第59章

"Nay，"saidValenglard，inaserioustone，whichstruckmeassupremelyridiculous，"shemustgo；herfatemustbefulfilled。"

ThefairMdlle。Romanseemedallamazed。Iletthemtalkon，andwesatdowntodinner。

[Thenexttwoparagraphsweremisplacedintheoriginal，likelybythetypesetter，andhavebeeninsertedherewhereitseemsthattheybelong。D。W。]

IhopedIshouldbeaskedtotakethediamondtoParismyself，andIfeltinclinedtogranttherequest。Iflatteredmyselfthattheycouldnotdowithoutme，andthatIshouldgetwhatIwanted，ifnotforloveatanyratethroughgratitude；indeed，whoknewwhatmightbecomeoftheplan？Themonarchwouldbesuretobecaughtdirectly。Ihadnodoubtsonthatsubject，forwhereisthemaninlovewhodoesnotthinkthathisbelovedobjectwillwintheheartsofallothers？ForthemomentIfeltquitejealousoftheking，but，frommythoroughknowledgeofmyowninconstancy，Ifeltsurethatmyjealousywouldceasewhenmylovehadbeenrewarded，andIwasawarethatLouisXV。didnotaltogetherholdtheopinionsofaTurkinsuchconcerns。Whatgaveanalmostdivinecharactertothehoroscopewasthepredictionofasontobeborn，whowouldmakethehappinessofFrance，andcouldonlycomefromtheroyalbloodandfromasingularvesselofelection。

Acuriousfancyincreasedmydelight，namely，thethoughtofbecomingafamousastrologerinanagewhenreasonandsciencehadsojustlydemolishedastrology。Ienjoyedthethoughtofseeingmyselfsoughtoutbycrownedheads，whicharealwaysthemoreaccessibletosuperstitiousnotions。IdeterminedIwouldbeparticulartowhomIgavemyadvice。WhohasnotmadehiscastlesinSpain？IfMdlle。RomangavebirthtoadaughterinsteadofasonIshouldbeamused，andallwouldnotbelost，forasonmightcomeafterwards。

Atfirstsilencereigned，andthentheconversationranonathousandtrifles，asisusualingoodsociety，butbydegrees，asIhadthought，theyreturnedtothehoroscope。

"Accordingtothehoroscope，"saidtheaunt，"thekingistofallinlovewithmynieceinhereighteenthyear；sheisnowcloseonit。Whatarewetodo？Wherearewetogetthehundredlouisnecessary？AndwhenshegetstoParisisshetogotothekingandsay，’HereIam，yourmajesty’？Andwhoisgoingtotakeherthere？Ican’t。"

"MyauntRomanmight，"saidtheyounglady，blushinguptohereyesattheroaroflaughterwhichnoneofuscouldrestrain。

"Well，"saidMadameMorin，"thereisMadameVarnier，oftheRuedeRichelieu；sheisanauntofyours。Shehasagoodestablishment，andknowseverybody。"

"See，"saidValenglard，"howthewaysofdestinyaremadeplain。

Youtalkofahundredlouis；twelvewillbesufficienttotakeyoutoMadameVarnier’s。Whenyougetthere，leavetheresttoyourfate，whichwillsurelyfavouryou。"

"IfyoudogotoParis，"saidI，"saynothingtoMadameRomanorMadameVarnieraboutthehoroscope。"

"Iwillsaynothingtoanyoneaboutit；but，afterall，itisonlyahappydream。IshallneverseeParis，stilllessLouisXV。"

Iarose，andgoingtomycash—boxItookoutarollofahundredandfiftylouis，whichIgavetoher，sayingitwasapacketofsweetmeats。Itfeltratherheavy，andonopeningitshefoundittocontainfiftypieces—of—eight，whichshetookformedals。

"Theyaregold，"saidValenglard。

"Andthegoldsmithwillgiveyouahundredandfiftylouisforthem，"addedM。Morin。

"Ibegyouwillkeepthem；youcangivemeabillpayableatPariswhenyoubecomerich。"

Iknewshewouldrefusetoacceptmypresent，althoughIshouldhavebeendelightedifshehadkeptthemoney。ButIadmiredherstrengthofmindinrestraininghertears，andthatwithoutdisturbingforamomentthesmileonherface。

Wewentouttotakeaturninthegarden。ValenglardandMadameMorinbeganonthetopicofthehoroscopeanew，andIleftthem，takingMdlle。Romanwithme。

"Iwishyouwouldtellme，"saidshe，whenwewereoutofhearingoftheothers，"ifthishoroscopeisnotallajoke。"

"No，"Ianswered，"itisquiteserious，butitalldependsonanif。IfyoudonotgotoParistheprophecywillneverbefulfilled。"

"Youmustthinkso，certainly，oryouwouldneverhaveofferedmethosefiftymedals。"

"Domethepleasureofacceptingthemnow；nobodywillknowanythingaboutit。"

"No，Icannot，thoughIammuchobligedtoyou。Butwhyshouldyouwanttogivemesuchalargesum？"

"Forthepleasureofcontributingtoyourhappiness，andinthehopethatyouwillallowmetoloveyou。"

"IfyoureallylovemetwhyshouldIopposeyourlove？Youneednotbuymyconsent；andtobehappyIdonotwanttopossesstheKingofFrance，ifyoudidbutknowtowhatmydesiresarelimited。"

"Tellme。"

"Iwouldfainfindakindhusband，richenoughforusnottolackthenecessariesoflife。"

"Buthowifyoudidnotlovehim？"

"Ifhewasagood，kindmanhowcouldIhelplovinghim？"

"Iseethatyoudonotknowwhatloveis。"

"Youareright。Idonotknowthelovethatmaddens，andIthankGodforit。"

"Well，Ithinkyouarewise；mayGodpreserveyoufromthatlove。"

"Yousay，thatassoonasthekingseesmehewillfallinlovewithme，andtotellyouthetruththatstrikesmeasvastlyimprobable；forthoughitisquitepossiblethathemaynotthinkmeplain，orhemightevenpronouncemepretty，yetIdonotthinkhewillbecomesomadlyinloveasyousay。"

"Youdon’t？Letussitdown。YouhaveonlygottofancythatthekingwilltakethesamelikingtoyouthatIhavedone；thatisall。"

"Butwhatdoyoufindinmethatyouwillnotfindinmostgirlsofmyage？Icertainlymayhavestruckyou；butthatonlyprovesthatIwasborntoexercisethisswayoveryou，andnotatallthatIamtorulethekinginlikemanner。WhyshouldIgoandlookfortheking，ifyoulovemeyourself？"

"BecauseIcannotgiveyouthepositionyoudeserve。"

"Ishouldhavethoughtyouhadplentyofmoney。"

"Thenthere’sanotherreason:youarenotinlovewithme。"

"IloveyouastenderlyasifIwereyourwife。Imightthenkissyou，thoughdutynowforbidsmydoingso。"

"Iammuchobligedtoyoufornotbeingangrywithmeforbeingsohappywithyou！"

"Onthecontrary，Iamdelightedtopleaseyou。"

"Thenyouwillallowmetocallonyouatanearlyhourto—morrow，andtotakecoffeeatyourbedside。"

"Donotdreamofsuchathing。IfIwouldIcouldnot。Isleepwithmyaunt，andIalwaysriseatthesametimeshedoes。Takeawayyourhand；youpromisednottodoitagain。InGod’sname，letmealone。"

Alas！Ihadtostop；therewasnoovercomingher。Butwhatpleasedmeextremelywasthatinspiteofmyamorouspersecutionshedidnotlosethatsmilingcalmwhichsobecameher。AsformyselfIlookedasifIdeservedthatpardonforwhichIpleadedonmyknees，andinhereyesIreadthatshewassorrythatshecouldnotgrantwhatIrequiredofher。

Icouldnolongerstaybesideher，mysensesweretooexcitedbyherbeauty。IleftherandwenttomyroomwhereIfoundthekindManonbusyingherselfonmycuffs，andshegavemethereliefI

wanted，andwhenwewerebothsatisfiedmadeherescape。I

reflectedthatIshouldneverobtainmorethanIhadobtainedhithertofromyoungMdlle。Roman——atleast，unlessIgavethelietomyhoroscopebymarryingher，andIdecidedthatIwouldnottakeanyfurtherstepsinthematter。Ireturnedtothegarden，andgoinguptotheauntIbeggedhertowalkwithme。InvainI

urgedtheworthywomantoacceptahundredlouisforherniece’sjourneyfromme。IsworetoherbyallIheldsacredthatnooneelseshouldeverknowofthecircumstance。Allmyeloquenceandallmyprayerswereinvain。Shetoldmethatifherniece’sdestinyonlydependedonthatjourneyallwouldbewell，forshehadthoughtoveraplanwhichwould，withherhusband’sconsent，enableMdlle。RomantogotoParis。Atthesametimeshegavemehersincerestthanks，andsaidthatherniecewasveryfortunatetohavepleasedmesowell。

"Shepleasedmesowell，"Ireplied，"thatIhaveresolvedtogoawayto—morrowtoavoidmakingproposalstoyouwhichwouldbringthegreatfortunethatawaitshertonought。IfitwerenotforthatIshouldhavebeenhappytohaveaskedherhandofyou。"

"Alas！herhappinesswould，perhaps，bebuiltonabetterfoundation。Explainyourself。"

"Idarenotwagewarwithfate。"

"Butyouarenotgoingto—morrow？"

"Excuseme，butIshallcalltotakeleaveattwoo’clock。"

Thenewsofmyapproachingdeparturesaddenedthesupper—table。

MadameMorin，who，forallIknow，maybealivenow，wasamostkind—heartedwoman。AttablesheannouncedherresolvethatasI

haddecidedongoing，andasIshouldonlyleavemyhousetotakeleaveofher，shewouldnotforcemetoputmyselfouttosuchanextent，andordainedthatourfarewellsshouldbesaidthatevening。

"Atleast，"Isaid，"Imayhavethehonourofescortingyoutoyourdoor？"

"Thatwillprotractourhappinessforsomeminutes。"Valenglardwentawayonfoot，andthefairMdlle。Romansatonmyknee。I

daredtobeboldwithher，andcontrarytoexpectationsheshewedherselfsokindthatIwashalfsorryIwasgoing；butthediewascast。

Acarriagelyingoverturnedontheroadoutsideaninnmademycoachmanstopashortwhile，andthisaccidentwhichmadethepoordrivercurseoverwhelmedmewithjoy，forinthesefewmomentsI

obtainedallthefavoursthatshecouldpossiblygiveunderthecircumstances。

Happinessenjoyedaloneisnevercomplete。MinewasnotuntilI

assuredmyself，bylookingatmysweetheart’sfeatures，thatthepartshehadtakenhadnotbeenanentirelypassiveone；andI

escortedtheladiestotheirroom。There，withoutanyconceit，I

wascertainthatIsawsadnessandloveuponthatfaircreature’sface。Icouldseethatshewasneithercoldnorinsensible，andthattheobstaclesshehadputinmywaywereonlysuggestedbyfearandvirtue。IgaveMadameMorinafarewellkiss，andshewaskindenoughtotellherniecetogivemeasimilarmarkoffriendship，whichshedidinawaythatshewedmehowcompletelyshehadsharedmyardour。

Ileftthem，feelingamorousandsorryIhadobligedmyselftogo。

OnenteringmyroomIfoundthethreenymphstogether，whichvexedmeasIonlywantedone。IwhisperedmywishestoRoseasshecurledmyhair，butshetoldmeitwasimpossibleforhertoslipawayastheyallsleptinoneroom。IthentoldthemthatIwasgoingawaythenextday，andthatiftheywouldpassthenightwithmeIwouldgivethemapresentofsixlouiseach。Theylaughedatmyproposalandsaiditcouldn’tpossiblybedone。I

sawbythistheyhadnotmadeconfidantesofoneanother，asgirlsmostlydo，andIalsosawthattheywerejealousofeachother。I

wishedthemagoodnight，andassoonasIwasinbedthegodofdreamstookmeunderhiscare，andmademepassthenightwiththeadorableMdlle。Roman。

Irangratherlateinthemorning，andthecousincameinandsaidthatRosewouldbringmychocolate，andthatM。CharlesIvanoffwantedtospeaktome。IguessedthatthiswastheRussian，butashehadnotbeenintroducedtomeIthoughtImightdeclinetoseehim。

"TellhimIdon’tknowhisname。"

Rosewentout，andcameinagainsayinghewasthegentlemanwhohadhadthehonourofsuppingwithmeatMadameMorin’s。

"Tellhimtocomein。"

"Sir，"saidhe，"Iwanttospeakwithyouinprivate。"

"Icannotordertheseyoungladiestoleavemyroom，sir。BekindenoughtowaitformeoutsidetillIhaveputonmydressing—gown，andthenIshallbereadytospeaktoyou。"

"IfIamtroublingyou，Iwillcallagainto—morrow。"

"Youwouldnotfindme，asIamleavingGrenobleto—day。"

"InthatcaseIwillwait。"

Igotupinhasteandwentouttohim。

"Sir，"saidhe，"Imustleavethisplace，andIhavenotapennytopaymylandlord。Ibegofyoutocometomyaid。Idarenothaverecoursetoanyoneelseinthetownforfearofexposingmyselftotheinsultofarefusal。"

"PerhapsIoughttofeelmyselfflatteredatthepreferenceyouhaveshewnme，butwithoutwishingtoinsultyouinanywayIamafraidIshallbeobligedtorefuseyourrequest。"

"IfyouknewwhoIamIamsureyouwouldnotrefusemesomesmallhelp。"

"Ifyouthinkso，tellmewhoyouare；youmaycountonmysilence。"

"IamCharles，secondsonofIvan，DukeofCourland，whoisinexileinSiberia。Imademyescape。"

"IfyougotoGenoayouwillfindyourselfbeyondthereachofpoverty；fornodoubtthebrotherofyourlady—motherwouldneverabandonyou。"

"HediedinSilesia。"

"When？"

"Twoyearsago，Ibelieve。"

"Youhavebeendeceived，forIsawhimatStuttgartscarcelysixmonthsago。HeistheBarondeTreiden。"

Itdidnotcostmemuchtogetwindoftheadventurer，butIfeltangrythathehadhadtheimpudencetotryanddupeme。IfithadnotbeenforthatIwouldwillinglyhavegivenhimsixlouis，foritwouldhavebeenbadformonmyparttodeclarewaragainstadventurers，asIwasonemyself，andIoughttohavepardonedhisliesasnearlyalladventurersaremoreorlessimpostors。

Igaveaglanceathisdiamondbuckles，whichwereconsideredrealatGrenoble，andIsawdirectlythattheywerecounterfeitsofakindmadeinVenice，whichimitatethefacetsofthediamondsinperfection，excepttopeoplewhoareexperiencedindiamonds。

"Youhavediamondbuckles，"saidI。"Whydon’tyousellthem？"

"It’sthelastpieceofjewelleryIpossessoutofallmymothergaveme，andIpromisedhernevertopartwiththem。"

"IwouldnotshewthosebucklesifIwereyou；yourpocketwouldbeabetterplaceforthem。ImaytellyoufranklythatIbelievethestonestobecounterfeit，andthatyourliedispleasesme。"

"Sir，Iamnotaliar。"

"Weshallsee。Provethatthestonesaregenuine，andIwillgiveyousixlouis。IshallbedelightedifIaminthewrong。

Farewell。"

SeeingM。deValerlglardcominguptomydoor，hebeggedmenottotellhimofwhathadpassedbetweenus；andIpromisedthatI

wouldtellnoone。

Valenglardcametowishmeaprosperousjourney；hehimselfwasobligedtogowithM。Monteinard。Hebeggedmetocorrespondconstantlywithhim，andIhadbeenintendingtopreferthesamerequest，asItooktoogreataninterestinthefairMdlle。Romannottowishtohearofherfate，andthecorrespondencetheworthyofficerdesiredwasthebestwaypossibleformetohearabouther。Aswillbeimagined，Ipromisedwhatheaskedwithoutmakinganydifficulty。Heshedtearsasheembracedme，andIpromisedtobehisfriend。

CHAPTERII

MyDeparturefromGrenoble——Avignon——TheFountainofVaucluse——TheFalseAstrodiandtheHumpback——GaetanCosta——IArriveatMarseillesWhilethethreegirlswerehelpingLeDuctopackmymailsmylandlordentered，gavemehisbill，andfindingeverythingcorrectIpaidhim，muchtohissatisfaction。Iowedhimacompliment，too，atwhichheseemedextremelygratified。

"Sir，"saidI，"Idonotwishtoleaveyourhousewithouthavingthepleasureofdiningwithyourcharminggirls，toshewthemhowIappreciatethecaretheyhavetakenofme。Letmehave，then，adelicaterepastforfour，andalsoorderposthorses，thatImaystartintheevening。"

"Sir，"brokeinLeDuc，"Ientreatyoutoorderasaddle—horsebesides；Iwasnotmadeforaseatbehindachaise。"

Thecousinlaughedopenlyathisvainboasting，andtoavengehimselftherascaltoldherthathewasbetterthanshe。

"Nevertheless，M。leDuc，youwillhavetowaitonherattable。"

"Yes，asshewaitsonyouinbed。"

Iranformystick，buttherogue，knowingwhatwasgoingtohappen，openedthewindowandjumpedintothecourtyard。Thegirlsgaveashriekofterror，butwhenwelookedoutwesawhimjumpingaboutandperformingathousandapishtricks。

Verygladtofindthathehadnotbrokenalimb，Icalledout，"Comeback，Iforgiveyou。"Thegirls，andthemanhimselfwhoescapedsoreadily，wereasdelightedasI。LeDuccameininhighspirits，observingthathedidnotknowhewassuchagoodjumper。

"Verygood，butdon’tbesoimpudentanothertime。Here，takethiswatch。"

Sosaying，Igavehimavaluablegoldwatch，whichhereceived，saying，——

"Iwouldjumpagainforanotherwatchlikethis。"

SuchwasmySpaniard，whomIhadtodismisstwoyearsafterwards。

Ihaveoftenmissedhim。

ThehourswentbywithsuchspeedwhenIwasseatedattablewiththethreegirls，whomIvainlyendeavouredtointoxicate，thatI

decidedthatIwouldnotleavetillthenextday。Iwastiredofmakingmysteriesandwantedtoenjoythemalltogether，andresolvedthattheorgyshouldtakeplacethatnight。ItoldthemthatiftheywouldpassthenightinmyroomIwouldnotgotillthenextday。Thispropositionwasreceivedwithastormofexclamationsandwithlaughter，asatanimpossibility，whileI

endeavouredtoexcitethemtograntmyrequest。Inthemidstofthisthedoor—keepercamein，advisingmenottotravelbynight，buttogotoAvignonbyaboatinwhichIcouldshipmycarriage。

"Youwillsavetimeandmoney，"saidhe。

"Iwilldoso，"Ianswered，"ifthesegirlsofyourswillkeepmecompanyallnight，asIamdeterminedIwillnotgotobed。"

"OLord！"saidhewithalaugh，"that’stheirbusiness。"

Thisdecidedthemandtheygavein。Thedoor—keepersenttoordertheboat，andpromisedtoletmehaveadaintysupperbymidnight。

Thehourspassedbyinjestsandmerriment，andwhenwesatdowntosupperImadethechampagnecorksflytosuchanextentthatthegirlsbegantogetrathergay。Imyselffeltalittleheated，andasIheldeachone’ssecretIhadthehardihoodtotellthemthattheirscrupleswereridiculous，aseachofthemhadshewnnoreservetomeinprivate。

Atthistheygazedatoneanotherinakindofblanksurprise，asifindignantatwhatIhadsaid。Foreseeingthatfemininepridemightpromptthemtotreatmyaccusationasanidlecalumny，I

resolvednottogivethemtime，anddrawingManonontomykneeI

embracedherwithsuchardourthatshegaveinandabandonedherselftomypassion。Herexampleovercametheothers，andforfivehoursweindulgedineverykindofvoluptuousenjoyment。Attheendofthattimewewereallinneedofrest，butIhadtogo。

Iwantedtogivethemsomejewels，buttheysaidtheywouldratherIorderedglovestotheamountofthirtylouis，themoneytobepaidinadvance，andtheglovesnottobecalledfor。

Iwenttos