第45章

Onhisdeath—bedhebecameaCatholicoutofdeferencetothetearsofhiswife；butashischildrencouldnotinherithisfortythousandpoundsinvestedinEngland，withoutconformingtotheChurchofEngland，thefamilyreturnedtoLondon，wherethewidowcompliedwithalltheobligationsofthelawofEngland。Whatwillpeoplenotdowhentheirinterestsareatstake！thoughinacaselikethisthereisnoneedtoblameapersonforyielding，toprejudiceswhichhadthesanctionofthelaw。

Itwasnowthebeginningoftheyear1758，andfiveyearsbefore，whenIwasatPadua，Ifellinlovewiththeeldestdaughter，butafewmonthsafter，whenwewereatVenice，MadameX。C。V。thoughtgoodtoexcludemefromherfamilycircle。Theinsultwhichthemotherputuponmewassoftenedbythedaughter，whowrotemeacharmingletter，whichIlovetoreadevennow。Imayaswellconfessthatmygriefwastheeasiertobearasmytimewastakenupbymyfairnun，M————M————，andmydearC————C—————。Nevertheless，Mdlle。X。C。V。，thoughonlyfifteen，wasofaperfectbeauty，andwasallthemorecharminginthattoherphysicaladvantagesshejoinedthoseofaculturedmind。

CountAlgarotti，theKingofPrussia’schamberlain，gaveherlessons，andseveralyoungnobleswereamonghersuitors，herpreferenceapparentlybeinggiventotheheirofthefamilyofMemmodeSt。

Marcuola。Hediedayearafterwards，whilehewasprocurator。

Mysurpriseatseeingthisfamilyatsuchatimeandplacemaybeimagined。Mdlle。X。C。V。sawmedirectly，andpointedmeouttohermother，whomadeasigntomewithherfantocometotheirbox。

Shereceivedmeinthefriendliestmannerpossible，tellingmethatwewerenotatVenicenow，andthatshehopedIwouldoftencomeandseethematthe"HoteldeBretagne，"intheRueSt。AndredesArts。

ItoldthemthatIdidnotwishtorecallanyeventswhichmighthavehappenedatVenice，andherdaughterhavingjoinedherentreatiestothoseofhermother，Ipromisedtoaccepttheirinvitation。

Mdlle。X。C。V。struckmeasprettierthanever；andmylove，aftersleepingforfiveyears，awoketofreshstrengthandvigour。TheytoldmethattheyweregoingtopasssixmonthsatParisbeforereturningtoVenice。InreturnIinformedthemthatIintendedmakingParismyhome，thatIhadjustleftHolland，thatIwasgoingtoVersaillesthenextday，sothatIcouldnotpaymyrespectstothemtillthedayafter。Ialsobeggedthemtoacceptmyservices，inamannerwhichletthemknowIwasapersonofsomeimportance。

Mdlle。X。C。V。saidthatshewasawarethattheresultsofmyDutchmissionshouldrendermedeartoFrance，thatshehadalwayslivedinhopesofseeingmeoncemore，thatmyfamousflightfromTheLeadshaddelightedthem；"for，"sheadded，"wehavealwaysbeenfondofyou。"

"Ifancyyourmotherhaskeptherfondnessformeverymuchtoherself，"Iwhisperedtoher。

"Wewon’tsayanythingaboutthat，"saidsheinthesametone。"WelearntallthecircumstancesofyourwonderfulflightfromaletterofsixteenpagesyouwrotetoM。Memmo。Wetrembledwithjoyandshudderedwithfearaswereadit。"

"HowdidyouknowIhavebeeninHolland？"

"M。delaPopelinieretoldusaboutityesterday。"

M。delaPopeliniere，thefermier—general，whomIhadknownsevenyearsagoatPassi，cameintotheboxjustashisnamewasspoken。

AftercomplimentingmehesaidthatifIcouldcarrythroughthesameoperationfortheIndiaCompanymyfortunewouldbemade。

"Myadvicetoyouis，"hesaid，"togetyourselfnaturalizedbeforeitbecomesgenerallyknownthatyouhavemadehalfamillionofmoney。"

"Halfamillion！IonlywishIhad！"

"Youmusthavemadethatatthelowestcalculation。"

"Onthecontrary，Igiveyoumyassurance，thatifmyclaimforbrokerageisnotallowed，thetransactionwillproveabsolutelyruinoustome。"

"Ah！nodoubtyouarerighttotakethattone。Meanwhile，everyonewantstomakeyouracquaintance，forFranceisdeeplyindebtedtoyou。Youhavecausedthefundstorecoverinaverymarkeddegree。"

AftertheplaywasoverIwenttoSilvia’s，whereIwasreceivedasifIhadbeenthefavouritechildofthefamily；butontheotherhandIgavethemcertainproofsthatIwishedtoberegardedinthatlight。IwasimpressedwiththeideathattotheirunshakenfriendshipIowedallmygoodluck，andImadethefather，mother，thedaughter，andthetwosons，receivethepresentsIhadgotforthem。Thebestwasforthemother，whohandeditontoherdaughter。

Itwasapairofdiamondear—ringsofgreatbeauty，forwhichIhadgivenfifteenthousandfrancs。ThreedaysafterIsentheraboxcontainingfinelinenfromHolland，andchoiceMechlinandAlenconlace。Mario，wholikedsmoking，gotagoldpipe；thefatherachoicegoldandenamelledsnuff—box，andIgavearepeatertotheyoungerson，ofwhomIwasveryfond。Ishallhaveoccasionlaterontospeakofthislad，whosenaturalqualitieswerefarsuperiortohispositioninlife。But，youwillask，wasIrichenoughtomakesuchpresents？No，Iwasnot，andIknewitperfectlywell；butIgavethesepresentsbecauseIwasafraidofnotbeingabletodosoifI

waited。

IsetoutforVersaillesatday—break，andM。deChoiseulreceivedmeasbefore，hishairwasbeingdressed，butforamomenthelaiddownhispen，whichshewedthatIhadbecomeapersonofgreaterimportanceinhiseyes。Afteraslightbutgratefulcompliment，hetoldmethatifIthoughtmyselfcapableofnegotiatingaloanofahundredmillionstobearinterestatfourpercent。，hewoulddoallinhispowertohelpme。MyanswerwasthatIwouldthinkitoverwhenIheardhowmuchIwastohaveforwhatIhaddonealready。

"Buteverybodysaysthatyouhavemadetwohundredthousandflorinsbyit。"

"Thatwouldnotbesobad；halfamillionoffrancswouldbeafairfoundationonwhichtobuildafortune；butIcanassureyourexcellencethatthereisnotawordoftruthinthereport。Idefyanyonetoproveit；andtillsomesubstantialproofisoffered，I

thinkIcanlayclaimtobrokerage。"

"True，true。Gotothecomptroller—generalandstateyourviewstohim。"

M。deBoulognestoppedtheoccupationonwhichhewasengagedtogivemeamostfriendlygreeting，butwhenIsaidthatheowedmeahundredthousandflorinshesmiledsardonically。

"Ihappentoknow，"hesaid，"thatyouhavebillsofexchangetotheamountofahundredthousandcrownspayabletoyourself。"

"Certainly，butthatmoneyhasnoconnectionwithmymission，asI

canprovetoyoubyreferringyoutoM。d’Afri。Ihaveinmyheadaninfallibleprojectforincreasingtherevenuebytwentymillions，inamannerwhichwillcausenoirritation。"

"Youdon’tsayso！Communicateyourplan，andIpromisetogetyouapensionofahundredthousandfrancs，andlettersofnobilityaswell，ifyouliketobecomeaFrenchman。"

"Iwillthinkitover。"

OnleavingM。deBoulogneIwenttothePalace，whereaballetwasgoingonbeforetheMarquisedePompadour。

Shebowedtomeassoonasshesawme，andonmyapproachinghershetoldmethatIwasanablefinancier，andthatthe"gentlemenbelow"

couldnotappreciatemymerits。ShehadnotforgottenwhatIhadsaidtohereightyearsbeforeinthetheatreatFontainebleau。I

repliedthatallgoodgiftswerefromabove，whither，withherhelp，Ihopedtoattain。

OnmyreturntoParisIwenttothe"HotelBourbon"toinformmypatronoftheresultofmyjourney。HisadvicetomewastocontinuetoservetheGovernmentwell，asitsgoodfortunewouldcometobemine。OnmytellinghimofmymeetingwiththeX。C。V。’s，hesaidthatM。delaPopelinierewasgoingtomarrytheelderdaughter。

WhenIgottomyhousemysonwasnowheretobefound。Mylandladytoldmethatagreatladyhadcometocallonmylord，andthatshehadtakenhimawaywithher。GuessingthatthiswasMadamed’Urfe，I

wenttobedwithouttroublingmyselfanyfurther。Earlynextmorningmyclerkbroughtmealetter。Itcamefromtheoldattorney，uncletoGaetan’swife，whomIhadhelpedtoescapefromthejealousfuryofherbrutalhusband。Theattorneybeggedmetocomeandspeaktohimatthecourts，ortomakeanappointmentatsomeplacewherehecouldseeme。Iwenttothecourtsandfoundhimthere。

"Myniece，"hebegan，"foundherselfobligedtogointoaconvent；

andfromthisvantagegroundsheispleadingagainstherhusband，withtheaidofabarrister，whowillberesponsibleforthecosts。

However，towinourcase，werequiretheevidenceofyourself，CountTiretta，andotherservantswhowitnessedthesceneattheinn。"

IdidallIcould，andfourmonthsafterwardsGaetansimplifiedmattersbyafraudulentbankruptcy，whichobligedhimtoleaveFrance:induetimeandplace，Ishallhavesomethingmoretosayabouthim。Asforhiswife，whowasyoungandpretty，shepaidhercounselinlove’smoney，andwasveryhappywithhim，andmaybehappystillforallIknow，butIhaveentirelylostsightofher。

AftermyinterviewwiththeoldattorneyIwenttoMadame————toseeTiretta，whowasout。Madamewasstillinlovewithhim，andhecontinuedtomakeavirtueofnecessity。Ileftmyaddress，andwenttothe"HoteldeBretagne"topaymyfirstcallonMadameX。C。V。

Thelady，thoughshewasnotoverfondofme，receivedmewithgreatpoliteness。Ipossiblycutabetterfigureinhereyeswhenrich，andatParis，thenwhenwewereinVenice。Weallknowthatdiamondshavethestrangepoweroffascination，andthattheyformanexcellentsubstituteforvirtue！

MadameX。C。V。hadwithheranoldGreeknamedZandiri，brothertoM。deBragadin’smajor—domo，whowasjustdead。Iutteredsomeexpressionsofsympathy，andtheboordidnottakethetroubletoanswerme，butIwasavengedforhisfoolishstiffnessbytheenthusiasmwithwhichIwaswelcomedbyeveryoneelse。Theeldestgirl，hersisters，andthetwosons，almostoverwhelmedmewithfriendliness。Theeldestsonwasonlyfourteen，andwasayoungfellowofcharmingmanners，butevidentlyextremelyindependent，andsighedforthetimewhenhewouldbeabletodevotehimselftoacareerofprofligacyforwhichhewaswellfitted。Mdlle。X。C。V。

wasbothbeautifulandcharminginhermanner，andhadreceivedanexcellenteducationofwhich，however，shemadenoparade。Onecouldnotstayinherpresencewithoutlovingher，butshewasnoflirt，andIsoonsawthatsheheldoutnovainhopestothosewhohadthemisfortunenottopleaseher。Withoutbeingrudesheknewhowtobecold，anditwasalltheworseforthosewhomhercoldnessdidnotshewthattheirquestwasuseless。

ThefirsthourIpassedinhercompanychainedmeacaptivetohertriumphantcar。Itoldherasmuch，andsherepliedthatshewasgladtohavesuchacaptive。ShetooktheplaceinmyheartwhereEstherhadreignedaweekbefore，butIfreelyconfessthatEstheryieldedonlybecauseshewasaway。AstomyattachmenttoSylvia’sdaughter，itwasofsuchanatureasnottohindermefallinginlovewithanyotherwomanwhochancedtotakemyfancy。Inthelibertine’sheartlovecannotexistwithoutsubstantialfood，andwomenwhohavehadsomeexperienceoftheworldarewellawareofthisfact。TheyouthfulBalettiwasabeginner，andsoknewnothingofthesethings。

M。Farsetti，aVenetianofnoblebirth，aknightofMalta，agreatstudentoftheoccultsciences，andagoodLatinversifier，cameinatoneo’clock。DinnerwasjustreadyandMadameX。C。V。beggedhimtostay。Sheaskedmealsotodinewiththem，butwishingtodinewithMadamed’UrfeIrefusedtheinvitationforthenonce。

M。Farsetti，whohadknownmeverywellatVenice，onlynoticedmebyaside—glance，andwithoutshewinganyvexationIpaidhimbackinthesamecoin。HesmiledatMdlle。X。C。V。’spraiseofmycourage。

Shenoticedhisexpression，andasiftopunishhimforitwentontosaythatIhadnowtheadmirationofeveryVenetian，andthattheFrenchwereanxioustohavethehonourofcallingmeafellow—

citizen。M。Farsettiaskedmeifmypostatthelotterypaidwell。I

replied，coolly，"Oh，yes，wellenoughformetopaymyclerks’salaries。"

Heunderstoodthedriftofmyreply，andMdlle。X。C。V。smiled。

IfoundmysupposedsonwithMadamed’Urfe，orratherinthatamiablevisionary’sarms。Shehastenedtoapologizeforcarryinghimoff，andIturneditoffwithajest，havingnoothercoursetotake。

"Imadehimsleepwithme，"shesaid，"butIshallbeobligedtodeprivemyselfofthisprivilegeforthefuture，unlesshepromisestobemorediscreet。"

Ithoughttheideaagrandone，andthelittlefellow，inspiteofhisblushes，beggedhertosayhowhehadoffended。

"WeshallhavetheComtedeSt。Germain，"saidMadamed’Urfe，"todinner。Iknowheamusesyou，andIlikeyoutoenjoyyourselfinmyhouse。"

"Forthat，madam，yourpresenceisallIneed；nevertheless，Ithankyouforconsideringme。"

InduecourseSt。Germainarrived，andinhisusualmannersathimselfdown，nottoeatbuttotalk。Withafaceofimperturbablegravityhetoldthemostincrediblestories，whichonehadtopretendtobelieve，ashewasalwayseithertheheroofthetaleoraneyewitnessoftheevent。Allthesame，IcouldnothelpburstingintolaughterwhenhetoldusofsomethingthathappenedashewasdiningwiththeFathersoftheCouncilofTrent。

Madamed’Urfeworeonherneckalargemagnet。Shesaidthatitwouldonedayhappenthatthismagnetwouldattractthelightning，andthatshewouldconsequentlysoarintothesun。Ilongedtotellherthatwhen，shegotthereshecouldbenohigherupthanontheearth，butIrestrainedmyself；andthegreatcharlatanhastenedtosaythattherecouldbenodoubtaboutit，andthathe，andheonly，couldincreasetheforceofthemagnetathousandtimes。Isaid，dryly，thatIwouldwagertwentythousandcrownshewouldnotsomuchasdoubleitsforce，butMadamed’Urfewouldnotletusbet，andafterdinnershetoldmeinprivatethatIshouldhavelost，asSt。

Germainwasamagician。OfcourseIagreedwithher。

Afewdayslater，themagiciansetoutforChambord，wherethekinghadgivenhimasuiteofroomsandahundredthousandfrancs，thathemightbeatlibertytoworkonthedyeswhichweretoassurethesuperiorityofFrenchmaterialsoverthoseofanyothercountry。St。

Germainhadgotoverthekingbyarrangingalaboratorywhereheoccasionallytriedtoamusehimself，thoughheknewlittleaboutchemistry，butthekingwasthevictimofanalmostuniversalweariness。Toenjoyaharemrecruitedfromamongstthemostravishingbeauties，andoftenfromtheranksofneophytes，withwhompleasurehaditsdifficulties，onewouldhaveneededtobeagod，andLouisXV。wasonlyamanafterall。

Itwasthefamousmarquisewhohadintroducedtheadepttothekinginthehopeofhisdistractingthemonarch’sweariness，bygivinghimatasteforchemistry。IndeedMadamedePompadourwasundertheimpressionthatSt。Germainhadgivenherthewaterofperpetualyouth，andthereforefeltobligedtomakethechemistagoodreturn。

Thiswondrouswater，takenaccordingtothecharlatan’sdirections，couldnotindeedmakeoldageretireandgivewaytoyouth，butaccordingtothemarquiseitwouldpreserveoneinstatuquoforseveralcenturies。

Asamatteroffact，thewater，orthegiverofit，hadworkedwonders，ifnotonherbody，atleastonhermind；sheassuredthekingthatshewasnotgettingolder。Thekingwasasmuchdeludedbythisgrandimpostorasshewas，foronedayheshewedtheDucdesDeux—Pontsadiamondofthefirstwater，weighingtwelvecarats，whichhefanciedhehadmadehimself。"Imelteddown，"saidLouisXV。，"smalldiamondsweighingtwenty—fourcarats，andobtainedthisonelargeoneweighingtwelve。"ThusitcametopassthattheinfatuatedmonarchgavetheimpostorthesuiteformerlyoccupiedbyMarshalSaxe。TheDucdesDeux—Pontstoldmethisstorywithhisownlips，oneevening，whenIwassuppingwithhimandaSwede，theComtedeLevenhoop，atMetz。

BeforeIleftMadamed’Urfe，Itoldherthattheladmightbehewhoshouldmakehertobebornagain，butthatshewouldspoilallifshedidnotwaitforhimtoattaintheageofpuberty。Afterwhatshehadsaidabouthismisbehavior，thereaderwillguesswhatmademesaythis。ShesenthimtoboardwithViar，gavehimmastersoneverything，anddisguisedhimunderthenameoftheComted’Aranda，althoughhewasbornatBayreuth，andthoughhismotherneverhadanythingtodowithaSpaniardofthatname。ItwasthreeorfourmonthsbeforeIwenttoseehim，asIwasafraidofbeinginsultedonaccountofthenamewhichthevisionaryMadamed’Urfehadgivenhim。

OnedayTirettacametoseemeinafinecoach。Hetoldmethathiselderlymistresswantedtobecomehiswife，butthathewouldnothearofit，thoughsheofferedtoendowhimwithallherworldlygoods。Itoldhimthatifhegaveinhemightpayhisdebts，returntoTrevisa，andlivepleasantlythere；buthisdestinywouldnotallowhimtotakemyadvice。

Ihadresolvedontakingacountryhouse，andfixedononecalled"LittlePoland，"whichpleasedmebetterthanalltheothersIhadseen。Itwaswellfurnished，andwasahundredpacesdistantfromtheMadeleineGate。Itwassituatedonslightlyelevatedgroundneartheroyalpark，behindtheDucdeGrammont’sgarden，anditsownerhadgivenitthenameof"PleasantWarsaw。"Ithadtwogardens，oneofwhichwasonalevelwiththefirstfloor，threereceptionrooms，largestables，coachhouses，baths，agoodcellar，andasplendidkitchen。Themasterwascalled"TheButterKing，"andalwayswrotehimselfdownso；thenamehadbeengiventohimbyLouisXV。onthemonarch’sstoppingatthehouseandlikingthebutter。The"ButterKing"letmehishouseforahundredLouisperannum，andhegavemeanexcellentcookcalled"ThePearl，"atrueblue—ribbonoftheorderofcooks，andtoherhegavechargeofallhisfurnitureandtheplateIshouldwantforadinnerofsixpersons，engagingtogetmeasmuchplateasIwantedatthehireofasousanounce。HealsopromisedtoletmehavewhatwineIwanted，andsaidallhehadwasofthebest，and，moreover，cheaperthanIcouldgetitatParis，ashehadnogate—moneytopayonit。

Mattershavingbeenarrangedontheseterms，inthecourseofaweekIgotagoodcoachman，twofinecarriages，fivehorses，agroom，andtwofootmen。Madamed’Urfe，whowasmyfirstguest，wasdelightedwithmynewabode，andassheimaginedthatIhaddoneitallforher，Ileftherinthatflatteringopinion。Inevercouldbelieveinthemoralityofsnatchingfrompoormortalmanthedelusionswhichmakethemhappy。Ialsoletherretainthenotionthatyoungd’Aranda，thecountofherownmaking，wasascionofthenobility，thathewasbornforamysteriousoperationunknowntotherestofmankind，thatIwasonlyhiscaretaker（hereIspokethetruth），andthathemustdieandyetnotceasetolive。Allthesewhimsicalideasweretheproductsofherbrain，whichwasonlyoccupiedwiththeimpossible，andIthoughtthebestthingIcoulddowastoagreewitheverything。IfIhadtriedtoundeceiveher，shewouldhaveaccusedmeofwantoftrustinher，forshewasconvincedthatallherknowledgewasrevealedtoherbyhergenius，whospoketoheronlybynight。AftershehaddinedwithmeItookherbacktoherhouse，fullofhappiness。

Camillesentmealotteryticket，whichshehadinvestedinatmyoffice，andwhichprovedtobeawinningone，Ithink，forathousandcrownsorthereabouts。Sheaskedmetocomeandsupwithher，andbringthemoneywithme。Iacceptedherinvitation，andfoundhersurroundedbyallthegirlssheknewandtheirlovers。AftersupperIwasaskedtogototheoperawiththem，butwehadscarcelygottherewhenIlostmypartyinthecrowd。Ihadnomaskon，andI

soonfoundmyselfattackedbyablackdomino，whomIknewtobeawoman，andasshetoldmeahundredtruthsaboutmyselfinafalsettovoice，Iwasinterested，anddeterminedonfindingoutwhoshewas。

AtlastIsucceededinpersuadinghertocomewithmeintoabox，andassoonaswewereinandIhadtakenoffhermaskIwasastonishedtofindshewasMdlle。X。C。V。

"Ihavecometotheball，"saidshe，"withoneofmysisters，myelderbrother，andM。Farsetti。Ileftthemtogointoaboxandchangemydomino:

"Theymustfeelveryuneasy。"

"Idaresaytheydo，butIamnotgoingtotakepityonthemtilltheendoftheball。"