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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/2966.txt b/2966.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4d4983d --- /dev/null +++ b/2966.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3670 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Adventures In The South: Depart Switzerland +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: Adventures In The South: Depart Switzerland + The Memoirs Of Jacques Casanova De Seingalt 1725-1798 + +Author: Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Release Date: October 31, 2006 [EBook #2966] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEPART SWITZERLAND *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 + +ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH, Volume 4a--DEPART SWITZERLAND + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR MACHEN TO +WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + + + + +DEPART SWITZERLAND + + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Door--Keeper's Daughters--The Horoscopes--Mdlle. Roman + +The idea of the sorry plight in which I had left the Marquis de Prie, his +mistress, and perhaps all the company, who had undoubtedly coveted the +contents of my cash-box, amused me till I reached Chamberi, where I only +stopped to change horses. When I reached Grenoble, where I intended to +stay a week, I did not find my lodging to my liking, and went in my +carriage to the post-office, where I found several letters, amongst +others, one from Madame d'Urfe, enclosing a letter of introduction to an +officer named Valenglard, who, she told me, was a learned man, and would +present me at all the best houses in the town. + +I called on this officer and received a cordial welcome. After reading +Madame d'Urfe's letter he said he was ready to be useful to me in +anything I pleased. + +He was an amiable, middle aged man, and fifteen years before had been +Madame d'Urfe's friend, and in a much more intimate degree the friend of +her daughter, the Princess de Toudeville. I told him that I was +uncomfortable at the inn, and that the first service I would ask of him +would be to procure me a comfortable lodging. He rubbed his head, and +said,-- + +"I think I can get you rooms in a beautiful house, but it is outside the +town walls. The door-keeper is an excellent cook, and for the sake of +doing your cooking I am sure he will lodge you for nothing." + +"I don't wish that," said I. + +"Don't be afraid," said the baron, "he will make it up by means of his +dishes; and besides, the house is for sale and costs him nothing. Come +and see it." + +I took a suite of three rooms and ordered supper for two, warning the man +that I was dainty, liked good things, and did not care for the cost. I +also begged M. de Valenglard to sup with me. The doorkeeper said that if +I was not pleased with his cooking I had only to say so, and in that case +I should have nothing to pay. I sent for my carriage, and felt that I had +established myself in my new abode. On the ground floor I saw three +charming girls and the door-keeper's wife, who all bowed profoundly. M. +de Valenglard took me to a concert with the idea of introducing me to +everybody, but I begged him not to do so, as I wished to see the ladies +before deciding which of them I should like to know. + +The company was a numerous one, especially where women were concerned, +but the only one to attract my attention was a pretty and modest-looking +brunette, whose fine figure was dressed with great simplicity. Her +charming eyes, after having thrown one glance in my direction, +obstinately refused to look at me again. My vanity made me conclude at +once that she behaved thus only to increase my desire of knowing her, and +to give me plenty of time to examine her side-face and her figure, the +proportions of which were not concealed by her simple attire. Success +begets assurance, and the wish is father to the thought. I cast a hungry +gaze on this young lady without more ado, just as if all the women in +Europe were only a seraglio kept for my pleasures. I told the baron I +should like to know her. + +"She is a good girl," said he, "who sees no company, and is quite poor." + +"Those are three reasons which make me the more anxious to know her." + +"You will really find nothing to do in that quarter." + +"Very good." + +"There is her aunt, I will introduce you to her as we leave the +concert-room." + +After doing me this service, he came to sup with me. The door-keeper and +cook struck me as being very like Lebel. He made his two pretty daughters +wait on me, and I saw that Valenglard was delighted at having lodged me +to my satisfaction, but he grumbled when he saw fifteen dishes. + +"He is making a fool of you and me," he said. + +"On the contrary, he has guessed my tastes. Don't you think everything +was very good?" + +"I don't deny it, but . . . . " + +"Don't be afraid; I love spending my money." + +"I beg your pardon, I only want you to be pleased." + +We had exquisite wines, and at dessert some ratafia superior to the +Turkish 'visnat' I had tasted seventeen years before at Yussuf Ali's. +When my landlord came up at the end of supper, I told him that he ought +to be Louis XV.'s head cook. + +"Go on as you have begun, and do better if you can; but let me have your +bill every morning." + +"You are quite right; with such an arrangement one can tell how one is +getting on." + +"I should like you always to give me ices, and you must let me have two +more lights. But, unless I am mistaken, those are candles that I see. I +am a Venetian, and accustomed to wax lights." + +"That is your servant's fault, sir." + +"How is that?" + +"Because, after eating a good supper, he went to bed, saying he was ill. +Thus I heard nothing as to how you liked things done." + +"Very good, you shall learn from my own lips." + +"He asked my wife to make chocolate for you tomorrow morning; he gave her +the chocolate, I will make it myself." + +When he had left the room M. de Valenglard said, in a manner that was at +the same time pleased and surprised, that Madame d'Urfe had been +apparently joking in telling him to spare me all expense. + +"It's her goodness of heart. I am obliged to her all the same. She is an +excellent woman." + +We stayed at table till eleven o'clock, discussing in numerable pleasant +topics, and animating our talk with that choice liqueur made at Grenoble, +of which we drank a bottle. It is composed of the juice of cherries, +brandy, sugar, and cinnamon, and cannot be surpassed, I am sure, by the +nectar of Olympus. + +I sent home the baron in my carriage, after thanking him for his +services, and begging him to be my companion early and late while I +stayed at Grenoble--a re quest which he granted excepting for those days +on which he was on duty. At supper I had given him my bill of exchange on +Zappata, which I endorsed with the name de Seingalt, which Madame d'Urfe +had given me. He discounted it for me next day. A banker brought me four +hundred louis and I had thirteen hundred in my cash-box. I always had a +dread of penuriousness, and I delighted myself at the thought that M. de +Valenglard would write and tell Madame d'Urfe, who was always preaching +economy to me, what he had seen. I escorted my guest to the carriage, and +I was agreeably surprised when I got back to find the doorkeeper's two +charming daughters. + +Le Duc had not waited for me to tell him to find some pretext for not +serving me. He knew my tastes, and that when there were pretty girls in a +house, the less I saw of him the better I was pleased. + +The frank eagerness of the two girls to wait on me, their utter freedom +from suspicion or coquetry, made me determine that I would shew myself +deserving of their trust. They took off my shoes and stockings, did my +hair and put on my night-gown with perfect propriety on both sides. When +I was in bed I wished them a goodnight, and told them to shut the door +and bring me my chocolate at eight o'clock next morning. + +I could not help confessing that I was perfectly happy as I reflected +over my present condition. I enjoyed perfect health, I was in the prime +of life, I had no calls on me, I was thoroughly independent, I had a rich +store of experience, plenty of money, plenty of luck, and I was a +favourite with women. The pains and troubles I had gone through had been +followed by so many days of happiness that I felt disposed to bless my +destiny. Full of these agreeable thoughts I fell asleep, and all the +night my dreams were of happiness and of the pretty brunette who had +played with me at the concert. + +I woke with thoughts of her, and feeling sure that we should become +acquainted I felt curious to know what success I should have with her. +She was discreet and poor; and as I was discreet in my own way she ought +not to despise my friendship. + +At eight o'clock, one of the door-keeper's daughters brought me my +chocolate, and told me that Le Duc had got the fever. + +"You must take care of the poor fellow." + +"My cousin has just taken him some broth." + +"What is your name?" + +"My name is Rose, and my sister is Manon." + +Just then Manon came in with my shirt, on which she had put fresh lace. I +thanked her, and she said with a blush that she did her father's hair +very well. + +"I am delighted to hear it, and I shall be very pleased if you will be +kind enough to do the same offices for me till my servant recovers." + +"With pleasure, sir." + +"And I," said Rose, laughing, "will shave you." + +"I should like to see how you do it; get the water." + +I rose hastily, while Manon was preparing to do my hair. Rose returned +and shaved me admirably. As soon as she had washed off the lather, I +said, + +"You must give me a kiss," presenting my cheek to her. She pretended not +to understand. + +"I shall be vexed," said I, gravely but pleasantly, "if you refuse to +kiss me." + +She begged to be excused, saying with a little smile, that it was not +customary to do so at Grenoble. + +"Well, if you won't kiss me, you shan't shave me." + +The father came in at that point, bringing his bill. + +"Your daughter has just shaved me admirably," said I, "and she refuses to +kiss me, because it is not the custom at Grenoble." + +"You little silly," said he, "it is the custom in Paris. You kiss me fast +enough after you have shaved me, why should you be less polite to this +gentleman?" + +She then kissed me with an air of submission to the paternal decree which +made Manon laugh. + +"Ah!" said the father, "your turn will come when you have finished doing +the gentleman's hair." + +He was a cunning fellow, who knew the best way to prevent me cheapening +him, but there was no need, as I thought his charges reasonable, and as I +paid him in full he went off in great glee. + +Manon did my hair as well as my dear Dubois, and kissed me when she had +done without making as many difficulties as Rose. I thought I should get +on well with both of them. They went downstairs when the banker was +announced. + +He was quite a young man, and after he had counted me out four hundred +Louis, he observed that I must be very comfortable. + +"Certainly," said I, "the two sisters are delightful." + +"Their cousin is better. They are too discreet." + +"I suppose they are well off." + +"The father has two thousand francs a year. They will be able to marry +well-to-do tradesmen." + +I was curious to see the cousin who was said to be prettier than the +sisters, and as soon as the banker had gone I went downstairs to satisfy +my curiosity. I met the father and asked him which was Le Duc's room, and +thereon I went to see my fine fellow. I found him sitting up in a +comfortable bed with a rubicund face which did not look as if he were +dangerously ill. + +"What is the matter with you? + +"Nothing, sir. I am having a fine time of it. Yesterday I thought I would +be ill." + +"What made you think that?" + +"The sight of the three Graces here, who are made of better stuff than +your handsome housekeeper, who would not let me kiss her. They are making +me wait too long for my broth, however. I shall have to speak severely +about it." + +"Le Duc, you are a rascal." + +"Do you want me to get well?" + +"I want you to put a stop to this farce, as I don't like it." Just then +the door opened, and the cousin came in with the broth. I thought her +ravishing, and I noticed that in waiting on Le Duc she had an imperious +little air which well became her. + +"I shall dine in bed," said my Spaniard. + +"You shall be attended to," said the pretty girl, and she went out. + +"She puts on big airs," said Le Duc, "but that does not impose on me. +Don't you think she is very pretty?" + +"I think you are very impudent. You ape your betters, and I don't approve +of it. Get up. You must wait on me at table, and afterwards you will eat +your dinner by yourself, and try to get yourself respected as an honest +man always is, whatever his condition, so long as he does not forget +himself. You must not stay any longer in this room, the doorkeeper will +give you another." + +I went out, and on meeting the fair cousin I told her that I was jealous +of the honour which she had done my man, and that I begged her to wait on +him no longer. + +"Oh, I am very glad!" + +The door-keeper came up, and I gave him my orders, and went back to my +room to write. + +Before dinner the baron came and told me that he had just come from the +lady to whom he had introduced me. She was the wife of a barrister named +Morin, and aunt to the young lady who had so interested me. + +"I have been talking of you," said the baron, "and of the impression her +niece made on you. She promised to send for her, and to keep her at the +house all day." + +After a dinner as good as the supper of the night before, though +different from it in its details, and appetising enough to awaken the +dead, we went to see Madame Morin, who received us with the easy grace of +a Parisian lady. She introduced me to seven children, of whom she was the +mother. Her eldest daughter, an ordinary-looking girl, was twelve years +old, but I should have taken her to be fourteen, and said so. To convince +me of her age the mother brought a book in which the year, the month, the +day, the hour, and even the minute of her birth were entered. I was +astonished at such minute accuracy, and asked if she had had a horoscope +drawn. + +"No," said she, "I have never found anybody to do it." + +"It is never too late," I replied, "and without doubt God has willed that +this pleasure should be reserved for me." + +At this moment M. Morin came in, his wife introduced me, and after the +customary compliments had passed, she returned to the subject of the +horoscope. The barrister sensibly observed that if judicial astrology was +not wholly false, it was, nevertheless, a suspected science; that he had +been so foolish as once to devote a considerable portion of his time to +it, but that on recognizing the inability of man to deal with the future +he had abandoned astrology, contenting himself with the veritable truths +of astronomy. I saw with pleasure that I had to deal with a man of sense +and education, but Valenglard, who was a believer in astrology, began an +argument with him on the subject. During their discussion I quietly +copied out on my tablets the date of Mdlle. Morin's birth. But M. Morin +saw what I was about, and shook his head at me, with a smile. I +understood what he meant, but I did not allow that to disconcert me, as I +had made up my mind fully five minutes ago that I would play the +astrologer on this occasion. + +At last the fair niece arrived. Her aunt introduced me to her as Mdlle. +Roman Coupier, her sister's daughter; and then, turning to her, she +informed her how ardently I had been longing to know her since I had seen +her at the concert. + +She was then seventeen. Her satin skin by its dazzling whiteness +displayed to greater advantage her magnificent black hair. Her features +were perfectly regular, and her complexion had a slight tinge of red; her +fine eyes were at once sweet and sparkling, her eyebrows were well +arched, her mouth small, her teeth regular and as white as pearls, and +her lips, of an exquisite rosy hue, afforded a seat to the deities of +grace and modesty. + +After some moments' conversation, M. Morin was obliged to go out on +business, and a game of quadrille was proposed, at which I was greatly +pitied for having lost a louis. I thought Mdlle. Roman discreet, +judicious, pleasant without being brilliant, and, still better, without +any pretensions. She was high-spirited, even-tempered, and had a natural +art which did not allow her to seem to understand too flattering a +compliment, or a joke which passed in any way the bounds of propriety. +She was neatly dressed, but had no ornaments, and nothing which shewed +wealth; neither ear-rings, rings, nor a watch. One might have said that +her beauty was her only adornment, the only ornament she wore being a +small gold cross hanging from her necklace of black ribbon. Her breast +was well shaped and not too large. Fashion and custom made her shew half +of it as innocently as she shewed her plump white hand, or her cheeks, +whereon the lily and the rose were wedded. I looked at her features to +see if I might hope at all; but I was completely puzzled, and could come +to no conclusion. She gave no sign which made me hope, but on the other +hand she did nothing to make me despair. She was so natural and so +reserved that my sagacity was completely at fault. Nevertheless, a +liberty which I took at supper gave me a gleam of hope. Her napkin fell +down, and in returning it to her I pressed her thigh amorously, and could +not detect the slightest displeasure on her features. Content with so +much I begged everybody to come to dinner with me next day, telling +Madame Morin that I should not be going out, and that I was therefore +delighted to put my carriage at her service. + +When I had taken Valenglard home, I went to my lodging building castles +in Spain as to the conquest of Mdlle. Roman. + +I warned my landlord that we should be six at dinner and supper the +following day, and then I went to bed. As Le Duc was undressing me he +said, + +"Sir, you are punishing me, but what makes me sorry you are punishing +yourself in depriving yourself of the services of those pretty girls." + +"You are a rogue." + +"I know it, but I serve you with all my heart, and I love your pleasure +as well as my own." + +"You plead well for yourself; I am afraid I have spoilt you." + +"Shall I do your hair to-morrow?" + +"No; you may go out every day till dinner-time." + +"I shall be certain to catch it." + +"Then I shall send you to the hospital." + +"That is a fine prospect, 'por Dios'." + +He was impudent, sly, profligate, and a rascally fellow; but also +obedient, devoted, discreet, and faithful, and his good qualities made me +overlook his defects. + +Next morning, when Rose brought my chocolate, she told me with a laugh +that my man had sent for a carriage, and after dressing himself in the +height of fashion he had gone off with his sword at his side, to pay +calls, as he said. + +"We laughed at him." + +"You were quite right, my dear Rose." + +As I spoke, Manon came in under some pretext or other. I saw that the two +sisters had an understanding never to be alone with me; I was displeased, +but pretended not to notice anything. I got up, and I had scarcely put on +my dressing-gown when the cousin came in with a packet under her arm. + +"I am delighted to see you, and above all to look at your smiling face, +for I thought you much too serious yesterday." + +"That's because M. le Duc is a greater gentleman than you are; I should +not have presumed to laugh in his presence; but I had my reward in seeing +him start off this morning in his gilded coach." + +"Did he see you laughing at him?" + +"Yes, unless he is blind." + +"He will be vexed." + +"All the better." + +"You are really very charming. What have you got in that parcel?" + +"Some goods of our own manufacture. Look; they are embroidered gloves." + +"They are beautiful; the embroidery is exquisitely done. How much for the +lot?" + +"Are you a good hand at a bargain." + +"Certainly." + +"Then we must take that into account." + +After some whisperings together the cousin took a pen, put down the +numbers of gloves, added up and said, + +"The lot will cost you two hundred and ten francs." + +"There are nine louis; give me six francs change." + +"But you told us you would make a bargain." + +"You were wrong to believe it." + +She blushed and gave me the six francs. Rose and Manon shaved me and did +my hair, giving me a kiss with the best grace imaginable; and when I +offered my cheek to the cousin she kissed me on the mouth in a manner +that told me she would be wholly mine on the first opportunity. + +"Shall we have the pleasure of waiting on you at the table?" said Rose. + +"I wish you would." + +"But we should like to know who is coming to dinner first; as if it is +officers from the garrison we dare not come; they make so free." + +"My guests are Madame Morin, her husband, and her niece." + +"Very good." + +The cousin said, "Mdlle. Roman is the prettiest and the best girl in +Grenoble; but she will find some difficulty in marrying as she has no +money." + +"She may meet some rich man who will think her goodness and her beauty +worth a million of money." + +"There are not many men of that kind." + +"No; but there are a few." + +Manon and the cousin went out, and I was left alone with Rose, who stayed +to dress me. I attacked her, but she defended herself so resolutely that +I desisted, and promised it should not occur again. When she had finished +I gave her a louis, thanked her, and sent her away. + +As soon as I was alone I locked the door, and proceeded to concoct the +horoscope I had promised to Madame Morin. I found it an easy task to fill +eight pages with learned folly; and I confined myself chiefly to +declaring the events which had already happened to the native. I had +deftly extracted some items of information in the course of conversation, +and filling up the rest according to the laws of probability and dressing +up the whole in astrological diction, I was pronounced to be a seer, and +no doubts were cast on my skill. I did not indeed run much risk, for +everything hung from an if, and in the judicious employment of ifs lies +the secret of all astrology. + +I carefully re-read the document, and thought it admirable. I felt in the +vein, and the use of the cabala had made me an expert in this sort of +thing. + +Just after noon all my guests arrived, and at one we sat down to table. I +have never seen a more sumptuous or more delicate repast. I saw that the +cook was an artist more in need of restraint than encouragement. Madame +Morin was very polite to the three girls, whom she knew well, and Le Duc +stood behind her chair all the time, looking after her wants, and dressed +as richly as the king's chamberlain. When we had nearly finished dinner +Mdlle. Roman passed a compliment on my three fair waiting-maids, and this +giving me occasion to speak of their talents I got up and brought the +gloves I had purchased from them. Mdlle. Roman praised the quality of the +material and the work. I took the opportunity, and begged leave of the +aunt to give her and her niece a dozen pair apiece. I obtained this +favour, and I then gave Madame Morin the horoscope. Her husband read it, +and though an unbeliever he was forced to admire, as all the deductions +were taken naturally from the position of the heavenly bodies at the +instant of his daughter's birth. We spent a couple of hours in talking +about astrology, and the same time in playing at quadrille, and then we +took a walk in the garden, where I was politely left to enjoy the society +of the fair Roman. + +Our dialogue, or rather my monologue, turned solely on the profound +impression she had made on me, on the passion she had inspired, on her +beauty, her goodness, the purity of my intentions, and on my need of +love, lest I should go down to the grave the most hapless of men. + +"Sir," said she, at last, "if my destiny points to marriage I do not deny +that I should be happy to find a husband like you." + +I was emboldened by this frank declaration, and seizing her hand I +covered it with fiery kisses, saying passionately that I hoped she would +not let me languish long. She turned her head to look for her aunt. It +was getting dark, and she seemed to be afraid of something happening to +her. She drew me gently with her, and on rejoining the other guests we +returned to the dining-room, where I made a small bank at faro for their +amusement. Madame Morin gave her daughter and niece, whose pockets were +empty, some money, and Valenglard directed their play so well that when +we left off to go to supper I had the pleasure of seeing that each of the +three ladies had won two or three louis. + +We sat at table till midnight. A cold wind from the Alps stopped my plan +of proposing a short turn in the garden. Madame Morin overwhelmed me with +thanks for my entertainment, and I gave each of my lady-visitors a +respectful kiss. + +I heard singing in the kitchen, and on going in I found Le Duc in a high +state of excitement and very drunk. As soon as he saw me he tried to +rise, but he lost his centre of gravity, and fell right under the kitchen +table. He was carried away to bed. + +I thought this accident favourable to my desire of amusing myself, and I +might have succeeded if the three Graces had not all been there. Love +only laughs when two are present, and thus it is that the ancient +mythology tells no story of the loves of the Graces, who were always +together. I had not yet found an opportunity of getting my three maids +one after the other, and I dared not risk a general attack, which might +have lost me the confidence of each one. Rose, I saw, was openly jealous +of her cousin, as she kept a keen look-out after her movements. I was not +sorry, for jealousy leads to anger, and anger goes a long way. When I was +in bed I sent them away with a modest good night. + +Next morning, Rose came in by herself to ask me for a cake of chocolate, +for, as she said, Le Duc was now ill in real earnest. She brought me the +box, and I gave her the chocolate, and in doing so I took her hand and +shewed her how well I loved her. She was offended, drew back her hand +sharply, and left the room. A moment after Manon came in under the +pretext of shewing me a piece of lace I had torn away in my attempts of +the day before, and of asking me if she should mend it. I took her hand +to kiss it, but she did not give me time, presenting her lips, burning +with desire. I took her hand again, and it was just on the spot when the +cousin came in. Manon held the piece of lace, and seemed to be waiting +for my answer. I told her absently that I should be obliged if she would +mend it when she had time, and with this she went out. + +I was troubled by this succession of disasters, and thought that the +cousin would not play me false from the earnest of her affection which +she had given me the day before in that ardent kiss of hers. I begged her +to give me my handkerchief, and gently drew her hand towards me. Her +mouth fastened to mine, and her hand, which she left to my pleasure with +all the gentleness of a lamb, was already in motion when Rose came in +with my chocolate. We regained our composure in a moment, but I was +furious at heart. I scowled at Rose, and I had a right to do so after the +manner in which she had repulsed me a quarter of an hour before. Though +the chocolate was excellent, I pronounced it badly made. I chid her for +her awkwardness in waiting on me, and repulsed her at every step. When I +got up I would not let her shave me; I shaved myself, which seemed to +humiliate her, and then Manon did my hair. Rose and the cousin then went +out, as if to make common cause together, but it was easy to see that +Rose was less angry with her sister than her cousin. + +As Manon was finishing my toilette, M. de Valenglard came in. As soon as +we were alone, the officer, who was a man of honour and of much sense, in +spite of his belief in astrology and the occult sciences, said that he +thought me looking rather melancholy, and that if my sadness had any +connection with the fair Roman, he warned me to think no more of her, +unless I had resolved to ask her hand in marriage. I replied that to put +an end to all difficulties I had decided on leaving Grenoble in a few +days. We dined together and we then called on Madame Morin, with whom we +found her fair niece. + +Madame Morin gave me a flattering welcome, and Mdlle. Roman received me +so graciously that I was emboldened to kiss her and place her on my knee. +The aunt laughed, the niece blushed, and then slipping into my hand a +little piece of paper made her escape. I read on the paper the year, day, +Hour, and minute of her birth, and guessed what she meant. She meant, I +thought, that I could do nothing with her before I had drawn up her +horoscope. My resolve was soon taken to profit by this circumstance, and +I told her that I would tell her whether I could oblige her or not next +day, if she would come to a ball I was giving. She looked at her aunt and +my invitation was accepted. + +Just then the servant announced "The Russian Gentleman." I saw a +well-made man of about my own age, slightly marked with the small-pox, +and dressed as a traveller. He accosted Madame Morin with easy grace, was +welcomed heartily by her, spoke well, scarcely gave me a glance, and did +not say a word to the nieces. In the evening M. Morin came in, and the +Russian gave him a small phial full of a white liquid, and then made as +if he would go, but he was kept to supper. + +At table the conversation ran on this marvellous liquid of his. M. Morin +told me that he had cured a young man of a bruise from a billiard ball in +five minutes, by only rubbing it with the liquid. He said modestly that +it was a trifling thing of his own invention, and he talked a good deal +about chemistry to Valenglard. As my attention was taken up by the fair +Mdlle. Roman I could not take part in their conversation; my hope of +succeeding with her on the following day absorbed all my thoughts. As I +was going away with Valenglard he told me that nobody knew who the +Russian was, and that he was nevertheless received everywhere. + +"Has he a carriage and servants?" + +"He has nothing, no servants and no money." + +"Where did he come from?" + +"From the skies." + +"A fair abode, certainly; how long has he been here?" + +"For the last fortnight. He visits, but asks for nothing." + +"How does he live?" + +"On credit at the inn; he is supposed to be waiting for his carriage and +servants." + +"He is probably a vagabond." + +"He does not look like one, as you saw for yourself, and his diamonds +contradict that hypothesis." + +"Yes, if they are not imitation stones, for it seems to me that if they +were real he would sell them." + +When I got home Rose came by herself to attend on me, but she continued +to sulk. I tried to rouse her up, but as I had no success I ordered her +to go and tell her father that I was going to give a ball next day in the +room by the garden, and that supper was to be laid for twenty. + +When the door-keeper came to take my orders the following morning, I told +him that I should like his girls to dance if he didn't mind. At this Rose +condescended to smile, and I thought it a good omen. Just as she went out +with her father, Manon came in under the pretext of asking me what lace I +would wear for the day. I found her as gentle as a lamb and as loving as +a dove. The affair was happily consummated, but we had a narrow escape of +being caught by Rose, who came in with Le Duc and begged me to let him +dance, promising that he would behave himself properly. I was glad that +everybody should enjoy themselves and consented, telling him to thank +Rose, who had got him this favour. + +I had a note from Madame Morin, asking me if she might bring with her to +the ball two ladies of her acquaintance and their daughters. I replied +that I should be delighted for her to invite not only as many ladies but +as many gentlemen as she pleased, as I had ordered supper for twenty +people. She came to dinner with her niece and Valenglard, her daughter +being busy dressing and her husband being engaged till the evening. She +assured me that I should have plenty of guests. + +The fair Mdlle. Roman wore the same dress, but her beauty unadorned was +dazzling. Standing by me she asked if I had thought about her horoscope. +I took her hand, made her sit on my knee, and promised that she should +have it on the morrow. I held her thus, pressing her charming breasts +with my left hand, and imprinting fiery kisses on her lips, which she +only opened to beg me to calm myself. She was more astonished than afraid +to see me trembling, and though she defended herself successfully she did +not lose countenance for a moment, and in spite of my ardent gaze she did +not turn her face away. I calmed myself with an effort, and her eyes +expressed the satisfaction of one who has vanquished a generous enemy by +the force of reason. By my silence I praised the virtue of this celestial +being, in whose destiny I only had a part by one of those caprices of +chance which philosophy seeks to explain in vain. + +Madame Morin came up to me, and asked me to explain some points in her +daughter's horoscope. She then told me that if I wanted to have four +beauties at my ball she had only to write a couple of notes. + +"I shall only see one beauty," said I, looking at her niece. + +"God alone knows," said Valenglard, "what people will say in Grenoble!" + +"They will say it is your wedding ball," said Madame Morin to her niece. + +"Yes, and they will doubtless talk of my magnificent dress, my lace, and +my diamonds," said the niece, pleasantly. + +"They will talk of your beauty, your wit, and your goodness," I replied, +passionately, "goodness which will make your husband a happy man." + +There was a silence, because they all thought I was alluding to myself. I +was doing nothing of the sort. I should have been glad to give five +hundred louis for her, but I did not see how the contract was to be drawn +up, and I was not going to throw my money away. + +We went to my bedroom, and while Mdlle. Roman was amusing herself with +looking at the jewellry on my toilette-table, her aunt and Valenglard +examined the books on the table by my bedside. I saw Madame Morin going +to the window and looking closely at something she held in her hand. I +remembered I had left out the portrait of the fair nun. I ran to her and +begged her to give me the indecent picture I had so foolishly left about. + +"I don't mind the indecency of it," she said, "but what strikes me is the +exact likeness." + +I understood everything, and I shuddered at the carelessness of which I +had been guilty. + +"Madam," I said, "that is the portrait of a Venetian, lady, of whom I was +very found." + +"I daresay, but it's very curious. These two M's, these cast-off robes +sacrificed to love, everything makes my surprise greater." + +"She is a nun and named M---- M----." + +"And a Welsh niece of mine at Camberi is also named M---- M----, and +belongs to the same order. Nay, more, she has been at Aix, whence you +have come, to get cured of an illness." + +"And this portrait is like her?" + +"As one drop of water is like another." + +"If you go to Chamberi call on her and say you come from me; you will be +welcome and you will be as much surprised as I am." + +"I will do so, after I have been in Italy. However, I will not shew her +this portrait, which would scandalize her; I will put it away carefully." + +"I beg you not to shew it to anyone." + +"You may rely on me." + +I was in an ecstasy at having put her off so effectually. + +At eight o'clock all my guests arrived, and I saw before me all the +fairest ladies and the noblest gentlemen of Grenoble. The only thing +which vexed me was the compliments they lavished on me, as is customary +in the provinces. + +I opened the ball with the lady pointed out to me by M. Valenglard, and +then I danced with all the ladies in succession; but my partner in all +the square dances was the fair Mdlle. Roman, who shone from her +simplicity--at least, in my eyes. + +After a quadrille, in which I had exerted myself a good deal, I felt hot +and went up to my room to put on a lighter suit, and as I was doing so, +in came the fair cousin, who asked me if I required anything. + +"Yes, you, dearest," I replied, going up to her and taking her in my +arms. "Did anyone see you coming in here?" + +"No, I came from upstairs, and my cousins are in the dancing-room." + +"That is capital. You are fair as Love himself, and this is an excellent +opportunity for skewing you how much I love you." + +"Good heavens! What are you doing? Let me go, somebody might come in. +Well, put out the light!" + +I put it out, shut the door, and, my head full of Mdlle. Roman, the +cousin found me as ardent as I should have been with that delightful +person. I confess, too, that the door-keeper's niece was well worthy of +being loved on her own merits. I found her perfect, perhaps better than +Mdlle. Roman, a novice, would have been. In spite of my ardour her +passion was soon appeased, and she begged me to let her go, and I did so; +but it was quite time. I wanted to begin over again, but she was afraid +that our absence would be noticed by her two Argus-eyed cousins, so she +kissed me and left the room. + +I went back to the ball-room, and we danced on till the king of +door-keepers came to tell us supper was ready. + +A collation composed of the luxuries which the season and the country +afforded covered the table; but what pleased the ladies most was the +number and artistic arrangement of the wax lights. + +I sat down at a small table with a few of my guests, and I received the +most pressing invitations to spend the autumn in their town. I am sure +that if I had accepted I should have been treated like a prince, for the +nobility of Grenoble bear the highest character for hospitality. I told +them that if it had been possible I should have had the greatest pleasure +in accepting their invitation, and in that case I should have been +delighted to have made the acquaintance of the family of an illustrious +gentleman, a friend of my father's. + +"What name is it?" they asked me, altogether. + +"Bouchenu de Valbonnais." + +"He was my uncle. Ah! sir, you must come and stay with us. You danced +with my daughter. What was your father's name?" + +This story, which I invented, and uttered as I was wont, on the spur of +the moment, turned me into a sort of wonder in the eyes of the worthy +people. + +After we had laughed, jested, drank, and eaten, we rose from the table +and began to dance anew. + +Seeing Madame Morin, her niece, and Valenglard going into the garden, I +followed them, and as we walked in the moonlight I led the fair Mdlle. +Roman through a covered alley; but all my fine speeches were in vain; I +could do nothing. I held her between my arms, I covered her with burning +kisses, but not one did she return to me, and her hands offered a +successful resistance to my hardy attempts. By a sudden effort, however, +I at last attained the porch of the temple of love, and held her in such +a way that further resistance would have been of no avail; but she +stopped me short by saying in a voice which no man of feeling could have +resisted,-- + +"Be my friend, sir, and not my enemy and the cause of my ruin." + +I knelt before her, and taking her hand begged her pardon, swearing not +to renew my attempts. I then rose and asked her to kiss me as a pledge of +her forgiveness. We rejoined her aunt, and returned to the ball-room, but +with all my endeavours I could not regain my calm. + +I sat down in a corner of the room, and I asked Rose, who passed by me, +to get me a glass of lemonade. When she brought it she gently chid me for +not having danced with her, her sister, or her cousin. + +"It will give people but a poor opinion of our merits." + +"I am tired," said I, "but if you will promise to be kind I will dance a +minuet with you." + +"What do want me to do?" said she. + +"Go into my bedroom and wait for me there in the dark when you see your +sister and your cousin busy dancing." + +"And you will only dance with me." + +"I swear!" + +"Then you will find me in your room." + +I found her passionate, and I had full satisfaction. To keep my word with +her I waited for the closing minuet, for having danced with Rose I felt +obliged in common decency to dance with the other two, especially as I +owed them the same debt. + +At day-break the ladies began to vanish, and as I put the Morins into my +carriage I told them that I could not have the pleasure of seeing them +again that day, but that if they would come and spend the whole of the +day after with me I would have the horoscope ready. + +I went to the kitchen to thank the worthy door-keeper for having made me +cut such a gallant figure, and I found the three nymphs there, filling +their pockets with sweetmeats. He told them, laughing, that as the master +was there they might rob him with a clear conscience, and I bade them +take as much as they would. I informed the door-keeper that I should not +dine till six, and I then went to bed. + +I awoke at noon, and feeling myself well rested I set to work at the +horoscope, and I resolved to tell the fair Mdlle. Roman that fortune +awaited her at Paris, where she would become her master's mistress, but +that the monarch must see her before she had attained her eighteenth +year, as at that time her destiny would take a different turn. To give my +prophecy authority, I told her some curious circumstances which had +hitherto happened to her, and which I had learnt now and again from +herself or Madame Morin without pretending to heed what they said. + +With an Ephemeris and another astrological book, I made out and copied in +six hours Mdlle. Roman's horoscope, and I had so well arranged it that it +struck Valenglard and even M. Morin with astonishment, and made the two +ladies quite enthusiastic. + +My horoscope must only be known to the young lady and her family, who +would no doubt keep the secret well. After I had put the finishing +touches to it, read it, and read it again, I felt certain that I had made +a masterpiece, and I then dined in bed with my three nymphs. I was polite +and affectionate to them all, and we were all happy together, but I was +the happiest. M. de Valenglard came to see me early the next day, and +informed me that nobody suspected me of being in love with Mdlle. Roman, +but that I was thought to be amorous of my landlord's girls. + +"Well, let them think so," said I; "they are worthy of love, though not +to be named in the same breath with one past compare, but who leaves me +no hope." + +"Let me tell Madame d'Urfe all about it." + +"Certainly; I shall be delighted." + +M. and Madame Morin and their niece came at noon, and we spent the hour +before dinner in reading the horoscope. It would be impossible to +describe the four distinct sorts of surprise which I saw before me. The +interesting Mdlle. Roman looked very grave, and, not knowing whether she +had a will of her own, listened to what was said in silence. M. Morin +looked at me now and again, and seeing that I kept a serious countenance +did not dare to laugh. Valenglard shewed fanatic belief in astrology in +every feature. Madame Morin seemed struck as by a miracle, and, far from +thinking the fact prophesied too improbable, remarked that her niece was +much more worthy of becoming her sovereign's wife or mistress than the +bigoted Maintenon had been. + +"She would never have done anything," said Madame Morin, "if she had not +left America and come to France; and if my niece does not go to Paris +nobody can say that the horoscope has prophesied falsely. We should +therefore--go to Paris, but how is it to be done? I don't see my way to +it. The prediction of the birth of a son has something divine and +entrancing about it. I don't wish to seem prejudiced, but my niece has +certainly more qualifications for gaining the king's affection than the +Maintenon had: my niece is a good girl and young, while the Maintenon was +no longer as young as she had been, and had led a strange life before she +became a devotee. But we shall never accomplish this journey to Paris." + +"Nay," said Valenglard, in a serious tone, which struck me as supremely +ridiculous, "she must go; her fate must be fulfilled." + +The fair Mdlle. Roman seemed all amazed. I let them talk on, and we sat +down to dinner. + +[The next two paragraphs were misplaced in the original, likely by the +typesetter, and have been inserted here where it seems that they belong. +D.W.] + +I hoped I should be asked to take the diamond to Paris myself, and I felt +inclined to grant the request. I flattered myself that they could not do +without me, and that I should get what I wanted, if not for love at any +rate through gratitude; indeed, who knew what might become of the plan? +The monarch would be sure to be caught directly. I had no doubts on that +subject, for where is the man in love who does not think that his beloved +object will win the hearts of all others? For the moment I felt quite +jealous of the king, but, from my thorough knowledge of my own +inconstancy, I felt sure that my jealousy would cease when my love had +been rewarded, and I was aware that Louis XV. did not altogether hold the +opinions of a Turk in such concerns. What gave an almost divine character +to the horoscope was the prediction of a son to be born, who would make +the happiness of France, and could only come from the royal blood and +from a singular vessel of election. + +A curious fancy increased my delight, namely, the thought of becoming a +famous astrologer in an age when reason and science had so justly +demolished astrology. I enjoyed the thought of seeing myself sought out +by crowned heads, which are always the more accessible to superstitious +notions. I determined I would be particular to whom I gave my advice. Who +has not made his castles in Spain? If Mdlle. Roman gave birth to a +daughter instead of a son I should be amused, and all would not be lost, +for a son might come afterwards. + +At first silence reigned, and then the conversation ran on a thousand +trifles, as is usual in good society, but by degrees, as I had thought, +they returned to the horoscope. + +"According to the horoscope," said the aunt, "the king is to fall in love +with my niece in her eighteenth year; she is now close on it. What are we +to do? Where are we to get the hundred louis necessary? And when she gets +to Paris is she to go to the king and say, 'Here I am, your majesty'? And +who is going to take her there? I can't." + +"My aunt Roman might," said the young lady, blushing up to her eyes at +the roar of laughter which none of us could restrain. + +"Well," said Madame Morin, "there is Madame Varnier, of the Rue de +Richelieu; she is an aunt of yours. She has a good establishment, and +knows everybody." + +"See," said Valenglard, "how the ways of destiny are made plain. You talk +of a hundred louis; twelve will be sufficient to take you to Madame +Varnier's. When you get there, leave the rest to your fate, which will +surely favour you." + +"If you do go to Paris," said I, "say nothing to Madame Roman or Madame +Varnier about the horoscope." + +"I will say nothing to anyone about it; but, after all, it is only a +happy dream. I shall never see Paris, still less Louis XV." + +I arose, and going to my cash-box I took out a roll of a hundred and +fifty louis, which I gave to her, saying it was a packet of sweetmeats. +It felt rather heavy, and on opening it she found it to contain fifty +pieces-of-eight, which she took for medals. + +"They are gold," said Valenglard. + +"And the goldsmith will give you a hundred and fifty louis for them," +added M. Morin. + +"I beg you will keep them; you can give me a bill payable at Paris when +you become rich." + +I knew she would refuse to accept my present, although I should have been +delighted if she had kept the money. But I admired her strength of mind +in restraining her tears, and that without disturbing for a moment the +smile on her face. + +We went out to take a turn in the garden. Valenglard and Madame Morin +began on the topic of the horoscope anew, and I left them, taking Mdlle. +Roman with me. + +"I wish you would tell me," said she, when we were out of hearing of the +others, "if this horoscope is not all a joke." + +"No," I answered, "it is quite serious, but it all depends on an if. If +you do not go to Paris the prophecy will never be fulfilled." + +"You must think so, certainly, or you would never have offered me those +fifty medals." + +"Do me the pleasure of accepting them now; nobody will know anything +about it." + +"No, I cannot, though I am much obliged to you. But why should you want +to give me such a large sum?" + +"For the pleasure of contributing to your happiness, and in the hope that +you will allow me to love you." + +"If you really love met why should I oppose your love? You need not buy +my consent; and to be happy I do not want to possess the King of France, +if you did but know to what my desires are limited." + +"Tell me." + +"I would fain find a kind husband, rich enough for us not to lack the +necessaries of life." + +"But how if you did not love him?" + +"If he was a good, kind man how could I help loving him?" + +"I see that you do not know what love is." + +"You are right. I do not know the love that maddens, and I thank God for +it." + +"Well, I think you are wise; may God preserve you from that love." + +"You say, that as soon as the king sees me he will fall in love with me, +and to tell you the truth that strikes me as vastly improbable; for +though it is quite possible that he may not think me plain, or he might +even pronounce me pretty, yet I do not think he will become so madly in +love as you say." + +"You don't? Let us sit down. You have only got to fancy that the king +will take the same liking to you that I have done; that is all." + +"But what do you find in me that you will not find in most girls of my +age? I certainly may have struck you; but that only proves that I was +born to exercise this sway over you, and not at all that I am to rule the +king in like manner. Why should I go and look for the king, if you love +me yourself?" + +"Because I cannot give you the position you deserve." + +"I should have thought you had plenty of money." + +"Then there's another reason: you are not in love with me." + +"I love you as tenderly as if I were your wife. I might then kiss you, +though duty now forbids my doing so." + +"I am much obliged to you for not being angry with me for being so happy +with you!" + +"On the contrary, I am delighted to please you." + +"Then you will allow me to call on you at an early hour to-morrow, and to +take coffee at your bedside." + +"Do not dream of such a thing. If I would I could not. I sleep with my +aunt, and I always rise at the same time she does. Take away your hand; +you promised not to do it again. In God's name, let me alone." + +Alas! I had to stop; there was no overcoming her. But what pleased me +extremely was that in spite of my amorous persecution she did not lose +that smiling calm which so became her. As for myself I looked as if I +deserved that pardon for which I pleaded on my knees, and in her eyes I +read that she was sorry that she could not grant what I required of her. + +I could no longer stay beside her, my senses were too excited by her +beauty. I left her and went to my room where I found the kind Manon +busying herself on my cuffs, and she gave me the relief I wanted, and +when we were both satisfied made her escape. I reflected that I should +never obtain more than I had obtained hitherto from young Mdlle. +Roman--at least, unless I gave the lie to my horoscope by marrying her, +and I decided that I would not take any further steps in the matter. I +returned to the garden, and going up to the aunt I begged her to walk +with me. In vain I urged the worthy woman to accept a hundred louis for +her niece's journey from me. I swore to her by all I held sacred that no +one else should ever know of the circumstance. All my eloquence and all +my prayers were in vain. She told me that if her niece's destiny only +depended on that journey all would be well, for she had thought over a +plan which would, with her husband's consent, enable Mdlle. Roman to go +to Paris. At the same time she gave me her sincerest thanks, and said +that her niece was very fortunate to have pleased me so well. + +"She pleased me so well," I replied, "that I have resolved to go away +to-morrow to avoid making proposals to you which would bring the great +fortune that awaits her to nought. If it were not for that I should have +been happy to have asked her hand of you." + +"Alas! her happiness would, perhaps, be built on a better foundation. +Explain yourself." + +"I dare not wage war with fate." + +"But you are not going to-morrow?" + +"Excuse me, but I shall call to take leave at two o'clock." + +The news of my approaching departure saddened the supper-table. Madame +Morin, who, for all I know, may be alive now, was a most kind-hearted +woman. At table she announced her resolve that as I had decided on going, +and as I should only leave my house to take leave of her, she would not +force me to put myself out to such an extent, and ordained that our +farewells should be said that evening. + +"At least," I said, "I may have the honour of escorting you to your +door?" + +"That will protract our happiness for some minutes." Valenglard went away +on foot, and the fair Mdlle. Roman sat on my knee. I dared to be bold +with her, and contrary to expectation she shewed herself so kind that I +was half sorry I was going; but the die was cast. + +A carriage lying overturned on the road outside an inn made my coachman +stop a short while, and this accident which made the poor driver curse +overwhelmed me with joy, for in these few moments I obtained all the +favours that she could possibly give under the circumstances. + +Happiness enjoyed alone is never complete. Mine was not until I assured +myself, by looking at my sweetheart's features, that the part she had +taken had not been an entirely passive one; and I escorted the ladies to +their room. There, without any conceit, I was certain that I saw sadness +and love upon that fair creature's face. I could see that she was neither +cold nor insensible, and that the obstacles she had put in my way were +only suggested by fear and virtue. I gave Madame Morin a farewell kiss, +and she was kind enough to tell her niece to give me a similar mark of +friendship, which she did in a way that shewed me how completely she had +shared my ardour. + +I left them, feeling amorous and sorry I had obliged myself to go. On +entering my room I found the three nymphs together, which vexed me as I +only wanted one. I whispered my wishes to Rose as she curled my hair, but +she told me it was impossible for her to slip away as they all slept in +one room. I then told them that I was going away the next day, and that +if they would pass the night with me I would give them a present of six +louis each. They laughed at my proposal and said it couldn't possibly be +done. I saw by this they had not made confidantes of one another, as +girls mostly do, and I also saw that they were jealous of each other. I +wished them a good night, and as soon as I was in bed the god of dreams +took me under his care, and made me pass the night with the adorable +Mdlle. Roman. + +I rang rather late in the morning, and the cousin came in and said that +Rose would bring my chocolate, and that M. Charles Ivanoff wanted to +speak to me. I guessed that this was the Russian, but as he had not been +introduced to me I thought I might decline to see him. + +"Tell him I don't know his name." + +Rose went out, and came in again saying he was the gentleman who had had +the honour of supping with me at Madame Morin's. + +"Tell him to come in." + +"Sir," said he, "I want to speak with you in private." + +"I cannot order these young ladies to leave my room, sir. Be kind enough +to wait for me outside till I have put on my dressing-gown, and then I +shall be ready to speak to you." + +"If I am troubling you, I will call again to-morrow." + +"You would not find me, as I am leaving Grenoble to-day." + +"In that case I will wait." + +I got up in haste and went out to him. + +"Sir," said he, "I must leave this place, and I have not a penny to pay +my landlord. I beg of you to come to my aid. I dare not have recourse to +anyone else in the town for fear of exposing myself to the insult of a +refusal." + +"Perhaps I ought to feel myself flattered at the preference you have +shewn me, but without wishing to insult you in any way I am afraid I +shall be obliged to refuse your request." + +"If you knew who I am I am sure you would not refuse me some small help." + +"If you think so, tell me who you are; you may count on my silence." + +"I am Charles, second son of Ivan, Duke of Courland, who is in exile in +Siberia. I made my escape." + +"If you go to Genoa you will find yourself beyond the reach of poverty; +for no doubt the brother of your lady-mother would never abandon you." + +"He died in Silesia." + +"When?" + +"Two years ago, I believe." + +"You have been deceived, for I saw him at Stuttgart scarcely six months +ago. He is the Baron de Treiden." + +It did not cost me much to get wind of the adventurer, but I felt angry +that he had had the impudence to try and dupe me. If it had not been for +that I would willingly have given him six louis, for it would have been +bad form on my part to declare war against adventurers, as I was one +myself, and I ought to have pardoned his lies as nearly all adventurers +are more or less impostors. I gave a glance at his diamond buckles, which +were considered real at Grenoble, and I saw directly that they were +counterfeits of a kind made in Venice, which imitate the facets of the +diamonds in perfection, except to people who are experienced in diamonds. + +"You have diamond buckles," said I. "Why don't you sell them?" + +"It's the last piece of jewellery I possess out of all my mother gave me, +and I promised her never to part with them." + +"I would not shew those buckles if I were you; your pocket would be a +better place for them. I may tell you frankly that I believe the stones +to be counterfeit, and that your lie displeases me." + +"Sir, I am not a liar." + +"We shall see. Prove that the stones are genuine, and I will give you six +louis. I shall be delighted if I am in the wrong. Farewell." + +Seeing M. de Valerlglard coming up to my door, he begged me not to tell +him of what had passed between us; and I promised that I would tell no +one. + +Valenglard came to wish me a prosperous journey; he himself was obliged +to go with M. Monteinard. He begged me to correspond constantly with him, +and I had been intending to prefer the same request, as I took too great +an interest in the fair Mdlle. Roman not to wish to hear of her fate, and +the correspondence the worthy officer desired was the best way possible +for me to hear about her. As will be imagined, I promised what he asked +without making any difficulty. He shed tears as he embraced me, and I +promised to be his friend. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +My Departure from Grenoble--Avignon--The Fountain of Vaucluse--The False +Astrodi and the Humpback--Gaetan Costa--I Arrive at Marseilles + +While the three girls were helping Le Duc to pack my mails my landlord +entered, gave me his bill, and finding everything correct I paid him, +much to his satisfaction. I owed him a compliment, too, at which he +seemed extremely gratified. + +"Sir," said I, "I do not wish to leave your house without having the +pleasure of dining with your charming girls, to shew them how I +appreciate the care they have taken of me. Let me have, then, a delicate +repast for four, and also order post horses, that I may start in the +evening." + +"Sir," broke in Le Duc, "I entreat you to order a saddle-horse besides; I +was not made for a seat behind a chaise." + +The cousin laughed openly at his vain boasting, and to avenge himself the +rascal told her that he was better than she. + +"Nevertheless, M. le Duc, you will have to wait on her at table." + +"Yes, as she waits on you in bed." + +I ran for my stick, but the rogue, knowing what was going to happen, +opened the window and jumped into the courtyard. The girls gave a shriek +of terror, but when we looked out we saw him jumping about and performing +a thousand apish tricks. + +Very glad to find that he had not broken a limb, I called out, "Come +back, I forgive you." The girls, and the man himself who escaped so +readily, were as delighted as I. Le Duc came in in high spirits, +observing that he did not know he was such a good jumper. + +"Very good, but don't be so impudent another time. Here, take this +watch." + +So saying, I gave him a valuable gold watch, which he received, saying,-- + +"I would jump again for another watch like this." + +Such was my Spaniard, whom I had to dismiss two years afterwards. I have +often missed him. + +The hours went by with such speed when I was seated at table with the +three girls, whom I vainly endeavoured to intoxicate, that I decided that +I would not leave till the next day. I was tired of making mysteries and +wanted to enjoy them all together, and resolved that the orgy should take +place that night. I told them that if they would pass the night in my +room I would not go till the next day. This proposition was received with +a storm of exclamations and with laughter, as at an impossibility, while +I endeavoured to excite them to grant my request. In the midst of this +the door-keeper came in, advising me not to travel by night, but to go to +Avignon by a boat in which I could ship my carriage. + +"You will save time and money," said he. + +"I will do so," I answered, "if these girls of yours will keep me company +all night, as I am determined I will not go to bed." + +"O Lord!" said he with a laugh, "that's their business." + +This decided them and they gave in. The door-keeper sent to order the +boat, and promised to let me have a dainty supper by midnight. + +The hours passed by in jests and merriment, and when we sat down to +supper I made the champagne corks fly to such an extent that the girls +began to get rather gay. I myself felt a little heated, and as I held +each one's secret I had the hardihood to tell them that their scruples +were ridiculous, as each of them had shewn no reserve to me in private. + +At this they gazed at one another in a kind of blank surprise, as if +indignant at what I had said. Foreseeing that feminine pride might prompt +them to treat my accusation as an idle calumny, I resolved not to give +them time, and drawing Manon on to my knee I embraced her with such +ardour that she gave in and abandoned herself to my passion. Her example +overcame the others, and for five hours we indulged in every kind of +voluptuous enjoyment. At the end of that time we were all in need of +rest, but I had to go. I wanted to give them some jewels, but they said +they would rather I ordered gloves to the amount of thirty louis, the +money to be paid in advance, and the gloves not to be called for. + +I went to sleep on board the boat, and did not awake till we got to +Avignon. I was conducted to the inn of "St. Omen" and supped in my room +in spite of the marvellous tales which Le Duc told me of a young beauty +at the public table. + +Next morning my Spaniard told me that the beauty and her husband slept in +a room next to mine. At the same time he brought me a bill of the play, +and I saw Company from Paris, with Mdlle. Astrodi, who was to sing and +dance. I gave a cry of wonder, and exclaimed,-- + +"The famous Astrodi at Avignon--how she will be astonished to see me!" + +Not wanting to live in hermit fashion, I went downstairs to dine at the +public table, and I found a score of people sitting down to such a choice +repast that I could not conceive how it could be done for forty sous a +head. The fair stranger drew all eyes, and especially mine, towards her. +She was a young and perfect beauty, silent, her eyes fixed on a napkin, +replying in monosyllables to those who addressed her, and glancing at the +speaker with large blue eyes, the beauty of which it would be difficult +to describe. Her husband was seated at the other end of the table--a man +of a kind that inspires contempt at the first glance. He was young, +marked with the small-pox, a greedy eater, a loud talker, laughing and +speaking at random, and altogether I took him for a servant in disguise. +Feeling sure that such a fellow did not know how to refuse, I sent him a +glass of champagne, which he drank off to my health forthwith. "May I +have the pleasure of sending a glass to your wife?" He replied, with a +roar of laughter, to ask her myself; and with a slight bow she told me +that she never took anything to drink. When the dessert came in she rose, +and her husband followed her to their room. + +A stranger who like myself had never seen her before, asked me who she +was. I said I was a newcomer and did not know, and somebody else said +that her husband called himself the Chevalier Stuard, that he came from +Lyons, and was going to Marseilles; he came, it appeared, to Avignon a +week ago, without servants, and in a very poor carriage. + +I intended staying at Avignon only as long as might be necessary to see +the Fountain or Fall of Vaucluse, and so I had not got any letters of +introduction, and had not the pretext of acquaintance that I might stay +and enjoy her fine eyes. But an Italian who had read and enjoyed the +divine Petrarch would naturally wish to see the place made divine by the +poet's love for Laura. I went to the theatre, where I saw the vice-legate +Salviati, women of fashion, neither fair nor foul, and a wretched comic +opera; but I neither saw Astrodi nor any other actor from the Comedie +Italienne at Paris. + +"Where is the famous Astrodi?" said I, to a young man sitting by me, "I +have not seen her yet." + +"Excuse me, she has danced and sang before your eyes." + +"By Jove, it's impossible! I know her perfectly, and if she has so +changed as not to be recognized she is no longer herself." + +I turned to go, and two minutes after the young man I had addressed came +up and begged me to come back, and he would take me to Astradi's +dressing-room, as she had recognized me. I followed him without saying a +word, and saw a plain-looking girl, who threw her arms round my neck and +addressed me by my name, though I could have sworn I had never seen her +before, but she did not leave me time to speak. Close by I saw a man who +gave himself out as the father of the famous Astrodi, who was known to +all Paris, who had caused the death of the Comte d'Egmont, one of the +most amiable noblemen of the Court of Louis XV. I thought this ugly +female might be her sister, so I sat down and complimented her on her +talents. She asked if I would mind her changing her dress; and in a +moment she was running here and there, laughing and shewing a liberality +which possibly might have been absent if what she had to display had been +worth seeing. + +I laughed internally at her wiles, for after my experiences at Grenoble +she would have found it a hard task to arouse my desires if she had been +as pretty as she was ugly. Her thinness and her tawny skin could not +divert my attention from other still less pleasing features about her. I +admired her confidence in spite of her disadvantages. She must have +credited me with a diabolic appetite, but these women often contrive to +extract charms out of their depravity which their delicacy would be +impotent to furnish. She begged me to sup with her, and as she persisted +I was obliged to refuse her in a way I should not have allowed myself to +use with any other woman. She then begged me to take four tickets for the +play the next day, which was to be for her benefit. I saw it was only a +matter of twelve francs, and delighted to be quit of her so cheaply I +told her to give me sixteen. I thought she would have gone mad with joy +when I gave her a double louis. She was not the real Astrodi. I went back +to my inn and had a delicious supper in my own room. + +While Le Duc was doing my hair before I went to bed, he told me that the +landlord had paid a visit to the fair stranger and her husband before +supper, and had said in clear terms that he must be paid next morning; +and if he were not, no place would be laid for them at table, and their +linen would be detained. + +"Who told you that?" + +"I heard it from here; their room is only separated from this by a wooden +partition. If they were in it now, I am sure they could hear all we are +saying." + +"Where are they, then?" + +"At table, where they are eating for to-morrow, but the lady is crying. +There's a fine chance for you, sir." + +"Be quiet; I shan't have anything to do with it. It's a trap, for a woman +of any worth would die rather than weep at a public table." + +"Ah, if you saw how pretty she looks in tears! I am only a poor devil, +but I would willingly give her two louis if she would earn them." + +"Go and offer her the money." + +A moment after the gentleman and his wife came back to their room, and I +heard the loud voice of the one and the sobs of the other, but as he was +speaking Walloon I did not understand what he said. + +"Go to bed," said I to Le Duc, "and next morning tell the landlord to get +me another room, for a wooden partition is too thin a barrier to keep off +people whom despair drive to extremities." + +I went to bed myself, and the sobs and muttering did not die away till +midnight. + +I was shaving next morning, when Le Duc announced the Chevalier Stuard. + +"Say I don't know anybody of that name." + +He executed my orders, and returned saying that the chevalier on hearing +my refusal to see him had stamped with rage, gone into his chamber, and +come out again with his sword beside him. + +"I am going to see," added Le Duc, "that your pistols are well primed for +the future." + +I felt inclined to laugh, but none the less I admired the foresight of my +Spaniard, for a man in despair is capable of anything. + +"Go," said I, "and ask the landlord to give me another room." + +In due course the landlord came himself and told me that he could not +oblige me until the next day. + +"If you don't get me another room I shall leave your house on the spot, +because I don't like hearing sobs and reproaches all night." + +"Can you hear them, sir?" + +"You can hear them yourself now. What do you think of it? The woman will +kill herself, and you will be the cause of her death." + +"I, sir? I have only asked them to pay me my just debts." + +"Hush! there goes the husband. I am sure he is telling his wife in his +language that you are an unfeeling monster." + +"He may tell her what he likes so long as he pays me." + +"You have condemned them to die of hunger. How much do they owe you?" + +"Fifty francs." + +"Aren't you ashamed of making such a row for a wretched sum like that?" + +"Sir, I am only ashamed of an ill deed, and I do not commit such a deed +in asking for my own." + +"There's your money. Go and tell them that you have been paid, and that +they may eat again; but don't say who gave you the money." + +"That's what I call a good action," said the fellow; and he went and told +them that they did not owe him anything, but that they would never know +who paid the money. + +"You may dine and sup," he added, "at the public table, but you must pay +me day by day." + +After he had delivered this speech in a high voice, so that I could hear +as well as if I had been in the room, he came back to me. + +"You stupid fool!" said I, pushing him away, "they will know everything." +So saying I shut my door. + +Le Duc stood in front of me, staring stupidly before him. + +"What's the matter with you, idiot?" said I. + +"That's fine. I see. I am going on the stage. You would do well to become +an actor." + +"You are a fool." + +"Not so big a fool as you think." + +"I am going for a walk; mind you don't leave my room for a moment." + +I had scarcely shut the door when the chevalier accosted me and +overwhelmed me with thanks. + +"Sir, I don't know to what you are referring." + +He thanked me again and left me, and walking by the banks of the Rhone, +which geographers say is the most rapid river in Europe, I amused myself +by looking at the ancient bridge. At dinner-time I went back to the inn, +and as the landlord knew that I paid six francs a meal he treated me to +an exquisite repast. Here, I remember, I had some exceedingly choice +Hermitage. It was so delicious that I drank nothing else. I wished to +make a pilgrimage to Vaucluse and begged the landlord to procure me a +good guide, and after I had dressed I went to the theatre. + +I found the Astrodi at the door, and giving her my sixteen tickets, I sat +down near the box of the vice-legate Salviati, who came in a little +later, surrounded by a numerous train of ladies and gentlemen bedizened +with orders and gold lace. + +The so-called father of the false Astrodi came and whispered that his +daughter begged me to say that she was the celebrated Astrodi I had known +at Paris. I replied, also in a whisper, that I would not run the risk of +being posted as a liar by bolstering up an imposture. The ease with which +a rogue invites a gentleman to share in a knavery is astonishing; he must +think his confidence confers an honour. + +At the end of the first act a score of lackeys in the prince's livery +took round ices to the front boxes. I thought it my duty to refuse. A +young gentleman, as fair as love, came up to me, and with easy politeness +asked me why I had refused an ice. + +"Not having the honour to know anyone here, I did not care that anyone +should be able to say that he had regaled one who was unknown to him." + +"But you, sir, are a man who needs no introduction." + +"You do me too much honour." + +"You are staying at the 'St. Omer'!" + +"Yes; I am only stopping here to see Vaucluse, where I think of going +to-morrow if I can get a good guide." + +"If you would do me the honour of accepting me, I should be delighted. My +name is Dolci, I am son of the captain of the vice-legate's guard." + +"I feel the honour you do me, and I accept your obliging offer. I will +put off my start till your arrival." + +"I will be with you at seven." + +I was astonished at the easy grace of this young Adonis, who might have +been a pretty girl if the tone of his voice had not announced his +manhood. I laughed at the false Astrodi, whose acting was as poor as her +face, and who kept staring at me all the time. While she sang she +regarded me with a smile and gave me signs of an understanding, which +must have made the audience notice me, and doubtless pity my bad taste. +The voice and eyes of one actress pleased me; she was young and tall, but +hunchbacked to an extraordinary degree. She was tall in spite of her +enormous humps, and if it had not been for this malformation she would +have been six feet high. Besides her pleasing eyes and very tolerable +voice I fancied that, like all hunchbacks, she was intelligent. I found +her at the door with the ugly Astrodi when I was leaving the theatre. The +latter was waiting to thank me, and the other was selling tickets for her +benefit. + +After the Astrodi had thanked me, the hunchbacked girl turned towards me, +and with a smile that stretched from ear to ear and displayed at least +twenty-four exquisite teeth, she said that she hoped I would honour her +by being present at her benefit. + +"If I don't leave before it comes off, I will," I replied. + +At this the impudent Astrodi laughed, and in the hearing of several +ladies waiting for their carriages told me that her friend might be sure +of my presence, as she would not let me go before the benefit night. +"Give him sixteen tickets," she added. I was ashamed to refuse, and gave +her two louis. Then in a lower voice the Astrodi said, "After the show we +will come and sup with you, but on the condition that you ask nobody +else, as we want to be alone." + +In spite of a feeling of anger, I thought that such a supper-party would +be amusing, and as no one in the town knew me I resolved to stay in the +hope of enjoying a hearty laugh. + +I was having my supper when Stuard and his wife went to their room. This +night I heard no sobs nor reproaches, but early next morning I was +surprised to see the chevalier who said, as if we had been old friends, +that he had heard that I was going to Vaucluse, and that as I had taken a +carriage with four places he would be much obliged if I would allow him +and his wife, who wanted to see the fountain, to go with me. I consented. + +Le Duc begged to be allowed to accompany me on horseback, saying that he +had been a true prophet. In fact it seemed as if the couple had agreed to +repay me for my expenditure by giving me new hopes. I was not displeased +with the expedition, and it was all to my advantage, as I had had +recourse to no stratagems to obtain it. + +Dolci came, looking as handsome as an angel; my neighbours were ready, +and the carriage loaded with the best provisions in food and drink that +were obtainable; and we set off, Dolci seated beside the lady and I +beside the chevalier. + +I had thought that the lady's sadness would give place, if not to gaiety, +at least to a quiet cheerfulness, but I was mistaken; for, to all my +remarks, grave or gay, she replied, either in monosyllables or in a +severely laconic style. Poor Dolci, who was full of wit, was stupefied. +He thought himself the cause of her melancholy, and was angry with +himself for having innocently cast a shadow on the party of pleasure. I +relieved him of his fears by telling him that when he offered me his +pleasant society I was not aware that I was to be of service to the fair +lady. I added that when at day-break I received this information, I was +pleased that he would have such good company. The lady did not say a +word. She kept silent and gloomy all the time, and gazed to right and +left like one who does not see what is before his [her] eyes. + +Dolci felt at ease after my explanation, and did his best to arouse the +lady, but without success. He talked on a variety of topics to the +husband, always giving her an opportunity of joining in, but her lips +remained motionless. She looked like the statue of Pandora before it had +been quickened by the divine flame. + +The beauty of her face was perfect; her eyes were of a brilliant blue, +her complexion a delicate mixture of white and red, her arms were as +rounded as a Grace's, her hands plump and well shaped, her figure was +that of a nymph's, giving delightful hints of a magnificent breast; her +hair was a chestnut brown, her foot small: she had all that constitutes a +beautiful woman save that gift of intellect, which makes beauty more +beautiful, and gives a charm to ugliness itself. My vagrant fancy shewed +me her naked form, all seemed ravishing, and yet I thought that though +she might inspire a passing fancy she could not arouse a durable +affection. She might minister to a man's pleasures, she could not make +him happy. I arrived at the isle resolved to trouble myself about her no +more; she might, I thought, be mad, or in despair at finding herself in +the power of a man whom she could not possibly love. I could not help +pitying her, and yet I could not forgive her for consenting to be of a +party which she knew she must spoil by her morose behaviour. + +As for the self-styled Chevalier Stuard, I did not trouble my head +whether he were her husband or her lover. He was young, +commonplace-looking, he spoke affectedly; his manners were not good, and +his conversation betrayed both ignorance and stupidity. He was a beggar, +devoid of money and wits, and I could not make out why he took with him a +beauty who, unless she were over-kind, could add nothing to his means of +living. Perhaps he expected to live at the expense of simpletons, and had +come to the conclusion, in spite of his ignorance, that the world is full +of such; however, experience must have taught him that this plan cannot +be relied on. + +When we got to Vaucluse I let Dolci lead; he had been there a hundred +times, and his merit was enhanced in my eyes by the fact that he was a +lover of the lover of Laura. We left the carriage at Apt, and wended our +way to the fountain which was honoured that day with a numerous throng of +pilgrims. The stream pours forth from a vast cavern, the handiwork of +nature, inimitable by man. It is situated at the foot of a rock with a +sheer descent of more than a hundred feet. The cavern is hardly half as +high, and the water pours forth from it in such abundance that it +deserves the name of river at its source. It is the Sorgue which falls +into the Rhone near Avignon. There is no other stream as pure and clear, +for the rocks over which it flows harbour no deposits of any kind. Those +who dislike it on account of its apparent blackness should remember that +the extreme darkness of the cavern gives it that gloomy tinge. + + Chiare fresche a dolce aque + Ove le belle membra + Pose colei the sola a me pay donna. + +I wished to ascend to that part of the rock where Petrarch's house stood. +I gazed on the remains with tears in my eyes, like Leo Allatius at +Homer's grave. Sixteen years later I slept at Arqua, where Petrarch died, +and his house still remains. The likeness between the two situations was +astonishing, for from Petrarch's study at Arqua a rock can be seen +similar to that which may be viewed at Vaucluse; this was the residence +of Madonna Laura. + +"Let us go there," said I, "it is not far off." + +I will not endeavour to delineate my feelings as I contemplated the ruins +of the house where dwelt the lady whom the amorous Petrarch immortalised +in his verse--verse made to move a heart of stone: + + "Morte bella parea nel suo bel viso" + +I threw myself with arms outstretched upon the ground as if I would +embrace the very stones. I kissed them, I watered them with my tears, I +strove to breathe the holy breath they once contained. I begged Madame +Stuard's pardon for having left her arm to do homage to the spirit of a +woman who had quickened the profoundest soul that ever lived. + +I say soul advisedly, for after all the body and the senses had nothing +to do with the connection. + +"Four hundred years have past and gone," said I to the statue of a woman +who gazed at me in astonishment, "since Laura de Sade walked here; +perhaps she was not as handsome as you, but she was lively, kindly, +polite, and good of heart. May this air which she breathed and which you +breathe now kindle in you the spark of fire divine; that fire that +coursed through her veins, and made her heart beat and her bosom swell. +Then you would win the worship of all worthy men, and from none would you +receive the least offence. Gladness, madam, is the lot of the happy, and +sadness the portion of souls condemned to everlasting pains. Be cheerful, +then, and you will do something to deserve your beauty." + +The worthy Dolci was kindled by my enthusiasm. He threw himself upon me, +and kissed me again and again; the fool Stuard laughed; and his wife, who +possibly thought me mad, did not evince the slightest emotion. She took +my arm, and we walked slowly towards the house of Messer Francesco +d'Arezzo, where I spent a quarter of an hour in cutting my name. After +that we had our dinner. + +Dolci lavished more attention on the extraordinary woman than I did. +Stuard did nothing but eat and drink, and despised the Sorgue water, +which, said he, would spoil the Hermitage; possibly Petrarch may have +been of the same opinion. We drank deeply without impairing our reason, +but the lady was very temperate. When we reached Avignon we bade her +farewell, declining the invitation of her foolish husband to come and +rest in his rooms. + +I took Dolci's arm and we walked beside the Rhone as the sun went down. +Among other keen and witty observations the young man said,-- + +"That woman is an old hand, infatuated with a sense of her own merit. I +would bet that she has only left her own country because her charms, from +being too freely displayed, have ceased to please there. She must be sure +of making her fortune out of anybody she comes across. I suspect that the +fellow who passes for her husband is a rascal, and that her pretended +melancholy is put on to drive a persistent lover to distraction. She has +not yet succeeded in finding a dupe, but as she will no doubt try to +catch a rich man, it is not improbable that she is hovering over you.". + +When a young man of Dolci's age reasons like that, he is bound to become +a great master. I kissed him as I bade him good-night, thanked him for +his kindness, and we agreed that we would see more of one another. + +As I came back to my inn I was accosted by a fine-looking man of middle +age, who greeted me by name and asked with great politeness if I had +found Vaucluse as fine as I had expected. I was delighted to recognize +the Marquis of Grimaldi, a Genoese, a clever and good-natured man, with +plenty of money, who always lived at Venice because he was more at +liberty to enjoy himself there than in his native country; which shews +that there is no lack of freedom at Venice. + +After I had answered his question I followed him into his room, where +having exhausted the subject of the fountain he asked me what I thought +of my fair companion. + +"I did not find her satisfactory in all respects," I answered; and +noticing the reserve with which I spoke, he tried to remove it by the +following confession: + +"There are some very pretty women in Genoa, but not one to compare with +her whom you took to Vaucluse to-day. I sat opposite to her at table +yesterday evening, and I was struck with her perfect beauty. I offered +her my arm up the stair; I told her that I was sorry to see her so sad, +and if I could do anything for her she had only to speak. You know I was +aware she had no money. Her husband, real or pretended, thanked me for my +offer, and after I had wished them a good night I left them. + +"An hour ago you left her and her husband at the door of their apartment, +and soon afterwards I took the liberty of calling. She welcomed me with a +pretty bow, and her husband went out directly, begging me to keep her +company till his return. The fair one made no difficulty in sitting next +to me on a couch, and this struck me as a good omen, but when I took her +hand she gently drew it away. I then told, her, in as few words as I +could, that her beauty had made me in love with her, and that if she +wanted a hundred louis they were at her service, if she would drop her +melancholy, and behave in a manner suitable to the feelings with which +she had inspired me. She only replied by a motion of the head, which +shewed gratitude, but also an absolute refusal of my offer. 'I am going +to-morrow,' said I. No answer. I took her hand again, and she drew it +back with an air of disdain which wounded me. I begged her to excuse me, +and I left the room without more ado. + +"That's an account of what happened an hour ago. I am not amorous of her, +it was only a whim; but knowing, as I do, that she has no money, her +manner astonished me. I fancied that you might have placed her in a +position to despise my offer, and this would explain her conduct, in a +measure; otherwise I can't understand it at all. May I ask you to tell me +whether you are more fortunate than I?" + +I was enchanted with the frankness of this noble gentleman, and did not +hesitate to tell him all, and we laughed together at our bad fortune: I +had to promise to call on him at Genoa, and tell him whatever happened +between us during the two days I purposed to remain at Avignon. He asked +me to sup with him and admire the fair recalcitrant. + +"She has had an excellent dinner," said I, "and in all probability she +will not have any supper." + +"I bet she will," said the marquis; and he was right, which made me see +clearly that the woman was playing a part. A certain Comte de Bussi, who +had just come, was placed next to her at table. He was a good-looking +young man with a fatuous sense of his own superiority, and he afforded us +an amusing scene. + +He was good-natured, a wit, and inclined to broad jokes, and his manner +towards women bordered on the impudent. He had to leave at midnight and +began to make love to his fair neighbour forthwith, and teased her in a +thousand ways; but she remained as dumb as a statue, while he did all the +talking and laughing, not regarding it within the bounds of possibility +that she might be laughing at him. + +I looked at M. Grimaldi, who found it as difficult to keep his +countenance as I did. The young roue was hurt at her silence, and +continued pestering her, giving her all the best pieces on his plate +after tasting them first. The lady refused to take them, and he tried to +put them into her mouth, while she repulsed him in a rage. He saw that no +one seemed inclined to take her part, and determined to continue the +assault, and taking her hand he kissed it again and again. She tried to +draw it away, and as she rose he put his arm round her waist and made her +sit down on his knee; but at this point the husband took her arm and led +her out of the room. The attacking party looked rather taken aback for a +moment as he followed her with his eyes, but sat down again and began to +eat and laugh afresh, while everybody else kept a profound silence. He +then turned to the footman behind his chair and asked him if his sword +was upstairs. The footman said no, and then the fatuous young man turned +to an abbe who sat near me, and enquired who had taken away his mistress: + +"It was her husband," said the abbe. + +"Her husband! Oh, that's another thing; husbands don't fight--a man of +honour always apologises to them." + +With that he got up, went upstairs, and came down again directly, +saying,-- + +"The husband's a fool. He shut the door in my face, and told me to +satisfy my desires somewhere else. It isn't worth the trouble of +stopping, but I wish I had made an end of it." + +He then called for champagne, offered it vainly to everybody, bade the +company a polite farewell and went upon his way. + +As M. Grimaldi escorted me to my room he asked me what I had thought of +the scene we had just witnessed. I told him I would not have stirred a +finger, even if he had turned up her clothes. + +"No more would I," said he, "but if she had accepted my hundred louis it +would have been different. I am curious to know the further history of +this siren, and I rely upon you to tell me all about it as you go through +Genoa." + +He went away at day-break next morning. + +When I got up I received a note from the false Astrodi, asking me if I +expected her and her great chum to supper. I had scarcely replied in the +affirmative, when the sham Duke of Courland I had left at Grenoble +appeared on the scene. He confessed in a humble voice that he was the son +of clock-maker at Narva, that his buckles were valueless, and that he had +come to beg an alms of me. I gave him four Louis, and he asked me to keep +his secret. I replied that if anyone asked me about him that I should say +what was absolutely true, that I knew him nothing about him. "Thank you; +I am now going to Marseilles." "I hope you will have a prosperous +journey." Later on my readers will hear how I found him at Genoa. It is +a good thing to know something about people of his kind, of whom there +are far too many in the world. + +I called up the landlord and told him I wanted a delicate supper for +three in my own room. + +He told me that I should have it, and then said, "I have just had a row +with the Chevalier Stuard." + +"What about?" + +"Because he has nothing to pay me with, and I am going to turn them out +immediately, although the lady is in bed in convulsions which are +suffocating her." + +"Take out your bill in her charms." + +"Ah, I don't care for that sort of thing! I am getting on in life, and I +don't want any more scenes to bring discredit on my house." + +"Go and tell her that from henceforth she and her husband will dine and +sup in their own room and that I will pay for them as long as I remain +here." + +"You are very generous, sir, but you know that meals in a private room +are charged double." + +"I know they are." + +"Very good." + +I shuddered at the idea of the woman being turned out of doors without +any resources but her body, by which she refused to profit. On the other +hand I could not condemn the inn-keeper who, like his fellows, was not +troubled with much gallantry. I had yielded to an impulse of pity without +any hopes of advantage for myself. Such were my thoughts when Stuard came +to thank me, begging me to come and see his wife and try and persuade her +to behave in a different manner. + +"She will give me no answers, and you know that that sort of thing is +rather tedious." + +"Come, she knows what you have done for her; she will talk to you, for +her feelings . . . ." + +"What business have you to talk about feelings after what happened +yesterday evening?" + +"It was well for that gentleman that he went away at midnight, otherwise +I should have killed him this morning." + +"My dear sir, allow me to tell you that all that is pure braggadocio. +Yesterday, not to-day, was the time to kill him, or to throw your plate +at his head, at all events. We will now go and see your wife." + +I found her in bed, her face to the wall, the coverlet right up to her +chin, and her body convulsed with sobs. I tried to bring her to reason, +but as usual got no reply. Stuard wanted to leave me, but I told him that +if he went out I would go too, as I could do nothing to console her, as +he might know after her refusing the Marquis of Grimaldi's hundred louis +for a smile and her hand to kiss. + +"A hundred Louis!" cried the fellow with a sturdy oath; "what folly! We +might have been at home at Liege by now. A princess allows one to kiss +her hand for nothing, and she.... A hundred Louis! Oh, damnable!" + +His exclamations, very natural under the circumstances, made me feel +inclined to laugh. The poor devil swore by all his gods, and I was about +to leave the room, when all at once the wretched woman was seized with +true or false convulsions. With one hand she seized a water-bottle and +sent it flying into the middle of the room, and with the other she tore +the clothes away from her breast. Stuard tried to hold her, but her +disorder increased in violence, and the coverlet was disarranged to such +a degree that I could see the most exquisite naked charms imaginable. At +last she grew calm, and her eyes closed as if exhausted; she remained in +the most voluptuous position that desire itself could have invented. I +began to get very excited. How was I to look on such beauties without +desiring to possess them? At this point her wretched husband left the +room, saying he was gone to fetch some water. I saw the snare, and my +self-respect prevented my being caught in it. I had an idea that the +whole scene had been arranged with the intent that I should deliver +myself up to brutal pleasure, while the proud and foolish woman would be +free to disavow all participation in the fact. I constrained myself, and +gently veiled what I would fain have revealed in all its naked beauty. I +condemned to darkness these charms which this monster of a woman only +wished me to enjoy that I might be debased. + +Stuard was long enough gone. When he came back with the water-bottle +full, he was no doubt surprised to find me perfectly calm, and in no +disorder of any kind, and a few minutes afterwards I went out to cool +myself by the banks of the Rhone. + +I walked along rapidly, feeling enraged with myself, for I felt that the +woman had bewitched me. In vain I tried to bring myself to reason; the +more I walked the more excited I became, and I determined that after what +I had seen the only cure for my disordered fancy was enjoyment, brutal or +not. I saw that I should have to win her, not by an appeal to sentiment +but by hard cash, without caring what sacrifices I made. I regretted my +conduct, which then struck me in the light of false delicacy, for if I +had satisfied my desires and she chose to turn prude, I might have +laughed her to scorn, and my position would have been unassailable. At +last I determined on telling the husband that I would give him +twenty-five louis if he could obtain me an interview in which I could +satisfy my desires. + +Full of this idea I went back to the inn, and had my dinner in my own +room without troubling to enquire after her. Le Duc told me that she was +dining in her room too, and that the landlord had told the company that +she would not take her meals in public any more. This was information I +possessed already. + +After dinner I called on the good-natured Dolci, who introduced me to his +father, an excellent man, but not rich enough to satisfy his son's desire +of travelling. The young man was possessed of considerable dexterity, and +performed a number of very clever conjuring tricks. He had an amiable +nature, and seeing that I was curious to know about his love affairs he +told me numerous little stories which shewed me that he was at that happy +age when one's inexperience is one's sole misfortune. + +There was a rich lady for whom he did not care, as she wanted him to give +her that which he would be ashamed to give save for love, and there was a +girl who required him to treat her with respect. I thought I could give +him a piece of good advice, so I told him to grant his favours to the +rich woman, and to fail in respect now and again to the girl, who would +be sure to scold and then forgive. He was no profligate, and seemed +rather inclined to become a Protestant. He amused himself innocently with +his friends of his own age, in a garden near Avignon, and a sister of the +gardener's wife was kind to him when they were alone. + +In the evening I went back to the inn, and I had not long to wait for the +Astrodi and the Lepi (so the hunchbacked girl was named); but when I saw +these two caricatures of women I felt stupefied. I had expected them, of +course, but the reality confounded me. The Astrodi tried to +counterbalance her ugliness by an outrageous freedom of manners; while +the Lepi, who though a hunchback was very talented and an excellent +actress, was sure of exciting desire by the rare beauty of her eyes and +teeth, which latter challenged admiration from her enormous mouth by +their regularity and whiteness. The Astrodi rushed up to me and gave me +an Italian embrace, to which, willy nilly, I was obliged to submit. The +quieter Lepi offered me her cheek, which I pretended to kiss. I saw that +the Astrodi was in a fair way to become intolerable, so I begged her to +moderate her transports, because as a novice at these parties I wanted to +get accustomed to them by degrees. She promised that she would be very +good. + +While we were waiting for supper I asked her, for the sake of something +to say, whether she had found a lover at Avignon. + +"Only the vice-legate's auditor," she replied; "and though he makes me +his pathic he is good-natured and generous. I have accustomed myself to +his taste easily enough, though I should have thought such a thing +impossible a year ago, as I fancied the exercise a harmful one, but I was +wrong." + +"So the auditor makes a boy of you?" + +"Yes. My sister would have adored him, as that sort of love is her +passion." + +"But your sister has such fine haunches." + +"So have I! Look here, feel me." + +"You are right; but wait a bit, it is too soon for that kind of thing +yet." + +"We will be wanton after supper." + +"I think you are wanton now," said the Lepi. + +"Why?" + +"Why? Ought you to shew your person like that?" + +"My dear girl, you will be shewing yourself soon. When one is in good +company, one is in the golden age." + +"I wonder at your telling everyone what sort of a connection you have +with the auditor," said I. + +"Nonsense! I don't tell everyone, but everyone tells me and congratulates +me too. They know the worthy man never cared for women, and it would be +absurd to deny what everybody guesses. I used to be astonished at my +sister, but the best plan in this world is to be astonished at nothing. +But don't you like that?" + +"No, I only like this." + +As I spoke I laid hands on the Lepi, on the spot where one usually finds +what I called "this;" but the Astrodi, seeing that I found nothing, burst +into a roar of laughter, and taking my hand put it just under her front +hump, where at last I found what I wanted. The reader will guess my +surprise. The poor creature, too ashamed to be prudish, laughed too. My +spirits also begin to rise, as I thought of the pleasure I should get out +of this new discovery after supper. + +"Have you never had a lover?" said I to the Lepi. + +"No," said the Astrodi, "she is still a maid." + +"No, I am not," replied the Lepi, in some confusion, "I had a lover at +Bordeaux, and another at Montpellier." + +"Yes, I know, but you are still as you were born." + +"I can't deny it." + +"What's that? Two lovers and still a maid! I don't understand; please +tell me about it, for I have never heard of such a thing." + +"Before I satisfied my first lover which happened when I was only twelve, +I was just the same as I am now." + +"It's wonderful. And what did he say when he saw it?" + +"I swore that he was my first, and he believed me, putting it down to the +peculiar shape of my body." + +"He was a man of spirit; but didn't he hurt you?" + +"Not a bit; but then he was very gentle." + +"You must have a try after supper," said the Astrodi to me, "that would +be fine fun." + +"No, no," said the Lepi, "the gentleman would be too big for me." + +"Nonsense! You don't want to take in all of him. I will show you how it +is." + +With these words the impudent hussy proceeded to exhibit me, and I let +her do what she liked. + +"That's just what I should have thought," cried the Lepi; "it could never +be done." + +"Well, he is rather big," answered the Astrodi; "but there's a cure for +everything, and he will be content with half-measures." + +"It's not the length, my dear, but the thickness which frightens me; I am +afraid the door is too narrow." + +"All the better for you, for you can sell your maidenhead after having +had two lovers." + +This conversation, not devoid of wit, and still more the simplicity of +the hunchback, had made me resolve to verify things for myself. + +Supper came up, and I had the pleasure of seeing the two nymphs eat like +starving savages, and drink still better. When the Hermitage had done its +work the Astrodi proposed that we should cast off the clothes which +disfigure nature. + +"Certainly," said I; "and I will turn away while you are getting ready." + +I went behind the curtains, took off my clothes, and went to bed with my +back to them. At last the Astrodi told me that they were ready, and when +I looked the Lepi took up all my attention. In spite of her double +deformity she was a handsome woman. My glances frightened her, for she +was doubtless taking part in an orgy for the first time. I gave her +courage, however, by dint of praising those charms which the white and +beautiful hands could not hide, and at last I persuaded her to come and +lie beside me. Her hump prevented her lying on her back, but the +ingenious Astrodi doubled up the pillows and succeeded in placing her in +a position similar to that of a ship about to be launched. It was also by +the tender care of the Astrodi that the introduction of the knife was +managed, to the great delight of priest and victim. After the operation +was over she got up and kissed me, which she could not do before, for her +mouth reached to the middle of my chest, while my feet were scarcely down +to her knees. I would have given ten louis to have been able to see the +curious sight we must have presented at work. + +"Now comes my turn," said the Astrodi; "but I don't want you to infringe +on the rights of my auditor, so come and look round and see where the +path lies. Take that." + +"What am I to do with this slice of lemon?" + +"I want you to try whether the place is free from infection, or whether +it would be dangerous for you to pay it a visit." + +"Is that a sure method?" + +"Infallible; if everything were not right I could not bear the smart." + +"There you are. How's that?" + +"All right; but don't deceive me, I want no half measures. My reputation +would be made if I became with child." + +I ask my reader's leave to draw a veil over some incidents of this truly +scandalous orgy, in which the ugly woman taught me some things I did not +know before. At last, more tired than exhausted, I told them to begone, +but the Astrodi insisted on finishing up with a bowl of punch. I agreed, +but not wishing to have anything more to do with either of them I dressed +myself again. However, the champagne punch excited them to such an extent +that at last they made me share their transports. The Astrodi placed her +friend in such a singular position that the humps were no longer visible, +and imagining that I had before me the high priestess of Jove, I paid her +a long sacrifice, in which death and resurrection followed one another in +succession. But I felt disgusted with myself, and drew away from their +lascivious frenzies, and gave them ten Louis to get rid of them. The +Astrodi fell on her knees, blessed me, thanked me, called me her god; and +the Lepi wept and laughed for joy at the same time; and thus for a +quarter of an hour I was treated to a scene of an extraordinary kind. + +I had them taken home in my carriage, and slept till ten o'clock next +morning. Just as I was going out for a walk Stuard came to my room and +told me, with an air of despair, that if I did not give him the means of +going away before I left he would throw himself in the Rhine. + +"That's rather tragic," said I, "but I can find a cure. I will disburse +twenty-five Louis, but it is your wife who must receive them; and the +only condition is that she must receive me alone for an hour, and be +entirely kind." + +"Sir, we need just that sum; my wife is disposed to receive you; go and +talk to her. I shall not be in till noon." + +I put twenty-five Louis in a pretty little purse, and left my room +thinking that the victory was won. I entered her room and approached her +bed respectfully. When she heard me she sat up in bed without taking the +trouble to cover her breast, and before I could wish her good-day she +spoke to me as follows: + +"I am ready, sir, to pay with my body for the wretched twenty-five Louis +of which my husband is in need. You can do what you like with me; but +remember that in taking advantage of my position to assuage your brutal +lust you are the viler of the two, for I only sell myself so cheaply +because necessity compels me to do so. Your baseness is more shameful +than mine. Come on; here I am." + +With this flattering address she threw off the coverlet with a vigorous +gesture, and displayed all her beauties, which I might have gazed on with +such different feelings from those which now filled my breast. For a +moment I was silent with indignation. All my passion had evaporated; in +those voluptuous rounded limbs I saw now only the covering of a wild +beast's soul. I put back the coverlet with the greatest calmness, and +addressed her in a tone of cold contempt: + +"No, madam, I shall not leave this room degraded because you have told me +so, but I shall leave it after imparting to you a few degrading truths, +of which you cannot be ignorant if you are a woman of any decency +whatever. Here are twenty-five louis, a wretched sum to give a virtuous +woman in payment of her favours, but much more than you deserve. I am not +brutal, and to convince you of the fact I am going to leave you in the +undisturbed possession of your charms, which I despise as heartily as I +should have admired them if your behaviour had been different. I only +give you the money from a feeling of compassion which I cannot overcome, +and which is the only feeling I now have for you. Nevertheless, let me +tell you that whether a woman sells herself for twenty-five louis or +twenty-five million louis she is as much a prostitute in the one case as +in the other, if she does not give her love with herself, or at all +events the semblance of love. Farewell." + +I went back to my room, and in course of time Stuard came to thank me. + +"Sir," said I, "let me alone; I wish to hear no more about your wife." + +They went away the next day for Lyons, and my readers will hear of them +again at Liege. + +In the afternoon Dolci took me to his garden that I might see the +gardener's sister. She was pretty, but not so pretty as he was. He soon +got her into a good humour, and after some trifling objection she +consented to be loved by him in my presence. I saw that this Adonis had +been richly dowered by nature, and I told him that with such a physical +conformation he had no need of emptying his father's purse to travel, and +before long he took my advice. This fair Ganymede might easily have +turned me into Jove, as he struggled amorously with the gardener's +sister. + +As I was going home I saw a young man coming out of a boat; he was from +twenty to twenty-five years old, and looked very sad. Seeing me looking +at him, he accosted me, and humbly asked for alms, shewing me a document +authorizing him to beg, and a passport stating he had left Madrid six +weeks before. He came from Parma, and was named Costa. When I saw Parma +my national prejudice spoke in his favour, and I asked him what +misfortune had reduced him to beggary. + +"Only lack of money to return to my native country," said he. + +"What were you doing at Madrid, and why did you leave?" + +"I was there four years as valet to Dr. Pistoria, physician to the King +of Spain, but on my health failing I left him. Here is a certificate +which will shew you that I gave satisfaction." + +"What can you do?" + +"I write a good hand, I can assist a gentleman as his secretary, and I +intend being a scribe when I get home. Here are some verses I copied +yesterday." + +"You write well; but can you write correctly without a book?" + +"I can write from dictation in French, Latin, and Spanish." + +"Correctly?" + +"Yes, sir, if the dictation is done properly, for it is the business of +the one who dictates to see that everything is correct." + +I saw that Master Gaetan Costa was an ignoramus, but in spite of that I +took him to my room and told Le Duc to address him in Spanish. He +answered well enough, but on my dictating to him in Italian and French I +found he had not the remotest ideas on orthography. + +"But you can't write," said I to him. However, I saw he was mortified at +this, and I consoled him by saying that I would take him to his own +country at my expense. He kissed my hand, and assured me that I should +find a faithful servant in him. + +This young fellow took my fancy by his originality; he had probably +assumed it to distinguish himself from the blockheads amongst whom he had +hitherto lived, and now used it in perfect good faith with everybody. He +thought that the art of a scribe solely consisted in possessing a good +hand, and that the fairest writer would be the best scribe. He said as +much while he was examining a paper I had written, and as my writing was +not as legible as his he tacitly told me I was his inferior, and that I +should therefore treat him with some degree of respect. I laughed at this +fad, and, not thinking him incorrigible I took him into my service. If it +had not been for that odd notion of his I should probably have merely +given him a louis, and no more. He said that spelling was of no +consequence, as those who knew how to spell could easily guess the words, +while those who did not know were unable to pick out the mistakes. I +laughed, but as I said nothing he thought the laugh signified approval. +In the dictation I gave him the Council of Trent happened to occur. +According to his system he wrote Trent by a three and a nought. I burst +out laughing; but he was not in the least put out, only remarking that +the pronunciation being the same it was of no consequence how the word +was spelt. In point of fact this lad was a fool solely through his +intelligence, matched with ignorance and unbounded self-confidence. I was +pleased with his originality and kept him, and was thus the greater fool +of the two, as the reader will see. + +I left Avignon next day, and went straight to Marseilles, not troubling +to stop at Aix. I halted at the "Treize Cantons," wishing to stay for a +week at least in this ancient colony of the Phocaeans, and to do as I +liked there. With this idea I took no letter of introduction; I had +plenty of money, and needed nobody's help. I told my landlord to give me +a choice fish dinner in my own room, as I was aware that the fish in +those parts is better than anywhere else. + +I went out the next morning with a guide, to take me back to the inn when +I was tired of walking. Not heeding where I went, I reached a fine quay; +I thought I was at Venice again, and I felt my bosom swell, so deeply is +the love of fatherland graven on the heart of every good man. I saw a +number of stalls where Spanish and Levantine wines were kept, and a +number of people drinking in them. A crowd of business men went hither +and thither, running up against each other, crossing each other's paths, +each occupied with his own business, and not caring whose way he got +into. Hucksters, well dressed and ill dressed, women, pretty and plain, +women who stared boldly at everyone, modest maidens with downcast eyes, +such was the picture I saw. + +The mixture of nationalities, the grave Turk and the glittering +Andalusian, the French dandy, the gross Negro, the crafty Greek, the dull +Hollander; everything reminded me of Venice, and I enjoyed the scene. + +I stopped a moment at a street corner to read a playbill, and then I went +back to the inn and refreshed my weary body with a delicious dinner, +washed down with choice Syracusan wine. After dinner I dressed and took a +place in the amphitheatre of the theatre. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Rosalie--Toulon--Nice--I Arrive at Genoa--M. Grimaldi--Veronique and Her +Sister + +I noticed that the four principal boxes on both sides of the proscenium +were adorned with pretty women, but not a single gentleman. In the +interval between the first and second acts I saw gentlemen of all classes +paying their devoirs to these ladies. Suddenly I heard a Knight of Malta +say to a girl, who was the sole occupant of a box next to me, + +"I will breakfast with you to-morrow." + +This was enough for me. I looked at her more closely and finding her to +be a dainty morsel I said, as soon as the knight had gone-- + +"Will you give me my supper?" + +"With pleasure; but I have been taken in so often that I shan't expect +you without an earnest." + +"How can I give you an earnest? I don't understand." + +"You must be a new-comer here." + +"Just arrived." + +She laughed, called the knight, and said,-- + +"Be pleased to explain to this gentleman, who has just asked me for +supper, the meaning of the word 'earnest.'" + +The good-natured knight explained, with a smile, that the lady, fearing +lest my memory should prove defective, wanted me to pay for my supper in +advance. I thanked him, and asked her if a louis would be enough; and on +her replying in the affirmative, I gave her the Louis and asked for her +address. The knight told me politely that he would take me there himself +after the theatre, adding,-- + +"She's the wantonest wench in all Marseilles." + +He then asked me if I knew the town, and when I told him that I had only +come that day he said he was glad to be the first to make my +acquaintance. We went to the middle of, the amphitheatre and he pointed +out a score of girls to right and left, all of them ready to treat the +first comer to supper. They are all on the free list, and the manager +finds they serve his ends as respectable women will not sit in their +boxes, and they draw people to the theatre. I noticed five or six of a +better type than the one I had engaged, but I resolved to stick to her +for the evening, and to make the acquaintance of the others another time. + +"Is your favourite amongst them?" I said to the knight. + +"No, I keep a ballet-girl, and I will introduce you to her, as I am glad +to say that I am free from all jealousy." + +When the play came to an end he took me to my nymph's lodging, and we +parted with the understanding that we were to see more of one another. + +I found the lady in undress--a circumstance which went against her, for +what I saw did not please me. She gave me a capital supper, and enlivened +me by some witty and wanton sallies which made me regard her in a more +favourable light. When we had supper she got into bed, and asked me to +follow her example; but I told her that I never slept out. She then +offered me the English article which brings peace to the soul, but I did +not accept the one she offered as I thought it looked of a common make. + +"I have finer ones, but they are three francs each, and the maker only +sells them by the dozen," she said. "I will take a dozen if they are +really good," I replied. + +She rang the bell, and a young, charming, and modest-looking girl came +in. I was struck with her. + +"You have got a nice maid," I remarked, when the girl had gone for the +protective sheaths. + +"She is only fifteen," she said, "and won't do anything, as she is new to +it." + +"Will you allow me to see for myself?" + +"You may ask her if you like, but I don't think she will consent." + +The girl came back with the packet, and putting myself in a proper +position I told her to try one on. She proceeded to do so with a sulky +air and with a kind of repugnance which made me feel interested in her. +Number one would not go on, so she had to try on a second, and the result +was that I besprinkled her plentifully. The mistress laughed, but she was +indignant, threw the whole packet in my face, and ran away in a rage. I +wanted nothing more after this, so I put the packet in my pocket, gave +the woman two Louis, and left the room. The girl I had treated so +cavalierly came to light me downstairs, and thinking I owed her an +apology I gave her a Louis and begged her pardon. The poor girl was +astonished, kissed my hand, and begged me to say nothing to her mistress. + +"I will not, my dear, but tell me truly whether you are still a 'virgo +intacta'." + +"Certainly, sir!" + +"Wonderful! but tell me why you wouldn't let me see for myself?" + +"Because it revolted me." + +"Nevertheless you will have to do so, for otherwise, in spite of your +prettiness, people will not know what to make of you. Would you like to +let me try?" + +"Yes, but not in this horrible house." + +"Where, then?" + +"Go to my mother's to-morrow, I will be there. Your guide knows where she +lives." + +When I got outside, I asked the man if he knew her. He replied in the +affirmative, and said he believed her to be an honest girl. + +"You will take me to-morrow to see her mother," I said. + +Next morning he took me to the end of the town, to a poor house, where I +found a poor woman and poor children living on the ground floor, and +eating hard black bread. + +"What do you want?" said she. + +"Is you daughter here?" + +"No, and what if she were? I am not her bawd." + +"No, of course not, my good woman." + +Just then the girl came in, and the enraged mother flung an old pot which +came handy, at her head. Luckily it missed, but she would not have +escaped her mother's talons if I had not flung myself between them. +However, the old woman set up a dismal shriek, the children imitated her, +and the poor girl began to cry. This hubbub made my man come in. + +"You hussy!" screamed the mother, "you are bringing disgrace on me; get +out of my house. You are no longer my daughter!" + +I was in a difficult position. The man begged her not to make such a +noise, as it would draw all the neighbours about the house; but the +enraged woman answered only by abuse. I drew six francs from my pocket +and gave them to her, but she flung them in my face. At last I went out +with the daughter, whose hair she attempted to pull out by the roots, +which project was defeated by the aid of my man. As soon as we got +outside, the mob which the uproar had attracted hooted me and followed +me, and no doubt I should have been torn to pieces if I had not escaped +into a church, which I left by another door a quarter of an hour later. +My fright saved me, for I knew the ferocity of the Provencals, and I took +care not to reply a word to the storm of abuse which poured on me. I +believe that I was never in greater danger than on that day. + +Before I got back to my inn I was rejoined by the servant and the girl. + +"How could you lead me into such a dangerous position?" said I. "You must +have known your mother was savage." + +"I hoped she would behave respectfully to you." + +"Be calm; don't weep any more. Tell me how I can serve you." + +"Rather than return to that horrible house I was in yesterday I would +throw myself into the sea." + +"Do you know of any respectable house where I can keep her?" said I to +the man. + +He told me he did know a respectable individual who let furnished +apartments. + +"Take me to it, then." + +The man was of an advanced age, and he had rooms to let on all the +floors. + +"I only want a little nook," said the girl; and the old man took us to +the highest story, and opened the door of a garret, saying-- + +"This closet is six francs a month, a month's rent to be paid in advance, +and I may tell you that my door is always shut at ten o'clock, and that +nobody can come and pass the night with you." + +The room held a bed with coarse sheets, two chairs, a little table, and a +chest of drawers. + +"How much will you board this young woman for?" said I. + +He asked twenty sous, and two sous for the maid who would bring her meals +and do her room. + +"That will do," said the girl, and she paid the month's rent and the +day's board. I left her telling her I would come back again. + +As I went down the stairs I asked the old man to shew me a room for +myself. He skewed me a very nice one at a Louis a month, and I paid in +advance. He then gave me a latch-key, that I might go and come when I +liked. + +"If you wish to board here," said he, "I think I could give +satisfaction." + +Having done this good work, I had my dinner by myself, and then went to a +coffee-house where I found the amiable Knight of Malta who was playing. +He left the game as soon as he saw me, put the fistfull of gold he had +won into his pocket, accosted me with the politeness natural to a +Frenchman, and asked me how I had liked the lady who had given me my +supper. I told him what had happened, at which he laughed, and asked me +to come and see his ballet-girl. We found her under the hairdresser's +hands, and she received me with the playful familiarity with which one +greets an old acquaintance. I did not think much of her, but I pretended +to be immensely struck, with the idea of pleasing the good-natured +knight. + +When the hairdresser left her, it was time for her to get ready for the +theatre, and she dressed herself, without caring who was present. The +knight helped her to change her chemise, which she allowed him to do as a +matter of course, though indeed she begged me to excuse her. + +As I owed her a compliment, I could think of nothing better than to tell +her that though she had not offended me she had made me feel very +uncomfortable. + +"I don't believe you," said she. + +"It's true all the same." + +She came up to me to verify the fact, and finding I had deceived her, she +said half crossly, + +"You are a bad fellow." + +The women of Marseilles are undoubtedly the most profligate in France. +They not only pride themselves on never refusing, but also on being the +first to propose. This girl skewed me a repeater, for which she had got +up a lottery at twelve francs a ticket. She had ten tickets left; I took +them all, and so delighted was she to touch my five Louis that she came +and kissed me, and told the knight that her unfaithfulness to him rested +only with me. + +"I am charmed to hear it," said the Maltese. He asked me to sup with her, +and I accepted the invitation, but the sole pleasure I had was looking at +the knight at work. He was far inferior to Dolci! + +I wished them good night, and went to the house where I had placed the +poor girl. The maid skewed me to my room, and I asked her if I might go +to the garret. She took the light, I followed her up, and Rosalie, as the +poor girl was named, heard my voice and opened the door. I told the maid +to wait for me in my room, and I went in and sat down on the bed. + +"Are you contented, dear?" I said. + +"I am quite happy." + +"Then I hope you will be kind, and find room for me in your bed." + +"You may come if you like, but I must tell you that you will not find me +a maid, as I have had one lover." + +"You told me a lie, then?" + +"Forgive me, I could not guess you would be my lover." + +"I forgive you willingly; all the more so as I am no great stickler for +maidenheads." + +She was as gentle as a lamb, and allowed me to gaze on all those charms +of which my hands and my lips disputed the possession; and the notion +that I was master of all these treasures put fire in all my veins, but +her submissive air distressed me. + +"How is it you do not partake my desires?" said I. + +"I dare not, lest you take me for a pretender." + +Artifice or studied coquetry might have prompted such an answer, but the +real timidity and the frankness with which these words were uttered could +not have been assumed. Impatient to gain possession of her I took off my +clothes, and on getting into bed to her I was astonished to find her a +maid. + +"Why did you tell me you had a lover?" said I. "I never heard of a girl +telling a lie of that sort before." + +"All the same I did not tell a lie, but I am very glad that I seem as if +I had done so." + +"Tell me all about it." + +"Certainly I will, for I want to win your confidence. This is the story: + +"Two years ago my mother, though she was hot-tempered, still loved me. I +was a needle-woman, and earned from twenty to thirty sous a day. Whatever +I earned I gave my mother. I had never had a lover, never thought of such +a thing, and when my goodness was praised I felt inclined to laugh. I had +been brought up from a child never to look at young men when I met them +in the street, and never to reply to them when they addressed any +impudence to me. + +"Two months ago a fine enough looking young man, a native of Genoa, and a +merchant in a small way, came to my mother to get her to wash some very +fine cotton stockings which the sea-water had stained. When he saw me he +was very complimentary, but in an honest way. I liked him, and, no doubt +seeing it, he came and came again every evening. My mother was always +present at our interviews, and he looked at me and talked to me, but did +not so much as ask to kiss my hand. My mother was very pleased to notice +that the young man liked me, and often scolded me because I was not +polite enough to him. In time he had to go to Genoa in a small ship which +belonged to him, and which was laden with goods. He assured us that he +would return again the next spring and declare his intentions. He said he +hoped he should find me as good as ever, and still without any lover. +This was enough; my mother looked upon him as my betrothed, and let us +talk together at the door till midnight. When he went I would shut the +door and lie down beside my mother, who was always asleep. + +"Four or five days before his departure, he took my arm and got me to go +with him to a place about fifty paces from the house to drink a glass of +Muscat at a Greek's, who kept his tavern open all night. We were only +away for half an hour, and then it was that he first kissed me. When I +got home I found my mother awake, and told her all; it seemed so harmless +to me. + +"Next day, excited by the recollection of what had happened the night +before, I went with him again, and love began to gain ground. We indulged +in caresses which were no longer innocent, as we well knew. However, we +forgave each other, as we had abstained from the chief liberty. + +"The day after, my lover--as he had to journey in the night--took leave +of my mother, and as soon as she was in bed I was not longer in granting +what I desired as much as he. We went to the Greek's, ate and drank, and +our heated senses gained love's cause; we forgot our duty, and fancied +our misdemeanour a triumph. + +"Afterwards we fell asleep, and when we awoke we saw our fault in the +clear, cold light of day. We parted sorrowful rather than rejoicing, and +the reception my mother gave me was like that you witnessed this morning. +I assured her that marriage would take away the shame of my sin, and with +this she took up a stick and would have done for me, if I had not taken +to my heels, more from instinct than from any idea of what I was doing. + +"Once in the street I knew not where to turn, and taking refuge in a +church I stayed there like one in a dream till noon. Think of my +position. I was hungry, I had no refuge, nothing but the clothes I wore, +nothing that would get me a morsel of bread. A woman accosted me in the +street. I knew her and I also knew that she kept a servants' agency. I +asked her forthwith if she could get me a place. + +"'I had enquiries about a maid this morning,' said she, 'but it is for a +gay woman, and you are pretty. You would have a good deal of difficulty +in remaining virtuous.' + +"'I can keep off the infection,' I answered, 'and in the position I am in +I cannot pick and choose.' + +"She thereupon took me to the lady, who was delighted to see me, and +still more delighted when I told her that I had never had anything to do +with a man. I have repented of this lie bitterly enough, for in the week +I spent at that profligate woman's house I have had to endure the most +humiliating insults that an honest girl ever suffered. No sooner did the +men who came to the house hear that I was a maid than they longed to +slake their brutal lust upon me, offering me gold if I would submit to +their caresses. I refused and was reviled, but that was not all. Five or +six times every day I was obliged to remain a witness of the disgusting +scenes enacted between my mistress and her customers, who, when I was +compelled to light them about the house at night, overwhelmed me with +insults, because I would not do them a disgusting service for a +twelve-sous piece. I could not bear this sort of life much longer, and I +was thinking of drowning myself. When you came you treated me so +ignominiously that my resolve to die was strengthened, but you were so +kind and polite as you went away that I fell in love with you directly, +thinking that Providence must have sent you to snatch me away from the +abyss. I thought your fine presence might calm my mother and persuade her +to take me back till my lover came to marry me. I was undeceived, and I +saw that she took me for a prostitute. Now, if you like, I am altogether +yours, and I renounce my lover of whom I am no longer worthy. Take me as +your maid, I will love you and you only; I will submit myself to you and +do whatever you bid me." + +Whether it were weakness or virtue on my part, this tale of woe and a +mother's too great severity drew tears from my eyes, and when she saw my +emotion she wept profusely, for her heart was in need of some relief. + +"I think, my poor Rosalie, you have only one chemise." + +"Alas! that is all." + +"Comfort yourself, my dear; all your wants shall be supplied tomorrow, and +in the evening you shall sup with me in my room on the second floor. I +will take care of you." + +"You pity me, then?" + +"I fancy there is more love than pity in it." + +"Would to God it were so!" + +This "would to God," which came from the very depths of her soul, sent me +away in a merry mood. The servant who had been waiting for me for two +hours, and was looking rather glum, relaxed when she saw the colour of a +crown which I gave her by way of atonement. + +"Tell your master," said I, "that Rosalie will sup with me to-morrow; let +us have a fasting dinner, but let it be a good one." + +I returned to my inn quite in love with Rosalie, and I congratulated +myself on having at last heard a true tale from a pretty mouth. She +appeared to me so well disposed that her small failing seemed to make her +shine the more. I resolved never to abandon her, and I did so in all +sincerity; was I not in love? + +After I had had my chocolate next morning I went out with a guide to the +shops, where I got the necessary articles, paying a good but not an +excessive price. Rosalie was only fifteen, but with her figure, her +well-formed breasts, and her rounded arms, she would have been taken for +twenty. Her shape was so imprinted on my brain that everything I got for +her fitted as if she had been measured for it. This shopping took up all +the morning, and in the afternoon the man took her a small trunk +containing two dresses, chemises, petticoats, handkerchiefs, stockings, +gloves, caps, a pair of slippers, a fan, a work-bag, and a mantle. I was +pleased at giving her such a delightful surprise, and I longed for +suppertime that I might enjoy the sight of her pleasure. + +The Knight of Malta came to dine with me without ceremony, and I was +charmed to see him. After we had dined he persuaded me to go to the +theatre, as in consequence of the suspense of the subscription +arrangements the boxes would be filled with all the quality in +Marseilles. + +"There will be no loose women in the amphitheatre," said he, "as +everybody has to pay." + +That decided me and I went. He presented me to a lady with an excellent +connection, who asked me to come and see her. I excused myself on the +plea that I was leaving so shortly. Nevertheless she was very useful to +me on my second visit to Marseilles. Her name was Madame Audibert. + +I did not wait for the play to end, but went where love called me. I had +a delightful surprise when I saw Rosalie; I should not have known her. +But I cannot resist the pleasure of recalling her picture as she stood +before me then, despite the years that have rolled by since that happy +moment. + +Rosalie was an enticing-looking brunette, above the middle height. Her +face was a perfect oval, and exquisitely proportioned. Two fine black +eyes shed a soft and ravishing light around. Her eyebrows were arched, +and she had a wealth of hair, black and shining as ebony; her skin was +while and lightly tinged with colour. On her chin was a dimple, and her +slightest smile summoned into being two other dimples, one on each cheek. +Her mouth was small, disclosing two rows of fairest orient pearls, and +from her red lips flowed forth an indefinable sweetness. The lower lip +projected ever so lightly, and seemed designed to hold a kiss. I have +spoken of her arms, her breast, and her figure, which left nothing to be +desired, but I must add to this catalogue of her charms, that her hand +was exquisitely shaped, and that her foot was the smallest I have ever +seen. As to her other beauties, I will content myself with saying that +they were in harmony with those I have described. + +To see her at her best, one had to see her smiling; and hitherto she had +been sad or vexed--states of mind which detract from a woman's +appearance. But now sadness was gone, and gratitude and pleasure had +taken its place. I examined her closely, and felt proud, as I saw what a +transformation I had effected; but I concealed my surprise, lest she +should think I had formed an unfavourable impression of her. I proceeded, +therefore, to tell her that I should expose myself to ridicule if I +attempted to keep a beauty like herself for a servant. + +"You shall be my mistress," I said, "and my servants shall respect you as +if you were my wife." + +At this Rosalie, as if I had given her another being, began to try and +express her gratitude for what I had done. Her words, which passion made +confused, increased my joy; here was no art nor deceit, but simple +nature. + +There was no mirror in her garret, so she had dressed by her sense of +touch, and I could see that she was afraid to stand up and look at +herself in the mirror in my room. I knew the weak spot in all women's +hearts (which men are very wrong in considering as matter for reproach), +and I encouraged her to admire herself, whereupon she could not restrain +a smile of satisfaction. + +"I think I must be in disguise," said she, "for I have never seen myself +so decked out before." + +She praised the tasteful simplicity of the dress I had chosen, but was +vexed at the thought that her mother would still be displeased. + +"Think no more of your mother, dearest one. You look like a lady of +quality, and I shall be quite proud when the people at Genoa ask me if +you are my daughter." + +"At Genoa?" + +"Yes, at Genoa. Why do you blush?" + +"From surprise; perhaps I may see there one whom I have not yet +forgotten." + +"Would you like to stay here better?" + +"No, no! Love me and be sure that I love you and for your own sake, not +from any thought of my own interests." + +"You are moved, my angel; let me wipe away your tears with kisses." + +She fell into my arms, and she relieved the various feelings of which her +heart was full by weeping for some time. I did not try to console her, +for she had not grief; she wept as tender souls, and women, more +especially, often will. We had a delicious supper to which I did honour +for two, for she ate nothing. I asked her if she was so unfortunate as +not to care for good food. + +"I have as good an appetite as anyone," she replied, "and an excellent +digestion. You shall see for yourself when I grow more accustomed to my +sudden happiness." + +"At least you can drink; this wine is admirable. If you prefer Greek +muscat I will send for some. It will remind you of your lover." + +"If you love me at all, I beg you will spare me that mortification." + +"You shall have no more mortification from me, I promise you. It was only +a joke, and I beg your pardon for it." + +"As I look upon you I feel in despair at not having known you first." + +"That feeling of yours, which wells forth from the depths of your open +soul, is grand. You are beautiful and good, for you only yielded to the +voice of love with the prospect of becoming his wife; and when I think +what you are to me I am in despair at not being sure you love me. An evil +genius whispers in my ear that you only bear with me because I had the +happiness of helping you." + +"Indeed, that is an evil genius. To be sure, if I had met you in the +street I should not have fallen head over ears in love with you, like a +wanton, but you would certainly have pleased me. I am sure I love you, +and not for what you have done for me; for if I were rich and you were +poor, I would do anything in the world for you. But I don't want it to be +like that, for I had rather be your debtor than for you to be mine. These +are my real feelings, and you can guess the rest." + +We were still talking on the same subject when midnight struck, and my +old landlord came and asked me if I were pleased. + +"I must thank you," I replied, "I am delighted. Who cooked this delicious +supper?" + +"My daughter." + +"She understands her craft; tell her I thought it excellent." + +"Yes, sir, but it is dear." + +"Not too dear for me. You shall be pleased with me as I with you, and +take care to have as good a supper to-morrow evening, as I hope the lady +will be well enough to do justice to the products of your daughter's +culinary skill." + +"Bed is a capital place to get an appetite. Ah! it is sixty years since I +have had anything to do with that sort of thing. What are you laughing +at, mademoiselle?" + +"At the delight with which you must recollect it." + +"You are right, it is a pleasant recollection; and thus I am always ready +to forgive young folks the peccadilloes that love makes them commit." + +"You are a wise old man," said I, "everyone should sympathise with the +tenderest of all our mortal follies." + +"If the old man is wise," said Rosalie, when he had left the room, "my +mother must be very foolish." + +"Would you like me to take you to the play to-morrow?" + +"Pray do not. I will come if you like, but it will vex me very much. I +don't want to walk out with you or to go to the theatre with you here. +Good heavens! What would people say. No, neither at Marseilles; but +elsewhere, anything you please and with all my heart." + +"Very good, my dear, just as you please. But look at your room; no more +garret for you; and in three days we will start." + +"So soon?" + +"Yes; tell me to-morrow what you require for the journey, for I don't +want you to lack for anything, and if you leave it all to me I might +forget something which would vex me." + +"Well, I should like another cloak, a cloak with a lining, some boots, a +night-cap, and a prayer-book." + +"You know how to read, do you?" + +"Certainly; and I can write fairly well." + +"I am glad to hear it. Your asking me so freely for what you want is a +true proof of your love; where confidence dwells not there is no love. I +will not forget anything, but your feet are so small that I should advise +you to get your boots yourself." + +Our talk was so pleasant, and I experienced such delight in studying her +disposition, that we did not go to bed till five o'clock. In the arms of +love and sleep we spent seven delicious hours, and when we rose at noon +we were fast lovers. She called me thou, talked of love and not of +gratitude, and, grown more familiar with her new estate, laughed at her +troubles. She kissed me at every opportunity, called me her darling boy, +her joy, and as the present moment is the only real thing in this life, I +enjoyed her love, I was pleased with her caresses, and put away all ideas +of the dreadful future, which has only one certainty--death, 'ultima +linea rerum'. + +The second night was far sweeter than the first; she had made a good +supper, and drunk well, though moderately; thus she was disposed to +refine on her pleasure, and to deliver herself with greater ardour to all +the voluptuous enjoyments which love inspires. + +I gave her a pretty watch and a gold shuttle for her to amuse herself +with. + +"I wanted it," said she, "but I should never have dared to ask for it." + +I told her that this fear of my displeasure made me doubt once more +whether she really loved me. She threw herself into my arms, and promised +that henceforth she would shew me the utmost confidence. + +I was pleased to educate this young girl, and I felt that when her mind +had been developed she would be perfect. + +On the fourth day I warned her to hold herself in readiness to start at a +moment's notice. I had said nothing about my plans to Costa or Le Duc, +but Rosalie knew that I had two servants, and I told her that I should +often make them talk on the journey for the sake of the laughter their +folly would afford me. + +"You, my dear," I had said to her, "must be very reserved with them, and +not allow them to take the slightest liberty. Give them your orders as a +mistress, but without pride, and you will be obeyed and respected. If +they forget themselves in the slightest particular, tell me at once." + +I started from the hotel of the "Treize Cantons" with four post-horses, +Le Duc and Costa sitting on the coachman's seat. The guide, whom I had +paid well for his services, took us to Rosalie's door. I got out of the +carriage, and after thanking the kindly old landlord, who was sorry to +lose so good a boarder, I made her get in, sat down beside her, and +ordered the postillions to go to Toulon, as I wished to see that fine +port before returning to Italy. We got to Toulon at five o'clock. + +My Rosalie behaved herself at supper like the mistress of a house +accustomed to the best society. I noticed that Le Duc as head man made +Costa wait upon her, but I got over him by telling my sweetheart that he +would have the honour of doing her hair, as he could do it as well as the +best barber in Paris. He swallowed the golden pill, and gave in with a +good grace, and said, with a profound bow, that he hoped to give madam +satisfaction. + +We went out next morning to see the port, and were shewn over the place +by the commandant, whose acquaintance we made by a lucky chance. He +offered his arm to Rosalie, and treated her with the consideration she +deserved for her appearance and the good sense of her questions. The +commandant accepted my invitation to dinner, at which Rosalie spoke to +the point though not to excess, and received the polite compliments of +our worthy guest with much grace. In the afternoon he took us over the +arsenal, and after having him to dinner could not refuse his invitation +to supper. There was no difficulty about Rosalie; the commandant +introduced her immediately to his wife, his daughter, and his son. I was +delighted to see that her manner with ladies even surpassed her manner +with gentlemen. She was one of Nature's own ladies. The commandant's wife +and daughter caressed her again and again, and she received their +attentions with that modest sensibility which is the seal of a good +education. + +They asked me to dinner the next day, but I was satisfied with what I had +seen, so I took leave, intending to start on the morrow. + +When we got back to the inn I told her how pleased I was with her, and +she threw her arms round my neck for joy. + +"I am always afraid," said she, "of being asked who I am." + +"You needn't be afraid, dearest; in France no gentleman or lady would +think of asking such a question." + +"But if they did, what ought I to do?" + +"You should make use of an evasion." + +"What's an evasion?" + +"A way of escaping from a difficulty without satisfying impertinent +curiosity." + +"Give me an example." + +"Well, if such a question were asked you, you might say, 'You had better +ask this gentleman.'" + +"I see, the question is avoided; but is not that impolite?" + +"Yes; but not so impolite as to ask an embarrassing question." + +"And what would you say if the question was passed on to you?" + +"Well, my answer would vary in a ratio with the respect in which I held +the questioner. I would not tell the truth, but I should say something. +And I am glad to see you attentive to my lessons. Always ask questions, +and you will always find me ready to answer, for I want to teach you. And +now let us to bed; we have to start for Antibes at an early hour, and +love will reward you for the pleasure you have given me to-day." + +At Antibes I hired a felucca to take me to Genoa, and as I intended to +return by the same route I had my carriage warehoused for a small monthly +payment. We started early with a good wind, but the sea becoming rough, +and Rosalie being mortally afraid, I had the felucca rowed into +Villafranca, where I engaged a carriage to take me to Nice. The weather +kept us back for three days, and I felt obliged to call on the +commandant, an old officer named Peterson. + +He gave me an excellent reception, and after the usual compliments had +passed, said,-- + +"Do you know a Russian who calls himself Charles Ivanoff?" + +"I saw him once at Grenoble." + +"It is said that he has escaped from Siberia, and that he is the younger +son of the Duke of Courland." + +"So I have heard, but I know no proof of his claim to the title." + +"He is at Genoa, where it is said a banker is to give him twenty thousand +crowns. In spite of that, no one would give him a sou here, so I sent him +to Genoa at my own expense, to rid the place of him." + +I felt very glad that the Russian had gone away before my arrival. An +officer named Ramini, who was staying at the same inn as myself, asked if +I would mind taking charge of a packet which M. de St. Pierre, the +Spanish consul, had to send to the Marquis Grimaldi, at Genoa. It was the +nobleman I had just seen at Avignon, and I was pleased to execute the +commission. The same officer asked me whether I had ever seen a certain +Madame Stuard. + +"She came here a fortnight ago with a man who calls himself her husband. +The poor devils hadn't a penny, and she, a great beauty, enchanted +everybody, but would give no one a smile or a word." + +"I have both seen and know her," I answered. "I furnished her with the +means to come here. How could she leave Nice without any money?" + +"That's just what no one can understand. She went off in a carriage, and +the landlord's bill was paid. I was interested in the woman. The Marquis +Grimaldi told me that she had refused a hundred louis he offered her, and +that a Venetian of his acquaintance had fared just as badly. Perhaps that +is you?" + +"It is, and I gave her some money despite my treatment." + +M. Peterson came to see me, and was enchanted with Rosalie's amiable +manner. This was another conquest for her, and I duly complimented her +upon it. + +Nice is a terribly dull place, and strangers are tormented by the midges, +who prefer them to the inhabitants. However, I amused myself at a small +bank at faro, which was held at a coffee-house, and at which Rosalie, +whose play I directed, won a score of Piedmontese pistoles. She put her +little earnings into a purse, and told me she liked to have some money of +her own. I scolded her for not having told me so before, and reminded her +of her promise. + +"I don't really want it," said she, "it's only my thoughtlessness." + +We soon made up our little quarrel. + +In such ways did I make this girl my own, in the hope that for the +remnant of my days she would be mine, and so I should not be forced to +fly from one lady to another. But inexorable fate ordained it otherwise. + +The weather grew fine again, and we got on board once more, and the next +day arrived at Genoa, which I had never seen before. I put up at "St. +Martin's Inn," and for decency's sake took two rooms, but they were +adjoining one another. The following day I sent the packet to M. +Grimaldi, and a little later I left my card at his palace. + +My guide took me to a linen-draper's, and I bought some stuff for +Rosalie, who was in want of linen. She was very pleased with it. + +We were still at table when the Marquis Grimaldi was announced; he kissed +me and thanked me for bringing the parcel. His next remark referred to +Madame Stuard. I told him what had happened, and he laughed, saying that +he was not quite sure what he would have done under the circumstances. + +I saw him looking at Rosalie attentively, and I told him she was as good +as she was beautiful. + +"I want to find her a maid," I said, "a good seamstress, who could go out +with her, and above all who could talk Italian to her, for I want her to +learn the language that I may take her into society at Florence, Rome and +Naples." + +"Don't deprive Genoa of the pleasure of entertaining her," said the +marquis. "I will introduce her under whatever name she pleases, and in my +own house to begin with." + +"She has good reasons for preserving her incognito here." + +"Ah, I see!--Do you think of staying here long?" + +"A month, or thereabouts, and our pleasures will be limited to seeing the +town and its surroundings and going to the theatre. We shall also enjoy +the pleasures of the table. I hope to eat champignons every day, they are +better here than anywhere else." + +"An excellent plan. I couldn't suggest a better. I am going to see what I +can do in the way of getting you a maid, mademoiselle." + +"You sir? How can I deserve such great kindness?" + +"My interest in you is the greater, as I think you come from Marseilles." + +Rosalie blushed. She was not aware that she lisped, and that this +betrayed her. I extricated her from her confusion by telling the marquis +his conjecture was well founded. + +I asked him how I could get the Journal de Savans, the Mercure de France, +and other papers of the same description. He promised to send me a man +who would get me all that kind of thing. He added that if I would allow +him to send me some of his excellent chocolate he would come and +breakfast with us. I said that both gift and guest were vastly agreeable +to me. + +As soon as he had gone Rosalie asked me to take her to a milliner's. + +"I want ribbons and other little things," said she, "but I should like to +bargain for them and pay for them out of my own money, without your +having anything to do with it." + +"Do whatever you like, my dear, and afterwards we will go to the play." + +The milliner to whom we went proved to be a Frenchwoman. It was a +charming sight to see Rosalie shopping. She put on an important air, +seemed to know all about it, ordered bonnets in the latest fashion, +bargained, and contrived to spend five or six louis with great grandeur. +As we left the shop I told her that I had been taken for her footman, and +I meant to be revenged. So saying, I made her come into a jeweller's, +where I bought her a necklace, ear-rings, and brooches in imitation +diamonds, and without letting her say a word I paid the price and left +the shop. + +"You have bought me some beautiful things," said she, "but you are too +lavish with your money; if you had bargained you might have saved four +louis at least." + +"Very likely, dearest, but I never was any hand at a bargain." + +I took her to the play, but as she did not understand the language she +got dreadfully tired, and asked me to take her home at the end of the +first act, which I did very willingly. When we got in I found a box +waiting for me from M. Grimaldi. It proved to contain twenty-four pounds +of chocolate. Costa, who had boasted of his skill in making chocolate in +the Spanish fashion, received orders to make us three cups in the +morning. + +At nine o'clock the marquis arrived with a tradesman, who sold me some +beautiful oriental materials. I gave them to Rosalie to make two +'mezzaro' for herself. The 'mezzaro' is a kind of hooded cloak worn by +the Genoese women, as the 'cendal' is worn at Venice, and the 'mantilla' +at Madrid. + +I thanked M. Grimaldi for the chocolate, which was excellent; Costa was +quite proud of the praise the marquis gave him. Le Duc came in to +announce a woman, whose name I did not know. + +"It's the mother of the maid I have engaged," said M. Grimaldi. + +She came in, and I saw before me a well-dressed woman, followed by a girl +from twenty to twenty-four years old, who pleased me at the first glance. +The mother thanked the marquis, and presented her daughter to Rosalie, +enumerating her good qualities, and telling her that she would serve her +well, and walk with her when she wished to go out. + +"My daughter," she added, "speaks French, and you will find her a good, +faithful, and obliging girl." + +She ended by saying that her daughter had been in service lately with a +lady, and that she would be obliged if she could have her meals by +herself. + +The girl was named Veronique. Rosalie told her that she was a good girl, +and that the only way to be respected was to be respectable. Veronique +kissed her hand, the mother went away, and Rosalie took the girl into her +room to begin her work. + +I did not forget to thank the marquis, for he had evidently chosen a maid +more with a view to my likings than to those of my sweetheart. I told him +that I should not fail to call on him, and he replied that he would be +happy to see me at any hour, and that I should easily find him at his +casino at St. Pierre d'Arena, where he often spent the night. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Adventures In The South: Depart +Switzerland, by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEPART SWITZERLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 2966.txt or 2966.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/6/2966/ + +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 +ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH, Volume 4a--DEPART SWITZERLAND + + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR +MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED +BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + + + + +DEPART SWITZERLAND + + +CHAPTER I + +The Door--Keeper's Daughters--The Horoscopes--Mdlle. Roman + +The idea of the sorry plight in which I had left the Marquis de +Prie, his mistress, and perhaps all the company, who had +undoubtedly coveted the contents of my cash-box, amused me till I +reached Chamberi, where I only stopped to change horses. When I +reached Grenoble, where I intended to stay a week, I did not find +my lodging to my liking, and went in my carriage to the +post-office, where I found several letters, amongst others, one +from Madame d'Urfe, enclosing a letter of introduction to an +officer named Valenglard, who, she told me, was a learned man, and +would present me at all the best houses in the town. + +I called on this officer and received a cordial welcome. After +reading Madame d'Urfe's letter he said he was ready to be useful +to me in anything I pleased. + +He was an amiable, middle aged man, and fifteen years before had +been Madame d'Urfe's friend, and in a much more intimate degree +the friend of her daughter, the Princess de Toudeville. I told +him that I was uncomfortable at the inn, and that the first +service I would ask of him would be to procure me a comfortable +lodging. He rubbed his head, and said,-- + +"I think I can get you rooms in a beautiful house, but it is +outside the town walls. The door-keeper is an excellent cook, and +for the sake of doing your cooking I am sure he will lodge you for +nothing." + +"I don't wish that," said I. + +"Don't be afraid," said the baron, "he will make it up by means of +his dishes; and besides, the house is for sale and costs him +nothing. Come and see it." + +I took a suite of three rooms and ordered supper for two, warning +the man that I was dainty, liked good things, and did not care for +the cost. I also begged M. de Valenglard to sup with me. The +doorkeeper said that if I was not pleased with his cooking I had +only to say so, and in that case I should have nothing to pay. I +sent for my carriage, and felt that I had established myself in my +new abode. On the ground floor I saw three charming girls and the +door-keeper's wife, who all bowed profoundly. M. de Valenglard +took me to a concert with the idea of introducing me to everybody, +but I begged him not to do so, as I wished to see the ladies +before deciding which of them I should like to know. + +The company was a numerous one, especially where women were +concerned, but the only one to attract my attention was a pretty +and modest-looking brunette, whose fine figure was dressed with +great simplicity. Her charming eyes, after having thrown one +glance in my direction, obstinately refused to look at me again. +My vanity made me conclude at once that she behaved thus only to +increase my desire of knowing her, and to give me plenty of time +to examine her side-face and her figure, the proportions of which +were not concealed by her simple attire. Success begets +assurance, and the wish is father to the thought. I cast a hungry +gaze on this young lady without more ado, just as if all the women +in Europe were only a seraglio kept for my pleasures. I told the +baron I should like to know her. + +"She is a good girl," said he, "who sees no company, and is quite +poor." + +"Those are three reasons which make me the more anxious to know +her." + +"You will really find nothing to do in that quarter." + +"Very good." + +"There is her aunt, I will introduce you to her as we leave the +concert-room." + +After doing me this service, he came to sup with me. The +door-keeper and cook struck me as being very like Lebel. He made +his two pretty daughters wait on me, and I saw that Valenglard was +delighted at having lodged me to my satisfaction, but he grumbled +when he saw fifteen dishes. + +"He is making a fool of you and me," he said. + +"On the contrary, he has guessed my tastes. Don't you think +everything was very good?" + +"I don't deny it, but . . . " + +"Don't be afraid; I love spending my money." + +"I beg your pardon, I only want you to be pleased." + +We had exquisite wines, and at dessert some ratafia superior to +the Turkish 'visnat' I had tasted seventeen years before at Yussuf +Ali's. When my landlord came up at the end of supper, I told him +that he ought to be Louis XV.'s head cook. + +"Go on as you have begun, and do better if you can; but let me +have your bill every morning." + +"You are quite right; with such an arrangement one can tell how +one is getting on." + +"I should like you always to give me ices, and you must let me +have two more lights. But, unless I am mistaken, those are +candles that I see. I am a Venetian, and accustomed to wax +lights." + +"That is your servant's fault, sir." + +"How is that?" + +"Because, after eating a good supper, he went to bed, saying he +was ill. Thus I heard nothing as to how you liked things done." + +"Very good, you shall learn from my own lips." + +"He asked my wife to make chocolate for you tomorrow morning; he +gave her the chocolate, I will make it myself." + +When he had left the room M. de Valenglard said, in a manner that +was at the same time pleased and surprised, that Madame d'Urfe had +been apparently joking in telling him to spare me all expense. + +"It's her goodness of heart. I am obliged to her all the same. +She is an excellent woman." + +We stayed at table till eleven o'clock, discussing in numerable +pleasant topics, and animating our talk with that choice liqueur +made at Grenoble, of which we drank a bottle. It is composed of +the juice of cherries, brandy, sugar, and cinnamon, and cannot be +surpassed, I am sure, by the nectar of Olympus. + +I sent home the baron in my carriage, after thanking him for his +services, and begging him to be my companion early and late while +I stayed at Grenoble--a re quest which he granted excepting for +those days on which he was on duty. At supper I had given him my +bill of exchange on Zappata, which I endorsed with the name de +Seingalt, which Madame d'Urfe had given me. He discounted it for +me next day. A banker brought me four hundred louis and I had +thirteen hundred in my cash-box. I always had a dread of +penuriousness, and I delighted myself at the thought that M. de +Valenglard would write and tell Madame d'Urfe, who was always +preaching economy to me, what he had seen. I escorted my guest to +the carriage, and I was agreeably surprised when I got back to +find the doorkeeper's two charming daughters. + +Le Duc had not waited for me to tell him to find some pretext for +not serving me. He knew my tastes, and that when there were +pretty girls in a house, the less I saw of him the better I was +pleased. + +The frank eagerness of the two girls to wait on me, their utter +freedom from suspicion or coquetry, made me determine that I would +shew myself deserving of their trust. They took off my shoes and +stockings, did my hair and put on my night-gown with perfect +propriety on both sides. When I was in bed I wished them a +goodnight, and told them to shut the door and bring me my +chocolate at eight o'clock next morning. + +I could not help confessing that I was perfectly happy as I +reflected over my present condition. I enjoyed perfect health, I +was in the prime of life, I had no calls on me, I was thoroughly +independent, I had a rich store of experience, plenty of money, +plenty of luck, and I was a favourite with women. The pains and +troubles I had gone through had been followed by so many days of +happiness that I felt disposed to bless my destiny. Full of these +agreeable thoughts I fell asleep, and all the night my dreams were +of happiness and of the pretty brunette who had played with me at +the concert. + +I woke with thoughts of her, and feeling sure that we should +become acquainted I felt curious to know what success I should +have with her. She was discreet and poor; and as I was discreet +in my own way she ought not to despise my friendship. + +At eight o'clock, one of the door-keeper's daughters brought me my +chocolate, and told me that Le Duc had got the fever. + +"You must take care of the poor fellow." + +"My cousin has just taken him some broth." + +"What is your name?" + +"My name is Rose, and my sister is Manon." + +Just then Manon came in with my shirt, on which she had put fresh +lace. I thanked her, and she said with a blush that she did her +father's hair very well. + +"I am delighted to hear it, and I shall be very pleased if you +will be kind enough to do the same offices for me till my servant +recovers." + +"With pleasure, sir." + +"And I," said Rose, laughing, "will shave you." + +"I should like to see how you do it; get the water." + +I rose hastily, while Manon was preparing to do my hair. Rose +returned and shaved me admirably. As soon as she had washed off +the lather, I said, + +"You must give me a kiss," presenting my cheek to her. She +pretended not to understand. + +"I shall be vexed," said I, gravely but pleasantly, "if you refuse +to kiss me," + +She begged to be excused, saying with a little smile, that it was +not customary to do so at Grenoble. + +"Well, if you won't kiss me, you shan't shave me." + +The father came in at that point, bringing his bill. + +"Your daughter has just shaved me admirably," said I, "and she +refuses to kiss me, because it is not the custom at Grenoble." + +"You little silly," said he, "it is the custom in Paris. You kiss +me fast enough after you have shaved me, why should you be less +polite to this gentleman?" + +She then kissed me with an air of submission to the paternal +decree which made Manon laugh. + +"Ah!" said the father, "your turn will come when you have finished +doing the gentleman's hair." + +He was a cunning fellow, who knew the best way to prevent me +cheapening him, but there was no need, as I thought his charges +reasonable, and as I paid him in full he went off in great glee. + +Manon did my hair as well as my dear Dubois, and kissed me when +she had done without making as many difficulties as Rose. I +thought I should get on well with both of them. They went +downstairs when the banker was announced. + +He was quite a young man, and after he had counted me out four +hundred Louis, he observed that I must be very comfortable. + +"Certainly," said I, "the two sisters are delightful." + +"Their cousin is better. They are too discreet." + +"I suppose they are well off." + +"The father has two thousand francs a year. They will be able to +marry well-to-do tradesmen." + +I was curious to see the cousin who was said to be prettier than +the sisters, and as soon as the banker had gone I went downstairs +to satisfy my curiosity. I met the father and asked him which was +Le Duc's room, and thereon I went to see my fine fellow. I found +him sitting up in a comfortable bed with a rubicund face which did +not look as if he were dangerously ill. + +"What is the matter with you? + +"Nothing, sir. I am having a fine time of it. Yesterday I +thought I would be ill." + +"What made you think that?" + +"The sight of the three Graces here, who are made of better stuff +than your handsome housekeeper, who would not let me kiss her. +They are making me wait too long for my broth, however. I shall +have to speak severely about it." + +"Le Duc, you are a rascal." + +"Do you want me to get well?" + +"I want you to put a stop to this farce, as I don't like it." +Just then the door opened, and the cousin came in with the broth. +I thought her ravishing, and I noticed that in waiting on Le Duc +she had an imperious little air which well became her. + +"I shall dine in bed," said my Spaniard. + +"You shall be attended to," said the pretty girl, and she went +out. + +"She puts on big airs," said Le Duc, "but that does not impose on +me. Don't you think she is very pretty?" + +"I think you are very impudent. You ape your betters, and I don't +approve of it. Get up. You must wait on me at table, and +afterwards you will eat your dinner by yourself, and try to get +yourself respected as an honest man always is, whatever his +condition, so long as he does not forget himself. You must not +stay any longer in this room, the doorkeeper will give you +another." + +I went out, and on meeting the fair cousin I told her that I was +jealous of the honour which she had done my man, and that I begged +her to wait on him no longer. + +"Oh, I am very glad!" + +The door-keeper came up, and I gave him my orders, and went back +to my room to write. + +Before dinner the baron came and told me that he had just come +from the lady to whom he had introduced me. She was the wife of a +barrister named Morin, and aunt to the young lady who had so +interested me. + +"I have been talking of you," said the baron, "and of the +impression her niece made on you. She promised to send for her, +and to keep her at the house all day." + +After a dinner as good as the supper of the night before, though +different from it in its details, and appetising enough to awaken +the dead, we went to see Madame Morin, who received us with the +easy grace of a Parisian lady. She introduced me to seven +children, of whom she was the mother. Her eldest daughter, an +ordinary-looking girl, was twelve years old, but I should have +taken her to be fourteen, and said so. To convince me of her age +the mother brought a book in which the year, the month, the day, +the hour, and even the minute of her birth were entered. I was +astonished at such minute accuracy, and asked if she had had a +horoscope drawn. + +"No," said she, "I have never found anybody to do it." + +"It is never too late," I replied, "and without doubt God has +willed that this pleasure should be reserved for me." + +At this moment M. Morin came in, his wife introduced me, and after +the customary compliments had passed, she returned to the subject +of the horoscope. The barrister sensibly observed that if +judicial astrology was not wholly false, it was, nevertheless, a +suspected science; that he had been so foolish as once to devote a +considerable portion of his time to it, but that on recognizing +the inability of man to deal with the future he had abandoned +astrology, contenting himself with the veritable truths of +astronomy. I saw with pleasure that I had to deal with a man of +sense and education, but Valenglard, who was a believer in +astrology, began an argument with him on the subject. During +their discussion I quietly copied out on my tablets the date of +Mdlle. Morin's birth. But M. Morin saw what I was about, and +shook his head at me, with a smile. I understood what he meant, +but I did not allow that to disconcert me, as I had made up my +mind fully five minutes ago that I would play the astrologer on +this occasion. + +At last the fair niece arrived. Her aunt introduced me to her as +Mdlle. Roman Coupier, her sister's daughter; and then, turning to +her, she informed her how ardently I had been longing to know her +since I had seen her at the concert. + +She was then seventeen. Her satin skin by its dazzling whiteness +displayed to greater advantage her magnificent black hair. Her +features were perfectly regular, and her complexion had a slight +tinge of red; her fine eyes were at once sweet and sparkling, her +eyebrows were well arched, her mouth small, her teeth regular and +as white as pearls, and her lips, of an exquisite rosy hue, +afforded a seat to the deities of grace and modesty. + +After some moments' conversation, M. Morin was obliged to go out +on business, and a game of quadrille was proposed, at which I was +greatly pitied for having lost a louis. I thought Mdlle. Roman +discreet, judicious, pleasant without being brilliant, and, still +better, without any pretensions. She was high-spirited, +even-tempered, and had a natural art which did not allow her to +seem to understand too flattering a compliment, or a joke which +passed in any way the bounds of propriety. She was neatly +dressed, but had no ornaments, and nothing which shewed wealth; +neither ear-rings, rings, nor a watch. One might have said that +her beauty was her only adornment, the only ornament she wore +being a small gold cross hanging from her necklace of black +ribbon. Her breast was well shaped and not too large. Fashion +and custom made her shew half of it as innocently as she shewed +her plump white hand, or her cheeks, whereon the lily and the rose +were wedded. I looked at her features to see if I might hope at +all; but I was completely puzzled, and could come to no +conclusion. She gave no sign which made me hope, but on the other +hand she did nothing to make me despair. She was so natural and +so reserved that my sagacity was completely at fault. +Nevertheless, a liberty which I took at supper gave me a gleam of +hope. Her napkin fell down, and in returning it to her I pressed +her thigh amorously, and could not detect the slightest +displeasure on her features. Content with so much I begged +everybody to come to dinner with me next day, telling Madame Morin +that I should not be going out, and that I was therefore delighted +to put my carriage at her service. + +When I had taken Valenglard home, I went to my lodging building +castles in Spain as to the conquest of Mdlle. Roman. + +I warned my landlord that we should be six at dinner and supper +the following day, and then I went to bed. As Le Duc was +undressing me he said, + +"Sir, you are punishing me, but what makes me sorry you are +punishing yourself in depriving yourself of the services of those +pretty girls." + +"You are a rogue." + +"I know it, but I serve you with all my heart, and I love your +pleasure as well as my own." + +"You plead well for yourself; I am afraid I have spoilt you." + +"Shall I do your hair to-morrow?" + +"No; you may go out every day till dinner-time." + +"I shall be certain to catch it." + +"Then I shall send you to the hospital." + +"That is a fine prospect, 'por Dios'." + +He was impudent, sly, profligate, and a rascally fellow; but also +obedient, devoted, discreet, and faithful, and his good qualities +made me overlook his defects. + +Next morning, when Rose brought my chocolate, she told me with a +laugh that my man had sent for a carriage, and after dressing +himself in the height of fashion he had gone off with his sword at +his side, to pay calls, as he said. + +"We laughed at him." + +"You were quite right, my dear Rose." + +As I spoke, Manon came in under some pretext or other. I saw that +the two sisters had an understanding never to be alone with me; I +was displeased, but pretended not to notice anything. I got up, +and I had scarcely put on my dressing-gown when the cousin came in +with a packet under her arm. + +"I am delighted to see you, and above all to look at your smiling +face, for I thought you much too serious yesterday." + +"That's because M. le Duc is a greater gentleman than you are; I +should not have presumed to laugh in his presence; but I had my +reward in seeing him start off this morning in his gilded coach." + +"Did he see you laughing at him?" + +"Yes, unless he is blind." + +"He will be vexed." + +"All the better." + +"You are really very charming. What have you got in that parcel?" + +"Some goods of our own manufacture. Look; they are embroidered +gloves." + +"They are beautiful; the embroidery is exquisitely done. How much +for the lot?" + +"Are you a good hand at a bargain." + +"Certainly." + +"Then we must take that into account." + +After some whisperings together the cousin took a pen, put down +the numbers of gloves, added up and said, + +"The lot will cost you two hundred and ten francs." + +"There are nine louis; give me six francs change." + +"But you told us you would make a bargain." + +"You were wrong to believe it." + +She blushed and gave me the six francs. Rose and Manon shaved me +and did my hair, giving me a kiss with the best grace imaginable; +and when I offered my cheek to the cousin she kissed me on the +mouth in a manner that told me she would be wholly mine on the +first opportunity. + +"Shall we have the pleasure of waiting on you at the table?" said +Rose. + +"I wish you would." + +"But we should like to know who is coming to dinner first; as if +it is officers from the garrison we dare not come; they make so +free." + +"My guests are Madame Morin, her husband, and her niece." + +"Very good" + +The cousin said, + +"Mdlle. Roman is the prettiest and the best girl in Grenoble; but +she will find some difficulty in marrying as she has no money." + +"She may meet some rich man who will think her goodness and her +beauty worth a million of money." + +"There are not many men of that kind." + +"No; but there are a few." + +Manon and the cousin went out, and I was left alone with Rose, who +stayed to dress me. I attacked her, but she defended herself so +resolutely that I desisted, and promised it should not occur +again. When she had finished I gave her a louis, thanked her, and +sent her away. + +As soon as I was alone I locked the door, and proceeded to concoct +the horoscope I had promised to Madame Morin. I found it an easy +task to fill eight pages with learned folly; and I confined myself +chiefly to declaring the events which had already happened to the +native. I had deftly extracted some items of information in the +course of conversation, and filling up the rest according to the +laws of probability and dressing up the whole in astrological +diction, I was pronounced to be a seer, and no doubts were cast on +my skill. I did not indeed run much risk, for everything hung +from an if, and in the judicious employment of ifs lies the secret +of all astrology. + +I carefully re-read the document, and thought it admirable. I +felt in the vein, and the use of the cabala had made me an expert +in this sort of thing. + +Just after noon all my guests arrived, and at one we sat down to +table. I have never seen a more sumptuous or more delicate +repast. I saw that the cook was an artist more in need of +restraint than encouragement. Madame Morin was very polite to the +three girls, whom she knew well, and Le Duc stood behind her chair +all the time, looking after her wants, and dressed as richly as +the king's chamberlain. When we had nearly finished dinner Mdlle. +Roman passed a compliment on my three fair waiting-maids, and this +giving me occasion to speak of their talents I got up and brought +the gloves I had purchased from them. Mdlle. Roman praised the +quality of the material and the work. I took the opportunity, and +begged leave of the aunt to give her and her niece a dozen pair +apiece. I obtained this favour, and I then gave Madame Morin the +horoscope. Her husband read it, and though an unbeliever he was +forced to admire, as all the deductions were taken naturally from +the position of the heavenly bodies at the instant of his +daughter's birth. We spent a couple of hours in talking about +astrology, and the same time in playing at quadrille, and then we +took a walk in the garden, where I was politely left to enjoy the +society of the fair Roman. + +Our dialogue, or rather my monologue, turned solely on the +profound impression she had made on me, on the passion she had +inspired, on her beauty, her goodness, the purity of my +intentions, and on my need of love, lest I should go down to the +grave the most hapless of men. + +"Sir," said she, at last, "if my destiny points to marriage I do +not deny that I should be happy to find a husband like you." + +I was emboldened by this frank declaration, and seizing her hand I +covered it with fiery kisses, saying passionately that I hoped she +would not let me languish long. She turned her head to look for +her aunt. It was getting dark, and she seemed to be afraid of +something happening to her. She drew me gently with her, and on +rejoining the other guests we returned to the dining-room, where I +made a small bank at faro for their amusement. Madame Morin gave +her daughter and niece, whose pockets were empty, some money, and +Valenglard directed their play so well that when we left off to go +to supper I had the pleasure of seeing that each of the three +ladies had won two or three louis. + +We sat at table till midnight. A cold wind from the Alps stopped +my plan of proposing a short turn in the garden. Madame Morin +overwhelmed me with thanks for my entertainment, and I gave each +of my lady-visitors a respectful kiss. + +I heard singing in the kitchen, and on going in I found Le Duc in +a high state of excitement and very drunk. As soon as he saw me +he tried to rise, but he lost his centre of gravity, and fell +right under the kitchen table. He was carried away to bed. + +I thought this accident favourable to my desire of amusing myself, +and I might have succeeded if the three Graces had not all been +there. Love only laughs when two are present, and thus it is that +the ancient mythology tells no story of the loves of the Graces, +who were always together. I had not yet found an opportunity of +getting my three maids one after the other, and I dared not risk a +general attack, which might have lost me the confidence of each +one. Rose, I saw, was openly jealous of her cousin, as she kept a +keen look-out after her movements. I was not sorry, for jealousy +leads to anger, and anger goes a long way. When I was in bed I +sent them away with a modest good night. + +Next morning, Rose came in by herself to ask me for a cake of +chocolate, for, as she said, Le Duc was now ill in real earnest. +She brought me the box, and I gave her the chocolate, and in doing +so I took her hand and shewed her how well I loved her. She was +offended, drew back her hand sharply, and left the room. A moment +after Manon came in under the pretext of shewing me a piece of +lace I had torn away in my attempts of the day before, and of +asking me if she should mend it. I took her hand to kiss it, but +she did not give me time, presenting her lips, burning with +desire. I took her hand again, and it was just on the spot when +the cousin came in. Manon held the piece of lace, and seemed to +be waiting for my answer. I told her absently that I should be +obliged if she would mend it when she had time, and with this she +went out. + +I was troubled by this succession of disasters, and thought that +the cousin would not play me false from the earnest of her +affection which she had given me the day before in that ardent +kiss of hers. I begged her to give me my handkerchief, and gently +drew her hand towards me. Her mouth fastened to mine, and her +hand, which she left to my pleasure with all the gentleness of a +lamb, was already in motion when Rose came in with my chocolate. +We regained our composure in a moment, but I was furious at heart. +I scowled at Rose, and I had a right to do so after the manner in +which she had repulsed me a quarter of an hour before. Though the +chocolate was excellent, I pronounced it badly made. I chid her +for her awkwardness in waiting on me, and repulsed her at every +step. When I got up I would not let her shave me; I shaved +myself, which seemed to humiliate her, and then Manon did my hair. +Rose and the cousin then went out, as if to make common cause +together, but it was easy to see that Rose was less angry with her +sister than her cousin. + +As Manon was finishing my toilette, M. de Valenglard came in. As +soon as we were alone, the officer, who was a man of honour and of +much sense, in spite of his belief in astrology and the occult +sciences, said that he thought me looking rather melancholy, and +that if my sadness had any connection with the fair Roman, he +warned me to think no more of her, unless I had resolved to ask +her hand in marriage. I replied that to put an end to all +difficulties I had decided on leaving Grenoble in a few days. We +dined together and we then called on Madame Morin, with whom we +found her fair niece. + +Madame Morin gave me a flattering welcome, and Mdlle. Roman +received me so graciously that I was emboldened to kiss her and +place her on my knee. The aunt laughed, the niece blushed, and +then slipping into my hand a little piece of paper made her +escape. I read on the paper the year, day, Hour, and minute of +her birth, and guessed what she meant. She meant, I thought, that +I could do nothing with her before I had drawn up her horoscope. +My resolve was soon taken to profit by this circumstance, and I +told her that I would tell her whether I could oblige her or not +next day, if she would come to a ball I was giving. She looked at +her aunt and my invitation was accepted. + +Just then the servant announced "The Russian Gentleman." I saw a +well-made man of about my own age, slightly marked with the +small-pox, and dressed as a traveller. He accosted Madame Morin +with easy grace, was welcomed heartily by her, spoke well, +scarcely gave me a glance, and did not say a word to the nieces. +In the evening M. Morin came in, and the Russian gave him a small +phial full of a white liquid, and then made as if he would go, +but he was kept to supper. + +At table the conversation ran on this marvellous liquid of his. +M. Morin told me that he had cured a young man of a bruise from a +billiard ball in five minutes, by only rubbing it with the liquid. +He said modestly that it was a trifling thing of his own +invention, and he talked a good deal about chemistry to +Valenglard. As my attention was taken up by the fair Mdlle. +Roman I could not take part in their conversation; my hope of +succeeding with her on the following day absorbed all my thoughts. +As I was going away with Valenglard he told me that nobody knew +who the Russian was, and that he was nevertheless received +everywhere. + +"Has he a carriage and servants?" + +"He has nothing, no servants and no money." + +"Where did he come from?" + +"From the skies." + +"A fair abode, certainly; how long has he been here?" + +"For the last fortnight. He visits, but asks for nothing." + +"How does he live?" + +"On credit at the inn; he is supposed to be waiting for his +carriage and servants." + +"He is probably a vagabond." + +"He does not look like one, as you saw for yourself, and his +diamonds contradict that hypothesis." + +"Yes, if they are not imitation stones, for it seems to me that if +they were real he would sell them." + +When I got home Rose came by herself to attend on me, but she +continued to sulk. I tried to rouse her up, but as I had no +success I ordered her to go and tell her father that I was going +to give a ball next day in the room by the garden, and that supper +was to be laid for twenty. + +When the door-keeper came to take my orders the following morning, +I told him that I should like his girls to dance if he didn't +mind. At this Rose condescended to smile, and I thought it a good +omen. Just as she went out with her father, Manon carne in under +the pretext of asking me what lace I would wear for the day. I +found her as gentle as a lamb and as loving as a dove. The affair +was happily consummated, but we had a narrow escape of being +caught by Rose, who came in with Le Duc and begged me to let him +dance, promising that he would behave himself properly. I was +glad that everybody should enjoy themselves and consented, telling +him to thank Rose, who had got him this favour. + +I had a note from Madame Morin, asking me if she might bring with +her to the ball two ladies of her acquaintance and their +daughters. I replied that I should be delighted for her to invite +not only as many ladies but as many gentlemen as she pleased, as I +had ordered supper for twenty people. She came to dinner with her +niece and Valenglard, her daughter being busy dressing and her +husband being engaged till the evening. She assured me that I +should have plenty of guests. + +The fair Mdlle. Roman wore the same dress, but her beauty +unadorned was dazzling. Standing by me she asked if I had thought +about her horoscope. I took her hand, made her sit on my knee, +and promised that she should have it on the morrow. I held her +thus, pressing her charming breasts with my left hand, and +imprinting fiery kisses on her lips, which she only opened to beg +me to calm myself. She was more astonished than afraid to see me +trembling, and though she defended herself successfully she did +not lose countenance for a moment, and in spite of my ardent gaze +she did not turn her face away. I calmed myself with an effort, +and her eyes expressed the satisfaction of one who has vanquished +a generous enemy by the force of reason. By my silence I praised +the virtue of this celestial being, in whose destiny I only had a +part by one of those caprices of chance which philosophy seeks to +explain in vain. + +Madame Morin came up to me, and asked me to explain some points in +her daughter's horoscope. She then told me that if I wanted to +have four beauties at my ball she had only to write a couple of +notes. + +"I shall only see one beauty," said I, looking at her niece. "God +alone knows," said Valenglard, "what people will say in Grenoble!" +"They will say it is your wedding ball," said Madame Morin to her +niece. + +"Yes, and they will doubtless talk of my magnificent dress, my +lace, and my diamonds," said the niece, pleasantly. + +"They will talk of your beauty, your wit, and your goodness," +I replied, passionately, "goodness which will make your husband a +happy man." + +There was a silence, because they all thought I was alluding to +myself. I was doing nothing of the sort. I should have been glad +to give five hundred louis for her, but I did not see how the +contract was to be drawn up, and I was not going to throw my money +away. + +We went to my bedroom, and while Mdlle. Roman was amusing herself +with looking at the jewellry on my toilette-table, her aunt and +Valenglard examined the books on the table by my bedside. I saw +Madame Morin going to the window and looking closely at something +she held in her hand. I remembered I had left out the portrait of +the fair nun. I ran to her and begged her to give me the indecent +picture I had so foolishly left about. + +"I don't mind the indecency of it," she said, "but what strikes me +is the exact likeness." + +I understood everything, and I shuddered at the carelessness of +which I had been guilty. + +"Madam," I said, "that is the portrait of a Venetian, lady, of +whom I was very found." + +"I daresay, but it's very curious. These two M's, these cast-off +robes sacrificed to love, everything makes my surprise greater." + +"She is a nun and named M---- M----." + +"And a Welsh niece of mine at Camberi is also named M---- M----, +and belongs to the same order. Nay, more, she has been at Aix, +whence you have come, to get cured of an illness." + +"And this portrait is like her?" + +"As one drop of water is like another." + +"If you go to Chamberi call on her and say you come from me; you +will be welcome and you will be as much surprised as I am." + +"I will do so, after I have been in Italy. However, I will not +shew her this portrait, which would scandalize her; I will put it +away carefully." + +"I beg you not to shew it to anyone." + +"You may rely on me." + +I was in an ecstasy at having put her off so effectually. + +At eight o'clock all my guests arrived, and I saw before me all +the fairest ladies and the noblest gentlemen of Grenoble. The +only thing which vexed me was the compliments they lavished on me, +as is customary in the provinces. + +I opened the ball with the lady pointed out to me by +M. Valenglard, and then I danced with all the ladies in succession; +but my partner in all the square dances was the fair Mdlle. Roman, +who shone from her simplicity--at least, in my eyes. + +After a quadrille, in which I had exerted myself a good deal, I +felt hot and went up to my room to put on a lighter suit, and as I +was doing so, in came the fair cousin, who asked me if I required +anything. + +"Yes, you, dearest," I replied, going up to her and taking her in +my arms. "Did anyone see you coming in here?" + +"No, I came from upstairs, and my cousins are in the +dancing-room." + +"That is capital. You are fair as Love himself, and this is an +excellent opportunity for skewing you how much I love you." + +"Good heavens! What are you doing? Let me go, somebody might +come in. Well, put out the light!" + +I put it out, shut the door, and, my head full of Mdlle. Roman, +the cousin found me as ardent as I should have been with that +delightful person. I confess, too, that the door-keeper's niece +was well worthy of being loved on her own merits. I found her +perfect, perhaps better than Mdlle. Roman, a novice, would have +been. In spite of my ardour her passion was soon appeased, and +she begged me to let her go, and I did so; but it was quite time. +I wanted to begin over again, but she was afraid that our absence +would be noticed by her two Argus-eyed cousins, so she kissed me +and left the room. + +I went back to the ball-room, and we danced on till the king of +door-keepers came to tell us supper was ready. + +A collation composed of the luxuries which the season and the +country afforded covered the table; but what pleased the ladies +most was the number and artistic arrangement of the wax lights. + +I sat down at a small table with a few of my guests, and I +received the most pressing invitations to spend the autumn in +their town. I am sure that if I had accepted I should have been +treated like a prince, for the nobility of Grenoble bear the +highest character for hospitality. I told them that if it had +been possible I should have had the greatest pleasure in accepting +their invitation, and in that case I should have been delighted to +have made the acquaintance of the family of an illustrious +gentleman, a friend of my father's. + +"What name is it?" they asked me, altogether. + +"Bouchenu de Valbonnais." + +"He was my uncle. Ah! sir, you must come and stay with us. You +danced with my daughter. What was your father's name? + +This story, which I invented, and uttered as I was wont, on the +spur of the moment, turned me into a sort of wonder in the eyes of +the worthy people. + +After we had laughed, jested, drank, and eaten, we rose from the +table and began to dance anew. + +Seeing Madame Morin, her niece, and Valenglard going into the +garden, I followed them, and as we walked in the moonlight I led +the fair Mdlle. Roman through a covered alley; but all my fine +speeches were in vain; I could do nothing. I held her between my +arms, I covered her with burning kisses, but not one did she +return to me, and her hands offered a successful resistance to my +hardy attempts. By a sudden effort, however, I at last attained +the porch of the temple of love, and held her in such a way that +further resistance would have been of no avail; but she stopped me +short by saying in a voice which no man of feeling could have +resisted,-- + +"Be my friend, sir, and not my enemy and the cause of my ruin." + +I knelt before her, and taking her hand begged her pardon, +swearing not to renew my attempts. I then rose and asked her to +kiss me as a pledge of her forgiveness. We rejoined her aunt, and +returned to the ball-room, but with all my endeavours I could not +regain my calm. + +I sat down in a corner of the room, and I asked Rose, who passed +by me, to get me a glass of lemonade. When she brought it she +gently chid me for not having danced with her, her sister, or her +cousin. + +"It will give people but a poor opinion of our merits." + +"I am tired," said I, "but if you will promise to be kind I will +dance a minuet with you." + +"What do want me to do?" said she. + +"Go into my bedroom and wait for me there in the dark when you see +your sister and your cousin busy dancing." + +"And you will only dance with me." + +"I swear" + +"Then you will find me in your room." + +I found her passionate, and I had full satisfaction. To keep my +word with her I waited for the closing minuet, for having danced +with Rose I felt obliged in common decency to dance with the other +two, especially as I owed them the same debt. + +At day-break the ladies began to vanish, and as I put the Morins +into my carriage I told them that I could not have the pleasure of +seeing them again that day, but that if they would come and spend +the whole of the day after with me I would have the horoscope +ready. + +I went to the kitchen to thank the worthy door-keeper for having +made me cut such a gallant figure, and I found the three nymphs +there, filling their pockets with sweetmeats. He told them, +laughing, that as the master was there they might rob him with a +clear conscience, and I bade them take as much as they would. I +informed the door-keeper that I should not dine till six, and I +then went to bed. + +I awoke at noon, and feeling myself well rested I set to work at +the horoscope, and I resolved to tell the fair Mdlle. Roman that +fortune awaited her at Paris, where she would become her master's +mistress, but that the monarch must see her before she had +attained her eighteenth year, as at that time her destiny would +take a different turn. To give my prophecy authority, I told her +some curious circumstances which had hitherto happened to her, and +which I had learnt now and again from herself or Madame Morin +without pretending to heed what they said. + +With an Ephemeris and another astrological book, I made out and +copied in six hours Mdlle. Roman's horoscope, and I had so well +arranged it that it struck Valenglard and even M. Morin with +astonishment, and made the two ladies quite enthusiastic. + +My horoscope must only be known to the young lady and her family, +who would no doubt keep the secret well. After I had put the +finishing touches to it, read it, and read it again, I felt +certain that I had made a masterpiece, and I then dined in bed +with my three nymphs. I was polite and affectionate to them all, +and we were all happy together, but I was the happiest. M. de +Valenglard came to see me early the next day, and informed me that +nobody suspected me of being in love with Mdlle. Roman, but that I +was thought to be amorous of my landlord's girls. + +"Well, let them think so," said I; "they are worthy of love, +though not to be named in the same breath with one past compare, +but who leaves me no hope." + +"Let me tell Madame d'Urfe all about it." + +"Certainly; I shall be delighted." + +M. and Madame Morin and their niece came at noon, and we spent the +hour before dinner in reading the horoscope. It would be +impossible to describe the four distinct sorts of surprise which I +saw before me. The interesting Mdlle. Roman looked very grave, +and, not knowing whether she had a will of her own, listened to +what was said in silence. M. Morin looked at me now and again, +and seeing that I kept a serious countenance did not dare to +laugh. Valenglard shewed fanatic belief in astrology in every +feature. Madame Morin seemed struck as by a miracle, and, far +from thinking the fact prophesied too improbable, remarked that +her niece was much more worthy of becoming her sovereign's wife or +mistress than the bigoted Maintenon had been. + +"She would never have done anything," said Madame Morin, "if she +had not left America and come to France; and if my niece does not +go to Paris nobody can say that the horoscope has prophesied +falsely. We should therefore--go to Paris, but how is it to be +done? I don't see my way to it. The prediction of the birth of a +son has something divine and entrancing about it. I don't wish to +seem prejudiced, but my niece has certainly more qualifications +for gaining the king's affection than the Maintenon had: my niece +is a good girl and young, while the Maintenon was no longer as +young as she had been, and had led a strange life before she +became a devotee. But we shall never accomplish this journey to +Paris." + +"Nay," said Valenglard, in a serious tone, which struck me as +supremely ridiculous, "she must go; her fate must be fulfilled." + +The fair Mdlle. Roman seemed all amazed. I let them talk on, and +we sat down to dinner. + +[The next two paragraphs were misplaced in the original, +likely by the typesetter, and have been inserted here where it +seems that they belong. D.W.] + +I hoped I should be asked to take the diamond to Paris myself, and +I felt inclined to grant the request. I flattered myself that +they could not do without me, and that I should get what I wanted, +if not for love at any rate through gratitude; indeed, who knew +what might become of the plan? The monarch would be sure to be +caught directly. I had no doubts on that subject, for where is +the man in love who does not think that his beloved object will +win the hearts of all others? For the moment I felt quite jealous +of the king, but, from my thorough knowledge of my own +inconstancy, I felt sure that my jealousy would cease when my love +had been rewarded, and I was aware that Louis XV. did not +altogether hold the opinions of a Turk in such concerns. What +gave an almost divine character to the horoscope was the +prediction of a son to be born, who would make the happiness of +France, and could only come from the royal blood and from a +singular vessel of election. + +A curious fancy increased my delight, namely, the thought of +becoming a famous astrologer in an age when reason and science had +so justly demolished astrology. I enjoyed the thought of seeing +myself sought out by crowned heads, which are always the more +accessible to superstitious notions. I determined I would be +particular to whom I gave my advice. Who has not made his castles +in Spain? If Mdlle. Roman gave birth to a daughter instead of a +son I should be amused, and all would not be lost, for a son might +come afterwards. + +At first silence reigned, and then the conversation ran on a +thousand trifles, as is usual in good society, but by degrees, as +I had thought, they returned to the horoscope. + +"According to the horoscope," said the aunt, "the king is to fall +in love with my niece in her eighteenth year; she is now close on +it. What are we to do? Where are we to get the hundred louis +necessary? And when she gets to Paris is she to go to the king +and say, 'Here I am, your majesty'? And who is going to take her +there? I can't." + +"My aunt Roman might," said the young lady, blushing up to her +eyes at the roar of laughter which none of us could restrain. + +"Well," said Madame Morin, "there is Madame Varnier, of the Rue de +Richelieu; she is an aunt of yours. She has a good establishment, +and knows everybody." + +"See," said Valenglard, "how the ways of destiny are made plain. +You talk of a hundred louis; twelve will be sufficient to take you +to Madame Varnier's. When you get there, leave the rest to your +fate, which will surely favour you." + +"If you do go to Paris," said I, "say nothing to Madame Roman or +Madame Varnier about the horoscope." + +"I will say nothing to anyone about it; but, after all, it is only +a happy dream. I shall never see Paris, still less Louis XV." + +I arose, and going to my cash-box I took out a roll of a hundred +and fifty louis, which I gave to her, saying it was a packet of +sweetmeats. It felt rather heavy, and on opening it she found it +to contain fifty pieces-of-eight, which she took for medals. + +"They are gold," said Valenglard. + +"And the goldsmith will give you a hundred and fifty louis for +them," added M. Morin. + +"I beg you will keep them; you can give me a bill payable at Paris +when you become rich." + +I knew she would refuse to accept my present, although I should +have been delighted if she had kept the money. But I admired her +strength of mind in restraining her tears, and that without +disturbing for a moment the smile on her face. + +We went out to take a turn in the garden. Valenglard and Madame +Morin began on the topic of the horoscope anew, and I left them, +taking Mdlle. Roman with me. + +"I wish you would tell me," said she, when we were out of hearing +of the others, "if this horoscope is not all a joke." + +"No," I answered, "it is quite serious, but it all depends on an +if. If you do not go to Paris the prophecy will never be +fulfilled." + +"You must think so, certainly, or you would never have offered me +those fifty medals." + +"Do me the pleasure of accepting them now; nobody will know +anything about it." + +"No, I cannot, though I am much obliged to you. But why should +you want to give me such a large sum?" + +"For the pleasure of contributing to your happiness, and in the +hope that you will allow me to love you." + +"If you really love met why should I oppose your love? You need +not buy my consent; and to be happy I do not want to possess the +King of France, if you did but know to what my desires are +limited." + +"Tell me." + +"I would fain find a kind husband, rich enough for us not to lack +the necessaries of life." + +"But how if you did not love him?" + +"If he was a good, kind man how could I help loving him?" + +"I see that you do not know what love is." + +"You are right. I do not know the love that maddens, and I thank +God for it." + +"Well, I think you are wise; may God preserve you from that love." + +"You say, that as soon as the king sees me he will fall in love +with me, and to tell you the truth that strikes me as vastly +improbable; for though it is quite possible that he may not think +me plain, or he might even pronounce me pretty, yet I do not think +he will become so madly in love as you say." + +"You don't? Let us sit down. You have only got to fancy that the +king will take the same liking to you that I have done; that is +all." + +"But what do you find in me that you will not find in most girls +of my age? I certainly may have struck you; but that only proves +that I was born to exercise this sway over you, and not at all +that I am to rule the king in like manner. Why should I go and +look for the king, if you love me yourself?" + +"Because I cannot give you the position you deserve." + +"I should have thought you had plenty of money." + +"Then there's another reason: you are not in love with me." + +"I love you as tenderly as if I were your wife. I might then kiss +you, though duty now forbids my doing so." + +"I am much obliged to you for not being angry with me for being so +happy with you!" + +"On the contrary, I am delighted to please you." + +"Then you will allow me to call on you at an early hour to-morrow, +and to take coffee at your bedside." + +"Do not dream of such a thing. If I would I could not. I sleep +with my aunt, and I always rise at the same time she does. Take +away your hand; you promised not to do it again. In God's name, +let me alone." + +Alas! I had to stop; there was no overcoming her. But what +pleased me extremely was that in spite of my amorous persecution +she did not lose that smiling calm which so became her. As for +myself I looked as if I deserved that pardon for which I pleaded +on my knees, and in her eyes I read that she was sorry that she +could not grant what I required of her. + +I could no longer stay beside her, my senses were too excited by +her beauty. I left her and went to my room where I found the kind +Manon busying herself on my cuffs, and she gave me the relief I +wanted, and when we were both satisfied made her escape. I +reflected that I should never obtain more than I had obtained +hitherto from young Mdlle. Roman--at least, unless I gave the lie +to my horoscope by marrying her, and I decided that I would not +take any further steps in the matter. I returned to the garden, +and going up to the aunt I begged her to walk with me. In vain I +urged the worthy woman to accept a hundred louis for her niece's +journey from me. I swore to her by all I held sacred that no one +else should ever know of the circumstance. All my eloquence and +all my prayers were in vain. She told me that if her niece's +destiny only depended on that journey all would be well, for she +had thought over a plan which would, with her husband's consent, +enable Mdlle. Roman to go to Paris. At the same time she gave me +her sincerest thanks, and said that her niece was very fortunate +to have pleased me so well. + +"She pleased me so well," I replied, "that I have resolved to go +away to-morrow to avoid making proposals to you which would bring +the great fortune that awaits her to nought. If it were not for +that I should have been happy to have asked her hand of you." + +"Alas! her happiness would, perhaps, be built on a better +foundation. Explain yourself." + +"I dare not wage war with fate." + +"But you are not going to-morrow?" + +"Excuse me, but I shall call to take leave at two o'clock." + +The news of my approaching departure saddened the supper-table. +Madame Morin, who, for all I know, may be alive now, was a most +kind-hearted woman. At table she announced her resolve that as I +had decided on going, and as I should only leave my house to take +leave of her, she would not force me to put myself out to such an +extent, and ordained that our farewells should be said that +evening. + +"At least," I said, "I may have the honour of escorting you to +your door?" + +"That will protract our happiness for some minutes." Valenglard +went away on foot, and the fair Mdlle. Roman sat on my knee. I +dared to be bold with her, and contrary to expectation she shewed +herself so kind that I was half sorry I was going; but the die was +cast. + +A carriage lying overturned on the road outside an inn made my +coachman stop a short while, and this accident which made the poor +driver curse overwhelmed me with joy, for in these few moments I +obtained all the favours that she could possibly give under the +circumstances. + +Happiness enjoyed alone is never complete. Mine was not until I +assured myself, by looking at my sweetheart's features, that the +part she had taken had not been an entirely passive one; and I +escorted the ladies to their room. There, without any conceit, I +was certain that I saw sadness and love upon that fair creature's +face. I could see that she was neither cold nor insensible, and +that the obstacles she had put in my way were only suggested by +fear and virtue. I gave Madame Morin a farewell kiss, and she was +kind enough to tell her niece to give me a similar mark of +friendship, which she did in a way that shewed me how completely +she had shared my ardour. + +I left them, feeling amorous and sorry I had obliged myself to go. +On entering my room I found the three nymphs together, which vexed +me as I only wanted one. I whispered my wishes to Rose as she +curled my hair, but she told me it was impossible for her to slip +away as they all slept in one room. I then told them that I was +going away the next day, and that if they would pass the night +with me I would give them a present of six louis each. They +laughed at my proposal and said it couldn't possibly be done. I +saw by this they had not made confidantes of one another, as girls +mostly do, and I also saw that they were jealous of each other. I +wished them a good night, and as soon as I was in bed the god of +dreams took me under his care, and made me pass the night with the +adorable Mdlle. Roman. + +I rang rather late in the morning, and the cousin came in and said +that Rose would bring my chocolate, and that M. Charles Ivanoff +wanted to speak to me. I guessed that this was the Russian, but +as he had not been introduced to me I thought I might decline to +see him. + +"Tell him I don't know his name." + +Rose went out, and came in again saying he was the gentleman who +had had the honour of supping with me at Madame Morin's. + +"Tell him to come in." + +"Sir," said he, "I want to speak with you in private." + +"I cannot order these young ladies to leave my room, sir. Be kind +enough to wait for me outside till I have put on my dressing-gown, +and then I shall be ready to speak to you." + +"If I am troubling you, I will call again to-morrow." + +"You would not find me, as I am leaving Grenoble to-day." + +"In that case I will wait." + +I got up in haste and went out to him. + +"Sir," said he, "I must leave this place, and I have not a penny +to pay my landlord. I beg of you to come to my aid. I dare not +have recourse to anyone else in the town for fear of exposing +myself to the insult of a refusal." + +"Perhaps I ought to feel myself flattered at the preference you +have shewn me, but without wishing to insult you in any way I am +afraid I shall be obliged to refuse your request." + +"If you knew who I am I am sure you would not refuse me some small +help." + +"If you think so, tell me who you are; you may count on my +silence." + +"I am Charles, second son of Ivan, Duke of Courland, who is in +exile in Siberia. I made my escape." + +"If you go to Genoa you will find yourself beyond the reach of +poverty; for no doubt the brother of your lady-mother would never +abandon you." + +"He died in Silesia." + +"When?" + +"Two years ago, I believe." + +"You have been deceived, for I saw him at Stuttgart scarcely six +months ago. He is the Baron de Treiden." + +It did not cost me much to get wind of the adventurer, but I felt +angry that he had had the impudence to try and dupe me. If it had +not been for that I would willingly have given him six louis, for +it would have been bad form on my part to declare war against +adventurers, as I was one myself, and I ought to have pardoned his +lies as nearly all adventurers are more or less impostors. +I gave a glance at his diamond buckles, which were considered real +at Grenoble, and I saw directly that they were counterfeits of a +kind made in Venice, which imitate the facets of the diamonds in +perfection, except to people who are experienced in diamonds. + +"You have diamond buckles," said I. "Why don't you sell them?" + +"It's the last piece of jewellery I possess out of all my mother +gave me, and I promised her never to part with them." + +"I would not shew those buckles if I were you; your pocket would +be a better place for them. I may tell you frankly that I believe +the stones to be counterfeit, and that your lie displeases me." + +"Sir, I am not a liar." + +"We shall see. Prove that the stones are genuine, and I will give +you six louis. I shall be delighted if I am in the wrong. +Farewell." + +Seeing M. de Valerlglard coming up to my door, he begged me not to +tell him of what had passed between us; and I promised that I +would tell no one. + +Valenglard came to wish me a prosperous journey; he himself was +obliged to go with M. Monteinard. He begged me to correspond +constantly with him, and I had been intending to prefer the same +request, as I took too great an interest in the fair Mdlle. Roman +not to wish to hear of her fate, and the correspondence the worthy +officer desired was the best way possible for me to hear about +her. As will be imagined, I promised what he asked without making +any difficulty. He shed tears as he embraced me, and I promised +to be his friend. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +My Departure from Grenoble--Avignon--The Fountain of Vaucluse--The +False Astrodi and the Humpback--Gaetan Costa--I Arrive at +Marseilles + +While the three girls were helping Le Duc to pack my mails my +landlord entered, gave me his bill, and finding everything correct +I paid him, much to his satisfaction. I owed him a compliment, +too, at which he seemed extremely gratified. + +"Sir," said I, "I do not wish to leave your house without having +the pleasure of dining with your charming girls, to shew them how +I appreciate the care they have taken of me. Let me have, then, a +delicate repast for four, and also order post horses, that I may +start in the evening." + +"Sir," broke in Le Duc, "I entreat you to order a saddle-horse +besides; I was not made for a seat behind a chaise." + +The cousin laughed openly at his vain boasting, and to avenge +himself the rascal told her that he was better than she. + +"Nevertheless, M. le Duc, you will have to wait on her at table." + +"Yes, as she waits on you in bed." + +I ran for my stick, but the rogue, knowing what was going to +happen, opened the window and jumped into the courtyard. The +girls gave a shriek of terror, but when we looked out we saw him +jumping about and performing a thousand apish tricks. + +Very glad to find that he had not broken a limb, I called out, +"Come back, I forgive you." The girls, and the man himself who +escaped so readily, were as delighted as I. Le Duc came in in +high spirits, observing that he did not know he was such a good +jumper. + +"Very good, but don't be so impudent another time. Here, take +this watch." + +So saying, I gave him a valuable gold watch, which he received, +saying,-- + +"I would jump again for another watch like this." + +Such was my Spaniard, whom I had to dismiss two years afterwards. +I have often missed him. + +The hours went by with such speed when I was seated at table with +the three girls, whom I vainly endeavoured to intoxicate, that I +decided that I would not leave till the next day. I was tired of +making mysteries and wanted to enjoy them all together, and +resolved that the orgy should take place that night. I told them +that if they would pass the night in my room I would not go till +the next day. This proposition was received with a storm of +exclamations and with laughter, as at an impossibility, while I +endeavoured to excite them to grant my request. In the midst of +this the door-keeper came in, advising me not to travel by night, +but to go to Avignon by a boat in which I could ship my carriage. + +"You will save time and money," said he. + +"I will do so," I answered, "if these girls of yours will keep me +company all night, as I am determined I will not go to bed." + +"O Lord!" said he with a laugh, "that's their business." + +This decided them and they gave in. The door-keeper sent to order +the boat, and promised to let me have a dainty supper by midnight. + +The hours passed by in jests and merriment, and when we sat down +to supper I made the champagne corks fly to such an extent that +the girls began to get rather gay. I myself felt a little heated, +and as I held each one's secret I had the hardihood to tell them +that their scruples were ridiculous, as each of them had shewn no +reserve to me in private. + +At this they gazed at one another in a kind of blank surprise, as +if indignant at what I had said. Foreseeing that feminine pride +might prompt them to treat my accusation as an idle calumny, I +resolved not to give them time, and drawing Manon on to my knee I +embraced her with such ardour that she gave in and abandoned +herself to my passion. Her example overcame the others, and for +five hours we indulged in every kind of voluptuous enjoyment. At +the end of that time we were all in need of rest, but I had to go. +I wanted to give them some jewels, but they said they would rather +I ordered gloves to the amount of thirty louis, the money to be +paid in advance, and the gloves not to be called for. + +I went to sleep on board the boat, and did not awake till we got +to Avignon. I was conducted to the inn of "St. Omen" and supped +in my room in spite of the marvellous tales which Le Duc told me +of a young beauty at the public table. + +Next morning my Spaniard told me that the beauty and her husband +slept in a room next to mine. At the same time he brought me a +bill of the play, and I saw Company from Paris, with Mdlle. +Astrodi, who was to sing and dance. I gave a cry of wonder, and +exclaimed,-- + +"The famous Astrodi at Avignon--how she will be astonished to see +me!" + +Not wanting to live in hermit fashion, I went downstairs to dine +at the public table, and I found a score of people sitting down to +such a choice repast that I could not conceive how it could be +done for forty sous a head. The fair stranger drew all eyes, and +especially mine, towards her. She was a young and perfect beauty, +silent, her eyes fixed on a napkin, replying in monosyllables to +those who addressed her, and glancing at the speaker with large +blue eyes, the beauty of which it would be difficult to describe. +Her husband was seated at the other end of the table--a man of a +kind that inspires contempt at the first glance. He was young, +marked with the small-pox, a greedy eater, a loud talker, laughing +and speaking at random, and altogether I took him for a servant in +disguise. Feeling sure that such a fellow did not know how to +refuse, I sent him a glass of champagne, which he drank off to my +health forthwith. "May I have the pleasure of sending a glass to +your wife?" He replied, with a roar of laughter, to ask her +myself; and with a slight bow she told me that she never took +anything to drink. When the dessert came in she rose, and her +husband followed her to their room. + +A stranger who like myself had never seen her before, asked me who +she was. I said I was a newcomer and did not know, and somebody +else said that her husband called himself the Chevalier Stuard, +that he came from Lyons, and was going to Marseilles; he came, it +appeared, to Avignon a week ago, without servants, and in a very +poor carriage. + +I intended staying at Avignon only as long as might be necessary +to see the Fountain or Fall of Vaucluse, and so I had not got any +letters of introduction, and had not the pretext of acquaintance +that I might stay and enjoy her fine eyes. But an Italian who had +read and enjoyed the divine Petrarch would naturally wish to see +the place made divine by the poet's love for Laura. I went to the +theatre, where I saw the vice-legate Salviati, women of fashion, +neither fair nor foul, and a wretched comic opera; but I neither +saw Astrodi nor any other actor from the Comedie Italienne at +Paris. + +"Where is the famous Astrodi?" said I, to a young man sitting by +me, "I have not seen her yet." + +"Excuse me, she has danced and sang before your eyes." + +"By Jove, it's impossible! I know her perfectly, and if she has +so changed as not to be recognized she is no longer herself." + +I turned to go, and two minutes after the young man I had +addressed came up and begged me to come back, and he would take me +to Astradi's dressing-room, as she had recognized me. I followed +him without saying a word, and saw a plain-looking girl, who threw +her arms round my neck and addressed me by my name, though I could +have sworn I had never seen her before, but she did not leave me +time to speak. Close by I saw a man who gave himself out as the +father of the famous Astrodi, who was known to all Paris, who had +caused the death of the Comte d'Egmont, one of the most amiable +noblemen of the Court of Louis XV. I thought this ugly female +might be her sister, so I sat down and complimented her on her +talents. She asked if I would mind her changing her dress; and in +a moment she was running here and there, laughing and shewing a +liberality which possibly might have been absent if what she had +to display had been worth seeing. + +I laughed internally at her wiles, for after my experiences at +Grenoble she would have found it a hard task to arouse my desires +if she had been as pretty as she was ugly. Her thinness and her +tawny skin could not divert my attention from other still less +pleasing features about her. I admired her confidence in spite of +her disadvantages. She must have credited me with a diabolic +appetite, but these women often contrive to extract charms out of +their depravity which their delicacy would be impotent to furnish. +She begged me to sup with her, and as she persisted I was obliged +to refuse her in a way I should not have allowed myself to use +with any other woman. She then begged me to take four tickets for +the play the next day, which was to be for her benefit. I saw it +was only a matter of twelve francs, and delighted to be quit of +her so cheaply I told her to give me sixteen. I thought she would +have gone mad with joy when I gave her a double louis. She was +not the real Astrodi. I went back to my inn and had a delicious +supper in my own room. + +While Le Duc was doing my hair before I went to bed, he told me +that the landlord had paid a visit to the fair stranger and her +husband before supper, and had said in clear terms that he must be +paid next morning; and if he were not, no place would be laid for +them at table, and their linen would be detained. + +"Who told you that?" + +"I heard it from here; their room is only separated from this by a +wooden partition. If they were in it now, I am sure they could +hear all we are saying." + +"Where are they, then?" + +"At table, where they are eating for to-morrow, but the lady is +crying. There's a fine chance for you, sir." + +"Be quiet; I shan't have anything to do with it. It's a trap, for +a woman of any worth would die rather than weep at a public +table." + +"Ah, if you saw how pretty she looks in tears! I am only a poor +devil, but I would willingly give her two louis if she would earn +them." + +"Go and offer her the money." + +A moment after the gentleman and his wife came back to their room, +and I heard the loud voice of the one and the sobs of the other, +but as he was speaking Walloon I did not understand what he said. + +"Go to bed," said I to Le Duc, "and next morning tell the landlord +to get me another room, for a wooden partition is too thin a +barrier to keep off people whom despair drive to extremities." + +I went to bed myself, and the sobs and muttering did not die away +till midnight. + +I was shaving next morning, when Le Duc announced the Chevalier +Stuard. + +"Say I don't know anybody of that name." + +He executed my orders, and returned saying that the chevalier on +hearing my refusal to see him had stamped with rage, gone into his +chamber, and come out again with his sword beside him. + +"I am going to see," added Le Duc, "that your pistols are well +primed for the future." + +I felt inclined to laugh, but none the less I admired the +foresight of my Spaniard, for a man in despair is capable of +anything. + +"Go," said I, "and ask the landlord to give me another room." + +In due course the landlord came himself and told me that he could +not oblige me until the next day. + +"If you don't get me another room I shall leave your house on the +spot, because I don't like hearing sobs and reproaches all night." + +"Can you hear them, sir?" + +"You can hear them yourself now. What do you think of it? The +woman will kill herself, and you will be the cause of her death." + +"I, sir? I have only asked them to pay me my just debts." + +"Hush! there goes the husband. I am sure he is telling his wife +in his language that you are an unfeeling monster." + +"He may tell her what he likes so long as he pays me." + +"You have condemned them to die of hunger. How much do they owe +you?" + +"Fifty francs." + +"Aren't you ashamed of making such a row for a wretched sum like +that?" + +"Sir, I am only ashamed of an ill deed, and I do not commit such a +deed in asking for my own." + +"There's your money. Go and tell them that you have been paid, +and that they may eat again; but don't say who gave you the +money." + +"That's what I call a good action," said the fellow; and he went +and told them that they did not owe him anything, but that they +would never know who paid the money. + +"You may dine and sup," he added, "at the public table, but you +must pay me day by day." + +After he had delivered this speech in a high voice, so that I +could hear as well as if I had been in the room, he came back to +me. + +"You stupid fool!" said I, pushing him away, "they will know +everything." So saying I shut my door. + +Le Duc stood in front of me, staring stupidly before him. + +"What's the matter with you, idiot?" said I. + +"That's fine. I see. I am going on the stage. You would do well +to become an actor." + +"You are a fool." + +"Not so big a fool as you think." + +"I am going for a walk; mind you don't leave my room for a +moment." + +I had scarcely shut the door when the chevalier accosted me and +overwhelmed me with thanks. + +"Sir, I don't know to what you are referring." + +He thanked me again and left me, and walking by the banks of the +Rhone, which geographers say is the most rapid river in Europe, I +amused myself by looking at the ancient bridge. At dinner-time I +went back to the inn, and as the landlord knew that I paid six +francs a meal he treated me to an exquisite repast. Here, I +remember, I had some exceedingly choice Hermitage. It was so +delicious that I drank nothing else. I wished to make a +pilgrimage to Vaucluse and begged the landlord to procure me a +good guide, and after I had dressed I went to the theatre. + +I found the Astrodi at the door, and giving her my sixteen +tickets, I sat down near the box of the vice-legate Salviati, who +came in a little later, surrounded by a numerous train of ladies +and gentlemen bedizened with orders and gold lace. + +The so-called father of the false Astrodi came and whispered that +his daughter begged me to say that she was the celebrated Astrodi +I had known at Paris. I replied, also in a whisper, that I would +not run the risk of being posted as a liar by bolstering up an +imposture. The ease with which a rogue invites a gentleman to +share in a knavery is astonishing; he must think his confidence +confers an honour. + +At the end of the first act a score of lackeys in the prince's +livery took round ices to the front boxes. I thought it my duty +to refuse. A young gentleman, as fair as love, came up to me, and +with easy politeness asked me why I had refused an ice. + +"Not having the honour to know anyone here, I did not care that +anyone should be able to say that he had regaled one who was +unknown to him." + +"But you, sir, are a man who needs no introduction." + +"You do me too much honour." + +"You are staying at the 'St. Omer'!" + +"Yes; I am only stopping here to see Vaucluse, where I think of +going to-morrow if I can get a good guide." + +"If you would do me the honour of accepting me, I should be +delighted. My name is Dolci, I am son of the captain of the vice- +legate's guard." + +"I feel the honour you do me, and I accept your obliging offer. I +will put off my start till your arrival." + +"I will be with you at seven." + +I was astonished at the easy grace of this young Adonis, who might +have been a pretty girl if the tone of his voice had not announced +his manhood. I laughed at the false Astrodi, whose acting was as +poor as her face, and who kept staring at me all the time. While +she sang she regarded me with a smile and gave me signs of an +understanding, which must have made the audience notice me, and +doubtless pity my bad taste. The voice and eyes of one actress +pleased me; she was young and tall, but hunchbacked to an +extraordinary degree. She was tall in spite of her enormous +humps, and if it had not been for this malformation she would have +been six feet high. Besides her pleasing eyes and very tolerable +voice I fancied that, like all hunchbacks, she was intelligent. I +found her at the door with the ugly Astrodi when I was leaving the +theatre. The latter was waiting to thank me, and the other was +selling tickets for her benefit. + +After the Astrodi had thanked me, the hunchbacked girl turned +towards me, and with a smile that stretched from ear to ear and +displayed at least twenty-four exquisite teeth, she said that she +hoped I would honour her by being present at her benefit. + +"If I don't leave before it comes off, I will," I replied. + +At this the impudent Astrodi laughed, and in the hearing of +several ladies waiting for their carriages told me that her friend +might be sure of my presence, as she would not let me go before +the benefit night. "Give him sixteen tickets," she added. I was +ashamed to refuse, and gave her two louis. Then in a lower voice +the Astrodi said, "After the show we will come and sup with you, +but on the condition that you ask nobody else, as we want to be +alone." + +In spite of a feeling of anger, I thought that such a supper-party +would be amusing, and as no one in the town knew me I resolved to +stay in the hope of enjoying a hearty laugh. + +I was having my supper when Stuard and his wife went to their +room. This night I heard no sobs nor reproaches, but early next +morning I was surprised to see the chevalier who said, as if we +had been old friends, that he had heard that I was going to +Vaucluse, and that as I had taken a carriage with four places he +would be much obliged if I would allow him and his wife, who +wanted to see the fountain, to go with me. I consented. + +Le Duc begged to be allowed to accompany me on horseback, saying +that he had been a true prophet. In fact it seemed as if the +couple had agreed to repay me for my expenditure by giving me new +hopes. I was not displeased with the expedition, and it was all +to my advantage, as I had had recourse to no stratagems to obtain +it. + +Dolci came, looking as handsome as an angel; my neighbours were +ready, and the carriage loaded with the best provisions in food +and drink that were obtainable; and we set off, Dolci seated +beside the lady and I beside the chevalier. + +I had thought that the lady's sadness would give place, if not to +gaiety, at least to a quiet cheerfulness, but I was mistaken; for, +to all my remarks, grave or gay, she replied, either in +monosyllables or in a severely laconic style. Poor Dolci, who was +full of wit, was stupefied. He thought himself the cause of her +melancholy, and was angry with himself for having innocently cast +a shadow on the party of pleasure. I relieved him of his fears by +telling him that when he offered me his pleasant society I was not +aware that I was to be of service to the fair lady. I added that +when at day-break I received this information, I was pleased that +he would have such good company. The lady did not say a word. +She kept silent and gloomy all the time, and gazed to right and +left like one who does not see what is before his [her] eyes. + +Dolci felt at ease after my explanation, and did his best to +arouse the lady, but without success. He talked on a variety of +topics to the husband, always giving her an opportunity of joining +in, but her lips remained motionless. She looked like the statue +of Pandora before it had been quickened by the divine flame. + +The beauty of her face was perfect; her eyes were of a brilliant +blue, her complexion a delicate mixture of white and red, her arms +were as rounded as a Grace's, her hands plump and well shaped, her +figure was that of a nymph's, giving delightful hints of a +magnificent breast; her hair was a chestnut brown, her foot small: +she had all that constitutes a beautiful woman save that gift of +intellect, which makes beauty more beautiful, and gives a charm to +ugliness itself. My vagrant fancy shewed me her naked form, all +seemed ravishing, and yet I thought that though she might inspire +a passing fancy she could not arouse a durable affection. She +might minister to a man's pleasures, she could not make him happy. +I arrived at the isle resolved to trouble myself about her no +more; she might, I thought, be mad, or in despair at finding +herself in the power of a man whom she could not possibly love. I +could not help pitying her, and yet I could not forgive her for +consenting to be of a party which she knew she must spoil by her +morose behaviour. + +As for the self-styled Chevalier Stuard, I did not trouble my head +whether he were her husband or her lover. He was young, +commonplace-looking, he spoke affectedly; his manners were not +good, and his conversation betrayed both ignorance and stupidity. +He was a beggar, devoid of money and wits, and I could not make +out why he took with him a beauty who, unless she were over-kind, +could add nothing to his means of living. Perhaps he expected to +live at the expense of simpletons, and had come to the conclusion, +in spite of his ignorance, that the world is full of such; +however, experience must have taught him that this plan cannot be +relied on. + +When we got to Vaucluse I let Dolci lead; he had been there a +hundred times, and his merit was enhanced in my eyes by the fact +that he was a lover of the lover of Laura. We left the carriage +at Apt, and wended our way to the fountain which was honoured that +day with a numerous throng of pilgrims. The stream pours forth +from a vast cavern, the handiwork of nature, inimitable by man. +It is situated at the foot of a rock with a sheer descent of more +than a hundred feet. The cavern is hardly half as high, and the +water pours forth from it in such abundance that it deserves the +name of river at its source. It is the Sorgue which falls into +the Rhone near Avignon. There is no other stream as pure and +clear, for the rocks over which it flows harbour no deposits of +any kind. Those who dislike it on account of its apparent +blackness should remember that the extreme darkness of the cavern +gives it that gloomy tinge. + + Chiare fresche a dolce aque + Ove le belle membra + Pose colei the sola a me pay donna. + +I wished to ascend to that part of the rock where Petrarch's house +stood. I gazed on the remains with tears in my eyes, like Leo +Allatius at Homer's grave. Sixteen years later I slept at Arqua, +where Petrarch died, and his house still remains. The likeness +between the two situations was astonishing, for from Petrarch's +study at Arqua a rock can be seen similar to that which may be +viewed at Vaucluse; this was the residence of Madonna Laura. + +"Let us go there," said I, "it is not far off." + +I will not endeavour to delineate my feelings as I contemplated +the ruins of the house where dwelt the lady whom the amorous +Petrarch immortalised in his verse--verse made to move a heart of +stone: + + "Morte bella parea nel suo bel viso" + +I threw myself with arms outstretched upon the ground as if I +would embrace the very stones. I kissed them, I watered them with +my tears, I strove to breathe the holy breath they once contained. +I begged Madame Stuard's pardon for having left her arm to do +homage to the spirit of a woman who had quickened the profoundest +soul that ever lived. + +I say soul advisedly, for after all the body and the senses had +nothing to do with the connection. + +"Four hundred years have past and gone," said I to the statue of a +woman who gazed at me in astonishment, "since Laura de Sade walked +here; perhaps she was not as handsome as you, but she was lively, +kindly, polite, and good of heart. May this air which she +breathed and which you breathe now kindle in you the spark of fire +divine; that fire that coursed through her veins, and made her +heart beat and her bosom swell. Then you would win the worship of +all worthy men, and from none would you receive the least offence. +Gladness, madam, is the lot of the happy, and sadness the portion +of souls condemned to everlasting pains. Be cheerful, then, and +you will do something to deserve your beauty." + +The worthy Dolci was kindled by my enthusiasm. He threw himself +upon me, and kissed me again and again; the fool Stuard laughed; +and his wife, who possibly thought me mad, did not evince the +slightest emotion. She took my arm, and we walked slowly towards +the house of Messer Francesco d'Arezzo, where I spent a quarter of +an hour in cutting my name. After that we had our dinner. + +Dolci lavished more attention on the extraordinary woman than I +did. Stuard did nothing but eat and drink, and despised the +Sorgue water, which, said he, would spoil the Hermitage; possibly +Petrarch may have been of the same opinion. We drank deeply +without impairing our reason, but the lady was very temperate. +When we reached Avignon we bade her farewell, declining the +invitation of her foolish husband to come and rest in his rooms. + +I took Dolci's arm and we walked beside the Rhone as the sun went +down. Among other keen and witty observations the young man +said,-- + +"That woman is an old hand, infatuated with a sense of her own +merit. I would bet that she has only left her own country because +her charms, from being too freely displayed, have ceased to please +there. She must be sure of making her fortune out of anybody she +comes across. I suspect that the fellow who passes for her +husband is a rascal, and that her pretended melancholy is put on +to drive a persistent lover to distraction. She has not yet +succeeded in finding a dupe, but as she will no doubt try to catch +a rich man, it is not improbable that she is hovering over you.". + +When a young man of Dolci's age reasons like that, he is bound to +become a great master. I kissed him as I bade him good-night, +thanked him for his kindness, and we agreed that we would see more +of one another. + +As I came back to my inn I was accosted by a fine-looking man of +middle age, who greeted me by name and asked with great politeness +if I had found Vaucluse as fine as I had expected. I was +delighted to recognize the Marquis of Grimaldi, a Genoese, a +clever and good-natured man, with plenty of money, who always +lived at Venice because he was more at liberty to enjoy himself +there than in his native country; which shews that there is no +lack of freedom at Venice. + +After I had answered his question I followed him into his room, +where having exhausted the subject of the fountain he asked me +what I thought of my fair companion. + +"I did not find her satisfactory in all respects," I answered; and +noticing the reserve with which I spoke, he tried to remove it by +the following confession: + +"There are some very pretty women in Genoa, but not one to compare +with her whom you took to Vaucluse to-day. I sat opposite to her +at table yesterday evening, and I was struck with her perfect +beauty. I offered her my arm up the stair; I told her that I was +sorry to see her so sad, and if I could do anything for her she +had only to speak. You know I was aware she had no money. Her +husband, real or pretended, thanked me for my offer, and after I +had wished them a good night I left them. + +"An hour ago you left her and her husband at the door of their +apartment, and soon afterwards I took the liberty of calling. She +welcomed me with a pretty bow, and her husband went out directly, +begging me to keep her company till his return. The fair one made +no difficulty in sitting next to me on a couch, and this struck me +as a good omen, but when I took her hand she gently drew it away. +I then told, her, in as few words as I could, that her beauty had +made me in love with her, and that if she wanted a hundred louis +they were at her service, if she would drop her melancholy, and +behave in a manner suitable to the feelings with which she had +inspired me. She only replied by a motion of the head, which +shewed gratitude, but also an absolute refusal of my offer. 'I am +going to-morrow,' said I. No answer. I took her hand again, and +she drew it back with an air of disdain which wounded me. I +begged her to excuse me, and I left the room without more ado. + +"That's an account of what happened an hour ago. I am not amorous +of her, it was only a whim; but knowing, as I do, that she has no +money, her manner astonished me. I fancied that you might have +placed her in a position to despise my offer, and this would +explain her conduct, in a measure; otherwise I can't understand it +at all. May I ask you to tell me whether you are more fortunate +than I?" + +I was enchanted with the frankness of this noble gentleman, and +did not hesitate to tell him all, and we laughed together at our +bad fortune: I had to promise to call on him at Genoa, and tell +him whatever happened between us during the two days I purposed to +remain at Avignon. He asked me to sup with him and admire the +fair recalcitrant. + +"She has had an excellent dinner," said I, "and in all probability +she will not have any supper." + +"I bet she will," said the marquis; and he was right, which made +me see clearly that the woman was playing a part. A certain Comte +de Bussi, who had just come, was placed next to her at table. He +was a good-looking young man with a fatuous sense of his own +superiority, and he afforded us an amusing scene. + +He was good-natured, a wit, and inclined to broad jokes, and his +manner towards women bordered on the impudent. He had to leave at +midnight and began to make love to his fair neighbour forthwith, +and teased her in a thousand ways; but she remained as dumb as a +statue, while he did all the talking and laughing, not regarding +it within the bounds of possibility that she might be laughing at +him. + +I looked at M. Grimaldi, who found it as difficult to keep his +countenance as I did. The young roue was hurt at her silence, and +continued pestering her, giving her all the best pieces on his +plate after tasting them first. The lady refused to take them, +and he tried to put them into her mouth, while she repulsed him in +a rage. He saw that no one seemed inclined to take her part, and +determined to continue the assault, and taking her hand he kissed +it again and again. She tried to draw it away, and as she rose he +put his arm round her waist and made her sit down on his knee; but +at this point the husband took her arm and led her out of the +room. The attacking party looked rather taken aback for a moment +as he followed her with his eyes, but sat down again and began to +eat and laugh afresh, while everybody else kept a profound +silence. He then turned to the footman behind his chair and asked +him if his sword was upstairs. The footman said no, and then the +fatuous young man turned to an abbe who sat near me, and enquired +who had taken away his mistress: + +"It was her husband," said the abbe. + +"Her husband! Oh, that's another thing; husbands don't fight--a +man of honour always apologises to them." + +With that he got up, went upstairs, and came down again directly, +saying,-- + +"The husband's a fool. He shut the door in my face, and told me +to satisfy my desires somewhere else. It isn't worth the trouble +of stopping, but I wish I had made an end of it." + +He then called for champagne, offered it vainly to everybody, bade +the company a polite farewell and went upon his way. + +As M. Grimaldi escorted me to my room he asked me what I had +thought of the scene we had just witnessed. I told him I would +not have stirred a finger, even if he had turned up her clothes. + +"No more would I," said he, "but if she had accepted my hundred +louis it would have been different. I am curious to know the +further history of this siren, and I rely upon you to tell me all +about it as you go through Genoa." + +He went away at day-break next morning. + +When I got up I received a note from the false Astrodi, asking me +if I expected her and her great chum to supper. I had scarcely +replied in the affirmative, when the sham Duke of Courland I had +left at Grenoble appeared on the scene. He confessed in a humble +voice that he was the son of clock-maker at Narva, that his +buckles were valueless, and that he had come to beg an alms of me. +I gave him four Louis, and he asked me to keep his secret. I +replied that if anyone asked me about him that I should say what +was absolutely true, that I knew him nothing about him. "Thank +you; I am now going to Marseilles." "I hope you will have a +prosperous journey." Later on my readers will hear. how I found +him at Genoa. It is a good thing to know something about people +of his kind, of whom there are far too many in the world. + +I called up the landlord and told him I wanted a delicate supper +for three in my own room. + +He told me that I should have it, and then said, "I have just had +a row with the Chevalier Stuard." + +"What about?" + +"Because he has nothing to pay me with, and I am going to turn +them out immediately, although the lady is in bed in convulsions +which are suffocating her." + +"Take out your bill in her charms." + +"Ah, I don't care for that sort of thing! I am getting on in +life, and I don't want any more scenes to bring discredit on my +house." + +"Go and tell her that from henceforth she and her husband will +dine and sup in their own room and that I will pay for them as +long as I remain here." + +"You are very generous, sir, but you know that meals in a private +room are charged double." + +"I know they are." + +"Very good." + +I shuddered at the idea of the woman being turned out of doors +without any resources but her body, by which she refused to +profit. On the other hand I could not condemn the inn-keeper who, +like his fellows, was not troubled with much gallantry. I had +yielded to an impulse of pity without any hopes of advantage for +myself. Such were my thoughts when Stuard came to thank me, +begging me to come and see his wife and try and persuade her to +behave in a different manner. + +"She will give me no answers, and you know that that sort of thing +is rather tedious." + +"Come, she knows what you have done for her; she will talk to you, +for her feelings . . . ." + +"What business have you to talk about feelings after what happened +yesterday evening?" + +"It was well for that gentleman that he went away at midnight, +otherwise I should have killed him this morning." + +"My dear sir, allow me to tell you that all that is pure +braggadocio. Yesterday, not to-day, was the time to kill him, or +to throw your plate at his head, at all events. We will now go +and see your wife." + +I found her in bed, her face to the wall, the coverlet right up to +her chin, and her body convulsed with sobs. I tried to bring her +to reason, but as usual got no reply. Stuard wanted to leave me, +but I told him that if he went out I would go too, as I could do +nothing to console her, as he might know after her refusing the +Marquis of Grimaldi's hundred louis for a smile and her hand to +kiss. + +"A hundred Louis!" cried the fellow with a sturdy oath; "what +folly! We might have been at home at Liege by now. A princess +allows one to kiss her hand for nothing, and she.... A hundred +Louis! Oh, damnable!" + +His exclamations, very natural under the circumstances, made me +feel inclined to laugh. The poor devil swore by all his gods, and +I was about to leave the room, when all at once the wretched woman +was seized with true or false convulsions. With one hand she +seized a water-bottle and sent it flying into the middle of the +room, and with the other she tore the clothes away from her +breast. Stuard tried to hold her, but her disorder increased in +violence, and the coverlet was disarranged to such a degree that I +could see the most exquisite naked charms imaginable. At last she +grew calm, and her eyes closed as if exhausted; she remained in +the most voluptuous position that desire itself could have +invented. I began to get very excited. How was I to look on such +beauties without desiring to possess them? At this point her +wretched husband left the room, saying he was gone to fetch some +water. I saw the snare, and my self-respect prevented my being +caught in it. I had an idea that the whole scene had been +arranged with the intent that I should deliver myself up to brutal +pleasure, while the proud and foolish woman would be free to +disavow all participation in the fact. I constrained myself, and +gently veiled what I would fain have revealed in all its naked +beauty. I condemned to darkness these charms which this monster +of a woman only wished me to enjoy that I might be debased. + +Stuard was long enough gone. When he came back with the water- +bottle full, he was no doubt surprised to find me perfectly calm, +and in no disorder of any kind, and a few minutes afterwards I +went out to cool myself by the banks of the Rhone. + +I walked along rapidly, feeling enraged with myself, for I felt +that the woman had bewitched me. In vain I tried to bring myself +to reason; the more I walked the more excited I became, and I +determined that after what I had seen the only cure for my +disordered fancy was enjoyment, brutal or not. I saw that I +should have to win her, not by an appeal to sentiment but by hard +cash, without caring what sacrifices I made. I regretted my +conduct, which then struck me in the light of false delicacy, for +if I had satisfied my desires and she chose to turn prude, I might +have laughed her to scorn, and my position would have been +unassailable. At last I determined on telling the husband that I +would give him twenty-five louis if he could obtain me an +interview in which I could satisfy my desires. + +Full of this idea I went back to the inn, and had my dinner in my +own room without troubling to enquire after her. Le Duc told me +that she was dining in her room too, and that the landlord had +told the company that she would not take her meals in public any +more. This was information I possessed already. + +After dinner I called on the good-natured Dolci, who introduced me +to his father, an excellent man, but not rich enough to satisfy +his son's desire of travelling. The young man was possessed of +considerable dexterity, and performed a number of very clever +conjuring tricks. He had an amiable nature, and seeing that I was +curious to know about his love affairs he told me numerous little +stories which shewed me that he was at that happy age when one's +inexperience is one's sole misfortune. + +There was a rich lady for whom he did not care, as she wanted him +to give her that which he would be ashamed to give save for love, +and there was a girl who required him to treat her with respect. +I thought I could give him a piece of good advice, so I told him +to grant his favours to the rich woman, and to fail in respect now +and again to the girl, who would be sure to scold and then +forgive. He was no profligate, and seemed rather inclined to +become a Protestant. He amused himself innocently with his +friends of his own age, in a garden near Avignon, and a sister of +the gardener's wife was kind to him when they were alone. + +In the evening I went back to the inn, and I had not long to wait +for the Astrodi and the Lepi (so the hunchbacked girl was named); +but when I saw these two caricatures of women I felt stupefied. I +had expected them, of course, but the reality confounded me. The +Astrodi tried to counterbalance her ugliness by an outrageous +freedom of manners; while the Lepi, who though a hunchback was +very talented and an excellent actress, was sure of exciting +desire by the rare beauty of her eyes and teeth, which latter +challenged admiration from her enormous mouth by their regularity +and whiteness. The Astrodi rushed up to me and gave me an Italian +embrace, to which, willy nilly, I was obliged to submit. The +quieter Lepi offered me her cheek, which I pretended to kiss. I +saw that the Astrodi was in a fair way to become intolerable, so I +begged her to moderate her transports, because as a novice at +these parties I wanted to get accustomed to them by degrees. She +promised that she would be very good. + +While we were waiting for supper I asked her, for the sake of +something to say, whether she had found a lover at Avignon. + +"Only the vice-legate's auditor," she replied; "and though he +makes me his pathic he is good-natured and generous. I have +accustomed myself to his taste easily enough, though I should have +thought such a thing impossible a year ago, as I fancied the +exercise a harmful one, but I was wrong." + +"So the auditor makes a boy of you?" + +"Yes. My sister would have adored him, as that sort of love is +her passion." + +"But your sister has such fine haunches." + +"So have I! Look here, feel me." + +"You are right; but wait a bit, it is too soon for that kind of +thing yet." + +"We will be wanton after supper." + +"I think you are wanton now," said the Lepi. + +"Why?" + +"Why? Ought you to shew your person like that?" + +"My dear girl, you will be shewing yourself soon. When one is in +good company, one is in the golden age." + +"I wonder at your telling everyone what sort of a connection you +have with the auditor," said I. + +"Nonsense! I don't tell everyone, but everyone tells me and +congratulates me too. They know the worthy man never cared for +women, and it would be absurd to deny what everybody guesses. I +used to be astonished at my sister, but the best plan in this +world is to be astonished at nothing. But don't you like that?" + +"No, I only like this." + +As I spoke I laid hands on the Lepi, on the spot where one usually +finds what I called "this;" but the Astrodi, seeing that I found +nothing, burst into a roar of laughter, and taking my hand put it +just under her front hump, where at last I found what I wanted. +The +reader will guess my surprise. The poor creature, too ashamed to +be prudish, laughed too. My spirits also begin to rise, as I +thought of the pleasure I should get out of this new discovery +after supper. + +"Have you never had a lover?" said I to the Lepi. + +"No," said the Astrodi, "she is still a maid." + +"No, I am not," replied the Lepi, in some confusion, "I had a +lover at Bordeaux, and another at Montpellier." + +"Yes, I know, but you are still as you were born." + +"I can't deny it." + +"What's that? Two lovers and still a maid! I don't understand; +please tell me about it, for I have never heard of such a thing." + +"Before I satisfied my first lover which happened when I was only +twelve, I was just the same as I am now." + +"It's wonderful. And what did he say when he saw it?" + +"I swore that he was my first, and he believed me, putting it down +to the peculiar shape of my body." + +"He was a man of spirit; but didn't he hurt you?" + +"Not a bit; but then he was very gentle." + +"You must have a try after supper," said the Astrodi to me, "that +would be fine fun." + +"No, no," said the Lepi, "the gentleman would be too big for me." + +"Nonsense! You don't want to take in all of him. I will show you +how it is." + +With these words the impudent hussy proceeded to exhibit me, and I +let her do what she liked. + +"That's just what I should have thought," cried the Lepi; "it +could never be done." + +"Well, he is rather big," answered the Astrodi ; "but there's a +cure for everything, and he will be content with half-measures." + +"It's not the length, my dear, but the thickness which frightens +me; I am afraid the door is too narrow." + +"All the better for you, for you can sell your maidenhead after +having had two lovers." + +This conversation, not devoid of wit, and still more the +simplicity of the hunchback, had made me resolve to verify things +for myself. + +Supper came up, and I had the pleasure of seeing the two nymphs +eat like starving savages, and drink still better. When the +Hermitage had done its work the Astrodi proposed that we should +cast off the clothes which disfigure nature. + +"Certainly," said I; "and I will turn away while you are getting +ready." + +I went behind the curtains, took off my clothes, and went to bed +with my back to them. At last the Astrodi told me that they were +ready, and when I looked the Lepi took up all my attention. In +spite of her double deformity she was a handsome woman. My +glances frightened her, for she was doubtless taking part in an +orgy for the first time. I gave her courage, however, by dint of +praising those charms which the white and beautiful hands could +not hide, and at last I persuaded her to come and lie beside me. +Her hump prevented her lying on her back, but the ingenious +Astrodi doubled up the pillows and succeeded in placing her in a +position similar to that of a ship about to be launched. It was +also by the tender care of the Astrodi that the introduction of +the knife was managed, to the great delight of priest and victim. +After the operation was over she got up and kissed me, which she +could not do before, for her mouth reached to the middle of my +chest, while my feet were scarcely down to her knees. I would +have given ten louis to have been able to see the curious sight we +must have presented at work. + +"Now comes my turn," said the Astrodi; "but I don't want you to +infringe on the rights of my auditor, so come and look round and +see where the path lies. Take that." + +"What am I to do with this slice of lemon?" + +"I want you to try whether the place is free from infection, or +whether it would be dangerous for you to pay it a visit." + +"Is that a sure method?" + +"Infallible; if everything were not right I could not bear the +smart." + +"There you are. How's that?" + +"All right; but don't deceive me, I want no half measures. My +reputation would be made if I became with child." + +I ask my reader's leave to draw a veil over some incidents of this +truly scandalous orgy, in which the ugly woman taught me some +things I did not know before. At last, more tired than exhausted, +I told them to begone, but the Astrodi insisted on finishing up +with a bowl of punch. I agreed, but not wishing to have anything +more to do with either of them I dressed myself again. However, +the champagne punch excited them to such an extent that at last +they made me share their transports. The Astrodi placed her +friend in such a singular position that the humps were no longer +visible, and imagining that I had before me the high priestess of +Jove, I paid her a long sacrifice, in which death and resurrection +followed one another in succession. But I felt disgusted with +myself, and drew away from their lascivious frenzies, and gave +them ten Louis to get rid of them. The Astrodi fell on her knees, +blessed me, thanked me, called me her god; and the Lepi wept and +laughed for joy at the same time; and thus for a quarter of an +hour I was treated to a scene of an extraordinary kind. + +I had them taken home in my carriage, and slept till ten o'clock +next morning. Just as I was going out for a walk Stuard came to +my room and told me, with an air of despair, that if I did not +give him the means of going away before I left he would throw +himself in the Rhine. + +"That's rather tragic," said I, "but I can find a cure. I will +disburse twenty-five Louis, but it is your wife who must receive +them; and the only condition is that she must receive me alone for +an hour, and be entirely kind." + +"Sir, we need just that sum; my wife is disposed to receive you; +go and talk to her. I shall not be in till noon." + +I put twenty-five Louis in a pretty little purse, and left my room +thinking that the victory was won. I entered her room and +approached her bed respectfully. When she heard me she sat up in +bed without taking the trouble to cover her breast, and before I +could wish her good-day she spoke to me as follows: + +"I am ready, sir, to pay with my body for the wretched twenty-five +Louis of which my husband is in need. You can do what you like +with me; but remember that in taking advantage of my position to +assuage your brutal lust you are the viler of the two, for I only +sell myself so cheaply because necessity compels me to do so. +Your baseness is more shameful than mine. Come on; here I am." + +With this flattering address she threw off the coverlet with a +vigorous gesture, and displayed all her beauties, which I might +have gazed on with such different feelings from those which now +filled my breast. For a moment I was silent with indignation. +All my passion had evaporated; in those voluptuous rounded limbs I +saw now only the covering of a wild beast's soul. I put back the +coverlet with the greatest calmness, and addressed her in a tone +of cold contempt: + +"No, madam, I shall not leave this room degraded because you have +told me so, but I shall leave it after imparting to you a few +degrading truths, of which you cannot be ignorant if you are a +woman of any decency whatever. Here are twenty-five louis, a +wretched sum to give a virtuous woman in payment of her favours, +but much more than you deserve. I am not brutal, and to convince +you of the fact I am going to leave you in the undisturbed +possession of your charms, which I despise as heartily as I should +have admired them if your behaviour had been different. I only +give you the money from a feeling of compassion which I cannot +overcome, and which is the only feeling I now have for you. +Nevertheless, let me tell you that whether a woman sells herself +for twenty-five louis or twenty-five million louis she is as much +a prostitute in the one case as in the other, if she does not give +her love with herself, or at all events the semblance of love. +Farewell." + +I went back to my room, and in course of time Stuard came to thank +me. + +"Sir," said I, "let me alone; I wish to hear no more about your +wife." + +They went away the next day for Lyons, and my readers will hear of +them again at Liege. + +In the afternoon Dolci took me to his garden that I might see the +gardener's sister. She was pretty, but not so pretty as he was. +He soon got her into a good humour, and after some trifling +objection she consented to be loved by him in my presence. I saw +that this Adonis had been richly dowered by nature, and I told him +that with such a physical conformation he had no need of emptying +his father's purse to travel, and before long he took my advice. +This fair Ganymede might easily have turned me into Jove, as he +struggled amorously with the gardener's sister. + +As I was going home I saw a young man coming out of a boat; he was +from twenty to twenty-five years old, and looked very sad. Seeing +me looking at him, he accosted me, and humbly asked for alms, +shewing me a document authorizing him to beg, and a passport +stating he had left Madrid six weeks before. He came from Parma, +and was named Costa. When I saw Parma my national prejudice spoke +in his favour, and I asked him what misfortune had reduced him to +beggary. + +"Only lack of money to return to my native country," said he. + +"What were you doing at Madrid, and why did you leave?" + +"I was there four years as valet to Dr. Pistoria, physician to the +King of Spain, but on my health failing I left him. Here is a +certificate which will shew you that I gave satisfaction." + +"What can you do?" + +"I write a good hand, I can assist a gentleman as his secretary, +and I intend being a scribe when I get home. Here are some verses +I copied yesterday." + +"You write well; but can you write correctly without a book?" + +"I can write from dictation in French, Latin, and Spanish." + +"Correctly?" + +"Yes, sir, if the dictation is done properly, for it is the +business of the one who dictates to see that everything is +correct." + +I saw that Master Gaetan Costa was an ignoramus, but in spite of +that I took him to my room and told Le Duc to address him in +Spanish. He answered well enough, but on my dictating to him in +Italian and French I found he had not the remotest ideas on +orthography. + +"But you can't write," said I to him. However, I saw he was +mortified at this, and I consoled him by saying that I would take +him to his own country at my expense. He kissed my hand, and +assured me that I should find a faithful servant in him. + +This young fellow took my fancy by his originality; he had +probably assumed it to distinguish himself from the blockheads +amongst whom he had hitherto lived, and now used it in perfect +good faith with everybody. He thought that the art of a scribe +solely consisted in possessing a good hand, and that the fairest +writer would be the best scribe. He said as much while he was +examining a paper I had written, and as my writing was not as +legible as his he tacitly told me I was his inferior, and that I +should therefore treat him with some degree of respect. I laughed +at this fad, and, not thinking him incorrigible I took him into my +service. If it had not been for that odd notion of his I should +probably have merely given him a louis, and no more. He said that +spelling was of no consequence, as those who knew how to spell +could easily guess the words, while those who did not know were +unable to pick out the mistakes. I laughed, but as I said nothing +he thought the laugh signified approval. In the dictation I gave +him the Council of Trent happened to occur. According to his +system he wrote Trent by a three and a nought. I burst out +laughing; but he was not in the least put out, only remarking that +the pronunciation being the same it was of no consequence how the +word was spelt. In point of fact this lad was a fool solely +through his intelligence, matched with ignorance and unbounded +self-confidence. I was pleased with his originality and kept him, +and was thus the greater fool of the two, as the reader will see. + +I left Avignon next day, and went straight to Marseilles, not +troubling to stop at Aix. I halted at the "Treize Cantons," +wishing to stay for a week at least in this ancient colony of the +Phocaeans, and to do as I liked there. With this idea I took no +letter of introduction; I had plenty of money, and needed nobody's +help. I told my landlord to give me a choice fish dinner in my +own room, as I was aware that the fish in those parts is better +than anywhere else. + +I went out the next morning with a guide, to take me back to the +inn when I was tired of walking. Not heeding where I went, I +reached a fine quay; I thought I was at Venice again, and I felt +my bosom swell, so deeply is the love of fatherland graven on the +heart of every good man. I saw a number of stalls where Spanish +and Levantine wines were kept, and a number of people drinking in +them. A crowd of business men went hither and thither, running up +against each other, crossing each other's paths, each occupied +with his own business, and not caring whose way he got into. +Hucksters, well dressed and ill dressed, women, pretty and plain, +women who stared boldly at everyone, modest maidens with downcast +eyes, such was the picture I saw. + +The mixture of nationalities, the grave Turk and the glittering +Andalusian, the French dandy, the gross Negro, the crafty Greek, +the dull Hollander; everything reminded me of Venice, and I +enjoyed the scene. + +I stopped a moment at a street corner to read a playbill, and then +I went back to the inn and refreshed my weary body with a +delicious dinner, washed down with choice Syracusan wine. After +dinner I dressed and took a place in the amphitheatre of the +theatre. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Rosalie--Toulon--Nice--I Arrive at Genoa--M. Grimaldi--Veronique +and Her Sister + + +I noticed that the four principal boxes on both sides of the +proscenium were adorned with pretty women, but not a single +gentleman. In the interval between the first and second acts I +saw gentlemen of all classes paying their devoirs to these ladies. +Suddenly I heard a Knight of Malta say to a girl, who was the sole +occupant of a box next to me, + +"I will breakfast with you to-morrow." + +This was enough for me. I looked at her more closely and finding +her to be a dainty morsel I said, as soon as the knight had gone,- + +"Will you give me my supper?" + +"With pleasure; but I have been taken in so often that I shan't +expect you without an earnest." + +"How can I give you an earnest? I don't understand." + +"You must be a new-comer here." + +"Just arrived." + +She laughed, called the knight, and said,-- + +"Be pleased to explain to this gentleman, who has just asked me +for supper, the meaning of the word 'earnest.'" + +The good-natured knight explained, with a smile, that the lady, +fearing lest my memory should prove defective, wanted me to pay +for my supper in advance. I thanked him, and asked her if a louis +would be enough; and on her replying in the affirmative, I gave +her the Louis and asked for her address. The knight told me +politely that he would take me there himself after the theatre, +adding,-- + +"She's the wantonest wench in all Marseilles." + +He then asked me if I knew the town, and when I told him that I +had only come that day he said he was glad to be the first to make +my acquaintance. We went to the middle of, the amphitheatre and +he pointed out a score of girls to right and left, all of them +ready to treat the first comer to supper. They are all on the +free list, and the manager finds they serve his ends as +respectable women will not sit in their boxes, and they draw +people to the theatre. I noticed five or six of a better type +than the one I had engaged, but I resolved to stick to her for the +evening, and to make the acquaintance of the others another time. + +"Is your favourite amongst them?" I said to the knight. + +"No, I keep a ballet-girl, and I will introduce you to her, as I +am glad to say that I am free from all jealousy." + +When the play came to an end he took me to my nymph's lodging, and +we parted with the understanding that we were to see more of one +another. + +I found the lady in undress--a circumstance which went against +her, for what I saw did not please me. She gave me a capital +supper, and enlivened me by some witty and wanton sallies which +made me regard her in a more favourable light. When we had supper +she got into bed, and asked me to follow her example; but I told +her that I never slept out. She then offered me the English +article which brings peace to the soul, but I did not accept the +one she offered as I thought it looked of a common make. + +"I have finer ones, but they are three francs each, and the maker +only sells them by the dozen," she said. "I will take a dozen if +they are really good," I replied. + +She rang the bell, and a young, charming, and modest-looking girl +came in. I was struck with her. + +"You have got a nice maid," I remarked, when the girl had gone for +the protective sheaths. + +"She is only fifteen," she said, "and won't do anything, as she is +new to it." + +"Will you allow me to see for myself?" + +"You may ask her if you like, but I don't think she will consent." + +The girl came back with the packet, and putting myself in a proper +position I told her to try one on. She proceeded to do so with a +sulky air and with a kind of repugnance which made me feel +interested in her. Number one would not go on, so she had to try +on a second, and the result was that I besprinkled her +plentifully. The mistress laughed, but she was indignant, threw +the whole packet in my face, and ran away in a rage. I wanted +nothing more after this, so I put the packet in my pocket, gave +the woman two Louis, and left the room. The girl I had treated so +cavalierly came to light me downstairs, and thinking I owed her an +apology I gave her a Louis and begged her pardon. The poor girl +was astonished, kissed my hand, and begged me to say nothing to +her mistress. + +"I will not, my dear, but tell me truly whether you are still a +'virgo intacta'." + +"Certainly, sir!" + +"Wonderful! but tell me why you wouldn't let me see for myself?" + +"Because it revolted me." + +"Nevertheless you will have to do so, for otherwise, in spite of +your prettiness, people will not know what to make of you. Would +you like to let me try?" + +"Yes, but not in this horrible house." + +"Where, then?" + +"Go to my mother's to-morrow, I will be there. Your guide knows +where she lives." + +When I got outside, I asked the man if he knew her. He replied in +the affirmative, and said he believed her to be an honest girl. + +"You will take me to-morrow to see her mother," I said. + +Next morning he took me to the end of the town, to a poor house, +where I found a poor woman and poor children living on the ground +floor, and eating hard black bread. + +"What do you want?" said she. + +"Is you daughter here?" + +"No, and what if she were? I am not her bawd." + +"No, of course not, my good woman." + +Just then the girl came in, and the enraged mother flung an old +pot which came handy, at her head. Luckily it missed, but she +would not have escaped her mother's talons if I had not flung +myself between them. However, the old woman set up a dismal +shriek, the children imitated her, and the poor girl began to cry. +This hubbub made my man come in. + +"You hussy!" screamed the mother, "you are bringing disgrace on +me; get out of my house. You are no longer my daughter!" + +I was in a difficult position. The man begged her not to make +such a noise, as it would draw all the neighbours about the house; +but the enraged woman answered only by abuse. I drew six francs +from my pocket and gave them to her, but she flung them in my +face. At last I went out with the daughter, whose hair she +attempted to pull out by the roots, which project was defeated by +the aid of my man. As soon as we got outside, the mob which the +uproar had attracted hooted me and followed me, and no doubt I +should have been torn to pieces if I had not escaped into a +church, which I left by another door a quarter of an hour later. +My fright saved me, for I knew the ferocity of the Provencals, and +I took care not to reply a word to the storm of abuse which poured +on me. I believe that I was never in greater danger than on that +day. + +Before I got back to my inn I was rejoined by the servant and the +girl. + +"How could you lead me into such a dangerous position?" said I. +"You must have known your mother was savage." + +"I hoped she would behave respectfully to you." + +"Be calm; don't weep any more. Tell me how I can serve you." + +"Rather than return to that horrible house I was in yesterday I +would throw myself into the sea." + +"Do you know of any respectable house where I can keep her?" said +I to the man. + +He told me he did know a respectable individual who let furnished +apartments. + +"Take me to it, then." + +The man was of an advanced age, and he had rooms to let on all the +floors. + +"I only want a little nook," said the girl; and the old man took +us to the highest story, and opened the door of a garret, saying,- + +"This closet is six francs a month, a month's rent to be paid in +advance, and I may tell you that my door is always shut at ten +o'clock, and that nobody can come and pass the night with you." + +The room held a bed with coarse sheets, two chairs, a little +table, and a chest of drawers. + +"How much will you board this young woman for?" said I. + +He asked twenty sous, and two sous for the maid who would bring +her meals and do her room. + +"That will do," said the girl, and she paid the month's rent and +the day's board. I left her telling her I would come back again. + +As I went down the stairs I asked the old man to shew me a room +for myself. He skewed me a very nice one at a Louis a month, and +I paid in advance. He then gave me a latch-key, that I might go +and come when I liked. + +"If you wish to board here," said he, "I think I could give +satisfaction." + +Having done this good work, I had my dinner by myself, and then +went to a coffee-house where I found the amiable Knight of Malta +who was playing. He left the game as soon as he saw me, put the +fistfull of gold he had won into his pocket, accosted me with the +politeness natural to a Frenchman, and asked me how I had liked +the lady who had given me my supper. I told him what had +happened, at which he laughed, and asked me to come and see his +ballet-girl. We found her under the hairdresser's hands, and she +received me with the playful familiarity with which one greets an +old acquaintance. I did not think much of her, but I pretended to +be immensely struck, with the idea of pleasing the good-natured +knight. + +When the hairdresser left her, it was time for her to get ready +for the theatre, and she dressed herself, without caring who was +present. The knight helped her to change her chemise, which she +allowed him to do as a matter of course, though indeed she begged +me to excuse her. + +As I owed her a compliment, I could think of nothing better than +to tell her that though she had not offended me she had made me +feel very uncomfortable. + +"I don't believe you," said she. + +"It's true all the same." + +She came up to me to verify the fact, and finding I had deceived +her, she said half crossly, + +"You are a bad fellow." + +The women of Marseilles are undoubtedly the most profligate in +France. They not only pride themselves on never refusing, but +also on being the first to propose. This girl skewed me a +repeater, for which she had got up a lottery at twelve francs a +ticket. She had ten tickets left; I took them all, and so +delighted was she to touch my five Louis that she came and kissed +me, and told the knight that her unfaithfulness to him rested only +with me. + +"I am charmed to hear it," said the Maltese. He asked me to sup +with her, and I accepted the invitation, but the sole pleasure I +had was looking at the knight at work. He was far inferior to +Dolci! + +I wished them good night, and went to the house where I had placed +the poor girl. The maid skewed me to my room, and I asked her if +I might go to the garret. She took the light, I followed her up, +and Rosalie, as the poor girl was named, heard my voice and opened +the door. I told the maid to wait for me in my room, and I went +in and sat down on the bed. + +"Are you contented, dear?" I said. + +"I am quite happy." + +"Then I hope you will be kind, and find room for me in your bed." + +"You may come if you like, but I must tell you that you will not +find me a maid, as I have had one lover." + +"You told me a lie, then?" + +"Forgive me, I could not guess you would be my lover." + +"I forgive you willingly; all the more so as I am no great +stickler for maidenheads." + +She was as gentle as a lamb, and allowed me to gaze on all those +charms of which my hands and my lips disputed the possession; and +the notion that I was master of all these treasures put fire in +all my veins, but her submissive air distressed me. + +"How is it you do not partake my desires?" said I. + +"I dare not, lest you take me for a pretender." + +Artifice or studied coquetry might have prompted such an answer, +but the real timidity and the frankness with which these words +were uttered could not have been assumed. Impatient to gain +possession of her I took off my clothes, and on getting into bed +to her I was astonished to find her a maid. + +"Why did you tell me you had a lover?" said I. "I never heard of +a girl telling a lie of that sort before." + +"All the same I did not tell a lie, but I am very glad that I seem +as if I had done so." + +"Tell me all about it." + +"Certainly I ,will, for I want to win your confidence. This is +the story: + +"Two years ago my mother, though she was hot-tempered, still loved +me. I was a needle-woman, and earned from twenty to thirty sous a +day. Whatever I earned I gave my mother. I had never had a +lover, never thought of such a thing, and when my goodness was +praised I felt inclined to laugh. I had been brought up from a +child never to look at young men when I met them in the street, +and never to reply to them when they addressed any impudence to +me. + +"Two months ago a fine enough looking young man, a native of +Genoa, and a merchant in a small way, came to my mother to get her +to wash some very fine cotton stockings which the sea-water had +stained. When he saw me he was very complimentary, but in an +honest way. I liked him, and, no doubt seeing it, he came and +came again every evening. My mother was always present at our +interviews, and he looked at me and talked to me, but did not so +much as ask to kiss my hand. My mother was very pleased to notice +that the young man liked me, and often scolded me because I was +not polite enough to him. In time he had to go to Genoa in a +small ship which belonged to him, and which was laden with goods. +He assured us that he would return again the next spring and +declare his intentions. He said he hoped he should find me as +good as ever, and still without any lover. This was enough; my +mother looked upon him as my betrothed, and let us talk together +at the door till midnight. When he went I would shut the door and +lie down beside my mother, who was always asleep. + +"Four or five days before his departure, he took my arm and got me +to go with him to a place about fifty paces from the house to +drink a glass of Muscat at a Greek's, who kept his tavern open all +night. We were only away for half an hour, and then it was that +he first kissed me. When I got home I found my mother awake, and +told her all; it seemed so harmless to me. + +"Next day, excited by the recollection of what had happened the +night before, I went with him again, and love began to gain +ground. We indulged in caresses which were no longer innocent, as +we well knew. However, we forgave each other, as we had abstained +from the chief liberty. + +"The day after, my lover--as he had to journey in the night--took +leave of my mother, and as soon as she was in bed I was not longer +in granting what I desired as much as he. We went to the Greek's, +ate and drank, and our heated senses gained love's cause; we +forgot our duty, and fancied our misdemeanour a triumph. + +"Afterwards we fell asleep, and when we awoke we saw our fault in +the clear, cold light of day. We parted sorrowful rather than +rejoicing, and the reception my mother gave me was like that you +witnessed this morning. I assured her that marriage would take +away the shame of my sin, and with this she took up a stick and +would have done for me, if I had not taken to my heels, more from +instinct than from any idea of what I was doing. + +"Once in the street I knew not where to turn, and taking refuge in +a church I stayed there like one in a dream till noon. Think of +my position. I was hungry, I had no refuge, nothing but the +clothes I wore, nothing that would get me a morsel of bread. A +woman accosted me in the street. I knew her and I also knew that +she kept a servants' agency. I asked her forthwith if she could +get me a place. + +"'I had enquiries about a maid this morning,' said she, 'but it is +for a gay woman, and you are pretty. You would have a good deal +of difficulty in remaining virtuous.' + +"'I can keep off the infection,' I answered, 'and in the position +I am in I cannot pick and choose.' + +"She thereupon took me to the lady, who was delighted to see me, +and still more delighted when I told her that I had never had +anything to do with a man. I have repented of this lie bitterly +enough, for in the week I spent at that profligate woman's house I +have had to endure the most humiliating insults that an honest +girl ever suffered. No sooner did the men who came to the house +hear that I was a maid than they longed to slake their brutal lust +upon me, offering me gold if I would submit to their caresses. I +refused and was reviled, but that was not all. Five or six times +every day I was obliged to remain a witness of the disgusting +scenes enacted between my mistress and her customers, who, when I +was compelled to light them about the house at night, overwhelmed +me with insults, because I would not do them a disgusting service +for a twelve-sous piece. I could not bear this sort of life much +longer, and I was thinking of drowning myself. When you came you +treated me so ignominiously that my resolve to die was +strengthened, but you were so kind and polite as you went away +that I fell in love with you directly, thinking that Providence +must have sent you to snatch me away from the abyss. I thought +your fine presence might calm my mother and persuade her to take +me back till my lover came to marry me. I was undeceived, and I +saw that she took me for a prostitute. Now, if you like, I am +altogether yours, and I renounce my lover of whom I am no longer +worthy. Take me as your maid, I will love you and you only; I +will submit myself to you and do whatever you bid me." + +Whether it were weakness or virtue on my part, this tale of woe +and a mother's too great severity drew tears from my eyes, and +when she saw my emotion she wept profusely, for her heart was in +need of some relief. + +"I think, my poor Rosalie, you have only one chemise." + +"Alas! that is all." + +Comfort yourself, my dear; all your wants shall be supplied +tomorrow, and in the evening you shall sup with me in my room on +the second floor. I will take care of you." + +"You pity me, then?" + +"I fancy there is more love than pity in it." + +"Would to God it were so!" + +This "would to God," which came from the very depths of her soul, +sent me away in a merry mood. The servant who had been waiting +for me for two hours, and was looking rather glum, relaxed when +she saw the colour of a crown which I gave her by way of +atonement. + +"Tell your master," said I, "that Rosalie will sup with me to- +morrow; let us have a fasting dinner, but let it be a good one." + +I returned to my inn quite in love with Rosalie, and I +congratulated myself on having at last heard a true tale from a +pretty mouth. She appeared to me so well disposed that her small +failing seemed to make her shine the more. I resolved never to +abandon her, and I did so in all sincerity; was I not in love? + +After I had had my chocolate next morning I went out with a guide +to the shops, where I got the necessary articles, paying a good +but not an excessive price. Rosalie was only fifteen, but with +her figure, her well-formed breasts, and her rounded arms, she +would have been taken for twenty. Her shape was so imprinted on +my brain that everything I got for her fitted as if she had been +measured for it. This shopping took up all the morning, and in +the afternoon the man took her a small trunk containing two +dresses, chemises, petticoats, handkerchiefs, stockings, gloves, +caps, a pair of slippers, a fan, a work-bag, and a mantle. I was +pleased at giving her such a delightful surprise, and I longed for +suppertime that I might enjoy the sight of her pleasure. + +The Knight of Malta came to dine with me without ceremony, and I +was charmed to see him. After we had dined he persuaded me to go +to the theatre, as in consequence of the suspense of the +subscription arrangements the boxes would be filled with all the +quality in Marseilles. + +"There will be no loose women in the amphitheatre," said he, "as +everybody has to pay." + +That decided me and I went. He presented me to a lady with an +excellent connection, who asked me to come and see her. I excused +myself on the plea that I was leaving so shortly. Nevertheless +she was very useful to me on my second visit to Marseilles. Her +name was Madame Audibert. + +I did not wait for the play to end, but went where love called me. +I had a delightful surprise when I saw Rosalie; I should not have +known her. But I cannot resist the pleasure of recalling her +picture as she stood before me then, despite the years that have +rolled by since that happy moment. + +Rosalie was an enticing-looking brunette, above the middle height. +Her face was a perfect oval, and exquisitely proportioned. Two +fine black eyes shed a soft and ravishing light around. Her +eyebrows were arched, and she had a wealth of hair, black and +shining as ebony; her skin was while and lightly tinged with +colour. On her chin was a dimple, and her slightest smile +summoned into being two other dimples, one on each cheek. Her +mouth was small, disclosing two rows of fairest orient pearls, and +from her red lips flowed forth an indefinable sweetness. The +lower lip projected ever so lightly, and seemed designed to hold a +kiss. I have spoken of her arms, her breast, and her figure, +which left nothing to be desired, but I must add to this catalogue +of her charms, that her hand was exquisitely shaped, and that her +foot was the smallest I have ever seen. As to her other beauties, +I will content myself with saying that they were in harmony with +those I have described. + +To see her at her best, one had to see her smiling; and hitherto +she had been sad or vexed--states of mind which detract from a +woman's appearance. But now sadness was gone, and gratitude and +pleasure had taken its place. I examined her closely, and felt +proud, as I saw what a transformation I had effected; but I +concealed my surprise, lest she should think I had formed an +unfavourable impression of her. I proceeded, therefore, to tell +her that I should expose myself to ridicule if I attempted to keep +a beauty like herself for a servant. + +"You shall be my mistress," I said, "and my servants shall respect +you as if you were my wife." + +At this Rosalie, as if I had given her another being, began to try +and express her gratitude for what I had done. Her words, which +passion made confused, increased my joy; here was no art nor +deceit, but simple nature. + +There was no mirror in her garret, so she had dressed by her sense +of touch, and I could see that she was afraid to stand up and look +at herself in the mirror in my room. I knew the weak spot in all +women's hearts (which men are very wrong in considering as matter +for reproach), and I encouraged her to admire herself, whereupon +she could not restrain a smile of satisfaction. + +"I think I must be in disguise," said she, "for I have never seen +myself so decked out before." + +She praised the tasteful simplicity of the dress I had chosen, but +was vexed at the thought that her mother would still be +displeased. + +"Think no more of your mother, dearest one. You look like a lady +of quality, and I shall be quite proud when the people at Genoa +ask me if you are my daughter." + +"At Genoa?" + +"Yes, at Genoa. Why do you blush?" + +"From surprise; perhaps I may see there one whom I have not yet +forgotten." + +"Would you like to stay here better?" + +"No, no! Love me and be sure that I love you and for your own +sake, not from any thought of my own interests." + +"You are moved, my angel; let me wipe away your tears with +kisses." + +She fell into my arms, and she relieved the various feelings of +which her heart was full by weeping for some time. I did not try +to console her, for she had not grief; she wept as tender souls, +and women, more especially, often will. We had a delicious supper +to which I did honour for two, for she ate nothing. I asked her +if she was so unfortunate as not to care for good food. + +"I have as good an appetite as anyone," she replied, "and an +excellent digestion. You shall see for yourself when I grow more +accustomed to my sudden happiness." + +"At least you can drink; this wine is admirable. If you prefer +Greek muscat I will send for some. It will remind you of your +lover." + +"If you love me at all, I beg you will spare me that +mortification." + +"You shall have no more mortification from me, I promise you. It +was only a joke, and I beg your pardon for it." + +"As I look upon you I feel in despair at not having known you +first." + +"That feeling of yours, which wells forth from the depths of your +open soul, is grand. You are beautiful and good, for you only +yielded to the voice of love with the prospect of becoming his +wife; and when I think what you are to me I am in despair at not +being sure you love me. An evil genius whispers in my ear that +you only bear with me because I had the happiness of helping you." + +"Indeed, that is an evil genius. To be sure, if I had met you in +the street I should not have fallen head over ears in love with +you, like a wanton, but you would certainly have pleased me. I am +sure I love you, and not for what you have done for me; for if I +were rich and you were poor, I would do anything in the world for +you. But I don't want it to be like that, for I had rather be +your debtor than for you to be mine. These are my real feelings, +and you can guess the rest." + +We were still talking on the same subject when midnight struck, +and my old landlord came and asked me if I were pleased. + +"I must thank you," I replied, "I am delighted. Who cooked this +delicious supper?" + +"My daughter." + +"She understands her craft; tell her I thought it excellent." + +"Yes, sir, but it is dear." + +"Not too dear for me. You shall be pleased with me as I with you, +and take care to have as good a supper to-morrow evening, as I +hope the lady will be well enough to do justice to the products of +your daughter's culinary skill." + +"Bed is a capital place to get an appetite. Ah! it is sixty years +since I have had anything to do with that sort of thing. What are +you laughing at, mademoiselle?" + +"At the delight with which you must recollect it." + +"You are right, it is a pleasant recollection; and thus I am +always ready to forgive young folks the peccadilloes that love +makes them commit." + +"You are a wise old man," said I, "everyone should sympathise with +the tenderest of all our mortal follies." + +"If the old man is wise," said Rosalie, when he had left the room, +"my mother must be very foolish." + +"Would you like me to take you to the play to-morrow?" + +"Pray do not. I will come if you like, but it will vex me very +much. I don't want to walk out with you or to go to the theatre +with you here. Good heavens ! What would people say. No, +neither at Marseilles; but elsewhere, anything you please and with +all my heart." + +"Very good, my dear, just as you please. But look at your room; +no more garret for you; and in three days we will start." + +"So soon?" + +"Yes; tell me to-morrow what you require for the journey, for I +don't want you to lack for anything, and if you leave it all to me +I might forget something which would vex me." + +"Well, I should like another cloak, a cloak with a lining, some +boots, a night-cap, and a prayer-book." + +"You know how to read, do you?" + +"Certainly; and I can write fairly well." + +"I am glad to hear it. Your asking me so freely for what you want +is a true proof of your love; where confidence dwells not there is +no love. I will not forget anything, but your feet are so small +that I should advise you to get your boots yourself." + +Our talk was so pleasant, and I experienced such delight in +studying her disposition, that we did not go to bed till five +o'clock. In the arms of love and sleep we spent seven delicious +hours, and when we rose at noon we were fast lovers. She called +me thou, talked of love and not of gratitude, and, grown more +familiar with her new estate, laughed at her troubles. She kissed +me at every opportunity, called me her darling boy, her joy, and +as the present moment is the only real thing in this life, I +enjoyed her love, I was pleased with her caresses, and put away +all ideas of the dreadful future, which has only one certainty-- +death, 'ultima linea rerum'. + +The second night was far sweeter than the first; she had made a +good supper, and drunk well, though moderately; thus she was +disposed to refine on her pleasure, and to deliver herself with +greater ardour to all the voluptuous enjoyments which love +inspires. + +I gave her a pretty watch and a gold shuttle for her to amuse +herself with. + +"I wanted it," said she, "but I should never have dared to ask for +it." + +I told her that this fear of my displeasure made me doubt once +more whether she really loved me. She threw herself into my arms, +and promised that henceforth she would shew me the utmost +confidence. + +I was pleased to educate this young girl, and I felt that when her +mind had been developed she would be perfect. + +On the fourth day I warned her to hold herself in readiness to +start at a moment's notice. I had said nothing about my plans to +Costa or Le Duc, but Rosalie knew that I had two servants, and I +told her that I should often make them talk on the journey for the +sake of the laughter their folly would afford me. + +"You, my dear," I had said to her, "must be very reserved with +them, and not allow them to take the slightest liberty. Give them +your orders as a mistress, but without pride, and you will be +obeyed and respected. If they forget themselves in the slightest +particular, tell me at once." + +I started from the hotel of the "Treize Cantons" with four post- +horses, Le Duc and Costa sitting on the coachman's seat. The +guide, whom I had paid well for his services, took us to Rosalie's +door. I got out of the carriage, and after thanking the kindly +old landlord, who was sorry to lose so good a boarder, I made her +get in, sat down beside her, and ordered the postillions to go to +Toulon, as I wished to see that fine port before returning to +Italy. We got to Toulon at five o'clock. + +My Rosalie behaved herself at supper like the mistress of a house +accustomed to the best society. I noticed that Le Duc as head man +made Costa wait upon her, but I got over him by telling my +sweetheart that he would have the honour of doing her hair, as he +could do it as well as the best barber in Paris. He swallowed the +golden pill, and gave in with a good grace, and said, with a +profound bow, that he hoped to give madam satisfaction. + +We went out next morning to see the port, and were shewn over the +place by the commandant, whose acquaintance we made by a lucky +chance. He offered his arm to Rosalie, and treated her with the +consideration she deserved for her appearance and the good sense +of her questions. The commandant accepted my invitation to +dinner, at which Rosalie spoke to the point though not to excess, +and received the polite compliments of our worthy guest with much +grace. In the afternoon he took us over the arsenal, and after +having him to dinner could not refuse his invitation to supper. +There was no difficulty about Rosalie; the commandant introduced +her immediately to his wife, his daughter, and his son. I was +delighted to see that her manner with ladies even surpassed her +manner with gentlemen. She was one of Nature's own ladies. The +commandant's wife and daughter caressed her again and again, and +she received their attentions with that modest sensibility which +is the seal of a good education. + +They asked me to dinner the next day, but I was satisfied with +what I had seen, so I took leave, intending to start on the +morrow. + +When we got back to the inn I told her how pleased I was with her, +and she threw her arms round my neck for joy. + +"I am always afraid," said she, "of being asked who I am." + +"You needn't be afraid, dearest; in France no gentleman or lady +would think of asking such a question." + +"But if they did, what ought I to do?" + +"You should make use of an evasion." + +"What's an evasion?" + +"A way of escaping from a difficulty without satisfying +impertinent curiosity." + +"Give me an example." + +"Well, if such a question were asked you, you might say, 'You had +better ask this gentleman.'" + +"I see, the question is avoided; but is not that impolite?" + +"Yes; but not so impolite as to ask an embarrassing question." + +"And what would you say if the question was passed on to you?" + +"Well, my answer would vary in a ratio with the respect in which I +held the questioner. I would not tell the truth, but I should say +something. And I am glad to see you attentive to my lessons. +Always ask questions, and you will always find me ready to answer, +for I want to teach you. And now let us to bed; we have to start +for Antibes at an early hour, and love will reward you for the +pleasure you have given me to-day." + +At Antibes I hired a felucca to take me to Genoa, and as I +intended to return by the same route I had my carriage warehoused +for a small monthly payment. We started early with a good wind, +but the sea becoming rough, and Rosalie being mortally afraid, I +had the felucca rowed into Villafranca, where I engaged a carriage +to take me to Nice. The weather kept us back for three days, and +I felt obliged to call on the commandant, an old officer named +Peterson. + +He gave me an excellent reception, and after the usual compliments +had passed, said,-- + +"Do you know a Russian who calls himself Charles Ivanoff?" + +"I saw him once at Grenoble." + +"It is said that he has escaped from Siberia, and that he is the +younger son of the Duke of Courland." + +"So I have heard, but I know no proof of his claim to the title." + +"He is at Genoa, where it is said a banker is to give him twenty +thousand crowns. In spite of that, no one would give him a sou +here, so I sent him to Genoa at my own expense, to rid the place +of him." + +I felt very glad that the Russian had gone away before my arrival. +An officer named Ramini, who was staying at the same inn as +myself, asked if I would mind taking charge of a packet which +M. de St. Pierre, the Spanish consul, had to send to the Marquis +Grimaldi, at Genoa. It was the nobleman I had just seen at Avignon, +and I was pleased to execute the commission. The same officer +asked me whether I had ever seen a certain Madame Stuard. + +"She came here a fortnight ago with a man who calls himself her +husband. The poor devils hadn't a penny, and she, a great beauty, +enchanted everybody, but would give no one a smile or a word." + +"I have both seen and know her," I answered. "I furnished her +with the means to come here. How could she leave Nice without any +money?" + +"That's just what no one can understand. She went off in a +carriage, and the landlord's bill was paid. I was interested in +the woman. The Marquis Grimaldi told me that she had refused a +hundred louis he offered her, and that a Venetian of his +acquaintance had fared just as badly. Perhaps that is you?" + +"It is, and I gave her some money despite my treatment." + +M. Peterson came to see me, and was enchanted with Rosalie's +amiable manner. This was another conquest for her, and I duly +complimented her upon it. + +Nice is a terribly dull place, and strangers are tormented by the +midges, who prefer them to the inhabitants. However, I amused +myself at a small bank at faro, which was held at a coffee-house, +and at which Rosalie, whose play I directed, won a score of +Piedmontese pistoles. She put her little earnings into a purse, +and told me she liked to have some money of her own. I scolded +her for not having told me so before, and reminded her of her +promise. + +"I don't really want it," said she, "it's only my +thoughtlessness." + +We soon made up our little quarrel. + +In such ways did I make this girl my own, in the hope that for the +remnant of my days she would be mine, and so I should not be +forced to fly from one lady to another. But inexorable fate +ordained it otherwise. + +The weather grew fine again, and we got on board once more, and +the next day arrived at Genoa, which I had never seen before. I +put up at "St. Martin's Inn," and for decency's sake took two +rooms, but they were adjoining one another. The following day I +sent the packet to M. Grimaldi, and a little later I left my card +at his palace. + +My guide took me to a linen-draper's, and I bought some stuff for +Rosalie, who was in want of linen. She was very pleased with it. + +We were still at table when the Marquis Grimaldi was announced; he +kissed me and thanked me for bringing the parcel. His next remark +referred to Madame Stuard. I told him what had happened, and he +laughed, saying that he was not quite sure what he would have done +under the circumstances. + +I saw him looking at Rosalie attentively, and I told him she was +as good as she was beautiful. + +"I want to find her a maid," I said, "a good seamstress, who could +go out with her, and above all who could talk Italian to her, for +I want her to learn the language that I may take her into society +at Florence, Rome and Naples." + +"Don't deprive Genoa of the pleasure of entertaining her," said +the marquis. "I will introduce her under whatever name she +pleases, and in my own house to begin with." + +"She has good reasons for preserving her incognito here." + +"Ah, I see!--Do you think of staying here long?" + +"A month, or thereabouts, and our pleasures will be limited to +seeing the town and its surroundings and going to the theatre. We +shall also enjoy the pleasures of the table. I hope to eat +champignons every day, they are better here than anywhere else" + +"An excellent plan. I couldn't suggest a better. I am going to +see what I can do in the way of getting you a maid, mademoiselle." + +"You sir? How can I deserve such great kindness?" + +"My interest in you is the greater, as I think you come from +Marseilles." + +Rosalie blushed. She was not aware that she lisped, and that this +betrayed her. I extricated her from her confusion by telling the +marquis his conjecture was well founded. + +I asked him how I could get the Journal de Savans, the Mercure de +France, and other papers of the same description. He promised to +send me a man who would get me all that kind of thing. He added +that if I would allow him to send me some of his excellent +chocolate he would come and breakfast with us. I said that both +gift and guest were vastly agreeable to me. + +As soon as he had gone Rosalie asked me to take her to a +milliner's. + +"I want ribbons and other little things," said she, "but I should +like to bargain for them and pay for them out of my own money, +without your having anything to do with it." + +"Do whatever you like, my dear, and afterwards we will go to the +play." + +The milliner to whom we went proved to be a Frenchwoman. It was a +charming sight to see Rosalie shopping. She put on an important +air, seemed to know all about it, ordered bonnets in the latest +fashion, bargained, and contrived to spend five or six louis with +great grandeur. As we left the shop I told her that I had been +taken for her footman, and I meant to be revenged. So saying, I +made her come into a jeweller's, where I bought her a necklace, +ear-rings, and brooches in imitation diamonds, and without letting +her say a word I paid the price and left the shop. + +"You have bought me some beautiful things," said she, "but you are +too lavish with your money; if you had bargained you might have +saved four louis at least." + +"Very likely, dearest, but I never was any hand at a bargain." + +I took her to the play, but as she did not understand the language +she got dreadfully tired, and asked me to take her home at the end +of the first act, which I did very willingly. When we got in I +found a box waiting for me from M. Grimaldi. It proved to contain +twenty-four pounds of chocolate. Costa, who had boasted of his +skill in making chocolate in the Spanish fashion, received orders +to make us three cups in the morning. + +At nine o'clock the marquis arrived with a tradesman, who sold me +some beautiful oriental materials. I gave them to Rosalie to make +two 'mezzaro' for herself. The 'mezzaro' is a kind of hooded +cloak worn by the Genoese women, as the 'cendal' is worn at +Venice, and the 'mantilla' at Madrid. + +I thanked M. Grimaldi for the chocolate, which was excellent; +Costa was quite proud of the praise the marquis gave him. Le Duc +came in to announce a woman, whose name I did not know. + +"It's the mother of the maid I have engaged," said M. Grimaldi. + +She came in, and I saw before me a well-dressed woman, followed by +a girl from twenty to twenty-four years old, who pleased me at the +first glance. The mother thanked the marquis, and presented her +daughter to Rosalie, enumerating her good qualities, and telling +her that she would serve her well, and walk with her when she +wished to go out. + +"My daughter," she added, "speaks French, and you will find her a +good, faithful, and obliging girl." + +She ended by saying that her daughter had been in service lately +with a lady, and that she would be obliged if she could have her +meals by herself. + +The girl was named Veronique. Rosalie told her that she was a +good girl, and that the only way to be respected was to be +respectable. Veronique kissed her hand, the mother went away, and +Rosalie took the girl into her room to begin her work. + +I did not forget to thank the marquis, for he had evidently chosen +a maid more with a view to my likings than to those of my +sweetheart. I told him that I should not fail to call on him, and +he replied that he would be happy to see me at any hour, and that +I should easily find him at his casino at St. Pierre d'Arena, +where he often spent the night. + + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH, Vol. 4a, DEPART SWITZERLAND +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + diff --git a/old/jcdsw10.zip b/old/jcdsw10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..157735c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcdsw10.zip diff --git a/old/jcdsw11.txt b/old/jcdsw11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f05d69c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcdsw11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3883 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Depart Switzerland, by Jacques Casanova +#16 in our series by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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Roman + +The idea of the sorry plight in which I had left the Marquis de +Prie, his mistress, and perhaps all the company, who had +undoubtedly coveted the contents of my cash-box, amused me till I +reached Chamberi, where I only stopped to change horses. When I +reached Grenoble, where I intended to stay a week, I did not find +my lodging to my liking, and went in my carriage to the +post-office, where I found several letters, amongst others, one +from Madame d'Urfe, enclosing a letter of introduction to an +officer named Valenglard, who, she told me, was a learned man, and +would present me at all the best houses in the town. + +I called on this officer and received a cordial welcome. After +reading Madame d'Urfe's letter he said he was ready to be useful +to me in anything I pleased. + +He was an amiable, middle aged man, and fifteen years before had +been Madame d'Urfe's friend, and in a much more intimate degree +the friend of her daughter, the Princess de Toudeville. I told +him that I was uncomfortable at the inn, and that the first +service I would ask of him would be to procure me a comfortable +lodging. He rubbed his head, and said,-- + +"I think I can get you rooms in a beautiful house, but it is +outside the town walls. The door-keeper is an excellent cook, and +for the sake of doing your cooking I am sure he will lodge you for +nothing." + +"I don't wish that," said I. + +"Don't be afraid," said the baron, "he will make it up by means of +his dishes; and besides, the house is for sale and costs him +nothing. Come and see it." + +I took a suite of three rooms and ordered supper for two, warning +the man that I was dainty, liked good things, and did not care for +the cost. I also begged M. de Valenglard to sup with me. The +doorkeeper said that if I was not pleased with his cooking I had +only to say so, and in that case I should have nothing to pay. I +sent for my carriage, and felt that I had established myself in my +new abode. On the ground floor I saw three charming girls and the +door-keeper's wife, who all bowed profoundly. M. de Valenglard +took me to a concert with the idea of introducing me to everybody, +but I begged him not to do so, as I wished to see the ladies +before deciding which of them I should like to know. + +The company was a numerous one, especially where women were +concerned, but the only one to attract my attention was a pretty +and modest-looking brunette, whose fine figure was dressed with +great simplicity. Her charming eyes, after having thrown one +glance in my direction, obstinately refused to look at me again. +My vanity made me conclude at once that she behaved thus only to +increase my desire of knowing her, and to give me plenty of time +to examine her side-face and her figure, the proportions of which +were not concealed by her simple attire. Success begets +assurance, and the wish is father to the thought. I cast a hungry +gaze on this young lady without more ado, just as if all the women +in Europe were only a seraglio kept for my pleasures. I told the +baron I should like to know her. + +"She is a good girl," said he, "who sees no company, and is quite +poor." + +"Those are three reasons which make me the more anxious to know +her." + +"You will really find nothing to do in that quarter." + +"Very good." + +"There is her aunt, I will introduce you to her as we leave the +concert-room." + +After doing me this service, he came to sup with me. The +door-keeper and cook struck me as being very like Lebel. He made +his two pretty daughters wait on me, and I saw that Valenglard was +delighted at having lodged me to my satisfaction, but he grumbled +when he saw fifteen dishes. + +"He is making a fool of you and me," he said. + +"On the contrary, he has guessed my tastes. Don't you think +everything was very good?" + +"I don't deny it, but . . . " + +"Don't be afraid; I love spending my money." + +"I beg your pardon, I only want you to be pleased." + +We had exquisite wines, and at dessert some ratafia superior to +the Turkish 'visnat' I had tasted seventeen years before at Yussuf +Ali's. When my landlord came up at the end of supper, I told him +that he ought to be Louis XV.'s head cook. + +"Go on as you have begun, and do better if you can; but let me +have your bill every morning." + +"You are quite right; with such an arrangement one can tell how +one is getting on." + +"I should like you always to give me ices, and you must let me +have two more lights. But, unless I am mistaken, those are +candles that I see. I am a Venetian, and accustomed to wax +lights." + +"That is your servant's fault, sir." + +"How is that?" + +"Because, after eating a good supper, he went to bed, saying he +was ill. Thus I heard nothing as to how you liked things done." + +"Very good, you shall learn from my own lips." + +"He asked my wife to make chocolate for you tomorrow morning; he +gave her the chocolate, I will make it myself." + +When he had left the room M. de Valenglard said, in a manner that +was at the same time pleased and surprised, that Madame d'Urfe had +been apparently joking in telling him to spare me all expense. + +"It's her goodness of heart. I am obliged to her all the same. +She is an excellent woman." + +We stayed at table till eleven o'clock, discussing in numerable +pleasant topics, and animating our talk with that choice liqueur +made at Grenoble, of which we drank a bottle. It is composed of +the juice of cherries, brandy, sugar, and cinnamon, and cannot be +surpassed, I am sure, by the nectar of Olympus. + +I sent home the baron in my carriage, after thanking him for his +services, and begging him to be my companion early and late while +I stayed at Grenoble--a re quest which he granted excepting for +those days on which he was on duty. At supper I had given him my +bill of exchange on Zappata, which I endorsed with the name de +Seingalt, which Madame d'Urfe had given me. He discounted it for +me next day. A banker brought me four hundred louis and I had +thirteen hundred in my cash-box. I always had a dread of +penuriousness, and I delighted myself at the thought that M. de +Valenglard would write and tell Madame d'Urfe, who was always +preaching economy to me, what he had seen. I escorted my guest to +the carriage, and I was agreeably surprised when I got back to +find the doorkeeper's two charming daughters. + +Le Duc had not waited for me to tell him to find some pretext for +not serving me. He knew my tastes, and that when there were +pretty girls in a house, the less I saw of him the better I was +pleased. + +The frank eagerness of the two girls to wait on me, their utter +freedom from suspicion or coquetry, made me determine that I would +shew myself deserving of their trust. They took off my shoes and +stockings, did my hair and put on my night-gown with perfect +propriety on both sides. When I was in bed I wished them a +goodnight, and told them to shut the door and bring me my +chocolate at eight o'clock next morning. + +I could not help confessing that I was perfectly happy as I +reflected over my present condition. I enjoyed perfect health, I +was in the prime of life, I had no calls on me, I was thoroughly +independent, I had a rich store of experience, plenty of money, +plenty of luck, and I was a favourite with women. The pains and +troubles I had gone through had been followed by so many days of +happiness that I felt disposed to bless my destiny. Full of these +agreeable thoughts I fell asleep, and all the night my dreams were +of happiness and of the pretty brunette who had played with me at +the concert. + +I woke with thoughts of her, and feeling sure that we should +become acquainted I felt curious to know what success I should +have with her. She was discreet and poor; and as I was discreet +in my own way she ought not to despise my friendship. + +At eight o'clock, one of the door-keeper's daughters brought me my +chocolate, and told me that Le Duc had got the fever. + +"You must take care of the poor fellow." + +"My cousin has just taken him some broth." + +"What is your name?" + +"My name is Rose, and my sister is Manon." + +Just then Manon came in with my shirt, on which she had put fresh +lace. I thanked her, and she said with a blush that she did her +father's hair very well. + +"I am delighted to hear it, and I shall be very pleased if you +will be kind enough to do the same offices for me till my servant +recovers." + +"With pleasure, sir." + +"And I," said Rose, laughing, "will shave you." + +"I should like to see how you do it; get the water." + +I rose hastily, while Manon was preparing to do my hair. Rose +returned and shaved me admirably. As soon as she had washed off +the lather, I said, + +"You must give me a kiss," presenting my cheek to her. She +pretended not to understand. + +"I shall be vexed," said I, gravely but pleasantly, "if you refuse +to kiss me," + +She begged to be excused, saying with a little smile, that it was +not customary to do so at Grenoble. + +"Well, if you won't kiss me, you shan't shave me." + +The father came in at that point, bringing his bill. + +"Your daughter has just shaved me admirably," said I, "and she +refuses to kiss me, because it is not the custom at Grenoble." + +"You little silly," said he, "it is the custom in Paris. You kiss +me fast enough after you have shaved me, why should you be less +polite to this gentleman?" + +She then kissed me with an air of submission to the paternal +decree which made Manon laugh. + +"Ah!" said the father, "your turn will come when you have finished +doing the gentleman's hair." + +He was a cunning fellow, who knew the best way to prevent me +cheapening him, but there was no need, as I thought his charges +reasonable, and as I paid him in full he went off in great glee. + +Manon did my hair as well as my dear Dubois, and kissed me when +she had done without making as many difficulties as Rose. I +thought I should get on well with both of them. They went +downstairs when the banker was announced. + +He was quite a young man, and after he had counted me out four +hundred Louis, he observed that I must be very comfortable. + +"Certainly," said I, "the two sisters are delightful." + +"Their cousin is better. They are too discreet." + +"I suppose they are well off." + +"The father has two thousand francs a year. They will be able to +marry well-to-do tradesmen." + +I was curious to see the cousin who was said to be prettier than +the sisters, and as soon as the banker had gone I went downstairs +to satisfy my curiosity. I met the father and asked him which was +Le Duc's room, and thereon I went to see my fine fellow. I found +him sitting up in a comfortable bed with a rubicund face which did +not look as if he were dangerously ill. + +"What is the matter with you? + +"Nothing, sir. I am having a fine time of it. Yesterday I +thought I would be ill." + +"What made you think that?" + +"The sight of the three Graces here, who are made of better stuff +than your handsome housekeeper, who would not let me kiss her. +They are making me wait too long for my broth, however. I shall +have to speak severely about it." + +"Le Duc, you are a rascal." + +"Do you want me to get well?" + +"I want you to put a stop to this farce, as I don't like it." +Just then the door opened, and the cousin came in with the broth. +I thought her ravishing, and I noticed that in waiting on Le Duc +she had an imperious little air which well became her. + +"I shall dine in bed," said my Spaniard. + +"You shall be attended to," said the pretty girl, and she went +out. + +"She puts on big airs," said Le Duc, "but that does not impose on +me. Don't you think she is very pretty?" + +"I think you are very impudent. You ape your betters, and I don't +approve of it. Get up. You must wait on me at table, and +afterwards you will eat your dinner by yourself, and try to get +yourself respected as an honest man always is, whatever his +condition, so long as he does not forget himself. You must not +stay any longer in this room, the doorkeeper will give you +another." + +I went out, and on meeting the fair cousin I told her that I was +jealous of the honour which she had done my man, and that I begged +her to wait on him no longer. + +"Oh, I am very glad!" + +The door-keeper came up, and I gave him my orders, and went back +to my room to write. + +Before dinner the baron came and told me that he had just come +from the lady to whom he had introduced me. She was the wife of a +barrister named Morin, and aunt to the young lady who had so +interested me. + +"I have been talking of you," said the baron, "and of the +impression her niece made on you. She promised to send for her, +and to keep her at the house all day." + +After a dinner as good as the supper of the night before, though +different from it in its details, and appetising enough to awaken +the dead, we went to see Madame Morin, who received us with the +easy grace of a Parisian lady. She introduced me to seven +children, of whom she was the mother. Her eldest daughter, an +ordinary-looking girl, was twelve years old, but I should have +taken her to be fourteen, and said so. To convince me of her age +the mother brought a book in which the year, the month, the day, +the hour, and even the minute of her birth were entered. I was +astonished at such minute accuracy, and asked if she had had a +horoscope drawn. + +"No," said she, "I have never found anybody to do it." + +"It is never too late," I replied, "and without doubt God has +willed that this pleasure should be reserved for me." + +At this moment M. Morin came in, his wife introduced me, and after +the customary compliments had passed, she returned to the subject +of the horoscope. The barrister sensibly observed that if +judicial astrology was not wholly false, it was, nevertheless, a +suspected science; that he had been so foolish as once to devote a +considerable portion of his time to it, but that on recognizing +the inability of man to deal with the future he had abandoned +astrology, contenting himself with the veritable truths of +astronomy. I saw with pleasure that I had to deal with a man of +sense and education, but Valenglard, who was a believer in +astrology, began an argument with him on the subject. During +their discussion I quietly copied out on my tablets the date of +Mdlle. Morin's birth. But M. Morin saw what I was about, and +shook his head at me, with a smile. I understood what he meant, +but I did not allow that to disconcert me, as I had made up my +mind fully five minutes ago that I would play the astrologer on +this occasion. + +At last the fair niece arrived. Her aunt introduced me to her as +Mdlle. Roman Coupier, her sister's daughter; and then, turning to +her, she informed her how ardently I had been longing to know her +since I had seen her at the concert. + +She was then seventeen. Her satin skin by its dazzling whiteness +displayed to greater advantage her magnificent black hair. Her +features were perfectly regular, and her complexion had a slight +tinge of red; her fine eyes were at once sweet and sparkling, her +eyebrows were well arched, her mouth small, her teeth regular and +as white as pearls, and her lips, of an exquisite rosy hue, +afforded a seat to the deities of grace and modesty. + +After some moments' conversation, M. Morin was obliged to go out +on business, and a game of quadrille was proposed, at which I was +greatly pitied for having lost a louis. I thought Mdlle. Roman +discreet, judicious, pleasant without being brilliant, and, still +better, without any pretensions. She was high-spirited, +even-tempered, and had a natural art which did not allow her to +seem to understand too flattering a compliment, or a joke which +passed in any way the bounds of propriety. She was neatly +dressed, but had no ornaments, and nothing which shewed wealth; +neither ear-rings, rings, nor a watch. One might have said that +her beauty was her only adornment, the only ornament she wore +being a small gold cross hanging from her necklace of black +ribbon. Her breast was well shaped and not too large. Fashion +and custom made her shew half of it as innocently as she shewed +her plump white hand, or her cheeks, whereon the lily and the rose +were wedded. I looked at her features to see if I might hope at +all; but I was completely puzzled, and could come to no +conclusion. She gave no sign which made me hope, but on the other +hand she did nothing to make me despair. She was so natural and +so reserved that my sagacity was completely at fault. +Nevertheless, a liberty which I took at supper gave me a gleam of +hope. Her napkin fell down, and in returning it to her I pressed +her thigh amorously, and could not detect the slightest +displeasure on her features. Content with so much I begged +everybody to come to dinner with me next day, telling Madame Morin +that I should not be going out, and that I was therefore delighted +to put my carriage at her service. + +When I had taken Valenglard home, I went to my lodging building +castles in Spain as to the conquest of Mdlle. Roman. + +I warned my landlord that we should be six at dinner and supper +the following day, and then I went to bed. As Le Duc was +undressing me he said, + +"Sir, you are punishing me, but what makes me sorry you are +punishing yourself in depriving yourself of the services of those +pretty girls." + +"You are a rogue." + +"I know it, but I serve you with all my heart, and I love your +pleasure as well as my own." + +"You plead well for yourself; I am afraid I have spoilt you." + +"Shall I do your hair to-morrow?" + +"No; you may go out every day till dinner-time." + +"I shall be certain to catch it." + +"Then I shall send you to the hospital." + +"That is a fine prospect, 'por Dios'." + +He was impudent, sly, profligate, and a rascally fellow; but also +obedient, devoted, discreet, and faithful, and his good qualities +made me overlook his defects. + +Next morning, when Rose brought my chocolate, she told me with a +laugh that my man had sent for a carriage, and after dressing +himself in the height of fashion he had gone off with his sword at +his side, to pay calls, as he said. + +"We laughed at him." + +"You were quite right, my dear Rose." + +As I spoke, Manon came in under some pretext or other. I saw that +the two sisters had an understanding never to be alone with me; I +was displeased, but pretended not to notice anything. I got up, +and I had scarcely put on my dressing-gown when the cousin came in +with a packet under her arm. + +"I am delighted to see you, and above all to look at your smiling +face, for I thought you much too serious yesterday." + +"That's because M. le Duc is a greater gentleman than you are; I +should not have presumed to laugh in his presence; but I had my +reward in seeing him start off this morning in his gilded coach." + +"Did he see you laughing at him?" + +"Yes, unless he is blind." + +"He will be vexed." + +"All the better." + +"You are really very charming. What have you got in that parcel?" + +"Some goods of our own manufacture. Look; they are embroidered +gloves." + +"They are beautiful; the embroidery is exquisitely done. How much +for the lot?" + +"Are you a good hand at a bargain." + +"Certainly." + +"Then we must take that into account." + +After some whisperings together the cousin took a pen, put down +the numbers of gloves, added up and said, + +"The lot will cost you two hundred and ten francs." + +"There are nine louis; give me six francs change." + +"But you told us you would make a bargain." + +"You were wrong to believe it." + +She blushed and gave me the six francs. Rose and Manon shaved me +and did my hair, giving me a kiss with the best grace imaginable; +and when I offered my cheek to the cousin she kissed me on the +mouth in a manner that told me she would be wholly mine on the +first opportunity. + +"Shall we have the pleasure of waiting on you at the table?" said +Rose. + +"I wish you would." + +"But we should like to know who is coming to dinner first; as if +it is officers from the garrison we dare not come; they make so +free." + +"My guests are Madame Morin, her husband, and her niece." + +"Very good" + +The cousin said, + +"Mdlle. Roman is the prettiest and the best girl in Grenoble; but +she will find some difficulty in marrying as she has no money." + +"She may meet some rich man who will think her goodness and her +beauty worth a million of money." + +"There are not many men of that kind." + +"No; but there are a few." + +Manon and the cousin went out, and I was left alone with Rose, who +stayed to dress me. I attacked her, but she defended herself so +resolutely that I desisted, and promised it should not occur +again. When she had finished I gave her a louis, thanked her, and +sent her away. + +As soon as I was alone I locked the door, and proceeded to concoct +the horoscope I had promised to Madame Morin. I found it an easy +task to fill eight pages with learned folly; and I confined myself +chiefly to declaring the events which had already happened to the +native. I had deftly extracted some items of information in the +course of conversation, and filling up the rest according to the +laws of probability and dressing up the whole in astrological +diction, I was pronounced to be a seer, and no doubts were cast on +my skill. I did not indeed run much risk, for everything hung +from an if, and in the judicious employment of ifs lies the secret +of all astrology. + +I carefully re-read the document, and thought it admirable. I +felt in the vein, and the use of the cabala had made me an expert +in this sort of thing. + +Just after noon all my guests arrived, and at one we sat down to +table. I have never seen a more sumptuous or more delicate +repast. I saw that the cook was an artist more in need of +restraint than encouragement. Madame Morin was very polite to the +three girls, whom she knew well, and Le Duc stood behind her chair +all the time, looking after her wants, and dressed as richly as +the king's chamberlain. When we had nearly finished dinner Mdlle. +Roman passed a compliment on my three fair waiting-maids, and this +giving me occasion to speak of their talents I got up and brought +the gloves I had purchased from them. Mdlle. Roman praised the +quality of the material and the work. I took the opportunity, and +begged leave of the aunt to give her and her niece a dozen pair +apiece. I obtained this favour, and I then gave Madame Morin the +horoscope. Her husband read it, and though an unbeliever he was +forced to admire, as all the deductions were taken naturally from +the position of the heavenly bodies at the instant of his +daughter's birth. We spent a couple of hours in talking about +astrology, and the same time in playing at quadrille, and then we +took a walk in the garden, where I was politely left to enjoy the +society of the fair Roman. + +Our dialogue, or rather my monologue, turned solely on the +profound impression she had made on me, on the passion she had +inspired, on her beauty, her goodness, the purity of my +intentions, and on my need of love, lest I should go down to the +grave the most hapless of men. + +"Sir," said she, at last, "if my destiny points to marriage I do +not deny that I should be happy to find a husband like you." + +I was emboldened by this frank declaration, and seizing her hand I +covered it with fiery kisses, saying passionately that I hoped she +would not let me languish long. She turned her head to look for +her aunt. It was getting dark, and she seemed to be afraid of +something happening to her. She drew me gently with her, and on +rejoining the other guests we returned to the dining-room, where I +made a small bank at faro for their amusement. Madame Morin gave +her daughter and niece, whose pockets were empty, some money, and +Valenglard directed their play so well that when we left off to go +to supper I had the pleasure of seeing that each of the three +ladies had won two or three louis. + +We sat at table till midnight. A cold wind from the Alps stopped +my plan of proposing a short turn in the garden. Madame Morin +overwhelmed me with thanks for my entertainment, and I gave each +of my lady-visitors a respectful kiss. + +I heard singing in the kitchen, and on going in I found Le Duc in +a high state of excitement and very drunk. As soon as he saw me +he tried to rise, but he lost his centre of gravity, and fell +right under the kitchen table. He was carried away to bed. + +I thought this accident favourable to my desire of amusing myself, +and I might have succeeded if the three Graces had not all been +there. Love only laughs when two are present, and thus it is that +the ancient mythology tells no story of the loves of the Graces, +who were always together. I had not yet found an opportunity of +getting my three maids one after the other, and I dared not risk a +general attack, which might have lost me the confidence of each +one. Rose, I saw, was openly jealous of her cousin, as she kept a +keen look-out after her movements. I was not sorry, for jealousy +leads to anger, and anger goes a long way. When I was in bed I +sent them away with a modest good night. + +Next morning, Rose came in by herself to ask me for a cake of +chocolate, for, as she said, Le Duc was now ill in real earnest. +She brought me the box, and I gave her the chocolate, and in doing +so I took her hand and shewed her how well I loved her. She was +offended, drew back her hand sharply, and left the room. A moment +after Manon came in under the pretext of shewing me a piece of +lace I had torn away in my attempts of the day before, and of +asking me if she should mend it. I took her hand to kiss it, but +she did not give me time, presenting her lips, burning with +desire. I took her hand again, and it was just on the spot when +the cousin came in. Manon held the piece of lace, and seemed to +be waiting for my answer. I told her absently that I should be +obliged if she would mend it when she had time, and with this she +went out. + +I was troubled by this succession of disasters, and thought that +the cousin would not play me false from the earnest of her +affection which she had given me the day before in that ardent +kiss of hers. I begged her to give me my handkerchief, and gently +drew her hand towards me. Her mouth fastened to mine, and her +hand, which she left to my pleasure with all the gentleness of a +lamb, was already in motion when Rose came in with my chocolate. +We regained our composure in a moment, but I was furious at heart. +I scowled at Rose, and I had a right to do so after the manner in +which she had repulsed me a quarter of an hour before. Though the +chocolate was excellent, I pronounced it badly made. I chid her +for her awkwardness in waiting on me, and repulsed her at every +step. When I got up I would not let her shave me; I shaved +myself, which seemed to humiliate her, and then Manon did my hair. +Rose and the cousin then went out, as if to make common cause +together, but it was easy to see that Rose was less angry with her +sister than her cousin. + +As Manon was finishing my toilette, M. de Valenglard came in. As +soon as we were alone, the officer, who was a man of honour and of +much sense, in spite of his belief in astrology and the occult +sciences, said that he thought me looking rather melancholy, and +that if my sadness had any connection with the fair Roman, he +warned me to think no more of her, unless I had resolved to ask +her hand in marriage. I replied that to put an end to all +difficulties I had decided on leaving Grenoble in a few days. We +dined together and we then called on Madame Morin, with whom we +found her fair niece. + +Madame Morin gave me a flattering welcome, and Mdlle. Roman +received me so graciously that I was emboldened to kiss her and +place her on my knee. The aunt laughed, the niece blushed, and +then slipping into my hand a little piece of paper made her +escape. I read on the paper the year, day, Hour, and minute of +her birth, and guessed what she meant. She meant, I thought, that +I could do nothing with her before I had drawn up her horoscope. +My resolve was soon taken to profit by this circumstance, and I +told her that I would tell her whether I could oblige her or not +next day, if she would come to a ball I was giving. She looked at +her aunt and my invitation was accepted. + +Just then the servant announced "The Russian Gentleman." I saw a +well-made man of about my own age, slightly marked with the +small-pox, and dressed as a traveller. He accosted Madame Morin +with easy grace, was welcomed heartily by her, spoke well, +scarcely gave me a glance, and did not say a word to the nieces. +In the evening M. Morin came in, and the Russian gave him a small +phial full of a white liquid, and then made as if he would go, +but he was kept to supper. + +At table the conversation ran on this marvellous liquid of his. +M. Morin told me that he had cured a young man of a bruise from a +billiard ball in five minutes, by only rubbing it with the liquid. +He said modestly that it was a trifling thing of his own +invention, and he talked a good deal about chemistry to +Valenglard. As my attention was taken up by the fair Mdlle. +Roman I could not take part in their conversation; my hope of +succeeding with her on the following day absorbed all my thoughts. +As I was going away with Valenglard he told me that nobody knew +who the Russian was, and that he was nevertheless received +everywhere. + +"Has he a carriage and servants?" + +"He has nothing, no servants and no money." + +"Where did he come from?" + +"From the skies." + +"A fair abode, certainly; how long has he been here?" + +"For the last fortnight. He visits, but asks for nothing." + +"How does he live?" + +"On credit at the inn; he is supposed to be waiting for his +carriage and servants." + +"He is probably a vagabond." + +"He does not look like one, as you saw for yourself, and his +diamonds contradict that hypothesis." + +"Yes, if they are not imitation stones, for it seems to me that if +they were real he would sell them." + +When I got home Rose came by herself to attend on me, but she +continued to sulk. I tried to rouse her up, but as I had no +success I ordered her to go and tell her father that I was going +to give a ball next day in the room by the garden, and that supper +was to be laid for twenty. + +When the door-keeper came to take my orders the following morning, +I told him that I should like his girls to dance if he didn't +mind. At this Rose condescended to smile, and I thought it a good +omen. Just as she went out with her father, Manon carne in under +the pretext of asking me what lace I would wear for the day. I +found her as gentle as a lamb and as loving as a dove. The affair +was happily consummated, but we had a narrow escape of being +caught by Rose, who came in with Le Duc and begged me to let him +dance, promising that he would behave himself properly. I was +glad that everybody should enjoy themselves and consented, telling +him to thank Rose, who had got him this favour. + +I had a note from Madame Morin, asking me if she might bring with +her to the ball two ladies of her acquaintance and their +daughters. I replied that I should be delighted for her to invite +not only as many ladies but as many gentlemen as she pleased, as I +had ordered supper for twenty people. She came to dinner with her +niece and Valenglard, her daughter being busy dressing and her +husband being engaged till the evening. She assured me that I +should have plenty of guests. + +The fair Mdlle. Roman wore the same dress, but her beauty +unadorned was dazzling. Standing by me she asked if I had thought +about her horoscope. I took her hand, made her sit on my knee, +and promised that she should have it on the morrow. I held her +thus, pressing her charming breasts with my left hand, and +imprinting fiery kisses on her lips, which she only opened to beg +me to calm myself. She was more astonished than afraid to see me +trembling, and though she defended herself successfully she did +not lose countenance for a moment, and in spite of my ardent gaze +she did not turn her face away. I calmed myself with an effort, +and her eyes expressed the satisfaction of one who has vanquished +a generous enemy by the force of reason. By my silence I praised +the virtue of this celestial being, in whose destiny I only had a +part by one of those caprices of chance which philosophy seeks to +explain in vain. + +Madame Morin came up to me, and asked me to explain some points in +her daughter's horoscope. She then told me that if I wanted to +have four beauties at my ball she had only to write a couple of +notes. + +"I shall only see one beauty," said I, looking at her niece. "God +alone knows," said Valenglard, "what people will say in Grenoble!" +"They will say it is your wedding ball," said Madame Morin to her +niece. + +"Yes, and they will doubtless talk of my magnificent dress, my +lace, and my diamonds," said the niece, pleasantly. + +"They will talk of your beauty, your wit, and your goodness," +I replied, passionately, "goodness which will make your husband a +happy man." + +There was a silence, because they all thought I was alluding to +myself. I was doing nothing of the sort. I should have been glad +to give five hundred louis for her, but I did not see how the +contract was to be drawn up, and I was not going to throw my money +away. + +We went to my bedroom, and while Mdlle. Roman was amusing herself +with looking at the jewellry on my toilette-table, her aunt and +Valenglard examined the books on the table by my bedside. I saw +Madame Morin going to the window and looking closely at something +she held in her hand. I remembered I had left out the portrait of +the fair nun. I ran to her and begged her to give me the indecent +picture I had so foolishly left about. + +"I don't mind the indecency of it," she said, "but what strikes me +is the exact likeness." + +I understood everything, and I shuddered at the carelessness of +which I had been guilty. + +"Madam," I said, "that is the portrait of a Venetian, lady, of +whom I was very found." + +"I daresay, but it's very curious. These two M's, these cast-off +robes sacrificed to love, everything makes my surprise greater." + +"She is a nun and named M---- M----." + +"And a Welsh niece of mine at Camberi is also named M---- M----, +and belongs to the same order. Nay, more, she has been at Aix, +whence you have come, to get cured of an illness." + +"And this portrait is like her?" + +"As one drop of water is like another." + +"If you go to Chamberi call on her and say you come from me; you +will be welcome and you will be as much surprised as I am." + +"I will do so, after I have been in Italy. However, I will not +shew her this portrait, which would scandalize her; I will put it +away carefully." + +"I beg you not to shew it to anyone." + +"You may rely on me." + +I was in an ecstasy at having put her off so effectually. + +At eight o'clock all my guests arrived, and I saw before me all +the fairest ladies and the noblest gentlemen of Grenoble. The +only thing which vexed me was the compliments they lavished on me, +as is customary in the provinces. + +I opened the ball with the lady pointed out to me by +M. Valenglard, and then I danced with all the ladies in succession; +but my partner in all the square dances was the fair Mdlle. Roman, +who shone from her simplicity--at least, in my eyes. + +After a quadrille, in which I had exerted myself a good deal, I +felt hot and went up to my room to put on a lighter suit, and as I +was doing so, in came the fair cousin, who asked me if I required +anything. + +"Yes, you, dearest," I replied, going up to her and taking her in +my arms. "Did anyone see you coming in here?" + +"No, I came from upstairs, and my cousins are in the +dancing-room." + +"That is capital. You are fair as Love himself, and this is an +excellent opportunity for skewing you how much I love you." + +"Good heavens! What are you doing? Let me go, somebody might +come in. Well, put out the light!" + +I put it out, shut the door, and, my head full of Mdlle. Roman, +the cousin found me as ardent as I should have been with that +delightful person. I confess, too, that the door-keeper's niece +was well worthy of being loved on her own merits. I found her +perfect, perhaps better than Mdlle. Roman, a novice, would have +been. In spite of my ardour her passion was soon appeased, and +she begged me to let her go, and I did so; but it was quite time. +I wanted to begin over again, but she was afraid that our absence +would be noticed by her two Argus-eyed cousins, so she kissed me +and left the room. + +I went back to the ball-room, and we danced on till the king of +door-keepers came to tell us supper was ready. + +A collation composed of the luxuries which the season and the +country afforded covered the table; but what pleased the ladies +most was the number and artistic arrangement of the wax lights. + +I sat down at a small table with a few of my guests, and I +received the most pressing invitations to spend the autumn in +their town. I am sure that if I had accepted I should have been +treated like a prince, for the nobility of Grenoble bear the +highest character for hospitality. I told them that if it had +been possible I should have had the greatest pleasure in accepting +their invitation, and in that case I should have been delighted to +have made the acquaintance of the family of an illustrious +gentleman, a friend of my father's. + +"What name is it?" they asked me, altogether. + +"Bouchenu de Valbonnais." + +"He was my uncle. Ah! sir, you must come and stay with us. You +danced with my daughter. What was your father's name?" + +This story, which I invented, and uttered as I was wont, on the +spur of the moment, turned me into a sort of wonder in the eyes of +the worthy people. + +After we had laughed, jested, drank, and eaten, we rose from the +table and began to dance anew. + +Seeing Madame Morin, her niece, and Valenglard going into the +garden, I followed them, and as we walked in the moonlight I led +the fair Mdlle. Roman through a covered alley; but all my fine +speeches were in vain; I could do nothing. I held her between my +arms, I covered her with burning kisses, but not one did she +return to me, and her hands offered a successful resistance to my +hardy attempts. By a sudden effort, however, I at last attained +the porch of the temple of love, and held her in such a way that +further resistance would have been of no avail; but she stopped me +short by saying in a voice which no man of feeling could have +resisted,-- + +"Be my friend, sir, and not my enemy and the cause of my ruin." + +I knelt before her, and taking her hand begged her pardon, +swearing not to renew my attempts. I then rose and asked her to +kiss me as a pledge of her forgiveness. We rejoined her aunt, and +returned to the ball-room, but with all my endeavours I could not +regain my calm. + +I sat down in a corner of the room, and I asked Rose, who passed +by me, to get me a glass of lemonade. When she brought it she +gently chid me for not having danced with her, her sister, or her +cousin. + +"It will give people but a poor opinion of our merits." + +"I am tired," said I, "but if you will promise to be kind I will +dance a minuet with you." + +"What do want me to do?" said she. + +"Go into my bedroom and wait for me there in the dark when you see +your sister and your cousin busy dancing." + +"And you will only dance with me." + +"I swear" + +"Then you will find me in your room." + +I found her passionate, and I had full satisfaction. To keep my +word with her I waited for the closing minuet, for having danced +with Rose I felt obliged in common decency to dance with the other +two, especially as I owed them the same debt. + +At day-break the ladies began to vanish, and as I put the Morins +into my carriage I told them that I could not have the pleasure of +seeing them again that day, but that if they would come and spend +the whole of the day after with me I would have the horoscope +ready. + +I went to the kitchen to thank the worthy door-keeper for having +made me cut such a gallant figure, and I found the three nymphs +there, filling their pockets with sweetmeats. He told them, +laughing, that as the master was there they might rob him with a +clear conscience, and I bade them take as much as they would. I +informed the door-keeper that I should not dine till six, and I +then went to bed. + +I awoke at noon, and feeling myself well rested I set to work at +the horoscope, and I resolved to tell the fair Mdlle. Roman that +fortune awaited her at Paris, where she would become her master's +mistress, but that the monarch must see her before she had +attained her eighteenth year, as at that time her destiny would +take a different turn. To give my prophecy authority, I told her +some curious circumstances which had hitherto happened to her, and +which I had learnt now and again from herself or Madame Morin +without pretending to heed what they said. + +With an Ephemeris and another astrological book, I made out and +copied in six hours Mdlle. Roman's horoscope, and I had so well +arranged it that it struck Valenglard and even M. Morin with +astonishment, and made the two ladies quite enthusiastic. + +My horoscope must only be known to the young lady and her family, +who would no doubt keep the secret well. After I had put the +finishing touches to it, read it, and read it again, I felt +certain that I had made a masterpiece, and I then dined in bed +with my three nymphs. I was polite and affectionate to them all, +and we were all happy together, but I was the happiest. M. de +Valenglard came to see me early the next day, and informed me that +nobody suspected me of being in love with Mdlle. Roman, but that I +was thought to be amorous of my landlord's girls. + +"Well, let them think so," said I; "they are worthy of love, +though not to be named in the same breath with one past compare, +but who leaves me no hope." + +"Let me tell Madame d'Urfe all about it." + +"Certainly; I shall be delighted." + +M. and Madame Morin and their niece came at noon, and we spent the +hour before dinner in reading the horoscope. It would be +impossible to describe the four distinct sorts of surprise which I +saw before me. The interesting Mdlle. Roman looked very grave, +and, not knowing whether she had a will of her own, listened to +what was said in silence. M. Morin looked at me now and again, +and seeing that I kept a serious countenance did not dare to +laugh. Valenglard shewed fanatic belief in astrology in every +feature. Madame Morin seemed struck as by a miracle, and, far +from thinking the fact prophesied too improbable, remarked that +her niece was much more worthy of becoming her sovereign's wife or +mistress than the bigoted Maintenon had been. + +"She would never have done anything," said Madame Morin, "if she +had not left America and come to France; and if my niece does not +go to Paris nobody can say that the horoscope has prophesied +falsely. We should therefore--go to Paris, but how is it to be +done? I don't see my way to it. The prediction of the birth of a +son has something divine and entrancing about it. I don't wish to +seem prejudiced, but my niece has certainly more qualifications +for gaining the king's affection than the Maintenon had: my niece +is a good girl and young, while the Maintenon was no longer as +young as she had been, and had led a strange life before she +became a devotee. But we shall never accomplish this journey to +Paris." + +"Nay," said Valenglard, in a serious tone, which struck me as +supremely ridiculous, "she must go; her fate must be fulfilled." + +The fair Mdlle. Roman seemed all amazed. I let them talk on, and +we sat down to dinner. + +[The next two paragraphs were misplaced in the original, +likely by the typesetter, and have been inserted here where it +seems that they belong. D.W.] + +I hoped I should be asked to take the diamond to Paris myself, and +I felt inclined to grant the request. I flattered myself that +they could not do without me, and that I should get what I wanted, +if not for love at any rate through gratitude; indeed, who knew +what might become of the plan? The monarch would be sure to be +caught directly. I had no doubts on that subject, for where is +the man in love who does not think that his beloved object will +win the hearts of all others? For the moment I felt quite jealous +of the king, but, from my thorough knowledge of my own +inconstancy, I felt sure that my jealousy would cease when my love +had been rewarded, and I was aware that Louis XV. did not +altogether hold the opinions of a Turk in such concerns. What +gave an almost divine character to the horoscope was the +prediction of a son to be born, who would make the happiness of +France, and could only come from the royal blood and from a +singular vessel of election. + +A curious fancy increased my delight, namely, the thought of +becoming a famous astrologer in an age when reason and science had +so justly demolished astrology. I enjoyed the thought of seeing +myself sought out by crowned heads, which are always the more +accessible to superstitious notions. I determined I would be +particular to whom I gave my advice. Who has not made his castles +in Spain? If Mdlle. Roman gave birth to a daughter instead of a +son I should be amused, and all would not be lost, for a son might +come afterwards. + +At first silence reigned, and then the conversation ran on a +thousand trifles, as is usual in good society, but by degrees, as +I had thought, they returned to the horoscope. + +"According to the horoscope," said the aunt, "the king is to fall +in love with my niece in her eighteenth year; she is now close on +it. What are we to do? Where are we to get the hundred louis +necessary? And when she gets to Paris is she to go to the king +and say, 'Here I am, your majesty'? And who is going to take her +there? I can't." + +"My aunt Roman might," said the young lady, blushing up to her +eyes at the roar of laughter which none of us could restrain. + +"Well," said Madame Morin, "there is Madame Varnier, of the Rue de +Richelieu; she is an aunt of yours. She has a good establishment, +and knows everybody." + +"See," said Valenglard, "how the ways of destiny are made plain. +You talk of a hundred louis; twelve will be sufficient to take you +to Madame Varnier's. When you get there, leave the rest to your +fate, which will surely favour you." + +"If you do go to Paris," said I, "say nothing to Madame Roman or +Madame Varnier about the horoscope." + +"I will say nothing to anyone about it; but, after all, it is only +a happy dream. I shall never see Paris, still less Louis XV." + +I arose, and going to my cash-box I took out a roll of a hundred +and fifty louis, which I gave to her, saying it was a packet of +sweetmeats. It felt rather heavy, and on opening it she found it +to contain fifty pieces-of-eight, which she took for medals. + +"They are gold," said Valenglard. + +"And the goldsmith will give you a hundred and fifty louis for +them," added M. Morin. + +"I beg you will keep them; you can give me a bill payable at Paris +when you become rich." + +I knew she would refuse to accept my present, although I should +have been delighted if she had kept the money. But I admired her +strength of mind in restraining her tears, and that without +disturbing for a moment the smile on her face. + +We went out to take a turn in the garden. Valenglard and Madame +Morin began on the topic of the horoscope anew, and I left them, +taking Mdlle. Roman with me. + +"I wish you would tell me," said she, when we were out of hearing +of the others, "if this horoscope is not all a joke." + +"No," I answered, "it is quite serious, but it all depends on an +if. If you do not go to Paris the prophecy will never be +fulfilled." + +"You must think so, certainly, or you would never have offered me +those fifty medals." + +"Do me the pleasure of accepting them now; nobody will know +anything about it." + +"No, I cannot, though I am much obliged to you. But why should +you want to give me such a large sum?" + +"For the pleasure of contributing to your happiness, and in the +hope that you will allow me to love you." + +"If you really love met why should I oppose your love? You need +not buy my consent; and to be happy I do not want to possess the +King of France, if you did but know to what my desires are +limited." + +"Tell me." + +"I would fain find a kind husband, rich enough for us not to lack +the necessaries of life." + +"But how if you did not love him?" + +"If he was a good, kind man how could I help loving him?" + +"I see that you do not know what love is." + +"You are right. I do not know the love that maddens, and I thank +God for it." + +"Well, I think you are wise; may God preserve you from that love." + +"You say, that as soon as the king sees me he will fall in love +with me, and to tell you the truth that strikes me as vastly +improbable; for though it is quite possible that he may not think +me plain, or he might even pronounce me pretty, yet I do not think +he will become so madly in love as you say." + +"You don't? Let us sit down. You have only got to fancy that the +king will take the same liking to you that I have done; that is +all." + +"But what do you find in me that you will not find in most girls +of my age? I certainly may have struck you; but that only proves +that I was born to exercise this sway over you, and not at all +that I am to rule the king in like manner. Why should I go and +look for the king, if you love me yourself?" + +"Because I cannot give you the position you deserve." + +"I should have thought you had plenty of money." + +"Then there's another reason: you are not in love with me." + +"I love you as tenderly as if I were your wife. I might then kiss +you, though duty now forbids my doing so." + +"I am much obliged to you for not being angry with me for being so +happy with you!" + +"On the contrary, I am delighted to please you." + +"Then you will allow me to call on you at an early hour to-morrow, +and to take coffee at your bedside." + +"Do not dream of such a thing. If I would I could not. I sleep +with my aunt, and I always rise at the same time she does. Take +away your hand; you promised not to do it again. In God's name, +let me alone." + +Alas! I had to stop; there was no overcoming her. But what +pleased me extremely was that in spite of my amorous persecution +she did not lose that smiling calm which so became her. As for +myself I looked as if I deserved that pardon for which I pleaded +on my knees, and in her eyes I read that she was sorry that she +could not grant what I required of her. + +I could no longer stay beside her, my senses were too excited by +her beauty. I left her and went to my room where I found the kind +Manon busying herself on my cuffs, and she gave me the relief I +wanted, and when we were both satisfied made her escape. I +reflected that I should never obtain more than I had obtained +hitherto from young Mdlle. Roman--at least, unless I gave the lie +to my horoscope by marrying her, and I decided that I would not +take any further steps in the matter. I returned to the garden, +and going up to the aunt I begged her to walk with me. In vain I +urged the worthy woman to accept a hundred louis for her niece's +journey from me. I swore to her by all I held sacred that no one +else should ever know of the circumstance. All my eloquence and +all my prayers were in vain. She told me that if her niece's +destiny only depended on that journey all would be well, for she +had thought over a plan which would, with her husband's consent, +enable Mdlle. Roman to go to Paris. At the same time she gave me +her sincerest thanks, and said that her niece was very fortunate +to have pleased me so well. + +"She pleased me so well," I replied, "that I have resolved to go +away to-morrow to avoid making proposals to you which would bring +the great fortune that awaits her to nought. If it were not for +that I should have been happy to have asked her hand of you." + +"Alas! her happiness would, perhaps, be built on a better +foundation. Explain yourself." + +"I dare not wage war with fate." + +"But you are not going to-morrow?" + +"Excuse me, but I shall call to take leave at two o'clock." + +The news of my approaching departure saddened the supper-table. +Madame Morin, who, for all I know, may be alive now, was a most +kind-hearted woman. At table she announced her resolve that as I +had decided on going, and as I should only leave my house to take +leave of her, she would not force me to put myself out to such an +extent, and ordained that our farewells should be said that +evening. + +"At least," I said, "I may have the honour of escorting you to +your door?" + +"That will protract our happiness for some minutes." Valenglard +went away on foot, and the fair Mdlle. Roman sat on my knee. I +dared to be bold with her, and contrary to expectation she shewed +herself so kind that I was half sorry I was going; but the die was +cast. + +A carriage lying overturned on the road outside an inn made my +coachman stop a short while, and this accident which made the poor +driver curse overwhelmed me with joy, for in these few moments I +obtained all the favours that she could possibly give under the +circumstances. + +Happiness enjoyed alone is never complete. Mine was not until I +assured myself, by looking at my sweetheart's features, that the +part she had taken had not been an entirely passive one; and I +escorted the ladies to their room. There, without any conceit, I +was certain that I saw sadness and love upon that fair creature's +face. I could see that she was neither cold nor insensible, and +that the obstacles she had put in my way were only suggested by +fear and virtue. I gave Madame Morin a farewell kiss, and she was +kind enough to tell her niece to give me a similar mark of +friendship, which she did in a way that shewed me how completely +she had shared my ardour. + +I left them, feeling amorous and sorry I had obliged myself to go. +On entering my room I found the three nymphs together, which vexed +me as I only wanted one. I whispered my wishes to Rose as she +curled my hair, but she told me it was impossible for her to slip +away as they all slept in one room. I then told them that I was +going away the next day, and that if they would pass the night +with me I would give them a present of six louis each. They +laughed at my proposal and said it couldn't possibly be done. I +saw by this they had not made confidantes of one another, as girls +mostly do, and I also saw that they were jealous of each other. I +wished them a good night, and as soon as I was in bed the god of +dreams took me under his care, and made me pass the night with the +adorable Mdlle. Roman. + +I rang rather late in the morning, and the cousin came in and said +that Rose would bring my chocolate, and that M. Charles Ivanoff +wanted to speak to me. I guessed that this was the Russian, but +as he had not been introduced to me I thought I might decline to +see him. + +"Tell him I don't know his name." + +Rose went out, and came in again saying he was the gentleman who +had had the honour of supping with me at Madame Morin's. + +"Tell him to come in." + +"Sir," said he, "I want to speak with you in private." + +"I cannot order these young ladies to leave my room, sir. Be kind +enough to wait for me outside till I have put on my dressing-gown, +and then I shall be ready to speak to you." + +"If I am troubling you, I will call again to-morrow." + +"You would not find me, as I am leaving Grenoble to-day." + +"In that case I will wait." + +I got up in haste and went out to him. + +"Sir," said he, "I must leave this place, and I have not a penny +to pay my landlord. I beg of you to come to my aid. I dare not +have recourse to anyone else in the town for fear of exposing +myself to the insult of a refusal." + +"Perhaps I ought to feel myself flattered at the preference you +have shewn me, but without wishing to insult you in any way I am +afraid I shall be obliged to refuse your request." + +"If you knew who I am I am sure you would not refuse me some small +help." + +"If you think so, tell me who you are; you may count on my +silence." + +"I am Charles, second son of Ivan, Duke of Courland, who is in +exile in Siberia. I made my escape." + +"If you go to Genoa you will find yourself beyond the reach of +poverty; for no doubt the brother of your lady-mother would never +abandon you." + +"He died in Silesia." + +"When?" + +"Two years ago, I believe." + +"You have been deceived, for I saw him at Stuttgart scarcely six +months ago. He is the Baron de Treiden." + +It did not cost me much to get wind of the adventurer, but I felt +angry that he had had the impudence to try and dupe me. If it had +not been for that I would willingly have given him six louis, for +it would have been bad form on my part to declare war against +adventurers, as I was one myself, and I ought to have pardoned his +lies as nearly all adventurers are more or less impostors. +I gave a glance at his diamond buckles, which were considered real +at Grenoble, and I saw directly that they were counterfeits of a +kind made in Venice, which imitate the facets of the diamonds in +perfection, except to people who are experienced in diamonds. + +"You have diamond buckles," said I. "Why don't you sell them?" + +"It's the last piece of jewellery I possess out of all my mother +gave me, and I promised her never to part with them." + +"I would not shew those buckles if I were you; your pocket would +be a better place for them. I may tell you frankly that I believe +the stones to be counterfeit, and that your lie displeases me." + +"Sir, I am not a liar." + +"We shall see. Prove that the stones are genuine, and I will give +you six louis. I shall be delighted if I am in the wrong. +Farewell." + +Seeing M. de Valerlglard coming up to my door, he begged me not to +tell him of what had passed between us; and I promised that I +would tell no one. + +Valenglard came to wish me a prosperous journey; he himself was +obliged to go with M. Monteinard. He begged me to correspond +constantly with him, and I had been intending to prefer the same +request, as I took too great an interest in the fair Mdlle. Roman +not to wish to hear of her fate, and the correspondence the worthy +officer desired was the best way possible for me to hear about +her. As will be imagined, I promised what he asked without making +any difficulty. He shed tears as he embraced me, and I promised +to be his friend. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +My Departure from Grenoble--Avignon--The Fountain of Vaucluse--The +False Astrodi and the Humpback--Gaetan Costa--I Arrive at +Marseilles + +While the three girls were helping Le Duc to pack my mails my +landlord entered, gave me his bill, and finding everything correct +I paid him, much to his satisfaction. I owed him a compliment, +too, at which he seemed extremely gratified. + +"Sir," said I, "I do not wish to leave your house without having +the pleasure of dining with your charming girls, to shew them how +I appreciate the care they have taken of me. Let me have, then, a +delicate repast for four, and also order post horses, that I may +start in the evening." + +"Sir," broke in Le Duc, "I entreat you to order a saddle-horse +besides; I was not made for a seat behind a chaise." + +The cousin laughed openly at his vain boasting, and to avenge +himself the rascal told her that he was better than she. + +"Nevertheless, M. le Duc, you will have to wait on her at table." + +"Yes, as she waits on you in bed." + +I ran for my stick, but the rogue, knowing what was going to +happen, opened the window and jumped into the courtyard. The +girls gave a shriek of terror, but when we looked out we saw him +jumping about and performing a thousand apish tricks. + +Very glad to find that he had not broken a limb, I called out, +"Come back, I forgive you." The girls, and the man himself who +escaped so readily, were as delighted as I. Le Duc came in in +high spirits, observing that he did not know he was such a good +jumper. + +"Very good, but don't be so impudent another time. Here, take +this watch." + +So saying, I gave him a valuable gold watch, which he received, +saying,-- + +"I would jump again for another watch like this." + +Such was my Spaniard, whom I had to dismiss two years afterwards. +I have often missed him. + +The hours went by with such speed when I was seated at table with +the three girls, whom I vainly endeavoured to intoxicate, that I +decided that I would not leave till the next day. I was tired of +making mysteries and wanted to enjoy them all together, and +resolved that the orgy should take place that night. I told them +that if they would pass the night in my room I would not go till +the next day. This proposition was received with a storm of +exclamations and with laughter, as at an impossibility, while I +endeavoured to excite them to grant my request. In the midst of +this the door-keeper came in, advising me not to travel by night, +but to go to Avignon by a boat in which I could ship my carriage. + +"You will save time and money," said he. + +"I will do so," I answered, "if these girls of yours will keep me +company all night, as I am determined I will not go to bed." + +"O Lord!" said he with a laugh, "that's their business." + +This decided them and they gave in. The door-keeper sent to order +the boat, and promised to let me have a dainty supper by midnight. + +The hours passed by in jests and merriment, and when we sat down +to supper I made the champagne corks fly to such an extent that +the girls began to get rather gay. I myself felt a little heated, +and as I held each one's secret I had the hardihood to tell them +that their scruples were ridiculous, as each of them had shewn no +reserve to me in private. + +At this they gazed at one another in a kind of blank surprise, as +if indignant at what I had said. Foreseeing that feminine pride +might prompt them to treat my accusation as an idle calumny, I +resolved not to give them time, and drawing Manon on to my knee I +embraced her with such ardour that she gave in and abandoned +herself to my passion. Her example overcame the others, and for +five hours we indulged in every kind of voluptuous enjoyment. At +the end of that time we were all in need of rest, but I had to go. +I wanted to give them some jewels, but they said they would rather +I ordered gloves to the amount of thirty louis, the money to be +paid in advance, and the gloves not to be called for. + +I went to sleep on board the boat, and did not awake till we got +to Avignon. I was conducted to the inn of "St. Omen" and supped +in my room in spite of the marvellous tales which Le Duc told me +of a young beauty at the public table. + +Next morning my Spaniard told me that the beauty and her husband +slept in a room next to mine. At the same time he brought me a +bill of the play, and I saw Company from Paris, with Mdlle. +Astrodi, who was to sing and dance. I gave a cry of wonder, and +exclaimed,-- + +"The famous Astrodi at Avignon--how she will be astonished to see +me!" + +Not wanting to live in hermit fashion, I went downstairs to dine +at the public table, and I found a score of people sitting down to +such a choice repast that I could not conceive how it could be +done for forty sous a head. The fair stranger drew all eyes, and +especially mine, towards her. She was a young and perfect beauty, +silent, her eyes fixed on a napkin, replying in monosyllables to +those who addressed her, and glancing at the speaker with large +blue eyes, the beauty of which it would be difficult to describe. +Her husband was seated at the other end of the table--a man of a +kind that inspires contempt at the first glance. He was young, +marked with the small-pox, a greedy eater, a loud talker, laughing +and speaking at random, and altogether I took him for a servant in +disguise. Feeling sure that such a fellow did not know how to +refuse, I sent him a glass of champagne, which he drank off to my +health forthwith. "May I have the pleasure of sending a glass to +your wife?" He replied, with a roar of laughter, to ask her +myself; and with a slight bow she told me that she never took +anything to drink. When the dessert came in she rose, and her +husband followed her to their room. + +A stranger who like myself had never seen her before, asked me who +she was. I said I was a newcomer and did not know, and somebody +else said that her husband called himself the Chevalier Stuard, +that he came from Lyons, and was going to Marseilles; he came, it +appeared, to Avignon a week ago, without servants, and in a very +poor carriage. + +I intended staying at Avignon only as long as might be necessary +to see the Fountain or Fall of Vaucluse, and so I had not got any +letters of introduction, and had not the pretext of acquaintance +that I might stay and enjoy her fine eyes. But an Italian who had +read and enjoyed the divine Petrarch would naturally wish to see +the place made divine by the poet's love for Laura. I went to the +theatre, where I saw the vice-legate Salviati, women of fashion, +neither fair nor foul, and a wretched comic opera; but I neither +saw Astrodi nor any other actor from the Comedie Italienne at +Paris. + +"Where is the famous Astrodi?" said I, to a young man sitting by +me, "I have not seen her yet." + +"Excuse me, she has danced and sang before your eyes." + +"By Jove, it's impossible! I know her perfectly, and if she has +so changed as not to be recognized she is no longer herself." + +I turned to go, and two minutes after the young man I had +addressed came up and begged me to come back, and he would take me +to Astradi's dressing-room, as she had recognized me. I followed +him without saying a word, and saw a plain-looking girl, who threw +her arms round my neck and addressed me by my name, though I could +have sworn I had never seen her before, but she did not leave me +time to speak. Close by I saw a man who gave himself out as the +father of the famous Astrodi, who was known to all Paris, who had +caused the death of the Comte d'Egmont, one of the most amiable +noblemen of the Court of Louis XV. I thought this ugly female +might be her sister, so I sat down and complimented her on her +talents. She asked if I would mind her changing her dress; and in +a moment she was running here and there, laughing and shewing a +liberality which possibly might have been absent if what she had +to display had been worth seeing. + +I laughed internally at her wiles, for after my experiences at +Grenoble she would have found it a hard task to arouse my desires +if she had been as pretty as she was ugly. Her thinness and her +tawny skin could not divert my attention from other still less +pleasing features about her. I admired her confidence in spite of +her disadvantages. She must have credited me with a diabolic +appetite, but these women often contrive to extract charms out of +their depravity which their delicacy would be impotent to furnish. +She begged me to sup with her, and as she persisted I was obliged +to refuse her in a way I should not have allowed myself to use +with any other woman. She then begged me to take four tickets for +the play the next day, which was to be for her benefit. I saw it +was only a matter of twelve francs, and delighted to be quit of +her so cheaply I told her to give me sixteen. I thought she would +have gone mad with joy when I gave her a double louis. She was +not the real Astrodi. I went back to my inn and had a delicious +supper in my own room. + +While Le Duc was doing my hair before I went to bed, he told me +that the landlord had paid a visit to the fair stranger and her +husband before supper, and had said in clear terms that he must be +paid next morning; and if he were not, no place would be laid for +them at table, and their linen would be detained. + +"Who told you that?" + +"I heard it from here; their room is only separated from this by a +wooden partition. If they were in it now, I am sure they could +hear all we are saying." + +"Where are they, then?" + +"At table, where they are eating for to-morrow, but the lady is +crying. There's a fine chance for you, sir." + +"Be quiet; I shan't have anything to do with it. It's a trap, for +a woman of any worth would die rather than weep at a public +table." + +"Ah, if you saw how pretty she looks in tears! I am only a poor +devil, but I would willingly give her two louis if she would earn +them." + +"Go and offer her the money." + +A moment after the gentleman and his wife came back to their room, +and I heard the loud voice of the one and the sobs of the other, +but as he was speaking Walloon I did not understand what he said. + +"Go to bed," said I to Le Duc, "and next morning tell the landlord +to get me another room, for a wooden partition is too thin a +barrier to keep off people whom despair drive to extremities." + +I went to bed myself, and the sobs and muttering did not die away +till midnight. + +I was shaving next morning, when Le Duc announced the Chevalier +Stuard. + +"Say I don't know anybody of that name." + +He executed my orders, and returned saying that the chevalier on +hearing my refusal to see him had stamped with rage, gone into his +chamber, and come out again with his sword beside him. + +"I am going to see," added Le Duc, "that your pistols are well +primed for the future." + +I felt inclined to laugh, but none the less I admired the +foresight of my Spaniard, for a man in despair is capable of +anything. + +"Go," said I, "and ask the landlord to give me another room." + +In due course the landlord came himself and told me that he could +not oblige me until the next day. + +"If you don't get me another room I shall leave your house on the +spot, because I don't like hearing sobs and reproaches all night." + +"Can you hear them, sir?" + +"You can hear them yourself now. What do you think of it? The +woman will kill herself, and you will be the cause of her death." + +"I, sir? I have only asked them to pay me my just debts." + +"Hush! there goes the husband. I am sure he is telling his wife +in his language that you are an unfeeling monster." + +"He may tell her what he likes so long as he pays me." + +"You have condemned them to die of hunger. How much do they owe +you?" + +"Fifty francs." + +"Aren't you ashamed of making such a row for a wretched sum like +that?" + +"Sir, I am only ashamed of an ill deed, and I do not commit such a +deed in asking for my own." + +"There's your money. Go and tell them that you have been paid, +and that they may eat again; but don't say who gave you the +money." + +"That's what I call a good action," said the fellow; and he went +and told them that they did not owe him anything, but that they +would never know who paid the money. + +"You may dine and sup," he added, "at the public table, but you +must pay me day by day." + +After he had delivered this speech in a high voice, so that I +could hear as well as if I had been in the room, he came back to +me. + +"You stupid fool!" said I, pushing him away, "they will know +everything." So saying I shut my door. + +Le Duc stood in front of me, staring stupidly before him. + +"What's the matter with you, idiot?" said I. + +"That's fine. I see. I am going on the stage. You would do well +to become an actor." + +"You are a fool." + +"Not so big a fool as you think." + +"I am going for a walk; mind you don't leave my room for a +moment." + +I had scarcely shut the door when the chevalier accosted me and +overwhelmed me with thanks. + +"Sir, I don't know to what you are referring." + +He thanked me again and left me, and walking by the banks of the +Rhone, which geographers say is the most rapid river in Europe, I +amused myself by looking at the ancient bridge. At dinner-time I +went back to the inn, and as the landlord knew that I paid six +francs a meal he treated me to an exquisite repast. Here, I +remember, I had some exceedingly choice Hermitage. It was so +delicious that I drank nothing else. I wished to make a +pilgrimage to Vaucluse and begged the landlord to procure me a +good guide, and after I had dressed I went to the theatre. + +I found the Astrodi at the door, and giving her my sixteen +tickets, I sat down near the box of the vice-legate Salviati, who +came in a little later, surrounded by a numerous train of ladies +and gentlemen bedizened with orders and gold lace. + +The so-called father of the false Astrodi came and whispered that +his daughter begged me to say that she was the celebrated Astrodi +I had known at Paris. I replied, also in a whisper, that I would +not run the risk of being posted as a liar by bolstering up an +imposture. The ease with which a rogue invites a gentleman to +share in a knavery is astonishing; he must think his confidence +confers an honour. + +At the end of the first act a score of lackeys in the prince's +livery took round ices to the front boxes. I thought it my duty +to refuse. A young gentleman, as fair as love, came up to me, and +with easy politeness asked me why I had refused an ice. + +"Not having the honour to know anyone here, I did not care that +anyone should be able to say that he had regaled one who was +unknown to him." + +"But you, sir, are a man who needs no introduction." + +"You do me too much honour." + +"You are staying at the 'St. Omer'!" + +"Yes; I am only stopping here to see Vaucluse, where I think of +going to-morrow if I can get a good guide." + +"If you would do me the honour of accepting me, I should be +delighted. My name is Dolci, I am son of the captain of the vice- +legate's guard." + +"I feel the honour you do me, and I accept your obliging offer. I +will put off my start till your arrival." + +"I will be with you at seven." + +I was astonished at the easy grace of this young Adonis, who might +have been a pretty girl if the tone of his voice had not announced +his manhood. I laughed at the false Astrodi, whose acting was as +poor as her face, and who kept staring at me all the time. While +she sang she regarded me with a smile and gave me signs of an +understanding, which must have made the audience notice me, and +doubtless pity my bad taste. The voice and eyes of one actress +pleased me; she was young and tall, but hunchbacked to an +extraordinary degree. She was tall in spite of her enormous +humps, and if it had not been for this malformation she would have +been six feet high. Besides her pleasing eyes and very tolerable +voice I fancied that, like all hunchbacks, she was intelligent. I +found her at the door with the ugly Astrodi when I was leaving the +theatre. The latter was waiting to thank me, and the other was +selling tickets for her benefit. + +After the Astrodi had thanked me, the hunchbacked girl turned +towards me, and with a smile that stretched from ear to ear and +displayed at least twenty-four exquisite teeth, she said that she +hoped I would honour her by being present at her benefit. + +"If I don't leave before it comes off, I will," I replied. + +At this the impudent Astrodi laughed, and in the hearing of +several ladies waiting for their carriages told me that her friend +might be sure of my presence, as she would not let me go before +the benefit night. "Give him sixteen tickets," she added. I was +ashamed to refuse, and gave her two louis. Then in a lower voice +the Astrodi said, "After the show we will come and sup with you, +but on the condition that you ask nobody else, as we want to be +alone." + +In spite of a feeling of anger, I thought that such a supper-party +would be amusing, and as no one in the town knew me I resolved to +stay in the hope of enjoying a hearty laugh. + +I was having my supper when Stuard and his wife went to their +room. This night I heard no sobs nor reproaches, but early next +morning I was surprised to see the chevalier who said, as if we +had been old friends, that he had heard that I was going to +Vaucluse, and that as I had taken a carriage with four places he +would be much obliged if I would allow him and his wife, who +wanted to see the fountain, to go with me. I consented. + +Le Duc begged to be allowed to accompany me on horseback, saying +that he had been a true prophet. In fact it seemed as if the +couple had agreed to repay me for my expenditure by giving me new +hopes. I was not displeased with the expedition, and it was all +to my advantage, as I had had recourse to no stratagems to obtain +it. + +Dolci came, looking as handsome as an angel; my neighbours were +ready, and the carriage loaded with the best provisions in food +and drink that were obtainable; and we set off, Dolci seated +beside the lady and I beside the chevalier. + +I had thought that the lady's sadness would give place, if not to +gaiety, at least to a quiet cheerfulness, but I was mistaken; for, +to all my remarks, grave or gay, she replied, either in +monosyllables or in a severely laconic style. Poor Dolci, who was +full of wit, was stupefied. He thought himself the cause of her +melancholy, and was angry with himself for having innocently cast +a shadow on the party of pleasure. I relieved him of his fears by +telling him that when he offered me his pleasant society I was not +aware that I was to be of service to the fair lady. I added that +when at day-break I received this information, I was pleased that +he would have such good company. The lady did not say a word. +She kept silent and gloomy all the time, and gazed to right and +left like one who does not see what is before his [her] eyes. + +Dolci felt at ease after my explanation, and did his best to +arouse the lady, but without success. He talked on a variety of +topics to the husband, always giving her an opportunity of joining +in, but her lips remained motionless. She looked like the statue +of Pandora before it had been quickened by the divine flame. + +The beauty of her face was perfect; her eyes were of a brilliant +blue, her complexion a delicate mixture of white and red, her arms +were as rounded as a Grace's, her hands plump and well shaped, her +figure was that of a nymph's, giving delightful hints of a +magnificent breast; her hair was a chestnut brown, her foot small: +she had all that constitutes a beautiful woman save that gift of +intellect, which makes beauty more beautiful, and gives a charm to +ugliness itself. My vagrant fancy shewed me her naked form, all +seemed ravishing, and yet I thought that though she might inspire +a passing fancy she could not arouse a durable affection. She +might minister to a man's pleasures, she could not make him happy. +I arrived at the isle resolved to trouble myself about her no +more; she might, I thought, be mad, or in despair at finding +herself in the power of a man whom she could not possibly love. I +could not help pitying her, and yet I could not forgive her for +consenting to be of a party which she knew she must spoil by her +morose behaviour. + +As for the self-styled Chevalier Stuard, I did not trouble my head +whether he were her husband or her lover. He was young, +commonplace-looking, he spoke affectedly; his manners were not +good, and his conversation betrayed both ignorance and stupidity. +He was a beggar, devoid of money and wits, and I could not make +out why he took with him a beauty who, unless she were over-kind, +could add nothing to his means of living. Perhaps he expected to +live at the expense of simpletons, and had come to the conclusion, +in spite of his ignorance, that the world is full of such; +however, experience must have taught him that this plan cannot be +relied on. + +When we got to Vaucluse I let Dolci lead; he had been there a +hundred times, and his merit was enhanced in my eyes by the fact +that he was a lover of the lover of Laura. We left the carriage +at Apt, and wended our way to the fountain which was honoured that +day with a numerous throng of pilgrims. The stream pours forth +from a vast cavern, the handiwork of nature, inimitable by man. +It is situated at the foot of a rock with a sheer descent of more +than a hundred feet. The cavern is hardly half as high, and the +water pours forth from it in such abundance that it deserves the +name of river at its source. It is the Sorgue which falls into +the Rhone near Avignon. There is no other stream as pure and +clear, for the rocks over which it flows harbour no deposits of +any kind. Those who dislike it on account of its apparent +blackness should remember that the extreme darkness of the cavern +gives it that gloomy tinge. + + Chiare fresche a dolce aque + Ove le belle membra + Pose colei the sola a me pay donna. + +I wished to ascend to that part of the rock where Petrarch's house +stood. I gazed on the remains with tears in my eyes, like Leo +Allatius at Homer's grave. Sixteen years later I slept at Arqua, +where Petrarch died, and his house still remains. The likeness +between the two situations was astonishing, for from Petrarch's +study at Arqua a rock can be seen similar to that which may be +viewed at Vaucluse; this was the residence of Madonna Laura. + +"Let us go there," said I, "it is not far off." + +I will not endeavour to delineate my feelings as I contemplated +the ruins of the house where dwelt the lady whom the amorous +Petrarch immortalised in his verse--verse made to move a heart of +stone: + + "Morte bella parea nel suo bel viso" + +I threw myself with arms outstretched upon the ground as if I +would embrace the very stones. I kissed them, I watered them with +my tears, I strove to breathe the holy breath they once contained. +I begged Madame Stuard's pardon for having left her arm to do +homage to the spirit of a woman who had quickened the profoundest +soul that ever lived. + +I say soul advisedly, for after all the body and the senses had +nothing to do with the connection. + +"Four hundred years have past and gone," said I to the statue of a +woman who gazed at me in astonishment, "since Laura de Sade walked +here; perhaps she was not as handsome as you, but she was lively, +kindly, polite, and good of heart. May this air which she +breathed and which you breathe now kindle in you the spark of fire +divine; that fire that coursed through her veins, and made her +heart beat and her bosom swell. Then you would win the worship of +all worthy men, and from none would you receive the least offence. +Gladness, madam, is the lot of the happy, and sadness the portion +of souls condemned to everlasting pains. Be cheerful, then, and +you will do something to deserve your beauty." + +The worthy Dolci was kindled by my enthusiasm. He threw himself +upon me, and kissed me again and again; the fool Stuard laughed; +and his wife, who possibly thought me mad, did not evince the +slightest emotion. She took my arm, and we walked slowly towards +the house of Messer Francesco d'Arezzo, where I spent a quarter of +an hour in cutting my name. After that we had our dinner. + +Dolci lavished more attention on the extraordinary woman than I +did. Stuard did nothing but eat and drink, and despised the +Sorgue water, which, said he, would spoil the Hermitage; possibly +Petrarch may have been of the same opinion. We drank deeply +without impairing our reason, but the lady was very temperate. +When we reached Avignon we bade her farewell, declining the +invitation of her foolish husband to come and rest in his rooms. + +I took Dolci's arm and we walked beside the Rhone as the sun went +down. Among other keen and witty observations the young man +said,-- + +"That woman is an old hand, infatuated with a sense of her own +merit. I would bet that she has only left her own country because +her charms, from being too freely displayed, have ceased to please +there. She must be sure of making her fortune out of anybody she +comes across. I suspect that the fellow who passes for her +husband is a rascal, and that her pretended melancholy is put on +to drive a persistent lover to distraction. She has not yet +succeeded in finding a dupe, but as she will no doubt try to catch +a rich man, it is not improbable that she is hovering over you.". + +When a young man of Dolci's age reasons like that, he is bound to +become a great master. I kissed him as I bade him good-night, +thanked him for his kindness, and we agreed that we would see more +of one another. + +As I came back to my inn I was accosted by a fine-looking man of +middle age, who greeted me by name and asked with great politeness +if I had found Vaucluse as fine as I had expected. I was +delighted to recognize the Marquis of Grimaldi, a Genoese, a +clever and good-natured man, with plenty of money, who always +lived at Venice because he was more at liberty to enjoy himself +there than in his native country; which shews that there is no +lack of freedom at Venice. + +After I had answered his question I followed him into his room, +where having exhausted the subject of the fountain he asked me +what I thought of my fair companion. + +"I did not find her satisfactory in all respects," I answered; and +noticing the reserve with which I spoke, he tried to remove it by +the following confession: + +"There are some very pretty women in Genoa, but not one to compare +with her whom you took to Vaucluse to-day. I sat opposite to her +at table yesterday evening, and I was struck with her perfect +beauty. I offered her my arm up the stair; I told her that I was +sorry to see her so sad, and if I could do anything for her she +had only to speak. You know I was aware she had no money. Her +husband, real or pretended, thanked me for my offer, and after I +had wished them a good night I left them. + +"An hour ago you left her and her husband at the door of their +apartment, and soon afterwards I took the liberty of calling. She +welcomed me with a pretty bow, and her husband went out directly, +begging me to keep her company till his return. The fair one made +no difficulty in sitting next to me on a couch, and this struck me +as a good omen, but when I took her hand she gently drew it away. +I then told, her, in as few words as I could, that her beauty had +made me in love with her, and that if she wanted a hundred louis +they were at her service, if she would drop her melancholy, and +behave in a manner suitable to the feelings with which she had +inspired me. She only replied by a motion of the head, which +shewed gratitude, but also an absolute refusal of my offer. 'I am +going to-morrow,' said I. No answer. I took her hand again, and +she drew it back with an air of disdain which wounded me. I +begged her to excuse me, and I left the room without more ado. + +"That's an account of what happened an hour ago. I am not amorous +of her, it was only a whim; but knowing, as I do, that she has no +money, her manner astonished me. I fancied that you might have +placed her in a position to despise my offer, and this would +explain her conduct, in a measure; otherwise I can't understand it +at all. May I ask you to tell me whether you are more fortunate +than I?" + +I was enchanted with the frankness of this noble gentleman, and +did not hesitate to tell him all, and we laughed together at our +bad fortune: I had to promise to call on him at Genoa, and tell +him whatever happened between us during the two days I purposed to +remain at Avignon. He asked me to sup with him and admire the +fair recalcitrant. + +"She has had an excellent dinner," said I, "and in all probability +she will not have any supper." + +"I bet she will," said the marquis; and he was right, which made +me see clearly that the woman was playing a part. A certain Comte +de Bussi, who had just come, was placed next to her at table. He +was a good-looking young man with a fatuous sense of his own +superiority, and he afforded us an amusing scene. + +He was good-natured, a wit, and inclined to broad jokes, and his +manner towards women bordered on the impudent. He had to leave at +midnight and began to make love to his fair neighbour forthwith, +and teased her in a thousand ways; but she remained as dumb as a +statue, while he did all the talking and laughing, not regarding +it within the bounds of possibility that she might be laughing at +him. + +I looked at M. Grimaldi, who found it as difficult to keep his +countenance as I did. The young roue was hurt at her silence, and +continued pestering her, giving her all the best pieces on his +plate after tasting them first. The lady refused to take them, +and he tried to put them into her mouth, while she repulsed him in +a rage. He saw that no one seemed inclined to take her part, and +determined to continue the assault, and taking her hand he kissed +it again and again. She tried to draw it away, and as she rose he +put his arm round her waist and made her sit down on his knee; but +at this point the husband took her arm and led her out of the +room. The attacking party looked rather taken aback for a moment +as he followed her with his eyes, but sat down again and began to +eat and laugh afresh, while everybody else kept a profound +silence. He then turned to the footman behind his chair and asked +him if his sword was upstairs. The footman said no, and then the +fatuous young man turned to an abbe who sat near me, and enquired +who had taken away his mistress: + +"It was her husband," said the abbe. + +"Her husband! Oh, that's another thing; husbands don't fight--a +man of honour always apologises to them." + +With that he got up, went upstairs, and came down again directly, +saying,-- + +"The husband's a fool. He shut the door in my face, and told me +to satisfy my desires somewhere else. It isn't worth the trouble +of stopping, but I wish I had made an end of it." + +He then called for champagne, offered it vainly to everybody, bade +the company a polite farewell and went upon his way. + +As M. Grimaldi escorted me to my room he asked me what I had +thought of the scene we had just witnessed. I told him I would +not have stirred a finger, even if he had turned up her clothes. + +"No more would I," said he, "but if she had accepted my hundred +louis it would have been different. I am curious to know the +further history of this siren, and I rely upon you to tell me all +about it as you go through Genoa." + +He went away at day-break next morning. + +When I got up I received a note from the false Astrodi, asking me +if I expected her and her great chum to supper. I had scarcely +replied in the affirmative, when the sham Duke of Courland I had +left at Grenoble appeared on the scene. He confessed in a humble +voice that he was the son of clock-maker at Narva, that his +buckles were valueless, and that he had come to beg an alms of me. +I gave him four Louis, and he asked me to keep his secret. I +replied that if anyone asked me about him that I should say what +was absolutely true, that I knew him nothing about him. "Thank +you; I am now going to Marseilles." "I hope you will have a +prosperous journey." Later on my readers will hear. how I found +him at Genoa. It is a good thing to know something about people +of his kind, of whom there are far too many in the world. + +I called up the landlord and told him I wanted a delicate supper +for three in my own room. + +He told me that I should have it, and then said, "I have just had +a row with the Chevalier Stuard." + +"What about?" + +"Because he has nothing to pay me with, and I am going to turn +them out immediately, although the lady is in bed in convulsions +which are suffocating her." + +"Take out your bill in her charms." + +"Ah, I don't care for that sort of thing! I am getting on in +life, and I don't want any more scenes to bring discredit on my +house." + +"Go and tell her that from henceforth she and her husband will +dine and sup in their own room and that I will pay for them as +long as I remain here." + +"You are very generous, sir, but you know that meals in a private +room are charged double." + +"I know they are." + +"Very good." + +I shuddered at the idea of the woman being turned out of doors +without any resources but her body, by which she refused to +profit. On the other hand I could not condemn the inn-keeper who, +like his fellows, was not troubled with much gallantry. I had +yielded to an impulse of pity without any hopes of advantage for +myself. Such were my thoughts when Stuard came to thank me, +begging me to come and see his wife and try and persuade her to +behave in a different manner. + +"She will give me no answers, and you know that that sort of thing +is rather tedious." + +"Come, she knows what you have done for her; she will talk to you, +for her feelings . . . ." + +"What business have you to talk about feelings after what happened +yesterday evening?" + +"It was well for that gentleman that he went away at midnight, +otherwise I should have killed him this morning." + +"My dear sir, allow me to tell you that all that is pure +braggadocio. Yesterday, not to-day, was the time to kill him, or +to throw your plate at his head, at all events. We will now go +and see your wife." + +I found her in bed, her face to the wall, the coverlet right up to +her chin, and her body convulsed with sobs. I tried to bring her +to reason, but as usual got no reply. Stuard wanted to leave me, +but I told him that if he went out I would go too, as I could do +nothing to console her, as he might know after her refusing the +Marquis of Grimaldi's hundred louis for a smile and her hand to +kiss. + +"A hundred Louis!" cried the fellow with a sturdy oath; "what +folly! We might have been at home at Liege by now. A princess +allows one to kiss her hand for nothing, and she.... A hundred +Louis! Oh, damnable!" + +His exclamations, very natural under the circumstances, made me +feel inclined to laugh. The poor devil swore by all his gods, and +I was about to leave the room, when all at once the wretched woman +was seized with true or false convulsions. With one hand she +seized a water-bottle and sent it flying into the middle of the +room, and with the other she tore the clothes away from her +breast. Stuard tried to hold her, but her disorder increased in +violence, and the coverlet was disarranged to such a degree that I +could see the most exquisite naked charms imaginable. At last she +grew calm, and her eyes closed as if exhausted; she remained in +the most voluptuous position that desire itself could have +invented. I began to get very excited. How was I to look on such +beauties without desiring to possess them? At this point her +wretched husband left the room, saying he was gone to fetch some +water. I saw the snare, and my self-respect prevented my being +caught in it. I had an idea that the whole scene had been +arranged with the intent that I should deliver myself up to brutal +pleasure, while the proud and foolish woman would be free to +disavow all participation in the fact. I constrained myself, and +gently veiled what I would fain have revealed in all its naked +beauty. I condemned to darkness these charms which this monster +of a woman only wished me to enjoy that I might be debased. + +Stuard was long enough gone. When he came back with the water- +bottle full, he was no doubt surprised to find me perfectly calm, +and in no disorder of any kind, and a few minutes afterwards I +went out to cool myself by the banks of the Rhone. + +I walked along rapidly, feeling enraged with myself, for I felt +that the woman had bewitched me. In vain I tried to bring myself +to reason; the more I walked the more excited I became, and I +determined that after what I had seen the only cure for my +disordered fancy was enjoyment, brutal or not. I saw that I +should have to win her, not by an appeal to sentiment but by hard +cash, without caring what sacrifices I made. I regretted my +conduct, which then struck me in the light of false delicacy, for +if I had satisfied my desires and she chose to turn prude, I might +have laughed her to scorn, and my position would have been +unassailable. At last I determined on telling the husband that I +would give him twenty-five louis if he could obtain me an +interview in which I could satisfy my desires. + +Full of this idea I went back to the inn, and had my dinner in my +own room without troubling to enquire after her. Le Duc told me +that she was dining in her room too, and that the landlord had +told the company that she would not take her meals in public any +more. This was information I possessed already. + +After dinner I called on the good-natured Dolci, who introduced me +to his father, an excellent man, but not rich enough to satisfy +his son's desire of travelling. The young man was possessed of +considerable dexterity, and performed a number of very clever +conjuring tricks. He had an amiable nature, and seeing that I was +curious to know about his love affairs he told me numerous little +stories which shewed me that he was at that happy age when one's +inexperience is one's sole misfortune. + +There was a rich lady for whom he did not care, as she wanted him +to give her that which he would be ashamed to give save for love, +and there was a girl who required him to treat her with respect. +I thought I could give him a piece of good advice, so I told him +to grant his favours to the rich woman, and to fail in respect now +and again to the girl, who would be sure to scold and then +forgive. He was no profligate, and seemed rather inclined to +become a Protestant. He amused himself innocently with his +friends of his own age, in a garden near Avignon, and a sister of +the gardener's wife was kind to him when they were alone. + +In the evening I went back to the inn, and I had not long to wait +for the Astrodi and the Lepi (so the hunchbacked girl was named); +but when I saw these two caricatures of women I felt stupefied. I +had expected them, of course, but the reality confounded me. The +Astrodi tried to counterbalance her ugliness by an outrageous +freedom of manners; while the Lepi, who though a hunchback was +very talented and an excellent actress, was sure of exciting +desire by the rare beauty of her eyes and teeth, which latter +challenged admiration from her enormous mouth by their regularity +and whiteness. The Astrodi rushed up to me and gave me an Italian +embrace, to which, willy nilly, I was obliged to submit. The +quieter Lepi offered me her cheek, which I pretended to kiss. I +saw that the Astrodi was in a fair way to become intolerable, so I +begged her to moderate her transports, because as a novice at +these parties I wanted to get accustomed to them by degrees. She +promised that she would be very good. + +While we were waiting for supper I asked her, for the sake of +something to say, whether she had found a lover at Avignon. + +"Only the vice-legate's auditor," she replied; "and though he +makes me his pathic he is good-natured and generous. I have +accustomed myself to his taste easily enough, though I should have +thought such a thing impossible a year ago, as I fancied the +exercise a harmful one, but I was wrong." + +"So the auditor makes a boy of you?" + +"Yes. My sister would have adored him, as that sort of love is +her passion." + +"But your sister has such fine haunches." + +"So have I! Look here, feel me." + +"You are right; but wait a bit, it is too soon for that kind of +thing yet." + +"We will be wanton after supper." + +"I think you are wanton now," said the Lepi. + +"Why?" + +"Why? Ought you to shew your person like that?" + +"My dear girl, you will be shewing yourself soon. When one is in +good company, one is in the golden age." + +"I wonder at your telling everyone what sort of a connection you +have with the auditor," said I. + +"Nonsense! I don't tell everyone, but everyone tells me and +congratulates me too. They know the worthy man never cared for +women, and it would be absurd to deny what everybody guesses. I +used to be astonished at my sister, but the best plan in this +world is to be astonished at nothing. But don't you like that?" + +"No, I only like this." + +As I spoke I laid hands on the Lepi, on the spot where one usually +finds what I called "this;" but the Astrodi, seeing that I found +nothing, burst into a roar of laughter, and taking my hand put it +just under her front hump, where at last I found what I wanted. +The +reader will guess my surprise. The poor creature, too ashamed to +be prudish, laughed too. My spirits also begin to rise, as I +thought of the pleasure I should get out of this new discovery +after supper. + +"Have you never had a lover?" said I to the Lepi. + +"No," said the Astrodi, "she is still a maid." + +"No, I am not," replied the Lepi, in some confusion, "I had a +lover at Bordeaux, and another at Montpellier." + +"Yes, I know, but you are still as you were born." + +"I can't deny it." + +"What's that? Two lovers and still a maid! I don't understand; +please tell me about it, for I have never heard of such a thing." + +"Before I satisfied my first lover which happened when I was only +twelve, I was just the same as I am now." + +"It's wonderful. And what did he say when he saw it?" + +"I swore that he was my first, and he believed me, putting it down +to the peculiar shape of my body." + +"He was a man of spirit; but didn't he hurt you?" + +"Not a bit; but then he was very gentle." + +"You must have a try after supper," said the Astrodi to me, "that +would be fine fun." + +"No, no," said the Lepi, "the gentleman would be too big for me." + +"Nonsense! You don't want to take in all of him. I will show you +how it is." + +With these words the impudent hussy proceeded to exhibit me, and I +let her do what she liked. + +"That's just what I should have thought," cried the Lepi; "it +could never be done." + +"Well, he is rather big," answered the Astrodi; "but there's a +cure for everything, and he will be content with half-measures." + +"It's not the length, my dear, but the thickness which frightens +me; I am afraid the door is too narrow." + +"All the better for you, for you can sell your maidenhead after +having had two lovers." + +This conversation, not devoid of wit, and still more the +simplicity of the hunchback, had made me resolve to verify things +for myself. + +Supper came up, and I had the pleasure of seeing the two nymphs +eat like starving savages, and drink still better. When the +Hermitage had done its work the Astrodi proposed that we should +cast off the clothes which disfigure nature. + +"Certainly," said I; "and I will turn away while you are getting +ready." + +I went behind the curtains, took off my clothes, and went to bed +with my back to them. At last the Astrodi told me that they were +ready, and when I looked the Lepi took up all my attention. In +spite of her double deformity she was a handsome woman. My +glances frightened her, for she was doubtless taking part in an +orgy for the first time. I gave her courage, however, by dint of +praising those charms which the white and beautiful hands could +not hide, and at last I persuaded her to come and lie beside me. +Her hump prevented her lying on her back, but the ingenious +Astrodi doubled up the pillows and succeeded in placing her in a +position similar to that of a ship about to be launched. It was +also by the tender care of the Astrodi that the introduction of +the knife was managed, to the great delight of priest and victim. +After the operation was over she got up and kissed me, which she +could not do before, for her mouth reached to the middle of my +chest, while my feet were scarcely down to her knees. I would +have given ten louis to have been able to see the curious sight we +must have presented at work. + +"Now comes my turn," said the Astrodi; "but I don't want you to +infringe on the rights of my auditor, so come and look round and +see where the path lies. Take that." + +"What am I to do with this slice of lemon?" + +"I want you to try whether the place is free from infection, or +whether it would be dangerous for you to pay it a visit." + +"Is that a sure method?" + +"Infallible; if everything were not right I could not bear the +smart." + +"There you are. How's that?" + +"All right; but don't deceive me, I want no half measures. My +reputation would be made if I became with child." + +I ask my reader's leave to draw a veil over some incidents of this +truly scandalous orgy, in which the ugly woman taught me some +things I did not know before. At last, more tired than exhausted, +I told them to begone, but the Astrodi insisted on finishing up +with a bowl of punch. I agreed, but not wishing to have anything +more to do with either of them I dressed myself again. However, +the champagne punch excited them to such an extent that at last +they made me share their transports. The Astrodi placed her +friend in such a singular position that the humps were no longer +visible, and imagining that I had before me the high priestess of +Jove, I paid her a long sacrifice, in which death and resurrection +followed one another in succession. But I felt disgusted with +myself, and drew away from their lascivious frenzies, and gave +them ten Louis to get rid of them. The Astrodi fell on her knees, +blessed me, thanked me, called me her god; and the Lepi wept and +laughed for joy at the same time; and thus for a quarter of an +hour I was treated to a scene of an extraordinary kind. + +I had them taken home in my carriage, and slept till ten o'clock +next morning. Just as I was going out for a walk Stuard came to +my room and told me, with an air of despair, that if I did not +give him the means of going away before I left he would throw +himself in the Rhine. + +"That's rather tragic," said I, "but I can find a cure. I will +disburse twenty-five Louis, but it is your wife who must receive +them; and the only condition is that she must receive me alone for +an hour, and be entirely kind." + +"Sir, we need just that sum; my wife is disposed to receive you; +go and talk to her. I shall not be in till noon." + +I put twenty-five Louis in a pretty little purse, and left my room +thinking that the victory was won. I entered her room and +approached her bed respectfully. When she heard me she sat up in +bed without taking the trouble to cover her breast, and before I +could wish her good-day she spoke to me as follows: + +"I am ready, sir, to pay with my body for the wretched twenty-five +Louis of which my husband is in need. You can do what you like +with me; but remember that in taking advantage of my position to +assuage your brutal lust you are the viler of the two, for I only +sell myself so cheaply because necessity compels me to do so. +Your baseness is more shameful than mine. Come on; here I am." + +With this flattering address she threw off the coverlet with a +vigorous gesture, and displayed all her beauties, which I might +have gazed on with such different feelings from those which now +filled my breast. For a moment I was silent with indignation. +All my passion had evaporated; in those voluptuous rounded limbs I +saw now only the covering of a wild beast's soul. I put back the +coverlet with the greatest calmness, and addressed her in a tone +of cold contempt: + +"No, madam, I shall not leave this room degraded because you have +told me so, but I shall leave it after imparting to you a few +degrading truths, of which you cannot be ignorant if you are a +woman of any decency whatever. Here are twenty-five louis, a +wretched sum to give a virtuous woman in payment of her favours, +but much more than you deserve. I am not brutal, and to convince +you of the fact I am going to leave you in the undisturbed +possession of your charms, which I despise as heartily as I should +have admired them if your behaviour had been different. I only +give you the money from a feeling of compassion which I cannot +overcome, and which is the only feeling I now have for you. +Nevertheless, let me tell you that whether a woman sells herself +for twenty-five louis or twenty-five million louis she is as much +a prostitute in the one case as in the other, if she does not give +her love with herself, or at all events the semblance of love. +Farewell." + +I went back to my room, and in course of time Stuard came to thank +me. + +"Sir," said I, "let me alone; I wish to hear no more about your +wife." + +They went away the next day for Lyons, and my readers will hear of +them again at Liege. + +In the afternoon Dolci took me to his garden that I might see the +gardener's sister. She was pretty, but not so pretty as he was. +He soon got her into a good humour, and after some trifling +objection she consented to be loved by him in my presence. I saw +that this Adonis had been richly dowered by nature, and I told him +that with such a physical conformation he had no need of emptying +his father's purse to travel, and before long he took my advice. +This fair Ganymede might easily have turned me into Jove, as he +struggled amorously with the gardener's sister. + +As I was going home I saw a young man coming out of a boat; he was +from twenty to twenty-five years old, and looked very sad. Seeing +me looking at him, he accosted me, and humbly asked for alms, +shewing me a document authorizing him to beg, and a passport +stating he had left Madrid six weeks before. He came from Parma, +and was named Costa. When I saw Parma my national prejudice spoke +in his favour, and I asked him what misfortune had reduced him to +beggary. + +"Only lack of money to return to my native country," said he. + +"What were you doing at Madrid, and why did you leave?" + +"I was there four years as valet to Dr. Pistoria, physician to the +King of Spain, but on my health failing I left him. Here is a +certificate which will shew you that I gave satisfaction." + +"What can you do?" + +"I write a good hand, I can assist a gentleman as his secretary, +and I intend being a scribe when I get home. Here are some verses +I copied yesterday." + +"You write well; but can you write correctly without a book?" + +"I can write from dictation in French, Latin, and Spanish." + +"Correctly?" + +"Yes, sir, if the dictation is done properly, for it is the +business of the one who dictates to see that everything is +correct." + +I saw that Master Gaetan Costa was an ignoramus, but in spite of +that I took him to my room and told Le Duc to address him in +Spanish. He answered well enough, but on my dictating to him in +Italian and French I found he had not the remotest ideas on +orthography. + +"But you can't write," said I to him. However, I saw he was +mortified at this, and I consoled him by saying that I would take +him to his own country at my expense. He kissed my hand, and +assured me that I should find a faithful servant in him. + +This young fellow took my fancy by his originality; he had +probably assumed it to distinguish himself from the blockheads +amongst whom he had hitherto lived, and now used it in perfect +good faith with everybody. He thought that the art of a scribe +solely consisted in possessing a good hand, and that the fairest +writer would be the best scribe. He said as much while he was +examining a paper I had written, and as my writing was not as +legible as his he tacitly told me I was his inferior, and that I +should therefore treat him with some degree of respect. I laughed +at this fad, and, not thinking him incorrigible I took him into my +service. If it had not been for that odd notion of his I should +probably have merely given him a louis, and no more. He said that +spelling was of no consequence, as those who knew how to spell +could easily guess the words, while those who did not know were +unable to pick out the mistakes. I laughed, but as I said nothing +he thought the laugh signified approval. In the dictation I gave +him the Council of Trent happened to occur. According to his +system he wrote Trent by a three and a nought. I burst out +laughing; but he was not in the least put out, only remarking that +the pronunciation being the same it was of no consequence how the +word was spelt. In point of fact this lad was a fool solely +through his intelligence, matched with ignorance and unbounded +self-confidence. I was pleased with his originality and kept him, +and was thus the greater fool of the two, as the reader will see. + +I left Avignon next day, and went straight to Marseilles, not +troubling to stop at Aix. I halted at the "Treize Cantons," +wishing to stay for a week at least in this ancient colony of the +Phocaeans, and to do as I liked there. With this idea I took no +letter of introduction; I had plenty of money, and needed nobody's +help. I told my landlord to give me a choice fish dinner in my +own room, as I was aware that the fish in those parts is better +than anywhere else. + +I went out the next morning with a guide, to take me back to the +inn when I was tired of walking. Not heeding where I went, I +reached a fine quay; I thought I was at Venice again, and I felt +my bosom swell, so deeply is the love of fatherland graven on the +heart of every good man. I saw a number of stalls where Spanish +and Levantine wines were kept, and a number of people drinking in +them. A crowd of business men went hither and thither, running up +against each other, crossing each other's paths, each occupied +with his own business, and not caring whose way he got into. +Hucksters, well dressed and ill dressed, women, pretty and plain, +women who stared boldly at everyone, modest maidens with downcast +eyes, such was the picture I saw. + +The mixture of nationalities, the grave Turk and the glittering +Andalusian, the French dandy, the gross Negro, the crafty Greek, +the dull Hollander; everything reminded me of Venice, and I +enjoyed the scene. + +I stopped a moment at a street corner to read a playbill, and then +I went back to the inn and refreshed my weary body with a +delicious dinner, washed down with choice Syracusan wine. After +dinner I dressed and took a place in the amphitheatre of the +theatre. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Rosalie--Toulon--Nice--I Arrive at Genoa--M. Grimaldi--Veronique +and Her Sister + + +I noticed that the four principal boxes on both sides of the +proscenium were adorned with pretty women, but not a single +gentleman. In the interval between the first and second acts I +saw gentlemen of all classes paying their devoirs to these ladies. +Suddenly I heard a Knight of Malta say to a girl, who was the sole +occupant of a box next to me, + +"I will breakfast with you to-morrow." + +This was enough for me. I looked at her more closely and finding +her to be a dainty morsel I said, as soon as the knight had gone,- + +"Will you give me my supper?" + +"With pleasure; but I have been taken in so often that I shan't +expect you without an earnest." + +"How can I give you an earnest? I don't understand." + +"You must be a new-comer here." + +"Just arrived." + +She laughed, called the knight, and said,-- + +"Be pleased to explain to this gentleman, who has just asked me +for supper, the meaning of the word 'earnest.'" + +The good-natured knight explained, with a smile, that the lady, +fearing lest my memory should prove defective, wanted me to pay +for my supper in advance. I thanked him, and asked her if a louis +would be enough; and on her replying in the affirmative, I gave +her the Louis and asked for her address. The knight told me +politely that he would take me there himself after the theatre, +adding,-- + +"She's the wantonest wench in all Marseilles." + +He then asked me if I knew the town, and when I told him that I +had only come that day he said he was glad to be the first to make +my acquaintance. We went to the middle of, the amphitheatre and +he pointed out a score of girls to right and left, all of them +ready to treat the first comer to supper. They are all on the +free list, and the manager finds they serve his ends as +respectable women will not sit in their boxes, and they draw +people to the theatre. I noticed five or six of a better type +than the one I had engaged, but I resolved to stick to her for the +evening, and to make the acquaintance of the others another time. + +"Is your favourite amongst them?" I said to the knight. + +"No, I keep a ballet-girl, and I will introduce you to her, as I +am glad to say that I am free from all jealousy." + +When the play came to an end he took me to my nymph's lodging, and +we parted with the understanding that we were to see more of one +another. + +I found the lady in undress--a circumstance which went against +her, for what I saw did not please me. She gave me a capital +supper, and enlivened me by some witty and wanton sallies which +made me regard her in a more favourable light. When we had supper +she got into bed, and asked me to follow her example; but I told +her that I never slept out. She then offered me the English +article which brings peace to the soul, but I did not accept the +one she offered as I thought it looked of a common make. + +"I have finer ones, but they are three francs each, and the maker +only sells them by the dozen," she said. "I will take a dozen if +they are really good," I replied. + +She rang the bell, and a young, charming, and modest-looking girl +came in. I was struck with her. + +"You have got a nice maid," I remarked, when the girl had gone for +the protective sheaths. + +"She is only fifteen," she said, "and won't do anything, as she is +new to it." + +"Will you allow me to see for myself?" + +"You may ask her if you like, but I don't think she will consent." + +The girl came back with the packet, and putting myself in a proper +position I told her to try one on. She proceeded to do so with a +sulky air and with a kind of repugnance which made me feel +interested in her. Number one would not go on, so she had to try +on a second, and the result was that I besprinkled her +plentifully. The mistress laughed, but she was indignant, threw +the whole packet in my face, and ran away in a rage. I wanted +nothing more after this, so I put the packet in my pocket, gave +the woman two Louis, and left the room. The girl I had treated so +cavalierly came to light me downstairs, and thinking I owed her an +apology I gave her a Louis and begged her pardon. The poor girl +was astonished, kissed my hand, and begged me to say nothing to +her mistress. + +"I will not, my dear, but tell me truly whether you are still a +'virgo intacta'." + +"Certainly, sir!" + +"Wonderful! but tell me why you wouldn't let me see for myself?" + +"Because it revolted me." + +"Nevertheless you will have to do so, for otherwise, in spite of +your prettiness, people will not know what to make of you. Would +you like to let me try?" + +"Yes, but not in this horrible house." + +"Where, then?" + +"Go to my mother's to-morrow, I will be there. Your guide knows +where she lives." + +When I got outside, I asked the man if he knew her. He replied in +the affirmative, and said he believed her to be an honest girl. + +"You will take me to-morrow to see her mother," I said. + +Next morning he took me to the end of the town, to a poor house, +where I found a poor woman and poor children living on the ground +floor, and eating hard black bread. + +"What do you want?" said she. + +"Is you daughter here?" + +"No, and what if she were? I am not her bawd." + +"No, of course not, my good woman." + +Just then the girl came in, and the enraged mother flung an old +pot which came handy, at her head. Luckily it missed, but she +would not have escaped her mother's talons if I had not flung +myself between them. However, the old woman set up a dismal +shriek, the children imitated her, and the poor girl began to cry. +This hubbub made my man come in. + +"You hussy!" screamed the mother, "you are bringing disgrace on +me; get out of my house. You are no longer my daughter!" + +I was in a difficult position. The man begged her not to make +such a noise, as it would draw all the neighbours about the house; +but the enraged woman answered only by abuse. I drew six francs +from my pocket and gave them to her, but she flung them in my +face. At last I went out with the daughter, whose hair she +attempted to pull out by the roots, which project was defeated by +the aid of my man. As soon as we got outside, the mob which the +uproar had attracted hooted me and followed me, and no doubt I +should have been torn to pieces if I had not escaped into a +church, which I left by another door a quarter of an hour later. +My fright saved me, for I knew the ferocity of the Provencals, and +I took care not to reply a word to the storm of abuse which poured +on me. I believe that I was never in greater danger than on that +day. + +Before I got back to my inn I was rejoined by the servant and the +girl. + +"How could you lead me into such a dangerous position?" said I. +"You must have known your mother was savage." + +"I hoped she would behave respectfully to you." + +"Be calm; don't weep any more. Tell me how I can serve you." + +"Rather than return to that horrible house I was in yesterday I +would throw myself into the sea." + +"Do you know of any respectable house where I can keep her?" said +I to the man. + +He told me he did know a respectable individual who let furnished +apartments. + +"Take me to it, then." + +The man was of an advanced age, and he had rooms to let on all the +floors. + +"I only want a little nook," said the girl; and the old man took +us to the highest story, and opened the door of a garret, saying,- + +"This closet is six francs a month, a month's rent to be paid in +advance, and I may tell you that my door is always shut at ten +o'clock, and that nobody can come and pass the night with you." + +The room held a bed with coarse sheets, two chairs, a little +table, and a chest of drawers. + +"How much will you board this young woman for?" said I. + +He asked twenty sous, and two sous for the maid who would bring +her meals and do her room. + +"That will do," said the girl, and she paid the month's rent and +the day's board. I left her telling her I would come back again. + +As I went down the stairs I asked the old man to shew me a room +for myself. He skewed me a very nice one at a Louis a month, and +I paid in advance. He then gave me a latch-key, that I might go +and come when I liked. + +"If you wish to board here," said he, "I think I could give +satisfaction." + +Having done this good work, I had my dinner by myself, and then +went to a coffee-house where I found the amiable Knight of Malta +who was playing. He left the game as soon as he saw me, put the +fistfull of gold he had won into his pocket, accosted me with the +politeness natural to a Frenchman, and asked me how I had liked +the lady who had given me my supper. I told him what had +happened, at which he laughed, and asked me to come and see his +ballet-girl. We found her under the hairdresser's hands, and she +received me with the playful familiarity with which one greets an +old acquaintance. I did not think much of her, but I pretended to +be immensely struck, with the idea of pleasing the good-natured +knight. + +When the hairdresser left her, it was time for her to get ready +for the theatre, and she dressed herself, without caring who was +present. The knight helped her to change her chemise, which she +allowed him to do as a matter of course, though indeed she begged +me to excuse her. + +As I owed her a compliment, I could think of nothing better than +to tell her that though she had not offended me she had made me +feel very uncomfortable. + +"I don't believe you," said she. + +"It's true all the same." + +She came up to me to verify the fact, and finding I had deceived +her, she said half crossly, + +"You are a bad fellow." + +The women of Marseilles are undoubtedly the most profligate in +France. They not only pride themselves on never refusing, but +also on being the first to propose. This girl skewed me a +repeater, for which she had got up a lottery at twelve francs a +ticket. She had ten tickets left; I took them all, and so +delighted was she to touch my five Louis that she came and kissed +me, and told the knight that her unfaithfulness to him rested only +with me. + +"I am charmed to hear it," said the Maltese. He asked me to sup +with her, and I accepted the invitation, but the sole pleasure I +had was looking at the knight at work. He was far inferior to +Dolci! + +I wished them good night, and went to the house where I had placed +the poor girl. The maid skewed me to my room, and I asked her if +I might go to the garret. She took the light, I followed her up, +and Rosalie, as the poor girl was named, heard my voice and opened +the door. I told the maid to wait for me in my room, and I went +in and sat down on the bed. + +"Are you contented, dear?" I said. + +"I am quite happy." + +"Then I hope you will be kind, and find room for me in your bed." + +"You may come if you like, but I must tell you that you will not +find me a maid, as I have had one lover." + +"You told me a lie, then?" + +"Forgive me, I could not guess you would be my lover." + +"I forgive you willingly; all the more so as I am no great +stickler for maidenheads." + +She was as gentle as a lamb, and allowed me to gaze on all those +charms of which my hands and my lips disputed the possession; and +the notion that I was master of all these treasures put fire in +all my veins, but her submissive air distressed me. + +"How is it you do not partake my desires?" said I. + +"I dare not, lest you take me for a pretender." + +Artifice or studied coquetry might have prompted such an answer, +but the real timidity and the frankness with which these words +were uttered could not have been assumed. Impatient to gain +possession of her I took off my clothes, and on getting into bed +to her I was astonished to find her a maid. + +"Why did you tell me you had a lover?" said I. "I never heard of +a girl telling a lie of that sort before." + +"All the same I did not tell a lie, but I am very glad that I seem +as if I had done so." + +"Tell me all about it." + +"Certainly I will, for I want to win your confidence. This is +the story: + +"Two years ago my mother, though she was hot-tempered, still loved +me. I was a needle-woman, and earned from twenty to thirty sous a +day. Whatever I earned I gave my mother. I had never had a +lover, never thought of such a thing, and when my goodness was +praised I felt inclined to laugh. I had been brought up from a +child never to look at young men when I met them in the street, +and never to reply to them when they addressed any impudence to +me. + +"Two months ago a fine enough looking young man, a native of +Genoa, and a merchant in a small way, came to my mother to get her +to wash some very fine cotton stockings which the sea-water had +stained. When he saw me he was very complimentary, but in an +honest way. I liked him, and, no doubt seeing it, he came and +came again every evening. My mother was always present at our +interviews, and he looked at me and talked to me, but did not so +much as ask to kiss my hand. My mother was very pleased to notice +that the young man liked me, and often scolded me because I was +not polite enough to him. In time he had to go to Genoa in a +small ship which belonged to him, and which was laden with goods. +He assured us that he would return again the next spring and +declare his intentions. He said he hoped he should find me as +good as ever, and still without any lover. This was enough; my +mother looked upon him as my betrothed, and let us talk together +at the door till midnight. When he went I would shut the door and +lie down beside my mother, who was always asleep. + +"Four or five days before his departure, he took my arm and got me +to go with him to a place about fifty paces from the house to +drink a glass of Muscat at a Greek's, who kept his tavern open all +night. We were only away for half an hour, and then it was that +he first kissed me. When I got home I found my mother awake, and +told her all; it seemed so harmless to me. + +"Next day, excited by the recollection of what had happened the +night before, I went with him again, and love began to gain +ground. We indulged in caresses which were no longer innocent, as +we well knew. However, we forgave each other, as we had abstained +from the chief liberty. + +"The day after, my lover--as he had to journey in the night--took +leave of my mother, and as soon as she was in bed I was not longer +in granting what I desired as much as he. We went to the Greek's, +ate and drank, and our heated senses gained love's cause; we +forgot our duty, and fancied our misdemeanour a triumph. + +"Afterwards we fell asleep, and when we awoke we saw our fault in +the clear, cold light of day. We parted sorrowful rather than +rejoicing, and the reception my mother gave me was like that you +witnessed this morning. I assured her that marriage would take +away the shame of my sin, and with this she took up a stick and +would have done for me, if I had not taken to my heels, more from +instinct than from any idea of what I was doing. + +"Once in the street I knew not where to turn, and taking refuge in +a church I stayed there like one in a dream till noon. Think of +my position. I was hungry, I had no refuge, nothing but the +clothes I wore, nothing that would get me a morsel of bread. A +woman accosted me in the street. I knew her and I also knew that +she kept a servants' agency. I asked her forthwith if she could +get me a place. + +"'I had enquiries about a maid this morning,' said she, 'but it is +for a gay woman, and you are pretty. You would have a good deal +of difficulty in remaining virtuous.' + +"'I can keep off the infection,' I answered, 'and in the position +I am in I cannot pick and choose.' + +"She thereupon took me to the lady, who was delighted to see me, +and still more delighted when I told her that I had never had +anything to do with a man. I have repented of this lie bitterly +enough, for in the week I spent at that profligate woman's house I +have had to endure the most humiliating insults that an honest +girl ever suffered. No sooner did the men who came to the house +hear that I was a maid than they longed to slake their brutal lust +upon me, offering me gold if I would submit to their caresses. I +refused and was reviled, but that was not all. Five or six times +every day I was obliged to remain a witness of the disgusting +scenes enacted between my mistress and her customers, who, when I +was compelled to light them about the house at night, overwhelmed +me with insults, because I would not do them a disgusting service +for a twelve-sous piece. I could not bear this sort of life much +longer, and I was thinking of drowning myself. When you came you +treated me so ignominiously that my resolve to die was +strengthened, but you were so kind and polite as you went away +that I fell in love with you directly, thinking that Providence +must have sent you to snatch me away from the abyss. I thought +your fine presence might calm my mother and persuade her to take +me back till my lover came to marry me. I was undeceived, and I +saw that she took me for a prostitute. Now, if you like, I am +altogether yours, and I renounce my lover of whom I am no longer +worthy. Take me as your maid, I will love you and you only; I +will submit myself to you and do whatever you bid me." + +Whether it were weakness or virtue on my part, this tale of woe +and a mother's too great severity drew tears from my eyes, and +when she saw my emotion she wept profusely, for her heart was in +need of some relief. + +"I think, my poor Rosalie, you have only one chemise." + +"Alas! that is all." + +Comfort yourself, my dear; all your wants shall be supplied +tomorrow, and in the evening you shall sup with me in my room on +the second floor. I will take care of you." + +"You pity me, then?" + +"I fancy there is more love than pity in it." + +"Would to God it were so!" + +This "would to God," which came from the very depths of her soul, +sent me away in a merry mood. The servant who had been waiting +for me for two hours, and was looking rather glum, relaxed when +she saw the colour of a crown which I gave her by way of +atonement. + +"Tell your master," said I, "that Rosalie will sup with me to- +morrow; let us have a fasting dinner, but let it be a good one." + +I returned to my inn quite in love with Rosalie, and I +congratulated myself on having at last heard a true tale from a +pretty mouth. She appeared to me so well disposed that her small +failing seemed to make her shine the more. I resolved never to +abandon her, and I did so in all sincerity; was I not in love? + +After I had had my chocolate next morning I went out with a guide +to the shops, where I got the necessary articles, paying a good +but not an excessive price. Rosalie was only fifteen, but with +her figure, her well-formed breasts, and her rounded arms, she +would have been taken for twenty. Her shape was so imprinted on +my brain that everything I got for her fitted as if she had been +measured for it. This shopping took up all the morning, and in +the afternoon the man took her a small trunk containing two +dresses, chemises, petticoats, handkerchiefs, stockings, gloves, +caps, a pair of slippers, a fan, a work-bag, and a mantle. I was +pleased at giving her such a delightful surprise, and I longed for +suppertime that I might enjoy the sight of her pleasure. + +The Knight of Malta came to dine with me without ceremony, and I +was charmed to see him. After we had dined he persuaded me to go +to the theatre, as in consequence of the suspense of the +subscription arrangements the boxes would be filled with all the +quality in Marseilles. + +"There will be no loose women in the amphitheatre," said he, "as +everybody has to pay." + +That decided me and I went. He presented me to a lady with an +excellent connection, who asked me to come and see her. I excused +myself on the plea that I was leaving so shortly. Nevertheless +she was very useful to me on my second visit to Marseilles. Her +name was Madame Audibert. + +I did not wait for the play to end, but went where love called me. +I had a delightful surprise when I saw Rosalie; I should not have +known her. But I cannot resist the pleasure of recalling her +picture as she stood before me then, despite the years that have +rolled by since that happy moment. + +Rosalie was an enticing-looking brunette, above the middle height. +Her face was a perfect oval, and exquisitely proportioned. Two +fine black eyes shed a soft and ravishing light around. Her +eyebrows were arched, and she had a wealth of hair, black and +shining as ebony; her skin was while and lightly tinged with +colour. On her chin was a dimple, and her slightest smile +summoned into being two other dimples, one on each cheek. Her +mouth was small, disclosing two rows of fairest orient pearls, and +from her red lips flowed forth an indefinable sweetness. The +lower lip projected ever so lightly, and seemed designed to hold a +kiss. I have spoken of her arms, her breast, and her figure, +which left nothing to be desired, but I must add to this catalogue +of her charms, that her hand was exquisitely shaped, and that her +foot was the smallest I have ever seen. As to her other beauties, +I will content myself with saying that they were in harmony with +those I have described. + +To see her at her best, one had to see her smiling; and hitherto +she had been sad or vexed--states of mind which detract from a +woman's appearance. But now sadness was gone, and gratitude and +pleasure had taken its place. I examined her closely, and felt +proud, as I saw what a transformation I had effected; but I +concealed my surprise, lest she should think I had formed an +unfavourable impression of her. I proceeded, therefore, to tell +her that I should expose myself to ridicule if I attempted to keep +a beauty like herself for a servant. + +"You shall be my mistress," I said, "and my servants shall respect +you as if you were my wife." + +At this Rosalie, as if I had given her another being, began to try +and express her gratitude for what I had done. Her words, which +passion made confused, increased my joy; here was no art nor +deceit, but simple nature. + +There was no mirror in her garret, so she had dressed by her sense +of touch, and I could see that she was afraid to stand up and look +at herself in the mirror in my room. I knew the weak spot in all +women's hearts (which men are very wrong in considering as matter +for reproach), and I encouraged her to admire herself, whereupon +she could not restrain a smile of satisfaction. + +"I think I must be in disguise," said she, "for I have never seen +myself so decked out before." + +She praised the tasteful simplicity of the dress I had chosen, but +was vexed at the thought that her mother would still be +displeased. + +"Think no more of your mother, dearest one. You look like a lady +of quality, and I shall be quite proud when the people at Genoa +ask me if you are my daughter." + +"At Genoa?" + +"Yes, at Genoa. Why do you blush?" + +"From surprise; perhaps I may see there one whom I have not yet +forgotten." + +"Would you like to stay here better?" + +"No, no! Love me and be sure that I love you and for your own +sake, not from any thought of my own interests." + +"You are moved, my angel; let me wipe away your tears with +kisses." + +She fell into my arms, and she relieved the various feelings of +which her heart was full by weeping for some time. I did not try +to console her, for she had not grief; she wept as tender souls, +and women, more especially, often will. We had a delicious supper +to which I did honour for two, for she ate nothing. I asked her +if she was so unfortunate as not to care for good food. + +"I have as good an appetite as anyone," she replied, "and an +excellent digestion. You shall see for yourself when I grow more +accustomed to my sudden happiness." + +"At least you can drink; this wine is admirable. If you prefer +Greek muscat I will send for some. It will remind you of your +lover." + +"If you love me at all, I beg you will spare me that +mortification." + +"You shall have no more mortification from me, I promise you. It +was only a joke, and I beg your pardon for it." + +"As I look upon you I feel in despair at not having known you +first." + +"That feeling of yours, which wells forth from the depths of your +open soul, is grand. You are beautiful and good, for you only +yielded to the voice of love with the prospect of becoming his +wife; and when I think what you are to me I am in despair at not +being sure you love me. An evil genius whispers in my ear that +you only bear with me because I had the happiness of helping you." + +"Indeed, that is an evil genius. To be sure, if I had met you in +the street I should not have fallen head over ears in love with +you, like a wanton, but you would certainly have pleased me. I am +sure I love you, and not for what you have done for me; for if I +were rich and you were poor, I would do anything in the world for +you. But I don't want it to be like that, for I had rather be +your debtor than for you to be mine. These are my real feelings, +and you can guess the rest." + +We were still talking on the same subject when midnight struck, +and my old landlord came and asked me if I were pleased. + +"I must thank you," I replied, "I am delighted. Who cooked this +delicious supper?" + +"My daughter." + +"She understands her craft; tell her I thought it excellent." + +"Yes, sir, but it is dear." + +"Not too dear for me. You shall be pleased with me as I with you, +and take care to have as good a supper to-morrow evening, as I +hope the lady will be well enough to do justice to the products of +your daughter's culinary skill." + +"Bed is a capital place to get an appetite. Ah! it is sixty years +since I have had anything to do with that sort of thing. What are +you laughing at, mademoiselle?" + +"At the delight with which you must recollect it." + +"You are right, it is a pleasant recollection; and thus I am +always ready to forgive young folks the peccadilloes that love +makes them commit." + +"You are a wise old man," said I, "everyone should sympathise with +the tenderest of all our mortal follies." + +"If the old man is wise," said Rosalie, when he had left the room, +"my mother must be very foolish." + +"Would you like me to take you to the play to-morrow?" + +"Pray do not. I will come if you like, but it will vex me very +much. I don't want to walk out with you or to go to the theatre +with you here. Good heavens! What would people say. No, +neither at Marseilles; but elsewhere, anything you please and with +all my heart." + +"Very good, my dear, just as you please. But look at your room; +no more garret for you; and in three days we will start." + +"So soon?" + +"Yes; tell me to-morrow what you require for the journey, for I +don't want you to lack for anything, and if you leave it all to me +I might forget something which would vex me." + +"Well, I should like another cloak, a cloak with a lining, some +boots, a night-cap, and a prayer-book." + +"You know how to read, do you?" + +"Certainly; and I can write fairly well." + +"I am glad to hear it. Your asking me so freely for what you want +is a true proof of your love; where confidence dwells not there is +no love. I will not forget anything, but your feet are so small +that I should advise you to get your boots yourself." + +Our talk was so pleasant, and I experienced such delight in +studying her disposition, that we did not go to bed till five +o'clock. In the arms of love and sleep we spent seven delicious +hours, and when we rose at noon we were fast lovers. She called +me thou, talked of love and not of gratitude, and, grown more +familiar with her new estate, laughed at her troubles. She kissed +me at every opportunity, called me her darling boy, her joy, and +as the present moment is the only real thing in this life, I +enjoyed her love, I was pleased with her caresses, and put away +all ideas of the dreadful future, which has only one certainty-- +death, 'ultima linea rerum'. + +The second night was far sweeter than the first; she had made a +good supper, and drunk well, though moderately; thus she was +disposed to refine on her pleasure, and to deliver herself with +greater ardour to all the voluptuous enjoyments which love +inspires. + +I gave her a pretty watch and a gold shuttle for her to amuse +herself with. + +"I wanted it," said she, "but I should never have dared to ask for +it." + +I told her that this fear of my displeasure made me doubt once +more whether she really loved me. She threw herself into my arms, +and promised that henceforth she would shew me the utmost +confidence. + +I was pleased to educate this young girl, and I felt that when her +mind had been developed she would be perfect. + +On the fourth day I warned her to hold herself in readiness to +start at a moment's notice. I had said nothing about my plans to +Costa or Le Duc, but Rosalie knew that I had two servants, and I +told her that I should often make them talk on the journey for the +sake of the laughter their folly would afford me. + +"You, my dear," I had said to her, "must be very reserved with +them, and not allow them to take the slightest liberty. Give them +your orders as a mistress, but without pride, and you will be +obeyed and respected. If they forget themselves in the slightest +particular, tell me at once." + +I started from the hotel of the "Treize Cantons" with four post- +horses, Le Duc and Costa sitting on the coachman's seat. The +guide, whom I had paid well for his services, took us to Rosalie's +door. I got out of the carriage, and after thanking the kindly +old landlord, who was sorry to lose so good a boarder, I made her +get in, sat down beside her, and ordered the postillions to go to +Toulon, as I wished to see that fine port before returning to +Italy. We got to Toulon at five o'clock. + +My Rosalie behaved herself at supper like the mistress of a house +accustomed to the best society. I noticed that Le Duc as head man +made Costa wait upon her, but I got over him by telling my +sweetheart that he would have the honour of doing her hair, as he +could do it as well as the best barber in Paris. He swallowed the +golden pill, and gave in with a good grace, and said, with a +profound bow, that he hoped to give madam satisfaction. + +We went out next morning to see the port, and were shewn over the +place by the commandant, whose acquaintance we made by a lucky +chance. He offered his arm to Rosalie, and treated her with the +consideration she deserved for her appearance and the good sense +of her questions. The commandant accepted my invitation to +dinner, at which Rosalie spoke to the point though not to excess, +and received the polite compliments of our worthy guest with much +grace. In the afternoon he took us over the arsenal, and after +having him to dinner could not refuse his invitation to supper. +There was no difficulty about Rosalie; the commandant introduced +her immediately to his wife, his daughter, and his son. I was +delighted to see that her manner with ladies even surpassed her +manner with gentlemen. She was one of Nature's own ladies. The +commandant's wife and daughter caressed her again and again, and +she received their attentions with that modest sensibility which +is the seal of a good education. + +They asked me to dinner the next day, but I was satisfied with +what I had seen, so I took leave, intending to start on the +morrow. + +When we got back to the inn I told her how pleased I was with her, +and she threw her arms round my neck for joy. + +"I am always afraid," said she, "of being asked who I am." + +"You needn't be afraid, dearest; in France no gentleman or lady +would think of asking such a question." + +"But if they did, what ought I to do?" + +"You should make use of an evasion." + +"What's an evasion?" + +"A way of escaping from a difficulty without satisfying +impertinent curiosity." + +"Give me an example." + +"Well, if such a question were asked you, you might say, 'You had +better ask this gentleman.'" + +"I see, the question is avoided; but is not that impolite?" + +"Yes; but not so impolite as to ask an embarrassing question." + +"And what would you say if the question was passed on to you?" + +"Well, my answer would vary in a ratio with the respect in which I +held the questioner. I would not tell the truth, but I should say +something. And I am glad to see you attentive to my lessons. +Always ask questions, and you will always find me ready to answer, +for I want to teach you. And now let us to bed; we have to start +for Antibes at an early hour, and love will reward you for the +pleasure you have given me to-day." + +At Antibes I hired a felucca to take me to Genoa, and as I +intended to return by the same route I had my carriage warehoused +for a small monthly payment. We started early with a good wind, +but the sea becoming rough, and Rosalie being mortally afraid, I +had the felucca rowed into Villafranca, where I engaged a carriage +to take me to Nice. The weather kept us back for three days, and +I felt obliged to call on the commandant, an old officer named +Peterson. + +He gave me an excellent reception, and after the usual compliments +had passed, said,-- + +"Do you know a Russian who calls himself Charles Ivanoff?" + +"I saw him once at Grenoble." + +"It is said that he has escaped from Siberia, and that he is the +younger son of the Duke of Courland." + +"So I have heard, but I know no proof of his claim to the title." + +"He is at Genoa, where it is said a banker is to give him twenty +thousand crowns. In spite of that, no one would give him a sou +here, so I sent him to Genoa at my own expense, to rid the place +of him." + +I felt very glad that the Russian had gone away before my arrival. +An officer named Ramini, who was staying at the same inn as +myself, asked if I would mind taking charge of a packet which +M. de St. Pierre, the Spanish consul, had to send to the Marquis +Grimaldi, at Genoa. It was the nobleman I had just seen at Avignon, +and I was pleased to execute the commission. The same officer +asked me whether I had ever seen a certain Madame Stuard. + +"She came here a fortnight ago with a man who calls himself her +husband. The poor devils hadn't a penny, and she, a great beauty, +enchanted everybody, but would give no one a smile or a word." + +"I have both seen and know her," I answered. "I furnished her +with the means to come here. How could she leave Nice without any +money?" + +"That's just what no one can understand. She went off in a +carriage, and the landlord's bill was paid. I was interested in +the woman. The Marquis Grimaldi told me that she had refused a +hundred louis he offered her, and that a Venetian of his +acquaintance had fared just as badly. Perhaps that is you?" + +"It is, and I gave her some money despite my treatment." + +M. Peterson came to see me, and was enchanted with Rosalie's +amiable manner. This was another conquest for her, and I duly +complimented her upon it. + +Nice is a terribly dull place, and strangers are tormented by the +midges, who prefer them to the inhabitants. However, I amused +myself at a small bank at faro, which was held at a coffee-house, +and at which Rosalie, whose play I directed, won a score of +Piedmontese pistoles. She put her little earnings into a purse, +and told me she liked to have some money of her own. I scolded +her for not having told me so before, and reminded her of her +promise. + +"I don't really want it," said she, "it's only my +thoughtlessness." + +We soon made up our little quarrel. + +In such ways did I make this girl my own, in the hope that for the +remnant of my days she would be mine, and so I should not be +forced to fly from one lady to another. But inexorable fate +ordained it otherwise. + +The weather grew fine again, and we got on board once more, and +the next day arrived at Genoa, which I had never seen before. I +put up at "St. Martin's Inn," and for decency's sake took two +rooms, but they were adjoining one another. The following day I +sent the packet to M. Grimaldi, and a little later I left my card +at his palace. + +My guide took me to a linen-draper's, and I bought some stuff for +Rosalie, who was in want of linen. She was very pleased with it. + +We were still at table when the Marquis Grimaldi was announced; he +kissed me and thanked me for bringing the parcel. His next remark +referred to Madame Stuard. I told him what had happened, and he +laughed, saying that he was not quite sure what he would have done +under the circumstances. + +I saw him looking at Rosalie attentively, and I told him she was +as good as she was beautiful. + +"I want to find her a maid," I said, "a good seamstress, who could +go out with her, and above all who could talk Italian to her, for +I want her to learn the language that I may take her into society +at Florence, Rome and Naples." + +"Don't deprive Genoa of the pleasure of entertaining her," said +the marquis. "I will introduce her under whatever name she +pleases, and in my own house to begin with." + +"She has good reasons for preserving her incognito here." + +"Ah, I see!--Do you think of staying here long?" + +"A month, or thereabouts, and our pleasures will be limited to +seeing the town and its surroundings and going to the theatre. We +shall also enjoy the pleasures of the table. I hope to eat +champignons every day, they are better here than anywhere else" + +"An excellent plan. I couldn't suggest a better. I am going to +see what I can do in the way of getting you a maid, mademoiselle." + +"You sir? How can I deserve such great kindness?" + +"My interest in you is the greater, as I think you come from +Marseilles." + +Rosalie blushed. She was not aware that she lisped, and that this +betrayed her. I extricated her from her confusion by telling the +marquis his conjecture was well founded. + +I asked him how I could get the Journal de Savans, the Mercure de +France, and other papers of the same description. He promised to +send me a man who would get me all that kind of thing. He added +that if I would allow him to send me some of his excellent +chocolate he would come and breakfast with us. I said that both +gift and guest were vastly agreeable to me. + +As soon as he had gone Rosalie asked me to take her to a +milliner's. + +"I want ribbons and other little things," said she, "but I should +like to bargain for them and pay for them out of my own money, +without your having anything to do with it." + +"Do whatever you like, my dear, and afterwards we will go to the +play." + +The milliner to whom we went proved to be a Frenchwoman. It was a +charming sight to see Rosalie shopping. She put on an important +air, seemed to know all about it, ordered bonnets in the latest +fashion, bargained, and contrived to spend five or six louis with +great grandeur. As we left the shop I told her that I had been +taken for her footman, and I meant to be revenged. So saying, I +made her come into a jeweller's, where I bought her a necklace, +ear-rings, and brooches in imitation diamonds, and without letting +her say a word I paid the price and left the shop. + +"You have bought me some beautiful things," said she, "but you are +too lavish with your money; if you had bargained you might have +saved four louis at least." + +"Very likely, dearest, but I never was any hand at a bargain." + +I took her to the play, but as she did not understand the language +she got dreadfully tired, and asked me to take her home at the end +of the first act, which I did very willingly. When we got in I +found a box waiting for me from M. Grimaldi. It proved to contain +twenty-four pounds of chocolate. Costa, who had boasted of his +skill in making chocolate in the Spanish fashion, received orders +to make us three cups in the morning. + +At nine o'clock the marquis arrived with a tradesman, who sold me +some beautiful oriental materials. I gave them to Rosalie to make +two 'mezzaro' for herself. The 'mezzaro' is a kind of hooded +cloak worn by the Genoese women, as the 'cendal' is worn at +Venice, and the 'mantilla' at Madrid. + +I thanked M. Grimaldi for the chocolate, which was excellent; +Costa was quite proud of the praise the marquis gave him. Le Duc +came in to announce a woman, whose name I did not know. + +"It's the mother of the maid I have engaged," said M. Grimaldi. + +She came in, and I saw before me a well-dressed woman, followed by +a girl from twenty to twenty-four years old, who pleased me at the +first glance. The mother thanked the marquis, and presented her +daughter to Rosalie, enumerating her good qualities, and telling +her that she would serve her well, and walk with her when she +wished to go out. + +"My daughter," she added, "speaks French, and you will find her a +good, faithful, and obliging girl." + +She ended by saying that her daughter had been in service lately +with a lady, and that she would be obliged if she could have her +meals by herself. + +The girl was named Veronique. Rosalie told her that she was a +good girl, and that the only way to be respected was to be +respectable. Veronique kissed her hand, the mother went away, and +Rosalie took the girl into her room to begin her work. + +I did not forget to thank the marquis, for he had evidently chosen +a maid more with a view to my likings than to those of my +sweetheart. I told him that I should not fail to call on him, and +he replied that he would be happy to see me at any hour, and that +I should easily find him at his casino at St. Pierre d'Arena, +where he often spent the night. + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH, Vol. 4a, DEPART SWITZERLAND +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + diff --git a/old/jcdsw11.zip b/old/jcdsw11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5e9be05 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcdsw11.zip |