RETURN TO NAPLES - Chapter XI
My Arrival at Bologna--I Am Expelled from Modena--I Visit Parma
and Turin--The Pretty Jewess--The Dressmaker
The Corticelli had a good warm mantle, but the fool who carried
her off had no cloak, even of the most meagre kind, to keep off
the piercing cold, which was increased by a keen wind blowing
right in our faces.
In spite of all I would not halt, for I was afraid I might be
pursued and obliged to return, which would have greatly vexed me.
When I saw that the postillion was slackening his speed, I
increased the amount of the present I was going to make him, and
once more we rushed along at a headlong pace. I felt perishing
with the cold; while the postillions seeing me so lightly clad,
and so prodigal of my money to speed them on their way, imagined
that I was a prince carrying off the heiress of some noble family.
We heard them talking to this effect while they changed horses,
and the Corticelli was so much amused that she did nothing but
laugh for the rest of the way. In five hours we covered forty
miles; we started from Florence at eight o'clock, and at one in
the morning we stopped at a post in the Pope's territory, where I
had nothing to fear. The stage goes under the name of "The Ass
Unburdened."
The odd name of the inn made my mistress laugh afresh. Everybody
was asleep, but the noise I made and the distribution of a few
pauls procured me the privilege of a fire. I was dying of hunger,
and they coolly told me there was nothing to eat. I laughed in
the landlord's face, and told him to bring me his butter, his
eggs, his macaroni, a ham, and some Parmesan cheese, for I knew
that so much will be found in the inns all over Italy. The repast
was soon ready, and I shewed the idiot host that he had materials
for an excellent meal. We ate like four, and afterwards they made
up an impromptu bed and we went to sleep, telling them to call me
as soon as a carriage and four drew up.
Full of ham and macaroni, slightly warmed with the Chianti and
Montepulciano, and tired with our journey, we stood more in need
of slumber than of love, and so we gave ourselves up to sleep till
morning. Then we gave a few moments to pleasure, but it was so
slight an affair as not to be worth talking about.
At one o'clock we began to feel hungry again and got up, and the
host provided us with an excellent dinner, after receiving
instructions from me. I was astonished not to see the carriage
draw up, but I waited patiently all day. Night came on and still
no coach, and I began to feel anxious; but the Corticelli
persisted in laughing at everything. Next morning I sent off an
express messenger with instructions for Costa. In the event of
any violence having taken place, I was resolved to return to
Florence, of which city I could at any time make myself free by
the expenditure of two hundred crowns.
The messenger started at noon, and returned at two o'clock with
the news that my servants would shortly be with me. My coach was
on its way, and behind it a smaller carriage with two horses, in
which sat an old woman and a young man.
"That's the mother," said Corticelli; "now we shall have some fun.
Let's get something for them to eat, and be ready to hear the
history of this marvellous adventure which she will remember to
her dying day."
Costa told me that the auditor had revenged my contempt of his
orders by forbidding the post authorities to furnish any horses
for my carriage. Hence the delay. But here we heard the
allocution of the Signora Laura.
"I got an excellent supper ready," she began, "according to your
orders; it cost me more than ten pauls, as I shall shew you, and I
hope you will make it up to me as I'm but a poor woman. All was
ready and I joyfully expected you, but in vain; I was in despair.
At last when midnight came I sent my son to your lodging to
enquire after you, but you may imagine my 'grief when I heard that
nobody knew what had become of you. I passed a sleepless night,
weeping all the time, and in the morning I went and complained to
the police that you had taken off my daughter, and asked them to
send after you and make you give her back to me. But only think,
they laughed at me! 'Why did you let her go out without you?
laughing in my face. 'Your daughter's in good hands,' says
another, 'you know perfectly well where she is.' In fact I was
grossly slandered."
"Slandered?" said the Corticelli.
"Yes, slandered, for it was as much as to say that I had consented
to your being carried off, and if I had done that the fools might
have known I would not have come to them about it. I went away in
a rage to Dr. Vannini's, where I found your man, who told me that
you had gone to Bologna, and that I could follow you if I liked.
I consented to this plan, and I hope you wilt pay my travelling
expenses. But I can't help telling you that this is rather beyond
a joke."
I consoled her by telling her I would pay all she had spent, and
we set off for Bologna the next day, and reached that town at an
early hour. I sent my servants to the inn with my carriage, and I
went to lodge with the Corticelli.
I spent a week with the girl, getting my meals from the inn, and
enjoying a diversity of pleasures which I shall remember all my
days; my young wanton had a large circle of female friends, all
pretty and all kind. I lived with them like a sultan, and still I
delight to recall this happy time, and I say with a sigh, 'Tempi
passati'!
There are many towns in Italy where one can enjoy all the
pleasures obtainable at Bologna; but nowhere so cheaply, so
easily, or with so much freedom. The living is excellent, and
there are arcades where one can walk in the shade in learned and
witty company. It is a great pity that either from the air, the
water, or the wine--for men of science have not made up their
minds on the subject persons who live at Bologna are subject to a
slight itch. The Bolognese, however, far from finding this
unpleasant, seem to think it an advantage; it gives them the
pleasure of scratching themselves. In springtime the ladies
distinguish themselves by the grace with which they use their
fingers.
Towards mid-Lent I left the Corticelli, wishing her a pleasant
journey, for she was going to fulfil a year's engagement at Prague
as second dancer. I promised to fetch her and her mother to
Paris, and my readers will see how I kept my word.
I got to Modena the evening after I left Bologna, and I stopped
there, with one of those sudden whims to which I have always been
subject. Next morning I went out to see the pictures, and as I
was returning to my lodging for dinner a blackguardly-looking
fellow came up and ordered me, on the part of the Government, to
continue my journey on the day following at latest.
"Very good," said I, and the fellow went away.
"Who is that man?" I said to the landlord.
"A SPY."
"A spy; and the Government dares to send such a fellow to me?"
"The 'borgello' must have sent him."
"Then the 'borgello' is the Governor of Modena--the infamous
wretch!"
"Hush! hush! all the best families speak to him in the street."
"Then the best people are very low here, I suppose?"
"Not more than anywhere else. He is the manager of the opera
house, and the greatest noblemen dine with him and thus secure his
favour."
"It's incredible! But why should the high and mighty borgello
send me away from Modena?"
"I don't know, but do you take my advice and go and speak to him;
you will find him a fine fellow."
Instead of going to see this b. . . . I called on the Abbe Testa
Grossa, whom I had known at Venice in 1753. Although he was a man
of low extraction he had a keen wit. At this time he was old and
resting on his laurels; he had fought his way into favour by the
sheer force of merit, and his master, the Duke of Modena, had long
chosen him as his representative with other powers.
Abbe Testa Grossa recognized me and gave me the most gracious
reception, but when he heard of what had befallen me he seemed
much annoyed.
"What can I do?" said I.
"You had better go, as the man may put a much more grievous insult
on you."
"I will do so, but could you oblige me by telling me the reason
for such a high-handed action?"
"Come again this evening; I shall probably be able to satisfy
you."
I called on the abbe again in the evening, for I felt anxious to
learn in what way I had offended the lord borgello, to whom I
thought I was quite unknown. The abbe satisfied me.
"The borgello," said he, "saw your name on the bill which he
receives daily containing a list of the names of those who enter
or leave the city. He remembered that you were daring enough to
escape from The Leads, and as he does not at all approve of that
sort of thing he resolved not to let the Modenese be contaminated
by so egregious an example of the defiance of justice, however
unjust it may be; and in short he has given you the order to leave
the town."
"I am much obliged, but I really wonder how it is that while you
were telling me this you did not blush to be a subject of the Duke
of Modena's. What an unworthy action! How contrary is such a
system of government to all the best interests of the state!"
"You are quite right, my dear sir, but I am afraid that as yet
men's eyes are not open to what best serves their interests."
"That is doubtless due to the fact that so many men are unworthy."
"I will not contradict you."
"Farewell, abbe."
"Farewell, M. Casanova."
Next morning, just as I was going to get into my carriage, a young
man between twenty-five and thirty, tall and strong and broad
shouldered, his eyes black and glittering, his eyebrows strongly
arched, and his general air being that of a cut-throat, accosted
me and begged me to step aside and hear what he had to say.
"If you like to stop at Parma for three days, and if you will
promise to give me fifty sequins when I bring you the news that
the borgello is dead, I promise to shoot him within the next
twenty-four hours."
"Thanks. Such an animal as that should be allowed to die a
natural death. Here's a crown to drink my health."
At the present time I feel very thankful that I acted as I did,
but I confess that if I had felt sure that it was not a trap I
should have promised the money. The fear of committing myself
spared me this crime.
The next day I got to Parma, and I put up at the posting-house
under the name of the Chevalier de Seingalt, which I still bear.
When an honest man adopts a name which belongs to no one, no one
has a right to contest his use of it; it becomes a man's duty to
keep the name. I had now borne it for two years, but I often
subjoined to it my family name.
When I got to Parma I dismissed Costa, but in a week after I had
the misfortune to take him on again. His father, who was a poor
violin player, as I had once been, with a large family to provide
for, excited my pity.
I made enquiries about M. Antonio, but he had left the place; and
M. Dubois Chalelereux, Director of the Mint, had gone to Venice
with the permission of the Duke of Parma, to set up the beam,
which was never brought into use. Republics are famous for their
superstitious attachment to old customs; they are afraid that
changes for the better may destroy the stability of the state, and
the government of aristocratic Venice still preserves its original
Greek character.
My Spaniard was delighted when I dismissed Costa and
proportionately sorry when I took him back.
"He's no profligate," said Le Duc; "he is sober, and has no liking
for bad company. But I think he's a robber, and a dangerous
robber, too. I know it, because he seems so scrupulously careful
not to cheat you in small things. Remember what I say, sir; he
will do you. He is waiting to gain your confidence, and then he
will strike home. Now, I am quite a different sort of fellow, a
rogue in a small way; but you know me."
His insight was, keener than mine, for five or six months later
the Italian robbed me of fifty thousand crowns. Twenty-three
years afterwards, in 1784, I found him in Venice, valet to Count
Hardegg, and I felt inclined to have him hanged. I shewed him by
proof positive that I could do so if I liked; but he had resource
to tears and supplications, and to the intercession of a worthy
man named Bertrand, who lived with the ambassador of the King of
Sardinia. I esteemed this individual, and he appealed to me
successfully to pardon Costa. I asked the wretch what he had done
with the gold and jewels he had stolen from me, and he told me
that he had lost the whole of it in furnishing funds for a bank at
Biribi, that he had been despoiled by his own associates, and had
been poor and miserable ever since.
In the same year in which he robbed me he married Momolo's
daughter, and after making her a mother he abandoned her.
To pursue our story.
At Turin I lodged in a private house with the Abbe Gama, who had
been expecting me. In spite of the good abbe's sermon on economy,
I took the whole of the first floor, and a fine suite it was.
We discussed diplomatic topics, and he assured me that I should be
accredited in May, and that he would give me instructions as to
the part I was to play. I was pleased with his commission, and I
told the abbe that I should be ready to go to Augsburg whenever
the ambassadors of the belligerent powers met there.
After making the necessary arrangements with my landlady with
regard to my meals I went to a coffeehouse to read the papers, and
the first person I saw was the Marquis Desarmoises, whom I had
known in Savoy. The first thing he said was that all games of
chance were forbidden, and that the ladies I had met would no
doubt be delighted to see me. As for himself, he said that he
lived by playing backgammon, though he was not at all lucky at it,
as talent went for more than luck at that game. I can understand
how, if fortune is neutral, the best player will win, but I do not
see how the contrary can take place.
We went for a walk in the promenade leading to the citadel, where
I saw numerous extremely pretty women. In Turin the fair sex is
most delightful, but the police regulations are troublesome to a
degree. Owing to the town being a small one and thinly peopled,
the police spies find out everything. Thus one cannot enjoy any
little freedoms without great precautions and the aid of cunning
procuresses, who have to be well paid, as they would be cruelly
punished if they were found out. No prostitutes and no kept women
are allowed, much to the delight of the married women, and with
results which the ignorant police might have anticipated. As well
be imagined, pederasty has a fine field in this town, where the
passions are kept under lock and key.
Amongst the beauties I looked at, one only attracted me. I asked
Desarmoises her name, as he knew all of them.
"That's the famous Leah," said he; "she is a Jewess, and
impregnable. She has resisted the attacks of the best strategists
in Turin. Her father's a famous horse-dealer; you can go and see
her easily enough, but there's nothing to be done there."
The greater the difficulty the more I felt spurred on to attempt
it.
"Take me there," said I, to Desarmoises.
"As soon as you please."
I asked him to dine with me, and we were on our way when we met M.
Zeroli and two or three other persons whom I had met at Aix. I
gave and received plenty of compliments, but not wishing to pay
them any visits I excused myself on the pretext of business.
When we had finished dinner Desarmoises took me to the horse-
dealer's. I asked if he had a good saddle horse. He called a lad
and gave his orders, and whilst he was speaking the charming
daughter appeared on the scene. She was dazzlingly beautiful, and
could not be more than twenty-two. Her figure was as lissom as a
nymph's, her hair a raven black, her complexion a meeting of the
lily and the rose, her eyes full of fire, her lashes long, and her
eye-brows so well arched that they seemed ready to make war on any
who would dare the conquest of her charms. All about her
betokened an educated mind and knowledge of the world.
I was so absorbed in the contemplation of her charms that I did
not notice the horse when it was brought to me. However, I
proceeded to scrutinise it, pretending to be an expert, and after
feeling the knees and legs, turning back the ears, and looking at
the teeth, I tested its behaviour at a walk, a trot, and a gallop,
and then told the Jew that I would come and try it myself in top-
boots the next day. The horse was a fine dappled bay, and was
priced at forty Piedmontese pistoles--about a hundred sequins.
"He is gentleness itself," said Leah, "and he ambles as fast as
any other horse trots."
"You have ridden it, then?"
"Often, sir, and if I were rich I would never sell him."
"I won't buy the horse till I have seen you ride it."
She blushed at this.
"You must oblige the gentleman," said her father. She consented
to do so, and I promised to come again at nine o'clock the next
day.
I was exact to time, as may be imagined, and I found Leah in
riding costume. What proportions! What a Venus Callipyge! I was
captivated.
Two horses were ready, and she leapt on hers with the ease and
grace of a practised rider, and I got up on my horse. We rode
together for some distance. The horse went well enough, but what
of that; all my eyes were for her.
As we were turning, I said,--
"Fair Leah, I will buy the horse, but as a present for you; and if
you will not take it I shall leave Turin today. The only
condition I attach to the gift is, that you will ride with me
whenever I ask you."
I saw she seemed favourably inclined to my proposal, so I told her
that I should stay six weeks at Turin, that I had fallen in love
with her on the promenade, and that the purchase of the horse had
been a mere pretext for discovering to her my feelings. She
replied modestly that she was vastly flattered by the liking I had
taken to her, and that I need not have made her such a present to
assure myself of her friendship.
"The condition you impose on me is an extremely pleasant one, and
I am sure that my father will like me to accept it."
To this she added,--
"All I ask is for you to make me the present before him, repeating
that you will only buy it on the condition that I will accept it."
I found the way smoother than I had expected, and I did what she
asked me. Her father, whose name was Moses, thought it a good
bargain, congratulated his daughter, took the forty pistoles and
gave me a receipt, and begged me to do them the honour of
breakfasting with them the next day. This was just what I wanted.
The following morning Moses received me with great respect. Leah,
who was in her ordinary clothes, told me that if I liked to ride
she would put on her riding habit.
"Another day," said I; "to-day I should like to converse with you
in your own house."
But the father, who was as greedy as most Jews are, said that if I
liked driving he could sell me a pretty phaeton with two excellent
horses.
"You must shew them to the gentleman," said Leah, possibly in
concert with her father.
Moses said nothing, but went out to get the horses harnessed.
"I will look at them," I said to Leah, "but I won't buy, as I
should not know what to do with them."
"You can take your lady-love out for a drive."
"That would be you; but perhaps you would be afraid!"
"Not at all, if you drove in the country or the suburbs."
"Very good, Leah, then I will look at them."
The father came in, and we went downstairs. I liked the carriage
and the horses, and I told Leah so.
"Well," said Moses, "you can have them now for four hundred
sequins, but after Easter the price will be five hundred sequins
at least."
Leah got into the carriage, and I sat beside her, and we went for
an hour's drive into the country. I told Moses I would give him
an answer by the next day, and he went about his business, while
Leah and I went upstairs again.
"It's quite worth four hundred sequins," said I, "and to-morrow I
will buy it with pleasure; but on the same condition as that on
which I bought the horse, and something more--namely, that you
will grant me all the favours that a tender lover can desire."
"You speak plainly, and I will answer you in the same way. I'm an
honest girl, sir, and not for sale."
"All women, dear Leah, whether they are honest or not, are for
sale. When a man has plenty of time he buys the woman his heart
desires by unremitting attentions; but when he's in a hurry he
buys her with presents, and even with money."
"Then he's a clumsy fellow; he would do better to let sentiment
and attention plead his cause and gain the victory."
"I wish I could give myself that happiness, fair Leah, but I'm in
a great hurry."
As I finished this sentence her father came in, and I left the
house telling him that if I could not come the next day I would
come the day after, and that we could talk about the phaeton then.
It was plain that Leah thought I was lavish of my money, and would
make a capital dupe. She would relish the phaeton, as she had
relished the horse, but I knew that I was not quite such a fool as
that. It had not cost me much trouble to resolve to chance the
loss of a hundred sequins, but beyond that I wanted some value for
my money.
I temporarily suspended my visits to see how Leah and her father
would settle it amongst themselves. I reckoned on the Jew's
greediness to work well for me. He was very fond of money, and
must have been angry that his daughter had not made me buy the
phaeton by some means or another, for so long as the phaeton was
bought the rest would be perfectly indifferent to him. I felt
almost certain that they would come and see me.
The following Saturday I saw the fair Jewess on the promenade. We
were near enough for me to accost her without seeming to be
anxious to do so, and her look seemed to say, "Come."
"We see no more of you now," said she, "but come and breakfast
with me to-morrow, or I will send you back the horse."
I promised to be with her in good time, and, as the reader will
imagine, I kept my word.
The breakfast party was almost confined to ourselves, for though
her aunt was present she was only there for decency's sake. After
breakfast we resolved to have a ride, and she changed her clothes
before me, but also before her aunt. She first put on her leather
breeches, then let her skirts fall, took off her corset, and
donned a jacket. With seeming indifference I succeeded in
catching a glimpse of a magnificent breast; but the sly puss knew
how much my indifference was worth.
"Will you arrange my frill?" said she.
This was a warm occupation for me, and I am afraid my hand was
indiscreet. Nevertheless, I thought I detected a fixed design
under all this seeming complaisance, and I was on my guard.
Her father came up just as we were getting on horseback.
"If you will buy the phaeton and horses," said he, "I will abate
twenty sequins."
"All that depends on your daughter," said I.
We set off at a walk, and Leah told me that she had been imprudent
enough to confess to her father that she could make me buy the
carriage, and that if I did not wish to embroil her with him I
would be kind enough to purchase it.
"Strike the bargain," said she, "and you can give it me when you
are sure of my love."
"My dear Leah, I am your humble servant, but you know on what
condition."
"I promise to drive out with you whenever you please, without
getting out of the carriage, but I know you would not care for
that. No, your affection was only a temporary caprice."
"To convince you of the contrary I will buy the phaeton and put it
in a coach-house. I will see that the horses are taken-care of,
though I shall not use them. But if you do not make me happy in
the course of a week I shall re-sell the whole."
"Come to us to-morrow."
"I will do so, but I trust have some pledge of your affection this
morning."
"This morning? It's impossible."
"Excuse me; I will go upstairs with you, and you can shew me more
than one kindness while you are undressing."
We came back, and I was astonished to hear her telling her father
that the phaeton was mine, and all he had to do was to put in the
horses. The Jew grinned, and we all went upstairs, and Leah
coolly said,--
"Count out the money."
"I have not any money about me, but I will write you a cheque, if
you like."
"Here is paper."
I wrote a cheque on Zappata for three hundred sequins, payable at
sight. The Jew went off to get the money, and Leah remained alone
with me.
"You have trusted me," she said, "and have thus shewn yourself
worthy of my love."
"Then undress, quick!"
"No, my aunt is about the house; and as I cannot shut the door
without exciting suspicion, she might come in; but I promise that
you shall be content with me tomorrow. Nevertheless, I am going
to undress, but you must go in this closet; you may come back when
I have got my woman's clothes on again."
I agreed to this arrangement, and she shut me in. I examined the
door, and discovered a small chink between the boards. I got on a
stool, and saw Leah sitting on a sofa opposite to me engaged in
undressing herself. She took off her shift and wiped her breasts
and her feet with a towel, and just as she had taken off her
breeches, and was as naked as my hand, one of her rings happened
to slip off her finger, and rolled under the sofa. She got up,
looked to right and left, and then stooped to search under the
sofa, and to do this she had to kneel with her head down. When
she got back to couch, the towel came again into requisition, and
she wiped herself all over in such a manner that all her charms
were revealed to my eager eyes. I felt sure that she knew I was a
witness of all these operations, and she probably guessed what a
fire the sight would kindle in my inflammable breast.
At last her toilette was finished, and she let me out. I clasped
her in my arms, with the words, "I have seen everything." She
pretended not to believe me, so I chewed her the chink, and was
going to obtain my just dues, when the accursed Moses came in. He
must have been blind or he would have seen the state his daughter
had put me in; however, he thanked me, and gave me a receipt for
the money, saying, "Everything in my poor house is at your
service."
I bade them adieu, and I went away in an ill temper. I got into
my phaeton, and drove home and told the coachman to find me a
stable for the horses and a coach-house for the carriage.
I did not expect to see Leah again, and I felt enraged with her.
She had pleased me only too much by her voluptuous attitudes, but
she had set up an irritation wholly hostile to Love. She had made
Love a robber, and the hungry boy had consented, but afterwards,
when he craved more substantial fare, she refused him, and ardour
was succeeded by contempt. Leah did not want to confess herself
to be what she really was, and my love would not declare itself
knavish.
I made the acquaintance of an amiable chevalier, a soldier, a man
of letters, and a great lover of horses, who introduced me to
several pleasant families. However, I did not cultivate them, as
they only offered me the pleasures of sentiment, while I longed
for lustier fare for which I was willing to pay heavily. The
Chevalier de Breze was not the man for me; he was too respectable
for a profligate like myself. He bought the phaeton and horses,
and I only lost thirty sequins by the transaction.
A certain M. Baretti, who had known me at Aix, and had been the
Marquis de Pries croupier, took me to see the Mazzoli, formerly a
dancer, and then mistress to the Chevalier Raiberti, a hardheaded
but honest man, who was then secretary for foreign affairs.
Although the Mazzoli was by no means pretty, she was extremely
complaisant, and had several girls at her house for me to see;
but I did not think any of them worthy of occupying Leah's place.
I fancied I no longer loved Leah, but I was wrong.
The Chevalier Cocona, who had the misfortune to be suffering from
a venereal disease, gave me up his mistress, a pretty little
'soubrette'; but in spite of the evidence of my own eyes, and in
spite of the assurances she gave me, I could not make up my mind
to have her, and my fear made me leave her untouched. Count
Trana, a brother of the chevalier's whom I had known at Aix,
introduced me to Madame de Sc----, a lady of high rank and very
good-looking, but she tried to involve me in a criminal
transaction, and I ceased to call on her. Shortly after, Count
Trana's uncle died and he became rich and got married, but he
lived an unhappy life.
I was getting bored, and Desarmoises, who had all his meals with
me, did not know what to do. At last he advised me to make the
acquaintance of a certain Madame R----, a Frenchwoman, and well
known in Turin as a milliner and dressmaker. She had six or eight
girls working for her in a room adjoining her shop. Desarmoises
thought that if I got in there I might possibly be able to find
one to my taste. As my purse was well furnished I thought I
should not have much difficulty, so I called on Madame R----. I
was agreeably surprised to find Leah there, bargaining for a
quantity of articles, all of which she pronounced to be too dear.
She told me kindly but reproachfully that she had thought I must
be ill.
"I have been very busy," I said; and felt all my old ardour
revive. She asked me to come to a Jewish wedding, where there
would be a good many people and several pretty girls. I knew that
ceremonies of this kind are very amusing, and I promised to be
present. She proceeded with her bargaining, but the price was
still too high and she left the shop. Madame R---- was going to
put back all the trifles in their places, but I said,--
"I will take the lot myself."
She smiled, and I drew out my purse and paid the money.
"Where do you live, sir?" said she; "and when shall I send you
your purchases?"
"You may bring them to-morrow yourself, and do me the honour of
breakfasting with me."
"I can never leave the shop, sir." In spite of her thirty-five
years, Madame R---- was still what would be called a tasty morsel,
and she had taken my fancy.
"I want some dark lace," said I.
"Then kindly follow me, sir."
I was delighted when I entered the room to see a lot of young
work-girls, all charming, hard at work, and scarcely daring to
look at me. Madame R---- opened several cupboards, and showed me
some magnificent lace. I was distracted by the sight of so many
delicious nymphs, and I told her that I wanted the lace for two
'baoutes' in the Venetian style. She knew what I meant. The lace
cost me upwards of a hundred sequins. Madame R---- told two of
her girls to bring me the lace the next day, together with the
goods which Leah had thought too dear. They meekly replied,--
"Yes, mother."
They rose and kissed the mother's hand, which I thought a
ridiculous ceremony; however, it gave me an opportunity of
examining them, and I thought them delicious. We went back to the
shop, and sitting down by the counter I enlarged on the beauty of
the girls, adding, though not with strict truth, that I vastly
preferred their mistress. She thanked me for the compliment and
told me plainly that she had a lover, and soon after named him.
He was the Comte de St. Giles, an infirm and elderly man, and by
no means a model lover. I thought Madame R---- was jesting, but
next day I ascertained that she was speaking the truth. Well,
everyone to his taste, and I suspect that she was more in love
with the count's purse than his person. I had met him at the
"Exchange" coffeehouse.
The next day the two pretty milliners brought me my goods. I
offered them chocolate, but they firmly and persistently declined.
The fancy took me to send them to Leah with all the things she had
chosen, and I bade them return and tell me what sort of a
reception they had had. They said they would do so, and waited
for me to write her a note.
I could not give them the slightest mark of affection. I dared
not shut the door, and the mistress and the ugly young woman of
the house kept going and coming all the time; but when they came
back I waited for them on the stairs, and giving them a sequin
each told each of them that she might command my heart if she
would. Leah had accepted my handsome present and sent to say that
she was waiting for me.
As I was walking aimlessly about in the afternoon I happened to
pass the milliner's shop, and Madame R---- saw me and made me come
in and sit down beside her.
"I am really much obliged to you," said she, "for your kindness to
my girls. They came home enchanted. Tell me frankly whether you
are really in love with the pretty Jewess."
"I am really in love with her, but as she will not make me happy I
have signed my own dismissal."
"You were quite right. All Leah thinks of is duping those who are
captivated by her charms."
"Do not your charming apprentices follow your maxims?"
"No; but they are only complaisant when I give them leave."
"Then I commend myself to your intercession, for they would not
even take a cup of chocolate from me."
"They were perfectly right not to accept your chocolate: but I see
you do not know the ways of Turin. Do you find yourself
comfortable in your present lodging?"
"Quite so."
"Are you perfectly free to do what you like?"
"I think so."
"Can you give supper to anyone you like in your own rooms? I am
certain you can't."
"I have not had the opportunity of trying the experiment so far,
but I believe . . . ."
"Don't flatter yourself by believing anything; that house is full
of the spies of the police."
"Then you think that I could not give you and two or three of your
girls a little supper?"
"I should take very good care not to go to it, that's all I know.
By next morning it would be known to all the town, and especially
to the police."
"Well, supposing I look out for another lodging?"
"It's the same everywhere. Turin is a perfect nest of spies; but
I do know a house where you could live at ease, and where my girls
might perhaps be able to bring you your purchases. But we should
have to be very careful."
"Where is the house I will be guided by you in everything."
"Don't trust a Piedmontese; that's the first commandment here."
She then gave me the address of a small furnished house, which was
only inhabited by an old door-keeper and his wife.
"They will let it you by the month," said she, "and if you pay a
month in advance you need not even tell them your name."
I found the house to be a very pretty one, standing in a lonely
street at about two hundred paces from the citadel. One gate,
large enough to admit a carriage, led into the country. I found
everything to be as Madame R---- had described it. I paid a month
in advance without any bargaining, and in a day I had settled in
my new lodging. Madame R---- admired my celerity.
I went to the Jewish wedding and enjoyed myself, for there is
something at once solemn and ridiculous about the ceremony; but I
resisted all Leah's endeavours to get me once more into her
meshes.. I hired a close carriage from her father, which with the
horses I placed in the coach-house and stables of my new house.
Thus I was absolutely free to go whenever I would by night or by
day, for I was at once in the town and in the country. I was
obliged to tell the inquisitive Gama where I was living, and I hid
nothing from Desarmoises, whose needs made him altogether
dependent on me. Nevertheless I gave orders that my door was shut
to them as to everyone else, unless I had given special
instructions that they were to be admitted. I had no reason to
doubt the fidelity of my two servants.
In this blissful abode I enjoyed all Mdlle. R----'s girls, one
after the other. The one I wanted always brought a companion,
whom I usually sent back after giving her a slice of the cake.
The last of them, whose name was Victorine, as fair as day and as
soft as a dove, had the misfortune to be tied, though she knew
nothing about it. Mdlle. R----, who was equally ignorant on the
subject, had represented her to me as a virgin, and so I thought
her for two long hours in which I strove with might and main to
break the charm, or rather open the shell. All my efforts were in
vain. I was exhausted at last, and I wanted to see in what the
obstacle consisted. I put her in the proper position, and armed
with a candle I began my scrutiny. I found a fleshy membrane
pierced by so small a hole that large pin's head could scarcely
have gone through. Victorine encouraged me to force a passage
with my little finger, but in vain I tried to pierce this wall,
which nature had made impassable by all ordinary means. I was
tempted to see what I could do with a bistoury, and the girl
wanted me to try, but I was afraid of the haemorrhage which might
have been dangerous, and I wisely refrained.
Poor Victorine, condemned to die a maid, unless some clever
surgeon performed the same operation that was undergone by Mdlle.
Cheruffini shortly after M. Lepri married her, wept when I said,--
"My dear child, your little Hymen defies the most vigorous lover
to enter his temple."
But I consoled her by saying that a good surgeon could easily make
a perfect woman of her.
In the morning I told Madame R---- of the case.
She laughed and said,--
"It may prove a happy accident for Victorine; it may make her
fortune."
A few years after the Count of Padua had her operated on, and made
her fortune. When I came back from Spain I found that she was
with child, so that I could not exact the due reward for all the
trouble I had taken with her.
Early in the morning on Maunday Thursday they told me that Moses
and Leah wanted to see me. I had not expected to see them, but I
welcomed them warmly. Throughout Holy Week the Jews dared not
shew themselves in the streets of Turin, and I advised them to
stay with me till the Saturday. Moses began to try and get me to
purchase a ring from him, and I judged from that that I should not
have to press them very much.
"I can only buy this ring from Leah's hands," said I.
He grinned, thinking doubtless that I intended to make her a
present of it, but I was resolved to disappoint him. I gave them
a magnificent dinner and supper, and in the evening they were
shewn a double-bedded room not far from mine. I might have put
them in different rooms, and Leah in a room adjoining mine, which
would have facilitated any nocturnal excursions; but after all I
had done for her I was resolved to owe nothing to a surprise; she
should come of herself.
The next day Moses (who noticed that I had not yet bought the
ring) was obliged to go out on business, and asked for the loan of
my carriage for the whole day, telling me that he would come for
his daughter in the evening. I had the horses harnessed, and when
he was gone I bought the ring for six hundred sequins, but on my
own terms. I was in my own house, and Leah could not deceive me.
As soon as the father was safely out of the way I possessed myself
of the daughter. She proved a docile and amorous subject the
whole day. I had reduced her to a state of nature, and though her
body was as perfect as can well be imagined I used it and abused
it in every way imaginable. In the evening her father found her
looking rather tired, but he seemed as pleased as I was. Leah was
not quite so well satisfied, for till the moment of their
departure she was expecting me to give her the ring, but I
contented myself with saying that I should like to reserve myself
the pleasure of taking it to her.
On Easter Monday a man brought me a note summoning me to appear at
the police office.
