第48章

WhenIgottoBrussels，whereIspenttwodays，Iwenttothe"Hoteldel’Imperatrice，"andchancesentMdlle。X。C。V。andFarsettiinmyway，butIpretendednottoseethem。FromBrusselsIwentstraighttotheHague，andgotoutatthe"PrinceofOrange。"Onmyaskingthehostwhosatdownathistable，hetoldmehiscompanyconsistedofgeneralofficersoftheHanoverianarmy，sameEnglishladies，andaPrincePiccolominiandhiswife；andthismadememakeupmymindtojointhisillustriousassemblage。

Iwasunknowntoall，andkeepingmyeyesaboutmeIgavemychiefattentiontotheobservationofthesupposedItalianprincess，whowasprettyenough，andmoreespeciallyofherhusbandwhomIseemedtorecognize。InthecourseofconversationIheardsometalkofthecelebratedSt。Germain，anditseemedthathewasstoppinginthesamehotel。

Ihadreturnedtomyroom，andwasthinkingofgoingtobed，whenPrincePiccolominientered，andembracedmeasanoldfriend。

"Alookinyourface，"saidhe，"tellsmethattherecognitionhasbeenmutual。IknewyoudirectlyinspiteofthesixteenyearsthathavepassedsincewesaweachotheratVicenza。To—morrowyoucantelleverybodythatwearefriends，andthatthoughIamnotaprinceIamreallyacount；hereismypassportfromtheKingofNaples，prayreadit。"

DuringthisrapidmonologueIcouldnotgetinasingleword，andonattentivelyscanninghisfeaturesIcouldonlyrecollectthatIhadseenhimbefore，butwhenorwhereorhowIknewnot。IopenedthepassportandreadthenameofRuggerodiRocco，CountPiccolomini。

Thatwasenough；Irememberedanindividualofthatnamewhowasafencing—masterinVicenza，andonlookingathimagainhisaspect，thoughmuchchangedleftnodoubtastotheidentityoftheswordsmanandthecount。

"Icongratulateyou，"saidI，"onyourchangeofemployment，yournewbusinessisdoubtlessmuchbetterthantheold。"

"Itaughtfencing，"hereplied，"tosavemyselffromdyingofhunger，formyfatherwassohardamanthathewouldnotgivemethewherewithaltolive，andIdisguisedmynamesoasnottodisgraceit。Onmyfather’sdeathIsucceededtotheproperty，andatRomeI

marriedtheladyyouhaveseen。"

"Youhadgoodtaste，forshe’saprettywoman。"

"Sheisgenerallythoughtso，anditwasalovematchonmyside。"

Heendedbyaskingmetocomeandseehiminhisroomthenextday，afterdinner，tellingmethatIshouldfindgoodcompanyandabankatfaro，whichhekepthimself。Headded，withoutceremony，thatifIlikedwecouldgohalfshares，andthatIshouldfinditprofitable。Ithankedhim，andpromisedtopayhimavisit。

Iwentabroadatanearlyhournextmorning，andafterhavingspentsometimewiththeJew，Boaz，andhavinggivenapoliterefusaltohisofferofabed，IwenttopaymyrespectstoM。d’Afri，whosincethedeathofthePrincessofOrange，theRegentoftheLowCountries，wasgenerallyknownasHisMostChristianMajesty’sambassador。Hegavemeanexcellentreception，buthesaidthatifIhadreturnedtoHollandhopingtodobusinessonbehalfoftheGovernmentIshouldwastemytime，sincetheactionofthecomptroller—generalhadloweredthecreditofthenation，whichwasthoughttobeonthevergeofbankruptcy。

"ThisM。Silhouette，"saidhe，"hasservedthekingverybadly。Itisallverywelltosaythatpaymentsareonlysuspendedforayear，butitisnotbelieved。"

HethenaskedmeifIknewacertainComtedeSt。Germain，whohadlatelyarrivedattheHague。

"Hehasnotcalledonme，"saidtheambassador，"thoughhesaysheiscommissionedbythekingtonegotiatealoanofahundredmillions。

WhenIamaskedabouthim，IamobligedtosaythatIknownothingabouthim，forfearofcompromisingmyself。Suchareply，asyoucanunderstand，isnotlikelytoincreasehischanceofsuccess，butthatishisfaultandnotmine。WhyhashenotbroughtmealetterfromtheDucdeChoiseulortheMarquisedePompadour？Itakehimtobeanimpostor，butIshallknowsomethingmoreabouthiminthecourseoftendays。"

Itoldhim，inmyturn，allIknewofthistrulyeccentricindividual。HewasnotalittlesurprisedtohearthatthekinghadgivenhimanapartmentatChambord，butwhenItoldhimthatthecountprofessedtobeabletomakediamondshelaughedandsaidthatinthatcasehewouldnodoubtmakethehundredmillions。JustasI

wasleaving，M。d’Afriaskedmetodinewithhimonthefollowingday。

OnreturningtothehotelIcalledontheComtedeSt。Germain。

"Youhaveanticipatedme，"saidhe，onseeingmeenter，"Iintendedtohavecalledonyou。Isuppose，mydearCasanova，thatyouhavecometotrywhatyoucandoforourCourt，butyouwillfindyourtaskadifficultone，astheExchangeishighlyoffendedatthelatedoingsofthatfoolSilhouette。AllthesameIhopeIshallbeabletogetmyhundredmillions。Ihavepassedmywordtomyfriend，LouisXV。（Imaycallhimso），andIcan’tdisappointhim；thebusinesswillbedoneinthenextthreeorfourweeks。"

"IshouldthinkM。d’Afrimightassistyou。"

"Idonotrequirehisassistance。ProbablyIshallnotevencalluponhim，ashemightsayhehelpedme。No，Ishallhaveallthetrouble，andImeantohavealltheglory，too。"

"IpresumeyouwillbegoingtoCourt，wheretheDukeofBrunswickmaybeofservicetoyou？"

"WhyshouldIgotoCourt？AsfortheDukeofBrunswick，Idonotcaretoknowhim。AllIhavegottodoistogotoAmsterdam，wheremycreditissufficientlygoodforanything。IamfondoftheKingofFrance；there’snotabettermaninthekingdom。"

"Well，comeanddineatthehightable，thecompanyisofthebestandwillpleaseyou。"

"YouknowInevereat；moreover，IneversitdownatatablewhereI

maymeetpersonswhoareunknowntome。"

"Then，mylord，farewell；weshallseeeachotheragainatAmsterdam。"

Iwentdowntothedining—roam，where，whiledinnerwasbeingserved，Iconversedwithsomeofficers。TheyaskedmeifIknewPrincePiccolomini，towhichIansweredthathewasnotaprincebutacount，andthatitwasmanyyearssinceIhadseenhim。

Whenthecountandhisfairwife（whoonlyspokeItalian）camedown，Ishewedthemsomepoliteattentions，andwethensatdowntodinner。

EndMEMOIRSOFJACQUESCASANOVAdeSEINGALT1725—1798

THEETERNALQUEST，Volume3c——HOLLANDANDGERMANY

THERAREUNABRIDGEDLONDONEDITIONOF1894TRANSLATEDBYARTHUR

MACHENTOWHICHHASBEENADDEDTHECHAPTERSDISCOVERED

BYARTHURSYMONS。

THEETERNALQUEST

HOLLANDANDGERMANY

CHAPTERX

PortraitofthePretendedCountessPiccolomini——QuarrelandDuel——

EstherandHerFather，M。D’O。——EstherStillTakenwiththeCabala——

PiccolominiForgesaBillofExchange:ResultsIAmFleeced，andinDangerofBeingAssassinated——DebauchwiththeTwoPaduanGirls——

IRevealAGreatSecretToEsther——IBatetheRascallySt。Germain；

HisFlight——ManonBalettiProvesFaithlesstoMe；HerLetterAnnouncingHerMarriage:MyDespair——EstherSpendsaDayWithMe——MyPortraitandMyLetterstoManonGetIntoEsther’sHands—IPassaDaywithHer——WeTalkofMarryingEachOtherTheso—calledCountessPiccolominiwasafineexampleoftheadventurers。Shewasyoung，tall，well—made，hadeyesfulloffire，andskinofadazzlingwhiteness；not，however，thatnaturalwhitenesswhichdelightsthosewhoknowthevalueofasatinskinandrosepetals，butratherthatartificialfairnesswhichiscommonlytobeseenatRomeonthefacesofcourtezans，andwhichdisguststhosewhoknowhowitisproduced。Shehadalsosplendidteeth，glorioushairasblackasjet，andarchedeyebrowslikeebony。Totheseadvantagessheaddedattractivemanners，andtherewassomethingintelligentaboutthewayshespoke；butthroughallIsawtheadventuresspeepingout，whichmademedetesther。

AsshedidnotspeakanythingbutItalianthecountesshadtoplaythepartofamuteattable，exceptwhereanEnglishofficernamedWalpolewasconcerned，who，findinghertohistaste，sethimselftoamuseher。IfeltfriendlydisposedtowardsthisEnglishman，thoughmyfeelingswerecertainlynottheresultofsympathy。IfIhadbeenblindordeafSirJamesWalpolewouldhavebeentotallyindifferenttome，aswhatIfeltforhimwastheresultofmyobservation。

AlthoughIdidnotcareforthecountess，forallthatIwentuptoherroomafterdinnerwiththegreaterpartoftheguests。Thecountarrangedagameofwhist，andWalpoleplayedatprimerowiththecountess，whocheatedhiminamasterlymanner；butthoughhesawithelaughedandpaid，becauseitsuitedhispurposetodoso。WhenhehadlostfiftyLouishecalledquarter，andthecountessaskedhimtotakehertothetheatre。Thiswaswhatthegood—naturedEnglishmanwanted；andheandthecountesswentoff，leavingthehusbandplayingwhist。

I，too，wenttotheplay，andaschancewouldhaveitmyneighbourinthepitwasCountTot，brothertothecountfamousforhisstayinConstantinople。

Wehadsomeconversationtogether，andhetoldmehehadbeenobligedtoleaveFranceonaccountofaduelwhichhehadhadwithamanwhohadjestedwithhimfornotbeingpresentatthebattleofMinden，sayingthathehadabsentedhimselfinviewofthebattle。Thecounthadprovedhiscouragewiththeswordontheother’sbody——aroughkindofargumentwhichwasfashionablethenasnow。Hetoldmehehadnomoney，andIimmediatelyputmypurseathisservice；but，asthesayinggoes，akindnessisneverthrownaway，andfiveyearslaterhedidthesamebymeatSt。Petersburg。BetweentheactshehappenedtonoticetheCountessPiccolomini，andaskedmeifIknewherhusband。"Iknowhimveryslightly，"Ianswered，"butwehappentobestayingatthesamehotel。"

"He’saregularblacksheep，"saidthecount，"andhiswife’snobetterthanhe。"

Itseemedthattheyhadalreadywonareputationinthetown。

AftertheplayIwentbacktothehotelbymyself，andthehead—

waitertoldmethatPiccolominihadsetouthot—footwithhisservant，hisonlyluggagebeingalightportmanteau。Hedidnotknowthereasonofthissuddendeparture，butaminuteafterwardsthecountesscamein，andhermaidhavingwhisperedsomethingtohershetoldmethatthecounthadgoneawaybecausehehadfoughtaduelbutthatoftenhappened。SheaskedmetosupwithherandWalpole，andherappetitedidnotseemtosufferfromtheabsenceofherspouse。

Justaswewerefinishingsupper，anEnglishman，whohadbeenofthewhistparty，cameupandtoldWalpolethattheItalianhadbeencaughtcheatingandhadgiventhelietotheirfellowEnglishman，whohaddetectedhim，andthattheyhadgoneouttogether。AnhourafterwardstheEnglishmanreturnedwithtwowounds，oneonthefore—

armandoneontheshoulder。Itwasatriflingaffairaltogether。

Nextday，afterIhadhaddinnerwiththeComted’Afri，IfoundaletterfromPiccolomini，withanenclosureaddressedtothecountess，waitingformeattheinn。Hebeggedmetogivehiswifetheletter，whichwouldinformherofhisplans，andthentobringhertotheVilledeLyonatAmsterdam，wherehewasstaying。HewantedtoknowhowtheEnglishmanwhomhehadwoundedwasgettingon。

Thedutystruckmeasanamusingone，andIshouldhavelaughedwithallmyheartifIhadfelttheleastdesiretoprofitbytheconfidencehewaspleasedtoplaceinme。NeverthelessIwentuptothecountess，whomIfoundsittingupinbedplayingwithWalpole。

Shereadtheletter，toldmethatshecouldnotstarttillthedayfollowing，andinformedmewhattimeshewouldgo，asifithadbeenallsettled；butIsmiledsardonically，andtoldherthatmybusinesskeptmeattheHague，andthatIcouldnotpossiblyescorther。WhenWalpoleheardmesaythisheofferedtobemysubstitute，towhichsheagreed。Theysetoutthedayfollowing，intendingtolieatLeyden。

Twodaysaftertheirdeparture，Iwassittingdowntodinnerwiththeusualcompany，increasedbytwoFrenchmenwhohadjustcome。Afterthesouponeofthemsaid，coolly，"ThefamousCasanovaisnowinHolland。"

"Ishe？"saidtheother，"Ishallbegladtoseehim，andaskforanexplanationwhichhewillnotlike。"

Ilookedattheman，andfeelingcertainthatIhadneverseenhimbeforeIbegantogetenraged；butImerelyaskedthefellowifheknewCasanova。

I’lloughttooknowhim，"saidhe，inthatself—satisfiedtonewhichisalwayssounpleasant。

"Nay，sir，youaremistaken；IamCasanova。"

Withoutlosinghisself—possession，hereplied，insolently，"YouarereallyverymuchmistakenifyouthinkyouaretheonlyCasanovaintheworld。"

Itwasasharpanswer，andputmeinthewrong。Ibitmylipsandheldmytongue，butIwasgrievouslyoffended，anddeterminedtomakehimfindtheCasanovawhowasinHolland，andfromwhomhewasgoingtoextractanunpleasantexplanation，inmyself。InthemeanwhileI

boreaswellasIcouldthepoorfigurehemustbecuttingbeforetheofficersattable，who，afterhearingtheinsolenceofthisyoungblockhead，mighttakemeforacoward。He，theinsolentfellow，hadnoscrupleinabusingthetriumphhisanswerhadgivenhim，andtalkedawayintherandomfashion。AtlastheforgothimselfsofarastoaskfromwhatcountryIcame。

"IamaVenetian，sir，"Ireplied。

"Ah！thenyouareagoodfriendtoFrance，asyourrepublicisunderFrenchprotection。"

Atthesewordsmyill—temperboiledaver，and，inthetoneofvoiceoneusestoputdownapuppy，IrepliedthattheRepublicofVenicewasstrongenoughtodowithouttheprotectionofFranceorofanyotherpower，andthatduringthethirteencenturiesofitsexistenceithadhadmanyfriendsandalliesbutnoprotectors。"Perhaps，"I

ended，"youwillreplybybeggingmypardonfornotknowingthatthesewasonlyoneVeniceintheworld。"

Ihadnosoonersaidthisthanaburstoflaughterfromthewholetablesetmerightagain。Theyoungblockheadseemedtakenabackandinhisturnbithislips，buthisevilgeniusmadehim，strikeinagainatdessert。Asusualtheconversationwentfromonesubjecttoanother，andwebegantotalkabouttheDukeofAlbermarle。TheEnglishmenspokeinhisfavour，andsaidthatifhehadbeenalivetherewouldhavebeennowarbetweenEnglandandFrance；theywereprobablyright，butevenifthedukehadlivedwarmighthavebrokenout，asthetwonationsinquestionhaveneveryetsucceededinunderstandingthatitisforboththeirintereststoliveatpeacetogether。AnotherEnglishmanpraisedLolotte，hismistress。IsaidIhadseenthatcharmingwomanattheDuchessofFulvi’s，andthatnoonedeservedbettertobecometheCountessofEronville。TheCountofEronville，alieutenant—generalandamanofletters，hadjustmarriedher。

IhadscarcelyfinishedwhatIhadtosaywhenMasterBlockheadsaid，withalaugh，thatheknewLolottetobeagoodsortofgirl，ashehadsleptwithheratParis。Icouldrestrainmyselfnolonger；myindignationandrageconsumedme。Itookupmyplate，andmadeasifIwouldthrowitathishead，sayingatthesametime，"Youinfernalliar！"Hegotup，andstoodwithhisbacktothefire，butIcouldseebyhissword—knotthathewasasoldier。

Everybodypretendednottohearanythingofthis，andtheconversationwentonforsometimeonindifferentsubjects；andatlasttheyallrosefromtheirseatsandlefttheroom。

Myenemysaidtohiscompanionthattheywouldseeoneanotheragainaftertheplay，andremainedbythefire，withhiselbowrestingonthechimney—piece。Iremainedattabletillthecompanyhadalllefttheroom，andwhenwewerealonetogetherIgotupandlookedhimstraightintheface，andwentout，walkingtowardsSheveningue，surethathewouldfollowmeifhewereamanofanymettle。WhenIhadgottosomedistancefromthehotelIlookedround，andsawthathewasfollowingmeatadistanceoffiftypaces。

WhenIgottothewoodIstoppedatasuitableplace，andstoodawaitingmyantagonist。Hewastenpacesoffwhenhedrewhissword，andIhadplentyoftimetodrawminethoughhecameonfast。Thefightdidnotlastlong，forassoonashewasnearenoughIgavehimathrustwhichhasneverfailedme，andsenthimbackquickerthanhecame。Hewaswoundedinthechestabovetherightbreast，butasmyswordwasflatandtheopeninglargeenoughthewoundbledeasily。I

loweredmyswordandranuptohim，butIcoulddonothing；hesaidthatweshouldmeetagainatAmsterdam，ifIwasgoingthere，andthathewouldhavehisrevenge。IsawhimagainfiveorsixyearsafterwardsatWarsaw，andthenIdidhimakindness。IheardafterwardsthathisnamewasVarnier，butIdonotknowwhetherhewasidenticalwiththepresidentoftheNationalConventionundertheinfamousRobespierre。

Ididnotreturntothehoteltillaftertheplay，andIthenheardthattheFrenchman，afterhavingthesurgeonwithhimforanhour，hadsetoutforRotterdamwithhisfriend。Wehadapleasantsupperandtalkedcheerfullytogetherwithoutawordbeingsaidabouttheduel，withtheexceptionthatanEnglishladysaid，Iforgetinwhatconnection，thatamanofhonourshouldneverrisksittingdowntodinneratanhotelunlesshefeltinclined，ifnecessary，tofight。

Theremarkwasverytrueatthattime，whenonehadtodrawtheswordforanidleword，andtoexposeone’sselftotheconsequencesofaduel，orelsebepointedat，evenbytheladies，withthefingerofscorn。

IhadnothingmoretokeepmeattheHague，andIsetoutnextmorningbeforeday—breakforAmsterdam。OnthewayIstoppedfordinnerandrecognizedSirJamesWalpole，whotoldmethathehadstartedfromAmsterdamtheeveningbefore，anhouraftergivingthecountessintoherhusband’scharge。Hesaidthathehadgotverytiredofher，ashehadnothingmoretogetfromawomanwhogavemorethanoneasked，ifone’spurse—stringswereopenedwideenough。

IgottoAmsterdamaboutmidnightandtookupmyabodeat"TheOldBible。"TheneighbourhoodofEstherhadawakenedmyloveforthatcharminggirl，andIwassoimpatienttoseeherthatIcouldnotsleep。

Iwentoutaboutteno’clockandcalledonM。d’O，whowelcomedmeinthefriendliestmannerandreproachedmefornothavingalightedathishouse。WhenheheardthatIhadgivenupbusinesshecongratulatedmeonnothavingremoveditintoHolland，asIshouldhavebeenruined。IdidnottellhimthatIhadnearlycometothatinFrance，asIconsideredsuchapieceofinformationwouldnotassistmydesigns。HecomplainedbitterlyofthebadfaithoftheFrenchGovernment，whichhadinvolvedhiminconsiderablelosses；andthenheaskedmetocomeandseeEsther。

Iwastooimpatienttoembracehertostaytobeaskedtwice；Irantogreether。Assoonasshesawmeshegaveacryofsurpriseanddelight，andthrewherselfinmyarms，whereIreceivedherwithfondnessequaltoherown。Ifoundhergrownandimproved；shelookedlovely。Wehadscarcelysatdownwhenshetoldmethatshehadbecomeasskilledinthecabalaasmyself。

"Itmakesmylifehappy，"saidshe，"foritgivesmeapowerovermyfather，andassuresmethathewillnevermarrymetoanyonebutthemanofmychoice。"

"Iamdelightedthatyouextracttheonlygoodthatcanproceedfromthisidlescience，namely，thepowertoguidepersonsdevoidofstrengthofwill。ButyourfathermustthinkthatItaughtyouthesecret？"

"Yes，hedoes；andhesaid，oneday，thathewouldforgivemeanysacrificesImighthavemadetoobtainthisprecioussecretfromyou。"

"Hegoesalittlefurtherthanwedid，mydearestEsther。"

"Yes，andItoldhimthatIhadgaineditfromyouwithoutanysacrifice，andthatnowIwasatruePythonesswithouthavingtoendurethetormentsofthetripod；andIamsurethattherepliesyougavewereinventedbyyourself。"

"ButifthatweresohowcouldIhaveknownwherethepocket—bookwas，orwhethertheshipwassafe？"

"Yousawtheportfolioyourselfandthrewitwhereitwasdiscovered，andasforthevesselyouspokeatrandom；butasyouareanhonestman，confessthatyouwereafraidoftheresults。Iamneversoboldasthat，andwhenmyfatherasksmequestionsofthatkind，myrepliesaremoreobscurethanasibyl’s。Idon’twishhimtoloseconfidenceinmyoracle，nordoIwishhimtobeabletoreproachmewithalossthatwouldinjuremyowninterests。"

"IfyourmistakemakesyouhappyIshallleaveyouinit。Youarereallyawomanofextraordinarytalents——，youarequiteunique。"

"Idon’twantyourcompliments，"saidshe，inarathervexedmanner，"Iwantasincereavowalofthetru