第67章

ThenextdaytheChevalierOsorioreceivedmewiththeutmostpoliteness，whichIthoughtagoodomen。TheChevalierRaibertihadspokentohiminmybehalf，andhehadlaidthematterbeforethekingandalsobeforetheCountd’Aglie，andtheresultwasthatIcouldstayaslongasIliked。TheCountd’Agliewasnoneotherthanthehorriblesuperintendent。IwastoldthatImustwaitonhim，andhewouldgivemeleavetoremainatTurintillmyaffairsweresettled。

"Myonlybusinesshere，"saidI，"istospendmymoneytillIhaveinstructionsfromtheCourtofPortugaltoattendtheCongressofAugsburgonbehalfofhismostfaithfulmajesty。"

"ThenyouthinkthatthisCongresswilltakeplace？"

"Nobodydoubtsit。"

"Somebodybelievesitwillallendinsmoke。However，Iamdelightedtohavebeenofservicetoyou，andIshallbecurioustohearwhatsortofreceptionyougetfromthesuperintendent。"

Ifeltillatease。Iwenttothepoliceofficeimmediately，gladtoshewmyselfvictorious，andanxioustoseehowthesuperintendentwouldlookwhenIcamein。However，Icouldnotflattermyselfthathelookedashamedofhimself；thesepeoplehaveabrazenforehead，anddonotknowwhatitistoblush。

Assoonashesawme，hebegan，——

"TheChevalierOsoriotellsmethatyouhavebusinessinTurinwhichwillkeepyouforsomedays。Youmaythereforestay，butyoumusttellmeasnearlyaspossiblehowlongatimeyourequire。"

"Icannotpossiblytellyouthat。"

"Why？ifyoudon’tmindtellingme。"

"IamawaitinginstructionsfromtheCourtofPortugaltoattendtheCongresstobeheldatAugsburg，andbeforeIcouldtellyouhowlongIshallhavetostayIshouldbecompelledtoaskhismostfaithfulmajesty。Ifthistimeisnotsufficientformetodomybusiness，Iwillintimatethefacttoyou。"

"Ishallbemuchobligedbyyourdoingso。"

ThistimeImadehimabow，whichwasreturned，andonleavingtheofficeIreturnedtotheChevalierOsorio，whosaid，withasmile，thatIhadcaughtthesuperintendent，asIhadtakenanindefiniteperiod，whichleftmequiteatmyease。

ThediplomaticGama，whofirmlybelievedthattheCongresswouldmeet，wasdelightedwhenItoldhimthattheChevalierOsoriowasincredulousonthesubject。Hewascharmedtothinkhiswitkeenerthantheminister’s；itexaltedhiminhisowneyes。I

toldhimthatwhateverthechevaliermightsayIwouldgotoAugsburg，andthatIwouldsetoutinthreeorfourweeks。

MadameR。congratulatedmeoverandoveragain，forshewasenchantedthatIhadhumiliatedthesuperintendent；butallthesamewethoughtwehadbettergiveupourlittlesuppers。AsI

hadhadatasteofallhergirls，thiswasnotsuchagreatsacrificeformetomake。

IcontinuedthustillthemiddleofMay，whenIleftTurin，afterreceivinglettersfromtheAbbeGamatoLordStormont，whowastorepresentEnglandattheapproachingCongress。ItwaswiththisnoblemanthatIwastoworkinconcertattheCongress。

BeforegoingtoGermanyIwantedtoseeMadamed’Urfe，andIwrotetoher，askinghertosendmealetterofintroductiontoM。deRochebaron，whomightbeusefultome。IalsoaskedM。RaibertitogivemealetterforChamberi，whereIwantedtovisitthedivineM————M————（ofwhomIstillthoughtwithaffection）atherconventgrating。IwrotetomyfriendValenglard，askinghimtoremindMadameMorinthatshehadpromisedtoshewmealikenesstosomebodyatChamberi。

ButhereImustnotedownaneventworthyofbeingrecorded，whichwasextremelyprejudicialtome。

FiveorsixdaysbeforemydepartureDesarmoisescametomelookingverydowncast，andtoldmethathehadbeenorderedtoleaveTurinintwenty—fourhours。

"Doyouknowwhy？"Iaskedhim。

"LastnightwhenIwasatthecoffee—house，CountScarnafisdaredtosaythatFrancesubsidisedtheBernenewspapers。Itoldhimhelied，atwhichheroseandlefttheplaceinarage，givingmeaglancethemeaningofwhichisnotdoubtful。Ifollowedhimtobringhimtoreasonortogivehimsatisfaction；buthewoulddonothingandIsuspecthewenttothepolicetocomplain。IshallhavetoleaveTurinearlyto—morrowmorning。"

"You’reaFrenchman，andasyoucanclaimtheprotectionofyourambassadoryouwillbewrongtoleavesosuddenly。"

"Inthefirstplacetheambassadorisaway，andinthesecondmycruelfatherdisavowsme。No，Iwouldrathergo，andwaitforyouatLyons。AllIwantisforyoutolendmeahundredcrowns，forwhichIwillgiveyouanaccount。"

"Itwillbeaneasyaccounttokeep，"saidI，"butalongtimebeforeitissettled。"

"Possibly；butifitisinmypowerIwillshewmygratitudeforthekindnessesyouhavedoneme。"

Igavehimahundredcrownsandwishedhimapleasantjourney，tellinghimthatIshouldstopsometimeatLyons。

IgotaletterofcreditonanAugsburghouse，andthreedaysafterIleftTurinIwasatChamberi。Therewasonlyoneinnthereinthosedays，soIwasnotmuchpuzzledtochoosewhereI

wouldgo，butforallthatIfoundmyselfverycomfortable。

AsIenteredmyroom，Iwasstruckbyseeinganextremelyprettygirlcomingoutofanadjacentroom。

"Whoisthatyounglady？"saidItothechambermaidwhowasescortingme。

"That’sthewifeofayounggentlemanwhohastokeephisbedtogetcuredofasword—thrustwhichhereceivedfourdaysagoonhiswayfromFrance。"

Icouldnotlookatherwithoutfeelingthestingofconcupiscence。AsIwasleavingmyroomIsawthedoorhalfopen，andIstoppedshortandofferedmyservicesasaneighbour。Shethankedmepolitely，andaskedmein。Isawahandsomeyoungmansittingupinbed，soIwentuptoenquirehowhefelt。

"Thedoctorwillnotlethimtalk，"saidtheyounglady，"onaccountofasword—thrustinthechesthereceivedathalfaleaguefromhere。Wehopehewillbeallrightinafewdays，andthenwecancontinueourjourney。"

"Whereareyougoing，madam？"

"ToGeneva。"

JustasIwasleaving，amaidcametoaskmeifIwouldtakesupperinmyownroomorwiththelady。Ilaughedatherstupidity，andsaidIwouldsupinmyownapartment，addingthatI

hadnotthehonourofthelady’sacquaintance。

AtthistheyoungladysaiditwouldgivehergreatpleasureifI

wouldsupwithher，andthehusbandrepeatedthisassuranceinawhisper。Iacceptedtheinvitationgratefully，andIthoughtthattheywerereallypleased。Theladyescortedmeoutasfarasthestairs，andItookthelibertyofkissingherhand，whichinFranceisadeclarationoftenderthoughrespectfulaffection。

Atthepost—officeIfoundaletterfromValenglard，tellingmethatMadameMorinwouldwaitonmeatChamberiifIwouldsendheracarriage，andanotherfromDesarmoisesdatedfromLyons。HetoldmethatashewasonhiswayfromChamberihehadencounteredhisdaughterincompanywitharascalwhohadcarriedheroff。Hehadburiedhisswordinhisbody，andwouldhavekilledthemifhehadbeenabletostoptheircarriage。HesuspectedthattheyhadbeenstayinginChamberi，andhebeggedmetotryandpersuadehisdaughtertoreturntoLyons；andheaddedthatifshewouldnotdosoIoughttoobligehimbysendingherbackbyforce。Heassuredmethattheywerenotmarried，andhebeggedmetoanswerhisletterbyexpress，forwhichpurposehesentmehisaddress。

Iguessedatoncethatthisdaughterofhiswasmyfairneighbour，butIdidnotfeelatallinclinedtocometotheaidofthefatherinthewayhewished。

AssoonasIgotbacktotheinnIsentoffLeDucinatravellingcarriagetoMadameMorin，whomIinformedbyletterthatasIwasonlyatChamberiforhersakeIwouldawaitherconvenience。Thisdone，IabandonedmyselftothedelightIfeltattheromanticadventurewhichfortunehadputinmyway。

IrepeatedMdlle。Desarmoisesandherravisher，andIdidnotcaretoenquirewhetherIwasimpelledinwhatIdidbyvirtueorvice；

butIcouldnothelpperceivingthatmymotiveswereofamixednature；forifIwereamorous，Iwasalsoverygladtobeofassistancetotwoyounglovers，andallthemorefrommyknowledgeofthefather’scriminalpassion。

OnenteringtheirroomIfoundtheinvalidinthesurgeon’shands。

Hepronouncedthewoundnottobedangerous，inspiteofitsdepth；suppurationhadtakenplacewithoutsettingupinflammation——inshort，theyoungmanonlywantedtimeandrest。

WhenthedoctorhadgoneIcongratulatedthepatientonhiscondition，advisinghimtobecarefulwhatheate，andtokeepsilent。IthengaveMdlle。Desarmoisesherfather’sletter，andIsaidfarewellforthepresent，tellingthemthatIwouldgotomyownroomtillsupper—time。Ifeltsurethatshewouldcomeandspeaktomeafterreadingherfather’sletter。

Inaquarterofanhoursheknockedtimidlyatmydoor，andwhenI

letherinshegavemebacktheletterandaskedmewhatIthoughtofdoing。

"Nothing。Ishallbeonlytoohappy，however，ifIcanbeofanyservicetoyou。"

"Ah！Ibreatheagain！"

"Couldyouimaginemepursuinganyotherlineofconduct？Iammuchinterestedinyou，andwilldoallinmypowertohelpyou。

Areyoumarried？"

"Notyet，butwearegoingtobemarriedwhenwegettoGeneva。"

"Sitdownandtellmeallaboutyourself。Iknowthatyourfatherisunhappilyinlovewithyou，andthatyouavoidhisattentions。"

"Hehastoldyouthatmuch？Iamgladofit。AyearagohecametoLyons，andassoonasIknewhewasinthetownItookrefugewithafriendofmymother’s，forIwasawarethatIcouldnotstayinthesamehousewithmyfatherforanhourwithoutexposingmyselftothemosthorribleoutrage。TheyoungmaninbedisthesonofarichGenevamerchant。Myfatherintroducedhimtometwoyearsago，andwesoonfellinlovewitheachother。MyfatherwentawaytoMarseilles，andmyloveraskedmymothertogivemeinmarriagetohim；butshedidnotfeelauthorizedtodosowithoutmyfather’sconsent。Shewroteandaskedhim，butherepliedthathewouldannouncehisdecisionwhenhereturnedtoLyons。MyloverwenttoGeneva，andashisfatherapprovedofthematchhereturnedwithallthenecessarydocumentsandastrongletterofcommendationfromM。Tolosan。WhenmyfathercametoLyonsIescaped，asItoldyou，andmylovergotM。Tolosantoaskmyhandforhimofmyfather。Hisreplywas，’Icangivenoanswertillshereturnstomyhouse！’

M。Tolosanbroughtthisreplytome，andItoldhimthatIwasreadytoobeyifmymotherwouldguaranteemysafety。Shereplied，however，thatsheknewherhusbandtoowelltodaretohaveusbothunderthesameroof。AgaindidM。Tolosanendeavourtoobtainmyfather’sconsent，buttonopurpose。AfewdaysafterheleftLyons，tellingusthathewasfirstgoingtoAixandthentoTurin，andasitwasevidentthathewouldnevergivehisconsentmyloverproposedthatIshouldgooffwithhim，promisingtomarrymeassoonaswereachedGeneva。ByillluckwetravelledthroughSavoy，andthusmetmyfather。Assoonashesawushestoppedthecarriageandcalledtometogetout。I

begantoshriek，andmylovertakingmeinhisarmstoprotectmemyfatherstabbedhiminthechest。Nodoubthewouldhavekilledhim，butseeingthatmyshriekswerebringingpeopletoourrescue，andprobablybelievingthatmyloverwasasgoodasdead，hegotonhorsebackagainandrodeoffatfullspeed。Icanchewyoutheswordstillcoveredwithblood。"

"Iamobligedtoanswerthisletterofhis，andIamthinkinghowIcanobtainhisconsent。"

"That’sofnoconsequence；wecanmarryandbehappywithoutit。"

"True，butyououghtnottodespiseyourdower。"

"Goodheavens！whatdower？Hehasnomoney！

"Butonthedeathofhisfather，theMarquisDesarmoises……

"That’sallalie。MyfatherhasonlyasmallyearlypensionforhavingservedthirtyyearsasaGovernmentmessenger。Hisfatherhasbeendeadthesethirtyyears，andmymotherandmysisteronlylivebytheworktheydo。"

Iwasthunderstruckattheimpudenceofthefellow，who，afterimposingonmesolong，hadhimselfputmeinapositiontodiscoverhisdeceit。Isaidnothing。Justthenweweretoldthatsupperwasready，andwesatattableforthreehourstalkingthematterover。Thepoorwoundedmanhadonlytolistentometoknowmyfeelingsonthesubject。Hisyoungmistress，aswittyasshewaspretty，jestedonthefoolishpassionofherfather，whohadlovedhermadlyeversinceshewaseleven。

"Andyouwerealwaysabletoresisthisattempts？"saidI。

"Yes，wheneverhepushedthingstoofar。"

"Andhowlongdidthisstateofthingscontinue？"

"Fortwoyears。WhenIwasthirteenhethoughtIwasripe，andtriedtogatherthefruit；butIbegantoshriek，andescapedfromhisbedstarknaked，andIwenttotakerefugewithmymother，whofromthatdayforthwouldnotletmesleepwithhimagain。"

"Youusedtosleepwithhim？Howcouldyourmotherallowit？"

"Sheneverthoughtthattherewasanythingcriminalinhisaffectionforme，andIknewnothingaboutit。Ithoughtthatwhathedidtome，andwhathemademedotohim，weremeretrifles。"

"Butyouhavesavedthelittletreasure？"

"Ihavekeptitformylover。"

Thepoorlover，whowassufferingmorefromtheeffectsofhungerthanfromhiswounds，laughedatthisspeechofhers，andsherantohimandcoveredhisfacewithkisses。Allthisexcitedmeintensely。Herstoryhadbeentoldwithtoomuchsimplicitynottomoveme，especiallywhenIhadherbeforemyeyes，forshepossessedalltheattractionswhichawomancanhave，andIalmostforgaveherfatherforforgettingshewashisdaughterandfallinginlovewithher。

WhensheescortedmebacktomyroomImadeherfeelmyemotion，andshebegantolaugh；butasmyservantswereclosebyIwasobligedtolethergo。

EarlynextmorningIwrotetoherfatherthathisdaughterhadresolvednottoleaveherlover，whowasonlyslightlywounded，thattheywereinperfectsafetyandundertheprotectionofthelawatChamberi，andfinallythathavingheardtheirstory，andjudgingthemtobewellmatched，Icouldonlyapproveofthecoursetheyhadtaken。WhenIhadfinishedIwentintotheirroomandgavethemthelettertoread，andseeingthefairrunawayatalosshowtoexpressher’gratitude，Ibeggedtheinvalidtoletmekissher。

"Beginwithme，"saidhe，openinghisarms。

Myhypocriticallovemaskeditselfundertheguiseofpaternalaffection。Iembracedthelover，andthenmoreamorouslyI

performedthesameofficeforthemistress，andskewedthemmypursefullofgold，tellingthemitwasattheirservice。Whilethiswasgoingonthesurgeoncamein，andIretiredtomyroom。

Ateleveno’clockMadameMorinandherdaughterarrived，precededbyLeDuconhorseback，whoannouncedtheirapproachbynumeroussmacksofhiswhip。Iwelcomedherwithopenarms，thankingherforobligingme。

ThefirstpieceofnewsshegavemewasthatMdlle。RomanhadbecomemistresstoLouisXV。，thatshelivedinabeautifulhouseatPassi，andthatshewasfivemonthsgonewithchild。ThusshewasinafairwaytobecomequeenofFrance，asmydivineoraclehadpredicted。

"AtGrenoble，"sheadded，"youarethesoletopicofconversation；

andIadviseyounottogothereunlessyouwishtosettleinthecountry，fortheywouldneverletyougo。Youwouldhaveallthenobilityatyourfeet，andaboveall，theladiesanxioustoknowthelotoftheirdaughters。Everybodybelievesinjudicialastrologynow，andValenglardtriumphs。HehasbetahundredLouistofiftythatmyniecewillbedeliveredofayoungprince，andheiscertainofwinning；thoughtobesure，ifheloses，everybodywilllaughathim。"

"Don’tbeafraidofhislosing。"

"Isitquitecertain？"

"Hasnotthehoroscopeprovedtruthfulintheprincipalparticular？Iftheothercircumstancesdonotfollow，Imusthavemadeagreatmistakeinmycalculations。"

"Iamdelightedtohearyousayso。"

"IamgoingtoParisandIhopeyouwillgivemealetterofintroductiontoMadameVarnier，sothatImayhavethepleasureofseeingyourniece。"

"Youshallhavetheletterto—morrowwithoutfail。"

IintroducedMdlle。Desarmoisestoherunderthefamilynameofherlover，andinvitedhertodinewithMadameMorinandmyself。

Afterdinnerwewenttotheconvent，andM————M————camedownverysurprisedatthisunexpectedvisitfromheraunt；butwhenshesawmeshehadneedofallherpresenceofmind。Whenherauntintroducedmetoherbyname，sheobservedwithtruefemininetactthatduringherstayatAixshehadseenmefiveorsixtimesatthefountain，butthatIcouldnotrememberherfeaturesasshehadalwayswornherveil。Iadmiredherwitasmuchasherexquisitefeatures。Ithoughtshehadgrownprettierthanever，andnodoubtmylookstoldherasmuch。WespentanhourintalkingaboutGrenobleandheroldfriends，whomshegladlyrecalledtohermemory，andthenshewenttofetchayounggirlwhowasboardingattheconvent，whomshelikedandwantedtopresenttoheraunt。

IseizedtheopportunityoftellingMadameMorinthatIwasastonishedatthelikeness，thatherveryvoicewaslikethatofmyVenetianM————M—————，andIbeggedhertoobtainmetheprivilegeofbreakfastingwithherniecethenextday，andofpresentingherwithadozenpoundsofcapitalchocolate。IhadbroughtitwithmefromGenoa。

"Youmustmakeherthepresentyourself，"saidMadameMorin，"forthoughshe’sanunshe’sawoman，andwewomenmuchpreferapresentfromaman’sthanfromawoman’shand。"

M————M————returnedwiththesuperioroftheconvent