第41章

"Iconfideinyouentirely，butforgoodness’sakesaynomoreonacircumstancewhichwoundsmysenseofmodesty。YousaidthatI

offeredyoumarriagebecauseyoutooklibertieswithme？"

"WasIwrong？"

"Yes，partly，atallevents；andyououghttoknowthatifIhadnotgoodreasonsIshouldhavedoneaveryfoolishthinginofferingtomarryyou，butImayaswelltellyouthat，libertiesornoliberties，Ishouldalwayshavelikedyoubetterthananyone。"

Iwasbesidemyselfwithjoy，andseizingherhandIcovereditwithtenderandrespectfulkisses；andIfeelcertainthatifanotaryandpriesthadbeenthenandthereavailable，Ishouldhavemarriedherwithoutthesmallesthesitation。

Fullofeachother，likealllovers，wepaidnoattentiontothehorribleracketthatwasgoingonattheotherendoftheroom。AtlastIthoughtitmydutytoseewhatwashappening，andleavingmyintendedIrejoinedthecompanytoquietTiretta。

Isawonthetableacasket，itslidopen，andfullofallsortsofjewels；closebyweretwomenwhoweredisputingwithTiretta，whoheldabookinonehand。Isawatoncethattheyweretalkingaboutalottery，butwhyweretheydisputing？Tirettatoldmetheywereapairofknaveswhohadwonthirtyorfortylouisofhimbymeansofthebook，whichhehandedtome。

"Sir，"saidoneofthegamesters，"thisbooktreatsofalotteryinwhichallthecalculationsaremadeinthefairestmannerpossible。

Itcontainstwelvehundredleaves，twohundredbeingwinningleaves，whiletherestareblanks。Anyonewhowantstoplayhasonlytopayacrown，andthentoputapin’spointatrandombetweentwoleavesoftheclosedbook。Thebookisthenopenedattheplacewherethepinis，andiftheleafisblanktheplayerloses；butif，ontheotherhand，theleafbearsanumber，heisgiventhecorrespondingticket，andanarticleofthevalueindicatedontheticketisthenhandedtohim。Pleasetoobserve，sir，thatthelowestprizeistwelvefrancs，andtherearesomenumbersworthasmuchassixhundredfrancs，andevenonetothevalueoftwelvehundred。Wehavebeenplayingforanhour，andhavelostseveralcostlyarticles，andmadam，"pointingtomysweetheart’saunt，"haswonaringworthsixlouis，butasshepreferredcash，shecontinuedplayingandlostthemoneyshehadgained。"

"Yes，"saidtheaunt，"andthesegentlemenhavewoneverybody’smoneywiththeiraccursedgame；whichprovesitisallamerecheat。"

"Itprovestheyarerogues，"saidTiretta。

"Butgentlemen，"answeredoneofthem，"inthatcasethereceiversoftheGovernmentlotteryareroguestoo"；whereonTirettagavehimaboxontheear。Ithrewmyselfbetweenthetwocombatants，andtoldthemnottospeakaword。

"Alllotteries，"saidI，"areadvantageoustotheholders，butthekingisattheheadoftheGovernmentlottery，andIamtheprincipalreceiver，inwhichcharacterIshallproceedtoconfiscatethiscasket，andgiveyouthechoiceofthefollowingalternatives:Youcan，ifyoulike，returntothepersonspresentthemoneyyouhaveunlawfullywonfromthem，whereuponIwillletyougowithyourbox。

Ifyourefusetodoso，Ishallsendforapoliceman，whowilltakeyoutoprison，andto—morrowyouwillbetriedbyM。Berier，towhomIshalltakethisbookinthemorning。Weshallsoonseewhetherweareroguesaswellasthey。"

Seeingthattheyhadtodowithamanofdetermination，andthatresistancewouldonlyresultintheirlosingall，theyresolvedwithasgoodagraceastheycouldmustertoreturnalltheirwinnings，andforallIknowdoublethesum，fortheywereforcedtoreturnfortylouis，thoughtheysworetheyhadonlywontwenty。Thecompanywastooselectformetoventuretodecidebetweenthem。InpointoffactIwasratherinclinedtobelievetherascals，butIwasangrywiththem，andIwantedthemtopayagoodpriceforhavingmadeacomparison，quiterightinthemain，butodioustomeintheextreme。

Thesamereason，doubtless，preventedmefromgivingthembacktheirbook，whichIhadnoearthlyrighttokeep，andwhichtheyaskedmeinvaintoreturntothem。Myfirmnessandmythreats，andperhapsalsothefearofthepolice，madethemthinkthemselvesluckytogetoffwiththeirjewel—box。Assoonastheyweregonetheladies，likethekindlycreaturestheywere，begantopitythem。"Youmighthavegiventhembacktheirbook，"theysaidtome。

"Andyou，ladies，mighthaveletthemkeeptheirmoney。"

"Buttheycheatedusofit。"

"Didthey？Well，theircheatingwasdonewiththebook，andIhavedonethemakindnessbytakingitfromthem。"

Theyfelttheforceofmyremarks，andtheconversationtookanotherturn。

Earlynextmorningthetwogamesterspaidmeavisitbringingwiththemasabribeabeautifulcasketcontainingtwenty—fourlovelypiecesofDresdenchina。Ifoundthisargumentirresistible，andI

feltobligedtoreturnthemthebook，threateningthematthesametimewithimprisonmentiftheydaredtocarryontheirbusinessinParisforthefuture。Theypromisedmetoabstainfromdoingso——nodoubtwithamentalreservation，butIcarednothingaboutthat。

IresolvedtoofferthisbeautifulgifttoMdlle。delaMeure，andI

tookittoherthesameday。Ihadaheartywelcome，andtheauntloadedmewiththanks。

OnMarchthe28th，thedayofDamien’smartyrdom，Iwenttofetchtheladiesingoodtime；andasthecarriagewouldscarcelyholdusall，noobjectionwasmadetomytakingmysweetheartonmyknee，andinthisorderwereachedthePlacedeGreve。Thethreeladiespackingthemselvestogetherastightlyaspossibletookuptheirpositionsatthewindow，leaningforwardontheirelbows，soastopreventusseeingfrombehind。Thewindowhadtwostepstoit，andtheystoodonthesecond；andinordertoseewehadtostandonthesamestep，forifwehadstoodonthefirstweshouldnothavebeenabletoseeovertheirheads。Ihavemyreasonsforgivingtheseminutiae，asotherwisethereaderwouldhavesomedifficultyinguessingatthedetailswhichIamobligedtopassoverinsilence。

Wehadthecouragetowatchthedreadfulsightforfourhours。ThecircumstancesofDamien’sexecutionaretoowellknowntorenderitnecessaryformetospeakofthem；indeed，theaccountwouldbetoolongaone，andinmyopinionsuchhorrorsareanoffencetoourcommonhumanity。

Damienwasafanatic，who，withtheideaofdoingagoodworkandobtainingaheavenlyreward，hadtriedtoassassinateLouisXV。；andthoughtheattemptwasafailure，andheonlygavethekingaslightwound，hewastorntopiecesasifhiscrimehadbeenconsummated。

WhilethisvictimoftheJesuitswasbeingexecuted，IwasseveraltimesobligedtoturnawaymyfaceandtostopmyearsasIheardhispiercingshrieks，halfofhisbodyhavingbeentornfromhim，buttheLambertiniandthefatauntdidnotbudgeaninch。Wasitbecausetheirheartswerehardened？Theytoldme，andIpretendedtobelievethem，thattheirhorroratthewretch’swickednesspreventedThemfeelingthatcompassionwhichhisunheard—oftormentsshouldhaveexcited。ThefactwasthatTirettakeptthepiousauntcuriouslyengagedduringthewholetimeoftheexecution，andthis，perhaps，waswhatpreventedthevirtuousladyfrommovingoreventurningherheadround。

Findinghimselfbehindher，hehadtakentheprecautiontoliftupherdresstoavoidtreadingonit。That，nodoubt，wasaccordingtotherule；butsoonafter，ongivinganinvoluntaryglanceintheirdirection，IfoundthatTirettahadcarriedhisprecautionsratherfar，and，notwishingtointerruptmyfriendortomaketheladyfeelawkward，Iturnedmyheadandstoodinsuchawaythatmysweetheartcouldseenothingofwhatwasgoingon；thisputthegoodladyatherease。FortwohoursafterIheardacontinuousrustling，andrelishingthejokeIkeptquietthewholetime。IadmiredTiretta’sheartyappetitestillmorethanhiscourage，butwhatpleasedmemostwasthetouchingresignationwithwhichthepiousauntboreitall。

AttheendofthislongsessionIsawMadameturnround，anddoingthesameIfixedmygazeonTiretta，andfoundhimlookingasfreshandcoolasifnothinghadhappened，buttheauntseemedtometohavearatherpensiveappearance。ShehadbeenunderthefatalnecessityofkeepingquietandlettingTirettadowhathelikedforfearoftheLambertini’sjests，andlestherniecemightbescandalizedbytherevelationofmysteriesofwhichshewassupposedtoknownothing。

Wesetout，andhavingdroppedthePope’snieceatherdoor，IbeggedhertolendmeTirettaforafewhours，andIthentookMadametoherhouseintheRueSt。Andre—des—Arts。Sheaskedmetocomeandseeherthefollowingdayasshehadsomethingtotellme，andIremarkedthatshetooknonoticeofmyfriendassheleftus。Wewenttothe"HoteldeRussie，"wheretheygaveyouanexcellentdinnerforsixfrancsahead，andIthoughtmymadfriendstoodinneedofrecruitinghisstrength。

"WhatwereyoudoingbehindMadame——？"saidI。

"Iamsureyousawnothing，oranybodyelseeither。"

"No，becausewhenIsawthebeginningofyourmanoeuvres，andguessedwhatwascoming，IstoodinsuchawaythatneithertheLambertiniortheprettyniececouldseeyou。Icanguesswhatyourgoalwas，andImustsayIadmireyourheartyappetite。Butyourwretchedvictimappearstoberatherangry。"

"Oh！mydearfellow，that’salltheaffectationofanoldmaid。Shemaypretendtobeputout，butasshekeptquietthewholetimeIamcertainshewouldbegladtobeginalloveragain。"

"Ithinkso，too，inherheartofhearts；butherpridemightsuggestthatyouhadbeenlackinginrespect，andthesuggestionwouldbebynomeansgroundless。"

"Respect，yousay；butmustonenotalwaysbelackinginrespecttowomenwhenonewantstocometothepoint？"

"Quiteso，butthere’sadistinctionbetweenwhatloversmaydowhentheyaretogether，andwhatisproperinthepresenceofamixedcompany。"

"Yes，butIsnatchedfourdistinctfavoursfromher，withouttheleastopposition；hadInotthereforegoodreasonsfortakingherconsentforgranted？"

"Youreasonwell，butyouseesheisoutofhumourwithyou。Shewantstospeaktometo—morrow，andIhavenodoubtthatyouwillbethesubjectofourconversation。"

"Possibly，butstillIshouldthinkshewouldnotspeaktoyouofthecomicpieceofbusiness；itwouldbeverysillyofher。"

"Whyso？Youdon’tknowthesepiouswomen。TheyarebroughtupbyJesuits，whooftengivethemsomegoodlessonsonthesubject，andtheyaredelightedtoconfesstoathirdparty；andtheseconfessionswithaseasoningoftearsgivesthemintheirowneyesquiteahaloofsaintliness。"

"Well，lethertellyouifshelikes。Weshallseewhatcomesofit。"

"Possiblyshemaydemandsatisfaction；inwhichcaseIshallbegladtodomybestforher。"

"Youmakemelaugh！Ican’timaginewhatsortofsatisfactionshecouldclaim，unlessshewantstopunishmebythe’Lextalionis’，whichwouldbehardlypracticablewithoutarepetitionoftheoriginaloffence。Ifshehadnotlikedthegame，allshehadtodowastogivemeapushwhichwouldhavesentmebackwards。"

"Yes，butthatwouldhaveletusknowwhatyouhadbeentryingtodo。"

"Well，ifitcomestothat，theslightestmovementwouldhaverenderedthewholeprocessnullandvoid；butasitwasshestoodintheproperpositionasquietasalamb；nothingcouldbeeasier。"

"It’sanamusingbusinessaltogether。ButdidyounoticethattheLambertiniwasangrywithyou，too？She，perhaps，sawwhatyouweredoing，andfelthurt。"

"Oh！shehasgotanothercauseofcomplaintagainstme。Wehavefallenout，andIamleavingherthisevening。"

"Really？"

"Yes，Iwilltellyouallaboutit。Yesterdayevening，ayoungfellowintheInlandRevenuewhohadbeenseducedtosupwithusbyahussyofGenoa，afterlosingfortylouis，threw，thecardsinthefaceofmylandladyandcalledherathief。OntheimpulseofthemomentItookacandleandputitoutonhisface。Imighthavedestroyedoneofhiseyes，butIfortunatelyhithimonthecheek。

Heimmediatelyranforhissword，minewasready，andiftheGenoesehadnotthrownherselfbetweenusmurdermighthavebeencommitted。

Whenthepoorwretchsawhischeekintheglass，hebecamesofuriousthatnothingshortofthereturnofallhismoneywouldappeasehim。

Theygaveithimback，inspiteofmyadvice，forindoingsotheyadmitted，tacitlyatallevents，thatithadbeenwonbycheating。

ThiscausedasharpdisputebetweentheLambertiniandmyselfafterhehadgone。Shesaidweshouldhavekeptthefortylouis，andnothingwouldhavehappenedexceptformyinterference，thatitwasherandnotmewhomtheyoungmanhadinsulted。TheGenoeseaddedthatifwehadkeptcoolweshouldhavehadthepluckingofhim，butthatGodaloneknewwhathewoulddonowwiththemarkoftheburnonhisface。Tiredofthetalkoftheseinfamouswomen，Iwasabouttoleavethem，butmylandladybegantoridethehighhorse，andwentsofarastocallmeabeggar。

"IfM。leNoirhadnotcomeinjustthen，shewouldhavehadabadtimeofit，asmystickwasalreadyinmyhand。Assoonastheysawhimtheytoldmetoholdmytongue，butmybloodwasup；andturningtowardstheworthymanItoldhimthathismistresshadcalledmeabeggar，thatshewasacommonprostitute，thatIwasnothercousin，norinanywayrelatedtoher，andthatIshouldleaveherthatveryday。AssoonasIhadcometotheendofthisshortandswiftdiscourse，Iwentoutandshutmyselfupinmyroom。InthecourseofthenexttwohoursIshallgoandfetchmylinen，andIhopetobreakfastwithyouto—morrow。"

Tirettadidwell。Hisheartwasintherightplace，andhewaswisenottoallowthefoolishimpulsesofyouthtoplungehiminthesinkofcorruption。Aslongasamanhasnotcommittedadishonourableaction，aslongashisheartissound，thoughhisheadmaygoastray，thepathofdutyisstillopentohim。Ishouldsaythesameofwomenifprejudicewerenotsostrongintheircase，andiftheywerenotmuchmoreundertheinfluenceoftheheartthanthehead。

AfteragooddinnerwasheddownbysomedeliciousSilleryweparted，andIspenttheeveninginwriting。NextmorningIdidsomebusiness，andatnoonwenttoseethedistresseddevotee，whomI

foundathomewithhercharmingniece。Wetalkedafewminutesabouttheweather，andshethentoldmysweethearttoleaveusasshewantedtospeaktome。IwaspreparedforwhatwascomingandI

waitedforhertobreakthesilencewhichallwomenofherpositionobserve。"Youwillbesurprised，sir，atwhatIamgoingtotellyou，forIhavedeterminedtobringbeforeyouacomplaintofanunheard—ofcharacter。Thecaseisreallyofthemostdelicatenature，andIamimpelledtomakeaconfidantofyoubytheimpressionyoumadeonmewhenIfirstsawyou。Iconsideryoutobeamanofdiscretion，ofhonour，andaboveallamoralman；inshort，Ibelieveyouhaveexperiencedreligion，andifIammakingamistakeitwillbeapity，forthoughIhavebeeninsultedIdon’tlackmeansofavengingmyself，andasyouarehisfriendyouwillbesorryforhim。"

"IsTirettatheguiltyparty，madam？"

"Thesame。"

"Andwhatishiscrime？"

"Heisavillain；hehasinsultedmeinthemostmonstrousmanner。"

"Ishouldnothavethoughthimcapableofdoingso。"

"Idaresaynot，butthenyouareamoralman。"

"Butwhatwasthenatureofhisoffence？Youmayconfideinmysecrecy。"

"Ireallycouldn’ttellyou，it’squiteoutofthequestion；butI

trustyouwillbeabletoguessit。Yesterday，duringtheexecutionofthewretchedDamien，hestronglyabusedthepositioninwhichhefoundhimselfbehindme。"

"Isee；Iunderstandwhatyoumean；youneedsaynomore。Youhavecauseforanger，andheistoblameforactinginsuchamanner。Butallowmetosaythatthecaseisnotunexampledorevenuncommon，andIthinkyoumightmakesomeallowanceforthestrengthoflove，theclosequarters，andaboveallfortheyouthandpassionofthesinner。Moreover，theoffenceisonewhichmaybeexpiatedinanumberofways，providedthepartiescometoanagreement。Tirettaisyoungandaperfectgentleman，heishandsomeandatbottomagoodfellow；couldnotamarriagebearranged？"

Iwaitedforareply，butperceivingthattheinjuredpartykeptsilence（acircumstancewhichseemedtomeagoodomen）Iwenton。

"Ifmarriageshouldnotmeetyourviews，wemighttryalastingfriendship，inwhichhecouldshewhisrepentanceandprovehimselfdeservingofpardon。Remember，madam，thatTirettaisonlyaman，andthereforesubjecttoalltheweaknessesofourpoorhumannature；

andevenyouhaveyourshareoftheblame。"

"I，sir？"

"Involuntarily，madam，involuntarily；notyoubutyourcharmsledhimastray。Nevertheless，withoutthisincentivethecircumstancewouldneverhavetakenplace，andIthinkyoushouldconsideryourbeautyasamitigationoftheoffence。"

"Youpleadyourcausewell，sir，butIwilldoyoujusticeandconfessthatallyourremarkshavebeencharacterizedbymuchChristianfeeling。However，youarereasoningonfalsepremises；youareignorantofhisrealcrime，yethowshouldyouguessit？"

Withthissheburstintotears，leadingmecompletelyoffthescent，andnotknowingwhattothink。

"Hecan’thavestolenherpurse，"saidItomyself，"asIdon’tthinkhimcapableofsuchanaction；andifIdidI’dblowhisbrainsout。"

Theafflictedladysoondriedhertears，andwentonasfollows:

"Youarethinkingofadeedwhichonemightpossiblysucceedinreconcilingwithreason，andinmakingamendsfor；butthecrimeofwhichthatbrutehasbeenguiltyIdarescarcelyimagine，asitisalmostenoughtodrivememad。"

"Goodheavens！youcan’tmeanit？Thisisdreadful；doIhearyouaright？"

"Yes。Youaremoved，Isee，butsucharethecircumstancesofthecase。Pardonmytears，whichflowfromangerandtheshamewithwhichIamcovered。"

"Yes，andfromoutragedreligion，too。"

"Certainly，certainly。Thatisthechiefsourceofmygrief，andI

shouldhavementioneditifIhadnotfearedyouwerenotsostronglyattachedtoreligionasmyself。"

"Nobody，Godbepraised！couldbemorestronglyattachedtoreligionthanI，andnothingcaneverunloosethetieswhichbindmetoit:"

"Youwillbegrieved，then，tohearthatIamdestinedtosuffereternalpunishment，forImustandwillbeavenged。"

"Notso，madam，perishthethought，asIcouldnotbecomeyouraccompliceinsuchadesign，andifyouwillnotabandonitatleastsaynothingtomeonthesubject。Iwillpromiseyoutotellhimnothing，althoughasheliveswithmethesacredlawsofhospitalityobligemetogivehimduewarning。"

"IthoughthelivedwiththeLambertini"

"Heleftheryesterday。Theconnectionbetweenthemwasacriminalone，andIhavedrawnhimbackfromthebrinkoftheprecipice。"

"Youdon’tmeantosayso！"

"Yes，uponmywordofhonour:"

"Youastonishone。Thisisveryedifying。Idon’twishtheyoungman’sdeath，butyoumustconfessheo