The Complete Memoires of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
by
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
Part 32 out of 70
I placed the chairs round the table and glanced at my fair one, who
looked petrified. The waiter came in, and I helped him to put the
dishes on the table, and he then said to me, "Do you stay here, as I
have to go downstairs."
I took a plate and stood behind a chair facing the lady, and without
appearing to look at her I saw her perfectly, or rather I saw nothing
else. She was astonished the others did not give me a glance, and
they could not have pleased me better. After the soup I hurried to
change her plate, and then did the same office for the rest: they
helped themselves to the boiled beef.
While they were eating, I took a boiled capon and cut it up in a
masterly manner.
"We have a waiter who knows his work," said the lady of my thoughts.
"Have you been long at this inn?"
"Only a few weeks, madam."
"You wait very well."
"Madam is very good."
I had tucked in my superb ruffles of English point lace, but my
frilled shirt front of the same material protruded slightly through
my vest, which I had not buttoned carefully. She saw it, and said,
"Come here a moment."
"What does madam require?"
"Let me see it. What beautiful lace!"
"So I have been told, madam, but it is very old. An Italian
gentleman who was staying here made me a present of it."
"You have ruffles of the same kind, I suppose?"
"Yes, madam;" and so saying I stretched out my hand, unbuttoning my
waistcoat. She gently drew out the ruffle, and seemed to place
herself in a position to intoxicate me with the sight of her charms,
although she was tightly laced. What an ecstatic moment! I knew she
had recognized me, and the thought that I could not carry the
masquerade beyond a certain point was a veritable torment to me.
When she had looked a long time, one of the others said,
"You are certainly very curious, my dear, one would think you had
never seen lace before."
At this she blushed.
When the supper was done, the three ugly ladies each went apart to
undress, while I took away the dishes, and my heroine began to write.
I confess that I was almost infatuated enough to think that she was
writing to me; however, I had too high an opinion of her to entertain
the idea.
As soon as I had taken away the dishes, I stood by the door in the
respectful manner becoming the occasion.
"What are you waiting for?" she said.
"For your orders, madam."
"Thank you, I don't want anything."
"Your boots, madam, you will like them removed before you retire."
"True, but still I don't like to give you so much trouble."
"I am here to attend on you, madam."
So saying, I knelt on one knee before her, and slowly unplaced her
boots while she continued writing. I went farther; I unbuckled her
garters, delighting in the contemplation and still more in the touch
of her delicately-shaped legs, but too soon for me she turned her
head, and said,
"That will do, thank you. I did not notice that you were giving
yourself so much trouble. We shall see you to-morrow evening."
"Then you will sup here, ladies?"
"Certainly."
I took her boots away, and asked if I should lock the door.
"No, my good fellow," said she, in the voice of a syren, "leave the
key inside."
Le Duc took the charmer's boots from me, and said, laughing,--
"She has caught you."
"What?"
"I saw it all, sir, you played your part as well as any actor in
Paris; and I am certain that she will give you a louis to-morrow, but
if you don't hand it over to me I will blow on the whole thing."
"That's enough, you rascal; get me my supper as quickly as possible."
Such are the pleasures which old age no longer allows me to enjoy,
except in my memory. There are monsters who preach repentance, and
philosophers who treat all pleasures as vanity. Let them talk on.
Repentance only befits crimes, and pleasures are realities, though
all too fleeting.
A happy dream made me pass the night with the fair lady; doubtless it
was a delusion, but a delusion full of bliss. What would I not give
now for such dreams, which made my nights so sweet!
Next morning at day-break I was at her door with her boots in my hand
just as their coachman came to call them. I asked them, as a matter
of form, if they would have breakfast, and they replied merrily that
they had made too good a supper to have any appetite at such an early
hour. I went out of the room to give them time to dress, but the
door was half open, and I saw reflected in the glass the snow-white
bosom of my fair one; it was an intoxicating sight. When she had
laced herself and put on her dress she called for her boots. I asked
if I should put them on, to which she consented with a good grace,
and as she had green velvet breeches, she seemed to consider herself
as almost a man. And, after all, a waiter is not worth putting one's
self out about. All the worst for him if he dare conceive any hopes
from the trifling concessions he receives. His punishment will be
severe, for who would have thought he could have presumed so far?
As for me, I am now, sad to say, grown old, and enjoy some few
privileges of this description, which I relish, though despising
myself, and still more those who thus indulge me.
After she had gone I went to sleep again, hoping to see her in the
evening. When I awoke I heard that the abbot of Einsiedel was at
Zurich, and my landlord told me that his reverend highness would dine
with me in my room. I told him that I wished to treat the abbot
well, and that he must set the best dinner he could for us.
At noon the worthy prelate was shewn up to my room, and began by
complimenting me on the good reputation I had at Zurich, saying that
this made him believe that my vocation was a real one.
"The following distich," he added, "should now become your motto:
"Inveni portum. Spes et fortuna valete;
Nil mihi vobiscum est: ludite nuns alios."
"That is a translation of two verses from Euripides," I answered;
"but, my lord, they will not serve me, as I have changed my mind
since yesterday."
"I congratulate you," said he, "and I hope you will accomplish all
your desires. I may tell you confidentially that it is much easier
to save one's soul in the world where one can do good to one's
neighbours, than in the convent, where a man does no good to himself
nor to anyone else."
This was not speaking like the hypocrite Guistiniani had described to
me; on the contrary, it was the language of a good and sensible man.
We had a princely dinner, as my landlord had made each of the three
courses a work of art. The repast was enlivened by an interesting
conversation, to which wit and humour were not lacking. After coffee
I thanked the abbot with the greatest respect, and accompanied him to
his carriage, where the reverend father reiterated his offers of
serving me, and thus, well pleased with one another, we parted.
The presence and the conversation of this worthy priest had not for a
moment distracted my thoughts from the pleasing object with which
they were occupied. So soon as the abbot had gone, I went to the
bridge to await the blessed angel, who seemed to have been sent from
Soleure with the express purpose of delivering me from the temptation
to become a monk, which the devil had put into my heart. Standing on
the bridge I built many a fine castle in Spain, and about six in the
evening I had the pleasure of seeing my fair traveller once more. I
hid myself so as to see without being seen. I was greatly surprised
to see them all four looking towards my window. Their curiosity
shewed me that the lady had told them of the secret, and with my
astonishment there was some admixture of anger. This was only
natural, as I not only saw myself deprived of the hope of making any
further advances, but I felt that I could no longer play my part of
waiter with any confidence. In spite of my love for the lady I would
not for the world become the laughing-stock of her three plain
companions. If I had interested her in my favour, she would
certainly not have divulged my secret, and I saw in her doing so
proof positive that she did not want the jest to go any further, or
rather of her want of that spirit so necessary to ensure the success
of an intrigue. If the three companions of my charmer had had
anything attractive about them, I might possibly have persevered and
defied misfortune; but in the same measure as beauty cheers my heart,
ugliness depresses it. Anticipating the melancholy which I foresaw
would result from this disappointment, I went out with the idea of
amusing myself, and happening to meet Giustiniani I told him of my
misfortune, saying that I should not be sorry to make up for it by a
couple of hours of the society of some mercenary beauty.
"I will take you to a house," said he, "where you will find what you
want. Go up to the second floor and you will be well received by an
old woman, if you whisper my name to her. I dare not accompany you,
as I am well known in the town and it might get me into trouble with
the police, who are ridiculously strict in these matters. Indeed I
advise you to take care that nobody sees you going in."
I followed the ex-Capuchin's advice and waited for the dusk of the
evening. I had a good reception, but the supper was poor, and the
hours that I spent with two young girls of the working class were
tedious. They were pretty enough, but my head was full of my
perfidious charmer, and besides, despite their neatness and
prettiness, they were wanting in that grace which adds so many charms
to pleasure. The liberality of my payment, to which they were not
accustomed, captivated the old woman, who said she would get me all
the best stuff in the town; but she warned me to take care that
nobody saw me going into her house.
When I got back Le Duc told me that I had been wise to slip away, as
my masquerade had become generally known, and the whole house,
including the landlord, had been eagerly waiting to see me play the
part of waiter. "I took your place," he added. "The lady who has
taken your fancy is Madame----, and I must confess she is vastly
fine."
"Did she ask where the other waiter was?"
"No, but the other ladies asked what had become of you several
times."
"And Madame said nothing?"
"She didn't open her mouth, but looked sad and seemed to care for
nothing, till I said you were away because you were ill."
"That was stupid of you. Why did you say that?"
"I had to say something."
"True. Did you untie her shoe?"
"No; she did not want me to do so."
"Good. Who told you her name?"
"Her coachman. She is just married to a man older than herself."
I went to bed, but could only think of the indiscretion and sadness
of my fair lady. I could not reconcile the two traits in her
character. Next day, knowing that she would be starting early, I
posted myself at the window to see her get into the carriage, but I
took care to arrange the curtain in such a way that I could not be
seen. Madame was the last to get in, and pretending that she wanted
to see if it rained, she took off her bonnet and lifted her head.
Drawing the curtain with one hand, and taking off my cap with the
other, I wafted her a kiss with the tips of my fingers. In her turn
she bowed graciously, returning my kiss with a good-natured smile.
CHAPTER XIV
I Leave Zurich--Comic Adventure at Baden--Soleure--M. De Chavigni--
M. and Madame * * * I Act in a Play--I Counterfeit Sickness to Attain
Happiness
M. Mote, my landlord, introduced his two sons to me. He had brought
them up like young princes. In Switzerland, an inn-keeper is not
always a man of no account. There are many who are as much respected
as people of far higher rank are in other countries. But each
country has its own manners. My landlord did the honours of the
table, and thought it no degradation to make his guests pay for the
meal. He was right; the only really degrading thing in the world is
vice. A Swiss landlord only takes the chief place at table to see
that everyone is properly attended to. If he have a son, he does not
sit down with his father, but waits on the guests, with napkin in
hand. At Schaffhaus, my landlord's son, who was a captain in the
Imperial army, stood behind my chair and changed my plate, while his
father sat at the head of the table. Anywhere else the son would
have been waited on, but in his father's house he thought, and
rightly, that it was an honour to wait.
Such are Swiss customs, of which persons of superficial understanding
very foolishly make a jest. All the same, the vaunted honour and
loyalty of the Swiss do not prevent them from fleecing strangers, at
least as much as the Dutch, but the greenhorns who let themselves be
cheated, learn thereby that it is well to bargain before-hand, and
then they treat one well and charge reasonably. In this way, when I
was at Bale, I baffled the celebrated Imhoff, the landlord of the
"Three Kings."
M. Ote complimented me on my waiter's disguise, and said he was sorry
not to have seen me officiating, nevertheless, he said he thought I
was wise not to repeat the jest. He thanked me for the honour I had
done his house, and begged me to do him the additional favour of
dining at his table some day before I left. I answered that I would
dine with him with pleasure that very day. I did so, and was treated
like a prince.
The reader will have guessed that the last look my charmer gave me
had not extinguished the fire which the first sight of her had
kindled in my breast. It had rather increased my flame by giving me
hopes of being better acquainted with her; in short, it inspired me
with the idea of going to Soleure in order to give a happy ending to
the adventure. I took a letter of credit on Geneva, and wrote to
Madame d'Urfe, begging her to give me a written introduction, couched
in strong terms to M. de Chavigni, the French ambassador, telling her
that the interests of our order were highly involved in my knowing
this diplomatist, and requesting her to address letters to me at the
post office at Soleure. I also wrote to the Duke of Wurtemburg, but
had no answer from him, and indeed he must have found my epistle very
unpleasant reading.
I visited the old woman whom Giustiniani had told me of several times
before I left Zurich, and although I ought to have been well
satisfied as far as physical beauty was concerned, my enjoyment was
very limited, as the nymphs I wooed only spoke Swiss dialect--a
rugged corruption of German. I have always found that love without
speech gives little enjoyment, and I cannot imagine a more
unsatisfactory mistress than a mute, were she as lovely as Venus
herself.
I had scarcely left Zurich when I was obliged to stop at Baden to
have the carriage M. Ote had got me mended. I might have started
again at eleven, but on hearing that a young Polish lady on her way
to Our Lady of Einseidel was to dine at the common table, I decided
to wait; but I had my trouble for nothing, as she turned out to be
quite unworthy of the delay.
After dinner, while my horses were being put in, the host's daughter,
a pretty girl enough, came into the room and made me waltz with her;
it chanced to be a Sunday. All at once her father came in, and the
girl fled.
"Sir," said the rascal, "you are condemned to pay a fine of one
louis."
"Why?"
"For having danced on a holy day."
"Get out; I won't pay."
"You will pay, though," said he, shewing me a great parchment covered
with writing I did not understand.
"I will appeal."
"To whom, sir?"
"To the judge of the place."
He left the room, and in a quarter of an hour I was told that the
judge was waiting for me in an adjoining chamber. I thought to
myself that the judges were very polite in that part of the world,
but when I got into the room I saw the rascally host buried in a wig
and gown.
"Sir," said he, "I am the judge."
"Judge and plaintiff too, as far as I can see."
He wrote in his book, confirming the sentence, and mulcting me in six
francs for the costs of the case.
"But if your daughter had not tempted me." said I, "I should not have
danced; she is therefore as guilty as I."
"Very true, sir; here is a Louis for her." So saying he took a Louis
out of his pocket, put it into a desk beside him, and said; "Now
yours."
I began to laugh, paid my fine, and put off my departure till the
morrow.
As I was going to Lucerne I saw the apostolic nuncio (who invited me
to dinner), and at Fribourg Comte d'Afri's young and charming wife;
but at ten leagues from Soleure I was a witness of the following
curious circumstances.
I was stopping the night in a village, and had made friends with the
surgeon, whom I had found at the inn, and while supper, which he was
to share with me, was getting ready, we walked about the village
together. It was in the dusk of the evening, and at a distance of a
hundred paces I saw a man climbing up the wall of a house, and
finally vanishing through a window on the first floor.
"That's a robber," said I, pointing him out to the surgeon. He
laughed and said,--
"The custom may astonish you, but it is a common one in many parts of
Switzerland. The man you have just seen is a young lover who is
going to pass the night with his future bride. Next morning he will
leave more ardent than before, as she will not allow him to go too
far. If she was weak enough to yield to his desires he would
probably decline to marry her, and she would find it difficult to get
married at all."
At Soleure I found a letter from Madame d'Urfe, with an enclosure
from the Duc de Choiseul to the ambassador, M. de Chavigni. It was
sealed, but the duke's name was written below the address.
I made a Court toilet, took a coach, and went to call on the
ambassador. His excellency was not at home, so I left my card and
the letter. It was a feast-day, and I went to high mass, not so
much, I confess, to seek for God as for my charmer, but she was not
there. After service I walked around the town, and on my return
found an officer who asked me to dinner at the ambassador's.
Madame d'Urfe said that on the receipt of my letter she had gone
straightway to Versailles, and that with the help of Madame de
Grammont she had got me an introduction of the kind I wanted. This
was good news for me, as I desired to cut an imposing figure at
Soleure. I had plenty of money, and I knew that this magic metal
glittered in the eyes of all. M. de Chavigni had been ambassador at
Venice thirty years before, and I knew a number of anecdotes about
his adventures there, and I was eager to see what I could make out of
him.
I went to his house at the time appointed, and found all his servants
in full livery, which I looked upon as a happy omen. My name was not
announced, and I remarked that when I came in both sides of the door
were opened for me by the page. A fine old man came forward to meet
me, and paying me many well-turned compliments introduced me to those
present. Then, with the delicate tact of the courtier, pretending
not to recollect my name, he drew the Duc de Choiseul's letter from
his pocket, and read aloud the paragraph in which the minister
desired him to treat me with the utmost consideration. He made me
sit on an easy chair at his right hand, and asked me questions to
which I could only answer that I was travelling for my pleasure, and
that I considered the Swiss nation to be in many respects superior to
all other nations whatsoever.
Dinner was served, and his excellency set me on his right hand in a
position of equal honour to his own. We were sixteen in company, and
behind every chair stood a magnificent lackey in the ambassador's
livery. In the course of conversation I got an opportunity of
telling the ambassador that he was still spoken of at Venice with the
utmost affection.
"I shall always remember," he said, "the kindness with which the
Venetians treated me; but tell me, I beg, the names of those
gentlemen who still remember me; they must be quite old now."
This was what I was waiting for. M. de Malipiero had told me of
certain events which had happened during the regency, and M. de
Bragadin had informed me of the ambassador's amours with the
celebrated Stringhetta.
His excellency's fare was perfect, but in the pleasure of conversing
I forgot that of eating. I told all my anecdotes so racily that his
features expressed the pleasure I was affording him, and when we rose
from the table he shook me by the hand, and told me he had not had so
agreeable a dinner since he had been at Soleure.
"The recollection of my Venetian gallantries," said the worthy old
man, "makes me recall many a happy moment; I feel quite young again."
He embraced me, and bade me consider myself as one of his family
during my stay at Soleure.
After dinner he talked a good deal about Venice, praising the
Government, and saying that there was not a town in the world where a
man could fare better, provided he took care to get good oil and
foreign wines. About five o'clock he asked me to come for a drive
with him, getting into the carriage first to give me the best place.
We got out at a pretty country house where ices were served to us.
On our way back he said that he had a large party every evening, and
that he hoped I would do him the honour to be present whenever it
suited my inclinations, assuring me that he would do his best to
amuse me. I was impatient to take part in the assembly, as I felt
certain I should see my charmer there. It was a vain hope, however,
for I saw several ladies, some old and ugly, some passable, but not
one pretty.
Cards were produced, and I soon found myself at a table with a young
lady of fair complexion and a plain-looking woman well advanced in
years, who seemed, however, not to be destitute of wit. Though I was
looed I played on, and I lost five or six hundred fish without
opening my lips. When it came to a profit and loss account, the
plain woman told me I owed three louis.
"Three louis, madam."
"Yes, sir; we have been playing at two sous the fish. You thought,
perhaps, we were playing for farthings."
"On the contrary, I thought it was for francs, as I never play
lower." She did not answer this boast of mine, but she seemed
annoyed. On rejoining the company after this wearisome game, I
proceeded to scrutinize all the ladies present rapidly but keenly,
but I could not see her for whom I looked, and was on the point of
leaving, when I happened to notice two ladies who were looking at me
attentively. I recognized them directly. They were two of my fair
one's companions, whom I had had the honour of waiting on at Zurich.
I hurried off, pretending not to recognize them.
Next day, a gentleman in the ambassador's suite came to tell me that
his excellency was going to call on me. I told him that I would not
go out till I had the honour of receiving his master, and I conceived
the idea of questioning him concerning that which lay next to my
heart. However, he spared me the trouble, as the reader will see for
himself.
I gave M. de Chavigni the best reception I could, and after we had
discussed the weather he told me, with a smile, that he had the most
ridiculous affair to broach to me, begging me to credit him when he
said that he did not believe it for a moment.
"Proceed, my lord."
"Two ladies who saw you at my house yesterday told me in confidence,
after you had gone, that I should do well to be on my guard, as you
were the waiter in an inn at Zurich where they had stayed. They
added that they had seen the other waiter by the Aar, and that in all
probability you had run away from the inn together; God alone knows
why! They said, furthermore, that you slipped away from my house
yesterday as soon as you saw them. I told them that even if you were
not the bearer of a letter from his grace the Duc de Choiseul I
should have been convinced that they were mistaken, and that they
should dine with you to-day, if they would accept my invitation. I
also hinted that you might have merely disguised yourself as a waiter
in the hopes of winning some favours from them, but they rejected the
hypothesis as absurd, and said that you could carve a capon and
change a plate dexterously enough, but were only a common waiter for
all that, adding that with my permission they would compliment you on
your skill to-day.
"'Do so, by all means, ladies,' said I, "M. Casanova and myself will
be highly amused.' And now do you mind telling me whether there be
any foundation of truth in the whole story?"
"Certainly, my lord, I will tell you all without reserve, but in
confidence, as this ridiculous report may injure the honour of one
who is dear to me, and whom I would not injure for the world."
"It is true, then? I am quite interested to hear all about it."
"It is true to a certain extent; I hope you don't take me for the
real waiter at the 'Sword.'"
"Certainly not, but I supposed you played the part of waiter?"
"Exactly. Did they tell you that they were four in company."
"Ah, I have got it! Pretty Madame was one of the party. That
explains the riddle; now I understand everything. But you were quite
right in saying that discretion was needful; she has a perfectly
blameless reputation."
"Ah! I did not know that. What happened was quite innocent, but it
might be so garbled in the telling as to become prejudicial to the
honour of a lady whose beauty struck me with admiration."
I told him all the details of the case, adding that I had only come
to Soleure in the hopes of succeeding in my suit.
"If that prove an impossibility," said I, "I shall leave Soleure in
three or four days; but I will first turn the three ugly companions
of my charmer into ridicule. They might have had sense enough to
guess that the waiter's apron was only a disguise. They can only
pretend to be ignorant of the fact in the hope of getting some
advantage over me, and injuring their friend, who was ill advised to
let them into the secret."
"Softly, softly, you go too fast and remind me of my own young days.
Permit me to embrace you, your story has delighted me. You shall not
go away, you shall stay here and court your charmer. To-day you can
turn two mischievous women into ridicule, but do it in an easy way.
The thing is so straightforward that M.---- will be the first to
laugh at it. His wife cannot be ignorant of your love for her, and I
know enough of women to pronounce that your disguise cannot have
displeased her. She does know of your love?"
"Undoubtedly."
He went away laughing, and at the door of his coach embraced me for
the third time.
I could not doubt that my charmer had told the whole story to her
three friends as they were returning from Einsiedel to Zurich, and
this made the part they had played all the more ill-natured; but I
felt that it was to my interest to let their malice pass for wit.
I went to the ambassador's at half-past one, and after making my bow
to him I proceeded to greet the company, and saw the two ladies.
Thereupon, with a frank and generous air, I went up to the more
malicious-looking of the two (she was lame, which may have made me
think her more ill-looking) and asked if she recognized me.
"You confess, then, that you are the waiter at the 'Sword'?"
"Well, not quite that, madam, but I confess that I was the waiter for
an hour, and that you cruelly disdained to address a single word to
me, though I was only a waiter, because I longed for the bliss of
seeing you. But I hope I shall be a little more fortunate here, and
that you will allow me to pay you my respectful homage."
"This is very wonderful! You played your part so well that the
sharpest eye would have been deceived. Now we shall see if you play
your new part as well. If you do me the honour to call on me I will
give you a good welcome."
After these complimentary speeches, the story became public property,
and the whole table was amusing itself with it, when I had the
happiness of seeing M.---- and Madame coming into the room.
"There is the good-natured waiter," said she to her husband.
The worthy man stepped forward, and politely thanked me for having
done his wife the honour of taking off her boots.
This told me that she had concealed nothing, and I was glad. Dinner
was served, M. de Chavigni made my charmer sit at his right hand, and
I was placed between my two calumniators. I was obliged to hide my
game, so, although I disliked them intensely, I made love to them,
hardly raising my eyes to glance at Madame, who looked ravishing. I
did not find her husband either as old or as jealous as I had
expected. The ambassador asked him and his wife to stay the evening
to an impromptu ball, and then said, that in order for me to be able
to tell the Duc de Choiseul that I was well amused at Soleure, he
would be delighted to have a play, if Madame would act the fair
'Ecossaise' again. She said she should be delighted, but two more
actors were wanted.
"That is all right," said the kind old gentleman, "I will play
Montrose."
"And I, Murray," I remarked.
My lame friend, angry at this arrangement, which only left her the
very bad part of Lady Alton, could not help lancing a shaft at me.
"Oh! why isn't there a waiter's part in the play?" said she, "you
would play it so well."
"That is well said, but I hope you will teach me to play Murray even
better."
Next morning, I got the words of my part, and the ambassador told me
that the ball would be given in my honour. After dinner I went to my
inn, and after making an elaborate toilette I returned to the
brilliant company.
The ambassador begged me to open the ball, and introduced me to the
highest born but not the most beautiful lady in the place. I then
danced with all the ladies present until the good-natured old man got
me the object of my vows as a partner in the quadrilles, which he did
so easily that no one could have made any remark. "Lord Murray,"
said he, "must dance with no one but Lindane."
At the first pause I took the opportunity of saying that I had only
come to Soleure for her sake, that it was for her sake that I had
disguised myself at Zurich, and that I hoped she would permit me to
pay my addresses to her.
"I cannot invite you to my house," said she, "for certain sufficient
reasons; but if you will stay here some time we shall be able to see
each other. But I entreat you not to shew me any marked attention in
public, for there are those who will spy upon our actions, and it is
not pleasant to be talked about."
I was quite satisfied with this, and told her that I would do all in
my power to please her, and that the most prying eyes should have
nothing to fix on. I felt that the pleasure I looked forward to
would be rendered all the sweeter by a tincture of mystery.
I had proclaimed myself as a novice in the mimic art, and had
entreated my lame friend to be kind enough to instruct me. I
therefore went to her in the morning, but she could only flatter
herself that hers was a reflected light, as I had opportunities for
paying my court to my charmer in her house, and however great her
vanity may have been, she must have had some suspicions of the truth.
This woman was a widow, aged between thirty and forty years, of a
jaundiced complexion, and a piercing and malicious aspect. In her
efforts to hide the inequality of her legs, she walked with a stiff
and awkward air; and, wishing to be thought a wit, she increased her
natural dullness by a ceaseless flow of small talk. I persisted in
behaving towards her with a great air of respect, and one day she
said that, having seen me in the disguise of a waiter, she would not
have thought I was a man of a timid nature.
"In what respect do you think me timid?" said I; to which she gave me
no answer, but I knew perfectly well what she meant. I was tired of
my part, and I had determined to play it no more when we had acted
L'Ecossaise.
All the best people at Soleure were present at our first performance.
The lame lady was delighted with the horror inspired by her acting;
but she might credit a great deal of it to her appearance. M. de
Chavigni drew forth the tears of the audience, his acting was said to
be better than the great Voltaire's. As for me, I remember how near
I was to fainting when, in the third scene of the fifth act, Lindane
said to me,
"What! You! You dare to love me?"
She pronounced these words with such fiery scorn that all the
spectators applauded vehemently. I was almost put out of
countenance, for I thought I detected in her voice an insult to my
honour. However, I collected myself in the minute's respite which
the loud applause gave me, and I replied,---
"Yes; I adore you! How should I not?"
So pathetically and tenderly did I pronounce these words that the
hall rang again with the applause, and the encores from four hundred
throats made me repeat the words which, indeed, came from my heart.
In spite of the pleasure we had given to the audience, we judged
ourselves not perfect in our parts, and M. de Chavigni advised us to
put off our second performance for a couple of days.
"We will have a rehearsal to-morrow at my country house," said he,
"and I beg the favour of all your companies to dinner there."
However, we all made each other compliments on our acting. My lame
friend told me I had played well, but not so well as in the part of
waiter, which really suited me admirably. This sarcasm got the laugh
on her side, but I returned it by telling her that my performance was
a work of art, while her playing of Lady Alton was pure nature.
M. de Chavigni told Madame that the spectators were wrong to applaud
when she expressed her wonder at my loving her, since she had spoken
the words disdainfully; and it was impossible that Lindane could have
despised Murray. The ambassador called for me the next day in his
carriage, and when we reached his country-house we found all the
actors assembled there. His excellency addressed himself in the
first place to M.----, telling him he thought his business was as
good as done, and that they would talk about it after dinner. We sat
down to table, and afterwards rehearsed the piece without any need of
the prompter's assistance.
Towards evening the ambassador told the company that he would expect
them to supper that evening at Soleure, and everyone left with the
exception of the ambassador, myself, and M.---- and Madame----. Just
as we were going I had an agreeable surprise.
"Will you come with me," said the Ambassador to M.---- , "we can talk
the matter over at our ease? M. Casanova will have the honour of
keeping your wife company in your carriage."
I gave the fair lady my hand respectfully, and she took it with an
air of indifference, but as I was helping her in she pressed my hand
with all her might. The reader can imagine how that pressure made my
blood circulate like fire in my veins.
Thus we were seated side by side, our knees pressed tenderly against
each other. Half an hour seemed like a minute, but it must not be
thought that we wasted the time. Our lips were glued together, and
were not set apart till we came within ten paces of the ambassador's
house, which I could have wished at ten leagues distance. She was
the first to get down, and I was alarmed to see the violent blush
which overspread her whole face. Such redness looked unnatural; it
might betray us; our spring of happiness would soon be dry. The
watchful eye of the envious Alton would be fixed upon us, and not in
vain; her triumph would outweigh her humiliation. I was at my wits'
end.
Love and luck, which have so favoured me throughout the course of my
life, came to my aid. I had about me a small box containing
hellebore. I opened it as if by instinct, and invited her to take a
small pinch. She did so, and I followed her example; but the dose
was too strong, and as we were going up the stairs we began to
sneeze, and for the next quarter of an hour we continued sneezing.
People were obliged to attribute her high colour to the sneezing, or
at least no one could give voice to any other suppositions. When the
sneezing fit was over, this woman, who was as clever as she was
pretty, said her headache was gone, but she would take care another
time not to take so strong a dose. I looked out of the corner of my
eye at the malicious widow, who said nothing but seemed deep in
thought.
This piece of good luck decided me on staying at Soleure till my love
was crowned with success, and I determined to take a country house.
I shall not have much opinion of my readers if they find themselves
in my position--rich, young, independent, full of fire, and having
only pleasure to seek for--and do not follow my example. A perfect
beauty was before me with whom I was madly in love, and who, I was
sure, shared that love. I had plenty of money, and I was my own
master. I thought this a much better plan than turning monk, and I
was above caring "what people would say." As soon as the ambassador
had returned, which he always did at an early hour on account of his
advanced age, I left the company and went to see him in his private
room. In truth I felt I must give him that confidence which he had
so well deserved.
As soon as he saw me he said,--
"Well, well, did you profit by the interview I got you?"
I embraced him, and said,--
"I may hope for everything."
When I was telling him about the hellebore he was lavish in his
compliments on my presence of mind, for, as he said, such an unusual
colour would have made people think there had been some kind of a
combat--a supposition which would not have tended towards my success.
After I had told him all, I imparted my plan.
"I shall do nothing in a hurry," said I, "as I have to take care that
the lady's honour does not suffer, and I trust to time to see the
accomplishment of my wishes. I shall want a pretty country house, a
good carriage, two lackeys, a good cook, and a housekeeper. All that
I leave to your excellency, as I look upon you as my refuge and
guardian angel."
"To-morrow, without fail, I will see what I can do, and I have good
hopes of doing you a considerable service and of rendering you well
content with the attractions of Soleure."
Next day our rehearsal went off admirably, and the day after the
ambassador spoke to me as follows:
"So far as I can see, what you are aiming at in this intrigue is the
satisfying of your desires without doing any harm to the lady's
reputation. I think I know the nature of your love for her well
enough to say that if she told you that your leaving Soleure was
necessary to her peace of mind you would leave her at once. You see
that I have sounded you well enough to be a competent adviser in this
delicate and important affair, to which the most famous events in the
annals of diplomacy are not to be compared."
"Your excellency does not do sufficient justice to a career which has
gained you such distinction."
"That's because I am an old man, my dear fellow, and have shaken off
the rust and dust of prejudices, and am able to see things as they
really are, and appreciate them at their true value. But let us
return to your love-affair. If you wish to keep it in the dark, you
must avoid with the greatest care any action which may awaken
suspicion in the minds of people who do not believe that anything is
indifferent. The most malicious and censorious will not be able to
get anything but the merest chance out of the interview I procured
you today, and the accident of the sneezing bout, defy the most ill-
natured to draw any deductions; for an eager lover does not begin his
suit by sending the beloved one into convulsions. Nobody can guess
that your hellebore was used to conceal the blush that your caresses
occasioned, since it does not often happen that an amorous combat
leaves such traces; and how can you be expected to have foreseen the
lady's blushes, and to have provided yourself with a specific against
them? In short, the events of to-day will not disclose your secret.
M.---- who, although he wishes to pass for a man devoid of jealousy,
is a little jealous; M.---- himself cannot have seen anything out of
the common in my asking him to return with me, as I had business of
importance with him, and he has certainly no reasons for supposing
that I should be likely to help you to intrigue with his wife.
Furthermore, the laws of politeness would have forbidden me, under
any circumstances, offering the lady the place I offered him, and as
he prides himself on his politeness he can raise no possible
objection to the arrangement which was made. To be sure I am old and
you are young--a distinction not unimportant in a husband's eyes.
"After this exordium," added the good-natured ambassador, with a
laugh, "an exordium which I have delivered in the official style of a
secretary of state, let us see where we are. Two things are
necessary for you to obtain your wished-for bliss. The first thing,
which concerns you more particularly, is to make M.---- your friend,
and to conceal from him that you have conceived a passion for his
wife, and here I will aid you to the best of my ability. The second
point concerns the lady's honour; all your relations with her must
appear open and above-board. Consider yourself under my protection;
you must not even take a country house before we have found out some
plan for throwing dust into the eyes of the observant. However, you
need not be anxious; I have hit upon a plan.
"You must pretend to be taken ill, but your illness must be of such a
kind that your doctor will be obliged to take your word for the
symptoms. Luckily, I know a doctor whose sole idea is to order
country air for all complaints. This physician, who is about as
clever as his brethren, and kills or cures as well as any of them,
will come and feel my pulse one of these days. You must take his
advice, and for a couple of louis he will write you a prescription
with country air as the chief item. He will then inform everybody
that your case is serious, but that he will answer for your cure."
"What is his name?"
"Doctor Herrenschwand."
"What is he doing here? I knew him at Paris; he was Madame du
Rumain's doctor."
"That is his brother. Now find out some polite complaint, which will
do you credit with the public. It will be easy enough to find a
house, and I will get you an excellent cook to make your gruel and
beef-tea."
The choice of a complaint cost me some thought; I had to give it a
good deal of attention. The same evening I managed to communicate my
plan to Madame who approved of it. I begged her to think of some way
of writing to me, and she said she would.
"My husband," said she, "has a very high opinion of you. He has
taken no offence at our coming in the same carriage. But tell me,
was it an accident or design that made M. de Chavigni take my husband
and leave us together?"
"It was the result of design, dearest." She raised her beautiful
eyes and bit her lips. "Are you sorry it was so?"
"Alas! no."
In three or four days, on the day on which we were going to act
L'Ecossaise, the doctor came to dine with the ambassador and stayed
till the evening to see the play. At dessert he complimented me on
my good health, on which I took the opportunity, and told him that
appearances were deceitful, and that I should be glad to consult him
the next day. No doubt he was delighted to be deceived in his
estimate of my health, and he said he should be glad if he could be
of any service. He called on me at the hour agreed upon, and I told
him such symptoms as my fancy dictated; amongst other things, that I
was subject to certain nocturnal irritations which made me extremely
weak, especially in the reins.
"Quite so, quite so; it's a troublesome thing, but we will see what
can be done. My first remedy, which you may possibly not care much
for, is for you to pass six weeks in the country, where you will not
see those objects which impress your brain, acting on the seventh
pair of nerves, and causing that lumbar discharge which no doubt
leaves you in a very depressed state."
"Yes, it certainly does."
"Quite so, quite so. My next remedy is cold bathing."
"Are the baths far from here?"
"They are wherever you like. I will write you a prescription, and
the druggist will make it up."
I thanked him, and after he had pouched the double-louis I slipped
politely into his hand, he went away assuring me that I should soon
experience an improvement in my health. By the evening the whole
town knew that I was ill and had to go into the country. M. de
Chavigni said pleasantly at dinner to the doctor, that he should have
forbidden me all feminine visitors; and my lame friend, refining on
the idea, added that I should above all be debarred access to certain
portraits, of which I had a box-full. I laughed approvingly, and
begged M. de Chavigni, in the presence of the company, to help me to
find a pretty house and a good cook, as I did not intend to take my
meals alone.
I was tired of playing a wearisome part, and had left off going to
see my lame friend, but she soon reproached me for my inconstancy,
telling me that I had made a tool of her. "I know all," said this
malicious woman, "and I will be avenged."
"You cannot be avenged for nothing," said I, "for I have never done
you an injury. However, if you intend to have me assassinated, I
shall apply for police protection."
"We don't assassinate here," said she, savagely. "We are not
Italians."
I was delighted to be relieved from the burden of her society, and
henceforth Madame was the sole object of my thoughts. M. de
Chavigni, who seemed to delight in serving me, made her husband
believe that I was the only person who could get the Duc de Choiseul
to pardon a cousin of his who was in the guards, and had had the
misfortune to kill his man in a duel. "This," said the kindly old
gentleman, "is the best way possible of gaining the friendship of
your rival. Do you think you can manage it?"
"I am not positive of success."
"Perhaps I have gone a little too far; but I told him that by means
of your acquaintance with the Duchesse de Grammont you could do
anything with the minister."
"I must make you a true prophet; I will do all I can."
The consequence was that M.---- informed me of the facts in the
ambassador's presence, and brought me all the papers relative to the
case.
I spent the night in writing to the Duchesse de Grammont. I made my
letter as pathetic as possible, with a view to touching her heart,
and then her father's; and I then wrote to the worthy Madame d'Urfe
telling her that the well-being of the sublime order of the Rosy
Cross was concerned in the pardon of a Swiss officer, who had been
obliged to leave the kingdom on account of a duel in which the order
was highly concerned.
In the morning, after resting for an hour, I went to the ambassador,
and shewed him the letter I had written to the duchess. He thought
it excellently expressed, and advised me to skew it to M.---- I
found him with his night-cap on; he was extremely grateful for the
interest I took in a matter which was so near to his heart. He told
me that his wife had not yet risen, and asked me to wait and take
breakfast with her. I should have much liked to accept the
invitation, but I begged him to make my excuses to his lady for my
absence, on the pretence that I had to finish my letters, and hand
them to the courier who was just leaving. I hoped in this way to
scatter any jealousy that might be hovering in his brain, by the
slight importance I attached to a meeting with his wife.
I went to dine with M. de Chavigni, who thought my conduct had been
very politic, and said that he was certain that henceforth M.----
would be my best friend. He then skewed me a letter from Voltaire
thanking him for playing Montrose in his Ecossaise; and another from
the Marquis de Chauvelin, who was then at Delices with the
philosopher of Ferney. He promised to come and see him after he had
been to Turin, where he had been appointed ambassador.
CHAPTER XV
My Country House--Madame Dubois--Malicious Trick Played on Me by My
Lame Enemy--My Vexation
There was a reception and a supper at the Court, as they styled the
hotel of M. de Chavigni, or rather of the ambassador of the King of
France in Switzerland. As I came in I saw my charmer sitting apart
reading a letter. I accosted her, apologizing for not having stayed
to breakfast, but she said I had done quite right, adding that if I
had not chosen a country house she hoped I would take one her husband
would probably mention to me that evening. She could not say any
more, as she was called away to a game at quadrille. For my part I
did not play, but wandered from one table to another.
At supper everybody talked to me about my health, and my approaching
stay in the country. This gave M.---- an opportunity to mention a
delightful house near the Aar; "but," he added, "it is not to be let
for less than six months."
"If I like it," I replied, "and am free to leave it when I please, I
will willingly pay the six months' rent in advance."
"There is a fine hall in it."
"All the better; I will give a ball as evidence of my gratitude to
the people of Soleure for the kind welcome I have received from
them."
"Would you like to come and see it to-morrow?"
"With pleasure."
"Very good, then I will call for you at eight o'clock, if that hour
will suit you."
"I shall expect you."
When I got back to my lodging I ordered a travelling carriage and
four, and the next morning, before eight o'clock, I called for M.
who was ready, and seemed flattered at my anticipating him.
"I made my wife promise to come with us; but she is a sluggard, who
prefers her bed to the fresh air."
In less than an hour we reached our journey's end, and I found the
house a beautiful one and large enough to lodge the whole court of a
prince of the Holy Roman Empire. Besides the hall, which I thought
magnificent, I noted with great pleasure a closet arranged as a
boudoir, and covered with the most exquisite pictures. A fine
garden, fountains, baths, several well-furnished rooms, a good
kitchen--in a word, everything pleased me, and I begged M.---- to
arrange for me to take up my abode there in two days' time.
When we got back to Soleure, Madame told me how pleased she was that
I liked the house; and seizing the opportunity, I said that I hoped
they would often do me the honour of dining with me. They promised
they would do so. I drew from my pocket a packet containing a
hundred louis, which I gave M.---- to pay the rent. I then embraced
him, and after imprinting a respectful kiss on the hand of his fair
mate I went to M. de Chavigni, who approved of my having taken the
house as it pleased my lady, and asked me if it was true that I was
going to give a ball.
"Yes, if I see any prospect of its being a brilliant one, and if I
have your approbation."
"You need have no doubts on that point, my dear fellow, and whatever
you can't find in the shops come to me for. Come, I see you are
going to spend a little money. It is a good plan, and overcomes many
difficulties. In the meanwhile you shall have two footmen, an
excellent cook, a housekeeper, and whatever other servants you
require. The head of my household will pay them, and you can settle
with him afterwards, he is a trustworthy man. I will come now and
then and take a spoonful of soup with you, and you shall reward me
for what services I may have done you by telling me how things are
getting on. I have a great esteem for your charming friend, her
discretion is beyond her years, and the pledges of love you will
obtain of her will doubtless increase your passion and your esteem.
Is she aware that I know all?"
"She knows that we are firm friends, and she is glad of it, as she is
sure that you will be discreet."
"She may count on my discretion. She is really a delicious woman; I
should have been tempted to seduce her myself thirty years ago."
A druggist, whom the doctor had recommended to me, set out the same
day to get ready the baths which were to cure me of my imaginary
complaint, and in two days I went myself, after having given Le Duc
orders to bring my baggage on.
I was extremely surprised, on entering the apartment I was to occupy,
to see a pretty young woman who came up to me in a modest way to kiss
my hand. I stopped her doing so, and my astonished air made her
blush.
"Do you belong to the household?" I said.
"The ambassador's steward has engaged me as your housekeeper."
"Pardon my surprise. Take me to my room."
She obeyed, and sitting down on the couch I begged her to sit beside
me.
"That is an honour," said she, in the most polite and modest way,
"I cannot allow myself. I am only your servant."
"Very good, but when I am alone I hope you will consent to take your
meals with me, as I don't like eating by myself."
"I will do so, sir."
"Where is your room?"
"This is the one the steward assigned to me, but you have only to
speak if you wish me to sleep in another."
"Not at all; it will do very well."
Her room was just behind the recess in which my bed stood. I went in
with her and was astonished to see a great display of dresses, and in
an adjoining closet all the array of the toilette, linen in
abundance, and a good stock of shoes and embroidered slippers. Dumb
with surprise I looked at her, and was thoroughly satisfied with what
I saw. Nevertheless I determined to subject her to a close
examination, as I thought her manners too interesting and her linen
too extensive for her to be a mere servant. All at once I was struck
with the idea that it might be a trick of the ambassador's, for a
fine woman, well educated, and aged twenty-four or at the most
twenty-five years, seemed to me more fitted to be my mistress than my
housekeeper. I therefore asked her if she knew the ambassador, and
what wages she was to receive. She replied that she only knew M. de
Chavigni by sight, and that the steward had promised her two louis a
month and her meals in her own room.
"Where do you come from? What's your name?"
"I come from Lyons; I am a widow, and my name is Dubois."
"I am delighted to have you in my service. I shall see you again."
She then left me, and I could not help thinking her a very
interesting woman, as her speech was as dignified as her appearance.
I went down to the kitchen and found the cook, an honest-looking
fellow, who told me his name was Rosier. I had known his brother in
the service of the French ambassador at Venice. He told me that
supper would be ready at nine o'clock.
"I never eat by myself," said I.
"So I hear, sir; and I will serve supper accordingly."
"What are your wages?"
"Four louis a month."
I then went to see the rest of my people. I found two sharp-looking
footmen, and the first of them told me he would see I had what wine I
wanted. Then I inspected my bath, which seemed convenient. An
apothecary was preparing certain matters for my imaginary cure.
Finally, I took a walk round my garden, and before going in I went
into the gate-keeper's, where I found a numerous family, and some
girls who were not to be despised. I was delighted to hear everybody
speak French, and I talked with them some time.
When I got back to my room, I found Le Duc occupied in unpacking my
mails; and telling him to give my linen to Madame Dubois, I went into
a pretty cabinet adjoining, where there was a desk and all materials
necessary for writing. This closet had only one window facing north,
but it commanded a view capable of inspiring the finest thoughts. I
was amusing myself with the contemplation of this sublime prospect,
when I heard a knock at my door. It was my pretty housekeeper, who
wore a modest and pleasant expression, and did not in the least
resemble a person who bears a complaint.
"What can I do for you, madam?"
"I hope you will be good enough to order your man to be polite to
me?"
"Certainly; how has he failed in politeness?"
"He might possibly tell you in no respect. He wanted to kiss me, and
as I refused he thought himself justified in being rather insolent."
"How?"
"By laughing at me. You will pardon me, sir, but I do not like
people who make game."
"You are right; they are sure to be either silly or malicious. Make
yourself easy; Le Duc shall understand that you are to be treated
with respect. You will please sup with me."
Le Duc came in soon after, and I told him to behave respectfully
towards Madame Dubois.
"She's a sly cat," said the rascal; "she wouldn't let me kiss her."
"I am afraid you are a bad fellow."
"Is she your servant or your mistress?"
"She might be my wife."
"Oh! well, that's different. That will do; Madame Dubois shall have
all respect, and I will try my luck somewhere else."
I had a delicious supper. I was contented with my cook, my butler,
my housekeeper, and even with my Spaniard, who waited capitally at
table.
After supper I sent out Le Duc and the other servant, and as soon as
I was alone with my too lovely housekeeper, who had behaved at table
like a woman of the world, I begged her to tell me her history.
"My history, sir, is short enough, and not very interesting. I was--
born at Lyons, and my relations took me to Lausanne, as I have been
told, for I was too young at the time to remember anything about it.
My father, who was in the service of Madame d'Ermance, left me an
orphan when I was fourteen. Madame d'Ermance was fond of me, and
knowing that my mother's means were small she took me to live with
her. I had attained my seventeenth year when I entered the service
of Lady Montagu as lady's maid, and some time after I was married to
Dubois, an old servant of the house. We went to England, and three
years after my marriage I lost my husband. The climate of England
affected my lungs, and I was obliged to beg my lady to allow me to
leave her service. The worthy lady saw how weak I was, and paid the
expenses of my journey and loaded me with rich presents. I returned
to my mother at Lausanne, where my health soon returned, and I went
into the service of an English lady who was very fond of me, and
would have taken me with her to Italy if she had not conceived some
suspicions about the young Duke of Rosebury, with whom she was in
love, and whom she thought in love with me. She suspected me, but
wrongfully, of being her rival in secret. She sent me away, after
giving me rich presents, and saying how sorry she was she could not
keep me. I went back to my mother, and for two years I have lived
with the toil of my hands. Four days ago M. Lebel, the ambassador's
steward, asked me if I would enter the service of an Italian
gentleman as housekeeper. I agreed, in the hope of seeing Italy, and
this hope is the cause of my stupidity. In short: here I am."
"What stupidity are you referring to?"
"The stupidity of having entered your service before I knew you."
"I like your freedom. You would not have come, then, if you had not
known me?"
"Certainly not, for no lady will ever take me after having been with
you."
"Why not? may I ask."
"Well, sir; do you think you are the kind of man to have a house-
keeper like myself without the public believing my situation to be of
quite a different nature?"
"No, you are too pretty, and I don't look like a fossil, certainly;
but after all, what matter does it make?"
"It is all very well for you to make light of it, and if I were in
your place I would do the same; but how am I, who am a woman and not
in an independent position, to set myself above the rules and
regulations of society?"
"You mean, Madame Dubois, that you would very much like to go back to
Lausanne?"
"Not exactly, as that would not be just to you."
"How so?"
"People would be sure to say that either your words or your deeds
were too free, and you might possibly pass a rather uncharitable
judgment on me."
"What judgment could I pass on you?"
"You might think I wanted to impose on you."
"That might be, as I should be very much hurt by so sudden and
uncalled-for a departure. All the same I am sorry for you, as with
your ideas you can neither go nor stay with any satisfaction.
Nevertheless, you must do one or the other."
"I have made up my mind. I shall stay, and I am almost certain I
shall not regret it."
"I am glad to hear that, but there is one point to which I wish to
call your attention."
"What is that?"
"I will tell you. Let us have no melancholy and no scruples."
"You shall not see me melancholy, I promise you; but kindly explain
what you mean by the word 'scruples.'"
"Certainly. In its ordinary acceptation, the word 'scruple'
signifies a malicious and superstitious whim, which pronounces an
action which may be innocent to be guilty."
"When a course of action seems doubtful to me, I never look upon the
worst side of it. Besides, it is my duty to look after myself and
not other people."
"I see you have read a good deal."
"Reading is my greatest luxury. Without books I should find life
unbearable."
"Have you any books?"
"A good many. Do you understand English?"
"Not a word."
"I am sorry for that, as the English books would amuse you."
"I do not care for romances."
"Nor do I. But you don't think that there are only romances in
English, do you? I like that. Why do you take me for such a lover
of the romantic, pray?"
"I like that, too. That pretty outburst is quite to my taste, and I
am delighted to be the first to make you laugh."
"Pardon me if I laugh, but . . ."
"But me no buts, my dear; laugh away just as you like, you will find
that the best way to get over me. I really think, though, that you
put your services at too cheap a rate."
"That makes me laugh again, as it is for you to increase my wages if
you like."
"I shall take care that it is done."
I rose from table, not taken, but surprised, with this young woman,
who seemed to be getting on my blind side. She reasoned well, and in
this first interview she had made a deep impression on me. She was
young, pretty, elegant, intellectual, and of distinguished manners; I
could not guess what would be the end of our connection. I longed to
speak to M. Lebel, to thank him for getting me such a marvel, and
still more, to ask him some questions about her.
After the supper had been taken away, she came to ask if I would have
my hair put in curl papers.
"It's Le Duc's business," I answered, "but if you like, it shall be
yours for the future."
She acquitted herself like an expert.
"I see," said I, "that you are going to serve me as you served Lady
Montagu."
"Not altogether; but as you do not like melancholy, allow me to ask a
favour."
"Do so, my dear."
"Please do not ask me to give you your bath."
"Upon my honour, I did not think of doing so. It would be
scandalous. That's Le Duc's business."
"Pardon me, and allow me to ask another favour."
"Tell me everything you want."
"Allow me to have one of the door-keeper's daughters to sleep with
me."
"If it had come into my head, I would have proposed it to you. Is
she in your room now?"
"No."
"Go and call her, then."
"Let us leave that till to-morrow, as if I went at this time of night
it might make people talk."
"I see you have a store of discretion, and you may be sure I will not
deprive you of any of it."
She helped me to undress, and must have found me very modest, but I
must say it was not from virtue. My heart was engaged elsewhere, and
Madame Dubois had impressed me; I was possibly duped by her, but I
did not trouble myself to think whether I was or not. I rang for Le
Duc in the morning, and on coming in he said he had not expected the
honour.
"You're a rascal," I said, "get two cups of chocolate ready directly
after I have had my bath."
After I had taken my first cold bath, which I greatly enjoyed, I went
to bed again. Madame Dubois came in smiling, dressed in a style of
careless elegance.
"You look in good spirits."
"I am, because I am happy with you. I have had a good night, and
there is now in my room a girl as lovely as an angel, who is to sleep
with me."
"Call her in."
She called her, and a monster of ugliness entered, who made me turn
my head away.
"You haven't given yourself a rival certainly, my dear, but if she
suits you it is all right. You shall have your breakfast with me,
and I hope you will take chocolate with me every morning."
"I shall be delighted, as I am very fond of it."
I had a pleasant afternoon. M. de Chavigni spent several hours with
me. He was pleased with everything, and above all with my fair
housekeeper, of whom Lebel had said nothing to him.
"She will be an excellent cure for your love for Madame," said he.
"There you are wrong," I answered, "she might make me fall in love
with her without any diminution of my affection for my charmer."
Next day, just as I was sitting down to table with my housekeeper, I
saw a carriage coming into the courtyard, and my detestable lame
widow getting out of it. I was terribly put out, but the rules of
politeness compelled me to go and receive her.
"I was far from anticipating that you would do me so great an honour,
madam."
"I daresay; I have come to dine with you, and to ask you to do me a
favour."
"Come in, then, dinner is just being served. I beg to introduce
Madame Dubois to you."
I turned towards my charming housekeeper, and told her that the lady
would dine with us.
Madame Dubois, in the character of mistress of the house, did the
honours admirably, and my lame friend, in spite of her pride, was
very polite to her. I did not speak a dozen words during the meal,
and paid no sort of attention to the detestable creature; but I was
anxious to know what she could want me to do for her. As soon as
Madame Dubois had left the room she told me straight out that she had
come to ask me to let her have a couple of rooms in my house for
three weeks or a month at the most.
I was astonished at such a piece of impudence, and told her she asked
more than I was at liberty to give.
"You can't refuse me, as everybody knows I have come on purpose to
ask you."
"Then everybody must know that I have refused you. I want to be
alone--absolutely alone, without any kind of restriction on my
liberty. The least suspicion of company would bore me."
"I shall not bore you in any way, and you will be at perfect liberty
to ignore my presence. I shall not be offended if you don't enquire
after me, and I shall not ask after you--even if you are ill. I
shall have my meals served to me by my own servant, and I shall take
care not to walk in the garden unless I am perfectly certain you are
not there. You must allow that if you have any claims to politeness
you cannot refuse me."
"If you were acquainted with the most ordinary rules of politeness,
madam, you would not persist in a request to which I have formally
declined to accede."
She did not answer, but my words had evidently produced no effect.
I was choking with rage. I strode up and down the room, and felt
inclined to send her away by force as a madwoman. However, I
reflected that she had relations in a good position whom I might
offend if I treated her roughly, and that I might make an enemy
capable of exacting a terrible revenge; and, finally, that Madame
might disapprove of my using violence to this hideous harpy....
"Well, madam," said I, "you shall have the apartment you have
solicited with so much importunity, and an hour after you come in I
shall be on my way back to Soleure."
"I accept the apartment, and I shall occupy it the day after to-
morrow. As for your threat of returning to Soleure, it is an idle
one, as you would thereby make yourself the laughing-stock of the
whole town."
With this final impertinence she rose and went away, without taking
any further notice of me. I let her go without moving from my seat.
I was stupefied. I repented of having given in; such impudence was
unparalleled. I called myself a fool, and vowed I deserved to be
publicly hooted. I ought to have taken the whole thing as a jest; to
have contrived to get her out of the house on some pretext, and then
to have sent her about her business as a madwoman, calling all my
servants as witnesses.
My dear Dubois came in, and I told my tale. She was thunderstruck.
"I can hardly credit her requesting, or your granting, such a thing,"
said she, "unless you have some motives of your own."
I saw the force of her argument, and not wishing to make a confidante
of her I held my tongue, and went out to work off my bile.
I came in tired, after taking a stiff walk. I took supper with
Madame Dubois, and we sat at table till midnight. Her conversation
pleased me more and more; her mind was well-furnished, her speech
elegant, and she told her stories and cracked her jokes with charming
grace. She was devoid of prejudices, but by no means devoid of
principle. Her discretion was rather the result of system than of
virtue; but if she had not a virtuous spirit, her system would not
have shielded her from the storms of passion or the seductions of
vice.
My encounter with the impudent widow had so affected me that I could
not resist going at an early hour on the following day to communicate
it to M. de Chavigni. I warned Madame Dubois that if I were not back
by dinner-time she was not to wait for me.
M. de Chavigni had been told by my enemy that she was going to pay me
a visit, but he roared with laughter on hearing the steps she had
taken to gain her ends.
"Your excellency may find it very funny," said I, "but I don't."
"So I see; but take my advice, and be the first to laugh at the
adventure. Behave as if you were unaware of her presence, and that
will be a sufficient punishment for her. People will soon say she is
smitten with you, and that you disdain her love. Go and tell the
story to M.----, and stay without ceremony to dinner. I have spoken
to Lebel about your pretty housekeeper: the worthy man had no
malicious intent in sending her to you. He happened to be going to
Lausanne, and just before, I had told him to find you a good
housekeeper; thinking it over on his way, he remembered his friend
Madame Dubois, and the matter was thus arranged without malice or
pretense. She is a regular find, a perfect jewel for you, and if you
get taken with her I don't think she will allow you to languish for
long."
"I don't know, she seems to be a woman of principle."
"I shouldn't have thought you would be taken in by that sort of
thing. I will ask you both to give me a dinner to-morrow, and shall
be glad to hear her chatter."
M---- welcomed me most kindly, and congratulated me on my conquest,
which would make my country house a paradise. I joined in the jest,
of course, with the more ease that his charming wife, though I could
see that she suspected the truth, added her congratulations to those
of her husband; but I soon changed the course of their friendly mirth
by telling them the circumstances of the case. They were indignant
enough then, and the husband said that if she had really quartered
herself on me in that fashion, all I had to do was to get an
injunction from the courts forbidding her to put her foot within my
doors.
"I don't want to do that," said I, "as besides publicly disgracing
her I should be skewing my own weakness, and proclaiming that I was
not the master in my own house, and that I could not prevent her
establishing herself with me."
"I think so, too," said the wife, "and I am glad you gave way to her.
That shews how polite you are, and I shall go and call on her to
congratulate her on the welcome she got, as she told me that her
plans had succeeded."
Here the matter ended, and I accepted their invitation to dine with
them. I behaved as a friend, but with that subtle politeness which
takes away all ground for suspicion; accordingly, the husband felt no
alarm. My charmer found the opportunity to tell me that I had done
wisely in yielding to the ill-timed demand of that harpy, and that as
soon as M. de Chauvelin, whom they were expecting, had gone away
again, I could ask her husband to spend a few days with me, and that
she would doubtless come too.
"Your door-keeper's wife," she added, "was my nurse. I have been
kind to her, and when necessary I can write to you by her without
running any risk."
After calling on two Italian Jesuits who were passing through
Soleure, and inviting them to dine with me on the following day, I
returned home where the good Dubois amused me till midnight by
philosophical discussions. She admired Locke; and maintained that
the faculty of thought was not a proof of the existence of spirit in
us, as it was in the power of God to endow matter with the capacity
for thought; I was unable to controvert this position. She made me
laugh by saying that there was a great difference between thinking
and reasoning, and I had the courage to say,--
"I think you would reason well if you let yourself be persuaded to
sleep with me, and you think you reason well in refusing to be so
persuaded."
"Trust me, sir," said she; "there is as much difference between the
reasoning powers of men and women as there is between their physical
characteristics."
Next morning at nine o'clock we were taking our chocolate, when my
enemy arrived. I heard her carriage, but I did not take the
slightest notice. The villainous woman sent away the carriage and
installed herself in her room with her maid.
I had sent Le Duc to Soleure for my letters, so I was obliged to beg
my housekeeper to do my hair; and she did it admirably, as I told her
we should have the ambassador and the two Jesuits to dinner. I
thanked her, and kissed her for the first time on the cheek, as she
would not allow me to touch her beautiful lips. I felt that we were
fast falling in love with one another, but we continued to keep
ourselves under control, a task which was much easier for her than
for me, as she was helped by that spirit of coquetry natural to the
fair sex, which often has greater power over them than love itself.
M. de Chavigni came at two; I had consulted him before asking the
Jesuits, and had sent my carriage for them. While we were waiting
for these gentlemen we took a turn in the garden, and M. de Chavigni
begged my fair housekeeper to join us as soon as she had discharged
certain petty duties in which she was then engaged.
M. de Chavigni was one of those men who were sent by France to such
powers as she wished to cajole and to win over to her interests.
M. de l'Hopital, who knew how to gain the heart of Elizabeth
Petrovna, was another; the Duc de Nivernois, who did what he liked
with the Court of St. James's in 1762, is a third instance.
Madame Dubois came out to us in due course, and entertained us very
agreeably; and M. de Chavigni told me that he considered she had all
the qualities which would make a man happy. At dinner she enchanted
him and captivated the two Jesuits by her delicate and subtle wit.
In the evening this delightful old nobleman told me he had spent a
most pleasant day, and after asking me to dine at his house while M.
de Chauvelin was there, he left me with an effusive embrace.
M. de Chauvelin, whom I had the honour to know at Versailles, at M.
de Choiseul's, was an extremely pleasant man. He arrived at Soleure
in the course of two days, and M. de Chavigni having advised me of
his presence I hastened to pay my court to him. He remembered me,
and introduced me to his wife, whom I had not the honour of knowing.
As chance placed me next to my charmer at table, my spirits rose, and
my numerous jests and stories put everybody in a good temper. On M.
de Chauvelin remarking that he knew some pleasant histories of which
I was the hero, M. de Chavigni told him that he did not know the best
of all, and recounted to him my adventure at Zurich. M. de Chauvelin
then told Madame that to serve her he would willingly transform
himself into a footman, on which M. ---- joined in and said that I
had a finer taste for beauty, as she, for whose sake I had made
myself into a waiter, was at that moment a guest of mine in my
country house.
"Ah, indeed!" said M. de Chauvelin, "then we must come and see your
quarters, M. Casanova."
I was going to reply, when M. de Chavigni anticipated me by saying,
"Yes, indeed! and I hope he will lend me his beautiful hall to give
you a ball next Sunday."
In this manner the good-natured courtier prevented me from promising
to give a ball myself, and relieved me of my foolish boast, which I
should have been wrong in carrying out, as it would have been an
encroachment on his privilege as ambassador of entertaining these
distinguished strangers during the five or six days they might stay
at Soleure. Besides, if I had kept to my word, it would have
involved me in a considerable expense, which would not have helped me
in my suit.
The conversation turning on Voltaire, the Ecossaise was mentioned,
and the acting of my neighbour was highly commended in words that
made her blush and shine in her beauty like a star, whereat her
praises were renewed.
After dinner the ambassador invited us to his ball on the day after
the morrow, and I went home more deeply in love than ever with my
dear charmer, whom Heaven had designed to inflict on me the greatest
grief I have had in my life, as the reader shall see.
I found that my housekeeper had gone to bed, and I was glad of it,
for the presence of my fair one had excited my passions to such an
extent that my reason might have failed to keep me within the bounds
of respect. Next morning she found me sad, and rallied me in such a
way that I soon recovered my spirits. While we were taking our
chocolate the lame creature's maid brought me a note, and I sent her
away, telling her that I would send the answer by my own servant.
This curious letter ran as follows:
"The ambassador has asked me to his ball on Sunday. I answered that
I was not well, but if I found myself better in the evening I would
come. I think that as I am staying in your house I ought to be
introduced by you or stay away altogether. So if you do not wish to
oblige me by taking me, I must beg of you to tell the ambassador that
I am ill. Pardon me if I have taken the liberty of infringing our
agreement in this peculiar instance, but it is a question of keeping
up some sort of appearance in public."
"Not so," I cried, mad with rage; and taking my pen I wrote thus:
"I think your idea is a beautiful one, madam. You will have to be
ill, as I mean to keep to the conditions you made yourself, and to
enjoy full liberty in all things, and I shall therefore deny myself
the honour of taking you to the ball which the ambassador is to give
in my hall."
I read her insolent letter and my reply to my housekeeper, who
thought the answer just what she deserved. I then sent it to her.
I passed the next two days quietly and agreeably without going out or
seeing any visitors, but the society of Madame Dubois was all-
sufficient for me. Early on Sunday morning the ambassador's people
came to make the necessary preparations for the ball and supper.
Lebel came to pay me his respects while I was at table. I made him
sit down, while I thanked him for procuring me a housekeeper who was
all perfection.
Lebel was a fine man, middle-aged, witty, and an excellent steward,
though perfectly honest.
"Which of you two," said he to me, "is the most taken in?"
"We are equally pleased with each other," answered my charming
housekeeper.
To my great delight the first pair to appear were M.---- and Madame.
She was extremely polite to Madame Dubois, and did not shew the
slightest astonishment when I introduced her as my housekeeper. She
told me that I must take her to see her lame friend, and to my great
disgust I had to go. We were received with a show of great
friendship, and she went out with us into the garden, taking M.----'s
arm, while his wife leant amorously on mine.
When we had made a few turns of the garden, Madame begged me to take
her to her nurse. As her husband was close by, I said,--
"Who is your nurse?"
"Your door-keeper's wife," said her husband, "we will wait for you in
this lady's apartment."
"Tell me, sweetheart," said she on the way, "does not your pretty
housekeeper sleep with you?"
"I swear she does not; I can only love you."
"I would like to believe you, but I find it hard to do so; however,
if you are speaking the truth it is wrong of you to keep her in the
house, as nobody will believe in your innocence."
"It is enough for me that you believe in it. I admire her, and at
any other time I expect we could not sleep under the same roof
without sleeping in the same bed; but now that you rule my heart I am
not capable of a passion for her."
"I am delighted to hear it; but I think she is very pretty."
We went in to see her nurse, who called her "my child," and kissed
her again and again, and then left us alone to prepare some lemonade
for us. As soon as we found ourselves alone our mouths were glued
together, and my hands touched a thousand beauties, covered only by a
dress of light sarcenet; but I could not enjoy her charms without
this cruel robe, which was all the worse because it did not conceal
the loveliness beneath it. I am sure that the good nurse would have
kept us waiting a long time if she had known how we longed to be left
alone for a few moments longer; but, alas! the celerity with which
she made those two glasses of lemonade was unexampled.
"It was made beforehand, was it?" said I, when I saw her coming in.
"Not at all, sir; but I am a quick hand."
"You are, indeed."
These words made my charmer go off into a peal of laughter, which she
accompanied with a significant glance in my direction. As we were
going away she said that as things seemed to be against us we must
wait till her husband came to spend a few days with me.
My terrible enemy gave us some sweets, which she praised very highly,
and above all some quince marmalade, which she insisted on our
testing. We begged to be excused, and Madame pressed my foot with
hers. When we had got away she told me I had been very wise not to
touch anything, as the widow was suspected of having poisoned her
husband.
The ball, the supper, the refreshments, and the guests were all of
the most exquisite and agreeable kind. I only danced one minuet with
Madame de Chauvelin, nearly all my evening being taken up with
talking to her husband. I made him a present of my translation of
his poem on the seven deadly sins, which he received with much
pleasure.
"I intend," said I, "to pay you a visit at Turin."
"Are you going to bring your housekeeper with you?"
"No."
"You are wrong, for she is a delightful person."
Everybody spoke of my dear Dubois in the same way. She had a perfect
knowledge of the rules of good breeding, and she knew how to make
herself respected without being guilty of the slightest presumption.
In vain she was urged to dance, and she afterwards told me that if
she had yielded she would have become an object of hatred to all the
ladies. She knew that she could dance exquisitely.
M. de Chauvelin went away in two days, and towards the end of the
week I heard from Madame d'Urfe, who told me that she had spent two
days at Versailles in furtherance of my desires. She sent me a copy
of the letters of pardon signed by the king in favour of the relation
of M.----, assuring me that the original had been sent to the colonel
of his regiment, where he would be reinstated in the rank which he
held before the duel.
I had my horses put into my carriage, and hastened to carry this good
news to M. de Chavigni. I was wild with joy, and I did not conceal
it from the ambassador, who congratulated me, since M.---- having
obtained by me, without the expenditure of a penny, a favour which
would have cost him dear if he had succeeded in purchasing it, would
henceforth be only too happy to treat me with the utmost confidence.
To make the matter still more important, I begged my noble friend to
announce the pardon to M.---- in person, and he immediately wrote a
note to that gentleman requesting his presence.
As soon as he made his appearance, the ambassador handed him the copy
of the pardon, telling him that he owed it all to me. The worthy man
was in an ecstasy, and asked what he owed me.
"Nothing, sir, unless you will give me your friendship, which I value
more than all the gold in the world; and if you would give me a proof
of your friendship, come and spend a few days with me; I am
positively dying of loneliness. The matter I have done for you is a
mere trifle; you see how quickly it has been arranged."
"A mere trifle! I have devoted a year's labour to it; I have moved
heaven and earth without succeeding, and in a fortnight you have
accomplished it. Sir, you may dispose of my life."
"Embrace me, and come and see me. I am the happiest of men when I am
enabled to serve persons of your merit."
"I will go and tell the good news to my wife, who will love you as
well as I do."
"Yes, do so," said the ambassador, "and bring her to dinner here to-
morrow."
When we were alone together, the Marquis de Chavigni, an old courtier
and a wit, began to make some very philosophical reflections on the,
state of a court where nothing can be said to be easy or difficult
per se, as the one at a moment's notice may become the other; a court
where justice often pleads in vain, while interest or even
importunity get a ready hearing. He had known Madame d'Urfe, had
even paid his court to her at the period when she was secretly
beloved by the regent. He it was who had given her the name of
Egeria, because she said she had a genius who directed her and passed
the nights with her when she slept by herself. The ambassador then
spoke of M.----, who had undoubtedly become a very great friend of
mine.
"The only way to blind a jealous husband," said he, "is to make him
your friend, for friendship will rarely admit jealousy."
The next day at dinner, at the ambassador's, Madame gave me a
thousand proofs of grateful friendship, which my heart interpreted as
pledges of love. The husband and wife promised to pay me a three
days' visit in the following week at my country house.
They kept their word without giving me any further warning, but I was
not taken by surprise as I had made all preparations for their
reception.
My heart leapt with joy on seeing my charmer getting down from the
carriage, but my joy was not unalloyed, as the husband told me that
they must absolutely return on the fourth day, and the wife insisted
on the horrible widow being present at all our conversation.
I took my guests to the suite of rooms I had prepared for them, and
which I judged most suitable for my designs. It was on the ground
floor, opposite to my room. The bedroom had a recess with two beds,
separated by a partition through which one passed by a door. I had
the key to all the doors, and the maid would sleep in a closet beyond
the ante-chamber.
In obedience to my divinity's commands we went and called on the
widow, who gave us a cordial welcome; but under the pretext of
leaving us in freedom refused to be of our company during the three
days. However, she gave in when I told her that our agreement was
only in force when I was alone.
My dear Dubois, with her knowledge of the rules of society, did not
need a hint to have her supper in her room, and we had an exquisite
meal as I had given orders that the fare should be of the best.
After supper I took my guests to their apartment, and felt obliged to
do the same by the widow. She wanted me to assist at her toilet, but
I excused myself with a bow. She said, maliciously, that after all
the pains I had taken I deserved to be successful. I gave her no
answer.
Next morning, as we were walking in the garden, I warned my charmer
that I had all the keys of the house, and that I could introduce
myself into her room at any moment.
"I am waiting," said she, "for my husband's embraces, which he has
prefaced with caresses, as is usual with him. We must therefore wait
till the night after next, which will take away all risk, as I have
never known him to embrace me for two nights in succession."
About noon we had a visit from M. de Chavigni, who came to ask for
dinner, and made a great to-do when he heard that my housekeeper
dined in her room. The ladies said he was quite right, so we all
went and made her sit down at table with us. She must have been
flattered, and the incident evidently increased her good humour, as
she amused us by her wit and her piquant stories about Lady Montagu.
When we had risen from table Madame said to me,--
"You really must be in love with that young woman; she is ravishing."
"If I could pass two hours in your company to-night, I would prove to
you that I am yours alone."
"It is still out of the question, as my husband has ascertained that
the moon changes to-day."
"He has to ask leave of the moon, has he, before discharging so sweet
a duty?"
"Exactly. According to his system of astrology, it is the only way
to keep his health and to have the son that Heaven wills to grant
him, and indeed without aid from above it is hardly likely that his
wishes will be accomplished."
"I hope to be the instrument of Heaven," said I, laughing.
"I only hope you may."
Thus I was obliged to wait. Next morning, as we were walking in the
garden, she said to me,--
"The sacrifice to the moon has been performed, and to make sure I
will cause him to renew his caresses tonight as soon as we go to bed;
and after that he is certain to sleep soundly. You can come at an
hour after midnight; love will await you."
Certain of my bliss, I gave myself up to the joy that such a
certainty kindles in a fiery heart. It was the only night remaining,
as M.---- had decided that on the next day they would return to
Soleure.
After supper I took the ladies to their apartments, and on returning
told my housekeeper that I had a good deal of writing to do, and that
she should go to bed.
Just before one o'clock I left my room, and the night being a dark
one I had to feel my way half round my house, and to my surprise
found the door open; but I did not pay any attention to this
circumstance. I opened the door of the second ante-chamber, and the
moment I shut it again a hand seized mine, whilst another closed my
lips. I only heard a whispered "hush!" which bade me silent. A sofa
was at hand; we made it our altar of sacrifice, and in a moment I was
within the temple of love. It was summer time and I had only two
hours before me, so I did not lose a moment, and thinking I held
between my arms the woman I had so long sighed for I renewed again
and again the pledges of my ardent love. In the fulness of my bliss
I thought her not awaiting me in her bed an admirable idea, as the
noise of our kisses and the liveliness of our motions might have
awakened the troublesome husband. Her tender ecstasies equalled
mine, and increased my bliss by making me believe (oh, fatal error!)
that of all my conquests this was the one of which I had most reason
to boast.
To my great grief the clock warned me that it was time for me to be
gone. I covered her with the tenderest kisses, and returning to my
room, in the greatest gladness, I resigned myself to sleep.
I was roused at nine o'clock by M.----, who seemed in a happy frame
of mind, and shewed me a letter he had just received, in which his
relative thanked me for restoring him to his regiment. In this
letter, which was dictated by gratitude, he spoke of me as if I had
been a divinity.
"I am delighted," I said, "to have been of service to you."
"And I," said he, "am equally pleased to assure you of my gratitude.
Come and breakfast with us, my wife is still at her toilette. Come
along."
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