第47章

"Themidwife，"Iadded，"isabsolutelyunknowntome。Sheismostlikelyanabandonedwoman，whowithherworthycompanionwantstocheatmeofmymoney。"

"Ishouldbedelightedtothinkso，"heanswered，"butadmittingthefact，seehowchancefavoursher，andmakesitamostdifficultthingforyoutoproveyourinnocence。

"Theyoungladydisappearedthreemonthsago。Shewasknowntobeyourintimatefriend，youcalleduponheratallhours；youspentaconsiderabletimewithherthedaybeforeshedisappeared，andnooneknowswhathasbecomeofher；buteveryone’ssuspicionspointatyou，andpaidspiesarecontinuallydoggingyoursteps。Themidwifesentmearequisitionyesterdaybyhercounsel，Vauversin。ShesaysthatthepregnantladyyoubroughttoherhouseisthesamewhomMadameX。

C。V。issearchingfor。Shealsosaysthatyoubothworeblackdominoes，andthepolicehaveascertainedthatyouwerebothattheballinblackdominoesonthesamenightasthatonwhichthemidwifesaysyoucametoherhouse；youarealsoknowntohavelefttheball—

roomtogether。Allthis，itistrue，doesnotconstitutefullproofofyourguilt，butitmakesonetrembleforyourinnocence。"

"WhatcausehaveItotremble？"

"Whatcause！Whyafalsewitness，easilyenoughhiredforalittlemoney，mightswearwithimpunitythathesawyoucomefromtheoperatogether；andacoachmaninthesamewaymightswearhehadtakenyoutothemidwife’s。InthatcaseIshouldbecompelledtoorderyourarrestandexamination，withaviewtoascertainthenameofthepersonwhomyoutookwithyou。Doyourealizethatyouareaccusedofprocuringabortion；thatthreemonthshavegonebywithoutthelady’sretreathavingbeendiscovered；thatsheissaidtobedead。

Doyourealize，inshort，whataveryseriouschargemurderis？"

"Certainly；butifIdieinnocent，youwillhavecondemnedmewrongly，andwillbemoretobepitiedthanI。"

"Yes，yes，butthatwouldn’tmakeyourcaseanybetter。Youmaybesure，however，thatIwillnotcondemnaninnocentman；butIamafraidthatyouwillbealongtimeinprisonbeforeyousucceedinprovingyourinnocence。Tobebrief，youseethatintwenty—fourhoursthecaselooksverybad，andinthecourseofaweekitmightlookverymuchworse。Myinterestwasarousedinyourfavourbytheevidentabsurdityoftheaccusations，butitistheothercircumstancesaboutthecasewhichmakeitaseriousoneforyou。I

canpartlyunderstandthecircumstances，andthefeelingsofloveandhonourwhichbidyoubesilent。Ihavespokentoyou，andIhopeyouwillhavenoreserveswithme。Iwillspareyoualltheunpleasantcircumstanceswhichthreatenyou，believing，asIdo，thatyouareinnocent。Tellmeall，andbesurethatthelady’shonourwillnotsuffer；butif，ontheotherhand，youareunfortunatelyguiltyofthecrimeslaidtoyourcharge，Iadviseyoutobeprudent，andtotakestepswhichitisnotmybusinesstosuggest。IwarnyouthatinthreeorfourdaysIshallciteyoutothebarofthecourt，andthatyouwillthenfindinmeonlythejudge——just，certainly，butsevereandimpartial。"

Iwaspetrified；forthesewordsshewedmemydangerinallitsnakedness。IsawhowIshouldesteemthisworthyman’sgoodoffices，andsaidtohiminquiteanothertone，thatinnocentasIwas，IsawthatmybestcoursewastothrowmyselfonhiskindnessrespectingMdlle。X。C。V。，whohadcommittednocrime，butwouldloseherreputationbythisunhappybusiness。

"Iknowwheresheis，"Iadded，"andImaytellyouthatshewouldneverhavelefthermotherifshehadnotendeavouredtoforceherintoamarriagesheabhorred"

"Well，butthemanisnowmarried；letherreturntohermother’shouse，andyouwillbesafe，unlessthemidwifepersistsinmaintainingthatyouincitedhertoprocureabortion。"

"Thereisnoabortioninthematter；butotherreasonspreventherreturningtoherfamily。Icantellyounomorewithoutobtainingtheconsentofanotherparty。IfIsucceedindoingsoIshallbeabletothrowthedesiredlightonthequestion。Bekindenoughtogivemeasecondhearingonthedayafterto—morrow。"

"Iunderstand。Ishallbedelightedtohearwhatyouhavetosay。

Ithankandcongratulateyou。Farewell！"

Iwasonthebrinkoftheprecipice，butIwasdeterminedtoleavethekingdomratherthanbetraythehonourofmypoordearsweetheart。

Ifithadbeenpossible，Iwouldgladlyhaveputanendtothecasewithmoney；butitwastoolate。IwassurethatFarsettihadthechiefhandinallthistrouble，thathewascontinuallyonmytrack，andthathepaidthespiesmentionedbyM。deSartine。HeitwaswhohadsetVauversin，thebarrister，afterme，andIhadnodoubtthathewoulddoallinhispowertoruinme。

IfeltthatmyonlycoursewastotellthewholestorytoM。deSartine，buttodothatIrequiredMadameduRumain’spermission。

CHAPTERIX

MyExaminationIGivetheClerkThreeHundredLouis——TheMidwifeandCartel—BajacImprisoned——Mdlle。X。C。V。IsBroughttoBedofaSonandObligesHerMothertoMakeMeAmends——TheSuitAgainstMeIsQuashed——Mdlle。X。C。V。GoesWithHerMothertoBrusselsandFromThencetoVenice，WhereSheBecomesaGreatLady——MyWork—girls——

MadameBaret——IAmRobbed，PutinPrison，andSetatLibertyAgain——

IGotoHolland——Helvetius’"Esprit"——PiccolominiThedayaftermyinterviewwithM。deSartineIwaitedonMadameduRumainatanearlyhour。ConsideringtheurgencyofthecaseItookthelibertyofrousingherfromherslumbers，andassoonasshewasreadytoreceivemeItoldherall。

"Therecanbenohesitationinthematter，"saidthisdelightfulwoman。"WemustmakeaconfidantofM。deSartine，andIwillspeaktohimmyselfto—daywithoutfail。"

Forthwithshewenttoherdeskandwrotetothecriminallieutenantaskinghimtoseeheratthreeo’clockintheafternoon。Inlessthananhourtheservantreturnedwithanoteinwhichhesaidhewouldexpecther。WeagreedthatIshouldcomeagainintheevening，whenshewouldtellmetheresultofherinterview。

Iwenttothehouseatfiveo’clock，andhadonlyafewminutestowait。

"Ihaveconcealednothing，"saidshe；"heknowsthatsheisontheeveofherconfinement，andthatyouarenotthefather，whichspeakshighlyforyourgenerosity。Itoldhimthatassoonastheconfinementwasover，andtheyoungladyhadrecoveredherhealth，shewouldreturntohermother，thoughshewouldmakenoconfession，andthatthechildshouldbewelllookedafter。Youhavenownothingtofear，andcancalmyourself；butasthecasemustgoonyouwillbecitedbeforethecourtthedayafterto—morrow。Iadviseyoutoseetheclerkofthecourtonsomepretextorother，andtomakehimacceptasumofmoney。"

Iwassummonedtoappear，andIappeared。IsawM。deSartine，’sedentemprotribunali’。Attheendofthesittinghetoldmethathewasobligedtoremandme，andthatduringmyremandImustnotleaveParisorgetmarried，asallmycivilrightswereinsuspensependingthedecision。Ipromisedtofollowhiscommands。

IacknowledgedinmyexaminationthatIwasattheballinablackdominoonthenightnamedinmyaccusation，butIdeniedeverythingelse。AsforMdlle。X。C。V。，IsaidthatneitherInoranyoneofherfamilyhadanysuspicionthatshewaswithchild。

RecollectingthatIwasanalien，andthatthiscircumstancemightmakeVauversincallformyarrest，onthepleathatImightflythekingdom，Ithoughtthemomentopportuneformakinginterestwiththeclerkofthecourt，andIaccordinglypaidhimavisit。Aftertellinghimofmyfears，Islippedintohishandapacketofthreehundredlouis，forwhichIdidnotaskforareceipt，sayingthattheyweretodefrayexpensesifIweremulctedincosts。Headvisedmetorequirethemidwifetogivebailforherappearance，andItoldmyattorneytodoso；but，fourdaysafter，thefollowingincidenttookplace:

IwaswalkingintheTempleGardens，whenIwasaccostedbyaSavoyard，whogavemeanoteinwhichIwasinformedthatsomebodyinanalley，fiftypacesoff，wantedtospeaktome。"Eitheraloveaffairorachallenge，"Isaidtomyself，"let’ssee。"Istoppedmycarriage，whichwasfollowingme，andwenttotheplace。

IcannotsayhowsurprisedIwastoseethewretchedCartel—Bajacstandingbeforeme。"Ihaveonlyawordtosay，"saidhe，whenhesawme。"Wewillnotbeoverheardhere。Themidwifeisquitesurethatyouarethemanwhobroughtapregnantladytoher，butsheisvexedthatyouareaccusedofmakingawaywithher。Giveherahundredlouis；shewillthendeclaretothecourtthatshehasbeenmistaken，andyourtroublewillbeended。Youneednotpaythemoneytillshehasmadeherdeclaration；wewilltakeyourwordforit。

ComewithmeandtalkitoverwithVauversin。IamsurehewillpersuadeyoutodoasIsuggest。Iknowwheretofindhim，followmeatsomedistance。"

Ihadlistenedtohiminsilence，andIwasdelightedtoseethattherascalswerebetrayingthemselves。"Verygood，"saidItothefellow，"yougoon，andIwillfollow。"IwentafterhimtothethirdfloorofahouseintheRueauxOurs，whereIfoundVauversinthebarrister。NosoonerhadIarrivedthanhewenttobusinesswithoutanyprefatoryremarks。

"Themidwife，"hesaid，"willcallonyouwithawitnessapparentlywiththeintentionofmaintainingtoyourfacethatyouareherman；

butshewon’tbeabletorecognizeyou。Shewillthenproceedwiththewitnesstothecourt，andwilldeclarethatshehasmadeamistake，andthecriminallieutenantwillforthwithputanendtotheproceedings。Youwillthusbecertainofgainingyourcaseagainstthelady’smother。"

Ithoughttheplanwellconceived，andsaidthattheywouldfindmeattheTempleanydayuptonoon。

"Butthemidwifewantsahundredlouisbadly。"

"Youmeanthattheworthywomanratesherperjuryatthatprice。

Well，nevermind，Iwillpaythemoney，andyoumaytrusttomyword；

butIcan’tdosobeforeshehastakenoathtohermistakebeforethecourt。"

"Verygood，butyoumustfirstgivemetwenty—fivelouistoreimbursemeformycostsandfees。"

"Certainly，ifyouwillgivemeaformalreceiptforthemoney。"

Hehesitatedatfirst，butaftertalkingitoverthemoneyprovedtoostrongabait，andhewroteoutthereceiptandIgavehimthetwenty—fivelouis。Hethankedme，andsaidthatthoughMadameX。C。

V。washisclient，hewouldletmeknowconfidentiallyhowbesttoputastoptotheproceedings。IthankedhimwithasmuchgratitudeasifIhadreallyintendedtomakeuseofhisservices，andIlefttowriteandtellM。deSartinewhathadtakenplace。

ThreedaysafterwardsIwastoldthatamanandwomanwantedtoseeme。Iwentdownandaskedthewomanwhatshewanted。

"IwanttospeaktoM。Casanova。"

"Iamhe。"

"ThenIhavemadeamistake，forwhichIhopeyouwillforgiveme。"

Hercompanionsmiled，andtheywentoff。

ThesamedayMadameduRumainhadaletterfromtheabbesstellingherthatheryoungfriendhadgivenbirthtoafineboy，whohadbeensentawaytoaplacewherehewouldbewelllookedafter。Shestatedthattheyoungladycouldnotleavetheconventforthenextsixweeks，attheendofwhichtimeshecouldreturntohermotherwithacertificatewhichwouldprotectherfromallannoyance。

Soonafterthemidwifewasputinsolitaryconfinement，Castel—BajacwassenttoTheBicetre，andVauversin’snamewasstruckofftherolls。ThesuitinstitutedagainstmebyMadameX。C。V。wentontillherdaughterreappeared，butIknewthatIhadnothingtofear。

ThegirlreturnedtohermotherabouttheendofAugustarmedwithacertificatefromtheabbess，whosaidshehadbeenunderherprotectionforfourmonths，duringwhichtimeshehadneverlefttheconventorseenanypersonsfromoutside。Thiswasperfectlytrue，buttheabbessaddedthatheronlyreasonforhergoingbacktoherfamilywasthatshehadnothingmoretodreadfromtheattentionsofM。delaPopeliniere，andinthistheabbesslied。

Mdlle。X。C。V。profitedbythedelightofhermotherinseeingheragainsafeandsound，andmadeherwaitonM。deSartinewiththeabbess’scertificate，stopallproceedingsagainstme，andwithdrawallthechargesshehadmade。HerdaughtertoldherthatifIlikedImightclaimdamagesforlibel，andthatifshedidnotwishtoinjureherreputationshewouldsaynothingmoreaboutwhathadhappened。

Themotherwrotemealetterofthemostsatisfactorycharacter，whichIhadregisteredincourt，thusputtinganendtotheprosecution。InmyturnIwrotetocongratulateherontherecoveryofherdaughter，butIneversetfootinherhouseagain，toavoidanydisagreeablesceneswithFarsetti。

Mdlle。X。C。V。couldnotstayanylongerinParis，wherehertalewasknowntoeveryone，andFarsettitookhertoBrusselswithhersisterMadelaine。Sometimeafter，hermotherfollowedher，andtheythenwentontoVenice，andthereinthreeyears’timeshebecameagreatlady。FifteenyearsafterwardsIsawheragain，andshewasawidow，happyenoughapparently，andenjoyingagreatreputationonaccountofherrank，wit，andsocialqualities，butourconnectionwasneverrenewed。

InfouryearsthereaderwillhearmoreofCastel—Bajac。Towardstheendofthesameyear（1759），beforeIwenttoHolland，Ispentseveralhundredfrancstoobtainthereleaseofthemidwife。

Ilivedlikeaprince，andmenmighthavethoughtmehappy，butIwasnot。TheenormousexpensesIincurred，myloveofspendingmoney，andmagnificentpleasures，warnedme，inspiteofmyself，thattherewererocksahead。Mybusinesswouldhavekeptmegoingforalongtime，ifcustomhadnotbeenparalyzedbythewar；butasitwas，I，likeeverybodyelse，experiencedtheeffectofbadtimes。Mywarehousecontainedfourhundredpiecesofstuffswithdesignsonthem，butasIcouldnothopetodisposeofthembeforethepeace，andaspeaceseemedalongwayoff，Iwasthreatenedwithruin。

WiththisfearIwrotetoEsthertogetherfathertogivemetheremainderofmymoney，tosendmeasharpclerk，andtojoininmyspeculation。M。d’O————saidthatifIwouldsetupinHollandhewouldbecomeresponsibleforeverythingandgivemehalfprofits，butIlikedParistoowelltoagreetosogoodanoffer。Iwassorryforitafterwards。

Ispentagooddealofmoneyatmyprivatehouse，butthechiefexpenseofmylife，whichwasunknowntoothersbutwhichwasruiningme，wasincurredinconnectionwiththegirlswhoworkedinmyestablishment。Withmycomplexionandmypronouncedlikingforvariety，ascoreofgirls，nearlyallofthemprettyandseductive，asmostParisgirlsare，wasareefonwhichmyvirtuemadeshipwreckeveryday。Curiosityhadagooddealtodowithit，andtheyprofitedbymyimpatiencetotakepossessionbysellingtheirfavoursdearly。Theyallfollowedtheexampleofthefirstfavourite，andeveryoneclaimedinturnanestablishment，furniture，money，andjewels；andIknewtoolittleofthevalueofmoneytocarehowmuchtheyasked。Myfancyneverlastedlongerthanaweek，andoftenwanedinthreeorfourdays，andthelastcomeralwaysappearedthemostworthyofmyattentions。

AssoonasIhadmadeanewchoiceIsawnomoreofmyoldloves，butIcontinuedtoprovideforthem，andthatwithagooddealofmoney。

Madamed’Urfe，whothoughtIwasrich，gavemenotrouble。Imadeherhappybyusingmyoracletosecondthemagicalceremoniesofwhichshegrewfondereveryday，althoughsheneverattainedheraim。

ManonBaletti，however，grievedmesorelybyherjealousyandherwell—foundedreproaches。Shewouldnotunderstand——andIdidnotwonderatit——howIcouldputoffmarryingherifIreallylovedher。

Sheaccusedmeofdeceivingher。Hermotherdiedofconsumptioninourarms。Silviahadwonmytruefriendship。Ilookeduponherasamostworthywoman，whosekindnessofheartandpurityoflifedeservedtheesteemofall。Istayedinthefamilyforthreedaysafterherdeath，sincerelysympathizingwiththemintheiraffliction。

Afewdaysafterwards，myfriendTirettalosthismistressthroughagrievousillness。Fourdaysbeforeherdeath，perceivingthatshewasnearherend，shewilledtoconsecratetoGodthatwhichmancouldhavenolonger，anddismissedherloverwiththegiftofavaluablejewelandapurseoftwohundredlouis。Tirettamarchedoffandcameandtoldmethesadnews。IgothimalodgingneartheTemple，andamonthafter，approvinghisideatotryhisfortuneinIndia，IgavehimaletterofintroductiontoM。d’O————，ofAmsterdam；andinthecourseofaweekthisgentlemangothimapostasclerk，andshippedhimaboardoneofthecompany’sshipswhichwasboundforBatavia。Ifhehadbehavedwellhemighthavebecomearichman，buthegotinvolvedinsomeconspiracyandhadtofly，andafterwardsexperiencedmanyvicissitudesoffortune。IheardfromoneofhisrelationsthathewasinBengalin1788，ingoodcircumstances，butunabletorealizehispropertyandsoreturntohisnativecountry。Idonotknowwhatbecameofhimeventually。

InthebeginningofNovemberanofficialbelongingtotheDucd’Elbeuf’shouseholdcametomyestablishmenttobuyaweddingdressforhisdaughter。Iwasdazzledwithherbeauty。Shechoseafinesatin，andherprettyfacelightedupwhensheheardherfathersayhedidnotthinkitwastoomuch；butshelookedquitepiteouswhensheheardtheclerktellherfatherthathewouldhavetobuythewholepiece，astheycouldnotcutit。IfeltthatImustgivein，andtoavoidmakinganexceptioninherfavourIbeatahastyretreatintomyprivateroom。IwishIhadgoneoutofthehouse，asI

shouldhavesavedagooddealofmoney；butwhatpleasureshouldI

havealsolost！Inherdespairthecharminggirlbeggedthemanagertotakehertome，andhedarednotrefusetodoso。Shecamein；

twobigtearsfallingdownhercheeksanddimmingtheardourofhergaze。

"Oh，sir！"shebegan，"youarerich，doyoubuythepieceandletmehaveenoughforadress，whichwillmakemehappy。"

Ilookedatherfatherandsawheworeanapologeticair，asifdeprecatingtheboldnessofhischild。

"Ilikeyoursimplicity，"Isaidtoher，"andsinceitwillmakeyouhappy，youshallhavethedress。"

Sheranuptome，threwherarmsroundmyneckandkissedme，whileherworthyfatherwasdyingwithlaughter。Herkissesputthelaststroketomybewitchment。Afterhehadpaidforthedress，herfathersaid，"IamgoingtogetthislittlemadcapmarriednextSunday；therewillbeasupperandaball，andweshallbedelightedifyouwillhonouruswithyourpresence。MynameisGilbert。IamcomptrolleroftheDucd’Elbeuf’shousehold。"

Ipromisedtobeatthewedding，andtheyoungladygaveaskipofjoywhichmademethinkherprettierthanever。

OnSundayIrepairedtothehouse，butIcouldneithereatnordrink。

ThefairMdlle。GilbertkeptmeinakindofenchantmentwhichlastedwhileIwasincompanywithherfriends，forwhomIdidnotcare。

Theywereallofficialsinnoblemen’shouses，withtheirwivesanddaughters，whoallapedthemannersoftheirbettersinthemostridiculousway；nobodyknewmeandIwasknowntonobody，andIcutasorryfigureamongstthemall，forinacompanyofthissortthewittiestmanisthegreatestfool。Everybodycrackedhisjoketothebride，sheansweredeverybody，andpeoplelaughedatnothing。

Herhusband，athinandmelancholyman，witharatherfoolishexpression，wasdelightedathiswife’skeepingeverybodyamused。

AlthoughIwasinlovewithher，Ipitiedratherthanenviedhim。

Iguessedthathehadmarriedformonetaryconsiderations，andIknewprettywellwhatkindofahead—dresshishandsome，fierywifewouldgiveherhusband，whowasplain—featured，andseemednottobeawareofhiswife’sbeauty。Iwasseizedwiththedesireofaskinghersomequestions，andshegavemetheopportunitybycomingtositnexttomeafteraquadrille。Shethankedmeagainformykindness，andsaidthatthebeautifuldressIhadsuppliedhadwonhermanycompliments。

"Allthesame，"Isaid，"Iknowyouarelongingtotakeitoff。I

knowwhatloveisand