第57章

"Pleaseletmeputonmyveilagain，"saidshe，"orelseIshallbeexcommunicated。"

Ilaughedatherfears，andcontinuedtolavishmyburningkissesonherface。

"Iseeyoudonotbelieveme，butIassureyouthattheabbessthreatenedmewithexcommunicationifIletmyselfbeseenbyaman。"

"Feartheseboltsnolonger，dear，theycannothurtyou。"

Butshesneezedmoreviolentlythanever，andfearinglesthereffortsmightbringonherdeliveryIcalledthewomanagain，andleftthenuninhercare，promisingtoreturnatthesamehouronthenextday。

Itwouldnothavebeenlikemetoleavethisinterestingcreatureinherdistress，butmydevotiontohercausehadnomerit，sinceIwasmadlyinlovewiththisnewM————M————withblackeyes；andlovealwaysmakesmenselfish，sinceallthesacrificestheymakeforthebelovedobjectarealwaysultimatelyreferabletotheirowndesires。

Ihaddetermined，then，todoallinmypowerforher，andcertainlynottoallowhertoreturntotheconventinthestateshewasin。

IconcludedthattosaveherwouldbeanactionpleasingtoGod，sinceGodalonecouldhavemadehersolikemybeloved，andGodhadwilledthatIshouldwinagooddealofmoney，andhadmademefindtheZeroli，whowouldserveasashieldtomyactionsandbafflethecuriosityofspies。Thephilosophersandthemysticsmayperhapslaughatme，butwhatdoIcare？IhavealwaysdelightedinreferringalltheactionsofmylifetoGod，andyetpeoplehavechargedmewithAtheism！

NextmorningIdidnotforgettheZeroli，andIwenttoherroomateightandfoundherasleep。Hermaidbeggedmetogoinquietlyforfearofawakeningher，andthenleftmeandshutthedoor。Iknewmypart，forIrememberedhow，twentyyearsbefore，aVenetianlady，whosesleepIhadfoolishlyrespected，hadlaughedatmeandsentmeaboutmybusiness。Ithereforeknewwhattodo；andhavinggentlyuncoveredher，Igavemyselfuptothosedelicatepreliminarydelightswhichsweetenthefinalpleasure。TheZeroliwiselycontinuedtosleep；butatlast，conqueredbypassion，shesecondedmycaresseswithgreaterardourthanmyown，andshewasobligedtolaughatherstratagem。ShetoldmethatherhusbandhadgonetoGenevatobuyarepeatingwatch，andthathewouldnotreturntillnextday，andthatshecouldspendthenightwithme。

"Whythenight，dearest，whilewehavethedaybeforeus？Thenightisforslumber，andinthedayoneenjoysdoublebliss，sincethelightallowsallthesensestobesatisfiedatonce。Ifyoudonotexpectanybody，Iwillpassthewholemorningwithyou。"

"Verygood；nobodywillinterruptus。"

Iwassooninherarms，andforfourhourswegaveourselvesuptoeverykindofpleasure，cheatingeachotherthebettertosucceed，andlaughingwithdelighteachtimeweconvincedeachotherofourlove。Afterthelastassaultsheaskedme，inreturnforherkindness，tospendthreemoredaysatAix。

"Ipromiseyou，"Isaid，"tostayhereaslongasyoucontinuegivingmesuchmarksofyourloveasyouhavegivenmethismorning。"

"Letusgetup，then，andgotodinner。"

"Incompany，dearest？Lookatyoureyes。"

"Allthebetter。Peoplewillguesswhathashappened，andthetwocountesseswillburstwithenvy。IwanteverybodytoknowthatitisformealonethatyouareremainingatAix。"

"Iamnotworththetrouble，myangel，butsobeit；Iwillgladlyobligeyou，eventhoughIloseallmymoneyinthenextthreedays。"

"Ishouldbeindespairifyoulost；butifyouabstainfrompuntingyouwillnotlose，thoughyoumayletyourselfberobbed。"

"YoumaybesurethatIknowwhatIamabout，andthatIshallonlyallowladiestorobme。Youhavehadsomemoneyoutofmeyourself。"

"Yes，butnotnearlysomuchasthecountesses，andIamsorryyouallowedthemtoimposeonyou，astheynodoubtputitdowntoyourbeinginlovewiththem。"

"Theyarequitewrong，poordears，forneitherwouldhavekeptmehereaday。"

"Iamdelightedtohearit。ButletmetellyouwhattheMarquisofSt。Mauricewassayingaboutyouyesterday。"

"Sayon。Ihopehedidnotallowhimselfanyoffensiveremarks。"

"No；heonlysaidthatyoushouldneverhaveofferedtheEnglishmantobeoffateightcards，asyouhadasmuchchanceashe，andifhehadwonhemighthavethoughtthatyouknewthecardwasthere。"

"Verygood，buttellthemarquisthatagentlemanisincapableofsuchathought，andbesidesIknewthecharacteroftheyoungnobleman，andIwasalmostsurehewouldnotacceptmyoffer。"

Whenweappearedinthedining—roomwewerereceivedwithapplause。

ThefairZerolihadtheairofregardingmeasherproperty，andI

affectedanextremelymodestmanner。Noonedaredtoaskmetomakeabankafterdinner；thepursesweretooempty，andtheycontentedthemselveswithtrente—quarante，whichlastedthewholeday，andwhichcostmeascoreoflouis。

Istoleawayasusualtowardsevening，andafterhavingorderedLeDucnottoleavemyroomforamomentduringmystayatAix，Iwenttowardsthecottagewheretheunfortunatenunwasnodoubtexpectingmeanxiously。Soon，inspiteofthedarkness，IthoughtImadeoutsomebodyfollowingme。Istoppedshort，andsomepersonspassedme。

IntwoorthreeminutesIwentonagain，andIsawthesamepeople，whomIcouldnothavecaughtupiftheyhadnotslackenedtheirpace。

Itmightallbeaccidental，butIwantedtobesureaboutit。Ilefttheroadwithoutlosingmyreckoning，feelingquitesureoffindingmywaywhenIceasedtobefollowed；butIsoonfeltsurethatmystepsweredogged，asIsawthesameshadowyfiguresatalittledistanceoff。Idoubledmyspeed，hidbehindatree，andassoonasIsawthespiesfiredapistolintheair。Ilookedroundshortlyafter，sawnoone，andwentonmyway。

Iwentupstairsandfoundthenuninbed，withtwocandlesonthetable。

"Areyouill？"

"Iwasillforatime，butpraisedbeGod！Iamnowquitewell，havinggivenbirthtoafineboyattwoo’clockthismorning。"

"Whereisthechild？"

"Alas！Ididbutkisshimonce，andmygoodhostesscarriedhimawayIknownotwhere。TheHolyVirginheardmyprayers，formypains，thoughsharp，weresoonover，andaquarterofanhouraftermydeliveryIwasstillsneezing。Tellmewhetheryouareamanoranangel，forIfearlestIsininadoringyou。"

"Thisisgoodnewsindeed。Andhowaboutthelay—sister？"

Shestillbreathes，butwehavenohopethatshewillrecover。Herfaceisterriblydistorted。Wehavesinnedexceedingly，andGodwillpunishmeforit。"

"No，dearest，Godwillforgiveyou，fortheMostHolyjudgesbytheheart，andinyourheartyouhadnoevilthoughts。AdoreDivineProvidence，whichdoethallthingswell。"

"Youconsoleme。Thecountry—womanassuresmethatyouareanangel，forthepowderyougavemedeliveredme。Ishallneverforgetyou，thoughIdonotknowyourname。"

Thewomanthencame，andIthankedherforthecareshehadtakenoftheinvalid。Iagainwarnedhertobeprudent，andabovealltotreatthepriestwellwhenthelay—sisterbreathedherlast，andthushewouldnottakenoticeofanythingthatmightinvolveleerindisaster。

"Allwillbewell，"saidshe，"fornooneknowsifthelay—sisteriswellorill，orwhytheladydoesnotleaveherbed。"

"Whathaveyoudonewiththechild？"

"ItookhimwithmyownhandstoAnneci，whereIboughteverythingnecessaryforthewell—beingofthisladyandforthedeathoftheotherone。"

"Doesn’tyourbrotherknowanythingaboutit？"

"Lordpreserveus——no！Hewentawayyesterday，andwillnotbebackforaweek。Wehavenothingtofear。"

Igaveheranothertenlouis，begginghertobuysomefurniture，andtogetmesomethingtoeatbythetimeIcamenextday。Shesaidshehadstillplentyofmoneyleft，andIthoughtshewouldgomadwhenI

toldherthatwhateverwasoverwasherown。Ithoughttheinvalidstoodinneedofrest，andIlefther，promisingtoreturnatthesamehouronthefollowingday。

Ilongedtogetthistroublesomemattersafelyover，andIknewthatIcouldnotregardmyselfasoutofthewoodtillthepoorlay—sisterwasunderthesod。Iwasinsomefearonthisaccount，forifthepriestwasnotanabsoluteidiothemustseethatthewomanhadbeenpoisoned。

NextmorningIwenttoseethefairZeroli，andIfoundherandherhusbandexaminingthewatchhehadboughther。Hecameuptome，tookmyhand，andsaidhewashappythathiswifehadthepowertokeepmeatAix。Irepliedthatitwasaneasytaskforher，anda"bravo"wasallheanswered。

Thechevalierwasoneofthosemenwhoprefertopassforgood—

naturedthanfoolishhusbands。Hiswifetookmyarm，andwelefthiminhisroomwhileweproceededtothefountain。Onthewayshesaidshewouldbealonethenextday，andthatshewouldnolongerindulgehercuriosityinmynocturnalexcursions。

"Oh！itisyouwhohavehadmefollowed，isit？"

"No，itisIwhofollowedyou，buttonoeffect。However，Ididnotthinkyouweresowicked。Youfrightenedmedreadfully！Doyouknow，sir，youmighthavekilledmeifyourshothadnotluckilymissed。"

"Imissedonpurpose，dearest；forthoughIdidnotsuspectthatitwasyou，Ifiredintheair，feelingcertainthatthatwouldbeenoughtoscareoffthespies。"

"Youwon’tbetroubledwiththemanymore。"

"Iftheyliketofollowme，perhapsIshallletthem，formywalkisquiteinnocent。Iamalwaysbackbyten。"

Whilewewereattablewesawatravellingcarriageandsixhorsesdrawnup。ItwastheMarquisdePrie，withaChevalierdeSt。Louisandtwocharmingladies，ofwhomone，astheZerolihastenedtoinformme，wastheMarquis’smistress。Fourplaceswerelaid，andwhilethenewcomerswerewaitingtobeserved，theyweretoldthestoryofmybetwiththeEnglishman。

Themarquiscongratulatedme，tellingmethathehadnothopedtofindmeatAixonhisreturn；andhereMadameZeroliputinherword，andsaidthatifithadnotbeenforherhewouldnothaveseenmeagain。Iwasgettingusedtoherfoolishtalk，andIcouldonlyagreewithagoodgrace，whichseemedtodelightherintenselyalthoughherhusbandwaspresent，butheseemedtosharehertriumph。

Themarquissaidthathewouldmakealittlebankforme，andfeelingobligedtoacceptIsoonlostahundredlouis。Iwenttomyroomtowritesomeletters，andattwilightIsetouttoseemynun。

"Whatnewshaveyou？"

"Thelay—sisterisdead，andsheistobeburiedtomorrow。To—morrowisthedayweweretohavereturnedtotheconvent。ThisistheletterIamsendingtotheabbess。Shewilldispatchanotherlaysister，unlesssheordersthecountry—womantobringmebacktotheconvent。"

"Whatdidthepriestsay？"

"Hesaidthelay—sisterdiedofacerebrallethargy，whichsuper—

inducedanattackofapoplexy。"

"Verygood，verygood。"

"Iwanthimtosayfifteenmassesforher，ifyouwillletme？"

"Certainly，mydear，theywillserveasthepriest’sreward，orratherastherewardofhishappyignorance。"

Icalledthepeasantwoman，andgavehertheordertohavethemassessaid，andbadehertellthepriestthatthemassesweretobesaidfortheintentionofthepersonwhopaidforthem。Shetoldmethattheaspectofthedeadsisterwasdreadful，andthatshehadtobeguardedbytwowomenwhosprinkledherwithholywater，lestwitches，undertheformofcats，shouldcomeandtearherlimbfromlimb。Farfromlaughingather，Itoldhershewasquiteright，andaskedwhereshehadgotthelaudanum。

"Igotitfromaworthymidwife，andoldfriendofmine。Wegotittosendthepoorlay—sistertosleepwhenthepainsofchild—birthshouldcomeon。"

"Whenyouputthechildatthehospitaldoor，wereyourecognized？"

"NobodysawmeasIputitintothebox，andIwroteanotetosaythechildhadnotbeenbaptized。"

"Whowrotethenote？"

"Idid。"

"Youwill，ofcourse，seethatthefuneralisproperlycarriedout？"

"Itwillonlycostsixfrancs，andtheparsonwilltakethatfromtwolouiswhichwerefoundonthedeceased；therestwilldoformassestoatoneforherhavinghadthemoney。"

"What！oughtshenottohavehadthetwolouis？"

"No，"saidthenun，"weareforbiddentohaveanymoneywithouttheknowledgeoftheabbess，underpainofexcommunication。"

"Whatdidtheygiveyoutocomehere？"

"TenSavoysolsaday。ButnowIlivelikeaprincess，asyoushallseeatsupper，forthoughthisworthywomanknowsthemoneyyougaveherisforherselfshelavishesitonme。"

"Sheknows，dearsister，thatsuchismyintention，andhereissomemoretogoonwith。"

SosayingItookanothertenlouisfrommypurse，andbadethecountry—womansparenothingfortheinvalid’scomfort。Ienjoyedtheworthywoman’shappiness；shekissedmyhands，andtoldmethatIhadmadeherfortune，andthatshecouldbuysomecowsnow。

AssoonasIwasalonewiththecharmingnun，whosefacerecalledtomymemorythehappyhoursIhadpassedwithM————M————，myimaginationbegantokindle，anddrawingclosetoherIbegantotalkofherseducer，tellingherIwassurprisedthatbehadnothelpedherinthecruelpositioninwhichhehadplacedher。Sherepliedthatshewasdebarredfromacceptinganymoneybyhervowofpovertyandobedience，andthatshehadgivenuptotheabbesswhatremainedofthealmsthebishophadprocuredher。

"AstomystatewhenIwassofortunateastomeetyou，Ithinkhecannothavereceivedmyletter。"

"Possibly，butishearichorhandsomeman？"

"Heisrichbutcertainlynothandsome。Onthecontrary，heisextremelyugly，deformed，andoverfifty。"

"Howdidyoubecomeamorousofafellowlikethat？"

"Ineverlovedhim，buthecontrivedtogainmypity。Ithoughthewouldkillhimself，andIpromisedtobeinthegardenonthenightheappointed，butIonlywenttherewiththeintentionofbiddinghimbegone，andhedidso，butafterhehadcarriedhisevildesignsintoeffect。"

"Didheuseviolencetowardsyou，then？"

"No，forthatwouldhavebeennouse。Hewept，threwhimselfonhisknees，andbeggedsohard，thatIlethimdowhathelikedontheconditionthathewouldnotkillhimself，andthathewouldcomenomoretothegarden。"

"Hadyounofearofconsequences？"

"Ididnotunderstandanythingaboutit；Ialwaysthoughtthatonecouldnotconceiveunderthreetimesatleast。"

"Unhappyignorance！howmanywoesarecausedbyit！Thenhedidnotaskyoutogivehimanymoreassignations？"

"Heoftenaskedme，butIwouldnotgranthisrequestbecauseourconfessormademepromisetowithstandhimthenceforth，ifIwishedtobeabsolved。"

"Didyoutellhimthenameoftheseducer？"

"Certainlynot；thegoodconfessorwouldnothaveallowedmetodoso；itwouldhavebeenagreatsin。"

"Didyoutellyourconfessorthestateyouwerein？"

"No，buthemusthaveguessedit。Heisagoodoldman，whodoubtlessprayedtoGodforme，andmymeetingyouwas，perhaps，theanswertohisprayers。"

Iwasdeeplymoved，andforaquarterofanhourIwassilent，andabsorbedinmythoughts。Isawthatthisinterestinggirl’smisfortuneproceededfromherignorance，hercandour，herperfectinnocence，andafoolishfeelingofpity，whichmadehergrantthismonsteroflubricityathingofwhichshethoughtlittlebecauseshehadneverbeeninlove。Shewasreligious，butfrommerehabitandnotfromreflection，andherreligionwasconsequentlyveryweak。

Sheabhorredsin，becauseshewasobligedtopurgeherselfofitbyconfessionunderpainofeverlastingdamnation，andshedidnotwanttobedamned。Shehadplentyofnaturalcommonsense，littlewit，forthecultivationofwhichshehadnoopportunities，andshewasinastateofignoranceonlypardonableinanun。OnweighingthesefactsIforesawthatIshouldfinditadifficulttasktogainthosefavourswhichshehadgrantedtoCoudert；herrepentancehadbeentoobitterforhertoexposeherselftothesamedangeroveragain。

Thepeasantwomanreturned，laidthetablefortwo，andbroughtusoursupper。Everythingwasnew——napkins，plates，glasses，spoons，knives，etc。，andeverythingwasexquisitelyclean。Thewineswereexcellent，andthedishesdelightfulintheirsimplicity。Wehadroastgame，fish，cheesewithcream，andverygoodfruit。Ispentanhourandahalfatsupper，anddranktwobottlesofwineasItalkedtothenun，whoateverylittle。

Iwasinthehighestspirits，andthewoman，delightedwithmypraiseofherprovision，promisedIshouldbeservedthesamewayeveryevening。

WhenIwasalonewiththenun，whosefacefilledmewithsuchburningrecollections，Ibegantospeakofherhealth，andespeciallyoftheinconveniencesattachedtochild—birth。Shesaidshefeltquitewell，andwouldbeabletoreturntoChamberionfoot。"Theonlythingthattroublesmeismybreasts，butthewomanassuresmethatthemilkwillrecedeto—morrow，andthattheywillthenassumetheirusualshape。"

"Allowmetoexaminethem，Iknowsomethingaboutit。"

"Look！"

Sheuncoveredherbosom，notthinkingitwouldgivemeanypleasure，butwishingtobepolite，withoutsupposingIhadanyconcealeddesires。IpassedmyhandsovertwosphereswhoseperfectshapeandwhitenesswouldhaverestoredLazarustolife。Itookcarenottooffendhermodesty，butinthecoolestmannerpossibleaskedherhowshefeltalittlelowerdown，andasIputthequestionIsoftlyextendedmyhand。However，shekeptitbackgently，tellingmenottogoanyfurtherasshestillfeltalittleuneasy。Ibeggedherpardon，andsaidIhopedIshouldfindeverythingquiterightbythenextday。

"Thebeautyofyourbosom，"Iadded，"makesmetakeastillgreaterinterestinyou。"

SosayingIletmymouthmeethers，andIfeltakissescapeasifinvoluntarilyfromherlips。Itranlikefirethroughmyveins，mybrainb