第69章

IspenttwelvedaysatNancy，instructingtheyoungmadcapinthepartshehadtoplay，andendeavouringtopersuadehermotherthatshemustcontentherselfwithbeingtheCountessLascaris’shumbleservant。Itwasataskofimmensedifficulty；itwasnotenoughtoshewherthatoursuccessdependedonhersubmitting；IhadtothreatentosendherbacktoBolognabyherself。Ihadgoodreasontorepentofmyperseverance。Thatwoman’sobstinacywasaninspirationofmygoodangel’s，biddingmeavoidthegreatestmistakeIevermade。

OnthedayappointedwereachedPont—Carre。Madamed’Urfe，whomI

hadadvisedoftheexacthourofourarrival，hadthedrawbridgeofthecastlelowered，andstoodinthearchwayinthemidstofherpeople，likeageneralsurrenderingwithallthehonoursofwar。Thedearlady，whosemadnesswasbutanexcessofwit，gavethefalseprincesssodistinguishedareceptionthatshewouldhaveshewnheramazementifIhadnotwarnedherofwhatshemightexpect。Thricedidsheclasphertoherbreastwithatendernessthatwasquitematernal，callingherherbelovedniece，andexplainingtheentirepedigreesofthefamiliesofLascarisandd’Urfetomakethecountessunderstandhowshecametobeherniece。IwasagreeablysurprisedtoseethepoliteanddignifiedairwithwhichtheItalianwenchlistenedtoallthis；shedidnotevensmile，thoughthescenemusthavestruckherasextremelylaughable。

AssoonaswegotintothecastleMadamed’Urfeproceededtocensethenew—comer，whoreceivedtheattentionwithallthedignityofanoperaqueen，andthenthrewherselfintothearmsofthepriestess，whoreceivedherwithenthusiasticaffection。

Atdinnerthecountesswasagreeableandtalkative，whichwonherMadamed’Urfe’sentirefavour；herbrokenFrenchbeingeasilyaccountedfor。Laura，thecountess’smother，onlyknewhernativeItalian，andsokeptsilence。Shewasgivenacomfortableroom，wherehermealswerebroughttoher，andwhichsheonlylefttohearmass。

Thecastlewasafortifiedbuilding，andhadsustainedseveralsiegesinthecivilwars。Asitsname，Pont—Carre，indicated，itwassquare，andwasflankedbyfourcrenelatedtowersandsurroundedbyabroadmoat。Theroomswerevast，andrichlyfurnishedinanold—fashionedway。Theairwasfullofvenomousgnatswhodevouredusandcoveredourfaceswithpainfulbites；

butIhadagreedtospendaweekthere，andIshouldhavebeenhardputtoittofindapretextforshorteningthetime。Madamed’Urfehadabednext，herownforherniece，butIwasnotafraidofherattemptingtosatisfyherselfastothecountess’svirginity，astheoraclehadexpresslyforbiddenitunderpainorfailure。TheoperationwasfixedforthefourteenthdayoftheAprilmoon。

Onthatdaywehadatemperatesupper，afterwhichIwenttobed。

AquarterofanhourafterwardsMadamed’Urfecame，leadingthevirginLascaris。Sheundressedher，scentedher，castalovelyveiloverherbody，andwhenthecountesswaslaidbesidemesheremained，wishingtobepresentatanoperationwhichwastoresultinherbeingbornagaininthecourseofninemonths。

Theactwasconsummatedinform，andthenMadamed’Urfeleftusalonefortherestofthenight，whichwaswellemployed。

Afterwards，thecountesssleptwithheraunttillthelastdayofthemoon，whenIaskedtheoracleiftheCountessLascarishadconceived。Thatwellmightbe，forIhadsparednothingtothatintent；butIthoughtitmoreprudenttomaketheoraclereplythattheoperationhadfailedbecausethesmallCountd’Arandahadwatchedusbehindascreen。Madamed’Urfewasindespair，butI

consoledherbyasecondreply，inwhichtheoracledeclaredthatthoughtheoperationcouldonlybeperformedinFranceinApril，itcouldtakeplaceoutofthatrealminMay；buttheinquisitiveyoungcount，whoseinfluencehadprovedsofatal，mustbesentforatleastayeartosomeplaceahundredleaguesfromParis。Theoraclealsoindicatedthemannerinwhichhewastotravel；hewastohaveatutor，aservant，andallinorder。

Theoraclehadspoken，andnomorewaswanted。Madamed’Urfethoughtofanabbeshelikedforhistutor，andthecountwassenttoLyons，withstronglettersofcommendationtoM。deRochebaron，arelationofhispatroness。Theyoungmanwasdelightedtotravel，andneverhadanysuspicionofthewayinwhichIhadslanderedhim。Itwasnotamerefancywhichsuggestedthiscourseofaction。IhaddiscoveredthattheCorticelliwasmakinguptohim，andthathermotherfavouredtheintrigue。Ihadsurprisedhertwiceintheyoungman’sroom，andthoughheonlycaredforthegirlasayouthcaresforallgirls，theSignoraLauradidnotatallapproveofmyopposingherdaughter’sdesigns。

Ournexttaskwastofixonsomeforeigntownwherewecouldagainattemptthemysteriousoperation。WesettledonAix—la—Chapelle，andinfiveorsixdaysallwasreadyforthejourney。

TheCorticeili，angrywithmeforhavingthwartedherinherprojects，reproachedmebitterly，andfromthattimebegantobemyenemy；sheevenallowedherselftothreatenmeifIdidnotgetbacktheprettyboy，asshecalledhim。

"Youhavenobusinesstobejealous，"saidshe，"andIamthemistressofmyownactions。"

"Quiteright，mydear，"Ianswered；"butitismybusinesstoseethatyoudonotbehavelikeaprostituteinyourpresentposition。"

Themotherwasinafuriousrage，andsaidthatsheandherdaughterwouldreturntoBologna，andtoquietthemIpromisedtotakethemtheremyselfassoonaswehadbeentoAix—la—Chapelle。

NeverthelessIdidnotfeelatease，andtopreventanyplotstakingplaceIhastenedourdeparture。

WestartedinMay，inatravellingcarriagecontainingMadamed’Urfe，myself，thefalseLascaris，andhermaidandfavourite，namedBrougnole。Wewerefollowedbyacoachwithtwoseats；initweretheSignoraLauraandanotherservant。Twomen—servantsinfullliverysatontheoutsideofourtravellingcarriage。WestoppedadayatBrussels，andanotheratLiege。AtAixthereweremanydistinguishedvisitors，andatthefirstballweattendedMadamed’UrfepresentedtheLascaristotwoPrincessesofMecklenburgasherniece。Thefalsecountessreceivedtheirembraceswithmucheaseandmodesty，andattractedtheparticularattentionoftheMargraveofBaireuthandtheDuchessofWurtemberg，hisdaughter，whotookpossessionofher，anddidnotleavehertilltheendoftheball。

Iwasonthornsthewholetime，interrorlesttheheroinemightmakesomedreadfulslip。Shedancedsogracefullythateverybodygazedather，andIwasthepersonwhowascomplimentedonherperformance。

Isufferedamartyrdom，forthesecomplimentsseemedtobegivenwithmaliciousintent。Isuspectedthattheballet—girlhadbeendiscoveredbeneaththecountess，andIfeltmyselfdishonoured。I

succeededinspeakingprivatelytotheyoungwantonforamoment，andbeggedhertodancelikeayounglady，andnotlikeachorusgirl；butshewasproudofhersuccess，anddaredtotellmethatayoungladymightknowhowtodanceaswellasaprofessionaldancer，andthatshewasnotgoingtodancebadlytopleaseme。I

wassoenragedwithherimpudence，thatIwouldhavecastheroffthatinstantifithadbeenpossible；butasitwasnot，I

determinedthatherpunishmentshouldlosenoneofitssharpnessbywaiting；andwhetheritbeaviceoravirtue，thedesireofrevengeisneverextinguishedinmyhearttillitissatisfied。

ThedayaftertheballMadamed’Urfepresentedherwithacasketcontainingabeautifulwatchsetwithbrilliants，apairofdiamondear—rings，andaringcontainingarubyoffifteencarats。

Thewholewasworthsixtythousandfrancs。Itookpossessionofittopreventhergoingoffwithoutmyleave。

InthemeanwhileIamusedmyselfwithplayandmakingbadacquaintances。TheworstofallwasaFrenchofficer，namedd’Ache，whohadaprettywifeandadaughterprettierstill。

BeforelongthedaughterhadtakenpossessionoftheheartwhichtheCorticellihadlost，butassoonasMadamed’AchesawthatI

preferredherdaughtertoherselfsherefusedtoreceivemeatherhouse。

Ihadlentd’AchetenLouis，andIconsequentlyfeltmyselfentitledtocomplainofhiswife’sconduct；butheansweredrudelythatasIonlywenttothehouseafterhisdaughter，hiswifewasquiteright；thatheintendedhisdaughtertomakeagoodmatch，andthatifmyintentionswerehonourableIhadonlytospeaktothemother。Hismannerwasstillmoreoffensivethanhiswords，andIfeltenraged，butknowingthebrutaldrunkencharacteristicsoftheman，andthathewasalwaysreadytodrawcoldsteelforayesorano，Iwassilentandresolvedtoforgetthegirl，notcaringtobecomeinvolvedwithamanlikeherfather。

Ihadalmostcuredmyselfofmyfancywhen，afewdaysafterourconversation，Ihappenedtogointoabilliard—roomwhered’AchewasplayingwithaSwissnamedSchmit，anofficerintheSwedisharmy。Assoonasd’AchesawmeheaskedwhetherIwouldlaythetenLouisheowedmeagainsthim。

"Yes，"saidI，"thatwillmakedoubleorquits。"

Towardstheendofthematchd’Achemadeanunfairstroke，whichwassoevidentthatthemarkertoldhimofit；butasthisstrokemadehimthewinner，d’Acheseizedthestakesandputtheminhispocketwithoutheedingthemarkerortheotherplayer，who，seeinghimselfcheatedbeforehisveryeyes，gavetherascalablowacrossthefacewithhiscue。D’Acheparriedtheblowwithhishand，anddrawinghisswordrushedatSchmit，whohadnoarms。

Themarker，asturdyyoungfellow，caughtholdofd’Acheroundthebody，andthuspreventedmurder。TheSwisswentout，saying，"Weshallseeeachotheragain。"

TherascallyFrenchmancooleddown，andsaidtome，"Now，yousee，wearequits。"

"Verymuchquits。"

"That’sallverywell；but，byGod！youmighthavepreventedtheinsultwhichhasdishonouredme。"

"Imighthavedoneso，butIdidnotcaretointerfere。Youarestrongenoughtolookafteryourself。Schmithadnothissword，butIbelievehimtobeabraveman；andhewillgiveyousatisfactionifyouwillreturnhimhismoney，fortherecanbenodoubtthatyoulostthematch。"

Anofficer，nameddePyene，tookmeupandsaidthathehimselfwouldgivemethetwentylouiswhichd’Achehadtaken，butthattheSwissmustgivesatisfaction。Ihadnohesitationinpromisingthathewoulddoso，andsaidIwouldbringareplytothechallengethenextmorning。

Ihadnofearsmyself。Themanofhonouroughtalwaystobereadytousetheswordtodefendhimselffrominsult，ortogivesatisfactionforaninsulthehasoffered。Iknowthatthelawofduellingisaprejudicewhichmaybecalled，andperhapsrightly，barbarous，butitisaprejudicewhichnomanofhonourcancontendagainst，andIbelievedSchmittobeathoroughgentleman。

Icalledonhimatday—break，andfoundhimstillinbed。Assoonashesawme，hesaid，"Iamsureyouhavecometoaskmetofightwithd’Ache。Iamquitereadytoburnpowderwithhim，buthemustfirstpaymethetwentyLouisherobbedmeof。"

"Youshallhavethemto—morrow，andIwillattendyou。D’AchewillbesecondedbyM。dePyene。"

"Verygood。Ishallexpectyouatday—break。"

TwohoursafterIsawdePyene，andwefixedthemeetingforthenextday，atsixo’clockinthemorning。Thearmsweretobepistols。Wechoseagarden，halfaleaguefromthetown，asthesceneofthecombat。

Atday—breakIfoundtheSwisswaitingformeatthedoorofhislodgings，carollingthe’ranz—des—vaches’，sodeartohisfellow—

countrymen。Ithoughtthatagoodomen。

"Hereyouare，"saidhe；"letusbeoff，then。"

Ontheway，heobserved，"Ihaveonlyfoughtwithmenofhonouruptonow，andIdon’tmuchcareforkillingarascal；it’shangman’swork。"

"Iknow，"Ireplied，"thatit’sveryhardtohavetoriskone’slifeagainstafellowlikethat。"

"There’snorisk，"saidSchmit，withalaugh。"IamcertainthatIshallkillhim。"

"Howcanyoubecertain？"

"Ishallmakehimtremble。"

Hewasright。Thissecretisinfalliblewhenitisappliedtoacoward。Wefoundd’AcheanddePyeneonthefield，andfiveorsixotherswhomusthavebeenpresentfrommotivesofcuriosity。

D’Achetooktwentylouisfromhispocketandgavethemtohisenemy，saying，"Imaybemistaken，butIhopetomakeyoupaydearlyforyourbrutality。"Thenturningtomehesaid，"Ioweyoutwentylouisalso；"butImadenoreply。

Schmitputthemoneyinhispursewiththecalmestairimaginable，andmakingnoreplytotheother’sboastplacedhimselfbetweentwotrees，distantaboutfourpacesfromoneanother，anddrawingtwopistolsfromhispocketsaidtod’Ache，"Placeyourselfatadistanceoftenpaces，andfirefirst。I

shallwalktoandfrobetweenthesetwotrees，andyoumaywalkasfarifyouliketodosowhenmyturncomestofire。"

Nothingcouldbeclearerormorecalmlydeliveredthanthisexplanation。

"Butwemustdecide，"saidI，"whoistohavethefirstshot。"

"Thereisnoneed，"saidSchmit。"Ineverfirefirst，besides，thegentlemanhasarighttothefirstshot。"

DePyeneplacedhisfriendattheproperdistanceandthensteppedaside，andd’Achefiredonhisantagonist，whowaswalkingslowlytoandfrowithoutlookingathim。Schmitturnedroundinthecoolestmannerpossible，andsaid，"Youhavemissedme，sir；Iknewyouwould。Tryagain。"

Ithoughthewasmad，andthatsomearrangementwouldbecometo；

butnothingofthekind。D’Achefiredasecondtime，andagainmissed；andSchmit，withoutaword，butascalmasdeath，firedhisfirstpistolintheair，andthencoveringd’Achewithhissecondpistolhithimintheforeheadandstretchedhimdeadontheground。Heputbackhispistolsintohispocketandwentoffdirectlybyhimself，asifheweremerelycontinuinghiswalk。IntwominutesIfollowedhisexample，afterascertainingthattheunfortunated’Achenolongerbreathed。

Iwasinastateofamazement。Suchaduelwasmorelikeacombatofromancethanarealfact。Icouldnotunderstandit；IhadwatchedtheSwiss，andhadnotnoticedtheslightestchangepassoverhisface。

IbreakfastedwithMadamed’Urfe，whomIfoundinconsolable。Itwasthefullmoon，andatthreeminutespastfourexactlyIoughttoperformthemysteriouscreationofthechildinwhichshewastobebornagain。ButtheLascaris，onwhomtheworkwastobewrought，wastwistingandturninginherbed，contortingherselfinsuchawaythatitwouldbeimpossibleformetoaccomplishtheprolificwork。

Mygrief，whenIheardwhathadhappened，washypocritical；inthefirstplacebecauseInolongerfeltanydesireforthegirl，andinthesecondbecauseIthoughtIsawawayinwhichIcouldmakeuseoftheincidenttotakevengeanceonher。

IlavishedconsolationsonMadamed’Urfe；andonconsultingtheoracleIfoundthattheLascarishadbeendefiledbyanevilgenius，andthatImustsearchforanothervirginwhosepuritymustbeundertheprotectionofmorepowerfulspirits。Isawthatmymadwomanwasperfectlyhappywiththis，andIlefthertovisittheCorticelli，whomIfoundinbedwithhermotherbesideher。

"Youhaveconvulsions，haveyou，dearest？"saidI。

"No，Ihaven’t。Iamquitewell，butallthesameIshallhavethemtillyougivemebackmyjewel—casket。"

"Youaregettingwicked，mypoorchild；thiscomesoffollowingyourmother’sadvice。Asforthecasket，ifyouaregoingtobehavelikethis，probablyyouwillhaveit。"

"Iwillrevealall。"

"Youwillnotbebelieved；andIshallsendyoubacktoBolognawithoutlettingyoutakeanyofthepresentswhichMadamed’Urfehasgivenyou。"

"YououghttohavegivenmebackthecasketwhenIdeclaredmyselfwithchild。"

SignoraLauratoldmethatthiswasonlytootrue，thoughIwasnotthefather。

"Whois，then？"Iasked。

"CountN————，whosemistressshewasatPrague。"

Itdidnotseemprobable，asshehadnosymptomsofpregnancy；

stillitmightbeso。Iwasobligedtoplotmyselftobringtheplotsofthesetworascallywomentonought，andwithoutsayinganythingtothemIshutmyselfupwithMadamed’Urfetoenquireoftheoracleconcerningtheoperationwhichwastomakeherhappy。

Afterseveralanswers，moreobscurethananyreturnedfromtheoraculartripodatDelphi，theinterpretationofwhichIlefttotheinfatuatedMadamed’Urfe，shediscoveredherself——andItookcarenottocontradicther——thattheCountessLascarishadgonemad。Iencouragedherfears，andsucceededinmakingherobtainfromacabalisticpyramidthestatementthatthereasontheprincesshadnotconceivedwasthatshehadbeendefiledbyanevilgenius——anenemyoftheFraternityoftheRosyCross。ThisputMadamed’Urfefairlyontheway，andsheaddedonherownaccountthatthegirlmustbewithchildbyagnome。

Shethenerectedanotherpyramidtoobtainguidanceonourquest，andIsodirectedthingsthattheanswercamethatshemustwritetothemoon。

Thismadreply，whichshouldhavebroughthertohersenses，onlymadehermorecrazythanever。Shewasquiteecstatic，andIamsurethatifIhadendeavouredtoshewherthenothingnessofallthisIshowhavehadnothingformytrouble。HerconclusionwouldprobablyhavebeenthatIwaspossessedbyanevilspirit，andwasnolongeratrueRosyCross。ButIhadnoideaofundertakingacurewhichwouldhavedonemeharmandherno’good。Herchimericalnotionsmadeherhappy，andthecoldnakedtruthwoulddoubtlesshavemadeherunhappy。

Shereceivedtheordertowritetothemoonwiththegreaterdelightassheknewwhatceremoniesweretobeobservedinaddressingthatplanet；butshecouldnotdispensewiththeassistanceofanadept，andIknewshewouldreckononme。ItoldherIshouldalwaysbereadytoserveher，butthat，assheknewherself，weshouldhavetowaitforthefirstphaseofthenewmoon。Iwasverygladtogaintime，forIhadlostheavilyatplay，andIcouldnotleaveAix—la—Chapellebeforeabill，whichI

haddrawnonM。d’O。ofAmsterdam，wascashed。InthemeantimeweagreedthatastheCountessLascarishadbecomemad，wemustnotpayanyattentiontowhatshemightsay，asthewordswouldnotbehersbutwouldproceedfromtheevilspiritwhopossessedher。

Nevertheless，wedeterminedthatasherstatewasapitiableone，andshouldbeasmuchalleviatedaspossible，sheshouldcontinuetodinewithus，butthatintheeveningshewastogotohergovernessandsleepwithher。

AfterhavingthusdisposedofMadamed’UrfetodisbelievewhatevertheCorticellicaredtotellher，andtoconcentrateallherenergiesonthetaskofwritingtoSelenis，theintelligenceofthemoon，IsetmyselfseriouslytoworktoregainthemoneyIhadlostatplay；andheremycabalawasnogoodtome。IpledgedtheCorticelli’scasketforathousandlouis，andproceededtoplayinanEnglishclubwhereIhadamuchbetterchanceofwinningthanwithGermansorFrenchmen。

Threeorfourdaysafterd’Ache’sdeath，hiswidowwrotemeanotebeggingmetocallonher。IfoundherincompanywithdePyene。

Shetoldmeinalugubriousvoicethatherhusbandhadleftmanydebtsunsettled，andthathiscreditorshadseizedeverythingshepossessed；and——thatshewasthusunablet