第88章

"Mydearbaron，theluck’sagainstyou；youmightlosealargesumofmoney。Ireallythinkwehavehadenough。"

Withoutheedingmypoliteness，hesworeagainstfortuneandagainstthefavourIseemedtobeshewinghim。Finallyhegotup，andtakinghishatandcane，wentout，saying，——

"IwillpayyouwhenIcomeback。"

Assoonashehadgonethegirlsaid:

"Iamsureyouhavebeenregardingmeasyourpartneratplay。"

"Ifyouhaveguessedthat，youwillalsohaveguessedthatIthinkyoucharming。"

"Yes，IthinkIhave。"

"Areyouangrywithme？"

"Notintheleast。"

"Youshallhavethefiftyguineasassoonashehaspaidme。"

"Verygood，butthebaronmustknownothingaboutit。"

"Ofcoursenot。"

ThebargainwasscarcelystruckbeforeIbegantoshewherhowmuchI

lovedher。Ihadeveryreasontocongratulatemyselfonhercomplaisance，andIthoughtthismeetingawelcomegleamoflightwhenalllookeddarkaroundme。Wehadtomakehaste，however，asthedoorwasonlyshutwithacatch。Ihadbarelytimetoascertainheraddressandthehouratwhichshecouldseeme，andwhetherI

shouldhavetobecarefulwithherlover。Sherepliedthatthebaron’sfidelitywasnotofacharactertomakehimveryexacting。I

puttheaddressinmypocket，andpromisedtopassanightwithher。

Thebaroncameinagain，andsaid，——

"Ihavebeentoamerchanttodiscountthisbillofexchange，andthoughitisdrawnononeofthebesthouseinCadiz，andmadeoutbyagoodhouseinLondon，hewouldnothaveanythingtodowithit。"

Itookthebillandsawsomemillionsmentionedonit，whichastonishedme。

ThebaronsaidwithalaughthatthecurrencywasPortuguesemilries，andthattheyamountedtofivehundredpoundssterling。

"Ifthesignaturesareknown，"saidI，"Idon’tunderstandwhythemanwon’tdiscountit。Whydon’tyoutakeittoyourbanker？"

"Ihaven’tgotone。IcametoEnglandwithathousandgoldpiecesinmypocket，andIhavespentthemall。AsIhavenotgotanylettersofcreditIcannotpayyouunlessthebillisdiscounted。IfyouhavegotanyfriendsontheExchange，however，youcouldgetitdone。"

"IfthenamesprovegoodonesIwillletyouhavethemoneyto—morrowmorning。"

"ThenIwillmakeitpayabletoyourorder。"

Heputhisnametoit，andIpromisedtosendhimeitherthemoneyorthebillbeforenoononthedayfollowing。Hegavemehisaddressandbeggedmetocomeanddinewithhim，andsoweparted。

ThenextdayIwenttoBosanquet，whotoldmethatMr。LeighwaslookingoutforbillsofexchangeonCadiz，andIaccordinglywaitedonhim。Heexclaimedthatsuchpaperwasworthmorethangoldtohim，andgavemefivehundredandtwentyguineas，ofcourseafterI

hadendorsedit。

IcalledonthebaronandgavehimthemoneyIhadjustreceived，andhethankedmeandgavemebackthehundredguineas。Afterwardswehaddinner，andfelltotalkingofhismistress。

"Areyouinlovewithher？"saidI。

"No；Ihaveplentyofothers，andifyoulikeheryoucanhaveherfortenguineas。"

Ilikedthiswayofputtingit，thoughIhadnottheslightestideaofcheatingthegirloutofthesumIhadpromisedher。OnleavingthebaronIwenttoseeher，andassoonassheheardthatthebaronhadpaidmesheorderedadelicioussupper，andmademespendanightthatobliteratedallmysorrowsfrommymemory。Inthemorning，whenIhandedoverthefiftyguineas，shesaidthatasarewardforthewayinwhichIkeptmypromiseIcouldsupwithherwheneverIlikedtospendsixguineas。Ipromisedtocomeandseeheroften。

ThenextmorningIreceivedaletterthroughthepost，writteninbadItalian，andsigned，"Yourobedientgodson，Daturi。"Thisgodsonofminewasinprisonfordebt，andbeggedmetogivehimafewshillingstobuysomefood。

Ihadnothingparticulartodo，theappellationofgodsonmademecurious，andsoIwenttotheprisontoseeDaturi，ofwhoseidentityIhadnottheslightestidea。Hewasafineyoungmanoftwenty；hedidnotknowme，norIhim。Igavehimhisletter，andbeggingmetoforgivehimhedrewapaperfromhispocketandshewedmehiscertificateofbaptism，onwhichIsawmyownnameinscribedbesidehisnameandthoseofhisfatherandmother，theparishofVenice，wherehewasborn，andthechurchinwhichhewasbaptized；butstillIrackedmymemoryinvain；Icouldnotrecollecthim。

"Ifyouwilllistentome，"hesaid，"Icansetyouright；mymotherhastoldmethestoryahundredtimes。"

"Goon，"saidI，"Iwilllisten；"andashetoldhisstoryI

rememberedwhohewas。

ThisyoungmanwhomIhadheldatthefontasthesonoftheactorDaturiwaspossiblymyownson。HehadcometoLondonwithatroupeofjugglerstoplaytheillustriouspartofclown，orpagliazzo，buthavingquarrelledwiththecompanyhehadlosthisplaceandhadgotintodebttotheextentoftenpoundssterling，andforthisdebthehadbeenimprisoned。Withoutsayinganythingtohimaboutmyrelationswithhismother，Isethimfreeonthespot，tellinghimtocometomeeverymorning，asIwouldgivehimtwoshillingsadayforhissupport。

AweekafterIhaddonethisgoodworkIfeltthatIhadcaughtthefearfuldiseasefromwhichthegodMercuryhadalreadydeliveredmethreetimes，thoughwithgreatdangerandperilofmylife。IhadspentthreenightswiththefatalEnglishwoman，andthemisfortunewasdoublyinconvenientunderthecircumstances。Iwasontheeveofalongseavoyage，andthoughVenusmayhaverisenfromthewavesofthesea，seaairisbynomeansfavourabletothoseonwhomshehascasthermalignaspect。Iknewwhattodo，andresolvedtohavemycasetakeninhandwithoutdelay。

Ileftmyhouse，notwiththeintentionofreproachingtheEnglishwomanafterthemanneroffools，butratherofgoingtoagoodsurgeon，withwhomIcouldmakeanagreementtostayinhishousetillmycurewascompleted。

IhadmytrunkspackedjustasifIwasgoingtoleaveLondon，exceptingmylinen，whichIsenttomywasherwomanwholivedatadistanceofsixmilesfromtown，anddroveagreattrade。

TheverydayImeanttochangemylodgingaletterwashandedtome。

ItwasfromMr。Leigh，andranasfollows:

"ThebillofexchangeIdiscountedforyouisaforgery，sopleasetosendmeatyourearliestconveniencethefivehundredandtwentyguineas；andifthemanwhohascheatedyouwillnotreimbursethemoney，havehimarrested。ForHeaven’ssakedonotforcemetohaveyouarrestedto—morrow，andwhateveryoudomakehaste，forthismayproveahangingmatter。"

FortunatelyIwasbymyselfwhenIreceivedtheletter。Ifelluponmybed，andinamomentIwascoveredwithacoldsweat，whileI

trembledlikealeaf。Isawthegallowsbeforeme，fornobodywouldlendmethemoney，andtheywouldnotwaitformyremittancefromVenicetoreachme。

Tomyshudderingfitsucceededaburningfever。Iloadedmypistols，andwentoutwiththedeterminationofblowingoutBaronStenau’sbrains，orputtinghimunderarrestifhedidnotgivemethemoney。

Ireachedhishouse，andwasinformedthathehadsailedforLisbonfourdaysago。

ThisBaronStenauwasaLivonian，andfourmonthsaftertheseeventshewashangedatLisbon。IonlyanticipatethislittleeventinhislifebecauseImightpossiblyforgetitwhenIcometomysojournatRiga。

AssoonasIheardhewasgoneIsawtherewasnoremedy，andthatI

mustsavemyself。Ihadonlytenortwelveguineasleft，andthissumwasinsufficient。IwenttoTreves，aVenetianJewtowhomIhadaletterfromCountAlgarotti，theVenetianbanker。IdidnotthinkofgoingtoBosanquet，orSanhel，orSalvador，whomightpossiblyhavegotwindofmytrouble，whileTreveshadnodealingswiththesegreatbankers，anddiscountedabillforahundredsequinsreadilyenough。WiththemoneyinmypocketImademywaytomylodging，whiledeadlyfeardoggedeverystep。Leighhadgivenmetwenty—fourhours’breathingtime，andIdidnotthinkhimcapableofbreakinghisword，stillitwouldnotdototrusttoit。Ididnotwanttolosemylinennorthreefinesuitsofclotheswhichmytailorwaskeepingforme，andyetIhadneedofthegreatestpromptitude。

IcalledinJarbeandaskedhimwhetherhewouldprefertotaketwentyguineasandhisdismissal，ortocontinueinmyservice。I

explainedthathewouldhavetowaitinLondonforaweek，andjoinmeattheplacefromwhichIwrotetohim。

"Sir，"saidhe，"Ishouldliketoremaininyourservice，andIwillrejoinyouwhereveryouplease。Whenareyouleaving？"

"Inanhour’stime；butsaynotaword，oritwillcostmemylife。"

"Whycan’tyoutakemewithyou？"

"BecauseIwantyoutobringmylinenwhichisatthewash，andmyclotheswhichthetailorismaking。Iwillgiveyousufficientmoneyforthejourney。"

"Idon’twantanything。YoushallpaymewhatIhavespentwhenI

rejoinyou。Waitamoment。"

Hewentoutandcamebackagaindirectly，andholdingoutsixtyguineas，said，——

"Takethis，sir，Ientreatyou，mycreditisgoodforasmuchmoreincaseofneed。"

"Ithankyou，mygoodfellow，butIwillnottakeyourmoney，butbesureIwillnotforgetyourfidelity。"

MytailorlivedclosebyandIcalledonhim，andseeingthatmyclotheswerenotyetmadeupItoldhimthatIshouldliketosellthem，andalsothegoldlacethatwastobeusedinthetrimming。Heinstantlygavemethirtyguineaswhichmeantagaintohimoftwenty—

fivepercent。Ipaidtheweek’srentofmylodging，andafterbiddingfarewelltomynegroIsetoutwithDaturi。WesleptatRochester，asmystrengthwouldcarrymenofarther。Iwasinconvulsions，andhadasortofdelirium。Daturiwasthemeansofsavingmylife。

Ihadorderedpost—horsestocontinueourjourney，andDaturiofhisownauthoritysentthembackandwentforadoctor，whopronouncedmetobeindangerofanapoplecticfitandorderedacopiousblood—

letting，whichrestoredmycalm。Sixhourslaterhepronouncedmefittotravel。IgottoDoverearlyinthemorning，andhadonlyhalfanhourtostop，asthecaptainofthepacketsaidthatthetidewouldnotallowofanydelay。Theworthysailorlittleknewhowwellhisviewssuitedmine。IusedthishalfhourinwritingtoJarbe，tellinghimtorejoinmeatCalais，andMrs。Mercier，mylandlady，towhomIhadaddressedtheletter，wrotetotellmethatshehadgivenithimwithherownhands。However，Jarbedidnotcome。Weshallhearmoreofthisnegrointhecourseoftwoyears。

Thefeverandthevirusthatwasinmybloodputmeindangerofmylife，andonthethirddayIwasinextremis。Afourthblood—lettingexhaustedmystrength，andleftmeinastateofcomawhichlastedfortwenty—fourhours。Thiswassucceededbyacrisiswhichrestoredmetolifeagain，butitwasonlybydintofthemostcarefultreatmentthatIfoundmyselfabletocontinuemyjourneyafortnightaftermyarrivalinFrance。

Weakinhealth，grievedathavingbeentheinnocentcauseoftheworthyMr。Leigh’slosingalargesumofmoney，humiliatedbymyflightfromLondon，indignantwithJarbe，andangryatbeingobligedtoabandonmyPortugueseproject，Igotintoapost—chaisewithDaturi，notknowingwheretoturnorwheretogo，orwhetherIhadmanymoreweekstolive。

IhadwrittentoVeniceaskingM。deBragadintosendthesumIhavementionedtoBrusselsinsteadofLondon。

WhenIgottoDunkirk，thedayafterIleftParis，thefirstpersonI

sawwasthemerchantS————，thehusbandofthatTheresewhommyreadersmayremember，thenieceofTiretta’smistress，withwhomI

hadbeeninlovesevenyearsago。Theworthymanrecognizedme，andseeinghisastonishmentatthechangeinmyappearanceItoldhimI

wasrecoveringfromalongillness，andthenaskedafterhiswife。

"Sheiswonderfullywell，"heanswered，"andIhopeweshallhavethepleasureofseeingyoutodinnertomorrow。"

IsaidIwantedtobeoffatday—break，buthewouldnothearofit，andprotestedhewouldbequitehurtifIwentawaywithoutseeinghiswifeandhisthreechildren。AtlastIappeasedhimbysayingthatwewouldsuptogether。

MyreaderswillrememberthatIhadbeenonthepointofmarryingTherese，andthiscircumstancemademeashamedofpresentingmyselftoherinsuchasorryplight。

Inaquarterofanhourthehusbandarrivedwithhiswifeandthreechildren，theeldestofwhomlooked，aboutsix。Aftertheusualgreetingsandtiresomeenquiriesaftermyhealth，Theresesentbackthetwoyoungerchildren，rightlythinkingthattheeldestwouldbetheonlyoneinwhomIshouldtakeanyinterest。Hewasacharmingboy；andashewasexactlylikehismother，theworthymerchanthadnodoubtsastotheparentageofthechild。

IlaughedtomyselfatfindingmyoffspringthusscatteredalloverEurope。AtsupperTheresegavemenewsofTiretta。HehadenteredtheDutchEastIndiaCompany’sservice，buthavingbeenconcernedinarevoltatBatavia，hehadonlyescapedthegallowsbyflight——Ihadmyownthoughtsastothesimilaritybetweenhisdestinyandmine，butIdidnotrevealthem。Afterallitisaneasyenoughmatterforanadventurousman，whodoesnotlookwhereheisgoing，togethangedforameretrifle。

Thenextday，whenIgottoTournay，Isawsomegroomswalkingfinehorsesupanddown，andIaskedtowhomtheybelonged。

"’TotheComtedeSt。Germain，theadept，whohasbeenhereamonth，andnevergoesout。Everybodywhopassesthroughtheplacewantstoseehim；butheisinvisible。"

Thiswasenoughtogivemethesamedesire，soIwrotehimaletter，expressingmywishtospeaktohim，andaskinghimtonameanhour。

Hisreply，whichIhavepreserved，ranasfollows:

"Thegravityofmyoccupationcompelsmetoexcludeeveryone，butyouareanexception。Comewheneveryoulike，youwillbeshewnin。Youneednotmentionmynamenoryourown。Idonotaskyoutosharemyrepast，farmyfoodisnotsuitabletoothers——toyouleastofall，ifyourappetiteiswhatitusedtobe。"

Atnineo’clockIpaidmycall，andfoundhehadgrownabeardtwoincheslong。Hehadascoreofretortsbeforehim，fullofliquidsinvariousstagesofdigestion。Hetoldmehewasexperimentingwithcoloursforhisownamusement，andthathehadestablishedahatfactoryforCountCobenzl，theAustrianambassadoratBrussels。Headdedthatthecounthadonlygivenhimahundredandfiftythousandflorins，whichwereinsufficient。ThenwespokeofMadamed’Urfe。

"Shepoisonedherself，"saidhe，"bytakingtoostrongadoseoftheUniversalMedicine，andherwillshewsthatshethoughtherselftobewithchild。Ifshehadcometome，Icouldhavereallymadeherso，thoughitisadifficultprocess，andsciencehasnotadvancedfarenoughforustobeabletoguaranteethesexofthechild。"

Whenheheardthenatureofmydisease，hewantedmetostaythreedaysatTournayforhimtogivemefifteenpills，whichwouldeffectuallycureme，andrestoremetoperfecthealth。Thenheshewedmehismagistrum，whichhecalledathoeter。Itwasawhiteliquidcontainedinawell—stopperedphial。Hetoldmethatthisliquidwastheuniversalspiritofnature，andthatifthewaxonthestopperwasprickedeversolightly，thewholeofthecontentswoulddisappear。Ibeggedhimtomaketheexperiment。Hegavemethephialandapin，andIprickedthewax，andtolo！thephialwasempty。

"Itisveryfine，"saidI，"butwhatgoodisallthis？"

"Icannottellyou；thatismysecret。"

HewantedtoastonishmebeforeIwent，andaskedmeifIhadanymoneyaboutme。Itookoutseveralpiecesandputthemonthetable。

Hegotup，andwithoutsayingwhathewasgoingtodohetookaburningcoalandputitonametalplate，andplacedatwelve—solspiecewithasmallblackgrainonthecoal。Hethenblewit，andintwominutesitseemedonfire。

"Waitamoment，"saidthealchemist，"letitgetcool；"anditcooledalmostdirectly。

"Takeit；itisyours，"saidhe。

Itookupthepieceofmoneyandfoundithadbecomegold。Ifeltperfectlycertainthathehadsmuggledmysilverpieceaway，andhadsubstitutedagoldpiececoatedwithsilverforit。Ididnotcaretotellhimasmuch，buttolethimseethatIwasnottakenin，I

said，——

"Itisreallyverywonderful，butanothertimeyoushouldwarnmewhatyouaregoingtodo，sothattheoperationmightbeattentivelywatched，andthepieceofmoneynotedbeforebeingplacedontheburningcoal。"

"Thosethatarecapableofentertainingdoubtsofmyart，"saidtherogue，"arenotworthytospeaktome。"

Thiswasinhisusualstyleofarrogance，towhichIwasaccustomed。

ThiswasthelasttimeIsawthiscelebratedandlearnedimpostor；hediedatSchlesingsixorsevenyearsafter。Thepieceofmoneyhegavemewaspuregold，andtwomonthsafterField—marshalKeithtooksuchafancytoitthatIgaveithim。

IleftTournaythenextmorning，andstoppedatBrusselstoawaittheansweroftheletterwhichIhadwrittentoM。deBragadin。FivedaysafterIgottheletterwithabillofexchangefortwohundredducats。

IthoughtofstayinginBrusselstogetcured，butDaturitoldmethathehadheardfromarope—dancerthathisfatherandmotherandthewholefamilywereatBrunswick，andhepersuadedmetogothere，assuringmethatIshouldbecarefullylookedafter。

HehadnotmuchdifficultyingettingmetogotoBrunswick，asIwascurioustoseeagainthemotherofmygodson，soIstartedthesameday。AtRuremondeIwassoillthatIhadtostopforthirty—sixhours。AtWeselIwishedtogetridofmypost—chaise，forthehorsesofthecountryarenotusedtogoingbetweenshafts，butwhatwasmysurprisetomeetGeneralBekwthere。

Aftertheusualcomplimentshadpassed，andthegeneralhadcondoledwithmeonmyweakstateofhealth，hesaidheshouldliketobuymychaiseandexchangeitforacommodiouscarriage，inwhichIcouldtravelalloverGermany。Thebargainwassoonstruck，andthegeneraladvisedmetostayatWeselwheretherewasacleveryoungdoctorfromtheUniversityofLeyden，whowouldunderstandmycasebetterthantheBrunswickphysicians。

Nothingiseasierthantoinfluenceasickman，especiallyifhebeinsearchoffortune，andknowsnotwheretolookfortheficklegoddess。GeneralBekw————，whowasingarrisonatWesel，sentforDr。Pipers，andwaspresentatmyconfessionandevenattheexamination。

IwillnotrevoltmyreadersbydescribingthedisgustingstateinwhichIwas，sufficeittosaythatIshudderstillwhenIthinkofit。

Theyoungdoctor，whowasgentlenesspersonified，beggedmetocomeandstaywithhim，promisingthathismotherandsistersshouldtakethegreatestcareofme，andthathewouldeffectaradicalcureinthecourseofsixweeksifIwouldcarryoutallhisdirections。Thegeneraladvisedmestronglytostaywiththedoctor，andIagreedallthemorereadilyasIwishedtohavesomeamusementatBrunswickandnottoarrivetheredeprivedoftheuseofallmylimbs。Ithereforegavein，butthedoctorwouldnothearofanyagreement。HetoldmethatIcouldgivehimwhateverIlikedwhenIwentaway，andhewouldcertainlybesatisfied。Hetookhisleavetogoandmakemyroomready，andtoldmetocomeinanhour’stime。Iwenttohishouseinasedan—chair，andheldahandkerchiefbeforemyface，asIwasashamedthattheyoungdoctor’smotherandsistersshouldseemeinthestateIwasin。

AssoonasIgottomyroom，DaturiundressedmeandIwenttobed。

CHAPTERXVII

MyCure——DaturiisBeatenbySomeSoldiers——ILeaveWeselforBrunswick——Redegonde——Brunswick——TheHereditaryPrince——TheJew——

MyStayatWolfen—ButtelTheLibrary——BerlinCalsabigiandtheBerlinLottery——Mdlle。BelangerAtSupper—time，thedoctor，hismother，andoneofhissisterscametoseeme。Allofthemboretheloveoftheirkindwrittenontheirfeatures；theyassuredmethatIshouldhaveallpossiblecareattheirhands。Whentheladiesweregonethedoctorexplainedhistreatment。Hesaidthathehopedtocuremebytheexhibitionofsudorificesandmercurialpills，buthewarnedmeImustbeverycarefulinmydietandmustnotapplymyselfinanyway。Ipromisedtoabidebyhisdirections，andhesaidthathewouldreadmethenewspaperhimselftwiceaweektoamuseme，andbywayofabeginningheinformedmethatthefamousPompadourwasdead。

ThusIwascondemnedtoastateofperfectrest，butitwasnottheremediesortheabstinenceIdreadedmost；Ifearedtheeffectsofennui；IthoughtIshoulddieofit。Nodoubtthedoctorsawthedangeraswellasmyself，forheaskedmeifIwouldmindhissistercomingandworkinginmyroomoccasionallywithafewofherfriends。

Irepliedthat，despitemyshameofshewingmyselftoyoungladiesinsuchacondition，Iacceptedherofferwithdelight。Thesisterwasverygratefulforwhatshewaspleasedtocallmykindness，formyroomwastheonlyonewhichlookedinthestreet，andaseveryoneknowsgirlsareveryfondofinspectingthepassers—by。UnfortunatelythisarrangementturnedoutillforDaturi。Thepooryoungmanhadonlyreceivedtheeducationofamountebank，anditwastiresomeforhimtopassallhistimeinmycompany。WhenhesawthatIhadplentyoffriends，hethoughtIcoulddispensewithhissociety，andonlythoughtofamus