第25章

CHAPTERVII

MyBlundersintheFrenchLanguage，MySuccess，MyNumerousAcquaintances——LouisXV。——MyBrotherArrivesinParis。

AlltheItalianactorsinParisinsisteduponentertainingme，inordertoshewmetheirmagnificence，andtheyalldiditinasumptuousstyle。CarlinBertinazziwhoplayedHarlequin，andwasagreatfavouriteoftheParisians，remindedmethathehadalreadyseenmethirteenyearsbeforeinPadua，atthetimeofhisreturnfromSt。Petersburgwithmymother。HeofferedmeanexcellentdinneratthehouseofMadamedelaCaillerie，wherehelodged。Thatladywasinlovewithhim。IcomplimentedheruponfourcharmingchildrenwhomIsawinthehouse。Herhusband，whowaspresent，saidtome；

"TheyareM。Carlin’schildren。"

"Thatmaybe，sir，butyoutakecareofthem，andastheygobyyourname，ofcoursetheywillacknowledgeyouastheirfather。"

"Yes，Ishouldbesolegally；butM。CarlinistoohonestamannottoassumethecareofhischildrenwheneverImaywishtogetridofthem。Heiswellawarethattheybelongtohim，andmywifewouldbethefirsttocomplainifheeverdeniedit。"

Themanwasnotwhatiscalledagood，easyfellow，farfromit；buthetookthematterinaphilosophicalway，andspokeofitwithcalm，andevenwithasortofdignity。HewasattachedtoCarlinbyawarmfriendship，andsuchthingswerethenverycommoninParisamongstpeopleofacertainclass。Twonoblemen，BoufflersandLuxembourg，hadmadeafriendlyexchangeofeachother’swives，andeachhadchildrenbytheother’swife。TheyoungBoufflerswerecalledLuxembourg，andtheyoungLuxembourgwerecalledBoufflers。ThedescendantsofthosetierceletsareevennowknowninFranceunderthosenames。Well，thosewhowereinthesecretofthatdomesticcomedylaughed，asamatterofcourse，anditdidnotpreventtheearthfrommovingaccordingtothelawsofgravitation。

ThemostwealthyoftheItaliancomediansinPariswasPantaloon，thefatherofCoralineandCamille，andawell—knownusurer。Healsoinvitedmetodinewithhisfamily，andIwasdelightedwithhistwodaughters。Theeldest，Coraline，waskeptbythePrinceofMonaco，sonoftheDukeofValentinois，whowasstillalive；andCamillewasenamouredoftheCountofMelfort，thefavouriteoftheDuchessofChartres，whohadjustbecomeDuchessofOrleansbythedeathofherfather—in—law。

CoralinewasnotsosprightlyasCamille，butshewasprettier。I

begantomakelovetoherasayoungmanofnoconsequence，andathourswhichIthoughtwouldnotattractattention:butallhoursbelongbyrighttotheestablishedlover，andIthereforefoundmyselfsometimeswithherwhenthePrinceofMonacocalledtoseeher。AtfirstIwouldbowtotheprinceandwithdraw，butafterwardsIwasaskedtoremain，forasageneralthingprincesfindatete—a—

tetewiththeirmistressesratherwearisome。Thereforeweusedtosuptogether，andtheybothlistened，whileitwasmyprovincetoeat，andtorelatestories。

Ibethoughtmyselfofpayingmycourttotheprince，andhereceivedmyadvancesverywell。Onemorning，asIcalledonCoraline，hesaidtome，"Ah！Iamverygladtoseeyou，forIhavepromisedtheDuchessofRufetopresentyoutoher，andwecangotoherimmediately。"

Againaduchess！Mystarisdecidedlyintheascendant。Well，letusgo！Wegotintoa’diable’，asortofvehiclethenveryfashionable，andateleveno’clockinthemorningwewereintroducedtotheduchess。

Dearreader，ifIweretopaintitwithafaithfulpen，myportraitofthatlustfulvixenwouldfrightenyou。Imaginesixtywintersheapeduponafaceplasteredwithrouge，ablotchedandpimpledcomplexion，emaciatedandgauntfeatures，alltheuglinessoflibertinismstampeduponthecountenanceofthatcreaturerelininguponthesofa。Assoonassheseesme，sheexclaimswithrapidjoy，"Ah！thisisagood—lookingman！Prince，itisveryamiableonyourparttobringhimtome。Comeandsitnearme，myfinefellow！"

Iobeyedrespectfully，butanoxioussmellofmusk，whichseemedtomealmostcorpse—like，nearlyupsetme。Theinfamousduchesshadraisedherselfonthesofaandexposedallthenakednessofthemostdisgustingbosom，whichwouldhavecausedthemostcourageousmantodrawback。Theprince，pretendingtohavesomeengagement，leftus，sayingthathewouldsendhiscarriageformeinashorttime。

Assoonaswewerealone，theplasteredskeletonthrustitsarmsforward，and，withoutgivingmetimetoknowwhatIwasabout，thecreaturegavemeahorriblekiss，andthenoneofherhandsbegantostraywiththemostbare—facedindecency。

"Letmesee，myfinecock，"shesaid，"ifyouhaveafine……"

Iwasshuddering，andresistedtheattempt。

"Well，well！Whatababyyouare！"saidthedisgustingMessaline；

"areyousuchanovice？"

"No，madam；but……"

"Butwhat？"

"Ihave……"

"Oh，thevillain！"sheexclaimed，loosingherhold；"whatwasIgoingtoexposemyselfto！"

Iavailedmyselfoftheopportunity，snatchedmyhat，andtooktomyheels，afraidlestthedoor—keepershouldstopme。

ItookacoachanddrovetoCoraline’s，whereIrelatedtheadventure。Shelaughedheartily，andagreedwithmethattheprincehadplayedmeanastytrick。ShepraisedthepresenceofmindwithwhichIhadinventedanimpediment，butshedidnotgivemeanopportunityofprovingtoherthatIhaddeceivedtheduchess。

YetIwasnotwithouthope，andsuspectedthatshedidnotthinkmesufficientlyenamouredofher。

Threeorfourdaysafterwards，however，aswehadsuppertogetherandalone，Itoldhersomanythings，andIaskedhersoclearlytomakemehappyorelsetodismissme，thatshegavemeanappointmentforthenextday。

"To—morrow，"shesaid，"theprincegoestoVersailles，andhewillnotreturnuntilthedayafter；wewillgotogethertothewarrentohuntferrets，andhavenodoubtweshallcomebacktoParispleasedwithoneanother。"

"Thatisright。"

Thenextdayatteno’clockwetookacoach，butaswewerenearingthegateofthecityavis—a—vis，withservantsinaforeignliverycametiptous，andthepersonwhowasinitcalledout，"Stop！

Stop！"

ThepersonwastheChevalierdeWurtemburg，who，withoutdeigningtocastevenoneglanceonme，begantosaysweetwordstoCoraline，andthrustinghisheadentirelyoutofhiscarriagehewhisperedtoher。

Sheansweredhimlikewiseinawhisper；thentakingmyhand，shesaidtome，laughingly，"Ihavesomeimportantbusinesswiththisprince；gotothewarrenalone，mydearfriend，enjoythehunt，andcometometo—morrow。"

Andsayingthosewordsshegotout，tookherseatinthevis—a—vis，andIfoundmyselfverymuchinthepositionofLot’swife，butnotmotionless。

Dearreader，ifyouhaveeverbeeninsuchapredicamentyouwilleasilyrealizetheragewithwhichIwaspossessed:ifyouhaveneverbeenservedinthatway，somuchthebetterforyou，butitisuselessformetotrytogiveyouanideaofmyanger；youwouldnotunderstandme。

Iwasdisgustedwiththecoach，andIjumpedoutofit，tellingthedrivertogotothedevil。Itookthefirsthackwhichhappenedtopass，anddrovestraighttoPatu’shouse，towhomIrelatedmyadventure，almostfoamingwithrage。Butveryfarfrompityingmeorsharingmyanger，Patu，muchwiser，laughedandsaid，"Iwishwithallmyheartthatthesamethingmighthappentome；foryouarecertainofpossessingourbeautifulCoralinetheveryfirsttimeyouarewithher。"

"Iwouldnothaveher，fornowIdespiseherheartily。""Yourcontemptoughttohavecomesooner。But，nowthatistoolatetodiscussthematter，Iofferyou，asacompensation，adinnerattheHotelduRoule。"

"Mostdecidedlyyes；itisanexcellentidea。Letusgo。"

TheHotelduRoulewasfamousinParis，andIhadnotbeenthereyet。

Thewomanwhokeptithadfurnishedtheplacewithgreatelegance，andshealwayshadtwelveorfourteenwell—chosennymphs，withalltheconveniencesthatcouldbedesired。Goodcooking，goodbeds，cleanliness，solitaryandbeautifulgroves。Hercookwasanartist，andherwine—cellarexcellent。HernamewasMadameParis；probablyanassumedname，butitwasgoodenoughforthepurpose。Protectedbythepolice，shewasfarenoughfromParistobecertainthatthosewhovisitedherliberallyappointedestablishmentwereabovethemiddleclass。Everythingwasstrictlyregulatedinherhouseandeverypleasurewastaxedatareasonabletariff。Thepricesweresixfrancsforabreakfastwithanymph，twelvefordinner，andtwicethatsumtospendawholenight。Ifoundthehouseevenbetterthanitsreputation，andbyfarsuperiortothewarren。

Wetookacoach，andPatusaidtothedriver，"ToChaillot。"

"Iunderstand，yourhonour。"

Afteradriveofhalfanhour，westoppedbeforeagateonwhichcouldberead，"HotelduRoule。"

Thegatewasclosed。Aporter，sportinglongmustachioes，cameoutthroughaside—doorandgravelyexaminedus。Hewasmostlikelypleasedwithourappearance，forthegatewasopenedandwewentin。

Awoman，blindofoneeye，aboutfortyyearsold，butwitharemnantofbeauty，cameup，saluteduspolitely，andenquiredwhetherwewishedtohavedinner。Ouranswerbeingaffirmative，shetookustoafineroominwhichwefoundfourteenyoungwomen，allveryhandsome，anddressedalikeinmuslin。Asweenteredtheroom，theyroseandmadeusagracefulreverence；theywereallaboutthesameage，somewithlighthair，somewithdark；everytastecouldbesatisfied。Wepassedtheminreview，addressingafewwordstoeach，andmadeourchoice。Thetwowechosescreamedforjoy，kisseduswithavoluptuousnesswhichanovicemighthavemistakenforlove，andtookustothegardenuntildinnerwouldbeready。Thatgardenwasverylargeandartisticallyarrangedtoministertothepleasuresoflove。MadameParissaidtous，"Go，gentlemen，enjoythefreshairwithperfectsecurityineveryway；myhouseisthetempleofpeaceandofgoodhealth。"

ThegirlIhadchosenwassomethinglikeCoraline，andthatmademefindherdelightful。Butinthemidstofouramorousoccupationswewerecalledtodinner。Wewerewellserved，andthedinnerhadgivenusnewstrength，whenoursingle—eyedhostesscame，watchinhand，toannouncethattimewasup。Pleasureatthe"HotelduRoule"wasmeasuredbythehour。

IwhisperedtoPatu，and，afterafewphilosophicalconsiderations，addressinghimselftomadamelagouvernante，hesaidtoher，"Wewillhaveadoubledose，andofcoursepaydouble。"

"Youarequitewelcome，gentlemen。"

Wewentupstairs，andafterwehadmadeourchoiceasecondtime，werenewedourpromenadeinthegarden。Butoncemoreweweredisagreeablysurprisedbythestrictpunctualityoftheladyofthehouse。"Indeed！thisistoomuchofagoodthing，madam。"

"Letusgoupforthethirdtime，makeathirdchoice，andpassthewholenighthere。"

"AdelightfulideawhichIacceptwithallmyheart。"

"DoesMadameParisapproveourplan？"

"Icouldnothavedevisedabetterone，gentlemen；itisamasterpiece。"

Whenwewereintheroom，andafterwehadmadeanewchoice，thegirlslaughedatthefirstoneswhohadnotcontrivedtocaptivateus，andbywayofrevengethesegirlstoldtheircompanionsthatwewerelankyfellows。

ThistimeIwasindeedastonishedatmyownchoice。IhadtakenatrueAspasia，andIthankedmystarsthatIhadpassedherbythefirsttwotimes，asIhadnowthecertaintyofpossessingherforfourteenhours。Thatbeauty’snamewasSaintHilaire；andunderthatnameshebecamefamousinEngland，whereshefollowedarichlordtheyearafter。Atfirst，vexedbecauseIhadnotremarkedherbefore，shewasproudanddisdainful；butIsoonprovedtoherthatitwasfortunatethatmyfirstorsecondchoicehadnotfallenonher，asshewouldnowremainlongerwithme。Shethenbegantolaugh，andshewedherselfveryagreeable。

Thatgirlhadwit，educationandtalent—everything，infact，thatisneedfultosucceedintheprofessionshehadadopted。DuringthesupperPatutoldmeinItalianthathewasonthepointoftakingherattheverymomentIchoseher，andthenextmorningheinformedmethathehadsleptquietlyallnight。TheSaintHilairewashighlypleasedwithme，andsheboastedofitbeforehercompanions。ShewasthecauseofmypayingseveralvisitstotheHotelduRoule，andallforher；shewasveryproudofmyconstancy。

ThosevisitsverynaturallycooledmyardourforCoraline。AsingerfromVenice，calledGuadani，handsome，athoroughmusician，andverywitty，contrivedtocaptivateheraffectionsthreeweeksaftermyquarrelwithher。Thehandsomefellow，whowasamanonlyinappearance，inflamedherwithcuriosityifnotwithlove，andcausedarupturewiththeprince，whocaughtherintheveryact。ButCoralinemanagedtocoaxhimback，and，ashorttimeafter，areconciliationtookplacebetweenthem，andsuchagoodone，thatababewastheconsequenceofit；agirl，whomtheprincenamedAdelaide，andtowhomhegaveadowry。Afterthedeathofhisfather，theDukeofValentinois，theprinceleftheraltogetherandmarriedMlle。deBrignole，fromGenoa。CoralinebecamethemistressofCountdelaMarche，nowPrincedeConti。Coralineisnowdead，aswellasasonwhomshehadbythecount，andwhomhisfathernamedCountdeMonreal。

MadamelaDauphinewasdeliveredofaprincess，whoreceivedthetitleofMadamedeFrance。

InthemonthofAugusttheRoyalAcademyhadanexhibitionattheLouvre，andastherewasnotasinglebattlepieceIconceivedtheideaofsummoningmybrothertoParis。HewastheninVenice，andhehadgreattalentinthatparticularstyle。Passorelli，theonlypainterofbattlesknowninFrance，wasdead，andIthoughtthatFrancoismightsucceedandmakeafortune。IthereforewrotetoM。

Grimaniandtomybrother；Ipersuadedthemboth，butFrancoisdidnotcometoParistillthebeginningofthefollowingyear。

LouisXV。，whowaspassionatelyfondofhunting，wasinthehabitofspendingsixweekseveryyearattheChateauofFontainebleau。HealwaysreturnedtoVersaillestowardsthemiddleofNovember。Thattripcosthim，orrathercostFrance，fivemillionsoffrancs。Healwaystookwithhimallthatcouldcontributetotheamusementoftheforeignambassadorsandofhisnumerouscourt。HewasfollowedbytheFrenchandtheItaliancomedians，andbytheactorsandactressesoftheopera。

DuringthosesixweeksFontainebleauwasmorebrilliantthanVersailles；nevertheless，theartistsattachedtothetheatresweresonumerousthattheOpera，theFrenchandItalianComedies，remainedopeninParis。

Baletti’sfather，whohadrecoveredhishealth，wastogotoFontainebleauwithSilviaandallhisfamily。Theyinvitedmetoaccompanythem，andtoacceptalodginginahousehiredbythem。

Itwasasplendidopportunity；theyweremyfriends，andIaccepted，forIcouldnothavemetwithabetteroccasiontoseethecourtandalltheforeignministers。IpresentedmyselftoM。deMorosini，nowProcuratoratSt。Mark’s，andthenambassadorfromtheRepublictotheFrenchcourt。

Thefirstnightoftheoperahegavemepermissiontoaccompanyhim；

themusicwasbyLulli。IhadaseatinthepitpreciselyundertheprivateboxofMadamedePompadour，whomIdidnotknow。DuringthefirstscenethecelebratedLeMaurgaveascreamsoshrillandsounexpectedthatIthoughtshehadgonemad。Iburstintoagenuinelaugh，notsupposingthatanyonecouldpossiblyfindfaultwithit。

ButaknightoftheOrderoftheHolyGhost，whowasneartheMarquisedePompadour，drylyaskedmewhatcountryIcamefrom。I

answered，inthesametone，"FromVenice。"

"Ihavebeenthere，andhavelaughedheartilyattherecitativeinyouroperas。"

"Ibelieveyou，sir，andIfeelcertainthatnooneeverthoughtofobjectingtoyourlaughing。"

Myanswer，ratherasharpone，madeMadamedePompadourlaugh，andsheaskedmewhetherItrulycamefromdownthere。

"Whatdoyoumeanbydownthere？"

"ImeanVenice。"

"Venice，madam，isnotdownthere，butupthere。"

Thatanswerwasfoundmoresingularthanthefirst，andeverybodyintheboxheldaconsultationinordertoascertainwhetherVenicewasdownorup。MostlikelytheythoughtIwasright，forIwasleftalone。Nevertheless，Ilistenedtotheoperawithoutlaughing；butasIhadaverybadcoldIblewmynoseoften。Thesamegentlemanaddressinghimselfagaintome，remarkedthatverylikelythewindowsofmyroomdidnotclosewell。Thatgentleman，whowasunknowntomewastheMarechaldeRichelieu。Itoldhimhewasmistaken，formywindowswerewell’calfoutrees’。Everyoneintheboxburstintoaloudlaugh，andIfeltmortified，forIknewmymistake；Ioughttohavesaid’calfeutrees’。Butthese’eus’and’ous’causediremiserytoallforeigners。

HalfanhourafterwardsM。deRichelieuaskedmewhichofthetwoactressespleasedmemostbyherbeauty。

"Thatone，sir。"

"Butshehasuglylegs。"

"Theyarenotseen，sir；besides，wheneverIexaminethebeautyofawoman，’lapremierechosequej’ecarte，cesontlesjambes’。"

Thatwordsaidquitebychance，andthedoublemeaningofwhichIdidnotunderstand，madeatonceanimportantpersonageofme，andeverybodyintheboxofMadamedePompadourwascurioustoknowme。

ThemarshallearnedwhoIwasfromM。deMorosini，whotoldmethatthedukewouldbehappytoreceiveme。My’jeudemots’becamecelebrated，andthemarshalhonouredmewithaverygraciouswelcome。

Amongtheforeignministers，theonetowhomIattachedmyselfmostwasLordKeith，MarshalofScotlandandambassadoroftheKingofPrussia。Ishallhaveoccasiontospeakofhim。

ThedayaftermyarrivalinFontainebleauIwentalonetothecourt，andIsawLouisXV。，thehandsomeking，gotothechapelwiththeroyalfamilyandalltheladiesofthecourt，whosurprisedmebytheiruglinessasmuchastheladiesofthecourtofTurinhadastonishedmebytheirbeauty。YetinthemidstofsomanyuglyonesIfoundoutaregularbeauty。Ienquiredwhoshewas。

"Sheis，"answeredoneofmyneighbours，"MadamedeBrionne，moreremarkablebyhervirtueeventhanbyherbeauty。Notonlyistherenoscandalousstorytoldabouther，butshehasnevergivenanyopportunitytoscandal—mongersofinventinganyadventureofwhichshewastheheroine。"

"Perhapsheradventuresarenotknown。"

"Ah，monsieur！atthecourteverythingisknown。"

Iwentaboutalone，saunteringthroughtheapartments，whensuddenlyImetadozenuglyladieswhoseemedtoberunningratherthanwalking；theywerestandingsobadlyupontheirlegsthattheyappearedasiftheywouldfallforwardontheirfaces。Somegentlemanhappenedtobenearme，curiosityimpelledmetoenquirewheretheywerecomingfrom，andwheretheyweregoinginsuchhaste。

"Theyarecomingfromtheapartmentofthequeenwhoisgoingtodine，andthe