第22章

AsIhadnothingparticulartodo，IwenttoaFrenchbooksellerinwhoseshopImadetheacquaintanceofawittyhunchback，andImustsaythatahunchbackwithoutwitisaragaavis；Ihavefounditsoinallcountries。Ofcourseitisnotwitwhichgivesthehump，for，thankGod，allwittymenarenothumpbacked，butwemaywellsaythatasageneralrulethehumpgiveswit，fortheverysmallnumberofhunchbackswhohavelittleornowitonlyconfirmstherule:TheoneIwasalludingtojustnowwascalledDubois—Chateleraux。Hewasaskilfulengraver，anddirectoroftheMintofParmafortheInfante，althoughthatprincecouldnotboastofsuchaninstitution。

Ispentanhourwiththewittyhunchback，whoshewedmeseveralofhisengravings，andIreturnedtothehotelwhereIfoundtheHungarianwaitingtoseeHenriette。Hedidnotknowthatshewouldthatmorningreceiveusintheattireofhersex。Thedoorwasthrownopen，andabeautiful，charmingwomanmetuswithacourtesyfullofgrace，whichnolongerremindedusofthestiffnessorofthetoogreatfreedomwhichbelongtothemilitarycostume。Hersuddenappearancecertainlyastonishedus，andwedidnotknowwhattosayorwhattodo。Sheinvitedustobeseated，lookedatthecaptaininafriendlymanner，andpressedmyhandwiththewarmestaffection，butwithoutgivingwayanymoretothatoutwardfamiliaritywhichayoungofficercanassume，butwhichdoesnotsuitawell—educatedlady。Hernobleandmodestbearingsooncompelledmetoputmyselfinunisonwithher，andIdidsowithoutdifficulty，forshewasnotactingapart，andthewayinwhichshehadresumedhernaturalcharactermadeiteasyformetofollowheronthatground。

Iwasgazingatherwithadmiration，and，urgedbyafeelingwhichI

didnottaketimetoanalyze，Itookherhandtokissitwithrespect，but，withoutgivingmeanopportunityofraisingittomylips，sheofferedmeherlovelymouth。Neverdidakisstastesodelicious。

"AmInotthenalwaysthesame？"saidshetome，withdeepfeeling。

"No，heavenlycreature，anditissotruethatyouarenolongerthesameinmyeyesthatIcouldnotnowuseanyfamiliaritytowardsyou。

Youarenolongerthewitty，freeyoungofficerwhotoldMadameQueriniaboutthegameofPharaoh，endaboutthedepositsmadetoyourbankbythecaptaininsoniggardlyamannerthattheywerehardlyworthmentioning。"

"Itisverytruethat，wearingthecostumeofmysex，Ishouldneverdaretouttersuchwords。Yet，dearestfriend，itdoesnotpreventmybeingyourHenriette——thatHenriettewhohasinherlifebeenguiltyofthreeescapades，thelastofwhichwouldhaveutterlyruinedmeifithadnotbeenforyou，butwhichIcalladelightfulerror，sinceithasbeenthecauseofmyknowingyou。"

ThosewordsmovedmesodeeplythatIwasonthepointofthrowingmyselfatherfeet，toentreathertoforgivemefornothavingshewnhermorerespect，butHenriette，whosawthestateinwhichIwas，andwhowantedtoputanendtothepatheticscene，begantoshakeourpoorcaptain，whosatasmotionlessasastatue，andasifhehadbeenpetrified。Hefeltashamedathavingtreatedsuchawomanasanadventuress，forheknewthatwhathenowsawwasnotanillusion。

Hekeptlookingatherwithgreatconfusion，andbowingmostrespectfully，asifhewantedtoatoneforhispastconducttowardsher。AsforHenriette，sheseemedtosaytohim，butwithouttheshadowofareproach；

"Iamgladthatyouthinkmeworthmorethantensequins。"

Wesatdowntodinner，andfromthatmomentshedidthehonoursofthetablewiththeperfecteaseofapersonwhoisaccustomedtofulfilthatdifficultduty。Shetreatedmelikeabelovedhusband，andthecaptainlikearespectedfriend。ThepoorHungarianbeggedmetotellherthatifhehadseenher，asshewasnow，inCivitaVecchia，whenshecameoutofthetartan，heshouldneverhavedreamedofdispatchinghisciceronetoherroom。

"Oh！tellhimthatIdonotdoubtit。Butisitnotstrangethatapoorlittlefemaledressshouldcommandmorerespectthanthegarbofanofficer？"

"Praydonotabusetheofficer’scostume，foritistoitthatIamindebtedformyhappiness。"

"Yes，"shesaid，withalovingsmile，"asIoweminetothesbirriofCesena。"

Weremainedforalongtimeatthetable，andourdelightfulconversationturneduponnoothertopicthanourmutualfelicity。

Ifithadnotbeenfortheuneasinessofthepoorcaptain，whichatlaststruckus，weshouldneverhaveputastopeithertothedinnerorto，ourcharmingprattle。

CHAPTERII

IEngageaBoxattheOpera，inSpiteofHenriette’sReluctance——

M。DuboisPaysUsaVisitandDineswithUs；MyDarlingPlaysHimaTrick——HenrietteArguesonHappiness——WeCallonDubois，andMyWifeDisplaysHerMarvellousTalent——M。DutillotTheCourtgivesaSplendidEntertainmentintheDucalGardens——AFatalMeeting——IHaveanInterviewwithM。D’Antoine，theFavouriteoftheInfanteofSpainThehappinessIwasenjoyingwastoocompletetolastlong。Iwasfatedtoloseit，butImustnotanticipateevents。MadamedeFrance，wifeoftheInfanteDonPhilip，havingarrivedinParma，theoperahousewasopened，andIengagedaprivatebox，tellingHenriettethatIintendedtotakehertothetheatreeverynight。

Shehadseveraltimesconfessedthatshehadagreatpassionformusic，andIhadnodoubtthatshewouldbepleasedwithmyproposal。

ShehadneveryetseenanItalianopera，andIfeltcertainthatshewishedtoascertainwhethertheItalianmusicdeserveditsuniversalfame。ButIwasindeedsurprisedwhensheexclaimed，"What，dearest！Youwishtogoeveryeveningtotheopera？"

"Ithink，mylove，that，ifwedidnotgo，weshouldgivesomeexcuseforscandal—mongerstogossip。Yet，shouldyounotlikeit，youknowthatthereisnoneedforustogo。Donotthinkofme，forIpreferourpleasantchatinthisroomtotheheavenlyconcertoftheseraphs。"

"Iampassionatelyfondofmusic，darling，butIcannothelptremblingattheideaofgoingout。"

"Ifyoutremble，Imustshudder，butweoughttogototheoperaorleaveParma。LetusgotoLondonortoanyotherplace。Giveyourorders，Iamreadytodoanythingyoulike。"

"Well，takeaprivateboxaslittleexposedaspossible。"

"Howkindyouare！"

TheboxIhadengagedwasinthesecondtier，butthetheatrebeingsmallitwasdifficultforaprettywomantoescapeobservation。

Itoldherso。

"Idonotthinkthereisanydanger，"sheanswered；"forIhavenotseenthenameofanypersonofmyacquaintanceinthelistofforeignerswhichyougavemetoread。"

ThusdidHenriettegototheopera。Ihadtakencarethatourboxshouldnotbelightedup。Itwasanopera—buffa，themusicofBurellanowasexcellent，andthesingerswereverygood。

Henriettemadenouseofheropera—glassexcepttolookonthestage，andnobodypaidanyattentiontous。Asshehadbeengreatlypleasedwiththefinaleofthesecondact，Ipromisedtogetitforher，andIaskedDuboistoprocureitforme。Thinkingthatshecouldplaytheharpsichord，Iofferedtogetone，butshetoldmethatshehadnevertouchedthatinstrument。

OnthenightofthefourthorfifthperformanceM。Duboiscametoourbox，andasIdidnotwishtointroducehimtomyfriend，IonlyaskedwhatIcoulddoforhim。HethenhandedmethemusicIhadbeggedhimtopurchaseforme，andIpaidhimwhatithadcost，offeringhimmybestthanks。Aswewerejustoppositetheducalbox，Iaskedhim，forthesakeofsayingsomething，whetherhehadengravedtheportraitsoftheirhighnesses。Heansweredthathehadalreadyengravedtwomedals，andIgavehimanorderforboth，ingold。Hepromisedtoletmehavethem，andleftthebox。Henriettehadnotevenlookedathim，andthatwasaccordingtoallestablishedrules，asIhadnotintroducedhim，butthenextmorninghewasannouncedaswewereatdinner。M。delaHaye，whowasdiningwithus，complimentedusuponhavingmadetheacquaintanceofDubois，andintroducedhimtohispupilthemomenthecameintotheroom。ItwasthenrightforHenriettetowelcomehim，whichshedidmostgracefully。

Aftershehadthankedhimforthe’partizione’，shebeggedhewouldgethersomeothermusic，andtheartistacceptedherrequestasafavourgrantedtohim。

"Sir，"saidDuboistome，"Ihavetakenthelibertyofbringingthemedalsyouwishedtohave；heretheyare。"

OnoneweretheportraitsoftheInfanteandhiswife，ontheotherwasengravedonlytheheadofDonPhilip。Theywerebothbeautifullyengraved，andweexpressedourjustadmiration。"Theworkmanshipisbeyondallprice，"saidHenriette，"butthegoldcanbebarteredforothergold。""Madam，"answeredthemodestartist，"themedalsweightsixteensequins。"Shegavehimtheamountimmediately，andinvitedhimtocallagainatdinner—time。Coffeewasjustbroughtinatthatmoment，andsheaskedhimtotakeitwithus。Beforesweeteninghiscup，sheenquiredwhetherhelikedhiscoffeeverysweet。

"Yourtaste，madam，"answeredthehunchback，gallantly，"issuretobemine。"

"ThenyouhaveguessedthatIalwaysdrinkcoffeewithoutsugar。I

amgladwehavethattasteincommon。"

Andshegracefullyofferedhimthecupofcoffeewithoutsugar。ShethenhelpedDelaHayeandme，notforgettingtoputplentyofsugarinourcups，andshepouredoutoneforherselfexactlyliketheoneshehandedtoDubois。Itwasmuchadoformenottolaugh，formymischievousFrench—woman，wholikedhercoffeeintheParisianfashion，thatistosayverysweet，wassippingthebitterbeveragewithanairofdelightwhichcompelledthedirectoroftheMinttosmileundertheinfliction。Butthecunninghunchbackwasevenwithher；acceptingthepenaltyofhisfoolishcompliment，andpraisingthegoodqualityofthecoffee，heboldlydeclaredthatitwastheonlywaytotastethedeliciousaromaofthepreciousberry。

WhenDuboisandDelaHayehadleftus，webothlaughedatthetrick。

"But，"saidItoHenriette，"youwillbethefirstvictimofyourmischief，forwheneverhedineswithus，youmustkeepupthejoke，inordernottobetrayyourself。"

"Oh！Icaneasilycontrivetodrinkmycoffeewellsweetened，andtomakehimdrainthebittercup。"

Attheendofonemonth，HenriettecouldspeakItalianfluently，anditwasowingmoretotheconstantpracticeshehadeverydaywithmycousinJeanneton，whoactedashermaid，thantothelessonsofProfessordelaHaye。Thelessonsonlytaughthertherules，andpracticeisnecessarytoacquirealanguage。Ihaveexperienceditmyself。IlearnedmoreFrenchduringthetooshortperiodthatI

spentsohappilywithmycharmingHenriettethaninallthelessonsI

hadtakenfromDalacqua。

Wehadattendedtheoperatwentytimeswithoutmakinganyacquaintance，andourlifewasindeedsupremelyhappy。IneverwentoutwithoutHenriette，andalwaysinacarriage；weneverreceivedanyone，andnobodyknewus。Duboiswastheonlyperson，sincethedepartureofthegoodHungarian，whosometimesdinedwithus；IdonotreckonDelaHaye，whowasadailyguestatourtable。Duboisfeltgreatcuriosityaboutus，buthewascunninganddidnotshewhiscuriosity；wewerereservedwithoutaffectation，andhisinquisitivenesswasatfault。OnedayhementionedtousthatthecourtoftheInfanteofParmawasverybrilliantsincethearrivalofMadamedeFrance，andthatthereweremanyforeignersofbothsexesinthecity。Then，turningtowardsHenriette，hesaidtoher；

"Mostoftheforeignladieswhomwehavehereareunknowntous。"

"Verylikely，manyofthemwouldnotshewthemselvesiftheywereknown。"

"Verylikely，madam，asyousay，butIcanassureyouthat，eveniftheirbeautyandtherichnessoftheirtoiletmadethemconspicuous，oursovereignswishforfreedom。Istillhope，madam，thatweshallhavethehappinessofseeingyouatthecourtoftheduke。"

"Idonotthinkso，for，inmyopinion，itissuperlativelyridiculousforaladytogotothecourtwithoutbeingpresented，particularlyifshehasarighttobeso。"

Thelastwords，onwhichHenriettehadlaidalittlemorestressthanuponthefirstpartofheranswer，struckourlittlehunchbackdumb，andmyfriend，improvingheropportunity，changedthesubjectofconversation。

Whenhehadgoneweenjoyedthecheckshehadthusgiventotheinquisitivenessofourguest，butItoldHenriettethat，ingoodconscience，sheoughttoforgiveallthosewhomsherenderedcurious，because……shecutmywordsshortbycoveringmewithlovingkisses。

Thussupremelyhappy，andfindinginoneanotherconstantsatisfaction，wewouldlaughatthosemorosephilosopherswhodenythatcompletehappinesscanbefoundonearth。

"Whatdotheymean，darling——thosecrazyfools——bysayingthathappinessisnotlasting，andhowdotheyunderstandthatword？Iftheymeaneverlasting，immortal，unintermitting，ofcoursetheyareright，butthelifeofmannotbeingsuch，happiness，asanaturalconsequence，cannotbesucheither。Otherwise，everyhappinessislastingfortheveryreasonthatitdoesexist，andtobelastingitrequiresonlytoexist。Butifbycompletefelicitytheyunderstandaseriesofvariedandnever—interruptedpleasures，theyarewrong，because，byallowingaftereachpleasurethecalmwhichoughttofollowtheenjoymentofit，wehavetimetorealizehappinessinitsreality。Inotherwordsthosenecessaryperiodsofreposeareasourceoftrueenjoyment，because，thankstothem，weenjoythedelightofrecollectionwhichincreasestwofoldtherealityofhappiness。Mancanbehappyonlywheninhisownmindherealizeshishappiness，andcalmisnecessarytogivefullplaytohismind；

thereforewithoutcalmmanwouldtrulyneverbecompletelyhappy，andpleasure，inordertobefelt，mustceasetobeactive。Thenwhatdotheymeanbythatwordlasting？

"Everydaywereachamomentwhenwelongforsleep，and，althoughitbetheverylikenessofnon—existence，cananyonedenythatsleepisapleasure？No，atleastitseemstomethatitcannotbedeniedwithconsistency，for，themomentitcomestous，wegiveitthepreferenceoverallotherpleasures，andwearegratefultoitonlyafterithasleftus。

"Thosewhosaythatnoonecanbehappythroughoutlifespeaklikewisefrivolously。Philosophyteachesthesecretofsecuringthathappiness，providedoneisfreefrombodilysufferings。Afelicitywhichwouldthuslastthroughoutlifecouldbecomparedtoanosegayformedofathousandflowerssobeautifully，soskillfullyblendedtogether，thatitwouldlookonesingleflower。Whyshoulditbeimpossibleforustospendherethewholeofourlifeaswehavespentthelastmonth，alwaysingoodhealth，alwayslovingoneanother，withouteverfeelinganyotherwantoranyweariness？Then，tocrownthathappiness，whichwouldcertainlybeimmense，allthatwouldbewantedwouldbetodietogether，inanadvancedage，speakingtothelastmomentofourpleasantrecollections。Surelythatfelicitywouldhavebeenlasting。Deathwouldnotinterruptit，fordeathwouldendit。Wecouldnot，eventhen，supposeourselvesunhappyunlesswedreadedunhappinessafterdeath，andsuchanideastrikesmeasabsurd，foritisacontradictionoftheideaofanalmightyandfatherlytenderness。"

ItwasthusthatmybelovedHenriettewouldoftenmakemespenddelightfulhours，talkingphilosophicsentiment。HerlogicwasbetterthanthatofCiceroinhisTusculanDisputations，butsheadmittedthatsuchlastingfelicitycouldexistonlybetweentwobeingswholivedtogether，andlovedeachotherwithconstantaffection，healthyinmindandinbody，enlightened，sufficientlyrich，similarintastes，indisposition，andintemperament。Happyarethoseloverswho，whentheirsensesrequirerest，canfallbackupontheintellectualenjoymentsaffordedbythemind！Sweetsleepthencomes，andlastsuntilthebodyhasrecovereditsgeneralharmony。Onawaking，thesensesareagainactiveandalwaysreadytoresumetheiraction。

Theconditionsofexistenceareexactlythesameformanasfortheuniverse，Imightalmostsaythatbetweenthemthereisperfectidentity，forifwetaketheuniverseaway，mankindnolongerexists，andifwetakemankindaway，thereisnolongeranuniverse；whocouldrealizetheideaoftheexistenceofinorganicmatter？Now，withoutthatidea，’nihilest’，sincetheideaistheessenceofeverything，andsincemanalonehasideas。Besides，ifweabstractthespecies，wecannolongerimaginetheexistenceofmatter，andviceversa。

IderivedfromHenrietteasgreathappinessasthatcharmingwomanderivedfromme。Welovedoneanotherwithallthestrengthofourfaculties，andwewereeverythingtoeachother。ShewouldoftenrepeatthoseprettylinesofthegoodLa，Fontaine:

’Soyez—vousl’unal’autreunmondetoujoursbeau，Toujoursdivers，toujoursnouveau；

Tenez—vouslieudetout；comptezpourrienlereste。’

Andwedidnotfailtoputtheadviceintopractice，forneverdidaminuteofennuiorofweariness，neverdidtheslightesttrouble，disturbourbliss。

Thedayafterthecloseoftheopera，Dubois，whowasdiningwithus，saidthatonthefollowingdayhewasentertainingthetwofirstartists，’primocantatore’and’primacantatrice’，andaddedthat，ifwelikedtocome，wewouldhearsomeoftheirbestpieces，whichtheyweretosinginaloftyhallofhiscountry—houseparticularlyadaptedtothedisplayofthehumanvoice。Henriettethankedhimwarmly，butshesaidthat，herhealthbeingverydelicate，shecouldnotengageherselfbeforehand，andshespokeofotherthings。

Whenwewerealone，IaskedherwhyshehadrefusedthepleasureofferedbyDubois。

"Ishouldaccepthisinvitation，"sheanswered，"andwithdelight，ifIwerenotafraidofmeetingathishousesomepersonwhomightknowme，andwoulddestroythehappinessIamnowenjoyingwithyou。"

"Ifyouhaveanyfreshmotivefordreadingsuchanoccurrence，youarequiteright，butifitisonlyavague，groundlessfear，mylove，whyshouldyoudepriveyourselfofarealandinnocentpleasure？IfyouknewhowpleasedIamwhenIseeyouenjoyyourself，andparticularlywhenIwitnessyourecstacyinlisteningtofinemusic！"

"Well，darling，Idonotwanttoshewmyselflessbravethanyou。Wewillgoimmediatelyafterdinner。Theartistswillnotsingbefore。

Besides，ashedoesnotexpectus，heisnotlikelytohaveinvitedanypersoncurioustospeaktome。Wewillgowithoutgivinghimnoticeofourcoming，withoutbeingexpected，andasifwewantedtopayhimafriendlyvisit。Hetoldusthathewouldbeathiscountry—house，andCaudagnaknowswhereitis。"

Herreasonswereamixtureofprudenceandoflove，twofeelingswhichareseldomblendedtogether。Myanswerwastokissherwithasmuchadmirationastenderness，andthenextdayatfouro’clockintheafternoonwepaidourvisittoM。Dubois。Weweremuchsurprised，forwefoundhimalonewithaveryprettygirl，whomhepresentedtousashisniece。

"Iamdelightedtoseeyou，"hesaid，"butasIdidnotexpecttoseeyouIalteredmyarrangements，andinsteadofthedinnerIhadintendedtogiveIhaveinvitedmyfriendstosupper。Ihopeyouwillnotrefusemethehonourofyourcompany。Thetwovirtuosiwillsoonbehere。"

Wewerecompelledtoaccepthisinvitation。

"Willtherebemanyguests？"Ienquired。

"Youwillfindyourselvesinthemidstofpeopleworthyofyou，"heanswered，triumphantly。"IamonlysorrythatIhavenotinvitedanyladies。"

Thispoliteremark，whichwasintendedforHenriette，madeherdrophimacurtsy，whichsheaccompaniedwithasmile。Iwaspleasedtoreadcontentmentonhercountenance，but，alas！shewasconcealingthepainfulanxietywhichshefeltacutely。Hernoblemindrefusedtoshewanyuneasiness，andIcouldnotguessherinmostthoughtsbecauseIhadnoideathatshehadanythingtofear。

IshouldhavethoughtandacteddifferentlyifIhadknownallherhistory。InsteadofremaininginParmaIshouldhavegonewithhertoLondon，andIknownowthatshewouldhavebeendelightedtogothere。

Thetwoartistsarrivedsoonafterwards；theywerethe’primocantatore’Laschi，andthe’primadonna’Baglioni，thenaveryprettywoman。Theotherguestssoonfollowed；allofthemwereFrenchmenandSpaniardsofacertainage。Nointroductionstookplace，andI

readthe