my examination i give the clerk three hundred louis — the midwife and cartel-bajac imprisoned — mdlle. x. c. v. is brought to bed of a son and obliges her mother to make me amends — the suit against me is quashed — mdlle. x. c. v. goes with her mother to brussels and from thence to venice, where she becomes a great lady — my work-girls — madame baret — i am robbed, put in prison, and set at liberty again — i go to holland — helvetius’ “esprit”— piccolomini
the day after my interview with m. de sartine i waited on madame du rumain at an early hour. considering the urgency of the case i took the liberty of rousing her from her slumbers, and as soon as she was ready to receive me i told her all.
“there can be no hesitation in the matter,” said this delightful woman. “we must make a confidant of m. de sartine, and i will speak to him myself to-day without fail.”
forthwith she went to her desk and wrote to the criminal lieutenant asking him to see her at three o’clock in the afternoon. in less than an hour the servant returned with a note in which he said he would expect her. we agreed that i should come again in the evening, when she would tell me the result of her interview.
i went to the house at five o’clock, and had only a few minutes to wait.
“i have concealed nothing,” said she; “he knows that she is on the eve of her confinement, and that you are not the father, which speaks highly for your generosity. i told him that as soon as the confinement was over, and the young lady had recovered her health, she would return to her mother, though she would make no confession, and that the child should be well looked after. you have now nothing to fear, and can calm yourself; but as the case must go on you will be cited before the court the day after to-morrow. i advise you to see the clerk of the court on some pretext or other, and to make him accept a sum of money.”
i was summoned to appear, and i appeared. i saw m. de sartine, ‘sedentem pro tribunali’. at the end of the sitting he told me that he was obliged to remand me, and that during my remand i must not leave paris or get married, as all my civil rights were in suspense pending the decision. i promised to follow his commands.
i acknowledged in my examination that i was at the ball in a black domino on the night named in my accusation, but i denied everything else. as for mdlle. x. c. v., i said that neither i nor anyone of her family had any suspicion that she was with child.
recollecting that i was an alien, and that this circumstance might make vauversin call for my arrest, on the plea that i might fly the kingdom, i thought the moment opportune for making interest with the clerk of the court, and i accordingly paid him a visit. after telling him of my fears, i slipped into his hand a packet of three hundred louis, for which i did not ask for a receipt, saying that they were to defray expenses if i were mulcted in costs. he advised me to require the midwife to give bail for her appearance, and i told my attorney to do so; but, four days after, the following incident took place:
i was walking in the temple gardens, when i was accosted by a savoyard, who gave me a note in which i was informed that somebody in an alley, fifty paces off, wanted to speak to me. “either a love affair or a challenge,” i said to myself, “let’s see.” i stopped my carriage, which was following me, and went to the place.
i cannot say how surprised i was to see the wretched cartel-bajac standing before me. “i have only a word to say,” said he, when he saw me. “we will not be overheard here. the midwife is quite sure that you are the man who brought a pregnant lady to her, but she is vexed that you are accused of making away with her. give her a hundred louis; she will then declare to the court that she has been mistaken, and your trouble will be ended. you need not pay the money till she has made her declaration; we will take your word for it. come with me and talk it over with vauversin. i am sure he will persuade you to do as i suggest. i know where to find him, follow me at some distance.”
i had listened to him in silence, and i was delighted to see that the rascals were betraying themselves. “very good,” said i to the fellow, “you go on, and i will follow.” i went after him to the third floor of a house in the rue aux ours, where i found vauversin the barrister. no sooner had i arrived than he went to business without any prefatory remarks.
“the midwife,” he said, “will call on you with a witness apparently with the intention of maintaining to your face that you are her man; but she won’t be able to recognize you. she will then proceed with the witness to the court, and will declare that she has made a mistake, and the criminal lieutenant will forthwith put an end to the proceedings. you will thus be certain of gaining your case against the lady’s mother.”
i thought the plan well conceived, and said that they would find me at the temple any day up to noon.
“but the midwife wants a hundred louis badly.”
“you mean that the worthy woman rates her perjury at that price. well, never mind, i will pay the money, and you may trust to my word; but i can’t do so before she has taken oath to her mistake before the court.”
“very good, but you must first give me twenty-five louis to reimburse me for my costs and fees.”
“certainly, if you will give me a formal receipt for the money.”
he hesitated at first, but after talking it over the money proved too strong a bait, and he wrote out the receipt and i gave him the twenty-five louis. he thanked me, and said that though madame x. c. v. was his client, he would let me know confidentially how best to put a stop to the proceedings. i thanked him with as much gratitude as if i had really intended to make use of his services, and i left to write and tell m. de sartine what had taken place.
three days afterwards i was told that a man and woman wanted to see me. i went down and asked the woman what she wanted.
“i want to speak to m. casanova.”
“i am he.”
“then i have made a mistake, for which i hope you will forgive me.”
her companion smiled, and they went off.
the same day madame du rumain had a letter from the abbess telling her that her young friend had given birth to a fine boy, who had been sent away to a place where he would be well looked after. she stated that the young lady could not leave the convent for the next six weeks, at the end of which time she could return to her mother with a certificate which would protect her from all annoyance.
soon after the midwife was put in solitary confinement, castel-bajac was sent to the bicetre, and vauversin’s name was struck off the rolls. the suit instituted against me by madame x. c. v. went on till her daughter reappeared, but i knew that i had nothing to fear. the girl returned to her mother about the end of august armed with a certificate from the abbess, who said she had been under her protection for four months, during which time she had never left the convent or seen any persons from outside. this was perfectly true, but the abbess added that her only reason for her going back to her family was that she had nothing more to dread from the attentions of m. de la popeliniere, and in this the abbess lied.
mdlle. x. c. v. profited by the delight of her mother in seeing her again safe and sound, and made her wait on m. de sartine with the abbess’s certificate, stop all proceedings against me, and withdraw all the charges she had made. her daughter told her that if i liked i might claim damages for libel, and that if she did not wish to injure her reputation she would say nothing more about what had happened.
the mother wrote me a letter of the most satisfactory character, which i had registered in court, thus putting an end to the prosecution. in my turn i wrote to congratulate her on the recovery of her daughter, but i never set foot in her house again, to avoid any disagreeable scenes with farsetti.
mdlle. x. c. v. could not stay any longer in paris, where her tale was known to everyone, and farsetti took her to brussels with her sister madelaine. some time after, her mother followed her, and they then went on to venice, and there in three years’ time she became a great lady. fifteen years afterwards i saw her again, and she was a widow, happy enough apparently, and enjoying a great reputation on account of her rank, wit, and social qualities, but our connection was never renewed.
in four years the reader will hear more of castel-bajac. towards the end of the same year (1759), before i went to holland, i spent several hundred francs to obtain the release of the midwife.
i lived like a prince, and men might have thought me happy, but i was not. the enormous expenses i incurred, my love of spending money, and magnificent pleasures, warned me, in spite of myself, that there were rocks ahead. my business would have kept me going for a long time, if custom had not been paralyzed by the war; but as it was, i, like everybody else, experienced the effect of bad times. my warehouse contained four hundred pieces of stuffs with designs on them, but as i could not hope to dispose of them before the peace, and as peace seemed a long way off, i was threatened with ruin.
with this fear i wrote to esther to get her father to give me the remainder of my money, to send me a sharp clerk, and to join in my speculation. m. d’o—— said that if i would set up in holland he would become responsible for everything and give me half profits, but i liked paris too well to agree to so good an offer. i was sorry for it afterwards.
i spent a good deal of money at my private house, but the chief expense of my life, which was unknown to others but which was ruining me, was incurred in connection with the girls who worked in my establishment. with my complexion and my pronounced liking for variety, a score of girls, nearly all of them pretty and seductive, as most paris girls are, was a reef on which my virtue made shipwreck every day. curiosity had a good deal to do with it, and they profited by my impatience to take possession by selling their favours dearly. they all followed the example of the first favourite, and everyone claimed in turn an establishment, furniture, money, and jewels; and i knew too little of the value of money to care how much they asked. my fancy never lasted longer than a week, and often waned in three or four days, and the last comer always appeared the most worthy of my attentions.
as soon as i had made a new choice i saw no more of my old loves, but i continued to provide for them, and that with a good deal of money. madame d’urfe, who thought i was rich, gave me no trouble. i made her happy by using my oracle to second the magical ceremonies of which she grew fonder every day, although she never attained her aim. manon baletti, however, grieved me sorely by her jealousy and her well-founded reproaches. she would not understand — and i did not wonder at it — how i could put off marrying her if i really loved her. she accused me of deceiving her. her mother died of consumption in our arms. silvia had won my true friendship. i looked upon her as a most worthy woman, whose kindness of heart and purity of life deserved the esteem of all. i stayed in the family for three days after her death, sincerely sympathizing with them in their affliction.
a few days afterwards, my friend tiretta lost his mistress through a grievous illness. four days before her death, perceiving that she was near her end, she willed to consecrate to god that which man could have no longer, and dismissed her lover with the gift of a valuable jewel and a purse of two hundred louis. tiretta marched off and came and told me the sad news. i got him a lodging near the temple, and a month after, approving his idea to try his fortune in india, i gave him a letter of introduction to m. d’o— — of amsterdam; and in the course of a week this gentleman got him a post as clerk, and shipped him aboard one of the company’s ships which was bound for batavia. if he had behaved well he might have become a rich man, but he got involved in some conspiracy and had to fly, and afterwards experienced many vicissitudes of fortune. i heard from one of his relations that he was in bengal in 1788, in good circumstances, but unable to realize his property and so return to his native country. i do not know what became of him eventually.
in the beginning of november an official belonging to the duc d’elbeuf’s household came to my establishment to buy a wedding dress for his daughter. i was dazzled with her beauty. she chose a fine satin, and her pretty face lighted up when she heard her father say he did not think it was too much; but she looked quite piteous when she heard the clerk tell her father that he would have to buy the whole piece, as they could not cut it. i felt that i must give in, and to avoid making an exception in her favour i beat a hasty retreat into my private room. i wish i had gone out of the house, as i should have saved a good deal of money; but what pleasure should i have also lost! in her despair the charming girl begged the manager to take her to me, and he dared not refuse to do so. she came in; two big tears falling down her cheeks and dimming the ardour of her gaze.
“oh, sir!” she began, “you are rich, do you buy the piece and let me have enough for a dress, which will make me happy.”
i looked at her father and saw he wore an apologetic air, as if deprecating the boldness of his child.
“i like your simplicity,” i said to her, “and since it will make you happy, you shall have the dress.”
she ran up to me, threw her arms round my neck and kissed me, while her worthy father was dying with laughter. her kisses put the last stroke to my bewitchment. after he had paid for the dress, her father said,
“i am going to get this little madcap married next sunday; there will be a supper and a ball, and we shall be delighted if you will honour us with your presence. my name is gilbert. i am comptroller of the duc d’elbeuf’s household.”
i promised to be at the wedding, and the young lady gave a skip of joy which made me think her prettier than ever.
on sunday i repaired to the house, but i could neither eat nor drink. the fair mdlle. gilbert kept me in a kind of enchantment which lasted while i was in company with her friends, for whom i did not care. they were all officials in noblemen’s houses, with their wives and daughters, who all aped the manners of their betters in the most ridiculous way; nobody knew me and i was known to nobody, and i cut a sorry figure amongst them all, for in a company of this sort the wittiest man is the greatest fool. everybody cracked his joke to the bride, she answered everybody, and people laughed at nothing.
her husband, a thin and melancholy man, with a rather foolish expression, was delighted at his wife’s keeping everybody amused. although i was in love with her, i pitied rather than envied him. i guessed that he had married for monetary considerations, and i knew pretty well what kind of a head-dress his handsome, fiery wife would give her husband, who was plain-featured, and seemed not to be aware of his wife’s beauty. i was seized with the desire of asking her some questions, and she gave me the opportunity by coming to sit next to me after a quadrille. she thanked me again for my kindness, and said that the beautiful dress i had supplied had won her many compliments.
“all the same,” i said, “i know you are longing to take it off. i know what love is and how impatient it makes one.”
“it’s very funny that everyone persists in thinking that i am in love, though i saw m. baret for the first time only a week ago. before then i was absolutely unconscious of his existence.”
“but why are you getting married in such a hurry without waiting till you know him better?”
“because my father does everything in a hurry.”
“i suppose your husband is a very rich man?”
“no, but he may become rich. we are going to open a shop for silk stockings at the corner of the rue st. honore and the rue des prouveres, and i hope that you will deal with us, as we would serve you with the best.”
“i shall certainly do so — nay, i will be your first customer, if i have to wait at the door.”
“you are kind! m. baret,” said she to her husband, who was standing close by, “this gentleman promises to be our first customer.”
“the gentleman is very good,” said the husband, “and i am sure he will be satisfied, as my stockings are genuine silk.”
next tuesday at day-break i began to dance attendance at the corner of the rue des prouveres, and waited there till the servant came out to take down the shutters. i went in and the girl asked me my business.
“i want to buy some stockings,” was my answer.
“master and mistress are still in bed, so you had better come later on.”
“no, i will wait here. stop a minute,” said i, giving her six francs, “go and get me some coffee; i will drink it in the shop.”
“i might go and get you some coffee, but i am not so silly as to leave you in the shop by yourself.”
“you are afraid i might steal something!”
“well, one does hear of such things being done, and i don’t know you from adam.”
“very good; but i shall stay here all the same.”
before long baret came down and scolded the poor girl for not having told him of my presence. “go and tell my wife to come,” said he, as he began opening packets of stockings for me to choose from. he kept stockings, vests, and silk drawers, and i turned one packet over after another, looking at them all and not fixing on anything till i saw his wife coming down as fresh as a rose and as bright as a lily. she smiled at me in the most seductive manner, apologized for the disorder of her dress, and thanked me for keeping my word.
“i never break my word,” i said, “especially when such a charming lady is concerned!”
madame baret was seventeen, of a moderate height, and an exquisite figure; without being classically beautiful, a raphael could not wish to depict a more enticing face. her eyes were large and brilliant. her drooping eyelids, which gave her so modest and yet so voluptuous an appearance, the ever-smiling mouth, her splendid teeth, the dazzling whiteness of her complexion, the pleasing air with which she listened to what was being said, her silvery voice, the sweetness and sparkling vivacity of her manner, her lack of conceit, or rather her unconsciousness of the power of her charms-in fine, everything about this masterpiece of nature made me wonder and admire; while she, by chance or vile monetary considerations, was in the power of baret, who, pale and sickly, thought a good deal more of his stockings than of the treasure marriage had given him — a treasure of which he was all unworthy, since he could not see its beauty nor taste its sweetness.
i chose stockings and vests to the amount of twenty-five louis, and i paid the price without trying to cheapen them. i saw the face of the fair shopwoman light up, and i augured well for my success, though i could not expect to do much while the honeymoon lasted. i told the servant that i would give her six francs if she would bring the packet to my house, and so i left them.
next sunday baret came himself with my purchases. i gave him six francs to hand over to his servant, but he hinted that he was not too proud to keep them himself. i was disgusted at this petty greed, and at his meanness in depriving his maid of the six francs after having made a good profit in what he had sold me; but i wanted to stand well with him, and i was not sorry to find so simple a way of throwing dust into his eyes. so while i resolved that the servant should not be a loser i gave the husband a good reception that i might the better mould him to my purpose. i had breakfast brought to him, asking why he had not brought his wife.
“she wanted me to take her,” said he, “but i was afraid you might be offended.”
“not at all, i should have been delighted. i think your wife a charming woman.”
“you are very kind to say so; but she’s young, she’s young.”
“i don’t think that’s any objection; and if she cares for the walk, bring her with you another time.” he said he should be very pleased to do so.
when i passed by the shop in my carriage i blew kisses to her with my hand, but i did not stop as i did not want any more stockings. indeed, i should have been bored with the crowd of fops with which the shop was always full. she began to be a topic of conversation in the town; the palais royal was full of her; and i was glad to hear that she kept to herself as if she had richer prey in view. that told me that no one possessed her so far, and i hoped that i might be the prey myself; i was quite willing to be captured.
some days after, she saw my carriage coming, and beckoned to me as i passed. i got out, and her husband with many apologies told me that he wanted me to be the first to see a new fashion in breeches he had just got in. the breeches were parti-coloured, and no man of fashion would be seen without them. they were odd-looking things, but became a well-made young man. as they had to fit exactly, i told him to measure me for six pairs, offering to pay in advance. “we have them in all sizes,” said he, “go up to my wife’s room and try some on.”
it was a good opportunity and i accepted, especially when i heard him tell his wife to go and help me. i went upstairs, she following, and i began to undress, apologizing for doing so before her.
“i will fancy i am your valet,” said she, “and i will help you.”
i did not make any difficulties, and after taking off my shoes i gave her my breeches, taking care, however, to keep on my drawers, lest her modesty should receive too severe a shock. this done she took a pair of breeches, drew them on me, took them off, and tried on others, and all this without any impropriety on either side; for i had determined to behave with discretion till the opportunity came to be indiscreet. she decided that four pairs fitted me admirably, and, not wishing to contradict her, i gave her the sixteen louis she asked, and told her i should be delighted if she would bring them herself at any time when she was at leisure. she came downstairs quite proud of her knowledge of business, and baret said that next sunday he and his wife would have the honour of bringing me my purchase.
“i shall be charmed, m. baret,” said i, “especially if you will stay to dinner.”
he answered that having an important engagement for two o’clock he could only accept on the condition that i would let him go at that time, and he would return at about five to fetch his wife. i found the plan vastly to my taste, but i knew how to conceal my joy; and i quietly said that though i should lose the pleasure of his society, he was free to go when he liked, especially as i had not to go out myself before six.
i looked forward to the sunday, and the tradesman and his wife did not fail me. as soon as they arrived, i told my servant to say “not at home” for the rest of the day, and as i was impatient to know what would happen in the afternoon i had dinner served at an early hour. the dishes were exquisite, and the wines delicious. the good man ate much and drank deeply, indeed to such an extent that in common politeness i was obliged to remind him that he had an important appointment at two. his wits being sharpened with champagne, the happy thought occurred to him to tell his wife to go home by herself, if he were kept later than five; and i hastened to add that i would take her home myself in my carriage. he thanked me, and i soothed his uneasiness about being punctual to his appointment by telling him that a coach was waiting, and that the fare had been paid. he went off, and i found myself alone with my jewel, whom i was certain of possessing till six o’clock.
as soon as i heard the hall door shut on the kind husband, i said to his wife,
“you are to be congratulated on having such a kind husband; with a man like that your happiness is assured.”
“it is easy to say happiness, but enjoying it is a different thing. my husband’s health is so delicate that i can only consider myself as his nurse; and then he contracted heavy debts to set up in business which oblige us to observe the strictest economy. we came here on foot to save the twenty-four sons. we could live on the profits of the business, if there were no debts, but as it is everything goes to pay the interest, and our sales are not large enough to cover everything.”
“but you have plenty of customers, for whenever i pass i see the shop full of people.”
“these customers you see are idlers, crackers of bad jokes, and profligates, who come and make my head ache with their jests. they have not a penny to bless themselves with, and we dare not let them out of our sight for fear of their hands wandering. if we had cared to give them credit, our shop would have been emptied long ago. i am rude to them, in the hopes that they may leave me alone, but it’s of no use. their impudence is astonishing. when my husband is in i retreat to my room, but he is often away, and then i am obliged to put up with them. and the scarcity of money prevents us from doing much business, but we are obliged to pay our workmen all the same. as far as i can see, we shall be obliged to dismiss them, as we shall soon have to meet several bills. next saturday we have got to pay six hundred francs, and we have only got two hundred.”
“i am surprised at your having all this worry in these early days of your marriage. i suppose your father knew about your husband’s circumstances; how about your dowry?”
“my dowry of six thousand francs has served, most of it, to stock the shop and to pay our debts. we have goods which would pay our debts three times over; but in bad times capital sunk is capital dead.”
“i am sorry to hear all this, as if peace is not made your situation will become worse, for as you go on your needs will become greater.”
“yes, for when my husband is better we may have children.”
“what! do you mean to say his health prevents him from making you a mother? i can’t believe it.”
“i don’t see how i can be a mother who am still a maid; not that i care much about the matter.”
“i shouldn’t have believed it! how can a man not in the agony of death feel ill beside you? he must be dead.”
“well, he is not exactly dead, but he doesn’t shew many signs of life.”
this piece of wit made me laugh, and under cover of my applause i embraced her without experiencing much resistance. the first kiss was like an electric spark; it fired my imagination and i increased my attentions till she became as submissive as a lamb.
“i will help you, dearest, to meet the bill on saturday;” and so saying i drew her gently into a closet where a soft divan formed a suitable altar for the completion of an amorous sacrifice.
i was enchanted to find her submissive to my caresses and my inquisitiveness, but she surprised me greatly when, as i placed myself in readiness for the consummation of the act, and was already in the proper posture between the two columns, she moved in such a way as to hinder my advance. i thought at first that it was only one of those devices intended to make the final victory more sweet by putting difficulties in the way; but, finding that her resistance was genuine, i exclaimed,
“how was i to expect a refusal like this at a moment when i thought i saw my ardours reflected in your eyes?”
“your eyes did not deceive you; but what would my husband say if he found me otherwise than as god has made me?”
“he can’t have left you untouched!”
“he really has done so. you can see for yourself if you like. can i, then, give to you what appertains to the genius of the marriage- bed.”
“you are right, my angel; this fruit must be kept for a mouth unworthy to taste it. i pity and adore you. come to my arms, abandon yourself to my love, and fear nothing. the fruit shall not be damaged; i will but taste the outer surface and leave no trace behind.”
we passed three hours in trifling together in a manner calculated to inflame our passions despite the libations which we now and again poured forth. i was consoled by her swearing to be mine as soon as baret had good grounds for thinking that she was his, and, after taking her on the boulevards, i left her at her door, with a present of twenty-five louis.
i was in love with her as i had never been before, and i passed the shop three or four times a day, going round and round, to the wrath of my coachman, who got sick of telling me that i was ruining my horses. i was happy to see her watch for the moment that i passed, and waft me a kiss by putting her pretty fingers to her mouth.
we had agreed that she should not make me a sign to leave my coach till her husband had forced a passage. at last this day, so ardently desired and so long waited for, arrived. the sign was given, and i stopped the coach and she came out and, standing on the step, told me to go and wait for her at the church door of st. germain l’auxerrois.
i was curious to know what the results would be, and had not been at the place appointed more than a quarter of an hour when she came towards me, her head muffled in a hood. she got into the carriage and, saying that she wanted to make some purchases, begged me to take her to the shops.
i had business of my own, and pressing business too, but who can refuse the beloved object anything? i told the coachman to drive to the place dauphine, and i prepared to loosen my purse-strings, as i had a feeling she was going to treat me as a friend. in point of fact she left few shops unvisited, going from jewels to pretty trifles and toys of different kinds, and from these to dresses of the latest fashion, which they displayed before her, addressing her as princess, and saying that this would become her admirably. she looked at me, and said it must be confessed that it was very pretty and that she would like it if it were not so dear. i was a willing dupe, and assured her that if she liked it it could not be too dear, and that i would pay.
while my sweetheart was thus choosing one trifle after another my ill-luck brought about an incident which placed me in a fearful situation four years afterwards. the chain of events is endless.
i perceived at my left hand a pretty girl of twelve or thirteen, with an old and ugly woman who was disparaging a pair of ear-rings which the girl had in her hands, and on which she had evidently set her heart: she looked sad at not being able to buy them. i heard her say to the old woman that they would make her happy, but she snatched them from the girl’s hands and told her to, come away.
“i can let you have a cheaper pair and almost as fine,” said the shopwoman, but the young lady said she did not; care about it, and was getting ready to go, making a profound reverence to my princess baret.
she, no doubt flattered by this sign of respect went up to her, called her little queen, told her she was as fair as a may morning, and asked the old woman her name,
“she is mdlle. de boulainvilier, my niece.”
“how can you be so hard-hearted,” said i to the aunt, “as to refuse your charming niece a toy which would make her happy? allow me to make her a present of them.”
so saying i put the ear-rings in the girl’s hands, while she blushed and looked at her aunt as if to ask her permission.
“you may have the ear-rings,” said she, “as this gentleman has been kind enough to give you such a present, and you should give him a kiss by way of thanks.”
“the ear-rings,” said the shopwoman, “will be only three louis.”
hereupon the affair took a comic turn; the old woman got into a rage and said,
“how can you be such a cheat? you told me they were only two louis.”
“nay, madam, i asked three.”
“that’s a lie, and i shall not allow you to rob this gentleman. niece, put those ear-rings down; let the shopwoman keep them.”
so far all was well enough; but the old aunt spoilt everything by saying that if i liked to give her niece the three louis she could get her a pair twice as good at another shop. it was all the same to me, so i smilingly put the three louis in front of the young lady, who still had the ear-rings in her hands. the shop-woman, who was on the look-out, pocketed the money, saying that the bargain was made, that the three louis belonged to her and the ear-rings to the young lady.
“you are a cheat,” cried out the enraged old woman.
“and you are an old b —— d,” answered the shop-woman, “i know you well.” a crowd began to gather in front of the shop, hearing the cries of the two harpies. foreseeing a good deal of unpleasantness, i took the aunt by the arm and led her gently away. the niece, who was quite content with the ear-rings, and did not care whether they cost three louis or two, followed her. we shall hear of them again in due course.
my dear baret having made me waste a score of louis, which her poor husband would have regretted much more than myself, we got into the carriage again, and i took her to the church door from which we had started. on the way she told me she was coming to stop a few days with me at little poland, and that it was her husband who would ask me for the invitation.
“when will he do that?”
“to-morrow, if you go by the shop. come and buy some stockings; i shall have a bad headache, and baret will speak to you.”
it may be imagined that i took care to call the next day, and as i did not see his wife in the shop i asked in a friendly way after her health.
“she is ill in bed,” he replied; “she wants a little country air.”
“if you have not fixed for any place, i shall be happy to put you up at little poland.”
he replied by a smile of delight.
“i will go and urge her to come myself; in the meanwhile, m. baret, will you pack me up a dozen pairs of stockings?”
i went upstairs and found the invalid in bed, and laughing in spite of her imaginary headache. “the business is done,” said i, “you will soon hear of it.” as i had said, the husband came upstairs with my stockings and told her that i had been good enough to give her a room in my house. the crafty little creature thanked me, assuring her husband that the fresh air would soon cure her.
“you shall be well looked after,” said i, “but you must excuse me if i do not keep you company — i have to attend to my business. m. baret will be able to come and sleep with you every night, and start early enough in the morning to be in time for the opening of his shop.”
after many compliments had been interchanged, baret decided on having his sister stay in the house while his wife was away, and as i took leave i said that, i should give orders for their reception that very evening, in case i was out when they came.
next day i stayed out till after midnight, and the cook told me that the wedded couple had made a good supper and had gone to bed. i warned her that i should be dining at home every day, and that i should not see my company.
the following day i was up betimes, and on enquiring if the husband had risen i learnt that he had got up at day-break and would not be back till supper-time. the wife was still asleep. i thought with reason she was not asleep for me, and i went to pay her my first visit. in point of fact she was awake, and i took a foretaste of greater joys by a thousand kisses, which she returned with interest. we jested at the expense of the worthy man who had trusted me with a jewel of which i was about to make such good use, and we congratulated each other on the prospect of a week’s mutual pleasures.
“come, my dear,” said i, “get up and put on a few clothes and we will take breakfast in my room.”
she did not make an elaborate toilette; a cotton dressing gown, a pretty lace cap, a lawn kerchief, that was all, but how the simple dress was lighted by the roses of her cheeks! we were quick over our breakfast, we were in a hurry, and when we had done i shut the door and we gave ourselves over to the enjoyment of our bliss.
surprised to find her in the same condition in which i had left her, i told her i had hoped . . . but she, without giving me time to finish the phrase, said,
“my jewel, baret thinks, or pretends to think, that he has done his duty as a husband; but he is no hand at the business, and i am disposed to put myself in your hands, and then there will be no doubt of my condition.”
“we shall thus, my sweet, be doing him a service, and the service shall be well done.”
as i said these words i was on the threshold of the temple, and i opened the door in a manner that overthrew all obstacles. a little scream and then several sighs announced the completion of the sacrifice, and, to tell the truth, the altar of love was covered with the blood of the victim. after the necessary ablutions the priest once more began his pious work, while the victim growing bolder so provoked his rage that it was not till the fourth mactation that we rested and put off our joust to another season. we swore a thousand times to love each other and to remain constant, and we may possibly have been sincere, as we were in our ecstasy of pleasure.
we only separated to dress; then after taking a turn in the garden we dined together, sure that in a sumptuous repast, washed down by the choicest wines, we should find strength to reanimate our desires and to lull them to sleep in bliss.
at dessert, as i was pouring champagne into her glass, i asked her how with such a fiery temperament she had managed to preserve her virtue?
“cupid,” said i, “might have gathered the fruit that hymen could not taste. you are seventeen, and the pear has been ripe for two years at least.”
“very true, but i have never had a lover.”
“never?”
“i have been courted, but to no effect. my heart was ever silent. possibly my father thought otherwise when i begged him, a month ago, to get me married soon.”
“very likely, but as you were not in love, why were you in such a hurry?”
“i knew that the duc d’elbeuf would soon be coming to town, and that if he found me still single he would oblige me to become the wife of a man i detest, who would have me at any price.”
“who is this man for whom you have such an aversion?”
“he is one of the duke’s pets, a monster who sleeps with his master.”
“really! i did not know the duke had such tastes.”
“oh yes; he is eighty-four, and he thinks himself a woman; he says he must have a husband.”
“that is very funny. and is this aspirant to your hand a handsome man?”
“i think him horrible; but everybody else thinks he is a fine man.”
the charming baret spent a week with me, and each day we renewed the combat in which we were always conquerors and always conquered. i have seen few women as pretty and seductive, and none whose skin was more exquisitely soft and fair. her breath was aromatic, and this made her kisses most sweet. her neck was exquisitely shaped, and the two globes, tipped with coral, were as hard as marble. the exquisite curves of her figure would have defied the skill of the ablest painter. i experienced an ineffable joy in contemplating her, and in the midst of my happiness i called myself unhappy because i could not satisfy all the desires which her charms aroused in me. the frieze which crowned her columns was composed of links of pale gold of the utmost fineness, and my fingers strove in vain to give them another direction to that which nature had given them. she could easily have been taught those lively yet graceful movements which double the pleasure; nature had done her part in that direction, and i do not think a more expert mistress in the art of love could be found.
each of us looked forward to the day of her departure with equal grief, and our only consolation lay in the hope of meeting again, and often. three days after she went away, i went to see her, more in love than ever, and i gave her two notes of five thousand francs apiece. her husband might have his suspicions, but he was too happy at being enabled to pay his debts and to keep his shop open to say anything unpleasant. many husbands besides himself think themselves lucky to have such productive wives.
in the beginning of november i sold shares for fifty thousand francs to a man named gamier, living in the rue du mail, giving up to him a third part of the materials in my warehouse, and accepting a manager chosen by him and paid by the company. three days after signing the deed i received the money; but in the night the doctor, my warehouseman, emptied the till and absconded. i have always thought that this robbery could not have been effected without the connivance of the painter. this loss was a serious blow to me, as my affairs were getting into an embroiled condition; and, for a finishing touch to my misfortunes, gamier had me served with a summons to repay him the fifty thousand francs. my answer was that i was not liable, that his manager had been appointed, the agreement and sale of the shares was valid, and that he being one of the company would have to share in the loss. as he persisted in his claim, i was advised to go to law, but gamier declared the agreement null and void, accusing me in an indirect manner of having appropriated the money which i had said was stolen. i would willingly have given him a good thrashing, but he was an old man, and that course would not have mended matters, so i kept my temper. the merchant who had given surety for the doctor was not to be found; he had become bankrupt. garnier had all my stock seized, and sequestrated my horses, carriages, and all my private property.
while these troubles were harassing me, i dismissed all my work- girls, who had always been a great expense, and replaced them with workmen and some of my servants. the painter still retained his position, which was an assured one, as he always paid himself out of the sales.
my attorney was an honest man — a rare bird amongst lawyers — but my counsel, who kept telling me that the case would soon be decided, was a rascal. while the decision was pending, garnier served me with a writ to pay the sum claimed. i took it to my counsel, who promised to appeal the same day, which he did not do, while he appropriated to his own use the money assigned by me for the costs of an action which, if there had been justice in france, i should certainly have gained. two other summonses were issued against me, and before i knew what was going on a warrant was issued for my arrest. i was seized at eight o’clock in the morning, as i was driving along the rue st. denis. the sergeant of police sat beside me, a second got up beside the coachman, and a third stationed himself at the back of the coach, and in this state we drove to fort l’eveque.
as soon as the police had handed me over to the gaoler, he informed me that by payment of the fifty thousand francs, or by giving good bail, i might instantly regain my freedom.
“for the moment,” said i, “i can neither command money nor bail.”
“very good, then you will stay in prison.”
the gaoler took me to a decent-looking room, and i told him i had only been served with one writ.
“very likely,” answered he, “it often happens like that; but it is rather difficult to prove.”
“bring me writing materials, and have a trusty messenger at my disposal.”
i wrote to my counsel, my attorney, to madame d’urfe, and to all my friends, including my brother, who was just married. the attorney called immediately, but the barrister contented himself with writing to the effect that as he had put in an appeal my seizure was illegal, and that damages might be recovered. he ended by begging me to give him a free hand, and to have patience for a few days.
manon baletti sent her brother with her diamond earrings. madame du rumain dispatched her barrister — a man of rare honesty — to me, and wrote a friendly note in which she said that if i wanted five hundred louis i should have them to-morrow. my brother neither wrote nor came to see me. as to dear madame d’urfe she sent to say that she would expect me at dinner. i thought she had gone mad, as i could not think she was making fun of me.
at eleven o’clock my room was full of people. poor baret had come weeping, and offering me all his shop held. i was touched by the worthy man’s kindness. at last i was told that a lady in a coach wanted to see me. i waited, but nobody came. in my impatience i called the turnkey, who told me that, after questioning the clerk of the prison, she had gone away again. from the description i was given i had no difficulty in identifying the lady with madame d’urfe.
to find myself deprived of my liberty was a disagreeable shock to me. i thought of the leads, and though my present situation was not to be compared with that, i cursed my fate as i foresaw that my imprisonment would damage my reputation. i had thirty thousand francs in hard cash and jewels to more than double that amount, but i could not decide on making such a sacrifice, in spite of the advice given by madame du rumain’s barrister, who would have me got out of prison at any cost.
“all you have to do,” said the barrister, “is to deposit half the sum demanded which i will give to the clerk of the court, and in a short time i can promise a decision in your favour and the restoration of your money.”
we were discussing the matter, when the gaoler entered, and said, very politely,
“sir, you are a free man again, and a lady is waiting for you at the door in her carriage”
i called le duc, my man, and told him to go and see who the lady was. he returned with the information that it was madame d’urfe. i made my bow to everybody, and after four very disagreeable hours of imprisonment, i found myself free again and sitting in a splendid coach.
madame d’urfe received me with dignified kindness, and a judge who was in the carriage apologized for his country, where strangers were exposed to such insults. i thanked madame d’urfe in a few words, telling her that i was glad to become her debtor, but that it was garnier who benefited by her generosity. she replied with a pleasant smile that she was not so sure of that, and that we would talk it over at dinner. she wanted me to go and walk in the tuileries and the palais royal, to convince people that the report of my imprisonment had been false. i thought the advice excellent, and as i set out i promised to be with her at two o’clock.
after skewing myself at the two principal walks of paris, amusing myself by the astonishment depicted on certain faces well known to me, i went and returned the ear-rings to my dear manon, who gave an astonished but a happy cry when she saw me. i thanked her tenderly for the proof she had given me of her attachment, and said that i had been arrested by a plot for which i would make the plotters pay dear. after promising to spend the evening with them i went to madame d’urfe’s.
this good lady, whose foible is well known to my readers, made me laugh when she said that her genius had told her that i had got myself arrested to be talked about, for reasons which were known only to myself.
“as soon as i was informed of your arrest,” said she, “i went to the fort l’eveque, and on learning from the clerk what the affair was about, i deposited bonds to bail you out. if you are not in a position to have justice done you, gamier will have to reckon with me before he takes the money i have deposited. but your first step should be to commence a criminal prosecution against your counsel, who has not only failed to put in your appeal but has robbed and deceived you.”
i left her in the evening, assuring her that in a few days her bail should be returned to her; and went to the french and italian plays in succession, taking care to render myself conspicuous that my reappearance might be complete. afterwards i went to sup with manon baletti, who was too happy to have had an opportunity of spewing her affection for me; and her joy was full when i told her that i was going to give up business, for she thought that my seraglio was the only obstacle to my marriage with her.
the next day was passed with madame du rumain. i felt that my obligations to her were great, while she, in the goodness of her heart, was persuaded that she could make no adequate return to me for the oracles with which i furnished her, and by following which she was safely guided through the perplexities of life. i cannot understand how she, whose wit was keen, and whose judgment on other subjects was of the soundest kind, could be liable to such folly. i was sorry when i reflected that i could not undeceive her, and glad when i reflected that to this deceit of mine the kindness she had shewn me was chiefly due.
my imprisonment disgusted me with paris, and made me conceive a hatred of the law, which i feel now. i found myself entangled in a double maze of knavery — garnier was my foe, and so was my own counsel. every time i went to plead, to spend my money amongst lawyers, and to waste the time better given to pleasure, i felt as if i was going to execution. in this perturbed kind of life, so contrary to my inclinations, i resolved to set to work in earnest to make my fortune, so that i might become independent and free to enjoy life according to my tastes. i decided in the first place that i would cut myself free of all that bound me to paris, make a second journey into holland to replenish my purse and invest my money in a yearly income for two lives, and from thenceforth live free from care. the two lives were those of my wife and myself; my wife would be manon baletti, and when i told her my plans she would have thought them delightful if i had begun by marrying her.
the first thing i did was to give up little poland. i then drew the twenty-four thousand francs which were my surety for keeping a lottery office in the rue st. denis. thus i got rid of my ridiculous office of lottery receiver, and after getting my clerk married i handed over the office to him; in short, i made his fortune. a friend of his wife’s was his surety; such things often happen.
i did not like to leave madame d’urfe involved in a troublesome suit with gamier, so i went to versailles to see the abbe de la ville, a great friend of his, and begged him to induce gamier to make a composition.
the abbe saw that his friend was in the wrong, and so was all the more willing to help me; and a few days afterwards he wrote to me to go and see him, assuring me that i should find him inclined to arrange matters in a friendly manner.
gamier was at ruelle, where he had a house which cost him four hundred thousand francs — a fine estate for a man who had made his money as an army contractor during the last war. he was rich, but he was so unfortunate as to be still fond of women at the age of seventy, while his impotence debarred him from the proper enjoyment of their society. i found him in company with three young ladies, all of whom were pretty, and (as i heard afterwards) of good families; but they were poor, and their necessities forced them to submit to a disgusting intercourse with the old profligate. i stayed to dinner and admired the propriety and modesty of their behaviour in spite of the humiliation which accompanies poverty. after dinner, gamier went to sleep, and left me to entertain these girls whom i would willingly have rescued from their unfortunate situation if i had been able. after gamier woke, we went into his study to talk over our business.
at first he maintained his claim tenaciously, and seemed unwilling to yield an inch; but when i told him that i was leaving paris in a few days, he saw that as he could not keep me, madame d’urfe might take the suit over and carry it on to infinity, and that he might lose it at last. that made him think it over, and he asked me to stay in his house for the night. the next day, after breakfast, he said —
“i have made up my mind: i will have twenty-five thousand francs, or keep the matter before the courts till my dying day.”
i answered that he would find the sum in the hands of madame d’urfe’s solicitor, and that he could receive it as soon as he had given replevy on the bail at the fort l’eveque.
i could not persuade madame d’urfe that i had acted wisely in coming to an arrangement till i had told her that my genius had commanded me not to leave paris before my affairs were settled, so that no one might be able to accuse me of having gone away to avoid creditors whose claims i could not satisfy.
three or four days afterwards i went to take leave of m. de choiseul, who promised to instruct m. d’afri to aid me in negotiating a loan at five per cent. either with the states-general or a private company.
“you can tell everyone,” said he, “that peace is certain to be made in the course of the winter, and i will take care that you shall have what is due to you on your return to france.”
m. de choiseul deceived me, for he knew very well that peace would not be made; but i had no definite project, and i repented of having given m. de boulogne my confidence, and also of having done anything for the government, the reward of which was not immediate and certain.
i sold my horses, my carriages, my furniture; i went bail for my brother who had contracted debts he was sure of paying, as he had several pictures on the easel which he had been ordered to paint by some of his rich and noble patrons. i took leave of manon, whom i left in floods of tears, though i swore with the utmost sincerity to come back soon and marry her.
at last all my preparations were finished, and i left paris with a hundred thousand francs in bills of exchange and jewels to the same amount. i was alone in my post-chaise, le duc preceding me on horseback, which the rascal preferred to being shut up in a carriage.
this le duc of mine was a spaniard, aged eighteen, a sharp fellow, whom i valued highly, especially because he did my hair better than anyone else. i never refused him a pleasure which a little money would buy. besides him i had a good swiss servant, who served as my courier.
it was the 1st of december, 1759, and the air was frosty, but i was fortified against the inclemency of the season. i was able to read comfortably, and i took helvetius’s “esprit,” which i had never had time to read before. after perusing it i was equally astonished at the sensation it created and at the stupidity of the high court which condemned it. of course that exalted body was largely influenced by the king and the clergy, and between them all no effort was spared to ruin helvetius, a good-hearted man with more wit than his book. i saw nothing novel either in the historical part relating to the morals of nations (in which helvetius dismisses us as triflers), or in the position that morality is dependent on the reason. all that he says has been said over and over again, and blaise pascal went much farther, but he wrote more skilfully and better in every way than helvetius, who, wishing to remain in france, was obliged to retract. he preferred a quiet life to his honour and his philosophy. his wife had a nobler soul than he, as she wanted to sell all they had, and to take refuge in holland rather than submit to the shame of a recantation. perhaps helvetius would have followed the noble advice of his wife if he had foreseen that this monstrous recantation would make his book into a fraud; for he had to confess that he had written without due reflection, that he was more in jest than earnest, and that his arguments were mere sophisms. but many men of keen intellects had not waited for him to recant before exposing this wretched system of his. and admitting that whatever man does is done for his own interest, does it follow that gratitude is a folly, and virtue and vice identical? are a villain and a man of honour to be weighed in the same balance? if such a dreadful system were not absurd, virtue would be mere hypocrisy; and if by any possibility it were true, it ought to be proscribed by general consent, since it would lead to general ruin and corruption.
it might have been proved to helvetius that the propositions that the first motive is always self-interest, and that we should always consult our own interest first, are fallacious. it is a strange thing that so virtuous a man would not admit the existence of virtue. it is an amusing suggestion that he only published his book out of modesty, but that would have contradicted his own system. but if it were so, was it well done to render himself contemptible to escape the imputation of pride? modesty is only a virtue when it is natural; if it is put on, or merely the result of training, it is detestable. the great d’alembert was the most truly modest man i have ever seen.
when i got to brussels, where i spent two days, i went to the “hotel de l’imperatrice,” and chance sent mdlle. x. c. v. and farsetti in my way, but i pretended not to see them. from brussels i went straight to the hague, and got out at the “prince of orange.” on my asking the host who sat down at his table, he told me his company consisted of general officers of the hanoverian army, same english ladies, and a prince piccolomini and his wife; and this made me make up my mind to join this illustrious assemblage.
i was unknown to all, and keeping my eyes about me i gave my chief attention to the observation of the supposed italian princess, who was pretty enough, and more especially of her husband whom i seemed to recognize. in the course of conversation i heard some talk of the celebrated st. germain, and it seemed that he was stopping in the same hotel.
i had returned to my room, and was thinking of going to bed, when prince piccolomini entered, and embraced me as an old friend.
“a look in your face,” said he, “tells me that the recognition has been mutual. i knew you directly in spite of the sixteen years that have passed since we saw each other at vicenza. to-morrow you can tell everybody that we are friends, and that though i am not a prince i am really a count; here is my passport from the king of naples, pray read it.”
during this rapid monologue i could not get in a single word, and on attentively scanning his features i could only recollect that i had seen him before, but when or where or how i knew not. i opened the passport and read the name of ruggero di rocco, count piccolomini. that was enough; i remembered an individual of that name who was a fencing-master in vicenza, and on looking at him again his aspect, though much changed left no doubt as to the identity of the swordsman and the count.
“i congratulate you,” said i, “on your change of employment, your new business is doubtless much better than the old.”
“i taught fencing,” he replied, “to save myself from dying of hunger, for my father was so hard a man that he would not give me the wherewithal to live, and i disguised my name so as not to disgrace it. on my father’s death i succeeded to the property, and at rome i married the lady you have seen.”
“you had good taste, for she’s a pretty woman.”
“she is generally thought so, and it was a love match on my side.”
he ended by asking me to come and see him in his room the next day, after dinner, telling me that i should find good company and a bank at faro, which he kept himself. he added, without ceremony, that if i liked we could go half shares, and that i should find it profitable. i thanked him, and promised to pay him a visit.
i went abroad at an early hour next morning, and after having spent some time with the jew, boaz, and having given a polite refusal to his offer of a bed, i went to pay my respects to m. d’afri, who since the death of the princess of orange, the regent of the low countries, was generally known as his most christian majesty’s ambassador. he gave me an excellent reception, but he said that if i had returned to holland hoping to do business on behalf of the government i should waste my time, since the action of the comptroller-general had lowered the credit of the nation, which was thought to be on the verge of bankruptcy.
“this m. silhouette,” said he, “has served the king very badly. it is all very well to say that payments are only suspended for a year, but it is not believed.”
he then asked me if i knew a certain comte de st. germain, who had lately arrived at the hague.
“he has not called on me,” said the ambassador, “though he says he is commissioned by the king to negotiate a loan of a hundred millions. when i am asked about him, i am obliged to say that i know nothing about him, for fear of compromising myself. such a reply, as you can understand, is not likely to increase his chance of success, but that is his fault and not mine. why has he not brought me a letter from the duc de choiseul or the marquise de pompadour? i take him to be an impostor, but i shall know something more about him in the course of ten days.”
i told him, in my turn, all i knew of this truly eccentric individual. he was not a little surprised to hear that the king had given him an apartment at chambord, but when i told him that the count professed to be able to make diamonds he laughed and said that in that case he would no doubt make the hundred millions. just as i was leaving, m. d’afri asked me to dine with him on the following day.
on returning to the hotel i called on the comte de st. germain.
“you have anticipated me,” said he, on seeing me enter, “i intended to have called on you. i suppose, my dear casanova, that you have come to try what you can do for our court, but you will find your task a difficult one, as the exchange is highly offended at the late doings of that fool silhouette. all the same i hope i shall be able to get my hundred millions. i have passed my word to my friend, louis xv. (i may call him so), and i can’t disappoint him; the business will be done in the next three or four weeks.”
“i should think m. d’afri might assist you.”
“i do not require his assistance. probably i shall not even call upon him, as he might say he helped me. no, i shall have all the trouble, and i mean to have all the glory, too.”
“i presume you will be going to court, where the duke of brunswick may be of service to you?”
“why should i go to court? as for the duke of brunswick, i do not care to know him. all i have got to do is to go to amsterdam, where my credit is sufficiently good for anything. i am fond of the king of france; there’s not a better man in the kingdom.”
“well, come and dine at the high table, the company is of the best and will please you.”
“you know i never eat; moreover, i never sit down at a table where i may meet persons who are unknown to me.”
“then, my lord, farewell; we shall see each other again at amsterdam.”
i went down to the dining-roam, where, while dinner was being served, i conversed with some officers. they asked me if i knew prince piccolomini, to which i answered that he was not a prince but a count, and that it was many years since i had seen him.
when the count and his fair wife (who only spoke italian) came down, i shewed them some polite attentions, and we then sat down to dinner.
