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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of In London And Moscow: South Of France
+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: In London And Moscow: South Of France
+       The Memoirs Of Jacques Casanova De Seingalt 1725-1798
+
+Author: Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
+
+Release Date: October 31, 2006 [EBook #2971]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOUTH OF FRANCE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA DE SEINGALT
+
+THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR MACHEN TO
+WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR SYMONS.
+
+MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 IN LONDON AND MOSCOW,
+Volume 5a--SOUTH OF FRANCE
+
+
+
+
+SOUTH OF FRANCE
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+I Find Rosalie Happy--The Signora Isola-Bella--The
+Cook--Biribi--Irene--Possano in Prison--My Niece Proves to be an Old
+Friend of Rosalie's
+
+At Genoa, where he was known to all, Pogomas called himself Possano. He
+introduced me to his wife and daughter, but they were so ugly and
+disgusting in every respect that I left them on some trifling pretext,
+and went to dine with my new niece. Afterwards I went to see the Marquis
+Grimaldi, for I longed to know what had become of Rosalie. The marquis
+was away in Venice, and was not expected back till the end of April; but
+one of his servants took me to Rosalie, who had become Madame Paretti six
+months after my departure.
+
+My heart beat fast as I entered the abode of this woman, of whom I had
+such pleasant recollections. I first went to M. Paretti in his shop, and
+he received me with a joyful smile, which shewed me how happy he was. He
+took me to his wife directly, who cried out with delight, and ran to
+embrace me.
+
+M. Paretti was busy, and begged me to excuse him, saying his wife would
+entertain me.
+
+Rosalie shewed me a pretty little girl of six months old, telling me that
+she was happy, that she loved her husband, and was loved by him, that he
+was industrious and active in business, and under the patronage of the
+Marquis Grimaldi had prospered exceedingly.
+
+The peaceful happiness of marriage had improved her wonderfully; she had
+become a perfect beauty in every sense of the word.
+
+"My dear friend," she said, "you are very good to call on me directly you
+arrive, and I hope you will dine with us to-morrow. I owe all my
+happiness to you, and that is even a sweeter thought than the
+recollection of the passionate hours we have spent together. Let us kiss,
+but no more; my duty as an honest wife forbids me from going any further,
+so do not disturb the happiness you have given."
+
+I pressed her hand tenderly, to skew that I assented to the conditions
+she laid down.
+
+"Oh! by the way," she suddenly exclaimed, "I have a pleasant surprise for
+you."
+
+She went out, and a moment afterward returned with Veronique, who had
+become her maid. I was glad to see her and embraced her affectionately,
+asking after Annette. She said her sister was well, and was working with
+her mother.
+
+"I want her to come and wait on my niece while we are here," said I.
+
+At this Rosalie burst out laughing.
+
+"What! another niece? You have a great many relations! But as she is your
+niece, I hope you will bring her with you to-morrow."
+
+"Certainly, and all the more willingly as she is from Marseilles."
+
+"From Marseilles? Why, we might know each other. Not that that would
+matter, for all your nieces are discreet young persons. What is her
+name?"
+
+"Crosin."
+
+"I don't know it."
+
+"I daresay you don't. She is the daughter of a cousin of mine who lived
+at Marseilles."
+
+"Tell that to someone else; but, after all, what does it matter? You
+choose well, amuse yourself, and make them happy. It may be wisdom after
+all, and at any rate I congratulate you. I shall be delighted to see your
+niece, but if she knows me you must see that she knows her part as well."
+
+On leaving Madame Paretti I called on the Signora Isola-Bella, and gave
+her the Marquis Triulzi's letter. Soon after she came into the room and
+welcomed me, saying that she had been expecting me, as Triulzi had
+written to her on the subject. She introduced me to the Marquis Augustino
+Grimaldi delta Pietra, her 'cicisbeoin-chief' during the long absence of
+her husband, who lived at Lisbon.
+
+The signora's apartments were very elegant. She was pretty with small
+though regular features, her manner was pleasant, her voice sweet, and
+her figure well shaped, though too thin. She was nearly thirty. I say
+nothing of her complexion, for her face was plastered with white and red,
+and so coarsely, that these patches of paint were the first things that
+caught my attention. I was disgusted at this, in spite of her fine
+expressive eyes. After an hour spent in question and reply, in which both
+parties were feeling their way, I accepted her invitation to come to
+supper on the following day. When I got back I complimented my niece on
+the way in which she had arranged her room, which was only separated from
+mine by a small closet which I intended for her maid, who, I told her,
+was coming the next day. She was highly pleased with this attention, and
+it paved the way for my success. I also told her that the next day she
+was to dine with me at a substantial merchant's as my niece, and this
+piece of news made her quite happy.
+
+This girl whom Croce had infatuated and deprived of her senses was
+exquisitely beautiful, but more charming than all her physical beauties
+were the nobleness of her presence and the sweetness of her disposition.
+I was already madly in love with her, and I repented not having taken
+possession of her on the first day of our journey. If I had taken her at
+her word I should have been a steadfast lover, and I do not think it
+would have taken me long to make her forget her former admirer.
+
+I had made but a small dinner, so I sat down to supper famishing with
+hunger; and as my niece had an excellent appetite we prepared ourselves
+for enjoyment, but instead of the dishes being delicate, as we had
+expected, they were detestable. I told Clairmont to send for the
+landlady, and she said that she could not help it, as everything had been
+done by my own cook.
+
+"My cook?" I repeated.
+
+"Yes, sir, the one your secretary, M. Possano, engaged for you. I could
+have got a much better one and a much cheaper one myself."
+
+"Get one to-morrow."
+
+"Certainly; but you must rid yourself and me of the present cook, for he
+has taken up his position here with his wife and children. Tell Possano
+to send for him."
+
+"I will do so, and in the meanwhile do you get me a fresh cook. I will
+try him the day after to-morrow."
+
+I escorted my niece into her room, and begged her to go to bed without
+troubling about me, and so saying I took up the paper and began to read
+it. When I had finished, I went up to bed, and said,
+
+"You might spare me the pain of having to sleep by myself."
+
+She lowered her eyes but said nothing, so I gave her a kiss and left her.
+
+In the morning my fair niece came into my room just as Clairmont was
+washing my feet, and begged me to let her have some coffee as chocolate
+made her hot. I told my man to go and fetch some coffee, and as soon as
+he was gone she went down on her knees and would have wiped my feet.
+
+"I cannot allow that, my dear young lady."
+
+"Why not? it is a mark of friendship."
+
+"That may be, but such marks cannot be given to anyone but your lover
+without your degrading yourself."
+
+She got up and sat down on a chair quietly, but saying nothing.
+
+Clairmont came back again, and I proceeded with my toilette.
+
+The landlady came in with our breakfast, and asked my niece if she would
+like to buy a fine silk shawl made in the Genoese fashion. I did not let
+her be confused by having to answer, but told the landlady to let us see
+it. Soon after the milliner came in, but by that time I had given my
+young friend twenty Genoese sequins, telling her that she might use them
+for her private wants. She took the money, thanking me with much grace,
+and letting me imprint a delicious kiss on her lovely lips.
+
+I had sent away the milliner after having bought the shawl, when Possano
+took it upon himself to remonstrate with me in the matter of the cook.
+
+"I engaged the man by your orders," said he, "for the whole time you
+stayed at Genoa, at four francs a day, with board and lodging."
+
+"Where is my letter?"
+
+"Here it is: 'Get me a good cook; I will keep him while I stay in
+Genoa.'"
+
+"Perhaps you did not remark the expression, a good cook? Well, this
+fellow is a very bad cook; and, at all events, I am the best judge
+whether he is good or bad."
+
+"You are wrong, for the man will prove his skill. He will cite you in the
+law courts, and win his case."
+
+"Then you have made a formal agreement with him?"
+
+"Certainly; and your letter authorized me to do so."
+
+"Tell him to come up; I want to speak to him."
+
+While Possano was downstairs I told Clairmont to go and fetch me an
+advocate. The cook came upstairs, I read the agreement, and I saw that it
+was worded in such a manner that I should be in the wrong legally; but I
+did not change my mind for all that.
+
+"Sir," said the cook, "I am skilled in my business, and I can get four
+thousand Genoese to swear as much."
+
+"That doesn't say much for their good taste; but whatever they may-say,
+the execrable supper you gave me last night proves that you are only fit
+to keep a low eating-house."
+
+As there is nothing more irritable than the feelings of a culinary
+artist, I was expecting a sharp answer; but just then the advocate came
+in. He had heard the end of our dialogue, and told me that not only would
+the man find plenty of witnesses to his skill, but that I should find a
+very great difficulty in getting anybody at all to swear to his want of
+skill.
+
+"That may be," I replied, "but as I stick to my own opinion, and think
+his cooking horrible, he must go, for I want to get another, and I will
+pay that fellow as if he had served me the whole time."
+
+"That won't do," said the cook; "I will summon you before the judge and
+demand damages for defamation of character."
+
+At this my bile overpowered me, and I was going to seize him anti throw
+him out of the window, when Don Antonio Grimaldi came in. When he heard
+what was the matter, he laughed and said, with a shrug of his shoulders,
+
+"My dear sir, you had better not go into court, or you will be cast in
+costs, for the evidence is against you. Probably this man makes a slight
+mistake in believing himself to be an excellent cook, but the chief
+mistake is in the agreement, which ought to have stipulated that he
+should cook a trial dinner. The person who drew up the agreement is
+either a great knave or a great fool."
+
+At this Possano struck in in his rude way, and told the nobleman that he
+was neither knave nor fool.
+
+"But you are cousin to the cook," said the landlady.
+
+This timely remark solved the mystery. I paid and dismissed the advocate,
+and having sent the cook out of the room I said,
+
+"Do I owe you any money, Possano?"
+
+"On the contrary, you paid me a month in advance, and there are ten more
+days of the month to run."
+
+"I will make you a present of the ten days and send you away this very
+moment, unless your cousin does not leave my house to-day, and give you
+the foolish engagement which you signed in my name."
+
+"That's what I call cutting the Gordian knot," said M. Grimaldi.
+
+He then begged me to introduce him to the lady he had seen with me, and I
+did so, telling him she was my niece.
+
+"Signora Isola-Bella will be delighted to see her."
+
+"As the marquis did not mention her in his letter, I did not take the
+liberty of bringing her."
+
+The marquis left a few moments afterwards, and soon after Annette came in
+with her mother. The girl had developed in an incredible manner while I
+was away. Her cheeks blossomed like the rose, her teeth were white as
+pearls, and her breasts, though modestly concealed from view, were
+exquisitely rounded. I presented her to her mistress, whose astonishment
+amused me.
+
+Annette, who looked pleased to be in my service again, went to dress her
+new mistress; and, after giving a few sequins to the mother I sent her
+away, and proceeded to make my toilette.
+
+Towards noon, just as I was going out with my niece to dine at Rosalie's,
+my landlady brought me the agreement Possano had made, and introduced the
+new cook. I ordered the next day's dinner, and went away much pleased
+with my comic victory.
+
+A brilliant company awaited us at the Paretti's, but I was agreeably
+surprised on introducing my niece to Rosalie to see them recognize each
+other. They called each other by their respective names, and indulged in
+an affectionate embrace. After this they retired to another room for a
+quarter of an hour, and returned looking very happy. Just then Paretti
+entered, and on Rosalie introducing him to my niece under her true name
+he welcomed her in the most cordial manner. Her father was a
+correspondent of his, and drawing a letter he had just received from him
+from his pocket, he gave it to her to read. My niece read it eagerly,
+with tears in her eyes, and gave the signature a respectful pressure with
+her lips. This expression of filial love, which displayed all the
+feelings of her heart, moved me to such an extent that I burst into
+tears. Then taking Rosalie aside, I begged her to ask her husband not to
+mention the fact to his correspondent that he had seen his daughter.
+
+The dinner was excellent, and Rosalie did the honours with that grace
+which was natural to her. However, the guests did not by any means pay
+her all their attentions, the greater portion of which was diverted in
+the direction of my supposed niece. Her father, a prosperous merchant of
+Marseilles, was well known in the commercial circles of Genoa, and
+besides this her wit and beauty captivated everybody, and one young
+gentleman fell madly in love with her. He was an extremely good match,
+and proved to be the husband whom Heaven had destined for my charming
+friend. What a happy thought it was for me that I had been the means of
+rescuing her from the gulf of shame, misery, and despair, and placing her
+on the high road to happiness. I own that I have always felt a keener
+pleasure in doing good than in anything else, though, perhaps, I may not
+always have done good from strictly disinterested motives.
+
+When we rose from the table in excellent humour with ourselves and our
+surroundings, cards were proposed, and Rosalie, who knew my likings, said
+it must be trente-quarante. This was agreed to, and we played till
+supper, nobody either winning or losing to any extent. We did not go till
+midnight, after having spent a very happy day.
+
+When we were in our room I asked my niece how she had known Rosalie.
+
+"I knew her at home; she and her mother used to bring linen from the
+wash. I always liked her."
+
+"You must be nearly the same age."
+
+"She is two years older than I am. I recognized her directly."
+
+"What did she tell you?"
+
+"That it was you who brought her from Marseilles and made her fortune."
+
+"She has not made you the depositary of any other confidences?"
+
+"No, but there are some things which don't need telling."
+
+"You are right. And what did you tell her?"
+
+"Only what she could have guessed for herself. I told her that you were
+not my uncle, and if she thought you were my lover I was not sorry. You
+do not know how I have enjoyed myself to-day, you must have been born to
+make me happy."
+
+"But how about La Croix?"
+
+"For heaven's sake say nothing about him."
+
+This conversation increased my ardour. She called Annette, and I went to
+my room.
+
+As I had expected, Annette came to me as soon as her mistress was in bed.
+
+"If the lady is really your niece," said she, "may I hope that you still
+love me?"
+
+"Assuredly, dear Annette, I shall always love you. Undress, and let us
+have a little talk."
+
+I had not long to wait, and in the course of two voluptuous hours I
+quenched the flames that another woman had kindled in my breast.
+
+Next morning Possano came to tell me that he had arranged matters with
+the cook with the help of six sequins. I gave him the money, and told him
+to be more careful for the future.
+
+I went to Rosalie's for my breakfast, which she was delighted to give me:
+and I asked her and her husband to dinner on the following day, telling
+her to bring any four persons she liked.
+
+"Your decision," said I, "will decide the fate of my cook; it will be his
+trial dinner."
+
+She promised to come, and then pressed me to tell her the history of my
+amours with her fair country-woman.
+
+"Alas!" I said, "you may not believe me, but I assure you I am only
+beginning with her."
+
+"I shall certainly believe you, if you tell me so, though it seems very
+strange."
+
+"Strange but true. You must understand, however, that I have only known
+her for a very short time; and, again, I would not be made happy save
+through love, mere submission would kill me."
+
+"Good! but what did she say of me?"
+
+I gave her a report of the whole conversation I had had with my niece the
+night before, and she was delighted."
+
+"As you have not yet gone far with your niece, would you object if the
+young man who shewed her so much attention yesterday were of the party
+to-morrow?"
+
+"Who is he? I should like to know him."
+
+"M. N----, the only son of a rich merchant."
+
+"Certainly, bring him with you."
+
+When I got home I went to my niece, who was still in bed, and told her
+that her fellow-countryman would dine with us to-morrow. I comforted her
+with the assurance that M. Paretti would not tell her father that she was
+in Genoa. She had been a good deal tormented with the idea that the
+merchant would inform her father of all.
+
+As I was going out to supper I told her that she could go and sup with
+Rosalie, or take supper at home if she preferred it.
+
+"You are too kind to me, my dear uncle. I will go to Rosalie's."
+
+"Very good. Are you satisfied with Annette?"
+
+"Oh! by the way, she told me that you spent last night with her, and that
+you had been her lover and her sister's at the same time."
+
+"It is true, but she is very indiscreet to say anything about it."
+
+"We must forgive her, though. She told me that she only consented to
+sleep with you on the assurance that I was really your niece. I am sure
+she only made this confession out of vanity, and in the hope of gaining
+my favour, which would be naturally bestowed on a woman you love."
+
+"I wish you had the right to be jealous of her; and I swear that if she
+does not comport herself with the utmost obedience to you in every
+respect, I will send her packing, in despite of our relations. As for
+you, you may not be able to love me, and I have no right to complain; but
+I will not have you degrade yourself by becoming my submissive victim."
+
+I was not sorry for my niece to know that I made use of Annette, but my
+vanity was wounded at the way she took it. It was plain that she was not
+at all in love with me, and that she was glad that there was a safeguard
+in the person of her maid, and that thus we could be together without
+danger, for she could not ignore the power of her charms.
+
+We dined together, and augured well of the skill of the new cook. M.
+Paretti had promised to get me a good man, and he presented himself just
+as we were finishing dinner, and I made a present of him to my niece. We
+went for a drive together, and I left my niece at Rosalie's, and I then
+repaired to Isola-Bella's, where I found a numerous and brilliant company
+had assembled consisting of all the best people in Genoa.
+
+Just then all the great ladies were mad over 'biribi', a regular cheating
+game. It was strictly forbidden at Genoa, but this only made it more
+popular, and besides, the prohibition had no force in private houses,
+which are outside of the jurisdiction of the Government; in short, I
+found the game in full swing at the Signora Isola-Bella's. The
+professional gamesters who kept the bank went from house to house, and
+the amateurs were advised of their presence at such a house and at such a
+time.
+
+Although I detested the game, I began to play--to do as the others did.
+
+In the room there was a portrait of the mistress of the house in
+harlequin costume, and there happened to be the same picture on one of
+the divisions of the biribi-table: I chose this one out of politeness,
+and did not play on any other. I risked a sequin each time. The board had
+thirty-six compartments, and if one lost, one paid thirty-two tines the
+amount of the stake; this, of course, was an enormous advantage for the
+bank.
+
+Each player drew three numbers in succession, and there were three
+professionals; one kept the bag, another the bank, and the third the
+board, and the last took care to gather in the winnings as soon as the
+result was known, and the bank amounted to two thousand sequins or
+thereabouts. The table, the cloth, and four silver candlesticks belonged
+to the players.
+
+I sat at the left of Madame Isola-Bella, who began to play, and as there
+were fifteen or sixteen of us I had lost about fifty sequins when my turn
+came, for my harlequin had not appeared once. Everybody pitied me, or
+pretended to do so, for selfishness is the predominant passion of
+gamesters.
+
+My turn came at last. I drew my harlequin and received thirty-two
+sequins. I left them on the same figure, and got a thousand sequins. I
+left fifty still on the board, and the harlequin came out for the third
+time. The bank was broken, and the table, the cloth, the candlesticks,
+and the board all belonged to me. Everyone congratulated me, and the
+wretched bankrupt gamesters were hissed, hooted, and turned out of doors.
+
+After the first transports were over, I saw that the ladies were in
+distress; for as there could be no more gaming they did not know what to
+do. I consoled them by declaring that I would be banker, but with equal
+stakes, and that I would pay winning cards thirty-six times the stake
+instead of thirty-two. This was pronounced charming of me, and I amused
+everybody till supper-time, without any great losses or gains on either
+side. By dint of entreaty I made the lady of the house accept the whole
+concern as a present, and a very handsome one it was.
+
+The supper was pleasant enough, and my success at play was the chief
+topic of conversation. Before leaving I asked Signora Isola-Bella and her
+marquis to dine with me, and they eagerly accepted the invitation. When I
+got home I went to see my niece, who told me she had spent a delightful
+evening.
+
+"A very pleasant young man," said she, "who is coming to dine with us
+to-morrow, paid me great attention."
+
+"The same, I suppose, that did so yesterday?"
+
+"Yes. Amongst other pretty things he told me that if I liked he would go
+to Marseilles and ask my hand of my father. I said nothing, but I thought
+to myself that if the poor young man gave himself all this trouble he
+would be woefully misled, as he would not see me."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because I should be in a nunnery. My kind good father will forgive me,
+but I must punish myself."
+
+"That is a sad design, which I hope you will abandon. You have all that
+would make the happiness of a worthy husband. The more I think it over,
+the more I am convinced of the truth of what I say."
+
+We said no more just then, for she needed rest. Annette came to undress
+her, and I was glad to see the goodness of my niece towards her, but the
+coolness with which the girl behaved to her mistress did not escape my
+notice. As soon as she came to sleep with me I gently remonstrated with
+her, bidding her to do her duty better for the future. Instead of
+answering with a caress, as she ought to have done, she began to cry.
+
+"My dear child," said I, "your tears weary me. You are only here to amuse
+me, and if you can't do that, you had better go."
+
+This hurt her foolish feelings of vanity, and she got up and went away
+without a word, leaving me to go to sleep in a very bad temper.
+
+In the morning I told her, in a stern voice, that if she played me such a
+trick again I would send her away. Instead of trying to soothe me with a
+kiss the little rebel burst out crying again. I sent her out of the room
+impatiently, and proceeded to count my gains.
+
+I thought no more about it, but presently my niece came in and asked me
+why I had vexed poor Annette.
+
+"My dear niece," said I, "tell her to behave better or else I will send
+her back to her mother's."
+
+She gave me no reply, but took a handful of silver and fled. I had not
+time to reflect on this singular conduct, for Annette came in rattling
+her crowns in her pocket, and promised, with a kiss, not to make me angry
+any more.
+
+Such was my niece. She knew I adored her, and she loved me; but she did
+not want me to be her lover, though she made use of the ascendancy which
+my passion gave her. In the code of feminine coquetry such cases are
+numerous.
+
+Possano came uninvited to see me, and congratulated me on my victory of
+the evening before.
+
+"Who told you about it?"
+
+"I have just been at the coffee-house, where everybody is talking of it.
+It was a wonderful victory, for those biribanti are knaves of the first
+water. Your adventure is making a great noise, for everyone says that you
+could not have broken their bank unless you had made an agreement with
+the man that kept the bag."
+
+"My dear fellow, I am tired of you. Here, take this piece of money for
+your wife and be off."
+
+The piece of money I had given him was a gold coin worth a hundred
+Genoese livres, which the Government had struck for internal commerce;
+there were also pieces of fifty and twenty-five livres.
+
+I was going on with my calculations when Clairmont brought me a note. It
+was from Irene, and contained a tender invitation to breakfast with her.
+I did not know that she was in Genoa, and the news gave me very great
+pleasure. I locked up my money, dressed in haste, and started out to see
+her. I found her in good and well-furnished rooms, and her old father,
+Count Rinaldi, embraced me with tears of joy.
+
+After the ordinary compliments had been passed, the old man proceeded to
+congratulate me on my winnings of the night before.
+
+"Three thousand sequins!" he exclaimed, "that is a grand haul indeed."
+
+"Quite so."
+
+"The funny part of it is that the man who keeps the bag is in the pay of
+the others."
+
+"What strikes you as funny in that?"
+
+"Why, he gained half without any risk, otherwise he would not have been
+likely to have entered into an agreement with you."
+
+"You think, then, that it was a case of connivance?"
+
+"Everybody says so; indeed what else could it be? The rascal has made his
+fortune without running any risk. All the Greeks in Genoa are applauding
+him and you."
+
+"As the greater rascal of the two?"
+
+"They don't call you a rascal; they say you're a great genius; you are
+praised and envied."
+
+"I am sure I ought to be obliged to them."
+
+"I heard it all from a gentleman who was there. He says that the second
+and the third time the man with the bag gave you the office."
+
+"And you believe this?"
+
+"I am sure of it. No man of honour in your position could have acted
+otherwise. However, when you come to settle up with the fellow I advise
+you to be very careful, for there will be spies on your tracks. If you
+like, I will do the business for you."
+
+I had enough self-restraint to repress the indignation and rage I felt.
+Without a word I took my hat and marched out of the room, sternly
+repulsing Irene who tried to prevent me from going as she had done once
+before. I resolved not to have anything more to do with the wretched old
+count.
+
+This calumnious report vexed me extremely, although I knew that most
+gamesters would consider it an honour. Possano and Rinaldi had said
+enough to shew me that all the town was talking over it, and I was not
+surprised that everyone believed it; but for my part I did not care to be
+taken for a rogue when I had acted honourably.
+
+I felt the need of unbosoming myself to someone, and walked towards the
+Strada Balbi to call on the Marquis Grimaldi, and discuss the matter with
+him. I was told he was gone to the courts, so I followed him there and
+was ushered into vast hall, where he waited on me. I told him my story,
+and he said,
+
+"My dear chevalier, you ought to laugh at it, and I should not advise you
+to take the trouble to refute the calumny."
+
+"Then you advise me to confess openly that I am a rogue?"
+
+"No, for only fools will think that of you. Despise them, unless they
+tell you you are a rogue to your face."
+
+"I should like to know the name of the nobleman who was present and sent
+this report about the town."
+
+"I do not know who it is. He was wrong to say anything, but you would be
+equally wrong in taking any steps against him, for I am sure he did not
+tell the story with any intention of giving offence; quite the contrary."
+
+"I am lost in wonder at his course of reasoning. Let us suppose that the
+facts were as he told them, do you think they are to my honour?"
+
+"Neither to your honour nor shame. Such are the morals and such the
+maxims of gamesters. The story will be laughed at, your skill will be
+applauded, and you will be admired, for each one will say that in your
+place he would have done likewise!"
+
+"Would you?"
+
+"Certainly. If I had been sure that the ball would have gone to the
+harlequin, I would have broken the rascal's bank, as you did. I will say
+honestly that I do not know whether you won by luck or skill, but the
+most probable hypothesis, to my mind, is that you knew the direction of
+the ball. You must confess that there is something to be said in favour
+of the supposition."
+
+"I confess that there is, but it is none the less a dishonourable
+imputation on me, and you in your turn must confess that those who think
+that I won by sleight of hand, or by an agreement with a rascal, insult
+me grievously."
+
+"That depends on the way you look at it. I confess they insult you, if
+you think yourself insulted; but they are not aware of that, and their
+intention being quite different there is no insult at all in the matter.
+I promise you no one will tell you to your face that you cheated, but how
+are you going to prevent them thinking so?"
+
+"Well, let them think what they like, but let them take care not to tell
+me their thoughts."
+
+I went home angry with Grimaldi, Rinaldi, and everyone else. My anger
+vexed me, I should properly have only laughed, for in the state of morals
+at Genoa, the accusation, whether true or false, could not injure my
+honour. On the contrary I gained by it a reputation for being a genius, a
+term which the Genoese prefer to that Methodistical word, "a rogue,"
+though the meaning is the same. Finally I was astonished to find myself
+reflecting that I should have had no scruple in breaking the bank in the
+way suggested, if it had only been for the sake of making the company
+laugh. What vexed me most was that I was credited with an exploit I had
+not performed.
+
+When dinner-time drew near I endeavoured to overcome my ill temper for
+the sake of the company I was going to receive. My niece was adorned only
+with her native charms, for the rascal Croce had sold all her jewels; but
+she was elegantly dressed, and her beautiful hair was more precious than
+a crown of rubies.
+
+Rosalie came in richly dressed and looking very lovely. Her husband, her
+uncle, and her aunt were with her, and also two friends, one of whom was
+the aspirant for the hand of my niece.
+
+Madame Isola-Bella and her shadow, M. Grimaldi, came late, like great
+people. Just as we were going to sit down, Clairmont told me that a man
+wanted to speak to me.
+
+"Shew him in."
+
+As soon as he appeared M. Grimaldi exclaimed:
+
+"The man with the bag!"
+
+"What do you want?" I said, dryly.
+
+"Sir, I am come to ask you to help me. I am a family man, and it is
+thought that . . ."
+
+I did not let him finish.
+
+"I have never refused to aid the unfortunate," said I. "Clairmont, give
+him ten sequins. Leave the room."
+
+This incident spoke in my favour, and made me in a better temper.
+
+We sat down to table, and a letter was handed to me. I recognized
+Possano's writing, and put it in my pocket without reading it.
+
+The dinner was delicious, and my cook was pronounced to have won his
+spurs. Though her exalted rank and the brilliance of her attire gave
+Signora Isoia-Bella the first place of right, she was nevertheless
+eclipsed by my two nieces. The young Genoese was all attention for the
+fair Marseillaise, and I could see that she was not displeased. I
+sincerely wished to see her in love with someone, and I liked her too
+well to bear the idea of her burying herself in a convent. She could
+never be happy till she found someone who would make her forget the
+rascal who had brought her to the brink of ruin.
+
+I seized the opportunity, when all my guests were engaged with each
+other, to open Possano's letter. It ran as follows:
+
+"I went to the bank to change the piece of gold you gave me. It was
+weighed, and found to be ten carats under weight. I was told to name the
+person from whom I got it, but of course I did not do so. I then had to
+go to prison, and if you do not get me out of the scrape I shall be
+prosecuted, though of course I am not going to get myself hanged for
+anybody."
+
+I gave the letter to Grimaldi, and when we had left the table he took me
+aside, and said,--
+
+"This is a very serious matter, for it may end in the gallows for the man
+who clipped the coin."
+
+"Then they can hang the biribanti! That won't hurt me much."
+
+"No, that won't do; it would compromise Madame Isola-Bella, as biribi is
+strictly forbidden. Leave it all to me, I will speak to the State
+Inquisitors about it. Tell Possano to persevere in his silence, and that
+you will see him safely through. The laws against coiners and clippers
+are only severe with regard to these particular coins, as the Government
+has special reasons for not wishing them to be depreciated."
+
+I wrote to Possano, and sent for a pair of scales. We weighed the gold I
+had won at biribi, and every single piece had been clipped. M. Grimaldi
+said he would have them defaced and sold to a jeweller.
+
+When we got back to the dining-room we found everybody at play. M.
+Grimaldi proposed that I should play at quinze with him. I detested the
+game, but as he was my guest I felt it would be impolite to refuse, and
+in four hours I had lost five hundred sequins.
+
+Next morning the marquis told me that Possano was out of prison, and that
+he had been given the value of the coin. He brought me thirteen hundred
+sequins which had resulted from the sale of the gold. We agreed that I
+was to call on Madame Isola-Bella the next day, when he would give me my
+revenge at quinze.
+
+I kept the appointment, and lost three thousand sequins. I paid him a
+thousand the next day, and gave him two bills of exchange, payable by
+myself, for the other two thousand. When these bills were presented I was
+in England, and being badly off I had to have them protested. Five years
+later, when I was at Barcelona, M. de Grimaldi was urged by a traitor to
+have me imprisoned, but he knew enough of me to be sure that if I did not
+meet the bills it was from sheer inability to do so. He even wrote me a
+very polite letter, in which he gave the name of my enemy, assuring me
+that he would never take any steps to compel me to pay the money. This
+enemy was Possano, who was also at Barcelona, though I was not aware of
+his presence. I will speak of the circumstance in due time, but I cannot
+help remarking that all who aided me in my pranks with Madame d'Urfe
+proved traitors, with the exception of a Venetian girl, whose
+acquaintance the reader will make in the following chapter.
+
+In spite of my losses I enjoyed myself, and had plenty of money, for
+after all I had only lost what I had won at biribi. Rosalie often dined
+with us, either alone or with her husband, and I supped regularly at her
+home with my niece, whose love affair seemed quite promising. I
+congratulated her upon the circumstance, but she persisted in her
+determination to take refuge from the world in a cloister. Women often do
+the most idiotic things out of sheer obstinacy; possibly they deceive
+even themselves, and act in good faith; but unfortunately, when the veil
+falls from before their eyes, they see but the profound abyss into which
+their folly had plunged them.
+
+In the meanwhile, my niece had become so friendly and familiar that she
+would often come and sit on my bed in the morning when Annette was still
+in my arms. Her presence increased my ardour, and I quenched the fires on
+the blonde which the brunette was kindling. My niece seemed to enjoy the
+sight, and I could see that her senses were being pleasantly tortured.
+Annette was short-sighted, and so did not perceive my distractions, while
+my fair niece caressed me slightly, knowing that it would add to my
+pleasures. When she thought I was exhausted she told Annette to get up
+and leave me alone with her, as she wanted to tell me something. She then
+began to jest and toy, and though her dress was extremely disordered she
+seemed to think that her charms would exercise no power over me. She was
+quite mistaken, but I was careful not to undeceive her for fear of losing
+her confidence. I watched the game carefully, and noting how little by
+little her familiarity increased, I felt sure that she would have to
+surrender at last, if not at Genoa, certainly on the journey, when we
+would be thrown constantly in each other's society with nobody to spy
+upon our actions, and with nothing else to do but to make love. It is the
+weariness of a journey, the constant monotony, that makes one do
+something to make sure of one's existence; and when it comes to the
+reckoning there is usually more joy than repentance.
+
+But the story of my journey from Genoa to Marseilles was written in the
+book of fate, and could not be read by me. All I knew was that I must
+soon go as Madame d'Urfe was waiting for me at Marseilles. I knew not
+that in this journey would be involved the fate of a Venetian girl of
+whom I had never heard, who had never seen me, but whom I was destined to
+render happy. My fate seemed to have made me stop at Genoa to wait for
+her.
+
+I settled my accounts with the banker, to whom I had been accredited, and
+I took a letter of credit on Marseilles, where, however, I was not likely
+to want for funds, as my high treasurer, Madame d'Urfe was there. I took
+leave of Madame Isola-Bella and her circle that I might be able to devote
+all my time to Rosalie and her friends.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+Disgraceful Behaviour of My Brother, the Abbe, I Relieve Him of His
+Mistress--Departure from Genoa--The Prince of Monaco--My Niece
+Overcome--Our Arrival at Antibes
+
+On the Tuesday in Holy Week I was just getting up, when Clairmont came to
+tell me that a priest who would not give his name wanted to speak to me.
+I went out in my night-cap, and the rascally priest rushed at me and
+nearly choked me with his embraces. I did not like so much affection, and
+as I had not recognized him at first on account of the darkness of the
+room, I took him by the arm and led him to the window. It was my youngest
+brother, a good-for-nothing fellow, whom I had always disliked. I had not
+seen him for ten years, but I cared so little about him that I had not
+even enquired whether he were alive or dead in the correspondence I
+maintained with M. de Bragadin, Dandolo, and Barbaro.
+
+As soon as his silly embraces were over, I coldly asked him what chance
+had brought him to Genoa in this disgusting state of dirt, rags, and
+tatters. He was only twenty-nine, his complexion was fresh and healthy,
+and he had a splendid head of hair. He was a posthumous son, born like
+Mahomet, three months after the death of his father.
+
+"The story of my misfortunes would be only too long. Take me into your
+room, and I will sit down and tell you the whole story."
+
+"First of all, answer my questions. How long have you been here?"
+
+"Since yesterday."
+
+"Who told you that I was here?"
+
+"Count B----, at Milan."
+
+"Who told you that the count knew me?"
+
+"I found out by chance. I was at M. de Bragadin's a month ago, and on his
+table I saw a letter from the count to you."
+
+"Did you tell him you were my brother?"
+
+"I had to when he said how much I resembled you."
+
+"He made a mistake, for you are a blockhead."
+
+"He did not think so, at all events, for he asked me to dinner."
+
+"You must have cut a pretty figure, if you were in your present state."
+
+"He gave me four sequins to come here; otherwise, I should never have
+been able to do the journey."
+
+"Then he did a very foolish thing. You're a mere beggar, then; you take
+alms. Why did you leave Venice? What do you want with me? I can do
+nothing for you."
+
+"Ah! do not make me despair, or I shall kill myself."
+
+"That's the very best thing you could do; but you are too great a coward.
+I ask again why you left Venice, where you could say mass, and preach,
+and make an honest living, like many priests much better than you?"
+
+"That is the kernel of the whole matter. Let us go in and I will tell
+you."
+
+"No; wait for me here. We will go somewhere where you can tell me your
+story, if I have patience to listen to it. But don't tell any of my
+people that you are my brother, for I am ashamed to have such a relation.
+Come, take me to the place where you are staying."
+
+"I must tell you that at my inn I am not alone, and I want to have a
+private interview with you."
+
+"Who is with you?"
+
+"I will tell you presently, but let us go into a coffeehouse."
+
+"Are you in company with a band of brigands? What are you sighing at?"
+
+"I must confess it, however painful it may be to my feelings. I am with a
+woman."
+
+"A woman! and you a priest!"
+
+"Forgive me. I was blinded by love, and seduced by my senses and her
+beauty, so I seduced her under a promise to marry her at Geneva. I can
+never go back to Venice, for I took her away from her father's house."
+
+"What could you do at Geneva? They would expel you after you had been
+there three or four days. Come, we will go to the inn and see the woman
+you have deceived. I will speak to you afterwards."
+
+I began to trace my steps in the direction he had pointed out, and he was
+obliged to follow me. As soon as we got to the inn, he went on in front,
+and after climbing three flights of stairs I entered a wretched den where
+I saw a tall young girl, a sweet brunette, who looked proud and not in
+the least confused. As soon as I made my appearance she said, without any
+greeting,--
+
+"Are you the brother of this liar and monster who has deceived me so
+abominably?"
+
+"Yes," said I. "I have the honour."
+
+"A fine honour, truly. Well, have the kindness to send me back to Venice,
+for I won't stop any longer with this rascal whom I listened to like the
+fool I was, who turned my head with his lying tales. He was going to meet
+you at Milan, and you were to give us enough money to go to Geneva, and
+there we were to turn Protestants and get married. He swore you were
+expecting him at Milan, but you were not there at all, and he contrived
+to get money in some way or another, and brought me here miserably
+enough. I thank Heaven he has found you at last, for if he had not I
+should have started off by myself and begged my way. I have not a single
+thing left; the wretch sold all I possessed at Bergamo and Verona. I
+don't know how I kept my senses through it all. To hear him talk, the
+world was a paradise outside Venice, but I have found to my cost that
+there is no place like home. I curse the hour when I first saw the
+miserable wretch. He's a beggarly knave; always whining. He wanted to
+enjoy his rights as my husband when we got to Padua, but I am thankful to
+say I gave him nothing. Here is the writing he gave me; take it, and do
+what you like with it. But if you have any heart, send me back to Venice
+or I will tramp there on foot."
+
+I had listened to this long tirade without interrupting her. She might
+have spoken at much greater length, so far as I was concerned; my
+astonishment took my breath away. Her discourse had all the fire of
+eloquence, and was heightened by her expressive face and the flaming
+glances she shot from her eyes.
+
+My brother, sitting down with his head between his hands, and obliged to
+listen in silence to this long catalogue of well-deserved reproaches,
+gave something of a comic element to the scene. In spite of that,
+however, I was much touched by the sad aspects of the girl's story. I
+felt at once that I must take charge of her, and put an end to this
+ill-assorted match. I imagined that I should not have much difficulty in
+sending her back to Venice, which she might never have quitted if it had
+not been for her trust in me, founded on the fallacious promises of her
+seducer.
+
+The true Venetian character of the girl struck me even more than her
+beauty. Her courage, frank indignation, and the nobility of her aspect
+made me resolve not to abandon her. I could not doubt that she had told a
+true tale, as my brother continued to observe a guilty silence.
+
+I watched her silently for some time, and, my mind being made up, said,--
+
+"I promise to send you back to Venice with a respectable woman to look
+after you; but you will be unfortunate if you carry back with you the
+results of your amours."
+
+"What results? Did I not tell you that we were going to be married at
+Geneva?"
+
+"Yes, but in spite of that . . ."
+
+"I understand you, sir, but I am quite at ease on that point, as I am
+happy to say that I did not yield to any of the wretch's desires."
+
+"Remember," said the abbe, in a plaintive voice, "the oath you took to be
+mine for ever. You swore it upon the crucifix."
+
+So saying he got up and approached her with a supplicating gesture, but
+as soon as he was within reach she gave him a good hearty box on the ear.
+I expected to see a fight, in which I should not have interfered, but
+nothing of the kind. The humble abbe gently turned away to the window,
+and casting his eyes to heaven began to weep.
+
+"You are too malicious, my dear," I said; "the poor devil is only unhappy
+because you have made him in love with you."
+
+"If he is it's his own fault, I should never have thought of him but for
+his coming to me and fooling me, I shall never forgive him till he is out
+of my sight. That's not the first blow I have given him; I had to begin
+at Padua."
+
+"Yes," said the abbe, "but you are excommunicated, for I am a priest."
+
+"It's little I care for the excommunication of a scoundrel like you, and
+if you say another word I will give you some more."
+
+"Calm yourself, my child," said I; "you have cause to be angry, but you
+should not beat him. Take up your things and follow me."
+
+"Where are you going to take her?" said the foolish priest.
+
+"To my own house, and I should advise you to hold your tongue. Here, take
+these twenty sequins and buy yourself some clean clothes and linen, and
+give those rags of yours to the beggars. I will come and talk to you
+to-morrow, and you may thank your stars that you found me here. As for
+you, mademoiselle, I will have you conducted to my lodging, for Genoa
+must not see you in my company after arriving here with a priest. We must
+not have any scandal. I shall place you under the charge of my landlady,
+but whatever you do don't tell her this sad story. I will see that you
+are properly dressed, and that you want for nothing."
+
+"May Heaven reward you!"
+
+My brother, astonished at the sight of the twenty sequins, let me go away
+without a word. I had the fair Venetian taken to my lodging in a
+sedan-chair, and putting her under the charge of my landlady I told the
+latter to see that she was properly dressed. I wanted to see how she
+would look in decent clothes, for her present rags and tatters detracted
+from her appearance. I warned Annette that a girl who had been placed in
+my care would eat and sleep with her, and then having to entertain a
+numerous company of guests I proceeded to make my toilette.
+
+Although my niece had no rights over me, I valued her esteem, and thought
+it best to tell her the whole story lest she should pass an unfavourable
+judgment on me. She listened attentively and thanked me for my confidence
+in her, and said she should very much like to see the girl and the abbe
+too, whom she pitied, though she admitted he was to be blamed for what he
+had done. I had got her a dress to wear at dinner, which became her
+exquisitely. I felt only too happy to be able to please her in any way,
+for her conduct towards myself and the way she treated her ardent lover
+commanded my admiration. She saw him every day either at my house or at
+Rosalie's. The young man had received an excellent education, though he
+was of the mercantile class, and wrote to her in a business-like manner,
+that, as they were well suited to each other in every way, there was
+nothing against his going to Marseilles and obtaining her father's
+consent to the match, unless it were a feeling of aversion on her side.
+He finished by requesting her to give him an answer. She shewed me the
+letter, and I congratulated her, and advised her to accept, if there was
+nothing about the young man which displeased her.
+
+"There is nothing of the kind," she said, "and Rosalie thinks with you."
+
+"Then tell him by word of mouth that you give your consent, and will
+expect to see him at Marseilles."
+
+"Very good; as you think so, I will tell him tomorrow."
+
+When dinner was over a feeling of curiosity made me go into the room
+where Annette was dining with the Venetian girl, whose name was
+Marcoline. I was struck with astonishment on seeing her, for she was
+completely changed, not so much by the pretty dress she had on as by the
+contented expression of her face, which made her look quite another
+person. Good humour had vanquished unbecoming rage, and the gentleness
+born of happiness made her features breathe forth love. I could scarcely
+believe that this charming creature before me was the same who had dealt
+such a vigorous blow to my brother, a priest, and a sacred being in the
+eyes of the common people. They were eating, and laughing at not being
+able to understand each other, for Marcoline only spoke Venetian, and
+Annette Genoese, and the latter dialect does not resemble the former any
+more than Bohemian resembles Dutch.
+
+I spoke to Marcoline in her native tongue, which was mine too, and she
+said,--
+
+"I seem to have suddenly passed from hell to Paradise."
+
+"Indeed, you look like an angel."
+
+"You called me a little devil this morning. But here is a fair angel,"
+said she, pointing to Annette; "we don't see such in Venice."
+
+"She is my treasure."
+
+Shortly after my niece came in, and seeing me talking and laughing with
+the two girls began to examine the new-comer. She told me in French that
+she thought her perfectly beautiful, and repeating her opinion to the
+girl in Italian gave her a kiss. Marcoline asked her plainly in the
+Venetian manner who she was.
+
+"I am this gentleman's niece, and he is taking me back to Marseilles,
+where my home is."
+
+"Then you would have been my niece too, if I had married his brother. I
+wish I had such a pretty niece."
+
+This pleasant rejoinder was followed by a storm of kisses given and
+returned with ardour which one might pronounce truly Venetian, if it were
+not that this would wound the feelings of the almost equally ardent
+Provencals.
+
+I took my niece for a sail in the bay, and after we had enjoyed one of
+those delicious evenings which I think can be found nowhere else--sailing
+on a mirror silvered by the moon, over which float the odours of the
+jasmine, the orange-blossom, the pomegranates, the aloes, and all the
+scented flowers which grow along the coasts--we returned to our lodging,
+and I asked Annette what had become of Marcoline. She told me that she
+had gone to bed early, and I went gently into her room, with no other
+intention than to see her asleep. The light of the candle awoke her, and
+she did not seem at all frightened at seeing me. I sat by the bed, and
+fell to making love to her, and at last made as if I would kiss her, but
+she resisted, and we went on talking.
+
+When Annette had put her mistress to bed, she came in and found us
+together.
+
+"Go to bed, my dear," said I. "I will come to you directly."
+
+Proud of being my mistress, she gave me a fiery kiss and went away
+without a word.
+
+I began to talk about my brother, and passing from him to myself I told
+her of the interest I felt for her, saying that I would either have her
+taken to Venice, or bring her with me when I went to France.
+
+"Do you want to marry me?"
+
+"No, I am married already."
+
+"That's a lie, I know, but it doesn't matter. Send me back to Venice, and
+the sooner the better. I don't want to be anybody's concubine."
+
+"I admire your sentiments, my dear, they do you honour."
+
+Continuing my praise I became pressing, not using any force, but those
+gentle caresses which are so much harder for a woman to resist than a
+violent attack. Marcoline laughed, but seeing that I persisted in spite
+of her resistance, she suddenly glided out of the bed and took refuge in
+my niece's room and locked the door after her. I was not displeased; the
+thing was done so easily and gracefully. I went to bed with Annette, who
+lost nothing by the ardour with which Marcoline had inspired me. I told
+her how she had escaped from my hands, and Annette was loud in her
+praises.
+
+In the morning I got up early and went into my niece's room to enjoy the
+sight of the companion I had involuntarily given her, and the two girls
+were certainly a very pleasant sight. As soon as my niece saw me, she
+exclaimed,--
+
+"My dear uncle, would you believe it? This sly Venetian has violated me."
+
+Marcoline understood her, and far from denying the fact proceeded to give
+my niece fresh marks of her affection, which were well received, and from
+the movements of the sheets which covered them I could make a pretty good
+guess as to the nature of their amusement.
+
+"This is a rude shock to the respect which your uncle has had for your
+prejudices," said I.
+
+"The sports of two girls cannot tempt a man who has just left the arms of
+Annette."
+
+"You are wrong, and perhaps you know it, for I am more than tempted."
+
+With these words I lifted the sheets of the bed. Marcoline shrieked but
+did not move, but my niece earnestly begged me to replace the
+bed-clothes. However, the picture before me was too charming to be
+concealed.
+
+At this point Annette came in, and in obedience to her mistress replaced
+the coverlet over the two Bacchantes. I felt angry with Annette, and
+seizing her threw her on the bed, and then and there gave the two
+sweethearts such an interesting spectacle that they left their own play
+to watch us. When I had finished, Annette, who was in high glee; said I
+was quite right to avenge myself on their prudery. I felt satisfied with
+what I had done, and went to breakfast. I then dressed, and visited my
+brother.
+
+"How is Marcoline?" said he, as soon as he saw me.
+
+"Very well, and you needn't trouble yourself any more about her. She is
+well lodged, well dressed, and well fed, and sleeps with my niece's
+maid."
+
+"I didn't know I had a niece."
+
+"There are many things you don't know. In three or four days she will
+return to Venice."
+
+"I hope, dear brother, that you will ask me to dine with you to-day."
+
+"Not at all, dear brother. I forbid you to set foot in my house, where
+your presence would be offensive to Marcoline, whom you must not see any
+more."
+
+"Yes, I will; I will return to Venice, if I have to hang for it."
+
+"What good would that be? She won't have you."
+
+"She loves me."
+
+"She beats you."
+
+"She beats me because she loves me. She will be as gentle as a lamb when
+she sees me so well dressed. You do not know how I suffer."
+
+"I can partly guess, but I do not pity you, for you are an impious and
+cruel fool. You have broken your vows, and have not hesitated to make a
+young girl endure misery and degradation to satisfy your caprice. What
+would you have done, I should like to know, if I had given you the cold
+shoulder instead of helping you?"
+
+"I should have gone into the street, and begged for my living with her."
+
+"She would have beaten you, and would probably have appealed to the law
+to get rid of you."
+
+"But what will you do for me, if I let her go back to Venice without
+following her."
+
+"I will take you to France, and try to get you employed by some bishop."
+
+"Employed! I was meant by nature to be employed by none but God."
+
+"You proud fool! Marcoline rightly called you a whiner. Who is your God?
+How do you serve Him? You are either a hypocrite or an idiot. Do you
+think that you, a priest, serve God by decoying an innocent girl away
+from her home? Do you serve Him by profaning the religion you do not even
+understand? Unhappy fool! do you think that with no talent, no
+theological learning, and no eloquence, you can be a Protestant minister.
+Take care never to come to my house, or I will have you expelled from
+Genoa."
+
+"Well, well, take me to Paris, and I will see what my brother Francis can
+do for me; his heart is not so hard as yours."
+
+"Very good! you shall go to Paris, and we will start from here in three
+or four days. Eat and drink to your heart's content, but remain indoors;
+I will let you know when we are going. I shall have my niece, my
+secretary, and my valet with me. We shall travel by sea."
+
+"The sea makes me sick."
+
+"That will purge away some of your bad humours."
+
+When I got home I told Marcoline what had passed between us.
+
+"I hate him!" said she; "but I forgive him, since it is through him I
+know you."
+
+"And I forgive him, too, because unless it had been for him I should
+never have seen you. But I love you, and I shall die unless you satisfy
+my desires."
+
+"Never; for I know I should be madly in love with you, and then you would
+leave me, and I should be miserable again."
+
+"I will never leave you."
+
+"If you will swear that, take me into France and make me all your own.
+Here you must continue living with Annette; besides, I have got your
+niece to make love to."
+
+The pleasant part of the affair was that my niece was equally taken with
+her, and had begged me to let her take meals with us and sleep with her.
+As I had a prospect of being at their lascivious play, I willingly
+consented, and henceforth she was always present at the table. We enjoyed
+her company immensely, for she told us side-splitting tales which kept us
+at table till it was time to go to Rosalie's, where my niece's adorer was
+certain to be awaiting us.
+
+The next day, which was Holy Thursday, Rosalie came with us to see the
+processions. I had Rosalie and Marcoline with me, one on each arm, veiled
+in their mezzaros, and my niece was under the charge of her lover. The
+day after we went to see the procession called at Genoa Caracce, and
+Marcoline pointed out my brother who kept hovering round us, though he
+pretended not to see us. He was most carefully dressed, and the stupid
+fop seemed to think he was sure to find favour in Marcoline's eyes, and
+make her regret having despised him; but he was woefully deceived, for
+Marcoline knew how to manage her mezzaro so well that, though he was both
+seen and laughed at, the poor devil could not be certain that she had
+noticed him at all, and in addition the sly girl held me so closely by
+the arm that he must have concluded we were very intimate.
+
+My niece and Marcoline thought themselves the best friends in the world,
+and could not bear my telling them that their amorous sports were the
+only reason for their attachment. They therefore agreed to abandon them
+as soon as we left Genoa, and promised that I should sleep between them
+in the felucca, all of us to keep our clothes on. I said I should hold
+them to their word, and I fixed our departure for Thursday. I ordered the
+felucca to be in readiness and summoned my brother to go on board.
+
+It was a cruel moment when I left Annette with her mother. She wept so
+bitterly that all of us had to shed tears. My niece gave her a handsome
+dress and I thirty sequins, promising to come and see her again on my
+return from England. Possano was told to go on board with the abbe; I had
+provisioned the boat for three days. The young merchant promised to be at
+Marseilles, telling my niece that by the time he came everything would be
+settled. I was delighted to hear it; it assured me that her father would
+give her a kind reception. Our friends did not leave us till the moment
+we went on board.
+
+The felucca was very conveniently arranged, and was propelled by the
+twelve oarsmen. On the deck there were also twenty-four muskets, so that
+we should have been able to defend ourselves against a pirate. Clairmont
+had arranged my carriage and my trunks so cleverly, that by stretching
+five mattresses over them we had an excellent bed, where we could sleep
+and undress ourselves in perfect comfort; we had good pillows and plenty
+of sheets. A long awning covered the deck, and two lanterns were hung up,
+one at each end. In the evening they were lighted and Clairmont brought
+in supper. I had warned my brother that at the slightest presumption on
+his part he should be flung into the sea, so I allowed him and Possano to
+sup with us.
+
+I sat between my two nymphs and served the company merrily, first my
+niece, then Marcoline, then my brother, and finally Possano. No water was
+drunk at table, so we each emptied a bottle of excellent Burgundy, and
+when we had finished supper the rowers rested on their oars, although the
+wind was very light. I had the lamps put out and went to bed with my two
+sweethearts, one on each side of me.
+
+The light of dawn awoke me, and I found my darlings still sleeping in the
+same position. I could kiss neither of them, since one passed for my
+niece, and my sense of humanity would not allow me to treat Marcoline as
+my mistress in the presence of an unfortunate brother who adored her, and
+had never obtained the least favour from her. He was lying near at hand,
+overwhelmed with grief and seasickness, and watching and listening with
+all his might for the amorous encounter he suspected us of engaging in. I
+did not want to have any unpleasantness, so I contented myself with
+gazing on them till the two roses awoke and opened their eyes.
+
+When this delicious sight was over, I got up and found that we were only
+opposite Final, and I proceeded to reprimand the master.
+
+"The wind fell dead at Savona, sir;" and all the seamen chorused his
+excuse.
+
+"Then you should have rowed instead of idling."
+
+"We were afraid of waking you. You shall be at Antibes by tomorrow."
+
+After passing the time by eating a hearty meal, we took a fancy to go on
+shore at St. Remo. Everybody was delighted. I took my two nymphs on land,
+and after forbidding any of the others to disembark I conducted the
+ladies to an inn, where I ordered coffee. A man accosted us, and invited
+us to come and play biribi at his house.
+
+"I thought the game was forbidden in Genoa," said I. I felt certain that
+the players were the rascals whose bank I had broken at Genoa, so I
+accepted the invitation. My niece had fifty Louis in her purse, and I
+gave fifteen to Marcoline. We found a large assemblage, room was made for
+us, and I recognized the knaves of Genoa. As soon as they saw me they
+turned pale and trembled. I should say that the man with the bag was not
+the poor devil who had served me so well without wanting to.
+
+"I play harlequin," said I.
+
+"There isn't one."
+
+"What's the bank?"
+
+"There it is. We play for small stakes here, and those two hundred louis
+are quite sufficient. You can bet as low as you like, and the highest
+stake is of a louis."
+
+"That's all very well, but my louis is full weight."
+
+"I think ours are, too."
+
+"Are you sure?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then I won't play," said I, to the keeper of the rooms.
+
+"You are right; bring the scales."
+
+The banker then said that when play was over he would give four crowns of
+six livres for every louis that the company had won, and the matter was
+settled. In a moment the board was covered with stakes.
+
+We each punted a louis at a time, and I and my niece lost twenty Louis,
+but Marcoline, who had never possessed two sequins in her life before,
+won two hundred and forty Louis. She played on the figure of an abbe
+which came out fifth twenty times. She was given a bag full of crown
+pieces, and we returned to the felucca.
+
+The wind was contrary, and we had to row all night, and in the morning
+the sea was so rough that we had to put in at Mentone. My two sweethearts
+were very sick, as also my brother and Possano, but I was perfectly well.
+I took the two invalids to the inn, and allowed my brother and Possano to
+land and refresh themselves. The innkeeper told me that the Prince and
+Princess of Monaco were at Mentone, so I resolved to pay them a visit. It
+was thirteen years since I had seen the prince at Paris, where I had
+amused him and his mistress Caroline at supper. It was this prince who
+had taken me to see the horrible Duchess of Rufec; then he was unmarried,
+and now I met him again in his principality with his wife, of whom he had
+already two sons. The princess had been a Duchess de Borgnoli, a great
+heiress, and a delightful and pretty woman. I had heard all about her,
+and I was curious to verify the facts for myself.
+
+I called on the prince, was announced, and after a long wait they
+introduced me to his presence. I gave him his title of highness, which I
+had never done at Paris, where he was not known under his full style and
+title. He received me politely, but with that coolness which lets one
+know that one is not an over-welcome visitor.
+
+"You have put in on account of the bad weather, I suppose?" said he.
+
+"Yes, prince, and if your highness will allow me I will spend the whole
+day in your delicious villa." (It is far from being delicious.)
+
+"As you please. The princess as well as myself likes it better than our
+place at Monaco, so we live here by preference."
+
+"I should be grateful if your highness would present me to the princess."
+
+Without mentioning my name he ordered a page in waiting to present me to
+the princess.
+
+The page opened the door of a handsome room and said, "The Princess," and
+left me. She was singing at the piano, but as soon as she saw me she rose
+and came to meet me. I was obliged to introduce myself, a most unpleasant
+thing, and no doubt the princess felt the position, for she pretended not
+to notice it, and addressed me with the utmost kindness and politeness,
+and in a way that shewed that she was learned in the maxims of good
+society. I immediately became very much at my ease, and proceeded in a
+lordly manner to entertain her with pleasant talk, though I said nothing
+about my two lady friends.
+
+The princess was handsome, clever, and good-natured. Her mother, who knew
+that a man like the prince would never make her daughter happy, opposed
+the marriage, but the young marchioness was infatuated, and the mother
+had to give in when the girl said,--
+
+"O Monaco O monaca." (Either Monaco or a convent.)
+
+We were still occupied in the trifles which keep up an ordinary
+conversation, when the prince came in running after a waiting-maid, who
+was making her escape, laughing. The princess pretended not to see him,
+and went on with what she was saying. The scene displeased me, and I took
+leave of the princess, who wished me a pleasant journey. I met the prince
+as I was going out, and he invited me to come and see him whenever I
+passed that way.
+
+"Certainly," said I; and made my escape without saying any more.
+
+I went back to the inn and ordered a good dinner for three.
+
+In the principality of Monaco there was a French garrison, which was
+worth a pension of a hundred thousand francs to the prince--a very
+welcome addition to his income.
+
+A curled and scented young officer, passing by our room, the door of
+which was open, stopped short, and with unblushing politeness asked us if
+we would allow him to join our party. I replied politely, but coldly,
+that he did us honour--a phrase which means neither yes nor no; but a
+Frenchman who has advanced one step never retreats.
+
+He proceeded to display his graces for the benefit of the ladies, talking
+incessantly, without giving them time to get in a word, when he suddenly
+turned to me and said that he wondered how it was that the prince had not
+asked me and my ladies to dinner. I told him that I had not said anything
+to the prince about the treasure I had with me.
+
+I had scarcely uttered the words, when the kindly blockhead rose and
+cried enthusiastically,--
+
+"Parbleu! I am no longer surprised. I will go and tell his highness, and
+I shall soon have the honour of dining with you at the castle."
+
+He did not wait to hear my answer, but went off in hot haste.
+
+We laughed heartily at his folly, feeling quite sure that we should
+neither dine with him nor the prince, but in a quarter of an hour he
+returned in high glee, and invited us all to dinner on behalf of the
+prince.
+
+"I beg you will thank his highness, and at the same time ask him to
+excuse us. The weather has improved, and I want to be off as soon as we
+have taken a hasty morsel."
+
+The young Frenchman exerted all his eloquence in vain, and at length
+retired with a mortified air to take our answer to the prince.
+
+I thought I had got rid of him at last, but I did not know my man. He
+returned a short time after, and addressing himself in a complacent
+manner to the ladies, as if I was of no more account, he told them that
+he had given the prince such a description of their charms that he had
+made up his mind to dine with them.
+
+"I have already ordered the table to be laid for two more, as I shall
+have the honour of being of the party. In a quarter of an hour, ladies,
+the prince will be here."
+
+"Very good," said I, "but as the prince is coming I must go to the
+felucca and fetch a capital pie of which the prince is very fond, I know.
+Come, ladies."
+
+"You can leave them here, sir. I will undertake to keep them amused."
+
+"I have no doubt you would, but they have some things to get from the
+felucca as well."
+
+"Then you will allow me to come too."
+
+"Certainly with pleasure."
+
+As we were going down the stairs, I asked the innkeeper what I owed him.
+
+"Nothing, sir, I have just received orders to serve you in everything,
+and to take no money from you."
+
+"The prince is really magnificent!" During this short dialogue, the
+ladies had gone on with the fop. I hastened to rejoin them, and my niece
+took my arm, laughing heartily to hear the officer making love to
+Marcoline, who did not understand a word he said. He did not notice it in
+the least, for his tongue kept going like the wheel of a mill, and he did
+not pause for any answers.
+
+"We shall have some fun at dinner," said my niece, "but what are we going
+to do on the felucca?"
+
+"We are leaving. Say nothing."
+
+"Leaving?"
+
+"Immediately."
+
+"What a jest! it is worth its weight in gold."
+
+We went on board the felucca, and the officer, who was delighted with the
+pretty vessel, proceeded to examine it. I told my niece to keep him
+company, and going to the master, whispered to him to let go directly.
+
+"Directly?"
+
+"Yes, this moment."
+
+"But the abbe and your secretary are gone for a walk, and two of my men
+are on shore, too."
+
+"That's no matter; we shall pick them up again at Antibes; it's only ten
+leagues, and they have plenty of money. I must go, and directly. Make
+haste."
+
+"All right."
+
+He tripped the anchor, and the felucca began to swing away from the
+shore. The officer asked me in great astonishment what it meant.
+
+"It means that I am going to Antibes and I shall be very glad to take you
+there for nothing."
+
+"This is a fine jest! You are joking, surely?"
+
+"Your company will be very pleasant on the journey."
+
+"Pardieu! put me ashore, for with your leave, ladies, I cannot go to
+Antibes."
+
+"Put the gentleman ashore," said I to the master, "he does not seem to
+like our company."
+
+"It's not that, upon my honour. These ladies are charming, but the prince
+would think that I was in the plot to play this trick upon him, which you
+must confess is rather strong."
+
+"I never play a weak trick."
+
+"But what will the prince say?"
+
+"He may say what he likes, and I shall do as I like."
+
+"Well, it's no fault of mine. Farewell, ladies! farewell, sir!"
+
+"Farewell, and you may thank the prince for me for paying my bill."
+
+Marcoline who did not understand what was passing gazed in astonishment,
+but my niece laughed till her sides ached, for the way in which the poor
+officer had taken the matter was extremely comic.
+
+Clairmont brought us an excellent dinner, and we laughed incessantly
+during its progress, even at the astonishment of the abbe and Possano
+when they came to the quay and found the felucca had flown. However, I
+was sure of meeting them again at Antibes, and we reached that port at
+six o'clock in the evening.
+
+The motion of the sea had tired us without making us feel sick, for the
+air was fresh, and our appetites felt the benefits of it, and in
+consequence we did great honour to the supper and the wine. Marcoline
+whose stomach was weakened by the sickness she had undergone soon felt
+the effects of the Burgundy, her eyes were heavy, and she went to sleep.
+My niece would have imitated her, but I reminded her tenderly that we
+were at Antibes, and said I was sure she would keep her word. She did not
+answer me, but gave me her hand, lowering her eyes with much modesty.
+
+Intoxicated with her submission which was so like love, I got into bed
+beside her, exclaiming,--
+
+"At last the hour of my happiness has come!
+
+"And mine too, dearest."
+
+"Yours? Have you not continually repulsed me?"
+
+"Never! I always loved you, and your indifference has been a bitter grief
+to me."
+
+"But the first night we left Milan you preferred being alone to sleeping
+with me."
+
+"Could I do otherwise without passing in your eyes for one more a slave
+to sensual passion than to love? Besides you might have thought I was
+giving myself to you for the benefits I had received; and though
+gratitude be a noble feeling, it destroys all the sweet delights of love.
+You ought to have told me that you loved me and subdued me by those
+attentions which conquer the hearts of us women. Then you would have seen
+that I loved you too, and our affection would have been mutual. On my
+side I should have known that the pleasure you had of me was not given
+out of a mere feeling of gratitude. I do not know whether you would have
+loved me less the morning after, if I had consented, but I am sure I
+should have lost your esteem."
+
+She was right, and I applauded her sentiments, while giving her to
+understand that she was to put all notions of benefits received out of
+her mind. I wanted to make her see that I knew that there was no more
+need for gratitude on her side than mine.
+
+We spent a night that must be imagined rather than described. She told me
+in the morning that she felt all had been for the best, as if she had
+given way at first she could never have made up her mind to accept the
+young Genoese, though he seemed likely to make her happy.
+
+Marcoline came to see us in the morning, caressed us, and promised to
+sleep by herself the rest of the voyage.
+
+"Then you are not jealous?" said I.
+
+"No, for her happiness is mine too, and I know she will make you happy."
+
+She became more ravishingly beautiful every day.
+
+Possano and the abbe came in just as we were sitting down to table, and
+my niece having ordered two more plates I allowed them to dine with us.
+My brother's face was pitiful and yet ridiculous. He could not walk any
+distance, so he had been obliged to come on horseback, probably for the
+first time in his life.
+
+"My skin is delicate," said he, "so I am all blistered. But God's will be
+done! I do not think any of His servants have endured greater torments
+than mine during this journey. My body is sore, and so is my soul."
+
+So saying he cast a piteous glance at Marcoline, and we had to hold our
+sides to prevent ourselves laughing. My niece could bear it no more, and
+said,--
+
+"How I pity you, dear uncle!"
+
+At this he blushed, and began to address the most absurd compliments to
+her, styling her "my dear niece." I told him to be silent, and not to
+speak French till he was able to express himself in that equivocal
+language without making a fool of himself. But the poet Pogomas spoke no
+better than he did.
+
+I was curious to know what had happened at Mentone after we had left, and
+Pogomas proceeded to tell the story.
+
+"When we came back from our walk we were greatly astonished not to find
+the felucca any more. We went to the inn, where I knew you had ordered
+dinner; but the inn-keeper knew nothing except that he was expecting the
+prince and a young officer to dine with you. I told him he might wait for
+you in vain, and just then the prince came up in a rage, and told the
+inn-keeper that now you were gone he might look to you for his payment.
+'My lord,' said the inn-keeper, 'the gentleman wanted to pay me, but I
+respected the orders I had received from your highness and would not take
+the money.' At this the prince flung him a louis with an ill grace, and
+asked us who we were. I told him that we belonged to you, and that you
+had not waited for us either, which put us to great trouble. 'You will
+get away easily enough,' said he; and then he began to laugh, and swore
+the jest was a pleasant one. He then asked me who the ladies were. I told
+him that the one was your niece, and that I knew nothing of the other;
+but the abbe interfered, and said she was your cuisine. The prince
+guessed he meant to say 'cousin,' and burst out laughing, in which he was
+joined by the young officer. 'Greet him from me,' said he, as he went
+away, 'and tell him that we shall meet again, and that I will pay him out
+for the trick he has played me.' The worthy host laughed, too, when the
+prince had gone, and gave us a good dinner, saying that the prince's
+Louis would pay for it all. When we had dined we hired two horses, and
+slept at Nice. In the morning we rode on again, being certain of finding
+you here." Marcoline told the abbe in a cold voice to take care not to
+tell anyone else that she was his cuisine, or his cousin, or else it
+would go ill with him, as she did not wish to be thought either the one
+or the other. I also advised him seriously not to speak French for the
+future, as the absurd way in which he had committed himself made everyone
+about him ashamed.
+
+Just as I was ordering post-horses to take us to Frejus, a man appeared,
+and told me I owed him ten louis for the storage of a carriage which I
+had left on his hands nearly three years ago. This was when I was taking
+Rosalie to Italy. I laughed, for the carriage itself was not worth five
+louis. "Friend," said I, "I make you a present of the article."
+
+"I don't want your present. I want the ten louis you owe me."
+
+"You won't get the ten louis. I will see you further first."
+
+"We will see about that;" and so saying he took his departure.
+
+I sent for horses that we might continue our journey.
+
+A few moments after, a sergeant summoned me to the governor's presence. I
+followed him, and was politely requested to pay the ten louis that my
+creditor demanded. I answered that, in the agreement I had entered into
+for six francs a month, there was no mention of the length of the term,
+and that I did not want to withdraw my carriage.
+
+"But supposing you were never to withdraw it?"
+
+"Then the man could bequeath his claim to his heir."
+
+"I believe he could oblige you to withdraw it, or to allow it to be sold
+to defray expenses."
+
+"You are right, sir, and I wish to spare him that trouble. I make him a
+present of the carriage."
+
+"That's fair enough. Friend, the carriage is yours."
+
+"But sir," said the plaintiff, "it is not enough; the carriage is not
+worth ten louis, and I want the surplus."
+
+"You are in the wrong. I wish you a pleasant journey, sir, and I hope you
+will forgive the ignorance of these poor people, who would like to shape
+the laws according to their needs."
+
+All this trouble had made me lose a good deal of time, and I determined
+to put off my departure till the next day. However, I wanted a carriage
+for Possano and the abbe, and I got my secretary to buy the one I had
+abandoned for four louis. It was in a deplorable state, and I had to have
+it repaired, which kept us till the afternoon of the next day; however,
+so far as pleasure was concerned, the time was not lost.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+My Arrival at Marseilles--Madame d'Urfe--My Niece Is Welcomed by Madame
+Audibert I Get Rid of My Brother and Possano--Regeneration--Departure of
+Madame d'Urfe--Marcoline Remains Constant
+
+My niece, now my mistress, grew more dear to me every day, and I could
+not help trembling when I reflected that Marseilles would be the tomb of
+our love. Though I could not help arriving there, I prolonged my
+happiness as long as I could by travelling by short stages. I got to
+Frejus in less than three hours, and stopped there, and telling Possano
+and the abbe to do as they liked during our stay, I ordered a delicate
+supper and choice wine for myself and my nymphs. Our repast lasted till
+midnight, then we went to bed, and passed the time in sweet sleep and
+sweeter pleasures. I made the same arrangements at Lucca, Brignoles, and
+Aubayne, where I passed the sixth and last night of happiness.
+
+As soon as I got to Marseilles I conducted my niece to Madame Audibert's,
+and sent Possano and my brother to the "Trieze Cantons" inn, bidding them
+observe the strictest silence with regard to me, for Madame d'Urfe had
+been awaiting me for three weeks, and I wished to be my own herald to
+her.
+
+It was at Madame Audibert's that my niece had met Croce. She was a clever
+woman, and had known the girl from her childhood, and it was through her
+that my niece hoped to be restored to her father's good graces. We had
+agreed that I should leave my niece and Marcoline in the carriage, and
+should interview Madame Audibert, whose acquaintance I had made before,
+and with whom I could make arrangements for my niece's lodging till some
+arrangement was come to.
+
+Madame Audibert saw me getting out of my carriage, and as she did not
+recognize me her curiosity made her come down and open the door. She soon
+recognized me, and consented to let me have a private interview with the
+best grace in the world.
+
+I did not lose any time in leading up to the subject, and after I had
+given her a rapid sketch of the affair, how misfortune had obliged La
+Croix to abandon Mdlle. Crosin, how I had been able to be of service to
+her, and finally, how she had had the good luck to meet a wealthy and
+distinguished person, who would come to Marseilles to ask her hand in a
+fortnight, I concluded by saying that I should have the happiness of
+restoring to her hands the dear girl whose preserver I had been.
+
+"Where is she?" cried Madame Audibert.
+
+"In my carriage. I have lowered the blinds."
+
+"Bring her in, quick! I will see to everything. Nobody shall know that
+she is in my house."
+
+Happier than a prince, I made one bound to the carriage and, concealing
+her face with her cloak and hood, I led my niece to her friend's arms.
+This was a dramatic scene full of satisfaction for me. Kisses were given
+and received, tears of happiness and repentance shed, I wept myself from
+mingled feelings of emotion, happiness, and regret.
+
+In the meanwhile Clairmont had brought up my niece's luggage, and I went
+away promising to return and see her another day.
+
+I had another and as important an arrangement to conclude, I mean with
+respect to Marcoline. I told the postillions to take me to the worthy old
+man's where I had lodged Rosalie so pleasantly. Marcoline was weeping at
+this separation from her friend. I got down at the house, and made my
+bargain hastily. My new mistress was, I said, to be lodged, fed, and
+attended on as if she had been a princess. He shewed me the apartment she
+was to occupy; it was fit for a young marchioness, and he told me that
+she should be attended by his own niece, that she should not leave the
+house, and that nobody but myself should visit her.
+
+Having made these arrangements I made the fair Venetian come in. I gave
+her the money she had won, which I had converted into gold and made up to
+a thousand ducats.
+
+"You won't want it here," said I, "so take care of it. At Venice a
+thousand ducats will make you somebody. Do not weep, dearest, my heart is
+with you, and to-morrow evening I will sup with you."
+
+The old man gave me the latch-key, and I went off to the "Treize
+Cantons." I was expected, and my rooms were adjacent to those occupied by
+Madame d'Urfe.
+
+As soon as I was settled, Bourgnole waited on me, and told me her
+mistress was alone and expecting me impatiently.
+
+I shall not trouble my readers with an account of our interview, as it
+was only composed of Madame d'Urfe's mad flights of fancy, and of lies on
+my part which had not even the merit of probability. A slave to my life
+of happy profligacy, I profited by her folly; she would have found
+someone else to deceive her, if I had not done so, for it was really she
+who deceived herself. I naturally preferred to profit by her rather than
+that a stranger should do so; she was very rich, and I did myself a great
+deal of good, without doing anyone any harm. The first thing she asked me
+was, "Where is Querilinthos?" And she jumped with joy when I told her
+that he was under the same roof.
+
+"'Tis he, then, who shall make me young again. So has my genius assured
+me night after night. Ask Paralis if the presents I have prepared are
+good enough for Semiramis to present to the head of the Fraternity of the
+Rosy Cross."
+
+I did not know what these presents were, and as I could not ask to see
+them, I answered that, before consulting Paralis, it would be necessary
+to consecrate the gifts under the planetary hours, and that Querilinthos
+himself must not see them before the consecration. Thereupon she took me
+to her closet, and shewed me the seven packets meant for the Rosicrucian
+in the form of offerings to the seven planets.
+
+Each packet contained seven pounds of the metal proper to the planet, and
+seven precious stones, also proper to the planets, each being seven
+carats in weight; there were diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires,
+chrysolites, topazes, and opals.
+
+I made up my mind that nothing of this should pass into the hands of the
+Genoese, and told the mad woman that we must trust entirely in Paralis
+for the method of consecration, which must be begun by our placing each
+packet in a small casket made on purpose. One packet, and one only, could
+be consecrated in a day, and it was necessary to begin with the sun. It
+was now Friday, and we should have to wait till Sunday, the day of the
+sun. On Saturday I had a box with seven niches made for the purpose.
+
+For the purposes of consecration I spent three hours every day with
+Madame d'Urfe, and we had not finished till the ensuing Saturday.
+Throughout this week I made Possano and my brother take their meals with
+us, and as the latter did not understand a word the good lady said, he
+did not speak a word himself, and might have passed for a mute of the
+seraglio. Madame d'Urfe pronounced him devoid of sense, and imagined we
+were going to put the soul of a sylph into his body that he might
+engender some being half human, half divine.
+
+It was amusing to see my brother's despair and rage at being taken for an
+idiot, and when he endeavoured to say something to spew that he was not
+one, she only thought him more idiotic than ever. I laughed to myself,
+and thought how ill he would have played the part if I had asked him to
+do it. All the same the rascal did not lose anything by his reputation,
+for Madame d'Urfe clothed him with a decent splendour that would have led
+one to suppose that the abbe belonged to one of the first families in
+France. The most uneasy guest at Madame d'Urfe's table was Possano, who
+had to reply to questions, of the most occult nature, and, not knowing
+anything about the subject, made the most ridiculous mistakes.
+
+I brought Madame d'Urfe the box, and having made all the necessary
+arrangements for the consecrations, I received an order from the oracle
+to go into the country and sleep there for seven nights in succession, to
+abstain from intercourse with all mortal women, and to perform ceremonial
+worship to the moon every night, at the hour of that planet, in the open
+fields. This would make me fit to regenerate Madame d'Urfe myself in case
+Querilinthos, for some mystic reasons, might not be able to do so.
+
+Through this order Madame d'Urfe was not only not vexed with me for
+sleeping away from the hotel, but was grateful for the pains I was taking
+to ensure the success of the operation.
+
+The day after my arrival I called on Madame Audibert, and had the
+pleasure of finding my niece wail pleased with the efforts her friend was
+making in her favour. Madame Audibert had spoken to her father, telling
+him that his daughter was with her, and that she hoped to obtain his
+pardon and to return to his house, where she would soon become the bride
+of a rich Genoese, who wished to receive her from her father's hands. The
+worthy man, glad to find again the lost sheep, said he would come in two
+days and take her to her aunt, who had a house at St. Louis, two leagues
+from the town. She might then quietly await the arrival of her future
+husband, and avoid all occasion of scandal. My niece was surprised that
+her father had not yet received a letter from the young man, and I could
+see that she was anxious about it; but I comforted her and assured her
+that I would not leave Marseilles till I had danced at her wedding.
+
+I left her to go to Marcoline, whom I longed to press to my heart. I
+found her in an ecstasy of joy, and she said that if she could understand
+what her maid said her happiness would be complete. I saw that her
+situation was a painful one, especially as she was a woman, but for the
+present I saw no way out of the difficulty; I should have to get an
+Italian-speaking servant, and this would have been a troublesome task.
+She wept with joy when I told her that my niece desired to be remembered
+to her, and that in a day she would be on her father's hearth. Marcoline
+had found out that she was not my real niece when she found her in my
+arms.
+
+The choice supper which the old man had procured us, and which spewed he
+had a good memory for my favorite tastes, made me think of Rosalie.
+Marcoline heard me tell the story with great interest, and said that it
+seemed to her that I only went about to make unfortunate girls happy,
+provided I found them pretty.
+
+"I almost think you are right," said I; "and it is certain that I have
+made many happy, and have never brought misfortune to any girl."
+
+"God will reward you, my dear friend."
+
+"Possibly I am not worth His taking the trouble!"
+
+Though the wit and beauty of Marcoline had charmed me, her appetite
+charmed me still more; the reader knows that I have always liked women
+who eat heartily. And in Marseilles they make an excellent dish of a
+common fowl, which is often so insipid.
+
+Those who like oil will get on capitally in Provence, for it is used in
+everything, and it must be confessed that if used in moderation it makes
+an excellent relish.
+
+Marcoline was charming in bed. I had not enjoyed the Venetian vices for
+nearly eight years, and Marcoline was a beauty before whom Praxiteles
+would have bent the knee. I laughed at my brother for having let such a
+treasure slip out of his hands, though I quite forgave him for falling in
+love with her. I myself could not take her about, and as I wanted her to
+be amused I begged my kind old landlord to send her to the play every
+day, and to prepare a good supper every evening. I got her some rich
+dresses that she might cut a good figure, and this attention redoubled
+her affection for me.
+
+The next day, which was the second occasion on which I had visited her,
+she told me that she had enjoyed the play though she could not understand
+the dialogues; and the day after she astonished me by saying that my
+brother had intruded himself into her box, and had said so many
+impertinent things that if she had been at Venice she would have boxed
+his ears.
+
+"I am afraid," she added, "that the rascal has followed me here, and will
+be annoying me."
+
+"Don't be afraid," I answered, "I will see what I can do."
+
+When I got to the hotel I entered the abbe's room, and by Possano's bed I
+saw an individual collecting lint and various surgical instruments.
+
+"What's all this? Are you ill?"
+
+"Yes, I have got something which will teach me to be wiser for the
+future."
+
+"It's rather late for this kind of thing at sixty."
+
+"Better late than never."
+
+"You are an old fool. You stink of mercury."
+
+"I shall not leave my room."
+
+"This will harm you with the marchioness, who believes you to be the
+greatest of adepts, and consequently above such weaknesses."
+
+"Damn the marchioness! Let me be."
+
+The rascal had never talked in this style before. I thought it best to
+conceal my anger, and went up to my brother who was in a corner of the
+room.
+
+"What do you mean by pestering Marcoline at the theatre yesterday?"
+
+"I went to remind her of her duty, and to warn her that I would not be
+her complaisant lover."
+
+"You have insulted me and her too, fool that you are! You owe all to
+Marcoline, for if it had not been for her, I should never have given you
+a second glance; and yet you behave in this disgraceful manner."
+
+"I have ruined myself for her sake, and I can never shew my face in
+Venice again. What right have you to take her from me?"
+
+"The right of love, blockhead, and the right of luck, and the right of
+the strongest! How is it that she is happy with me, and does not wish to
+leave me?"
+
+"You have dazzled her."
+
+"Another reason is that with you she was dying of misery and hunger."
+
+"Yes, but the end of it will be that you will abandon her as you have
+done with many others, whereas I should have married her."
+
+"Married her! You renegade, you seem to forget that you are a priest. I
+do not propose to part with her, but if I do I will send her away rich."
+
+"Well, well, do as you please; but still I have the right to speak to her
+whenever I like."
+
+"I have forbidden you to do so, and you may trust me when I tell you that
+you have spoken to her for the last time."
+
+So saying I went out and called on an advocate. I asked him if I could
+have a foreign abbe, who was indebted to me, arrested, although I had no
+proof of the debt.
+
+"You can do so, as he is a foreigner, but you will have to pay
+caution-money. You can have him put under arrest at his inn, and you can
+make him pay unless he is able to prove that he owes you nothing. Is the
+sum a large one?"
+
+"Twelve louis."
+
+"You must come with me before the magistrate and deposit twelve louis,
+and from that moment you will be able to have him arrested. Where is he
+staying?"
+
+"In the same hotel as I am, but I do not wish to have him arrested there,
+so I will get him to the 'Ste. Baume,' and put him under arrest. Here are
+the twelve louis caution-money, so you can get the magistrate's order,
+and we will meet again to-morrow."
+
+"Give me his name, and yours also."
+
+I returned in haste to the "Treize Cantons," and met the abbe, dressed up
+to the nines, and just about to go out.
+
+"Follow me," said I, "I am going to take you to Marcoline, and you shall
+have an explanation in her presence."
+
+"With pleasure."
+
+He got into a carriage with me, and I told the coachman to take us to the
+"Ste. Baume" inn. When we got there, I told him to wait for me, that I
+was going to fetch Marcoline, and that I would return with her in a
+minute.
+
+I got into the carriage again, and drove to the advocate, who gave the
+order for arrest to a policeman, who was to execute it. I then returned
+to the "Treize Cantons" and put his belongings into a trunk, and had them
+transported to his new abode.
+
+I found him under arrest, and talking to the astonished host, who could
+not understand what it was all about. I told the landlord the mythical
+history of the abbe debt to me, and handed over the trunk, telling him
+that he had nothing to fear with regard to the bill, as I would take care
+that he should be well paid.
+
+I then began my talk with the abbe, telling him that he must get ready to
+leave Marseilles the next day, and that I would pay for his journey to
+Paris; but that if he did not like to do so, I should leave him to his
+fate, and in three days he would be expelled from Marseilles. The coward
+began to weep and said he would go to Paris.
+
+"You must start for Lyons to-morrow, but you will first write me out an I
+O U for twelve louis."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because I say so. If you do so I will give you twelve louis and tear up
+the document before your face."
+
+"I have no choice in the matter."
+
+"You are right."
+
+When he had written the I O U, I went to take a place in the diligence
+for him, and the next morning I went with the advocate to withdraw the
+arrest and to take back the twelve louis, which I gave to my brother in
+the diligence, with a letter to M. Bono, whom I warned not to give him
+any money, and to send him on to Paris by the same diligence. I then tore
+up his note of hand, and wished him a pleasant journey.
+
+Thus I got rid of this foolish fellow, whom I saw again in Paris in a
+month's time.
+
+The day I had my brother arrested and before I went to dine with Madame
+d'Urfe I had an interview with Possano in the hope of discovering the
+reason of his ill humour.
+
+"The reason is," said he, "that I am sure you are going to lay hands on
+twenty or thirty thousand crowns in gold and diamonds, which the
+marchioness meant me to have."
+
+"That may be, but it is not for you to know anything about it. I may tell
+you that it rests entirely with me to prevent your getting anything. If
+you think you can succeed go to the marchioness and make your complaints
+to her. I will do nothing to prevent you."
+
+"Then you think I am going to help you in your imposture for nothing; you
+are very much mistaken. I want a thousand louis, and I will have it,
+too."
+
+"Then get somebody to give it you," said I; and I turned my back on him.
+
+I went up to the marchioness and told her that dinner was ready, and that
+we should dine alone, as I had been obliged to send the abbe away.
+
+"He was an idiot; but how about Querilinthos?"
+
+"After dinner Paralis will tell us all about him. I have strong
+suspicions that there is something to be cleared up."
+
+"So have I. The man seems changed. Where is he?"
+
+"He is in bed, ill of a disease which I dare not so much as name to you."
+
+"That is a very extraordinary circumstance; I have never heard of such a
+thing before. It must be the work of an evil genius."
+
+"I have never heard of such a thing, either; but now let us dine. We
+shall have to work hard to-day at the consecration of the tin."
+
+"All the better. We must offer an expiatory sacrifice to Oromasis, for,
+awful thought! in three days he would have to regenerate me, and the
+operation would be performed in that condition."
+
+"Let us eat now," I repeated; "I fear lest the hour of Jupiter be
+over-past."
+
+"Fear nothing, I will see that all goes well."
+
+After the consecration of the tin had been performed, I transferred that
+of Oromasis to another day, while I consulted the oracle assiduously, the
+marchioness translating the figures into letters. The oracle declared
+that seven salamanders had transported the true Querilinthos to the Milky
+Way, and that the man in the next room was the evil genius, St. Germain,
+who had been put in that fearful condition by a female gnome, who had
+intended to make him the executioner of Semiramis, who was to die of the
+dreadful malady before her term had expired. The oracle also said that
+Semiramis should leave to Payaliseus Galtinardus (myself) all the charge
+of getting rid of the evil genius, St. Germain; and that she was not to
+doubt concerning her regeneration, since the word would be sent me by the
+true Querilinthos from the Milky Way on the seventh night of my worship
+of the moon. Finally the oracle declared that I was to embrace Semiramis
+two days before the end of the ceremonies, after an Undine had purified
+us by bathing us in the room where we were.
+
+I had thus undertaken to regenerate the worthy Semiramis, and I began to
+think how I could carry out my undertaking without putting myself to
+shame. The marchioness was handsome but old, and I feared lest I should
+be unable to perform the great act. I was thirty-eight, and I began to
+feel age stealing on me. The Undine, whom I was to obtain of the moon,
+was none other than Marcoline, who was to give me the necessary
+generative vigour by the sight of her beauty and by the contact of her
+hands. The reader will see how I made her come down from heaven.
+
+I received a note from Madame Audibert which made me call on her before
+paying my visit to Marcoline. As soon as I came in she told me joyously
+that my niece's father had just received a letter from the father of the
+Genoese, asking the hand of his daughter for his only son, who had been
+introduced to her by the Chevalier de Seingalt, her uncle, at the
+Paretti's.
+
+"The worthy man thinks himself under great obligations to you," said
+Madame Audibert. "He adores his daughter, and he knows you have cared for
+her like a father. His daughter has drawn your portrait in very
+favourable colors, and he would be extremely pleased to make your
+acquaintance. Tell me when you can sup with me; the father will be here
+to meet you, though unaccompanied by his daughter."
+
+"I am delighted at what you tell me, for the young man's esteem for his
+future wife will only be augmented when he finds that I am her father's
+friend. I cannot come to supper, however; I will be here at six and stop
+till eight."
+
+As the lady left the choice of the day with me I fixed the day after
+next, and then I repaired to my fair Venetian, to whom I told my news,
+and how I had managed to get rid of the abbe.
+
+On the day after next, just as we were sitting down to dinner, the
+marchioness smilingly gave me a letter which Possano had written her in
+bad but perfectly intelligible French. He had filled eight pages in his
+endeavour to convince her that I was deceiving her, and to make sure he
+told the whole story without concealing any circumstance to my
+disadvantage. He added that I had brought two girls with me to
+Marseilles; and though he did not know where I had hidden them, he was
+sure that it was with them that I spent my nights.
+
+After I had read the whole letter through, with the utmost coolness I
+gave it back to her, asking her if she had had the patience to read it
+through. She replied that she had run through it, but that she could not
+make it out at all, as the evil genius seemed to write a sort of
+outlandish dialect, which she did not care to puzzle herself over, as he
+could only have written down lies calculated to lead her astray at the
+most important moment of her life. I was much pleased with the
+marchioness's prudence, for it was important that she should have no
+suspicions about the Undine, the sight and the touch of whom were
+necessary to me in the great work I was about to undertake.
+
+After dining, and discharging all the ceremonies and oracles which were
+necessary to calm the soul of my poor victim, I went to a banker and got
+a bill of a hundred louis on Lyons, to the order of M. Bono, and I
+advised him of what I had done, requesting him to cash it for Possano if
+it were presented on the day named thereon.
+
+I then wrote the advice for Possano to take with him, it ran as follows:
+"M. Bonno, pay to M. Possano, on sight, to himself, and not to order, the
+sum of one hundred louis, if these presents are delivered to you on the
+30th day of April, in the year 1763; and after the day aforesaid my order
+to become null and void."
+
+With this letter in my hand I went to the traitor who had been lanced an
+hour before.
+
+"You're an infamous traitor," I began, "but as Madame d'Urfe knows of the
+disgraceful state you are in she would not so much as read your letter. I
+have read it, and by way of reward I give you two alternatives which you
+must decide on immediately. I am in a hurry. You will either go to the
+hospital--for we can't have pestiferous fellows like you here--or start
+for Lyons in an hour. You must not stop on the way, for I have only given
+you sixty hours, which is ample to do forty posts in. As soon as you get
+to Lyons present this to M. Bono, and he will give you a hundred louis.
+This is a present from me, and afterwards I don't care what you do, as
+you are no longer in my service. You can have the carriage I bought for
+you at Antibes, and there is twenty-five louis for the journey: that is
+all. Make your choice, but I warn you that if you go to the hospital I
+shall only give you a month's wages, as I dismiss you from my service now
+at this instant."
+
+After a moment's reflection he said he would go to Lyons, though it would
+be at the risk of his life, for he was very ill.
+
+"You must reap the reward of your treachery," said I, "and if you die it
+will be a good thing for your family, who will come in for what I have
+given you, but not what I should have given you if you had been a
+faithful servant."
+
+I then left him and told Clairmont to pack up his trunk. I warned the
+inn-keeper of his departure and told him to get the post horses ready as
+soon as possible.
+
+I then gave Clairmont the letter to Bono and twenty-five Louis, for him
+to hand them over to Possano when he was in the carriage and ready to go
+off.
+
+When I had thus successfully accomplished my designs by means of the
+all-powerful lever, gold, which I knew how to lavish in time of need, I
+was once more free for my amours. I wanted to instruct the fair
+Marcoline, with whom I grew more in love every day. She kept telling me
+that her happiness would be complete if she knew French, and if she had
+the slightest hope that I would take her to England with me.
+
+I had never flattered her that my love would go as far as that, but yet I
+could not help feeling sad at the thought of parting from a being who
+seemed made to taste voluptuous pleasures, and to communicate them with
+tenfold intensity to the man of her choice. She was delighted to hear
+that I had got rid of my two odious companions, and begged me to take her
+to the theatre, "for," said she, "everybody is asking who and what I am,
+and my landlord's niece is quite angry with me because I will not let her
+tell the truth."
+
+I promised I would take her out in the course of the next week, but that
+for the present I had a most important affair on hand, in which I had
+need of her assistance.
+
+"I will do whatever you wish, dearest."
+
+"Very good! then listen to me. I will get you a disguise which will make
+you look like a smart footman, and in that costume you will call on the
+marchioness with whom I live, at the hour I shall name to you, and you
+will give her a note. Have you sufficient courage for that?"
+
+"Certainly. Will you be there?"
+
+"Yes. She will speak, but you must pretend to be dumb, as the note you
+bring with you will tell us; as also that you have come to wait upon us
+while we are bathing. She will accept the offer, and when she tells you
+to undress her from head to foot you will do so. When you have done,
+undress yourself, and gently rub the marchioness from the feet to the
+waist, but not higher. In the meanwhile I shall have taken off my
+clothes, and while I hold her in a close embrace you must stand so that I
+can see all your charms.
+
+"Further, sweetheart, when I leave you you must gently wash her
+generative organs, and afterwards wipe them with a fine towel. Then do
+the same to me, and try to bring me to life again. I shall proceed to
+embrace the marchioness a second time, and when it is over wash her again
+and embrace her, and then come and embrace me and kiss in your Venetian
+manner the instrument with which the sacrifice is consummated. I shall
+then clasp the marchioness to my arms a third time, and you must caress
+us till the act is complete. Finally, you will wash us for the third
+time, then dress, take what she gives you and come here, where I will
+meet you in the course of an hour."
+
+"You may reckon on my following all your instructions, but you must see
+that the task will be rather trying to my feelings."
+
+"Not more trying than to mine. I could do nothing with the old woman if
+you were not present."
+
+"Is she very old?"
+
+"Nearly seventy."
+
+"My poor sweetheart! I do pity you. But after this painful duty is over
+you must sup here and sleep with me."
+
+"Certainly."
+
+On the day appointed I had a long and friendly interview with the father
+of my late niece. I told him all about his daughter, only suppressing the
+history of our own amours, which were not suitable for a father's ears.
+The worthy man embraced me again and again, calling me his benefactor,
+and saying that I had done more for his daughter than he would have done
+himself, which in a sense was perhaps true. He told me that he had
+received another letter from the father, and a letter from the young man
+himself, who wrote in the most tender and respectful manner possible.
+
+"He doesn't ask anything about the dower," said he, "a wonderful thing
+these days, but I will give her a hundred and fifty thousand francs, for
+the marriage is an excellent one, above all after my poor simpleton's
+escape. All Marseilles knows the father of her future husband, and
+to-morrow I mean to tell the whole story to my wife, and I am sure she
+will forgive the poor girl as I have done."
+
+I had to promise to be present at the wedding, which was to be at Madame
+Audibert's. That lady knowing me to be very fond of play, and there being
+a good deal of play going on at her house, wondered why she did not see
+more of me; but I was at Marseilles to create and not to destroy: there
+is a time for everything.
+
+I had a green velvet jacket made for Marcoline, with breeches of the same
+and silver-lace garters, green silk stockings, and fine leather shoes of
+the same colour. Her fine black hair was confined in a net of green silk,
+with a silver brooch. In this dress the voluptuous and well-rounded form
+of Marcoline was displayed to so much advantage, that if she had shewn
+herself in the street all Marseilles would have run after her, for, in
+spite of her man's dress, anybody could see that she was a girl. I took
+her to my rooms in her ordinary costume, to shew her where she would have
+to hide after the operation was over.
+
+By Saturday we had finished all the consecrations, and the oracle fixed
+the regeneration of Semiramis for the following Tuesday, in the hours of
+the sun, Venus, and Mercury, which follow each other in the planetary
+system of the magicians, as also in Ptolemy's. These hours were in
+ordinary parlance the ninth, tenth, and eleventh of the day, since the
+day being a Tuesday, the first hour was sacred to Mars. And as at the
+beginning of May the hours are sixty-five minutes long, the reader,
+however little of a magician he may be, will understand that I had to
+perform the great work on Madame d'Urfe, beginning at half-past two and
+ending at five minutes to six. I had taken plenty of time, as I expected
+I should have great need of it.
+
+On the Monday night, at the hour of the moon, I had taken Madame d'Urfe
+to the sea-shore, Clairmont following behind with the box containing the
+offerings, which weighed fifty pounds.
+
+I was certain that nobody could see us, and I told my companion that the
+time was come. I told Clairmont to put down the box beside us, and to go
+and await us at the carriage. When we were alone we addressed a solemn
+prayer to Selenis, and then to the great satisfaction of the marchioness
+the box was consigned to the address. My satisfaction however was still
+greater than hers, for the box contained fifty pounds of lead. The real
+box, containing the treasure, was comfortably hidden in my room.
+
+When we got back to the "Treize Cantons," I left Madame d'Urfe alone,
+telling her that I would return to the hotel when I had performed my
+conjurations to the moon, at the same hour and in the same place in which
+I had performed the seven consecrations.
+
+I spoke the truth. I went to Marcoline, and while she was putting on her
+disguise I wrote on a sheet of white paper, in large and odd-looking
+letters, the following sentences, using, instead of ink, rock-alum:
+
+"I am dumb but not deaf. I am come from the Rhone to bathe you. The hour
+of Oromasis has begun."
+
+"This is the note you are to give to the marchioness," I said, "when you
+appear before her."
+
+After supper we walked to the hotel and got in without anyone seeing us.
+I hid Marcoline in a large cupboard, and then putting on my dressing-gown
+I went to the marchioness to inform her that Selenis had fixed the next
+day for the hour of regeneration, and that we must be careful to finish
+before the hour of the moon began, as otherwise the operation would be
+annulled or at least greatly enfeebled.
+
+"You must take care," I added, "that the bath be here beside your bed,
+and that Brougnole does not interrupt us."
+
+"I will tell her to go out. But Selenis promised to send an Undine."
+
+"True, but I have not yet seen such a being."
+
+"Ask the oracle."
+
+"Willingly."
+
+She herself asked the question imploring Paralis not to delay the time of
+her regeneration, even though the Undine were lacking, since she could
+very well bathe herself.
+
+"The commands of Oromasis change not," came the reply; "and in that you
+have doubted them you have sinned."
+
+At this the marchioness arose and performed an expiatory sacrifice, and
+it appeared, on consulting the oracle, that Oromasis was satisfied.
+
+The old lady did not move my pity so much as my laughter. She solemnly
+embraced me and said,--
+
+"To-morrow, Galtinardus, you will be my spouse and my father." When I got
+back to my room and had shut the door, I drew the Undine out of her place
+of concealment. She undressed, and as she knew that I should be obliged
+to husband my forces, she turned her back on me, and we passed the night
+without giving each other a single kiss, for a spark would have set us
+all ablaze.
+
+Next morning, before summoning Clairmont, I gave her her breakfast, and
+then replaced her in the cupboard. Later on, I gave her her instructions
+over again, telling her to do everything with calm precision, a cheerful
+face, and, above all, silence.
+
+"Don't be afraid," said she, "I will make no mistakes."
+
+As we were to dine at noon exactly, I went to look for the marchioness,
+but she was not in her room, though the bath was there, and the bed which
+was to be our altar was prepared.
+
+A few moments after, the marchioness came out of her dressing-room,
+exquisitely painted, her hair arranged with the choicest lace, and
+looking radiant. Her breasts, which forty years before had been the
+fairest in all France, were covered with a lace shawl, her dress was of
+the antique kind, but of extremely rich material, her ear-rings were
+emeralds, and a necklace of seven aquamarines of the finest water, from
+which hung an enormous emerald, surrounded by twenty brilliants, each
+weighing a carat and a half, completed her costume. She wore on her
+finger the carbuncle which she thought worth a million francs, but which
+was really only a splendid imitation.
+
+Seeing Semiramis thus decked out for the sacrifice, I thought it my
+bounden duty to offer her my homage. I would have knelt before her and
+kissed her hand, but she would not let me, and instead opened her arms
+and strained me to her breast.
+
+After telling Brougnole that she could go out till six o'clock, we talked
+over our mysteries till the dinner was brought in.
+
+Clairmont was the only person privileged to see us at dinner, at which
+Semiramis would only eat fish. At half-past one I told Clairmont I was
+not at home to anyone, and giving him a louis I told him to go and amuse
+himself till the evening.
+
+The marchioness began to be uneasy, and I pretended to be so, too. I
+looked at my watch, calculated how the planetary hours were proceeding,
+and said from time to time,--
+
+"We are still in the hour of Mars, that of the sun has not yet
+commenced."
+
+At last the time-piece struck half-past two, and in two minutes
+afterwards the fair and smiling Undine was seen advancing into the room.
+She came along with measured steps, and knelt before Madame d'Urfe, and
+gave her the paper she carried. Seeing that I did not rise, the
+marchioness remained seated, but she raised the spirit with a gracious
+air and took the paper from her. She was surprised, however, to find that
+it was all white.
+
+I hastened to give her a pen to consult the oracle on the subject, and
+after I had made a pyramid of her question, she interpreted it and found
+the answer:
+
+"That which is written in water must be read in water."
+
+"I understand now," said she, and going to the bath she plunged the paper
+into it, and then read in still whiter letters: "I am dumb, but not deaf.
+I am come from the Rhone to bathe you. The hour of Oromasis has begun."
+
+"Then bathe me, divine being," said Semiramis, putting down the paper and
+sitting on the bed.
+
+With perfect exactitude Marcoline undressed the marchioness, and
+delicately placed her feet in the water, and then, in a twinkling she had
+undressed herself, and was in the bath, beside Madame d'Urfe. What a
+contrast there was between the two bodies; but the sight of the one
+kindled the flame which the other was to quench.
+
+As I gazed on the beautiful girl, I, too, undressed, and when I was ready
+to take off my shirt I spoke as follows: "O divine being, wipe the feet
+of Semiramis, and be the witness of my union with her, to the glory of
+the immortal Horomadis, King of the Salamanders."
+
+Scarcely had I uttered my prayer when it was granted, and I consummated
+my first union with Semiramis, gazing on the charms of Marcoline, which I
+had never seen to such advantage before.
+
+Semiramis had been handsome, but she was then what I am now, and without
+the Undine the operation would have failed. Nevertheless, Semiramis was
+affectionate, clean, and sweet in every respect, and had nothing
+disgusting about her, so I succeeded.
+
+When the milk had been poured forth upon the altar, I said,--
+
+"We must now await the hour of Venus."
+
+The Undine performed the ablutions, embraced the bride, and came to
+perform the same office for me.
+
+Semiramis was in an ecstasy of happiness, and as she pointed out to me
+the beauties of the Undine I was obliged to confess that I had never seen
+any mortal woman to be compared to her in beauty. Semiramis grew excited
+by so voluptuous a sight, and when the hour of Venus began I proceeded to
+the second assault, which would be the severest, as the hour was of
+sixty-five minutes. I worked for half an hour, steaming with
+perspiration, and tiring Semiramis, without being able to come to the
+point. Still I was ashamed to trick her. She, the victim, wiped the drops
+of sweat from my forehead, while the Undine, seeing my exhaustion,
+kindled anew the flame which the contact of that aged body had destroyed.
+Towards the end of the hour, as I was exhausted and still unsuccessful, I
+was obliged to deceive her by making use of those movements which are
+incidental to success. As I went out of the battle with all the signs of
+my strength still about me, Semiramis could have no doubts as to the
+reality of my success, and even the Undine was deceived when she came to
+wash me. But the third hour had come, and we were obliged to satisfy
+Mercury. We spent a quarter of the time in the bath, while the Undine
+delighted Semiramis by caresses which would have delighted the regent of
+France, if he had ever known of them. The good marchioness, believing
+these endearments to be peculiar to river spirits, was pleased with
+everything, and begged the Undine to shew me the same kindness. Marcoline
+obeyed, and lavished on me all the resources of the Venetian school of
+love. She was a perfect Lesbian, and her caresses having soon restored me
+to all my vigour I was encouraged to undertake to satisfy Mercury. I
+proceeded to the work, but alas! it was all in vain. I saw how my
+fruitless efforts vexed the Undine, and perceiving that Madame d'Urfe had
+had enough, I again took the course of deceiving her by pretended
+ecstacies and movements, followed by complete rest. Semiramis afterwards
+told me that my exertions shewed that I was something more than mortal.
+
+I threw myself into the bath, and underwent my third ablution, then I
+dressed. Marcoline washed the marchioness and proceeded to clothe her,
+and did so with such a graceful charm that Madame d'Urfe followed the
+inspiration of her good genius, and threw her magnificent necklace over
+the Undine's neck. After a parting Venetian kiss she vanished, and went
+to her hiding place in the cupboard.
+
+Semiramis asked the oracle if the operation had been successful. The
+answer was that she bore within her the seed of the sun, and that in the
+beginning of next February she would be brought to bed of another self of
+the same sex as the creator; but in order that the evil genii might not
+be able to do her any harm she must keep quiet in her bed for a hundred
+and seven hours in succession.
+
+The worthy marchioness was delighted to receive this order, and looked
+upon it as a good omen, for I had tired her dreadfully. I kissed her,
+saying that I was going to the country to collect together what remained
+of the substances that I had used in my ceremonies, but I promised to
+dine with her on the morrow.
+
+I shut myself up in my room with the Undine, and we amused ourselves as
+best we could till it was night, for she could not go out while it was
+light in her spiritual costume. I took off my handsome wedding garment,
+and as soon as it was dusk we crept out, and went away to Marcoline's
+lodging in a hackney coach, carrying with us the planetary offerings
+which I had gained so cleverly.
+
+We were dying of hunger, but the delicious supper which was waiting for
+us brought us to life again. As soon as we got into the room Marcoline
+took off her green clothes and put on her woman's dress, saying,--
+
+"I was not born to wear the breeches. Here, take the beautiful necklace
+the madwoman gave me!"
+
+"I will sell it, fair Undine, and you shall have the proceeds."
+
+"Is it worth much?"
+
+"At least a thousand sequins. By the time you get back to Venice you will
+be worth at least five thousand ducats, and you will be able to get a
+husband and live with him in a comfortable style."
+
+"Keep it all, I don't want it; I want you. I will never cease to love
+you; I will do whatever you tell me, and I promise never to be jealous. I
+will care for you--yes, as if you were my son."
+
+"Do not let us say anything more about it, fair Marcoline, but let us go
+to bed, for you have never inspired me with so much ardour as now."
+
+"But you must be tired."
+
+"Yes, but not exhaustion, for I was only able to perform the distillation
+once."
+
+"I thought you sacrificed twice on that old altar. Poor old woman! she is
+still pretty, and I have no doubt that fifty years ago she was one of the
+first beauties in France. How foolish of her to be thinking of love at
+that age."
+
+"You excited me, but she undid your work even more quickly."
+
+"Are you always obliged to have--a girl beside you when you make love to
+her?"
+
+"No; before, there was no question of making a son."
+
+"What? you are going to make her pregnant? That's ridiculous! Does she
+imagine that she has conceived?"
+
+"Certainly; and the hope makes her happy."
+
+"What a mad idea! But why did you try to do it three times?"
+
+"I thought to shew my strength, and that if I gazed on you I should not
+fail; but I was quite mistaken."
+
+"I pity you for having suffered so much."
+
+"You will renew my strength."
+
+As a matter of fact, I do not know whether to attribute it to the
+difference between the old and the young, but I spent a most delicious
+night with the beautiful Venetian--a night which I can only compare to
+those I passed at Parma with Henriette, and at Muran with the beautiful
+nun. I spent fourteen hours in bed, of which four at least were devoted
+to expiating the insult I had offered to love. When I had dressed and
+taken my chocolate I told Marcoline to dress herself with elegance, and
+to expect me in the evening just before the play began. I could see that
+she was intensely delighted with the prospect.
+
+I found Madame d'Urfe in bed, dressed with care and in the fashion of a
+young bride, and with a smile of satisfaction on her face which I had
+never remarked there before.
+
+"To thee, beloved Galtinardus, I owe all my happiness," said she, as she
+embraced me.
+
+"I am happy to have contributed to it, divine Semiramis, but you must
+remember I am only the agent of the genii."
+
+Thereupon the marchioness began to argue in the most sensible manner, but
+unfortunately the foundation of her argument was wholly chimerical.
+
+"Marry me," said she; "you will then be able to be governor of the child,
+who will be your son. In this manner you will keep all my property for
+me, including what I shall have from my brother M. de Pontcarre, who is
+old and cannot live much longer. If you do not care for me in February
+next, when I shall be born again, into what hands shall I fall! I shall
+be called a bastard, and my income of twenty-four thousand francs will be
+lost to me. Think over it, dear Galtinardus. I must tell you that I feel
+already as if I were a man. I confess I am in love with the Undine, and I
+should like to know whether I shall be able to sleep with her in fourteen
+or fifteen years time. I shall be so if Oromasis will it, and then I
+shall be happy indeed. What a charming creature she is? Have you ever
+seen a woman like her? What a pity she is dumb!"
+
+"She, no doubt, has a male water-spirit for a lover. But all of them are
+dumb, since it is impossible to speak in the water. I wonder she is not
+deaf as well. I can't think why you didn't touch her. The softness of her
+skin is something wonderful--velvet and satin are not to be compared to
+it! And then her breath is so sweet! How delighted I should be if I could
+converse with such an exquisite being."
+
+"Dear Galtinardus, I beg you will consult the oracle to find out where I
+am to be brought to bed, and if you won't marry me I think I had better
+save all I have that I may have some provision when I am born again, for
+when I am born I shall know nothing, and money will be wanted to educate
+me. By selling the whole a large sum might be realized which could be put
+out at interest. Thus the interest would suffice without the capital
+being touched."
+
+"The oracle must be our guide," said I. "You will be my son, and I will
+never allow anyone to call you a bastard."
+
+The sublime madwoman was quiet by this assurance.
+
+Doubtless many a reader will say that if I had been an honest man I
+should have undeceived her, but I cannot agree with them; it would have
+been impossible, and I confess that even if it had been possible I would
+not have done so, for it would only have made me unhappy.
+
+I had told Marcoline to dress with elegance, and I put on one of my
+handsomest suits to accompany her to the theatre. Chance brought the two
+sisters Rangoni, daughters of the Roman consul, into our box. As I had
+made their acquaintance on my first visit to Marseilles, I introduced
+Marcoline to them as my niece, who only spoke Italian. As the two young
+ladies spoke the tongue of Tasso also, Marcoline was highly delighted.
+The younger sister, who was by far the handsomer of the two, afterwards
+became the wife of Prince Gonzaga Solferino. The prince was a cultured
+man, and even a genius, but very poor. For all that he was a true son of
+Gonzaga, being a son of Leopold, who was also poor, and a girl of the
+Medini family, sister to the Medini who died in prison at London in the
+year 1787.
+
+Babet Rangoni, though poor, deserved to become a princess, for she had
+all the airs and manners of one. She shines under her name of Rangoni
+amongst the princess and princesses of the almanacs. Her vain husband is
+delighted at his wife being thought to belong to the illustrious family
+of Medini--an innocent feeling, which does neither good nor harm. The
+same publications turn Medini into Medici, which is equally harmless.
+This species of lie arises from the idiotic pride of the nobles who think
+themselves raised above the rest of humanity by their titles which they
+have often acquired by some act of baseness. It is of no use interfering
+with them on this point, since all things are finally appreciated at
+their true value, and the pride of the nobility is easily discounted when
+one sees them as they really are.
+
+Prince Gonzaga Solferino, whom I saw at Venice eighteen years ago, lived
+on a pension allowed him by the empress. I hope the late emperor did not
+deprive him of it, as it was well deserved by this genius and his
+knowledge of literature.
+
+At the play Marcoline did nothing but chatter with Babet Rangoni, who
+wanted me to bring the fair Venetian to see her, but I had my own reasons
+for not doing so.
+
+I was thinking how I could send Madame d'Urfe to Lyons, for I had no
+further use for her at Marseilles, and she was often embarrassing. For
+instance, on the third day after her regeneration, she requested me to
+ask Paralis where she was to die--that is, to be brought to bed. I made
+the oracle reply that she must sacrifice to the water-spirits on the
+banks of two rivers, at the same hour, and that afterwards the question
+of her lying-in would be resolved. The oracle added that I must perform
+three expiatory sacrifices to Saturn, on account of my too harsh
+treatment of the false Querilinthos, and that Semiramis need not take
+part in these ceremonies, though she herself must perform the sacrifices
+to the water-spirits.
+
+As I was pretending to think of a place where two rivers were
+sufficiently near to each other to fulfil the requirements of the oracle,
+Semiramis herself suggested that Lyons was watered by the Rhone and the
+Saone, and that it would be an excellent place for the ceremony. As may
+be imagined, I immediately agreed with her. On asking Paralis if there
+were any preparations to be made, he replied that it Would be necessary
+to pour a bottle of sea-water into each river a fortnight before the
+sacrifice, and that this ceremony was to be performed by Semiramis in
+person, at the first diurnal hour of the moon.
+
+"Then," said the marchioness, "the bottles must be filled here, for the
+other French ports are farther off. I will go as soon as ever I can leave
+my bed, and will wait for you at Lyons; for as you have to perform
+expiatory sacrifices to Saturn in this place, you cannot come with me."
+
+I assented, pretending sorrow at not being able to accompany her. The
+next morning I brought her two well-sealed bottles of sea-water, telling
+her that she was to pour them out into the two rivers on the 15th of May
+(the current month). We fixed her departure for the 11th, and I promised
+to rejoin her before the expiration of the fortnight. I gave her the
+hours of the moon in writing, and also directions for the journey.
+
+As soon as the marchioness had gone I left the "Treize Cantons" and went
+to live with Marcoline, giving her four hundred and sixty louis, which,
+with the hundred and forty she had won at biribi, gave her a total of six
+hundred louis, or fourteen thousand four hundred francs. With this sum
+she could look the future in the face fearlessly.
+
+The day after Madame d'Urfe's departure, the betrothed of Mdlle. Crosin
+arrived at Marseilles with a letter from Rosalie, which he handed to me
+on the day of his arrival. She begged me in the name of our common honour
+to introduce the bearer in person to the father of the betrothed. Rosalie
+was right, but as the lady was not my real niece there were some
+difficulties in the way. I welcomed the young man and told him that I
+would first take him to Madame Audibert, and that we could then go
+together to his father-in-law in prospective.
+
+The young Genoese had gone to the "Treize Cantons," where he thought I
+was staying. He was delighted to find himself so near the goal of his
+desires, and his ecstacy received a new momentum when he saw how
+cordially Madame Audibert received him. We all got into my carriage and
+drove to the father's who gave him an excellent reception, and then
+presented him to his wife, who was already friendly disposed towards him.
+
+I was pleasantly surprised when this good and sensible man introduced me
+to his wife as his cousin, the Chevalier de Seingalt, who had taken such
+care of their daughter. The good wife and good mother, her husband's
+worthy partner, stretched out her hand to me, and all my trouble was
+over.
+
+My new cousin immediately sent an express messenger to his sister,
+telling her that he and his wife, his future son-in-law, Madame Audibert,
+and a cousin she had not met before, would come and dine with her on the
+following day. This done he invited us, and Madame Audibert said that she
+would escort us. She told him that I had another niece with me, of whom
+his daughter was very fond, and would be delighted to see again. The
+worthy man was overjoyed to be able to increase his daughter's happiness.
+
+I, too, was pleased with Madame Audibert's tact and thoughtfulness; and
+as making Marcoline happy was to make me happy also, I expressed my
+gratitude to her in very warm terms.
+
+I took the young Genoese to the play, to Marcoline's delight, for she
+would have liked the French very much if she could have understood them.
+We had an excellent supper together, in the course of which I told
+Marcoline of the pleasure which awaited her on the morrow. I thought she
+would have gone wild with joy.
+
+The next day we were at Madame Audibert's as punctually as Achilles on
+the field of battle. The lady spoke Italian well, and was charmed with
+Marcoline, reproaching me for not having introduced her before. At eleven
+we got to St. Louis, and my eyes were charmed with the dramatic
+situation. My late niece had an air of dignity which became her to
+admiration, and received her future husband with great graciousness; and
+then, after thanking me with a pleasant smile for introducing him to her
+father, she passed from dignity to gaiety, and gave her sweetheart a
+hundred kisses.
+
+The dinner was delicious, and passed off merrily; but I alone preserved a
+tender melancholy, though I laughed to myself when they asked me why I
+was sad. I was thought to be sad because I did not talk in my usual
+vivacious manner, but far from being really sad that was one of the
+happiest moments of my life. My whole being was absorbed in the calm
+delight which follows a good action. I was the author of the comedy which
+promised such a happy ending. I was pleased with the thought that my
+influence in the world was more for good than for ill, and though I was
+not born a king yet I contrived to make many people happy. Everyone at
+table was indebted to me for some part of their happiness, and the
+father, the mother, and the betrothed pair wholly so. This thought made
+me feel a peaceful calm which I could only enjoy in silence.
+
+Mdlle. Crosin returned to Marseilles with her father, her mother, and her
+future husband, whom the father wished to take up his abode with them. I
+went back with Madame Audibert, who made me promise to bring the
+delightful Marcoline to sup with her.
+
+The marriage depended on the receipt of a letter from the young man's
+father, in answer to one from my niece's father. It will be taken for
+granted that we were all asked to the wedding, and Marcoline's affection
+for me increased every day.
+
+When we went to sup with Madame Audibert we found a rich and witty young
+wine merchant at her house. He sat beside Marcoline, who entertained him
+with her sallies; and as the young man could speak Italian, and even the
+Venetian dialect (for he had spent a year at Venice), he was much
+impressed by the charms of my new niece.
+
+I have always been jealous of my mistresses; but when a rival promises to
+marry them and give them a good establishment, jealousy gives way to a
+more generous feeling. For the moment I satisfied myself by asking Madame
+Audibert who he was, and I was delighted to hear that he had an excellent
+reputation, a hundred thousand crowns, a large business, and complete
+independence.
+
+The next day he came to see us in our box at the theatre, and Marcoline
+received him very graciously. Wishing to push the matter on I asked him
+to sup with us, and when he came I was well pleased with his manners and
+his intelligence; to Marcoline he was tender but respectful. On his
+departure I told him I hoped he would come and see us again, and when we
+were alone I congratulated Marcoline on her conquest, and shewed her that
+she might succeed almost as well as Mdlle. Crosin. But instead of being
+grateful she was furiously, angry.
+
+"If you want to get rid of me," said she, "send me back to Venice, but
+don't talk to me about marrying."
+
+"Calm yourself, my angel! I get rid of you? What an idea! Has my
+behaviour led you to suppose that you are in my way? This handsome,
+well-educated, and rich young man has come under my notice. I see he
+loves you and you like him, and as I love you and wish to see you
+sheltered from the storms of fortune, and as I think this pleasant young
+Frenchman would make you happy, I have pointed out to you these
+advantages, but instead of being grateful you scold me. Do not weep,
+sweetheart, you grieve my very soul!"
+
+"I am weeping because you think that I can love him."
+
+"It might be so, dearest, and without my honour taking any hurt; but let
+us say no more about it and get into bed."
+
+Marcoline's tears changed to smiles and kisses, and we said no more about
+the young wine merchant. The next day he came to our box again, but the
+scene had changed; she was polite but reserved, and I dared not ask him
+to supper as I had done the night before. When we had got home Marcoline
+thanked me for not doing so, adding that she had been afraid I would.
+
+"What you said last night is a sufficient guide for me for the future."
+
+In the morning Madame Audibert called on behalf of the wine merchant to
+ask us to sup with him. I turned towards the fair Venetian, and guessing
+my thoughts she hastened to reply that she would be happy to go anywhere
+in company with Madame Audibert. That lady came for us in the evening,
+and took us to the young man's house, where we found a magnificent
+supper, but no other guests awaiting us. The house was luxuriously
+furnished, it only lacked a mistress. The master divided his attention
+between the two ladies, and Marcoline looked ravishing. Everything
+convinced me that she had kindled the ardour of the worthy young wine
+merchant.
+
+The next day I received a note from Madame Audibert, asking me to call on
+her. When I went I found she wanted to give my consent to the marriage of
+Marcoline with her friend.
+
+"The proposal is a very agreeable one to me," I answered, "and I would
+willingly give her thirty thousand francs as a dowry, but I can have
+nothing to do with the matter personally. I will send her to you; and if
+you can win her over you may count on my word, but do not say that you
+are speaking on my behalf, for that might spoil everything."
+
+"I will come for her, and if you like she shall dine with me, and you can
+take her to the play in the evening."
+
+Madame Audibert came the following day, and Marcoline went to dinner with
+her. I called for her at five o'clock, and finding her looking pleased
+and happy I did not know what to think. As Madame Audibert did not take
+me aside I stifled my curiosity and went with Marcoline to the theatre,
+without knowing what had passed.
+
+On the way Marcoline sang the praises of Madame Audibert, but did not say
+a word of the proposal she must have made to her. About the middle of the
+piece, however, I thought I saw the explanation of the riddle, for the
+young man was in the pit, and did not come to our box though there were
+two empty places.
+
+We returned home without a word about the merchant or Madame Audibert,
+but as I knew in my own mind what had happened, I felt disposed to be
+grateful, and I saw that Marcoline was overjoyed to find me more
+affectionate than ever. At last, amidst our amorous assaults, Marcoline,
+feeling how dearly I loved her, told me what had passed between her and
+Madame Audibert.
+
+"She spoke to me so kindly and so sensibly," said she, "but I contented
+myself with saying that I would never marry till you told me to do so.
+All the same I thank you with all my heart for the ten thousand crowns
+you are willing to give me. You have tossed the ball to me and I have
+sent it back. I will go back to Venice whenever you please if you will
+not take me to England with you, but I will never marry. I expect we
+shall see no more of the young gentleman, though if I had never met you I
+might have loved him."
+
+It was evidently all over, and I liked her for the part she had taken,
+for a man who knows his own worth is not likely to sigh long at the feet
+of an obdurate lady.
+
+The wedding-day of my late niece came round. Marcoline was there, without
+diamonds, but clad in a rich dress which set off her beauty and satisfied
+my vanity.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+I Leave Marseilles--Henriette at Aix--Irene at Avignon--Treachery of
+Possano--Madame d'Urfe Leaves Lyon
+
+The wedding only interested me because of the bride. The plentiful rather
+than choice repast, the numerous and noisy company, the empty
+compliments, the silly conversation, the roars of laughter at very poor
+jokes--all this would have driven me to despair if it had not been for
+Madame Audibert, whom I did not leave for a moment. Marcoline followed
+the young bride about like a shadow, and the latter, who was going to
+Genoa in a week, wanted Marcoline to come in her train, promising to have
+her taken to Venice by a person of trust, but my sweetheart would listen
+to no proposal for separating her from me,--
+
+"I won't go to Venice," she said, "till you send me there."
+
+The splendours of her friend's marriage did not make her experience the
+least regret at having refused the young wine merchant. The bride beamed
+with happiness, and on my congratulating her she confessed her joy to be
+great, adding that it was increased by the fact that she owed it all to
+me. She was also very glad to be going to Genoa, where she was sure of
+finding a true friend in Rosalie, who would sympathize with her, their
+fortunes having been very similar.
+
+The day after the wedding I began to make preparations for my departure.
+The first thing I disposed of was the box containing the planetary
+offerings. I kept the diamonds and precious stones, and took all the gold
+and silver to Rousse de Cosse, who still held the sum which Greppi had
+placed to my credit. I took a bill of exchange on Tourton and Bauer, for
+I should not be wanting any money at Lyons as Madame d'Urfe was there,
+and consequently the three hundred louis I had about me would be ample. I
+acted differently where Marcoline was concerned. I added a sufficient sum
+to her six hundred louis to give her a capital in round numbers of
+fifteen thousand francs. I got a bill drawn on Lyons for that amount, for
+I intended at the first opportunity to send her back to Venice, and with
+that idea had her trunks packed separately with all the linen and dresses
+which I had given her in abundance.
+
+On the eve of our departure we took leave of the newly-married couple and
+the whole family at supper, and we parted with tears, promising each
+other a lifelong friendship.
+
+The next day we set out intending to travel all night and not to stop
+till we got to Avignon, but about five o'clock the chain of the carriage
+broke, and we could go no further until a wheelwright had repaired the
+damage. We settled ourselves down to wait patiently, and Clairmont went
+to get information at a fine house on our right, which was approached by
+an alley of trees. As I had only one postillion, I did not allow him to
+leave his horses for a moment. Before long we saw Clairmont reappear with
+two servants, one of whom invited me, on behalf of his master, to await
+the arrival of the wheelwright at his house. It would have been churlish
+to refuse this invitation which was in the true spirit of French
+politeness, so leaving Clairmont in charge Marcoline and I began to wend
+our way towards the hospitable abode.
+
+Three ladies and two gentleman came to meet us, and one of the gentlemen
+said they congratulated themselves on my small mishap, since it enabled
+madam to offer me her house and hospitality. I turned towards the lady
+whom the gentleman had indicated, and thanked her, saying, that I hoped
+not to trouble her long, but that I was deeply grateful for her kindness.
+She made me a graceful curtsy, but I could not make out her features, for
+a stormy wind was blowing, and she and her two friends had drawn their
+hoods almost entirely over their faces. Marcoline's beautiful head was
+uncovered and her hair streaming in the breeze. She only replied by
+graceful bows and smiles to the compliments which were addressed to her
+on all sides. The gentleman who had first accosted me asked me, as he
+gave her his arm, if she were my daughter. Marcoline smiled and I
+answered that she was my cousin, and that we were both Venetians.
+
+A Frenchman is so bent on flattering a pretty woman that he will always
+do so, even if it be at the expense of a third party. Nobody could really
+think that Marcoline was my daughter, for though I was twenty years older
+than she was, I looked ten years younger than my real age, and so
+Marcoline smiled suggestively.
+
+We were just going into the house when a large mastiff ran towards us,
+chasing a pretty spaniel, and the lady, being afraid of getting bitten,
+began to run, made a false step, and fell to the ground. We ran to help
+her, but she said she had sprained her ankle, and limped into the house
+on the arm of one of the gentlemen. Refreshments were brought in, and I
+saw that Marcoline looked uneasy in the company of a lady who was talking
+to her. I hastened to excuse her, saying that she did not speak French.
+As a matter of fact, Marcoline had begun to talk a sort of French, but
+the most charming language in the world will not bear being spoken badly,
+and I had begged her not to speak at all till she had learned to express
+herself properly. It is better to remain silent than to make strangers
+laugh by odd expressions and absurd equivocations.
+
+The less pretty, or rather the uglier, of the two ladies said that it was
+astonishing that the education of young ladies was neglected in such a
+shocking manner at Venice. "Fancy not teaching them French!"
+
+"It is certainly very wrong, but in my country young ladies are neither
+taught foreign languages nor round games. These important branches of
+education are attended to afterwards."
+
+"Then you are a Venetian, too?"
+
+"Yes, madam."
+
+"Really, I should not have thought so."
+
+I made a bow in return for this compliment, which in reality was only an
+insult; for if flattering to me it was insulting to the rest of my
+fellow-countrymen, and Marcoline thought as much for she made a little
+grimace accompanied by a knowing smile.
+
+"I see that the young lady understands French," said our flattering
+friend, "she laughs exactly in the right place."
+
+"Yes, she understands it, and as for her laughter it was due to the fact
+that she knows me to be like all other Venetians."
+
+"Possibly, but it is easy to see that you have lived a long time in
+France."
+
+"Yes, madam," said Marcoline; and these words in her pretty Venetian
+accent were a pleasure to hear.
+
+The gentleman who had taken the lady to her room said that she found her
+foot to be rather swollen, and had gone to bed hoping we would all come
+upstairs.
+
+We found her lying in a splendid bed, placed in an alcove which the thick
+curtains of red satin made still darker. I could not see whether she was
+young or old, pretty or ugly. I said that I was very sorry to be the
+indirect cause of her mishap, and she replied in good Italian that it was
+a matter of no consequence, and that she did not think she could pay too
+dear for the privilege of entertaining such pleasant guests.
+
+"Your ladyship must have lived in Venice to speak the language with so
+much correctness."
+
+"No, I have never been there, but I have associated a good deal with
+Venetians."
+
+A servant came and told me that the wheelwright had arrived, and that he
+would take four hours to mend my carriage, so I went downstairs. The man
+lived at a quarter of a league's distance, and by tying the carriage pole
+with ropes, I could drive to his place, and wait there for the carriage
+to be mended. I was about to do so, when the gentleman who did the
+honours of the house came and asked me, on behalf of the lady, to sup and
+pass the night at her house, as to go to the wheelwright's would be out
+of my way; the man would have to work by night, I should be
+uncomfortable, and the work would be ill done. I assented to the
+countess's proposal, and having agreed with the man to come early the
+next day and bring his tools with him, I told Clairmont to take my
+belongings into the room which was assigned to me.
+
+When I returned to the countess's room I found everyone laughing at
+Marcoline's sallies, which the countess translated. I was not astonished
+at seeing the way in which my fair Venetian caressed the countess, but I
+was enraged at not being able to see her, for I knew Marcoline would not
+treat any woman in that manner unless she were pretty.
+
+The table was spread in the bedroom of the countess, whom I hoped to see
+at supper-time, but I was disappointed; for she declared that she could
+not take anything, and all supper-time she talked to Marcoline and
+myself, shewing intelligence, education, and a great knowledge of
+Italian. She let fall the expression, "my late husband," so I knew her
+for a widow, but as I did not dare to ask any questions, my knowledge
+ended at that point. When Clairmont was undressing me he told me her
+married name, but as I knew nothing of the family that was no addition to
+my information.
+
+When we had finished supper, Marcoline took up her old position by the
+countess's bed, and they talked so volubly to one another that nobody
+else could get in a word.
+
+When politeness bade me retire, my pretended cousin said she was going to
+sleep with the countess. As the latter laughingly assented, I refrained
+from telling my madcap that she was too forward, and I could see by their
+mutual embraces that they were agreed in the matter. I satisfied myself
+with saying that I could not guarantee the sex of the countess's
+bed-fellow, but she answered,
+
+"Never mind; if there be a mistake I shall be the gainer."
+
+This struck me as rather free, but I was not the man to be scandalized. I
+was amused at the tastes of my fair Venetian, and at the manner in which
+she contrived to gratify them as she had done at Genoa with my last
+niece. As a rule the Provencal women are inclined this way, and far from
+reproaching them I like them all the better for it.
+
+The next day I rose at day-break to hurry on the wheelwright, and when
+the work was done I asked if the countess were visible. Directly after
+Marcoline came out with one of the gentlemen, who begged me to excuse the
+countess, as she could not receive me in her present extremely scanty
+attire; "but she hopes that whenever you are in these parts you will
+honour her and her house by your company, whether you are alone or with
+friends."
+
+This refusal, gilded as it was, was a bitter pill for me to swallow, but
+I concealed my disgust, as I could only put it down to Marcoline's
+doings; she seemed in high spirits, and I did not like to mortify her. I
+thanked the gentleman with effusion, and placing a Louis in the hands of
+all the servants who were present I took my leave.
+
+I kissed Marcoline affectionately, so that she should not notice my ill
+humour, and asked how she and the countess spent the night.
+
+"Capitally," said she. "The countess is charming, and we amused ourselves
+all night with the tricks of two amorous women."
+
+"Is she pretty or old?"
+
+"She is only thirty-three, and, I assure you, she is as pretty as my
+friend Mdlle. Crosin. I can speak with authority for we saw each other in
+a state of nature."
+
+"You are a singular creature; you were unfaithful to me for a woman, and
+left me to pass the night by myself."
+
+"You must forgive me, and I had to sleep with her as she was the first to
+declare her love."
+
+"Really? How was that?"
+
+"When I gave her the first of my kisses she returned it in the Florentine
+manner, and our tongues met. After supper, I confess, I was the first to
+begin the suggestive caresses, but she met me half-way. I could only make
+her happy by spending the night with her. Look, this will shew you how
+pleased she was."
+
+With these words Marcoline drew a superb ring, set with brilliants, from
+her finger. I was astonished.
+
+"Truly," I said, "this woman is fond of pleasure and deserves to have
+it."
+
+I gave my Lesbian (who might have vied with Sappho) a hundred kisses,
+and forgave her her infidelity.
+
+"But," I remarked, "I can't think why she did not want me to see her; I
+think she has treated me rather cavalierly."
+
+"No, I think the reason was that she was ashamed to be seen by my lover
+after having made me unfaithful to him; I had to confess that we were
+lovers."
+
+"Maybe. At all events you have been well paid; that ring is worth two
+hundred louis:"
+
+"But I may as well tell you that I was well enough paid for the pleasure
+I gave by the pleasure I received."
+
+"That's right; I am delighted to see you happy."
+
+"If you want to make me really happy, take me to England with you. My
+uncle will be there, and I could go back to Venice with him."
+
+"What! you have an uncle in England? Do you really mean it? It sounds
+like a fairy-tale. You never told me of it before."
+
+"I have never said anything about it up to now, because I have always
+imagined that this might prevent your accomplishing your desire."
+
+"Is your uncle a Venetian? What is he doing in England? Are you sure that
+he will welcome you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What is his name? And how are we to find him in a town of more than a
+million inhabitants?"
+
+"He is ready found. His name is Mattio Boisi, and he is valet de chambre
+to M. Querini, the Venetian ambassador sent to England to congratulate
+the new king; he is accompanied by the Procurator Morosini. My uncle is
+my mother's brother; he is very fond of me, and will forgive my fault,
+especially when he finds I am rich. When he went to England he said he
+would be back in Venice in July, and we shall just catch him on the point
+of departure."
+
+As far as the embassy went I knew it was all true, from the letters I had
+received from M. de Bragadin, and as for the rest Marcoline seemed to me
+to be speaking the truth. I was flattered by her proposal and agreed to
+take her to England so that I should possess her for five or six weeks
+longer without committing myself to anything.
+
+We reached Avignon at the close of the day, and found ourselves very
+hungry. I knew that the "St. Omer" was an excellent inn, and when I got
+there I ordered a choice meal and horses for five o'clock the next
+morning. Marcoline, who did not like night travelling, was in high glee,
+and threw her arms around my neck, saying,--
+
+"Are we at Avignon now?"
+
+"Yes, dearest."
+
+"Then I conscientiously discharge the trust which the countess placed in
+me when she embraced me for the last time this morning. She made me swear
+not to say a word about it till we got to Avignon."
+
+"All this puzzles me, dearest; explain yourself."
+
+"She gave me a letter for you."
+
+"A letter?"
+
+"Will you forgive me for not placing it in your hands sooner?"
+
+"Certainly, if you passed your word to the countess; but where is this
+letter?"
+
+"Wait a minute."
+
+She drew a large bundle of papers from her pocket, saying,--
+
+"This is my certificate of baptism."
+
+"I see you were born in 1746."
+
+"This is a certificate of 'good conduct.'"
+
+"Keep it, it may be useful to you."
+
+"This is my certificate of virginity."
+
+"That's no use. Did you get it from a midwife?"
+
+"No, from the Patriarch of Venice."
+
+"Did he test the matter for himself?"
+
+"No, he was too old; he trusted in me."
+
+"Well, well, let me see the letter."
+
+"I hope I haven't lost it."
+
+"I hope not, to God."
+
+"Here is your brother's promise of marriage; he wanted to be a
+Protestant."
+
+"You may throw that into the fire."
+
+"What is a Protestant?"
+
+"I will tell you another time. Give me the letter."
+
+"Praised be God, here it is!"
+
+"That's lucky; but it has no address."
+
+My heart beat fast, as I opened it, and found, instead of an address,
+these words in Italian:
+
+"To the most honest man of my acquaintance."
+
+Could this be meant for me? I turned down the leaf, and read one
+word--Henriette! Nothing else; the rest of the paper was blank.
+
+At the sight of that word I was for a moment annihilated.
+
+"Io non mori, e non rimasi vivo."
+
+Henriette! It was her style, eloquent in its brevity. I recollected her
+last letter from Pontarlier, which I had received at Geneva, and which
+contained only one word--Farewell!
+
+Henriette, whom I had loved so well, whom I seemed at that moment to love
+as well as ever. "Cruel Henriette," said I to myself, "you saw me and
+would not let me see you. No doubt you thought your charms would not have
+their old power, and feared lest I should discover that after all you
+were but mortal. And yet I love you with all the ardour of my early
+passion. Why did you not let me learn from your own mouth that you were
+happy? That is the only question I should have asked you, cruel fair one.
+I should not have enquired whether you loved me still, for I feel my
+unworthiness, who have loved other women after loving the most perfect of
+her sex. Adorable Henriette, I will fly to you to-morrow, since you told
+me that I should be always welcome."
+
+I turned these thoughts over in my own mind, and fortified myself in this
+resolve; but at last I said,--
+
+"No, your behaviour proves that you do not wish to see me now, and your
+wishes shall be respected; but I must see you once before I die."
+
+Marcoline scarcely dared breathe to see me thus motionless and lost in
+thought, and I do not know when I should have come to myself if the
+landlord had not come in saying that he remembered my tastes, and had got
+me a delicious supper. This brought me to my senses, and I made my fair
+Venetian happy again by embracing her in a sort of ecstacy.
+
+"Do you know," she said, "you quite frightened me? You were as pale and
+still as a dead man, and remained for a quarter of an hour in a kind of
+swoon, the like of which I have never seen. What is the reason? I knew
+that the countess was acquainted with you, but I should never have
+thought that her name by itself could have such an astonishing effect."
+
+"Well, it is strange; but how did you find out that the countess knew
+me?"
+
+"She told me as much twenty times over in the night, but she made me
+promise to say nothing about it till I had given you the letter."
+
+"What did she say to you about me?"
+
+"She only repeated in different ways what she has written for an
+address."
+
+"What a letter it is! Her name, and nothing more."
+
+"It is very strange."
+
+"Yes, but the name tells all."
+
+"She told me that if I wanted to be happy I should always remain with
+you. I said I knew that well; but that you wanted to send me back to
+Venice, though you were very fond of me. I can guess now that you were
+lovers. How long ago was it?"
+
+"Sixteen or seventeen years."
+
+"She must have been very young, but she cannot have been prettier than
+she is now."
+
+"Be quiet, Marcoline."
+
+"Did your union with her last long?"
+
+"We lived together four months in perfect happiness."
+
+"I shall not be happy for so long as that."
+
+"Yes you will, and longer, too; but with another man, and one more
+suitable to you in age. I am going to England to try to get my daughter
+from her mother."
+
+"Your daughter? The countess asked me if you were married, and I said
+no."
+
+"You were right; she is my illegitimate daughter. She must be ten now,
+and when you see her you will confess that she must belong to me."
+
+Just as we were sitting down to table we heard someone going downstairs
+to the table d'hote in the room where I had made Madame Stuard's
+acquaintance, our door was open, and we could see the people on the
+stairs; and one of them seeing us gave a cry of joy, and came running in,
+exclaiming, "My dear papa!" I turned to the light and saw Irene, the same
+whom I had treated so rudely at Genoa after my discussion with her father
+about biribi. I embraced her effusively, and the sly little puss,
+pretending to be surprised to see Marcoline, made her a profound bow,
+which was returned with much grace. Marcoline listened attentively to our
+conversation.
+
+"What are you doing here, fair Irene?"
+
+"We have been here for the last fortnight. Good heavens! how lucky I am
+to find you again. I am quite weak. Will you allow me to sit down,
+madam?"
+
+"Yes, yes, my dear," said I, "sit down;" and I gave her a glass of wine
+which restored her.
+
+A waiter came up, and said they were waiting for her at supper, but she
+said, "I won't take any supper;" and Marcoline, always desirous of
+pleasing me, ordered a third place to be laid. I made her happy by giving
+an approving nod.
+
+We sat down to table, and ate our meal with great appetite. "When we have
+done," I said to Irene, "you must tell us what chance has brought you to
+Avignon."
+
+Marcoline, who had not spoken a word hitherto, noticing how hungry Irene
+was, said pleasantly that it would have been a mistake if she had not
+taken any supper. Irene was delighted to hear Venetian spoken, and
+thanked her for her kindness, and in three or four minutes they had
+kissed and become friends.
+
+It amused me to see the way in which Marcoline always fell in love with
+pretty women, just as if she had been a man.
+
+In the course of conversation I found that Irene's father and mother were
+at the table d'hote below, and from sundry exclamations, such as "you
+have been brought to Avignon out of God's goodness," I learned that they
+were in distress. In spite of that Irene's mirthful countenance matched
+Marcoline's sallies, and the latter was delighted to hear that Irene had
+only called me papa because her mother had styled her my daughter at
+Milan.
+
+We had only got half-way through our supper when Rinaldi and his wife
+came in. I asked them to sit down, but if it had not been for Irene I
+should have given the old rascal a very warm reception. He began to chide
+his daughter for troubling me with her presence when I had such fair
+company already, but Marcoline hastened to say that Irene could only have
+given me pleasure, for in my capacity of her uncle I was always glad when
+she was able to enjoy the society of a sweet young girl.
+
+"I hope," she added, "that if she doesn't mind she will sleep with me."
+
+"Yes, yes," resounded on all sides, and though I should have preferred to
+sleep with Marcoline by herself, I laughed and agreed; I have always been
+able to accommodate myself to circumstances.
+
+Irene shared Marcoline's desires, for when it was settled that they
+should sleep together they seemed wild with joy, and I added fuel to the
+fire by plying them with punch and champagne.
+
+Rinaldi and his wife did not leave us till they were quite drunk. When we
+had got rid of them, Irene told us how a Frenchman had fallen in love
+with her at Genoa, and had persuaded her father to go to Nice where high
+play was going on, but meeting with no luck there she had been obliged to
+sell what she had to pay the inn-keeper. Her lover had assured her that
+he would make it up to her at Aix, where there was some money owing to
+him, and she persuaded her father to go there; but the persons who owed
+the money having gone to Avignon, there had to be another sale of goods.
+
+"When we got here the luck was no better, and the poor young man, whom my
+father reproached bitterly, would have killed himself if I had not given
+him the mantle you gave me that he might pawn it and go on his quest. He
+got four louis for it, and sent me the ticket with a very tender letter,
+in which he assured me that he would find some money at Lyons, and that
+he would then return and take us to Bordeaux, where we are to find
+treasures. In the meanwhile we are penniless, and as we have nothing more
+to sell the landlord threatens to turn us out naked."
+
+"And what does your father mean to do?"
+
+"I don't know. He says Providence will take care of us."
+
+"What does your mother say?"
+
+"Oh! she was as quiet as usual."
+
+"How about yourself?"
+
+"Alas! I have to bear a thousand mortifications every day. They are
+continually reproaching me with having fallen in love with this
+Frenchman, and bringing them to this dreadful pass."
+
+"Were you really in love with him?"
+
+"Yes, really."
+
+"Then you must be very unhappy."
+
+"Yes, very; but not on account of my love, for I shall get over that in
+time, but because of that which will happen to-morrow."
+
+"Can't you make any conquests at the table-d'hote?"
+
+"Some of the men say pretty things to me, but as they all know how poor
+we are they are afraid to come to our room."
+
+"And yet in spite of all you keep cheerful; you don't look sad like most
+of the unhappy. I congratulate you on your good spirits." Irene's tale
+was like the fair Stuard's story over again, and Marcoline, though she
+had taken rather too much champagne, was deeply moved at this picture of
+misery. She kissed the girl, telling her that I would not forsake her,
+and that in the meanwhile they would spend a pleasant night.
+
+"Come! let us to bed!" said she; and after taking off her clothes she
+helped Irene to undress. I had no wish to fight, against two, and said
+that I wanted to rest. The fair Venetian burst out laughing and said,--
+
+"Go to bed and leave us alone."
+
+I did so, and amused myself by watching the two Bacchantes; but Irene,
+who had evidently never engaged in such a combat before, was not nearly
+so adroit as Marcoline.
+
+Before long Marcoline brought Irene in her arms to my bedside, and told
+me to kiss her.
+
+"Leave me alone, dearest," said I, "the punch has got into your head, and
+you don't know what you are doing."
+
+This stung her; and urging Irene to follow her example, she took up a
+position in my bed by force; and as there was not enough room for three,
+Marcoline got on top of Irene, calling her her wife.
+
+I was virtuous enough to remain a wholly passive spectator of the scene,
+which was always new to me, though I had seen it so often; but at last
+they flung themselves on me with such violence that I was obliged to give
+way, and for the most part of the night I performed my share of the work,
+till they saw that I was completely exhausted. We fell asleep, and I did
+not wake up till noon, and then I saw my two beauties still asleep, with
+their limbs interlaced like the branches of a tree. I thought with a sigh
+of the pleasures of such a sleep, and got out of bed gently for fear of
+rousing them. I ordered a good dinner to be prepared, and countermanded
+the horses which had been waiting several hours.
+
+The landlord remembering what I had done for Madame Stuard guessed I was
+going to do the same for the Rinaldis, and left them in peace.
+
+When I came back I found my two Lesbians awake, and they gave me such an
+amorous welcome that I felt inclined to complete the work of the night
+with a lover's good morning; but I began to feel the need of husbanding
+my forces, so I did nothing, and bore their sarcasms in silence till one
+o'clock, when I told them to get up, as we ought to have done at five
+o'clock, and here was two o'clock and breakfast not done.
+
+"We have enjoyed ourselves," said Marcoline, "and time that is given to
+enjoyment is never lost."
+
+When they were dressed, I had coffee brought in, and I gave Irene sixteen
+louis, four of which were to redeem her cloak. Her father and mother who
+had just dined came in to bid us good-day, and Irene proudly gave her
+father twelve Louis telling him to scold her a little less in future. He
+laughed, wept, and went out, and then came back and said he found a good
+way of getting to Antibes at a small cost, but they would have to go
+directly, as the driver wanted to get to St. Andiol by nightfall.
+
+"I am quite ready."
+
+"No, dear Irene," said I, "you shall not go; you shall dine with your
+friend, and your driver can wait. Make him do so, Count Rinaldi; my niece
+will pay, will you not, Marcoline?"
+
+"Certainly. I should like to dine here, and still better to put off our
+departure till the next day."
+
+Her wishes were my orders. We had a delicious supper at five o'clock, and
+at eight we went to bed and spent the night in wantonness, but at five in
+the morning all were ready to start. Irene, who wore her handsome cloak,
+shed hot tears at parting from Marcoline, who also wept with all her
+heart. Old Rinaldi, who proved himself no prophet, told me that I should
+make a great fortune in England, and his daughter sighed to be in
+Marcoline's place. We shall hear of Rinaldi later on.
+
+We drove on for fifteen posts without stopping, and passed the night at
+Valence. The food was bad, but Marcoline forgot her discomfort in talking
+of Irene.
+
+"Do you know," said she, "that if it had been in my power I should have
+taken her from her parents. I believe she is your daughter, though she is
+not like you."
+
+"How can she be my daughter when I have never known her mother?"
+
+"She told me that certainly."
+
+"Didn't she tell you anything else?"
+
+"Yes, she told me that you lived with her for three days and bought her
+maidenhead for a thousand sequins."
+
+"Quite so, but did she tell you that I paid the money to her father?"
+
+"Yes, the little fool doesn't keep anything for herself. I don't think I
+should ever be jealous of your mistresses, if you let me sleep with them.
+Is not that a mark of a good disposition? Tell me."
+
+"You have, no doubt, a good disposition, but you could be quite as good
+without your dominant passion."
+
+"It is not a passion. I only have desires for those I love."
+
+"Who gave you this taste?"
+
+"Nature. I began at seven, and in the last ten years I have certainly had
+four hundred sweethearts."
+
+"You begin early. But when did you begin to have male sweethearts?"
+
+"At eleven."
+
+"Tell me all about it."
+
+"Father Molini, a monk, was my confessor, and he expressed a desire to
+know the girl who was then my sweetheart. It was in the carnival time,
+and he gave us a moral discourse, telling us that he would take us to the
+play if we would promise to abstain for a week. We promised to do so, and
+at the end of the week we went to tell him that we had kept our word
+faithfully. The next day Father Molini called on my sweetheart's aunt in
+a mask, and as she knew him, and as he was a monk and a confessor, we
+were allowed to go with him. Besides, we were mere children; my
+sweetheart was only a year older than I.
+
+"After the play the father took us to an inn, and gave us some supper;
+and when the meal was over he spoke to us of our sin, and wanted to see
+our privates. 'It's a great sin between two girls,' said he, 'but between
+a man and a woman it is a venial matter. Do you know how men are made?'
+We both knew, but we said no with one consent. 'Then would you like to
+know?' said he. We said we should like to know very much, and he added,
+'If you will promise to keep it a secret, I may be able to satisfy your
+curiosity.' We gave our promises, and the good father proceeded to
+gratify us with a sight of the riches which nature had lavished on him,
+and in the course of an hour he had turned us into women. I must confess
+that he understood so well how to work on our curiosity that the request
+came from us. Three years later, when I was fourteen, I became the
+mistress of a young jeweller. Then came your brother; but he got nothing
+from me, because he began by saying that he could not ask me to give him
+any favours till we were married."
+
+"You must have been amused at that."
+
+"Yes, it did make me laugh, because I did not know that a priest could
+get married; and he excited my curiosity by telling me that they managed
+it at Geneva. Curiosity and wantonness made me escape with him; you know
+the rest."
+
+Thus did Marcoline amuse me during the evening, and then we went to bed
+and slept quietly till the morning. We started from Valence at five, and
+in the evening we were set down at the "Hotel du Parc" at Lyons.
+
+As soon as I was settled in the pleasant apartments allotted to me I went
+to Madame d'Urfe, who was staying in the Place Bellecour, and said, as
+usual, that she was sure I was coming on that day. She wanted to know if
+she had performed the ceremonies correctly, and Paralis, of course,
+informed her that she had, whereat she was much flattered. The young
+Aranda was with her, and after I had kissed him affectionately I told the
+marchioness that I would be with her at ten o'clock the next morning, and
+so I left her.
+
+I kept the appointment and we spent the whole of the day in close
+conference, asking of the oracle concerning her being brought to bed, how
+she was to make her will, and how she should contrive to escape poverty
+in her regenerated shape. The oracle told her that she must go to Paris
+for her lying-in, and leave all her possessions to her son, who would not
+be a bastard, as Paralis promised that as soon as I got to London an
+English gentleman should be sent over to marry her. Finally, the oracle
+ordered her to prepare to start in three days, and to take Aranda with
+her. I had to take the latter to London and return him to his mother, for
+his real position in life was no longer a mystery, the little rascal
+having confessed all; however, I had found a remedy for his indiscretion
+as for the treachery of the Corticelli and Possano.
+
+I longed to return him to the keeping of his mother, who constantly wrote
+me impertinent letters. I also wished to take my daughter, who, according
+to her mother, had become a prodigy of grace and beauty.
+
+After the oracular business had been settled, I returned to the "Hotel du
+Parc" to dine with Marcoline. It was very late, and as I could not take
+my sweetheart to the play I called on M. Bono to enquire whether he had
+sent my brother to Paris. He told me that he had gone the day before, and
+that my great enemy, Possano, was still in Lyons, and that I would do
+well to be on my guard as far as he was concerned.
+
+"I have seen him," said Bono; "he looks pale and undone, and seems
+scarcely able to stand. 'I shall die before long,' said he, 'for that
+scoundrel Casanova has had me poisoned; but I will make him pay dearly
+for his crime, and in this very town of Lyons, where I know he will come,
+sooner or later.'
+
+"In fact, in the course of half an hour, he made some terrible
+accusations against you, speaking as if he were in a fury. He wants all
+the world to know that you are the greatest villain unhung, that you are
+ruining Madame d'Urfe with your impious lies; that you are a sorcerer, a
+forger, an utter of false moneys, a poisoner--in short, the worst of men.
+He does not intend to publish a libellous pamphlet upon you, but to
+accuse you before the courts, alleging that he wants reparation for the
+wrongs you have done his person, his honour, and his life, for he says
+you are killing him by a slow poison. He adds that for every article he
+possesses the strongest proof.
+
+"I will say nothing about the vague abuse he adds to these formal
+accusations, but I have felt it my duty to warn you of his treacherous
+designs that you may be able to defeat them. It's no good saying he is a
+miserable wretch, and that you despise him; you know how strong a thing
+calumny is."
+
+"Where does the fellow live?"
+
+"I don't know in the least."
+
+"How can I find out?"
+
+"I can't say, for if he is hiding himself on purpose it would be hard to
+get at him."
+
+"Nevertheless, Lyons is not so vast a place."
+
+"Lyons is a perfect maze, and there is no better hiding-place, especially
+to a man with money, and Possano has money."
+
+"But what can he do to me?"
+
+"He can institute proceedings against you in the criminal court, which
+would cause you immense anxiety and bring down your good name to the
+dust, even though you be the most innocent, the most just of men."
+
+"It seems to me, then, that the best thing I can do will be to be first
+in the field."
+
+"So I think, but even then you cannot avoid publicity."
+
+"Tell me frankly if you feel disposed to bear witness to what the rascal
+has said in a court of justice."
+
+"I will tell all I know with perfect truth."
+
+"Be kind enough to tell me of a good advocate."
+
+"I will give you the address of one of the best; but reflect before you
+do anything. The affair will make a noise."
+
+"As I don't know where he lives, I have really no choice in the matter."
+
+If I had known where he lived I could have had Possano expelled from
+Lyons through the influence of Madame d'Urfe, whose relative, M. de la
+Rochebaron, was the governor; but as it was, I had no other course than
+the one I took.
+
+Although Possano was a liar and an ungrateful, treacherous hound, yet I
+could not help being uneasy. I went to my hotel, and proceeded to ask for
+police protection against a man in hiding in Lyons, who had designs
+against my life and honour.
+
+The next day M. Bono came to dissuade me from the course I had taken.
+
+"For," said he, "the police will begin to search for him, and as soon as
+he hears of it he will take proceedings against you in the criminal
+courts, and then your positions will be changed. It seems to me that if
+you have no important business at Lyons you had better hasten your
+departure."
+
+"Do you think I would do such a thing for a miserable fellow like
+Possano? No! I would despise myself if I did. I would die rather than
+hasten my departure on account of a rascal whom I loaded with kindnesses,
+despite his unworthiness! I would give a hundred louis to know where he
+is now."
+
+"I am delighted to say that I do not know anything about it, for if I did
+I would tell you, and then God knows what would happen! You won't go any
+sooner; well, then, begin proceedings, and I will give my evidence by
+word of mouth or writing whenever you please."
+
+I went to the advocate whom M. Bono had recommended to me, and told him
+my business. When he heard what I wanted he said,----
+
+"I can do nothing for you, sir, as I have undertaken the case of your
+opponent. You need not be alarmed, however, at having spoken to me, for I
+assure you that I will make no use whatever of the information. Possano's
+plea or accusation will not be drawn up till the day after to-morrow, but
+I will not tell him to make baste for fear of your anticipating him, as I
+have only been informed of your intentions by hazard. However, you will
+find plenty of advocates at Lyons as honest as I am, and more skilled."
+
+"Could you give me the name of one?"
+
+"That would not be etiquette, but M. Bono, who seems to have kindly
+spoken of me with some esteem, will be able to serve you."
+
+"Can you tell me where your client lives?"
+
+"Since his chief aim is to remain hidden, and with good cause, you will
+see that I could not think of doing such a thing."
+
+In bidding him farewell I put a louis on the table, and though I did it
+with the utmost delicacy he ran after me and made me take it back.
+
+"For once in a way," I said to myself, "here's an honest advocate."
+
+As I walked along I thought of putting a spy on Possano and finding out
+his abode, for I felt a strong desire to have him beaten to death; but
+where was I to find a spy in a town of which I knew nothing? M. Bono gave
+me the name of another advocate, and advised me to make haste.
+
+"'Tis in criminal matters," said he, "and in such cases the first comer
+always has the advantage."
+
+I asked him to find me a trusty fellow to track out the rascally Possano,
+but the worthy man would not hear of it. He shewed me that it would be
+dishonourable to set a spy on the actions of Possano's advocate. I knew
+it myself; but what man is there who has not yielded to the voice of
+vengeance, the most violent and least reasonable of all the passions.
+
+I went to the second advocate, whom I found to be a man venerable not
+only in years but in wisdom. I told him all the circumstances of the
+affair, which he agreed to take up, saying he would present my plea in
+the course of the day.
+
+"That's just what I want you to do," said I, "for his own advocate told
+me that his pleas would be presented the day after to-morrow."
+
+"That, sir," said her "would not induce me to act with any greater
+promptness, as I could not consent to your abusing the confidence of my
+colleague."
+
+"But there is nothing dishonourable in making use of information which
+one has acquired by chance."
+
+"That may be a tenable position in some cases, but in the present
+instance the nature of the affair justifies prompt action. 'Prior in
+tempore, Potior in jure'. Prudence bids us attack our enemy. Be so kind,
+if you please, to call here at three o'clock in the afternoon."
+
+"I will not fail to do so, and in the meanwhile here are six louis."
+
+"I will keep account of my expenditure on your behalf."
+
+"I want you not to spare money."
+
+"Sir, I shall spend only what is absolutely necessary."
+
+I almost believed that probity had chosen a home for herself amongst the
+Lyons advocates, and here I may say, to the honour of the French bar,
+that I have never known a more honest body of men than the advocates of
+France.
+
+At three o'clock, having seen that the plan was properly drawn up, I went
+to Madame d'Urfe's, and for four hours I worked the oracle in a manner
+that filled her with delight, and in spite of my vexation I could not
+help laughing at her insane fancies on the subject of her pregnancy. She
+was certain of it; she felt all the symptoms. Then she said how sorry she
+felt that she would not be alive to laugh at all the hypotheses of the
+Paris doctors as to her being delivered of a child, which would be
+thought very extraordinary in a woman of her age.
+
+When I got back to the inn I found Marcoline very melancholy. She said
+she had been waiting for me to take her to the play, according to my
+promise, and that I should not have made her wait in vain.
+
+"You are right, dearest, but an affair of importance has kept me with the
+marchioness. Don't be put out."
+
+I had need of some such advice myself, for the legal affair worried me,
+and I slept very ill. Early the next morning I saw my counsel, who told
+me that my plea had been laid before the criminal lieutenant.
+
+"For the present," said he, "there is nothing more to be done, for as we
+don't know where he is we can't cite him to appear."
+
+"Could I not set the police on his track?"
+
+"You might, but I don't advise you to do so. Let us consider what the
+result would be. The accuser finding himself accused would have to defend
+himself and prove the accusation he has made against you. But in the
+present state of things, if he does not put in an appearance we will get
+judgment against him for contempt of court and also for libel. Even his
+counsel will leave him in the lurch if he persistently refuses to shew
+himself."
+
+This quieted my fears a little, and I spent the rest of the day with
+Madame d'Urfe, who was going to Paris on the morrow. I promised to be
+with her as soon as I had dealt with certain matters which concerned the
+honour of the Fraternity R. C..
+
+Her great maxim was always to respect my secrets, and never to trouble me
+with her curiosity. Marcoline, who had been pining by herself all day,
+breathed again when I told her that henceforth I should be all for her.
+
+In the morning M. Bono came to me and begged me to go with him to
+Possano's counsel, who wanted to speak to me. The advocate said that his
+client was a sort of madman who was ready to do anything, as he believed
+himself to be dying from the effects of a slow poison.
+
+"He says that even if you are first in the field he will have you
+condemned to death. He says he doesn't care if he is sent to prison, as
+he is certain of coming out in triumph as he has the proof of all his
+accusations. He shews twenty-five louis which you gave him, all of which
+are clipped, and he exhibits documents dated from Genoa stating that you
+clipped a number of gold pieces, which were melted by M. Grimaldi in
+order that the police might not find them in your possession. He has even
+a letter from your brother, the abbe, deposing against you. He is a
+madman, a victim to syphilis, who wishes to send you to the other world
+before himself, if he can. Now my advice to you is to give him some money
+and get rid of him. He tells me that he is the father of a family, and
+that if M. Bono would give him a thousand louis he would sacrifice
+vengeance to necessity. He told me to speak to M. Bono about it; and now,
+sir what do you say?"
+
+"That which my just indignation inspires me to say regarding a rascal
+whom I rescued from poverty, and who nevertheless pursues me with
+atrocious calumnies; he shall not have one single farthing of mine."
+
+I then told the Genoa story, putting things in their true light, and
+adding that I could call M. Grimaldi as a witness if necessary.
+
+"I have delayed presenting the plea," said the counsel, "to see if the
+scandal could be hushed up in any way, but I warn you that I shall now
+present it."
+
+"Do so; I shall be greatly obliged to you."
+
+I immediately called on my advocate, and told him of the rascal's
+proposal; and he said I was quite right to refuse to have any dealings
+with such a fellow. He added that as I had M. Bono as a witness I ought
+to make Possano's advocate present his plea, and I authorized him to take
+proceedings in my name.
+
+A clerk was immediately sent to the criminal lieutenant, praying him to
+command the advocate to bring before him, in three days, the plea of one
+Anami, alias Pogomas, alias Possano, the said plea being against Jacques
+Casanova, commonly called the Chevalier de Seingalt. This document, to
+which I affixed my signature, was laid before the criminal lieutenant.
+
+I did not care for the three days' delay, but my counsel told me it was
+always given, and that I must make up my mind to submit to all the
+vexation I should be obliged to undergo, even if we were wholly
+successful.
+
+As Madame d'Urfe had taken her departure in conformity with the orders of
+Paralis, I dined with Marcoline at the inn, and tried to raise my spirits
+by all the means in my power. I took my mistress to the best milliners
+and dressmakers in the town, and bought her everything she took a fancy
+to; and then we went to the theatre, where she must have been pleased to
+see all eyes fixed on her. Madame Pernon, who was in the next box to
+ours, made me introduce Marcoline to her; and from the way they embraced
+each other when the play was over I saw they were likely to become
+intimate, the only obstacle to their friendship being that Madame Pernon
+did not know a word of Italian, and that Marcoline did not dare to speak
+a word of French for fear of making herself ridiculous. When we got back
+to the inn, Marcoline told me that her new friend had given her the
+Florentine kiss: this is the shibboleth of the sect.
+
+The pretty nick-nacks I had given her had made her happy; her ardour was
+redoubled, and the night passed joyously.
+
+I spent the next day in going from shop to shop, making fresh purchases
+for Marcoline, and we supped merrily at Madame Pernon's.
+
+The day after, M. Bono came to see me at an early hour with a smile of
+content on his face.
+
+"Let us go and breakfast at a coffee-house," said he; "we will have some
+discussion together."
+
+When we were breakfasting he shewed me a letter written by Possano, in
+which the rascal said that he was ready to abandon proceedings provided
+that M. de Seingalt gave him a hundred louis, on receipt of which he
+promised to leave Lyons immediately.
+
+"I should be a great fool," said I, "if I gave the knave more money to
+escape from the hands of justice. Let him go if he likes, I won't prevent
+him; but he had better not expect me to give him anything. He will have a
+writ out against him to-morrow. I should like to see him branded by the
+hangman. He has slandered me, his benefactor, too grievously; let him
+prove what he says, or be dishonoured before all men."
+
+"His abandoning the proceedings," said M. Bono, "would in my opinion
+amount to the same thing as his failing to prove his charges, and you
+would do well to prefer it to a trial which would do your reputation no
+good, even if you were completely successful. And the hundred louis is
+nothing in comparison with the costs of such a trial."
+
+"M. Bono, I value your advice very highly, and still more highly the
+kindly feelings which prompt you, but you must allow me to follow my own
+opinion in this case."
+
+I went to my counsel and told him of the fresh proposal that Possano had
+made, and of my refusal to listen to it, begging him to take measures for
+the arrest of the villain who had vowed my death.
+
+The same evening I had Madame Pernon and M. Bono, who was her lover, to
+sup with me; and as the latter had a good knowledge of Italian Marcoline
+was able to take part in the merriment of the company.
+
+The next day Bono wrote to tell me that Possano had left Lyons never to
+return, and that he had signed a full and satisfactory retraction. I was
+not surprised to hear of his flight, but the other circumstance I could
+not understand. I therefore hastened to call on Bono, who showed me the
+document, which was certainly plain enough.
+
+"Will that do?" said he.
+
+"So well that I forgive him, but I wonder he did not insist on the
+hundred Louis."
+
+"My dear sir, I gave him the money with pleasure, to prevent a scandalous
+affair which would have done us all harm in becoming public. If I had
+told you nothing, you couldn't have taken any steps in the matter, and I
+felt myself obliged to repair the mischief I had done in this way. You
+would have known nothing about it, if you had said that you were not
+satisfied. I am only too glad to have been enabled to skew my friendship
+by this trifling service. We will say no more about it."
+
+"Very good," said I, embracing him, "we will say no more, but please to
+receive the assurance of my gratitude."
+
+I confess I felt much relieved at being freed from this troublesome
+business.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of In London And Moscow: South Of France
+by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOUTH OF FRANCE ***
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+The Project Gutenberg Etext of South of France
+by Jacques Casanova
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+
+South of France
+By Jacques Casanova
+
+
+
+
+THE MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA DE SEINGALT
+
+THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR
+MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR
+SYMONS.
+
+
+
+MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798
+IN LONDON AND MOSCOW, Volume 5a--SOUTH OF FRANCE
+
+
+
+
+SOUTH OF FRANCE
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+I Find Rosalie Happy--The Signora Isola-Bella--The Cook--Biribi
+--Irene--Possano in Prison--My Niece Proves to be an Old Friend of
+Rosalie's
+
+
+At Genoa, where he was known to all, Pogomas called himself Possano.
+He introduced me to his wife and daughter, but they were so ugly and
+disgusting in every respect that I left them on some trifling
+pretext, and went to dine with my new niece.  Afterwards I went to
+see the Marquis Grimaldi, for I longed to know what had become of
+Rosalie.  The marquis was away in Venice, and was not expected back
+till the end of April; but one of his servants took me to Rosalie,
+who had become Madame Paretti six months after my departure.
+
+My heart beat fast as I entered the abode of this woman, of whom I
+had such pleasant recollections.  I first went to M. Paretti in his
+shop, and he received me with a joyful smile, which shewed me how
+happy he was.  He took me to his wife directly, who cried out with
+delight, and ran to embrace me.
+
+M. Paretti was busy, and begged me to excuse him, saying his wife
+would entertain me.
+
+Rosalie shewed me a pretty little girl of six months old, telling me
+that she was happy, that she loved her husband, and was loved by him,
+that he was industrious and active in business, and under the
+patronage of the Marquis Grimaldi had prospered exceedingly.
+
+The peaceful happiness of marriage had improved her wonderfully; she
+had become a perfect beauty in every sense of the word.
+
+"My dear friend," she said, "you are very good to call on me directly
+you arrive, and I hope you will dine with us to-morrow.  I owe all my
+happiness to you, and that is even a sweeter thought than the
+recollection of the passionate hours we have spent together.  Let us
+kiss, but no more; my duty as an honest wife forbids me from going
+any further, so do not disturb the happiness you have given."
+
+I pressed her hand tenderly, to skew that I assented to the
+conditions she laid down.
+
+"Oh! by the way," she suddenly exclaimed, "I have a pleasant surprise
+for you."
+
+She went out, and a moment afterward returned with Veronique, who had
+become her maid.  I was glad to see her and embraced her
+affectionately, asking after Annette.  She said her sister was well,
+and was working with her mother.
+
+"I want her to come and wait on my niece while we are here," said I.
+
+At this Rosalie burst out laughing.
+
+"What! another niece?  You have a great many relations!  But as she
+is your niece, I hope you will bring her with you to-morrow."
+
+"Certainly, and all the more willingly as she is from Marseilles."
+
+"From Marseilles?  Why, we might know each other.  Not that that
+would matter, for all your nieces are discreet young persons.  What
+is her name?"
+
+"Crosin."
+
+"I don't know it."
+
+"I daresay you don't.  She is the daughter of a cousin of mine who
+lived at Marseilles."
+
+"Tell that to someone else; but, after all, what does it matter?  You
+choose well, amuse yourself, and make them happy.  It may be wisdom
+after all, and at any rate I congratulate you.  I shall be delighted
+to see your niece, but if she knows me you must see that she knows
+her part as well."
+
+On leaving Madame Paretti I called on the Signora Isola-Bella, and
+gave her the Marquis Triulzi's letter.  Soon after she came into the
+room and welcomed me, saying that she had been expecting me, as
+Triulzi had written to her on the subject.  She introduced me to the
+Marquis Augustino Grimaldi delta Pietra, her 'cicisbeoin-chief'
+during the long absence of her husband, who lived at Lisbon.
+
+The signora's apartments were very elegant.  She was pretty with
+small though regular features, her manner was pleasant, her voice
+sweet, and her figure well shaped, though too thin.  She was nearly
+thirty.  I say nothing of her complexion, for her face was plastered
+with white and red, and so coarsely, that these patches of paint were
+the first things that caught my attention.  I was disgusted at this,
+in spite of her fine expressive eyes.  After an hour spent in
+question and reply, in which both parties were feeling their way, I
+accepted her invitation to come to supper on the following day.  When
+I got back I complimented my niece on the way in which she had
+arranged her room, which was only separated from mine by a small
+closet which I intended for her maid, who, I told her, was coming the
+next day.  She was highly pleased with this attention, and it paved
+the way for my success.  I also told her that the next day she was to
+dine with me at a substantial merchant's as my niece, and this piece
+of news made her quite happy.
+
+This girl whom Croce had infatuated and deprived of her senses was
+exquisitely beautiful, but more charming than all her physical
+beauties were the nobleness of her presence and the sweetness of her
+disposition.  I was already madly in love with her, and I repented
+not having taken possession of her on the first day of our journey.
+If I had taken her at her word I should have been a steadfast lover,
+and I do not think it would have taken me long to make her forget her
+former admirer.
+
+I had made but a small dinner, so I sat down to supper famishing with
+hunger; and as my niece had an excellent appetite we prepared
+ourselves for enjoyment, but instead of the dishes being delicate, as
+we had expected, they were detestable.  I told Clairmont to send for
+the landlady, and she said that she could not help it, as everything
+had been done by my own cook.
+
+"My cook?" I repeated.
+
+"Yes, sir, the one your secretary, M. Possano, engaged for you.  I
+could have got a much better one and a much cheaper one myself."
+
+"Get one to-morrow."
+
+"Certainly; but you must rid yourself and me of the present cook, for
+he has taken up his position here with his wife and children.  Tell
+Possano to send for him."
+
+"I will do so, and in the meanwhile do you get me a fresh cook.  I
+will try him the day after to-morrow."
+
+I escorted my niece into her room, and begged her to go to bed
+without troubling about me, and so saying I took up the paper and
+began to read it.  When I had finished, I went up to bed, and said,
+
+"You might spare me the pain of having to sleep by myself."
+
+She lowered her eyes but said nothing, so I gave her a kiss and left
+her.
+
+In the morning my fair niece came into my room just as Clairmont was
+washing my feet, and begged me to let her have some coffee as
+chocolate made her hot.  I told my man to go and fetch some coffee,
+and as soon as he was gone she went down on her knees and would have
+wiped my feet.
+
+"I cannot allow that, my dear young lady."
+
+"Why not? it is a mark of friendship."
+
+"That may be, but such marks cannot be given to anyone but your lover
+without your degrading yourself."
+
+She got up and sat down on a chair quietly, but saying nothing.
+
+Clairmont came back again, and I proceeded with my toilette.
+
+The landlady came in with our breakfast, and asked my niece if she
+would like to buy a fine silk shawl made in the Genoese fashion.  I
+did not let her be confused by having to answer, but told the
+landlady to let us see it.  Soon after the milliner came in, but by
+that time I had given my young friend twenty Genoese sequins, telling
+her that she might use them for her private wants.  She took the
+money, thanking me with much grace, and letting me imprint a
+delicious kiss on her lovely lips.
+
+I had sent away the milliner after having bought the shawl, when
+Possano took it upon himself to remonstrate with me in the matter of
+the cook.
+
+"I engaged the man by your orders," said he, "for the whole time you
+stayed at Genoa, at four francs a day, with board and lodging."
+
+"Where is my letter?"
+
+"Here it is: 'Get me a good cook; I will keep him while I stay in
+Genoa.'"
+
+"Perhaps you did not remark the expression, d good cook?  Well, this
+fellow is a very bad cook; and, at all events, I am the best judge
+whether he is good or bad."
+
+"You are wrong, for the man will prove his skill.  He will cite you
+in the law courts, and win his case."
+
+"Then you have made a formal agreement with him?"
+
+"Certainly; and your letter authorized me to do so."
+
+"Tell him to come up; I want to speak to him."
+
+While Possano was downstairs I told Clairmont to go and fetch me an
+advocate.  The cook came upstairs, I read the agreement, and I saw
+that it was worded in such a manner that I should be in the wrong
+legally; but I did not change my mind for all that.
+
+"Sir," said the cook, "I am skilled in my business, and I can get
+four thousand Genoese to swear as much."
+
+"That doesn't say much for their good taste; but whatever they may-
+say, the execrable supper you gave me last night proves that you are
+only fit to keep a low eating-house."
+
+As there is nothing more irritable than the feelings of a culinary
+artist, I was expecting a sharp answer; but just then the advocate
+came in.  He had heard the end of our dialogue, and told me that not
+only would the man find plenty of witnesses to his skill, but that I
+should find a very great difficulty in getting anybody at all to
+swear to his want of skill.
+
+"That may be," I replied, "but as I stick to my own opinion, and
+think his cooking horrible, he must go, for I want to get another,
+and I will pay that fellow as if he had served me the whole time."
+
+"That won't do," said the cook; "I will summon you before the judge
+and demand damages for defamation of character."
+
+At this my bile overpowered me, and I was going to seize him anti
+throw him out of the window, when Don Antonio Grimaldi came in.  When
+he heard what was the matter, he laughed and said, with a shrug of
+his shoulders,
+
+"My dear sir, you had better not go into court, or you will be cast
+in costs, for the evidence is against you.  Probably this man makes a
+slight mistake in believing himself to be an excellent cook, but the
+chief mistake is in the agreement, which ought to have stipulated
+that he should cook a trial dinner.  The person who drew up the
+agreement is either a great knave or a great fool."
+
+At this Possano struck in in his rude way, and told the nobleman that
+he was neither knave nor fool.
+
+"But you are cousin to the cook," said the landlady.
+
+This timely remark solved the mystery.  I paid and dismissed the
+advocate, and having sent the cook out of the room I said,
+
+"Do I owe you any money, Possano?"
+
+"On the contrary, you paid me a month in advance, and there are ten
+more days of the month to run."
+
+"I will make you a present of the ten days and send you away this
+very moment, unless your cousin does not leave my house to-day, and
+give you the foolish engagement which you signed in my name."
+
+"That's what I call cutting the Gordian knot," said M. Grimaldi.
+
+He then begged me to introduce him to the lady he had seen with me,
+and I did so, telling him she was my niece.
+
+"Signora Isola-Bella will be delighted to see her."
+
+"As the marquis did not mention her in his letter, I did not take the
+liberty of bringing her."
+
+The marquis left a few moments afterwards, and soon after Annette
+came in with her mother.  The girl had developed in an incredible
+manner while I was away.  Her cheeks blossomed like the rose, her
+teeth were white as pearls, and her breasts, though modestly
+concealed from view, were exquisitely rounded.  I presented her to
+her mistress, whose astonishment amused me.
+
+Annette, who looked pleased to be in my service again, went to dress
+her new mistress; and, after giving a few sequins to the mother I
+sent her away, and proceeded to make my toilette.
+
+Towards noon, just as I was going out with my niece to dine at
+Rosalie's, my landlady brought me the agreement Possano had made, and
+introduced the new cook.  I ordered the next day's dinner, and went
+away much pleased with my comic victory.
+
+A brilliant company awaited us at the Paretti's, but I was agreeably
+surprised on introducing my niece to Rosalie to see them recognize
+each other.  They called each other by their respective names, and
+indulged in an affectionate embrace.  After this they retired to
+another room for a quarter of an hour, and returned looking very
+happy.  Just then Paretti entered, and on Rosalie introducing him to
+my niece under her true name he welcomed her in the most cordial
+manner.  Her father was a correspondent of his, and drawing a letter
+he had just received from him from his pocket, he gave it to her to
+read.  My niece read it eagerly, with tears in her eyes, and gave the
+signature a respectful pressure with her lips.  This expression of
+filial love, which displayed all the feelings of her heart, moved me
+to such an extent that I burst into tears.  Then taking Rosalie
+aside, I begged her to ask her husband not to mention the fact to his
+correspondent that he had seen his daughter.
+
+The dinner was excellent, and Rosalie did the honours with that grace
+which was natural to her.  However, the guests did not by any means
+pay her all their attentions, the greater portion of which was
+diverted in the direction of my supposed niece.  Her father, a
+prosperous merchant of Marseilles, was well known in the commercial
+circles of Genoa, and besides this her wit and beauty captivated
+everybody, and one young gentleman fell madly in love with her.  He
+was an extremely good match, and proved to be the husband whom Heaven
+had destined for my charming friend.  What a happy thought it was for
+me that I had been the means of rescuing her from the gulf of shame,
+misery, and despair, and placing her on the high road to happiness.
+I own that I have always felt a keener pleasure in doing good than in
+anything else, though, perhaps, I may not always have done good from
+strictly disinterested motives.
+
+When we rose from the table in excellent humour with ourselves and
+our surroundings, cards were proposed, and Rosalie, who knew my
+likings, said it must be trente-quarante.  This was agreed to, and we
+played till supper, nobody either winning or losing to any extent.
+We did not go till midnight, after having spent a very happy day.
+
+When we were in our room I asked my niece how she had known Rosalie.
+
+"I knew her at home; she and her mother used to bring linen from the
+wash.  I always liked her."
+
+"You must be nearly the same age."
+
+"She is two years older than I am.  I recognized her directly."
+
+"What did she tell you?"
+
+"That it was you who brought her from Marseilles and made her
+fortune."
+
+"She has not made you the depositary of any other confidences?"
+
+"No, but there are some things which don't need telling."
+
+"You are right.  And what did you tell her?"
+
+"Only what she could have guessed for herself.  I told her that you
+were not my uncle, and if she thought you were my lover I was not
+sorry.  You do not know how I have enjoyed myself to-day, you must
+have been born to make me happy."
+
+"But how about La Croix?"
+
+"For heaven's sake say nothing about him."
+
+This conversation increased my ardour.  She called Annette, and I
+went to my room.
+
+As I had expected, Annette came to me as soon as her mistress was in
+bed.
+
+"If the lady is really your niece," said she, "may I hope that you
+still love me?"
+
+"Assuredly, dear Annette, I shall always love you.  Undress, and let
+us have a little talk."
+
+I had not long to wait, and in the course of two voluptuous hours I
+quenched the flames that another woman had kindled in my breast.
+
+Next morning Possano came to tell me that he had arranged matters
+with the cook with the help of six sequins.  I gave him the money,
+and told him to be more careful for the future.
+
+I went to Rosalie's for my breakfast, which she was delighted to give
+me: and I asked her and her husband to dinner on the following day,
+telling her to bring any four persons she liked.
+
+"Your decision," said I, "will decide the fate of my cook; it will be
+his trial dinner."
+
+She promised to come, and then pressed me to tell her the history of
+my amours with her fair country-woman.
+
+"Alas!" I said, "you may not believe me, but I assure you I am only
+beginning with her."
+
+"I shall certainly believe you, if you tell me so, though it seems
+very strange."
+
+"Strange but true.  You must understand, however, that I have only
+known her for a very short time; and, again, I would not be made
+happy save through love, mere submission would kill me."
+
+"Good! but what did she say of me?"
+
+I gave her a report of the whole conversation I had had with my niece
+the night before, and she was delighted."
+
+"As you have not yet gone far with your niece, would you object if
+the young man who shewed her so much attention yesterday were of the
+party to-morrow?"
+
+"Who is he?  I should like to know him."
+
+"M. N----, the only son of a rich merchant."
+
+"Certainly, bring him with you."
+
+When I got home I went to my niece, who was still in bed, and told
+her that her fellow-countryman would dine with us to-morrow.  I
+comforted her with the assurance that M. Paretti would not tell her
+father that she was in Genoa.  She had been a good deal tormented
+with the idea that the merchant would inform her father of all.
+
+As I was going out to supper I told her that she could go and sup
+with Rosalie, or take supper at home if she preferred it.
+
+"You are too kind to me, my dear uncle.  I will go to Rosalie's."
+
+"Very good.  Are you satisfied with Annette?"
+
+"Oh! by the way, she told me that you spent last night with her, and
+that you had been her lover and her sister's at the same time."
+
+"It is true, but she is very indiscreet to say anything about it."
+
+"We must forgive her, though.  She told me that she only consented to
+sleep with you on the assurance that I was really your niece.  I am
+sure she only made this confession out of vanity, and in the hope of
+gaining my favour, which would be naturally bestowed on a woman you
+love."
+
+"I wish you had the right to be jealous of her; and I swear that if
+she does not comport herself with the utmost obedience to you in
+every respect, I will send her packing, in despite of our relations.
+As for you, you may not be able to love me, and I have no right to
+complain; but I will not have you degrade yourself by becoming my
+submissive victim."
+
+I was not sorry for my niece to know that I made use of Annette, but
+my vanity was wounded at the way she took it.  It was plain that she
+was not at all in love with me, and that she was glad that there was
+a safeguard in the person of her maid, and that thus we could be
+together without danger, for she could not ignore the power of her
+charms.
+
+We dined together, and augured well of the skill of the new cook.
+M. Paretti had promised to get me a good man, and he presented
+himself just as we were finishing dinner, and I made a present of him
+to my niece.  We went for a drive together, and I left my niece at
+Rosalie's, and I then repaired to Isola-Bella's, where I found a
+numerous and brilliant company had assembled consisting of all the
+best people in Genoa.
+
+Just then all the great ladies were mad over 'biribi', a regular
+cheating game.  It was strictly forbidden at Genoa, but this only
+made it more popular, and besides, the prohibition had no force in
+private houses, which are outside of the jurisdiction of the
+Government; in short, I found the game in full swing at the Signora
+Isola-Bella's.  The professional gamesters who kept the bank went
+from house to house, and the amateurs were advised of their presence
+at such a house and at such a time.
+
+Although I detested the game, I began to play--to do as the others
+did.
+
+In the room there was a portrait of the mistress of the house in
+harlequin costume, and there happened to be the same picture on one
+of the divisions of the biribi-table: I chose this one out of
+politeness, and did not play on any other.  I risked a sequin each
+time.  The board had thirty-six compartments, and if one lost, one
+paid thirty-two tines the amount of the stake; this, of course, was
+an enormous advantage for the bank.
+
+Each player drew three numbers in succession, and there were three
+professionals; one kept the bag, another the bank, and the third the
+board, and the last took care to gather in the winnings as soon as
+the result was known, and the bank amounted to two thousand sequins
+or thereabouts.  The table, the cloth, and four silver candlesticks
+belonged to the players.
+
+I sat at the left of Madame Isola-Bella, who began to play, and as
+there were fifteen or sixteen of us I had lost about fifty sequins
+when my turn came, for my harlequin had not appeared once.  Everybody
+pitied me, or pretended to do so, for selfishness is the predominant
+passion of gamesters.
+
+My turn came at last.  I drew my harlequin and received thirty-two
+sequins.  I left them on the same figure, and got a thousand sequins.
+I left fifty still on the board, and the harlequin came out for the
+third time.  The bank was broken, and the table, the cloth, the
+candlesticks, and the board all belonged to me.  Everyone
+congratulated me, and the wretched bankrupt gamesters were hissed,
+hooted, and turned out of doors.
+
+After the first transports were over, I saw that the ladies were in
+distress; for as there could be no more gaming they did not know what
+to do.  I consoled them by declaring that I would be banker, but with
+equal stakes, and that I would pay winning cards thirty-six times the
+stake instead of thirty-two.  This was pronounced charming of me, and
+I amused everybody till supper-time, without any great losses or
+gains on either side.  By dint of entreaty I made the lady of the
+house accept the whole concern as a present, and a very handsome one
+it was.
+
+The supper was pleasant enough, and my success at play was the chief
+topic of conversation.  Before leaving I asked Signora Isola-Bella
+and her marquis to dine with me, and they eagerly accepted the
+invitation.  When I got home I went to see my niece, who told me she
+had spent a delightful evening.
+
+"A very pleasant young man," said she, "who is coming to dine with us
+to-morrow, paid me great attention."
+
+"The same, I suppose, that did so yesterday?"
+
+"Yes.  Amongst other pretty things he told me that if I liked he
+would go to Marseilles and ask my hand of my father.  I said nothing,
+but I thought to myself that if the poor young man gave himself all
+this trouble he would be woefully misled, as he would not see me."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because I should be in a nunnery.  My kind good father will forgive
+me, but I must punish myself."
+
+"That is a sad design, which I hope you will abandon.  You have all
+that would make the happiness of a worthy husband.  The more I think
+it over, the more I am convinced of the truth of what I say."
+
+We said no more just then, for she needed rest.  Annette came to
+undress her, and I was glad to see the goodness of my niece towards
+her, but the coolness with which the girl behaved to her mistress did
+not escape my notice.  As soon as she came to sleep with me I gently
+remonstrated with her, bidding her to do her duty better for the
+future.  Instead of answering with a caress, as she ought to have
+done, she began to cry.
+
+"My dear child," said I, "your tears weary me.  You are only here to
+amuse me, and if you can't do that, you had better go."
+
+This hurt her foolish feelings of vanity, and she got up and went
+away without a word, leaving me to go to sleep in a very bad temper.
+
+In the morning I told her, in a stern voice, that if she played me
+such a trick again I would send her away.  Instead of trying to
+soothe me with a kiss the little rebel burst out crying again.  I
+sent her out of the room impatiently, and proceeded to count my
+gains.
+
+I thought no more about it, but presently my niece came in and asked
+me why I had vexed poor Annette.
+
+"My dear niece," said I, "tell her to behave better or else I will
+send her back to her mother's."
+
+She gave me no reply, but took a handful of silver and fled.  I had
+not time to reflect on this singular conduct, for Annette came in
+rattling her crowns in her pocket, and promised, with a kiss, not to
+make me angry any more.
+
+Such was my niece.  She knew I adored her, and she loved me; but she
+did not want me to be her lover, though she made use of the
+ascendancy which my passion gave her.  In the code of feminine
+coquetry such cases are numerous.
+
+Possano came uninvited to see me, and congratulated me on my victory
+of the evening before.
+
+"Who told you about it?"
+
+"I have just been at the coffee-house, where everybody is talking of
+it.  It was a wonderful victory, for those biribanti are knaves of
+the first water.  Your adventure is making a great noise, for
+everyone says that you could not have broken their bank unless you
+had made an agreement with the man that kept the bag."
+
+"My dear fellow, I am tired of you.  Here, take this piece of money
+for your wife and be off."
+
+The piece of money I had given him was a gold coin worth a hundred
+Genoese livres, which the Government had struck for internal
+commerce; there were also pieces of fifty and twenty-five livres.
+
+I was going on with my calculations when Clairmont brought me a note.
+It was from Irene, and contained a tender invitation to breakfast
+with her.  I did not know that she was in Genoa, and the news gave me
+very great pleasure.  I locked up my money, dressed in haste, and
+started out to see her.  I found her in good and well-furnished
+rooms, and her old father, Count Rinaldi, embraced me with tears of
+joy.
+
+After the ordinary compliments had been passed, the old man proceeded
+to congratulate me on my winnings of the night before.
+
+"Three thousand sequins!" he exclaimed, "that is a grand haul
+indeed."
+
+"Quite so."
+
+"The funny part of it is that the man who keeps the bag is in the pay
+of the others."
+
+"What strikes you as funny in that?"
+
+"Why, he gained half without any risk, otherwise he would not have
+been likely to have entered into an agreement with you."
+
+"You think, then, that it was a case of connivance?"
+
+"Everybody says so; indeed what else could it be?  The rascal has
+made his fortune without running any risk.  All the Greeks in Genoa
+are applauding him and you."
+
+"As the greater rascal of the two?"
+
+"They don't call you a rascal; they say you're a great genius; you
+are praised and envied."
+
+"I am sure I ought to be obliged to them."
+
+"I heard it all from a gentleman who was there.  He says that the
+second and the third time the man with the bag gave you the office."
+
+"And you believe this?"
+
+"I am sure of it.  No man of honour in your position could have acted
+otherwise.  However, when you come to settle up with the fellow I
+advise you to be very careful, for there will be spies on your
+tracks.  If you like, I will do the business for you."
+
+I had enough self-restraint to repress the indignation and rage I
+felt.  Without a word I took my hat and marched out of the room,
+sternly repulsing Irene who tried to prevent me from going as she had
+done once before.  I resolved not to have anything more to do with
+the wretched old count.
+
+This calumnious report vexed me extremely, although I knew that most
+gamesters would consider it an honour.  Possano and Rinaldi had said
+enough to shew me that all the town was talking over it, and I was
+not surprised that everyone believed it; but for my part I did not
+care to be taken for a rogue when I had acted honourably.
+
+I felt the need of unbosoming myself to someone, and walked towards
+the Strada Balbi to call on the Marquis Grimaldi, and discuss the
+matter with him.  I was told he was gone to the courts, so I followed
+him there and was ushered into vast hall, where he waited on me.  I
+told him my story, and he said,
+
+"My dear chevalier, you ought to laugh at it, and I should not advise
+you to take the trouble to refute the calumny."
+
+"Then you advise me to confess openly that I am a rogue?"
+
+"No, for only fools will think that of you.  Despise them, unless
+they tell you you are a rogue to your face."
+
+"I should like to know the name of the nobleman who was present and
+sent this report about the town."
+
+"I do not know who it is.  He was wrong to say anything, but you
+would be equally wrong in taking any steps against him, for I am sure
+he did not tell the story with any intention of giving offence; quite
+the contrary."
+
+"I am lost in wonder at his course of reasoning.  Let us suppose that
+the facts were as he told them, do you think they are to my honour?"
+
+"Neither to your honour nor shame.  Such are the morals and such the
+maxims of gamesters.  The story will be laughed at, your skill will
+be applauded, and you will be admired, for each one will say that in
+your place he would have done likewise!"
+
+"Would you?"
+
+"Certainly.  If I had been sure that the ball would have gone to the
+harlequin, I would have broken the rascal's bank, as you did.  I will
+say honestly that I do not know whether you won by luck or skill, but
+the most probable hypothesis, to my mind, is that you knew the
+direction of the ball.  You must confess that there is something to
+be said in favour of the supposition."
+
+"I confess that there is, but it is none the less a dishonourable
+imputation on me, and you in your turn must confess that those who
+think that I won by sleight of hand, or by an agreement with a
+rascal, insult me grievously."
+
+"That depends on the way you look at it.  I confess they insult you,
+if you think yourself insulted; but they are not aware of that, and
+their intention being quite different there is no insult at all in
+the matter.  I promise you no one will tell you to your face that you
+cheated, but how are you going to prevent them thinking so?"
+
+"Well, let them think what they like, but let them take care not to
+tell me their thoughts."
+
+I went home angry with Grimaldi, Rinaldi, and everyone else.  My
+anger vexed me, I should properly have only laughed, for in the state
+of morals at Genoa, the accusation, whether true or false, could not
+injure my honour.  On the contrary I gained by it a reputation for
+being a genius, a term which the Genoese prefer to that Methodistical
+word, "a rogue," though the meaning is the same.  Finally I was
+astonished to find myself reflecting that I should have had no
+scruple in breaking the bank in the way suggested, if it had only
+been for the sake of making the company laugh.  What vexed me most
+was that I was credited with an exploit I had not performed.
+
+When dinner-time drew near I endeavoured to overcome my ill temper
+for the sake of the company I was going to receive.  My niece was
+adorned only with her native charms, for the rascal Croce had sold
+all her jewels; but she was elegantly dressed, and her beautiful hair
+was more precious than a crown of rubies.
+
+Rosalie came in richly dressed and looking very lovely.  Her husband,
+her uncle, and her aunt were with her, and also two friends, one of
+whom was the aspirant for the hand of my niece.
+
+Madame Isola-Bella and her shadow, M. Grimaldi, came late, like great
+people.  Just as we were going to sit down, Clairmont told me that a
+man wanted to speak to me.
+
+"Shew him in."
+
+As soon as he appeared M. Grimaldi exclaimed:
+
+"The man with the bag!"
+
+"What do you want?" I said, dryly.
+
+"Sir, I am come to ask you to help me.  I am a family man, and it is
+thought that .  .  ."
+
+I did not let him finish.
+
+"I have never refused to aid the unfortunate," said I.  "Clairmont,
+give him ten sequins.  Leave the room."
+
+This incident spoke in my favour, and made me in a better temper.
+
+We sat down to table, and a letter was handed to me.  I recognized
+Possano's writing, and put it in my pocket without reading it.
+
+The dinner was delicious, and my cook was pronounced to have won his
+spurs.  Though her exalted rank and the brilliance of her attire gave
+Signora Isoia-Bella the first place of right, she was nevertheless
+eclipsed by my two nieces.  The young Genoese was all attention for
+the fair Marseillaise, and I could see that she was not displeased.
+I sincerely wished to see her in love with someone, and I liked her
+too well to bear the idea of her burying herself in a convent.  She
+could never be happy till she found someone who would make her forget
+the rascal who had brought her to the brink of ruin.
+
+I seized the opportunity, when all my guests were engaged with each
+other, to open Possano's letter.  It ran as follows:
+
+"I went to the bank to change the piece of gold you gave me.  It was
+weighed, and found to be ten carats under weight.  I was told to name
+the person from whom I got it, but of course I did not do so.  I then
+had to go to prison, and if you do not get me out of the scrape I
+shall be prosecuted, though of course I am not going to get myself
+hanged for anybody."
+
+I gave the letter to Grimaldi, and when we had left the table he took
+me aside, and said,--
+
+"This is a very serious matter, for it may end in the gallows for the
+man who clipped the coin."
+
+"Then they can hang the biribanti!  That won't hurt me much."
+
+"No, that won't do; it would compromise Madame Isola-Bella, as biribi
+is strictly forbidden.  Leave it all to me, I will speak to the State
+Inquisitors about it.  Tell Possano to persevere in his silence, and
+that you will see him safely through.  The laws against coiners and
+clippers are only severe with regard to these particular coins, as
+the Government has special reasons for not wishing them to be
+depreciated."
+
+I wrote to Possano, and sent for a pair of scales.  We weighed the
+gold I had won at biribi, and every single piece had been clipped.
+M. Grimaldi said he would have them defaced and sold to a jeweller.
+
+When we got back to the dining-room we found everybody at play.
+M. Grimaldi proposed that I should play at quinze with him.  I
+detested the game, but as he was my guest I felt it would be impolite
+to refuse, and in four hours I had lost five hundred sequins.
+
+Next morning the marquis told me that Possano was out of prison, and
+that he had been given the value of the coin.  He brought me thirteen
+hundred sequins which had resulted from the sale of the gold.  We
+agreed that I was to call on Madame Isola-Bella the next day, when he
+would give me my revenge at quinze.
+
+I kept the appointment, and lost three thousand sequins.  I paid him
+a thousand the next day, and gave him two bills of exchange, payable
+by myself, for the other two thousand.  When these bills were
+presented I was in England, and being badly off I had to have them
+protested.  Five years later, when I was at Barcelona, M. de Grimaldi
+was urged by a traitor to have me imprisoned, but he knew enough of
+me to be sure that if I did not meet the bills it was from sheer
+inability to do so.  He even wrote me a very polite letter, in which
+he gave the name of my enemy, assuring me that he would never take
+any steps to compel me to pay the money.  This enemy was Possano, who
+was also at Barcelona, though I was not aware of his presence.  I
+will speak of the circumstance in due time, but I cannot help
+remarking that all who aided me in my pranks with Madame d'Urfe
+proved traitors, with the exception of a Venetian girl, whose
+acquaintance the reader will make in the following chapter.
+
+In spite of my losses I enjoyed myself, and had plenty of money, for
+after all I had only lost what I had won at biribi.  Rosalie often
+dined with us, either alone or with her husband, and I supped
+regularly at her home with my niece, whose love affair seemed quite
+promising.  I congratulated her upon the circumstance, but she
+persisted in her determination to take refuge from the world in a
+cloister.  Women often do the most idiotic things out of sheer
+obstinacy; possibly they deceive even themselves, and act in good
+faith; but unfortunately, when the veil falls from before their eyes,
+they see but the profound abyss into which their folly had plunged
+them.
+
+In the meanwhile, my niece had become so friendly and familiar that
+she would often come and sit on my bed in the morning when Annette
+was still in my arms.  Her presence increased my ardour, and I
+quenched the fires on the blonde which the brunette was kindling.  My
+niece seemed to enjoy the sight, and I could see that her senses were
+being pleasantly tortured.  Annette was short-sighted, and so did not
+perceive my distractions, while my fair niece caressed me slightly,
+knowing that it would add to my pleasures.  When she thought I was
+exhausted she told Annette to get up and leave me alone with her, as
+she wanted to tell me something.  She then began to jest and toy, and
+though her dress was extremely disordered she seemed to think that
+her charms would exercise no power over me.  She was quite mistaken,
+but I was careful not to undeceive her for fear of losing her
+confidence.  I watched the game carefully, and noting how little by
+little her familiarity increased, I felt sure that she would have to
+surrender at last, if not at Genoa, certainly on the journey, when we
+would be thrown constantly in each other's society with nobody to spy
+upon our actions, and with nothing else to do but to make love.  It
+is the weariness of a journey, the constant monotony, that makes one
+do something to make sure of one's existence; and when it comes to
+the reckoning there is usually more joy than repentance.
+
+But the story of my journey from Genoa to Marseilles was written in
+the book of fate, and could not be read by me.  All I knew was that I
+must soon go as Madame d'Urfe was waiting for me at Marseilles.  I
+knew not that in this journey would be involved the fate of a
+Venetian girl of whom I had never heard, who had never seen me, but
+whom I was destined to render happy.  My fate seemed to have made me
+stop at Genoa to wait for her.
+
+I settled my accounts with the banker, to whom I had been accredited,
+and I took a letter of credit on Marseilles, where, however, I was
+not likely to want for funds, as my high treasurer, Madame d'Urfe was
+there.  I took leave of Madame Isola-Bella and her circle that I
+might be able to devote all my time to Rosalie and her friends.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+Disgraceful Behaviour of My Brother, the Abbe, I Relieve Him of His
+Mistress--Departure from Genoa--The Prince of Monaco--My Niece
+Overcome--Our Arrival at Antibes
+
+
+On the Tuesday in Holy Week I was just getting up, when Clairmont
+came to tell me that a priest who would not give his name wanted to
+speak to me.  I went out in my night-cap, and the rascally priest
+rushed at me and nearly choked me with his embraces.  I did not like
+so much affection, and as I had not recognized him at first on
+account of the darkness of the room, I took him by the arm and led
+him to the window.  It was my youngest brother, a good-for-nothing
+fellow, whom I had always disliked.  I had not seen him for ten
+years, but I cared so little about him that I had not even enquired
+whether he were alive or dead in the correspondence I maintained with
+M. de Bragadin, Dandolo, and Barbaro.
+
+As soon as his silly embraces were over, I coldly asked him what
+chance had brought him to Genoa in this disgusting state of dirt,
+rags, and tatters.  He was only twenty-nine, his complexion was fresh
+and healthy, and he had a splendid head of hair.  He was a posthumous
+son, born like Mahomet, three months after the death of his father.
+
+"The story of my misfortunes would be only too long.  Take me into
+your room, and I will sit down and tell you the whole story."
+
+"First of all, answer my questions.  How long have you been here?"
+
+"Since yesterday."
+
+"Who told you that I was here?"
+
+"Count B----, at Milan."
+
+"Who told you that the count knew me?"
+
+"I found out by chance.  I was at M. de Bragadin's a month ago, and
+on his table I saw a letter from the count to you."
+
+"Did you tell him you were my brother?"
+
+"I had to when he said how much I resembled you."
+
+"He made a mistake, for you are a blockhead."
+
+"He did not think so, at all events, for he asked me to dinner."
+
+"You must have cut a pretty figure, if you were in your present
+state."
+
+"He gave me four sequins to come here; otherwise, I should never have
+been able to do the journey."
+
+"Then he did a very foolish thing.  You're a mere beggar, then; you
+take alms.  Why did you leave Venice?  What do you want with me?
+I can do nothing for you."
+
+"Ah! do not make me despair, or I shall kill myself."
+
+"That's the very best thing you could do; but you are too great a
+coward.  I ask again why you left Venice, where you could say mass,
+and preach, and make an honest living, like many priests much better
+than you?"
+
+"That is the kernel of the whole matter.  Let us go in and I will
+tell you."
+
+"No; wait for me here.  We will go somewhere where you can tell me
+your story, if I have patience to listen to it.  But don't tell any
+of my people that you are my brother, for I am ashamed to have such a
+relation.  Come, take me to the place where you are staying."
+
+"I must tell you that at my inn I am not alone, and I want to have a
+private interview with you."
+
+"Who is with you?"
+
+"I will tell you presently, but let us go into a coffeehouse."
+
+"Are you in company with a band of brigands?  What are you sighing
+at?"
+
+"I must confess it, however painful it may be to my feelings.  I am
+with a woman."
+
+"A woman! and you a priest!"
+
+"Forgive me.  I was blinded by love, and seduced by my senses and her
+beauty, so I seduced her under a promise to marry her at Geneva.  I
+can never go back to Venice, for I took her away from her father's
+house."
+
+"What could you do at Geneva?  They would expel you after you had
+been there three or four days.  Come, we will go to the inn and see
+the woman you have deceived.  I will speak to you afterwards."
+
+I began to trace my steps in the direction he had pointed out, and he
+was obliged to follow me.  As soon as we got to the inn, he went on
+in front, and after climbing three flights of stairs I entered a
+wretched den where I saw a tall young girl, a sweet brunette, who
+looked proud and not in the least confused.  As soon as I made my
+appearance she said, without any greeting,--
+
+"Are you the brother of this liar and monster who has deceived me so
+abominably?"
+
+"Yes," said I.  "I have the honour."
+
+"A fine honour, truly.  Well, have the kindness to send me back to
+Venice, for I won't stop any longer with this rascal whom I listened
+to like the fool I was, who turned my head with his lying tales.  He
+was going to meet you at Milan, and you were to give us enough money
+to go to Geneva, and there we were to turn Protestants and get
+married.  He swore you were expecting him at Milan, but you were not
+there at all, and he contrived to get money in some way or another,
+and brought me here miserably enough.  I thank Heaven he has found
+you at last, for if he had not I should have started off by myself
+and begged my way.  I have not a single thing left; the wretch sold
+all I possessed at Bergamo and Verona.  I don't know how I kept my
+senses through it all.  To hear him talk, the world was a paradise
+outside Venice, but I have found to my cost that there is no place
+like home.  I curse the hour when I first saw the miserable wretch.
+He's a beggarly knave; always whining.  He wanted to enjoy his rights
+as my husband when we got to Padua, but I am thankful to say I gave
+him nothing.  Here is the writing he gave me; take it, and do what
+you like with it.  But if you have any heart, send me back to Venice
+or I will tramp there on foot."
+
+I had listened to this long tirade without interrupting her.  She
+might have spoken at much greater length, so far as I was concerned;
+my astonishment took my breath away.  Her discourse had all the fire
+of eloquence, and was heightened by her expressive face and the
+flaming glances she shot from her eyes.
+
+My brother, sitting down with his head between his hands, and obliged
+to listen in silence to this long catalogue of well-deserved
+reproaches, gave something of a comic element to the scene.  In spite
+of that, however, I was much touched by the sad aspects of the girl's
+story.  I felt at once that I must take charge of her, and put an end
+to this ill-assorted match.  I imagined that I should not have much
+difficulty in sending her back to Venice, which she might never have
+quitted if it had not been for her trust in me, founded on the
+fallacious promises of her seducer.
+
+The true Venetian character of the girl struck me even more than her
+beauty.  Her courage, frank indignation, and the nobility of her
+aspect made me resolve not to abandon her.  I could not doubt that
+she had told a true tale, as my brother continued to observe a guilty
+silence.
+
+I watched her silently for some time, and, my mind being made up,
+said,--
+
+"I promise to send you back to Venice with a respectable woman to
+look after you; but you will be unfortunate if you carry back with
+you the results of your amours."
+
+"What results?  Did I not tell you that we were going to be married
+at Geneva?"
+
+"Yes, but in spite of that .  .  ."
+
+"I understand you, sir, but I am quite at ease on that point, as I am
+happy to say that I did not yield to any of the wretch's desires."
+
+"Remember," said the abbe, in a plaintive voice, "the oath you took
+to be mine for ever.  You swore it upon the crucifix."
+
+So saying he got up and approached her with a supplicating gesture,
+but as soon as he was within reach she gave him a good hearty box on
+the ear.  I expected to see a fight, in which I should not have
+interfered, but nothing of the kind.  The humble abbe gently turned
+away to the window, and casting his eyes to heaven began to weep.
+
+"You are too malicious, my dear," I said; "the poor devil is only
+unhappy because you have made him in love with you."
+
+"If he is it's his own fault, I should never have thought of him but
+for his coming to me and fooling me, I shall never forgive him till
+he is out of my sight.  That's not the first blow I have given him;
+I had to begin at Padua."
+
+"Yes," said the abbe, "but you are excommunicated, for I am a
+priest."
+
+"It's little I care for the excommunication of a scoundrel like you,
+and if you say another word I will give you some more."
+
+"Calm yourself, my child," said I; "you have cause to be angry, but
+you should not beat him.  Take up your things and follow me."
+
+"Where are you going to take her?" said the foolish priest.
+
+"To my own house, and I should advise you to hold your tongue.  Here,
+take these twenty sequins and buy yourself some clean clothes and
+linen, and give those rags of yours to the beggars.  I will come and
+talk to you to-morrow, and you may thank your stars that you found me
+here.  As for you, mademoiselle, I will have you conducted to my
+lodging, for Genoa must not see you in my company after arriving here
+with a priest.  We must not have any scandal.  I shall place you
+under the charge of my landlady, but whatever you do don't tell her
+this sad story.  I will see that you are properly dressed, and that
+you want for nothing."
+
+"May Heaven reward you!"
+
+My brother, astonished at the sight of the twenty sequins, let me go
+away without a word.  I had the fair Venetian taken to my lodging in
+a sedan-chair, and putting her under the charge of my landlady I told
+the latter to see that she was properly dressed.  I wanted to see how
+she would look in decent clothes, for her present rags and tatters
+detracted from her appearance.  I warned Annette that a girl who had
+been placed in my care would eat and sleep with her, and then having
+to entertain a numerous company of guests I proceeded to make my
+toilette.
+
+Although my niece had no rights over me, I valued her esteem, and
+thought it best to tell her the whole story lest she should pass an
+unfavourable judgment on me.  She listened attentively and thanked me
+for my confidence in her, and said she should very much like to see
+the girl and the abbe too, whom she pitied, though she admitted he
+was to be blamed for what he had done.  I had got her a dress to wear
+at dinner, which became her exquisitely.  I felt only too happy to be
+able to please her in any way, for her conduct towards myself and the
+way she treated her ardent lover commanded my admiration.  She saw
+him every day either at my house or at Rosalie's.  The young man had
+received an excellent education, though he was of the mercantile
+class, and wrote to her in a business-like manner, that, as they were
+well suited to each other in every way, there was nothing against his
+going to Marseilles and obtaining her father's consent to the match,
+unless it were a feeling of aversion on her side.  He finished by
+requesting her to give him an answer.  She shewed me the letter, and
+I congratulated her, and advised her to accept, if there was nothing
+about the young man which displeased her.
+
+"There is nothing of the kind," she said, "and Rosalie thinks with
+you."
+
+"Then tell him by word of mouth that you give your consent, and will
+expect to see him at Marseilles."
+
+"Very good; as you think so, I will tell him tomorrow."
+
+When dinner was over a feeling of curiosity made me go into the room
+where Annette was dining with the Venetian girl, whose name was
+Marcoline.  I was struck with astonishment on seeing her, for she was
+completely changed, not so much by the pretty dress she had on as by
+the contented expression of her face, which made her look quite
+another person.  Good humour had vanquished unbecoming rage, and the
+gentleness born of happiness made her features breathe forth love.
+I could scarcely believe that this charming creature before me was
+the same who had dealt such a vigorous blow to my brother, a priest,
+and a sacred being in the eyes of the common people.  They were
+eating, and laughing at not being able to understand each other, for
+Marcoline only spoke Venetian, and Annette Genoese, and the latter
+dialect does not resemble the former any more than Bohemian resembles
+Dutch.
+
+I spoke to Marcoline in her native tongue, which was mine too, and
+she said,--
+
+"I seem to have suddenly passed from hell to Paradise."
+
+"Indeed, you look like an angel."
+
+"You called me a little devil this morning.  But here is a fair
+angel," said she, pointing to Annette; "we don't see such in Venice."
+
+"She is my treasure."
+
+Shortly after my niece came in, and seeing me talking and laughing
+with the two girls began to examine the new-comer.  She told me in
+French that she thought her perfectly beautiful, and repeating her
+opinion to the girl in Italian gave her a kiss.  Marcoline asked her
+plainly in the Venetian manner who she was.
+
+"I am this gentleman's niece, and he is taking me back to Marseilles,
+where my home is."
+
+"Then you would have been my niece too, if I had married his brother.
+I wish I had such a pretty niece."
+
+This pleasant rejoinder was followed by a storm of kisses given and
+returned with ardour which one might pronounce truly Venetian, if it
+were not that this would wound the feelings of the almost equally
+ardent Provencals.
+
+I took my niece for a sail in the bay, and after we had enjoyed one
+of those delicious evenings which I think can be found nowhere else--
+sailing on a mirror silvered by the moon, over which float the odours
+of the jasmine, the orange-blossom, the pomegranates, the aloes, and
+all the scented flowers which grow along the coasts--we returned to
+our lodging, and I asked Annette what had become of Marcoline.  She
+told me that she had gone to bed early, and I went gently into her
+room, with no other intention than to see her asleep.  The light of
+the candle awoke her, and she did not seem at all frightened at
+seeing me.  I sat by the bed, and fell to making love to her, and at
+last made as if I would kiss her, but she resisted, and we went on
+talking.
+
+When Annette had put her mistress to bed, she came in and found us
+together.
+
+"Go to bed, my dear," said I.  "I will come to you directly."
+
+Proud of being my mistress, she gave me a fiery kiss and went away
+without a word.
+
+I began to talk about my brother, and passing from him to myself I
+told her of the interest I felt for her, saying that I would either
+have her taken to Venice, or bring her with me when I went to France.
+
+"Do you want to marry me?"
+
+"No, I am married already."
+
+"That's a lie, I know, but it doesn't matter.  Send me back to
+Venice, and the sooner the better.  I don't want to be anybody's
+concubine."
+
+"I admire your sentiments, my dear, they do you honour."
+
+Continuing my praise I became pressing, not using any force, but
+those gentle caresses which are so much harder for a woman to resist
+than a violent attack.  Marcoline laughed, but seeing that I
+persisted in spite of her resistance, she suddenly glided out of the
+bed and took refuge in my niece's room and locked the door after her.
+I was not displeased; the thing was done so easily and gracefully.  I
+went to bed with Annette, who lost nothing by the ardour with which
+Marcoline had inspired me.  I told her how she had escaped from my
+hands, and Annette was loud in her praises.
+
+In the morning I got up early and went into my niece's room to enjoy
+the sight of the companion I had involuntarily given her, and the two
+girls were certainly a very pleasant sight.  As soon as my niece saw
+me, she exclaimed,--
+
+"My dear uncle, would you believe it?  This sly Venetian has violated
+me."
+
+Marcoline understood her, and far from denying the fact proceeded to
+give my niece fresh marks of her affection, which were well received,
+and from the movements of the sheets which covered them I could make
+a pretty good guess as to the nature of their amusement.
+
+"This is a rude shock to the respect which your uncle has had for
+your prejudices," said I.
+
+"The sports of two girls cannot tempt a man who has just left the
+arms of Annette."
+
+"You are wrong, and perhaps you know it, for I am more than tempted."
+
+With these words I lifted the sheets of the bed.  Marcoline shrieked
+but did not move, but my niece earnestly begged me to replace the
+bed-clothes.  However, the picture before me was too charming to be
+concealed.
+
+At this point Annette came in, and in obedience to her mistress
+replaced the coverlet over the two Bacchantes.  I felt angry with
+Annette, and seizing her threw her on the bed, and then and there
+gave the two sweethearts such an interesting spectacle that they left
+their own play to watch us.  When I had finished, Annette, who was in
+high glee; said I was quite right to avenge myself on their prudery.
+I felt satisfied with what I had done, and went to breakfast.  I then
+dressed, and visited my brother.
+
+"How is Marcoline?" said he, as soon as he saw me.
+
+"Very well, and you needn't trouble yourself any more about her.  She
+is well lodged, well dressed, and well fed, and sleeps with my
+niece's maid."
+
+"I didn't know I had a niece."
+
+"There are many things you don't know.  In three or four days she
+will return to Venice."
+
+"I hope, dear brother, that you will ask me to dine with you to-day."
+
+"Not at all, dear brother.  I forbid you to set foot in my house,
+where your presence would be offensive to Marcoline, whom you must
+not see any more."
+
+"Yes, I will; I will return to Venice, if I have to hang for it."
+
+"What good would that be?  She won't have you."
+
+"She loves me."
+
+"She beats you."
+
+"She beats me because she loves me.  She will be as gentle as a lamb
+when she sees me so well dressed.  You do not know how I suffer."
+
+"I can partly guess, but I do not pity you, for you are an impious
+and cruel fool.  You have broken your vows, and have not hesitated to
+make a young girl endure misery and degradation to satisfy your
+caprice.  What would you have done, I should like to know, if I had
+given you the cold shoulder instead of helping you?"
+
+"I should have gone into the street, and begged for my living with
+her."
+
+"She would have beaten you, and would probably have appealed to the
+law to get rid of you."
+
+"But what will you do for me, if I let her go back to Venice without
+following her."
+
+"I will take you to France, and try to get you employed by some
+bishop."
+
+"Employed!  I was meant by nature to be employed by none but God."
+
+"You proud fool!  Marcoline rightly called you a whiner.  Who is your
+God?  How do you serve Him?  You are either a hypocrite or an idiot.
+Do you think that you, a priest, serve God by decoying an innocent
+girl away from her home?  Do you serve Him by profaning the religion
+you do not even understand?  Unhappy fool! do you think that with no
+talent, no theological learning, and no eloquence, you can be a
+Protestant minister.  Take care never to come to my house, or I will
+have you expelled from Genoa."
+
+"Well, well, take me to Paris, and I will see what my brother Francis
+can do for me; his heart is not so hard as yours."
+
+"Very good!  you shall go to Paris, and we will start from here in
+three or four days.  Eat and drink to your heart's content, but
+remain indoors; I will let you know when we are going.  I shall have
+my niece, my secretary, and my valet with me.  We shall travel by
+sea."
+
+"The sea makes me sick."
+
+"That will purge away some of your bad humours."
+
+When I got home I told Marcoline what had passed between us.
+
+"I hate him!" said she; "but I forgive him, since it is through him I
+know you."
+
+"And I forgive him, too, because unless it had been for him I should
+never have seen you.  But I love you, and I shall die unless you
+satisfy my desires."
+
+"Never; for I know I should be madly in love with you, and then you
+would leave me, and I should be miserable again."
+
+"I will never leave you."
+
+"If you will swear that, take me into France and make me all your
+own.  Here you must continue living with Annette; besides, I have got
+your niece to make love to."
+
+The pleasant part of the affair was that my niece was equally taken
+with her, and had begged me to let her take meals with us and sleep
+with her.  As I had a prospect of being at their lascivious play, I
+willingly consented, and henceforth she was always present at the
+table.  We enjoyed her company immensely, for she told us side-
+splitting tales which kept us at table till it was time to go to
+Rosalie's, where my niece's adorer was certain to be awaiting us.
+
+The next day, which was Holy Thursday, Rosalie came with us to see
+the processions.  I had Rosalie and Marcoline with me, one on each
+arm, veiled in their mezzaros, and my niece was under the charge of
+her lover.  The day after we went to see the procession called at
+Genoa Caracce, and Marcoline pointed out my brother who kept hovering
+round us, though he pretended not to see us.  He was most carefully
+dressed, and the stupid fop seemed to think he was sure to find
+favour in Marcoline's eyes, and make her regret having despised him;
+but he was woefully deceived, for Marcoline knew how to manage her
+mezzaro so well that, though he was both seen and laughed at, the
+poor devil could not be certain that she had noticed him at all, and
+in addition the sly girl held me so closely by the arm that he must
+have concluded we were very intimate.
+
+My niece and Marcoline thought themselves the best friends in the
+world, and could not bear my telling them that their amorous sports
+were the only reason for their attachment.  They therefore agreed to
+abandon them as soon as we left Genoa, and promised that I should
+sleep between them in the felucca, all of us to keep our clothes on.
+I said I should hold them to their word, and I fixed our departure
+for Thursday.  I ordered the felucca to be in readiness and summoned
+my brother to go on board.
+
+It was a cruel moment when I left Annette with her mother.  She wept
+so bitterly that all of us had to shed tears.  My niece gave her a
+handsome dress and I thirty sequins, promising to come and see her
+again on my return from England.  Possano was told to go on board
+with the abbe; I had provisioned the boat for three days.  The young
+merchant promised to be at Marseilles, telling my niece that by the
+time he came everything would be settled.  I was delighted to hear
+it; it assured me that her father would give her a kind reception.
+Our friends did not leave us till the moment we went on board.
+
+The felucca was very conveniently arranged, and was propelled by the
+twelve oarsmen.  On the deck there were also twenty-four muskets, so
+that we should have been able to defend ourselves against a pirate.
+Clairmont had arranged my carriage and my trunks so cleverly, that by
+stretching five mattresses over them we had an excellent bed, where
+we could sleep and undress ourselves in perfect comfort; we had good
+pillows and plenty of sheets.  A long awning covered the deck, and
+two lanterns were hung up, one at each end.  In the evening they were
+lighted and Clairmont brought in supper.  I had warned my brother
+that at the slightest presumption on his part he should be flung into
+the sea, so I allowed him and Possano to sup with us.
+
+I sat between my two nymphs and served the company merrily, first my
+niece, then Marcoline, then my brother, and finally Possano.  No
+water was drunk at table, so we each emptied a bottle of excellent
+Burgundy, and when we had finished supper the rowers rested on their
+oars, although the wind was very light.  I had the lamps put out and
+went to bed with my two sweethearts, one on each side of me.
+
+The light of dawn awoke me, and I found my darlings still sleeping in
+the same position.  I could kiss neither of them, since one passed
+for my niece, and my sense of humanity would not allow me to treat
+Marcoline as my mistress in the presence of an unfortunate brother
+who adored her, and had never obtained the least favour from her.  He
+was lying near at hand, overwhelmed with grief and seasickness, and
+watching and listening with all his might for the amorous encounter
+he suspected us of engaging in.  I did not want to have any
+unpleasantness, so I contented myself with gazing on them till the
+two roses awoke and opened their eyes.
+
+When this delicious sight was over, I got up and found that we were
+only opposite Final, and I proceeded to reprimand the master.
+
+"The wind fell dead at Savona, sir"; and all the seamen chorused his
+excuse.
+
+"Then you should have rowed instead of idling."
+
+"We were afraid of waking you.  You shall be at Antibes by tomorrow."
+
+After passing the time by eating a hearty meal, we took a fancy to go
+on shore at St. Remo.  Everybody was delighted.  I took my two nymphs
+on land, and after forbidding any of the others to disembark I
+conducted the ladies to an inn, where I ordered coffee.  A man
+accosted us, and invited us to come and play biribi at his house.
+
+"I thought the game was forbidden in Genoa," said I.  I felt certain
+that the players were the rascals whose bank I had broken at Genoa,
+so I accepted the invitation.  My niece had fifty Louis in her purse,
+and I gave fifteen to Marcoline.  We found a large assemblage, room
+was made for us, and I recognized the knaves of Genoa.  As soon as
+they saw me they turned pale and trembled.  I should say that the man
+with the bag was not the poor devil who had served me so well without
+wanting to.
+
+"I play harlequin," said I.
+
+"There isn't one."
+
+"What's the bank?"
+
+"There it is.  We play for small stakes here, and those two hundred
+louis are quite sufficient.  You can bet as low as you like, and the
+highest stake is of a louis."
+
+"That's all very well, but my louis is full weight."
+
+"I think ours are, too."
+
+"Are you sure?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then I won't play," said I, to the keeper of the rooms.
+
+"You are right; bring the scales."
+
+The banker then said that when play was over he would give four
+crowns of six livres for every louis that the company had won, and
+the matter was settled.  In a moment the board was covered with
+stakes.
+
+We each punted a louis at a time, and I and my niece lost twenty
+Louis, but Marcoline, who had never possessed two sequins in her life
+before, won two hundred and forty Louis.  She played on the figure of
+an abbe which came out fifth twenty times.  She was given a bag full
+of crown pieces, and we returned to the felucca.
+
+The wind was contrary, and we had to row all night, and in the
+morning the sea was so rough that we had to put in at Mentone.  My
+two sweethearts were very sick, as also my brother and Possano, but I
+was perfectly well.  I took the two invalids to the inn, and allowed
+my brother and Possano to land and refresh themselves.  The innkeeper
+told me that the Prince and Princess of Monaco were at Mentone, so I
+resolved to pay them a visit.  It was thirteen years since I had seen
+the prince at Paris, where I had amused him and his mistress Caroline
+at supper.  It was this prince who had taken me to see the horrible
+Duchess of Rufec; then he was unmarried, and now I met him again in
+his principality with his wife, of whom he had already two sons.  The
+princess had been a Duchess de Borgnoli, a great heiress, and a
+delightful and pretty woman.  I had heard all about her, and I was
+curious to verify the facts for myself.
+
+I called on the prince, was announced, and after a long wait they
+introduced me to his presence.  I gave him his title of highness,
+which I had never done at Paris, where he was not known under his
+full style and title.  He received me politely, but with that
+coolness which lets one know that one is not an over-welcome visitor.
+
+"You have put in on account of the bad weather, I suppose?" said he.
+
+"Yes, prince, and if your highness will allow me I will spend the
+whole day in your delicious villa."  (It is far from being
+delicious.)
+
+"As you please.  The princess as well as myself likes it better than
+our place at Monaco, so we live here by preference."
+
+"I should be grateful if your highness would present me to the
+princess."
+
+Without mentioning my name he ordered a page in waiting to present me
+to the princess.
+
+The page opened the door of a handsome room and said, "The Princess,"
+and left me.  She was singing at the piano, but as soon as she saw me
+she rose and came to meet me.  I was obliged to introduce myself, a
+most unpleasant thing, and no doubt the princess felt the position,
+for she pretended not to notice it, and addressed me with the utmost
+kindness and politeness, and in a way that shewed that she was
+learned in the maxims of good society.  I immediately became very
+much at my ease, and proceeded in a lordly manner to entertain her
+with pleasant talk, though I said nothing about my two lady friends.
+
+The princess was handsome, clever, and good-natured.  Her mother, who
+knew that a man like the prince would never make her daughter happy,
+opposed the marriage, but the young marchioness was infatuated, and
+the mother had to give in when the girl said,--
+
+"O Monaco O monaca."  (Either Monaco or a convent.)
+
+We were still occupied in the trifles which keep up an ordinary
+conversation, when the prince came in running after a waiting-maid,
+who was making her escape, laughing.  The princess pretended not to
+see him, and went on with what she was saying.  The scene displeased
+me, and I took leave of the princess, who wished me a pleasant
+journey.  I met the prince as I was going out, and he invited me to
+come and see him whenever I passed that way.
+
+"Certainly," said I ; and made my escape without saying any more.
+
+I went back to the inn and ordered a good dinner for three.
+
+In the principality of Monaco there was a French garrison, which was
+worth a pension of a hundred thousand francs to the prince--a very
+welcome addition to his income.
+
+A curled and scented young officer, passing by our room, the door of
+which was open, stopped short, and with unblushing politeness asked
+us if we would allow him to join our party.  I replied politely, but
+coldly, that he did us honour--a phrase which means neither yes nor
+no; but a Frenchman who has advanced one step never retreats.
+
+He proceeded to display his graces for the benefit of the ladies,
+talking incessantly, without giving them time to get in a word, when
+he suddenly turned to me and said that he wondered how it was that
+the prince had not asked me and my ladies to dinner.  I told him that
+I had not said anything to the prince about the treasure I had with
+me.
+
+I had scarcely uttered the words, when the kindly blockhead rose and
+cried enthusiastically,--
+
+"Parbleu!  I am no longer surprised.  I will go and tell his
+highness, and I shall soon have the honour of dining with you at the
+castle."
+
+He did not wait to hear my answer, but went off in hot haste.
+
+We laughed heartily at his folly, feeling quite sure that we should
+neither dine with him nor the prince, but in a quarter of an hour he
+returned in high glee, and invited us all to dinner on behalf of the
+prince.
+
+"I beg you will thank his highness, and at the same time ask him to
+excuse us.  The weather has improved, and I want to be off as soon as
+we have taken a hasty morsel."
+
+The young Frenchman exerted all his eloquence in vain, and at length
+retired with a mortified air to take our answer to the prince.
+
+I thought I had got rid of him at last, but I did not know my man.
+He returned a short time after, and addressing himself in a
+complacent manner to the ladies, as if I was of no more account, he
+told them that he had given the prince such a description of their
+charms that he had made up his mind to dine with them.
+
+"I have already ordered the table to be laid for two more, as I shall
+have the honour of being of the party.  In a quarter of an hour,
+ladies, the prince will be here."
+
+"Very good," said I, "but as the prince is coming I must go to the
+felucca and fetch a capital pie of which the prince is very fond, I
+know.  Come, ladies."
+
+"You can leave them here, sir.  I will undertake to keep them
+amused."
+
+"I have no doubt you would, but they have some things to get from the
+felucca as well."
+
+"Then you will allow me to come too."
+
+"Certainly with pleasure."
+
+As we were going down the stairs, I asked the innkeeper what I owed
+him.
+
+"Nothing, sir, I have just received orders to serve you in
+everything, and to take no money from you."
+
+"The prince is really magnificent!"  During this short dialogue, the
+ladies had gone on with the fop.  I hastened to rejoin them, and my
+niece took my arm, laughing heartily to hear the officer making love
+to Marcoline, who did not understand a word he said.  He did not
+notice it in the least, for his tongue kept going like the wheel of a
+mill, and he did not pause for any answers.
+
+"We shall have some fun at dinner," said my niece, "but what are we
+going to do on the felucca?"
+
+"We are leaving.  Say nothing."
+
+"Leaving?"
+
+"Immediately."
+
+"What a jest! it is worth its weight in gold."
+
+We went on board the felucca, and the officer, who was delighted with
+the pretty vessel, proceeded to examine it.  I told my niece to keep
+him company, and going to the master, whispered to him to let go
+directly.
+
+"Directly?"
+
+"Yes, this moment."
+
+"But the abbe and your secretary are gone for a walk, and two of my
+men are on shore, too."
+
+"That's no matter; we shall pick them up again at Antibes; it's only
+ten leagues, and they have plenty of money.  I must go, and directly.
+Make haste."
+
+"All right."
+
+He tripped the anchor, and the felucca began to swing away from the
+shore.  The officer asked me in great astonishment what it meant.
+
+"It means that I am going to Antibes and I shall be very glad to take
+you there for nothing."
+
+"This is a fine jest!  You are joking, surely?"
+
+"Your company will be very pleasant on the journey."
+
+"Pardieu! put me ashore, for with your leave, ladies, I cannot go to
+Antibes."
+
+"Put the gentleman ashore," said I to the master, "he does not seem
+to like our company."
+
+"It's not that, upon my honour.  These ladies are charming, but the
+prince would think that I was in the plot to play this trick upon
+him, which you must confess is rather strong."
+
+"I never play a weak trick."
+
+"But what will the prince say?"
+
+"He may say what he likes, and I shall do as I like."
+
+"Well, it's no fault of mine.  Farewell, ladies! farewell, sir!"
+
+"Farewell, and you may thank the prince for me for paying my bill."
+
+Marcoline who did not understand what was passing gazed in
+astonishment, but my niece laughed till her sides ached, for the way
+in which the poor officer had taken the matter was extremely comic.
+
+Clairmont brought us an excellent dinner, and we laughed incessantly
+during its progress, even at the astonishment of the abbe and Possano
+when they came to the quay and found the felucca had flown.  However,
+I was sure of meeting them again at Antibes, and we reached that port
+at six o'clock in the evening.
+
+The motion of the sea had tired us without making us feel sick, for
+the air was fresh, and our appetites felt the benefits of it, and in
+consequence we did great honour to the supper and the wine.
+Marcoline whose stomach was weakened by the sickness she had
+undergone soon felt the effects of the Burgundy, her eyes were heavy,
+and she went to sleep.  My niece would have imitated her, but I
+reminded her tenderly that we were at Antibes, and said I was sure
+she would keep her word.  She did not answer me, but gave me her
+hand, lowering her eyes with much modesty.
+
+Intoxicated with her submission which was so like love, I got into
+bed beside her, exclaiming,--
+
+"At last the hour of my happiness has come!
+
+"And mine too, dearest."
+
+"Yours?  Have you not continually repulsed me?"
+
+"Never!  I always loved you, and your indifference has been a bitter
+grief to me."
+
+"But the first night we left Milan you preferred being alone to
+sleeping with me."
+
+"Could I do otherwise without passing in your eyes for one more a
+slave to sensual passion than to love?  Besides you might have
+thought I was giving myself to you for the benefits I had received;
+and though gratitude be a noble feeling, it destroys all the sweet
+delights of love.  You ought to have told me that you loved me and
+subdued me by those attentions which conquer the hearts of us women.
+Then you would have seen that I loved you too, and our affection
+would have been mutual.  On my side I should have known that the
+pleasure you had of me was not given out of a mere feeling of
+gratitude.  I do not know whether you would have loved me less the
+morning after, if I had consented, but I am sure I should have lost
+your esteem."
+
+She was right, and I applauded her sentiments, while giving her to
+understand that she was to put all notions of benefits received out
+of her mind.  I wanted to make her see that I knew that there was no
+more need for gratitude on her side than mine.
+
+We spent a night that must be imagined rather than described.  She
+told me in the morning that she felt all had been for the best, as if
+she had given way at first she could never have made up her mind to
+accept the young Genoese, though he seemed likely to make her happy.
+
+Marcoline came to see us in the morning, caressed us, and promised to
+sleep by herself the rest of the voyage.
+
+"Then you are not jealous?" said I.
+
+"No, for her happiness is mine too, and I know she will make you
+happy."
+
+She became more ravishingly beautiful every day.
+
+Possano and the abbe came in just as we were sitting down to table,
+and my niece having ordered two more plates I allowed them to dine
+with us.  My brother's face was pitiful and yet ridiculous.  He could
+not walk any distance, so he had been obliged to come on horseback,
+probably for the first time in his life.
+
+"My skin is delicate," said he, "so I am all blistered.  But God's
+will be done!  I do not think any of His servants have endured
+greater torments than mine during this journey.  My body is sore, and
+so is my soul."
+
+So saying he cast a piteous glance at Marcoline, and we had to hold
+our sides to prevent ourselves laughing.  My niece could bear it no
+more, and said,--
+
+"How I pity you, dear uncle!"
+
+At this he blushed, and began to address the most absurd compliments
+to her, styling her "my dear niece."  I told him to be silent, and
+not to speak French till he was able to express himself in that
+equivocal language without making a fool of himself.  But the poet
+Pogomas spoke no better than he did.
+
+I was curious to know what had happened at Mentone after we had left,
+and Pogomas proceeded to tell the story.
+
+"When we came back from our walk we were greatly astonished not to
+find the felucca any more.  We went to the inn, where I knew you had
+ordered dinner; but the inn-keeper knew nothing except that he was
+expecting the prince and a young officer to dine with you.  I told
+him he might wait for you in vain, and just then the prince came up
+in a rage, and told the inn-keeper that now you were gone he might
+look to you for his payment.  'My lord,' said the inn-keeper, 'the
+gentleman wanted to pay me, but I respected the orders I had received
+from your highness and would not take the money.'  At this the prince
+flung him a louis with an ill grace, and asked us who we were.  I
+told him that we belonged to you, and that you had not waited for us
+either, which put us to great trouble.  'You will get away easily
+enough,' said he; and then he began to laugh, and swore the jest was
+a pleasant one.  He then asked me who the ladies were.  I told him
+that the one was your niece, and that I knew nothing of the other;
+but the abbe interfered, and said she was your cuisine.  The prince
+guessed he meant to say 'cousin,' and burst out laughing, in which he
+was joined by the young officer.  'Greet him from me,' said he, as he
+went away, 'and tell him that we shall meet again, and that I will
+pay him out for the trick he has played me.'  "The worthy host
+laughed, too, when the prince had gone, and gave us a good dinner,
+saying that the prince's Louis would pay for it all.  When we had
+dined we hired two horses, and slept at Nice.  In the morning we rode
+on again, being certain of finding you here."  Marcoline told the
+abbe in a cold voice to take care not to tell anyone else that she
+was his cuisine, or his cousin, or else it would go ill with him, as
+she did not wish to be thought either the one or the other.  I also
+advised him seriously not to speak French for the future, as the
+absurd way in which he had committed himself made everyone about him
+ashamed.
+
+Just as I was ordering post-horses to take us to Frejus, a man
+appeared, and told me I owed him ten louis for the storage of a
+carriage which I had left on his hands nearly three years ago.  This
+was when I was taking Rosalie to Italy.  I laughed, for the carriage
+itself was not worth five louis.  "Friend," said I, "I make you a
+present of the article."
+
+"I don't want your present.  I want the ten louis you owe me."
+
+"You won't get the ten louis.  I will see you further first."
+
+"We will see about that"; and so saying he took his departure.
+
+I sent for horses that we might continue our journey.
+
+A few moments after, a sergeant summoned me to the governor's
+presence.  I followed him, and was politely requested to pay the ten
+louis that my creditor demanded.  I answered that, in the agreement I
+had entered into for six francs a month, there was no mention of the
+length of the term, and that I did not want to withdraw my carriage.
+
+"But supposing you were never to withdraw it?"
+
+"Then the man could bequeath his claim to his heir."
+
+"I believe he could oblige you to withdraw it, or to allow it to be
+sold to defray expenses."
+
+"You are right, sir, and I wish to spare him that trouble.  I make
+him a present of the carriage."
+
+"That's fair enough.  Friend, the carriage is yours."
+
+"But sir," said the plaintiff, "it is not enough; the carriage is not
+worth ten louis, and I want the surplus."
+
+"You are in the wrong.  I wish you a pleasant journey, sir, and I
+hope you will forgive the ignorance of these poor people, who would
+like to shape the laws according to their needs."
+
+All this trouble had made me lose a good deal of time, and I
+determined to put off my departure till the next day.  However, I
+wanted a carriage for Possano and the abbe, and I got my secretary to
+buy the one I had abandoned for four louis.  It was in a deplorable
+state, and I had to have it repaired, which kept us till the
+afternoon of the next day; however, so far as pleasure was concerned,
+the time was not lost.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+My Arrival at Marseilles--Madame d'Urfe--My Niece Is Welcomed by
+Madame Audibert I Get Rid of My Brother and Possano--Regeneration
+--Departure of Madame d'Urfe--Marcoline Remains Constant
+
+
+My niece, now my mistress, grew more dear to me every day, and I
+could not help trembling when I reflected that Marseilles would be
+the tomb of our love.  Though I could not help arriving there, I
+prolonged my happiness as long as I could by travelling by short
+stages.  I got to Frejus in less than three hours, and stopped there,
+and telling Possano and the abbe to do as they liked during our stay,
+I ordered a delicate supper and choice wine for myself and my nymphs.
+Our repast lasted till midnight, then we went to bed, and passed the
+time in sweet sleep and sweeter pleasures.  I made the same
+arrangements at Lucca, Brignoles, and Aubayne, where I passed the
+sixth and last night of happiness.
+
+As soon as I got to Marseilles I conducted my niece to Madame
+Audibert's, and sent Possano and my brother to the "Trieze Cantons"
+inn, bidding them observe the strictest silence with regard to me,
+for Madame d'Urfe had been awaiting me for three weeks, and I wished
+to be my own herald to her.
+
+It was at Madame Audibert's that my niece had met Croce.  She was a
+clever woman, and had known the girl from her childhood, and it was
+through her that my niece hoped to be restored to her father's good
+graces.  We had agreed that I should leave my niece and Marcoline in
+the carriage, and should interview Madame Audibert, whose
+acquaintance I had made before, and with whom I could make
+arrangements for my niece's lodging till some arrangement was come
+to.
+
+Madame Audibert saw me getting out of my carriage, and as she did not
+recognize me her curiosity made her come down and open the door.  She
+soon recognized me, and consented to let me have a private interview
+with the best grace in the world.
+
+I did not lose any time in leading up to the subject, and after I had
+given her a rapid sketch of the affair, how misfortune had obliged La
+Croix to abandon Mdlle. Crosin, how I had been able to be of service
+to her, and finally, how she had had the good luck to meet a wealthy
+and distinguished person, who would come to Marseilles to ask her
+hand in a fortnight, I concluded by saying that I should have the
+happiness of restoring to her hands the dear girl whose preserver I
+had been.
+
+"Where is she?" cried Madame Audibert.
+
+"In my carriage.  I have lowered the blinds."
+
+"Bring her in, quick!  I will see to everything.  Nobody shall know
+that she is in my house."
+
+Happier than a prince, I made one bound to the carriage and,
+concealing her face with her cloak and hood, I led my niece to her
+friend's arms.  This was a dramatic scene full of satisfaction for
+me.  Kisses were given and received, tears of happiness and
+repentance shed, I wept myself from mingled feelings of emotion,
+happiness, and regret.
+
+In the meanwhile Clairmont had brought up my niece's luggage, and I
+went away promising to return and see her another day.
+
+I had another and as important an arrangement to conclude, I mean
+with respect to Marcoline.  I told the postillions to take me to the
+worthy old man's where I had lodged Rosalie so pleasantly.  Marcoline
+was weeping at this separation from her friend.  I got down at the
+house, and made my bargain hastily.  My new mistress was, I said, to
+be lodged, fed, and attended on as if she had been a princess.  He
+shewed me the apartment she was to occupy; it was fit for a young
+marchioness, and he told me that she should be attended by his own
+niece, that she should not leave the house, and that nobody but
+myself should visit her.
+
+Having made these arrangements I made the fair Venetian come in.  I
+gave her the money she had won, which I had converted into gold and
+made up to a thousand ducats.
+
+"You won't want it here," said I, "so take care of it.  At Venice a
+thousand ducats will make you somebody.  Do not weep, dearest, my
+heart is with you, and to-morrow evening I will sup with you."
+
+The old man gave me the latch-key, and I went off to the "Treize
+Cantons."  I was expected, and my rooms were adjacent to those
+occupied by Madame d'Urfe.
+
+As soon as I was settled, Bourgnole waited on me, and told me her
+mistress was alone and expecting me impatiently.
+
+I shall not trouble my readers with an account of our interview, as
+it was only composed of Madame d'Urfe's mad flights of fancy, and of
+lies on my part which had not even the merit of probability.  A slave
+to my life of happy profligacy, I profited by her folly; she would
+have found someone else to deceive her, if I had not done so, for it
+was really she who deceived herself.  I naturally preferred to profit
+by her rather than that a stranger should do so; she was very rich,
+and I did myself a great deal of good, without doing anyone any harm.
+The first thing she asked me was, "Where is Querilinthos?"  And she
+jumped with joy when I told her that he was under the same roof.
+
+"'Tis he, then, who shall make me young again.  So has my genius
+assured me night after night.  Ask Paralis if the presents I have
+prepared are good enough for Semiramis to present to the head of the
+Fraternity of the Rosy Cross."
+
+I did not know what these presents were, and as I could not ask to
+see them, I answered that, before consulting Paralis, it would be
+necessary to consecrate the gifts under the planetary hours, and that
+Querilinthos himself must not see them before the consecration.
+Thereupon she took me to her closet, and shewed me the seven packets
+meant for the Rosicrucian in the form of offerings to the seven
+planets.
+
+Each packet contained seven pounds of the metal proper to the planet,
+and seven precious stones, also proper to the planets, each being
+seven carats in weight; there were diamonds, rubies, emeralds,
+sapphires, chrysolites, topazes, and opals.
+
+I made up my mind that nothing of this should pass into the hands of
+the Genoese, and told the mad woman that we must trust entirely in
+Paralis for the method of consecration, which must be begun by our
+placing each packet in a small casket made on purpose.  One packet,
+and one only, could be consecrated in a day, and it was necessary to
+begin with the sun.  It was now Friday, and we should have to wait
+till Sunday, the day of the sun.  On Saturday I had a box with seven
+niches made for the purpose.
+
+For the purposes of consecration I spent three hours every day with
+Madame d'Urfe, and we had not finished till the ensuing Saturday.
+Throughout this week I made Possano and my brother take their meals
+with us, and as the latter did not understand a word the good lady
+said, he did not speak a word himself, and might have passed for a
+mute of the seraglio.  Madame d'Urfe pronounced him devoid of sense,
+and imagined we were going to put the soul of a sylph into his body
+that he might engender some being half human, half divine.
+
+It was amusing to see my brother's despair and rage at being taken
+for an idiot, and when he endeavoured to say something to spew that
+he was not one, she only thought him more idiotic than ever.  I
+laughed to myself, and thought how ill he would have played the part
+if I had asked him to do it.  All the same the rascal did not lose
+anything by his reputation, for Madame d'Urfe clothed him with a
+decent splendour that would have led one to suppose that the abbe
+belonged to one of the first families in France.  The most uneasy
+guest at Madame d'Urfe's table was Possano, who had to reply to
+questions, of the most occult nature, and, not knowing anything about
+the subject, made the most ridiculous mistakes.
+
+I brought Madame d'Urfe the box, and having made all the necessary
+arrangements for the consecrations, I received an order from the
+oracle to go into the country and sleep there for seven nights in
+succession, to abstain from intercourse with all mortal women, and to
+perform ceremonial worship to the moon every night, at the hour of
+that planet, in the open fields.  This would make me fit to
+regenerate Madame d'Urfe myself in case Querilinthos, for some mystic
+reasons, might not be able to do so.
+
+Through this order Madame d'Urfe was not only not vexed with me for
+sleeping away from the hotel, but was grateful for the pains I was
+taking to ensure the success of the operation.
+
+The day after my arrival I called on Madame Audibert, and had the
+pleasure of finding my niece wail pleased with the efforts her friend
+was making in her favour.  Madame Audibert had spoken to her father,
+telling him that his daughter was with her, and that she hoped to
+obtain his pardon and to return to his house, where she would soon
+become the bride of a rich Genoese, who wished to receive her from
+her father's hands.  The worthy man, glad to find again the lost
+sheep, said he would come in two days and take her to her aunt, who
+had a house at St. Louis, two leagues from the town.  She might then
+quietly await the arrival of her future husband, and avoid all
+occasion of scandal.  My niece was surprised that her father had not
+yet received a letter from the young man, and I could see that she
+was anxious about it; but I comforted her and assured her that I
+would not leave Marseilles till I had danced at her wedding.
+
+I left her to go to Marcoline, whom I longed to press to my heart.
+I found her in an ecstasy of joy, and she said that if she could
+understand what her maid said her happiness would be complete.  I saw
+that her situation was a painful one, especially as she was a woman,
+but for the present I saw no way out of the difficulty; I should have
+to get an Italian-speaking servant, and this would have been a
+troublesome task.  She wept with joy when I told her that my niece
+desired to be remembered to her, and that in a day she would be on
+her father's hearth.  Marcoline had found out that she was not my
+real niece when she found her in my arms.
+
+The choice supper which the old man had procured us, and which spewed
+he had a good memory for my favorite tastes, made me think of
+Rosalie.  Marcoline heard me tell the story with great interest, and
+said that it seemed to her that I only went about to make unfortunate
+girls happy, provided I found them pretty.
+
+"I almost think you are right," said I; "and it is certain that I
+have made many happy, and have never brought misfortune to any girl."
+
+"God will reward you, my dear friend."
+
+"Possibly I am not worth His taking the trouble!"
+
+Though the wit and beauty of Marcoline had charmed me, her appetite
+charmed me still more; the reader knows that I have always liked
+women who eat heartily.  And in Marseilles they make an excellent
+dish of a common fowl, which is often so insipid.
+
+Those who like oil will get on capitally in Provence, for it is used
+in everything, and it must be confessed that if used in moderation it
+makes an excellent relish.
+
+Marcoline was charming in bed.  I had not enjoyed the Venetian vices
+for nearly eight years, and Marcoline was a beauty before whom
+Praxiteles would have bent the knee.  I laughed at my brother for
+having let such a treasure slip out of his hands, though I quite
+forgave him for falling in love with her.  I myself could not take
+her about, and as I wanted her to be amused I begged my kind old
+landlord to send her to the play every day, and to prepare a good
+supper every evening.  I got her some rich dresses that she might cut
+a good figure, and this attention redoubled her affection for me.
+
+The next day, which was the second occasion on which I had visited
+her, she told me that she had enjoyed the play though she could not
+understand the dialogues; and the day after she astonished me by
+saying that my brother had intruded himself into her box, and had
+said so many impertinent things that if she had been at Venice she
+would have boxed his ears.
+
+"I am afraid," she added, "that the rascal has followed me here, and
+will be annoying me."
+
+"Don't be afraid," I answered, "I will see what I can do."
+
+When I got to the hotel I entered the abbe's room, and by Possano's
+bed I saw an individual collecting lint and various surgical
+instruments.
+
+"What's all this?  Are you ill?"
+
+"Yes, I have got something which will teach me to be wiser for the
+future."
+
+"It's rather late for this kind of thing at sixty."
+
+"Better late than never."
+
+"You are an old fool.  You stink of mercury."
+
+"I shall not leave my room."
+
+"This will harm you with the marchioness, who believes you to be the
+greatest of adepts, and consequently above such weaknesses."
+
+"Damn the marchioness!  Let me be."
+
+The rascal had never talked in this style before.  I thought it best
+to conceal my anger, and went up to my brother who was in a corner of
+the room.
+
+"What do you mean by pestering Marcoline at the theatre yesterday?"
+
+"I went to remind her of her duty, and to warn her that I would not
+be her complaisant lover."
+
+"You have insulted me and her too, fool that you are!  You owe all to
+Marcoline, for if it had not been for her, I should never have given
+you a second glance; and yet you behave in this disgraceful manner."
+
+"I have ruined myself for her sake, and I can never shew my face in
+Venice again.  What right have you to take her from me?"
+
+"The right of love, blockhead, and the right of luck, and the right
+of the strongest!  How is it that she is happy with me, and does not
+wish to leave me?"
+
+"You have dazzled her."
+
+"Another reason is that with you she was dying of misery and hunger."
+
+"Yes, but the end of it will be that you will abandon her as you have
+done with many others, whereas I should have married her."
+
+"Married her!  You renegade, you seem to forget that you are a
+priest.  I do not propose to part with her, but if I do I will send
+her away rich."
+
+"Well, well, do as you please; but still I have the right to speak to
+her whenever I like."
+
+"I have forbidden you to do so, and you may trust me when I tell you
+that you have spoken to her for the last time."
+
+So saying I went out and called on an advocate.  I asked him if I
+could have a foreign abbe, who was indebted to me, arrested, although
+I had no proof of the debt.
+
+"You can do so, as he is a foreigner, but you will have to pay
+caution-money.  You can have him put under arrest at his inn, and you
+can make him pay unless he is able to prove that he owes you nothing.
+Is the sum a large one?"
+
+"Twelve louis."
+
+"You must come with me before the magistrate and deposit twelve
+louis, and from that moment you will be able to have him arrested.
+Where is he staying?"
+
+"In the same hotel as I am, but I do not wish to have him arrested
+there, so I will get him to the 'Ste. Baume,' and put him under
+arrest.  Here are the twelve louis caution-money, so you can get the
+magistrate's order, and we will meet again to-morrow."
+
+"Give me his name, and yours also."
+
+I returned in haste to the "Treize Cantons," and met the abbe,
+dressed up to the nines, and just about to go out.
+
+"Follow me," said I, "I am going to take you to Marcoline, and you
+shall have an explanation in her presence."
+
+"With pleasure."
+
+He got into a carriage with me, and I told the coachman to take us to
+the "Ste. Baume" inn.  When we got there, I told him to wait for me,
+that I was going to fetch Marcoline, and that I would return with her
+in a minute.
+
+I got into the carriage again, and drove to the advocate, who gave
+the order for arrest to a policeman, who was to execute it.  I then
+returned to the "Treize Cantons" and put his belongings into a trunk,
+and had them transported to his new abode.
+
+I found him under arrest, and talking to the astonished host, who
+could not understand what it was all about.  I told the landlord the
+mythical history of the abbe debt to me, and handed over the trunk,
+telling him that he had nothing to fear with regard to the bill, as I
+would take care that he should be well paid.
+
+I then began my talk with the abbe, telling him that he must get
+ready to leave Marseilles the next day, and that I would pay for his
+journey to Paris; but that if he did not like to do so, I should
+leave him to his fate, and in three days he would be expelled from
+Marseilles.  The coward began to weep and said he would go to Paris.
+
+"You must start for Lyons to-morrow, but you will first write me out
+an I O U for twelve louis."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because I say so.  If you do so I will give you twelve louis and
+tear up the document before your face."
+
+"I have no choice in the matter."
+
+"You are right."
+
+When he had written the I O U, I went to take a place in the
+diligence for him, and the next morning I went with the advocate to
+withdraw the arrest and to take back the twelve louis, which I gave
+to my brother in the diligence, with a letter to M. Bono, whom I
+warned not to give him any money, and to send him on to Paris by the
+same diligence.  I then tore up his note of hand, and wished him a
+pleasant journey.
+
+Thus I got rid of this foolish fellow, whom I saw again in Paris in a
+month's time.
+
+The day I had my brother arrested and before I went to dine with
+Madame d'Urfe I had an interview with Possano in the hope of
+discovering the reason of his ill humour.
+
+"The reason is," said he, "that I am sure you are going to lay hands
+on twenty or thirty thousand crowns in gold and diamonds, which the
+marchioness meant me to have."
+
+"That may be, but it is not for you to know anything about it.  I may
+tell you that it rests entirely with me to prevent your getting
+anything.  If you think you can succeed go to the marchioness and
+make your complaints to her.  I will do nothing to prevent you."
+
+"Then you think I am going to help you in your imposture for nothing;
+you are very much mistaken.  I want a thousand louis, and I will have
+it, too."
+
+"Then get somebody to give it you," said I ; and I turned my back on
+him.
+
+I went up to the marchioness and told her that dinner was ready, and
+that we should dine alone, as I had been obliged to send the abbe
+away.
+
+"He was an idiot; but how about Querilinthos?"
+
+"After dinner Paralis will tell us all about him.  I have strong
+suspicions that there is something to be cleared up."
+
+"So have I.  The man seems changed.  Where is he?"
+
+"He is in bed, ill of a disease which I dare not so much as name to
+you."
+
+"That is a very extraordinary circumstance; I have never heard of
+such a thing before.  It must be the work of an evil genius."
+
+"I have never heard of such a thing, either; but now let us dine.  We
+shall have to work hard to-day at the consecration of the tin."
+
+"All the better.  We must offer an expiatory sacrifice to Oromasis,
+for, awful thought! in three days he would have to regenerate me, and
+the operation would be performed in that condition."
+
+"Let us eat now," I repeated; "I fear lest the hour of Jupiter be
+over-past."
+
+"Fear nothing, I will see that all goes well."
+
+After the consecration of the tin had been performed, I transferred
+that of Oromasis to another day, while I consulted the oracle
+assiduously, the marchioness translating the figures into letters.
+The oracle declared that seven salamanders had transported the true
+Querilinthos to the Milky Way, and that the man in the next room was
+the evil genius, St. Germain, who had been put in that fearful
+condition by a female gnome, who had intended to make him the
+executioner of Semiramis, who was to die of the dreadful malady
+before her term had expired.  The oracle also said that Semiramis
+should leave to Payaliseus Galtinardus (myself) all the charge of
+getting rid of the evil genius, St. Germain; and that she was not to
+doubt concerning her regeneration, since the word would be sent me by
+the true Querilinthos from the Milky Way on the seventh night of my
+worship of the moon.  Finally the oracle declared that I was to
+embrace Semiramis two days before the end of the ceremonies, after an
+Undine had purified us by bathing us in the room where we were.
+
+I had thus undertaken to regenerate the worthy Semiramis, and I began
+to think how I could carry out my undertaking without putting myself
+to shame.  The marchioness was handsome but old, and I feared lest I
+should be unable to perform the great act.  I was thirty-eight, and I
+began to feel age stealing on me.  The Undine, whom I was to obtain
+of the moon, was none other than Marcoline, who was to give me the
+necessary generative vigour by the sight of her beauty and by the
+contact of her hands.  The reader will see how I made her come down
+from heaven.
+
+I received a note from Madame Audibert which made me call on her
+before paying my visit to Marcoline.  As soon as I came in she told
+me joyously that my niece's father had just received a letter from
+the father of the Genoese, asking the hand of his daughter for his
+only son, who had been introduced to her by the Chevalier de
+Seingalt, her uncle, at the Paretti's.
+
+"The worthy man thinks himself under great obligations to you," said
+Madame Audibert.  "He adores his daughter, and he knows you have
+cared for her like a father.  His daughter has drawn your portrait in
+very favourable colors, and he would be extremely pleased to make
+your acquaintance.  Tell me when you can sup with me; the father will
+be here to meet you, though unaccompanied by his daughter."
+
+"I am delighted at what you tell me, for the young man's esteem for
+his future wife will only be augmented when he finds that I am her
+father's friend.  I cannot come to supper, however; I will be here at
+six and stop till eight."
+
+As the lady left the choice of the day with me I fixed the day after
+next, and then I repaired to my fair Venetian, to whom I told my
+news, and how I had managed to get rid of the abbe.
+
+On the day after next, just as we were sitting down to dinner, the
+marchioness smilingly gave me a letter which Possano had written her
+in bad but perfectly intelligible French.  He had filled eight pages
+in his endeavour to convince her that I was deceiving her, and to
+make sure he told the whole story without concealing any circumstance
+to my disadvantage.  He added that I had brought two girls with me to
+Marseilles; and though he did not know where I had hidden them, he
+was sure that it was with them that I spent my nights.
+
+After I had read the whole letter through, with the utmost coolness I
+gave it back to her, asking her if she had had the patience to read
+it through.  She replied that she had run through it, but that she
+could not make it out at all, as the evil genius seemed to write a
+sort of outlandish dialect, which she did not care to puzzle herself
+over, as he could only have written down lies calculated to lead her
+astray at the most important moment of her life.  I was much pleased
+with the marchioness's prudence, for it was important that she should
+have no suspicions about the Undine, the sight and the touch of whom
+were necessary to me in the great work I was about to undertake.
+
+After dining, and discharging all the ceremonies and oracles which
+were necessary to calm the soul of my poor victim, I went to a banker
+and got a bill of a hundred louis on Lyons, to the order of M. Bono,
+and I advised him of what I had done, requesting him to cash it for
+Possano if it were presented on the day named thereon.
+
+I then wrote the advice for Possano to take with him, it ran as
+follows: "M. Bonno, pay to M. Possano, on sight, to himself, and not
+to order, the sum of one hundred louis, if these presents are
+delivered to you on the 30th day of April, in the year 1763; and
+after the day aforesaid my order to become null and void."
+
+With this letter in my hand I went to the traitor who had been lanced
+an hour before.
+
+"You're an infamous traitor," I began, "but as Madame d'Urfe knows of
+the disgraceful state you are in she would not so much as read your
+letter.  I have read it, and by way of reward I give you two
+alternatives which you must decide on immediately.  I am in a hurry.
+You will either go to the hospital--for we can't have pestiferous
+fellows like you here--or start for Lyons in an hour.  You must not
+stop on the way, for I have only given you sixty hours, which is
+ample to do forty posts in.  As soon as you get to Lyons present this
+to M. Bono, and he will give you a hundred louis.  This is a present
+from me, and afterwards I don't care what you do, as you are no
+longer in my service.  You can have the carriage I bought for you at
+Antibes, and there is twenty-five louis for the journey: that is all.
+Make your choice, but I warn you that if you go to the hospital I
+shall only give you a month's wages, as I dismiss you from my service
+now at this instant."
+
+After a moment's reflection he said he would go to Lyons, though it
+would be at the risk of his life, for he was very ill.
+
+"You must reap the reward of your treachery," said I, "and if you die
+it will be a good thing for your family, who will come in for what I
+have given you, but not what I should have given you if you had been
+a faithful servant."
+
+I then left him and told Clairmont to pack up his trunk.  I warned
+the inn-keeper of his departure and told him to get the post horses
+ready as soon as possible.
+
+I then gave Clairmont the letter to Bono and twenty-five Louis, for
+him to hand them over to Possano when he was in the carriage and
+ready to go off.
+
+When I had thus successfully accomplished my designs by means of the
+all-powerful lever, gold, which I knew how to lavish in time of need,
+I was once more free for my amours.  I wanted to instruct the fair
+Marcoline, with whom I grew more in love every day.  She kept telling
+me that her happiness would be complete if she knew French, and if
+she had the slightest hope that I would take her to England with me.
+
+I had never flattered her that my love would go as far as that, but
+yet I could not help feeling sad at the thought of parting from a
+being who seemed made to taste voluptuous pleasures, and to
+communicate them with tenfold intensity to the man of her choice.
+She was delighted to hear that I had got rid of my two odious
+companions, and begged me to take her to the theatre, "for," said
+she, "everybody is asking who and what I am, and my landlord's niece
+is quite angry with me because I will not let her tell the truth"
+
+I promised I would take her out in the course of the next week, but
+that for the present I had a most important affair on hand, in which
+I had need of her assistance.
+
+"I will do whatever you wish, dearest."
+
+"Very good!  then listen to me.  I will get you a disguise which will
+make you look like a smart footman, and in that costume you will call
+on the marchioness with whom I live, at the hour I shall name to you,
+and you will give her a note.  Have you sufficient courage for that?"
+
+"Certainly.  Will you be there?"
+
+"Yes.  She will speak, but you must pretend to be dumb, as the note
+you bring with you will tell us; as also that you have come to wait
+upon us while we are bathing.  She will accept the offer, and when
+she tells you to undress her from head to foot you will do so.  When
+you have done, undress yourself, and gently rub the marchioness from
+the feet to the waist, but not higher.  In the meanwhile I shall have
+taken off my clothes, and while I hold her in a close embrace you
+must stand so that I can see all your charms.
+
+"Further, sweetheart, when I leave you you must gently wash her
+generative organs, and afterwards wipe them with a fine towel.  Then
+do the same to me, and try to bring me to life again.  I shall
+proceed to embrace the marchioness a second time, and when it is over
+wash her again and embrace her, and then come and embrace me and kiss
+in your Venetian manner the instrument with which the sacrifice is
+consummated.  I shall then clasp the marchioness to my arms a third
+time, and you must caress us till the act is complete.  Finally, you
+will wash us for the third time, then dress, take what she gives you
+and come here, where I will meet you in the course of an hour."
+
+"You may reckon on my following all your instructions, but you must
+see that the task will be rather trying to my feelings."
+
+"Not more trying than to mine.  I could do nothing with the old woman
+if you were not present."
+
+"Is she very old?"
+
+"Nearly seventy."
+
+"My poor sweetheart!  I do pity you.  But after this painful duty is
+over you must sup here and sleep with me."
+
+"Certainly."
+
+On the day appointed I had a long and friendly interview with the
+father of my late niece.  I told him all about his daughter, only
+suppressing the history of our own amours, which were not suitable
+for a father's ears.  The worthy man embraced me again and again,
+calling me his benefactor, and saying that I had done more for his
+daughter than he would have done himself, which in a sense was
+perhaps true.  He told me that he had received another letter from
+the father, and a letter from the young man himself, who wrote in the
+most tender and respectful manner possible.
+
+"He doesn't ask anything about the dower," said he, "a wonderful
+thing these days, but I will give her a hundred and fifty thousand
+francs, for the marriage is an excellent one, above all after my poor
+simpleton's escape.  All Marseilles knows the father of her future
+husband, and to-morrow I mean to tell the whole story to my wife, and
+I am sure she will forgive the poor girl as I have done."
+
+I had to promise to be present at the wedding, which was to be at
+Madame Audibert's.  That lady knowing me to be very fond of play, and
+there being a good deal of play going on at her house, wondered why
+she did not see more of me; but I was at Marseilles to create and not
+to destroy: there is a time for everything.
+
+I had a green velvet jacket made for Marcoline, with breeches of the
+same and silver-lace garters, green silk stockings, and fine leather
+shoes of the same colour.  Her fine black hair was confined in a net
+of green silk, with a silver brooch.  In this dress the voluptuous
+and well-rounded form of Marcoline was displayed to so much
+advantage, that if she had shewn herself in the street all Marseilles
+would have run after her, for, in spite of her man's dress, anybody
+could see that she was a girl.  I took her to my rooms in her
+ordinary costume, to shew her where she would have to hide after the
+operation was over.
+
+By Saturday we had finished all the consecrations, and the oracle
+fixed the regeneration of Semiramis for the following Tuesday, in the
+hours of the sun, Venus, and Mercury, which follow each other in the
+planetary system of the magicians, as also in Ptolemy's.  These hours
+were in ordinary parlance the ninth, tenth, and eleventh of the day,
+since the day being a Tuesday, the first hour was sacred to Mars.
+And as at the beginning of May the hours are sixty-five minutes long,
+the reader, however little of a magician he may be, will understand
+that I had to perform the great work on Madame d'Urfe, beginning at
+half-past two and ending at five minutes to six.  I had taken plenty
+of time, as I expected I should have great need of it.
+
+On the Monday night, at the hour of the moon, I had taken Madame
+d'Urfe to the sea-shore, Clairmont following behind with the box
+containing the offerings, which weighed fifty pounds.
+
+I was certain that nobody could see us, and I told my companion that
+the time was come.  I told Clairmont to put down the box beside us,
+and to go and await us at the carriage.  When we were alone we
+addressed a solemn prayer to Selenis, and then to the great
+satisfaction of the marchioness the box was consigned to the address.
+My satisfaction however was still greater than hers, for the box
+contained fifty pounds of lead.  The real box, containing the
+treasure, was comfortably hidden in my room.
+
+When we got back to the "Treize Cantons," I left Madame d'Urfe alone,
+telling her that I would return to the hotel when I had performed my
+conjurations to the moon, at the same hour and in the same place in
+which I had performed the seven consecrations.
+
+I spoke the truth.  I went to Marcoline, and while she was putting on
+her disguise I wrote on a sheet of white paper, in large and odd-
+looking letters, the following sentences, using, instead of ink,
+rock-alum:
+
+"I am dumb but not deaf.  I am come from the Rhone to bathe you.  The
+hour of Oromasis has begun."
+
+"This is the note you are to give to the marchioness," I said, "when
+you appear before her."
+
+After supper we walked to the hotel and got in without anyone seeing
+us.  I hid Marcoline in a large cupboard, and then putting on my
+dressing-gown I went to the marchioness to inform her that Selenis
+had fixed the next day for the hour of regeneration, and that we must
+be careful to finish before the hour of the moon began, as otherwise
+the operation would be annulled or at least greatly enfeebled.
+
+"You must take care," I added, "that the bath be here beside your
+bed, and that Brougnole does not interrupt us."
+
+"I will tell her to go out.  But Selenis promised to send an Undine."
+
+"True, but I have not yet seen such a being."
+
+"Ask the oracle."
+
+"Willingly."
+
+She herself asked the question imploring Paralis not to delay the
+time of her regeneration, even though the Undine were lacking, since
+she could very well bathe herself.
+
+"The commands of Oromasis change not," came the reply; "and in that
+you have doubted them you have sinned."
+
+At this the marchioness arose and performed an expiatory sacrifice,
+and it appeared, on consulting the oracle, that Oromasis was
+satisfied.
+
+The old lady did not move my pity so much as my laughter.  She
+solemnly embraced me and said,--
+
+"To-morrow, Galtinardus, you will be my spouse and my father."
+When I got back to my room and had shut the door, I drew the Undine
+out of her place of concealment.  She undressed, and as she knew that
+I should be obliged to husband my forces, she turned her back on me,
+and we passed the night without giving each other a single kiss, for
+a spark would have set us all ablaze.
+
+Next morning, before summoning Clairmont, I gave her her breakfast,
+and then replaced her in the cupboard.  Later on, I gave her her
+instructions over again, telling her to do everything with calm
+precision, a cheerful face, and, above all, silence.
+
+"Don't be afraid," said she, "I will make no mistakes."
+
+As we were to dine at noon exactly, I went to look for the
+marchioness, but she was not in her room, though the bath was there,
+and the bed which was to be our altar was prepared.
+
+A few moments after, the marchioness came out of her dressing-room,
+exquisitely painted, her hair arranged with the choicest lace, and
+looking radiant.  Her breasts, which forty years before had been the
+fairest in all France, were covered with a lace shawl, her dress was
+of the antique kind, but of extremely rich material, her ear-rings
+were emeralds, and a necklace of seven aquamarines of the finest
+water, from which hung an enormous emerald, surrounded by twenty
+brilliants, each weighing a carat and a half, completed her costume.
+She wore on her finger the carbuncle which she thought worth a
+million francs, but which was really only a splendid imitation.
+
+Seeing Semiramis thus decked out for the sacrifice, I thought it my
+bounden duty to offer her my homage.  I would have knelt before her
+and kissed her hand, but she would not let me, and instead opened her
+arms and strained me to her breast.
+
+After telling Brougnole that she could go out till six o'clock, we
+talked over our mysteries till the dinner was brought in.
+
+Clairmont was the only person privileged to see us at dinner, at
+which Semiramis would only eat fish.  At half-past one I told
+Clairmont I was not at home to anyone, and giving him a louis I told
+him to go and amuse himself till the evening.
+
+The marchioness began to be uneasy, and I pretended to be so, too.  I
+looked at my watch, calculated how the planetary hours were
+proceeding, and said from time to time,--
+
+"We are still in the hour of Mars, that of the sun has not yet
+commenced."
+
+At last the time-piece struck half-past two, and in two minutes
+afterwards the fair and smiling Undine was seen advancing into the
+room.  She came along with measured steps, and knelt before Madame
+d'Urfe, and gave her the paper she carried.  Seeing that I did not
+rise, the marchioness remained seated, but she raised the spirit with
+a gracious air and took the paper from her.  She was surprised,
+however, to find that it was all white.
+
+I hastened to give her a pen to consult the oracle on the subject,
+and after I had made a pyramid of her question, she interpreted it
+and found the answer:
+
+"That which is written in water must be read in water."
+
+"I understand now," said she, and going to the bath she plunged the
+paper into it, and then read in still whiter letters: "I am dumb, but
+not deaf.  I am come from the Rhone to bathe you.  The hour of
+Oromasis has begun."
+
+"Then bathe me, divine being," said Semiramis, putting down the paper
+and sitting on the bed.
+
+With perfect exactitude Marcoline undressed the marchioness, and
+delicately placed her feet in the water, and then, in a twinkling she
+had undressed herself, and was in the bath, beside Madame d'Urfe.
+What a contrast there was between the two bodies; but the sight of
+the one kindled the flame which the other was to quench.
+
+As I gazed on the beautiful girl, I, too, undressed, and when I was
+ready to take off my shirt I spoke as follows: "O divine being, wipe
+the feet of Semiramis, and be the witness of my union with her, to
+the glory of the immortal Horomadis, King of the Salamanders."
+
+Scarcely had I uttered my prayer when it was granted, and I
+consummated my first union with Semiramis, gazing on the charms of
+Marcoline, which I had never seen to such advantage before.
+
+Semiramis had been handsome, but she was then what I am now, and
+without the Undine the operation would have failed.  Nevertheless,
+Semiramis was affectionate, clean, and sweet in every respect, and
+had nothing disgusting about her, so I succeeded.
+
+When the milk had been poured forth upon the altar, I said,--
+
+"We must now await the hour of Venus."
+
+The Undine performed the ablutions, embraced the bride, and came to
+perform the same office for me.
+
+Semiramis was in an ecstasy of happiness, and as she pointed out to
+me the beauties of the Undine I was obliged to confess that I had
+never seen any mortal woman to be compared to her in beauty.
+Semiramis grew excited by so voluptuous a sight, and when the hour of
+Venus began I proceeded to the second assault, which would be the
+severest, as the hour was of sixty-five minutes.  I worked for half
+an hour, steaming with perspiration, and tiring Semiramis, without
+being able to come to the point.  Still I was ashamed to trick her.
+She, the victim, wiped the drops of sweat from my forehead, while the
+Undine, seeing my exhaustion, kindled anew the flame which the
+contact of that aged body had destroyed.  Towards the end of the
+hour, as I was exhausted and still unsuccessful, I was obliged to
+deceive her by making use of those movements which are incidental to
+success.  As I went out of the battle with all the signs of my
+strength still about me, Semiramis could have no doubts as to the
+reality of my success, and even the Undine was deceived when she came
+to wash me.  But the third hour had come, and we were obliged to
+satisfy Mercury.  We spent a quarter of the time in the bath, while
+the Undine delighted Semiramis by caresses which would have delighted
+the regent of France, if he had ever known of them.  The good
+marchioness, believing these endearments to be peculiar to river
+spirits, was pleased with everything, and begged the Undine to shew
+me the same kindness.  Marcoline obeyed, and lavished on me all the
+resources of the Venetian school of love.  She was a perfect Lesbian,
+and her caresses having soon restored me to all my vigour I was
+encouraged to undertake to satisfy Mercury.  I proceeded to the work,
+but alas! it was all in vain.  I saw how my fruitless efforts vexed
+the Undine, and perceiving that Madame d'Urfe had had enough, I again
+took the course of deceiving her by pretended ecstacies and
+movements, followed by complete rest.  Semiramis afterwards told me
+that my exertions shewed that I was something more than mortal.
+
+I threw myself into the bath, and underwent my third ablution, then I
+dressed.  Marcoline washed the marchioness and proceeded to clothe
+her, and did so with such a graceful charm that Madame d'Urfe
+followed the inspiration of her good genius, and threw her
+magnificent necklace over the Undine's neck.  After a parting
+Venetian kiss she vanished, and went to her hiding place in the
+cupboard.
+
+Semiramis asked the oracle if the operation had been successful.  The
+answer was that she bore within her the seed of the sun, and that in
+the beginning of next February she would be brought to bed of another
+self of the same sex as the creator; but in order that the evil genii
+might not be able to do her any harm she must keep quiet in her bed
+for a hundred and seven hours in succession.
+
+The worthy marchioness was delighted to receive this order, and
+looked upon it as a good omen, for I had tired her dreadfully.  I
+kissed her, saying that I was going to the country to collect
+together what remained of the substances that I had used in my
+ceremonies, but I promised to dine with her on the morrow.
+
+I shut myself up in my room with the Undine, and we amused ourselves
+as best we could till it was night, for she could not go out while it
+was light in her spiritual costume.  I took off my handsome wedding
+garment, and as soon as it was dusk we crept out, and went away to
+Marcoline's lodging in a hackney coach, carrying with us the
+planetary offerings which I had gained so cleverly.
+
+We were dying of hunger, but the delicious supper which was waiting
+for us brought us to life again.  As soon as we got into the room
+Marcoline took off her green clothes and put on her woman's dress,
+saying,--
+
+"I was not born to wear the breeches.  Here, take the beautiful
+necklace the madwoman gave me!"
+
+"I will sell it, fair Undine, and you shall have the proceeds."
+
+"Is it worth much?"
+
+"At least a thousand sequins.  By the time you get back to Venice you
+will be worth at least five thousand ducats, and you will be able to
+get a husband and live with him in a comfortable style."
+
+"Keep it all, I don't want it; I want you.  I will never cease to
+love you; I will do whatever you tell me, and I promise never to be
+jealous.  I will care for you--yes, as if you were my son."
+
+"Do not let us say anything more about it, fair Marcoline, but let us
+go to bed, for you have never inspired me with so much ardour as
+now."
+
+"But you must be tired."
+
+"Yes, but not exhaustion, for I was only able to perform the
+distillation once."
+
+"I thought you sacrificed twice on that old altar.  Poor old woman!
+she is still pretty, and I have no doubt that fifty years ago she was
+one of the first beauties in France.  How foolish of her to be
+thinking of love at that age."
+
+"You excited me, but she undid your work even more quickly."
+
+"Are you always obliged to have--a girl beside you when you make love
+to her?"
+
+"No; before, there was no question of making a son."
+
+"What? you are going to make her pregnant?  That's ridiculous!  Does
+she imagine that she has conceived?"
+
+"Certainly; and the hope makes her happy."
+
+"What a mad idea!  But why did you try to do it three times?"
+
+"I thought to shew my strength, and that if I gazed on you I should
+not fail; but I was quite mistaken."
+
+"I pity you for having suffered so much."
+
+"You will renew my strength."
+
+As a matter of fact, I do not know whether to attribute it to the
+difference between the old and the young, but I spent a most
+delicious night with the beautiful Venetian--a night which I can only
+compare to those I passed at Parma with Henriette, and at Muran with
+the beautiful nun.  I spent fourteen hours in bed, of which four at
+least were devoted to expiating the insult I had offered to love.
+When I had dressed and taken my chocolate I told Marcoline to dress
+herself with elegance, and to expect me in the evening just before
+the play began.  I could see that she was intensely delighted with
+the prospect.
+
+I found Madame d'Urfe in bed, dressed with care and in the fashion of
+a young bride, and with a smile of satisfaction on her face which I
+had never remarked there before.
+
+"To thee, beloved Galtinardus, I owe all my happiness," said she, as
+she embraced me.
+
+"I am happy to have contributed to it, divine Semiramis, but you must
+remember I am only the agent of the genii."
+
+Thereupon the marchioness began to argue in the most sensible manner,
+but unfortunately the foundation of her argument was wholly
+chimerical.
+
+"Marry me," said she; "you will then be able to be governor of the
+child, who will be your son.  In this manner you will keep all my
+property for me, including what I shall have from my brother M. de
+Pontcarre, who is old and cannot live much longer.  If you do not
+care for me in February next, when I shall be born again, into what
+hands shall I fall!  I shall be called a bastard, and my income of
+twenty-four thousand francs will be lost to me.  Think over it, dear
+Galtinardus.  I must tell you that I feel already as if I were a man.
+I confess I am in love with the Undine, and I should like to know
+whether I shall be able to sleep with her in fourteen or fifteen
+years time.  I shall be so if Oromasis will it, and then I shall be
+happy indeed.  What a charming creature she is?  Have you ever seen a
+woman like her?  What a pity she is dumb!"
+
+"She, no doubt, has a male water-spirit for a lover.  But all of them
+are dumb, since it is impossible to speak in the water.  I wonder she
+is not deaf as well.  I can't think why you didn't touch her.  The
+softness of her skin is something wonderful--velvet and satin are not
+to be compared to it!  And then her breath is so sweet!  How
+delighted I should be if I could converse with such an exquisite
+being."
+
+"Dear Galtinardus, I beg you will consult the oracle to find out
+where I am to be brought to bed, and if you won't marry me I think I
+had better save all I have that I may have some provision when I am
+born again, for when I am born I shall know nothing, and money will
+be wanted to educate me.  By selling the whole a large sum might be
+realized which could be put out at interest.  Thus the interest would
+suffice without the capital being touched."
+
+"The oracle must be our guide," said I.  "You will be my son, and I
+will never allow anyone to call you a bastard."
+
+The sublime madwoman was quiet by this assurance.
+
+Doubtless many a reader will say that if I had been an honest man I
+should have undeceived her, but I cannot agree with them; it would
+have been impossible, and I confess that even if it had been possible
+I would not have done so, for it would only have made me unhappy.
+
+I had told Marcoline to dress with elegance, and I put on one of my
+handsomest suits to accompany her to the theatre.  Chance brought the
+two sisters Rangoni, daughters of the Roman consul, into our box.  As
+I had made their acquaintance on my first visit to Marseilles, I
+introduced Marcoline to them as my niece, who only spoke Italian.  As
+the two young ladies spoke the tongue of Tasso also, Marcoline was
+highly delighted.  The younger sister, who was by far the handsomer
+of the two, afterwards became the wife of Prince Gonzaga Solferino.
+The prince was a cultured man, and even a genius, but very poor.  For
+all that he was a true son of Gonzaga, being a son of Leopold, who
+was also poor, and a girl of the Medini family, sister to the Medini
+who died in prison at London in the year 1787.
+
+Babet Rangoni, though poor, deserved to become s princess, for she
+had all the airs and manners of one.  She shines under her name of
+Rangoni amongst the princess and princesses of the almanacs.  Her
+vain husband is delighted at his wife being thought to belong to the
+illustrious family of Medini--an innocent feeling, which does neither
+good nor harm.  The same publications turn Medini into Medici, which
+is equally harmless.  This species of lie arises from the idiotic
+pride of the nobles who think themselves raised above the rest of
+humanity by their titles which they have often acquired by some act
+of baseness.  It is of no use interfering with them on this point,
+since all things are finally appreciated at their true value, and the
+pride of the nobility is easily discounted when one sees them as they
+really are.
+
+Prince Gonzaga Solferino, whom I saw at Venice eighteen years ago,
+lived on a pension allowed him by the empress.  I hope the late
+emperor did not deprive him of it, as it was well deserved by this
+genius and his knowledge of literature.
+
+At the play Marcoline did nothing but chatter with Babet Rangoni, who
+wanted me to bring the fair Venetian to see her, but I had my own
+reasons for not doing so.
+
+I was thinking how I could send Madame d'Urfe to Lyons, for I had no
+further use for her at Marseilles, and she was often embarrassing.
+For instance, on the third day after her regeneration, she requested
+me to ask Paralis where she was to die--that is, to be brought to
+bed.  I made the oracle reply that she must sacrifice to the water-
+spirits on the banks of two rivers, at the same hour, and that
+afterwards the question of her lying-in would be resolved.  The
+oracle added that I must perform three expiatory sacrifices to
+Saturn, on account of my too harsh treatment of the false
+Querilinthos, and that Semiramis need not take part in these
+ceremonies, though she herself must perform the sacrifices to the
+water-spirits.
+
+As I was pretending to think of a place where two rivers were
+sufficiently near to each other to fulfil the requirements of the
+oracle, Semiramis herself suggested that Lyons was watered by the
+Rhone and the Saone, and that it would be an excellent place for the
+ceremony.  As may be imagined, I immediately agreed with her.  On
+asking Paralis if there were any preparations to be made, he replied
+that it Would be necessary to pour a bottle of sea-water into each
+river a fortnight before the sacrifice, and that this ceremony was to
+be performed by Semiramis in person, at the first diurnal hour of the
+moon.
+
+"Then," said the marchioness, "the bottles must be filled here, for
+the other French ports are farther off.  I will go as soon as ever I
+can leave my bed, and will wait for you at Lyons; for as you have to
+perform expiatory sacrifices to Saturn in this place, you cannot come
+with me."
+
+I assented, pretending sorrow at not being able to accompany her.
+The next morning I brought her two well-sealed bottles of sea-water,
+telling her that she was to pour them out into the two rivers on the
+15th of May (the current month).  We fixed her departure for the
+11th, and I promised to rejoin her before the expiration of the
+fortnight.  I gave her the hours of the moon in writing, and also
+directions for the journey.
+
+As soon as the marchioness had gone I left the "Treize Cantons" and
+went to live with Marcoline, giving her four hundred and sixty louis,
+which, with the hundred and forty she had won at biribi, gave her a
+total of six hundred louis, or fourteen thousand four hundred francs.
+With this sum she could look the future in the face fearlessly.
+
+The day after Madame d'Urfe's departure, the betrothed of Mdlle.
+Crosin arrived at Marseilles with a letter from Rosalie, which he
+handed to me on the day of his arrival.  She begged me in the name of
+our common honour to introduce the bearer in person to the father of
+the betrothed.  Rosalie was right, but as the lady was not my real
+niece there were some difficulties in the way.  I welcomed the young
+man and told him that I would first take him to Madame Audibert, and
+that we could then go together to his father-in-law in prospective.
+
+The young Genoese had gone to the "Treize Cantons," where he thought
+I was staying.  He was delighted to find himself so near the goal of
+his desires, and his ecstacy received a new momentum when he saw how
+cordially Madame Audibert received him.  We all got into my carriage
+and drove to the father's who gave him an excellent reception, and
+then presented him to his wife, who was already friendly disposed
+towards him.
+
+I was pleasantly surprised when this good and sensible man introduced
+me to his wife as his cousin, the Chevalier de Seingalt, who had
+taken such care of their daughter.  The good wife and good mother,
+her husband's worthy partner, stretched out her hand to me, and all
+my trouble was over.
+
+My new cousin immediately sent an express messenger to his sister,
+telling her that he and his wife, his future son-in-law, Madame
+Audibert, and a cousin she had not met before, would come and dine
+with her on the following day.  This done he invited us, and Madame
+Audibert said that she would escort us.  She told him that I had
+another niece with me, of whom his daughter was very fond, and would
+be delighted to see again.  The worthy man was overjoyed to be able
+to increase his daughter's happiness.
+
+I, too, was pleased with Madame Audibert's tact and thoughtfulness;
+and as making Marcoline happy was to make me happy also, I expressed
+my gratitude to her in very warm terms.
+
+I took the young Genoese to the play, to Marcoline's delight, for she
+would have liked the French very much if she could have understood
+them.  We had an excellent supper together, in the course of which I
+told Marcoline of the pleasure which awaited her on the morrow.  I
+thought she would have gone wild with joy.
+
+The next day we were at Madame Audibert's as punctually as Achilles
+on the field of battle.  The lady spoke Italian well, and was charmed
+with Marcoline, reproaching me for not having introduced her before.
+At eleven we got to St. Louis, and my eyes were charmed with the
+dramatic situation.  My late niece had an air of dignity which became
+her to admiration, and received her future husband with great
+graciousness; and then, after thanking me with a pleasant smile for
+introducing him to her father, she passed from dignity to gaiety, and
+gave her sweetheart a hundred kisses.
+
+The dinner was delicious, and passed off merrily; but I alone
+preserved a tender melancholy, though I laughed to myself when they
+asked me why I was sad.  I was thought to be sad because I did not
+talk in my usual vivacious manner, but far from being really sad that
+was one of the happiest moments of my life.  My whole being was
+absorbed in the calm delight which follows a good action.  I was the
+author of the comedy which promised such a happy ending.  I was
+pleased with the thought that my influence in the world was more for
+good than for ill, and though I was not born a king yet I contrived
+to make many people happy.  Everyone at table was indebted to me for
+some part of their happiness, and the father, the mother, and the
+betrothed pair wholly so.  This thought made me feel a peaceful calm
+which I could only enjoy in silence.
+
+Mdlle.  Crosin returned to Marseilles with her father, her mother,
+and her future husband, whom the father wished to take up his abode
+with them.  I went back with Madame Audibert, who made me promise to
+bring the delightful Marcoline to sup with her.
+
+The marriage depended on the receipt of a letter from the young man's
+father, in answer to one from my niece's father.  It will be taken
+for granted that we were all asked to the wedding, and Marcoline's
+affection for me increased every day.
+
+When we went to sup with Madame Audibert we found a rich and witty
+young wine merchant at her house.  He sat beside Marcoline, who
+entertained him with her sallies; and as the young man could speak
+Italian, and even the Venetian dialect (for he had spent a year at
+Venice), he was much impressed by the charms of my new niece.
+
+I have always been jealous of my mistresses; but when a rival
+promises to marry them and give them a good establishment, jealousy
+gives way to a more generous feeling.  For the moment I satisfied
+myself by asking Madame Audibert who he was, and I was delighted to
+hear that he had an excellent reputation, a hundred thousand crowns,
+a large business, and complete independence.
+
+The next day he came to see us in our box at the theatre, and
+Marcoline received him very graciously.  Wishing to push the matter
+on I asked him to sup with us, and when he came I was well pleased
+with his manners and his intelligence; to Marcoline he was tender but
+respectful.  On his departure I told him I hoped he would come and
+see us again, and when we were alone I congratulated Marcoline on her
+conquest, and shewed her that she might succeed almost as well as
+Mdlle.  Crosin.  But instead of being grateful she was furiously,
+angry.
+
+"If you want to get rid of me," said she, "send me back to Venice,
+but don't talk to me about marrying."
+
+"Calm yourself, my angel!  I get rid of you?  What an idea!  Has my
+behaviour led you to suppose that you are in my way?  This handsome,
+well-educated, and rich young man has come under my notice.  I see he
+loves you and you like him, and as I love you and wish to see you
+sheltered from the storms of fortune, and as I think this pleasant
+young Frenchman would make you happy, I have pointed out to you these
+advantages, but instead of being grateful you scold me.  Do not weep,
+sweetheart, you grieve my very soul!"
+
+"I am weeping because you think that I can love him."
+
+"It might be so, dearest, and without my honour taking any hurt; but
+let us say no more about it and get into bed."
+
+Marcoline's tears changed to smiles and kisses, and we said no more
+about the young wine merchant.  The next day he came to our box
+again, but the scene had changed; she was polite but reserved, and I
+dared not ask him to supper as I had done the night before.  When we
+had got home Marcoline thanked me for not doing so, adding that she
+had been afraid I would.
+
+"What you said last night is a sufficient guide for me for the
+future."
+
+In the morning Madame Audibert called on behalf of the wine merchant
+to ask us to sup with him.  I turned towards the fair Venetian, and
+guessing my thoughts she hastened to reply that she would be happy to
+go anywhere in company with Madame Audibert.  That lady came for us
+in the evening, and took us to the young man's house, where we found
+a magnificent supper, but no other guests awaiting us.  The house was
+luxuriously furnished, it only lacked a mistress.  The master divided
+his attention between the two ladies, and Marcoline looked ravishing.
+Everything convinced me that she had kindled the ardour of the worthy
+young wine merchant.
+
+The next day I received a note from Madame Audibert, asking me to
+call on her.  When I went I found she wanted to give my consent to
+the marriage of Marcoline with her friend.
+
+"The proposal is a very agreeable one to me," I answered, "and I
+would willingly give her thirty thousand francs as a dowry, but I can
+have nothing to do with the matter personally.  I will send her to
+you; and if you can win her over you may count on my word, but do not
+say that you are speaking on my behalf, for that might spoil
+everything."
+
+"I will come for her, and if you like she shall dine with me, and you
+can take her to the play in the evening."
+
+Madame Audibert came the following day, and Marcoline went to dinner
+with her.  I called for her at five o'clock, and finding her looking
+pleased and happy I did not know what to think.  As Madame Audibert
+did not take me aside I stifled my curiosity and went with Marcoline
+to the theatre, without knowing what had passed.
+
+On the way Marcoline sang the praises of Madame Audibert, but did not
+say a word of the proposal she must have made to her.  About the
+middle of the piece, however, I thought I saw the explanation of the
+riddle, for the young man was in the pit, and did not come to our box
+though there were two empty places.
+
+We returned home without a word about the merchant or Madame
+Audibert, but as I knew in my own mind what had happened, I felt
+disposed to be grateful, and I saw that Marcoline was overjoyed to
+find me more affectionate than ever.  At last, amidst our amorous
+assaults, Marcoline, feeling how dearly I loved her, told me what had
+passed between her and Madame Audibert.
+
+"She spoke to me so kindly and so sensibly," said she, "but I
+contented myself with saying that I would never marry till you told
+me to do so.  All the same I thank you with all my heart for the ten
+thousand crowns you are willing to give me.  You have tossed the ball
+to me and I have sent it back.  I will go back to Venice whenever you
+please if you will not take me to England with you, but I will never
+marry.  I expect we shall see no more of the young gentleman, though
+if I had never met you I might have loved him."
+
+It was evidently all over, and I liked her for the part she had
+taken, for a man who knows his own worth is not likely to sigh long
+at the feet of an obdurate lady.
+
+The wedding-day of my late niece came round.  Marcoline was there,
+without diamonds, but clad in a rich dress which set off her beauty
+and satisfied my vanity.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+I Leave Marseilles--Henriette at Aix--Irene at Avignon--Treachery of
+Possano--Madame d'Urfe Leaves Lyon
+
+
+The wedding only interested me because of the bride.  The plentiful
+rather than choice repast, the numerous and noisy company, the empty
+compliments, the silly conversation, the roars of laughter at very
+poor jokes--all this would have driven me to despair if it had not
+been for Madame Audibert, whom I did not leave for a moment.
+Marcoline followed the young bride about like a shadow, and the
+latter, who was going to Genoa in a week, wanted Marcoline to come in
+her tram, promising to have her taken to Venice by a person of trust,
+but my sweetheart would listen to no proposal for separating her from
+me,--
+
+"I won't go.  to Venice," she said, "till you send me there."
+
+The splendours of her friend's marriage did not make her experience
+the least regret at having refused the young wine merchant.  The
+bride beamed with happiness, and on my congratulating her she
+confessed her joy to be great, adding that it was increased by the
+fact that she owed it all to me.  She was also very glad to be going
+to Genoa, where she was sure of finding a true friend in Rosalie, who
+would sympathize with her, their fortunes having been very similar.
+
+The day after the wedding I began to make preparations for my
+departure.  The first thing I disposed of was the box containing the
+planetary offerings.  I kept the diamonds and precious stones, and
+took all the gold and silver to Rousse de Cosse, who still held the
+sum which Greppi had placed to my credit.  I took a bill of exchange
+on Tourton and Bauer, for I should not be wanting any money at Lyons
+as Madame d'Urfe was there, and consequently the three hundred louis
+I had about me would be ample.  I acted differently where Marcoline
+was concerned.  I added a sufficient sum to her six hundred louis to
+give her a capital in round numbers of fifteen thousand francs.  I
+got a bill drawn on Lyons for that amount, for I intended at the
+first opportunity to send her back to Venice, and with that idea had
+her trunks packed separately with all the linen and dresses which I
+had given her in abundance.
+
+On the eve of our departure we took leave of the newly-married couple
+and the whole family at supper, and we parted with tears, promising
+each other a lifelong friendship.
+
+The next day we set out intending to travel all night and not to stop
+till we got to Avignon, but about five o'clock the chain of the
+carriage broke, and we could go no further until a wheelwright had
+repaired the damage.  We settled ourselves down to wait patiently,
+and Clairmont went to get information at a fine house on our right,
+which was approached by an alley of trees.  As I had only one
+postillion, I did not allow him to leave his horses for a moment.
+Before long we saw Clairmont reappear with two servants, one of whom
+invited me, on behalf of his master, to await the arrival of the
+wheelwright at his house.  It would have been churlish to refuse this
+invitation which was in the true spirit of French politeness, so
+leaving Clairmont in charge Marcoline and I began to wend our way
+towards the hospitable abode.
+
+Three ladies and two gentleman came to meet us, and one of the
+gentlemen said they congratulated themselves on my small mishap,
+since it enabled madam to offer me her house and hospitality.  I
+turned towards the lady whom the gentleman had indicated, and thanked
+her, saying, that I hoped not to trouble her long, but that I was
+deeply grateful for her kindness.  She made me a graceful curtsy, but
+I could not make out her features, for a stormy wind was blowing, and
+she and her two friends had drawn their hoods almost entirely over
+their faces.  Marcoline's beautiful head was uncovered and her hair
+streaming in the breeze.  She only replied by graceful bows and
+smiles to the compliments which were addressed to her on all sides.
+The gentleman who had first accosted me asked me, as he gave her his
+arm, if she were my daughter.  Marcoline smiled and I answered that
+she was my cousin, and that we were both Venetians.
+
+A Frenchman is so bent on flattering a pretty woman that he will
+always do so, even if it be at the expense of a third party.  Nobody
+could really think that Marcoline was my daughter, for though I was
+twenty years older than she was, I looked ten years younger than my
+real age, and so Marcoline smiled suggestively.
+
+We were just going into the house when a large mastiff ran towards
+us, chasing a pretty spaniel, and the lady, being afraid of getting
+bitten, began to run, made a false step, and fell to the ground.  We
+ran to help her, but she said she had sprained her ankle, and limped
+into the house on the arm of one of the gentlemen.  Refreshments were
+brought in, and I saw that Marcoline looked uneasy in the company of
+a lady who was talking to her.  I hastened to excuse her, saying that
+she did not speak French.  As a matter of fact, Marcoline had begun
+to talk a sort of French, but the most charming language in the world
+will not bear being spoken badly, and I had begged her not to speak
+at all till she had learned to express herself properly.  It is
+better to remain silent than to make strangers laugh by odd
+expressions and absurd equivocations.
+
+The less pretty, or rather the uglier, of the two ladies said that it
+was astonishing that the education of young ladies was neglected in
+such a shocking manner at Venice.  "Fancy not teaching them French!"
+
+"It is certainly very wrong, but in my country young ladies are
+neither taught foreign languages nor round games.  These important
+branches of education are attended to afterwards."
+
+"Then you are a Venetian, too?"
+
+"Yes, madam."
+
+"Really, I should not have thought so."
+
+I made a bow in return for this compliment, which in reality was only
+an insult; for if flattering to me it was insulting to the rest of my
+fellow-countrymen, and Marcoline thought as much for she made a
+little grimace accompanied by a knowing smile.
+
+"I see that the young lady understands French," said our flattering
+friend, "she laughs exactly in the right place."
+
+"Yes, she understands it, and as for her laughter it was due to the
+fact that she knows me to be like all other Venetians."
+
+"Possibly, but it is easy to see that you have lived a long time in
+France."
+
+"Yes, madam," said Marcoline ; and these words in her pretty Venetian
+accent were a pleasure to hear.
+
+The gentleman who had taken the lady to her room said that she found
+her foot to be rather swollen, and had gone to bed hoping we would
+all come upstairs.
+
+We found her lying in a splendid bed, placed in an alcove which the
+thick curtains of red satin made still darker.  I could not see
+whether she was young or old, pretty or ugly.  I said that I was very
+sorry to be the indirect cause of her mishap, and she replied in good
+Italian that it was a matter of no consequence, and that she did not
+think she could pay too dear for the privilege of entertaining such
+pleasant guests.
+
+"Your ladyship must have lived in Venice to speak the language with
+so much correctness."
+
+"No, I have never been there, but I have associated a good deal with
+Venetians."
+
+A servant came and told me that the wheelwright had arrived, and that
+he would take four hours to mend my carriage, so I went downstairs.
+The man lived at a quarter of a league's distance, and by tying the
+carriage pole with ropes, I could drive to his place, and wait there
+for the carriage to be mended.  I was about to do so, when the
+gentleman who did the honours of the house came and asked me, on
+behalf of the lady, to sup and pass the night at her house, as to go
+to the wheelwright's would be out of my way; the man would have to
+work by night, I should be uncomfortable, and the work would be ill
+done.  I assented to the countess's proposal, and having agreed with
+the man to come early the next day and bring his tools with him, I
+told Clairmont to take my belongings into the room which was assigned
+to me.
+
+When I returned to the countess's room I found everyone laughing at
+Marcoline's sallies, which the countess translated.  I was not
+astonished at seeing the way in which my fair Venetian caressed the
+countess, but I was enraged at not being able to see her, for I knew
+Marcoline would not treat any woman in that manner unless she were
+pretty.
+
+The table was spread in the bedroom of the countess, whom I hoped to
+see at supper-time, but I was disappointed; for she declared that she
+could not take anything, and all supper-time she talked to Marcoline
+and myself, shewing intelligence, education, and a great knowledge of
+Italian.  She let fall the expression, "my late husband," so I knew
+her for a widow, but as I did not dare to ask any questions, my
+knowledge ended at that point.  When Clairmont was undressing me he
+told me her married name, but as I knew nothing of the family that
+was no addition to my information.
+
+When we had finished supper, Marcoline took up her old position by
+the countess's bed, and they talked so volubly to one another that
+nobody else could get in a word.
+
+When politeness bade me retire, my pretended cousin said she was
+going to sleep with the countess.  As the latter laughingly assented,
+I refrained from telling my madcap that she was too forward, and I
+could see by their mutual embraces that they were agreed in the
+matter.  I satisfied myself with saying that I could not guarantee
+the sex of the countess's bed-fellow, but she answered,
+
+"Never mind; if there be a mistake I shall be the gainer."
+
+This struck me as rather free, but I was not the man to be
+scandalized.  I was amused at the tastes of my fair Venetian, and at
+the manner in which she contrived to gratify them as she had done at
+Genoa with my last niece.  As a rule the Provencal women are inclined
+this way, and far from reproaching them I like them all the better
+for it.
+
+The next day I rose at day-break to hurry on the wheelwright, and
+when the work was done I asked if the countess were visible.
+Directly after Marcoline came out with one of the gentlemen, who
+begged me to excuse the countess, as she could not receive me in her
+present extremely scanty attire; "but she hopes that whenever you are
+in these parts you will honour her and her house by your company,
+whether you are alone or with friends."
+
+This refusal, gilded as it was, was a bitter pill for me to swallow,
+but I concealed my disgust, as I could only put it down to
+Marcoline's doings; she seemed in high spirits, and I did not like to
+mortify her.  I thanked the gentleman with effusion, and placing a
+Louis in the hands of all the servants who were present I took my
+leave.
+
+I kissed Marcoline affectionately, so that she should not notice my
+ill humour, and asked how she and the countess spent the night."
+
+"Capitally," said she.  "The countess is charming, and we amused
+ourselves all night with the tricks of two amorous women."
+
+"Is she pretty or old?"
+
+"She is only thirty-three, and, I assure you, she is as pretty as my
+friend Mdlle. Crosin.  I can speak with authority for we saw each
+other in a state of nature."
+
+"You are a singular creature; you were unfaithful to me for a woman,
+and left me to pass the night by myself."
+
+"You must forgive me, and I had to sleep with her as she was the
+first to declare her love."
+
+"Really?  How was that?"
+
+"When I gave her the first of my kisses she returned it in the
+Florentine manner, and our tongues met.  After supper, I confess, I
+was the first to begin the suggestive caresses, but she met me half-
+way.  I could only make her happy by spending the night with her.
+Look, this will shew you how pleased she was."
+
+With these words Marcoline drew a superb ring, set with brilliants,
+from her finger.  I was astonished.
+
+"Truly," I said, "this woman is fond of pleasure and deserves to have
+it."
+
+I gave my Lesbian (who might have vied with Sappho) a hundred.
+kisses, and forgave her her infidelity.
+
+"But," I remarked, "I can't think why she did not want me to see her;
+I think she has treated me rather cavalierly."
+
+"No, I think the reason was that she was ashamed to be seen by my
+lover after having made me unfaithful to him; I had to confess that
+we were lovers."
+
+"Maybe.  At all events you have been well paid; that ring is worth
+two hundred louis:"
+
+"But I may as well tell you that I was well enough paid for the
+pleasure I gave by the pleasure I received."
+
+"That's right; I am delighted to see you happy."
+
+"If you want to make me really happy, take me to England with you.
+My uncle will be there, and I could go back to Venice with him."
+
+"What!  you have an uncle in England?  Do you really mean it?  It
+sounds like a fairy-tale.  You never told me of it before."
+
+"I have never said anything about it up to now, because I have always
+imagined that this might prevent your accomplishing your desire."
+
+"Is your uncle a Venetian?  What is he doing in England?  Are you
+sure that he will welcome you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What is his name?  And how are we to find him in a town of more than
+a million inhabitants?"
+
+"He is ready found.  His name is Mattio Boisi, and he is valet de
+chambre to M. Querini, the Venetian ambassador sent to England to
+congratulate the new king; he is accompanied by the Procurator
+Morosini.  My uncle is my mother's brother; he is very fond of me,
+and will forgive my fault, especially when he finds I am rich.  When
+he went to England he said he would be back in Venice in July, and we
+shall just catch him on the point of departure."
+
+As far as the embassy went I knew it was all true, from the letters I
+had received from M. de Bragadin, and as for the rest Marcoline
+seemed to me to be speaking the truth.  I was flattered by her
+proposal and agreed to take her to England so that I should possess
+her for five or six weeks longer without committing myself to
+anything.
+
+We reached Avignon at the close of the day, and found ourselves very
+hungry.  I knew that the "St. Omer" was an excellent inn, and when I
+got there I ordered a choice meal and horses for five o'clock the
+next morning.  Marcoline, who did not like night travelling, was in
+high glee, and threw her arms around my neck, saying,--
+
+"Are we at Avignon now?"
+
+"Yes, dearest."
+
+"Then I conscientiously discharge the trust which the countess placed
+in me when she embraced me for the last time this morning.  She made
+me swear not to say a word about it till we got to Avignon."
+
+"All this puzzles me, dearest; explain yourself."
+
+"She gave me a letter for you,"
+
+"A letter?"
+
+"Will you forgive me for not placing it in your hands sooner?"
+
+"Certainly, if you passed your word to the countess; but where is
+this letter?"
+
+"Wait a minute."
+
+She drew a large bundle of papers from her pocket, saying,--
+
+"This is my certificate of baptism."
+
+"I see you were born in 1746."
+
+"This is a certificate of 'good conduct.'"
+
+"Keep it, it may be useful to you."
+
+"This is my certificate of virginity."
+
+"That's no use.  Did you get it from a midwife?"
+
+"No, from the Patriarch of Venice."
+
+"Did he test the matter for himself?"
+
+"No, he was too old; he trusted in me."
+
+"Well, well, let me see the letter."
+
+"I hope I haven't lost it."
+
+"I hope not, to God."
+
+"Here is your brother's promise of marriage; he wanted to be a
+Protestant."
+
+"You may throw that into the fire."
+
+"What is a Protestant?"
+
+"I will tell you another time.  Give me the letter."
+
+"Praised be God, here it is!"
+
+"That's lucky; but it has no address."
+
+My heart beat fast, as I opened it, and found, instead of an address,
+these words in Italian:
+
+"To the most honest man of my acquaintance."
+
+Could this be meant for me?  I turned down the leaf, and read one
+word--Henriette!  Nothing else; the rest of the paper was blank.
+
+At the sight of that word I was for a moment annihilated.
+
+"Io non mori, e non rimasi vivo."
+
+Henriette!  It was her style, eloquent in its brevity.  I recollected
+her last letter from Pontarlier, which I had received at Geneva, and
+which contained only one word--Farewell!
+
+Henriette, whom I had loved so well, whom I seemed at that moment to
+love as well as ever.  "Cruel Henriette," said I to myself, "you saw
+me and would not let me see you.  No doubt you thought your charms
+would not have their old power, and feared lest I should discover
+that after all you were but mortal.  And yet I love you with all the
+ardour of my early passion.  Why did you not let me learn from your
+own mouth that you were happy?  That is the only question I should
+have asked you, cruel fair one.  I should not have enquired whether
+you loved me still, for I feel my unworthiness, who have loved other
+women after loving the most perfect of her sex.  Adorable Henriette,
+I will fly to you to-morrow, since you told me that I should be
+always welcome."
+
+I turned these thoughts over in my own mind, and fortified myself in
+this resolve; but at last I said,--
+
+"No, your behaviour proves that you do not wish to see me now, and
+your wishes shall be respected; but I must see you once before I
+die."
+
+Marcoline scarcely dared breathe to see me thus motionless and lost
+in thought, and I do not know when I should have come to myself if
+the landlord had not come in saying that he remembered my tastes, and
+had got me a delicious supper.  This brought me to my senses, and I
+made my fair Venetian happy again by embracing her in a sort of
+ecstacy.
+
+"Do you know," she said, "you quite frightened me?  You were as pale
+and still as a dead man, and remained for a quarter of an hour in a
+kind of swoon, the like of which I have never seen.  What is the
+reason?  I knew that the countess was acquainted with you, but I
+should never have thought that her name by itself could have such an
+astonishing effect."
+
+"Well, it is strange; but how did you find out that the countess knew
+me?"
+
+"She told me as much twenty times over in the night, but she made me
+promise to say nothing about it till I had given you the letter."
+
+"What did she say to you about me?"
+
+"She only repeated in different ways what she has written for an
+address."
+
+"What a letter it is!  Her name, and nothing more."
+
+"It is very strange."
+
+"Yes, but the name tells all."
+
+"She told me that if I wanted to be happy I should always remain with
+you.  I said I knew that well; but that you wanted to send me back to
+Venice, though you were very fond of me.  I can guess now that you
+were lovers.  How long ago was it?"
+
+"Sixteen or seventeen years."
+
+"She must have been very young, but she cannot have been prettier
+than she is now."
+
+"Be quiet, Marcoline."
+
+"Did your union with her last long?"
+
+"We lived together four months in perfect happiness."
+
+"I shall not be happy for so long as that."
+
+"Yes you will, and longer, too; but with another man, and one more
+suitable to you in age.  I am going to England to try to get my
+daughter from her mother."
+
+"Your daughter?  The countess asked me if you were married, and I
+said no."
+
+"You were right; she is my illegitimate daughter.  She must be ten
+now, and when you see her you will confess that she must belong to
+me."
+
+Just as we were sitting down to table we heard someone going
+downstairs to the table d'hote in the room where I had made Madame
+Stuard's acquaintance, our door was open, and we could see the people
+on the stairs; and one of them seeing us gave a cry of joy, and came
+running in, exclaiming, "My dear papa!  "I turned to the light and
+saw Irene, the same whom I had treated so rudely at Genoa after my
+discussion with her father about biribi.  I embraced her effusively,
+and the sly little puss, pretending to be surprised to see Marcoline,
+made her a profound bow, which was returned with much grace.
+Marcoline listened attentively to our conversation.
+
+"What are you doing here, fair Irene?"
+
+"We have been here for the last fortnight.  Good heavens!  how lucky
+I am to find you again.  I am quite weak.  Will you allow me to sit
+down, madam?"
+
+"Yes, yes, my dear," said I, "sit down;" and I gave her a glass of
+wine which restored her.
+
+A waiter came up, and said they were waiting for her at supper, but
+she said, "I won't take any supper;" and Marcoline, always desirous
+of pleasing me, ordered a third place to be laid.  I made her happy
+by giving an approving nod.
+
+We sat down to table, and ate our meal with great appetite.  "When we
+have done," I said to Irene, "you must tell us what chance has
+brought you to Avignon."
+
+Marcoline, who had not spoken a word hitherto, noticing how hungry
+Irene was, said pleasantly that it would have been a mistake if she
+had not taken any supper.  Irene was delighted to hear Venetian
+spoken, and thanked her for her kindness, and in three or four
+minutes they had kissed and become friends.
+
+It amused me to see the way in which Marcoline always fell in love
+with pretty women, just as if she had been a man.
+
+In the course of conversation I found that Irene's father and mother
+were at the table d'hote below, and from sundry exclamations, such as
+"you have been brought to Avignon out of God's goodness," I learned
+that they were in distress.  In spite of that Irene's mirthful
+countenance matched Marcoline's sallies, and the latter was delighted
+to hear that Irene had only called me papa because her mother had
+styled her my daughter at Milan.
+
+We had only got half-way through our supper when Rinaldi and his wife
+came in.  I asked them to sit down, but if it had not been for Irene
+I should have given the old rascal a very warm reception.  He began
+to chide his daughter for troubling me with her presence when I had
+such fair company already, but Marcoline hastened to say that Irene
+could only have given me pleasure, for in my capacity of her uncle I
+was always glad when she was able to enjoy the society of a sweet
+young girl.
+
+"I hope," she added, "that if she doesn't mind she will sleep with
+me."
+
+"Yes, yes," resounded on all sides, and though I should have
+preferred to sleep with Marcoline by herself, I laughed and agreed; I
+have always been able to accommodate myself to circumstances.
+
+Irene shared Marcoline's desires, for when it was settled that they
+should sleep together they seemed wild with joy, and I added fuel to
+the fire by plying them with punch and champagne.
+
+Rinaldi and his wife did not leave us till they were quite drunk.
+When we had got rid of them, Irene told us how a Frenchman had fallen
+in love with her at Genoa, and had persuaded her father to go to Nice
+where high play was going on, but meeting with no luck there she had
+been obliged to sell what she had to pay the inn-keeper.  Her lover
+had assured her that he would make it up to her at Aix, where there
+was some money owing to him, and she persuaded her father to go
+there; but the persons who owed the money having gone to Avignon,
+there had to be another sale of goods.
+
+"When we got here the luck was no better, and the poor young man,
+whom my father reproached bitterly, would have killed himself if I
+had not given him the mantle you gave me that he might pawn it and go
+on his quest.  He got four louis for it, and sent me the ticket with
+a very tender letter, in which he assured me that he would find some
+money at Lyons, and that he would then return and take us to
+Bordeaux, where we are to find treasures.  In the meanwhile we are
+penniless, and as we have nothing more to sell the landlord threatens
+to turn us out naked."
+
+"And what does your father mean to do?"
+
+"I don't know.  He says Providence will take care of us."
+
+"What does your mother say?"
+
+"Oh!  she was as quiet as usual."
+
+"How about yourself?"
+
+"Alas!  I have to bear a thousand mortifications every day.  They are
+continually reproaching me with having fallen in love with this
+Frenchman, and bringing them to this dreadful pass."
+
+"Were you really in love with him?"
+
+"Yes, really."
+
+"Then you must be very unhappy."
+
+"Yes, very; but not on account of my love, for I shall get over that
+in time, but because of that which will happen to-morrow."
+
+"Can't you make any conquests at the table-d'hote?"
+
+"Some of the men say pretty things to me, but as they all know how
+poor we are they are afraid to come to our room."
+
+"And yet in spite of all you keep cheerful; you don't look sad like
+most of the unhappy.  I congratulate you on your good spirits."
+Irene's tale was like the fair Stuard's story over again, and
+Marcoline, though she had taken rather too much champagne, was deeply
+moved at this picture of misery.  She kissed the girl, telling her
+that I would not forsake her, and that in the meanwhile they would
+spend a pleasant night.
+
+"Come! let us to bed!" said she; and after taking off her clothes she
+helped Irene to undress.  I had no wish to fight, against two, and
+said that I wanted to rest.  The fair Venetian burst out laughing and
+said,--
+
+"Go to bed and leave us alone."
+
+"I did so, and amused myself by watching the two Bacchantes; but
+Irene, who had evidently never engaged in such a combat before, was
+not nearly so adroit as Marcoline.
+
+Before long Marcoline brought Irene in her arms to my bedside, and
+told me to kiss her.
+
+"Leave me alone, dearest," said I, "the punch has got into your head,
+and you don't know what you are doing."
+
+This stung her; and urging Irene to follow her example, she took up a
+position in my bed by force; and as there was not enough room for
+three, Marcoline got on top of Irene, calling her her wife.
+
+I was virtuous enough to remain a wholly passive spectator of the
+scene, which was always new to me, though I had seen it so often; but
+at last they flung themselves on me with such violence that I was
+obliged to give way, and for the most part of the night I performed
+my share of the work, till they saw that I was completely exhausted.
+We fell asleep, and I did not wake up till noon, and then I saw my
+two beauties still asleep, with their limbs interlaced like the
+branches of a tree.  I thought with a sigh of the pleasures of such a
+sleep, and got out of bed gently for fear of rousing them.  I ordered
+a good dinner to be prepared, and countermanded the horses which had
+been waiting several hours.
+
+The landlord remembering what I had done for Madame Stuard guessed I
+was going to do the same for the Rinaldis, and left them in peace.
+
+When I came back I found my two Lesbians awake, and they gave me such
+an amorous welcome that I felt inclined to complete the work of the
+night with a lover's good morning; but I began to feel the need of
+husbanding my forces, so I did nothing, and bore their sarcasms in
+silence till one o'clock, when I told them to get up, as we ought to
+have done at five o'clock, and here was two o'clock and breakfast not
+done.
+
+"We have enjoyed ourselves," said Marcoline, "and time that is given
+to enjoyment is never lost."
+
+When they were dressed, I had coffee brought in, and I gave Irene
+sixteen louis, four of which were to redeem her cloak.  Her father
+and mother who had just dined came in to bid us good-day, and Irene
+proudly gave her father twelve Louis telling him to scold her a
+little less in future.  He laughed, wept, and went out, and then came
+back and said he found a good way of getting to Antibes at a small
+cost, but they would have to go directly, as the driver wanted to get
+to St. Andiol by nightfall.
+
+"I am quite ready."
+
+"No, dear Irene," said I, "you shall not go; you shall dine with your
+friend, and your driver can wait.  Make him do so, Count Rinaldi ; my
+niece will pay, will you not, Marcoline?"
+
+"Certainly.  I should like to dine here, and still better to put off
+our departure till the next day."
+
+Her wishes were my orders.  We had a delicious supper at five
+o'clock, and at eight we went to bed and spent the night in
+wantonness, but at five in the morning all were ready to start.
+Irene, who wore her handsome cloak, shed hot tears at parting from
+Marcoline, who also wept with all her heart.  Old Rinaldi, who proved
+himself no prophet, told me that I should make a great fortune in
+England, and his daughter sighed to be in Marcoline's place.
+We shall hear of Rinaldi later on.
+
+We drove on for fifteen posts without stopping, and passed the night
+at Valence.  The food was bad, but Marcoline forgot her discomfort in
+talking of Irene.
+
+"Do you know," said she, "that if it had been in my power I should
+have taken her from her parents.  I believe she is your daughter,
+though she is not like you."
+
+"How can she be my daughter when I have never known her mother?"
+
+"She told me that certainly."
+
+"Didn't she tell you anything else?"
+
+"Yes, she told me that you lived with her for three days and bought
+her maidenhead for a thousand sequins."
+
+"Quite so, but did she tell you that I paid the money to her father?"
+
+"Yes, the little fool doesn't keep anything for herself.  I don't
+think I should ever be jealous of your mistresses, if you let me
+sleep with them.  Is not that a mark of a good disposition?
+Tell me."
+
+"You have, no doubt, a good disposition, but you could be quite as
+good without your dominant passion."
+
+"It is not a passion.  I only have desires for those I love."
+
+"Who gave you this taste?"
+
+"Nature.  I began at seven, and in the last ten years I have
+certainly had four hundred sweethearts."
+
+"You begin early.  But when did you begin to have male sweethearts?"
+
+"At eleven."
+
+"Tell me all about it."
+
+"Father Molini, a monk, was my confessor, and he expressed a desire
+to know the girl who was then my sweetheart.  It was in the carnival
+time, and he gave us a moral discourse, telling us that he would take
+us to the play if we would promise to abstain for a week.  We
+promised to do so, and at the end of the week we went to tell him
+that we had kept our word faithfully.  The next day Father Molini
+called on my sweetheart's aunt in a mask, and as she knew him, and as
+he was a monk and a confessor, we were allowed to go with him.
+Besides, we were mere children; my sweetheart was only a year older
+than I.
+
+"After the play the father took us to an inn, and gave us some
+supper; and when the meal was over he spoke to us of our sin, and
+wanted to see our privates.  'It's a great sin between two girls,'
+said he, 'but between a man and a woman it is a venial matter.  Do
+you know how men are made?'  We both knew, but we said no with one
+consent.  'Then would you like to know?' said he.  We said we should
+like to know very much, and he added, 'If you will promise to keep it
+a secret, I may be able to satisfy your curiosity.'  We gave our
+promises, and the good father proceeded to gratify us with a sight of
+the riches which nature had lavished on him, and in the course of an
+hour he had turned us into women.  I must confess that he understood
+so well how to work on our curiosity that the request came from us.
+Three years later, when I was fourteen, I became the mistress of a
+young jeweller.  Then came your brother; but he got nothing from me,
+because he began by saying that he could not ask me to give him any
+favours till we were married."
+
+"You must have been amused at that."
+
+"Yes, it did make me laugh, because I did not know that a priest
+could get married; and he excited my curiosity by telling me that
+they managed it at Geneva.  Curiosity and wantonness made me escape
+with him; you know the rest."
+
+Thus did Marcoline amuse me during the evening, and then we went to
+bed and slept quietly till the morning.  We started from Valence at
+five, and in the evening we were set down at the "Hotel du Parc" at
+Lyons.
+
+As soon as I was settled in the pleasant apartments allotted to me I
+went to Madame d'Urfe, who was staying in the Place Bellecour, and
+said, as usual, that she was sure I was coming on that day.  She
+wanted to know if she had performed the ceremonies correctly, and
+Paralis, of course, informed her that she had, whereat she was much
+flattered.  The young Aranda was with her, and after I had kissed him
+affectionately I told the marchioness that I would be with her at ten
+o'clock the next morning, and so I left her.
+
+I kept the appointment and we spent the whole of the day in close
+conference, asking of the oracle concerning her being brought to bed,
+how she was to make her will, and how she should contrive to escape
+poverty in her regenerated shape.  The oracle told her that she must
+go to Paris for her lying-in, and leave all her possessions to her
+son, who would not be a bastard, as Paralis promised that as soon as
+I got to London an English gentleman should be sent over to marry
+her.  Finally, the oracle ordered her to prepare to start in three
+days, and to take Aranda with her.  I had to take the latter to
+London and return him to his mother, for his real position in life
+was no longer a mystery, the little rascal having confessed all;
+however, I had found a remedy for his indiscretion as for the
+treachery of the Corticelli and Possano.
+
+I longed to return him to the keeping of his mother, who constantly
+wrote me impertinent letters.  I also wished to take my daughter,
+who, according to her mother, had become a prodigy of grace and
+beauty.
+
+After the oracular business had been settled, I returned to the
+"Hotel du Parc" to dine with Marcoline.  It was very late, and as I
+could not take my sweetheart to the play I called on M. Bono to
+enquire whether he had sent my brother to Paris.  He told me that he
+had gone the day before, and that my great enemy, Possano, was still
+in Lyons, and that I would do well to be on my guard as far as he was
+concerned.
+
+"I have seen him," said Bono; "he looks pale and undone, and seems
+scarcely able to stand.  'I shall die before long,' said he, 'for
+that scoundrel Casanova has had me poisoned; but I will make him pay
+dearly for his crime, and in this very town of Lyons, where I know he
+will come, sooner or later.'
+
+"In fact, in the course of half an hour, he made some terrible
+accusations against you, speaking as if he were in a fury.  He wants
+all the world to know that you are the greatest villain unhung, that
+you are ruining Madame d'Urfe with your impious lies; that you are a
+sorcerer, a forger, an utter of false moneys, a poisoner--in short,
+the worst of men.  He does not intend to publish a libellous pamphlet
+upon you, but to accuse you before the courts, alleging that he wants
+reparation for the wrongs you have done his person, his honour, and
+his life, for he says you are killing him by a slow poison.  He adds
+that for every article he possesses the strongest proof.
+
+"I will say nothing about the vague abuse he adds to these formal
+accusations, but I have felt it my duty to warn you of his
+treacherous designs that you may be able to defeat them.  It's no
+good saying he is a miserable wretch, and that you despise him; you
+know how strong a thing calumny is."
+
+"Where does the fellow live?"
+
+"I don't know in the least."
+
+"How can I find out?"
+
+"I can't say, for if he is hiding himself on purpose it would be hard
+to get at him."
+
+"Nevertheless, Lyons is not so vast a place."
+
+"Lyons is a perfect maze, and there is no better hiding-place,
+especially to a man with money, and Possano has money."
+
+"But what can he do to me?"
+
+"He can institute proceedings against you in the criminal court,
+which would cause you immense anxiety and bring down your good name
+to the dust, even though you be the most innocent, the most just of
+men."
+
+"It seems to me, then, that the best thing I can do will be to be
+first in the field."
+
+"So I think, but even then you cannot avoid publicity."
+
+"Tell me frankly if you feel disposed to bear witness to what the
+rascal has said in a court of justice."
+
+"I will tell all I know with perfect truth."
+
+"Be kind enough to tell me of a good advocate."
+
+"I will give you the address of one of the best; but reflect before
+you do anything.  The affair will make a noise."
+
+"As I don't know where he lives, I have really no choice in the
+matter."
+
+If I had known where he lived I could have had Possano expelled from
+Lyons through the influence of Madame d'Urfe, whose relative, M. de
+la Rochebaron, was the governor; but as it was, I had no other course
+than the one I took.
+
+Although Possano was a liar and an ungrateful, treacherous hound, yet
+I could not help being uneasy.  I went to my hotel, and proceeded to
+ask for police protection against a man in hiding in Lyons, who had
+designs against my life and honour.
+
+The next day M. Bono came to dissuade me from the course I had taken.
+
+"For," said he, "the police will begin to search for him, and as soon
+as he hears of it he will take proceedings against you in the
+criminal courts, and then your positions will be changed.  It seems
+to me that if you have no important business at Lyons you had better
+hasten your departure."
+
+"Do you think I would do such a thing for a miserable fellow like
+Possano ?  No!  I would despise myself if I did.  I would die rather
+than hasten my departure on account of a rascal whom I loaded with
+kindnesses, despite his unworthiness !  I would give a hundred louis
+to know where he is now."
+
+"I am delighted to say that I do not know anything about it, for if I
+did I would tell you, and then God knows what would happen!  You
+won't go any sooner; well, then, begin proceedings, and I will give
+my evidence by word of mouth or writing whenever you please."
+
+I went to the advocate whom M. Bono had recommended to me, and told
+him my business.  When he heard what I wanted he said,----
+
+"I can do nothing for you, sir, as I have undertaken the case of your
+opponent.  You need not be alarmed, however, at having spoken to me,
+for I assure you that I will make no use whatever of the information.
+Possano's plea or accusation will not be drawn up till the day after
+to-morrow, but I will not tell him to make baste for fear of your
+anticipating him, as I have only been informed of your intentions by
+hazard.  However, you will find plenty of advocates at Lyons as
+honest as I am, and more skilled."
+
+"Could you give me the name of one?"
+
+"That would not be etiquette, but M. Bono, who seems to have kindly
+spoken of me with some esteem, will be able to serve you."
+
+"Can you tell me where your client lives?"
+
+"Since his chief aim is to remain hidden, and with good cause, you
+will see that I could not think of doing such a thing."
+
+In bidding him farewell I put a louis on the table, and though I did
+it with the utmost delicacy he ran after me and made me take it back.
+
+"For once in a way," I said to myself, "here's an honest advocate."
+
+As I walked along I thought of putting a spy on Possano and finding
+out his abode, for I felt a strong desire to have him beaten to
+death; but where was I to find a spy in a town of which I knew
+nothing?  M. Bono gave me the name of another advocate, and advised
+me to make haste.
+
+"'Tis in criminal matters" said he, "and in such cases the first
+comer always has the advantage."
+
+I asked him to find me a trusty fellow to track out the rascally
+Possano, but the worthy man would not hear of it.  He shewed me that
+it would be dishonourable to set a spy on the actions of Possano's
+advocate.  I knew it myself; but what man is there who has not
+yielded to the voice of vengeance, the most violent and least
+reasonable of all the passions.
+
+I went to the second advocate, whom I found to be a man venerable not
+only in years but in wisdom.  I told him all the circumstances of the
+affair, which he agreed to take up, saying he would present my plea
+in the course of the day.
+
+"That's just what I want you to do," said I, "for his own advocate
+told me that his pleas would be presented the day after to-morrow."
+
+"That, sir," said her "would not induce me to act with any greater
+promptness, as I could not consent to your abusing the confidence of
+my colleague."
+
+"But there is nothing dishonourable in making use of information
+which one has acquired by chance."
+
+"That may be a tenable position in some cases, but in the present
+instance the nature of the affair justifies prompt action.  'Prior in
+tempore, Potior in jure'.  Prudence bids us attack our enemy.  Be so
+kind, if you please, to call here at three o'clock in the afternoon."
+
+"I will not fail to do so, and in the meanwhile here are six louis."
+
+"I will keep account of my expenditure on your behalf."
+
+"I want you not to spare money."
+
+"Sir, I shall spend only what is absolutely necessary."
+
+I almost believed that probity had chosen a home for herself amongst
+the Lyons advocates, and here I may say, to the honour of the French
+bar, that I have never known a more honest body of men than the
+advocates of France.
+
+At three o'clock, having seen that the plan was properly drawn up, I
+went to Madame d'Urfe's, and for four hours I worked the oracle in a
+manner that filled her with delight, and in spite of my vexation I
+could not help laughing at her insane fancies on the subject of her
+pregnancy.  She was certain of it; she felt all the symptoms.  Then
+she said how sorry she felt that she would not be alive to laugh at
+all the hypotheses of the Paris doctors as to her being delivered of
+a child, which would be thought very extraordinary in a woman of her
+age.
+
+When I got back to the inn I found Marcoline very melancholy.  She
+said she had been waiting for me to take her to the play, according
+to my promise, and that I should not have made her wait in vain.
+
+"You are right, dearest, but an affair of importance has kept me with
+the marchioness.  Don't be put out."
+
+I had need of some such advice myself, for the legal affair worried
+me, and I slept very ill.  Early the next morning I saw my counsel,
+who told me that my plea had been laid before the criminal
+lieutenant.
+
+"For the present," said he, "there is nothing more to be done, for as
+we don't know where he is we can't cite him to appear."
+
+"Could I not set the police on his track?"
+
+"You might, but I don't advise you to do so.  Let us consider what
+the result would be.  The accuser finding himself accused would have
+to defend himself and prove the accusation he has made against you.
+But in the present state of things, if he does not put in an
+appearance we will get judgment against him for contempt of court and
+also for libel.  Even his counsel will leave him in the lurch if he
+persistently refuses to shew himself."
+
+This quieted my fears a little, and I spent the rest of the day with
+Madame d'Urfe, who was going to Paris on the morrow.  I promised to
+be with her as soon as I had dealt with certain matters which
+concerned the honour of the Fraternity R. C..
+
+Her great maxim was always to respect my secrets, and never to
+trouble me with her curiosity.  Marcoline, who had been pining by
+herself all day, breathed again when I told her that henceforth I
+should be all for her.
+
+In the morning M. Bono came to me and begged me to go with him to
+Possano's counsel, who wanted to speak to me.  The advocate said that
+his client was a sort of madman who was ready to do anything, as he
+believed himself to be dying from the effects of a slow poison.
+
+"He says that even if you are first in the field he will have you
+condemned to death.  He says he doesn't care if he is sent to prison,
+as he is certain of coming out in triumph as he has the proof of all
+his accusations.  He shews twenty-five louis which you gave him, all
+of which are clipped, and he exhibits documents dated from Genoa
+stating that you clipped a number of gold pieces, which were melted
+by M. Grimaldi in order that the police might not find them in your
+possession.  He has even a letter from your brother, the abbe,
+deposing against you.  He is a madman, a victim to syphilis, who
+wishes to send you to the other world before himself, if he can.  Now
+my advice to you is to give him some money and get rid of him.  He
+tells me that he is the father of a family, and that if M. Bono would
+give him a thousand louis he would sacrifice vengeance to necessity.
+He told me to speak to M. Bono about it; and now, sir what do you
+say?"
+
+"That which my just indignation inspires me to say regarding a rascal
+whom I rescued from poverty, and who nevertheless pursues me with
+atrocious calumnies; he shall not have one single farthing of mine."
+
+I then told the Genoa story, putting things in their true light, and
+adding that I could call M. Grimaldi as a witness if necessary.
+
+"I have delayed presenting the plea," said the counsel, "to see if
+the scandal could be hushed up in any way, but I warn you that I
+shall now present it."
+
+"Do so; I shall be greatly obliged to you."
+
+I immediately called on my advocate, and told him of the rascal's
+proposal; and he said I was quite right to refuse to have any
+dealings with such a fellow.  He added that as I had M. Bono as a
+witness I ought to make Possano's advocate present his plea, and I
+authorized him to take proceedings in my name.
+
+A clerk was immediately sent to the criminal lieutenant, praying him
+to command the advocate to bring before him, in three days, the plea
+of one Anami, alias Pogomas, alias Possano, the said plea being
+against Jacques Casanova, commonly called the Chevalier de Seingalt.
+This document, to which I affixed my signature, was laid before the
+criminal lieutenant.
+
+I did not care for the three days' delay, but my counsel told me it
+was always given, and that I must make up my mind to submit to all
+the vexation I should be obliged to undergo, even if we were wholly
+successful.
+
+As Madame d'Urfe had taken her departure in conformity with the
+orders of Paralis, I dined with Marcoline at the inn, and tried to
+raise my spirits by all the means in my power.  I took my mistress to
+the best milliners and dressmakers in the town, and bought her
+everything she took a fancy to; and then we went to the theatre,
+where she must have been pleased to see all eyes fixed on her.
+Madame Pernon, who was in the next box to ours, made me introduce
+Marcoline to her; and from the way they embraced each other when the
+play was over I saw they were likely to become intimate, the only
+obstacle to their friendship being that Madame Pernon did not know a
+word of Italian, and that Marcoline did not dare to speak a word of
+French for fear of making herself ridiculous.  When we got back to
+the inn, Marcoline told me that her new friend had given her the
+Florentine kiss: this is the shibboleth of the sect.
+
+The pretty nick-nacks I had given her had made her happy; her ardour
+was redoubled, and the night passed joyously.
+
+I spent the next day in going from shop to shop, making fresh
+purchases for Marcoline, and we supped merrily at Madame Pernon's.
+
+The day after, M. Bono came to see me at an early hour with a smile
+of content on his face.
+
+"Let us go and breakfast at a coffee-house," said he; "we will have
+some discussion together."
+
+When we were breakfasting he shewed me a letter written by Possano,
+in which the rascal said that he was ready to abandon proceedings
+provided that M. de Seingalt gave him a hundred louis, on receipt of
+which he promised to leave Lyons immediately.
+
+"I should be a great fool," said I, "if I gave the knave more money
+to escape from the hands of justice.  Let him go if he likes, I won't
+prevent him; but he had better not expect me to give him anything.
+He will have a writ out against him to-morrow.  I should like to see
+him branded by the hangman.  He has slandered me, his benefactor, too
+grievously; let him prove what he says, or be dishonoured before all
+men."
+
+"His abandoning the proceedings," said M. Bono, "would in my opinion
+amount to the same thing as his failing to prove his charges, and you
+would do well to prefer it to a trial which would do your reputation
+no good, even if you were completely successful.  And the hundred
+louis is nothing in comparison with the costs of such a trial."
+
+"M. Bono, I value your advice very highly, and still more highly the
+kindly feelings which prompt you, but you must allow me to follow my
+own opinion in this case."
+
+I went to my counsel and told him of the fresh proposal that Possano
+had made, and of my refusal to listen to it, begging him to take
+measures for the arrest of the villain who had vowed my death.
+
+The same evening I had Madame Pernon and M. Bono, who was her lover,
+to sup with me; and as the latter had a good knowledge of Italian
+Marcoline was able to take part in the merriment of the company.
+
+The next day Bono wrote to tell me that Possano had left Lyons never
+to return, and that he had signed a full and satisfactory retraction.
+I was not surprised to hear of his flight, but the other circumstance
+I could not understand.  I therefore hastened to call on Bono, who
+showed me the document, which was certainly plain enough.
+
+"Will that do?" said he.
+
+"So well that I forgive him, but I wonder he did not insist on the
+hundred Louis."
+
+"My dear sir, I gave him the money with pleasure, to prevent a
+scandalous affair which would have done us all harm in becoming
+public.  If I had told you nothing, you couldn't have taken any steps
+in the matter, and I felt myself obliged to repair the mischief I had
+done in this way.  You would have known nothing about it, if you had
+said that you were not satisfied.  I am only too glad to have been
+enabled to skew my friendship by this trifling service.  We will say
+no more about it."
+
+"Very good," said I, embracing him, "we will say no more, but please
+to receive the assurance of my gratitude."
+
+I confess I felt much relieved at being freed from this troublesome
+business.
+
+
+
+
+End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA
+IN LONDON AND MOSCOW, Vol. 5a, SOUTH OF FRANCE
+by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
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+The Project Gutenberg Etext of South of France, by Jacgues Casanova
+#21 in our series by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
+
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+Title: South of France, Casanova, v21
+
+Author: Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
+
+Release Date: December, 2001 [Etext #2971]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[Most recently updated: December 10, 2001]
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+The Project Gutenberg Etext of Return to Venice, by Jacques Casanova
+********This file should be named jcsfr11.txt or jcsfr11.zip********
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+
+THE MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA DE SEINGALT
+
+THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR
+MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR
+SYMONS.
+
+
+
+MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798
+IN LONDON AND MOSCOW, Volume 5a--SOUTH OF FRANCE
+
+
+
+
+SOUTH OF FRANCE
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+I Find Rosalie Happy--The Signora Isola-Bella--The Cook--Biribi
+--Irene--Possano in Prison--My Niece Proves to be an Old Friend of
+Rosalie's
+
+
+At Genoa, where he was known to all, Pogomas called himself Possano.
+He introduced me to his wife and daughter, but they were so ugly and
+disgusting in every respect that I left them on some trifling
+pretext, and went to dine with my new niece.  Afterwards I went to
+see the Marquis Grimaldi, for I longed to know what had become of
+Rosalie.  The marquis was away in Venice, and was not expected back
+till the end of April; but one of his servants took me to Rosalie,
+who had become Madame Paretti six months after my departure.
+
+My heart beat fast as I entered the abode of this woman, of whom I
+had such pleasant recollections.  I first went to M. Paretti in his
+shop, and he received me with a joyful smile, which shewed me how
+happy he was.  He took me to his wife directly, who cried out with
+delight, and ran to embrace me.
+
+M. Paretti was busy, and begged me to excuse him, saying his wife
+would entertain me.
+
+Rosalie shewed me a pretty little girl of six months old, telling me
+that she was happy, that she loved her husband, and was loved by him,
+that he was industrious and active in business, and under the
+patronage of the Marquis Grimaldi had prospered exceedingly.
+
+The peaceful happiness of marriage had improved her wonderfully; she
+had become a perfect beauty in every sense of the word.
+
+"My dear friend," she said, "you are very good to call on me directly
+you arrive, and I hope you will dine with us to-morrow.  I owe all my
+happiness to you, and that is even a sweeter thought than the
+recollection of the passionate hours we have spent together.  Let us
+kiss, but no more; my duty as an honest wife forbids me from going
+any further, so do not disturb the happiness you have given."
+
+I pressed her hand tenderly, to skew that I assented to the
+conditions she laid down.
+
+"Oh! by the way," she suddenly exclaimed, "I have a pleasant surprise
+for you."
+
+She went out, and a moment afterward returned with Veronique, who had
+become her maid.  I was glad to see her and embraced her
+affectionately, asking after Annette.  She said her sister was well,
+and was working with her mother.
+
+"I want her to come and wait on my niece while we are here," said I.
+
+At this Rosalie burst out laughing.
+
+"What! another niece?  You have a great many relations!  But as she
+is your niece, I hope you will bring her with you to-morrow."
+
+"Certainly, and all the more willingly as she is from Marseilles."
+
+"From Marseilles?  Why, we might know each other.  Not that that
+would matter, for all your nieces are discreet young persons.  What
+is her name?"
+
+"Crosin."
+
+"I don't know it."
+
+"I daresay you don't.  She is the daughter of a cousin of mine who
+lived at Marseilles."
+
+"Tell that to someone else; but, after all, what does it matter?  You
+choose well, amuse yourself, and make them happy.  It may be wisdom
+after all, and at any rate I congratulate you.  I shall be delighted
+to see your niece, but if she knows me you must see that she knows
+her part as well."
+
+On leaving Madame Paretti I called on the Signora Isola-Bella, and
+gave her the Marquis Triulzi's letter.  Soon after she came into the
+room and welcomed me, saying that she had been expecting me, as
+Triulzi had written to her on the subject.  She introduced me to the
+Marquis Augustino Grimaldi delta Pietra, her 'cicisbeoin-chief'
+during the long absence of her husband, who lived at Lisbon.
+
+The signora's apartments were very elegant.  She was pretty with
+small though regular features, her manner was pleasant, her voice
+sweet, and her figure well shaped, though too thin.  She was nearly
+thirty.  I say nothing of her complexion, for her face was plastered
+with white and red, and so coarsely, that these patches of paint were
+the first things that caught my attention.  I was disgusted at this,
+in spite of her fine expressive eyes.  After an hour spent in
+question and reply, in which both parties were feeling their way, I
+accepted her invitation to come to supper on the following day.  When
+I got back I complimented my niece on the way in which she had
+arranged her room, which was only separated from mine by a small
+closet which I intended for her maid, who, I told her, was coming the
+next day.  She was highly pleased with this attention, and it paved
+the way for my success.  I also told her that the next day she was to
+dine with me at a substantial merchant's as my niece, and this piece
+of news made her quite happy.
+
+This girl whom Croce had infatuated and deprived of her senses was
+exquisitely beautiful, but more charming than all her physical
+beauties were the nobleness of her presence and the sweetness of her
+disposition.  I was already madly in love with her, and I repented
+not having taken possession of her on the first day of our journey.
+If I had taken her at her word I should have been a steadfast lover,
+and I do not think it would have taken me long to make her forget her
+former admirer.
+
+I had made but a small dinner, so I sat down to supper famishing with
+hunger; and as my niece had an excellent appetite we prepared
+ourselves for enjoyment, but instead of the dishes being delicate, as
+we had expected, they were detestable.  I told Clairmont to send for
+the landlady, and she said that she could not help it, as everything
+had been done by my own cook.
+
+"My cook?" I repeated.
+
+"Yes, sir, the one your secretary, M. Possano, engaged for you.  I
+could have got a much better one and a much cheaper one myself."
+
+"Get one to-morrow."
+
+"Certainly; but you must rid yourself and me of the present cook, for
+he has taken up his position here with his wife and children.  Tell
+Possano to send for him."
+
+"I will do so, and in the meanwhile do you get me a fresh cook.  I
+will try him the day after to-morrow."
+
+I escorted my niece into her room, and begged her to go to bed
+without troubling about me, and so saying I took up the paper and
+began to read it.  When I had finished, I went up to bed, and said,
+
+"You might spare me the pain of having to sleep by myself."
+
+She lowered her eyes but said nothing, so I gave her a kiss and left
+her.
+
+In the morning my fair niece came into my room just as Clairmont was
+washing my feet, and begged me to let her have some coffee as
+chocolate made her hot.  I told my man to go and fetch some coffee,
+and as soon as he was gone she went down on her knees and would have
+wiped my feet.
+
+"I cannot allow that, my dear young lady."
+
+"Why not? it is a mark of friendship."
+
+"That may be, but such marks cannot be given to anyone but your lover
+without your degrading yourself."
+
+She got up and sat down on a chair quietly, but saying nothing.
+
+Clairmont came back again, and I proceeded with my toilette.
+
+The landlady came in with our breakfast, and asked my niece if she
+would like to buy a fine silk shawl made in the Genoese fashion.  I
+did not let her be confused by having to answer, but told the
+landlady to let us see it.  Soon after the milliner came in, but by
+that time I had given my young friend twenty Genoese sequins, telling
+her that she might use them for her private wants.  She took the
+money, thanking me with much grace, and letting me imprint a
+delicious kiss on her lovely lips.
+
+I had sent away the milliner after having bought the shawl, when
+Possano took it upon himself to remonstrate with me in the matter of
+the cook.
+
+"I engaged the man by your orders," said he, "for the whole time you
+stayed at Genoa, at four francs a day, with board and lodging."
+
+"Where is my letter?"
+
+"Here it is: 'Get me a good cook; I will keep him while I stay in
+Genoa.'"
+
+"Perhaps you did not remark the expression, d good cook?  Well, this
+fellow is a very bad cook; and, at all events, I am the best judge
+whether he is good or bad."
+
+"You are wrong, for the man will prove his skill.  He will cite you
+in the law courts, and win his case."
+
+"Then you have made a formal agreement with him?"
+
+"Certainly; and your letter authorized me to do so."
+
+"Tell him to come up; I want to speak to him."
+
+While Possano was downstairs I told Clairmont to go and fetch me an
+advocate.  The cook came upstairs, I read the agreement, and I saw
+that it was worded in such a manner that I should be in the wrong
+legally; but I did not change my mind for all that.
+
+"Sir," said the cook, "I am skilled in my business, and I can get
+four thousand Genoese to swear as much."
+
+"That doesn't say much for their good taste; but whatever they may-
+say, the execrable supper you gave me last night proves that you are
+only fit to keep a low eating-house."
+
+As there is nothing more irritable than the feelings of a culinary
+artist, I was expecting a sharp answer; but just then the advocate
+came in.  He had heard the end of our dialogue, and told me that not
+only would the man find plenty of witnesses to his skill, but that I
+should find a very great difficulty in getting anybody at all to
+swear to his want of skill.
+
+"That may be," I replied, "but as I stick to my own opinion, and
+think his cooking horrible, he must go, for I want to get another,
+and I will pay that fellow as if he had served me the whole time."
+
+"That won't do," said the cook; "I will summon you before the judge
+and demand damages for defamation of character."
+
+At this my bile overpowered me, and I was going to seize him anti
+throw him out of the window, when Don Antonio Grimaldi came in.  When
+he heard what was the matter, he laughed and said, with a shrug of
+his shoulders,
+
+"My dear sir, you had better not go into court, or you will be cast
+in costs, for the evidence is against you.  Probably this man makes a
+slight mistake in believing himself to be an excellent cook, but the
+chief mistake is in the agreement, which ought to have stipulated
+that he should cook a trial dinner.  The person who drew up the
+agreement is either a great knave or a great fool."
+
+At this Possano struck in in his rude way, and told the nobleman that
+he was neither knave nor fool.
+
+"But you are cousin to the cook," said the landlady.
+
+This timely remark solved the mystery.  I paid and dismissed the
+advocate, and having sent the cook out of the room I said,
+
+"Do I owe you any money, Possano?"
+
+"On the contrary, you paid me a month in advance, and there are ten
+more days of the month to run."
+
+"I will make you a present of the ten days and send you away this
+very moment, unless your cousin does not leave my house to-day, and
+give you the foolish engagement which you signed in my name."
+
+"That's what I call cutting the Gordian knot," said M. Grimaldi.
+
+He then begged me to introduce him to the lady he had seen with me,
+and I did so, telling him she was my niece.
+
+"Signora Isola-Bella will be delighted to see her."
+
+"As the marquis did not mention her in his letter, I did not take the
+liberty of bringing her."
+
+The marquis left a few moments afterwards, and soon after Annette
+came in with her mother.  The girl had developed in an incredible
+manner while I was away.  Her cheeks blossomed like the rose, her
+teeth were white as pearls, and her breasts, though modestly
+concealed from view, were exquisitely rounded.  I presented her to
+her mistress, whose astonishment amused me.
+
+Annette, who looked pleased to be in my service again, went to dress
+her new mistress; and, after giving a few sequins to the mother I
+sent her away, and proceeded to make my toilette.
+
+Towards noon, just as I was going out with my niece to dine at
+Rosalie's, my landlady brought me the agreement Possano had made, and
+introduced the new cook.  I ordered the next day's dinner, and went
+away much pleased with my comic victory.
+
+A brilliant company awaited us at the Paretti's, but I was agreeably
+surprised on introducing my niece to Rosalie to see them recognize
+each other.  They called each other by their respective names, and
+indulged in an affectionate embrace.  After this they retired to
+another room for a quarter of an hour, and returned looking very
+happy.  Just then Paretti entered, and on Rosalie introducing him to
+my niece under her true name he welcomed her in the most cordial
+manner.  Her father was a correspondent of his, and drawing a letter
+he had just received from him from his pocket, he gave it to her to
+read.  My niece read it eagerly, with tears in her eyes, and gave the
+signature a respectful pressure with her lips.  This expression of
+filial love, which displayed all the feelings of her heart, moved me
+to such an extent that I burst into tears.  Then taking Rosalie
+aside, I begged her to ask her husband not to mention the fact to his
+correspondent that he had seen his daughter.
+
+The dinner was excellent, and Rosalie did the honours with that grace
+which was natural to her.  However, the guests did not by any means
+pay her all their attentions, the greater portion of which was
+diverted in the direction of my supposed niece.  Her father, a
+prosperous merchant of Marseilles, was well known in the commercial
+circles of Genoa, and besides this her wit and beauty captivated
+everybody, and one young gentleman fell madly in love with her.  He
+was an extremely good match, and proved to be the husband whom Heaven
+had destined for my charming friend.  What a happy thought it was for
+me that I had been the means of rescuing her from the gulf of shame,
+misery, and despair, and placing her on the high road to happiness.
+I own that I have always felt a keener pleasure in doing good than in
+anything else, though, perhaps, I may not always have done good from
+strictly disinterested motives.
+
+When we rose from the table in excellent humour with ourselves and
+our surroundings, cards were proposed, and Rosalie, who knew my
+likings, said it must be trente-quarante.  This was agreed to, and we
+played till supper, nobody either winning or losing to any extent.
+We did not go till midnight, after having spent a very happy day.
+
+When we were in our room I asked my niece how she had known Rosalie.
+
+"I knew her at home; she and her mother used to bring linen from the
+wash.  I always liked her."
+
+"You must be nearly the same age."
+
+"She is two years older than I am.  I recognized her directly."
+
+"What did she tell you?"
+
+"That it was you who brought her from Marseilles and made her
+fortune."
+
+"She has not made you the depositary of any other confidences?"
+
+"No, but there are some things which don't need telling."
+
+"You are right.  And what did you tell her?"
+
+"Only what she could have guessed for herself.  I told her that you
+were not my uncle, and if she thought you were my lover I was not
+sorry.  You do not know how I have enjoyed myself to-day, you must
+have been born to make me happy."
+
+"But how about La Croix?"
+
+"For heaven's sake say nothing about him."
+
+This conversation increased my ardour.  She called Annette, and I
+went to my room.
+
+As I had expected, Annette came to me as soon as her mistress was in
+bed.
+
+"If the lady is really your niece," said she, "may I hope that you
+still love me?"
+
+"Assuredly, dear Annette, I shall always love you.  Undress, and let
+us have a little talk."
+
+I had not long to wait, and in the course of two voluptuous hours I
+quenched the flames that another woman had kindled in my breast.
+
+Next morning Possano came to tell me that he had arranged matters
+with the cook with the help of six sequins.  I gave him the money,
+and told him to be more careful for the future.
+
+I went to Rosalie's for my breakfast, which she was delighted to give
+me: and I asked her and her husband to dinner on the following day,
+telling her to bring any four persons she liked.
+
+"Your decision," said I, "will decide the fate of my cook; it will be
+his trial dinner."
+
+She promised to come, and then pressed me to tell her the history of
+my amours with her fair country-woman.
+
+"Alas!" I said, "you may not believe me, but I assure you I am only
+beginning with her."
+
+"I shall certainly believe you, if you tell me so, though it seems
+very strange."
+
+"Strange but true.  You must understand, however, that I have only
+known her for a very short time; and, again, I would not be made
+happy save through love, mere submission would kill me."
+
+"Good! but what did she say of me?"
+
+I gave her a report of the whole conversation I had had with my niece
+the night before, and she was delighted."
+
+"As you have not yet gone far with your niece, would you object if
+the young man who shewed her so much attention yesterday were of the
+party to-morrow?"
+
+"Who is he?  I should like to know him."
+
+"M. N----, the only son of a rich merchant."
+
+"Certainly, bring him with you."
+
+When I got home I went to my niece, who was still in bed, and told
+her that her fellow-countryman would dine with us to-morrow.  I
+comforted her with the assurance that M. Paretti would not tell her
+father that she was in Genoa.  She had been a good deal tormented
+with the idea that the merchant would inform her father of all.
+
+As I was going out to supper I told her that she could go and sup
+with Rosalie, or take supper at home if she preferred it.
+
+"You are too kind to me, my dear uncle.  I will go to Rosalie's."
+
+"Very good.  Are you satisfied with Annette?"
+
+"Oh! by the way, she told me that you spent last night with her, and
+that you had been her lover and her sister's at the same time."
+
+"It is true, but she is very indiscreet to say anything about it."
+
+"We must forgive her, though.  She told me that she only consented to
+sleep with you on the assurance that I was really your niece.  I am
+sure she only made this confession out of vanity, and in the hope of
+gaining my favour, which would be naturally bestowed on a woman you
+love."
+
+"I wish you had the right to be jealous of her; and I swear that if
+she does not comport herself with the utmost obedience to you in
+every respect, I will send her packing, in despite of our relations.
+As for you, you may not be able to love me, and I have no right to
+complain; but I will not have you degrade yourself by becoming my
+submissive victim."
+
+I was not sorry for my niece to know that I made use of Annette, but
+my vanity was wounded at the way she took it.  It was plain that she
+was not at all in love with me, and that she was glad that there was
+a safeguard in the person of her maid, and that thus we could be
+together without danger, for she could not ignore the power of her
+charms.
+
+We dined together, and augured well of the skill of the new cook.
+M. Paretti had promised to get me a good man, and he presented
+himself just as we were finishing dinner, and I made a present of him
+to my niece.  We went for a drive together, and I left my niece at
+Rosalie's, and I then repaired to Isola-Bella's, where I found a
+numerous and brilliant company had assembled consisting of all the
+best people in Genoa.
+
+Just then all the great ladies were mad over 'biribi', a regular
+cheating game.  It was strictly forbidden at Genoa, but this only
+made it more popular, and besides, the prohibition had no force in
+private houses, which are outside of the jurisdiction of the
+Government; in short, I found the game in full swing at the Signora
+Isola-Bella's.  The professional gamesters who kept the bank went
+from house to house, and the amateurs were advised of their presence
+at such a house and at such a time.
+
+Although I detested the game, I began to play--to do as the others
+did.
+
+In the room there was a portrait of the mistress of the house in
+harlequin costume, and there happened to be the same picture on one
+of the divisions of the biribi-table: I chose this one out of
+politeness, and did not play on any other.  I risked a sequin each
+time.  The board had thirty-six compartments, and if one lost, one
+paid thirty-two tines the amount of the stake; this, of course, was
+an enormous advantage for the bank.
+
+Each player drew three numbers in succession, and there were three
+professionals; one kept the bag, another the bank, and the third the
+board, and the last took care to gather in the winnings as soon as
+the result was known, and the bank amounted to two thousand sequins
+or thereabouts.  The table, the cloth, and four silver candlesticks
+belonged to the players.
+
+I sat at the left of Madame Isola-Bella, who began to play, and as
+there were fifteen or sixteen of us I had lost about fifty sequins
+when my turn came, for my harlequin had not appeared once.  Everybody
+pitied me, or pretended to do so, for selfishness is the predominant
+passion of gamesters.
+
+My turn came at last.  I drew my harlequin and received thirty-two
+sequins.  I left them on the same figure, and got a thousand sequins.
+I left fifty still on the board, and the harlequin came out for the
+third time.  The bank was broken, and the table, the cloth, the
+candlesticks, and the board all belonged to me.  Everyone
+congratulated me, and the wretched bankrupt gamesters were hissed,
+hooted, and turned out of doors.
+
+After the first transports were over, I saw that the ladies were in
+distress; for as there could be no more gaming they did not know what
+to do.  I consoled them by declaring that I would be banker, but with
+equal stakes, and that I would pay winning cards thirty-six times the
+stake instead of thirty-two.  This was pronounced charming of me, and
+I amused everybody till supper-time, without any great losses or
+gains on either side.  By dint of entreaty I made the lady of the
+house accept the whole concern as a present, and a very handsome one
+it was.
+
+The supper was pleasant enough, and my success at play was the chief
+topic of conversation.  Before leaving I asked Signora Isola-Bella
+and her marquis to dine with me, and they eagerly accepted the
+invitation.  When I got home I went to see my niece, who told me she
+had spent a delightful evening.
+
+"A very pleasant young man," said she, "who is coming to dine with us
+to-morrow, paid me great attention."
+
+"The same, I suppose, that did so yesterday?"
+
+"Yes.  Amongst other pretty things he told me that if I liked he
+would go to Marseilles and ask my hand of my father.  I said nothing,
+but I thought to myself that if the poor young man gave himself all
+this trouble he would be woefully misled, as he would not see me."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because I should be in a nunnery.  My kind good father will forgive
+me, but I must punish myself."
+
+"That is a sad design, which I hope you will abandon.  You have all
+that would make the happiness of a worthy husband.  The more I think
+it over, the more I am convinced of the truth of what I say."
+
+We said no more just then, for she needed rest.  Annette came to
+undress her, and I was glad to see the goodness of my niece towards
+her, but the coolness with which the girl behaved to her mistress did
+not escape my notice.  As soon as she came to sleep with me I gently
+remonstrated with her, bidding her to do her duty better for the
+future.  Instead of answering with a caress, as she ought to have
+done, she began to cry.
+
+"My dear child," said I, "your tears weary me.  You are only here to
+amuse me, and if you can't do that, you had better go."
+
+This hurt her foolish feelings of vanity, and she got up and went
+away without a word, leaving me to go to sleep in a very bad temper.
+
+In the morning I told her, in a stern voice, that if she played me
+such a trick again I would send her away.  Instead of trying to
+soothe me with a kiss the little rebel burst out crying again.  I
+sent her out of the room impatiently, and proceeded to count my
+gains.
+
+I thought no more about it, but presently my niece came in and asked
+me why I had vexed poor Annette.
+
+"My dear niece," said I, "tell her to behave better or else I will
+send her back to her mother's."
+
+She gave me no reply, but took a handful of silver and fled.  I had
+not time to reflect on this singular conduct, for Annette came in
+rattling her crowns in her pocket, and promised, with a kiss, not to
+make me angry any more.
+
+Such was my niece.  She knew I adored her, and she loved me; but she
+did not want me to be her lover, though she made use of the
+ascendancy which my passion gave her.  In the code of feminine
+coquetry such cases are numerous.
+
+Possano came uninvited to see me, and congratulated me on my victory
+of the evening before.
+
+"Who told you about it?"
+
+"I have just been at the coffee-house, where everybody is talking of
+it.  It was a wonderful victory, for those biribanti are knaves of
+the first water.  Your adventure is making a great noise, for
+everyone says that you could not have broken their bank unless you
+had made an agreement with the man that kept the bag."
+
+"My dear fellow, I am tired of you.  Here, take this piece of money
+for your wife and be off."
+
+The piece of money I had given him was a gold coin worth a hundred
+Genoese livres, which the Government had struck for internal
+commerce; there were also pieces of fifty and twenty-five livres.
+
+I was going on with my calculations when Clairmont brought me a note.
+It was from Irene, and contained a tender invitation to breakfast
+with her.  I did not know that she was in Genoa, and the news gave me
+very great pleasure.  I locked up my money, dressed in haste, and
+started out to see her.  I found her in good and well-furnished
+rooms, and her old father, Count Rinaldi, embraced me with tears of
+joy.
+
+After the ordinary compliments had been passed, the old man proceeded
+to congratulate me on my winnings of the night before.
+
+"Three thousand sequins!" he exclaimed, "that is a grand haul
+indeed."
+
+"Quite so."
+
+"The funny part of it is that the man who keeps the bag is in the pay
+of the others."
+
+"What strikes you as funny in that?"
+
+"Why, he gained half without any risk, otherwise he would not have
+been likely to have entered into an agreement with you."
+
+"You think, then, that it was a case of connivance?"
+
+"Everybody says so; indeed what else could it be?  The rascal has
+made his fortune without running any risk.  All the Greeks in Genoa
+are applauding him and you."
+
+"As the greater rascal of the two?"
+
+"They don't call you a rascal; they say you're a great genius; you
+are praised and envied."
+
+"I am sure I ought to be obliged to them."
+
+"I heard it all from a gentleman who was there.  He says that the
+second and the third time the man with the bag gave you the office."
+
+"And you believe this?"
+
+"I am sure of it.  No man of honour in your position could have acted
+otherwise.  However, when you come to settle up with the fellow I
+advise you to be very careful, for there will be spies on your
+tracks.  If you like, I will do the business for you."
+
+I had enough self-restraint to repress the indignation and rage I
+felt.  Without a word I took my hat and marched out of the room,
+sternly repulsing Irene who tried to prevent me from going as she had
+done once before.  I resolved not to have anything more to do with
+the wretched old count.
+
+This calumnious report vexed me extremely, although I knew that most
+gamesters would consider it an honour.  Possano and Rinaldi had said
+enough to shew me that all the town was talking over it, and I was
+not surprised that everyone believed it; but for my part I did not
+care to be taken for a rogue when I had acted honourably.
+
+I felt the need of unbosoming myself to someone, and walked towards
+the Strada Balbi to call on the Marquis Grimaldi, and discuss the
+matter with him.  I was told he was gone to the courts, so I followed
+him there and was ushered into vast hall, where he waited on me.  I
+told him my story, and he said,
+
+"My dear chevalier, you ought to laugh at it, and I should not advise
+you to take the trouble to refute the calumny."
+
+"Then you advise me to confess openly that I am a rogue?"
+
+"No, for only fools will think that of you.  Despise them, unless
+they tell you you are a rogue to your face."
+
+"I should like to know the name of the nobleman who was present and
+sent this report about the town."
+
+"I do not know who it is.  He was wrong to say anything, but you
+would be equally wrong in taking any steps against him, for I am sure
+he did not tell the story with any intention of giving offence; quite
+the contrary."
+
+"I am lost in wonder at his course of reasoning.  Let us suppose that
+the facts were as he told them, do you think they are to my honour?"
+
+"Neither to your honour nor shame.  Such are the morals and such the
+maxims of gamesters.  The story will be laughed at, your skill will
+be applauded, and you will be admired, for each one will say that in
+your place he would have done likewise!"
+
+"Would you?"
+
+"Certainly.  If I had been sure that the ball would have gone to the
+harlequin, I would have broken the rascal's bank, as you did.  I will
+say honestly that I do not know whether you won by luck or skill, but
+the most probable hypothesis, to my mind, is that you knew the
+direction of the ball.  You must confess that there is something to
+be said in favour of the supposition."
+
+"I confess that there is, but it is none the less a dishonourable
+imputation on me, and you in your turn must confess that those who
+think that I won by sleight of hand, or by an agreement with a
+rascal, insult me grievously."
+
+"That depends on the way you look at it.  I confess they insult you,
+if you think yourself insulted; but they are not aware of that, and
+their intention being quite different there is no insult at all in
+the matter.  I promise you no one will tell you to your face that you
+cheated, but how are you going to prevent them thinking so?"
+
+"Well, let them think what they like, but let them take care not to
+tell me their thoughts."
+
+I went home angry with Grimaldi, Rinaldi, and everyone else.  My
+anger vexed me, I should properly have only laughed, for in the state
+of morals at Genoa, the accusation, whether true or false, could not
+injure my honour.  On the contrary I gained by it a reputation for
+being a genius, a term which the Genoese prefer to that Methodistical
+word, "a rogue," though the meaning is the same.  Finally I was
+astonished to find myself reflecting that I should have had no
+scruple in breaking the bank in the way suggested, if it had only
+been for the sake of making the company laugh.  What vexed me most
+was that I was credited with an exploit I had not performed.
+
+When dinner-time drew near I endeavoured to overcome my ill temper
+for the sake of the company I was going to receive.  My niece was
+adorned only with her native charms, for the rascal Croce had sold
+all her jewels; but she was elegantly dressed, and her beautiful hair
+was more precious than a crown of rubies.
+
+Rosalie came in richly dressed and looking very lovely.  Her husband,
+her uncle, and her aunt were with her, and also two friends, one of
+whom was the aspirant for the hand of my niece.
+
+Madame Isola-Bella and her shadow, M. Grimaldi, came late, like great
+people.  Just as we were going to sit down, Clairmont told me that a
+man wanted to speak to me.
+
+"Shew him in."
+
+As soon as he appeared M. Grimaldi exclaimed:
+
+"The man with the bag!"
+
+"What do you want?" I said, dryly.
+
+"Sir, I am come to ask you to help me.  I am a family man, and it is
+thought that .  .  ."
+
+I did not let him finish.
+
+"I have never refused to aid the unfortunate," said I.  "Clairmont,
+give him ten sequins.  Leave the room."
+
+This incident spoke in my favour, and made me in a better temper.
+
+We sat down to table, and a letter was handed to me.  I recognized
+Possano's writing, and put it in my pocket without reading it.
+
+The dinner was delicious, and my cook was pronounced to have won his
+spurs.  Though her exalted rank and the brilliance of her attire gave
+Signora Isoia-Bella the first place of right, she was nevertheless
+eclipsed by my two nieces.  The young Genoese was all attention for
+the fair Marseillaise, and I could see that she was not displeased.
+I sincerely wished to see her in love with someone, and I liked her
+too well to bear the idea of her burying herself in a convent.  She
+could never be happy till she found someone who would make her forget
+the rascal who had brought her to the brink of ruin.
+
+I seized the opportunity, when all my guests were engaged with each
+other, to open Possano's letter.  It ran as follows:
+
+"I went to the bank to change the piece of gold you gave me.  It was
+weighed, and found to be ten carats under weight.  I was told to name
+the person from whom I got it, but of course I did not do so.  I then
+had to go to prison, and if you do not get me out of the scrape I
+shall be prosecuted, though of course I am not going to get myself
+hanged for anybody."
+
+I gave the letter to Grimaldi, and when we had left the table he took
+me aside, and said,--
+
+"This is a very serious matter, for it may end in the gallows for the
+man who clipped the coin."
+
+"Then they can hang the biribanti!  That won't hurt me much."
+
+"No, that won't do; it would compromise Madame Isola-Bella, as biribi
+is strictly forbidden.  Leave it all to me, I will speak to the State
+Inquisitors about it.  Tell Possano to persevere in his silence, and
+that you will see him safely through.  The laws against coiners and
+clippers are only severe with regard to these particular coins, as
+the Government has special reasons for not wishing them to be
+depreciated."
+
+I wrote to Possano, and sent for a pair of scales.  We weighed the
+gold I had won at biribi, and every single piece had been clipped.
+M. Grimaldi said he would have them defaced and sold to a jeweller.
+
+When we got back to the dining-room we found everybody at play.
+M. Grimaldi proposed that I should play at quinze with him.  I
+detested the game, but as he was my guest I felt it would be impolite
+to refuse, and in four hours I had lost five hundred sequins.
+
+Next morning the marquis told me that Possano was out of prison, and
+that he had been given the value of the coin.  He brought me thirteen
+hundred sequins which had resulted from the sale of the gold.  We
+agreed that I was to call on Madame Isola-Bella the next day, when he
+would give me my revenge at quinze.
+
+I kept the appointment, and lost three thousand sequins.  I paid him
+a thousand the next day, and gave him two bills of exchange, payable
+by myself, for the other two thousand.  When these bills were
+presented I was in England, and being badly off I had to have them
+protested.  Five years later, when I was at Barcelona, M. de Grimaldi
+was urged by a traitor to have me imprisoned, but he knew enough of
+me to be sure that if I did not meet the bills it was from sheer
+inability to do so.  He even wrote me a very polite letter, in which
+he gave the name of my enemy, assuring me that he would never take
+any steps to compel me to pay the money.  This enemy was Possano, who
+was also at Barcelona, though I was not aware of his presence.  I
+will speak of the circumstance in due time, but I cannot help
+remarking that all who aided me in my pranks with Madame d'Urfe
+proved traitors, with the exception of a Venetian girl, whose
+acquaintance the reader will make in the following chapter.
+
+In spite of my losses I enjoyed myself, and had plenty of money, for
+after all I had only lost what I had won at biribi.  Rosalie often
+dined with us, either alone or with her husband, and I supped
+regularly at her home with my niece, whose love affair seemed quite
+promising.  I congratulated her upon the circumstance, but she
+persisted in her determination to take refuge from the world in a
+cloister.  Women often do the most idiotic things out of sheer
+obstinacy; possibly they deceive even themselves, and act in good
+faith; but unfortunately, when the veil falls from before their eyes,
+they see but the profound abyss into which their folly had plunged
+them.
+
+In the meanwhile, my niece had become so friendly and familiar that
+she would often come and sit on my bed in the morning when Annette
+was still in my arms.  Her presence increased my ardour, and I
+quenched the fires on the blonde which the brunette was kindling.  My
+niece seemed to enjoy the sight, and I could see that her senses were
+being pleasantly tortured.  Annette was short-sighted, and so did not
+perceive my distractions, while my fair niece caressed me slightly,
+knowing that it would add to my pleasures.  When she thought I was
+exhausted she told Annette to get up and leave me alone with her, as
+she wanted to tell me something.  She then began to jest and toy, and
+though her dress was extremely disordered she seemed to think that
+her charms would exercise no power over me.  She was quite mistaken,
+but I was careful not to undeceive her for fear of losing her
+confidence.  I watched the game carefully, and noting how little by
+little her familiarity increased, I felt sure that she would have to
+surrender at last, if not at Genoa, certainly on the journey, when we
+would be thrown constantly in each other's society with nobody to spy
+upon our actions, and with nothing else to do but to make love.  It
+is the weariness of a journey, the constant monotony, that makes one
+do something to make sure of one's existence; and when it comes to
+the reckoning there is usually more joy than repentance.
+
+But the story of my journey from Genoa to Marseilles was written in
+the book of fate, and could not be read by me.  All I knew was that I
+must soon go as Madame d'Urfe was waiting for me at Marseilles.  I
+knew not that in this journey would be involved the fate of a
+Venetian girl of whom I had never heard, who had never seen me, but
+whom I was destined to render happy.  My fate seemed to have made me
+stop at Genoa to wait for her.
+
+I settled my accounts with the banker, to whom I had been accredited,
+and I took a letter of credit on Marseilles, where, however, I was
+not likely to want for funds, as my high treasurer, Madame d'Urfe was
+there.  I took leave of Madame Isola-Bella and her circle that I
+might be able to devote all my time to Rosalie and her friends.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+Disgraceful Behaviour of My Brother, the Abbe, I Relieve Him of His
+Mistress--Departure from Genoa--The Prince of Monaco--My Niece
+Overcome--Our Arrival at Antibes
+
+
+On the Tuesday in Holy Week I was just getting up, when Clairmont
+came to tell me that a priest who would not give his name wanted to
+speak to me.  I went out in my night-cap, and the rascally priest
+rushed at me and nearly choked me with his embraces.  I did not like
+so much affection, and as I had not recognized him at first on
+account of the darkness of the room, I took him by the arm and led
+him to the window.  It was my youngest brother, a good-for-nothing
+fellow, whom I had always disliked.  I had not seen him for ten
+years, but I cared so little about him that I had not even enquired
+whether he were alive or dead in the correspondence I maintained with
+M. de Bragadin, Dandolo, and Barbaro.
+
+As soon as his silly embraces were over, I coldly asked him what
+chance had brought him to Genoa in this disgusting state of dirt,
+rags, and tatters.  He was only twenty-nine, his complexion was fresh
+and healthy, and he had a splendid head of hair.  He was a posthumous
+son, born like Mahomet, three months after the death of his father.
+
+"The story of my misfortunes would be only too long.  Take me into
+your room, and I will sit down and tell you the whole story."
+
+"First of all, answer my questions.  How long have you been here?"
+
+"Since yesterday."
+
+"Who told you that I was here?"
+
+"Count B----, at Milan."
+
+"Who told you that the count knew me?"
+
+"I found out by chance.  I was at M. de Bragadin's a month ago, and
+on his table I saw a letter from the count to you."
+
+"Did you tell him you were my brother?"
+
+"I had to when he said how much I resembled you."
+
+"He made a mistake, for you are a blockhead."
+
+"He did not think so, at all events, for he asked me to dinner."
+
+"You must have cut a pretty figure, if you were in your present
+state."
+
+"He gave me four sequins to come here; otherwise, I should never have
+been able to do the journey."
+
+"Then he did a very foolish thing.  You're a mere beggar, then; you
+take alms.  Why did you leave Venice?  What do you want with me?
+I can do nothing for you."
+
+"Ah! do not make me despair, or I shall kill myself."
+
+"That's the very best thing you could do; but you are too great a
+coward.  I ask again why you left Venice, where you could say mass,
+and preach, and make an honest living, like many priests much better
+than you?"
+
+"That is the kernel of the whole matter.  Let us go in and I will
+tell you."
+
+"No; wait for me here.  We will go somewhere where you can tell me
+your story, if I have patience to listen to it.  But don't tell any
+of my people that you are my brother, for I am ashamed to have such a
+relation.  Come, take me to the place where you are staying."
+
+"I must tell you that at my inn I am not alone, and I want to have a
+private interview with you."
+
+"Who is with you?"
+
+"I will tell you presently, but let us go into a coffeehouse."
+
+"Are you in company with a band of brigands?  What are you sighing
+at?"
+
+"I must confess it, however painful it may be to my feelings.  I am
+with a woman."
+
+"A woman! and you a priest!"
+
+"Forgive me.  I was blinded by love, and seduced by my senses and her
+beauty, so I seduced her under a promise to marry her at Geneva.  I
+can never go back to Venice, for I took her away from her father's
+house."
+
+"What could you do at Geneva?  They would expel you after you had
+been there three or four days.  Come, we will go to the inn and see
+the woman you have deceived.  I will speak to you afterwards."
+
+I began to trace my steps in the direction he had pointed out, and he
+was obliged to follow me.  As soon as we got to the inn, he went on
+in front, and after climbing three flights of stairs I entered a
+wretched den where I saw a tall young girl, a sweet brunette, who
+looked proud and not in the least confused.  As soon as I made my
+appearance she said, without any greeting,--
+
+"Are you the brother of this liar and monster who has deceived me so
+abominably?"
+
+"Yes," said I.  "I have the honour."
+
+"A fine honour, truly.  Well, have the kindness to send me back to
+Venice, for I won't stop any longer with this rascal whom I listened
+to like the fool I was, who turned my head with his lying tales.  He
+was going to meet you at Milan, and you were to give us enough money
+to go to Geneva, and there we were to turn Protestants and get
+married.  He swore you were expecting him at Milan, but you were not
+there at all, and he contrived to get money in some way or another,
+and brought me here miserably enough.  I thank Heaven he has found
+you at last, for if he had not I should have started off by myself
+and begged my way.  I have not a single thing left; the wretch sold
+all I possessed at Bergamo and Verona.  I don't know how I kept my
+senses through it all.  To hear him talk, the world was a paradise
+outside Venice, but I have found to my cost that there is no place
+like home.  I curse the hour when I first saw the miserable wretch.
+He's a beggarly knave; always whining.  He wanted to enjoy his rights
+as my husband when we got to Padua, but I am thankful to say I gave
+him nothing.  Here is the writing he gave me; take it, and do what
+you like with it.  But if you have any heart, send me back to Venice
+or I will tramp there on foot."
+
+I had listened to this long tirade without interrupting her.  She
+might have spoken at much greater length, so far as I was concerned;
+my astonishment took my breath away.  Her discourse had all the fire
+of eloquence, and was heightened by her expressive face and the
+flaming glances she shot from her eyes.
+
+My brother, sitting down with his head between his hands, and obliged
+to listen in silence to this long catalogue of well-deserved
+reproaches, gave something of a comic element to the scene.  In spite
+of that, however, I was much touched by the sad aspects of the girl's
+story.  I felt at once that I must take charge of her, and put an end
+to this ill-assorted match.  I imagined that I should not have much
+difficulty in sending her back to Venice, which she might never have
+quitted if it had not been for her trust in me, founded on the
+fallacious promises of her seducer.
+
+The true Venetian character of the girl struck me even more than her
+beauty.  Her courage, frank indignation, and the nobility of her
+aspect made me resolve not to abandon her.  I could not doubt that
+she had told a true tale, as my brother continued to observe a guilty
+silence.
+
+I watched her silently for some time, and, my mind being made up,
+said,--
+
+"I promise to send you back to Venice with a respectable woman to
+look after you; but you will be unfortunate if you carry back with
+you the results of your amours."
+
+"What results?  Did I not tell you that we were going to be married
+at Geneva?"
+
+"Yes, but in spite of that .  .  ."
+
+"I understand you, sir, but I am quite at ease on that point, as I am
+happy to say that I did not yield to any of the wretch's desires."
+
+"Remember," said the abbe, in a plaintive voice, "the oath you took
+to be mine for ever.  You swore it upon the crucifix."
+
+So saying he got up and approached her with a supplicating gesture,
+but as soon as he was within reach she gave him a good hearty box on
+the ear.  I expected to see a fight, in which I should not have
+interfered, but nothing of the kind.  The humble abbe gently turned
+away to the window, and casting his eyes to heaven began to weep.
+
+"You are too malicious, my dear," I said; "the poor devil is only
+unhappy because you have made him in love with you."
+
+"If he is it's his own fault, I should never have thought of him but
+for his coming to me and fooling me, I shall never forgive him till
+he is out of my sight.  That's not the first blow I have given him;
+I had to begin at Padua."
+
+"Yes," said the abbe, "but you are excommunicated, for I am a
+priest."
+
+"It's little I care for the excommunication of a scoundrel like you,
+and if you say another word I will give you some more."
+
+"Calm yourself, my child," said I; "you have cause to be angry, but
+you should not beat him.  Take up your things and follow me."
+
+"Where are you going to take her?" said the foolish priest.
+
+"To my own house, and I should advise you to hold your tongue.  Here,
+take these twenty sequins and buy yourself some clean clothes and
+linen, and give those rags of yours to the beggars.  I will come and
+talk to you to-morrow, and you may thank your stars that you found me
+here.  As for you, mademoiselle, I will have you conducted to my
+lodging, for Genoa must not see you in my company after arriving here
+with a priest.  We must not have any scandal.  I shall place you
+under the charge of my landlady, but whatever you do don't tell her
+this sad story.  I will see that you are properly dressed, and that
+you want for nothing."
+
+"May Heaven reward you!"
+
+My brother, astonished at the sight of the twenty sequins, let me go
+away without a word.  I had the fair Venetian taken to my lodging in
+a sedan-chair, and putting her under the charge of my landlady I told
+the latter to see that she was properly dressed.  I wanted to see how
+she would look in decent clothes, for her present rags and tatters
+detracted from her appearance.  I warned Annette that a girl who had
+been placed in my care would eat and sleep with her, and then having
+to entertain a numerous company of guests I proceeded to make my
+toilette.
+
+Although my niece had no rights over me, I valued her esteem, and
+thought it best to tell her the whole story lest she should pass an
+unfavourable judgment on me.  She listened attentively and thanked me
+for my confidence in her, and said she should very much like to see
+the girl and the abbe too, whom she pitied, though she admitted he
+was to be blamed for what he had done.  I had got her a dress to wear
+at dinner, which became her exquisitely.  I felt only too happy to be
+able to please her in any way, for her conduct towards myself and the
+way she treated her ardent lover commanded my admiration.  She saw
+him every day either at my house or at Rosalie's.  The young man had
+received an excellent education, though he was of the mercantile
+class, and wrote to her in a business-like manner, that, as they were
+well suited to each other in every way, there was nothing against his
+going to Marseilles and obtaining her father's consent to the match,
+unless it were a feeling of aversion on her side.  He finished by
+requesting her to give him an answer.  She shewed me the letter, and
+I congratulated her, and advised her to accept, if there was nothing
+about the young man which displeased her.
+
+"There is nothing of the kind," she said, "and Rosalie thinks with
+you."
+
+"Then tell him by word of mouth that you give your consent, and will
+expect to see him at Marseilles."
+
+"Very good; as you think so, I will tell him tomorrow."
+
+When dinner was over a feeling of curiosity made me go into the room
+where Annette was dining with the Venetian girl, whose name was
+Marcoline.  I was struck with astonishment on seeing her, for she was
+completely changed, not so much by the pretty dress she had on as by
+the contented expression of her face, which made her look quite
+another person.  Good humour had vanquished unbecoming rage, and the
+gentleness born of happiness made her features breathe forth love.
+I could scarcely believe that this charming creature before me was
+the same who had dealt such a vigorous blow to my brother, a priest,
+and a sacred being in the eyes of the common people.  They were
+eating, and laughing at not being able to understand each other, for
+Marcoline only spoke Venetian, and Annette Genoese, and the latter
+dialect does not resemble the former any more than Bohemian resembles
+Dutch.
+
+I spoke to Marcoline in her native tongue, which was mine too, and
+she said,--
+
+"I seem to have suddenly passed from hell to Paradise."
+
+"Indeed, you look like an angel."
+
+"You called me a little devil this morning.  But here is a fair
+angel," said she, pointing to Annette; "we don't see such in Venice."
+
+"She is my treasure."
+
+Shortly after my niece came in, and seeing me talking and laughing
+with the two girls began to examine the new-comer.  She told me in
+French that she thought her perfectly beautiful, and repeating her
+opinion to the girl in Italian gave her a kiss.  Marcoline asked her
+plainly in the Venetian manner who she was.
+
+"I am this gentleman's niece, and he is taking me back to Marseilles,
+where my home is."
+
+"Then you would have been my niece too, if I had married his brother.
+I wish I had such a pretty niece."
+
+This pleasant rejoinder was followed by a storm of kisses given and
+returned with ardour which one might pronounce truly Venetian, if it
+were not that this would wound the feelings of the almost equally
+ardent Provencals.
+
+I took my niece for a sail in the bay, and after we had enjoyed one
+of those delicious evenings which I think can be found nowhere else--
+sailing on a mirror silvered by the moon, over which float the odours
+of the jasmine, the orange-blossom, the pomegranates, the aloes, and
+all the scented flowers which grow along the coasts--we returned to
+our lodging, and I asked Annette what had become of Marcoline.  She
+told me that she had gone to bed early, and I went gently into her
+room, with no other intention than to see her asleep.  The light of
+the candle awoke her, and she did not seem at all frightened at
+seeing me.  I sat by the bed, and fell to making love to her, and at
+last made as if I would kiss her, but she resisted, and we went on
+talking.
+
+When Annette had put her mistress to bed, she came in and found us
+together.
+
+"Go to bed, my dear," said I.  "I will come to you directly."
+
+Proud of being my mistress, she gave me a fiery kiss and went away
+without a word.
+
+I began to talk about my brother, and passing from him to myself I
+told her of the interest I felt for her, saying that I would either
+have her taken to Venice, or bring her with me when I went to France.
+
+"Do you want to marry me?"
+
+"No, I am married already."
+
+"That's a lie, I know, but it doesn't matter.  Send me back to
+Venice, and the sooner the better.  I don't want to be anybody's
+concubine."
+
+"I admire your sentiments, my dear, they do you honour."
+
+Continuing my praise I became pressing, not using any force, but
+those gentle caresses which are so much harder for a woman to resist
+than a violent attack.  Marcoline laughed, but seeing that I
+persisted in spite of her resistance, she suddenly glided out of the
+bed and took refuge in my niece's room and locked the door after her.
+I was not displeased; the thing was done so easily and gracefully.  I
+went to bed with Annette, who lost nothing by the ardour with which
+Marcoline had inspired me.  I told her how she had escaped from my
+hands, and Annette was loud in her praises.
+
+In the morning I got up early and went into my niece's room to enjoy
+the sight of the companion I had involuntarily given her, and the two
+girls were certainly a very pleasant sight.  As soon as my niece saw
+me, she exclaimed,--
+
+"My dear uncle, would you believe it?  This sly Venetian has violated
+me."
+
+Marcoline understood her, and far from denying the fact proceeded to
+give my niece fresh marks of her affection, which were well received,
+and from the movements of the sheets which covered them I could make
+a pretty good guess as to the nature of their amusement.
+
+"This is a rude shock to the respect which your uncle has had for
+your prejudices," said I.
+
+"The sports of two girls cannot tempt a man who has just left the
+arms of Annette."
+
+"You are wrong, and perhaps you know it, for I am more than tempted."
+
+With these words I lifted the sheets of the bed.  Marcoline shrieked
+but did not move, but my niece earnestly begged me to replace the
+bed-clothes.  However, the picture before me was too charming to be
+concealed.
+
+At this point Annette came in, and in obedience to her mistress
+replaced the coverlet over the two Bacchantes.  I felt angry with
+Annette, and seizing her threw her on the bed, and then and there
+gave the two sweethearts such an interesting spectacle that they left
+their own play to watch us.  When I had finished, Annette, who was in
+high glee; said I was quite right to avenge myself on their prudery.
+I felt satisfied with what I had done, and went to breakfast.  I then
+dressed, and visited my brother.
+
+"How is Marcoline?" said he, as soon as he saw me.
+
+"Very well, and you needn't trouble yourself any more about her.  She
+is well lodged, well dressed, and well fed, and sleeps with my
+niece's maid."
+
+"I didn't know I had a niece."
+
+"There are many things you don't know.  In three or four days she
+will return to Venice."
+
+"I hope, dear brother, that you will ask me to dine with you to-day."
+
+"Not at all, dear brother.  I forbid you to set foot in my house,
+where your presence would be offensive to Marcoline, whom you must
+not see any more."
+
+"Yes, I will; I will return to Venice, if I have to hang for it."
+
+"What good would that be?  She won't have you."
+
+"She loves me."
+
+"She beats you."
+
+"She beats me because she loves me.  She will be as gentle as a lamb
+when she sees me so well dressed.  You do not know how I suffer."
+
+"I can partly guess, but I do not pity you, for you are an impious
+and cruel fool.  You have broken your vows, and have not hesitated to
+make a young girl endure misery and degradation to satisfy your
+caprice.  What would you have done, I should like to know, if I had
+given you the cold shoulder instead of helping you?"
+
+"I should have gone into the street, and begged for my living with
+her."
+
+"She would have beaten you, and would probably have appealed to the
+law to get rid of you."
+
+"But what will you do for me, if I let her go back to Venice without
+following her."
+
+"I will take you to France, and try to get you employed by some
+bishop."
+
+"Employed!  I was meant by nature to be employed by none but God."
+
+"You proud fool!  Marcoline rightly called you a whiner.  Who is your
+God?  How do you serve Him?  You are either a hypocrite or an idiot.
+Do you think that you, a priest, serve God by decoying an innocent
+girl away from her home?  Do you serve Him by profaning the religion
+you do not even understand?  Unhappy fool! do you think that with no
+talent, no theological learning, and no eloquence, you can be a
+Protestant minister.  Take care never to come to my house, or I will
+have you expelled from Genoa."
+
+"Well, well, take me to Paris, and I will see what my brother Francis
+can do for me; his heart is not so hard as yours."
+
+"Very good!  you shall go to Paris, and we will start from here in
+three or four days.  Eat and drink to your heart's content, but
+remain indoors; I will let you know when we are going.  I shall have
+my niece, my secretary, and my valet with me.  We shall travel by
+sea."
+
+"The sea makes me sick."
+
+"That will purge away some of your bad humours."
+
+When I got home I told Marcoline what had passed between us.
+
+"I hate him!" said she; "but I forgive him, since it is through him I
+know you."
+
+"And I forgive him, too, because unless it had been for him I should
+never have seen you.  But I love you, and I shall die unless you
+satisfy my desires."
+
+"Never; for I know I should be madly in love with you, and then you
+would leave me, and I should be miserable again."
+
+"I will never leave you."
+
+"If you will swear that, take me into France and make me all your
+own.  Here you must continue living with Annette; besides, I have got
+your niece to make love to."
+
+The pleasant part of the affair was that my niece was equally taken
+with her, and had begged me to let her take meals with us and sleep
+with her.  As I had a prospect of being at their lascivious play, I
+willingly consented, and henceforth she was always present at the
+table.  We enjoyed her company immensely, for she told us side-
+splitting tales which kept us at table till it was time to go to
+Rosalie's, where my niece's adorer was certain to be awaiting us.
+
+The next day, which was Holy Thursday, Rosalie came with us to see
+the processions.  I had Rosalie and Marcoline with me, one on each
+arm, veiled in their mezzaros, and my niece was under the charge of
+her lover.  The day after we went to see the procession called at
+Genoa Caracce, and Marcoline pointed out my brother who kept hovering
+round us, though he pretended not to see us.  He was most carefully
+dressed, and the stupid fop seemed to think he was sure to find
+favour in Marcoline's eyes, and make her regret having despised him;
+but he was woefully deceived, for Marcoline knew how to manage her
+mezzaro so well that, though he was both seen and laughed at, the
+poor devil could not be certain that she had noticed him at all, and
+in addition the sly girl held me so closely by the arm that he must
+have concluded we were very intimate.
+
+My niece and Marcoline thought themselves the best friends in the
+world, and could not bear my telling them that their amorous sports
+were the only reason for their attachment.  They therefore agreed to
+abandon them as soon as we left Genoa, and promised that I should
+sleep between them in the felucca, all of us to keep our clothes on.
+I said I should hold them to their word, and I fixed our departure
+for Thursday.  I ordered the felucca to be in readiness and summoned
+my brother to go on board.
+
+It was a cruel moment when I left Annette with her mother.  She wept
+so bitterly that all of us had to shed tears.  My niece gave her a
+handsome dress and I thirty sequins, promising to come and see her
+again on my return from England.  Possano was told to go on board
+with the abbe; I had provisioned the boat for three days.  The young
+merchant promised to be at Marseilles, telling my niece that by the
+time he came everything would be settled.  I was delighted to hear
+it; it assured me that her father would give her a kind reception.
+Our friends did not leave us till the moment we went on board.
+
+The felucca was very conveniently arranged, and was propelled by the
+twelve oarsmen.  On the deck there were also twenty-four muskets, so
+that we should have been able to defend ourselves against a pirate.
+Clairmont had arranged my carriage and my trunks so cleverly, that by
+stretching five mattresses over them we had an excellent bed, where
+we could sleep and undress ourselves in perfect comfort; we had good
+pillows and plenty of sheets.  A long awning covered the deck, and
+two lanterns were hung up, one at each end.  In the evening they were
+lighted and Clairmont brought in supper.  I had warned my brother
+that at the slightest presumption on his part he should be flung into
+the sea, so I allowed him and Possano to sup with us.
+
+I sat between my two nymphs and served the company merrily, first my
+niece, then Marcoline, then my brother, and finally Possano.  No
+water was drunk at table, so we each emptied a bottle of excellent
+Burgundy, and when we had finished supper the rowers rested on their
+oars, although the wind was very light.  I had the lamps put out and
+went to bed with my two sweethearts, one on each side of me.
+
+The light of dawn awoke me, and I found my darlings still sleeping in
+the same position.  I could kiss neither of them, since one passed
+for my niece, and my sense of humanity would not allow me to treat
+Marcoline as my mistress in the presence of an unfortunate brother
+who adored her, and had never obtained the least favour from her.  He
+was lying near at hand, overwhelmed with grief and seasickness, and
+watching and listening with all his might for the amorous encounter
+he suspected us of engaging in.  I did not want to have any
+unpleasantness, so I contented myself with gazing on them till the
+two roses awoke and opened their eyes.
+
+When this delicious sight was over, I got up and found that we were
+only opposite Final, and I proceeded to reprimand the master.
+
+"The wind fell dead at Savona, sir"; and all the seamen chorused his
+excuse.
+
+"Then you should have rowed instead of idling."
+
+"We were afraid of waking you.  You shall be at Antibes by tomorrow."
+
+After passing the time by eating a hearty meal, we took a fancy to go
+on shore at St. Remo.  Everybody was delighted.  I took my two nymphs
+on land, and after forbidding any of the others to disembark I
+conducted the ladies to an inn, where I ordered coffee.  A man
+accosted us, and invited us to come and play biribi at his house.
+
+"I thought the game was forbidden in Genoa," said I.  I felt certain
+that the players were the rascals whose bank I had broken at Genoa,
+so I accepted the invitation.  My niece had fifty Louis in her purse,
+and I gave fifteen to Marcoline.  We found a large assemblage, room
+was made for us, and I recognized the knaves of Genoa.  As soon as
+they saw me they turned pale and trembled.  I should say that the man
+with the bag was not the poor devil who had served me so well without
+wanting to.
+
+"I play harlequin," said I.
+
+"There isn't one."
+
+"What's the bank?"
+
+"There it is.  We play for small stakes here, and those two hundred
+louis are quite sufficient.  You can bet as low as you like, and the
+highest stake is of a louis."
+
+"That's all very well, but my louis is full weight."
+
+"I think ours are, too."
+
+"Are you sure?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then I won't play," said I, to the keeper of the rooms.
+
+"You are right; bring the scales."
+
+The banker then said that when play was over he would give four
+crowns of six livres for every louis that the company had won, and
+the matter was settled.  In a moment the board was covered with
+stakes.
+
+We each punted a louis at a time, and I and my niece lost twenty
+Louis, but Marcoline, who had never possessed two sequins in her life
+before, won two hundred and forty Louis.  She played on the figure of
+an abbe which came out fifth twenty times.  She was given a bag full
+of crown pieces, and we returned to the felucca.
+
+The wind was contrary, and we had to row all night, and in the
+morning the sea was so rough that we had to put in at Mentone.  My
+two sweethearts were very sick, as also my brother and Possano, but I
+was perfectly well.  I took the two invalids to the inn, and allowed
+my brother and Possano to land and refresh themselves.  The innkeeper
+told me that the Prince and Princess of Monaco were at Mentone, so I
+resolved to pay them a visit.  It was thirteen years since I had seen
+the prince at Paris, where I had amused him and his mistress Caroline
+at supper.  It was this prince who had taken me to see the horrible
+Duchess of Rufec; then he was unmarried, and now I met him again in
+his principality with his wife, of whom he had already two sons.  The
+princess had been a Duchess de Borgnoli, a great heiress, and a
+delightful and pretty woman.  I had heard all about her, and I was
+curious to verify the facts for myself.
+
+I called on the prince, was announced, and after a long wait they
+introduced me to his presence.  I gave him his title of highness,
+which I had never done at Paris, where he was not known under his
+full style and title.  He received me politely, but with that
+coolness which lets one know that one is not an over-welcome visitor.
+
+"You have put in on account of the bad weather, I suppose?" said he.
+
+"Yes, prince, and if your highness will allow me I will spend the
+whole day in your delicious villa."  (It is far from being
+delicious.)
+
+"As you please.  The princess as well as myself likes it better than
+our place at Monaco, so we live here by preference."
+
+"I should be grateful if your highness would present me to the
+princess."
+
+Without mentioning my name he ordered a page in waiting to present me
+to the princess.
+
+The page opened the door of a handsome room and said, "The Princess,"
+and left me.  She was singing at the piano, but as soon as she saw me
+she rose and came to meet me.  I was obliged to introduce myself, a
+most unpleasant thing, and no doubt the princess felt the position,
+for she pretended not to notice it, and addressed me with the utmost
+kindness and politeness, and in a way that shewed that she was
+learned in the maxims of good society.  I immediately became very
+much at my ease, and proceeded in a lordly manner to entertain her
+with pleasant talk, though I said nothing about my two lady friends.
+
+The princess was handsome, clever, and good-natured.  Her mother, who
+knew that a man like the prince would never make her daughter happy,
+opposed the marriage, but the young marchioness was infatuated, and
+the mother had to give in when the girl said,--
+
+"O Monaco O monaca."  (Either Monaco or a convent.)
+
+We were still occupied in the trifles which keep up an ordinary
+conversation, when the prince came in running after a waiting-maid,
+who was making her escape, laughing.  The princess pretended not to
+see him, and went on with what she was saying.  The scene displeased
+me, and I took leave of the princess, who wished me a pleasant
+journey.  I met the prince as I was going out, and he invited me to
+come and see him whenever I passed that way.
+
+"Certainly," said I; and made my escape without saying any more.
+
+I went back to the inn and ordered a good dinner for three.
+
+In the principality of Monaco there was a French garrison, which was
+worth a pension of a hundred thousand francs to the prince--a very
+welcome addition to his income.
+
+A curled and scented young officer, passing by our room, the door of
+which was open, stopped short, and with unblushing politeness asked
+us if we would allow him to join our party.  I replied politely, but
+coldly, that he did us honour--a phrase which means neither yes nor
+no; but a Frenchman who has advanced one step never retreats.
+
+He proceeded to display his graces for the benefit of the ladies,
+talking incessantly, without giving them time to get in a word, when
+he suddenly turned to me and said that he wondered how it was that
+the prince had not asked me and my ladies to dinner.  I told him that
+I had not said anything to the prince about the treasure I had with
+me.
+
+I had scarcely uttered the words, when the kindly blockhead rose and
+cried enthusiastically,--
+
+"Parbleu!  I am no longer surprised.  I will go and tell his
+highness, and I shall soon have the honour of dining with you at the
+castle."
+
+He did not wait to hear my answer, but went off in hot haste.
+
+We laughed heartily at his folly, feeling quite sure that we should
+neither dine with him nor the prince, but in a quarter of an hour he
+returned in high glee, and invited us all to dinner on behalf of the
+prince.
+
+"I beg you will thank his highness, and at the same time ask him to
+excuse us.  The weather has improved, and I want to be off as soon as
+we have taken a hasty morsel."
+
+The young Frenchman exerted all his eloquence in vain, and at length
+retired with a mortified air to take our answer to the prince.
+
+I thought I had got rid of him at last, but I did not know my man.
+He returned a short time after, and addressing himself in a
+complacent manner to the ladies, as if I was of no more account, he
+told them that he had given the prince such a description of their
+charms that he had made up his mind to dine with them.
+
+"I have already ordered the table to be laid for two more, as I shall
+have the honour of being of the party.  In a quarter of an hour,
+ladies, the prince will be here."
+
+"Very good," said I, "but as the prince is coming I must go to the
+felucca and fetch a capital pie of which the prince is very fond, I
+know.  Come, ladies."
+
+"You can leave them here, sir.  I will undertake to keep them
+amused."
+
+"I have no doubt you would, but they have some things to get from the
+felucca as well."
+
+"Then you will allow me to come too."
+
+"Certainly with pleasure."
+
+As we were going down the stairs, I asked the innkeeper what I owed
+him.
+
+"Nothing, sir, I have just received orders to serve you in
+everything, and to take no money from you."
+
+"The prince is really magnificent!"  During this short dialogue, the
+ladies had gone on with the fop.  I hastened to rejoin them, and my
+niece took my arm, laughing heartily to hear the officer making love
+to Marcoline, who did not understand a word he said.  He did not
+notice it in the least, for his tongue kept going like the wheel of a
+mill, and he did not pause for any answers.
+
+"We shall have some fun at dinner," said my niece, "but what are we
+going to do on the felucca?"
+
+"We are leaving.  Say nothing."
+
+"Leaving?"
+
+"Immediately."
+
+"What a jest! it is worth its weight in gold."
+
+We went on board the felucca, and the officer, who was delighted with
+the pretty vessel, proceeded to examine it.  I told my niece to keep
+him company, and going to the master, whispered to him to let go
+directly.
+
+"Directly?"
+
+"Yes, this moment."
+
+"But the abbe and your secretary are gone for a walk, and two of my
+men are on shore, too."
+
+"That's no matter; we shall pick them up again at Antibes; it's only
+ten leagues, and they have plenty of money.  I must go, and directly.
+Make haste."
+
+"All right."
+
+He tripped the anchor, and the felucca began to swing away from the
+shore.  The officer asked me in great astonishment what it meant.
+
+"It means that I am going to Antibes and I shall be very glad to take
+you there for nothing."
+
+"This is a fine jest!  You are joking, surely?"
+
+"Your company will be very pleasant on the journey."
+
+"Pardieu! put me ashore, for with your leave, ladies, I cannot go to
+Antibes."
+
+"Put the gentleman ashore," said I to the master, "he does not seem
+to like our company."
+
+"It's not that, upon my honour.  These ladies are charming, but the
+prince would think that I was in the plot to play this trick upon
+him, which you must confess is rather strong."
+
+"I never play a weak trick."
+
+"But what will the prince say?"
+
+"He may say what he likes, and I shall do as I like."
+
+"Well, it's no fault of mine.  Farewell, ladies! farewell, sir!"
+
+"Farewell, and you may thank the prince for me for paying my bill."
+
+Marcoline who did not understand what was passing gazed in
+astonishment, but my niece laughed till her sides ached, for the way
+in which the poor officer had taken the matter was extremely comic.
+
+Clairmont brought us an excellent dinner, and we laughed incessantly
+during its progress, even at the astonishment of the abbe and Possano
+when they came to the quay and found the felucca had flown.  However,
+I was sure of meeting them again at Antibes, and we reached that port
+at six o'clock in the evening.
+
+The motion of the sea had tired us without making us feel sick, for
+the air was fresh, and our appetites felt the benefits of it, and in
+consequence we did great honour to the supper and the wine.
+Marcoline whose stomach was weakened by the sickness she had
+undergone soon felt the effects of the Burgundy, her eyes were heavy,
+and she went to sleep.  My niece would have imitated her, but I
+reminded her tenderly that we were at Antibes, and said I was sure
+she would keep her word.  She did not answer me, but gave me her
+hand, lowering her eyes with much modesty.
+
+Intoxicated with her submission which was so like love, I got into
+bed beside her, exclaiming,--
+
+"At last the hour of my happiness has come!
+
+"And mine too, dearest."
+
+"Yours?  Have you not continually repulsed me?"
+
+"Never!  I always loved you, and your indifference has been a bitter
+grief to me."
+
+"But the first night we left Milan you preferred being alone to
+sleeping with me."
+
+"Could I do otherwise without passing in your eyes for one more a
+slave to sensual passion than to love?  Besides you might have
+thought I was giving myself to you for the benefits I had received;
+and though gratitude be a noble feeling, it destroys all the sweet
+delights of love.  You ought to have told me that you loved me and
+subdued me by those attentions which conquer the hearts of us women.
+Then you would have seen that I loved you too, and our affection
+would have been mutual.  On my side I should have known that the
+pleasure you had of me was not given out of a mere feeling of
+gratitude.  I do not know whether you would have loved me less the
+morning after, if I had consented, but I am sure I should have lost
+your esteem."
+
+She was right, and I applauded her sentiments, while giving her to
+understand that she was to put all notions of benefits received out
+of her mind.  I wanted to make her see that I knew that there was no
+more need for gratitude on her side than mine.
+
+We spent a night that must be imagined rather than described.  She
+told me in the morning that she felt all had been for the best, as if
+she had given way at first she could never have made up her mind to
+accept the young Genoese, though he seemed likely to make her happy.
+
+Marcoline came to see us in the morning, caressed us, and promised to
+sleep by herself the rest of the voyage.
+
+"Then you are not jealous?" said I.
+
+"No, for her happiness is mine too, and I know she will make you
+happy."
+
+She became more ravishingly beautiful every day.
+
+Possano and the abbe came in just as we were sitting down to table,
+and my niece having ordered two more plates I allowed them to dine
+with us.  My brother's face was pitiful and yet ridiculous.  He could
+not walk any distance, so he had been obliged to come on horseback,
+probably for the first time in his life.
+
+"My skin is delicate," said he, "so I am all blistered.  But God's
+will be done!  I do not think any of His servants have endured
+greater torments than mine during this journey.  My body is sore, and
+so is my soul."
+
+So saying he cast a piteous glance at Marcoline, and we had to hold
+our sides to prevent ourselves laughing.  My niece could bear it no
+more, and said,--
+
+"How I pity you, dear uncle!"
+
+At this he blushed, and began to address the most absurd compliments
+to her, styling her "my dear niece."  I told him to be silent, and
+not to speak French till he was able to express himself in that
+equivocal language without making a fool of himself.  But the poet
+Pogomas spoke no better than he did.
+
+I was curious to know what had happened at Mentone after we had left,
+and Pogomas proceeded to tell the story.
+
+"When we came back from our walk we were greatly astonished not to
+find the felucca any more.  We went to the inn, where I knew you had
+ordered dinner; but the inn-keeper knew nothing except that he was
+expecting the prince and a young officer to dine with you.  I told
+him he might wait for you in vain, and just then the prince came up
+in a rage, and told the inn-keeper that now you were gone he might
+look to you for his payment.  'My lord,' said the inn-keeper, 'the
+gentleman wanted to pay me, but I respected the orders I had received
+from your highness and would not take the money.'  At this the prince
+flung him a louis with an ill grace, and asked us who we were.  I
+told him that we belonged to you, and that you had not waited for us
+either, which put us to great trouble.  'You will get away easily
+enough,' said he; and then he began to laugh, and swore the jest was
+a pleasant one.  He then asked me who the ladies were.  I told him
+that the one was your niece, and that I knew nothing of the other;
+but the abbe interfered, and said she was your cuisine.  The prince
+guessed he meant to say 'cousin,' and burst out laughing, in which he
+was joined by the young officer.  'Greet him from me,' said he, as he
+went away, 'and tell him that we shall meet again, and that I will
+pay him out for the trick he has played me.'  "The worthy host
+laughed, too, when the prince had gone, and gave us a good dinner,
+saying that the prince's Louis would pay for it all.  When we had
+dined we hired two horses, and slept at Nice.  In the morning we rode
+on again, being certain of finding you here."  Marcoline told the
+abbe in a cold voice to take care not to tell anyone else that she
+was his cuisine, or his cousin, or else it would go ill with him, as
+she did not wish to be thought either the one or the other.  I also
+advised him seriously not to speak French for the future, as the
+absurd way in which he had committed himself made everyone about him
+ashamed."
+
+Just as I was ordering post-horses to take us to Frejus, a man
+appeared, and told me I owed him ten louis for the storage of a
+carriage which I had left on his hands nearly three years ago.  This
+was when I was taking Rosalie to Italy.  I laughed, for the carriage
+itself was not worth five louis.  "Friend," said I, "I make you a
+present of the article."
+
+"I don't want your present.  I want the ten louis you owe me."
+
+"You won't get the ten louis.  I will see you further first."
+
+"We will see about that"; and so saying he took his departure.
+
+I sent for horses that we might continue our journey.
+
+A few moments after, a sergeant summoned me to the governor's
+presence.  I followed him, and was politely requested to pay the ten
+louis that my creditor demanded.  I answered that, in the agreement I
+had entered into for six francs a month, there was no mention of the
+length of the term, and that I did not want to withdraw my carriage.
+
+"But supposing you were never to withdraw it?"
+
+"Then the man could bequeath his claim to his heir."
+
+"I believe he could oblige you to withdraw it, or to allow it to be
+sold to defray expenses."
+
+"You are right, sir, and I wish to spare him that trouble.  I make
+him a present of the carriage."
+
+"That's fair enough.  Friend, the carriage is yours."
+
+"But sir," said the plaintiff, "it is not enough; the carriage is not
+worth ten louis, and I want the surplus."
+
+"You are in the wrong.  I wish you a pleasant journey, sir, and I
+hope you will forgive the ignorance of these poor people, who would
+like to shape the laws according to their needs."
+
+All this trouble had made me lose a good deal of time, and I
+determined to put off my departure till the next day.  However, I
+wanted a carriage for Possano and the abbe, and I got my secretary to
+buy the one I had abandoned for four louis.  It was in a deplorable
+state, and I had to have it repaired, which kept us till the
+afternoon of the next day; however, so far as pleasure was concerned,
+the time was not lost.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+My Arrival at Marseilles--Madame d'Urfe--My Niece Is Welcomed by
+Madame Audibert I Get Rid of My Brother and Possano--Regeneration
+--Departure of Madame d'Urfe--Marcoline Remains Constant
+
+
+My niece, now my mistress, grew more dear to me every day, and I
+could not help trembling when I reflected that Marseilles would be
+the tomb of our love.  Though I could not help arriving there, I
+prolonged my happiness as long as I could by travelling by short
+stages.  I got to Frejus in less than three hours, and stopped there,
+and telling Possano and the abbe to do as they liked during our stay,
+I ordered a delicate supper and choice wine for myself and my nymphs.
+Our repast lasted till midnight, then we went to bed, and passed the
+time in sweet sleep and sweeter pleasures.  I made the same
+arrangements at Lucca, Brignoles, and Aubayne, where I passed the
+sixth and last night of happiness.
+
+As soon as I got to Marseilles I conducted my niece to Madame
+Audibert's, and sent Possano and my brother to the "Trieze Cantons"
+inn, bidding them observe the strictest silence with regard to me,
+for Madame d'Urfe had been awaiting me for three weeks, and I wished
+to be my own herald to her.
+
+It was at Madame Audibert's that my niece had met Croce.  She was a
+clever woman, and had known the girl from her childhood, and it was
+through her that my niece hoped to be restored to her father's good
+graces.  We had agreed that I should leave my niece and Marcoline in
+the carriage, and should interview Madame Audibert, whose
+acquaintance I had made before, and with whom I could make
+arrangements for my niece's lodging till some arrangement was come
+to.
+
+Madame Audibert saw me getting out of my carriage, and as she did not
+recognize me her curiosity made her come down and open the door.  She
+soon recognized me, and consented to let me have a private interview
+with the best grace in the world.
+
+I did not lose any time in leading up to the subject, and after I had
+given her a rapid sketch of the affair, how misfortune had obliged La
+Croix to abandon Mdlle. Crosin, how I had been able to be of service
+to her, and finally, how she had had the good luck to meet a wealthy
+and distinguished person, who would come to Marseilles to ask her
+hand in a fortnight, I concluded by saying that I should have the
+happiness of restoring to her hands the dear girl whose preserver I
+had been.
+
+"Where is she?" cried Madame Audibert.
+
+"In my carriage.  I have lowered the blinds."
+
+"Bring her in, quick!  I will see to everything.  Nobody shall know
+that she is in my house."
+
+Happier than a prince, I made one bound to the carriage and,
+concealing her face with her cloak and hood, I led my niece to her
+friend's arms.  This was a dramatic scene full of satisfaction for
+me.  Kisses were given and received, tears of happiness and
+repentance shed, I wept myself from mingled feelings of emotion,
+happiness, and regret.
+
+In the meanwhile Clairmont had brought up my niece's luggage, and I
+went away promising to return and see her another day.
+
+I had another and as important an arrangement to conclude, I mean
+with respect to Marcoline.  I told the postillions to take me to the
+worthy old man's where I had lodged Rosalie so pleasantly.  Marcoline
+was weeping at this separation from her friend.  I got down at the
+house, and made my bargain hastily.  My new mistress was, I said, to
+be lodged, fed, and attended on as if she had been a princess.  He
+shewed me the apartment she was to occupy; it was fit for a young
+marchioness, and he told me that she should be attended by his own
+niece, that she should not leave the house, and that nobody but
+myself should visit her.
+
+Having made these arrangements I made the fair Venetian come in.  I
+gave her the money she had won, which I had converted into gold and
+made up to a thousand ducats.
+
+"You won't want it here," said I, "so take care of it.  At Venice a
+thousand ducats will make you somebody.  Do not weep, dearest, my
+heart is with you, and to-morrow evening I will sup with you."
+
+The old man gave me the latch-key, and I went off to the "Treize
+Cantons."  I was expected, and my rooms were adjacent to those
+occupied by Madame d'Urfe.
+
+As soon as I was settled, Bourgnole waited on me, and told me her
+mistress was alone and expecting me impatiently.
+
+I shall not trouble my readers with an account of our interview, as
+it was only composed of Madame d'Urfe's mad flights of fancy, and of
+lies on my part which had not even the merit of probability.  A slave
+to my life of happy profligacy, I profited by her folly; she would
+have found someone else to deceive her, if I had not done so, for it
+was really she who deceived herself.  I naturally preferred to profit
+by her rather than that a stranger should do so; she was very rich,
+and I did myself a great deal of good, without doing anyone any harm.
+The first thing she asked me was, "Where is Querilinthos?"  And she
+jumped with joy when I told her that he was under the same roof.
+
+"'Tis he, then, who shall make me young again.  So has my genius
+assured me night after night.  Ask Paralis if the presents I have
+prepared are good enough for Semiramis to present to the head of the
+Fraternity of the Rosy Cross."
+
+I did not know what these presents were, and as I could not ask to
+see them, I answered that, before consulting Paralis, it would be
+necessary to consecrate the gifts under the planetary hours, and that
+Querilinthos himself must not see them before the consecration.
+Thereupon she took me to her closet, and shewed me the seven packets
+meant for the Rosicrucian in the form of offerings to the seven
+planets.
+
+Each packet contained seven pounds of the metal proper to the planet,
+and seven precious stones, also proper to the planets, each being
+seven carats in weight; there were diamonds, rubies, emeralds,
+sapphires, chrysolites, topazes, and opals.
+
+I made up my mind that nothing of this should pass into the hands of
+the Genoese, and told the mad woman that we must trust entirely in
+Paralis for the method of consecration, which must be begun by our
+placing each packet in a small casket made on purpose.  One packet,
+and one only, could be consecrated in a day, and it was necessary to
+begin with the sun.  It was now Friday, and we should have to wait
+till Sunday, the day of the sun.  On Saturday I had a box with seven
+niches made for the purpose.
+
+For the purposes of consecration I spent three hours every day with
+Madame d'Urfe, and we had not finished till the ensuing Saturday.
+Throughout this week I made Possano and my brother take their meals
+with us, and as the latter did not understand a word the good lady
+said, he did not speak a word himself, and might have passed for a
+mute of the seraglio.  Madame d'Urfe pronounced him devoid of sense,
+and imagined we were going to put the soul of a sylph into his body
+that he might engender some being half human, half divine.
+
+It was amusing to see my brother's despair and rage at being taken
+for an idiot, and when he endeavoured to say something to spew that
+he was not one, she only thought him more idiotic than ever.  I
+laughed to myself, and thought how ill he would have played the part
+if I had asked him to do it.  All the same the rascal did not lose
+anything by his reputation, for Madame d'Urfe clothed him with a
+decent splendour that would have led one to suppose that the abbe
+belonged to one of the first families in France.  The most uneasy
+guest at Madame d'Urfe's table was Possano, who had to reply to
+questions, of the most occult nature, and, not knowing anything about
+the subject, made the most ridiculous mistakes.
+
+I brought Madame d'Urfe the box, and having made all the necessary
+arrangements for the consecrations, I received an order from the
+oracle to go into the country and sleep there for seven nights in
+succession, to abstain from intercourse with all mortal women, and to
+perform ceremonial worship to the moon every night, at the hour of
+that planet, in the open fields.  This would make me fit to
+regenerate Madame d'Urfe myself in case Querilinthos, for some mystic
+reasons, might not be able to do so.
+
+Through this order Madame d'Urfe was not only not vexed with me for
+sleeping away from the hotel, but was grateful for the pains I was
+taking to ensure the success of the operation.
+
+The day after my arrival I called on Madame Audibert, and had the
+pleasure of finding my niece wail pleased with the efforts her friend
+was making in her favour.  Madame Audibert had spoken to her father,
+telling him that his daughter was with her, and that she hoped to
+obtain his pardon and to return to his house, where she would soon
+become the bride of a rich Genoese, who wished to receive her from
+her father's hands.  The worthy man, glad to find again the lost
+sheep, said he would come in two days and take her to her aunt, who
+had a house at St. Louis, two leagues from the town.  She might then
+quietly await the arrival of her future husband, and avoid all
+occasion of scandal.  My niece was surprised that her father had not
+yet received a letter from the young man, and I could see that she
+was anxious about it; but I comforted her and assured her that I
+would not leave Marseilles till I had danced at her wedding.
+
+I left her to go to Marcoline, whom I longed to press to my heart.
+I found her in an ecstasy of joy, and she said that if she could
+understand what her maid said her happiness would be complete.  I saw
+that her situation was a painful one, especially as she was a woman,
+but for the present I saw no way out of the difficulty; I should have
+to get an Italian-speaking servant, and this would have been a
+troublesome task.  She wept with joy when I told her that my niece
+desired to be remembered to her, and that in a day she would be on
+her father's hearth.  Marcoline had found out that she was not my
+real niece when she found her in my arms.
+
+The choice supper which the old man had procured us, and which spewed
+he had a good memory for my favorite tastes, made me think of
+Rosalie.  Marcoline heard me tell the story with great interest, and
+said that it seemed to her that I only went about to make unfortunate
+girls happy, provided I found them pretty.
+
+"I almost think you are right," said I; "and it is certain that I
+have made many happy, and have never brought misfortune to any girl."
+
+"God will reward you, my dear friend."
+
+"Possibly I am not worth His taking the trouble!"
+
+Though the wit and beauty of Marcoline had charmed me, her appetite
+charmed me still more; the reader knows that I have always liked
+women who eat heartily.  And in Marseilles they make an excellent
+dish of a common fowl, which is often so insipid.
+
+Those who like oil will get on capitally in Provence, for it is used
+in everything, and it must be confessed that if used in moderation it
+makes an excellent relish.
+
+Marcoline was charming in bed.  I had not enjoyed the Venetian vices
+for nearly eight years, and Marcoline was a beauty before whom
+Praxiteles would have bent the knee.  I laughed at my brother for
+having let such a treasure slip out of his hands, though I quite
+forgave him for falling in love with her.  I myself could not take
+her about, and as I wanted her to be amused I begged my kind old
+landlord to send her to the play every day, and to prepare a good
+supper every evening.  I got her some rich dresses that she might cut
+a good figure, and this attention redoubled her affection for me.
+
+The next day, which was the second occasion on which I had visited
+her, she told me that she had enjoyed the play though she could not
+understand the dialogues; and the day after she astonished me by
+saying that my brother had intruded himself into her box, and had
+said so many impertinent things that if she had been at Venice she
+would have boxed his ears.
+
+"I am afraid," she added, "that the rascal has followed me here, and
+will be annoying me."
+
+"Don't be afraid," I answered, "I will see what I can do."
+
+When I got to the hotel I entered the abbe's room, and by Possano's
+bed I saw an individual collecting lint and various surgical
+instruments.
+
+"What's all this?  Are you ill?"
+
+"Yes, I have got something which will teach me to be wiser for the
+future."
+
+"It's rather late for this kind of thing at sixty."
+
+"Better late than never."
+
+"You are an old fool.  You stink of mercury."
+
+"I shall not leave my room."
+
+"This will harm you with the marchioness, who believes you to be the
+greatest of adepts, and consequently above such weaknesses."
+
+"Damn the marchioness!  Let me be."
+
+The rascal had never talked in this style before.  I thought it best
+to conceal my anger, and went up to my brother who was in a corner of
+the room.
+
+"What do you mean by pestering Marcoline at the theatre yesterday?"
+
+"I went to remind her of her duty, and to warn her that I would not
+be her complaisant lover."
+
+"You have insulted me and her too, fool that you are!  You owe all to
+Marcoline, for if it had not been for her, I should never have given
+you a second glance; and yet you behave in this disgraceful manner."
+
+"I have ruined myself for her sake, and I can never shew my face in
+Venice again.  What right have you to take her from me?"
+
+"The right of love, blockhead, and the right of luck, and the right
+of the strongest!  How is it that she is happy with me, and does not
+wish to leave me?"
+
+"You have dazzled her."
+
+"Another reason is that with you she was dying of misery and hunger."
+
+"Yes, but the end of it will be that you will abandon her as you have
+done with many others, whereas I should have married her."
+
+"Married her!  You renegade, you seem to forget that you are a
+priest.  I do not propose to part with her, but if I do I will send
+her away rich."
+
+"Well, well, do as you please; but still I have the right to speak to
+her whenever I like."
+
+"I have forbidden you to do so, and you may trust me when I tell you
+that you have spoken to her for the last time."
+
+So saying I went out and called on an advocate.  I asked him if I
+could have a foreign abbe, who was indebted to me, arrested, although
+I had no proof of the debt.
+
+"You can do so, as he is a foreigner, but you will have to pay
+caution-money.  You can have him put under arrest at his inn, and you
+can make him pay unless he is able to prove that he owes you nothing.
+Is the sum a large one?"
+
+"Twelve louis."
+
+"You must come with me before the magistrate and deposit twelve
+louis, and from that moment you will be able to have him arrested.
+Where is he staying?"
+
+"In the same hotel as I am, but I do not wish to have him arrested
+there, so I will get him to the 'Ste. Baume,' and put him under
+arrest.  Here are the twelve louis caution-money, so you can get the
+magistrate's order, and we will meet again to-morrow."
+
+"Give me his name, and yours also."
+
+I returned in haste to the "Treize Cantons," and met the abbe,
+dressed up to the nines, and just about to go out.
+
+"Follow me," said I, "I am going to take you to Marcoline, and you
+shall have an explanation in her presence."
+
+"With pleasure."
+
+He got into a carriage with me, and I told the coachman to take us to
+the "Ste. Baume" inn.  When we got there, I told him to wait for me,
+that I was going to fetch Marcoline, and that I would return with her
+in a minute.
+
+I got into the carriage again, and drove to the advocate, who gave
+the order for arrest to a policeman, who was to execute it.  I then
+returned to the "Treize Cantons" and put his belongings into a trunk,
+and had them transported to his new abode.
+
+I found him under arrest, and talking to the astonished host, who
+could not understand what it was all about.  I told the landlord the
+mythical history of the abbe debt to me, and handed over the trunk,
+telling him that he had nothing to fear with regard to the bill, as I
+would take care that he should be well paid.
+
+I then began my talk with the abbe, telling him that he must get
+ready to leave Marseilles the next day, and that I would pay for his
+journey to Paris; but that if he did not like to do so, I should
+leave him to his fate, and in three days he would be expelled from
+Marseilles.  The coward began to weep and said he would go to Paris.
+
+"You must start for Lyons to-morrow, but you will first write me out
+an I O U for twelve louis."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because I say so.  If you do so I will give you twelve louis and
+tear up the document before your face."
+
+"I have no choice in the matter."
+
+"You are right."
+
+When he had written the I O U, I went to take a place in the
+diligence for him, and the next morning I went with the advocate to
+withdraw the arrest and to take back the twelve louis, which I gave
+to my brother in the diligence, with a letter to M. Bono, whom I
+warned not to give him any money, and to send him on to Paris by the
+same diligence.  I then tore up his note of hand, and wished him a
+pleasant journey.
+
+Thus I got rid of this foolish fellow, whom I saw again in Paris in a
+month's time.
+
+The day I had my brother arrested and before I went to dine with
+Madame d'Urfe I had an interview with Possano in the hope of
+discovering the reason of his ill humour.
+
+"The reason is," said he, "that I am sure you are going to lay hands
+on twenty or thirty thousand crowns in gold and diamonds, which the
+marchioness meant me to have."
+
+"That may be, but it is not for you to know anything about it.  I may
+tell you that it rests entirely with me to prevent your getting
+anything.  If you think you can succeed go to the marchioness and
+make your complaints to her.  I will do nothing to prevent you."
+
+"Then you think I am going to help you in your imposture for nothing;
+you are very much mistaken.  I want a thousand louis, and I will have
+it, too."
+
+"Then get somebody to give it you," said I; and I turned my back on
+him.
+
+I went up to the marchioness and told her that dinner was ready, and
+that we should dine alone, as I had been obliged to send the abbe
+away.
+
+"He was an idiot; but how about Querilinthos?"
+
+"After dinner Paralis will tell us all about him.  I have strong
+suspicions that there is something to be cleared up."
+
+"So have I.  The man seems changed.  Where is he?"
+
+"He is in bed, ill of a disease which I dare not so much as name to
+you."
+
+"That is a very extraordinary circumstance; I have never heard of
+such a thing before.  It must be the work of an evil genius."
+
+"I have never heard of such a thing, either; but now let us dine.  We
+shall have to work hard to-day at the consecration of the tin."
+
+"All the better.  We must offer an expiatory sacrifice to Oromasis,
+for, awful thought! in three days he would have to regenerate me, and
+the operation would be performed in that condition."
+
+"Let us eat now," I repeated; "I fear lest the hour of Jupiter be
+over-past."
+
+"Fear nothing, I will see that all goes well."
+
+After the consecration of the tin had been performed, I transferred
+that of Oromasis to another day, while I consulted the oracle
+assiduously, the marchioness translating the figures into letters.
+The oracle declared that seven salamanders had transported the true
+Querilinthos to the Milky Way, and that the man in the next room was
+the evil genius, St. Germain, who had been put in that fearful
+condition by a female gnome, who had intended to make him the
+executioner of Semiramis, who was to die of the dreadful malady
+before her term had expired.  The oracle also said that Semiramis
+should leave to Payaliseus Galtinardus (myself) all the charge of
+getting rid of the evil genius, St. Germain; and that she was not to
+doubt concerning her regeneration, since the word would be sent me by
+the true Querilinthos from the Milky Way on the seventh night of my
+worship of the moon.  Finally the oracle declared that I was to
+embrace Semiramis two days before the end of the ceremonies, after an
+Undine had purified us by bathing us in the room where we were.
+
+I had thus undertaken to regenerate the worthy Semiramis, and I began
+to think how I could carry out my undertaking without putting myself
+to shame.  The marchioness was handsome but old, and I feared lest I
+should be unable to perform the great act.  I was thirty-eight, and I
+began to feel age stealing on me.  The Undine, whom I was to obtain
+of the moon, was none other than Marcoline, who was to give me the
+necessary generative vigour by the sight of her beauty and by the
+contact of her hands.  The reader will see how I made her come down
+from heaven.
+
+I received a note from Madame Audibert which made me call on her
+before paying my visit to Marcoline.  As soon as I came in she told
+me joyously that my niece's father had just received a letter from
+the father of the Genoese, asking the hand of his daughter for his
+only son, who had been introduced to her by the Chevalier de
+Seingalt, her uncle, at the Paretti's.
+
+"The worthy man thinks himself under great obligations to you," said
+Madame Audibert.  "He adores his daughter, and he knows you have
+cared for her like a father.  His daughter has drawn your portrait in
+very favourable colors, and he would be extremely pleased to make
+your acquaintance.  Tell me when you can sup with me; the father will
+be here to meet you, though unaccompanied by his daughter."
+
+"I am delighted at what you tell me, for the young man's esteem for
+his future wife will only be augmented when he finds that I am her
+father's friend.  I cannot come to supper, however; I will be here at
+six and stop till eight."
+
+As the lady left the choice of the day with me I fixed the day after
+next, and then I repaired to my fair Venetian, to whom I told my
+news, and how I had managed to get rid of the abbe.
+
+On the day after next, just as we were sitting down to dinner, the
+marchioness smilingly gave me a letter which Possano had written her
+in bad but perfectly intelligible French.  He had filled eight pages
+in his endeavour to convince her that I was deceiving her, and to
+make sure he told the whole story without concealing any circumstance
+to my disadvantage.  He added that I had brought two girls with me to
+Marseilles; and though he did not know where I had hidden them, he
+was sure that it was with them that I spent my nights.
+
+After I had read the whole letter through, with the utmost coolness I
+gave it back to her, asking her if she had had the patience to read
+it through.  She replied that she had run through it, but that she
+could not make it out at all, as the evil genius seemed to write a
+sort of outlandish dialect, which she did not care to puzzle herself
+over, as he could only have written down lies calculated to lead her
+astray at the most important moment of her life.  I was much pleased
+with the marchioness's prudence, for it was important that she should
+have no suspicions about the Undine, the sight and the touch of whom
+were necessary to me in the great work I was about to undertake.
+
+After dining, and discharging all the ceremonies and oracles which
+were necessary to calm the soul of my poor victim, I went to a banker
+and got a bill of a hundred louis on Lyons, to the order of M. Bono,
+and I advised him of what I had done, requesting him to cash it for
+Possano if it were presented on the day named thereon.
+
+I then wrote the advice for Possano to take with him, it ran as
+follows: "M. Bonno, pay to M. Possano, on sight, to himself, and not
+to order, the sum of one hundred louis, if these presents are
+delivered to you on the 30th day of April, in the year 1763; and
+after the day aforesaid my order to become null and void."
+
+With this letter in my hand I went to the traitor who had been lanced
+an hour before.
+
+"You're an infamous traitor," I began, "but as Madame d'Urfe knows of
+the disgraceful state you are in she would not so much as read your
+letter.  I have read it, and by way of reward I give you two
+alternatives which you must decide on immediately.  I am in a hurry.
+You will either go to the hospital--for we can't have pestiferous
+fellows like you here--or start for Lyons in an hour.  You must not
+stop on the way, for I have only given you sixty hours, which is
+ample to do forty posts in.  As soon as you get to Lyons present this
+to M. Bono, and he will give you a hundred louis.  This is a present
+from me, and afterwards I don't care what you do, as you are no
+longer in my service.  You can have the carriage I bought for you at
+Antibes, and there is twenty-five louis for the journey: that is all.
+Make your choice, but I warn you that if you go to the hospital I
+shall only give you a month's wages, as I dismiss you from my service
+now at this instant."
+
+After a moment's reflection he said he would go to Lyons, though it
+would be at the risk of his life, for he was very ill.
+
+"You must reap the reward of your treachery," said I, "and if you die
+it will be a good thing for your family, who will come in for what I
+have given you, but not what I should have given you if you had been
+a faithful servant."
+
+I then left him and told Clairmont to pack up his trunk.  I warned
+the inn-keeper of his departure and told him to get the post horses
+ready as soon as possible.
+
+I then gave Clairmont the letter to Bono and twenty-five Louis, for
+him to hand them over to Possano when he was in the carriage and
+ready to go off.
+
+When I had thus successfully accomplished my designs by means of the
+all-powerful lever, gold, which I knew how to lavish in time of need,
+I was once more free for my amours.  I wanted to instruct the fair
+Marcoline, with whom I grew more in love every day.  She kept telling
+me that her happiness would be complete if she knew French, and if
+she had the slightest hope that I would take her to England with me.
+
+I had never flattered her that my love would go as far as that, but
+yet I could not help feeling sad at the thought of parting from a
+being who seemed made to taste voluptuous pleasures, and to
+communicate them with tenfold intensity to the man of her choice.
+She was delighted to hear that I had got rid of my two odious
+companions, and begged me to take her to the theatre, "for," said
+she, "everybody is asking who and what I am, and my landlord's niece
+is quite angry with me because I will not let her tell the truth"
+
+I promised I would take her out in the course of the next week, but
+that for the present I had a most important affair on hand, in which
+I had need of her assistance.
+
+"I will do whatever you wish, dearest."
+
+"Very good!  then listen to me.  I will get you a disguise which will
+make you look like a smart footman, and in that costume you will call
+on the marchioness with whom I live, at the hour I shall name to you,
+and you will give her a note.  Have you sufficient courage for that?"
+
+"Certainly.  Will you be there?"
+
+"Yes.  She will speak, but you must pretend to be dumb, as the note
+you bring with you will tell us; as also that you have come to wait
+upon us while we are bathing.  She will accept the offer, and when
+she tells you to undress her from head to foot you will do so.  When
+you have done, undress yourself, and gently rub the marchioness from
+the feet to the waist, but not higher.  In the meanwhile I shall have
+taken off my clothes, and while I hold her in a close embrace you
+must stand so that I can see all your charms.
+
+"Further, sweetheart, when I leave you you must gently wash her
+generative organs, and afterwards wipe them with a fine towel.  Then
+do the same to me, and try to bring me to life again.  I shall
+proceed to embrace the marchioness a second time, and when it is over
+wash her again and embrace her, and then come and embrace me and kiss
+in your Venetian manner the instrument with which the sacrifice is
+consummated.  I shall then clasp the marchioness to my arms a third
+time, and you must caress us till the act is complete.  Finally, you
+will wash us for the third time, then dress, take what she gives you
+and come here, where I will meet you in the course of an hour."
+
+"You may reckon on my following all your instructions, but you must
+see that the task will be rather trying to my feelings."
+
+"Not more trying than to mine.  I could do nothing with the old woman
+if you were not present."
+
+"Is she very old?"
+
+"Nearly seventy."
+
+"My poor sweetheart!  I do pity you.  But after this painful duty is
+over you must sup here and sleep with me."
+
+"Certainly."
+
+On the day appointed I had a long and friendly interview with the
+father of my late niece.  I told him all about his daughter, only
+suppressing the history of our own amours, which were not suitable
+for a father's ears.  The worthy man embraced me again and again,
+calling me his benefactor, and saying that I had done more for his
+daughter than he would have done himself, which in a sense was
+perhaps true.  He told me that he had received another letter from
+the father, and a letter from the young man himself, who wrote in the
+most tender and respectful manner possible.
+
+"He doesn't ask anything about the dower," said he, "a wonderful
+thing these days, but I will give her a hundred and fifty thousand
+francs, for the marriage is an excellent one, above all after my poor
+simpleton's escape.  All Marseilles knows the father of her future
+husband, and to-morrow I mean to tell the whole story to my wife, and
+I am sure she will forgive the poor girl as I have done."
+
+I had to promise to be present at the wedding, which was to be at
+Madame Audibert's.  That lady knowing me to be very fond of play, and
+there being a good deal of play going on at her house, wondered why
+she did not see more of me; but I was at Marseilles to create and not
+to destroy: there is a time for everything.
+
+I had a green velvet jacket made for Marcoline, with breeches of the
+same and silver-lace garters, green silk stockings, and fine leather
+shoes of the same colour.  Her fine black hair was confined in a net
+of green silk, with a silver brooch.  In this dress the voluptuous
+and well-rounded form of Marcoline was displayed to so much
+advantage, that if she had shewn herself in the street all Marseilles
+would have run after her, for, in spite of her man's dress, anybody
+could see that she was a girl.  I took her to my rooms in her
+ordinary costume, to shew her where she would have to hide after the
+operation was over.
+
+By Saturday we had finished all the consecrations, and the oracle
+fixed the regeneration of Semiramis for the following Tuesday, in the
+hours of the sun, Venus, and Mercury, which follow each other in the
+planetary system of the magicians, as also in Ptolemy's.  These hours
+were in ordinary parlance the ninth, tenth, and eleventh of the day,
+since the day being a Tuesday, the first hour was sacred to Mars.
+And as at the beginning of May the hours are sixty-five minutes long,
+the reader, however little of a magician he may be, will understand
+that I had to perform the great work on Madame d'Urfe, beginning at
+half-past two and ending at five minutes to six.  I had taken plenty
+of time, as I expected I should have great need of it.
+
+On the Monday night, at the hour of the moon, I had taken Madame
+d'Urfe to the sea-shore, Clairmont following behind with the box
+containing the offerings, which weighed fifty pounds.
+
+I was certain that nobody could see us, and I told my companion that
+the time was come.  I told Clairmont to put down the box beside us,
+and to go and await us at the carriage.  When we were alone we
+addressed a solemn prayer to Selenis, and then to the great
+satisfaction of the marchioness the box was consigned to the address.
+My satisfaction however was still greater than hers, for the box
+contained fifty pounds of lead.  The real box, containing the
+treasure, was comfortably hidden in my room.
+
+When we got back to the "Treize Cantons," I left Madame d'Urfe alone,
+telling her that I would return to the hotel when I had performed my
+conjurations to the moon, at the same hour and in the same place in
+which I had performed the seven consecrations.
+
+I spoke the truth.  I went to Marcoline, and while she was putting on
+her disguise I wrote on a sheet of white paper, in large and odd-
+looking letters, the following sentences, using, instead of ink,
+rock-alum:
+
+"I am dumb but not deaf.  I am come from the Rhone to bathe you.  The
+hour of Oromasis has begun."
+
+"This is the note you are to give to the marchioness," I said, "when
+you appear before her."
+
+After supper we walked to the hotel and got in without anyone seeing
+us.  I hid Marcoline in a large cupboard, and then putting on my
+dressing-gown I went to the marchioness to inform her that Selenis
+had fixed the next day for the hour of regeneration, and that we must
+be careful to finish before the hour of the moon began, as otherwise
+the operation would be annulled or at least greatly enfeebled.
+
+"You must take care," I added, "that the bath be here beside your
+bed, and that Brougnole does not interrupt us."
+
+"I will tell her to go out.  But Selenis promised to send an Undine."
+
+"True, but I have not yet seen such a being."
+
+"Ask the oracle."
+
+"Willingly."
+
+She herself asked the question imploring Paralis not to delay the
+time of her regeneration, even though the Undine were lacking, since
+she could very well bathe herself.
+
+"The commands of Oromasis change not," came the reply; "and in that
+you have doubted them you have sinned."
+
+At this the marchioness arose and performed an expiatory sacrifice,
+and it appeared, on consulting the oracle, that Oromasis was
+satisfied.
+
+The old lady did not move my pity so much as my laughter.  She
+solemnly embraced me and said,--
+
+"To-morrow, Galtinardus, you will be my spouse and my father."
+When I got back to my room and had shut the door, I drew the Undine
+out of her place of concealment.  She undressed, and as she knew that
+I should be obliged to husband my forces, she turned her back on me,
+and we passed the night without giving each other a single kiss, for
+a spark would have set us all ablaze.
+
+Next morning, before summoning Clairmont, I gave her her breakfast,
+and then replaced her in the cupboard.  Later on, I gave her her
+instructions over again, telling her to do everything with calm
+precision, a cheerful face, and, above all, silence.
+
+"Don't be afraid," said she, "I will make no mistakes."
+
+As we were to dine at noon exactly, I went to look for the
+marchioness, but she was not in her room, though the bath was there,
+and the bed which was to be our altar was prepared.
+
+A few moments after, the marchioness came out of her dressing-room,
+exquisitely painted, her hair arranged with the choicest lace, and
+looking radiant.  Her breasts, which forty years before had been the
+fairest in all France, were covered with a lace shawl, her dress was
+of the antique kind, but of extremely rich material, her ear-rings
+were emeralds, and a necklace of seven aquamarines of the finest
+water, from which hung an enormous emerald, surrounded by twenty
+brilliants, each weighing a carat and a half, completed her costume.
+She wore on her finger the carbuncle which she thought worth a
+million francs, but which was really only a splendid imitation.
+
+Seeing Semiramis thus decked out for the sacrifice, I thought it my
+bounden duty to offer her my homage.  I would have knelt before her
+and kissed her hand, but she would not let me, and instead opened her
+arms and strained me to her breast.
+
+After telling Brougnole that she could go out till six o'clock, we
+talked over our mysteries till the dinner was brought in.
+
+Clairmont was the only person privileged to see us at dinner, at
+which Semiramis would only eat fish.  At half-past one I told
+Clairmont I was not at home to anyone, and giving him a louis I told
+him to go and amuse himself till the evening.
+
+The marchioness began to be uneasy, and I pretended to be so, too.  I
+looked at my watch, calculated how the planetary hours were
+proceeding, and said from time to time,--
+
+"We are still in the hour of Mars, that of the sun has not yet
+commenced."
+
+At last the time-piece struck half-past two, and in two minutes
+afterwards the fair and smiling Undine was seen advancing into the
+room.  She came along with measured steps, and knelt before Madame
+d'Urfe, and gave her the paper she carried.  Seeing that I did not
+rise, the marchioness remained seated, but she raised the spirit with
+a gracious air and took the paper from her.  She was surprised,
+however, to find that it was all white.
+
+I hastened to give her a pen to consult the oracle on the subject,
+and after I had made a pyramid of her question, she interpreted it
+and found the answer:
+
+"That which is written in water must be read in water."
+
+"I understand now," said she, and going to the bath she plunged the
+paper into it, and then read in still whiter letters: "I am dumb, but
+not deaf.  I am come from the Rhone to bathe you.  The hour of
+Oromasis has begun."
+
+"Then bathe me, divine being," said Semiramis, putting down the paper
+and sitting on the bed.
+
+With perfect exactitude Marcoline undressed the marchioness, and
+delicately placed her feet in the water, and then, in a twinkling she
+had undressed herself, and was in the bath, beside Madame d'Urfe.
+What a contrast there was between the two bodies; but the sight of
+the one kindled the flame which the other was to quench.
+
+As I gazed on the beautiful girl, I, too, undressed, and when I was
+ready to take off my shirt I spoke as follows: "O divine being, wipe
+the feet of Semiramis, and be the witness of my union with her, to
+the glory of the immortal Horomadis, King of the Salamanders."
+
+Scarcely had I uttered my prayer when it was granted, and I
+consummated my first union with Semiramis, gazing on the charms of
+Marcoline, which I had never seen to such advantage before.
+
+Semiramis had been handsome, but she was then what I am now, and
+without the Undine the operation would have failed.  Nevertheless,
+Semiramis was affectionate, clean, and sweet in every respect, and
+had nothing disgusting about her, so I succeeded.
+
+When the milk had been poured forth upon the altar, I said,--
+
+"We must now await the hour of Venus."
+
+The Undine performed the ablutions, embraced the bride, and came to
+perform the same office for me.
+
+Semiramis was in an ecstasy of happiness, and as she pointed out to
+me the beauties of the Undine I was obliged to confess that I had
+never seen any mortal woman to be compared to her in beauty.
+Semiramis grew excited by so voluptuous a sight, and when the hour of
+Venus began I proceeded to the second assault, which would be the
+severest, as the hour was of sixty-five minutes.  I worked for half
+an hour, steaming with perspiration, and tiring Semiramis, without
+being able to come to the point.  Still I was ashamed to trick her.
+She, the victim, wiped the drops of sweat from my forehead, while the
+Undine, seeing my exhaustion, kindled anew the flame which the
+contact of that aged body had destroyed.  Towards the end of the
+hour, as I was exhausted and still unsuccessful, I was obliged to
+deceive her by making use of those movements which are incidental to
+success.  As I went out of the battle with all the signs of my
+strength still about me, Semiramis could have no doubts as to the
+reality of my success, and even the Undine was deceived when she came
+to wash me.  But the third hour had come, and we were obliged to
+satisfy Mercury.  We spent a quarter of the time in the bath, while
+the Undine delighted Semiramis by caresses which would have delighted
+the regent of France, if he had ever known of them.  The good
+marchioness, believing these endearments to be peculiar to river
+spirits, was pleased with everything, and begged the Undine to shew
+me the same kindness.  Marcoline obeyed, and lavished on me all the
+resources of the Venetian school of love.  She was a perfect Lesbian,
+and her caresses having soon restored me to all my vigour I was
+encouraged to undertake to satisfy Mercury.  I proceeded to the work,
+but alas! it was all in vain.  I saw how my fruitless efforts vexed
+the Undine, and perceiving that Madame d'Urfe had had enough, I again
+took the course of deceiving her by pretended ecstacies and
+movements, followed by complete rest.  Semiramis afterwards told me
+that my exertions shewed that I was something more than mortal.
+
+I threw myself into the bath, and underwent my third ablution, then I
+dressed.  Marcoline washed the marchioness and proceeded to clothe
+her, and did so with such a graceful charm that Madame d'Urfe
+followed the inspiration of her good genius, and threw her
+magnificent necklace over the Undine's neck.  After a parting
+Venetian kiss she vanished, and went to her hiding place in the
+cupboard.
+
+Semiramis asked the oracle if the operation had been successful.  The
+answer was that she bore within her the seed of the sun, and that in
+the beginning of next February she would be brought to bed of another
+self of the same sex as the creator; but in order that the evil genii
+might not be able to do her any harm she must keep quiet in her bed
+for a hundred and seven hours in succession.
+
+The worthy marchioness was delighted to receive this order, and
+looked upon it as a good omen, for I had tired her dreadfully.  I
+kissed her, saying that I was going to the country to collect
+together what remained of the substances that I had used in my
+ceremonies, but I promised to dine with her on the morrow.
+
+I shut myself up in my room with the Undine, and we amused ourselves
+as best we could till it was night, for she could not go out while it
+was light in her spiritual costume.  I took off my handsome wedding
+garment, and as soon as it was dusk we crept out, and went away to
+Marcoline's lodging in a hackney coach, carrying with us the
+planetary offerings which I had gained so cleverly.
+
+We were dying of hunger, but the delicious supper which was waiting
+for us brought us to life again.  As soon as we got into the room
+Marcoline took off her green clothes and put on her woman's dress,
+saying,--
+
+"I was not born to wear the breeches.  Here, take the beautiful
+necklace the madwoman gave me!"
+
+"I will sell it, fair Undine, and you shall have the proceeds."
+
+"Is it worth much?"
+
+"At least a thousand sequins.  By the time you get back to Venice you
+will be worth at least five thousand ducats, and you will be able to
+get a husband and live with him in a comfortable style."
+
+"Keep it all, I don't want it; I want you.  I will never cease to
+love you; I will do whatever you tell me, and I promise never to be
+jealous.  I will care for you--yes, as if you were my son."
+
+"Do not let us say anything more about it, fair Marcoline, but let us
+go to bed, for you have never inspired me with so much ardour as
+now."
+
+"But you must be tired."
+
+"Yes, but not exhaustion, for I was only able to perform the
+distillation once."
+
+"I thought you sacrificed twice on that old altar.  Poor old woman!
+she is still pretty, and I have no doubt that fifty years ago she was
+one of the first beauties in France.  How foolish of her to be
+thinking of love at that age."
+
+"You excited me, but she undid your work even more quickly."
+
+"Are you always obliged to have--a girl beside you when you make love
+to her?"
+
+"No; before, there was no question of making a son."
+
+"What? you are going to make her pregnant?  That's ridiculous!  Does
+she imagine that she has conceived?"
+
+"Certainly; and the hope makes her happy."
+
+"What a mad idea!  But why did you try to do it three times?"
+
+"I thought to shew my strength, and that if I gazed on you I should
+not fail; but I was quite mistaken."
+
+"I pity you for having suffered so much."
+
+"You will renew my strength."
+
+As a matter of fact, I do not know whether to attribute it to the
+difference between the old and the young, but I spent a most
+delicious night with the beautiful Venetian--a night which I can only
+compare to those I passed at Parma with Henriette, and at Muran with
+the beautiful nun.  I spent fourteen hours in bed, of which four at
+least were devoted to expiating the insult I had offered to love.
+When I had dressed and taken my chocolate I told Marcoline to dress
+herself with elegance, and to expect me in the evening just before
+the play began.  I could see that she was intensely delighted with
+the prospect.
+
+I found Madame d'Urfe in bed, dressed with care and in the fashion of
+a young bride, and with a smile of satisfaction on her face which I
+had never remarked there before.
+
+"To thee, beloved Galtinardus, I owe all my happiness," said she, as
+she embraced me.
+
+"I am happy to have contributed to it, divine Semiramis, but you must
+remember I am only the agent of the genii."
+
+Thereupon the marchioness began to argue in the most sensible manner,
+but unfortunately the foundation of her argument was wholly
+chimerical.
+
+"Marry me," said she; "you will then be able to be governor of the
+child, who will be your son.  In this manner you will keep all my
+property for me, including what I shall have from my brother M. de
+Pontcarre, who is old and cannot live much longer.  If you do not
+care for me in February next, when I shall be born again, into what
+hands shall I fall!  I shall be called a bastard, and my income of
+twenty-four thousand francs will be lost to me.  Think over it, dear
+Galtinardus.  I must tell you that I feel already as if I were a man.
+I confess I am in love with the Undine, and I should like to know
+whether I shall be able to sleep with her in fourteen or fifteen
+years time.  I shall be so if Oromasis will it, and then I shall be
+happy indeed.  What a charming creature she is?  Have you ever seen a
+woman like her?  What a pity she is dumb!"
+
+"She, no doubt, has a male water-spirit for a lover.  But all of them
+are dumb, since it is impossible to speak in the water.  I wonder she
+is not deaf as well.  I can't think why you didn't touch her.  The
+softness of her skin is something wonderful--velvet and satin are not
+to be compared to it!  And then her breath is so sweet!  How
+delighted I should be if I could converse with such an exquisite
+being."
+
+"Dear Galtinardus, I beg you will consult the oracle to find out
+where I am to be brought to bed, and if you won't marry me I think I
+had better save all I have that I may have some provision when I am
+born again, for when I am born I shall know nothing, and money will
+be wanted to educate me.  By selling the whole a large sum might be
+realized which could be put out at interest.  Thus the interest would
+suffice without the capital being touched."
+
+"The oracle must be our guide," said I.  "You will be my son, and I
+will never allow anyone to call you a bastard."
+
+The sublime madwoman was quiet by this assurance.
+
+Doubtless many a reader will say that if I had been an honest man I
+should have undeceived her, but I cannot agree with them; it would
+have been impossible, and I confess that even if it had been possible
+I would not have done so, for it would only have made me unhappy.
+
+I had told Marcoline to dress with elegance, and I put on one of my
+handsomest suits to accompany her to the theatre.  Chance brought the
+two sisters Rangoni, daughters of the Roman consul, into our box.  As
+I had made their acquaintance on my first visit to Marseilles, I
+introduced Marcoline to them as my niece, who only spoke Italian.  As
+the two young ladies spoke the tongue of Tasso also, Marcoline was
+highly delighted.  The younger sister, who was by far the handsomer
+of the two, afterwards became the wife of Prince Gonzaga Solferino.
+The prince was a cultured man, and even a genius, but very poor.  For
+all that he was a true son of Gonzaga, being a son of Leopold, who
+was also poor, and a girl of the Medini family, sister to the Medini
+who died in prison at London in the year 1787.
+
+Babet Rangoni, though poor, deserved to become s princess, for she
+had all the airs and manners of one.  She shines under her name of
+Rangoni amongst the princess and princesses of the almanacs.  Her
+vain husband is delighted at his wife being thought to belong to the
+illustrious family of Medini--an innocent feeling, which does neither
+good nor harm.  The same publications turn Medini into Medici, which
+is equally harmless.  This species of lie arises from the idiotic
+pride of the nobles who think themselves raised above the rest of
+humanity by their titles which they have often acquired by some act
+of baseness.  It is of no use interfering with them on this point,
+since all things are finally appreciated at their true value, and the
+pride of the nobility is easily discounted when one sees them as they
+really are.
+
+Prince Gonzaga Solferino, whom I saw at Venice eighteen years ago,
+lived on a pension allowed him by the empress.  I hope the late
+emperor did not deprive him of it, as it was well deserved by this
+genius and his knowledge of literature.
+
+At the play Marcoline did nothing but chatter with Babet Rangoni, who
+wanted me to bring the fair Venetian to see her, but I had my own
+reasons for not doing so.
+
+I was thinking how I could send Madame d'Urfe to Lyons, for I had no
+further use for her at Marseilles, and she was often embarrassing.
+For instance, on the third day after her regeneration, she requested
+me to ask Paralis where she was to die--that is, to be brought to
+bed.  I made the oracle reply that she must sacrifice to the water-
+spirits on the banks of two rivers, at the same hour, and that
+afterwards the question of her lying-in would be resolved.  The
+oracle added that I must perform three expiatory sacrifices to
+Saturn, on account of my too harsh treatment of the false
+Querilinthos, and that Semiramis need not take part in these
+ceremonies, though she herself must perform the sacrifices to the
+water-spirits.
+
+As I was pretending to think of a place where two rivers were
+sufficiently near to each other to fulfil the requirements of the
+oracle, Semiramis herself suggested that Lyons was watered by the
+Rhone and the Saone, and that it would be an excellent place for the
+ceremony.  As may be imagined, I immediately agreed with her.  On
+asking Paralis if there were any preparations to be made, he replied
+that it Would be necessary to pour a bottle of sea-water into each
+river a fortnight before the sacrifice, and that this ceremony was to
+be performed by Semiramis in person, at the first diurnal hour of the
+moon.
+
+"Then," said the marchioness, "the bottles must be filled here, for
+the other French ports are farther off.  I will go as soon as ever I
+can leave my bed, and will wait for you at Lyons; for as you have to
+perform expiatory sacrifices to Saturn in this place, you cannot come
+with me."
+
+I assented, pretending sorrow at not being able to accompany her.
+The next morning I brought her two well-sealed bottles of sea-water,
+telling her that she was to pour them out into the two rivers on the
+15th of May (the current month).  We fixed her departure for the
+11th, and I promised to rejoin her before the expiration of the
+fortnight.  I gave her the hours of the moon in writing, and also
+directions for the journey.
+
+As soon as the marchioness had gone I left the "Treize Cantons" and
+went to live with Marcoline, giving her four hundred and sixty louis,
+which, with the hundred and forty she had won at biribi, gave her a
+total of six hundred louis, or fourteen thousand four hundred francs.
+With this sum she could look the future in the face fearlessly.
+
+The day after Madame d'Urfe's departure, the betrothed of Mdlle.
+Crosin arrived at Marseilles with a letter from Rosalie, which he
+handed to me on the day of his arrival.  She begged me in the name of
+our common honour to introduce the bearer in person to the father of
+the betrothed.  Rosalie was right, but as the lady was not my real
+niece there were some difficulties in the way.  I welcomed the young
+man and told him that I would first take him to Madame Audibert, and
+that we could then go together to his father-in-law in prospective.
+
+The young Genoese had gone to the "Treize Cantons," where he thought
+I was staying.  He was delighted to find himself so near the goal of
+his desires, and his ecstacy received a new momentum when he saw how
+cordially Madame Audibert received him.  We all got into my carriage
+and drove to the father's who gave him an excellent reception, and
+then presented him to his wife, who was already friendly disposed
+towards him.
+
+I was pleasantly surprised when this good and sensible man introduced
+me to his wife as his cousin, the Chevalier de Seingalt, who had
+taken such care of their daughter.  The good wife and good mother,
+her husband's worthy partner, stretched out her hand to me, and all
+my trouble was over.
+
+My new cousin immediately sent an express messenger to his sister,
+telling her that he and his wife, his future son-in-law, Madame
+Audibert, and a cousin she had not met before, would come and dine
+with her on the following day.  This done he invited us, and Madame
+Audibert said that she would escort us.  She told him that I had
+another niece with me, of whom his daughter was very fond, and would
+be delighted to see again.  The worthy man was overjoyed to be able
+to increase his daughter's happiness.
+
+I, too, was pleased with Madame Audibert's tact and thoughtfulness;
+and as making Marcoline happy was to make me happy also, I expressed
+my gratitude to her in very warm terms.
+
+I took the young Genoese to the play, to Marcoline's delight, for she
+would have liked the French very much if she could have understood
+them.  We had an excellent supper together, in the course of which I
+told Marcoline of the pleasure which awaited her on the morrow.  I
+thought she would have gone wild with joy.
+
+The next day we were at Madame Audibert's as punctually as Achilles
+on the field of battle.  The lady spoke Italian well, and was charmed
+with Marcoline, reproaching me for not having introduced her before.
+At eleven we got to St. Louis, and my eyes were charmed with the
+dramatic situation.  My late niece had an air of dignity which became
+her to admiration, and received her future husband with great
+graciousness; and then, after thanking me with a pleasant smile for
+introducing him to her father, she passed from dignity to gaiety, and
+gave her sweetheart a hundred kisses.
+
+The dinner was delicious, and passed off merrily; but I alone
+preserved a tender melancholy, though I laughed to myself when they
+asked me why I was sad.  I was thought to be sad because I did not
+talk in my usual vivacious manner, but far from being really sad that
+was one of the happiest moments of my life.  My whole being was
+absorbed in the calm delight which follows a good action.  I was the
+author of the comedy which promised such a happy ending.  I was
+pleased with the thought that my influence in the world was more for
+good than for ill, and though I was not born a king yet I contrived
+to make many people happy.  Everyone at table was indebted to me for
+some part of their happiness, and the father, the mother, and the
+betrothed pair wholly so.  This thought made me feel a peaceful calm
+which I could only enjoy in silence.
+
+Mdlle.  Crosin returned to Marseilles with her father, her mother,
+and her future husband, whom the father wished to take up his abode
+with them.  I went back with Madame Audibert, who made me promise to
+bring the delightful Marcoline to sup with her.
+
+The marriage depended on the receipt of a letter from the young man's
+father, in answer to one from my niece's father.  It will be taken
+for granted that we were all asked to the wedding, and Marcoline's
+affection for me increased every day.
+
+When we went to sup with Madame Audibert we found a rich and witty
+young wine merchant at her house.  He sat beside Marcoline, who
+entertained him with her sallies; and as the young man could speak
+Italian, and even the Venetian dialect (for he had spent a year at
+Venice), he was much impressed by the charms of my new niece.
+
+I have always been jealous of my mistresses; but when a rival
+promises to marry them and give them a good establishment, jealousy
+gives way to a more generous feeling.  For the moment I satisfied
+myself by asking Madame Audibert who he was, and I was delighted to
+hear that he had an excellent reputation, a hundred thousand crowns,
+a large business, and complete independence.
+
+The next day he came to see us in our box at the theatre, and
+Marcoline received him very graciously.  Wishing to push the matter
+on I asked him to sup with us, and when he came I was well pleased
+with his manners and his intelligence; to Marcoline he was tender but
+respectful.  On his departure I told him I hoped he would come and
+see us again, and when we were alone I congratulated Marcoline on her
+conquest, and shewed her that she might succeed almost as well as
+Mdlle.  Crosin.  But instead of being grateful she was furiously,
+angry.
+
+"If you want to get rid of me," said she, "send me back to Venice,
+but don't talk to me about marrying."
+
+"Calm yourself, my angel!  I get rid of you?  What an idea!  Has my
+behaviour led you to suppose that you are in my way?  This handsome,
+well-educated, and rich young man has come under my notice.  I see he
+loves you and you like him, and as I love you and wish to see you
+sheltered from the storms of fortune, and as I think this pleasant
+young Frenchman would make you happy, I have pointed out to you these
+advantages, but instead of being grateful you scold me.  Do not weep,
+sweetheart, you grieve my very soul!"
+
+"I am weeping because you think that I can love him."
+
+"It might be so, dearest, and without my honour taking any hurt; but
+let us say no more about it and get into bed."
+
+Marcoline's tears changed to smiles and kisses, and we said no more
+about the young wine merchant.  The next day he came to our box
+again, but the scene had changed; she was polite but reserved, and I
+dared not ask him to supper as I had done the night before.  When we
+had got home Marcoline thanked me for not doing so, adding that she
+had been afraid I would.
+
+"What you said last night is a sufficient guide for me for the
+future."
+
+In the morning Madame Audibert called on behalf of the wine merchant
+to ask us to sup with him.  I turned towards the fair Venetian, and
+guessing my thoughts she hastened to reply that she would be happy to
+go anywhere in company with Madame Audibert.  That lady came for us
+in the evening, and took us to the young man's house, where we found
+a magnificent supper, but no other guests awaiting us.  The house was
+luxuriously furnished, it only lacked a mistress.  The master divided
+his attention between the two ladies, and Marcoline looked ravishing.
+Everything convinced me that she had kindled the ardour of the worthy
+young wine merchant.
+
+The next day I received a note from Madame Audibert, asking me to
+call on her.  When I went I found she wanted to give my consent to
+the marriage of Marcoline with her friend.
+
+"The proposal is a very agreeable one to me," I answered, "and I
+would willingly give her thirty thousand francs as a dowry, but I can
+have nothing to do with the matter personally.  I will send her to
+you; and if you can win her over you may count on my word, but do not
+say that you are speaking on my behalf, for that might spoil
+everything."
+
+"I will come for her, and if you like she shall dine with me, and you
+can take her to the play in the evening."
+
+Madame Audibert came the following day, and Marcoline went to dinner
+with her.  I called for her at five o'clock, and finding her looking
+pleased and happy I did not know what to think.  As Madame Audibert
+did not take me aside I stifled my curiosity and went with Marcoline
+to the theatre, without knowing what had passed.
+
+On the way Marcoline sang the praises of Madame Audibert, but did not
+say a word of the proposal she must have made to her.  About the
+middle of the piece, however, I thought I saw the explanation of the
+riddle, for the young man was in the pit, and did not come to our box
+though there were two empty places.
+
+We returned home without a word about the merchant or Madame
+Audibert, but as I knew in my own mind what had happened, I felt
+disposed to be grateful, and I saw that Marcoline was overjoyed to
+find me more affectionate than ever.  At last, amidst our amorous
+assaults, Marcoline, feeling how dearly I loved her, told me what had
+passed between her and Madame Audibert.
+
+"She spoke to me so kindly and so sensibly," said she, "but I
+contented myself with saying that I would never marry till you told
+me to do so.  All the same I thank you with all my heart for the ten
+thousand crowns you are willing to give me.  You have tossed the ball
+to me and I have sent it back.  I will go back to Venice whenever you
+please if you will not take me to England with you, but I will never
+marry.  I expect we shall see no more of the young gentleman, though
+if I had never met you I might have loved him."
+
+It was evidently all over, and I liked her for the part she had
+taken, for a man who knows his own worth is not likely to sigh long
+at the feet of an obdurate lady.
+
+The wedding-day of my late niece came round.  Marcoline was there,
+without diamonds, but clad in a rich dress which set off her beauty
+and satisfied my vanity.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+I Leave Marseilles--Henriette at Aix--Irene at Avignon--Treachery of
+Possano--Madame d'Urfe Leaves Lyon
+
+
+The wedding only interested me because of the bride.  The plentiful
+rather than choice repast, the numerous and noisy company, the empty
+compliments, the silly conversation, the roars of laughter at very
+poor jokes--all this would have driven me to despair if it had not
+been for Madame Audibert, whom I did not leave for a moment.
+Marcoline followed the young bride about like a shadow, and the
+latter, who was going to Genoa in a week, wanted Marcoline to come in
+her tram, promising to have her taken to Venice by a person of trust,
+but my sweetheart would listen to no proposal for separating her from
+me,--
+
+"I won't go.  to Venice," she said, "till you send me there."
+
+The splendours of her friend's marriage did not make her experience
+the least regret at having refused the young wine merchant.  The
+bride beamed with happiness, and on my congratulating her she
+confessed her joy to be great, adding that it was increased by the
+fact that she owed it all to me.  She was also very glad to be going
+to Genoa, where she was sure of finding a true friend in Rosalie, who
+would sympathize with her, their fortunes having been very similar.
+
+The day after the wedding I began to make preparations for my
+departure.  The first thing I disposed of was the box containing the
+planetary offerings.  I kept the diamonds and precious stones, and
+took all the gold and silver to Rousse de Cosse, who still held the
+sum which Greppi had placed to my credit.  I took a bill of exchange
+on Tourton and Bauer, for I should not be wanting any money at Lyons
+as Madame d'Urfe was there, and consequently the three hundred louis
+I had about me would be ample.  I acted differently where Marcoline
+was concerned.  I added a sufficient sum to her six hundred louis to
+give her a capital in round numbers of fifteen thousand francs.  I
+got a bill drawn on Lyons for that amount, for I intended at the
+first opportunity to send her back to Venice, and with that idea had
+her trunks packed separately with all the linen and dresses which I
+had given her in abundance.
+
+On the eve of our departure we took leave of the newly-married couple
+and the whole family at supper, and we parted with tears, promising
+each other a lifelong friendship.
+
+The next day we set out intending to travel all night and not to stop
+till we got to Avignon, but about five o'clock the chain of the
+carriage broke, and we could go no further until a wheelwright had
+repaired the damage.  We settled ourselves down to wait patiently,
+and Clairmont went to get information at a fine house on our right,
+which was approached by an alley of trees.  As I had only one
+postillion, I did not allow him to leave his horses for a moment.
+Before long we saw Clairmont reappear with two servants, one of whom
+invited me, on behalf of his master, to await the arrival of the
+wheelwright at his house.  It would have been churlish to refuse this
+invitation which was in the true spirit of French politeness, so
+leaving Clairmont in charge Marcoline and I began to wend our way
+towards the hospitable abode.
+
+Three ladies and two gentleman came to meet us, and one of the
+gentlemen said they congratulated themselves on my small mishap,
+since it enabled madam to offer me her house and hospitality.  I
+turned towards the lady whom the gentleman had indicated, and thanked
+her, saying, that I hoped not to trouble her long, but that I was
+deeply grateful for her kindness.  She made me a graceful curtsy, but
+I could not make out her features, for a stormy wind was blowing, and
+she and her two friends had drawn their hoods almost entirely over
+their faces.  Marcoline's beautiful head was uncovered and her hair
+streaming in the breeze.  She only replied by graceful bows and
+smiles to the compliments which were addressed to her on all sides.
+The gentleman who had first accosted me asked me, as he gave her his
+arm, if she were my daughter.  Marcoline smiled and I answered that
+she was my cousin, and that we were both Venetians.
+
+A Frenchman is so bent on flattering a pretty woman that he will
+always do so, even if it be at the expense of a third party.  Nobody
+could really think that Marcoline was my daughter, for though I was
+twenty years older than she was, I looked ten years younger than my
+real age, and so Marcoline smiled suggestively.
+
+We were just going into the house when a large mastiff ran towards
+us, chasing a pretty spaniel, and the lady, being afraid of getting
+bitten, began to run, made a false step, and fell to the ground.  We
+ran to help her, but she said she had sprained her ankle, and limped
+into the house on the arm of one of the gentlemen.  Refreshments were
+brought in, and I saw that Marcoline looked uneasy in the company of
+a lady who was talking to her.  I hastened to excuse her, saying that
+she did not speak French.  As a matter of fact, Marcoline had begun
+to talk a sort of French, but the most charming language in the world
+will not bear being spoken badly, and I had begged her not to speak
+at all till she had learned to express herself properly.  It is
+better to remain silent than to make strangers laugh by odd
+expressions and absurd equivocations.
+
+The less pretty, or rather the uglier, of the two ladies said that it
+was astonishing that the education of young ladies was neglected in
+such a shocking manner at Venice.  "Fancy not teaching them French!"
+
+"It is certainly very wrong, but in my country young ladies are
+neither taught foreign languages nor round games.  These important
+branches of education are attended to afterwards."
+
+"Then you are a Venetian, too?"
+
+"Yes, madam."
+
+"Really, I should not have thought so."
+
+I made a bow in return for this compliment, which in reality was only
+an insult; for if flattering to me it was insulting to the rest of my
+fellow-countrymen, and Marcoline thought as much for she made a
+little grimace accompanied by a knowing smile.
+
+"I see that the young lady understands French," said our flattering
+friend, "she laughs exactly in the right place."
+
+"Yes, she understands it, and as for her laughter it was due to the
+fact that she knows me to be like all other Venetians."
+
+"Possibly, but it is easy to see that you have lived a long time in
+France."
+
+"Yes, madam," said Marcoline; and these words in her pretty Venetian
+accent were a pleasure to hear.
+
+The gentleman who had taken the lady to her room said that she found
+her foot to be rather swollen, and had gone to bed hoping we would
+all come upstairs.
+
+We found her lying in a splendid bed, placed in an alcove which the
+thick curtains of red satin made still darker.  I could not see
+whether she was young or old, pretty or ugly.  I said that I was very
+sorry to be the indirect cause of her mishap, and she replied in good
+Italian that it was a matter of no consequence, and that she did not
+think she could pay too dear for the privilege of entertaining such
+pleasant guests.
+
+"Your ladyship must have lived in Venice to speak the language with
+so much correctness."
+
+"No, I have never been there, but I have associated a good deal with
+Venetians."
+
+A servant came and told me that the wheelwright had arrived, and that
+he would take four hours to mend my carriage, so I went downstairs.
+The man lived at a quarter of a league's distance, and by tying the
+carriage pole with ropes, I could drive to his place, and wait there
+for the carriage to be mended.  I was about to do so, when the
+gentleman who did the honours of the house came and asked me, on
+behalf of the lady, to sup and pass the night at her house, as to go
+to the wheelwright's would be out of my way; the man would have to
+work by night, I should be uncomfortable, and the work would be ill
+done.  I assented to the countess's proposal, and having agreed with
+the man to come early the next day and bring his tools with him, I
+told Clairmont to take my belongings into the room which was assigned
+to me.
+
+When I returned to the countess's room I found everyone laughing at
+Marcoline's sallies, which the countess translated.  I was not
+astonished at seeing the way in which my fair Venetian caressed the
+countess, but I was enraged at not being able to see her, for I knew
+Marcoline would not treat any woman in that manner unless she were
+pretty.
+
+The table was spread in the bedroom of the countess, whom I hoped to
+see at supper-time, but I was disappointed; for she declared that she
+could not take anything, and all supper-time she talked to Marcoline
+and myself, shewing intelligence, education, and a great knowledge of
+Italian.  She let fall the expression, "my late husband," so I knew
+her for a widow, but as I did not dare to ask any questions, my
+knowledge ended at that point.  When Clairmont was undressing me he
+told me her married name, but as I knew nothing of the family that
+was no addition to my information.
+
+When we had finished supper, Marcoline took up her old position by
+the countess's bed, and they talked so volubly to one another that
+nobody else could get in a word.
+
+When politeness bade me retire, my pretended cousin said she was
+going to sleep with the countess.  As the latter laughingly assented,
+I refrained from telling my madcap that she was too forward, and I
+could see by their mutual embraces that they were agreed in the
+matter.  I satisfied myself with saying that I could not guarantee
+the sex of the countess's bed-fellow, but she answered,
+
+"Never mind; if there be a mistake I shall be the gainer."
+
+This struck me as rather free, but I was not the man to be
+scandalized.  I was amused at the tastes of my fair Venetian, and at
+the manner in which she contrived to gratify them as she had done at
+Genoa with my last niece.  As a rule the Provencal women are inclined
+this way, and far from reproaching them I like them all the better
+for it.
+
+The next day I rose at day-break to hurry on the wheelwright, and
+when the work was done I asked if the countess were visible.
+Directly after Marcoline came out with one of the gentlemen, who
+begged me to excuse the countess, as she could not receive me in her
+present extremely scanty attire; "but she hopes that whenever you are
+in these parts you will honour her and her house by your company,
+whether you are alone or with friends."
+
+This refusal, gilded as it was, was a bitter pill for me to swallow,
+but I concealed my disgust, as I could only put it down to
+Marcoline's doings; she seemed in high spirits, and I did not like to
+mortify her.  I thanked the gentleman with effusion, and placing a
+Louis in the hands of all the servants who were present I took my
+leave.
+
+I kissed Marcoline affectionately, so that she should not notice my
+ill humour, and asked how she and the countess spent the night."
+
+"Capitally," said she.  "The countess is charming, and we amused
+ourselves all night with the tricks of two amorous women."
+
+"Is she pretty or old?"
+
+"She is only thirty-three, and, I assure you, she is as pretty as my
+friend Mdlle. Crosin.  I can speak with authority for we saw each
+other in a state of nature."
+
+"You are a singular creature; you were unfaithful to me for a woman,
+and left me to pass the night by myself."
+
+"You must forgive me, and I had to sleep with her as she was the
+first to declare her love."
+
+"Really?  How was that?"
+
+"When I gave her the first of my kisses she returned it in the
+Florentine manner, and our tongues met.  After supper, I confess, I
+was the first to begin the suggestive caresses, but she met me half-
+way.  I could only make her happy by spending the night with her.
+Look, this will shew you how pleased she was."
+
+With these words Marcoline drew a superb ring, set with brilliants,
+from her finger.  I was astonished.
+
+"Truly," I said, "this woman is fond of pleasure and deserves to have
+it."
+
+I gave my Lesbian (who might have vied with Sappho) a hundred.
+kisses, and forgave her her infidelity.
+
+"But," I remarked, "I can't think why she did not want me to see her;
+I think she has treated me rather cavalierly."
+
+"No, I think the reason was that she was ashamed to be seen by my
+lover after having made me unfaithful to him; I had to confess that
+we were lovers."
+
+"Maybe.  At all events you have been well paid; that ring is worth
+two hundred louis:"
+
+"But I may as well tell you that I was well enough paid for the
+pleasure I gave by the pleasure I received."
+
+"That's right; I am delighted to see you happy."
+
+"If you want to make me really happy, take me to England with you.
+My uncle will be there, and I could go back to Venice with him."
+
+"What!  you have an uncle in England?  Do you really mean it?  It
+sounds like a fairy-tale.  You never told me of it before."
+
+"I have never said anything about it up to now, because I have always
+imagined that this might prevent your accomplishing your desire."
+
+"Is your uncle a Venetian?  What is he doing in England?  Are you
+sure that he will welcome you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What is his name?  And how are we to find him in a town of more than
+a million inhabitants?"
+
+"He is ready found.  His name is Mattio Boisi, and he is valet de
+chambre to M. Querini, the Venetian ambassador sent to England to
+congratulate the new king; he is accompanied by the Procurator
+Morosini.  My uncle is my mother's brother; he is very fond of me,
+and will forgive my fault, especially when he finds I am rich.  When
+he went to England he said he would be back in Venice in July, and we
+shall just catch him on the point of departure."
+
+As far as the embassy went I knew it was all true, from the letters I
+had received from M. de Bragadin, and as for the rest Marcoline
+seemed to me to be speaking the truth.  I was flattered by her
+proposal and agreed to take her to England so that I should possess
+her for five or six weeks longer without committing myself to
+anything.
+
+We reached Avignon at the close of the day, and found ourselves very
+hungry.  I knew that the "St. Omer" was an excellent inn, and when I
+got there I ordered a choice meal and horses for five o'clock the
+next morning.  Marcoline, who did not like night travelling, was in
+high glee, and threw her arms around my neck, saying,--
+
+"Are we at Avignon now?"
+
+"Yes, dearest."
+
+"Then I conscientiously discharge the trust which the countess placed
+in me when she embraced me for the last time this morning.  She made
+me swear not to say a word about it till we got to Avignon."
+
+"All this puzzles me, dearest; explain yourself."
+
+"She gave me a letter for you,"
+
+"A letter?"
+
+"Will you forgive me for not placing it in your hands sooner?"
+
+"Certainly, if you passed your word to the countess; but where is
+this letter?"
+
+"Wait a minute."
+
+She drew a large bundle of papers from her pocket, saying,--
+
+"This is my certificate of baptism."
+
+"I see you were born in 1746."
+
+"This is a certificate of 'good conduct.'"
+
+"Keep it, it may be useful to you."
+
+"This is my certificate of virginity."
+
+"That's no use.  Did you get it from a midwife?"
+
+"No, from the Patriarch of Venice."
+
+"Did he test the matter for himself?"
+
+"No, he was too old; he trusted in me."
+
+"Well, well, let me see the letter."
+
+"I hope I haven't lost it."
+
+"I hope not, to God."
+
+"Here is your brother's promise of marriage; he wanted to be a
+Protestant."
+
+"You may throw that into the fire."
+
+"What is a Protestant?"
+
+"I will tell you another time.  Give me the letter."
+
+"Praised be God, here it is!"
+
+"That's lucky; but it has no address."
+
+My heart beat fast, as I opened it, and found, instead of an address,
+these words in Italian:
+
+"To the most honest man of my acquaintance."
+
+Could this be meant for me?  I turned down the leaf, and read one
+word--Henriette!  Nothing else; the rest of the paper was blank.
+
+At the sight of that word I was for a moment annihilated.
+
+"Io non mori, e non rimasi vivo."
+
+Henriette!  It was her style, eloquent in its brevity.  I recollected
+her last letter from Pontarlier, which I had received at Geneva, and
+which contained only one word--Farewell!
+
+Henriette, whom I had loved so well, whom I seemed at that moment to
+love as well as ever.  "Cruel Henriette," said I to myself, "you saw
+me and would not let me see you.  No doubt you thought your charms
+would not have their old power, and feared lest I should discover
+that after all you were but mortal.  And yet I love you with all the
+ardour of my early passion.  Why did you not let me learn from your
+own mouth that you were happy?  That is the only question I should
+have asked you, cruel fair one.  I should not have enquired whether
+you loved me still, for I feel my unworthiness, who have loved other
+women after loving the most perfect of her sex.  Adorable Henriette,
+I will fly to you to-morrow, since you told me that I should be
+always welcome."
+
+I turned these thoughts over in my own mind, and fortified myself in
+this resolve; but at last I said,--
+
+"No, your behaviour proves that you do not wish to see me now, and
+your wishes shall be respected; but I must see you once before I
+die."
+
+Marcoline scarcely dared breathe to see me thus motionless and lost
+in thought, and I do not know when I should have come to myself if
+the landlord had not come in saying that he remembered my tastes, and
+had got me a delicious supper.  This brought me to my senses, and I
+made my fair Venetian happy again by embracing her in a sort of
+ecstacy.
+
+"Do you know," she said, "you quite frightened me?  You were as pale
+and still as a dead man, and remained for a quarter of an hour in a
+kind of swoon, the like of which I have never seen.  What is the
+reason?  I knew that the countess was acquainted with you, but I
+should never have thought that her name by itself could have such an
+astonishing effect."
+
+"Well, it is strange; but how did you find out that the countess knew
+me?"
+
+"She told me as much twenty times over in the night, but she made me
+promise to say nothing about it till I had given you the letter."
+
+"What did she say to you about me?"
+
+"She only repeated in different ways what she has written for an
+address."
+
+"What a letter it is!  Her name, and nothing more."
+
+"It is very strange."
+
+"Yes, but the name tells all."
+
+"She told me that if I wanted to be happy I should always remain with
+you.  I said I knew that well; but that you wanted to send me back to
+Venice, though you were very fond of me.  I can guess now that you
+were lovers.  How long ago was it?"
+
+"Sixteen or seventeen years."
+
+"She must have been very young, but she cannot have been prettier
+than she is now."
+
+"Be quiet, Marcoline."
+
+"Did your union with her last long?"
+
+"We lived together four months in perfect happiness."
+
+"I shall not be happy for so long as that."
+
+"Yes you will, and longer, too; but with another man, and one more
+suitable to you in age.  I am going to England to try to get my
+daughter from her mother."
+
+"Your daughter?  The countess asked me if you were married, and I
+said no."
+
+"You were right; she is my illegitimate daughter.  She must be ten
+now, and when you see her you will confess that she must belong to
+me."
+
+Just as we were sitting down to table we heard someone going
+downstairs to the table d'hote in the room where I had made Madame
+Stuard's acquaintance, our door was open, and we could see the people
+on the stairs; and one of them seeing us gave a cry of joy, and came
+running in, exclaiming, "My dear papa!  "I turned to the light and
+saw Irene, the same whom I had treated so rudely at Genoa after my
+discussion with her father about biribi.  I embraced her effusively,
+and the sly little puss, pretending to be surprised to see Marcoline,
+made her a profound bow, which was returned with much grace.
+Marcoline listened attentively to our conversation.
+
+"What are you doing here, fair Irene?"
+
+"We have been here for the last fortnight.  Good heavens!  how lucky
+I am to find you again.  I am quite weak.  Will you allow me to sit
+down, madam?"
+
+"Yes, yes, my dear," said I, "sit down;" and I gave her a glass of
+wine which restored her.
+
+A waiter came up, and said they were waiting for her at supper, but
+she said, "I won't take any supper;" and Marcoline, always desirous
+of pleasing me, ordered a third place to be laid.  I made her happy
+by giving an approving nod.
+
+We sat down to table, and ate our meal with great appetite.  "When we
+have done," I said to Irene, "you must tell us what chance has
+brought you to Avignon."
+
+Marcoline, who had not spoken a word hitherto, noticing how hungry
+Irene was, said pleasantly that it would have been a mistake if she
+had not taken any supper.  Irene was delighted to hear Venetian
+spoken, and thanked her for her kindness, and in three or four
+minutes they had kissed and become friends.
+
+It amused me to see the way in which Marcoline always fell in love
+with pretty women, just as if she had been a man.
+
+In the course of conversation I found that Irene's father and mother
+were at the table d'hote below, and from sundry exclamations, such as
+"you have been brought to Avignon out of God's goodness," I learned
+that they were in distress.  In spite of that Irene's mirthful
+countenance matched Marcoline's sallies, and the latter was delighted
+to hear that Irene had only called me papa because her mother had
+styled her my daughter at Milan.
+
+We had only got half-way through our supper when Rinaldi and his wife
+came in.  I asked them to sit down, but if it had not been for Irene
+I should have given the old rascal a very warm reception.  He began
+to chide his daughter for troubling me with her presence when I had
+such fair company already, but Marcoline hastened to say that Irene
+could only have given me pleasure, for in my capacity of her uncle I
+was always glad when she was able to enjoy the society of a sweet
+young girl.
+
+"I hope," she added, "that if she doesn't mind she will sleep with
+me."
+
+"Yes, yes," resounded on all sides, and though I should have
+preferred to sleep with Marcoline by herself, I laughed and agreed; I
+have always been able to accommodate myself to circumstances.
+
+Irene shared Marcoline's desires, for when it was settled that they
+should sleep together they seemed wild with joy, and I added fuel to
+the fire by plying them with punch and champagne.
+
+Rinaldi and his wife did not leave us till they were quite drunk.
+When we had got rid of them, Irene told us how a Frenchman had fallen
+in love with her at Genoa, and had persuaded her father to go to Nice
+where high play was going on, but meeting with no luck there she had
+been obliged to sell what she had to pay the inn-keeper.  Her lover
+had assured her that he would make it up to her at Aix, where there
+was some money owing to him, and she persuaded her father to go
+there; but the persons who owed the money having gone to Avignon,
+there had to be another sale of goods.
+
+"When we got here the luck was no better, and the poor young man,
+whom my father reproached bitterly, would have killed himself if I
+had not given him the mantle you gave me that he might pawn it and go
+on his quest.  He got four louis for it, and sent me the ticket with
+a very tender letter, in which he assured me that he would find some
+money at Lyons, and that he would then return and take us to
+Bordeaux, where we are to find treasures.  In the meanwhile we are
+penniless, and as we have nothing more to sell the landlord threatens
+to turn us out naked."
+
+"And what does your father mean to do?"
+
+"I don't know.  He says Providence will take care of us."
+
+"What does your mother say?"
+
+"Oh!  she was as quiet as usual."
+
+"How about yourself?"
+
+"Alas!  I have to bear a thousand mortifications every day.  They are
+continually reproaching me with having fallen in love with this
+Frenchman, and bringing them to this dreadful pass."
+
+"Were you really in love with him?"
+
+"Yes, really."
+
+"Then you must be very unhappy."
+
+"Yes, very; but not on account of my love, for I shall get over that
+in time, but because of that which will happen to-morrow."
+
+"Can't you make any conquests at the table-d'hote?"
+
+"Some of the men say pretty things to me, but as they all know how
+poor we are they are afraid to come to our room."
+
+"And yet in spite of all you keep cheerful; you don't look sad like
+most of the unhappy.  I congratulate you on your good spirits."
+Irene's tale was like the fair Stuard's story over again, and
+Marcoline, though she had taken rather too much champagne, was deeply
+moved at this picture of misery.  She kissed the girl, telling her
+that I would not forsake her, and that in the meanwhile they would
+spend a pleasant night.
+
+"Come! let us to bed!" said she; and after taking off her clothes she
+helped Irene to undress.  I had no wish to fight, against two, and
+said that I wanted to rest.  The fair Venetian burst out laughing and
+said,--
+
+"Go to bed and leave us alone."
+
+I did so, and amused myself by watching the two Bacchantes; but
+Irene, who had evidently never engaged in such a combat before, was
+not nearly so adroit as Marcoline.
+
+Before long Marcoline brought Irene in her arms to my bedside, and
+told me to kiss her.
+
+"Leave me alone, dearest," said I, "the punch has got into your head,
+and you don't know what you are doing."
+
+This stung her; and urging Irene to follow her example, she took up a
+position in my bed by force; and as there was not enough room for
+three, Marcoline got on top of Irene, calling her her wife.
+
+I was virtuous enough to remain a wholly passive spectator of the
+scene, which was always new to me, though I had seen it so often; but
+at last they flung themselves on me with such violence that I was
+obliged to give way, and for the most part of the night I performed
+my share of the work, till they saw that I was completely exhausted.
+We fell asleep, and I did not wake up till noon, and then I saw my
+two beauties still asleep, with their limbs interlaced like the
+branches of a tree.  I thought with a sigh of the pleasures of such a
+sleep, and got out of bed gently for fear of rousing them.  I ordered
+a good dinner to be prepared, and countermanded the horses which had
+been waiting several hours.
+
+The landlord remembering what I had done for Madame Stuard guessed I
+was going to do the same for the Rinaldis, and left them in peace.
+
+When I came back I found my two Lesbians awake, and they gave me such
+an amorous welcome that I felt inclined to complete the work of the
+night with a lover's good morning; but I began to feel the need of
+husbanding my forces, so I did nothing, and bore their sarcasms in
+silence till one o'clock, when I told them to get up, as we ought to
+have done at five o'clock, and here was two o'clock and breakfast not
+done.
+
+"We have enjoyed ourselves," said Marcoline, "and time that is given
+to enjoyment is never lost."
+
+When they were dressed, I had coffee brought in, and I gave Irene
+sixteen louis, four of which were to redeem her cloak.  Her father
+and mother who had just dined came in to bid us good-day, and Irene
+proudly gave her father twelve Louis telling him to scold her a
+little less in future.  He laughed, wept, and went out, and then came
+back and said he found a good way of getting to Antibes at a small
+cost, but they would have to go directly, as the driver wanted to get
+to St. Andiol by nightfall.
+
+"I am quite ready."
+
+"No, dear Irene," said I, "you shall not go; you shall dine with your
+friend, and your driver can wait.  Make him do so, Count Rinaldi; my
+niece will pay, will you not, Marcoline?"
+
+"Certainly.  I should like to dine here, and still better to put off
+our departure till the next day."
+
+Her wishes were my orders.  We had a delicious supper at five
+o'clock, and at eight we went to bed and spent the night in
+wantonness, but at five in the morning all were ready to start.
+Irene, who wore her handsome cloak, shed hot tears at parting from
+Marcoline, who also wept with all her heart.  Old Rinaldi, who proved
+himself no prophet, told me that I should make a great fortune in
+England, and his daughter sighed to be in Marcoline's place.
+We shall hear of Rinaldi later on.
+
+We drove on for fifteen posts without stopping, and passed the night
+at Valence.  The food was bad, but Marcoline forgot her discomfort in
+talking of Irene.
+
+"Do you know," said she, "that if it had been in my power I should
+have taken her from her parents.  I believe she is your daughter,
+though she is not like you."
+
+"How can she be my daughter when I have never known her mother?"
+
+"She told me that certainly."
+
+"Didn't she tell you anything else?"
+
+"Yes, she told me that you lived with her for three days and bought
+her maidenhead for a thousand sequins."
+
+"Quite so, but did she tell you that I paid the money to her father?"
+
+"Yes, the little fool doesn't keep anything for herself.  I don't
+think I should ever be jealous of your mistresses, if you let me
+sleep with them.  Is not that a mark of a good disposition?
+Tell me."
+
+"You have, no doubt, a good disposition, but you could be quite as
+good without your dominant passion."
+
+"It is not a passion.  I only have desires for those I love."
+
+"Who gave you this taste?"
+
+"Nature.  I began at seven, and in the last ten years I have
+certainly had four hundred sweethearts."
+
+"You begin early.  But when did you begin to have male sweethearts?"
+
+"At eleven."
+
+"Tell me all about it."
+
+"Father Molini, a monk, was my confessor, and he expressed a desire
+to know the girl who was then my sweetheart.  It was in the carnival
+time, and he gave us a moral discourse, telling us that he would take
+us to the play if we would promise to abstain for a week.  We
+promised to do so, and at the end of the week we went to tell him
+that we had kept our word faithfully.  The next day Father Molini
+called on my sweetheart's aunt in a mask, and as she knew him, and as
+he was a monk and a confessor, we were allowed to go with him.
+Besides, we were mere children; my sweetheart was only a year older
+than I.
+
+"After the play the father took us to an inn, and gave us some
+supper; and when the meal was over he spoke to us of our sin, and
+wanted to see our privates.  'It's a great sin between two girls,'
+said he, 'but between a man and a woman it is a venial matter.  Do
+you know how men are made?'  We both knew, but we said no with one
+consent.  'Then would you like to know?' said he.  We said we should
+like to know very much, and he added, 'If you will promise to keep it
+a secret, I may be able to satisfy your curiosity.'  We gave our
+promises, and the good father proceeded to gratify us with a sight of
+the riches which nature had lavished on him, and in the course of an
+hour he had turned us into women.  I must confess that he understood
+so well how to work on our curiosity that the request came from us.
+Three years later, when I was fourteen, I became the mistress of a
+young jeweller.  Then came your brother; but he got nothing from me,
+because he began by saying that he could not ask me to give him any
+favours till we were married."
+
+"You must have been amused at that."
+
+"Yes, it did make me laugh, because I did not know that a priest
+could get married; and he excited my curiosity by telling me that
+they managed it at Geneva.  Curiosity and wantonness made me escape
+with him; you know the rest."
+
+Thus did Marcoline amuse me during the evening, and then we went to
+bed and slept quietly till the morning.  We started from Valence at
+five, and in the evening we were set down at the "Hotel du Parc" at
+Lyons.
+
+As soon as I was settled in the pleasant apartments allotted to me I
+went to Madame d'Urfe, who was staying in the Place Bellecour, and
+said, as usual, that she was sure I was coming on that day.  She
+wanted to know if she had performed the ceremonies correctly, and
+Paralis, of course, informed her that she had, whereat she was much
+flattered.  The young Aranda was with her, and after I had kissed him
+affectionately I told the marchioness that I would be with her at ten
+o'clock the next morning, and so I left her.
+
+I kept the appointment and we spent the whole of the day in close
+conference, asking of the oracle concerning her being brought to bed,
+how she was to make her will, and how she should contrive to escape
+poverty in her regenerated shape.  The oracle told her that she must
+go to Paris for her lying-in, and leave all her possessions to her
+son, who would not be a bastard, as Paralis promised that as soon as
+I got to London an English gentleman should be sent over to marry
+her.  Finally, the oracle ordered her to prepare to start in three
+days, and to take Aranda with her.  I had to take the latter to
+London and return him to his mother, for his real position in life
+was no longer a mystery, the little rascal having confessed all;
+however, I had found a remedy for his indiscretion as for the
+treachery of the Corticelli and Possano.
+
+I longed to return him to the keeping of his mother, who constantly
+wrote me impertinent letters.  I also wished to take my daughter,
+who, according to her mother, had become a prodigy of grace and
+beauty.
+
+After the oracular business had been settled, I returned to the
+"Hotel du Parc" to dine with Marcoline.  It was very late, and as I
+could not take my sweetheart to the play I called on M. Bono to
+enquire whether he had sent my brother to Paris.  He told me that he
+had gone the day before, and that my great enemy, Possano, was still
+in Lyons, and that I would do well to be on my guard as far as he was
+concerned.
+
+"I have seen him," said Bono; "he looks pale and undone, and seems
+scarcely able to stand.  'I shall die before long,' said he, 'for
+that scoundrel Casanova has had me poisoned; but I will make him pay
+dearly for his crime, and in this very town of Lyons, where I know he
+will come, sooner or later.'
+
+"In fact, in the course of half an hour, he made some terrible
+accusations against you, speaking as if he were in a fury.  He wants
+all the world to know that you are the greatest villain unhung, that
+you are ruining Madame d'Urfe with your impious lies; that you are a
+sorcerer, a forger, an utter of false moneys, a poisoner--in short,
+the worst of men.  He does not intend to publish a libellous pamphlet
+upon you, but to accuse you before the courts, alleging that he wants
+reparation for the wrongs you have done his person, his honour, and
+his life, for he says you are killing him by a slow poison.  He adds
+that for every article he possesses the strongest proof.
+
+"I will say nothing about the vague abuse he adds to these formal
+accusations, but I have felt it my duty to warn you of his
+treacherous designs that you may be able to defeat them.  It's no
+good saying he is a miserable wretch, and that you despise him; you
+know how strong a thing calumny is."
+
+"Where does the fellow live?"
+
+"I don't know in the least."
+
+"How can I find out?"
+
+"I can't say, for if he is hiding himself on purpose it would be hard
+to get at him."
+
+"Nevertheless, Lyons is not so vast a place."
+
+"Lyons is a perfect maze, and there is no better hiding-place,
+especially to a man with money, and Possano has money."
+
+"But what can he do to me?"
+
+"He can institute proceedings against you in the criminal court,
+which would cause you immense anxiety and bring down your good name
+to the dust, even though you be the most innocent, the most just of
+men."
+
+"It seems to me, then, that the best thing I can do will be to be
+first in the field."
+
+"So I think, but even then you cannot avoid publicity."
+
+"Tell me frankly if you feel disposed to bear witness to what the
+rascal has said in a court of justice."
+
+"I will tell all I know with perfect truth."
+
+"Be kind enough to tell me of a good advocate."
+
+"I will give you the address of one of the best; but reflect before
+you do anything.  The affair will make a noise."
+
+"As I don't know where he lives, I have really no choice in the
+matter."
+
+If I had known where he lived I could have had Possano expelled from
+Lyons through the influence of Madame d'Urfe, whose relative, M. de
+la Rochebaron, was the governor; but as it was, I had no other course
+than the one I took.
+
+Although Possano was a liar and an ungrateful, treacherous hound, yet
+I could not help being uneasy.  I went to my hotel, and proceeded to
+ask for police protection against a man in hiding in Lyons, who had
+designs against my life and honour.
+
+The next day M. Bono came to dissuade me from the course I had taken.
+
+"For," said he, "the police will begin to search for him, and as soon
+as he hears of it he will take proceedings against you in the
+criminal courts, and then your positions will be changed.  It seems
+to me that if you have no important business at Lyons you had better
+hasten your departure."
+
+"Do you think I would do such a thing for a miserable fellow like
+Possano?  No!  I would despise myself if I did.  I would die rather
+than hasten my departure on account of a rascal whom I loaded with
+kindnesses, despite his unworthiness!  I would give a hundred louis
+to know where he is now."
+
+"I am delighted to say that I do not know anything about it, for if I
+did I would tell you, and then God knows what would happen!  You
+won't go any sooner; well, then, begin proceedings, and I will give
+my evidence by word of mouth or writing whenever you please."
+
+I went to the advocate whom M. Bono had recommended to me, and told
+him my business.  When he heard what I wanted he said,----
+
+"I can do nothing for you, sir, as I have undertaken the case of your
+opponent.  You need not be alarmed, however, at having spoken to me,
+for I assure you that I will make no use whatever of the information.
+Possano's plea or accusation will not be drawn up till the day after
+to-morrow, but I will not tell him to make baste for fear of your
+anticipating him, as I have only been informed of your intentions by
+hazard.  However, you will find plenty of advocates at Lyons as
+honest as I am, and more skilled."
+
+"Could you give me the name of one?"
+
+"That would not be etiquette, but M. Bono, who seems to have kindly
+spoken of me with some esteem, will be able to serve you."
+
+"Can you tell me where your client lives?"
+
+"Since his chief aim is to remain hidden, and with good cause, you
+will see that I could not think of doing such a thing."
+
+In bidding him farewell I put a louis on the table, and though I did
+it with the utmost delicacy he ran after me and made me take it back.
+
+"For once in a way," I said to myself, "here's an honest advocate."
+
+As I walked along I thought of putting a spy on Possano and finding
+out his abode, for I felt a strong desire to have him beaten to
+death; but where was I to find a spy in a town of which I knew
+nothing?  M. Bono gave me the name of another advocate, and advised
+me to make haste.
+
+"'Tis in criminal matters" said he, "and in such cases the first
+comer always has the advantage."
+
+I asked him to find me a trusty fellow to track out the rascally
+Possano, but the worthy man would not hear of it.  He shewed me that
+it would be dishonourable to set a spy on the actions of Possano's
+advocate.  I knew it myself; but what man is there who has not
+yielded to the voice of vengeance, the most violent and least
+reasonable of all the passions.
+
+I went to the second advocate, whom I found to be a man venerable not
+only in years but in wisdom.  I told him all the circumstances of the
+affair, which he agreed to take up, saying he would present my plea
+in the course of the day.
+
+"That's just what I want you to do," said I, "for his own advocate
+told me that his pleas would be presented the day after to-morrow."
+
+"That, sir," said her "would not induce me to act with any greater
+promptness, as I could not consent to your abusing the confidence of
+my colleague."
+
+"But there is nothing dishonourable in making use of information
+which one has acquired by chance."
+
+"That may be a tenable position in some cases, but in the present
+instance the nature of the affair justifies prompt action.  'Prior in
+tempore, Potior in jure'.  Prudence bids us attack our enemy.  Be so
+kind, if you please, to call here at three o'clock in the afternoon."
+
+"I will not fail to do so, and in the meanwhile here are six louis."
+
+"I will keep account of my expenditure on your behalf."
+
+"I want you not to spare money."
+
+"Sir, I shall spend only what is absolutely necessary."
+
+I almost believed that probity had chosen a home for herself amongst
+the Lyons advocates, and here I may say, to the honour of the French
+bar, that I have never known a more honest body of men than the
+advocates of France.
+
+At three o'clock, having seen that the plan was properly drawn up, I
+went to Madame d'Urfe's, and for four hours I worked the oracle in a
+manner that filled her with delight, and in spite of my vexation I
+could not help laughing at her insane fancies on the subject of her
+pregnancy.  She was certain of it; she felt all the symptoms.  Then
+she said how sorry she felt that she would not be alive to laugh at
+all the hypotheses of the Paris doctors as to her being delivered of
+a child, which would be thought very extraordinary in a woman of her
+age.
+
+When I got back to the inn I found Marcoline very melancholy.  She
+said she had been waiting for me to take her to the play, according
+to my promise, and that I should not have made her wait in vain.
+
+"You are right, dearest, but an affair of importance has kept me with
+the marchioness.  Don't be put out."
+
+I had need of some such advice myself, for the legal affair worried
+me, and I slept very ill.  Early the next morning I saw my counsel,
+who told me that my plea had been laid before the criminal
+lieutenant.
+
+"For the present," said he, "there is nothing more to be done, for as
+we don't know where he is we can't cite him to appear."
+
+"Could I not set the police on his track?"
+
+"You might, but I don't advise you to do so.  Let us consider what
+the result would be.  The accuser finding himself accused would have
+to defend himself and prove the accusation he has made against you.
+But in the present state of things, if he does not put in an
+appearance we will get judgment against him for contempt of court and
+also for libel.  Even his counsel will leave him in the lurch if he
+persistently refuses to shew himself."
+
+This quieted my fears a little, and I spent the rest of the day with
+Madame d'Urfe, who was going to Paris on the morrow.  I promised to
+be with her as soon as I had dealt with certain matters which
+concerned the honour of the Fraternity R. C..
+
+Her great maxim was always to respect my secrets, and never to
+trouble me with her curiosity.  Marcoline, who had been pining by
+herself all day, breathed again when I told her that henceforth I
+should be all for her.
+
+In the morning M. Bono came to me and begged me to go with him to
+Possano's counsel, who wanted to speak to me.  The advocate said that
+his client was a sort of madman who was ready to do anything, as he
+believed himself to be dying from the effects of a slow poison.
+
+"He says that even if you are first in the field he will have you
+condemned to death.  He says he doesn't care if he is sent to prison,
+as he is certain of coming out in triumph as he has the proof of all
+his accusations.  He shews twenty-five louis which you gave him, all
+of which are clipped, and he exhibits documents dated from Genoa
+stating that you clipped a number of gold pieces, which were melted
+by M. Grimaldi in order that the police might not find them in your
+possession.  He has even a letter from your brother, the abbe,
+deposing against you.  He is a madman, a victim to syphilis, who
+wishes to send you to the other world before himself, if he can.  Now
+my advice to you is to give him some money and get rid of him.  He
+tells me that he is the father of a family, and that if M. Bono would
+give him a thousand louis he would sacrifice vengeance to necessity.
+He told me to speak to M. Bono about it; and now, sir what do you
+say?"
+
+"That which my just indignation inspires me to say regarding a rascal
+whom I rescued from poverty, and who nevertheless pursues me with
+atrocious calumnies; he shall not have one single farthing of mine."
+
+I then told the Genoa story, putting things in their true light, and
+adding that I could call M. Grimaldi as a witness if necessary.
+
+"I have delayed presenting the plea," said the counsel, "to see if
+the scandal could be hushed up in any way, but I warn you that I
+shall now present it."
+
+"Do so; I shall be greatly obliged to you."
+
+I immediately called on my advocate, and told him of the rascal's
+proposal; and he said I was quite right to refuse to have any
+dealings with such a fellow.  He added that as I had M. Bono as a
+witness I ought to make Possano's advocate present his plea, and I
+authorized him to take proceedings in my name.
+
+A clerk was immediately sent to the criminal lieutenant, praying him
+to command the advocate to bring before him, in three days, the plea
+of one Anami, alias Pogomas, alias Possano, the said plea being
+against Jacques Casanova, commonly called the Chevalier de Seingalt.
+This document, to which I affixed my signature, was laid before the
+criminal lieutenant.
+
+I did not care for the three days' delay, but my counsel told me it
+was always given, and that I must make up my mind to submit to all
+the vexation I should be obliged to undergo, even if we were wholly
+successful.
+
+As Madame d'Urfe had taken her departure in conformity with the
+orders of Paralis, I dined with Marcoline at the inn, and tried to
+raise my spirits by all the means in my power.  I took my mistress to
+the best milliners and dressmakers in the town, and bought her
+everything she took a fancy to; and then we went to the theatre,
+where she must have been pleased to see all eyes fixed on her.
+Madame Pernon, who was in the next box to ours, made me introduce
+Marcoline to her; and from the way they embraced each other when the
+play was over I saw they were likely to become intimate, the only
+obstacle to their friendship being that Madame Pernon did not know a
+word of Italian, and that Marcoline did not dare to speak a word of
+French for fear of making herself ridiculous.  When we got back to
+the inn, Marcoline told me that her new friend had given her the
+Florentine kiss: this is the shibboleth of the sect.
+
+The pretty nick-nacks I had given her had made her happy; her ardour
+was redoubled, and the night passed joyously.
+
+I spent the next day in going from shop to shop, making fresh
+purchases for Marcoline, and we supped merrily at Madame Pernon's.
+
+The day after, M. Bono came to see me at an early hour with a smile
+of content on his face.
+
+"Let us go and breakfast at a coffee-house," said he; "we will have
+some discussion together."
+
+When we were breakfasting he shewed me a letter written by Possano,
+in which the rascal said that he was ready to abandon proceedings
+provided that M. de Seingalt gave him a hundred louis, on receipt of
+which he promised to leave Lyons immediately.
+
+"I should be a great fool," said I, "if I gave the knave more money
+to escape from the hands of justice.  Let him go if he likes, I won't
+prevent him; but he had better not expect me to give him anything.
+He will have a writ out against him to-morrow.  I should like to see
+him branded by the hangman.  He has slandered me, his benefactor, too
+grievously; let him prove what he says, or be dishonoured before all
+men."
+
+"His abandoning the proceedings," said M. Bono, "would in my opinion
+amount to the same thing as his failing to prove his charges, and you
+would do well to prefer it to a trial which would do your reputation
+no good, even if you were completely successful.  And the hundred
+louis is nothing in comparison with the costs of such a trial."
+
+"M. Bono, I value your advice very highly, and still more highly the
+kindly feelings which prompt you, but you must allow me to follow my
+own opinion in this case."
+
+I went to my counsel and told him of the fresh proposal that Possano
+had made, and of my refusal to listen to it, begging him to take
+measures for the arrest of the villain who had vowed my death.
+
+The same evening I had Madame Pernon and M. Bono, who was her lover,
+to sup with me; and as the latter had a good knowledge of Italian
+Marcoline was able to take part in the merriment of the company.
+
+The next day Bono wrote to tell me that Possano had left Lyons never
+to return, and that he had signed a full and satisfactory retraction.
+I was not surprised to hear of his flight, but the other circumstance
+I could not understand.  I therefore hastened to call on Bono, who
+showed me the document, which was certainly plain enough.
+
+"Will that do?" said he.
+
+"So well that I forgive him, but I wonder he did not insist on the
+hundred Louis."
+
+"My dear sir, I gave him the money with pleasure, to prevent a
+scandalous affair which would have done us all harm in becoming
+public.  If I had told you nothing, you couldn't have taken any steps
+in the matter, and I felt myself obliged to repair the mischief I had
+done in this way.  You would have known nothing about it, if you had
+said that you were not satisfied.  I am only too glad to have been
+enabled to skew my friendship by this trifling service.  We will say
+no more about it."
+
+"Very good," said I, embracing him, "we will say no more, but please
+to receive the assurance of my gratitude."
+
+I confess I felt much relieved at being freed from this troublesome
+business.
+
+
+
+
+End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA
+IN LONDON AND MOSCOW, Vol. 5a, SOUTH OF FRANCE
+by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
+
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