第89章

"Yes，sire，butIhaveforgotteneverythingnow。IthoughtthatI

shouldnotbeawedbythemajestyofaking，butIwasmistaken。Mylord—marshalshouldhavewarnedme。"

"Thenheknowsyou？Letuswalk。Whatisitthatyouwant？Whatdoyouthinkofmygarden？"

Hisenquiriesaftermyneedsandofhisgardenweresimultaneous。ToanyotherpersonIshouldhaveansweredthatIdidnotknowanythingaboutgardening，butthiswouldhavebeenequivalenttorefusingtoanswerthequestion；andnomonarch，evenifhebeaphilosopher，couldendurethat。IthereforerepliedthatIthoughtthegardensuperb。

"But，"hesaid，"thegardensofVersaillesaremuchfiner。"

"Yes，sire，butthatischieflyonaccountofthefountains。"

"True，butitisnotmyfault；thereisnowaterhere。Ihavespentmorethanthreehundredthousandcrownstogetwater，butunsuccessfully。"

"Threehundredthousandcrowns，sire！Ifyourmajestyhadspentthemallatonce，thefountainsshouldbehere。"

"Oh，oh！Iseeyouareacquaintedwithhydraulics。"

Icouldnotsaythathewasmistaken，forfearofoffendinghim，soI

simplybentmyhead，whichmightmeaneitheryesorno。ThankGodthekingdidnottroubletotestmyknowledgeofthescienceofhydraulics，withwhichIwastotallyunacquainted。

Hekeptonthemoveallthetime，andasheturnedhisheadfromonesidetotheotherhurriedlyaskedmewhatforcesVenicecouldputintothefieldinwartime。

"Twentymen—of—war，sire，andanumberofgalleys。"

"Whatarethelandforces？"

"Seventythousandmen，sire；allofwhomaresubjectsoftheRepublic，andassessingeachvillageatoneman。"

"Thatisnottrue；nodoubtyouwishtoamusemebytellingmethesefables。Givemeyouropinionsontaxation。"

ThiswasthefirstconversationIhadeverhadwithamonarch。I

madearapidreviewofthesituation，andfoundmyselfmuchinthesamepositionasanactoroftheimprovisedcomedyoftheItalians，whoisgreetedbythehissesofthegodsifhestopsshortamoment。

IthereforerepliedwithalltheairsofadoctoroffinancethatI

couldsaysomethingaboutthetheoryoftaxation。

"That’swhatIwant，"hereplied，"forthepracticeisnobusinessofyours。"

"Therearethreekindsoftaxes，consideredastotheireffects。Thefirstisruinous，thesecondanecessaryevil，andthethirdinvariablybeneficial"

"Good！Goon。"

"Theruinousimpostistheroyaltax，thenecessaryisthemilitary，andthebeneficialisthepopular。"

AsIhadnotgiventhesubjectanythoughtIwasinadisagreeableposition，forIwasobligedtogoonspeaking，andyetnottotalknonsense。

"Theroyaltax，sire，isthatwhichdeplenishesthepursesofthesubjecttofillthecoffersoftheking。"

"Andthatkindoftaxisalwaysruinous，youthink。"

"Always，sire；itpreventsthecirculationofmoney——thesoulofcommerceandthemainstayofthestate。"

"Butifthetaxbeleviedtokeepupthestrengthofthearmy，yousayitisanecessaryevil。"

"Yes，itisnecessaryandyetevil，forwarisanevil。"

"Quiteso；andnowaboutthepopulartax。"

"Thisisalwaysabenefit，forthemonarchtakeswithonehandandgiveswiththeother；heimprovestownsandroads，foundsschools，protectsthesciences，cherishesthearts；infine，hedirectsthistaxtowardsimprovingtheconditionandincreasingthehappinessofhispeople。"

"Thereisagooddealoftruthinthat。IsupposeyouknowCalsabigi？"

"Ioughtto，yourmajesty，asheandIestablishedtheGenoaLotteryatParissevenyearsago。"

"Inwhatclasswouldyouputthistaxation，foryouwillagreethatitistaxationofakind？"

"Certainly，sire，andnottheleastimportant。Itisbeneficialwhenthemonarchspendshisprofitsforthegoodofthepeople。"

"Butthemonarchmaylose？"

"Onceinfifty。"

"Isthatconclusiontheresultofamathematicalcalculation？"

"Yes，sire。"

"Suchcalculationsoftenprovedeceptive。"

"Notso，mayitpleaseyourmajesty，whenGodremainsneutral。"

"WhathasGodgottodowithit？"

"Well，sire，wewillcallitdestinyorchance。"

"Good！Imaypossiblybeofyouropinionastothecalculation，butIdon’tlikeyourGenoeseLottery。Itseemstomeanelaborateswindle，andIwouldhavenothingmoretodowithit，evenifitwerepositivelycertainthatIshouldneverlose。"

"Yourmajestyisright，fortheconfidencewhichmakesthepeoplerisktheirmoneyinalotteryisperfectlyfallacious。"

Thiswastheendofourstrangedialogue，andstoppingbeforeabuildinghelookedmeover，andthen，afterashortsilence，observed，——

"Doyouknowthatyouareafineman？"

"Isitpossiblethat，afterthescientificconversationwehavehad，yourmajestyshouldselecttheleastofthequalitieswhichadornyourlifeguardsmenforremark？"

Thekingsmiledkindly，andsaid，——

"AsyouknowMarshalKeith，Iwillspeaktohimofyou。"

Withthathetookoffhishat，andbademefarewell。Iretiredwithaprofoundbow。

ThreeorfourdaysafterthemarshalgavemetheagreeablenewsthatIhadfoundfavourintheking’seyes，andthathismajestythoughtofemployingme。

Iwascurioustolearnthenatureofthisemployment，andbeinginnokindofhurryIresolvedtoawaiteventsinBerlin。Thetimepassedpleasantlyenough，forIwaseitherwithCalsabigi，BaronTreidel，ormylandlady，andwhentheseresourcesfailedme，Iusedtowalkinthepark，musingovertheeventsofmylife。

Calsabigihadnodifficultyinobtainingpermissiontocontinuethelotteryonhisownaccount，andheboldlyannouncedthathenceforwardhewouldconductthelotteryonhisownrisk。Hisaudacitywascrownedwithsuccess，andheobtainedaprofitofahundredthousandcrowns。Withthishepaidmostofhisdebts，andgavehismistresstenthousandcrowns，shereturningthedocumententitlinghertothatamount。Afterthisluckydrawingitwaseasytofindguarantors，andthelotterywentonsuccessfullyfortwoorthreeyears。

NeverthelessCalsabigiendedbybecomingbankruptanddiedpoorenoughinItaly。HemightbecomparedtotheDanaides；themorehegotthemorehespent。HismistresseventuallymadearespectablemarriageandreturnedtoParis，whereshelivedincomfort。

AttheperiodofwhichIamspeaking，theDuchessofBrunswick，theking’ssister，cametopayhimavisit。ShewasaccompaniedbyherdaughterwhomarriedtheCrownPrinceofPrussiainthefollowingyear。Isawthekinginasuitoflustringtrimmedwithgoldlace，andblacksilkstockingsonhislegs。Helookedtrulycomic，andmorelikeatheatricalheavyfatherthanagreatking。Hecameintothehallwithhissisteronhisarmandattracteduniversalattention，foronlyveryoldmencouldrememberseeinghimwithouthisuniformandtop—boots。

IwasnotawarethatthefamousMadameDeniswasatBerlin，anditwasthereforeanagreeablesurprisetometoseeherintheballetoneevening，dancingapasseulinanexquisitemanner。Wewereoldfriends，andIresolvedtopayheravisitthenextday。

Imusttellthereader（supposingIeverhaveone），thatwhenIwasabouttwelveyearsoldIwenttothetheatrewithmymotherandsaw，notwithoutmuchheart—beating，agirlofeightwhodancedaminuetinsoravishingamannerthatthewholehouseapplaudedloudly。Thisyoungdancer，whowasthepantaloon’sdaughter，charmedmetosuchadegreethatIcouldnotresistgoingtoherdressing—roomtocomplimentheronherperformance。Iworethecassockinthosedays，andshewasastonishedwhensheheardherfatherorderhertogetupandkissme。Shekissedme，nevertheless，withmuchgrace，andthoughIreceivedthecomplimentwithagooddealofawkwardnessI

wassodelighted，thatIcouldnothelpbuyingheralittleringfromatoymerchantinthetheatre。Shekissedmeagainwithgreatgratitudeandenthusiasm。

ThepleasantestpartaboutthiswasthatthesequinIhadgivenfortheringbelongedtoDr。Gozzi，andsowhenIwentbacktohimIwasinapitiablestate，forIhadnotonlyspentmoneywhichdidnotbelongtome，butIhadspentitforsosmallafavourasakiss。

IknewthatthenextdayIshouldhavetogiveanaccountofthemoneyhehadentrustedtome，andnothavingtheleastideaastowhatIshouldsay，Ihadabadnightofit。Thenextmorningeverythingcameout，andmymothermadeupthesequintothedoctor。

IlaughnowwhenIthinkofthischildishpieceofgallantry，whichwasanomenoftheextenttowhichmyheartwastobeswayedbythefairsex。

Thetoy—womanwhohadsoldmetheringcamethenextdayatdinner—

timetoourhouse，andafterproducingseveralringsandtrinketswhichwerejudgedtoodear，shebegantopraisemygenerosity，andsaidthatIhadnotthoughttheringIhadgiventoprettyJeannettetoodear。Thisdidmybusiness；andIhadtoconfessthewhole，layingmyfaulttotheaccountoflove，andpromisingnottodosuchathingagain。ButwhenIutteredthewordlove，everybodyroaredwithlaughter，andbegantomakecruelgameofme。Iwishedmyselfamileaway，andregisteredaninteriorresolvenevertoconfessmyfaultsagain。ThereaderknowshowwellIkeptmypromise。

Thepantaloon’slittledaughterwasmymother’sgoddaughter，andmythoughtswerefullofher。Mymother，wholovedmeandsawmypain，askedmeifIwouldlikethelittlegirltobeaskedtosupper。Mygrandmother，however，opposedtheidea，andIwasobligedtoher。

ThedayafterthisburlesquesceneIreturnedtoPadua，whereBettinasoonmademeforgetthelittleballet—girl。IsawheragainatCharlottenbourg，andthatwasnowseventeenyearsago。

Ilongedtohaveatalkwithher，andtoseewhethershewouldrememberme，thoughIdidnotexpecthertodoso。IaskedifherhusbandDeniswaswithher，andtheytoldmethatthekinghadbanishedhimbecauseheill—treatedher。

Icalledonherthedayaftertheperformance，andwaspolitelyreceived，butshesaidshedidnotthinkshehadhadthepleasureofseeingmebefore。

BydegreesItoldheroftheeventsofherchildhood，andhowsheenchantedallVenicebythegracewithwhichshedancedtheminuet。

Sheinterruptedmebysayingthatatthattimeshewasonlysixyearsold。

"Youcouldnotbemore，"Ireplied，"forIwasonlyten；andnevertheless，Ifellinlovewithyou，andneverhaveIforgottenthekissyougavemebyyourfather’sorderinreturnforsometriflingpresentImadeyou。"

"Bequiet；yougavemeabeautifulring，andIkissedyouofmyownfreewill。Youworethecassockthen。Ihaveneverforgottenyou。

Butcanitreallybeyou？"

"Itisindeed。"

"Iam。delightedtoseeyouagain。ButIcouldneverhaverecognizedyou，andIsupposeyouwouldnothaverecognizedme。"

"No，Ishouldnothaveknownyou，unlessIhadheardyournamementioned。"

"Onealtersintwentyyears，youknow。"

"Yes，onecannotexpecttohavethesamefaceasatsix。"

"YoucanbearwitnessthatIamnotmorethantwenty—six，thoughsomeevilspeakersgivemetenyearsmore。"

"Youshouldnottakeanynoticeofsuchcalumnies，mydear。Youareintheflowerofyourage，andmadefortheserviceoflove。Formypart，Icongratulatemyselfonbeingabletotellyouthatyouarethefirstwomanthatinspiredmewitharealpassion。"

Wecouldnothelpbecomingaffectionateifwecontinuedtokeepuptheconversationinthisstyle，butexperiencehadtaughtusthatitwaswelltoremainaswewereforthepresent。

MadameDeniswasstillfreshandyouthfullooking，thoughshepersistedinabbreviatingheragebytenyears。Ofcourseshecouldnotdeceiveme，andshemusthaveknownit，nevertheless，shelikedmetobearoutwardtestimonytoheryouthfulness。ShewouldhavedetestedmeifIhadattemptedtoprovetoherwhatsheknewperfectlywell，butdidnotcaretoconfess。Nodoubtshecaredlittleformythoughtsonthesubject，andshemayhaveimaginedthatIowedhergratitudefordiminishingherage，asitenabledmetodiminishmyowntomakeourtalesagree。However，Ididnottroublemyselfmuchaboutit，foritisalmostadutyinanactresstodisguiseherage，asinspiteoftalentthepublicwillnotforgiveawomanforhavingbeenborntoosoon。

Ithoughtherbehaviourauguredwell，andIhopedshewouldnotmakemelanguishlong。Sheshewedmeherhouse，whichwasalleleganceandgoodtaste。Iaskedherifshehadalover，andsherepliedwithasmilethatallBerlinthoughtso，butthatitwasneverthelessdeceivedontheprincipalpoint，astheindividualinquestionwasmoreofafatherthanalover。

"Butyoudeservetohaveareallover；Icannotconceivehowyoucandowithoutone。"

"IassureyouIdon’ttroublemyselfaboutit。Iamsubjecttoconvulsions，whicharetheplagueofmylife。IwanttotrytheTeplitzwaters，whicharesaidtobeexcellentforallnervousaffections；butthekinghasrefusedhispermission，whichI，nevertheless，hopetoobtainnextyear。"

Ifeltardentlydisposed，andIthoughtshewaspleasedwiththerestraintIputuponmyself。

"Willyoubeannoyed，"saidI，"ifIcalluponyoufrequently？"

"Ifyoudon’tmindIwillcallmyselfyourniece，oryourcousin，andthenwecanseeeachother。"

"Doyouknowthatthatmaypossiblybetrue？Iwouldnotswearthatyouwerenotmysister。"

Thissallymadeustalkofthefriendshipthathadsubsistedbetweenherfatherandmymother，andweallowedourselvesthosecaresseswhicharepermittedtonearrelations；butfeelingthatthingsweregoingtoofarweceased。Asshebademefarewell，sheaskedmetodinewithherthenextday，andIaccepted。

AsIwentbacktomyinnIreflectedonthestrangecombinationswhichmademylifeonecontinuouschainofevents，andIfeltitmydutytogivethankstoeternalProvidence，forIfeltthatIhadbeenbornunderahappystar。

Thenextday，whenIwenttodinewithMadameDenis，Ifoundanumerouscompanyassembled。ThefirstpersonwhogreetedmewiththewarmthofanoldfriendwasayoungdancernamedAubri，whomIhadknownatParisandatVenice。HewasfamousforhavingbeentheloverofoneofthemostexaltedVenetianladies，andatthesametimeherhusband’spathic。ItwassaidthatthisscandalousintimacywasofsuchanaturethatAubriusedtosleepbetweenthehusbandandwife。AtthebeginningofLenttheStateInquisitorssenthimtoTrieste。Heintroducedmetohiswife，whodancedlikehimselfandwascalledLaPanting。HehadmarriedheratSt。Petersburg，fromwhichcityhehadjustcome，andtheyweregoingtospendthewinterinParis。Thenextpersonwhoadvancedtogreetmewasafatman，whoheldouthishandandsaidwehadbeenfriendstwenty—fiveyearsago，butthatweweresoyoungthenthatitwouldbenowonderifwedidnotknoweachother。"WekneweachotheratPadua，atDr。

Gozzi’s，"headded；"mynameisJosephdaLoglio。"

"Irememberyou，"Ireplied，"inthosedaysyouwerevioloncelloattheRussianchapel。"

"Exactly；andnowIamreturningtomynativelandtoleaveitnomore。Ihavethehonourtointroduceyoutomywife，whowasbornatSt。Petersburg，butisadaughterofModonistheviolinist，whosereputationisEuropean。InaweekIshallbeatDresden，whereI

hopetohavethehonourofseeingMadameCasanova，yourmother。"

Iwasdelightedtofindmyselfinsuchcongenialsociety，butIcouldseethatMadameDenisdidnotrelishtheserecollectionsextendingoveraquarterofacentury，andIturnedtheconversationtotheeventsatSt。PetersburgwhichhadresultedinCatherinetheGreatascendingthethrone。DaLogliotoldusthathehadtakenasmallpartinthisconspiracy，andhadthoughtitprudenttogetoutoftheway。"Fortunately，"headded，"thiswasacontingencyIhadlongprovidedagainst，andIaminapositiontospendtherestofmydaysincomfortinItaly。"

MadameDenisthenobserved:

"AweekagoaPiedmontese，namedAudar，wasintroducedtome。Hehadbeenachiefmoverintheconspiracy，andtheempressgavehimapresentofahundredthousandroublesandanordertoleaveRussiaimmediately。"

IheardafterwardsthatthisAudarboughtanestateinPiedmontonwhichhebuiltafinemansion。Intwoorthreeyearsitwasstruckbyathunder—bolt，andtheunfortunatemanwaskilledintheruinsofhisownhouse。IfthiswasablowfromanAlmightyhand，itcouldnot，atallevents，havebeendirectedbythegeniusofRussia，foriftheunfortunatePeterIII。hadlived，hewouldhaveretardedRussiancivilizationbyahundredyears。

TheEmpressCatherinerewardedalltheforeignerswhohadassistedherinherplotsmostmagnificently，andshewedherselfgratefultotheRussianswhohadhelpedhertomountthethrone；while，likeacraftypolitician，shesentsuchnoblesasshesuspectedtobeaversetorevolutionoutofthecountry。

ItwasDaLoglioandhisprettywifewhodeterminedmetobetakemyselftoRussiaincasetheKingofPrussiadidnotgivemeanyemployment。IwasassuredthatIshouldmakemyfortunethere，andDaLogliopromisedtogivemegoodinstructions。

AssoonasthisworthymanleftBerlinmyintimacywithMadameDeniscommenced。OnenightwhenIwassuppingwithhershewasseizedwithconvulsionswhichlastedallthenight。Ididnotleaveherforamoment，andinthemorning，feelingquiterecovered，hergratitudefinishedwhatmylovehadbeguntwenty—sixyearsbefore，andouramorouscommercelastedwhileIstayedatBerlin。WeshallhearofheragainatFlorencesixyearslater。

SomedaysafterMadameDenistookmetoPotsdamtoshewmeallthesightsofthetown。Ourintimacyoffendednoone，forshewasgenerallybelievedtobemyniece，andthegeneralwhokepthereitherbelievedthereport，orlikeamanofsensepretendedtobelieveit。

AmongstothernotablethingsIsawatPotsdamwasthesightofthekingcommandingthefirstbattalionofhisgrenadiers，allpickedmen，theflowerofthePrussianarmy。

Theroomwhichweoccupiedattheinnfacedawalkbywhichthekingpassedwhenhecamefromthecastle。Theshutterswereallclosed，andourlandladytoldusthatononeoccasionwhenaprettydancercalledLaReggianawassleepinginthesameroom，thekinghadseenherin’purisnaturalibus’。Thiswastoomuchforhismodesty，andhehadorderedtheshutterstobeclosed，andclosedtheyhadremained，thoughthiseventwasfouryearsold。Thekinghadsomecausetofear，forhehadbeenseverelytreatedbyLaBarbarina。Intheking’sbedroomwesawherportrait，thatofLaCochois，sistertotheactresswhobecameMarchionessd’Argens，andthatofMarieTheresa，withwhomFrederickhadbeeninlove，orratherhehadbeeninlovewiththeideaofbecomingemperor。

Afterwehadadmiredthebeautyandeleganceofthecastle，wecouldnothelpadmiringthewayinwhichthemasterofthecastlewaslodged。Hehadameanroom，andsleptonalittlebedwithascreenaroundit。Therewasnodressing—gownandnoslippers。Thevaletshewedusanoldcapwhichthekingputonwhenhehadacold；itlookedasifitmustbeveryuncomfortable。Hismajesty’sbureauwasatablecoveredwithpens，paper，half—burntmanuscripts，andanink—

pot；besideitwasasofa。ThevalettoldusthatthesemanuscriptscontainedthehistoryofthelastPrussianwar，andthekinghadbeensoannoyedbytheiraccidentallygettingburntthathehadresolvedtohavenomoretodowiththework。Heprobablychangedhismind，forthebook，whichislittl