第100章

Ayearbeforethisspeechwouldhaveastonishedmebeyondmeasure，butnowIwasnotsurprised，forIhadacquiredsomeknowledgeofSpanishmanners。ImightadmiretheSenordelaCerda’sprodigality，butIcouldnothelpdeploringsuchostentationonthepartofaPrinceoftheChurchabouttoparticipateinsuchasolemnfunction。

WhatIhadheardhimsaymademecurioustoseehim，andIkeptonthewatchforthemomentofhisdeparture。Whataman！Hewasnotonlyillmade，shortandsun—burnt；buthisfacewassouglyandsolowthatI

concludedthatAEsophimselfmusthavebeenalittleLovebesidehiseminence。Iunderstoodnowwhyhewassoprofuseinhisgenerosityanddecorations，forotherwisehemightwellhavebeentakenforastableboy。

Iftheconclavetooktheeccentricwhimofmakinghimpope，Christwouldneverhaveanugliervicar。

IenquiredabouttheMarquisd’Argenssoonafterthedepartureofhiseminence，andwastoldthathewasinthecountrywithhisbrother，theMarquisd’Eguille，PresidentoftheParliament，soIwentthere。

Thismarquis，famousforhisfriendshipforFrederickII。ratherthanforhiswritings（whicharenolongerread），wasanoldmanwhenIsawhim。

Hewasaworthyman，fondofpleasure，athorough—pacedEpicurean，andhadmarriedanactressnamedCochois，whohadprovedworthyofthehonourhehadlaidonher。HewasdeeplylearnedandhadathoroughknowledgeofLatin，Greek，andHebrewliterature。Hismemorywasprodigious。

Hereceivedmeverywell，andrecalledwhathisfriendthemarshalhadwrittenaboutme。Heintroducedmetohiswifeandtohisbrother，adistinguishedjurist，amanofletters，andastrictlymoralmanbytemperamentasmuchasreligion。Thoughahighlyintellectualman，hewasdeeplyandsincerelyreligious。

Hewasveryfondofhisbrother，andgrievedforhisirreligion，buthopedthatgracewouldeventuallybringhimbacktothefoldoftheChurch。Hisbrotherencouragedhiminhishopes，whilelaughingattheminprivate，butastheywerebothsensiblementheyneverdiscussedreligiontogether。

Iwasintroducedtoanumerouscompanyofbothsexes，chieflyconsistingofrelations。Allwereamiableandhighlypolished，likealltheProvencalnobility。

Playswereperformedontheminiaturestage，goodcheerprevailed，andatintervalswewalkedinthegarden，inspiteoftheweather。InProvince，however，thewinterisonlyseverewhenthewindblowsfromthenorth，whichunfortunatelyoftenhappens。

AmongthecompanywereaBerlinlady（widowofthemarquis’snephew）andherbrother。Thisyounggentleman，whowasgayandfreefromcare，enjoyedallthepleasuresofthehousewithoutpayinganyattentiontothereligiousserviceswhichwereheldeveryday。Ifhethoughtonthematteratall，hewasaheretic；andwhentheJesuitchaplainwassayingmassheamusedhimselfbyplayingontheflute；helaughedateverything。

Hewasunlikehissister，whohadnotonlybecomeaCatholic，butwasaverydevoutone。Shewasonlytwenty—two。

Herbrothertoldmethatherhusband，whohaddiedofconsumption，andwhosemindwasperfectlycleartothelast，asisusuallythecaseinphthisis，hadtoldherthathecouldnotentertainanyhopesofseeingherintheotherworldunlessshebecameaCatholic。

Thesewordswereengravedonherheart；shehadadoredherhusband，andsheresolvedtoleaveBerlintolivewithhisrelations。Nooneventuredtoopposethisdesign，herbrotheraccompanyingher，andshewaswelcomedjoyfullybyallherhusband’skinsfolk。

Thisbuddingsaintwasdecidedlyplain。

Herbrother，findingmelessstrictthantheothers，soonconstitutedhimselfmyfriend。HecameovertoAixeveryday，andtookmetothehousesofallthebestpeople。

Wewereatleastthirtyattableeveryday，thedishesweredelicatewithoutundueprofusion，theconversationgayandanimatedwithoutanyimproprieties。InoticedthatwhenevertheMarquisd’Argenschancedtoletslipanyequivocalexpressions，alltheladiesmadewryfaces，andthechaplainhastenedtoturntheconversation。Thischaplainhadnothingjesuiticalinhisappearance；hedressedinthecostumeofanordinarypriest，andIshouldneverhadknownhimiftheMarquisd’Argenshadnotwarnedme。However，Ididnotallowhispresencetoactasawetblanket。

Itold，inthemostdecentmannerpossible，thestoryofthepictureoftheVirginsucklingherDivineChild，andhowtheSpaniardsdesertedthechapelafterastupidpriesthadcoveredthebeautifulbreastwithakerchief。Idonotknowhowitwas，butalltheladiesbegantolaugh。

ThediscipleofLoyolawassodispleasedattheirmirth，thathetookuponhimselftotellmethatitwasunbecomingtotellsuchequivocalstoriesinpublic。Ithankedhimbyaninclinationofthehead，andtheMarquisd’Argens，bywayofturningtheconversation，askedmewhatwastheItalianforasplendiddishofstewedveal，whichMadamed’Argenswashelping。

"Unacrostata，"Ireplied，"butIreallydonotknowtheItalianforthe’beatilles’withwhichitisstuffed。"

These’beatilles’wereballsofrice，veal，champignons，artichoke，foiegras，etc。

TheJesuitdeclaredthatincallingthem’beatilles’Iwasmakingamockofthegloriesofhereafter。

Icouldnothelproaringwithlaughteratthis，andtheMarquisd’Eguilletookmypart，andsaidthat’beatilles’wastheproperFrenchfortheseballs。

Afterthisdaringdifferenceofopinionwithhisdirector，theworthymanthoughtitwouldbebesttotalkofsomethingelse。Unhappily，however，hefelloutofthefrying—panintothefirebyaskingmemyopinionastotheelectionofthenextpope。

"IbelieveitwillbeGanganelli，"Ireplied，"asheistheonlymonkintheconclave。"

"Whyshoulditbenecessarytochooseamonk？"

"BecausenonebutamonkwoulddaretocommittheexcesswhichtheSpaniardswilldemandofthenewpope。"

"YoumeanthesuppressionoftheJesuits。"

"Exactly。"

"Theywillneverobtainsuchademand。"

"Ihopenot，fortheJesuitsweremymasters，andIlovethemaccordingly。ButallthesameGanganelliwillbeelected，foranamusingandyetaweightyreason。"

"Tellusthereason。"

"Heistheonlycardinalwhodoesnotwearawig；andyoumustconsiderthatsincethefoundationoftheHolySeethePopehasneverbeenbewigged。"

Thisreasoncreatedagreatdealofamusement；buttheconversationwasbroughtbacktothesuppressionoftheJesuits，andwhenItoldthecompanythatIhadheardfromtheAbbePinziIsawtheJesuitturnpale。

"ThePopecouldneversuppresstheorder，"hesaid。

"ItseemsthatyouhaveneverbeenataJesuitseminary，"Ireplied，"forthedogmaoftheorderisthatthePopecandoeverything，’etaliquidpluris’。"

ThisanswermadeeverybodysupposemetobeunawarethatIwasspeakingtoaJesuit，andashegavemenoanswerthetopicwasabandoned。

AfterdinnerIwasaskedtostayandsee’Polieucte’played；butI

excusedmyself，andreturnedtoAixwiththeyoungBerliner，whotoldmethestoryofhissister，andmademeacquaintedwiththecharacterofthesocietytowhichtheMarquisd’Eguillewaschieflyaddicted。IfeltthatIcouldneveradaptmyselftotheirprejudices，andifithadnotbeenformyyoungfriend，whointroducedmetosomecharmingpeople，IshouldhavegoneontoMarseilles。

Whatwithassemblies，balls，suppers，andthesocietyofthehandsomeProvenqalladies，ImanagedtospendthewholeofthecarnivalandapartofLentatAix。

Ihadmadeapresentofacopyofthe"Iliad"tothelearnedMarquisd’Argens；tohisdaughter，whowasalsoagoodscholar，IgaveaLatintragedy。

The"Iliad"hadPorphyry’scomment；itwasacopyofarareedition，andwasrichlybound。

AsthemarquiscametoAixtothankme，Ihadtopayanothervisittothecountryhouse。

IntheeveningIdrovebackinanopencarriage。Ihadnocloak，andacoldnorthwindwasblowing；Iwasperishingwithcold，butinsteadofgoingtobedatonceIaccompaniedtheBerlinertothehouseofawomanwhohadadaughteroftheutmostbeauty。Thoughthegirlwasonlyfourteen，shehadalltheindicationsofthemarriageableage，andyetnoneoftheProvencalamateurshadsucceededinmakingherseedaylight。

Myfriendhadalreadymadeseveralunsuccessfulefforts。Ilaughedathim，asIknewitwasallacheat，andIfollowedhimtothehousewiththeideaofmakingtheyoungimposterdismountfromherhighhorse，asI

haddoneinsimilarcasesinEnglandandMetz。

Wesettowork；and，farfromresisting，thegirlsaidshewouldbeonlytoogladtogetridofthetroublesomeburden。

Isawthatthedifficultyonlyproceededfromthewaysheheldherself，andIoughttohavewhippedher，asIhaddoneinVenicetwenty—fiveyearsago，butIwasfoolishenoughtotrytotakethecitadelbystorm。

Butmyageofmiracleswasgone。

Iweariedmyselftonopurposeforacoupleofhours，andthenwenttomyinn，leavingtheyoungPrussiantodohisbest。

Iwenttobedwithapaininmyside，andaftersixhours’sleepawokefeelingthoroughlyill。Ihadpleurisy。Mylandlordcalledinanolddoctor，whorefusedtoletmeblood。Aseverecoughcameon，andthenextdayIbegantospitblood。InsixorsevendaysthemaladybecamesoseriousthatIwasconfessedandreceivedthelastsacraments。

Onthetenthday，thediseasehavingabatedforthreedays，mycleverolddoctoransweredformylife，butIcontinuedtospitbloodtilltheeighteenthday。

Myconvalescencelastedforthreeweeks，andIfounditmoretryingthantheactualillness，foramaninpainhasnotimetogrowweary。

ThroughoutthewholecaseIwastendeddayandnightbyastrangewoman，ofwhomIknewnothing。Shenursedmewiththetenderestcare，andI

awaitedmyrecoverytogivehermysincerethanks。

Shewasnotanoldwoman，neitherwassheattractivelooking。Shehadsleptinmyroomallthetime。AfterEastertide，feelingIwaswellenoughtoventureout，Ithankedhertothebestofmyability，andaskedwhohadsenthertome。Shetoldmeitwasthedoctor，andsobademefarewell。

AfewdayslaterIwasthankingmyolddoctorforhavingprocuredmesuchacapitalnurse，buthestaredatmeandsaidheknewnothingaboutthewoman。

Iwaspuzzled，andaskedmylandlordifshecouldthrowanylightonthestrangenurse’sidentity；butsheknewnothing，andherignoranceseemeduniversal。Icouldnotdiscoverwhenceorhowshecametoattendme。

AftermyconvalescenceItookcaretogetalltheletterswhichhadbeenawaitingme，andamongstthemwasaletterfrommybrotherinParis，inanswertotheepistleIwrotehimfromPerpignan。Heacknowledgedmyletter，andtoldmehowdelightedhehadbeentoreceiveit，afterhearingthedreadfulnewsthatIhadbeenassassinatedonthebordersofCataloniaatthebeginningofJanuary。

"Thepersonwhogavemethenews，"mybrotheradded，"wasoneofyourbestfriends，CountManucci，anattacheattheVenetianembassy。Hesaidtherecouldbenodoubtastothetruthofthereport。"

Thisletterwaslikeaflashoflightningtome。Thisfriendofminehadpushedhisvengeancesofarastopayassassinstodeprivemeofmylife。

Manuccihadgonealittletoofar。

Hemusthavebeenprettywellqualifiedtoprophesy，ashewassocertainofmydeath。Hemighthaveknownthatinthusproclaiminginadvancethemannerofmydeath，hewasalsoproclaiminghimselfasmymurderer。

ImethimatRome，twoyearslater，andwhenIwouldhavemadehimconfesshisguilt，hedeniedeverything，sayinghehadreceivedthenewsfromBarcelona；however，wewillspeakofthisinitsproperplace。

Idinedandsuppedeverydayatthetabled’hote，andonedayIheardthecompanytalkingofamaleandfemalepilgrimwhohadrecentlyarrived。

TheywereItalians，andwerereturningfromSt。JamesofCompostella。

Theyweresaidtobehigh—bornfolks，astheyhaddistributedlargealmsontheirentryintothetown。

Itwassaidthatthefemalepilgrim，whohadgonetobedonherarrival，wascharming。TheywerestayingatthesameinnasIwas，andweallgotverycuriousaboutthem。

AsanItalian，Iputmyselfattheheadofthebandwhoproceededtocallonthepilgrims，who，inmyopinion，musteitherbefanaticsorrogues。

Wefoundtheladysittinginanarm—chair，lookingverytired。Shewasyoung，beautiful，andmelancholy—looking，andinherhandssheheldabrasscrucifixsomesixincheslong。Shelaiditdownwhenwecamein，andgotupandreceivedusmostgraciously。Hercompanion，whowasarrangingcockle—shellsonhisblackmantle，didnotstir；heseemedtosay，byglancingathiswife，thatwemustconfineourattentionstoher。

Heseemedamanoftwenty—fourortwenty—fiveyearsofage。Hewasshortandbadlyhung，andhisfaceborealltheindicationsofdaring，impudence，scarcasm，andimposture。Hiswife，ontheotherhand，wasallmeeknessandsimplicity，andhadthatmodestywhichaddssomuchtothecharmoffemininebeauty。TheyonlyspokejustenoughFrenchtomakethemselvesunderstoodontheirjourney，andwhentheyheardmeaddressingtheminItaliantheyseemedmuchrelieved。

TheladytoldmeshewasaRoman，butIcouldhaveguessedasmuchfromheraccent。IjudgedthemantobeaNeapolitanorSicilian。Theirpassport，datedRome，calledhimBalsamo，whilesheborethenamesofSerafinaFeliciani，whichshestillretains。TenyearslaterweshallhearmoreofthiscoupleunderthenameofCagliostro。

"WearegoingbacktoRome，"saidshe，"wellpleasedwithourdevotionstoSt。JamesofCompostellaandtoOurLadydelPilar。Wehavewalkedthewholewayonfoot，livingonalms，soastomoresurelywinthemercyoftheGodwhomIhaveoffendedsogrievously。Wehavehadsilver，andevengoldmoneygivenus，andineverytownwecametowegavewhatremainedtothepoor，soasnottooffendGodbylackoffaith。

"Myhusbandisstrong，andhasnotsufferedmuch，butIhavefoundsomuchwalkingveryfatiguing。Wehavesleptonstraworbadbeds，alwayswithourclotheson，toavoidcontractingdiseasesitwouldbehardtoridone’sselfof。"

Itseemedtomethatthislastcircumstancewasaddedtomakeuswishtofindoutwhethertherestofherbodycouldcomparewithherhandsandarmsinwhiteness。

"Doyouthinkofmakinganystay？"

"Mywearinesswillobligeustostayhereforthreedays；thenweshallgotoRomebythewayofTurin，whereweshallpayourdevotiontotheHolySudary。"

"Youknow，ofcourse，thatthereareseveraloftheminEurope。"

"Sowehaveheard，butweareassuredthattheSudaryofTurinisthetrueone。ItisthekerchiefwithwhichSt。VeronicawipedthefaceofOurLord，wholefttheimprintofHisdivinefaceuponit。"

Weleftthem，wellpleasedwiththeappearanceandmannersoftheladypilgrim，butplacingverylittletrustinherdevotion。Iwasstillweakfrommyillness，andsheinspiredmewithnodesires，buttherestwouldhavegladlysuppedwithheriftheyhadthoughttherewasanythingtofollow。

NextdayherhusbandaskedmeifIwouldcomeupandbreakfastwiththem，oriftheyshouldcomedownandbreakfastwithme。Itwouldhavebeenimpolitetohaverepliedneither，soIsaidthatIshouldbedelightedtoseetheminmyroom。

AtbreakfastIaskedthepilgrimwhathedid，andherepliedthathewasanartist。

Hecouldnotdesignapicture，buthecouldcopyit，andheassuredmethathecouldcopyanengravingsoexactlythatnonecouldtellthecopyfromtheoriginal。

"Icongratulateyou。Ifyouarenotarichman，youare，atleast，certainofearningalivingwiththistalent。"

"Everybodysaysthesame，butitisamistake。IhavepursuedthiscraftatRomeandatNaples，andfoundIhadtoworkalldaytomakehalfatester，andthat’snotenoughtoliveon。"

Hethenshewedmesomefanshehaddone，andIthoughtthemmostbeautiful。Theyweredoneinpenandink，andthefinestcopper—platecouldnothavesurpassedthem。

NextheshowedmeacopyfromaRembrandt，whichifanything，wasfinerthantheoriginal。Inspiteofallhesworethattheworkhegotbarelysupportedhim，butIdidnotbelievewhathesaid。Hewasaweakgeniuswhopreferredavagabondlifetomethodicallabour。

IofferedaLouisforoneofhisfans，butherefusedtotakeit，beggingmetoacceptthefanasagift，andtomakeacollectionforhimatthetabled’hote，ashewantedtostartthedayafternext。

Iacceptedthepresentandpromisedtodoashedesired，andsucceededinmakingupapurseoftwohundredfrancsforthem。

Thewomanhadthemostvirtuousair。Shewasaskedtowritehernameonalotteryticket，butrefused，sayingthatnohonestgirlsweretaughttowriteatRome。

Everybodylaughedatthisexcuseexceptmyself，andIpitiedher，asI

couldseethatshewasofveryloworigin。

NextdayshecameandaskedmetogiveheraletterofintroductionforAvignon。Iwroteherouttwo；onetoM。Audifretthebanker，andtheothertothelandladyoftheinn。Intheeveningshereturnedmethelettertothebanker，sayingthatitwasnotnecessaryfortheirpurposes。Atthesametimesheaskedmetoexaminetheletterclosely，toseeifitwasreallythesamedocumentIhadgivenher。Ididso，andsaidIwassureitwasmyletter。

Shelaughed，andtoldmeIwasmistakenasitwasonlyacopy。

"Impossible！"

Shecalledherhusband，whocamewiththeletterinhishand。

Icoulddoubtnolonger，andsaidtohim，——

"Youareamanoftalents，foritismuchhardertoimitateahandwritingthananengraving。Yououghttomakethistalentserveyouingoodstead；butbecareful，oritmaycostyouyourlife。"

ThenextdaythecoupleleftAix。IntenyearsIsawthemagainunderthenameofCountandCountessPellegrini。

Atthepresentperiodheisinaprisonwhichhewillprobablyneverleave，andhiswifeishappy，maybe，inaconvent。

CHAPTERX

MyDeparture——LetterfromHenriette——Marsellies——HistoryofNina——Nice——

Turin——Lugano——MadameDe****

AssoonasIhadregainedmyusualstrength，IwenttotakeleaveoftheMarquisd’Argensandhisbrother。Idinedwiththem，pretendingnottoobservethepresenceoftheJesuit，andIthenspentthreedelightfulhoursinconversationwiththelearnedandamiableMarquisd’Argens。HetoldmeanumberofinterestinganecdotesabouttheprivatelifeofFrederickII。Nodoubtthereaderwouldliketohavethem，butIlacktheenergytosetthemdown。PerhapssomeotherdaywhenthemistsaboutDuxhavedispersed，andsomeraysofthesunshineinuponme，Ishallcommitalltheseanecdotestopaper，butnowIhavenotthecouragetodoso。

Frederickhadhisgoodandhisbadqualities，likeallgreatmen，butwheneverydeductiononthescoreofhisfailingshasbeenmade，hestillremainsthenoblestfigureintheeighteenthcentury。

TheKingofSweden，whohasbeenassassinated，lovedtoexcitehatredthathemighthavethegloryofdefyingittodoitsworst。Hewasadespotatheart，andhecametoadespot’send。Hemighthaveforeseenaviolentdeath，forthroughouthislifehewasalwaysprovokingmentothepointofdespair。TherecanbenocomparisonbetweenhimandFrederick。

TheMarquisd’Argensmademeapresentofallhisworks，andonmyaskinghimifIcouldcongratulatemyselfonpossessingthewhole