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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2975.txt b/2975.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1a1c46d --- /dev/null +++ b/2975.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5115 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of In London And Moscow: Russia and Poland +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: Russia and Poland + The Memoirs Of Jacques Casanova De Seingalt 1725-1798 + +Author: Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Release Date: October 31, 2006 [EBook #2975] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RUSSIA AND POLAND *** + + + + +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 5e--RUSSIA AND POLAND + + + + +RUSSIA AND POLAND + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +My Stay at Riga--Campioni St. Heleine--D'Asagon--Arrival of the +Empress--I Leave Riga and Go to St. Petersburg--I See Society--I Buy +Zaira + +Prince Charles de Biron, the younger son of the Duke of Courland, +Major-General in the Russian service, Knight of the Order of St. +Alexander Newski, gave me a distinguished reception after reading his +father's letter. He was thirty-six years of age, pleasant-looking without +being handsome, and polite and well-mannered, and he spoke French +extremely well. In a few sentences he let me know what he could do for me +if I intended to spend some time at Riga. His table, his friends, his +pleasures, his horses, his advice, and his purse, all these were at my +service, and he offered them with the frankness of the soldier and the +geniality of the prince. + +"I cannot offer you a lodging," he said, "because I have hardly enough +room for myself, but I will see that you get a comfortable apartment +somewhere." + +The apartment was soon found, and I was taken to it by one of the +prince's aides-de-camp. I was scarcely established when the prince came +to see me, and made me dine with him just as I was. It was an +unceremonious dinner, and I was pleased to meet Campioni, of whom I have +spoken several times in these Memoirs. He was a dancer, but very superior +to his fellows, and fit for the best company polite, witty, intelligent, +and a libertine in a gentlemanly way. He was devoid of prejudices, and +fond of women, good cheer, and heavy play, and knew how to keep an even +mind both in good and evil fortune. We were mutually pleased to see each +other again. + +Another guest, a certain Baron de St. Heleine from Savoy, had a pretty +but very insignificant wife. The baron, a fat man, was a gamester, a +gourmand, and a lover of wine; add that he was a past master in the art +of getting into debt and lulling his creditors into a state of false +security, and you have all his capacities, for in all other respects he +was a fool in the fullest sense of the word. An aide-decamp and the +prince's mistress also dined with us. This mistress, who was pale, thin, +and dreamy-looking, but also pretty, might be twenty years old. She +hardly ate anything, saying that she was ill and did not like anything on +the table. Discontent shewed itself on her every feature. The prince +endeavoured, but all in vain, to make her eat and drink, she refused +everything disdainfully. The prince laughed good-humouredly at her in +such a manner as not to wound her feelings. + +We spent two hours pleasantly enough at table, and after coffee had been +served, the prince, who had business, shook me by the hand and left me +with Campioni, telling me always to regard his table as my last resource. + +This old friend and fellow-countryman took me to his house to introduce +me to his wife and family. I did not know that he had married a second +time. I found the so-called wife to be an Englishwoman, thin, but full of +intelligence. She had a daughter of eleven, who might easily have been +taken for fifteen; she, too, was marvellously intelligent, and danced, +sang, and played on the piano and gave such glances that shewed that +nature had been swifter than her years. She made a conquest of me, and +her father congratulated me to my delight, but her mother offended her +dreadfully by calling her baby. + +I went for a walk with Campioni, who gave me a good deal of information, +beginning with himself. + +"I have lived for ten years," he said, "with that woman. Betty, whom you +admired so much, is not my daughter, the others are my children by my +Englishwoman. I have left St. Petersburg for two years, and I live here +well enough, and have pupils who do me credit. I play with the prince, +sometimes winning and sometimes losing, but I never win enough to enable +me to satisfy a wretched creditor I left at St. Petersburg, who +persecutes me on account of a bill of exchange. He may put me in prison +any day, and I am always expecting him to do so." + +"Is the bill for a large sum?" + +"Five hundred roubles." + +"That is only two thousand francs." + +"Yes, but unfortunately I have not got it." + +"You ought to annul the debt by paying small sums on account." + +"The rascal won't let me." + +"Then what do you propose doing?" + +"Win a heavy sum, if I can, and escape into Poland. + +"The Baron de St. Heleine will run away, too if he can, for he only lives +on credit. The prince is very useful to us, as we are able to play at his +house; but if we get into difficulty he could not extricate us, as he is +heavily in debt himself. He always loses at play. His mistress is +expensive, and gives him a great deal of trouble by her ill-humour." + +"Why is she so sour?" + +"She wants him to keep his word, for he promised to get her married at +the end of two years; and on the strength of this promise she let him +give her two children. The two years have passed by and the children are +there, and she will no longer allow him to have anything to do with her +for fear of having a third child." + +"Can't the prince find her a husband?" + +"He did find her a lieutenant, but she won't hear of anybody under the +rank of major." + +The prince gave a state dinner to General Woyakoff (for whom I had a +letter), Baroness Korf, Madame Ittinoff, and to a young lady who was +going to marry Baron Budberg, whom I had known at Florence, Turin, and +Augsburg, and whom I may possibly have forgotten to mention. + +All these friends made me spend three weeks very pleasantly, and I was +especially pleased with old General Woyakoff. This worthy man had been at +Venice fifty years before, when the Russians were still called +Muscovites, and the founder of St. Petersburg was still alive. He had +grown old like an oak, without changing his horizons. He thought the +world was just the same as it had been when he was young, and was +eloquent in his praise of the Venetian Government, imagining it to be +still the same as he had left it. + +At Riga an English merchant named Collins told me that the so-called +Baron de Stenau, who had given me the forged bill of exchange, had been +hanged in Portugal. This "baron" was a poor clerk, and the son of a small +tradesman, and had left his desk in search of adventure, and thus he had +ended. May God have mercy upon his soul! + +One evening a Russian, on his way from Poland, where he had been +executing some commission for the Russian Court, called on the prince, +played, and lost twenty thousand roubles on his word of honour. Campioni +was the dealer. The Russian gave bills of exchange in payment of his +debts; but as soon as he got to St. Petersburg he dishonoured his own +bills, and declared them worthless, not caring for his honour or good +faith. The result of this piece of knavery was not only that his +creditors were defrauded, but gaming was henceforth strictly forbidden in +the officers' quarters. + +This Russian was the same that betrayed the secrets of Elizabeth +Petrovna, when she was at war with Prussia. He communicated to Peter, the +empress's nephew and heir-presumptive, all the orders she sent to her +generals, and Peter in his turn passed on the information to the Prussian +king whom he worshipped. + +On the death of Elizabeth, Peter put this traitor at the head of the +department for commerce, and the fellow actually made known, with the +Czar's sanction, the service for which he had received such a reward, and +thus, instead of looking upon his conduct as disgraceful, he gloried over +it. Peter could not have been aware of the fact that, though it is +sometimes necessary to reward treachery, the traitor himself is always +abhorred and despised. + +I have remarked that it was Campioni who dealt, but he dealt for the +prince who held the bank. I had certain claims, but as I remarked that I +expected nothing and would gladly sell my expectations for a hundred +roubles, the prince took me at my word and gave me the amount +immediately. Thus I was the only person who made any money by our night's +play. + +Catherine II, wishing to shew herself to her new subjects, over whom she +was in reality supreme, though she had put the ghost of a king in the +person of Stanislas Poniatowski, her former favourite, on the throne of +Poland, came to Riga, and it was then I saw this great sovereign for the +first time. I was a witness of the kindness and affability with which she +treated the Livonian nobility, and of the way in which she kissed the +young ladies, who had come to kiss her hand, upon the mouth. She was +surrounded by the Orloffs and by other nobles who had assisted in placing +her on the throne. For the comfort and pleasure of her loyal subjects the +empress graciously expressed her intention of holding a bank at faro of +ten thousand roubles. + +Instantly the table and the cards were brought forward, and the piles of +gold placed in order. She took the cards, pretended to shuffle them, and +gave them to the first comer to cut. She had the pleasure of seeing her +bank broken at the first deal, and indeed this result was to be expected, +as anybody not an absolute idiot could see how the cards were going. The +next day the empress set out for Mitau, where triumphal arches were +erected in her honour. They were made of wood, as stone is scarce in +Poland, and indeed there would not have been time to build stone arches. + +The day after her arrival great alarm prevailed, for news came that a +revolution was ready to burst out at St. Petersburg, and some even said +that it had begun. The rebels wished to have forth from his prison the +hapless Ivan Ivanovitz, who had been proclaimed emperor in his cradle, +and dethroned by Elizabeth Petrovna. Two officers to whom the +guardianship of the prince had been confided had killed the poor innocent +monarch when they saw that they would be overpowered. + +The assassination of the innocent prince created such a sensation that +the wary Panin, fearing for the results, sent courier after courier to +the empress urging her to return to St. Petersburg and shew herself to +the people. + +Catherine was thus obliged to leave Mitau twenty-four hours after she had +entered it, and after hastening back to the capital she arrived only to +find that the excitement had entirely subsided. For politic reasons the +assassins of the wretched Ivan were rewarded, and the bold man who had +endeavoured to rise by her fall was beheaded. + +The report ran that Catherine had concerted the whole affair with the +assassins, but this was speedily set down as a calumny. The czarina was +strong-minded, but neither cruel nor perfidious. When I saw her at Riga +she was thirty-five, and had reigned two years. She was not precisely +handsome, but nevertheless her appearance was pleasing, her expression +kindly, and there was about her an air of calm and tranquillity which +never left her. + +At about the same time a friend of Baron de St. Heleine arrived from St. +Petersburg on his way to Warsaw. His name was Marquis Dragon, but he +called himself d'Aragon. He came from Naples, was a great gamester, a +skilled swordsman, and was always ready to extract himself from a +difficulty by a duel. He had left St. Petersburg because the Orloffs had +persuaded the empress to prohibit games of chance. It was thought strange +that the prohibition should come from the Orloffs, as gaming had been +their principal means of gaining a livelihood before they entered on the +more dangerous and certainly not more honourable profession of +conspiracy. However, this measure was really a sensible one. Having been +gamesters themselves they knew that gamesters are mostly knaves, and +always ready to enter into any intrigue or conspiracy provided it assures +them some small gain; there could not have been better judges of gaming +and its consequences than they were. + +But though a gamester may be a rogue he may still have a good heart, and +it is only just to say that this was the case with the Orloffs. Alexis +gained the slash which adorns his face in a tavern, and the man who gave +the blow had just lost to him a large sum of money, and considered his +opponent's success to be rather the result of dexterity than fortune. +When Alexis became rich and powerful, instead of revenging himself, he +hastened to make his enemy's fortune. This was nobly done. + +Dragon, whose first principle was always to turn up the best card, and +whose second principle was never to shirk a duel, had gone to St. +Petersburg in 1759 with the Baron de St. Heleine. Elizabeth was still on +the throne, but Peter, Duke of Holstein, the heir-presumptive, had +already begun to loom large on the horizon. Dragon used to frequent the +fencing school where the prince was a frequent visitor, and there +encountered all comers successfully. The duke got angry, and one day he +took up a foil and defied the Neapolitan marquis to a combat. Dragon +accepted and was thoroughly beaten, while the duke went off in triumph, +for he might say from henceforth that he was the best fencer in St. +Petersburg. + +When the prince had gone, Dragon could not withstand the temptation of +saying that he had only let himself be beaten for fear of offending his +antagonist; and this boast soon got to the grand-duke's ears. The great +man was terribly enraged, and swore he would have him banished from St. +Petersburg if he did not use all his skill, and at the same time he sent +an order to Dragon to be at the fencing school the next day. + +The impatient duke was the first to arrive, and d'Aragon was not long in +coming. The prince began reproaching him for what he had said the day +before, but the Neapolitan, far from denying the fact, expressed himself +that he had felt himself obliged to shew his respect for his prince by +letting him rap him about for upwards of two hours. + +"Very good," said the duke, "but now it is your turn; and if you don't do +your best I will drive you from St. Petersburg." + +"My lord, your highness shall be obeyed. I shall not allow you to touch +me once, but I hope you will deign to take me under your protection." + +The two champions passed the whole morning with the foils, and the duke +was hit a hundred times without being able to touch his antagonist. At +last, convinced of Dragon's superiority, he threw down his foil and shook +him by the hand, and made him his fencer-in-ordinary, with the rank of +major in his regiment of Holsteiners. + +Shortly after, D'Aragon having won the good graces of the duke obtained +leave to hold a bank at faro in his court, and in three or four years he +amassed a fortune of a hundred thousand roubles, which he took with him +to the Court of King Stanislas, where games of all sorts were allowed. +When he passed through Riga, St. Heleine introduced him to Prince +Charles, who begged him to call on him the next day, and to shew his +skill with the foils against himself and some of his friends. I had the +honour to be of the number; and thoroughly well he beat us, for his skill +was that of a demon. I was vain enough to become angry at being hit at +every pass, and told him that I should not be afraid to meet him at a +game of sharps. He was calmer, and replied by taking my hand, and +saying,-- + +"With the naked sword I fence in quite another style, and you are quite +right not to fear anyone, for you fence very well." + +D'Aragon set out for Warsaw the next day, but he unfortunately found the +place occupied by more cunning Greeks than himself. In six months they +had relieved him of his hundred thousand roubles, but such is the lot of +gamesters; no craft can be more wretched than theirs. + +A week before I left Riga (where I stayed two months) Campioni fled by +favour of the good Prince Charles, and in a few days the Baron de St. +Heleine followed him without taking leave of a noble army of creditors. +He only wrote a letter to the Englishman Collins, to whom he owed a +thousand crowns, telling him that like an honest man he had left his +debts where he had contracted them. We shall hear more of these three +persons in the course of two years. + +Campioni left me his travelling carriage, which obliged me to use six +horses on my journey to St. Petersburg. I was sorry to leave Betty, and I +kept up an epistolary correspondence with her mother throughout the whole +of my stay at St. Petersburg. + +I left Riga with the thermometer indicating fifteen degrees of frost, but +though I travelled day and night, not leaving the carriage for the sixty +hours for which my journey lasted, I did not feel the cold in the least. +I had taken care to pay all the stages in advance, and Marshal Braun, +Governor of Livonia, had given me the proper passport. On the box seat +was a French servant who had begged me to allow him to wait on me for the +journey in return for a seat beside the coachman. He kept his word and +served me well, and though he was but ill clad he bore the horrible cold +for two days and three nights without appearing to feel it. It is only a +Frenchman who can bear such trials; a Russian in similar attire would +have been frozen to death in twenty-four hours, despite plentiful doses +of corn brandy. I lost sight of this individual when I arrived at St. +Petersburg, but I met him again three months after, richly dressed, and +occupying a seat beside mine at the table of M. de Czernitscheff. He was +the uchitel of the young count, who sat beside him. But I shall have +occasion to speak more at length of the office of uchitel, or tutor, in +Russia. + +As for Lambert, who was beside me in the carriage, he did nothing but +eat, drink, and sleep the whole way; seldom speaking, for he stammered, +and could only talk about mathematical problems, on which I was not +always in the humour to converse. He was never amusing, never had any +sensible observation to make on the varied scenes through which we +passed; in short, he was a fool, and wearisome to all save himself. + +I was only stopped once, and that was at Nawa, where the authorities +demanded a passport, which I did not possess. I told the governor that as +I was a Venetian, and only travelled for pleasure, I did not conceive a +passport would be necessary, my Republic not being at war with any other +power, and Russia having no embassy at Venice. + +"Nevertheless," I added, "if your excellency wills it I will turn back; +but I shall complain to Marshal Braun, who gave me the passport for +posting, knowing that I had not the political passport." + +After rubbing his forehead for a minute, the governor gave me a pass, +which I still possess, and which brought me into St. Petersburg, without +my having to allow the custom-house officers to inspect my trunks. + +Between Koporie and St. Petersburg there is only a wretched hut for the +accommodation of travellers. The country is a wilderness, and the +inhabitants do not even speak Russian. The district is called Ingria, and +I believe the jargon spoken has no affinity with any other language. The +principal occupation of the peasants is robbery, and the traveller does +well not to leave any of his effects alone for a moment. + +I got to St. Petersburg just as the first rays of the sun began to gild +the horizon. It was in the winter solstice, and the sun rose at the +extremity of an immense plain at twenty-four minutes past nine, so I am +able to state that the longest night in Russia consists of eighteen hours +and three quarters. + +I got down in a fine street called the Millione. I found a couple of +empty rooms, which the people of the house furnished with two beds, four +chairs, and two small tables, and rented to me very cheaply. Seeing the +enormous stoves, I concluded they must consume a vast amount of wood, but +I was mistaken. Russia is the land of stoves as Venice is that of +cisterns. I have inspected the interior of these stoves in summer-time as +minutely as if I wished to find out the secret of making them; they are +twelve feet high by six broad, and are capable of warming a vast room. +They are only refuelled once in twenty-four hours, for as soon as the +wood is reduced to the state of charcoal a valve is shut in the upper +part of the stove. + +It is only in the houses of noblemen that the stoves are refuelled twice +a day, because servants are strictly forbidden to close the valve, and +for a very good reason. + +If a gentleman chance to come home and order his servants to warm his +room before he goes to bed, and if the servant is careless enough to +close the valve before the wood is reduced to charcoal, then the master +sleeps his last sleep, being suffocated in three or four hours. When the +door is opened in the morning he is found dead, and the poor devil of a +servant is immediately hanged, whatever he may say. This sounds severe, +and even cruel; but it is a necessary regulation, or else a servant would +be able to get rid of his master on the smallest provocation. + +After I had made an agreement for my board and lodging, both of which +were very cheap (now St. Petersburg, is as dear as London), I brought +some pieces of furniture which were necessaries for me, but which were +not as yet much in use in Russia, such as a commode, a bureau, &c. + +German is the language principally spoken in St. Petersburg, and I did +not speak German much better then than I do now, so I had a good deal of +difficulty in making myself understood, and usually excited my auditors +to laughter. + +After dinner my landlord told me that the Court was giving a masked ball +to five thousand persons to last sixty hours. He gave me a ticket, and +told me I only needed to shew it at the entrance of the imperial palace. + +I decided to use the ticket, for I felt that I should like to be present +at so numerous an assembly, and as I had my domino still by me a mask was +all I wanted. I went to the palace in a sedan-chair, and found an immense +crowd assembled, and dancing going on in several halls in each of which +an orchestra was stationed. There were long counters loaded with eatables +and drinkables at which those who were hungry or thirsty ate or drank as +much as they liked. Gaiety and freedom reigned everywhere, and the light +of a thousand wax candles illuminated the hall. Everything was wonderful, +and all the more so from its contrast with the cold and darkness that +were without. All at once I heard a masquer beside me say to another,-- + +"There's the czarina." + +We soon saw Gregory Orloff, for his orders were to follow the empress at +a distance. + +I followed the masquer, and I was soon persuaded that it was really the +empress, for everybody was repeating it, though no one openly recognized +her. Those who really did not know her jostled her in the crowd, and I +imagined that she would be delighted at being treated thus, as it was a +proof of the success of her disguise. Several times I saw her speaking in +Russian to one masquer and another. No doubt she exposed her vanity to +some rude shocks, but she had also the inestimable advantage of hearing +truths which her courtiers would certainly not tell her. The masquer who +was pronounced to be Orloff followed her everywhere, and did not let her +out of his sight for a moment. He could not be mistaken, as he was an +exceptionally tall man and had a peculiar carriage of the head. + +I arrested my progress in a hall where the French square dance was being +performed, and suddenly there appeared a masquer disguised in the +Venetian style. The costume was so complete that I at once set him down +as a fellow-countryman, for very few strangers can imitate us so as to +escape detection. As it happened, he came and stood next to me. + +"One would think you were a Venetian," I said to him in French. + +"So I am." + +"Like myself." + +"I am not jesting." + +"No more am I." + +"Then let us speak in Venetian." + +"Do you begin, and I will reply." + +We began our conversation, but when he came to the word Sabato, Saturday, +which is a Sabo in Venetian, I discovered that he was a real Venetian, +but not from Venice itself. He said I was right, and that he judged from +my accent that I came from Venice. + +"Quite so," said I. + +"I thought Bernadi was the only Venetian besides myself in St. +Petersburg." + +"You see you are mistaken." + +"My name is Count Volpati di Treviso." + +"Give me your address, and I will come and tell you who I am, for I +cannot do so here." + +"Here it is." + +After leaving the count I continued my progress through this wonderful +hall, and two or three hours after I was attracted by the voice of a +female masquer speaking Parisian French in a high falsetto, such as is +common at an opera ball. + +I did not recognize the voice but I knew the style, and felt quite +certain that the masquer must be one of my old friends, for she spoke +with the intonations and phraseology which I had rendered popular in my +chief places of resort at Paris. + +I was curious to see who it could be, and not wishing to speak before I +knew her, I had the patience to wait till she lifted her mask, and this +occurred at the end of an hour. What was my surprise to see Madame Baret, +the stocking-seller of the Rue St. Honor& My love awoke from its long +sleep, and coming up to her I said, in a falsetto voice,-- + +"I am your friend of the 'Hotel d'Elbeuf.'" + +She was puzzled, and looked the picture of bewilderment. I whispered in +her ear, "Gilbert Baret, Rue des Prouveres," and certain other facts +which could only be known to herself and a fortunate lover. + +She saw I knew her inmost secrets, and drawing me away she begged me to +tell her who I was. + +"I was your lover, and a fortunate one, too," I replied; "but before I +tell you my name, with whom are you, and how are you?" + +"Very well; but pray do not divulge what I tell you. I left Paris with M. +d'Anglade, counsellor in the Court of Rouen. I lived happily enough for +some time with him, and then left him to go with a theatrical manager, +who brought me here as an actress under the name of de l'Anglade, and now +I am kept by Count Rzewuski, the Polish ambassador. And now tell me who +you are?" + +Feeling sure of enjoying her again, I lifted my mask. She gave a cry of +joy, and exclaimed,-- + +"My good angel has brought you to St. Petersburg." + +"How do you mean?" + +"Rzewuski is obliged to go back to Poland, and now I count on you to get +me out of the country, for I can no longer continue in a station for +which I was not intended, since I can neither sing nor act." + +She gave me her address, and I left her delighted with my discovery. +After having passed half an hour at the counter, eating and drinking of +the best, I returned to the crowd and saw my fair stocking-seller talking +to Count Volpati. He had seen her with me, and hastened to enquire my +name of her. However, she was faithful to our mutual promise, and told +him I was her husband, though the Venetian did not seem to give the least +credence to this piece of information. + +At last I was tired and left the ball, and went to bed intending to go to +mass in the morning. I slept for some time and woke, but as it was still +dark I turned on the other side and went to sleep again. At last I awoke +again, and seeing the daylight stealing through my double windows, I sent +for a hairdresser, telling my man to make haste as I wanted to hear mass +on the first Sunday after my arrival in St. Petersburg. + +"But sir," said he, "the first Sunday was yesterday; we are at Monday +now." + +"What! Monday?" + +"Yes, sir." + +I had spent twenty-seven hours in bed, and after laughing at the mishap I +felt as if I could easily believe it, for my hunger was like that of a +cannibal. + +This is the only day which I really lost in my life; but I do not weep +like the Roman emperor, I laugh. But this is not the only difference +between Titus and Casanova. + +I called on Demetrio Papanelopulo, the Greek merchant, who was to pay me +a hundred roubles a month. I was also commended to him by M. da Loglio, +and I had an excellent reception. He begged me to come and dine with him +every day, paid me the roubles for the month due, and assured me that he +had honoured my bill drawn at Mitau. He also found me a reliable servant, +and a carriage at eighteen roubles, or six ducats per month. Such +cheapness has, alas! departed for ever. + +The next day, as I was dining with the worthy Greek and young Bernardi, +who was afterwards poisoned, Count Volpati came in with the dessert, and +told us how he had met a Venetian at the ball who had promised to come +and see him. + +"The Venetian would have kept his promise," said I, "if he had not had a +long sleep of twenty-seven hours. I am the Venetian, and am delighted to +continue our acquaintance." + +The count was about to leave, and his departure had already been +announced in the St. Petersburg Gazette. The Russian custom is not to +give a traveller his passports till a fortnight has elapsed after the +appearance of his name in the paper. This regulation is for the advantage +of tradesmen, while it makes foreigners think twice before they contract +any debts. + +The next day I took a letter of introduction to M. Pietro Ivanovitch +Melissino, colonel and afterwards general of artillery. The letter was +written by Madame da Loglio, who was very intimate with Melissino. I was +most politely welcomed, and after presenting me to his pleasant wife, he +asked me once for all to sup with him every night. The house was managed +in the French style, and both play and supper were conducted without any +ceremony. I met there Melissino's elder brother, the procurator of the +Holy Synod and husband of the Princess Dolgorouki. Faro went on, and the +company was composed of trustworthy persons who neither boasted of their +gains nor bewailed their losses to anyone, and so there was no fear of +the Government discovering this infringement of the law against gaming. +The bank was held by Baron Lefort, son of the celebrated admiral of Peter +the Great. Lefort was an example of the inconstancy of fortune; he was +then in disgrace on account of a lottery which he had held at Moscow to +celebrate the coronation of the empress, who had furnished him with the +necessary funds. The lottery had been broken and the fact was attributed +to the baron's supposed dishonesty. + +I played for small stakes and won a few roubles. I made friends with +Baron Lefort at supper, and he afterwards told me of the vicissitudes he +had experienced. + +As I was praising the noble calmness with which a certain prince had lost +a thousand roubles to him, he laughed and said that the fine gamester I +had mentioned played upon credit but never paid. + +"How about his honour?" + +"It is not affected by the non-payment of gaming debts. It is an +understood thing in Russia that one who plays on credit and loses may pay +or not pay as he wishes, and the winner only makes himself ridiculous by +reminding the loser of his debt." + +"Then the holder of the bank has the right to refuse to accept bets which +are not backed by ready money." + +"Certainly; and nobody has a right to be offended with him for doing so. +Gaming is in a very bad state in Russia. I know young men of the highest +rank whose chief boast is that they know how to conquer fortune; that is, +to cheat. One of the Matuschkins goes so far as to challenge all foreign +cheats to master him. He has just received permission to travel for three +years, and it is an open secret that he wishes to travel that he may +exercise his skill. He intends returning to Russia laden with the spoils +of the dupes he has made." + +A young officer of the guards named Zinowieff, a relation of the Orloffs, +whom I had met at Melissino's, introduced me to Macartney, the English +ambassador, a young man of parts and fond of pleasure. He had fallen in +love with a young lady of the Chitroff family, and maid of honour to the +empress, and finding his affection reciprocated a baby was the result. +The empress disapproved strongly of this piece of English freedom, and +had the ambassador recalled, though she forgave her maid of honour. This +forgiveness was attributed to the young lady's skill in dancing. I knew +the brother of this lady, a fine and intelligent young officer. I had the +good fortune to be admitted to the Court, and there I had the pleasure of +seeing Mdlle. Chitroff dancing, and also Mdlle. Sievers, now Princesss, +whom I saw again at Dresden four years ago with her daughter, an +extremely genteel young princess. I was enchanted with Mdlle. Sievers, +and felt quite in love with her; but as we were never introduced I had no +opportunity of declaring my passion. Putini, the castrato, was high in +her favour, as indeed he deserved to be, both for his talents and the +beauties of his person. + +The worthy Papanelopulo introduced me to Alsuwieff, one of the ministers, +a man of wit and letters, and only one of the kind whom I met in Russia. +He had been an industrious student at the University of Upsala, and loved +wine, women, and good cheer. He asked me to dine with Locatelli at +Catherinhoff, one of the imperial mansions, which the empress had +assigned to the old theatrical manager for the remainder of his days. He +was astonished to see me, and I was more astonished still to find that he +had turned taverner, for he gave an excellent dinner every day to all who +cared to pay a rouble, exclusive of wine. M. d'Alsuwieff introduced me to +his colleague in the ministry, Teploff, whose vice was that he loved +boys, and his virtue that he had strangled Peter III. + +Madame Mecour, the dancer, introduced me to her lover, Ghelaghin, also a +minister. He had spent twenty years of his life in Siberia. + +A letter from Da Loglio got me a warm welcome from the castrato Luini, a +delightful man, who kept a splendid table. He was the lover of Colonna, +the singer, but their affection seemed to me a torment, for they could +scarce live together in peace for a single day. At Luini's house I met +another castrato, Millico, a great friend of the chief huntsman, +Narischkin, who also became one of my friends. This Narischkin, a +pleasant and a well-informed man, was the husband of the famous Maria +Paulovna. It was at the chief huntsman's splendid table that I met +Calogeso Plato, now archbishop of Novgorod, and then chaplain to the +empress. This monk was a Russian, and a master of ruses, understood +Greek, and spoke Latin and French, and was what would be called a fine +man. It was no wonder that he rose to such a height, as in Russia the +nobility never lower themselves by accepting church dignities. + +Da Loglio had given me a letter for the Princess Daschkoff, and I took it +to her country house, at the distance of three versts from St. +Petersburg. She had been exiled from the capital, because, having +assisted Catherine to ascend the throne, she claimed to share it with +her. + +I found the princess mourning for the loss of her husband. She welcomed +me kindly, and promised to speak to M. Panin on my behalf; and three days +later she wrote to me that I could call on that nobleman as soon as I +liked. This was a specimen of the empress's magnanimity; she had +disgraced the princess, but she allowed her favourite minister to pay his +court to her every evening. I have heard, on good authority, that Panin +was not the princess's lover, but her father. She is now the President of +the Academy of Science, and I suppose the literati must look upon her as +another Minerva, or else they would be ashamed to have a woman at their +head. For completeness' sake the Russians should get a woman to command +their armies, but Joan d'Arcs are scarce. + +Melissino and I were present at an extraordinary ceremony on the Day of +the Epiphany, namely the blessing of the Neva, then covered with five +feet of ice. + +After the benediction of the waters children were baptized by being +plunged into a large hole which had been made in the ice. On the day on +which I was present the priest happened to let one of the children slip +through his hands. + +"Drugoi!" he cried. + +That is, "Give me another." But my surprise may be imagined when I saw +that the father and mother of the child were in an ecstasy of joy; they +were certain that the babe had been carried straight to heaven. Happy +ignorance! + +I had a letter from the Florentine Madame Bregonci for her friend the +Venetian Roccolini, who had left Venice to go and sing at the St. +Petersburg Theatre, though she did not know a note of music, and had +never appeared on the stage. The empress laughed at her, and said she +feared there was no opening in St. Petersburg for her peculiar talents, +but the Roccolini, who was known as La Vicenza, was not the woman to lose +heart for so small a check. She became an intimate friend of a +Frenchwoman named Prote, the wife of a merchant who lived with the chief +huntsman. She was at the same time his mistress and the confidante of his +wife Maria Petrovna, who did not like her husband, and was very much +obliged to the Frenchwoman for delivering her from the conjugal +importunities. + +This Prote was one of the handsomest women I have ever seen, and +undoubtedly the handsomest in St. Petersburg at that time. She was in the +flower of her age. She had at once a wonderful taste for gallantry and +for all the mysteries of the toilette. In dress she surpassed everyone, +and as she was witty and amusing she captivated all hearts. Such was the +woman whose friend and procuress La Vicenza had become. She received the +applications of those who were in love with Madame Prote, and passed them +on, while, whether a lover's suit was accepted or not, the procuress got +something out of him. + +I recognized Signora Roccolini as soon as I saw her, but as twenty years +had elapsed since our last meeting she did not wonder at my appearing not +to know her, and made no efforts to refresh my memory. Her brother was +called Montellato, and he it was who tried to assassinate me one night in +St. Mark's Square, as I was leaving the Ridotto. The plot that would have +cost me my life, if I had not made my escape from the window, was laid in +the Roccolini's house. + +She welcomed me as a fellow-countryman in a strange land, told me of her +struggles, and added that now she had an easy life of it, and associated +with the pleasantest ladies in St. Petersburg. + +"I am astonished that you have not met the fair Madame Prote at the chief +huntsman's, for she is the darling of his heart. Come and take coffee +with me to-morrow, and you shall see a wonder." + +I kept the appointment, and I found the lady even more beautiful than the +Venetian's praises of her had led me to expect. I was dazzled by her +beauty, but not being a rich man I felt that I must set my wits to work +if I wanted to enjoy her. I asked her name, though I knew it quite well, +and she replied, "Prote." + +"I am glad to hear it, madam," said I, "for you thereby promise to be +mine." + +"How so?" said she, with a charming smile. I explained the pun, and made +her laugh. I told her amusing stories, and let her know the effect that +her beauty had produced on me, and that I hoped time would soften her +heart to me. The acquaintance was made, and thenceforth I never went to +Narischkin's without calling on her, either before or after dinner. + +The Polish ambassador returned about that time, and I had to forego my +enjoyment of the fair Anglade, who accepted a very advantageous proposal +which was made her by Count Brawn. This charming Frenchwoman died of the +small-pox a few months later, and there can be no doubt that her death +was a blessing, as she would have fallen into misery and poverty after +her beauty had once decayed. + +I desired to succeed with Madame Prote, and with that idea I asked her to +dinner at Locatelli's with Luini, Colonna, Zinowieff, Signora Vicenza, +and a violinist, her lover. We had an excellent dinner washed down with +plenty of wine, and the spirits of the company were wound up to the pitch +I desired. After the repast each gentleman went apart with his lady, and +I was on the point of success when an untoward accident interrupted us. +We were summoned to see the proofs of Luini's prowess; he had gone out +shooting with his dogs and guns. + +As I was walking away from Catherinhoff with Zinowieff I noticed a young +country-woman whose beauty astonished me. I pointed her out to the young +officer, and we made for her; but she fled away with great activity to a +little cottage, where we followed her. We went in and saw the father, +mother, and some children, and in a corner the timid form of the fair +maiden. + +Zinowieff (who, by the way, was for twenty years Russian ambassador at +Madrid) had a long conversation in Russian with the father. I did not +understand what was said, but I guessed it referred to the girl because, +when her father called her, she advanced submissively, and stood modestly +before us. + +The conversation over, Zinowieff went out, and I followed him after +giving the master of the house a rouble. Zinowieff told me what had +passed, saying that he had asked the father if he would let him have the +daughter as a maid-servant, and the father had replied that it should be +so with all his heart, but that he must have a hundred roubles for her, +as she was still a virgin. "So you see," added Zinowieff, "the matter is +quite simple." + +"How simple?" + +"Why, yes; only a hundred roubles." + +"And supposing me to be inclined to give that sum?" + +"Then she would be your servant, and you could do anything you liked with +her, except kill her." + +"And supposing she is not willing?" + +"That never happens, but if it did you could have beaten her." + +"Well, if she is satisfied and I enjoy her, can I still continue to keep +her?" + +"You will be her master, I tell you, and can have her arrested if she +attempts to escape, unless she can return the hundred roubles you gave +for her." + +"What must I give her per month?" + +"Nothing, except enough to eat and drink. You must also let her go to the +baths on Saturday and to the church on Sunday." + +"Can I make her come with me when I leave St. Petersburg?" + +"No, unless you obtain permission and find a surety, for though the girl +would be your slave she would still be a slave to the empress." + +"Very good; then will you arrange this matter for me? I will give the +hundred roubles, and I promise you I will not treat her as a slave. But I +hope you will care for my interests, as I do not wish to be duped." + +"I promise you you shall not be duped; I will see to everything. Would +you like her now?" + +"No, to-morrow." + +"Very good; then to-morrow it shall be." + +We returned to St. Petersburg in a phaeton, and the next day at nine +o'clock I called on Zinowieff, who said he was delighted to do me this +small service. On the way he said that if I liked he could get me a +perfect seraglio of pretty girls in a few days. + +"No," said I, "one is enough." And I gave him the hundred roubles. + +We arrived at the cottage, where we found the father, mother, and +daughter. Zinowieff explained his business crudely enough, after the +custom of the country, and the father thanked St. Nicholas for the good +luck he had sent him. He spoke to his daughter, who looked at me and +softly uttered the necessary yes. + +Zinowieff then told me that I ought to ascertain that matters were +intact, as I was going to pay for a virgin. I was afraid of offending +her, and would have nothing to do with it; but Zinowieff said the girl +would be mortified if I did not examine her, and that she would be +delighted if I place her in a position to prove before her father and +mother that her conduct had always been virtuous. I therefore made the +examination as modestly as I could, and I found her to be intact. To tell +the truth, I should not have said anything if things had been otherwise. + +Zinowieff then gave the hundred roubles to the father, who handed them to +his daughter, and she only took them to return them to her mother. My +servant and coachman were then called in to witness as arrangement of +which they knew nothing. + +I called her Zaira, and she got into the carriage and returned with me to +St. Petersburg in her coarse clothes, without a chemise of any kind. +After I had dropped Zinowieff at his lodging I went home, and for four +days I was engaged in collecting and arranging my slave's toilet, not +resting till I had dressed her modestly in the French style. In less than +three months she had learnt enough Italian to tell me what she wanted and +to understand me. She soon loved me, and afterwards she got jealous. But +we shall hear more of her in the following chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Crevecoeur--Bomback--Journey to Moscow--My Adventures At St. Petersburg + +The day on which I took Zaira I sent Lambert away, for I did not know +what to do with him. He got drunk every day, and when in his cups he was +unbearable. Nobody would have anything to say to him except as a common +soldier, and that is not an enviable position in Russia. I got him a +passport for Berlin, and gave him enough money for the journey. I heard +afterwards that he entered the Austrian service. + +In May, Zaira had become so beautiful that when I went to Moscow I dared +not leave her behind me, so I took her in place of a servant. It was +delicious to me to hear her chattering in the Venetian dialect I had +taught her. On a Saturday I would go with her to the bath where thirty of +forty naked men and women were bathing together without the slightest +constraint. This absence of shame must arise, I should imagine, from +native innocence; but I wondered that none looked at Zaira, who seemed to +me the original of the statue of Psyche I had seen at the Villa Borghese +at Rome. She was only fourteen, so her breast was not yet developed, and +she bore about her few traces of puberty. Her skin was as white as snow, +and her ebony tresses covered the whole of her body, save in a few places +where the dazzling whiteness of her skin shone through. Her eyebrows were +perfectly shaped, and her eyes, though they might have been larger, could +not have been more brilliant or more expressive. If it had not been for +her furious jealousy and her blind confidence in fortune-telling by +cards, which she consulted every day, Zaira would have been a paragon +among women, and I should never have left her. + +A young and distinguished-looking Frenchman came to St. Petersburg with a +young Parisian named La Riviere, who was tolerably pretty but quite +devoid of education, unless it were that education common to all the +girls who sell their charms in Paris. This young man came to me with a +letter from Prince Charles of Courland, who said that if I could do +anything for the young couple he would be grateful to me. They arrived +just as I was breakfasting with Zaira. + +"You must tell me," said I to the young Frenchman, "in what way I can be +of use to you." + +"By admitting us to your company, and introducing us to your friends." + +"Well, I am a stranger here, and I will come and see you, and you can +come and see me, and I shall be delighted; but I never dine at home. As +to my friends, you must feel that, being a stranger, I could not +introduce you and the lady. Is she your wife? People will ask me who you +are, and what you are doing at St. Petersburg. What am I to say? I wonder +Prince Charles did not send you to someone else." + +"I am a gentleman of Lorraine, and Madame la Riviere is my mistress, and +my object in coming to St. Petersburg is to amuse myself." + +"Then I don't know to whom I could introduce you under the circumstances; +but I should think you will be able to find plenty of amusement without +knowing anyone. The theatres, the streets, and even the Court +entertainments, are open to everyone. I suppose you have plenty of +money?" + +"That's exactly what I haven't got, and I don't expect any either." + +"Well, I have not much more, but you really astonish me. How could you +have been so foolish as to come here without money?" + +"Well, my mistress said we could do with what money we got from day to +day. She induced me to leave Paris without a farthing, and up to now it +seems to me that she is right. We have managed to get on somehow." + +"Then she has the purse?" + +"My purse," said she, "is in the pockets of my friends." + +"I understand, and I am sure you have no difficulty in finding the +wherewithal to live. If I had such a purse, it should be opened for you, +but I am not a rich man." + +Bomback, a citizen of Hamburg, whom I had known in England whence he had +fled on account of his debts, had come to St. Petersburg and entered the +army. He was the son of a rich merchant and kept up a house, a carriage, +and an army of servants; he was a lover of good cheer, women, and +gambling, and contracted debts everywhere. He was an ugly man, but full +of wit and energy. He happened to call on me just as I was addressing the +strange traveller whose purse was in the pocket of her friends. I +introduced the couple to him, telling the whole story, the item of the +purse excepted. The adventure was just to Bomback's taste, and he began +making advances to Madame la Riviere, who received them in a thoroughly +professional spirit, and I was inwardly amused and felt that her axiom +was a true one. Bomback asked them to dine with him the next day, and +begged them to come and take an unceremonious dinner the same day with +him at Crasnacaback. I was included in the invitation, and Zaira, not +understanding French, asked me what we were talking about, and on my +telling her expressed a desire to accompany me. I gave in to appease her, +for I knew the wish proceeded from jealousy, and that if I did not +consent I should be tormented by tears, ill-humour, reproaches, +melancholy, etc. This had occurred several times before, and so violent +had she been that I had been compelled to conform to the custom of the +country and beat her. Strange to say, I could not have taken a better way +to prove my love. Such is the character of the Russian women. After the +blows had been given, by slow degrees she became affectionate again, and +a love encounter sealed the reconciliation. + +Bomback left us to make his preparations in high spirits, and while Zaira +was dressing, Madame Riviere talked in such a manner as to make me almost +think that I was absolutely deficient in knowledge of the world. The +astonishing thing was that her lover did not seem in the least ashamed of +the part he had to play. He might say that he was in love with the +Messalina, but the excuse would not have been admissible. + +The party was a merry one. Bomback talked to the adventuress, Zaira sat +on my knee, and Crevecoeur ate and drank, laughed in season and out of +season, and walked up and down. The crafty Madame Riviere incited Bomback +to risk twenty-five roubles at quinze; he lost and paid pleasantly, and +only got a kiss for his money. Zaira, who was delighted to be able to +watch over me and my fidelity, jested pleasantly on the Frenchwoman and +the complaisance of her lover. This was altogether beyond her +comprehension, and she could not understand how he could bear such deeds +as were done before his face. + +The next day I went to Bomback by myself, as I was sure of meeting young +Russian officers, who would have annoyed me by making love to Zaira in +their own language. I found the two travellers and the brothers Lunin, +then lieutenants but now generals. The younger of them was as fair and +pretty as any girl. He had been the beloved of the minister Teploff, and, +like a lad of wit, he not only was not ashamed but openly boasted that it +was his custom to secure the good-will of all men by his caresses. + +He had imagined the rich citizen of Hamburg to be of the same tastes as +Teploff, and he had not been mistaken; and so he degraded me by forming +the same supposition. With this idea he seated himself next to me at +table, and behaved himself in such a manner during dinner that I began to +believe him to be a girl in man's clothes. + +After dinner, as I was sitting at the fire, between him and the +Frenchman, I imparted my suspicions to him; but jealous of the +superiority of his sex, he displayed proof of it on the spot, and +forthwith got hold of me and put himself in a position to make my +happiness and his own as he called it. I confess, to my shame, that he +might perhaps have succeeded, if Madame la Riviere, indignant at this +encroachment of her peculiar province, had not made him desist. + +Lunin the elder, Crevecceur, and Bomback, who had been for a walk, +returned at nightfall with two or three friends, and easily consoled the +Frenchman for the poor entertainment the younger Lunin and myself had +given him. + +Bomback held a bank at faro, which only came to an end at eleven, when +the money was all gone. We then supped, and the real orgy began, in which +la Riviere bore the brunt in a manner that was simply astonishing. I and +my friend Lunin were merely spectators, and poor Crevecoeur had gone to +bed. We did not separate till day-break. + +I got home, and, fortunately for myself, escaped the bottle which Zaira +flung at my head, and which would infallibly have killed me if it had hit +me. She threw herself on to the ground, and began to strike it with her +forehead. I thought she had gone mad, and wondered whether I had better +call for assistance; but she became quiet enough to call me assassin and +traitor, with all the other abusive epithets that she could remember. To +convict me of my crime she shewed me twenty-five cards, placed in order, +and on them she displayed the various enormities of which I had been +guilty. + +I let her go on till her rage was somewhat exhausted, and then, having +thrown her divining apparatus into the fire, I looked at her in pity and +anger, and said that we must part the next day, as she had narrowly +escaped killing me. I confessed that I had been with Bomback, and that +there had been a girl in the house; but I denied all the other sins of +which she accused me. I then went to sleep without taking the slightest +notice of her, in spite of all she said and did to prove her repentance. + +I woke after a few hours to find her sleeping soundly, and I began to +consider how I could best rid myself of the girl, who would probably kill +me if we continued living together. Whilst I was absorbed in these +thoughts she awoke, and falling at my feet wept and professed her utter +repentance, and promised never to touch another card as long as I kept +her. + +At last I could resist her entreaties no longer, so I took her in my arms +and forgave her; and we did not part till she had received undeniable +proofs of the return of my affection. I intended to start for Moscow in +three days, and she was delighted when she heard she was to go. + +Three circumstances had won me this young girl's furious affection. In +the first place I often took her to see her family, with whom I always +left a rouble; in the second I made her eat with me; and in the third I +had beaten her three or four times when she had tried to prevent me going +out. + +In Russia beating is a matter of necessity, for words have no force +whatever. A servant, mistress, or courtezan understands nothing but the +lash. Words are altogether thrown away, but a few good strokes are +entirely efficacious. The servant, whose soul is still more enslaved than +his body, reasons somewhat as follows, after he has had a beating: + +"My master has not sent me away, but beaten me; therefore he loves me, +and I ought to be attached to him." + +It is the same with the Russian soldier, and in fact with everybody. +Honour stands for nothing, but with the knout and brandy one can get +anything from them except heroical enthusiasm. + +Papanelopulo laughed at me when I said that as I liked my Cossack I +should endeavour to correct him with words only when he took too much +brandy. + +"If you do not beat him," he said, "he will end by beating you;" and he +spoke the truth. + +One day, when he was so drunk as to be unable to attend on me, I began to +scold him, and threatened him with the stick if he did not mend his ways. +As soon as he saw my cane lifted, he ran at me and got hold of it; and if +I had not knocked him down immediately, he would doubtless have beaten +me. I dismissed him on the spot. There is not a better servant in the +world than a Russian. He works without ceasing, sleeps in front of the +door of his master's bedroom to be always ready to fulfil his orders, +never answering his reproaches, incapable of theft. But after drinking a +little too much brandy he becomes a perfect monster; and drunkenness is +the vice of the whole nation. + +A coachman knows no other way of resisting the bitter cold to which he is +exposed, than by drinking rye brandy. It sometimes happens that he drinks +till he falls asleep, and then there is no awaking for him in this world. +Unless one is very careful, it is easy to lose an ear, the nose, a cheek, +or a lip by frost bites. One day as I was walking out on a bitterly cold +day, a Russian noticed that one of my ears was frozen. He ran up to me +and rubbed the affected part with a handful of snow till the circulation +was restored. I asked him how he had noticed my state, and he said he had +remarked the livid whiteness of my ear, and this, he said, was always a +sign that the frost had taken it. What surprised me most of all is that +sometimes the part grows again after it has dropped off. Prince Charles +of Courland assured me that he had cost his nose in Siberia, and that it +had grown again the next summer. I have been assured of the truth of this +by several Russians. + +About this time the empress made the architect Rinaldi, who had been +fifty years in St. Petersburg, build her an enormous wooden amphitheatre +so large as to cover the whole of the space in front of the palace. It +would contain a hundred thousand spectators, and in it Catherine intended +to give a vast tournament to all the knights of her empire. There were to +be four parties of a hundred knights each, and all the cavaliers were to +be clad in the national costume of the nations they represented. All the +Russians were informed of this great festival, which was to be given at +the expense of the sovereign, and the princes, counts, and barons were +already arriving with their chargers from the most remote parts of the +empire. Prince Charles of Courland wrote informing me of his intention to +be present. + +It had been ordained, that the tournament should take place on the first +fine day, and this precaution was a very wise one; for, excepting in the +season of the hard frosts, a day without rain, or snow, or wind, is a +marvel. In Italy, Spain, and France, one can reckon on fine weather, and +bad weather is the exception, but it is quite the contrary in Russia. +Ever since I have known this home of frost and the cold north wind, I +laugh when I hear travelling Russians talking of the fine climate of +their native country. However, it is a pardonable weakness, most of us +prefer "mine" to "thine;" nobles affect to consider themselves of purer +blood than the peasants from whom they sprang, and the Romans and other +ancient nations pretended that they were the children of the gods, to +draw a veil over their actual ancestors who were doubtless robbers. The +truth is, that during the whole year 1756 there was not one fine day in +Russia, or in Ingria at all events, and the mere proofs of this statement +may be found in the fact that the tournament was not held in that year. +It was postponed till the next, and the princes, counts, barons, and +knights spent the winter in the capital, unless their purses forbade them +to indulge in the luxuries of Court life. The dear Prince of Courland was +in this case, to my great disappointment. + +Having made all arrangements for my journey to Moscow, I got into my +sleeping carriage with Zaira, having a servant behind who could speak +both Russian and German. For twenty-four roubles the chevochic (hirer out +of horses) engaged to carry me to Moscow in six days and seven nights +with six horses. This struck me as being extremely cheap. The distance is +seventy-two Russian stages, almost equivalent to five hundred Italian +miles, or a hundred and sixty French leagues. + +We set out just as a cannon shot from the citadel announced the close of +day. It was towards the end of May, in which month there is literally no +night at St. Petersburg. Without the report of the cannon no one would be +able to tell when the day ended and the night began. One can read a +letter at midnight, and the moonlight makes no appreciable difference. +This continual day lasts for eight weeks, and during that time no one +lights a candle. At Moscow it is different; a candle is always necessary +at midnight if one wished to read. + +We reached Novgorod in forty-eight hours, and here the chevochic allowed +us a rest of five hours. I saw a circumstance there which surprised me +very much, though one has no business to be surprised at anything if one +travels much, and especially in a land of half savages. I asked the +chevochic to drink, but he appeared to be in great melancholy. I enquired +what was the matter, and he told Zaira that one of his horses had refused +to eat, and that it was clear that if he could not eat he could not work. +We followed him into the stable, and found the horse looking oppressed by +care, its head lowered and motionless; it had evidently got no appetite. +His master began a pathetic oration, looking tenderly at the animal, as +if to arouse it to a sense of duty, and then taking its head, and kissing +it lovingly, he put it into the manger, but to no purpose. Then the man +began to weep bitterly, but in such a way that I had the greatest +difficulty to prevent myself laughing, for I could see that he wept in +the hope that his tears might soften the brute's heart. When he had wept +some time he again put the horse's head into the manger, but again to no +purpose. At this he got furious and swore to be avenged. He led the horse +out of the stable, tied it to a post, and beat it with a thick stick for +a quarter of an hour so violently that my heart bled for the poor animal. +At last the chevochic was tired out, and taking the horse back to the +stable he fastened up his head once more, and to my astonishment it began +to devour its provender with the greatest appetite. At this the master +jumped for joy, laughed, sang, and committed a thousand extravagancies, +as if to shew the horse how happy it had made him. I was beside myself +with astonishment, and concluded that such treatment would have succeeded +nowhere but in Russia, where the stick seems to be the panacea or +universal medicine. + +They tell me, however, that the stick is gradually going out of fashion. +Peter the Great used to beat his generals black and blue, and in his days +a lieutenant had to receive with all submission the cuffs of his captain, +who bent before the blows of his major, who did the same to his colonel, +who received chastisement from his general. So I was informed by old +General Woyakoff, who was a pupil of Peter the Great, and had often been +beaten by the great emperor, the founder of St. Petersburg. + +It seems to me that I have scarcely said anything about this great and +famous capital, which in my opinion is built on somewhat precarious +foundations. No one but Peter could have thus given the lie to Nature by +building his immense palaces of marble and granite on mud and shifting +sand. They tell me that the town is now in its manhood, to the honour of +the great Catherine; but in the year 1765 it was still in its minority, +and seemed to me only to have been built with the childish aim of seeing +it fall into ruins. Streets were built with the certainty of having to +repair them in six months' time. The whole place proclaimed itself to be +the whim of a despot. If it is to be durable constant care will be +required, for nature never gives up its rights and reasserts them when +the constraint of man is withdrawn. My theory is that sooner or later the +soil must give way and drag the vast city with it. + +We reached Moscow in the time the chevochic had promised. As the same +horses were used for the whole journey, it would have been impossible to +travel mote quickly. A Russian told me that the Empress Elizabeth had +done the journey in fifty-two hours. + +"You mean that she issued a ukase to the effect that she had done it," +said a Russian of the old school; "and if she had liked she could have +travelled more quickly still; it was only a question of the wording of +the ukase." + +Even when I was in Russia it was not allowable to doubt the infallibility +of a ukase, and to do so was, equivalent to high treason. One day I was +crossing a canal at St. Petersburg by a small wooden bridge; Melissino +Papanelopulo, and some other Russians were with me. I began to abuse the +wooden bridge, which I characterized as both mean and dangerous. One of +my companions said that on such a day it would be replaced by a fine +stone bridge, as the empress had to pass there on some state occasion. +The day named way three weeks off, and I said plainly that it was +impossible. One of the Russians looked askance at me, and said there was +no doubt about it, as a ukase had been published ordering that the bridge +should be built. I was going to answer him, but Papanelopulo gave my hand +a squeeze, and whispered "Taci!" (hush). + +The bridge was not built, but I was not justified, for the empress +published another ukase in which she declared it to be her gracious +pleasure that the bridge should not be built till the following year. If +anyone would see what a pure despotism is like, let him go to Russia. + +The Russian sovereigns use the language of despotism on all occasions. +One day I saw the empress, dressed in man's clothes, going out for a +ride. Her master of the horse, Prince Repnin, held the bridle of the +horse, which suddenly gave him a kick which broke his anklebone. The +empress instantly ordained that the horse should be taken away, and that +no one should mount it again under pain of death. All official positions +in Russia have military rank assigned to them, and this sufficiently +indicates the nature of the Government. The coachman-in-chief of her +imperial highness holds the rank of colonel, as also does her chief cook. +The castrato Luini was a lieutenant-colonel, and the painter Toretti only +a captain, because he had only eight hundred roubles a year, while the +coachman had three thousand. The sentinels at the doors of the palace +have their muskets crossed, and ask those who wish to pass through what +is their rank. When I was asked this question, I stopped short; but the +quick-witted officer asked me how much I had a year, and on my replying, +at a hazard, three thousand roubles, he gave me the rank of general, and +I was allowed to pass. I saw the czarina for a moment; she stopped at the +door and took off her gloves to give her hands to be kissed by the +officer and the two sentinels. By such means as this she had won the +affection of the corps, commanded by Gregorius Gregorovitch Orloff, on +which her safety depended in case of revolution. + +I made the following notes when I saw the empress hearing mass in her +chapel. The protopapa, or bishop, received her at the door to give her +the holy water, and she kissed his episcopal ring, while the prelate, +whose beard was a couple of feet in length, lowered his head to kiss the +hands of his temporal sovereign and spiritual head, for in Russia the he +or she on the throne is the spiritual as well as temporal head of the +Church. + +She did not evidence the least devotion during mass; hypocrisy did not +seem to be one of her vices. Now she smiled at one of her suite, now at +another, and occasionally she addressed the favourite, not because she +had anything to say to him, but to make him an object of envy to the +others. + +One evening, as she was leaving the theatre where Metastasio's Olympiade +had been performed, I heard her say,-- + +"The music of that opera has given the greatest pleasure to everyone, so +of course I am delighted with it; but it wearies me, nevertheless. Music +is a fine thing, but I cannot understand how anyone who is seriously +occupied can love it passionately. I will have Buranello here, and I +wonder whether he will interest me in music, but I am afraid nature did +not constitute me to feel all its charms." + +She always argued in that way. In due time I will set down her words to +me when I returned from Moscow. When I arrived at that city I got down at +a good inn, where they gave me two rooms and a coach-house for my +carriage. After dinner I hired a small carriage and a guide who could +speak French. My carriage was drawn by four horses, for Moscow is a vast +city composed of four distinct towns, and many of the streets are rough +and ill-paved. I had five or six letters of introduction, and I +determined to take them all. I took Zaira with me, as she was as curious +to see everything as a girl of fourteen naturally is. I do not remember +what feast the Greek Church was keeping on that day, but I shall never +forget the terrific bell-ringing with which my ears were assailed, for +there are churches every where. The country people were engaged in sowing +their grain, to reap it in September. They laughed at our Southern custom +of sowing eight months earlier, as unnecessary and even prejudicial to +the crops, but I do not know where the right lies. Perhaps we may both be +right, for there is no master to compare with experience. I took all the +introductions I had received from Narischkin, Prince Repnin, the worthy +Pananelopulo, and Melissino's brother. The next morning the whole of the +persons at whose houses I had left letters called on me. They all asked +Zaira and myself to dinner, and I accepted the invitation of the first +comer, M. Dinidoff, and promised to dine with the rest on the following +days, Zaira, who had been tutored by me to some extent, was delighted to +shew me that she was worthy of the position she occupied. She was +exquisitely dressed, and won golden opinions everywhere, for our hosts +did not care to enquire whether she were my daughter, my mistress, or my +servant, for in this matter, as in many others, the Russians are +excessively indulgent. Those who have not seen Moscow have not seen +Russia, for the people of St, Petersburg are not really Russians at all. +Their court manners are very different from their manners 'au naturel', +and it may be said with truth that the true Russian is as a stranger in +St. Petersburg. The citizens of, Moscow, and especially the rich ones, +speak with pity of those, who for one reason or another, had expatriated +themselves; and with them to expatriate one's self is to leave Moscow, +which they consider as their native land. They look on St. Petersburg +with an envious eye, and call it the ruin of Russia. I do not know +whether this is a just view to take of the case, I merely repeat what I +have heard. + +In the course of a week I saw all the sights of Moscow--the +manufacturers, the churches, the remains of the old days, the museums, +the libraries, (of no interest to my mind), not forgetting the famous +bell. I noticed that their bells are not allowed to swing like ours, but +are motionless, being rung by a rope attached to the clapper. + +I thought the Moscow women more handsome than those of St. Petersburg, +and I attribute this to the great superiority of the air. They are gentle +and accessible by nature; and to obtain the favour of a kiss on the lips, +one need only make a show of kissing their hands. + +There was good fare in plenty, but no delicacy in its composition or +arrangement. Their table is always open to friends and acquaintances, and +a friend may bring to five or six persons to dinner, and even at the end +of the meals you will never hear a Russian say, "We have had dinner; you +have come too late." Their souls are not black enough for them to +pronounce such words as this. Notice is given to the cook, and the dinner +begins over again. They have a delicious drink, the name of which I do +not remember; but it is much superior to the sherbet of Constantinople. +The numerous servants are not given water, but a light, nourishing, and +agreeable fluid, which may be purchased very cheaply. They all hold St. +Nicholas in the greatest reverence, only praying to God through the +mediation of this saint, whose picture is always suspended in the +principal room of the house. A person coming in makes first a bow to the +image and then a bow to the master, and if perchance the image is absent, +the Russian, after gazing all round, stands confused and motionless, not +knowing what to do. As a general rule the Muscovites are the most +superstitious Christians in the world. Their liturgy is in Greek, of +which the people understand nothing, and the clergy, themselves extremely +ignorant, gladly leave them completely in the dark on all matters +connected with religion. I could never make them understand that the only +reason for the Roman Christians making the sign of the Cross from left to +right, while the Greeks make it from right to left, is that we say +'spiritus sancti', while they say 'agion pneuma'. + +"If you said pneuma agion," I used to say, "then you would cross yourself +like us, and if we said sancti spiritus we should cross ourselves like +you." + +"The adjective," replied my interlocutor, "should always precede the +substantive, for we should never utter the name of God without first +giving Him some honourable epithet." + +Such are nearly all the differences which divide the two churches, +without reckoning the numerous idle tales which they have as well as +ourselves, and which are by no means the least cherished articles of +their faith. + +We returned to St. Petersburg by the way we had come, but Zaira would +have liked me never to leave Moscow. She had become so much in love with +me by force of constant association that I could not think without a pang +of the moment of separation. The day after our arrival in the capital I +took her to her home, where she shewed her father all the little presents +I had given her, and told him of the honour she had received as my +daughter, which made the good man laugh heartily. + +The first piece of news I heard was that a ukase had been issued, +ordering the erection of a temple dedicated to God in the Moscoi opposite +to the house where I resided. The empress had entrusted Rinaldi, the +architect, with the erection. He asked her what emblem he should put +above the portal, and she replied,-- + +"No emblem at all, only the name of God in large letters." + +"I will put a triangle." + +"No triangle at all; but only the name of God in whatever language you +like, and nothing more." + +The second piece of news was that Bomback had fled and had been captured +at Mitau, where he believed himself in safety. M. de Simolia had arrested +him. It was a grave case, for he had deserted; however, he was given his +life, and sent into barracks at Kamstchatka. Crevecoeur and his mistress +had departed, carrying some money with them, and a Florentine adventurer +named Billotti had fled with eighteen thousand roubles belonging to +Papanelopulo, but a certain Bori, the worthy Greek's factotum, had caught +him at Mitau and brought him back to St. Petersburg, where he was now in +prison. Prince Charles of Courland arrived about this time, and I +hastened to call upon him as soon as he advised me of his coming. He was +lodging in a house belonging to Count Dimidoff, who owned large iron +mines, and had made the whole house of iron, from attic to basement. The +prince had brought his mistress with him, but she was still in an +ill-humour, and he was beginning to get heartily sick of her. The man was +to be pitied, for he could not get rid of her without finding her a +husband, and this husband became more difficult to find every day. When +the prince saw how happy I was with my Zaira, he could not help thinking +how easily happiness may be won; but the fatal desire for luxury and +empty show spoils all, and renders the very sweets of life as bitter as +gall. + +I was indeed considered happy, and I liked to appear so, but in my heart +I was wretched. Ever since my imprisonment under The Leads, I had been +subject to haemorrhoids, which came on three or four times a year. At St. +Petersburg I had a serious attack, and the daily pain and anxiety +embittered my existence. A vegetarian doctor called Senapios, for whom I +had sent, gave me the sad news that I had a blind or incomplete fistula +in the rectum, and according to him nothing but the cruel pistoury would +give me any relief, and indeed he said I had no time to lose. I had to +agree, in spite of my dislike to the operation; but fortunately the +clever surgeon whom the doctor summoned pronounced that if I would have +patience nature itself would give me relief. I had much to endure, +especially from the severe dieting to which I was subjected, but which +doubtless did me good. + +Colonel Melissino asked me to be present at a review which was to take +place at three versts from St. Petersburg, and was to be succeeded by a +dinner to twenty-four guests, given by General Orloff. I went with the +prince, and saw a cannon fired twenty times in a minute, testing the +performance with my watch. + +My neighbour at dinner was the French ambassador. Wishing to drink +deeply, after the Russian fashion, and thinking the Hungarian wine as +innocent as champagne, he drank so bravely that at the end of dinner he +had lost the use of his legs. Count Orloff made him drink still more, and +then he fell asleep and was laid on a bed. + +The gaiety of the meal gave me some idea of Russian wit. I did not +understand the language, so M. Zinowieff translated the curious sallies +to me while the applause they had raised was still resounding. + +Melissino rose to his feet, holding a large goblet full of Hungarian wine +in his hand. There was a general silence to listen to him. He drank the +health of General Orloff in these words: + +"May you die when you become rich." + +The applause was general, for the allusion was to the unbounded +generosity of Orloff. The general's reply struck me as better still, but +it was equally rugged in character. He, too, took a full cup, and turning +to Melissino, said, + +"May you never die till I slay you!" + +The applause was furious, for he was their host and their general. + +The Russian wit is of the energetic kind, devoid of grace; all they care +about is directness and vigour. + +Voltaire had just sent the empress his "Philosophy of History," which he +had written for her and dedicated to her. A month after, an edition of +three thousand copies came by sea, and was sold out in a week, for all +the Russians who knew a little French were eager to possess a copy of the +work. The leaders of the Voltaireans were two noblemen, named, +respectively, Stroganoff and Schuvaloff. I have seen verses written by +the former of these as good as Voltaire's own verses, and twenty years +later I saw an ode by the latter of which Voltaire would not have been +ashamed, but the subject was ill chosen; for it treated of the death of +the great philosopher who had so studiously avoided using his pen on +melancholy themes. In those days all Russians with any pretensions to +literature read nothing but Voltaire, and when they had read all his +writings they thought themselves as wise as their master. To me they +seemed pigmies mimicking a giant. I told them that they ought to read all +the books from which Voltaire had drawn his immense learning, and then, +perhaps, they might become as wise as he. I remember the saying of a wise +man at Rome: "Beware of the man of one book." I wonder whether the +Russians are more profound now; but that is a question I cannot answer. +At Dresden I knew Prince Biloselski, who was on his way back to Russia +after having been ambassador at Turin. He was the author of an admirable +world on metaphysics, and the analysis of the soul and reason. + +Count Panin was the tutor of Paul Petrovitch, heir-presumptive to the +throne. The young prince had a severe master, and dared not even applaud +an air at the opera unless he first received permission to do so from his +mentor. + +When a courier brought the news of the sudden death of Francis I., +Emperor of Germany and of the Holy Roman Empire, the czarina being at +Czarsko-Zelo, the count minister-tutor was in the palace with his pupil, +then eleven years old. The courier came at noon, and gave the dispatch +into the hands of the minister, who was standing in the midst of a crowd +of courtiers of whom I was one. The prince imperial was at his right +hand. The minister read the dispatch in a low voice, and then said: + +"This is news indeed. The Emperor of the Romans has died suddenly." + +He then turned to Paul, and said to him,-- + +"Full court mourning, which your highness will observe for three months +longer than the empress." + +"Why so?" said Paul. + +"Because, as Duke of Holstein, your highness has a right to attend the +diet of the empire, a privilege," he added, turning to us, "which Peter +the Great desired in vain." + +I noted the attention with which the Grand Duke Paul listened to his +mentor, and the care with which he concealed his joy at the news. I was +immensely pleased with this way of giving instruction. I said as much to +Prince Lobkowitz, who was standing by me, and he refined on my praises. +This prince was popular with everyone. He was even preferred to his +predecessor, Prince Esterhazy; and this was saying a great deal, for +Esterhazy was adored in Russia. The gay and affable manner of Prince +Lobkowitz made him the life and soul of all the parties at which he was +present. He was a constant courtier of the Countess Braun, the reigning +beauty, and everyone believed his love had been crowned with success, +though no one could assert as much positively. + +There was a great review held at a distance of twelve or fourteen versts +from St. Petersburg, at which the empress and all her train of courtiers +were present. The houses of the two or three adjoining villages were so +few and small that it would be impossible for all the company to find a +lodging. Nevertheless I wished to be present chiefly to please Zaira, who +wanted to be seen with me on such an occasion. The review was to last +three days; there were to be fireworks, and a mine was to be exploded +besides the evolutions of the troops. I went in my travelling carriage, +which would serve me for a lodging if I could get nothing better. + +We arrived at the appointed place at eight o'clock in the morning; the +evolutions lasted till noon. When they were over we went towards a tavern +and had our meal served to us in the carriage, as all the rooms in the +inn were full. + +After dinner my coachman tried in vain to find me a lodging, so I +disposed myself to sleep all night in the carriage; and so I did for the +whole time of the review, and fared better than those who had spent so +much money to be ill lodged. Melissino told me that the empress thought +my idea a very sensible one. As I was the only person who had a sleeping +carriage, which was quite a portable house in itself, I had numerous +visitors, and Zaira was radiant to be able to do the honours. + +I had a good deal of conversation during the review with Count Tott, +brother of the nobleman who was employed at Constantinople, and known as +Baron Tott. We had known each other at Paris, and afterwards at the +Hague, where I had the pleasure of being of service to him. He had come +to St. Petersburg with Madame de Soltikoff, whom he had met at Paris, and +whose lover he was. He lived with her, went to Court, and was well +received by everyone. + +Two or three years after, the empress ordered him to leave St. Petersburg +on account of the troubles in Poland. It was said that he kept up a +correspondence with his brother, who was endeavouring to intercept the +fleet under the command of Alexis Orloff. I never heard what became of +him after he left Russia, where he obliged me with the loan of five +hundred roubles, which I have not yet been able to return to him. + +M. Maruzzi, by calling a Venetian merchant, and by birth a Greek, having +left trade to live like a gentleman, came to St. Petersburg when I was +there, and was presented at Court. He was a fine-looking man, and was +admitted to all the great houses. The empress treated him with +distinction because she had thoughts of making him her agent at Venice. +He paid his court to the Countess Braun, but he had rivals there who were +not afraid of him. He was rich enough, but did not know how to spend his +money; and avarice is a sin which meets with no pity from the Russian +ladies. + +I went to Czarsko-Zelo, Peterhoff, and Cronstadt, for if you want to say +you have been in a country you should see as much as possible of it. I +wrote notes and memorandums on several questions with the hope of their +procuring me a place in the civil service, and all my productions were +laid before the empress but with no effect. In Russia they do not think +much of foreigners unless they have specially summoned them; those who +come of their own account rarely make much, and I suspect the Russians +are right. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +I See the Empress--My Conversations with Her--The Valville--I Leave Zaiya +I Leave St. Petersburg and Arrive at Warsaw--The Princes Adam Czartoryski +and Sulkowski--The King of Poland--Theatrical Intrigues--Byanicki + +I thought of leaving Russia at the beginning of the autumn, but I was +told by M M. Panin and Alsuwieff that I ought not to go without having +spoken to the empress. + +"I should be sorry to do so," I replied, "but as I can't find anyone to +present me to her, I must be resigned." + +At last Panin told me to walk in a garden frequented by her majesty at an +early hour, and he said that meeting me, as it were by chance, she would +probably speak to me. I told him I should like him to be with her, and he +accordingly named a day. + +I repaired to the garden, and as I walked about I marvelled at the +statuary it contained, all the statues being made of the worst stone, and +executed in the worst possible taste. The names cut beneath them gave the +whole the air of a practical joke. A weeping statue was Democritus; +another, with grinning mouth, was labelled Heraclitus; an old man with a +long beard was Sappho; and an old woman, Avicenna; and so on. + +As I was smiling at this extraordinary collection, I saw the czarina, +preceded by Count Gregorius Orloff, and followed by two ladies, +approaching. Count Panin was on her left hand. I stood by the hedge to +let her pass, but as soon as she came up to me she asked, smilingly, if I +had been interested in the statues. I replied, following her steps, that +I presumed they had been placed there to impose on fools, or to excite +the laughter of those acquainted with history. + +"From what I can make out," she replied, "the secret of the matter is +that my worthy aunt was imposed on, and indeed she did not trouble +herself much about such trifles. But I hope you have seen other things in +Russia less ridiculous than these statues?" + +I entertained the sovereign for more than an hour with my remarks on the +things of note I had seen in St. Petersburg. The conversation happened to +turn on the King of Prussia, and I sang his praises; but I censured his +terrible habit of always interrupting the person whom he was addressing. +Catherine smiled and asked me to tell her about the conversation I had +had with this monarch, and I did so to the best of my ability. She was +then kind enough to say that she had never seen me at the Courtag, which +was a vocal and instrumental concert given at the palace, and open to +all. I told her that I had only attended once, as I was so unfortunate as +not to have a taste for music. At this she turned to Panin, and said +smilingly that she knew someone else who had the same misfortune. If the +reader remembers what I heard her say about music as she was leaving the +opera, he will pronounce my speech to have been a very courtier-like one, +and I confess it was; but who can resist making such speeches to a +monarch, and above all, a monarch in petticoats? + +The czarina turned from me to speak to M. Bezkoi, who had just come up, +and as M. Panin left the garden I did so too, delighted with the honour I +had had. + +The empress, who was a woman of moderate height and yet of a majestic +appearance, thoroughly understood the art of making herself loved. She +was not beautiful, but yet she was sure of pleasing by her geniality and +her wit, and also by that exquisite tact which made one forget the +awfulness of the sovereign in the gentleness of the woman. A few days +after, Count Partin told me that the empress had twice asked after me, +and that this was a sure sign I had pleased her. He advised me to look +out for another opportunity of meeting her, and said that for the future +she would always tell me to approach whenever she saw me, and that if I +wanted some employment she might possible do something for me. + +Though I did not know what employ I could ask for in that disagreeable +country, I was glad to hear that I could have easy access to the Court. +With that idea I walked in the garden every day, and here follows my +second conversation with the empress She saw me at a distance and sent an +officer to fetch me into her presence. As everybody was talking of the +tournament, which had to be postponed on account of the bad weather, she +asked me if this kind of entertainment could be given at Venice. I told +her some amusing stories on the subject of shows and spectacles, and in +this relation I remarked that the Venetian climate was more pleasant than +the Russian, for at Venice fine days were the rule, while at St. +Petersburg they were the exception, though the year is younger there than +anywhere else. + +"Yes," she said, "in your country it is eleven days older." + +"Would it not be worthy of your majesty to put Russia on an equality with +the rest of the world in this respect, by adopting the Gregorian +calendar? All the Protestants have done so, and England, who adopted it +fourteen years ago, has already gained several millions. All Europe is +astonished that the old style should be suffered to exist in a country +where the sovereign is the head of the Church, and whose capital contains +an academy of science. It is thought that Peter the Great, who made the +year begin in January, would have also abolished the old style if he had +not been afraid of offending England, which then kept trade and commerce +alive throughout your vast empire." + +"You know," she replied, with a sly smile, "that Peter the Great was not +exactly a learned man." + +"He was more than a man of learning, the immortal Peter was a genius of +the first order. Instinct supplied the place of science with him; his +judgment was always in the right. His vast genius, his firm resolve, +prevented him from making mistakes, and helped him to destroy all those +abuses which threatened to oppose his great designs." + +Her majesty seemed to have heard me with great interest, and was about to +reply when she noticed two ladies whom she summoned to her presence. To +me she said,-- + +"I shall be delighted to reply to you at another time," and then turned +towards the ladies. + +The time came in eight or ten days, when I was beginning to think she had +had enough of me, for she had seen me without summoning me to speak to +her. + +She began by saying what I desired should be done was done already. "All +the letters sent to foreign countries and all the important State records +are marked with both dates." + +"But I must point out to your majesty that by the end of the century the +difference will be of twelve days, not eleven." + +"Not at all; we have seen to that. The last year of this century will not +be counted as a leap year. It is fortunate that the difference is one of +eleven days, for as that is the number which is added every year to the +epact our epacts are almost the same. As to the celebration of Easter, +that is a different question. Your equinox is on March the 21st, ours on +the 10th, and the astronomers say we are both wrong; sometimes it is we +who are wrong and sometimes you, as the equinox varies. You know you are +not even in agreement with the Jews, whose calculation is said to be +perfectly accurate; and, in fine, this difference in the time of +celebrating Easter does not disturb in any way public order or the +progress of the Government." + +"Your majesty's words fill me with admiration, but the Festival of +Christmas---- " + +"I suppose you are going to say that we do not celebrate Christmas in the +winter solstice as should properly be done. We know it, but it seems to +me a matter of no account. I would rather bear with this small mistake +than grievously afflict vast numbers of my subjects by depriving them of +their birthdays. If I did so, there would be no open complaints uttered, +as that is not the fashion in Russia; but they would say in secret that I +was an Atheist, and that I disputed the infallibility of the Council of +Nice. You may think such complaints matter for laughter, but I do not, +for I have much more agreeable motives for amusement." + +The czarina was delighted to mark my surprise. I did not doubt for a +moment that she had made a special study of the whole subject. M. +Alsuwieff told me, a few days after, that she had very possibly read a +little pamphlet on the subject, the statements of which exactly coincided +with her own. He took care to add, however, that it was very possible her +highness was profoundly learned on the matter, but this was merely a +courtier's phrase. + +What she said was spoken modestly and energetically, and her good humour +and pleasant smile remained unmoved throughout. She exercised a constant +self-control over herself, and herein appeared the greatness of her +character, for nothing is more difficult. Her demeanour, so different +from that of the Prussian king, shewed her to be the greater sovereign of +the two; her frank geniality always gave her the advantage, while the +short, curt manners of the king often exposed him to being made a dupe. +In an examination of the life of Frederick the Great, one cannot help +paying a deserved tribute to his courage, but at the same time one feels +that if it had not been for repeated turns of good fortune he must have +succumbed, whereas Catherine was little indebted to the favours of the +blind deity. She succeeded in enterprises which, before her time, would +have been pronounced impossibilities, and it seemed her aim to make men +look upon her achievements as of small account. + +I read in one of our modern journals, those monuments of editorial +self-conceit, that Catherine the Great died happily as she had lived. +Everybody knows that she died suddenly on her close stool. By calling +such a death happy, the journalist hints that it is the death he himself +would wish for. Everyone to his taste, and we can only hope that the +editor may obtain his wish; but who told this silly fellow that Catherine +desired such a death? If he regards such a wish as natural to a person of +her profound genius I would ask who told him that men of genius consider +a sudden death to be a happy one? Is it because that is his opinion, and +are we to conclude that he is therefore person of genius? To come to the +truth we should have to interrogate the late empress, and ask her some +such question as: + +"Are you well pleased to have died suddenly?" + +She would probably reply: + +"What a foolish question! Such might be the wish of one driven to +despair, or of someone suffering from a long and grievous malady. Such +was not my position, for I enjoyed the blessings of happiness and good +health; no worse fate could have happened to me. My sudden death +prevented me from concluding several designs which I might have brought +to a successful issue if God had granted me the warning of a slight +illness. But it was not so; I had to set out on the long journey at a +moment's notice, without the time to make any preparations. Is my death +any the happier from my not foreseeing it? Do you think me such a coward +as to dread the approach of what is common to all? I tell you that I +should have accounted myself happy if I had had a respite of but a day. +Then I should not complain of the Divine justice." + +"Does your highness accuse God of injustice, then?" + +"What boots it, since I am a lost soul? Do you expect the damned to +acknowledge the justice of the decree which has consigned them to eternal +woe?" + +"No doubt it is a difficult matter, but I should have thought that a +sense of the justice of your doom would have mitigated the pains of it." + +"Perhaps so, but a damned soul must be without consolation for ever." + +"In spite of that there are some philosophers who call you happy in your +death by virtue of its suddenness." + +"Not philosophers, but fools, for in its suddenness was the pain and +woe." + +"Well said; but may I ask your highness if you admit the possibility of a +happy eternity after an unhappy death, or of an unhappy doom after a +happy death?" + +"Such suppositions are inconceivable. The happiness of futurity lies in +the ecstasy of the soul in feeling freed from the trammels of matter, and +unhappiness is the doom of a soul which was full of remorse at the moment +it left the body. But enough, for my punishment forbids my farther +speech." + +"Tell me, at least, what is the nature of your punishment?" + +"An everlasting weariness. Farewell." + +After this long and fanciful digression the reader will no doubt be +obliged by my returning to this world. + +Count Panin told me that in a few days the empress would leave for her +country house, and I determined to have an interview with her, foreseeing +that it would be for the last time. + +I had been in the garden for a few minutes when heavy rain began to fall, +and I was going to leave, when the empress summoned me into an apartment +on the ground floor of the palace, where she was walking up and down with +Gregorovitch and a maid of honour. + +"I had forgotten to ask you," she said, graciously, "if you believe the +new calculation of the calendar to be exempt from error?" + +"No, your majesty; but the error is so minute that it will not produce +any sensible effect for the space of nine or ten thousand years." + +"I thought so; and in my opinion Pope Gregory should not have +acknowledged any mistake at all. The Pope, however, had much less +difficulty in carrying out his reform than I should have with my +subjects, who are too fond of their ancient usages and customs." + +"Nevertheless, I am sure your majesty would meet with obedience." + +"No doubt, but imagine the grief of my clergy in not being able to +celebrate the numerous saints' days, which would fall on the eleven days +to be suppressed. You have only one saint for each day, but we have a +dozen at least. I may remark also that all ancient states and kingdoms +are attached to their ancient laws. I have heard that your Republic of +Venice begins the year in March, and that seems to me, as it were, a +monument and memorial of its antiquity--and indeed the year begins more +naturally in March than in January--but does not this usage cause some +confusion?" + +"None at all, your majesty. The letters M V, which we adjoin to all dates +in January and February, render all mistakes impossible." + +"Venice is also noteworthy for its peculiar system of heraldry, by the +amusing form under which it portrays its patron saint, and by the five +Latin words with which the Evangelist is invoked, in which, as I am told, +there is a grammatical blunder which has become respectable by its long +standing. But is it true that you do not distinguish between the day and +night hours?" + +"It is, your majesty, and what is more we reckon the day from the +beginning of the night." + +"Such is the force of custom, which makes us admire what other nations +think ridiculous. You see no inconvenience in your division of the day, +which strikes me as most inconvenient." + +"You would only have to look at your watch, and you would not need to +listen for the cannon shot which announces the close of day." + +"Yes, but for this one advantage you have over us, we have two over you. +We know that at twelve o'clock it is either mid-day or midnight." + +The czarina spoke to me about the fondness of the Venetians for games of +chance, and asked if the Genoa Lottery had been established there. "I +have been asked," she added, "to allow the lottery to be established in +my own dominions; but I should never permit it except on the condition +that no stake should be below a rouble, and then the poor people would +not be able to risk their money in it." + +I replied to this discreet observation with a profound inclination of the +head, and thus ended my last interview with the famous empress who +reigned thirty-five years without committing a single mistake of any +importance. The historian will always place her amongst great sovereigns, +though the moralist will always consider her, and rightly, as one of the +most notable of dissolute women. + +A few days before I left I gave an entertainment to my friends at +Catherinhoff, winding up with a fine display of fireworks, a present from +my friend Melissino. My supper for thirty was exquisite, and my ball a +brilliant one. In spite of the tenuity of my purse I felt obliged to give +my friends this mark of my gratitude for the kindness they had lavished +on me. + +I left Russia with the actress Valville, and I must here tell the reader +how I came to make her acquaintance. + +I happened to go to the French play, and to find myself seated next to an +extremely pretty lady who was unknown to me. I occasionally addressed an +observation to her referring to the play or actors, and I was immensely +delighted with her spirited answers. Her expression charmed me, and I +took the liberty of asking her if she were a Russian. + +"No, thank God!" she replied, "I am a Parisian, and an actress by +occupation. My name is Valville; but I don't wonder I am unknown to you, +for I have been only a month here, and have played but once." + +"How is that?" + +"Because I was so unfortunate as to fail to win the czarina's favour. +However, as I was engaged for a year, she has kindly ordered that my +salary of a hundred roubles shall be paid monthly. At the end of the year +I shall get my passport and go." + +"I am sure the empress thinks she is doing you a favour in paying you for +nothing." + +"Very likely; but she does not remember that I am forgetting how to act +all this time." + +"You ought to tell her that." + +"I only wish she would give me an audience." + +"That is unnecessary. Of course, you have a lover." + +"No, I haven't." + +"It's incredible to me!" + +"They say the incredible often happens." + +"I am very glad to hear it myself." + +I took her address, and sent her the following note the next day: + +"Madam,--I should like to begin an intrigue with you. You have inspired +me with feelings that will make me unhappy unless you reciprocate them. I +beg to take the liberty of asking myself to sup with you, but please tell +me how much it will cost me. I am obliged to leave for Warsaw in the +course of a month, and I shall be happy to offer you a place in my +travelling carriage. I shall be able to get you a passport. The bearer of +this has orders to wait, and I hope your answer will be as plainly worded +as my question." + +In two hours I received this reply: + +"Sir,--As I have the knack of putting an end to an intrigue when it has +ceased to amuse me, I have no hesitation in accepting your proposal. As +to the sentiments with which you say I have inspired you, I will do my +best to share them, and to make you happy. Your supper shall be ready, +and later on we will settle the price of the dessert. I shall be +delighted to accept the place in your carriage if you can obtain my +expenses to Paris as well as my passport. And finally, I hope you will +find my plain speaking on a match with yours. Good bye, till the +evening." + +I found my new friend in a comfortable lodging, and we accosted each +other as if we had been old acquaintances. + +"I shall be delighted to travel with you," said she, "but I don't think +you will be able to get my passport." + +"I have no doubt as to my success," I replied, "if you will present to +the empress the petition I shall draft for you." + +"I will surely do so," said she, giving me writing materials. + +I wrote out the following petition,-- + +"Your Majesty,--I venture to remind your highness that my enforced +idleness is making me forget my art, which I have not yet learnt +thoroughly. Your majesty's generosity is therefore doing me an injury, +and your majesty would do me a great benefit in giving me permission to +leave St. Petersburg." + +"Nothing more than that?" + +"Not a word." + +"You say nothing about the passport, and nothing about the journey-money. +I am not a rich woman." + +"Do you only present this petition; and, unless I am very much mistaken, +you will have, not only your journey-money, but also your year's salary." + +"Oh, that would be too much!" + +"Not at all. You do not know Catherine, but I do. Have this copied, and +present it in person." + +"I will copy it out myself, for I can write a good enough hand. Indeed, +it almost seems as if I had composed it; it is exactly my style. I +believe you are a better actor than I am, and from this evening I shall +call myself your pupil. Come, let us have some supper, that you may give +me my first lesson." + +After a delicate supper, seasoned by pleasant and witty talk, Madame +Valville granted me all I could desire. I went downstairs for a moment to +send away my coachman and to instruct him what he was to say to Zaira, +whom I had forewarned that I was going to Cronstadt, and might not return +till the next day. My coachman was a Ukrainian on whose fidelity I could +rely, but I knew that it would be necessary for me to be off with the old +love before I was on with the new. + +Madame Valville was like most young Frenchwomen of her class; she had +charms which she wished to turn to account, and a passable education; her +ambition was to be kept by one man, and the title of mistress was more +pleasing in her ears than that of wife. + +In the intervals of four amorous combats she told me enough of her life +for me to divine what it had been. Clerval, the actor, had been gathering +together a company of actors at Paris, and making her acquaintance by +chance and finding her to be intelligent, he assured her that she was a +born actress, though she had never suspected it. The idea had dazzled +her, and she had signed the agreement. She started from Paris with six +other actors and actresses, of whom she was the only one that had never +played. + +"I thought," she said, "it was like what is done at Paris, where a girl +goes into the chorus or the ballet without having learnt to sing or +dance. What else could I think, after an actor like Clerval had assured +me I had a talent for acting and had offered me a good engagement? All he +required of me was that I should learn by heart and repeat certain +passages which I rehearsed in his presence. He said I made a capital +soubrette, and he certainly could not have been trying to deceive me, but +the fact is he was deceived himself. A fortnight after my arrival I made +my first appearance, and my reception was not a flattering one." + +"Perhaps you were nervous?" + +"Nervous? not in the least. Clerval said that if I could have put on the +appearance of nervousness the empress, who is kindness itself, would +certainly have encouraged me." + +I left her the next morning after I had seen her copy out the petition. +She wrote a very good hand. + +"I shall present it to-day," said she. + +I wished her good luck, and arranged to sup with her again on the day I +meant to part with Zaira. + +All French girls who sacrifice to Venus are in the same style as the +Valville; they are entirely without passion or love, but they are +pleasant and caressing. They have only one object; and that is their own +profit. They make and unmake an intrigue with a smiling face and without +the slightest difficulty. It is their system, and if it be not absolutely +the best it is certainly the most convenient. + +When I got home I found Zaira submissive but sad, which annoyed me more +than anger would have done, for I loved her. However, it was time to +bring the matter to an end, and to make up my mind to endure the pain of +parting. + +Rinaldi, the architect, a man of seventy, but still vigorous and sensual, +was in love with her, and he had hinted to me several times that he would +be only too happy to take her over and to pay double the sum I had given +for her. My answer had been that I could only give her to a man she +liked, and that I meant to make her a present of the hundred roubles I +had given for her. Rinaldi did not like this answer, as he had not very +strong hopes of the girl taking a fancy to him; however, he did not +despair. + +He happened to call on me on the very morning on which I had determined +to give her up, and as he spoke Russian perfectly he gave Zaira to +understand how much he loved her. Her answer was that he must apply to +me, as my will was law to her, but that she neither liked nor disliked +anyone else. The old man could not obtain any more positive reply and +left us with but feeble hopes, but commending himself to my good offices. + +When he had gone, I asked Zaira whether she would not like me to leave +her to the worthy man, who would treat her as his own daughter. + +She was just going to reply when I was handed a note from Madame +Valville, asking me to call on her, as she had a piece of news to give +me. I ordered the carriage immediately, telling Zaira that I should not +be long. + +"Very good," she replied, "I will give you a plain answer when you come +back." + +I found Madame Valville in a high state of delight. + +"Long live the petition!" she exclaimed, as soon as she saw me. "I waited +for the empress to come out of her private chapel. I respectfully +presented my petition, which she read as she walked along, and then told +me with a kindly smile to wait a moment. I waited, and her majesty +returned me the petition initialled in her own hand, and bade me take it +to M. Ghelagin. This gentleman gave me an excellent reception, and told +me that the sovereign hand ordered him to give me my passport, my salary +for a year, and a hundred ducats for the journey. The money will be +forwarded in a fortnight, as my name will have to be sent to the +Gazette." + +Madame Valville was very grateful, and we fixed the day of our departure. +Three or four days later I sent in my name to the Gazette. + +I had promised Zaira to come back, so telling my new love that I would +come and live with her as soon as I had placed the young Russian in good +hands, I went home, feeling rather curious to hear Zaira's determination. + +After Zaira had supped with me in perfect good humour, she asked if M. +Rinaldi would pay me back the money I had given far her. I said he would, +and she went on,-- + +"It seems to me that I am worth more than I was, for I have all your +presents, and I know Italian." + +"You are right, dear, but I don't want it to be said that I have made a +profit on you; besides, I intend to make you a present of the hundred +roubles." + +"As you are going to make me such a handsome present, why not send me +back to my father's house? That would be still more generous. If M. +Rinaldi really loves me, he can come and talk it over with my father. You +have no objection to his paying me whatever sum I like to mention." + +"Not at all. On the contrary, I shall be very glad to serve your family, +and all the more as Rinaldi is a rich man." + +"Very good; you will be always dear to me in my memory. You shall take me +to my home to-morrow; and now let us go to bed." + +Thus it was that I parted with this charming girl, who made me live +soberly all the time I was at St. Petersburg. Zinowieff told me that if I +had liked to deposit a small sum as security I could have taken her with +me; but I had thought the matter over, and it seemed to me that as Zaira +grew more beautiful and charming I should end by becoming a perfect slave +to her. Possibly, however, I should not have looked into matters so +closely if I had not been in love with Madame Valville. + +Zaira spent the next morning in gathering together her belongings, now +laughing and now weeping, and every time that she left her packing to +give me a kiss I could not resist weeping myself. When I restored her to +her father, the whole family fell on their knees around me. Alas for poor +human nature! thus it is degraded by the iron heel of oppression. Zaira +looked oddly in the humble cottage, where one large mattress served for +the entire family. + +Rinaldi took everything in good part. He told me that since the daughter +would make no objection he had no fear of the father doing so. He went to +the house the next day, but he did not get the girl till I had left St. +Petersburg. He kept her for the remainder of his days, and behaved very +handsomely to her. + +After this melancholy separation Madame Valville became my sole mistress, +and we left the Russian capital in the course of a few weeks. I took an +Armenian merchant into my service; he had lent me a hundred ducats, and +cooked very well in the Eastern style. I had a letter from the Polish +resident to Prince Augustus Sulkowski, and another from the English +ambassador for Prince Adam Czartoryski. + +The day after we left St. Petersburg we stopped at Koporie to dine; we +had taken with us some choice viands and excellent wines. Two days later +we met the famous chapel-master, Galuppi or Buranelli, who was on his way +to St. Petersburg with two friends and an artiste. He did not know me, +and was astonished to find a Venetian dinner awaiting him at the inn, as +also to hear a greeting in his mother tongue. As soon as I had pronounced +my name he embraced me with exclamations of surprise and joy. + +The roads were heavy with rain, so we were a week in getting to Riga, and +when we arrived I was sorry to hear that Prince Charles was not there. +From Riga, we were four days before getting to Konigsberg, where Madame +Valville, who was expected at Berlin, had to leave me. I left her my +Armenian, to whom she gladly paid the hundred ducats I owed him. I saw +her again two years later, and shall speak of the meeting in due time. + +We separated like good friends, without any sadness. We spent the night +at Klein Roop, near Riga, and she offered to give me her diamonds, her +jewels, and all that she possessed. We were staying with the Countess +Lowenwald, to whom I had a letter from the Princess Dolgorouki. This lady +had in her house, in the capacity of governess, the pretty English woman +whom I had known as Campioni's wife. She told me that her husband was at +Warsaw, and that he was living with Villiers. She gave me a letter for +him, and I promised to make him send her some money, and I kept my word. +Little Betty was as charming as ever, but her mother seemed quite jealous +of her and treated her ill. + +When I reached Konigsberg I sold my travelling carriage and took a place +in a coach for Warsaw. We were four in all, and my companions only spoke +German and Polish, so that I had a dreadfully tedious journey. At Warsaw +I went to live with Villiers, where I hoped to meet Campioni. + +It was not long before I saw him, and found him well in health and in +comfortable quarters. He kept a dancing school, and had a good many +pupils. He was delighted to have news of Fanny and his children. He sent +them some money, but had no thoughts of having them at Warsaw, as Fanny +wished. He assured me she was not his wife. + +He told me that Tomatis, the manager of the comic opera, had made a +fortune, and had in his company a Milanese dancer named Catai, who +enchanted all the town by her charms rather than her talent. Games of +chance were permitted, but he warned me that Warsaw was full of +card-sharpers. A Veronese named Giropoldi, who lived with an officer from +Lorrain called Bachelier, held a bank at faro at her house, where a +dancer, who had been the mistress of the famous Afflisio at Vienna, +brought customers. + +Major Sadir, whom I have mentioned before, kept another gaming-house, in +company with his mistress, who came from Saxony. The Baron de St. Heleine +was also in Warsaw, but his principal occupation was to contract debts +which he did not mean to pay. He also lived in Villier's house with his +pretty and virtuous young wife, who would have nothing to say to us. +Campioni told me of some other adventurers, whose names I was very glad +to know that I might the better avoid them. + +The day after my arrival I hired a man and a carriage, the latter being +an absolute necessity at Warsaw, where in my time, at all events, it was +impossible to go on foot. I reached the capital of Poland at the end of +October, 1765. + +My first call was on Prince Adam Czartoryski, Lieutenant of Podolia, for +whom I had an introduction. I found him before a table covered with +papers, surrounded by forty or fifty persons, in an immense library which +he had made into his bedroom. He was married to a very pretty woman, but +had not yet had a child by her because she was too thin for his taste. + +He read the long letter I gave him, and said in elegant French that he +had a very high opinion of the writer of the letter; but that as he was +very busy just then he hoped I would come to supper with him if I had +nothing better to do. + +I drove off to Prince Sulkouski, who had just been appointed ambassador +to the Court of Louis XV. The prince was the elder of four brothers and a +man of great understanding, but a theorist in the style of the Abbe St. +Pierre. He read the letter, and said he wanted to have a long talk with +me; but that being obliged to go out he would be obliged if I would come +and dine with him at four o'clock. I accepted the invitation. + +I then went to a merchant named Schempinski, who was to pay me fifty +ducats a month on Papanelopulo's order. My man told me that there was a +public rehearsal of a new opera at the theatre, and I accordingly spent +three hours there, knowing none and unknown to all. All the actresses +were pretty, but especially the Catai, who did not know the first +elements of dancing. She was greatly applauded, above all by Prince +Repnin, the Russian ambassador, who seemed a person of the greatest +consequence. + +Prince Sulkouski kept me at table for four mortal hours, talking on every +subject except those with which I happened to be acquainted. His strong +points were politics and commerce, and as he found my mind a mere void on +these subjects, he shone all the more, and took quite a fancy to me, as I +believe, because he found me such a capital listener. + +About nine o'clock, having nothing better to do (a favourite phrase with +the Polish noblemen), I went to Prince Adam, who after pronouncing my +name introduced me to the company. There were present Monseigneur +Krasinski, the Prince-Bishop of Warmia, the Chief Prothonotary Rzewuski, +whom I had known at St. Petersburg, the Palatin Oginski, General Roniker, +and two others whose barbarous names I have forgotten. The last person to +whom he introduced me was his wife, with whom I was very pleased. A few +moments after a fine-looking gentleman came into the room, and everybody +stood up. Prince Adam pronounced my name, and turning to me said, +coolly,-- + +"That's the king." + +This method of introducing a stranger to a sovereign prince was assuredly +not an overwhelming one, but it was nevertheless a surprise; and I found +that an excess of simplicity may be as confusing as the other extreme. At +first I thought the prince might be making a fool of me; but I quickly +put aside the idea, and stepped forward and was about to kneel, but his +majesty gave me his hand to kiss with exquisite grace, and as he was +about to address me, Prince Adam shewed him the letter of the English +ambassador, who was well known to the king. The king read it, still +standing, and began to ask me questions about the Czarina and the Court, +appearing to take great interest in my replies. + +When supper was announced the king continued to talk, and led me into the +supper-room, and made me sit down at his right hand. Everybody ate +heartily except the king, who appeared to have no appetite, and myself, +who had no right to have any appetite, even if I had not dined well with +Prince Sulkouski, for I saw the whole table hushed to listen to my +replies to the king's questions. + +After supper the king began to comment very graciously on my answers. His +majesty spoke simply but with great elegance. As he was leaving he told +me he should always be delighted to see me at his Court, and Prince Adam +said that if I liked to be introduced to his father, I had only to call +at eleven o'clock the next morning. + +The King of Poland was of a medium height, but well made. His face was +not a handsome one, but it was kindly and intelligent. He was rather +short-sighted, and his features in repose bore a somewhat melancholy +expression; but in speaking, the whole face seemed to light up. All he +said was seasoned by a pleasant wit. + +I was well enough pleased with this interview, and returned to my inn, +where I found Campioni seated amongst several guests of either sex, and +after staying with them for half an hour I went to bed. + +At eleven o'clock the next day I was presented to the great Russian +Paladin. He was in his dressing-gown, surrounded by his gentlemen in the +national costume. He was standing up and conversing with his followers in +a kindly but grave manner. As soon as his son Adam mentioned my name, he +unbent and gave me a most kindly yet dignified welcome. His manners were +not awful, nor did they inspire one with familiarity, and I thought him +likely to be a good judge of character. When I told him that I had only +gone to Russia to amuse myself and see good company, he immediately +concluded that my aims in coming to Poland were of the same kind; and he +told me that he could introduce me to a large circle. He added that he +should be glad to see me to dinner and supper whenever I had no other +engagements. + +He went behind a screen to complete his toilette, and soon appeared in +the uniform of his regiment, with a fair peruke in the style of the late +King Augustus II. He made a collective bow to everyone, and went to see +his wife, who was recovering from a disease which would have proved fatal +if it had not been for the skill of Reimann, a pupil of the great +Boerhaave. The lady came of the now extinct family of Enoff, whose +immense wealth she brought to her husband. When he married her he +abandoned the Maltese Order, of which he had been a knight. He won his +bride by a duel with pistols on horseback. The lady had promised that her +hand should be the conqueror's guerdon, and the prince was so fortunate +as to kill his rival. Of this marriage there issued Prince Adam and a +daughter, now a widow, and known under the name of Lubomirska, but +formerly under that of Strasnikowa, that being the title of the office +her husband held in the royal army. + +It was this prince palatine and his brother, the High Chancellor of +Lithuania, who first brought about the Polish troubles. The two brothers +were discontented with their position at the Court where Count Bruhl was +supreme, and put themselves at the head of the plot for dethroning the +king, and for placing on the throne, under Russian protection, their +young nephew, who had originally gone to St. Petersburg as an attache at +the embassy, and afterwards succeeded in winning the favour of Catherine, +then Grand Duchess, but soon to become empress. + +This young man was Stanislas Poniatowski, son of Constance Czartoryski +and the celebrated Poniatowski, the friend of Charles III. As luck would +have it, a revolution was unnecessary to place him on the throne, for the +king died in 1763, and gave place to Prince Poniatowski, who was chosen +king on the 6th of September, 1776, under the title of Stanislas Augustus +I. He had reigned two years at the time of my visit; and I found Warsaw +in a state of gaiety, for a diet was to be held and everyone wished to +know how it was that Catherine had given the Poles a native king. + +At dinner-time I went to the paladin's and found three tables, at each of +which there were places for thirty, and this was the usual number +entertained by the prince. The luxury of the Court paled before that of +the paladin's house. Prince Adam said to me, + +"Chevalier, your place will always be at my father's table." + +This was a great honour, and I felt it. The prince introduced me to his +handsome sister, and to several palatins and starosts. I did not fail to +call on all these great personages, so in the course of a fortnight I +found myself a welcome guest in all the best houses. + +My purse was too lean to allow of my playing or consoling myself with a +theatrical beauty, so I fell back on the library of Monseigneur Zalewski, +the Bishop of Kiowia, for whom I had taken a great liking. I spent almost +all my mornings with him, and it was from this prelate that I learnt all +the intrigues and complots by which the ancient Polish constitution, of +which the bishop was a great admirer, had been overturned. Unhappily, his +firmness was of no avail, and a few months after I left Warsaw the +Russian tyrants arrested him and he was exiled to Siberia. + +I lived calmly and peaceably, and still look back upon those days with +pleasure. I spent my afternoons with the paladin playing tressette an +Italian game of which he was very fond, and which I played well enough +for the paladin to like to have me as a partner. + +In spite of my sobriety and economy I found myself in debt three months +after my arrival, and I did not know where to turn for help. The fifty +ducats per month, which were sent me from Venice, were insufficient, for +the money I had to spend on my carriage, my lodging, my servant, and my +dress brought me down to the lowest ebb, and I did not care to appeal to +anyone. But fortune had a surprise in store for me, and hitherto she had +never left me. + +Madame Schmit, whom the king for good reasons of his own had accommodated +with apartments in the palace, asked me one evening to sup with her, +telling me that the king would be of the party. I accepted the +invitation, and I was delighted to find the delightful Bishop Kraswiski, +the Abbe Guigiotti, and two or three other amateurs of Italian +literature. The king, whose knowledge of literature was extensive, began +to tell anecdotes of classical writers, quoting manuscript authorities +which reduced me to silence, and which were possibly invented by him. +Everyone talked except myself, and as I had had no dinner I ate like an +ogre, only replying by monosyllables when politeness obliged me to say +something. The conversation turned on Horace, and everyone gave his +opinion on the great materialist's philosophy, and the Abbe Guigiotti +obliged me to speak by saying that unless I agreed with him I should not +keep silence. + +"If you take my silence for consent to your extravagant eulogium of +Horace," I said, "you are mistaken; for in my opinion the 'nec cum venari +volet poemata panges', of which you think so much, is to my mind a satire +devoid of delicacy." + +"Satire and delicacy are hard to combine." + +"Not for Horace, who succeeded in pleasing the great Augustus, and +rendering him immortal as the protector of learned men. Indeed other +sovereigns seem to vie with him by taking his name and even by disguising +it." + +The king (who had taken the name of Augustus himself) looked grave and +said,-- + +"What sovereigns have adopted a disguised form of the name Augustus?" + +"The first king of Sweden, who called himself Gustavus, which is only an +anagram of Augustus." + +"That is a very amusing idea, and worth more than all the tales we have +told. Where did you find that?" + +"In a manuscript at Wolfenbuttel." + +The king laughed loudly, though he himself had been citing manuscripts. +But he returned to the charge and said,-- + +"Can you cite any passage of Horace (not in manuscript) where he shews +his talent for delicacy and satire?" + +"Sir, I could quote several passages, but here is one which seems to me +very good: 'Coyam rege', says the poet, 'sua de paupertate tacentes, plus +quan pocentes ferent." + +"True indeed," said the king, with a smile. + +Madame Schmit, who did not know Latin, and inherited curiosity from her +mother, and eventually from Eve, asked the bishop what it meant, and he +thus translated it: + +"They that speak not of their necessities in the presence of a king, gain +more than they that are ever asking." + +The lady remarked that she saw nothing satirical in this. + +After this it was my turn to be silent again; but the king began to talk +about Ariosto, and expressed a desire to read it with me. I replied with +an inclination of the head, and Horace's words: 'Tempora quoeram'. + +Next morning, as I was coming out from mass, the generous and unfortunate +Stanislas Augustus gave me his hand to kiss, and at the same time slid a +roll of money into my hand, saying,-- + +"Thank no one but Horace, and don't tell anyone about it." + +The roll contained two hundred ducats, and I immediately paid off my +debts. Since then I went almost every morning to the king's closet, where +he was always glad to see his courtiers, but there was no more said about +reading Ariosto. He knew Italian, but not enough to speak it, and still +less to appreciate the beauties of the great poet. When I think of this +worthy prince, and of the great qualities he possessed as a man, I cannot +understand how he came to commit so many errors as a king. Perhaps the +least of them all was that he allowed himself to survive his country. As +he could not find a friend to kill him, I think he should have killed +himself. But indeed he had no need to ask a friend to do him this +service; he should have imitated the great Kosciuszko, and entered into +life eternal by the sword of a Russian. + +The carnival was a brilliant one. All Europe seemed to have assembled at +Warsaw to see the happy being whom fortune had so unexpectedly raised to +a throne, but after seeing him all were agreed that, in his case at all +events, the deity had been neither blind nor foolish. Perhaps, however, +he liked shewing himself rather too much. I have detected him in some +distress on his being informed that there was such a thing as a stranger +in Warsaw who had not seen him. No one had any need of an introduction, +for his Court was, as all Courts should be, open to everyone, and when he +noticed a strange face he was the first to speak. + +Here I must set down an event which took place towards the end of +January. It was, in fact, a dream; and, as I think I have confessed +before, superstition had always some hold on me. + +I dreamt I was at a banquet, and one of the guests threw a bottle at my +face, that the blood poured forth, that I ran my sword through my enemy's +body, and jumped into a carriage, and rode away. + +Prince Charles of Courland came to Warsaw, and asked me to dine with him +at Prince Poninski's, the same that became so notorious, and was +afterwards proscribed and shamefully dishonoured. His was a hospitable +house, and he was surrounded by his agreeable family. I had never called +on him, as he was not a 'persona grata' to the king or his relations. + +In the course of the dinner a bottle of champagne burst, and a piece of +broken glass struck me just below the eye. It cut a vein, and the blood +gushed over my face, over my clothes, and even over the cloth. Everybody +rose, my wound was bound up, the cloth was changed, and the dinner went +on merrily. I was surprised at the likeness between my dream and this +incident, while I congratulated myself on the happy difference between +them. However, it all came true after a few months. + +Madame Binetti, whom I had last seen in London, arrived at Warsaw with +her husband and Pic the dancer. She had a letter of introduction to the +king's brother, who was a general in the Austrian service, and then +resided at Warsaw. I heard that the day they came, when I was at supper +at the palatin's. The king was present, and said he should like to keep +them in Warsaw for a week and see them dance, if a thousand ducats could +do it. + +I went to see Madame Binetti and to give her the good news the next +morning. She was very much surprised to meet me in Warsaw, and still more +so at the news I gave her. She called Pic who seemed undecided, but as we +were talking it over, Prince Poniatowski came in to acquaint them with +his majesty's wishes, and the offer was accepted. In three days Pic +arranged a ballet; the costumes, the scenery, the music, the dancers--all +were ready, and Tomatis put it on handsomely to please his generous +master. The couple gave such satisfaction that they were engaged for a +year. The Catai was furious, as Madame Binetti threw her completely into +the shade, and, worse still, drew away her lovers. Tomatis, who was under +the Catai's influence, made things so unpleasant for Madame Binetti that +the two dancers became deadly enemies. + +In ten or twelve days Madame Binetti was settled it a well-furnished +house; her plate was simple but good, her cellar full of excellent wine, +her cook an artist and her adorers numerous, amongst them being +Moszciuski and Branicki, the king's friends. + +The pit was divided into two parties, for the Catai was resolved to make +a stand against the new comer, though her talents were not to be compared +to Madame Binetti's. She danced in the first ballet, and her rival in the +second. Those who applauded the first greeted that second in dead +silence, and vice versa. I had great obligations towards Madame Binetti, +but my duty also drew me towards the Catai, who numbered in her party all +the Czartoryskis and their following, Prince Lubomirski, and other +powerful nobles. It was plain that I could not desert to Madame Binetti +without earning the contempt of the other party. + +Madame Binetti reproached me bitterly, and I laid the case plainly before +her. She agreed that I could not do otherwise, but begged me to stay away +from the theatre in future, telling me that she had got a rod in pickle +for Tomatis which would make him repent of his impertinence. She called +me her oldest friend; and indeed I was very fond of her, and cared +nothing for the Catai despite her prettiness. + +Xavier Branicki, the royal Postoli, Knight of the White Eagle, Colonel of +Uhlans, the king's friend, was the chief adorer of Madame Binetti. The +lady probably confided her displeasure to him, and begged him to take +vengeance on the manager, who had committed so many offences against her. +Count Branicki in his turn probably promised to avenge her quarrel, and, +if no opportunity of doing so arose, to create an opportunity. At least, +this is the way in which affairs of this kind are usually managed, and I +can find no better explanation for what happened. Nevertheless, the way +in which the Pole took vengeance was very original and extraordinary. + +On the 20th of February Branicki went to the opera, and, contrary to his +custom, went to the Catai's dressing-room, and began to pay his court to +the actress, Tomatis being present. Both he and the actress concluded +that Branicki had had a quarrel with her rival, and though she did not +much care to place him in the number of her adorers, she yet gave him a +good reception, for she knew it would be dangerous to despise his suit +openly. + +When the Catai had completed her toilet, the gallant postoli offered her +his arm to take her to her carriage, which was at the door. Tomatis +followed, and I too was there, awaiting my carriage. Madame Catai came +down, the carriage-door was opened, she stepped in, and Branicki got in +after her, telling the astonished Tomatis to follow them in the other +carriage. Tomatis replied that he meant to ride in his own carriage, and +begged the colonel to get out. Branicki paid no attention, and told the +coachman to drive on. Tornatis forbade him to stir, and the man, of +course, obeyed his master. The gallant postcili was therefore obliged to +get down, but he bade his hussar give Tomatis a box on the ear, and this +order was so promptly and vigorously obeyed that the unfortunate man was +on the ground before he had time to recollect that he had a sword. He got +up eventually and drove off, but he could eat no supper, no doubt because +he had a blow to digest. I was to have supped with him, but after this +scene I had really not the face to go. I went home in a melancholy and +reflective mood, wondering whether the whole had been concerted; but I +concluded that this was impossible, as neither Branicki nor Binetti could +have foreseen the impoliteness and cowardice of Tomatis. + +In the next chapter the reader will see how tragically the matter ended. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +My Duel with Branicki--My Journey to Leopol and Return to Warsaw--I +Receive the Order to Leave--My Departure with the Unknown One + +On reflection I concluded that Branicki had not done an ungentlemanly +thing in getting into Tomatis's carriage; he had merely behaved with +impetuosity, as if he were the Catai's lover. It also appeared to me +that, considering the affront he had received from the jealous Italian, +the box on the ear was a very moderate form of vengeance. A blow is bad, +of course, but not so bad as death; and Branicki might very well have run +his sword through the manager's body. Certainly, if Branicki had killed +him he would have been stigmatised as an assassin, for though Tomatis had +a sword the Polish officer's servants would never have allowed him to +draw it, nevertheless I could not help thinking that Tomatis should have +tried to take the servant's life, even at the risk of his own. He wanted +no more courage for that than in ordering the king's favourite to come +out of the carriage. He might have foreseen that the Polish noble would +be stung to the quick, and would surely attempt to take speedy vengeance. + +The next day the encounter was the subject of all conversations. Tomatis +remained indoors for a week, calling for vengeance in vain. The king told +him he could do nothing for him, as Branicki maintained he had only given +insult for insult. I saw Tomatis, who told me in confidence that he could +easily take vengeance, but that it would cost him too dear. He had spent +forty thousand ducats on the two ballets, and if he had avenged himself +he would have lost it nearly all, as he would be obliged to leave the +kingdom. The only consolation he had was that his great friends were +kinder to him than ever, and the king himself honoured him with peculiar +attention. Madame Binetti was triumphant. When I saw her she condoled +with me ironically on the mishap that had befallen my friend. She wearied +me; but I could not guess that Branicki had only acted at her +instigation, and still less that she had a grudge against me. Indeed, if +I had known it, I should only have laughed at her, for I had nothing to +dread from her bravo's dagger. I had never seen him nor spoken to him; he +could have no opportunity for attacking me. He was never with the king in +the morning and never went to the palatin's to supper, being an unpopular +character with the Polish nobility. This Branicki was said to have been +originally a Cossack, Branecki by name. He became the king's favorite and +assumed the name of Branicki, pretending to be of the same family as the +illustrious marshal of that name who was still alive; but he, far from +recognizing the pretender, ordered his shield to be broken up and buried +with him as the last of the race. However that may be, Branicki was the +tool of the Russian party, the determined enemy of those who withstood +Catherine's design of Russianising the ancient Polish constitution. The +king liked him out of habit, and because he had peculiar obligations to +him. + +The life I lived was really exemplary. I indulged neither in love affairs +nor gaming. I worked for the king, hoping to become his secretary. I paid +my court to the princess-palatine, who liked my company, and I played +tressette with the palatin himself. + +On the 4th of March, St. Casimir's Eve, there was a banquet at Court to +which I had the honour to be invited. Casimir was the name of the king's +eldest brother, who held the office of grand chamberlain. After dinner +the king asked me if I intended going to the theatre, where a Polish play +was to be given for the first time. Everybody was interested in this +novelty, but it was a matter of indifference to me as I did not +understand the language, and I told the king as much. + +"Never mind," said he, "come in my box." + +This was too flattering an invitation to be refused, so I obeyed the +royal command and stood behind the king's chair. After the second act a +ballet was given, and the dancing of Madame Caracci, a Piedmontese, so +pleased his majesty that he went to the unusual pains of clapping her. + +I only knew the dancer by sight, for I had never spoken to her. She had +some talents. Her principal admirer was Count Poninski, who was always +reproaching me when I dined with him for visiting the other dancers to +the exclusion of Madame Caracci. I thought of his reproach at the time, +and determined to pay her a visit after the ballet to congratulate her on +her performance and the king's applause. On my way I passed by Madame +Binetti's dressing-room, and seeing the door open I stayed a moment. +Count Branicki came up, and I left with a bow and passed on to Madame +Caracci's dressing-room. She was astonished to see me, and began with +kindly reproaches for my neglect; to which I replied with compliments, +and then giving her a kiss I promised to come and see her. + +Just as I embraced her who should enter but Branicki, whom I had left a +moment before with Madame Binetti. He had clearly followed me in the +hopes of picking a quarrel. He was accompanied by Bininski, his +lieutenant-colonel. As soon as he appeared, politeness made me stand up +and turn to go, but he stopped me. + +"It seems to me I have come at a bad time; it looks as if you loved this +lady." + +"Certainly, my lord; does not your excellency consider her as worthy of +love?" + +"Quite so; but as it happens I love her too, and I am not the man to bear +any rivals." + +"As I know that, I shall love her no more." + +"Then you give her up?" + +"With all my heart; for everyone must yield to such a noble as you are." + +"Very good; but I call a man that yields a coward." + +"Isn't that rather a strong expression?" + +As I uttered these words I looked proudly at him and touched the hilt of +my sword. Three or four officers were present and witnessed what passed. + +I had hardly gone four paces from the dressing-room when I heard myself +called "Venetian coward." In spite of my rage I restrained myself, and +turned back saying, coolly and firmly, that perhaps a Venetian coward +might kill a brave Pole outside the theatre; and without awaiting a reply +I left the building by the chief staircase. + +I waited vainly outside the theatre for a quarter of an hour with my +sword in my hand, for I was not afraid of losing forty thousand ducats +like Tomatis. At last, half perishing with cold, I called my carriage and +drove to the palatin's, where the king was to sup. + +The cold and loneliness began to cool my brain, and I congratulated +myself on my self-restraint in not drawing my sword in the actress's +dressing-room; and I felt glad that Branicki had not followed me down the +stairs, for his friend Bininski had a sabre, and I should probably have +been assassinated. + +Although the Poles are polite enough, there is still a good deal of the +old leaven in them. They are still Dacians and Samaritans at dinner, in +war, and in friendship, as they call it, but which is often a burden +hardly to be borne. They can never understand that a man may be +sufficient company for himself, and that it is not right to descend on +him in a troop and ask him to give them dinner. + +I made up my mind that Madame Binetti had excited Branicki to follow me, +and possibly to treat me as he had treated Tomatis. I had not received a +blow certainly, but I had been called a coward. I had no choice but to +demand satisfaction, but I also determined to be studiously moderate +throughout. In this frame of mind I got down at the palatin's, resolved +to tell the whole story to the king, leaving to his majesty the task of +compelling his favourite to give me satisfaction. + +As soon as the palatin saw me, he reproached me in a friendly manner for +keeping him waiting, and we sat down to tressette. I was his partner, and +committed several blunders. When it came to losing a second game he +said,-- + +"Where is your head to-night?" + +"My lord, it is four leagues away." + +"A respectable man ought to have his head in the game, and not at a +distance of four leagues." + +With these words the prince threw down his cards and began to walk up and +down the room. I was rather startled, but I got up and stood by the fire, +waiting for the king. But after I had waited thus for half an hour a +chamberlain came from the palace, and announced that his majesty could +not do himself the honour of supping with my lord that night. + +This was a blow for me, but I concealed my disappointment. Supper was +served, and I sat down as usual at the left hand of the palatin, who was +annoyed with me, and chewed it. We were eighteen at table, and for once I +had no appetite. About the middle of the supper Prince Gaspard Lubomirski +came in, and chanced to sit down opposite me. As soon as he saw me he +condoled with me in a loud voice for what had happened. + +"I am sorry for you," said he, "but Branicki was drunk, and you really +shouldn't count what he said as an insult." + +"What has happened?" became at once the general question. I held my +tongue, and when they asked Lubomirski he replied that as I kept silence +it was his duty to do the same. + +Thereupon the palatin, speaking in his friendliest manner, said to me,-- + +"What has taken place between you and Branicki?" + +"I will tell you the whole story, my lord, in private after supper." + +The conversation became indifferent, and after the meal was over the +palatin took up his stand by the small door by which he was accustomed to +leave the room, and there I told him the whole story. He sighed, condoled +with me, and added,-- + +"You had good reasons for being absent-minded at cards." + +"May I presume to ask your excellency's advice?" + +"I never give advice in these affairs, in which you must do every-thing +or nothing." + +The palatin shook me by the hand, and I went home and slept for six +hours. As soon as I awoke I sat up in bed, and my first thought was +everything or nothing. I soon rejected the latter alternative, and I saw +that I must demand a duel to the death. If Branicki refused to fight I +should be compelled to kill him, even if I were to lose my head for it. + +Such was my determination; to write to him proposing a duel at four +leagues from Warsaw, this being the limit of the starostia, in which +duelling was forbidden on pain of death. I Wrote as follows, for I have +kept the rough draft of the letter to this day: + +"WARSAW, + +"March 5th, 1766. 5 A.M. + +"My Lord,--Yesterday evening your excellency insulted me with a light +heart, without my having given you any cause or reason for doing so. This +seems to indicate that you hate me, and would gladly efface me from the +land of the living. I both can and will oblige you in this matter. Be +kind enough, therefore, to drive me in your carriage to a place where my +death will not subject your lordship to the vengeance of the law, in case +you obtain the victory, and where I shall enjoy the same advantage if God +give me grace to kill your lordship. I should not make this proposal +unless I believe your lordship to be of a noble disposition. + +"I have the honour to be, etc." + +I sent this letter an hour before day-break to Branicki's lodging in the +palace. My messenger had orders to give the letter into the count's own +hands, to wait for him to rise, and also for an answer. + +In half an hour I received the following answer: + +"Sir,--I accept your proposal, and shall be glad if you will have the +kindness to inform me when I shall have the honour of seeing you. + +"I remain, sir, etc." + +I answered this immediately, informing him I would call on him the next +day, at six o'clock in the morning. + +Shortly after, I received a second letter, in which he said that I might +choose the arms and place, but that our differences must be settled in +the course of the day. + +I sent him the measure of my sword, which was thirty-two inches long, +telling him he might choose any place beyond the ban. In reply, I had the +following: + +"Sir,--You will greatly oblige me by coming now. I have sent my carriage. + +"I have the honour to be, etc." + +I replied that I had business all the day, and that as I had made up my +mind not to call upon him, except for the purpose of fighting, I begged +him not to be offended if I took the liberty of sending back his +carriage. + +An hour later Branicki called in person, leaving his suite at the door. +He came into the room, requested some gentlemen who were talking with me +to leave us alone, locked the door after them, and then sat down on my +bed. I did not understand what all this meant so I took up my pistols. + +"Don't be afraid," said he, "I am not come to assassinate you, but merely +to say that I accept your proposal, on condition only that the duel shall +take place to-day. If not, never!" + +"It is out of the question. I have letters to write, and some business to +do for the king." + +"That will do afterwards. In all probability you will not fall, and if +you do I am sure the king will forgive you. Besides, a dead man need fear +no reproaches." + +"I want to make my will." + +"Come, come, you needn't be afraid of dying; it will be time enough for +you to make your will in fifty years." + +"But why should your excellency not wait till tomorrow?" + +"I don't want to be caught." + +"You have nothing of the kind to fear from me." + +"I daresay, but unless we make haste the king will have us both +arrested." + +"How can he, unless you have told him about our quarrel?" + +"Ah, you don't understand! Well, I am quite willing to give you +satisfaction, but it must be to-day or never." + +"Very good. This duel is too dear to my heart for me to leave you any +pretext for avoiding it. Call for me after dinner, for I shall want all +my strength." + +"Certainly. For my part I like a good supper after, better than a good +dinner before." + +"Everyone to his taste." + +"True. By the way, why did you send me the length of your sword? I intend +to fight with pistols, for I never use swords with unknown persons." + +"What do you mean? I beg of you to refrain from insulting me in my own +house. I do not intend to fight with pistols, and you cannot compel me to +do so, for I have your letter giving me the choice of weapons." + +"Strictly speaking, no doubt you are in the right; but I am sure you are +too polite not to give way, when I assure you that you will lay me under +a great obligation by doing so. Very often the first shot is a miss, and +if that is the case with both of us, I promise to fight with swords as +long as you like. Will you oblige me in the matter?" + +"Yes, for I like your way of asking, though, in my opinion, a pistol duel +is a barbarous affair. I accept, but on the following conditions: You +must bring two pistols, charge them in my presence, and give me the +choice. If the first shot is a miss, we will fight with swords till the +first blood or to the death, whichever you prefer. Call for me at three +o'clock, and choose some place where we shall be secure from the law." + +"Very good. You are a good fellow, allow me to embrace you. Give me your +word of honour not to say a word about it to anyone, for if you did we +should be arrested immediately." + +"You need not be afraid of my talking; the project is too dear to me." + +"Good. Farewell till three o'clock." + +As soon as the brave braggart had left me, I placed the papers I was +doing for the king apart, and went to Campioni, in whom I had great +confidence. + +"Take this packet to the king," I said, "if I happen to be killed. You +may guess, perhaps, what is going to happen, but do not say a word to +anyone, or you will have me for your bitterest enemy, as it would mean +loss of honour to me." + +"I understand. You may reckon on my discretion, and I hope the affair may +be ended honourably and prosperously for you. But take a piece of +friendly advice--don't spare your opponent, were it the king himself, for +it might cost you your life. I know that by experience." + +"I will not forget. Farewell." + +We kissed each other, and I ordered an excellent dinner, for I had no +mind to be sent to Pluto fasting. Campioni came in to dinner at one +o'clock, and at dessert I had a visit from two young counts, with their +tutor, Bertrand, a kindly Swiss. They were witnesses to my cheerfulness +and the excellent appetite with which I ate. At half-past two I dismissed +my company, and stood at the window to be ready to go down directly +Branicki's carriage appeared. He drove up in a travelling carriage and +six; two grooms, leading saddle-horses, went in front, followed by his +two aide-de-camps and two hussars. Behind his carriage stood four +servants. I hastened to descend, and found my enemy was accompanied by a +lieutenant-general and an armed footman. The door was opened, the general +gave me his place, and I ordered my servants not to follow me but to +await my orders at the house. + +"You might want them," said Branicki; "they had better come along." + +"If I had as many as you, I would certainly agree to your proposition; +but as it is I shall do still better without any at all. If need be, your +excellency will see that I am tended by your own servants." + +He gave me his hand, and assured me they should wait on me before +himself. + +I sat down, and we went off. + +It would have been absurd if I had asked where we were going, so I held +my tongue, for at such moments a man should take heed to his words. +Branicki was silent, and I thought the best thing I could do would be to +engage him in a trivial conversation. + +"Does your excellency intend spending the spring at Warsaw?" + +"I had thought of doing so, but you may possibly send me to pass the +spring somewhere else." + +"Oh, I hope not!" + +"Have you seen any military service?" + +"Yes; but may I ask why your excellency asks me the question, for--" + +"I had no particular reason; it was only for the sake of saying +something." + +We had driven about half an hour when the carriage stopped at the door of +a large garden. We got down and, following the postoli, reached a green +arbour which, by the way, was not at all green on that 5th of March. In +it was a stone table on which the footman placed two pistols, a foot and +half long, with a powder flask and scales. He weighed the powder, loaded +them equally, and laid them down crosswise on the table. + +This done, Branicki said boldly, + +"Choose your weapon, sir." + +At this the general called out, + +"Is this a duel, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"You cannot fight here; you are within the ban." + +"No matter." + +"It does matter; and I, at all events, refuse to be a witness. I am on +guard at the castle, and you have taken me by surprise." + +"Be quiet; I will answer for everything. I owe this gentleman +satisfaction, and I mean to give it him here." + +"M. Casanova," said the general, "you cannot fight here." + +"Then why have I been brought here? I shall defend myself wherever I am +attacked." + +"Lay the whole matter before the king, and you shall have my voice in +your favour." + +"I am quite willing to do so, general, if his excellency will say that he +regrets what passed between us last night." + +Branicki looked fiercely at me, and said wrathfully that he had come to +fight and not to parley. + +"General," said I, "you can bear witness that I have done all in my power +to avoid this duel." + +The general went away with his head between his hands, and throwing off +my cloak I took the first pistol that came to my hand. Branicki took the +other, and said that he would guarantee upon his honour that my weapon +was a good one. + +"I am going to try its goodness on your head," I answered. + +He turned pale at this, threw his sword to one of his servants, and bared +his throat, and I was obliged, to my sorrow, to follow his example, for +my sword was the only weapon I had, with the exception of the pistol. I +bared my chest also, and stepped back five or six paces, and he did the +same. + +As soon as we had taken up our positions I took off my hat with my left +hand, and begged him to fire first. + +Instead of doing so immediately he lost two or three seconds in sighting, +aiming, and covering his head by raising the weapon before it. I was not +in a position to let him kill me at his ease, so I suddenly aimed and +fired on him just as he fired on me. That I did so is evident, as all the +witnesses were unanimous in saying that they only heard one report. I +felt I was wounded in my left hand, and so put it into my pocket, and I +ran towards my enemy who had fallen. All of a sudden, as I knelt beside +him, three bare swords were flourished over my head, and three noble +assassins prepared to cut me down beside their master. Fortunately, +Branicki had not lost consciousness or the power of speaking, and he +cried out in a voice of thunder,-- + +"Scoundrels! have some respect for a man of honour." + +This seemed to petrify them. I put my right hand under the pistoli's +armpit, while the general helped him on the other side, and thus we took +him to the inn, which happened to be near at hand. + +Branicki stooped as he walked, and gazed at me curiously, apparently +wondering where all the blood on my clothes came from. + +When we got to the inn, Branicki laid himself down in an arm-chair. We +unbuttoned his clothes and lifted up his shirt, and he could see himself +that he was dangerously wounded. My ball had entered his body by the +seventh rib on the right hand, and had gone out by the second false rib +on the left. The two wounds were ten inches apart, and the case was of an +alarming nature, as the intestines must have been pierced. Branicki spoke +to me in a weak voice,-- + +"You have killed me, so make haste away, as you are in danger of the +gibbet. The duel was fought in the ban, and I am a high court officer, +and a Knight of the White Eagle. So lose no time, and if you have not +enough money take my purse." + +I picked up the purse which had fallen out, and put it back in his +pocket, thanking him, and saying it would be useless to me, for if I were +guilty I was content to lose my head. "I hope," I added, "that your wound +will not be mortal, and I am deeply grieved at your obliging me to +fight." + +With these words I kissed him on his brow and left the inn, seeing +neither horses nor carriage, nor servant. They had all gone off for +doctor, surgeon, priest, and the friends and relatives of the wounded +man. + +I was alone and without any weapon, in the midst of a snow-covered +country, my hand was wounded, and I had not the slightest idea which was +the way to Warsaw. + +I took the road which seemed most likely, and after I had gone some +distance I met a peasant with an empty sleigh. + +"Warszawa?" I cried, shewing him a ducat. + +He understood me, and lifted a coarse mat, with which he covered me when +I got into the sleigh, and then set off at a gallop. + +All at once Biniski, Branicki's bosom-friend, came galloping furiously +along the road with his bare sword in his hand. He was evidently running +after me. Happily he did not glance at the wretched sleigh in which I +was, or else he would undoubtedly have murdered me. I got at last to +Warsaw, and went to the house of Prince Adam Czartoryski to beg him to +shelter me, but there was nobody there. Without delay I determined to +seek refuge in the Convent of the Recollets, which was handy. + +I rang at the door of the monastery, and the porter seeing me covered +with blood hastened to shut the door, guessing the object of my visit. +But I did not give him the time to do so, but honouring him with a hearty +kick forced my way in. His cries attracted a troop of frightened monks. I +demanded sanctuary, and threatened them with vengeance if they refused to +grant it. One of their number spoke to me, and I was taken to a little +den which looked more like a dungeon than anything else. I offered no +resistance, feeling sure that they would change their tune before very +long. I asked them to send for my servants, and when they came I sent for +a doctor and Campioni. Before the surgeon could come the Palatin of +Polduchia was announced. I had never had the honour of speaking to him, +but after hearing the history of my duel he was so kind as to give me all +the particulars of a duel he had fought in his youthful days. Soon after +came the Palatin of Kalisch, Prince Jablenowski. Prince Sanguska, and the +Palatin of Wilna, who all joined in a chorus of abuse of the monks who +had lodged me so scurvily. The poor religious excused themselves by +saying that I had ill-treated their porter, which made my noble friends +laugh; but I did not laugh, for my wound was very painful. However I was +immediately moved into two of their best guest-rooms. + +The ball had pierced my hand by the metacarpus under the index finger, +and had broken the first phalanges. Its force had been arrested by a +metal button on my waistcoat, and it had only inflicted a slight wound on +my stomach close to the navel. However, there it was and it had to be +extracted, for it pained me extremely. An empiric named Gendron, the +first surgeon my servants had found, made an opening on the opposite side +of my hand which doubled the wound. While he was performing this painful +operation I told the story of the duel to the company, concealing the +anguish I was enduring. What a power vanity exercises on the moral and +physical forces! If I had been alone I should probably have fainted. + +As soon as the empiric Gendron was gone, the palatin's surgeon came in +and took charge of the case, calling Gendron a low fellow. At the same +time Prince Lubomirski, the husband of the palatin's daughter, arrived, +and gave us all a surprise by recounting the strange occurrences which +had happened after the duel. Bininski came to where Branicki was lying, +and seeing his wound rode off furiously on horseback, swearing to strike +me dead wherever he found me. He fancied I would be with Tomatis, and +went to his house. He found Tomatis with his mistress, Prince Lubomirski, +and Count Moszczinski, but no Casanova was visible. He asked where I was, +and on Tomatis replying that he did not know he discharged a pistol at +his head. At this dastardly action Count Moszczincki seized him and tried +to throw him out of the window, but the madman got loose with three cuts +of his sabre, one of which slashed the count on the face and knocked out +three of his teeth. + +"After this exploit," Prince Lubomirski continued, "he seized me by the +throat and held a pistol to my head, threatening to blow out my brains if +I did not take him in safety to the court where his horse was, so that he +might get away from the house without any attack being made on him by +Tomatis's servants; and I did so immediately. Moszczinski is in the +doctor's hands, and will be laid up for some time. + +"As soon as it was reported that Branicki was killed, his Uhlans began to +ride about the town swearing to avenge their colonel, and to slaughter +you. It is very fortunate that you took refuge here. + +"The chief marshal has had the monastery surrounded by two hundred +dragoons, ostensibly to prevent your escape, but in reality to defend you +from Branicki's soldiers. + +"The doctors say that the postoli is in great danger if the ball has +wounded the intestines, but if not they answer for his recovery. His fate +will be known tomorrow. He now lies at the lord chamberlain's, not daring +to have himself carried to his apartments at the palace. The king has +been to see him, and the general who was present told his majesty that +the only thing that saved your life was your threat to aim at Branicki's +head. This frightened him, and to keep your ball from his head he stood +in such an awkward position that he missed your vital parts. Otherwise he +would undoubtedly have shot you through the heart, for he can split a +bullet into two halves by firing against the blade of a knife. It was +also a lucky thing for you that you escaped Bininski, who never thought +of looking for you in the wretched sleigh." + +"My lord, the most fortunate thing for me is that I did not kill my man +outright. Otherwise I should have been cut to pieces just as I went to +his help by three of his servants, who stood over me with drawn swords. +However, the postoli ordered them to leave me alone. + +"I am sorry for what has happened to your highness and Count Moszczinski; +and if Tomatis was not killed by the madman it is only because the pistol +was only charged with powder." + +"That's what I think, for no one heard the bullet; but it was a mere +chance." + +"Quite so." + +Just then an officer of the palatin's came to me with a note from his +master, which ran as follows: + +"Read what the king says to me, and sleep well." + +The king's note was thus conceived: + +"Branicki, my dear uncle, is dangerous wounded. My surgeons are doing all +they can for him, but I have not forgotten Casanova. You may assure him +that he is pardoned, even if Branicki should die." + +I kissed the letter gratefully, and shewed it to my visitors, who lauded +this generous man truly worthy of being a king. + +After this pleasant news I felt in need of rest, and my lords left me. As +soon as they were gone, Campioni, who had come in before and had stood in +the background, came up to me and gave me back the packet of papers, and +with tears of joy congratulated me on the happy issue of the duel. + +Next day I had shoals of visitors, and many of the chiefs of the party +opposed to Branicki sent me purses full of gold. The persons who brought +the money on behalf of such a lord or lady, said that being a foreigner I +might be in need of money, and that was their excuse for the liberty they +had taken. I thanked and refused them all, and sent back at least four +thousand ducats, and was very proud of having done so. Campioni thought +it was absurd, and he was right, for I repented afterwards of what I had +done. The only present I accepted was a dinner for four persons, which +Prince Adam Czartoryski sent me in every day, though the doctor would not +let me enjoy it, he being a great believer in diet. + +The wound in my stomach was progressing favourably, but on the fourth day +the surgeons said my hand was becoming gangrened, and they agreed that +the only remedy was amputation. I saw this announced in the Court Gazette +the next morning, but as I had other views on the matter I laughed +heartily at the paragraph. The sheet was printed at night, after the king +had placed his initials to the copy. In the morning several persons came +to condole with me, but I received their sympathy with great irreverence. +I merely laughed at Count Clary, who said I would surely submit to the +operation; and just as he uttered the words the three surgeons came in +together. + +"Well, gentlemen," said I, "you have mustered in great strength; why is +this?" + +My ordinary surgeon replied that he wished to have the opinion of the +other two before proceeding to amputation, and they would require to look +at the wound. + +The dressing was lifted and gangrene was declared to be undoubtedly +present, and execution was ordered that evening. The butchers gave me the +news with radiant faces, and assured me I need not be afraid as the +operation would certainly prove efficacious. + +"Gentlemen," I replied, "you seem to have a great many solid scientific +reasons for cutting off my hand; but one thing you have not got, and that +is my consent. My hand is my own, and I am going to keep it." + +"Sir, it is certainly gangrened; by to-morrow the arm will begin to +mortify, and then you will have to lose your arm." + +"Very good; if that prove so you shall cut off my arm, but I happen to +know something of gangrene, and there is none about me." + +"You cannot know as much about it as we do." + +"Possibly; but as far as I can make out, you know nothing at all." + +"That's rather a strong expression." + +"I don't care whether it be strong or weak; you can go now." + +In a couple of hours everyone whom the surgeons had told of my obstinacy +came pestering me. Even the prince-palatin wrote to me that the king was +extremely surprised at my lack of courage. This stung me to the quick, +and I wrote the king a long letter, half in earnest and half in jest, in +which I laughed at the ignorance of the surgeons, and at the simplicity +of those who took whatever they said for gospel truth. I added that as an +arm without a hand would be quite as useless as no arm at all, I meant to +wait till it was necessary to cut off the arm. + +My letter was read at Court, and people wondered how a man with gangrene +could write a long letter of four pages. Lubomirski told me kindly that I +was mistaken in laughing at my friends, for the three best surgeons in +Warsaw could not be mistaken in such a simple case. + +"My lord, they are not deceived themselves, but they want to deceive me." + +"Why should they?" + +"To make themselves agreeable to Branicki, who is in a dangerous state, +and might possibly get better if he heard that my hand had been taken +off." + +"Really that seems an incredible idea to me!" + +"What will your highness say on the day when I am proved to be right?" + +"I shall say you are deserving of the highest praise, but the day must +first come." + +"We shall see this evening, and I give you my word that if any gangrene +has attacked the arm, I will have it cut off to-morrow morning." + +Four surgeons came to see me. My arm was pronounced to be highly +aedematous, and of a livid colour up to the elbow; but when the lint was +taken off the wound I could see for myself that it was progressing +admirably. However, I concealed my delight. Prince Augustus Sulkowski and +the Abbe Gouvel were present; the latter being attached to the palatin's +court. The judgment of the surgeons was that the arm was gangrened, and +must be amputated by the next morning at latest. + +I was tired of arguing with these rascals, so I told them to bring their +instruments, and that I would submit to the operation. At this they went +way in high glee, to tell the news at the Court, to Branicki, to the +palatin, and so forth. I merely gave my servants orders to send them away +when they came. + +I can dwell no more on this matter, though it is interesting enough to +me. However, the reader will no doubt be obliged to me by my simply +saying that a French surgeon in Prince Sulkowski's household took charge +of the case in defiance of professional etiquette, and cured me +perfectly, so I have my hand and my arm to this day. + +On Easter Day I went to mass with my arm in a sling. My cure had only +lasted three weeks, but I was not able to put the hand to any active +employment for eighteen months afterwards. Everyone was obliged to +congratulate me on having held out against the amputation, and the +general consent declared the surgeons grossly ignorant, while I was +satisfied with thinking them very great knaves. + +I must here set down an incident which happened three days after the +duel. + +I was told that a Jesuit father from the bishop of the diocese wanted to +speak to me in private, and I had him shewn in, and asked him what he +wanted. + +"I have come from my lord-bishop," said he, "to absolve you from the +ecclesiastical censure, which you have incurred by duelling." + +"I am always delighted to receive absolution, father, but only after I +have confessed my guilt. In the present case I have nothing to confess; I +was attacked, and I defended myself. Pray thank my lord for his kindness. +If you like to absolve me without confession, I shall be much obliged." + +"If you do not confess, I cannot give you absolution, but you can do +this: ask me to absolve you, supposing you have fought a duel." + +"Certainly; I shall be glad if you will absolve me, supposing I have +fought a duel." + +The delightful Jesuit gave me absolution in similar terms. He was like +his brethren--never at a loss when a loophole of any kind is required. + +Three days before I left the monastery, that is on Holy Thursday, the +marshal withdrew my guard. After I had been to mass on Easter Day, I went +to Court, and as I kissed the king's hand, he asked me (as had been +arranged) why I wore my arm in a sling. I said I had been suffering from +a rheum, and he replied, with a meaning smile,-- + +"Take care not to catch another." + +After my visit to the king, I called on Branicki, who had made daily +enquiries after my health, and had sent me back my sword, He was condemned +to stay in bed for six weeks longer at least, for the wad of my pistol +had got into the wound, and in extracting it the opening had to be +enlarged, which retarded his recovery. The king had just appointed him +chief huntsman, not so exalted an office as chamberlain, but a more +lucrative one. It was said he had got the place because he was such a +good shot; but if that were the reason I had a better claim to it, for I +had proved the better shot--for one day at all events. + +I entered an enormous ante-room in which stood officers, footmen, pages, +and lacqueys, all gazing at me with the greatest astonishment. I asked if +my lord was to be seen, and begged the door-keeper to send in my name. He +did not answer, but sighed, and went into his master's room. Directly +after, he came out and begged me, with a profound bow, to step in. + +Branicki, who was dressed in a magnificent gown and supported by pillows +and cushions, greeted me by taking off his nightcap. He was as pale as +death. + +"I have come here, my lord," I began, "to offer you my service, and to +assure you how I regret that I did not pass over a few trifling words of +yours." + +"You have no reason to reproach yourself, M. Casanova." + +"Your excellency is very kind. I am also come to say that by fighting +with me you have done me an honour which completely swallows up all +offence, and I trust that you will give me your protection for the +future." + +"I confess I insulted you, but you will allow that I have paid for it. As +to my friends, I openly say that they are my enemies unless they treat +you with respect. Bininski has been cashiered, and his nobility taken +from him; he is well served. As to my protection you have no need of it, +the king esteems you highly, like myself, and all men of honour. Sit +down; we will be friends. A cup of chocolate for this gentleman. You seem +to have got over your wound completely." + +"Quite so, my lord, except as to the use of my fingers, and that will +take some time." + +"You were quite right to withstand those rascally surgeons, and you had +good reason for your opinion that the fools thought to please me by +rendering you one-handed. They judged my heart by their own. I +congratulate you on the preservation of your hand, but I have not been +able to make out how my ball could have wounded you in the hand after +striking your stomach." + +Just then the chocolate was brought, and the chamberlain came in and +looked at me with a smile. In five minutes the room was full of lords and +ladies who had heard I was with Branicki, and wanted to know how we were +getting on. I could see that they did not expect to find us on such good +terms, and were agreeably surprised. Branicki asked the question which +had been interrupted by the chocolate and the visitors over again. + +"Your excellency will allow me to assume the position I was in as I +received your fire." + +"Pray do so." + +I rose and placed myself in the position, and he said he understood how +it was. + +A lady said,-- + +"You should have put your hand behind your body." + +"Excuse me, madam, but I thought it better to put my body behind my +hand." + +This sally made Branicki laugh, but his sister said to me,-- + +"You wanted to kill my brother, for you aimed at his head." + +"God forbid, madam! my interest lay in keeping him alive to defend me +from his friends." + +"But you said you were going to fire at his head." + +"That's a mere figure of speech, just as one says, 'I'll blow your brains +out.' The skilled duellist, however, always aims at the middle of the +body; the head does not offer a large enough surface." + +"Yes," said Branicki, "your tactics were superior to mine, and I am +obliged to you for the lesson you gave me." + +"Your excellency gave me a lesson in heroism of far greater value." + +"You must have had a great deal of practice with the pistol," continued +his sister. + +"Not at all, madam, I regard the weapon with detestation. This unlucky +shot was my first; but I have always known a straight line, and my hand +has always been steady." + +"That's all one wants," said Branicki. "I have those advantages myself, +and I am only too well pleased that I did not aim so well as usual." + +"Your ball broke my first phalanges. Here it is you see, flattened by my +bone. Allow me to return it to you." + +"I am sorry to say I can't return yours, which I suppose remains on the +field of battle." + +"You seem to be getting better, thank God!" + +"The wound is healing painfully. If I had imitated you I should no longer +be in the land of the living; I am told you made an excellent dinner?" + +"Yes, my lord, I was afraid I might never have another chance of dining +again." + +"If I had dined, your ball would have pierced my intestines; but being +empty it yielded to the bullet, and let it pass by harmlessly." + +I heard afterwards that on the day of the duel Branicki had gone to +confession and mass, and had communicated. The priest could not refuse +him absolution, if he said that honour obliged him to fight; for this was +in accordance with the ancient laws of chivalry. As for me I only +addressed these words to God: + +"Lord, if my enemy kill me, I shall be damned; deign, therefore, to +preserve me from death. Amen." + +After a long and pleasant conversation I took leave of the hero to visit +the high constable, Count Bielinski, brother of Countess Salmor. He was a +very old man, but the sovereign administrator of justice in Poland. I had +never spoken to him, but he had defended me from Branicki's Uhlans, and +had made out my pardon, so I felt bound to go and thank him. + +I sent in my name, and the worthy old man greeted me with: + +"What can I do for you?" + +"I have come to kiss the hand of the kindly man that signed my pardon, +and to promise your excellency to be more discreet in future." + +"I advise you to be more discreet indeed. As for your pardon, thank the +king; for if he had not requested me especially to grant it you, I should +have had you beheaded." + +"In spite of the extenuating circumstances, my lord?" + +"What circumstances? Did you or did you not fight a duel." + +"That is not a proper way of putting it; I was obliged to defend myself. +You might have charged me with fighting a duel if Branicki had taken me +outside the ban, as I requested, but as it was he took me where he willed +and made me fight. Under these circumstances I am sure your excellency +would have spared my head." + +"I really can't say. The king requested that you should be pardoned, and +that shews he believes you to be deserving of pardon; I congratulate you +on his good will. I shall be pleased if you will dine with me tomorrow." + +"My lord, I am delighted to accept your invitation." + +The illustrious old constable was a man of great intelligence. He had +been a bosom-friend of the celebrated Poniatowski, the king's father. We +had a good deal of conversation together at dinner the next day. + +"What a comfort it would have been to your excellency's friend," said I, +"if he could have lived to see his son crowned King of Poland." + +"He would never have consented." + +The vehemence with which he pronounced these words gave me a deep insight +into his feelings. He was of the Saxon party. The same day, that is on +Easter Day, I dined at the palatin's. + +"Political reasons," said he, "prevented me from visiting you at the +monastery; but you must not think I had forgotten you, for you were +constantly in my thoughts. I am going to lodge you here, for my wife is +very fond of your society; but the rooms will not be ready for another +six weeks." + +"I shall take the opportunity, my lord, of paying a visit to the Palatin +of Kiowia, who has honoured me with an invitation to come and see him." + +"Who gave you the invitation?" + +"Count Bruhl, who is at Dresden; his wife is daughter of the palatin." + +"This journey is an excellent idea, for this duel of yours has made you +innumerable enemies, and I only hope you will have to fight no more +duels. I give you fair warning; be on your guard, and never go on foot, +especially at night." + +I spent a fortnight in going out to dinner and supper every day. I had +become the fashion, and wherever I went I had to tell the duel story over +again. I was rather tired of it myself, but the wish to please and my own +self-love were too strong to be resisted. The king was nearly always +present, but feigned not to hear me. However, he once asked me if I had +been insulted by a patrician in Venice, whether I should have called him +out immediately. + +"No, sire, for his patrician pride would have prevented his complying, +and I should have had my pains for my trouble." + +"Then what would you have done?" + +"Sire, I should have contained myself, though if a noble Venetian were to +insult me in a foreign country he would have to give me satisfaction." + +I called on Prince Moszczinski, and Madame Binetti happened to be there; +the moment she saw me she made her escape. + +"What has she against me?" I asked the count. + +"She is afraid of you, because she was the cause of the duel, and now +Branicki who was her lover will have nothing more to say to her. She +hoped he would serve you as he served Tomatis, and instead of that you +almost killed her bravo. She lays the fault on him for having accepted +your challenge, but he has resolved to have done with her." + +This Count Moszczinski was both good-hearted and quick-witted, and so, +generous that he ruined himself by making presents. His wounds were +beginning to heal, but though I was the indirect cause of his mishap, far +from bearing malice against me he had become my friend. + +The person whom I should have expected to be most grateful to me for the +duel was Tomatis, but on the contrary he hated the sight of me and hardly +concealed his feelings. I was the living reproach of his cowardice; my +wounded hand seemed to shew him that he had loved his money more than his +honour. I am sure he would have preferred Branicki to have killed me, for +then he would have become an object of general execration, and Tomatis +would have been received with less contempt in the great houses he still +frequented. + +I resolved to pay a visit to the discontented party who had only +recognized the new king on compulsion, and some of whom had not +recognized him at all; so I set out with my true friend Campioni and one +servant. + +Prince Charles of Courland had started for Venice, where I had given him +letters for my illustrious friends who would make his visit a pleasant +one. The English ambassador who had given me an introduction to Prince +Adam had just arrived at Warsaw. I dined with him at the prince's house, +and the king signified his wish to be of the party. I heard a good deal +of conversation about Madame de Geoffrin, an old sweetheart of the king's +whom he had just summoned to Warsaw. The Polish monarch, of whom I cannot +speak in too favourable terms, was yet weak enough to listen to the +slanderous reports against me, and refused to make my fortune. I had the +pleasure of convincing him that he was mistaken, but I will speak of this +later on. + +I arrived at Leopol the sixth day after I had left Warsaw, having stopped +a couple of days at Prince Zamoiski's; he had forty thousand ducats +a-year, but also the falling sickness. + +"I would give all my goods," said he, "to be cured." + +I pitied his young wife. She was very fond of him, and yet had to deny +him, for his disease always came on him in moments of amorous excitement. +She had the bitter task of constantly refusing him, and even of running +away if he pressed her hard. This great nobleman, who died soon after, +lodged me in a splendid room utterly devoid of furniture. This is the +Polish custom; one is supposed to bring one's furniture with one. + +At Leopol I put up, at an hotel, but I soon had to move from thence to +take up my abode with the famous Kaminska, the deadly foe of Branicki, +the king, and all that party. She was very rich, but she has since been +ruined by conspiracies. She entertained me sumptuously for a week, but +the visit was agreeable to neither side, as she could only speak Polish +and German. From Leopol I proceeded to a small town, the name of which I +forget (the Polish names are very crabbed) to take an introduction from +Prince Lubomirski to Joseph Rzewuski, a little old man who wore a long +beard as a sign of mourning for the innovations that were being +introduced into his country. He was rich, learned, superstitiously +religious, and polite exceedingly. I stayed with him for three days. He +was the commander of a stronghold containing a garrison of five hundred +men. + +On the first day, as I was in his room with some other officers, about +eleven o'clock in the morning, another officer came in, whispered to +Rzewuski, and then came up to me and whispered in my ear, "Venice and St. +Mark." + +"St. Mark," I answered aloud, "is the patron saint and protector of +Venice," and everybody began to laugh. + +It dawned upon me that "Venice and St. Mark" was the watchword, and I +began to apologize profusely, and the word was changed. + +The old commander spoke to me with great politeness. He never went to +Court, but he had resolved on going to the Diet to oppose the Russian +party with all his might. The poor man, a Pole of the true old leaven, +was one of the four whom Repnin arrested and sent to Siberia. + +After taking leave of this brave patriot, I went to Christianpol, where +lived the famous palatin Potocki, who had been one of the lovers of the +empress Anna Ivanovna. He had founded the town in which he lived and +called it after his own name. This nobleman, still a fine man, kept a +splendid court. He honoured Count Bruhl by keeping me at his house for a +fortnight, and sending me out every day with his doctor, the famous +Styrneus, the sworn foe of Van Swieten, a still more famous physician. +Although Styrneus was undoubtedly a learned man, I thought him somewhat +extravagant and empirical. His system was that of Asclepiades, considered +as exploded since the time of the great Boerhaave; nevertheless, he +effected wonderful cures. + +In the evenings I was always with the palatin and his court. Play was not +heavy, and I always won, which was fortunate and indeed necessary for me. +After an extremely agreeable visit to the palatin I returned to Leopol, +where I amused myself for a week with a pretty girl who afterwards so +captivated Count Potocki, starost of Sniatin, that he married her. This +is purity of blood with a vengeance in your noble families! + +Leaving Leopol I went to Palavia, a splendid palace on the Vistula, +eighteen leagues distant from Warsaw. It belonged to the prince palatin, +who had built it himself. + +Howsoever magnificent an abode may be, a lonely man will weary of it +unless he has the solace of books or of some great idea. I had neither, +and boredom soon made itself felt. + +A pretty peasant girl came into my room, and finding her to my taste I +tried to make her understand me without the use of speech, but she +resisted and shouted so loudly that the door-keeper came up, and asked +me, coolly,-- + +"If you like the girl, why don't you go the proper way to work?" + +"What way is that?" + +"Speak to her father, who is at hand, and arrange the matter amicably." + +"I don't know Polish. Will you carry the thing through?" + +"Certainly. I suppose you will give fifty florins?" + +"You are laughing at me. I will give a hundred willingly, provided she is +a maid and is as submissive as a lamb." + +No doubt the arrangement was made without difficulty, for our hymen took +place the same evening, but no sooner was the operation completed than +the poor lamb fled away in hot haste, which made me suspect that her +father had used rather forcible persuasion with her. I would not have +allowed this had I been aware of it. + +The next morning several girls were offered to me, but the faces of all +of them were covered. + +"Where is the girl?" said I. "I want to see her face." + +"Never mind about the face, if the rest is all right." + +"The face is the essential part for me," I replied, "and the rest I look +upon as an accessory." + +He did not understand this. However, they were uncovered, but none of +their faces excited my desires. + +As a rule, the Polish women are ugly; a beauty is a miracle, and a pretty +woman a rare exception. At the end of a week of feasting and weariness, I +returned to Warsaw. + +In this manner I saw Podolia and Volkynia, which were rebaptized a few +years later by the names of Galicia and Lodomeria, for they are now part +of the Austrian Empire. It is said, however, that they are more +prosperous than they ever were before. + +At Warsaw I found Madame Geoffrin the object of universal admiration; and +everybody was remarking with what simplicity she was dressed. As for +myself, I was received not coldly, but positively rudely. People said to +my face,-- + +"We did not expect to see you here again. Why did you come back?" + +"To pay my debts." + +This behaviour astonished and disgusted me. The prince-palatin even +seemed quite changed towards me. I was still invited to dinner, but no +one spoke to me. However, Prince Adam's sister asked me very kindly to +come and sup with her, and I accepted the invitation with delight. I +found myself seated opposite the king, who did not speak one word to me +the whole time. He had never behaved to me thus before. + +The next day I dined with the Countess Oginski, and in the course of +dinner the countess asked where the king had supper the night before; +nobody seemed to know, and I did not answer. Just as we were rising, +General Roniker came in, and the question was repeated. + +"At Princess Strasnikowa's," said the general, "and M. Casanova was +there." + +"Then why did you not answer my question?" said the countess to me. + +"Because I am very sorry to have been there. His majesty neither spoke to +me nor looked at me. I see I am in disgrace, but for the life of me I +know not why." + +On leaving the house I went to call on Prince Augustus Sulkowski, who +welcomed me as of old, but told me that I had made a mistake in returning +to Warsaw as public opinion was against me. + +"What have I done?" + +"Nothing; but the Poles are always inconstant and changeable. 'Sarmatarum +virtus veluti extra ipsos'. This inconstancy will cost us dear sooner or +later. Your fortune was made, but you missed the turn of the tide, and I +advise you to go." + +"I will certainly do so, but it seems to me rather hard." + +When I got home my servant gave me a letter which some unknown person had +left at my door. I opened it and found it to be anonymous, but I could +see it came from a well-wisher. The writer said that the slanderers had +got the ears of the king, and that I was no longer a persona grata at +Court, as he had been assured that the Parisians had burnt me in effigy +for my absconding with the lottery money, and that I had been a strolling +player in Italy and little better than a vagabond. + +Such calumnies are easy to utter but hard to refute in a foreign country. +At all Courts hatred, born of envy, is ever at work. I might have +despised the slanders and left the country, but I had contracted debts +and had not sufficient money to pay them and my expenses to Portugal, +where I thought I might do something. + +I no longer saw any company, with the exception of Campioni, who seemed +more distressed than myself. I wrote to Venice and everywhere else, where +there was a chance of my getting funds; but one day the general, who had +been present at the duel, called on me, and told me (though he seemed +ashamed of his task) that the king requested me to leave the ban in the +course of a week. + +Such a piece of insolence made my blood boil, and I informed the general +that he might tell the king that I did not feel inclined to obey such an +unjust order, and that if I left I would let all the world know that I +had been compelled to do so by brute force. + +"I cannot take such a message as that," said the general, kindly. "I +shall simply tell the king that I have executed his orders, and no more; +but of course you must follow your own judgment." + +In the excess of my indignation I wrote to the king that I could not obey +his orders and keep my honour. I said in my letter,-- + +"My creditors, sire, will forgive me for leaving Poland without paying my +debts, when they learn that I have only done so because your majesty gave +me no choice." + +I was thinking how I could ensure this letter reaching the king, when who +should arrive but Count Moszczinski. I told him what had happened, and +asked if he could suggest any means of delivering tire letter. "Give it +to me," said he; "I will place it in the king's hands." + +As soon as he had gone I went out to take the air, and called on Prince +Sulkowski, who was not at all astonished at my news. As if to sweeten the +bitter pill I had to swallow, he told me how the Empress of Austria had +ordered him to leave Vienna in twenty-four hours, merely because he had +complimented the Archduchess Christina on behalf of Prince Louis of +Wurtemberg. + +The next day Count Moszczinski brought me a present of a thousand ducats +from the king, who said that my leaving Warsaw would probably be the +means of preserving my life, as in that city I was exposed to danger +which I could not expect to escape eventually. + +This referred to five or six challenges I had received, and to which I +had not even taken the trouble to reply. My enemies might possibly +assassinate me, and the king did not care to be constantly anxious on my +account. Count Moszczinski added that the order to leave carried no +dishonour with it, considering by whom it had been delivered, and the +delay it gave me to make my preparations. + +The consequence of all this was that I not only gave my word to go, but +that I begged the count to thank his majesty for his kindness, and the +interest he had been pleased to take in me. + +When I gave in, the generous Moszczinski embraced me, begged me to write +to him, and accept a present of a travelling carriage as a token of his +friendship. He informed me that Madame Binetti's husband had gone off +with his wife's maid, taking with him her diamonds, jewels, linen, and +even her silver plate, leaving her to the tender mercies of the dancer, +Pic. Her admirers had clubbed together to make up to her for what her +husband had stolen. I also heard that the king's sister had arrived at +Warsaw from Bialistock, and it was hoped that her husband would follow +her. This husband was the real Count Branicki, and the Branicki, or +rather Branecki, or Bragnecki, who had fought with me, was no relation to +him whatever. + +The following day I paid my debts, which amounted to about two hundred +ducats, and I made preparations for starting for Breslau, the day after, +with Count Clary, each of us having his own carriage. Clary was one of +those men to whom lying has become a sort of second nature; whenever such +an one opens his mouth, you may safely say to him, "You have lied, or you +are going to lie." If they could feel their own degradation, they would +be much to be pitied, for by their own fault at last no one will believe +them even when by chance they speak the truth. This Count Clary, who was +not one of the Clarys of Teplitz, could neither go to his own country nor +to Vienna, because he had deserted the army on the eve of a battle. He +was lame, but he walked so adroitly that his defect did not appear. If +this had been the only truth he concealed, it would have been well, for +it was a piece of deception that hurt no one. He died miserably in +Venice. + +We reached Breslau in perfect safety, and without experiencing any +adventures. Campioni, who had accompanied me as far as Wurtemburg, +returned, but rejoined me at Vienna in the course of seven months. Count +Clary had left Breslau, and I thought I would make the acquaintance of +the Abbe Bastiani, a celebrated Venetian, whose fortune had been made by +the King of Prussia. He was canon of the cathedral, and received me +cordially; in fact, each mutually desired the other's acquaintance. He +was a fine well-made man, fair-complexioned, and at least six feet high. +He was also witty, learned, eloquent, and gifted with a persuasive voice; +his cook was an artist, his library full of choice volumes, and his +cellar a very good one. He was well lodged on the ground floor, and on +the first floor he accommodated a lady, of whose children he was very +fond, possibly because he was their father. Although a great admirer of +the fair sex, his tastes were by no means exclusive, and he did not +despise love of the Greek or philosophic kind. I could see that he +entertained a passion for a young priest whom I met at his table. This +young abbe was Count di Cavalcano and Bastiani seemed to adore him, if +fiery glances signified anything; but the innocent young man did not seem +to understand, and I suppose Bastiani did not like to lower his dignity +by declaring his love. The canon shewed me all the letters he had +received from the King of Prussia before he had been made canon. He was +the son of a tailor at Venice, and became a friar, but having committed +some peccadillo which got him into trouble, he was fortunate enough to be +able to make his escape. He fled to The Hague, and there met Tron, the +Venetian ambassador, who lent him a hundred ducats with which he made his +way to Berlin and favour with the king. Such are the ways by which men +arrive at fortune! 'Sequere deum'! + +On the event of my departure from Breslau I went to pay a call on a +baroness for whom I had a letter of introduction from her son, who was an +officer of the Polish Court. I sent up my name and was asked to wait a +few moments, as the baroness was dressing. I sat down beside a pretty +girl, who was neatly dressed in a mantle with a hood. I asked her if she +were waiting for the baroness like myself. + +"Yes, sir," she replied, "I have come to offer myself as governess for +her three daughters." + +"What! Governess at your age?" + +"Alas! sir, age has nothing to do with necessity. I have neither father +nor mother. My brother is a poor lieutenant who cannot help me; what can +I do? I can only get a livelihood by turning my good education to +account." + +"What will your salary be?" + +"Fifty wretched crowns, enough to buy my dresses." + +"It's very little." + +"It is as much as people give." + +"Where are you living now?" + +"With a poor aunt, where I can scarce earn enough bread to keep me alive +by sewing from morning till night." + +"If you liked to become my governess instead of becoming a children's +governess, I would give you fifty crowns, not per year, but per month." + +"Your governess? Governess to your family, you mean, I suppose?" + +"I have no family; I am a bachelor, and I spend my time in travelling. I +leave at five o'clock to-morrow morning for Dresden, and if you like to +come with me there is a place for you in my carriage. I am staying at +such an inn. Come there with your trunk, and we will start together." + +"You are joking; besides, I don't know you." + +"I am not jesting; and we should get to know each other perfectly well in +twenty-four hours; that is ample time." + +My serious air convinced the girl that I was not laughing at her; but she +was still very much astonished, while I was very much astonished to find +I had gone so far when I had only intended to joke. In trying to win over +the girl I had won over myself. It seemed to me a rare adventure, and I +was delighted to see that she was giving it her serious attention by the +side-glances she kept casting in my direction to see if I was laughing at +her. I began to think that fate had brought us together that I might +become the architect of her fortune. I had no doubt whatever as to her +goodness or her feelings for me, for she completely infatuated my +judgment. To put the finishing stroke on the affair I drew out two ducats +and gave them her as an earnest of her first month's wages. She took them +timidly, but seemed convinced that I was not imposing on her. + +By this time the baroness was ready, and she welcomed me very kindly; but +I said I could not accept her invitation to dine with her the following +day, as I was leaving at day-break. I replied to all the questions that a +fond mother makes concerning her son, and then took leave of the worthy +lady. As I went out I noticed that the would-be governess had +disappeared. The rest of the day I spent with the canon, making good +cheer, playing ombre, drinking hard, and talking about girls or +literature. The next day my carriage came to the door at the time I had +arranged, and I went off without thinking of the girl I had met at the +baroness's. But we had not gone two hundred paces when the postillion +stopped, a bundle of linen whirled through the window into the carriage, +and the governess got in. I gave her a hearty welcome by embracing her, +and made her sit down beside me, and so we drove off. + +In the ensuing chapter the reader will become more fully acquainted with +my fresh conquest. In the meantime let him imagine me rolling peacefully +along the Dresden road. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +My Arrival at Dresden with Maton--She Makes Me a +Present--Leipzig--Castelbajac--Schwerin--Return to Dresden and +Departure--I Arrive at Vienna--Pocchini's Vengeance + +When I saw myself in the carriage with this pretty girl, who had fallen +on me as if from the clouds, I imagined I was intended to shape her +destiny. Her tutelary genius must have placed her in my hands, for I felt +inclined to do her all the good that lay in my power. But for myself; was +it a piece of good or ill luck for me? I formed the question, but felt +that time alone could give the answer. I knew that I was still living in +my old style, while I was beginning to feel that I was no longer a young +man. + +I was sure that my new companion could not have abandoned herself to me +in this manner, without having made up her mind to be complaisant; but +this was not enough for me, it was my humour to be loved. This was my +chief aim, everything else was only fleeting enjoyment, and as I had not +had a love affair since I parted with Zaira, I hoped most fervently that +the present adventure would prove to be one. + +Before long I learnt that my companion's name was Maton; this at least +was her surname, and I did not feel any curiosity to know the name of the +he or she saint whom her godmothers had constituted her patron at the +baptismal font. I asked her if she could write French as well as she +spoke it, and she shewed me a letter by way of sample. It assured me that +she had received an excellent education, and this fact increased my +pleasure in the conquest I had made. She said she had left Breslau +without telling her aunt or her cousin that she was going, perhaps never +to return. + +"How about your belongings?" + +"Belongings? They were not worth the trouble of gathering together. All I +have is included in that small package, which contains a chemise, a pair +of stockings, some handkerchiefs, and a few nicknacks." + +"What will your lover say?" + +"Alas! I haven't got one to say anything." + +"I cannot credit that." + +"I have had two lovers; the first one was a rascal, who took advantage of +my innocence to seduce me, and then left me when I ceased to present any +novelty for him; my second was an honest man, but a poor lieutenant with +no prospects of getting on. He has not abandoned me, but his regiment was +ordered to Stetin, and since then--" + +"And since then?" + +"We were too poor to write to one another, so we had to suffer in +silence." + +This pathetic history seemed to bear the marks of truth; and I thought it +very possible that Maton had only come with me to make her fortune or to +do rather better than she had been doing, which would not be difficult. +She was twenty-five years old, and as she had never been out of Breslau +before, she would doubtless be delighted to see what the world was like +at Dresden. I could not help feeling that I had been a fool to burden +myself with the girl, who would most likely cost me a lot of money; but +still I found my conduct excusable, as the chances were a hundred to one +against her accepting the proposal I had been foolish enough to make. In +short, I resolved to enjoy the pleasure of having a pretty girl all to +myself, and I determined not to do anything during the journey, being +anxious to see whether her moral qualities would plead as strongly with +me as her physical beauty undoubtedly did. At nightfall I stopped, +wishing to spend the night at the posting-station. Maton, who had been +very hungry all day, but had not dared to tell me so, ate with an amazing +and pleasing appetite; but not being accustomed to wine, she would have +fallen asleep at table, if I had not begged her to retire. She begged my +pardon, assuring me she would not let such a thing occur again. I smiled +by way of reply, and stayed at the table, not looking to see whether she +undressed or went to bed in her clothes. I went to bed myself soon after, +and at five o'clock was up again to order the coffee, and to see that the +horses were put in. Maton was lying on her bed with all her clothes on, +fast asleep, and perspiring with the heat. I woke her, telling her that +another time she must sleep more comfortably, as such heats were +injurious to health. + +She got up and left the room, no doubt to wash, for she returned looking +fresh and gay, and bade me good day, and asked me if I would like to give +her a kiss. + +"I shall be delighted," I replied; and, after kissing her, I made her +hurry over the breakfast, as I wished to reach Dresden that evening. +However, I could not manage it, my carriage broke down, and took five +hours to mend, so I had to sleep at another posting station. Maton +undressed this time, but I had the firmness not to look at her. + +When I reached Dresden I put up at the "Hotel de Saxe," taking the whole +of the first floor. My mother was in the country, and I paid her a visit, +much to her delight; we made quite an affecting picture, with my arm in a +sling. I also saw my brother John and his wife Therese, Roland, and a +Roman girl whom I had known before him, and who made much of me. I also +saw my sister, and I then went with my brother to pay my suit to Count +Bruhl and to his wife, the daughter of the palatin of Kiowia, who was +delighted to hear news of her family. I was welcomed everywhere, and +everywhere I had to tell the story of my duel. I confess that very little +pressing was required, for I was very proud of it. + +At this period the States were assembled in Dresden, and Prince Xavier, +uncle of the Elector, was regent during his minority. + +The same evening I went to the opera-house, where faro was played. I +played, but prudently, for my capital only consisted of eighteen hundred +ducats. + +When I came back we had a good supper, and Maton pleased me both by her +appetite and amiability. When we had finished I affectionately asked her +if she would like to share my bed, and she replied as tenderly that she +was wholly mine. And so, after passing a voluptuous night, we rose in the +morning the best friends in the world. + +I spent the whole morning in furnishing her toilette. A good many people +called on me, and wanted to be presented to Maton; but my answer was +that, as she was only my housekeeper, and not my wife, I could not have +the pleasure of introducing her. In the same way I had instructed her +that she was not to let anyone in when I was away. She was working in her +room on the linen I had provided for her, aided in her task by a +seamstress. Nevertheless, I did not want to make her a slave, so I +occasionally took her into the pleasant suburbs of Dresden, where she was +at liberty to speak to any of my acquaintances we might meet. + +This reserve of mine which lasted for the fortnight we stayed in Dresden +was mortifying for all the young officers in the place, and especially +for the Comte de Bellegarde, who was not accustomed to being denied any +girl to whom he chose to take a fancy. He was a fine young fellow, of +great boldness and even impudence, and one day he came into our room and +asked me to give him a dinner just as Maton and myself were sitting down +to table. I could not refuse him, and I could not request Maton to leave +the room, so from the beginning to the end of the meal he showered his +military jokes and attentions on her, though he was perfectly polite the +whole time. Maton behaved very well; she was not prudish, nor did she +forget the respect she owed to me and indeed to herself. + +I was accustomed to take a siesta every day after dinner, so half an hour +after the conclusion of the meal I stated the fact and begged him to +leave us. He asked smilingly if the lady took a siesta too, and I replied +that we usually took it together. This made him take up his hat and cane, +and as he did so he asked us both to dine with him the next day. I +replied that I never took Maton out anywhere, but that he would be +welcome to come and take pot-luck with us every day if he liked. + +This refusal exhausted his resources, and he took his leave if not +angrily, at least very coldly. + +My mother returned to her town apartments, which were opposite to mine, +and the next day when I was calling on her I noticed the erker (a sort of +grating in the Spanish fashion) which indicated my rooms in the hotel. I +happened to look in that direction and I saw Maton at the window standing +up and talking to M. de Bellegarde, who was at a neighbouring window. +This window belonged to a room which adjoined my suite of rooms, but did +not belong to it. This discovery amused me. I knew what I was about, and +did not fear to be made a cuckold in spite of myself. I was sure I had +not been observed, and I was not going to allow any trespassers. I was +jealous, in fact; but the jealousy was of the mind, not the heart. + +I came in to dinner in the highest spirits, and Maton was as gay as +myself. I led the conversation up to Bellegarde, and said I believed him +to be in love with her. + +"Oh, he is like all officers with girls; but I don't think he is more in +love with me than any other girl." + +"Oh, but didn't he come to call on me this morning?" + +"Certainly not; and if he had come the maid would have told him you were +out." + +"Did you not notice him walking up and down 'under the windows?" + +"No." + +This was enough for me; I knew they had laid a plot together. Maton was +deceiving me, and I should be cheated in twenty-four hours unless I took +care. At my age such treason should not have astonished me, but my vanity +would not allow me to admit the fact. + +I dissembled my feelings and caressed the traitress, and then leaving the +house I went to the theatre where I played with some success and returned +home while the second act was in progress; it was still daylight. The +waiter was at the door, and I asked him whether there were any rooms +besides those which I occupied on the first floor. "Yes, two rooms, both +looking on the street." + +"Tell the landlord that I will take them both." + +"They were taken yesterday evening." + +"By whom?" + +"By a Swiss officer, who is entertaining a party of friends to supper +here this evening." + +I said no more lest I should awaken suspicion; but I felt sure that +Bellegarde could easily obtain access to my rooms from his. Indeed, there +was a door leading to the room where Maton slept with her maid when I did +not care to have her in my room. The door was bolted on her side, but as +she was in the plot there was not much security in this. + +I went upstairs softly, and finding Maton on the balcony, I said, after +some indifferent conversation, that I should like to change rooms. + +"You shall have my room," I said, "and I will have yours; I can read +there, and see the people going by." + +She thought it a very good idea, and added that it would serve us both if +I would allow her to sit there when I was out. + +This reply shewed me that Maton was an old hand, and that I had better +give her up if I did not wish to be duped. + +I changed the rooms, and we supped pleasantly together, laughing and +talking, and in spite of all her craft Maton did not notice any change in +me. + +I remained alone in my new room, and soon heard the voices of Bellegarde +and his merry companions. I went on to the balcony, but the curtains of +Bellegarde's room were drawn, as if to assure me that there was no +complot. However, I was not so easily deceived, and I found afterwards +that Mercury had warned Jupiter that Amphytrion had changed his room. + +Next day, a severe headache, a thing from which I seldom suffer, kept me +to the house all day. I had myself let blood, and my worthy mother, who +came to keep me company, dined with Maton. My mother had taken a weakness +for the girl, and had often asked me to let her come and see her, but I +had the good sense to refuse this request. The next day I was still far +from well, and took medicine, and in the evening, to my horror, I found +myself attacked by a fearful disease. This must be a present from Maton, +for I had not known anyone else since leaving Leopol. I spent a troubled +night, rage and indignation being my principal emotions; and next +morning, coming upon Maton suddenly, I found everything in the most +disgusting state. The wretched creature confessed she had been infected +for the last six months, but that she had hoped not to give it me, as she +had washed herself carefully whenever she thought I was going to have to +do with her. + +"Wretch, you have poisoned me; but nobody shall know it, as it is by my +own fault, and I am ashamed of it. Get up, and you shall see how generous +I can be." + +She got up, and I had all the linen I had given her packed into a trunk. +This done, I told my man to take a small room for her at another inn. His +errand was soon over, and I then told Maton to go immediately, as I had +done with her. I gave her fifty crowns, and made her sign a receipt +specifying the reason why I had sent her away, and acknowledging that she +had no further claim upon me. The conditions were humiliating, and she +wished me to soften them down, but she soon gave in when I told her that +unless she signed I would turn her into the streets as naked as when I +found her. + +"What am I to do here? I don't know anyone." + +"If you like to return to Breslau I will pay your expenses there." + +She made no answer, so I sent her away bag and baggage, and merely turned +my back on her when she went down on her knees to excite my compassion. + +I got rid of her without the slightest feeling of pity, for from what she +had done to me and from what she was preparing to do I considered her as +a mere monster, who would sooner or later have cost me my life. + +I left the inn the following day, and I took a furnished apartment on the +first floor of the house where my mother lived for six months, and +proceeded about my cure. Everyone asked me what I had done with my +housekeeper, and I said that having no further need of her services I had +sent her away. + +A week afterwards my brother John came to tell me that Bellegarde and +five or six of his friends were on the sick list; Maton had certainly +lost no time. + +"I am sorry for them, but it's their own fault; why didn't they take more +care?" + +"But the girl came to Dresden with you." + +"Yes, and I sent her about her business. It was enough for me to keep +them off while she was under my charge. Tell them that if they complain +of me they are wrong, and still more wrong to publish their shame. Let +them learn discretion and get themselves cured in secrecy, if they do not +want sensible men to laugh at them. Don't you think I am right?" + +"The adventure is not a very honourable one for you." + +"I know it, and that's why I say nothing; I am not such a fool as to +proclaim my shame from the housetops. These friends of yours must be +simpletons indeed; they must have known that I had good reasons for +sending the girl away, and should consequently have been on their guard. +They deserve what they got, and I hope it may be a lesson to them." + +"They are all astonished at your being well." + +"You may comfort them by saying that I have been as badly treated as +they, but that I have held my tongue, not wishing to pass for a +simpleton." + +Poor John saw he had been a simpleton himself and departed in silence. I +put myself under a severe diet, and by the middle of August my health was +re-established. + +About this time, Prince Adam Czartoryski's sister came to Dresden, +lodging with Count Bruhl. I had the honour of paying my court to her, and +I heard from her own mouth that her royal cousin had had the weakness to +let himself be imposed on by calumnies about me. I told her that I was of +Ariosto's opinion that all the virtues are nothing worth unless they are +covered with the veil of constancy. + +"You saw yourself when I supped with you, how his majesty completely +ignored me. Your highness will be going to Paris next year; you will meet +me there and you can write to the king that if I had been burnt in effigy +I should not venture to shew myself." + +The September fair being a great occasion at Leipzig, I went there to +regain my size by eating larks, for which Leipzig is justly famous. I had +played a cautious but a winning game at Dresden, the result of which had +been the gain of some hundreds of ducats, so I was able to start for +Leipzig with a letter of credit for three thousand crowns on the banker +Hohman, an intelligent old man of upwards of eighty. It was of him I +heard that the hair of the Empress of Russia, which looked a dark brown +or even black, had been originally quite fair. The old banker had seen +her at Stettin every day between her seventh and tenth years, and told me +that even then they had begun to comb her hair with lead combs, and to +rub a certain composition into it. From an early age Catherine had been +looked upon as the future bride of the Duke of Holstein, afterwards the +hapless Peter III. The Russians are fair as a rule, and so it was thought +it that the reigning family should be dark. + +Here I will note down a pleasant adventure I had at Leipzig. The Princess +of Aremberg had arrived from Vienna, and was staying at the same hotel as +myself. She took a fancy to go to the fair incognito, and as she had a +large suite she dressed up one of her maids as the princess, and mingled +with her following. I suppose my readers to be aware that this princess +was witty and beautiful, and that she was the favourite mistress of the +Emperor Francis the First. + +I heard of his masquerade, and leaving my hotel at the same time I +followed her till she stopped at a stall, and then going up to her and +addressing her as one would any other maid, I asked if that (pointing at +the false princess) were really the famous Princess of Aremberg. + +"Certainly," she replied. + +"I can scarcely believe it, for she is not pretty, and she, has, not the +look nor the manners of a princess." + +"Perhaps you are not a good judge of princesses." + +"I have seen enough of them anyhow, and to prove that I am a good judge I +say that it is you who ought to be the princess; I would willingly give a +hundred ducats to spend the night with you." + +"A hundred ducats! What would you do if I were to take you at your word?" + +"Try me. I lodge at the same hotel as you, and if yet can contrive ways +and means, I will give you the money in advance, but not till I am sure +of my prize, for I don't like being taken in." + +"Very good. Say not a word to anyone, but try to speak with me either +before or after supper. If you are brave enough to face certain risks, we +will spend the night together." + +"What is your name?" + +"Caroline." + +I felt certain it would come to nothing, but I was glad to have amused +the princess, and to have let her know that I appreciated her beauties, +and I resolved to go on with the part I was playing. About supper-time I +began a promenade near the princess's apartments, stopping every now and +then in front of the room where her women were sitting, till one of them +came out to ask me if I wanted anything. + +"I want to speak for a moment to one of your companions to whom I had the +pleasure of talking at the fair." + +"You mean Caroline, I expect?" + +"Yes." + +"She is waiting on the princess, but she will be out in half an hour." + +I spent this half hour in my own room, and then returned to dance +attendance. Before long the same maid to whom I had spoken came up to me +and told me to wait in a closet which she shewed me, telling me that +Caroline would be there before long. I went into the closet, which was +small, dark, and uncomfortable. I was soon joined by a woman. This time I +was sure it was the real Caroline, but I said nothing. + +She came, in, took my hand, and told me that if I would wait there she +would come to me as soon as her mistress was in bed. + +"Without any light?" + +"Of course, or else the people of the house would notice it, and I should +not like that." + +"I cannot do anything without light, charming Caroline; and besides, this +closet is not a very nice place to pass five or six hours. There is +another alternative, the first room above is mine. I shall be alone, and +I swear to you that no one shall come in; come up and make me happy; I +have got the hundred ducats here." + +"Impossible! I dare not go upstairs for a million ducats." + +"So much the worse for you, as I am not going to stay in this hole which +has only a chair in it, if you offer me a million and a half. Farewell, +sweet Caroline." + +"Wait a moment; let me go out first." + +The sly puss went out quickly enough, but I was as sharp as she, and trod +on the tail of her dress so that she could not shut the door after her. +So we went out together, and I left her at the door, saying,-- + +"Good night, Caroline, you see it was no use." + +I went to bed well pleased with the incident. The princess, it was plain, +had intended to make me pass the night in the hole of a closet, as a +punishment for having dared to ask the mistress of an emperor to sleep +with me for a hundred crowns. + +Two days later, as I was buying a pair of lace cuffs, the princess came +into the shop with Count Zinzendorf, whom I had known at Paris twelve +years before just as I was making way for the lady the count recognized +me, and asked me if I knew anything about the Casanova that had fought +the duel at Warsaw. + +"Alas! count, I am that Casanova, and here is my arm still in a sling." + +"I congratulate you, my dear fellow; I should like to hear about it." + +With these words he introduced me to the princess, asking her if she had +heard of the duel. + +"Yes; I heard something about it in the papers. So this is the hero of +the tale. Delighted to make your acquaintance." + +The princess spoke with great kindness, but with the cool politeness of +the Court. She did not give me the slightest sign of recognition, and of +course I imitated her in her reserve. + +I visited the count in the afternoon, and he begged me to come and see +the princess, who would be delighted to hear the account of my duel from +my own lips, and I followed him to her apartment with pleasure. The +princess listened to my narrative in stately sort, and her women never +looked at me. She went away the day after, and the story went no farther. + +Towards the end of the fair I received a very unexpected visit from the +fair Madame Castelbajac. I was just sitting down to table to eat a dozen +larks, when she made her appearance. + +"What, madam, you here!" + +"Yes, to my sorrow. I have been here for the last three weeks, and have +seen you several times, but you have always avoided us." + +"Who are 'us'?" + +"Schwerin and myself." + +"Schwerin is here, is he?" + +"Yes; and in prison on account of a forged bill. I am sure I do not know +what they will do to the poor wretch. He would have been wise to have +fled, but it seems as if he wanted to get hanged." + +"And you have been with him ever since you left England? that is, three +years ago." + +"Exactly. Our occupation is robbing, cheating, and escaping from one land +to another. Never was a woman so unhappy as I." + +"For how much is the forged bill?" + +"For three hundred crowns. Do a generous action M. Casanova, and let +bygones be bygones; deliver the poor wretch from the gallows and me from +death, for if he is hanged I shall kill myself." + +"Indeed, madam, he may hang for me, for he did his best to send me to the +gallows with his forged bills; but I confess I pity you. So much, indeed, +that I invite you to come to Dresden with me the day after to-morrow, and +I promise to give you three hundred crowns as soon as Schwerin has +undergone the extreme penalty of the law. I can't understand how a woman +like you can have fallen in love with a man that has neither face, nor +talents, nor wit, nor fortune, for all that he has to boast of is his +name of Schwerin." + +"I confess, to my shame, that I never loved him. Ever since the other +rogue, Castelbajac--who, by the way, was never married to me--made me +know him, I have only lived with him by force, though his tears and his +despairs have excited my compassion. If destiny had given me an honest +man in his stead, I would have forsaken him long ago, for sooner or later +he will be the death of me." + +"Where do you live?" + +"Nowhere. I have been turned out into the street with nothing but the +clothes on my back. Have compassion on me." + +With these words the hapless woman threw herself at my knees and burst +into tears. I was much affected. The waiter of the inn stood staring with +amazement till I told him to go out. I may safely say that this woman was +one of the most handsome in France; she was probably about twenty-six +years old. She had been the wife of a druggist of Montpellier, and had +been so unfortunate as to let Castelbajac seduce her. At London her +beauty had produced no impression on me, my heart was another's; +nevertheless, she was made to seduce the heart of man. + +I raised her from her knees, and said I felt inclined to help her, but +that in the first place she must calm herself, and in the second share my +supper. The waiter brought another bed and put it in my room, without +receiving any orders to do so; this made me feel inclined to laugh. + +The appetite with which the poor woman ate, despite her sorrow, reminded +me of the matron of Ephesus. When supper was over I gave her her choice: +she might either stay in Leipzig and fare as best she might, or I would +reclaim her effects, take her with me to Dresden, and pay her a hundred +gold ducats as soon as I could be certain that she would not give the +money to the wretch who had reduced her to such an extremity. She did not +ask much time for reflection. She said that it would be no good for her +to stay in Leipzig, for she could do nothing for the wretched Schwerin or +even keep herself for a day, for she had not got a farthing. She would +have to beg or to become a prostitute, and she could not make up her mind +to either course. + +"Indeed," she concluded, "if you were to give me the hundred ducats this +moment, and I used them to free Schwerin, I should be no better off than +before; so I accept your generous offer thankfully." + +I embraced her, promised to get back what her landlord had seized for +rent, and then begged her to go to bed, as she was in need of rest. + +"I see," she answered, "that either out of liking or for politeness' sake +you will ask me for those favours which I should be only too happy to +grant, but if I allowed that it would be a bad return indeed for your +kindness. Look at my linen, and behold in what a state that unhappy +wretch has left me!" + +I saw that I ran the risk of being infected again, and thanked her for +warning me of the danger I ran. In spite of her faults she was a woman of +feeling, and had an excellent heart, and from these good qualities of +hers proceeded all her misfortunes. + +The next morning I arranged for the redemption of her effects, which cost +me sixty crowns of Saxony, and in the afternoon the poor woman saw +herself once more in possession of her belongings, which she had thought +never to see again. She seemed profoundly grateful, and deplored her +state, which hindered her from proving the warmth of her feelings. + +Such is the way of women: a grateful woman has only one way of shewing +her gratitude, and that is to surrender herself without reserve. A man is +different, but we are differently constituted; a man is made to give and +a woman to receive. + +The next day, a short while before we left, the broker I had employed in +the redemption of the lady's effects, told me that the banker, whom +Schwerin had cheated, was going to send an express to Berlin, to enquire +whether the king would object to Count Schwerin's being proceeded against +with the utmost rigour of the law. + +"Alas!" cried his late mistress, "that's what he was most afraid of. It's +all up with him. The King of Prussia will pay his debts, but he will end +his days at Spandau. Why didn't they put him there before I ever knew +him?" + +She left Leipzig with me, and our appearance at Dresden caused a good +deal of surprise. She was not a mere girl, like Maton; she had a good +appearance, and a modest yet distinguished manner. I called her Countess +Blasin, and introduced her to my mother and relations, and put her in my +best room. I summoned the doctor who had treated me, and made him swear +not to disclose the countess's state, but to tell everyone that he came +to see me. I took her to the theatre, and it was my humour to have her +regarded as a person of distinction. Good treatment soon restored her to +health, and by the end of November she believed herself in a state to +reward me for my kindness. + +The wedding was a secret one, but none the less pleasant; and as if by +way of wedding present the next day I heard that the King of Prussia had +paid Schwerin's debts, and had had him brought to Berlin under a strong +escort. If he is alive, the rascal is at Spandau to this day. + +The time had come for me to pay her the hundred ducats. I told her +frankly that I was obliged to go to Portugal, and that I could not make +my appearance there in company with a pretty woman without failing in my +project. I added that my means would not allow me to pay double expenses +for so long a journey. + +She had received too many proofs of my love to think for a moment that I +had got tired of her, and wanted to be on with some other woman. She told +me that she owed everything to me, while I owed nothing to her; and that +all she asked of me was to enable her to return to Montpellier. + +"I have relations there," said she, "who will be glad to see me, and I +hope that my husband will let me return to him. I am the Prodigal Son, +and I hope to find in him the forgiving father." + +I told her I would do my utmost to send her home in safety and comfort. + +Towards the middle of December I left Dresden with Madame Blasin. My +purse only contained four hundred ducats, for I had had a run of bad luck +at play; and the journey to Leipzig had cost me altogether three hundred +ducats. I told my mistress nothing of all this, for my only thought was +how to please her. + +We stayed a short while at Prague, and reached Vienna on Christmas Day. +We put up at the "Red Bull," the Countess Blasin (who had been +transformed into a milliner) in one room, and I in another, so that we +might pass for strangers while continuing our intimacy. + +The next morning, as we were taking coffee together, two individuals came +into the room, and asked the rude question,-- + +"Who are you, madam?" + +"My name is Blasin." + +"Who is this gentleman?" + +"You had better ask him." + +"What are you doing at Vienna?" + +"Taking coffee. I should have thought you could have seen that for +yourselves." + +"If the gentleman is not your husband, you will leave the town within +twenty-four hours." + +"The gentleman is my friend, and not my husband; and I shall leave Vienna +exactly when I choose, unless you make me go away by force." + +"Very good. We are aware, sir, that you have a separate room, but that +makes no difference." + +Thereupon one of the policemen entered my room, I following him. + +"What do you want here?" said I. + +"I am looking at your bed, and I can see you have not slept in it. That's +enough." + +"The devil! What business have you here at all, and who authorizes such +disgraceful proceedings?" + +He made no reply, but returned to Madame Blasin's room, where they both +ordered her to leave Vienna in the course of twenty-four hours, and then +they both left us. + +"Dress yourself," said I to her, "and tell the French ambassador the +whole story. Tell him that you are a milliner, Blasin by name, and that +all you want is to go from here to Strasburg, and from there to +Montpellier." + +While she was dressing I ordered a carriage and a servant to be in +attendance. She returned in an hour's time, and said the ambassador had +assured her that she would be left alone, and need not leave Vienna till +she thought fit. I took her to mass in triumph, and then, as the weather +was bad, we spent the rest of the day in eating and drinking and sitting +by the fire. + +At eight o'clock in the evening the landlord came up and said very +politely that he had been ordered by the police to give the lady a room +at some distance from mine, and that he was obliged to obey. + +"I am quite ready to change my room," said Madame Blasin, with a smile. + +"Is the lady to sup alone?" I asked. + +"I have received no instructions on that point." + +"Then I will sup with her, and I hope you will treat us well." + +"You shall be well served, sir." + +In spite of the detestable and tyrannical police we spent the last four +days and nights together in the closest intimacy. When she left I wanted +her to take fifty Louis; but she would only have thirty, saying that she +could travel to Montpellier on that sum, and have money in her pocket +when she got there. Our parting was an affecting one. She wrote to me +from Strasburg, and we shall hear of her again when I describe my visit +to Montpellier. + +The first day of the year 1767 I took an apartment in the house of a +certain Mr. Schroder, and I took letters of introduction to Madame de +Salmor and Madame de Stahremberg. I then called on the elder Calsabigi, +who was in the service of Prince Kaunitz. + +This Calsabigi, whose whole body was one mass of eruption, always worked +in bed, and the minister, his master, went to see him almost every day. I +went constantly to the theatre, where Madame Vestris was dancing. On +January the 7th or 8th, I saw the empress dowager come to the theatre +dressed in black; she was received with applause, as this was the first +appearance she had made since the death of her husband. At Vienna I met +the Comte de la Perouse, who was trying to induce the empress to give him +half a million of florins, which Charles VI. owed his father. Through him +I made the acquaintance of the Spaniard Las Casas, a man of intelligence, +and, what is a rare thing in a Spaniard, free from prejudices. I also met +at the count's house the Venetian Uccelli, with whom I had been at St. +Cyprian's College at Muran; he was, at the time of which I write, +secretary to the ambassador, Polo Renieri. This gentleman had a great +esteem for me, but my affair with the State Inquisitors prevented him +from receiving me. My friend Campioni arrived at this date from Warsaw; +he had passed through Cracovia. I accommodated him in my apartment with +great pleasure. He had an engagement at London, but to my great delight +he was able to spend a couple of months with me. + +Prince Charles of Courland, who had been at Venice and had been well +received by M. de Bragadin and my other friends, had been in Vienna and +had left it a fortnight before my arrival to return to Venice. Prince +Charles wrote to tell me that there was no bounds to the care and +kindness of my Venetian friends, and that he would be grateful to me for +all his days. + +I lived very quietly at Vienna; my health was good, and I thought of +nothing but my journey to Portugal, which I intended to take place in the +spring. I saw no company of any kind, whether good or ill. I often called +on Calsabigi, who made a parade of his Atheism, and slandered my friend +Metastasio, who despised him. Calsabigi knew it and laughed at him; he +was a profound politician and the right hand of Prince Kaunitz. + +One day after dinner, as I was sitting at table with my friend Campioni, +a pretty little girl, between twelve and thirteen, as I should imagine, +came into my room with mingled boldness and fear, and made me a low bow. +I asked her what she wanted, and she replied in Latin verse to the effect +that her mother was in the next room, and that if I liked she would come +in. I replied in Latin prose that I did not care about seeing her mother, +telling her my reasons with great plainness. She replied with four Latin +lines, but as they were not to the point I could see that she had learnt +them by heart, and repeated them like a parrot. She went on-still in +Latin verse--to tell me that her mother must come in or else the +authorities might think I was abusing her. + +This last phrase was uttered with all the directness of the Latin style. +It made me burst out laughing, and I felt inclined to explain to her what +she had said in her own language. The little slut told me she was a +Venetian, and this putting me at my ease I told her that the authorities +would never suspect her of doing such a thing as she was too young. At +this the girl seemed to reflect a moment, and then recited some verses +from the Priapeia to the effect that unripe fruit is often more piquant +than that which is ripe. This was enough to set me on fire, and Campioni, +seeing that he was not wanted, went back to his room. + +I drew her gently to me and asked her if her father was at Vienna. She +said yes, and instead of repulsing my caresses she proceeded to accompany +my actions with the recital of erotic verses. I sent her away with a fee +of two ducats, but before she went she gave me her address written in +German with four Latin verses beneath, stating that her bedfellow would +find her either Hebe or Ganymede, according to his liking. + +I could not help admiring the ingenuity of her father, who thus contrived +to make a living out of his daughters. She was a pretty girl enough, but +at Vienna pretty girls are so common that they often have to starve in +spite of their charms. The Latin verses had been thrown in as an +attraction in this case, but I did not think she would find it very +remunerative in Vienna. + +Next evening my evil genius made me go and seek her out at the address +she had given me. Although I was forty-two years old, in spite of the +experience I had had, I was so foolish as to go alone. The girl saw me +coming from the window, and guessing that I was looking for her, she came +down and shewed me in. I went in, I went upstairs, and when I found +myself in the presence of the wretch Pocchini my blood froze in my veins. +A feeling of false shame prevented my retracing my steps, as it might +have looked as if I had been afraid. In the same room were his pretended +wife, Catina, two Sclavonic-looking assassins, and the decoy-duck. I saw +that this was not a laughing matter, so I dissembled to the best of my +ability, and made up my mind to leave the place in five minutes' time. + +Pocchini, swearing and blaspheming, began to reproach me with the manner +in which I had treated him in England, and said that his time had come, +and that my life was in his hands. One of the two Sclavs broke in, and +said we must make friends, and so made me sit down, opened a bottle, and +said we must drink together. I tried to put as good a face upon it as I +could, but I begged to be excused, on which Pocchini swore that I was +afraid of having to pay for the bottle of wine. + +"You are mistaken," said I; "I am quite ready to pay." + +I put my hand in my pocket to take out a ducat without drawing out my +purse, but the Sclav told me I need not be afraid, as I was amongst +honest people. Again shame made me yield, and as I had some difficulty in +extracting my purse, the Sclav kindly did it for me. Pocchini immediately +snatched it from his hands, and said he should keep it as part +compensation for all I had made him endure. + +I saw that it was a concerted scheme, and said with a smile that he could +do as he liked, and so I rose to leave them. The Sclav said we must +embrace each other, and on my declaring that to be unnecessary, he and +his comrade drew their sabres, and I thought myself undone. Without more +ado, I hastened to embrace them. To my astonishment they let me go, and I +went home in a grievous state, and not knowing what else to do went to +bed. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of In London And Moscow: Russia and Poland +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RUSSIA AND POLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 2975.txt or 2975.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/7/2975/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.07.00*END* + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + +Russia and Poland +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 5e--RUSSIA AND POLAND + + + + +RUSSIA AND POLAND + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +My Stay at Riga--Campioni St. Heleine--D'Asagon--Arrival of the +Empress--I Leave Riga and Go to St. Petersburg--I See Society +--I Buy Zaira + + +Prince Charles de Biron, the younger son of the Duke of Courland, +Major-General in the Russian service, Knight of the Order of St. +Alexander Newski, gave me a distinguished reception after reading his +father's letter. He was thirty-six years of age, pleasant-looking +without being handsome, and polite and well-mannered, and he spoke +French extremely well. In a few sentences he let me know what he +could do for me if I intended to spend some time at Riga. His table, +his friends, his pleasures, his horses, his advice, and his purse, +all these were at my service, and he offered them with the frankness +of the soldier and the geniality of the prince. + +"I cannot offer you a lodging," he said, "because I have hardly +enough room for myself, but I will see that you get a comfortable +apartment somewhere." + +The apartment was soon found, and I was taken to it by one of the +prince's aides-de-camp. I was scarcely established when the prince +came to see me, and made me dine with him just as I was. It was an +unceremonious dinner, and I was pleased to meet Campioni, of whom I +have spoken several times in these Memoirs. He was a dancer, but +very superior to his fellows, and fit for the best company polite, +witty, intelligent, and a libertine in a gentlemanly way. He was +devoid of prejudices, and fond of women, good cheer, and heavy play, +and knew how to keep an even mind both in good and evil fortune. We +were mutually pleased to see each other again. + +Another guest, a certain Baron de St. Heleine from Savoy, had a +pretty but very insignificant wife. The baron, a fat man, was a +gamester, a gourmand, and a lover of wine; add that he was a past +master in the art of getting into debt and lulling his creditors into +a state of false security, and you have all his capacities, for in +all other respects he was a fool in the fullest sense of the word. +An aide-decamp and the prince's mistress also dined with us. This +mistress, who was pale, thin, and dreamy-looking, but also pretty, +might be twenty years old. She hardly ate anything, saying that she +was ill and did not like anything on the table. Discontent shewed +itself on her every feature. The prince endeavoured, but all in +vain, to make her eat and drink, she refused everything disdainfully. +The prince laughed good-humouredly at her in such a manner as not to +wound her feelings. + +We spent two hours pleasantly enough at table, and after coffee had +been served, the prince, who had business, shook me by the hand and +left me with Campioni, telling me always to regard his table as my +last resource. + +This old friend and fellow-countryman took me to his house to +introduce me to his wife and family. I did not know that he had +married a second time. I found the so-called wife to be an +Englishwoman, thin, but full of intelligence. She had a daughter of +eleven, who might easily have been taken for fifteen; she, too, was +marvellously intelligent, and danced, sang, and played on the piano +and gave such glances that shewed that nature had been swifter than +her years. She made a conquest of me, and her father congratulated +me to my delight, but her mother offended her dreadfully by calling +her baby. + +I went for a walk with Campioni, who gave me a good deal of +information, beginning with himself. + +"I have lived for ten years," he said, "with that woman. Betty, whom +you admired so much, is not my daughter, the others are my children +by my Englishwoman. I have left St. Petersburg for two years, and I +live here well enough, and have pupils who do me credit. I play with +the prince, sometimes winning and sometimes losing, but I never win +enough to enable me to satisfy a wretched creditor I left at St. +Petersburg, who persecutes me on account of a bill of exchange. He +may put me in prison any day, and I am always expecting him to do +so." + +"Is the bill for a large sum?" + +"Five hundred roubles." + +"That is only two thousand francs." + +"Yes, but unfortunately I have not got it." + +"You ought to annul the debt by paying small sums on account." + +"The rascal won't let me." + +"Then what do you propose doing?" + +"Win a heavy sum, if I can, and escape into Poland. + +"The Baron de St. Heleine will run away, too if he can, for he only +lives on credit. The prince is very useful to us, as we are able to +play at his house; but if we get into difficulty he could not +extricate us, as he is heavily in debt himself. He always loses at +play. His mistress is expensive, and gives him a great deal of +trouble by her ill-humour." + +"Why is she so sour?" + +"She wants him to keep his word, for he promised to get her married +at the end of two years; and on the strength of this promise she let +him give her two children. The two years have passed by and the +children are there, and she will no longer allow him to have anything +to do with her for fear of having a third child." + +"Can't the prince find her a husband?" + +"He did find her a lieutenant, but she won't hear of anybody under +the rank of major." + +The prince gave a state dinner to General Woyakoff (for whom I had a +letter), Baroness Korf, Madame Ittinoff, and to a young lady who was +going to marry Baron Budberg, whom I had known at Florence, Turin, +and Augsburg, and whom I may possibly have forgotten to mention. + +All these friends made me spend three weeks very pleasantly, and I +was especially pleased with old General Woyakoff. This worthy man +had been at Venice fifty years before, when the Russians were still +called Muscovites, and the founder of St. Petersburg was still alive. +He had grown old like an oak, without changing his horizons. He +thought the world was just the same as it had been when he was young, +and was eloquent in his praise of the Venetian Government, imagining +it to be still the same as he had left it. + +At Riga an English merchant named Collins told me that the so-called +Baron de Stenau, who had given me the forged bill of exchange, had +been hanged in Portugal. This "baron" was a poor clerk, and the son +of a small tradesman, and had left his desk in search of adventure, +and thus he had ended. May God have mercy upon his soul! + +One evening a Russian, on his way from Poland, where he had been +executing some commission for the Russian Court, called on the +prince, played, and lost twenty thousand roubles on his word of +honour. Campioni was the dealer. The Russian gave bills of exchange +in payment of his debts; but as soon as he got to St. Petersburg he +dishonoured his own bills, and declared them worthless, not caring +for his honour or good faith. The result of this piece of knavery +was not only that his creditors were defrauded, but gaming was +henceforth strictly forbidden in the officers' quarters. + +This Russian was the same that betrayed the secrets of Elizabeth +Petrovna, when she was at war with Prussia. He communicated to +Peter, the empress's nephew and heir-presumptive, all the orders she +sent to her generals, and Peter in his turn passed on the information +to the Prussian king whom he worshipped. + +On the death of Elizabeth, Peter put this traitor at the head of the +department for commerce, and the fellow actually made known, with the +Czar's sanction, the service for which he had received such a reward, +and thus, instead of looking upon his conduct as disgraceful, he +gloried over it. Peter could not have been aware of the fact that, +though it is sometimes necessary to reward treachery, the traitor +himself is always abhorred and despised. + +I have remarked that it was Campioni who dealt, but he dealt for the +prince who held the bank. I had certain claims, but as I remarked +that I expected nothing and would gladly sell my expectations for a +hundred roubles, the prince took me at my word and gave me the amount +immediately. Thus I was the only person who made any money by our +night's play. + +Catherine II, wishing to shew herself to her new subjects, over whom +she was in reality supreme, though she had put the ghost of a king in +the person of Stanislas Poniatowski, her former favourite, on the +throne of Poland, came to Riga, and it was then I saw this great +sovereign for the first time. I was a witness of the kindness and +affability with which she treated the Livonian nobility, and of the +way in which she kissed the young ladies, who had come to kiss her +hand, upon the mouth. She was surrounded by the Orloffs and by other +nobles who had assisted in placing her on the throne. For the +comfort and pleasure of her loyal subjects the empress graciously +expressed her intention of holding a bank at faro of ten thousand +roubles. + +Instantly the table and the cards were brought forward, and the piles +of gold placed in order. She took the cards, pretended to shuffle +them, and gave them to the first comer to cut. She had the pleasure +of seeing her bank broken at the first deal, and indeed this result +was to be expected, as anybody not an absolute idiot could see how +the cards were going. The next day the empress set out for Mitau, +where triumphal arches were erected in her honour. They were made of +wood, as stone is scarce in Poland, and indeed there would not have +been time to build stone arches. + +The day after her arrival great alarm prevailed, for news came that a +revolution was ready to burst out at St. Petersburg, and some even +said that it had begun. The rebels wished to have forth from his +prison the hapless Ivan Ivanovitz, who had been proclaimed emperor in +his cradle, and dethroned by Elizabeth Petrovna. Two officers to +whom the guardianship of the prince had been confided had killed the +poor innocent monarch when they saw that they would be overpowered. + +The assassination of the innocent prince created such a sensation +that the wary Panin, fearing for the results, sent courier after +courier to the empress urging her to return to St. Petersburg and +shew herself to the people. + +Catherine was thus obliged to leave Mitau twenty-four hours after she +had entered it, and after hastening back to the capital she arrived +only to find that the excitement had entirely subsided. For politic +reasons the assassins of the wretched Ivan were rewarded, and the +bold man who had endeavoured to rise by her fall was beheaded. + +The report ran that Catherine had concerted the whole affair with the +assassins, but this was speedily set down as a calumny. The czarina +was strong-minded, but neither cruel nor perfidious. When I saw her +at Riga she was thirty-five, and had reigned two years. She was not +precisely handsome, but nevertheless her appearance was pleasing, her +expression kindly, and there was about her an air of calm and +tranquillity which never left her. + +At about the same time a friend of Baron de St. Heleine arrived from +St. Petersburg on his way to Warsaw. His name was Marquis Dragon, +but he called himself d'Aragon. He came from Naples, was a great +gamester, a skilled swordsman, and was always ready to extract +himself from a difficulty by a duel. He had left St. Petersburg +because the Orloffs had persuaded the empress to prohibit games of +chance. It was thought strange that the prohibition should come from +the Orloffs, as gaming had been their principal means of gaining a +livelihood before they entered on the more dangerous and certainly +not more honourable profession of conspiracy. However, this measure +was really a sensible one. Having been gamesters themselves they +knew that gamesters are mostly knaves, and always ready to enter into +any intrigue or conspiracy provided it assures them some small gain; +there could not have been better judges of gaming and its +consequences than they were. + +But though a gamester may be a rogue he may still have a good heart, +and it is only just to say that this was the case with the Orloffs. +Alexis gained the slash which adorns his face in a tavern, and the +man who gave the blow had just lost to him a large sum of money, and +considered his opponent's success to be rather the result of +dexterity than fortune. When Alexis became rich and powerful, +instead of revenging himself, he hastened to make his enemy's +fortune. This was nobly done. + +Dragon, whose first principle was always to turn up the best card, +and whose second principle was never to shirk a duel, had gone to St. +Petersburg in 1759 with the Baron de St. Heleine. Elizabeth was +still on the throne, but Peter, Duke of Holstein, the heir- +presumptive, had already begun to loom large on the horizon. Dragon +used to frequent the fencing school where the prince was a frequent +visitor, and there encountered all comers successfully. The duke got +angry, and one day he took up a foil and defied the Neapolitan +marquis to a combat. Dragon accepted and was thoroughly beaten, +while the duke went off in triumph, for he might say from henceforth +that he was the best fencer in St. Petersburg. + +When the prince had gone, Dragon could not withstand the temptation +of saying that he had only let himself be beaten for fear of +offending his antagonist; and this boast soon got to the grand-duke's +ears. The great man was terribly enraged, and swore he would have +him banished from St. Petersburg if he did not use all his skill, and +at the same time he sent an order to Dragon to be at the fencing +school the next day. + +The impatient duke was the first to arrive, and d'Aragon was not long +in coming. The prince began reproaching him for what he had said the +day before, but the Neapolitan, far from denying the fact, expressed +himself that he had felt himself obliged to shew his respect for his +prince by letting him rap him about for upwards of two hours. + +"Very good," said the duke, "but now it is your turn; and if you +don't do your best I will drive you from St. Petersburg." + +"My lord, your highness shall be obeyed. I shall not allow you to +touch me once, but I hope you will deign to take me under your +protection." + +The two champions passed the whole morning with the foils, and the +duke was hit a hundred times without being able to touch his +antagonist. At last, convinced of Dragon's superiority, he threw +down his foil and shook him by the hand, and made him his fencer-in- +ordinary, with the rank of major in his regiment of Holsteiners. + +Shortly after, D'Aragon having won the good graces of the duke +obtained leave to hold a bank at faro in his court, and in three or +four years he amassed a fortune of a hundred thousand roubles, which +he took with him to the Court of King Stanislas, where games of all +sorts were allowed. When he passed through Riga, St. Heleine +introduced him to Prince Charles, who begged him to call on him the +next day, and to shew his skill with the foils against himself and +some of his friends. I had the honour to be of the number; and +thoroughly well he beat us, for his skill was that of a demon. I was +vain enough to become angry at being hit at every pass, and told him +that I should not be afraid to meet him at a game of sharps. He was +calmer, and replied by taking my hand, and saying,-- + +"With the naked sword I fence in quite another style, and you are +quite right not to fear anyone, for you fence very well." + +D'Aragon set out for Warsaw the next day, but he unfortunately found +the place occupied by more cunning Greeks than himself. In six +months they had relieved him of his hundred thousand roubles, but +such is the lot of gamesters; no craft can be more wretched than +theirs. + +A week before I left Riga (where I stayed two months) Campioni fled +by favour of the good Prince Charles, and in a few days the Baron de +St. Heleine followed him without taking leave of a noble army of +creditors. He only wrote a letter to the Englishman Collins, to whom +he owed a thousand crowns, telling him that like an honest man he had +left his debts where he had contracted them. We shall hear more of +these three persons in the course of two years. + +Campioni left me his travelling carriage, which obliged me to use six +horses on my journey to St. Petersburg. I was sorry to leave Betty, +and I kept up an epistolary correspondence with her mother throughout +the whole of my stay at St. Petersburg. + +I left Riga with the thermometer indicating fifteen degrees of frost, +but though I travelled day and night, not leaving the carriage for +the sixty hours for which my journey lasted, I did not feel the cold +in the least. I had taken care to pay all the stages in advance, and +Marshal Braun, Governor of Livonia, had given me the proper passport. +On the box seat was a French servant who had begged me to allow him +to wait on me for the journey in return for a seat beside the +coachman. He kept his word and served me well, and though he was but +ill clad he bore the horrible cold for two days and three nights +without appearing to feel it. It is only a Frenchman who can bear +such trials; a Russian in similar attire would have been frozen to +death in twenty-four hours, despite plentiful doses of corn brandy. +I lost sight of this individual when I arrived at St. Petersburg, +but I met him again three months after, richly dressed, and occupying +a seat beside mine at the table of M. de Czernitscheff. He was the +uchitel of the young count, who sat beside him. But I shall have +occasion to speak more at length of the office of uchitel, or tutor, +in Russia. + +As for Lambert, who was beside me in the carriage, he did nothing but +eat, drink, and sleep the whole way; seldom speaking, for he +stammered, and could only talk about mathematical problems, on which +I was not always in the humour to converse. He was never amusing, +never had any sensible observation to make on the varied scenes +through which we passed; in short, he was a fool, and wearisome to +all save himself. + +I was only stopped once, and that was at Nawa, where the authorities +demanded a passport, which I did not possess. I told the governor +that as I was a Venetian, and only travelled for pleasure, I did not +conceive a passport would be necessary, my Republic not being at war +with any other power, and Russia having no embassy at Venice. + +"Nevertheless," I added, "if your excellency wills it I will turn +back; but I shall complain to Marshal Braun, who gave me the passport +for posting, knowing that I had not the political passport." + +After rubbing his forehead for a minute, the governor gave me a pass, +which I still possess, and which brought me into St. Petersburg, +without my having to allow the custom-house officers to inspect my +trunks. + +Between Koporie and St. Petersburg there is only a wretched hut for +the accommodation of travellers. The country is a wilderness, and +the inhabitants do not even speak Russian. The district is called +Ingria, and I believe the jargon spoken has no affinity with any +other language. The principal occupation of the peasants is robbery, +and the traveller does well not to leave any of his effects alone for +a moment. + +I got to St. Petersburg just as the first rays of the sun began to +gild the horizon. It was in the winter solstice, and the sun rose at +the extremity of an immense plain at twenty-four minutes past nine, +so I am able to state that the longest night in Russia consists of +eighteen hours and three quarters. + +I got down in a fine street called the Millione. I found a couple of +empty rooms, which the people of the house furnished with two beds, +four chairs, and two small tables, and rented to me very cheaply. +Seeing the enormous stoves, I concluded they must consume a vast +amount of wood, but I was mistaken. Russia is the land of stoves as +Venice is that of cisterns. I have inspected the interior of these +stoves in summer-time as minutely as if I wished to find out the +secret of making them; they are twelve feet high by six broad, and +are capable of warming a vast room. They are only refuelled once in +twenty-four hours, for as soon as the wood is reduced to the state of +charcoal a valve is shut in the upper part of the stove. + +It is only in the houses of noblemen that the stoves are refuelled +twice a day, because servants are strictly forbidden to close the +valve, and for a very good reason. + +If a gentleman chance to come home and order his servants to warm his +room before he goes to bed, and if the servant is careless enough to +close the valve before the wood is reduced to charcoal, then the +master sleeps his last sleep, being suffocated in three or four +hours. When the door is opened in the morning he is found dead, and +the poor devil of a servant is immediately hanged, whatever he may +say. This sounds severe, and even cruel; but it is a necessary +regulation, or else a servant would be able to get rid of his master +on the smallest provocation. + +After I had made an agreement for my board and lodging, both of which +were very cheap (now St. Petersburg, is as dear as London), I brought +some pieces of furniture which were necessaries for me, but which +were not as yet much in use in Russia, such as a commode, a bureau, &c. + +German is the language principally spoken in St. Petersburg, and I +did not speak German much better then than I do now, so I had a good +deal of difficulty in making myself understood, and usually excited +my auditors to laughter. + +After dinner my landlord told me that the Court was giving a masked +ball to five thousand persons to last sixty hours. He gave me a +ticket, and told me I only needed to shew it at the entrance of the +imperial palace. + +I decided to use the ticket, for I felt that I should like to be +present at so numerous an assembly, and as I had my domino still by +me a mask was all I wanted. I went to the palace in a sedan-chair, +and found an immense crowd assembled, and dancing going on in several +halls in each of which an orchestra was stationed. There were long +counters loaded with eatables and drinkables at which those who were +hungry or thirsty ate or drank as much as they liked. Gaiety and +freedom reigned everywhere, and the light of a thousand wax candles +illuminated the hall. Everything was wonderful, and all the more so +from its contrast with the cold and darkness that were without. All +at once I heard a masquer beside me say to another,-- + +"There's the czarina." + +We soon saw Gregory Orloff, for his orders were to follow the empress +at a distance. + +I followed the masquer, and I was soon persuaded that it was really +the empress, for everybody was repeating it, though no one openly +recognized her. Those who really did not know her jostled her in the +crowd, and I imagined that she would be delighted at being treated +thus, as it was a proof of the success of her disguise. Several +times I saw her speaking in Russian to one masquer and another. No +doubt she exposed her vanity to some rude shocks, but she had also +the inestimable advantage of hearing truths which her courtiers would +certainly not tell her. The masquer who was pronounced to be Orloff +followed her everywhere, and did not let her out of his sight for a +moment. He could not be mistaken, as he was an exceptionally tall +man and had a peculiar carriage of the head. + +I arrested my progress in a hall where the French square dance was +being performed, and suddenly there appeared a masquer disguised in +the Venetian style. The costume was so complete that I at once set +him down as a fellow-countryman, for very few strangers can imitate +us so as to escape detection. As it happened, he came and stood next +to me. + +"One would think you were a Venetian," I said to him in French. + +"So I am." + +"Like myself." + +"I am not jesting." + +"No more am I." + +"Then let us speak in Venetian." + +"Do you begin, and I will reply." + +We began our conversation, but when he came to the word Sabato, +Saturday, which is a Sabo in Venetian, I discovered that he was a +real Venetian, but not from Venice itself. He said I was right, and +that he judged from my accent that I came from Venice. + +"Quite so," said I. + +"I thought Bernadi was the only Venetian besides myself in St. +Petersburg." + +"You see you are mistaken." + +"My name is Count Volpati di Treviso." + +"Give me your address, and I will come and tell you who I am, for I +cannot do so here." + +"Here it is." + +After leaving the count I continued my progress through this +wonderful hall, and two or three hours after I was attracted by the +voice of a female masquer speaking Parisian French in a high +falsetto, such as is common at an opera ball. + +I did not recognize the voice but I knew the style, and felt quite +certain that the masquer must be one of my old friends, for she spoke +with the intonations and phraseology which I had rendered popular in +my chief places of resort at Paris. + +I was curious to see who it could be, and not wishing to speak before +I knew her, I had the patience to wait till she lifted her mask, and +this occurred at the end of an hour. What was my surprise to see +Madame Baret, the stocking-seller of the Rue St. Honor& My love awoke +from its long sleep, and coming up to her I said, in a falsetto +voice,-- + +"I am your friend of the 'Hotel d'Elbeuf.'" + +She was puzzled, and looked the picture of bewilderment. I whispered +in her ear, "Gilbert Baret, Rue des Prouveres," and certain other +facts which could only be known to herself and a fortunate lover. + +She saw I knew her inmost secrets, and drawing me away she begged me +to tell her who I was. + +"I was your lover, and a fortunate one, too," I replied; "but before +I tell you my name, with whom are you, and how are you?" + +"Very well; but pray do not divulge what I tell you. I left Paris +with M. d'Anglade, counsellor in the Court of Rouen. I lived happily +enough for some time with him, and then left him to go with a +theatrical manager, who brought me here as an actress under the name +of de l'Anglade, and now I am kept by Count Rzewuski, the Polish +ambassador. And now tell me who you are?" + +Feeling sure of enjoying her again, I lifted my mask. She gave a cry +of joy, and exclaimed,-- + +"My good angel has brought you to St. Petersburg." + +"How do you mean?" + +"Rzewuski is obliged to go back to Poland, and now I count on you to +get me out of the country, for I can no longer continue in a station +for which I was not intended, since I can neither sing nor act." + +She gave me her address, and I left her delighted with my discovery. +After having passed half an hour at the counter, eating and drinking +of the best, I returned to the crowd and saw my fair stocking-seller +talking to Count Volpati. He had seen her with me, and hastened to +enquire my name of her. However, she was faithful to our mutual +promise, and told him I was her husband, though the Venetian did not +seem to give the least credence to this piece of information. + +At last I was tired and left the ball, and went to bed intending to +go to mass in the morning. I slept for some time and woke, but as it +was still dark I turned on the other side and went to sleep again. +At last I awoke again, and seeing the daylight stealing through my +double windows, I sent for a hairdresser, telling my man to make +haste as I wanted to hear mass on the first Sunday after my arrival +in St. Petersburg. + +"But sir," said he, "the first Sunday was yesterday; we are at Monday +now." + +"What! Monday?" + +"Yes, sir." + +I had spent twenty-seven hours in bed, and after laughing at the +mishap I felt as if I could easily believe it, for my hunger was like +that of a cannibal. + +This is the only day which I really lost in my life; but I do not +weep like the Roman emperor, I laugh. But this is not the only +difference between Titus and Casanova. + +I called on Demetrio Papanelopulo, the Greek merchant, who was to pay +me a hundred roubles a month. I was also commended to him by M. da +Loglio, and I had an excellent reception. He begged me to come and +dine with him every day, paid me the roubles for the month due, and +assured me that he had honoured my bill drawn at Mitau. He also +found me a reliable servant, and a carriage at eighteen roubles, or +six ducats per month. Such cheapness has, alas! departed for ever. + +The next day, as I was dining with the worthy Greek and young +Bernardi, who was afterwards poisoned, Count Volpati came in with the +dessert, and told us how he had met a Venetian at the ball who had +promised to come and see him. + +"The Venetian would have kept his promise," said I, "if he had not +had a long sleep of twenty-seven hours. I am the Venetian, and am +delighted to continue our acquaintance." + +The count was about to leave, and his departure had already been +announced in the St. Petersburg Gazette. The Russian custom is not +to give a traveller his passports till a fortnight has elapsed after +the appearance of his name in the paper. This regulation is for the +advantage of tradesmen, while it makes foreigners think twice before +they contract any debts. + +The next day I took a letter of introduction to M. Pietro Ivanovitch +Melissino, colonel and afterwards general of artillery. The letter +was written by Madame da Loglio, who was very intimate with +Melissino. I was most politely welcomed, and after presenting me to +his pleasant wife, he asked me once for all to sup with him every +night. The house was managed in the French style, and both play and +supper were conducted without any ceremony. I met there Melissino's +elder brother, the procurator of the Holy Synod and husband of the +Princess Dolgorouki. Faro went on, and the company was composed of +trustworthy persons who neither boasted of their gains nor bewailed +their losses to anyone, and so there was no fear of the Government +discovering this infrigement of the law against gaming. The bank was +held by Baron Lefort, son of the celebrated admiral of Peter the +Great. Lefort was an example of the inconstancy of fortune; he was +then in disgrace on account of a lottery which he had held at Moscow +to celebrate the coronation of the empress, who had furnished him +with the necessary funds. The lottery had been broken and the fact +was attributed to the baron's supposed dishonesty. + +I played for small stakes and won a few roubles. I made friends with +Baron Lefort at supper, and he afterwards told me of the vicissitudes +he had experienced. + +As I was praising the noble calmness with which a certain prince had +lost a thousand roubles to him, he laughed and said that the fine +gamester I had mentioned played upon credit but never paid. + +"How about his honour?" + +"It is not affected by the non-payment of gaming debts. It is an +understood thing in Russia that one who plays on credit and loses may +pay or not pay as he wishes, and the winner only makes himself +ridiculous by reminding the loser of his debt." + +"Then the holder of the bank has the right to refuse to accept bets +which are not backed by ready money." + +"Certainly; and nobody has a right to be offended with him for doing +so. Gaming is in a very bad state in Russia. I know young men of +the highest rank whose chief boast is that they know how to conquer +fortune; that is, to cheat. One of the Matuschkins goes so far as to +challenge all foreign cheats to master him. He has just received +permission to travel for three years, and it is an open secret that +he wishes to travel that he may exercise his skill. He intends +returning to Russia laden with the spoils of the dupes he has made." + +A young officer of the guards named Zinowieff, a relation of the +Orloffs, whom I had met at Melissino's, introduced me to Macartney, +the English ambassador, a young man of parts and fond of pleasure. +He had fallen in love with a young lady of the Chitroff family, and +maid of honour to the empress, and finding his affection reciprocated +a baby was the result. The empress disapproved strongly of this +piece of English freedom, and had the ambassador recalled, though she +forgave her maid of honour. This forgiveness was attributed to the +young lady's skill in dancing. I knew the brother of this lady, a +fine and intelligent young officer. I had the good fortune to be +admitted to the Court, and there I had the pleasure of seeing Mdlle. +Chitroff dancing, and also Mdlle. Sievers, now Princesss, whom I saw +again at Dresden four years ago with her daughter, an extremely +genteel young princess. I was enchanted with Mdlle. Sievers, and +felt quite in love with her; but as we were never introduced I had no +opportunity of declaring my passion. Putini, the castrato, was high +in her favour, as indeed he deserved to be, both for his talents and +the beauties of his person. + +The worthy Papanelopulo introduced me to Alsuwieff, one of the +ministers, a man of wit and letters, and only one of the kind whom I +met in Russia. He had been an industrious student at the University +of Upsala, and loved wine, women, and good cheer. He asked me to +dine with Locatelli at Catherinhoff, one of the imperial mansions, +which the empress had assigned to the old theatrical manager for the +remainder of his days. He was astonished to see me, and I was more +astonished still to find that he had turned taverner, for he gave an +excellent dinner every day to all who cared to pay a rouble, +exclusive of wine. M. d'Alsuwieff introduced me to his colleague in +the ministry, Teploff, whose vice was that he loved boys, and his +virtue that he had strangled Peter III. + +Madame Mecour, the dancer, introduced me to her lover, Ghelaghin, +also a minister. He had spent twenty years of his life in Siberia. + +A letter from Da Loglio got me a warm welcome from the castrato +Luini, a delightful man, who kept a splendid table. He was the lover +of Colonna, the singer, but their affection seemed to me a torment, +for they could scarce live together in peace for a single day. At +Luini's house I met another castrato, Millico, a great friend of the +chief huntsman, Narischkin, who also became one of my friends. This +Narischkin, a pleasant and a well-informed man, was the husband of +the famous Maria Paulovna. It was at the chief huntsman's splendid +table that I met Calogeso Plato, now archbishop of Novgorod, and then +chaplain to the empress. This monk was a Russian, and a master of +ruses, understood Greek, and spoke Latin and French, and was what +would be called a fine man. It was no wonder that he rose to such a +height, as in Russia the nobility never lower themselves by accepting +church dignities. + +Da Loglio had given me a letter for the Princess Daschkoff, and I +took it to her country house, at the distance of three versts from +St. Petersburg. She had been exiled from the capital, because, +having assisted Catherine to ascend the throne, she claimed to share +it with her. + +I found the princess mourning for the loss of her husband. She +welcomed me kindly, and promised to speak to M. Panin on my behalf; +and three days later she wrote to me that I could call on that +nobleman as soon as I liked. This was a specimen of the empress's +magnanimity; she had disgraced the princess, but she allowed her +favourite minister to pay his court to her every evening. I have +heard, on good authority, that Panin was not the princess's lover, +but her father. She is now the President of the Academy of Science, +and I suppose the literati must look upon her as another Minerva, or +else they would be ashamed to have a woman at their head. For +completeness' sake the Russians should get a woman to command their +armies, but Joan d'Arcs are scarce. + +Melissino and I were present at an extraordinary ceremony on the Day +of the Epiphany, namely the blessing of the Neva, then covered with +five feet of ice. + +After the benediction of the waters children were baptized by being +plunged into a large hole which had been made in the ice. On the day +on which I was present the priest happened to let one of the children +slip through his hands. + +"Drugoi!" he cried. + +That is, "Give me another." But my surprise may be imagined when I +saw that the father and mother of the child were in an ecstasy of +joy; they were certain that the babe had been carried straight to +heaven. Happy ignorance! + +I had a letter from the Florentine Madame Bregonci for her friend the +Venetian Roccolini, who had left Venice to go and sing at the St. +Petersburg Theatre, though she did not know a note of music, and had +never appeared on the stage. The empress laughed at her, and said +she feared there was no opening in St. Petersburg for her peculiar +talents, but the Roccolini, who was known as La Vicenza, was not the +woman to lose heart for so small a check. She became an intimate +friend of a Frenchwoman named Prote, the wife of a merchant who lived +with the chief huntsman. She was at the same time his mistress and +the confidante of his wife Maria Petrovna, who did not like her +husband, and was very much obliged to the Frenchwoman for delivering +her from the conjugal importunities. + +This Prote was one of the handsomest women I have ever seen, and +undoubtedly the handsomest in St. Petersburg at that time. She was +in the flower of her age. She had at once a wonderful taste for +gallantry and for all the mysteries of the toilette. In dress she +surpassed everyone, and as she was witty and amusing she captivated +all hearts. Such was the woman whose friend and procuress La Vicenza +had become. She received the applications of those who were in love +with Madame Prote, and passed them on, while, whether a lover's suit +was accepted or not, the procuress got something out of him. + +I recognized Signora Roccolini as soon as I saw her, but as twenty +years had elapsed since our last meeting she did not wonder at my +appearing not to know her, and made no efforts to refresh my memory. +Her brother was called Montellato, and he it was who tried to +assassinate me one night in St. Mark's Square, as I was leaving the +Ridotto. The plot that would have cost me my life, if I had not made +my escape from the window, was laid in the Roccolini's house. + +She welcomed me as a fellow-countryman in a strange land, told me of +her struggles, and added that now she had an easy life of it, and +associated with the pleasantest ladies in St. Petersburg. + +"I am astonished that you have not met the fair Madame Prote at the +chief huntsman's, for she is the darling of his heart. Come and take +coffee with me to-morrow, and you shall see a wonder." + +I kept the appointment, and I found the lady even more beautiful than +the Venetian's praises of her had led me to expect. I was dazzled by +her beauty, but not being a rich man I felt that I must set my wits +to work if I wanted to enjoy her. I asked her name, though I knew it +quite well, and she replied, "Prote." + +"I am glad to hear it, madam," said I, "for you thereby promise to be +mine." + +"How so?" said she, with a charming smile. I explained the pun, and +made her laugh. I told her amusing stories, and let her know the +effect that her beauty had produced on me, and that I hoped time +would soften her heart to me. The acquaintance was made, and +thenceforth I never went to Narischkin's without calling on her, +either before or after dinner. + +The Polish ambassador returned about that time, and I had to forego +my enjoyment of the fair Anglade, who accepted a very advantegeous +proposal which was made her by Count Brawn. This charming +Frenchwoman died of the small-pox a few months later, and there can +be no doubt that her death was a blessing, as she would have fallen +into misery and poverty after her beauty had once decayed. + +I desired to succeed with Madame Prote, and with that idea I asked +her to dinner at Locatelli's with Luini, Colonna, Zinowieff, Signora +Vicenza, and a violinist, her lover. We had an excellent dinner +washed down with plenty of wine, and the spirits of the company were +wound up to the pitch I desired. After the repast each gentleman +went apart with his lady, and I was on the point of success when an +untoward accident interrupted us. We were summoned to see the proofs +of Luini's prowess; he had gone out shooting with his dogs and guns. + +As I was walking away from Catherinhoff with Zinowieff I noticed a +young country-woman whose beauty astonished me. I pointed her out to +the young officer, and we made for her; but she fled away with great +activity to a little cottage, where we followed her. We went in and +saw the father, mother, and some children, and in a corner the timid +form of the fair maiden. + +Zinowieff (who, by the way, was for twenty years Russian ambassador +at Madrid) had a long conversation in Russian with the father. I did +not understand what was said, but I guessed it referred to the girl +because, when her father called her, she advanced submissively, and +stood modestly before us. + +The conversation over, Zinowieff went out, and I followed him after +giving the master of the house a rouble. Zinowieff told me what had +passed, saying that he had asked the father if he would let him have +the daughter as a maid-servant, and the father had replied that it +should be so with all his heart, but that he must have a hundred +roubles for her, as she was still a virgin. "So you see," added +Zinowieff, "the matter is quite simple." + +"How simple?" + +"Why, yes; only a hundred roubles." + +"And supposing me to be inclined to give that sum?" + +"Then she would be your servant, and you could do anything you liked +with her, except kill her." + +"And supposing she is not willing?" + +"That never happens, but if it did you could have beaten her." + +"Well, if she is satisfied and I enjoy her, can I still continue to +keep her?" + +"You will be her master, I tell you, and can have her arrested if she +attempts to escape, unless she can return the hundred roubles you +gave for her." + +"What must I give her per month?" + +"Nothing, except enough to eat and drink. You must also let her go +to the baths on Saturday and to the church on Sunday." + +"Can I make her come with me when I leave St. Petersburg?" + +"No, unless you obtain permission and find a surety, for though the +girl would be your slave she would still be a slave to the empress." + +"Very good; then will you arrange this matter for me? I will give +the hundred roubles, and I promise you I will not treat her as a +slave. But I hope you will care for my interests, as I do not wish +to be duped." + +"I promise you you shall not be duped; I will see to everything. +Would you like her now?" + +"No, to-morrow." + +"Very good; then to-morrow it shall be." + +We returned to St. Petersburg in a phaeton, and the next day at nine +o'clock I called on Zinowieff, who said he was delighted to do me +this small service. On the way he said that if I liked he could get +me a perfect seraglio of pretty girls in a few days. + +"No," said I, "one is enough." And I gave him the hundred roubles. + +We arrived at the cottage, where we found the father, mother, and +daughter. Zinowieff explained his business crudely enough, after the +custom of the country, and the father thanked St. Nicholas for the +good luck he had sent him. He spoke to his daughter, who looked at +me and softly uttered the necessary yes. + +Zinowieff then told me that I ought to ascertain that matters were +intact, as I was going to pay for a virgin. I was afraid of +offending her, and would have nothing to do with it; but Zinowieff +said the girl would be mortified if I did not examine her, and that +she would be delighted if I place her in a position to prove before +her father and mother that her conduct had always been virtuous. I +therefore made the examination as modestly as I could, and I found +her to be intact. To tell the truth, I should not have said anything +if things had been otherwise. + +Zinowieff then gave the hundred roubles to the father, who handed +them to his daughter, and she only took them to return them to her +mother. My servant and coachman were then called in to witness as +arrangement of which they knew nothing. + +I called her Zaira, and she got into the carriage and returned with +me to St. Petersburg in her coarse clothes, without a chemise of any +kind. After I had dropped Zinowieff at his lodging I went home, and +for four days I was engaged in collecting and arranging my slave's +toilet, not resting till I had dressed her modestly in the French +style. In less than three months she had learnt enough Italian to +tell me what she wanted and to understand me. She soon loved me, and +afterwards she got jealous. But we shall hear more of her in the +following chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Crevecoeur--Bomback--Journey to Moscow--My Adventures At +St. Petersburg + +The day on which I took Zaira I sent Lambert away, for I did not know +what to do with him. He got drunk every day, and when in his cups he +was unbearable. Nobody would have anything to say to him except as a +common soldier, and that is not an enviable position in Russia. I +got him a passport for Berlin, and gave him enough money for the +journey. I heard afterwards that he entered the Austrian service. + +In May, Zaira had become so beautiful that when I went to Moscow I +dared not leave her behind me, so I took her in place of a servant. +It was delicious to me to hear her chattering in the Venetian dialect +I had taught her. On a Saturday I would go with her to the bath +where thirty of forty naked men and women were bathing together +without the slightest constraint. This absence of shame must arise, +I should imagine, from native innocence; but I wondered that none +looked at Zaira, who seemed to me the original of the statue of +Psyche I had seen at the Villa Borghese at Rome. She was only +fourteen, so her breast was not yet developed, and she bore about her +few traces of puberty. Her skin was as white as snow, and her ebony +tresses covered the whole of her body, save in a few places where the +dazzling whiteness of her skin shone through. Her eyebrows were +perfectly shaped, and her eyes, though they might have been larger, +could not have been more brilliant or more expressive. If it had not +been for her furious jealousy and her blind confidence in fortune- +telling by cards, which she consulted every day, Zaira would have +been a paragon among women, and I should never have left her. + +A young and distinguished-looking Frenchman came to St. Petersburg +with a young Parisian named La Riviere, who was tolerably pretty but +quite devoid of education, unless it were that education common to +all the girls who sell their charms in Paris. This young man came to +me with a letter from Prince Charles of Courland, who said that if I +could do anything for the young couple he would be grateful to me. +They arrived just as I was breakfasting with Zaira. + +"You must tell me," said I to the young Frenchman, "in what way I can +be of use to you." + +"By admitting us to your company, and introducing us to your +friends." + +"Well, I am a stranger here, and I will come and see you, and you can +come and see me, and I shall be delighted; but I never dine at home. +As to my friends, you must feel that, being a stranger, I could not +introduce you and the lady. Is she your wife? People will ask me +who you are, and what you are doing at St. Petersburg. What am I to +say? I wonder Prince Charles did not send you to someone else." + +"I am a gentleman of Lorraine, and Madame la Riviere is my mistress, +and my object in coming to St. Petersburg is to amuse myself." + +"Then I don't know to whom I could introduce you under the +circumstances; but I should think you will be able to find plenty of +amusement without knowing anyone. The theatres, the streets, and +even the Court entertainments, are open to everyone. I suppose you +have plenty of money?" + +"That's exactly what I haven't got, and I don't expect any either." + +"Well, I have not much more, but you really astonish me. How could +you have been so foolish as to come here without money?" + +"Well, my mistress said we could do with what money we got from day +to day. She induced me to leave Paris without a farthing, and up to +now it seems to me that she is right. We have managed to get on +somehow." + +"Then she has the purse?" + +"My purse," said she, "is in the pockets of my friends." + +"I understand, and I am sure you have no difficulty in finding the +wherewithal to live. If I had such a purse, it should be opened for +you, but I am not a rich man." + +Bomback, a citizen of Hamburg, whom I had known in England whence he +had fled on account of his debts, had come to St. Petersburg and +entered the army. He was the son of a rich merchant and kept up a +house, a carriage, and an army of servants; he was a lover of good +cheer, women, and gambling, and contracted debts everywhere. He was +an ugly man, but full of wit and energy. He happened to call on me +just as I was addressing the strange traveller whose purse was in the +pocket of her friends. I introduced the couple to him, telling the +whole story, the item of the purse excepted. The adventure was just +to Bomback's taste, and he began making advances to Madame la +Riviere, who received them in a thoroughly professional spirit, and I +was inwardly amused and felt that her axiom was a true one. Bomback +asked them to dine with him the next day, and begged them to come and +take an unceremonious dinner the same day with him at Crasnacaback. +I was included in the invitation, and Zaira, not understanding +French, asked me what we were talking about, and on my telling her +expressed a desire to accompany me. I gave in to appease her, for I +knew the wish proceeded from jealousy, and that if I did not consent +I should be tormented by tears, ill-humour, reproaches, melancholy, +etc. This had occurred several times before, and so violent had she +been that I had been compelled to conform to the custom of the +country and beat her. Strange to say, I could not have taken a +better way to prove my love. Such is the character of the Russian +women. After the blows had been given, by slow degrees she became +affectionate again, and a love encounter sealed the reconciliation. + +Bomback left us to make his preparations in high spirits, and while +Zaira was dressing, Madame Riviere talked in such a manner as to make +me almost think that I was absolutely deficient in knowledge of the +world. The astonishing thing was that her lover did not seem in the +least ashamed of the part he had to play. He might say that he was +in love with the Messalina, but the ex. cuse would not have been +admissible. + +The party was a merry one. Bomback talked to the adventuress, Zaira +sat on my knee, and Crevecoeur ate and drank, laughed in season and +out of season, and walked up and down. The crafty Madame Riviere +incited Bomback to risk twenty-five roubles at quinze; he lost and +paid pleasantly, and only got a kiss for his money. Zaira, who was +delighted to be able to watch over me and my fidelity, jested +pleasantly on the Frenchwoman and the complaisance of her lover. +This was altogether beyond her comprehension, and she could not +understand how he could bear such deeds as were done before his face. + +The next day I went to Bomback by myself, as I was sure of meeting +young Russian officers, who would have annoyed me by making love to +Zaira in their own language. I found the two travellers and the +brothers Lunin, then lieutenants but now generals. The younger of +them was as fair and pretty as any girl. He had been the beloved of +the minister Teploff, and, like a lad of wit, he not only was not +ashamed but openly boasted that it was his custom to secure the good- +will of all men by his caresses. + +He had imagined the rich citizen of Hamburg to be of the same tastes +as Teploff, and he had not been mistaken; and so he degraded me by +forming the same supposition. With this idea he seated himself next +to me at table, and behaved himself in such a manner during dinner +that I began to believe him to be a girl in man's clothes. + +After dinner, as I was sitting at the fire, between him and the +Frenchman, I imparted my suspicions to him; but jealous of the +superiority of his sex, he displayed proof of it on the spot, and +forthwith got hold of me and put himself in a position to make my +happiness and his own as he called it. I confess, to my shame, that +he might perhaps have succeeded, if Madame la Riviere, indignant at +this encroachment of her peculiar province, had not made him desist. + +Lunin the elder, Crevecceur, and Bomback, who had been for a walk, +returned at nightfall with two or three friends, and easily consoled +the Frenchman for the poor entertainment the younger Lunin and myself +had given him. + +Bomback held a bank at faro, which only came to an end at eleven, +when the money was all gone. We then supped, and the real orgy +began, in which la Riviere bore the brunt in a manner that was simply +astonishing. I and my friend Lunin were merely spectators, and poor +Crevecoeur had gone to bed. We did not separate till day-break. + +I got home, and, fortunately for myself, escaped the bottle which +Zaira flung at my head, and which would infallibly have killed me if +it had hit me. She threw herself on to the ground, and began to +strike it with her forehead. I thought she had gone mad, and +wondered whether I had better call for assistance; but she became +quiet enough to call me assassin and traitor, with all the other +abusive epithets that she could remember. To convict me of my crime +she shewed me twenty-five cards, placed in order, and on them she +displayed the various enormities of which I had been guilty. + +I let her go on till her rage was somewhat exhausted, and then, +having thrown her divining apparatus into the fire, I looked at her +in pity and anger, and said that we must part the next day, as she +had narrowly escaped killing me. I confessed that I had been with +Bomback, and that there had been a girl in the house; but I denied +all the other sins of which she accused me. I then went to sleep +without taking the slightest notice of her, in spite of all she said +and did to prove her repentance. + +I woke after a few hours to find her sleeping soundly, and I began to +consider how I could best rid myself of the girl, who would probably +kill me if we continued living together. Whilst I was absorbed in +these thoughts she awoke, and falling at my feet wept and professed +her utter repentance, and promised never to touch another card as +long as I kept her. + +At last I could resist her entreaties no longer, so I took her in my +arms and forgave her; and we did not part till she had received +undeniable proofs of the return of my affection. I intended to start +for Moscow in three days, and she was delighted when she heard she +was to go. + +Three circumstances had won me this young girl's furious affection. +In the first place I often took her to see her family, with whom I +always left a rouble; in the second I made her eat with me; and in +the third I had beaten her three or four times when she had tried to +prevent me going out. + +In Russia beating is a matter of necessity, for words have no force +whatever. A servant, mistress, or courtezan understands nothing but +the lash. Words are altogether thrown away, but a few good strokes +are entirely efficacious. The servant, whose soul is still more +enslaved than his body, reasons somewhat as follows, after he has had +a beating: + +"My master has not sent me away, but beaten me; therefore he loves +me, and I ought to be attached to him." + +It is the same with the Russian soldier, and in fact with everybody. +Honour stands for nothing, but with the knout and brandy one can get +anything from them except heroical enthusiasm. + +Papanelopulo laughed at me when I said that as I liked my Cossack I +should endeavour to correct him with words only when he took too much +brandy. + +"If you do not beat him," he said, "he will end by beating you;" and +he spoke the truth. + +One day, when he was so drunk as to be unable to attend on me, I +began to scold him, and threatened him with the stick if he did not +mend his ways. As soon as he saw my cane lifted, he ran at me and +got hold of it; and if I had not knocked him down immediately, he +would doubtless have beaten me. I dismissed him on the spot. There +is not a better servant in the world than a Russian. He works +without ceasing, sleeps in front of the door of his master's bedroom +to be always ready to fulfil his orders, never answering his +reproaches, incapable of theft. But after drinking a little too much +brandy he becomes a perfect monster; and drunkenness is the vice of +the whole nation. + +A coachman knows no other way of resisting the bitter cold to which +he is exposed, than by drinking rye brandy. It sometimes happens +that he drinks till he falls asleep, and then there is no awaking for +him in this world. Unless one is very careful, it is easy to lose an +ear, the nose, a cheek, or a lip by frost bites. One day as I was +walking out on a bitterly cold day, a Russian noticed that one of my +ears was frozen. He ran up to me and rubbed the affected part with a +handful of snow till the circulation was restored. I asked him how +he had noticed my state, and he said he had remarked the livid +whiteness of my ear, and this, he said, was always a sign that the +frost had taken it. What surprised me most of all is that sometimes +the part grows again after it has dropped off. Prince Charles of +Courland assured me that he had cost his nose in Siberia, and that it +had grown again the next summer. I have been assured of the truth of +this by several Russians. + +About this time the empress made the architect Rinaldi, who had been +fifty years in St. Petersburg, build her an enormous wooden +amphitheatre so large as to cover the whole of the space in front of +the palace. It would contain a hundred thousand spectators, and in +it Catherine intended to give a vast tournament to all the knights of +her empire. There were to be four parties of a hundred knights each, +and all the cavaliers were to be clad in the national costume of the +nations they represented. All the Russians were informed of this +great festival, which was to be given at the expense of the +sovereign, and the princes, counts, and barons were already arriving +with their chargers from the most remote parts of the empire. Prince +Charles of Courland wrote informing me of his intention to be +present. + +It had been ordained, that the tournament should take place on the +first fine day, and this precaution was a very wise one; for, +excepting in the season of the hard frosts, a day without rain, or +snow, or wind, is a marvel. In Italy, Spain, and France, one can +reckon on fine weather, and bad weather is the exception, but it is +quite the contrary in Russia. Ever since I have known this home of +frost and the cold north wind, I laugh when I hear travelling +Russians talking of the fine climate of their native country. +However, it is a pardonable weakness, most of us prefer "mine" to +"thine;" nobles affect to consider themselves of purer blood than the +peasants from whom they sprang, and the Romans and other ancient +nations pretended that they were the children of the gods, to draw a +veil over their actual ancestors who were doubtless robbers. The +truth is, that during the whole year 1756 there was not one fine day +in Russia, or in Ingria at all events, and the mere proofs of this +statement may be found in the fact that the tournament was not held +in that year. It was postponed till the next, and the princes, +counts, barons, and knights spent the winter in the capital, unless +their purses forbade them to indulge in the luxuries of Court life. +The dear Prince of Courland was in this case, to my great +disappointment. + +Having made all arrangements for my journey to Moscow, I got into my +sleeping carriage with Zaira, having a servant behind who could speak +both Russian and German. For twenty-four roubles the chevochic +(hirer out of horses) engaged to carry me to Moscow in six days and +seven nights with six horses. This struck me as being extremely +cheap. The distance is seventy-two Russian stages, almost equivalent +to five hundred Italian miles, or a hundred and sixty French leagues. + +We set out just as a cannon shot from the citadel announced the close +of day. It was towards the end of May, in which month there is +literally no night at St. Petersburg. Without the report of the +cannon no one would be able to tell when the day ended and the night +began. One can read a letter at midnight, and the moonlight makes no +appreciable difference. This continual day lasts for eight weeks, +and during that time no one lights a candle. At Moscow it is +different; a candle is always necessary at midnight if one wished to +read. + +We reached Novgorod in forty-eight hours, and here the chevochic +allowed us a rest of five hours. I saw a circumstance there which +surprised me very much, though one has no business to be surprised at +anything if one travels much, and especially in a land of half +savages. I asked the chevochic to drink, but he appeared to be in +great melancholy. I enquired what was the matter, and he told Zaira +that one of his horses had refused to eat, and that it was clear that +if he could not eat he could not work. We followed him into the +stable, and found the horse looking oppressed by care, its head +lowered and motionless; it had evidently got no appetite. His master +began a pathetic oration, looking tenderly at the animal, as if to +arouse it to a sense of duty, and then taking its head, and kissing +it lovingly, he put it into the manger, but to no purpose. Then the +man began to weep bitterly, but in such a way that I had the greatest +difficulty to prevent myself laughing, for I could see that he wept +in the hope that his tears might soften the brute's heart. When he +had wept some time he again put the horse's head into the manger, but +again to no purpose. At this he got furious and swore to be avenged. +He led the horse out of the stable, tied it to a post, and beat it +with a thick stick for a quarter of an hour so violently that my +heart bled for the poor animal. At last the chevochic was tired out, +and taking the horse back to the stable he fastened up his head once +more, and to my astonishment it began to devour its provender with +the greatest appetite. At this the master jumped for joy, laughed, +sang, and committed a thousand extravagancies, as if to shew the +horse how happy it had made him. I was beside myself with +astonishment, and concluded that such treatment would have succeeded +nowhere but in Russia, where the stick seems to be the panacea or +universal medicine. + +They tell me, however, that the stick is gradually going out of +fashion. Peter the Great used to beat his generals black and blue, +and in his days a lieutenant had to receive with all submission the +cuffs of his captain, who bent before the blows of his major, who did +the same to his colonel, who received chastisement from his general. +So I was informed by old General Woyakoff, who was a pupil of Peter +the Great, and had often been beaten by the great emperor, the +founder of St. Petersburg. + +It seems to me that I have scarcely said anything about this great +and famous capital, which in my opinion is built on somewhat +precarious foundations. No one but Peter could have thus given the +lie to Nature by building his immense palaces of marble and granite +on mud and shifting sand. They tell me that the town is now in its +manhood, to the honour of the great Catherine; but in the year 1765 +it was still in its minority, and seemed to me only to have been +built with the childish aim of seeing it fall into ruins. Streets +were built with the certainty of having to repair them in six months' +time. The whole place proclaimed itself to be the whim of a despot. +If it is to be durable constant care will be required, for nature +never gives up its rights and reasserts them when the constraint of +man is withdrawn. My theory is that sooner or later the soil must +give way and drag the vast city with it. + +We reached Moscow in the time the chevochic had promised. As the +same horses were used for the whole journey, it would have been +impossible to travel mote quickly. A Russian told me that the +Empress Elizabeth had done the journey in fifty-two hours. + +"You mean that she issued a ukase to the effect that she had done +it," said a Russian of the old school; "and if she had liked she +could have travelled more quickly still; it was only a question of +the wording of the ukase." + +Even when I was in Russia it was not allowable to doubt the +infallibility of a ukase, and to do so was, equivalent to high +treason. One day I was crossing a canal at St. Petersburg by a small +wooden bridge; Melissino Papanelopulo, and some other Russians were +with me. I began to abuse the wooden bridge, which I characterized +as both mean and dangerous. One of my companions said that on such a +day it would be replaced by a fine stone bridge, as the empress had +to pass there on some state occasion. The day named way three weeks +off, and I said plainly that it was impossible. One of the Russians +looked askance at me, and said there was no doubt about it, as a +ukase had been published ordering that the bridge should be built. I +was going to answer him, but Papanelopulo gave my hand a squeeze, and +whispered "Taci!" (hush). + +The bridge was not built, but I was not justified, for the empress +published another ukase in which she declared it to be her gracious +pleasure that the bridge should not be built till the following year. +If anyone would see what a pure despotism is like, let him go to +Russia. + +The Russian sovereigns use the language of despotism on all +occasions. One day I saw the empress, dressed in man's clothes, +going out for a ride. Her master of the horse, Prince Repnin, held +the bridle of the horse, which suddenly gave him a kick which broke +his anklebone. The empress instantly ordained that the horse should +be taken away, and that no one should mount it again under pain of +death. All official positions in Russia have military rank assigned +to them, and this sufficiently indicates the nature of the +Government. The coachman-in-chief of her imperial highness holds the +rank of colonel, as also does her chief cook. The castrato Luini was +a lieutenant-colonel, and the painter Toretti only a captain, because +he had only eight hundred roubles a year, while the coachman had +three thousand. The sentinels at the doors of the palace have their +muskets crossed, and ask those who wish to pass through what is their +rank. When I was asked this question, I stopped short; but the +quick-witted officer asked me how much I had a year, and on my +replying, at a hazard, three thousand roubles, he gave me the rank of +general, and I was allowed to pass. I saw the czarina for a moment; +she stopped at the door and took off her gloves to give her hands to +be kissed by the officer and the two sentinels. By such means as +this she had won the affection of the corps, commanded by Gregorius +Gregorovitch Orloff, on which her safety depended in case of +revolution. + +I made the following notes when I saw the empress hearing mass in her +chapel. The protopapa, or bishop, received her at the door to give +her the holy water, and she kissed his episcopal ring, while the +prelate, whose beard was a couple of feet in length, lowered his head +to kiss the hands of his temporal sovereign and spiritual head, for +in Russia the he or she on the throne is the spiritual as well as +temporal head of the Church. + +She did not evidence the least devotion during mass; hypocrisy did +not seem to be one of her vices. Now she smiled at one of her suite, +now at another, and occasionally she addressed the favourite, not +because she had anything to say to him, but to make him an object of +envy to the others. + +One evening, as she was leaving the theatre where Metastasio's +Olympiade had been performed, I heard her say,-- + +"The music of that opera has given the greatest pleasure to everyone, +so of course I am delighted with it; but it wearies me, nevertheless. +Music is a fine thing, but I cannot understand how anyone who is +seriously occupied can love it passionately. I will have Buranello +here, and I wonder whether he will interest me in music, but I am +afraid nature did not constitute me to feel all its charms." + +She always argued in that way. In due time I will set down her words +to me when I returned from Moscow. When I arrived at that city I got +down at a good inn, where they gave me two rooms and a coach-house +for my carriage. After dinner I hired a small carriage and a guide +who could speak French. My carriage was drawn by four horses, for +Moscow is a vast city composed of four distinct towns, and many of +the streets are rough and ill-paved. I had five or six letters of +introduction, and I determined to take them all. I took Zaira with +me, as she was as curious to see everything as a girl of fourteen +naturally is. I do not remember what feast the Greek Church was +keeping on that day, but I shall never forget the terrific bell- +ringing with which my ears were assailed, for there are churches +every where. The country people were engaged in sowing their grain, +to reap it in September. They laughed at our Southern custom of +sowing eight months earlier, as unnecessary and even prejudicial to +the crops, but I do not know where the right lies. Perhaps we may +both be right, for there is no master to compare with experience. +I took all the introductions I had received from Narischkin, Prince +Repnin, the worthy Pananelopulo, and Melissino's brother. The next +morning the whole of the persons at whose houses I had left letters +called on me. They all asked Zaira and myself to dinner, and I +accepted the invitation of the first comer, M. Dinidoff, and promised +to dine with the rest on the following days, Zaira, who had been +tutored by me to some extent, was delighted to shew me that she was +worthy of the position she occupied. She was exquisitely dressed, +and won golden opinions everywhere, for our hosts did not care to +enquire whether she were my daughter, my mistress, or my servant, for +in this matter, as in many others, the Russians are excessively +indulgent. Those who have not seen Moscow have not seen Russia, for +the people of St, Petersburg are not really Russians at all. Their +court manners are very different from their manners 'au naturel', and +it may be said with truth that the true Russian is as a stranger in +St. Petersburg. The citizens of, Moscow, and especially the rich +ones, speak with pity of those, who for one reason or another, had +expatriated themselves; and with them to expatriate one's self is to +leave Moscow, which they consider as their native land. They look on +St. Petersburg with an envious eve, and call it the ruin of Russia. +I do not know whether this is a just view to take of the case, I +merely repeat what I have heard. + +In the course of a week I saw all the sights of Moscow--the +manufacturers, the churches, the remains of the old days, the +museums, the libraries, (of no interest to my mind), not forgetting +the famous bell. I noticed that their bells are not allowed to swing +like ours, but are motionless, being rung by a rope attached to the +clapper. + +I thought the Moscow women more handsome than those of St. +Petersburg, and I attribute this to the great superiority of the air. +They are gentle and accessible by nature; and to obtain the favour of +a kiss on the lips, one need only make a show of kissing their hands. + +There was good fare in plenty, but no delicacy in its composition or +arrangement. Their table is always open to friends and +acquaintances, and a friend may bring to five or six persons to +dinner, and even at the end of the meals you will never hear a +Russian say, "We have had dinner; you have come too late." Their +souls are not black enough for them to pronounce such words as this. +Notice is given to the cook, and the dinner begins over again. They +have a delicious drink, the name of which I do not remember; but it +is much superior to the sherbet of Constantinople. The numerous +servants are not given water, but a light, nourishing, and agreeable +fluid, which may be purchased very cheaply. They all hold St. +Nicholas in the greatest reverence, only praying to God through the +mediation of this saint, whose picture is always suspended in the +principal room of the house. A person coming in makes first a bow to +the image and then a bow to the master, and if perchance the image is +absent, the Russian, after gazing all round, stands confused and +motionless, not knowing what to do. As a general rule the Muscovites +are the most superstitious Christians in the world. Their liturgy is +in Greek, of which the people understand nothing, and the clergy, +themselves extremely ignorant, gladly leave them completely in the +dark on all matters connected with religion. I could never make them +understand that the only reason for the Roman Christians making the +sign of the Cross from left to right, while the Greeks make it from +right to left, is that we say 'spiritus sancti', while they say +'agion pneuma'. + +"If you said pneuma agion," I used to say, "then you would cross +yourself like us, and if we said sancti spiritus we should cross +ourselves like you." + +"The adjective," replied my interlocutor, "should always precede the +substantive, for we should never utter the name of God without first +giving Him some honourable epithet." + +Such are nearly all the differences which divide the two churches, +without reckoning the numerous idle tales which they have as well as +ourselves, and which are by no means the least cherished articles of +their faith. + +We returned to St. Petersburg by the way we had come, but Zaira would +have liked me never to leave Moscow. She had become so much in love +with me by force of constant association that I could not think +without a pang of the moment of separation. The day after our +arrival in the capital I took her to her home, where she shewed her +father all the little presents I had given her, and told him of the +honour she had received as my daughter, which made the good man laugh +heartily. + +The first piece of news I heard was that a ukase had been issued, +ordering the erection of a temple dedicated to God in the Moscoi +opposite to the house where I resided. The empress had entrusted +Rinaldi, the architect, with the erection. He asked her what emblem +he should put above the portal, and she replied,-- + +"No emblem at all, only the name of God in large letters." + +"I will put a triangle." + +"No triangle at all; but only the name of God in whatever language +you like, and nothing more." + +The second piece of news was that Bomback had fled and had been +captured at Mitau, where he believed himself in safety. M. de +Simolia had arrested him. It was a grave case, for he had deserted; +however, he was given his life, and sent into barracks at +Kamstchatka. Crevecoeur and his mistress had departed, carrying some +money with them, and a Florentine adventurer named Billotti had fled +with eighteen thousand roubles belonging to Papanelopulo, but a +certain Bori, the worthy Greek's factotum, had caught him at Mitau +and brought him back to St. Petersburg, where he was now in prison. +Prince Charles of Courland arrived about this time, and I hastened to +call upon him as soon as he advised me of his coming. He was lodging +in a house belonging to Count Dimidoff, who owned large iron mines, +and had made the whole house of iron, from attic to basement. The +prince had brought his mistress with him, but she was still in an +ill-humour, and he was beginning to get heartily sick of her. The +man was to be pitied, for he could not get rid of her without finding +her a husband, and this husband became more difficult to find every +day. When the prince saw how happy I was with my Zaira, he could not +help thinking how easily happiness may be won; but the fatal desire +for luxury and empty show spoils all, and renders the very sweets of +life as bitter as gall. + +I was indeed considered happy, and I liked to appear so, but in my +heart I was wretched. Ever since my imprisonment under The Leads, I +had been subject to haemorrhoids, which came on three or four times a +year. At St. Petersburg I had a serious attack, and the daily pain +and anxiety embittered my existence. A vegetarian doctor called +Senapios, for whom I had sent, gave me the sad news that I had a +blind or incomplete fistula in the rectum, and according to him +nothing but the cruel pistoury would give me any relief, and indeed +he said I had no time to lose. I had to agree, in spite of my +dislike to the operation; but fortunately the clever surgeon whom the +doctor summoned pronounced that if I would have patience nature +itself would give me relief. I had much to endure, especially from +the severe dieting to which I was subjected, but which doubtless did +me good. + +Colonel Melissino asked me to be present at a review which was to +take place at three versts from St. Petersburg, and was to be +succeeded by a dinner to twenty-four guests, given by General Orloff. +I went with the prince, and saw a cannon fired twenty times in a +minute, testing the performance with my watch. + +My neighbour at dinner was the French ambassador. Wishing to drink +deeply, after the Russian fashion, and thinking the Hungarian wine as +innocent as champagne, he drank so bravely that at the end of dinner +he had lost the use of his legs. Count Orloff made him drink still +more, and then he fell asleep and was laid on a bed. + +The gaiety of the meal gave me some idea of Russian wit. I did not +understand the language, so M. Zinowieff translated the curious +sallies to me while the applause they had raised was still +resounding. + +Melissino rose to his feet, holding a large goblet full of Hungarian +wine in his hand. There was a general silence to listen to him. He +drank the health of General Orloff in these words: + +"May you die when you become rich." + +The applause was general, for the allusion was to the unbounded +generosity of Orloff. The general's reply struck me as better still, +but it was equally rugged in character. He, too, took a full cup, +and turning to Melissino, said, + +"May you never die till I slay you!" + +The applause was furious, for he was their host and their general. + +The Russian wit is of the energetic kind, devoid of grace; all they +care about is directness and vigour. + +Voltaire had just sent the empress his "Philosophy of History," which +he had written for her and dedicated to her. A month after, an +edition of three thousand copies came by sea, and was sold out in a +week, for all the Russians who knew a little French were eager to +possess a copy of the work. The leaders of the Voltaireans were two +noblemen, named, respectively, Stroganoff and Schuvaloff. I have +seen verses written by the former of these as good as Voltaire's own +verses, and twenty years later I saw an ode by the latter of which +Voltaire would not have been ashamed, but the subject was ill chosen; +for it treated of the death of the great philosopher who had so +studiously avoided using his pen on melancholy themes. In those days +all Russians with any pretensions to literature read nothing but +Voltaire, and when they had read all his writings they thought +themselves as wise as their master. To me they seemed pigmies +mimicking a giant. I told them that they ought to read all the books +from which Voltaire had drawn his immense learning, and then, +perhaps, they might become as wise as he. I remember the saying of a +wise man at Rome: "Beware of the man of one book." I wonder whether +the Russians are more profound now; but that is a question I cannot +answer. At Dresden I knew Prince Biloselski, who was on his way back +to Russia after having been ambassador at Turin. He was the author +of an admirable world on metaphysics, and the analysis of the soul +and reason. + +Count Panin was the tutor of Paul Petrovitch, heir-presumptive to the +throne. The young prince had a severe master, and dared not even +applaud an air at the opera unless he first received permission to do +so from his mentor. + +When a courier brought the news of the sudden death of Francis I., +Emperor of Germany and of the Holy Roman Empire, the czarina being at +Czarsko-Zelo, the count minister-tutor was in the palace with his +pupil, then eleven years old. The courier came at noon, and gave the +dispatch into the hands of the minister, who was standing in the +midst of a crowd of courtiers of whom I was one. The prince imperial +was at his right hand. The minister read the dispatch in a low +voice, and then said: + +"This is news indeed. The Emperor of the Romans has died suddenly." + +He then turned to Paul, and said to him,-- + +"Full court mourning, which your highness will observe for three +months longer than the empress." + +"Why so?" said Paul. + +"Because, as Duke of Holstein, your highness has a right to attend +the diet of the empire, a privilege," he added, turning to us, "which +Peter the Great desired in vain." + +I noted the attention with which the Grand Duke Paul listened to his +mentor, and the care with which he concealed his joy at the news. I +was immensely pleased with this way of giving instruction. I said as +much to Prince Lobkowitz, who was standing by me, and he refined on +my praises. This prince was popular with everyone. He was even +preferred to his predecessor, Prince Esterhazy; and this was saying a +great deal, for Esterhazy was adored in Russia. The gay and affable +manner of Prince Lobkowitz made him the life and soul of all the +parties at which he was present. He was a constant courtier of the +Countess Braun, the reigning beauty, and everyone believed his love +had been crowned with success, though no one could assert as much +positively. + +There was a great review held at a distance of twelve or fourteen +versts from St. Petersburg, at which the empress and all her train of +courtiers were present. The houses of the two or three adjoining +villages were so few and small that it would be impossible for all +the company to find a lodging. Nevertheless I wished to be present +chiefly to please Zaira, who wanted to be seen with me on such an +occasion. The review was to last three days; there were to be +fireworks, and a mine was to be exploded besides the evolutions of +the troops. I went in my travelling carriage, which would serve me +for a lodging if I could get nothing better. + +We arrived at the appointed place at eight o'clock in the morning; +the evolutions lasted till noon. When they were over we went towards +a tavern and had our meal served to us in the carriage, as all the +rooms in the inn were full. + +After dinner my coachman tried in vain to find me a lodging, so I +disposed myself to sleep all night in the carriage; and so I did for +the whole time of the review, and fared better than those who had +spent so much money to be ill lodged. Melissino told me that the +empress thought my idea a very sensible one. As I was the only +person who had a sleeping carriage, which was quite a portable house +in itself, I had numerous visitors, and Zaira was radiant to be able +to do the honours. + +I had a good deal of conversation during the review with Count Tott, +brother of the nobleman who was employed at Constantinople, and known +as Baron Tott. We had known each other at Paris, and afterwards at +the Hague, where I had the pleasure of being of service to him. He +had come to St. Petersburg with Madame de Soltikoff, whom he had met +at Paris, and whose lover he was. He lived with her, went to Court, +and was well received by everyone. + +Two or three years after, the empress ordered him to leave St. +Petersburg on account of the troubles in Poland. It was said that he +kept up a correspondence with his brother, who was endeavouring to +intercept the fleet under the command of Alexis Orloff. I never +heard what became of him after he left Russia, where he obliged me +with the loan of five hundred roubles, which I have not yet been able +to return to him. + +M. Maruzzi, by calling a Venetian merchant, and by birth a Greek, +having left trade to live like a gentleman, came to St. Petersburg +when I was there, and was presented at Court. He was a fine-looking +man, and was admitted to all the great houses. The empress treated +him with distinction because she had thoughts of making him her agent +at Venice. He paid his court to the Countess Braun, but he had +rivals there who were not afraid of him. He was rich enough, but did +not know how to spend his money; and avarice is a sin which meets +with no pity from the Russian ladies. + +I went to Czarsko-Zelo, Peterhoff, and Cronstadt, for if you want to +say you have been in a country you should see as much as possible of +it. I wrote notes and memorandums on several questions with the hope +of their procuring me a place in the civil service, and all my +productions were laid before the empress but with no effect. In +Russia they do not think much of foreigners unless they have +specially summoned them; those who come of their own account rarely +make much, and I suspect the Russians are right. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +I See the Empress--My Conversations with Her--The Valville--I Leave +Zaiya I Leave St. Petersburg and Arrive at Warsaw--The Princes Adam +Czartoryski and Sulkowski--The King of Poland--Theatrical Intrigues +--Byanicki + +I thought of leaving Russia at the beginning of the autumn, but I was +told by M M. Panin and Alsuwieff that I ought not to go without +having spoken to the empress. + +"I should be sorry to do so," I replied, "but as I can't find anyone +to present me to her, I must be resigned." + +At last Panin told me to walk in a garden frequented by her majesty +at an early hour, and he said that meeting me, as it were by chance, +she would probably speak to me. I told him I should like him to be +with her, and he accordingly named a day. + +I repaired to the garden, and as I walked about I marvelled at the +statuary it contained, all the statues being made of the worst stone, +and executed in the worst possible taste. The names cut beneath them +gave the whole the air of a practical joke. A weeping statue was +Democritus; another, with grinning mouth, was labelled Heraclitus; an +old man with a long beard was Sappho; and an old woman, Avicenna; and +so on. + +As I was smiling at this extraordinary collection, I saw the czarina, +preceded by Count Gregorius Orloff, and followed by two ladies, +approaching. Count Panin was on her left hand. I stood by the hedge +to let her pass, but as soon as she came up to me she asked, +smilingly, if I had been interested in the statues. I replied, +following her steps, that I presumed they had been placed there to +impose on fools, or to excite the laughter of those acquainted with +history. + +"From what I can make out," she replied, "the secret of the matter is +that my worthy aunt was imposed on, and indeed she did not trouble +herself much about such trifles. But I hope you have seen other +things in Russia less ridiculous than these statues?" + +I entertained the sovereign for more than an hour with my remarks on +the things of note I had seen in St. Petersburg. The conversation +happened to turn on the King of Prussia, and I sang his praises; but +I censured his terrible habit of always interrupting the person whom +he was addressing. Catherine smiled and asked me to tell her about +the conversation I had had with this monarch, and I did so to the +best of my ability. She was then kind enough to say that she had +never seen me at the Courtag, which was a vocal and instrumental +concert given at the palace, and open to all. I told her that I had +only attended once, as I was so unfortunate as not to have a taste +for music. At this she turned to Panin, and said smilingly that she +knew someone else who had the same misfortune. If the reader +remembers what I heard her say about music as she was leaving the +opera, he will pronounce my speech to have been a very courtier-like +one, and I confess it was; but who can resist making such speeches to +a monarch, and above all, a monarch in petticoats? + +The czarina turned from me to speak to M. Bezkoi, who had just come +up, and as M. Panin left the garden I did so too, delighted with the +honour I had had. + +The empress, who was a woman of moderate height and yet of a majestic +appearance, thoroughly understood the art of making herself loved. +She was not beautiful, but yet she was sure of pleasing by her +geniality and her wit, and also by that exquisite tact which made one +forget the awfulness of the sovereign in the gentleness of the woman. +A few days after, Count Partin told me that the empress had twice +asked after me, and that this was a sure sign I had pleased her. He +advised me to look out for another opportunity of meeting her, and +said that for the future she would always tell me to approach +whenever she saw me, and that if I wanted some employment she might +possible do something for me. + +Though I did not know what employ I could ask for in that +disagreeable country, I was glad to hear that I could have easy +access to the Court. With that idea I walked in the garden every +day, and here follows my second conversation with the empress +She saw me at a distance and sent an officer to fetch me into her +presence. As everybody was talking of the tournament, which had to +be postponed on account of the bad weather, she asked me if this kind +of entertainment could be given at Venice. I told her some amusing +stories on the subject of shows and spectacles, and in this relation +I remarked that the Venetian climate was more pleasant than the +Russian, for at Venice fine days were the rule, while at St. +Petersburg they were the exception, though the year is younger there +than anywhere else. + +"Yes," she said, "in your country it is eleven days older." + +"Would it not be worthy of your majesty to put Russia on an equality +with the rest of the world in this respect, by adopting the Gregorian +calendar? All the Protestants have done so, and England, who adopted +it fourteen years ago, has already gained several millions. All +Europe is astonished that the old style should be suffered to exist +in a country where the sovereign is the head of the Church, and whose +capital contains an academy of science. It is thought that Peter the +Great, who made the year begin in January, would have also abolished +the old style if he had not been afraid of offending England, which +then kept trade and commerce alive throughout your vast empire." +"You know," she replied, with a sly smile, "that Peter the Great was +not exactly a learned man." + +"He was more than a man of learning, the immortal Peter was a genius +of the first order. Instinct supplied the place of science with him; +his judgment was always in the right. His vast genius, his firm +resolve, prevented him from making mistakes, and helped him to +destroy all those abuses which threatened to oppose his great +designs." + +Her majesty seemed to have heard me with great interest, and was +about to reply when she noticed two ladies whom she summoned to her +presence. To me she said,-- + +"I shall be delighted to reply to you at another time," and then +turned towards the ladies. + +The time came in eight or ten days, when I was beginning to think she +had had enough of me, for she had seen me without summoning me to +speak to her. + +She began by saying what I desired should be done was done already. +"All the letters sent to foreign countries and all the important +State records are marked with both dates." + +"But I must point out to your majesty that by the end of the century +the difference will be of twelve days, not eleven." + +"Not at all; we have seen to that. The last year of this century +will not be counted as a leap year. It is fortunate that the +difference is one of eleven days, for as that is the number which is +added every year to the epact our epacts are almost the same. As to +the celebration of Easter, that is a different question. Your +equinox is on March the 21st, ours on the l0th, and the astronomers +say we are both wrong; sometimes it is we who are wrong and sometimes +you, as the equinox varies. You know you are not even in agreement +with the Jews, whose calculation is said to be perfectly accurate; +and, in fine, this difference in the time of celebrating Easter does +not disturb in any way public order or the progress of the +Government." + +"Your majesty's words fill me with admiration, but the Festival of +Christmas----" + +"I suppose you are going to say that we do not celebrate Christmas in +the winter solstice as should properly be done. We know it, but it +seems to me a matter of no account. I would rather bear with this +small mistake than grievously afflict vast numbers of my subjects by +depriving them of their birthdays. If I did so, there would be no +open complaints uttered, as that is not the fashion in Russia; but +they would say in secret that I was an Atheist, and that I disputed +the infallibility of the Council of Nice. You may think such +complaints matter for laughter, but I do not, for I have much more +agreeable motives for amusement." + +The czarina was delighted to mark my surprise. I did not doubt for a +moment that she had made a special study of the whole subject. +M. Alsuwieff told me, a few days after, that she had very possibly +read a little pamphlet on the subject, the statements of which +exactly coincided with her own. He took care to add, however, that +it was very possible her highness was profoundly learned on the +matter, but this was merely a courtier's phrase. + +What she said was spoken modestly and energetically, and her good +humour and pleasant smile remained unmoved throughout. She exercised +a constant self-control over herself, and herein appeared the +greatness of her character, for nothing is more difficult. Her +demeanour, so different from that of the Prussian king, shewed her to +be the greater sovereign of the two; her frank geniality always gave +her the advantage, while the short, curt manners of the king often +exposed him to being made a dupe. In an examination of the life of +Frederick the Great, one cannot help paying a deserved tribute to his +courage, but at the same time one feels that if it had not been for +repeated turns of good fortune he must have succumbed, whereas +Catherine was little indebted to the favours of the blind deity. She +succeeded in enterprises which, before her time, would have been +pronounced impossibilities, and it seemed her aim to make men look +upon her achievements as of small account. + +I read in one of our modern journals, those monuments of editorial +self-conceit, that Catherine the Great died happily as she had lived. +Everybody knows that she died suddenly on her close stool. By +calling such a death happy, the journalist hints that it is the death +he himself would wish for. Everyone to his taste, and we can only +hope that the editor may obtain his wish; but who told this silly +fellow that Catherine desired such a death? If he regards such a +wish as natural to a person of her profound genius I would ask who +told him that men of genius consider a sudden death to be a happy +one? Is it because that is his opinion, and are we to conclude that +he is therefore person of genius? To come to the truth we should +have to interrogate the late empress, and ask her some such question +as: + +"Are you well pleased to have died suddenly?" + +She would probably reply: + +"What a foolish question! Such might be the wish of one driven to +despair, or of someone suffering from a long and grievous malady. +Such was not my position, for I enjoyed the blessings of happiness +and good health; no worse fate could have happened to me. My sudden +death prevented me from concluding several designs which I might have +brought to a successful issue if God had granted me the warning of a, +slight illness. But it was not so; I had to set out on the long +journey at a moment's notice, without the time to make any +preparations. Is my death any the happier from my not foreseeing it? +Do you think me such a coward as to dread the approach of what is +common to all? I tell you that I should have accounted myself happy +if I had had a respite of but a day. Then I should not complain of +the Divine justice." + +"Does your highness accuse God of injustice, then?" + +"What boots it, since I am a lost soul? Do you expect the damned to +acknowledge the justice of the decree which has consigned them to +eternal woe?" + +"No doubt it is a difficult matter, but I should have thought that a +sense of the justice of your doom would have mitigated the pains of +it." + +"Perhaps so, but a damned soul must be without consolation for ever." + +"In spite of that there are some philosophers who call you happy in +your death by virtue of its suddenness." + +"Not philosophers, but fools, for in its suddenness was the pain and +woe." + +"Well said; but may I ask your highness if you admit the possibility +of a happy eternity after an unhappy death, or of an unhappy doom +after a happy death?" + +"Such suppositions are inconceivable. The happiness of futurity lies +in the ecstasy of the soul in feeling freed from the trammels of +matter, and unhappiness is the doom of a soul which was full of +remorse at the moment it left the body. But enough, for my +punishment forbids my farther speech." + +"Tell me, at least, what is the nature of your punishment?" + +"An everlasting weariness. Farewell." + +After this long and fanciful digression the reader will no doubt be +obliged by my returning to this world. + +Count Panin told me that in a few days the empress would leave for +her country house, and I determined to have an interview with her, +foreseeing that it would be for the last time. + +I had been in the garden for a few minutes when heavy rain began to +fall, and I was going to leave, when the empress summoned me into an +apartment on the ground floor of the palace, where she was walking up +and down with Gregorovitch and a maid of honour. + +"I had forgotten to ask you," she said, graciously, "if you believe +the new calculation of the calendar to be exempt from error?" + +"No, your majesty; but the error is so minute that it will not +produce any sensible effect for the space of nine or ten thousand +years." + +"I thought so; and in my opinion Pope Gregory should not have +acknowledged any mistake at all. The Pope, however, had much less +difficulty in carrying out his reform than I should have with my +subjects, who are too fond of their ancient usages and customs." +"Nevertheless, I am sure your majesty would meet with obedience." +"No doubt, but imagine the grief of my clergy in not being able to +celebrate the numerous saints' days, which would fall on the eleven +days to be suppressed. You have only one saint for each day, but we +have a dozen at least. I may remark also that all ancient states and +kingdoms are attached to their ancient laws. I have heard that your +Republic of Venice begins the year in March, and that seems to me, as +it were, a monument and memorial of its antiquity--and indeed the +year begins more naturally in March than in January--but does not +this usage cause some confusion?" + +"None at all, your majesty. The letters M V, which we adjoin to all +dates in January and February, render all mistakes impossible." + +"Venice is also noteworthy for its peculiar system of heraldry, by +the amusing form under which it portrays its patron saint, and by the +five Latin words with which the Evangelist is invoked, in which, as I +am told, there is a grammatical blunder which has become respectable +by its long standing. But is it true that you do not distinguish +between the day and night hours?" + +"It is, your majesty, and what is more we reckon the day from the +beginning of the night." + +"Such is the force of custom, which makes us admire what other +nations think ridiculous. You see no inconvenience in your division +of the day, which strikes me as most inconvenient." + +"You would only have to look at your watch, and you would not need to +listen for the cannon shot which announces the close of day." + +"Yes, but for this one advantage you have over us, we have two over +you. We know that at twelve o'clock it is either mid-day or +midnight." + +The czarina spoke to me about the fondness of the Venetians for games +of chance, and asked if the Genoa Lottery had been established there. +"I have been asked," she added, "to allow the lottery to be +established in my own dominions; but I should never permit it except +on the condition that no stake should be below a rouble, and then the +poor people would not be able to risk their money in it." + +I replied to this discreet observation with a profound inclination of +the head, and thus ended my last interview with the famous empress +who reigned thirty-five years without committing a single mistake of +any importance. The historian will always place her amongst great +sovereigns, though the moralist will always consider her, and +rightly, as one of the most notable of dissolute women. + +A few days before I left I gave an entertainment to my friends at +Catherinhoff, winding up with a fine display of fireworks, a present +from my friend Melissino. My supper for thirty was exquisite, and my +ball a brilliant one. In spite of the tenuity of my purse I felt +obliged to give my friends this mark of my gratitude for the kindness +they had lavished on me. + +I left Russia with the actress Valville, and I must here tell the +reader how I came to make her acquaintance. + +I happened to go to the French play, and to find myself seated next +to an extremely pretty lady who was unknown to me. I occasionally +addressed an observation to her referring to the play or actors, and +I was immensely delighted with her spirited answers. Her expression +charmed me, and I took the liberty of asking her if she were a +Russian. + +"No, thank God!" she replied, "I am a Parisian, and an actress by +occupation. My name is Valville ; but I don't wonder I am unknown to +you, for I have been only a month here, and have played but once." + +"How is that?" + +"Because I was so unfortunate as to fail to win the czarina's favour. +However, as I was engaged for a year, she has kindly ordered that my +salary of a hundred roubles shall be paid monthly. At the end of the +year I shall get my passport and go." + +"I am sure the empress thinks she is doing you a favour in paying you +for nothing." + +"Very likely; but she does not remember that I am forgetting how to +act all this time." + +"You ought to tell her that." + +"I only wish she would give me an audience." + +"That is unnecessary. Of course, you have a lover." + +"No, I haven't." + +"It's incredible to me!" + +"They say the incredible often happens." + +"I am very glad to hear it myself." + +I took her address, and sent her the following note the next day: + +"Madam,--I should like to begin an intrigue with you. You have +inspired me with feelings that will make me unhappy unless you +reciprocate them. I beg to take the liberty of asking myself to sup +with you, but please tell me how much it will cost me. I am obliged +to leave for Warsaw in the course of a month, and I shall be happy to +offer you a place in my travelling carriage. I shall be able to get +you a passport. The bearer of this has orders to wait, and I hope +your answer will be as plainly worded as my question." + +In two hours I received this reply: + +"Sir,--As I have the knack of putting an end to an intrigue when it +has ceased to amuse me, I have no hesitation in accepting your +proposal. As to the sentiments with which you say I have inspired +you, I will do my best to share them, and to make you happy. Your +supper shall be ready, and later on we will settle the price of the +dessert. I shall be delighted to accept the place in your carriage +if you can obtain my expenses to Paris as well as my passport. And +finally, I hope you will find my plain speaking on a match with +yours. Good bye, till the evening." + +I found my new friend in a comfortable lodging, and we accosted each +other as if we had been old acquaintances. + +"I shall be delighted to travel with you," said she, "but I don't +think you will be able to get my passport." + +"I have no doubt as to my success," I replied, "if you will present +to the empress the petition I shall draft for you." + +"I will surely do so," said she, giving me writing materials. + +I wrote out the following petition,-- + +"Your Majesty,--I venture to remind your highness that my enforced +idleness is making me forget my art, which I have not yet learnt +thoroughly. Your majesty's generosity is therefore doing me an +injury, and your majesty would do me a great benefit in giving me +permission to leave St. Petersburg." + +"Nothing more than that?" + +"Not a word." + +"You say nothing about the passport, and nothing about the journey- +money. I am not a rich woman." + +"Do you only present this petition; and, unless I am very much +mistaken, you will have, not only your journey-money, but also your +year's salary." + +"Oh, that would be too much!" + +"Not at all. You do not know Catherine, but I do. Have this copied, +and present it in person." + +I will copy it out myself, for I can write a good enough hand. +Indeed, it almost seems as if I had composed it; it is exactly my +style. I believe you are a better actor than I am, and from this +evening I shall call myself your pupil. Come, let us have some +supper, that you may give me my first lesson." + +After a delicate supper, seasoned by pleasant and witty talk, Madame +Valville granted me all I could desire. I went downstairs for a +moment to send away my coachman and to instruct him what he was to +say to Zaira, whom I had forewarned that I was going to Cronstadt, +and might not return till the next day. My coachman was a Ukrainian +on whose fidelity I could rely, but I knew that it would be necessary +for me to be off with the old love before I was on with the new. + +Madame Valville was like most young Frenchwomen of her class; she had +charms which she wished to turn to account, and a passable education; +her ambition was to be kept by one man, and the title of mistress was +more pleasing in her ears than that of wife. + +In the intervals of four amorous combats she told me enough of her +life for me to divine what it had been. Clerval, the actor, had been +gathering together a company of actors at Paris, and making her +acquaintance by chance and finding her to be intelligent, he assured +her that she was a born actress, though she had never suspected it. +The idea had dazzled her, and she had signed the agreement. She +started from Paris with six other actors and actresses, of whom she +was the only one that had never played. + +"I thought," she said, "it was like what is done at Paris, where a +girl goes into the chorus or the ballet without having learnt to sing +or dance. What else could I think, after an actor like Clerval had +assured me I had a talent for acting and had offered me a good +engagement? All he required of me was that I should learn by heart +and repeat certain passages which I rehearsed in his presence. He +said I made a capital soubrette, and he certainly could not have been +trying to deceive me, but the fact is he was deceived himself. A +fortnight after my arrival I made my first appearance, and my +reception was not a flattering one." + +"Perhaps you were nervous?" + +"Nervous? not in the least. Clerval said that if I could have put on +the appearance of nervousness the empress, who is kindness itself, +would certainly have encouraged me." + +I left her the next morning after I had seen her copy out the +petition. She wrote a very good hand. + +"I shall present it to-day," said she. + +I wished her good luck, and arranged to sup with her again on the day +I meant to part with Zaira. + +All French girls who sacrifice to Venus are in the same style as the +Valville; they are entirely without passion or love, but they are +pleasant and caressing. They have only one object; and that is their +own profit. They make and unmake an intrigue with a smiling face and +without the slightest difficulty. It is their system, and if it be +not absolutely the best it is certainly the most convenient. + +When I got home I found Zaira submissive but sad, which annoyed me +more than anger would have done, for I loved her. However, it was +time to bring the matter to an end, and to make up my mind to endure +the pain of parting. + +Rinaldi, the architect, a man of seventy, but still vigorous and +sensual, was in love with her, and he had hinted to me several times +that he would be only too happy to take her over and to pay double +the sum I had given for her. My answer had been that I could only +give her to a man she liked, and that I meant to make her a present +of the hundred roubles I had given for her. Rinaldi did not like +this answer, as he had not very strong hopes of the girl taking a +fancy to him; however, he did not despair. + +He happened to call on me on the very morning on which I had +determined to give her up, and as he spoke Russian perfectly he gave +Zaira to understand how much he loved her. Her answer was that he +must apply to me, as my will was law to her, but that she neither +liked nor disliked anyone else. The old man could not obtain any +more positive reply and left us with but feeble hopes, but commending +himself to my good offices. + +When he had gone, I asked Zaira whether she would not like me to +leave her to the worthy man, who would treat her as his own daughter. + +She was just going to reply when I was handed a note from Madame +Valville, asking me to call on her, as she had a piece of news to +give me. I ordered the carriage immediately, telling Zaira that I +should not be long. + +"Very good," she replied, "I will give you a plain answer when you +come back." + +I found Madame Valville in a high state of delight. + +"Long live the petition!" she exclaimed, as soon as she saw me. +"I waited for the empress to come out of her private chapel. I +respectfully presented my petition, which she read as she walked +along, and then told me with a kindly smile to wait a moment. I +waited, and her majesty returned me the petition initialled in her +own hand, and bade me take it to M. Ghelagin. This gentleman gave me +an excellent reception, and told me that the sovereign hand ordered +him to give me my passport, my salary for a year, and a hundred +ducats for the journey. The money will be forwarded in a fortnight, +as my name will have to be sent to the Gazette." + +Madame Valville was very grateful, and we fixed the day of our +departure. Three or four days later I sent in my name to the +Gazette. + +I had promised Zaira to come back, so telling my new love that I +would come and live with her as soon as I had placed the young +Russian in good hands, I went home, feeling rather curious to hear +Zaira's determination. + +After Zaira had supped with me in perfect good humour, she asked if +M. Rinaldi would pay me back the money I had given far her. I said +he would, and she went on,-- + +"It seems to me that I am worth more than I was, for I have all your +presents, and I know Italian." + +"You are right, dear, but I don't want it to be said that I have made +a profit on you; besides, I intend to make you a present of the +hundred roubles." + +"As you are going to make me such a handsome present, why not send me +back to my father's house? That would be still more generous. If M. +Rinaldi really loves me, he can come and talk it over with my father. +You have no objection to his paying me whatever sum I like to +mention." + +"Not at all. On the contrary, I shall be very glad to serve your +family, and all the more as Rinaldi is a rich man." + +"Very good; you will be always dear to me in my memory. You shall +take me to my home to-morrow; and now let us go to bed." + +Thus it was that I parted with this charming girl, who made me live +soberly all the time I was at St. Petersburg. Zinowieff told me that +if I had liked to deposit a small sum as security I could have taken +her with me; but I had thought the matter over, and it seemed to me +that as Zaira grew more beautiful and charming I should end by +becoming a perfect slave to her. Possibly, however, I should not +have looked into matters so closely if I had not been in love with +Madame Valville. + +Zaira spent the next morning in gathering together her belongings, +now laughing and now weeping, and every time that she left her +packing to give me a kiss I could not resist weeping myself. When I +restored her to her father, the whole family fell on their knees +around me. Alas for poor human nature! thus it is degraded by the +iron heel of oppression. Zaira looked oddly in the humble cottage, +where one large mattress served for the entire family. + +Rinaldi took everything in good part. He told me that since the +daughter would make no objection he had no fear of the father doing +so. He went to the house the next day, but he did not get the girl +till I had left St. Petersburg. He kept her for the remainder of his +days, and behaved very handsomely to her. + +After this melancholy separation Madame Valville became my sole +mistress, and we left the Russian capital in the course of a few +weeks. I took an Armenian merchant into my service; he had lent me a +hundred ducats, and cooked very well in the Eastern style. I had a +letter from the Polish resident to Prince Augustus Sulkowski, and +another from the English ambassador for Prince Adam Czartoryski. + +The day after we left St. Petersburg we stopped at Koporie to dine; +we had taken with us some choice viands and excellent wines. Two +days later we met the famous chapel-master, Galuppi or Buranelli, who +was on his way to St. Petersburg with two friends and an artiste. He +did not know me, and was astonished to find a Venetian dinner +awaiting him at the inn, as also to hear a greeting in his mother +tongue. As soon as I had pronounced my name he embraced me with +exclamations of surprise and joy. + +The roads were heavy with rain, so we were a week in getting to Riga, +and when we arrived I was sorry to hear that Prince Charles was not +there. From Riga, we were four days before getting to Konigsberg, +where Madame Valville, who was expected at Berlin, had to leave me. +I left her my Armenian, to whom she gladly paid the hundred ducats I +owed him. I saw her again two years later, and shall speak of the +meeting in due time. + +We separated like good friends, without any sadness. We spent the +night at Klein Roop, near Riga, and she offered to give me her +diamonds, her jewels, and all that she possessed. We were staying +with the Countess Lowenwald, to whom I had a letter from the Princess +Dolgorouki. This lady had in her house, in the capacity of +governess, the pretty English woman whom I had known as Campioni's +wife. She told me that her husband was at Warsaw, and that he was +living with Villiers. She gave me a letter for him, and I promised +to make him send her some money, and I kept my word. Little Betty +was as charming as ever, but her mother seemed quite jealous of her +and treated her ill. + +When I reached Konigsberg I sold my travelling carriage and took a +place in a coach for Warsaw. We were four in all, and my companions +only spoke German and Polish, so that I had a dreadfully tedious +journey. At Warsaw I went to live with Villiers, where I hoped to +meet Campioni. + +It was not long before I saw him, and found him well in health and in +comfortable quarters. He kept a dancing school, and had a good many +pupils. He was delighted to have news of Fanny and his children. He +sent them some money, but had no thoughts of having them at Warsaw, +as Fanny wished. He assured me she was not his wife. + +He told me that Tomatis, the manager of the comic opera, had made a +fortune, and had in his company a Milanese dancer named Catai, who +enchanted all the town by her charms rather than her talent. Games +of chance were permitted, but he warned me that Warsaw was full of +card-sharpers. A Veronese named Giropoldi, who lived with an officer +from Lorrain called Bachelier, held a bank at faro at her house, +where a dancer, who had been the mistress of the famous Afflisio at +Vienna, brought customers. + +Major Sadir, whom I have mentioned before, kept another gaming-house, +in company with his mistress, who came from Saxony. The Baron de St. +Heleine was also in Warsaw, but his principal occupation was to +contract debts which he did not mean to pay. He also lived in +Villier's house with his pretty and virtuous young wife, who would +have nothing to say to us. Campioni told me of some other +adventurers, whose names I was very glad to know that I might the +better avoid them. + +The day after my arrival I hired a man and a carriage, the latter +being an absolute necessity at Warsaw, where in my time, at all +events, it was impossible to go on foot. I reached the capital of +Poland at the end of October, 1765. + +My first call was on Prince Adam Czartoryski, Lieutenant of Podolia, +for whom I had an introduction. I found him before a table covered +with papers, surrounded by forty or fifty persons, in an immense +library which he had made into his bedroom. He was married to a very +pretty woman, but had not yet had a child by her because she was too +thin for his taste. + +He read the long letter I gave him, and said in elegant French that +he had a very high opinion of the writer of the letter; but that as +he was very busy just then he hoped I would come to supper with him +if I had nothing better to do. + +I drove off to Prince Sulkouski, who had just been appointed +ambassador to the Court of Louis XV. The prince was the elder of +four brothers and a man of great understanding, but a theorist in the +style of the Abbe St. Pierre. He read the letter, and said he wanted +to have a long talk with me; but that being obliged to go out he +would be obliged if I would come and dine with him at four o'clock. +I accepted the invitation. + +I then went to a merchant named Schempinski, who was to pay me fifty +ducats a month on Papanelopulo's order. My man told me that there +was a public rehearsal of a new opera at the theatre, and I +accordingly spent three hours there, knowing none and unknown to all. +All the actresses were pretty, but especially the Catai, who did not +know the first elements of dancing. She was greatly applauded, above +all by Prince Repnin, the Russian ambassador, who seemed a person of +the greatest consequence. + +Prince Sulkouski kept me at table for four mortal hours, talking on +every subject except those with which I happened to be acquainted. +His strong points were politics and commerce, and as he found my mind +a mere void on these subjects, he shone all the more, and took quite +a fancy to me, as I believe, because he found me such a capital +listener. + +About nine o'clock, having nothing better to do (a favourite phrase +with the Polish noblemen), I went to Prince Adam, who after +pronouncing my name introduced me to the company. There were present +Monseigneur Krasinski, the Prince-Bishop of Warmia, the Chief +Prothonotary Rzewuski, whom I had known at St. Petersburg, the +Palatin Oginski, General Roniker, and two others whose barbarous +names I have forgotten. The last person to whom he introduced me was +his wife, with whom I was very pleased. A few moments after a fine- +looking gentleman came into the room, and everybody stood up. Prince +Adam pronounced my name, and turning to me said, coolly,-- + +"That's the king." + +This method of introducing a stranger to a sovereign prince was +assuredly not an overwhelming one, but it was nevertheless a +surprise; and I found that an excess of simplicity may be as +confusing as the other extreme. At first I thought the prince might +be making a fool of me; but I quickly put aside the idea, and stepped +forward and was about to kneel, but his majesty gave me his hand to +kiss with exquisite grace, and as he was about to address me, Prince +Adam shewed him the letter of the English ambassador, who was well +known to the king. The king read it, still standing, and began to +ask me questions about the Czarina and the Court, appearing to take +great interest in my replies. + +When supper was announced the king continued to talk, and led me into +the supper-room, and made me sit down at his right hand. Everybody +ate heartily except the king, who appeared to have no appetite, and +myself, who had no right to have any appetite, even if I had not +dined well with Prince Sulkouski, for I saw the whole table hushed to +listen to my replies to the king's questions. + +After supper the king began to comment very graciously on my answers. +His majesty spoke simply but with great elegance. As he was leaving +he told me he should always be delighted to see me at his Court, and +Prince Adam said that if I liked to be introduced to his father, I +had only to call at eleven o'clock the next morning. + +The King of Poland was of a medium height, but well made. His face +was not a handsome one, but it was kindly and intelligent. He was +rather short-sighted, and his features in repose bore a somewhat +melancholy expression; but in speaking, the whole face seemed to +light up. All he said was seasoned by a pleasant wit. + +I was well enough pleased with this interview, and returned to my +inn, where I found Campioni seated amongst several guests of either +sex, and after staying with them for half an hour I went to bed. + +At eleven o'clock the next day I was presented to the great Russian +Paladin. He was in his dressing-gown, surrounded by his gentlemen in +the national costume. He was standing up and conversing with his +followers in a kindly but grave manner. As soon as his son Adam +mentioned my name, he unbent and gave me a most kindly yet dignified +welcome. His manners were not awful, nor did they inspire one with +familiarity, and I thought him likely to be a good judge of +character. When I told him that I had only gone to Russia to amuse +myself and see good company, he immediately concluded that my aims in +coming to Poland were of the same kind; and he told me that he could +introduce me to a large circle. He added that he should be glad to +see me to dinner and supper whenever I had no other engagements. + +He went behind a screen to complete his toilette, and soon appeared +in the uniform of his regiment, with a fair peruke in the style of +the late King Augustus II. He made a collective bow to everyone, and +went to see his wife, who was recovering from a disease which would +have proved fatal if it had not been for the skill of Reimann, a +pupil of the great Boerhaave. The lady came of the now extinct +family of Enoff, whose immense wealth she brought to her husband. +When he married her he abandoned the Maltese Order, of which he had +been a knight. He won his bride by a duel with pistols on horseback. +The lady had promised that her hand should be the conqueror's +guerdon, and the prince was so fortunate as to kill his rival. Of +this marriage there issued Prince Adam and a daughter, now a widow, +and known under the name of Lubomirska, but formerly under that of +Strasnikowa, that being the title of the office her husband held in +the royal army. + +It was this prince palatine and his brother, the High Chancellor of +Lithuania, who first brought about the Polish troubles. The two +brothers were discontented with their position at the Court where +Count Bruhl was supreme, and put themselves at the head of the plot +for dethroning the king, and for placing on the throne, under Russian +protection, their young nephew, who had originally gone to St. +Petersburg as an attache at the embassy, and afterwards succeeded in +winning the favour of Catherine, then Grand Duchess, but soon to +become empress. + +This young man was Stanislas Poniatowski, son of Constance +Czartoryski and the celebrated Poniatowski, the friend of Charles +III. As luck would have it, a revolution was unnecessary to place +him on the throne, for the king died in 1763, and gave place to +Prince Poniatowski, who was chosen king on the 6th of September, +1776, under the title of Stanislas Augustus I. He had reigned two +years at the time of my visit; and I found Warsaw in a state of +gaiety, for a diet was to be held and everyone wished to know how it +was that Catherine had given the Poles a native king. + +At dinner-time I went to the paladin's and found three tables, at +each of which there were places for thirty, and this was the usual +number entertained by the prince. The luxury of the Court paled +before that of the paladin's house. Prince Adam said to me, + +"Chevalier, your place will always be at my father's table." + +This was a great honour, and I felt it. The prince introduced me to +his handsome sister, and to several palatins and starosts. I did not +fail to call on all these great personages, so in the course of a +fortnight I found myself a welcome guest in all the best houses. + +My purse was too lean to allow of my playing or consoling myself with +a theatrical beauty, so I fell back on the library of Monseigneur +Zalewski, the Bishop of Kiowia, for whom I had taken a great liking. +I spent almost all my mornings with him, and it was from this prelate +that I learnt all the intrigues and complots by which the ancient +Polish constitution, of which the bishop was a great admirer, had +been overturned. Unhappily, his firmness was of no avail, and a few +months after I left Warsaw the Russian tyrants arrested him and he +was exiled to Siberia. + +I lived calmly and peaceably, and still look back upon those days +with pleasure. I spent my afternoons with the paladin playing +tressette an Italian game of which he was very fond, and which I +played well enough for the paladin to like to have me as a partner. + +In spite of my sobriety and economy I found myself in debt three +months after my arrival, and I did not know where to turn for help. +The fifty ducats per month, which were sent me from Venice, were +insufficient, for the money I had to spend on my carriage, my +lodging, my servant, and my dress brought me down to the lowest ebb, +and I did not care to appeal to anyone. But fortune had a surprise +in store for me, and hitherto she had never left me. + +Madame Schmit, whom the king for good reasons of his own had +accommodated with apartments in the palace, asked me one evening to +sup with her, telling me that the king would be of the party. I +accepted the invitation, and I was delighted to find the delightful +Bishop Kraswiski, the Abbe Guigiotti, and two or three other amateurs +of Italian literature. The king, whose knowledge of literature was +extensive, began to tell anecdotes of classical writers, quoting +manuscript authorities which reduced me to silence, and which were +possibly invented by him. Everyone talked except myself, and as I +had had no dinner I ate like an ogre, only replying by monosyllables +when politeness obliged me to say something. The conversation turned +on Horace, and everyone gave his opinion on the great materialist's +philosophy, and the Abbe Guigiotti obliged me to speak by saying that +unless I agreed with him I should not keep silence. + +"If you take my silence for consent to your extravagant eulogium of +Horace," I said, "you are mistaken; for in my opinion the 'nec cum +venari volet poemata panges', of which you think so much, is to my +mind a satire devoid of delicacy." + +"Satire and delicacy are hard to combine." + +"Not for Horace, who succeeded in pleasing the great Augustus, and +rendering him immortal as the protector of learned men. Indeed other +sovereigns seem to vie with him by taking his name and even by +disguising it." + +The king (who had taken the name of Augustus himself) looked grave +and said,-- + +"What sovereigns have adopted a disguised form of the name Augustus?" + +"The first king of Sweden, who called himself Gustavus, which is only +an anagram of Augustus." + +"That is a very amusing idea, and worth more than all the tales we +have told. Where did you find that?" + +"In a manuscript at Wolfenbuttel." + +The king laughed loudly, though he himself had been citing +manuscripts. But he returned to the charge and said,-- + +"Can you cite any passage of Horace (not in manuscript) where he +shews his talent for delicacy and satire?" + +"Sir, I could quote several passages, but here is one which seems to +me very good: 'Coyam rege', says the poet, 'sua de paupertate +tacentes, plus quan pocentes ferent." + +"True indeed," said the king, with a smile. + +Madame Schmit, who did not know Latin, and inherited curiosity from +her mother, and eventually from Eve, asked the bishop what it meant, +and he thus translated it: + +"They that speak not of their necessities in the presence of a king, +gain more than they that are ever asking." + +The lady remarked that she saw nothing satirical in this. + +After this it was my turn to be silent again; but the king began to +talk about Ariosto, and expressed a desire to read it with me. I +replied with an inclination of the head, and Horace's words : Tempora +quoeram'. + +Next morning, as I was coming out from mass, the generous and +unfortunate Stanislas Augustus gave me his hand to kiss, and at the +same time slid a roll of money into my hand, saying,-- + +"Thank no one but Horace, and don't tell anyone about it." + +The roll contained two hundred ducats, and I immediately paid off my +debts. Since then I went almost every morning to the king's closet, +where he was always glad to see his courtiers, but there was no more +said about reading Ariosto. He knew Italian, but not enough to speak +it, and still less to appreciate the beauties of the great poet. +When I think of this worthy prince, and of the great qualities he +possessed as a man, I cannot understand how he came to commit so many +errors as a king. Perhaps the least of them all was that he allowed +himself to survive his country. As he could not find a friend to +kill him, I think he should have killed himself. But indeed he had +no need to ask a friend to do him this service; he should have +imitated the great Kosciuszko, and entered into life eternal by the +sword of a Russian. + +The carnival was a brilliant one. All Europe seemed to have +assembled at Warsaw to see the happy being whom fortune had so +unexpectedly raised to a throne, but after seeing him all were agreed +that, in his case at all events, the deity had been neither blind nor +foolish. Perhaps, however, he liked shewing himself rather too much. +I have detected him in some distress on his being informed that there +was such a thing as a stranger in Warsaw who had not seen him. No +one had any need of an introduction, for his Court was, as all Courts +should be, open to everyone, and when he noticed a strange face he +was the first to speak. + +Here I must set down an event which took place towards the end of +January. It was, in fact, a dream; and, as I think I have confessed +before, superstition had always some hold on me. + +I dreamt I was at a banquet, and one of the guests threw a bottle at +my face, that the blood poured forth, that I ran my sword through my +enemy's body, and jumped into a carriage, and rode away. + +Prince Charles of Courland came to Warsaw, and asked me to dine with +him at Prince Poninski's, the same that became so notorious, and was +afterwards proscribed and shamefully dishonoured. His was a +hospitable house, and he was surrounded by his agreeable family. I +had never called on him, as he was not a 'persona grata' to the king +or his relations. + +In the course of the dinner a bottle of champagne burst, and a piece +of broken glass struck me just below the eye. It cut a vein, and the +blood gushed over my face, over my clothes, and even over the cloth. +Everybody rose, my wound was bound up, the cloth was changed, and the +dinner went on merrily. I was surprised at the likeness between my +dream and this incident, while I congratulated myself on the happy +difference between them. However, it all came true after a few +months. + +Madame Binetti, whom I had last seen in London, arrived at Warsaw +with her husband and Pic the dancer. She had a letter of +introduction to the king's brother, who was a general in the Austrian +service, and then resided at Warsaw. I heard that the day they came, +when I was at supper at the palatin's. The king was present, and +said he should like to keep them in Warsaw for a week and see them +dance, if a thousand ducats could do it. + +I went to see Madame Binetti and to give her the good news the next +morning. She was very much surprised to meet me in Warsaw, and still +more so at the news I gave her. She called Pic who seemed undecided, +but as we were talking it over, Prince Poniatowski came in to +acquaint them with his majesty's wishes, and the offer was accepted. +In three days Pic arranged a ballet; the costumes, the scenery, the +music, the dancers--all were ready, and Tomatis put it on handsomely +to please his generous master. The couple gave such satisfaction +that they were engaged for a year. The Catai was furious, as Madame +Binetti threw her completely into the shade, and, worse still, drew +away her lovers. Tomatis, who was under the Catai's influence, made +things so unpleasant for Madame Binetti that the two dancers became +deadly enemies. + +In ten or twelve days Madame Binetti was settled it a well-furnished +house; her plate was simple but good, her cellar full of excellent +wine, her cook an artist and her adorers numerous, amongst them being +Moszciuski and Branicki, the king's friends. + +The pit was divided into two parties, for the Catai was resolved to +make a stand against the new comer, though her talents were not to be +compared to Madame Binetti's. She danced in the first ballet, and +her rival in the second. Those who applauded the first greeted that +second in dead silence, and vice versa. I had great obligations +towards Madame Binetti, but my duty also drew me towards the Catai, +who numbered in her party all the Czartoryskis and their following, +Prince Lubomirski, and other powerful nobles. It was plain that I +could not desert to Madame Binetti without earning the contempt of +the other party. + +Madame Binetti reproached me bitterly, and I laid the case plainly +before her. She agreed that I could not do otherwise, but begged me +to stay away from the theatre in future, telling me that she had got +a rod in pickle for Tomatis which would make him repent of his +impertinence. She called me her oldest friend; and indeed I was very +fond of her, and cared nothing for the Catai despite her prettiness. + +Xavier Branicki, the royal Postoli, Knight of the White Eagle, +Colonel of Uhlans, the king's friend, was the chief adorer of Madame +Binetti. The lady probably confided her displeasure to him, and +begged him to take vengeance on the manager, who had committed so +many offences against her. Count Branicki in his turn probably +promised to avenge her quarrel, and, if no opportunity of doing so +arose, to create an opportunity. At least, this is the way in which +affairs of this kind are usually managed, and I can find no better +explanation for what happened. Nevertheless, the way in which the +Pole took vengeance was very original and extraordinary. + +On the 20th of February Branicki went to the opera, and, contrary to +his custom, went to the Catai's dressing-room, and began to pay his +court to the actress, Tomatis being present. Both he and the actress +concluded that Branicki had had a quarrel with her rival, and though +she did not much care to place him in the number of her adorers, she +yet gave him a good reception, for she knew it would be dangerous to +despise his suit openly. + +When the Catai had completed her toilet, the gallant postoli offered. +her his arm to take her to her carriage, which was at the door. +Tomatis followed, and I too was there, awaiting my carriage. Madame +Catai came down, the carriage-door was opened, she stepped in, and +Branicki got in after her, telling the astonished Tomatis to follow +them in the other carriage. Tomatis replied that he meant to ride in +his own carriage, and begged the colonel to get out. Branicki paid +no attention, and told the coachman to drive on. Tornatis forbade +him to stir, and the man, of course, obeyed his master. The gallant +postcili was therefore obliged to get down, but he bade his hussar +give Tomatis a box on the ear, and this order was so promptly and +vigorously obeyed that the unfortunate man was on the ground before +he had time to recollect that he had a sword. He got up eventually +and drove off, but he could eat no supper, no doubt because he had a +blow to digest. I was to have supped with him, but after this scene +I had really not the face to go. I went home in a melancholy and +reflective mood, wondering whether the whole had been concerted; but +I concluded that this was impossible, as neither Branicki nor Binetti +could have foreseen the impoliteness and cowardice of Tomatis. + +In the next chapter the reader will see how tragically the matter +ended. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +My Duel with Branicki--My Journey to Leopol and Return to Warsaw +--I Receive the Order to Leave--My Departure with the Unknown One + +On reflection I concluded that Branicki had not done an ungentlemanly +thing in getting into Tomatis's carriage; he had merely behaved with +impetuosity, as if he were the Catai's lover. It also appeared to me +that, considering the affront he had received from the jealous +Italian, the box on the ear was a very moderate form of vengeance. +A blow is bad, of course, but not so bad as death; and Branicki might +very well have run his sword through the manager's body. Certainly, +if Branicki had killed him he would have been stigmatised as an +assassin, for though Tomatis had a sword the Polish officer's +servants would never have allowed him to draw it, nevertheless I +could not help thinking that Tomatis should have tried to take the +servant's life, even at the risk of his own. He wanted no more +courage for that than in ordering the king's favourite to come out of +the carriage. He might have foreseen that the Polish noble would be +stung to the quick, and would surely attempt to take speedy +vengeance. + +The next day the encounter was the subject of all conversations. +Tomatis remained indoors for a week, calling for vengeance in vain. +The king told him he could do nothing for him, as Branicki maintained +he had only given insult for insult. I saw Tomatis, who told me in +confidence that he could easily take vengeance, but that it would +cost him too dear. He had spent forty thousand ducats on the two +ballets, and if he had avenged himself he would have lost it nearly +all, as he would be obliged to leave the kingdom. The only +consolation he had was that his great friends were kinder to him than +ever, and the king himself honoured him with peculiar attention. +Madame Binetti was triumphant. When I saw her she condoled with me +ironically on the mishap that had befallen my friend. She wearied +me; but I could not guess that Branicki had only acted at her +instigation, and still less that she had a grudge against me. +Indeed, if I had known it, I should only have laughed at her, for I +had nothing to dread from her bravo's dagger. I had never seen him +nor spoken to him; he could have no opportunity for attacking me. He +was never with the king in the morning and never went to the +palatin's to supper, being an unpopular character with the Polish +nobility. This Branicki was said to have been originally a Cossack, +Branecki by name. He became the king's favorite and assumed the name +of Branicki, pretending to be of the same family as the illustrious +marshal of that name who was still alive; but he, far from +recognizing the pretender, ordered his shield to be broken up and +buried with him as the last of the race. However that may be, +Branicki was the tool of the Russian party, the determined enemy of +those who withstood Catherine's design of Russianising the ancient +Polish constitution. The king liked him out of habit, and because he +had peculiar obligations to him. + +The life I lived was really exemplary. I indulged neither in love +affairs nor gaming. I worked for the king, hoping to become his +secretary. I paid my court to the princess-palatine, who liked my +company, and I played tressette with the palatin himself. + +On the 4th of March, St. Casimir's Eve, there was a banquet at Court +to which I had the honour to be invited. Casimir was the name of the +king's eldest brother, who held the office of grand chamberlain. +After dinner the king asked me if I intended going to the theatre, +where a Polish play was to be given for the first time. Everybody +was interested in this novelty, but it was a matter of indifference +to me as I did not understand the language, and I told the king as +much. + +"Never mind," said he, "come in my box." + +This was too flattering an invitation to be refused, so I obeyed the +royal command and stood behind the king's chair. After the second +act a ballet was given, and the dancing of Madame Caracci, a +Piedmontese, so pleased his majesty that he went to the unusual pains +of clapping her. + +I only knew the dancer by sight, for I had never spoken to her. She +had some talents. Her principal admirer was Count Poninski, who was +always reproaching me when I dined with him for visiting the other +dancers to the exclusion of Madame Caracci. I thought of his +reproach at the time, and determined to pay her a visit after the +ballet to congratulate her on her performance and the king's +applause. On my way I passed by Madame Binetti's dressing-room, and +seeing the door open I stayed a moment. Count Branicki came up, and +I left with a bow and passed on to Madame Caracci's dressing-room. +She was astonished to see me, and began with kindly reproaches for my +neglect; to which I replied with compliments, and then giving her a +kiss I promised to come and see her. + +Just as I embraced her who should enter but Branicki, whom I had left +a moment before with Madame Binetti. He had clearly followed me in +the hopes of picking a quarrel. He was accompanied by Bininski, his +lieutenant-colonel. As soon as he appeared, politeness made me stand +up and turn to go, but he stopped me. + +"It seems to me I have come at a bad time; it looks as if you loved +this lady." + +"Certainly, my lord; does not your excellency consider her as worthy +of love?" + +"Quite so; but as it happens I love her too, and I am not the man to +bear any rivals." + +"As I know that, I shall love her no more." + +"Then you give her up?" + +"With all my heart; for everyone must yield to such a noble as you +are." + +"Very good; but I call a man that yields a coward." + +"Isn't that rather a strong expression?" + +As I uttered these words I looked proudly at him and touched the hilt +of my sword. Three or four officers were present and witnessed what +passed. + +I had hardly gone four paces from the dressing-room when I heard +myself called "Venetian coward." In spite of my rage I restrained +myself, and turned back saying, coolly and firmly, that perhaps a +Venetian coward might kill a brave Pole outside the theatre; and +without awaiting a reply I left the building by the chief staircase. + +I waited vainly outside the theatre for a quarter of an hour with my +sword in my hand, for I was not afraid of losing forty thousand +ducats like Tomatis. At last, half perishing with cold, I called my +carriage and drove to the palatin's, where the king was to sup. + +The cold and loneliness began to cool my brain, and I congratulated +myself on my self-restraint in not drawing my sword in the actress's +dressing-room; and I felt glad that Branicki had not followed me down +the stairs, for his friend Bininski had a sabre, and I should probably +have been assassinated. + +Although the Poles are polite enough, there is still a good deal of +the old leaven in them. They are still Dacians and Samaritans at +dinner, in war, and in friendship, as they call it, but which is +often a burden hardly to be borne. They can never understand that a +man may be sufficient company for himself, and that it is not right +to descend on him in a troop and ask him to give them dinner. + +I made up my mind that Madame Binetti had excited Branicki to follow +me, and possibly to treat me as he had treated Tomatis. I had not +received a blow certainly, but I had been called a coward. I had no +choice but to demand satisfaction, but I also determined to be +studiously moderate throughout. In this frame of mind I got down at +the palatin's, resolved to tell the whole story to the king, leaving +to his majesty the task of compelling his favourite to give me +satisfaction. + +As soon as the palatin saw me, he reproached me in a friendly manner +for keeping him waiting, and we sat down to tressette. I was his +partner, and committed several blunders. When it came to losing a +second game he said,-- + +"Where is your head to-night?" + +"My lord, it is four leagues away." + +"A respectable man ought to have his head in the game, and not at a +distance of four leagues." + +With these words the prince threw down his cards and began to walk up +and down the room. I was rather startled, but I got up and stood by +the fire, waiting for the king. But after I had waited thus for half +an hour a chamberlain came from the palace, and announced that his +majesty could not do himself the honour of supping with my lord that +night. + +This was a blow for me, but I concealed my disappointment. Supper +was served, and I sat down as usual at the left hand of the palatin, +who was annoyed with me, and chewed it. We were eighteen at table, +and for once I had no appetite. About the middle of the supper +Prince Gaspard Lubomirski came in, and chanced to sit down opposite +me. As soon as he saw me he condoled with me in a loud voice for +what had happened. + +"I am sorry for you," said he, "but Branicki was drunk, and you +really shouldn't count what he said as an insult." + +"What has happened?" became at once the general question. I held my +tongue, and when they asked Lubomirski he replied that as I kept +silence it was his duty to do the same. + +Thereupon the palatin, speaking in his friendliest manner, said to +me,-- + +"What has taken place between you and Branicki?" + +"I will tell you the whole story, my lord, in private after supper." + +The conversation became indifferent, and after the meal was over the +palatin took up his stand by the small door by which he was +accustomed to leave the room, and there I told him the whole story. +He sighed, condoled with me, and added,-- + +"You had good reasons for being absent-minded at cards." + +"May I presume to ask your excellency's advice?" + +"I never give advice in these affairs, in which you must do every- +thing or nothing." + +The palatin shook me by the hand, and I went home and slept for six +hours. As soon as I awoke I sat up in bed, and my first thought was +everything or nothing. I soon rejected the latter alternative, and I +saw that I must demand a duel to the death. If Branicki refused to +fight I should be compelled to kill him, even if I were to lose my +head for it. + +Such was my determination; to write to him proposing a duel at four +leagues from Warsaw, this being the limit of the starostia, in which +duelling was forbidden on pain of death. I Wrote as follows, for I +have kept the rough draft of the letter to this day: + +"WARSAW, + +"March 5th, 1766. 5 A.M. + +"My Lord,--Yesterday evening your excellency insulted me with a light +heart, without my having given you any cause or reason for doing so. +This seems to indicate that you hate me, and would gladly efface me +from the land of the living. I both can and will oblige you in this +matter. Be kind enough, therefore, to drive me in your carriage to a +place where my death will not subject your lordship to the vengeance +of the law, in case you obtain the victory, and where I shall enjoy +the same advantage if God give me grace to kill your lordship. I +should not make this proposal unless I believe your lordship to be of +a noble disposition. + +"I have the honour to be, etc." + +I sent this letter an hour before day-break to Branicki's lodging in +the palace. My messenger had orders to give the letter into the +count's own hands, to wait for him to rise, and also for an answer. + +In half an hour I received the following answer: + +"Sir,--I accept your proposal, and shall be glad if you will have the +kindness to inform me when I shall have the honour of seeing you. + +"I remain, sir, etc." + +I answered this immediately, informing him I would call on him the +next day, at six o'clock in the morning. + +Shortly after, I received a second letter, in which he said that I +might choose the arms and place, but that our differences must be +settled in the course of the day. + +I sent him the measure of my sword, which was thirty-two inches long, +telling him he might choose any place beyond the ban. In reply, I +had the following: + +"Sir,--You will greatly oblige me by coming now. I have sent my +carriage. + +"I have the honour to be, etc." + +I replied that I had business all the day, and that as I had made up +my mind not to call upon him, except for the purpose of fighting, I +begged him not to be offended if I took the liberty of sending back +his carriage. + +An hour later Branicki called in person, leaving his suite at the +door. He came into the room, requested some gentlemen who were +talking with me to leave us alone, locked the door after them, and +then sat down on my bed. I did not understand what all this meant so +I took up my pistols. + +"Don't be afraid," said he, "I am not come to assassinate you, but +merely to say that I accept your proposal, on condition only that the +duel shall take place to-day. If not, never!" + +"It is out of the question. I have letters to write, and some +business to do for the king." + +"That will do afterwards. In all probability you will not fall, and +if you do I am sure the king will forgive you. Besides, a dead man +need fear no reproaches." + +"I want to make my will." + +"Come, come, you needn't be afraid of dying; it will be time enough +for you to make your will in fifty years." + +"But why should your excellency not wait till tomorrow?" + +"I don't want to be caught." + +"You have nothing of the kind to fear from me." + +"I daresay, but unless we make haste the king will have us both +arrested." + +"How can he, unless you have told him about our quarrel?" + +"Ah, you don't understand! Well, I am quite willing to give you +satisfaction, but it must be to-day or never." + +"Very good. This duel is too dear to my heart for me to leave you +any pretext for avoiding it. Call for me after dinner, for I shall +want all my strength." + +"Certainly. For my part I like a good supper after, better than a +good dinner before." + +"Everyone to his taste." + +"True. By the way, why did you send me the length of your sword? I +intend to fight with pistols, for I never use swords with unknown +persons." + +"What do you mean? I beg of you to refrain from insulting me in my +own house. I do not intend to fight with pistols, and you cannot +compel me to do so, for I have your letter giving me the choice of +weapons." + +"Strictly speaking, no doubt you are in the right; but I am sure you +are too polite not to give way, when I assure you that you will lay +me under a great obligation by doing so. Very often the first shot +is a miss, and if that is the case with both of us, I promise to +fight with swords as long as you like. Will you oblige me in the +matter?" + +"Yes, for I like your way of asking, though, in my opinion, a pistol +duel is a barbarous affair. I accept, but on the following +conditions: You must bring two pistols, charge them in my presence, +and give me the choice. If the first shot is a miss, we will fight +with swords till the first blood or to the death, whichever you +prefer. Call for me at three o'clock, and choose some place where we +shall be secure from the law." + +"Very good. You are a good fellow, allow me to embrace you. Give me +your word of honour not to say a word about it to anyone, for if you +did we should be arrested immediately." + +"You need not be afraid of my talking; the project is too dear to +me." + +"Good. Farewell till three o'clock." + +As soon as the brave braggart had left me, I placed the papers I was +doing for the king apart, and went to Campioni, in whom I had great +confidence. + +"Take this packet to the king," I said, "if I happen to be killed. +You may guess, perhaps, what is going to happen, but do not say a +word to anyone, or you will have me for your bitterest enemy, as it +would mean loss of honour to me." + +"I understand. You may reckon on my discretion, and I hope the +affair may be ended honourably and prosperously for you. But take a +piece of friendly advice--don't spare your opponent, were it the king +himself, for it might cost you your life. I know that by experience." + +"I will not forget. Farewell." + +We kissed each other, and I ordered an excellent dinner, for I had no +mind to be sent to Pluto fasting. Campioni came in to dinner at one +o'clock, and at dessert I had a visit from two young counts, with +their tutor, Bertrand, a kindly Swiss. They were witnesses to my +cheerfulness and the excellent appetite with which I ate. At half- +past two I dismissed my company, and stood at the window to be ready +to go down directly Branicki's carriage appeared. He drove up in a +travelling carriage and six; two grooms, leading saddle-horses, went +in front, followed by his two aide-de-camps and two hussars. Behind +his carriage stood four servants. I hastened to descend, and found +my enemy was accompanied by a lieutenant-general and an armed +footman. The door was opened, the general gave me his place, and I +ordered my servants not to follow me but to await my orders at the +house. + +"You might want them," said Branicki; "they had better come along." + +"If I had as many as you, I would certainly agree to your +proposition; but as it is I shall do still better without any at all. +If need be, your excellency will see that I am tended by your own +servants." + +He gave me his hand, and assured me they should wait on me before +himself. + +I sat down, and we went off. + +It would have been absurd if I had asked where we were going, so I +held my tongue, for at such moments a man should take heed to his +words. Branicki was silent, and I thought the best thing I could do +would be to engage him in a trivial conversation. + +"Does your excellency intend spending the spring at Warsaw?" + +"I had thought of doing so, but you may possibly send me to pass the +spring somewhere else." + +"Oh, I hope not!" + +"Have you seen any military service?" + +"Yes; but may I ask why your excellency asks me the question, for--" + +"I had no particular reason; it was only for the sake of saying +something." + +We had driven about half an hour when the carriage stopped at the +door of a large garden. We got down and, following the postoli, +reached a green arbour which, by the way, was not at all green on +that 5th of March. In it was a stone table on which the footman +placed two pistols, a foot and half long, with a powder flask and +scales. He weighed the powder, loaded them equally, and laid them +down crosswise on the table. + +This done, Branicki said boldly, + +"Choose your weapon, sir." + +At this the general called out, + +"Is this a duel, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"You cannot fight here; you are within the ban." + +"No matter." + +"It does matter; and I, at all events, refuse to be a witness. I am +on guard at the castle, and you have taken me by surprise." + +"Be quiet; I will answer for everything. I owe this gentleman +satisfaction, and I mean to give it him here." + +"M. Casanova," said the general, "you cannot fight here." + +"Then why have I been brought here? I shall defend myself wherever I +am attacked." + +"Lay the whole matter before the king, and you shall have my voice in +your favour." + +"I am quite willing to do so, general, if his excellency will say +that he regrets what passed between us last night." + +Branicki looked fiercely at me, and said wrathfully that he had come +to fight and not to parley. + +"General," said I, "you can bear witness that I have done all in my +power to avoid this duel." + +The general went away with his head between his hands, and throwing +off my cloak I took the first pistol that came to my hand. Branicki +took the other, and said that he would guarantee upon his honour that +my weapon was a good one. + +"I am going to try its goodness on your head," I answered. + +He turned pale at this, threw his sword to one of his servants, and +bared his throat, and I was obliged, to my sorrow, to follow his +example, for my sword was the only weapon I had, with the exception +of the pistol. I bared my chest also, and stepped back five or six +paces, and he did the same. + +As soon as we had taken up our positions I took off my hat with my +left hand, and begged him to fire first. + +Instead of doing so immediately he lost two or three seconds in +sighting, aiming, and covering his head by raising the weapon before +it. I was not in a position to let him kill me at his ease, so I +suddenly aimed and fired on him just as he fired on me. That I did +so is evident, as all the witnesses were unanimous in saying that +they only heard one report. I felt I was wounded in my left hand, +and so put it into my pocket, and I ran towards my enemy who had +fallen. All of a sudden, as I knelt beside him, three bare swords +were flourished over my head, and three noble assassins prepared to +cut me down beside their master. Fortunately, Branicki had not lost +consciousness or the power of speaking, and he cried out in a voice +of thunder,-- + +"Scoundrels! have some respect for a man of honour." + +This seemed to petrify them. I put my right hand under the pistoli's +armpit, while the general helped him on the other side, and thus we +took him to the inn, which happened to be near at hand. + +Branicki stooped as he walked, and gazed at me curiously, apparently +wondering where all the blood on my clothes came from. + +When we got to the inn, Branicki laid himself down in an arm-chair. +We unbuttoned his clothes and lifted up his shirt, and he could see +himself that he was dangerously wounded. My ball had entered his +body by the seventh rib on the right hand, and had gone out by the +second false rib on the left. The two wounds were ten inches apart, +and the case was of an alarming nature, as the intestines must have +been pierced. Branicki spoke to me in a weak voice,-- + +"You have killed me, so make haste away, as you are in danger of the +gibbet. The duel was fought in the ban, and I am a high court +officer, and a Knight of the White Eagle. So lose no time, and if +you have not enough money take my purse." + +I picked up the purse which had fallen out, and put it back in his +pocket, thanking him, and saying it would be useless to me, for if I +were guilty I was content to lose my head. "I hope," I added, "that +your wound will not be mortal, and I am deeply grieved at your +obliging me to fight." + +With these words I kissed him on his brow and left the inn, seeing +neither horses nor carriage, nor servant. They had all gone off for +doctor, surgeon, priest, and the friends and relatives of the wounded +man. + +I was alone and without any weapon, in the midst of a snow-covered +country, my hand was wounded, and I had not the slightest idea which +was the way to Warsaw. + +I took the road which seemed most likely, and after I had gone some +distance I met a peasant with an empty sleigh. + +"Warszawa?" I cried, shewing him a ducat. + +He understood me, and lifted a coarse mat, with which he covered me +when I got into the sleigh, and then set off at a gallop. + +All at once Biniski, Branicki's bosom-friend, came galloping +furiously along the road with his bare sword in his hand. He was +evidently running after me. Happily he did not glance at the +wretched sleigh in which I was, or else he would undoubtedly have +murdered me. I got at last to Warsaw, and went to the house of +Prince Adam Czartoryski to beg him to shelter me, but there was +nobody there. Without delay I determined to seek refuge in the +Convent of the Recollets, which was handy. + +I rang at the door of the monastery, and the porter seeing me covered +with blood hastened to shut the door, guessing the object of my +visit. But I did not give him the time to do so, but honouring him +with a hearty kick forced my way in. His cries attracted a troop of +frightened monks. I demanded sanctuary, and threatened them with +vengeance if they refused to grant it. One of their number spoke to +me, and I was taken to a little den which looked more like a dungeon +than anything else. I offered no resistance, feeling sure that they +would change their tune before very long. I asked them to send for +my servants, and when they came I sent for a doctor and Campioni. +Before the surgeon could come the Palatin of Polduchia was announced. +I had never had the honour of speaking to him, but after hearing the +history of my duel he was so kind as to give me all the particulars +of a duel he had fought in his youthful days. Soon after came the +Palatin of Kalisch, Prince Jablenowski. Prince Sanguska, and the +Palatin of Wilna, who all joined in a chorus of abuse of the monks +who had lodged me so scurvily. The poor religious excused themselves +by saying that I had ill-treated their porter, which made my noble +friends laugh; but I did not laugh, for my wound was very painful. +However I was immediately moved into two of their best guest-rooms. + +The ball had pierced my hand by the metacarpus under the index +finger, and had broken the first phalanges. Its force had been +arrested by a metal button on my waistcoat, and it had only inflicted +a slight wound on my stomach close to the navel. However, there it +was and it had to be extracted, for it pained me extremely. An +empiric named Gendron, the first surgeon my servants had found, made +an opening on the opposite side of my hand which doubled the wound. +While he was performing this painful operation I told the story of +the duel to the company, concealing the anguish I was enduring. What +a power vanity exercises on the moral and physical forces! If I had +been alone I should probably have fainted. + +As soon as the empiric Gendron was gone, the palatin's surgeon came +in and took charge of the case, calling Gendron a low fellow. At the +same time Prince Lubomirski, the husband of the palatin's daughter, +arrived, and gave us all a surprise by recounting the strange +occurrences which had happened after the duel. Bininski came to +where Branicki was lying, and seeing his wound rode off furiously on +horseback, swearing to strike me dead wherever he found me. He +fancied I would be with Tomatis, and went to his house. He found +Tomatis with his mistress, Prince Lubomirski, and Count Moszczinski, +but no Casanova was visible. He asked where I was, and on Tomatis +replying that he did not know he discharged a pistol at his head. At +this dastardly action Count Moszczincki seized him and tried to throw +him out of the window, but the madman got loose with three cuts of +his sabre, one of which slashed the count on the face and knocked out +three of his teeth. + +"After this exploit," Prince Lubomirski continued, "he seized me by +the throat and held a pistol to my head, threatening to blow out my +brains if I did not take him in safety to the court where his horse +was, so that he might get away from the house without any attack +being made on him by Tomatis's servants; and I did so immediately. +Moszczinski is in the doctor's hands, and will be laid up for some +time. + +"As soon as it was reported that Branicki was killed, his Uhlans +began to ride about the town swearing to avenge their colonel, and to +slaughter you. It is very fortunate that you took refuge here. + +"The chief marshal has had the monastery surrounded by two hundred +dragoons, ostensibly to prevent your escape, but in reality to defend +you from Branicki's soldiers. + +"The doctors say that the postoli is in great danger if the ball has +wounded the intestines, but if not they answer for his recovery. His +fate will be known tomorrow. He now lies at the lord chamberlain's, +not daring to have himself carried to his apartments at the palace. +The king has been to see him, and the general who was present told +his majesty that the only thing that saved your life was your threat +to aim at Branicki's head. This frightened him, and to keep your +ball from his head he stood in such an awkward position that he +missed your vital parts. Otherwise he would undoubtedly have shot +you through the heart, for he can split a bullet into two halves by +firing against the blade of a knife. It was also a lucky thing for +you that you escaped Bininski, who never thought of looking for you +in the wretched sleigh." + +"My lord, the most fortunate thing for me is that I did not kill my +man outright. Otherwise I should have been cut to pieces just as I +went to his help by three of his servants, who stood over me with +drawn swords. However, the postoli ordered them to leave me alone. + +"I am sorry for what has happened to your highness and Count +Moszczinski; and if Tomatis was not killed by the madman it is only +because the pistol was only charged with powder." + +"That's what I think, for no one heard the bullet; but it was a mere +chance." + +"Quite so." + +Just then an officer of the palatin's came to me with a note from his +master, which ran as follows: + +"Read what the king says to me, and sleep well." + +The king's note was thus conceived: + +"Branicki, my dear uncle, is dangerous wounded. My surgeons are +doing all they can for him, but I have not forgotten Casanova. You +may assure him that he is pardoned, even if Branicki should die." + +I kissed the letter gratefully, and shewed it to my visitors, who +lauded this generous man truly worthy of being a king. + +After this pleasant news I felt in need of rest, and my lords left +me. As soon as they were gone, Campioni, who had come in before and +had stood in the background, came up to me and gave me back the +packet of papers, and with tears of joy congratulated me on the happy +issue of the duel. + +Next day I had shoals of visitors, and many of the chiefs of the +party opposed to Branicki sent me purses full of gold. The persons +who brought the money on behalf of such a lord or lady, said that +being a foreigner I might be in need of money, and that was their +excuse for the liberty they had taken. I thanked and refused them +all, and sent back at least four thousand ducats, and was very proud +of having done so. Campioni thought it was absurd, and he was right, +for I repented afterwards of what I had done. The only present I +accepted was a dinner for four persons, which Prince Adam Czartoryski +sent me in every day, though the doctor would not let me enjoy it, he +being a great believer in diet. + +The wound in my stomach was progressing favourably, but on the fourth +day the surgeons said my hand was becoming gangrened, and they agreed +that the only remedy was amputation. I saw this announced in the +Court Gazette the next morning, but as I had other views on the +matter I laughed heartily at the paragraph. The sheet was printed at +night, after the king had placed his initials to the copy. In the +morning several persons came to condole with me, but I received their +sympathy with great irreverence. I merely laughed at Count Clary, +who said I would surely submit to the operation; and just as he +uttered the words the three surgeons came in together. + +"Well, gentlemen," said I, "you have mustered in great strength; why +is this?" + +My ordinary surgeon replied that he wished to have the opinion of the +other two before proceeding to amputation, and they would require to +look at the wound. + +The dressing was lifted and gangrene was declared to be undoubtedly +present, and execution was ordered that evening. The butchers gave +me the news with radiant faces, and assured me I need not be afraid +as the operation would certainly prove efficacious. + +"Gentlemen," I replied, "you seem to have a great many solid +scientific reasons for cutting off my hand; but one thing you have +not got, and that is my consent. My hand is my own, and I am going +to keep it." + +"Sir, it is certainly gangrened; by to-morrow the arm will begin to +mortify, and then you will have to lose your arm." + +"Very good; if that prove so you shall cut off my arm, but I happen +to know something of gangrene, and there is none about me." + +"You cannot know as much about it as we do." + +"Possibly; but as far as I can make out, you know nothing at all." + +"That's rather a strong expression." + +"I don't care whether it be strong or weak; you can go now." + +In a couple of hours everyone whom the surgeons had told of my +obstinacy came pestering me. Even the prince-palatin wrote to me +that the king was extremely surprised at my lack of courage. This +stung me to the quick, and I wrote the king a long letter, half in +earnest and half in jest, in which I laughed at the ignorance of the +surgeons, and at the simplicity of those who took whatever they said +for gospel truth. I added that as an arm without a hand would be +quite as useless as no arm at all, I meant to wait till it was +necessary to cut off the arm. + +My letter was read at Court, and people wondered how a man with +gangrene could write a long letter of four pages. Lubomirski told me +kindly that I was mistaken in laughing at my friends, for the three +best surgeons in Warsaw could not be mistaken in such a simple case. + +"My lord, they are not deceived themselves, but they want to deceive +me." + +"Why should they?" + +"To make themselves agreeable to Branicki, who is in a dangerous +state, and might possibly get better if he heard that my hand had +been taken off." + +"Really that seems an incredible idea to me!" + +"What will your highness say on the day when I am proved to be +right?" + +"I shall say you are deserving of the highest praise, but the day +must first come." + +"We shall see this evening, and I give you my word that if any +gangrene has attacked the arm, I will have it cut off to-morrow +morning." + +Four surgeons came to see me. My arm was pronounced to be highly +aedematous, and of a livid colour up to the elbow; but when the lint +was taken off the wound I could see for myself that it was +progressing admirably. However, I concealed my delight. Prince +Augustus Sulkowski and the Abbe Gouvel were present; the latter being +attached to the palatin's court. The judgment of the surgeons was +that the arm was gangrened, and must be amputated by the next morning +at latest. + +I was tired of arguing with these rascals, so I told them to bring +their instruments, and that I would submit to the operation. At this +they went way in high glee, to tell the news at the Court, to +Branicki, to the palatin, and so forth. I merely gave my servants +orders to send them away when they came. + +I can dwell no more on this matter, though it is interesting enough +to me. However, the reader will no doubt be obliged to me by my +simply saying that a French surgeon in Prince Sulkowski's household +took charge of the case in defiance of professional etiquette, and +cured me perfectly, so I have my hand and my arm to this day. + +On Easter Day I went to mass with my arm in a sling. My cure had +only lasted three weeks, but I was not able to put the hand to any +active employment for eighteen months afterwards. Everyone was +obliged to congratulate me on having held out against the amputation, +and the general consent declared the surgeons grossly ignorant, while +I was satisfied with thinking them very great knaves. + +I must here set down an incident which happened three days after the +duel. + +I was told that a Jesuit father from the bishop of the diocese wanted +to speak to me in private, and I had him shewn in, and asked him what +he wanted. + +"I have come from my lord-bishop," said he, "to absolve you from the +ecclesiastical censure, which you have incurred by duelling." + +"I am always delighted to receive absolution, father, but only after +I have confessed my guilt. In the present case I have nothing to +confess; I was attacked, and I defended myself. Pray thank my lord +for his kindness. If you like to absolve me without confession, I +shall be much obliged." + +"If you do not confess, I cannot give you absolution, but you can do +this: ask me to absolve you, supposing you have fought a duel." + +"Certainly; I shall be glad if you will absolve me, supposing I have +fought a duel." + +The delightful Jesuit gave me absolution in similar terms. He was +like his brethren--never at a loss when a loophole of any kind is +required. + +Three days before I left the monastery, that is on Holy Thursday, the +marshal withdrew my guard. After I had been to mass on Easter Day, I +went to Court, and as I kissed the king's hand, he asked me (as had +been arranged) why I wore my arm in a sling. I said I had been +suffering from a rheum, and he replied, with a meaning smile,-- + +"Take care not to catch another." + +After my visit to the king, I called on Branicki, who had made daily +enquiries afer my health, and had sent me back my sword, He was +condemned to stay in bed for six weeks longer at least, for the wad +of my pistol had got into the wound, and in extracting it the opening +had to be enlarged, which retarded his recovery. The king had just +appointed him chief huntsman, not so exalted an office as +chamberlain, but a more lucrative one. It was said he had got the +place because he was such a good shot; but if that were the reason I +had a better claim to it, for I had proved the better shot--for one +day at all events. + +I entered an enormous ante-room in which stood officers, footmen, +pages, and lacqueys, all gazing at me with the greatest astonishment. +I asked if my lord was to be seen, and begged the door-keeper to send +in my name. He did not answer, but sighed, and went into his +master's room. Directly after, he came out and begged me, with a +profound bow, to step in. + +Branicki, who was dressed in a magnificent gown and supported by +pillows and cushions, greeted me by taking off his nightcap. He was +as pale as death. + +"I have come here, my lord," I began, "to offer you my service, and +to assure you how I regret that I did not pass over a few trifling +words of yours." + +"You have no reason to reproach yourself, M. Casanova." + +"Your excellency is very kind. I am also come to say that by +fighting with me you have done me an honour which completely swallows +up all offence, and I trust that you will give me your protection for +the future." + +"I confess I insulted you, but you will allow that I have paid for +it. As to my friends, I openly say that they are my enemies unless +they treat you with respect. Bininski has been cashiered, and his +nobility taken from him; he is well served. As to my protection you +have no need of it, the king esteems you highly, like myself, and all +men of honour. Sit down; we will be friends. A cup of chocolate for +this gentleman. You seem to have got over your wound completely." + +"Quite so, my lord, except as to the use of my fingers, and that will +take some time." + +"You were quite right to withstand those rascally surgeons, and you +had good reason for your opinion that the fools thought to please me +by rendering you one-handed. They judged my heart by their own. I +congratulate you on the preservation of your hand, but I have not +been able to make out how my ball could have wounded you in the hand +after striking your stomach." + +Just then the chocolate was brought, and the chamberlain came in and +looked at me with a smile. In five minutes the room was full of +lords and ladies who had heard I was with Branicki, and wanted to +know how we were getting on. I could see that they did not expect to +find us on such good terms, and were agreeably surprised. Branicki +asked the question which had been interrupted by the chocolate and +the visitors over again. + +"Your excellency will allow me to assume the position I was in as I +received your fire." + +"Pray do so." + +I rose and placed myself in the position, and he said he understood +how it was. + +A lady said,-- + +"You should have put your hand behind your body." + +"Excuse me, madam, but I thought it better to put my body behind my +hand." + +This sally made Branicki laugh, but his sister said to me,-- + +"You wanted to kill my brother, for you aimed at his head." + +"God forbid, madam! my interest lay in keeping him alive to defend +me from his friends." + +"But you said you were going to fire at his head." + +"That's a mere figure of speech, just as one says, 'I'll blow your +brains out.' The skilled duellist, however, always aims at the middle +of the body; the head does not offer a large enough surface." + +"Yes," said Branicki, "your tactics were superior to mine, and I am +obliged to you for the lesson you gave me." + +"Your excellency gave me a lesson in heroism of far greater value." + +"You must have had a great deal of practice with the pistol," +continued his sister. + +"Not at all, madam, I regard the weapon with detestation. This +unlucky shot was my first; but I have always known a straight line, +and my hand has always been steady." + +"That's all one wants," said Branicki. "I have those advantages +myself, and I am only too well pleased that I did not aim so well as +usual." + +"Your ball broke my first phalanges. Here it is you see, flattened +by my bone. Allow me to return it to you." + +"I am sorry to say I can't return yours, which I suppose remains on +the field of battle." + +"You seem to be getting better, thank God!" + +"The wound is healing painfully. If I had imitated you I should no +longer be in the land of the living; I am told you made an excellent +dinner?" + +"Yes, my lord, I was afraid I might never have another chance of +dining again." + +"If I had dined, your ball would have pierced my intestines; but +being empty it yielded to the bullet, and let it pass by harmlessly." + +I heard afterwards that on the day of the duel Branicki had gone to +confession and mass, and had communicated. The priest could not +refuse him absolution, if he said that honour obliged him to fight; +for this was in accordance with the ancient laws of chivalry. As for +me I only addressed these words to God: + +"Lord, if my enemy kill me, I shall be damned; deign, therefore, to +preserve me from death. Amen." + +After a long and pleasant conversation I took leave of the hero to +visit the high constable, Count Bielinski, brother of Countess +Salmor. He was a very old man, but the sovereign administrator of +justice in Poland. I had never spoken to him, but he had defended me +from Branicki's Uhlans, and had made out my pardon, so I felt bound +to go and thank him. + +I sent in my name, and the worthy old man greeted me with: + +"What can I do for you?" + +"I have come to kiss the hand of the kindly man that signed my +pardon, and to promise your excellency to be more discreet in +future." + +"I advise you to be more discreet indeed. As for your pardon, thank +the king; for if he had not requested me especially to grant it you, +I should have had you beheaded." + +"In spite of the extenuating circumstances, my lord?" + +"What circumstances? Did you or did you not fight a duel." + +"That is not a proper way of putting it; I was obliged to defend +myself. You might have charged me with fighting a duel if Branicki +had taken me outside the ban, as I requested, but as it was he took +me where he willed and made me fight. Under these circumstances I am +sure your excellency would have spared my head." + +"I really can't say. The king requested that you should be pardoned, +and that shews he believes you to be deserving of pardon; I +congratulate you on his good will. I shall be pleased if you will +dine with me tomorrow." + +"My lord, I am delighted to accept your invitation." + +The illustrious old constable was a man of great intelligence. He +had been a bosom-friend of the celebrated Poniatowski, the king's +father. We had a good deal of conversation together at dinner the +next day. + +"What a comfort it would have been to your excellency's friend," said +I, "if he could have lived to see his son crowned King of Poland." + +"He would never have consented." + +The vehemence with which he pronounced these words gave me a deep +insight into his feelings. He was of the Saxon party. The same day, +that is on Easter Day, I dined at the palatin's. + +"Political reasons," said he, "prevented me from visiting you at the +monastery; but you must not think I had forgotten you, for you were +constantly in my thoughts. I am going to lodge you here, for my wife +is very fond of your society; but the rooms will not be ready for +another six weeks." + +"I shall take the opportunity, my lord, of paying a visit to the +Palatin of Kiowia, who has honoured me with an invitation to come and +see him." + +"Who gave you the invitation?" + +"Count Bruhl, who is at Dresden; his wife is daughter of the +palatin." + +"This journey is an excellent idea, for this duel of yours has made +you innumerable enemies, and I only hope you will have to fight no +more duels. I give you fair warning; be on your guard, and never go +on foot, especially at night." + +I spent a fortnight in going out to dinner and supper every day. I +had become the fashion, and wherever I went I had to tell the duel +story over again. I was rather tired of it myself, but the wish to +please and my own self-love were too strong to be resisted. The king +was nearly always present, but feigned not to hear me. However, he +once asked me if I had been insulted by a patrician in Venice, +whether I should have called him out immediately. + +"No, sire, for his patrician pride would have prevented his +complying, and I should have had my pains for my trouble." + +"Then what would you have done?" + +"Sire, I should have contained myself, though if a noble Venetian +were to insult me in a foreign country he would have to give me +satisfaction." + +I called on Prince Moszczinski, and Madame Binetti happened to be +there; the moment she saw me she made her escape. + +"What has she against me?" I asked the count. + +"She is afraid of you, because she was the cause of the duel, and now +Branicki who was her lover will have nothing more to say to her. She +hoped he would serve you as he served Tomatis, and instead of that +you almost killed her bravo. She lays the fault on him for having +accepted your challenge, but he has resolved to have done with her." + +This Count Moszczinski was both good-hearted and quick-witted, and +so, generous that he ruined himself by making presents. His wounds +were beginning to heal, but though I was the indirect cause of his +mishap, far from bearing malice against me he had become my friend. + +The person whom I should have expected to be most grateful to me for +the duel was Tomatis, but on the contrary he hated the sight of me +and hardly concealed his feelings. I was the living reproach of his +cowardice; my wounded hand seemed to shew him that he had loved his +money more than his honour. I am sure he would have preferred +Branicki to have killed me, for then he would have become an object +of general execration, and Tomatis would have been received with less +contempt in the great houses he still frequented. + +I resolved to pay a visit to the discontented party who had only +recognized the new king on compulsion, and some of whom had not +recognized him at all; so I set out with my true friend Campioni and +one servant. + +Prince Charles of Courland had started for Venice, where I had given +him letters for my illustrious friends who would make his visit a +pleasant one. The English ambassador who had given me an +introduction to Prince Adam had just arrived at Warsaw. I dined with +him at the prince's house, and the king signified his wish to be of +the party. I heard a good deal of conversation about Madame de +Geoffrin, an old sweetheart of the king's whom he had just summoned +to Warsaw. The Polish monarch, of whom I cannot speak in too +favourable terms, was yet weak enough to listen to the slanderous +reports against me, and refused to make my fortune. I had the +pleasure of convincing him that he was mistaken, but I will speak of +this later on. + +I arrived at Leopol the sixth day after I had left Warsaw, having +stopped a couple of days at Prince Zamoiski's; he had forty thousand +ducats a-year, but also the falling sickness. + +"I would give all my goods," said he, "to be cured." + +I pitied his young wife. She was very fond of him, and yet had to +deny him, for his disease always came on him in moments of amorous +excitement. She had the bitter task of constantly refusing him, and +even of running away if he pressed her hard. This great nobleman, +who died soon after, lodged me in a splendid room utterly devoid of +furniture. This is the Polish custom; one is supposed to bring one's +furniture with one. + +At Leopol I put up, at an hotel, but I soon had to move from thence +to take up my abode with the famous Kaminska, the deadly foe of +Branicki, the king, and all that party. She was very rich, but she +has since been ruined by conspiracies. She entertained me +sumptuously for a week, but the visit was agreeable to neither side, +as she could only speak Polish and German. From Leopol I proceeded +to a small town, the name of which I forget (the Polish names are +very crabbed) to take an introduction from Prince Lubomirski to +Joseph Rzewuski, a little old man who wore a long beard as a sign of +mourning for the innovations that were being introduced into his +country. He was rich, learned, superstitiously religious, and polite +exceedingly. I stayed with him for three days. He was the commander +of a stronghold containing a garrison of five hundred men. + +On the first day, as I was in his room with some other officers, +about eleven o'clock in the morning, another officer came in, +whispered to Rzewuski, and then came up to me and whispered in my +ear, "Venice and St. Mark." + +"St. Mark," I answered aloud, "is the patron saint and protector of +Venice," and everybody began to laugh. + +It dawned upon me that "Venice and St. Mark" was the watchword, and I +began to apologize profusely, and the word was changed. + +The old commander spoke to me with great politeness. He never went +to Court, but he had resolved on going to the Diet to oppose the +Russian party with all his might. The poor man, a Pole of the true +old leaven, was one of the four whom Repnin arrested and sent to +Siberia. + +After taking leave of this brave patriot, I went to Christianpol, +where lived the famous palatin Potocki, who had been one of the +lovers of the empress Anna Ivanovna. He had founded the town in +which he lived and called it after his own name. This nobleman, +still a fine man, kept a splendid court. He honoured Count Bruhl by +keeping me at his house for a fortnight, and sending me out every day +with his doctor, the famous Styrneus, the sworn foe of Van Swieten, a +still more famous physician. Although Styrneus was undoubtedly a +learned man, I thought him somewhat extravagant and empirical. His +system was that of Asclepiades, considered as exploded since the time +of the great Boerhaave; nevertheless, he effected wonderful cures. + +In the evenings I was always with the palatin and his court. Play +was not heavy, and I always won, which was fortunate and indeed +necessary for me. After an extremely agreeable visit to the palatin +I returned to Leopol, where I amused myself for a week with a pretty +girl who afterwards so captivated Count Potocki, starost of Sniatin, +that he married her. This is purity of blood with a vengeance in +your noble families! + +Leaving Leopol I went to Palavia, a splendid palace on the Vistula, +eighteen leagues distant from Warsaw. It belonged to the prince +palatin, who had built it himself. + +Howsoever magnificent an abode may be, a lonely man will weary of it +unless he has the solace of books or of some great idea. I had +neither, and boredom soon made itself felt. + +A pretty peasant girl came into my room, and finding her to my taste +I tried to make her understand me without the use of speech, but she +resisted and shouted so loudly that the door-keeper came up, and +asked me, coolly,-- + +"If you like the girl, why don't you go the proper way to work?" + +"What way is that?" + +"Speak to her father, who is at hand, and arrange the matter +amicably." + +"I don't know Polish. Will you carry the thing through?" + +"Certainly. I suppose you will give fifty florins?" + +"You are laughing at me. I will give a hundred willingly, provided +she is a maid and is as submissive as a lamb." + +No doubt the arrangement was made without difficulty, for our hymen +took place the same evening, but no sooner was the operation +completed than the poor lamb fled away in hot haste, which made me +suspect that her father had used rather forcible persuasion with her. +I would not have allowed this had I been aware of it. + +The next morning several girls were offered to me, but the faces of +all of them were covered. + +"Where is the girl?" said I. "I want to see her face." + +"Never mind about the face, if the rest is all right." + +"The face is the essential part for me," I replied, "and the rest I +look upon as an accessory." + +He did not understand this. However, they were uncovered, but none +of their faces excited my desires. + +As a rule, the Polish women are ugly; a beauty is a miracle, and a +pretty woman a rare exception. At the end of a week of feasting and +weariness, I returned to Warsaw. + +In this manner I saw Podolia and Volkynia, which were rebaptized a +few years later by the names of Galicia and Lodomeria, for they are +now part of the Austrian Empire. It is said, however, that they are +more prosperous than they ever were before. + +At Warsaw I found Madame Geoffrin the object of universal admiration; +and everybody was remarking with what simplicity she was dressed. As +for myself, I was received not coldly, but positively rudely. People +said to my face,-- + +"We did not expect to see you here again. Why did you come back?" + +"To pay my debts." + +This behaviour astonished and disgusted me. The prince-palatin even +seemed quite changed towards me. I was still invited to dinner, but +no one spoke to me. However, Prince Adam's sister asked me very +kindly to come and sup with her, and I accepted the invitation with +delight. I found myself seated opposite the king, who did not speak +one word to me the whole time. He had never behaved to me thus +before. + +The next day I dined with the Countess Oginski, and in the course of +dinner the countess asked where the king had supper the night before; +nobody seemed to know, and I did not answer. Just as we were rising, +General Roniker came in, and the question was repeated. + +"At Princess Strasnikowa's," said the general, "and M. Casanova was +there." + +"Then why did you not answer my question?" said the countess to me. + +"Because I am very sorry to have been there. His majesty neither +spoke to me nor looked at me. I see I am in disgrace, but for the +life of me I know not why." + +On leaving the house I went to call on Prince Augustus Sulkowski, who +welcomed me as of old, but told me that I had made a mistake in +returning to Warsaw as public opinion was against me. + +"What have I done?" + +"Nothing; but the Poles are always inconstant and changeable. +'Sarmatarum virtus veluti extra ipsos'. This inconstancy will cost +us dear sooner or later. Your fortune was made, but you missed the +turn of the tide, and I advise you to go." + +"I will certainly do so, but it seems to me rather hard." + +When I got home my servant gave me a letter which some unknown person +had left at my door. I opened it and found it to be anonymous, but I +could see it came from a well-wisher. The writer said that the +slanderers had got the ears of the king, and that I was no longer a +persona grata at Court, as he had been assured that the Parisians had +burnt me in effigy for my absconding with the lottery money, and that +I had been a strolling player in Italy and little better than a +vagabond. + +Such calumnies are easy to utter but hard to refute in a foreign +country. At all Courts hatred, born of envy, is ever at work. I +might have despised the slanders and left the country, but I had +contracted debts and had not sufficient money to pay them and my +expenses to Portugal, where I thought I might do something. + +I no longer saw any company, with the exception of Campioni, who +seemed more distressed than myself. I wrote to Venice and everywhere +else, where there was a chance of my getting funds; but one day the +general, who had been present at the duel, called on me, and told me +(though he seemed ashamed of his task) that the king requested me to +leave the ban in the course of a week. + +Such a piece of insolence made my blood boil, and I informed the +general that he might tell the king that I did not feel inclined to +obey such an unjust order, and that if I left I would let all the +world know that I had been compelled to do so by brute force. + +"I cannot take such a message as that," said the general, kindly. +"I shall simply tell the king that I have executed his orders, and no +more; but of course you must follow your own judgment." + +In the excess of my indignation I wrote to the king that I could not +obey his orders and keep my honour. I said in my letter,-- + +"My creditors, sire, will forgive me for leaving Poland without +paying my debts, when they learn that I have only done so because +your majesty gave me no choice." + +I was thinking how I could ensure this letter reaching the king, when +who should arrive but Count Moszczinski. I told him what had +happened, and asked if he could suggest any means of delivering tire +letter. "Give it to me," said he; "I will place it in the king's +hands." + +As soon as he had gone I went out to take the air, and called on +Prince Sulkowski, who was not at all astonished at my news. As if to +sweeten the bitter pill I had to swallow, he told me how the Empress +of Austria had ordered him to leave Vienna in twenty-four hours, +merely because he had complimented the Archduchess Christina on +behalf of Prince Louis of Wurtemberg. + +The next day Count Moszczinski brought me a present of a thousand +ducats from the king, who said that my leaving Warsaw would probably +be the means of preserving my life, as in that city I was exposed to +danger which I could not expect to escape eventually. + +This referred to five or six challenges I had received, and to which +I had not even taken the trouble to reply. My enemies might possibly +assassinate me, and the king did not care to be constantly anxious on +my account. Count Moszczinski added that the order to leave carried +no dishonour with it, considering by whom it had been delivered, and +the delay it gave me to make my preparations. + +The consequence of all this was that I not only gave my word to go, +but that I begged the count to thank his majesty for his kindness, +and the interest he had been pleased to take in me. + +When I gave in, the generous Moszczinski embraced me, begged me to +write to him, and accept a present of a travelling carriage as a +token of his friendship. He informed me that Madame Binetti's +husband had gone off with his wife's maid, taking with him her +diamonds, jewels, linen, and even her silver plate, leaving her to +the tender mercies of the dancer, Pic. Her admirers had clubbed +together to make up to her for what her husband had stolen. I also +heard that the king's sister had arrived at Warsaw from Bialistock, +and it was hoped that her husband would follow her. This husband was +the real Count Branicki, and the Branicki, or rather Branecki, or +Bragnecki, who had fought with me, was no relation to him whatever. + +The following day I paid my debts, which amounted to about two +hundred ducats, and I made preparations for starting for Breslau, the +day after, with Count Clary, each of us having his own carriage. +Clary was one of those men to whom lying has become a sort of second +nature; whenever such an one opens his mouth, you may safely say to +him, "You have lied, or you are going to lie." If they could feel +their own degradation, they would be much to be pitied, for by their +own fault at last no one will believe them even when by chance they +speak the truth. This Count Clary, who was not one of the Clarys of +Teplitz, could neither go to his own country nor to Vienna, because +he had deserted the army on the eve of a battle. He was lame, but he +walked so adroitly that his defect did not appear. If this had been +the only truth he concealed, it would have been well, for it was a +piece of deception that hurt no one. He died miserably in Venice. + +We reached Breslau in perfect safety, and without experiencing any +adventures. Campioni, who had accompanied me as far as Wurtemburg, +returned, but rejoined me at Vienna in the course of seven months. +Count Clary had left Breslau, and I thought I would make the +acquaintance of the Abbe Bastiani, a celebrated Venetian, whose +fortune had been made by the King of Prussia. He was canon of the +cathedral, and received me cordially; in fact, each mutually desired +the other's acquaintance. He was a fine well-made man, fair- +complexioned, and at least six feet high. He was also witty, +learned, eloquent, and gifted with a persuasive voice; his cook was +an artist, his library full of choice volumes, and his cellar a very +good one. He was well lodged on the ground floor, and on the first +floor he accommodated a lady, of whose children he was very fond, +possibly because he was their father. Although a great admirer of +the fair sex, his tastes were by no means exclusive, and he did not +despise love of the Greek or philosophic kind. I could see that he +entertained a passion for a young priest whom I met at his table. +This young abbe was Count di Cavalcano and Bastiani seemed to adore +him, if fiery glances signified anything; but the innocent young man +did not seem to understand, and I suppose Bastiani did not like to +lower his dignity by declaring his love. The canon shewed me all the +letters he had received from the King of Prussia before he had been +made canon. He was the son of a tailor at Venice, and became a +friar, but having committed some peccadillo which got him into +trouble, he was fortunate enough to be able to make his escape. He +fled to The Hague, and there met Tron, the Venetian ambassador, who +lent him a hundred ducats with which he made his way to Berlin and +favour with the king. Such are the ways by which men arrive at +fortune! 'Sequere deum'! + +On the event of my departure from Breslau I went to pay a call on a +baroness for whom I had a letter of introduction from her son, who +was an officer of the Polish Court. I sent up my name and was asked +to wait a few moments, as the baroness was dressing. I sat down +beside a pretty girl, who was neatly dressed in a mantle with a hood. +I asked her if she were waiting for the baroness like myself. + +"Yes, sir," she replied, "I have come to offer myself as governess +for her three daughters." + +"What! Governess at your age?" + +"Alas! sir, age has nothing to do with necessity. I have neither +father nor mother. My brother is a poor lieutenant who cannot help +me; what can I do? I can only get a livelihood by turning my good +education to account." + +"What will your salary be?" + +"Fifty wretched crowns, enough to buy my dresses." + +"It's very little." + +"It is as much as people give." + +"Where are you living now?" + +"With a poor aunt, where I can scarce earn enough bread to keep me +alive by sewing from morning till night." + +"If you liked to become my governess instead of becoming a children's +governess, I would give you fifty crowns, not per year, but per +month." + +"Your governess? Governess to your family, you mean, I suppose?" + +"I have no family; I am a bachelor, and I spend my time in +travelling. I leave at five o'clock to-morrow morning for Dresden, +and if you like to come with me there is a place for you in my +carriage. I am staying at such an inn. Come there with your trunk, +and we will start together." + +"You are joking; besides, I don't know you." + +"I am not jesting; and we should get to know each other perfectly +well in twenty-four hours; that is ample time." + +My serious air convinced the girl that I was not laughing at her; but +she was still very much astonished, while I was very much astonished +to find I had gone so far when I had only intended to joke. In +trying to win over the girl I had won over myself. It seemed to me a +rare adventure, and I was delighted to see that she was giving it her +serious attention by the side-glances she kept casting in my +direction to see if I was laughing at her. I began to think that +fate had brought us together that I might become the architect of her +fortune. I had no doubt whatever as to her goodness or her feelings +for me, for she completely infatuated my judgment. To put the +finishing stroke on the affair I drew out two ducats and gave them +her as an earnest of her first month's wages. She took them timidly, +but seemed convinced that I was not imposing on her. + +By this time the baroness was ready, and she welcomed me very kindly; +but I said I could not accept her invitation to dine with her the +following day, as I was leaving at day-break. I replied to all the +questions that a fond mother makes concerning her son, and then took +leave of the worthy lady. As I went out I noticed that the would-be +governess had disappeared. The rest of the day I spent with the +canon, making good cheer, playing ombre, drinking hard, and talking +about girls or literature. The next day my carriage came to the door +at the time I had arranged, and I went off without thinking of the +girl I had met at the baroness's. But we had not gone two hundred +paces when the postillion stopped, a bundle of linen whirled through +the window into the carriage, and the governess got in. I gave her a +hearty welcome by embracing her, and made her sit down beside me, and +so we drove off. + +In the ensuing chapter the reader will become more fully acquainted +with my fresh conquest. In the meantime let him imagine me rolling +peacefully along the Dresden road. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +My Arrival at Dresden with Maton--She Makes Me a Present--Leipzig-- +Castelbajac--Schwerin--Return to Dresden and Departure--I Arrive at +Vienna--Pocchini's Vengeance + + +When I saw myself in the carriage with this pretty girl, who had +fallen on me as if from the clouds, I imagined I was intended to +shape her destiny. Her tutelary genius must have placed her in my +hands, for I felt inclined to do her all the good that lay in my +power. But for myself; was it a piece of good or ill luck for me? +I formed the question, but felt that time alone could give the +answer. I knew that I was still living in my old style, while I was +beginning to feel that I was no longer a young man. + +I was sure that my new companion could not have abandoned herself to +me in this manner, without having made up her mind to be complaisant; +but this was not enough for me, it was my humour to be loved. This +was my chief aim, everything else was only fleeting enjoyment, and as +I had not had a love affair since I parted with Zaira, I hoped most +fervently that the present adventure would prove to be one. + +Before long I learnt that my companion's name was Maton; this at +least was her surname, and I did not feel any curiosity to know the +name of the he or she saint whom her godmothers had constituted her +patron at the baptismal font. I asked her if she could write French +as well as she spoke it, and she shewed me a letter by way of sample. +It assured me that she had received an excellent education, and this +fact increased my pleasure in the conquest I had made. She said she +had left Breslau without telling her aunt or her cousin that she was +going, perhaps never to return. + +"How about your belongings?" + +"Belongings? They were not worth the trouble of gathering together. +All I have is included in that small package, which contains a +chemise, a pair of stockings, some handkerchiefs, and a few +nicknacks." + +"What will your lover say?" + +"Alas! I haven't got one to say anything." + +"I cannot credit that." + +"I have had two lovers; the first one was a rascal, who took +advantage of my innocence to seduce me, and then left me when I +ceased to present any novelty for him; my second was an honest man, +but a poor lieutenant with no prospects of getting on. He has not +abandoned me, but his regiment was ordered to Stetin, and since +then--" + +"And since then?" + +"We were too poor to write to one another, so we had to suffer in +silence." + +This pathetic history seemed to bear the marks of truth; and I +thought it very possible that Maton had only come with me to make her +fortune or to do rather better than she had been doing, which would +not be difficult. She was twenty-five years old, and as she had +never been out of Breslau before, she would doubtless be delighted to +see what the world was like at Dresden. I could not help feeling +that I had been a fool to burden myself with the girl, who would most +likely cost me a lot of money; but still I found my conduct +excusable, as the chances were a hundred to one against her accepting +the proposal I had been foolish enough to make. In short, I resolved +to enjoy the pleasure of having a pretty girl all to myself, and I +determined not to do anything during the journey, being anxious to +see whether her moral qualities would plead as strongly with me as +her physical beauty undoubtedly did. At nightfall I stopped, wishing +to spend the night at the posting-station. Maton, who had been very +hungry all day, but had not dared to tell me so, ate with an amazing +and pleasing appetite; but not being accustomed to wine, she would +have fallen asleep at table, if I had not begged her to retire. She +begged my pardon, assuring me she would not let such a thing occur +again. I smiled by way of reply, and stayed at the table, not +looking to see whether she undressed or went to bed in her clothes. +I went to bed myself soon after, and at five o'clock was up again to +order the coffee, and to see that the horses were put in. Maton was +lying on her bed with all her clothes on, fast asleep, and perspiring +with the heat. I woke her, telling her that another time she must +sleep more comfortably, as such heats were injurious to health. + +She got up and left the room, no doubt to wash, for she returned +looking fresh and gay, and bade me good day, and asked me if I would +like to give her a kiss. + +"I shall be delighted," I replied; and, after kissing her, I made her +hurry over the breakfast, as I wished to reach Dresden that evening. +However, I could not manage it, my carriage broke down, and took five +hours to mend, so I had to sleep at another posting station. Maton +undressed this time, but I had the firmness not to look at her. + +When I reached Dresden I put up at the "Hotel de Saxe," taking the +whole of the first floor. My mother was in the country, and I paid +her a visit, much to her delight; we made quite an affecting picture, +with my arm in a sling. I also saw my brother John and his wife +Therese, Roland, and a Roman girl whom I had known before him, and +who made much of me. I also saw my sister, and I then went with my +brother to pay my suit to Count Bruhl and to his wife, the daughter +of the palatin of Kiowia, who was delighted to hear news of her +family. I was welcomed everywhere, and everywhere I had to tell the +story of my duel. I confess that very little pressing was required, +for I was very proud of it. + +At this period the States were assembled in Dresden, and Prince +Xavier, uncle of the Elector, was regent during his minority. + +The same evening I went to the opera-house, where faro was played. I +played, but prudently, for my capital only consisted of eighteen +hundred ducats. + +When I came back we had a good supper, and Maton pleased me both by +her appetite and amiability. When we had finished I affectionately +asked her if she would like to share my bed, and she replied as +tenderly that she was wholly mine. And so, after passing a +voluptuous night, we rose in the morning the best friends in the +world. + +I spent the whole morning in furnishing her toilette. A good many +people called on me, and wanted to be presented to Maton; but my +answer was that, as she was only my housekeeper, and not my wife, I +could not have the pleasure of introducing her. In the same way I +had instructed her that she was not to let anyone in when I was away. +She was working in her room on the linen I had provided for her, +aided in her task by a seamstress. Nevertheless, I did not want to +make her a slave, so I occasionally took her into the pleasant +suburbs of Dresden, where she was at liberty to speak to any of my +acquaintances we might meet. + +This reserve of mine which lasted for the fortnight we stayed in +Dresden was mortifying for all the young officers in the place, and +especially for the Comte de Bellegarde, who was not accustomed to +being denied any girl to whom he chose to take a fancy. He was a +fine young fellow, of great boldness and even impudence, and one day +he came into our room and asked me to give him a dinner just as Maton +and myself were sitting down to table. I could not refuse him, and I +could not request Maton to leave the room, so from the beginning to +the end of the meal he showered his military jokes and attentions on +her, though he was perfectly polite the whole time. Maton behaved +very well; she was not prudish, nor did she forget the respect she +owed to me and indeed to herself. + +I was accustomed to take a siesta every day after dinner, so half an +hour after the conclusion of the meal I stated the fact and begged +him to leave us. He asked smilingly if the lady took a siesta too, +and I replied that we usually took it together. This made him take +up his hat and cane, and as he did so he asked us both to dine with +him the next day. I replied that I never took Maton out anywhere, +but that he would be welcome to come and take pot-luck with us every +day if he liked. + +This refusal exhausted his resources, and he took his leave if not +angrily, at least very coldly. + +My mother returned to her town apartments, which were opposite to +mine, and the next day when I was calling on her I noticed the erker +(a sort of grating in the Spanish fashion) which indicated my rooms +in the hotel. I happened to look in that direction and I saw +Maton at the window standing up and talking to M. de Bellegarde, who +was at a neighbouring window. This window belonged to a room which +adjoined my suite of rooms, but did not belong to it. This discovery +amused me. I knew what I was about, and did not fear to be made a +cuckold in spite of myself. I was sure I had not been observed, and +I was not going to allow any trespassers. I was jealous, in fact; +but the jealousy was of the mind, not the heart. + +I came in to dinner in the highest spirits, and Maton was as gay as +myself. I led the conversation up to Bellegarde, and said I believed +him to be in love with her. + +"Oh, he is like all officers with girls; but I don't think he is more +in love with me than any other girl." + +"Oh, but didn't he come to call on me this morning?" + +"Certainly not; and if he had come the maid would have told him you +were out." + +"Did you not notice him walking up and down 'under the windows?" + +"No." + +This was enough for me; I knew they had laid a plot together. Maton +was deceiving me, and I should be cheated in twenty-four hours unless +I took care. At my age such treason should not have astonished me, +but my vanity would not allow me to admit the fact. + +I dissembled my feelings and caressed the traitress, and then leaving +the house I went to the theatre where I played with some success and +returned home while the second act was in progress; it was still +daylight. The waiter was at the door, and I asked him whether there +were any rooms besides those which I occupied on the first floor. +"Yes, two rooms, both looking on the street." + +"Tell the landlord that I will take them both." + +"They were taken yesterday evening." + +"By whom?" + +"By a Swiss officer, who is entertaining a party of friends to supper +here this evening." + +I said no more lest I should awaken suspicion; but I felt sure that +Bellegarde could easily obtain access to my rooms from his. Indeed, +there was a door leading to the room where Maton slept with her maid +when I did not care to have her in my room. The door was bolted on +her side, but as she was in the plot there was not much security in +this. + +I went upstairs softly, and finding Maton on the balcony, I said, +after some indifferent conversation, that I should like to change +rooms. + +"You shall have my room," I said, "and I will have yours; I can read +there, and see the people going by." + +She thought it a very good idea, and added that it would serve us +both if I would allow her to sit there when I was out. + +This reply shewed me that Maton was an old hand, and that I had +better give her up if I did not wish to be duped. + +I changed the rooms, and we supped pleasantly together, laughing and +talking, and in spite of all her craft Maton did not notice any +change in me. + +I remained alone in my new room, and soon heard the voices of +Bellegarde and his merry companions. I went on to the balcony, but +the curtains of Bellegarde's room were drawn, as if to assure me that +there was no complot. However, I was not so easily deceived, and I +found afterwards that Mercury had warned Jupiter that Amphytrion had +changed his room. + +Next day, a severe headache, a thing from which I seldom suffer, kept +me to the house all day. I had myself let blood, and my worthy +mother, who came to keep me company, dined with Maton. My mother had +taken a weakness for the girl, and had often asked me to let her come +and see her, but I had the good sense to refuse this request. The +next day I was still far from well, and took medicine, and in the +evening, to my horror, I found myself attacked by a fearful disease. +This must be a present from Maton, for I had not known anyone else +since leaving Leopol. I spent a troubled night, rage and indignation +being my principal emotions; and next morning, coming upon Maton +suddenly, I found everything in the most disgusting state. The +wretched creature confessed she had been infected for the last six +months, but that she had hoped not to give it me, as she had washed +herself carefully whenever she thought I was going to have to do with +her. + +"Wretch, you have poisoned me; but nobody shall know it, as it is by +my own fault, and I am ashamed of it. Get up, and you shall see how +generous I can be." + +She got up, and I had all the linen I had given her packed into a +trunk. This done, I told my man to take a small room for her at +another inn. His errand was soon over, and I then told Maton to go +immediately, as I had done with her. I gave her fifty crowns, and +made her sign a receipt specifying the reason why I had sent her +away, and acknowledging that she had no further claim upon me. The +conditions were humiliating, and she wished me to soften them down, +but she soon gave in when I told her that unless she signed I would +turn her into the streets as naked as when I found her. + +"What am I to do here? I don't know anyone." + +"If you like to return to Breslau I will pay your expenses there." + +She made no answer, so I sent her away bag and baggage, and merely +turned my back on her when she went down on her knees to excite my +compassion. + +I got rid of her without the slightest feeling of pity, for from what +she had done to me and from what she was preparing to do I considered +her as a mere monster, who would sooner or later have cost me my +life. + +I left the inn the following day, and I took a furnished apartment on +the first floor of the house where my mother lived for six months, +and proceeded about my cure. Everyone asked me what I had done with +my housekeeper, and I said that having no further need of her +services I had sent her away. + +A week afterwards my brother John came to tell me that Bellegarde and +five or six of his friends were on the sick list; Maton had certainly +lost no time. + +"I am sorry for them, but it's their own fault; why didn't they take +more care?" + +"But the girl came to Dresden with you." + +"Yes, and I sent her about her business. It was enough for me to +keep them off while she was under my charge. Tell them that if they +complain of me they are wrong, and still more wrong to publish their +shame. Let them learn discretion and get themselves cured in +secrecy, if they do not want sensible men to laugh at them. Don't +you think I am right?" + +"The adventure is not a very honourable one for you." + +"I know it, and that's why I say nothing; I am not such a fool as to +proclaim my shame from the housetops. These friends of yours must be +simpletons indeed; they must have known that I had good reasons for +sending the girl away, and should consequently have been on their +guard. They deserve what they got, and I hope it may be a lesson to +them." + +"They are all astonished at your being well." + +"You may comfort them by saying that I have been as badly treated as +they, but that I have held my tongue, not wishing to pass for a +simpleton." + +Poor John saw he had been a simpleton himself and departed in +silence. I put myself under a severe diet, and by the middle of +August my health was re-established. + +About this time, Prince Adam Czartoryski's sister came to Dresden, +lodging with Count Bruhl. I had the honour of paying my court to +her, and I heard from her own mouth that her royal cousin had had the +weakness to let himself be imposed on by calumnies about me. I told +her that I was of Ariosto's opinion that all the virtues are nothing +worth unless they are covered with the veil of constancy. + +"You saw yourself when I supped with you, how his majesty completely +ignored me. Your highness will be going to Paris next year; you will +meet me there and you can write to the king that if I had been burnt +in effigy I should not venture to shew myself." + +The September fair being a great occasion at Leipzig, I went there to +regain my size by eating larks, for which Leipzig is justly famous. +I had played a cautious but a winning game at Dresden, the result of +which had been the gain of some hundreds of ducats, so I was able to +start for Leipzig with a letter of credit for three thousand crowns +on the banker Hohman, an intelligent old man of upwards of eighty. +It was of him I heard that the hair of the Empress of Russia, which +looked a dark brown or even black, had been originally quite fair. +The old banker had seen her at Stettin every day between her seventh +and tenth years, and told me that even then they had begun to comb +her hair with lead combs, and to rub a certain composition into it. +>From an early age Catherine had been looked upon as the future bride +of the Duke of Holstein, afterwards the hapless Peter III. The +Russians are fair as a rule, and so it was thought it that the +reigning family should be dark. + +Here I will note down a pleasant adventure I had at Leipzig. The +Princess of Aremberg had arrived from Vienna, and was staying at the +same hotel as myself. She took a fancy to go to the fair incognito, +and as she had a large suite she dressed up one of her maids as the +princess, and mingled with her following. I suppose my readers to be +aware that this princess was witty and beautiful, and that she was +the favourite mistress of the Emperor Francis the First. + +I heard of his masquerade, and leaving my hotel at the same time I +followed her till she stopped at a stall, and then going up to her +and addressing her as one would any other maid, I asked if that +(pointing at the false princess) were really the famous Princess of +Aremberg. + +"Certainly," she replied. + +"I can scarcely believe it, for she is not pretty, and she, has, not +the look nor the manners of a princess." + +"Perhaps you are not a good judge of princesses." + +"I have seen enough of them anyhow, and to prove that I am a good +judge I say that it is you who ought to be the princess; I would +willingly give a hundred ducats to spend the night with you." + +"A hundred ducats! What would you do if I were to take you at your +word?" + +"Try me. I lodge at the same hotel as you, and if yet can contrive +ways and means, I will give you the money in advance, but not till I +am sure of my prize, for I don't like being taken in." + +"Very good. Say not a word to anyone, but try to speak with me +either before or after supper. If you are brave enough to face +certain risks, we will spend the night together." + +"What is your name?" + +"Caroline." + +I felt certain it would come to nothing, but I was glad to have +amused the princess, and to have let her know that I appreciated her +beauties, and I resolved to go on with the part I was playing. +About supper-time I began a promenade near the princess's apartments, +stopping every now and then in front of the room where her women were +sitting, till one of them came out to ask me if I wanted anything. + +"I want to speak for a moment to one of your companions to whom I had +the pleasure of talking at the fair." + +"You mean Caroline, I expect?" + +"Yes." + +"She is waiting on the princess, but she will be out in half an +hour." + +I spent this half hour in my own room, and then returned to dance +attendance. Before long the same maid to whom I had spoken came up +to me and told me to wait in a closet which she shewed me, telling me +that Caroline would be there before long. I went into the closet, +which was small, dark, and uncomfortable. I was soon joined by a +woman. This time I was sure it was the real Caroline, but I said +nothing. + +She came, in, took my hand, and told me that if I would wait there +she would come to me as soon as her mistress was in bed. + +"Without any light?" + +"Of course, or else the people of the house would notice it, and I +should not like that." + +"I cannot do anything without light, charming Caroline; and besides, +this closet is not a very nice place to pass five or six hours. +There is another alternative, the first room above is mine. I shall +be alone, and I swear to you that no one shall come in; come up and +make me happy; I have got the hundred ducats here." + + +"Impossible! I dare not go upstairs for a million ducats." + +"So much the worse for you, as I am not going to stay in this hole +which "has only a chair in it, if you offer me a million and a half. +Farewell, sweet Caroline." + +"Wait a moment; let me go out first." + +The sly puss went out quickly enough, but I was as sharp as she, and +trod on the tail of her dress so that she could not shut the door +after her. So we went out together, and I left her at the door, +saying,-- + +"Good night, Caroline, you see it was no use." + +I went to bed well pleased with the incident. The princess, it was +plain, had intended to make me pass the night in the hole of a +closet, as a punishment for having dared to ask the mistress of an +emperor to sleep with me for a hundred crowns. + +Two days later, as I was buying a pair of lace cuffs, the princess +came into the shop with Count Zinzendorf, whom I had known at Paris +twelve years before. just as I was making way for the lady the count +recognized me, and asked me if I knew anything about the Casanova +that had fought the duel at Warsaw. + +"Alas! count, I am that Casanova, and here is my arm still in a +sling." + +"I congratulate you, my dear fellow; I should like to hear about it." + +With these words he introduced me to the princess, asking her if she +had heard of the duel. + +"Yes; I heard something about it in the papers. So this is the hero +of the tale. Delighted to make your acquaintance." + +The princess spoke with great kindness, but with the cool politeness +of the Court. She did not give me the slightest sign of recognition, +and of course I imitated her in her reserve. + +I visited the count in the afternoon, and he begged me to come and +see the princess, who would be delighted to hear the account of my +duel from my own lips, and I followed him to her apartment with +pleasure. The princess listened to my narrative in stately sort, and +her women never looked at me. She went away the day after, and the +story went no farther. + +Towards the end of the fair I received a very unexpected visit from +the fair Madame Castelbajac. I was just sitting down to table to eat +a dozen larks, when she made her appearance. + +"What, madam, you here!" + +"Yes, to my sorrow. I have been here for the last three weeks, and +have seen you several times, but you have always avoided us." + +"Who are 'us'?" + +"Schwerin and myself" + +"Schwerin is here, is he?" + +"Yes; and in prison on account of a forged bill. I am sure I do not +know what they will do to the poor wretch. He would have been wise +to have fled, but it seems as if he wanted to get hanged." + +"And you have been with him ever since you left England? that is, +three years ago." + +"Exactly. Our occupation is robbing, cheating, and escaping from one +land to another. Never was a woman so unhappy as I." + +"For how much is the forged bill?" + +"For three hundred crowns. Do a generous action M. Casanova, and let +bygones be bygones; deliver the poor wretch from the gallows and me +from death, for if he is hanged I shall kill myself." + +"Indeed, madam, he may hang for me, for he did his best to send me to +the gallows with his forged bills; but I confess I pity you. So +much, indeed, that I invite you to come to Dresden with me the day +after to-morrow, and I promise to give you three hundred crowns as +soon as Schwerin has undergone the extreme penalty of the law. I +can't understand how a woman like you can have fallen in love with a +man that has neither face, nor talents, nor wit, nor fortune, for all +that he has to boast of is his name of Schwerin." + +"I confess, to my shame, that I never loved him. Ever since the +other rogue, Castelbajac--who, by the way, was never married to me-- +made me know him, I have only lived with him by force, though his +tears and his despairs have excited my compassion. If destiny had +given me an honest man in his stead, I would have forsaken him long +ago, for sooner or later he will be the death of me." + +"Where do you live?" + +"Nowhere. I have been turned out into the street with nothing but +the clothes on my back. Have compassion on me." + +With these words the hapless woman threw herself at my knees and +burst into tears. I was much affected. The waiter of the inn stood +staring with amazement till I told him to go out. I may safely say +that this woman was one of the most handsome in France; she was +probably about twenty-six years old. She had been the wife of a +druggist of Montpellier, and had been so unfortunate as to let +Castelbajac seduce her. At London her beauty had produced no +impression on me, my heart was another's; nevertheless, she was made +to seduce the heart of man. + +I raised her from her knees, and said I felt inclined to help her, +but that in the first place she must calm herself, and in the second +share my supper. The waiter brought another bed and put it in my +room, without receiving any orders to do so; this made me feel +inclined to laugh. + +The appetite with which the poor woman ate, despite her sorrow, +reminded me of the matron of Ephesus. When supper was over I gave +her her choice: she might either stay in Leipzig and fare as best she +might, or I would reclaim her effects, take her with me to Dresden, +and pay her a hundred gold ducats as soon as I could be certain that +she would not give the money to the wretch who had reduced her to +such an extremity. She did not ask much time for reflection. She +said that it would be no good for her to stay in Leipzig, for she +could do nothing for the wretched Schwerin or even keep herself for a +day, for she had not got a farthing. She would have to beg or to +become a prostitute, and she could not make up her mind to either +course. + +"Indeed," she concluded, "if you were to give me the hundred ducats +this moment, and I used them to free Schwerin, I should be no better +off than before; so I accept your generous offer thankfully." + +I embraced her, promised to get back what her landlord had seized for +rent, and then begged her to go to bed, as she was in need of rest. + +"I see," she answered, "that either out of liking or for politeness' +sake you will ask me for those favours which I should be only too +happy to grant, but if I allowed that it would be a bad return indeed +for your kindness. Look at my linen, and behold in what a state that +unhappy wretch has left me!" + +I saw that I ran the risk of being infected again, and thanked her +for warning me of the danger I ran. In spite of her faults she was a +woman of feeling, and had an excellent heart, and from these good +qualitites of hers proceeded all her misfortunes. + +The next morning I arranged for the redemption of her effects, which +cost me sixty crowns of Saxony, and in the afternoon the poor woman +saw herself once more in possession of her belongings, which she had +thought never to see again. She seemed profoundly grateful, and +deplored her state, which hindered her from proving the warmth of her +feelings. + +Such is the way of women: a grateful woman has only one way of +shewing her gratitude, and that is to surrender herself without +reserve. A man is different, but we are differently constituted; a +man is made to give and a woman to receive. + +The next day, a short while before we left, the broker I had employed +in the redemption of the lady's effects, told me that the banker, +whom Schwerin had cheated, was going to send an express to Berlin, to +enquire whether the king would object to Count Schwerin's being +proceeded against with the utmost rigour of the law. + +"Alas!" cried his late mistress, "that's what he was most afraid of. +It's all up with him. The King of Prussia will pay his debts, but he +will end his days at Spandau. Why didn't they put him there before I +ever knew him?" + +She left Leipzig with me, and our appearance at Dresden caused a good +deal of surprise. She was not a mere girl, like Maton ; she had a +good appearance, and a modest yet distinguished manner. I called her +Countess Blasin, and introduced her to my mother and relations, and +put her in my best room. I summoned the doctor who had treated me, +and made him swear not to disclose the countess's state, but to tell +everyone that he came to see me. I took her to the theatre, and it +was my humour to have her regarded as a person of distinction. Good +treatment soon restored her to health, and by the end of November she +believed herself in a state to reward me for my kindness. + +The wedding was a secret one, but none the less pleasant; and as if +by way of wedding present the next day I heard that the King of +Prussia had paid Schwerin's debts, and had had him brought to Berlin +under a strong escort. If he is alive, the rascal is at Spandau to +this day. + +The time had come for me to pay her the hundred ducats. I told her +frankly that I was obliged to go to Portugal, and that I could not +make my appearance there in company with a pretty woman without +failing in my project. I added that my means would not allow me to +pay double expenses for so long a journey. + +She had received too many proofs of my love to think for a moment +that I had got tired of her, and wanted to be on with some other +woman. She told me that she owed everything to me, while I owed +nothing to her; and that all she asked of me was to enable her to +return to Montpellier. + +"I have relations there," said she, "who will be glad to see me, and +I hope that my husband will let me return to him. I am the Prodigal +Son, and I hope to find in him the forgiving father." + +I told her I would do my utmost to send her home in safety and +comfort. + +Towards the middle of December I left Dresden with Madame Blasin. My +purse only contained four hundred ducats, for I had had a run of bad +luck at play; and the journey to Leipzig had cost me altogether three +hundred ducats. I told my mistress nothing of all this, for my only +thought was how to please her. + +We stayed a short while at Prague, and reached Vienna on Christmas +Day. We put up at the "Red Bull," the Countess Blasin (who had been +transformed into a milliner) in one room, and I in another, so that +we might pass for strangers while continuing our intimacy. + +The next morning, as we were taking coffee together, two individuals +came into the room, and asked the rude question,-- + +"Who are you, madam?" + +"My name is Blasin." + +"Who is this gentleman?" + +"You had better ask him." + +"What are you doing at Vienna?" + +"Taking coffee. I should have thought you could have seen that for +yourselves." + +"If the gentleman is not your husband, you will leave the town within +twenty-four hours." + +"The gentleman is my friend, and not my husband; and I shall leave +Vienna exactly when I choose, unless you make me go away by force." + +"Very good. We are aware, sir, that you have a separate room, but +that makes no difference." + +Thereupon one of the policemen entered my room, I following him. + +"What do you want here?" said I. + +"I am looking at your bed, and I can see you have not slept in it. +That's enough." + +"The devil! What business have you here at all, and who authorizes +such disgraceful proceedings?" + +He made no reply, but returned to Madame Blasin's room, where they +both ordered her to leave Vienna in the course of twenty-four hours, +and then they both left us. + +"Dress yourself," said I to her, and tell the French ambassador the +whole story. Tell him that you are a milliner, Blasin by name, and +that all you want is to go from here to Strasburg, and from there to +Montpellier." + +While she was dressing I ordered a carriage and a servant to be in +attendance. She returned in an hour's time, and said the ambassador +had assured her that she would be left alone, and need not leave +Vienna till she thought fit. I took her to mass in triumph, and +then, as the weather was bad, we spent the rest of the day in eating +and drinking and sitting by the fire. + +At eight o'clock in the evening the landlord came up and said very +politely that he had been ordered by the police to give the lady a +room at some distance from mine, and that he was obliged to obey. + +"I am quite ready to change my room," said Madame Blasin, with a +smile. + +"Is the lady to sup alone?" I asked. + +"I have received no instructions on that point." + +"Then I will sup with her, and I hope you will treat us well." + +"You shall be well served, sir." + +In spite of the detestable and tyrannical police we spent the last +four days and nights together in the closest intimacy. When she left +I wanted her to take fifty Louis; but she would only have thirty, +saying that she could travel to Montpellier on that sum, and have +money in her pocket when she got there. Our parting was an affecting +one. She wrote to me from Strasburg, and we shall hear of her again +when I describe my visit to Montpellier. + +The first day of the year 1767 I took an apartment in the house of a +certain Mr. Schroder, and I took letters of introduction to Madame de +Salmor and Madame de Stahremberg. I then called on the elder +Calsabigi, who was in the service of Prince Kaunitz. + +This Calsabigi, whose whole body was one mass of eruption, always +worked in bed, and the minister, his master, went to see him almost +every day. I went constantly to the theatre, where Madame Vestris +was dancing. On January the 7th or 8th, I saw the empress dowager +come to the theatre dressed in black; she was received with applause, +as this was the first appearance she had made since the death of her +husband. At Vienna I met the Comte de la Perouse, who was trying to +induce the empress to give him half a million of florins, which +Charles VI. owed his father. Through him I made the acquaintance of +the Spaniard Las Casas, a man of intelligence, and, what is a rare +thing in a Spaniard, free from prejudices. I also met at the count's +house the Venetian Uccelli, with whom I had been at St. Cyprian's +College at Muran; he was, at the time of which I write, secretary to +the ambassador, Polo Renieri. This gentleman had a great esteem for +me, but my affair with the State Inquisitors prevented him from +receiving me. My friend Campioni arrived at this date from Warsaw; +he had passed through Cracovia. I accommodated him in my apartment +with great pleasure. He had an engagement at London, but to my great +delight he was able to spend a couple of months with me. + +Prince Charles of Courland, who had been at Venice and had been well +received by M. de Bragadin and my other friends, had been in Vienna +and had left it a fortnight before my arrival to return to Venice. +Prince Charles wrote to tell me that there was no bounds to the care +and kindness of my Venetian friends, and that he would be grateful to +me for all his days. + +I lived very quietly at Vienna; my health was good, and I thought of +nothing but my journey to Portugal, which I intended to take place in +the spring. I saw no company of any kind, whether good or ill. +I often called on Calsabigi, who made a parade of his Atheism, and +slandered my friend Metastasio, who dispised him. Calsabigi knew it +and laughed at him; he was a profound politician and the right hand +of Prince Kaunitz. + +One day after dinner, as I was sitting at table with my friend +Campioni, a pretty little girl, between twelve and thirteen, as I +should imagine, came into my room with mingled boldness and fear, and +made me a low bow. I asked her what she wanted, and she replied in +Latin verse to the effect that her mother was in the next room, and +that if I liked she would come in. I replied in Latin prose that I +did not care about seeing her mother, telling her my reasons with +great plainness. She replied with four Latin lines, but as they were +not to the point I could see that she had learnt them by heart, and +repeated them like a parrot. She went on-still in Latin verse--to +tell me that her mother must come in or else the authorities might +think I was abusing her. + +This last phrase was uttered with all the directness of the Latin +style. It made me burst out laughing, and I felt inclined to explain +to her what she had said in her own language. The little slut told +me she was a Venetian, and this putting me at my ease I told her that +the authorities would never suspect her of doing such a thing as she +was too young. At this the girl seemed to reflect a moment, and then +recited some verses from the Priapeia to the effect that unripe fruit +is often more piquant than that which is ripe. This was enough to +set me on fire, and Campioni, seeing that he was not wanted, went +back to his room. + +I drew her gently to me and asked her if her father was at Vienna. +She said yes, and instead of repulsing my caresses she proceeded to +accompany my actions with the recital of erotic verses. I sent her +away with a fee of two ducats, but before she went she gave me her +address written in German with four Latin verses beneath, stating +that her bedfellow would find her either Hebe or Ganymede, according +to his liking. + +I could not help admiring the ingenuity of her father, who thus +contrived to make a living out of his daughters. She was a pretty +girl enough, but at Vienna pretty girls are so common that they often +have to starve in spite of their charms. The Latin verses had been +thrown in as an attraction in this case, but I did not think she +would find it very remunerative in Vienna. + +Next evening my evil genius made me go and seek her out at the +address she had given me. Although I was forty-two years old, in +spite of the experience I had had, I was so foolish as to go alone. +The girl saw me coming from the window, and guessing that I was +looking for her, she came down and shewed me in. I went in, I went +upstairs, and when I found myself in the presence of the wretch +Pocchini my blood froze in my veins. A feeling of false shame +prevented my retracing my steps, as it might have looked as if I had +been afraid. In the same room were his pretended wife, Catina, two +Sclavonic-looking assassins, and the decoy-duck. I saw that this was +not a laughing matter, so I dissembled to the best of my ability, and +made up my mind to leave the place in five minutes' time. + +Pocchini, swearing and blaspheming, began to reproach me with the +manner in which I had treated him in England, and said that his time +had come, and that my life was in his hands. One of the two Sclavs +broke in, and said we must make friends, and so made me sit down, +opened a bottle, and said we must drink together. I tried to put as +good a face upon it as I could, but I begged to be excused, on which +Pocchini swore that I was afraid of having to pay for the bottle of +wine. + +"You are mistaken," said I; "I am quite ready to pay." + +I put my hand in my pocket to take out a ducat without drawing out my +purse, but the Sclav told me I need not be afraid, as I was amongst +honest people. Again shame made me yield, and as I had some +difficulty in extracting my purse, the Sclav kindly did it for me. +Pocchini immediately snatched it from his hands, and said he should +keep it as part compensation for all I had made him endure. + +I saw that it was a concerted scheme, and said with a smile that he +could do as he liked, and so I rose to leave them. The Sclav said we +must embrace each other, and on my declaring that to be unnecessary, +he and his comrade drew their sabres, and I thought myself undone. +Without more ado, I hastened to embrace them. To my astonishment +they let me go, and I went home in a grievous state, and not knowing +what else to do went to bed. + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +IN LONDON AND MOSCOW, Vol. 5e, RUSSIA AND POLAND +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt diff --git a/old/jcrpl10.zip b/old/jcrpl10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..714e00e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcrpl10.zip diff --git a/old/jcrpl11.txt b/old/jcrpl11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bbf0b5f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcrpl11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5317 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Russia and Poland, by Jacques Casanova +#25 in our series by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before distributing this or any other +Project Gutenberg file. + +We encourage you to keep this file, exactly as it is, on your +own disk, thereby keeping an electronic path open for future +readers. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + +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 5e--RUSSIA AND POLAND + + + + +RUSSIA AND POLAND + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +My Stay at Riga--Campioni St. Heleine--D'Asagon--Arrival of the +Empress--I Leave Riga and Go to St. Petersburg--I See Society +--I Buy Zaira + + +Prince Charles de Biron, the younger son of the Duke of Courland, +Major-General in the Russian service, Knight of the Order of St. +Alexander Newski, gave me a distinguished reception after reading his +father's letter. He was thirty-six years of age, pleasant-looking +without being handsome, and polite and well-mannered, and he spoke +French extremely well. In a few sentences he let me know what he +could do for me if I intended to spend some time at Riga. His table, +his friends, his pleasures, his horses, his advice, and his purse, +all these were at my service, and he offered them with the frankness +of the soldier and the geniality of the prince. + +"I cannot offer you a lodging," he said, "because I have hardly +enough room for myself, but I will see that you get a comfortable +apartment somewhere." + +The apartment was soon found, and I was taken to it by one of the +prince's aides-de-camp. I was scarcely established when the prince +came to see me, and made me dine with him just as I was. It was an +unceremonious dinner, and I was pleased to meet Campioni, of whom I +have spoken several times in these Memoirs. He was a dancer, but +very superior to his fellows, and fit for the best company polite, +witty, intelligent, and a libertine in a gentlemanly way. He was +devoid of prejudices, and fond of women, good cheer, and heavy play, +and knew how to keep an even mind both in good and evil fortune. We +were mutually pleased to see each other again. + +Another guest, a certain Baron de St. Heleine from Savoy, had a +pretty but very insignificant wife. The baron, a fat man, was a +gamester, a gourmand, and a lover of wine; add that he was a past +master in the art of getting into debt and lulling his creditors into +a state of false security, and you have all his capacities, for in +all other respects he was a fool in the fullest sense of the word. +An aide-decamp and the prince's mistress also dined with us. This +mistress, who was pale, thin, and dreamy-looking, but also pretty, +might be twenty years old. She hardly ate anything, saying that she +was ill and did not like anything on the table. Discontent shewed +itself on her every feature. The prince endeavoured, but all in +vain, to make her eat and drink, she refused everything disdainfully. +The prince laughed good-humouredly at her in such a manner as not to +wound her feelings. + +We spent two hours pleasantly enough at table, and after coffee had +been served, the prince, who had business, shook me by the hand and +left me with Campioni, telling me always to regard his table as my +last resource. + +This old friend and fellow-countryman took me to his house to +introduce me to his wife and family. I did not know that he had +married a second time. I found the so-called wife to be an +Englishwoman, thin, but full of intelligence. She had a daughter of +eleven, who might easily have been taken for fifteen; she, too, was +marvellously intelligent, and danced, sang, and played on the piano +and gave such glances that shewed that nature had been swifter than +her years. She made a conquest of me, and her father congratulated +me to my delight, but her mother offended her dreadfully by calling +her baby. + +I went for a walk with Campioni, who gave me a good deal of +information, beginning with himself. + +"I have lived for ten years," he said, "with that woman. Betty, whom +you admired so much, is not my daughter, the others are my children +by my Englishwoman. I have left St. Petersburg for two years, and I +live here well enough, and have pupils who do me credit. I play with +the prince, sometimes winning and sometimes losing, but I never win +enough to enable me to satisfy a wretched creditor I left at St. +Petersburg, who persecutes me on account of a bill of exchange. He +may put me in prison any day, and I am always expecting him to do +so." + +"Is the bill for a large sum?" + +"Five hundred roubles." + +"That is only two thousand francs." + +"Yes, but unfortunately I have not got it." + +"You ought to annul the debt by paying small sums on account." + +"The rascal won't let me." + +"Then what do you propose doing?" + +"Win a heavy sum, if I can, and escape into Poland. + +"The Baron de St. Heleine will run away, too if he can, for he only +lives on credit. The prince is very useful to us, as we are able to +play at his house; but if we get into difficulty he could not +extricate us, as he is heavily in debt himself. He always loses at +play. His mistress is expensive, and gives him a great deal of +trouble by her ill-humour." + +"Why is she so sour?" + +"She wants him to keep his word, for he promised to get her married +at the end of two years; and on the strength of this promise she let +him give her two children. The two years have passed by and the +children are there, and she will no longer allow him to have anything +to do with her for fear of having a third child." + +"Can't the prince find her a husband?" + +"He did find her a lieutenant, but she won't hear of anybody under +the rank of major." + +The prince gave a state dinner to General Woyakoff (for whom I had a +letter), Baroness Korf, Madame Ittinoff, and to a young lady who was +going to marry Baron Budberg, whom I had known at Florence, Turin, +and Augsburg, and whom I may possibly have forgotten to mention. + +All these friends made me spend three weeks very pleasantly, and I +was especially pleased with old General Woyakoff. This worthy man +had been at Venice fifty years before, when the Russians were still +called Muscovites, and the founder of St. Petersburg was still alive. +He had grown old like an oak, without changing his horizons. He +thought the world was just the same as it had been when he was young, +and was eloquent in his praise of the Venetian Government, imagining +it to be still the same as he had left it. + +At Riga an English merchant named Collins told me that the so-called +Baron de Stenau, who had given me the forged bill of exchange, had +been hanged in Portugal. This "baron" was a poor clerk, and the son +of a small tradesman, and had left his desk in search of adventure, +and thus he had ended. May God have mercy upon his soul! + +One evening a Russian, on his way from Poland, where he had been +executing some commission for the Russian Court, called on the +prince, played, and lost twenty thousand roubles on his word of +honour. Campioni was the dealer. The Russian gave bills of exchange +in payment of his debts; but as soon as he got to St. Petersburg he +dishonoured his own bills, and declared them worthless, not caring +for his honour or good faith. The result of this piece of knavery +was not only that his creditors were defrauded, but gaming was +henceforth strictly forbidden in the officers' quarters. + +This Russian was the same that betrayed the secrets of Elizabeth +Petrovna, when she was at war with Prussia. He communicated to +Peter, the empress's nephew and heir-presumptive, all the orders she +sent to her generals, and Peter in his turn passed on the information +to the Prussian king whom he worshipped. + +On the death of Elizabeth, Peter put this traitor at the head of the +department for commerce, and the fellow actually made known, with the +Czar's sanction, the service for which he had received such a reward, +and thus, instead of looking upon his conduct as disgraceful, he +gloried over it. Peter could not have been aware of the fact that, +though it is sometimes necessary to reward treachery, the traitor +himself is always abhorred and despised. + +I have remarked that it was Campioni who dealt, but he dealt for the +prince who held the bank. I had certain claims, but as I remarked +that I expected nothing and would gladly sell my expectations for a +hundred roubles, the prince took me at my word and gave me the amount +immediately. Thus I was the only person who made any money by our +night's play. + +Catherine II, wishing to shew herself to her new subjects, over whom +she was in reality supreme, though she had put the ghost of a king in +the person of Stanislas Poniatowski, her former favourite, on the +throne of Poland, came to Riga, and it was then I saw this great +sovereign for the first time. I was a witness of the kindness and +affability with which she treated the Livonian nobility, and of the +way in which she kissed the young ladies, who had come to kiss her +hand, upon the mouth. She was surrounded by the Orloffs and by other +nobles who had assisted in placing her on the throne. For the +comfort and pleasure of her loyal subjects the empress graciously +expressed her intention of holding a bank at faro of ten thousand +roubles. + +Instantly the table and the cards were brought forward, and the piles +of gold placed in order. She took the cards, pretended to shuffle +them, and gave them to the first comer to cut. She had the pleasure +of seeing her bank broken at the first deal, and indeed this result +was to be expected, as anybody not an absolute idiot could see how +the cards were going. The next day the empress set out for Mitau, +where triumphal arches were erected in her honour. They were made of +wood, as stone is scarce in Poland, and indeed there would not have +been time to build stone arches. + +The day after her arrival great alarm prevailed, for news came that a +revolution was ready to burst out at St. Petersburg, and some even +said that it had begun. The rebels wished to have forth from his +prison the hapless Ivan Ivanovitz, who had been proclaimed emperor in +his cradle, and dethroned by Elizabeth Petrovna. Two officers to +whom the guardianship of the prince had been confided had killed the +poor innocent monarch when they saw that they would be overpowered. + +The assassination of the innocent prince created such a sensation +that the wary Panin, fearing for the results, sent courier after +courier to the empress urging her to return to St. Petersburg and +shew herself to the people. + +Catherine was thus obliged to leave Mitau twenty-four hours after she +had entered it, and after hastening back to the capital she arrived +only to find that the excitement had entirely subsided. For politic +reasons the assassins of the wretched Ivan were rewarded, and the +bold man who had endeavoured to rise by her fall was beheaded. + +The report ran that Catherine had concerted the whole affair with the +assassins, but this was speedily set down as a calumny. The czarina +was strong-minded, but neither cruel nor perfidious. When I saw her +at Riga she was thirty-five, and had reigned two years. She was not +precisely handsome, but nevertheless her appearance was pleasing, her +expression kindly, and there was about her an air of calm and +tranquillity which never left her. + +At about the same time a friend of Baron de St. Heleine arrived from +St. Petersburg on his way to Warsaw. His name was Marquis Dragon, +but he called himself d'Aragon. He came from Naples, was a great +gamester, a skilled swordsman, and was always ready to extract +himself from a difficulty by a duel. He had left St. Petersburg +because the Orloffs had persuaded the empress to prohibit games of +chance. It was thought strange that the prohibition should come from +the Orloffs, as gaming had been their principal means of gaining a +livelihood before they entered on the more dangerous and certainly +not more honourable profession of conspiracy. However, this measure +was really a sensible one. Having been gamesters themselves they +knew that gamesters are mostly knaves, and always ready to enter into +any intrigue or conspiracy provided it assures them some small gain; +there could not have been better judges of gaming and its +consequences than they were. + +But though a gamester may be a rogue he may still have a good heart, +and it is only just to say that this was the case with the Orloffs. +Alexis gained the slash which adorns his face in a tavern, and the +man who gave the blow had just lost to him a large sum of money, and +considered his opponent's success to be rather the result of +dexterity than fortune. When Alexis became rich and powerful, +instead of revenging himself, he hastened to make his enemy's +fortune. This was nobly done. + +Dragon, whose first principle was always to turn up the best card, +and whose second principle was never to shirk a duel, had gone to St. +Petersburg in 1759 with the Baron de St. Heleine. Elizabeth was +still on the throne, but Peter, Duke of Holstein, the heir- +presumptive, had already begun to loom large on the horizon. Dragon +used to frequent the fencing school where the prince was a frequent +visitor, and there encountered all comers successfully. The duke got +angry, and one day he took up a foil and defied the Neapolitan +marquis to a combat. Dragon accepted and was thoroughly beaten, +while the duke went off in triumph, for he might say from henceforth +that he was the best fencer in St. Petersburg. + +When the prince had gone, Dragon could not withstand the temptation +of saying that he had only let himself be beaten for fear of +offending his antagonist; and this boast soon got to the grand-duke's +ears. The great man was terribly enraged, and swore he would have +him banished from St. Petersburg if he did not use all his skill, and +at the same time he sent an order to Dragon to be at the fencing +school the next day. + +The impatient duke was the first to arrive, and d'Aragon was not long +in coming. The prince began reproaching him for what he had said the +day before, but the Neapolitan, far from denying the fact, expressed +himself that he had felt himself obliged to shew his respect for his +prince by letting him rap him about for upwards of two hours. + +"Very good," said the duke, "but now it is your turn; and if you +don't do your best I will drive you from St. Petersburg." + +"My lord, your highness shall be obeyed. I shall not allow you to +touch me once, but I hope you will deign to take me under your +protection." + +The two champions passed the whole morning with the foils, and the +duke was hit a hundred times without being able to touch his +antagonist. At last, convinced of Dragon's superiority, he threw +down his foil and shook him by the hand, and made him his fencer-in- +ordinary, with the rank of major in his regiment of Holsteiners. + +Shortly after, D'Aragon having won the good graces of the duke +obtained leave to hold a bank at faro in his court, and in three or +four years he amassed a fortune of a hundred thousand roubles, which +he took with him to the Court of King Stanislas, where games of all +sorts were allowed. When he passed through Riga, St. Heleine +introduced him to Prince Charles, who begged him to call on him the +next day, and to shew his skill with the foils against himself and +some of his friends. I had the honour to be of the number; and +thoroughly well he beat us, for his skill was that of a demon. I was +vain enough to become angry at being hit at every pass, and told him +that I should not be afraid to meet him at a game of sharps. He was +calmer, and replied by taking my hand, and saying,-- + +"With the naked sword I fence in quite another style, and you are +quite right not to fear anyone, for you fence very well." + +D'Aragon set out for Warsaw the next day, but he unfortunately found +the place occupied by more cunning Greeks than himself. In six +months they had relieved him of his hundred thousand roubles, but +such is the lot of gamesters; no craft can be more wretched than +theirs. + +A week before I left Riga (where I stayed two months) Campioni fled +by favour of the good Prince Charles, and in a few days the Baron de +St. Heleine followed him without taking leave of a noble army of +creditors. He only wrote a letter to the Englishman Collins, to whom +he owed a thousand crowns, telling him that like an honest man he had +left his debts where he had contracted them. We shall hear more of +these three persons in the course of two years. + +Campioni left me his travelling carriage, which obliged me to use six +horses on my journey to St. Petersburg. I was sorry to leave Betty, +and I kept up an epistolary correspondence with her mother throughout +the whole of my stay at St. Petersburg. + +I left Riga with the thermometer indicating fifteen degrees of frost, +but though I travelled day and night, not leaving the carriage for +the sixty hours for which my journey lasted, I did not feel the cold +in the least. I had taken care to pay all the stages in advance, and +Marshal Braun, Governor of Livonia, had given me the proper passport. +On the box seat was a French servant who had begged me to allow him +to wait on me for the journey in return for a seat beside the +coachman. He kept his word and served me well, and though he was but +ill clad he bore the horrible cold for two days and three nights +without appearing to feel it. It is only a Frenchman who can bear +such trials; a Russian in similar attire would have been frozen to +death in twenty-four hours, despite plentiful doses of corn brandy. +I lost sight of this individual when I arrived at St. Petersburg, +but I met him again three months after, richly dressed, and occupying +a seat beside mine at the table of M. de Czernitscheff. He was the +uchitel of the young count, who sat beside him. But I shall have +occasion to speak more at length of the office of uchitel, or tutor, +in Russia. + +As for Lambert, who was beside me in the carriage, he did nothing but +eat, drink, and sleep the whole way; seldom speaking, for he +stammered, and could only talk about mathematical problems, on which +I was not always in the humour to converse. He was never amusing, +never had any sensible observation to make on the varied scenes +through which we passed; in short, he was a fool, and wearisome to +all save himself. + +I was only stopped once, and that was at Nawa, where the authorities +demanded a passport, which I did not possess. I told the governor +that as I was a Venetian, and only travelled for pleasure, I did not +conceive a passport would be necessary, my Republic not being at war +with any other power, and Russia having no embassy at Venice. + +"Nevertheless," I added, "if your excellency wills it I will turn +back; but I shall complain to Marshal Braun, who gave me the passport +for posting, knowing that I had not the political passport." + +After rubbing his forehead for a minute, the governor gave me a pass, +which I still possess, and which brought me into St. Petersburg, +without my having to allow the custom-house officers to inspect my +trunks. + +Between Koporie and St. Petersburg there is only a wretched hut for +the accommodation of travellers. The country is a wilderness, and +the inhabitants do not even speak Russian. The district is called +Ingria, and I believe the jargon spoken has no affinity with any +other language. The principal occupation of the peasants is robbery, +and the traveller does well not to leave any of his effects alone for +a moment. + +I got to St. Petersburg just as the first rays of the sun began to +gild the horizon. It was in the winter solstice, and the sun rose at +the extremity of an immense plain at twenty-four minutes past nine, +so I am able to state that the longest night in Russia consists of +eighteen hours and three quarters. + +I got down in a fine street called the Millione. I found a couple of +empty rooms, which the people of the house furnished with two beds, +four chairs, and two small tables, and rented to me very cheaply. +Seeing the enormous stoves, I concluded they must consume a vast +amount of wood, but I was mistaken. Russia is the land of stoves as +Venice is that of cisterns. I have inspected the interior of these +stoves in summer-time as minutely as if I wished to find out the +secret of making them; they are twelve feet high by six broad, and +are capable of warming a vast room. They are only refuelled once in +twenty-four hours, for as soon as the wood is reduced to the state of +charcoal a valve is shut in the upper part of the stove. + +It is only in the houses of noblemen that the stoves are refuelled +twice a day, because servants are strictly forbidden to close the +valve, and for a very good reason. + +If a gentleman chance to come home and order his servants to warm his +room before he goes to bed, and if the servant is careless enough to +close the valve before the wood is reduced to charcoal, then the +master sleeps his last sleep, being suffocated in three or four +hours. When the door is opened in the morning he is found dead, and +the poor devil of a servant is immediately hanged, whatever he may +say. This sounds severe, and even cruel; but it is a necessary +regulation, or else a servant would be able to get rid of his master +on the smallest provocation. + +After I had made an agreement for my board and lodging, both of which +were very cheap (now St. Petersburg, is as dear as London), I brought +some pieces of furniture which were necessaries for me, but which +were not as yet much in use in Russia, such as a commode, a bureau, &c. + +German is the language principally spoken in St. Petersburg, and I +did not speak German much better then than I do now, so I had a good +deal of difficulty in making myself understood, and usually excited +my auditors to laughter. + +After dinner my landlord told me that the Court was giving a masked +ball to five thousand persons to last sixty hours. He gave me a +ticket, and told me I only needed to shew it at the entrance of the +imperial palace. + +I decided to use the ticket, for I felt that I should like to be +present at so numerous an assembly, and as I had my domino still by +me a mask was all I wanted. I went to the palace in a sedan-chair, +and found an immense crowd assembled, and dancing going on in several +halls in each of which an orchestra was stationed. There were long +counters loaded with eatables and drinkables at which those who were +hungry or thirsty ate or drank as much as they liked. Gaiety and +freedom reigned everywhere, and the light of a thousand wax candles +illuminated the hall. Everything was wonderful, and all the more so +from its contrast with the cold and darkness that were without. All +at once I heard a masquer beside me say to another,-- + +"There's the czarina." + +We soon saw Gregory Orloff, for his orders were to follow the empress +at a distance. + +I followed the masquer, and I was soon persuaded that it was really +the empress, for everybody was repeating it, though no one openly +recognized her. Those who really did not know her jostled her in the +crowd, and I imagined that she would be delighted at being treated +thus, as it was a proof of the success of her disguise. Several +times I saw her speaking in Russian to one masquer and another. No +doubt she exposed her vanity to some rude shocks, but she had also +the inestimable advantage of hearing truths which her courtiers would +certainly not tell her. The masquer who was pronounced to be Orloff +followed her everywhere, and did not let her out of his sight for a +moment. He could not be mistaken, as he was an exceptionally tall +man and had a peculiar carriage of the head. + +I arrested my progress in a hall where the French square dance was +being performed, and suddenly there appeared a masquer disguised in +the Venetian style. The costume was so complete that I at once set +him down as a fellow-countryman, for very few strangers can imitate +us so as to escape detection. As it happened, he came and stood next +to me. + +"One would think you were a Venetian," I said to him in French. + +"So I am." + +"Like myself." + +"I am not jesting." + +"No more am I." + +"Then let us speak in Venetian." + +"Do you begin, and I will reply." + +We began our conversation, but when he came to the word Sabato, +Saturday, which is a Sabo in Venetian, I discovered that he was a +real Venetian, but not from Venice itself. He said I was right, and +that he judged from my accent that I came from Venice. + +"Quite so," said I. + +"I thought Bernadi was the only Venetian besides myself in St. +Petersburg." + +"You see you are mistaken." + +"My name is Count Volpati di Treviso." + +"Give me your address, and I will come and tell you who I am, for I +cannot do so here." + +"Here it is." + +After leaving the count I continued my progress through this +wonderful hall, and two or three hours after I was attracted by the +voice of a female masquer speaking Parisian French in a high +falsetto, such as is common at an opera ball. + +I did not recognize the voice but I knew the style, and felt quite +certain that the masquer must be one of my old friends, for she spoke +with the intonations and phraseology which I had rendered popular in +my chief places of resort at Paris. + +I was curious to see who it could be, and not wishing to speak before +I knew her, I had the patience to wait till she lifted her mask, and +this occurred at the end of an hour. What was my surprise to see +Madame Baret, the stocking-seller of the Rue St. Honor& My love awoke +from its long sleep, and coming up to her I said, in a falsetto +voice,-- + +"I am your friend of the 'Hotel d'Elbeuf.'" + +She was puzzled, and looked the picture of bewilderment. I whispered +in her ear, "Gilbert Baret, Rue des Prouveres," and certain other +facts which could only be known to herself and a fortunate lover. + +She saw I knew her inmost secrets, and drawing me away she begged me +to tell her who I was. + +"I was your lover, and a fortunate one, too," I replied; "but before +I tell you my name, with whom are you, and how are you?" + +"Very well; but pray do not divulge what I tell you. I left Paris +with M. d'Anglade, counsellor in the Court of Rouen. I lived happily +enough for some time with him, and then left him to go with a +theatrical manager, who brought me here as an actress under the name +of de l'Anglade, and now I am kept by Count Rzewuski, the Polish +ambassador. And now tell me who you are?" + +Feeling sure of enjoying her again, I lifted my mask. She gave a cry +of joy, and exclaimed,-- + +"My good angel has brought you to St. Petersburg." + +"How do you mean?" + +"Rzewuski is obliged to go back to Poland, and now I count on you to +get me out of the country, for I can no longer continue in a station +for which I was not intended, since I can neither sing nor act." + +She gave me her address, and I left her delighted with my discovery. +After having passed half an hour at the counter, eating and drinking +of the best, I returned to the crowd and saw my fair stocking-seller +talking to Count Volpati. He had seen her with me, and hastened to +enquire my name of her. However, she was faithful to our mutual +promise, and told him I was her husband, though the Venetian did not +seem to give the least credence to this piece of information. + +At last I was tired and left the ball, and went to bed intending to +go to mass in the morning. I slept for some time and woke, but as it +was still dark I turned on the other side and went to sleep again. +At last I awoke again, and seeing the daylight stealing through my +double windows, I sent for a hairdresser, telling my man to make +haste as I wanted to hear mass on the first Sunday after my arrival +in St. Petersburg. + +"But sir," said he, "the first Sunday was yesterday; we are at Monday +now." + +"What! Monday?" + +"Yes, sir." + +I had spent twenty-seven hours in bed, and after laughing at the +mishap I felt as if I could easily believe it, for my hunger was like +that of a cannibal. + +This is the only day which I really lost in my life; but I do not +weep like the Roman emperor, I laugh. But this is not the only +difference between Titus and Casanova. + +I called on Demetrio Papanelopulo, the Greek merchant, who was to pay +me a hundred roubles a month. I was also commended to him by M. da +Loglio, and I had an excellent reception. He begged me to come and +dine with him every day, paid me the roubles for the month due, and +assured me that he had honoured my bill drawn at Mitau. He also +found me a reliable servant, and a carriage at eighteen roubles, or +six ducats per month. Such cheapness has, alas! departed for ever. + +The next day, as I was dining with the worthy Greek and young +Bernardi, who was afterwards poisoned, Count Volpati came in with the +dessert, and told us how he had met a Venetian at the ball who had +promised to come and see him. + +"The Venetian would have kept his promise," said I, "if he had not +had a long sleep of twenty-seven hours. I am the Venetian, and am +delighted to continue our acquaintance." + +The count was about to leave, and his departure had already been +announced in the St. Petersburg Gazette. The Russian custom is not +to give a traveller his passports till a fortnight has elapsed after +the appearance of his name in the paper. This regulation is for the +advantage of tradesmen, while it makes foreigners think twice before +they contract any debts. + +The next day I took a letter of introduction to M. Pietro Ivanovitch +Melissino, colonel and afterwards general of artillery. The letter +was written by Madame da Loglio, who was very intimate with +Melissino. I was most politely welcomed, and after presenting me to +his pleasant wife, he asked me once for all to sup with him every +night. The house was managed in the French style, and both play and +supper were conducted without any ceremony. I met there Melissino's +elder brother, the procurator of the Holy Synod and husband of the +Princess Dolgorouki. Faro went on, and the company was composed of +trustworthy persons who neither boasted of their gains nor bewailed +their losses to anyone, and so there was no fear of the Government +discovering this infrigement of the law against gaming. The bank was +held by Baron Lefort, son of the celebrated admiral of Peter the +Great. Lefort was an example of the inconstancy of fortune; he was +then in disgrace on account of a lottery which he had held at Moscow +to celebrate the coronation of the empress, who had furnished him +with the necessary funds. The lottery had been broken and the fact +was attributed to the baron's supposed dishonesty. + +I played for small stakes and won a few roubles. I made friends with +Baron Lefort at supper, and he afterwards told me of the vicissitudes +he had experienced. + +As I was praising the noble calmness with which a certain prince had +lost a thousand roubles to him, he laughed and said that the fine +gamester I had mentioned played upon credit but never paid. + +"How about his honour?" + +"It is not affected by the non-payment of gaming debts. It is an +understood thing in Russia that one who plays on credit and loses may +pay or not pay as he wishes, and the winner only makes himself +ridiculous by reminding the loser of his debt." + +"Then the holder of the bank has the right to refuse to accept bets +which are not backed by ready money." + +"Certainly; and nobody has a right to be offended with him for doing +so. Gaming is in a very bad state in Russia. I know young men of +the highest rank whose chief boast is that they know how to conquer +fortune; that is, to cheat. One of the Matuschkins goes so far as to +challenge all foreign cheats to master him. He has just received +permission to travel for three years, and it is an open secret that +he wishes to travel that he may exercise his skill. He intends +returning to Russia laden with the spoils of the dupes he has made." + +A young officer of the guards named Zinowieff, a relation of the +Orloffs, whom I had met at Melissino's, introduced me to Macartney, +the English ambassador, a young man of parts and fond of pleasure. +He had fallen in love with a young lady of the Chitroff family, and +maid of honour to the empress, and finding his affection reciprocated +a baby was the result. The empress disapproved strongly of this +piece of English freedom, and had the ambassador recalled, though she +forgave her maid of honour. This forgiveness was attributed to the +young lady's skill in dancing. I knew the brother of this lady, a +fine and intelligent young officer. I had the good fortune to be +admitted to the Court, and there I had the pleasure of seeing Mdlle. +Chitroff dancing, and also Mdlle. Sievers, now Princesss, whom I saw +again at Dresden four years ago with her daughter, an extremely +genteel young princess. I was enchanted with Mdlle. Sievers, and +felt quite in love with her; but as we were never introduced I had no +opportunity of declaring my passion. Putini, the castrato, was high +in her favour, as indeed he deserved to be, both for his talents and +the beauties of his person. + +The worthy Papanelopulo introduced me to Alsuwieff, one of the +ministers, a man of wit and letters, and only one of the kind whom I +met in Russia. He had been an industrious student at the University +of Upsala, and loved wine, women, and good cheer. He asked me to +dine with Locatelli at Catherinhoff, one of the imperial mansions, +which the empress had assigned to the old theatrical manager for the +remainder of his days. He was astonished to see me, and I was more +astonished still to find that he had turned taverner, for he gave an +excellent dinner every day to all who cared to pay a rouble, +exclusive of wine. M. d'Alsuwieff introduced me to his colleague in +the ministry, Teploff, whose vice was that he loved boys, and his +virtue that he had strangled Peter III. + +Madame Mecour, the dancer, introduced me to her lover, Ghelaghin, +also a minister. He had spent twenty years of his life in Siberia. + +A letter from Da Loglio got me a warm welcome from the castrato +Luini, a delightful man, who kept a splendid table. He was the lover +of Colonna, the singer, but their affection seemed to me a torment, +for they could scarce live together in peace for a single day. At +Luini's house I met another castrato, Millico, a great friend of the +chief huntsman, Narischkin, who also became one of my friends. This +Narischkin, a pleasant and a well-informed man, was the husband of +the famous Maria Paulovna. It was at the chief huntsman's splendid +table that I met Calogeso Plato, now archbishop of Novgorod, and then +chaplain to the empress. This monk was a Russian, and a master of +ruses, understood Greek, and spoke Latin and French, and was what +would be called a fine man. It was no wonder that he rose to such a +height, as in Russia the nobility never lower themselves by accepting +church dignities. + +Da Loglio had given me a letter for the Princess Daschkoff, and I +took it to her country house, at the distance of three versts from +St. Petersburg. She had been exiled from the capital, because, +having assisted Catherine to ascend the throne, she claimed to share +it with her. + +I found the princess mourning for the loss of her husband. She +welcomed me kindly, and promised to speak to M. Panin on my behalf; +and three days later she wrote to me that I could call on that +nobleman as soon as I liked. This was a specimen of the empress's +magnanimity; she had disgraced the princess, but she allowed her +favourite minister to pay his court to her every evening. I have +heard, on good authority, that Panin was not the princess's lover, +but her father. She is now the President of the Academy of Science, +and I suppose the literati must look upon her as another Minerva, or +else they would be ashamed to have a woman at their head. For +completeness' sake the Russians should get a woman to command their +armies, but Joan d'Arcs are scarce. + +Melissino and I were present at an extraordinary ceremony on the Day +of the Epiphany, namely the blessing of the Neva, then covered with +five feet of ice. + +After the benediction of the waters children were baptized by being +plunged into a large hole which had been made in the ice. On the day +on which I was present the priest happened to let one of the children +slip through his hands. + +"Drugoi!" he cried. + +That is, "Give me another." But my surprise may be imagined when I +saw that the father and mother of the child were in an ecstasy of +joy; they were certain that the babe had been carried straight to +heaven. Happy ignorance! + +I had a letter from the Florentine Madame Bregonci for her friend the +Venetian Roccolini, who had left Venice to go and sing at the St. +Petersburg Theatre, though she did not know a note of music, and had +never appeared on the stage. The empress laughed at her, and said +she feared there was no opening in St. Petersburg for her peculiar +talents, but the Roccolini, who was known as La Vicenza, was not the +woman to lose heart for so small a check. She became an intimate +friend of a Frenchwoman named Prote, the wife of a merchant who lived +with the chief huntsman. She was at the same time his mistress and +the confidante of his wife Maria Petrovna, who did not like her +husband, and was very much obliged to the Frenchwoman for delivering +her from the conjugal importunities. + +This Prote was one of the handsomest women I have ever seen, and +undoubtedly the handsomest in St. Petersburg at that time. She was +in the flower of her age. She had at once a wonderful taste for +gallantry and for all the mysteries of the toilette. In dress she +surpassed everyone, and as she was witty and amusing she captivated +all hearts. Such was the woman whose friend and procuress La Vicenza +had become. She received the applications of those who were in love +with Madame Prote, and passed them on, while, whether a lover's suit +was accepted or not, the procuress got something out of him. + +I recognized Signora Roccolini as soon as I saw her, but as twenty +years had elapsed since our last meeting she did not wonder at my +appearing not to know her, and made no efforts to refresh my memory. +Her brother was called Montellato, and he it was who tried to +assassinate me one night in St. Mark's Square, as I was leaving the +Ridotto. The plot that would have cost me my life, if I had not made +my escape from the window, was laid in the Roccolini's house. + +She welcomed me as a fellow-countryman in a strange land, told me of +her struggles, and added that now she had an easy life of it, and +associated with the pleasantest ladies in St. Petersburg. + +"I am astonished that you have not met the fair Madame Prote at the +chief huntsman's, for she is the darling of his heart. Come and take +coffee with me to-morrow, and you shall see a wonder." + +I kept the appointment, and I found the lady even more beautiful than +the Venetian's praises of her had led me to expect. I was dazzled by +her beauty, but not being a rich man I felt that I must set my wits +to work if I wanted to enjoy her. I asked her name, though I knew it +quite well, and she replied, "Prote." + +"I am glad to hear it, madam," said I, "for you thereby promise to be +mine." + +"How so?" said she, with a charming smile. I explained the pun, and +made her laugh. I told her amusing stories, and let her know the +effect that her beauty had produced on me, and that I hoped time +would soften her heart to me. The acquaintance was made, and +thenceforth I never went to Narischkin's without calling on her, +either before or after dinner. + +The Polish ambassador returned about that time, and I had to forego +my enjoyment of the fair Anglade, who accepted a very advantegeous +proposal which was made her by Count Brawn. This charming +Frenchwoman died of the small-pox a few months later, and there can +be no doubt that her death was a blessing, as she would have fallen +into misery and poverty after her beauty had once decayed. + +I desired to succeed with Madame Prote, and with that idea I asked +her to dinner at Locatelli's with Luini, Colonna, Zinowieff, Signora +Vicenza, and a violinist, her lover. We had an excellent dinner +washed down with plenty of wine, and the spirits of the company were +wound up to the pitch I desired. After the repast each gentleman +went apart with his lady, and I was on the point of success when an +untoward accident interrupted us. We were summoned to see the proofs +of Luini's prowess; he had gone out shooting with his dogs and guns. + +As I was walking away from Catherinhoff with Zinowieff I noticed a +young country-woman whose beauty astonished me. I pointed her out to +the young officer, and we made for her; but she fled away with great +activity to a little cottage, where we followed her. We went in and +saw the father, mother, and some children, and in a corner the timid +form of the fair maiden. + +Zinowieff (who, by the way, was for twenty years Russian ambassador +at Madrid) had a long conversation in Russian with the father. I did +not understand what was said, but I guessed it referred to the girl +because, when her father called her, she advanced submissively, and +stood modestly before us. + +The conversation over, Zinowieff went out, and I followed him after +giving the master of the house a rouble. Zinowieff told me what had +passed, saying that he had asked the father if he would let him have +the daughter as a maid-servant, and the father had replied that it +should be so with all his heart, but that he must have a hundred +roubles for her, as she was still a virgin. "So you see," added +Zinowieff, "the matter is quite simple." + +"How simple?" + +"Why, yes; only a hundred roubles." + +"And supposing me to be inclined to give that sum?" + +"Then she would be your servant, and you could do anything you liked +with her, except kill her." + +"And supposing she is not willing?" + +"That never happens, but if it did you could have beaten her." + +"Well, if she is satisfied and I enjoy her, can I still continue to +keep her?" + +"You will be her master, I tell you, and can have her arrested if she +attempts to escape, unless she can return the hundred roubles you +gave for her." + +"What must I give her per month?" + +"Nothing, except enough to eat and drink. You must also let her go +to the baths on Saturday and to the church on Sunday." + +"Can I make her come with me when I leave St. Petersburg?" + +"No, unless you obtain permission and find a surety, for though the +girl would be your slave she would still be a slave to the empress." + +"Very good; then will you arrange this matter for me? I will give +the hundred roubles, and I promise you I will not treat her as a +slave. But I hope you will care for my interests, as I do not wish +to be duped." + +"I promise you you shall not be duped; I will see to everything. +Would you like her now?" + +"No, to-morrow." + +"Very good; then to-morrow it shall be." + +We returned to St. Petersburg in a phaeton, and the next day at nine +o'clock I called on Zinowieff, who said he was delighted to do me +this small service. On the way he said that if I liked he could get +me a perfect seraglio of pretty girls in a few days. + +"No," said I, "one is enough." And I gave him the hundred roubles. + +We arrived at the cottage, where we found the father, mother, and +daughter. Zinowieff explained his business crudely enough, after the +custom of the country, and the father thanked St. Nicholas for the +good luck he had sent him. He spoke to his daughter, who looked at +me and softly uttered the necessary yes. + +Zinowieff then told me that I ought to ascertain that matters were +intact, as I was going to pay for a virgin. I was afraid of +offending her, and would have nothing to do with it; but Zinowieff +said the girl would be mortified if I did not examine her, and that +she would be delighted if I place her in a position to prove before +her father and mother that her conduct had always been virtuous. I +therefore made the examination as modestly as I could, and I found +her to be intact. To tell the truth, I should not have said anything +if things had been otherwise. + +Zinowieff then gave the hundred roubles to the father, who handed +them to his daughter, and she only took them to return them to her +mother. My servant and coachman were then called in to witness as +arrangement of which they knew nothing. + +I called her Zaira, and she got into the carriage and returned with +me to St. Petersburg in her coarse clothes, without a chemise of any +kind. After I had dropped Zinowieff at his lodging I went home, and +for four days I was engaged in collecting and arranging my slave's +toilet, not resting till I had dressed her modestly in the French +style. In less than three months she had learnt enough Italian to +tell me what she wanted and to understand me. She soon loved me, and +afterwards she got jealous. But we shall hear more of her in the +following chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Crevecoeur--Bomback--Journey to Moscow--My Adventures At +St. Petersburg + +The day on which I took Zaira I sent Lambert away, for I did not know +what to do with him. He got drunk every day, and when in his cups he +was unbearable. Nobody would have anything to say to him except as a +common soldier, and that is not an enviable position in Russia. I +got him a passport for Berlin, and gave him enough money for the +journey. I heard afterwards that he entered the Austrian service. + +In May, Zaira had become so beautiful that when I went to Moscow I +dared not leave her behind me, so I took her in place of a servant. +It was delicious to me to hear her chattering in the Venetian dialect +I had taught her. On a Saturday I would go with her to the bath +where thirty of forty naked men and women were bathing together +without the slightest constraint. This absence of shame must arise, +I should imagine, from native innocence; but I wondered that none +looked at Zaira, who seemed to me the original of the statue of +Psyche I had seen at the Villa Borghese at Rome. She was only +fourteen, so her breast was not yet developed, and she bore about her +few traces of puberty. Her skin was as white as snow, and her ebony +tresses covered the whole of her body, save in a few places where the +dazzling whiteness of her skin shone through. Her eyebrows were +perfectly shaped, and her eyes, though they might have been larger, +could not have been more brilliant or more expressive. If it had not +been for her furious jealousy and her blind confidence in fortune- +telling by cards, which she consulted every day, Zaira would have +been a paragon among women, and I should never have left her. + +A young and distinguished-looking Frenchman came to St. Petersburg +with a young Parisian named La Riviere, who was tolerably pretty but +quite devoid of education, unless it were that education common to +all the girls who sell their charms in Paris. This young man came to +me with a letter from Prince Charles of Courland, who said that if I +could do anything for the young couple he would be grateful to me. +They arrived just as I was breakfasting with Zaira. + +"You must tell me," said I to the young Frenchman, "in what way I can +be of use to you." + +"By admitting us to your company, and introducing us to your +friends." + +"Well, I am a stranger here, and I will come and see you, and you can +come and see me, and I shall be delighted; but I never dine at home. +As to my friends, you must feel that, being a stranger, I could not +introduce you and the lady. Is she your wife? People will ask me +who you are, and what you are doing at St. Petersburg. What am I to +say? I wonder Prince Charles did not send you to someone else." + +"I am a gentleman of Lorraine, and Madame la Riviere is my mistress, +and my object in coming to St. Petersburg is to amuse myself." + +"Then I don't know to whom I could introduce you under the +circumstances; but I should think you will be able to find plenty of +amusement without knowing anyone. The theatres, the streets, and +even the Court entertainments, are open to everyone. I suppose you +have plenty of money?" + +"That's exactly what I haven't got, and I don't expect any either." + +"Well, I have not much more, but you really astonish me. How could +you have been so foolish as to come here without money?" + +"Well, my mistress said we could do with what money we got from day +to day. She induced me to leave Paris without a farthing, and up to +now it seems to me that she is right. We have managed to get on +somehow." + +"Then she has the purse?" + +"My purse," said she, "is in the pockets of my friends." + +"I understand, and I am sure you have no difficulty in finding the +wherewithal to live. If I had such a purse, it should be opened for +you, but I am not a rich man." + +Bomback, a citizen of Hamburg, whom I had known in England whence he +had fled on account of his debts, had come to St. Petersburg and +entered the army. He was the son of a rich merchant and kept up a +house, a carriage, and an army of servants; he was a lover of good +cheer, women, and gambling, and contracted debts everywhere. He was +an ugly man, but full of wit and energy. He happened to call on me +just as I was addressing the strange traveller whose purse was in the +pocket of her friends. I introduced the couple to him, telling the +whole story, the item of the purse excepted. The adventure was just +to Bomback's taste, and he began making advances to Madame la +Riviere, who received them in a thoroughly professional spirit, and I +was inwardly amused and felt that her axiom was a true one. Bomback +asked them to dine with him the next day, and begged them to come and +take an unceremonious dinner the same day with him at Crasnacaback. +I was included in the invitation, and Zaira, not understanding +French, asked me what we were talking about, and on my telling her +expressed a desire to accompany me. I gave in to appease her, for I +knew the wish proceeded from jealousy, and that if I did not consent +I should be tormented by tears, ill-humour, reproaches, melancholy, +etc. This had occurred several times before, and so violent had she +been that I had been compelled to conform to the custom of the +country and beat her. Strange to say, I could not have taken a +better way to prove my love. Such is the character of the Russian +women. After the blows had been given, by slow degrees she became +affectionate again, and a love encounter sealed the reconciliation. + +Bomback left us to make his preparations in high spirits, and while +Zaira was dressing, Madame Riviere talked in such a manner as to make +me almost think that I was absolutely deficient in knowledge of the +world. The astonishing thing was that her lover did not seem in the +least ashamed of the part he had to play. He might say that he was +in love with the Messalina, but the ex. cuse would not have been +admissible. + +The party was a merry one. Bomback talked to the adventuress, Zaira +sat on my knee, and Crevecoeur ate and drank, laughed in season and +out of season, and walked up and down. The crafty Madame Riviere +incited Bomback to risk twenty-five roubles at quinze; he lost and +paid pleasantly, and only got a kiss for his money. Zaira, who was +delighted to be able to watch over me and my fidelity, jested +pleasantly on the Frenchwoman and the complaisance of her lover. +This was altogether beyond her comprehension, and she could not +understand how he could bear such deeds as were done before his face. + +The next day I went to Bomback by myself, as I was sure of meeting +young Russian officers, who would have annoyed me by making love to +Zaira in their own language. I found the two travellers and the +brothers Lunin, then lieutenants but now generals. The younger of +them was as fair and pretty as any girl. He had been the beloved of +the minister Teploff, and, like a lad of wit, he not only was not +ashamed but openly boasted that it was his custom to secure the good- +will of all men by his caresses. + +He had imagined the rich citizen of Hamburg to be of the same tastes +as Teploff, and he had not been mistaken; and so he degraded me by +forming the same supposition. With this idea he seated himself next +to me at table, and behaved himself in such a manner during dinner +that I began to believe him to be a girl in man's clothes. + +After dinner, as I was sitting at the fire, between him and the +Frenchman, I imparted my suspicions to him; but jealous of the +superiority of his sex, he displayed proof of it on the spot, and +forthwith got hold of me and put himself in a position to make my +happiness and his own as he called it. I confess, to my shame, that +he might perhaps have succeeded, if Madame la Riviere, indignant at +this encroachment of her peculiar province, had not made him desist. + +Lunin the elder, Crevecceur, and Bomback, who had been for a walk, +returned at nightfall with two or three friends, and easily consoled +the Frenchman for the poor entertainment the younger Lunin and myself +had given him. + +Bomback held a bank at faro, which only came to an end at eleven, +when the money was all gone. We then supped, and the real orgy +began, in which la Riviere bore the brunt in a manner that was simply +astonishing. I and my friend Lunin were merely spectators, and poor +Crevecoeur had gone to bed. We did not separate till day-break. + +I got home, and, fortunately for myself, escaped the bottle which +Zaira flung at my head, and which would infallibly have killed me if +it had hit me. She threw herself on to the ground, and began to +strike it with her forehead. I thought she had gone mad, and +wondered whether I had better call for assistance; but she became +quiet enough to call me assassin and traitor, with all the other +abusive epithets that she could remember. To convict me of my crime +she shewed me twenty-five cards, placed in order, and on them she +displayed the various enormities of which I had been guilty. + +I let her go on till her rage was somewhat exhausted, and then, +having thrown her divining apparatus into the fire, I looked at her +in pity and anger, and said that we must part the next day, as she +had narrowly escaped killing me. I confessed that I had been with +Bomback, and that there had been a girl in the house; but I denied +all the other sins of which she accused me. I then went to sleep +without taking the slightest notice of her, in spite of all she said +and did to prove her repentance. + +I woke after a few hours to find her sleeping soundly, and I began to +consider how I could best rid myself of the girl, who would probably +kill me if we continued living together. Whilst I was absorbed in +these thoughts she awoke, and falling at my feet wept and professed +her utter repentance, and promised never to touch another card as +long as I kept her. + +At last I could resist her entreaties no longer, so I took her in my +arms and forgave her; and we did not part till she had received +undeniable proofs of the return of my affection. I intended to start +for Moscow in three days, and she was delighted when she heard she +was to go. + +Three circumstances had won me this young girl's furious affection. +In the first place I often took her to see her family, with whom I +always left a rouble; in the second I made her eat with me; and in +the third I had beaten her three or four times when she had tried to +prevent me going out. + +In Russia beating is a matter of necessity, for words have no force +whatever. A servant, mistress, or courtezan understands nothing but +the lash. Words are altogether thrown away, but a few good strokes +are entirely efficacious. The servant, whose soul is still more +enslaved than his body, reasons somewhat as follows, after he has had +a beating: + +"My master has not sent me away, but beaten me; therefore he loves +me, and I ought to be attached to him." + +It is the same with the Russian soldier, and in fact with everybody. +Honour stands for nothing, but with the knout and brandy one can get +anything from them except heroical enthusiasm. + +Papanelopulo laughed at me when I said that as I liked my Cossack I +should endeavour to correct him with words only when he took too much +brandy. + +"If you do not beat him," he said, "he will end by beating you;" and +he spoke the truth. + +One day, when he was so drunk as to be unable to attend on me, I +began to scold him, and threatened him with the stick if he did not +mend his ways. As soon as he saw my cane lifted, he ran at me and +got hold of it; and if I had not knocked him down immediately, he +would doubtless have beaten me. I dismissed him on the spot. There +is not a better servant in the world than a Russian. He works +without ceasing, sleeps in front of the door of his master's bedroom +to be always ready to fulfil his orders, never answering his +reproaches, incapable of theft. But after drinking a little too much +brandy he becomes a perfect monster; and drunkenness is the vice of +the whole nation. + +A coachman knows no other way of resisting the bitter cold to which +he is exposed, than by drinking rye brandy. It sometimes happens +that he drinks till he falls asleep, and then there is no awaking for +him in this world. Unless one is very careful, it is easy to lose an +ear, the nose, a cheek, or a lip by frost bites. One day as I was +walking out on a bitterly cold day, a Russian noticed that one of my +ears was frozen. He ran up to me and rubbed the affected part with a +handful of snow till the circulation was restored. I asked him how +he had noticed my state, and he said he had remarked the livid +whiteness of my ear, and this, he said, was always a sign that the +frost had taken it. What surprised me most of all is that sometimes +the part grows again after it has dropped off. Prince Charles of +Courland assured me that he had cost his nose in Siberia, and that it +had grown again the next summer. I have been assured of the truth of +this by several Russians. + +About this time the empress made the architect Rinaldi, who had been +fifty years in St. Petersburg, build her an enormous wooden +amphitheatre so large as to cover the whole of the space in front of +the palace. It would contain a hundred thousand spectators, and in +it Catherine intended to give a vast tournament to all the knights of +her empire. There were to be four parties of a hundred knights each, +and all the cavaliers were to be clad in the national costume of the +nations they represented. All the Russians were informed of this +great festival, which was to be given at the expense of the +sovereign, and the princes, counts, and barons were already arriving +with their chargers from the most remote parts of the empire. Prince +Charles of Courland wrote informing me of his intention to be +present. + +It had been ordained, that the tournament should take place on the +first fine day, and this precaution was a very wise one; for, +excepting in the season of the hard frosts, a day without rain, or +snow, or wind, is a marvel. In Italy, Spain, and France, one can +reckon on fine weather, and bad weather is the exception, but it is +quite the contrary in Russia. Ever since I have known this home of +frost and the cold north wind, I laugh when I hear travelling +Russians talking of the fine climate of their native country. +However, it is a pardonable weakness, most of us prefer "mine" to +"thine;" nobles affect to consider themselves of purer blood than the +peasants from whom they sprang, and the Romans and other ancient +nations pretended that they were the children of the gods, to draw a +veil over their actual ancestors who were doubtless robbers. The +truth is, that during the whole year 1756 there was not one fine day +in Russia, or in Ingria at all events, and the mere proofs of this +statement may be found in the fact that the tournament was not held +in that year. It was postponed till the next, and the princes, +counts, barons, and knights spent the winter in the capital, unless +their purses forbade them to indulge in the luxuries of Court life. +The dear Prince of Courland was in this case, to my great +disappointment. + +Having made all arrangements for my journey to Moscow, I got into my +sleeping carriage with Zaira, having a servant behind who could speak +both Russian and German. For twenty-four roubles the chevochic +(hirer out of horses) engaged to carry me to Moscow in six days and +seven nights with six horses. This struck me as being extremely +cheap. The distance is seventy-two Russian stages, almost equivalent +to five hundred Italian miles, or a hundred and sixty French leagues. + +We set out just as a cannon shot from the citadel announced the close +of day. It was towards the end of May, in which month there is +literally no night at St. Petersburg. Without the report of the +cannon no one would be able to tell when the day ended and the night +began. One can read a letter at midnight, and the moonlight makes no +appreciable difference. This continual day lasts for eight weeks, +and during that time no one lights a candle. At Moscow it is +different; a candle is always necessary at midnight if one wished to +read. + +We reached Novgorod in forty-eight hours, and here the chevochic +allowed us a rest of five hours. I saw a circumstance there which +surprised me very much, though one has no business to be surprised at +anything if one travels much, and especially in a land of half +savages. I asked the chevochic to drink, but he appeared to be in +great melancholy. I enquired what was the matter, and he told Zaira +that one of his horses had refused to eat, and that it was clear that +if he could not eat he could not work. We followed him into the +stable, and found the horse looking oppressed by care, its head +lowered and motionless; it had evidently got no appetite. His master +began a pathetic oration, looking tenderly at the animal, as if to +arouse it to a sense of duty, and then taking its head, and kissing +it lovingly, he put it into the manger, but to no purpose. Then the +man began to weep bitterly, but in such a way that I had the greatest +difficulty to prevent myself laughing, for I could see that he wept +in the hope that his tears might soften the brute's heart. When he +had wept some time he again put the horse's head into the manger, but +again to no purpose. At this he got furious and swore to be avenged. +He led the horse out of the stable, tied it to a post, and beat it +with a thick stick for a quarter of an hour so violently that my +heart bled for the poor animal. At last the chevochic was tired out, +and taking the horse back to the stable he fastened up his head once +more, and to my astonishment it began to devour its provender with +the greatest appetite. At this the master jumped for joy, laughed, +sang, and committed a thousand extravagancies, as if to shew the +horse how happy it had made him. I was beside myself with +astonishment, and concluded that such treatment would have succeeded +nowhere but in Russia, where the stick seems to be the panacea or +universal medicine. + +They tell me, however, that the stick is gradually going out of +fashion. Peter the Great used to beat his generals black and blue, +and in his days a lieutenant had to receive with all submission the +cuffs of his captain, who bent before the blows of his major, who did +the same to his colonel, who received chastisement from his general. +So I was informed by old General Woyakoff, who was a pupil of Peter +the Great, and had often been beaten by the great emperor, the +founder of St. Petersburg. + +It seems to me that I have scarcely said anything about this great +and famous capital, which in my opinion is built on somewhat +precarious foundations. No one but Peter could have thus given the +lie to Nature by building his immense palaces of marble and granite +on mud and shifting sand. They tell me that the town is now in its +manhood, to the honour of the great Catherine; but in the year 1765 +it was still in its minority, and seemed to me only to have been +built with the childish aim of seeing it fall into ruins. Streets +were built with the certainty of having to repair them in six months' +time. The whole place proclaimed itself to be the whim of a despot. +If it is to be durable constant care will be required, for nature +never gives up its rights and reasserts them when the constraint of +man is withdrawn. My theory is that sooner or later the soil must +give way and drag the vast city with it. + +We reached Moscow in the time the chevochic had promised. As the +same horses were used for the whole journey, it would have been +impossible to travel mote quickly. A Russian told me that the +Empress Elizabeth had done the journey in fifty-two hours. + +"You mean that she issued a ukase to the effect that she had done +it," said a Russian of the old school; "and if she had liked she +could have travelled more quickly still; it was only a question of +the wording of the ukase." + +Even when I was in Russia it was not allowable to doubt the +infallibility of a ukase, and to do so was, equivalent to high +treason. One day I was crossing a canal at St. Petersburg by a small +wooden bridge; Melissino Papanelopulo, and some other Russians were +with me. I began to abuse the wooden bridge, which I characterized +as both mean and dangerous. One of my companions said that on such a +day it would be replaced by a fine stone bridge, as the empress had +to pass there on some state occasion. The day named way three weeks +off, and I said plainly that it was impossible. One of the Russians +looked askance at me, and said there was no doubt about it, as a +ukase had been published ordering that the bridge should be built. I +was going to answer him, but Papanelopulo gave my hand a squeeze, and +whispered "Taci!" (hush). + +The bridge was not built, but I was not justified, for the empress +published another ukase in which she declared it to be her gracious +pleasure that the bridge should not be built till the following year. +If anyone would see what a pure despotism is like, let him go to +Russia. + +The Russian sovereigns use the language of despotism on all +occasions. One day I saw the empress, dressed in man's clothes, +going out for a ride. Her master of the horse, Prince Repnin, held +the bridle of the horse, which suddenly gave him a kick which broke +his anklebone. The empress instantly ordained that the horse should +be taken away, and that no one should mount it again under pain of +death. All official positions in Russia have military rank assigned +to them, and this sufficiently indicates the nature of the +Government. The coachman-in-chief of her imperial highness holds the +rank of colonel, as also does her chief cook. The castrato Luini was +a lieutenant-colonel, and the painter Toretti only a captain, because +he had only eight hundred roubles a year, while the coachman had +three thousand. The sentinels at the doors of the palace have their +muskets crossed, and ask those who wish to pass through what is their +rank. When I was asked this question, I stopped short; but the +quick-witted officer asked me how much I had a year, and on my +replying, at a hazard, three thousand roubles, he gave me the rank of +general, and I was allowed to pass. I saw the czarina for a moment; +she stopped at the door and took off her gloves to give her hands to +be kissed by the officer and the two sentinels. By such means as +this she had won the affection of the corps, commanded by Gregorius +Gregorovitch Orloff, on which her safety depended in case of +revolution. + +I made the following notes when I saw the empress hearing mass in her +chapel. The protopapa, or bishop, received her at the door to give +her the holy water, and she kissed his episcopal ring, while the +prelate, whose beard was a couple of feet in length, lowered his head +to kiss the hands of his temporal sovereign and spiritual head, for +in Russia the he or she on the throne is the spiritual as well as +temporal head of the Church. + +She did not evidence the least devotion during mass; hypocrisy did +not seem to be one of her vices. Now she smiled at one of her suite, +now at another, and occasionally she addressed the favourite, not +because she had anything to say to him, but to make him an object of +envy to the others. + +One evening, as she was leaving the theatre where Metastasio's +Olympiade had been performed, I heard her say,-- + +"The music of that opera has given the greatest pleasure to everyone, +so of course I am delighted with it; but it wearies me, nevertheless. +Music is a fine thing, but I cannot understand how anyone who is +seriously occupied can love it passionately. I will have Buranello +here, and I wonder whether he will interest me in music, but I am +afraid nature did not constitute me to feel all its charms." + +She always argued in that way. In due time I will set down her words +to me when I returned from Moscow. When I arrived at that city I got +down at a good inn, where they gave me two rooms and a coach-house +for my carriage. After dinner I hired a small carriage and a guide +who could speak French. My carriage was drawn by four horses, for +Moscow is a vast city composed of four distinct towns, and many of +the streets are rough and ill-paved. I had five or six letters of +introduction, and I determined to take them all. I took Zaira with +me, as she was as curious to see everything as a girl of fourteen +naturally is. I do not remember what feast the Greek Church was +keeping on that day, but I shall never forget the terrific bell- +ringing with which my ears were assailed, for there are churches +every where. The country people were engaged in sowing their grain, +to reap it in September. They laughed at our Southern custom of +sowing eight months earlier, as unnecessary and even prejudicial to +the crops, but I do not know where the right lies. Perhaps we may +both be right, for there is no master to compare with experience. +I took all the introductions I had received from Narischkin, Prince +Repnin, the worthy Pananelopulo, and Melissino's brother. The next +morning the whole of the persons at whose houses I had left letters +called on me. They all asked Zaira and myself to dinner, and I +accepted the invitation of the first comer, M. Dinidoff, and promised +to dine with the rest on the following days, Zaira, who had been +tutored by me to some extent, was delighted to shew me that she was +worthy of the position she occupied. She was exquisitely dressed, +and won golden opinions everywhere, for our hosts did not care to +enquire whether she were my daughter, my mistress, or my servant, for +in this matter, as in many others, the Russians are excessively +indulgent. Those who have not seen Moscow have not seen Russia, for +the people of St, Petersburg are not really Russians at all. Their +court manners are very different from their manners 'au naturel', and +it may be said with truth that the true Russian is as a stranger in +St. Petersburg. The citizens of, Moscow, and especially the rich +ones, speak with pity of those, who for one reason or another, had +expatriated themselves; and with them to expatriate one's self is to +leave Moscow, which they consider as their native land. They look on +St. Petersburg with an envious eve, and call it the ruin of Russia. +I do not know whether this is a just view to take of the case, I +merely repeat what I have heard. + +In the course of a week I saw all the sights of Moscow--the +manufacturers, the churches, the remains of the old days, the +museums, the libraries, (of no interest to my mind), not forgetting +the famous bell. I noticed that their bells are not allowed to swing +like ours, but are motionless, being rung by a rope attached to the +clapper. + +I thought the Moscow women more handsome than those of St. +Petersburg, and I attribute this to the great superiority of the air. +They are gentle and accessible by nature; and to obtain the favour of +a kiss on the lips, one need only make a show of kissing their hands. + +There was good fare in plenty, but no delicacy in its composition or +arrangement. Their table is always open to friends and +acquaintances, and a friend may bring to five or six persons to +dinner, and even at the end of the meals you will never hear a +Russian say, "We have had dinner; you have come too late." Their +souls are not black enough for them to pronounce such words as this. +Notice is given to the cook, and the dinner begins over again. They +have a delicious drink, the name of which I do not remember; but it +is much superior to the sherbet of Constantinople. The numerous +servants are not given water, but a light, nourishing, and agreeable +fluid, which may be purchased very cheaply. They all hold St. +Nicholas in the greatest reverence, only praying to God through the +mediation of this saint, whose picture is always suspended in the +principal room of the house. A person coming in makes first a bow to +the image and then a bow to the master, and if perchance the image is +absent, the Russian, after gazing all round, stands confused and +motionless, not knowing what to do. As a general rule the Muscovites +are the most superstitious Christians in the world. Their liturgy is +in Greek, of which the people understand nothing, and the clergy, +themselves extremely ignorant, gladly leave them completely in the +dark on all matters connected with religion. I could never make them +understand that the only reason for the Roman Christians making the +sign of the Cross from left to right, while the Greeks make it from +right to left, is that we say 'spiritus sancti', while they say +'agion pneuma'. + +"If you said pneuma agion," I used to say, "then you would cross +yourself like us, and if we said sancti spiritus we should cross +ourselves like you." + +"The adjective," replied my interlocutor, "should always precede the +substantive, for we should never utter the name of God without first +giving Him some honourable epithet." + +Such are nearly all the differences which divide the two churches, +without reckoning the numerous idle tales which they have as well as +ourselves, and which are by no means the least cherished articles of +their faith. + +We returned to St. Petersburg by the way we had come, but Zaira would +have liked me never to leave Moscow. She had become so much in love +with me by force of constant association that I could not think +without a pang of the moment of separation. The day after our +arrival in the capital I took her to her home, where she shewed her +father all the little presents I had given her, and told him of the +honour she had received as my daughter, which made the good man laugh +heartily. + +The first piece of news I heard was that a ukase had been issued, +ordering the erection of a temple dedicated to God in the Moscoi +opposite to the house where I resided. The empress had entrusted +Rinaldi, the architect, with the erection. He asked her what emblem +he should put above the portal, and she replied,-- + +"No emblem at all, only the name of God in large letters." + +"I will put a triangle." + +"No triangle at all; but only the name of God in whatever language +you like, and nothing more." + +The second piece of news was that Bomback had fled and had been +captured at Mitau, where he believed himself in safety. M. de +Simolia had arrested him. It was a grave case, for he had deserted; +however, he was given his life, and sent into barracks at +Kamstchatka. Crevecoeur and his mistress had departed, carrying some +money with them, and a Florentine adventurer named Billotti had fled +with eighteen thousand roubles belonging to Papanelopulo, but a +certain Bori, the worthy Greek's factotum, had caught him at Mitau +and brought him back to St. Petersburg, where he was now in prison. +Prince Charles of Courland arrived about this time, and I hastened to +call upon him as soon as he advised me of his coming. He was lodging +in a house belonging to Count Dimidoff, who owned large iron mines, +and had made the whole house of iron, from attic to basement. The +prince had brought his mistress with him, but she was still in an +ill-humour, and he was beginning to get heartily sick of her. The +man was to be pitied, for he could not get rid of her without finding +her a husband, and this husband became more difficult to find every +day. When the prince saw how happy I was with my Zaira, he could not +help thinking how easily happiness may be won; but the fatal desire +for luxury and empty show spoils all, and renders the very sweets of +life as bitter as gall. + +I was indeed considered happy, and I liked to appear so, but in my +heart I was wretched. Ever since my imprisonment under The Leads, I +had been subject to haemorrhoids, which came on three or four times a +year. At St. Petersburg I had a serious attack, and the daily pain +and anxiety embittered my existence. A vegetarian doctor called +Senapios, for whom I had sent, gave me the sad news that I had a +blind or incomplete fistula in the rectum, and according to him +nothing but the cruel pistoury would give me any relief, and indeed +he said I had no time to lose. I had to agree, in spite of my +dislike to the operation; but fortunately the clever surgeon whom the +doctor summoned pronounced that if I would have patience nature +itself would give me relief. I had much to endure, especially from +the severe dieting to which I was subjected, but which doubtless did +me good. + +Colonel Melissino asked me to be present at a review which was to +take place at three versts from St. Petersburg, and was to be +succeeded by a dinner to twenty-four guests, given by General Orloff. +I went with the prince, and saw a cannon fired twenty times in a +minute, testing the performance with my watch. + +My neighbour at dinner was the French ambassador. Wishing to drink +deeply, after the Russian fashion, and thinking the Hungarian wine as +innocent as champagne, he drank so bravely that at the end of dinner +he had lost the use of his legs. Count Orloff made him drink still +more, and then he fell asleep and was laid on a bed. + +The gaiety of the meal gave me some idea of Russian wit. I did not +understand the language, so M. Zinowieff translated the curious +sallies to me while the applause they had raised was still +resounding. + +Melissino rose to his feet, holding a large goblet full of Hungarian +wine in his hand. There was a general silence to listen to him. He +drank the health of General Orloff in these words: + +"May you die when you become rich." + +The applause was general, for the allusion was to the unbounded +generosity of Orloff. The general's reply struck me as better still, +but it was equally rugged in character. He, too, took a full cup, +and turning to Melissino, said, + +"May you never die till I slay you!" + +The applause was furious, for he was their host and their general. + +The Russian wit is of the energetic kind, devoid of grace; all they +care about is directness and vigour. + +Voltaire had just sent the empress his "Philosophy of History," which +he had written for her and dedicated to her. A month after, an +edition of three thousand copies came by sea, and was sold out in a +week, for all the Russians who knew a little French were eager to +possess a copy of the work. The leaders of the Voltaireans were two +noblemen, named, respectively, Stroganoff and Schuvaloff. I have +seen verses written by the former of these as good as Voltaire's own +verses, and twenty years later I saw an ode by the latter of which +Voltaire would not have been ashamed, but the subject was ill chosen; +for it treated of the death of the great philosopher who had so +studiously avoided using his pen on melancholy themes. In those days +all Russians with any pretensions to literature read nothing but +Voltaire, and when they had read all his writings they thought +themselves as wise as their master. To me they seemed pigmies +mimicking a giant. I told them that they ought to read all the books +from which Voltaire had drawn his immense learning, and then, +perhaps, they might become as wise as he. I remember the saying of a +wise man at Rome: "Beware of the man of one book." I wonder whether +the Russians are more profound now; but that is a question I cannot +answer. At Dresden I knew Prince Biloselski, who was on his way back +to Russia after having been ambassador at Turin. He was the author +of an admirable world on metaphysics, and the analysis of the soul +and reason. + +Count Panin was the tutor of Paul Petrovitch, heir-presumptive to the +throne. The young prince had a severe master, and dared not even +applaud an air at the opera unless he first received permission to do +so from his mentor. + +When a courier brought the news of the sudden death of Francis I., +Emperor of Germany and of the Holy Roman Empire, the czarina being at +Czarsko-Zelo, the count minister-tutor was in the palace with his +pupil, then eleven years old. The courier came at noon, and gave the +dispatch into the hands of the minister, who was standing in the +midst of a crowd of courtiers of whom I was one. The prince imperial +was at his right hand. The minister read the dispatch in a low +voice, and then said: + +"This is news indeed. The Emperor of the Romans has died suddenly." + +He then turned to Paul, and said to him,-- + +"Full court mourning, which your highness will observe for three +months longer than the empress." + +"Why so?" said Paul. + +"Because, as Duke of Holstein, your highness has a right to attend +the diet of the empire, a privilege," he added, turning to us, "which +Peter the Great desired in vain." + +I noted the attention with which the Grand Duke Paul listened to his +mentor, and the care with which he concealed his joy at the news. I +was immensely pleased with this way of giving instruction. I said as +much to Prince Lobkowitz, who was standing by me, and he refined on +my praises. This prince was popular with everyone. He was even +preferred to his predecessor, Prince Esterhazy; and this was saying a +great deal, for Esterhazy was adored in Russia. The gay and affable +manner of Prince Lobkowitz made him the life and soul of all the +parties at which he was present. He was a constant courtier of the +Countess Braun, the reigning beauty, and everyone believed his love +had been crowned with success, though no one could assert as much +positively. + +There was a great review held at a distance of twelve or fourteen +versts from St. Petersburg, at which the empress and all her train of +courtiers were present. The houses of the two or three adjoining +villages were so few and small that it would be impossible for all +the company to find a lodging. Nevertheless I wished to be present +chiefly to please Zaira, who wanted to be seen with me on such an +occasion. The review was to last three days; there were to be +fireworks, and a mine was to be exploded besides the evolutions of +the troops. I went in my travelling carriage, which would serve me +for a lodging if I could get nothing better. + +We arrived at the appointed place at eight o'clock in the morning; +the evolutions lasted till noon. When they were over we went towards +a tavern and had our meal served to us in the carriage, as all the +rooms in the inn were full. + +After dinner my coachman tried in vain to find me a lodging, so I +disposed myself to sleep all night in the carriage; and so I did for +the whole time of the review, and fared better than those who had +spent so much money to be ill lodged. Melissino told me that the +empress thought my idea a very sensible one. As I was the only +person who had a sleeping carriage, which was quite a portable house +in itself, I had numerous visitors, and Zaira was radiant to be able +to do the honours. + +I had a good deal of conversation during the review with Count Tott, +brother of the nobleman who was employed at Constantinople, and known +as Baron Tott. We had known each other at Paris, and afterwards at +the Hague, where I had the pleasure of being of service to him. He +had come to St. Petersburg with Madame de Soltikoff, whom he had met +at Paris, and whose lover he was. He lived with her, went to Court, +and was well received by everyone. + +Two or three years after, the empress ordered him to leave St. +Petersburg on account of the troubles in Poland. It was said that he +kept up a correspondence with his brother, who was endeavouring to +intercept the fleet under the command of Alexis Orloff. I never +heard what became of him after he left Russia, where he obliged me +with the loan of five hundred roubles, which I have not yet been able +to return to him. + +M. Maruzzi, by calling a Venetian merchant, and by birth a Greek, +having left trade to live like a gentleman, came to St. Petersburg +when I was there, and was presented at Court. He was a fine-looking +man, and was admitted to all the great houses. The empress treated +him with distinction because she had thoughts of making him her agent +at Venice. He paid his court to the Countess Braun, but he had +rivals there who were not afraid of him. He was rich enough, but did +not know how to spend his money; and avarice is a sin which meets +with no pity from the Russian ladies. + +I went to Czarsko-Zelo, Peterhoff, and Cronstadt, for if you want to +say you have been in a country you should see as much as possible of +it. I wrote notes and memorandums on several questions with the hope +of their procuring me a place in the civil service, and all my +productions were laid before the empress but with no effect. In +Russia they do not think much of foreigners unless they have +specially summoned them; those who come of their own account rarely +make much, and I suspect the Russians are right. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +I See the Empress--My Conversations with Her--The Valville--I Leave +Zaiya I Leave St. Petersburg and Arrive at Warsaw--The Princes Adam +Czartoryski and Sulkowski--The King of Poland--Theatrical Intrigues +--Byanicki + +I thought of leaving Russia at the beginning of the autumn, but I was +told by M M. Panin and Alsuwieff that I ought not to go without +having spoken to the empress. + +"I should be sorry to do so," I replied, "but as I can't find anyone +to present me to her, I must be resigned." + +At last Panin told me to walk in a garden frequented by her majesty +at an early hour, and he said that meeting me, as it were by chance, +she would probably speak to me. I told him I should like him to be +with her, and he accordingly named a day. + +I repaired to the garden, and as I walked about I marvelled at the +statuary it contained, all the statues being made of the worst stone, +and executed in the worst possible taste. The names cut beneath them +gave the whole the air of a practical joke. A weeping statue was +Democritus; another, with grinning mouth, was labelled Heraclitus; an +old man with a long beard was Sappho; and an old woman, Avicenna; and +so on. + +As I was smiling at this extraordinary collection, I saw the czarina, +preceded by Count Gregorius Orloff, and followed by two ladies, +approaching. Count Panin was on her left hand. I stood by the hedge +to let her pass, but as soon as she came up to me she asked, +smilingly, if I had been interested in the statues. I replied, +following her steps, that I presumed they had been placed there to +impose on fools, or to excite the laughter of those acquainted with +history. + +"From what I can make out," she replied, "the secret of the matter is +that my worthy aunt was imposed on, and indeed she did not trouble +herself much about such trifles. But I hope you have seen other +things in Russia less ridiculous than these statues?" + +I entertained the sovereign for more than an hour with my remarks on +the things of note I had seen in St. Petersburg. The conversation +happened to turn on the King of Prussia, and I sang his praises; but +I censured his terrible habit of always interrupting the person whom +he was addressing. Catherine smiled and asked me to tell her about +the conversation I had had with this monarch, and I did so to the +best of my ability. She was then kind enough to say that she had +never seen me at the Courtag, which was a vocal and instrumental +concert given at the palace, and open to all. I told her that I had +only attended once, as I was so unfortunate as not to have a taste +for music. At this she turned to Panin, and said smilingly that she +knew someone else who had the same misfortune. If the reader +remembers what I heard her say about music as she was leaving the +opera, he will pronounce my speech to have been a very courtier-like +one, and I confess it was; but who can resist making such speeches to +a monarch, and above all, a monarch in petticoats? + +The czarina turned from me to speak to M. Bezkoi, who had just come +up, and as M. Panin left the garden I did so too, delighted with the +honour I had had. + +The empress, who was a woman of moderate height and yet of a majestic +appearance, thoroughly understood the art of making herself loved. +She was not beautiful, but yet she was sure of pleasing by her +geniality and her wit, and also by that exquisite tact which made one +forget the awfulness of the sovereign in the gentleness of the woman. +A few days after, Count Partin told me that the empress had twice +asked after me, and that this was a sure sign I had pleased her. He +advised me to look out for another opportunity of meeting her, and +said that for the future she would always tell me to approach +whenever she saw me, and that if I wanted some employment she might +possible do something for me. + +Though I did not know what employ I could ask for in that +disagreeable country, I was glad to hear that I could have easy +access to the Court. With that idea I walked in the garden every +day, and here follows my second conversation with the empress +She saw me at a distance and sent an officer to fetch me into her +presence. As everybody was talking of the tournament, which had to +be postponed on account of the bad weather, she asked me if this kind +of entertainment could be given at Venice. I told her some amusing +stories on the subject of shows and spectacles, and in this relation +I remarked that the Venetian climate was more pleasant than the +Russian, for at Venice fine days were the rule, while at St. +Petersburg they were the exception, though the year is younger there +than anywhere else. + +"Yes," she said, "in your country it is eleven days older." + +"Would it not be worthy of your majesty to put Russia on an equality +with the rest of the world in this respect, by adopting the Gregorian +calendar? All the Protestants have done so, and England, who adopted +it fourteen years ago, has already gained several millions. All +Europe is astonished that the old style should be suffered to exist +in a country where the sovereign is the head of the Church, and whose +capital contains an academy of science. It is thought that Peter the +Great, who made the year begin in January, would have also abolished +the old style if he had not been afraid of offending England, which +then kept trade and commerce alive throughout your vast empire." +"You know," she replied, with a sly smile, "that Peter the Great was +not exactly a learned man." + +"He was more than a man of learning, the immortal Peter was a genius +of the first order. Instinct supplied the place of science with him; +his judgment was always in the right. His vast genius, his firm +resolve, prevented him from making mistakes, and helped him to +destroy all those abuses which threatened to oppose his great +designs." + +Her majesty seemed to have heard me with great interest, and was +about to reply when she noticed two ladies whom she summoned to her +presence. To me she said,-- + +"I shall be delighted to reply to you at another time," and then +turned towards the ladies. + +The time came in eight or ten days, when I was beginning to think she +had had enough of me, for she had seen me without summoning me to +speak to her. + +She began by saying what I desired should be done was done already. +"All the letters sent to foreign countries and all the important +State records are marked with both dates." + +"But I must point out to your majesty that by the end of the century +the difference will be of twelve days, not eleven." + +"Not at all; we have seen to that. The last year of this century +will not be counted as a leap year. It is fortunate that the +difference is one of eleven days, for as that is the number which is +added every year to the epact our epacts are almost the same. As to +the celebration of Easter, that is a different question. Your +equinox is on March the 21st, ours on the 10th, and the astronomers +say we are both wrong; sometimes it is we who are wrong and sometimes +you, as the equinox varies. You know you are not even in agreement +with the Jews, whose calculation is said to be perfectly accurate; +and, in fine, this difference in the time of celebrating Easter does +not disturb in any way public order or the progress of the +Government." + +"Your majesty's words fill me with admiration, but the Festival of +Christmas----" + +"I suppose you are going to say that we do not celebrate Christmas in +the winter solstice as should properly be done. We know it, but it +seems to me a matter of no account. I would rather bear with this +small mistake than grievously afflict vast numbers of my subjects by +depriving them of their birthdays. If I did so, there would be no +open complaints uttered, as that is not the fashion in Russia; but +they would say in secret that I was an Atheist, and that I disputed +the infallibility of the Council of Nice. You may think such +complaints matter for laughter, but I do not, for I have much more +agreeable motives for amusement." + +The czarina was delighted to mark my surprise. I did not doubt for a +moment that she had made a special study of the whole subject. +M. Alsuwieff told me, a few days after, that she had very possibly +read a little pamphlet on the subject, the statements of which +exactly coincided with her own. He took care to add, however, that +it was very possible her highness was profoundly learned on the +matter, but this was merely a courtier's phrase. + +What she said was spoken modestly and energetically, and her good +humour and pleasant smile remained unmoved throughout. She exercised +a constant self-control over herself, and herein appeared the +greatness of her character, for nothing is more difficult. Her +demeanour, so different from that of the Prussian king, shewed her to +be the greater sovereign of the two; her frank geniality always gave +her the advantage, while the short, curt manners of the king often +exposed him to being made a dupe. In an examination of the life of +Frederick the Great, one cannot help paying a deserved tribute to his +courage, but at the same time one feels that if it had not been for +repeated turns of good fortune he must have succumbed, whereas +Catherine was little indebted to the favours of the blind deity. She +succeeded in enterprises which, before her time, would have been +pronounced impossibilities, and it seemed her aim to make men look +upon her achievements as of small account. + +I read in one of our modern journals, those monuments of editorial +self-conceit, that Catherine the Great died happily as she had lived. +Everybody knows that she died suddenly on her close stool. By +calling such a death happy, the journalist hints that it is the death +he himself would wish for. Everyone to his taste, and we can only +hope that the editor may obtain his wish; but who told this silly +fellow that Catherine desired such a death? If he regards such a +wish as natural to a person of her profound genius I would ask who +told him that men of genius consider a sudden death to be a happy +one? Is it because that is his opinion, and are we to conclude that +he is therefore person of genius? To come to the truth we should +have to interrogate the late empress, and ask her some such question +as: + +"Are you well pleased to have died suddenly?" + +She would probably reply: + +"What a foolish question! Such might be the wish of one driven to +despair, or of someone suffering from a long and grievous malady. +Such was not my position, for I enjoyed the blessings of happiness +and good health; no worse fate could have happened to me. My sudden +death prevented me from concluding several designs which I might have +brought to a successful issue if God had granted me the warning of a, +slight illness. But it was not so; I had to set out on the long +journey at a moment's notice, without the time to make any +preparations. Is my death any the happier from my not foreseeing it? +Do you think me such a coward as to dread the approach of what is +common to all? I tell you that I should have accounted myself happy +if I had had a respite of but a day. Then I should not complain of +the Divine justice." + +"Does your highness accuse God of injustice, then?" + +"What boots it, since I am a lost soul? Do you expect the damned to +acknowledge the justice of the decree which has consigned them to +eternal woe?" + +"No doubt it is a difficult matter, but I should have thought that a +sense of the justice of your doom would have mitigated the pains of +it." + +"Perhaps so, but a damned soul must be without consolation for ever." + +"In spite of that there are some philosophers who call you happy in +your death by virtue of its suddenness." + +"Not philosophers, but fools, for in its suddenness was the pain and +woe." + +"Well said; but may I ask your highness if you admit the possibility +of a happy eternity after an unhappy death, or of an unhappy doom +after a happy death?" + +"Such suppositions are inconceivable. The happiness of futurity lies +in the ecstasy of the soul in feeling freed from the trammels of +matter, and unhappiness is the doom of a soul which was full of +remorse at the moment it left the body. But enough, for my +punishment forbids my farther speech." + +"Tell me, at least, what is the nature of your punishment?" + +"An everlasting weariness. Farewell." + +After this long and fanciful digression the reader will no doubt be +obliged by my returning to this world. + +Count Panin told me that in a few days the empress would leave for +her country house, and I determined to have an interview with her, +foreseeing that it would be for the last time. + +I had been in the garden for a few minutes when heavy rain began to +fall, and I was going to leave, when the empress summoned me into an +apartment on the ground floor of the palace, where she was walking up +and down with Gregorovitch and a maid of honour. + +"I had forgotten to ask you," she said, graciously, "if you believe +the new calculation of the calendar to be exempt from error?" + +"No, your majesty; but the error is so minute that it will not +produce any sensible effect for the space of nine or ten thousand +years." + +"I thought so; and in my opinion Pope Gregory should not have +acknowledged any mistake at all. The Pope, however, had much less +difficulty in carrying out his reform than I should have with my +subjects, who are too fond of their ancient usages and customs." +"Nevertheless, I am sure your majesty would meet with obedience." +"No doubt, but imagine the grief of my clergy in not being able to +celebrate the numerous saints' days, which would fall on the eleven +days to be suppressed. You have only one saint for each day, but we +have a dozen at least. I may remark also that all ancient states and +kingdoms are attached to their ancient laws. I have heard that your +Republic of Venice begins the year in March, and that seems to me, as +it were, a monument and memorial of its antiquity--and indeed the +year begins more naturally in March than in January--but does not +this usage cause some confusion?" + +"None at all, your majesty. The letters M V, which we adjoin to all +dates in January and February, render all mistakes impossible." + +"Venice is also noteworthy for its peculiar system of heraldry, by +the amusing form under which it portrays its patron saint, and by the +five Latin words with which the Evangelist is invoked, in which, as I +am told, there is a grammatical blunder which has become respectable +by its long standing. But is it true that you do not distinguish +between the day and night hours?" + +"It is, your majesty, and what is more we reckon the day from the +beginning of the night." + +"Such is the force of custom, which makes us admire what other +nations think ridiculous. You see no inconvenience in your division +of the day, which strikes me as most inconvenient." + +"You would only have to look at your watch, and you would not need to +listen for the cannon shot which announces the close of day." + +"Yes, but for this one advantage you have over us, we have two over +you. We know that at twelve o'clock it is either mid-day or +midnight." + +The czarina spoke to me about the fondness of the Venetians for games +of chance, and asked if the Genoa Lottery had been established there. +"I have been asked," she added, "to allow the lottery to be +established in my own dominions; but I should never permit it except +on the condition that no stake should be below a rouble, and then the +poor people would not be able to risk their money in it." + +I replied to this discreet observation with a profound inclination of +the head, and thus ended my last interview with the famous empress +who reigned thirty-five years without committing a single mistake of +any importance. The historian will always place her amongst great +sovereigns, though the moralist will always consider her, and +rightly, as one of the most notable of dissolute women. + +A few days before I left I gave an entertainment to my friends at +Catherinhoff, winding up with a fine display of fireworks, a present +from my friend Melissino. My supper for thirty was exquisite, and my +ball a brilliant one. In spite of the tenuity of my purse I felt +obliged to give my friends this mark of my gratitude for the kindness +they had lavished on me. + +I left Russia with the actress Valville, and I must here tell the +reader how I came to make her acquaintance. + +I happened to go to the French play, and to find myself seated next +to an extremely pretty lady who was unknown to me. I occasionally +addressed an observation to her referring to the play or actors, and +I was immensely delighted with her spirited answers. Her expression +charmed me, and I took the liberty of asking her if she were a +Russian. + +"No, thank God!" she replied, "I am a Parisian, and an actress by +occupation. My name is Valville; but I don't wonder I am unknown to +you, for I have been only a month here, and have played but once." + +"How is that?" + +"Because I was so unfortunate as to fail to win the czarina's favour. +However, as I was engaged for a year, she has kindly ordered that my +salary of a hundred roubles shall be paid monthly. At the end of the +year I shall get my passport and go." + +"I am sure the empress thinks she is doing you a favour in paying you +for nothing." + +"Very likely; but she does not remember that I am forgetting how to +act all this time." + +"You ought to tell her that." + +"I only wish she would give me an audience." + +"That is unnecessary. Of course, you have a lover." + +"No, I haven't." + +"It's incredible to me!" + +"They say the incredible often happens." + +"I am very glad to hear it myself." + +I took her address, and sent her the following note the next day: + +"Madam,--I should like to begin an intrigue with you. You have +inspired me with feelings that will make me unhappy unless you +reciprocate them. I beg to take the liberty of asking myself to sup +with you, but please tell me how much it will cost me. I am obliged +to leave for Warsaw in the course of a month, and I shall be happy to +offer you a place in my travelling carriage. I shall be able to get +you a passport. The bearer of this has orders to wait, and I hope +your answer will be as plainly worded as my question." + +In two hours I received this reply: + +"Sir,--As I have the knack of putting an end to an intrigue when it +has ceased to amuse me, I have no hesitation in accepting your +proposal. As to the sentiments with which you say I have inspired +you, I will do my best to share them, and to make you happy. Your +supper shall be ready, and later on we will settle the price of the +dessert. I shall be delighted to accept the place in your carriage +if you can obtain my expenses to Paris as well as my passport. And +finally, I hope you will find my plain speaking on a match with +yours. Good bye, till the evening." + +I found my new friend in a comfortable lodging, and we accosted each +other as if we had been old acquaintances. + +"I shall be delighted to travel with you," said she, "but I don't +think you will be able to get my passport." + +"I have no doubt as to my success," I replied, "if you will present +to the empress the petition I shall draft for you." + +"I will surely do so," said she, giving me writing materials. + +I wrote out the following petition,-- + +"Your Majesty,--I venture to remind your highness that my enforced +idleness is making me forget my art, which I have not yet learnt +thoroughly. Your majesty's generosity is therefore doing me an +injury, and your majesty would do me a great benefit in giving me +permission to leave St. Petersburg." + +"Nothing more than that?" + +"Not a word." + +"You say nothing about the passport, and nothing about the journey- +money. I am not a rich woman." + +"Do you only present this petition; and, unless I am very much +mistaken, you will have, not only your journey-money, but also your +year's salary." + +"Oh, that would be too much!" + +"Not at all. You do not know Catherine, but I do. Have this copied, +and present it in person." + +"I will copy it out myself, for I can write a good enough hand. +Indeed, it almost seems as if I had composed it; it is exactly my +style. I believe you are a better actor than I am, and from this +evening I shall call myself your pupil. Come, let us have some +supper, that you may give me my first lesson." + +After a delicate supper, seasoned by pleasant and witty talk, Madame +Valville granted me all I could desire. I went downstairs for a +moment to send away my coachman and to instruct him what he was to +say to Zaira, whom I had forewarned that I was going to Cronstadt, +and might not return till the next day. My coachman was a Ukrainian +on whose fidelity I could rely, but I knew that it would be necessary +for me to be off with the old love before I was on with the new. + +Madame Valville was like most young Frenchwomen of her class; she had +charms which she wished to turn to account, and a passable education; +her ambition was to be kept by one man, and the title of mistress was +more pleasing in her ears than that of wife. + +In the intervals of four amorous combats she told me enough of her +life for me to divine what it had been. Clerval, the actor, had been +gathering together a company of actors at Paris, and making her +acquaintance by chance and finding her to be intelligent, he assured +her that she was a born actress, though she had never suspected it. +The idea had dazzled her, and she had signed the agreement. She +started from Paris with six other actors and actresses, of whom she +was the only one that had never played. + +"I thought," she said, "it was like what is done at Paris, where a +girl goes into the chorus or the ballet without having learnt to sing +or dance. What else could I think, after an actor like Clerval had +assured me I had a talent for acting and had offered me a good +engagement? All he required of me was that I should learn by heart +and repeat certain passages which I rehearsed in his presence. He +said I made a capital soubrette, and he certainly could not have been +trying to deceive me, but the fact is he was deceived himself. A +fortnight after my arrival I made my first appearance, and my +reception was not a flattering one." + +"Perhaps you were nervous?" + +"Nervous? not in the least. Clerval said that if I could have put on +the appearance of nervousness the empress, who is kindness itself, +would certainly have encouraged me." + +I left her the next morning after I had seen her copy out the +petition. She wrote a very good hand. + +"I shall present it to-day," said she. + +I wished her good luck, and arranged to sup with her again on the day +I meant to part with Zaira. + +All French girls who sacrifice to Venus are in the same style as the +Valville; they are entirely without passion or love, but they are +pleasant and caressing. They have only one object; and that is their +own profit. They make and unmake an intrigue with a smiling face and +without the slightest difficulty. It is their system, and if it be +not absolutely the best it is certainly the most convenient. + +When I got home I found Zaira submissive but sad, which annoyed me +more than anger would have done, for I loved her. However, it was +time to bring the matter to an end, and to make up my mind to endure +the pain of parting. + +Rinaldi, the architect, a man of seventy, but still vigorous and +sensual, was in love with her, and he had hinted to me several times +that he would be only too happy to take her over and to pay double +the sum I had given for her. My answer had been that I could only +give her to a man she liked, and that I meant to make her a present +of the hundred roubles I had given for her. Rinaldi did not like +this answer, as he had not very strong hopes of the girl taking a +fancy to him; however, he did not despair. + +He happened to call on me on the very morning on which I had +determined to give her up, and as he spoke Russian perfectly he gave +Zaira to understand how much he loved her. Her answer was that he +must apply to me, as my will was law to her, but that she neither +liked nor disliked anyone else. The old man could not obtain any +more positive reply and left us with but feeble hopes, but commending +himself to my good offices. + +When he had gone, I asked Zaira whether she would not like me to +leave her to the worthy man, who would treat her as his own daughter. + +She was just going to reply when I was handed a note from Madame +Valville, asking me to call on her, as she had a piece of news to +give me. I ordered the carriage immediately, telling Zaira that I +should not be long. + +"Very good," she replied, "I will give you a plain answer when you +come back." + +I found Madame Valville in a high state of delight. + +"Long live the petition!" she exclaimed, as soon as she saw me. +"I waited for the empress to come out of her private chapel. I +respectfully presented my petition, which she read as she walked +along, and then told me with a kindly smile to wait a moment. I +waited, and her majesty returned me the petition initialled in her +own hand, and bade me take it to M. Ghelagin. This gentleman gave me +an excellent reception, and told me that the sovereign hand ordered +him to give me my passport, my salary for a year, and a hundred +ducats for the journey. The money will be forwarded in a fortnight, +as my name will have to be sent to the Gazette." + +Madame Valville was very grateful, and we fixed the day of our +departure. Three or four days later I sent in my name to the +Gazette. + +I had promised Zaira to come back, so telling my new love that I +would come and live with her as soon as I had placed the young +Russian in good hands, I went home, feeling rather curious to hear +Zaira's determination. + +After Zaira had supped with me in perfect good humour, she asked if +M. Rinaldi would pay me back the money I had given far her. I said +he would, and she went on,-- + +"It seems to me that I am worth more than I was, for I have all your +presents, and I know Italian." + +"You are right, dear, but I don't want it to be said that I have made +a profit on you; besides, I intend to make you a present of the +hundred roubles." + +"As you are going to make me such a handsome present, why not send me +back to my father's house? That would be still more generous. If M. +Rinaldi really loves me, he can come and talk it over with my father. +You have no objection to his paying me whatever sum I like to +mention." + +"Not at all. On the contrary, I shall be very glad to serve your +family, and all the more as Rinaldi is a rich man." + +"Very good; you will be always dear to me in my memory. You shall +take me to my home to-morrow; and now let us go to bed." + +Thus it was that I parted with this charming girl, who made me live +soberly all the time I was at St. Petersburg. Zinowieff told me that +if I had liked to deposit a small sum as security I could have taken +her with me; but I had thought the matter over, and it seemed to me +that as Zaira grew more beautiful and charming I should end by +becoming a perfect slave to her. Possibly, however, I should not +have looked into matters so closely if I had not been in love with +Madame Valville. + +Zaira spent the next morning in gathering together her belongings, +now laughing and now weeping, and every time that she left her +packing to give me a kiss I could not resist weeping myself. When I +restored her to her father, the whole family fell on their knees +around me. Alas for poor human nature! thus it is degraded by the +iron heel of oppression. Zaira looked oddly in the humble cottage, +where one large mattress served for the entire family. + +Rinaldi took everything in good part. He told me that since the +daughter would make no objection he had no fear of the father doing +so. He went to the house the next day, but he did not get the girl +till I had left St. Petersburg. He kept her for the remainder of his +days, and behaved very handsomely to her. + +After this melancholy separation Madame Valville became my sole +mistress, and we left the Russian capital in the course of a few +weeks. I took an Armenian merchant into my service; he had lent me a +hundred ducats, and cooked very well in the Eastern style. I had a +letter from the Polish resident to Prince Augustus Sulkowski, and +another from the English ambassador for Prince Adam Czartoryski. + +The day after we left St. Petersburg we stopped at Koporie to dine; +we had taken with us some choice viands and excellent wines. Two +days later we met the famous chapel-master, Galuppi or Buranelli, who +was on his way to St. Petersburg with two friends and an artiste. He +did not know me, and was astonished to find a Venetian dinner +awaiting him at the inn, as also to hear a greeting in his mother +tongue. As soon as I had pronounced my name he embraced me with +exclamations of surprise and joy. + +The roads were heavy with rain, so we were a week in getting to Riga, +and when we arrived I was sorry to hear that Prince Charles was not +there. From Riga, we were four days before getting to Konigsberg, +where Madame Valville, who was expected at Berlin, had to leave me. +I left her my Armenian, to whom she gladly paid the hundred ducats I +owed him. I saw her again two years later, and shall speak of the +meeting in due time. + +We separated like good friends, without any sadness. We spent the +night at Klein Roop, near Riga, and she offered to give me her +diamonds, her jewels, and all that she possessed. We were staying +with the Countess Lowenwald, to whom I had a letter from the Princess +Dolgorouki. This lady had in her house, in the capacity of +governess, the pretty English woman whom I had known as Campioni's +wife. She told me that her husband was at Warsaw, and that he was +living with Villiers. She gave me a letter for him, and I promised +to make him send her some money, and I kept my word. Little Betty +was as charming as ever, but her mother seemed quite jealous of her +and treated her ill. + +When I reached Konigsberg I sold my travelling carriage and took a +place in a coach for Warsaw. We were four in all, and my companions +only spoke German and Polish, so that I had a dreadfully tedious +journey. At Warsaw I went to live with Villiers, where I hoped to +meet Campioni. + +It was not long before I saw him, and found him well in health and in +comfortable quarters. He kept a dancing school, and had a good many +pupils. He was delighted to have news of Fanny and his children. He +sent them some money, but had no thoughts of having them at Warsaw, +as Fanny wished. He assured me she was not his wife. + +He told me that Tomatis, the manager of the comic opera, had made a +fortune, and had in his company a Milanese dancer named Catai, who +enchanted all the town by her charms rather than her talent. Games +of chance were permitted, but he warned me that Warsaw was full of +card-sharpers. A Veronese named Giropoldi, who lived with an officer +from Lorrain called Bachelier, held a bank at faro at her house, +where a dancer, who had been the mistress of the famous Afflisio at +Vienna, brought customers. + +Major Sadir, whom I have mentioned before, kept another gaming-house, +in company with his mistress, who came from Saxony. The Baron de St. +Heleine was also in Warsaw, but his principal occupation was to +contract debts which he did not mean to pay. He also lived in +Villier's house with his pretty and virtuous young wife, who would +have nothing to say to us. Campioni told me of some other +adventurers, whose names I was very glad to know that I might the +better avoid them. + +The day after my arrival I hired a man and a carriage, the latter +being an absolute necessity at Warsaw, where in my time, at all +events, it was impossible to go on foot. I reached the capital of +Poland at the end of October, 1765. + +My first call was on Prince Adam Czartoryski, Lieutenant of Podolia, +for whom I had an introduction. I found him before a table covered +with papers, surrounded by forty or fifty persons, in an immense +library which he had made into his bedroom. He was married to a very +pretty woman, but had not yet had a child by her because she was too +thin for his taste. + +He read the long letter I gave him, and said in elegant French that +he had a very high opinion of the writer of the letter; but that as +he was very busy just then he hoped I would come to supper with him +if I had nothing better to do. + +I drove off to Prince Sulkouski, who had just been appointed +ambassador to the Court of Louis XV. The prince was the elder of +four brothers and a man of great understanding, but a theorist in the +style of the Abbe St. Pierre. He read the letter, and said he wanted +to have a long talk with me; but that being obliged to go out he +would be obliged if I would come and dine with him at four o'clock. +I accepted the invitation. + +I then went to a merchant named Schempinski, who was to pay me fifty +ducats a month on Papanelopulo's order. My man told me that there +was a public rehearsal of a new opera at the theatre, and I +accordingly spent three hours there, knowing none and unknown to all. +All the actresses were pretty, but especially the Catai, who did not +know the first elements of dancing. She was greatly applauded, above +all by Prince Repnin, the Russian ambassador, who seemed a person of +the greatest consequence. + +Prince Sulkouski kept me at table for four mortal hours, talking on +every subject except those with which I happened to be acquainted. +His strong points were politics and commerce, and as he found my mind +a mere void on these subjects, he shone all the more, and took quite +a fancy to me, as I believe, because he found me such a capital +listener. + +About nine o'clock, having nothing better to do (a favourite phrase +with the Polish noblemen), I went to Prince Adam, who after +pronouncing my name introduced me to the company. There were present +Monseigneur Krasinski, the Prince-Bishop of Warmia, the Chief +Prothonotary Rzewuski, whom I had known at St. Petersburg, the +Palatin Oginski, General Roniker, and two others whose barbarous +names I have forgotten. The last person to whom he introduced me was +his wife, with whom I was very pleased. A few moments after a fine- +looking gentleman came into the room, and everybody stood up. Prince +Adam pronounced my name, and turning to me said, coolly,-- + +"That's the king." + +This method of introducing a stranger to a sovereign prince was +assuredly not an overwhelming one, but it was nevertheless a +surprise; and I found that an excess of simplicity may be as +confusing as the other extreme. At first I thought the prince might +be making a fool of me; but I quickly put aside the idea, and stepped +forward and was about to kneel, but his majesty gave me his hand to +kiss with exquisite grace, and as he was about to address me, Prince +Adam shewed him the letter of the English ambassador, who was well +known to the king. The king read it, still standing, and began to +ask me questions about the Czarina and the Court, appearing to take +great interest in my replies. + +When supper was announced the king continued to talk, and led me into +the supper-room, and made me sit down at his right hand. Everybody +ate heartily except the king, who appeared to have no appetite, and +myself, who had no right to have any appetite, even if I had not +dined well with Prince Sulkouski, for I saw the whole table hushed to +listen to my replies to the king's questions. + +After supper the king began to comment very graciously on my answers. +His majesty spoke simply but with great elegance. As he was leaving +he told me he should always be delighted to see me at his Court, and +Prince Adam said that if I liked to be introduced to his father, I +had only to call at eleven o'clock the next morning. + +The King of Poland was of a medium height, but well made. His face +was not a handsome one, but it was kindly and intelligent. He was +rather short-sighted, and his features in repose bore a somewhat +melancholy expression; but in speaking, the whole face seemed to +light up. All he said was seasoned by a pleasant wit. + +I was well enough pleased with this interview, and returned to my +inn, where I found Campioni seated amongst several guests of either +sex, and after staying with them for half an hour I went to bed. + +At eleven o'clock the next day I was presented to the great Russian +Paladin. He was in his dressing-gown, surrounded by his gentlemen in +the national costume. He was standing up and conversing with his +followers in a kindly but grave manner. As soon as his son Adam +mentioned my name, he unbent and gave me a most kindly yet dignified +welcome. His manners were not awful, nor did they inspire one with +familiarity, and I thought him likely to be a good judge of +character. When I told him that I had only gone to Russia to amuse +myself and see good company, he immediately concluded that my aims in +coming to Poland were of the same kind; and he told me that he could +introduce me to a large circle. He added that he should be glad to +see me to dinner and supper whenever I had no other engagements. + +He went behind a screen to complete his toilette, and soon appeared +in the uniform of his regiment, with a fair peruke in the style of +the late King Augustus II. He made a collective bow to everyone, and +went to see his wife, who was recovering from a disease which would +have proved fatal if it had not been for the skill of Reimann, a +pupil of the great Boerhaave. The lady came of the now extinct +family of Enoff, whose immense wealth she brought to her husband. +When he married her he abandoned the Maltese Order, of which he had +been a knight. He won his bride by a duel with pistols on horseback. +The lady had promised that her hand should be the conqueror's +guerdon, and the prince was so fortunate as to kill his rival. Of +this marriage there issued Prince Adam and a daughter, now a widow, +and known under the name of Lubomirska, but formerly under that of +Strasnikowa, that being the title of the office her husband held in +the royal army. + +It was this prince palatine and his brother, the High Chancellor of +Lithuania, who first brought about the Polish troubles. The two +brothers were discontented with their position at the Court where +Count Bruhl was supreme, and put themselves at the head of the plot +for dethroning the king, and for placing on the throne, under Russian +protection, their young nephew, who had originally gone to St. +Petersburg as an attache at the embassy, and afterwards succeeded in +winning the favour of Catherine, then Grand Duchess, but soon to +become empress. + +This young man was Stanislas Poniatowski, son of Constance +Czartoryski and the celebrated Poniatowski, the friend of Charles +III. As luck would have it, a revolution was unnecessary to place +him on the throne, for the king died in 1763, and gave place to +Prince Poniatowski, who was chosen king on the 6th of September, +1776, under the title of Stanislas Augustus I. He had reigned two +years at the time of my visit; and I found Warsaw in a state of +gaiety, for a diet was to be held and everyone wished to know how it +was that Catherine had given the Poles a native king. + +At dinner-time I went to the paladin's and found three tables, at +each of which there were places for thirty, and this was the usual +number entertained by the prince. The luxury of the Court paled +before that of the paladin's house. Prince Adam said to me, + +"Chevalier, your place will always be at my father's table." + +This was a great honour, and I felt it. The prince introduced me to +his handsome sister, and to several palatins and starosts. I did not +fail to call on all these great personages, so in the course of a +fortnight I found myself a welcome guest in all the best houses. + +My purse was too lean to allow of my playing or consoling myself with +a theatrical beauty, so I fell back on the library of Monseigneur +Zalewski, the Bishop of Kiowia, for whom I had taken a great liking. +I spent almost all my mornings with him, and it was from this prelate +that I learnt all the intrigues and complots by which the ancient +Polish constitution, of which the bishop was a great admirer, had +been overturned. Unhappily, his firmness was of no avail, and a few +months after I left Warsaw the Russian tyrants arrested him and he +was exiled to Siberia. + +I lived calmly and peaceably, and still look back upon those days +with pleasure. I spent my afternoons with the paladin playing +tressette an Italian game of which he was very fond, and which I +played well enough for the paladin to like to have me as a partner. + +In spite of my sobriety and economy I found myself in debt three +months after my arrival, and I did not know where to turn for help. +The fifty ducats per month, which were sent me from Venice, were +insufficient, for the money I had to spend on my carriage, my +lodging, my servant, and my dress brought me down to the lowest ebb, +and I did not care to appeal to anyone. But fortune had a surprise +in store for me, and hitherto she had never left me. + +Madame Schmit, whom the king for good reasons of his own had +accommodated with apartments in the palace, asked me one evening to +sup with her, telling me that the king would be of the party. I +accepted the invitation, and I was delighted to find the delightful +Bishop Kraswiski, the Abbe Guigiotti, and two or three other amateurs +of Italian literature. The king, whose knowledge of literature was +extensive, began to tell anecdotes of classical writers, quoting +manuscript authorities which reduced me to silence, and which were +possibly invented by him. Everyone talked except myself, and as I +had had no dinner I ate like an ogre, only replying by monosyllables +when politeness obliged me to say something. The conversation turned +on Horace, and everyone gave his opinion on the great materialist's +philosophy, and the Abbe Guigiotti obliged me to speak by saying that +unless I agreed with him I should not keep silence. + +"If you take my silence for consent to your extravagant eulogium of +Horace," I said, "you are mistaken; for in my opinion the 'nec cum +venari volet poemata panges', of which you think so much, is to my +mind a satire devoid of delicacy." + +"Satire and delicacy are hard to combine." + +"Not for Horace, who succeeded in pleasing the great Augustus, and +rendering him immortal as the protector of learned men. Indeed other +sovereigns seem to vie with him by taking his name and even by +disguising it." + +The king (who had taken the name of Augustus himself) looked grave +and said,-- + +"What sovereigns have adopted a disguised form of the name Augustus?" + +"The first king of Sweden, who called himself Gustavus, which is only +an anagram of Augustus." + +"That is a very amusing idea, and worth more than all the tales we +have told. Where did you find that?" + +"In a manuscript at Wolfenbuttel." + +The king laughed loudly, though he himself had been citing +manuscripts. But he returned to the charge and said,-- + +"Can you cite any passage of Horace (not in manuscript) where he +shews his talent for delicacy and satire?" + +"Sir, I could quote several passages, but here is one which seems to +me very good: 'Coyam rege', says the poet, 'sua de paupertate +tacentes, plus quan pocentes ferent." + +"True indeed," said the king, with a smile. + +Madame Schmit, who did not know Latin, and inherited curiosity from +her mother, and eventually from Eve, asked the bishop what it meant, +and he thus translated it: + +"They that speak not of their necessities in the presence of a king, +gain more than they that are ever asking." + +The lady remarked that she saw nothing satirical in this. + +After this it was my turn to be silent again; but the king began to +talk about Ariosto, and expressed a desire to read it with me. I +replied with an inclination of the head, and Horace's words: 'Tempora +quoeram'. + +Next morning, as I was coming out from mass, the generous and +unfortunate Stanislas Augustus gave me his hand to kiss, and at the +same time slid a roll of money into my hand, saying,-- + +"Thank no one but Horace, and don't tell anyone about it." + +The roll contained two hundred ducats, and I immediately paid off my +debts. Since then I went almost every morning to the king's closet, +where he was always glad to see his courtiers, but there was no more +said about reading Ariosto. He knew Italian, but not enough to speak +it, and still less to appreciate the beauties of the great poet. +When I think of this worthy prince, and of the great qualities he +possessed as a man, I cannot understand how he came to commit so many +errors as a king. Perhaps the least of them all was that he allowed +himself to survive his country. As he could not find a friend to +kill him, I think he should have killed himself. But indeed he had +no need to ask a friend to do him this service; he should have +imitated the great Kosciuszko, and entered into life eternal by the +sword of a Russian. + +The carnival was a brilliant one. All Europe seemed to have +assembled at Warsaw to see the happy being whom fortune had so +unexpectedly raised to a throne, but after seeing him all were agreed +that, in his case at all events, the deity had been neither blind nor +foolish. Perhaps, however, he liked shewing himself rather too much. +I have detected him in some distress on his being informed that there +was such a thing as a stranger in Warsaw who had not seen him. No +one had any need of an introduction, for his Court was, as all Courts +should be, open to everyone, and when he noticed a strange face he +was the first to speak. + +Here I must set down an event which took place towards the end of +January. It was, in fact, a dream; and, as I think I have confessed +before, superstition had always some hold on me. + +I dreamt I was at a banquet, and one of the guests threw a bottle at +my face, that the blood poured forth, that I ran my sword through my +enemy's body, and jumped into a carriage, and rode away. + +Prince Charles of Courland came to Warsaw, and asked me to dine with +him at Prince Poninski's, the same that became so notorious, and was +afterwards proscribed and shamefully dishonoured. His was a +hospitable house, and he was surrounded by his agreeable family. I +had never called on him, as he was not a 'persona grata' to the king +or his relations. + +In the course of the dinner a bottle of champagne burst, and a piece +of broken glass struck me just below the eye. It cut a vein, and the +blood gushed over my face, over my clothes, and even over the cloth. +Everybody rose, my wound was bound up, the cloth was changed, and the +dinner went on merrily. I was surprised at the likeness between my +dream and this incident, while I congratulated myself on the happy +difference between them. However, it all came true after a few +months. + +Madame Binetti, whom I had last seen in London, arrived at Warsaw +with her husband and Pic the dancer. She had a letter of +introduction to the king's brother, who was a general in the Austrian +service, and then resided at Warsaw. I heard that the day they came, +when I was at supper at the palatin's. The king was present, and +said he should like to keep them in Warsaw for a week and see them +dance, if a thousand ducats could do it. + +I went to see Madame Binetti and to give her the good news the next +morning. She was very much surprised to meet me in Warsaw, and still +more so at the news I gave her. She called Pic who seemed undecided, +but as we were talking it over, Prince Poniatowski came in to +acquaint them with his majesty's wishes, and the offer was accepted. +In three days Pic arranged a ballet; the costumes, the scenery, the +music, the dancers--all were ready, and Tomatis put it on handsomely +to please his generous master. The couple gave such satisfaction +that they were engaged for a year. The Catai was furious, as Madame +Binetti threw her completely into the shade, and, worse still, drew +away her lovers. Tomatis, who was under the Catai's influence, made +things so unpleasant for Madame Binetti that the two dancers became +deadly enemies. + +In ten or twelve days Madame Binetti was settled it a well-furnished +house; her plate was simple but good, her cellar full of excellent +wine, her cook an artist and her adorers numerous, amongst them being +Moszciuski and Branicki, the king's friends. + +The pit was divided into two parties, for the Catai was resolved to +make a stand against the new comer, though her talents were not to be +compared to Madame Binetti's. She danced in the first ballet, and +her rival in the second. Those who applauded the first greeted that +second in dead silence, and vice versa. I had great obligations +towards Madame Binetti, but my duty also drew me towards the Catai, +who numbered in her party all the Czartoryskis and their following, +Prince Lubomirski, and other powerful nobles. It was plain that I +could not desert to Madame Binetti without earning the contempt of +the other party. + +Madame Binetti reproached me bitterly, and I laid the case plainly +before her. She agreed that I could not do otherwise, but begged me +to stay away from the theatre in future, telling me that she had got +a rod in pickle for Tomatis which would make him repent of his +impertinence. She called me her oldest friend; and indeed I was very +fond of her, and cared nothing for the Catai despite her prettiness. + +Xavier Branicki, the royal Postoli, Knight of the White Eagle, +Colonel of Uhlans, the king's friend, was the chief adorer of Madame +Binetti. The lady probably confided her displeasure to him, and +begged him to take vengeance on the manager, who had committed so +many offences against her. Count Branicki in his turn probably +promised to avenge her quarrel, and, if no opportunity of doing so +arose, to create an opportunity. At least, this is the way in which +affairs of this kind are usually managed, and I can find no better +explanation for what happened. Nevertheless, the way in which the +Pole took vengeance was very original and extraordinary. + +On the 20th of February Branicki went to the opera, and, contrary to +his custom, went to the Catai's dressing-room, and began to pay his +court to the actress, Tomatis being present. Both he and the actress +concluded that Branicki had had a quarrel with her rival, and though +she did not much care to place him in the number of her adorers, she +yet gave him a good reception, for she knew it would be dangerous to +despise his suit openly. + +When the Catai had completed her toilet, the gallant postoli offered. +her his arm to take her to her carriage, which was at the door. +Tomatis followed, and I too was there, awaiting my carriage. Madame +Catai came down, the carriage-door was opened, she stepped in, and +Branicki got in after her, telling the astonished Tomatis to follow +them in the other carriage. Tomatis replied that he meant to ride in +his own carriage, and begged the colonel to get out. Branicki paid +no attention, and told the coachman to drive on. Tornatis forbade +him to stir, and the man, of course, obeyed his master. The gallant +postcili was therefore obliged to get down, but he bade his hussar +give Tomatis a box on the ear, and this order was so promptly and +vigorously obeyed that the unfortunate man was on the ground before +he had time to recollect that he had a sword. He got up eventually +and drove off, but he could eat no supper, no doubt because he had a +blow to digest. I was to have supped with him, but after this scene +I had really not the face to go. I went home in a melancholy and +reflective mood, wondering whether the whole had been concerted; but +I concluded that this was impossible, as neither Branicki nor Binetti +could have foreseen the impoliteness and cowardice of Tomatis. + +In the next chapter the reader will see how tragically the matter +ended. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +My Duel with Branicki--My Journey to Leopol and Return to Warsaw +--I Receive the Order to Leave--My Departure with the Unknown One + +On reflection I concluded that Branicki had not done an ungentlemanly +thing in getting into Tomatis's carriage; he had merely behaved with +impetuosity, as if he were the Catai's lover. It also appeared to me +that, considering the affront he had received from the jealous +Italian, the box on the ear was a very moderate form of vengeance. +A blow is bad, of course, but not so bad as death; and Branicki might +very well have run his sword through the manager's body. Certainly, +if Branicki had killed him he would have been stigmatised as an +assassin, for though Tomatis had a sword the Polish officer's +servants would never have allowed him to draw it, nevertheless I +could not help thinking that Tomatis should have tried to take the +servant's life, even at the risk of his own. He wanted no more +courage for that than in ordering the king's favourite to come out of +the carriage. He might have foreseen that the Polish noble would be +stung to the quick, and would surely attempt to take speedy +vengeance. + +The next day the encounter was the subject of all conversations. +Tomatis remained indoors for a week, calling for vengeance in vain. +The king told him he could do nothing for him, as Branicki maintained +he had only given insult for insult. I saw Tomatis, who told me in +confidence that he could easily take vengeance, but that it would +cost him too dear. He had spent forty thousand ducats on the two +ballets, and if he had avenged himself he would have lost it nearly +all, as he would be obliged to leave the kingdom. The only +consolation he had was that his great friends were kinder to him than +ever, and the king himself honoured him with peculiar attention. +Madame Binetti was triumphant. When I saw her she condoled with me +ironically on the mishap that had befallen my friend. She wearied +me; but I could not guess that Branicki had only acted at her +instigation, and still less that she had a grudge against me. +Indeed, if I had known it, I should only have laughed at her, for I +had nothing to dread from her bravo's dagger. I had never seen him +nor spoken to him; he could have no opportunity for attacking me. He +was never with the king in the morning and never went to the +palatin's to supper, being an unpopular character with the Polish +nobility. This Branicki was said to have been originally a Cossack, +Branecki by name. He became the king's favorite and assumed the name +of Branicki, pretending to be of the same family as the illustrious +marshal of that name who was still alive; but he, far from +recognizing the pretender, ordered his shield to be broken up and +buried with him as the last of the race. However that may be, +Branicki was the tool of the Russian party, the determined enemy of +those who withstood Catherine's design of Russianising the ancient +Polish constitution. The king liked him out of habit, and because he +had peculiar obligations to him. + +The life I lived was really exemplary. I indulged neither in love +affairs nor gaming. I worked for the king, hoping to become his +secretary. I paid my court to the princess-palatine, who liked my +company, and I played tressette with the palatin himself. + +On the 4th of March, St. Casimir's Eve, there was a banquet at Court +to which I had the honour to be invited. Casimir was the name of the +king's eldest brother, who held the office of grand chamberlain. +After dinner the king asked me if I intended going to the theatre, +where a Polish play was to be given for the first time. Everybody +was interested in this novelty, but it was a matter of indifference +to me as I did not understand the language, and I told the king as +much. + +"Never mind," said he, "come in my box." + +This was too flattering an invitation to be refused, so I obeyed the +royal command and stood behind the king's chair. After the second +act a ballet was given, and the dancing of Madame Caracci, a +Piedmontese, so pleased his majesty that he went to the unusual pains +of clapping her. + +I only knew the dancer by sight, for I had never spoken to her. She +had some talents. Her principal admirer was Count Poninski, who was +always reproaching me when I dined with him for visiting the other +dancers to the exclusion of Madame Caracci. I thought of his +reproach at the time, and determined to pay her a visit after the +ballet to congratulate her on her performance and the king's +applause. On my way I passed by Madame Binetti's dressing-room, and +seeing the door open I stayed a moment. Count Branicki came up, and +I left with a bow and passed on to Madame Caracci's dressing-room. +She was astonished to see me, and began with kindly reproaches for my +neglect; to which I replied with compliments, and then giving her a +kiss I promised to come and see her. + +Just as I embraced her who should enter but Branicki, whom I had left +a moment before with Madame Binetti. He had clearly followed me in +the hopes of picking a quarrel. He was accompanied by Bininski, his +lieutenant-colonel. As soon as he appeared, politeness made me stand +up and turn to go, but he stopped me. + +"It seems to me I have come at a bad time; it looks as if you loved +this lady." + +"Certainly, my lord; does not your excellency consider her as worthy +of love?" + +"Quite so; but as it happens I love her too, and I am not the man to +bear any rivals." + +"As I know that, I shall love her no more." + +"Then you give her up?" + +"With all my heart; for everyone must yield to such a noble as you +are." + +"Very good; but I call a man that yields a coward." + +"Isn't that rather a strong expression?" + +As I uttered these words I looked proudly at him and touched the hilt +of my sword. Three or four officers were present and witnessed what +passed. + +I had hardly gone four paces from the dressing-room when I heard +myself called "Venetian coward." In spite of my rage I restrained +myself, and turned back saying, coolly and firmly, that perhaps a +Venetian coward might kill a brave Pole outside the theatre; and +without awaiting a reply I left the building by the chief staircase. + +I waited vainly outside the theatre for a quarter of an hour with my +sword in my hand, for I was not afraid of losing forty thousand +ducats like Tomatis. At last, half perishing with cold, I called my +carriage and drove to the palatin's, where the king was to sup. + +The cold and loneliness began to cool my brain, and I congratulated +myself on my self-restraint in not drawing my sword in the actress's +dressing-room; and I felt glad that Branicki had not followed me down +the stairs, for his friend Bininski had a sabre, and I should probably +have been assassinated. + +Although the Poles are polite enough, there is still a good deal of +the old leaven in them. They are still Dacians and Samaritans at +dinner, in war, and in friendship, as they call it, but which is +often a burden hardly to be borne. They can never understand that a +man may be sufficient company for himself, and that it is not right +to descend on him in a troop and ask him to give them dinner. + +I made up my mind that Madame Binetti had excited Branicki to follow +me, and possibly to treat me as he had treated Tomatis. I had not +received a blow certainly, but I had been called a coward. I had no +choice but to demand satisfaction, but I also determined to be +studiously moderate throughout. In this frame of mind I got down at +the palatin's, resolved to tell the whole story to the king, leaving +to his majesty the task of compelling his favourite to give me +satisfaction. + +As soon as the palatin saw me, he reproached me in a friendly manner +for keeping him waiting, and we sat down to tressette. I was his +partner, and committed several blunders. When it came to losing a +second game he said,-- + +"Where is your head to-night?" + +"My lord, it is four leagues away." + +"A respectable man ought to have his head in the game, and not at a +distance of four leagues." + +With these words the prince threw down his cards and began to walk up +and down the room. I was rather startled, but I got up and stood by +the fire, waiting for the king. But after I had waited thus for half +an hour a chamberlain came from the palace, and announced that his +majesty could not do himself the honour of supping with my lord that +night. + +This was a blow for me, but I concealed my disappointment. Supper +was served, and I sat down as usual at the left hand of the palatin, +who was annoyed with me, and chewed it. We were eighteen at table, +and for once I had no appetite. About the middle of the supper +Prince Gaspard Lubomirski came in, and chanced to sit down opposite +me. As soon as he saw me he condoled with me in a loud voice for +what had happened. + +"I am sorry for you," said he, "but Branicki was drunk, and you +really shouldn't count what he said as an insult." + +"What has happened?" became at once the general question. I held my +tongue, and when they asked Lubomirski he replied that as I kept +silence it was his duty to do the same. + +Thereupon the palatin, speaking in his friendliest manner, said to +me,-- + +"What has taken place between you and Branicki?" + +"I will tell you the whole story, my lord, in private after supper." + +The conversation became indifferent, and after the meal was over the +palatin took up his stand by the small door by which he was +accustomed to leave the room, and there I told him the whole story. +He sighed, condoled with me, and added,-- + +"You had good reasons for being absent-minded at cards." + +"May I presume to ask your excellency's advice?" + +"I never give advice in these affairs, in which you must do every- +thing or nothing." + +The palatin shook me by the hand, and I went home and slept for six +hours. As soon as I awoke I sat up in bed, and my first thought was +everything or nothing. I soon rejected the latter alternative, and I +saw that I must demand a duel to the death. If Branicki refused to +fight I should be compelled to kill him, even if I were to lose my +head for it. + +Such was my determination; to write to him proposing a duel at four +leagues from Warsaw, this being the limit of the starostia, in which +duelling was forbidden on pain of death. I Wrote as follows, for I +have kept the rough draft of the letter to this day: + +"WARSAW, + +"March 5th, 1766. 5 A.M. + +"My Lord,--Yesterday evening your excellency insulted me with a light +heart, without my having given you any cause or reason for doing so. +This seems to indicate that you hate me, and would gladly efface me +from the land of the living. I both can and will oblige you in this +matter. Be kind enough, therefore, to drive me in your carriage to a +place where my death will not subject your lordship to the vengeance +of the law, in case you obtain the victory, and where I shall enjoy +the same advantage if God give me grace to kill your lordship. I +should not make this proposal unless I believe your lordship to be of +a noble disposition. + +"I have the honour to be, etc." + +I sent this letter an hour before day-break to Branicki's lodging in +the palace. My messenger had orders to give the letter into the +count's own hands, to wait for him to rise, and also for an answer. + +In half an hour I received the following answer: + +"Sir,--I accept your proposal, and shall be glad if you will have the +kindness to inform me when I shall have the honour of seeing you. + +"I remain, sir, etc." + +I answered this immediately, informing him I would call on him the +next day, at six o'clock in the morning. + +Shortly after, I received a second letter, in which he said that I +might choose the arms and place, but that our differences must be +settled in the course of the day. + +I sent him the measure of my sword, which was thirty-two inches long, +telling him he might choose any place beyond the ban. In reply, I +had the following: + +"Sir,--You will greatly oblige me by coming now. I have sent my +carriage. + +"I have the honour to be, etc." + +I replied that I had business all the day, and that as I had made up +my mind not to call upon him, except for the purpose of fighting, I +begged him not to be offended if I took the liberty of sending back +his carriage. + +An hour later Branicki called in person, leaving his suite at the +door. He came into the room, requested some gentlemen who were +talking with me to leave us alone, locked the door after them, and +then sat down on my bed. I did not understand what all this meant so +I took up my pistols. + +"Don't be afraid," said he, "I am not come to assassinate you, but +merely to say that I accept your proposal, on condition only that the +duel shall take place to-day. If not, never!" + +"It is out of the question. I have letters to write, and some +business to do for the king." + +"That will do afterwards. In all probability you will not fall, and +if you do I am sure the king will forgive you. Besides, a dead man +need fear no reproaches." + +"I want to make my will." + +"Come, come, you needn't be afraid of dying; it will be time enough +for you to make your will in fifty years." + +"But why should your excellency not wait till tomorrow?" + +"I don't want to be caught." + +"You have nothing of the kind to fear from me." + +"I daresay, but unless we make haste the king will have us both +arrested." + +"How can he, unless you have told him about our quarrel?" + +"Ah, you don't understand! Well, I am quite willing to give you +satisfaction, but it must be to-day or never." + +"Very good. This duel is too dear to my heart for me to leave you +any pretext for avoiding it. Call for me after dinner, for I shall +want all my strength." + +"Certainly. For my part I like a good supper after, better than a +good dinner before." + +"Everyone to his taste." + +"True. By the way, why did you send me the length of your sword? I +intend to fight with pistols, for I never use swords with unknown +persons." + +"What do you mean? I beg of you to refrain from insulting me in my +own house. I do not intend to fight with pistols, and you cannot +compel me to do so, for I have your letter giving me the choice of +weapons." + +"Strictly speaking, no doubt you are in the right; but I am sure you +are too polite not to give way, when I assure you that you will lay +me under a great obligation by doing so. Very often the first shot +is a miss, and if that is the case with both of us, I promise to +fight with swords as long as you like. Will you oblige me in the +matter?" + +"Yes, for I like your way of asking, though, in my opinion, a pistol +duel is a barbarous affair. I accept, but on the following +conditions: You must bring two pistols, charge them in my presence, +and give me the choice. If the first shot is a miss, we will fight +with swords till the first blood or to the death, whichever you +prefer. Call for me at three o'clock, and choose some place where we +shall be secure from the law." + +"Very good. You are a good fellow, allow me to embrace you. Give me +your word of honour not to say a word about it to anyone, for if you +did we should be arrested immediately." + +"You need not be afraid of my talking; the project is too dear to +me." + +"Good. Farewell till three o'clock." + +As soon as the brave braggart had left me, I placed the papers I was +doing for the king apart, and went to Campioni, in whom I had great +confidence. + +"Take this packet to the king," I said, "if I happen to be killed. +You may guess, perhaps, what is going to happen, but do not say a +word to anyone, or you will have me for your bitterest enemy, as it +would mean loss of honour to me." + +"I understand. You may reckon on my discretion, and I hope the +affair may be ended honourably and prosperously for you. But take a +piece of friendly advice--don't spare your opponent, were it the king +himself, for it might cost you your life. I know that by experience." + +"I will not forget. Farewell." + +We kissed each other, and I ordered an excellent dinner, for I had no +mind to be sent to Pluto fasting. Campioni came in to dinner at one +o'clock, and at dessert I had a visit from two young counts, with +their tutor, Bertrand, a kindly Swiss. They were witnesses to my +cheerfulness and the excellent appetite with which I ate. At half- +past two I dismissed my company, and stood at the window to be ready +to go down directly Branicki's carriage appeared. He drove up in a +travelling carriage and six; two grooms, leading saddle-horses, went +in front, followed by his two aide-de-camps and two hussars. Behind +his carriage stood four servants. I hastened to descend, and found +my enemy was accompanied by a lieutenant-general and an armed +footman. The door was opened, the general gave me his place, and I +ordered my servants not to follow me but to await my orders at the +house. + +"You might want them," said Branicki; "they had better come along." + +"If I had as many as you, I would certainly agree to your +proposition; but as it is I shall do still better without any at all. +If need be, your excellency will see that I am tended by your own +servants." + +He gave me his hand, and assured me they should wait on me before +himself. + +I sat down, and we went off. + +It would have been absurd if I had asked where we were going, so I +held my tongue, for at such moments a man should take heed to his +words. Branicki was silent, and I thought the best thing I could do +would be to engage him in a trivial conversation. + +"Does your excellency intend spending the spring at Warsaw?" + +"I had thought of doing so, but you may possibly send me to pass the +spring somewhere else." + +"Oh, I hope not!" + +"Have you seen any military service?" + +"Yes; but may I ask why your excellency asks me the question, for--" + +"I had no particular reason; it was only for the sake of saying +something." + +We had driven about half an hour when the carriage stopped at the +door of a large garden. We got down and, following the postoli, +reached a green arbour which, by the way, was not at all green on +that 5th of March. In it was a stone table on which the footman +placed two pistols, a foot and half long, with a powder flask and +scales. He weighed the powder, loaded them equally, and laid them +down crosswise on the table. + +This done, Branicki said boldly, + +"Choose your weapon, sir." + +At this the general called out, + +"Is this a duel, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"You cannot fight here; you are within the ban." + +"No matter." + +"It does matter; and I, at all events, refuse to be a witness. I am +on guard at the castle, and you have taken me by surprise." + +"Be quiet; I will answer for everything. I owe this gentleman +satisfaction, and I mean to give it him here." + +"M. Casanova," said the general, "you cannot fight here." + +"Then why have I been brought here? I shall defend myself wherever I +am attacked." + +"Lay the whole matter before the king, and you shall have my voice in +your favour." + +"I am quite willing to do so, general, if his excellency will say +that he regrets what passed between us last night." + +Branicki looked fiercely at me, and said wrathfully that he had come +to fight and not to parley. + +"General," said I, "you can bear witness that I have done all in my +power to avoid this duel." + +The general went away with his head between his hands, and throwing +off my cloak I took the first pistol that came to my hand. Branicki +took the other, and said that he would guarantee upon his honour that +my weapon was a good one. + +"I am going to try its goodness on your head," I answered. + +He turned pale at this, threw his sword to one of his servants, and +bared his throat, and I was obliged, to my sorrow, to follow his +example, for my sword was the only weapon I had, with the exception +of the pistol. I bared my chest also, and stepped back five or six +paces, and he did the same. + +As soon as we had taken up our positions I took off my hat with my +left hand, and begged him to fire first. + +Instead of doing so immediately he lost two or three seconds in +sighting, aiming, and covering his head by raising the weapon before +it. I was not in a position to let him kill me at his ease, so I +suddenly aimed and fired on him just as he fired on me. That I did +so is evident, as all the witnesses were unanimous in saying that +they only heard one report. I felt I was wounded in my left hand, +and so put it into my pocket, and I ran towards my enemy who had +fallen. All of a sudden, as I knelt beside him, three bare swords +were flourished over my head, and three noble assassins prepared to +cut me down beside their master. Fortunately, Branicki had not lost +consciousness or the power of speaking, and he cried out in a voice +of thunder,-- + +"Scoundrels! have some respect for a man of honour." + +This seemed to petrify them. I put my right hand under the pistoli's +armpit, while the general helped him on the other side, and thus we +took him to the inn, which happened to be near at hand. + +Branicki stooped as he walked, and gazed at me curiously, apparently +wondering where all the blood on my clothes came from. + +When we got to the inn, Branicki laid himself down in an arm-chair. +We unbuttoned his clothes and lifted up his shirt, and he could see +himself that he was dangerously wounded. My ball had entered his +body by the seventh rib on the right hand, and had gone out by the +second false rib on the left. The two wounds were ten inches apart, +and the case was of an alarming nature, as the intestines must have +been pierced. Branicki spoke to me in a weak voice,-- + +"You have killed me, so make haste away, as you are in danger of the +gibbet. The duel was fought in the ban, and I am a high court +officer, and a Knight of the White Eagle. So lose no time, and if +you have not enough money take my purse." + +I picked up the purse which had fallen out, and put it back in his +pocket, thanking him, and saying it would be useless to me, for if I +were guilty I was content to lose my head. "I hope," I added, "that +your wound will not be mortal, and I am deeply grieved at your +obliging me to fight." + +With these words I kissed him on his brow and left the inn, seeing +neither horses nor carriage, nor servant. They had all gone off for +doctor, surgeon, priest, and the friends and relatives of the wounded +man. + +I was alone and without any weapon, in the midst of a snow-covered +country, my hand was wounded, and I had not the slightest idea which +was the way to Warsaw. + +I took the road which seemed most likely, and after I had gone some +distance I met a peasant with an empty sleigh. + +"Warszawa?" I cried, shewing him a ducat. + +He understood me, and lifted a coarse mat, with which he covered me +when I got into the sleigh, and then set off at a gallop. + +All at once Biniski, Branicki's bosom-friend, came galloping +furiously along the road with his bare sword in his hand. He was +evidently running after me. Happily he did not glance at the +wretched sleigh in which I was, or else he would undoubtedly have +murdered me. I got at last to Warsaw, and went to the house of +Prince Adam Czartoryski to beg him to shelter me, but there was +nobody there. Without delay I determined to seek refuge in the +Convent of the Recollets, which was handy. + +I rang at the door of the monastery, and the porter seeing me covered +with blood hastened to shut the door, guessing the object of my +visit. But I did not give him the time to do so, but honouring him +with a hearty kick forced my way in. His cries attracted a troop of +frightened monks. I demanded sanctuary, and threatened them with +vengeance if they refused to grant it. One of their number spoke to +me, and I was taken to a little den which looked more like a dungeon +than anything else. I offered no resistance, feeling sure that they +would change their tune before very long. I asked them to send for +my servants, and when they came I sent for a doctor and Campioni. +Before the surgeon could come the Palatin of Polduchia was announced. +I had never had the honour of speaking to him, but after hearing the +history of my duel he was so kind as to give me all the particulars +of a duel he had fought in his youthful days. Soon after came the +Palatin of Kalisch, Prince Jablenowski. Prince Sanguska, and the +Palatin of Wilna, who all joined in a chorus of abuse of the monks +who had lodged me so scurvily. The poor religious excused themselves +by saying that I had ill-treated their porter, which made my noble +friends laugh; but I did not laugh, for my wound was very painful. +However I was immediately moved into two of their best guest-rooms. + +The ball had pierced my hand by the metacarpus under the index +finger, and had broken the first phalanges. Its force had been +arrested by a metal button on my waistcoat, and it had only inflicted +a slight wound on my stomach close to the navel. However, there it +was and it had to be extracted, for it pained me extremely. An +empiric named Gendron, the first surgeon my servants had found, made +an opening on the opposite side of my hand which doubled the wound. +While he was performing this painful operation I told the story of +the duel to the company, concealing the anguish I was enduring. What +a power vanity exercises on the moral and physical forces! If I had +been alone I should probably have fainted. + +As soon as the empiric Gendron was gone, the palatin's surgeon came +in and took charge of the case, calling Gendron a low fellow. At the +same time Prince Lubomirski, the husband of the palatin's daughter, +arrived, and gave us all a surprise by recounting the strange +occurrences which had happened after the duel. Bininski came to +where Branicki was lying, and seeing his wound rode off furiously on +horseback, swearing to strike me dead wherever he found me. He +fancied I would be with Tomatis, and went to his house. He found +Tomatis with his mistress, Prince Lubomirski, and Count Moszczinski, +but no Casanova was visible. He asked where I was, and on Tomatis +replying that he did not know he discharged a pistol at his head. At +this dastardly action Count Moszczincki seized him and tried to throw +him out of the window, but the madman got loose with three cuts of +his sabre, one of which slashed the count on the face and knocked out +three of his teeth. + +"After this exploit," Prince Lubomirski continued, "he seized me by +the throat and held a pistol to my head, threatening to blow out my +brains if I did not take him in safety to the court where his horse +was, so that he might get away from the house without any attack +being made on him by Tomatis's servants; and I did so immediately. +Moszczinski is in the doctor's hands, and will be laid up for some +time. + +"As soon as it was reported that Branicki was killed, his Uhlans +began to ride about the town swearing to avenge their colonel, and to +slaughter you. It is very fortunate that you took refuge here. + +"The chief marshal has had the monastery surrounded by two hundred +dragoons, ostensibly to prevent your escape, but in reality to defend +you from Branicki's soldiers. + +"The doctors say that the postoli is in great danger if the ball has +wounded the intestines, but if not they answer for his recovery. His +fate will be known tomorrow. He now lies at the lord chamberlain's, +not daring to have himself carried to his apartments at the palace. +The king has been to see him, and the general who was present told +his majesty that the only thing that saved your life was your threat +to aim at Branicki's head. This frightened him, and to keep your +ball from his head he stood in such an awkward position that he +missed your vital parts. Otherwise he would undoubtedly have shot +you through the heart, for he can split a bullet into two halves by +firing against the blade of a knife. It was also a lucky thing for +you that you escaped Bininski, who never thought of looking for you +in the wretched sleigh." + +"My lord, the most fortunate thing for me is that I did not kill my +man outright. Otherwise I should have been cut to pieces just as I +went to his help by three of his servants, who stood over me with +drawn swords. However, the postoli ordered them to leave me alone. + +"I am sorry for what has happened to your highness and Count +Moszczinski; and if Tomatis was not killed by the madman it is only +because the pistol was only charged with powder." + +"That's what I think, for no one heard the bullet; but it was a mere +chance." + +"Quite so." + +Just then an officer of the palatin's came to me with a note from his +master, which ran as follows: + +"Read what the king says to me, and sleep well." + +The king's note was thus conceived: + +"Branicki, my dear uncle, is dangerous wounded. My surgeons are +doing all they can for him, but I have not forgotten Casanova. You +may assure him that he is pardoned, even if Branicki should die." + +I kissed the letter gratefully, and shewed it to my visitors, who +lauded this generous man truly worthy of being a king. + +After this pleasant news I felt in need of rest, and my lords left +me. As soon as they were gone, Campioni, who had come in before and +had stood in the background, came up to me and gave me back the +packet of papers, and with tears of joy congratulated me on the happy +issue of the duel. + +Next day I had shoals of visitors, and many of the chiefs of the +party opposed to Branicki sent me purses full of gold. The persons +who brought the money on behalf of such a lord or lady, said that +being a foreigner I might be in need of money, and that was their +excuse for the liberty they had taken. I thanked and refused them +all, and sent back at least four thousand ducats, and was very proud +of having done so. Campioni thought it was absurd, and he was right, +for I repented afterwards of what I had done. The only present I +accepted was a dinner for four persons, which Prince Adam Czartoryski +sent me in every day, though the doctor would not let me enjoy it, he +being a great believer in diet. + +The wound in my stomach was progressing favourably, but on the fourth +day the surgeons said my hand was becoming gangrened, and they agreed +that the only remedy was amputation. I saw this announced in the +Court Gazette the next morning, but as I had other views on the +matter I laughed heartily at the paragraph. The sheet was printed at +night, after the king had placed his initials to the copy. In the +morning several persons came to condole with me, but I received their +sympathy with great irreverence. I merely laughed at Count Clary, +who said I would surely submit to the operation; and just as he +uttered the words the three surgeons came in together. + +"Well, gentlemen," said I, "you have mustered in great strength; why +is this?" + +My ordinary surgeon replied that he wished to have the opinion of the +other two before proceeding to amputation, and they would require to +look at the wound. + +The dressing was lifted and gangrene was declared to be undoubtedly +present, and execution was ordered that evening. The butchers gave +me the news with radiant faces, and assured me I need not be afraid +as the operation would certainly prove efficacious. + +"Gentlemen," I replied, "you seem to have a great many solid +scientific reasons for cutting off my hand; but one thing you have +not got, and that is my consent. My hand is my own, and I am going +to keep it." + +"Sir, it is certainly gangrened; by to-morrow the arm will begin to +mortify, and then you will have to lose your arm." + +"Very good; if that prove so you shall cut off my arm, but I happen +to know something of gangrene, and there is none about me." + +"You cannot know as much about it as we do." + +"Possibly; but as far as I can make out, you know nothing at all." + +"That's rather a strong expression." + +"I don't care whether it be strong or weak; you can go now." + +In a couple of hours everyone whom the surgeons had told of my +obstinacy came pestering me. Even the prince-palatin wrote to me +that the king was extremely surprised at my lack of courage. This +stung me to the quick, and I wrote the king a long letter, half in +earnest and half in jest, in which I laughed at the ignorance of the +surgeons, and at the simplicity of those who took whatever they said +for gospel truth. I added that as an arm without a hand would be +quite as useless as no arm at all, I meant to wait till it was +necessary to cut off the arm. + +My letter was read at Court, and people wondered how a man with +gangrene could write a long letter of four pages. Lubomirski told me +kindly that I was mistaken in laughing at my friends, for the three +best surgeons in Warsaw could not be mistaken in such a simple case. + +"My lord, they are not deceived themselves, but they want to deceive +me." + +"Why should they?" + +"To make themselves agreeable to Branicki, who is in a dangerous +state, and might possibly get better if he heard that my hand had +been taken off." + +"Really that seems an incredible idea to me!" + +"What will your highness say on the day when I am proved to be +right?" + +"I shall say you are deserving of the highest praise, but the day +must first come." + +"We shall see this evening, and I give you my word that if any +gangrene has attacked the arm, I will have it cut off to-morrow +morning." + +Four surgeons came to see me. My arm was pronounced to be highly +aedematous, and of a livid colour up to the elbow; but when the lint +was taken off the wound I could see for myself that it was +progressing admirably. However, I concealed my delight. Prince +Augustus Sulkowski and the Abbe Gouvel were present; the latter being +attached to the palatin's court. The judgment of the surgeons was +that the arm was gangrened, and must be amputated by the next morning +at latest. + +I was tired of arguing with these rascals, so I told them to bring +their instruments, and that I would submit to the operation. At this +they went way in high glee, to tell the news at the Court, to +Branicki, to the palatin, and so forth. I merely gave my servants +orders to send them away when they came. + +I can dwell no more on this matter, though it is interesting enough +to me. However, the reader will no doubt be obliged to me by my +simply saying that a French surgeon in Prince Sulkowski's household +took charge of the case in defiance of professional etiquette, and +cured me perfectly, so I have my hand and my arm to this day. + +On Easter Day I went to mass with my arm in a sling. My cure had +only lasted three weeks, but I was not able to put the hand to any +active employment for eighteen months afterwards. Everyone was +obliged to congratulate me on having held out against the amputation, +and the general consent declared the surgeons grossly ignorant, while +I was satisfied with thinking them very great knaves. + +I must here set down an incident which happened three days after the +duel. + +I was told that a Jesuit father from the bishop of the diocese wanted +to speak to me in private, and I had him shewn in, and asked him what +he wanted. + +"I have come from my lord-bishop," said he, "to absolve you from the +ecclesiastical censure, which you have incurred by duelling." + +"I am always delighted to receive absolution, father, but only after +I have confessed my guilt. In the present case I have nothing to +confess; I was attacked, and I defended myself. Pray thank my lord +for his kindness. If you like to absolve me without confession, I +shall be much obliged." + +"If you do not confess, I cannot give you absolution, but you can do +this: ask me to absolve you, supposing you have fought a duel." + +"Certainly; I shall be glad if you will absolve me, supposing I have +fought a duel." + +The delightful Jesuit gave me absolution in similar terms. He was +like his brethren--never at a loss when a loophole of any kind is +required. + +Three days before I left the monastery, that is on Holy Thursday, the +marshal withdrew my guard. After I had been to mass on Easter Day, I +went to Court, and as I kissed the king's hand, he asked me (as had +been arranged) why I wore my arm in a sling. I said I had been +suffering from a rheum, and he replied, with a meaning smile,-- + +"Take care not to catch another." + +After my visit to the king, I called on Branicki, who had made daily +enquiries afer my health, and had sent me back my sword, He was +condemned to stay in bed for six weeks longer at least, for the wad +of my pistol had got into the wound, and in extracting it the opening +had to be enlarged, which retarded his recovery. The king had just +appointed him chief huntsman, not so exalted an office as +chamberlain, but a more lucrative one. It was said he had got the +place because he was such a good shot; but if that were the reason I +had a better claim to it, for I had proved the better shot--for one +day at all events. + +I entered an enormous ante-room in which stood officers, footmen, +pages, and lacqueys, all gazing at me with the greatest astonishment. +I asked if my lord was to be seen, and begged the door-keeper to send +in my name. He did not answer, but sighed, and went into his +master's room. Directly after, he came out and begged me, with a +profound bow, to step in. + +Branicki, who was dressed in a magnificent gown and supported by +pillows and cushions, greeted me by taking off his nightcap. He was +as pale as death. + +"I have come here, my lord," I began, "to offer you my service, and +to assure you how I regret that I did not pass over a few trifling +words of yours." + +"You have no reason to reproach yourself, M. Casanova." + +"Your excellency is very kind. I am also come to say that by +fighting with me you have done me an honour which completely swallows +up all offence, and I trust that you will give me your protection for +the future." + +"I confess I insulted you, but you will allow that I have paid for +it. As to my friends, I openly say that they are my enemies unless +they treat you with respect. Bininski has been cashiered, and his +nobility taken from him; he is well served. As to my protection you +have no need of it, the king esteems you highly, like myself, and all +men of honour. Sit down; we will be friends. A cup of chocolate for +this gentleman. You seem to have got over your wound completely." + +"Quite so, my lord, except as to the use of my fingers, and that will +take some time." + +"You were quite right to withstand those rascally surgeons, and you +had good reason for your opinion that the fools thought to please me +by rendering you one-handed. They judged my heart by their own. I +congratulate you on the preservation of your hand, but I have not +been able to make out how my ball could have wounded you in the hand +after striking your stomach." + +Just then the chocolate was brought, and the chamberlain came in and +looked at me with a smile. In five minutes the room was full of +lords and ladies who had heard I was with Branicki, and wanted to +know how we were getting on. I could see that they did not expect to +find us on such good terms, and were agreeably surprised. Branicki +asked the question which had been interrupted by the chocolate and +the visitors over again. + +"Your excellency will allow me to assume the position I was in as I +received your fire." + +"Pray do so." + +I rose and placed myself in the position, and he said he understood +how it was. + +A lady said,-- + +"You should have put your hand behind your body." + +"Excuse me, madam, but I thought it better to put my body behind my +hand." + +This sally made Branicki laugh, but his sister said to me,-- + +"You wanted to kill my brother, for you aimed at his head." + +"God forbid, madam! my interest lay in keeping him alive to defend +me from his friends." + +"But you said you were going to fire at his head." + +"That's a mere figure of speech, just as one says, 'I'll blow your +brains out.' The skilled duellist, however, always aims at the middle +of the body; the head does not offer a large enough surface." + +"Yes," said Branicki, "your tactics were superior to mine, and I am +obliged to you for the lesson you gave me." + +"Your excellency gave me a lesson in heroism of far greater value." + +"You must have had a great deal of practice with the pistol," +continued his sister. + +"Not at all, madam, I regard the weapon with detestation. This +unlucky shot was my first; but I have always known a straight line, +and my hand has always been steady." + +"That's all one wants," said Branicki. "I have those advantages +myself, and I am only too well pleased that I did not aim so well as +usual." + +"Your ball broke my first phalanges. Here it is you see, flattened +by my bone. Allow me to return it to you." + +"I am sorry to say I can't return yours, which I suppose remains on +the field of battle." + +"You seem to be getting better, thank God!" + +"The wound is healing painfully. If I had imitated you I should no +longer be in the land of the living; I am told you made an excellent +dinner?" + +"Yes, my lord, I was afraid I might never have another chance of +dining again." + +"If I had dined, your ball would have pierced my intestines; but +being empty it yielded to the bullet, and let it pass by harmlessly." + +I heard afterwards that on the day of the duel Branicki had gone to +confession and mass, and had communicated. The priest could not +refuse him absolution, if he said that honour obliged him to fight; +for this was in accordance with the ancient laws of chivalry. As for +me I only addressed these words to God: + +"Lord, if my enemy kill me, I shall be damned; deign, therefore, to +preserve me from death. Amen." + +After a long and pleasant conversation I took leave of the hero to +visit the high constable, Count Bielinski, brother of Countess +Salmor. He was a very old man, but the sovereign administrator of +justice in Poland. I had never spoken to him, but he had defended me +from Branicki's Uhlans, and had made out my pardon, so I felt bound +to go and thank him. + +I sent in my name, and the worthy old man greeted me with: + +"What can I do for you?" + +"I have come to kiss the hand of the kindly man that signed my +pardon, and to promise your excellency to be more discreet in +future." + +"I advise you to be more discreet indeed. As for your pardon, thank +the king; for if he had not requested me especially to grant it you, +I should have had you beheaded." + +"In spite of the extenuating circumstances, my lord?" + +"What circumstances? Did you or did you not fight a duel." + +"That is not a proper way of putting it; I was obliged to defend +myself. You might have charged me with fighting a duel if Branicki +had taken me outside the ban, as I requested, but as it was he took +me where he willed and made me fight. Under these circumstances I am +sure your excellency would have spared my head." + +"I really can't say. The king requested that you should be pardoned, +and that shews he believes you to be deserving of pardon; I +congratulate you on his good will. I shall be pleased if you will +dine with me tomorrow." + +"My lord, I am delighted to accept your invitation." + +The illustrious old constable was a man of great intelligence. He +had been a bosom-friend of the celebrated Poniatowski, the king's +father. We had a good deal of conversation together at dinner the +next day. + +"What a comfort it would have been to your excellency's friend," said +I, "if he could have lived to see his son crowned King of Poland." + +"He would never have consented." + +The vehemence with which he pronounced these words gave me a deep +insight into his feelings. He was of the Saxon party. The same day, +that is on Easter Day, I dined at the palatin's. + +"Political reasons," said he, "prevented me from visiting you at the +monastery; but you must not think I had forgotten you, for you were +constantly in my thoughts. I am going to lodge you here, for my wife +is very fond of your society; but the rooms will not be ready for +another six weeks." + +"I shall take the opportunity, my lord, of paying a visit to the +Palatin of Kiowia, who has honoured me with an invitation to come and +see him." + +"Who gave you the invitation?" + +"Count Bruhl, who is at Dresden; his wife is daughter of the +palatin." + +"This journey is an excellent idea, for this duel of yours has made +you innumerable enemies, and I only hope you will have to fight no +more duels. I give you fair warning; be on your guard, and never go +on foot, especially at night." + +I spent a fortnight in going out to dinner and supper every day. I +had become the fashion, and wherever I went I had to tell the duel +story over again. I was rather tired of it myself, but the wish to +please and my own self-love were too strong to be resisted. The king +was nearly always present, but feigned not to hear me. However, he +once asked me if I had been insulted by a patrician in Venice, +whether I should have called him out immediately. + +"No, sire, for his patrician pride would have prevented his +complying, and I should have had my pains for my trouble." + +"Then what would you have done?" + +"Sire, I should have contained myself, though if a noble Venetian +were to insult me in a foreign country he would have to give me +satisfaction." + +I called on Prince Moszczinski, and Madame Binetti happened to be +there; the moment she saw me she made her escape. + +"What has she against me?" I asked the count. + +"She is afraid of you, because she was the cause of the duel, and now +Branicki who was her lover will have nothing more to say to her. She +hoped he would serve you as he served Tomatis, and instead of that +you almost killed her bravo. She lays the fault on him for having +accepted your challenge, but he has resolved to have done with her." + +This Count Moszczinski was both good-hearted and quick-witted, and +so, generous that he ruined himself by making presents. His wounds +were beginning to heal, but though I was the indirect cause of his +mishap, far from bearing malice against me he had become my friend. + +The person whom I should have expected to be most grateful to me for +the duel was Tomatis, but on the contrary he hated the sight of me +and hardly concealed his feelings. I was the living reproach of his +cowardice; my wounded hand seemed to shew him that he had loved his +money more than his honour. I am sure he would have preferred +Branicki to have killed me, for then he would have become an object +of general execration, and Tomatis would have been received with less +contempt in the great houses he still frequented. + +I resolved to pay a visit to the discontented party who had only +recognized the new king on compulsion, and some of whom had not +recognized him at all; so I set out with my true friend Campioni and +one servant. + +Prince Charles of Courland had started for Venice, where I had given +him letters for my illustrious friends who would make his visit a +pleasant one. The English ambassador who had given me an +introduction to Prince Adam had just arrived at Warsaw. I dined with +him at the prince's house, and the king signified his wish to be of +the party. I heard a good deal of conversation about Madame de +Geoffrin, an old sweetheart of the king's whom he had just summoned +to Warsaw. The Polish monarch, of whom I cannot speak in too +favourable terms, was yet weak enough to listen to the slanderous +reports against me, and refused to make my fortune. I had the +pleasure of convincing him that he was mistaken, but I will speak of +this later on. + +I arrived at Leopol the sixth day after I had left Warsaw, having +stopped a couple of days at Prince Zamoiski's; he had forty thousand +ducats a-year, but also the falling sickness. + +"I would give all my goods," said he, "to be cured." + +I pitied his young wife. She was very fond of him, and yet had to +deny him, for his disease always came on him in moments of amorous +excitement. She had the bitter task of constantly refusing him, and +even of running away if he pressed her hard. This great nobleman, +who died soon after, lodged me in a splendid room utterly devoid of +furniture. This is the Polish custom; one is supposed to bring one's +furniture with one. + +At Leopol I put up, at an hotel, but I soon had to move from thence +to take up my abode with the famous Kaminska, the deadly foe of +Branicki, the king, and all that party. She was very rich, but she +has since been ruined by conspiracies. She entertained me +sumptuously for a week, but the visit was agreeable to neither side, +as she could only speak Polish and German. From Leopol I proceeded +to a small town, the name of which I forget (the Polish names are +very crabbed) to take an introduction from Prince Lubomirski to +Joseph Rzewuski, a little old man who wore a long beard as a sign of +mourning for the innovations that were being introduced into his +country. He was rich, learned, superstitiously religious, and polite +exceedingly. I stayed with him for three days. He was the commander +of a stronghold containing a garrison of five hundred men. + +On the first day, as I was in his room with some other officers, +about eleven o'clock in the morning, another officer came in, +whispered to Rzewuski, and then came up to me and whispered in my +ear, "Venice and St. Mark." + +"St. Mark," I answered aloud, "is the patron saint and protector of +Venice," and everybody began to laugh. + +It dawned upon me that "Venice and St. Mark" was the watchword, and I +began to apologize profusely, and the word was changed. + +The old commander spoke to me with great politeness. He never went +to Court, but he had resolved on going to the Diet to oppose the +Russian party with all his might. The poor man, a Pole of the true +old leaven, was one of the four whom Repnin arrested and sent to +Siberia. + +After taking leave of this brave patriot, I went to Christianpol, +where lived the famous palatin Potocki, who had been one of the +lovers of the empress Anna Ivanovna. He had founded the town in +which he lived and called it after his own name. This nobleman, +still a fine man, kept a splendid court. He honoured Count Bruhl by +keeping me at his house for a fortnight, and sending me out every day +with his doctor, the famous Styrneus, the sworn foe of Van Swieten, a +still more famous physician. Although Styrneus was undoubtedly a +learned man, I thought him somewhat extravagant and empirical. His +system was that of Asclepiades, considered as exploded since the time +of the great Boerhaave; nevertheless, he effected wonderful cures. + +In the evenings I was always with the palatin and his court. Play +was not heavy, and I always won, which was fortunate and indeed +necessary for me. After an extremely agreeable visit to the palatin +I returned to Leopol, where I amused myself for a week with a pretty +girl who afterwards so captivated Count Potocki, starost of Sniatin, +that he married her. This is purity of blood with a vengeance in +your noble families! + +Leaving Leopol I went to Palavia, a splendid palace on the Vistula, +eighteen leagues distant from Warsaw. It belonged to the prince +palatin, who had built it himself. + +Howsoever magnificent an abode may be, a lonely man will weary of it +unless he has the solace of books or of some great idea. I had +neither, and boredom soon made itself felt. + +A pretty peasant girl came into my room, and finding her to my taste +I tried to make her understand me without the use of speech, but she +resisted and shouted so loudly that the door-keeper came up, and +asked me, coolly,-- + +"If you like the girl, why don't you go the proper way to work?" + +"What way is that?" + +"Speak to her father, who is at hand, and arrange the matter +amicably." + +"I don't know Polish. Will you carry the thing through?" + +"Certainly. I suppose you will give fifty florins?" + +"You are laughing at me. I will give a hundred willingly, provided +she is a maid and is as submissive as a lamb." + +No doubt the arrangement was made without difficulty, for our hymen +took place the same evening, but no sooner was the operation +completed than the poor lamb fled away in hot haste, which made me +suspect that her father had used rather forcible persuasion with her. +I would not have allowed this had I been aware of it. + +The next morning several girls were offered to me, but the faces of +all of them were covered. + +"Where is the girl?" said I. "I want to see her face." + +"Never mind about the face, if the rest is all right." + +"The face is the essential part for me," I replied, "and the rest I +look upon as an accessory." + +He did not understand this. However, they were uncovered, but none +of their faces excited my desires. + +As a rule, the Polish women are ugly; a beauty is a miracle, and a +pretty woman a rare exception. At the end of a week of feasting and +weariness, I returned to Warsaw. + +In this manner I saw Podolia and Volkynia, which were rebaptized a +few years later by the names of Galicia and Lodomeria, for they are +now part of the Austrian Empire. It is said, however, that they are +more prosperous than they ever were before. + +At Warsaw I found Madame Geoffrin the object of universal admiration; +and everybody was remarking with what simplicity she was dressed. As +for myself, I was received not coldly, but positively rudely. People +said to my face,-- + +"We did not expect to see you here again. Why did you come back?" + +"To pay my debts." + +This behaviour astonished and disgusted me. The prince-palatin even +seemed quite changed towards me. I was still invited to dinner, but +no one spoke to me. However, Prince Adam's sister asked me very +kindly to come and sup with her, and I accepted the invitation with +delight. I found myself seated opposite the king, who did not speak +one word to me the whole time. He had never behaved to me thus +before. + +The next day I dined with the Countess Oginski, and in the course of +dinner the countess asked where the king had supper the night before; +nobody seemed to know, and I did not answer. Just as we were rising, +General Roniker came in, and the question was repeated. + +"At Princess Strasnikowa's," said the general, "and M. Casanova was +there." + +"Then why did you not answer my question?" said the countess to me. + +"Because I am very sorry to have been there. His majesty neither +spoke to me nor looked at me. I see I am in disgrace, but for the +life of me I know not why." + +On leaving the house I went to call on Prince Augustus Sulkowski, who +welcomed me as of old, but told me that I had made a mistake in +returning to Warsaw as public opinion was against me. + +"What have I done?" + +"Nothing; but the Poles are always inconstant and changeable. +'Sarmatarum virtus veluti extra ipsos'. This inconstancy will cost +us dear sooner or later. Your fortune was made, but you missed the +turn of the tide, and I advise you to go." + +"I will certainly do so, but it seems to me rather hard." + +When I got home my servant gave me a letter which some unknown person +had left at my door. I opened it and found it to be anonymous, but I +could see it came from a well-wisher. The writer said that the +slanderers had got the ears of the king, and that I was no longer a +persona grata at Court, as he had been assured that the Parisians had +burnt me in effigy for my absconding with the lottery money, and that +I had been a strolling player in Italy and little better than a +vagabond. + +Such calumnies are easy to utter but hard to refute in a foreign +country. At all Courts hatred, born of envy, is ever at work. I +might have despised the slanders and left the country, but I had +contracted debts and had not sufficient money to pay them and my +expenses to Portugal, where I thought I might do something. + +I no longer saw any company, with the exception of Campioni, who +seemed more distressed than myself. I wrote to Venice and everywhere +else, where there was a chance of my getting funds; but one day the +general, who had been present at the duel, called on me, and told me +(though he seemed ashamed of his task) that the king requested me to +leave the ban in the course of a week. + +Such a piece of insolence made my blood boil, and I informed the +general that he might tell the king that I did not feel inclined to +obey such an unjust order, and that if I left I would let all the +world know that I had been compelled to do so by brute force. + +"I cannot take such a message as that," said the general, kindly. +"I shall simply tell the king that I have executed his orders, and no +more; but of course you must follow your own judgment." + +In the excess of my indignation I wrote to the king that I could not +obey his orders and keep my honour. I said in my letter,-- + +"My creditors, sire, will forgive me for leaving Poland without +paying my debts, when they learn that I have only done so because +your majesty gave me no choice." + +I was thinking how I could ensure this letter reaching the king, when +who should arrive but Count Moszczinski. I told him what had +happened, and asked if he could suggest any means of delivering tire +letter. "Give it to me," said he; "I will place it in the king's +hands." + +As soon as he had gone I went out to take the air, and called on +Prince Sulkowski, who was not at all astonished at my news. As if to +sweeten the bitter pill I had to swallow, he told me how the Empress +of Austria had ordered him to leave Vienna in twenty-four hours, +merely because he had complimented the Archduchess Christina on +behalf of Prince Louis of Wurtemberg. + +The next day Count Moszczinski brought me a present of a thousand +ducats from the king, who said that my leaving Warsaw would probably +be the means of preserving my life, as in that city I was exposed to +danger which I could not expect to escape eventually. + +This referred to five or six challenges I had received, and to which +I had not even taken the trouble to reply. My enemies might possibly +assassinate me, and the king did not care to be constantly anxious on +my account. Count Moszczinski added that the order to leave carried +no dishonour with it, considering by whom it had been delivered, and +the delay it gave me to make my preparations. + +The consequence of all this was that I not only gave my word to go, +but that I begged the count to thank his majesty for his kindness, +and the interest he had been pleased to take in me. + +When I gave in, the generous Moszczinski embraced me, begged me to +write to him, and accept a present of a travelling carriage as a +token of his friendship. He informed me that Madame Binetti's +husband had gone off with his wife's maid, taking with him her +diamonds, jewels, linen, and even her silver plate, leaving her to +the tender mercies of the dancer, Pic. Her admirers had clubbed +together to make up to her for what her husband had stolen. I also +heard that the king's sister had arrived at Warsaw from Bialistock, +and it was hoped that her husband would follow her. This husband was +the real Count Branicki, and the Branicki, or rather Branecki, or +Bragnecki, who had fought with me, was no relation to him whatever. + +The following day I paid my debts, which amounted to about two +hundred ducats, and I made preparations for starting for Breslau, the +day after, with Count Clary, each of us having his own carriage. +Clary was one of those men to whom lying has become a sort of second +nature; whenever such an one opens his mouth, you may safely say to +him, "You have lied, or you are going to lie." If they could feel +their own degradation, they would be much to be pitied, for by their +own fault at last no one will believe them even when by chance they +speak the truth. This Count Clary, who was not one of the Clarys of +Teplitz, could neither go to his own country nor to Vienna, because +he had deserted the army on the eve of a battle. He was lame, but he +walked so adroitly that his defect did not appear. If this had been +the only truth he concealed, it would have been well, for it was a +piece of deception that hurt no one. He died miserably in Venice. + +We reached Breslau in perfect safety, and without experiencing any +adventures. Campioni, who had accompanied me as far as Wurtemburg, +returned, but rejoined me at Vienna in the course of seven months. +Count Clary had left Breslau, and I thought I would make the +acquaintance of the Abbe Bastiani, a celebrated Venetian, whose +fortune had been made by the King of Prussia. He was canon of the +cathedral, and received me cordially; in fact, each mutually desired +the other's acquaintance. He was a fine well-made man, fair- +complexioned, and at least six feet high. He was also witty, +learned, eloquent, and gifted with a persuasive voice; his cook was +an artist, his library full of choice volumes, and his cellar a very +good one. He was well lodged on the ground floor, and on the first +floor he accommodated a lady, of whose children he was very fond, +possibly because he was their father. Although a great admirer of +the fair sex, his tastes were by no means exclusive, and he did not +despise love of the Greek or philosophic kind. I could see that he +entertained a passion for a young priest whom I met at his table. +This young abbe was Count di Cavalcano and Bastiani seemed to adore +him, if fiery glances signified anything; but the innocent young man +did not seem to understand, and I suppose Bastiani did not like to +lower his dignity by declaring his love. The canon shewed me all the +letters he had received from the King of Prussia before he had been +made canon. He was the son of a tailor at Venice, and became a +friar, but having committed some peccadillo which got him into +trouble, he was fortunate enough to be able to make his escape. He +fled to The Hague, and there met Tron, the Venetian ambassador, who +lent him a hundred ducats with which he made his way to Berlin and +favour with the king. Such are the ways by which men arrive at +fortune! 'Sequere deum'! + +On the event of my departure from Breslau I went to pay a call on a +baroness for whom I had a letter of introduction from her son, who +was an officer of the Polish Court. I sent up my name and was asked +to wait a few moments, as the baroness was dressing. I sat down +beside a pretty girl, who was neatly dressed in a mantle with a hood. +I asked her if she were waiting for the baroness like myself. + +"Yes, sir," she replied, "I have come to offer myself as governess +for her three daughters." + +"What! Governess at your age?" + +"Alas! sir, age has nothing to do with necessity. I have neither +father nor mother. My brother is a poor lieutenant who cannot help +me; what can I do? I can only get a livelihood by turning my good +education to account." + +"What will your salary be?" + +"Fifty wretched crowns, enough to buy my dresses." + +"It's very little." + +"It is as much as people give." + +"Where are you living now?" + +"With a poor aunt, where I can scarce earn enough bread to keep me +alive by sewing from morning till night." + +"If you liked to become my governess instead of becoming a children's +governess, I would give you fifty crowns, not per year, but per +month." + +"Your governess? Governess to your family, you mean, I suppose?" + +"I have no family; I am a bachelor, and I spend my time in +travelling. I leave at five o'clock to-morrow morning for Dresden, +and if you like to come with me there is a place for you in my +carriage. I am staying at such an inn. Come there with your trunk, +and we will start together." + +"You are joking; besides, I don't know you." + +"I am not jesting; and we should get to know each other perfectly +well in twenty-four hours; that is ample time." + +My serious air convinced the girl that I was not laughing at her; but +she was still very much astonished, while I was very much astonished +to find I had gone so far when I had only intended to joke. In +trying to win over the girl I had won over myself. It seemed to me a +rare adventure, and I was delighted to see that she was giving it her +serious attention by the side-glances she kept casting in my +direction to see if I was laughing at her. I began to think that +fate had brought us together that I might become the architect of her +fortune. I had no doubt whatever as to her goodness or her feelings +for me, for she completely infatuated my judgment. To put the +finishing stroke on the affair I drew out two ducats and gave them +her as an earnest of her first month's wages. She took them timidly, +but seemed convinced that I was not imposing on her. + +By this time the baroness was ready, and she welcomed me very kindly; +but I said I could not accept her invitation to dine with her the +following day, as I was leaving at day-break. I replied to all the +questions that a fond mother makes concerning her son, and then took +leave of the worthy lady. As I went out I noticed that the would-be +governess had disappeared. The rest of the day I spent with the +canon, making good cheer, playing ombre, drinking hard, and talking +about girls or literature. The next day my carriage came to the door +at the time I had arranged, and I went off without thinking of the +girl I had met at the baroness's. But we had not gone two hundred +paces when the postillion stopped, a bundle of linen whirled through +the window into the carriage, and the governess got in. I gave her a +hearty welcome by embracing her, and made her sit down beside me, and +so we drove off. + +In the ensuing chapter the reader will become more fully acquainted +with my fresh conquest. In the meantime let him imagine me rolling +peacefully along the Dresden road. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +My Arrival at Dresden with Maton--She Makes Me a Present--Leipzig-- +Castelbajac--Schwerin--Return to Dresden and Departure--I Arrive at +Vienna--Pocchini's Vengeance + + +When I saw myself in the carriage with this pretty girl, who had +fallen on me as if from the clouds, I imagined I was intended to +shape her destiny. Her tutelary genius must have placed her in my +hands, for I felt inclined to do her all the good that lay in my +power. But for myself; was it a piece of good or ill luck for me? +I formed the question, but felt that time alone could give the +answer. I knew that I was still living in my old style, while I was +beginning to feel that I was no longer a young man. + +I was sure that my new companion could not have abandoned herself to +me in this manner, without having made up her mind to be complaisant; +but this was not enough for me, it was my humour to be loved. This +was my chief aim, everything else was only fleeting enjoyment, and as +I had not had a love affair since I parted with Zaira, I hoped most +fervently that the present adventure would prove to be one. + +Before long I learnt that my companion's name was Maton; this at +least was her surname, and I did not feel any curiosity to know the +name of the he or she saint whom her godmothers had constituted her +patron at the baptismal font. I asked her if she could write French +as well as she spoke it, and she shewed me a letter by way of sample. +It assured me that she had received an excellent education, and this +fact increased my pleasure in the conquest I had made. She said she +had left Breslau without telling her aunt or her cousin that she was +going, perhaps never to return. + +"How about your belongings?" + +"Belongings? They were not worth the trouble of gathering together. +All I have is included in that small package, which contains a +chemise, a pair of stockings, some handkerchiefs, and a few +nicknacks." + +"What will your lover say?" + +"Alas! I haven't got one to say anything." + +"I cannot credit that." + +"I have had two lovers; the first one was a rascal, who took +advantage of my innocence to seduce me, and then left me when I +ceased to present any novelty for him; my second was an honest man, +but a poor lieutenant with no prospects of getting on. He has not +abandoned me, but his regiment was ordered to Stetin, and since +then--" + +"And since then?" + +"We were too poor to write to one another, so we had to suffer in +silence." + +This pathetic history seemed to bear the marks of truth; and I +thought it very possible that Maton had only come with me to make her +fortune or to do rather better than she had been doing, which would +not be difficult. She was twenty-five years old, and as she had +never been out of Breslau before, she would doubtless be delighted to +see what the world was like at Dresden. I could not help feeling +that I had been a fool to burden myself with the girl, who would most +likely cost me a lot of money; but still I found my conduct +excusable, as the chances were a hundred to one against her accepting +the proposal I had been foolish enough to make. In short, I resolved +to enjoy the pleasure of having a pretty girl all to myself, and I +determined not to do anything during the journey, being anxious to +see whether her moral qualities would plead as strongly with me as +her physical beauty undoubtedly did. At nightfall I stopped, wishing +to spend the night at the posting-station. Maton, who had been very +hungry all day, but had not dared to tell me so, ate with an amazing +and pleasing appetite; but not being accustomed to wine, she would +have fallen asleep at table, if I had not begged her to retire. She +begged my pardon, assuring me she would not let such a thing occur +again. I smiled by way of reply, and stayed at the table, not +looking to see whether she undressed or went to bed in her clothes. +I went to bed myself soon after, and at five o'clock was up again to +order the coffee, and to see that the horses were put in. Maton was +lying on her bed with all her clothes on, fast asleep, and perspiring +with the heat. I woke her, telling her that another time she must +sleep more comfortably, as such heats were injurious to health. + +She got up and left the room, no doubt to wash, for she returned +looking fresh and gay, and bade me good day, and asked me if I would +like to give her a kiss. + +"I shall be delighted," I replied; and, after kissing her, I made her +hurry over the breakfast, as I wished to reach Dresden that evening. +However, I could not manage it, my carriage broke down, and took five +hours to mend, so I had to sleep at another posting station. Maton +undressed this time, but I had the firmness not to look at her. + +When I reached Dresden I put up at the "Hotel de Saxe," taking the +whole of the first floor. My mother was in the country, and I paid +her a visit, much to her delight; we made quite an affecting picture, +with my arm in a sling. I also saw my brother John and his wife +Therese, Roland, and a Roman girl whom I had known before him, and +who made much of me. I also saw my sister, and I then went with my +brother to pay my suit to Count Bruhl and to his wife, the daughter +of the palatin of Kiowia, who was delighted to hear news of her +family. I was welcomed everywhere, and everywhere I had to tell the +story of my duel. I confess that very little pressing was required, +for I was very proud of it. + +At this period the States were assembled in Dresden, and Prince +Xavier, uncle of the Elector, was regent during his minority. + +The same evening I went to the opera-house, where faro was played. I +played, but prudently, for my capital only consisted of eighteen +hundred ducats. + +When I came back we had a good supper, and Maton pleased me both by +her appetite and amiability. When we had finished I affectionately +asked her if she would like to share my bed, and she replied as +tenderly that she was wholly mine. And so, after passing a +voluptuous night, we rose in the morning the best friends in the +world. + +I spent the whole morning in furnishing her toilette. A good many +people called on me, and wanted to be presented to Maton; but my +answer was that, as she was only my housekeeper, and not my wife, I +could not have the pleasure of introducing her. In the same way I +had instructed her that she was not to let anyone in when I was away. +She was working in her room on the linen I had provided for her, +aided in her task by a seamstress. Nevertheless, I did not want to +make her a slave, so I occasionally took her into the pleasant +suburbs of Dresden, where she was at liberty to speak to any of my +acquaintances we might meet. + +This reserve of mine which lasted for the fortnight we stayed in +Dresden was mortifying for all the young officers in the place, and +especially for the Comte de Bellegarde, who was not accustomed to +being denied any girl to whom he chose to take a fancy. He was a +fine young fellow, of great boldness and even impudence, and one day +he came into our room and asked me to give him a dinner just as Maton +and myself were sitting down to table. I could not refuse him, and I +could not request Maton to leave the room, so from the beginning to +the end of the meal he showered his military jokes and attentions on +her, though he was perfectly polite the whole time. Maton behaved +very well; she was not prudish, nor did she forget the respect she +owed to me and indeed to herself. + +I was accustomed to take a siesta every day after dinner, so half an +hour after the conclusion of the meal I stated the fact and begged +him to leave us. He asked smilingly if the lady took a siesta too, +and I replied that we usually took it together. This made him take +up his hat and cane, and as he did so he asked us both to dine with +him the next day. I replied that I never took Maton out anywhere, +but that he would be welcome to come and take pot-luck with us every +day if he liked. + +This refusal exhausted his resources, and he took his leave if not +angrily, at least very coldly. + +My mother returned to her town apartments, which were opposite to +mine, and the next day when I was calling on her I noticed the erker +(a sort of grating in the Spanish fashion) which indicated my rooms +in the hotel. I happened to look in that direction and I saw +Maton at the window standing up and talking to M. de Bellegarde, who +was at a neighbouring window. This window belonged to a room which +adjoined my suite of rooms, but did not belong to it. This discovery +amused me. I knew what I was about, and did not fear to be made a +cuckold in spite of myself. I was sure I had not been observed, and +I was not going to allow any trespassers. I was jealous, in fact; +but the jealousy was of the mind, not the heart. + +I came in to dinner in the highest spirits, and Maton was as gay as +myself. I led the conversation up to Bellegarde, and said I believed +him to be in love with her. + +"Oh, he is like all officers with girls; but I don't think he is more +in love with me than any other girl." + +"Oh, but didn't he come to call on me this morning?" + +"Certainly not; and if he had come the maid would have told him you +were out." + +"Did you not notice him walking up and down 'under the windows?" + +"No." + +This was enough for me; I knew they had laid a plot together. Maton +was deceiving me, and I should be cheated in twenty-four hours unless +I took care. At my age such treason should not have astonished me, +but my vanity would not allow me to admit the fact. + +I dissembled my feelings and caressed the traitress, and then leaving +the house I went to the theatre where I played with some success and +returned home while the second act was in progress; it was still +daylight. The waiter was at the door, and I asked him whether there +were any rooms besides those which I occupied on the first floor. +"Yes, two rooms, both looking on the street." + +"Tell the landlord that I will take them both." + +"They were taken yesterday evening." + +"By whom?" + +"By a Swiss officer, who is entertaining a party of friends to supper +here this evening." + +I said no more lest I should awaken suspicion; but I felt sure that +Bellegarde could easily obtain access to my rooms from his. Indeed, +there was a door leading to the room where Maton slept with her maid +when I did not care to have her in my room. The door was bolted on +her side, but as she was in the plot there was not much security in +this. + +I went upstairs softly, and finding Maton on the balcony, I said, +after some indifferent conversation, that I should like to change +rooms. + +"You shall have my room," I said, "and I will have yours; I can read +there, and see the people going by." + +She thought it a very good idea, and added that it would serve us +both if I would allow her to sit there when I was out. + +This reply shewed me that Maton was an old hand, and that I had +better give her up if I did not wish to be duped. + +I changed the rooms, and we supped pleasantly together, laughing and +talking, and in spite of all her craft Maton did not notice any +change in me. + +I remained alone in my new room, and soon heard the voices of +Bellegarde and his merry companions. I went on to the balcony, but +the curtains of Bellegarde's room were drawn, as if to assure me that +there was no complot. However, I was not so easily deceived, and I +found afterwards that Mercury had warned Jupiter that Amphytrion had +changed his room. + +Next day, a severe headache, a thing from which I seldom suffer, kept +me to the house all day. I had myself let blood, and my worthy +mother, who came to keep me company, dined with Maton. My mother had +taken a weakness for the girl, and had often asked me to let her come +and see her, but I had the good sense to refuse this request. The +next day I was still far from well, and took medicine, and in the +evening, to my horror, I found myself attacked by a fearful disease. +This must be a present from Maton, for I had not known anyone else +since leaving Leopol. I spent a troubled night, rage and indignation +being my principal emotions; and next morning, coming upon Maton +suddenly, I found everything in the most disgusting state. The +wretched creature confessed she had been infected for the last six +months, but that she had hoped not to give it me, as she had washed +herself carefully whenever she thought I was going to have to do with +her. + +"Wretch, you have poisoned me; but nobody shall know it, as it is by +my own fault, and I am ashamed of it. Get up, and you shall see how +generous I can be." + +She got up, and I had all the linen I had given her packed into a +trunk. This done, I told my man to take a small room for her at +another inn. His errand was soon over, and I then told Maton to go +immediately, as I had done with her. I gave her fifty crowns, and +made her sign a receipt specifying the reason why I had sent her +away, and acknowledging that she had no further claim upon me. The +conditions were humiliating, and she wished me to soften them down, +but she soon gave in when I told her that unless she signed I would +turn her into the streets as naked as when I found her. + +"What am I to do here? I don't know anyone." + +"If you like to return to Breslau I will pay your expenses there." + +She made no answer, so I sent her away bag and baggage, and merely +turned my back on her when she went down on her knees to excite my +compassion. + +I got rid of her without the slightest feeling of pity, for from what +she had done to me and from what she was preparing to do I considered +her as a mere monster, who would sooner or later have cost me my +life. + +I left the inn the following day, and I took a furnished apartment on +the first floor of the house where my mother lived for six months, +and proceeded about my cure. Everyone asked me what I had done with +my housekeeper, and I said that having no further need of her +services I had sent her away. + +A week afterwards my brother John came to tell me that Bellegarde and +five or six of his friends were on the sick list; Maton had certainly +lost no time. + +"I am sorry for them, but it's their own fault; why didn't they take +more care?" + +"But the girl came to Dresden with you." + +"Yes, and I sent her about her business. It was enough for me to +keep them off while she was under my charge. Tell them that if they +complain of me they are wrong, and still more wrong to publish their +shame. Let them learn discretion and get themselves cured in +secrecy, if they do not want sensible men to laugh at them. Don't +you think I am right?" + +"The adventure is not a very honourable one for you." + +"I know it, and that's why I say nothing; I am not such a fool as to +proclaim my shame from the housetops. These friends of yours must be +simpletons indeed; they must have known that I had good reasons for +sending the girl away, and should consequently have been on their +guard. They deserve what they got, and I hope it may be a lesson to +them." + +"They are all astonished at your being well." + +"You may comfort them by saying that I have been as badly treated as +they, but that I have held my tongue, not wishing to pass for a +simpleton." + +Poor John saw he had been a simpleton himself and departed in +silence. I put myself under a severe diet, and by the middle of +August my health was re-established. + +About this time, Prince Adam Czartoryski's sister came to Dresden, +lodging with Count Bruhl. I had the honour of paying my court to +her, and I heard from her own mouth that her royal cousin had had the +weakness to let himself be imposed on by calumnies about me. I told +her that I was of Ariosto's opinion that all the virtues are nothing +worth unless they are covered with the veil of constancy. + +"You saw yourself when I supped with you, how his majesty completely +ignored me. Your highness will be going to Paris next year; you will +meet me there and you can write to the king that if I had been burnt +in effigy I should not venture to shew myself." + +The September fair being a great occasion at Leipzig, I went there to +regain my size by eating larks, for which Leipzig is justly famous. +I had played a cautious but a winning game at Dresden, the result of +which had been the gain of some hundreds of ducats, so I was able to +start for Leipzig with a letter of credit for three thousand crowns +on the banker Hohman, an intelligent old man of upwards of eighty. +It was of him I heard that the hair of the Empress of Russia, which +looked a dark brown or even black, had been originally quite fair. +The old banker had seen her at Stettin every day between her seventh +and tenth years, and told me that even then they had begun to comb +her hair with lead combs, and to rub a certain composition into it. +From an early age Catherine had been looked upon as the future bride +of the Duke of Holstein, afterwards the hapless Peter III. The +Russians are fair as a rule, and so it was thought it that the +reigning family should be dark. + +Here I will note down a pleasant adventure I had at Leipzig. The +Princess of Aremberg had arrived from Vienna, and was staying at the +same hotel as myself. She took a fancy to go to the fair incognito, +and as she had a large suite she dressed up one of her maids as the +princess, and mingled with her following. I suppose my readers to be +aware that this princess was witty and beautiful, and that she was +the favourite mistress of the Emperor Francis the First. + +I heard of his masquerade, and leaving my hotel at the same time I +followed her till she stopped at a stall, and then going up to her +and addressing her as one would any other maid, I asked if that +(pointing at the false princess) were really the famous Princess of +Aremberg. + +"Certainly," she replied. + +"I can scarcely believe it, for she is not pretty, and she, has, not +the look nor the manners of a princess." + +"Perhaps you are not a good judge of princesses." + +"I have seen enough of them anyhow, and to prove that I am a good +judge I say that it is you who ought to be the princess; I would +willingly give a hundred ducats to spend the night with you." + +"A hundred ducats! What would you do if I were to take you at your +word?" + +"Try me. I lodge at the same hotel as you, and if yet can contrive +ways and means, I will give you the money in advance, but not till I +am sure of my prize, for I don't like being taken in." + +"Very good. Say not a word to anyone, but try to speak with me +either before or after supper. If you are brave enough to face +certain risks, we will spend the night together." + +"What is your name?" + +"Caroline." + +I felt certain it would come to nothing, but I was glad to have +amused the princess, and to have let her know that I appreciated her +beauties, and I resolved to go on with the part I was playing. +About supper-time I began a promenade near the princess's apartments, +stopping every now and then in front of the room where her women were +sitting, till one of them came out to ask me if I wanted anything. + +"I want to speak for a moment to one of your companions to whom I had +the pleasure of talking at the fair." + +"You mean Caroline, I expect?" + +"Yes." + +"She is waiting on the princess, but she will be out in half an +hour." + +I spent this half hour in my own room, and then returned to dance +attendance. Before long the same maid to whom I had spoken came up +to me and told me to wait in a closet which she shewed me, telling me +that Caroline would be there before long. I went into the closet, +which was small, dark, and uncomfortable. I was soon joined by a +woman. This time I was sure it was the real Caroline, but I said +nothing. + +She came, in, took my hand, and told me that if I would wait there +she would come to me as soon as her mistress was in bed. + +"Without any light?" + +"Of course, or else the people of the house would notice it, and I +should not like that." + +"I cannot do anything without light, charming Caroline; and besides, +this closet is not a very nice place to pass five or six hours. +There is another alternative, the first room above is mine. I shall +be alone, and I swear to you that no one shall come in; come up and +make me happy; I have got the hundred ducats here." + + +"Impossible! I dare not go upstairs for a million ducats." + +"So much the worse for you, as I am not going to stay in this hole +which "has only a chair in it, if you offer me a million and a half. +Farewell, sweet Caroline." + +"Wait a moment; let me go out first." + +The sly puss went out quickly enough, but I was as sharp as she, and +trod on the tail of her dress so that she could not shut the door +after her. So we went out together, and I left her at the door, +saying,-- + +"Good night, Caroline, you see it was no use." + +I went to bed well pleased with the incident. The princess, it was +plain, had intended to make me pass the night in the hole of a +closet, as a punishment for having dared to ask the mistress of an +emperor to sleep with me for a hundred crowns. + +Two days later, as I was buying a pair of lace cuffs, the princess +came into the shop with Count Zinzendorf, whom I had known at Paris +twelve years before. just as I was making way for the lady the count +recognized me, and asked me if I knew anything about the Casanova +that had fought the duel at Warsaw. + +"Alas! count, I am that Casanova, and here is my arm still in a +sling." + +"I congratulate you, my dear fellow; I should like to hear about it." + +With these words he introduced me to the princess, asking her if she +had heard of the duel. + +"Yes; I heard something about it in the papers. So this is the hero +of the tale. Delighted to make your acquaintance." + +The princess spoke with great kindness, but with the cool politeness +of the Court. She did not give me the slightest sign of recognition, +and of course I imitated her in her reserve. + +I visited the count in the afternoon, and he begged me to come and +see the princess, who would be delighted to hear the account of my +duel from my own lips, and I followed him to her apartment with +pleasure. The princess listened to my narrative in stately sort, and +her women never looked at me. She went away the day after, and the +story went no farther. + +Towards the end of the fair I received a very unexpected visit from +the fair Madame Castelbajac. I was just sitting down to table to eat +a dozen larks, when she made her appearance. + +"What, madam, you here!" + +"Yes, to my sorrow. I have been here for the last three weeks, and +have seen you several times, but you have always avoided us." + +"Who are 'us'?" + +"Schwerin and myself" + +"Schwerin is here, is he?" + +"Yes; and in prison on account of a forged bill. I am sure I do not +know what they will do to the poor wretch. He would have been wise +to have fled, but it seems as if he wanted to get hanged." + +"And you have been with him ever since you left England? that is, +three years ago." + +"Exactly. Our occupation is robbing, cheating, and escaping from one +land to another. Never was a woman so unhappy as I." + +"For how much is the forged bill?" + +"For three hundred crowns. Do a generous action M. Casanova, and let +bygones be bygones; deliver the poor wretch from the gallows and me +from death, for if he is hanged I shall kill myself." + +"Indeed, madam, he may hang for me, for he did his best to send me to +the gallows with his forged bills; but I confess I pity you. So +much, indeed, that I invite you to come to Dresden with me the day +after to-morrow, and I promise to give you three hundred crowns as +soon as Schwerin has undergone the extreme penalty of the law. I +can't understand how a woman like you can have fallen in love with a +man that has neither face, nor talents, nor wit, nor fortune, for all +that he has to boast of is his name of Schwerin." + +"I confess, to my shame, that I never loved him. Ever since the +other rogue, Castelbajac--who, by the way, was never married to me-- +made me know him, I have only lived with him by force, though his +tears and his despairs have excited my compassion. If destiny had +given me an honest man in his stead, I would have forsaken him long +ago, for sooner or later he will be the death of me." + +"Where do you live?" + +"Nowhere. I have been turned out into the street with nothing but +the clothes on my back. Have compassion on me." + +With these words the hapless woman threw herself at my knees and +burst into tears. I was much affected. The waiter of the inn stood +staring with amazement till I told him to go out. I may safely say +that this woman was one of the most handsome in France; she was +probably about twenty-six years old. She had been the wife of a +druggist of Montpellier, and had been so unfortunate as to let +Castelbajac seduce her. At London her beauty had produced no +impression on me, my heart was another's; nevertheless, she was made +to seduce the heart of man. + +I raised her from her knees, and said I felt inclined to help her, +but that in the first place she must calm herself, and in the second +share my supper. The waiter brought another bed and put it in my +room, without receiving any orders to do so; this made me feel +inclined to laugh. + +The appetite with which the poor woman ate, despite her sorrow, +reminded me of the matron of Ephesus. When supper was over I gave +her her choice: she might either stay in Leipzig and fare as best she +might, or I would reclaim her effects, take her with me to Dresden, +and pay her a hundred gold ducats as soon as I could be certain that +she would not give the money to the wretch who had reduced her to +such an extremity. She did not ask much time for reflection. She +said that it would be no good for her to stay in Leipzig, for she +could do nothing for the wretched Schwerin or even keep herself for a +day, for she had not got a farthing. She would have to beg or to +become a prostitute, and she could not make up her mind to either +course. + +"Indeed," she concluded, "if you were to give me the hundred ducats +this moment, and I used them to free Schwerin, I should be no better +off than before; so I accept your generous offer thankfully." + +I embraced her, promised to get back what her landlord had seized for +rent, and then begged her to go to bed, as she was in need of rest. + +"I see," she answered, "that either out of liking or for politeness' +sake you will ask me for those favours which I should be only too +happy to grant, but if I allowed that it would be a bad return indeed +for your kindness. Look at my linen, and behold in what a state that +unhappy wretch has left me!" + +I saw that I ran the risk of being infected again, and thanked her +for warning me of the danger I ran. In spite of her faults she was a +woman of feeling, and had an excellent heart, and from these good +qualitites of hers proceeded all her misfortunes. + +The next morning I arranged for the redemption of her effects, which +cost me sixty crowns of Saxony, and in the afternoon the poor woman +saw herself once more in possession of her belongings, which she had +thought never to see again. She seemed profoundly grateful, and +deplored her state, which hindered her from proving the warmth of her +feelings. + +Such is the way of women: a grateful woman has only one way of +shewing her gratitude, and that is to surrender herself without +reserve. A man is different, but we are differently constituted; a +man is made to give and a woman to receive. + +The next day, a short while before we left, the broker I had employed +in the redemption of the lady's effects, told me that the banker, +whom Schwerin had cheated, was going to send an express to Berlin, to +enquire whether the king would object to Count Schwerin's being +proceeded against with the utmost rigour of the law. + +"Alas!" cried his late mistress, "that's what he was most afraid of. +It's all up with him. The King of Prussia will pay his debts, but he +will end his days at Spandau. Why didn't they put him there before I +ever knew him?" + +She left Leipzig with me, and our appearance at Dresden caused a good +deal of surprise. She was not a mere girl, like Maton; she had a +good appearance, and a modest yet distinguished manner. I called her +Countess Blasin, and introduced her to my mother and relations, and +put her in my best room. I summoned the doctor who had treated me, +and made him swear not to disclose the countess's state, but to tell +everyone that he came to see me. I took her to the theatre, and it +was my humour to have her regarded as a person of distinction. Good +treatment soon restored her to health, and by the end of November she +believed herself in a state to reward me for my kindness. + +The wedding was a secret one, but none the less pleasant; and as if +by way of wedding present the next day I heard that the King of +Prussia had paid Schwerin's debts, and had had him brought to Berlin +under a strong escort. If he is alive, the rascal is at Spandau to +this day. + +The time had come for me to pay her the hundred ducats. I told her +frankly that I was obliged to go to Portugal, and that I could not +make my appearance there in company with a pretty woman without +failing in my project. I added that my means would not allow me to +pay double expenses for so long a journey. + +She had received too many proofs of my love to think for a moment +that I had got tired of her, and wanted to be on with some other +woman. She told me that she owed everything to me, while I owed +nothing to her; and that all she asked of me was to enable her to +return to Montpellier. + +"I have relations there," said she, "who will be glad to see me, and +I hope that my husband will let me return to him. I am the Prodigal +Son, and I hope to find in him the forgiving father." + +I told her I would do my utmost to send her home in safety and +comfort. + +Towards the middle of December I left Dresden with Madame Blasin. My +purse only contained four hundred ducats, for I had had a run of bad +luck at play; and the journey to Leipzig had cost me altogether three +hundred ducats. I told my mistress nothing of all this, for my only +thought was how to please her. + +We stayed a short while at Prague, and reached Vienna on Christmas +Day. We put up at the "Red Bull," the Countess Blasin (who had been +transformed into a milliner) in one room, and I in another, so that +we might pass for strangers while continuing our intimacy. + +The next morning, as we were taking coffee together, two individuals +came into the room, and asked the rude question,-- + +"Who are you, madam?" + +"My name is Blasin." + +"Who is this gentleman?" + +"You had better ask him." + +"What are you doing at Vienna?" + +"Taking coffee. I should have thought you could have seen that for +yourselves." + +"If the gentleman is not your husband, you will leave the town within +twenty-four hours." + +"The gentleman is my friend, and not my husband; and I shall leave +Vienna exactly when I choose, unless you make me go away by force." + +"Very good. We are aware, sir, that you have a separate room, but +that makes no difference." + +Thereupon one of the policemen entered my room, I following him. + +"What do you want here?" said I. + +"I am looking at your bed, and I can see you have not slept in it. +That's enough." + +"The devil! What business have you here at all, and who authorizes +such disgraceful proceedings?" + +He made no reply, but returned to Madame Blasin's room, where they +both ordered her to leave Vienna in the course of twenty-four hours, +and then they both left us. + +"Dress yourself," said I to her, "and tell the French ambassador the +whole story. Tell him that you are a milliner, Blasin by name, and +that all you want is to go from here to Strasburg, and from there to +Montpellier." + +While she was dressing I ordered a carriage and a servant to be in +attendance. She returned in an hour's time, and said the ambassador +had assured her that she would be left alone, and need not leave +Vienna till she thought fit. I took her to mass in triumph, and +then, as the weather was bad, we spent the rest of the day in eating +and drinking and sitting by the fire. + +At eight o'clock in the evening the landlord came up and said very +politely that he had been ordered by the police to give the lady a +room at some distance from mine, and that he was obliged to obey. + +"I am quite ready to change my room," said Madame Blasin, with a +smile. + +"Is the lady to sup alone?" I asked. + +"I have received no instructions on that point." + +"Then I will sup with her, and I hope you will treat us well." + +"You shall be well served, sir." + +In spite of the detestable and tyrannical police we spent the last +four days and nights together in the closest intimacy. When she left +I wanted her to take fifty Louis; but she would only have thirty, +saying that she could travel to Montpellier on that sum, and have +money in her pocket when she got there. Our parting was an affecting +one. She wrote to me from Strasburg, and we shall hear of her again +when I describe my visit to Montpellier. + +The first day of the year 1767 I took an apartment in the house of a +certain Mr. Schroder, and I took letters of introduction to Madame de +Salmor and Madame de Stahremberg. I then called on the elder +Calsabigi, who was in the service of Prince Kaunitz. + +This Calsabigi, whose whole body was one mass of eruption, always +worked in bed, and the minister, his master, went to see him almost +every day. I went constantly to the theatre, where Madame Vestris +was dancing. On January the 7th or 8th, I saw the empress dowager +come to the theatre dressed in black; she was received with applause, +as this was the first appearance she had made since the death of her +husband. At Vienna I met the Comte de la Perouse, who was trying to +induce the empress to give him half a million of florins, which +Charles VI. owed his father. Through him I made the acquaintance of +the Spaniard Las Casas, a man of intelligence, and, what is a rare +thing in a Spaniard, free from prejudices. I also met at the count's +house the Venetian Uccelli, with whom I had been at St. Cyprian's +College at Muran; he was, at the time of which I write, secretary to +the ambassador, Polo Renieri. This gentleman had a great esteem for +me, but my affair with the State Inquisitors prevented him from +receiving me. My friend Campioni arrived at this date from Warsaw; +he had passed through Cracovia. I accommodated him in my apartment +with great pleasure. He had an engagement at London, but to my great +delight he was able to spend a couple of months with me. + +Prince Charles of Courland, who had been at Venice and had been well +received by M. de Bragadin and my other friends, had been in Vienna +and had left it a fortnight before my arrival to return to Venice. +Prince Charles wrote to tell me that there was no bounds to the care +and kindness of my Venetian friends, and that he would be grateful to +me for all his days. + +I lived very quietly at Vienna; my health was good, and I thought of +nothing but my journey to Portugal, which I intended to take place in +the spring. I saw no company of any kind, whether good or ill. +I often called on Calsabigi, who made a parade of his Atheism, and +slandered my friend Metastasio, who dispised him. Calsabigi knew it +and laughed at him; he was a profound politician and the right hand +of Prince Kaunitz. + +One day after dinner, as I was sitting at table with my friend +Campioni, a pretty little girl, between twelve and thirteen, as I +should imagine, came into my room with mingled boldness and fear, and +made me a low bow. I asked her what she wanted, and she replied in +Latin verse to the effect that her mother was in the next room, and +that if I liked she would come in. I replied in Latin prose that I +did not care about seeing her mother, telling her my reasons with +great plainness. She replied with four Latin lines, but as they were +not to the point I could see that she had learnt them by heart, and +repeated them like a parrot. She went on-still in Latin verse--to +tell me that her mother must come in or else the authorities might +think I was abusing her. + +This last phrase was uttered with all the directness of the Latin +style. It made me burst out laughing, and I felt inclined to explain +to her what she had said in her own language. The little slut told +me she was a Venetian, and this putting me at my ease I told her that +the authorities would never suspect her of doing such a thing as she +was too young. At this the girl seemed to reflect a moment, and then +recited some verses from the Priapeia to the effect that unripe fruit +is often more piquant than that which is ripe. This was enough to +set me on fire, and Campioni, seeing that he was not wanted, went +back to his room. + +I drew her gently to me and asked her if her father was at Vienna. +She said yes, and instead of repulsing my caresses she proceeded to +accompany my actions with the recital of erotic verses. I sent her +away with a fee of two ducats, but before she went she gave me her +address written in German with four Latin verses beneath, stating +that her bedfellow would find her either Hebe or Ganymede, according +to his liking. + +I could not help admiring the ingenuity of her father, who thus +contrived to make a living out of his daughters. She was a pretty +girl enough, but at Vienna pretty girls are so common that they often +have to starve in spite of their charms. The Latin verses had been +thrown in as an attraction in this case, but I did not think she +would find it very remunerative in Vienna. + +Next evening my evil genius made me go and seek her out at the +address she had given me. Although I was forty-two years old, in +spite of the experience I had had, I was so foolish as to go alone. +The girl saw me coming from the window, and guessing that I was +looking for her, she came down and shewed me in. I went in, I went +upstairs, and when I found myself in the presence of the wretch +Pocchini my blood froze in my veins. A feeling of false shame +prevented my retracing my steps, as it might have looked as if I had +been afraid. In the same room were his pretended wife, Catina, two +Sclavonic-looking assassins, and the decoy-duck. I saw that this was +not a laughing matter, so I dissembled to the best of my ability, and +made up my mind to leave the place in five minutes' time. + +Pocchini, swearing and blaspheming, began to reproach me with the +manner in which I had treated him in England, and said that his time +had come, and that my life was in his hands. One of the two Sclavs +broke in, and said we must make friends, and so made me sit down, +opened a bottle, and said we must drink together. I tried to put as +good a face upon it as I could, but I begged to be excused, on which +Pocchini swore that I was afraid of having to pay for the bottle of +wine. + +"You are mistaken," said I; "I am quite ready to pay." + +I put my hand in my pocket to take out a ducat without drawing out my +purse, but the Sclav told me I need not be afraid, as I was amongst +honest people. Again shame made me yield, and as I had some +difficulty in extracting my purse, the Sclav kindly did it for me. +Pocchini immediately snatched it from his hands, and said he should +keep it as part compensation for all I had made him endure. + +I saw that it was a concerted scheme, and said with a smile that he +could do as he liked, and so I rose to leave them. The Sclav said we +must embrace each other, and on my declaring that to be unnecessary, +he and his comrade drew their sabres, and I thought myself undone. +Without more ado, I hastened to embrace them. To my astonishment +they let me go, and I went home in a grievous state, and not knowing +what else to do went to bed. + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +IN LONDON AND MOSCOW, Vol. 5e, RUSSIA AND POLAND +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + diff --git a/old/jcrpl11.zip b/old/jcrpl11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1cfd9f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcrpl11.zip |