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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2973.txt b/2973.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a8cdaa7 --- /dev/null +++ b/2973.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3572 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of In London And Moscow: The English +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: In London And Moscow: The English + The Memoirs Of Jacques Casanova De Seingalt 1725-1798 + +Author: Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Release Date: October 31, 2006 [EBook #2973] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN LONDON AND MOSCOW: THE ENGLISH *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA DE SEINGALT + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR MACHEN TO +WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 IN LONDON AND MOSCOW, +Volume 5c--THE ENGLISH + + + + +THE ENGLISH + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Eccentricity of the English--Castelbajac Count Schwerin--Sophie at +School--My Reception at the Betting Club--The Charpillon + +I passed a night which seemed like a never-ending nightmare, and I got up +sad and savage, feeling as if I could kill a man on the smallest +provocation. It seemed as if the house, which I had hitherto thought so +beautiful, was like a millstone about my neck. I went out in my +travelling clothes, and walked into a coffee-house, where I saw a score +of people reading the papers. + +I sat down, and, not understanding English, passed my time in gazing at +the goers and comers. I had been there some time when my attention was +attracted by the voice of a man speaking as follows in French: + +"Tommy has committed suicide, and he was wise, for he was in such a state +that he could only expect unhappiness for the rest of his life." + +"You are quite mistaken," said the other, with the greatest composure. "I +was one of his creditors myself, and on making an inventory of his +effects I feel satisfied that he has done a very foolish and a very +childish thing; he might have lived on comfortably, and not killed +himself for fully six months." + +At any other time this calculation would have made me laugh, and, as it +was, I felt as if the incident had done me good. + +I left the coffee-house without having said a word or spent a penny, and +I went towards the Exchange to get some money. Bosanquet gave me what I +wanted directly, and as I walked out with him I noticed a curious-looking +individual, whose name I asked. + +"He's worth a hundred thousand," said the banker. + +"And who is that other man over there?" + +"He's not worth a ten-pound note." + +"But I don't want to hear what they are worth; it's their names I want." + +"I really don't know." + +"How can you tell how much they are worth, not knowing their names?" + +"Names don't go for anything here. What we want to know about a man is +how much he has got? Besides; what's in a name? Ask me for a thousand +pounds and give me a proper receipt, and you can do it under the name of +Socrates or Attila, for all I care. You will pay me back my money as +Socrates or Attila, and not as Seingalt; that is all." + +"But how about signing bills of exchange?" + +"That's another thing; I must use the name which the drawer gives me." + +"I don't understand that." + +"Well, you see, you are not English, nor are you a business man." + +On leaving him I walked towards the park, but wishing to change a +twenty-pound note before going in I went to a fat merchant, an epicure +whose acquaintance I had made at the tavern, and put down the note on his +counter, begging him to cash it for me. + +"Come again in an hour," said he, "I have no money by me just now." + +"Very good; I will call again when I come from the park." + +"Take back your note; you shall give it to me when I hand you the money." + +"Never mind; keep it. I don't doubt your honesty." + +"Don't be so foolish. If you left me the note I should certainly decline +to hand over the money, if only for the sake of giving you a lesson." + +"I don't believe you are capable of such dishonesty." + +"Nor am I, but when it comes to such a simple thing as putting a bank +note in your pocket, the most honest man in the world would never dream +of having such a thing in his possession without having paid the money +for it, and the least slip of memory might lead to a dispute in which you +would infallibly come off second best." + +"I feel the force of your arguments, especially in a town where so much +business is carried on." + +When I got into the park I met Martinelli and thanked him for sending me +a copy of the Decameron, while he congratulated me on my re-appearance in +society, and on the young lady of whom I had been the happy possessor and +no doubt the slave. + +"My Lord Pembroke has seen her," said he, "and thought her charming." + +"What? Where could he have seen her?" + +"In a carriage with you driving fast along the Rochester road. It is +three or four days ago." + +"Then I may tell you that I was taking her to Calais; I shall never see +her face again." + +"Will you let the room again in the same way?" + +"No, never again, though the god of love has been propitious to me. I +shall be glad to see you at my house whenever you like to come." + +"Shall I send you a note to warn you?" + +"Not at all." + +We walked on talking about literature, manners, and so forth, in an +aimless way. All at once, as we approached Buckingham House, I saw five +or six persons, relieving nature amidst the bushes, with their hinder +parts facing the passers-by. I thought this a disgusting piece of +indecency, and said as much to Martinelli, adding that the impudent +rascals might at least turn their faces towards the path. + +"Not at all," he exclaimed, "for then they might be recognized; whereas +in exposing their posteriors they run no such risk; besides the sight +makes squeamish persons turn away." + +"You are right, but you will confess that the whole thing strikes a +stranger as very revolting." + +"Yes, there is nothing so ineradicable as national prejudice. You may +have noticed that when an Englishman wants to ease his sluices in the +street, he doesn't run up an alley or turn to the wall like we do." + +"Yes, I have noticed them turning towards the middle of the street, but +if they thus escape the notice of the people in the shops and on the +pavement they are seen by everybody who is driving in a carriage, and +that is as bad." + +"The people in the carriages need not look." + +"That is true." + +We walked on to the Green Park, and met Lord Pembroke on horseback. He +stopped and burst into exclamations on seeing me. As I guessed the cause +of his surprise, I hastened to tell him that I was a free man once more, +to my sorrow, and felt lonely amidst my splendour. + +"I feel rather curious about it, and perhaps I may come and keep you +company to-day." + +We parted, and reckoning on seeing him at dinner I, went back to tell my +cook that dinner was to be served in the large room. Martinelli had an +engagement and could not come to dinner, but he led me out of the park by +a door with which I was not acquainted, and sent me on my way. + +As we were going along we saw a crowd of people who seemed to be staring +at something. Martinelli went up to the crowd, and then returned to me, +saying,-- + +"That's a curious sight for you; you can enter it amidst your remarks on +English manners." + +"What is it?" + +"A man at the point of death from a blow he has received in boxing with +another sturdy fellow." + +"Cannot anything be done?" + +"There is a surgeon there who would bleed him, if he were allowed." + +"Who could prevent him?" + +"That's the curious part of it. Two men have betted on his death or +recovery. One says, 'I'll bet twenty guineas he dies,' and the other +says, 'Done.' Number one will not allow the surgeon to bleed him, for if +the man recovered his twenty guineas would be gone." + +"Poor man! what pitiless betters!" + +"The English are very strange in their betting proclivities; they bet +about everything. There is a Betting Club to which I will introduce you, +if you like." + +"Do they speak French there?" + +"Most certainly, for it is composed of men of wit and mark." + +"What do they do?" + +"They talk and argue, and if one man brings forward a proposition which +another denies, and one backs his opinion, the other has to bet too, on +pain of a fine which goes to the common fund." + +"Introduce me to this delightful club, by all means; it will make my +fortune, for I shall always take care to be on the right side." + +"You had better be careful; they are wary birds." + +"But to return to the dying man; what will be done to his antagonist?" + +"His hand will be examined, and if it is found to be just the same as +yours or mine it will be marked, and he will be let go." + +"I don't understand that, so kindly explain. How do they recognize a +dangerous hand?" + +"If it is found to be marked already, it is a proof that he has killed +his man before and has been marked for it, with the warning, 'Take care +not to kill anyone else, for if you do you will be hanged.'" + +"But supposing such a man is attacked?" + +"He ought to shew his hand, and then his adversary would let him alone." + +"But if not?" + +"Then he is defending himself; and if he kills his man he is acquitted, +provided he can bring witnesses to swear that he was obliged to fight." + +"Since fighting with the fist may cause death, I wonder it is allowed." + +"It is only allowed for a wager. If the combatants do not put one or more +pieces of money on the ground before the fight, and there is a death, the +man is hanged." + +"What laws! What manners!" + +In such ways I learnt much concerning the manner and customs of this +proud nation, at once so great and so little. + +The noble lord came to dinner, and I treated him in a manner to make him +wish to come again. Although there were only the two of us, the meal +lasted a long time, as I was anxious for additional information on what I +had heard in the morning, especially on the Betting Club. The worthy +Pembroke advised me not to have anything to do with it, unless I made up +my mind to keep perfect silence for four or five weeks. + +"But supposing they ask me a question?" + +"Evade it." + +"Certainly, if I am not in a position to give my opinion; but if I have +an opinion, the powers of Satan could not shut my mouth." + +"All the worse for you." + +"Are the members knaves?" + +"Certainly not. They are noblemen, philosophers, and epicures; but they +are pitiless where a bet is concerned." + +"Is the club treasury rich?" + +"Far from it; they are all ashamed to pay a fine, and prefer to bet. Who +will introduce you?" + +"Martinelli." + +"Quite so; through Lord Spencer, who is a member. I would not become +one." + +"Why not?" + +"Because I don't like argument." + +"My taste runs the other way, so I shall try to get in." + +"By the way, M. de Seingalt, do you know that you are a very +extraordinary man?" + +"For what reason, my lord?" + +"You shut yourself up for a whole month with a woman who spent fourteen +months in London without anybody making her acquaintance or even +discovering her nationality. All the amateurs have taken a lively +interest in the affair." + +"How did you find out that she spent fourteen months in London?" + +"Because several persons saw her in the house of a worthy widow where she +spent the first month. She would never have anything to say to any +advances, but the bill in your window worked wonders." + +"Yes, and all the worse for me, for I feel as if I could never love +another woman." + +"Oh, that's childish indeed! You will love another woman in a week-nay, +perhaps to-morrow, if you will come and dine with me at my country house. +A perfect French beauty has asked me to dine with her. I have told some +of my friends who are fond of gaming." + +"Does the charming Frenchwoman like gaming?" + +"No, but her husband does." + +"What's his name?" + +"He calls himself Count de Castelbajac." + +"Ah! Castelbajac?" + +"Yes." + +"He is a Gascon?" + +"Yes." + +"Tall, thin, and dark, and marked with the smallpox? + +"Exactly! I am delighted to find you know him. You will agree with me +that his wife is very pretty?" + +"I really can't say. I knew Castelbajac, as he calls himself, six years +ago, and I never heard he was married. I shall be delighted to join you, +however. I must warn you not to say anything if he seems not to know me; +he may possibly have good reasons for acting in that manner. Before long +I will tell you a story which does not represent him in a very +advantageous manner. I did not know he played. I shall take care to be on +my guard at the Betting Club, and I advise you, my lord, to be on your +guard in the society of Castelbajac." + +"I will not forget the warning." + +When Pembroke had left me I went to see Madame Cornelis, who had written +a week before to tell me my daughter was ill, and explained that she had +been turned from my doors on two occasions though she felt certain I was +in. To this I replied that I was in love, and so happy within my own +house that I had excluded all strangers, and with that she had to be +contented, but the state in which I found little Sophie frightened me. +She was lying in bed with high fever, she had grown much thinner, and her +eyes seemed to say that she was dying of grief. Her mother was in +despair, for she was passionately fond of the child, and I thought she +would have torn my eyes out when I told her that if Sophie died she would +only have herself to reproach. Sophie, who was very good-hearted, cried +out, "No, no! papa dear;" and quieted her mother by her caresses. + +Nevertheless, I took the mother aside, and told her that the disease was +solely caused by Sophie's dread of her severity. + +"In spite of your affection," said I, "you treat her with insufferable +tyranny. Send her to a boarding-school for a couple of years, and let her +associate with girls of good family. Tell her this evening that she is to +go to school, and see if she does not get better." + +"Yes," said she, "but a good boarding-school costs a hundred guineas a +year, including masters." + +"If I approve of the school you select I will pay a year in advance." + +On my making this offer the woman, who seemed to be living so +luxuriously, but was in reality poverty-stricken, embraced me with the +utmost gratitude. + +"Come and tell the news to your daughter now," said she, "I should like +to watch her face when she hears it." + +"Certainly." + +"My dear Sophie," I said, "your mother agrees with me that if you had a +change of air you would get better, and if you would like to spend a year +or two in a good school I will pay the first year in advance." + +"Of course, I will obey my dear mother," said Sophie. + +"There is no question of obedience. Would you like to go to school? Tell +me truly." + +"But would my mother like me to go?" + +"Yes, my child, if it would please you." + +"Then, mamma, I should like to go very much." + +Her face flushed as she spoke, and I knew that my diagnosis had been +correct. I left her saying I should hope to hear from her soon. + +At ten o'clock the next day Jarbe came to ask if I had forgotten my +engagement. + +"No," said I, "but it is only ten o'clock." + +"Yes, but we have twenty miles to go." + +"Twenty miles?" + +"Certainly, the house is at St. Albans." + +"It's very strange Pembroke never told me; how did you find out the +address?" + +"He left it when he went away:" + +"Just like an Englishman." + +I took a post-chaise, and in three hours I had reached my destination. +The English roads are excellent, and the country offers a smiling +prospect on every side. The vine is lacking, for though the English soil +is fertile it will not bear grapes. + +Lord Pembroke's house was not a particularly large one, but twenty +masters and their servants could easily be accommodated in it. + +The lady had not yet arrived, so my lord shewed me his gardens, his +fountains, and his magnificent hot-houses; also a cock chained by the +leg, and of a truly ferocious aspect. + +"What have we here, my lord?" + +"A cock." + +"I see it is, but why do you chain it?" + +"Because it is savage. It is very amorous, and if it were loose it would +go after the hens, and kill all the cocks on the country-side." + +"But why do you condemn him to celibacy?" + +"To make him fiercer. Here, this is the list of his conquests." + +He gave me a list of his cock's victories, in which he had killed the +other bird; this had happened more than thirty times. He then shewed me +the steel spurs, at the sight of which the cock began to ruffle and crow. +I could not help laughing to see such a martial spirit in so small an +animal. He seemed possessed by the demon of strife, and lifted now one +foot and now the other, as if to beg that his arms might be put on. + +Pembroke then exhibited the helmet, also of steel. + +"But with such arms," said I, "he is sure of conquest." + +"No; for when he is armed cap-a-pie he will not fight with a defenceless +cock." + +"I can't believe it, my lord." + +"It's a well-known fact. Here, read this." + +He then gave me a piece of paper with this remarkable biped's pedigree. +He could prove his thirty-two quarters more easily than a good many +noblemen, on the father's side, be it understood, for if he could have +proved pure blood on the mother's side as well, Lord Pembroke would have +decorated him with the Order of the Golden Fleece at least. + +"The bird cost me a hundred guineas," said he, "but I would not sell him +for a thousand." + +"Has he any offspring?" + +"He tries his best, but there are difficulties." + +I do not remember whether Lord Pembroke explained what these difficulties +were. Certainly the English offer more peculiarities to the attentive +observer than any other nation. + +At last a carriage containing a lady and two gentlemen drove up to the +door. One of the gentlemen was the rascally Castelbajac and the other was +introduced as Count Schwerin, nephew of the famous marshal of that name +who fell on what is commonly called the field of glory. General +Bekw---- an Englishman who was in the service of the King of Prussia, and +was one of Pembroke's guests, received Schwerin politely, saying that he +had seen his uncle die; at this the modest nephew drew the Order of the +Black Eagle from his breast, and shewed it to us all covered with blood. + +"My uncle wore it on the day of his death, and the King of Prussia +allowed me to keep it as a noble memorial of my kinsman." + +"Yes," said an Englishman who was present, "but the coat-pocket is not +the place for a thing like that." + +Schwerin made as if he did not understand, and this enabled me to take +his measure. + +Lord Pembroke took possession of the lady, whom I did not think worthy of +being compared to Pauline. She was paler and shorter, and utterly +deficient in Pauline's noble air; besides, when she smiled it spoiled her +face, and this is a defect in a woman, to whom laughter should always be +becoming. + +Lord Pembroke introduced us all to each other, and when he came to me +Castelbajac said he was delighted to see me again, although he might +easily have pretended not to know me under my name of Seingalt. + +We had a good English dinner, and afterwards the lady proposed a game of +faro. My lord never played, so the general consented to amuse the company +by holding the bank, and placed a hundred guineas and several bank notes +on the table. There might be a thousand guineas in all. He then gave +twenty counters to each punter, saying that every counter was worth ten +shillings. As I only staked gold against gold I would not accept them. By +the third deal Schwerin had lost his twenty counters and asked for twenty +more; but the banker told him he must pay for them, and the self-styled +field-marshal's nephew lapsed into silence and played no more. + +At the following deal Castelbajac was in the same position as his friend, +and being on my side he begged to be allowed to take ten pieces. + +"You will bring me ill-luck," I said, coldly, warding off his hand; and +he went out to the garden, no doubt to swallow the affront he had +received. The lady said her husband had forgotten his pocketbook. An hour +afterwards the game came to an end, and I took my leave, after inviting +Lord Pembroke and the rest of the company to dine with me the next day. + +I got home at eleven o'clock without meeting any highwaymen as I had +expected, indeed I had put up six guineas in a small purse for their +special use and benefit. I woke up my cook to tell him that the next day +I should have twelve people to dinner, and that I hoped he would do me +honour. I found a letter from Madame Cornelis on my table telling me that +she and her daughter would drive with me on the following Sunday, and +that we could go and see the boarding-school she had selected. + +Next day Lord Pembroke and the fair Frenchwoman were the first to arrive. +They drove in a carriage with two rather uncomfortable seats, but this +discomfort is favourable to love. The Gascon and the Prussian were the +last to come. + +We sat down to table at two and left it at four, all of us well pleased +with the cook, and still more so with the wine merchant; for though we +had emptied forty bottles of wine, not one of us was at all intoxicated. + +After coffee had been served the general invited us all to sup with him, +and Madame Castelbajac begged me to hold a bank. I did not wait to be +pressed but placed a thousand guineas on the table, and as I had no +counters of any kind I warned the company that I would only play gold +against gold, and that I should stop playing whenever I thought fit. + +Before the game began the two counts paid their losses of the day before +to the general in bank notes, which he begged me to change. I also +changed two other notes presented to me by the same gentleman, and put +them all under my snuff-box. Play began. I had no croupier, so I was +obliged to deal slowly and keep an eye on the two counts, whose method of +play was very questionable. At last both of them were dried up, and +Castelbajac gave me a bill of exchange for two hundred guineas, begging +me to discount it for him. + +"I know nothing about business," I replied. + +An Englishman took the bill, and after a careful examination said he +neither knew the drawer, the accepter, nor the backer. + +"I am the backer," said Castelbajac, "and that ought to be enough, I +think." + +Everybody laughed, besides myself, and I gave it him back courteously, +saying politely that he could get it discounted on 'Change the next day. +He got up in a bad temper, and left the room, murmuring some insolent +expressions. Schwering followed him. + +After these two worthy gentlemen had left us, I went on dealing till the +night was far advanced, and then left off, though I was at a loss. +However, the general had a run of luck, and I thought it best to stop. +Before leaving he took me and Lord Pembroke aside, and begged me to +contrive that the two knaves should not come to his house the following +day. "For," said he, "if that Gascon were to be half as insolent to me as +he was to you, I should shew him out by the window." + +Pembroke said he would tell the lady of the general's wishes. + +"Do you think," said I, "that those four notes of theirs can be +forgeries?" + +"It's very possible." + +"What would you advise my doing to clear the matter up?" + +"I would send them to the bank." + +"And if they should be forgeries?" + +"I would have patience, or I would arrest the rascals." + +The next day I went to the bank myself, and the person to whom I gave the +notes gave me them back, saying, coldly,-- + +"These notes are bad, sir." + +"Be kind enough to examine them closely." + +"It's no good, they are evident forgeries. Return them to the person from +whom you got them, and he will be only too glad to cash them." + +I was perfectly aware that I could put the two knaves under lock and key, +but I did not want to do so. I went to Lord Pembroke to find out their +address, but he was still in bed, and one of his servants took me to +them. They were surprised to see me. I told them coolly enough that the +four notes were forged, and that I should feel much obliged if they would +give me forty guineas and take their notes back. + +"I haven't got any money," said Castelbajac, "and what you say astonishes +me very much. I can only return them to the persons who gave them to me, +if the are really the same notes that we gave you yesterday." + +At this suggestion the blood rushed to my face, and with a withering +glance and an indignant apostrophe I left them. Lord Pembroke's servant +took me to a magistrate who, having heard my statement on oath, gave me a +paper authorizing me to arrest two counts. I gave the document to an +alderman, who said he would see it was carried out, and I went home ill +pleased with the whole business. + +Martinelli was waiting for me; he had come to ask me to give him a +dinner. I told him my story, without adding that the knaves were to be +arrested, and his advice delivered with philosophic calm was to make an +auto-da-fe of the four notes. It was very good advice, but I did not take +it. + +The worthy Martinelli, thinking to oblige me, told me that he had +arranged with Lord Spencer the day on which I was to be introduced to the +club, but I answered that my fancy for going there was over. I ought to +have treated this learned and distinguished man with more politeness, but +who can sound human weakness to its depths? One often goes to a wise man +for advice which one has not the courage to follow. + +In the evening I went to the general's, and found the self-styled +Countess Castelbajac seated on Lord Pembroke's knees. The supper was a +good one, and passed off pleasantly; the two rascals were not there, and +their absence was not remarked. When we left the table we went into +another room, and played till day-break. I left the board with a loss of +two or three hundred guineas. + +I did not wake till late the next morning, and when I did my man told me +that a person wanted to speak to me. I had him shewn in, and as he only +spoke English the negro had to be our interpreter. He was the chief of +the police, and told me that if I would pay for the journey he would +arrest Castelbajac at Dover, for which town he had started at noon. As to +the other he was sure of having him in the course of the night. I gave +him a guinea, and told him it would be enough to catch the one, and that +the other could go where he liked. + +The next day was Sunday, the only day on which Madame Cornelis could go +abroad without fear of the bailiff. She came to dine with me, and brought +her daughter, whom the prospect of leaving her mother had quite cured. +The school which Madame Cornelis had chosen was at Harwich, and we went +there after dinner. + +The head-mistress was a Catholic, and though she must have been sixty, +she looked keen, witty, and as if she knew the ways of the world. She had +received an introduction from Lady Harrington, and so welcomed the young +lady in the most cordial manner. She had about fifteen young boarders of +thirteen or fourteen years of age. When she presented Sophie to them as a +new companion, they crowded round her and covered her with caresses. Five +or six were perfect angels of beauty, and two or three were hideously +ugly; and such extremes are more common in England than anywhere else. My +daughter was the smallest of them all, but as far as beauty went she had +nothing to fear by comparison, and her talents placed her on a par with +the eldest, while she responded to their caresses with that ease which +later in life is only acquired with great difficulty. + +We went over the house, and all the girls followed us, and those who +could speak French or Italian spoke to me, saying how much they would +love my daughter, while those who could not speak sufficiently well held +off as if ashamed of their ignorance. We saw the bedrooms, the +dining-room, the drawing-room, the harps and the pianos--in fact, +everything, and I decided that Sophie could not be better placid. We went +into the head-mistress's private room, and Madame Cornelis paid her a +hundred guineas in advance, and obtained a receipt. We then agreed that +Sophie should be received as a boarder as soon as she liked to come, that +she was to bring her bed with her, and all the necessary linen. Madame +Cornelis made the final arrangements on the ensuing Sunday. + +Next day the alderman told me that Count Schwerin was a prisoner, and +wanted to speak to me. I declined at first, but as the alderman's +messenger told me, through Jarbe, that the poor devil had not a farthing +in his pocket, I was moved with compassion. As he was charged with +uttering forged notes he had been taken to Newgate, and was in danger of +being hanged. + +I followed the magistrate's messenger, and cannot say how the woeful +aspect, the tears and supplications for mercy of the poor wretch, moved +my heart. He swore that Castelbajac had given him the notes, but he added +that he knew where they came from originally, and would tell me if I +would release him. + +A little bitterness still remained in my breast, so I told him that if he +knew who forged the notes he could certainly escape the gallows, but that +I should keep him prisoner till I got my money back. At this threat his +tears and supplications began over again and with renewed force, and +telling me that he was in utter poverty he emptied his pockets one after +the other to shew me that he had no money, and at last offered me the +bloodstained badge of his uncle. I was delighted to be able to relieve +him without any appearance of weakness, and accepted the bauble as a +pledge, telling him that he should have it back on payment of forty +pounds. + +I wrote out a formal release, and in his presence and in that of the +alderman I burnt the four notes and set him free. + +Two days afterwards the so-called countess came to my house, saying that +now Castelbajac and Schewirin were gone, she knew not where to lay her +head. She complained bitterly of Lord Pembroke, who deserted her after +making her give him the clearest proofs of her affection. By way of +consolation I told her that it would be very foolish of him to have +abandoned her before instead of after. + +To get rid of her I was obliged to give her the money to pay her journey +to Calais. She told me she did not want to rejoin the Gascon, who was not +really her husband. We shall hear more of these persons in the course of +three years. + +Two or three days later an Italian called on me, and gave me a letter +from my friend Baletti, which recommended the bearer, Constantini, a +native of Vicenza, to my good offices. He had come to London on a matter +of importance in which I could help him. + +I assured M. Constantini that I was only too happy to do anything to +justify the confidence placed in my by one of my best friends, and he +said that the long journey had almost exhausted his purse; but he +added,-- + +"I know that my wife lives here, and that she is rich. I shall easily +find out where she lives, and you know that as I am her husband all that +is hers is mine." + +"I was not aware of that." + +"Then you don't know the laws of this country?" + +"Not at all." + +"I am sorry to hear it, but such is the case. I am going to her house, +and I shall turn her out of doors with nothing else than the dress on her +back, for the furniture, clothes, jewels, linen-in fact, all her +possessions, belong to me. May I ask you to be with me when I perform +this exploit?" + +I was astonished. I asked him if he had told Baletti what he intended to +do. + +"You are the first person to whom I have disclosed my intentions." + +I could not treat him as a madman, for he did not look like one, and, +concluding that there really might be the law he had alleged, I replied +that I did not feel inclined to join him in his enterprise, of which I +disapproved very strongly, unless his wife had actually robbed him of +what she possessed. + +"She has only robbed me of my honour, sir, and she left me, taking her +talents with her. She must have made a great fortune here, and have I not +a right to take it from her, were it only for vengeance sake?" + +"That may be, but I ask you what you would think of me if I agreed to +join you in an undertaking which seems a cruel one to me, however good +your reasons may be. Besides I may know your wife, she may even be a +friend of mine." + +"I will tell you her name." + +"No, I beg of you not to do so, although I do not know any Madame +Constantini." + +"She has changed her name to Calori, and she sings at the 'Haymarket.'" + +"I know who she is now. I am sorry you have told me." + +"I have no doubt you will keep my secret, and I am now going to find out +where she lives; for that is the principal thing." + +He left me weeping, and I pitied him, but at the same time I was sorry +that he had made me the depositary of his secret. A few hours after I +called on Madame Binetti, and she told me the histories of all the +artistes in London. When she came to the Calori she told me that she had +had several lovers out of whom she had made a great deal, but at present +she had no lover, unless it were the violinist Giardini, with whom she +was in love in earnest. + +"Where does she come from?" + +"From Vicenza." + +"Is she married?" + +"I don't think so." + +I thought no more of this wretched business, but three or four days later +I had a letter from King's Bench Prison. It was from Constantini. The +poor wretch said I was the only friend he had in London, and that he +hoped I would come and see him, were it only to give him some advice. + +I thought it my duty to accede to his request, and I went to the prison, +where I found the poor man in a wretched state, with an old English +attorney, who spoke a little bad Italian, and was known to me. + +Constantini had been arrested the day before on account of several bills +drawn by his wife which had not been taken up. By these bills she +appeared in debt to the amount of a thousand guineas. The attorney had +got the five bills, and he was trying to make some arrangements with the +husband. + +I saw at once that the whole thing was a scandalous swindle, for Madame +Binetti had told me that the Calori was very rich. I begged the attorney +to leave me alone with the prisoner, as I wanted to have some private +conversation with him. + +"They have arrested me for my wife's debts," said he, "and they tell me I +must pay them because I am her husband." + +"It's a trick your wife has played on you; she must have found out you +were in London." + +"She saw me through the window." + +"Why did you delay putting your project into execution?" + +"I meant to carry it out this morning, but how was I to know that she had +debts?" + +"Nor has she any debts; these bills are shams. They must have been +ante-dated, for they were really executed yesterday. It's a bad business, +and she may have to pay dearly for it." + +"But in the meanwhile I am in prison." + +"Never mind, trust to me, I will see you again tomorrow." + +This scurvy trick had made me angry, and I made up my mind to take up the +poor man's cause. I went to Bosanquet, who told me that the device was a +very common one in London, but that people had found out the way to +defeat it. Finally, he said that if the prisoner interested me he would +put the case into the hands of a barrister who would extricate him from +his difficulty, and make the wife and the lover, who had probably helped +her, repent of their day's work. I begged him to act as if my interests +were at stake, and promised to guarantee all expenses. + +"That's enough," said he; "don't trouble yourself any more about it." + +Same days after Mr. Bosanquet came to tell me that Constantini had left +the prison and England as well, according to what the barrister who had +charge of the case told him. + +"Impossible!" + +"Not at all. The lover of his wife, foreseeing the storm that was about +to burst over their heads, got round the fellow, and made him leave the +country by means of a sum more or less large." + +The affair was over, but it was soon in all the newspapers, garnished +with all the wit imaginable, and Giardini was warmly praised for the +action he had taken. + +As for me I was glad enough to have the matter over, but I felt vexed +with Constantini for having fled without giving the lovers a lesson. I +wrote an account of the circumstances to Baletti, and I heard from Madame +Binetti that the Calori had given her husband a hundred guineas to leave +the country. Some years later I saw the Calori at Prague. + +A Flemish officer, the man whom I had helped at Aix-la-Chapelle, had +called on me several times, and had even dined three or four times with +me. I reproached myself for not having been polite enough to return his +call, and when we met in the street, and he reproached me for not having +been to see him, I was obliged to blush. He had his wife and daughter +with him, and some feeling of shame and a good deal of curiosity made me +call on him. + +When he saw me he threw his arms about my neck, calling me his preserver. +I was obliged to receive all the compliments which knaves make to honest +men when they hope to take them in. A few moments after, an old woman and +a girl came in, and I was introduced as the Chevalier de Seingalt, of +whom he had spoken so often. The girl, affecting surprise, said she had +known a M. Casanova, who was very like me. I answered that Casanova was +my name as well as Seingalt, but that I had not the happiness of +recollecting her. + +"My name was Anspergher when I saw you," she replied, "but now it is +Charpillon; and considering that we only met once, and that I was only +thirteen at the time, I do not wonder at your not recollecting me. I have +been in London with my mother and aunts for the last four years." + +"But where had I the pleasure of speaking to you?" + +"At Paris." + +"In what part of Paris?" + +"In the Bazaar. You were with a charming lady, and you gave me these +buckles" (she shewed me them on her shoes), "and you also did me the +honour to kiss me." + +I recollected the circumstance, and the reader will remember that I was +with Madame Baret, the fair stocking-seller. + +"Now I remember you," said I; "but I do not recognize your aunt." + +"This is the sister of the one you saw, but if you will take tea with us +you will see her." + +"Where do you live?" + +"In Denmark Street, Soho." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +The Charpillon--Dreadful Consequences of My Acquaintance With Her + +The name Charpillon reminded me that I was the bearer of a letter for +her, and drawing it from my pocket-book I gave it her, saying that the +document ought to cement our acquaintance. + +"What!" she exclaimed, "a letter from the dear ambassador Morosini. How +delighted I am to have it! And you have actually been all these months in +London without giving it me?" + +"I confess I am to blame, but, as you see, the note has no address on it. +I am grateful for the chance which has enabled me to discharge my +commission to-day." + +"Come and dine with us to-morrow." + +"I cannot do so, as I am expecting Lord Pembroke to dinner." + +"Will you be alone?" + +"I expect so." + +"I am glad to hear it; you will see my aunt and myself appearing on the +scene." + +"Here is my address; and I shall be delighted if you will come and see +me." + +She took the address, and I was surprised to see her smile as she read +it. + +"Then you are the Italian," she said, "who put up that notice that amused +all the town?" + +"I am." + +"They say the joke cost you dear." + +"Quite the reverse; it resulted in the greatest happiness." + +"But now that the beloved object has left you, I suppose you are +unhappy?" + +"I am; but there are sorrows so sweet that they are almost joys." + +"Nobody knows who she was, but I suppose you do?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you make a mystery of it?" + +"Surely, and I would rather die than reveal it." + +"Ask my aunt if I may take some rooms in your house; but I am afraid my +mother would not let me." + +"Why do you want to lodge cheaply?" + +"I don't want to lodge cheaply, but I should like to punish the audacious +author of that notice." + +"How would you punish me?" + +"By making you fall in love with me, and then tormenting you. It would +have amused me immensely." + +"Then you think that you can inspire me with love, and at the same time +form the dreadful plan of tyrannising over the victim of your charms. +Such a project is monstrous, and unhappily for us poor men, you do not +look a monster. Nevertheless, I am obliged to you for your frankness, and +I shall be on my guard." + +"Then you must take care never to see me, or else all your efforts will +be in vain." + +As the Charpillon had laughed merrily through the whole of this dialogue, +I took it all as a jest, but I could not help admiring her manner, which +seemed made for the subjugation of men. But though I knew it not, the day +I made that woman's acquaintance was a luckless one for me, as my readers +will see. + +It was towards the end of the month of September, 1763, when I met the +Charpillon, and from that day I began to die. If the lines of ascent and +declination are equal, now, on the first day of November, 1797, I have +about four more years of life to reckon on, which will pass by swiftly, +according to the axiom 'Motus in fine velocior'. + +The Charpillon, who was well known in London, and I believe is still +alive, was one of those beauties in whom it is difficult to find any +positive fault. Her hair was chestnut coloured, and astonishingly long +and thick, her blue eyes were at once languorous and brilliant, her skin, +faintly tinged with a rosy hue, was of a dazzling whiteness; she was tall +for her age, and seemed likely to become as tall as Pauline. Her breast +was perhaps a little small, but perfectly shaped, her hands were white +and plump, her feet small, and her gait had something noble and gracious. +Her features were of that exquisite sensibility which gives so much charm +to the fair sex, but nature had given her a beautiful body and a deformed +soul. This siren had formed a design to wreck my happiness even before +she knew me, and as if to add to her triumph she told me as much. + +I left Malingan's house not like a man who, fond of the fair sex, is glad +to have made the acquaintance of a beautiful woman, but in a state of +stupefaction that the image of Pauline, which was always before me, was +not strong enough to overcome the influence of a creature like the +Charpillon, whom in my heart I could not help despising. + +I calmed myself by saying that this strong impression was due to novelty, +and by hoping that I should soon be disenchanted. + +"She will have no charm," said I, "when I have once possessed her, and +that will not be long in coming." Perhaps the reader will think that I +was too presumptuous, but why should I suppose that there would be any +difficulty? She had asked me to dinner herself, she had surrendered +herself entirely to Morosini, who was not the man to sigh for long at any +woman's feet, and must have paid her, for he was not young enough nor +handsome enough to inspire her with a fancy for him. Without counting my +physical attractions, I had plenty of money, and I was not afraid of +spending it; and so I thought I could count on an easy victory. + +Pembroke had become an intimate friend of mine since my proceedings with +regard to Schwerin. He admired my conduct in not making any claim on the +general for half my loss. He had said we would make a pleasant day of it +together, and when he saw that my table was laid for four he asked who +the other guests were to be. He was extremely surprised when he heard +that they were the Charpillon and her aunt, and that the girl had invited +herself when she heard he was to dine with me. + +"I once took a violent fancy for the little hussy," said he. "It was one +evening when I was at Vauxhall, and I offered her twenty guineas if she +would come and take a little walk with me in a dark alley. She said she +would come if I gave her the money in advance, which I was fool enough to +do. She went with me, but as soon as we were alone she ran away, and I +could not catch her again, though I looked for her all the evening." + +"You ought to have boxed her ears before everybody." + +"I should have got into trouble, and people would have laughed at me +besides. I preferred to despise her and the money too. Are you in love +with her?" + +"No; but I am curious, as you were." + +"Take care! she will do all in her power to entrap you." + +She came in and went up to my lord with the most perfect coolness, and +began to chatter away to him without taking any notice of me. She +laughed, joked, and reproached him for not having pursued her at +Vauxhall. Her stratagem, she said, was only meant to excite him the more. + +"Another time," she added, "I shall not escape you." + +"Perhaps not, my dear, for another time I shall take care not to pay in +advance." + +"Oh, fie! you degrade yourself by talking about paying." + +"I suppose I honour you." + +"We never talk of such things." + +Lord Pembroke laughed at her impertinences, while she made a vigorous +assault on him, for his coolness and indifference piqued her. + +She left us soon after dinner, making me promise to dine with her the day +after next. + +I passed the next day with the amiable nobleman who initiated me into the +mysteries of the English bagnio, an entertainment which I shall not +describe, for it is well known to all who care to spend six guineas. + +On the day appointed, my evil destiny made me go to the Charpillon's; the +girl introduced me to her mother, whom I at once recollected, although +she had aged and altered since I had seen her. + +In the year 1759 a Genevan named Bolome had persuaded me to sell her +jewels to the extent of six thousand francs, and she had paid me in bills +drawn by her and her two sisters on this Bolome, but they were then known +as Anspergher. The Genevan became bankrupt before the bills were due, and +the three sisters disappeared. As may be imagined, I was surprised to +find them in England, and especially to be introduced to them by the +Charpillon, who, knowing nothing of the affair of the jewels, had not +told them that Seingalt was the same as Casanova, whom they had cheated +of six thousand francs. + +"I am delighted to see you again," were the first words I addressed to +her. + +"I recollect you, sir; that rascal Bolome . . . ." + +"We will discuss that subject another time. I see you are ill." + +"I have been at death's door, but I am better now. My daughter did not +tell me your proper name." + +"Yes, she did. My name is Seingalt as well as Casanova. I was known by +the latter name at Paris when I made your daughter's acquaintance, though +I did not know then that she was your daughter." + +Just then the grandmother, whose name was also Anspergher, came in with +the two aunts, and a quarter of an hour later three men arrived, one of +whom was the Chevalier Goudar, whom I had met at Paris. I did not know +the others who were introduced to me under the names of Rostaing and +Caumon. They were three friends of the household, whose business it was +to bring in dupes. + +Such was the infamous company in which I found myself, and though I took +its measure directly, yet I did not make my escape, nor did I resolve +never to go to the house again. I was fascinated; I thought I would be on +my guard and be safe, and as I only wanted the daughter I looked on all +else as of little moment. + +At table I led the conversation, and thought that my prey would soon be +within my grasp. The only thing which annoyed me was that the Charpillon, +after apologizing for having made me sit down to such a poor dinner, +invited herself and all the company to sup with me on any day I liked to +mention. I could make no opposition, so I begged her to name the day +herself, and she did so, after a consultation with her worthy friends. + +After coffee had been served we played four rubbers of whist, at which I +lost, and at midnight I went away ill pleased with myself, but with no +purpose of amendment, for this sorceress had got me in her toils. + +All the same I had the strength of mind to refrain from seeing her for +two days, and on the third, which was the day appointed for the cursed +supper, she and her aunt paid me a call at nine o'clock in the morning. + +"I have come to breakfast with you, and to discuss a certain question," +said she, in the most engaging manner. + +"Will you tell me your business now, or after breakfast?" + +"After breakfast; for we must be alone." + +We had our breakfast, and then the aunt went into another room, and the +Charpillon, after describing the monetary situation of the family, told +me that it would be much relieved if her aunt could obtain a hundred +guineas. + +"What would she do with the money?" + +"She would make the Balm of Life, of which she possesses the secret, and +no doubt she would make her fortune, too." + +She then began to dilate on the marvellous properties of the balm, on its +probable success in a town like London, and on the benefits which would +accrue to myself, for of course I should share in the profits. She added +that her mother and aunt would give me a written promise to repay the +money in the course of six years. + +"I will give you a decided answer after supper." + +I then began to caress her, and to make assaults in the style of an +amorous man, but it was all in vain, though I succeeded in stretching her +on a large sofa. She made her escape, however, and ran to her aunt, while +I followed her, feeling obliged to laugh as she did. She gave me her +hand, and said,-- + +"Farewell, till this evening." + +When they were gone, I reflected over what had passed and thought this +first scene of no bad augury. I saw that I should get nothing out of her +without spending a hundred guineas, and I determined not to attempt to +bargain, but I would let her understand that she must make up her mind +not to play prude. The game was in my hands, and all I had to do was to +take care not to be duped. + +In the evening the company arrived, and the girl asked me to hold a bank +till supper was ready; but I declined, with a burst of laughter that +seemed to puzzle her. + +"At least, let us have a game of whist," said she. + +"It seems to me," I answered, "that you don't feel very anxious to hear +my reply." + +"You have made up your mind, I suppose?" + +"I have, follow me." + +She followed me into an adjoining room, and after she had seated herself +on a sofa, I told her that the hundred guineas were at her disposal. + +"Then please to give the money to my aunt, otherwise these gentlemen +might think I got it from you by some improper means." + +"I will do so." + +I tried to get possession of her, but in vain; and I ceased my endeavours +when she said,-- + +"You will get nothing from me either by money or violence; but you can +hope for all when I find you really nice and quiet." + +I re-entered the drawing-room, and feeling my blood boiling I began to +play to quiet myself. She was as gay as ever, but her gaiety tired me. At +supper I had her on my right hand, but the hundred impertinences which, +under other circumstances, would have amused me, only wearied me, after +the two rebuffs I had received from her. + +After supper, just as they were going, she took me aside, and told me +that if I wanted to hand over the hundred guineas she would tell her aunt +to go with me into the next room. + +"As documents have to be executed," I replied, "it will take some time; +we will talk of it again. + +"Won't you fix the time?" + +I drew out my purse full of gold, and shewed it her, saying,-- + +"The time depends entirely on you." + +When my hateful guests were gone, I began to reflect, and came to the +conclusion that this young adventuress had determined to plunder me +without giving me anything in return. I determined to have nothing more +to do with her, but I could not get her beauty out of my mind. + +I felt I wanted some distraction, something that would give me new aims +and make me forget her. With this idea I went to see my daughter, taking +with me an immense bag of sweets. + +As soon as I was in the midst of the little flock, the delight became +general, Sophie distributing the sweetmeats to her friends, who received +them gratefully. + +I spent a happy day, and for a week or two I paid several visits to +Harwich. The mistress treated me with the utmost politeness and my +daughter with boundless affection, always calling me "dear papa." + +In less than three weeks I congratulated myself on having forgotten the +Charpillon, and on having replaced her by innocent amours, though one of +my daughter's schoolmates pleased me rather too much for my peace of +mind. + +Such was my condition when one morning the favourite aunt of the +Charpillon paid me a call, and said that they were all mystified at not +having seen me since the supper I had given them, especially herself, as +her niece had given her to understand that I would furnish her with the +means of making the Balm of Life. + +"Certainly; I would have given you the hundred guineas if your niece had +treated me as a friend, but she refused me favours a vestal might have +granted, and you must be aware that she is by no means a vestal." + +"Don't mind my laughing. My niece is an innocent, giddy girl; she loves +you, but she is afraid you have only a passing whim for her. She is in +bed now with a bad cold, and if you will come and see her I am sure you +will be satisfied." + +These artful remarks, which had no doubt been prepared in advance, ought +to have aroused all my scorn, but instead of that they awakened the most +violent desires. I laughed in chorus with the old woman, and asked what +would be the best time to call. + +"Come now, and give one knock." + +"Very good, then you may expect me shortly." + +I congratulated myself on being on the verge of success, for after the +explanation I had had with the aunt, and having, as I thought, a friend +in her, I did not doubt that I should succeed. + +I put on my great coat, and in less than a quarter of an hour I knocked +at their door. The aunt opened to me, and said,-- + +"Come back in a quarter of an hour; she has been ordered a bath, and is +just going to take it." + +"This is another imposture. You're as bad a liar as she is." + +"You are cruel and unjust, and if you will promise to be discreet, I will +take you up to the third floor where she is bathing." + +"Very good; take me." She went upstairs, I following on tiptoe, and +pushed me into a room, and shut the door upon me. The Charpillon was in a +huge bath, with her head towards the door, and the infernal coquette, +pretending to think it was her aunt, did not move, and said,-- + +"Give me the towels, aunt." + +She was in the most seductive posture, and I had the pleasure of gazing +on her exquisite proportions, hardly veiled by the water. + +When she caught sight of me, or rather pretended to do so, she gave a +shriek, huddled her limbs together, and said, with affected anger,-- + +"Begone!" + +"You needn't exert your voice, for I am not going to be duped." + +"Begone!" + +"Not so, give me a little time to collect myself." + +"I tell you, go!" + +"Calm yourself, and don't be afraid of my skewing you any violence; that +would suit your game too well." + +"My aunt shall pay dearly for this." + +"She will find me her friend. I won't touch you, so shew me a little more +of your charms." + +"More of my charms?" + +"Yes; put yourself as you were when I came in." + +"Certainly not. Leave the room." + +"I have told you I am not going, and that you need not fear for your +. . . . well, for your virginity, we will say." + +She then shewed me a picture more seductive than the first, and +pretending kindliness, said,-- + +"Please, leave me; I will not fail to shew my gratitude." + +Seeing that she got nothing, that I refrained from touching her, and that +the fire she had kindled was in a fair way to be put out, she turned her +back to me to give me to understand that it was no pleasure to her to +look at me. However, my passions were running high, and I had to have +recourse to self-abuse to calm my senses, and was glad to find myself +relieved, as this proved to me that the desire went no deeper than the +senses. + +The aunt came in just as I had finished, and I went out without a word, +well pleased to find myself despising a character wherein profit and loss +usurped the place of feeling. + +The aunt came to me as I was going out of the house, and after enquiring +if I were satisfied begged me to come into the parlour. + +"Yes," said I, "I am perfectly satisfied to know you and your niece. Here +is the reward." + +With these words I drew a bank-note for a hundred pounds from my +pocket-book, and was foolish enough to give it her, telling her that she +could make her balm, and need not trouble to give me any document as I +knew if would be of no value. I had not the strength to go away without +giving her anything, and the procuress was sharp enough to know it. + +When I got home I reflected on what had happened, and pronounced myself +the conqueror with great triumph. I felt well at ease, and felt sure that +I should never set foot in that house again. There were seven of them +altogether, including servants, and the need of subsisting made them do +anything for a living; and when they found themselves obliged to make use +of men, they summoned the three rascals I have named, who were equally +dependent on them. + +Five or six days afterwards, I met the little hussy at Vauxhall in +company with Goudar. I avoided her at first, but she came up to me +reproaching me for my rudeness. I replied coolly enough, but affecting +not to notice my manner, she asked me to come into an arbour with her and +take a cup of tea. + +"No, thank you," I replied, "I prefer supper." + +"Then I will take some too, and you will give it me, won't you, just to +shew that you bear no malice?" + +I ordered supper for four and we sat down together as if we had been +intimate friends. + +Her charming conversation combined with her beauty gradually drew me +under her charm, and as the drink began to exercise its influence over +me, I proposed a turn in one of the dark walks, expressing a hope that I +should fare better than Lord Pembroke. She said gently, and with an +appearance of sincerity that deceived me, that she wanted to be mine, but +by day and on the condition that I would come and see her every day. + +"I will do so, but first give me one little proof of your love." + +"Most certainly not." + +I got up to pay the bill, and then I left without a word, refusing to +take her home. I went home by myself and went to bed. + +The first thought when I awoke was that I was glad she had not taken me +at my word; I felt very strongly that it was to my interest to break off +all connection between that creature and myself. I felt the strength of +her influence over me, and that my only way was to keep away from her, or +to renounce all pretension to the possession of her charms. + +The latter plan seemed to me impossible, so I determined to adhere to the +first; but the wretched woman had resolved to defeat all my plans. The +manner in which she succeeded must have been the result of a council of +the whole society. + +A few days after the Vauxhall supper Goudar called on me, and began by +congratulating me on my resolution not to visit the Ansperghers any more, +"for," said he, "the girl would have made you more and more in love with +her, and in the end she would have seduced you to beggary." + +"You must think me a great fool. If I had found her kind I should have +been grateful, but without squandering all my money; and if she had been +cruel, instead of ridiculous, I might have given her what I have already +given her every day, without reducing myself to beggary." + +"I congratulate you; it shews that you are well off. But have you made up +your mind not to see her again?" + +"Certainly." + +"Then you are not in love with her?" + +"I have been in love, but I am so no longer; and in a few days she will +have passed completely out of my memory. I had almost forgotten her when +I met her with you at Vauxhall." + +"You are not cured. The way to be cured of an amour does not lie in +flight, when the two parties live in the same town. Meetings will happen, +and all the trouble has to be taken over again." + +"Then do you know a better way?" + +"Certainly; you should satiate yourself. It is quite possible that the +creature is not in love with you, but you are rich and she has nothing. +You might have had her for so much, and you could have left her when you +found her to be unworthy of your constancy. You must know what kind of a +woman she is." + +"I should have tried this method gladly, but I found her out." + +"You could have got the best of her, though, if you had gone to work in +the proper way. You should never have paid in advance. I know +everything." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I know she has cost you a hundred guineas, and that you have not won so +much as a kiss from her. Why, my dear sir, you might have had her +comfortably in your own bed for as much! She boasts that she took you in, +though you pride yourself on your craft." + +"It was an act of charity towards her aunt." + +"Yes, to make her Balm of Life; but you know if it had not been for the +niece the aunt would never have had the money." + +"Perhaps not, but how come you who are of their party to be talking to me +in this fashion?" + +"I swear to you I only speak out of friendship for you, and I will tell +you how I came to make the acquaintance of the girl, her mother, her +grandmother and her two aunts, and then you will no longer consider me as +of their party. + +"Sixteen months ago I saw M. Morosini walking about Vauxhall by himself. +He had just come to England to congratulate the king on his accession to +the throne, on behalf of the Republic of Venice. I saw how enchanted he +was with the London beauties, and I went up to him and told him that all +these beauties were at his service. This made him laugh, and on my +repeating that it was not a jest he pointed out one of the girls, and +asked if she would be at his service. I did not know her, so I asked him +to wait awhile, and I would bring him the information he required. There +was no time to be lost, and I could see that the girl was not a vestal +virgin, so I went up to her and told her that the Venetian ambassador was +amorous of her, and that I would take her to him if she would receive his +visits. The aunt said that a nobleman of such an exalted rank could only +bring honour to her niece. I took their address, and on my way back to +the ambassador I met a friend of mine who is learned in such commodities, +and after I had shewed him the address he told me it was the Charpillon." + +"And it was she?" + +"It was. My friend told me she was a young Swiss girl who was not yet in +the general market, but who would soon be there, as she was not rich, and +had a numerous train to support. + +"I rejoined the Venetian, and told him that his business was done, and +asked him at what time I should introduce him the next day, warning him +that as she had a mother and aunts she would not be alone. + +"'I am glad to hear it,' said he, 'and also that she is not a common +woman.' He gave me an appointment for the next day, and we parted. + +"I told the ladies at what hour I should have the pleasure of introducing +the great man to them, and after warning them that they must appear not +to know him I went home. + +"The following day I called on M. de Morosini, and took him to Denmark +Street incognito. We spent an hour in conversation, and then went away +without anything being settled. On the way back the ambassador told me +that he should like to have the girl on conditions which he would give me +in writing at his residence. + +"These conditions were that she should live in a furnished house free of +rent, without any companion, and without receiving any visitors. His +excellency would give her fifty guineas a month, and pay for supper +whenever he came and spent the night with her. He told me to get the +house if his conditions were received. The mother was to sign the +agreement. + +"The ambassador was in a hurry, and in three days the agreement was +signed; but I obtained a document from the mother promising to let me +have the girl for one night as soon as the Venetian had gone; it was +known he was only stopping in London for a year." + +Goudar extracted the document in question from his pocket, and gave it to +me. I read it and re-read it with as much surprise as pleasure, and he +then proceeded with his story. + +"When the ambassador had gone, the Charpillon, finding herself at liberty +once more, had Lord Baltimore, Lord Grosvenor, and M. de Saa, the +Portuguese ambassador, in turn, but no titular lover. I insisted on +having my night with her according to agreement, but both mother and +daughter laughed at me when I spoke of it. I cannot arrest her, because +she is a minor, but I will have the mother imprisoned on the first +opportunity, and you will see how the town will laugh. Now you know why I +go to their house; and I assure you you are wrong if you think I have any +part in their councils. Nevertheless, I know they are discussing how they +may catch you, and they will do so if you do not take care." + +"Tell the mother that I have another hundred guineas at her service if +she will let me have her daughter for a single night." + +"Do you mean that?" + +"Assuredly, but I am not going to pay in advance." + +"That's the only way not to be duped. I shall be glad to execute your +commission." + +I kept the rogue to dinner, thinking he might be useful to me. He knew +everything and everybody, and told me a number of amusing anecdotes. +Although a good-for-nothing fellow, he had his merits. He had written +several works, which, though badly constructed, shewed he was a man of +some wit. He was then writing his "Chinese Spy," and every day he wrote +five or six news-letters from the various coffee-houses he frequented. I +wrote one or two letters for him, with which he was much pleased. The +reader will see how I met him again at Naples some years later. + +The next morning, what was my surprise to see the Charpillon, who said +with an air that I should have taken for modesty in any other woman,-- + +"I don't want you to give me any breakfast, I want an explanation, and to +introduce Miss Lorenzi to you." + +I bowed to her and to her companion, and then said,-- + +"What explanation do you require?" + +At this, Miss Lorenzi, whom I had never seen before, thought proper to +leave us, and I told my man that I was not at home to anybody. I ordered +breakfast to be served to the companion of the nymph, that she might not +find the waiting tedious. + +"Sir," said the Charpillon, "is it a fact that you charged the Chevalier +Goudar to tell my mother that you would give a hundred guineas to spend +the night with me?" + +"No, not to spend a night with you, but after I had passed it. Isn't the +price enough?" + +"No jesting, sir, if you please. There is no question of bargaining; all +I want to know is whether you think you have a right to insult me, and +that I am going to bear it?" + +"If you think yourself insulted, I may, perhaps, confess I was wrong; but +I confess I did not think I should have to listen to any reproaches from +you. Gondar is one of your intimate friends, and this is not the first +proposal he has taken to you. I could not address you directly, as I know +your arts only too well." + +"I shall not pay any attention to your abuse of my self; I will only +remind you of what I said 'that neither money nor violence were of any +use,' and that your only way was to make me in love with you by gentle +means. Shew me where I have broken my word! It is you that have foresworn +yourself in coming into my bath-room, and in sending such a brutal +message to my mother. No one but a rascal like Goudar would have dared to +take such a message." + +"Goudar a rascal, is he? Well, he is your best friend. You know he is in +love with you, and that he only got you for the ambassador in the hope of +enjoying you himself. The document in his possession proves that you have +behaved badly towards him. You are in his debt, discharge it, and then +call him a rascal if you have the conscience to do so. You need not +trouble to weep, for I knew the source of those tears; it is defiled." + +"You know nothing of it. I love you, and it is hard to have you treat me +so." + +"You love me? You have not taken the best way to prove it!" + +"As good a way as yours. You have behaved to me as if I were the vilest +of prostitutes, and yesterday you seemed to think I was a brute beast, +the slave of my mother. You should have written to me in person, and +without the intervention of so vile an agent; I should have replied in +the same way, and you need not have been afraid that you would be +deceived." + +"Supposing I had written, what would your answer have been?" + +"I should have put all money matters out of question. I should have +promised to content you on the condition that you would come and court me +for a fortnight without demanding the slightest favour. We should have +lived a pleasant life; we should have gone to the theatre and to the +parks. I should have become madly in love with you. Then I should have +given myself up to you for love, and nothing but love. I am ashamed to +say that hitherto I have only given myself out of mere complaisance. +Unhappy woman that I am! but I think nature meant me to love, and I +thought when I saw you that my happy star had sent you to England that I +might know the bliss of true affection. Instead of this you have only +made me unhappy. You are the first man that has seen me weep; you have +troubled my peace at home, for my mother shall never have the sum you +promised her were it for nothing but a kiss." + +"I am sorry to have injured you, though I did not intend to do so; but I +really don't know what I can do." + +"Come and see us, and keep your money, which I despise. If you love me, +come and conquer me like a reasonable and not a brutal lover; and I will +help you, for now you cannot doubt that I love you." + +All this seemed so natural to me that I never dreamed it contained a +trap. I was caught, and I promised to do what she wished, but only for a +fortnight. She confirmed her promise, and her countenance became once +more serene and calm. The Charpillon was a born actress. + +She got up to go, and on my begging a kiss as a pledge of our +reconciliation she replied, with a smile, the charm of which she well +knew, that it would not do to begin by breaking the term of our +agreement, and she left me more in love than ever, and full of repentance +for my conduct. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Goudar's Chair + +If she had written all this to me instead of coming and delivering it +viva voce, it would probably have produced no effect; there would have +been no tears, no ravishing features. She probably calculated all this, +for women have a wonderful instinct in these matters. + +That very evening I began my visits, and judged from my welcome that my +triumph was nigh at hand. But love fills our minds with idle visions, and +draws a veil over the truth. + +The fortnight went by without my even kissing her hand, and every time I +came I brought some expensive gift, which seemed cheap to me when I +obtained such smiles of gratitude in exchange. Besides these presents, +not a day passed without some excursion to the country or party at the +theatre; that fortnight must have cost me four hundred guineas at the +least. + +At last it came to an end, and I asked her in the presence of her mother +where she would spend the night with me, there or at my house. The mother +said that we would settle it after supper, and I made no objection, not +liking to tell her that in my house the supper would be more succulent, +and a better prelude for the kind of exercise I expected to enjoy. + +When we had supped the mother took me aside, and asked me to leave with +the company and then to come back. I obeyed, laughing to myself at this +foolish mystery, and when I came back I found the mother and the daughter +in the parlour, in which a bed had been laid on the floor. + +Though I did not much care for this arrangement, I was too amorous to +raise any objection at a moment when I thought my triumph was at hand; +but I was astonished when the mother asked me if I would like to pay the +hundred guineas in advance. + +"Oh, fie!" exclaimed the girl; and her mother left the room, and we +locked the door. + +My amorous feelings, so long pent up within my breast, would soon find +relief. I approached her with open arms; but she avoided my caress, and +gently begged me to get into bed while she prepared to follow me. I +watched her undress with delight, but when she had finished she put out +the candles. I complained of this act of hers, but she said she could not +sleep with the light shining on her. I began to suspect that I might have +some difficulties thrown in my way to sharpen the pleasure, but I +determined to be resigned and to overcome them all. + +When I felt her in the bed I tried to clasp her in my arms, but found +that she had wrapped herself up in her long night-gown; her arms were +crossed, and her head buried in her chest. I entreated, scolded, cursed, +but all in vain; she let me go on, and answered not a word. + +At first I thought it was a joke, but I soon found out my mistake; the +veil fell from my eyes and I saw myself in my true colours, the degraded +dupe of a vile prostitute. + +Love easily becomes fury. I began to handle her roughly, but she resisted +and did not speak. I tore her night-gown to rags, but I could not tear it +entirely off her. My rage grew terrible, my hands became talons, and I +treated her with the utmost cruelty; but all for nothing. At last, with +my hand on her throat, I felt tempted to strangle her; and then I knew it +was time for me to go. + +It was a dreadful night. I spoke to this monster of a woman in every +manner and tone-with gentleness, with argument, rage, remonstrance, +prayers, tears, and abuse, but she resisted me for three hours without +abandoning her painful position, in spite of the torments I made her +endure. + +At three o'clock in the morning, feeling my mind and body in a state of +exhaustion, I got up and dressed myself by my sense of touch. I opened +the parlour door, and finding the street door locked I shook it till a +servant came and let me out. I went home and got into bed, but excited +nature refused me the sleep I needed so. I took a cup of chocolate, but +it would not stay on my stomach, and soon after a shivering fit warned me +that I was feverish. I continued to be ill till the next day, and then +the fever left me in a state of complete exhaustion. + +As I was obliged to keep to my bed for a few days, I knew that I should +soon get my health again; but my chief consolation was that at last I was +cured. My shame had made me hate myself. + +When I felt the fever coming on I told my man not to let anybody come to +see me, and to place all my letters in my desk; for I wanted to be +perfectly well before I troubled myself with anything. + +On the fourth day I was better, and I told Jarbe to give me my letters. I +found one from Pauline, dated from Madrid, in which she informed me that +Clairmont had saved her life while they were fording a river, and she had +determined to keep him till she got to Lisbon, and would then send him +back by sea. I congratulated myself at the time on her resolve; but it +was a fatal one for Clairmont, and indirectly for me also. Four months +after, I heard that the ship in which he had sailed had been wrecked, and +as I never heard from him again I could only conclude that my faithful +servant had perished amidst the waves. + +Amongst my London letters I found two from the infamous mother of the +infamous Charpillon, and one from the girl herself. The first of the +mother's letters, written before I was ill, told me that her daughter was +ill in bed, covered with bruises from the blows I had given her, so that +she would be obliged to institute legal proceedings against me. In the +second letter she said she had heard I too was ill, and that she was +sorry to hear it, her daughter having informed her that I had some reason +for my anger; however, she would not fail to justify herself on the first +opportunity. The Charpillon said in her letter that she knew she had done +wrong, and that she wondered I had not killed her when I took her by the +throat. She added that no doubt I had made up my mind to visit her no +more, but she hoped I would allow her one interview as she had an +important communication to make to me. There was also a note from Goudar, +saying that he wanted to speak to me, and that he would come at noon. I +gave orders that he should be admitted. + +This curious individual began by astonishing me; he told me the whole +story of what had taken place, the mother having been his informant. + +"The Charpillon," he added, "has not got a fever, but is covered with +bruises. What grieves the old woman most is that she has not got the +hundred guineas." + +"She would have had them the next morning," I said, "if her daughter had +been tractable." + +"Her mother had made her swear that she would not be tractable, and you +need not hope to possess her without the mother's consent." + +"Why won't she consent?" + +"Because she thinks that you will abandon the girl as soon as you have +enjoyed her." + +"Possibly, but she would have received many valuable presents, and now +she is abandoned and has nothing." + +"Have you made up your mind not to have anything more to do with her?" + +"Quite." + +"That's your wisest plan, and I advise you to keep to it, nevertheless I +want to shew you something which will surprise you. I will be back in a +moment." + +He returned, followed by a porter, who carried up an arm-chair covered +with a cloth. As soon as we were alone, Goudar took off the covering and +asked me if I would buy it. + +"What should I do with it? It is not a very attractive piece of +furniture." + +"Nevertheless, the price of it is a hundred guineas." + +"I would not give three." + +"This arm-chair has five springs, which come into play all at once as +soon as anyone sits down in it. Two springs catch the two arms and hold +them tightly, two others separate the legs, and the fifth lifts up the +seat." + +After this description Goudar sat down quite naturally in the chair and +the springs came into play and forced him into the position of a woman in +labour. + +"Get the fair Charpillon to sit in this chair," said he, "and your +business is done." + +I could not help laughing at the contrivance, which struck me as at once +ingenious and diabolical, but I could not make up my mind to avail myself +of it. + +"I won't buy it," said I, "but I shall be obliged if you will leave it +here till to-morrow." + +"I can't leave it here an hour unless you will buy it; the owner is +waiting close by to hear your answer." + +"Then take it away and come back to dinner." + +He shewed me how I was to release him from his ridiculous position, and +then after covering it up again he called the porter and went away. + +There could be no doubt as to the action of the machinery, and it was no +feeling of avarice which hindered me from buying the chair. As I have +said, it seemed rather a diabolical idea, and besides it might easily +have sent me to the gallows. Furthermore, I should never have had the +strength of mind to enjoy the Charpillon forcibly, especially by means of +the wonderful chair, the mechanism of which would have frightened her out +of her wits. + +At dinner I told Goudar that the Charpillon had demanded an interview, +and that I had wished to keep the chair so as to shew her that I could +have her if I liked. I shewed him the letter, and he advised me to accede +to her request, if only for curiosity's sake. + +I was in no hurry to see the creature while the marks on her face and +neck were still fresh, so I spent seven or eight days without making up +my mind to receive her. Goudar came every day, and told me of the +confabulations of these women who had made up their minds not to live +save by trickery. + +He told me that the grandmother had taken the name of Anspergher without +having any right to it, as she was merely the mistress of a worthy +citizen of Berne, by whom she had four daughters; the mother of the +Charpillon was the youngest of the family, and, as she was pretty and +loose in her morals, the Government had exiled her with her mother and +sisters. They had then betaken themselves to Franche-Comte, where they +lived for some time on the Balm of Life. Here it was that the Charpillon +came into the world, her mother attributing her to a Count de +Boulainvilliers. The child grew up pretty, and the family removed to +Paris under the impression that it would be the best market for such a +commodity, but in the course of four years the income from the Balm +having dwindled greatly, the Charpillon being still too young to be +profitable, and debtors closing round them on every side, they resolved +to come to London. + +He then proceeded to tell me of the various tricks and cheats which kept +them all alive. I found his narrative interesting enough then, but the +reader would find it dull, and I expect will be grateful for my passing +it over. + +I felt that it was fortunate for me that I had Goudar, who introduced me +to all the most famous courtezans in London, above all to the illustrious +Kitty Fisher, who was just beginning to be fashionable. He also +introduced me to a girl of sixteen, a veritable prodigy of beauty, who +served at the bar of a tavern at which we took a bottle of strong beer. +She was an Irishwoman and a Catholic, and was named Sarah. I should have +liked to get possession of her, but Goudar had views of his own on the +subject, and carried her off in the course of the next year. He ended by +marrying her, and she was the Sara Goudar who shone at Naples, Florence, +Venice, and elsewhere. We shall hear of her in four or five years, still +with her husband. Goudar had conceived the plan of making her take the +place of Dubarry, mistress of Louis XV., but a lettre de cachet compelled +him to try elsewhere. Ah! happy days of lettres de cachet, you have gone +never to return! + +The Charpillon waited a fortnight for me to reply, and then resolved to +return to the charge in person. This was no doubt the result of a +conference of the most secret kind, for I heard nothing of it from +Gondar. + +She came to see my by herself in a sedan-chair, and I decided on seeing +her. I was taking my chocolate and I let her come in without rising or +offering her any breakfast. She asked me to give her some with great +modesty, and put up her face for me to give her a kiss, but I turned my +head away. However, she was not in the least disconcerted. + +"I suppose the marks of the blows you gave me make my face so repulsive?" + +"You lie; I never struck you." + +"No, but your tiger-like claws have left bruises all over me. Look here. +No, you needn't be afraid that what you see may prove too seductive; +besides, it will have no novelty for you." + +So saying the wretched creature let me see her body, on which some livid +marks were still visible. + +Coward that I was! Why did I not look another way? I will tell you: it +was because she was so beautiful, and because a woman's charms are +unworthy of the name if they cannot silence reason. I affected only to +look at the bruises, but it was an empty farce. I blush for myself; here +was I conquered by a simple girl, ignorant of well nigh everything. But +she knew well enough that I was inhaling the poison at every pore. All at +once she dropped her clothes and came and sat beside me, feeling sure +that I should have relished a continuance of the spectacle. + +However, I made an effort and said, coldly, that it was all her own +fault. + +"I know it is," said she, "for if I had been tractable as I ought to have +been, you would have been loving instead of cruel. But repentance effaces +sin, and I am come to beg pardon. May I hope to obtain it?" + +"Certainly; I am angry with you no longer, but I cannot forgive myself. +Now go, and trouble me no more." + +"I will if you like, but there is something you have not heard, and I beg +you will listen to me a moment." + +"As I have nothing to do you can say what you have got to say, I will +listen to you." + +In spite of the coldness of my words, I was really profoundly touched, +and the worst of it was that I began to believe in the genuineness of her +motives. + +She might have relieved herself of what she had to say in a quarter of an +hour, but by dint of tears, sighs, groans, digressions, and so forth, she +took two hours to tell me that her mother had made her swear to pass the +night as she had done. She ended by saying that she would like to be mine +as she had been M. Morosini's, to live with me, and only to go out under +my escort, while I might allow her a monthly sum which she would hand +over to her mother, who would, in that case, leave her alone. + +She dined with me, and it was in the evening that she made this +proposition. I suppose because she thought me ripe for another cheat. I +told her that it might be arranged, but that I should prefer to settle +with her mother, and that she would see me at their house the following +day, and this seemed to surprise her. + +It is possible that the Charpillon would have granted me any favour on +that day, and then there would have been no question of deception or +resistance for the future. Why did I not press her? Because sometimes +love stupefies instead of quickens, and because I had been in a way her +judge, and I thought it would be base of me to revenge myself on her by +satisfying my amorous desires, and possibly because I was a fool, as I +have often been in the course of my existence. She must have left me in a +state of irritation, and no doubt she registered a vow to revenge herself +on me for the half-contemptuous way in which I had treated her. + +Goudar was astonished when he heard of her visit, and of the way in which +I had spent the day. I begged him to get me a small furnished house, and +in the evening I went to see the infamous woman in her own house. + +She was with her mother, and I laid my proposal before them. + +"Your daughter will have a house at Chelsea," said I to the mother, +"where I can go and see her whenever I like, and also fifty guineas a +month to do what she likes with." + +"I don't care what you give her a month," she replied, "but before I let +her leave my house she must give me the hundred guineas she was to have +had when she slept with you." + +"It is your fault that she didn't have them; however, to cut the matter +short, she shall give them to you." + +"And in the meanwhile, till you have found the house, I hope you will +come and see me." + +"Yes." + +The next day Goudar shewed me a pretty house at Chelsea, and I took it, +paying ten guineas, a month's rent, in advance, for which I received a +receipt. In the afternoon I concluded the bargain with the mother, the +Charpillon being present. The mother asked me to give her the hundred +guineas, and I did so, not fearing any treachery, as nearly the whole of +the girl's clothing was already at Chelsea. + +In due course we went to our country house. The Charpillon liked the +house immensely, and after a short talk we supped merrily together. After +supper we went to bed, and she granted me some slight preliminary +favours, but when I would have attained my end I found an obstacle which +I had not expected. She gave me some physiological reasons for the +circumstances, but not being a man to stop for so little, I would have +gone on, but she resisted, and yet with such gentleness that I left her +alone and went to sleep. I awoke sooner than she did, and determined to +see whether she had imposed on me; so I raised her night-gown carefully, +and took off her linen only to find that I had been duped once more. This +roused her, and she tried to stop me, but it was too late. However, I +gently chid her for the trick, and feeling disposed to forgive it set +about making up for lost time, but she got on the high horse, and +pretended to be hurt at my taking her by surprise. I tried to calm her by +renewed tenderness, but the wretched creature only got more furious, and +would give me nothing. I left her alone, but I expressed my opinion of +her in pretty strong terms. The impudent slut honoured me with a smile of +disdain, and then beginning to dress herself she proceeded to indulge in +impertinent repartees. This made me angry, and I gave her a box on the +ears which stretched her at full length on the floor. She shrieked, +stamped her feet, and made a hideous uproar; the landlord came up, and +she began to speak to him in English, while the blood gushed from her +nose. + +The man fortunately spoke Italian, and told me that she wanted to go +away, and advised me to let her do so, or she might make it awkward for +me, and he himself would be obliged to witness against me. + +"Tell her to begone as fast as she likes," said I, "and to keep out of my +sight for ever." + +She finished dressing, staunched the blood, and went off in a +sedan-chair, while I remained petrified, feeling that I did not deserve +to live, and finding her conduct utterly outrageous and incomprehensible. + +After an hour's consideration I decided on sending her back her trunk, +and then I went home and to bed, telling my servants I was not at home to +anyone. + +I spent twenty-four hours in pondering over my wrongs, and at last my +reason told me that the fault was mine; I despised myself. I was on the +brink of suicide, but happily I escaped that fate. + +I was just going out when Goudar came up and made me go in with him, as +he said he wanted to speak to me. After telling me that the Charpillon +had come home with a swollen cheek which prevented her shewing herself, +he advised me to abandon all claims on her or her mother, or the latter +would bring a false accusation against me which might cost me my life. +Those who know England, and especially London will not need to be +informed as to the nature of this accusation, which is so easily brought +in England; it will suffice to say that through it Sodom was overwhelmed. + +"The mother has engaged me to mediate," said Goudar, "and if you will +leave her alone, she will do you no harm." + +I spent the day with him, foolishly complaining, and telling him that he +could assure the mother that I would take no proceedings against her, but +that I should like to know if she had the courage to receive this +assurance from my own lips. + +"I will carry your message," said he, "but I pity you; for you are going +into their nets again, and will end in utter ruin." + +I fancied they would be ashamed to see me; but I was very much mistaken, +for Goudar came back laughing, and said the mother expressed a hope that +I should always be the friend of the family. I ought to have refused to +have anything more to do with them, but I had not the strength to play +the man. I called at Denmark Street the same evening, and spent an hour +without uttering a syllable. The Charpillon sat opposite to me, with eyes +lowered to a piece of embroidery, while from time to time she pretended +to wipe away a tear as she let me see the ravages I had worked on her +cheek. + +I saw her every day and always in silence till the fatal mark had +disappeared, but during these mad visits the poison of desire was so +instilled into my veins that if she had known my state of mind she might +have despoiled me of all I possessed for a single favour. + +When she was once more as beautiful as ever I felt as if I must die if I +did not hold her in my arms again, and I bought a magnificent pier-glass +and a splendid breakfast service in Dresden china, and sent them to her +with an amorous epistle which must have made her think me either the most +extravagant or the most cowardly of men. She wrote in answer that she +would expect me to sup with her in her room, that she might give me the +tenderest proofs of her gratitude. + +This letter sent me completely mad with joy, and in a paroxysm of delight +I resolved to surrender to her keeping the two bills of exchange which +Bolomee had given me, and which gave me power to send her mother and +aunts to prison. + +Full of the happiness that awaited me, and enchanted with my own idiotic +heroism, I went to her in the evening. She received me in the parlour +with her mother, and I was delighted to see the pier-glass over the +mantel, and the china displayed on a little table. After a hundred words +of love and tenderness she asked me to come up to her room, and her +mother wished us good night. I was overwhelmed with joy. After a delicate +little supper I took out the bills of exchange, and after telling her +their history gave them up to her, to shew that I had no intention of +avenging myself on her mother and aunts. I made her promise that she +would never part with them, and she said she would never do so, and with +many expressions of gratitude and wonder at my generosity she locked them +up with great care. + +Then I thought it was time to give her some marks of my passion, and I +found her kind; but when I would have plucked the fruit, she clasped me +to her arms, crossed her legs, and began to weep bitterly. + +I made an effort, and asked her if she would be the same when we were in +bed. She sighed, and after a moment's pause, replied, "Yes." + +For a quarter of an hour I remained silent and motionless, as if +petrified. At last I rose with apparent coolness, and took my cloak and +sword. + +"What!" said she, "are you not going to spend the night with me?" + +"No." + +"But we shall see each other to-morrow?" + +"I hope so. Good night." + +I left that infernal abode, and went home to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The End of the Story Stranger Than the Beginning + +At eight o'clock the next morning Jarbe told me that the Charpillon +wanted to see me, and that she had sent away her chairmen. + +"Tell her that I can't see her." + +But I had hardly spoken when she came in, and Jarbe went out. I addressed +her with the utmost calmness, and begged her to give me back the two +bills of exchange I had placed in her hands the night before. + +"I haven't got them about me; but why do you want me to return them to +you?" + +At this question I could contain myself no longer, and launched a storm +of abuse at her. It was an explosion which relieved nature, and ended +with an involuntary shower of tears. My infamous seductress stood as +calmly as Innocence itself; and when I was so choked with sobs that I +could not utter a word, she said she had only been cruel because her +mother had made her swear an oath never to give herself to anyone in her +own house, and that she had only come now to convince me of her love, to +give herself to me without reserve, and never to leave me any more if I +wished it. + +The reader who imagines that at these words rage gave place to love, and +that I hastened to obtain the prize, does not know the nature of the +passion so well as the vile woman whose plaything I was. From hot love to +hot anger is a short journey, but the return is slow and difficult. If +there be only anger in a man's breast it may be subdued by tenderness, by +submission, and affection; but when to anger is added a feeling of +indignation at having been shamefully deceived, it is impossible to pass +suddenly to thoughts of love and voluptuous enjoyment. With me mere anger +has never been of long duration, but when I am indignant the only cure is +forgetfulness. + +The Charpillon knew perfectly well that I would not take her at her word, +and this kind of science was inborn in her. The instinct of women teaches +them greater secrets than all the philosophy and the research of men. + +In the evening this monster left me, feigning to be disappointed and +disconsolate, and saying,-- + +"I hope you will come and see me again when you are once more yourself." + +She had spent eight hours with me, during which time she had only spoken +to deny my suppositions, which were perfectly true, but which she could +not afford to let pass. I had not taken anything all day, in order that I +might not be obliged to offer her anything or to eat with her. + +After she had left me I took some soup and then enjoyed a quiet sleep, +for which I felt all the better. When I came to consider what had passed +the day before I concluded that the Charpillon was repentant, but I +seemed no longer to care anything about her. + +Here I may as well confess, in all humility, what a change love worked on +me in London, though I had attained the age of thirty-eight. Here closed +the first act of my life; the second closed when I left Venice in 1783, +and probably the third will close here, as I amuse myself by writing +these memoirs. Thus, the three-act comedy will finish, and if it be +hissed, as may possibly be the case, I shall not hear the sounds of +disapproval. But as yet the reader has not seen the last and I think the +most interesting scene of the first act. + +I went for a walk in the Green Park and met Goudar. I was glad to see +him, as the rogue was useful to me. + +"I have just been at the Charpillons," he began; "they were all in high +spirits. I tried in vain to turn the conversation on you, but not a word +would they utter." + +"I despise them entirely," I rejoined, "I don't want to have anything +more to do with them." + +He told me I was quite right, and advised me to persevere in my plan. I +made him dine with me, and then we went to see the well-known procuress, +Mrs. Wells, and saw the celebrated courtezan, Kitty Fisher, who was +waiting for the Duke of---- to take her to a ball. She was magnificently +dressed, and it is no exaggeration to say that she had on diamonds worth +five hundred thousand francs. Goudar told me that if I liked I might have +her then and there for ten guineas. I did not care to do so, however, +for, though charming, she could only speak English, and I liked to have +all my senses, including that of hearing, gratified. When she had gone, +Mrs. Wells told us that Kitty had eaten a bank-note for a thousand +guineas, on a slice of bread and butter, that very day. The note was a +present from Sir Akins, brother of the fair Mrs. Pitt. I do not know +whether the bank thanked Kitty for the present she had made it. + +I spent an hour with a girl named Kennedy, a fair Irishwoman, who could +speak a sort of French, and behaved most extravagantly under the +influence of champagne; but the image of the Charpillon was still before +me, though I knew it not, and I could not enjoy anything. I went home +feeling sad and ill pleased with myself. Common sense told me to drive +all thoughts of that wretched woman out of my head, but something I +called honour bade me not leave her the triumph of having won the two +bills of exchange from me for nothing, and made me determine to get them +back by fair means or foul. + +M. Malingan, at whose house I had made the acquaintance of this creature, +come and asked me to dinner. He had asked me to dine with him several +times before, and I had always refused, and now I would not accept until +I had heard what guests he had invited. The names were all strange to me, +so I agreed to come. + +When I arrived I found two young ladies from Liege, in one of whom I got +interested directly. She introduced me to her husband, and to another +young man who seemed to be the cavalier of the other lady, her cousin. + +The company pleased me, and I was in hopes that I should spend a happy +day, but my evil genius brought the Charpillon to mar the feast. She came +into the room in high glee, and said to Malingan,-- + +"I should not have come to beg you to give me a dinner if I had known +that you would have so many guests, and if I am at all in the way I will +go." + +Everybody welcomed her, myself excepted, for I was on the rack. To make +matters worse, she was placed at my left hand. If she had come in before +we sat down to dinner I should have made some excuse and gone away, but +as we had begun the soup a sudden flight would have covered me with +ridicule. I adopted the plan of not looking at her, reserving all my +politeness for the lady on my right. When the meal was over Malingan took +me apart, and swore to me that he had not invited the Charpillon, but I +was not convinced, though I pretended to be for politeness' sake. + +The two ladies from Liege and their cavaliers were embarking for Ostend +in a few days, and in speaking of their departure the one to whom I had +taken a fancy said that she was sorry to be leaving England without +having seen Richmond. I begged her to give me the pleasure of shewing it +her, and without waiting for an answer I asked her husband and all the +company to be present, excepting the Charpillon, whom I pretended not to +see. + +The invitation was accepted. + +"Two carriages," I said, "holding four each, shall be ready at eight +o'clock, and we shall be exactly eight." + +"No, nine, for I am coming," said the Charpillon, giving me an impudent +stare, "and I hope you will not drive me away." + +"No, that would be impolite, I will ride in front on horseback." + +"Oh, not at all! Emilie shall sit on my lap." + +Emilie was Malingan's daughter, and as everybody seemed to think the +arrangement an extremely pleasant one I had not the courage to resist. A +few moments after, I was obliged to leave the room for a few moments, and +when I came back I met her on the landing. She told me I had insulted her +grievously, and that unless I made amends I should feel her vengeance. + +"You can begin your vengeance," I said, "by returning my bills of +exchange." + +"You shall have them to-morrow, but you had better try and make me forget +the insult you have put on me." + +I left the company in the evening, having arranged that we should all +breakfast together the next day. + +At eight o'clock the two carriages were ready, and Malingan, his wife, +his daughter, and the two gentlemen got into the first vehicle, and I had +to get into the second with the ladies from Liege and the Charpillon, who +seemed to have become very intimate with them. This made me ill-tempered, +and I sulked the whole way. We were an hour and a quarter on the journey, +and when we arrived I ordered a good dinner, and then we proceeded to +view the gardens; the day was a beautiful one, though it was autumn. + +Whilst we were Walking the Charpillon came up to me and said she wanted +to return the bills in the same place in which I had given her them. As +we were at some distance from the others I pelted her with abuse, telling +her of her perfidy and of her corruption at an age when she should have +retained some vestiges of innocence calling her by the name she deserved, +as I reminded her how often she had already prostituted herself; in short +I threatened her with my vengeance if she pushed me to extremities. But +she was as cold as ice, and opposed a calm front to the storm of +invective I rained in her ears. However, as the other guests were at no +great distance, she begged me to speak more softly, but they heard me and +I was very glad of it. + +At last we sat down to dinner, and the wretched woman contrived to get a +place beside me, and behaved all the while as if I were her lover, or at +any rate as if she loved me. She did not seem to care what people thought +of my coldness, while I was in a rage, for the company must either have +thought me a fool or else that she was making game of me. + +After dinner we returned to the garden, and the Charpillon, determined to +gain the victory, clung to my arm and after several turns led me towards +the maze where she wished to try her power. She made me sit down on the +grass beside her and attacked me with passionate words and tender +caresses, and by displaying the most interesting of her charms she +succeeded in seducing me, but still I do not know whether I were impelled +by love or vengeance, and I am inclined to think that my feelings were a +compound of both passions. + +But at the moment she looked the picture of voluptuous abandon. Her +ardent eyes, her fiery cheeks, her wanton kisses, her swelling breast, +and her quick sighs, all made me think that she stood as much in need of +defeat as I of victory; certainly I should not have judged that she was +already calculating on resistance. + +Thus I once more became tender and affectionate; I begged pardon for what +I had said and done. Her fiery kisses replied to mine, and I thought her +glance and the soft pressure of her body were inviting me to gather the +delicious fruit; but just as my hand opened the door of the sanctuary, +she gave a sudden movement, and the chance was lost. + +"What! you would deceive me again." + +"No, no but we have done enough now. I promise to spend the night in your +arms in your own house." + +For a moment I lost my senses. I only saw the deceitful wretch who had +profited by my foolish credulity so many times, and I resolved to enjoy +or take vengeance. I held her down with my left arm, and drawing a small +knife from my pocket I opened it with my teeth and pricked her neck, +threatening to kill her if she resisted me. + +"Do as you like," she said with perfect calm, "I only ask you to leave me +my life, but after you have satisfied yourself I will not leave the spot; +I will not enter your carriage unless you carry me by force, and +everybody shall know the reason." + +This threat had no effect, for I had already got back my senses, and I +pitied myself for being degraded by a creature for whom I had the +greatest contempt, in spite of the almost magical influence she had over +me, and the furious desires she knew how to kindle in my breast. I rose +without a word, and taking my hat and cane I hastened to leave a place +where unbridled passion had brought me to the brink of ruin. + +My readers will scarcely believe me (but it is nevertheless the exact +truth) when I say that the impudent creature hastened to rejoin me, and +took my arm again as if nothing had happened. A girl of her age could not +have played the part so well unless she had been already tried in a +hundred battles. When we rejoined the company I was asked if I were ill, +while nobody noticed the slightest alteration in her. + +When we got back to London I excused myself under the plea of a bad +headache, and returned home. + +The adventure had made a terrible impression on me, and I saw that if I +did not avoid all intercourse with this girl I should be brought to ruin. +There was something about her I could not resist. I therefore resolved to +see her no more, but feeling ashamed of my weakness in giving her the +bills of exchange I wrote her mother a note requesting her to make her +daughter return them, or else I should be compelled to take harsh +measures. + +In the afternoon I received the following reply: + +"Sir,--I am exceedingly surprised at your addressing yourself to me about +the bills you handed to my daughter. She tells me she will give you them +back in person when you shew more discretion, and have learnt to respect +her." + +This impudent letter so enraged me that I forgot my vow of the morning. I +put two pistols in my pocket and proceeded to the wretched woman's abode +to compel her to return me my bills if she did not wish to be soundly +caned. + +I only took the pistols to overawe the two male rascals who supped with +them every evening. I was furious when I arrived, but I passed by the +door when I saw a handsome young hairdresser, who did the Charpillon's +hair every Saturday evening, going into the house. + +I did not want a stranger to be present at the scene I meant to make, so +I waited at the corner of the street for the hairdresser to go. After I +had waited half an hour Rostaing and Couman, the two supports of the +house, came out and went away, much to my delight. I waited on; eleven +struck, and the handsome barber had not yet gone. A little before +midnight a servant came out with a lamp, I suppose to look for something +that had fallen out of the window. I approached noiselessly, stepped in +and opened the parlour-door, which was close to the street, and saw . . . +the Charpillon and the barber stretched on the sofa and doing the beast +with two backs, as Shakespeare calls it. + +When the slut saw me she gave a shriek and unhorsed her gallant, whom I +caned soundly until he escaped in the confusion consequent on the +servants, mother, and aunts all rushing into the room. While this was +going on the Charpillon, half-naked, remained crouched behind the sofa, +trembling lest the blows should begin to descend on her. Then the three +hags set upon me like furies; but their abuse only irritated me, and I +broke the pier-'glass, the china, and the furniture, and as they still +howled and shrieked I roared out that if they did not cease I would break +their heads. At this they began to calm. + +I threw myself upon the fatal sofa, and bade the mother to return me the +bills of exchange; but just then the watchman came in. + +There is only one watchman to a district, which he perambulates all night +with a lantern in one hand and a staff in the other. On these men the +peace of the great city depends. I put three or four crowns into his hand +and said "Go away," and so saying shut the door upon him. Then I sat down +once more and asked again for the bills of exchange: + +"I have not got them; my daughter keeps them." + +"Call her." + +The two maids said that whilst I was breaking the china she had escaped +by the street door, and that they did not know what had become of her. +Then the mother and aunts began to shriek, weep, and exclaim,-- + +"My poor daughter alone in the streets of London at midnight! My dear +niece, alas! alas! she is lost. Cursed be the hour when you came to +England to make us all unhappy!" + +My rage had evaporated, and I trembled at the thought of this young +frightened girl running about the streets at such an hour. + +"Go and look for her at the neighbours' houses," I said to the servants, +"no doubt you will find her. When you tell me she is safe, you shall have +a guinea apiece." + +When the three Gorgons saw I was interested, their tears, complaints, and +invectives began again with renewed vigor, while I kept silence as much +as to say that they were in the right. I awaited the return of the +servants with impatience, and at last at one o'clock they came back with +looks of despair. + +"We have looked for her everywhere," said they, "but we can't find her." + +I gave them the two guineas as if they had succeeded, whilst I sat +motionless reflecting on the terrible consequences of my anger. How +foolish is man when he is in love! + +I was idiot enough to express my repentance to the three old cheats. I +begged them to seek for her everywhere when dawn appeared, and to let me +know of her return that I might fall at her feet to beg pardon, and never +see her face again. I also promised to pay for all the damage I had done, +and to give them a full receipt for the bills of exchange. After these +acts, done to the everlasting shame of my good sense, after this apology +made to procuresses who laughed at me and my honour, I went home, +promising two guineas to the servant who should bring me tidings that her +young mistress had come home. On leaving the house I found the watchman +at the door; he had been waiting to see me home. It was two o'clock. I +threw myself on my bed, and the six hours of sleep I obtained, though +troubled by fearful dreams, probably saved me from madness. + +At eight o'clock I heard a knock at the door, and on opening the window +found it was one of the servants from the house of my foes. I cried out +to let her in, and I breathed again on hearing that Miss Charpillon had +just arrived in a sedan-chair in a pitiable condition, and that she had +been put to bed. + +"I made haste to come and tell you," said the cunning maid, "not for the +sake of your two guineas, but because I saw you were so unhappy." This +duped me directly. I gave her the two guineas, and made her sit down on +my bed, begging her to tell me all about her mistress's return. I did not +dream that she had been schooled by my enemies; but during the whole of +this period I was deprived of the right use of my reason. + +The slut began by saying that her young mistress loved me, and had only +deceived me in accordance with her mother's orders. + +"I know that," I said, "but where did she pass the night?" + +"At a shop which she found open, and where she was known from having +bought various articles there. She is in bed with a fever, and I am +afraid it may have serious consequences as she is in her monthly period." + +"That's impossible, for I caught her in the act with her hairdresser." + +"Oh, that proves nothing! the poor young man does not look into things +very closely." + +"But she is in love with him." + +"I don't think so, though she has spent several hours in his company." + +"And you say that she loves me!" + +"Oh, that has nothing to do with it! It is only a whim of hers with the +hairdresser." + +"Tell her that I am coming to pass the day beside her bed, and bring me +her reply." + +"I will send the other girl if you like." + +"No, she only speaks English." + +She went away, and as she had not returned by three o'clock I decided on +calling to hear how she was. I knocked at the door, and one of the aunts +appeared and begged me not to enter as the two friends of the house were +there in a fury against me, and her niece lay in a delirium, crying out +"There's Seingalt, there's Seingalt! He's going to kill me. Help! help!" +"For God's sake, sir, go away!" + +I went home desperate, without the slightest suspicion that it was all a +lie. I spent the whole day without eating anything; I could not swallow a +mouthful. All night I kept awake, and though I took several glasses of +strong waters I could obtain no rest. + +At nine o'clock the next morning I knocked at the Charpillon's door, and +the old aunt came and held it half open as before. She forbade me to +enter, saying that her niece was still delirious, continually calling on +me in her transports, and that the doctor had declared that if the +disease continued its course she had not twenty-four hours to live. "The +fright you gave her has arrested her periods; she is in a terrible +state." + +"O, fatal hairdresser!" I exclaimed. + +"That was a mere youthful folly; you should have pretended not to have +seen anything." + +"You think that possible, you old witch, do you? Do not let her lack for +anything; take that." + +With these words I gave her a bank note for ten guineas and went away, +like the fool I was. On my way back I met Goudar, who was quite +frightened at my aspect. I begged him to go and see how the Charpillon +really was, and then to come and pass the rest of the day with me. An +hour after he came back and said he had found them all in tears and that +the girl was in extremis. + +"Did you see her?" + +"No, they said she could see no one." + +"Do you think it is all true?" + +"I don't know what to think; but one of the maids, who tells me the truth +as a rule, assured me that she had become mad through her courses being +stopped, while she has also a fever and violent convulsions. It is all +credible enough, for these are the usual results of a shock when a woman +is in such a situation. The girl told me it was all your fault." + +I then told him the whole story. He could only pity me, but when he heard +that I had neither eaten nor slept for the last forty-eight hours he said +very wisely that if I did not take care I should lose my reason or my +life. I knew it, but I could find no remedy. He spent the day with me and +did me good. As I could not eat I drank a good deal, and not being able +to sleep I spent the night in striding up and down my room like a man +beside himself. + +On the third day, having heard nothing positive about the Charpillon, I +went out at seven o'clock in the morning to call on her. After I had +waited a quarter of an hour in the street, the door was partly opened, +and I saw the mother all in tears, but she would not let me come in. She +said her daughter was in the last agony. At the same instant a pale and +thin old man came out, telling the mother that we must resign ourselves +to the will of God. I asked the infamous creature if it were the doctor. + +"The doctor is no good now," said the old hypocrite, weeping anew, "he is +a minister of the Gospel, and there is another of them upstairs. My poor +daughter! In another hour she will be no more." + +I felt as if an icy hand had closed upon my heart. I burst into tears and +left the woman, saying,-- + +"It is true that my hand dealt the blow, but her death lies at your +door." + +As I walked away my knees seemed to bend under me, and I entered my house +determined to commit suicide,-- + +With this fearful idea, I gave orders that I was not at home to anyone. +As soon as I got to my room I put my watches, rings, snuff-boxes, purse +and pocket-book in my casket, and shut it up in my escritoire. I then +wrote a letter to the Venetian ambassador, informing him that all my +property was to go to M. de Bragadin after my death. I sealed the letter +and put it with the casket, and took the key with me, and also silver to +the amount of a few guineas. I took my pistols and went out with the firm +intention of drowning myself in the Thames, near the Tower of London. + +Pondering over my plan with the utmost coolness, I went and bought some +balls of lead as large as my pockets would hold, and as heavy as I could +bear, to carry to the Tower, where I intended to go on foot. On my way I +was strengthened in my purpose by the reflection, that if I continued to +live I should be tormented for the remainder of my days by the pale shade +of the Charpillon reproaching me as her murderer. I even congratulated +myself on being able to carry out my purpose without any effort, and I +also felt a secret pride in my courage. + +I walked slowly on account of the enormous weight I bore, which would +assure me a speedy passage to the bottom of the river. + +By Westminster Bridge my good fortune made me meet Sir Edgar, a rich +young Englishman, who lived a careless and joyous life. I had made his +acquaintance at Lord Pembroke's, and he had dined with me several times. +We suited one another, his conversation was agreeable, and we had passed +many pleasant hours together. I tried to avoid him, but he saw me, and +came up and took me by the arm in a friendly manner. + +"Where are you going? Come with me, unless you are going to deliver some +captive. Come along, we shall have a pleasant party." + +"I can't come, my dear fellow, let me go." + +"What's the matter? I hardly recognized you, you looked so solemn." + +"Nothing is the matter." + +"Nothing? You should look at your face in the glass. Now I feel quite +sure that you are going to commit a foolish action." + +"Not at all." + +"It's no good denying it." + +"I tell you there's nothing the matter with me. Good bye, I shall see you +again." + +"It's no good, I won't leave you. Come along, we will walk together." + +His eyes happening to fall on my breeches pocket, he noticed my pistol, +and putting his hand on the other pocket he felt the other pistol, and +said,-- + +"You are going to fight a duel; I should like to see it. I won't +interfere with the affair, but neither will I leave you." + +I tried to put on a smile, and assured him that he was mistaken, and that +I was only going for a walk to pass the time. + +"Very good," said Edgar, "then I hope my society is as pleasant to you as +yours is to me; I won't leave you. After we have taken a walk we will go +and dine at the 'Canon.' I will get two girls to come and join us, and we +shall have a gay little party of four." + +"My dear friend, you must excuse me; I am in a melancholy mood, and I +want to be alone to get over it." + +"You can be alone to-morrow, if you like, but I am sure you will be all +right in the next three hours, and if not, why I will share your madness. +Where did you think of dining?" + +"Nowhere; I have no appetite. I have been fasting for the last three +days, and I can only drink." + +"Ah! I begin to see daylight. Something has crossed you, and you are +going to let it kill you as it killed one of my brothers. I must see what +can be done." + +Edgar argued, insisted, and joked till at last I said to myself, "A day +longer will not matter, I can do the deed when he leaves me, and I shall +only have to bear with life a few hours longer." + +When Edgar heard that I had no particular object in crossing the bridge +he said that we had better turn back, and I let myself be persuaded; but +in half an hour I begged him to take me somewhere where I could wait for +him, as I could not bear the weight of the lead any longer. I gave him my +word of honour that I would meet him at the "Canon." + +As soon as I was alone I emptied my pockets, and put the leaden balls +into a cupboard. Then I lay down and began to consider whether the +good-natured young man would prevent me committing suicide, as he had +already made me postpone it. + +I reasoned, not as one that hopes, but rather as one that foresaw that +Edgar would hinder me from shortening my days. Thus I waited in the +tavern for the young Englishman, doubtful whether he was doing me a +service or an injury. + +He came back before long, and was pleased to find me. + +"I reckoned on your keeping your word," said he. + +"You did not think that I would break my word of honour." + +"That's all right; I see you are on the way to recovery." + +The sensible and cheerful talk of the young man did me good, and I began +to feel better, when the two young wantons, one of whom was a +Frenchwoman, arrived in high spirits. They seemed intended for pleasure, +and Nature had dowered them with great attractions. I appreciated their +charms, but I could not welcome them in the manner to which they were +accustomed. They began to think me some poor valetudinarian; but though I +was in torments, a feeling of vanity made me endeavour to behave +sensibly. I gave them some cold kisses and begged Edgar to tell his +fellow-countrywoman that if I were not three parts dead I would prove how +lovely and charming I thought her. They pitied me. A man who has spent +three days without eating or sleeping is almost incapable of any +voluptuous excitement, but mere words would not have convinced these +priestesses of Venus if Edgar had not given them my name. I had a +reputation, and I saw that when they heard who I was they were full of +respect. They all hoped that Bacchus and Comus would plead the cause of +Love, and I let them talk, knowing that their hopes were vain. + +We had an English dinner; that is, a dinner without the essential course +of soup, so I only took a few oysters and a draught of delicious wine, +but I felt better, and was pleased to see Edgar amusing himself with the +two nymphs. + +The young madcap suddenly proposed that the girls should dance a hornpipe +in the costume of Mother Eve, and they consented on the condition that we +would adopt the dress of Father Adam, and that blind musicians were +summoned. I told them that I would take off my clothes to oblige them, +but that I had no hopes of being able to imitate the seductive serpent. I +was allowed to retain my dress, on the condition that if I felt the prick +of the flesh I should immediately undress. I agreed to do so, and the +blind musicians were sent for, and while they tuned their instruments +toilettes were made, and the orgy began. + +It taught me same useful lessons. I learnt from it that amorous pleasures +are the effect and not the cause of gaiety. I sat gazing at three naked +bodies of perfect grace and beauty, the dance and the music were +ravishing and seductive, but nothing made any impression on me. After the +dance was over the male dancer treated the two females, one after the +other, until he was forced to rest. The French girl came up to ascertain +whether I skewed any signs of life, but feeling my hopeless condition she +pronounced me useless. + +When it was all over I begged Edgar to give the French girl four guineas, +and to pay my share, as I had very little money about me. + +What should I have said if I had been told in the morning that instead of +drowning myself I should take part in so pleasant an entertainment? + +The debt I had contracted with the young Englishman made me resolve to +put off my suicide to another day. After the nymphs had gone I tried to +get rid of Edgar, but in vain; he told me I was getting better, that the +oysters I had taken skewed my stomach was improving, and that if I came +with him to Ranelagh I should be able to make a good dinner the next day. +I was weak and indifferent and let myself be persuaded, and got into a +coach with Edgar in obedience to the Stoic maxim I had learnt in the +happy days of my youth: 'Sequere Deum'. + +We entered the fine rotunda with our hats off, and began to walk round +and round, our arms behind our backs--a common custom in England, at +least in those days. + +A minuet was being danced, and I was so attracted by a lady who danced +extremely well that I waited for her to turn round. What made me notice +her more particularly was that her dress and hat were exactly like those +I had given to the Charpillon a few days before, but as I believed the +poor wretch to be dead or dying the likeness did not inspire me with any +suspicion. But the lady turned round, lifted her face, and I saw--the +Charpillon herself! + +Edgar told me afterwards that at that moment he thought to see me fall to +the ground in an epileptic fit; I trembled and shuddered so terribly. + +However, I felt so sure she was ill that I could not believe my own eyes, +and the doubt brought me to my senses. + +"She can't be the Charpillon," I said to myself, "she is some other girl +like her, and my enfeebled senses have led me astray." In the meanwhile +the lady, intent on her dancing, did not glance in my direction, but I +could afford to wait. At last she lifted her arms to make the curtsy at +the end of the minuet, I went up instinctively as if I were about to +dance with her; she looked me in the face, and fled. + +I constrained myself; but now that there could be no doubt my shuddering +fit returned, and I made haste to sit down. A cold sweat bedewed my face +and my whole body. Edgar advised me to take a cup of tea but I begged him +to leave me alone for a few moments. + +I was afraid that I was on the point of death; I trembled all over, and +my heart beat so rapidly that I could not have stood up had I wished. + +At last, instead of dying, I got new life. What a wonderful change I +experienced! Little by little my peace of mind returned, and I could +enjoy the glitter of the multitudinous wax lights. By slow degrees I +passed through all the shades of feeling between despair and an ecstasy +of joy. My soul and mind were so astonished by the shock that I began to +think I should never see Edgar again. + +"This young man," I said to myself, "is my good genius, my guardian +angel, my familiar spirit, who has taken the form of Edgar to restore me +to my senses again." + +I should certainly have persisted in this idea if my friend had not +reappeared before very long. + +Chance might have thrown him in the way of one of those seductive +creatures who make one forget everything else; he might have left +Ranelagh without having time to tell me he was going, and I should have +gone back to London feeling perfectly certain that I had only seen his +earthly shape. Should I have been disabused if I had seen him a few days +after? Possibly; but I am not sure of it. I have always had a hankering +after superstition, of which I do not boast; but I confess the fact, and +leave the reader to judge me. + +However, he came back in high spirits, but anxious about me. He was +surprised to find me full of animation, and to hear me talking in a +pleasant strain on the surrounding objects and persons. + +"Why, you are laughing!" said he, "your sadness has departed, then?" + +"Yes, good genius, but I am hungry, and I want you to do me a favour, if +you have no other pressing engagements." + +"I am free till the day after to-morrow, and till then you can do what +you like with me." + +"I owe my life to you, but to make your gift complete I want you to spend +this night and the whole of the next day with me." + +"Done." + +"Then let us go home." + +"With all my heart; come along." + +I did not tell him anything as we were in the coach, and when we got home +I found nothing fresh, except a note from Goudar, which I put in my +pocket, intending to reserve all business for the next day. + +It was an hour after midnight. A good supper was served to us, and we +fell to; for my part I devoured my food like a wild beast. Edgar +congratulated me, and we went to bed, and I slept profoundly till noon. +When I awoke I breakfasted with Edgar, and told him the whole story, +which would have ended with my life if he had not met me on Westminster +Bridge, and he had not been keen enough to mark my condition. I took him +to my room, and shewed him my escritoire, my casket, and my will. I then +opened Goudar's letter, and read: + +"I am quite sure that the girl you know of is very far from dying, as she +has gone to Ranelagh with Lord Grosvenor." + +Although Edgar was a profligate, he was a sensible man, and my story made +him furious. He threw his arms around my neck, and told me he should +always think the day on which he rescued me from death for so unworthy an +object the happiest in his life. He could scarcely credit the infamy of +the Charpillon and her mother. He told me I could have the mother +arrested, though I had not got the bills of exchange, as her mother's +letter acknowledging her daughter's possession of the bills was +sufficient evidence. + +Without informing him of my intention, I resolved that moment to have her +arrested. Before we parted we swore eternal friendship, but the reader +will see before long what a penance the kind Englishman had to do for +befriending me. + +The next day I went to the attorney I had employed against Count +Schwerin. After hearing my story he said that I had an undoubted claim, +and that I could arrest the mother and the two aunts. + +Without losing time I went before a magistrate, who took my sworn +information and granted me a warrant. The same official who had arrested +Schwerin took charge of the affair; but as he did not know the women by +sight it was necessary that someone who did should go with him, for +though he was certain of surprising them there might be several other +women present, and he might not arrest the right ones. + +As Goudar would not have undertaken the delicate task of pointing them +out, I resolved on accompanying him myself. + +I made an appointment with him at an hour when I knew they would be all +in the parlour. He was to enter directly the door was opened, and I would +come in at the same instant and point out the women he had to arrest. In +England all judicial proceedings are conducted with the utmost +punctuality, and everything went off as I had arranged. The bailiff and +his subaltern stepped into the parlour and I followed in their footsteps. +I pointed out the mother and the two sisters and then made haste to +escape, for the sight of the Charpillon, dressed in black, standing by +the hearth, made me shudder. I felt cured, certainly; but the wounds she +had given me were not yet healed, and I cannot say what might have +happened if the Circe had had the presence of mind to throw her arms +about my neck and beg for mercy. + +As soon as I had seen these women in the hands of justice I fled, tasting +the sweets of vengeance, which are very great, but yet a sign of +unhappiness. The rage in which I had arrested the three procuresses, and +my terror in seeing the woman who had well-nigh killed me, shewed that I +was not really cured. To be so I must fly from them and forget them +altogether. + +The next morning Goudar came and congratulated me on the bold step I had +taken, which proved, he said, that I was either cured or more in love +than ever. "I have just come from Denmark Street," he added, "and I only +saw the grandmother, who was weeping bitterly, and an attorney, whom no +doubt she was consulting." + +"Then you have heard what has happened?" + +"Yes, I came up a minute after you had gone and I stayed till the three +old sluts made up their minds to go with the constable. They resisted and +said he ought to leave them till the next day, when they would be able to +find someone to bail them. The two bravos drew their swords to resist the +law, but the other constable disarmed them one after the other, and the +three women were led off. The Charpillon wanted to accompany them, but it +was judged best that she should remain at liberty, in order to try and +set them free." + +Goudar concluded by saying that he should go and see them in prison, and +if I felt disposed to come to an arrangement he would mediate between us. +I told him that the only arrangement I would accept was the payment of +the six thousand francs, and that they might think themselves very lucky +that I did not insist on having my interest, and thus repaying myself in +part for the sums they had cheated out of me. + +A fortnight elapsed without my hearing any more of the matter. The +Charpillon dined with them every day, and in fact, kept them. It must +have cost her a good deal, for they had two rooms, and their landlord +would not allow them to have their meals prepared outside the prison. +Goudar told me that the Charpillon said she would never beg me to listen +to her mother, though she knew she had only to call on me to obtain +anything she wanted. She thought me the most abominable of men. If I feel +obliged to maintain that she was equally abominable, I must confess that +on this occasion she shewed more strength of mind than I; but whereas I +had acted out of passion, her misdeeds were calculated, and tended solely +to her own interests. + +For the whole of this fortnight I had sought for Edgar in vain, but one +morning he came to see me, looking in high spirits. + +"Where have you been hiding all this time?" said I, "I have been looking +for you everywhere." + +"Love has been keeping me a prisoner," said he, "I have got some money +for you." + +"For me? From what quarter?" + +"On behalf of the Ansperghers. Give me a receipt and the necessary +declaration, for I am going to restore them myself to the poor +Charpillon, who has been weeping for the last fortnight." + +"I daresay she has, I have seen her weep myself; but I like the way in +which she has chosen the being who delivered me from her chains as a +protector. Does she know that I owe my life to you?" + +"She only knew that I was with you at Ranelagh when you saw her dancing +instead of dying, but I have told her the whole story since." + +"No doubt she wants you to plead with me in her favour." + +"By no means. She has just been telling me that you are a monster of +ingratitude, for she loved you and gave you several proofs of her +affection, but now she hates you." + +"Thank Heaven for that! The wretched woman! It's curious she should have +selected you as her lover by way of taking vengeance on me, but take +care! she will punish you." + +"It may be so, but at all events it's a pleasant kind of punishment." + +"I hope you may be happy, but look to yourself; she is a mistress in all +sorts of deceit." + +Edgar counted me out two hundred and fifty guineas, for which I gave him +a receipt and the declaration he required, and with these documents he +went off in high spirits. + +After this I might surely flatter myself that all was at an end between +us, but I was mistaken. + +Just about this time the Crown Prince of Brunswick, now the reigning +duke, married the King of England's sister. The Common Council presented +him with the freedom of the City, and the Goldsmith's Company admitted +him into their society, and gave him a splendid box containing the +documents which made him a London citizen. The prince was the first +gentleman in Europe, and yet he did not disdain to add this new honour to +a family illustrious for fourteen hundred years. + +On this occasion Lady Harrington was the means of getting Madame Cornelis +two hundred guineas. She lent her room in Soho Square to a confectioner +who gave a ball and supper to a thousand persons at three guineas each. I +paid my three guineas, and had the honour of standing up all the evening +with six hundred others, for the table only seated four hundred, and +there were several ladies who were unable to procure seats. That evening +I saw Lady Grafton seated beside the Duke of Cumberland. She wore her +hair without any powder, and all the other ladies were exclaiming about +it, and saying how very unbecoming it was. They could not anathematize +the innovator too much, but in less than six months Lady Grafton's style +of doing the hair became common, crossed the Channel, and spread all over +Europe, though it has been given another name. It is still in fashion, +and is the only method that can boast the age of thirty years, though it +was so unmercifully ridiculed at first. + +The supper for which the giver of the feast had received three thousand +guineas, or sixty-five thousand francs, contained a most varied +assortment of delicacies, but as I had not been dancing, and did not feel +taken with any of the ladies present, I left at one in the morning. It +was Sunday, a day on which all persons, save criminals, are exempt from +arrest; but, nevertheless, the following adventure befell me: + +I was dressed magnificently, and was driving home in my carriage, with my +negro and another servant seated behind me; and just as we entered Pall +Mall I heard a voice crying, "Good night, Seingalt." I put my head out of +the window to reply, and in an instant the carriage was surrounded by men +armed with pistols, and one of them said,-- + +"In the king's name!" + +My servant asked what they wanted, and they answered,-- + +"To take him to Newgate, for Sunday makes no difference to criminals." + +"And what crime have I committed?" + +"You will hear that in prison." + +"My master has a right to know his crime before he goes to prison," said +the negro. + +"Yes, but the magistrate's abed." + +The negro stuck to his position, however, and the people who had come up +declared with one consent that he was in the right. + +The head-constable gave in, and said he would take me to a house in the +city. + +"Then drive to that city," said I, "and have done with it." + +We stopped before the house, and I was placed in a large room on the +ground floor, furnished solely with benches and long tables. My servant +sent back the carriage, and came to keep me company. The six constables +said they could not leave me, and told me I should send out for some meat +and drink for them. I told my negro to give them what they wanted, and to +be as amicable with them as was possible. + +As I had not committed any crime, I was quite at ease; I knew that my +arrest must be the effect of a slander, and as I was aware that London +justice was speedy and equitable, I thought I should soon be free. But I +blamed myself for having transgressed the excellent maxim, never to +answer anyone in the night time; for if I had not done so I should have +been in my house, and not in prison. The mistake, however, had been +committed, and there was nothing to be done but to wait patiently. I +amused myself by reflecting on my rapid passage from a numerous and +exalted assemblage to the vile place I now occupied, though I was still +dressed like a prince. + +At last the day dawned, and the keeper of the tavern came to see who the +prisoner was. I could not helping laughing at him when he saw me, for he +immediately began to abuse the constables for not awaking him when I +came; he had lost the guinea I should have paid for a private room. At +last news was brought that the magistrate was sitting, and that I must be +brought up. + +A coach was summoned, and I got into it, for if I had dared to walk along +the streets in my magnificent attire the mob would have pelted me. + +I went into the hall of justice, and all eyes were at once attracted +towards me; my silks and satins appeared to them the height of +impertinence. + +At the end of the room I saw a gentleman sitting in an arm-chair, and +concluded him to be my judge. I was right, and the judge was blind. He +wore a broad band round his head, passing over his eyes. A man beside me, +guessing I was a foreigner, said in French,-- + +"Be of good courage, Mr. Fielding is a just and equitable magistrate." + +I thanked the kindly unknown, and was delighted to see before me this +famous and estimable writer, whose works are an honour to the English +nation. + +When my turn came, the clerk of the court told Mr. Fielding my name, at +least, so I presume. + +"Signor Casanova," said he, in excellent Italian, "be kind enough to step +forward. I wish to speak to you." + +I was delighted to hear the accents of my native tongue, and making my +way through the press I came up to the bar of the court, and said,-- + +"Eccomi, Signore." + +He continued to speak Italian, and said,-- + +"Signor de Casanova, of Venice, you are condemned to perpetual +confinement in the prisons of His Majesty the King of Great Britain." + +"I should like to know, sir, for what crime I am condemned. Would you be +kind enough to inform me as to its nature?" + +"Your demand is a reasonable one, for with us no one is condemned without +knowing the cause of his condemnation. You must know, then, that the +accusation (which is supported by two witnesses) charges you with +intending to do grievous bodily harm to the person of a pretty girl; and +as this pretty girl aforesaid goes in dread of you, the law decrees that +you must be kept in prison for the rest of your days." + +"Sir, this accusation is a groundless calumny; to that I will take my +oath! It is very possible indeed that the girl may fear my vengeance when +she comes to consider her own conduct, but I can assure you that I have +had no such designs hitherto, and I don't think I ever shall." + +"She has two witnesses." + +"Then they are false ones. But may I ask your worship the name of my +accuser?" + +"Miss Charpillon." + +"I thought as much; but I have never given her aught but proofs of my +affection." + +"Then you have no wish to do her any bodily harm?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Then I congratulate you. You can dine at home; but you must find two +sureties. I must have an assurance from the mouths of two householders +that you will never commit such a crime." + +"Whom shall I find to do so?" + +"Two well-known Englishmen, whose friendship you have gained, and who +know that you are incapable of such an action. Send for them, and if they +arrive before I go to dinner I will set you at liberty." + +The constable took me back to prison, where I had passed the night, and I +gave my servants the addresses of all the householders I recollected, +bidding them explain my situation, and to be as quick as possible. They +ought to have come before noon, but London is such a large place! They +did not arrive, and the magistrate went to dinner. I comforted myself by +the thought that he would sit in the afternoon, but I had to put up with +a disagreeable experience. + +The chief constable, accompanied by an interpreter, came to say that I +must go to Newgate. This is a prison where the most wretched and abject +criminals are kept. + +I signified to him that I was awaiting bail, and that he could take me to +Newgate in the evening if it did not come, but he only turned a deaf ear +to my petition. The interpreter told me in a whisper that the fellow was +certainly paid by the other side to put me to trouble, but that if I +liked to bribe him I could stay where I was. + +"How much will he want?" + +The interpreter took the constable aside, and then told me that I could +stay where I was for ten guineas. + +"Then say that I should like to see Newgate." + +A coach was summoned, and I was taken away. + +When I got to this abode of misery and despair, a hell, such as Dante +might have conceived, a crowd of wretches, some of whom were to be hanged +in the course of the week, greeted me by deriding my elegant attire. I +did not answer them, and they began to get angry and to abuse me. The +gaoler quieted them by saying that I was a foreigner and did not +understand English, and then took me to a cell, informing me how much it +would cost me, and of the prison rules, as if he felt certain that I +should make a long stay. But in the course of half an hour, the constable +who had tried to get ten guineas out of me told me that bail had arrived +and that my carriage was at the door. + +I thanked God from the bottom of my heart, and soon found myself in the +presence of the blind magistrate. My bail consisted of Pegu, my tailor, +and Maisonneuve, my wine merchant, who said they were happy to be able to +render me this slight service. In another part of the court I noticed the +infamous Charpillon, Rostaing, Goudar, and an attorney. They made no +impression on me, and I contented myself with giving them a look of +profound contempt. + +My two sureties were informed of the amount in which they were to bail +me, and signed with a light heart, and then the magistrate said, +politely,-- + +"Signor Casanova, please to sign your name for double the amount, and you +will then be a free man again." + +I went towards the clerk's table, and on asking the sum I was to answer +for was informed that it was forty guineas, each of my sureties signing +for twenty. I signed my name, telling Goudar that if the magistrate could +have seen the Charpillon he would have valued her beauty at ten thousand +guineas. I asked the names of the two witnesses, and was told that they +were Rostaing and Bottarelli. I looked contemptuously at Rostaing, who +was as pale as death, and averting my face from the Charpillon out of +pity, I said,-- + +"The witnesses are worthy of the charge." + +I saluted the judge with respect, although he could not see me, and asked +the clerk if I had anything to pay. He replied in the negative, and a +dispute ensued between him and the attorney of my fair enemy, who was +disgusted on hearing that she could not leave the court without paying +the costs of my arrest. + +Just as I was going, five or six well-known Englishmen appeared to bail +me out, and were mortified to hear that they had come too late. They +begged me to forgive the laws of the land, which are only too often +converted into a means for the annoyance of foreigners. + +At last, after one of the most tedious days I have ever spent, I returned +home and went to bed, laughing at the experience I had undergone. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of In London And Moscow: The English +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN LONDON AND MOSCOW: THE ENGLISH *** + +***** This file should be named 2973.txt or 2973.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/7/2973/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.07.00*END* + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + +The English +By Jacques Casanova + + + +THE MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA DE SEINGALT + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR +MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR +SYMONS. + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 +IN LONDON AND MOSCOW, Volume 5c--THE ENGLISH + + + + +THE ENGLISH + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Eccentricity of the English--Castelbajac Count Schwerin--Sophie at +School--My Reception at the Betting Club--The Charpillon + + +I passed a night which seemed like a never-ending nightmare, and I +got up sad and savage, feeling as if I could kill a man on the +smallest provocation. It seemed as if the house, which I had +hitherto thought so beautiful, was like a millstone about my neck. +I went out in my travelling clothes, and walked into a coffee-house, +where I saw a score of people reading the papers. + +I sat down, and, not understanding English, passed my time in gazing +at the goers and comers. I had been there some time when my +attention was attracted by the voice of a man speaking as follows in +French: + +"Tommy has committed suicide, and he was wise, for he was in such a +state that he could only expect unhappiness for the rest of his +life." + +"You are quite mistaken," said the other, with the greatest +composure. "I was one of his creditors myself, and on making an +inventory of his effects I feel satisfied that he has done a very +foolish and a very childish thing; he might have lived on +comfortably, and not killed himself for fully six months." + +At any other time this calculation would have made me laugh, and, as +it was, I felt as if the incident had done me good. + +I left the coffee-house without having said a word or spent a penny, +and I went towards the Exchange to get some money. Bosanquet gave me +what I wanted directly, and as I walked out with him I noticed a +curious-looking individual, whose name I asked. + +"He's worth a hundred thousand," said the banker. + +"And who is that other man over there?" + +"He's not worth a ten-pound note." + +"But I don't want to hear what they are worth; it's their names I +want." + +"I really don't know." + +"How can you tell how much they are worth, not knowing their names?" + +"Names don't go for anything here. What we want to know about a man +is how much he has got? Besides; what's in a name? Ask me for a +thousand pounds and give me a proper receipt, and you can do it under +the name of Socrates or Attila, for all I care. You will pay me back +my money as Socrates or Attila, and not as Seingalt; that is all." + +"But how about signing bills of exchange?" + +"That's another thing; I must use the name which the drawer gives +me." + +"I don't understand that." + +"Well, you see, you are not English, nor are you a business man." + +On leaving him I walked towards the park, but wishing to change a +twenty-pound note before going in I went to a fat merchant, an +epicure whose acquaintance I had made at the tavern, and put down the +note on his counter, begging him to cash it for me. + +"Come again in an hour," said he, "I have no money by me just now." + +"Very good; I will call again when I come from the park." + +"Take back your note; you shall give it to me when I hand you the +money." + +"Never mind; keep it. I don't doubt your honesty." + +"Don't be so foolish. If you left me the note I should certainly +decline to hand over the money, if only for the sake of giving you a +lesson." + +"I don't believe you are capable of such dishonesty." + +"Nor am I, but when it comes to such a simple thing as putting a bank +note in your pocket, the most honest man in the world would never +dream of having such a thing in his possession without having paid +the money for it, and the least slip of memory might lead to a +dispute in which you would infallibly come off second best." + +"I feel the force of your arguments, especially in a town where so +much business is carried on." + +When I got into the park I met Martinelli and thanked him for sending +me a copy of the Decameron, while he congratulated me on my re- +appearance in society, and on the young lady of whom I had been the +happy possessor and no doubt the slave. + +"My Lord Pembroke has seen her," said he, "and thought her charming." + +"What? Where could he have seen her?" + +"In a carriage with you driving fast along the Rochester road. It is +three or four days ago." + +"Then I may tell you that I was taking her to Calais; I shall never +see her face again." + +"Will you let the room again in the same way?" + +"No, never again, though the god of love has been propitious to me. +I shall be glad to see you at my house whenever you like to come." + +"Shall I send you a note to warn you?" + +"Not at all." + +We walked on talking about literature, manners, and so forth, in an +aimless way. All at once, as we approached Buckingham House, I saw +five or six persons, relieving nature amidst the bushes, with their +hinder parts facing the passers-by. I thought this a disgusting +piece of indecency, and said as much to Martinelli, adding that the +impudent rascals might at least turn their faces towards the path. + +"Not at all," he exclaimed, "for then they might be recognized; +whereas in exposing their posteriors they run no such risk; besides +the sight makes squeamish persons turn away." + +"You are right, but you will confess that the whole thing strikes a +stranger as very revolting." + +"Yes, there is nothing so ineradicable as national prejudice. You +may have noticed that when an Englishman wants to ease his sluices in +the street, he doesn't run up an alley or turn to the wall like we +do." + +"Yes, I have noticed them turning towards the middle of the street, +but if they thus escape the notice of the people in the shops and on +the pavement they are seen by everybody who is driving in a carriage, +and that is as bad." + +"The people in the carriages need not look." + +"That is true" + +We walked on to the Green Park, and met Lord Pembroke on horseback. +He stopped and burst into exclamations on seeing me. As I guessed +the cause of his surprise, I hastened to tell him that I was a free +man once more, to my sorrow, and felt lonely amidst my splendour. + +"I feel rather curious about it, and perhaps I may come and keep you +company to-day." + +We parted, and reckoning on seeing him at dinner I, went back to tell +my cook that dinner was to be served in the large room. Martinelli +had an engagement and could not come to dinner, but he led me out of +the park by a door with which I was not acquainted, and sent me on my +way. + +As we were going along we saw a crowd of people who seemed to be +staring at something. Martinelli went up to the crowd, and then +returned to me, saying,-- + +"That's a curious sight for you; you can enter it amidst your remarks +on English manners." + +"What is it?" + +"A man at the point of death from a blow he has received in boxing +with another sturdy fellow." + +"Cannot anything be done?" + +"There is a surgeon there who would bleed him, if he were allowed." + +"Who could prevent him?" + +"That's the curious part of it. Two men have betted on his death or +recovery. One says, 'I'll bet twenty guineas he dies,' and the other +says, 'Done.' Number one will not allow the surgeon to bleed him, +for if the man recovered his twenty guineas would be gone." + +"Poor man! what pitiless betters!" + +"The English are very strange in their betting proclivities; they bet +about everything. There is a Betting Club to which I will introduce +you, if you like." + +"Do they speak French there?" + +"Most certainly, for it is composed of men of wit and mark." + +"What do they do?" + +"They talk and argue, and if one man brings forward a proposition +which another denies, and one backs his opinion, the other has to bet +too, on pain of a fine which goes to the common fund." + +"Introduce me to this delightful club, by all means; it will make my +fortune, for I shall always take care to be on the right side." + +"You had better be careful; they are wary birds." + +"But to return to the dying man; what will be done to his +antagonist?" + +"His hand will be examined, and if it is found to be just the same as +yours or mine it will be marked, and he will be let go." + +"I don't understand that, so kindly explain. How do they recognize a +dangerous hand?" + +"If it is found to be marked already, it is a proof that he has +killed his man before and has been marked for it, with the warning, +'Take care not to kill anyone else, for if you do you will be +hanged.'" + +"But supposing such a man is attacked?" + +"He ought to shew his hand, and then his adversary would let him +alone." + +"But if not?" + +"Then he is defending himself; and if he kills his man he is +acquitted, provided he can bring witnesses to swear that he was +obliged to fight." + +"Since fighting with the fist may cause death, I wonder it is +allowed." + +"It is only allowed for a wager. If the combatants do not put one or +more pieces of money on the ground before the fight, and there is a +death, the man is hanged." + +"What laws! What manners!" + +In such ways I learnt much concerning the manner and customs of this +proud nation, at once so great and so little. + +The noble lord came to dinner, and I treated him in a manner to make +him wish to come again. Although there were only the two of us, the +meal lasted a long time, as I was anxious for additional information +on what I had heard in the morning, especially on the Betting Club. +The worthy Pembroke advised me not to have anything to do with it, +unless I made up my mind to keep perfect silence for four or five +weeks. + +"But supposing they ask me a question?" + +"Evade it." + +"Certainly, if I am not in a position to give my opinion; but if I +have an opinion, the powers of Satan could not shut my mouth." + +"All the worse for you." + +"Are the members knaves?" + +"Certainly not. They are noblemen, philosophers, and epicures; but +they are pitiless where a bet is concerned." + +"Is the club treasury rich?" + +"Far from it; they are all ashamed to pay a fine, and prefer to bet. +Who will introduce you?" + +"Martinelli." + +"Quite so; through Lord Spencer, who is a member. I would not become +one." + +"Why not?" + +"Because I don't like argument." + +"My taste runs the other way, so I shall try to get in." + +"By the way, M. de Seingalt, do you know that you are a very +extraordinary man?" + +"For what reason, my lord?" + +"You shut yourself up for a whole month with a woman who spent +fourteen months in London without anybody making her acquaintance or +even discovering her nationality. All the amateurs have taken a +lively interest in the affair." + +"How did you find out that she spent fourteen months in London?" + +"Because several persons saw her in the house of a worthy widow where +she spent the first month. She would never have anything to say to +any advances, but the bill in your window worked wonders." + +"Yes, and all the worse for me, for I feel as if I could never love +another woman." + +"Oh, that's childish indeed! You will love another woman in a week- +nay, perhaps to-morrow, if you will come and dine with me at my +country house. A perfect French beauty has asked me to dine with +her. I have told some of my friends who are fond of gaming." + +"Does the charming Frenchwoman like gaming?" + +"No, but her husband does." + +"What's his name?" + +"He calls himself Count de Castelbajac." + +"Ah! Castelbajac?" + +"Yes." + +"He is a Gascon?" + +"Yes." + +"Tall, thin, and dark, and marked with the smallpox? + +"Exactly! I am delighted to find you know him. You will agree with +me that his wife is very pretty?" + +"I really can't say. I knew Castelbajac, as he calls himself, six +years ago, and I never heard he was married. I shall be delighted to +join you, however. I must warn you not to say anything if he seems +not to know me; he may possibly have good reasons for acting in that +manner. Before long I will tell you a story which does not represent +him in a very advantageous manner. I did not know he played. I +shall take care to be on my guard at the Betting Club, and I advise +you, my lord, to be on your guard in the society of Castelbajac." + +"I will not forget the warning." + +When Pembroke had left me I went to see Madame Cornelis, who had +written a week before to tell me my daughter was ill, and explained +that she had been turned from my doors on two occasions though she +felt certain I was in. To this I replied that I was in love, and so +happy within my own house that I had excluded all strangers, and with +that she had to be contented, but the state in which I found little +Sophie frightened me. She was lying in bed with high fever, she had +grown much thinner, and her eyes seemed to say that she was dying of +grief. Her mother was in despair, for she was passionately fond of +the child, and I thought she would have torn my eyes out when I told +her that if Sophie died she would only have herself to reproach. +Sophie, who was very good-hearted, cried out, "No, no! papa dear;" +and quieted her mother by her caresses. + +Nevertheless, I took the mother aside, and told her that the disease +was solely caused by Sophie's dread of her severity. + +"In spite of your affection," said I, "you treat her with +insufferable tyranny. Send her to a boardingschool for a couple of +years, and let her associate with girls of good family. Tell her +this evening that she is to go to school, and see if she does not get +better." + +"Yes," said she, "but a good boarding-school costs a hundred guineas +a year, including masters." + +"If I approve of the school you select I will pay a year in advance." + +On my making this offer the woman, who seemed to be living so +luxuriously, but was in reality poverty-stricken, embraced me with +the utmost gratitude. + +"Come and tell the news to your daughter now," said she, "I should +like to watch her face when she hears it." + +"Certainly." + +"My dear Sophie," I said, "your mother agrees with me that if you had +a change of air you would get better, and if you would like to spend +a year or two in a good school I will pay the first year in advance." + +"Of course, I will obey my dear mother," said Sophie. + +"There is no question of obedience. Would you like to go to school? +Tell me truly." + +"But would my mother like me to go?" + +"Yes, my child, if it would please you." + +"Then, mamma, I should like to go very much." + +Her face flushed as she spoke, and I knew that my diagnosis had been +correct. I left her saying I should hope to hear from her soon. + +At ten o'clock the next day Jarbe came to ask if I had forgotten my +engagement. + +"No," said I, "but it is only ten o'clock." + +"Yes, but we have twenty miles to go." + +"Twenty miles?" + +"Certainly, the house is at St. Albans." + +"It's very strange Pembroke never told me; how did you find out the +address?" + +"He left it when he went away:" + +"Just like an Englishman." + +I took a post-chaise, and in three hours I had reached my +destination. The English roads are excellent, and the country offers +a smiling prospect on every side. The vine is lacking, for though +the English soil is fertile it will not bear grapes. + +Lord Pembroke's house was not a particularly large one, but twenty +masters and their servants could easily be accommodated in it. + +The lady had not yet arrived, so my lord shewed me his gardens, his +fountains, and his magnificent hot-houses; also a cock chained by the +leg, and of a truly ferocious aspect. + +"What have we here, my lord?" + +"A cock." + +"I see it is, but why do you chain it?" + +"Because it is savage. It is very amorous, and if it were loose it +would go after the hens, and kill all the cocks on the country-side." + +"But why do you condemn him to celibacy?" + +"To make him fiercer. Here, this is the list of his conquests." + +He gave me a list of his cock's victories, in which he had killed the +other bird; this had happened more than thirty times. He then shewed +me the steel spurs, at the sight of which the cock began to ruffle +and crow. I could not help laughing to see such a martial spirit in +so small an animal. He seemed possessed by the demon of strife, and +lifted now one foot and now the other, as if to beg that his arms +might be put on. + +Pembroke then exhibited the helmet, also of steel. + +"But with such arms," said I, "he is sure of conquest." + +"No; for when he is armed cap-a-pie he will not fight with a +defenceless cock." + +"I can't believe it, my lord." + +"It's a well-known fact. Here, read this." + +He then gave me a piece of paper with this remarkable biped's +pedigree. He could prove his thirty-two quarters more easily than a +good many noblemen, on the father's side, be it understood, for if he +could have proved pure blood on the mother's side as well, Lord +Pembroke would have decorated him with the Order of the Golden Fleece +at least. + +"The bird cost me a hundred guineas," said he, "but I would not sell +him for a thousand." + +"Has he any offspring?" + +"He tries his best, but there are difficulties." + +I do not remember whether Lord Pembroke explained what these +difficulties were. Certainly the English offer more peculiarities to +the attentive observer than any other nation. + +At last a carriage containing a lady and two gentlemen drove up to +the door. One of the gentlemen was the rascally Castelbajac and the +other was introduced as Count Schwerin, nephew of the famous marshal +of that name who fell on what is commonly called the field of glory. +General Bekw---- an Englishman who was in the service of the King of +Prussia, and was one of Pembroke's guests, received Schwerin +politely, saying that he had seen his uncle die; at this the modest +nephew drew the Order of the Black Eagle from his breast, and shewed +it to us all covered with blood. + +"My uncle wore it on the day of his death, and the King of Prussia +allowed me to keep it as a noble memorial of my kinsman." + +"Yes," said an Englishman who was present, "but the coat-pocket is +not the place for a thing like that." + +Schwerin made as if he did not understand, and this enabled me to +take his measure. + +Lord Pembroke took possession of the lady, whom I did not think +worthy of being compared to Pauline. She was paler and shorter, and +utterly deficient in Pauline's noble air; besides, when she smiled it +spoiled her face, and this is a defect in a woman, to whom laughter +should always be becoming. + +Lord Pembroke introduced us all to each other, and when he came to me +Castelbajac said he was delighted to see me again, although he might +easily have pretended not to know me under my name of Seingalt. + +We had a good English dinner, and afterwards the lady proposed a game +of faro. My lord never played, so the general consented to amuse the +company by holding the bank, and placed a hundred guineas and several +bank notes on the table. There might be a thousand guineas in all. +He then gave twenty counters to each punter, saying that every +counter was worth ten shillings. As I only staked gold against gold +I would not accept them. By the third deal Schwerin had lost his +twenty counters and asked for twenty more; but the banker told him he +must pay for them, and the self-styled field-marshal's nephew lapsed +into silence and played no more. + +At the following deal Castelbajac was in the same position as his +friend, and being on my side he begged to be allowed to take ten +pieces. + +"You will bring me ill-luck," I said, coldly, warding off his hand; +and he went out to the garden, no doubt to swallow the affront he had +received. The lady said her husband had forgotten his pocketbook. +An hour afterwards the game came to an end, and I took my leave, +after inviting Lord Pembroke and the rest of the company to dine with +me the next day. + +I got home at eleven o'clock without meeting any highwaymen as I had +expected, indeed I had put up six guineas in a small purse for their +special use and benefit. I woke up my cook to tell him that the next +day I should have twelve people to dinner, and that I hoped he would +do me honour. I found a letter from Madame Cornelis on my table +telling me that she and her daughter would drive with me on the +following Sunday, and that we could go and see the boarding-school +she had selected. + +Next day Lord Pembroke and the fair Frenchwoman were the first to +arrive. They drove in a carriage with two rather uncomfortable +seats, but this discomfort is favourable to love. The Gascon and the +Prussian were the last to come. + +We sat down to table at two and left it at four, ail of us well +pleased with the cook, and still more so with the wine merchant; for +though we had emptied forty bottles of wine, not one of us was at all +intoxicated. + +After coffee had been served the general invited us all to sup with +him, and Madame Castelbajac begged me to hold a bank. I did not wait +to be pressed but placed a thousand guineas on the table, and as I +had no counters of any kind I warned the company that I would only +play gold against gold, and that I should stop playing whenever I +thought fit. + +Before the game began the two counts paid their losses of the day +before to the general in bank notes, which he begged me to change. I +also changed two other notes presented to me by the same gentleman, +and put them all under my snuff-box. Play began. I had no croupier, +so I was obliged to deal slowly and keep an eye on the two counts, +whose method of play was very questionable. At last both of them +were dried up, and Castelbajac gave me a bill of exchange for two +hundred guineas, begging me to discount it for him. + +"I know nothing about business," I replied. + +An Englishman took the bill, and after a careful examination said he +neither knew the drawer, the accepter, nor the backer. + +"I am the backer," said Castelbajac, "and that ought to be enough, I +think." + +Everybody laughed, besides myself, and I gave it him back +courteously, saying politely that he could get it discounted on +'Change the next day. He got up in a bad temper, and left the room, +murmuring some insolent expressions. Schwering followed him. + +After these two worthy gentlemen had left us, I went on dealing till +the night was far advanced, and then left off, though I was at a +loss. However, the general had a run of luck, and I thought it best +to stop. Before leaving he took me and Lord Pembroke aside, and +begged me to contrive that the two knaves should not come to his +house the followifig day. "For," said he, "if that Gascon were to be +half as insolent to me as he was to you, I should shew him out by the +window." + +Pembroke said he would tell the lady of the general's wishes. + +"Do you think," said I, "that those four notes of theirs can be +forgeries?" + +"It's very possible." + +"What would you advise my doing to clear the matter up?" + +"I would send them to the bank." + +"And if they should be forgeries?" + +"I would have patience, or I would arrest the rascals." + +The next day I went to the bank myself, and the person to whom I gave +the notes gave me them back, saying, coldly,-- + +"These notes are bad, sir." + +"Be kind enough to examine them closely." + +"It's no good, they are evident forgeries. Return them to the person +from whom you got them, and he will be only too glad to cash them." + +I was perfectly aware that I could put the two knaves under lock and +key, but I did not want to do so. I went to Lord Pembroke to find +out their address, but he was still in bed, and one of his servants +took me to them. They were surprised to see me. I told them coolly +enough that the four notes were forged, and that I should feel much +obliged if they would give me forty guineas and take their notes +back. + +"I haven't got any money," said Castelbajac, "and what you say +astonishes me very much. I can only return them to the persons who +gave them to me, if the are really the same notes that we gave you +yesterday." + +At this suggestion the blood rushed to my face, and with a withering +glance and an indignant apostrophe I left them. Lord Pembroke's +servant took me to a magistrate who, having heard my statement on +oath, gave me a paper authorizing me to arrest two counts. I gave +the document to an alderman, who said he would see it was carried +out, and I went home ill pleased with the whole business. + +Martinelli was waiting for me; he had come to ask me to give him a +dinner. I told him my story, without adding that the knaves were to +be arrested, and his advice delivered with philosophic calm was to +make an autoda-fe of the four notes. It was very good advice, but I +did not take it. + +The worthy Martinelli, thinking to oblige me, told me that he had +arranged with Lord Spencer the day on which I was to be introduced to +the club, but I answered that my fancy for going there was over. I +ought to have treated this learned and distinguished man with more +politeness, but who can sound human weakness to its depths? One +often goes to a wise man for advice which one has not the courage to +follow. + +In the evening I went to the general's, and found the self-styled +Countess Castelbajac seated on Lord Pembroke's knees. The supper was +a good one, and passed off pleasantly; the two rascals were not +there, and their absence was not remarked. When we left the table we +went into another room, and played till day-break. I left the board +with a loss of two or three hundred guineas. + +I did not wake till late the next morning, and when I did my man told +me that a person wanted to speak to me. I had him shewn in, and as +he only spoke English the negro had to be our interpreter. He was +the chief of the police, and told me that if I would pay for the +journey he would arrest Castelbajac at Dover, for which town he had +started at noon. As to the other he was sure of having him in the +course of the night. I gave him a guinea, and told him it would be +enough to catch the one, and that the other could go where he liked. + +The next day was Sunday, the only day on which Madame Cornelis could +go abroad without fear of the bailiff. She came to dine with me, and +brought her daughter, whom the prospect of leaving her mother had +quite cured. The school which Madame Cornelis had chosen was at +Harwich, and we went there after dinner. + +The head-mistress was a Catholic, and though she must have been +sixty, she looked keen, witty, and as if she knew the ways of the +world. She had received an introduction from Lady Harrington, and so +welcomed the young lady in the most cordial manner. She had about +fifteen young boarders of thirteen or fourteen years of age. When +she presented Sophie to them as a new companion, they crowded round +her and covered her with caresses. Five or six were perfect angels +of beauty, and two or three were hideously ugly; and such extremes +are more common in England than anywhere else. My daughter was the +smallest of them all, but as far as beauty went she had nothing to +fear by comparison, and her talents placed her on a par with the +eldest, while she responded to their caresses with that ease which +later in life is only acquired with great difficulty. + +We went over the house, and all the girls followed us, and those who +could speak French or Italian spoke to me, saying how much they would +love my daughter, while those who could not speak sufficiently well +held off as if ashamed of their ignorance. We saw the bedrooms, the +dining-room, the drawing-room, the harps and the pianos--in fact, +everything, and I decided that Sophie could not be better placid. We +went into the head-mistress's private room, and Madame Cornelis paid +her a hundred guineas in advance, and obtained a receipt. We then +agreed that Sophie should be received as a boarder as soon as she +liked to come, that she was to bring her bed with her, and all the +necessary linen. Madame Cornelis made the final arrangements on the +ensuing Sunday. + +Next day the alderman told me that Count Schwerin was a prisoner, and +wanted to speak to me. I declined at first, but as the alderman's +messenger told me, through Jarbe, that the poor devil had not a +farthing in his pocket, I was moved with compassion. As he was +charged with uttering forged notes he had been taken to Newgate, and +was in danger of being hanged. + +I followed the magistrate's messenger, and cannot say how the woeful +aspect, the tears and supplications for mercy of the poor wretch, +moved my heart. He swore that Castelbajac had given him the notes, +but he added that he knew where they came from originally, and would +tell me if I would release him. + +A little bitterness still remained in my breast, so I told him that +if he knew who forged the notes he could certainly escape the +gallows, but that I should keep him prisoner till I got my money +back. At this threat his tears and supplications began over again +and with renewed force, and telling me that he was in utter poverty +he emptied his pockets one after the other to shew me that he had no +money, and at last offered me the bloodstained badge of his uncle. I +was delighted to be able to relieve him without any appearance of +weakness, and accepted the bauble as a pledge, telling him that he +should have it back on payment of forty pounds. + +I wrote out a formal release, and in his presence and in that of the +alderman I burnt the four notes and set him free. + +Two days afterwards the so-called countess came to my house, saying +that now Castelbajac and Schewirin were gone, she knew not where to +lay her head. She complained bitterly of Lord Pembroke, who deserted +her after making her give him the clearest proofs of her affection. +By way of consolation I told her that it would be very foolish of him +to have abandoned her before instead of after. + +To get rid of her I was obliged to give her the money to pay her +journey to Calais. She told me she did not want to rejoin the +Gascon, who was not really her husband. We shall hear more of these +persons in the course of three years. + +Two or three days later an Italian called on me, and gave me a letter +from my friend Baletti, which recommended the bearer, Constantini, a +native of Vicenza, to my good offices. He had come to London on a +matter of importance in which I could help him. + +I assured M. Constantini that I was only too happy to do anything to +justify the confidence placed in my by one of my best friends, and he +said that the long journey had almost exhausted his purse; but he +added,-- + +"I know that my wife lives here, and that she is rich. I shall +easily find out where she lives, and you know that as I am her +husband all that is hers is mine." + +"I was not aware of that." + +"Then you don't know the laws of this country?" + +"Not at all." + +"I am sorry to hear it, but such is the case. 1 am going to her +house, and I shall turn her out of doors with nothing else than the +dress on her back, for the furniture, clothes, jewels, linen-in fact, +all her possessions, belong to me. May I ask you to be with me when +I perform this exploit?" + +I was astonished. I asked him if he had told Baletti what he +intended to do. + +"You are the first person to whom I have disclosed my intentions." + +I could not treat him as a madman, for he did not look like one, and, +concluding that there really might be the law he had alleged, I +replied that I did not feel inclined to join him in his enterprise, +of which I disapproved very strongly, unless his wife had actually +robbed him of what she possessed. + +"She has only robbed me of my honour, sir, and she left me, taking +her talents with her. She must have made a great fortune here, and +have I not a right to take it from her, were it only for vengeance +sake?" + +"That may be, but I ask you what you would think of me if I agreed to +join you in an undertaking which seems a cruel one to me, however +good your reasons may be. Besides I may know your wife, she may even +be a friend of mine." + +"I will tell you her name." + +"No, I beg of you not to do so, although I do not know any Madame +Constantini." + +"She has changed her name to Calori, and she sings at the +'Haymarket.'" + +"I know who she is now. I am sorry you have told me." + +"I have no doubt you will keep my secret, and I am now going to find +out where she lives; for that is the principal thing." + +He left me weeping, and I pitied him, but at the same time I was +sorry that he had made me the depositary of his secret. A few hours +after I called on Madame Binetti, and she told me the histories of +all the artistes in London. When she came to the Calori she told me +that she had had several lovers out of whom she had made a great +deal, but at present she had no lover, unless it were the violinist +Giardini, with whom she was in love in earnest. + +"Where does she come from?" + +"From Vicenza." + +"Is she married?" + +"I don't think so." + +I thought no more of this wretched business, but three or four days +later I had a letter from King's Bench Prison. It was from +Constantini. The poor wretch said I was the only friend he had in +London, and that he hoped I would come and see him, were it only to +give him some advice. + +I thought it my duty to accede to his request, and I went to the +prison, where I found the poor man in a wretched state, with an old +English attorney, who spoke a little bad Italian, and was known to +me. + +Constantini had been arrested the day before on account of several +bills drawn by his wife which had not been taken up. By these bills +she appeared in debt to the amount of a thousand guineas. The +attorney had got the five bills, and he was trying to make some +arrangements with the husband. + +I saw at once that the whole thing was a scandalous swindle, for +Madame Binetti had told me that the Calori was very rich. I begged +the attorney to leave me alone with the prisoner, as I wanted to have +some private conversation with him. + +"They have arrested me for my wife's debts," said he, "and they tell +me I must pay them because I am her husband." + +"It's a trick your wife has played on you; she must have found out +you were in London." + +"She saw me through the window." + +"Why did you delay putting your project into execution?" + +"I meant to carry it out this morning, but how was I to know that she +had debts?" + +"Nor has she any debts; these bills are shams. They must have been +ante-dated, for they were really executed yesterday. It's a bad +business, and she may have to pay dearly for it." + +"But in the meanwhile I am in prison." + +"Never mind, trust to me, I will see you again tomorrow." + +This scurvy trick had made me angry, and I made up my mind to take up +the poor man's cause. I went to Bosanquet, who told me that the +device was a very common one in London, but that people had found out +the way to defeat it. Finally, he said that if the prisoner +interested me he would put the case into the hands of a barrister who +would extricate him from his difficulty, and make the wife and the +lover, who had probably helped her, repent of their day's work. I +begged him to act as if my interests were at stake, and promised to +guarantee all expenses. + +"That's enough," said he; "don't trouble yourself any more about it." + +Same days after Mr. Bosanquet came to tell me that Constantini had +left the prison and England as well, according to what the barrister +who had charge of the case told him. + +"Impossible!" + +"Not at all. The lover of his wife, foreseeing the storm that was +about to burst over their heads, got round the fellow, and made him +leave the country by means of a sum more or less large." + +The affair was over, but it was soon in all the newspapers, garnished +with all the wit imaginable, and Giardini was warmly praised for the +action he had taken. + +As for me I was glad enough to have the matter over, but I felt vexed +with Constantini for having fled without giving the lovers a lesson. +I wrote an account of the circumstances to Baletti, and I heard from +Madame Binetti that the Calori had given her husband a hundred +guineas to leave the country. Some years later I saw the Calori at +Prague. + +A Flemish officer, the man whom I had helped at Aix-la-Chapelle, had +called on me several times, and had even dined three or four times +with me. I reproached myself for not having been polite enough to +return his call, and when we met in the street, and he reproached me +for not having been to see him, I was obliged to blush. He had his +wife and daughter with him, and some feeling of shame and a good deal +of curiosity made me call on him. + +When he saw me he threw his arms about my neck, calling me his +preserver. I was obliged to receive all the compliments which knaves +make to honest men when they hope to take them in. A few moments +after, an old woman and a girl came in, and I was introduced as the +Chevalier de Seingalt, of whom he had spoken so often. The girl, +affecting surprise, said she had known a M. Casanova, who was very +like me. I answered that Casanova was my name as well as Seingalt, +but that I had not the happiness of recollecting her. + +"My name was Anspergher when I saw you," she replied, "but now it is +Charpillon ; and considering that we only met once, and that I was +only thirteen at the time, I do not wonder at your not recollecting +me. I have been in London with my mother and aunts for the last four +years." + +"But where had I the pleasure of speaking to you?" + +"At Paris." + +"In what part of Paris?" + +"In the Bazaar. You were with a charming lady, and you gave me these +buckles" (she shewed me them on her shoes), "and you also did me the +honour to kiss me." + +I recollected the circumstance, and the reader will remember that I +was with Madame Baret, the fair stocking-seller. + +"Now I remember you," said I ; "but I do not recognize your aunt." + +"This is the sister of the one you saw, but if you will take tea with +us you will see her." + +"Where do you live?" + +"In Denmark Street, Soho." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +The Charpillon--Dreadful Consequences of My Acquaintance With Her + + +The name Charpillon reminded me that I was the bearer of a letter for +her, and drawing it from my pocket-book I gave it her, saying that +the document ought to cement our acquaintance. + +"What!" she exclaimed, "a letter from the dear ambassador Morosini. +How delighted I am to have it! And you have actually been all these +months in London without giving it me?" + +"I confess I am to blame, but, as you see, the note has no address on +it. I am grateful for the chance which has enabled me to discharge +my commission to-day." + +"Come and dine with us to-morrow." + +"I cannot do so, as I am expecting Lord Pembroke to dinner." + +"Will you be alone?" + +"I expect so." + +"I am glad to hear it; you will see my aunt and myself appearing on +the scene." + +"Here is my address; and I shall be delighted if you will come and +see me." + +She took the address, and I was surprised to see her smile as she +read it. + +"Then you are the Italian," she said, "who put up that notice that +amused all the town?" + +"I am." + +"They say the joke cost you dear." + +"Quite the reverse; it resulted in the greatest happiness." + +"But now that the beloved object has left you, I suppose you are +unhappy?" + +"I am; but there are sorrows so sweet that they are almost joys." + +"Nobody knows who she was, but I suppose you do?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you make a mystery of it?" + +"Surely, and I would rather die than reveal it." + +"Ask my aunt if I may take some rooms in your house; but I am afraid +my mother would not let me." + +"Why do you want to lodge cheaply?" + +"I don't want to lodge cheaply, but I should like to punish the +audacious author of that notice." + +"How would you punish me?" + +"By making you fall in love with me, and then tormenting you. It +would have amused me immensely." + +"Then you think that you can inspire me with love, and at the same +time form the dreadful plan of tyrannising over the victim of your +charms. Such a project is monstrous, and unhappily for us poor men, +you do not look a monster. Nevertheless, I am obliged to you for +your frankness, and I shall be on my guard." + +"Then you must take care never to see me, or else all your efforts +will be in vain." + +As the Charpillon had laughed merrily through the whole of this +dialogue, I took it all as a jest, but I could not help admiring her +manner, which seemed made for the subjugation of men. But though I +knew it not, the day I made that woman's acquaintance was a luckless +one for me, as my readers will see. + +It was towards the end of the month of September, 1763, when I met +the Charpillon, and from that day I began to die. If the lines of +ascent and declination are equal, now, on the first day of November, +1797, I have about four more years of life to reckon on, which will +pass by swiftly, according to the axiom 'Motus in fine velocior'. + +The Charpillon, who was well known in London, and I believe is still +alive, was one of those beauties in whom it is difficult to find any +positive fault. Her hair was chestnut coloured, and astonishingly +long and thick, her blue eyes were at once languorous and brilliant, +her skin, faintly tinged with a rosy hue, was of a dazzling +whiteness; she was tall for her age, and seemed likely to become as +tall as Pauline. Her breast was perhaps a little small, but +perfectly shaped, her hands were white and plump, her feet small, and +her gait had something noble and gracious. Her features were of that +exquisite sensibility which gives so much charm to the fair sex, but +nature had given her a beautiful body and a deformed soul. This +siren had formed a design to wreck my happiness even before she knew +me, and as if to add to her triumph she told me as much. + +I left Malingan's house not like a man who, fond of the fair sex, is +glad to have made the acquaintance of a beautiful woman, but in a +state of stupefaction that the image of Pauline, which was always +before me, was not strong enough to overcome the influence of a +creature like the Charpillon, whom in my heart I could not help +despising. + +I calmed myself by saying that this strong impression was due to +novelty, and by hoping that I should soon be disenchanted. + +"She will have no charm," said I, "when I have once possessed her, +and that will not be long in coming." Perhaps the reader will think +that I was too presumptuous, but why should I suppose that there +would be any difficulty? She had asked me to dinner herself, she had +surrendered herself entirely to Morosini, who was not the man to sigh +for long at any woman's feet, and must have paid her, for he was not +young enough nor handsome enough to inspire her with a fancy for him. +Without counting my physical attractions, I had plenty of money, and +I was not afraid of spending it; and so I thought I could count on an +easy victory. + +Pembroke had become an intimate friend of mine since my proceedings +with regard to Schwerin. He admired my conduct in not making any +claim on the general for half my loss. He had said we would make a +pleasant day of it together, and when he saw that my table was laid +for four he asked who the other guests were to be. He was extremely +surprised when he heard that they were the Charpillon and her aunt, +and that the girl had invited herself when she heard he was to dine +with me. + +"I once took a violent fancy for the little hussy," said he. "It was +one evening when I was at Vauxhall, and I offered her twenty guineas +if she would come and take a little walk with me in a dark alley. +She said she would come if I gave her the money in advance, which I +was fool enough to do. She went with me, but as soon as we were +alone she ran away, and I could not catch her again, though I looked +for her all the evening." + +"You ought to have boxed her ears before everybody." + +"I should have got into trouble, and people would have laughed at me +besides. I preferred to despise her and the money too. Are you in +love with her?" + +"No; but I am curious, as you were." + +"Take care! she will do all in her power to entrap you." + +She came in and went up to my lord with the most perfect coolness, +and began to chatter away to him without taking any notice of me. +She laughed, joked, and reproached him for not having pursued her at +Vauxhall. Her stratagem, she said, was only meant to excite him the +more. + +"Another time," she added, "I shall not escape you." + +"Perhaps not, my dear, for another time I shall take care not to pay +in advance." + +"Oh, fie! you degrade yourself by talking about paying." + +"I suppose I honour you." + +"We never talk of such things." + +Lord Pembroke laughed at her impertinences, while she made a vigorous +assault on him, for his coolness and indifference piqued her. + +She left us soon after dinner, making me promise to dine with her the +day after next. + +I passed the next day with the amiable nobleman who initiated me into +the mysteries of the English bagnio, an entertainment which I shall +not describe, for it is well known to all who care to spend six +guineas. + +On the day appointed, my evil destiny made me go to the Charpillon's; +the girl introduced me to her mother, whom I at once recollected, +although she had aged and altered since I had seen her. + +In the year 1759 a Genevan named Bolome had persuaded me to sell her +jewels to the extent of six thousand francs, and she had paid me in +bills drawn by her and her two sisters on this Bolome, but they were +then known as Anspergher. The Genevan became bankrupt before the +bills were due, and the three sisters disappeared. As may be +imagined, I was surprised to find them in England, and especially to +be introduced to them by the Charpillon, who, knowing nothing of the +affair of the jewels, had not told them that Seingalt was the same as +Casanova, whom they had cheated of six thousand francs. + +"I am delighted to see you again," were the first words I addressed +to her. + +"I recollect you, sir; that rascal Bolome . . . ." + +"We will discuss that subject another time. I see you are ill." + +"I have been at death's door, but I am better now. My daughter did +not tell me your proper name." + +"Yes, she did. My name is Seingalt as well as Casanova. I was known +by the latter name at Paris when I made your daughter's acquaintance, +though I did not know then that she was your daughter." + +Just then the grandmother, whose name was also Anspergher, came in +with the two aunts, and a quarter of an hour later three men arrived, +one of whom was the Chevalier Goudar, whom I had met at Paris. I did +not know the others who were introduced to me under the names of +Rostaing and Caumon. They were three friends of the household, whose +business it was to bring in dupes. + +Such was the infamous company in which I found myself, and though I +took its measure directly, yet I did not make my escape, nor did I +resolve never to go to the house again. I was fascinated; I thought +I would be on my guard and be safe, and as I only wanted the daughter +I looked on all else as of little moment. + +At table I led the conversation, and thought that my prey would soon +be within my grasp. The only thing which annoyed me was that the +Charpillon, after apologizing for having made me sit down to such a +poor dinner, invited herself and all the company to sup with me on +any day I liked to mention. I could make no opposition, so I begged +her to name the day herself, and she did so, after a consultation +with her worthy friends. + +After coffee had been served we played four rubbers of whist, at +which I lost, and at midnight I went away ill pleased with myself, +but with no purpose of amendment, for this sorceress had got me in +her toils. + +All the same I had the strength of mind to refrain from seeing her +for two days, and on the third, which was the day appointed for the +cursed supper, she and her aunt paid me a call at nine o'clock in the +morning. + +"I have come to breakfast with you, and to discuss a certain +question," said she, in the most engaging manner. + +"Will you tell me your business now, or after breakfast?" + +"After breakfast; for we must be alone." + +We had our breakfast, and then the aunt went into another room, and +the Charpillon, after describing the monetary situation of the +family, told me that it would be much relieved if her aunt could +obtain a hundred guineas. + +"What would she do with the money?" + +"She would make the Balm of Life, of which she possesses the secret, +and no doubt she would make her fortune, too." + +She then began to dilate on the marvellous properties of the balm, on +its probable success in a town like London, and on the benefits which +would accrue to myself, for of course I should share in the profits. +She added that her mother and aunt would give me a written promise to +repay the money in the course of six years. + +"I will give you a decided answer after supper." + +I then began to caress her, and to make assaults in the style of an +amorous man, but it was all in vain, though I succeeded in stretching +her on a large sofa. She made her escape, however, and ran to her +aunt, while I followed her, feeling obliged to laugh as she did. She +gave me her hand, and said,-- + +"Farewell, till this evening." + +When they were gone, I reflected over what had passed and thought +this first scene of no bad augury. I saw that I should get nothing +out of her without spending a hundred guineas, and I determined not +to attempt to bargain, but I would let her understand that she must +make up her mind not to play prude. The game was in my hands, and +all I had to do was to take care not to be duped. + +In the evening the company arrived, and the girl asked me to hold a +bank till supper was ready; but I declined, with a burst of laughter +that seemed to puzzle her. + +"At least, let us have a game of whist," said she. + +"It seems to me," I answered, "that you don't feel very anxious to +hear my reply." + +"You have made up your mind, I suppose?" + +"I have, follow me." + +She followed me into an adjoining room, and after she had seated +herself on a sofa, I told her that the hundred guineas were at her +disposal. + +"Then please to give the money to my aunt, otherwise these gentlemen +might think I got it from you by some improper means." + +"I will do so." + +I tried to get possession of her, but in vain; and I ceased my +endeavours when she said,-- + +"You will get nothing from me either by money or violence; but you +can hope for all when I find you really nice and quiet." + +I re-entered the drawing-room, and feeling my blood boiling I began +to play to quiet myself. She was as gay as ever, but her gaiety +tired me. At supper I had her on my right hand, but the hundred +impertinences which, under other circumstances, would have amused me, +only wearied me, after the two rebuffs I had received from her. + +After supper, just as they were going, she took me aside, and told me +that if I wanted to hand over the hundred guineas she would tell her +aunt to go with me into the next room. + +"As documents have to be executed," I replied, "it will take some +time; we will talk of it again. + +"Won't you fix the time?" + +I drew out my purse full of gold, and shewed it her, saying,-- + +"The time depends entirely on you." + +When my hateful guests were gone, I began to reflect, and came to the +conclusion that this young adventuress had determined to plunder me +without giving me anything in return. I determined to have nothing +more to do with her, but I could not get her beauty out of my mind. + +I felt I wanted some distraction, something that would give me new +aims and make me forget her. With this idea I went to see my +daughter, taking with me an immense bag of sweets. + +As soon as I was in the midst of the little flock, the delight became +general, Sophie distributing the sweetmeats to her friends, who +received them gratefully. + +I spent a happy day, and for a week or two I paid several visits to +Harwich. The mistress treated me with the utmost politeness and my +daughter with boundless affection, always calling me "dear papa." + +In less than three weeks I congratulated myself on having forgotten +the Charpillon, and on having replaced her by innocent amours, though +one of my daughter's schoolmates pleased me rather too much for my +peace of mind. + +Such was my condition when one morning the favourite aunt of the +Charpillon paid me a call, and said that they were all mystified at +not having seen me since the supper I had given them, especially +herself, as her niece had given her to understand that I would +furnish her with the means of making the Balm of Life. + +"Certainly; I would have given you the hundred guineas if your niece +had treated me as a friend, but she refused me favours a vestal might +have granted, and you must be aware that she is by no means a +vestal." + +"Don't mind my laughing. My niece is an innocent, giddy girl; she +loves you, but she is afraid you have only a passing whim for her. +She is in bed now with a bad cold, and if you will come and see her I +am sure you will be satisfied." + +These artful remarks, which had no doubt been prepared in advance, +ought to have aroused all my scorn, but instead of that they awakened +the most violent desires. I laughed in chorus with the old woman, +and asked what would be the best time to call. + +"Come now, and give one knock." + +"Very good, then you may expect me shortly." + +I congratulated myself on being on the verge of success, for after +the explanation I had had with the aunt, and having, as I thought, a +friend in her, I did not doubt that I should succeed. + +I put on my great coat, and in less than a quarter of an hour I +knocked at their door. The aunt opened to me, and said,-- + +"Come back in a quarter of an hour; she has been ordered a bath, and +is just going to take it." + +"This is another imposture. You're as bad a liar as she is." + +"You are cruel and unjust, and if you will promise to be discreet, I +will take you up to the third floor where she is bathing." + +"Very good; take me." She went upstairs, I following on tiptoe, and +pushed me into a room, and shut the door upon me. The Charpillon was +in a huge bath, with her head towards the door, and the infernal +coquette, pretending to think it was her aunt, did not move, and +said,-- + +"Give me the towels, aunt." + +She was in the most seductive posture, and I had the pleasure of +gazing on her exquisite proportions, hardly veiled by the water. + +When she caught sight of me, or rather pretended to do so, she gave a +shriek, huddled her limbs together, and said, with affected anger,-- + +"Begone!" + +"You needn't exert your voice, for I am not going to be duped." + +"Begone!" + +"Not so, give me a little time to collect myself." + +"I tell you, go!" + +"Calm yourself, and don't be afraid of my skewing you any violence; +that would suit your game too well." + +"My aunt shall pay dearly for this." + +"She will find me her friend. I won't touch you, so shew me a little +more of your charms." + +"More of my charms?" + +"Yes; put yourself as you were when I came in." + +"Certainly not. Leave the room." + +"I have told you I am not going, and that you need not fear for your +. . . well, for your virginity, we will say." + +She then shewed me a picture more seductive than the first, and +pretending kindliness, said,-- + +"Please, leave me; I will not fail to shew my gratitude." + +Seeing that she got nothing, that I refrained from touching her, and +that the fire she had kindled was in a fair way to be put out, she +turned her back to me to give me to understand that it was no +pleasure to her to look at me. However, my passions were running +high, and I had to have recourse to self-abuse to calm my senses, and +was glad to find myself relieved, as this proved to me that the +desire went no deeper than the senses. + +The aunt came in just as I had finished, and I went out without a +word, well pleased to find myself despising a character wherein +profit and loss usurped the place of feeling. + +The aunt came to me as I was going out of the house, and after +enquiring if I were satisfied begged me to come into the parlour. + +"Yes," said I, "I am perfectly satisfied to know you and your niece. +Here is the reward." + +With these words I drew a bank-note for a hundred pounds from my +pocket-book, and was foolish enough to give it her, telling her that +she could make her balm, and need not trouble to give me any document +as I knew if would be of no value. I had not the strength to go away +without giving her anything, and the procuress was sharp enough to +know it. + +When I got home I reflected on what had happened, and pronounced +myself the conqueror with great triumph. I felt well at ease, and +felt sure that I should never set foot in that house again. There +were seven of them altogether, including servants, and the need of +subsisting made them do anything for a living; and when they found +themselves obliged to make use of men, they summoned the three +rascals I have named, who were equally dependent on them. + +Five or six days afterwards, I met the little hussy at Vauxhall in +company with Goudar. I avoided her at first, but she came up to me +reproaching me for my rudeness. I replied coolly enough, but +affecting not to notice my manner, she asked me to come into an +arbour with her and take a cup of tea. + +"No, thank you," I replied, "I prefer supper." + +"Then I will take some too, and you will give it me, won't you, just +to shew that you bear no malice?" + +I ordered supper for four and we sat down together as if we had been +intimate friends. + +Her charming conversation combined with her beauty gradually drew me +under her charm, and as the drink began to exercise its influence +over me, I proposed a turn in one of the dark walks, expressing a +hope that I should fare better than Lord Pembroke. She said gently, +and with an appearance of sincerity that deceived me, that she wanted +to be mine, but by day and on the condition that I would come and see +her every day. + +"I will do so, but first give me one little proof of your love." + +"Most certainly not." + +I got up to pay the bill, and then I left without a word, refusing to +take her home. I went home by myself and went to bed. + +The first thought when I awoke was that I was glad she had not taken +me at my word; I felt very strongly that it was to my interest to +break off all connection between that creature and myself. I felt +the strength of her influence over me, and that my only way was to +keep away from her, or to renounce all pretension to the possession +of her charms. + +The latter plan seemed to me impossible, so I determined to adhere to +the first; but the wretched woman had resolved to defeat all my +plans. The manner in which she succeeded must have been the result +of a council of the whole society. + +A few days after the Vauxhall supper Goudar called on me, and began +by congratulating me on my resolution not to visit the Ansperghers +any more, "for," said he, "the girl would have made you more and more +in love with her, and in the end she would have seduced you to +beggary." + +"You must think me a great fool. If I had found her kind I should +have been grateful, but without squandering all my money; and if she +had been cruel, instead of ridiculous, I might have given her what I +have already given her every day, without reducing myself to +beggary." + +"I congratulate you; it shews that you are well off. But have you +made up your mind not to see her again?" + +"Certainly." + +"Then you are not in love with her?" + +"I have been in love, but I am so no longer; and in a few days she +will have passed completely out of my memory. I had almost forgotten +her when I met her with you at Vauxhall." + +"You are not cured. The way to be cured of an amour does not lie in +flight, when the two parties live in the same town. Meetings will +happen, and all the trouble has to be taken over again." + +"Then do you know a better way?" + +"Certainly; you should satiate yourself. It is quite possible that +the creature is not in love with you, but you are rich and she has +nothing. You might have had her for so much, and you could have left +her when you found her to be unworthy of your constancy. You must +know what kind of a woman she is." + +"I should have tried this method gladly, but I found her out." + +"You could have got the best of her, though, if you had gone to work +in the proper way. You should never have paid in advance. I know +everything." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I know she has cost you a hundred guineas, and that you have not won +so much as a kiss from her. Why, my dear sir, you might have had her +comfortably in your own bed for as much! She boasts that she took +you in, though you pride yourself on your craft." + +"It was an act of charity towards her aunt." + +"Yes, to make her Balm of Life; but you know if it had not been for +the niece the aunt would never have had the money." + +"Perhaps not, but how come you who are of their party to be talking +to me in this fashion?" + +"I swear to you I only speak out of friendship for you, and I will +tell you how I came to make the acquaintance of the girl, her mother, +her grandmother and her two aunts, and then you will no longer +consider me as of their party. + +"Sixteen months ago I saw M. Morosini walking about Vauxhall by +himself. He had just come to England to congratulate the king on his +accession to the throne, on behalf of the Republic of Venice. I saw +how enchanted he was with the London beauties, and I went up to him +and told him that all these beauties were at his service. This made +him laugh, and on my repeating that it was not a jest he pointed out +one of the girls, and asked if she would be at his service. I did +not know her, so I asked him to wait awhile, and I would bring him +the information he required. There was no time to be lost, and I +could see that the girl was not a vestal virgin, so I went up to her +and told her that the Venetian ambassador was amorous of her, and +that I would take her to him if she would receive his visits. The +aunt said that a nobleman of such an exalted rank could only bring +honour to her niece. I took their address, and on my way back to the +ambassador I met a friend of mine who is learned in such commodities, +and after I had shewed him the address he told me it was the +Charpillon." + +"And it was she?" + +"It was. My friend told me she was a young Swiss girl who was not +yet in the general market, but who would soon be there, as she was +not rich, and had a numerous train to support. + +"I rejoined the Venetian, and told him that his business was done, +and asked him at what time I should introduce him the next day, +warning him that as she had a mother and aunts she would not be +alone. + +"'I am glad to hear it,' said he, 'and also that she is not a common +woman.' He gave me an appointment for the next day, and we parted. + +"I told the ladies at what hour I should have the pleasure of +introducing the great man to them, and after warning them that they +must appear not to know him I went home. + +"The following day I called on M. de Morosini, and took him to +Denmark Street incognito. We spent an hour in conversation, and then +went away without anything being settled. On the way back the +ambassador told me that he should like to have the girl on conditions +which he would give me in writing at his residence. + +"These conditions were that she should live in a furnished house free +of rent, without any companion, and without receiving any visitors. +His excellency would give her fifty guineas a month, and pay for +supper whenever he came and spent the night with her. He told me to +get the house if his conditions were received. The mother was to +sign the agreement. + +"The ambassador was in a hurry, and in three days the agreement was +signed; but I obtained a document from the mother promising to let me +have the girl for one night as soon as the Venetian had gone; it was +known he was only stopping in London for a year." + +Goudar extracted the document in question from his pocket, and gave +it to me. I read it and re-read it with as much surprise as +pleasure, and he then proceeded with his story. + +"When the ambassador had gone, the Charpillon, finding herself at +liberty once more, had Lord Baltimore, Lord Grosvenor, and M. de Saa, +the Portuguese ambassador, in turn, but no titular lover. I insisted +on having my night with her according to agreement, but both mother +and daughter laughed at me when I spoke of it. I cannot arrest her, +because she is a minor, but I will have the mother imprisoned on the +first opportunity, and you will see how the town will laugh. Now you +know why I go to their house; and I assure you you are wrong if you +think I have any part in their councils. Nevertheless, I know they +are discussing how they may catch you, and they will do so if you do +not take care." + +"Tell the mother that I have another hundred guineas at her service +if she will let me have her daughter for a single night." + +"Do you mean that?" + +"Assuredly, but I am not going to pay in advance." + +"That's the only way not to be duped. I shall be glad to execute +your commission." + +I kept the rogue to dinner, thinking he might be useful to me. He +knew everything and everybody, and told me a number of amusing +ancedotes. Although a good-for-nothing fellow, he had his merits. +He had written several works, which, though badly constructed, shewed +he was a man of some wit. He was then writing his "Chinese Spy," and +every day he wrote five or six news-letters from the various coffee- +houses he frequented. I wrote one or two letters for him, with which +he was much pleased. The reader will see how I met him again at +Naples some years later. + +The next morning, what was my surprise to see the Charpillon, who +said with an air that I should have taken for modesty in any other +woman,-- + +"I don't want you to give me any breakfast, I want an explanation, +and to introduce Miss Lorenzi to you." + +I bowed to her and to her companion, and then said,-- + +"What explanation do you require?" + +At this, Miss Lorenzi, whom I had never seen before, thought proper +to leave us, and I told my man that I was not at home to anybody. I +ordered breakfast to be served to the companion of the nymph, that +she might not find the waiting tedious. + +"Sir," said the Charpillon, "is it a fact that you charged the +Chevalier Goudar to tell my mother that you would give a hundred +guineas to spend the night with me?" + +"No, not to spend a night with you, but after I had passed it. Isn't +the price enough?" + +"No jesting, sir, if you please. There is no question of bargaining; +all I want to know is whether you think you have a right to insult +me, and that I am going to bear it?" + +"If you think yourself insulted, I may, perhaps, confess I was wrong; +but I confess I did not think I should have to listen to any +reproaches from you. Gondar is one of your intimate friends, and +this is not the first proposal he has taken to you. I could not +address you directly, as I know your arts only too well." + +"I shall not pay any attention to your abuse of my self; I will only +remind you of what I said 'that neither money nor violence were of +any use,' and that your only way was to make me in love with you by +gentle means. Shew me where I have broken my word! It is you that +have foresworn yourself in coming into my bath-room, and in sending +such a brutal message to my mother. No one but a rascal like Goudar +would have dared to take such a message." + +"Goudar a rascal, is he? Well, he is your best friend. You know he +is in love with you, and that he only got you for the ambassador in +the hope of enjoying you himself. The document in his possession +proves that you have behaved badly towards him. You are in his debt, +discharge it, and then call him a rascal if you have the conscience +to do so. You need not trouble to weep, for I knew the source of +those tears; it is defiled." + +"You know nothing of it. I love you, and it is hard to have you +treat me so." + +"You love me? You have not taken the best way to prove it!" + +"As good a way as yours. You have behaved to me as if I were the +vilest of prostitutes, and yesterday you seemed to think I was a +brute beast, the slave of my mother. You should have written to me +in person, and without the intervention of so vile an agent; I should +have replied in the same way, and you need not have been afraid that +you would be deceived." + +"Supposing I had written, what would your answer have been?" + +"I should have put all money matters out of question. I should have +promised to content you on the condition that you would come and +court me for a fortnight without demanding the slightest favour. We +should have lived a pleasant life; we should have gone to the theatre +and to the parks. I should have become madly in love with you. Then +I should have given myself up to you for love, and nothing but love. +I am ashamed to say that hitherto I have only given myself out of +mere complaisance. Unhappy woman that I am! but I think nature meant +me to love, and I thought when I saw you that my happy star had sent +you to England that I might know the bliss of true affection. +Instead of this you have only made me unhappy. You are the first man +that has seen me weep; you have troubled my peace at home, for my +mother shall never have the sum you promised her were it for nothing +but a kiss." + +"I am sorry to have injured you, though I did not intend to do so; +but I really don't know what I can do." + +"Come and see us, and keep your money, which I despise. If you love +me, come and conquer me like a reasonable and not a brutal lover; and +I will help you, for now you cannot doubt that I love you." + +All this seemed so natural to me that I never dreamed it contained a +trap. I was caught, and I promised to do what she wished, but only +for a fortnight. She confirmed her promise, and her countenance +became once more serene and calm. The Charpillon was a born actress. + +She got up to go, and on my begging a kiss as a pledge of our +reconciliation she replied, with a smile, the charm of which she well +knew, that it would not do to begin by breaking the term of our +agreement, and she left me more in love than ever, and full of +repentance for my conduct. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Goudar's Chair + +If she had written all this to me instead of coming and delivering it +viva voce, it would probably have produced no effect; there would +have been no tears, no ravishing features. She probably calculated +all this, for women have a wonderful instinct in these matters. + +That very evening I began my visits, and judged from my welcome that +my triumph was nigh at hand. But love fills our minds with idle +visions, and draws a veil over the truth. + +The fortnight went by without my even kissing her hand, and every +time I came I brought some expensive gift, which seemed cheap to me +when I obtained such smiles of gratitude in exchange. Besides these +presents, not a day passed without some excursion to the country or +party at the theatre; that fortnight must have cost me four hundred +guineas at the least. + +At last it came to an end, and I asked her in the presence of her +mother where she would spend the night with me, there or at my house. +The mother said that we would settle it after supper, and I made no +objection, not liking to tell her that in my house the supper would +be more succulent, and a better prelude for the kind of exercise I +expected to enjoy. + +When we had supped the mother took me aside, and asked me to leave +with the company and then to come back. I obeyed, laughing to myself +at this foolish mystery, and when I came back I found the mother and +the daughter in the parlour, in which a bed had been laid on the +floor. + +Though I did not much care for this arrangement, I was too amorous to +raise any objection at a moment when I thought my triumph was at +hand; but I was astonished when the mother asked me if I would like +to pay the hundred guineas in advance. + +"Oh, fie!" exclaimed the girl; and her mother left the room, and we +locked the door. + +My amorous feelings, so long pent up within my breast, would soon +find relief. I approached her with open arms; but she avoided my +caress, and gently begged me to get into bed while she prepared to +follow me. I watched her undress with delight, but when she had +finished she put out the candles. I complained of this act of hers, +but she said she could not sleep with the light shining on her. I +began to suspect that I might have some difficulties thrown in my way +to sharpen the pleasure, but I determined to be resigned and to +overcome them all. + +When I felt her in the bed I tried to clasp her in my arms, but found +that she had wrapped herself up in her long night-gown; her arms were +crossed, and her head buried in her chest. I entreated, scolded, +cursed, but all in vain; she let me go on, and answered not a word. + +At first I thought it was a joke, but I soon found out my mistake; +the veil fell from my eyes and I saw myself in my true colours, the +degraded dupe of a vile prostitute. + +Love easily becomes fury. I began to handle her roughly, but she +resisted and did not speak. I tore her night-gown to rags, but I +could not tear it entirely off her. My rage grew terrible, my hands +became talons, and I treated her with the utmost cruelty; but all for +nothing. At last, with my hand on her throat, I felt tempted to +strangle her; and then I knew it was time for me to go. + +It was a dreadful night. I spoke to this monster of a woman in every +manner and tone-with gentleness, with argument, rage, remonstrance, +prayers, tears, and abuse, but she resisted me for three hours +without abandoning her painful position, in spite of the torments I +made her endure. + +At three o'clock in the morning, feeling my mind and body in a state +of exhaustion, I got up and dressed myself by my sense of touch. I +opened the parlour door, and finding the street door locked I shook +it till a servant came and let me out. I went home and got into bed, +but excited nature refused me the sleep I needed so. I took a cup of +chocolate, but it would not stay on my stomach, and soon after a +shivering fit warned me that I was feverish. I continued to be ill +till the next day, and then the fever left me in a state of complete +exhaustion. + +As I was obliged to keep to my bed for a few days, I knew that I +should soon get my health again; but my chief consolation was that at +last I was cured. My shame had made me hate myself. + +When I felt the fever coming on I told my man not to let anybody come +to see me, and to place all my letters in my desk; for I wanted to be +perfectly well before I troubled myself with anything. + +On the fourth day I was better, and I told Jarbe to give me my +letters. I found one from Pauline, dated from Madrid, in which she +informed me that Clairmont had saved her life while they were fording +a river, and she had determined to keep him till she got to Lisbon, +and would then send him back by sea. I congratulated myself at the +time on her resolve; but it was a fatal one for Clairmont, and +indirectly for me also. Four months after, I heard that the ship in +which he had sailed had been wrecked, and as I never heard from him +again I could only conclude that my faithful servant had perished +amidst the waves. + +Amongst my London letters I found two from the infamous mother of the +infamous Charpillon, and one from the girl herself. The first of the +mother's letters, written before I was ill, told me that her daughter +was ill in bed, covered with bruises from the blows I had given her, +so that she would be obliged to institute legal proceedings against +me. In the second letter she said she had heard I too was ill, and +that she was sorry to hear it, her daughter having informed her that +I had some reason for my anger; however, she would not fail to +justify herself on the first opportunity. The Charpillon said in her +letter that she knew she had done wrong, and that she wondered I had +not killed her when I took her by the throat. She added that no +doubt I had made up my mind to visit her no more, but she hoped I +would allow her one interview as she had an important communication +to make to me. There was also a note from Goudar, saying that he +wanted to speak to me, and that he would come at noon. I gave orders +that he should be admitted. + +This curious individual began by astonishing me; he told me the whole +story of what had taken place, the mother having been his informant. + +"The Charpillon," he added, "has not got a fever, but is covered with +bruises. What grieves the old woman most is that she has not got the +hundred guineas." + +"She would have had them the next morning," I said, "if her daughter +had been tractable." + +"Her mother had made her swear that she would not be tractable, and +you need not hope to possess her without the mother's consent." + +"Why won't she consent?" + +"Because she thinks that you will abandon the girl as soon as you +have enjoyed her." + +"Possibly, but she would have received many valuable presents, and +now she is abandoned and has nothing." + +"Have you made up your mind not to have anything more to do with +her?" + +"Quite." + +"That's your wisest plan, and I advise you to keep to it, +nevertheless I want to shew you something which will surprise you. I +will be back in a moment." + +He returned, followed by a porter, who carried up an arm-chair +covered with a cloth. As soon as we were alone, Goudar took off the +covering and asked me if I would buy it. + +"What should I do with it? It is not a very attractive piece of +furniture." + +"Nevertheless, the price of it is a hundred guineas." + +"I would not give three." + +"This arm-chair has five springs, which come into play all at once as +soon as anyone sits down in it. Two springs catch the two arms and +hold them tightly, two others separate the legs, and the fifth lifts +up the seat." + +After this description Goudar sat down quite naturally in the chair +and the springs came into play and forced him into the position of a +woman in labour. + +"Get the fair Charpillon to sit in this chair," said he, "and your +business is done." + +I could not help laughing at the contrivance, which struck me as at +once ingenious and diabolical, but I could not make up my mind to +avail myself of it. + +"I won't buy it," said I, "but I shall be obliged if you will leave +it here till to-morrow." + +"I can't leave it here an hour unless you will buy it; the owner is +waiting close by to hear your answer." + +"Then take it away and come back to dinner." + +He shewed me how I was to release him from his ridiculous position, +and then after covering it up again he called the porter and went +away. + +There could be no doubt as to the action of the machinery, and it was +no feeling of avarice which hindered me from buying the chair. As I +have said, it seemed rather a diabolical idea, and besides it might +easily have sent me to the gallows. Furthermore, I should never have +had the strength of mind to enjoy the Charpillon forcibly, especially +by means of the wonderful chair, the mechanism of which would have +frightened her out of her wits. + +At dinner I told Goudar that the Charpillon had demanded an +interview, and that I had wished to keep the chair so as to shew her +that I could have her if I liked. I shewed him the letter, and he +advised me to accede to her request, if only for curiosity's sake. + +I was in no hurry to see the creature while the marks on her face and +neck were still fresh, so I spent seven or eight days without making +up my mind to receive her. Goudar came every day, and told me of the +confabulations of these women who had made up their minds not to live +save by trickery. + +He told me that the grandmother had taken the name of Anspergher +without having any right to it, as she was merely the mistress of a +worthy citizen of Berne, by whom she had four daughters; the mother +of the Charpillon was the youngest of the family, and, as she was +pretty and loose in her morals, the Government had exiled her with +her mother and sisters. They had then betaken themselves to Franche- +Comte, where they lived for some time on the Balm of Life. Here it +was that the Charpillon came into the world, her mother attributing +her to a Count de Boulainvilliers. The child grew up pretty, and the +family removed to Paris under the impression that it would be the +best market for such a commodity, but in the course of four years the +income from the Balm having dwindled greatly, the Charpillon being +still too young to be profitable, and debtors closing round them on +every side, they resolved to come to London. + +He then proceeded to tell me of the various tricks and cheats which +kept them all alive. I found his narrative interesting enough then, +but the reader would find it dull, and I expect will be grateful for +my passing it over. + +I felt that it was fortunate for me that I had Goudar, who introduced +me to all the most famous courtezans in London, above all to the +illustrious Kitty Fisher, who was just beginning to be fashionable. +He also introduced me to a girl of sixteen, a veritable prodigy of +beauty, who served at the bar of a tavern at which we took a bottle +of strong beer. She was an Irishwoman and a Catholic, and was named +Sarah. I should have liked to get possession of her, but Goudar had +views of his own on the subject, and carried her off in the course of +the next year. He ended by marrying her, and she was the Sara Goudar +who shone at Naples, Florence, Venice, and elsewhere. We shall hear +of her in four or five years, still with her husband. Goudar had +conceived the plan of making her take the place of Dubarry, mistress +of Louis XV., but a lettre de cachet compelled him to try elsewhere. +Ah! happy days of lettres de cachet, you have gone never to return! + +The Charpillon waited a fortnight for me to reply, and then resolved +to return to the charge in person. This was no doubt the result of a +conference of the most secret kind, for I heard nothing of it from +Gondar. + +She came to see my by herself in a sedan-chair, and I decided on +seeing her. I was taking my chocolate and I let her come in without +rising or offering her any breakfast. She asked me to give her some +with great modesty, and put up her face for me to give her a kiss, +but I turned my head away. However, she was not in the least +disconcerted. + +"I suppose the marks of the blows you gave me make my face so +repulsive?" + +"You lie; I never struck you." + +"No, but your tiger-like claws have left bruises all over me. Look +here. No, you needn't be afraid that what you see may prove too +seductive; besides, it will have no novelty for you." + +So saying the wretched creature let me see her body, on which some +livid marks were still visible. + +Coward that I was! Why did I not look another way? I will tell you: +it was because she was so beautiful, and because a woman's charms are +unworthy of the name if they cannot silence reason. I affected only +to look at the bruises, but it was an empty farce. I blush for +myself; here was I conquered by a simple girl, ignorant of well nigh +everything. But she knew well enough that I was inhaling the poison +at every pore. All at once she dropped her clothes and came and sat +beside me, feeling sure that I should have relished a continuance of +the spectacle. + +However, I made an effort and said, coldly, that it was all her own +fault. + +"I know it is," said she, "for if I had been tractable as I ought to +have been, you would have been loving instead of cruel. But +repentance effaces sin, and I am come to beg pardon. May I hope to +obtain it?" + +"Certainly; I am angry with you no longer, but I cannot forgive +myself. Now go, and trouble me no more." + +"I will if you like, but there is something you have not heard, and I +beg you will listen to me a moment." + +"As I have nothing to do you can say what you have got to say, I will +listen to you." + +In spite of the coldness of my words, I was really profoundly +touched, and the worst of it was that I began to believe in the +genuineness of her motives. + +She might have relieved herself of what she had to say in a quarter +of an hour, but by dint of tears, sighs, groans, digressions, and so +forth, she took two hours to tell me that her mother had made her +swear to pass the night as she had done. She ended by saying that +she would like to be mine as she had been M. Morosini's, to live with +me, and only to go out under my escort, while I might allow her a +monthly sum which she would hand over to her mother, who would, in +that case, leave her alone. + +She dined with me, and it was in the evening that she made this +proposition. I suppose because she thought me ripe for another +cheat. I told her that it might be arranged, but that I should +prefer to settle with her mother, and that she would see me at their +house the following day, and this seemed to surprise her. + +It is possible that the Charpillon would have granted me any favour +on that day, and then there would have been no question of deception +or resistance for the future. Why did I not press her? Because +sometimes love stupefies instead of quickens, and because I had been +in a way her judge, and I thought it would be base of me to revenge +myself on her by satisfying my amorous desires, and possibly because +I was a fool, as I have often been in the course of my existence. +She must have left me in a state of irritation, and no doubt she +registered a vow to revenge herself on me for the half-contemptuous +way in which I had treated her. + +Goudar was astonished when he heard of her visit, and of the way in +which I had spent the day. I begged him to get me a small furnished +house, and in the evening I went to see the infamous woman in her own +house. + +She was with her mother, and I laid my proposal before them. + +"Your daughter will have a house at Chelsea," said I to the mother, +"where I can go and see her whenever I like, and also fifty guineas a +month to do what she likes with." + +"I don't care what you give her a month," she replied, "but before I +let her leave my house she must give me the hundred guineas she was +to have had when she slept with you." + +"It is your fault that she didn't have them; however, to cut the +matter short, she shall give them to you." + +"And in the meanwhile, till you have found the house, I hope you will +come and see me." + +"Yes." + +The next day Goudar shewed me a pretty house at Chelsea, and I took +it, paying ten guineas, a month's rent, in advance, for which I +received a receipt. In the afternoon I concluded the bargain with +the mother, the Charpillon being present. The mother asked me to +give her the hundred guineas, and I did so, not fearing any +treachery, as nearly the whole of the girl's clothing was already at +Chelsea. + +In due course we went to our country house. The Charpillon liked the +house immensely, and after a short talk we supped merrily together. +After supper we went to bed, and she granted me some slight +preliminary favours, but when I would have attained my end I found an +obstacle which I had not expected. She gave me some physiological +reasons for the circumstances, but not being a man to stop for so +little, I would have gone on, but she resisted, and yet with such +gentleness that I left her alone and went to sleep. I awoke sooner +than she did, and determined to see whether she had imposed on me; so +I raised her night-gown carefully, and took off her linen only to +find that I had been duped once more. This roused her, and she tried +to stop me, but it was too late. However, I gently chid her for the +trick, and feeling disposed to forgive it set about making up for +lost time, but she got on the high horse, and pretended to be hurt at +my taking her by surprise. I tried to calm her by renewed +tenderness, but the wretched creature only got more furious, and +would give me nothing. I left her alone, but I expressed my opinion +of her in pretty strong terms. The impudent slut honoured me with a +smile of disdain, and then beginning to dress herself she proceeded +to indulge in impertinent repartees. This made me angry, and I gave +her a box on the ears which stretched her at full length on the +floor. She shrieked, stamped her feet, and made a hideous uproar; +the landlord came up, and she began to speak to him in English, while +the blood gushed from her nose. + +The man fortunately spoke Italian, and told me that she wanted to go +away, and advised me to let her do so, or she might make it awkward +for me, and he himself would be obliged to witness against me. + +"Tell her to begone as fast as she likes," said I, "and to keep out +of my sight for ever." + +She finished dressing, staunched the blood, and went off in a sedan- +chair, while I remained petrified, feeling that I did not deserve to +live, and finding her conduct utterly outrageous and +incomprehensible. + +After an hour's consideration I decided on sending her back her +trunk, and then I went home and to bed, telling my servants I was not +at home to anyone. + +I spent twenty-four hours in pondering over my wrongs, and at last my +reason told me that the fault was mine; I despised myself. I was on +the brink of suicide, but happily I escaped that fate. + +I was just going out when Goudar came up and made me go in with him, +as he said he wanted to speak to me. After telling me that the +Charpillon had come home with a swollen cheek which prevented her +shewing herself, he advised me to abandon all claims on her or her +mother, or the latter would bring a false accusation against me which +might cost me my life. Those who know England, and especially London +will not need to be informed as to the nature of this accusation, +which is so easily brought in England; it will suffice to say that +through it Sodom was overwhelmed. + +"The mother has engaged me to mediate," said Goudar, "and if you will +leave her alone, she will do you no harm." + +I spent the day with him, foolishly complaining, and telling him that +he could assure the mother that I would take no proceedings against +her, but that I should like to know if she had the courage to receive +this assurance from my own lips. + +"I will carry your message," said he, "but I pity you; for you are +going into their nets again, and will end in utter ruin." + +I fancied they would be ashamed to see me; but I was very much +mistaken, for Goudar came back laughing, and said the mother +expressed a hope that I should always be the friend of the family. +I ought to have refused to have anything more to do with them, but I +had not the strength to play the man. I called at Denmark Street the +same evening, and spent an hour without uttering a syllable. The +Charpillon sat opposite to me, with eyes lowered to a piece of +embroidery, while from time to time she pretended to wipe away a tear +as she let me see the ravages I had worked on her cheek. + +I saw her every day and always in silence till the fatal mark had +disappeared, but during these mad visits the poison of desire was so +instilled into my veins that if she had known my state of mind she +might have despoiled me of all I possessed for a single favour. + +When she was once more as beautiful as ever I felt as if I must die +if I did not hold her in my arms again, and I bought a magnificent +pier-glass and a splendid breakfast service in Dresden china, and +sent them to her with an amorous epistle which must have made her +think me either the most extravagant or the most cowardly of men. +She wrote in answer that she would expect me to sup with her in her +room, that she might give me the tenderest proofs of her gratitude. + +This letter sent me completely mad with joy, and in a paroxysm of +delight I resolved to surrender to her keeping the two bills of +exchange which Bolomee had given me, and which gave me power to send +her mother and aunts to prison. + +Full of the happiness that awaited me, and enchanted with my own +idiotic heroism, I went to her in the evening. She received me in +the parlour with her mother, and I was delighted to see the pier- +glass over the mantel, and the china displayed on a little table. +After a hundred words of love and tenderness she asked me to come up +to her room, and her mother wished us good night. I was overwhelmed +with joy. After a delicate little supper I took out the bills of +exchange, and after telling her their history gave them up to her, to +shew that I had no intention of avenging myself on her mother and +aunts. I made her promise that she would never part with them, and +she said she would never do so, and with many expressions of +gratitude and wonder at my generosity she locked them up with great +care. + +Then I thought it was time to give her some marks of my passion, and +I found her kind; but when I would have plucked the fruit, she +clasped me to her arms, crossed her legs, and began to weep bitterly. + +I made an effort, and asked her if she would be the same when we were +in bed. She sighed, and after a moment's pause, replied, "Yes." + +For a quarter of an hour I remained silent and motionless, as if +petrified. At last I rose with apparent coolness, and took my cloak +and sword. + +"What!" said she, "are you not going to spend the night with me?" + +"No." + +"But we shall see each other to-morrow?" + +"I hope so. Good night." + +I left that infernal abode, and went home to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The End of the Story Stranger Than the Beginning + + +At eight o'clock the next morning Jarbe told me that the Charpillon +wanted to see me, and that she had sent away her chairmen. + +"Tell her that I can't see her." + +But I had hardly spoken when she came in, and Jarbe went out. I +addressed her with the utmost calmness, and begged her to give me +back the two bills of exchange I had placed in her hands the night +before. + +"I haven't got them about me; but why do you want me to return them +to you?" + +At this question I could contain myself no longer, and launched a +storm of abuse at her. It was an explosion which relieved nature, +and ended with an involuntary shower of tears. My infamous +seductress stood as calmly as Innocence itself; and when I was so +choked with sobs that I could not utter a word, she said she had only +been cruel because her mother had made her swear an oath never to +give herself to anyone in her own house, and that she had only come +now to convince me of her love, to give herself to me without +reserve, and never to leave me any more if I wished it. + +The reader who imagines that at these words rage gave place to love, +and that I hastened to obtain the prize, does not know the nature of +the passion so well as the vile woman whose plaything I was. From +hot love to hot anger is a short journey, but the return is slow and +difficult. If there be only anger in a man's breast it may be +subdued by tenderness, by submission, and affection; but when to +anger is added a feeling of indignation at having been shamefully +deceived, it is impossible to pass suddenly to thoughts of love and +voluptuous enjoyment. With me mere anger has never been of long +duration, but when I am indignant the only cure is forgetfulness. + +The Charpillon knew perfectly well that I would not take her at her +word, and this kind of science was inborn in her. The instinct of +women teaches them greater secrets than all the philosophy and the +research of men. + +In the evening this monster left me, feigning to be disappointed and +disconsolate, and saying,-- + +"I hope you will come and see me again when you are once more +yourself." + +She had spent eight hours with me, during which time she had only +spoken to deny my suppositions, which were perfectly true, but which +she could not afford to let pass. I had not taken anything all day, +in order that I might not be obliged to offer her anything or to eat +with her. + +After she had left me I took some soup and then enjoyed a quiet +sleep, for which I felt all the better. When I came to consider what +had passed the, day before I concluded that the Charpillon was +repentant, but I seemed no longer to care anything about her. + +Here I may as well confess, in all humility, what a change love +worked on me in London, though I had attained the age of thirty- +eight. Here closed the first act of my life; the second closed when +I left Venice in 1783, and probably the third will close here, as I +amuse myself by writing these memoirs. Thus, the three-act comedy +will finish, and if it be hissed, as may possibly be the case, I +shall not hear the sounds of disapproval. But as yet the reader has +not seen the last and I think the most interesting scene of the first +act. + +I went for a walk in the Green Park and met Goudar. I was glad to +see him, as the rogue was useful to me. + +"I have just been at the Charpillons," he began; "they were all in +high spirits. I tried in vain to turn the conversation on you, but +not a word would they utter." + +"I despise them entirely," I rejoined, "I don't want to have anything +more to do with them." + +He told me I was quite right, and advised me to persevere in my plan. +I made him dine with me, and then we went to see the well-known +procuress, Mrs. Wells, and saw the celebrated courtezan, Kitty +Fisher, who was waiting for the Duke of ---- to take her to a ball. +She was magnificently dressed, and it is no exaggeration to say that +she had on diamonds worth five hundred thousand francs. Goudar told +me that if I liked I might have her then and there for ten guineas. +I did not care to do so, however, for, though charming, she could +only speak English, and I liked to have all my senses, including that +of hearing, gratified. When she had gone, Mrs. Wells told us that +Kitty had eaten a bank-note for a thousand guineas, on a slice of +bread and butter, that very day. The note was a present from Sir +Akins, brother of the fair Mrs. Pitt. I do not know whether the bank +thanked Kitty for the present she had made it. + +I spent an hour with a girl named Kennedy, a fair Irishwoman, who +could speak a sort of French, and behaved most extravagantly under +the influence of champagne; but the image of the Charpillon was still +before me, though I knew it not, and I could not enjoy anything. +I went home feeling sad and ill pleased with myself. Common sense +told me to drive all thoughts of that wretched woman out of my head, +but something I called honour bade me not leave her the triumph of +having won the two bills of exchange from me for nothing, and made me +determine to get them back by fair means or foul. + +M. Malingan, at whose house I had made the acquaintance of this +creature, come and asked me to dinner. He had asked me to dine with +him several times before, and I had always refused, and now I would +not accept until I had heard what guests he had invited. The names +were all strange to me, so I agreed to come. + +When I arrived I found two young ladies from Liege, in one of whom I +got interested directly. She introduced me to her husband, and to +another young man who seemed to be the cavalier of the other lady, +her cousin. + +The company pleased me, and I was in hopes that I should spend a +happy day, but my evil genius brought the Charpillon to mar the +feast. She came into the room in high glee, and said to Malingan,-- + +"I should not have come to beg you to give me a dinner if I had known +that you would have so many guests, and if I am at all in the way I +will go." + +Everybody welcomed her, myself excepted, for I was on the rack. To +make matters worse, she was placed at my left hand. If she had come +in before we sat down to dinner I should have made some excuse and +gone away, but as we had begun the soup a sudden flight would have +covered me with ridicule. I adopted the plan of not looking at her, +reserving all my politeness for the lady on my right. When the meal +was over Malingan took me apart, and swore to me that he had not +invited the Charpillon, but I was not convinced, though I pretended +to be for politeness' sake. + +The two ladies from Liege and their cavaliers were embarking for +Ostend in a few days, and in speaking of their departure the one to +whom I had taken a fancy said that she was sorry to be leaving +England without having seen Richmond. I begged her to give me the +pleasure of shewing it her, and without waiting for an answer I asked +her husband and all the company to be present, excepting the +Charpillon, whom I pretended not to see. + +The invitation was accepted. + +"Two carriages," I said, "holding four each, shall be ready at eight +o'clock, and we shall be exactly eight." + +"No, nine, for I am coming," said the Charpillon, giving me an +impudent stare, "and I hope you will not drive me away." + +"No, that would be impolite, I will ride in front on horseback." + +"Oh, not at all! Emilie shall sit on my lap." + +Emilie was Malingan's daughter, and as everybody seemed to think the +arrangement an extremely pleasant one I had not the courage to +resist. A few moments after, I was obliged to leave the room for a +few moments, and when I came back I met her on the landing. She told +me I had insulted her grievously, and that unless I made amends I +should feel her vengeance. + +"You can begin your vengeance," I said, "by returning my bills of +exchange" + +"You shall have them to-morrow, but you had better try and make me +forget the insult you have put on me." + +I left the company in the evening, having arranged that we should all +breakfast together the next day. + +At eight o'clock the two carriages were ready, and Malingan, his +wife, his daughter, and the two gentlemen got into the first vehicle, +and I had to get into the second with the ladies from Liege and the +Charpillon, who seemed to have become very intimate with them. This +made me ill-tempered, and I sulked the whole way. We were an hour +and a quarter on the journey, and when we arrived I ordered a good +dinner, and then we proceeded to view the gardens; the day was a +beautiful one, though it was autumn. + +Whilst we were Walking the Charpillon came up to me and said she +wanted to return the bills in the same place in which I had given her +them. As we were at some distance from the others I pelted her with +abuse, telling her of her perfidy and of her corruption at an age +when she should have retained some vestiges of innocence calling her +by the name she deserved, as I reminded her how often she had already +prostituted herself; in short I threatened her with my vengeance if +she pushed me to extremities. But she was as cold as ice, and +opposed a calm front to the storm of invective I rained in her ears. +However, as the other guests were at no great distance, she begged me +to speak more softly, but they heard me and I was very glad of it. + +At last we sat down to dinner, and the wretched woman contrived to +get a place beside me, and behaved all the while as if I were her +lover, or at any rate as if she loved me. She did not seem to care +what people thought of my coldness, while I was in a rage, for the +company must either have thought me a fool or else that she was +making game of me. + +After dinner we returned to the garden, and the Charpillon, +determined to gain the victory, clung to my arm and after several +turns led me towards the maze where she wished to try her power. She +made me sit down on the grass beside her and attacked me with +passionate words and tender caresses, and by displaying the most +interesting of her charms she succeeded in seducing me, but still I +do not know whether I were impelled by love or vengeance, and I am +inclined to think that my feelings were a compound of both passions. + +But at the moment she looked the picture of voluptuous abandon. +Her ardent eyes, her fiery cheeks, her wanton kisses, her swelling +breast, and her quick sighs, all made me think that she stood as much +in need of defeat as I of victory; certainly I should not have judged +that she was already calculating on resistance. + +Thus I once more became tender and affectionate; I begged pardon for +what I had said and done. Her fiery kisses replied to mine, and I +thought her glance and the soft pressure of her body were inviting me +to gather the delicious fruit; but just as my hand opened the door of +the sanctuary, she gave a sudden movement, and the chance was lost. + +"What! you would deceive me again." + +"No, no but we have done enough now. I promise to spend the night in +your arms in your own house." + +For a moment I lost my senses. I only saw the deceitful wretch who +had profited by my foolish credulity so many times, and I resolved to +enjoy or take vengeance. I held her down with my left arm, and +drawing a small knife from my pocket I opened it with my teeth and +pricked her neck, threatening to kill her if she resisted me. + +"Do as you like," she said with perfect calm, "I only ask you to +leave me my life, but after you have satisfied yourself I will not +leave the spot; I will not enter your carriage unless you carry me by +force, and everybody shall know the reason." + +This threat had no effect, for I had already got back my senses, and +I pitied myself for being degraded by a creature for whom I had the +greatest contempt, in spite of the almost magical influence she had +over me, and the furious desires she knew how to kindle in my breast. +I rose without a word, and taking my hat and cane I hastened to leave +a place where unbridled passion had brought me to the brink of ruin. + +My readers will scarcely believe me (but it is nevertheless the exact +truth) when I say that the impudent creature hastened to rejoin me, +and took my arm again as if nothing had happened. A girl of her age +could not have played the part so well unless she had been already +tried in a hundred battles. When we rejoined the company I was asked +if I were ill, while nobody noticed the slightest alteration in her. + +When we got back to London I excused myself under the plea of a bad +headache, and returned home. + +The adventure had made a terrible impression on me, and I saw that if +I did not avoid all intercourse with this girl I should be brought to +ruin. There was something about her I could not resist. I therefore +resolved to see her no more, but feeling ashamed of my weakness in +giving her the bills of exchange I wrote her mother a note requesting +her to make her daughter return them, or else I should be compelled +to take harsh measures. + +In the afternoon I received the following reply: + +"Sir,--I am exceedingly surprised at your addressing yourself to me +about the bills you handed to my daughter. She tells me she will +give you them back in person when you shew more discretion, and have +learnt to respect her." + +This impudent letter so enraged me that I forgot my vow of the +morning. I put two pistols in my pocket and proceeded to the +wretched woman's abode to compel her to return me my bills if she did +not wish to be soundly caned. + +I only took the pistols to overawe the two male rascals who supped +with them every evening. I was furious when I arrived, but I passed +by the door when I saw a handsome young hairdresser, who did the +Charpillon's hair every Saturday evening, going into the house. + +I did not want a stranger to be present at the scene I meant to make, +so I waited at the corner of the street for the hairdresser to go. +After I had waited half an hour Rostaing and Couman, the two supports +of the house, came out and went away, much to my delight. I waited +on; eleven struck, and the handsome barber had not yet gone. A +little before midnight a servant came out with a lamp, I suppose to +look for something that had fallen out of the window. I approached +noiselessly, stepped in and opened the parlour-door, which was close +to the street, and saw . . . the Charpillon and the barber +stretched on the sofa and doing the beast with two backs, as +Shakespeare calls it. + +When the slut saw me she gave a shriek and unhorsed her gallant, whom +I caned soundly until he escaped in the confusion consequent on the +servants, mother, and aunts all rushing into the room. While this +was going on the Charpillon, half-naked, remained crouched behind the +sofa, trembling lest the blows should begin to descend on her. Then +the three hags set upon me like furies; but their abuse only +irritated me, and I broke the pier-'glass, the china, and the +furniture, and as they still howled and shrieked I roared out that if +they did not cease I would break their heads. At this they began to +calm. + +I threw myself upon the fatal sofa, and bade the mother to return me +the bills of exchange; but just then the watchman came in. + +There is only one watchman to a district, which he perambulates all +night with a lantern in one hand and a staff in the other. On these +men the peace of the great city depends. I put three or four crowns +into his hand and said "Go away," and so saying shut the door upon +him. Then I sat down once more and asked again for the bills of +exchange: + +"I have not got them; my daughter keeps them." + +"Call her." + +The two maids said that whilst I was breaking the china she had +escaped by the street door, and that they did not know what had +become of her. Then the mother and aunts began to shriek, weep, and +exclaim,-- + +"My poor daughter alone in the streets of London at midnight! My +dear niece, alas! alas! she is lost. Cursed be the hour when you +came to England to make us all unhappy!" + +My rage had evaporated, and I trembled at the thought of this young +frightened girl running about the streets at such an hour. + +"Go and look for her at the neighbours' houses," I said to the +servants, "no doubt you will find her. When you tell me she is safe, +you shall have a guinea apiece." + +When the three Gorgons saw I was interested, their tears, complaints, +and invectives began again with renewed vigor, while I kept silence +as much as to say that they were in the right. I awaited the return +of the servants with impatience, and at last at one o'clock they came +back with looks of despair. + +"We have looked for her everywhere," said they, "but we can't find +her." + +I gave them the two guineas as if they had succeeded, whilst I sat +motionless reflecting on the terrible consequences of my anger. How +foolish is man when he is in love! + +I was idiot enough to express my repentance to the three old cheats. +I begged them to seek for her everywhere when dawn appeared, and to +let me know of her return that I might fall at her feet to beg +pardon, and never see her face again. I also promised to pay for all +the damage I had done, and to give them a full receipt for the bills +of exchange. After these acts, done to the everlasting shame of my +good sense, after this apology made to procuresses who laughed at me +and my honour, I went home, promising two guineas to the servant who +should bring me tidings that her young mistress had come home. +On leaving the house I found the watchman at the door; he had been +waiting to see me home. It was two o'clock. I threw myself on my +bed, and the six hours of sleep I obtained, though troubled by +fearful dreams, probably saved me from madness. + +At eight o'clock I heard a knock at the door, and on opening the +window found it was one of the servants from the house of my foes. I +cried out to let her in, and I breathed again on hearing that Miss +Charpillon had just arrived in a sedan-chair in a pitiable condition, +and that she had been put to bed. + +"I made haste to come and tell you," said the cunning maid, "not for +the sake of your two guineas, but because I saw you were so unhappy." +This duped me directly. I gave her the two guineas, and made her sit +down on my bed, begging her to tell me all about her mistress's +return. I did not dream that she had been schooled by my enemies; +but during the whole of this period I was deprived of the right use +of my reason. + +The slut began by saying that her young mistress loved me, and had +only deceived me in accordance with her mother's orders. + +"I know that," I said, "but where did she pass the night?" + +"At a shop which she found open, and where she was known from having +bought various articles there. She is in bed with a fever, and I am +afraid it may have serious consequences as she is in her monthly +period." + +"That's impossible, for I caught her in the act with her +hairdresser." + +"Oh, that proves nothing! the poor young man does not look into +things very closely." + +"But she is in love with him." + +"I don't think so, though she has spent several hours in his +company." + +"And you say that she loves me!" + +"Oh, that has nothing to do with it! It is only a whim of hers with +the hairdresser." + +"Tell her that I am coming to pass the day beside her bed, and bring +me her reply." + +"I will send the other girl if you like." + +"No, she only speaks English." + +She went away, and as she had not returned by three o'clock I decided +on calling to hear how she was. I knocked at the door, and one of +the aunts appeared and begged me not to enter as the two friends of +the house were there in a fury against me, and her niece lay in a +delirium, crying out "There's Seingalt, there's Seingalt ! He's +going to kill me. Help! help!" "For God's sake, sir, go away," + +I went home desperate, without the slightest suspicion that it was +all a lie. I spent the whole day without eating anything; I could +not swallow a mouthful. All night I kept awake, and though I took +several glasses of strong waters I could obtain no rest. + +At nine o'clock the next morning I knocked at the Charpillon's door, +and the old aunt came and held it half open as before. She forbade +me to enter, saying that her niece was still delirious, continually +calling on me in her transports, and that the doctor had declared +that if the disease continued its course she had not twenty-four +hours to live. "The fright you gave her has arrested her periods; +she is in a terrible state." + +"O, fatal hairdresser!" I exclaimed. + +"That was a mere youthful folly; you should have pretended not to +have seen anything." + +"You think that possible, you old witch, do you? Do not let her lack +for anything; take that." + +With these words I gave her a bank note for ten guineas and went +away, like the fool I was. On my way back I met Goudar, who was +quite frightened at my aspect. I begged him to go and see how the +Charpillon really was, and then to come and pass the rest of the day +with me. An hour after he came back and said he had found them all +in tears and that the girl was in extremis. + +"Did you see her?" + +"No, they said she could see no one." + +"Do you think it is all true?" + +"I don't know what to think; but one of the maids, who tells me the +truth as a rule, assured me that she had become mad through her +courses being stopped, while she has also a fever and violent +convulsions. It is all credible enough, for these are the usual +results of a shock when a woman is in such a situation. The girl +told me it was all your fault." + +I then told him the whole story. He could only pity me, but when he +heard that I had neither eaten nor slept for the last forty-eight +hours he said very wisely that if I did not take care I should lose +my reason or my life. I knew it, but I could find no remedy. He +spent the day with me and did me good. As I could not eat I drank a +good deal, and not being able to sleep I spent the night in striding +up and down my room like a man beside himself. + +On the third day, having heard nothing positive about the Charpillon, +I went out at seven o'clock in the morning to call on her. After I +had waited a quarter of an hour in the street, the door was partly +opened, and I saw the mother all in tears, but she would not let me +come in. She said her daughter was in the last agony. At the same +instant a pale and thin old man came out, telling the mother that we +must resign ourselves to the will of God. I asked the infamous +creature if it were the doctor. + +"The doctor is no good now," said the old hypocrite, weeping anew, +"he is a minister of the Gospel, and there is another of them +upstairs. My poor daughter! In another hour she will be no more." + +I felt as if an icy hand had closed upon my heart. I burst into +tears and left the woman, saying,-- + +"It is true that my hand dealt the blow, but her death lies at your +door." + +As I walked away my knees seemed to bend under me, and I entered my +house determined to commit suicide,-- + +With this fearful idea, I gave orders that I was not at home to +anyone. As soon as I got to my room I put my watches, rings, snuff- +boxes, purse and pocket-book in my casket, and shut it up in my +escritoire. I then wrote a letter to the Venetian ambassador, +informing him that all my property was to go to M. de Bragadin after +my death. I sealed the letter and put it with the casket, and took +the key with me, and also silver to the amount of a few guineas. I +took my pistols and went out with the firm intention of drowning +myself in the Thames, near the Tower of London. + +Pondering over my plan with the utmost coolness, I went and bought +some balls of lead as large as my pockets would hold, and as heavy as +I could bear, to carry to the Tower, where I intended to go on foot. +On my way I was strengthened in my purpose by the reflection, that if +I continued to live I should be tormented for the remainder of my +days by the pale shade of the Charpillon reproaching me as her +murderer. I even congratulated myself on being able to carry out my +purpose without any effort, and I also felt a secret pride in my +courage. + +I walked slowly on account of the enormous weight I bore, which would +assure me a speedy passage to the bottom of the river. + +By Westminster Bridge my good fortune made me meet Sir Edgar, a rich +young Englishman, who lived a careless and joyous life. I had made +his acquaintance at Lord Pembroke's, and he had dined with me several +times. We suited one another, his conversation was agreeable, and we +had passed many pleasant hours together. I tried to avoid him, but +he saw me, and came up and took me by the arm in a friendly manner. + +"Where are you going? Come with me, unless you are going to deliver +some captive. Come along, we shall have a pleasant party." + +"I can't come, my dear fellow, let me go." + +"What's the matter? I hardly recognized you, you looked so solemn." + +"Nothing is the matter." + +"Nothing? You should look at your face in the glass. Now I feel +quite sure that you are going to commit a foolish action." + +"Not at all." + +"It's no good denying it." + +"I tell you there's nothing the matter with me. Good bye, I shall +see you again." + +"It's no good, I won't leave you. Come along, we will walk +together." + +His eyes happening to fall on my breeches pocket, he noticed my +pistol, and putting his hand on the other pocket he felt the other +pistol, and said,-- + +"You are going to fight a duel; I should like to see it. I won't +interfere with the affair, but neither will I leave you." + +I tried to put on a smile, and assured him that he was mistaken, and +that I was only going for a walk to pass the time. + +"Very good," said Edgar, "then I hope my society is as pleasant to +you as yours is to me; I won't leave you. After we have taken a walk +we will go and dine at the 'Canon.' I will get two girls to come and +join us, and we shall have a gay little party of four." + +"My dear friend, you must excuse me; I am in a melancholy mood, and I +want to be alone to get over it." + +"You can be alone to-morrow, if you like, but I am sure you will be +all right in the next three hours, and if not, why I will share your +madness. Where did you think of dining?" + +"Nowhere; I have no appetite. I have been fasting for the last three +days, and I can only drink." + +"Ah! I begin to see daylight. Something has crossed you, and you are +going to let it kill you as it killed one of my brothers. I must see +what can be done." + +Edgar argued, insisted, and joked till at last I said to myself, "A +day longer will not matter, I can do the deed when he leaves me, and +I shall only have to bear with life a few hours longer." + +When Edgar heard that I had no particular object in crossing the +bridge he said that we had better turn back, and I let myself be +persuaded; but in half an hour I begged him to take me somewhere +where I could wait for him, as I could not bear the weight of the +lead any longer. I gave him my word of honour that I would meet him +at the "Canon." + +As soon as I was alone I emptied my pockets, and put the leaden balls +into a cupboard. Then I lay down and began to consider whether the +good-natured young man would prevent me committing suicide, as he had +already made me postpone it. + +I reasoned, not as one that hopes, but rather as one that foresaw +that Edgar would hinder me from shortening my days. Thus I waited in +the tavern for the young Englishman, doubtful whether he was doing me +a service or an injury. + +He came back before long, and was pleased to find me. + +"I reckoned on your keeping your word," said he. + +"You did not think that I would break my word of honour." + +"That's all right; I see you are on the way to recovery." + +The sensible and cheerful talk of the young man did me good, and I +began to feel better, when the two young wantons, one of whom was a +Frenchwoman, arrived in high spirits. They seemed intended for +pleasure, and Nature had dowered them with great attractions. I +appreciated their charms, but I could not welcome them in the manner +to which they were accustomed. They began to think me some poor +valetudinarian; but though I was in torments, a feeling of vanity +made me endeavour to behave sensibly. I gave them some cold kisses +and begged Edgar to tell his fellow-countrywoman that if I were not +three parts dead I would prove how lovely and charming I thought her. +They pitied me. A man who has spent three days without eating or +sleeping is almost incapable of any voluptuous excitement, but mere +words would not have convinced these priestesses of Venus if Edgar +had not given them my name. I had a reputation, and I saw that when +they heard who I was they were full of respect. They all hoped that +Bacchus and Comus would plead the cause of Love, and I let them talk, +knowing that their hopes were vain. + +We had an English dinner; that is, a dinner without the essential +course of soup, so I only took a few oysters and a draught of +delicious wine, but I felt better, and was pleased to see Edgar +amusing himself with the two nymphs. + +The young madcap suddenly proposed that the girls should dance a +hornpipe in the costume of Mother Eve, and they consented on the +condition that we would adopt the dress of Father Adam, and that +blind musicians were summoned. I told them that I would take off my +clothes to oblige them, but that I had no hopes of being able to +imitate the seductive serpent. I was allowed to retain my dress, on +the condition that if I felt the prick of the flesh I should +immediately undress. I agreed to do so, and the blind musicians were +sent for, and while they tuned their instruments toilettes were made, +and the orgy began. + +It taught me same useful lessons. I learnt from it that amorous +pleasures are the effect and not the cause of gaiety. I sat gazing +at three naked bodies of perfect grace and beauty, the dance and the +music were ravishing and seductive, but nothing made any impression +on me. After the dance was over the male dancer treated the two +females, one after the other, until he was forced to rest. The +French girl came up to ascertain whether I skewed any signs of life, +but feeling my hopeless condition she pronounced me useless. + +When it was all over I begged Edgar to give the French girl four +guineas, and to pay my share, as I had very little money about me. + +What should I have said if I had been told in the morning that +instead of drowning myself I should take part in so pleasant an +entertainment? + +The debt I had contracted with the young Englishman made me resolve +to put off my suicide to another day. After the nymphs had gone I +tried to get rid of Edgar, but in vain; he told me I was getting +better, that the oysters I had taken skewed my stomach was improving, +and that if I came with him to Ranelagh I should be able to make a +good dinner the next day. I was weak and indifferent and let myself +be persuaded, and got into a coach with Edgar in obedience to the +Stoic maxim I had learnt in the happy days of my youth: 'Sequere +Deum'. + +We entered the fine rotunda with our hats off, and began to walk +round and round, our arms behind our backs--a common custom in +England, at least in those days. + +A minuet was being danced, and I was so attracted by a lady who +danced extremely well that I waited for her to turn round. What made +me notice her more particularly was that her dress and hat were +exactly like those I had given to the Charpillon a few days before, +but as I believed the poor wretch to be dead or dying the likeness +did not inspire me with any suspicion. But the lady turned round, +lifted her face, and I saw--the Charpillon herself! + +Edgar told me afterwards that at that moment he thought to see me +fall to the ground in an epileptic fit; I trembled and shuddered so +terribly. + +However, I felt so sure she was ill that I could not believe my own +eyes, and the doubt brought me to my senses. + +"She can't be the Charpillon," I said to myself, "she is some other +girl like her, and my enfeebled senses have led me astray." In the +meanwhile the lady, intent on her dancing, did not glance in my +direction, but I could afford to wait. At last she lifted her arms +to make the curtsy at the end of the minuet, I went up instinctively +as if I were about to dance with her; she looked me in the face, and +fled. + +I constrained myself; but now that there could be no doubt my +shuddering fit returned, and I made haste to sit down. A cold sweat +bedewed my face and my whole body. Edgar advised me to take a cup of +tea but I begged him to leave me alone for a few moments. + +I was afraid that I was on the point of death; I trembled all over, +and my heart beat so rapidly that I could not have stood up had I +wished. + +At last, instead of dying, I got new life. What a wonderful change I +experienced! Little by little my peace of mind returned, and I could +enjoy the glitter of the multitudinous wax lights. By slow degrees I +passed through all the shades of feeling between despair and an +ecstasy of joy. My soul and mind were so astonished by the shock +that I began to think I should never see Edgar again. + +"This young man," I said to myself, "is my good genius, my guardian +angel, my familiar spirit, who has taken the form of Edgar to restore +me to my senses again." + +I should certainly have persisted in this idea if my friend had not +reappeared before very long. + +Chance might have thrown him in the way of one of those seductive +creatures who make one forget everything else; he might have left +Ranelagh without having time to tell me he was going, and I should +have gone back to London feeling perfectly certain that I had only +seen his earthly shape. Should I have been disabused if I had seen +him a few days after? Possibly; but I am not sure of it. I have +always had a hankering after superstition, of which I do not boast; +but I confess the fact, and leave the reader to judge me. + +However, he came back in high spirits, but anxious about me. He was +surprised to find me full of animation, and to hear me talking in a +pleasant strain on the surrounding objects and persons. + +"Why, you are laughing!" said he, "your sadness has departed, then?" + +"Yes, good genius, but I am hungry, and I want you to do me a favour, +if you have no other pressing engagements." + +"I am free till the day after to-morrow, and till then you can do +what you like with me." + +"I owe my life to you, but to make your gift complete I want you to +spend this night and the whole of the next day with me." + +"Done." + +"Then let us go home." + +"With all my heart; come along." + +I did not tell him anything as we were in the coach, and when we got +home I found nothing fresh, except a note from Goudar, which I put in +my pocket, intending to reserve all business for the next day. + +It was an hour after midnight. A good supper was served to us, and +we fell to; for my part I devoured my food like a wild beast. Edgar +congratulated me, and we went to bed, and I slept profoundly till +noon. When I awoke I breakfasted with Edgar, and told him the whole +story, which would have ended with my life if he had not met me on +Westminster Bridge, and he had not been keen enough to mark my +condition. I took him to my room, and shewed him my escritoire, my +casket, and my will. I then opened Goudar's letter, and read: + +"I am quite sure that the girl you know of is very far from dying, as +she has gone to Ranelagh with Lord Grosvenor." + +Although Edgar was a profligate, he was a sensible man, and my story +made him furious. He threw his arms around my neck, and told me he +should always think the day on which he rescued me from death for so +unworthy an object the happiest in his life. He could scarcely +credit the infamy of the Charpillon and her mother. He told me I +could have the mother arrested, though I had not got the bills of +exchange, as her mother's letter acknowledging her daughter's +possession of the bills was sufficient evidence. + +Without informing him of my intention, I resolved that moment to have +her arrested. Before we parted we swore eternal friendship, but the +reader will see before long what a penance the kind Englishman had to +do for befriending me. + +The next day I went to the attorney I had employed against Count +Schwerin. After hearing my story he said that I had an undoubted +claim, and that I could arrest the mother and the two aunts. + +Without losing time I went before a magistrate, who took my sworn +information and granted me a warrant. The same official who had +arrested Schwerin took charge of the affair; but as he did not know +the women by sight it was necessary that someone who did should go +with him, for though he was certain of surprising them there might be +several other women present, and he might not arrest the right ones. + +As Goudar would not have undertaken the delicate task of pointing +them out, I resolved on accompanying him myself. + +I made an appointment with him at an hour when I knew they would be +all in the parlour. He was to enter directly the door was opened, +and I would come in at the same instant and point out the women he +had to arrest. In England all judicial proceedings are conducted +with the utmost punctuality, and everything went off as I had +arranged. The bailiff and his subaltern stepped into the parlour and +I followed in their footsteps. I pointed out the mother and the two +sisters and then made haste to escape, for the sight of the +Charpillon, dressed in black, standing by the hearth, made me +shudder. I felt cured, certainly; but the wounds she had given me +were not yet healed, and I cannot say what might have happened if the +Circe had had the presence of mind to throw her arms about my neck +and beg for mercy. + +As soon as I had seen these women in the hands of justice I fled, +tasting the sweets of vengeance, which are very great, but yet a sign +of unhappiness. The rage in which I had arrested the three +procuresses, and my terror in seeing the woman who had well-nigh +killed me, shewed that I was not really cured. To be so I must fly +from them and forget them altogether. + +The next morning Goudar came and congratulated me on the bold step I +had taken, which proved, he said, that I was either cured or more in +love than ever. "I have just come from Denmark Street," he added, +"and I only saw the grandmother, who was weeping bitterly, and an +attorney, whom no doubt she was consulting." + +"Then you have heard what has happened?" + +"Yes, I came up a minute after you had gone and I stayed till the +three old sluts made up their minds to go with the constable. They +resisted and said he ought to leave them till the next day, when they +would be able to find someone to bail them. The two bravos drew +their swords to resist the law, but the other constable disarmed them +one after the other, and the three women were led off. The +Charpillon wanted to accompany them, but it was judged best that she +should remain at liberty, in order to try and set them free." + +Goudar concluded by saying that he should go and see them in prison, +and if I felt disposed to come to an arrangement he would mediate +between us. I told him that the only arrangement I would accept was +the payment of the six thousand francs, and that they might think +themselves very lucky that I did not insist on having my interest, +and thus repaying myself in part for the sums they had cheated out of +me. + +A fortnight elapsed without my hearing any more of the matter. The +Charpillon dined with them every day, and in fact, kept them. It +must have cost her a good deal, for they had two rooms, and their +landlord would not allow them to have their meals prepared outside +the prison. Goudar told me that the Charpillon said she would never +beg me to listen to her mother, though she knew she had only to call +on me to obtain anything she wanted. She thought me the most +abominable of men. If I feel obliged to maintain that she was +equally abominable, I must confess that on this occasion she shewed +more strength of mind than I; but whereas I had acted out of passion, +her misdeeds were calculated, and tended solely to her own interests. + +For the whole of this fortnight I had sought for Edgar in vain, but +one morning he came to see me, looking in high spirits. + +"Where have you been hiding all this time?" said I, "I have been +looking for you everywhere." + +"Love has been keeping me a prisoner," said he, "I have got some +money for you." + +"For me? From what quarter?" + +"On behalf of the Ansperghers. Give me a receipt and the necessary +declaration, for I am going to restore them myself to the poor +Charpillon, who has been weeping for the last fortnight." + +"I daresay she has, I have seen her weep myself; but I like the way +in which she has chosen the being who delivered me from her chains as +a protector. Does she know that I owe my life to you?" + +"She only knew that I was with you at Ranelagh when you saw her +dancing instead of dying, but I have told her the whole story since." + +"No doubt she wants you to plead with me in her favour." + +"By no means. She has just been telling me that you are a monster of +ingratitude, for she loved you and gave you several proofs of her +affection, but now she hates you." + +"Thank Heaven for that! The wretched woman! It's curious she should +have selected you as her lover by way of taking vengeance on me, but +take care! she will punish you." + +"It may be so, but at all events it's a pleasant kind of punishment." + +"I hope you may be happy, but look to yourself; she is a mistress in +all sorts of deceit." + +Edgar counted me out two hundred and fifty guineas, for which I gave +him a receipt and the declaration he required, and with these +documents he went off in high spirits. + +After this I might surely flatter myself that all was at an end +between us, but I was mistaken. + +Just about this time the Crown Prince of Brunswick, now the reigning +duke, married the King of England's sister. The Common Council +presented him with the freedom of the City, and the Goldsmith's +Company admitted him into their society, and gave him a splendid box +containing the documents which made him a London citizen. The prince +was the first gentleman in Europe, and yet he did not disdain to add +this new honour to a family illustrious for fourteen hundred years. + +On this occasion Lady Harrington was the means of getting Madame +Cornelis two hundred guineas. She lent her room in Soho Square to a +confectioner who gave a ball and supper to a thousand persons at +three guineas each. I paid my three guineas, and had the honour of +standing up all the evening with six hundred others, for the table +only seated four hundred, and there were several ladies who were +unable to procure seats. That evening I saw Lady Grafton seated +beside the Duke of Cumberland. She wore her hair without any powder, +and all the other ladies were exclaiming about it, and saying how +very unbecoming it was. They could not anathematize the innovator +too much, but in less than six months Lady Grafton's style of doing +the hair became common, crossed the Channel, and spread all over +Europe, though it has been given another name. It is still in +fashion, and is the only method that can boast the age of thirty +years, though it was so unmercifully ridiculed at first. + +The supper for which the giver of the feast had received three +thousand guineas, or sixty-five thousand francs, contained a most +varied assortment of delicacies, but as I had not been dancing, and +did not feel taken with any of the ladies present, I left at one in +the morning. It was Sunday, a day on which all persons, save +criminals, are exempt from arrest; but, nevertheless, the following +adventure befell me: + +I was dressed magnificently, and was driving home in my carriage, +with my negro and another servant seated behind me; and just as we +entered Pall Mall I heard a voice crying, "Good night, Seingalt." I +put my head out of the window to reply, and in an instant the +carriage was surrounded by men armed with pistols, and one of them +said,-- + +"In the king's name!" + +My servant asked what they wanted, and they answered,-- + +"To take him to Newgate, for Sunday makes no difference to +criminals." + +"And what crime have I committed?" + +"You will hear that in prison." + +"My master has a right to know his crime before he goes to prison," +said the negro. + +"Yes, but the magistrate's abed." + +The negro stuck to his position, however, and the people who had come +up declared with one consent that he was in the right. + +The head-constable gave in, and said he would take me to a house in +the city. + +"Then drive to that city," said I, "and have done with it." + +We stopped before the house, and I was placed in a large room on the +ground floor, furnished solely with benches and long tables. My +servant sent back the carriage, and came to keep me company. The six +constables said they could not leave me, and told me I should send +out for some meat and drink for them. I told my negro to give them +what they wanted, and to be as amicable with them as was possible. + +As I had not committed any crime, I was quite at ease; I knew that my +arrest must be the effect of a slander, and as I was aware that +London justice was speedy and equitable, I thought I should soon be +free. But I blamed myself for having transgressed the excellent +maxim, never to answer anyone in the night time; for if I had not +done so I should have been in my house, and not in prison. The +mistake, however, had been committed, and there was nothing to be +done but to wait patiently. I amused myself by reflecting on my +rapid passage from a numerous and exalted assemblage to the vile +place I now occupied, though I was still dressed like a prince. + +At last the day dawned, and the keeper of the tavern came to see who +the prisoner was. I could not helping laughing at him when he saw +me, for he immediately began to abuse the constables for not awaking +him when I came; he had lost the guinea I should have paid for a +private room. At last news was brought that the magistrate was +sitting, and that I must be brought up. + +A coach was summoned, and I got into it, for if I had dared to walk +along the streets in my magnificent attire the mob would have pelted +me. + +I went into the hall of justice, and all eyes were at once attracted +towards me; my silks and satins appeared to them the height of +impertinence. + +At the end of the room I saw a gentleman sitting in an arm-chair, and +concluded him to be my judge. I was right, and the judge was blind. +He wore a broad band round his head, passing over his eyes. A man +beside me, guessing I was a foreigner, said in French,-- + +"Be of good courage, Mr. Fielding is a just and equitable +magistrate." + +I thanked the kindly unknown, and was delighted to see before me this +famous and estimable writer, whose works are an honour to the English +nation. + +When my turn came, the clerk of the court told Mr. Fielding my name, +at least, so I presume. + +"Signor Casanova," said he, in excellent Italian, "be kind enough to +step forward. I wish to speak to you." + +I was delighted to hear the accents of my native tongue, and making +my way through the press I came up to the bar of the court, and +said,-- + +"Eccomi, Signore." + +He continued to speak Italian, and said,-- + +"Signor de Casanova, of Venice, you are condemned to perpetual +confinement in the prisons of His Majesty the King of Great Britain." + +"I should like to know, sir, for what crime I am condemned. Would +you be kind enough to inform me as to its nature?" + +"Your demand is a reasonable one, for with us no one is condemned +without knowing the cause of his condemnation. You must know, then, +that the accusation (which is supported by two witnesses) charges you +with intending to do grievous bodily harm to the person of a pretty +girl; and as this pretty girl aforesaid goes in dread of you, the law +decrees that you must be kept in prison for the rest of your days." + +"Sir, this accusation is a groundless calumny; to that I will take my +oath! It is very possible indeed that the girl may fear my vengeance +when she comes to consider her own conduct, but I can assure you that +I have had no such designs hitherto, and I don't think I ever shall." + +"She has two witnesses." + +"Then they are false ones. But may I ask your worship the name of my +accuser?" + +"Miss Charpillon." + +"I thought as much; but I have never given her aught but proofs of my +affection." + +"Then you have no wish to do her any bodily harm?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Then I congratulate you. You can dine at home; but you must find +two sureties. I must have an assurance from the mouths of two +householders that you will never commit such a crime." + +"Whom shall I find to do so?" + +"Two well-known Englishmen, whose friendship you have gained, and who +know that you are incapable of such an action. Send for them, and if +they arrive before I go to dinner I will set you at liberty." + +The constable took me back to prison, where I had passed the night, +and I gave my servants the addresses of all the householders I +recollected, bidding them explain my situation, and to be as quick as +possible. They ought to have come before noon, but London is such a +large place! They did not arrive, and the magistrate went to dinner. +I comforted myself by the thought that he would sit in the afternoon, +but I had to put up with a disagreeable experience. + +The chief constable, accompanied by an interpreter, came to say that +I must go to Newgate. This is a prison where the most wretched and +abject criminals are kept. + +I signified to him that I was awaiting bail, and that he could take +me to Newgate in the evening if it did not come, but he only turned a +deaf ear to my petition. The interpreter told me in a whisper that +the fellow was certainly paid by the other side to put me to trouble, +but that if I liked to bribe him I could stay where I was. + +"How much will he want?" + +The interpreter took the constable aside, and then told me that I +could stay where I was for ten guineas. + +"Then say that I should like to see Newgate." + +A coach was summoned, and I was taken away. + +When I got to this abode of misery and despair, a hell, such as Dante +might have conceived, a crowd of wretches, some of whom were to be +hanged in the course of the week, greeted me by deriding my elegant +attire. I did not answer them, and they began to get angry and to +abuse me. The gaoler quieted them by saying that I was a foreigner +and did not understand English, and then took me to a cell, informing +me how much it would cost me, and of the prison rules, as if he felt +certain that I should make a long stay. But in the course of half an +hour, the constable who had tried to get ten guineas out of me told +me that bail had arrived and that my carriage was at the door. + +I thanked God from the bottom of my heart, and soon found myself in +the presence of the blind magistrate. My bail consisted of Pegu, my +tailor, and Maisonneuve, my wine merchant, who said they were happy +to be able to render me this slight service. In another part of the +court I noticed the infamous Charpillon, Rostaing, Goudar, and an +attorney. They made no impression on me, and I contented myself with +giving them a look of profound contempt. + +My two sureties were informed of the amount in which they were to +bail me, and signed with a light heart, and then the magistrate said, +politely,-- + +"Signor Casanova, please to sign your name for double the amount, and +you will then be a free man again." + +I went towards the clerk's table, and on asking the sum I was to +answer for was informed that it was forty guineas, each of my +sureties signing for twenty. I signed my name, telling Goudar that +if the magistrate could have seen the Charpillon he would have valued +her beauty at ten thousand guineas. I asked the names of the two +witnesses, and was told that they were Rostaing and Bottarelli. I +looked contemptuously at Rostaing, who was as pale as death, and +averting my face from the Charpillon out of pity, I said,-- + +"The witnesses are worthy of the charge." + +I saluted the judge with respect, although he could not see me, and +asked the clerk if I had anything to pay. He replied in the +negative, and a dispute ensued between him and the attorney of my +fair enemy, who was disgusted on hearing that she could not leave the +court without paying the costs of my arrest. + +Just as I was going, five or six well-known Englishmen appeared to +bail me out, and were mortified to hear that they had come too late. +They begged me to forgive the laws of the land, which are only too +often converted into a means for the annoyance of foreigners. + +At last, after one of the most tedious days I have ever spent, I +returned home and went to bed, laughing at the experience I had +undergone. + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +IN LONDON AND MOSCOW, Vol. 5c, THE ENGLISH +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt diff --git a/old/jceng10.zip b/old/jceng10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..40390ff --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jceng10.zip diff --git a/old/jceng11.txt b/old/jceng11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e27e71 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jceng11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3678 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The English, by Jacques Casanova +#23 in our series by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + +THE MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA DE SEINGALT + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR +MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED +BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 +IN LONDON AND MOSCOW, Volume 5c--THE ENGLISH + + + + +THE ENGLISH + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Eccentricity of the English--Castelbajac Count Schwerin--Sophie at +School--My Reception at the Betting Club--The Charpillon + + +I passed a night which seemed like a never-ending nightmare, and I +got up sad and savage, feeling as if I could kill a man on the +smallest provocation. It seemed as if the house, which I had +hitherto thought so beautiful, was like a millstone about my neck. +I went out in my travelling clothes, and walked into a coffee-house, +where I saw a score of people reading the papers. + +I sat down, and, not understanding English, passed my time in gazing +at the goers and comers. I had been there some time when my +attention was attracted by the voice of a man speaking as follows in +French: + +"Tommy has committed suicide, and he was wise, for he was in such a +state that he could only expect unhappiness for the rest of his +life." + +"You are quite mistaken," said the other, with the greatest +composure. "I was one of his creditors myself, and on making an +inventory of his effects I feel satisfied that he has done a very +foolish and a very childish thing; he might have lived on +comfortably, and not killed himself for fully six months." + +At any other time this calculation would have made me laugh, and, as +it was, I felt as if the incident had done me good. + +I left the coffee-house without having said a word or spent a penny, +and I went towards the Exchange to get some money. Bosanquet gave me +what I wanted directly, and as I walked out with him I noticed a +curious-looking individual, whose name I asked. + +"He's worth a hundred thousand," said the banker. + +"And who is that other man over there?" + +"He's not worth a ten-pound note." + +"But I don't want to hear what they are worth; it's their names I +want." + +"I really don't know." + +"How can you tell how much they are worth, not knowing their names?" + +"Names don't go for anything here. What we want to know about a man +is how much he has got? Besides; what's in a name? Ask me for a +thousand pounds and give me a proper receipt, and you can do it under +the name of Socrates or Attila, for all I care. You will pay me back +my money as Socrates or Attila, and not as Seingalt; that is all." + +"But how about signing bills of exchange?" + +"That's another thing; I must use the name which the drawer gives +me." + +"I don't understand that." + +"Well, you see, you are not English, nor are you a business man." + +On leaving him I walked towards the park, but wishing to change a +twenty-pound note before going in I went to a fat merchant, an +epicure whose acquaintance I had made at the tavern, and put down the +note on his counter, begging him to cash it for me. + +"Come again in an hour," said he, "I have no money by me just now." + +"Very good; I will call again when I come from the park." + +"Take back your note; you shall give it to me when I hand you the +money." + +"Never mind; keep it. I don't doubt your honesty." + +"Don't be so foolish. If you left me the note I should certainly +decline to hand over the money, if only for the sake of giving you a +lesson." + +"I don't believe you are capable of such dishonesty." + +"Nor am I, but when it comes to such a simple thing as putting a bank +note in your pocket, the most honest man in the world would never +dream of having such a thing in his possession without having paid +the money for it, and the least slip of memory might lead to a +dispute in which you would infallibly come off second best." + +"I feel the force of your arguments, especially in a town where so +much business is carried on." + +When I got into the park I met Martinelli and thanked him for sending +me a copy of the Decameron, while he congratulated me on my re- +appearance in society, and on the young lady of whom I had been the +happy possessor and no doubt the slave. + +"My Lord Pembroke has seen her," said he, "and thought her charming." + +"What? Where could he have seen her?" + +"In a carriage with you driving fast along the Rochester road. It is +three or four days ago." + +"Then I may tell you that I was taking her to Calais; I shall never +see her face again." + +"Will you let the room again in the same way?" + +"No, never again, though the god of love has been propitious to me. +I shall be glad to see you at my house whenever you like to come." + +"Shall I send you a note to warn you?" + +"Not at all." + +We walked on talking about literature, manners, and so forth, in an +aimless way. All at once, as we approached Buckingham House, I saw +five or six persons, relieving nature amidst the bushes, with their +hinder parts facing the passers-by. I thought this a disgusting +piece of indecency, and said as much to Martinelli, adding that the +impudent rascals might at least turn their faces towards the path. + +"Not at all," he exclaimed, "for then they might be recognized; +whereas in exposing their posteriors they run no such risk; besides +the sight makes squeamish persons turn away." + +"You are right, but you will confess that the whole thing strikes a +stranger as very revolting." + +"Yes, there is nothing so ineradicable as national prejudice. You +may have noticed that when an Englishman wants to ease his sluices in +the street, he doesn't run up an alley or turn to the wall like we +do." + +"Yes, I have noticed them turning towards the middle of the street, +but if they thus escape the notice of the people in the shops and on +the pavement they are seen by everybody who is driving in a carriage, +and that is as bad." + +"The people in the carriages need not look." + +"That is true" + +We walked on to the Green Park, and met Lord Pembroke on horseback. +He stopped and burst into exclamations on seeing me. As I guessed +the cause of his surprise, I hastened to tell him that I was a free +man once more, to my sorrow, and felt lonely amidst my splendour. + +"I feel rather curious about it, and perhaps I may come and keep you +company to-day." + +We parted, and reckoning on seeing him at dinner I, went back to tell +my cook that dinner was to be served in the large room. Martinelli +had an engagement and could not come to dinner, but he led me out of +the park by a door with which I was not acquainted, and sent me on my +way. + +As we were going along we saw a crowd of people who seemed to be +staring at something. Martinelli went up to the crowd, and then +returned to me, saying,-- + +"That's a curious sight for you; you can enter it amidst your remarks +on English manners." + +"What is it?" + +"A man at the point of death from a blow he has received in boxing +with another sturdy fellow." + +"Cannot anything be done?" + +"There is a surgeon there who would bleed him, if he were allowed." + +"Who could prevent him?" + +"That's the curious part of it. Two men have betted on his death or +recovery. One says, 'I'll bet twenty guineas he dies,' and the other +says, 'Done.' Number one will not allow the surgeon to bleed him, +for if the man recovered his twenty guineas would be gone." + +"Poor man! what pitiless betters!" + +"The English are very strange in their betting proclivities; they bet +about everything. There is a Betting Club to which I will introduce +you, if you like." + +"Do they speak French there?" + +"Most certainly, for it is composed of men of wit and mark." + +"What do they do?" + +"They talk and argue, and if one man brings forward a proposition +which another denies, and one backs his opinion, the other has to bet +too, on pain of a fine which goes to the common fund." + +"Introduce me to this delightful club, by all means; it will make my +fortune, for I shall always take care to be on the right side." + +"You had better be careful; they are wary birds." + +"But to return to the dying man; what will be done to his +antagonist?" + +"His hand will be examined, and if it is found to be just the same as +yours or mine it will be marked, and he will be let go." + +"I don't understand that, so kindly explain. How do they recognize a +dangerous hand?" + +"If it is found to be marked already, it is a proof that he has +killed his man before and has been marked for it, with the warning, +'Take care not to kill anyone else, for if you do you will be +hanged.'" + +"But supposing such a man is attacked?" + +"He ought to shew his hand, and then his adversary would let him +alone." + +"But if not?" + +"Then he is defending himself; and if he kills his man he is +acquitted, provided he can bring witnesses to swear that he was +obliged to fight." + +"Since fighting with the fist may cause death, I wonder it is +allowed." + +"It is only allowed for a wager. If the combatants do not put one or +more pieces of money on the ground before the fight, and there is a +death, the man is hanged." + +"What laws! What manners!" + +In such ways I learnt much concerning the manner and customs of this +proud nation, at once so great and so little. + +The noble lord came to dinner, and I treated him in a manner to make +him wish to come again. Although there were only the two of us, the +meal lasted a long time, as I was anxious for additional information +on what I had heard in the morning, especially on the Betting Club. +The worthy Pembroke advised me not to have anything to do with it, +unless I made up my mind to keep perfect silence for four or five +weeks. + +"But supposing they ask me a question?" + +"Evade it." + +"Certainly, if I am not in a position to give my opinion; but if I +have an opinion, the powers of Satan could not shut my mouth." + +"All the worse for you." + +"Are the members knaves?" + +"Certainly not. They are noblemen, philosophers, and epicures; but +they are pitiless where a bet is concerned." + +"Is the club treasury rich?" + +"Far from it; they are all ashamed to pay a fine, and prefer to bet. +Who will introduce you?" + +"Martinelli." + +"Quite so; through Lord Spencer, who is a member. I would not become +one." + +"Why not?" + +"Because I don't like argument." + +"My taste runs the other way, so I shall try to get in." + +"By the way, M. de Seingalt, do you know that you are a very +extraordinary man?" + +"For what reason, my lord?" + +"You shut yourself up for a whole month with a woman who spent +fourteen months in London without anybody making her acquaintance or +even discovering her nationality. All the amateurs have taken a +lively interest in the affair." + +"How did you find out that she spent fourteen months in London?" + +"Because several persons saw her in the house of a worthy widow where +she spent the first month. She would never have anything to say to +any advances, but the bill in your window worked wonders." + +"Yes, and all the worse for me, for I feel as if I could never love +another woman." + +"Oh, that's childish indeed! You will love another woman in a week- +nay, perhaps to-morrow, if you will come and dine with me at my +country house. A perfect French beauty has asked me to dine with +her. I have told some of my friends who are fond of gaming." + +"Does the charming Frenchwoman like gaming?" + +"No, but her husband does." + +"What's his name?" + +"He calls himself Count de Castelbajac." + +"Ah! Castelbajac?" + +"Yes." + +"He is a Gascon?" + +"Yes." + +"Tall, thin, and dark, and marked with the smallpox? + +"Exactly! I am delighted to find you know him. You will agree with +me that his wife is very pretty?" + +"I really can't say. I knew Castelbajac, as he calls himself, six +years ago, and I never heard he was married. I shall be delighted to +join you, however. I must warn you not to say anything if he seems +not to know me; he may possibly have good reasons for acting in that +manner. Before long I will tell you a story which does not represent +him in a very advantageous manner. I did not know he played. I +shall take care to be on my guard at the Betting Club, and I advise +you, my lord, to be on your guard in the society of Castelbajac." + +"I will not forget the warning." + +When Pembroke had left me I went to see Madame Cornelis, who had +written a week before to tell me my daughter was ill, and explained +that she had been turned from my doors on two occasions though she +felt certain I was in. To this I replied that I was in love, and so +happy within my own house that I had excluded all strangers, and with +that she had to be contented, but the state in which I found little +Sophie frightened me. She was lying in bed with high fever, she had +grown much thinner, and her eyes seemed to say that she was dying of +grief. Her mother was in despair, for she was passionately fond of +the child, and I thought she would have torn my eyes out when I told +her that if Sophie died she would only have herself to reproach. +Sophie, who was very good-hearted, cried out, "No, no! papa dear;" +and quieted her mother by her caresses. + +Nevertheless, I took the mother aside, and told her that the disease +was solely caused by Sophie's dread of her severity. + +"In spite of your affection," said I, "you treat her with +insufferable tyranny. Send her to a boardingschool for a couple of +years, and let her associate with girls of good family. Tell her +this evening that she is to go to school, and see if she does not get +better." + +"Yes," said she, "but a good boarding-school costs a hundred guineas +a year, including masters." + +"If I approve of the school you select I will pay a year in advance." + +On my making this offer the woman, who seemed to be living so +luxuriously, but was in reality poverty-stricken, embraced me with +the utmost gratitude. + +"Come and tell the news to your daughter now," said she, "I should +like to watch her face when she hears it." + +"Certainly." + +"My dear Sophie," I said, "your mother agrees with me that if you had +a change of air you would get better, and if you would like to spend +a year or two in a good school I will pay the first year in advance." + +"Of course, I will obey my dear mother," said Sophie. + +"There is no question of obedience. Would you like to go to school? +Tell me truly." + +"But would my mother like me to go?" + +"Yes, my child, if it would please you." + +"Then, mamma, I should like to go very much." + +Her face flushed as she spoke, and I knew that my diagnosis had been +correct. I left her saying I should hope to hear from her soon. + +At ten o'clock the next day Jarbe came to ask if I had forgotten my +engagement. + +"No," said I, "but it is only ten o'clock." + +"Yes, but we have twenty miles to go." + +"Twenty miles?" + +"Certainly, the house is at St. Albans." + +"It's very strange Pembroke never told me; how did you find out the +address?" + +"He left it when he went away:" + +"Just like an Englishman." + +I took a post-chaise, and in three hours I had reached my +destination. The English roads are excellent, and the country offers +a smiling prospect on every side. The vine is lacking, for though +the English soil is fertile it will not bear grapes. + +Lord Pembroke's house was not a particularly large one, but twenty +masters and their servants could easily be accommodated in it. + +The lady had not yet arrived, so my lord shewed me his gardens, his +fountains, and his magnificent hot-houses; also a cock chained by the +leg, and of a truly ferocious aspect. + +"What have we here, my lord?" + +"A cock." + +"I see it is, but why do you chain it?" + +"Because it is savage. It is very amorous, and if it were loose it +would go after the hens, and kill all the cocks on the country-side." + +"But why do you condemn him to celibacy?" + +"To make him fiercer. Here, this is the list of his conquests." + +He gave me a list of his cock's victories, in which he had killed the +other bird; this had happened more than thirty times. He then shewed +me the steel spurs, at the sight of which the cock began to ruffle +and crow. I could not help laughing to see such a martial spirit in +so small an animal. He seemed possessed by the demon of strife, and +lifted now one foot and now the other, as if to beg that his arms +might be put on. + +Pembroke then exhibited the helmet, also of steel. + +"But with such arms," said I, "he is sure of conquest." + +"No; for when he is armed cap-a-pie he will not fight with a +defenceless cock." + +"I can't believe it, my lord." + +"It's a well-known fact. Here, read this." + +He then gave me a piece of paper with this remarkable biped's +pedigree. He could prove his thirty-two quarters more easily than a +good many noblemen, on the father's side, be it understood, for if he +could have proved pure blood on the mother's side as well, Lord +Pembroke would have decorated him with the Order of the Golden Fleece +at least. + +"The bird cost me a hundred guineas," said he, "but I would not sell +him for a thousand." + +"Has he any offspring?" + +"He tries his best, but there are difficulties." + +I do not remember whether Lord Pembroke explained what these +difficulties were. Certainly the English offer more peculiarities to +the attentive observer than any other nation. + +At last a carriage containing a lady and two gentlemen drove up to +the door. One of the gentlemen was the rascally Castelbajac and the +other was introduced as Count Schwerin, nephew of the famous marshal +of that name who fell on what is commonly called the field of glory. +General Bekw---- an Englishman who was in the service of the King of +Prussia, and was one of Pembroke's guests, received Schwerin +politely, saying that he had seen his uncle die; at this the modest +nephew drew the Order of the Black Eagle from his breast, and shewed +it to us all covered with blood. + +"My uncle wore it on the day of his death, and the King of Prussia +allowed me to keep it as a noble memorial of my kinsman." + +"Yes," said an Englishman who was present, "but the coat-pocket is +not the place for a thing like that." + +Schwerin made as if he did not understand, and this enabled me to +take his measure. + +Lord Pembroke took possession of the lady, whom I did not think +worthy of being compared to Pauline. She was paler and shorter, and +utterly deficient in Pauline's noble air; besides, when she smiled it +spoiled her face, and this is a defect in a woman, to whom laughter +should always be becoming. + +Lord Pembroke introduced us all to each other, and when he came to me +Castelbajac said he was delighted to see me again, although he might +easily have pretended not to know me under my name of Seingalt. + +We had a good English dinner, and afterwards the lady proposed a game +of faro. My lord never played, so the general consented to amuse the +company by holding the bank, and placed a hundred guineas and several +bank notes on the table. There might be a thousand guineas in all. +He then gave twenty counters to each punter, saying that every +counter was worth ten shillings. As I only staked gold against gold +I would not accept them. By the third deal Schwerin had lost his +twenty counters and asked for twenty more; but the banker told him he +must pay for them, and the self-styled field-marshal's nephew lapsed +into silence and played no more. + +At the following deal Castelbajac was in the same position as his +friend, and being on my side he begged to be allowed to take ten +pieces. + +"You will bring me ill-luck," I said, coldly, warding off his hand; +and he went out to the garden, no doubt to swallow the affront he had +received. The lady said her husband had forgotten his pocketbook. +An hour afterwards the game came to an end, and I took my leave, +after inviting Lord Pembroke and the rest of the company to dine with +me the next day. + +I got home at eleven o'clock without meeting any highwaymen as I had +expected, indeed I had put up six guineas in a small purse for their +special use and benefit. I woke up my cook to tell him that the next +day I should have twelve people to dinner, and that I hoped he would +do me honour. I found a letter from Madame Cornelis on my table +telling me that she and her daughter would drive with me on the +following Sunday, and that we could go and see the boarding-school +she had selected. + +Next day Lord Pembroke and the fair Frenchwoman were the first to +arrive. They drove in a carriage with two rather uncomfortable +seats, but this discomfort is favourable to love. The Gascon and the +Prussian were the last to come. + +We sat down to table at two and left it at four, ail of us well +pleased with the cook, and still more so with the wine merchant; for +though we had emptied forty bottles of wine, not one of us was at all +intoxicated. + +After coffee had been served the general invited us all to sup with +him, and Madame Castelbajac begged me to hold a bank. I did not wait +to be pressed but placed a thousand guineas on the table, and as I +had no counters of any kind I warned the company that I would only +play gold against gold, and that I should stop playing whenever I +thought fit. + +Before the game began the two counts paid their losses of the day +before to the general in bank notes, which he begged me to change. I +also changed two other notes presented to me by the same gentleman, +and put them all under my snuff-box. Play began. I had no croupier, +so I was obliged to deal slowly and keep an eye on the two counts, +whose method of play was very questionable. At last both of them +were dried up, and Castelbajac gave me a bill of exchange for two +hundred guineas, begging me to discount it for him. + +"I know nothing about business," I replied. + +An Englishman took the bill, and after a careful examination said he +neither knew the drawer, the accepter, nor the backer. + +"I am the backer," said Castelbajac, "and that ought to be enough, I +think." + +Everybody laughed, besides myself, and I gave it him back +courteously, saying politely that he could get it discounted on +'Change the next day. He got up in a bad temper, and left the room, +murmuring some insolent expressions. Schwering followed him. + +After these two worthy gentlemen had left us, I went on dealing till +the night was far advanced, and then left off, though I was at a +loss. However, the general had a run of luck, and I thought it best +to stop. Before leaving he took me and Lord Pembroke aside, and +begged me to contrive that the two knaves should not come to his +house the followifig day. "For," said he, "if that Gascon were to be +half as insolent to me as he was to you, I should shew him out by the +window." + +Pembroke said he would tell the lady of the general's wishes. + +"Do you think," said I, "that those four notes of theirs can be +forgeries?" + +"It's very possible." + +"What would you advise my doing to clear the matter up?" + +"I would send them to the bank." + +"And if they should be forgeries?" + +"I would have patience, or I would arrest the rascals." + +The next day I went to the bank myself, and the person to whom I gave +the notes gave me them back, saying, coldly,-- + +"These notes are bad, sir." + +"Be kind enough to examine them closely." + +"It's no good, they are evident forgeries. Return them to the person +from whom you got them, and he will be only too glad to cash them." + +I was perfectly aware that I could put the two knaves under lock and +key, but I did not want to do so. I went to Lord Pembroke to find +out their address, but he was still in bed, and one of his servants +took me to them. They were surprised to see me. I told them coolly +enough that the four notes were forged, and that I should feel much +obliged if they would give me forty guineas and take their notes +back. + +"I haven't got any money," said Castelbajac, "and what you say +astonishes me very much. I can only return them to the persons who +gave them to me, if the are really the same notes that we gave you +yesterday." + +At this suggestion the blood rushed to my face, and with a withering +glance and an indignant apostrophe I left them. Lord Pembroke's +servant took me to a magistrate who, having heard my statement on +oath, gave me a paper authorizing me to arrest two counts. I gave +the document to an alderman, who said he would see it was carried +out, and I went home ill pleased with the whole business. + +Martinelli was waiting for me; he had come to ask me to give him a +dinner. I told him my story, without adding that the knaves were to +be arrested, and his advice delivered with philosophic calm was to +make an autoda-fe of the four notes. It was very good advice, but I +did not take it. + +The worthy Martinelli, thinking to oblige me, told me that he had +arranged with Lord Spencer the day on which I was to be introduced to +the club, but I answered that my fancy for going there was over. I +ought to have treated this learned and distinguished man with more +politeness, but who can sound human weakness to its depths? One +often goes to a wise man for advice which one has not the courage to +follow. + +In the evening I went to the general's, and found the self-styled +Countess Castelbajac seated on Lord Pembroke's knees. The supper was +a good one, and passed off pleasantly; the two rascals were not +there, and their absence was not remarked. When we left the table we +went into another room, and played till day-break. I left the board +with a loss of two or three hundred guineas. + +I did not wake till late the next morning, and when I did my man told +me that a person wanted to speak to me. I had him shewn in, and as +he only spoke English the negro had to be our interpreter. He was +the chief of the police, and told me that if I would pay for the +journey he would arrest Castelbajac at Dover, for which town he had +started at noon. As to the other he was sure of having him in the +course of the night. I gave him a guinea, and told him it would be +enough to catch the one, and that the other could go where he liked. + +The next day was Sunday, the only day on which Madame Cornelis could +go abroad without fear of the bailiff. She came to dine with me, and +brought her daughter, whom the prospect of leaving her mother had +quite cured. The school which Madame Cornelis had chosen was at +Harwich, and we went there after dinner. + +The head-mistress was a Catholic, and though she must have been +sixty, she looked keen, witty, and as if she knew the ways of the +world. She had received an introduction from Lady Harrington, and so +welcomed the young lady in the most cordial manner. She had about +fifteen young boarders of thirteen or fourteen years of age. When +she presented Sophie to them as a new companion, they crowded round +her and covered her with caresses. Five or six were perfect angels +of beauty, and two or three were hideously ugly; and such extremes +are more common in England than anywhere else. My daughter was the +smallest of them all, but as far as beauty went she had nothing to +fear by comparison, and her talents placed her on a par with the +eldest, while she responded to their caresses with that ease which +later in life is only acquired with great difficulty. + +We went over the house, and all the girls followed us, and those who +could speak French or Italian spoke to me, saying how much they would +love my daughter, while those who could not speak sufficiently well +held off as if ashamed of their ignorance. We saw the bedrooms, the +dining-room, the drawing-room, the harps and the pianos--in fact, +everything, and I decided that Sophie could not be better placid. We +went into the head-mistress's private room, and Madame Cornelis paid +her a hundred guineas in advance, and obtained a receipt. We then +agreed that Sophie should be received as a boarder as soon as she +liked to come, that she was to bring her bed with her, and all the +necessary linen. Madame Cornelis made the final arrangements on the +ensuing Sunday. + +Next day the alderman told me that Count Schwerin was a prisoner, and +wanted to speak to me. I declined at first, but as the alderman's +messenger told me, through Jarbe, that the poor devil had not a +farthing in his pocket, I was moved with compassion. As he was +charged with uttering forged notes he had been taken to Newgate, and +was in danger of being hanged. + +I followed the magistrate's messenger, and cannot say how the woeful +aspect, the tears and supplications for mercy of the poor wretch, +moved my heart. He swore that Castelbajac had given him the notes, +but he added that he knew where they came from originally, and would +tell me if I would release him. + +A little bitterness still remained in my breast, so I told him that +if he knew who forged the notes he could certainly escape the +gallows, but that I should keep him prisoner till I got my money +back. At this threat his tears and supplications began over again +and with renewed force, and telling me that he was in utter poverty +he emptied his pockets one after the other to shew me that he had no +money, and at last offered me the bloodstained badge of his uncle. I +was delighted to be able to relieve him without any appearance of +weakness, and accepted the bauble as a pledge, telling him that he +should have it back on payment of forty pounds. + +I wrote out a formal release, and in his presence and in that of the +alderman I burnt the four notes and set him free. + +Two days afterwards the so-called countess came to my house, saying +that now Castelbajac and Schewirin were gone, she knew not where to +lay her head. She complained bitterly of Lord Pembroke, who deserted +her after making her give him the clearest proofs of her affection. +By way of consolation I told her that it would be very foolish of him +to have abandoned her before instead of after. + +To get rid of her I was obliged to give her the money to pay her +journey to Calais. She told me she did not want to rejoin the +Gascon, who was not really her husband. We shall hear more of these +persons in the course of three years. + +Two or three days later an Italian called on me, and gave me a letter +from my friend Baletti, which recommended the bearer, Constantini, a +native of Vicenza, to my good offices. He had come to London on a +matter of importance in which I could help him. + +I assured M. Constantini that I was only too happy to do anything to +justify the confidence placed in my by one of my best friends, and he +said that the long journey had almost exhausted his purse; but he +added,-- + +"I know that my wife lives here, and that she is rich. I shall +easily find out where she lives, and you know that as I am her +husband all that is hers is mine." + +"I was not aware of that." + +"Then you don't know the laws of this country?" + +"Not at all." + +"I am sorry to hear it, but such is the case. I am going to her +house, and I shall turn her out of doors with nothing else than the +dress on her back, for the furniture, clothes, jewels, linen-in fact, +all her possessions, belong to me. May I ask you to be with me when +I perform this exploit?" + +I was astonished. I asked him if he had told Baletti what he +intended to do. + +"You are the first person to whom I have disclosed my intentions." + +I could not treat him as a madman, for he did not look like one, and, +concluding that there really might be the law he had alleged, I +replied that I did not feel inclined to join him in his enterprise, +of which I disapproved very strongly, unless his wife had actually +robbed him of what she possessed. + +"She has only robbed me of my honour, sir, and she left me, taking +her talents with her. She must have made a great fortune here, and +have I not a right to take it from her, were it only for vengeance +sake?" + +"That may be, but I ask you what you would think of me if I agreed to +join you in an undertaking which seems a cruel one to me, however +good your reasons may be. Besides I may know your wife, she may even +be a friend of mine." + +"I will tell you her name." + +"No, I beg of you not to do so, although I do not know any Madame +Constantini." + +"She has changed her name to Calori, and she sings at the +'Haymarket.'" + +"I know who she is now. I am sorry you have told me." + +"I have no doubt you will keep my secret, and I am now going to find +out where she lives; for that is the principal thing." + +He left me weeping, and I pitied him, but at the same time I was +sorry that he had made me the depositary of his secret. A few hours +after I called on Madame Binetti, and she told me the histories of +all the artistes in London. When she came to the Calori she told me +that she had had several lovers out of whom she had made a great +deal, but at present she had no lover, unless it were the violinist +Giardini, with whom she was in love in earnest. + +"Where does she come from?" + +"From Vicenza." + +"Is she married?" + +"I don't think so." + +I thought no more of this wretched business, but three or four days +later I had a letter from King's Bench Prison. It was from +Constantini. The poor wretch said I was the only friend he had in +London, and that he hoped I would come and see him, were it only to +give him some advice. + +I thought it my duty to accede to his request, and I went to the +prison, where I found the poor man in a wretched state, with an old +English attorney, who spoke a little bad Italian, and was known to +me. + +Constantini had been arrested the day before on account of several +bills drawn by his wife which had not been taken up. By these bills +she appeared in debt to the amount of a thousand guineas. The +attorney had got the five bills, and he was trying to make some +arrangements with the husband. + +I saw at once that the whole thing was a scandalous swindle, for +Madame Binetti had told me that the Calori was very rich. I begged +the attorney to leave me alone with the prisoner, as I wanted to have +some private conversation with him. + +"They have arrested me for my wife's debts," said he, "and they tell +me I must pay them because I am her husband." + +"It's a trick your wife has played on you; she must have found out +you were in London." + +"She saw me through the window." + +"Why did you delay putting your project into execution?" + +"I meant to carry it out this morning, but how was I to know that she +had debts?" + +"Nor has she any debts; these bills are shams. They must have been +ante-dated, for they were really executed yesterday. It's a bad +business, and she may have to pay dearly for it." + +"But in the meanwhile I am in prison." + +"Never mind, trust to me, I will see you again tomorrow." + +This scurvy trick had made me angry, and I made up my mind to take up +the poor man's cause. I went to Bosanquet, who told me that the +device was a very common one in London, but that people had found out +the way to defeat it. Finally, he said that if the prisoner +interested me he would put the case into the hands of a barrister who +would extricate him from his difficulty, and make the wife and the +lover, who had probably helped her, repent of their day's work. I +begged him to act as if my interests were at stake, and promised to +guarantee all expenses. + +"That's enough," said he; "don't trouble yourself any more about it." + +Same days after Mr. Bosanquet came to tell me that Constantini had +left the prison and England as well, according to what the barrister +who had charge of the case told him. + +"Impossible!" + +"Not at all. The lover of his wife, foreseeing the storm that was +about to burst over their heads, got round the fellow, and made him +leave the country by means of a sum more or less large." + +The affair was over, but it was soon in all the newspapers, garnished +with all the wit imaginable, and Giardini was warmly praised for the +action he had taken. + +As for me I was glad enough to have the matter over, but I felt vexed +with Constantini for having fled without giving the lovers a lesson. +I wrote an account of the circumstances to Baletti, and I heard from +Madame Binetti that the Calori had given her husband a hundred +guineas to leave the country. Some years later I saw the Calori at +Prague. + +A Flemish officer, the man whom I had helped at Aix-la-Chapelle, had +called on me several times, and had even dined three or four times +with me. I reproached myself for not having been polite enough to +return his call, and when we met in the street, and he reproached me +for not having been to see him, I was obliged to blush. He had his +wife and daughter with him, and some feeling of shame and a good deal +of curiosity made me call on him. + +When he saw me he threw his arms about my neck, calling me his +preserver. I was obliged to receive all the compliments which knaves +make to honest men when they hope to take them in. A few moments +after, an old woman and a girl came in, and I was introduced as the +Chevalier de Seingalt, of whom he had spoken so often. The girl, +affecting surprise, said she had known a M. Casanova, who was very +like me. I answered that Casanova was my name as well as Seingalt, +but that I had not the happiness of recollecting her. + +"My name was Anspergher when I saw you," she replied, "but now it is +Charpillon; and considering that we only met once, and that I was +only thirteen at the time, I do not wonder at your not recollecting +me. I have been in London with my mother and aunts for the last four +years." + +"But where had I the pleasure of speaking to you?" + +"At Paris." + +"In what part of Paris?" + +"In the Bazaar. You were with a charming lady, and you gave me these +buckles" (she shewed me them on her shoes), "and you also did me the +honour to kiss me." + +I recollected the circumstance, and the reader will remember that I +was with Madame Baret, the fair stocking-seller. + +"Now I remember you," said I; "but I do not recognize your aunt." + +"This is the sister of the one you saw, but if you will take tea with +us you will see her." + +"Where do you live?" + +"In Denmark Street, Soho." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +The Charpillon--Dreadful Consequences of My Acquaintance With Her + + +The name Charpillon reminded me that I was the bearer of a letter for +her, and drawing it from my pocket-book I gave it her, saying that +the document ought to cement our acquaintance. + +"What!" she exclaimed, "a letter from the dear ambassador Morosini. +How delighted I am to have it! And you have actually been all these +months in London without giving it me?" + +"I confess I am to blame, but, as you see, the note has no address on +it. I am grateful for the chance which has enabled me to discharge +my commission to-day." + +"Come and dine with us to-morrow." + +"I cannot do so, as I am expecting Lord Pembroke to dinner." + +"Will you be alone?" + +"I expect so." + +"I am glad to hear it; you will see my aunt and myself appearing on +the scene." + +"Here is my address; and I shall be delighted if you will come and +see me." + +She took the address, and I was surprised to see her smile as she +read it. + +"Then you are the Italian," she said, "who put up that notice that +amused all the town?" + +"I am." + +"They say the joke cost you dear." + +"Quite the reverse; it resulted in the greatest happiness." + +"But now that the beloved object has left you, I suppose you are +unhappy?" + +"I am; but there are sorrows so sweet that they are almost joys." + +"Nobody knows who she was, but I suppose you do?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you make a mystery of it?" + +"Surely, and I would rather die than reveal it." + +"Ask my aunt if I may take some rooms in your house; but I am afraid +my mother would not let me." + +"Why do you want to lodge cheaply?" + +"I don't want to lodge cheaply, but I should like to punish the +audacious author of that notice." + +"How would you punish me?" + +"By making you fall in love with me, and then tormenting you. It +would have amused me immensely." + +"Then you think that you can inspire me with love, and at the same +time form the dreadful plan of tyrannising over the victim of your +charms. Such a project is monstrous, and unhappily for us poor men, +you do not look a monster. Nevertheless, I am obliged to you for +your frankness, and I shall be on my guard." + +"Then you must take care never to see me, or else all your efforts +will be in vain." + +As the Charpillon had laughed merrily through the whole of this +dialogue, I took it all as a jest, but I could not help admiring her +manner, which seemed made for the subjugation of men. But though I +knew it not, the day I made that woman's acquaintance was a luckless +one for me, as my readers will see. + +It was towards the end of the month of September, 1763, when I met +the Charpillon, and from that day I began to die. If the lines of +ascent and declination are equal, now, on the first day of November, +1797, I have about four more years of life to reckon on, which will +pass by swiftly, according to the axiom 'Motus in fine velocior'. + +The Charpillon, who was well known in London, and I believe is still +alive, was one of those beauties in whom it is difficult to find any +positive fault. Her hair was chestnut coloured, and astonishingly +long and thick, her blue eyes were at once languorous and brilliant, +her skin, faintly tinged with a rosy hue, was of a dazzling +whiteness; she was tall for her age, and seemed likely to become as +tall as Pauline. Her breast was perhaps a little small, but +perfectly shaped, her hands were white and plump, her feet small, and +her gait had something noble and gracious. Her features were of that +exquisite sensibility which gives so much charm to the fair sex, but +nature had given her a beautiful body and a deformed soul. This +siren had formed a design to wreck my happiness even before she knew +me, and as if to add to her triumph she told me as much. + +I left Malingan's house not like a man who, fond of the fair sex, is +glad to have made the acquaintance of a beautiful woman, but in a +state of stupefaction that the image of Pauline, which was always +before me, was not strong enough to overcome the influence of a +creature like the Charpillon, whom in my heart I could not help +despising. + +I calmed myself by saying that this strong impression was due to +novelty, and by hoping that I should soon be disenchanted. + +"She will have no charm," said I, "when I have once possessed her, +and that will not be long in coming." Perhaps the reader will think +that I was too presumptuous, but why should I suppose that there +would be any difficulty? She had asked me to dinner herself, she had +surrendered herself entirely to Morosini, who was not the man to sigh +for long at any woman's feet, and must have paid her, for he was not +young enough nor handsome enough to inspire her with a fancy for him. +Without counting my physical attractions, I had plenty of money, and +I was not afraid of spending it; and so I thought I could count on an +easy victory. + +Pembroke had become an intimate friend of mine since my proceedings +with regard to Schwerin. He admired my conduct in not making any +claim on the general for half my loss. He had said we would make a +pleasant day of it together, and when he saw that my table was laid +for four he asked who the other guests were to be. He was extremely +surprised when he heard that they were the Charpillon and her aunt, +and that the girl had invited herself when she heard he was to dine +with me. + +"I once took a violent fancy for the little hussy," said he. "It was +one evening when I was at Vauxhall, and I offered her twenty guineas +if she would come and take a little walk with me in a dark alley. +She said she would come if I gave her the money in advance, which I +was fool enough to do. She went with me, but as soon as we were +alone she ran away, and I could not catch her again, though I looked +for her all the evening." + +"You ought to have boxed her ears before everybody." + +"I should have got into trouble, and people would have laughed at me +besides. I preferred to despise her and the money too. Are you in +love with her?" + +"No; but I am curious, as you were." + +"Take care! she will do all in her power to entrap you." + +She came in and went up to my lord with the most perfect coolness, +and began to chatter away to him without taking any notice of me. +She laughed, joked, and reproached him for not having pursued her at +Vauxhall. Her stratagem, she said, was only meant to excite him the +more. + +"Another time," she added, "I shall not escape you." + +"Perhaps not, my dear, for another time I shall take care not to pay +in advance." + +"Oh, fie! you degrade yourself by talking about paying." + +"I suppose I honour you." + +"We never talk of such things." + +Lord Pembroke laughed at her impertinences, while she made a vigorous +assault on him, for his coolness and indifference piqued her. + +She left us soon after dinner, making me promise to dine with her the +day after next. + +I passed the next day with the amiable nobleman who initiated me into +the mysteries of the English bagnio, an entertainment which I shall +not describe, for it is well known to all who care to spend six +guineas. + +On the day appointed, my evil destiny made me go to the Charpillon's; +the girl introduced me to her mother, whom I at once recollected, +although she had aged and altered since I had seen her. + +In the year 1759 a Genevan named Bolome had persuaded me to sell her +jewels to the extent of six thousand francs, and she had paid me in +bills drawn by her and her two sisters on this Bolome, but they were +then known as Anspergher. The Genevan became bankrupt before the +bills were due, and the three sisters disappeared. As may be +imagined, I was surprised to find them in England, and especially to +be introduced to them by the Charpillon, who, knowing nothing of the +affair of the jewels, had not told them that Seingalt was the same as +Casanova, whom they had cheated of six thousand francs. + +"I am delighted to see you again," were the first words I addressed +to her. + +"I recollect you, sir; that rascal Bolome . . . ." + +"We will discuss that subject another time. I see you are ill." + +"I have been at death's door, but I am better now. My daughter did +not tell me your proper name." + +"Yes, she did. My name is Seingalt as well as Casanova. I was known +by the latter name at Paris when I made your daughter's acquaintance, +though I did not know then that she was your daughter." + +Just then the grandmother, whose name was also Anspergher, came in +with the two aunts, and a quarter of an hour later three men arrived, +one of whom was the Chevalier Goudar, whom I had met at Paris. I did +not know the others who were introduced to me under the names of +Rostaing and Caumon. They were three friends of the household, whose +business it was to bring in dupes. + +Such was the infamous company in which I found myself, and though I +took its measure directly, yet I did not make my escape, nor did I +resolve never to go to the house again. I was fascinated; I thought +I would be on my guard and be safe, and as I only wanted the daughter +I looked on all else as of little moment. + +At table I led the conversation, and thought that my prey would soon +be within my grasp. The only thing which annoyed me was that the +Charpillon, after apologizing for having made me sit down to such a +poor dinner, invited herself and all the company to sup with me on +any day I liked to mention. I could make no opposition, so I begged +her to name the day herself, and she did so, after a consultation +with her worthy friends. + +After coffee had been served we played four rubbers of whist, at +which I lost, and at midnight I went away ill pleased with myself, +but with no purpose of amendment, for this sorceress had got me in +her toils. + +All the same I had the strength of mind to refrain from seeing her +for two days, and on the third, which was the day appointed for the +cursed supper, she and her aunt paid me a call at nine o'clock in the +morning. + +"I have come to breakfast with you, and to discuss a certain +question," said she, in the most engaging manner. + +"Will you tell me your business now, or after breakfast?" + +"After breakfast; for we must be alone." + +We had our breakfast, and then the aunt went into another room, and +the Charpillon, after describing the monetary situation of the +family, told me that it would be much relieved if her aunt could +obtain a hundred guineas. + +"What would she do with the money?" + +"She would make the Balm of Life, of which she possesses the secret, +and no doubt she would make her fortune, too." + +She then began to dilate on the marvellous properties of the balm, on +its probable success in a town like London, and on the benefits which +would accrue to myself, for of course I should share in the profits. +She added that her mother and aunt would give me a written promise to +repay the money in the course of six years. + +"I will give you a decided answer after supper." + +I then began to caress her, and to make assaults in the style of an +amorous man, but it was all in vain, though I succeeded in stretching +her on a large sofa. She made her escape, however, and ran to her +aunt, while I followed her, feeling obliged to laugh as she did. She +gave me her hand, and said,-- + +"Farewell, till this evening." + +When they were gone, I reflected over what had passed and thought +this first scene of no bad augury. I saw that I should get nothing +out of her without spending a hundred guineas, and I determined not +to attempt to bargain, but I would let her understand that she must +make up her mind not to play prude. The game was in my hands, and +all I had to do was to take care not to be duped. + +In the evening the company arrived, and the girl asked me to hold a +bank till supper was ready; but I declined, with a burst of laughter +that seemed to puzzle her. + +"At least, let us have a game of whist," said she. + +"It seems to me," I answered, "that you don't feel very anxious to +hear my reply." + +"You have made up your mind, I suppose?" + +"I have, follow me." + +She followed me into an adjoining room, and after she had seated +herself on a sofa, I told her that the hundred guineas were at her +disposal. + +"Then please to give the money to my aunt, otherwise these gentlemen +might think I got it from you by some improper means." + +"I will do so." + +I tried to get possession of her, but in vain; and I ceased my +endeavours when she said,-- + +"You will get nothing from me either by money or violence; but you +can hope for all when I find you really nice and quiet." + +I re-entered the drawing-room, and feeling my blood boiling I began +to play to quiet myself. She was as gay as ever, but her gaiety +tired me. At supper I had her on my right hand, but the hundred +impertinences which, under other circumstances, would have amused me, +only wearied me, after the two rebuffs I had received from her. + +After supper, just as they were going, she took me aside, and told me +that if I wanted to hand over the hundred guineas she would tell her +aunt to go with me into the next room. + +"As documents have to be executed," I replied, "it will take some +time; we will talk of it again. + +"Won't you fix the time?" + +I drew out my purse full of gold, and shewed it her, saying,-- + +"The time depends entirely on you." + +When my hateful guests were gone, I began to reflect, and came to the +conclusion that this young adventuress had determined to plunder me +without giving me anything in return. I determined to have nothing +more to do with her, but I could not get her beauty out of my mind. + +I felt I wanted some distraction, something that would give me new +aims and make me forget her. With this idea I went to see my +daughter, taking with me an immense bag of sweets. + +As soon as I was in the midst of the little flock, the delight became +general, Sophie distributing the sweetmeats to her friends, who +received them gratefully. + +I spent a happy day, and for a week or two I paid several visits to +Harwich. The mistress treated me with the utmost politeness and my +daughter with boundless affection, always calling me "dear papa." + +In less than three weeks I congratulated myself on having forgotten +the Charpillon, and on having replaced her by innocent amours, though +one of my daughter's schoolmates pleased me rather too much for my +peace of mind. + +Such was my condition when one morning the favourite aunt of the +Charpillon paid me a call, and said that they were all mystified at +not having seen me since the supper I had given them, especially +herself, as her niece had given her to understand that I would +furnish her with the means of making the Balm of Life. + +"Certainly; I would have given you the hundred guineas if your niece +had treated me as a friend, but she refused me favours a vestal might +have granted, and you must be aware that she is by no means a +vestal." + +"Don't mind my laughing. My niece is an innocent, giddy girl; she +loves you, but she is afraid you have only a passing whim for her. +She is in bed now with a bad cold, and if you will come and see her I +am sure you will be satisfied." + +These artful remarks, which had no doubt been prepared in advance, +ought to have aroused all my scorn, but instead of that they awakened +the most violent desires. I laughed in chorus with the old woman, +and asked what would be the best time to call. + +"Come now, and give one knock." + +"Very good, then you may expect me shortly." + +I congratulated myself on being on the verge of success, for after +the explanation I had had with the aunt, and having, as I thought, a +friend in her, I did not doubt that I should succeed. + +I put on my great coat, and in less than a quarter of an hour I +knocked at their door. The aunt opened to me, and said,-- + +"Come back in a quarter of an hour; she has been ordered a bath, and +is just going to take it." + +"This is another imposture. You're as bad a liar as she is." + +"You are cruel and unjust, and if you will promise to be discreet, I +will take you up to the third floor where she is bathing." + +"Very good; take me." She went upstairs, I following on tiptoe, and +pushed me into a room, and shut the door upon me. The Charpillon was +in a huge bath, with her head towards the door, and the infernal +coquette, pretending to think it was her aunt, did not move, and +said,-- + +"Give me the towels, aunt." + +She was in the most seductive posture, and I had the pleasure of +gazing on her exquisite proportions, hardly veiled by the water. + +When she caught sight of me, or rather pretended to do so, she gave a +shriek, huddled her limbs together, and said, with affected anger,-- + +"Begone!" + +"You needn't exert your voice, for I am not going to be duped." + +"Begone!" + +"Not so, give me a little time to collect myself." + +"I tell you, go!" + +"Calm yourself, and don't be afraid of my skewing you any violence; +that would suit your game too well." + +"My aunt shall pay dearly for this." + +"She will find me her friend. I won't touch you, so shew me a little +more of your charms." + +"More of my charms?" + +"Yes; put yourself as you were when I came in." + +"Certainly not. Leave the room." + +"I have told you I am not going, and that you need not fear for your +. . . well, for your virginity, we will say." + +She then shewed me a picture more seductive than the first, and +pretending kindliness, said,-- + +"Please, leave me; I will not fail to shew my gratitude." + +Seeing that she got nothing, that I refrained from touching her, and +that the fire she had kindled was in a fair way to be put out, she +turned her back to me to give me to understand that it was no +pleasure to her to look at me. However, my passions were running +high, and I had to have recourse to self-abuse to calm my senses, and +was glad to find myself relieved, as this proved to me that the +desire went no deeper than the senses. + +The aunt came in just as I had finished, and I went out without a +word, well pleased to find myself despising a character wherein +profit and loss usurped the place of feeling. + +The aunt came to me as I was going out of the house, and after +enquiring if I were satisfied begged me to come into the parlour. + +"Yes," said I, "I am perfectly satisfied to know you and your niece. +Here is the reward." + +With these words I drew a bank-note for a hundred pounds from my +pocket-book, and was foolish enough to give it her, telling her that +she could make her balm, and need not trouble to give me any document +as I knew if would be of no value. I had not the strength to go away +without giving her anything, and the procuress was sharp enough to +know it. + +When I got home I reflected on what had happened, and pronounced +myself the conqueror with great triumph. I felt well at ease, and +felt sure that I should never set foot in that house again. There +were seven of them altogether, including servants, and the need of +subsisting made them do anything for a living; and when they found +themselves obliged to make use of men, they summoned the three +rascals I have named, who were equally dependent on them. + +Five or six days afterwards, I met the little hussy at Vauxhall in +company with Goudar. I avoided her at first, but she came up to me +reproaching me for my rudeness. I replied coolly enough, but +affecting not to notice my manner, she asked me to come into an +arbour with her and take a cup of tea. + +"No, thank you," I replied, "I prefer supper." + +"Then I will take some too, and you will give it me, won't you, just +to shew that you bear no malice?" + +I ordered supper for four and we sat down together as if we had been +intimate friends. + +Her charming conversation combined with her beauty gradually drew me +under her charm, and as the drink began to exercise its influence +over me, I proposed a turn in one of the dark walks, expressing a +hope that I should fare better than Lord Pembroke. She said gently, +and with an appearance of sincerity that deceived me, that she wanted +to be mine, but by day and on the condition that I would come and see +her every day. + +"I will do so, but first give me one little proof of your love." + +"Most certainly not." + +I got up to pay the bill, and then I left without a word, refusing to +take her home. I went home by myself and went to bed. + +The first thought when I awoke was that I was glad she had not taken +me at my word; I felt very strongly that it was to my interest to +break off all connection between that creature and myself. I felt +the strength of her influence over me, and that my only way was to +keep away from her, or to renounce all pretension to the possession +of her charms. + +The latter plan seemed to me impossible, so I determined to adhere to +the first; but the wretched woman had resolved to defeat all my +plans. The manner in which she succeeded must have been the result +of a council of the whole society. + +A few days after the Vauxhall supper Goudar called on me, and began +by congratulating me on my resolution not to visit the Ansperghers +any more, "for," said he, "the girl would have made you more and more +in love with her, and in the end she would have seduced you to +beggary." + +"You must think me a great fool. If I had found her kind I should +have been grateful, but without squandering all my money; and if she +had been cruel, instead of ridiculous, I might have given her what I +have already given her every day, without reducing myself to +beggary." + +"I congratulate you; it shews that you are well off. But have you +made up your mind not to see her again?" + +"Certainly." + +"Then you are not in love with her?" + +"I have been in love, but I am so no longer; and in a few days she +will have passed completely out of my memory. I had almost forgotten +her when I met her with you at Vauxhall." + +"You are not cured. The way to be cured of an amour does not lie in +flight, when the two parties live in the same town. Meetings will +happen, and all the trouble has to be taken over again." + +"Then do you know a better way?" + +"Certainly; you should satiate yourself. It is quite possible that +the creature is not in love with you, but you are rich and she has +nothing. You might have had her for so much, and you could have left +her when you found her to be unworthy of your constancy. You must +know what kind of a woman she is." + +"I should have tried this method gladly, but I found her out." + +"You could have got the best of her, though, if you had gone to work +in the proper way. You should never have paid in advance. I know +everything." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I know she has cost you a hundred guineas, and that you have not won +so much as a kiss from her. Why, my dear sir, you might have had her +comfortably in your own bed for as much! She boasts that she took +you in, though you pride yourself on your craft." + +"It was an act of charity towards her aunt." + +"Yes, to make her Balm of Life; but you know if it had not been for +the niece the aunt would never have had the money." + +"Perhaps not, but how come you who are of their party to be talking +to me in this fashion?" + +"I swear to you I only speak out of friendship for you, and I will +tell you how I came to make the acquaintance of the girl, her mother, +her grandmother and her two aunts, and then you will no longer +consider me as of their party. + +"Sixteen months ago I saw M. Morosini walking about Vauxhall by +himself. He had just come to England to congratulate the king on his +accession to the throne, on behalf of the Republic of Venice. I saw +how enchanted he was with the London beauties, and I went up to him +and told him that all these beauties were at his service. This made +him laugh, and on my repeating that it was not a jest he pointed out +one of the girls, and asked if she would be at his service. I did +not know her, so I asked him to wait awhile, and I would bring him +the information he required. There was no time to be lost, and I +could see that the girl was not a vestal virgin, so I went up to her +and told her that the Venetian ambassador was amorous of her, and +that I would take her to him if she would receive his visits. The +aunt said that a nobleman of such an exalted rank could only bring +honour to her niece. I took their address, and on my way back to the +ambassador I met a friend of mine who is learned in such commodities, +and after I had shewed him the address he told me it was the +Charpillon." + +"And it was she?" + +"It was. My friend told me she was a young Swiss girl who was not +yet in the general market, but who would soon be there, as she was +not rich, and had a numerous train to support. + +"I rejoined the Venetian, and told him that his business was done, +and asked him at what time I should introduce him the next day, +warning him that as she had a mother and aunts she would not be +alone. + +"'I am glad to hear it,' said he, 'and also that she is not a common +woman.' He gave me an appointment for the next day, and we parted. + +"I told the ladies at what hour I should have the pleasure of +introducing the great man to them, and after warning them that they +must appear not to know him I went home. + +"The following day I called on M. de Morosini, and took him to +Denmark Street incognito. We spent an hour in conversation, and then +went away without anything being settled. On the way back the +ambassador told me that he should like to have the girl on conditions +which he would give me in writing at his residence. + +"These conditions were that she should live in a furnished house free +of rent, without any companion, and without receiving any visitors. +His excellency would give her fifty guineas a month, and pay for +supper whenever he came and spent the night with her. He told me to +get the house if his conditions were received. The mother was to +sign the agreement. + +"The ambassador was in a hurry, and in three days the agreement was +signed; but I obtained a document from the mother promising to let me +have the girl for one night as soon as the Venetian had gone; it was +known he was only stopping in London for a year." + +Goudar extracted the document in question from his pocket, and gave +it to me. I read it and re-read it with as much surprise as +pleasure, and he then proceeded with his story. + +"When the ambassador had gone, the Charpillon, finding herself at +liberty once more, had Lord Baltimore, Lord Grosvenor, and M. de Saa, +the Portuguese ambassador, in turn, but no titular lover. I insisted +on having my night with her according to agreement, but both mother +and daughter laughed at me when I spoke of it. I cannot arrest her, +because she is a minor, but I will have the mother imprisoned on the +first opportunity, and you will see how the town will laugh. Now you +know why I go to their house; and I assure you you are wrong if you +think I have any part in their councils. Nevertheless, I know they +are discussing how they may catch you, and they will do so if you do +not take care." + +"Tell the mother that I have another hundred guineas at her service +if she will let me have her daughter for a single night." + +"Do you mean that?" + +"Assuredly, but I am not going to pay in advance." + +"That's the only way not to be duped. I shall be glad to execute +your commission." + +I kept the rogue to dinner, thinking he might be useful to me. He +knew everything and everybody, and told me a number of amusing +ancedotes. Although a good-for-nothing fellow, he had his merits. +He had written several works, which, though badly constructed, shewed +he was a man of some wit. He was then writing his "Chinese Spy," and +every day he wrote five or six news-letters from the various coffee- +houses he frequented. I wrote one or two letters for him, with which +he was much pleased. The reader will see how I met him again at +Naples some years later. + +The next morning, what was my surprise to see the Charpillon, who +said with an air that I should have taken for modesty in any other +woman,-- + +"I don't want you to give me any breakfast, I want an explanation, +and to introduce Miss Lorenzi to you." + +I bowed to her and to her companion, and then said,-- + +"What explanation do you require?" + +At this, Miss Lorenzi, whom I had never seen before, thought proper +to leave us, and I told my man that I was not at home to anybody. I +ordered breakfast to be served to the companion of the nymph, that +she might not find the waiting tedious. + +"Sir," said the Charpillon, "is it a fact that you charged the +Chevalier Goudar to tell my mother that you would give a hundred +guineas to spend the night with me?" + +"No, not to spend a night with you, but after I had passed it. Isn't +the price enough?" + +"No jesting, sir, if you please. There is no question of bargaining; +all I want to know is whether you think you have a right to insult +me, and that I am going to bear it?" + +"If you think yourself insulted, I may, perhaps, confess I was wrong; +but I confess I did not think I should have to listen to any +reproaches from you. Gondar is one of your intimate friends, and +this is not the first proposal he has taken to you. I could not +address you directly, as I know your arts only too well." + +"I shall not pay any attention to your abuse of my self; I will only +remind you of what I said 'that neither money nor violence were of +any use,' and that your only way was to make me in love with you by +gentle means. Shew me where I have broken my word! It is you that +have foresworn yourself in coming into my bath-room, and in sending +such a brutal message to my mother. No one but a rascal like Goudar +would have dared to take such a message." + +"Goudar a rascal, is he? Well, he is your best friend. You know he +is in love with you, and that he only got you for the ambassador in +the hope of enjoying you himself. The document in his possession +proves that you have behaved badly towards him. You are in his debt, +discharge it, and then call him a rascal if you have the conscience +to do so. You need not trouble to weep, for I knew the source of +those tears; it is defiled." + +"You know nothing of it. I love you, and it is hard to have you +treat me so." + +"You love me? You have not taken the best way to prove it!" + +"As good a way as yours. You have behaved to me as if I were the +vilest of prostitutes, and yesterday you seemed to think I was a +brute beast, the slave of my mother. You should have written to me +in person, and without the intervention of so vile an agent; I should +have replied in the same way, and you need not have been afraid that +you would be deceived." + +"Supposing I had written, what would your answer have been?" + +"I should have put all money matters out of question. I should have +promised to content you on the condition that you would come and +court me for a fortnight without demanding the slightest favour. We +should have lived a pleasant life; we should have gone to the theatre +and to the parks. I should have become madly in love with you. Then +I should have given myself up to you for love, and nothing but love. +I am ashamed to say that hitherto I have only given myself out of +mere complaisance. Unhappy woman that I am! but I think nature meant +me to love, and I thought when I saw you that my happy star had sent +you to England that I might know the bliss of true affection. +Instead of this you have only made me unhappy. You are the first man +that has seen me weep; you have troubled my peace at home, for my +mother shall never have the sum you promised her were it for nothing +but a kiss." + +"I am sorry to have injured you, though I did not intend to do so; +but I really don't know what I can do." + +"Come and see us, and keep your money, which I despise. If you love +me, come and conquer me like a reasonable and not a brutal lover; and +I will help you, for now you cannot doubt that I love you." + +All this seemed so natural to me that I never dreamed it contained a +trap. I was caught, and I promised to do what she wished, but only +for a fortnight. She confirmed her promise, and her countenance +became once more serene and calm. The Charpillon was a born actress. + +She got up to go, and on my begging a kiss as a pledge of our +reconciliation she replied, with a smile, the charm of which she well +knew, that it would not do to begin by breaking the term of our +agreement, and she left me more in love than ever, and full of +repentance for my conduct. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Goudar's Chair + +If she had written all this to me instead of coming and delivering it +viva voce, it would probably have produced no effect; there would +have been no tears, no ravishing features. She probably calculated +all this, for women have a wonderful instinct in these matters. + +That very evening I began my visits, and judged from my welcome that +my triumph was nigh at hand. But love fills our minds with idle +visions, and draws a veil over the truth. + +The fortnight went by without my even kissing her hand, and every +time I came I brought some expensive gift, which seemed cheap to me +when I obtained such smiles of gratitude in exchange. Besides these +presents, not a day passed without some excursion to the country or +party at the theatre; that fortnight must have cost me four hundred +guineas at the least. + +At last it came to an end, and I asked her in the presence of her +mother where she would spend the night with me, there or at my house. +The mother said that we would settle it after supper, and I made no +objection, not liking to tell her that in my house the supper would +be more succulent, and a better prelude for the kind of exercise I +expected to enjoy. + +When we had supped the mother took me aside, and asked me to leave +with the company and then to come back. I obeyed, laughing to myself +at this foolish mystery, and when I came back I found the mother and +the daughter in the parlour, in which a bed had been laid on the +floor. + +Though I did not much care for this arrangement, I was too amorous to +raise any objection at a moment when I thought my triumph was at +hand; but I was astonished when the mother asked me if I would like +to pay the hundred guineas in advance. + +"Oh, fie!" exclaimed the girl; and her mother left the room, and we +locked the door. + +My amorous feelings, so long pent up within my breast, would soon +find relief. I approached her with open arms; but she avoided my +caress, and gently begged me to get into bed while she prepared to +follow me. I watched her undress with delight, but when she had +finished she put out the candles. I complained of this act of hers, +but she said she could not sleep with the light shining on her. I +began to suspect that I might have some difficulties thrown in my way +to sharpen the pleasure, but I determined to be resigned and to +overcome them all. + +When I felt her in the bed I tried to clasp her in my arms, but found +that she had wrapped herself up in her long night-gown; her arms were +crossed, and her head buried in her chest. I entreated, scolded, +cursed, but all in vain; she let me go on, and answered not a word. + +At first I thought it was a joke, but I soon found out my mistake; +the veil fell from my eyes and I saw myself in my true colours, the +degraded dupe of a vile prostitute. + +Love easily becomes fury. I began to handle her roughly, but she +resisted and did not speak. I tore her night-gown to rags, but I +could not tear it entirely off her. My rage grew terrible, my hands +became talons, and I treated her with the utmost cruelty; but all for +nothing. At last, with my hand on her throat, I felt tempted to +strangle her; and then I knew it was time for me to go. + +It was a dreadful night. I spoke to this monster of a woman in every +manner and tone-with gentleness, with argument, rage, remonstrance, +prayers, tears, and abuse, but she resisted me for three hours +without abandoning her painful position, in spite of the torments I +made her endure. + +At three o'clock in the morning, feeling my mind and body in a state +of exhaustion, I got up and dressed myself by my sense of touch. I +opened the parlour door, and finding the street door locked I shook +it till a servant came and let me out. I went home and got into bed, +but excited nature refused me the sleep I needed so. I took a cup of +chocolate, but it would not stay on my stomach, and soon after a +shivering fit warned me that I was feverish. I continued to be ill +till the next day, and then the fever left me in a state of complete +exhaustion. + +As I was obliged to keep to my bed for a few days, I knew that I +should soon get my health again; but my chief consolation was that at +last I was cured. My shame had made me hate myself. + +When I felt the fever coming on I told my man not to let anybody come +to see me, and to place all my letters in my desk; for I wanted to be +perfectly well before I troubled myself with anything. + +On the fourth day I was better, and I told Jarbe to give me my +letters. I found one from Pauline, dated from Madrid, in which she +informed me that Clairmont had saved her life while they were fording +a river, and she had determined to keep him till she got to Lisbon, +and would then send him back by sea. I congratulated myself at the +time on her resolve; but it was a fatal one for Clairmont, and +indirectly for me also. Four months after, I heard that the ship in +which he had sailed had been wrecked, and as I never heard from him +again I could only conclude that my faithful servant had perished +amidst the waves. + +Amongst my London letters I found two from the infamous mother of the +infamous Charpillon, and one from the girl herself. The first of the +mother's letters, written before I was ill, told me that her daughter +was ill in bed, covered with bruises from the blows I had given her, +so that she would be obliged to institute legal proceedings against +me. In the second letter she said she had heard I too was ill, and +that she was sorry to hear it, her daughter having informed her that +I had some reason for my anger; however, she would not fail to +justify herself on the first opportunity. The Charpillon said in her +letter that she knew she had done wrong, and that she wondered I had +not killed her when I took her by the throat. She added that no +doubt I had made up my mind to visit her no more, but she hoped I +would allow her one interview as she had an important communication +to make to me. There was also a note from Goudar, saying that he +wanted to speak to me, and that he would come at noon. I gave orders +that he should be admitted. + +This curious individual began by astonishing me; he told me the whole +story of what had taken place, the mother having been his informant. + +"The Charpillon," he added, "has not got a fever, but is covered with +bruises. What grieves the old woman most is that she has not got the +hundred guineas." + +"She would have had them the next morning," I said, "if her daughter +had been tractable." + +"Her mother had made her swear that she would not be tractable, and +you need not hope to possess her without the mother's consent." + +"Why won't she consent?" + +"Because she thinks that you will abandon the girl as soon as you +have enjoyed her." + +"Possibly, but she would have received many valuable presents, and +now she is abandoned and has nothing." + +"Have you made up your mind not to have anything more to do with +her?" + +"Quite." + +"That's your wisest plan, and I advise you to keep to it, +nevertheless I want to shew you something which will surprise you. I +will be back in a moment." + +He returned, followed by a porter, who carried up an arm-chair +covered with a cloth. As soon as we were alone, Goudar took off the +covering and asked me if I would buy it. + +"What should I do with it? It is not a very attractive piece of +furniture." + +"Nevertheless, the price of it is a hundred guineas." + +"I would not give three." + +"This arm-chair has five springs, which come into play all at once as +soon as anyone sits down in it. Two springs catch the two arms and +hold them tightly, two others separate the legs, and the fifth lifts +up the seat." + +After this description Goudar sat down quite naturally in the chair +and the springs came into play and forced him into the position of a +woman in labour. + +"Get the fair Charpillon to sit in this chair," said he, "and your +business is done." + +I could not help laughing at the contrivance, which struck me as at +once ingenious and diabolical, but I could not make up my mind to +avail myself of it. + +"I won't buy it," said I, "but I shall be obliged if you will leave +it here till to-morrow." + +"I can't leave it here an hour unless you will buy it; the owner is +waiting close by to hear your answer." + +"Then take it away and come back to dinner." + +He shewed me how I was to release him from his ridiculous position, +and then after covering it up again he called the porter and went +away. + +There could be no doubt as to the action of the machinery, and it was +no feeling of avarice which hindered me from buying the chair. As I +have said, it seemed rather a diabolical idea, and besides it might +easily have sent me to the gallows. Furthermore, I should never have +had the strength of mind to enjoy the Charpillon forcibly, especially +by means of the wonderful chair, the mechanism of which would have +frightened her out of her wits. + +At dinner I told Goudar that the Charpillon had demanded an +interview, and that I had wished to keep the chair so as to shew her +that I could have her if I liked. I shewed him the letter, and he +advised me to accede to her request, if only for curiosity's sake. + +I was in no hurry to see the creature while the marks on her face and +neck were still fresh, so I spent seven or eight days without making +up my mind to receive her. Goudar came every day, and told me of the +confabulations of these women who had made up their minds not to live +save by trickery. + +He told me that the grandmother had taken the name of Anspergher +without having any right to it, as she was merely the mistress of a +worthy citizen of Berne, by whom she had four daughters; the mother +of the Charpillon was the youngest of the family, and, as she was +pretty and loose in her morals, the Government had exiled her with +her mother and sisters. They had then betaken themselves to Franche- +Comte, where they lived for some time on the Balm of Life. Here it +was that the Charpillon came into the world, her mother attributing +her to a Count de Boulainvilliers. The child grew up pretty, and the +family removed to Paris under the impression that it would be the +best market for such a commodity, but in the course of four years the +income from the Balm having dwindled greatly, the Charpillon being +still too young to be profitable, and debtors closing round them on +every side, they resolved to come to London. + +He then proceeded to tell me of the various tricks and cheats which +kept them all alive. I found his narrative interesting enough then, +but the reader would find it dull, and I expect will be grateful for +my passing it over. + +I felt that it was fortunate for me that I had Goudar, who introduced +me to all the most famous courtezans in London, above all to the +illustrious Kitty Fisher, who was just beginning to be fashionable. +He also introduced me to a girl of sixteen, a veritable prodigy of +beauty, who served at the bar of a tavern at which we took a bottle +of strong beer. She was an Irishwoman and a Catholic, and was named +Sarah. I should have liked to get possession of her, but Goudar had +views of his own on the subject, and carried her off in the course of +the next year. He ended by marrying her, and she was the Sara Goudar +who shone at Naples, Florence, Venice, and elsewhere. We shall hear +of her in four or five years, still with her husband. Goudar had +conceived the plan of making her take the place of Dubarry, mistress +of Louis XV., but a lettre de cachet compelled him to try elsewhere. +Ah! happy days of lettres de cachet, you have gone never to return! + +The Charpillon waited a fortnight for me to reply, and then resolved +to return to the charge in person. This was no doubt the result of a +conference of the most secret kind, for I heard nothing of it from +Gondar. + +She came to see my by herself in a sedan-chair, and I decided on +seeing her. I was taking my chocolate and I let her come in without +rising or offering her any breakfast. She asked me to give her some +with great modesty, and put up her face for me to give her a kiss, +but I turned my head away. However, she was not in the least +disconcerted. + +"I suppose the marks of the blows you gave me make my face so +repulsive?" + +"You lie; I never struck you." + +"No, but your tiger-like claws have left bruises all over me. Look +here. No, you needn't be afraid that what you see may prove too +seductive; besides, it will have no novelty for you." + +So saying the wretched creature let me see her body, on which some +livid marks were still visible. + +Coward that I was! Why did I not look another way? I will tell you: +it was because she was so beautiful, and because a woman's charms are +unworthy of the name if they cannot silence reason. I affected only +to look at the bruises, but it was an empty farce. I blush for +myself; here was I conquered by a simple girl, ignorant of well nigh +everything. But she knew well enough that I was inhaling the poison +at every pore. All at once she dropped her clothes and came and sat +beside me, feeling sure that I should have relished a continuance of +the spectacle. + +However, I made an effort and said, coldly, that it was all her own +fault. + +"I know it is," said she, "for if I had been tractable as I ought to +have been, you would have been loving instead of cruel. But +repentance effaces sin, and I am come to beg pardon. May I hope to +obtain it?" + +"Certainly; I am angry with you no longer, but I cannot forgive +myself. Now go, and trouble me no more." + +"I will if you like, but there is something you have not heard, and I +beg you will listen to me a moment." + +"As I have nothing to do you can say what you have got to say, I will +listen to you." + +In spite of the coldness of my words, I was really profoundly +touched, and the worst of it was that I began to believe in the +genuineness of her motives. + +She might have relieved herself of what she had to say in a quarter +of an hour, but by dint of tears, sighs, groans, digressions, and so +forth, she took two hours to tell me that her mother had made her +swear to pass the night as she had done. She ended by saying that +she would like to be mine as she had been M. Morosini's, to live with +me, and only to go out under my escort, while I might allow her a +monthly sum which she would hand over to her mother, who would, in +that case, leave her alone. + +She dined with me, and it was in the evening that she made this +proposition. I suppose because she thought me ripe for another +cheat. I told her that it might be arranged, but that I should +prefer to settle with her mother, and that she would see me at their +house the following day, and this seemed to surprise her. + +It is possible that the Charpillon would have granted me any favour +on that day, and then there would have been no question of deception +or resistance for the future. Why did I not press her? Because +sometimes love stupefies instead of quickens, and because I had been +in a way her judge, and I thought it would be base of me to revenge +myself on her by satisfying my amorous desires, and possibly because +I was a fool, as I have often been in the course of my existence. +She must have left me in a state of irritation, and no doubt she +registered a vow to revenge herself on me for the half-contemptuous +way in which I had treated her. + +Goudar was astonished when he heard of her visit, and of the way in +which I had spent the day. I begged him to get me a small furnished +house, and in the evening I went to see the infamous woman in her own +house. + +She was with her mother, and I laid my proposal before them. + +"Your daughter will have a house at Chelsea," said I to the mother, +"where I can go and see her whenever I like, and also fifty guineas a +month to do what she likes with." + +"I don't care what you give her a month," she replied, "but before I +let her leave my house she must give me the hundred guineas she was +to have had when she slept with you." + +"It is your fault that she didn't have them; however, to cut the +matter short, she shall give them to you." + +"And in the meanwhile, till you have found the house, I hope you will +come and see me." + +"Yes." + +The next day Goudar shewed me a pretty house at Chelsea, and I took +it, paying ten guineas, a month's rent, in advance, for which I +received a receipt. In the afternoon I concluded the bargain with +the mother, the Charpillon being present. The mother asked me to +give her the hundred guineas, and I did so, not fearing any +treachery, as nearly the whole of the girl's clothing was already at +Chelsea. + +In due course we went to our country house. The Charpillon liked the +house immensely, and after a short talk we supped merrily together. +After supper we went to bed, and she granted me some slight +preliminary favours, but when I would have attained my end I found an +obstacle which I had not expected. She gave me some physiological +reasons for the circumstances, but not being a man to stop for so +little, I would have gone on, but she resisted, and yet with such +gentleness that I left her alone and went to sleep. I awoke sooner +than she did, and determined to see whether she had imposed on me; so +I raised her night-gown carefully, and took off her linen only to +find that I had been duped once more. This roused her, and she tried +to stop me, but it was too late. However, I gently chid her for the +trick, and feeling disposed to forgive it set about making up for +lost time, but she got on the high horse, and pretended to be hurt at +my taking her by surprise. I tried to calm her by renewed +tenderness, but the wretched creature only got more furious, and +would give me nothing. I left her alone, but I expressed my opinion +of her in pretty strong terms. The impudent slut honoured me with a +smile of disdain, and then beginning to dress herself she proceeded +to indulge in impertinent repartees. This made me angry, and I gave +her a box on the ears which stretched her at full length on the +floor. She shrieked, stamped her feet, and made a hideous uproar; +the landlord came up, and she began to speak to him in English, while +the blood gushed from her nose. + +The man fortunately spoke Italian, and told me that she wanted to go +away, and advised me to let her do so, or she might make it awkward +for me, and he himself would be obliged to witness against me. + +"Tell her to begone as fast as she likes," said I, "and to keep out +of my sight for ever." + +She finished dressing, staunched the blood, and went off in a sedan- +chair, while I remained petrified, feeling that I did not deserve to +live, and finding her conduct utterly outrageous and +incomprehensible. + +After an hour's consideration I decided on sending her back her +trunk, and then I went home and to bed, telling my servants I was not +at home to anyone. + +I spent twenty-four hours in pondering over my wrongs, and at last my +reason told me that the fault was mine; I despised myself. I was on +the brink of suicide, but happily I escaped that fate. + +I was just going out when Goudar came up and made me go in with him, +as he said he wanted to speak to me. After telling me that the +Charpillon had come home with a swollen cheek which prevented her +shewing herself, he advised me to abandon all claims on her or her +mother, or the latter would bring a false accusation against me which +might cost me my life. Those who know England, and especially London +will not need to be informed as to the nature of this accusation, +which is so easily brought in England; it will suffice to say that +through it Sodom was overwhelmed. + +"The mother has engaged me to mediate," said Goudar, "and if you will +leave her alone, she will do you no harm." + +I spent the day with him, foolishly complaining, and telling him that +he could assure the mother that I would take no proceedings against +her, but that I should like to know if she had the courage to receive +this assurance from my own lips. + +"I will carry your message," said he, "but I pity you; for you are +going into their nets again, and will end in utter ruin." + +I fancied they would be ashamed to see me; but I was very much +mistaken, for Goudar came back laughing, and said the mother +expressed a hope that I should always be the friend of the family. +I ought to have refused to have anything more to do with them, but I +had not the strength to play the man. I called at Denmark Street the +same evening, and spent an hour without uttering a syllable. The +Charpillon sat opposite to me, with eyes lowered to a piece of +embroidery, while from time to time she pretended to wipe away a tear +as she let me see the ravages I had worked on her cheek. + +I saw her every day and always in silence till the fatal mark had +disappeared, but during these mad visits the poison of desire was so +instilled into my veins that if she had known my state of mind she +might have despoiled me of all I possessed for a single favour. + +When she was once more as beautiful as ever I felt as if I must die +if I did not hold her in my arms again, and I bought a magnificent +pier-glass and a splendid breakfast service in Dresden china, and +sent them to her with an amorous epistle which must have made her +think me either the most extravagant or the most cowardly of men. +She wrote in answer that she would expect me to sup with her in her +room, that she might give me the tenderest proofs of her gratitude. + +This letter sent me completely mad with joy, and in a paroxysm of +delight I resolved to surrender to her keeping the two bills of +exchange which Bolomee had given me, and which gave me power to send +her mother and aunts to prison. + +Full of the happiness that awaited me, and enchanted with my own +idiotic heroism, I went to her in the evening. She received me in +the parlour with her mother, and I was delighted to see the pier- +glass over the mantel, and the china displayed on a little table. +After a hundred words of love and tenderness she asked me to come up +to her room, and her mother wished us good night. I was overwhelmed +with joy. After a delicate little supper I took out the bills of +exchange, and after telling her their history gave them up to her, to +shew that I had no intention of avenging myself on her mother and +aunts. I made her promise that she would never part with them, and +she said she would never do so, and with many expressions of +gratitude and wonder at my generosity she locked them up with great +care. + +Then I thought it was time to give her some marks of my passion, and +I found her kind; but when I would have plucked the fruit, she +clasped me to her arms, crossed her legs, and began to weep bitterly. + +I made an effort, and asked her if she would be the same when we were +in bed. She sighed, and after a moment's pause, replied, "Yes." + +For a quarter of an hour I remained silent and motionless, as if +petrified. At last I rose with apparent coolness, and took my cloak +and sword. + +"What!" said she, "are you not going to spend the night with me?" + +"No." + +"But we shall see each other to-morrow?" + +"I hope so. Good night." + +I left that infernal abode, and went home to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The End of the Story Stranger Than the Beginning + + +At eight o'clock the next morning Jarbe told me that the Charpillon +wanted to see me, and that she had sent away her chairmen. + +"Tell her that I can't see her." + +But I had hardly spoken when she came in, and Jarbe went out. I +addressed her with the utmost calmness, and begged her to give me +back the two bills of exchange I had placed in her hands the night +before. + +"I haven't got them about me; but why do you want me to return them +to you?" + +At this question I could contain myself no longer, and launched a +storm of abuse at her. It was an explosion which relieved nature, +and ended with an involuntary shower of tears. My infamous +seductress stood as calmly as Innocence itself; and when I was so +choked with sobs that I could not utter a word, she said she had only +been cruel because her mother had made her swear an oath never to +give herself to anyone in her own house, and that she had only come +now to convince me of her love, to give herself to me without +reserve, and never to leave me any more if I wished it. + +The reader who imagines that at these words rage gave place to love, +and that I hastened to obtain the prize, does not know the nature of +the passion so well as the vile woman whose plaything I was. From +hot love to hot anger is a short journey, but the return is slow and +difficult. If there be only anger in a man's breast it may be +subdued by tenderness, by submission, and affection; but when to +anger is added a feeling of indignation at having been shamefully +deceived, it is impossible to pass suddenly to thoughts of love and +voluptuous enjoyment. With me mere anger has never been of long +duration, but when I am indignant the only cure is forgetfulness. + +The Charpillon knew perfectly well that I would not take her at her +word, and this kind of science was inborn in her. The instinct of +women teaches them greater secrets than all the philosophy and the +research of men. + +In the evening this monster left me, feigning to be disappointed and +disconsolate, and saying,-- + +"I hope you will come and see me again when you are once more +yourself." + +She had spent eight hours with me, during which time she had only +spoken to deny my suppositions, which were perfectly true, but which +she could not afford to let pass. I had not taken anything all day, +in order that I might not be obliged to offer her anything or to eat +with her. + +After she had left me I took some soup and then enjoyed a quiet +sleep, for which I felt all the better. When I came to consider what +had passed the, day before I concluded that the Charpillon was +repentant, but I seemed no longer to care anything about her. + +Here I may as well confess, in all humility, what a change love +worked on me in London, though I had attained the age of thirty- +eight. Here closed the first act of my life; the second closed when +I left Venice in 1783, and probably the third will close here, as I +amuse myself by writing these memoirs. Thus, the three-act comedy +will finish, and if it be hissed, as may possibly be the case, I +shall not hear the sounds of disapproval. But as yet the reader has +not seen the last and I think the most interesting scene of the first +act. + +I went for a walk in the Green Park and met Goudar. I was glad to +see him, as the rogue was useful to me. + +"I have just been at the Charpillons," he began; "they were all in +high spirits. I tried in vain to turn the conversation on you, but +not a word would they utter." + +"I despise them entirely," I rejoined, "I don't want to have anything +more to do with them." + +He told me I was quite right, and advised me to persevere in my plan. +I made him dine with me, and then we went to see the well-known +procuress, Mrs. Wells, and saw the celebrated courtezan, Kitty +Fisher, who was waiting for the Duke of ---- to take her to a ball. +She was magnificently dressed, and it is no exaggeration to say that +she had on diamonds worth five hundred thousand francs. Goudar told +me that if I liked I might have her then and there for ten guineas. +I did not care to do so, however, for, though charming, she could +only speak English, and I liked to have all my senses, including that +of hearing, gratified. When she had gone, Mrs. Wells told us that +Kitty had eaten a bank-note for a thousand guineas, on a slice of +bread and butter, that very day. The note was a present from Sir +Akins, brother of the fair Mrs. Pitt. I do not know whether the bank +thanked Kitty for the present she had made it. + +I spent an hour with a girl named Kennedy, a fair Irishwoman, who +could speak a sort of French, and behaved most extravagantly under +the influence of champagne; but the image of the Charpillon was still +before me, though I knew it not, and I could not enjoy anything. +I went home feeling sad and ill pleased with myself. Common sense +told me to drive all thoughts of that wretched woman out of my head, +but something I called honour bade me not leave her the triumph of +having won the two bills of exchange from me for nothing, and made me +determine to get them back by fair means or foul. + +M. Malingan, at whose house I had made the acquaintance of this +creature, come and asked me to dinner. He had asked me to dine with +him several times before, and I had always refused, and now I would +not accept until I had heard what guests he had invited. The names +were all strange to me, so I agreed to come. + +When I arrived I found two young ladies from Liege, in one of whom I +got interested directly. She introduced me to her husband, and to +another young man who seemed to be the cavalier of the other lady, +her cousin. + +The company pleased me, and I was in hopes that I should spend a +happy day, but my evil genius brought the Charpillon to mar the +feast. She came into the room in high glee, and said to Malingan,-- + +"I should not have come to beg you to give me a dinner if I had known +that you would have so many guests, and if I am at all in the way I +will go." + +Everybody welcomed her, myself excepted, for I was on the rack. To +make matters worse, she was placed at my left hand. If she had come +in before we sat down to dinner I should have made some excuse and +gone away, but as we had begun the soup a sudden flight would have +covered me with ridicule. I adopted the plan of not looking at her, +reserving all my politeness for the lady on my right. When the meal +was over Malingan took me apart, and swore to me that he had not +invited the Charpillon, but I was not convinced, though I pretended +to be for politeness' sake. + +The two ladies from Liege and their cavaliers were embarking for +Ostend in a few days, and in speaking of their departure the one to +whom I had taken a fancy said that she was sorry to be leaving +England without having seen Richmond. I begged her to give me the +pleasure of shewing it her, and without waiting for an answer I asked +her husband and all the company to be present, excepting the +Charpillon, whom I pretended not to see. + +The invitation was accepted. + +"Two carriages," I said, "holding four each, shall be ready at eight +o'clock, and we shall be exactly eight." + +"No, nine, for I am coming," said the Charpillon, giving me an +impudent stare, "and I hope you will not drive me away." + +"No, that would be impolite, I will ride in front on horseback." + +"Oh, not at all! Emilie shall sit on my lap." + +Emilie was Malingan's daughter, and as everybody seemed to think the +arrangement an extremely pleasant one I had not the courage to +resist. A few moments after, I was obliged to leave the room for a +few moments, and when I came back I met her on the landing. She told +me I had insulted her grievously, and that unless I made amends I +should feel her vengeance. + +"You can begin your vengeance," I said, "by returning my bills of +exchange" + +"You shall have them to-morrow, but you had better try and make me +forget the insult you have put on me." + +I left the company in the evening, having arranged that we should all +breakfast together the next day. + +At eight o'clock the two carriages were ready, and Malingan, his +wife, his daughter, and the two gentlemen got into the first vehicle, +and I had to get into the second with the ladies from Liege and the +Charpillon, who seemed to have become very intimate with them. This +made me ill-tempered, and I sulked the whole way. We were an hour +and a quarter on the journey, and when we arrived I ordered a good +dinner, and then we proceeded to view the gardens; the day was a +beautiful one, though it was autumn. + +Whilst we were Walking the Charpillon came up to me and said she +wanted to return the bills in the same place in which I had given her +them. As we were at some distance from the others I pelted her with +abuse, telling her of her perfidy and of her corruption at an age +when she should have retained some vestiges of innocence calling her +by the name she deserved, as I reminded her how often she had already +prostituted herself; in short I threatened her with my vengeance if +she pushed me to extremities. But she was as cold as ice, and +opposed a calm front to the storm of invective I rained in her ears. +However, as the other guests were at no great distance, she begged me +to speak more softly, but they heard me and I was very glad of it. + +At last we sat down to dinner, and the wretched woman contrived to +get a place beside me, and behaved all the while as if I were her +lover, or at any rate as if she loved me. She did not seem to care +what people thought of my coldness, while I was in a rage, for the +company must either have thought me a fool or else that she was +making game of me. + +After dinner we returned to the garden, and the Charpillon, +determined to gain the victory, clung to my arm and after several +turns led me towards the maze where she wished to try her power. She +made me sit down on the grass beside her and attacked me with +passionate words and tender caresses, and by displaying the most +interesting of her charms she succeeded in seducing me, but still I +do not know whether I were impelled by love or vengeance, and I am +inclined to think that my feelings were a compound of both passions. + +But at the moment she looked the picture of voluptuous abandon. +Her ardent eyes, her fiery cheeks, her wanton kisses, her swelling +breast, and her quick sighs, all made me think that she stood as much +in need of defeat as I of victory; certainly I should not have judged +that she was already calculating on resistance. + +Thus I once more became tender and affectionate; I begged pardon for +what I had said and done. Her fiery kisses replied to mine, and I +thought her glance and the soft pressure of her body were inviting me +to gather the delicious fruit; but just as my hand opened the door of +the sanctuary, she gave a sudden movement, and the chance was lost. + +"What! you would deceive me again." + +"No, no but we have done enough now. I promise to spend the night in +your arms in your own house." + +For a moment I lost my senses. I only saw the deceitful wretch who +had profited by my foolish credulity so many times, and I resolved to +enjoy or take vengeance. I held her down with my left arm, and +drawing a small knife from my pocket I opened it with my teeth and +pricked her neck, threatening to kill her if she resisted me. + +"Do as you like," she said with perfect calm, "I only ask you to +leave me my life, but after you have satisfied yourself I will not +leave the spot; I will not enter your carriage unless you carry me by +force, and everybody shall know the reason." + +This threat had no effect, for I had already got back my senses, and +I pitied myself for being degraded by a creature for whom I had the +greatest contempt, in spite of the almost magical influence she had +over me, and the furious desires she knew how to kindle in my breast. +I rose without a word, and taking my hat and cane I hastened to leave +a place where unbridled passion had brought me to the brink of ruin. + +My readers will scarcely believe me (but it is nevertheless the exact +truth) when I say that the impudent creature hastened to rejoin me, +and took my arm again as if nothing had happened. A girl of her age +could not have played the part so well unless she had been already +tried in a hundred battles. When we rejoined the company I was asked +if I were ill, while nobody noticed the slightest alteration in her. + +When we got back to London I excused myself under the plea of a bad +headache, and returned home. + +The adventure had made a terrible impression on me, and I saw that if +I did not avoid all intercourse with this girl I should be brought to +ruin. There was something about her I could not resist. I therefore +resolved to see her no more, but feeling ashamed of my weakness in +giving her the bills of exchange I wrote her mother a note requesting +her to make her daughter return them, or else I should be compelled +to take harsh measures. + +In the afternoon I received the following reply: + +"Sir,--I am exceedingly surprised at your addressing yourself to me +about the bills you handed to my daughter. She tells me she will +give you them back in person when you shew more discretion, and have +learnt to respect her." + +This impudent letter so enraged me that I forgot my vow of the +morning. I put two pistols in my pocket and proceeded to the +wretched woman's abode to compel her to return me my bills if she did +not wish to be soundly caned. + +I only took the pistols to overawe the two male rascals who supped +with them every evening. I was furious when I arrived, but I passed +by the door when I saw a handsome young hairdresser, who did the +Charpillon's hair every Saturday evening, going into the house. + +I did not want a stranger to be present at the scene I meant to make, +so I waited at the corner of the street for the hairdresser to go. +After I had waited half an hour Rostaing and Couman, the two supports +of the house, came out and went away, much to my delight. I waited +on; eleven struck, and the handsome barber had not yet gone. A +little before midnight a servant came out with a lamp, I suppose to +look for something that had fallen out of the window. I approached +noiselessly, stepped in and opened the parlour-door, which was close +to the street, and saw . . . the Charpillon and the barber +stretched on the sofa and doing the beast with two backs, as +Shakespeare calls it. + +When the slut saw me she gave a shriek and unhorsed her gallant, whom +I caned soundly until he escaped in the confusion consequent on the +servants, mother, and aunts all rushing into the room. While this +was going on the Charpillon, half-naked, remained crouched behind the +sofa, trembling lest the blows should begin to descend on her. Then +the three hags set upon me like furies; but their abuse only +irritated me, and I broke the pier-'glass, the china, and the +furniture, and as they still howled and shrieked I roared out that if +they did not cease I would break their heads. At this they began to +calm. + +I threw myself upon the fatal sofa, and bade the mother to return me +the bills of exchange; but just then the watchman came in. + +There is only one watchman to a district, which he perambulates all +night with a lantern in one hand and a staff in the other. On these +men the peace of the great city depends. I put three or four crowns +into his hand and said "Go away," and so saying shut the door upon +him. Then I sat down once more and asked again for the bills of +exchange: + +"I have not got them; my daughter keeps them." + +"Call her." + +The two maids said that whilst I was breaking the china she had +escaped by the street door, and that they did not know what had +become of her. Then the mother and aunts began to shriek, weep, and +exclaim,-- + +"My poor daughter alone in the streets of London at midnight! My +dear niece, alas! alas! she is lost. Cursed be the hour when you +came to England to make us all unhappy!" + +My rage had evaporated, and I trembled at the thought of this young +frightened girl running about the streets at such an hour. + +"Go and look for her at the neighbours' houses," I said to the +servants, "no doubt you will find her. When you tell me she is safe, +you shall have a guinea apiece." + +When the three Gorgons saw I was interested, their tears, complaints, +and invectives began again with renewed vigor, while I kept silence +as much as to say that they were in the right. I awaited the return +of the servants with impatience, and at last at one o'clock they came +back with looks of despair. + +"We have looked for her everywhere," said they, "but we can't find +her." + +I gave them the two guineas as if they had succeeded, whilst I sat +motionless reflecting on the terrible consequences of my anger. How +foolish is man when he is in love! + +I was idiot enough to express my repentance to the three old cheats. +I begged them to seek for her everywhere when dawn appeared, and to +let me know of her return that I might fall at her feet to beg +pardon, and never see her face again. I also promised to pay for all +the damage I had done, and to give them a full receipt for the bills +of exchange. After these acts, done to the everlasting shame of my +good sense, after this apology made to procuresses who laughed at me +and my honour, I went home, promising two guineas to the servant who +should bring me tidings that her young mistress had come home. +On leaving the house I found the watchman at the door; he had been +waiting to see me home. It was two o'clock. I threw myself on my +bed, and the six hours of sleep I obtained, though troubled by +fearful dreams, probably saved me from madness. + +At eight o'clock I heard a knock at the door, and on opening the +window found it was one of the servants from the house of my foes. I +cried out to let her in, and I breathed again on hearing that Miss +Charpillon had just arrived in a sedan-chair in a pitiable condition, +and that she had been put to bed. + +"I made haste to come and tell you," said the cunning maid, "not for +the sake of your two guineas, but because I saw you were so unhappy." +This duped me directly. I gave her the two guineas, and made her sit +down on my bed, begging her to tell me all about her mistress's +return. I did not dream that she had been schooled by my enemies; +but during the whole of this period I was deprived of the right use +of my reason. + +The slut began by saying that her young mistress loved me, and had +only deceived me in accordance with her mother's orders. + +"I know that," I said, "but where did she pass the night?" + +"At a shop which she found open, and where she was known from having +bought various articles there. She is in bed with a fever, and I am +afraid it may have serious consequences as she is in her monthly +period." + +"That's impossible, for I caught her in the act with her +hairdresser." + +"Oh, that proves nothing! the poor young man does not look into +things very closely." + +"But she is in love with him." + +"I don't think so, though she has spent several hours in his +company." + +"And you say that she loves me!" + +"Oh, that has nothing to do with it! It is only a whim of hers with +the hairdresser." + +"Tell her that I am coming to pass the day beside her bed, and bring +me her reply." + +"I will send the other girl if you like." + +"No, she only speaks English." + +She went away, and as she had not returned by three o'clock I decided +on calling to hear how she was. I knocked at the door, and one of +the aunts appeared and begged me not to enter as the two friends of +the house were there in a fury against me, and her niece lay in a +delirium, crying out "There's Seingalt, there's Seingalt! He's +going to kill me. Help! help!" "For God's sake, sir, go away," + +I went home desperate, without the slightest suspicion that it was +all a lie. I spent the whole day without eating anything; I could +not swallow a mouthful. All night I kept awake, and though I took +several glasses of strong waters I could obtain no rest. + +At nine o'clock the next morning I knocked at the Charpillon's door, +and the old aunt came and held it half open as before. She forbade +me to enter, saying that her niece was still delirious, continually +calling on me in her transports, and that the doctor had declared +that if the disease continued its course she had not twenty-four +hours to live. "The fright you gave her has arrested her periods; +she is in a terrible state." + +"O, fatal hairdresser!" I exclaimed. + +"That was a mere youthful folly; you should have pretended not to +have seen anything." + +"You think that possible, you old witch, do you? Do not let her lack +for anything; take that." + +With these words I gave her a bank note for ten guineas and went +away, like the fool I was. On my way back I met Goudar, who was +quite frightened at my aspect. I begged him to go and see how the +Charpillon really was, and then to come and pass the rest of the day +with me. An hour after he came back and said he had found them all +in tears and that the girl was in extremis. + +"Did you see her?" + +"No, they said she could see no one." + +"Do you think it is all true?" + +"I don't know what to think; but one of the maids, who tells me the +truth as a rule, assured me that she had become mad through her +courses being stopped, while she has also a fever and violent +convulsions. It is all credible enough, for these are the usual +results of a shock when a woman is in such a situation. The girl +told me it was all your fault." + +I then told him the whole story. He could only pity me, but when he +heard that I had neither eaten nor slept for the last forty-eight +hours he said very wisely that if I did not take care I should lose +my reason or my life. I knew it, but I could find no remedy. He +spent the day with me and did me good. As I could not eat I drank a +good deal, and not being able to sleep I spent the night in striding +up and down my room like a man beside himself. + +On the third day, having heard nothing positive about the Charpillon, +I went out at seven o'clock in the morning to call on her. After I +had waited a quarter of an hour in the street, the door was partly +opened, and I saw the mother all in tears, but she would not let me +come in. She said her daughter was in the last agony. At the same +instant a pale and thin old man came out, telling the mother that we +must resign ourselves to the will of God. I asked the infamous +creature if it were the doctor. + +"The doctor is no good now," said the old hypocrite, weeping anew, +"he is a minister of the Gospel, and there is another of them +upstairs. My poor daughter! In another hour she will be no more." + +I felt as if an icy hand had closed upon my heart. I burst into +tears and left the woman, saying,-- + +"It is true that my hand dealt the blow, but her death lies at your +door." + +As I walked away my knees seemed to bend under me, and I entered my +house determined to commit suicide,-- + +With this fearful idea, I gave orders that I was not at home to +anyone. As soon as I got to my room I put my watches, rings, snuff- +boxes, purse and pocket-book in my casket, and shut it up in my +escritoire. I then wrote a letter to the Venetian ambassador, +informing him that all my property was to go to M. de Bragadin after +my death. I sealed the letter and put it with the casket, and took +the key with me, and also silver to the amount of a few guineas. I +took my pistols and went out with the firm intention of drowning +myself in the Thames, near the Tower of London. + +Pondering over my plan with the utmost coolness, I went and bought +some balls of lead as large as my pockets would hold, and as heavy as +I could bear, to carry to the Tower, where I intended to go on foot. +On my way I was strengthened in my purpose by the reflection, that if +I continued to live I should be tormented for the remainder of my +days by the pale shade of the Charpillon reproaching me as her +murderer. I even congratulated myself on being able to carry out my +purpose without any effort, and I also felt a secret pride in my +courage. + +I walked slowly on account of the enormous weight I bore, which would +assure me a speedy passage to the bottom of the river. + +By Westminster Bridge my good fortune made me meet Sir Edgar, a rich +young Englishman, who lived a careless and joyous life. I had made +his acquaintance at Lord Pembroke's, and he had dined with me several +times. We suited one another, his conversation was agreeable, and we +had passed many pleasant hours together. I tried to avoid him, but +he saw me, and came up and took me by the arm in a friendly manner. + +"Where are you going? Come with me, unless you are going to deliver +some captive. Come along, we shall have a pleasant party." + +"I can't come, my dear fellow, let me go." + +"What's the matter? I hardly recognized you, you looked so solemn." + +"Nothing is the matter." + +"Nothing? You should look at your face in the glass. Now I feel +quite sure that you are going to commit a foolish action." + +"Not at all." + +"It's no good denying it." + +"I tell you there's nothing the matter with me. Good bye, I shall +see you again." + +"It's no good, I won't leave you. Come along, we will walk +together." + +His eyes happening to fall on my breeches pocket, he noticed my +pistol, and putting his hand on the other pocket he felt the other +pistol, and said,-- + +"You are going to fight a duel; I should like to see it. I won't +interfere with the affair, but neither will I leave you." + +I tried to put on a smile, and assured him that he was mistaken, and +that I was only going for a walk to pass the time. + +"Very good," said Edgar, "then I hope my society is as pleasant to +you as yours is to me; I won't leave you. After we have taken a walk +we will go and dine at the 'Canon.' I will get two girls to come and +join us, and we shall have a gay little party of four." + +"My dear friend, you must excuse me; I am in a melancholy mood, and I +want to be alone to get over it." + +"You can be alone to-morrow, if you like, but I am sure you will be +all right in the next three hours, and if not, why I will share your +madness. Where did you think of dining?" + +"Nowhere; I have no appetite. I have been fasting for the last three +days, and I can only drink." + +"Ah! I begin to see daylight. Something has crossed you, and you are +going to let it kill you as it killed one of my brothers. I must see +what can be done." + +Edgar argued, insisted, and joked till at last I said to myself, "A +day longer will not matter, I can do the deed when he leaves me, and +I shall only have to bear with life a few hours longer." + +When Edgar heard that I had no particular object in crossing the +bridge he said that we had better turn back, and I let myself be +persuaded; but in half an hour I begged him to take me somewhere +where I could wait for him, as I could not bear the weight of the +lead any longer. I gave him my word of honour that I would meet him +at the "Canon." + +As soon as I was alone I emptied my pockets, and put the leaden balls +into a cupboard. Then I lay down and began to consider whether the +good-natured young man would prevent me committing suicide, as he had +already made me postpone it. + +I reasoned, not as one that hopes, but rather as one that foresaw +that Edgar would hinder me from shortening my days. Thus I waited in +the tavern for the young Englishman, doubtful whether he was doing me +a service or an injury. + +He came back before long, and was pleased to find me. + +"I reckoned on your keeping your word," said he. + +"You did not think that I would break my word of honour." + +"That's all right; I see you are on the way to recovery." + +The sensible and cheerful talk of the young man did me good, and I +began to feel better, when the two young wantons, one of whom was a +Frenchwoman, arrived in high spirits. They seemed intended for +pleasure, and Nature had dowered them with great attractions. I +appreciated their charms, but I could not welcome them in the manner +to which they were accustomed. They began to think me some poor +valetudinarian; but though I was in torments, a feeling of vanity +made me endeavour to behave sensibly. I gave them some cold kisses +and begged Edgar to tell his fellow-countrywoman that if I were not +three parts dead I would prove how lovely and charming I thought her. +They pitied me. A man who has spent three days without eating or +sleeping is almost incapable of any voluptuous excitement, but mere +words would not have convinced these priestesses of Venus if Edgar +had not given them my name. I had a reputation, and I saw that when +they heard who I was they were full of respect. They all hoped that +Bacchus and Comus would plead the cause of Love, and I let them talk, +knowing that their hopes were vain. + +We had an English dinner; that is, a dinner without the essential +course of soup, so I only took a few oysters and a draught of +delicious wine, but I felt better, and was pleased to see Edgar +amusing himself with the two nymphs. + +The young madcap suddenly proposed that the girls should dance a +hornpipe in the costume of Mother Eve, and they consented on the +condition that we would adopt the dress of Father Adam, and that +blind musicians were summoned. I told them that I would take off my +clothes to oblige them, but that I had no hopes of being able to +imitate the seductive serpent. I was allowed to retain my dress, on +the condition that if I felt the prick of the flesh I should +immediately undress. I agreed to do so, and the blind musicians were +sent for, and while they tuned their instruments toilettes were made, +and the orgy began. + +It taught me same useful lessons. I learnt from it that amorous +pleasures are the effect and not the cause of gaiety. I sat gazing +at three naked bodies of perfect grace and beauty, the dance and the +music were ravishing and seductive, but nothing made any impression +on me. After the dance was over the male dancer treated the two +females, one after the other, until he was forced to rest. The +French girl came up to ascertain whether I skewed any signs of life, +but feeling my hopeless condition she pronounced me useless. + +When it was all over I begged Edgar to give the French girl four +guineas, and to pay my share, as I had very little money about me. + +What should I have said if I had been told in the morning that +instead of drowning myself I should take part in so pleasant an +entertainment? + +The debt I had contracted with the young Englishman made me resolve +to put off my suicide to another day. After the nymphs had gone I +tried to get rid of Edgar, but in vain; he told me I was getting +better, that the oysters I had taken skewed my stomach was improving, +and that if I came with him to Ranelagh I should be able to make a +good dinner the next day. I was weak and indifferent and let myself +be persuaded, and got into a coach with Edgar in obedience to the +Stoic maxim I had learnt in the happy days of my youth: 'Sequere +Deum'. + +We entered the fine rotunda with our hats off, and began to walk +round and round, our arms behind our backs--a common custom in +England, at least in those days. + +A minuet was being danced, and I was so attracted by a lady who +danced extremely well that I waited for her to turn round. What made +me notice her more particularly was that her dress and hat were +exactly like those I had given to the Charpillon a few days before, +but as I believed the poor wretch to be dead or dying the likeness +did not inspire me with any suspicion. But the lady turned round, +lifted her face, and I saw--the Charpillon herself! + +Edgar told me afterwards that at that moment he thought to see me +fall to the ground in an epileptic fit; I trembled and shuddered so +terribly. + +However, I felt so sure she was ill that I could not believe my own +eyes, and the doubt brought me to my senses. + +"She can't be the Charpillon," I said to myself, "she is some other +girl like her, and my enfeebled senses have led me astray." In the +meanwhile the lady, intent on her dancing, did not glance in my +direction, but I could afford to wait. At last she lifted her arms +to make the curtsy at the end of the minuet, I went up instinctively +as if I were about to dance with her; she looked me in the face, and +fled. + +I constrained myself; but now that there could be no doubt my +shuddering fit returned, and I made haste to sit down. A cold sweat +bedewed my face and my whole body. Edgar advised me to take a cup of +tea but I begged him to leave me alone for a few moments. + +I was afraid that I was on the point of death; I trembled all over, +and my heart beat so rapidly that I could not have stood up had I +wished. + +At last, instead of dying, I got new life. What a wonderful change I +experienced! Little by little my peace of mind returned, and I could +enjoy the glitter of the multitudinous wax lights. By slow degrees I +passed through all the shades of feeling between despair and an +ecstasy of joy. My soul and mind were so astonished by the shock +that I began to think I should never see Edgar again. + +"This young man," I said to myself, "is my good genius, my guardian +angel, my familiar spirit, who has taken the form of Edgar to restore +me to my senses again." + +I should certainly have persisted in this idea if my friend had not +reappeared before very long. + +Chance might have thrown him in the way of one of those seductive +creatures who make one forget everything else; he might have left +Ranelagh without having time to tell me he was going, and I should +have gone back to London feeling perfectly certain that I had only +seen his earthly shape. Should I have been disabused if I had seen +him a few days after? Possibly; but I am not sure of it. I have +always had a hankering after superstition, of which I do not boast; +but I confess the fact, and leave the reader to judge me. + +However, he came back in high spirits, but anxious about me. He was +surprised to find me full of animation, and to hear me talking in a +pleasant strain on the surrounding objects and persons. + +"Why, you are laughing!" said he, "your sadness has departed, then?" + +"Yes, good genius, but I am hungry, and I want you to do me a favour, +if you have no other pressing engagements." + +"I am free till the day after to-morrow, and till then you can do +what you like with me." + +"I owe my life to you, but to make your gift complete I want you to +spend this night and the whole of the next day with me." + +"Done." + +"Then let us go home." + +"With all my heart; come along." + +I did not tell him anything as we were in the coach, and when we got +home I found nothing fresh, except a note from Goudar, which I put in +my pocket, intending to reserve all business for the next day. + +It was an hour after midnight. A good supper was served to us, and +we fell to; for my part I devoured my food like a wild beast. Edgar +congratulated me, and we went to bed, and I slept profoundly till +noon. When I awoke I breakfasted with Edgar, and told him the whole +story, which would have ended with my life if he had not met me on +Westminster Bridge, and he had not been keen enough to mark my +condition. I took him to my room, and shewed him my escritoire, my +casket, and my will. I then opened Goudar's letter, and read: + +"I am quite sure that the girl you know of is very far from dying, as +she has gone to Ranelagh with Lord Grosvenor." + +Although Edgar was a profligate, he was a sensible man, and my story +made him furious. He threw his arms around my neck, and told me he +should always think the day on which he rescued me from death for so +unworthy an object the happiest in his life. He could scarcely +credit the infamy of the Charpillon and her mother. He told me I +could have the mother arrested, though I had not got the bills of +exchange, as her mother's letter acknowledging her daughter's +possession of the bills was sufficient evidence. + +Without informing him of my intention, I resolved that moment to have +her arrested. Before we parted we swore eternal friendship, but the +reader will see before long what a penance the kind Englishman had to +do for befriending me. + +The next day I went to the attorney I had employed against Count +Schwerin. After hearing my story he said that I had an undoubted +claim, and that I could arrest the mother and the two aunts. + +Without losing time I went before a magistrate, who took my sworn +information and granted me a warrant. The same official who had +arrested Schwerin took charge of the affair; but as he did not know +the women by sight it was necessary that someone who did should go +with him, for though he was certain of surprising them there might be +several other women present, and he might not arrest the right ones. + +As Goudar would not have undertaken the delicate task of pointing +them out, I resolved on accompanying him myself. + +I made an appointment with him at an hour when I knew they would be +all in the parlour. He was to enter directly the door was opened, +and I would come in at the same instant and point out the women he +had to arrest. In England all judicial proceedings are conducted +with the utmost punctuality, and everything went off as I had +arranged. The bailiff and his subaltern stepped into the parlour and +I followed in their footsteps. I pointed out the mother and the two +sisters and then made haste to escape, for the sight of the +Charpillon, dressed in black, standing by the hearth, made me +shudder. I felt cured, certainly; but the wounds she had given me +were not yet healed, and I cannot say what might have happened if the +Circe had had the presence of mind to throw her arms about my neck +and beg for mercy. + +As soon as I had seen these women in the hands of justice I fled, +tasting the sweets of vengeance, which are very great, but yet a sign +of unhappiness. The rage in which I had arrested the three +procuresses, and my terror in seeing the woman who had well-nigh +killed me, shewed that I was not really cured. To be so I must fly +from them and forget them altogether. + +The next morning Goudar came and congratulated me on the bold step I +had taken, which proved, he said, that I was either cured or more in +love than ever. "I have just come from Denmark Street," he added, +"and I only saw the grandmother, who was weeping bitterly, and an +attorney, whom no doubt she was consulting." + +"Then you have heard what has happened?" + +"Yes, I came up a minute after you had gone and I stayed till the +three old sluts made up their minds to go with the constable. They +resisted and said he ought to leave them till the next day, when they +would be able to find someone to bail them. The two bravos drew +their swords to resist the law, but the other constable disarmed them +one after the other, and the three women were led off. The +Charpillon wanted to accompany them, but it was judged best that she +should remain at liberty, in order to try and set them free." + +Goudar concluded by saying that he should go and see them in prison, +and if I felt disposed to come to an arrangement he would mediate +between us. I told him that the only arrangement I would accept was +the payment of the six thousand francs, and that they might think +themselves very lucky that I did not insist on having my interest, +and thus repaying myself in part for the sums they had cheated out of +me. + +A fortnight elapsed without my hearing any more of the matter. The +Charpillon dined with them every day, and in fact, kept them. It +must have cost her a good deal, for they had two rooms, and their +landlord would not allow them to have their meals prepared outside +the prison. Goudar told me that the Charpillon said she would never +beg me to listen to her mother, though she knew she had only to call +on me to obtain anything she wanted. She thought me the most +abominable of men. If I feel obliged to maintain that she was +equally abominable, I must confess that on this occasion she shewed +more strength of mind than I; but whereas I had acted out of passion, +her misdeeds were calculated, and tended solely to her own interests. + +For the whole of this fortnight I had sought for Edgar in vain, but +one morning he came to see me, looking in high spirits. + +"Where have you been hiding all this time?" said I, "I have been +looking for you everywhere." + +"Love has been keeping me a prisoner," said he, "I have got some +money for you." + +"For me? From what quarter?" + +"On behalf of the Ansperghers. Give me a receipt and the necessary +declaration, for I am going to restore them myself to the poor +Charpillon, who has been weeping for the last fortnight." + +"I daresay she has, I have seen her weep myself; but I like the way +in which she has chosen the being who delivered me from her chains as +a protector. Does she know that I owe my life to you?" + +"She only knew that I was with you at Ranelagh when you saw her +dancing instead of dying, but I have told her the whole story since." + +"No doubt she wants you to plead with me in her favour." + +"By no means. She has just been telling me that you are a monster of +ingratitude, for she loved you and gave you several proofs of her +affection, but now she hates you." + +"Thank Heaven for that! The wretched woman! It's curious she should +have selected you as her lover by way of taking vengeance on me, but +take care! she will punish you." + +"It may be so, but at all events it's a pleasant kind of punishment." + +"I hope you may be happy, but look to yourself; she is a mistress in +all sorts of deceit." + +Edgar counted me out two hundred and fifty guineas, for which I gave +him a receipt and the declaration he required, and with these +documents he went off in high spirits. + +After this I might surely flatter myself that all was at an end +between us, but I was mistaken. + +Just about this time the Crown Prince of Brunswick, now the reigning +duke, married the King of England's sister. The Common Council +presented him with the freedom of the City, and the Goldsmith's +Company admitted him into their society, and gave him a splendid box +containing the documents which made him a London citizen. The prince +was the first gentleman in Europe, and yet he did not disdain to add +this new honour to a family illustrious for fourteen hundred years. + +On this occasion Lady Harrington was the means of getting Madame +Cornelis two hundred guineas. She lent her room in Soho Square to a +confectioner who gave a ball and supper to a thousand persons at +three guineas each. I paid my three guineas, and had the honour of +standing up all the evening with six hundred others, for the table +only seated four hundred, and there were several ladies who were +unable to procure seats. That evening I saw Lady Grafton seated +beside the Duke of Cumberland. She wore her hair without any powder, +and all the other ladies were exclaiming about it, and saying how +very unbecoming it was. They could not anathematize the innovator +too much, but in less than six months Lady Grafton's style of doing +the hair became common, crossed the Channel, and spread all over +Europe, though it has been given another name. It is still in +fashion, and is the only method that can boast the age of thirty +years, though it was so unmercifully ridiculed at first. + +The supper for which the giver of the feast had received three +thousand guineas, or sixty-five thousand francs, contained a most +varied assortment of delicacies, but as I had not been dancing, and +did not feel taken with any of the ladies present, I left at one in +the morning. It was Sunday, a day on which all persons, save +criminals, are exempt from arrest; but, nevertheless, the following +adventure befell me: + +I was dressed magnificently, and was driving home in my carriage, +with my negro and another servant seated behind me; and just as we +entered Pall Mall I heard a voice crying, "Good night, Seingalt." I +put my head out of the window to reply, and in an instant the +carriage was surrounded by men armed with pistols, and one of them +said,-- + +"In the king's name!" + +My servant asked what they wanted, and they answered,-- + +"To take him to Newgate, for Sunday makes no difference to +criminals." + +"And what crime have I committed?" + +"You will hear that in prison." + +"My master has a right to know his crime before he goes to prison," +said the negro. + +"Yes, but the magistrate's abed." + +The negro stuck to his position, however, and the people who had come +up declared with one consent that he was in the right. + +The head-constable gave in, and said he would take me to a house in +the city. + +"Then drive to that city," said I, "and have done with it." + +We stopped before the house, and I was placed in a large room on the +ground floor, furnished solely with benches and long tables. My +servant sent back the carriage, and came to keep me company. The six +constables said they could not leave me, and told me I should send +out for some meat and drink for them. I told my negro to give them +what they wanted, and to be as amicable with them as was possible. + +As I had not committed any crime, I was quite at ease; I knew that my +arrest must be the effect of a slander, and as I was aware that +London justice was speedy and equitable, I thought I should soon be +free. But I blamed myself for having transgressed the excellent +maxim, never to answer anyone in the night time; for if I had not +done so I should have been in my house, and not in prison. The +mistake, however, had been committed, and there was nothing to be +done but to wait patiently. I amused myself by reflecting on my +rapid passage from a numerous and exalted assemblage to the vile +place I now occupied, though I was still dressed like a prince. + +At last the day dawned, and the keeper of the tavern came to see who +the prisoner was. I could not helping laughing at him when he saw +me, for he immediately began to abuse the constables for not awaking +him when I came; he had lost the guinea I should have paid for a +private room. At last news was brought that the magistrate was +sitting, and that I must be brought up. + +A coach was summoned, and I got into it, for if I had dared to walk +along the streets in my magnificent attire the mob would have pelted +me. + +I went into the hall of justice, and all eyes were at once attracted +towards me; my silks and satins appeared to them the height of +impertinence. + +At the end of the room I saw a gentleman sitting in an arm-chair, and +concluded him to be my judge. I was right, and the judge was blind. +He wore a broad band round his head, passing over his eyes. A man +beside me, guessing I was a foreigner, said in French,-- + +"Be of good courage, Mr. Fielding is a just and equitable +magistrate." + +I thanked the kindly unknown, and was delighted to see before me this +famous and estimable writer, whose works are an honour to the English +nation. + +When my turn came, the clerk of the court told Mr. Fielding my name, +at least, so I presume. + +"Signor Casanova," said he, in excellent Italian, "be kind enough to +step forward. I wish to speak to you." + +I was delighted to hear the accents of my native tongue, and making +my way through the press I came up to the bar of the court, and +said,-- + +"Eccomi, Signore." + +He continued to speak Italian, and said,-- + +"Signor de Casanova, of Venice, you are condemned to perpetual +confinement in the prisons of His Majesty the King of Great Britain." + +"I should like to know, sir, for what crime I am condemned. Would +you be kind enough to inform me as to its nature?" + +"Your demand is a reasonable one, for with us no one is condemned +without knowing the cause of his condemnation. You must know, then, +that the accusation (which is supported by two witnesses) charges you +with intending to do grievous bodily harm to the person of a pretty +girl; and as this pretty girl aforesaid goes in dread of you, the law +decrees that you must be kept in prison for the rest of your days." + +"Sir, this accusation is a groundless calumny; to that I will take my +oath! It is very possible indeed that the girl may fear my vengeance +when she comes to consider her own conduct, but I can assure you that +I have had no such designs hitherto, and I don't think I ever shall." + +"She has two witnesses." + +"Then they are false ones. But may I ask your worship the name of my +accuser?" + +"Miss Charpillon." + +"I thought as much; but I have never given her aught but proofs of my +affection." + +"Then you have no wish to do her any bodily harm?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Then I congratulate you. You can dine at home; but you must find +two sureties. I must have an assurance from the mouths of two +householders that you will never commit such a crime." + +"Whom shall I find to do so?" + +"Two well-known Englishmen, whose friendship you have gained, and who +know that you are incapable of such an action. Send for them, and if +they arrive before I go to dinner I will set you at liberty." + +The constable took me back to prison, where I had passed the night, +and I gave my servants the addresses of all the householders I +recollected, bidding them explain my situation, and to be as quick as +possible. They ought to have come before noon, but London is such a +large place! They did not arrive, and the magistrate went to dinner. +I comforted myself by the thought that he would sit in the afternoon, +but I had to put up with a disagreeable experience. + +The chief constable, accompanied by an interpreter, came to say that +I must go to Newgate. This is a prison where the most wretched and +abject criminals are kept. + +I signified to him that I was awaiting bail, and that he could take +me to Newgate in the evening if it did not come, but he only turned a +deaf ear to my petition. The interpreter told me in a whisper that +the fellow was certainly paid by the other side to put me to trouble, +but that if I liked to bribe him I could stay where I was. + +"How much will he want?" + +The interpreter took the constable aside, and then told me that I +could stay where I was for ten guineas. + +"Then say that I should like to see Newgate." + +A coach was summoned, and I was taken away. + +When I got to this abode of misery and despair, a hell, such as Dante +might have conceived, a crowd of wretches, some of whom were to be +hanged in the course of the week, greeted me by deriding my elegant +attire. I did not answer them, and they began to get angry and to +abuse me. The gaoler quieted them by saying that I was a foreigner +and did not understand English, and then took me to a cell, informing +me how much it would cost me, and of the prison rules, as if he felt +certain that I should make a long stay. But in the course of half an +hour, the constable who had tried to get ten guineas out of me told +me that bail had arrived and that my carriage was at the door. + +I thanked God from the bottom of my heart, and soon found myself in +the presence of the blind magistrate. My bail consisted of Pegu, my +tailor, and Maisonneuve, my wine merchant, who said they were happy +to be able to render me this slight service. In another part of the +court I noticed the infamous Charpillon, Rostaing, Goudar, and an +attorney. They made no impression on me, and I contented myself with +giving them a look of profound contempt. + +My two sureties were informed of the amount in which they were to +bail me, and signed with a light heart, and then the magistrate said, +politely,-- + +"Signor Casanova, please to sign your name for double the amount, and +you will then be a free man again." + +I went towards the clerk's table, and on asking the sum I was to +answer for was informed that it was forty guineas, each of my +sureties signing for twenty. I signed my name, telling Goudar that +if the magistrate could have seen the Charpillon he would have valued +her beauty at ten thousand guineas. I asked the names of the two +witnesses, and was told that they were Rostaing and Bottarelli. I +looked contemptuously at Rostaing, who was as pale as death, and +averting my face from the Charpillon out of pity, I said,-- + +"The witnesses are worthy of the charge." + +I saluted the judge with respect, although he could not see me, and +asked the clerk if I had anything to pay. He replied in the +negative, and a dispute ensued between him and the attorney of my +fair enemy, who was disgusted on hearing that she could not leave the +court without paying the costs of my arrest. + +Just as I was going, five or six well-known Englishmen appeared to +bail me out, and were mortified to hear that they had come too late. +They begged me to forgive the laws of the land, which are only too +often converted into a means for the annoyance of foreigners. + +At last, after one of the most tedious days I have ever spent, I +returned home and went to bed, laughing at the experience I had +undergone. + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +IN LONDON AND MOSCOW, Vol. 5c, THE ENGLISH +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + diff --git a/old/jceng11.zip b/old/jceng11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..440a0bd --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jceng11.zip |