling. I +took the mother on one side, and said that if she had intended to make +actors of her children she had succeeded to admiration; but if she wished +them to become useful members of society her system had failed +lamentably, as they were in a fair way to become monsters of deceit. I +continued making her the most pointed remonstrances until, in spite of +her efforts to control herself, she burst into tears. However, she soon +recovered her composure, and begged me to stay at the Hague a day longer, +but I told her it was out of the question, and left the room. I came in +again a few minutes after, and Sophie came up to me and said, in a loving +little voice, + +"If you are really my friend, you will give me some proof of your +friendship." + +"And what proof do you want, my dear?" + +"I want you to come and sup with me to-morrow." + +"I can't, Sophie dear, for I have just said no to your mother, and she +would be offended if I granted you what I had refused her." + +"Oh, no! she wouldn't; it was she who told me to ask you just now." + +I naturally began to laugh, but on her mother calling the girl a little +fool, and the brother adding that he had never committed such an +indiscretion, the poor child began to tremble all over, and looked +abashed. I reassured her as best I could, not caring whether what I said +displeased her mother or not, and I endeavoured to instill into her +principles of a very different nature to those in which she had been +reared, while she listened with an eagerness which proved that her heart +was still ready to learn the right way. Little by little her face +cleared, and I saw that I had made an impression, and though I could not +flatter myself that any good I might do her would be lasting in its +effects as long as she remained under the bad influence of her mother, I +promised to come and sup with her next evening, "but on the condition," I +said, "that you give me a plain meal, and one bottle of chambertin only, +for you are not too well off." + +"I know that, but mamma says that you pay for everything." + +This reply made me go off into a roar of laughter; and in spite of her +vexation the mother was obliged to follow my example. The poor woman, +hardened by the life she led, took the child's simplicity for stupidity, +but I saw in her a rough diamond which only wanted polishing. + +Therese told me that the wine did not cost her anything, as the son of +the Rotterdam burgomaster furnished her with it, and that he would sup +with us the next day if I would allow him to be present. I answered +smilingly that I should be delighted to see him, and I went away after +giving my daughter, of whom I felt fond, a tender embrace. I would have +done anything to be entrusted with her, but I saw it would be no good +trying to get possession of her, as the mother was evidently keeping her +as a resource for her old age. This is a common way for adventuresses to +look upon their daughters, and Therese was an adventuress in the widest +acceptation of the term. I gave her twenty ducats to get clothes for my +adopted son and Sophie, who, with spontaneous gratitude, and her eyes +filled with tears, came and gave me a kiss. Joseph was going to kiss my +hand, but I told him that it was degrading for one man to kiss another's +hand, and that for the future he was to shew his gratitude by embracing +me as a son embraces his father. + +Just as I was leaving, Therese took me to the closet where the two +children were sleeping. I knew what she was thinking of; but all that was +over long ago; I could think of no one but Esther. + +The next day I found the burgomaster's son at my actress's house. He was +a fine young fellow of twenty or twenty-one, but totally devoid of +manner. He was Therese's lover, but he should have regulated his +behaviour in my presence. Therese, seeing that he was posing as master of +the field, and that his manners disgusted me, began to snub him, much to +his displeasure, and after sneering at the poorness of the dishes, and +praising the wine which he had supplied, he went out leaving us to finish +our dessert by ourselves. I left myself at eleven, telling Therese that I +should see her again before I went away. The Princesse de Galitzin, a +Cantimir by birth, had asked me to dinner, and this made me lose another +day. + +Next day I heard from Madame d'Urfe, who enclosed a bill of exchange on +Boaz for twelve thousand francs. She said that she had bought her shares +for sixty thousand, that she did not wish to make anything of them, and +that she hoped I would accept the overplus as my broker's fee. She worded +her offer with too much courtesy for me to refuse it. The remainder of +the letter was devoted to the wildest fancies. She said that her genius +had revealed to her that I should bring back to Paris a boy born of the +Mystical Marriage, and she hoped I would take pity on her. It was a +strange coincidence, and seemed likely to attach the woman still more +closely to her visionary theories. I laughed when I though how she would +be impressed by Therese's son, who was certainly not born of the Mystical +Marriage. + +Boaz paid me my twelve thousand francs in ducats, and I made him my +friend, as he thanked me for receiving the moneys in ducats, and he +doubtless made a profit on the transaction, gold being a commodity in +Holland, and all payments being made in silver or paper money. + +At that time gold was at a low rate, and nobody would take ducats. + +After having an excellent dinner with the Princesse de Galitzin, I put on +my cloak and went to the cafe. I found there the burgomaster's son, who +was just beginning a game of billiards. He whispered to me that I might +back him with advantage, and thinking he was sure of his stroke I thanked +him and followed his advice. However, after losing three games one after +the other, I took his measure and began to lay against him without his +knowledge. After playing for three hours and losing all the time, he +stopped play and came to condole with me on my heavy loss. It is +impossible to describe his amazed expression when I shewed him a handful +of ducats, and assured him that I had spent a very profitable evening in +laying against him. Everybody in the room began to laugh at him, but he +was the sort of young man who doesn't understand a joke, and he went out +in a rage. Soon after I left the billiard-room myself, and, according to +my promise went to see Therese, as I was leaving for Amsterdam the next +day. + +Therese was waiting for her young wine merchant, but on my recounting his +adventures she expected him no longer. I took my little daughter on my +knee and lavished my caresses on her, and so left them, telling them that +we should see each other again in the course of three weeks or a month at +latest. + +As I was going home in the moonlight by myself, my sword under my arm, I +was encountered all of a sudden by the poor dupe of a burgomaster's son. + +"I want to know," said he, "if your sword has as sharp a point as your +tongue." + +I tried to quiet him by speaking common sense, and I kept my sword +wrapped in my cloak, though his was bared and directed against me. + +"You are wrong to take my jests in such bad part," said I; "however, I +apologize to you." + +"No apologies; look to yourself." + +"Wait till to-morrow, you will be cooler then, but if you still wish it I +will give you satisfaction in the midst of the billiard-room." + +"The only satisfaction you can give me is to fight; I want to kill you." + +As evidence of his determination, and to provoke me beyond recall, he +struck me with the flat of his sword, the first and last time in my life +in which I have received such and insult. I drew my sword, but still +hoping to bring him to his senses I kept strictly on the defensive and +endeavoured to make him leave off. This conduct the Dutchman mistook for +fear, and pushed hard on me, lunging in a manner that made me look to +myself. His sword passed through my necktie; a quarter of an inch farther +in would have done my business. + +I leapt to one side, and, my danger no longer admitting of my fighting on +the defensive, I lunged out and wounded him in the chest. I thought this +would have been enough for him, so I proposed we should terminate our +engagement. + +"I'm not dead yet," said he; "I want to kill you." + +This was his watchword; and, as he leapt on me in a paroxysm of rage, +more like a madman than a sensible being, I hit him four times. At the +fourth wound he stepped back, and, saying he had had enough, begged me to +leave him. + +I went off as fast as I could, and was very glad to see from the look of +my sword that his wounds were slight. I found Boaz still up, and on +hearing what had taken place he advised me to go to Amsterdam at once, +though I assured him that the wounds were not mortal. I gave in to his +advice, and as my carriage was at the saddler's he lent me his, and I set +out, bidding my servant to come on the next day with my luggage, and to +rejoin me at the "Old Bible," in Amsterdam. I reached Amsterdam at noon +and my man arrived in the evening. + +I was curious to hear if my duel had made any noise, but as my servant +had left at an early hour he had heard nothing about it. Fortunately for +me nothing whatever was known about it at Amsterdam for a week after; +otherwise, things might not have gone well with me, as the reputation of +being a duellist is not a recommendation to financiers with whom one is +about to transact business of importance. + +The reader will not be surprised when I tell him that my first call was +on M. d'O, or rather on his charming daughter Esther, for she it was on +whom I waited. It will be remembered that the way in which we parted did +a good deal towards augmenting the warmth of my affection for her. On +entering the room I found Esther writing at a table. + +"What are you doing Esther, dear?" + +"An arithmetical problem." + +"Do you like problems?" + +"I am passionately fond of anything which contains difficulties and +offers curious results." + +"I will give you something which will please you." + +I made her, by way of jest, two magic squares, which delighted her. In +return, she spewed me some trifles with which I was well acquainted, but +which I pretended to think very astonishing. My good genius then inspired +me with the idea of trying divination by the cabala. I told her to ask a +question in writing, and assured her that by a certain kind of +calculation a satisfactory answer would be obtained. She smiled, and +asked why I had returned to Amsterdam so soon. I shewed her how to make +the pyramid with the proper numbers and the other ceremonies, then I made +her extract the answer in numbers, translating it into French, and +greatly was she surprised to find that the cause which had made me return +to Amsterdam so soon was--love. + +Quite confounded, she said it was very wonderful, even though the answer +might not be true, and she wished to know what masters could teach this +mode of calculation. + +"Those who know it cannot teach it to anyone." + +"How did you learn it, then?" + +"From a precious manuscript I inherited from my father." + +"Sell it me." + +"I have burnt it; and I am not empowered to communicate the secret to +anyone before I reach the age of fifty." + +"Why fifty?" + +"I don't know; but I do know that if I communicated it to anyone before +that age I should run the risk of losing it myself. The elementary spirit +who is attached to the oracle would leave it." + +"How do you know that?" + +"I saw it so stated in the manuscript I have spoken of." + +"Then you are able to discover all secrets?" + +"Yes, or I should be if the replies were not sometimes too obscure to be +understood." + +"As it does not take much time, will you be kind enough to get me an +answer to another question?" + +"With pleasure; you can command me in anything not forbidden by my +familiar spirit." + +She asked what her destiny would be, and the oracle replied that she had +not yet taken the first step towards it. Esther was astonished and called +her governess to see the two answers, but the good woman saw nothing +wonderful in them whatever. Esther impatiently called her a blockhead, +and entreated me to let her ask another question. I begged her to do so, +and she asked, + +"Who loves me most in Amsterdam?" The oracle replied that no one loved +her as well as he who had given her being: Poor Esther then told me that +I had made her miserable, and that she would die of grief if she could +not succeed in learning the method of calculation. I gave no answer, and +pretended to feel sad at heart. She began to write down another question, +putting her hand in front so as to screen the paper. I rose as if to get +out of her way, but while she was arranging the pyramid I cast my eyes on +the paper whilst walking up and down the room, and read her question. +After she had gone as far as I had taught her, she asked me to extract +the answer, saying that I could do so without reading the question. I +agreed to do so on the condition that she would not ask a second time. + +As I had seen her question, it was easy for me to answer it. She had +asked the oracle if she might shew the questions she had propounded to +her father, and the answer was that she would be happy as long as she had +no secrets from her father. + +When she read these words she gave a cry of surprise, and could find no +words wherewith to express her gratitude to me. I left her for the +Exchange, where I had a long business conversation with M. Pels. + +Next morning a handsome and gentlemanly man came with a letter of +introduction from Therese, who told me that he would be useful in case I +wanted any assistance in business. His name was Rigerboos. She informed +me that the burgomaster's son was only slightly wounded, and that I had +nothing to fear as the matter was not generally known, and that if I had +business at the Hague I might return there in perfect safety. She said +that my little Sophie talked of me all day, and that I should find my son +much improved on my return. I asked M. Rigerboos to give me his address, +assuring him that at the proper time I should rely on his services. + +A moment after Rigerboos had gone, I got a short note from Esther, who +begged me, in her father's name, to spend the day with her--at least, if +I had no important engagement. I answered that, excepting a certain +matter of which her father knew, I had no chiefer aim than to convince +her that I desired a place in her heart, and that she might be quite sure +that I would not refuse her invitation. + +I went to M. d'O---- at dinner time. I found Esther and her father +puzzling over the method which drew reasonable answers out of a pyramid +of numbers. As soon as her father saw me, he embraced me, saying how +happy he was to possess a daughter capable of attracting me. + +"She will attract any man who has sufficient sense to appreciate her." + +"You appreciate her, then?" + +"I worship her." + +"Then embrace her." + +Esther opened her arms, and with a cry of delight threw them round my +neck, and gave the back all my caresses, kiss for kiss. + +"I have got through all my business," said M. d'O----, "and the rest of +my day is at your disposal. I have known from my childhood that there is +such a science as the one you profess, and I was acquainted with a Jew +who by its aid made an immense fortune. He, like you, said that, under +pain of losing the secret, it could only be communicated to one person, +but he put off doing so so long that at last it was too late, for a high +fever carried him off in a few days. I hope you will not do as the Jew +did; but in the meanwhile allow me to say that if You do not draw a +profit from this treasure, you do not know what it really is." + +"You call this knowledge of mine a treasure, and yet you possess one far +more excellent," looking at Esther as I spoke. + +"We will discuss that again. Yes, sir, I call your science a treasure." + +"But the answers of the oracle are often very obscure." + +"Obscure! The answers my daughter received are as clear as day." + +"Apparently, she is fortunate in the way she frames her questions; for on +this the reply depends." + +"After dinner we will try if I am so fortunate--at least, if you will be +so kind as to help me." + +"I can refuse you nothing, as I consider father and daughter as one +being." + +At table we discussed other subjects, as the chief clerks were +present--notably the manager, a vulgar-looking fellow, who had very +evident aspirations in the direction of my fair Esther. After dinner we +went into M. d'O 's private closet, and thereupon he drew two long +questions out of his pocket. In the first he desired to know how to +obtain a favourable decision from the States-General in an important +matter, the details of which he explained. I replied in terms, the +obscurity of which would have done credit to a professed Pythoness, and I +left Esther to translate the answer into common sense, and find a meaning +in it. + +With regard to the second answer I acted in a different manner; I was +impelled to answer clearly, and did so. M. d'O asked what had become of a +vessel belonging to the India Company of which nothing had been heard. It +was known to have started on the return voyage, and should have arrived +two months ago, and this delay gave rise to the supposition that it had +gone down. M. d'O---- wished to know if it were still above water, or +whether it were lost, etc. As no tidings of it had come to hand, the +company were on the look-out for someone to insure it, and offered ten +per cent., but nobody cared to run so great a risk, especially as a +letter had been received from an English sea captain who said he had seen +her sink. + +I may confess to my readers, though I did not do so to M. d'O----. that +with inexplicable folly I composed an answer that left no doubt as to the +safety of the vessel, pronouncing it safe and sound, and that we should +hear of it in a few days. No doubt I felt the need of exalting my oracle, +but this method was likely to destroy its credit for ever. In truth, if I +had guessed M. d'O----'s design, I would have curbed my vanity, for I had +no wish to make him lose a large sum without profiting myself. + +The answer made him turn pale, and tremble with joy. He told us that +secrecy in the matter was of the last importance, as he had determined to +insure the vessel and drive a good bargain. At this, dreading the +consequences, I hastened to tell him that for all I knew there might not +be a word of truth in the oracle's reply, and that I should die of grief +if I were the involuntary cause of his losing an enormous sum of money +through relying on an oracle, the hidden sense of which might be +completely opposed to the literal translation. + +"Have you ever been deceived by it?" + +"Often." + +Seeing my distress, Esther begged her father to take no further steps in +the matter. For some moments nobody spoke. + +M. d'O---- looked thoughtful and full of the project which his fancy had +painted in such gay colours. He said a good deal about it, dwelling on +the mystic virtues of numbers, and told his daughter to read out all the +questions she had addressed to the oracle with the answers she had +received. There were six or seven of them, all briefly worded, some +direct and some equivocal. Esther, who had constructed the pyramids, had +shone, with my potent assistance, in extracting the answers, which I had +really invented, and her father, in the joy of his heart, seeing her so +clever, imagined that she would become an adept in the science by the +force of intelligence. The lovely Esther, who was much taken with the +trifle; was quite ready to be of the same opinion. + +After passing several hours in the discussion of the answers, which my +host thought divine, we had supper, and at parting M. d'O---- said that as +Sunday was a day for pleasure and not business he hoped I would honour +them by passing the day at their pretty house on the Amstel, and they +were delighted at my accepting their invitation. + +I could not help pondering over the mysteries of the commercial mind, +which narrows itself down to considerations of profit and loss. M. +d'O---- was decidedly an honest man; but although he was rich, he was by +no means devoid of the greed incident to his profession. I asked myself +the question, how a man, who would consider it dishonourable to steal a +ducat, or to pick one up in the street and keep it, knowing to whom it +belonged, could reconcile it with his conscience to make an enormous +profit by insuring a vessel of the safety of which he was perfectly +certain, as he believed the oracle infallible. Such a transaction was +certainly fraudulent, as it is dishonest to play when one is certain of +winning. + +As I was going home I passed a tea-garden, and seeing a good many people +going in and coming out I went in curious to know how these places were +managed in Holland. Great heavens! I found myself the witness of an orgy, +the scene a sort of cellar, a perfect cesspool of vice and debauchery. +The discordant noise of the two or three instruments which formed the +orchestra struck gloom to the soul and added to the horrors of the +cavern. The air was dense with the fumes of bad tobacco, and vapours +reeking of beer and garlic issued from every mouth. The company consisted +of sailors, men of the lowest-class, and a number of vile women. The +sailors and the dregs of the people thought this den a garden of delight, +and considered its pleasures compensation for the toils of the sea and +the miseries of daily labour. There was not a single woman there whose +aspect had anything redeeming about it. I was looking at the repulsive +sight in silence, when a great hulking fellow, whose appearance suggested +the blacksmith, and his voice the blackguard, came up to me and asked me +in bad Italian if I would like to dance. I answered in the negative, but +before leaving me he pointed out a Venetian woman who, he said, would +oblige me if I gave her some drink. + +Wishing to discover if she was anyone I knew I looked at her attentively, +and seemed to recollect her features, although I could not decide who she +could be. Feeling rather curious on the subject I sat down next to her, +and asked if she came from Venice, and if she had left that country some +time ago. + +"Nearly eighteen years," she replied. + +I ordered a bottle of wine, and asked if she would take any; she said +yes, and added, if I liked, she would oblige me. + +"I haven't time," I said; and I gave the poor wretch the change I +received from the waiter. She was full of gratitude, and would have +embraced me if I had allowed her. + +"Do you like being at Amsterdam better than Venice?" I asked. + +"Alas, no! for if I were in my own country I should not be following this +dreadful trade." + +"How old were you when you left Venice." + +"I was only fourteen and lived happily with my father and mother, who now +may have died of grief." + +"Who seduced you?" + +"A rascally footman." + +"In what part of Venice did you live?" + +"I did not live in Venice, but at Friuli, not far off." + +Friuli . . . eighteen years ago . . . a footman . . . I felt moved, and +looking at the wretched woman more closely I soon recognized in her Lucie +of Pasean. I cannot describe my sorrow, which I concealed as best I +could, and tried hard to keep up my indifferent air. A life of debauchery +rather than the flight of time had tarnished her beauty, and ruined the +once exquisite outlines of her form. Lucie, that innocent and pretty +maiden, grown ugly, vile, a common prostitute! It was a dreadful thought. +She drank like a sailor, without looking at me, and without caring who I +was. I took a few ducats from my purse, and slipped them into her hand, +and without waiting for her to find out how much I had given her I left +that horrible den. + +I went to bed full of saddening thoughts. Not even under the Leads did I +pass so wretched a day. I thought I must have risen under some unhappy +star! I loathed myself. With regard to Lucie I felt the sting of remorse, +but at the thought of M. d'O---- I hated myself. I considered that I +should cause him a loss of three or four hundred thousand florins; and +the thought was a bitter drop in the cup of my affection for Esther. I +fancied, she, as well as her father, would become my implacable foe; and +love that is not returned is no love at all. + +I spent a dreadful night. Lucie, Esther, her father, their hatred of me, +and my hatred of myself, were the groundwork of my dreams. I saw Esther +and her father, if not ruined, at all events impoverished by my fault, +and Lucie only thirty-two years old, and already deep in the abyss of +vice, with an infinite prospect of misery and shame before her. The dawn +was welcome indeed, for with its appearance a calm came to my spirit; it +is, the darkness which is terrible to a heart full of remorse. + +I got up and dressed myself in my best, and went in a coach to do my suit +to the Princesse de Galitzin, who, was staying at the "Etoile d'Orient." +I found her out; she had gone to the Admiralty. I went there, and found +her accompanied by M. de Reissak and the Count de Tot, who had just +received news of my friend Pesselier, at whose house I made his +acquaintance, and who was dangerously ill when I left Paris. + +I sent away my coach and began to walk towards M. d'O----'s house on the +Amsel. The extreme elegance of my costume was displeasing in the eyes of +the Dutch populace, and they hissed and hooted me, after the manner of +the mob all the world over, Esther saw me coming from the window, drew +the rope, and opened the door. I ran in, shut the door behind me, and as +I was going up the wooden staircase, on the fourth or fifth step my foot +struck against some yielding substance. I looked down and saw a green +pocket-book. I stooped down to pick it up, but was awkward enough to send +it through an opening in the stairs, which had been doubtless made for +the purpose of giving light to a stair below. I did not stop, but went up +the steps and was received with the usual hospitality, and on their +expressing some wonder as to the unusual brilliance of my attire I +explained the circumstances of the case. Esther smiled and said I looked +quite another person, but I saw that both father and daughter were sad at +heart. Esther's governess came in and said something to her in Dutch, at +which, in evident distress, she ran and embraced her father. + +"I see, my friends, that something has happened to you. If my presence is +a restraint, treat me without ceremony, and bid me go." + +"It's not so great an ill-hap after all; I have enough money left to bear +the loss patiently." + +"If I may ask the question, what is the nature of your loss?" + +"I have lost a green pocket-book containing a good deal of money, which +if I had been wise I would have left behind, as I did not require it till +to-morrow." + +"And you don't know where you lost it?" + +"It must have been in the street, but I can't imagine how it can have +happened. It contained bills of exchange for large amounts, and of course +they don't matter, as I can stop payment of them, but there were also +notes of the Bank of England for heavy sums, and they are gone, as they +are payable to the bearer. Let us give thanks to God, my dear child, that +it is no worse, and pray to Him to preserve to us what remains, and above +all to keep us in good health. I have had much heavier losses than this, +and I have been enabled not only to bear the misfortune but to make up +the loss. Let us say no more about the matter." + +While he was speaking my heart was full of joy, but I kept up the sadness +befitting the scene. I had not the slightest doubt that the pocket-book +in question was the one I had unluckily sent through the staircase, but +which could not be lost irretrievably. My first point was how to make +capital of my grand discovery in the interests of my cabalistic science. +It was too fine an opportunity to be lost, especially as I still felt the +sting of having been the cause of an enormous loss to the worthy man. I +would give them a grand proof of the infallibility of my oracle: how many +miracles are done in the same way! The thought put me into a good humour. +I began to crack jokes, and my jests drew peals of laughter from Esther. + +We had an excellent dinner and choice wine. After we had taken coffee I +said that if they liked we would have a game of cards, but Esther said +that this would be a waste of time, as she would much prefer making the +oracular pyramids. This was exactly what I wanted. + +"With all my heart," I said. + +"We will do as you suggest." + +"Shall I ask where my father lost his pocket-book?" + +"Why not? It's a plain question: write it down." + +She made the pyramid, and the reply was that the pocket-book had not been +found by anyone. She leapt up from her seat, danced for joy, and threw +her arms round her father's neck, saying, + +"We shall find it, we shall find it, papa!" + +"I hope so, too, my dear, that answer is really very consoling." + +Wherewith Esther gave her father one kiss after another. + +"Yes," said I, "there is certainly ground for hope, but the oracle will +be dumb to all questions." + +"Dumb! Why?" + +"I was going to say it will be dumb if you do not give me as many kisses +as you have given your father." + +"Oh, then I will soon make it speak!" said she, laughing; and throwing +her arms about my neck she began to kiss me, and I to give her kisses in +return. + +Ah! what happy days they seem when I recall them; and still I like +dwelling on these days despite my sad old age, the foe of love. When I +recall these events I grow young again and feel once more the delights of +youth, despite the long years which separate me from that happy time. + +At last Esther sat down again, and asked, "Where is the pocket-book?" And +the pyramid told her that the pocket-book had fallen through the opening +in the fifth step of the staircase. + +M. d'O---- said to his daughter, + +"Come, my dear Esther, let us go and test the truth of the oracle." And +full of joy and hope they went to the staircase, I following them, and M. +d'O shewed her the hole through which the pocket-book must have fallen. +He lighted a candle and we went down to the cellar, and before long he +picked up the book, which had fallen into some water. We went up again in +high spirits, and there we talked for over an hour as seriously as you +please on the divine powers of the oracle, which, according to them, +should render its possessor the happiest of mortals. + +He opened the pocket-book and shewed us the four thousand pound notes. He +gave two to his daughter, and made me take the two remaining; but I took +them with one hand and with the other gave them to Esther begging her to +keep them for me; but before she would agree to do so I had to threaten +her with the stoppage of the famous cabalistic oracle. I told M. d'O that +all I asked was his friendship, and thereon he embraced me, and swore to +be my friend to the death. + +By making the fair Esther the depositary of my two thousand pounds, I was +sure of winning her affection by an appeal, not to her interest, but to +her truthfulness. This charming girl had about her so powerful an +attraction that I felt as if my life was wound up with hers. + +I told M. d'O that my chief object was to negotiate the twenty millions +at a small loss. + +"I hope to be of service to you in the matter," he said, "but as I. shall +often want to speak to you, you must come and live in our house, which +you must look upon as your own." + +"My presence will be a restraint on you. I shall be a trouble." + +"Ask Esther." + +Esther joined her entreaties to her father's and I gave in, taking good +care not to let them see how pleased I was. I contented myself with +expressing my gratitude, to which they answered that it was I who +conferred a favour. + +M. d'O went into his closet, and as soon as I found myself alone with +Esther I kissed her tenderly, saying that I should not be happy till I +had won her heart. + +"Do you love me?" + +"Dearly, and I will do all in my power to shew how well I love you, if +you will love me in return." + +She gave me her hand, which I covered with kisses, and she went on to +say, "As soon as you come and live with us, you must look out for a good +opportunity for asking my hand of my father. You need not be afraid he +will refuse you, but the first thing for you to do is to move into our +house." + +"My dear little wife! I will come to-morrow." + +We said many sweet things to one another, talked about the future, and +told each other our inmost thoughts; and I was undoubtedly truly in love, +for not a single improper fancy rose in my mind in the presence of my +dear who loved me so well. + +The first thing that M. d'O said on his return was, that there would be a +piece of news on the Exchange the next day. + +"What is that, papa dear?" + +"I have decided to take the whole risk--amounting to three hundred +thousand florins-of the ship which is thought to have gone down. They +will call me mad, but they themselves will be the madmen; which is what I +should be if, after the proof we have had, I doubted the oracle any +more." + +"My dear sir, you make me frightened. I have told you that I have been +often deceived by the oracle." + +"That must have been, my dear fellow, when the reply was obscure, and you +did not get at the real sense of it; but in the present case there is no +room, for doubt. I shall make three million florins, or, if the worst +comes to the worse, my loss won't ruin me." + +Esther, whom the finding of the pocket-book had made enthusiastic, told +her father to lose no time. As for me, I could not recall what I had +done, but I was again overwhelmed with sadness. M. d'O---- saw it, and +taking my hand said, "If the oracle does lie this time, I shall be none +the less your friend." + +"I am glad to hear it," I answered; "but as this is a matter of the +utmost importance, let me consult the oracle a second time before you +risk your three hundred thousand florins." This proposition pleased the +father and daughter highly; they could not express their gratitude to me +for being so careful of their interests. + +What followed was truly surprising--enough to make one believe in +fatality. My readers probably will not believe it; but as these Memoirs +will not be published till I have left this world, it would be of no use +for me to disguise the truth in any way, especially as the writing of +them is only the amusement of my leisure hours. Well, let him who will +believe it; this is absolutely what happened. I wrote down the question +myself, erected the pyramid, and carried out all the magical ceremonies +without letting Esther have a hand in it. I was delighted to be able to +check an act of extreme imprudence, and I was determined to do so. A +double meaning, which I knew how to get, would abate M. d'O----'s courage +and annihilate his plans. I had thought over what I wanted to say, and I +thought I had expressed it properly in the numbers. With that idea, as +Esther knew the alphabet perfectly well, I let her extract the answer, +and transfer it into letters. What was my surprise when I heard her read +these words: + +"In a matter of this kind neither fear nor hesitate. Your repentance +would be too hard for you to bear." + +That was enough. Father and daughter ran to embrace me, and M. d'O-said +that when the vessel was sighted a tithe of the profits should be mine. +My surprise prevented me giving any answer; I had intended to write trust +and hazard, and I had written fear and hesitate. But thanks to his +prejudice, M. d'O---- only saw in my silence confirmation of the +infallibility of the oracle. In short, I could do nothing more, and I +took my leave leaving everything to the care of chance, who sometimes is +kind to us in spite of ourselves. + +The next morning I took up my abode in a splendid suite of rooms in +Esther's house, and the day after I took her to a concert, where she +joked with me on the grief I should endure on account of the absence of +Madame Trend and my daughter. Esther was the only mistress of my soul. I +lived but to adore her, and I should have satisfied my love had not +Esther been a girl of good principles. I could not gain possession of +her, and was full of longing and desire. + +Four or five days after my installation in my new quarters, M. +d'O---communicated to me the result of a conference which he had had with +M. Pels and six other bankers on the twenty millions. They offered ten +millions in hard cash and seven millions in paper money, bearing interest +at five or six per cent. with a deduction of one per cent. brokerage. +Furthermore, they would forgive a sum of twelve hundred thousand florins +owed by the French India Company to the Dutch Company. + +With such conditions I could not venture to decide on my own +responsibility, although, personally, I thought them reasonable enough, +the impoverished state of the French treasury being taken into +consideration. I sent copies of the proposal to M. de Boulogne and M. +d'Afri, begging from them an immediate reply. At the end of a week I +received an answer in the writing of M. de Courteil, acting for M. de +Boulogne, instructing me to refuse absolutely any such proposal, and to +report myself at Paris if I saw no chance of making a better bargain. I +was again informed that peace was imminent, though the Dutch were quite +of another opinion. + +In all probability I should have immediately left for Paris, but for a +circumstance which astonished nobody but myself in the family of which I +had become a member. The confidence of M. d'O---- increased every day, and +as if chance was determined to make me a prophet in spite of myself, news +was received of the ship which was believed to be lost, and which, on the +faith of my oracle, M. d'O had bought for three hundred thousand florins. +The vessel was at Madeira. The joy of Esther, and still more my own, may +be imagined when we saw the worthy man enter the house triumphantly with +confirmation of the good news. + +"I have insured the vessel from Madeira to the mouth of the Texel for a +trifle," said he, "and so," turning to me, "you may count from this +moment on the tenth part of the profit, which I owe entirely to you." + +The reader may imagine my delight; but there is one thing he will not +imagine, unless he knows my character better than I do myself, the +confusion into which I was thrown by the following remarks: + +"You are now rich enough," said M. d'O----, "to set up for yourself +amongst us, and you are positively certain to make an enormous fortune in +a short time merely by making use of your cabala. I will be your agent; +let us live together, and if you like my daughter as she likes you, you +can call yourself my son as soon as you please." + +In Esther's face shone forth joy and happiness, and in mine, though I +adored her, there was to be seen, alas! nothing but surprise. I was +stupid with happiness and the constraint in which I held myself. I did +not analyze my feelings, but, though I knew it not, there can be no doubt +that my insuperable objection to the marriage tie was working within my +soul. A long silence followed; and last, recovering my powers of speech, +I succeeded, with an effort, in speaking to them of my gratitude, my +happiness, my love, and I ended by saying that, in spite of my affection +for Esther, I must, before settling in Holland, return to Paris, and +discharge the confidential and responsible duty which the Government had +placed in my hands. I would then return to Amsterdam perfectly +independent. + +This long peroration won their approval. Esther was quite pleased, and we +spent the rest of the day in good spirits. Next day M. d'O---gave a +splendid dinner to several of his friends, who congratulated him on his +good fortune, being persuaded that his courageous action was to be +explained by his having had secret information of the safety of the +vessel, though none of them could see from what source he, and he only, +had obtained it. + +A week after this lucky event he gave me an ultimatum on the matter of +the twenty millions, in which he guaranteed that France should not lose +more than nine per cent. in the transaction. + +I immediately sent a copy of his proposal to M. d'Afri, begging him to be +as prompt as possible, and another copy to the comptroller-general, with +a letter in which I warned him that the thing would certainly fall +through if he delayed a single day in sending full powers to M. d'Afri to +give me the necessary authority to act. + +I wrote to the same effect to M. de Courteil and the Duc de Choiseul, +telling them that I was to receive no brokerage; but that I should all +the same accept a proposal which I thought a profitable one, and saying +that I had no doubt of obtaining my expenses from the French Government. + +As it was a time of rejoicing with us, M. d'O---- thought it would be a +good plan to give a ball. All the most distinguished people in Amsterdam +were invited to it. The ball and supper were of the most splendid +description, and Esther, who was a blaze of diamonds, danced all the +quadrilles with me, and charmed every beholder by her grace and beauty. + +I spent all my time with Esther, and every day we grew more and more in +love, and more unhappy, for we were tormented by abstinence, which +irritated while it increased our desires. + +Esther was an affectionate mistress, but discreet rather by training than +disposition the favours she accorded me were of the most insignificant +description. She was lavish of nothing but her kisses, but kisses are +rather irritating than soothing. I used to be nearly wild with love. She +told me, like other virtuous women, that if she agreed to make me happy +she was sure I would not marry her, and that as soon as I made her my +wife she would be mine and mine only. She did not think I was married, +for I had given her too many assurances to the contrary, but she thought +I had a strong attachment to someone in Paris. I confessed that she was +right, and said that I was going there to put an end to it that I might +be bound to her alone. Alas! I lied when I said so, for Esther was +inseparable from her father, a man of forty, and I could not make up my +mind to pass the remainder of my days in Holland. + +Ten or twelve days after sending the ultimatum, I received a letter from +M. de Boulogne informing me that M. d'Afri had all necessary instructions +for effecting the exchange of the twenty millions, and another letter +from the ambassador was to the same effect. He warned me to take care +that everything was right, as he should not part with the securities +before receiving 18,200,000 francs in current money. + +The sad time of parting at last drew near, amid many regrets and tears +from all of us. Esther gave me the two thousand pounds I had won so +easily, and her father at my request gave me bills of exchange to the +amount of a hundred thousand florins, with a note of two hundred thousand +florins authorizing me to draw upon him till the whole sum was exhausted. +Just as I was going, Esther gave me fifty shirts and fifty handkerchiefs +of the finest quality. + +It was not my love for Manon Baletti, but a foolish vanity and a desire +to cut a figure in the luxurious city of Paris, which made me leave +Holland. But such was the disposition that Mother Nature had given me +that fifteen months under The Leads had not been enough to cure this +mental malady of mine. But when I reflect upon after events of my life I +am not astonished that The Leads proved ineffectual, for the numberless +vicissitudes which I have gone through since have not cured me--my +disorder, indeed, being of the incurable kind. There is no such thing as +destiny. We ourselves shape our lives, notwithstanding that saying of the +Stoics, 'Volentem ducit, nolentem trahit'. + +After promising Esther to return before the end of the year, I set out +with a clerk of the company who had brought the French securities, and I +reached the Hague, where Boaz received me with a mingled air of wonder +and admiration. He told me that I had worked a miracle; "but," he added, +"to succeed thus you must have persuaded them that peace was on the point +of being concluded." + +"By no means," I answered; "so far from my persuading them, they are of +the opposite opinion; but all the same I may tell you that peace is +really imminent." + +"If you like to give me that assurance in writing," said he, "I will make +you a present of fifty thousand florins' worth of diamonds." + +"Well," I answered, "the French ambassador is of the same opinion as +myself; but I don't think the certainty is sufficiently great as yet for +you to risk your diamonds upon it." + +Next day I finished my business with the ambassador, and the clerk +returned to Amsterdam. + +I went to supper at Therese's, and found her children very well dressed. +I told her to go on to Rotterdam the next day and wait for me there with +her son, as I had no wish to give scandal at the Hague. + +At Rotterdam, Therese told me that she knew I had won half a million at +Amsterdam, and that her fortune would be made if she could leave Holland +for London. She had instructed Sophie to tell me that my good luck was +the effect of the prayers she had addressed to Heaven on my behalf. I saw +where the land lay, and I enjoyed a good laugh at the mother's craft and +the child's piety, and gave her a hundred ducats, telling her that she +should have another hundred when she wrote to me from London. It was very +evident that she thought the sum a very moderate one, but I would not +give her any more. She waited for the moment when I was getting into my +carriage to beg me to give her another hundred ducats, and I said, in a +low tone, that she should have a thousand if she would give me her +daughter. She thought it over for a minute, and then said that she could +not part with her. + +"I know very well why," I answered; and drawing a watch from my fob I +gave it to Sophie, embraced her, and went on my way. I arrived at Paris +on February 10th, and took sumptuous apartments near the Rue Montorgueil. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +I Meet With a Flattering Reception From My Patron--Madame D'Urfe's +Infatuation--Madame X. C. V. And Her Family--Madame du Rumain + +During my journey from the Hague to Paris, short as it was, I had plenty +of opportunities for seeing that the mental qualities of my adopted son +were by no means equal to his physical ones. + +As I had said, the chief point which his mother had impressed on him was +reserve, which she had instilled into him out of regard for her own +interests. My readers will understand what I mean, but the child, in +following his mother's instructions, had gone beyond the bounds of +moderation; he possessed reserve, it is true, but he was also full of +dissimulation, suspicion, and hypocrisy--a fine trio of deceit in one who +was still a boy. He not only concealed what he knew, but he pretended to +know that which he did not. His idea of the one quality necessary to +success in life was an impenetrable reserve, and to obtain this he had +accustomed himself to silence the dictates of his heart, and to say no +word that had not been carefully weighed. Giving other people wrong +impressions passed with him for discretion, and his soul being incapable +of a generous thought, he seemed likely to pass through life without +knowing what friendship meant. + +Knowing that Madame d'Urfe counted on the boy for the accomplishment of +her absurd hypostasis, and that the more mystery I made of his birth the +more extravagant would be her fancies about it, I told the lad that if I +introduced him to a lady who questioned him by himself about his birth, +he was to be perfectly open with her. + +On my arrival at Paris my first visit was to my patron, whom I found in +grand company amongst whom I recognized the Venetian ambassador, who +pretended not to know me. + +"How long have you been in Paris?" said the minister, taking me by the +hand. + +"I have only just stepped out of my chaise." + +"Then go to Versailles. You will find the Duc de Choiseul and the +comptroller-general there. You have been wonderfully successful, go and +get your meed of praise and come and see me afterwards. Tell the duke +that Voltaire's appointment to be a gentleman-in-ordinary to the king is +ready." + +I was not going to start for Versailles at midday, but ministers in Paris +are always talking in this style, as if Versailles were at the end of the +street. Instead of going there, I went to see Madame d'Urfe. + +She received me with the words that her genius had informed her that I +should come to-day, and that she was delighted with the fulfilment of the +prophecy. + +"Corneman tells me that you have been doing wonders in Holland; but I see +more in the matter than he does, as I am quite certain that you have +taken over the twenty millions yourself. The funds have risen, and a +hundred millions at least will be in circulation in the course of the +next week. You must not be offended at my shabby present, for, of course, +twelve thousand francs are nothing to you. You must look upon them as a +little token of friendship." + +"I am going to tell my servants to close all the doors, for I am too glad +to see you not to want to have you all to myself." + +A profound bow was the only reply I made to this flattering speech, and I +saw her tremble with joy when I told her that I had brought a lad of +twelve with me, whom I intended to place in the best school I could find +that he might have a good education. + +"I will send him myself to Viar, where my nephews are. What is his name? +Where is he? I know well what this boy is, I long to see him. Why did +you not alight from your journey at my house?" + +Her questions and replies followed one another in rapid succession. I +should have found it impossible to get in a word edgeways, even if I had +wanted to, but I was very glad to let her expend her enthusiasm, and took +good care not to interrupt her. On the first opportunity, I told her that +I should have the pleasure of presenting the young gentleman to her the +day after tomorrow, as on the morrow I had an engagement at Versailles. + +"Does the dear lad speak French? While I am arranging for his going to +school you must really let him come and live with me." + +"We will discuss that question on the day after tomorrow, madam." + +"Oh, how I wish the day after to-morrow was here!" + +On leaving Madame d'Urfe I went to my lottery office and found everything +in perfect order. I then went to the Italian play, and found Silvia and +her daughter in their dressing-room. + +"My dear friend," said she when she saw me, "I know that you have +achieved a wonderful success in Holland, and I congratulate you." + +I gave her an agreeable surprise by saying that I had been working for +her daughter, and Marion herself blushed, and lowered her eyes in a very +suggestive manner. "I will be with you at supper," I added, "and then we +can talk at our ease." On leaving them I went to the amphitheatre, and +what was my surprise to see in one of the first boxes Madame +X---- C---- V----, with all her family. My readers will be glad to hear +their history. + +Madame X---- C---- V----, by birth a Greek, was the widow of an Englishman, +by whom she had six children, four of whom were girls. On his death-bed +he became a Catholic out of deference to the tears of his wife; but as +his children could not inherit his forty thousand pounds invested in +England, without conforming to the Church of England, the family returned +to London, where the widow complied with all the obligations of the law +of England. What will people not do when their interests are at stake! +though in a case like this there is no need to blame a person for +yielding, to prejudices which had the sanction of the law. + +It was now the beginning of the year 1758, and five years before, when I +was at Padua, I fell in love with the eldest daughter, but a few months +after, when we were at Venice, Madame X. C. V. thought good to exclude me +from her family circle. The insult which the mother put upon me was +softened by the daughter, who wrote me a charming letter, which I love to +read even now. I may as well confess that my grief was the easier to bear +as my time was taken up by my fair nun, M---- M----, and my dear +C---- C----. Nevertheless, Mdlle. X. C. V., though only fifteen, was of a +perfect beauty, and was all the more charming in that to her physical +advantages she joined those of a cultured mind. + +Count Algarotti, the King of Prussia's chamberlain, gave her lessons, and +several young nobles were among her suitors, her preference apparently +being given to the heir of the family of Memmo de St. Marcuola. He died a +year afterwards, while he was procurator. + +My surprise at seeing this family at such a time and place may be +imagined. Mdlle. X. C. V. saw me directly, and pointed me out to her +mother, who made a sign to me with her fan to come to their box. + +She received me in the friendliest manner possible, telling me that we +were not at Venice now, and that she hoped I would often come and see +them at the "Hotel de Bretagne," in the Rue St. Andre des Arts. I told +them that I did not wish to recall any events which might have happened +at Venice, and her daughter having joined her entreaties to those of her +mother, I promised to accept their invitation. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. struck me as prettier than ever; and my love, after +sleeping for five years, awoke to fresh strength and vigour. They told me +that they were going to pass six months at Paris before returning to +Venice. In return I informed them that I intended making Paris my home, +that I had just left Holland, that I was going to Versailles the next +day, so that I could not pay my respects to them till the day after. I +also begged them to accept my services, in a manner which let them know I +was a person of some importance. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. said that she was aware that the results of my Dutch +mission should render me dear to France, that she had always lived in +hopes of seeing me once more, that my famous flight from The Leads had +delighted them; "for," she added, "we have always been fond of you." + +"I fancy your mother has kept her fondness for me very much to herself," +I whispered to her. + +"We won't say anything about that," said she in the same tone. "We learnt +all the circumstances of your wonderful flight from a letter of sixteen +pages you wrote to M. Memmo. We trembled with joy and shuddered with fear +as we read it." + +"How did you know I have been in Holland?" + +"M. de la Popeliniere told us about it yesterday." + +M. de la Popeliniere, the fermier-general, whom I had known seven years +ago at Passi, came into the box just as his name was spoken. After +complimenting me he said that if I could carry through the same operation +for the India Company my fortune would be made. + +"My advice to you is," he said, "to get yourself naturalized before it +becomes generally known that you have made half a million of money." + +"Half a million! I only wish I had!" + +"You must have made that at the lowest calculation." + +"On the contrary, I give you my assurance, that if my claim for brokerage +is not allowed, the transaction will prove absolutely ruinous to me." + +"Ah! no doubt you are right to take that tone. Meanwhile, everyone wants +to make your acquaintance, for France is deeply indebted to you. You have +caused the funds to recover in a very marked degree." + +After the play was over I went to Silvia's, where I was received as if I +had been the favourite child of the family; but on the other hand I gave +them certain proofs that I wished to be regarded in that light. I was +impressed with the idea that to their unshaken friendship I owed all my +good luck, and I made the father, mother, the daughter, and the two sons, +receive the presents I had got for them. The best was for the mother, who +handed it on to her daughter. It was a pair of diamond ear-rings of great +beauty, for which I had given fifteen thousand francs. Three days after I +sent her a box containing fine linen from Holland, and choice Mechlin and +Alencon lace. Mario, who liked smoking, got a gold pipe; the father a +choice gold and enamelled snuff-box, and I gave a repeater to the younger +son, of whom I was very fond. I shall have occasion later on to speak of +this lad, whose natural qualities were far superior to his position in +life. But, you will ask, was I rich enough to make such presents? No, I +was not, and I knew it perfectly well; but I gave these presents because +I was afraid of not being able to do so if I waited. + +I set out for Versailles at day-break, and M. de Choiseul received me as +before, his hair was being dressed, but for a moment he laid down his +pen, which shewed that I had become a person of greater importance in his +eyes. After a slight but grateful compliment, he told me that if I +thought myself capable of negotiating a loan of a hundred millions to +bear interest at four per cent., he would do all in his power to help me. +My answer was that I would think it over when I heard how much I was to +have for what I had done already. + +"But everybody says that you have made two hundred thousand florins by +it." + +"That would not be so bad; half a million of francs would be a fair +foundation on which to build a fortune; but I can assure your excellence +that there is not a word of truth in the report. I defy anyone to prove +it; and till some substantial proof is offered, I think I can lay claim +to brokerage." + +"True, true. Go to the comptroller-general and state your views to him." + +M. de Boulogne stopped the occupation on which he was engaged to give me +a most friendly greeting, but when I said that he owed me a hundred +thousand florins he smiled sardonically. + +"I happen to know," he said, "that you have bills of exchange to the +amount of a hundred thousand crowns payable to yourself." + +"Certainly, but that money has no connection with my mission, as I can +prove to you by referring you to M. d'Afri. I have in my head an +infallible project for increasing the revenue by twenty millions, in a +manner which will cause no irritation." + +"You don't say so! Communicate your plan, and I promise to get you a +pension of a hundred thousand francs, and letters of nobility as well, if +you like to become a Frenchman." + +"I will think it over." + +On leaving M. de Boulogne I went to the Palace, where a ballet was going +on before the Marquise de Pompadour. + +She bowed to me as soon as she saw me, and on my approaching her she told +me that I was an able financier, and that the "gentlemen below" could not +appreciate my merits. She had not forgotten what I had said to her eight +years before in the theatre at Fontainebleau. I replied that all good +gifts were from above, whither, with her help, I hoped to attain. + +On my return to Paris I went to the "Hotel Bourbon" to inform my patron +of the result of my journey. His advice to me was to continue to serve +the Government well, as its good fortune would come to be mine. On my +telling him of my meeting with the X. C. V.'s, he said that M. de la +Popeliniere was going to marry the elder daughter. + +When I got to my house my son was nowhere to be found. My landlady told +me that a great lady had come to call on my lord, and that she had taken +him away with her. Guessing that this was Madame d'Urfe, I went to bed +without troubling myself any further. Early next morning my clerk brought +me a letter. It came from the old attorney, uncle to Gaetan's wife, whom +I had helped to escape from the jealous fury of her brutal husband. The +attorney begged me to come and speak to him at the courts, or to make an +appointment at some place where he could see me. I went to the courts and +found him there. + +"My niece," he began, "found herself obliged to go into a convent; and +from this vantage ground she is pleading against her husband, with the +aid of a barrister, who will be responsible for the costs. However, to +win our case, we require the evidence of yourself, Count Tiretta, and +other servants who witnessed the scene at the inn." + +I did all I could, and four months afterwards Gaetan simplified matters +by a fraudulent bankruptcy, which obliged him to leave France: in due +time and place, I shall have something more to say about him. As for his +wife, who was young and pretty, she paid her counsel in love's money, and +was very happy with him, and may be happy still for all I know, but I +have entirely lost sight of her. + +After my interview with the old attorney I went to Madame---- to see +Tiretta, who was out. Madame was still in love with him, and he continued +to make a virtue of necessity. I left my address, and went to the "Hotel +de Bretagne" to pay my first call on Madame X. C. V. The lady, though she +was not over fond of me, received me with great politeness. I possibly +cut a better figure in her eyes when rich, and at Paris, then when we +were in Venice. We all know that diamonds have the strange power of +fascination, and that they form an excellent substitute for virtue! + +Madame X. C. V. had with her an old Greek named Zandiri, brother to M. de +Bragadin's major-domo, who was just dead. I uttered some expressions of +sympathy, and the boor did not take the trouble to answer me, but I was +avenged for his foolish stiffness by the enthusiasm with which I was +welcomed by everyone else. The eldest girl, her sisters, and the two +sons, almost overwhelmed me with friendliness. The eldest son was only +fourteen, and was a young fellow of charming manners, but evidently +extremely independent, and sighed for the time when he would be able to +devote himself to a career of profligacy for which he was well fitted. +Mdlle. X. C. V. was both beautiful and charming in her manner, and had +received an excellent education of which, however, she made no parade. +One could not stay in her presence without loving her, but she was no +flirt, and I soon saw that she held out no vain hopes to those who had +the misfortune not to please her. Without being rude she knew how to be +cold, and it was all the worse for those whom her coldness did not shew +that their quest was useless. + +The first hour I passed in her company chained me a captive to her +triumphant car. I told her as much, and she replied that she was glad to +have such a captive. She took the place in my heart where Esther had +reigned a week before, but I freely confess that Esther yielded only +because she was away. As to my attachment to Sylvia's daughter, it was of +such a nature as not to hinder me falling in love with any other woman +who chanced to take my fancy. In the libertine's heart love cannot exist +without substantial food, and women who have had some experience of the +world are well aware of this fact. The youthful Baletti was a beginner, +and so knew nothing of these things. + +M. Farsetti, a Venetian of noble birth, a knight of Malta, a great +student of the occult sciences, and a good Latin versifier, came in at +one o'clock. Dinner was just ready and Madame X. C. V. begged him to +stay. She asked me also to dine with them, but wishing to dine with +Madame d'Urfe I refused the invitation for the nonce. + +M. Farsetti, who had known me very well at Venice, only noticed me by a +side-glance, and without shewing any vexation I paid him back in the same +coin. He smiled at Mdlle. X. C. V.'s praise of my courage. She noticed +his expression, and as if to punish him for it went on to say that I had +now the admiration of every Venetian, and that the French were anxious to +have the honour of calling me a fellow-citizen. M. Farsetti asked me if +my post at the lottery paid well. I replied, coolly, + +"Oh, yes, well enough for me to pay my clerks' salaries." + +He understood the drift of my reply, and Mdlle. X. C. V. smiled. + +I found my supposed son with Madame d'Urfe, or rather in that amiable +visionary's arms. She hastened to apologize for carrying him off, and I +turned it off with a jest, having no other course to take. + +"I made him sleep with me," she said, "but I shall be obliged to deprive +myself of this privilege for the future, unless he promises to be more +discreet." + +I thought the idea a grand one, and the little fellow, in spite of his +blushes, begged her to say how he had offended. + +"We shall have the Comte de St. Germain," said Madame d'Urfe, "to dinner. +I know he amuses you, and I like you to enjoy yourself in my house." + +"For that, madam, your presence is all I need; nevertheless, I thank you +for considering me." + +In due course St. Germain arrived, and in his usual manner sat himself +down, not to eat but to talk. With a face of imperturbable gravity he +told the most incredible stories, which one had to pretend to believe, as +he was always either the hero of the tale or an eye witness of the event. +All the same, I could not help bursting into laughter when he told us of +something that happened as he was dining with the Fathers of the Council +of Trent. + +Madame d'Urfe wore on her neck a large magnet. She said that it would one +day happen that this magnet would attract the lightning, and that she +would consequently soar into the sun. I longed to tell her that when, she +got there she could be no higher up than on the earth, but I restrained +myself; and the great charlatan hastened to say that there could be no +doubt about it, and that he, and he only, could increase the force of the +magnet a thousand times. I said, dryly, that I would wager twenty +thousand crowns he would not so much as double its force, but Madame +d'Urfe would not let us bet, and after dinner she told me in private that +I should have lost, as St. Germain was a magician. Of course I agreed +with her. + +A few days later, the magician set out for Chambord, where the king had +given him a suite of rooms and a hundred thousand francs, that he might +be at liberty to work on the dyes which were to assure the superiority of +French materials over those of any other country. St. Germain had got +over the king by arranging a laboratory where he occasionally tried to +amuse himself, though he knew little about chemistry, but the king was +the victim of an almost universal weariness. To enjoy a harem recruited +from amongst the most ravishing beauties, and often from the ranks of +neophytes, with whom pleasure had its difficulties, one would have needed +to be a god, and Louis XV. was only a man after all. + +It was the famous marquise who had introduced the adept to the king in +the hope of his distracting the monarch's weariness, by giving him a +taste for chemistry. Indeed Madame de Pompadour was under the impression +that St. Germain had given her the water of perpetual youth, and +therefore felt obliged to make the chemist a good return. This wondrous +water, taken according to the charlatan's directions, could not indeed +make old age retire and give way to youth, but according to the marquise +it would preserve one in statu quo for several centuries. + +As a matter of fact, the water, or the giver of it, had worked wonders, +if not on her body, at least on her mind; she assured the king that she +was not getting older. The king was as much deluded by this grand +impostor as she was, for one day he shewed the Duc des Deux-Ponts a +diamond of the first water, weighing twelve carats, which he fancied he +had made himself. "I melted down," said Louis XV., "small diamonds +weighing twenty-four carats, and obtained this one large one weighing +twelve." Thus it came to pass that the infatuated monarch gave the +impostor the suite formerly occupied by Marshal Saxe. The Duc des +Deux-Ponts told me this story with his own lips, one evening, when I was +supping with him and a Swede, the Comte de Levenhoop, at Metz. + +Before I left Madame d'Urfe, I told her that the lad might be he who +should make her to be born again, but that she would spoil all if she did +not wait for him to attain the age of puberty. After what she had said +about his misbehavior, the reader will guess what made me say this. She +sent him to board with Viar, gave him masters on everything, and +disguised him under the name of the Comte d'Aranda, although he was born +at Bayreuth, and though his mother never had anything to do with a +Spaniard of that name. It was three or four months before I went to see +him, as I was afraid of being insulted on account of the name which the +visionary Madame d'Urfe had given him. + +One day Tiretta came to see me in a fine coach. He told me that his +elderly mistress wanted to become his wife, but that he would not hear of +it, though she offered to endow him with all her worldly goods. I told +him that if he gave in he might pay his debts, return to Trevisa, and +live pleasantly there; but his destiny would not allow him to take my +advice. + +I had resolved on taking a country house, and fixed on one called "Little +Poland," which pleased me better than all the others I had seen. It was +well furnished, and was a hundred paces distant from the Madeleine Gate. +It was situated on slightly elevated ground near the royal park, behind +the Duc de Grammont's garden, and its owner had given it the name of +"Pleasant Warsaw." It had two gardens, one of which was on a level with +the first floor, three reception rooms, large stables, coach houses, +baths, a good cellar, and a splendid kitchen. The master was called "The +Butter King," and always wrote himself down so; the name had been given +to him by Louis XV. on the monarch's stopping at the house and liking the +butter. The "Butter King" let me his house for a hundred Louis per annum, +and he gave me an excellent cook called "The Pearl," a true blue-ribbon +of the order of cooks, and to her he gave charge of all his furniture and +the plate I should want for a dinner of six persons, engaging to get me +as much plate as I wanted at the hire of a sous an ounce. He also +promised to let me have what wine I wanted, and said all he had was of +the best, and, moreover, cheaper than I could get it at Paris, as he had +no gate-money to pay on it. + +Matters having been arranged on these terms, in the course of a week I +got a good coachman, two fine carriages, five horses, a groom, and two +footmen. Madame d'Urfe, who was my first guest, was delighted with my new +abode, and as she imagined that I had done it all for her, I left her in +that flattering opinion. I never could believe in the morality of +snatching from poor mortal man the delusions which make them happy. I +also let her retain the notion that young d'Aranda, the count of her own +making, was a scion of the nobility, that he was born for a mysterious +operation unknown to the rest of mankind, that I was only his caretaker +(here I spoke the truth), and that he must die and yet not cease to live. +All these whimsical ideas were the products of her brain, which was only +occupied with the impossible, and I thought the best thing I could do was +to agree with everything. If I had tried to undeceive her, she would have +accused me of want of trust in her, for she was convinced that all her +knowledge was revealed to her by her genius, who spoke to her only by +night. After she had dined with me I took her back to her house, full of +happiness. + +Camille sent me a lottery ticket, which she had invested in at my office, +and which proved to be a winning one, I think, for a thousand crowns or +thereabouts. She asked me to come and sup with her, and bring the money +with me. I accepted her invitation, and found her surrounded by all the +girls she knew and their lovers. After supper I was asked to go to the +opera with them, but we had scarcely got there when I lost my party in +the crowd. I had no mask on, and I soon found myself attacked by a black +domino, whom I knew to be a woman, and as she told me a hundred truths +about myself in a falsetto voice, I was interested, and determined on +finding out who she was. At last I succeeded in persuading her to come +with me into a box, and as soon as we were in and I had taken off her +mask I was astonished to find she was Mdlle. X. C. V. + +"I have come to the ball," said she, "with one of my sisters, my elder +brother, and M. Farsetti. I left them to go into a box and change my +domino: + +"They must feel very uneasy." + +"I dare say they do, but I am not going to take pity on them till the end +of the ball." + +Finding myself alone with her, and certain of having her in my company +for the rest of the night, I began to talk of our old love-making; and I +took care to say that I was more in love with her than ever. She listened +to me kindly, did not oppose my embraces, and by the few obstacles she +placed in my way I judged that the happy moment was not far off. +Nevertheless I felt that I must practice restraint that evening, and she +let me see that she was obliged to me. + +"I heard at Versailles, my dear mademoiselle, that you are going to marry +M. de la Popeliniere." + +"So they say. My mother wishes me to do so, and the old financier fancies +he has got me in his talons already; but he makes a mistake, as I will +never consent to such a thing." + +"He is old, but he is very rich." + +"He is very rich and very generous, for he promises me a dowry of a +million if I become a widow without children; and if I had a son he would +leave me all his property." + +"You wouldn't have much difficulty in complying with the second +alternative." + +"I shall never have anything to do with his money, for I should never +make my life miserable by a marriage with a man whom I do not love, while +I do love another." + +"Another! Who is the fortunate mortal to whom you have given your heart's +treasure?" + +"I do not know if my loved one is fortunate. My lover is a Venetian, and +my mother knows of it; but she says that I should not be happy, that he +is not worthy of me." + +"Your mother is a strange woman, always crossing your affections." + +"I cannot be angry with her. She may possibly be wrong, but she certainly +loves me. She would rather that I should marry M. Farsetti, who would be +very glad to have me, but I detest him." + +"Has he made a declaration in terms?" + +"He has, and all the marks of contempt I have given him seem to have no +effect." + +"He clings hard to hope; but the truth is you have fascinated him." + +"Possibly, but I do not think him susceptible of any tender or generous +feeling. He is a visionary; surly, jealous, and envious in his +disposition. When he heard me expressing myself about you in the manner +you deserve, he had the impudence to say to my mother before my face that +she ought not to receive you." + +"He deserves that I should give him a lesson in manners, but there are +other ways in which he may be punished. I shall be delighted to serve you +in any way I can." + +"Alas! if I could only count on your friendship I should be happy." + +The sigh with which she uttered these words sent fire through my veins, +and I told her that I was her devoted slave; that I had fifty thousand +crowns which were at her service, and that I would risk my life to win +her favours. She replied that she was truly grateful to me, and as she +threw her arms about my neck our lips met, but I saw that she was +weeping, so I took care that the fire which her kisses raised should be +kept within bounds. She begged me to come and see her often, promising +that as often as she could manage it we should be alone. I could ask no +more, and after I had promised to come and dine with them on the morrow, +we parted. + +I passed an hour in walking behind her, enjoying my new position of +intimate friend, and I then returned to my Little Poland. It was a short +distance, for though I lived in the country I could get to any part of +Paris in a quarter of an hour. I had a clever coachman, and capital +horses not used to being spared. I got them from the royal stables, and +as soon as I lost one I got another from the same place, having to pay +two hundred francs. This happened to me several times, for, to my mind, +going fast is one of the greatest pleasures which Paris offers. + +Having accepted an invitation to dinner at the X. C. V.'s, I did not give +myself much time for sleep, and I went out on foot with a cloak on. The +snow was falling in large flakes, and when I got to madame's I was as +white as a sheet from head to foot. She gave me a hearty welcome, +laughing, and saying that her daughter had been telling her how she had +puzzled me, and that she was delighted to see me come to dinner without +ceremony. "But," added she, "it's Friday today, and you will have to +fast, though, after all, the fish is very good. Dinner is not ready yet. +You had better go and see my daughter, who is still a-bed." + +As may be imagined, this invitation had not to be repeated, for a pretty +woman looks better in bed than anywhere else. I found Mdlle. X. C. V. +sitting up in bed writing, but she stopped as soon as she saw me. + +"How is this, sweet lie-a-bed, not up yet?" + +"Yes, I am staying in bed partly because I feel lazy, and partly because +I am freer here." + +"I was afraid you were not quite well." + +"Nor am I. However, we will say no more about that now. I am just going +to take some soup, as those who foolishly establish the institution of +fasting were not polite enough to ask my opinion on the subject. It does +not agree with my health, and I don't like it, so I am not going to get +up even to sit at table, though I shall thus deprive myself of your +society." + +I naturally told her that in her absence dinner would have no savour; and +I spoke the truth. + +As the presence of her sister did not disturb us, she took out of her +pocket-book an epistle in verse which I had addressed to her when her +mother had forbidden me the house. "This fatal letter," said she, "which +you called 'The Phoenix,' has shaped my life and may prove the cause of +my death." + +I had called it the Phoenix because, after bewailing my unhappy lot, I +proceeded to predict how she would afterwards give her heart to a mortal +whose qualities would make him deserve the name of Phoenix. A hundred +lines were taken up in the description of these imaginary mental and +moral characteristics, and certainly the being who should have them all +would be right worthy of worship, for he would be rather a god than a +man. + +"Alas!" said Mdlle. X. C. V., "I fell in love with this imaginary being, +and feeling certain that such an one must exist I set myself to look for +him. After six months I thought I had found him. I gave him my heart, I +received his, we loved each other fondly. But for the last four months we +have been separated, and during the whole time I have only had one letter +from him. Yet I must not blame him, for I know he cannot help it. Such, +is my sorry fate: I can neither hear from him nor write to him:" + +This story was a confirmation of a theory of mine namely, that the most +important events in our lives proceed often from the most trifling +causes. My epistle was nothing better than a number of lines of poetry +more or less well written, and the being I had delineated was certainly +not to be found, as he surpassed by far all human perfections, but a +woman's heart travels so quickly and so far! Mdlle. X. C. V. took the +thing literally, and fell in love with a chimera of goodness, and then +was fain to turn this into a real lover, not thinking of the vast +difference between the ideal and the real. For all that, when she thought +that she had found the original of my fancy portrait, she had no +difficulty in endowing him with all the good qualities I had pictured. Of +course Mdlle. X. C. V. would have fallen in love if I had never written +her a letter in verse, but she would have done so in a different manner, +and probably with different results. + +As soon as dinner was served we were summoned to do justice to the choice +fish which M. de la Popeliniere had provided. Madame X. C. V. a +narrowminded Greek, was naturally bigoted and superstitious. In the mind +of a silly woman the idea of an alliance between the most opposite of +beings, God and the Devil, seems quite natural. A priest had told her +that, since she had converted her husband, her salvation was secure, for +the Scriptures solemnly promised a soul for a soul to every one who would +lead a heretic or a heathen within the fold of the church. And as Madame +X. C. V. had converted her husband, she felt no anxiety about the life of +the world to come, as she had done all that was necessary. However, she +ate fish on the days appointed; the reason being that she preferred it to +flesh. + +Dinner over, I returned to the lady's bedside, and there stayed till +nearly nine o'clock, keeping my passions well under control all the time. +I was foppish enough to think that her feelings were as lively as mine, +and I did not care to shew myself less self-restrained than she, though I +knew then, as I know now, that this was a false line of argument. It is +the same with opportunity as with fortune; one must seize them when they +come to us, or else they go by, often to return no more. + +Not seeing Farsetti at the table, I suspected there had been a quarrel, +and I asked my sweetheart about it; but she told me I was mistaken in +supposing they had quarreled with him, and that the reason of his absence +was that he would never leave his house on a Friday. The deluded man had +had his horoscope drawn, and learning by it that he would be assassinated +on a Friday he resolved always to shut himself up on that day. He was +laughed at, but persisted in the same course till he died four years ago +at the age of seventy. He thought to prove by the success of his +precautions that a man's destiny depends on his discretion, and on the +precautions he takes to avoid the misfortunes of which he has had +warning. The line of argument holds good in all cases except when the +misfortunes are predicted in a horoscope; for either the ills predicted +are avoidable, in which case the horoscope is a useless piece of folly, +or else the horoscope is the interpreter of destiny, in which case all +the precautions in the world are of no avail. The Chevalier Farsetti was +therefore a fool to imagine he had proved anything at all. He would have +proved a good deal for many people if he had gone out on a Friday, and +had chanced to have been assassinated. Picas de la Mirandola, who +believed in astrology, says, "I have no doubt truly, 'Astra influunt, non +cogunt.'" But would it have been a real proof of the truth of astrology, +if Farsetti had been assassinated on a Friday? In my opinion, certainly +not. + +The Comte d'Eigreville had introduced me to his sister, the Comtesse du +Remain, who had been wanting to make my acquaintance ever since she had +heard of my oracle. It was not long before I made friends with her +husband and her two daughters, the elder of whom, nicknamed "Cotenfau," +married M. de Polignac later on. Madame du Remain was handsome rather +than pretty, but she won the love of all by her kindness, her frank +courtesy, and her eagerness to be of service to her friends. She had a +magnificent figure, and would have awed the whole bench of judges if she +had pleaded before them. + +At her house I got to know Mesdames de Valbelle and de Rancerolles, the +Princess de Chimai, and many others who were then in the best society of +Paris. Although Madame du Remain was not a proficient in the occult +sciences, she had nevertheless consulted my oracle more frequently than +Madame d'Urfe. She was of the utmost service to me in connection with an +unhappy circumstance of which I shall speak presently. + +The day after my long conversation with Mdlle. X. C. V., my servant told +me that there was a young man waiting who wanted to give me a letter with +his own hands. I had him in, and on my asking him from whom the letter +came, he replied that I should find all particulars in the letter, and +that he had orders to wait for an answer. The epistle ran as follows: + +"I am writing this at two o'clock in the morning. I am weary and in need +of rest, but a burden on my soul deprives me of sleep. The secret I am +about to tell you will no longer be so grievous when I have confided in +you; I shall feel eased by placing it in your breast. I am with child, +and my situation drives me to despair. I was obliged to write to you +because I felt I could not say it. Give me a word in reply." + +My feelings on reading the above may be guessed. I was petrified with +astonishment and could only write, "I will be with you at eleven +o'clock." + +No one should say that he has passed through great misfortunes unless +they have proved too great for his mind to bear. The confidence of Mdlle. +X. C. V. shewed me that she was in need of support. I congratulated +myself on having the preference, and I vowed to do my best for her did it +cost me my life. These were the thoughts of a lover, but for all that I +could not conceal from myself the imprudence of the step she had taken. +In such cases as these there is always the choice between speaking or +writing, and the only feeling which can give the preference to writing is +false shame, at bottom mere cowardice. If I had not been in love with +her, I should have found it easier to have refused my aid in writing than +if she had spoken to me, but I loved her to distraction. + +"Yes," said I to myself, "she can count on me. Her mishap makes her all +the dearer to me." + +And below this there was another voice, a voice which whispered to me +that if I succeeded in saving her my reward was sure. I am well aware +that more than one grave moralist will fling stones at me for this +avowal, but my answer is that such men cannot be in love as I was. + +I was punctual to my appointment, and found the fair unfortunate at the +door of the hotel. + +"You are going out, are you? Where are you going?" + +"I am going to mass at the Church of the Augustinians." + +"Is this a saint's day?" + +"No; but my mother makes me go every day." + +"I will come with you." + +"Yes do, give me your arm; we will go into the cloisters and talk there." + +Mdlle. X. C. V. was accompanied by her maid, but she knew better than to +be in the way, so we left her in the cloisters. As soon as we were alone +she said to me, + +"Have you read my letter?" + +"Yes, of course; here it is, burn it yourself." + +"No, keep it, and do so with your own hands." + +"I see you trust in me, and I assure you I will not abuse your trust." + +"I am sure you will not. I am four months with child; I can doubt it no +longer, and the thought maddens me!" + +"Comfort yourself, we will find some way to get over it." + +"Yes; I leave all to you. You must procure an abortion." + +"Never, dearest! that is a crime!" + +"Alas! I know that well; but it is not a greater crime than suicide, and +there lies my choice: either to destroy the wretched witness of my shame, +or to poison myself. For the latter alternative I have everything ready. +You are my only friend, and it is for you to decide which it shall be. +Speak to me! Are you angry that I have not gone to the Chevalier Farsetti +before you?" + +She saw my astonishment, and stopped short, and tried to wipe away the +tears which escaped from her eyes. My heart bled for her. + +"Laying the question of crime on one side," said I, "abortion is out of +our power. If the means employed are not violent they are uncertain, and +if they are violent they are dangerous to the mother. I will never risk +becoming your executioner; but reckon on me, I will not forsake you. Your +honour is as dear to me as your life. Becalm, and henceforth think that +the peril is mine, not yours. Make up your mind that I shall find some +way of escape, and that there will be no need to cut short that life, to +preserve which I would gladly die. And allow me to say that when I read +your note I felt glad, I could not help it, that at such an emergency you +chose me before all others to be your helper. You will find that your +trust was not given in vain, for no one loves you as well as I, and no +one is so fain to help you. Later you shall begin to take the remedies I +will get for you, but I warn you to be on your guard, for this is a +serious matter--one of life and death. Possibly you have already told +somebody about it--your maid or one of your sisters?" + +"I have not told anybody but you, not even the author of my shame. I +tremble when I think what my mother would do and say if she found out my +situation. I am afraid she will draw her conclusions from my shape." + +"So far there is nothing to be observed in that direction, the beauty of +the outline still remains intact." + +"But every day increases its size, and for that reason we must be quick +in what we do. You must find a surgeon who does not know my name and take +me to him to be bled." + +"I will not run the risk, it might lead to the discovery of the whole +affair. I will bleed you myself; it is a simple operation." + +"How grateful I am to you! I feel as if you had already brought me from +death to life. What I should like you to do would be to take me to a +midwife's. We can easily go without attracting any notice at the first +ball at the opera." + +"Yes, sweetheart, but that step is not necessary, and it might lead to +our betrayal." + +"No, no, in this great town there are midwives in every quarter, and we +should never be known; we might keep our masks on all the time. Do me +this kindness. A midwife's opinion is certainly worth having." + +I could not refuse her request, but I made her agree to wait till the +last ball, as the crowd was always greater, and we had a better chance of +going out free from observation. I promised to be there in a black domino +with a white mask in the Venetian fashion, and a rose painted beside the +left eye. As soon as she saw me go out she was to follow me into a +carriage. All this was carried out, but more of it anon. + +I returned with her, and dined with them without taking any notice of +Farsetti, who was also at the table, and had seen me come back from mass +with her. We did not speak a word to one another; he did not like me and +I despised him. + +I must here relate a grievous mistake of which I was guilty, and which I +have not yet forgiven myself. + +I had promised to take Mdlle. X. C. V. to a midwife, but I certainly +ought to have taken her to a respectable woman's, for all we wanted to +know was how a pregnant woman should regulate her diet and manner of +living. But my evil genius took me by the Rue St. Louis, and there I saw +the Montigni entering her house with a pretty girl whom I did not know, +and so out of curiosity I went in after them. After amusing myself there, +with Mdlle. X. C. V. running in my head all the time, I asked the woman +to give me the address of a midwife, as I wanted to consult one. She told +me of a house in the Marais, where according to her dwelt the pearl of +midwives, and began telling me some stories of her exploits, which all +went to prove that the woman was an infamous character. I took her +address, however, and as I should have to go there by night, I went the +next day to see where the house was. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. began to take the remedies which I brought her, which +ought to have weakened and destroyed the result of love, but as she did +not experience any benefit, she was impatient to consult a midwife. On +the night of the last ball she recognized me as we had agreed, and +followed me out into the coach she saw me enter, and in less than a +quarter of an hour we reached the house of shame. + +A woman of about fifty received us with great politeness, and asked what +she could do. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. told her that she believed herself pregnant, and that she +desired some means of concealing her misfortune. The wretch answered with +a smile that she might as well tell her plainly that it would be easy to +procure abortion. "I will do your business," said she, "for fifty Louis, +half to be paid in advance on account of drugs, and the rest when it's +all over. I will trust in your honesty, and you will have to trust in +mine. Give me the twenty-five Louis down, and come or send to-morrow for +the drugs, and instructions for using them." + +So saying she turned up her clothes without any ceremony, and as I, at +Mdlle. X. C. V.'s request, looked away, she felt her and pronounced, as +she let down her dress, that she was not beyond the fourth month. + +"If my drugs," said she, "contrary to my expectation, do not do any good, +we will try some other ways, and, in any case, if I do not succeed in +obliging you I will return you your money." + +"I don't doubt it for a moment," said I, "but would you tell me what are +those other ways!" + +"I should tell the lady how to destroy the foetus." + +I might have told her that to kill the child meant giving a mortal wound +to the mother, but I did not feel inclined to enter into a argument with +this vile creature. + +"If madame decides on taking your advice," said I, "I will bring you the +money for drugs to-morrow." + +I gave her two Louis and left. Mdlle. X. C. V. told me that she had no +doubt of the infamy of this woman, as she was sure it was impossible to +destroy the offspring without the risk of killing the mother also. "My +only trust," said she, "is in you." I encouraged her in this idea, +dissuading her from any criminal attempts, and assured her over and over +again that she should not find her trust in me misplaced. All at once she +complained of feeling cold, and asked if we had not time to warm +ourselves in Little Poland, saying that she longed to see my pretty +house. I was surprised and delighted with the idea. The night was too +dark for her to see the exterior charms of my abode, she would have to +satisfy herself with the inside, and leave the rest to her imagination. I +thought my hour had come. I made the coach stop and we got down and +walked some way, and then took another at the corner of the Rue de la +Ferannerie. I promised the coachman six francs beyond his fare, and in a +quarter of an hour he put us down at my door. + +I rang with the touch of the master, the Pearl opened the door, and told +me that there was nobody within, as I very well knew, but it was her +habit to do so. + +"Quick!" said I, "light us a fire, and bring some glasses and a bottle of +champagne." + +"Would you like an omelette?" + +"Very well." + +"Oh, I should like an omelette so much!" said Mdlle. X. C. V. She was +ravishing, and her laughing air seemed to promise me a moment of bliss. I +sat down before the blazing fire and made her sit on my knee, covering +her with kisses which she gave me back as lovingly. I had almost won what +I wanted when she asked me in a sweet voice to stop. I obeyed, thinking +it would please her, feeling sure that she only delayed my victory to +make it more complete, and that she would surrender after the champagne. +I saw love, kindness, trust, and gratitude shining in her face, and I +should have been sorry for her to think that I claimed her as a mere +reward. No, I wanted her love, and nothing but her love. + +At last we got to our last glass of champagne, we rose from the table, +and sentimentally but with gentle force I laid her on a couch and held +her amorously in my arms. But instead of giving herself up to my embraces +she resisted them, at first by those prayers which usually make lovers +more enterprising, then by serious remonstrances, and at last by force. +This was too much, the mere idea of using violence has always shocked me, +and I am still of opinion that the only pleasure in the amorous embrace +springs from perfect union and agreement. I pleaded my cause in every +way, I painted myself as the lover flattered, deceived, despised! At last +I told her that I had had a cruel awakening, and I saw that the shaft +went home. I fell on my knees and begged her to forgive me. "Alas!" said +she, in a voice full of sadness, "I am no longer mistress of my heart, +and have far greater cause for grief than you." The tears flowed fast +down her cheeks, her head rested on my shoulder, and our lips met; but +for all that the piece was over. The idea of renewing the attack never +came into my head, and if it had I should have scornfully rejected it. +After a long silence, of which we both stood in need, she to conquer her +shame, and I to repress my anger, we put on our masks and returned to the +opera. On our way she dared to tell me that she should be obliged to +decline my friendship if she had to pay for it so dearly. + +"The emotions of love," I replied, "should yield to those of honour, and +your honour as well as mine require us to continue friends. What I would +have done for love I will now do for devoted friendship, and for the +future I will die rather than make another attempt to gain those favours +of which I thought you deemed me worthy." + +We separated at the opera, and the vast crowd made me lose sight of her +in an instant. Next day she told me that she had danced all night. She +possibly hoped to find in that exercise the cure which no medicine seemed +likely to give her. + +I returned to my house in a bad humour, trying in vain to justify a +refusal which seemed humiliating and almost incredible. My good sense +shewed me, in spite of all sophisms, that I had been grievously insulted. +I recollected the witty saying of Populia, who was never unfaithful to +her husband except when she was with child; "Non tollo vectorem," said +she, "nisi navi plena." + +I felt certain that I was not loved, and the thought grieved me; and I +considered that it would be unworthy of me to love one whom I could no +longer hope to possess. I resolved to avenge myself by leaving her to her +fate, feeling that I could not allow myself to be duped as I had been. + +The night brought wisdom with it, and when I awoke in the morning my mind +was calm and I was still in love. I determined to act generously by the +unfortunate girl. Without my aid she would be ruined; my course, then, +would be to continue my services and to shew myself indifferent to her +favours. The part was no easy one, but I played it right well, and at +last my reward came of itself. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +I Continue My Relations With Mdlle. X. C. V.--Vain Attempts to Procure +Abortion--The Aroph--She Flies From Home and Takes Refuge in a Convent + +The difficulties I encountered only served to increase my love for my +charming Englishwoman. I went to see her every morning, and as my +interest in her condition was genuine, she could have no suspicion that I +was acting a part, or attribute my care of her to anything but the most +delicate feelings. For her part she seemed well pleased in the alteration +of my behaviour, though her satisfaction may very probably have been +assumed. I understood women well enough to know that though she did not +love me she was probably annoyed at seeing my new character sit upon me +so easily. + +One morning in the midst of an unimportant and disconnected conversation, +she complimented me upon my strength of mind in subduing my passion, +adding, with a smile, that my desire could not have pricked me very +sharply, seeing that I had cured myself so well in the course of a week. +I quietly replied that I owed my cure not to the weakness of my passion +but to my self-respect. + +"I know my own character," I said, "and without undue presumption, I +think I may say that I am worthy of a woman's love. Naturally, after your +convincing me that you think differently, I feel humiliated and +indignant. Do you know what effect such feelings have on the heart?" + +"Alas!" said she, "I know too well. Their effect is to inspire one with +contempt for her who gave rise to them." + +"That is going too far, at least in my case. My indignation was merely +succeeded by a renewed confidence in myself, and a determination to be +revenged." + +"To be revenged! In what way?" + +"I wish to compel you to esteem me, by proving to you that I am lord of +myself, and can pass by with indifference what I once so ardently +desired. I do not know whether I have succeeded yet, but I may say that I +can now contemplate your charms without desiring to possess them." + +"You are making a mistake, for I never ceased to esteem you, and I +esteemed you as much a week ago as I do to-day. Nor for a moment I did +think you capable of leaving me to my fate as a punishment for having +refused to give way to your transports, and I am glad that I read your +character rightly." + +We went on to speak of the opiate I made her take, and as she saw no +change in her condition she wanted me to increase the dose--a request I +took care not to grant, as I knew that more than half a drachm might kill +her. I also forbade her to bleed herself again, as she might do herself a +serious injury without gaining anything by it. Her maid, of whom she had +been obliged to make a confidante, had had her bled by a student, her +lover. I told Mdlle. X. C. V. that if she wanted these people to keep her +counsel she must be liberal with them, and she replied that she had no +money. I offered her money and she accepted fifty louis, assuring me that +she would repay me that sum which she needed for her brother Richard. I +had not as much money about me, but I sent her the same day a packet of +twelve hundred francs with a note in which I begged her to have recourse +to me in all her necessities. Her brother got the money, and thought +himself authorized to apply to me for aid in a much more important +matter. + +He was a young man and a profligate, and had got into a house of +ill-fame, from which he came out in sorry plight. He complained bitterly +that M. Farsetti had refused to lend him four louis, and he asked me to +speak to his mother that she might pay for his cure. I consented, but +when his mother heard what was the matter with him, she said it would be +much better to leave him as he was, as this was the third time he had +been in this condition, and that to have him cured was a waste of money, +as no sooner was he well than he began his dissipated life afresh. She +was quite right, for I had him cured at my expense by an able surgeon, +and he was in the same way a month after. This young man seemed intended +by nature for shameful excesses, for at the age of fourteen he was an +accomplished profligate. + +His sister was now six months with child, and as her figure grew great so +did her despair. She resolved not to leave her bed, and it grieved me to +see her thus cast down. Thinking me perfectly cured of my passion for +her, she treated me purely as a friend, making me touch her all over to +convince me that she dare not shew herself any longer. I played in short +the part of a midwife, but with what a struggle! I had to pretend to be +calm and unconcerned when I was consumed with passion. She spoke of +killing herself in a manner that made me shudder, as I saw that she had +reflected on what she was saying. I was in a difficult position when +fortune came to my assistance in a strange and amusing manner. + +One day, as I was dining with Madame d'Urfe, I asked her if she knew of +any way by which a girl, who had allowed her lover to go too far, might +be protected from shame. "I know of an infallible method," she replied, +"the aroph of Paracelsus to wit, and it is easy of application. Do you +wish to know more about it?" she added; and without waiting for me to +answer she brought a manuscript, and put it in my hands. This powerful +emmenagogue was a kind of unguent composed of several drugs, such as +saffron, myrrh, etc., compounded with virgin honey. To obtain the +necessary result one had to employ a cylindrical machine covered with +extremely soft skin, thick enough to fill the opening of the vagina, and +long enough to reach the opening of the reservoir or case containing the +foetus. The end of this apparatus was to be well anointed with aroph, and +as it only acted at a moment of uterine excitement it was necessary to +apply it with the same movement as that of coition. The dose had to be +repeated five or six times a day for a whole week. + +This nostrum, and the manner of administering it, struck me in so +laughable a light that I could not keep my countenance. I laughed with +all my heart, but for all that I spent the next two hours in reading the +dreams of Paracelsus, in which Madame d'Urfe put more trust than in the +truths of the Gospel; I afterwards referred to Boerhaave, who speaks of +the aroph in more reasonable terms. + +Seeing, as I have remarked, the charming X. C. V. several hours a day +without any kind of constraint, feeling in love with her all the time, +and always restraining my feelings, it is no wonder if the hidden fire +threatened at every moment to leap up from the ashes of its concealment. +Her image pursued me unceasingly, of her I always thought, and every day +made it more evident that I should know rest no more till I succeeded in +extinguishing my passion by obtaining possession of all her charms. + +As I was thinking of her by myself I resolved to tell her of my +discovery, hoping she would need my help in the introduction of the +cylinder. I went to see her at ten o'clock, and found her, as usual, in +bed; she was weeping because the opiate I gave her did not take effect. I +thought the time a good one for introducing the aroph of Paracelsus, +which I assured her was an infallible means of attaining the end she +desired; but whilst I was singing the praises of this application the +idea came into my head to say that, to be absolutely certain, it was +necessary for the aroph to be mingled with semen which had not lost its +natural heat. + +"This mixture," said I, "moistening several times a day the opening of +the womb, weakens it to such a degree that the foetus is expelled by its +own weight:" + +To these details I added lengthy arguments to persuade her of the +efficacy of this cure, and then, seeing that she was absorbed in thought, +I said that as her lover was away she would want a sure friend to live in +the same house with her, and give her the dose according to the +directions of Paracelsus. + +All at once she burst into a peal of laughter, and asked me if I had been +jesting all the time. + +I thought the game was up. The remedy was an absurd one, on the face of +it; and if her common sense told her as much it would also make her guess +my motive. But what limits are there to the credulity of a woman in her +condition? + +"If you wish," said I, persuasively, "I will give you the manuscript +where all that I have said is set down plainly. I will also shew you what +Boerhaeve thinks about it." + +I saw that these words convinced her; they had acted on her as if by +magic, and I went on while the iron was hot. + +"The aroph," said I, "is the most powerful agent for bringing on +menstruation." + +"And that is incompatible with the state I am now in; so the aroph should +procure me a secret deliverance. Do you know its composition?" + +"Certainly; it is quite a simple preparation composed of certain +ingredients which are well known to me, and which have to be made into a +paste with butter or virgin honey. But this composition must touch the +orifice of the uterus at a moment of extreme excitement." + +"But in that case it seems to me that the person who gives the dose must +be in love." + +"Certainly, unless he is a mere animal requiring only physical +incentives." + +She was silent for some time, for though she was quick-witted enough, a +woman's natural modesty and her own frankness, prevented her from +guessing at my artifice. I, too, astonished at my success in making her +believe this fable, remained silent. + +At last, breaking the silence, she said, sadly, + +"The method seems to me an excellent one, but I do not think I ought to +make use of it." + +Then she asked me if the aroph took much time to make. + +"Two hours at most," I answered, "if I succeed in procuring English +saffron, which Paracelsus prefers to the Oriental saffron." + +At that moment her mother and the Chevalier Farsetti came in, and after +some talk of no consequence she asked me to stay to dinner. I was going +to decline, when Mdlle. X. C. V. said she would sit at table, on which I +accepted; and we all left the room to give her time to dress. She was not +long in dressing, and when she appeared her figure seemed to me quite +nymph-like. I was astonished, and could scarcely believe my eyes, and I +was on the point of thinking that I had been imposed on, for I could not +imagine how she could manage to conceal the fulness I had felt with my +own hands. + +M. Farsetti sat by her, and I by the mother. Mdlle. X. C. V., whose head +was full of the aroph, asked her neighbour, who gave himself out for a +great chemist, if he knew it. + +"I fancy I know it better than anyone," answered Farsetti, in a +self-satisfied manner. + +"What is it good for?" + +"That is too vague a question." + +"What does the word mean?" + +"It is an Arabic word, of which I do not know the meaning; but no doubt +Paracelsus would tell us." + +"The word," said I, "is neither Arabic nor Hebrew, nor, indeed, of any +language at all. It is a contraction which conceals two other words." + +"Can you tell us what they are?" said the chevalier. + +"Certainly; aro comes from aroma, and ph is the initial of +philosophorum:" + +"Did you get that out of Paracelsus?" said Farsetti, evidently annoyed. + +"No, sir; I saw it in Boerhaave." + +"That's good," said he, sarcastically; "Boerhaave says nothing of the +sort, but I like a man who quotes readily." + +"Laugh, sir, if you like," said I, proudly, "but here is the test of what +I say; accept the wager if you dare. I don't quote falsely, like persons +who talk of words being Arabic." + +So saying I flung a purse of gold on the table, but Farsetti, who was by +no means sure of what he was saying, answered disdainfully that he never +betted. + +However, Mdlle. X. C. V., enjoying his confusion, told him that was the +best way never to lose, and began to joke him on his Arabic derivation. +But, for my part, I replaced my purse in my pocket, and on some trifling +pretext went out and sent my servant to Madame d'Urfe's to get me +Boerhaave. + +On my return to the room I sat down again at table, and joined gaily in +the conversation till the return of my messenger with the book. I opened +it, and as I had been reading it the evening before I soon found the +place I wanted, and giving it to him begged him to satisfy himself that I +had quoted not readily but exactly. Instead of taking the book, he got up +and went out without saying a word. + +"He has gone away in a rage," said the mother; "and I would wager +anything that he will not come back again." + +"I wager he will," said the daughter, "he will honour us with his +agreeable company before to-morrow's sun has set." + +She was right. From that day Farsetti became my determined enemy, and let +no opportunity slip of convincing me of his hatred. + +After dinner we all went to Passy to be present at a concert given by M. +de la Popeliniere, who made us stay to supper. I found there Silvia and +her charming daughter, who pouted at me and not without cause, as I had +neglected her. The famous adept, St. Germain, enlivened the table with +his wild tirades so finely delivered. I have never seen a more +intellectual or amusing charlatan than he. + +Next day I shut myself up to answer a host of questions that Esther had +sent me. I took care to answer all those bearing on business matters as +obscurely as possible, not only for the credit of the oracle, but also +for fear of misleading the father and making him lose money. The worthy +man was the most honest of Dutch millionaires, but he might easily make a +large hole in his fortune, if he did not absolutely ruin himself, by +putting an implicit trust in my infallibility. As for Esther, I confess +that she was now no more to me than a pleasant memory. + +In spite of my pretence of indifference, my whole heart was given to +Mdlle. X. C. V., and I dreaded the moment when she would be no longer +able to hide her condition from her family. I was sorry for having spoken +about the aroph, as three days had gone by without her mentioning it, and +I could not very well reopen the question myself. I was afraid that she +suspected my motives, and that the esteem she professed for me had been +replaced by a much less friendly sentiment. I felt that her scorn would +be too much for me to bear. So humiliated was I that I could not visit +her, and I doubt if I should have seen her again if she had not +intervened. She wrote me a note, in which she said I was her only friend, +and that the only mark of friendship she wanted was that I should come +and see her every day, if it were but for a moment. I hasted to take her +my reply in my own person, and promised not to neglect her, assuring her +that at all hazards she might rely on me. I flattered myself that she +would mention the aroph, but she did not do so. I concluded that, after +thinking it over, she had resolved to think no more about it. + +"Would you like me," I said, "to invite your mother and the rest of you +to dine with me?" + +"I shall be delighted," she replied. "It will be a forbidden pleasure to +me before long." + +I gave them a dinner both sumptuous and delicate. I had spared no expense +to have everything of the best. I had asked Silvia, her charming +daughter, an Italian musician named Magali, with whom a sister of Mdlle. +X. C. V.'s was taken, and the famous bass La Garde. Mdlle. X. C. V. was +in the highest spirits all the time. Sallies of wit, jests, good stories +and enjoyment, were the soul of the banquet. We did not separate till +midnight, and before leaving Mdlle. X. C. V. found a moment to whisper to +me to come and see her early next morning, as she wanted to speak to me +on matters of importance. + +It will be guessed that I accepted the invitation. I waited on her before +eight o'clock. She was very melancholy, and told me that she was in +despair, that la Popeliniere pressed on the marriage, and that her mother +persecuted her. + +"She tells me that I must sign the contract, and that the dressmaker will +soon be coming to take my measure for my wedding dress. To that I cannot +consent, for a dressmaker would certainly see my situation. I will die +rather than confide in my mother, or marry before I am delivered." + +"There is always time enough to talk about dying," said I, "when all +other means have failed. I think you could easily get rid of la +Popeliniere, who is a man of honour. Tell him how you are situated, and +he will act without compromising you, as his own interest is sufficiently +involved to make him keep the secret." + +"But should I be much better off then? And how about my mother?" + +"Your mother? Oh! I will make her listen to reason." + +"You know not what she is like. The honour of the family would oblige her +to get me out of the way, but before that she would make me suffer +torments to which death is preferable by far. But why have you said no +more about the aroph? Is it not all a jest? It would be a very cruel +one." + +"On the contrary, I believe it to be infallible, though I have never been +a witness of its effects; but what good is it for me to speak to you? +You can guess that a delicacy of feeling has made me keep silence. +Confide in your lover, who is at Venice; write him a letter, and I will +take care that it is given into his hands, in five or six days, by a sure +messenger. If he is not well off I will give you whatever money may be +needed for him to come without delay, and save your honour and life by +giving you the aroph." + +"This idea is a good one and the offer generous on your part, but it is +not feasible, as you would see if you knew more about my circumstances. +Do not think any more of my lover; but supposing I made up my mind to +receive the aroph from another, tell me how it could be done. Even if my +lover were in Paris, how could he spend an entire week with me, as he +would have to? And how could he give me the dose five or six times a day +for a week? You see yourself that this remedy is out of the question." + +"So you would give yourself to another, if you thought that would save +your honour?" + +"Certainly, if I were sure that the thing would be kept secret. But where +shall I find such a person? Do you think he would be easy to find, or +that I can go and look for him?" + +I did not know what to make of this speech; for she knew I loved her, and +I did not see why she should put herself to the trouble of going far when +what she wanted was to her hand. I was inclined to think that she wanted +me to ask her to make choice of myself as the administrator of the +remedy, either to spare her modesty, or to have the merit of yielding to +my love and thus obliging me to be grateful; but I might be wrong, and I +did not care to expose myself to the humiliation of a refusal. On the +other hand I could hardly think she wanted to insult me. Not knowing what +to say or which way to turn, and wanting to draw an explanation from her, +I sighed profoundly, took up my hat, and made as if I were going, +exclaiming, "Cruel girl, my lot is more wretched than yours." + +She raised herself in the bed and begged me with tears in her eyes to +remain, and asked me how I could call myself more wretched than her. +Pretending to be annoyed and yet full of love for her, I told her that +the contempt in which she held me had affected me deeply, since in her +necessity she preferred the offices of one who was unknown to her rather +than make use of me. + +"You are cruel and unjust," she said, weeping. "I see, for my part, that +you love me no longer since you wish to take advantage of my cruel +necessity to gain a triumph over me. This is an act of revenge not worthy +of a man of feeling." + +Her tears softened me, and I fell on my knees before her. + +"Since you know, dearest, that I worship you, how can you think me +capable of revenging myself on you? Do you think that I can bear to hear +you say that since your lover cannot help you you do not know where to +look for help?" + +"But after refusing you my favours, could I ask this office of you with +any decency? Have I not good reason to be afraid that as I refused to +take pity on your love so you would refuse to take pity on my necessity?" + +"Do you think that a passionate lover ceases to love on account of a +refusal which may be dictated by virtue? Let me tell you all I think. I +confess I once thought you did not love me, but now I am sure of the +contrary; and that your heart would have led you to satisfy my love, even +if you had not been thus situated. I may add that you no doubt feel vexed +at my having any doubts of your love." + +"You have interpreted my feelings admirably. But how we are to be +together with the necessary freedom from observation remains to be seen." + +"Do not be afraid. Now I am sure of your consent, it will not be long +before I contrive some plan. In the meanwhile I will go and make the +aroph." + +I had resolved that if ever I succeeded in persuading Mdlle. X. C. V. to +make use of my specific I would use nothing but honey, so the composition +of the aroph would not be a very complicated process. But if one point +was then plain and simple, another remained to be solved, and its +solution gave me some difficulty. I should have to pass several nights in +continual toils. I feared I had promised more than I could perform, and I +should not be able to make any abatement without hazarding, not the +success of the aroph, but the bliss I had taken such pains to win. Again, +as her younger sister slept in the same room with her and close to her, +the operation could not be performed there. At last chance--a divinity +which often helps lovers--came to my aid. + +I was obliged to climb up to the fourth floor and met the scullion on my +way, who guessed where I was going, and begged me not to go any farther +as the place was taken. + +"But," said I, "you have just come out of it." + +"Yes, but I only went in and came out again." + +"Then I will wait till the coast is clear." + +"For goodness' sake, sir, do not wait!" + +"Ah, you rascal! I see what is going on. Well I will say nothing about +it, but I must see her." + +"She won't come out, for she heard your steps and shut herself in." + +"She knows me, does she?" + +"Yes, and you know her." + +"All right, get along with you! I won't say anything about it." + +He went down, and the idea immediately struck me that the adventure might +be useful to me. I went up to the top, and through a chink I saw +Madelaine, Mdlle. X. C. V.'s maid. I reassured her, and promised to keep +the secret, whereon she opened the door, and after I had given her a +louis, fled in some confusion. Soon after, I came down, and the scullion +who was waiting for me on the landing begged me to make Madelaine give +him half the louis. + +"I will give you one all to yourself," said I, "if you will tell me the +story"--an offer which pleased the rogue well enough. He told me the tale +of his loves, and said he always spent the night with her in the garret, +but that for three days they had been deprived of their pleasures, as +madam had locked the door and taken away the key. I made him shew me the +place, and looking through the keyhole I saw that there was plenty of +room for a mattress. I gave the scullion a Louis, and went away to ripen +my plans. + +It seemed to me that there was no reason why the mistress should not +sleep in the garret as well as the maid. I got a picklock and several +skeleton keys, I put in a tin box several doses of the aroph-that is, +some honey mixed with pounded stag's horn to make it thick enough, and +the next morning I went to the "Hotel de Bretagne," and immediately tried +my picklock. I could have done without it, as the first skeleton key I +tried opened the wornout lock. + +Proud of my idea, I went down to see Mdlle. X. C. V., and in a few words +told her the plan. + +"But," said she, "I should have to go through Madelaine's room to get to +the garret." + +"In that case, dearest, we must win the girl over." + +"Tell her my secret?" + +"Just so." + +"Oh, I couldn't!" + +"I will see to it; the golden key opens all doors." + +The girl consented to all I asked her, but the scullion troubled me, for +if he found us out he might be dangerous. I thought, however, that I +might trust to Madelaine, who was a girl of wit, to look after him. + +Before going I told the girl that I wanted to discuss some important +matters with her, and I told her to meet me in the cloisters of the +Augustinian Church. She came at the appointed time and I explained to her +the whole plan in all its details. She soon understood me, and after +telling me that she would take care to put her own bed in the new kind of +boudoir, she added that, to be quite safe, we must make sure of the +scullion. + +"He is a sharp lad," said Madelaine, "and I think I can answer for him. +However, you may leave that to me." + +I gave her the key and six louis, bidding her inform her mistress of what +we had agreed upon, and get the garret ready to receive us. She went away +quite merry. A maid who is in love is never so happy as when she can make +her mistress protect her intrigues. + +Next morning the scullion called on me at my house. The first thing I +told him was to take care not to betray himself to my servants, and never +to come and see me except in a case of necessity. He promised discretion, +and assured me of his devotion to my service. He gave me the key of the +garret and told me that he had got another. I admired his forethought, +and gave him a present of six louis, which had more effect on him than +the finest words. + +Next morning I only saw Mdlle. X. C. V. for a moment to warn her that I +should be at the appointed place at ten that evening. I went there early +without being seen by anybody. I was in a cloak, and carried in my pocket +the aroph, flint and steel, and a candle. I found a good bed, pillows, +and a thick coverlet--a very useful provision, as the nights were cold, +and we should require some sleep in the intervals of the operation. + +At eleven a slight noise made my heart begin to beat--always a good sign. +I went out, and found my mistress by feeling for her, and reassured her +by a tender kiss. I brought her in, barricaded the door, and took care to +cover up the keyhole to baffle the curious, and, if the worse happened, +to avoid a surprise. + +On my lighting the candle she seemed uneasy, and said that the light +might discover us if anybody came up to the fourth floor. + +"That's not likely," I said; "and besides, we can't do without it, for +how am I to give you the aroph in the dark?" + +"Very good," she replied, "we can put it out afterwards." + +Without staying for those preliminary dallyings which are so sweet when +one is at ease, we undressed ourselves, and began with all seriousness to +play our part, which we did to perfection. We looked like a medical +student about to perform an operation, and she like a patient, with this +difference that it was the patient who arranged the dressing. When she +was ready--that is, when she had placed the aroph as neatly as a +skull-cap fits a parson--she put herself in the proper position for the +preparation to mix with the semen. + +The most laughable part of it all was that we were both as serious as two +doctors of divinity. + +When the introduction of the aroph was perfect the timid lady put out the +candle, but a few minutes after it had to be lighted again. I told her +politely that I was delighted to begin again, and the voice in which I +paid her this compliment made us both burst into laughter. + +I didn't take so short a time over my second operation as my first, and +my sweetheart, who had been a little put out, was now quite at her ease. + +Her modesty had now been replaced by confidence, and as she was looking +at the aroph fitted in its place, she shewed me with her pretty finger +very evident signs of her co-operation in the work. Then with an +affectionate air, she asked me if I would not like to rest, as we had +still a good deal to do before our work was at an end. + +"You see," said I, "that I do not need rest, and I think we had better +set to again." + +No doubt she found my reason a good one, for, without saying anything, +she put herself ready to begin again, and afterwards we took a good long +sleep. When I woke up, feeling as fresh as ever, I asked her to try +another operation; and after carrying this through successfully, I +determined to be guided by her and take care of myself, for we had to +reserve our energies for the following nights. So, about four o'clock in +the morning she left me, and softly made her way to her room, and at +daybreak I left the hotel under the protection of the scullion, who took +me by a private door I did not know of. + +About noon, after taking an aromatic bath, I went to call on Mdlle. X. C. +V., whom I found sitting up in bed as usual, elegantly attired, and with +a happy smile on her lips. She spoke at such length on her gratitude, and +thanked me so often, that, believing myself, and with good cause, to be +her debtor, I began to get impatient. + +"Is it possible," I said, "that you do not see how degrading your thanks +are to me? They prove that you do not love me, or that if you love me, +you think my love less strong than yours." + +Our conversation then took a tender turn, and we were about to seal our +mutual ardours without troubling about the aroph, when prudence bade us +beware. It would not have been safe, and we had plenty of time before us. +We contented ourselves with a tender embrace till the night should come. + +My situation was a peculiar one, for though I was in love with this +charming girl I did not feel in the least ashamed of having deceived her, +especially as what I did could have no effect, the place being taken. It +was my self-esteem which made me congratulate myself on the sharp +practice which had procured me such pleasures. She told me that she was +sorry she had denied me when I had asked her before, and said that she +felt now that I had good reason to suspect the reality of her love. I did +my best to reassure her, and indeed all suspicions on my part would have +been but idle thoughts, as I had succeeded beyond all expectation. +However, there is one point upon which I congratulate myself to this +day--namely, that during those nightly toils of mine, which did so little +towards the object of her desires, I succeeded in inspiring her with such +a feeling of resignation that she promised, of her own accord, not to +despair any more, but to trust in and be guided by me. She often told me +during our nocturnal conversations that she was happy and would continue +to be so, even though the aroph had no effect. Not that she had ceased to +believe in it, for she continued the application of the harmless +preparation till our last assaults, in which we wanted in those sweet +combats to exhaust all the gifts of pleasure. + +"Sweetheart," said she, just before we parted finally, "it seems to me +that what we have been about is much more likely to create than to +destroy, and if the aperture had not been hermetically closed we should +doubtless have given the little prisoner a companion." + +A doctor of the Sorbonne could not have reasoned better. + +Three or four days afterwards I found her thoughtful but quiet. She told +me that she had lost all hope of getting rid of her burden before the +proper time. All the while, however, her mother persecuted her, and she +would have to choose in a few days between making a declaration as to her +state and signing the marriage contract. She would accept neither of +these alternatives, and had decided on escaping from her home, and asked +me to help her in doing so. + +I had determined to help her, but I desired to save my reputation, for it +might have been troublesome if it had been absolutely known that I had +carried her off or furnished her with the means to escape. And as for any +other alternative, neither of us had any idea of matrimony. + +I left her and went to the Tuileries, where a sacred concert was being +given. The piece was a motet composed by Moudonville, the words by the +Abbe de Voisenon, whom I had furnished with the idea, "The Israelites on +Mount Horeb." + +As I was getting out of my carriage, I saw Madame du Remain descending +alone from hers. I ran up to her, and received a hearty welcome. "I am +delighted," said she, "to find you here, it is quite a piece of luck. I +am going to hear this novel composition, and have two reserved seats. +Will you do me the honour of accepting one?" + +Although I had my ticket in my pocket I could not refuse so honourable an +offer, so, giving her my arm, we walked up to two of the best places in +the house. + +At Paris no talking is allowed during the performance of sacred music, +especially when the piece is heard for the first time; so Madame du +Remain could draw no conclusions from my silence throughout the +performance, but she guessed that something was the matter from the +troubled and absent expression of my face, which was by no means natural +to me. + +"M. Casanova," said she, "be good enough to give me your company for an +hour. I want to ask you-two or three questions which can only be solved +by your cabala. I hope you will oblige me, as I am, very anxious to know +the answers, but we must be quick as I have an engagement to sup in +Paris." + +It may be imagined that I did not wait to be asked twice, and as soon as +we got to her house I went to work on the questions, and solved them all +in less than half an hour. + +When I had finished, "M. Casanova;" said she, in the kindest manner +possible, "what is the matter with you? You are not in your usual state +of equanimity, and if I am not mistaken you are dreading some dire event. +Or perhaps you are on the eve of taking some important resolution? I am +not inquisitive, but if I can be of any service to you at Court, make use +of me, and be sure that I will do my best. If necessary, I will go to +Versailles to-morrow morning. I know all the ministers. Confide in me +your troubles, if I cannot lighten them I can at least share them, and be +sure I will keep your counsel." + +Her words seemed to me a voice from heaven, a warning from my good genius +to open my heart to this lady, who had almost read my thoughts, and had +so plainly expressed her interest in my welfare. + +After gazing at her for some seconds without speaking, but with a manner +that shewed her how grateful I was, "Yes madam," I said, "I am indeed +critically situated, may be on the serge of ruin, but your kindness has +calmed my soul and made me once more acquainted with hope. You shall hear +how I am placed. I am going to trust you with a secret of the most +delicate description, but I can rely on your being as discreet as you are +good. And if after hearing my story you deign to give me your advice, I +promise to follow it and never to divulge its author." + +After this beginning, which gained her close attention, I told her all +the circumstances of the case, neither concealing the young lady's name +nor any of the circumstances which made it my duty to watch over her +welfare. All the same I said nothing about the aroph or the share I had +taken in its exhibition. The incident appeared to me too farcical for a +serious drama, but I confessed that I had procured the girl drugs in the +hope of relieving her of her burden. + +After this weighty communication I stopped, and Madame du Rumain remained +silent, as if lost in thought, for nearly a quarter of an hour. At last +she rose, saying, + +"I am expected at Madame de la Marque's, and I must go, as I am to meet +the Bishop of Montrouge, to whom I want to speak, but I hope I shall +eventually be able to help you. Come here the day after tomorrow, you +will find me alone; above all, do nothing before you see me. Farewell." + +I left her full of hope, and resolved to follow her advice and hers only +in the troublesome affair in which I was involved. + +The Bishop of Montrouge whom she was going to address on an important +matter, the nature of which was well known to me, was the Abbe de +Voisenon, who was thus named because he often went there. Montrouge is an +estate near Paris, belonging to the Duc de la Valiere. + +I saw Mdlle. X. C. V. the following day, and contented myself with +telling her that in a couple of days I hope to give her some good news. I +was pleased with her manner, which was full of resignation and trust in +my endeavours. + +The day after, I went to Madame du Rumain's punctually at eight. The +porter told me that I should find the doctor with my lady, but I went +upstairs all the same, and as soon as the doctor saw me he took his +leave. His name was Herrenschwand, and all the ladies in Paris ran after +him. Poor Poinsinet put him in a little one-act play called Le Cercle, +which, though of very ordinary merit, was a great success. + +"My dear sir," said Madame du Rumain, as soon as we were alone, "I have +succeeded in my endeavours on your behalf, and it is now for you to keep +secret my share in the matter. After I had pondered over the case of +conscience you submitted to me, I went to the convent of C---where the +abbess is a friend of mine, and I entrusted her with the secret, relying +on her discretion. We agreed that she should receive the young lady in +her convent, and give her a good lay-sister to nurse her through her +confinement. Now you will not deny," said she, with a smile, "that the +cloisters are of some use. Your young friend must go by herself to the +convent with a letter for the abbess, which I will give her, and which +she must deliver to the porter. She will then be admitted and lodged in a +suitable chamber. She will receive no visitors nor any letters that have +not passed through my hands. The abbess will bring her answers to me, and +I will pass them on to you. You must see that her only correspondent must +be yourself, and you must receive news of her welfare only through me. On +your hand in writing to her you must leave the address to be filled in by +me. I had to tell the abbess the lady's name, but not yours as she did +not require it. + +"Tell your young friend all about our plans, and when she is ready come +and tell me, and I will give you the letter to the abbess. Tell her to +bring nothing but what is strictly necessary, above all no diamonds or +trinkets of any value. You may assure her that the abbess will be +friendly, will come and see her every now and then, will give her proper +books--in a word, that she will be well looked after. Warn her not to +confide in the laysister who will attend on her. I have no doubt she is +an excellent woman, but she is a nun, and the secret might leak out. +After she is safely delivered, she must go to confession and perform her +Easter duties, and the abbess will give her a certificate of good +behaviour; and she can then return to her mother, who will be too happy +to see her to say anything more about the marriage, which, of course, she +ought to give as her reason of her leaving home." + +After many expressions of my gratitude to her, and of my admiration of +her plan, I begged her to give me the letter on the spot, as there was no +time to be lost. She was good enough to go at once to her desk, where she +wrote as follows: + +"My dear abbess--The young lady who will give you this letter is the same +of whom we have spoken. She wishes to spend three of four months under +your protection, to recover her peace of mind, to perform her devotions, +and to make sure that when she returns to her mother nothing more will be +said about the marriage, which is partly the cause of her temporary +separation from her family." + +After reading it to me, she put it into my hands unsealed that Mdlle. X. +C. V. might be able to read it. The abbess in question was a princess, +and her convent was consequently a place above all suspicion. As Madame +du Rumain gave me the letter, I felt such an impulse of gratitude that I +fell on my knees before her. This generous woman was useful to me on +another occasion, of which I shall speak later on. + +After leaving Madame du Rumain I went straight to the "Hotel de +Bretagne," where I saw Mdlle. X. C. V., who had only time to tell me that +she was engaged for the rest of the day, but that she would come to the +garret at eleven o'clock that night, and that then we could talk matters +over. I was overjoyed at this arrangement, as I foresaw that after this +would come the awakening from a happy dream, and that I should be alone +with her no more. + +Before leaving the hotel I gave the word to Madelaine, who in turn got +the scullion to have everything in readiness. + +I kept the appointment, and had not long to wait for my mistress. After +making her read the letter written by Madame du Rumain (whose name I +withheld from her without her taking offence thereat) I put out the +candle, and without troubling about the aroph, we set ourselves to the +pleasant task of proving that we truly loved each other. + +In the morning, before we separated, I gave her all the instructions I +had received from Madame du Rumain; and we agreed that she should leave +the house at eight o'clock with such things as she absolutely required, +that she should take a coach to the Place Maubert, then send it away, and +take another to the Place Antoine, and again, farther on, a third coach, +in which she was to go to the convent named. I begged her not to forget +to burn all the letters she had received from me, and to write to me from +the convent as often as she could, to seal her letters but to leave the +address blank. She promised to carry out my instructions, and I then made +her accept a packet of two hundred louis, of which she might chance to be +in need. She wept, more for my situation than her own, but I consoled her +by saying that I had plenty of money and powerful patrons. + +"I will set out," said she, "the day after to-morrow, at the hour agreed +on." And thereupon, I having promised to come to the house the day after +her departure, as if I knew nothing about it, and to let her know what +passed, we embraced each other tenderly, and I left her. + +I was troubled in thinking about her fate. She had wit and courage, but +when experience is wanting wit often leads men to commit acts of great +folly. + +The day after the morrow I took a coach, and posted myself in a corner of +the street by which she had to pass. I saw her come, get out of the +coach, pay the coachman, go down a narrow street, and a few minutes after +reappear again, veiled and hooded, carrying a small parcel in her hand. +She then took another conveyance which went off in the direction we had +agreed upon. + +The day following being Low Sunday, I felt that I must present myself at +the "Hotel de Bretagne," for as I went there every day before the +daughter's flight I could not stop going there without strengthening any +suspicions which might be entertained about me. But it was a painful +task. I had to appear at my ease and cheerful in a place where I was +quite sure all would be sadness and confusion. I must say that it was an +affair requiring higher powers of impudence than fall to the lot of most +men. + +I chose a time when all the family would be together at table, and I +walked straight into the dining-room. I entered with my usual cheerful +manner, and sat down by madame, a little behind her, pretending not to +see her surprise, which, however, was plainly to be seen, her whole face +being flushed with rage and astonishment. I had not been long in the room +before I asked where her daughter was. She turned round, looked me +through and through, and said not a word. + +"Is she ill?" said I. + +"I know nothing about her." + +This remark, which was pronounced in a dry manner, put me at my ease, as +I now felt at liberty to look concerned. I sat there for a quarter of an +hour, playing the part of grave and astonished silence, and then, rising, +I asked if I could do anything, for which all my reward was a cold +expression of thanks. I then left the room and went to Mdlle. X. C. V.'s +chamber as if I had thought she was there, but found only Madelaine. I +asked her with a meaning look where her mistress was. She replied by +begging me to tell her, if I knew. + +"Has she gone by herself?" + +"I know nothing at all about it, sir, but they say you know all. I beg of +you to leave me." + +Pretending to be in the greatest astonishment, I slowly walked away and +took a coach, glad to have accomplished this painful duty. After the +reception I had met with I could without affectation pose as offended, +and visit the family no more, for whether I were guilty or innocent, +Madame X. C. V. must see that her manner had been plain enough for me to +know what it meant. + +I was looking out of my window at an early hour two or three days +afterwards, when a coach stopped before my door, and Madame X C V-, +escorted by M. Farsetti got out. I made haste to meet them on the stair, +and welcomed them, saying I was glad they had done me the honour to come +and take breakfast with me, pretending not to know of any other reason. I +asked them to sit down before the fire, and enquired after the lady's +health; but without noticing my question she said that she had not come +to take breakfast, but to have some serious conversation. + +"Madam," said I, "I am your humble servant; but first of all pray be +seated." + +She sat down, while Farsetti continued standing. I did not press him, but +turning towards the lady begged her to command me. + +"I am come here," she said, "to ask you to give me my daughter if she be +in your power, or to tell me where she is." + +"Your daughter, madam? I know nothing about her! Do you think me capable +of a crime?" + +"I do not accuse you of abducting her; I have not come here to reproach +you nor to utter threats, I have only come to ask you to shew yourself my +friend. Help me to get my daughter again this very day; you will give me +my life. I am certain that you know all. You were her only confidant and +her only friend; you passed hours with her every day; she must have told +you of her secret. Pity a bereaved mother! So far no one knows of the +facts; give her back to me and all shall be forgotten, and her honour +saved." + +"Madam, I feel for you acutely, but I repeat that I know nothing of your +daughter." + +The poor woman, whose grief touched me, fell at my feet and burst into +tears. I was going to lift her from the ground, when Farsetti told her, +in a voice full of indignation, that she should blush to humble herself +in such a manner before a man of my description. I drew myself up, and +looking at him scornfully said, + +"You insolent scoundrel! What do you mean by talking of me like that?" + +"Everybody is certain that you know all about it." + +"Then they are impudent fools, like you. Get out of my house this instant +and wait for me, I will be with you in a quarter of an hour." + +So saying, I took the poor chevalier by the shoulders, and giving him +sundry shakes I turned him out of the room. He came back and called to +the lady to come, too, but she rose and tried to quiet me. + +"You ought to be more considerate towards a lover," said she, "for he +would marry my daughter now, even after what she has done." + +"I am aware of the fact, madam, and I have no doubt that his courtship +was one of the chief reasons which made your daughter resolve to leave +her home, for she hated him even more than she hated the +fermier-general." + +"She has behaved very badly, but I promise not to say anything more about +marrying her. But I am sure you know all about it, as you gave her fifty +louis, without which she could not have done anything." + +"Nay, not so." + +"Do not deny it, sir; here is the evidence--a small piece of your letter +to her." + +She gave me a scrap of the letter I had sent the daughter, with the fifty +louis for her brother. It contained the following lines, + +"I hope that these wretched louis will convince you that I am ready to +sacrifice everything, my life if need be, to assure you of my affection." + +"I am far from disavowing this evidence of my esteem for your daughter, +but to justify myself I am obliged to tell you a fact which I should have +otherwise kept secret--namely, that I furnished your daughter with this +sum to enable her to pay your son's debts, for which he thanked me in a +letter which I can shew you." + +"My son?" + +"Your son, madam." + +"I will make you an ample atonement for my suspicions." + +Before I had time to make any objection, she ran down to fetch Farsetti, +who was waiting in the courtyard, and made him come up and hear what I +had just told her. + +"That's not a likely tale," said the insolent fellow. + +I looked at him contemptuously, and told him he was not worth convincing, +but that I would beg the lady to ask her son and see whether I told the +truth. + +"I assure you," I added, "that I always urged your daughter to marry M. +de la Popeliniere." + +"How can you have the face to say that," said Farsetti, "when you talk in +the letter of your affection?" + +"I do not deny it," said I. "I loved her, and I was proud of my affection +for her. This affection, of whatever sort it may have been (and that is +not this gentleman's business), was the ordinary topic of conversation +between us. If she had told me that she was going to leave her home, I +should either have dissuaded her or gone with her, for I loved her as I +do at this moment; but I would never have given her money to go alone." + +"My dear Casanova," said the mother, "if you will help me to find her I +shall believe in your innocence." + +"I shall be delighted to aid you, and I promise to commence the quest +to-day." + +"As soon as you have any news, come and tell me." + +"You may trust me to do so," said I, and we parted. + +I had to play my part carefully; especially it was essential that I +should behave in public in a manner consistent with my professions. +Accordingly, the next day I went to M. Chaban, first commissary of +police, requesting him to institute enquiries respecting the flight of +Mdlle. X. C. V. I was sure that in this way the real part I had taken in +the matter would be the better concealed; but the commissary, who had the +true spirit of his profession, and had liked me when he first saw me six +years before, began to laugh when he heard what I wanted him to do. + +"Do you really want the police to discover," said he, "where the pretty +Englishwoman is to be found?" + +"Certainly." + +It then struck me that he was trying to make me talk and to catch me +tripping, and I had no doubt of it when I met Farsetti going in as I was +coming out. + +Next day I went to acquaint Madame X. C. V. with the steps I had taken, +though as yet my efforts had not been crowned with success. + +"I have been more fortunate than you," said she, "and if you will come +with me to the place where my daughter has gone, and will join me in +persuading her to return, all will be well." + +"Certainly," said I, "I shall be most happy to accompany you." + +Taking me at my word, she put on her cloak, and leaning on my arm walked +along till we came to a coach. She then gave me a slip of paper, begging +me to tell the coachman to drive us to the address thereon. + +I was on thorns, and my heart beat fast, for I thought I should have to +read out the address of the convent. I do not know what I should have +done if my fears had been well grounded, but I should certainly not have +gone to the convent. At last I read what was written; it was "Place +Maubert," and I grew calm once more. + +I told the coachman to drive us to the Place Maubert. We set off, and in +a short time stopped at the opening of an obscure back street before a +dirty-looking house, which did not give one a high idea of the character +of its occupants. I gave Madame X. C. V. my arm, and she had the +satisfaction of looking into every room in the five floors of the house, +but what she sought for was not there, and I expected to see her +overwhelmed with grief. I was mistaken, however. She looked distressed +but satisfied, and her eyes seemed to ask pardon of me. She had found out +from the coachman, who had taken her daughter on the first stage of her +journey, that she had alighted in front of the house in question, and had +gone down the back street. She told me that the scullion had confessed +that he had taken me letters twice from his young mistress, and that +Madelaine said all the time that she was sure her mistress and I were in +love with each other. They played their parts well. + +As soon as I had seen Madame X. C. V. safely home, I went to Madame du +Rumain to tell her what had happened; and I then wrote to my fair +recluse, telling her what had gone on in the world since her +disappearance. + +Three or four days after this date, Madame du Rumain gave me the first +letter I received from Mdlle. X. C. V. She spoke in it of the quiet life +she was leading, and her gratitude to me, praised the abbess and the +lay-sister, and gave me the titles of the books they lent her, which she +liked reading. She also informed me what money she had spent, and said +she was happy in everything, almost in being forbidden to leave her room. + +I was delighted with her letter, but much more with the abbess's epistle +to Madame du Rumain. She was evidently fond of the girl, and could not +say too much in her praise, saying how sweet-tempered, clever, and +lady-like she was; winding up by assuring her friend that she went to see +her every day. + +I was charmed to see the pleasure this letter afforded Madame du +Rumain--pleasure which was increased by the perusal of the letter I had +received. The only persons who were displeased were the poor mother, the +frightful Farsetti, and the old fermier, whose misfortune was talked +about in the clubs, the Palais-Royal, and the coffee-houses. Everybody +put me down for some share in the business, but I laughed at their +gossip, believing that I was quite safe. + +All the same, la Popeliniere took the adventure philosophically and made +a one-act play out of it, which he had acted at his little theatre in +Paris. Three months afterwards he got married to a very pretty girl, the +daughter of a Bordeaux alderman. He died in the course of two years, +leaving his widow pregnant with a son, who came into the world six months +after the father's death. The unworthy heir to the rich man had the face +to accuse the widow of adultery, and got the child declared illegitimate +to the eternal shame of the court which gave this iniquitous judgment and +to the grief of every honest Frenchman. The iniquitous nature of the +judgment was afterwards more clearly demonstrated--putting aside the fact +that nothing could be said against the mother's character--by the same +court having the face to declare a child born eleven months after the +father's death legitimate. + +I continued for ten days to call upon Madame X. C. V., but finding myself +coldly welcomed, decided to go there no more. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Fresh Adventures--J. J. Rousseau--I set Up A Business--Castel--Bajac--A +Lawsuit is Commenced Against Me--M. de Sartine + +Mdlle. X. C. V. had now been in the convent for a month, and her affair +had ceased to be a common topic of conversation. I thought I should hear +no more of it, but I was mistaken. I continued, however, to amuse myself, +and my pleasure in spending freely quite prevented me from thinking about +the future. The Abbe de Bernis, whom I went to see regularly once a week, +told me one day that the comptroller-general often enquired how I was +getting on. "You are wrong," said the abbe, "to neglect him." He advised +me to say no more about my claims, but to communicate to him the means I +had spoken of for increasing the revenues of the state. I laid too great +store by the advice of the man who had made my fortune not to follow it. +I went to the comptroller, and trusting in his probity I explained my +scheme to him. This was to pass a law by which every estate, except that +left by father to son, should furnish the treasury with one year's +income; every deed of gift formally drawn up being subject to the same +provision. It seemed to me that the law could not give offence to anyone; +the heir had only to imagine that he had inherited a year later than was +actually the case. The minister was of the same opinion as myself, told +me that there would not be the slightest difficulty involved, and assured +me that my fortune was made. In a week afterwards his place was taken by +M. de Silhouette, and when I called on the new minister he told me coldly +that when my scheme became law he would tell me. It became law two years +afterwards, and when, as the originator of the scheme, I attempted to get +my just reward, they laughed in my face. + +Shortly after, the Pope died, and he was succeeded by the Venetian +Rezzonico, who created my patron, the Abby de Bernis, a cardinal. +However, he had to go into exile by order of the king two days after his +gracious majesty had presented him with the red cap: so good a thing it +is to be the friend of kings! + +The disgrace of my delightful abbe left me without a patron, but I had +plenty of money, and so was enabled to bear this misfortune with +resignation. + +For having undone all the work of Cardinal Richelieu, for having changed +the old enmity between France and Austria into friendship, for delivering +Italy from the horrors of war which befell her whenever these countries +had a bone to pick, although he was the first cardinal made by a pope who +had had plenty of opportunities for discovering his character, merely +because, on being asked, he had given it as his opinion that the Prince +de Soubise was not a fit person to command the French armies, this great +ecclesiastic was driven into exile. The moment the Pompadour heard of +this opinion of his, she decreed his banishment--a sentence which was +unpopular with all classes of society; but they consoled themselves with +epigrams, and the new cardinal was soon forgotten. Such is the character +of the French people; it cares neither for its own misfortunes nor for +those of others, if only it can extract laughter from them. + +In my time epigrammatists and poetasters who assailed ministers or even +the king's mistresses were sent to the Bastille, but the wits still +persisted in being amusing, and there were some who considered a jest +incomplete that was not followed by a prosecution. A man whose name I +have forgotten--a great lover of notoriety--appropriated the following +verses by the younger Crebellon and went to the Bastille rather than +disown them. + + "All the world's upside down! + Jupiter has donned the gown--the King. + Venus mounts the council stair--the Pompadour. + Plutus trifles with the fair--M. de Boulogne. + Mercury in mail is drest--Marechal de Richelieu. + Mighty Mars has turned a priest--the Duc de Clermont, abbe of + St. Germain-des-pres." + +Crebillon, who was not the sort of man to conceal his writings, told the +Duc de Choiseul that he had written some verses exactly like these, but +that it was possible the prisoner had been inspired with precisely the +same ideas. This jest was applauded, and the author of "The Sofa" was let +alone. + +Cardinal de Bernis passed ten years in exile, 'procul negotiis', but he +was not happy, as he told me himself when I knew him in Rome fifteen +years afterwards. It is said that it is better to be a minister than a +king--an opinion which seems ridiculous when it is analyzed. The +question is, which is the better, independence or its contrary. The axiom +may possibly be verified in a despotic government under an absurd, weak, +or careless king who serves as a mere mask for his master the minister; +but in all other cases it is an absurdity. + +Cardinal de Bernis was never recalled; there is no instance of Louis XV. +having ever recalled a minister whom he had disgraced; but on the death +of Rezzonico he had to go to Rome to be present at the conclave, and +there he remained as French ambassador. + +About this time Madame d'Urfe conceived a wish to make the acquaintance +of J. J. Rousseau, and we went to call upon him at Montmorenci, on the +pretext of giving him music to copy--an occupation in which he was very +skilled. He was paid twice the sum given to any other copyist, but he +guaranteed that the work should be faultlessly done. At that period of +his life copying music was the great writer's sole means of subsistence. + +We found him to be a man of a simple and modest demeanour, who talked +well, but who was not otherwise distinguished either intellectually or +physically. We did not think him what would be called a good-natured man, +and as he was far from having the manners of good society Madame d'Urfe +did not hesitate to pronounce him vulgar. We saw the woman with whom he +lived, and of whom we had heard, but she scarcely looked at us. On our +way home we amused ourselves by talking about Rousseau's eccentric +habits. + +I will here note down the visit of the Prince of Conti (father of the +gentleman who is now known as the Comte de la March) to Rousseau. + +The prince--a good-natured man-went by himself to Montmorenci, on purpose +to spend a day in conversation with the philosopher, who was even then +famous. He found him in the park, accosted him, and said that he had come +to dine with him and to talk without restraint. + +"Your highness will fare but badly," said Rousseau: "however, I will tell +them to lay another knife and fork." + +The philosopher gave his instructions, and came out and rejoined the +prince, with whom he walked up and down for two or three hours. When it +was dinner-time he took the prince into his dining-room, where the table +was laid for three. + +"Who is going to dine with us?" said the prince. "I thought we were to be +alone." + +"The third party," said Rousseau, "is my other self--a being who is +neither my wife, nor my mistress, nor my servant-maid, nor my mother, nor +my daughter, but yet personates all these characters at once." + +"I daresay, my dear fellow, I daresay; but as I came to dine with you +alone, I will not dine with your--other self, but will leave you with all +the rest of you to keep your company." + +So saying the prince bade him farewell and went out. Rousseau did not try +to keep him. + +About this time I witnessed the failure of a play called 'Aristides' +Daughter', written by the ingenious Madame de Graffini, who died of +vexation five days after her play was damned. The Abbe de Voisenon was +horrified, as he had advised the lady to produce it, and was thought to +have had some hand in its composition, as well as in that of the 'Lettres +Peruviennes' and 'Cenie'. By a curious coincidence, just about the same +date, Rezzonico's mother died of joy because her son had become pope. +Grief and joy kill many more women than men, which proves that if women +have mere feeling than men they have also less strength. + +When Madame d'Urfe thought that my adopted son was comfortably settled in +Viar's house, she made me go with her and pay him a visit. I found him +lodged like a prince, well dressed, made much of, and almost looked up +to. I was astonished, for this was more than I had bargained for. Madame +d'Urfe had given him masters of all sorts, and a pretty little pony for +him to learn riding on. He was styled M. le Comte d'Aranda. A girl of +sixteen, Viar's daughter, a fine-looking young woman, was appointed to +look after him, and she was quite proud to call herself my lord's +governess. She assured Madame d'Urfe that she took special care of him; +that as soon as he woke she brought him his breakfast in bed; that she +then dressed him, and did not leave his side the whole day. Madame d'Urfe +approved of everything, told the girl to take even greater care of the +count, and promised that she should not go unrewarded. As for the young +gentleman, he was evidently quite happy, as he told me himself again and +again, but I suspected a mystery somewhere, and determined that I would +go and see him by myself another time and solve it. + +On our journey home I told Madame d'Urfe how grateful I was for all her +goodness to the boy, and that I approved of all the arrangements that had +been made with the exception of the name Aranda, "which," said I, "may +some day prove a thorn in his side." She answered that the lad had said +enough to convince her that he had a right to bear that name. "I had," +she said, "in my desk a seal with the arms of the house of Aranda, and +happening to take it up I shewed it him as we shew trinkets to children +to amuse them, but as soon as he saw it he burst out, + +"'How came you to have my arms?' + +"Your arms!" I answered. "I got this seal from the Comte d'Aranda; how +can you prove that you are a scion of that race?" + +"'Do not ask me, madam; my birth is a secret I can reveal to no one.'" + +The imposition and above all the impudence of the young knave astounded +me. I should not have thought him capable of it, and a week after I went +to see him by myself to get at the bottom of all this mystery. + +I found my young count with Viar, who, judging by the awe the child +shewed of me, must have thought he belonged to me. He was unsparing in +his praises of his pupil, saying that he played the flute capitally, +danced and fenced admirably, rode well, and wrote a good hand. He shewed +me the pens he had cut himself with three, five, and even nine points, +and begged to be examined on heraldry, which, as the master observed, was +so necessary a science for a young nobleman. + +The young gentleman then commenced in the jargon of heraldry to blazon +his own pretended arms, and I felt much inclined to burst into laughter, +partly because I did not understand a word he said, and partly because he +seemed to think the matter as important as would a country squire with +his thirty-two quarters. However, I was delighted to see his dexterity in +penmanship, which was undoubtedly very great, and I expressed my +satisfaction to Viar, who soon left us to ourselves. We proceeded into +the garden. + +"Will you kindly inform me," I said, "how you can be so foolish as to +call yourself the Comte d'Aranda?" + +He replied, with the utmost calmness, "I know it is foolish, but leave me +my title; it is of service to me here and gains me respect." + +"It is an imposition I cannot wink at, as it may be fraught with serious +results, and may do harm to both of us. I should not have thought that at +your age you would be capable of such a knavish trick. I know you did it +out of stupidity, but after a certain limit stupidity becomes criminal; +and I cannot see how I am to remedy your fault without disgracing you in +the eyes of Madame d'Urfe." + +I kept on scolding him till he burst into tears, saying, + +"I had rather the shame of being sent back to my mother than the shame of +confessing to Madame d'Urfe that I had imposed on her; and I could not +bear to stay here if I had to give up my name." + +Seeing that I could do nothing with him, unless, indeed, I sent him to +some place far removed from Paris under his proper name, I told him to +take comfort as I would try and do the best I could for both of us. + +"And now tell me--and take care to tell the truth--what sort of feelings +does Viar's daughter entertain for you?" + +"I think, papa, that this is a case in which the reserve commended by +yourself, as well as by mother, would be appropriate." + +"Yes, that sort of answer tells me a good deal, but I think you are +rather too knowing for your age. And you may as well observe that when +you are called upon for a confession, reserve is out of place, and it's a +confession I require from you." + +"Well, papa, Viar's daughter is very fond of me, and she shews her love +in all sorts of ways." + +"And do you love her?" + +"Oh, yes!" + +"Is she much with you in the morning?" + +"She is with me the whole day." + +"She is present when you go to bed?" + +"Yes, she helps me to undress." + +"Nothing else?" + +"I do not care to tell you." + +I was astonished at the measured way in which he answered me, and as I +had heard enough to guess that the boy and girl were very good friends +indeed, I contented myself with warning him to take care of his health, +and with this I left him. + +Some time after, my thoughts were occupied with a business speculation +which all my calculations assured me would be extremely profitable. The +plan was to produce on silks, by means of printing, the exquisite designs +which are produced at Lyons by the tedious process of weaving, and thus +to give customers excellent value at much lower prices. I had the +requisite knowledge of chemistry, and enough capital to make the thing a +success. I obtained the assistance of a man with the necessary technical +skill and knowledge, intending to make him my manager. + +I told my plan to the Prince de Conti, who encouraged me to persevere, +promising me his patronage, and all the privileges I could wish for. That +decided me to begin. + +I rented a very large house near the Temple for a thousand crowns per +annum. The house contained a spacious hall, in which I meant to put my +workmen; another hall which was to be the shop; numerous rooms for my +workpeople to live in; and a nice room for myself in case I cared to live +on the premises. + +I made the scheme into a company with thirty shares, of which I gave five +to my designer, keeping the remaining twenty-five to distribute to those +who were inclined to join the company. I gave one to a doctor who, on +giving surety, became the storekeeper, and came to live in the house with +his whole family; and I engaged four servants, a waiting-maid, and a +porter. I had to give another share to an accountant, who furnished me +with two clerks, who also took up their abode in the house. The +carpenters, blacksmiths, and painters worked hard from morning to night, +and in less than three weeks the place was ready. I told the manager to +engage twenty girls to paint, who were to be paid every Saturday. I +stocked the warehouse with three hundred pieces of sarcenet and camlet of +different shades and colours to receive the designs, and I paid for +everything in ready money. + +I had made an approximate calculation with my manager that I should have +to spend three hundred thousand francs, and that would not break me. If +the worst happened I could fall back on my shares, which produced a good +income, but I hoped I should not be compelled to do so, as I wanted to +have an income of two hundred thousand francs a year. + +All the while I did not conceal from myself that the speculation might be +my ruin, if custom did not come in, but on looking at my beautiful +materials these fears were dispelled, especially as I heard everybody +saying that I sold them much too cheap. + +To set up the business I spent in the course of a month about sixty +thousand francs, and my weekly expenses amounted to twelve hundred +francs. + +As for Madame d'Urfe she laughed every time she saw me, for she was quite +certain that this business was only meant to put the curious off the +scent and to preserve my incognito: so persuaded was she of my +omnipotence. + +The sight of twenty girls, all more or less pretty, the eldest of whom +was not twenty-five, far from making me tremble as it ought, delighted +me. I fancied myself in the midst of a seraglio, and I amused myself by +watching their meek and modest looks as they did their work under the +direction of the foreman. The best paid did not get more than twenty-four +sous a day, and all of them had excellent reputations, for they had been +selected at her own request by the manager's wife, a devout woman of ripe +age, whom I hoped to find obliging if the fancy seized me to test her +choice. Manon Baletti did not share my satisfaction in them. She trembled +to see me the owner of a harem, well knowing that sooner or later the +barque of my virtue would run on the rocks. She scolded me well about +these girls, though I assured her that none of them slept in the house. + +This business increased my own ideas of my importance; partly from the +thought that I was on the high road to fortune, and partly because I +furnished so many people with the means of subsistence. Alas! I was too +fortunate; and my evil genius soon crossed my career. + +It was now three months since Mdlle. X. C. V. had gone into the convent, +and the time of her delivery drew near. We wrote to each other twice a +week, and I considered the matter happily settled; M. de la Popeliniere +had married, and when Mdlle. X. C. V. returned to her mother there would +be nothing more to be said But just at this period, when my happiness +seemed assured, the hidden fire leapt forth and threatened to consume me; +how, the reader will see. + +One day after leaving Madame d'Urfe's I went to walk in the Tuileries. I +had taken a couple of turns in the chief walk when I saw that an old +woman, accompanied by a man dressed in black, was looking at me closely +and communicating her observations to her companion. There was nothing +very astonishing in this in a public place, and I continued my walk, and +on turning again saw the same couple still watching me. In my turn I +looked at them, and remembered seeing the man in a gaming-house, where he +was known by the name of Castel-Bajac. On scrutinizing the features of +the hag, I at last succeeded in recollecting who she was; she was the +woman to whom I had taken Mdlle. X. C. V. I felt certain that she had +recognized me, but not troubling myself about the matter I left the +gardens to walk elsewhere. The day after next, just as I was going to get +into my carriage, a man of evil aspect gave me a paper and asked me to +read it. I opened it, but finding it covered with an illegible scrawl I +gave it him back, telling him to read it himself. He did so, and I found +myself summoned to appear before the commissary of police to answer to +the plea which the midwife (whose name I forget) brought against me. + +Although I could guess what the charge would be, and was certain that the +midwife could furnish no proofs of her accusation, I went to an attorney +I knew and told him to appear for me. I instructed him that I did not +know any midwife in Paris whatsoever. The attorney waited on the +commissary, and on the day after brought me a copy of the pleas. + +The midwife said that I came to her one night, accompanied by a young +lady about five months with child, and that, holding a pistol in one hand +and a packet of fifty Louis in the other, I made her promise to procure +abortion. We both of us (so she said) had masks on, thus shewing that we +had been at the opera ball. Fear, said she, had prevented her from flatly +refusing to grant my request; but she had enough presence of mind to say +that the necessary drugs were not ready, that she would have all in order +by the next night; whereupon we left, promising to return. In the belief +that we would not fail to keep the appointment, she went in to M. +Castel-Bajac to ask him to hide in the next room that she might be +protected from my fury, and that he might be a witness of what I said, +but she had not seen me again. She added that she would have given +information the day after the event if she had known who I was, but since +M. Castel-Bajac had told her my name on her recognizing me in the +Tuileries, she had thought it her bounden duty to deliver me to the law +that she might be compensated for the violence I had used to her. And +this document was signed by the said Castel-Bajac as a witness. + +"This is an evident case of libel," said my attorney, "at least, if she +can't prove the truth of her allegations. My advice to you is to take the +matter before the criminal lieutenant, who will be able to give you the +satisfaction you require." + +I authorized him to do what he thought advisable, and three or four days +after he told me that the lieutenant wished to speak to me in private, +and would expect me the same day at three o'clock in the afternoon. + +As will be expected, I was punctual to the appointment. I found the +magistrate to be a polite and good-hearted gentleman. He was, in fact, +the well-known M. de Sartine, who was the chief of police two years +later. His office of criminal lieutenant was saleable, and M. de Sartine +sold it when he was appointed head of the police. + +As soon as I had made my bow, he asked me to sit down by him, and +addressed me as follows: + +"I have asked you to call upon me in the interests of both of us, as in +your position our interests are inseparable. If you are innocent of the +charge which has been brought against you, you are quite right to appeal +to me; but before proceedings begin, you should tell me the whole truth. +I am ready to forget my position as judge, and to give you my help, but +you must see yourself that to prove the other side guilty of slander, you +must prove yourself innocent. What I want from you is an informal and +strictly confidential declaration, for the case against you is a serious +one, and of such a kind as to require all your efforts to wipe off this +blot upon your honour. Your enemies will not respect your delicacy of +feeling. They will press you so hard that you will either be obliged to +submit to a shameful sentence, or to wound your feelings of honour in +proving your innocence. You see I am confiding in you, for in certain +cases honour seems so precious a thing to me that I am ready to defend it +with all the power of the law. Pay me back, then, in the same coin, trust +in me entirely, tell me the whole story without any reserves, and you may +rely upon my good offices. All will be well if you are innocent, for I +shall not be the less a judge because I am your friend; but if you are +guilty I am sorry for you, for I warn you that I shall be just." + +After doing my best to express my gratitude to him, I said that my +position did not oblige me to make any reservations on account of honour, +and that I had, consequently, no informal statement to make him. + +"The midwife," I added, "is absolutely unknown to me. She is most likely +an abandoned woman, who with her worthy companion wants to cheat me of my +money." + +"I should be delighted to think so," he answered, "but admitting the +fact, see how chance favours her, and makes it a most difficult thing for +you to prove your innocence. + +"The young lady disappeared three months ago. She was known to be your +intimate friend, you called upon her at all hours; you spent a +considerable time with her the day before she disappeared, and no one +knows what has become of her; but everyone's suspicions point at you, and +paid spies are continually dogging your steps. The midwife sent me a +requisition yesterday by her counsel, Vauversin. She says that the +pregnant lady you brought to her house is the same whom Madame X. C. V. +is searching for. She also says that you both wore black dominoes, and +the police have ascertained that you were both at the ball in black +dominoes on the same night as that on which the midwife says you came to +her house; you are also known to have left the ball-room together. All +this, it is true, does not constitute full proof of your guilt, but it +makes one tremble for your innocence." + +"What cause have I to tremble?" + +"What cause! Why a false witness, easily enough hired for a little money, +might swear with impunity that he saw you come from the opera together; +and a coachman in the same way might swear he had taken you to the +midwife's. In that case I should be compelled to order your arrest and +examination, with a view to ascertain the name of the person whom you +took with you. Do you realize that you are accused of procuring abortion; +that three months have gone by without the lady's retreat having been +discovered; that she is said to be dead. Do you realize, in short, what a +very serious charge murder is?" + +"Certainly; but if I die innocent, you will have condemned me wrongly, +and will be more to be pitied than I." + +"Yes, yes, but that wouldn't make your case any better. You may be sure, +however, that I will not condemn an innocent man; but I am afraid that +you will be a long time in prison before you succeed in proving your +innocence. To be brief, you see that in twenty-four hours the case looks +very bad, and in the course of a week it might look very much worse. My +interest was aroused in your favour by the evident absurdity of the +accusations, but it is the other circumstances about the case which make +it a serious one for you. I can partly understand the circumstances, and +the feelings of love and honour which bid you be silent. I have spoken to +you, and I hope you will have no reserves with me. I will spare you all +the unpleasant circumstances which threaten you, believing, as I do, that +you are innocent. Tell me all, and be sure that the lady's honour will +not suffer; but if, on the other hand, you are unfortunately guilty of +the crimes laid to your charge, I advise you to be prudent, and to take +steps which it is not my business to suggest. I warn you that in three or +four days I shall cite you to the bar of the court, and that you will +then find in me only the judge--just, certainly, but severe and +impartial." + +I was petrified; for these words shewed me my danger in all its +nakedness. I saw how I should esteem this worthy man's good offices, and +said to him in quite another tone, that innocent as I was, I saw that my +best course was to throw myself on his kindness respecting Mdlle. X. C. +V., who had committed no crime, but would lose her reputation by this +unhappy business. + +"I know where she is," I added, "and I may tell you that she would never +have left her mother if she had not endeavoured to force her into a +marriage she abhorred." + +"Well, but the man is now married; let her return to her mother's house, +and you will be safe, unless the midwife persists in maintaining that you +incited her to procure abortion." + +"There is no abortion in the matter; but other reasons prevent her +returning to her family. I can tell you no more without obtaining the +consent of another party. If I succeed in doing so I shall be able to +throw the desired light on the question. Be kind enough to give me a +second hearing on the day after to-morrow." + +"I understand. I shall be delighted to hear what you have to say. I thank +and congratulate you. Farewell!" + +I was on the brink of the precipice, but I was determined to leave the +kingdom rather than betray the honour of my poor dear sweetheart. If it +had been possible, I would gladly have put an end to the case with money; +but it was too late. I was sure that Farsetti had the chief hand in all +this trouble, that he was continually on my track, and that he paid the +spies mentioned by M. de Sartine. He it was who had set Vauversin, the +barrister, after me, and I had no doubt that he would do all in his power +to ruin me. + +I felt that my only course was to tell the whole story to M. de Sartine, +but to do that I required Madame du Rumain's permission. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +My Examination I Give the Clerk Three Hundred Louis--The Midwife and +Cartel-Bajac Imprisoned--Mdlle. X. C. V. Is Brought to Bed of a Son and +Obliges Her Mother to Make Me Amends--The Suit Against Me Is +Quashed--Mdlle. X. C. V. Goes With Her Mother to Brussels and From Thence +to Venice, Where She Becomes a Great Lady--My Work-girls--Madame Baret--I +Am Robbed, Put in Prison, and Set at Liberty Again--I Go to +Holland--Helvetius' "Esprit"--Piccolomini + +The day after my interview with M. de Sartine I waited on Madame du +Rumain at an early hour. Considering the urgency of the case I took the +liberty of rousing her from her slumbers, and as soon as she was ready to +receive me I told her all. + +"There can be no hesitation in the matter," said this delightful woman. +"We must make a confidant of M. de Sartine, and I will speak to him +myself to-day without fail." + +Forthwith she went to her desk and wrote to the criminal lieutenant +asking him to see her at three o'clock in the afternoon. In less than an +hour the servant returned with a note in which he said he would expect +her. We agreed that I should come again in the evening, when she would +tell me the result of her interview. + +I went to the house at five o'clock, and had only a few minutes to wait. + +"I have concealed nothing," said she; "he knows that she is on the eve of +her confinement, and that you are not the father, which speaks highly for +your generosity. I told him that as soon as the confinement was over, and +the young lady had recovered her health, she would return to her mother, +though she would make no confession, and that the child should be well +looked after. You have now nothing to fear, and can calm yourself; but as +the case must go on you will be cited before the court the day after +to-morrow. I advise you to see the clerk of the court on some pretext or +other, and to make him accept a sum of money." + +I was summoned to appear, and I appeared. I saw M. de Sartine, 'sedentem +pro tribunali'. At the end of the sitting he told me that he was obliged +to remand me, and that during my remand I must not leave Paris or get +married, as all my civil rights were in suspense pending the decision. I +promised to follow his commands. + +I acknowledged in my examination that I was at the ball in a black domino +on the night named in my accusation, but I denied everything else. As for +Mdlle. X. C. V., I said that neither I nor anyone of her family had any +suspicion that she was with child. + +Recollecting that I was an alien, and that this circumstance might make +Vauversin call for my arrest, on the plea that I might fly the kingdom, I +thought the moment opportune for making interest with the clerk of the +court, and I accordingly paid him a visit. After telling him of my fears, +I slipped into his hand a packet of three hundred louis, for which I did +not ask for a receipt, saying that they were to defray expenses if I were +mulcted in costs. He advised me to require the midwife to give bail for +her appearance, and I told my attorney to do so; but, four days after, +the following incident took place: + +I was walking in the Temple Gardens, when I was accosted by a Savoyard, +who gave me a note in which I was informed that somebody in an alley, +fifty paces off, wanted to speak to me. "Either a love affair or a +challenge," I said to myself, "let's see." I stopped my carriage, which +was following me, and went to the place. + +I cannot say how surprised I was to see the wretched Cartel-Bajac +standing before me. "I have only a word to say," said he, when he saw me. +"We will not be overheard here. The midwife is quite sure that you are +the man who brought a pregnant lady to her, but she is vexed that you are +accused of making away with her. Give her a hundred louis; she will then +declare to the court that she has been mistaken, and your trouble will be +ended. You need not pay the money till she has made her declaration; we +will take your word for it. Come with me and talk it over with Vauversin. +I am sure he will persuade you to do as I suggest. I know where to find +him, follow me at some distance." + +I had listened to him in silence, and I was delighted to see that the +rascals were betraying themselves. "Very good," said I to the fellow, +"you go on, and I will follow." I went after him to the third floor of a +house in the Rue aux Ours, where I found Vauversin the barrister. No +sooner had I arrived than he went to business without any prefatory +remarks. + +"The midwife," he said, "will call on you with a witness apparently with +the intention of maintaining to your face that you are her man; but she +won't be able to recognize you. She will then proceed with the witness to +the court, and will declare that she has made a mistake, and the criminal +lieutenant will forthwith put an end to the proceedings. You will thus be +certain of gaining your case against the lady's mother." + +I thought the plan well conceived, and said that they would find me at +the Temple any day up to noon. + +"But the midwife wants a hundred louis badly." + +"You mean that the worthy woman rates her perjury at that price. Well, +never mind, I will pay the money, and you may trust to my word; but I +can't do so before she has taken oath to her mistake before the court." + +"Very good, but you must first give me twenty-five louis to reimburse me +for my costs and fees." + +"Certainly, if you will give me a formal receipt for the money." + +He hesitated at first, but after talking it over the money proved too +strong a bait, and he wrote out the receipt and I gave him the +twenty-five louis. He thanked me, and said that though Madame X. C. V. +was his client, he would let me know confidentially how best to put a +stop to the proceedings. I thanked him with as much gratitude as if I had +really intended to make use of his services, and I left to write and tell +M. de Sartine what had taken place. + +Three days afterwards I was told that a man and woman wanted to see me. I +went down and asked the woman what she wanted. + +"I want to speak to M. Casanova." + +"I am he." + +"Then I have made a mistake, for which I hope you will forgive me." + +Her companion smiled, and they went off. + +The same day Madame du Rumain had a letter from the abbess telling her +that her young friend had given birth to a fine boy, who had been sent +away to a place where he would be well looked after. She stated that the +young lady could not leave the convent for the next six weeks, at the end +of which time she could return to her mother with a certificate which +would protect her from all annoyance. + +Soon after the midwife was put in solitary confinement, Castel-Bajac was +sent to The Bicetre, and Vauversin's name was struck off the rolls. The +suit instituted against me by Madame X. C. V. went on till her daughter +reappeared, but I knew that I had nothing to fear. The girl returned to +her mother about the end of August armed with a certificate from the +abbess, who said she had been under her protection for four months, +during which time she had never left the convent or seen any persons from +outside. This was perfectly true, but the abbess added that her only +reason for her going back to her family was that she had nothing more to +dread from the attentions of M. de la Popeliniere, and in this the abbess +lied. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. profited by the delight of her mother in seeing her again +safe and sound, and made her wait on M. de Sartine with the abbess's +certificate, stop all proceedings against me, and withdraw all the +charges she had made. Her daughter told her that if I liked I might claim +damages for libel, and that if she did not wish to injure her reputation +she would say nothing more about what had happened. + +The mother wrote me a letter of the most satisfactory character, which I +had registered in court, thus putting an end to the prosecution. In my +turn I wrote to congratulate her on the recovery of her daughter, but I +never set foot in her house again, to avoid any disagreeable scenes with +Farsetti. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. could not stay any longer in Paris, where her tale was +known to everyone, and Farsetti took her to Brussels with her sister +Madelaine. Some time after, her mother followed her, and they then went +on to Venice, and there in three years' time she became a great lady. +Fifteen years afterwards I saw her again, and she was a widow, happy +enough apparently, and enjoying a great reputation on account of her +rank, wit, and social qualities, but our connection was never renewed. + +In four years the reader will hear more of Castel-Bajac. Towards the end +of the same year (1759), before I went to Holland, I spent several +hundred francs to obtain the release of the midwife. + +I lived like a prince, and men might have thought me happy, but I was +not. The enormous expenses I incurred, my love of spending money, and +magnificent pleasures, warned me, in spite of myself, that there were +rocks ahead. My business would have kept me going for a long time, if +custom had not been paralyzed by the war; but as it was, I, like +everybody else, experienced the effect of bad times. My warehouse +contained four hundred pieces of stuffs with designs on them, but as I +could not hope to dispose of them before the peace, and as peace seemed a +long way off, I was threatened with ruin. + +With this fear I wrote to Esther to get her father to give me the +remainder of my money, to send me a sharp clerk, and to join in my +speculation. M. d'O---- said that if I would set up in Holland he would +become responsible for everything and give me half profits, but I liked +Paris too well to agree to so good an offer. I was sorry for it +afterwards. + +I spent a good deal of money at my private house, but the chief expense +of my life, which was unknown to others but which was ruining me, was +incurred in connection with the girls who worked in my establishment. +With my complexion and my pronounced liking for variety, a score of +girls, nearly all of them pretty and seductive, as most Paris girls are, +was a reef on which my virtue made shipwreck every day. Curiosity had a +good deal to do with it, and they profited by my impatience to take +possession by selling their favours dearly. They all followed the example +of the first favourite, and everyone claimed in turn an establishment, +furniture, money, and jewels; and I knew too little of the value of money +to care how much they asked. My fancy never lasted longer than a week, +and often waned in three or four days, and the last comer always appeared +the most worthy of my attentions. + +As soon as I had made a new choice I saw no more of my old loves, but I +continued to provide for them, and that with a good deal of money. Madame +d'Urfe, who thought I was rich, gave me no trouble. I made her happy by +using my oracle to second the magical ceremonies of which she grew fonder +every day, although she never attained her aim. Manon Baletti, however, +grieved me sorely by her jealousy and her well-founded reproaches. She +would not understand--and I did not wonder at it--how I could put off +marrying her if I really loved her. She accused me of deceiving her. Her +mother died of consumption in our arms. Silvia had won my true +friendship. I looked upon her as a most worthy woman, whose kindness of +heart and purity of life deserved the esteem of all. I stayed in the +family for three days after her death, sincerely sympathizing with them +in their affliction. + +A few days afterwards, my friend Tiretta lost his mistress through a +grievous illness. Four days before her death, perceiving that she was +near her end, she willed to consecrate to God that which man could have +no longer, and dismissed her lover with the gift of a valuable jewel and +a purse of two hundred louis. Tiretta marched off and came and told me +the sad news. I got him a lodging near the Temple, and a month after, +approving his idea to try his fortune in India, I gave him a letter of +introduction to M. d'O----, of Amsterdam; and in the course of a week +this gentleman got him a post as clerk, and shipped him aboard one of the +company's ships which was bound for Batavia. If he had behaved well he +might have become a rich man, but he got involved in some conspiracy and +had to fly, and afterwards experienced many vicissitudes of fortune. I +heard from one of his relations that he was in Bengal in 1788, in good +circumstances, but unable to realize his property and so return to his +native country. I do not know what became of him eventually. + +In the beginning of November an official belonging to the Duc d'Elbeuf's +household came to my establishment to buy a wedding dress for his +daughter. I was dazzled with her beauty. She chose a fine satin, and her +pretty face lighted up when she heard her father say he did not think it +was too much; but she looked quite piteous when she heard the clerk tell +her father that he would have to buy the whole piece, as they could not +cut it. I felt that I must give in, and to avoid making an exception in +her favour I beat a hasty retreat into my private room. I wish I had gone +out of the house, as I should have saved a good deal of money; but what +pleasure should I have also lost! In her despair the charming girl begged +the manager to take her to me, and he dared not refuse to do so. She came +in; two big tears falling down her cheeks and dimming the ardour of her +gaze. + +"Oh, sir!" she began, "you are rich, do you buy the piece and let me have +enough for a dress, which will make me happy." + +I looked at her father and saw he wore an apologetic air, as if +deprecating the boldness of his child. + +"I like your simplicity," I said to her, "and since it will make you +happy, you shall have the dress." + +She ran up to me, threw her arms round my neck and kissed me, while her +worthy father was dying with laughter. Her kisses put the last stroke to +my bewitchment. After he had paid for the dress, her father said, + +"I am going to get this little madcap married next Sunday; there will be +a supper and a ball, and we shall be delighted if you will honour us with +your presence. My name is Gilbert. I am comptroller of the Duc d'Elbeuf's +household." + +I promised to be at the wedding, and the young lady gave a skip of joy +which made me think her prettier than ever. + +On Sunday I repaired to the house, but I could neither eat nor drink. The +fair Mdlle. Gilbert kept me in a kind of enchantment which lasted while I +was in company with her friends, for whom I did not care. They were all +officials in noblemen's houses, with their wives and daughters, who all +aped the manners of their betters in the most ridiculous way; nobody knew +me and I was known to nobody, and I cut a sorry figure amongst them all, +for in a company of this sort the wittiest man is the greatest fool. +Everybody cracked his joke to the bride, she answered everybody, and +people laughed at nothing. + +Her husband, a thin and melancholy man, with a rather foolish expression, +was delighted at his wife's keeping everybody amused. Although I was in +love with her, I pitied rather than envied him. I guessed that he had +married for monetary considerations, and I knew pretty well what kind of +a head-dress his handsome, fiery wife would give her husband, who was +plain-featured, and seemed not to be aware of his wife's beauty. I was +seized with the desire of asking her some questions, and she gave me the +opportunity by coming to sit next to me after a quadrille. She thanked me +again for my kindness, and said that the beautiful dress I had supplied +had won her many compliments. + +"All the same," I said, "I know you are longing to take it off. I know +what love is and how impatient it makes one." + +"It's very funny that everyone persists in thinking that I am in love, +though I saw M. Baret for the first time only a week ago. Before then I +was absolutely unconscious of his existence." + +"But why are you getting married in such a hurry without waiting till you +know him better?" + +"Because my father does everything in a hurry." + +"I suppose your husband is a very rich man?" + +"No, but he may become rich. We are going to open a shop for silk +stockings at the corner of the Rue St. Honore and the Rue des Prouveres, +and I hope that you will deal with us, as we would serve you with the +best." + +"I shall certainly do so--nay, I will be your first customer, if I have +to wait at the door." + +"You are kind! M. Baret," said she to her husband, who was standing close +by, "this gentleman promises to be our first customer." + +"The gentleman is very good," said the husband, "and I am sure he will be +satisfied, as my stockings are genuine silk." + +Next Tuesday at day-break I began to dance attendance at the corner of +the Rue des Prouveres, and waited there till the servant came out to take +down the shutters. I went in and the girl asked me my business. + +"I want to buy some stockings," was my answer. + +"Master and mistress are still in bed, so you had better come later on." + +"No, I will wait here. Stop a minute," said I, giving her six francs, "go +and get me some coffee; I will drink it in the shop." + +"I might go and get you some coffee, but I am not so silly as to leave +you in the shop by yourself." + +"You are afraid I might steal something!" + +"Well, one does hear of such things being done, and I don't know you from +Adam." + +"Very good; but I shall stay here all the same." + +Before long Baret came down and scolded the poor girl for not having told +him of my presence. "Go and tell my wife to come," said he, as he began +opening packets of stockings for me to choose from. He kept stockings, +vests, and silk drawers, and I turned one packet over after another, +looking at them all and not fixing on anything till I saw his wife coming +down as fresh as a rose and as bright as a lily. She smiled at me in the +most seductive manner, apologized for the disorder of her dress, and +thanked me for keeping my word. + +"I never break my word," I said, "especially when such a charming lady is +concerned!" + +Madame Baret was seventeen, of a moderate height, and an exquisite +figure; without being classically beautiful, a Raphael could not wish to +depict a more enticing face. Her eyes were large and brilliant. Her +drooping eyelids, which gave her so modest and yet so voluptuous an +appearance, the ever-smiling mouth, her splendid teeth, the dazzling +whiteness of her complexion, the pleasing air with which she listened to +what was being said, her silvery voice, the sweetness and sparkling +vivacity of her manner, her lack of conceit, or rather her +unconsciousness of the power of her charms-in fine, everything about this +masterpiece of nature made me wonder and admire; while she, by chance or +vile monetary considerations, was in the power of Baret, who, pale and +sickly, thought a good deal more of his stockings than of the treasure +marriage had given him--a treasure of which he was all unworthy, since he +could not see its beauty nor taste its sweetness. + +I chose stockings and vests to the amount of twenty-five louis, and I +paid the price without trying to cheapen them. I saw the face of the fair +shopwoman light up, and I augured well for my success, though I could not +expect to do much while the honeymoon lasted. I told the servant that I +would give her six francs if she would bring the packet to my house, and +so I left them. + +Next Sunday Baret came himself with my purchases. I gave him six francs +to hand over to his servant, but he hinted that he was not too proud to +keep them himself. I was disgusted at this petty greed, and at his +meanness in depriving his maid of the six francs after having made a good +profit in what he had sold me; but I wanted to stand well with him, and I +was not sorry to find so simple a way of throwing dust into his eyes. So +while I resolved that the servant should not be a loser I gave the +husband a good reception that I might the better mould him to my purpose. +I had breakfast brought to him, asking why he had not brought his wife. + +"She wanted me to take her," said he, "but I was afraid you might be +offended." + +"Not at all, I should have been delighted. I think your wife a charming +woman." + +"You are very kind to say so; but she's young, she's young." + +"I don't think that's any objection; and if she cares for the walk, bring +her with you another time." He said he should be very pleased to do so. + +When I passed by the shop in my carriage I blew kisses to her with my +hand, but I did not stop as I did not want any more stockings. Indeed, I +should have been bored with the crowd of fops with which the shop was +always full. She began to be a topic of conversation in the town; the +Palais Royal was full of her; and I was glad to hear that she kept to +herself as if she had richer prey in view. That told me that no one +possessed her so far, and I hoped that I might be the prey myself; I was +quite willing to be captured. + +Some days after, she saw my carriage coming, and beckoned to me as I +passed. I got out, and her husband with many apologies told me that he +wanted me to be the first to see a new fashion in breeches he had just +got in. The breeches were parti-coloured, and no man of fashion would be +seen without them. They were odd-looking things, but became a well-made +young man. As they had to fit exactly, I told him to measure me for six +pairs, offering to pay in advance. "We have them in all sizes," said he, +"go up to my wife's room and try some on." + +It was a good opportunity and I accepted, especially when I heard him +tell his wife to go and help me. I went upstairs, she following, and I +began to undress, apologizing for doing so before her. + +"I will fancy I am your valet," said she, "and I will help you." + +I did not make any difficulties, and after taking off my shoes I gave her +my breeches, taking care, however, to keep on my drawers, lest her +modesty should receive too severe a shock. This done she took a pair of +breeches, drew them on me, took them off, and tried on others, and all +this without any impropriety on either side; for I had determined to +behave with discretion till the opportunity came to be indiscreet. She +decided that four pairs fitted me admirably, and, not wishing to +contradict her, I gave her the sixteen louis she asked, and told her I +should be delighted if she would bring them herself at any time when she +was at leisure. She came downstairs quite proud of her knowledge of +business, and Baret said that next Sunday he and his wife would have the +honour of bringing me my purchase. + +"I shall be charmed, M. Baret," said I, "especially if you will stay to +dinner." + +He answered that having an important engagement for two o'clock he could +only accept on the condition that I would let him go at that time, and he +would return at about five to fetch his wife. I found the plan vastly to +my taste, but I knew how to conceal my joy; and I quietly said that +though I should lose the pleasure of his society, he was free to go when +he liked, especially as I had not to go out myself before six. + +I looked forward to the Sunday, and the tradesman and his wife did not +fail me. As soon as they arrived, I told my servant to say "Not at home" +for the rest of the day, and as I was impatient to know what would happen +in the afternoon I had dinner served at an early hour. The dishes were +exquisite, and the wines delicious. The good man ate much and drank +deeply, indeed to such an extent that in common politeness I was obliged +to remind him that he had an important appointment at two. His wits being +sharpened with champagne, the happy thought occurred to him to tell his +wife to go home by herself, if he were kept later than five; and I +hastened to add that I would take her home myself in my carriage. He +thanked me, and I soothed his uneasiness about being punctual to his +appointment by telling him that a coach was waiting, and that the fare +had been paid. He went off, and I found myself alone with my jewel, whom +I was certain of possessing till six o'clock. + +As soon as I heard the hall door shut on the kind husband, I said to his +wife, + +"You are to be congratulated on having such a kind husband; with a man +like that your happiness is assured." + +"It is easy to say happiness, but enjoying it is a different thing. My +husband's health is so delicate that I can only consider myself as his +nurse; and then he contracted heavy debts to set up in business which +oblige us to observe the strictest economy. We came here on foot to save +the twenty-four sons. We could live on the profits of the business, if +there were no debts, but as it is everything goes to pay the interest, +and our sales are not large enough to cover everything." + +"But you have plenty of customers, for whenever I pass I see the shop +full of people." + +"These customers you see are idlers, crackers of bad jokes, and +profligates, who come and make my head ache with their jests. They have +not a penny to bless themselves with, and we dare not let them out of our +sight for fear of their hands wandering. If we had cared to give them +credit, our shop would have been emptied long ago. I am rude to them, in +the hopes that they may leave me alone, but it's of no use. Their +impudence is astonishing. When my husband is in I retreat to my room, but +he is often away, and then I am obliged to put up with them. And the +scarcity of money prevents us from doing much business, but we are +obliged to pay our workmen all the same. As far as I can see, we shall be +obliged to dismiss them, as we shall soon have to meet several bills. +Next Saturday we have got to pay six hundred francs, and we have only got +two hundred." + +"I am surprised at your having all this worry in these early days of your +marriage. I suppose your father knew about your husband's circumstances; +how about your dowry?" + +"My dowry of six thousand francs has served, most of it, to stock the +shop and to pay our debts. We have goods which would pay our debts three +times over; but in bad times capital sunk is capital dead." + +"I am sorry to hear all this, as if peace is not made your situation will +become worse, for as you go on your needs will become greater." + +"Yes, for when my husband is better we may have children." + +"What! Do you mean to say his health prevents him from making you a +mother? I can't believe it." + +"I don't see how I can be a mother who am still a maid; not that I care +much about the matter." + +"I shouldn't have believed it! How can a man not in the agony of death +feel ill beside you? He must be dead." + +"Well, he is not exactly dead, but he doesn't shew many signs of life." + +This piece of wit made me laugh, and under cover of my applause I +embraced her without experiencing much resistance. The first kiss was +like an electric spark; it fired my imagination and I increased my +attentions till she became as submissive as a lamb. + +"I will help you, dearest, to meet the bill on Saturday;" and so saying I +drew her gently into a closet where a soft divan formed a suitable altar +for the completion of an amorous sacrifice. + +I was enchanted to find her submissive to my caresses and my +inquisitiveness, but she surprised me greatly when, as I placed myself in +readiness for the consummation of the act, and was already in the proper +posture between the two columns, she moved in such a way as to hinder my +advance. I thought at first that it was only one of those devices +intended to make the final victory more sweet by putting difficulties in +the way; but, finding that her resistance was genuine, I exclaimed, + +"How was I to expect a refusal like this at a moment when I thought I saw +my ardours reflected in your eyes?" + +"Your eyes did not deceive you; but what would my husband say if he found +me otherwise than as God has made me?" + +"He can't have left you untouched!" + +"He really has done so. You can see for yourself if you like. Can I, +then, give to you what appertains to the genius of the marriage-bed." + +"You are right, my angel; this fruit must be kept for a mouth unworthy to +taste it. I pity and adore you. Come to my arms, abandon yourself to my +love, and fear nothing. The fruit shall not be damaged; I will but taste +the outer surface and leave no trace behind." + +We passed three hours in trifling together in a manner calculated to +inflame our passions despite the libations which we now and again poured +forth. I was consoled by her swearing to be mine as soon as Baret had +good grounds for thinking that she was his, and, after taking her on the +Boulevards, I left her at her door, with a present of twenty-five Louis. + +I was in love with her as I had never been before, and I passed the shop +three or four times a day, going round and round, to the wrath of my +coachman, who got sick of telling me that I was ruining my horses. I was +happy to see her watch for the moment that I passed, and waft me a kiss +by putting her pretty fingers to her mouth. + +We had agreed that she should not make me a sign to leave my coach till +her husband had forced a passage. At last this day, so ardently desired +and so long waited for, arrived. The sign was given, and I stopped the +coach and she came out and, standing on the step, told me to go and wait +for her at the church door of St. Germain l'Auxerrois. + +I was curious to know what the results would be, and had not been at the +place appointed more than a quarter of an hour when she came towards me, +her head muffled in a hood. She got into the carriage and, saying that +she wanted to make some purchases, begged me to take her to the shops. + +I had business of my own, and pressing business too, but who can refuse +the Beloved Object anything? I told the coachman to drive to the Place +Dauphine, and I prepared to loosen my purse-strings, as I had a feeling +she was going to treat me as a friend. In point of fact she left few +shops unvisited, going from jewels to pretty trifles and toys of +different kinds, and from these to dresses of the latest fashion, which +they displayed before her, addressing her as princess, and saying that +this would become her admirably. She looked at me, and said it must be +confessed that it was very pretty and that she would like it if it were +not so dear. I was a willing dupe, and assured her that if she liked it +it could not be too dear, and that I would pay. + +While my sweetheart was thus choosing one trifle after another my +ill-luck brought about an incident which placed me in a fearful situation +four years afterwards. The chain of events is endless. + +I perceived at my left hand a pretty girl of twelve or thirteen, with an +old and ugly woman who was disparaging a pair of ear-rings which the girl +had in her hands, and on which she had evidently set her heart: she +looked sad at not being able to buy them. I heard her say to the old +woman that they would make her happy, but she snatched them from the +girl's hands and told her to, come away. + +"I can let you have a cheaper pair and almost as fine," said the +shopwoman, but the young lady said she did not; care about it, and was +getting ready to go, making a profound reverence to my princess Baret. + +She, no doubt flattered by this sign of respect went up to her, called +her little queen, told her she was as fair as a May morning, and asked +the old woman her name, + +"She is Mdlle. de Boulainvilier, my niece." + +"How can you be so hard-hearted," said I to the aunt, "as to refuse your +charming niece a toy which would make her happy? Allow me to make her a +present of them." + +So saying I put the ear-rings in the girl's hands, while she blushed and +looked at her aunt as if to ask her permission. + +"You may have the ear-rings," said she, "as this gentleman has been kind +enough to give you such a present, and you should give him a kiss by way +of thanks." + +"The ear-rings," said the shopwoman, "will be only three louis." + +Hereupon the affair took a comic turn; the old woman got into a rage and +said, + +"How can you be such a cheat? You told me they were only two louis." + +"Nay, madam, I asked three." + +"That's a lie, and I shall not allow you to rob this gentleman. Niece, +put those ear-rings down; let the shopwoman keep them." + +So far all was well enough; but the old aunt spoilt everything by saying +that if I liked to give her niece the three louis she could get her a +pair twice as good at another shop. It was all the same to me, so I +smilingly put the three louis in front of the young lady, who still had +the ear-rings in her hands. The shop-woman, who was on the look-out, +pocketed the money, saying that the bargain was made, that the three +louis belonged to her and the ear-rings to the young lady. + +"You are a cheat," cried out the enraged old woman. + +"And you are an old b----d," answered the shop-woman, "I know you well." +A crowd began to gather in front of the shop, hearing the cries of the +two harpies. Foreseeing a good deal of unpleasantness, I took the aunt by +the arm and led her gently away. The niece, who was quite content with +the ear-rings, and did not care whether they cost three louis or two, +followed her. We shall hear of them again in due course. + +My dear Baret having made me waste a score of louis, which her poor +husband would have regretted much more than myself, we got into the +carriage again, and I took her to the church door from which we had +started. On the way she told me she was coming to stop a few days with me +at Little Poland, and that it was her husband who would ask me for the +invitation. + +"When will he do that?" + +"To-morrow, if you go by the shop. Come and buy some stockings; I shall +have a bad headache, and Baret will speak to you." + +It may be imagined that I took care to call the next day, and as I did +not see his wife in the shop I asked in a friendly way after her health. + +"She is ill in bed," he replied; "she wants a little country air." + +"If you have not fixed for any place, I shall be happy to put you up at +Little Poland." + +He replied by a smile of delight. + +"I will go and urge her to come myself; in the meanwhile, M. Baret, will +you pack me up a dozen pairs of stockings?" + +I went upstairs and found the invalid in bed, and laughing in spite of +her imaginary headache. "The business is done," said I, "you will soon +hear of it." As I had said, the husband came upstairs with my stockings +and told her that I had been good enough to give her a room in my house. +The crafty little creature thanked me, assuring her husband that the +fresh air would soon cure her. + +"You shall be well looked after," said I, "but you must excuse me if I do +not keep you company--I have to attend to my business. M. Baret will be +able to come and sleep with you every night, and start early enough in +the morning to be in time for the opening of his shop." + +After many compliments had been interchanged, Baret decided on having his +sister stay in the house while his wife was away, and as I took leave I +said that, I should give orders for their reception that very evening, in +case I was out when they came. + +Next day I stayed out till after midnight, and the cook told me that the +wedded couple had made a good supper and had gone to bed. I warned her +that I should be dining at home every day, and that I should not see my +company. + +The following day I was up betimes, and on enquiring if the husband had +risen I learnt that he had got up at day-break and would not be back till +supper-time. The wife was still asleep. I thought with reason she was not +asleep for me, and I went to pay her my first visit. In point of fact she +was awake, and I took a foretaste of greater joys by a thousand kisses, +which she returned with interest. We jested at the expense of the worthy +man who had trusted me with a jewel of which I was about to make such +good use, and we congratulated each other on the prospect of a week's +mutual pleasures. + +"Come, my dear," said I, "get up and put on a few clothes and we will +take breakfast in my room." + +She did not make an elaborate toilette; a cotton dressing gown, a pretty +lace cap, a lawn kerchief, that was all, but how the simple dress was +lighted by the roses of her cheeks! We were quick over our breakfast, we +were in a hurry, and when we had done I shut the door and we gave +ourselves over to the enjoyment of our bliss. + +Surprised to find her in the same condition in which I had left her, I +told her I had hoped . . . but she, without giving me time to finish the +phrase, said, + +"My jewel, Baret thinks, or pretends to think, that he has done his duty +as a husband; but he is no hand at the business, and I am disposed to put +myself in your hands, and then there will be no doubt of my condition." + +"We shall thus, my sweet, be doing him a service, and the service shall +be well done." + +As I said these words I was on the threshold of the temple, and I opened +the door in a manner that overthrew all obstacles. A little scream and +then several sighs announced the completion of the sacrifice, and, to +tell the truth, the altar of love was covered with the blood of the +victim. After the necessary ablutions the priest once more began his +pious work, while the victim growing bolder so provoked his rage that it +was not till the fourth mactation that we rested and put off our joust to +another season. We swore a thousand times to love each other and to +remain constant, and we may possibly have been sincere, as we were in our +ecstasy of pleasure. + +We only separated to dress; then after taking a turn in the garden we +dined together, sure that in a sumptuous repast, washed down by the +choicest wines, we should find strength to reanimate our desires and to +lull them to sleep in bliss. + +At dessert, as I was pouring champagne into her glass, I asked her how +with such a fiery temperament she had managed to preserve her virtue? + +"Cupid," said I, "might have gathered the fruit that Hymen could not +taste. You are seventeen, and the pear has been ripe for two years at +least." + +"Very true, but I have never had a lover." + +"Never?" + +"I have been courted, but to no effect. My heart was ever silent. +Possibly my father thought otherwise when I begged him, a month ago, to +get me married soon." + +"Very likely, but as you were not in love, why were you in such a hurry?" + +"I knew that the Duc d'Elbeuf would soon be coming to town, and that if +he found me still single he would oblige me to become the wife of a man I +detest, who would have me at any price." + +"Who is this man for whom you have such an aversion?" + +"He is one of the duke's pets, a monster who sleeps with his master." + +"Really! I did not know the duke had such tastes." + +"Oh yes; he is eighty-four, and he thinks himself a woman; he says he +must have a husband." + +"That is very funny. And is this aspirant to your hand a handsome man?" + +"I think him horrible; but everybody else thinks he is a fine man." + +The charming Baret spent a week with me, and each day we renewed the +combat in which we were always conquerors and always conquered. I have +seen few women as pretty and seductive, and none whose skin was more +exquisitely soft and fair. Her breath was aromatic, and this made her +kisses most sweet. Her neck was exquisitely shaped, and the two globes, +tipped with coral, were as hard as marble. The exquisite curves of her +figure would have defied the skill of the ablest painter. I experienced +an ineffable joy in contemplating her, and in the midst of my happiness I +called myself unhappy because I could not satisfy all the desires which +her charms aroused in me. The frieze which crowned her columns was +composed of links of pale gold of the utmost fineness, and my fingers +strove in vain to give them another direction to that which nature had +given them. She could easily have been taught those lively yet graceful +movements which double the pleasure; nature had done her part in that +direction, and I do not think a more expert mistress in the art of love +could be found. + +Each of us looked forward to the day of her departure with equal grief, +and our only consolation lay in the hope of meeting again, and often. +Three days after she went away, I went to see her, more in love than +ever, and I gave her two notes of five thousand francs apiece. Her +husband might have his suspicions, but he was too happy at being enabled +to pay his debts and to keep his shop open to say anything unpleasant. +Many husbands besides himself think themselves lucky to have such +productive wives. + +In the beginning of November I sold shares for fifty thousand francs to a +man named Gamier, living in the Rue du Mail, giving up to him a third +part of the materials in my warehouse, and accepting a manager chosen by +him and paid by the company. Three days after signing the deed I received +the money; but in the night the doctor, my warehouseman, emptied the till +and absconded. I have always thought that this robbery could not have +been effected without the connivance of the painter. This loss was a +serious blow to me, as my affairs were getting into an embroiled +condition; and, for a finishing touch to my misfortunes, Gamier had me +served with a summons to repay him the fifty thousand francs. My answer +was that I was not liable, that his manager had been appointed, the +agreement and sale of the shares was valid, and that he being one of the +company would have to share in the loss. As he persisted in his claim, I +was advised to go to law, but Gamier declared the agreement null and +void, accusing me in an indirect manner of having appropriated the money +which I had said was stolen. I would willingly have given him a good +thrashing, but he was an old man, and that course would not have mended +matters, so I kept my temper. The merchant who had given surety for the +doctor was not to be found; he had become bankrupt. Garnier had all my +stock seized, and sequestrated my horses, carriages, and all my private +property. + +While these troubles were harassing me, I dismissed all my work-girls, +who had always been a great expense, and replaced them with workmen and +some of my servants. The painter still retained his position, which was +an assured one, as he always paid himself out of the sales. + +My attorney was an honest man--a rare bird amongst lawyers--but my +counsel, who kept telling me that the case would soon be decided, was a +rascal. While the decision was pending, Garnier served me with a writ to +pay the sum claimed. I took it to my counsel, who promised to appeal the +same day, which he did not do, while he appropriated to his own use the +money assigned by me for the costs of an action which, if there had been +justice in France, I should certainly have gained. Two other summonses +were issued against me, and before I knew what was going on a warrant was +issued for my arrest. I was seized at eight o'clock in the morning, as I +was driving along the Rue St. Denis. The sergeant of police sat beside +me, a second got up beside the coachman, and a third stationed himself at +the back of the coach, and in this state we drove to Fort l'Eveque. + +As soon as the police had handed me over to the gaoler, he informed me +that by payment of the fifty thousand francs, or by giving good bail, I +might instantly regain my freedom. + +"For the moment," said I, "I can neither command money nor bail." + +"Very good, then you will stay in prison." + +The gaoler took me to a decent-looking room, and I told him I had only +been served with one writ. + +"Very likely," answered he, "it often happens like that; but it is rather +difficult to prove." + +"Bring me writing materials, and have a trusty messenger at my disposal." + +I wrote to my counsel, my attorney, to Madame d'Urfe, and to all my +friends, including my brother, who was just married. The attorney called +immediately, but the barrister contented himself with writing to the +effect that as he had put in an appeal my seizure was illegal, and that +damages might be recovered. He ended by begging me to give him a free +hand, and to have patience for a few days. + +Manon Baletti sent her brother with her diamond earrings. Madame du +Rumain dispatched her barrister--a man of rare honesty--to me, and wrote +a friendly note in which she said that if I wanted five hundred louis I +should have them to-morrow. My brother neither wrote nor came to see me. +As to dear Madame d'Urfe she sent to say that she would expect me at +dinner. I thought she had gone mad, as I could not think she was making +fun of me. + +At eleven o'clock my room was full of people. Poor Baret had come +weeping, and offering me all his shop held. I was touched by the worthy +man's kindness. At last I was told that a lady in a coach wanted to see +me. I waited, but nobody came. In my impatience I called the turnkey, who +told me that, after questioning the clerk of the prison, she had gone +away again. From the description I was given I had no difficulty in +identifying the lady with Madame d'Urfe. + +To find myself deprived of my liberty was a disagreeable shock to me. I +thought of The Leads, and though my present situation was not to be +compared with that, I cursed my fate as I foresaw that my imprisonment +would damage my reputation. I had thirty thousand francs in hard cash and +jewels to more than double that amount, but I could not decide on making +such a sacrifice, in spite of the advice given by Madame du Rumain's +barrister, who would have me got out of prison at any cost. + +"All you have to do," said the barrister, "is to deposit half the sum +demanded which I will give to the clerk of the court, and in a short time +I can promise a decision in your favour and the restoration of your +money." + +We were discussing the matter, when the gaoler entered, and said, very +politely, + +"Sir, you are a free man again, and a lady is waiting for you at the door +in her carriage." + +I called Le Duc, my man, and told him to go and see who the lady was. He +returned with the information that it was Madame d'Urfe. I made my bow to +everybody, and after four very disagreeable hours of imprisonment, I +found myself free again and sitting in a splendid coach. + +Madame d'Urfe received me with dignified kindness, and a judge who was in +the carriage apologized for his country, where strangers were exposed to +such insults. I thanked Madame d'Urfe in a few words, telling her that I +was glad to become her debtor, but that it was Garnier who benefited by +her generosity. She replied with a pleasant smile that she was not so +sure of that, and that we would talk it over at dinner. She wanted me to +go and walk in the Tuileries and the Palais Royal, to convince people +that the report of my imprisonment had been false. I thought the advice +excellent, and as I set out I promised to be with her at two o'clock. + +After skewing myself at the two principal walks of Paris, amusing myself +by the astonishment depicted on certain faces well known to me, I went +and returned the ear-rings to my dear Manon, who gave an astonished but a +happy cry when she saw me. I thanked her tenderly for the proof she had +given me of her attachment, and said that I had been arrested by a plot +for which I would make the plotters pay dear. After promising to spend +the evening with them I went to Madame d'Urfe's. + +This good lady, whose foible is well known to my readers, made me laugh +when she said that her genius had told her that I had got myself arrested +to be talked about, for reasons which were known only to myself. + +"As soon as I was informed of your arrest," said she, "I went to the Fort +l'Eveque, and on learning from the clerk what the affair was about, I +deposited bonds to bail you out. If you are not in a position to have +justice done you, Gamier will have to reckon with me before he takes the +money I have deposited. But your first step should be to commence a +criminal prosecution against your counsel, who has not only failed to put +in your appeal but has robbed and deceived you." + +I left her in the evening, assuring her that in a few days her bail +should be returned to her; and went to the French and Italian plays in +succession, taking care to render myself conspicuous that my reappearance +might be complete. Afterwards I went to sup with Manon Baletti, who was +too happy to have had an opportunity of spewing her affection for me; and +her joy was full when I told her that I was going to give up business, +for she thought that my seraglio was the only obstacle to my marriage +with her. + +The next day was passed with Madame du Rumain. I felt that my obligations +to her were great, while she, in the goodness of her heart, was persuaded +that she could make no adequate return to me for the oracles with which I +furnished her, and by following which she was safely guided through the +perplexities of life. I cannot understand how she, whose wit was keen, +and whose judgment on other subjects was of the soundest kind, could be +liable to such folly. I was sorry when I reflected that I could not +undeceive her, and glad when I reflected that to this deceit of mine the +kindness she had shewn me was chiefly due. + +My imprisonment disgusted me with Paris, and made me conceive a hatred of +the law, which I feel now. I found myself entangled in a double maze of +knavery--Garnier was my foe, and so was my own counsel. Every time I went +to plead, to spend my money amongst lawyers, and to waste the time better +given to pleasure, I felt as if I was going to execution. In this +perturbed kind of life, so contrary to my inclinations, I resolved to set +to work in earnest to make my fortune, so that I might become independent +and free to enjoy life according to my tastes. I decided in the first +place that I would cut myself free of all that bound me to Paris, make a +second journey into Holland to replenish my purse and invest my money in +a yearly income for two lives, and from thenceforth live free from care. +The two lives were those of my wife and myself; my wife would be Manon +Baletti, and when I told her my plans she would have thought them +delightful if I had begun by marrying her. + +The first thing I did was to give up Little Poland. I then drew the +twenty-four thousand francs which were my surety for keeping a lottery +office in the Rue St. Denis. Thus I got rid of my ridiculous office of +lottery receiver, and after getting my clerk married I handed over the +office to him; in short, I made his fortune. A friend of his wife's was +his surety; such things often happen. + +I did not like to leave Madame d'Urfe involved in a troublesome suit with +Gamier, so I went to Versailles to see the Abbe de la Ville, a great +friend of his, and begged him to induce Gamier to make a composition. + +The abbe saw that his friend was in the wrong, and so was all the more +willing to help me; and a few days afterwards he wrote to me to go and +see him, assuring me that I should find him inclined to arrange matters +in a friendly manner. + +Gamier was at Ruelle, where he had a house which cost him four hundred +thousand francs--a fine estate for a man who had made his money as an +army contractor during the last war. He was rich, but he was so +unfortunate as to be still fond of women at the age of seventy, while his +impotence debarred him from the proper enjoyment of their society. I +found him in company with three young ladies, all of whom were pretty, +and (as I heard afterwards) of good families; but they were poor, and +their necessities forced them to submit to a disgusting intercourse with +the old profligate. I stayed to dinner and admired the propriety and +modesty of their behaviour in spite of the humiliation which accompanies +poverty. After dinner, Gamier went to sleep, and left me to entertain +these girls whom I would willingly have rescued from their unfortunate +situation if I had been able. After Gamier woke, we went into his study +to talk over our business. + +At first he maintained his claim tenaciously, and seemed unwilling to +yield an inch; but when I told him that I was leaving Paris in a few +days, he saw that as he could not keep me, Madame d'Urfe might take the +suit over and carry it on to infinity, and that he might lose it at last. +That made him think it over, and he asked me to stay in his house for the +night. The next day, after breakfast, he said,-- + +"I have made up my mind: I will have twenty-five thousand francs, or keep +the matter before the courts till my dying day." + +I answered that he would find the sum in the hands of Madame d'Urfe's +solicitor, and that he could receive it as soon as he had given replevy +on the bail at the Fort l'Eveque. + +I could not persuade Madame d'Urfe that I had acted wisely in coming to +an arrangement till I had told her that my genius had commanded me not to +leave Paris before my affairs were settled, so that no one might be able +to accuse me of having gone away to avoid creditors whose claims I could +not satisfy. + +Three or four days afterwards I went to take leave of M. de Choiseul, who +promised to instruct M. d'Afri to aid me in negotiating a loan at five +per cent. either with the States-General or a private company. + +"You can tell everyone," said he, "that peace is certain to be made in +the course of the winter, and I will take care that you shall have what +is due to you on your return to France." + +M. de Choiseul deceived me, for he knew very well that peace would not be +made; but I had no definite project, and I repented of having given M. de +Boulogne my confidence, and also of having done anything for the +Government, the reward of which was not immediate and certain. + +I sold my horses, my carriages, my furniture; I went bail for my brother +who had contracted debts he was sure of paying, as he had several +pictures on the easel which he had been ordered to paint by some of his +rich and noble patrons. I took leave of Manon, whom I left in floods of +tears, though I swore with the utmost sincerity to come back soon and +marry her. + +At last all my preparations were finished, and I left Paris with a +hundred thousand francs in bills of exchange and jewels to the same +amount. I was alone in my post-chaise, Le Duc preceding me on horseback, +which the rascal preferred to being shut up in a carriage. + +This Le Duc of mine was a Spaniard, aged eighteen, a sharp fellow, whom I +valued highly, especially because he did my hair better than anyone else. +I never refused him a pleasure which a little money would buy. Besides +him I had a good Swiss servant, who served as my courier. + +It was the 1st of December, 1759, and the air was frosty, but I was +fortified against the inclemency of the season. I was able to read +comfortably, and I took Helvetius's "Esprit," which I had never had time +to read before. After perusing it I was equally astonished at the +sensation it created and at the stupidity of the High Court which +condemned it. Of course that exalted body was largely influenced by the +king and the clergy, and between them all no effort was spared to ruin +Helvetius, a good-hearted man with more wit than his book. I saw nothing +novel either in the historical part relating to the morals of nations (in +which Helvetius dismisses us as triflers), or in the position that +morality is dependent on the reason. All that he says has been said over +and over again, and Blaise Pascal went much farther, but he wrote more +skilfully and better in every way than Helvetius, who, wishing to remain +in France, was obliged to retract. He preferred a quiet life to his +honour and his philosophy. His wife had a nobler soul than he, as she +wanted to sell all they had, and to take refuge in Holland rather than +submit to the shame of a recantation. Perhaps Helvetius would have +followed the noble advice of his wife if he had foreseen that this +monstrous recantation would make his book into a fraud; for he had to +confess that he had written without due reflection, that he was more in +jest than earnest, and that his arguments were mere sophisms. But many +men of keen intellects had not waited for him to recant before exposing +this wretched system of his. And admitting that whatever man does is done +for his own interest, does it follow that gratitude is a folly, and +virtue and vice identical? Are a villain and a man of honour to be +weighed in the same balance? If such a dreadful system were not absurd, +virtue would be mere hypocrisy; and if by any possibility it were true, +it ought to be proscribed by general consent, since it would lead to +general ruin and corruption. + +It might have been proved to Helvetius that the propositions that the +first motive is always self-interest, and that we should always consult +our own interest first, are fallacious. It is a strange thing that so +virtuous a man would not admit the existence of virtue. It is an amusing +suggestion that he only published his book out of modesty, but that would +have contradicted his own system. But if it were so, was it well done to +render himself contemptible to escape the imputation of pride? Modesty +is only a virtue when it is natural; if it is put on, or merely the +result of training, it is detestable. The great d'Alembert was the most +truly modest man I have ever seen. + +When I got to Brussels, where I spent two days, I went to the "Hotel de +l'Imperatrice," and chance sent Mdlle. X. C. V. and Farsetti in my way, +but I pretended not to see them. From Brussels I went straight to the +Hague, and got out at the "Prince of Orange." On my asking the host who +sat down at his table, he told me his company consisted of general +officers of the Hanoverian army, same English ladies, and a Prince +Piccolomini and his wife; and this made me make up my mind to join this +illustrious assemblage. + +I was unknown to all, and keeping my eyes about me I gave my chief +attention to the observation of the supposed Italian princess, who was +pretty enough, and more especially of her husband whom I seemed to +recognize. In the course of conversation I heard some talk of the +celebrated St. Germain, and it seemed that he was stopping in the same +hotel. + +I had returned to my room, and was thinking of going to bed, when Prince +Piccolomini entered, and embraced me as an old friend. + +"A look in your face," said he, "tells me that the recognition has been +mutual. I knew you directly in spite of the sixteen years that have +passed since we saw each other at Vicenza. To-morrow you can tell +everybody that we are friends, and that though I am not a prince I am +really a count; here is my passport from the King of Naples, pray read +it." + +During this rapid monologue I could not get in a single word, and on +attentively scanning his features I could only recollect that I had seen +him before, but when or where or how I knew not. I opened the passport +and read the name of Ruggero di Rocco, Count Piccolomini. That was +enough; I remembered an individual of that name who was a fencing-master +in Vicenza, and on looking at him again his aspect, though much changed +left no doubt as to the identity of the swordsman and the count. + +"I congratulate you," said I, "on your change of employment, your new +business is doubtless much better than the old." + +"I taught fencing," he replied, "to save myself from dying of hunger, for +my father was so hard a man that he would not give me the wherewithal to +live, and I disguised my name so as not to disgrace it. On my father's +death I succeeded to the property, and at Rome I married the lady you +have seen." + +"You had good taste, for she's a pretty woman." + +"She is generally thought so, and it was a love match on my side." + +He ended by asking me to come and see him in his room the next day, after +dinner, telling me that I should find good company and a bank at faro, +which he kept himself. He added, without ceremony, that if I liked we +could go half shares, and that I should find it profitable. I thanked +him, and promised to pay him a visit. + +I went abroad at an early hour next morning, and after having spent some +time with the Jew, Boaz, and having given a polite refusal to his offer +of a bed, I went to pay my respects to M. d'Afri, who since the death of +the Princess of Orange, the Regent of the Low Countries, was generally +known as His Most Christian Majesty's ambassador. He gave me an excellent +reception, but he said that if I had returned to Holland hoping to do +business on behalf of the Government I should waste my time, since the +action of the comptroller-general had lowered the credit of the nation, +which was thought to be on the verge of bankruptcy. + +"This M. Silhouette," said he, "has served the king very badly. It is all +very well to say that payments are only suspended for a year, but it is +not believed." + +He then asked me if I knew a certain Comte de St. Germain, who had lately +arrived at the Hague. + +"He has not called on me," said the ambassador, "though he says he is +commissioned by the king to negotiate a loan of a hundred millions. When +I am asked about him, I am obliged to say that I know nothing about him, +for fear of compromising myself. Such a reply, as you can understand, is +not likely to increase his chance of success, but that is his fault and +not mine. Why has he not brought me a letter from the Duc de Choiseul or +the Marquise de Pompadour? I take him to be an impostor, but I shall +know something more about him in the course of ten days." + +I told him, in my turn, all I knew of this truly eccentric individual. He +was not a little surprised to hear that the king had given him an +apartment at Chambord, but when I told him that the count professed to be +able to make diamonds he laughed and said that in that case he would no +doubt make the hundred millions. Just as I was leaving, M. d'Afri asked +me to dine with him on the following day. + +On returning to the hotel I called on the Comte de St. Germain. + +"You have anticipated me," said he, on seeing me enter, "I intended to +have called on you. I suppose, my dear Casanova, that you have come to +try what you can do for our Court, but you will find your task a +difficult one, as the Exchange is highly offended at the late doings of +that fool Silhouette. All the same I hope I shall be able to get my +hundred millions. I have passed my word to my friend, Louis XV. (I may +call him so), and I can't disappoint him; the business will be done in +the next three or four weeks." + +"I should think M. d'Afri might assist you." + +"I do not require his assistance. Probably I shall not even call upon +him, as he might say he helped me. No, I shall have all the trouble, and +I mean to have all the glory, too." + +"I presume you will be going to Court, where the Duke of Brunswick may be +of service to you?" + +"Why should I go to Court? As for the Duke of Brunswick, I do not care to +know him. All I have got to do is to go to Amsterdam, where my credit is +sufficiently good for anything. I am fond of the King of France; there's +not a better man in the kingdom." + +"Well, come and dine at the high table, the company is of the best and +will please you." + +"You know I never eat; moreover, I never sit down at a table where I may +meet persons who are unknown to me." + +"Then, my lord, farewell; we shall see each other again at Amsterdam." + +I went down to the dining-roam, where, while dinner was being served, I +conversed with some officers. They asked me if I knew Prince Piccolomini, +to which I answered that he was not a prince but a count, and that it was +many years since I had seen him. + +When the count and his fair wife (who only spoke Italian) came down, I +shewed them some polite attentions, and we then sat down to dinner. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Eternal Quest: Return to Paris +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ETERNAL QUEST: RETURN TO PARIS *** + +***** This file should be named 2962.txt or 2962.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/6/2962/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.07.00*END* + + + +This etext was prepared by David Widger, <widger@cecomet.net> + + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 +THE ETERNAL QUEST, Volume 3b--RETURN TO PARIS + + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR +MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED +BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + + + +THE ETERNAL QUEST + + + +RETURN TO PARIS + + + +CHAPTER V + +My Fortune in Holland--My Return to Paris with Young Pompeati + + +Amongst the letters which were waiting for me was one from the +comptroller-general, which advised me that twenty millions in +Government securities had been placed in the hands of M. d'Afri, who +was not to go beyond a loss of eight per cent.; and another letter +from my good patron, M. de Bernis, telling me to do the best I could, +and to be assured that the ambassador would be instructed to consent +to whatever bargain might be made, provided the rate was not more +disadvantageous than that of the exchange at Paris. Boaz, who was +astonished at the bargain I had made with my shares, wanted to +discount the Government securities for me, and I should very likely +have agreed to his terms if he had not required me to give him three +months, and the promise that the agreement should hold even in the +case of peace being concluded in the meanwhile. It was not long +before I saw that I should do well to get back to Amsterdam, but I +did not care to break my word to Therese, whom I had promised to meet +at the Hague. I received a letter from her while I was at the play, +and the servant who brought it told me he was waiting to conduct me +to her. I sent my own servant home, and set out on my quest. + +My guide made me climb to the fourth floor of a somewhat wretched +house, and there I found this strange woman in a small room, attended +by her son and daughter. The table stood in the midst of the room, +and was covered with a black cloth, and the two candles standing upon +it made it look like some sort of sepulchral altar. The Hague was a +Court town. I was richly dressed; my elaborate attire made the +saddest possible contrast with the gloom of my surroundings. +Therese, dressed in black and seated between her children at that +black table, reminded me of Medea. To see these two fair young +creatures vowed to a lot of misery and disgrace was a sad and +touching sight. I took the boy between my arms, and pressing him to +my breast called him my son. His mother told him to look upon me as +his father from henceforth. The lad recognized me; he remembered, +much to my delight, seeing me in the May of 1753, in Venice, at +Madame Manzoni's. He was slight but strong; his limbs were well +proportioned, and his features intellectual. He was thirteen years +old. + +His sister sat perfectly still, apparently waiting for her turn to +come. I took her on my knee, and as I embraced her, nature herself +seemed to tell me that she was my daughter. She took my kisses in +silence, but it was easy to see that she thought herself preferred to +her brother, and was charmed with the idea. All her clothing was a +slight frock, and I was able to feel every limb and to kiss her +pretty little body all over, delighted that so sweet a being owed her +existence to me. + +"Mamma, dear," said she, "is not this fine gentleman the same we saw +at Amsterdam, and who was taken for my papa because I am like him? +But that cannot be, for my papa is dead." + +"So he is, sweetheart; but I may be your dear friend, mayn't I? +Would you like to have me for a friend?" + +"Yes, yes!" she cried, and throwing her arms about my neck gave me a +thousand kisses, which I returned with delight. + +After we had talked and laughed together we sat down at table, and +the heroine Therese gave me a delicate supper accompanied by +exquisite wines. "I have never given the margrave better fare," said +she, "at those nice little suppers we used to take together." + +Wishing to probe the disposition of her son, whom I had engaged to +take away with me, I addressed several remarks to him, and soon +discovered that he was of a false and deceitful nature, always on his +guard, taking care of what he said, and consequently speaking only +from his head and not from his heart. Every word was delivered with +a quiet politeness which, no doubt, was intended to please me. + +I told him that this sort of thing was all very well on occasion; but +that there were times when a man's happiness depended on his freedom +from constraint; then and only then was his amiability, if he had +any, displayed. His mother, thinking to praise him, told me that +reserve was his chief characteristic, that she had trained him to +keep his counsel at all times and places, and that she was thus used +to his being reserved with her as with everyone else. + +"All I can say is," said I, "your system is an abominable one. You +may have strangled in their infancy all the finer qualities with +which nature has endowed your son, and have fairly set him on the way +to become a monster instead of an angel. I don't see how the most +devoted father can possibly have any affection for a son who keeps +all his emotions under lock and key." + +This outburst, which proceeded from the tenderness I would fain have +felt for the boy, seemed to strike his mother dumb. + +"Tell me, my dear, if you feel yourself capable of shewing me that +confidence which a father has a right to expect of a good son, and if +you can promise to be perfectly open and unreserved towards me?" + +"I promise that I will die rather than tell you a falsehood." + +"That's just like him," said the mother. "I have succeeded in +inspiring him with the utmost horror of untruthfulness." + +"That's all very well, my dear madam, but you might have pursued a +still better course, and one which would have been still more +conducive to his happiness." + +"What is that?" + +"I will tell you. It was necessary to make him detest a lie; you +should have rather endeavoured to make him a lover of the truth by +displaying it to him in all its native beauty. This is the only way +to make him lovable, and love is the sole bestower of happiness in +this world." + +"But isn't it the same thing not to lie and to tell the truth," said +the boy, with a smile which charmed his mother and displeased me. + +"Certainly not; there is a great difference--for to avoid lying you +have only to hold your tongue; and do you think that comes to the +same thing as speaking the truth? You must open your mind to me, my +son, and tell me all your thoughts, even if you blush in the recital. +I will teach you how to blush, and soon you will have nothing to fear +in laying open all your thoughts and deeds. When we know each other +a little longer we shall see how we agree together. You must +understand that I cannot look upon you as my son until I see cause to +love you, and I cannot have you call me father till you treat me as +the best friend you have. You may be quite sure that I shall find a +way to discover your thoughts, however cleverly you try to hide them. +If I find you deceitful and suspicious I shall certainly entertain no +regard for you. As soon as I have finished my business at Amsterdam +we will set out for Paris. I am leaving the Hague to-morrow, and on +my return I hope to find you instructed by your mother in a system of +morality more consonant with my views, and more likely to lead to +your happiness." + +On glancing at my little daughter, who had been listening to me with +the greatest attention, I saw that her eyes were swimming with tears, +which she could hardly retain. + +"Why are you crying?" said the mother; "it is silly to cry." And +with that the child ran to her mother and threw her arms round her +neck. + +"Would you like to come to Paris, too?" said I to her. + +"Oh, yes! But mamma must come too, as she would die without me." + +"What would you do if I told you to go?" said the mother. + +"I would obey you, mamma, but how could I exist away from you?" + +Thereupon my little daughter pretended to cry. I say pretended, as +it was quite evident that the child did not mean what she said, and I +am sure that her mother knew it as well as I. + +It was really a melancholy thing to see the effects of a bad +education on this young child, to whom nature had given intelligence +and feeling. I took the mother on one side, and said that if she had +intended to make actors of her children she had succeeded to +admiration; but if she wished them to become useful members of +society her system had failed lamentably, as they were in a fair way +to become monsters of deceit. I continued making her the most +pointed remonstrances until, in spite of her efforts to control +herself, she burst into tears. However, she soon recovered her +composure, and begged me to stay at the Hague a day longer, but I +told her it was out of the question, and left the room. I came in +again a few minutes after, and Sophie came up to me and said, in a +loving little voice, + +"If you are really my friend, you will give me some proof of your +friendship." + +"And what proof do you want, my dear?" + +"I want you to come and sup with me to-morrow." + +"I can't, Sophie dear, for I have just said no to your mother, and +she would be offended if I granted you what I had refused her." + +"Oh, no! she wouldn't; it was she who told me to ask you just now." + +I naturally began to laugh, but on her mother calling the girl a +little fool, and the brother adding that he had never committed such +an indiscretion, the poor child began to tremble all over, and looked +abashed. I reassured her as best I could, not caring whether what I +said displeased her mother or not, and I endeavoured to instill into +her principles of a very different nature to those in which she had +been reared, while she listened with an eagerness which proved that +her heart was still ready to learn the right way. Little by little +her face cleared, and I saw that I had made an impression, and though +I could not flatter myself that any good I might do her would be +lasting in its effects as long as she remained under the bad +influence of her mother, I promised to come and sup with her next +evening, "but on the condition," I said, "that you give me a plain +meal, and one bottle of chambertin only, for you are not too well +off." + +"I know that, but mamma says that you pay for everything." + +This reply made me go off into a roar of laughter; and in spite of +her vexation the mother was obliged to follow my example. The poor +woman, hardened by the life she led, took the child's simplicity for +stupidity, but I saw in her a rough diamond which only wanted +polishing. + +Therese told me that the wine did not cost her anything, as the son +of the Rotterdam burgomaster furnished her with it, and that he would +sup with us the next day if I would allow him to be present. I +answered smilingly that I should be delighted to see him, and I went +away after giving my daughter, of whom I felt fond, a tender embrace. +I would have done anything to be entrusted with her, but I saw it +would be no good trying to get possession of her, as the mother was +evidently keeping her as a resource for her old age. This is a +common way for adventuresses to look upon their daughters, and +Therese was an adventuress in the widest acceptation of the term. I +gave her twenty ducats to get clothes for my adopted son and Sophie, +who, with spontaneous gratitude, and her eyes filled with tears, came +and gave me a kiss. Joseph was going to kiss my hand, but I told him +that it was degrading for one man to kiss another's hand, and that +for the future he was to shew his gratitude by embracing me as a son +embraces his father. + +Just as I was leaving, Therese took me to the closet where the two +children were sleeping. I knew what she was thinking of; but all +that was over long ago; I could think of no one but Esther. + +The next day I found the burgomaster's son at my actress's house. He +was a fine young fellow of twenty or twenty-one, but totally devoid +of manner. He was Therese's lover, but he should have regulated his +behaviour in my presence. Therese, seeing that he was posing as +master of the field, and that his manners disgusted me, began to snub +him, much to his displeasure, and after sneering at the poorness of +the dishes, and praising the wine which he had supplied, he went out +leaving us to finish our dessert by ourselves. I left myself at +eleven, telling Therese that I should see her again before I went +away. The Princesse de Galitzin, a Cantimir by birth, had asked me +to dinner, and this made me lose another day. + +Next day I heard from Madame d'Urfe, who enclosed a bill of exchange +on Boaz for twelve thousand francs. She said that she had bought her +shares for sixty thousand, that she did not wish to make anything of +them, and that she hoped I would accept the overplus as my broker's +fee. She worded her offer with too much courtesy for me to refuse +it. The remainder of the letter was devoted to the wildest fancies. +She said that her genius had revealed to her that I should bring back +to Paris a boy born of the Mystical Marriage, and she hoped I would +take pity on her. It was a strange coincidence, and seemed likely to +attach the woman still more closely to her visionary theories. I +laughed when I though how she would be impressed by Therese's son, +who was certainly not born of the Mystical Marriage. + +Boaz paid me my twelve thousand francs in ducats, and I made him my +friend, as he thanked me for receiving the moneys in ducats, and he +doubtless made a profit on the transaction, gold being a commodity in +Holland, and all payments being made in silver or paper money. + +At that time gold was at a low rate, and nobody would take ducats. + +After having an excellent dinner with the Princesse de Galitzin, I +put on my cloak and went to the caf‚. I found there the +burgomaster's son, who was just beginning a game of billiards. He +whispered to me that I might back him with advantage, and thinking he +was sure of his stroke I thanked him and followed his advice. +However, after losing three games one after the other, I took his +measure and began to lay against him without his knowledge. After +playing for three hours and losing all the time, he stopped play and +came to condole with me on my heavy loss. It is impossible to +describe his amazed expression when I shewed him a handful of ducats, +and assured him that I had spent a very profitable evening in laying +against him. Everybody in the room began to laugh at him, but he was +the sort of young man who doesn't understand a joke, and he went out +in a rage. Soon after I left the billiard-room myself, and, +according to my promise went to see Therese, as I was leaving for +Amsterdam the next day. + +Therese was waiting for her young wine merchant, but on my recounting +his adventures she expected him no longer. I took my little daughter +on my knee and lavished my caresses on her, and so left them, telling +them that we should see each other again in the course of three weeks +or a month at latest. + +As I was going home in the moonlight by myself, my sword under my +arm, I was encountered all of a sudden by the poor dupe of a +burgomaster's son. + +"I want to know," said he, "if your sword has as sharp a point as +your tongue." + +I tried to quiet him by speaking common sense, and I kept my sword +wrapped in my cloak, though his was bared and directed against me. + +"You are wrong to take my jests in such bad part," said I ; "however, +I apologize to you." + +"No apologies; look to yourself." + +"Wait till to-morrow, you will be cooler then, but if you still wish +it I will give you satisfaction in the midst of the billiard-room." + +"The only satisfaction you can give me is to fight; I want to kill +you." + +As evidence of his determination, and to provoke me beyond recall, he +struck me with the flat of his sword, the first and last time in my +life in which I have received such and insult. I drew my sword, but +still hoping to bring him to his senses I kept strictly on the +defensive and endeavoured to make him leave off. This conduct the +Dutchman mistook for fear, and pushed hard on me, lunging in a manner +that made me look to myself. His sword passed through my necktie; a +quarter of an inch farther in would have done my business. + +I leapt to one side, and, my danger no longer admitting of my +fighting on the defensive, I lunged out and wounded him in the chest. +I thought this would have been enough for him, so I proposed we +should terminate our engagement. + +"I'm not dead yet," said he; "I want to kill you." + +This was his watchword; and, as he leapt on me in a paroxysm of rage, +more like a madman than a sensible being, I hit him four times. At +the fourth wound he stepped back, and, saying he had had enough, +begged me to leave him. + +I went off as fast as I could, and was very glad to see from the look +of my sword that his wounds were slight. I found Boaz still up, and +on hearing what had taken place he advised me to go to Amsterdam at +once, though I assured him that the wounds were not mortal. I gave +in to his advice, and as my carriage was at the saddler's he lent me +his, and I set out, bidding my servant to come on the next day with +my luggage, and to rejoin me at the "Old Bible," in Amsterdam. I +reached Amsterdam at noon and my man arrived in the evening. + +I was curious to hear if my duel had made any noise, but as my +servant had left at an early hour he had heard nothing about it. +Fortunately for me nothing whatever was known about it at Amsterdam +for a week after; otherwise, things might not have gone well with me, +as the reputation of being a duellist is not a recommendation to +financiers with whom one is about to transact business of importance. + +The reader will not be surprised when I tell him that my first call +was on M. d'O , or rather on his charming daughter Esther, for she +it was on whom I waited. It will be remembered that the way in which +we parted did a good deal towards augmenting the warmth of my +affection for her. On entering the room I found Esther writing at a +table. + +"What are you doing Esther, dear?" + +"An arithmetical problem." + +"Do you like problems?" + +"I am passionately fond of anything which contains difficulties and +offers curious results." + +"I will give you something which will please you." + +I made her, by way of jest, two magic squares, which delighted her. +In return, she spewed me some trifles with which I was well +acquainted, but which I pretended to think very astonishing. My good +genius then inspired me with the idea of trying divination by the +cabala. I told her to ask a question in writing, and assured her +that by a certain kind of calculation a satisfactory answer would be +obtained. She smiled, and asked why I had returned to Amsterdam so +soon. I shewed her how to make the pyramid with the proper numbers +and the other ceremonies, then I made her extract the answer in +numbers, translating it into French, and greatly was she surprised to +find that the cause which had made me return to Amsterdam so soon +was--love. + +Quite confounded, she said it was very wonderful, even though the +answer might not be true, and she wished to know what masters could +teach this mode of calculation. + +"Those who know it cannot teach it to anyone." + +"How did you learn it, then?" + +"From a precious manuscript I inherited from my father." + +"Sell it me." + +"I have burnt it; and I am not empowered to communicate the secret to +anyone before I reach the age of fifty." + +"Why fifty?" + +"I don't know; but I do know that if I communicated it to anyone +before that age I should run the risk of losing it myself. The +elementary spirit who is attached to the oracle would leave it." + +"How do you know that?" + +"I saw it so stated in the manuscript I have spoken of." + +"Then you are able to discover all secrets?" + +"Yes, or I should be if the replies were not sometimes too obscure to +be understood." + +"As it does not take much time, will you be kind enough to get me an +answer to another question?" + +"With pleasure; you can command me in anything not forbidden by my +familiar spirit." + +She asked what her destiny would be, and the oracle replied that she +had not yet taken the first step towards it. Esther was astonished +and called her governess to see the two answers, but the good woman +saw nothing wonderful in them whatever. Esther impatiently called +her a blockhead, and entreated me to let her ask another question. I +begged her to do so, and she asked, + +"Who loves me most in Amsterdam?" The oracle replied that no one +loved her as well as he who had given her being: Poor Esther then +told me that I had made her miserable, and that she would die of +grief if she could not succeed in learning the method of calculation. +I gave no answer, and pretended to feel sad at heart. She began to +write down another question, putting her hand in front so as to +screen the paper. I rose as if to get out of her way, but while she +was arranging the pyramid I cast my eyes on the paper whilst walking +up and down the room, and read her question. After she had gone as +far as I had taught her, she asked me to extract the answer, saying +that I could do so without reading the question. I agreed to do so +on the condition that she would not ask a second time. + +As I had seen her question, it was easy for me to answer it. She had +asked the oracle if she might shew the questions she had propounded +to her father, and the answer was that she would be happy as long as +she had no secrets from her father. + +When she read these words she gave a cry of surprise, and could find +no words wherewith to express her gratitude to me. I left her for +the Exchange, where I had a long business conversation with M. Pels. + +Next morning a handsome and gentlemanly man came with a letter of +introduction from Therese, who told me that he would be useful in +case I wanted any assistance in business. His name was Rigerboos. +She informed me that the burgomaster's son was only slightly wounded, +and that I had nothing to fear as the matter was not generally known, +and that if I had business at the Hague I might return there in +perfect safety. She said that my little Sophie talked of me all day, +and that I should find my son much improved on my return. I asked M. +Rigerboos to give me his address, assuring him that at the proper +time I should rely on his services. + +A moment after Rigerboos had gone, I got a short note from Esther, +who begged me, in her father's name, to spend the day with her--at +least, if I had no important engagement. I answered that, excepting +a certain matter of which her father knew, I had no chiefer aim than +to convince her that I desired a place in her heart, and that she +might be quite sure that I would not refuse her invitation. + +I went to M. d'O---- at dinner time. I found Esther and her father +puzzling over the method which drew reasonable answers out of a +pyramid of numbers. As soon as her father saw me, he embraced me, +saying how happy he was to possess a daughter capable of attracting +me. + +"She will attract any man who has sufficient sense to appreciate +her." + +"You appreciate her, then?" + +"I worship her." + +"Then embrace her." + +Esther opened her arms, and with a cry of delight threw them round my +neck, and gave the back all my caresses, kiss for kiss. + +"I have got through all my business," said M. d'O----, "and the rest +of my day is at your disposal. I have known from my childhood that +there is such a science as the one you profess, and I was acquainted +with a Jew who by its aid made an immense fortune. He, like you, +said that, under pain of losing the secret, it could only be +communicated to one person, but he put off doing so so long that at +last it was too late, for a high fever carried him off in a few days. +I hope you will not do as the Jew did; but in the meanwhile allow me +to say that if You do not draw a profit from this treasure, you do +not know what it really is." + +"You call this knowledge of mine a treasure, and yet you possess one +far more excellent," looking at Esther as I spoke. + +"We will discuss that again. Yes, sir, I call your science a +treasure." + +"But the answers of the oracle are often very obscure." + +"Obscure! The answers my daughter received are as clear as day." + +"Apparently, she is fortunate in the way she frames her questions; +for on this the reply depends." + +"After dinner we will try if I am so fortunate--at least, if you will +be so kind as to help me." + +"I can refuse you nothing, as I consider father and daughter as one +being." + +At table we discussed other subjects, as the chief clerks were +present--notably the manager, a vulgar-looking fellow, who had very +evident aspirations in the direction of my fair Esther. After dinner +we went into M. d'O 's private closet, and thereupon he drew two long +questions out of his pocket. In the first he desired to know how to +obtain a favourable decision from the States-General in an important +matter, the details of which he explained. I replied in terms, the +obscurity of which would have done credit to a professed Pythoness, +and I left Esther to translate the answer into common sense, and find +a meaning in it. + +With regard to the second answer I acted in a different manner; I was +impelled to answer clearly, and did so. M. d'O asked what had +become of a vessel belonging to the India Company of which nothing +had been heard. It was known to have started on the return voyage, +and should have arrived two months ago, and this delay gave rise to +the supposition that it had gone down. M. d'O---- wished to know if +it were still above water, or whether it were lost, etc. As no +tidings of it had come to hand, the company were on the look-out for +someone to insure it, and offered ten per cent., but nobody cared to +run so great a risk, especially as a letter had been received from an +English sea captain who said he had seen her sink. + +I may confess to my readers, though I did not do so to M. d'O----. +that with inexplicable folly I composed an answer that left no doubt +as to the safety of the vessel, pronouncing it safe and sound, and +that we should hear of it in a few days. No doubt I felt the need of +exalting my oracle, but this method was likely to destroy its credit +for ever. In truth, if I had guessed M. d'O----'s design, I would +have curbed my vanity, for I had no wish to make him lose a large sum +without profiting myself. + +The answer made him turn pale, and tremble with joy. He told us that +secrecy in the matter was of the last importance, as he had +determined to insure the vessel and drive a good bargain. At this, +dreading the consequences, I hastened to tell him that for all I knew +there might not be a word of truth in the oracle's reply, and that I +should die of grief if I were the involuntary cause of his losing an +enormous sum of money through relying on an oracle, the hidden sense +of which might be completely opposed to the literal translation. + +"Have you ever been deceived by it?" + +"Often." + +Seeing my distress, Esther begged her father to take no further steps +in the matter. For some moments nobody spoke. + +M. d'O---- looked thoughtful and full of the project which his fancy +had painted in such gay colours. He said a good deal about it, +dwelling on the mystic virtues of numbers, and told his daughter to +read out all the questions she had addressed to the oracle with the +answers she had received. There were six or seven of them, all +briefly worded, some direct and some equivocal. Esther, who had +constructed the pyramids, had shone, with my potent assistance, in +extracting the answers, which I had really invented, and her father, +in the joy of his heart, seeing her so clever, imagined that she +would become an adept in the science by the force of intelligence. +The lovely Esther, who was much taken with the trifle; was quite +ready to be of the same opinion. + +After passing several hours in the discussion of the answers, which +my host thought divine, we had supper, and at parting M. d'O---- said +that as Sunday was a day for pleasure and not business he hoped I +would honour them by passing the day at their pretty house on the +Amstel, and they were delighted at my accepting their invitation. + +I could not help pondering over the mysteries of the commercial mind, +which narrows itself down to considerations of profit and loss. +M. d'O---- was decidedly an honest man; but although he was rich, he +was by no means devoid of the greed incident to his profession. I +asked myself the question, how a man, who would consider it +dishonourable to steal a ducat, or to pick one up in the street and +keep it, knowing to whom it belonged, could reconcile it with his +conscience to make an enormous profit by insuring a vessel of the +safety of which he was perfectly certain, as he believed the oracle +infallible. Such a transaction was certainly fraudulent, as it is +dishonest to play when one is certain of winning. + +As I was going home I passed a tea-garden, and seeing a good many +people going in and coming out I went in curious to know how these +places were managed in Holland. Great heavens! I found myself the +witness of an orgy, the scene a sort of cellar, a perfect cesspool of +vice and debauchery. The discordant noise of the two or three +instruments which formed the orchestra struck gloom to the soul and +added to the horrors of the cavern. The air was dense with the fumes +of bad tobacco, and vapours reeking of beer and garlic issued from +every mouth. The company consisted of sailors, men of the lowest- +class, and a number of vile women. The sailors and the dregs of the +people thought this den a garden of delight, and considered its +pleasures compensation for the toils of the sea and the miseries of +daily labour. There was not a single woman there whose aspect had +anything redeeming about it. I was looking at the repulsive sight in +silence, when a great hulking fellow, whose appearance suggested the +blacksmith, and his voice the blackguard, came up to me and asked me +in bad Italian if I would like to dance. I answered in the negative, +but before leaving me he pointed out a Venetian woman who, he said, +would oblige me if I gave her some drink. + +Wishing to discover if she was anyone I knew I looked at her +attentively, and seemed to recollect her features, although I could +not decide who she could be. Feeling rather curious on the subject I +sat down next to her, and asked if she came from Venice, and if she +had left that country some time ago. + +"Nearly eighteen years," she replied. + +I ordered a bottle of wine, and asked if she would take any; she said +yes, and added, if I liked, she would oblige me. + +"I haven't time," I said; and I gave the poor wretch the change I +received from the waiter. She was full of gratitude, and would have +embraced me if I had allowed her. + +"Do you like being at Amsterdam better than Venice?" I asked. + +"Alas, no! for if I were in my own country I should not be following +this dreadful trade." + +"How old were you when you left Venice." + +"I was only fourteen and lived happily with my father and mother, who +now may have died of grief." + +"Who seduced you?" + +"A rascally footman." + +"In what part of Venice did you live?" + +"I did not live in Venice, but at Friuli, not far off." + +Friuli . . . eighteen years ago . . . a footman . . . I felt +moved, and looking at the wretched woman more closely I soon +recognized in her Lucie of Pasean. I cannot describe my sorrow, +which I concealed as best I could, and tried hard to keep up my +indifferent air. A life of debauchery rather than the flight of time +had tarnished her beauty, and ruined the once exquisite outlines of +her form. Lucie, that innocent and pretty maiden, grown ugly, vile, +a common prostitute! It was a dreadful thought. She drank like a +sailor, without looking at me, and without caring who I was. I took +a few ducats from my purse, and slipped them into her hand, and +without waiting for her to find out how much I had given her I left +that horrible den. + +I went to bed full of saddening thoughts. Not even under the Leads +did I pass so wretched a day. I thought I must have risen under some +unhappy star! I loathed myself. With regard to Lucie I felt the +sting of remorse, but at the thought of M. d'O---- I hated myself. +I considered that I should cause him a loss of three or four hundred +thousand florins; and the thought was a bitter drop in the cup of my +affection for Esther. I fancied, she, as well as her father, would +become my implacable foe; and love that is not returned is no love at +all. + +I spent a dreadful night. Lucie, Esther, her father, their hatred of +me, and my hatred of myself, were the groundwork of my dreams. I saw +Esther and her father, if not ruined, at all events impoverished by +my fault, and Lucie only thirty-two years old, and already deep in +the abyss of vice, with an infinite prospect of misery and shame +before her. The dawn was welcome indeed, for with its appearance a +calm came to my spirit; it is, the darkness which is terrible to a +heart full of remorse. + +I got up and dressed myself in my best, and went in a coach to do my +suit to the Princesse de Galitzin, who, was staying at the "Etoile +d'Orient." I found her out; she had gone to the Admiralty. I went +there, and found her accompanied by M. de Reissak and the Count de +Tot, who had just received news of my friend Pesselier, at whose +house I made his acquaintance, and who was dangerously ill when I +left Paris. + +I sent away my coach and began to walk towards M. d'O----'s house on +the Amsel. The extreme elegance of my costume was displeasing in the +eyes of the Dutch populace, and they hissed and hooted me, after the +manner of the mob all the world over, Esther saw me coming from the +window, drew the rope, and opened the door. I ran in, shut the door +behind me, and as I was going up the wooden staircase, on the fourth +or fifth step my foot struck against some yielding substance. I +looked down and saw a green pocket-book. I stooped down to pick it +up, but was awkward enough to send it through an opening in the +stairs, which had been doubtless made for the purpose of giving light +to a stair below. I did not stop, but went up the steps and was +received with the usual hospitality, and on their expressing some +wonder as to the unusual brilliance of my attire I explained the +circumstances of the case. Esther smiled and said I looked quite +another person, but I saw that both father and daughter were sad at +heart. Esther's governess came in and said something to her in +Dutch, at which, in evident distress, she ran and embraced her +father. + +"I see, my friends, that something has happened to you. If my +presence is a restraint, treat me without ceremony, and bid me go." + +"It's not so great an ill-hap after all; I have enough money left to +bear the loss patiently" + +"If I may ask the question, what is the nature of your loss?" + +"I have lost a green pocket-book containing a good deal of money, +which if I had been wise I would have left behind, as I did not +require it till to-morrow." + +"And you don't know where you lost it?" + +"It must have been in the street, but I can't imagine how it can have +happened. It contained bills of exchange for large amounts, and of +course they don't matter, as I can stop payment of them, but there +were also notes of the Bank of England for heavy sums, and they are +gone, as they are payable to the bearer. Let us give thanks to God, +my dear child, that it is no worse, and pray to Him to preserve to us +what remains, and above all to keep us in good health. I have had +much heavier losses than this, and I have been enabled not only to +bear the misfortune but to make up the loss. Let us say no more +about the matter." + +While he was speaking my heart was full of joy, but I kept up the +sadness befitting the scene. I had not the slightest doubt that the +pocket-book in question was the one I had unluckily sent through the +staircase, but which could not be lost irretrievably. My first point +was how to make capital of my grand discovery in the interests of my +cabalistic science. It was too fine an opportunity to be lost, +especially as I still felt the sting of having been the cause of an +enormous loss to the worthy man. I would give them a grand proof of +the infallibility of my oracle: how many miracles are done in the +same way! The thought put me into a good humour. I began to crack +jokes, and my jests drew peals of laughter from Esther. + +We had an excellent dinner and choice wine. After we had taken +coffee I said that if they liked we would have a game of cards, but +Esther said that this would be a waste of time, as she would much +prefer making the oracular pyramids. This was exactly what I wanted. + +"With all my heart," I said. + +"We will do as you suggest." + +"Shall I ask where my father lost his pocket-book?" + +"Why not? It's a plain question: write it down." + +She made the pyramid, and the reply was that the pocket-book had not +been found by anyone. She leapt up from her seat, danced for joy, +and threw her arms round her father's neck, saying, + +"We shall find it, we shall find it, papa!" + +"I hope so, too, my dear, that answer is really very consoling." + +Wherewith Esther gave her father one kiss after another. + +"Yes," said I, "there is certainly ground for hope, but the oracle +will be dumb to all questions." + +"Dumb! Why?" + +"I was going to say it will be dumb if you do not give me as many +kisses as you have given your father." + +"Oh, then I will soon make it speak!" said she, laughing; and +throwing her arms about my neck she began to kiss me, and I to give +her kisses in return. + +Ah! what happy days they seem when I recall them; and still I like +dwelling on these days despite my sad old age, the foe of love. When +I recall these events I grow young again and feel once more the +delights of youth, despite the long years which separate me from that +happy time. + +At last Esther sat down again, and asked, "Where is the pocket-book?" +And the pyramid told her that the pocket-book had fallen through the +opening in the fifth step of the staircase. + +M. d'O---- said to his daughter, + +"Come, my dear Esther, let us go and test the truth of the oracle." +And full of joy and hope they went to the staircase, I following +them, and M. d'O shewed her the hole through which the pocket-book +must have fallen. He lighted a candle and we went down to the +cellar, and before long he picked up the book, which had fallen into +some water. We went up again in high spirits, and there we talked +for over an hour as seriously as you please on the divine powers of +the oracle, which, according to them, should render its possessor the +happiest of mortals. + +He opened the pocket-book and shewed us the four thousand pound +notes. He gave two to his daughter, and made me take the two +remaining; but I took them with one hand and with the other gave them +to Esther begging her to keep them for me; but before she would agree +to do so I had to threaten her with the stoppage of the famous +cabalistic oracle. I told M. d'O that all I asked was his +friendship, and thereon he embraced me, and swore to be my friend to +the death. + +By making the fair Esther the depositary of my two thousand pounds, I +was sure of winning her affection by an appeal, not to her interest, +but to her truthfulness. This charming girl had about her so +powerful an attraction that I felt as if my life was wound up with +hers. + +I told M. d'O that my chief object was to negotiate the twenty +millions at a small loss. + +"I hope to be of service to you in the matter," he said, "but as I. +shall often want to speak to you, you must come and live in our +house, which you must look upon as your own." + +"My presence will be a restraint on you. I shall be a trouble." + +"Ask Esther." + +Esther joined her entreaties to her father's and I gave in, taking +good care not to let them see how pleased I was. I contented myself +with expressing my gratitude, to which they answered that it was I +who conferred a favour. + +M. d'O went into his closet, and as soon as I found myself alone with +Esther I kissed her tenderly, saying that I should not be happy till +I had won her heart. + +"Do you love me?" + +"Dearly, and I will do all in my power to shew how well I love you, +if you will love me in return." + +She gave me her hand, which I covered with kisses, and she went on to +say, "As soon as you come and live with us, you must look out for a +good opportunity for asking my hand of my father. You need not be +afraid he will refuse you, but the first thing for you to do is to +move into our house." + +"My dear little wife! I will come to-morrow." + +We said many sweet things to one another, talked about the future, +and told each other our inmost thoughts; and I was undoubtedly truly +in love, for not a single improper fancy rose in my mind in the +presence of my dear who loved me so well. + +The first thing that M. d'O said on his return was, that there would +be a piece of news on the Exchange the next day. + +"What is that, papa dear?" + +"I have decided to take the whole risk--amounting to three hundred +thousand florins-of the ship which is thought to have gone down. +They will call me mad, but they themselves will be the madmen; which +is what I should be if, after the proof we have had, I doubted the +oracle any more." + +"My dear sir, you make me frightened. I have told you that I have +been often deceived by the oracle." + +"That must have been, my dear fellow, when the reply was obscure, and +you did not get at the real sense of it; but in the present case +there is no room, for doubt. I shall make three million florins, or, +if the worst comes to the worse, my loss won't ruin me." + +Esther, whom the finding of the pocket-book had made enthusiastic, +told her father to lose no time. As for me, I could not recall what +I had done, but I was again overwhelmed with sadness. M. d'O---- saw +it, and taking my hand said, "If the oracle does lie this time, I +shall be none the less your friend." + +"I am glad to hear it," I answered; "but as this is a matter of the +utmost importance, let me consult the oracle a second time before you +risk your three hundred thousand florins." This proposition pleased +the father and daughter highly; they could not express their +gratitude to me for being so careful of their interests. + +What followed was truly surprising--enough to make one believe in +fatality. My readers probably will not believe it; but as these +Memoirs will not be published till I have left this world, it would +be of no use for me to disguise the truth in any way, especially as +the writing of them is only the amusement of my leisure hours. Well, +let him who will believe it; this is absolutely what happened. I +wrote down the question myself, erected the pyramid, and carried out +all the magical ceremonies without letting Esther have a hand in it. +I was delighted to be able to check an act of extreme imprudence, and +I was determined to do so. A double meaning, which I knew how to +get, would abate M. d'O----'s courage and annihilate his plans. I +had thought over what I wanted to say, and I thought I had expressed +it properly in the numbers. With that idea, as Esther knew the +alphabet perfectly well, I let her extract the answer, and transfer +it into letters. What was my surprise when I heard her read these +words: + +"In a matter of this kind neither fear nor hesitate. Your repentance +would be too hard for you to bear." + +That was enough. Father and daughter ran to embrace me, and M. d'O- +said that when the vessel was sighted a tithe of the profits should +be mine. My surprise prevented me giving any answer; I had intended +to write trust and hazard, and I had written fear and hesitate. But +thanks to his prejudice, M. d'O---- only saw in my silence +confirmation of the infallibility of the oracle. In short, I could +do nothing more, and I took my leave leaving everything to the care +of chance, who sometimes is kind to us in spite of ourselves. + +The next morning I took up my abode in a splendid suite of rooms in +Esther's house, and the day after I took her to a concert, where she +joked with me on the grief I should endure on account of the absence +of Madame Trend and my daughter. Esther was the only mistress of my +soul. I lived but to adore her, and I should have satisfied my love +had not Esther been a girl of good principles. I could not gain +possession of her, and was full of longing and desire. + +Four or five days after my installation in my new quarters, M. d'O--- +communicated to me the result of a conference which he had had with +M. Pels and six other bankers on the twenty millions. They offered +ten millions in hard cash and seven millions in paper money, bearing +interest at five or six per cent. with a deduction of one per cent. +brokerage. Furthermore, they would forgive a sum of twelve hundred +thousand florins owed by the French India Company to the Dutch +Company. + +With such conditions I could not venture to decide on my own +responsibility, although, personally, I thought them reasonable +enough, the impoverished state of the French treasury being taken +into consideration. I sent copies of the proposal to M. de Boulogne +and M. d'Afri, begging from them an immediate reply. At the end of a +week I received an answer in the writing of M. de Courteil, acting +for M. de Boulogne, instructing me to refuse absolutely any such +proposal, and to report myself at Paris if I saw no chance of making +a better bargain. I was again informed that peace was imminent, +though the Dutch were quite of another opinion. + +In all probability I should have immediately left for Paris, but for +a circumstance which astonished nobody but myself in the family of +which I had become a member. The confidence of M. d'O---- increased +every day, and as if chance was determined to make me a prophet in +spite of myself, news was received of the ship which was believed to +be lost, and which, on the faith of my oracle, M. d'O had bought for +three hundred thousand florins. The vessel was at Madeira. The joy +of Esther, and still more my own, may be imagined when we saw the +worthy man enter the house triumphantly with confirmation of the good +news. + +"I have insured the vessel from Madeira to the mouth of the Texel for +a trifle," said he, "and so," turning to me, "you may count from this +moment on the tenth part of the profit, which I owe entirely to you." + +The reader may imagine my delight; but there is one thing he will not +imagine, unless he knows my character better than I do myself, the +confusion into which I was thrown by the following remarks: + +"You are now rich enough," said M. d'O----, "to set up for yourself +amongst us, and you are positively certain to make an enormous +fortune in a short time merely by making use of your cabala. I will +be your agent; let us live together, and if you like my daughter as +she likes you, you can call yourself my son as soon as you please." + +In Esther's face shone forth joy and happiness, and in mine, though I +adored her, there was to be seen, alas! nothing but surprise. I was +stupid with happiness and the constraint in which I held myself. I +did not analyze my feelings, but, though I knew it not, there can be +no doubt that my insuperable objection to the marriage tie was +working within my soul. A long silence followed; and last, +recovering my powers of speech, I succeeded, with an effort, in +speaking to them of my gratitude, my happiness, my love, and I ended +by saying that, in spite of my affection for Esther, I must, before +settling in Holland, return to Paris, and discharge the confidential +and responsible duty which the Government had placed in my hands. I +would then return to Amsterdam perfectly independent. + +This long peroration won their approval. Esther was quite pleased, +and we spent the rest of the day in good spirits. Next day M. d'O--- +gave a splendid dinner to several of his friends, who congratulated +him on his good fortune, being persuaded that his courageous action +was to be explained by his having had secret information of the +safety of the vessel, though none of them could see from what source +he, and he only, had obtained it. + +A week after this lucky event he gave me an ultimatum on the matter +of the twenty millions, in which he guaranteed that France should not +lose more than nine per cent. in the transaction. + +I immediately sent a copy of his proposal to M. d'Afri, begging him +to be as prompt as possible, and another copy to the comptroller- +general, with a letter in which I warned him that the thing would +certainly fall through if he delayed a single day in sending full +powers to M. d'Afri to give me the necessary authority to act. + +I wrote to the same effect to M. de Courteil and the Duc de Choiseul, +telling them that I was to receive no brokerage; but that I should +all the same accept a proposal which I thought a profitable one, and +saying that I had no doubt of obtaining my expenses from the French +Government. + +As it was a time of rejoicing with us, M. d'O---- thought it would be +a good plan to give a ball. All the most distinguished people in +Amsterdam were invited to it. The ball and supper were of the most +splendid description, and Esther, who was a blaze of diamonds, danced +all the quadrilles with me, and charmed every beholder by her grace +and beauty. + +I spent all my time with Esther, and every day we grew more and more +in love, and more unhappy, for we were tormented by abstinence, which +irritated while it increased our desires. + +Esther was an affectionate mistress, but discreet rather by training +than disposition the favours she accorded me were of the most +insignificant description. She was lavish of nothing but her kisses, +but kisses are rather irritating than soothing. I used to be nearly +wild with love. She told me, like other virtuous women, that if she +agreed to make me happy she was sure I would not marry her, and that +as soon as I made her my wife she would be mine and mine only. She +did not think I was married, for I had given her too many assurances +to the contrary, but she thought I had a strong attachment to someone +in Paris. I confessed that she was right, and said that I was going +there to put an end to it that I might be bound to her alone. Alas! +I lied when I said so, for Esther was inseparable from her father, a +man of forty, and I could not make up my mind to pass the remainder +of my days in Holland. + +Ten or twelve days after sending the ultimatum, I received a letter +from M. de Boulogne informing me that M. d'Afri had all necessary +instructions for effecting the exchange of the twenty millions, and +another letter from the ambassador was to the same effect. He warned +me to take care that everything was right, as he should not part with +the securities before receiving 18,200,000 francs in current money. + +The sad time of parting at last drew near, amid many regrets and +tears from all of us. Esther gave me the two thousand pounds I had +won so easily, and her father at my request gave me bills of exchange +to the amount of a hundred thousand florins, with a note of two +hundred thousand florins authorizing me to draw upon him till the +whole sum was exhausted. Just as I was going, Esther gave me fifty +shirts and fifty handkerchiefs of the finest quality. + +It was not my love for Manon Baletti, but a foolish vanity and a +desire to cut a figure in the luxurious city of Paris, which made me +leave Holland. But such was the disposition that Mother Nature had +given me that fifteen months under The Leads had not been enough to +cure this mental malady of mine. But when I reflect upon after +events of my life I am not astonished that The Leads proved +ineffectual, for the numberless vicissitudes which I have gone +through since have not cured me--my disorder, indeed, being of the +incurable kind. There is no such thing as destiny. We ourselves +shape our lives, notwithstanding that saying of the Stoics, 'Volentem +ducit, nolentem trahit'. + +After promising Esther to return before the end of the year, I set +out with a clerk of the company who had brought the French +securities, and I reached the Hague, where Boaz received me with a +mingled air of wonder and admiration. He told me that I had worked a +miracle ; "but," he added, "to succeed thus you must have persuaded +them that peace was on the point of being concluded." + +"By no means," I answered; "so far from my persuading them, they are +of the opposite opinion; but all the same I may tell you that peace +is really imminent." + +"If you like to give me that assurance in writing," said he, "I will +make you a present of fifty thousand florins' worth of diamonds." + +"Well," I answered, "the French ambassador is of the same opinion as +myself; but I don't think the certainty is sufficiently great as yet +for you to risk your diamonds upon it." + +Next day I finished my business with the ambassador, and the clerk +returned to Amsterdam. + +I went to supper at Therese's, and found her children very well +dressed. I told her to go on to Rotterdam the next day and wait for +me there with her son, as I had no wish to give scandal at the Hague. + +At Rotterdam, Therese told me that she knew I had won half a million +at Amsterdam, and that her fortune would be made if she could leave +Holland for London. She had instructed Sophie to tell me that my +good luck was the effect of the prayers she had addressed to Heaven +on my behalf. I saw where the land lay, and I enjoyed a good laugh +at the mother's craft and the child's piety, and gave her a hundred +ducats, telling her that she should have another hundred when she +wrote to me from London. It was very evident that she thought the +sum a very moderate one, but I would not give her any more. She +waited for the moment when I was getting into my carriage to beg me +to give her another hundred ducats, and I said, in a low tone, that +she should have a thousand if she would give me her daughter. She +thought it over for a minute, and then said that she could not part +with her. + +"I know very well why," I answered; and drawing a watch from my fob I +gave it to Sophie, embraced her, and went on my way. I arrived at +Paris on February 10th, and took sumptuous apartments near the Rue +Montorgueil. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +I Meet With a Flattering Reception From My Patron--Madame D'Urfe's +Infatuation--Madame X. C. V. And Her Family--Madame du Rumain + + +During my journey from the Hague to Paris, short as it was, I had +plenty of opportunities for seeing that the mental qualities of my +adopted son were by no means equal to his physical ones. + +As I had said, the chief point which his mother had impressed on him +was reserve, which she had instilled into him out of regard for her +own interests. My readers will understand what I mean, but the +child, in following his mother's instructions, had gone beyond the +bounds of moderation; he possessed reserve, it is true, but he was +also full of dissimulation, suspicion, and hypocrisy--a fine trio of +deceit in one who was still a boy. He not only concealed what he +knew, but he pretended to know that which he did not. His idea of +the one quality necessary to success in life was an impenetrable +reserve, and to obtain this he had accustomed himself to silence the +dictates of his heart, and to say no word that had not been carefully +weighed. Giving other people wrong impressions passed with him for +discretion, and his soul being incapable of a generous thought, he +seemed likely to pass through life without knowing what friendship +meant. + +Knowing that Madame d'Urfe counted on the boy for the accomplishment +of her absurd hypostasis, and that the more mystery I made of his +birth the more extravagant would be her fancies about it, I told the +lad that if I introduced him to a lady who questioned him by himself +about his birth, he was to be perfectly open with her. + +On my arrival at Paris my first visit was to my patron, whom I found +in grand company amongst whom I recognized the Venetian ambassador, +who pretended not to know me. + +"How long have you been in Paris?" said the minister, taking me by +the hand. + +"I have only just stepped out of my chaise." + +"Then go to Versailles. You will find the Duc de Choiseul and the +comptroller-general there. You have been wonderfully successful, go +and get your meed of praise and come and see me afterwards. Tell the +duke that Voltaire's appointment to be a gentleman-in-ordinary to the +king is ready." + +I was not going to start for Versailles at midday, but ministers in +Paris are always talking in this style, as if Versailles were at the +end of the street. Instead of going there, I went to see Madame +d'Urfe. + +She received me with the words that her genius had informed her that +I should come to-day, and that she was delighted with the fulfilment +of the prophecy. + +"Corneman tells me that you have been doing wonders in Holland; but I +see more in the matter than he does, as I am quite certain that you +have taken over the twenty millions yourself. The funds have risen, +and a hundred millions at least will be in circulation in the course +of the next week. You must not be offended at my shabby present, +for, of course, twelve thousand francs are nothing to you. You must +look upon them as a little token of friendship." + +"I am going to tell my servants to close all the doors, for I am too +glad to see you not to want to have you all to myself." + +A profound bow was the only reply I made to this flattering speech, +and I saw her tremble with joy when I told her that I had brought a +lad of twelve with me, whom I intended to place in the best school I +could find that he might have a good education. + +"I will send him myself to Viar, where my nephews are. What is his +name? Where is he? I know well what this boy is, I long to see +him. Why did you not alight from your journey at my house?" + +Her questions and replies followed one another in rapid succession. +I should have found it impossible to get in a word edgeways, even if +I had wanted to, but I was very glad to let her expend her +enthusiasm, and took good care not to interrupt her. On the first +opportunity, I told her that I should have the pleasure of presenting +the young gentleman to her the day after tomorrow, as on the morrow I +had an engagement at Versailles. + +"Does the dear lad speak French? While I am arranging for his going +to school you must really let him come and live with me." + +"We will discuss that question on the day after tomorrow, madam." + +"Oh, how I wish the day after to-morrow was here!" + +On leaving Madame d'Urfe I went to my lottery office and found +everything in perfect order. I then went to the Italian play, and +found Silvia and her daughter in their dressing-room. + +"My dear friend," said she when she saw me, "I know that you have +achieved a wonderful success in Holland, and I congratulate you." + + +"I gave her an agreeable surprise by saying that I had been working +for her daughter, and Marion herself blushed, and lowered her eyes in +a very suggestive manner. "I will be with you at supper," I added, +"and then we can talk at our ease." On leaving them I went to the +amphitheatre, and what was my surprise to see' in one of the first +boxes Madame X---- C---- V----, with all her family. My readers will +be glad to hear their history. + +Madame X---- C---- V----, by birth a Greek, was the widow of an +Englishman, by whom she had six children, four of whom were girls. +On his death-bed he became a Catholic out of deference to the tears +of his wife; but as his children could not inherit his forty thousand +pounds invested in England, without conforming to the Church of +England, the family returned to London, where the widow complied with +all the obligations of the law of England. What will people not do +when their interests are at stake! though in a case like this there +is no need to blame a person for yielding, to prejudices which had +the sanction of the law. + +It was now the beginning of the year 1758, and five years before, +when I was at Padua, I fell in love with the eldest daughter, but a +few months after, when we were at Venice, Madame X. C. V. thought +good to exclude me from her family circle. The insult which the +mother put upon me was softened by the daughter, who wrote me a +charming letter, which I love to read even now. I may as well +confess that my grief was the easier to bear as my time was taken up +by my fair nun, M---- M----, and my dear C---- C-----. Nevertheless, +Mdlle. X. C. V., though only fifteen, was of a perfect beauty, and +was all the more charming in that to her physical advantages she +joined those of a cultured mind. + +Count Algarotti, the King of Prussia's chamberlain, gave her lessons, +and several young nobles were among her suitors, her preference +apparently being given to the heir of the family of Memmo de St. +Marcuola. He died a year afterwards, while he was procurator. + +My surprise at seeing this family at such a time and place may be +imagined. Mdlle. X. C. V. saw me directly, and pointed me out to her +mother, who made a sign to me with her fan to come to their box. + +She received me in the friendliest manner possible, telling me that +we were not at Venice now, and that she hoped I would often come and +see them at the "Hotel de Bretagne," in the Rue St. Andre des Arts. +I told them that I did not wish to recall any events which might have +happened at Venice, and her daughter having joined her entreaties to +those of her mother, I promised to accept their invitation. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. struck me as prettier than ever; and my love, after +sleeping for five years, awoke to fresh strength and vigour. They +told me that they were going to pass six months at Paris before +returning to Venice. In return I informed them that I intended +making Paris my home, that I had just left Holland, that I was going +to Versailles the next day, so that I could not pay my respects to +them till the day after. I also begged them to accept my services, +in a manner which let them know I was a person of some importance. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. said that she was aware that the results of my Dutch +mission should render me dear to France, that she had always lived in +hopes of seeing me once more, that my famous flight from The Leads +had delighted them; "for," she added, "we have always been fond of +you." + +"I fancy your mother has kept her fondness for me very much to +herself," I whispered to her. + +"We won't say anything about that," said she in the same tone. "We +learnt all the circumstances of your wonderful flight from a letter +of sixteen pages you wrote to M. Memmo. We trembled with joy and +shuddered with fear as we read it." + +"How did you know I have been in Holland?" + +"M. de la Popeliniere told us about it yesterday." + +M. de la Popeliniere, the fermier-general, whom I had known seven +years ago at Passi, came into the box just as his name was spoken. +After complimenting me he said that if I could carry through the same +operation for the India Company my fortune would be made. + +"My advice to you is," he said, "to get yourself naturalized before +it becomes generally known that you have made half a million of +money." + +"Half a million! I only wish I had!" + +"You must have made that at the lowest calculation." + +"On the contrary, I give you my assurance, that if my claim for +brokerage is not allowed, the transaction will prove absolutely +ruinous to me." + +"Ah! no doubt you are right to take that tone. Meanwhile, everyone +wants to make your acquaintance, for France is deeply indebted to +you. You have caused the funds to recover in a very marked degree." + +After the play was over I went to Silvia's, where I was received as +if I had been the favourite child of the family; but on the other +hand I gave them certain proofs that I wished to be regarded in that +light. I was impressed with the idea that to their unshaken +friendship I owed all my good luck, and I made the father, mother, +the daughter, and the two sons, receive the presents I had got for +them. The best was for the mother, who handed it on to her daughter. +It was a pair of diamond ear-rings of great beauty, for which I had +given fifteen thousand francs. Three days after I sent her a box +containing fine linen from Holland, and choice Mechlin and Alencon +lace. Mario, who liked smoking, got a gold pipe; the father a choice +gold and enamelled snuff-box, and I gave a repeater to the younger +son, of whom I was very fond. I shall have occasion later on to +speak of this lad, whose natural qualities were far superior to his +position in life. But, you will ask, was I rich enough to make such +presents? No, I was not, and I knew it perfectly well; but I gave +these presents because I was afraid of not being able to do so if I +waited. + +I set out for Versailles at day-break, and M. de Choiseul received me +as before, his hair was being dressed, but for a moment he laid down +his pen, which shewed that I had become a person of greater +importance in his eyes. After a slight but grateful compliment, he +told me that if I thought myself capable of negotiating a loan of a +hundred millions to bear interest at four per cent., he would do all +in his power to help me. My answer was that I would think it over +when I heard how much I was to have for what I had done already. + +"But everybody says that you have made two hundred thousand florins +by it." + +"That would not be so bad; half a million of francs would be a fair +foundation on which to build a fortune; but I can assure your +excellence that there is not a word of truth in the report. I defy +anyone to prove it; and till some substantial proof is offered, I +think I can lay claim to brokerage." + +"True, true. Go to the comptroller-general and state your views to +him." + +M. de Boulogne stopped the occupation on which he was engaged to give +me a most friendly greeting, but when I said that he owed me a +hundred thousand florins he smiled sardonically. + +"I happen to know," he said, "that you have bills of exchange to the +amount of a hundred thousand crowns payable to yourself." + +"Certainly, but that money has no connection with my mission, as I +can prove to you by referring you to M. d'Afri. I have in my head an +infallible project for increasing the revenue by twenty millions, in +a manner which will cause no irritation." + +"You don't say so! Communicate your plan, and I promise to get you a +pension of a hundred thousand francs, and letters of nobility as +well, if you like to become a Frenchman." + +"I will think it over." + +On leaving M. de Boulogne I went to the Palace, where a ballet was +going on before the Marquise de Pompadour. + +She bowed to me as soon as she saw me, and on my approaching her she +told me that I was an able financier, and that the "gentlemen below" +could not appreciate my merits. She had not forgotten what I had +said to her eight years before in the theatre at Fontainebleau. I +replied that all good gifts were from above, whither, with her help, +I hoped to attain. + +On my return to Paris I went to the "Hotel Bourbon" to inform my +patron of the result of my journey. His advice to me was to continue +to serve the Government well, as its good fortune would come to be +mine. On my telling him of my meeting with the X. C. V.'s, he said +that M. de la Popeliniere was going to marry the elder daughter. + +When I got to my house my son was nowhere to be found. My landlady +told me that a great lady had come to call on my lord, and that she +had taken him away with her. Guessing that this was Madame d'Urfe, I +went to bed without troubling myself any further. Early next morning +my clerk brought me a letter. It came from the old attorney, uncle +to Gaetan's wife, whom I had helped to escape from the jealous fury +of her brutal husband. The attorney begged me to come and speak to +him at the courts, or to make an appointment at some place where he +could see me. I went to the courts and found him there. + +"My niece," he began, "found herself obliged to go into a convent; +and from this vantage ground she is pleading against her husband, +with the aid of a barrister, who will be responsible for the costs. +However, to win our case, we require the evidence of yourself, Count +Tiretta, and other servants who witnessed the scene at the inn." + +I did all I could, and four months afterwards Gaetan simplified +matters by a fraudulent bankruptcy, which obliged him to leave +France: in due time and place, I shall have something more to say +about him. As for his wife, who was young and pretty, she paid her +counsel in love's money, and was very happy with him, and may be +happy still for all I know, but I have entirely lost sight of her. + +After my interview with the old attorney I went to Madame---- to see +Tiretta, who was out. Madame was still in love with him, and he +continued to make a virtue of necessity. I left my address, and went +to the "Hotel de Bretagne" to pay my first call on Madame X. C. V. +The lady, though she was not over fond of me, received me with great +politeness. I possibly cut a better figure in her eyes when rich, +and at Paris, then when we were in Venice. We all know that diamonds +have the strange power of fascination, and that they form an +excellent substitute for virtue! + +Madame X. C. V. had with her an old Greek named Zandiri, brother to +M. de Bragadin's major-domo, who was just dead. I uttered some +expressions of sympathy, and the boor did not take the trouble to +answer me, but I was avenged for his foolish stiffness by the +enthusiasm with which I was welcomed by everyone else. The eldest +girl, her sisters, and the two sons, almost overwhelmed me with +friendliness. The eldest son was only fourteen, and was a young +fellow of charming manners, but evidently extremely independent, and +sighed for the time when he would be able to devote himself to a +career of profligacy for which he was well fitted. Mdlle. X. C. V. +was both beautiful and charming in her manner, and had received an +excellent education of which, however, she made no parade. One could +not stay in her presence without loving her, but she was no flirt, +and I soon saw that she held out no vain hopes to those who had the +misfortune not to please her. Without being rude she knew how to be +cold, and it was all the worse for those whom her coldness did not +shew that their quest was useless. + +The first hour I passed in her company chained me a captive to her +triumphant car. I told her as much, and she replied that she was +glad to have such a captive. She took the place in my heart where +Esther had reigned a week before, but I freely confess that Esther +yielded only because she was away. As to my attachment to Sylvia's +daughter, it was of such a nature as not to hinder me falling in love +with any other woman who chanced to take my fancy. In the +libertine's heart love cannot exist without substantial food, and +women who have had some experience of the world are well aware of +this fact. The youthful Baletti was a beginner, and so knew nothing +of these things. + +M. Farsetti, a Venetian of noble birth, a knight of Malta, a great +student of the occult sciences, and a good Latin versifier, came in +at one o'clock. Dinner was just ready and Madame X. C. V. begged him +to stay. She asked me also to dine with them, but wishing to dine +with Madame d'Urfe I refused the invitation for the nonce. + +M. Farsetti, who had known me very well at Venice, only noticed me by +a side-glance, and without shewing any vexation I paid him back in +the same coin. He smiled at Mdlle. X. C. V.'s praise of my courage. +She noticed his expression, and as if to punish him for it went on to +say that I had now the admiration of every Venetian, and that the +French were anxious to have the honour of calling me a fellow- +citizen. M. Farsetti asked me if my post at the lottery paid well. I +replied, coolly, + +"Oh, yes, well enough for me to pay my clerks' salaries." + +He understood the drift of my reply, and Mdlle. X. C. V. smiled. + +I found my supposed son with Madame d'Urfe, or rather in that amiable +visionary's arms. She hastened to apologize for carrying him off, +and I turned it off with a jest, having no other course to take. + +"I made him sleep with me," she said, "but I shall be obliged to +deprive myself of this privilege for the future, unless he promises +to be more discreet." + +I thought the idea a grand one, and the little fellow, in spite of +his blushes, begged her to say how he had offended. + +"We shall have the Comte de St. Germain," said Madame d'Urfe, "to +dinner. I know he amuses you, and I like you to enjoy yourself in my +house." + +"For that, madam, your presence is all I need; nevertheless, I thank +you for considering me." + +In due course St. Germain arrived, and in his usual manner sat +himself down, not to eat but to talk. With a face of imperturbable +gravity he told the most incredible stories, which one had to pretend +to believe, as he was always either the hero of the tale or an eye +witness of the event. All the same, I could not help bursting into +laughter when he told us of something that happened as he was dining +with the Fathers of the Council of Trent. + +Madame d'Urfe wore on her neck a large magnet. She said that it +would one day happen that this magnet would attract the lightning, +and that she would consequently soar into the sun. I longed to tell +her that when, she got there she could be no higher up than on the +earth, but I restrained myself; and the great charlatan hastened to +say that there could be no doubt about it, and that he, and he only, +could increase the force of the magnet a thousand times. I said, +dryly, that I would wager twenty thousand crowns he would not so much +as double its force, but Madame d'Urfe would not let us bet, and +after dinner she told me in private that I should have lost, as St. +Germain was a magician. Of course I agreed with her. + +A few days later, the magician set out for Chambord, where the king +had given him a suite of rooms and a hundred thousand francs, that he +might be at liberty to work on the dyes which were to assure the +superiority of French materials over those of any other country. St. +Germain had got over the king by arranging a laboratory where he +occasionally tried to amuse himself, though he knew little about +chemistry, but the king was the victim of an almost universal +weariness. To enjoy a harem recruited from amongst the most +ravishing beauties, and often from the ranks of neophytes, with whom +pleasure had its difficulties, one would have needed to be a god, and +Louis XV. was only a man after all. + +It was the famous marquise who had introduced the adept to the king +in the hope of his distracting the monarch's weariness, by giving him +a taste for chemistry. Indeed Madame de Pompadour was under the +impression that St. Germain had given her the water of perpetual +youth, and therefore felt obliged to make the chemist a good return. +This wondrous water, taken according to the charlatan's directions, +could not indeed make old age retire and give way to youth, but +according to the marquise it would preserve one in statu quo for +several centuries. + +As a matter of fact, the water, or the giver of it, had worked +wonders, if not on her body, at least on her mind; she assured the +king that she was not getting older. The king was as much deluded by +this grand impostor as she was, for one day he shewed the Duc des +Deux-Ponts a diamond of the first water, weighing twelve carats, +which he fancied he had made himself. "I melted down," said Louis +XV., "small diamonds weighing twenty-four carats, and obtained this +one large one weighing twelve." Thus it came to pass that the +infatuated monarch gave the impostor the suite formerly occupied by +Marshal Saxe. The Duc des Deux-Ponts told me this story with his own +lips, one evening, when I was supping with him and a Swede, the Comte +de Levenhoop, at Metz. + +Before I left Madame d'Urfe, I told her that the lad might be he who +should make her to be born again, but that she would spoil all if she +did not wait for him to attain the age of puberty. After what she +had said about his misbehavior, the reader will guess what made me +say this. She sent him to board with Viar, gave him masters on +everything, and disguised him under the name of the Comte d'Aranda, +although he was born at Bayreuth, and though his mother never had +anything to do with a Spaniard of that name. It was three or four +months before I went to see him, as I was afraid of being insulted on +account of the name which the visionary Madame d'Urfe had given him. + +One day Tiretta came to see me in a fine coach. He told me that his +elderly mistress wanted to become his wife, but that he would not +hear of it, though she offered to endow him with all her worldly +goods. I told him that if he gave in he might pay his debts, return +to Trevisa, and live pleasantly there; but his destiny would not +allow him to take my advice. + +I had resolved on taking a country house, and fixed on one called +"Little Poland," which pleased me better than all the others I had +seen. It was well furnished, and was a hundred paces distant from +the Madeleine Gate. It was situated on slightly elevated ground near +the royal park, behind the Duc de Grammont's garden, and its owner +had given it the name of "Pleasant Warsaw." It had two gardens, one +of which was on a level with the first floor, three reception rooms, +large stables, coach houses, baths, a good cellar, and a splendid +kitchen. The master was called "The Butter King," and always wrote +himself down so; the name had been given to him by Louis XV. on the +monarch's stopping at the house and liking the butter. The "Butter +King" let me his house for a hundred Louis per annum, and he gave me +an excellent cook called "The Pearl," a true blue-ribbon of the order +of cooks, and to her he gave charge of all his furniture and the +plate I should want for a dinner of six persons, engaging to get me +as much plate as I wanted at the hire of a sous an ounce. He also +promised to let me have what wine I wanted, and said all he had was +of the best, and, moreover, cheaper than I could get it at Paris, as +he had no gate-money to pay on it. + +Matters having been arranged on these terms, in the course of a week +I got a good coachman, two fine carriages, five horses, a groom, and +two footmen. Madame d'Urfe, who was my first guest, was delighted +with my new abode, and as she imagined that I had done it all for +her, I left her in that flattering opinion. I never could believe in +the morality of snatching from poor mortal man the delusions which +make them happy. I also let her retain the notion that young +d'Aranda, the count of her own making, was a scion of the nobility, +that he was born for a mysterious operation unknown to the rest of +mankind, that I was only his caretaker (here I spoke the truth), and +that he must die and yet not cease to live. All these whimsical +ideas were the products of her brain, which was only occupied with +the impossible, and I thought the best thing I could do was to agree +with everything. If I had tried to undeceive her, she would have +accused me of want of trust in her, for she was convinced that all +her knowledge was revealed to her by her genius, who spoke to her +only by night. After she had dined with me I took her back to her +house, full of happiness. + +Camille sent me a lottery ticket, which she had invested in at my +office, and which proved to be a winning one, I think, for a thousand +crowns or thereabouts. She asked me to come and sup with her, and +bring the money with me. I accepted her invitation, and found her +surrounded by all the girls she knew and their lovers. After supper +I was asked to go to the opera with them, but we had scarcely got +there when I lost my party in the crowd. I had no mask on, and I +soon found myself attacked by a black domino, whom I knew to be a +woman, and as she told me a hundred truths about myself in a falsetto +voice, I was interested, and determined on finding out who she was. +At last I succeeded in persuading her to come with me into a box, and +as soon as we were in and I had taken off her mask I was astonished +to find she was Mdlle. X. C. V. + +"I have come to the ball," said she, "with one of my sisters, my +elder brother, and M. Farsetti. I left them to go into a box and +change my domino: + +"They must feel very uneasy." + +"I dare say they do, but I am not going to take pity on them till the +end of the ball." + +Finding myself alone with her, and certain of having her in my +company for the rest of the night, I began to talk of our old love- +making; and I took care to say that I was more in love with her than +ever. She listened to me kindly, did not oppose my embraces, and by +the few obstacles she placed in my way I judged that the happy moment +was not far off. Nevertheless I felt that I must practice restraint +that evening, and she let me see that she was obliged to me. + +"I heard at Versailles, my dear mademoiselle, that you are going to +marry M. de la Popeliniere." + +"So they say. My mother wishes me to do so, and the old financier +fancies he has got me in his talons already; but he makes a mistake, +as I will never consent to such a thing." + +"He is old, but he is very rich." + +"He is very rich and very generous, for he promises me a dowry of a +million if I become a widow without children; and if I had a son he +would leave me all his property." + +"You wouldn't have much difficulty in complying with the second +alternative." + +"I shall never have anything to do with his money, for I should never +make my life miserable by a marriage with a man whom I do not love, +while I do love another." + +"Another! Who is the fortunate mortal to whom you have given your +heart's treasure?" + +"I do not know if my loved one is fortunate. My lover is a Venetian, +and my mother knows of it; but she says that I should not be happy, +that he is not worthy of me." + +"Your mother is a strange woman, always crossing your affections." + +"I cannot be angry with her. She may possibly be wrong, but she +certainly loves me. She would rather that I should marry M. +Farsetti, who would be very glad to have me, but I detest him." + +"Has he made a declaration in terms?" + +"He has, and all the marks of contempt I have given him seem to have +no effect." + +"He clings hard to hope; but the truth is you have fascinated him." + +"Possibly, but I do not think him susceptible of any tender or +generous feeling. He is a visionary; surly, jealous, and envious in +his disposition. When he heard me expressing myself about you in the +manner you deserve, he had the impudence to say to my mother before +my face that she ought not to receive you." + +"He deserves that I should give him a lesson in manners, but there +are other ways in which he may be punished. I shall be delighted to +serve you in any way I can." + +"Alas! if I could only count on your friendship I should be happy." + +The sigh with which she uttered these words sent fire through my +veins, and I told her that I was her devoted slave; that I had fifty +thousand crowns which were at her service, and that I would risk my +life to win her favours. She replied that she was truly grateful to +me, and as she threw her arms about my neck our lips met, but I saw +that she was weeping, so I took care that the fire which her kisses +raised should be kept within bounds. She begged me to come and see +her often, promising that as often as she could manage it we should +be alone. I could ask no more, and after I had promised to come and +dine with them on the morrow, we parted. + +I passed an hour in walking behind her, enjoying my new position of +intimate friend, and I then returned to my Little Poland. It was a +short distance, for though I lived in the country I could get to any +part of Paris in a quarter of an hour. I had a clever coachman, and +capital horses not used to being spared. I got them from the royal +stables, and as soon as I lost one I got another from the same place, +having to pay two hundred francs. This happened to me several times, +for, to my mind, going fast is one of the greatest pleasures which +Paris offers. + +Having accepted an invitation to dinner at the X. C. V.'s, I did not +give myself much time for sleep, and I went out on foot with a cloak +on. The snow was falling in large flakes, and when I got to madame's +I was as white as a sheet from head to foot. She gave me a hearty +welcome, laughing, and saying that her daughter had been telling her +how she had puzzled me, and that she was delighted to see me come to +dinner without ceremony. "But," added she, "it's Friday today, and +you will have to fast, though, after all, the fish is very good. +Dinner is not ready yet. You had better go and see my daughter, who +is still a-bed." + +As may be imagined, this invitation had not to be repeated, for a +pretty woman looks better in bed than anywhere else. I found Mdlle. +X. C. V. sitting up in bed writing, but she stopped as soon as she +saw me. + +"How is this, sweet lie-a-bed, not up yet?" + +"Yes, I am staying in bed partly because I feel lazy, and partly +because I am freer here." + +"I was afraid you were not quite well." + +"Nor am I. However, we will say no more about that now. I am just +going to take some soup, as those who foolishly establish the +institution of fasting were not polite enough to ask my opinion on +the subject. It does not agree with my health, and I don't like it, +so I am not going to get up even to sit at table, though I shall thus +deprive myself of your society." + +I naturally told her that in her absence dinner would have no savour; +and I spoke the truth. + +As the presence of her sister did not disturb us, she took out of her +pocket-book an epistle in verse which I had addressed to her when her +mother had forbidden me the house. "This fatal letter," said she, +"which you called 'The Phoenix,' has shaped my life and may prove the +cause of my death." + +I had called it the Phoenix because, after bewailing my unhappy lot, +I proceeded to predict how she would afterwards give her heart to a +mortal whose qualities would make him deserve the name of Phoenix. A +hundred lines were taken up in the description of these imaginary +mental and moral characteristics, and certainly the being who should +have them all would be right worthy of worship, for he would be +rather a god than a man. + +"Alas!" said Mdlle. X. C. V., "I fell in love with this imaginary +being, and feeling certain that such an one must exist I set myself +to look for him. After six months I thought I had found him. I gave +him my heart, I received his, we loved each other fondly. But for +the last four months we have been separated, and during the whole +time I have only had one letter from him. Yet I must not blame him, +for I know he cannot help it. Such, is my sorry fate: I can neither +hear from him nor write to him:" + +This story was a confirmation of a theory of mine namely, that the +most important events in our lives proceed often from the most +trifling causes. My epistle was nothing better than a number of +lines of poetry more or less well written, and the being I had +delineated was certainly not to be found, as he surpassed by far all +human perfections, but a woman's heart travels so quickly and so far! +Mdlle. X. C. V. took the thing literally, and fell in love with a +chimera of goodness, and then was fain to turn this into a real +lover, not thinking of the vast difference between the ideal and the +real. For all that, when she thought that she had found the original +of my fancy portrait, she had no difficulty in endowing him with all +the good qualities I had pictured. Of course Mdlle. X. C. V. would +have fallen in love if I had never written her a letter in verse, but +she would have done so in a different manner, and probably with +different results. + +As soon as dinner was served we were summoned to do justice to the +choice fish which M. de la Popeliniere had provided. Madame X. C. V. +a narrowminded Greek, was naturally bigoted and superstitious. In +the mind of a silly woman the idea of an alliance between the most +opposite of beings, God and the Devil, seems quite natural. A priest +had told her that, since she had converted her husband, her salvation +was secure, for the Scriptures solemnly promised a soul for a soul to +every one who would lead a heretic or a heathen within the fold of +the church. And as Madame X. C. V. had converted her husband, she +felt no anxiety about the life of the world to come, as she had done +all that was necessary. However, she ate fish on the days appointed; +the reason being that she preferred it to flesh. + +Dinner over, I returned to the lady's bedside, and there stayed till +nearly nine o'clock, keeping my passions well under control all the +time. I was foppish enough to think that her feelings were as lively +as mine, and I did not care to shew myself less self-restrained than +she, though I knew then, as I know now, that this was a false line of +argument. It is the same with opportunity as with fortune; one must +seize them when they come to us, or else they go by, often to return +no more. + +Not seeing Farsetti at the table, I suspected there had been a +quarrel, and I asked my sweetheart about it; but she told me I was +mistaken in supposing they had quarreled with him, and that the +reason of his absence was that he would never leave his house on a +Friday. The deluded man had had his horoscope drawn, and learning by +it that he would be assassinated on a Friday he resolved always to +shut himself up on that day. He was laughed at, but persisted in the +same course till he died four years ago at the age of seventy. He +thought to prove by the success of his precautions that a man's +destiny depends on his discretion, and on the precautions he takes to +avoid the misfortunes of which he has had warning. The line of +argument holds good in all cases except when the misfortunes are +predicted in a horoscope; for either the ills predicted are +avoidable, in which case the horoscope is a useless piece of folly, +or else the horoscope is the interpreter of destiny, in which case +all the precautions in the world are of no avail. The Chevalier +Farsetti was therefore a fool to imagine he had proved anything at +all. He would have proved a good deal for many people if he had gone +out on a Friday, and had chanced to have been assassinated. Picas de +la Mirandola, who believed in astrology, says, "I have no doubt +truly, 'Astra influunt, non cogunt'. "But would it have been a real +proof of the truth of astrology, if Farsetti had been assassinated on +a Friday? In my opinion, certainly not. + +The Comte d'Eigreville had introduced me to his sister, the Comtesse +du Remain, who had been wanting to make my acquaintance ever since +she had heard of my oracle. It was not long before I made friends +with her husband and her two daughters, the elder of whom, nicknamed +"Cotenfau," married M. de Polignac later on. Madame du Remain was +handsome rather than pretty, but she won the love of all by her +kindness, her frank courtesy, and her eagerness to be of service to +her friends. She had a magnificent figure, and would have awed the +whole bench of judges if she had pleaded before them. + +At her house I got to know Mesdames de Valbelle and de Rancerolles, +the Princess de Chimai, and many others who were then in the best +society of Paris. Although Madame du Remain was not a proficient in +the occult sciences, she had nevertheless consulted my oracle more +frequently than Madame d'Urfe. She was of the utmost service to me +in connection with an unhappy circumstance of which I shall speak +presently. + +The day after my long conversation with Mdlle. X. C. V., my servant +told me that there was a young man waiting who wanted to give me a +letter with his own hands. I had him in, and on my asking him from +whom the letter came, he replied that I should find all particulars +in the letter, and that he had orders to wait for an answer. The +epistle ran as follows: + +"I am writing this at two o'clock in the morning. I am weary and in +need of rest, but a burden on my soul deprives me of sleep. The +secret I am about to tell you will no longer be so grievous when I +have confided in you; I shall feel eased by placing it in your +breast. I am with child, and my situation drives me to despair. I +was obliged to write to you because I felt I could not say it. Give +me a word in reply." + +My feelings on reading the above may be guessed. I was petrified +with astonishment and could only write, "I will be with you at eleven +o'clock." + +No one should say that he has passed through great misfortunes unless +they have proved too great for his mind to bear. The confidence of +Mdlle. X. C. V. shewed me that she was in need of support. I +congratulated myself on having the preference, and I vowed to do my +best for her did it cost me my life. These were the thoughts of a +lover, but for all that I could not conceal from myself the +imprudence of the step she had taken. In such cases as these there +is always the choice between speaking or writing, and the only +feeling which can give the preference to writing is false shame, at +bottom mere cowardice. If I had not been in love with her, I should +have found it easier to have refused my aid in writing than if she +had spoken to me, but I loved her to distraction. + +"Yes," said I to myself, "she can count on me. Her mishap makes her +all the dearer to me." + +And below this there was another voice, a voice which whispered to me +that if I succeeded in saving her my reward was sure. I am well +aware that more than one grave moralist will fling stones at me for +this avowal, but my answer is that such men cannot be in love as I +was. + +I was punctual to my appointment, and found the fair unfortunate at +the door of the hotel. + +"You are going out, are you? Where are you going?" + +"I am going to mass at the Church of the Augustinians." + +"Is this a saint's day?" + +"No; but my mother makes me go every day." + +"I will come with you." + +"Yes do, give me your arm; we will go into the cloisters and talk +there." + +Mdlle. X. C. V. was accompanied by her maid, but she knew better +than to be in the way, so we left her in the cloisters. As soon as +we were alone she said to me, + +"Have you read my letter?" + +"Yes, of course; here it is, burn it yourself." + +"No, keep it, and do so with your own hands." + +"I see you trust in me, and I assure you I will not abuse your +trust." + +"I am sure you will not. I am four months with child; I can doubt it +no longer, and the thought maddens me!" + +"Comfort yourself, we will find some way to get over it." + +"Yes; I leave all to you. You must procure an abortion." + +"Never, dearest! that is a crime!" + +"Alas! I know that well; but it is not a greater crime than suicide, +and there lies my choice: either to destroy the wretched witness of +my shame, or to poison myself. For the latter alternative I have +everything ready. You are my only friend, and it is for you to +decide which it shall be. Speak to me! Are you angry that I have +not gone to the Chevalier Farsetti before you?" + +She saw my astonishment, and stopped short, and tried to wipe away +the tears which escaped from her eyes. My heart bled for her. + +"Laying the question of crime on one side," said I, "abortion is out +of our power. If the means employed are not violent they are +uncertain, and if they are violent they are dangerous to the mother. +I will never risk becoming your executioner; but reckon on me, I will +not forsake you. Your honour is as dear to me as your life. Becalm, +and henceforth think that the peril is mine, not yours. Make up your +mind that I shall find some way of escape, and that there will be no +need to cut short that life, to preserve which I would gladly die. +And allow me to say that when I read your note I felt glad, I could +not help it, that at such an emergency you chose me before all others +to be your helper. You will find that your trust was not given in +vain, for no one loves you as well as I, and no one is so fain to +help you. Later you shall begin to take the remedies I will get for +you, but I warn you to be on your guard, for this is a serious +matter--one of life and death. Possibly you have already told +somebody about it--your maid or one of your sisters?" + +"I have not told anybody but you, not even the author of my shame. +I tremble when I think what my mother would do and say if she found +out my situation. I am afraid she will draw her conclusions from my +shape." + +"So far there is nothing to be observed in that direction, the beauty +of the outline still remains intact." + +"But every day increases its size, and for that reason we must be +quick in what we do. You must find a surgeon who does not know my +name and take me to him to be bled." + +"I will not run the risk, it might lead to the discovery of the whole +affair. I will bleed you myself; it is a simple operation." + +"How grateful I am to you! I feel as if you had already brought me +from death to life. What I should like you to do would be to take me +to a midwife's. We can easily go without attracting any notice at +the first ball at the opera." + +"Yes, sweetheart, but that step is not necessary, and it might lead +to our betrayal." + +"No, no, in this great town there are midwives in every quarter, and +we should never be known; we might keep our masks on all the time. +Do me this kindness. A midwife's opinion is certainly worth having." + +I could not refuse her request, but I made her agree to wait till the +last ball, as the crowd was always greater, and we had a better +chance of going out free from observation. I promised to be there in +a black domino with a white mask in the Venetian fashion, and a rose +painted beside the left eye. As soon as she saw me go out she was to +follow me into a carriage. All this was carried out, but more of it +anon. + +I returned with her, and dined with them without taking any notice of +Farsetti, who was also at the table, and had seen me come back from +mass with her. We did not speak a word to one another; he did not +like me and I despised him. + +I must here relate a grievous mistake of which I was guilty, and +which I have not yet forgiven myself. + +I had promised to take Mdlle. X. C. V. to a midwife, but I certainly +ought to have taken her to a respectable woman's, for all we wanted +to know was how a pregnant woman should regulate her diet and manner +of living. But my evil genius took me by the Rue St. Louis, and +there I saw the Montigni entering her house with a pretty girl whom I +did not know, and so out of curiosity I went in after them. After +amusing myself there, with Mdlle. X. C. V. running in my head all the +time, I asked the woman to give me the address of a midwife, as I +wanted to consult one. She told me of a house in the Marais, where +according to her dwelt the pearl of midwives, and began telling me +some stories of her exploits, which all went to prove that the woman +was an infamous character. I took her address, however, and as I +should have to go there by night, I went the next day to see where +the house was. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. began to take the remedies which I brought her, which +ought to have weakened and destroyed the result of love, but as she +did not experience any benefit, she was impatient to consult a +midwife. On the night of the last ball she recognized me as we had +agreed, and followed me out into the coach she saw me enter, and in +less than a quarter of an hour we reached the house of shame. + +A woman of about fifty received us with great politeness, and asked +what she could do. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. told her that she believed herself pregnant, and +that she desired some means of concealing her misfortune. The wretch +answered with a smile that she might as well tell her plainly that it +would be easy to procure abortion. "I will do your business," said +she, "for fifty Louis, half to be paid in advance on account of +drugs, and the rest when it's all over. I will trust in your +honesty, and you will have to trust in mine. Give me the twenty-five +Louis down, and come or send to-morrow for the drugs, and +instructions for using them." + +So saying she turned up her clothes without any ceremony, and as I, +at Mdlle. X. C. V.'s request, looked away, she felt her and +pronounced, as she let down her dress, that she was not beyond the +fourth month. + +"If my drugs," said she, "contrary to my expectation, do not do any +good, we will try some other ways, and, in any case, if I do not +succeed in obliging you I will return you your money." + +"I don't doubt it for a moment," said I, "but would you tell me what +are those other ways!" + +"I should tell the lady how to destroy the foetus." + +I might have told her that to kill the child meant giving a mortal +wound to the mother, but I did not feel inclined to enter into a +argument with this vile creature. + +"If madame decides on taking your advice," said I, "I will bring you +the money for drugs to-morrow." + +I gave her two Louis and left. Mdlle. X. C. V. told me that she had +no doubt of the infamy of this woman, as she was sure it was +impossible to destroy the offspring without the risk of killing the +mother also. "My only trust," said she, "is in you." I encouraged +her in this idea, dissuading her from any criminal attempts, and +assured her over and over again that she should not find her trust in +me misplaced. All at once she complained of feeling cold, and asked +if we had not time to warm ourselves in Little Poland, saying that +she longed to see my pretty house. I was surprised and delighted +with the idea. The night was too dark for her to see the exterior +charms of my abode, she would have to satisfy herself with the +inside, and leave the rest to her imagination. I thought my hour had +come. I made the coach stop and we got down and walked some way, and +then took another at the corner of the Rue de la Ferannerie. I +promised the coachman six francs beyond his fare, and in a quarter of +an hour he put us down at my door. + +I rang with the touch of the master, the Pearl opened the door, and +told me that there was nobody within, as I very well knew, but it was +her habit to do so. + +"Quick!" said I, "light us a fire, and bring some glasses and a +bottle of champagne." + +"Would you like an omelette?" + +"Very well." + +"Oh, I should like an omelette so much!" said Mdlle. X. C. V. She +was ravishing, and her laughing air seemed to promise me a moment of +bliss. I sat down before the blazing fire and made her sit on my +knee, covering her with kisses which she gave me back as lovingly. I +had almost won what I wanted when she asked me in a sweet voice to +stop. I obeyed, thinking it would please her, feeling sure that she +only delayed my victory to make it more complete, and that she would +surrender after the champagne. I saw love, kindness, trust, and +gratitude shining in her face, and I should have been sorry for her +to think that I claimed her as a mere reward. No, I wanted her love, +and nothing but her love. + +At last we got to our last glass of champagne, we rose from the +table, and sentimentally but with gentle force I laid her on a couch +and held her amorously in my arms. But instead of giving herself up +to my embraces she resisted them, at first by those prayers which +usually make lovers more enterprising, then by serious remonstrances, +and at last by force. This was too much, the mere idea of using +violence has always shocked me, and I am still of opinion that the +only pleasure in the amorous embrace springs from perfect union and +agreement. I pleaded my cause in every way, I painted myself as the +lover flattered, deceived, despised! At last I told her that I had +had a cruel awakening, and I saw that the shaft went home. I fell on +my knees and begged her to forgive me. "Alas!" said she, in a voice +full of sadness, "I am no longer mistress of my heart, and have far +greater cause for grief than you." The tears flowed fast down her +cheeks, her head rested on my shoulder, and our lips met; but for all +that the piece was over. The idea of renewing the attack never came +into my head, and if it had I should have scornfully rejected it. +After a long silence, of which we both stood in need, she to conquer +her shame, and I to repress my anger, we put on our masks and +returned to the opera. On our way she dared to tell me that she +should be obliged to decline my friendship if she had to pay for it +so dearly. + +"The emotions of love," I replied, "should yield to those of honour, +and your honour as well as mine require us to continue friends. What +I would have done for love I will now do for devoted friendship, and +for the future I will die rather than make another attempt to gain +those favours of which I thought you deemed me worthy." + +We separated at the opera, and the vast crowd made me lose sight of +her in an instant. Next day she told me that she had danced all +night. She possibly hoped to find in that exercise the cure which no +medicine seemed likely to give her. + +I returned to my house in a bad humour, trying in vain to justify a +refusal which seemed humiliating and almost incredible. My good +sense shewed me, in spite of all sophisms, that I had been grievously +insulted. I recollected the witty saying of Populia, who was never +unfaithful to her husband except when she was with child; "Non tollo +vectorem," said she, "nisi navi plena." + +I felt certain that I was not loved, and the thought grieved me; and +I considered that it would be unworthy of me to love one whom I could +no longer hope to possess. I resolved to avenge myself by leaving +her to her fate, feeling that I could not allow myself to be duped as +I had been. + +The night brought wisdom with it, and when I awoke in the morning my +mind was calm and I was still in love. I determined to act +generously by the unfortunate girl. Without my aid she would be +ruined; my course, then, would be to continue my services and to shew +myself indifferent to her favours. The part was no easy one, but I +played it right well, and at last my reward came of itself. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +I Continue My Relations With Mdlle. X. C. V.--Vain Attempts to +Procure Abortion--The Aroph--She Flies From Home and Takes Refuge in +a Convent + + +The difficulties I encountered only served to increase my love for my +charming Englishwoman. I went to see her every morning, and as my +interest in her condition was genuine, she could have no suspicion +that I was acting a part, or attribute my care of her to anything but +the most delicate feelings. For her part she seemed well pleased in +the alteration of my behaviour, though her satisfaction may very +probably have been assumed. I understood women well enough to know +that though she did not love me she was probably annoyed at seeing my +new character sit upon me so easily. + +One morning in the midst of an unimportant and disconnected +conversation, she complimented me upon my strength of mind in +subduing my passion, adding, with a smile, that my desire could not +have pricked me very sharply, seeing that I had cured myself so well +in the course of a week. I quietly replied that I owed my cure not +to the weakness of my passion but to my self-respect. + +"I know my own character," I said, "and without undue presumption, I +think I may say that I am worthy of a woman's love. Naturally, after +your convincing me that you think differently, I feel humiliated and +indignant. Do you know what effect such feelings have on the heart?" + +"Alas!" said she, "I know too well. Their effect is to inspire one +with contempt for her who gave rise to them." + +"That is going too far, at least in my case. My indignation was +merely succeeded by a renewed confidence in myself, and a +determination to be revenged." + +"To be revenged! In what way?" + +"I wish to compel you to esteem me, by proving to you that I am lord +of myself, and can pass by with indifference what I once so ardently +desired. I do not know whether I have succeeded yet, but I may say +that I can now contemplate your charms without desiring to possess +them." + +"You are making a mistake, for I never ceased to esteem you, and I +esteemed you as much a week ago as I do to-day. Nor for a moment I +did think you capable of leaving me to my fate as a punishment for +having refused to give way to your transports, and I am glad that I +read your character rightly." + +We went on to speak of the opiate I made her take, and as she saw no +change in her condition she wanted me to increase the dose--a request +I took care not to grant, as I knew that more than half a drachm +might kill her. I also forbade her to bleed herself again, as she +might do herself a serious injury without gaining anything by it. +Her maid, of whom she had been obliged to make a confidante, had had +her bled by a student, her lover. I told Mdlle. X. C. V. that if +she wanted these people to keep her counsel she must be liberal with +them, and she replied that she had no money. I offered her money and +she accepted fifty louis, assuring me that she would repay me that +sum which she needed for her brother Richard. I had not as much +money about me, but I sent her the same day a packet of twelve +hundred francs with a note in which I begged her to have recourse to +me in all her necessities. Her brother got the money, and thought +himself authorized to apply to me for aid in a much more important +matter. + +He was a young man and a profligate, and had got into a house of ill- +fame, from which he came out in sorry plight. He complained bitterly +that M. Farsetti had refused to lend him four louis, and he asked me +to speak to his mother that she might pay for his cure. I consented, +but when his mother heard what was the matter with him, she said it +would be much better to leave him as he was, as this was the third +time he had been in this condition, and that to have him cured was a +waste of money, as no sooner was he well than he began his dissipated +life afresh. She was quite right, for I had him cured at my expense +by an able surgeon, and he was in the same way a month after. This +young man seemed intended by nature for shameful excesses, for at the +age of fourteen he was an accomplished profligate. + +His sister was now six months with child, and as her figure grew +great so did her despair. She resolved not to leave her bed, and it +grieved me to see her thus cast down. Thinking me perfectly cured of +my passion for her, she treated me purely as a friend, making me +touch her all over to convince me that she dare not shew herself any +longer. I played in short the part of a midwife, but with what a +struggle! I had to pretend to be calm and unconcerned when I was +consumed with passion. She spoke of killing herself in a manner that +made me shudder, as I saw that she had reflected on what she was +saying. I was in a difficult position when fortune came to my +assistance in a strange and amusing manner. + +One day, as I was dining with Madame d'Urfe, I asked her if she knew +of any way by which a girl, who had allowed her lover to go too far, +might be protected from shame. "I know of an infallible method," she +replied, "the aroph of Paracelsus to wit, and it is easy of +application. Do you wish to know more about it?" she added; and +without waiting for me to answer she brought a manuscript, and put it +in my hands. This powerful emmenagogue was a kind of unguent +composed of several drugs, such as saffron, myrrh, etc., compounded +with virgin honey. To obtain the necessary result one had to employ +a cylindrical machine covered with extremely soft skin, thick enough +to fill the opening of the vagina, and long enough to reach the +opening of the reservoir or case containing the foetus. The end of +this apparatus was to be well anointed with aroph, and as it only +acted at a moment of uterine excitement it was necessary to apply it +with the same movement as that of coition. The dose had to be +repeated five or six times a day for a whole week. + +This nostrum, and the manner of administering it, struck me in so +laughable a light that I could not keep my countenance. I laughed +with all my heart, but for all that I spent the next two hours in +reading the dreams of Paracelsus, in which Madame d'Urfe put more +trust than in the truths of the Gospel; I afterwards referred to +Boerhaave, who speaks of the aroph in more reasonable terms. + +Seeing, as I have remarked, the charming X. C. V. several hours a day +without any kind of constraint, feeling in love with her all the +time, and always restraining my feelings, it is no wonder if the +hidden fire threatened at every moment to leap up from the ashes of +its concealment. Her image pursued me unceasingly, of her I always +thought, and every day made it more evident that I should know rest +no more till I succeeded in extinguishing my passion by obtaining +possession of all her charms. + +As I was thinking of her by myself I resolved to tell her of my +discovery, hoping she would need my help in the introduction of the +cylinder. I went to see her at ten o'clock, and found her, as usual, +in bed; she was weeping because the opiate I gave her did not take +effect. I thought the time a good one for introducing the aroph of +Paracelsus, which I assured her was an infallible means of attaining +the end she desired; but whilst I was singing the praises of this +application the idea came into my head to say that, to be absolutely +certain, it was necessary for the aroph to be mingled with semen +which had not lost its natural heat. + +"This mixture," said I, "moistening several times a day the opening +of the womb, weakens it to such a degree that the foetus is expelled +by its own weight:" + +To these details I added lengthy arguments to persuade her of the +efficacy of this cure, and then, seeing that she was absorbed in +thought, I said that as her lover was away she would want a sure +friend to live in the same house with her, and give her the dose +according to the directions of Paracelsus. + +All at once she burst into a peal of laughter, and asked me if I had +been jesting all the time. + +I thought the game was up. The remedy was an absurd one, on the face +of it; and if her common sense told her as much it would also make +her guess my motive. But what limits are there to the credulity of a +woman in her condition? + +"If you wish," said I, persuasively, "I will give you the manuscript +where all that I have said is set down plainly. I will also shew you +what Boerhaeve thinks about it." + +I saw that these words convinced her; they had acted on her as if by +magic, and I went on while the iron was hot. + +"The aroph," said I, "is the most powerful agent for bringing on +menstruation." + +"And that is incompatible with the state I am now in; so the aroph +should procure me a secret deliverance. Do you know its +composition?" + +"Certainly; it is quite a simple preparation composed of certain +ingredients which are well known to me, and which have to be made +into a paste with butter or virgin honey. But this composition must +touch the orifice of the uterus at a moment of extreme excitement." + +"But in that case it seems to me that the person who gives the dose +must be in love." + +"Certainly, unless he is a mere animal requiring only physical +incentives." + +She was silent for some time, for though she was quick-witted enough, +a woman's natural modesty and her own frankness, prevented her from +guessing at my artifice. I, too, astonished at my success in making +her believe this fable, remained silent. + +At last, breaking the silence, she said, sadly, + +"The method seems to me an excellent one, but I do not think I ought +to make use of it." + +Then she asked me if the aroph took much time to make. + +"Two hours at most," I answered, "if I succeed in procuring English +saffron, which Paracelsus prefers to the Oriental saffron." + +At that moment her mother and the Chevalier Farsetti came in, and +after some talk of no consequence she asked me to stay to dinner. I +was going to decline, when Mdlle. X. C. V. said she would sit at +table, on which I accepted; and we all left the room to give her time +to dress. She was not long in dressing, and when she appeared her +figure seemed to me quite nymph-like. I was astonished, and could +scarcely believe my eyes, and I was on the point of thinking that I +had been imposed on, for I could not imagine how she could manage to +conceal the fulness I had felt with my own hands. + +M. Farsetti sat by her, and I by the mother. Mdlle. X. C. V., whose +head was full of the aroph, asked her neighbour, who gave himself out +for a great chemist, if he knew it. + +"I fancy I know it better than anyone," answered Farsetti, in a self- +satisfied manner. + +"What is it good for?" + +"That is too vague a question." + +"What does the word mean?" + +"It is an Arabic word, of which I do not know the meaning; but no +doubt Paracelsus would tell us." + +"The word," said I, "is neither Arabic nor Hebrew, nor, indeed, of +any language at all. It is a contraction which conceals two other +words." + +"Can you tell us what they are?" said the chevalier. + +"Certainly; aro comes from aroma, and ph is the initial of +philosophorum:" + +"Did you get that out of Paracelsus?" said Farsetti, evidently +annoyed. + +"No, sir; I saw it in Boerhaave." + +"That's good," said he, sarcastically; "Boerhaave says nothing of the +sort, but I like a man who quotes readily." + +"Laugh, sir, if you like," said I, proudly, "but here is the test of +what I say; accept the wager if you dare. I don't quote falsely, +like persons who talk of words being Arabic." + +So saying I flung a purse of gold on the table, but Farsetti, who was +by no means sure of what he was saying, answered disdainfully that he +never betted. + +However, Mdlle. X. C. V., enjoying his confusion, told him that was +the best way never to lose, and began to joke him on his Arabic +derivation. But, for my part, I replaced my purse in my pocket, and +on some trifling pretext went out and sent my servant to Madame +d'Urfe's to get me Boerhaave. + +On my return to the room I sat down again at table, and joined gaily +in the conversation till the return of my messenger with the book. I +opened it, and as I had been reading it the evening before I soon +found the place I wanted, and giving it to him begged him to satisfy +himself that I had quoted not readily but exactly. Instead of taking +the book, he got up and went out without saying a word. + +"He has gone away in a rage," said the mother; "and I would wager +anything that he will not come back again." + +"I wager he will," said the daughter, "he will honour us with his +agreeable company before to-morrow's sun has set." + +She was right. From that day Farsetti became my determined enemy, +and let no opportunity slip of convincing me of his hatred. + +After dinner we all went to Passy to be present at a concert given by +M. de la Popeliniere, who made us stay to supper. I found there +Silvia and her charming daughter, who pouted at me and not without +cause, as I had neglected her. The famous adept, St. Germain, +enlivened the table with his wild tirades so finely delivered. I +have never seen a more intellectual or amusing charlatan than he. + +Next day I shut myself up to answer a host of questions that Esther +had sent me. I took care to answer all those bearing on business +matters as obscurely as possible, not only for the credit of the +oracle, but also for fear of misleading the father and making him +lose money. The worthy man was the most honest of Dutch +millionaires, but he might easily make a large hole in his fortune, +if he did not absolutely ruin himself, by putting an implicit trust +in my infallibility. As for Esther, I confess that she was now no +more to me than a pleasant memory. + +In spite of my pretence of indifference, my whole heart was given to +Mdlle. X. C. V., and I dreaded the moment when she would be no longer +able to hide her condition from her family. I was sorry for having +spoken about the aroph, as three days had gone by without her +mentioning it, and I could not very well reopen the question myself. +I was afraid that she suspected my motives, and that the esteem she +professed for me had been replaced by a much less friendly sentiment. +I felt that her scorn would be too much for me to bear. So +humiliated was I that I could not visit her, and I doubt if I should +have seen her again if she had not intervened. She wrote me a note, +in which she said I was her only friend, and that the only mark of +friendship she wanted was that I should come and see her every day, +if it were but for a moment. I hasted to take her my reply in my own +person, and promised not to neglect her, assuring her that at all +hazards she might rely on me. I flattered myself that she would +mention the aroph, but she did not do so. I concluded that, after +thinking it over, she had resolved to think no more about it. + +"Would you like me," I said, "to invite your mother and the rest of +you to dine with me?" + +"I shall be delighted," she replied. "It will be a forbidden +pleasure to me before long." + +I gave them a dinner both sumptuous and delicate. I had spared no +expense to have everything of the best. I had asked Silvia, her +charming daughter, an Italian musician named Magali, with whom a +sister of Mdlle. X. C. V.'s was taken, and the famous bass La Garde. +Mdlle. X. C. V. was in the highest spirits all the time. Sallies of +wit, jests, good stories and enjoyment, were the soul of the banquet. +We did not separate till midnight, and before leaving Mdlle. X. C. V. +found a moment to whisper to me to come and see her early next +morning, as she wanted to speak to me on matters of importance. + +It will be guessed that I accepted the invitation. I waited on her +before eight o'clock. She was very melancholy, and told me that she +was in despair, that la Popeliniere pressed on the marriage, and that +her mother persecuted her. + +"She tells me that I must sign the contract, and that the dressmaker +will soon be coming to take my measure for my wedding dress. To that +I cannot consent, for a dressmaker would certainly see my situation. +I will die rather than confide in my mother, or marry before I am +delivered." + +"There is always time enough to talk about dying," said I, "when all +other means have failed. I think you could easily get rid of la +Popeliniere, who is a man of honour. Tell him how you are situated, +and he will act without compromising you, as his own interest is +sufficiently involved to make him keep the secret." + +"But should I be much better off then? And how about my mother?" + +"Your mother? Oh! I will make her listen to reason." + +"You know not what she is like. The honour of the family would +oblige her to get me out of the way, but before that she would make +me suffer torments to which death is preferable by far. But why have +you said no more about the aroph? Is it not all a jest? It would +be a very cruel one." + +"On the contrary, I believe it to be infallible, though I have never +been a witness of its effects; but what good is it for me to speak to +you? You can guess that a delicacy of feeling has made me keep +silence. Confide in your lover, who is at Venice; write him a +letter, and I will take care that it is given into his hands, in five +or six days, by a sure messenger. If he is not well off I will give +you whatever money may be needed for him to come without delay, and +save your honour and life by giving you the aroph." + +"This idea is a good one and the offer generous on your part, but it +is not feasible, as you would see if you knew more about my +circumstances. Do not think any more of my lover; but supposing I +made up my mind to receive the aroph from another, tell me how it +could be done. Even if my lover were in Paris, how could he spend an +entire week with me, as he would have to? And how could he give me +the dose five or six times a day for a week? You see yourself that +this remedy is out of the question." + +"So you would give yourself to another, if you thought that would +save your honour?" + +"Certainly, if I were sure that the thing would be kept secret. But +where shall I find such a person? Do you think he would be easy to +find, or that I can go and look for him?" + +I did not know what to make of this speech; for she knew I loved her, +and I did not see why she should put herself to the trouble of going +far when what she wanted was to her hand. I was inclined to think +that she wanted me to ask her to make choice of myself as the +administrator of the remedy, either to spare her modesty, or to have +the merit of yielding to my love and thus obliging me to be grateful; +but I might be wrong, and I did not care to expose myself to the +humiliation of a refusal. On the other hand I could hardly think she +wanted to insult me. Not knowing what to say or which way to turn,, +and wanting to draw an explanation from her, I sighed profoundly, +took up my hat, and made as if I were going, exclaiming, "Cruel girl, +my lot is more wretched than yours." + +She raised herself in the bed and begged me with tears in her eyes to +remain, and asked me how I could call myself more wretched than her. +Pretending to be annoyed and yet full of love for her, I told her +that the contempt in which she held me had affected me deeply, since +in her necessity she preferred the offices of one who was unknown to +her rather than make use of me. + +"You are cruel and unjust," she said, weeping. "I see, for my part, +that you love me no longer since you wish to take advantage of my +cruel necessity to gain a triumph over me. This is an act of revenge +not worthy of a man of feeling." + +Her tears softened me, and I fell on my knees before her. + +"Since you know, dearest, that I worship you, how can you think me +capable of revenging myself on you? Do you think that I can bear to +hear you say that since your lover cannot help you you do not know +where to look for help?" + +"But after refusing you my favours, could I ask this office of you +with any decency? Have I not good reason to be afraid that as I +refused to take pity on your love so you would refuse to take pity on +my necessity?" + +"Do you think that a passionate lover ceases to love on account of a +refusal which may be dictated by virtue? Let me tell you all I +think. I confess I once thought you did not love me, but now I am +sure of the contrary; and that your heart would have led you to +satisfy my love, even if you had not been thus situated. I may add +that you no doubt feel vexed at my having any doubts of your love." + +"You have interpreted my feelings admirably. But how we are to be +together with the necessary freedom from observation remains to be +seen." + +"Do not be afraid. Now I am sure of your consent, it will not be +long before I contrive some plan. In the meanwhile I will go and +make the aroph." + +I had resolved that if ever I succeeded in persuading Mdlle. X. C. V. +to make use of my specific I would use nothing but honey, so the +composition of the aroph would not be a very complicated process. +But if one point was then plain and simple, another remained to be +solved, and its solution gave me some difficulty. I should have to +pass several nights in continual toils. I feared I had promised more +than I could perform, and I should not be able to make any abatement +without hazarding, not the success of the aroph, but the bliss I had +taken such pains to win. Again, as her younger sister slept in the +same room with her and close to her, the operation could not be +performed there. At last chance--a divinity which often helps +lovers--came to my aid. + +I was obliged to climb up to the fourth floor and met the scullion on +my way, who guessed where I was going, and begged me not to go any +farther as the place was taken. + +"But," said I, "you have just come out of it." + +"Yes, but I only went in and came out again." + +"Then I will wait till the coast is clear." + +"For goodness' sake, sir, do not wait!" + +"Ah, you rascal! I see what is going on. Well I will say nothing +about it, but I must see her." + +"She won't come out, for she heard your steps and shut herself in." + +"She knows me, does she?" + +"Yes, and you know her." + +"All right, get along with you! I won't say anything about it." + +He went down, and the idea immediately struck me that the adventure +might be useful to me. I went up to the top, and through a chink I +saw Madelaine, Mdlle. X. C. V.'s maid. I reassured her, and promised +to keep the secret, whereon she opened the door, and after I had +given her a louis, fled in some confusion. Soon after, I came down, +and the scullion who was waiting for me on the landing begged me to +make Madelaine give him half the louis. + +"I will give you one all to yourself," said I, "if you will tell me +the story"--an offer which pleased the rogue well enough. He told me +the tale of his loves, and said he always spent the night with her in +the garret, but that for three days they had been deprived of their +pleasures, as madam had locked the door and taken away the key. I +made him shew me the place, and looking through the keyhole I saw +that there was plenty of room for a mattress. I gave the scullion a +Louis, and went away to ripen my plans. + +It seemed to me that there was no reason why the mistress should not +sleep in the garret as well as the maid. I got a picklock and +several skeleton keys, I put in a tin box several doses of the aroph- +that is, some honey mixed with pounded stag's horn to make it thick +enough, and the next morning I went to the "Hotel de Bretagne," and +immediately tried my picklock. I could have done without it, as the +first skeleton key I tried opened the wornout lock. + +Proud of my idea, I went down to see Mdlle. X. C. V., and in a few +words told her the plan. + +"But," said she, "I should have to go through Madelaine's room to get +to the garret." + +"In that case, dearest, we must win the girl over." + +"Tell her my secret?" + +"Just so." + +"Oh, I couldn't!" + +"I will see to it; the golden key opens all doors." + +The girl consented to all I asked her, but the scullion troubled me, +for if he found us out he might be dangerous. I thought, however, +that I might trust to Madelaine, who was a girl of wit, to look after +him. + +Before going I told the girl that I wanted to discuss some important +matters with her, and I told her to meet me in the cloisters of the +Augustinian Church. She came at the appointed time and I explained +to her the whole plan in all its details. She soon understood me, +and after telling me that she would take care to put her own bed in +the new kind of boudoir, she added that, to be quite safe, we must +make sure of the scullion. + +"He is a sharp lad," said Madelaine, "and I think I can answer for +him. However, you may leave that to me." + +I gave her the key and six louis, bidding her inform her mistress of +what we had agreed upon, and get the garret ready to receive us. She +went away quite merry. A maid who is in love is never so happy as +when she can make her mistress protect her intrigues. + +Next morning the scullion called on me at my house. The first thing +I told him was to take care not to betray himself to my servants, and +never to come and see me except in a case of necessity. He promised +discretion, and assured me of his devotion to my service. He gave me +the key of the garret and told me that he had got another. I admired +his forethought, and gave him a present of six louis, which had more +effect on him than the finest words. + +Next morning I only saw Mdlle. X. C. V. for a moment to warn her that +I should be at the appointed place at ten that evening. I went there +early without being seen by anybody. I was in a cloak, and carried +in my pocket the aroph, flint and steel, and a candle. I found a +good bed, pillows, and a thick coverlet--a very useful provision, as +the nights were cold, and we should require some sleep in the +intervals of the operation. + +At eleven a slight noise made my heart begin to beat--always a good +sign. I went out, and found my mistress by feeling for her, and +reassured her by a tender kiss. I brought her in, barricaded the +door, and took care to cover up the keyhole to baffle the curious, +and, if the worse happened, to avoid a surprise. + +On my lighting the candle she seemed uneasy, and said that the light +might discover us if anybody came up to the fourth floor. + +"That's not likely," I said; "and besides, we can't do without it, +for how am I to give you the aroph in the dark?" + +"Very good," she replied, "we can put it out afterwards." + +Without staying for those preliminary dallyings which are so sweet +when one is at ease, we undressed ourselves, and began with all +seriousness to play our part, which we did to perfection. We looked +like a medical student about to perform an operation, and she like a +patient, with this difference that it was the patient who arranged +the dressing. When she was ready--that is, when she had placed the +aroph as neatly as a skull-cap fits a parson--she put herself in the +proper position for the preparation to mix with the semen. + +The most laughable part of it all was that we were both as serious as +two doctors of divinity. + +When the introduction of the aroph was perfect the timid lady put out +the candle, but a few minutes after it had to be lighted again. I +told her politely that I was delighted to begin again, and the voice +in which I paid her this compliment made us both burst into laughter. + +I didn't take so short a time over my second operation as my first, +and my sweetheart, who had been a little put out, was now quite at +her ease. + +Her modesty had now been replaced by confidence, and as she was +looking at the aroph fitted in its place, she shewed me with her +pretty finger very evident signs of her co-operation in the work. +Then with an affectionate air, she asked me if I would not like to +rest, as we had still a good deal to do before our work was at an +end. + +"You see," said I, "that I do not need rest, and I think we had +better set to again." + +No doubt she found my reason a good one, for, without saying +anything, she put herself ready to begin again, and afterwards we +took a good long sleep. When I woke up, feeling as fresh as ever, I +asked her to try another operation; and after carrying this through +successfully, I determined to be guided by her and take care of +myself, for we had to reserve our energies for the following nights. +So, about four o'clock in the morning she left me, and softly made +her way to her room, and at daybreak I left the hotel under the +protection of the scullion, who took me by a private door I did not +know of. + +About noon, after taking an aromatic bath, I went to call on Mdlle. +X. C. V., whom I found sitting up in bed as usual, elegantly attired, +and with a happy smile on her lips. She spoke at such length on her +gratitude, and thanked me so often, that, believing myself, and with +good cause, to be her debtor, I began to get impatient. + +"Is it possible," I said, "that you do not see how degrading your +thanks are to me? They prove that you do not love me, or that if +you love me, you think my love less strong than yours." + +Our conversation then took a tender turn, and we were about to seal +our mutual ardours without troubling about the aroph, when prudence +bade us beware. It would not have been safe, and we had plenty of +time before us. We contented ourselves with a tender embrace till +the night should come. + +My situation was a peculiar one, for though I was in love with this +charming girl I did not feel in the least ashamed of having deceived +her, especially as what I did could have no effect, the place being +taken. It was my self-esteem which made me congratulate myself on +the sharp practice which had procured me such pleasures. She told me +that she was sorry she had denied me when I had asked her before, and +said that she felt now that I had good reason to suspect the reality +of her love. I did my best to reassure her, and indeed all +suspicions on my part would have been but idle thoughts, as I had +succeeded beyond all expectation. However, there is one point upon +which I congratulate myself to this day--namely, that during those +nightly toils of mine, which did so little towards the object of her +desires, I succeeded in inspiring her with such a feeling of +resignation that she promised, of her own accord, not to despair any +more, but to trust in and be guided by me. She often told me during +our nocturnal conversations that she was happy and would continue to +be so, even though the aroph had no effect. Not that she had ceased +to believe in it, for she continued the application of the harmless +preparation till our last assaults, in which we wanted in those sweet +combats to exhaust all the gifts of pleasure. + +"Sweetheart," said she, just before we parted finally, "it seems to +me that what we have been about is much more likely to create than to +destroy, and if the aperture had not been hermetically closed we +should doubtless have given the little prisoner a companion." + +A doctor of the Sorbonne could not have reasoned better. + +Three or four days afterwards I found her thoughtful but quiet. She +told me that she had lost all hope of getting rid of her burden +before the proper time. All the while, however, her mother +persecuted her, and she would have to choose in a few days between +making a declaration as to her state and signing the marriage +contract. She would accept neither of these alternatives, and had +decided on escaping from her home, and asked me to help her in doing +so. + +I had determined to help her, but I desired to save my reputation, +for it might have been troublesome if it had been absolutely known +that I had carried her off or furnished her with the means to escape. +And as for any other alternative, neither of us had any idea of +matrimony. + +I left her and went to the Tuileries, where a sacred concert was +being given. The piece was a motet composed by Moudonville, the +words by the Abbe de Voisenon, whom I had furnished with the idea, +"The Israelites on Mount Horeb." + +As I was getting out of my carriage, I saw Madame du Remain +descending alone from hers. I ran up. to her, and received a hearty +welcome. "I am delighted," said she, "to find you here, it is quite +a piece of luck. I am going to hear this novel composition, and have +two reserved seats. Will you do me the honour of accepting one?" + +Although I had my ticket in my pocket I could not refuse so +honourable an offer, so, giving her my arm, we walked up to two of +the best places in the house. + +At Paris no talking is allowed during the performance of sacred +music, especially when the piece is heard for the first time; so +Madame du Remain could draw no conclusions from my silence throughout +the performance, but she guessed that something was the matter from +the troubled and absent expression of my face, which was by no means +natural to me. + +"M. Casanova," said she, "be good enough to give me your company for +an hour. I want to ask you-two or three questions which can only be +solved by your cabala. I hope you will oblige me, as I am, very +anxious to know the answers, but we must be quick as I have an +engagement to sup in Paris." + +It may be imagined that I did not wait to be asked twice, and as soon +as we got to her house I went to work on the questions, and solved +them all in less than half an hour. + +When I had finished, "M. Casanova;" said she, in the kindest manner +possible, "what is the matter with you? You are not in your usual +state of equanimity, and if I am not mistaken you are dreading some +dire event. Or perhaps you are on the eve of taking some important +resolution? I am not inquisitive, but if I can be of any service to +you at Court, make use of me, and be sure that I will do my best. If +necessary, I will go to Versailles to-morrow morning. I know all the +ministers. Confide in me your troubles, if I cannot lighten them I +can at least share them, and be sure I will keep your counsel. + +Her words seemed to me a voice from heaven, a warning from my good +genius to open my heart to this lady, who had almost read my +thoughts, and had so plainly expressed her interest in my welfare. + +After gazing at her for some seconds without speaking, but with a +manner that shewed her how grateful I was, "Yes madam," I said, "I am +indeed critically situated, may be on the serge of ruin, but your +kindness has calmed my soul and made me once more acquainted with +hope. You shall hear how I am placed. I am going to trust you with +a secret of the most delicate description, but I can rely on your +being as discreet as you are good. And if after hearing my story you +deign to give me your advice, I promise to follow it and never to +divulge its author." + +After this beginning, which gained her close attention, I told her +all the circumstances of the case, neither concealing the young +lady's name nor any of the circumstances which made it my duty to +watch over her welfare. All the same I said nothing about the aroph +or the share I had taken in its exhibition. The incident appeared to +me too farcical for a serious drama, but I confessed that I had +procured the girl drugs in the hope of relieving her of her burden. + +After this weighty communication I stopped, and Madame du Rumain +remained silent, as if lost in thought, for nearly a quarter of an +hour. At last she rose, saying, + +"I am expected at Madame de la Marque's, and I must go, as I am to +meet the Bishop of Montrouge, to whom I want to speak, but I hope I +shall eventually be able to help you. Come here the day after +tomorrow, you will find me alone; above all, do nothing before you +see me. Farewell." + +I left her full of hope, and resolved to follow her advice and hers +only in the troublesome affair in which I was involved. + +The Bishop of Montrouge whom she was going to address on an important +matter, the nature of which was well known to me, was the Abbe de +Voisenon, who was thus named because he often went there. Montrouge +is an estate near Paris, belonging to the Duc de la Valiere. + +I saw Mdlle. X. C. V. the following day, and contented myself with +telling her that in a couple of days I hope to give her some good +news. I was pleased with her manner, which was full of resignation +and trust in my endeavours. + +The day after, I went to Madame du Rumain's punctually at eight. The +porter told me that I should find the doctor with my lady, but I went +upstairs all the same, and as soon as the doctor saw me he took his +leave. His name was Herrenschwand, and all the ladies in Paris ran +after him. Poor Poinsinet put him in a little one-act play called Le +Cercle, which, though of very ordinary merit, was a great success. + +"My dear sir," said Madame du Rumain, as soon as we were alone, "I +have succeeded in my endeavours on your behalf, and it is now for you +to keep secret my share in the matter. After I had pondered over the +case of conscience you submitted to me, I went to the convent of C--- +where the abbess is a friend of mine, and I entrusted her with the +secret, relying on her discretion. We agreed that she should receive +the young lady in her convent, and give her a good lay-sister to +nurse her through her confinement. Now you will not deny," said she, +with a smile, "that the cloisters are of some use. Your young friend +must go by herself to the convent with a letter for the abbess, which +I will give her, and which she must deliver to the porter. She will +then be admitted and lodged in a suitable chamber. She will receive +no visitors nor any letters that have not passed through my hands. +The abbess will bring her answers to me, and I will pass them on to +you. You must see that her only correspondent must be yourself, and +you must receive news of her welfare only through me. On your hand +in writing to her you must leave the address to be filled in by me. +I had to tell the abbess the lady's name, but not yours as she did +not require it. + +"Tell your young friend all about our plans, and when she is ready +come and tell me, and I will give you the letter to the abbess. Tell +her to bring nothing but what is strictly necessary, above all no +diamonds or trinkets of any value. You may assure her that the +abbess will be friendly, will come and see her every now and then, +will give her proper books--in a word, that she will be well looked +after. Warn her not to confide in the laysister who will attend on +her. I have no doubt she is an excellent woman, but she is a nun, +and the secret might leak out. After she is safely delivered, she +must go to confession and perform her Easter duties, and the abbess +will give her a certificate of good behaviour; and she can then +return to her mother, who will be too happy to see her to say +anything more about the marriage, which, of course, she ought to give +as her reason of her leaving home." + +After many expressions of my gratitude to her, and of my admiration +of her plan, I begged her to give me the letter on the spot, as there +was no time to be lost. She was good enough to go at once to her +desk, where she wrote as follows: + +"My dear abbess,-- The young lady who will give you this letter is +the same of whom we have spoken. She wishes to spend three of four +months under your protection, to recover her peace of mind, to +perform her devotions, and to make sure that when she returns to her +mother nothing more will be said about the marriage, which is partly +the cause of her temporary separation from her family." + +After reading it to me, she put it into my hands unsealed that Mdlle. +X. C. V. might be able to read it. The abbess in question was a +princess, and her convent was consequently a place above all +suspicion. As Madame du Rumain gave me the letter, I felt such an +impulse of gratitude that I fell on my knees before her. This +generous woman was useful to me on another occasion, of which I shall +speak later on. + +After leaving Madame du Rumain I went straight to the "Hotel de +Bretagne," where I saw Mdlle. X. C. V., who had only time to tell me +that she was engaged for the rest of the day, but that she would come +to the garret at eleven o'clock that night, and that then we could +talk matters over. I was overjoyed at this arrangement, as I foresaw +that after this would come the awakening from a happy dream, and that +I should be alone with her no more. + +Before leaving the hotel I gave the word to Madelaine, who in turn +got the scullion to have everything in readiness. + +I kept the appointment, and had not long to wait for my mistress. +After making her read the letter written by Madame du Rumain (whose +name I withheld from her without her taking offence thereat) I put +out the candle, and without troubling about the aroph, we set +ourselves to the pleasant task of proving that we truly loved each +other. + +In the morning, before we separated, I gave her all the instructions +I had received from Madame du Rumain; and we agreed that she should +leave the house at eight o'clock with such things as she absolutely +required, that she should take a coach to the Place Maubert, then +send it away, and take another to the Place Antoine, and again, +farther on, a third coach, in which she was to go to the convent +named. I begged her not to forget to burn all the letters she had +received from me, and to write to me from the convent as often as she +could, to seal her letters but to leave the address blank. She +promised to carry out my instructions, and I then made her accept a +packet of two hundred louis, of which she might chance to be in need. +She wept, more for my situation than her own, but I consoled her by +saying that I had plenty of money and powerful patrons. + +"I will set out," said she, "the day after to-morrow, at the hour +agreed on." And thereupon, I having promised to come to the house +the day after her departure, as if I knew nothing about it, and to +let her know what passed, we embraced each other tenderly, and I left +her. + +I was troubled in thinking about her fate. She had wit and courage, +but when experience is wanting wit often leads men to commit acts of +great folly. + +The day after the morrow I took a coach, and posted myself in a +corner of the street by which she had to pass. I saw her come, get +out of the coach, pay the coachman, go down a narrow street, and a +few minutes after reappear again, veiled and hooded, carrying a small +parcel in her hand. She then took another conveyance which went off +in the direction we had agreed upon. + +The day following being Low Sunday, I felt that I must present myself +at the "Hotel de Bretagne," for as I went there every day before the +daughter's flight I could not stop going there without strengthening +any suspicions which might be entertained about me. But it was a +painful task. I had to appear at my ease and cheerful in a place +where I was quite sure all would be sadness and confusion. I must +say that it was an affair requiring higher powers of impudence than +fall to the lot of most men. + +I chose a time when all the family would be together at table, and I +walked straight into the dining-room. I entered with my usual +cheerful manner, and sat down by madame, a little behind her, +pretending not to see her surprise, which, however, was plainly to be +seen, her whole face being flushed with rage and astonishment. I had +not been long in the room before I asked where her daughter was. She +turned round, looked me through and through, and said not a word. + +"Is she ill?" said I. + +"I know nothing about her." + +This remark, which was pronounced in a dry manner, put me at my ease, +as I now felt at liberty to look concerned. I sat there for a +quarter of an hour, playing the part of grave and astonished silence, +and then, rising, I asked if I could do anything, for which all my +reward was a cold expression of thanks. I then left the room and +went to Mdlle. X. C. V.'s chamber as if I had thought she was there, +but found only Madelaine. I asked her with a meaning look where her +mistress was. She replied by begging me to tell her, if I knew. + +"Has she gone by herself?" + +"I know nothing at all about it, sir, but they say you know all. I +beg of you to leave me." + +Pretending to be in the greatest astonishment, I slowly walked away +and took a coach, glad to have accomplished this painful duty. After +the reception I had met with I could without affectation pose as +offended, and visit the family no more, for whether I were guilty or +innocent, Madame X. C. V. must see that her manner had been plain +enough for me to know what it meant. + +I was looking out of my window at an early hour two or three days +afterwards, when a coach stopped before my door, and Madame X C V-, +escorted by M. Farsetti got out. I made haste to meet them on the +stair, and welcomed them, saying I was glad they had done me the +honour to come and take breakfast with me, pretending not to know of +any other reason. I asked them to sit down before the fire, and +enquired after the lady's health; but without noticing my question +she said that she had not come to take breakfast, but to have some +serious conversation. + +"Madam," said I, "I am your humble servant; but first of all pray be +seated." + +She sat down, while Farsetti continued standing. I did not press +him, but turning towards the lady begged her to command me. + +"I am come here," she said, "to ask you to give me my daughter if she +be in your power, or to tell me where she is." + +"Your daughter, madam? I know nothing about her! Do you think me +capable of a crime?" + +"I do not accuse you of abducting her; I have not come here to +reproach you nor to utter threats, I have only come to ask you to +shew yourself my friend. Help me to get my daughter again this very +day; you will give me my life. I am certain that you know all. You +were her only confidant and her only friend; you passed hours with +her every day; she must have told you of her secret. Pity a bereaved +mother! So far no one knows of the facts; give her back to me and +all shall be forgotten, and her honour saved." + +"Madam, I feel for you acutely, but I repeat that I know nothing of +your daughter." + +The poor woman, whose grief touched me, fell at my feet and burst +into tears. I was going to lift her from the ground, when Farsetti +told her, in a voice full of indignation, that she should blush to +humble herself in such a manner before a man of my description. I +drew myself up, and looking at him scornfully said, + +"You insolent scoundrel! What do you mean by talking of me like +that?" + +"Everybody is certain that you know all about it." + +"Then they are impudent fools, like you. Get out of my house this +instant and wait for me, I will be with you in a quarter of an hour." + +So saying, I took the poor chevalier by the shoulders, and giving him +sundry shakes I turned him out of the room. He came back and called +to the lady to come, too, but she rose and tried to quiet me. + +"You ought to be more considerate towards a lover," said she, "for he +would marry my daughter now, even after what she has done." + +"I am aware of the fact, madam, and I have no doubt that his +courtship was one of the chief reasons which made your daughter +resolve to leave her home, for she hated him even more than she hated +the fermier-general." + +"She has behaved very badly, but I promise not to say anything more +about marrying her. But I am sure you know all about it, as you gave +her fifty louis, without which she could not have done anything." + +"Nay, not so." + +"Do not deny it, sir; here is the evidence--a small piece of your +letter to her." + +She gave me a scrap of the letter I had sent the daughter, with the +fifty louis for her brother. It contained the following lines, + +"I hope that these wretched louis will convince you that I am ready +to sacrifice everything, my life if need be, to assure you of my +affection." + +"I am far from disavowing this evidence of my esteem for your +daughter, but to justify myself I am obliged to tell you a fact which +I should have otherwise kept secret--namely, that I furnished your +daughter with this sum to enable her to pay your son's debts, for +which he thanked me in a letter which I can shew you." + +"My son?" + +"Your son, madam." + +"I will make you an ample atonement for my suspicions." + +Before I had time to make any objection, she ran down to fetch +Farsetti, who was waiting in the courtyard, and made him come up and +hear what I had just told her. + +"That's not a likely tale," said the insolent fellow. + +I looked at him contemptuously, and told him he was not worth +convincing, but that I would beg the lady to ask her son and see +whether I told the truth. + +"I assure you," I added, "that I always urged your daughter to marry +M. de la Popeliniere." + +"How can you have the face to say that," said Farsetti, "when you +talk in the letter of your affection?" + +"I do not deny it," said I. "I loved her, and I was proud of my +affection for her. This affection, of whatever sort it may have been +(and that is not this gentleman's business), was the ordinary topic +of conversation between us. If she had told me that she was going to +leave her home, I should either have dissuaded her or gone with her, +for I loved her as I do at this moment; but I would never have given +her money to go alone." + +"My dear Casanova," said the mother, "if you will help me to find her +I shall believe in your innocence." + +"I shall be delighted to aid you, and I promise to commence the quest +to-day." + +"As soon as you have any news, come and tell me." + +"You may trust me to do so," said I, and we parted. + +I had to play my part carefully; especially it was essential that I +should behave in public in a manner consistent with my professions. +Accordingly, the next day I went to M. Chaban, first commissary of +police, requesting him to institute enquiries respecting the flight +of Mdlle. X. C. V. I was sure that in this way the real part I had +taken in the matter would be the better concealed; but the +commissary, who had the true spirit of his profession, and had liked +me when he first saw me six years before, began to laugh when he +heard what I wanted him to do. + +"Do you really want the police to discover," said he, "where the +pretty Englishwoman is to be found?" + +"Certainly." + +It then struck me that he was trying to make me talk and to catch me +tripping, and I had no doubt of it when I met Farsetti going in as I +was coming out. + +Next day I went to acquaint Madame X. C. V. with the steps I had +taken, though as yet my efforts had not been crowned with success. + +"I have been more fortunate than you," said she, "and if you will +come with me to the place where my daughter has gone, and will join +me in persuading her to return, all will be well." + +"Certainly," said I, "I shall be most happy to accompany you." + +Taking me at my word, she put on her cloak, and leaning on my arm +walked along till we came to a coach. She then gave me a slip of +paper, begging me to tell the coachman to drive us to the address +thereon. + +I was on thorns, and my heart beat fast, for I thought I should have +to read out the address of the convent. I do not know what I should +have done if my fears had been well grounded, but I should certainly +not have gone to the convent. At last I read what was written; it +was "Place Maubert," and I grew calm once more. + +I told the coachman to drive us to the Place Maubert. We set off, +and in a short time stopped at the opening of an obscure back street +before a dirty-looking house, which did not give one a high idea of +the character of its occupants. I gave Madame X. C. V. my arm, and +she had the satisfaction of looking into every room in the five +floors of the house, but what she sought for was not there, and I +expected to see her overwhelmed with grief. I was mistaken, however. +She looked distressed but satisfied, and her eyes seemed to ask +pardon of me. She had found out from the coachman, who had taken her +daughter on the first stage of her journey, that she had alighted in +front of the house in question, and had gone down the back street. +She told me that the scullion had confessed that he had taken me +letters twice from his young mistress, and that Madelaine said all +the time that she was sure her mistress and I were in love with each +other. They played their parts well. + +As soon as I had seen Madame X. C. V. safely home, I went to Madame +du Rumain to tell her what had happened; and I then wrote to my fair +recluse, telling her what had gone on in the world since her +disappearance. + +Three or four days after this date, Madame du Rumain gave me the +first letter I received from Mdlle. X. C. V. She spoke in it of the +quiet life she was leading, and her gratitude to me, praised the +abbess and the lay-sister, and gave me the titles of the books they +lent her, which she liked reading. She also informed me what money +she had spent, and said she was happy in everything, almost in being +forbidden to leave her room. + +I was delighted with her letter, but much more with the abbess's +epistle to Madame du Rumain. She was evidently fond of the girl, and +could not say too much in her praise, saying how sweet-tempered, +clever, and lady-like she was; winding up by assuring her friend that +she went to see her every day. + +I was charmed to see the pleasure this letter afforded Madame du +Rumain--pleasure which was increased by the perusal of the letter I +had received. The only persons who were displeased were the poor +mother, the frightful Farsetti, and the old fermier, whose misfortune +was talked about in the clubs, the Palais-Royal, and the coffee- +houses. Everybody put me down for some share in the business, but I +laughed at their gossip, believing that I was quite safe. + +All the same, la Popeliniere took the adventure philosophically and +made a one-act play out of it, which he had acted at his little +theatre in Paris. Three months afterwards he got married to a very +pretty girl, the daughter of a Bordeaux alderman. He died in the +course of two years, leaving his widow pregnant with a son, who came +into the world six months after the father's death. The unworthy +heir to the rich man had the face to accuse the widow of adultery, +and got the child declared illegitimate to the eternal shame of the +court which gave this iniquitous judgment and to the grief of every +honest Frenchman. The iniquitous nature of the judgment was +afterwards more clearly demonstrated--putting aside the fact that +nothing could be said against the mother's character--by the same +court having the, face to declare a child born eleven months after +the father's death legitimate. + +I continued for ten days to call upon Madame X. C. V., but finding +myself coldly welcomed, decided to go there no more. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Fresh Adventures--J. J. Rousseau--I set Up A Business--Castel--Bajac +--A Lawsuit is Commenced Against Me--M. de Sartine + + +Mdlle. X. C. V. had now been in the convent for a month, and her +affair had ceased to be a common topic of conversation. I thought I +should hear no more of it, but I was mistaken. I continued, however, +to amuse myself, and my pleasure in spending freely quite prevented +me from thinking about the future. The Abbe de Bernis, whom I went +to see regularly once a week, told me one day that the comptroller- +general often enquired how I was getting on. "You are wrong," said +the abbe, "to neglect him." He advised me to say no more about my +claims, but to communicate to him the means I had spoken of for +increasing the revenues of the state. I laid too great store by the +advice of the man who had made my fortune not to follow it. I went +to the comptroller, and trusting in his probity I explained my scheme +to him. This was to pass a law by which every estate, except that +left by father to son, should furnish the treasury with one year's +income; every deed of gift formally drawn up being subject to the +same provision. It seemed to me that the law could not give offence +to anyone; the heir had only to imagine that he had inherited a year +later than was actually the case. The minister was of the same +opinion as myself, told me that there would not be the slightest +difficulty involved, and assured me that my fortune was made. In a +week afterwards his place was taken by M. de Silhouette, and when I +called on the new minister he told me coldly that when my scheme +became law he would tell me. It became law two years afterwards, and +when, as the originator of the scheme, I attempted to get my just +reward, they laughed in my face. + +Shortly after, the Pope died, and he was succeeded by the Venetian +Rezzonico, who created my patron, the Abby de Bernis, a cardinal. +However, he had to go into exile by order of the king two days after +his gracious majesty had presented him with the red cap: so good a +thing it is to be the friend of kings! + +The disgrace of my delightful abbe left me without a patron, but I +had plenty of money, and so was enabled to bear this misfortune with +resignation. + +For having undone all the work of Cardinal Richelieu, for having +changed the old enmity between France and Austria into friendship, +for delivering Italy from the horrors of war which befell her +whenever these countries had a bone to pick, although he was the +first cardinal made by a pope who had had plenty of opportunities for +discovering his character, merely because, on being asked, he had +given it as his opinion that the Prince de Soubise was not a fit +person to command the French armies, this great ecclesiastic was +driven into exile. The moment the Pompadour heard of this opinion of +his, she decreed his banishment--a sentence which was unpopular with +all classes of society; but they consoled themselves with epigrams, +and the new cardinal was soon forgotten. Such is the character of +the French people; it cares neither for its own misfortunes nor for +those of others, if only it can extract laughter from them. + +In my time epigrammatists and poetasters who assailed ministers or +even the king's mistresses were sent to the Bastille, but the wits +still persisted in being amusing, and there were some who considered +a jest incomplete that was not followed by a prosecution. A man +whose name I have forgotten--a great lover of notoriety--appropriated +the following verses by the younger Crebellon and went to the +Bastille rather than disown them. + + "All the world's upside down! + Jupiter has donned the gown--the King. + Venus mounts the council stair--the Pompadour. + Plutus trifles with the fair--M. de Boulogne. + Mercury in mail is drest--Marechal de Richelieu. + Mighty Mars has turned a priest--the Duc de Clermont, abbe of + St. Germain-des-pres." + +Crebillon, who was not the sort of man to conceal his writings, told +the Duc de Choiseul that he had written some verses exactly like +these, but that it was possible the prisoner had been inspired with +precisely the same ideas. This jest was applauded, and the author of +"The Sofa" was let alone. + +Cardinal de Bernis passed ten years in exile, 'procul negotiis', but +he was not happy, as he told me himself when I knew him in Rome +fifteen years afterwards. It is said that it is better to be a +minister than a king--an, opinion which seems ridiculous when it is +analyzed. The question is, which is the better, independence or its +contrary. The axiom may possibly be verified in a despotic +government under an absurd, weak, or careless king who serves as a +mere mask for his master the minister; but in all other cases it is +an absurdity. + +Cardinal de Bernis was never recalled; there is no instance of Louis +XV. having ever recalled a minister whom he had disgraced; but on the +death of Rezzonico he had to go to Rome to be present at the +conclave, and there he remained as French ambassador. + +About this time Madame d'Urfe conceived a wish to make the +acquaintance of J. J. Rousseau, and we went to call upon him at +Montmorenci, on the pretext of giving him music to copy--an +occupation in which he was very skilled. He was paid twice the sum +given to any other copyist, but he guaranteed that the work should be +faultlessly done. At that period of his life copying music was the +great writer's sole means of subsistence. + +We found him to be a man of a simple and modest demeanour, who talked +well, but who was not otherwise distinguished either intellectually +or physically. We did not think him what would be called a good- +natured man, and as he was far from having the manners of good +society Madame d'Urfe did not hesitate to pronounce him vulgar. We +saw the woman with whom he lived, and of whom we had heard, but she +scarcely looked at us. On our way home we amused ourselves by +talking about Rousseau's eccentric habits. + +I will here note down the visit of the Prince of Conti (father of the +gentleman who is now known as the Comte de la March) to Rousseau. + +The prince--a good-natured man-went by himself to Montmorenci, on +purpose to spend a day in conversation with the philosopher, who was +even then famous. He found him in the park, accosted him, and said +that he had come to dine with him and to talk without restraint. + +"Your highness will fare but badly," said Rousseau: "however, I will +tell them to lay another knife and fork." + +The philosopher gave his instructions, and came out and rejoined the +prince, with whom he walked up and down for two or three hours. When +it was dinner-time he took the prince into his dining-room, where the +table was laid for three. + +"Who is going to dine with us?" said the prince. "I thought we were +to be alone." + +"The third party," said Rousseau, "is my other self--a being who is +neither my wife, nor my mistress, nor my servant-maid, nor my mother, +nor my daughter, but yet personates all these characters at once." + +"I daresay, my dear fellow, I daresay; but as I came to dine with you +alone, I will not dine with your--other self, but will leave you with +all the rest of you to keep your company." + +So saying the prince bade him farewell and went out. Rousseau did +not try to keep him. + +About this time I witnessed the failure of a play called 'Aristides' +Daughter', written by the ingenious Madame de Graffini, who died of +vexation five days after her play was damned. The Abbe de Voisenon +was horrified, as he had advised the lady to produce it, and was +thought to have had some hand in its composition, as well as in that +of the 'Lettres Peruviennes' and 'Cenie'. By a curious coincidence, +just about the same date, Rezzonico's mother died of joy because her +son had become pope. Grief and joy kill many more women than men, +which proves that if women have mere feeling than men they have also +less strength. + +When Madame d'Urfe thought that my adopted son was comfortably +settled in Viar's house, she made me go with her and pay him a visit. +I found him lodged like a prince, well dressed, made much of, and +almost looked up to. I was astonished, for this was more than I had +bargained for. Madame d'Urfe had given him masters of all sorts, and +a pretty little pony for him to learn riding on. He was styled M. +le Comte d'Aranda. A girl of sixteen, Viar's daughter, a fine- +looking young woman, was appointed to look after him, and she was +quite proud to call herself my lord's governess. She assured Madame +d'Urfe that she took special care of him; that as soon as he woke she +brought him his breakfast in bed; that she then dressed him, and did +not leave his side the whole day. Madame d'Urfe approved of +everything, told the girl to take even greater care of the count, and +promised that she should not go unrewarded. As for the young +gentleman, he was evidently quite happy, as he told me himself again +and again, but I suspected a mystery somewhere, and determined that I +would go and see him by myself another time and solve it. + +On our journey home I told Madame d'Urfe how grateful I was for all +her goodness to the boy, and that I approved of all the arrangements +that had been made with the exception of the name Aranda, "which," +said I, "may some day prove a thorn in his side." She answered that +the lad had said enough to convince her that he had a right to bear +that name. "I had," she said, "in my desk a seal with the arms of +the house of Aranda, and happening to take it up I shewed it him as +we shew trinkets to children to amuse them, but as soon as he saw it +he burst out, + +"'How came you to have my arms?' + +"Your arms!" I answered. "I got this seal from the Comte d'Aranda; +how can you prove that you are a scion of that race?" + +"'Do not ask me, madam; my birth is a secret I can reveal to no +one.'" + +The imposition and above all the impudence of the young knave +astounded me. I should not have thought him capable of it, and a +week after I went to see him by myself to get at the bottom of all +this mystery. + +I found my young count with Viar, who, judging by the awe the child +shewed of me, must have thought he belonged to me. He was unsparing +in his praises of his pupil, saying that he played the flute +capitally, danced and fenced admirably, rode well, and wrote a good +hand. He shewed me the pens he had cut himself with three, five, and +even nine points, and begged to be examined on heraldry, which, as +the master observed, was so necessary a science for a young nobleman. + +The young gentleman then commenced in the jargon of heraldry to +blazon his own pretended arms, and I felt much inclined to burst into +laughter, partly because I did not understand a word he said, and +partly because he seemed to think the matter as important as would a +country squire with his thirty-two quarters. However, I was +delighted to see his dexterity in penmanship, which was undoubtedly +very great, and I expressed my satisfaction to Viar, who soon left us +to ourselves. We proceeded into the garden. + +"Will you kindly inform me," I said, "how you can be so foolish as to +call yourself the Comte d'Aranda?" + +He replied, with the utmost calmness, "I know it is foolish, but +leave me my title; it is of service to me here and gains me respect." + +"It is an imposition I cannot wink at, as it may be fraught with +serious results, and may do harm to both of us. I should not have +thought that at your age you would be capable of such a knavish +trick. I know you did it out of stupidity, but after a certain limit +stupidity becomes criminal; and I cannot see how I am to remedy your +fault without disgracing you in the eyes of Madame d'Urfe." + +I kept on scolding him till he burst into tears, saying, + +"I had rather the shame of being sent back to my mother than the +shame of confessing to Madame d'Urfe that I had imposed on her; and I +could not bear to stay here if I had to give up my name." + +Seeing that I could do nothing with him, unless, indeed, I sent him +to some place far removed from Paris under his proper name, I told +him to take comfort as I would try and do the best I could for both +of us. + +"And now tell me--and take care to tell the truth--what sort of +feelings does Viar's daughter entertain for you?" + +"I think, papa, that this is a case in which the reserve commended by +yourself, as well as by mother, would be appropriate." + +"Yes, that sort of answer tells me a good deal, but I think you are +rather too knowing for your age. And you may as well observe that +when you are called upon for a confession, reserve is out of place, +and it's a confession I require from you." + +"Well, papa, Viar's daughter is very fond of me, and she shews her +love in all sorts of ways." + +"And do you love her?" + +"Oh, yes!" + +"Is she much with you in the morning?" + +"She is with me the whole day." + +"She is present when you go to bed?" + +"Yes, she helps me to undress." + +"Nothing else?" + +"I do not care to tell you." + +I was astonished at the measured way in which he answered me, and as +I had heard enough to guess that the boy and girl were very good +friends indeed, I contented myself with warning him to take care of +his health, and with this I left him. + +Some time after, my thoughts were occupied with a business +speculation which all my calculations assured me would be extremely +profitable. The plan was to produce on silks, by means of printing, +the exquisite designs which are produced at Lyons by the tedious +process of weaving, and thus to give customers excellent value at +much lower prices. I had the requisite knowledge of chemistry, and +enough capital to make the thing a success. I obtained the +assistance of a man with the necessary technical skill and knowledge, +intending to make him my manager. + +I told my plan to the Prince de Conti, who encouraged me to +persevere, promising me his patronage, and all the privileges I could +wish for. That decided me to begin. + +I rented a very large house near the Temple for a thousand crowns per +annum. The house contained a spacious hall, in which I meant to put +my workmen; another hall which was to be the shop; numerous rooms for +my workpeople to live in; and a nice room for myself in case I cared +to live on the premises. + +I made the scheme into a company with thirty shares, of which I gave +five to my designer, keeping the remaining twenty-five to distribute +to those who were inclined to join the company. I gave one to a +doctor who, on giving surety, became the storekeeper, and came to +live in the house with his whole family; and I engaged four servants, +a waiting-maid, and a porter. I had to give another share to an +accountant, who furnished me with two clerks, who also took up their +abode in the house. The carpenters, blacksmiths, and painters worked +hard from morning to night, and in less than three weeks the place +was ready. I told the manager to engage twenty girls to paint, who +were to be paid every Saturday. I stocked the warehouse with three +hundred pieces of sarcenet and camlet of different shades and colours +to receive the designs, and I paid for everything in ready money. + +I had made an approximate calculation with my manager that I should +have to spend three hundred thousand francs, and that would not break +me. If the worst happened I could fall back on my shares, which +produced a good income, but I hoped I should not be compelled to do +so, as I wanted to have an income of two hundred thousand francs a +year. + +All the while I did not conceal from myself that the speculation +might be my ruin, if custom did not come in, but on looking at my +beautiful materials these fears were dispelled, especially as I heard +everybody saying that I sold them much too cheap. + +To set up the business I spent in the course of a month about sixty +thousand francs, and my weekly expenses amounted to twelve hundred +francs. + +As for Madame d'Urfe she laughed every time she saw me, for she was +quite certain that this business was only meant to put the curious +off the scent and to preserve my incognito: so persuaded was she of +my omnipotence. + +The sight of twenty girls, all more or less pretty, the eldest of +whom was not twenty-five, far from making me tremble as it ought, +delighted me. I fancied myself in the midst of a seraglio, and I +amused myself by watching their meek and modest looks as they did +their work under the direction of the foreman. The best paid did not +get more than twenty-four sous a day, and all of them had excellent +reputations, for they had been selected at her own request by the +manager's wife, a devout woman of ripe age, whom I hoped to find +obliging if the fancy seized me to test her choice. Manon Baletti +did not share my satisfaction in them. She trembled to see me the +owner of a harem, well knowing that sooner or later the barque of my +virtue would run on the rocks. She scolded me well about these +girls, though I assured her that none of them slept in the house. + +This business increased my own ideas of my importance; partly from +the thought that I was on the high road to fortune, and partly +because I furnished so many people with the means of subsistence. +Alas! I was too fortunate; and my evil genius soon crossed my career. + +It was now three months since Mdlle. X. C. V. had gone into the +convent, and the time of her delivery drew near. We wrote to each +other twice a week, and I considered the matter happily settled; M. +de la Popeliniere had married, and when Mdlle. X. C. V. returned to +her mother there would be nothing more to be said But just at this +period, when my happiness seemed assured, the hidden fire leapt forth +and threatened to consume me; how, the reader will see. + +One day after leaving Madame d'Urfe's I went to walk in the +Tuileries. I had taken a couple of turns in the chief walk when I +saw that an old woman, accompanied by a man dressed in black, was +looking at me closely and communicating her observations to her +companion. There was nothing very astonishing in this in a public +place, and I continued my walk, and on turning again saw the same +couple still watching me. In my turn I looked at them, and +remembered seeing the man in a gaming-house, where he was known by +the name of Castel-Bajac. On scrutinizing the features of the hag, I +at last succeeded in recollecting who she was; she was the woman to +whom I had taken Mdlle. X. C. V. I felt certain that she had +recognized me, but not troubling myself about the matter I left the +gardens to walk elsewhere. The day after next, just as I was going +to get into my carriage, a man of evil aspect gave me a paper and +asked me to read it. I opened it, but finding it covered with an +illegible scrawl I gave it him back, telling him to read it himself. +He did so, and I found myself summoned to appear before the +commissary of police to answer to the plea which the midwife (whose +name I forget) brought against me. + +Although I could guess what the charge would be, and was certain that +the midwife could furnish no proofs of her accusation, I went to an +attorney I knew and told him to appear for me. I instructed him that +I did not know any midwife in Paris whatsoever. The attorney waited +on the commissary, and on the day after brought me a copy of the +pleas. + +The midwife said that I came to her one night, accompanied by a young +lady about five months with child, and that, holding a pistol in one +hand and a packet of fifty Louis in the other, I made her promise to +procure abortion. We both of us (so she said) had masks on, thus. +shewing that we had been at the opera ball. Fear, said she, had +prevented her from flatly refusing to grant my request; but she had +enough presence of mind to say that the necessary drugs were not +ready, that she would have all in order by the next night; whereupon +we left, promising to return. In the belief that we would not fail +to keep the appointment, she went in to M. Castel-Bajac to ask him to +hide in the next room that she might be protected from my fury, and +that he might be a witness of what I said, but she had not seen me +again. She added that she would have given information the day after +the event if she had known who I was, but since M. Castel-Bajac had +told her my name on her recognizing me in the Tuileries, she had +thought it her bounden duty to deliver me to the law that she might +be compensated for the violence I had used to her. And this document +was signed by the said Castel-Bajac as a witness. + +"This is an evident case of libel," said my attorney, "at least, if +she can't prove the truth of her allegations. My advice to you is to +take the matter before the criminal lieutenant, who will be able to +give you the satisfaction you require." + +I authorized him to do what he thought advisable, and three or four +days after he told me that the lieutenant wished to speak to me in +private, and would expect me the same day at three o'clock in the +afternoon. + +As will be expected, I was punctual to the appointment. I found the +magistrate to be a polite and good-hearted gentleman. He was, in +fact, the well-known M. de Sartine, who was the chief of police two +years later. His office of criminal lieutenant was saleable, and M. +de Sartine sold it when he was appointed head of the police. + +As soon as I had made my bow, he asked me to sit down by him, and +addressed me as follows: + +"I have asked you to call upon me in the interests of both of us, as +in your position our interests are inseparable. If you are innocent +of the charge which has been brought against you, you are quite right +to appeal to me; but before proceedings begin, you should tell me the +whole truth. I am ready to forget my position as judge, and to give +you my help, but you must see yourself that to prove the other side +guilty of slander, you must prove yourself innocent. What I want +from you is an informal and strictly confidential declaration, for +the case against you is a serious one, and of such a kind as to +require all your efforts to wipe off this blot upon your honour. +Your enemies will not respect your delicacy of feeling. They will +press you so hard that you will either be obliged to submit to a +shameful sentence, or to wound your feelings of honour in proving +your innocence. You see I am confiding in you, for in certain cases +honour seems so precious a thing to me that I am ready to defend it +with all the power of the law. Pay me back, then, in the same coin, +trust in me entirely, tell me the whole story without any reserves, +and you may rely upon my good offices. All will be well if you are +innocent, for I shall not be the less a judge because I am your +friend; but if you are guilty I am sorry for you, for I warn you that +I shall be just." + +After doing my best to express my gratitude to him, I said that my +position did not oblige me to make any reservations on account of +honour, and that I had, consequently, no informal statement to make +him. + +"The midwife," I added, "is absolutely unknown to me. She is most +likely an abandoned woman, who with her worthy companion wants to +cheat me of my money." + +"I should be delighted to think so," he answered, "but admitting the +fact, see how chance favours her, and makes it a most difficult thing +for you to prove your innocence. + +"The young lady disappeared three months ago. She was known to be +your intimate friend, you called upon her at all hours; you spent a +considerable time with her the day before she disappeared, and no one +knows what has become of her; but everyone's suspicions point at you, +and paid spies are continually dogging your steps. The midwife sent +me a requisition yesterday by her counsel, Vauversin. She says that +the pregnant lady you brought to her house is the same whom Madame X. +C. V. is searching for. She also says that you both wore black +dominoes, and the police have ascertained that you were both at the +ball in black dominoes on the same night as that on which the midwife +says you came to her house; you are also known to have left the ball- +room together. All this, it is true, does not constitute full proof +of your guilt, but it makes one tremble for your innocence." + +"What cause have I to tremble?" + +"What cause! Why a false witness, easily enough hired for a little +money, might swear with impunity that he saw you come from the opera +together; and a coachman in the same way might swear he had taken you +to the midwife's. In that case I should be compelled to order your +arrest and examination, with a view to ascertain the name of the +person whom you took with you. Do you realize that you are accused +of procuring abortion; that three months have gone by without the +lady's retreat having been discovered; that she is said to be dead. +Do you realize, in short, what a very serious charge murder is?" + +"Certainly; but if I die innocent, you will have condemned me +wrongly, and will be more to be pitied than I." + +"Yes, yes, but that wouldn't make your case any better. You may be +sure, however, that I will not condemn an innocent man; but I am +afraid that you will be a long time in prison before you succeed in +proving your innocence. To be brief, you see that in twenty-four +hours the case looks very bad, and in the course of a week it might +look very much worse. My interest was aroused in your favour by the +evident absurdity of the accusations, but it is the other +circumstances about the case which make it a serious one for you. I +can partly understand the circumstances, and the feelings of love and +honour which bid you be silent. I have spoken to you, and I hope you +will have no reserves with me. I will spare you all the unpleasant +circumstances which threaten you, believing, as I do, that you are +innocent. Tell me all, and be sure that the lady's honour will not +suffer; but if, on the other hand, you are unfortunately guilty of +the crimes laid to your charge, I advise you to be prudent, and to +take steps which it is not my business to suggest. I warn you that +in three or four days I shall cite you to the bar of the court, and +that you will then find in me only the judge--just, certainly, but +severe and impartial." + +I was petrified; for these words shewed me my danger in all its +nakedness. I saw how I should esteem this worthy man's good offices, +and said to him in quite another tone, that innocent as I was, I saw +that my best course was to throw myself on his kindness respecting +Mdlle. X. C. V., who had committed no crime, but would lose her +reputation by this unhappy business. + +"I know where she is," I added, "and I may tell you that she would +never have left her mother if she had not endeavoured to force her +into a marriage she abhorred" + +"Well, but the man is now married; let her return to her mother's +house, and you will be safe, unless the midwife persists in +maintaining that you incited her to procure abortion." + +"There is no abortion in the matter; but other reasons prevent her +returning to her family. I can tell you no more without obtaining +the consent of another party. If I succeed in doing so I shall be +able to throw the desired light on the question. Be kind enough to +give me a second hearing on the day after to-morrow." + +"I understand. I shall be delighted to hear what you have to say. +I thank and congratulate you. Farewell!" + +I was on the brink of the precipice, but I was determined to leave +the kingdom rather than betray the honour of my poor dear sweetheart. +If it had been possible, I would gladly have put an end to the case +with money; but it was too late. I was sure that Farsetti had the +chief hand in all this trouble, that he was continually on my track, +and that he paid the spies mentioned by M. de Sartine. He it was who +had set Vauversin, the barrister, after me, and I had no doubt that +he would do all in his power to ruin me. + +I felt that my only course was to tell the whole story to M. de +Sartine, but to do that I required Madame du Rumain's permission. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +My Examination I Give the Clerk Three Hundred Louis--The Midwife and +Cartel-Bajac Imprisoned--Mdlle. X. C. V. Is Brought to Bed of a Son +and Obliges Her Mother to Make Me Amends--The Suit Against Me Is +Quashed--Mdlle. X. C. V. Goes With Her Mother to Brussels and From +Thence to Venice, Where She Becomes a Great Lady--My Work-girls-- +Madame Baret--I Am Robbed, Put in Prison, and Set at Liberty Again-- +I Go to Holland--Helvetius' "Esprit"--Piccolomini + +The day after my interview with M. de Sartine I waited on Madame du +Rumain at an early hour. Considering the urgency of the case I took +the liberty of rousing her from her slumbers, and as soon as she was +ready to receive me I told her all. + +"There can be no hesitation in the matter," said this delightful +woman. "We must make a confidant of M. de Sartine, and I will speak +to him myself to-day without fail." + +Forthwith she went to her desk and wrote to the criminal lieutenant +asking him to see her at three o'clock in the afternoon. In less +than an hour the servant returned with a note in which he said he +would expect her. We agreed that I should come again in the evening, +when she would tell me the result of her interview. + +I went to the house at five o'clock, and had only a few minutes to +wait. + +"I have concealed nothing," said she; "he knows that she is on the +eve of her confinement, and that you are not the father, which speaks +highly for your generosity. I told him that as soon as the +confinement was over, and the young lady had recovered her health, +she would return to her mother, though she would make no confession, +and that the child should be well looked after. You have now nothing +to fear, and can calm yourself; but as the case must go on you will +be cited before the court the day after to-morrow. I advise you to +see the clerk of the court on some pretext or other, and to make him +accept a sum of money." + +I was summoned to appear, and I appeared. I saw M. de Sartine, +'sedentem pro tribunali'. At the end of the sitting he told me that +he was obliged to remand me, and that during my remand I must not +leave Paris or get married, as all my civil rights were in suspense +pending the decision. I promised to follow his commands. + +I acknowledged in my examination that I was at the ball in a black +domino on the night named in my accusation, but I denied everything +else. As for Mdlle. X. C. V., I said that neither I nor anyone of +her family had any suspicion that she was with child. + +Recollecting that I was an alien, and that this circumstance might +make Vauversin call for my arrest, on the plea that I might fly the +kingdom, I thought the moment opportune for making interest with the +clerk of the court, and I accordingly paid him a visit. After +telling him of my fears, I slipped into his hand a packet of three +hundred louis, for which I did not ask for a receipt, saying that +they were to defray expenses if I were mulcted in costs. He advised +me to require the midwife to give bail for her appearance, and I told +my attorney to do so; but, four days after, the following incident +took place: + +I was walking in the Temple Gardens, when I was accosted by a +Savoyard, who gave me a note in which I was informed that somebody in +an alley, fifty paces off, wanted to speak to me. "Either a love +affair or a challenge," I said to myself, "let's see." I stopped my +carriage, which was following me, and went to the place. + +I cannot say how surprised I was to see the wretched Cartel-Bajac +standing before me. "I have only a word to say," said he, when he +saw me. "We will not be overheard here. The midwife is quite sure +that you are the man who brought a pregnant lady to her, but she is +vexed that you are accused of making away with her. Give her a +hundred louis; she will then declare to the court that she has been +mistaken, and your trouble will be ended. You need not pay the money +till she has made her declaration; we will take your word for it. +Come with me and talk it over with Vauversin. I am sure he will +persuade you to do as I suggest. I know where to find him, follow me +at some distance." + +I had listened to him in silence, and I was delighted to see that the +rascals were betraying themselves. "Very good," said I to the +fellow, "you go on, and I will follow." I went after him to the +third floor of a house in the Rue aux Ours, where I found Vauversin +the barrister. No sooner had I arrived than he went to business +without any prefatory remarks. + +"The midwife," he said, "will call on you with a witness apparently +with the intention of maintaining to your face that you are her man; +but she won't be able to recognize you. She will then proceed with +the witness to the court, and will declare that she has made a +mistake, and the criminal lieutenant will forthwith put an end to the +proceedings. You will thus be certain of gaining your case against +the lady's mother." + +I thought the plan well conceived, and said that they would find me +at the Temple any day up to noon. + +"But the midwife wants a hundred louis badly." + +"You mean that the worthy woman rates her perjury at that price. +Well, never mind, I will pay the money, and you may trust to my word; +but I can't do so before she has taken oath to her mistake before the +court." + +"Very good, but you must first give me twenty-five louis to reimburse +me for my costs and fees." + +"Certainly, if you will give me a formal receipt for the money." + +He hesitated at first, but after talking it over the money proved too +strong a bait, and he wrote out the receipt and I gave him the +twenty-five louis. He thanked me, and said that though Madame X. C. +V. was his client, he would let me know confidentially how best to +put a stop to the proceedings. I thanked him with as much gratitude +as if I had really intended to make use of his services, and I left +to write and tell M. de Sartine what had taken place. + +Three days afterwards I was told that a man and woman wanted to see +me. I went down and asked the woman what she wanted. + +"I want to speak to M. Casanova." + +"I am he." + +"Then I have made a mistake, for which I hope you will forgive me." + +Her companion smiled, and they went off. + +The same day Madame du Rumain had a letter from the abbess telling +her that her young friend had given birth to a fine boy, who had been +sent away to a place where he would be well looked after. She stated +that the young lady could not leave the convent for the next six +weeks, at the end of which time she could return to her mother with a +certificate which would protect her from all annoyance. + +Soon after the midwife was put in solitary confinement, Castel-Bajac +was sent to The Bicetre, and Vauversin's name was struck off the +rolls. The suit instituted against me by Madame X. C. V. went on +till her daughter reappeared, but I knew that I had nothing to fear. +The girl returned to her mother about the end of August armed with a +certificate from the abbess, who said she had been under her +protection for four months, during which time she had never left the +convent or seen any persons from outside. This was perfectly true, +but the abbess added that her only reason for her going back to her +family was that she had nothing more to dread from the attentions of +M. de la Popeliniere, and in this the abbess lied. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. profited by the delight of her mother in seeing her +again safe and sound, and made her wait on M. de Sartine with the +abbess's certificate, stop all proceedings against me, and withdraw +all the charges she had made. Her daughter told her that if I liked +I might claim damages for libel, and that if she did not wish to +injure her reputation she would say nothing more about what had +happened. + +The mother wrote me a letter of the most satisfactory character, +which I had registered in court, thus putting an end to the +prosecution. In my turn I wrote to congratulate her on the recovery +of her daughter, but I never set foot in her house again, to avoid +any disagreeable scenes with Farsetti. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. could not stay any longer in Paris, where her tale +was known to everyone, and Farsetti took her to Brussels with her +sister Madelaine. Some time after, her mother followed her, and they +then went on to Venice, and there in three years' time she became a +great lady. Fifteen years afterwards I saw her again, and she was a +widow, happy enough apparently, and enjoying a great reputation on +account of her rank, wit, and social qualities, but our connection +was never renewed. + +In four years the reader will hear more of Castel-Bajac. Towards the +end of the same year (1759), before I went to Holland, I spent +several hundred francs to obtain the release of the midwife. + +I lived like a prince, and men might have thought me happy, but I was +not. The enormous expenses I incurred, my love of spending money, +and magnificent pleasures, warned me, in spite of myself, that there +were rocks ahead. My business would have kept me going for a long +time, if custom had not been paralyzed by the war; but as it was, I, +like everybody else, experienced the effect of bad times. My +warehouse contained four hundred pieces of stuffs with designs on +them, but as I could not hope to dispose of them before the peace, +and as peace seemed a long way off, I was threatened with ruin. + +With this fear I wrote to Esther to get her father to give me the +remainder of my money, to send me a sharp clerk, and to join in my +speculation. M. d'O---- said that if I would set up in Holland he +would become responsible for everything and give me half profits, but +I liked Paris too well to agree to so good an offer. I was sorry for +it afterwards. + +I spent a good deal of money at my private house, but the chief +expense of my life, which was unknown to others but which was ruining +me, was incurred in connection with the girls who worked in my +establishment. With my complexion and my pronounced liking for +variety, a score of girls, nearly all of them pretty and seductive, +as most Paris girls are, was a reef on which my virtue made shipwreck +every day. Curiosity had a good deal to do with it, and they +profited by my impatience to take possession by selling their favours +dearly. They all followed the example of the first favourite, and +everyone claimed in turn an establishment, furniture, money, and +jewels; and I knew too little of the value of money to care how much +they asked. My fancy never lasted longer than a week, and often +waned in three or four days, and the last comer always appeared the +most worthy of my attentions. + +As soon as I had made a new choice I saw no more of my old loves, but +I continued to provide for them, and that with a good deal of money. +Madame d'Urfe, who thought I was rich, gave me no trouble. I made +her happy by using my oracle to second the magical ceremonies of +which she grew fonder every day, although she never attained her aim. +Manon Baletti, however, grieved me sorely by her jealousy and her +well-founded reproaches. She would not understand--and I did not +wonder at it--how I could put off marrying her if I really loved her. +She accused me of deceiving her. Her mother died of consumption in +our arms. Silvia had won my true friendship. I looked upon her as a +most worthy woman, whose kindness of heart and purity of life +deserved the esteem of all. I stayed in the family for three days +after her death, sincerely sympathizing with them in their +affliction. + +A few days afterwards, my friend Tiretta lost his mistress through a +grievous illness. Four days before her death, perceiving that she +was near her end, she willed to consecrate to God that which man +could have no longer, and dismissed her lover with the gift of a +valuable jewel and a purse of two hundred louis. Tiretta marched off +and came and told me the sad news. I got him a lodging near the +Temple, and a month after, approving his idea to try his fortune in +India, I gave him a letter of introduction to M. d'O----, of +Amsterdam; and in the course of a week this gentleman got him a post +as clerk, and shipped him aboard one of the company's ships which was +bound for Batavia. If he had behaved well he might have become a +rich man, but he got involved in some conspiracy and had to fly, and +afterwards experienced many vicissitudes of fortune. I heard from +one of his relations that he was in Bengal in 1788, in good +circumstances, but unable to realize his property and so return to +his native country. I do not know what became of him eventually. + +In the beginning of November an official belonging to the Duc +d'Elbeuf's household came to my establishment to buy a wedding dress +for his daughter. I was dazzled with her beauty. She chose a fine +satin, and her pretty face lighted up when she heard her father say +he did not think it was too much; but she looked quite piteous when +she heard the clerk tell her father that he would have to buy the +whole piece, as they could not cut it. I felt that I must give in, +and to avoid making an exception in her favour I beat a hasty retreat +into my private room. I wish I had gone out of the house, as I +should have saved a good deal of money; but what pleasure should I +have also lost! In her despair the charming girl begged the manager +to take her to me, and he dared not refuse to do so. She came in; +two big tears falling down her cheeks and dimming the ardour of her +gaze. + +"Oh, sir!" she began, "you are rich, do you buy the piece and let me +have enough for a dress, which will make me happy." + +I looked at her father and saw he wore an apologetic air, as if +deprecating the boldness of his child. + +"I like your simplicity," I said to her, "and since it will make you +happy, you shall have the dress." + +She ran up to me, threw her arms round my neck and kissed me, while +her worthy father was dying with laughter. Her kisses put the last +stroke to my bewitchment. After he had paid for the dress, her +father said, + +"I am going to get this little madcap married next Sunday; there will +be a supper and a ball, and we shall be delighted if you will honour +us with your presence. My name is Gilbert. I am comptroller of the +Duc d'Elbeuf's household." + +I promised to be at the wedding, and the young lady gave a skip of +joy which made me think her prettier than ever. + +On Sunday I repaired to the house, but I could neither eat nor drink. +The fair Mdlle. Gilbert kept me in a kind of enchantment which lasted +while I was in company with her friends, for whom I did not care. +They were all officials in noblemen's houses, with their wives and +daughters, who all aped the manners of their betters in the most +ridiculous way; nobody knew me and I was known to nobody, and I cut a +sorry figure amongst them all, for in a company of this sort the +wittiest man is the greatest fool. Everybody cracked his joke to the +bride, she answered everybody, and people laughed at nothing. + +Her husband, a thin and melancholy man, with a rather foolish +expression, was delighted at his wife's keeping everybody amused. +Although I was in love with her, I pitied rather than envied him. +I guessed that he had married for monetary considerations, and I knew +pretty well what kind of a head-dress his handsome, fiery wife would +give her husband, who was plain-featured, and seemed not to be aware +of his wife's beauty. I was seized with the desire of asking her +some questions, and she gave me the opportunity by coming to sit next +to me after a quadrille. She thanked me again for my kindness, and +said that the beautiful dress I had supplied had won her many +compliments. + +"All the same," I said, "I know you are longing to take it off. I +know what love is and how impatient it makes one." + +"It's very funny that everyone persists in thinking that I am in +love, though I saw M. Baret for the first time only a week ago. +Before then I was absolutely unconscious of his existence." + +"But why are you getting married in such a hurry without waiting till +you know him better?" + +"Because my father does everything in a hurry." + +"I suppose your husband is a very rich man?" + +"No, but he may become rich. We are going to open a shop for silk +stockings at the corner of the Rue St. Honore and the Rue des +Prouveres, and I hope that you will deal with us, as we would serve +you with the best." + +"I shall certainly do so--nay, I will be your first customer, if I +have to wait at the door." + +"You are kind! M. Baret," said she to her husband, who was standing +close by, "this gentleman promises to be our first customer." + +"The gentleman is very good," said the husband, "and I am sure he +will be satisfied, as my stockings are genuine silk." + +Next Tuesday at day-break I began to dance attendance at the corner +of the Rue des Prouveres, and waited there till the servant came out +to take down the shutters. I went in and the girl asked me my +business. + +"I want to buy some stockings," was my answer. + +"Master and mistress are still in bed, so you had better come later +on." + +"No, I will wait here. Stop a minute," said I, giving her six +francs, "go and get me some coffee; I will drink it in the shop." + +"I might go and get you some coffee, but I am not so silly as to +leave you in the shop by yourself." + +"You are afraid I might steal something!" + +"Well, one does hear of such things being done, and I don't know you +from Adam." + +"Very good; but I shall stay here all the same." + +Before long Baret came down and scolded the poor girl for not having +told him of my presence. "Go and tell my wife to come," said he, as +he began opening packets of stockings for me to choose from. He kept +stockings, vests, and silk drawers, and I turned one packet over +after another, looking at them all and not fixing on anything till I +saw his wife coming down as fresh as a rose and as bright as a lily. +She smiled at me in the most seductive manner, apologized for the +disorder of her dress, and thanked me for keeping my word. + +"I never break my word," I said, "especially when such a charming +lady is concerned!" + +Madame Baret was seventeen, of a moderate height, and an exquisite +figure; without being classically beautiful, a Raphael could not wish +to depict a more enticing face. Her eyes were large and brilliant. +Her drooping eyelids, which gave her so modest and yet so voluptuous +an appearance, the ever-smiling mouth, her splendid teeth, the +dazzling whiteness of her complexion, the pleasing air with which she +listened to what was being said, her silvery voice, the sweetness and +sparkling vivacity of her manner, her lack of conceit, or rather her +unconsciousness of the power of her charms-in fine, everything about +this masterpiece of nature made me wonder and admire; while she, by +chance or vile monetary considerations, was in the power of Baret, +who, pale and sickly, thought a good deal more of his stockings than +of the treasure marriage had given him--a treasure of which he was +all unworthy, since he could not see its beauty nor taste its +sweetness. + +I chose stockings and vests to the amount of twenty-five louis, and I +paid the price without trying to cheapen them. I saw the face of the +fair shopwoman light up, and I augured well for my success, though I +could not expect to do much while the honeymoon lasted. I told the +servant that I would give her six francs if she would bring the +packet to my house, and so I left them. + +Next Sunday Baret came himself with my purchases. I gave him six +francs to hand over to his servant, but he hinted that he was not too +proud to keep them himself. I was disgusted at this petty greed, and +at his meanness in depriving his maid of the six francs after having +made a good profit in what he had sold me; but I wanted to stand well +with him, and I was not sorry to find so simple a way of throwing +dust into his eyes. So while I resolved that the servant should not +be a loser I gave the husband a good reception that I might the +better mould him to my purpose. I had breakfast brought to him, +asking why he had not brought his wife. + +"She wanted me to take her," said he, "but I was afraid you might be +offended." + +"Not at all, I should have been delighted. I think your wife a +charming woman." + +"You are very kind to say so; but she's young, she's young." + +"I don't think that's any objection; and if she cares for the walk, +bring her with you another time." He said he should be very pleased +to do so. + +When I passed by the shop in my carriage I blew kisses to her with my +hand, but I did not stop as I did not want any more stockings. +Indeed, I should have been bored with the crowd of fops with which +the shop was always full. She began to be a topic of conversation in +the town; the Palais Royal was full of her; and I was glad to hear +that she kept to herself as if she had richer prey in view. That +told me that no one possessed her so far, and I hoped that I might be +the prey myself; I was quite willing to be captured. + +Some days after, she saw my carriage coming, and beckoned to me as I +passed. I got out, and her husband with many apologies told me that +he wanted me to be the first to see a new fashion in breeches he had +just got in. The breeches were parti-coloured, and no man of fashion +would be seen without them. They were odd-looking things, but became +a well-made young man. As they had to fit exactly, I told him to +measure me for six pairs, offering to pay in advance. "We have them +in all sizes," said he, "go up to my wife's room and try some on." + +It was a good opportunity and I accepted, especially when I heard him +tell his wife to go and help me. I went upstairs, she following, and +I began to undress, apologizing for doing so before her. + +"I will fancy I am your valet," said she, "and I will help you." + +I did not make any difficulties, and after taking off my shoes I gave +her my breeches, taking care, however, to keep on my drawers, lest +her modesty should receive too severe a shock. This done she took a +pair of breeches, drew them on me, took them off, and tried on +others, and all this without any impropriety on either side; for I +had determined to behave with discretion till the opportunity came to +be indiscreet. She decided that four pairs fitted me admirably, and, +not wishing to contradict her, I gave her the sixteen louis she +asked, and told her I should be delighted if she would bring them +herself at any time when she was at leisure. She came downstairs +quite proud of her knowledge of business, and Baret said that next +Sunday he and his wife would have the honour of bringing me my +purchase. + +"I shall be charmed, M. Baret," said I, "especially if you will stay +to dinner." + +He answered that having an important engagement for two o'clock he +could only accept on the condition that I would let him go at that +time, and he would return at about five to fetch his wife. I found +the plan vastly to my taste, but I knew how to conceal my joy; and I +quietly said that though I should lose the pleasure of his society, +he was free to go when he liked, especially as I had not to go out +myself before six. + +I looked forward to the Sunday, and the tradesman and his wife did +not fail me. As soon as they arrived, I told my servant to say "Not +at home" for the rest of the day, and as I was impatient to know what +would happen in the afternoon I had dinner served at an early hour. +The dishes were exquisite, and the wines delicious. The good man ate +much and drank deeply, indeed to such an extent that in common +politeness I was obliged to remind him that he had an important +appointment at two. His wits being sharpened with champagne, the +happy thought occurred to him to tell his wife to go home by herself, +if he were kept later than five; and I hastened to add that I would +take her home myself in my carriage. He thanked me, and I soothed +his uneasiness about being punctual to his appointment by telling him +that a coach was waiting, and that the fare had been paid. He went +off, and I found myself alone with my jewel, whom I was certain of +possessing till six o'clock. + +As soon as I heard the hall door shut on the kind husband, I said to +his wife, + +"You are to be congratulated on having such a kind husband; with a +man like that your happiness is assured." + +"It is easy to say happiness, but enjoying it is a different thing. +My husband's health is so delicate that I can only consider myself as +his nurse; and then he contracted heavy debts to set up in business +which oblige us to observe the strictest economy. We came here on +foot to save the twenty-four sons. We could live on the profits of +the business, if there were no debts, but as it is everything goes to +pay the interest, and our sales are not large enough to cover +everything." + +"But you have plenty of customers, for whenever I pass I see the shop +full of people." + +"These customers you see are idlers, crackers of bad jokes, and +profligates, who come and make my head ache with their jests. They +have not a penny to bless themselves with, and we dare not let them +out of our sight for fear of their hands wandering. If we had cared +to give them credit, our shop would have been emptied long ago. I am +rude to them, in the hopes that they may leave me alone, but it's of +no use. Their impudence is astonishing. When my husband is in I +retreat to my room, but he is often away, and then I am obliged to +put up with them. And the scarcity of money prevents us from doing +much business, but we are obliged to pay our workmen all the same. +As far as I can see, we shall be obliged to dismiss them, as we shall +soon have to meet several bills. Next Saturday we have got to pay +six hundred francs, and we have only got two hundred." + +"I am surprised at your having all this worry in these early days of +your marriage. I suppose your father knew about your husband's +circumstances; how about your dowry?" + +"My dowry of six thousand francs has served, most of it, to stock the +shop and to pay our debts. We have goods which would pay our debts +three times over; but in bad times capital sunk is capital dead." + +"I am sorry to hear all this, as if peace is not made your situation +will become worse, for as you go on your needs will become greater." + +"Yes, for when my husband is better we may have children." + +"What! Do you mean to say his health prevents him from making you a +mother? I can't believe it." + +"I don't see how I can be a mother who am still a maid; not that I +care much about the matter." + +"I shouldn't have believed it! How can a man not in the agony of +death feel ill beside you? He must be dead." + +"Well, he is not exactly dead, but he doesn't shew many signs of +life." + +This piece of wit made me laugh, and under cover of my applause I +embraced her without experiencing much resistance. The first kiss +was like an electric spark; it fired my imagination and I increased +my attentions till she became as submissive as a lamb. + +"I will help you, dearest, to meet the bill on Saturday;" and so +saying I drew her gently into a closet where a soft divan formed a +suitable altar for the completion of an amorous sacrifice. + +I was enchanted to find her submissive to my caresses and my +inquisitiveness, but she surprised me greatly when, as I placed +myself in readiness for the consummation of the act, and was already +in the proper posture between the two columns, she moved in such a +way as to hinder my advance. I thought at first that it was only one +of those devices intended to make the final victory more sweet by +putting difficulties in the way; but, finding that her resistance was +genuine, I exclaimed, + +"How was I to expect a refusal like this at a moment when I thought I +saw my ardours reflected in your eyes?" + +"Your eyes did not deceive you; but what would my husband say if he +found me otherwise than as God has made me?" + +"He can't have left you untouched!" + +"He really has done so. You can see for yourself if you like. Can +I, then, give to you what appertains to the genius of the marriage- +bed." + +"You are right, my angel; this fruit must be kept for a mouth +unworthy to taste it. I pity and adore you. Come to my arms, +abandon yourself to my love, and fear nothing. The fruit shall not +be damaged; I will but taste the outer surface and leave no trace +behind." + +We passed three hours in trifling together in a manner calculated to +inflame our passions despite the libations which we now and again +poured forth. I was consoled by her swearing to be mine as soon as +Baret had good grounds for thinking that she was his, and, after +taking her on the Boulevards, I left her at her door, with a present +of twenty-five Louis. + +I was in love with her as I had never been before, and I passed the +shop three or four times a day, going round and round, to the wrath +of my coachman, who got sick of telling me that I was ruining my +horses. I was happy to see her watch for the moment that I passed, +and waft me a kiss by putting her pretty fingers to her mouth. + +We had agreed that she should not make me a sign to leave my coach +till her husband had forced a passage. At last this day, so ardently +desired and so long waited for, arrived. The sign was given, and I +stopped the coach and she came out and, standing on the step, told me +to go and wait for her at the church door of St. Germain l'Auxerrois. + +I was curious to know what the results would be, and had not been at +the place appointed more than a quarter of an hour when she came +towards me, her head muffled in a hood. She got into the carriage +and, saying that she wanted to make some purchases, begged me to take +her to the shops. + +I had business of my own, and pressing business too, but who can +refuse the Beloved Object anything? I told the coachman to drive to +the Place Dauphine, and I prepared to loosen my purse-strings, as I +had a feeling she was going to treat me as a friend. In point of +fact she left few shops unvisited, going from jewels to pretty +trifles and toys of different kinds, and from these to dresses of the +latest fashion, which they displayed before her, addressing her as +princess, and saying that this would become her admirably. She +looked at me, and said it must be confessed that it was very pretty +and that she would like it if it were not so dear. I was a willing +dupe, and assured her that if she liked it it could not be too dear, +and that I would pay. + +While my sweetheart was thus choosing one trifle after another my +ill-luck brought about an incident which placed me in a fearful +situation four years afterwards. The chain of events is endless. + +I perceived at my left hand a pretty girl of twelve or thirteen, with +an old and ugly woman who was disparaging a pair of ear-rings which +the girl had in her hands, and on which she had evidently set her +heart: she looked sad at not being able to buy them. I heard her say +to the old woman that they would make her happy, but she snatched +them from the girl's hands and told her to, come away. + +"I can let you have a cheaper pair and almost as fine," said the +shopwoman, but the young lady said she did not; care about it, and +was getting ready to go, making a profound reverence to my princess +Baret. + +She, no doubt flattered by this sign of respect went up to her, +called her little queen, told her she was as fair as a May morning, +and asked the old woman her name, + +"She is Mdlle. de Boulainvilier, my niece." + +"How can you be so hard-hearted," said I to the aunt, "as to refuse +your charming niece a toy which would make her happy? Allow me to +make her a present of them." + +So saying I put the ear-rings in the girl's hands, while she blushed +and looked at her aunt as if to ask her permission. + +"You may have the ear-rings," said she, "as this gentleman has been +kind enough to give you such a present, and you should give him a +kiss by way of thanks." + +"The ear-rings," said the shopwoman, "will be only three louis." + +Hereupon the affair took a comic turn; the old woman got into a rage +and said, + +"How can you be such a cheat? You told me they were only two louis." + +"Nay, madam, I asked three." + +"That's a lie, and I shall not allow you to rob this gentleman. +Niece, put those ear-rings down; let the shopwoman keep them." + +So far all was well enough; but the old aunt spoilt everything by +saying that if I liked to give her niece the three louis she could +get her a pair twice as good at another shop. It was all the same to +me, so I smilingly put the three louis in front of the young lady, +who still had the ear-rings in her hands. The shop-woman, who was on +the look-out, pocketed the money, saying that the bargain was made, +that the three louis belonged to her and the ear-rings to the young +lady. + +"You are a cheat," cried out the enraged old woman. + +"And you are an old b----d," answered the shop-woman, "I know you +well." A crowd began to gather in front of the shop, hearing the +cries of the two harpies. Foreseeing a good deal of unpleasantness, +I took the aunt by the arm and led her gently away. The niece, who +was quite content with the ear-rings, and did not care whether they +cost three louis or two, followed her. We shall hear of them again +in due course. + +My dear Baret having made me waste a score of louis, which her poor +husband would have regretted much more than myself, we got into the +carriage again, and I took her to the church door from which we had +started. On the way she told me she was coming to stop a few days +with me at Little Poland, and that it was her husband who would ask +me for the invitation. + +"When will he do that?" + +"To-morrow, if you go by the shop. Come and buy some stockings; I +shall have a bad headache, and Baret will speak to you." + +It may be imagined that I took care to call the next day, and as I +did not see his wife in the shop I asked in a friendly way after her +health. + +"She is ill in bed," he replied; "she wants a little country air." + +"If you have not fixed for any place, I shall be happy to put you up +at Little Poland." + +He replied by a smile of delight. + +"I will go and urge her to come myself; in the meanwhile, M. Baret, +will you pack me up a dozen pairs of stockings?" + +I went upstairs and found the invalid in bed, and laughing in spite +of her imaginary headache. "The business is done," said I, "you will +soon hear of it." As I had said, the husband came upstairs with my +stockings and told her that I had been good enough to give her a room +in my house. The crafty little creature thanked me, assuring her +husband that the fresh air would soon cure her. + +"You shall be well looked after," said I, "but you must excuse me if +I do not keep you company--I have to attend to my business. +M. Baret will be able to come and sleep with you every night, and +start early enough in the morning to be in time for the opening of +his shop." + +After many compliments had been interchanged, Baret decided on having +his sister stay in the house while his wife was away, and as I took +leave I said that, I should give orders for their reception that very +evening, in case I was out when they came. + +Next day I stayed out till after midnight, and the cook told me that +the wedded couple had made a good supper and had gone to bed. I +warned her that I should be dining at home every day, and that I +should not see my company. + +The following day I was up betimes, and on enquiring if the husband +had risen I learnt that he had got up at day-break and would not be +back till supper-time. The wife was still asleep. I thought with +reason she was not asleep for me, and I went to pay her my first +visit. In point of fact she was awake, and I took a foretaste of +greater joys by a thousand kisses, which she returned with interest. +We jested at the expense of the worthy man who had trusted me with a +jewel of which I was about to make such good use, and we +congratulated each other on the prospect of a week's mutual +pleasures. + +"Come, my dear," said I, "get up and put on a few clothes and we will +take breakfast in my room." + +She did not make an elaborate toilette; a cotton dressing gown, a +pretty lace cap, a lawn kerchief, that was all, but how the simple +dress was lighted by the roses of her cheeks! We were quick over our +breakfast, we were in a hurry, and when we had done I shut the door +and we gave ourselves over to the enjoyment of our bliss. + +Surprised to find her in the same condition in which I had left her, +I told her I had hoped . . . but she, without giving me time to +finish the phrase, said, + +"My jewel, Baret thinks, or pretends to think, that he has done his +duty as a husband; but he is no hand at the business, and I am +disposed to put myself in your hands, and then there will be no doubt +of my condition." + +"We shall thus, my sweet, be doing him a service, and the service +shall be well done." + +As I said these words I was on the threshold of the temple, and I +opened the door in a manner that overthrew all obstacles. A little +scream and then several sighs announced the completion of the +sacrifice, and, to tell the truth, the altar of love was covered with +the blood of the victim. After the necessary ablutions the priest +once more began his pious work, while the victim growing bolder so +provoked his rage that it was not till the fourth mactation that we +rested and put off our joust to another season. We swore a thousand +times to love each other and to remain constant, and we may possibly +have been sincere, as we were in our ecstasy of pleasure. + +We only separated to dress; then after taking a turn in the garden we +dined together, sure that in a sumptuous repast, washed down by the +choicest wines, we should find strength to reanimate our desires and +to lull them to sleep in bliss. + +At dessert, as I was pouring champagne into her glass, I asked her +how with such a fiery temperament she had managed to preserve her +virtue? + +"Cupid," said I, "might have gathered the fruit that Hymen could not +taste. You are seventeen, and the pear has been ripe for two years +at least." + +"Very true, but I have never had a lover." + +"Never?" + +"I have been courted, but to no effect. My heart was ever silent. +Possibly my father thought otherwise when I begged him, a month ago, +to get me married soon." + +"Very likely, but as you were not in love, why were you in such a +hurry?" + +"I knew that the Duc d'Elbeuf would soon be coming to town, and that +if he found me still single he would oblige me to become the wife of +a man I detest, who would have me at any price." + +"Who is this man for whom you have such an aversion?" + +"He is one of the duke's pets, a monster who sleeps with his master." + +"Really! I did not know the duke had such tastes." + +"Oh yes; he is eighty-four, and he thinks himself a woman; he says he +must have a husband." + +"That is very funny. And is this aspirant to your hand a handsome +man?" + +"I think him horrible; but everybody else thinks he is a fine man." + +The charming Baret spent a week with me, and each day we renewed the +combat in which we were always conquerors and always conquered. I +have seen few women as pretty and seductive, and none whose skin was +more exquisitely soft and fair. Her breath was aromatic, and this +made her kisses most sweet. Her neck was exquisitely shaped, and the +two globes, tipped with coral, were as hard as marble. The exquisite +curves of her figure would have defied the skill of the ablest +painter. I experienced an ineffable joy in contemplating her, and in +the midst of my happiness I called myself unhappy because I could not +satisfy all the desires which her charms aroused in me. The frieze +which crowned her columns was composed of links of pale gold of the +utmost fineness, and my fingers strove in vain to give them another +direction to that which nature had given them. She could easily have +been taught those lively yet graceful movements which double the +pleasure; nature had done her part in that direction, and I do not +think a more expert mistress in the art of love could be found. + +Each of us looked forward to the day of her departure with equal +grief, and our only consolation lay in the hope of meeting again, and +often. Three days after she went away, I went to see her, more in +love than ever, and I gave her two notes of five thousand francs +apiece. Her husband might have his suspicions, but he was too happy +at being enabled to pay his debts and to keep his shop open to say +anything unpleasant. Many husbands besides himself think themselves +lucky to have such productive wives. + +In the beginning of November I sold shares for fifty thousand francs +to a man named Gamier, living in the Rue du Mail, giving up to him a +third part of the materials in my warehouse, and accepting a manager +chosen by him and paid by the company. Three days after signing the +deed I received the money; but in the night the doctor, my +warehouseman, emptied the till and absconded. I have always thought +that this robbery could not have been effected without the connivance +of the painter. This loss was a serious blow to me, as my affairs +were getting into an embroiled condition; and, for a finishing touch +to my misfortunes, Gamier had me served with a summons to repay him +the fifty thousand francs. My answer was that I was not liable, that +his manager had been appointed, the agreement and sale of the shares +was valid, and that he being one of the company would have to share +in the loss. As he persisted in his claim, I was advised to go to +law, but Gamier declared the agreement null and void, accusing me in +an indirect manner of having appropriated the money which I had said +was stolen. I would willingly have given him a good thrashing, but +he was an old man, and that course would not have mended matters, so +I kept my temper. The merchant who had given surety for the doctor +was not to be found; he had become bankrupt. Garnier had all my +stock seized, and sequestrated my horses, carriages, and all my +private property. + +While these troubles were harassing me, I dismissed all my work- +girls, who had always been a great expense, and replaced them with +workmen and some of my servants. The painter still retained his +position, which was an assured one, as he always paid himself out of +the sales. + +My attorney was an honest man--a rare bird amongst lawyers--but my +counsel, who kept telling me that the case would soon be decided, was +a rascal. While the decision was pending, Garnier served me with a +writ to pay the sum claimed. I took it to my counsel, who promised +to appeal the same day, which he did not do, while he appropriated to +his own use the money assigned by me for the costs of an action +which, if there had been justice in France, I should certainly have +gained. Two other summonses were issued against me, and before I +knew what was going on a warrant was issued for my arrest. I was +seized at eight o'clock in the morning, as I was driving along the +Rue St. Denis. The sergeant of police sat beside me, a second got up +beside the coachman, and a third stationed himself at the back of the +coach, and in this state we drove to Fort l'Eveque. + +As soon as the police had handed me over to the gaoler, he informed +me that by payment of the fifty thousand francs, or by giving good +bail, I might instantly regain my freedom. + +"For the moment," said I, "I can neither command money nor bail." + +"Very good, then you will stay in prison." + +The gaoler took me to a decent-looking room, and I told him I had +only been served with one writ. + +"Very likely," answered he, "it often happens like that; but it is +rather difficult to prove." + +"Bring me writing materials, and have a trusty messenger at my +disposal." + +I wrote to my counsel, my attorney, to Madame d'Urfe, and to all my +friends, including my brother, who was just married. The attorney +called immediately, but the barrister contented himself with writing +to the effect that as he had put in an appeal my seizure was illegal, +and that damages might be recovered. He ended by begging me to give +him a free hand, and to have patience for a few days. + +Manon Baletti sent her brother with her diamond earrings. Madame du +Rumain dispatched her barrister--a man of rare honesty--to me, and +wrote a friendly note in which she said that if I wanted five hundred +louis I should have them to-morrow. My brother neither wrote nor +came to see me. As to dear Madame d'Urfe she sent to say that she +would expect me at dinner. I thought she had gone mad, as I could +not think she was making fun of me. + +At eleven o'clock my room was full of people. Poor Baret had come +weeping, and offering me all his shop held. I was touched by the +worthy man's kindness. At last I was told that a lady in a coach +wanted to see me. I waited, but nobody came. In my impatience I +called the turnkey, who told me that, after questioning the clerk of +the prison, she had gone away again. From the description I was +given I had no difficulty in identifying the lady with Madame d'Urfe. + +To find myself deprived of my liberty was a disagreeable shock to me. +I thought of The Leads, and though my present situation was not to be +compared with that, I cursed my fate as I foresaw that my +imprisonment would damage my reputation. I had thirty thousand +francs in hard cash and jewels to more than double that amount, but I +could not decide on making such a sacrifice, in spite of the advice +given by Madame du Rumain's barrister, who would have me got out of +prison at any cost. + +"All you have to do," said the barrister, "is to deposit half the sum +demanded which I will give to the clerk of the court, and in a short +time I can promise a decision in your favour and the restoration of +your money." + +We were discussing the matter, when the gaoler entered, and said, +very politely, + +"Sir, you are a free man again, and a lady is waiting for you at the +door in her carriage" + +I called Le Duc, my man, and told him to go and see who the lady was. +He returned with the information that it was Madame d'Urfe. I made +my bow to everybody, and after four very disagreeable hours of +imprisonment, I found myself free again and sitting in a splendid +coach. + +Madame d'Urfe received me with dignified kindness, and a judge who +was in the carriage apologized for his country, where strangers were +exposed to such insults. I thanked Madame d'Urfe in a few words, +telling her that I was glad to become her debtor, but that it was +Garnier who benefited by her generosity. She replied with a pleasant +smile that she was not so sure of that, and that we would talk it +over at dinner. She wanted me to go and walk in the Tuileries and +the Palais Royal, to convince people that the report of my +imprisonment had been false. I thought the advice excellent, and as +I set out I promised to be with her at two o'clock. + +After skewing myself at the two principal walks of Paris, amusing +myself by the astonishment depicted on certain faces well known to +me, I went and returned the ear-rings to my dear Manon, who gave an +astonished but a happy cry when she saw me. I thanked her tenderly +for the proof she had given me of her attachment, and said that I had +been arrested by a plot for which I would make the plotters pay dear. +After promising to spend the evening with them I went to Madame +d'Urfe's. + +This good lady, whose foible is well known to my readers, made me +laugh when she said that her genius had told her that I had got +myself arrested to be talked about, for reasons which were known only +to myself. + +"As soon as I was informed of your arrest," said she, "I went to the +Fort l'Eveque, and on learning from the clerk what the affair was +about, I deposited bonds to bail you out. If you are not in a +position to have justice done you, Gamier will have to reckon with me +before he takes the money I have deposited. But your first step +should be to commence a criminal prosecution against your counsel, +who has not only failed to put in your appeal but has robbed and +deceived you." + +I left her in the evening, assuring her that in a few days her bail +should be returned to her; and went to the French and Italian plays +in succession, taking care to render myself conspicuous that my +reappearance might be complete. Afterwards I went to sup with Manon +Baletti, who was too happy to have had an opportunity of spewing her +affection for me; and her joy was full when I told her that I was +going to give up business, for she thought that my seraglio was the +only obstacle to my marriage with her. + +The next day was passed with Madame du Rumain. I felt that my +obligations to her were great, while she, in the goodness of her +heart, was persuaded that she could make no adequate return to me for +the oracles with which I furnished her, and by following which she +was safely guided through the perplexities of life. I cannot +understand how she, whose wit was keen, and whose judgment on other +subjects was of the soundest kind, could be liable to such folly. I +was sorry when I reflected that I could not undeceive her, and glad +when I reflected that to this deceit of mine the kindness she had +shewn me was chiefly due. + +My imprisonment disgusted me with Paris, and made me conceive a +hatred of the law, which I feel now. I found myself entangled in a +double maze of knavery--Garnier was my foe, and so was my own +counsel. Every time I went to plead, to spend my money amongst +lawyers, and to waste the time better given to pleasure, I felt as if +I was going to execution. In this perturbed kind of life, so +contrary to my inclinations, I resolved to set to work in earnest to +make my fortune, so that I might become independent and free to enjoy +life according to my tastes. I decided in the first place that I +would cut myself free of all that bound me to Paris, make a second +journey into Holland to replenish my purse and invest my money in a +yearly income for two lives, and from thenceforth live free from +care. The two lives were those of my wife and myself; my wife would +be Manon Baletti, and when I told her my plans she would have thought +them delightful if I had begun by marrying her. + +The first thing I did was to give up Little Poland. I then drew the +twenty-four thousand francs which were my surety for keeping a +lottery office in the Rue St. Denis. Thus I got rid of my ridiculous +office of lottery receiver, and after getting my clerk married I +handed over the office to him; in short, I made his fortune. A +friend of his wife's was his surety; such things often happen. + +I did not like to leave Madame d'Urfe involved in a troublesome suit +with Gamier, so I went to Versailles to see the Abbe de la Ville, a +great friend of his, and begged him to induce Gamier to make a +composition. + +The abbe saw that his friend was in the wrong, and so was all the +more willing to help me; and a few days afterwards he wrote to me to +go and see him, assuring me that I should find him inclined to +arrange matters in a friendly manner. + +Gamier was at Ruelle, where he had a house which cost him four +hundred thousand francs--a fine estate for a man who had made his +money as an army contractor during the last war. He was rich, but he +was so unfortunate as to be still fond of women at the age of +seventy, while his impotence debarred him from the proper enjoyment +of their society. I found him in company with three young ladies, +all of whom were pretty, and (as I heard afterwards) of good +families; but they were poor, and their necessities forced them to +submit to a disgusting intercourse with the old profligate. I stayed +to dinner and admired the propriety and modesty of their behaviour in +spite of the humiliation which accompanies poverty. After dinner, +Gamier went to sleep, and left me to entertain these girls whom I +would willingly have rescued from their unfortunate situation if I +had been able. After Gamier woke, we went into his study to talk +over our business. + +At first he maintained his claim tenaciously, and seemed unwilling to +yield an inch; but when I told him that I was leaving Paris in a few +days, he saw that as he could not keep me, Madame d'Urfe might take +the suit over and carry it on to infinity, and that he might lose it +at last. That made him think it over, and he asked me to stay in his +house for the night. The next day, after breakfast, he said,-- + +"I have made up my mind: I will have twenty-five thousand francs, or +keep the matter before the courts till my dying day." + +I answered that he would find the sum in the hands of Madame d'Urfe's +solicitor, and that he could receive it as soon as he had given +replevy on the bail at the Fort l'Eveque. + +I could not persuade Madame d'Urfe that I had acted wisely in coming +to an arrangement till I had told her that my genius had commanded me +not to leave Paris before my affairs were settled, so that no one +might be able to accuse me of having gone away to avoid creditors +whose claims I could not satisfy. + +Three or four days afterwards I went to take leave of M. de Choiseul, +who promised to instruct M. d'Afri to aid me in negotiating a loan at +five per cent. either with the States-General or a private company. + +"You can tell everyone," said he, "that peace is certain to be made +in the course of the winter, and I will take care that you shall have +what is due to you on your return to France." + +M. de Choiseul deceived me, for he knew very well that peace would +not be made; but I had no definite project, and I repented of having +given M. de Boulogne my confidence, and also of having done anything +for the Government, the reward of which was not immediate and +certain. + +I sold my horses, my carriages, my furniture; I went bail for my +brother who had contracted debts he was sure of paying, as he had +several pictures on the easel which he had been ordered to paint by +some of his rich and noble patrons. I took leave of Manon, whom I +left in floods of tears, though I swore with the utmost sincerity to +come back soon and marry her. + +At last all my preparations were finished, and I left Paris with a +hundred thousand francs in bills of exchange and jewels to the same +amount. I was alone in my post-chaise, Le Duc preceding me on +horseback, which the rascal preferred to being shut up in a carriage. + +This Le Duc of mine was a Spaniard, aged eighteen, a sharp fellow, +whom I valued highly, especially because he did my hair better than +anyone else. I never refused him a pleasure which a little money +would buy. Besides him I had a good Swiss servant, who served as my +courier. + +It was the 1st of December, 1759, and the air was frosty, but I was +fortified against the inclemency of the season. I was able to read +comfortably, and I took Helvetius's "Esprit," which I had never had +time to read before. After perusing it I was equally astonished at +the sensation it created and at the stupidity of the High Court which +condemned it. Of course that exalted body was largely influenced by +the king and the clergy, and between them all no effort was spared to +ruin Helvetius, a good-hearted man with more wit than his book. I +saw nothing novel either in the historical part relating to the +morals of nations (in which Helvetius dismisses us as triflers), or +in the position that morality is dependent on the reason. All that +he says has been said over and over again, and Blaise Pascal went +much farther, but he wrote more skilfully and better in every way +than Helvetius, who, wishing to remain in France, was obliged to +retract. He preferred a quiet life to his honour and his philosophy. +His wife had a nobler soul than he, as she wanted to sell all they +had, and to take refuge in Holland rather than submit to the shame of +a recantation. Perhaps Helvetius would have followed the noble +advice of his wife if he had foreseen that this monstrous recantation +would make his book into a fraud; for he had to confess that he had +written without due reflection, that he was more in jest than +earnest, and that his arguments were mere sophisms. But many men of +keen intellects had not waited for him to recant before exposing this +wretched system of his. And admitting that whatever man does is done +for his own interest, does it follow that gratitude is a folly, and +virtue and vice identical? Are a villain and a man of honour to be +weighed in the same balance? If such a dreadful system were not +absurd, virtue would be mere hypocrisy; and if by any possibility it +were true, it ought to be proscribed by general consent, since it +would lead to general ruin and corruption. + +It might have been proved to Helvetius that the propositions that the +first motive is always self-interest, and that we should always +consult our own interest first, are fallacious. It is a strange +thing that so virtuous a man would not admit the existence of virtue. +It is an amusing suggestion that he only published his book out of +modesty, but that would have contradicted his own system. But if it +were so, was it well done to render himself contemptible to escape +the imputation of pride? Modesty is only a virtue when it is +natural; if it is put on, or merely the result of training, it is +detestable. The great d'Alembert was the most truly modest man I +have ever seen. + +When I got to Brussels, where I spent two days, I went to the "Hotel +de l'Imperatrice," and chance sent Mdlle. X. C. V. and Farsetti in +my way, but I pretended not to see them. From Brussels I went +straight to the Hague, and got out at the "Prince of Orange." On my +asking the host who sat down at his table, he told me his company +consisted of general officers of the Hanoverian army, same English +ladies, and a Prince Piccolomini and his wife; and this made me make +up my mind to join this illustrious assemblage. + +I was unknown to all, and keeping my eyes about me I gave my chief +attention to the observation of the supposed Italian princess, who +was pretty enough, and more especially of her husband whom I seemed +to recognize. In the course of conversation I heard some talk of the +celebrated St. Germain, and it seemed that he was stopping in the +same hotel. + +I had returned to my room, and was thinking of going to bed, when +Prince Piccolomini entered, and embraced me as an old friend. + +"A look in your face," said he, "tells me that the recognition has +been mutual. I knew you directly in spite of the sixteen years that +have passed since we saw each other at Vicenza. To-morrow you can +tell everybody that we are friends, and that though I am not a prince +I am really a count; here is my passport from the King of Naples, +pray read it." + +During this rapid monologue I could not get in a single word, and on +attentively scanning his features I could only recollect that I had +seen him before, but when or where or how I knew not. I opened the +passport and read the name of Ruggero di Rocco, Count Piccolomini. +That was enough; I remembered an individual of that name who was a +fencing-master in Vicenza, and on looking at him again his aspect, +though much changed left no doubt as to the identity of the swordsman +and the count. + +"I congratulate you," said I, "on your change of employment, your new +business is doubtless much better than the old." + +"I taught fencing," he replied, "to save myself from dying of hunger, +for my father was so hard a man that he would not give me the +wherewithal to live, and I disguised my name so as not to disgrace +it. On my father's death I succeeded to the property, and at Rome I +married the lady you have seen." + +"You had good taste, for she's a pretty woman." + +"She is generally thought so, and it was a love match on my side." + +He ended by asking me to come and see him in his room the next day, +after dinner, telling me that I should find good company and a bank +at faro, which he kept himself. He added, without ceremony, that if +I liked we could go half shares, and that I should find it +profitable. I thanked him, and promised to pay him a visit. + +I went abroad at an early hour next morning, and after having spent +some time with the Jew, Boaz, and having given a polite refusal to +his offer of a bed, I went to pay my respects to M. d'Afri, who since +the death of the Princess of Orange, the Regent of the Low Countries, +was generally known as His Most Christian Majesty's ambassador. He +gave me an excellent reception, but he said that if I had returned to +Holland hoping to do business on behalf of the Government I should +waste my time, since the action of the comptroller-general had +lowered the credit of the nation, which was thought to be on the +verge of bankruptcy. + +"This M. Silhouette," said he, "has served the king very badly. It +is all very well to say that payments are only suspended for a year, +but it is not believed." + +He then asked me if I knew a certain Comte de St. Germain, who had +lately arrived at the Hague. + +"He has not called on me," said the ambassador, "though he says he is +commissioned by the king to negotiate a loan of a hundred millions. +When I am asked about him, I am obliged to say that I know nothing +about him, for fear of compromising myself. Such a reply, as you can +understand, is not likely to increase his chance of success, but that +is his fault and not mine. Why has he not brought me a letter from +the Duc de Choiseul or the Marquise de Pompadour? I take him to +be an impostor, but I shall know something more about him in the +course of ten days." + +I told him, in my turn, all I knew of this truly eccentric +individual. He was not a little surprised to hear that the king had +given him an apartment at Chambord, but when I told him that the +count professed to be able to make diamonds he laughed and said that +in that case he would no doubt make the hundred millions. Just as I +was leaving, M. d'Afri asked me to dine with him on the following +day. + +On returning to the hotel I called on the Comte de St. Germain. + +"You have anticipated me," said he, on seeing me enter, "I intended +to have called on you. I suppose, my dear Casanova, that you have +come to try what you can do for our Court, but you will find your +task a difficult one, as the Exchange is highly offended at the late +doings of that fool Silhouette. All the same I hope I shall be able +to get my hundred millions. I have passed my word to my friend, +Louis XV. (I may call him so), and I can't disappoint him; the +business will be done in the next three or four weeks." + +"I should think M. d'Afri might assist you." + +"I do not require his assistance. Probably I shall not even call +upon him, as he might say he helped me. No, I shall have all the +trouble, and I mean to have all the glory, too." + +"I presume you will be going to Court, where the Duke of Brunswick +may be of service to you?" + +"Why should I go to Court? As for the Duke of Brunswick, I do not +care to know him. All I have got to do is to go to Amsterdam, where +my credit is sufficiently good for anything. I am fond of the King +of France; there's not a better man in the kingdom." + +"Well, come and dine at the high table, the company is of the best +and will please you." + +"You know I never eat; moreover, I never sit down at a table where I +may meet persons who are unknown to me." + +"Then, my lord, farewell; we shall see each other again at +Amsterdam." + +I went down to the dining-roam, where, while dinner was being served, +I conversed with some officers. They asked me if I knew Prince +Piccolomini, to which I answered that he was not a prince but a +count, and that it was many years since I had seen him. + +When the count and his fair wife (who only spoke Italian) came down, +I shewed them some polite attentions, and we then sat down to dinner. + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +THE ETERNAL QUEST, Vol. 3b, RETURN TO PARIS +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt diff --git a/old/jcrpr10.zip b/old/jcrpr10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d18f69b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcrpr10.zip diff --git a/old/jcrpr11.txt b/old/jcrpr11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..55944bb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcrpr11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5418 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Return to Paris, by Jacques Casanova +#12 in our series by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 +THE ETERNAL QUEST, Volume 3b--RETURN TO PARIS + + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR +MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED +BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + + + +THE ETERNAL QUEST + + + +RETURN TO PARIS + + + +CHAPTER V + +My Fortune in Holland--My Return to Paris with Young Pompeati + + +Amongst the letters which were waiting for me was one from the +comptroller-general, which advised me that twenty millions in +Government securities had been placed in the hands of M. d'Afri, who +was not to go beyond a loss of eight per cent.; and another letter +from my good patron, M. de Bernis, telling me to do the best I could, +and to be assured that the ambassador would be instructed to consent +to whatever bargain might be made, provided the rate was not more +disadvantageous than that of the exchange at Paris. Boaz, who was +astonished at the bargain I had made with my shares, wanted to +discount the Government securities for me, and I should very likely +have agreed to his terms if he had not required me to give him three +months, and the promise that the agreement should hold even in the +case of peace being concluded in the meanwhile. It was not long +before I saw that I should do well to get back to Amsterdam, but I +did not care to break my word to Therese, whom I had promised to meet +at the Hague. I received a letter from her while I was at the play, +and the servant who brought it told me he was waiting to conduct me +to her. I sent my own servant home, and set out on my quest. + +My guide made me climb to the fourth floor of a somewhat wretched +house, and there I found this strange woman in a small room, attended +by her son and daughter. The table stood in the midst of the room, +and was covered with a black cloth, and the two candles standing upon +it made it look like some sort of sepulchral altar. The Hague was a +Court town. I was richly dressed; my elaborate attire made the +saddest possible contrast with the gloom of my surroundings. +Therese, dressed in black and seated between her children at that +black table, reminded me of Medea. To see these two fair young +creatures vowed to a lot of misery and disgrace was a sad and +touching sight. I took the boy between my arms, and pressing him to +my breast called him my son. His mother told him to look upon me as +his father from henceforth. The lad recognized me; he remembered, +much to my delight, seeing me in the May of 1753, in Venice, at +Madame Manzoni's. He was slight but strong; his limbs were well +proportioned, and his features intellectual. He was thirteen years +old. + +His sister sat perfectly still, apparently waiting for her turn to +come. I took her on my knee, and as I embraced her, nature herself +seemed to tell me that she was my daughter. She took my kisses in +silence, but it was easy to see that she thought herself preferred to +her brother, and was charmed with the idea. All her clothing was a +slight frock, and I was able to feel every limb and to kiss her +pretty little body all over, delighted that so sweet a being owed her +existence to me. + +"Mamma, dear," said she, "is not this fine gentleman the same we saw +at Amsterdam, and who was taken for my papa because I am like him? +But that cannot be, for my papa is dead." + +"So he is, sweetheart; but I may be your dear friend, mayn't I? +Would you like to have me for a friend?" + +"Yes, yes!" she cried, and throwing her arms about my neck gave me a +thousand kisses, which I returned with delight. + +After we had talked and laughed together we sat down at table, and +the heroine Therese gave me a delicate supper accompanied by +exquisite wines. "I have never given the margrave better fare," said +she, "at those nice little suppers we used to take together." + +Wishing to probe the disposition of her son, whom I had engaged to +take away with me, I addressed several remarks to him, and soon +discovered that he was of a false and deceitful nature, always on his +guard, taking care of what he said, and consequently speaking only +from his head and not from his heart. Every word was delivered with +a quiet politeness which, no doubt, was intended to please me. + +I told him that this sort of thing was all very well on occasion; but +that there were times when a man's happiness depended on his freedom +from constraint; then and only then was his amiability, if he had +any, displayed. His mother, thinking to praise him, told me that +reserve was his chief characteristic, that she had trained him to +keep his counsel at all times and places, and that she was thus used +to his being reserved with her as with everyone else. + +"All I can say is," said I, "your system is an abominable one. You +may have strangled in their infancy all the finer qualities with +which nature has endowed your son, and have fairly set him on the way +to become a monster instead of an angel. I don't see how the most +devoted father can possibly have any affection for a son who keeps +all his emotions under lock and key." + +This outburst, which proceeded from the tenderness I would fain have +felt for the boy, seemed to strike his mother dumb. + +"Tell me, my dear, if you feel yourself capable of shewing me that +confidence which a father has a right to expect of a good son, and if +you can promise to be perfectly open and unreserved towards me?" + +"I promise that I will die rather than tell you a falsehood." + +"That's just like him," said the mother. "I have succeeded in +inspiring him with the utmost horror of untruthfulness." + +"That's all very well, my dear madam, but you might have pursued a +still better course, and one which would have been still more +conducive to his happiness." + +"What is that?" + +"I will tell you. It was necessary to make him detest a lie; you +should have rather endeavoured to make him a lover of the truth by +displaying it to him in all its native beauty. This is the only way +to make him lovable, and love is the sole bestower of happiness in +this world." + +"But isn't it the same thing not to lie and to tell the truth," said +the boy, with a smile which charmed his mother and displeased me. + +"Certainly not; there is a great difference--for to avoid lying you +have only to hold your tongue; and do you think that comes to the +same thing as speaking the truth? You must open your mind to me, my +son, and tell me all your thoughts, even if you blush in the recital. +I will teach you how to blush, and soon you will have nothing to fear +in laying open all your thoughts and deeds. When we know each other +a little longer we shall see how we agree together. You must +understand that I cannot look upon you as my son until I see cause to +love you, and I cannot have you call me father till you treat me as +the best friend you have. You may be quite sure that I shall find a +way to discover your thoughts, however cleverly you try to hide them. +If I find you deceitful and suspicious I shall certainly entertain no +regard for you. As soon as I have finished my business at Amsterdam +we will set out for Paris. I am leaving the Hague to-morrow, and on +my return I hope to find you instructed by your mother in a system of +morality more consonant with my views, and more likely to lead to +your happiness." + +On glancing at my little daughter, who had been listening to me with +the greatest attention, I saw that her eyes were swimming with tears, +which she could hardly retain. + +"Why are you crying?" said the mother; "it is silly to cry." And +with that the child ran to her mother and threw her arms round her +neck. + +"Would you like to come to Paris, too?" said I to her. + +"Oh, yes! But mamma must come too, as she would die without me." + +"What would you do if I told you to go?" said the mother. + +"I would obey you, mamma, but how could I exist away from you?" + +Thereupon my little daughter pretended to cry. I say pretended, as +it was quite evident that the child did not mean what she said, and I +am sure that her mother knew it as well as I. + +It was really a melancholy thing to see the effects of a bad +education on this young child, to whom nature had given intelligence +and feeling. I took the mother on one side, and said that if she had +intended to make actors of her children she had succeeded to +admiration; but if she wished them to become useful members of +society her system had failed lamentably, as they were in a fair way +to become monsters of deceit. I continued making her the most +pointed remonstrances until, in spite of her efforts to control +herself, she burst into tears. However, she soon recovered her +composure, and begged me to stay at the Hague a day longer, but I +told her it was out of the question, and left the room. I came in +again a few minutes after, and Sophie came up to me and said, in a +loving little voice, + +"If you are really my friend, you will give me some proof of your +friendship." + +"And what proof do you want, my dear?" + +"I want you to come and sup with me to-morrow." + +"I can't, Sophie dear, for I have just said no to your mother, and +she would be offended if I granted you what I had refused her." + +"Oh, no! she wouldn't; it was she who told me to ask you just now." + +I naturally began to laugh, but on her mother calling the girl a +little fool, and the brother adding that he had never committed such +an indiscretion, the poor child began to tremble all over, and looked +abashed. I reassured her as best I could, not caring whether what I +said displeased her mother or not, and I endeavoured to instill into +her principles of a very different nature to those in which she had +been reared, while she listened with an eagerness which proved that +her heart was still ready to learn the right way. Little by little +her face cleared, and I saw that I had made an impression, and though +I could not flatter myself that any good I might do her would be +lasting in its effects as long as she remained under the bad +influence of her mother, I promised to come and sup with her next +evening, "but on the condition," I said, "that you give me a plain +meal, and one bottle of chambertin only, for you are not too well +off." + +"I know that, but mamma says that you pay for everything." + +This reply made me go off into a roar of laughter; and in spite of +her vexation the mother was obliged to follow my example. The poor +woman, hardened by the life she led, took the child's simplicity for +stupidity, but I saw in her a rough diamond which only wanted +polishing. + +Therese told me that the wine did not cost her anything, as the son +of the Rotterdam burgomaster furnished her with it, and that he would +sup with us the next day if I would allow him to be present. I +answered smilingly that I should be delighted to see him, and I went +away after giving my daughter, of whom I felt fond, a tender embrace. +I would have done anything to be entrusted with her, but I saw it +would be no good trying to get possession of her, as the mother was +evidently keeping her as a resource for her old age. This is a +common way for adventuresses to look upon their daughters, and +Therese was an adventuress in the widest acceptation of the term. I +gave her twenty ducats to get clothes for my adopted son and Sophie, +who, with spontaneous gratitude, and her eyes filled with tears, came +and gave me a kiss. Joseph was going to kiss my hand, but I told him +that it was degrading for one man to kiss another's hand, and that +for the future he was to shew his gratitude by embracing me as a son +embraces his father. + +Just as I was leaving, Therese took me to the closet where the two +children were sleeping. I knew what she was thinking of; but all +that was over long ago; I could think of no one but Esther. + +The next day I found the burgomaster's son at my actress's house. He +was a fine young fellow of twenty or twenty-one, but totally devoid +of manner. He was Therese's lover, but he should have regulated his +behaviour in my presence. Therese, seeing that he was posing as +master of the field, and that his manners disgusted me, began to snub +him, much to his displeasure, and after sneering at the poorness of +the dishes, and praising the wine which he had supplied, he went out +leaving us to finish our dessert by ourselves. I left myself at +eleven, telling Therese that I should see her again before I went +away. The Princesse de Galitzin, a Cantimir by birth, had asked me +to dinner, and this made me lose another day. + +Next day I heard from Madame d'Urfe, who enclosed a bill of exchange +on Boaz for twelve thousand francs. She said that she had bought her +shares for sixty thousand, that she did not wish to make anything of +them, and that she hoped I would accept the overplus as my broker's +fee. She worded her offer with too much courtesy for me to refuse +it. The remainder of the letter was devoted to the wildest fancies. +She said that her genius had revealed to her that I should bring back +to Paris a boy born of the Mystical Marriage, and she hoped I would +take pity on her. It was a strange coincidence, and seemed likely to +attach the woman still more closely to her visionary theories. I +laughed when I though how she would be impressed by Therese's son, +who was certainly not born of the Mystical Marriage. + +Boaz paid me my twelve thousand francs in ducats, and I made him my +friend, as he thanked me for receiving the moneys in ducats, and he +doubtless made a profit on the transaction, gold being a commodity in +Holland, and all payments being made in silver or paper money. + +At that time gold was at a low rate, and nobody would take ducats. + +After having an excellent dinner with the Princesse de Galitzin, I +put on my cloak and went to the cafe. I found there the +burgomaster's son, who was just beginning a game of billiards. He +whispered to me that I might back him with advantage, and thinking he +was sure of his stroke I thanked him and followed his advice. +However, after losing three games one after the other, I took his +measure and began to lay against him without his knowledge. After +playing for three hours and losing all the time, he stopped play and +came to condole with me on my heavy loss. It is impossible to +describe his amazed expression when I shewed him a handful of ducats, +and assured him that I had spent a very profitable evening in laying +against him. Everybody in the room began to laugh at him, but he was +the sort of young man who doesn't understand a joke, and he went out +in a rage. Soon after I left the billiard-room myself, and, +according to my promise went to see Therese, as I was leaving for +Amsterdam the next day. + +Therese was waiting for her young wine merchant, but on my recounting +his adventures she expected him no longer. I took my little daughter +on my knee and lavished my caresses on her, and so left them, telling +them that we should see each other again in the course of three weeks +or a month at latest. + +As I was going home in the moonlight by myself, my sword under my +arm, I was encountered all of a sudden by the poor dupe of a +burgomaster's son. + +"I want to know," said he, "if your sword has as sharp a point as +your tongue." + +I tried to quiet him by speaking common sense, and I kept my sword +wrapped in my cloak, though his was bared and directed against me. + +"You are wrong to take my jests in such bad part," said I; "however, +I apologize to you." + +"No apologies; look to yourself." + +"Wait till to-morrow, you will be cooler then, but if you still wish +it I will give you satisfaction in the midst of the billiard-room." + +"The only satisfaction you can give me is to fight; I want to kill +you." + +As evidence of his determination, and to provoke me beyond recall, he +struck me with the flat of his sword, the first and last time in my +life in which I have received such and insult. I drew my sword, but +still hoping to bring him to his senses I kept strictly on the +defensive and endeavoured to make him leave off. This conduct the +Dutchman mistook for fear, and pushed hard on me, lunging in a manner +that made me look to myself. His sword passed through my necktie; a +quarter of an inch farther in would have done my business. + +I leapt to one side, and, my danger no longer admitting of my +fighting on the defensive, I lunged out and wounded him in the chest. +I thought this would have been enough for him, so I proposed we +should terminate our engagement. + +"I'm not dead yet," said he; "I want to kill you." + +This was his watchword; and, as he leapt on me in a paroxysm of rage, +more like a madman than a sensible being, I hit him four times. At +the fourth wound he stepped back, and, saying he had had enough, +begged me to leave him. + +I went off as fast as I could, and was very glad to see from the look +of my sword that his wounds were slight. I found Boaz still up, and +on hearing what had taken place he advised me to go to Amsterdam at +once, though I assured him that the wounds were not mortal. I gave +in to his advice, and as my carriage was at the saddler's he lent me +his, and I set out, bidding my servant to come on the next day with +my luggage, and to rejoin me at the "Old Bible," in Amsterdam. I +reached Amsterdam at noon and my man arrived in the evening. + +I was curious to hear if my duel had made any noise, but as my +servant had left at an early hour he had heard nothing about it. +Fortunately for me nothing whatever was known about it at Amsterdam +for a week after; otherwise, things might not have gone well with me, +as the reputation of being a duellist is not a recommendation to +financiers with whom one is about to transact business of importance. + +The reader will not be surprised when I tell him that my first call +was on M. d'O, or rather on his charming daughter Esther, for she +it was on whom I waited. It will be remembered that the way in which +we parted did a good deal towards augmenting the warmth of my +affection for her. On entering the room I found Esther writing at a +table. + +"What are you doing Esther, dear?" + +"An arithmetical problem." + +"Do you like problems?" + +"I am passionately fond of anything which contains difficulties and +offers curious results." + +"I will give you something which will please you." + +I made her, by way of jest, two magic squares, which delighted her. +In return, she spewed me some trifles with which I was well +acquainted, but which I pretended to think very astonishing. My good +genius then inspired me with the idea of trying divination by the +cabala. I told her to ask a question in writing, and assured her +that by a certain kind of calculation a satisfactory answer would be +obtained. She smiled, and asked why I had returned to Amsterdam so +soon. I shewed her how to make the pyramid with the proper numbers +and the other ceremonies, then I made her extract the answer in +numbers, translating it into French, and greatly was she surprised to +find that the cause which had made me return to Amsterdam so soon +was--love. + +Quite confounded, she said it was very wonderful, even though the +answer might not be true, and she wished to know what masters could +teach this mode of calculation. + +"Those who know it cannot teach it to anyone." + +"How did you learn it, then?" + +"From a precious manuscript I inherited from my father." + +"Sell it me." + +"I have burnt it; and I am not empowered to communicate the secret to +anyone before I reach the age of fifty." + +"Why fifty?" + +"I don't know; but I do know that if I communicated it to anyone +before that age I should run the risk of losing it myself. The +elementary spirit who is attached to the oracle would leave it." + +"How do you know that?" + +"I saw it so stated in the manuscript I have spoken of." + +"Then you are able to discover all secrets?" + +"Yes, or I should be if the replies were not sometimes too obscure to +be understood." + +"As it does not take much time, will you be kind enough to get me an +answer to another question?" + +"With pleasure; you can command me in anything not forbidden by my +familiar spirit." + +She asked what her destiny would be, and the oracle replied that she +had not yet taken the first step towards it. Esther was astonished +and called her governess to see the two answers, but the good woman +saw nothing wonderful in them whatever. Esther impatiently called +her a blockhead, and entreated me to let her ask another question. I +begged her to do so, and she asked, + +"Who loves me most in Amsterdam?" The oracle replied that no one +loved her as well as he who had given her being: Poor Esther then +told me that I had made her miserable, and that she would die of +grief if she could not succeed in learning the method of calculation. +I gave no answer, and pretended to feel sad at heart. She began to +write down another question, putting her hand in front so as to +screen the paper. I rose as if to get out of her way, but while she +was arranging the pyramid I cast my eyes on the paper whilst walking +up and down the room, and read her question. After she had gone as +far as I had taught her, she asked me to extract the answer, saying +that I could do so without reading the question. I agreed to do so +on the condition that she would not ask a second time. + +As I had seen her question, it was easy for me to answer it. She had +asked the oracle if she might shew the questions she had propounded +to her father, and the answer was that she would be happy as long as +she had no secrets from her father. + +When she read these words she gave a cry of surprise, and could find +no words wherewith to express her gratitude to me. I left her for +the Exchange, where I had a long business conversation with M. Pels. + +Next morning a handsome and gentlemanly man came with a letter of +introduction from Therese, who told me that he would be useful in +case I wanted any assistance in business. His name was Rigerboos. +She informed me that the burgomaster's son was only slightly wounded, +and that I had nothing to fear as the matter was not generally known, +and that if I had business at the Hague I might return there in +perfect safety. She said that my little Sophie talked of me all day, +and that I should find my son much improved on my return. I asked M. +Rigerboos to give me his address, assuring him that at the proper +time I should rely on his services. + +A moment after Rigerboos had gone, I got a short note from Esther, +who begged me, in her father's name, to spend the day with her--at +least, if I had no important engagement. I answered that, excepting +a certain matter of which her father knew, I had no chiefer aim than +to convince her that I desired a place in her heart, and that she +might be quite sure that I would not refuse her invitation. + +I went to M. d'O---- at dinner time. I found Esther and her father +puzzling over the method which drew reasonable answers out of a +pyramid of numbers. As soon as her father saw me, he embraced me, +saying how happy he was to possess a daughter capable of attracting +me. + +"She will attract any man who has sufficient sense to appreciate +her." + +"You appreciate her, then?" + +"I worship her." + +"Then embrace her." + +Esther opened her arms, and with a cry of delight threw them round my +neck, and gave the back all my caresses, kiss for kiss. + +"I have got through all my business," said M. d'O----, "and the rest +of my day is at your disposal. I have known from my childhood that +there is such a science as the one you profess, and I was acquainted +with a Jew who by its aid made an immense fortune. He, like you, +said that, under pain of losing the secret, it could only be +communicated to one person, but he put off doing so so long that at +last it was too late, for a high fever carried him off in a few days. +I hope you will not do as the Jew did; but in the meanwhile allow me +to say that if You do not draw a profit from this treasure, you do +not know what it really is." + +"You call this knowledge of mine a treasure, and yet you possess one +far more excellent," looking at Esther as I spoke. + +"We will discuss that again. Yes, sir, I call your science a +treasure." + +"But the answers of the oracle are often very obscure." + +"Obscure! The answers my daughter received are as clear as day." + +"Apparently, she is fortunate in the way she frames her questions; +for on this the reply depends." + +"After dinner we will try if I am so fortunate--at least, if you will +be so kind as to help me." + +"I can refuse you nothing, as I consider father and daughter as one +being." + +At table we discussed other subjects, as the chief clerks were +present--notably the manager, a vulgar-looking fellow, who had very +evident aspirations in the direction of my fair Esther. After dinner +we went into M. d'O 's private closet, and thereupon he drew two long +questions out of his pocket. In the first he desired to know how to +obtain a favourable decision from the States-General in an important +matter, the details of which he explained. I replied in terms, the +obscurity of which would have done credit to a professed Pythoness, +and I left Esther to translate the answer into common sense, and find +a meaning in it. + +With regard to the second answer I acted in a different manner; I was +impelled to answer clearly, and did so. M. d'O asked what had +become of a vessel belonging to the India Company of which nothing +had been heard. It was known to have started on the return voyage, +and should have arrived two months ago, and this delay gave rise to +the supposition that it had gone down. M. d'O---- wished to know if +it were still above water, or whether it were lost, etc. As no +tidings of it had come to hand, the company were on the look-out for +someone to insure it, and offered ten per cent., but nobody cared to +run so great a risk, especially as a letter had been received from an +English sea captain who said he had seen her sink. + +I may confess to my readers, though I did not do so to M. d'O----. +that with inexplicable folly I composed an answer that left no doubt +as to the safety of the vessel, pronouncing it safe and sound, and +that we should hear of it in a few days. No doubt I felt the need of +exalting my oracle, but this method was likely to destroy its credit +for ever. In truth, if I had guessed M. d'O----'s design, I would +have curbed my vanity, for I had no wish to make him lose a large sum +without profiting myself. + +The answer made him turn pale, and tremble with joy. He told us that +secrecy in the matter was of the last importance, as he had +determined to insure the vessel and drive a good bargain. At this, +dreading the consequences, I hastened to tell him that for all I knew +there might not be a word of truth in the oracle's reply, and that I +should die of grief if I were the involuntary cause of his losing an +enormous sum of money through relying on an oracle, the hidden sense +of which might be completely opposed to the literal translation. + +"Have you ever been deceived by it?" + +"Often." + +Seeing my distress, Esther begged her father to take no further steps +in the matter. For some moments nobody spoke. + +M. d'O---- looked thoughtful and full of the project which his fancy +had painted in such gay colours. He said a good deal about it, +dwelling on the mystic virtues of numbers, and told his daughter to +read out all the questions she had addressed to the oracle with the +answers she had received. There were six or seven of them, all +briefly worded, some direct and some equivocal. Esther, who had +constructed the pyramids, had shone, with my potent assistance, in +extracting the answers, which I had really invented, and her father, +in the joy of his heart, seeing her so clever, imagined that she +would become an adept in the science by the force of intelligence. +The lovely Esther, who was much taken with the trifle; was quite +ready to be of the same opinion. + +After passing several hours in the discussion of the answers, which +my host thought divine, we had supper, and at parting M. d'O---- said +that as Sunday was a day for pleasure and not business he hoped I +would honour them by passing the day at their pretty house on the +Amstel, and they were delighted at my accepting their invitation. + +I could not help pondering over the mysteries of the commercial mind, +which narrows itself down to considerations of profit and loss. +M. d'O---- was decidedly an honest man; but although he was rich, he +was by no means devoid of the greed incident to his profession. I +asked myself the question, how a man, who would consider it +dishonourable to steal a ducat, or to pick one up in the street and +keep it, knowing to whom it belonged, could reconcile it with his +conscience to make an enormous profit by insuring a vessel of the +safety of which he was perfectly certain, as he believed the oracle +infallible. Such a transaction was certainly fraudulent, as it is +dishonest to play when one is certain of winning. + +As I was going home I passed a tea-garden, and seeing a good many +people going in and coming out I went in curious to know how these +places were managed in Holland. Great heavens! I found myself the +witness of an orgy, the scene a sort of cellar, a perfect cesspool of +vice and debauchery. The discordant noise of the two or three +instruments which formed the orchestra struck gloom to the soul and +added to the horrors of the cavern. The air was dense with the fumes +of bad tobacco, and vapours reeking of beer and garlic issued from +every mouth. The company consisted of sailors, men of the lowest- +class, and a number of vile women. The sailors and the dregs of the +people thought this den a garden of delight, and considered its +pleasures compensation for the toils of the sea and the miseries of +daily labour. There was not a single woman there whose aspect had +anything redeeming about it. I was looking at the repulsive sight in +silence, when a great hulking fellow, whose appearance suggested the +blacksmith, and his voice the blackguard, came up to me and asked me +in bad Italian if I would like to dance. I answered in the negative, +but before leaving me he pointed out a Venetian woman who, he said, +would oblige me if I gave her some drink. + +Wishing to discover if she was anyone I knew I looked at her +attentively, and seemed to recollect her features, although I could +not decide who she could be. Feeling rather curious on the subject I +sat down next to her, and asked if she came from Venice, and if she +had left that country some time ago. + +"Nearly eighteen years," she replied. + +I ordered a bottle of wine, and asked if she would take any; she said +yes, and added, if I liked, she would oblige me. + +"I haven't time," I said; and I gave the poor wretch the change I +received from the waiter. She was full of gratitude, and would have +embraced me if I had allowed her. + +"Do you like being at Amsterdam better than Venice?" I asked. + +"Alas, no! for if I were in my own country I should not be following +this dreadful trade." + +"How old were you when you left Venice." + +"I was only fourteen and lived happily with my father and mother, who +now may have died of grief." + +"Who seduced you?" + +"A rascally footman." + +"In what part of Venice did you live?" + +"I did not live in Venice, but at Friuli, not far off." + +Friuli . . . eighteen years ago . . . a footman . . . I felt +moved, and looking at the wretched woman more closely I soon +recognized in her Lucie of Pasean. I cannot describe my sorrow, +which I concealed as best I could, and tried hard to keep up my +indifferent air. A life of debauchery rather than the flight of time +had tarnished her beauty, and ruined the once exquisite outlines of +her form. Lucie, that innocent and pretty maiden, grown ugly, vile, +a common prostitute! It was a dreadful thought. She drank like a +sailor, without looking at me, and without caring who I was. I took +a few ducats from my purse, and slipped them into her hand, and +without waiting for her to find out how much I had given her I left +that horrible den. + +I went to bed full of saddening thoughts. Not even under the Leads +did I pass so wretched a day. I thought I must have risen under some +unhappy star! I loathed myself. With regard to Lucie I felt the +sting of remorse, but at the thought of M. d'O---- I hated myself. +I considered that I should cause him a loss of three or four hundred +thousand florins; and the thought was a bitter drop in the cup of my +affection for Esther. I fancied, she, as well as her father, would +become my implacable foe; and love that is not returned is no love at +all. + +I spent a dreadful night. Lucie, Esther, her father, their hatred of +me, and my hatred of myself, were the groundwork of my dreams. I saw +Esther and her father, if not ruined, at all events impoverished by +my fault, and Lucie only thirty-two years old, and already deep in +the abyss of vice, with an infinite prospect of misery and shame +before her. The dawn was welcome indeed, for with its appearance a +calm came to my spirit; it is, the darkness which is terrible to a +heart full of remorse. + +I got up and dressed myself in my best, and went in a coach to do my +suit to the Princesse de Galitzin, who, was staying at the "Etoile +d'Orient." I found her out; she had gone to the Admiralty. I went +there, and found her accompanied by M. de Reissak and the Count de +Tot, who had just received news of my friend Pesselier, at whose +house I made his acquaintance, and who was dangerously ill when I +left Paris. + +I sent away my coach and began to walk towards M. d'O----'s house on +the Amsel. The extreme elegance of my costume was displeasing in the +eyes of the Dutch populace, and they hissed and hooted me, after the +manner of the mob all the world over, Esther saw me coming from the +window, drew the rope, and opened the door. I ran in, shut the door +behind me, and as I was going up the wooden staircase, on the fourth +or fifth step my foot struck against some yielding substance. I +looked down and saw a green pocket-book. I stooped down to pick it +up, but was awkward enough to send it through an opening in the +stairs, which had been doubtless made for the purpose of giving light +to a stair below. I did not stop, but went up the steps and was +received with the usual hospitality, and on their expressing some +wonder as to the unusual brilliance of my attire I explained the +circumstances of the case. Esther smiled and said I looked quite +another person, but I saw that both father and daughter were sad at +heart. Esther's governess came in and said something to her in +Dutch, at which, in evident distress, she ran and embraced her +father. + +"I see, my friends, that something has happened to you. If my +presence is a restraint, treat me without ceremony, and bid me go." + +"It's not so great an ill-hap after all; I have enough money left to +bear the loss patiently" + +"If I may ask the question, what is the nature of your loss?" + +"I have lost a green pocket-book containing a good deal of money, +which if I had been wise I would have left behind, as I did not +require it till to-morrow." + +"And you don't know where you lost it?" + +"It must have been in the street, but I can't imagine how it can have +happened. It contained bills of exchange for large amounts, and of +course they don't matter, as I can stop payment of them, but there +were also notes of the Bank of England for heavy sums, and they are +gone, as they are payable to the bearer. Let us give thanks to God, +my dear child, that it is no worse, and pray to Him to preserve to us +what remains, and above all to keep us in good health. I have had +much heavier losses than this, and I have been enabled not only to +bear the misfortune but to make up the loss. Let us say no more +about the matter." + +While he was speaking my heart was full of joy, but I kept up the +sadness befitting the scene. I had not the slightest doubt that the +pocket-book in question was the one I had unluckily sent through the +staircase, but which could not be lost irretrievably. My first point +was how to make capital of my grand discovery in the interests of my +cabalistic science. It was too fine an opportunity to be lost, +especially as I still felt the sting of having been the cause of an +enormous loss to the worthy man. I would give them a grand proof of +the infallibility of my oracle: how many miracles are done in the +same way! The thought put me into a good humour. I began to crack +jokes, and my jests drew peals of laughter from Esther. + +We had an excellent dinner and choice wine. After we had taken +coffee I said that if they liked we would have a game of cards, but +Esther said that this would be a waste of time, as she would much +prefer making the oracular pyramids. This was exactly what I wanted. + +"With all my heart," I said. + +"We will do as you suggest." + +"Shall I ask where my father lost his pocket-book?" + +"Why not? It's a plain question: write it down." + +She made the pyramid, and the reply was that the pocket-book had not +been found by anyone. She leapt up from her seat, danced for joy, +and threw her arms round her father's neck, saying, + +"We shall find it, we shall find it, papa!" + +"I hope so, too, my dear, that answer is really very consoling." + +Wherewith Esther gave her father one kiss after another. + +"Yes," said I, "there is certainly ground for hope, but the oracle +will be dumb to all questions." + +"Dumb! Why?" + +"I was going to say it will be dumb if you do not give me as many +kisses as you have given your father." + +"Oh, then I will soon make it speak!" said she, laughing; and +throwing her arms about my neck she began to kiss me, and I to give +her kisses in return. + +Ah! what happy days they seem when I recall them; and still I like +dwelling on these days despite my sad old age, the foe of love. When +I recall these events I grow young again and feel once more the +delights of youth, despite the long years which separate me from that +happy time. + +At last Esther sat down again, and asked, "Where is the pocket-book?" +And the pyramid told her that the pocket-book had fallen through the +opening in the fifth step of the staircase. + +M. d'O---- said to his daughter, + +"Come, my dear Esther, let us go and test the truth of the oracle." +And full of joy and hope they went to the staircase, I following +them, and M. d'O shewed her the hole through which the pocket-book +must have fallen. He lighted a candle and we went down to the +cellar, and before long he picked up the book, which had fallen into +some water. We went up again in high spirits, and there we talked +for over an hour as seriously as you please on the divine powers of +the oracle, which, according to them, should render its possessor the +happiest of mortals. + +He opened the pocket-book and shewed us the four thousand pound +notes. He gave two to his daughter, and made me take the two +remaining; but I took them with one hand and with the other gave them +to Esther begging her to keep them for me; but before she would agree +to do so I had to threaten her with the stoppage of the famous +cabalistic oracle. I told M. d'O that all I asked was his +friendship, and thereon he embraced me, and swore to be my friend to +the death. + +By making the fair Esther the depositary of my two thousand pounds, I +was sure of winning her affection by an appeal, not to her interest, +but to her truthfulness. This charming girl had about her so +powerful an attraction that I felt as if my life was wound up with +hers. + +I told M. d'O that my chief object was to negotiate the twenty +millions at a small loss. + +"I hope to be of service to you in the matter," he said, "but as I. +shall often want to speak to you, you must come and live in our +house, which you must look upon as your own." + +"My presence will be a restraint on you. I shall be a trouble." + +"Ask Esther." + +Esther joined her entreaties to her father's and I gave in, taking +good care not to let them see how pleased I was. I contented myself +with expressing my gratitude, to which they answered that it was I +who conferred a favour. + +M. d'O went into his closet, and as soon as I found myself alone with +Esther I kissed her tenderly, saying that I should not be happy till +I had won her heart. + +"Do you love me?" + +"Dearly, and I will do all in my power to shew how well I love you, +if you will love me in return." + +She gave me her hand, which I covered with kisses, and she went on to +say, "As soon as you come and live with us, you must look out for a +good opportunity for asking my hand of my father. You need not be +afraid he will refuse you, but the first thing for you to do is to +move into our house." + +"My dear little wife! I will come to-morrow." + +We said many sweet things to one another, talked about the future, +and told each other our inmost thoughts; and I was undoubtedly truly +in love, for not a single improper fancy rose in my mind in the +presence of my dear who loved me so well. + +The first thing that M. d'O said on his return was, that there would +be a piece of news on the Exchange the next day. + +"What is that, papa dear?" + +"I have decided to take the whole risk--amounting to three hundred +thousand florins-of the ship which is thought to have gone down. +They will call me mad, but they themselves will be the madmen; which +is what I should be if, after the proof we have had, I doubted the +oracle any more." + +"My dear sir, you make me frightened. I have told you that I have +been often deceived by the oracle." + +"That must have been, my dear fellow, when the reply was obscure, and +you did not get at the real sense of it; but in the present case +there is no room, for doubt. I shall make three million florins, or, +if the worst comes to the worse, my loss won't ruin me." + +Esther, whom the finding of the pocket-book had made enthusiastic, +told her father to lose no time. As for me, I could not recall what +I had done, but I was again overwhelmed with sadness. M. d'O---- saw +it, and taking my hand said, "If the oracle does lie this time, I +shall be none the less your friend." + +"I am glad to hear it," I answered; "but as this is a matter of the +utmost importance, let me consult the oracle a second time before you +risk your three hundred thousand florins." This proposition pleased +the father and daughter highly; they could not express their +gratitude to me for being so careful of their interests. + +What followed was truly surprising--enough to make one believe in +fatality. My readers probably will not believe it; but as these +Memoirs will not be published till I have left this world, it would +be of no use for me to disguise the truth in any way, especially as +the writing of them is only the amusement of my leisure hours. Well, +let him who will believe it; this is absolutely what happened. I +wrote down the question myself, erected the pyramid, and carried out +all the magical ceremonies without letting Esther have a hand in it. +I was delighted to be able to check an act of extreme imprudence, and +I was determined to do so. A double meaning, which I knew how to +get, would abate M. d'O----'s courage and annihilate his plans. I +had thought over what I wanted to say, and I thought I had expressed +it properly in the numbers. With that idea, as Esther knew the +alphabet perfectly well, I let her extract the answer, and transfer +it into letters. What was my surprise when I heard her read these +words: + +"In a matter of this kind neither fear nor hesitate. Your repentance +would be too hard for you to bear." + +That was enough. Father and daughter ran to embrace me, and M. d'O- +said that when the vessel was sighted a tithe of the profits should +be mine. My surprise prevented me giving any answer; I had intended +to write trust and hazard, and I had written fear and hesitate. But +thanks to his prejudice, M. d'O---- only saw in my silence +confirmation of the infallibility of the oracle. In short, I could +do nothing more, and I took my leave leaving everything to the care +of chance, who sometimes is kind to us in spite of ourselves. + +The next morning I took up my abode in a splendid suite of rooms in +Esther's house, and the day after I took her to a concert, where she +joked with me on the grief I should endure on account of the absence +of Madame Trend and my daughter. Esther was the only mistress of my +soul. I lived but to adore her, and I should have satisfied my love +had not Esther been a girl of good principles. I could not gain +possession of her, and was full of longing and desire. + +Four or five days after my installation in my new quarters, M. d'O--- +communicated to me the result of a conference which he had had with +M. Pels and six other bankers on the twenty millions. They offered +ten millions in hard cash and seven millions in paper money, bearing +interest at five or six per cent. with a deduction of one per cent. +brokerage. Furthermore, they would forgive a sum of twelve hundred +thousand florins owed by the French India Company to the Dutch +Company. + +With such conditions I could not venture to decide on my own +responsibility, although, personally, I thought them reasonable +enough, the impoverished state of the French treasury being taken +into consideration. I sent copies of the proposal to M. de Boulogne +and M. d'Afri, begging from them an immediate reply. At the end of a +week I received an answer in the writing of M. de Courteil, acting +for M. de Boulogne, instructing me to refuse absolutely any such +proposal, and to report myself at Paris if I saw no chance of making +a better bargain. I was again informed that peace was imminent, +though the Dutch were quite of another opinion. + +In all probability I should have immediately left for Paris, but for +a circumstance which astonished nobody but myself in the family of +which I had become a member. The confidence of M. d'O---- increased +every day, and as if chance was determined to make me a prophet in +spite of myself, news was received of the ship which was believed to +be lost, and which, on the faith of my oracle, M. d'O had bought for +three hundred thousand florins. The vessel was at Madeira. The joy +of Esther, and still more my own, may be imagined when we saw the +worthy man enter the house triumphantly with confirmation of the good +news. + +"I have insured the vessel from Madeira to the mouth of the Texel for +a trifle," said he, "and so," turning to me, "you may count from this +moment on the tenth part of the profit, which I owe entirely to you." + +The reader may imagine my delight; but there is one thing he will not +imagine, unless he knows my character better than I do myself, the +confusion into which I was thrown by the following remarks: + +"You are now rich enough," said M. d'O----, "to set up for yourself +amongst us, and you are positively certain to make an enormous +fortune in a short time merely by making use of your cabala. I will +be your agent; let us live together, and if you like my daughter as +she likes you, you can call yourself my son as soon as you please." + +In Esther's face shone forth joy and happiness, and in mine, though I +adored her, there was to be seen, alas! nothing but surprise. I was +stupid with happiness and the constraint in which I held myself. I +did not analyze my feelings, but, though I knew it not, there can be +no doubt that my insuperable objection to the marriage tie was +working within my soul. A long silence followed; and last, +recovering my powers of speech, I succeeded, with an effort, in +speaking to them of my gratitude, my happiness, my love, and I ended +by saying that, in spite of my affection for Esther, I must, before +settling in Holland, return to Paris, and discharge the confidential +and responsible duty which the Government had placed in my hands. I +would then return to Amsterdam perfectly independent. + +This long peroration won their approval. Esther was quite pleased, +and we spent the rest of the day in good spirits. Next day M. d'O--- +gave a splendid dinner to several of his friends, who congratulated +him on his good fortune, being persuaded that his courageous action +was to be explained by his having had secret information of the +safety of the vessel, though none of them could see from what source +he, and he only, had obtained it. + +A week after this lucky event he gave me an ultimatum on the matter +of the twenty millions, in which he guaranteed that France should not +lose more than nine per cent. in the transaction. + +I immediately sent a copy of his proposal to M. d'Afri, begging him +to be as prompt as possible, and another copy to the comptroller- +general, with a letter in which I warned him that the thing would +certainly fall through if he delayed a single day in sending full +powers to M. d'Afri to give me the necessary authority to act. + +I wrote to the same effect to M. de Courteil and the Duc de Choiseul, +telling them that I was to receive no brokerage; but that I should +all the same accept a proposal which I thought a profitable one, and +saying that I had no doubt of obtaining my expenses from the French +Government. + +As it was a time of rejoicing with us, M. d'O---- thought it would be +a good plan to give a ball. All the most distinguished people in +Amsterdam were invited to it. The ball and supper were of the most +splendid description, and Esther, who was a blaze of diamonds, danced +all the quadrilles with me, and charmed every beholder by her grace +and beauty. + +I spent all my time with Esther, and every day we grew more and more +in love, and more unhappy, for we were tormented by abstinence, which +irritated while it increased our desires. + +Esther was an affectionate mistress, but discreet rather by training +than disposition the favours she accorded me were of the most +insignificant description. She was lavish of nothing but her kisses, +but kisses are rather irritating than soothing. I used to be nearly +wild with love. She told me, like other virtuous women, that if she +agreed to make me happy she was sure I would not marry her, and that +as soon as I made her my wife she would be mine and mine only. She +did not think I was married, for I had given her too many assurances +to the contrary, but she thought I had a strong attachment to someone +in Paris. I confessed that she was right, and said that I was going +there to put an end to it that I might be bound to her alone. Alas! +I lied when I said so, for Esther was inseparable from her father, a +man of forty, and I could not make up my mind to pass the remainder +of my days in Holland. + +Ten or twelve days after sending the ultimatum, I received a letter +from M. de Boulogne informing me that M. d'Afri had all necessary +instructions for effecting the exchange of the twenty millions, and +another letter from the ambassador was to the same effect. He warned +me to take care that everything was right, as he should not part with +the securities before receiving 18,200,000 francs in current money. + +The sad time of parting at last drew near, amid many regrets and +tears from all of us. Esther gave me the two thousand pounds I had +won so easily, and her father at my request gave me bills of exchange +to the amount of a hundred thousand florins, with a note of two +hundred thousand florins authorizing me to draw upon him till the +whole sum was exhausted. Just as I was going, Esther gave me fifty +shirts and fifty handkerchiefs of the finest quality. + +It was not my love for Manon Baletti, but a foolish vanity and a +desire to cut a figure in the luxurious city of Paris, which made me +leave Holland. But such was the disposition that Mother Nature had +given me that fifteen months under The Leads had not been enough to +cure this mental malady of mine. But when I reflect upon after +events of my life I am not astonished that The Leads proved +ineffectual, for the numberless vicissitudes which I have gone +through since have not cured me--my disorder, indeed, being of the +incurable kind. There is no such thing as destiny. We ourselves +shape our lives, notwithstanding that saying of the Stoics, 'Volentem +ducit, nolentem trahit'. + +After promising Esther to return before the end of the year, I set +out with a clerk of the company who had brought the French +securities, and I reached the Hague, where Boaz received me with a +mingled air of wonder and admiration. He told me that I had worked a +miracle; "but," he added, "to succeed thus you must have persuaded +them that peace was on the point of being concluded." + +"By no means," I answered; "so far from my persuading them, they are +of the opposite opinion; but all the same I may tell you that peace +is really imminent." + +"If you like to give me that assurance in writing," said he, "I will +make you a present of fifty thousand florins' worth of diamonds." + +"Well," I answered, "the French ambassador is of the same opinion as +myself; but I don't think the certainty is sufficiently great as yet +for you to risk your diamonds upon it." + +Next day I finished my business with the ambassador, and the clerk +returned to Amsterdam. + +I went to supper at Therese's, and found her children very well +dressed. I told her to go on to Rotterdam the next day and wait for +me there with her son, as I had no wish to give scandal at the Hague. + +At Rotterdam, Therese told me that she knew I had won half a million +at Amsterdam, and that her fortune would be made if she could leave +Holland for London. She had instructed Sophie to tell me that my +good luck was the effect of the prayers she had addressed to Heaven +on my behalf. I saw where the land lay, and I enjoyed a good laugh +at the mother's craft and the child's piety, and gave her a hundred +ducats, telling her that she should have another hundred when she +wrote to me from London. It was very evident that she thought the +sum a very moderate one, but I would not give her any more. She +waited for the moment when I was getting into my carriage to beg me +to give her another hundred ducats, and I said, in a low tone, that +she should have a thousand if she would give me her daughter. She +thought it over for a minute, and then said that she could not part +with her. + +"I know very well why," I answered; and drawing a watch from my fob I +gave it to Sophie, embraced her, and went on my way. I arrived at +Paris on February 10th, and took sumptuous apartments near the Rue +Montorgueil. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +I Meet With a Flattering Reception From My Patron--Madame D'Urfe's +Infatuation--Madame X. C. V. And Her Family--Madame du Rumain + + +During my journey from the Hague to Paris, short as it was, I had +plenty of opportunities for seeing that the mental qualities of my +adopted son were by no means equal to his physical ones. + +As I had said, the chief point which his mother had impressed on him +was reserve, which she had instilled into him out of regard for her +own interests. My readers will understand what I mean, but the +child, in following his mother's instructions, had gone beyond the +bounds of moderation; he possessed reserve, it is true, but he was +also full of dissimulation, suspicion, and hypocrisy--a fine trio of +deceit in one who was still a boy. He not only concealed what he +knew, but he pretended to know that which he did not. His idea of +the one quality necessary to success in life was an impenetrable +reserve, and to obtain this he had accustomed himself to silence the +dictates of his heart, and to say no word that had not been carefully +weighed. Giving other people wrong impressions passed with him for +discretion, and his soul being incapable of a generous thought, he +seemed likely to pass through life without knowing what friendship +meant. + +Knowing that Madame d'Urfe counted on the boy for the accomplishment +of her absurd hypostasis, and that the more mystery I made of his +birth the more extravagant would be her fancies about it, I told the +lad that if I introduced him to a lady who questioned him by himself +about his birth, he was to be perfectly open with her. + +On my arrival at Paris my first visit was to my patron, whom I found +in grand company amongst whom I recognized the Venetian ambassador, +who pretended not to know me. + +"How long have you been in Paris?" said the minister, taking me by +the hand. + +"I have only just stepped out of my chaise." + +"Then go to Versailles. You will find the Duc de Choiseul and the +comptroller-general there. You have been wonderfully successful, go +and get your meed of praise and come and see me afterwards. Tell the +duke that Voltaire's appointment to be a gentleman-in-ordinary to the +king is ready." + +I was not going to start for Versailles at midday, but ministers in +Paris are always talking in this style, as if Versailles were at the +end of the street. Instead of going there, I went to see Madame +d'Urfe. + +She received me with the words that her genius had informed her that +I should come to-day, and that she was delighted with the fulfilment +of the prophecy. + +"Corneman tells me that you have been doing wonders in Holland; but I +see more in the matter than he does, as I am quite certain that you +have taken over the twenty millions yourself. The funds have risen, +and a hundred millions at least will be in circulation in the course +of the next week. You must not be offended at my shabby present, +for, of course, twelve thousand francs are nothing to you. You must +look upon them as a little token of friendship." + +"I am going to tell my servants to close all the doors, for I am too +glad to see you not to want to have you all to myself." + +A profound bow was the only reply I made to this flattering speech, +and I saw her tremble with joy when I told her that I had brought a +lad of twelve with me, whom I intended to place in the best school I +could find that he might have a good education. + +"I will send him myself to Viar, where my nephews are. What is his +name? Where is he? I know well what this boy is, I long to see +him. Why did you not alight from your journey at my house?" + +Her questions and replies followed one another in rapid succession. +I should have found it impossible to get in a word edgeways, even if +I had wanted to, but I was very glad to let her expend her +enthusiasm, and took good care not to interrupt her. On the first +opportunity, I told her that I should have the pleasure of presenting +the young gentleman to her the day after tomorrow, as on the morrow I +had an engagement at Versailles. + +"Does the dear lad speak French? While I am arranging for his going +to school you must really let him come and live with me." + +"We will discuss that question on the day after tomorrow, madam." + +"Oh, how I wish the day after to-morrow was here!" + +On leaving Madame d'Urfe I went to my lottery office and found +everything in perfect order. I then went to the Italian play, and +found Silvia and her daughter in their dressing-room. + +"My dear friend," said she when she saw me, "I know that you have +achieved a wonderful success in Holland, and I congratulate you." + + +I gave her an agreeable surprise by saying that I had been working +for her daughter, and Marion herself blushed, and lowered her eyes in +a very suggestive manner. "I will be with you at supper," I added, +"and then we can talk at our ease." On leaving them I went to the +amphitheatre, and what was my surprise to see in one of the first +boxes Madame X---- C---- V----, with all her family. My readers will +be glad to hear their history. + +Madame X---- C---- V----, by birth a Greek, was the widow of an +Englishman, by whom she had six children, four of whom were girls. +On his death-bed he became a Catholic out of deference to the tears +of his wife; but as his children could not inherit his forty thousand +pounds invested in England, without conforming to the Church of +England, the family returned to London, where the widow complied with +all the obligations of the law of England. What will people not do +when their interests are at stake! though in a case like this there +is no need to blame a person for yielding, to prejudices which had +the sanction of the law. + +It was now the beginning of the year 1758, and five years before, +when I was at Padua, I fell in love with the eldest daughter, but a +few months after, when we were at Venice, Madame X. C. V. thought +good to exclude me from her family circle. The insult which the +mother put upon me was softened by the daughter, who wrote me a +charming letter, which I love to read even now. I may as well +confess that my grief was the easier to bear as my time was taken up +by my fair nun, M---- M----, and my dear C---- C-----. Nevertheless, +Mdlle. X. C. V., though only fifteen, was of a perfect beauty, and +was all the more charming in that to her physical advantages she +joined those of a cultured mind. + +Count Algarotti, the King of Prussia's chamberlain, gave her lessons, +and several young nobles were among her suitors, her preference +apparently being given to the heir of the family of Memmo de St. +Marcuola. He died a year afterwards, while he was procurator. + +My surprise at seeing this family at such a time and place may be +imagined. Mdlle. X. C. V. saw me directly, and pointed me out to her +mother, who made a sign to me with her fan to come to their box. + +She received me in the friendliest manner possible, telling me that +we were not at Venice now, and that she hoped I would often come and +see them at the "Hotel de Bretagne," in the Rue St. Andre des Arts. +I told them that I did not wish to recall any events which might have +happened at Venice, and her daughter having joined her entreaties to +those of her mother, I promised to accept their invitation. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. struck me as prettier than ever; and my love, after +sleeping for five years, awoke to fresh strength and vigour. They +told me that they were going to pass six months at Paris before +returning to Venice. In return I informed them that I intended +making Paris my home, that I had just left Holland, that I was going +to Versailles the next day, so that I could not pay my respects to +them till the day after. I also begged them to accept my services, +in a manner which let them know I was a person of some importance. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. said that she was aware that the results of my Dutch +mission should render me dear to France, that she had always lived in +hopes of seeing me once more, that my famous flight from The Leads +had delighted them; "for," she added, "we have always been fond of +you." + +"I fancy your mother has kept her fondness for me very much to +herself," I whispered to her. + +"We won't say anything about that," said she in the same tone. "We +learnt all the circumstances of your wonderful flight from a letter +of sixteen pages you wrote to M. Memmo. We trembled with joy and +shuddered with fear as we read it." + +"How did you know I have been in Holland?" + +"M. de la Popeliniere told us about it yesterday." + +M. de la Popeliniere, the fermier-general, whom I had known seven +years ago at Passi, came into the box just as his name was spoken. +After complimenting me he said that if I could carry through the same +operation for the India Company my fortune would be made. + +"My advice to you is," he said, "to get yourself naturalized before +it becomes generally known that you have made half a million of +money." + +"Half a million! I only wish I had!" + +"You must have made that at the lowest calculation." + +"On the contrary, I give you my assurance, that if my claim for +brokerage is not allowed, the transaction will prove absolutely +ruinous to me." + +"Ah! no doubt you are right to take that tone. Meanwhile, everyone +wants to make your acquaintance, for France is deeply indebted to +you. You have caused the funds to recover in a very marked degree." + +After the play was over I went to Silvia's, where I was received as +if I had been the favourite child of the family; but on the other +hand I gave them certain proofs that I wished to be regarded in that +light. I was impressed with the idea that to their unshaken +friendship I owed all my good luck, and I made the father, mother, +the daughter, and the two sons, receive the presents I had got for +them. The best was for the mother, who handed it on to her daughter. +It was a pair of diamond ear-rings of great beauty, for which I had +given fifteen thousand francs. Three days after I sent her a box +containing fine linen from Holland, and choice Mechlin and Alencon +lace. Mario, who liked smoking, got a gold pipe; the father a choice +gold and enamelled snuff-box, and I gave a repeater to the younger +son, of whom I was very fond. I shall have occasion later on to +speak of this lad, whose natural qualities were far superior to his +position in life. But, you will ask, was I rich enough to make such +presents? No, I was not, and I knew it perfectly well; but I gave +these presents because I was afraid of not being able to do so if I +waited. + +I set out for Versailles at day-break, and M. de Choiseul received me +as before, his hair was being dressed, but for a moment he laid down +his pen, which shewed that I had become a person of greater +importance in his eyes. After a slight but grateful compliment, he +told me that if I thought myself capable of negotiating a loan of a +hundred millions to bear interest at four per cent., he would do all +in his power to help me. My answer was that I would think it over +when I heard how much I was to have for what I had done already. + +"But everybody says that you have made two hundred thousand florins +by it." + +"That would not be so bad; half a million of francs would be a fair +foundation on which to build a fortune; but I can assure your +excellence that there is not a word of truth in the report. I defy +anyone to prove it; and till some substantial proof is offered, I +think I can lay claim to brokerage." + +"True, true. Go to the comptroller-general and state your views to +him." + +M. de Boulogne stopped the occupation on which he was engaged to give +me a most friendly greeting, but when I said that he owed me a +hundred thousand florins he smiled sardonically. + +"I happen to know," he said, "that you have bills of exchange to the +amount of a hundred thousand crowns payable to yourself." + +"Certainly, but that money has no connection with my mission, as I +can prove to you by referring you to M. d'Afri. I have in my head an +infallible project for increasing the revenue by twenty millions, in +a manner which will cause no irritation." + +"You don't say so! Communicate your plan, and I promise to get you a +pension of a hundred thousand francs, and letters of nobility as +well, if you like to become a Frenchman." + +"I will think it over." + +On leaving M. de Boulogne I went to the Palace, where a ballet was +going on before the Marquise de Pompadour. + +She bowed to me as soon as she saw me, and on my approaching her she +told me that I was an able financier, and that the "gentlemen below" +could not appreciate my merits. She had not forgotten what I had +said to her eight years before in the theatre at Fontainebleau. I +replied that all good gifts were from above, whither, with her help, +I hoped to attain. + +On my return to Paris I went to the "Hotel Bourbon" to inform my +patron of the result of my journey. His advice to me was to continue +to serve the Government well, as its good fortune would come to be +mine. On my telling him of my meeting with the X. C. V.'s, he said +that M. de la Popeliniere was going to marry the elder daughter. + +When I got to my house my son was nowhere to be found. My landlady +told me that a great lady had come to call on my lord, and that she +had taken him away with her. Guessing that this was Madame d'Urfe, I +went to bed without troubling myself any further. Early next morning +my clerk brought me a letter. It came from the old attorney, uncle +to Gaetan's wife, whom I had helped to escape from the jealous fury +of her brutal husband. The attorney begged me to come and speak to +him at the courts, or to make an appointment at some place where he +could see me. I went to the courts and found him there. + +"My niece," he began, "found herself obliged to go into a convent; +and from this vantage ground she is pleading against her husband, +with the aid of a barrister, who will be responsible for the costs. +However, to win our case, we require the evidence of yourself, Count +Tiretta, and other servants who witnessed the scene at the inn." + +I did all I could, and four months afterwards Gaetan simplified +matters by a fraudulent bankruptcy, which obliged him to leave +France: in due time and place, I shall have something more to say +about him. As for his wife, who was young and pretty, she paid her +counsel in love's money, and was very happy with him, and may be +happy still for all I know, but I have entirely lost sight of her. + +After my interview with the old attorney I went to Madame---- to see +Tiretta, who was out. Madame was still in love with him, and he +continued to make a virtue of necessity. I left my address, and went +to the "Hotel de Bretagne" to pay my first call on Madame X. C. V. +The lady, though she was not over fond of me, received me with great +politeness. I possibly cut a better figure in her eyes when rich, +and at Paris, then when we were in Venice. We all know that diamonds +have the strange power of fascination, and that they form an +excellent substitute for virtue! + +Madame X. C. V. had with her an old Greek named Zandiri, brother to +M. de Bragadin's major-domo, who was just dead. I uttered some +expressions of sympathy, and the boor did not take the trouble to +answer me, but I was avenged for his foolish stiffness by the +enthusiasm with which I was welcomed by everyone else. The eldest +girl, her sisters, and the two sons, almost overwhelmed me with +friendliness. The eldest son was only fourteen, and was a young +fellow of charming manners, but evidently extremely independent, and +sighed for the time when he would be able to devote himself to a +career of profligacy for which he was well fitted. Mdlle. X. C. V. +was both beautiful and charming in her manner, and had received an +excellent education of which, however, she made no parade. One could +not stay in her presence without loving her, but she was no flirt, +and I soon saw that she held out no vain hopes to those who had the +misfortune not to please her. Without being rude she knew how to be +cold, and it was all the worse for those whom her coldness did not +shew that their quest was useless. + +The first hour I passed in her company chained me a captive to her +triumphant car. I told her as much, and she replied that she was +glad to have such a captive. She took the place in my heart where +Esther had reigned a week before, but I freely confess that Esther +yielded only because she was away. As to my attachment to Sylvia's +daughter, it was of such a nature as not to hinder me falling in love +with any other woman who chanced to take my fancy. In the +libertine's heart love cannot exist without substantial food, and +women who have had some experience of the world are well aware of +this fact. The youthful Baletti was a beginner, and so knew nothing +of these things. + +M. Farsetti, a Venetian of noble birth, a knight of Malta, a great +student of the occult sciences, and a good Latin versifier, came in +at one o'clock. Dinner was just ready and Madame X. C. V. begged him +to stay. She asked me also to dine with them, but wishing to dine +with Madame d'Urfe I refused the invitation for the nonce. + +M. Farsetti, who had known me very well at Venice, only noticed me by +a side-glance, and without shewing any vexation I paid him back in +the same coin. He smiled at Mdlle. X. C. V.'s praise of my courage. +She noticed his expression, and as if to punish him for it went on to +say that I had now the admiration of every Venetian, and that the +French were anxious to have the honour of calling me a fellow- +citizen. M. Farsetti asked me if my post at the lottery paid well. I +replied, coolly, + +"Oh, yes, well enough for me to pay my clerks' salaries." + +He understood the drift of my reply, and Mdlle. X. C. V. smiled. + +I found my supposed son with Madame d'Urfe, or rather in that amiable +visionary's arms. She hastened to apologize for carrying him off, +and I turned it off with a jest, having no other course to take. + +"I made him sleep with me," she said, "but I shall be obliged to +deprive myself of this privilege for the future, unless he promises +to be more discreet." + +I thought the idea a grand one, and the little fellow, in spite of +his blushes, begged her to say how he had offended. + +"We shall have the Comte de St. Germain," said Madame d'Urfe, "to +dinner. I know he amuses you, and I like you to enjoy yourself in my +house." + +"For that, madam, your presence is all I need; nevertheless, I thank +you for considering me." + +In due course St. Germain arrived, and in his usual manner sat +himself down, not to eat but to talk. With a face of imperturbable +gravity he told the most incredible stories, which one had to pretend +to believe, as he was always either the hero of the tale or an eye +witness of the event. All the same, I could not help bursting into +laughter when he told us of something that happened as he was dining +with the Fathers of the Council of Trent. + +Madame d'Urfe wore on her neck a large magnet. She said that it +would one day happen that this magnet would attract the lightning, +and that she would consequently soar into the sun. I longed to tell +her that when, she got there she could be no higher up than on the +earth, but I restrained myself; and the great charlatan hastened to +say that there could be no doubt about it, and that he, and he only, +could increase the force of the magnet a thousand times. I said, +dryly, that I would wager twenty thousand crowns he would not so much +as double its force, but Madame d'Urfe would not let us bet, and +after dinner she told me in private that I should have lost, as St. +Germain was a magician. Of course I agreed with her. + +A few days later, the magician set out for Chambord, where the king +had given him a suite of rooms and a hundred thousand francs, that he +might be at liberty to work on the dyes which were to assure the +superiority of French materials over those of any other country. St. +Germain had got over the king by arranging a laboratory where he +occasionally tried to amuse himself, though he knew little about +chemistry, but the king was the victim of an almost universal +weariness. To enjoy a harem recruited from amongst the most +ravishing beauties, and often from the ranks of neophytes, with whom +pleasure had its difficulties, one would have needed to be a god, and +Louis XV. was only a man after all. + +It was the famous marquise who had introduced the adept to the king +in the hope of his distracting the monarch's weariness, by giving him +a taste for chemistry. Indeed Madame de Pompadour was under the +impression that St. Germain had given her the water of perpetual +youth, and therefore felt obliged to make the chemist a good return. +This wondrous water, taken according to the charlatan's directions, +could not indeed make old age retire and give way to youth, but +according to the marquise it would preserve one in statu quo for +several centuries. + +As a matter of fact, the water, or the giver of it, had worked +wonders, if not on her body, at least on her mind; she assured the +king that she was not getting older. The king was as much deluded by +this grand impostor as she was, for one day he shewed the Duc des +Deux-Ponts a diamond of the first water, weighing twelve carats, +which he fancied he had made himself. "I melted down," said Louis +XV., "small diamonds weighing twenty-four carats, and obtained this +one large one weighing twelve." Thus it came to pass that the +infatuated monarch gave the impostor the suite formerly occupied by +Marshal Saxe. The Duc des Deux-Ponts told me this story with his own +lips, one evening, when I was supping with him and a Swede, the Comte +de Levenhoop, at Metz. + +Before I left Madame d'Urfe, I told her that the lad might be he who +should make her to be born again, but that she would spoil all if she +did not wait for him to attain the age of puberty. After what she +had said about his misbehavior, the reader will guess what made me +say this. She sent him to board with Viar, gave him masters on +everything, and disguised him under the name of the Comte d'Aranda, +although he was born at Bayreuth, and though his mother never had +anything to do with a Spaniard of that name. It was three or four +months before I went to see him, as I was afraid of being insulted on +account of the name which the visionary Madame d'Urfe had given him. + +One day Tiretta came to see me in a fine coach. He told me that his +elderly mistress wanted to become his wife, but that he would not +hear of it, though she offered to endow him with all her worldly +goods. I told him that if he gave in he might pay his debts, return +to Trevisa, and live pleasantly there; but his destiny would not +allow him to take my advice. + +I had resolved on taking a country house, and fixed on one called +"Little Poland," which pleased me better than all the others I had +seen. It was well furnished, and was a hundred paces distant from +the Madeleine Gate. It was situated on slightly elevated ground near +the royal park, behind the Duc de Grammont's garden, and its owner +had given it the name of "Pleasant Warsaw." It had two gardens, one +of which was on a level with the first floor, three reception rooms, +large stables, coach houses, baths, a good cellar, and a splendid +kitchen. The master was called "The Butter King," and always wrote +himself down so; the name had been given to him by Louis XV. on the +monarch's stopping at the house and liking the butter. The "Butter +King" let me his house for a hundred Louis per annum, and he gave me +an excellent cook called "The Pearl," a true blue-ribbon of the order +of cooks, and to her he gave charge of all his furniture and the +plate I should want for a dinner of six persons, engaging to get me +as much plate as I wanted at the hire of a sous an ounce. He also +promised to let me have what wine I wanted, and said all he had was +of the best, and, moreover, cheaper than I could get it at Paris, as +he had no gate-money to pay on it. + +Matters having been arranged on these terms, in the course of a week +I got a good coachman, two fine carriages, five horses, a groom, and +two footmen. Madame d'Urfe, who was my first guest, was delighted +with my new abode, and as she imagined that I had done it all for +her, I left her in that flattering opinion. I never could believe in +the morality of snatching from poor mortal man the delusions which +make them happy. I also let her retain the notion that young +d'Aranda, the count of her own making, was a scion of the nobility, +that he was born for a mysterious operation unknown to the rest of +mankind, that I was only his caretaker (here I spoke the truth), and +that he must die and yet not cease to live. All these whimsical +ideas were the products of her brain, which was only occupied with +the impossible, and I thought the best thing I could do was to agree +with everything. If I had tried to undeceive her, she would have +accused me of want of trust in her, for she was convinced that all +her knowledge was revealed to her by her genius, who spoke to her +only by night. After she had dined with me I took her back to her +house, full of happiness. + +Camille sent me a lottery ticket, which she had invested in at my +office, and which proved to be a winning one, I think, for a thousand +crowns or thereabouts. She asked me to come and sup with her, and +bring the money with me. I accepted her invitation, and found her +surrounded by all the girls she knew and their lovers. After supper +I was asked to go to the opera with them, but we had scarcely got +there when I lost my party in the crowd. I had no mask on, and I +soon found myself attacked by a black domino, whom I knew to be a +woman, and as she told me a hundred truths about myself in a falsetto +voice, I was interested, and determined on finding out who she was. +At last I succeeded in persuading her to come with me into a box, and +as soon as we were in and I had taken off her mask I was astonished +to find she was Mdlle. X. C. V. + +"I have come to the ball," said she, "with one of my sisters, my +elder brother, and M. Farsetti. I left them to go into a box and +change my domino: + +"They must feel very uneasy." + +"I dare say they do, but I am not going to take pity on them till the +end of the ball." + +Finding myself alone with her, and certain of having her in my +company for the rest of the night, I began to talk of our old love- +making; and I took care to say that I was more in love with her than +ever. She listened to me kindly, did not oppose my embraces, and by +the few obstacles she placed in my way I judged that the happy moment +was not far off. Nevertheless I felt that I must practice restraint +that evening, and she let me see that she was obliged to me. + +"I heard at Versailles, my dear mademoiselle, that you are going to +marry M. de la Popeliniere." + +"So they say. My mother wishes me to do so, and the old financier +fancies he has got me in his talons already; but he makes a mistake, +as I will never consent to such a thing." + +"He is old, but he is very rich." + +"He is very rich and very generous, for he promises me a dowry of a +million if I become a widow without children; and if I had a son he +would leave me all his property." + +"You wouldn't have much difficulty in complying with the second +alternative." + +"I shall never have anything to do with his money, for I should never +make my life miserable by a marriage with a man whom I do not love, +while I do love another." + +"Another! Who is the fortunate mortal to whom you have given your +heart's treasure?" + +"I do not know if my loved one is fortunate. My lover is a Venetian, +and my mother knows of it; but she says that I should not be happy, +that he is not worthy of me." + +"Your mother is a strange woman, always crossing your affections." + +"I cannot be angry with her. She may possibly be wrong, but she +certainly loves me. She would rather that I should marry M. +Farsetti, who would be very glad to have me, but I detest him." + +"Has he made a declaration in terms?" + +"He has, and all the marks of contempt I have given him seem to have +no effect." + +"He clings hard to hope; but the truth is you have fascinated him." + +"Possibly, but I do not think him susceptible of any tender or +generous feeling. He is a visionary; surly, jealous, and envious in +his disposition. When he heard me expressing myself about you in the +manner you deserve, he had the impudence to say to my mother before +my face that she ought not to receive you." + +"He deserves that I should give him a lesson in manners, but there +are other ways in which he may be punished. I shall be delighted to +serve you in any way I can." + +"Alas! if I could only count on your friendship I should be happy." + +The sigh with which she uttered these words sent fire through my +veins, and I told her that I was her devoted slave; that I had fifty +thousand crowns which were at her service, and that I would risk my +life to win her favours. She replied that she was truly grateful to +me, and as she threw her arms about my neck our lips met, but I saw +that she was weeping, so I took care that the fire which her kisses +raised should be kept within bounds. She begged me to come and see +her often, promising that as often as she could manage it we should +be alone. I could ask no more, and after I had promised to come and +dine with them on the morrow, we parted. + +I passed an hour in walking behind her, enjoying my new position of +intimate friend, and I then returned to my Little Poland. It was a +short distance, for though I lived in the country I could get to any +part of Paris in a quarter of an hour. I had a clever coachman, and +capital horses not used to being spared. I got them from the royal +stables, and as soon as I lost one I got another from the same place, +having to pay two hundred francs. This happened to me several times, +for, to my mind, going fast is one of the greatest pleasures which +Paris offers. + +Having accepted an invitation to dinner at the X. C. V.'s, I did not +give myself much time for sleep, and I went out on foot with a cloak +on. The snow was falling in large flakes, and when I got to madame's +I was as white as a sheet from head to foot. She gave me a hearty +welcome, laughing, and saying that her daughter had been telling her +how she had puzzled me, and that she was delighted to see me come to +dinner without ceremony. "But," added she, "it's Friday today, and +you will have to fast, though, after all, the fish is very good. +Dinner is not ready yet. You had better go and see my daughter, who +is still a-bed." + +As may be imagined, this invitation had not to be repeated, for a +pretty woman looks better in bed than anywhere else. I found Mdlle. +X. C. V. sitting up in bed writing, but she stopped as soon as she +saw me. + +"How is this, sweet lie-a-bed, not up yet?" + +"Yes, I am staying in bed partly because I feel lazy, and partly +because I am freer here." + +"I was afraid you were not quite well." + +"Nor am I. However, we will say no more about that now. I am just +going to take some soup, as those who foolishly establish the +institution of fasting were not polite enough to ask my opinion on +the subject. It does not agree with my health, and I don't like it, +so I am not going to get up even to sit at table, though I shall thus +deprive myself of your society." + +I naturally told her that in her absence dinner would have no savour; +and I spoke the truth. + +As the presence of her sister did not disturb us, she took out of her +pocket-book an epistle in verse which I had addressed to her when her +mother had forbidden me the house. "This fatal letter," said she, +"which you called 'The Phoenix,' has shaped my life and may prove the +cause of my death." + +I had called it the Phoenix because, after bewailing my unhappy lot, +I proceeded to predict how she would afterwards give her heart to a +mortal whose qualities would make him deserve the name of Phoenix. A +hundred lines were taken up in the description of these imaginary +mental and moral characteristics, and certainly the being who should +have them all would be right worthy of worship, for he would be +rather a god than a man. + +"Alas!" said Mdlle. X. C. V., "I fell in love with this imaginary +being, and feeling certain that such an one must exist I set myself +to look for him. After six months I thought I had found him. I gave +him my heart, I received his, we loved each other fondly. But for +the last four months we have been separated, and during the whole +time I have only had one letter from him. Yet I must not blame him, +for I know he cannot help it. Such, is my sorry fate: I can neither +hear from him nor write to him:" + +This story was a confirmation of a theory of mine namely, that the +most important events in our lives proceed often from the most +trifling causes. My epistle was nothing better than a number of +lines of poetry more or less well written, and the being I had +delineated was certainly not to be found, as he surpassed by far all +human perfections, but a woman's heart travels so quickly and so far! +Mdlle. X. C. V. took the thing literally, and fell in love with a +chimera of goodness, and then was fain to turn this into a real +lover, not thinking of the vast difference between the ideal and the +real. For all that, when she thought that she had found the original +of my fancy portrait, she had no difficulty in endowing him with all +the good qualities I had pictured. Of course Mdlle. X. C. V. would +have fallen in love if I had never written her a letter in verse, but +she would have done so in a different manner, and probably with +different results. + +As soon as dinner was served we were summoned to do justice to the +choice fish which M. de la Popeliniere had provided. Madame X. C. V. +a narrowminded Greek, was naturally bigoted and superstitious. In +the mind of a silly woman the idea of an alliance between the most +opposite of beings, God and the Devil, seems quite natural. A priest +had told her that, since she had converted her husband, her salvation +was secure, for the Scriptures solemnly promised a soul for a soul to +every one who would lead a heretic or a heathen within the fold of +the church. And as Madame X. C. V. had converted her husband, she +felt no anxiety about the life of the world to come, as she had done +all that was necessary. However, she ate fish on the days appointed; +the reason being that she preferred it to flesh. + +Dinner over, I returned to the lady's bedside, and there stayed till +nearly nine o'clock, keeping my passions well under control all the +time. I was foppish enough to think that her feelings were as lively +as mine, and I did not care to shew myself less self-restrained than +she, though I knew then, as I know now, that this was a false line of +argument. It is the same with opportunity as with fortune; one must +seize them when they come to us, or else they go by, often to return +no more. + +Not seeing Farsetti at the table, I suspected there had been a +quarrel, and I asked my sweetheart about it; but she told me I was +mistaken in supposing they had quarreled with him, and that the +reason of his absence was that he would never leave his house on a +Friday. The deluded man had had his horoscope drawn, and learning by +it that he would be assassinated on a Friday he resolved always to +shut himself up on that day. He was laughed at, but persisted in the +same course till he died four years ago at the age of seventy. He +thought to prove by the success of his precautions that a man's +destiny depends on his discretion, and on the precautions he takes to +avoid the misfortunes of which he has had warning. The line of +argument holds good in all cases except when the misfortunes are +predicted in a horoscope; for either the ills predicted are +avoidable, in which case the horoscope is a useless piece of folly, +or else the horoscope is the interpreter of destiny, in which case +all the precautions in the world are of no avail. The Chevalier +Farsetti was therefore a fool to imagine he had proved anything at +all. He would have proved a good deal for many people if he had gone +out on a Friday, and had chanced to have been assassinated. Picas de +la Mirandola, who believed in astrology, says, "I have no doubt +truly, 'Astra influunt, non cogunt'. "But would it have been a real +proof of the truth of astrology, if Farsetti had been assassinated on +a Friday? In my opinion, certainly not. + +The Comte d'Eigreville had introduced me to his sister, the Comtesse +du Remain, who had been wanting to make my acquaintance ever since +she had heard of my oracle. It was not long before I made friends +with her husband and her two daughters, the elder of whom, nicknamed +"Cotenfau," married M. de Polignac later on. Madame du Remain was +handsome rather than pretty, but she won the love of all by her +kindness, her frank courtesy, and her eagerness to be of service to +her friends. She had a magnificent figure, and would have awed the +whole bench of judges if she had pleaded before them. + +At her house I got to know Mesdames de Valbelle and de Rancerolles, +the Princess de Chimai, and many others who were then in the best +society of Paris. Although Madame du Remain was not a proficient in +the occult sciences, she had nevertheless consulted my oracle more +frequently than Madame d'Urfe. She was of the utmost service to me +in connection with an unhappy circumstance of which I shall speak +presently. + +The day after my long conversation with Mdlle. X. C. V., my servant +told me that there was a young man waiting who wanted to give me a +letter with his own hands. I had him in, and on my asking him from +whom the letter came, he replied that I should find all particulars +in the letter, and that he had orders to wait for an answer. The +epistle ran as follows: + +"I am writing this at two o'clock in the morning. I am weary and in +need of rest, but a burden on my soul deprives me of sleep. The +secret I am about to tell you will no longer be so grievous when I +have confided in you; I shall feel eased by placing it in your +breast. I am with child, and my situation drives me to despair. I +was obliged to write to you because I felt I could not say it. Give +me a word in reply." + +My feelings on reading the above may be guessed. I was petrified +with astonishment and could only write, "I will be with you at eleven +o'clock." + +No one should say that he has passed through great misfortunes unless +they have proved too great for his mind to bear. The confidence of +Mdlle. X. C. V. shewed me that she was in need of support. I +congratulated myself on having the preference, and I vowed to do my +best for her did it cost me my life. These were the thoughts of a +lover, but for all that I could not conceal from myself the +imprudence of the step she had taken. In such cases as these there +is always the choice between speaking or writing, and the only +feeling which can give the preference to writing is false shame, at +bottom mere cowardice. If I had not been in love with her, I should +have found it easier to have refused my aid in writing than if she +had spoken to me, but I loved her to distraction. + +"Yes," said I to myself, "she can count on me. Her mishap makes her +all the dearer to me." + +And below this there was another voice, a voice which whispered to me +that if I succeeded in saving her my reward was sure. I am well +aware that more than one grave moralist will fling stones at me for +this avowal, but my answer is that such men cannot be in love as I +was. + +I was punctual to my appointment, and found the fair unfortunate at +the door of the hotel. + +"You are going out, are you? Where are you going?" + +"I am going to mass at the Church of the Augustinians." + +"Is this a saint's day?" + +"No; but my mother makes me go every day." + +"I will come with you." + +"Yes do, give me your arm; we will go into the cloisters and talk +there." + +Mdlle. X. C. V. was accompanied by her maid, but she knew better +than to be in the way, so we left her in the cloisters. As soon as +we were alone she said to me, + +"Have you read my letter?" + +"Yes, of course; here it is, burn it yourself." + +"No, keep it, and do so with your own hands." + +"I see you trust in me, and I assure you I will not abuse your +trust." + +"I am sure you will not. I am four months with child; I can doubt it +no longer, and the thought maddens me!" + +"Comfort yourself, we will find some way to get over it." + +"Yes; I leave all to you. You must procure an abortion." + +"Never, dearest! that is a crime!" + +"Alas! I know that well; but it is not a greater crime than suicide, +and there lies my choice: either to destroy the wretched witness of +my shame, or to poison myself. For the latter alternative I have +everything ready. You are my only friend, and it is for you to +decide which it shall be. Speak to me! Are you angry that I have +not gone to the Chevalier Farsetti before you?" + +She saw my astonishment, and stopped short, and tried to wipe away +the tears which escaped from her eyes. My heart bled for her. + +"Laying the question of crime on one side," said I, "abortion is out +of our power. If the means employed are not violent they are +uncertain, and if they are violent they are dangerous to the mother. +I will never risk becoming your executioner; but reckon on me, I will +not forsake you. Your honour is as dear to me as your life. Becalm, +and henceforth think that the peril is mine, not yours. Make up your +mind that I shall find some way of escape, and that there will be no +need to cut short that life, to preserve which I would gladly die. +And allow me to say that when I read your note I felt glad, I could +not help it, that at such an emergency you chose me before all others +to be your helper. You will find that your trust was not given in +vain, for no one loves you as well as I, and no one is so fain to +help you. Later you shall begin to take the remedies I will get for +you, but I warn you to be on your guard, for this is a serious +matter--one of life and death. Possibly you have already told +somebody about it--your maid or one of your sisters?" + +"I have not told anybody but you, not even the author of my shame. +I tremble when I think what my mother would do and say if she found +out my situation. I am afraid she will draw her conclusions from my +shape." + +"So far there is nothing to be observed in that direction, the beauty +of the outline still remains intact." + +"But every day increases its size, and for that reason we must be +quick in what we do. You must find a surgeon who does not know my +name and take me to him to be bled." + +"I will not run the risk, it might lead to the discovery of the whole +affair. I will bleed you myself; it is a simple operation." + +"How grateful I am to you! I feel as if you had already brought me +from death to life. What I should like you to do would be to take me +to a midwife's. We can easily go without attracting any notice at +the first ball at the opera." + +"Yes, sweetheart, but that step is not necessary, and it might lead +to our betrayal." + +"No, no, in this great town there are midwives in every quarter, and +we should never be known; we might keep our masks on all the time. +Do me this kindness. A midwife's opinion is certainly worth having." + +I could not refuse her request, but I made her agree to wait till the +last ball, as the crowd was always greater, and we had a better +chance of going out free from observation. I promised to be there in +a black domino with a white mask in the Venetian fashion, and a rose +painted beside the left eye. As soon as she saw me go out she was to +follow me into a carriage. All this was carried out, but more of it +anon. + +I returned with her, and dined with them without taking any notice of +Farsetti, who was also at the table, and had seen me come back from +mass with her. We did not speak a word to one another; he did not +like me and I despised him. + +I must here relate a grievous mistake of which I was guilty, and +which I have not yet forgiven myself. + +I had promised to take Mdlle. X. C. V. to a midwife, but I certainly +ought to have taken her to a respectable woman's, for all we wanted +to know was how a pregnant woman should regulate her diet and manner +of living. But my evil genius took me by the Rue St. Louis, and +there I saw the Montigni entering her house with a pretty girl whom I +did not know, and so out of curiosity I went in after them. After +amusing myself there, with Mdlle. X. C. V. running in my head all the +time, I asked the woman to give me the address of a midwife, as I +wanted to consult one. She told me of a house in the Marais, where +according to her dwelt the pearl of midwives, and began telling me +some stories of her exploits, which all went to prove that the woman +was an infamous character. I took her address, however, and as I +should have to go there by night, I went the next day to see where +the house was. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. began to take the remedies which I brought her, which +ought to have weakened and destroyed the result of love, but as she +did not experience any benefit, she was impatient to consult a +midwife. On the night of the last ball she recognized me as we had +agreed, and followed me out into the coach she saw me enter, and in +less than a quarter of an hour we reached the house of shame. + +A woman of about fifty received us with great politeness, and asked +what she could do. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. told her that she believed herself pregnant, and +that she desired some means of concealing her misfortune. The wretch +answered with a smile that she might as well tell her plainly that it +would be easy to procure abortion. "I will do your business," said +she, "for fifty Louis, half to be paid in advance on account of +drugs, and the rest when it's all over. I will trust in your +honesty, and you will have to trust in mine. Give me the twenty-five +Louis down, and come or send to-morrow for the drugs, and +instructions for using them." + +So saying she turned up her clothes without any ceremony, and as I, +at Mdlle. X. C. V.'s request, looked away, she felt her and +pronounced, as she let down her dress, that she was not beyond the +fourth month. + +"If my drugs," said she, "contrary to my expectation, do not do any +good, we will try some other ways, and, in any case, if I do not +succeed in obliging you I will return you your money." + +"I don't doubt it for a moment," said I, "but would you tell me what +are those other ways!" + +"I should tell the lady how to destroy the foetus." + +I might have told her that to kill the child meant giving a mortal +wound to the mother, but I did not feel inclined to enter into a +argument with this vile creature. + +"If madame decides on taking your advice," said I, "I will bring you +the money for drugs to-morrow." + +I gave her two Louis and left. Mdlle. X. C. V. told me that she had +no doubt of the infamy of this woman, as she was sure it was +impossible to destroy the offspring without the risk of killing the +mother also. "My only trust," said she, "is in you." I encouraged +her in this idea, dissuading her from any criminal attempts, and +assured her over and over again that she should not find her trust in +me misplaced. All at once she complained of feeling cold, and asked +if we had not time to warm ourselves in Little Poland, saying that +she longed to see my pretty house. I was surprised and delighted +with the idea. The night was too dark for her to see the exterior +charms of my abode, she would have to satisfy herself with the +inside, and leave the rest to her imagination. I thought my hour had +come. I made the coach stop and we got down and walked some way, and +then took another at the corner of the Rue de la Ferannerie. I +promised the coachman six francs beyond his fare, and in a quarter of +an hour he put us down at my door. + +I rang with the touch of the master, the Pearl opened the door, and +told me that there was nobody within, as I very well knew, but it was +her habit to do so. + +"Quick!" said I, "light us a fire, and bring some glasses and a +bottle of champagne." + +"Would you like an omelette?" + +"Very well." + +"Oh, I should like an omelette so much!" said Mdlle. X. C. V. She +was ravishing, and her laughing air seemed to promise me a moment of +bliss. I sat down before the blazing fire and made her sit on my +knee, covering her with kisses which she gave me back as lovingly. I +had almost won what I wanted when she asked me in a sweet voice to +stop. I obeyed, thinking it would please her, feeling sure that she +only delayed my victory to make it more complete, and that she would +surrender after the champagne. I saw love, kindness, trust, and +gratitude shining in her face, and I should have been sorry for her +to think that I claimed her as a mere reward. No, I wanted her love, +and nothing but her love. + +At last we got to our last glass of champagne, we rose from the +table, and sentimentally but with gentle force I laid her on a couch +and held her amorously in my arms. But instead of giving herself up +to my embraces she resisted them, at first by those prayers which +usually make lovers more enterprising, then by serious remonstrances, +and at last by force. This was too much, the mere idea of using +violence has always shocked me, and I am still of opinion that the +only pleasure in the amorous embrace springs from perfect union and +agreement. I pleaded my cause in every way, I painted myself as the +lover flattered, deceived, despised! At last I told her that I had +had a cruel awakening, and I saw that the shaft went home. I fell on +my knees and begged her to forgive me. "Alas!" said she, in a voice +full of sadness, "I am no longer mistress of my heart, and have far +greater cause for grief than you." The tears flowed fast down her +cheeks, her head rested on my shoulder, and our lips met; but for all +that the piece was over. The idea of renewing the attack never came +into my head, and if it had I should have scornfully rejected it. +After a long silence, of which we both stood in need, she to conquer +her shame, and I to repress my anger, we put on our masks and +returned to the opera. On our way she dared to tell me that she +should be obliged to decline my friendship if she had to pay for it +so dearly. + +"The emotions of love," I replied, "should yield to those of honour, +and your honour as well as mine require us to continue friends. What +I would have done for love I will now do for devoted friendship, and +for the future I will die rather than make another attempt to gain +those favours of which I thought you deemed me worthy." + +We separated at the opera, and the vast crowd made me lose sight of +her in an instant. Next day she told me that she had danced all +night. She possibly hoped to find in that exercise the cure which no +medicine seemed likely to give her. + +I returned to my house in a bad humour, trying in vain to justify a +refusal which seemed humiliating and almost incredible. My good +sense shewed me, in spite of all sophisms, that I had been grievously +insulted. I recollected the witty saying of Populia, who was never +unfaithful to her husband except when she was with child; "Non tollo +vectorem," said she, "nisi navi plena." + +I felt certain that I was not loved, and the thought grieved me; and +I considered that it would be unworthy of me to love one whom I could +no longer hope to possess. I resolved to avenge myself by leaving +her to her fate, feeling that I could not allow myself to be duped as +I had been. + +The night brought wisdom with it, and when I awoke in the morning my +mind was calm and I was still in love. I determined to act +generously by the unfortunate girl. Without my aid she would be +ruined; my course, then, would be to continue my services and to shew +myself indifferent to her favours. The part was no easy one, but I +played it right well, and at last my reward came of itself. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +I Continue My Relations With Mdlle. X. C. V.--Vain Attempts to +Procure Abortion--The Aroph--She Flies From Home and Takes Refuge in +a Convent + + +The difficulties I encountered only served to increase my love for my +charming Englishwoman. I went to see her every morning, and as my +interest in her condition was genuine, she could have no suspicion +that I was acting a part, or attribute my care of her to anything but +the most delicate feelings. For her part she seemed well pleased in +the alteration of my behaviour, though her satisfaction may very +probably have been assumed. I understood women well enough to know +that though she did not love me she was probably annoyed at seeing my +new character sit upon me so easily. + +One morning in the midst of an unimportant and disconnected +conversation, she complimented me upon my strength of mind in +subduing my passion, adding, with a smile, that my desire could not +have pricked me very sharply, seeing that I had cured myself so well +in the course of a week. I quietly replied that I owed my cure not +to the weakness of my passion but to my self-respect. + +"I know my own character," I said, "and without undue presumption, I +think I may say that I am worthy of a woman's love. Naturally, after +your convincing me that you think differently, I feel humiliated and +indignant. Do you know what effect such feelings have on the heart?" + +"Alas!" said she, "I know too well. Their effect is to inspire one +with contempt for her who gave rise to them." + +"That is going too far, at least in my case. My indignation was +merely succeeded by a renewed confidence in myself, and a +determination to be revenged." + +"To be revenged! In what way?" + +"I wish to compel you to esteem me, by proving to you that I am lord +of myself, and can pass by with indifference what I once so ardently +desired. I do not know whether I have succeeded yet, but I may say +that I can now contemplate your charms without desiring to possess +them." + +"You are making a mistake, for I never ceased to esteem you, and I +esteemed you as much a week ago as I do to-day. Nor for a moment I +did think you capable of leaving me to my fate as a punishment for +having refused to give way to your transports, and I am glad that I +read your character rightly." + +We went on to speak of the opiate I made her take, and as she saw no +change in her condition she wanted me to increase the dose--a request +I took care not to grant, as I knew that more than half a drachm +might kill her. I also forbade her to bleed herself again, as she +might do herself a serious injury without gaining anything by it. +Her maid, of whom she had been obliged to make a confidante, had had +her bled by a student, her lover. I told Mdlle. X. C. V. that if +she wanted these people to keep her counsel she must be liberal with +them, and she replied that she had no money. I offered her money and +she accepted fifty louis, assuring me that she would repay me that +sum which she needed for her brother Richard. I had not as much +money about me, but I sent her the same day a packet of twelve +hundred francs with a note in which I begged her to have recourse to +me in all her necessities. Her brother got the money, and thought +himself authorized to apply to me for aid in a much more important +matter. + +He was a young man and a profligate, and had got into a house of ill- +fame, from which he came out in sorry plight. He complained bitterly +that M. Farsetti had refused to lend him four louis, and he asked me +to speak to his mother that she might pay for his cure. I consented, +but when his mother heard what was the matter with him, she said it +would be much better to leave him as he was, as this was the third +time he had been in this condition, and that to have him cured was a +waste of money, as no sooner was he well than he began his dissipated +life afresh. She was quite right, for I had him cured at my expense +by an able surgeon, and he was in the same way a month after. This +young man seemed intended by nature for shameful excesses, for at the +age of fourteen he was an accomplished profligate. + +His sister was now six months with child, and as her figure grew +great so did her despair. She resolved not to leave her bed, and it +grieved me to see her thus cast down. Thinking me perfectly cured of +my passion for her, she treated me purely as a friend, making me +touch her all over to convince me that she dare not shew herself any +longer. I played in short the part of a midwife, but with what a +struggle! I had to pretend to be calm and unconcerned when I was +consumed with passion. She spoke of killing herself in a manner that +made me shudder, as I saw that she had reflected on what she was +saying. I was in a difficult position when fortune came to my +assistance in a strange and amusing manner. + +One day, as I was dining with Madame d'Urfe, I asked her if she knew +of any way by which a girl, who had allowed her lover to go too far, +might be protected from shame. "I know of an infallible method," she +replied, "the aroph of Paracelsus to wit, and it is easy of +application. Do you wish to know more about it?" she added; and +without waiting for me to answer she brought a manuscript, and put it +in my hands. This powerful emmenagogue was a kind of unguent +composed of several drugs, such as saffron, myrrh, etc., compounded +with virgin honey. To obtain the necessary result one had to employ +a cylindrical machine covered with extremely soft skin, thick enough +to fill the opening of the vagina, and long enough to reach the +opening of the reservoir or case containing the foetus. The end of +this apparatus was to be well anointed with aroph, and as it only +acted at a moment of uterine excitement it was necessary to apply it +with the same movement as that of coition. The dose had to be +repeated five or six times a day for a whole week. + +This nostrum, and the manner of administering it, struck me in so +laughable a light that I could not keep my countenance. I laughed +with all my heart, but for all that I spent the next two hours in +reading the dreams of Paracelsus, in which Madame d'Urfe put more +trust than in the truths of the Gospel; I afterwards referred to +Boerhaave, who speaks of the aroph in more reasonable terms. + +Seeing, as I have remarked, the charming X. C. V. several hours a day +without any kind of constraint, feeling in love with her all the +time, and always restraining my feelings, it is no wonder if the +hidden fire threatened at every moment to leap up from the ashes of +its concealment. Her image pursued me unceasingly, of her I always +thought, and every day made it more evident that I should know rest +no more till I succeeded in extinguishing my passion by obtaining +possession of all her charms. + +As I was thinking of her by myself I resolved to tell her of my +discovery, hoping she would need my help in the introduction of the +cylinder. I went to see her at ten o'clock, and found her, as usual, +in bed; she was weeping because the opiate I gave her did not take +effect. I thought the time a good one for introducing the aroph of +Paracelsus, which I assured her was an infallible means of attaining +the end she desired; but whilst I was singing the praises of this +application the idea came into my head to say that, to be absolutely +certain, it was necessary for the aroph to be mingled with semen +which had not lost its natural heat. + +"This mixture," said I, "moistening several times a day the opening +of the womb, weakens it to such a degree that the foetus is expelled +by its own weight:" + +To these details I added lengthy arguments to persuade her of the +efficacy of this cure, and then, seeing that she was absorbed in +thought, I said that as her lover was away she would want a sure +friend to live in the same house with her, and give her the dose +according to the directions of Paracelsus. + +All at once she burst into a peal of laughter, and asked me if I had +been jesting all the time. + +I thought the game was up. The remedy was an absurd one, on the face +of it; and if her common sense told her as much it would also make +her guess my motive. But what limits are there to the credulity of a +woman in her condition? + +"If you wish," said I, persuasively, "I will give you the manuscript +where all that I have said is set down plainly. I will also shew you +what Boerhaeve thinks about it." + +I saw that these words convinced her; they had acted on her as if by +magic, and I went on while the iron was hot. + +"The aroph," said I, "is the most powerful agent for bringing on +menstruation." + +"And that is incompatible with the state I am now in; so the aroph +should procure me a secret deliverance. Do you know its +composition?" + +"Certainly; it is quite a simple preparation composed of certain +ingredients which are well known to me, and which have to be made +into a paste with butter or virgin honey. But this composition must +touch the orifice of the uterus at a moment of extreme excitement." + +"But in that case it seems to me that the person who gives the dose +must be in love." + +"Certainly, unless he is a mere animal requiring only physical +incentives." + +She was silent for some time, for though she was quick-witted enough, +a woman's natural modesty and her own frankness, prevented her from +guessing at my artifice. I, too, astonished at my success in making +her believe this fable, remained silent. + +At last, breaking the silence, she said, sadly, + +"The method seems to me an excellent one, but I do not think I ought +to make use of it." + +Then she asked me if the aroph took much time to make. + +"Two hours at most," I answered, "if I succeed in procuring English +saffron, which Paracelsus prefers to the Oriental saffron." + +At that moment her mother and the Chevalier Farsetti came in, and +after some talk of no consequence she asked me to stay to dinner. I +was going to decline, when Mdlle. X. C. V. said she would sit at +table, on which I accepted; and we all left the room to give her time +to dress. She was not long in dressing, and when she appeared her +figure seemed to me quite nymph-like. I was astonished, and could +scarcely believe my eyes, and I was on the point of thinking that I +had been imposed on, for I could not imagine how she could manage to +conceal the fulness I had felt with my own hands. + +M. Farsetti sat by her, and I by the mother. Mdlle. X. C. V., whose +head was full of the aroph, asked her neighbour, who gave himself out +for a great chemist, if he knew it. + +"I fancy I know it better than anyone," answered Farsetti, in a self- +satisfied manner. + +"What is it good for?" + +"That is too vague a question." + +"What does the word mean?" + +"It is an Arabic word, of which I do not know the meaning; but no +doubt Paracelsus would tell us." + +"The word," said I, "is neither Arabic nor Hebrew, nor, indeed, of +any language at all. It is a contraction which conceals two other +words." + +"Can you tell us what they are?" said the chevalier. + +"Certainly; aro comes from aroma, and ph is the initial of +philosophorum:" + +"Did you get that out of Paracelsus?" said Farsetti, evidently +annoyed. + +"No, sir; I saw it in Boerhaave." + +"That's good," said he, sarcastically; "Boerhaave says nothing of the +sort, but I like a man who quotes readily." + +"Laugh, sir, if you like," said I, proudly, "but here is the test of +what I say; accept the wager if you dare. I don't quote falsely, +like persons who talk of words being Arabic." + +So saying I flung a purse of gold on the table, but Farsetti, who was +by no means sure of what he was saying, answered disdainfully that he +never betted. + +However, Mdlle. X. C. V., enjoying his confusion, told him that was +the best way never to lose, and began to joke him on his Arabic +derivation. But, for my part, I replaced my purse in my pocket, and +on some trifling pretext went out and sent my servant to Madame +d'Urfe's to get me Boerhaave. + +On my return to the room I sat down again at table, and joined gaily +in the conversation till the return of my messenger with the book. I +opened it, and as I had been reading it the evening before I soon +found the place I wanted, and giving it to him begged him to satisfy +himself that I had quoted not readily but exactly. Instead of taking +the book, he got up and went out without saying a word. + +"He has gone away in a rage," said the mother; "and I would wager +anything that he will not come back again." + +"I wager he will," said the daughter, "he will honour us with his +agreeable company before to-morrow's sun has set." + +She was right. From that day Farsetti became my determined enemy, +and let no opportunity slip of convincing me of his hatred. + +After dinner we all went to Passy to be present at a concert given by +M. de la Popeliniere, who made us stay to supper. I found there +Silvia and her charming daughter, who pouted at me and not without +cause, as I had neglected her. The famous adept, St. Germain, +enlivened the table with his wild tirades so finely delivered. I +have never seen a more intellectual or amusing charlatan than he. + +Next day I shut myself up to answer a host of questions that Esther +had sent me. I took care to answer all those bearing on business +matters as obscurely as possible, not only for the credit of the +oracle, but also for fear of misleading the father and making him +lose money. The worthy man was the most honest of Dutch +millionaires, but he might easily make a large hole in his fortune, +if he did not absolutely ruin himself, by putting an implicit trust +in my infallibility. As for Esther, I confess that she was now no +more to me than a pleasant memory. + +In spite of my pretence of indifference, my whole heart was given to +Mdlle. X. C. V., and I dreaded the moment when she would be no longer +able to hide her condition from her family. I was sorry for having +spoken about the aroph, as three days had gone by without her +mentioning it, and I could not very well reopen the question myself. +I was afraid that she suspected my motives, and that the esteem she +professed for me had been replaced by a much less friendly sentiment. +I felt that her scorn would be too much for me to bear. So +humiliated was I that I could not visit her, and I doubt if I should +have seen her again if she had not intervened. She wrote me a note, +in which she said I was her only friend, and that the only mark of +friendship she wanted was that I should come and see her every day, +if it were but for a moment. I hasted to take her my reply in my own +person, and promised not to neglect her, assuring her that at all +hazards she might rely on me. I flattered myself that she would +mention the aroph, but she did not do so. I concluded that, after +thinking it over, she had resolved to think no more about it. + +"Would you like me," I said, "to invite your mother and the rest of +you to dine with me?" + +"I shall be delighted," she replied. "It will be a forbidden +pleasure to me before long." + +I gave them a dinner both sumptuous and delicate. I had spared no +expense to have everything of the best. I had asked Silvia, her +charming daughter, an Italian musician named Magali, with whom a +sister of Mdlle. X. C. V.'s was taken, and the famous bass La Garde. +Mdlle. X. C. V. was in the highest spirits all the time. Sallies of +wit, jests, good stories and enjoyment, were the soul of the banquet. +We did not separate till midnight, and before leaving Mdlle. X. C. V. +found a moment to whisper to me to come and see her early next +morning, as she wanted to speak to me on matters of importance. + +It will be guessed that I accepted the invitation. I waited on her +before eight o'clock. She was very melancholy, and told me that she +was in despair, that la Popeliniere pressed on the marriage, and that +her mother persecuted her. + +"She tells me that I must sign the contract, and that the dressmaker +will soon be coming to take my measure for my wedding dress. To that +I cannot consent, for a dressmaker would certainly see my situation. +I will die rather than confide in my mother, or marry before I am +delivered." + +"There is always time enough to talk about dying," said I, "when all +other means have failed. I think you could easily get rid of la +Popeliniere, who is a man of honour. Tell him how you are situated, +and he will act without compromising you, as his own interest is +sufficiently involved to make him keep the secret." + +"But should I be much better off then? And how about my mother?" + +"Your mother? Oh! I will make her listen to reason." + +"You know not what she is like. The honour of the family would +oblige her to get me out of the way, but before that she would make +me suffer torments to which death is preferable by far. But why have +you said no more about the aroph? Is it not all a jest? It would +be a very cruel one." + +"On the contrary, I believe it to be infallible, though I have never +been a witness of its effects; but what good is it for me to speak to +you? You can guess that a delicacy of feeling has made me keep +silence. Confide in your lover, who is at Venice; write him a +letter, and I will take care that it is given into his hands, in five +or six days, by a sure messenger. If he is not well off I will give +you whatever money may be needed for him to come without delay, and +save your honour and life by giving you the aroph." + +"This idea is a good one and the offer generous on your part, but it +is not feasible, as you would see if you knew more about my +circumstances. Do not think any more of my lover; but supposing I +made up my mind to receive the aroph from another, tell me how it +could be done. Even if my lover were in Paris, how could he spend an +entire week with me, as he would have to? And how could he give me +the dose five or six times a day for a week? You see yourself that +this remedy is out of the question." + +"So you would give yourself to another, if you thought that would +save your honour?" + +"Certainly, if I were sure that the thing would be kept secret. But +where shall I find such a person? Do you think he would be easy to +find, or that I can go and look for him?" + +I did not know what to make of this speech; for she knew I loved her, +and I did not see why she should put herself to the trouble of going +far when what she wanted was to her hand. I was inclined to think +that she wanted me to ask her to make choice of myself as the +administrator of the remedy, either to spare her modesty, or to have +the merit of yielding to my love and thus obliging me to be grateful; +but I might be wrong, and I did not care to expose myself to the +humiliation of a refusal. On the other hand I could hardly think she +wanted to insult me. Not knowing what to say or which way to turn, +and wanting to draw an explanation from her, I sighed profoundly, +took up my hat, and made as if I were going, exclaiming, "Cruel girl, +my lot is more wretched than yours." + +She raised herself in the bed and begged me with tears in her eyes to +remain, and asked me how I could call myself more wretched than her. +Pretending to be annoyed and yet full of love for her, I told her +that the contempt in which she held me had affected me deeply, since +in her necessity she preferred the offices of one who was unknown to +her rather than make use of me. + +"You are cruel and unjust," she said, weeping. "I see, for my part, +that you love me no longer since you wish to take advantage of my +cruel necessity to gain a triumph over me. This is an act of revenge +not worthy of a man of feeling." + +Her tears softened me, and I fell on my knees before her. + +"Since you know, dearest, that I worship you, how can you think me +capable of revenging myself on you? Do you think that I can bear to +hear you say that since your lover cannot help you you do not know +where to look for help?" + +"But after refusing you my favours, could I ask this office of you +with any decency? Have I not good reason to be afraid that as I +refused to take pity on your love so you would refuse to take pity on +my necessity?" + +"Do you think that a passionate lover ceases to love on account of a +refusal which may be dictated by virtue? Let me tell you all I +think. I confess I once thought you did not love me, but now I am +sure of the contrary; and that your heart would have led you to +satisfy my love, even if you had not been thus situated. I may add +that you no doubt feel vexed at my having any doubts of your love." + +"You have interpreted my feelings admirably. But how we are to be +together with the necessary freedom from observation remains to be +seen." + +"Do not be afraid. Now I am sure of your consent, it will not be +long before I contrive some plan. In the meanwhile I will go and +make the aroph." + +I had resolved that if ever I succeeded in persuading Mdlle. X. C. V. +to make use of my specific I would use nothing but honey, so the +composition of the aroph would not be a very complicated process. +But if one point was then plain and simple, another remained to be +solved, and its solution gave me some difficulty. I should have to +pass several nights in continual toils. I feared I had promised more +than I could perform, and I should not be able to make any abatement +without hazarding, not the success of the aroph, but the bliss I had +taken such pains to win. Again, as her younger sister slept in the +same room with her and close to her, the operation could not be +performed there. At last chance--a divinity which often helps +lovers--came to my aid. + +I was obliged to climb up to the fourth floor and met the scullion on +my way, who guessed where I was going, and begged me not to go any +farther as the place was taken. + +"But," said I, "you have just come out of it." + +"Yes, but I only went in and came out again." + +"Then I will wait till the coast is clear." + +"For goodness' sake, sir, do not wait!" + +"Ah, you rascal! I see what is going on. Well I will say nothing +about it, but I must see her." + +"She won't come out, for she heard your steps and shut herself in." + +"She knows me, does she?" + +"Yes, and you know her." + +"All right, get along with you! I won't say anything about it." + +He went down, and the idea immediately struck me that the adventure +might be useful to me. I went up to the top, and through a chink I +saw Madelaine, Mdlle. X. C. V.'s maid. I reassured her, and promised +to keep the secret, whereon she opened the door, and after I had +given her a louis, fled in some confusion. Soon after, I came down, +and the scullion who was waiting for me on the landing begged me to +make Madelaine give him half the louis. + +"I will give you one all to yourself," said I, "if you will tell me +the story"--an offer which pleased the rogue well enough. He told me +the tale of his loves, and said he always spent the night with her in +the garret, but that for three days they had been deprived of their +pleasures, as madam had locked the door and taken away the key. I +made him shew me the place, and looking through the keyhole I saw +that there was plenty of room for a mattress. I gave the scullion a +Louis, and went away to ripen my plans. + +It seemed to me that there was no reason why the mistress should not +sleep in the garret as well as the maid. I got a picklock and +several skeleton keys, I put in a tin box several doses of the aroph- +that is, some honey mixed with pounded stag's horn to make it thick +enough, and the next morning I went to the "Hotel de Bretagne," and +immediately tried my picklock. I could have done without it, as the +first skeleton key I tried opened the wornout lock. + +Proud of my idea, I went down to see Mdlle. X. C. V., and in a few +words told her the plan. + +"But," said she, "I should have to go through Madelaine's room to get +to the garret." + +"In that case, dearest, we must win the girl over." + +"Tell her my secret?" + +"Just so." + +"Oh, I couldn't!" + +"I will see to it; the golden key opens all doors." + +The girl consented to all I asked her, but the scullion troubled me, +for if he found us out he might be dangerous. I thought, however, +that I might trust to Madelaine, who was a girl of wit, to look after +him. + +Before going I told the girl that I wanted to discuss some important +matters with her, and I told her to meet me in the cloisters of the +Augustinian Church. She came at the appointed time and I explained +to her the whole plan in all its details. She soon understood me, +and after telling me that she would take care to put her own bed in +the new kind of boudoir, she added that, to be quite safe, we must +make sure of the scullion. + +"He is a sharp lad," said Madelaine, "and I think I can answer for +him. However, you may leave that to me." + +I gave her the key and six louis, bidding her inform her mistress of +what we had agreed upon, and get the garret ready to receive us. She +went away quite merry. A maid who is in love is never so happy as +when she can make her mistress protect her intrigues. + +Next morning the scullion called on me at my house. The first thing +I told him was to take care not to betray himself to my servants, and +never to come and see me except in a case of necessity. He promised +discretion, and assured me of his devotion to my service. He gave me +the key of the garret and told me that he had got another. I admired +his forethought, and gave him a present of six louis, which had more +effect on him than the finest words. + +Next morning I only saw Mdlle. X. C. V. for a moment to warn her that +I should be at the appointed place at ten that evening. I went there +early without being seen by anybody. I was in a cloak, and carried +in my pocket the aroph, flint and steel, and a candle. I found a +good bed, pillows, and a thick coverlet--a very useful provision, as +the nights were cold, and we should require some sleep in the +intervals of the operation. + +At eleven a slight noise made my heart begin to beat--always a good +sign. I went out, and found my mistress by feeling for her, and +reassured her by a tender kiss. I brought her in, barricaded the +door, and took care to cover up the keyhole to baffle the curious, +and, if the worse happened, to avoid a surprise. + +On my lighting the candle she seemed uneasy, and said that the light +might discover us if anybody came up to the fourth floor. + +"That's not likely," I said; "and besides, we can't do without it, +for how am I to give you the aroph in the dark?" + +"Very good," she replied, "we can put it out afterwards." + +Without staying for those preliminary dallyings which are so sweet +when one is at ease, we undressed ourselves, and began with all +seriousness to play our part, which we did to perfection. We looked +like a medical student about to perform an operation, and she like a +patient, with this difference that it was the patient who arranged +the dressing. When she was ready--that is, when she had placed the +aroph as neatly as a skull-cap fits a parson--she put herself in the +proper position for the preparation to mix with the semen. + +The most laughable part of it all was that we were both as serious as +two doctors of divinity. + +When the introduction of the aroph was perfect the timid lady put out +the candle, but a few minutes after it had to be lighted again. I +told her politely that I was delighted to begin again, and the voice +in which I paid her this compliment made us both burst into laughter. + +I didn't take so short a time over my second operation as my first, +and my sweetheart, who had been a little put out, was now quite at +her ease. + +Her modesty had now been replaced by confidence, and as she was +looking at the aroph fitted in its place, she shewed me with her +pretty finger very evident signs of her co-operation in the work. +Then with an affectionate air, she asked me if I would not like to +rest, as we had still a good deal to do before our work was at an +end. + +"You see," said I, "that I do not need rest, and I think we had +better set to again." + +No doubt she found my reason a good one, for, without saying +anything, she put herself ready to begin again, and afterwards we +took a good long sleep. When I woke up, feeling as fresh as ever, I +asked her to try another operation; and after carrying this through +successfully, I determined to be guided by her and take care of +myself, for we had to reserve our energies for the following nights. +So, about four o'clock in the morning she left me, and softly made +her way to her room, and at daybreak I left the hotel under the +protection of the scullion, who took me by a private door I did not +know of. + +About noon, after taking an aromatic bath, I went to call on Mdlle. +X. C. V., whom I found sitting up in bed as usual, elegantly attired, +and with a happy smile on her lips. She spoke at such length on her +gratitude, and thanked me so often, that, believing myself, and with +good cause, to be her debtor, I began to get impatient. + +"Is it possible," I said, "that you do not see how degrading your +thanks are to me? They prove that you do not love me, or that if +you love me, you think my love less strong than yours." + +Our conversation then took a tender turn, and we were about to seal +our mutual ardours without troubling about the aroph, when prudence +bade us beware. It would not have been safe, and we had plenty of +time before us. We contented ourselves with a tender embrace till +the night should come. + +My situation was a peculiar one, for though I was in love with this +charming girl I did not feel in the least ashamed of having deceived +her, especially as what I did could have no effect, the place being +taken. It was my self-esteem which made me congratulate myself on +the sharp practice which had procured me such pleasures. She told me +that she was sorry she had denied me when I had asked her before, and +said that she felt now that I had good reason to suspect the reality +of her love. I did my best to reassure her, and indeed all +suspicions on my part would have been but idle thoughts, as I had +succeeded beyond all expectation. However, there is one point upon +which I congratulate myself to this day--namely, that during those +nightly toils of mine, which did so little towards the object of her +desires, I succeeded in inspiring her with such a feeling of +resignation that she promised, of her own accord, not to despair any +more, but to trust in and be guided by me. She often told me during +our nocturnal conversations that she was happy and would continue to +be so, even though the aroph had no effect. Not that she had ceased +to believe in it, for she continued the application of the harmless +preparation till our last assaults, in which we wanted in those sweet +combats to exhaust all the gifts of pleasure. + +"Sweetheart," said she, just before we parted finally, "it seems to +me that what we have been about is much more likely to create than to +destroy, and if the aperture had not been hermetically closed we +should doubtless have given the little prisoner a companion." + +A doctor of the Sorbonne could not have reasoned better. + +Three or four days afterwards I found her thoughtful but quiet. She +told me that she had lost all hope of getting rid of her burden +before the proper time. All the while, however, her mother +persecuted her, and she would have to choose in a few days between +making a declaration as to her state and signing the marriage +contract. She would accept neither of these alternatives, and had +decided on escaping from her home, and asked me to help her in doing +so. + +I had determined to help her, but I desired to save my reputation, +for it might have been troublesome if it had been absolutely known +that I had carried her off or furnished her with the means to escape. +And as for any other alternative, neither of us had any idea of +matrimony. + +I left her and went to the Tuileries, where a sacred concert was +being given. The piece was a motet composed by Moudonville, the +words by the Abbe de Voisenon, whom I had furnished with the idea, +"The Israelites on Mount Horeb." + +As I was getting out of my carriage, I saw Madame du Remain +descending alone from hers. I ran up. to her, and received a hearty +welcome. "I am delighted," said she, "to find you here, it is quite +a piece of luck. I am going to hear this novel composition, and have +two reserved seats. Will you do me the honour of accepting one?" + +Although I had my ticket in my pocket I could not refuse so +honourable an offer, so, giving her my arm, we walked up to two of +the best places in the house. + +At Paris no talking is allowed during the performance of sacred +music, especially when the piece is heard for the first time; so +Madame du Remain could draw no conclusions from my silence throughout +the performance, but she guessed that something was the matter from +the troubled and absent expression of my face, which was by no means +natural to me. + +"M. Casanova," said she, "be good enough to give me your company for +an hour. I want to ask you-two or three questions which can only be +solved by your cabala. I hope you will oblige me, as I am, very +anxious to know the answers, but we must be quick as I have an +engagement to sup in Paris." + +It may be imagined that I did not wait to be asked twice, and as soon +as we got to her house I went to work on the questions, and solved +them all in less than half an hour. + +When I had finished, "M. Casanova;" said she, in the kindest manner +possible, "what is the matter with you? You are not in your usual +state of equanimity, and if I am not mistaken you are dreading some +dire event. Or perhaps you are on the eve of taking some important +resolution? I am not inquisitive, but if I can be of any service to +you at Court, make use of me, and be sure that I will do my best. If +necessary, I will go to Versailles to-morrow morning. I know all the +ministers. Confide in me your troubles, if I cannot lighten them I +can at least share them, and be sure I will keep your counsel." + +Her words seemed to me a voice from heaven, a warning from my good +genius to open my heart to this lady, who had almost read my +thoughts, and had so plainly expressed her interest in my welfare. + +After gazing at her for some seconds without speaking, but with a +manner that shewed her how grateful I was, "Yes madam," I said, "I am +indeed critically situated, may be on the serge of ruin, but your +kindness has calmed my soul and made me once more acquainted with +hope. You shall hear how I am placed. I am going to trust you with +a secret of the most delicate description, but I can rely on your +being as discreet as you are good. And if after hearing my story you +deign to give me your advice, I promise to follow it and never to +divulge its author." + +After this beginning, which gained her close attention, I told her +all the circumstances of the case, neither concealing the young +lady's name nor any of the circumstances which made it my duty to +watch over her welfare. All the same I said nothing about the aroph +or the share I had taken in its exhibition. The incident appeared to +me too farcical for a serious drama, but I confessed that I had +procured the girl drugs in the hope of relieving her of her burden. + +After this weighty communication I stopped, and Madame du Rumain +remained silent, as if lost in thought, for nearly a quarter of an +hour. At last she rose, saying, + +"I am expected at Madame de la Marque's, and I must go, as I am to +meet the Bishop of Montrouge, to whom I want to speak, but I hope I +shall eventually be able to help you. Come here the day after +tomorrow, you will find me alone; above all, do nothing before you +see me. Farewell." + +I left her full of hope, and resolved to follow her advice and hers +only in the troublesome affair in which I was involved. + +The Bishop of Montrouge whom she was going to address on an important +matter, the nature of which was well known to me, was the Abbe de +Voisenon, who was thus named because he often went there. Montrouge +is an estate near Paris, belonging to the Duc de la Valiere. + +I saw Mdlle. X. C. V. the following day, and contented myself with +telling her that in a couple of days I hope to give her some good +news. I was pleased with her manner, which was full of resignation +and trust in my endeavours. + +The day after, I went to Madame du Rumain's punctually at eight. The +porter told me that I should find the doctor with my lady, but I went +upstairs all the same, and as soon as the doctor saw me he took his +leave. His name was Herrenschwand, and all the ladies in Paris ran +after him. Poor Poinsinet put him in a little one-act play called Le +Cercle, which, though of very ordinary merit, was a great success. + +"My dear sir," said Madame du Rumain, as soon as we were alone, "I +have succeeded in my endeavours on your behalf, and it is now for you +to keep secret my share in the matter. After I had pondered over the +case of conscience you submitted to me, I went to the convent of C--- +where the abbess is a friend of mine, and I entrusted her with the +secret, relying on her discretion. We agreed that she should receive +the young lady in her convent, and give her a good lay-sister to +nurse her through her confinement. Now you will not deny," said she, +with a smile, "that the cloisters are of some use. Your young friend +must go by herself to the convent with a letter for the abbess, which +I will give her, and which she must deliver to the porter. She will +then be admitted and lodged in a suitable chamber. She will receive +no visitors nor any letters that have not passed through my hands. +The abbess will bring her answers to me, and I will pass them on to +you. You must see that her only correspondent must be yourself, and +you must receive news of her welfare only through me. On your hand +in writing to her you must leave the address to be filled in by me. +I had to tell the abbess the lady's name, but not yours as she did +not require it. + +"Tell your young friend all about our plans, and when she is ready +come and tell me, and I will give you the letter to the abbess. Tell +her to bring nothing but what is strictly necessary, above all no +diamonds or trinkets of any value. You may assure her that the +abbess will be friendly, will come and see her every now and then, +will give her proper books--in a word, that she will be well looked +after. Warn her not to confide in the laysister who will attend on +her. I have no doubt she is an excellent woman, but she is a nun, +and the secret might leak out. After she is safely delivered, she +must go to confession and perform her Easter duties, and the abbess +will give her a certificate of good behaviour; and she can then +return to her mother, who will be too happy to see her to say +anything more about the marriage, which, of course, she ought to give +as her reason of her leaving home." + +After many expressions of my gratitude to her, and of my admiration +of her plan, I begged her to give me the letter on the spot, as there +was no time to be lost. She was good enough to go at once to her +desk, where she wrote as follows: + +"My dear abbess--The young lady who will give you this letter is +the same of whom we have spoken. She wishes to spend three of four +months under your protection, to recover her peace of mind, to +perform her devotions, and to make sure that when she returns to her +mother nothing more will be said about the marriage, which is partly +the cause of her temporary separation from her family." + +After reading it to me, she put it into my hands unsealed that Mdlle. +X. C. V. might be able to read it. The abbess in question was a +princess, and her convent was consequently a place above all +suspicion. As Madame du Rumain gave me the letter, I felt such an +impulse of gratitude that I fell on my knees before her. This +generous woman was useful to me on another occasion, of which I shall +speak later on. + +After leaving Madame du Rumain I went straight to the "Hotel de +Bretagne," where I saw Mdlle. X. C. V., who had only time to tell me +that she was engaged for the rest of the day, but that she would come +to the garret at eleven o'clock that night, and that then we could +talk matters over. I was overjoyed at this arrangement, as I foresaw +that after this would come the awakening from a happy dream, and that +I should be alone with her no more. + +Before leaving the hotel I gave the word to Madelaine, who in turn +got the scullion to have everything in readiness. + +I kept the appointment, and had not long to wait for my mistress. +After making her read the letter written by Madame du Rumain (whose +name I withheld from her without her taking offence thereat) I put +out the candle, and without troubling about the aroph, we set +ourselves to the pleasant task of proving that we truly loved each +other. + +In the morning, before we separated, I gave her all the instructions +I had received from Madame du Rumain; and we agreed that she should +leave the house at eight o'clock with such things as she absolutely +required, that she should take a coach to the Place Maubert, then +send it away, and take another to the Place Antoine, and again, +farther on, a third coach, in which she was to go to the convent +named. I begged her not to forget to burn all the letters she had +received from me, and to write to me from the convent as often as she +could, to seal her letters but to leave the address blank. She +promised to carry out my instructions, and I then made her accept a +packet of two hundred louis, of which she might chance to be in need. +She wept, more for my situation than her own, but I consoled her by +saying that I had plenty of money and powerful patrons. + +"I will set out," said she, "the day after to-morrow, at the hour +agreed on." And thereupon, I having promised to come to the house +the day after her departure, as if I knew nothing about it, and to +let her know what passed, we embraced each other tenderly, and I left +her. + +I was troubled in thinking about her fate. She had wit and courage, +but when experience is wanting wit often leads men to commit acts of +great folly. + +The day after the morrow I took a coach, and posted myself in a +corner of the street by which she had to pass. I saw her come, get +out of the coach, pay the coachman, go down a narrow street, and a +few minutes after reappear again, veiled and hooded, carrying a small +parcel in her hand. She then took another conveyance which went off +in the direction we had agreed upon. + +The day following being Low Sunday, I felt that I must present myself +at the "Hotel de Bretagne," for as I went there every day before the +daughter's flight I could not stop going there without strengthening +any suspicions which might be entertained about me. But it was a +painful task. I had to appear at my ease and cheerful in a place +where I was quite sure all would be sadness and confusion. I must +say that it was an affair requiring higher powers of impudence than +fall to the lot of most men. + +I chose a time when all the family would be together at table, and I +walked straight into the dining-room. I entered with my usual +cheerful manner, and sat down by madame, a little behind her, +pretending not to see her surprise, which, however, was plainly to be +seen, her whole face being flushed with rage and astonishment. I had +not been long in the room before I asked where her daughter was. She +turned round, looked me through and through, and said not a word. + +"Is she ill?" said I. + +"I know nothing about her." + +This remark, which was pronounced in a dry manner, put me at my ease, +as I now felt at liberty to look concerned. I sat there for a +quarter of an hour, playing the part of grave and astonished silence, +and then, rising, I asked if I could do anything, for which all my +reward was a cold expression of thanks. I then left the room and +went to Mdlle. X. C. V.'s chamber as if I had thought she was there, +but found only Madelaine. I asked her with a meaning look where her +mistress was. She replied by begging me to tell her, if I knew. + +"Has she gone by herself?" + +"I know nothing at all about it, sir, but they say you know all. I +beg of you to leave me." + +Pretending to be in the greatest astonishment, I slowly walked away +and took a coach, glad to have accomplished this painful duty. After +the reception I had met with I could without affectation pose as +offended, and visit the family no more, for whether I were guilty or +innocent, Madame X. C. V. must see that her manner had been plain +enough for me to know what it meant. + +I was looking out of my window at an early hour two or three days +afterwards, when a coach stopped before my door, and Madame X C V-, +escorted by M. Farsetti got out. I made haste to meet them on the +stair, and welcomed them, saying I was glad they had done me the +honour to come and take breakfast with me, pretending not to know of +any other reason. I asked them to sit down before the fire, and +enquired after the lady's health; but without noticing my question +she said that she had not come to take breakfast, but to have some +serious conversation. + +"Madam," said I, "I am your humble servant; but first of all pray be +seated." + +She sat down, while Farsetti continued standing. I did not press +him, but turning towards the lady begged her to command me. + +"I am come here," she said, "to ask you to give me my daughter if she +be in your power, or to tell me where she is." + +"Your daughter, madam? I know nothing about her! Do you think me +capable of a crime?" + +"I do not accuse you of abducting her; I have not come here to +reproach you nor to utter threats, I have only come to ask you to +shew yourself my friend. Help me to get my daughter again this very +day; you will give me my life. I am certain that you know all. You +were her only confidant and her only friend; you passed hours with +her every day; she must have told you of her secret. Pity a bereaved +mother! So far no one knows of the facts; give her back to me and +all shall be forgotten, and her honour saved." + +"Madam, I feel for you acutely, but I repeat that I know nothing of +your daughter." + +The poor woman, whose grief touched me, fell at my feet and burst +into tears. I was going to lift her from the ground, when Farsetti +told her, in a voice full of indignation, that she should blush to +humble herself in such a manner before a man of my description. I +drew myself up, and looking at him scornfully said, + +"You insolent scoundrel! What do you mean by talking of me like +that?" + +"Everybody is certain that you know all about it." + +"Then they are impudent fools, like you. Get out of my house this +instant and wait for me, I will be with you in a quarter of an hour." + +So saying, I took the poor chevalier by the shoulders, and giving him +sundry shakes I turned him out of the room. He came back and called +to the lady to come, too, but she rose and tried to quiet me. + +"You ought to be more considerate towards a lover," said she, "for he +would marry my daughter now, even after what she has done." + +"I am aware of the fact, madam, and I have no doubt that his +courtship was one of the chief reasons which made your daughter +resolve to leave her home, for she hated him even more than she hated +the fermier-general." + +"She has behaved very badly, but I promise not to say anything more +about marrying her. But I am sure you know all about it, as you gave +her fifty louis, without which she could not have done anything." + +"Nay, not so." + +"Do not deny it, sir; here is the evidence--a small piece of your +letter to her." + +She gave me a scrap of the letter I had sent the daughter, with the +fifty louis for her brother. It contained the following lines, + +"I hope that these wretched louis will convince you that I am ready +to sacrifice everything, my life if need be, to assure you of my +affection." + +"I am far from disavowing this evidence of my esteem for your +daughter, but to justify myself I am obliged to tell you a fact which +I should have otherwise kept secret--namely, that I furnished your +daughter with this sum to enable her to pay your son's debts, for +which he thanked me in a letter which I can shew you." + +"My son?" + +"Your son, madam." + +"I will make you an ample atonement for my suspicions." + +Before I had time to make any objection, she ran down to fetch +Farsetti, who was waiting in the courtyard, and made him come up and +hear what I had just told her. + +"That's not a likely tale," said the insolent fellow. + +I looked at him contemptuously, and told him he was not worth +convincing, but that I would beg the lady to ask her son and see +whether I told the truth. + +"I assure you," I added, "that I always urged your daughter to marry +M. de la Popeliniere." + +"How can you have the face to say that," said Farsetti, "when you +talk in the letter of your affection?" + +"I do not deny it," said I. "I loved her, and I was proud of my +affection for her. This affection, of whatever sort it may have been +(and that is not this gentleman's business), was the ordinary topic +of conversation between us. If she had told me that she was going to +leave her home, I should either have dissuaded her or gone with her, +for I loved her as I do at this moment; but I would never have given +her money to go alone." + +"My dear Casanova," said the mother, "if you will help me to find her +I shall believe in your innocence." + +"I shall be delighted to aid you, and I promise to commence the quest +to-day." + +"As soon as you have any news, come and tell me." + +"You may trust me to do so," said I, and we parted. + +I had to play my part carefully; especially it was essential that I +should behave in public in a manner consistent with my professions. +Accordingly, the next day I went to M. Chaban, first commissary of +police, requesting him to institute enquiries respecting the flight +of Mdlle. X. C. V. I was sure that in this way the real part I had +taken in the matter would be the better concealed; but the +commissary, who had the true spirit of his profession, and had liked +me when he first saw me six years before, began to laugh when he +heard what I wanted him to do. + +"Do you really want the police to discover," said he, "where the +pretty Englishwoman is to be found?" + +"Certainly." + +It then struck me that he was trying to make me talk and to catch me +tripping, and I had no doubt of it when I met Farsetti going in as I +was coming out. + +Next day I went to acquaint Madame X. C. V. with the steps I had +taken, though as yet my efforts had not been crowned with success. + +"I have been more fortunate than you," said she, "and if you will +come with me to the place where my daughter has gone, and will join +me in persuading her to return, all will be well." + +"Certainly," said I, "I shall be most happy to accompany you." + +Taking me at my word, she put on her cloak, and leaning on my arm +walked along till we came to a coach. She then gave me a slip of +paper, begging me to tell the coachman to drive us to the address +thereon. + +I was on thorns, and my heart beat fast, for I thought I should have +to read out the address of the convent. I do not know what I should +have done if my fears had been well grounded, but I should certainly +not have gone to the convent. At last I read what was written; it +was "Place Maubert," and I grew calm once more. + +I told the coachman to drive us to the Place Maubert. We set off, +and in a short time stopped at the opening of an obscure back street +before a dirty-looking house, which did not give one a high idea of +the character of its occupants. I gave Madame X. C. V. my arm, and +she had the satisfaction of looking into every room in the five +floors of the house, but what she sought for was not there, and I +expected to see her overwhelmed with grief. I was mistaken, however. +She looked distressed but satisfied, and her eyes seemed to ask +pardon of me. She had found out from the coachman, who had taken her +daughter on the first stage of her journey, that she had alighted in +front of the house in question, and had gone down the back street. +She told me that the scullion had confessed that he had taken me +letters twice from his young mistress, and that Madelaine said all +the time that she was sure her mistress and I were in love with each +other. They played their parts well. + +As soon as I had seen Madame X. C. V. safely home, I went to Madame +du Rumain to tell her what had happened; and I then wrote to my fair +recluse, telling her what had gone on in the world since her +disappearance. + +Three or four days after this date, Madame du Rumain gave me the +first letter I received from Mdlle. X. C. V. She spoke in it of the +quiet life she was leading, and her gratitude to me, praised the +abbess and the lay-sister, and gave me the titles of the books they +lent her, which she liked reading. She also informed me what money +she had spent, and said she was happy in everything, almost in being +forbidden to leave her room. + +I was delighted with her letter, but much more with the abbess's +epistle to Madame du Rumain. She was evidently fond of the girl, and +could not say too much in her praise, saying how sweet-tempered, +clever, and lady-like she was; winding up by assuring her friend that +she went to see her every day. + +I was charmed to see the pleasure this letter afforded Madame du +Rumain--pleasure which was increased by the perusal of the letter I +had received. The only persons who were displeased were the poor +mother, the frightful Farsetti, and the old fermier, whose misfortune +was talked about in the clubs, the Palais-Royal, and the coffee- +houses. Everybody put me down for some share in the business, but I +laughed at their gossip, believing that I was quite safe. + +All the same, la Popeliniere took the adventure philosophically and +made a one-act play out of it, which he had acted at his little +theatre in Paris. Three months afterwards he got married to a very +pretty girl, the daughter of a Bordeaux alderman. He died in the +course of two years, leaving his widow pregnant with a son, who came +into the world six months after the father's death. The unworthy +heir to the rich man had the face to accuse the widow of adultery, +and got the child declared illegitimate to the eternal shame of the +court which gave this iniquitous judgment and to the grief of every +honest Frenchman. The iniquitous nature of the judgment was +afterwards more clearly demonstrated--putting aside the fact that +nothing could be said against the mother's character--by the same +court having the, face to declare a child born eleven months after +the father's death legitimate. + +I continued for ten days to call upon Madame X. C. V., but finding +myself coldly welcomed, decided to go there no more. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Fresh Adventures--J. J. Rousseau--I set Up A Business--Castel--Bajac +--A Lawsuit is Commenced Against Me--M. de Sartine + + +Mdlle. X. C. V. had now been in the convent for a month, and her +affair had ceased to be a common topic of conversation. I thought I +should hear no more of it, but I was mistaken. I continued, however, +to amuse myself, and my pleasure in spending freely quite prevented +me from thinking about the future. The Abbe de Bernis, whom I went +to see regularly once a week, told me one day that the comptroller- +general often enquired how I was getting on. "You are wrong," said +the abbe, "to neglect him." He advised me to say no more about my +claims, but to communicate to him the means I had spoken of for +increasing the revenues of the state. I laid too great store by the +advice of the man who had made my fortune not to follow it. I went +to the comptroller, and trusting in his probity I explained my scheme +to him. This was to pass a law by which every estate, except that +left by father to son, should furnish the treasury with one year's +income; every deed of gift formally drawn up being subject to the +same provision. It seemed to me that the law could not give offence +to anyone; the heir had only to imagine that he had inherited a year +later than was actually the case. The minister was of the same +opinion as myself, told me that there would not be the slightest +difficulty involved, and assured me that my fortune was made. In a +week afterwards his place was taken by M. de Silhouette, and when I +called on the new minister he told me coldly that when my scheme +became law he would tell me. It became law two years afterwards, and +when, as the originator of the scheme, I attempted to get my just +reward, they laughed in my face. + +Shortly after, the Pope died, and he was succeeded by the Venetian +Rezzonico, who created my patron, the Abby de Bernis, a cardinal. +However, he had to go into exile by order of the king two days after +his gracious majesty had presented him with the red cap: so good a +thing it is to be the friend of kings! + +The disgrace of my delightful abbe left me without a patron, but I +had plenty of money, and so was enabled to bear this misfortune with +resignation. + +For having undone all the work of Cardinal Richelieu, for having +changed the old enmity between France and Austria into friendship, +for delivering Italy from the horrors of war which befell her +whenever these countries had a bone to pick, although he was the +first cardinal made by a pope who had had plenty of opportunities for +discovering his character, merely because, on being asked, he had +given it as his opinion that the Prince de Soubise was not a fit +person to command the French armies, this great ecclesiastic was +driven into exile. The moment the Pompadour heard of this opinion of +his, she decreed his banishment--a sentence which was unpopular with +all classes of society; but they consoled themselves with epigrams, +and the new cardinal was soon forgotten. Such is the character of +the French people; it cares neither for its own misfortunes nor for +those of others, if only it can extract laughter from them. + +In my time epigrammatists and poetasters who assailed ministers or +even the king's mistresses were sent to the Bastille, but the wits +still persisted in being amusing, and there were some who considered +a jest incomplete that was not followed by a prosecution. A man +whose name I have forgotten--a great lover of notoriety--appropriated +the following verses by the younger Crebellon and went to the +Bastille rather than disown them. + + "All the world's upside down! + Jupiter has donned the gown--the King. + Venus mounts the council stair--the Pompadour. + Plutus trifles with the fair--M. de Boulogne. + Mercury in mail is drest--Marechal de Richelieu. + Mighty Mars has turned a priest--the Duc de Clermont, abbe of + St. Germain-des-pres." + +Crebillon, who was not the sort of man to conceal his writings, told +the Duc de Choiseul that he had written some verses exactly like +these, but that it was possible the prisoner had been inspired with +precisely the same ideas. This jest was applauded, and the author of +"The Sofa" was let alone. + +Cardinal de Bernis passed ten years in exile, 'procul negotiis', but +he was not happy, as he told me himself when I knew him in Rome +fifteen years afterwards. It is said that it is better to be a +minister than a king--an, opinion which seems ridiculous when it is +analyzed. The question is, which is the better, independence or its +contrary. The axiom may possibly be verified in a despotic +government under an absurd, weak, or careless king who serves as a +mere mask for his master the minister; but in all other cases it is +an absurdity. + +Cardinal de Bernis was never recalled; there is no instance of Louis +XV. having ever recalled a minister whom he had disgraced; but on the +death of Rezzonico he had to go to Rome to be present at the +conclave, and there he remained as French ambassador. + +About this time Madame d'Urfe conceived a wish to make the +acquaintance of J. J. Rousseau, and we went to call upon him at +Montmorenci, on the pretext of giving him music to copy--an +occupation in which he was very skilled. He was paid twice the sum +given to any other copyist, but he guaranteed that the work should be +faultlessly done. At that period of his life copying music was the +great writer's sole means of subsistence. + +We found him to be a man of a simple and modest demeanour, who talked +well, but who was not otherwise distinguished either intellectually +or physically. We did not think him what would be called a good- +natured man, and as he was far from having the manners of good +society Madame d'Urfe did not hesitate to pronounce him vulgar. We +saw the woman with whom he lived, and of whom we had heard, but she +scarcely looked at us. On our way home we amused ourselves by +talking about Rousseau's eccentric habits. + +I will here note down the visit of the Prince of Conti (father of the +gentleman who is now known as the Comte de la March) to Rousseau. + +The prince--a good-natured man-went by himself to Montmorenci, on +purpose to spend a day in conversation with the philosopher, who was +even then famous. He found him in the park, accosted him, and said +that he had come to dine with him and to talk without restraint. + +"Your highness will fare but badly," said Rousseau: "however, I will +tell them to lay another knife and fork." + +The philosopher gave his instructions, and came out and rejoined the +prince, with whom he walked up and down for two or three hours. When +it was dinner-time he took the prince into his dining-room, where the +table was laid for three. + +"Who is going to dine with us?" said the prince. "I thought we were +to be alone." + +"The third party," said Rousseau, "is my other self--a being who is +neither my wife, nor my mistress, nor my servant-maid, nor my mother, +nor my daughter, but yet personates all these characters at once." + +"I daresay, my dear fellow, I daresay; but as I came to dine with you +alone, I will not dine with your--other self, but will leave you with +all the rest of you to keep your company." + +So saying the prince bade him farewell and went out. Rousseau did +not try to keep him. + +About this time I witnessed the failure of a play called 'Aristides' +Daughter', written by the ingenious Madame de Graffini, who died of +vexation five days after her play was damned. The Abbe de Voisenon +was horrified, as he had advised the lady to produce it, and was +thought to have had some hand in its composition, as well as in that +of the 'Lettres Peruviennes' and 'Cenie'. By a curious coincidence, +just about the same date, Rezzonico's mother died of joy because her +son had become pope. Grief and joy kill many more women than men, +which proves that if women have mere feeling than men they have also +less strength. + +When Madame d'Urfe thought that my adopted son was comfortably +settled in Viar's house, she made me go with her and pay him a visit. +I found him lodged like a prince, well dressed, made much of, and +almost looked up to. I was astonished, for this was more than I had +bargained for. Madame d'Urfe had given him masters of all sorts, and +a pretty little pony for him to learn riding on. He was styled M. +le Comte d'Aranda. A girl of sixteen, Viar's daughter, a fine- +looking young woman, was appointed to look after him, and she was +quite proud to call herself my lord's governess. She assured Madame +d'Urfe that she took special care of him; that as soon as he woke she +brought him his breakfast in bed; that she then dressed him, and did +not leave his side the whole day. Madame d'Urfe approved of +everything, told the girl to take even greater care of the count, and +promised that she should not go unrewarded. As for the young +gentleman, he was evidently quite happy, as he told me himself again +and again, but I suspected a mystery somewhere, and determined that I +would go and see him by myself another time and solve it. + +On our journey home I told Madame d'Urfe how grateful I was for all +her goodness to the boy, and that I approved of all the arrangements +that had been made with the exception of the name Aranda, "which," +said I, "may some day prove a thorn in his side." She answered that +the lad had said enough to convince her that he had a right to bear +that name. "I had," she said, "in my desk a seal with the arms of +the house of Aranda, and happening to take it up I shewed it him as +we shew trinkets to children to amuse them, but as soon as he saw it +he burst out, + +"'How came you to have my arms?' + +"Your arms!" I answered. "I got this seal from the Comte d'Aranda; +how can you prove that you are a scion of that race?" + +"'Do not ask me, madam; my birth is a secret I can reveal to no +one.'" + +The imposition and above all the impudence of the young knave +astounded me. I should not have thought him capable of it, and a +week after I went to see him by myself to get at the bottom of all +this mystery. + +I found my young count with Viar, who, judging by the awe the child +shewed of me, must have thought he belonged to me. He was unsparing +in his praises of his pupil, saying that he played the flute +capitally, danced and fenced admirably, rode well, and wrote a good +hand. He shewed me the pens he had cut himself with three, five, and +even nine points, and begged to be examined on heraldry, which, as +the master observed, was so necessary a science for a young nobleman. + +The young gentleman then commenced in the jargon of heraldry to +blazon his own pretended arms, and I felt much inclined to burst into +laughter, partly because I did not understand a word he said, and +partly because he seemed to think the matter as important as would a +country squire with his thirty-two quarters. However, I was +delighted to see his dexterity in penmanship, which was undoubtedly +very great, and I expressed my satisfaction to Viar, who soon left us +to ourselves. We proceeded into the garden. + +"Will you kindly inform me," I said, "how you can be so foolish as to +call yourself the Comte d'Aranda?" + +He replied, with the utmost calmness, "I know it is foolish, but +leave me my title; it is of service to me here and gains me respect." + +"It is an imposition I cannot wink at, as it may be fraught with +serious results, and may do harm to both of us. I should not have +thought that at your age you would be capable of such a knavish +trick. I know you did it out of stupidity, but after a certain limit +stupidity becomes criminal; and I cannot see how I am to remedy your +fault without disgracing you in the eyes of Madame d'Urfe." + +I kept on scolding him till he burst into tears, saying, + +"I had rather the shame of being sent back to my mother than the +shame of confessing to Madame d'Urfe that I had imposed on her; and I +could not bear to stay here if I had to give up my name." + +Seeing that I could do nothing with him, unless, indeed, I sent him +to some place far removed from Paris under his proper name, I told +him to take comfort as I would try and do the best I could for both +of us. + +"And now tell me--and take care to tell the truth--what sort of +feelings does Viar's daughter entertain for you?" + +"I think, papa, that this is a case in which the reserve commended by +yourself, as well as by mother, would be appropriate." + +"Yes, that sort of answer tells me a good deal, but I think you are +rather too knowing for your age. And you may as well observe that +when you are called upon for a confession, reserve is out of place, +and it's a confession I require from you." + +"Well, papa, Viar's daughter is very fond of me, and she shews her +love in all sorts of ways." + +"And do you love her?" + +"Oh, yes!" + +"Is she much with you in the morning?" + +"She is with me the whole day." + +"She is present when you go to bed?" + +"Yes, she helps me to undress." + +"Nothing else?" + +"I do not care to tell you." + +I was astonished at the measured way in which he answered me, and as +I had heard enough to guess that the boy and girl were very good +friends indeed, I contented myself with warning him to take care of +his health, and with this I left him. + +Some time after, my thoughts were occupied with a business +speculation which all my calculations assured me would be extremely +profitable. The plan was to produce on silks, by means of printing, +the exquisite designs which are produced at Lyons by the tedious +process of weaving, and thus to give customers excellent value at +much lower prices. I had the requisite knowledge of chemistry, and +enough capital to make the thing a success. I obtained the +assistance of a man with the necessary technical skill and knowledge, +intending to make him my manager. + +I told my plan to the Prince de Conti, who encouraged me to +persevere, promising me his patronage, and all the privileges I could +wish for. That decided me to begin. + +I rented a very large house near the Temple for a thousand crowns per +annum. The house contained a spacious hall, in which I meant to put +my workmen; another hall which was to be the shop; numerous rooms for +my workpeople to live in; and a nice room for myself in case I cared +to live on the premises. + +I made the scheme into a company with thirty shares, of which I gave +five to my designer, keeping the remaining twenty-five to distribute +to those who were inclined to join the company. I gave one to a +doctor who, on giving surety, became the storekeeper, and came to +live in the house with his whole family; and I engaged four servants, +a waiting-maid, and a porter. I had to give another share to an +accountant, who furnished me with two clerks, who also took up their +abode in the house. The carpenters, blacksmiths, and painters worked +hard from morning to night, and in less than three weeks the place +was ready. I told the manager to engage twenty girls to paint, who +were to be paid every Saturday. I stocked the warehouse with three +hundred pieces of sarcenet and camlet of different shades and colours +to receive the designs, and I paid for everything in ready money. + +I had made an approximate calculation with my manager that I should +have to spend three hundred thousand francs, and that would not break +me. If the worst happened I could fall back on my shares, which +produced a good income, but I hoped I should not be compelled to do +so, as I wanted to have an income of two hundred thousand francs a +year. + +All the while I did not conceal from myself that the speculation +might be my ruin, if custom did not come in, but on looking at my +beautiful materials these fears were dispelled, especially as I heard +everybody saying that I sold them much too cheap. + +To set up the business I spent in the course of a month about sixty +thousand francs, and my weekly expenses amounted to twelve hundred +francs. + +As for Madame d'Urfe she laughed every time she saw me, for she was +quite certain that this business was only meant to put the curious +off the scent and to preserve my incognito: so persuaded was she of +my omnipotence. + +The sight of twenty girls, all more or less pretty, the eldest of +whom was not twenty-five, far from making me tremble as it ought, +delighted me. I fancied myself in the midst of a seraglio, and I +amused myself by watching their meek and modest looks as they did +their work under the direction of the foreman. The best paid did not +get more than twenty-four sous a day, and all of them had excellent +reputations, for they had been selected at her own request by the +manager's wife, a devout woman of ripe age, whom I hoped to find +obliging if the fancy seized me to test her choice. Manon Baletti +did not share my satisfaction in them. She trembled to see me the +owner of a harem, well knowing that sooner or later the barque of my +virtue would run on the rocks. She scolded me well about these +girls, though I assured her that none of them slept in the house. + +This business increased my own ideas of my importance; partly from +the thought that I was on the high road to fortune, and partly +because I furnished so many people with the means of subsistence. +Alas! I was too fortunate; and my evil genius soon crossed my career. + +It was now three months since Mdlle. X. C. V. had gone into the +convent, and the time of her delivery drew near. We wrote to each +other twice a week, and I considered the matter happily settled; M. +de la Popeliniere had married, and when Mdlle. X. C. V. returned to +her mother there would be nothing more to be said But just at this +period, when my happiness seemed assured, the hidden fire leapt forth +and threatened to consume me; how, the reader will see. + +One day after leaving Madame d'Urfe's I went to walk in the +Tuileries. I had taken a couple of turns in the chief walk when I +saw that an old woman, accompanied by a man dressed in black, was +looking at me closely and communicating her observations to her +companion. There was nothing very astonishing in this in a public +place, and I continued my walk, and on turning again saw the same +couple still watching me. In my turn I looked at them, and +remembered seeing the man in a gaming-house, where he was known by +the name of Castel-Bajac. On scrutinizing the features of the hag, I +at last succeeded in recollecting who she was; she was the woman to +whom I had taken Mdlle. X. C. V. I felt certain that she had +recognized me, but not troubling myself about the matter I left the +gardens to walk elsewhere. The day after next, just as I was going +to get into my carriage, a man of evil aspect gave me a paper and +asked me to read it. I opened it, but finding it covered with an +illegible scrawl I gave it him back, telling him to read it himself. +He did so, and I found myself summoned to appear before the +commissary of police to answer to the plea which the midwife (whose +name I forget) brought against me. + +Although I could guess what the charge would be, and was certain that +the midwife could furnish no proofs of her accusation, I went to an +attorney I knew and told him to appear for me. I instructed him that +I did not know any midwife in Paris whatsoever. The attorney waited +on the commissary, and on the day after brought me a copy of the +pleas. + +The midwife said that I came to her one night, accompanied by a young +lady about five months with child, and that, holding a pistol in one +hand and a packet of fifty Louis in the other, I made her promise to +procure abortion. We both of us (so she said) had masks on, thus. +shewing that we had been at the opera ball. Fear, said she, had +prevented her from flatly refusing to grant my request; but she had +enough presence of mind to say that the necessary drugs were not +ready, that she would have all in order by the next night; whereupon +we left, promising to return. In the belief that we would not fail +to keep the appointment, she went in to M. Castel-Bajac to ask him to +hide in the next room that she might be protected from my fury, and +that he might be a witness of what I said, but she had not seen me +again. She added that she would have given information the day after +the event if she had known who I was, but since M. Castel-Bajac had +told her my name on her recognizing me in the Tuileries, she had +thought it her bounden duty to deliver me to the law that she might +be compensated for the violence I had used to her. And this document +was signed by the said Castel-Bajac as a witness. + +"This is an evident case of libel," said my attorney, "at least, if +she can't prove the truth of her allegations. My advice to you is to +take the matter before the criminal lieutenant, who will be able to +give you the satisfaction you require." + +I authorized him to do what he thought advisable, and three or four +days after he told me that the lieutenant wished to speak to me in +private, and would expect me the same day at three o'clock in the +afternoon. + +As will be expected, I was punctual to the appointment. I found the +magistrate to be a polite and good-hearted gentleman. He was, in +fact, the well-known M. de Sartine, who was the chief of police two +years later. His office of criminal lieutenant was saleable, and M. +de Sartine sold it when he was appointed head of the police. + +As soon as I had made my bow, he asked me to sit down by him, and +addressed me as follows: + +"I have asked you to call upon me in the interests of both of us, as +in your position our interests are inseparable. If you are innocent +of the charge which has been brought against you, you are quite right +to appeal to me; but before proceedings begin, you should tell me the +whole truth. I am ready to forget my position as judge, and to give +you my help, but you must see yourself that to prove the other side +guilty of slander, you must prove yourself innocent. What I want +from you is an informal and strictly confidential declaration, for +the case against you is a serious one, and of such a kind as to +require all your efforts to wipe off this blot upon your honour. +Your enemies will not respect your delicacy of feeling. They will +press you so hard that you will either be obliged to submit to a +shameful sentence, or to wound your feelings of honour in proving +your innocence. You see I am confiding in you, for in certain cases +honour seems so precious a thing to me that I am ready to defend it +with all the power of the law. Pay me back, then, in the same coin, +trust in me entirely, tell me the whole story without any reserves, +and you may rely upon my good offices. All will be well if you are +innocent, for I shall not be the less a judge because I am your +friend; but if you are guilty I am sorry for you, for I warn you that +I shall be just." + +After doing my best to express my gratitude to him, I said that my +position did not oblige me to make any reservations on account of +honour, and that I had, consequently, no informal statement to make +him. + +"The midwife," I added, "is absolutely unknown to me. She is most +likely an abandoned woman, who with her worthy companion wants to +cheat me of my money." + +"I should be delighted to think so," he answered, "but admitting the +fact, see how chance favours her, and makes it a most difficult thing +for you to prove your innocence. + +"The young lady disappeared three months ago. She was known to be +your intimate friend, you called upon her at all hours; you spent a +considerable time with her the day before she disappeared, and no one +knows what has become of her; but everyone's suspicions point at you, +and paid spies are continually dogging your steps. The midwife sent +me a requisition yesterday by her counsel, Vauversin. She says that +the pregnant lady you brought to her house is the same whom Madame X. +C. V. is searching for. She also says that you both wore black +dominoes, and the police have ascertained that you were both at the +ball in black dominoes on the same night as that on which the midwife +says you came to her house; you are also known to have left the ball- +room together. All this, it is true, does not constitute full proof +of your guilt, but it makes one tremble for your innocence." + +"What cause have I to tremble?" + +"What cause! Why a false witness, easily enough hired for a little +money, might swear with impunity that he saw you come from the opera +together; and a coachman in the same way might swear he had taken you +to the midwife's. In that case I should be compelled to order your +arrest and examination, with a view to ascertain the name of the +person whom you took with you. Do you realize that you are accused +of procuring abortion; that three months have gone by without the +lady's retreat having been discovered; that she is said to be dead. +Do you realize, in short, what a very serious charge murder is?" + +"Certainly; but if I die innocent, you will have condemned me +wrongly, and will be more to be pitied than I." + +"Yes, yes, but that wouldn't make your case any better. You may be +sure, however, that I will not condemn an innocent man; but I am +afraid that you will be a long time in prison before you succeed in +proving your innocence. To be brief, you see that in twenty-four +hours the case looks very bad, and in the course of a week it might +look very much worse. My interest was aroused in your favour by the +evident absurdity of the accusations, but it is the other +circumstances about the case which make it a serious one for you. I +can partly understand the circumstances, and the feelings of love and +honour which bid you be silent. I have spoken to you, and I hope you +will have no reserves with me. I will spare you all the unpleasant +circumstances which threaten you, believing, as I do, that you are +innocent. Tell me all, and be sure that the lady's honour will not +suffer; but if, on the other hand, you are unfortunately guilty of +the crimes laid to your charge, I advise you to be prudent, and to +take steps which it is not my business to suggest. I warn you that +in three or four days I shall cite you to the bar of the court, and +that you will then find in me only the judge--just, certainly, but +severe and impartial." + +I was petrified; for these words shewed me my danger in all its +nakedness. I saw how I should esteem this worthy man's good offices, +and said to him in quite another tone, that innocent as I was, I saw +that my best course was to throw myself on his kindness respecting +Mdlle. X. C. V., who had committed no crime, but would lose her +reputation by this unhappy business. + +"I know where she is," I added, "and I may tell you that she would +never have left her mother if she had not endeavoured to force her +into a marriage she abhorred" + +"Well, but the man is now married; let her return to her mother's +house, and you will be safe, unless the midwife persists in +maintaining that you incited her to procure abortion." + +"There is no abortion in the matter; but other reasons prevent her +returning to her family. I can tell you no more without obtaining +the consent of another party. If I succeed in doing so I shall be +able to throw the desired light on the question. Be kind enough to +give me a second hearing on the day after to-morrow." + +"I understand. I shall be delighted to hear what you have to say. +I thank and congratulate you. Farewell!" + +I was on the brink of the precipice, but I was determined to leave +the kingdom rather than betray the honour of my poor dear sweetheart. +If it had been possible, I would gladly have put an end to the case +with money; but it was too late. I was sure that Farsetti had the +chief hand in all this trouble, that he was continually on my track, +and that he paid the spies mentioned by M. de Sartine. He it was who +had set Vauversin, the barrister, after me, and I had no doubt that +he would do all in his power to ruin me. + +I felt that my only course was to tell the whole story to M. de +Sartine, but to do that I required Madame du Rumain's permission. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +My Examination I Give the Clerk Three Hundred Louis--The Midwife and +Cartel-Bajac Imprisoned--Mdlle. X. C. V. Is Brought to Bed of a Son +and Obliges Her Mother to Make Me Amends--The Suit Against Me Is +Quashed--Mdlle. X. C. V. Goes With Her Mother to Brussels and From +Thence to Venice, Where She Becomes a Great Lady--My Work-girls-- +Madame Baret--I Am Robbed, Put in Prison, and Set at Liberty Again-- +I Go to Holland--Helvetius' "Esprit"--Piccolomini + +The day after my interview with M. de Sartine I waited on Madame du +Rumain at an early hour. Considering the urgency of the case I took +the liberty of rousing her from her slumbers, and as soon as she was +ready to receive me I told her all. + +"There can be no hesitation in the matter," said this delightful +woman. "We must make a confidant of M. de Sartine, and I will speak +to him myself to-day without fail." + +Forthwith she went to her desk and wrote to the criminal lieutenant +asking him to see her at three o'clock in the afternoon. In less +than an hour the servant returned with a note in which he said he +would expect her. We agreed that I should come again in the evening, +when she would tell me the result of her interview. + +I went to the house at five o'clock, and had only a few minutes to +wait. + +"I have concealed nothing," said she; "he knows that she is on the +eve of her confinement, and that you are not the father, which speaks +highly for your generosity. I told him that as soon as the +confinement was over, and the young lady had recovered her health, +she would return to her mother, though she would make no confession, +and that the child should be well looked after. You have now nothing +to fear, and can calm yourself; but as the case must go on you will +be cited before the court the day after to-morrow. I advise you to +see the clerk of the court on some pretext or other, and to make him +accept a sum of money." + +I was summoned to appear, and I appeared. I saw M. de Sartine, +'sedentem pro tribunali'. At the end of the sitting he told me that +he was obliged to remand me, and that during my remand I must not +leave Paris or get married, as all my civil rights were in suspense +pending the decision. I promised to follow his commands. + +I acknowledged in my examination that I was at the ball in a black +domino on the night named in my accusation, but I denied everything +else. As for Mdlle. X. C. V., I said that neither I nor anyone of +her family had any suspicion that she was with child. + +Recollecting that I was an alien, and that this circumstance might +make Vauversin call for my arrest, on the plea that I might fly the +kingdom, I thought the moment opportune for making interest with the +clerk of the court, and I accordingly paid him a visit. After +telling him of my fears, I slipped into his hand a packet of three +hundred louis, for which I did not ask for a receipt, saying that +they were to defray expenses if I were mulcted in costs. He advised +me to require the midwife to give bail for her appearance, and I told +my attorney to do so; but, four days after, the following incident +took place: + +I was walking in the Temple Gardens, when I was accosted by a +Savoyard, who gave me a note in which I was informed that somebody in +an alley, fifty paces off, wanted to speak to me. "Either a love +affair or a challenge," I said to myself, "let's see." I stopped my +carriage, which was following me, and went to the place. + +I cannot say how surprised I was to see the wretched Cartel-Bajac +standing before me. "I have only a word to say," said he, when he +saw me. "We will not be overheard here. The midwife is quite sure +that you are the man who brought a pregnant lady to her, but she is +vexed that you are accused of making away with her. Give her a +hundred louis; she will then declare to the court that she has been +mistaken, and your trouble will be ended. You need not pay the money +till she has made her declaration; we will take your word for it. +Come with me and talk it over with Vauversin. I am sure he will +persuade you to do as I suggest. I know where to find him, follow me +at some distance." + +I had listened to him in silence, and I was delighted to see that the +rascals were betraying themselves. "Very good," said I to the +fellow, "you go on, and I will follow." I went after him to the +third floor of a house in the Rue aux Ours, where I found Vauversin +the barrister. No sooner had I arrived than he went to business +without any prefatory remarks. + +"The midwife," he said, "will call on you with a witness apparently +with the intention of maintaining to your face that you are her man; +but she won't be able to recognize you. She will then proceed with +the witness to the court, and will declare that she has made a +mistake, and the criminal lieutenant will forthwith put an end to the +proceedings. You will thus be certain of gaining your case against +the lady's mother." + +I thought the plan well conceived, and said that they would find me +at the Temple any day up to noon. + +"But the midwife wants a hundred louis badly." + +"You mean that the worthy woman rates her perjury at that price. +Well, never mind, I will pay the money, and you may trust to my word; +but I can't do so before she has taken oath to her mistake before the +court." + +"Very good, but you must first give me twenty-five louis to reimburse +me for my costs and fees." + +"Certainly, if you will give me a formal receipt for the money." + +He hesitated at first, but after talking it over the money proved too +strong a bait, and he wrote out the receipt and I gave him the +twenty-five louis. He thanked me, and said that though Madame X. C. +V. was his client, he would let me know confidentially how best to +put a stop to the proceedings. I thanked him with as much gratitude +as if I had really intended to make use of his services, and I left +to write and tell M. de Sartine what had taken place. + +Three days afterwards I was told that a man and woman wanted to see +me. I went down and asked the woman what she wanted. + +"I want to speak to M. Casanova." + +"I am he." + +"Then I have made a mistake, for which I hope you will forgive me." + +Her companion smiled, and they went off. + +The same day Madame du Rumain had a letter from the abbess telling +her that her young friend had given birth to a fine boy, who had been +sent away to a place where he would be well looked after. She stated +that the young lady could not leave the convent for the next six +weeks, at the end of which time she could return to her mother with a +certificate which would protect her from all annoyance. + +Soon after the midwife was put in solitary confinement, Castel-Bajac +was sent to The Bicetre, and Vauversin's name was struck off the +rolls. The suit instituted against me by Madame X. C. V. went on +till her daughter reappeared, but I knew that I had nothing to fear. +The girl returned to her mother about the end of August armed with a +certificate from the abbess, who said she had been under her +protection for four months, during which time she had never left the +convent or seen any persons from outside. This was perfectly true, +but the abbess added that her only reason for her going back to her +family was that she had nothing more to dread from the attentions of +M. de la Popeliniere, and in this the abbess lied. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. profited by the delight of her mother in seeing her +again safe and sound, and made her wait on M. de Sartine with the +abbess's certificate, stop all proceedings against me, and withdraw +all the charges she had made. Her daughter told her that if I liked +I might claim damages for libel, and that if she did not wish to +injure her reputation she would say nothing more about what had +happened. + +The mother wrote me a letter of the most satisfactory character, +which I had registered in court, thus putting an end to the +prosecution. In my turn I wrote to congratulate her on the recovery +of her daughter, but I never set foot in her house again, to avoid +any disagreeable scenes with Farsetti. + +Mdlle. X. C. V. could not stay any longer in Paris, where her tale +was known to everyone, and Farsetti took her to Brussels with her +sister Madelaine. Some time after, her mother followed her, and they +then went on to Venice, and there in three years' time she became a +great lady. Fifteen years afterwards I saw her again, and she was a +widow, happy enough apparently, and enjoying a great reputation on +account of her rank, wit, and social qualities, but our connection +was never renewed. + +In four years the reader will hear more of Castel-Bajac. Towards the +end of the same year (1759), before I went to Holland, I spent +several hundred francs to obtain the release of the midwife. + +I lived like a prince, and men might have thought me happy, but I was +not. The enormous expenses I incurred, my love of spending money, +and magnificent pleasures, warned me, in spite of myself, that there +were rocks ahead. My business would have kept me going for a long +time, if custom had not been paralyzed by the war; but as it was, I, +like everybody else, experienced the effect of bad times. My +warehouse contained four hundred pieces of stuffs with designs on +them, but as I could not hope to dispose of them before the peace, +and as peace seemed a long way off, I was threatened with ruin. + +With this fear I wrote to Esther to get her father to give me the +remainder of my money, to send me a sharp clerk, and to join in my +speculation. M. d'O---- said that if I would set up in Holland he +would become responsible for everything and give me half profits, but +I liked Paris too well to agree to so good an offer. I was sorry for +it afterwards. + +I spent a good deal of money at my private house, but the chief +expense of my life, which was unknown to others but which was ruining +me, was incurred in connection with the girls who worked in my +establishment. With my complexion and my pronounced liking for +variety, a score of girls, nearly all of them pretty and seductive, +as most Paris girls are, was a reef on which my virtue made shipwreck +every day. Curiosity had a good deal to do with it, and they +profited by my impatience to take possession by selling their favours +dearly. They all followed the example of the first favourite, and +everyone claimed in turn an establishment, furniture, money, and +jewels; and I knew too little of the value of money to care how much +they asked. My fancy never lasted longer than a week, and often +waned in three or four days, and the last comer always appeared the +most worthy of my attentions. + +As soon as I had made a new choice I saw no more of my old loves, but +I continued to provide for them, and that with a good deal of money. +Madame d'Urfe, who thought I was rich, gave me no trouble. I made +her happy by using my oracle to second the magical ceremonies of +which she grew fonder every day, although she never attained her aim. +Manon Baletti, however, grieved me sorely by her jealousy and her +well-founded reproaches. She would not understand--and I did not +wonder at it--how I could put off marrying her if I really loved her. +She accused me of deceiving her. Her mother died of consumption in +our arms. Silvia had won my true friendship. I looked upon her as a +most worthy woman, whose kindness of heart and purity of life +deserved the esteem of all. I stayed in the family for three days +after her death, sincerely sympathizing with them in their +affliction. + +A few days afterwards, my friend Tiretta lost his mistress through a +grievous illness. Four days before her death, perceiving that she +was near her end, she willed to consecrate to God that which man +could have no longer, and dismissed her lover with the gift of a +valuable jewel and a purse of two hundred louis. Tiretta marched off +and came and told me the sad news. I got him a lodging near the +Temple, and a month after, approving his idea to try his fortune in +India, I gave him a letter of introduction to M. d'O----, of +Amsterdam; and in the course of a week this gentleman got him a post +as clerk, and shipped him aboard one of the company's ships which was +bound for Batavia. If he had behaved well he might have become a +rich man, but he got involved in some conspiracy and had to fly, and +afterwards experienced many vicissitudes of fortune. I heard from +one of his relations that he was in Bengal in 1788, in good +circumstances, but unable to realize his property and so return to +his native country. I do not know what became of him eventually. + +In the beginning of November an official belonging to the Duc +d'Elbeuf's household came to my establishment to buy a wedding dress +for his daughter. I was dazzled with her beauty. She chose a fine +satin, and her pretty face lighted up when she heard her father say +he did not think it was too much; but she looked quite piteous when +she heard the clerk tell her father that he would have to buy the +whole piece, as they could not cut it. I felt that I must give in, +and to avoid making an exception in her favour I beat a hasty retreat +into my private room. I wish I had gone out of the house, as I +should have saved a good deal of money; but what pleasure should I +have also lost! In her despair the charming girl begged the manager +to take her to me, and he dared not refuse to do so. She came in; +two big tears falling down her cheeks and dimming the ardour of her +gaze. + +"Oh, sir!" she began, "you are rich, do you buy the piece and let me +have enough for a dress, which will make me happy." + +I looked at her father and saw he wore an apologetic air, as if +deprecating the boldness of his child. + +"I like your simplicity," I said to her, "and since it will make you +happy, you shall have the dress." + +She ran up to me, threw her arms round my neck and kissed me, while +her worthy father was dying with laughter. Her kisses put the last +stroke to my bewitchment. After he had paid for the dress, her +father said, + +"I am going to get this little madcap married next Sunday; there will +be a supper and a ball, and we shall be delighted if you will honour +us with your presence. My name is Gilbert. I am comptroller of the +Duc d'Elbeuf's household." + +I promised to be at the wedding, and the young lady gave a skip of +joy which made me think her prettier than ever. + +On Sunday I repaired to the house, but I could neither eat nor drink. +The fair Mdlle. Gilbert kept me in a kind of enchantment which lasted +while I was in company with her friends, for whom I did not care. +They were all officials in noblemen's houses, with their wives and +daughters, who all aped the manners of their betters in the most +ridiculous way; nobody knew me and I was known to nobody, and I cut a +sorry figure amongst them all, for in a company of this sort the +wittiest man is the greatest fool. Everybody cracked his joke to the +bride, she answered everybody, and people laughed at nothing. + +Her husband, a thin and melancholy man, with a rather foolish +expression, was delighted at his wife's keeping everybody amused. +Although I was in love with her, I pitied rather than envied him. +I guessed that he had married for monetary considerations, and I knew +pretty well what kind of a head-dress his handsome, fiery wife would +give her husband, who was plain-featured, and seemed not to be aware +of his wife's beauty. I was seized with the desire of asking her +some questions, and she gave me the opportunity by coming to sit next +to me after a quadrille. She thanked me again for my kindness, and +said that the beautiful dress I had supplied had won her many +compliments. + +"All the same," I said, "I know you are longing to take it off. I +know what love is and how impatient it makes one." + +"It's very funny that everyone persists in thinking that I am in +love, though I saw M. Baret for the first time only a week ago. +Before then I was absolutely unconscious of his existence." + +"But why are you getting married in such a hurry without waiting till +you know him better?" + +"Because my father does everything in a hurry." + +"I suppose your husband is a very rich man?" + +"No, but he may become rich. We are going to open a shop for silk +stockings at the corner of the Rue St. Honore and the Rue des +Prouveres, and I hope that you will deal with us, as we would serve +you with the best." + +"I shall certainly do so--nay, I will be your first customer, if I +have to wait at the door." + +"You are kind! M. Baret," said she to her husband, who was standing +close by, "this gentleman promises to be our first customer." + +"The gentleman is very good," said the husband, "and I am sure he +will be satisfied, as my stockings are genuine silk." + +Next Tuesday at day-break I began to dance attendance at the corner +of the Rue des Prouveres, and waited there till the servant came out +to take down the shutters. I went in and the girl asked me my +business. + +"I want to buy some stockings," was my answer. + +"Master and mistress are still in bed, so you had better come later +on." + +"No, I will wait here. Stop a minute," said I, giving her six +francs, "go and get me some coffee; I will drink it in the shop." + +"I might go and get you some coffee, but I am not so silly as to +leave you in the shop by yourself." + +"You are afraid I might steal something!" + +"Well, one does hear of such things being done, and I don't know you +from Adam." + +"Very good; but I shall stay here all the same." + +Before long Baret came down and scolded the poor girl for not having +told him of my presence. "Go and tell my wife to come," said he, as +he began opening packets of stockings for me to choose from. He kept +stockings, vests, and silk drawers, and I turned one packet over +after another, looking at them all and not fixing on anything till I +saw his wife coming down as fresh as a rose and as bright as a lily. +She smiled at me in the most seductive manner, apologized for the +disorder of her dress, and thanked me for keeping my word. + +"I never break my word," I said, "especially when such a charming +lady is concerned!" + +Madame Baret was seventeen, of a moderate height, and an exquisite +figure; without being classically beautiful, a Raphael could not wish +to depict a more enticing face. Her eyes were large and brilliant. +Her drooping eyelids, which gave her so modest and yet so voluptuous +an appearance, the ever-smiling mouth, her splendid teeth, the +dazzling whiteness of her complexion, the pleasing air with which she +listened to what was being said, her silvery voice, the sweetness and +sparkling vivacity of her manner, her lack of conceit, or rather her +unconsciousness of the power of her charms-in fine, everything about +this masterpiece of nature made me wonder and admire; while she, by +chance or vile monetary considerations, was in the power of Baret, +who, pale and sickly, thought a good deal more of his stockings than +of the treasure marriage had given him--a treasure of which he was +all unworthy, since he could not see its beauty nor taste its +sweetness. + +I chose stockings and vests to the amount of twenty-five louis, and I +paid the price without trying to cheapen them. I saw the face of the +fair shopwoman light up, and I augured well for my success, though I +could not expect to do much while the honeymoon lasted. I told the +servant that I would give her six francs if she would bring the +packet to my house, and so I left them. + +Next Sunday Baret came himself with my purchases. I gave him six +francs to hand over to his servant, but he hinted that he was not too +proud to keep them himself. I was disgusted at this petty greed, and +at his meanness in depriving his maid of the six francs after having +made a good profit in what he had sold me; but I wanted to stand well +with him, and I was not sorry to find so simple a way of throwing +dust into his eyes. So while I resolved that the servant should not +be a loser I gave the husband a good reception that I might the +better mould him to my purpose. I had breakfast brought to him, +asking why he had not brought his wife. + +"She wanted me to take her," said he, "but I was afraid you might be +offended." + +"Not at all, I should have been delighted. I think your wife a +charming woman." + +"You are very kind to say so; but she's young, she's young." + +"I don't think that's any objection; and if she cares for the walk, +bring her with you another time." He said he should be very pleased +to do so. + +When I passed by the shop in my carriage I blew kisses to her with my +hand, but I did not stop as I did not want any more stockings. +Indeed, I should have been bored with the crowd of fops with which +the shop was always full. She began to be a topic of conversation in +the town; the Palais Royal was full of her; and I was glad to hear +that she kept to herself as if she had richer prey in view. That +told me that no one possessed her so far, and I hoped that I might be +the prey myself; I was quite willing to be captured. + +Some days after, she saw my carriage coming, and beckoned to me as I +passed. I got out, and her husband with many apologies told me that +he wanted me to be the first to see a new fashion in breeches he had +just got in. The breeches were parti-coloured, and no man of fashion +would be seen without them. They were odd-looking things, but became +a well-made young man. As they had to fit exactly, I told him to +measure me for six pairs, offering to pay in advance. "We have them +in all sizes," said he, "go up to my wife's room and try some on." + +It was a good opportunity and I accepted, especially when I heard him +tell his wife to go and help me. I went upstairs, she following, and +I began to undress, apologizing for doing so before her. + +"I will fancy I am your valet," said she, "and I will help you." + +I did not make any difficulties, and after taking off my shoes I gave +her my breeches, taking care, however, to keep on my drawers, lest +her modesty should receive too severe a shock. This done she took a +pair of breeches, drew them on me, took them off, and tried on +others, and all this without any impropriety on either side; for I +had determined to behave with discretion till the opportunity came to +be indiscreet. She decided that four pairs fitted me admirably, and, +not wishing to contradict her, I gave her the sixteen louis she +asked, and told her I should be delighted if she would bring them +herself at any time when she was at leisure. She came downstairs +quite proud of her knowledge of business, and Baret said that next +Sunday he and his wife would have the honour of bringing me my +purchase. + +"I shall be charmed, M. Baret," said I, "especially if you will stay +to dinner." + +He answered that having an important engagement for two o'clock he +could only accept on the condition that I would let him go at that +time, and he would return at about five to fetch his wife. I found +the plan vastly to my taste, but I knew how to conceal my joy; and I +quietly said that though I should lose the pleasure of his society, +he was free to go when he liked, especially as I had not to go out +myself before six. + +I looked forward to the Sunday, and the tradesman and his wife did +not fail me. As soon as they arrived, I told my servant to say "Not +at home" for the rest of the day, and as I was impatient to know what +would happen in the afternoon I had dinner served at an early hour. +The dishes were exquisite, and the wines delicious. The good man ate +much and drank deeply, indeed to such an extent that in common +politeness I was obliged to remind him that he had an important +appointment at two. His wits being sharpened with champagne, the +happy thought occurred to him to tell his wife to go home by herself, +if he were kept later than five; and I hastened to add that I would +take her home myself in my carriage. He thanked me, and I soothed +his uneasiness about being punctual to his appointment by telling him +that a coach was waiting, and that the fare had been paid. He went +off, and I found myself alone with my jewel, whom I was certain of +possessing till six o'clock. + +As soon as I heard the hall door shut on the kind husband, I said to +his wife, + +"You are to be congratulated on having such a kind husband; with a +man like that your happiness is assured." + +"It is easy to say happiness, but enjoying it is a different thing. +My husband's health is so delicate that I can only consider myself as +his nurse; and then he contracted heavy debts to set up in business +which oblige us to observe the strictest economy. We came here on +foot to save the twenty-four sons. We could live on the profits of +the business, if there were no debts, but as it is everything goes to +pay the interest, and our sales are not large enough to cover +everything." + +"But you have plenty of customers, for whenever I pass I see the shop +full of people." + +"These customers you see are idlers, crackers of bad jokes, and +profligates, who come and make my head ache with their jests. They +have not a penny to bless themselves with, and we dare not let them +out of our sight for fear of their hands wandering. If we had cared +to give them credit, our shop would have been emptied long ago. I am +rude to them, in the hopes that they may leave me alone, but it's of +no use. Their impudence is astonishing. When my husband is in I +retreat to my room, but he is often away, and then I am obliged to +put up with them. And the scarcity of money prevents us from doing +much business, but we are obliged to pay our workmen all the same. +As far as I can see, we shall be obliged to dismiss them, as we shall +soon have to meet several bills. Next Saturday we have got to pay +six hundred francs, and we have only got two hundred." + +"I am surprised at your having all this worry in these early days of +your marriage. I suppose your father knew about your husband's +circumstances; how about your dowry?" + +"My dowry of six thousand francs has served, most of it, to stock the +shop and to pay our debts. We have goods which would pay our debts +three times over; but in bad times capital sunk is capital dead." + +"I am sorry to hear all this, as if peace is not made your situation +will become worse, for as you go on your needs will become greater." + +"Yes, for when my husband is better we may have children." + +"What! Do you mean to say his health prevents him from making you a +mother? I can't believe it." + +"I don't see how I can be a mother who am still a maid; not that I +care much about the matter." + +"I shouldn't have believed it! How can a man not in the agony of +death feel ill beside you? He must be dead." + +"Well, he is not exactly dead, but he doesn't shew many signs of +life." + +This piece of wit made me laugh, and under cover of my applause I +embraced her without experiencing much resistance. The first kiss +was like an electric spark; it fired my imagination and I increased +my attentions till she became as submissive as a lamb. + +"I will help you, dearest, to meet the bill on Saturday;" and so +saying I drew her gently into a closet where a soft divan formed a +suitable altar for the completion of an amorous sacrifice. + +I was enchanted to find her submissive to my caresses and my +inquisitiveness, but she surprised me greatly when, as I placed +myself in readiness for the consummation of the act, and was already +in the proper posture between the two columns, she moved in such a +way as to hinder my advance. I thought at first that it was only one +of those devices intended to make the final victory more sweet by +putting difficulties in the way; but, finding that her resistance was +genuine, I exclaimed, + +"How was I to expect a refusal like this at a moment when I thought I +saw my ardours reflected in your eyes?" + +"Your eyes did not deceive you; but what would my husband say if he +found me otherwise than as God has made me?" + +"He can't have left you untouched!" + +"He really has done so. You can see for yourself if you like. Can +I, then, give to you what appertains to the genius of the marriage- +bed." + +"You are right, my angel; this fruit must be kept for a mouth +unworthy to taste it. I pity and adore you. Come to my arms, +abandon yourself to my love, and fear nothing. The fruit shall not +be damaged; I will but taste the outer surface and leave no trace +behind." + +We passed three hours in trifling together in a manner calculated to +inflame our passions despite the libations which we now and again +poured forth. I was consoled by her swearing to be mine as soon as +Baret had good grounds for thinking that she was his, and, after +taking her on the Boulevards, I left her at her door, with a present +of twenty-five Louis. + +I was in love with her as I had never been before, and I passed the +shop three or four times a day, going round and round, to the wrath +of my coachman, who got sick of telling me that I was ruining my +horses. I was happy to see her watch for the moment that I passed, +and waft me a kiss by putting her pretty fingers to her mouth. + +We had agreed that she should not make me a sign to leave my coach +till her husband had forced a passage. At last this day, so ardently +desired and so long waited for, arrived. The sign was given, and I +stopped the coach and she came out and, standing on the step, told me +to go and wait for her at the church door of St. Germain l'Auxerrois. + +I was curious to know what the results would be, and had not been at +the place appointed more than a quarter of an hour when she came +towards me, her head muffled in a hood. She got into the carriage +and, saying that she wanted to make some purchases, begged me to take +her to the shops. + +I had business of my own, and pressing business too, but who can +refuse the Beloved Object anything? I told the coachman to drive to +the Place Dauphine, and I prepared to loosen my purse-strings, as I +had a feeling she was going to treat me as a friend. In point of +fact she left few shops unvisited, going from jewels to pretty +trifles and toys of different kinds, and from these to dresses of the +latest fashion, which they displayed before her, addressing her as +princess, and saying that this would become her admirably. She +looked at me, and said it must be confessed that it was very pretty +and that she would like it if it were not so dear. I was a willing +dupe, and assured her that if she liked it it could not be too dear, +and that I would pay. + +While my sweetheart was thus choosing one trifle after another my +ill-luck brought about an incident which placed me in a fearful +situation four years afterwards. The chain of events is endless. + +I perceived at my left hand a pretty girl of twelve or thirteen, with +an old and ugly woman who was disparaging a pair of ear-rings which +the girl had in her hands, and on which she had evidently set her +heart: she looked sad at not being able to buy them. I heard her say +to the old woman that they would make her happy, but she snatched +them from the girl's hands and told her to, come away. + +"I can let you have a cheaper pair and almost as fine," said the +shopwoman, but the young lady said she did not; care about it, and +was getting ready to go, making a profound reverence to my princess +Baret. + +She, no doubt flattered by this sign of respect went up to her, +called her little queen, told her she was as fair as a May morning, +and asked the old woman her name, + +"She is Mdlle. de Boulainvilier, my niece." + +"How can you be so hard-hearted," said I to the aunt, "as to refuse +your charming niece a toy which would make her happy? Allow me to +make her a present of them." + +So saying I put the ear-rings in the girl's hands, while she blushed +and looked at her aunt as if to ask her permission. + +"You may have the ear-rings," said she, "as this gentleman has been +kind enough to give you such a present, and you should give him a +kiss by way of thanks." + +"The ear-rings," said the shopwoman, "will be only three louis." + +Hereupon the affair took a comic turn; the old woman got into a rage +and said, + +"How can you be such a cheat? You told me they were only two louis." + +"Nay, madam, I asked three." + +"That's a lie, and I shall not allow you to rob this gentleman. +Niece, put those ear-rings down; let the shopwoman keep them." + +So far all was well enough; but the old aunt spoilt everything by +saying that if I liked to give her niece the three louis she could +get her a pair twice as good at another shop. It was all the same to +me, so I smilingly put the three louis in front of the young lady, +who still had the ear-rings in her hands. The shop-woman, who was on +the look-out, pocketed the money, saying that the bargain was made, +that the three louis belonged to her and the ear-rings to the young +lady. + +"You are a cheat," cried out the enraged old woman. + +"And you are an old b----d," answered the shop-woman, "I know you +well." A crowd began to gather in front of the shop, hearing the +cries of the two harpies. Foreseeing a good deal of unpleasantness, +I took the aunt by the arm and led her gently away. The niece, who +was quite content with the ear-rings, and did not care whether they +cost three louis or two, followed her. We shall hear of them again +in due course. + +My dear Baret having made me waste a score of louis, which her poor +husband would have regretted much more than myself, we got into the +carriage again, and I took her to the church door from which we had +started. On the way she told me she was coming to stop a few days +with me at Little Poland, and that it was her husband who would ask +me for the invitation. + +"When will he do that?" + +"To-morrow, if you go by the shop. Come and buy some stockings; I +shall have a bad headache, and Baret will speak to you." + +It may be imagined that I took care to call the next day, and as I +did not see his wife in the shop I asked in a friendly way after her +health. + +"She is ill in bed," he replied; "she wants a little country air." + +"If you have not fixed for any place, I shall be happy to put you up +at Little Poland." + +He replied by a smile of delight. + +"I will go and urge her to come myself; in the meanwhile, M. Baret, +will you pack me up a dozen pairs of stockings?" + +I went upstairs and found the invalid in bed, and laughing in spite +of her imaginary headache. "The business is done," said I, "you will +soon hear of it." As I had said, the husband came upstairs with my +stockings and told her that I had been good enough to give her a room +in my house. The crafty little creature thanked me, assuring her +husband that the fresh air would soon cure her. + +"You shall be well looked after," said I, "but you must excuse me if +I do not keep you company--I have to attend to my business. +M. Baret will be able to come and sleep with you every night, and +start early enough in the morning to be in time for the opening of +his shop." + +After many compliments had been interchanged, Baret decided on having +his sister stay in the house while his wife was away, and as I took +leave I said that, I should give orders for their reception that very +evening, in case I was out when they came. + +Next day I stayed out till after midnight, and the cook told me that +the wedded couple had made a good supper and had gone to bed. I +warned her that I should be dining at home every day, and that I +should not see my company. + +The following day I was up betimes, and on enquiring if the husband +had risen I learnt that he had got up at day-break and would not be +back till supper-time. The wife was still asleep. I thought with +reason she was not asleep for me, and I went to pay her my first +visit. In point of fact she was awake, and I took a foretaste of +greater joys by a thousand kisses, which she returned with interest. +We jested at the expense of the worthy man who had trusted me with a +jewel of which I was about to make such good use, and we +congratulated each other on the prospect of a week's mutual +pleasures. + +"Come, my dear," said I, "get up and put on a few clothes and we will +take breakfast in my room." + +She did not make an elaborate toilette; a cotton dressing gown, a +pretty lace cap, a lawn kerchief, that was all, but how the simple +dress was lighted by the roses of her cheeks! We were quick over our +breakfast, we were in a hurry, and when we had done I shut the door +and we gave ourselves over to the enjoyment of our bliss. + +Surprised to find her in the same condition in which I had left her, +I told her I had hoped . . . but she, without giving me time to +finish the phrase, said, + +"My jewel, Baret thinks, or pretends to think, that he has done his +duty as a husband; but he is no hand at the business, and I am +disposed to put myself in your hands, and then there will be no doubt +of my condition." + +"We shall thus, my sweet, be doing him a service, and the service +shall be well done." + +As I said these words I was on the threshold of the temple, and I +opened the door in a manner that overthrew all obstacles. A little +scream and then several sighs announced the completion of the +sacrifice, and, to tell the truth, the altar of love was covered with +the blood of the victim. After the necessary ablutions the priest +once more began his pious work, while the victim growing bolder so +provoked his rage that it was not till the fourth mactation that we +rested and put off our joust to another season. We swore a thousand +times to love each other and to remain constant, and we may possibly +have been sincere, as we were in our ecstasy of pleasure. + +We only separated to dress; then after taking a turn in the garden we +dined together, sure that in a sumptuous repast, washed down by the +choicest wines, we should find strength to reanimate our desires and +to lull them to sleep in bliss. + +At dessert, as I was pouring champagne into her glass, I asked her +how with such a fiery temperament she had managed to preserve her +virtue? + +"Cupid," said I, "might have gathered the fruit that Hymen could not +taste. You are seventeen, and the pear has been ripe for two years +at least." + +"Very true, but I have never had a lover." + +"Never?" + +"I have been courted, but to no effect. My heart was ever silent. +Possibly my father thought otherwise when I begged him, a month ago, +to get me married soon." + +"Very likely, but as you were not in love, why were you in such a +hurry?" + +"I knew that the Duc d'Elbeuf would soon be coming to town, and that +if he found me still single he would oblige me to become the wife of +a man I detest, who would have me at any price." + +"Who is this man for whom you have such an aversion?" + +"He is one of the duke's pets, a monster who sleeps with his master." + +"Really! I did not know the duke had such tastes." + +"Oh yes; he is eighty-four, and he thinks himself a woman; he says he +must have a husband." + +"That is very funny. And is this aspirant to your hand a handsome +man?" + +"I think him horrible; but everybody else thinks he is a fine man." + +The charming Baret spent a week with me, and each day we renewed the +combat in which we were always conquerors and always conquered. I +have seen few women as pretty and seductive, and none whose skin was +more exquisitely soft and fair. Her breath was aromatic, and this +made her kisses most sweet. Her neck was exquisitely shaped, and the +two globes, tipped with coral, were as hard as marble. The exquisite +curves of her figure would have defied the skill of the ablest +painter. I experienced an ineffable joy in contemplating her, and in +the midst of my happiness I called myself unhappy because I could not +satisfy all the desires which her charms aroused in me. The frieze +which crowned her columns was composed of links of pale gold of the +utmost fineness, and my fingers strove in vain to give them another +direction to that which nature had given them. She could easily have +been taught those lively yet graceful movements which double the +pleasure; nature had done her part in that direction, and I do not +think a more expert mistress in the art of love could be found. + +Each of us looked forward to the day of her departure with equal +grief, and our only consolation lay in the hope of meeting again, and +often. Three days after she went away, I went to see her, more in +love than ever, and I gave her two notes of five thousand francs +apiece. Her husband might have his suspicions, but he was too happy +at being enabled to pay his debts and to keep his shop open to say +anything unpleasant. Many husbands besides himself think themselves +lucky to have such productive wives. + +In the beginning of November I sold shares for fifty thousand francs +to a man named Gamier, living in the Rue du Mail, giving up to him a +third part of the materials in my warehouse, and accepting a manager +chosen by him and paid by the company. Three days after signing the +deed I received the money; but in the night the doctor, my +warehouseman, emptied the till and absconded. I have always thought +that this robbery could not have been effected without the connivance +of the painter. This loss was a serious blow to me, as my affairs +were getting into an embroiled condition; and, for a finishing touch +to my misfortunes, Gamier had me served with a summons to repay him +the fifty thousand francs. My answer was that I was not liable, that +his manager had been appointed, the agreement and sale of the shares +was valid, and that he being one of the company would have to share +in the loss. As he persisted in his claim, I was advised to go to +law, but Gamier declared the agreement null and void, accusing me in +an indirect manner of having appropriated the money which I had said +was stolen. I would willingly have given him a good thrashing, but +he was an old man, and that course would not have mended matters, so +I kept my temper. The merchant who had given surety for the doctor +was not to be found; he had become bankrupt. Garnier had all my +stock seized, and sequestrated my horses, carriages, and all my +private property. + +While these troubles were harassing me, I dismissed all my work- +girls, who had always been a great expense, and replaced them with +workmen and some of my servants. The painter still retained his +position, which was an assured one, as he always paid himself out of +the sales. + +My attorney was an honest man--a rare bird amongst lawyers--but my +counsel, who kept telling me that the case would soon be decided, was +a rascal. While the decision was pending, Garnier served me with a +writ to pay the sum claimed. I took it to my counsel, who promised +to appeal the same day, which he did not do, while he appropriated to +his own use the money assigned by me for the costs of an action +which, if there had been justice in France, I should certainly have +gained. Two other summonses were issued against me, and before I +knew what was going on a warrant was issued for my arrest. I was +seized at eight o'clock in the morning, as I was driving along the +Rue St. Denis. The sergeant of police sat beside me, a second got up +beside the coachman, and a third stationed himself at the back of the +coach, and in this state we drove to Fort l'Eveque. + +As soon as the police had handed me over to the gaoler, he informed +me that by payment of the fifty thousand francs, or by giving good +bail, I might instantly regain my freedom. + +"For the moment," said I, "I can neither command money nor bail." + +"Very good, then you will stay in prison." + +The gaoler took me to a decent-looking room, and I told him I had +only been served with one writ. + +"Very likely," answered he, "it often happens like that; but it is +rather difficult to prove." + +"Bring me writing materials, and have a trusty messenger at my +disposal." + +I wrote to my counsel, my attorney, to Madame d'Urfe, and to all my +friends, including my brother, who was just married. The attorney +called immediately, but the barrister contented himself with writing +to the effect that as he had put in an appeal my seizure was illegal, +and that damages might be recovered. He ended by begging me to give +him a free hand, and to have patience for a few days. + +Manon Baletti sent her brother with her diamond earrings. Madame du +Rumain dispatched her barrister--a man of rare honesty--to me, and +wrote a friendly note in which she said that if I wanted five hundred +louis I should have them to-morrow. My brother neither wrote nor +came to see me. As to dear Madame d'Urfe she sent to say that she +would expect me at dinner. I thought she had gone mad, as I could +not think she was making fun of me. + +At eleven o'clock my room was full of people. Poor Baret had come +weeping, and offering me all his shop held. I was touched by the +worthy man's kindness. At last I was told that a lady in a coach +wanted to see me. I waited, but nobody came. In my impatience I +called the turnkey, who told me that, after questioning the clerk of +the prison, she had gone away again. From the description I was +given I had no difficulty in identifying the lady with Madame d'Urfe. + +To find myself deprived of my liberty was a disagreeable shock to me. +I thought of The Leads, and though my present situation was not to be +compared with that, I cursed my fate as I foresaw that my +imprisonment would damage my reputation. I had thirty thousand +francs in hard cash and jewels to more than double that amount, but I +could not decide on making such a sacrifice, in spite of the advice +given by Madame du Rumain's barrister, who would have me got out of +prison at any cost. + +"All you have to do," said the barrister, "is to deposit half the sum +demanded which I will give to the clerk of the court, and in a short +time I can promise a decision in your favour and the restoration of +your money." + +We were discussing the matter, when the gaoler entered, and said, +very politely, + +"Sir, you are a free man again, and a lady is waiting for you at the +door in her carriage" + +I called Le Duc, my man, and told him to go and see who the lady was. +He returned with the information that it was Madame d'Urfe. I made +my bow to everybody, and after four very disagreeable hours of +imprisonment, I found myself free again and sitting in a splendid +coach. + +Madame d'Urfe received me with dignified kindness, and a judge who +was in the carriage apologized for his country, where strangers were +exposed to such insults. I thanked Madame d'Urfe in a few words, +telling her that I was glad to become her debtor, but that it was +Garnier who benefited by her generosity. She replied with a pleasant +smile that she was not so sure of that, and that we would talk it +over at dinner. She wanted me to go and walk in the Tuileries and +the Palais Royal, to convince people that the report of my +imprisonment had been false. I thought the advice excellent, and as +I set out I promised to be with her at two o'clock. + +After skewing myself at the two principal walks of Paris, amusing +myself by the astonishment depicted on certain faces well known to +me, I went and returned the ear-rings to my dear Manon, who gave an +astonished but a happy cry when she saw me. I thanked her tenderly +for the proof she had given me of her attachment, and said that I had +been arrested by a plot for which I would make the plotters pay dear. +After promising to spend the evening with them I went to Madame +d'Urfe's. + +This good lady, whose foible is well known to my readers, made me +laugh when she said that her genius had told her that I had got +myself arrested to be talked about, for reasons which were known only +to myself. + +"As soon as I was informed of your arrest," said she, "I went to the +Fort l'Eveque, and on learning from the clerk what the affair was +about, I deposited bonds to bail you out. If you are not in a +position to have justice done you, Gamier will have to reckon with me +before he takes the money I have deposited. But your first step +should be to commence a criminal prosecution against your counsel, +who has not only failed to put in your appeal but has robbed and +deceived you." + +I left her in the evening, assuring her that in a few days her bail +should be returned to her; and went to the French and Italian plays +in succession, taking care to render myself conspicuous that my +reappearance might be complete. Afterwards I went to sup with Manon +Baletti, who was too happy to have had an opportunity of spewing her +affection for me; and her joy was full when I told her that I was +going to give up business, for she thought that my seraglio was the +only obstacle to my marriage with her. + +The next day was passed with Madame du Rumain. I felt that my +obligations to her were great, while she, in the goodness of her +heart, was persuaded that she could make no adequate return to me for +the oracles with which I furnished her, and by following which she +was safely guided through the perplexities of life. I cannot +understand how she, whose wit was keen, and whose judgment on other +subjects was of the soundest kind, could be liable to such folly. I +was sorry when I reflected that I could not undeceive her, and glad +when I reflected that to this deceit of mine the kindness she had +shewn me was chiefly due. + +My imprisonment disgusted me with Paris, and made me conceive a +hatred of the law, which I feel now. I found myself entangled in a +double maze of knavery--Garnier was my foe, and so was my own +counsel. Every time I went to plead, to spend my money amongst +lawyers, and to waste the time better given to pleasure, I felt as if +I was going to execution. In this perturbed kind of life, so +contrary to my inclinations, I resolved to set to work in earnest to +make my fortune, so that I might become independent and free to enjoy +life according to my tastes. I decided in the first place that I +would cut myself free of all that bound me to Paris, make a second +journey into Holland to replenish my purse and invest my money in a +yearly income for two lives, and from thenceforth live free from +care. The two lives were those of my wife and myself; my wife would +be Manon Baletti, and when I told her my plans she would have thought +them delightful if I had begun by marrying her. + +The first thing I did was to give up Little Poland. I then drew the +twenty-four thousand francs which were my surety for keeping a +lottery office in the Rue St. Denis. Thus I got rid of my ridiculous +office of lottery receiver, and after getting my clerk married I +handed over the office to him; in short, I made his fortune. A +friend of his wife's was his surety; such things often happen. + +I did not like to leave Madame d'Urfe involved in a troublesome suit +with Gamier, so I went to Versailles to see the Abbe de la Ville, a +great friend of his, and begged him to induce Gamier to make a +composition. + +The abbe saw that his friend was in the wrong, and so was all the +more willing to help me; and a few days afterwards he wrote to me to +go and see him, assuring me that I should find him inclined to +arrange matters in a friendly manner. + +Gamier was at Ruelle, where he had a house which cost him four +hundred thousand francs--a fine estate for a man who had made his +money as an army contractor during the last war. He was rich, but he +was so unfortunate as to be still fond of women at the age of +seventy, while his impotence debarred him from the proper enjoyment +of their society. I found him in company with three young ladies, +all of whom were pretty, and (as I heard afterwards) of good +families; but they were poor, and their necessities forced them to +submit to a disgusting intercourse with the old profligate. I stayed +to dinner and admired the propriety and modesty of their behaviour in +spite of the humiliation which accompanies poverty. After dinner, +Gamier went to sleep, and left me to entertain these girls whom I +would willingly have rescued from their unfortunate situation if I +had been able. After Gamier woke, we went into his study to talk +over our business. + +At first he maintained his claim tenaciously, and seemed unwilling to +yield an inch; but when I told him that I was leaving Paris in a few +days, he saw that as he could not keep me, Madame d'Urfe might take +the suit over and carry it on to infinity, and that he might lose it +at last. That made him think it over, and he asked me to stay in his +house for the night. The next day, after breakfast, he said,-- + +"I have made up my mind: I will have twenty-five thousand francs, or +keep the matter before the courts till my dying day." + +I answered that he would find the sum in the hands of Madame d'Urfe's +solicitor, and that he could receive it as soon as he had given +replevy on the bail at the Fort l'Eveque. + +I could not persuade Madame d'Urfe that I had acted wisely in coming +to an arrangement till I had told her that my genius had commanded me +not to leave Paris before my affairs were settled, so that no one +might be able to accuse me of having gone away to avoid creditors +whose claims I could not satisfy. + +Three or four days afterwards I went to take leave of M. de Choiseul, +who promised to instruct M. d'Afri to aid me in negotiating a loan at +five per cent. either with the States-General or a private company. + +"You can tell everyone," said he, "that peace is certain to be made +in the course of the winter, and I will take care that you shall have +what is due to you on your return to France." + +M. de Choiseul deceived me, for he knew very well that peace would +not be made; but I had no definite project, and I repented of having +given M. de Boulogne my confidence, and also of having done anything +for the Government, the reward of which was not immediate and +certain. + +I sold my horses, my carriages, my furniture; I went bail for my +brother who had contracted debts he was sure of paying, as he had +several pictures on the easel which he had been ordered to paint by +some of his rich and noble patrons. I took leave of Manon, whom I +left in floods of tears, though I swore with the utmost sincerity to +come back soon and marry her. + +At last all my preparations were finished, and I left Paris with a +hundred thousand francs in bills of exchange and jewels to the same +amount. I was alone in my post-chaise, Le Duc preceding me on +horseback, which the rascal preferred to being shut up in a carriage. + +This Le Duc of mine was a Spaniard, aged eighteen, a sharp fellow, +whom I valued highly, especially because he did my hair better than +anyone else. I never refused him a pleasure which a little money +would buy. Besides him I had a good Swiss servant, who served as my +courier. + +It was the 1st of December, 1759, and the air was frosty, but I was +fortified against the inclemency of the season. I was able to read +comfortably, and I took Helvetius's "Esprit," which I had never had +time to read before. After perusing it I was equally astonished at +the sensation it created and at the stupidity of the High Court which +condemned it. Of course that exalted body was largely influenced by +the king and the clergy, and between them all no effort was spared to +ruin Helvetius, a good-hearted man with more wit than his book. I +saw nothing novel either in the historical part relating to the +morals of nations (in which Helvetius dismisses us as triflers), or +in the position that morality is dependent on the reason. All that +he says has been said over and over again, and Blaise Pascal went +much farther, but he wrote more skilfully and better in every way +than Helvetius, who, wishing to remain in France, was obliged to +retract. He preferred a quiet life to his honour and his philosophy. +His wife had a nobler soul than he, as she wanted to sell all they +had, and to take refuge in Holland rather than submit to the shame of +a recantation. Perhaps Helvetius would have followed the noble +advice of his wife if he had foreseen that this monstrous recantation +would make his book into a fraud; for he had to confess that he had +written without due reflection, that he was more in jest than +earnest, and that his arguments were mere sophisms. But many men of +keen intellects had not waited for him to recant before exposing this +wretched system of his. And admitting that whatever man does is done +for his own interest, does it follow that gratitude is a folly, and +virtue and vice identical? Are a villain and a man of honour to be +weighed in the same balance? If such a dreadful system were not +absurd, virtue would be mere hypocrisy; and if by any possibility it +were true, it ought to be proscribed by general consent, since it +would lead to general ruin and corruption. + +It might have been proved to Helvetius that the propositions that the +first motive is always self-interest, and that we should always +consult our own interest first, are fallacious. It is a strange +thing that so virtuous a man would not admit the existence of virtue. +It is an amusing suggestion that he only published his book out of +modesty, but that would have contradicted his own system. But if it +were so, was it well done to render himself contemptible to escape +the imputation of pride? Modesty is only a virtue when it is +natural; if it is put on, or merely the result of training, it is +detestable. The great d'Alembert was the most truly modest man I +have ever seen. + +When I got to Brussels, where I spent two days, I went to the "Hotel +de l'Imperatrice," and chance sent Mdlle. X. C. V. and Farsetti in +my way, but I pretended not to see them. From Brussels I went +straight to the Hague, and got out at the "Prince of Orange." On my +asking the host who sat down at his table, he told me his company +consisted of general officers of the Hanoverian army, same English +ladies, and a Prince Piccolomini and his wife; and this made me make +up my mind to join this illustrious assemblage. + +I was unknown to all, and keeping my eyes about me I gave my chief +attention to the observation of the supposed Italian princess, who +was pretty enough, and more especially of her husband whom I seemed +to recognize. In the course of conversation I heard some talk of the +celebrated St. Germain, and it seemed that he was stopping in the +same hotel. + +I had returned to my room, and was thinking of going to bed, when +Prince Piccolomini entered, and embraced me as an old friend. + +"A look in your face," said he, "tells me that the recognition has +been mutual. I knew you directly in spite of the sixteen years that +have passed since we saw each other at Vicenza. To-morrow you can +tell everybody that we are friends, and that though I am not a prince +I am really a count; here is my passport from the King of Naples, +pray read it." + +During this rapid monologue I could not get in a single word, and on +attentively scanning his features I could only recollect that I had +seen him before, but when or where or how I knew not. I opened the +passport and read the name of Ruggero di Rocco, Count Piccolomini. +That was enough; I remembered an individual of that name who was a +fencing-master in Vicenza, and on looking at him again his aspect, +though much changed left no doubt as to the identity of the swordsman +and the count. + +"I congratulate you," said I, "on your change of employment, your new +business is doubtless much better than the old." + +"I taught fencing," he replied, "to save myself from dying of hunger, +for my father was so hard a man that he would not give me the +wherewithal to live, and I disguised my name so as not to disgrace +it. On my father's death I succeeded to the property, and at Rome I +married the lady you have seen." + +"You had good taste, for she's a pretty woman." + +"She is generally thought so, and it was a love match on my side." + +He ended by asking me to come and see him in his room the next day, +after dinner, telling me that I should find good company and a bank +at faro, which he kept himself. He added, without ceremony, that if +I liked we could go half shares, and that I should find it +profitable. I thanked him, and promised to pay him a visit. + +I went abroad at an early hour next morning, and after having spent +some time with the Jew, Boaz, and having given a polite refusal to +his offer of a bed, I went to pay my respects to M. d'Afri, who since +the death of the Princess of Orange, the Regent of the Low Countries, +was generally known as His Most Christian Majesty's ambassador. He +gave me an excellent reception, but he said that if I had returned to +Holland hoping to do business on behalf of the Government I should +waste my time, since the action of the comptroller-general had +lowered the credit of the nation, which was thought to be on the +verge of bankruptcy. + +"This M. Silhouette," said he, "has served the king very badly. It +is all very well to say that payments are only suspended for a year, +but it is not believed." + +He then asked me if I knew a certain Comte de St. Germain, who had +lately arrived at the Hague. + +"He has not called on me," said the ambassador, "though he says he is +commissioned by the king to negotiate a loan of a hundred millions. +When I am asked about him, I am obliged to say that I know nothing +about him, for fear of compromising myself. Such a reply, as you can +understand, is not likely to increase his chance of success, but that +is his fault and not mine. Why has he not brought me a letter from +the Duc de Choiseul or the Marquise de Pompadour? I take him to +be an impostor, but I shall know something more about him in the +course of ten days." + +I told him, in my turn, all I knew of this truly eccentric +individual. He was not a little surprised to hear that the king had +given him an apartment at Chambord, but when I told him that the +count professed to be able to make diamonds he laughed and said that +in that case he would no doubt make the hundred millions. Just as I +was leaving, M. d'Afri asked me to dine with him on the following +day. + +On returning to the hotel I called on the Comte de St. Germain. + +"You have anticipated me," said he, on seeing me enter, "I intended +to have called on you. I suppose, my dear Casanova, that you have +come to try what you can do for our Court, but you will find your +task a difficult one, as the Exchange is highly offended at the late +doings of that fool Silhouette. All the same I hope I shall be able +to get my hundred millions. I have passed my word to my friend, +Louis XV. (I may call him so), and I can't disappoint him; the +business will be done in the next three or four weeks." + +"I should think M. d'Afri might assist you." + +"I do not require his assistance. Probably I shall not even call +upon him, as he might say he helped me. No, I shall have all the +trouble, and I mean to have all the glory, too." + +"I presume you will be going to Court, where the Duke of Brunswick +may be of service to you?" + +"Why should I go to Court? As for the Duke of Brunswick, I do not +care to know him. All I have got to do is to go to Amsterdam, where +my credit is sufficiently good for anything. I am fond of the King +of France; there's not a better man in the kingdom." + +"Well, come and dine at the high table, the company is of the best +and will please you." + +"You know I never eat; moreover, I never sit down at a table where I +may meet persons who are unknown to me." + +"Then, my lord, farewell; we shall see each other again at +Amsterdam." + +I went down to the dining-roam, where, while dinner was being served, +I conversed with some officers. They asked me if I knew Prince +Piccolomini, to which I answered that he was not a prince but a +count, and that it was many years since I had seen him. + +When the count and his fair wife (who only spoke Italian) came down, +I shewed them some polite attentions, and we then sat down to dinner. + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +THE ETERNAL QUEST, Vol. 3b, RETURN TO PARIS +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + diff --git a/old/jcrpr11.zip b/old/jcrpr11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ef5b7b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcrpr11.zip |