第49章

"Now，"saidEsther，whenwewerebyourselves，"Iamquitesurethatthatreplycamefromanotherintelligencethanyours。Inthenameofallyouholdsacred，tellmethemeaningofthosefourletters，andwhyyouusuallyomitthem。"

"Iomitthem，dearestEsther，becauseexperiencehastaughtmethatinordinarycasestheyareunnecessary；butwhileIwasmakingthepyramidthecommandcametometosetthemdown，andIthoughtitwelltoobey。"

"Whatdotheymean？"

"Theyaretheinitiallettersoftheholynamesofthecardinalintelligencesofthefourquartersoftheworld。"

"Imaynottellyou，butwhoeverdealswiththeoracleshouldknowthem。"

"Ah！donotdeceiveme；Itrustinyou，anditwouldbeworsethanmurdertoabusesosimpleafaithasmine。"

"Iamnotdeceivingyou，dearestEsther。"

"Butifyouweretoteachmethecabala，youwouldimparttometheseholynames？"

"Certainly，butIcannotrevealthemexcepttomysuccessor。IfI

violatethiscommandIshouldlosemyknowledge；andthisconditioniswellcalculatedtoinsuresecrecy，isitnot？"

"Itis，indeed。UnhappythatIam，yoursuccessorwillbe，ofcourse，Manon。"

"No，Manonisnotfittedintellectuallyforsuchknowledgeasthis。"

"Butyoushouldfixonsomeone，foryouaremortalafterall。Ifyoulike，myfatherwouldgiveyouthehalfofhisimmensefortunewithoutyourmarryingme。"

"Esther！whatisitthatyouhavesaid？Doyouthinkthattopossessyouwouldbeadisagreeableconditioninmyeyes？"

Afterahappyday——IthinkImaycallitthehappiestofmylife——I

leftthetoocharmingEsther，andwenthometowardstheevening。

Threeorfourdaysafter，M。d’O————cameintoEsther’sroom，wherehefoundusbothcalculatingpyramids。Iwasteachinghertodouble，totriple，andtoquadruplethecabalisticcombinations。M。d’O————

strodeintotheroominagreathurry，strikinghisbreastinasortofecstasy。Weweresurprisedandalmostfrightenedtoseehimsostrangelyexcited，androsetomeethim，butherunninguptousalmostforcedustoembracehim，whichwedidwillingly。

"Butwhatisthematter，papadear？"saidEsther，"yousurprisememorethanIcansay。"

"Sitdownbesideme，mydearchildren，andlistentoyourfatherandyourbestfriend。IhavejustreceivedaletterfromoneofthesecretariesoftheirhighmightinessesinformingmethattheFrenchambassadorhasdemanded，inthenameofthekinghismaster，thattheComteSt。Germainshouldbedeliveredover，andthattheDutchauthoritieshaveansweredthatHisMostChristianMajesty’srequestsshallbecarriedoutassoonasthepersonofthecountcanbesecured。Inconsequenceofthisthepolice，knowingthattheComteSt。GermainwasstayingattheEtoiled’Orient，senttoarresthimatmidnight，butthebirdhadflown。Thelandlorddeclaredthatthecounthadpostedoffatnightfall，takingthewaytoNimeguen。Hehasbeenfollowed，buttherearesmallhopesofcatchinghimup。

"Itisnotknownhowhecanhavediscoveredthatawarrantexistedagainsthim，orhowhecontinuedtoevadearrest。"

"Itisnotknown；"wentanM。d’O————，laughing，"buteveryoneguessesthatM。Calcoen，thesamethatwrotetome，letthisfriendoftheFrenchking’sknowthathewouldbewantedatmidnight，andthatifhedidnotgetthekeyofthefieldshewouldbearrested。

Heisnotsofoolishastodespiseapieceofadvicelikethat。TheDutchGovernmenthasexpresseditssorrowtoM。d’AfrithathisexcellencedidnotdemandthearrestofSt。Germainsooner，andtheambassadorwillnotbeastonishedatthisreply，asitislikemanyothersgivenonsimilaroccasions。

"Thewisdomoftheoraclehasbeenverified，andIcongratulatemyselfonhavingseizeditsmeaning，forwewereonthepointofgivinghimahundredthousandflorinsonaccount，whichhesaidhemusthaveimmediately。Hegaveusinpledgethefinestofthecrowndiamonds，andthiswestillretain。Butwewillreturnittohimandemand，unlessitisclaimedbytheambassador。Ihaveneverseenafinerstone。

"Andnow，mychildren，youseewhatIowetotheoracle。OntheExchangethewholecompanycandonothingbutexpresstheirgratitudetome。IamregardedasthemostprudentandmostfarseeingmaninHolland。Toyou，mydearchildren，Iowethishonour，butIwearmypeacock’sfeatherswithoutscruple。

"MydearCasanova，youwilldinewithus，Ihope。AfterdinnerI

shallbegyoutoenquireofyourinscrutableintelligencewhetherweoughttodeclareourselvesinpossessionofthesplendiddiamond，ortoobservesecrecytillitisreclaimed。"

Afterthisdiscoursepapaembracedusoncemoreandleftus。

"Sweetheart，"saidEsther，throwingherarmsroundmyneck，"youhaveanopportunityforgivingmeastrongproofofyourfriendship。Itwillcostyounothing，butitwillcovermewithhonourandhappiness。"

"Commandme，anditshallbedone。YoucannotthinkthatIwouldrefuseyouafavourwhichistocostmenothing，whenIshoulddeemmyselfhappytoshedmybloodforyoursake。"

"Myfatherwishesyoutotellhimafterdinnerwhetheritwillbebettertodeclarethattheyhavethediamondortokeepsilencetillitisclaimed。Whenheasksyouasecondtime，tellhimtoseektheanswerofme，andoffertoconsulttheoraclealso，incasemyanswermaybetooobscure。Thenperformtheoperation，andIwillmakemyfatherlovemeallthebetter，whenheseesthatmyknowledgeisequaltoyours。"

"Dearestone，wouldInotdofortheeataskathousandtimesmoredifficultthanthistoprovemyloveandmydevotion？Letussettowork。Doyouwritethequestion，setupthepyramids，andinscribewithyourownhandtheall—powerfulinitials。Good。Nowbegintoextracttheanswerbymeansofthedivinekey。Neverwasaclevererpupil！"

Whenallthishadbeendone，IsuggestedtheadditionsandsubtractionsIwantedmade，andshewasquiteastonishedtoreadthefollowingreply:"Silencenecessary。Withoutsilence，generalderision。Diamondvalueless；merepaste。"

Ithoughtshewouldhavegonewildwithdelight。Shelaughedandlaughedagain。

"Whatanamazingreply！"saidshe。"Thediamondisfalse，anditisIwhoamabouttorevealtheirfollytothem。Ishallinformmyfatherofthisimportantsecret。Itistoomuch，itoverwhelmsme；I

canscarcelycontainmyselfforjoy！HowmuchIoweyou，youwonderfulanddelightfulman！Theywillverifythetruthoftheoracleimmediately，andwhenitisfoundthatthefamousdiamondisbutglitteringpastethecompanywilladoremyfather，foritwillfeelthatbutforhimitwouldhavebeencoveredwithshame，byavowingitselfthedupeofasharper。Willyouleavethepyramidwithme？"

"Certainly；butitwillnotteachyouanythingyoudonotknow。"Thefathercameinagainandwehaddinner，andafterthedessert，whentheworthyd’O————learntfromhisdaughter’soraclethatthestonewasfalse，thescenebecameatrulycomicalone。Heburstintoexclamationsofastonishment，declaredthethingimpossible，incredible，andatlastbeggedmetoaskthesamequestion，ashewasquitesurethathisdaughterwasmistaken，orratherthattheoraclewasdeludingher。

Isettowork，andwasnotlonginobtainingmyanswer。WhenhesawthatitwastothesameeffectasEsther’s，thoughdifferentlyexpressed，hehadnolongeranydoubtsastohisdaughter’sskill，andhastenedtogoandtestthepretendeddiamond，andtoadvisehisassociatestosaynothingaboutthematteraftertheyhadreceivedproofsoftheworthlessnessofthestone。Thisadvicewas，asithappened，useless；forthoughthepersonsconcernedsaidnothing，everybodyknewaboutit，andpeoplesaid，withtheirusualmalice，thatthedupeshadbeendupedmostthoroughly，andthatSt。Germainhadpocketedthehundredthousandflorins；butthiswasnotthecase。

Estherwasveryproudofhersuccess，butinsteadofbeingsatisfiedwithwhatshehaddone，shedesiredmoreferventlyeverydaytopossessthescienceinitsentirety，asshesupposedIpossessedit。

ItsoonbecameknownthatSt。GermainhadgonebyEmdenandhadembarkedforEngland，wherehehadarrivedinsafety。Induetimeweshallhearsomefurtherdetailsconcerningthiscelebratedimpostor；

andinthemeanwhileImustrelateacatastropheofanotherkind，whichwasneartohavemademediethedeathofafool。

ItwasChristmasDay。Ihadgotupearlyinthemorninginbetterspiritsthanusual。Theoldwomentellyouthatalwayspresagesmisfortune，butIwasasfarthenasIamnowfrommakingmyhappinessintoanomenofgrief。Butthistimechancemadethefoolishbeliefofgoodeffect。IreceivedaletterandalargepacketfromParis；theycamefromManon。IopenedtheletterandI

thoughtIshouldhavediedofgriefwhenIread，——

"Bewise，andreceivethenewsIgiveyoucalmly。Thepacketcontainsyourportraitandallthelettersyouhavewrittentome。

Returnmemyportrait，andifyouhavekeptmylettersbekindenoughtoburnthem。Irelyonyourhonour。Thinkofmenomore。DutybidsmedoallIcantoforgetyou，foratthishourto—morrowI

shallbecomethewifeofM。BlondeloftheRoyalAcademy，architecttotheking。PleasedonotseemasifyouknewmeifwechancetomeetonyourreturntoParis。"

Thisletterstruckmedumbwithastonishment，andformorethantwohoursafterIreaditIwas，asitwere，bereftofmysenses。IsentwordtoM。d’O————that，notfeelingwell，Iwasgoingtokeepmyroomallday。WhenIfeltalittlebetterIopenedthepacket。Thefirstthingtofalloutwasmyportrait。Ilookedatit，andsuchwastheperturbationofmymind，that，thoughtheminiaturereallyrepresentedmeasofacheerfulandanimatedexpression，IthoughtI

beheldadreadfulandathreateningvisage。IwenttomydeskandwroteandtoreupascoreoflettersinwhichIoverwhelmedthefaithlessonewiththreatsandreproaches。

Icouldbearnomore；theforcesofnaturewereexhausted，andIwasobligedtoliedownandtakealittlebroth，andcourtthatsleepwhichrefusedtocome。Athousanddesignscametomydisorderedimagination。Irejectedthemonebyone，onlytodevisenewones。I

wouldslaythisBlondel，whohadcarriedoffawomanwhowasmineandmineonly；whowasallbutmywife。Hertreacheryshouldbepunishedbyherlosingtheobjectforwhomshehaddesertedme。Iaccusedherfather，Icursedherbrotherforhavingleftmeinignoranceoftheinsultwhichhadsotraitorouslybeenputuponme。

Ispentthedayandnightinthesedeliriousthoughts，andinthemorning，feelingworsethanever，IsenttoM。d’O————tosaythatI

couldnotpossiblyleavemyroom。ThenIbegantoreadandre—readthelettersIhadwrittentoManon，callinguponhernameinasortoffrenzy；andagainsetmyselftowritetoherwithoutfinishingasingleletter。TheemptinessofmystomachandtheshockIhadundergonebegantostupefyme，andforafewmomentsIforgotmyanguishonlytore—awakentoacuterpainssoonafter。

Aboutthreeo’clock，theworthyM。d’O————cametoinvitemetogowithhimtotheHague，wherethechiefmasonsofHollandmetonthedayfollowingtokeeptheFeastofSt。John，butwhenhesawmyconditionhedidnotpressmetocome。

"Whatisthematterwithyou，mydearCasanova？"saidhe。

"Ihavehadagreatgrief，butletussaynomoreaboutit。"

HebeggedmetocomeandseeEsther，andleftmelookingalmostasdowncastasIwas。However，thenextmorningEstheranticipatedmyvisit，foratnineo’clocksheandhergovernesscameintotheroom。

Thesightofherdidmegood。Shewasastonishedtoseemesoundoneandcastdown，andaskedmewhatwasthegriefofwhichIhadspokentoherfather，andwhichhadprovedtoostrongformyphilosophy。

"Sitdownbesideme，Estherdear，andallowmetomakeamysteryofwhathasaffectedmesogrievously。Time，themightyhealer，andstillmoreyourcompany，willeffectacurewhichIshouldinvainseekbyappealingtomyreason。WhilstwetalkofotherthingsI

shallnotfeelthemisfortunewhichgnawsatmyheart。"

"Well，getup，dressyourself，andcomeandspendthedaywithme，andIwilldomybesttomakeyouforgetyoursorrow。"

"Ifeelveryweak；forthelastthreedaysIhaveonlytakenalittlebrothandchocolate。"

Atthesewordsherfacefell，andshebegantoweep。

Afteramoment’ssilenceshewenttomydesk，tookapen，andwroteafewlines，whichshebroughttome。Theywere，——

"Dear，ifalargesumofmoney，beyondwhatmyfatherowesyou，canremoveorevensootheyourgriefIcanbeyourdoctor，andyououghttoknowthatyouracceptingmytreatmentwouldmakemehappy。"

Itookherhandsandkissedthemaffectionately，saying，——

"No，dearEsther，generousEsther，itisnotmoneyIwant，forifI

didIwouldaskyouandyourfatherasafriend:whatIwant，andwhatnoonecangiveme，isaresolutemind，anddeterminationtoactforthebest。"

"Askadviceofyouroracle。"

Icouldnothelplaughing。

"Whydoyoulaugh？"saidshe，"ifIamnotmistaken，theoraclemustknowaremedyforyourwoes。"

"Ilaughed，dearest，becauseIfeltinclinedtotellyoutoconsulttheoraclethistime。AsformeIwillhavenothingtodowithit，lestthecurebeworsethanthedisease。"

"Butyouneednotfollowyouradviceunlessyoulikeit。"

"No，oneisfreetoactasonethinksfit；butnottofollowtheadviceoftheoraclewouldbeacontemptoftheintelligencewhichdirectsit。"

Esthercouldsaynomore，andstoodsilentforseveralminutes，andthensaidthatifIlikeshewouldstaywithmefortherestoftheday。Thejoywhichilluminedmycountenancewasmanifest，andIsaidthatifshewouldstaytodinnerIwouldgetup，andnodoubtherpresencewouldgivemeanappetite。"Ah！"saidshe，"Iwillmakeyouthedishyouaresofondof。"Sheorderedthesedan—chairstobesentback，andwenttomylandladytoorderanappetisingrepast，andtoprocurethechafing—dishandthespiritsofwinesherequiredforherowncooking。

Estherwasanangel，atreasure，whoconsentedtobecomemineifI

wouldcommunicatetoherasciencewhichdidnotexist。IfeltthatIwaslookingforwardtospendingahappyday；thisshewedmethatI

couldforgetManon，andIwasdelightedwiththeidea。Igotoutofbed，andwhenEsthercamebackandfoundmeonmyfeetshegaveaskipofpleasure。"Now，"saidshe，"youmustobligemebydressing，anddoingyourhairasifyouweregoingtoaball。"

"That，"Ianswered，"isafunnyidea，butasitpleasesyouitpleasesme。"

IrangforLeDuc，andtoldhimIwantedtohavemyhairdone，andtobedressedasifIweregoingtoaball。"Choosethedressthatsuitsmebest。"

"No，"saidEsther，"Iwillchooseitmyself。"

LeDucopenedmytrunk，andleavinghertorummageinithecametoshaveme，andtodomyhair。Esther，delightedwithhertask，calledintheassistanceofhergoverness。Sheputonmybedalaceshirt，andthesuitshefoundmosttohertaste。Thencomingclose，asiftoseewhetherLeDucwasdressingmyhairproperly，shesaid，"Alittlebrothwoulddoyougood；sendforadish，itwillgiveyouanappetitefordinner。"

Ithoughtheradvicedictatedbythetenderestcare，andIdeterminedtobenefitbyit。Sogreatwastheinfluenceofthischarminggirloverme，that，littlebylittle，insteadoflovingManon，Ihatedher。Thatgavemecourage，andcompletedmycure。AtthepresenttimeIcanseethatManonwasverywiseinacceptingBlondel’soffer，andthatmyloveforselfandnotmyloveforherwaswounded。

Iwasinmyservant’shands，myfaceturnedawaytowardsthefire，sothatIcouldnotseeEsther，butonlydivertmyselfwiththeideathatshewasinspectingmybelongings，whenallatonceshepresentedherselfwithamelancholyair，holdingMamon’sfatalletterinherhand。

"AmItoblame，"saidshe，timidly，"forhavingdiscoveredthecauseofyoursorrow？"

Ifeltrathertakenaback，butlookingkindlyather，Isaid，"No，no，mydearEsther；pityyourfriend，andsaynomoreaboutit。"

"ThenImayreadalltheletters？"

"Yes，dearest，ifitwillamuseyou。"

AllthelettersofthefaithlessManonBalettitome，withminetoher，weretogetheronmytable。IpointedthemouttoEsther，whobeguntoreadthemquiteeagerly。

WhenIwasdressed，asifforsomeCourtholiday，LeDucwentoutandleftusbyourselves，fortheworthygoverness，whowasworkingatherlacebythewindow，lookedatherlace，andnothingelse。Esthersaidthatnothinghadeveramusedhersomuchasthoseletters。

"Thosecursedepistles，whichpleaseyousowell，willbethedeathofme。"

"Death？Oh，no！Iwillcureyou，Ihope。"

"Ihopeso，too；butafterdinneryoumusthelpmetoburnthemallfromfirsttolast。"

"Burnthem！No；makemeapresentofthem。Ipromisetokeepthemcarefullyallmydays。"

"Theyareyours，Esther。Iwillsendthemtoyouto—morrow。"

Theselettersweremorethantwohundredinnumber，andtheshortestwerefourpagesinlength。Shewasenchantedtofindherselfthepossessoroftheletters，andshesaidshewouldmakethemintoaparcelandtakethemawayherself。

"Shallyousendbacktheportraittoyourfaithlessmistress？"saidshe。

"Idon’tknowwhattodowithit。"

"Senditbacktoher；sheisnotworthyofyourhonouringherbykeepingit。Iamsurethatyouroraclewouldgiveyouthesameadvice。Whereistheportrait？Willyoushewitme？"

Ihadtheportraitintheinteriorofagoldsnuff—box，butIhadnevershewnittoEstherforfearsheshouldthinkManonhandsomerthanherself，andconcludethatIonlyshewditheroutofvanity；

butasshenowaskedtoseeitIopenedtheboxwhereitwasandgaveither。

AnyotherwomanbesidesEstherwouldhavepronouncedManondownrightugly，orhaveendeavoredattheleasttofindsomefaultwithher，butEstherpronouncedhertobeverybeautiful，andonlysaiditwasagreatpitysofairabodycontainedsovileasoul。

ThesightofManon’sportraitmadeEstherasktoseealltheotherportraitswhichMadameManzonihadsentmefromVenice。Therewerenakedfiguresamongstthem，butEstherwastoopureaspirittoputonthehatefulaffectationsoftheprude，towhomeverythingnaturalisanabomination。O—Murphypleasedherverymuch，andherhistory，whichIrelated，struckherasverycurious。Theportraitofthefairnun，M————M————，firstinthehabitofherorderandafterwardsnaked，madeherlaugh，butIwouldnottellEstherherstory，inspiteofthelivelydesireshedisplayedtohearit。

Atdinner—timeadelicaterepastwasbroughttous，andwespenttwodelightfulhoursinthepleasuresofaconversationandthetable。

Iseemedtohavepassedfromdeathtolife，andEstherwasdelightedtohavebeenmyphysician。BeforewerosefromtableIhaddeclaredmyintentionofsendingManon’sportraittoherhusbandonthedayfollowing，buthergoodnaturefoundawayofdissuadingmefromdoingsowithoutmuchdifficulty。

Sometimeafter，whileweweretalkinginfrontofthefire，shetookapieceofpaper，setupthepyramids，andinscribedthefourkeysO，S，A，D。SheaskedifIshouldsendtheportraittothehusband，orwhetheritwouldnotbemoregeneroustoreturnittothefaithlessManon。Whilstshewascalculatingshesaidoverandoveragain，withasmile，"Ihavenotmadeuptheanswer。"Ipretendtobelieveher，andwelaughedliketwoaugursmeetingeachotheralone。AtlastthereplycamethatIoughttore