第70章

Thesyndichavingpronouncedmyname，shesaid，——

"Ah！then，you，sir，arethepersonwhodiscussedsomeverysingularquestionswithmycousin，thepastor’sniece。Iamdelightedtomakeyouracquaintance。"

"Iamequallypleasedtomakeyours，butIhopethepastor’sniecesaidnothingagainstme。"

"Notatall；shehasaveryhighopinionofyou。"

"Iamgoingtodinewithherto—morrow，andIshalltakecaretothankher。"

"To—morrow！Ishouldliketobethere，forIenjoyphilosophicaldiscussionsthoughIneverdaretoputawordin。"

ThesyndicpraisedherdiscretionandwisdominsuchamannerthatIwasconvincedhewasinlovewithher，andthathehadeitherseducedherorwastryingtodoso。HernamewasHelen。IaskedtheyoungladiesifHelenwastheirsister。Theeldestreplied，withaslysmile，thatshewasasister，butasyetshehadnobrother；andwiththisexplanationsheranuptoHelenandkissedher。ThenthesyndicandIviedwitheachotherinpayinghercompliments，tellingherthatwehopedtobeherbrothers。Sheblushed，butgavenoanswertoourgallantries。Ithendrewforthmycasket，andseeingthatallthegirlswereenchantedwiththerings，Itoldthemtochoosewhichonestheylikedbest。ThecharmingHelenimitatedtheirexample，andrepaidmewithamodestkiss。Soonaftersheleftus，andwewereoncemorefree，asinoldtimes。

ThesyndichadgoodcausetoshewforhisloveofHelen。Shewasnotmerelypleasing，shewasmadetoinspireaviolentpassion。

However，thethreefriendshadnohopeofmakingherjoinintheirpleasures，fortheysaidthatshehadinvinciblefeelingsofmodestywheremenwereconcerned。

Wesuppedmerrily，andaftersupperwebeganoursportsagain，thesyndicremainingasusualamerelooker—on，andwellpleasedwithhispart。Itreatedeachofthethreenymphstotwocourses，deceivingthemwheneverIwasforcedbynaturetodoso。Atmidnightwebrokeup，andtheworthysyndicescortedmetothedoorofmylodging。

ThedayfollowingIwenttothepastor’sandfoundanumerouspartyassembled，amongstothersM。d’HarcourtandM。deXimenes，whotoldmethatM。deVoltaireknewthatIwasatGenevaandhopedtoseeme。Irepliedbyaprofoundbow。Mdlle。Hedvig，thepastor’sniece，complimentedme，butIwasstillbetterpleasedtoseehercousinHelen。Thetheologianoftwenty—twowasfairandpleasanttotheeyes，butshehadnotthat’jenesaisquoi’，thatshadeofbitter—sweet，whichaddszesttohopeaswellaspleasure。However，theevidentfriendshipbetweenHedvigandHelengavemegoodhopesofsuccesswiththelatter。

Wehadanexcellentdinner，andwhileitlastedtheconversationwasrestrictedtoordinarytopics；butatdessertthepastorbeggedM。deXimenestoaskhisniecesomequestions。Knowinghisworldwidereputation，Iexpectedhimtoputhersomeproblemingeometry，butheonlyaskedwhetheraliecouldbejustifiedontheprincipleofamentalreservation。

Hedvigrepliedthattherearecasesinwhichalieisnecessary，butthattheprincipleofamentalreservationisalwaysacheat。

"ThenhowcouldChristhavesaidthatthetimeinwhichtheworldwastocometoanendwasunknowntoHim？"

"Hewasspeakingthetruth；itwasnotknowntoHim。"

"ThenhewasnotGod？"

"Thatisafalsededuction，forsinceGodmaydoallthings，Hemaycertainlybeignorantofaneventinfuturity。"

Ithoughtthewayinwhichshebroughtintheword"futurity"

almostsublime。Hedvigwasloudlyapplauded，andherunclewentallroundthetabletokissher。Ihadaverynaturalobjectiononthetipofmytongue，whichshemighthavefounddifficulttoanswer，butIwantedtogetintohergoodgracesandIkeptmyowncounsel。

M。d’Harcourtwasurgedtoaskhersomequestions，butherepliedinthewordsofHorace，’Nullamihireligioest’。ThenHedvigturnedtomeandaskedmetoputhersomehardquestion，"somethingdifficult，whichyoudon’tknowyourself。"

"Ishallbedelighted。Doyougrantthatagodpossessesinasupremedegreethequalitiesofman？"

"Yes，exceptingman’sweaknesses。"

"Doyouclassthegenerativepowerasaweakness？"

"No。"

"Willyoutellme，then，ofwhatnaturewouldhavebeentheoffspringofaunionbetweenagodandamortalwoman？"

Hedviglookedasredasfire。

Thepastorandtheotherguestslookedateachother，whileI

gazedfixedlyattheyoungtheologian，whowasreflecting。M。

d’HarcourtsaidthatweshouldhavetosendforVoltairetosettleaquestionsodifficult，butasHedvighadcollectedherthoughtsandseemedreadytospeakeverybodywassilent。

"Itwouldbeabsurd，"saidshe，"tosupposethatadeitycouldperformsuchanactionwithoutitshavinganyresults。Attheendofninemonthsawomanwouldbedeliveredamalechild，whichwouldbethreepartsmanandonepartgod。"

Atthesewordsalltheguestsapplauded，M。deXimenesexpressedhisadmirationofthewaythequestionhadbeensolved，adding，——

"Naturally，ifthesonofthewomanmarried，hischildrenwouldbeseven—eighthsmenandone—eighthgods。"

"Yes，"saidI，"unlesshemarriedagoddess，whichwouldhavemadetheproportiondifferent。"

"Tellmeexactly，"saidHedvig，"whatproportionofdivinitytherewouldbeinachildofthesixteenthgeneration。"

"GivemeapencilandIwillsoontellyou，"saidM。deXimenes。

"Thereisnoneedtocalculateit，"saidI；"thechildwouldhavesomesmallshareofthewitwhichyouenjoy。"

Everybodyapplaudedthisgallantspeech，whichdidnotbyanymeansoffendtheladytowhomitwasaddressed。

Thisprettyblondewaschieflydesirableforthecharmsofherintellect。Werosefromthetableandmadeacircleroundher，butshetolduswithmuchgracenottopayheranymorecompliments。

ItookHelenaside，andtoldhertogethercousintochoosearingfrommycasket，whichIgaveher，andsheseemedgladtoexecutethecommission。AquarterofanhourafterwardsHedvigcametoshewmeherhandadornedwiththeringshehadchosen。I

kisseditrapturously，andshemusthaveguessedfromthewarmthofmykisseswithwhatfeelingsshehadinspiredme。

IntheeveningHelentoldthesyndicandthethreegirlsallaboutthemorning’sdiscussionwithoutleavingoutthesmallestdetail。

Shetoldthestorywitheaseandgrace，andIhadnooccasiontoprompther。Webeggedhertostaytosupper，butshewhisperedsomethingtothethreefriends，andtheyagreedthatitwasimpossible；butshesaidthatshemightspendacoupleofdayswiththemintheircountryhouseonthelake，iftheywouldaskhermother。

Atthesyndic’srequestthegirlscalledonthemotherthenextday，andthedayafterthattheywentoffwithHelen。Thesameeveningwewentandsuppedwiththem，butwecouldnotsleepthere。Thesyndicwastotakemetoahouseatashortdistanceoff，whereweshouldbeverycomfortable。Thisbeingthecasetherewasnohurry，andtheeldestgirlsaidthatthesyndicandI

couldleavewheneverweliked，butthattheyweregoingtobed。

SosayingshetookHelentoherroom，whilethetwootherssleptinanotherroom。SoonafterthesyndicwentintotheroomwhereHelenwas，andIvisitedthetwoothers。

Ihadscarcelybeenwithmytwosweetheartsforanhourwhenthesyndicinterruptedmyeroticexploitsbybeggingmetogo。

"WhathaveyoudonewithHelen？"Iasked。

"Nothing；she’sasimpleton，andanintractableone。Shehidunderthesheetsandwouldnotlookatmyperformancewithherfriend。"

"Yououghttogotoherdirect。"

"Ihavedoneso，butsherepulsedmeagainandagain。Ihavegivenitup，andshallnottryitagain，unlessyouwilltameherforme。"

"Howisittobedone？"

"Cometodinnerto—morrow。IshallbeawayatGeneva。Ishallbebackbysupper—time。Iwishwecouldgivehertoomuchtodrink！"

"Thatwouldbeapity。LetmeseewhatIcando。"

Iaccordinglywenttodinewiththembymyselfthenextday，andtheyentertainedmeinalltheforceoftheword。Afterdinnerwewentforawalk，andthethreefriendsunderstandingmyaimsleftmealonewiththeintractablegirl，whoresistedmycaressesinamannerwhichalmostmademegiveupthehopeoftamingher。

"Thesyndic，"saidI，"isinlovewithyou，andlastnight……

"Lastnight，"shesaid，"heamusedhimselfwithhisoldfriend。I

amforeveryone’sfollowingtheirowntastes，butIexpecttobeallowedtofollowmine。"

"IfIcouldgainyourheartIshouldbehappy。"

"Whydon’tyouinvitethepastorandmycousintodinewithyou？

Icouldcometoo，forthepastormakesmuchofeveryonewholoveshisniece。"

"Iamgladtohearthat。Hasshealover？"

"No。"

"Icanscarcelybelieveit。Sheisyoung，pretty，agreeable，andveryclever。"

"Youdon’tunderstandGenevanways。Itisbecausesheissocleverthatnoyoungmanfallsinlovewithher。Thosewhomightbeattractedbyherpersonalcharmsholdthemselvesaloofonaccountofherintellectualcapacities，astheywouldhavetositinsilencebeforeher。"

"AretheyoungGenevanssoignorant，then？"

"Asaruletheyare。Someofthemhavereceivedexcellenteducations，butinageneralwaytheyarefullofprejudice。

Nobodywishestobeconsideredafoolorablockhead，butcleverwomenarenotappreciated；andifagirliswittyorwelleducatedsheendeavorstohideherlights，atleastifshedesirestobemarried。"

"Ah！nowIseewhyyoudidnotopenyourlipsduringourdiscussion。"

"No，IknowIhavenothingtohide。Thiswasnotthemotivewhichmademekeepsilence，butthepleasureoflistening。Iadmiredmycousin，whowasnotafraidtodisplayherlearningonasubjectwhichanyothergirlwouldhaveaffectedtoknownothingabout。"

"Yes，affected，thoughshemightveryprobablyknowasmuchashergrandmother。"

"That’samatterofmorals，orratherofprejudices。"

"Yourreasoningisadmirable，andIamalreadylongingforthepartyyousocleverlysuggested:"

"Youwillhavethepleasureofbeingwithmycousin。"

"Idoherjustice。Hedvigiscertainlyaveryinterestingandagreeablegirl，butbelievemeitisyourpresencethatwillconstitutemychiefenjoyment。"

"AndhowifIdonotbelieveyou？"

"Youwouldwrongmeandgivemepain，forIloveyoudearly。"

"Inspiteofthatyouhavedeceivedme。Iamsurethatyouhavegivenmarksofyouraffectiontothosethreeyoungladies。FormypartIpitythem。"

"Why？"

"Becauseneitherofthemcanflatterherselfthatyouloveher，andheralone。"

"Anddoyouthinkthatyourdelicacyoffeelingmakesyouhappierthantheyare？"

"Yes，Ithinksothoughofcourse，Ihavenoexperienceinthematter。Tellmetruly，doyouthinkIamright？"

"Yes，Ido。"

"Iamdelightedtohearit；butyoumustconfessthattoassociatemewiththeminyourattentionswouldnotbegivingmethegreatestpossibleproofofyourlove。"

"Yes，Idoconfessit，andIbegyourpardon。ButtellmehowI

shouldsettoworktoaskthepastortodinner。"

"Therewillbenodifficulty。Justcallonhimandaskhimtocome，andifyouwishmetobeofthepartybeghimtoaskmymotherandmyself。"

"Whyyourmother？"

"Becausehehasbeeninlovewithherthesetwentyyears，andlovesherstill。"

"AndwhereshallIgivethisdinner？"

"IsnotM。Tronchinyourbanker？"

"Yes。"

"Hehasanicepleasurehouseonthelake；askhimtolendityoufortheday；hewillbedelightedtodoso。Butdon’ttellthesyndicorhisthreefriendsanythingaboutit；theycanhearofitafterwards。"

"Butdoyouthinkyourlearnedcousinwillbegladtobeinmycompany？"

"Morethanglad，youmaybesure。"

"Verygood，everythingwillbearrangedbytomorrow。Thedayafter，youwillbereturningtoGeneva，andthepartywilltakeplacetwoorthreedayslater。"

Thesyndiccamebackinduecourse，andwehadaverypleasantevening。Aftersuppertheladieswenttobedasbefore，andI

wentwiththeeldestgirlwhilethesyndicvisitedthetwoyoungerones。IknewthatitwouldbeofnousetotrytodoanythingwithHelen，soIcontentedmyselfwithafewkisses，afterwhichI

wishedthemgoodnightandpassedontothenextroom。Ifoundtheminadeepsleep，andthesyndicseemedvisiblybored。HedidnotlookmorecheerfulwhenItoldhimthatIhadhadnosuccesswithHelen。

"Isee，"saidhe，"thatIshallwastemytimewiththelittlefool。IthinkIshallgiveherup。"

"Ithinkthat’sthebestthingyoucoulddo，"Ireplied，"foramanwholanguishesafterawomanwhoiseitherdevoidoffeelingorfullofcaprice，makeshimselfherdupe。Blissshouldbeneithertooeasynortoohardtobewon。"

ThenextdaywereturnedtoGeneva，andM。Tronchinseemeddelightedtoobligeme。Thepastoracceptedmyinvitation，andsaidIwassuretobecharmedwithHelen’smother。Itwaseasytoseethattheworthymancherishedatendernessforher，andifsherespondedatallitwouldbeallthebetterformypurposes。

IwasthinkingofsuppingwiththecharmingHelenandherthreefriendsatthehouseonthelake，butanexpresssummonedmetoLausanne。MadameLebel，myoldhousekeeper，invitedmetosupwithherandherhusband。ShewrotethatshehadmadeherhusbandpromisetotakehertoLausanneassoonasshegotmyletter，andsheaddedshewassurethatIwouldresigneverythingtogiveherthepleasureofseeingme。Shenotifiedthehouratwhichshewouldbeathermother’shouse。

MadameLebelwasoneofthetenortwelvewomenforwhominmyhappyyouthIcherishedthegreatestaffection。Shehadallthequalitiestomakeamanagoodwife，ifithadbeenmyfatetoexperiencesuchfelicity。ButperhapsIdidwellnottotiemyselfdownwithirrevocablebonds，thoughnowmyindependenceisanothernameforslavery。ButifIhadmarriedawomanoftact，whowouldhaveruledmeunawarestomyself，Ishouldhavetakencareofmyfortuneandhavehadchildren，insteadofbeinglonelyandpennilessinmyoldage。

ButImustindulgenolongerindigressionsonthepastwhichcannotberecalled，andsincemyrecollectionsmakemehappyI

shouldbefoolishtocherishidleregrets。

IcalculatedthatifIstarteddirectlyIshouldgettoLausanneanhourbeforeMadameLebel，andIdidnothesitatetogiveherthisproofofmyregard。Imustherewarnmyreaders，that，thoughIlovedthiswomanwell，Iwasthenoccupiedwithanotherpassion，andnovoluptuousthoughtmingledwithmydesireofseeingher。Myesteemforherwasenoughtoholdmypassionsincheck，butIesteemedLebeltoo，andnothingwouldhaveinducedmetodisturbthehappinessofthismarriedpair。

Iwroteinhastetothesyndic，tellinghimthatanimportantandsuddencallobligedmetostartforLausanne，butthatIshouldhavethepleasureofsuppingwithhimandhisthreefriendsatGenevaonthefollowingday。

IknockedatMadameDubois’sdooratfiveo’clock，almostdyingwithhunger。Hersurprisewasextreme，forshedidnotknowthatherdaughterwasgoingtomeetmeatherhouse。WithoutmoreadoIgavehertwolouistogetusagoodsupper。

Atseveno’clock，MadameLebel，herhusband，andachildofeighteenmonths，whomIeasilyrecognizedasmyown，arrived。Ourmeetingwasahappyoneindeed；wespenttenhoursattable，andmirthandjoyprevailed。Atday—breakshestartedforSoleure，whereLebelhadbusiness。M。deChavignihaddesiredtoberememberedmostaffectionatelytome。Lebelassuredmethattheambassadorwasextremelykindtohiswife，andhethankedmeheartilyforhavinggivensuchawomanuptohim。Icouldeasilyseethathewasahappyhusband，andthathiswifewasashappyashe。

Mydearhousekeepertalkedtomeaboutmyson。Shesaidthatnobodysuspectedthetruth，butthatneithershenorLebel（whohadfaithfullykepthispromise，andhadnotconsummatedthemarriageforthetwomonthsagreedupon）hadanydoubts。

"Thesecret，"saidLebeltome，"willneverbeknown，andyoursonwillbemysoleheir，orwillsharemypropertywithmychildrenifIeverhaveany，whichIdoubt。"

"Mydear，"saidhiswife，"thereissomebodywhohasverystrongsuspicionsonthesubject，andthesesuspicionswillgainstrengthasthechildgrowsolder；butwehavenothingtofearonthatscore，assheiswellpaidtokeepthesecret。"

"Andwhoisthisperson？"saidI。

"Madame————。Shehasnotforgottenthepast，andoftenspeaksofyou。"

"Willyoukindlyremembermetoher？"

"Ishallbedelightedtodoso，andIamsurethemessagewillgivehergreatpleasure。"

Lebelshewedmemyring，andIshewedhimhis，andgavehimasuperbwatchformyson。

"Youmustgiveithim，"Isaid，"whenyouthinkheisoldenough。"

Weshallhearoftheyounggentlemanintwenty—oneyearsatFontainebleau。

IpassedthreehoursintellingthemofalltheadventuresIhadduringthetwenty—sevenmonthssincewehadseenoneanother。Astotheirhistory，itwassoontold；ithadallthecalmwhichbelongstohappiness。

MadameLebelwasasprettyasever，andIcouldseenochangeinher，butIwasnolongerthesameman。Shethoughtmelesslivelythanofold，andshewasright。TheRenaudhadblastedme，andthepretendedLascarishadgivenmeagreatdealoftroubleandanxiety。

Weembracedeachothertenderly，andtheweddedpairreturnedtoSoleureandItoGeneva；butfeelingthatIwantedrestIwrotetothesyndicthatIwasnotwellandcouldnotcometillthenextday，andafterIhaddonesoIwenttobed。

Thenextday，theeveofmydinnerparty，Iorderedarepastinwhichnoexpensewastobespared。Ididnotforgettotellthelandlordtogetmethebestwines，thechoicestliqueurs，ices，andallthematerialsforabowlofpunch。Itoldhimthatweshouldbesixinnumber，forIforesawthatM。Tronchinwoulddinewithus。Iwasright；Ifoundhimathisprettyhousereadytoreceiveus，andIhadnotmuchtroubleininducinghimtostay。

IntheeveningIthoughtitaswelltotellthesyndicandhisthreefriendsaboutitinHelen’spresence，whileshe，feigningignorance，saidthathermotherhadtoldhertheyweregoingsomewhereorothertodinner。

"Iamdelightedtohearit，"saidI；"itmustbeatM。Tronchin’s。"

Myd