第78章

IntheprincipalityofMonacotherewasaFrenchgarrison，whichwasworthapensionofahundredthousandfrancstotheprince——averywelcomeadditiontohisincome。

Acurledandscentedyoungofficer，passingbyourroom，thedoorofwhichwasopen，stoppedshort，andwithunblushingpolitenessaskedusifwewouldallowhimtojoinourparty。Irepliedpolitely，butcoldly，thathedidushonour——aphrasewhichmeansneitheryesnorno；butaFrenchmanwhohasadvancedonestepneverretreats。

Heproceededtodisplayhisgracesforthebenefitoftheladies，talkingincessantly，withoutgivingthemtimetogetinaword，whenhesuddenlyturnedtomeandsaidthathewonderedhowitwasthattheprincehadnotaskedmeandmyladiestodinner。ItoldhimthatIhadnotsaidanythingtotheprinceaboutthetreasureIhadwithme。

Ihadscarcelyutteredthewords，whenthekindlyblockheadroseandcriedenthusiastically，——

"Parbleu！Iamnolongersurprised。Iwillgoandtellhishighness，andIshallsoonhavethehonourofdiningwithyouatthecastle。"

Hedidnotwaittohearmyanswer，butwentoffinhothaste。

Welaughedheartilyathisfolly，feelingquitesurethatweshouldneitherdinewithhimnortheprince，butinaquarterofanhourhereturnedinhighglee，andinvitedusalltodinneronbehalfoftheprince。

"Ibegyouwillthankhishighness，andatthesametimeaskhimtoexcuseus。Theweatherhasimproved，andIwanttobeoffassoonaswehavetakenahastymorsel。"

TheyoungFrenchmanexertedallhiseloquenceinvain，andatlengthretiredwithamortifiedairtotakeouranswertotheprince。

IthoughtIhadgotridofhimatlast，butIdidnotknowmyman。

Hereturnedashorttimeafter，andaddressinghimselfinacomplacentmannertotheladies，asifIwasofnomoreaccount，hetoldthemthathehadgiventheprincesuchadescriptionoftheircharmsthathehadmadeuphismindtodinewiththem。

"Ihavealreadyorderedthetabletobelaidfortwomore，asIshallhavethehonourofbeingoftheparty。Inaquarterofanhour，ladies，theprincewillbehere。"

"Verygood，"saidI，"butastheprinceiscomingImustgotothefeluccaandfetchacapitalpieofwhichtheprinceisveryfond，I

know。Come，ladies。"

"Youcanleavethemhere，sir。Iwillundertaketokeepthemamused。"

"Ihavenodoubtyouwould，buttheyhavesomethingstogetfromthefeluccaaswell。"

"Thenyouwillallowmetocometoo。"

"Certainlywithpleasure。"

Asweweregoingdownthestairs，IaskedtheinnkeeperwhatIowedhim。

"Nothing，sir，Ihavejustreceivedorderstoserveyouineverything，andtotakenomoneyfromyou。"

"Theprinceisreallymagnificent！"Duringthisshortdialogue，theladieshadgoneonwiththefop。Ihastenedtorejointhem，andmyniecetookmyarm，laughingheartilytoheartheofficermakinglovetoMarcoline，whodidnotunderstandawordhesaid。Hedidnotnoticeitintheleast，forhistonguekeptgoinglikethewheelofamill，andhedidnotpauseforanyanswers。

"Weshallhavesomefunatdinner，"saidmyniece，"butwhatarewegoingtodoonthefelucca？"

"Weareleaving。Saynothing。"

"Leaving？"

"Immediately。"

"Whatajest！itisworthitsweightingold。"

Wewentonboardthefelucca，andtheofficer，whowasdelightedwiththeprettyvessel，proceededtoexamineit。Itoldmyniecetokeephimcompany，andgoingtothemaster，whisperedtohimtoletgodirectly。

"Directly？"

"Yes，thismoment。"

"Buttheabbeandyoursecretaryaregoneforawalk，andtwoofmymenareonshore，too。"

"That’snomatter；weshallpickthemupagainatAntibes；it’sonlytenleagues，andtheyhaveplentyofmoney。Imustgo，anddirectly。

Makehaste。"

"Allright。"

Hetrippedtheanchor，andthefeluccabegantoswingawayfromtheshore。Theofficeraskedmeingreatastonishmentwhatitmeant。

"ItmeansthatIamgoingtoAntibesandIshallbeverygladtotakeyoutherefornothing。"

"Thisisafinejest！Youarejoking，surely？"

"Yourcompanywillbeverypleasantonthejourney。"

"Pardieu！putmeashore，forwithyourleave，ladies，IcannotgotoAntibes。"

"Putthegentlemanashore，"saidItothemaster，"hedoesnotseemtolikeourcompany。"

"It’snotthat，uponmyhonour。Theseladiesarecharming，buttheprincewouldthinkthatIwasintheplottoplaythistrickuponhim，whichyoumustconfessisratherstrong。"

"Ineverplayaweaktrick。"

"Butwhatwilltheprincesay？"

"Hemaysaywhathelikes，andIshalldoasIlike。"

"Well，it’snofaultofmine。Farewell，ladies！farewell，sir！"

"Farewell，andyoumaythanktheprinceformeforpayingmybill。"

Marcolinewhodidnotunderstandwhatwaspassinggazedinastonishment，butmyniecelaughedtillhersidesached，forthewayinwhichthepoorofficerhadtakenthematterwasextremelycomic。

Clairmontbroughtusanexcellentdinner，andwelaughedincessantlyduringitsprogress，evenattheastonishmentoftheabbeandPossanowhentheycametothequayandfoundthefeluccahadflown。However，IwassureofmeetingthemagainatAntibes，andwereachedthatportatsixo’clockintheevening。

Themotionoftheseahadtireduswithoutmakingusfeelsick，fortheairwasfresh，andourappetitesfeltthebenefitsofit，andinconsequencewedidgreathonourtothesupperandthewine。

MarcolinewhosestomachwasweakenedbythesicknessshehadundergonesoonfelttheeffectsoftheBurgundy，hereyeswereheavy，andshewenttosleep。Myniecewouldhaveimitatedher，butI

remindedhertenderlythatwewereatAntibes，andsaidIwassureshewouldkeepherword。Shedidnotanswerme，butgavemeherhand，loweringhereyeswithmuchmodesty。

Intoxicatedwithhersubmissionwhichwassolikelove，Igotintobedbesideher，exclaiming，——

"Atlastthehourofmyhappinesshascome！

"Andminetoo，dearest。"

"Yours？Haveyounotcontinuallyrepulsedme？"

"Never！Ialwayslovedyou，andyourindifferencehasbeenabittergrieftome。"

"ButthefirstnightweleftMilanyoupreferredbeingalonetosleepingwithme。"

"CouldIdootherwisewithoutpassinginyoureyesforonemoreaslavetosensualpassionthantolove？BesidesyoumighthavethoughtIwasgivingmyselftoyouforthebenefitsIhadreceived；

andthoughgratitudebeanoblefeeling，itdestroysallthesweetdelightsoflove。Yououghttohavetoldmethatyoulovedmeandsubduedmebythoseattentionswhichconquertheheartsofuswomen。

ThenyouwouldhaveseenthatIlovedyoutoo，andouraffectionwouldhavebeenmutual。OnmysideIshouldhaveknownthatthepleasureyouhadofmewasnotgivenoutofamerefeelingofgratitude。Idonotknowwhetheryouwouldhavelovedmelessthemorningafter，ifIhadconsented，butIamsureIshouldhavelostyouresteem。"

Shewasright，andIapplaudedhersentiments，whilegivinghertounderstandthatshewastoputallnotionsofbenefitsreceivedoutofhermind。IwantedtomakeherseethatIknewthattherewasnomoreneedforgratitudeonhersidethanmine。

Wespentanightthatmustbeimaginedratherthandescribed。Shetoldmeinthemorningthatshefeltallhadbeenforthebest，asifshehadgivenwayatfirstshecouldneverhavemadeuphermindtoaccepttheyoungGenoese，thoughheseemedlikelytomakeherhappy。

Marcolinecametoseeusinthemorning，caressedus，andpromisedtosleepbyherselftherestofthevoyage。

"Thenyouarenotjealous？"saidI。

"No，forherhappinessisminetoo，andIknowshewillmakeyouhappy。"

Shebecamemoreravishinglybeautifuleveryday。

Possanoandtheabbecameinjustasweweresittingdowntotable，andmyniecehavingorderedtwomoreplatesIallowedthemtodinewithus。Mybrother’sfacewaspitifulandyetridiculous。Hecouldnotwalkanydistance，sohehadbeenobligedtocomeonhorseback，probablyforthefirsttimeinhislife。

"Myskinisdelicate，"saidhe，"soIamallblistered。ButGod’swillbedone！IdonotthinkanyofHisservantshaveenduredgreatertormentsthanmineduringthisjourney。Mybodyissore，andsoismysoul。"

SosayinghecastapiteousglanceatMarcoline，andwehadtoholdoursidestopreventourselveslaughing。Myniececouldbearitnomore，andsaid，——

"HowIpityyou，dearuncle！"

Atthisheblushed，andbegantoaddressthemostabsurdcomplimentstoher，stylingher"mydearniece。"Itoldhimtobesilent，andnottospeakFrenchtillhewasabletoexpresshimselfinthatequivocallanguagewithoutmakingafoolofhimself。ButthepoetPogomasspokenobetterthanhedid。

IwascurioustoknowwhathadhappenedatMentoneafterwehadleft，andPogomasproceededtotellthestory。

"Whenwecamebackfromourwalkweweregreatlyastonishednottofindthefeluccaanymore。Wewenttotheinn，whereIknewyouhadordereddinner；buttheinn—keeperknewnothingexceptthathewasexpectingtheprinceandayoungofficertodinewithyou。Itoldhimhemightwaitforyouinvain，andjustthentheprincecameupinarage，andtoldtheinn—keeperthatnowyouweregonehemightlooktoyouforhispayment。’Mylord，’saidtheinn—keeper，’thegentlemanwantedtopayme，butIrespectedtheordersIhadreceivedfromyourhighnessandwouldnottakethemoney。’Atthistheprinceflunghimalouiswithanillgrace，andaskeduswhowewere。I

toldhimthatwebelongedtoyou，andthatyouhadnotwaitedforuseither，whichputustogreattrouble。’Youwillgetawayeasilyenough，’saidhe；andthenhebegantolaugh，andsworethejestwasapleasantone。Hethenaskedmewhotheladieswere。Itoldhimthattheonewasyourniece，andthatIknewnothingoftheother；

buttheabbeinterfered，andsaidshewasyourcuisine。Theprinceguessedhemeanttosay’cousin，’andburstoutlaughing，inwhichhewasjoinedbytheyoungofficer。’Greethimfromme，’saidhe，ashewentaway，’andtellhimthatweshallmeetagain，andthatIwillpayhimoutforthetrickhehasplayedme。’"Theworthyhostlaughed，too，whentheprincehadgone，andgaveusagooddinner，sayingthattheprince’sLouiswouldpayforitall。Whenwehaddinedwehiredtwohorses，andsleptatNice。Inthemorningwerodeonagain，beingcertainoffindingyouhere。"Marcolinetoldtheabbeinacoldvoicetotakecarenottotellanyoneelsethatshewashiscuisine，orhiscousin，orelseitwouldgoillwithhim，asshedidnotwishtobethoughteithertheoneortheother。IalsoadvisedhimseriouslynottospeakFrenchforthefuture，astheabsurdwayinwhichhehadcommittedhimselfmadeeveryoneabouthimashamed。

JustasIwasorderingpost—horsestotakeustoFrejus，amanappeared，andtoldmeIowedhimtenlouisforthestorageofacarriagewhichIhadleftonhishandsnearlythreeyearsago。ThiswaswhenIwastakingRosalietoItaly。Ilaughed，forthecarriageitselfwasnotworthfivelouis。"Friend，"saidI，"Imakeyouapresentofthearticle。"

"Idon’twantyourpresent。Iwantthetenlouisyouoweme。"

"Youwon’tgetthetenlouis。Iwillseeyoufurtherfirst。"

"Wewillseeaboutthat"；andsosayinghetookhisdeparture。

Isentforhorsesthatwemightcontinueourjourney。

Afewmomentsafter，asergeantsummonedmetothegovernor’spresence。Ifollowedhim，andwaspolitelyrequestedtopaythetenlouisthatmycreditordemanded。Iansweredthat，intheagreementI

hadenteredintoforsixfrancsamonth，therewasnomentionofthelengthoftheterm，andthatIdidnotwanttowithdrawmycarriage。

"Butsupposingyouwerenevertowithdrawit？"

"Thenthemancouldbequeathhisclaimtohisheir。"

"Ibelievehecouldobligeyoutowithdrawit，ortoallowittobesoldtodefrayexpenses。"

"Youareright，sir，andIwishtosparehimthattrouble。Imakehimapresentofthecarriage。"

"That’sfairenough。Friend，thecarriageisyours。"

"Butsir，"saidtheplaintiff，"itisnotenough；thecarriageisnotworthtenlouis，andIwantthesurplus。"

"Youareinthewrong。Iwishyouapleasantjourney，sir，andI

hopeyouwillforgivetheignoranceofthesepoorpeople，whowouldliketoshapethelawsaccordingtotheirneeds。"

Allthistroublehadmademeloseagooddealoftime，andI

determinedtoputoffmydeparturetillthenextday。However，I

wantedacarriageforPossanoandtheabbe，andIgotmysecretarytobuytheoneIhadabandonedforfourlouis。Itwasinadeplorablestate，andIhadtohaveitrepaired，whichkeptustilltheafternoonofthenextday；however，sofaraspleasurewasconcerned，thetimewasnotlost。

CHAPTERIII

MyArrivalatMarseilles——Madamed’Urfe——MyNieceIsWelcomedbyMadameAudibertIGetRidofMyBrotherandPossano——Regeneration——DepartureofMadamed’Urfe——MarcolineRemainsConstantMyniece，nowmymistress，grewmoredeartomeeveryday，andI

couldnothelptremblingwhenIreflectedthatMarseilleswouldbethetombofourlove。ThoughIcouldnothelparrivingthere，I

prolongedmyhappinessaslongasIcouldbytravellingbyshortstages。IgottoFrejusinlessthanthreehours，andstoppedthere，andtellingPossanoandtheabbetodoastheylikedduringourstay，Iorderedadelicatesupperandchoicewineformyselfandmynymphs。

Ourrepastlastedtillmidnight，thenwewenttobed，andpassedthetimeinsweetsleepandsweeterpleasures。ImadethesamearrangementsatLucca，Brignoles，andAubayne，whereIpassedthesixthandlastnightofhappiness。

AssoonasIgottoMarseillesIconductedmyniecetoMadameAudibert’s，andsentPossanoandmybrothertothe"TriezeCantons"

inn，biddingthemobservethestrictestsilencewithregardtome，forMadamed’Urfehadbeenawaitingmeforthreeweeks，andIwishedtobemyownheraldtoher。

ItwasatMadameAudibert’sthatmyniecehadmetCroce。Shewasacleverwoman，andhadknownthegirlfromherchildhood，anditwasthroughherthatmyniecehopedtoberestoredtoherfather’sgoodgraces。WehadagreedthatIshouldleavemynieceandMarcolineinthecarriage，andshouldinterviewMadameAudibert，whoseacquaintanceIhadmadebefore，andwithwhomIcouldmakearrangementsformyniece’slodgingtillsomearrangementwascometo。

MadameAudibertsawmegettingoutofmycarriage，andasshedidnotrecognizemehercuriositymadehercomedownandopenthedoor。Shesoonrecognizedme，andconsentedtoletmehaveaprivateinterviewwiththebestgraceintheworld。

Ididnotloseanytimeinleadinguptothesubject，andafterIhadgivenherarapidsketchoftheaffair，howmisfortunehadobligedLaCroixtoabandonMdlle。Crosin，howIhadbeenabletobeofservicetoher，andfinally，howshehadhadthegoodlucktomeetawealthyanddistinguishedperson，whowouldcometoMarseillestoaskherhandinafortnight，IconcludedbysayingthatIshouldhavethehappinessofrestoringtoherhandsthedeargirlwhosepreserverI

hadbeen。

"Whereisshe？"criedMadameAudibert。

"Inmycarriage。Ihaveloweredtheblinds。"

"Bringherin，quick！Iwillseetoeverything。Nobodyshallknowthatsheisinmyhouse。"

Happierthanaprince，Imadeoneboundtothecarriageand，concealingherfacewithhercloakandhood，Iledmyniecetoherfriend’sarms。Thiswasadramaticscenefullofsatisfactionforme。Kissesweregivenandreceived，tearsofhappinessandrepentanceshed，Iweptmyselffrommingledfeelingsofemotion，happiness，andregret。

InthemeanwhileClairmonthadbroughtupmyniece’sluggage，andI

wentawaypromisingtoreturnandseeheranotherday。

Ihadanotherandasimportantanarrangementtoconclude，ImeanwithrespecttoMarcoline。Itoldthepostillionstotakemetotheworthyoldman’swhereIhadlodgedRosaliesopleasantly。Marcolinewasweepingatthisseparationfromherfriend。Igotdownatthehouse，andmademybargainhastily。Mynewmistresswas，Isaid，tobelodged，fed，andattendedonasifshehadbeenaprincess。Heshewedmetheapartmentshewastooccupy；itwasfitforayoungmarchioness，andhetoldmethatsheshouldbeattendedbyhisownniece，thatsheshouldnotleavethehouse，andthatnobodybutmyselfshouldvisither。

HavingmadethesearrangementsImadethefairVenetiancomein。I

gaveherthemoneyshehadwon，whichIhadconvertedintogoldandmadeuptoathousandducats。

"Youwon’twantithere，"saidI，"sotakecareofit。AtVeniceathousandducatswillmakeyousomebody。Donotweep，dearest，myheartiswithyou，andto—morroweveningIwillsupwithyou。"

Theoldmangavemethelatch—key，andIwentofftothe"TreizeCantons。"Iwasexpected，andmyroomswereadjacenttothoseoccupiedbyMadamed’Urfe。

AssoonasIwassettled，Bourgnolewaitedonme，andtoldmehermistresswasaloneandexpectingmeimpatiently。

Ishallnottroublemyreaderswithanaccountofourinterview，asitwasonlycomposedofMadamed’Urfe’smadflightsoffancy，andofliesonmypartwhichhadnoteventhemeritofprobability。Aslavetomylifeofhappyprofligacy，Iprofitedbyherfolly；shewouldhavefoundsomeoneelsetodeceiveher，ifIhadnotdoneso，foritwasreallyshewhodeceivedherself。Inaturallypreferredtoprofitbyherratherthanthatastrangershoulddoso；shewasveryrich，andIdidmyselfagreatdealofgood，withoutdoinganyoneanyharm。

Thefirstthingsheaskedmewas，"WhereisQuerilinthos？"AndshejumpedwithjoywhenItoldherthathewasunderthesameroof。

"’Tishe，then，whoshallmakemeyoungagain。Sohasmygeniusassuredmenightafternight。AskParalisifthepresentsIhavepreparedaregoodenoughforSemiramistopresenttotheheadoftheFraternityoftheRosyCross。"

Ididnotknowwhatthesepresentswere，andasIcouldnotasktoseethem，Iansweredthat，beforeconsultingParalis，itwouldbenecessarytoconsecratethegiftsundertheplanetaryhours，andthatQuerilinthoshimselfmustnotseethembeforetheconsecration。

Thereuponshetookmetohercloset，andshewedmethesevenpacketsmeantfortheRosicrucianintheformofofferingstothesevenplanets。

Eachpacketcontainedsevenpoundsofthemetalpropertotheplanet，andsevenpreciousstones，alsopropertotheplanets，eachbeingsevencaratsinweight；therewerediamonds，rubies，emeralds，sapphires，chrysolites，topazes，andopals。

ImadeupmymindthatnothingofthisshouldpassintothehandsoftheGenoese，andtoldthemadwomanthatwemusttrustentirelyinParalisforthemethodofconsecration，whichmustbebegunbyourplacingeachpacketinasmallcasketmadeonpurpose。Onepacket，andoneonly，couldbeconsecratedinaday，anditwasnecessarytobeginwiththesun。ItwasnowFriday，andweshouldhavetowaittillSunday，thedayofthesun。OnSaturdayIhadaboxwithsevennichesmadeforthepurpose。

ForthepurposesofconsecrationIspentthreehourseverydaywithMadamed’Urfe，andwehadnotfinishedtilltheensuingSaturday。

ThroughoutthisweekImadePossanoandmybrothertaketheirmealswithus，andasthelatterdidnotunderstandawordthegoodladysaid，hedidnotspeakawordhimself，andmighthavepassedforamuteoftheseraglio。Madamed’Urfepronouncedhimdevoidofsense，andimaginedweweregoingtoputthesoulofasylphintohisbodythathemightengendersomebeinghalfhuman，halfdivine。

Itwasamusingtoseemybrother’sdespairandrageatbeingtakenforanidiot，andwhenheendeavouredtosaysomethingtospewthathewasnotone，sheonlythoughthimmoreidioticthanever。I

laughedtomyself，andthoughthowillhewouldhaveplayedthepartifIhadaskedhimtodoit。Allthesametherascaldidnotloseanythingbyhisreputation，forMadamed’UrfeclothedhimwithadecentsplendourthatwouldhaveledonetosupposethattheabbebelongedtooneofthefirstfamiliesinFrance。ThemostuneasyguestatMadamed’Urfe’stablewasPossano，whohadtoreplytoquestions，ofthemostoccultnature，and，notknowinganythingaboutthesubject，