RUSSIA AND POLAND - Chapter XXII
My Duel with Branicki--My Journey to Leopol and Return to Warsaw--
I Receive the Order to Leave--My Departure with the Unknown One
On reflection I concluded that Branicki had not done an ungentlemanly
thing in getting into Tomatis's carriage; he had merely behaved with
impetuosity, as if he were the Catai's lover. It also appeared to me
that, considering the affront he had received from the jealous
Italian, the box on the ear was a very moderate form of vengeance.
A blow is bad, of course, but not so bad as death; and Branicki might
very well have run his sword through the manager's body. Certainly,
if Branicki had killed him he would have been stigmatised as an
assassin, for though Tomatis had a sword the Polish officer's
servants would never have allowed him to draw it, nevertheless I
could not help thinking that Tomatis should have tried to take the
servant's life, even at the risk of his own. He wanted no more
courage for that than in ordering the king's favourite to come out of
the carriage. He might have foreseen that the Polish noble would be
stung to the quick, and would surely attempt to take speedy
vengeance.
The next day the encounter was the subject of all conversations.
Tomatis remained indoors for a week, calling for vengeance in vain.
The king told him he could do nothing for him, as Branicki maintained
he had only given insult for insult. I saw Tomatis, who told me in
confidence that he could easily take vengeance, but that it would
cost him too dear. He had spent forty thousand ducats on the two
ballets, and if he had avenged himself he would have lost it nearly
all, as he would be obliged to leave the kingdom. The only
consolation he had was that his great friends were kinder to him than
ever, and the king himself honoured him with peculiar attention.
Madame Binetti was triumphant. When I saw her she condoled with me
ironically on the mishap that had befallen my friend. She wearied
me; but I could not guess that Branicki had only acted at her
instigation, and still less that she had a grudge against me.
Indeed, if I had known it, I should only have laughed at her, for I
had nothing to dread from her bravo's dagger. I had never seen him
nor spoken to him; he could have no opportunity for attacking me. He
was never with the king in the morning and never went to the
palatin's to supper, being an unpopular character with the Polish
nobility. This Branicki was said to have been originally a Cossack,
Branecki by name. He became the king's favorite and assumed the name
of Branicki, pretending to be of the same family as the illustrious
marshal of that name who was still alive; but he, far from
recognizing the pretender, ordered his shield to be broken up and
buried with him as the last of the race. However that may be,
Branicki was the tool of the Russian party, the determined enemy of
those who withstood Catherine's design of Russianising the ancient
Polish constitution. The king liked him out of habit, and because he
had peculiar obligations to him.
The life I lived was really exemplary. I indulged neither in love
affairs nor gaming. I worked for the king, hoping to become his
secretary. I paid my court to the princess-palatine, who liked my
company, and I played tressette with the palatin himself.
On the 4th of March, St. Casimir's Eve, there was a banquet at Court
to which I had the honour to be invited. Casimir was the name of the
king's eldest brother, who held the office of grand chamberlain.
After dinner the king asked me if I intended going to the theatre,
where a Polish play was to be given for the first time. Everybody
was interested in this novelty, but it was a matter of indifference
to me as I did not understand the language, and I told the king as
much.
"Never mind," said he, "come in my box."
This was too flattering an invitation to be refused, so I obeyed the
royal command and stood behind the king's chair. After the second
act a ballet was given, and the dancing of Madame Caracci, a
Piedmontese, so pleased his majesty that he went to the unusual pains
of clapping her.
I only knew the dancer by sight, for I had never spoken to her. She
had some talents. Her principal admirer was Count Poninski, who was
always reproaching me when I dined with him for visiting the other
dancers to the exclusion of Madame Caracci. I thought of his
reproach at the time, and determined to pay her a visit after the
ballet to congratulate her on her performance and the king's
applause. On my way I passed by Madame Binetti's dressing-room, and
seeing the door open I stayed a moment. Count Branicki came up, and
I left with a bow and passed on to Madame Caracci's dressing-room.
She was astonished to see me, and began with kindly reproaches for my
neglect; to which I replied with compliments, and then giving her a
kiss I promised to come and see her.
Just as I embraced her who should enter but Branicki, whom I had left
a moment before with Madame Binetti. He had clearly followed me in
the hopes of picking a quarrel. He was accompanied by Bininski, his
lieutenant-colonel. As soon as he appeared, politeness made me stand
up and turn to go, but he stopped me.
"It seems to me I have come at a bad time; it looks as if you loved
this lady."
"Certainly, my lord; does not your excellency consider her as worthy
of love?"
"Quite so; but as it happens I love her too, and I am not the man to
bear any rivals."
"As I know that, I shall love her no more."
"Then you give her up?"
"With all my heart; for everyone must yield to such a noble as you
are."
"Very good; but I call a man that yields a coward."
"Isn't that rather a strong expression?"
As I uttered these words I looked proudly at him and touched the hilt
of my sword. Three or four officers were present and witnessed what
passed.
I had hardly gone four paces from the dressing-room when I heard
myself called "Venetian coward." In spite of my rage I restrained
myself, and turned back saying, coolly and firmly, that perhaps a
Venetian coward might kill a brave Pole outside the theatre; and
without awaiting a reply I left the building by the chief staircase.
I waited vainly outside the theatre for a quarter of an hour with my
sword in my hand, for I was not afraid of losing forty thousand
ducats like Tomatis. At last, half perishing with cold, I called my
carriage and drove to the palatin's, where the king was to sup.
The cold and loneliness began to cool my brain, and I congratulated
myself on my self-restraint in not drawing my sword in the actress's
dressing-room; and I felt glad that Branicki had not followed me down
the stairs, for his friend Bininski had a sabre, and I should probably
have been assassinated.
Although the Poles are polite enough, there is still a good deal of
the old leaven in them. They are still Dacians and Samaritans at
dinner, in war, and in friendship, as they call it, but which is
often a burden hardly to be borne. They can never understand that a
man may be sufficient company for himself, and that it is not right
to descend on him in a troop and ask him to give them dinner.
I made up my mind that Madame Binetti had excited Branicki to follow
me, and possibly to treat me as he had treated Tomatis. I had not
received a blow certainly, but I had been called a coward. I had no
choice but to demand satisfaction, but I also determined to be
studiously moderate throughout. In this frame of mind I got down at
the palatin's, resolved to tell the whole story to the king, leaving
to his majesty the task of compelling his favourite to give me
satisfaction.
As soon as the palatin saw me, he reproached me in a friendly manner
for keeping him waiting, and we sat down to tressette. I was his
partner, and committed several blunders. When it came to losing a
second game he said,--
"Where is your head to-night?"
"My lord, it is four leagues away."
"A respectable man ought to have his head in the game, and not at a
distance of four leagues."
With these words the prince threw down his cards and began to walk up
and down the room. I was rather startled, but I got up and stood by
the fire, waiting for the king. But after I had waited thus for half
an hour a chamberlain came from the palace, and announced that his
majesty could not do himself the honour of supping with my lord that
night.
This was a blow for me, but I concealed my disappointment. Supper
was served, and I sat down as usual at the left hand of the palatin,
who was annoyed with me, and chewed it. We were eighteen at table,
and for once I had no appetite. About the middle of the supper
Prince Gaspard Lubomirski came in, and chanced to sit down opposite
me. As soon as he saw me he condoled with me in a loud voice for
what had happened.
"I am sorry for you," said he, "but Branicki was drunk, and you
really shouldn't count what he said as an insult."
"What has happened?" became at once the general question. I held my
tongue, and when they asked Lubomirski he replied that as I kept
silence it was his duty to do the same.
Thereupon the palatin, speaking in his friendliest manner, said to
me,--
"What has taken place between you and Branicki?"
"I will tell you the whole story, my lord, in private after supper."
The conversation became indifferent, and after the meal was over the
palatin took up his stand by the small door by which he was
accustomed to leave the room, and there I told him the whole story.
He sighed, condoled with me, and added,--
"You had good reasons for being absent-minded at cards."
"May I presume to ask your excellency's advice?"
"I never give advice in these affairs, in which you must do every-
thing or nothing."
The palatin shook me by the hand, and I went home and slept for six
hours. As soon as I awoke I sat up in bed, and my first thought was
everything or nothing. I soon rejected the latter alternative, and I
saw that I must demand a duel to the death. If Branicki refused to
fight I should be compelled to kill him, even if I were to lose my
head for it.
Such was my determination; to write to him proposing a duel at four
leagues from Warsaw, this being the limit of the starostia, in which
duelling was forbidden on pain of death. I Wrote as follows, for I
have kept the rough draft of the letter to this day:
"WARSAW,
"March 5th, 1766. 5 A.M.
"My Lord,--Yesterday evening your excellency insulted me with a light
heart, without my having given you any cause or reason for doing so.
This seems to indicate that you hate me, and would gladly efface me
from the land of the living. I both can and will oblige you in this
matter. Be kind enough, therefore, to drive me in your carriage to a
place where my death will not subject your lordship to the vengeance
of the law, in case you obtain the victory, and where I shall enjoy
the same advantage if God give me grace to kill your lordship. I
should not make this proposal unless I believe your lordship to be of
a noble disposition.
"I have the honour to be, etc."
I sent this letter an hour before day-break to Branicki's lodging in
the palace. My messenger had orders to give the letter into the
count's own hands, to wait for him to rise, and also for an answer.
In half an hour I received the following answer:
"Sir,--I accept your proposal, and shall be glad if you will have the
kindness to inform me when I shall have the honour of seeing you.
"I remain, sir, etc."
I answered this immediately, informing him I would call on him the
next day, at six o'clock in the morning.
Shortly after, I received a second letter, in which he said that I
might choose the arms and place, but that our differences must be
settled in the course of the day.
I sent him the measure of my sword, which was thirty-two inches long,
telling him he might choose any place beyond the ban. In reply, I
had the following:
"Sir,--You will greatly oblige me by coming now. I have sent my
carriage.
"I have the honour to be, etc."
I replied that I had business all the day, and that as I had made up
my mind not to call upon him, except for the purpose of fighting, I
begged him not to be offended if I took the liberty of sending back
his carriage.
An hour later Branicki called in person, leaving his suite at the
door. He came into the room, requested some gentlemen who were
talking with me to leave us alone, locked the door after them, and
then sat down on my bed. I did not understand what all this meant so
I took up my pistols.
"Don't be afraid," said he, "I am not come to assassinate you, but
merely to say that I accept your proposal, on condition only that the
duel shall take place to-day. If not, never!"
"It is out of the question. I have letters to write, and some
business to do for the king."
"That will do afterwards. In all probability you will not fall, and
if you do I am sure the king will forgive you. Besides, a dead man
need fear no reproaches."
"I want to make my will."
"Come, come, you needn't be afraid of dying; it will be time enough
for you to make your will in fifty years."
"But why should your excellency not wait till tomorrow?"
"I don't want to be caught."
"You have nothing of the kind to fear from me."
"I daresay, but unless we make haste the king will have us both
arrested."
"How can he, unless you have told him about our quarrel?"
"Ah, you don't understand! Well, I am quite willing to give you
satisfaction, but it must be to-day or never."
"Very good. This duel is too dear to my heart for me to leave you
any pretext for avoiding it. Call for me after dinner, for I shall
want all my strength."
"Certainly. For my part I like a good supper after, better than a
good dinner before."
"Everyone to his taste."
"True. By the way, why did you send me the length of your sword? I
intend to fight with pistols, for I never use swords with unknown
persons."
"What do you mean? I beg of you to refrain from insulting me in my
own house. I do not intend to fight with pistols, and you cannot
compel me to do so, for I have your letter giving me the choice of
weapons."
"Strictly speaking, no doubt you are in the right; but I am sure you
are too polite not to give way, when I assure you that you will lay
me under a great obligation by doing so. Very often the first shot
is a miss, and if that is the case with both of us, I promise to
fight with swords as long as you like. Will you oblige me in the
matter?"
"Yes, for I like your way of asking, though, in my opinion, a pistol
duel is a barbarous affair. I accept, but on the following
conditions: You must bring two pistols, charge them in my presence,
and give me the choice. If the first shot is a miss, we will fight
with swords till the first blood or to the death, whichever you
prefer. Call for me at three o'clock, and choose some place where we
shall be secure from the law."
"Very good. You are a good fellow, allow me to embrace you. Give me
your word of honour not to say a word about it to anyone, for if you
did we should be arrested immediately."
"You need not be afraid of my talking; the project is too dear to
me."
"Good. Farewell till three o'clock."
As soon as the brave braggart had left me, I placed the papers I was
doing for the king apart, and went to Campioni, in whom I had great
confidence.
"Take this packet to the king," I said, "if I happen to be killed.
You may guess, perhaps, what is going to happen, but do not say a
word to anyone, or you will have me for your bitterest enemy, as it
would mean loss of honour to me."
"I understand. You may reckon on my discretion, and I hope the
affair may be ended honourably and prosperously for you. But take a
piece of friendly advice--don't spare your opponent, were it the king
himself, for it might cost you your life. I know that by experience."
"I will not forget. Farewell."
We kissed each other, and I ordered an excellent dinner, for I had no
mind to be sent to Pluto fasting. Campioni came in to dinner at one
o'clock, and at dessert I had a visit from two young counts, with
their tutor, Bertrand, a kindly Swiss. They were witnesses to my
cheerfulness and the excellent appetite with which I ate. At half-
past two I dismissed my company, and stood at the window to be ready
to go down directly Branicki's carriage appeared. He drove up in a
travelling carriage and six; two grooms, leading saddle-horses, went
in front, followed by his two aide-de-camps and two hussars. Behind
his carriage stood four servants. I hastened to descend, and found
my enemy was accompanied by a lieutenant-general and an armed
footman. The door was opened, the general gave me his place, and I
ordered my servants not to follow me but to await my orders at the
house.
"You might want them," said Branicki; "they had better come along."
"If I had as many as you, I would certainly agree to your
proposition; but as it is I shall do still better without any at all.
If need be, your excellency will see that I am tended by your own
servants."
He gave me his hand, and assured me they should wait on me before
himself.
I sat down, and we went off.
It would have been absurd if I had asked where we were going, so I
held my tongue, for at such moments a man should take heed to his
words. Branicki was silent, and I thought the best thing I could do
would be to engage him in a trivial conversation.
"Does your excellency intend spending the spring at Warsaw?"
"I had thought of doing so, but you may possibly send me to pass the
spring somewhere else."
"Oh, I hope not!"
"Have you seen any military service?"
"Yes; but may I ask why your excellency asks me the question, for--"
"I had no particular reason; it was only for the sake of saying
something."
We had driven about half an hour when the carriage stopped at the
door of a large garden. We got down and, following the postoli,
reached a green arbour which, by the way, was not at all green on
that 5th of March. In it was a stone table on which the footman
placed two pistols, a foot and half long, with a powder flask and
scales. He weighed the powder, loaded them equally, and laid them
down crosswise on the table.
This done, Branicki said boldly,
"Choose your weapon, sir."
At this the general called out,
"Is this a duel, sir?"
"Yes."
"You cannot fight here; you are within the ban."
"No matter."
"It does matter; and I, at all events, refuse to be a witness. I am
on guard at the castle, and you have taken me by surprise."
"Be quiet; I will answer for everything. I owe this gentleman
satisfaction, and I mean to give it him here."
"M. Casanova," said the general, "you cannot fight here."
"Then why have I been brought here? I shall defend myself wherever I
am attacked."
"Lay the whole matter before the king, and you shall have my voice in
your favour."
"I am quite willing to do so, general, if his excellency will say
that he regrets what passed between us last night."
Branicki looked fiercely at me, and said wrathfully that he had come
to fight and not to parley.
"General," said I, "you can bear witness that I have done all in my
power to avoid this duel."
The general went away with his head between his hands, and throwing
off my cloak I took the first pistol that came to my hand. Branicki
took the other, and said that he would guarantee upon his honour that
my weapon was a good one.
"I am going to try its goodness on your head," I answered.
He turned pale at this, threw his sword to one of his servants, and
bared his throat, and I was obliged, to my sorrow, to follow his
example, for my sword was the only weapon I had, with the exception
of the pistol. I bared my chest also, and stepped back five or six
paces, and he did the same.
As soon as we had taken up our positions I took off my hat with my
left hand, and begged him to fire first.
Instead of doing so immediately he lost two or three seconds in
sighting, aiming, and covering his head by raising the weapon before
it. I was not in a position to let him kill me at his ease, so I
suddenly aimed and fired on him just as he fired on me. That I did
so is evident, as all the witnesses were unanimous in saying that
they only heard one report. I felt I was wounded in my left hand,
and so put it into my pocket, and I ran towards my enemy who had
fallen. All of a sudden, as I knelt beside him, three bare swords
were flourished over my head, and three noble assassins prepared to
cut me down beside their master. Fortunately, Branicki had not lost
consciousness or the power of speaking, and he cried out in a voice
of thunder,--
"Scoundrels! have some respect for a man of honour."
This seemed to petrify them. I put my right hand under the pistoli's
armpit, while the general helped him on the other side, and thus we
took him to the inn, which happened to be near at hand.
Branicki stooped as he walked, and gazed at me curiously, apparently
wondering where all the blood on my clothes came from.
When we got to the inn, Branicki laid himself down in an arm-chair.
We unbuttoned his clothes and lifted up his shirt, and he could see
himself that he was dangerously wounded. My ball had entered his
body by the seventh rib on the right hand, and had gone out by the
second false rib on the left. The two wounds were ten inches apart,
and the case was of an alarming nature, as the intestines must have
been pierced. Branicki spoke to me in a weak voice,--
"You have killed me, so make haste away, as you are in danger of the
gibbet. The duel was fought in the ban, and I am a high court
officer, and a Knight of the White Eagle. So lose no time, and if
you have not enough money take my purse."
I picked up the purse which had fallen out, and put it back in his
pocket, thanking him, and saying it would be useless to me, for if I
were guilty I was content to lose my head. "I hope," I added, "that
your wound will not be mortal, and I am deeply grieved at your
obliging me to fight."
With these words I kissed him on his brow and left the inn, seeing
neither horses nor carriage, nor servant. They had all gone off for
doctor, surgeon, priest, and the friends and relatives of the wounded
man.
I was alone and without any weapon, in the midst of a snow-covered
country, my hand was wounded, and I had not the slightest idea which
was the way to Warsaw.
I took the road which seemed most likely, and after I had gone some
distance I met a peasant with an empty sleigh.
"Warszawa?" I cried, shewing him a ducat.
He understood me, and lifted a coarse mat, with which he covered me
when I got into the sleigh, and then set off at a gallop.
All at once Biniski, Branicki's bosom-friend, came galloping
furiously along the road with his bare sword in his hand. He was
evidently running after me. Happily he did not glance at the
wretched sleigh in which I was, or else he would undoubtedly have
murdered me. I got at last to Warsaw, and went to the house of
Prince Adam Czartoryski to beg him to shelter me, but there was
nobody there. Without delay I determined to seek refuge in the
Convent of the Recollets, which was handy.
I rang at the door of the monastery, and the porter seeing me covered
with blood hastened to shut the door, guessing the object of my
visit. But I did not give him the time to do so, but honouring him
with a hearty kick forced my way in. His cries attracted a troop of
frightened monks. I demanded sanctuary, and threatened them with
vengeance if they refused to grant it. One of their number spoke to
me, and I was taken to a little den which looked more like a dungeon
than anything else. I offered no resistance, feeling sure that they
would change their tune before very long. I asked them to send for
my servants, and when they came I sent for a doctor and Campioni.
Before the surgeon could come the Palatin of Polduchia was announced.
I had never had the honour of speaking to him, but after hearing the
history of my duel he was so kind as to give me all the particulars
of a duel he had fought in his youthful days. Soon after came the
Palatin of Kalisch, Prince Jablenowski. Prince Sanguska, and the
Palatin of Wilna, who all joined in a chorus of abuse of the monks
who had lodged me so scurvily. The poor religious excused themselves
by saying that I had ill-treated their porter, which made my noble
friends laugh; but I did not laugh, for my wound was very painful.
However I was immediately moved into two of their best guest-rooms.
The ball had pierced my hand by the metacarpus under the index
finger, and had broken the first phalanges. Its force had been
arrested by a metal button on my waistcoat, and it had only inflicted
a slight wound on my stomach close to the navel. However, there it
was and it had to be extracted, for it pained me extremely. An
empiric named Gendron, the first surgeon my servants had found, made
an opening on the opposite side of my hand which doubled the wound.
While he was performing this painful operation I told the story of
the duel to the company, concealing the anguish I was enduring. What
a power vanity exercises on the moral and physical forces! If I had
been alone I should probably have fainted.
As soon as the empiric Gendron was gone, the palatin's surgeon came
in and took charge of the case, calling Gendron a low fellow. At the
same time Prince Lubomirski, the husband of the palatin's daughter,
arrived, and gave us all a surprise by recounting the strange
occurrences which had happened after the duel. Bininski came to
where Branicki was lying, and seeing his wound rode off furiously on
horseback, swearing to strike me dead wherever he found me. He
fancied I would be with Tomatis, and went to his house. He found
Tomatis with his mistress, Prince Lubomirski, and Count Moszczinski,
but no Casanova was visible. He asked where I was, and on Tomatis
replying that he did not know he discharged a pistol at his head. At
this dastardly action Count Moszczincki seized him and tried to throw
him out of the window, but the madman got loose with three cuts of
his sabre, one of which slashed the count on the face and knocked out
three of his teeth.
"After this exploit," Prince Lubomirski continued, "he seized me by
the throat and held a pistol to my head, threatening to blow out my
brains if I did not take him in safety to the court where his horse
was, so that he might get away from the house without any attack
being made on him by Tomatis's servants; and I did so immediately.
Moszczinski is in the doctor's hands, and will be laid up for some
time.
"As soon as it was reported that Branicki was killed, his Uhlans
began to ride about the town swearing to avenge their colonel, and to
slaughter you. It is very fortunate that you took refuge here.
"The chief marshal has had the monastery surrounded by two hundred
dragoons, ostensibly to prevent your escape, but in reality to defend
you from Branicki's soldiers.
"The doctors say that the postoli is in great danger if the ball has
wounded the intestines, but if not they answer for his recovery. His
fate will be known tomorrow. He now lies at the lord chamberlain's,
not daring to have himself carried to his apartments at the palace.
The king has been to see him, and the general who was present told
his majesty that the only thing that saved your life was your threat
to aim at Branicki's head. This frightened him, and to keep your
ball from his head he stood in such an awkward position that he
missed your vital parts. Otherwise he would undoubtedly have shot
you through the heart, for he can split a bullet into two halves by
firing against the blade of a knife. It was also a lucky thing for
you that you escaped Bininski, who never thought of looking for you
in the wretched sleigh."
"My lord, the most fortunate thing for me is that I did not kill my
man outright. Otherwise I should have been cut to pieces just as I
went to his help by three of his servants, who stood over me with
drawn swords. However, the postoli ordered them to leave me alone.
"I am sorry for what has happened to your highness and Count
Moszczinski; and if Tomatis was not killed by the madman it is only
because the pistol was only charged with powder."
"That's what I think, for no one heard the bullet; but it was a mere
chance."
"Quite so."
Just then an officer of the palatin's came to me with a note from his
master, which ran as follows:
"Read what the king says to me, and sleep well."
The king's note was thus conceived:
"Branicki, my dear uncle, is dangerous wounded. My surgeons are
doing all they can for him, but I have not forgotten Casanova. You
may assure him that he is pardoned, even if Branicki should die."
I kissed the letter gratefully, and shewed it to my visitors, who
lauded this generous man truly worthy of being a king.
After this pleasant news I felt in need of rest, and my lords left
me. As soon as they were gone, Campioni, who had come in before and
had stood in the background, came up to me and gave me back the
packet of papers, and with tears of joy congratulated me on the happy
issue of the duel.
Next day I had shoals of visitors, and many of the chiefs of the
party opposed to Branicki sent me purses full of gold. The persons
who brought the money on behalf of such a lord or lady, said that
being a foreigner I might be in need of money, and that was their
excuse for the liberty they had taken. I thanked and refused them
all, and sent back at least four thousand ducats, and was very proud
of having done so. Campioni thought it was absurd, and he was right,
for I repented afterwards of what I had done. The only present I
accepted was a dinner for four persons, which Prince Adam Czartoryski
sent me in every day, though the doctor would not let me enjoy it, he
being a great believer in diet.
The wound in my stomach was progressing favourably, but on the fourth
day the surgeons said my hand was becoming gangrened, and they agreed
that the only remedy was amputation. I saw this announced in the
Court Gazette the next morning, but as I had other views on the
matter I laughed heartily at the paragraph. The sheet was printed at
night, after the king had placed his initials to the copy. In the
morning several persons came to condole with me, but I received their
sympathy with great irreverence. I merely laughed at Count Clary,
who said I would surely submit to the operation; and just as he
uttered the words the three surgeons came in together.
"Well, gentlemen," said I, "you have mustered in great strength; why
is this?"
My ordinary surgeon replied that he wished to have the opinion of the
other two before proceeding to amputation, and they would require to
look at the wound.
The dressing was lifted and gangrene was declared to be undoubtedly
present, and execution was ordered that evening. The butchers gave
me the news with radiant faces, and assured me I need not be afraid
as the operation would certainly prove efficacious.
"Gentlemen," I replied, "you seem to have a great many solid
scientific reasons for cutting off my hand; but one thing you have
not got, and that is my consent. My hand is my own, and I am going
to keep it."
"Sir, it is certainly gangrened; by to-morrow the arm will begin to
mortify, and then you will have to lose your arm."
"Very good; if that prove so you shall cut off my arm, but I happen
to know something of gangrene, and there is none about me."
"You cannot know as much about it as we do."
"Possibly; but as far as I can make out, you know nothing at all."
"That's rather a strong expression."
"I don't care whether it be strong or weak; you can go now."
In a couple of hours everyone whom the surgeons had told of my
obstinacy came pestering me. Even the prince-palatin wrote to me
that the king was extremely surprised at my lack of courage. This
stung me to the quick, and I wrote the king a long letter, half in
earnest and half in jest, in which I laughed at the ignorance of the
surgeons, and at the simplicity of those who took whatever they said
for gospel truth. I added that as an arm without a hand would be
quite as useless as no arm at all, I meant to wait till it was
necessary to cut off the arm.
My letter was read at Court, and people wondered how a man with
gangrene could write a long letter of four pages. Lubomirski told me
kindly that I was mistaken in laughing at my friends, for the three
best surgeons in Warsaw could not be mistaken in such a simple case.
"My lord, they are not deceived themselves, but they want to deceive
me."
"Why should they?"
"To make themselves agreeable to Branicki, who is in a dangerous
state, and might possibly get better if he heard that my hand had
been taken off."
"Really that seems an incredible idea to me!"
"What will your highness say on the day when I am proved to be
right?"
"I shall say you are deserving of the highest praise, but the day
must first come."
"We shall see this evening, and I give you my word that if any
gangrene has attacked the arm, I will have it cut off to-morrow
morning."
Four surgeons came to see me. My arm was pronounced to be highly
aedematous, and of a livid colour up to the elbow; but when the lint
was taken off the wound I could see for myself that it was
progressing admirably. However, I concealed my delight. Prince
Augustus Sulkowski and the Abbe Gouvel were present; the latter being
attached to the palatin's court. The judgment of the surgeons was
that the arm was gangrened, and must be amputated by the next morning
at latest.
I was tired of arguing with these rascals, so I told them to bring
their instruments, and that I would submit to the operation. At this
they went way in high glee, to tell the news at the Court, to
Branicki, to the palatin, and so forth. I merely gave my servants
orders to send them away when they came.
I can dwell no more on this matter, though it is interesting enough
to me. However, the reader will no doubt be obliged to me by my
simply saying that a French surgeon in Prince Sulkowski's household
took charge of the case in defiance of professional etiquette, and
cured me perfectly, so I have my hand and my arm to this day.
On Easter Day I went to mass with my arm in a sling. My cure had
only lasted three weeks, but I was not able to put the hand to any
active employment for eighteen months afterwards. Everyone was
obliged to congratulate me on having held out against the amputation,
and the general consent declared the surgeons grossly ignorant, while
I was satisfied with thinking them very great knaves.
I must here set down an incident which happened three days after the
duel.
I was told that a Jesuit father from the bishop of the diocese wanted
to speak to me in private, and I had him shewn in, and asked him what
he wanted.
"I have come from my lord-bishop," said he, "to absolve you from the
ecclesiastical censure, which you have incurred by duelling."
"I am always delighted to receive absolution, father, but only after
I have confessed my guilt. In the present case I have nothing to
confess; I was attacked, and I defended myself. Pray thank my lord
for his kindness. If you like to absolve me without confession, I
shall be much obliged."
"If you do not confess, I cannot give you absolution, but you can do
this: ask me to absolve you, supposing you have fought a duel."
"Certainly; I shall be glad if you will absolve me, supposing I have
fought a duel."
The delightful Jesuit gave me absolution in similar terms. He was
like his brethren--never at a loss when a loophole of any kind is
required.
Three days before I left the monastery, that is on Holy Thursday, the
marshal withdrew my guard. After I had been to mass on Easter Day, I
went to Court, and as I kissed the king's hand, he asked me (as had
been arranged) why I wore my arm in a sling. I said I had been
suffering from a rheum, and he replied, with a meaning smile,--
"Take care not to catch another."
After my visit to the king, I called on Branicki, who had made daily
enquiries afer my health, and had sent me back my sword, He was
condemned to stay in bed for six weeks longer at least, for the wad
of my pistol had got into the wound, and in extracting it the opening
had to be enlarged, which retarded his recovery. The king had just
appointed him chief huntsman, not so exalted an office as
chamberlain, but a more lucrative one. It was said he had got the
place because he was such a good shot; but if that were the reason I
had a better claim to it, for I had proved the better shot--for one
day at all events.
I entered an enormous ante-room in which stood officers, footmen,
pages, and lacqueys, all gazing at me with the greatest astonishment.
I asked if my lord was to be seen, and begged the door-keeper to send
in my name. He did not answer, but sighed, and went into his
master's room. Directly after, he came out and begged me, with a
profound bow, to step in.
Branicki, who was dressed in a magnificent gown and supported by
pillows and cushions, greeted me by taking off his nightcap. He was
as pale as death.
"I have come here, my lord," I began, "to offer you my service, and
to assure you how I regret that I did not pass over a few trifling
words of yours."
"You have no reason to reproach yourself, M. Casanova."
"Your excellency is very kind. I am also come to say that by
fighting with me you have done me an honour which completely swallows
up all offence, and I trust that you will give me your protection for
the future."
"I confess I insulted you, but you will allow that I have paid for
it. As to my friends, I openly say that they are my enemies unless
they treat you with respect. Bininski has been cashiered, and his
nobility taken from him; he is well served. As to my protection you
have no need of it, the king esteems you highly, like myself, and all
men of honour. Sit down; we will be friends. A cup of chocolate for
this gentleman. You seem to have got over your wound completely."
"Quite so, my lord, except as to the use of my fingers, and that will
take some time."
"You were quite right to withstand those rascally surgeons, and you
had good reason for your opinion that the fools thought to please me
by rendering you one-handed. They judged my heart by their own. I
congratulate you on the preservation of your hand, but I have not
been able to make out how my ball could have wounded you in the hand
after striking your stomach."
Just then the chocolate was brought, and the chamberlain came in and
looked at me with a smile. In five minutes the room was full of
lords and ladies who had heard I was with Branicki, and wanted to
know how we were getting on. I could see that they did not expect to
find us on such good terms, and were agreeably surprised. Branicki
asked the question which had been interrupted by the chocolate and
the visitors over again.
"Your excellency will allow me to assume the position I was in as I
received your fire."
"Pray do so."
I rose and placed myself in the position, and he said he understood
how it was.
A lady said,--
"You should have put your hand behind your body."
"Excuse me, madam, but I thought it better to put my body behind my
hand."
This sally made Branicki laugh, but his sister said to me,--
"You wanted to kill my brother, for you aimed at his head."
"God forbid, madam! my interest lay in keeping him alive to defend
me from his friends."
"But you said you were going to fire at his head."
"That's a mere figure of speech, just as one says, 'I'll blow your
brains out.' The skilled duellist, however, always aims at the middle
of the body; the head does not offer a large enough surface."
"Yes," said Branicki, "your tactics were superior to mine, and I am
obliged to you for the lesson you gave me."
"Your excellency gave me a lesson in heroism of far greater value."
"You must have had a great deal of practice with the pistol,"
continued his sister.
"Not at all, madam, I regard the weapon with detestation. This
unlucky shot was my first; but I have always known a straight line,
and my hand has always been steady."
"That's all one wants," said Branicki. "I have those advantages
myself, and I am only too well pleased that I did not aim so well as
usual."
"Your ball broke my first phalanges. Here it is you see, flattened
by my bone. Allow me to return it to you."
"I am sorry to say I can't return yours, which I suppose remains on
the field of battle."
"You seem to be getting better, thank God!"
"The wound is healing painfully. If I had imitated you I should no
longer be in the land of the living; I am told you made an excellent
dinner?"
"Yes, my lord, I was afraid I might never have another chance of
dining again."
"If I had dined, your ball would have pierced my intestines; but
being empty it yielded to the bullet, and let it pass by harmlessly."
I heard afterwards that on the day of the duel Branicki had gone to
confession and mass, and had communicated. The priest could not
refuse him absolution, if he said that honour obliged him to fight;
for this was in accordance with the ancient laws of chivalry. As for
me I only addressed these words to God:
"Lord, if my enemy kill me, I shall be damned; deign, therefore, to
preserve me from death. Amen."
After a long and pleasant conversation I took leave of the hero to
visit the high constable, Count Bielinski, brother of Countess
Salmor. He was a very old man, but the sovereign administrator of
justice in Poland. I had never spoken to him, but he had defended me
from Branicki's Uhlans, and had made out my pardon, so I felt bound
to go and thank him.
I sent in my name, and the worthy old man greeted me with:
"What can I do for you?"
"I have come to kiss the hand of the kindly man that signed my
pardon, and to promise your excellency to be more discreet in
future."
"I advise you to be more discreet indeed. As for your pardon, thank
the king; for if he had not requested me especially to grant it you,
I should have had you beheaded."
"In spite of the extenuating circumstances, my lord?"
"What circumstances? Did you or did you not fight a duel."
"That is not a proper way of putting it; I was obliged to defend
myself. You might have charged me with fighting a duel if Branicki
had taken me outside the ban, as I requested, but as it was he took
me where he willed and made me fight. Under these circumstances I am
sure your excellency would have spared my head."
"I really can't say. The king requested that you should be pardoned,
and that shews he believes you to be deserving of pardon; I
congratulate you on his good will. I shall be pleased if you will
dine with me tomorrow."
"My lord, I am delighted to accept your invitation."
The illustrious old constable was a man of great intelligence. He
had been a bosom-friend of the celebrated Poniatowski, the king's
father. We had a good deal of conversation together at dinner the
next day.
"What a comfort it would have been to your excellency's friend," said
I, "if he could have lived to see his son crowned King of Poland."
"He would never have consented."
The vehemence with which he pronounced these words gave me a deep
insight into his feelings. He was of the Saxon party. The same day,
that is on Easter Day, I dined at the palatin's.
"Political reasons," said he, "prevented me from visiting you at the
monastery; but you must not think I had forgotten you, for you were
constantly in my thoughts. I am going to lodge you here, for my wife
is very fond of your society; but the rooms will not be ready for
another six weeks."
"I shall take the opportunity, my lord, of paying a visit to the
Palatin of Kiowia, who has honoured me with an invitation to come and
see him."
"Who gave you the invitation?"
"Count Bruhl, who is at Dresden; his wife is daughter of the
palatin."
"This journey is an excellent idea, for this duel of yours has made
you innumerable enemies, and I only hope you will have to fight no
more duels. I give you fair warning; be on your guard, and never go
on foot, especially at night."
I spent a fortnight in going out to dinner and supper every day. I
had become the fashion, and wherever I went I had to tell the duel
story over again. I was rather tired of it myself, but the wish to
please and my own self-love were too strong to be resisted. The king
was nearly always present, but feigned not to hear me. However, he
once asked me if I had been insulted by a patrician in Venice,
whether I should have called him out immediately.
"No, sire, for his patrician pride would have prevented his
complying, and I should have had my pains for my trouble."
"Then what would you have done?"
"Sire, I should have contained myself, though if a noble Venetian
were to insult me in a foreign country he would have to give me
satisfaction."
I called on Prince Moszczinski, and Madame Binetti happened to be
there; the moment she saw me she made her escape.
"What has she against me?" I asked the count.
"She is afraid of you, because she was the cause of the duel, and now
Branicki who was her lover will have nothing more to say to her. She
hoped he would serve you as he served Tomatis, and instead of that
you almost killed her bravo. She lays the fault on him for having
accepted your challenge, but he has resolved to have done with her."
This Count Moszczinski was both good-hearted and quick-witted, and
so, generous that he ruined himself by making presents. His wounds
were beginning to heal, but though I was the indirect cause of his
mishap, far from bearing malice against me he had become my friend.
The person whom I should have expected to be most grateful to me for
the duel was Tomatis, but on the contrary he hated the sight of me
and hardly concealed his feelings. I was the living reproach of his
cowardice; my wounded hand seemed to shew him that he had loved his
money more than his honour. I am sure he would have preferred
Branicki to have killed me, for then he would have become an object
of general execration, and Tomatis would have been received with less
contempt in the great houses he still frequented.
I resolved to pay a visit to the discontented party who had only
recognized the new king on compulsion, and some of whom had not
recognized him at all; so I set out with my true friend Campioni and
one servant.
Prince Charles of Courland had started for Venice, where I had given
him letters for my illustrious friends who would make his visit a
pleasant one. The English ambassador who had given me an
introduction to Prince Adam had just arrived at Warsaw. I dined with
him at the prince's house, and the king signified his wish to be of
the party. I heard a good deal of conversation about Madame de
Geoffrin, an old sweetheart of the king's whom he had just summoned
to Warsaw. The Polish monarch, of whom I cannot speak in too
favourable terms, was yet weak enough to listen to the slanderous
reports against me, and refused to make my fortune. I had the
pleasure of convincing him that he was mistaken, but I will speak of
this later on.
I arrived at Leopol the sixth day after I had left Warsaw, having
stopped a couple of days at Prince Zamoiski's; he had forty thousand
ducats a-year, but also the falling sickness.
"I would give all my goods," said he, "to be cured."
I pitied his young wife. She was very fond of him, and yet had to
deny him, for his disease always came on him in moments of amorous
excitement. She had the bitter task of constantly refusing him, and
even of running away if he pressed her hard. This great nobleman,
who died soon after, lodged me in a splendid room utterly devoid of
furniture. This is the Polish custom; one is supposed to bring one's
furniture with one.
At Leopol I put up, at an hotel, but I soon had to move from thence
to take up my abode with the famous Kaminska, the deadly foe of
Branicki, the king, and all that party. She was very rich, but she
has since been ruined by conspiracies. She entertained me
sumptuously for a week, but the visit was agreeable to neither side,
as she could only speak Polish and German. From Leopol I proceeded
to a small town, the name of which I forget (the Polish names are
very crabbed) to take an introduction from Prince Lubomirski to
Joseph Rzewuski, a little old man who wore a long beard as a sign of
mourning for the innovations that were being introduced into his
country. He was rich, learned, superstitiously religious, and polite
exceedingly. I stayed with him for three days. He was the commander
of a stronghold containing a garrison of five hundred men.
On the first day, as I was in his room with some other officers,
about eleven o'clock in the morning, another officer came in,
whispered to Rzewuski, and then came up to me and whispered in my
ear, "Venice and St. Mark."
"St. Mark," I answered aloud, "is the patron saint and protector of
Venice," and everybody began to laugh.
It dawned upon me that "Venice and St. Mark" was the watchword, and I
began to apologize profusely, and the word was changed.
The old commander spoke to me with great politeness. He never went
to Court, but he had resolved on going to the Diet to oppose the
Russian party with all his might. The poor man, a Pole of the true
old leaven, was one of the four whom Repnin arrested and sent to
Siberia.
After taking leave of this brave patriot, I went to Christianpol,
where lived the famous palatin Potocki, who had been one of the
lovers of the empress Anna Ivanovna. He had founded the town in
which he lived and called it after his own name. This nobleman,
still a fine man, kept a splendid court. He honoured Count Bruhl by
keeping me at his house for a fortnight, and sending me out every day
with his doctor, the famous Styrneus, the sworn foe of Van Swieten, a
still more famous physician. Although Styrneus was undoubtedly a
learned man, I thought him somewhat extravagant and empirical. His
system was that of Asclepiades, considered as exploded since the time
of the great Boerhaave; nevertheless, he effected wonderful cures.
In the evenings I was always with the palatin and his court. Play
was not heavy, and I always won, which was fortunate and indeed
necessary for me. After an extremely agreeable visit to the palatin
I returned to Leopol, where I amused myself for a week with a pretty
girl who afterwards so captivated Count Potocki, starost of Sniatin,
that he married her. This is purity of blood with a vengeance in
your noble families!
Leaving Leopol I went to Palavia, a splendid palace on the Vistula,
eighteen leagues distant from Warsaw. It belonged to the prince
palatin, who had built it himself.
Howsoever magnificent an abode may be, a lonely man will weary of it
unless he has the solace of books or of some great idea. I had
neither, and boredom soon made itself felt.
A pretty peasant girl came into my room, and finding her to my taste
I tried to make her understand me without the use of speech, but she
resisted and shouted so loudly that the door-keeper came up, and
asked me, coolly,--
"If you like the girl, why don't you go the proper way to work?"
"What way is that?"
"Speak to her father, who is at hand, and arrange the matter
amicably."
"I don't know Polish. Will you carry the thing through?"
"Certainly. I suppose you will give fifty florins?"
"You are laughing at me. I will give a hundred willingly, provided
she is a maid and is as submissive as a lamb."
No doubt the arrangement was made without difficulty, for our hymen
took place the same evening, but no sooner was the operation
completed than the poor lamb fled away in hot haste, which made me
suspect that her father had used rather forcible persuasion with her.
I would not have allowed this had I been aware of it.
The next morning several girls were offered to me, but the faces of
all of them were covered.
"Where is the girl?" said I. "I want to see her face."
"Never mind about the face, if the rest is all right."
"The face is the essential part for me," I replied, "and the rest I
look upon as an accessory."
He did not understand this. However, they were uncovered, but none
of their faces excited my desires.
As a rule, the Polish women are ugly; a beauty is a miracle, and a
pretty woman a rare exception. At the end of a week of feasting and
weariness, I returned to Warsaw.
In this manner I saw Podolia and Volkynia, which were rebaptized a
few years later by the names of Galicia and Lodomeria, for they are
now part of the Austrian Empire. It is said, however, that they are
more prosperous than they ever were before.
At Warsaw I found Madame Geoffrin the object of universal admiration;
and everybody was remarking with what simplicity she was dressed. As
for myself, I was received not coldly, but positively rudely. People
said to my face,--
"We did not expect to see you here again. Why did you come back?"
"To pay my debts."
This behaviour astonished and disgusted me. The prince-palatin even
seemed quite changed towards me. I was still invited to dinner, but
no one spoke to me. However, Prince Adam's sister asked me very
kindly to come and sup with her, and I accepted the invitation with
delight. I found myself seated opposite the king, who did not speak
one word to me the whole time. He had never behaved to me thus
before.
The next day I dined with the Countess Oginski, and in the course of
dinner the countess asked where the king had supper the night before;
nobody seemed to know, and I did not answer. Just as we were rising,
General Roniker came in, and the question was repeated.
"At Princess Strasnikowa's," said the general, "and M. Casanova was
there."
"Then why did you not answer my question?" said the countess to me.
"Because I am very sorry to have been there. His majesty neither
spoke to me nor looked at me. I see I am in disgrace, but for the
life of me I know not why."
On leaving the house I went to call on Prince Augustus Sulkowski, who
welcomed me as of old, but told me that I had made a mistake in
returning to Warsaw as public opinion was against me.
"What have I done?"
"Nothing; but the Poles are always inconstant and changeable.
'Sarmatarum virtus veluti extra ipsos'. This inconstancy will cost
us dear sooner or later. Your fortune was made, but you missed the
turn of the tide, and I advise you to go."
"I will certainly do so, but it seems to me rather hard."
When I got home my servant gave me a letter which some unknown person
had left at my door. I opened it and found it to be anonymous, but I
could see it came from a well-wisher. The writer said that the
slanderers had got the ears of the king, and that I was no longer a
persona grata at Court, as he had been assured that the Parisians had
burnt me in effigy for my absconding with the lottery money, and that
I had been a strolling player in Italy and little better than a
vagabond.
Such calumnies are easy to utter but hard to refute in a foreign
country. At all Courts hatred, born of envy, is ever at work. I
might have despised the slanders and left the country, but I had
contracted debts and had not sufficient money to pay them and my
expenses to Portugal, where I thought I might do something.
I no longer saw any company, with the exception of Campioni, who
seemed more distressed than myself. I wrote to Venice and everywhere
else, where there was a chance of my getting funds; but one day the
general, who had been present at the duel, called on me, and told me
(though he seemed ashamed of his task) that the king requested me to
leave the ban in the course of a week.
Such a piece of insolence made my blood boil, and I informed the
general that he might tell the king that I did not feel inclined to
obey such an unjust order, and that if I left I would let all the
world know that I had been compelled to do so by brute force.
"I cannot take such a message as that," said the general, kindly.
"I shall simply tell the king that I have executed his orders, and no
more; but of course you must follow your own judgment."
In the excess of my indignation I wrote to the king that I could not
obey his orders and keep my honour. I said in my letter,--
"My creditors, sire, will forgive me for leaving Poland without
paying my debts, when they learn that I have only done so because
your majesty gave me no choice."
I was thinking how I could ensure this letter reaching the king, when
who should arrive but Count Moszczinski. I told him what had
happened, and asked if he could suggest any means of delivering tire
letter. "Give it to me," said he; "I will place it in the king's
hands."
As soon as he had gone I went out to take the air, and called on
Prince Sulkowski, who was not at all astonished at my news. As if to
sweeten the bitter pill I had to swallow, he told me how the Empress
of Austria had ordered him to leave Vienna in twenty-four hours,
merely because he had complimented the Archduchess Christina on
behalf of Prince Louis of Wurtemberg.
The next day Count Moszczinski brought me a present of a thousand
ducats from the king, who said that my leaving Warsaw would probably
be the means of preserving my life, as in that city I was exposed to
danger which I could not expect to escape eventually.
This referred to five or six challenges I had received, and to which
I had not even taken the trouble to reply. My enemies might possibly
assassinate me, and the king did not care to be constantly anxious on
my account. Count Moszczinski added that the order to leave carried
no dishonour with it, considering by whom it had been delivered, and
the delay it gave me to make my preparations.
The consequence of all this was that I not only gave my word to go,
but that I begged the count to thank his majesty for his kindness,
and the interest he had been pleased to take in me.
When I gave in, the generous Moszczinski embraced me, begged me to
write to him, and accept a present of a travelling carriage as a
token of his friendship. He informed me that Madame Binetti's
husband had gone off with his wife's maid, taking with him her
diamonds, jewels, linen, and even her silver plate, leaving her to
the tender mercies of the dancer, Pic. Her admirers had clubbed
together to make up to her for what her husband had stolen. I also
heard that the king's sister had arrived at Warsaw from Bialistock,
and it was hoped that her husband would follow her. This husband was
the real Count Branicki, and the Branicki, or rather Branecki, or
Bragnecki, who had fought with me, was no relation to him whatever.
The following day I paid my debts, which amounted to about two
hundred ducats, and I made preparations for starting for Breslau, the
day after, with Count Clary, each of us having his own carriage.
Clary was one of those men to whom lying has become a sort of second
nature; whenever such an one opens his mouth, you may safely say to
him, "You have lied, or you are going to lie." If they could feel
their own degradation, they would be much to be pitied, for by their
own fault at last no one will believe them even when by chance they
speak the truth. This Count Clary, who was not one of the Clarys of
Teplitz, could neither go to his own country nor to Vienna, because
he had deserted the army on the eve of a battle. He was lame, but he
walked so adroitly that his defect did not appear. If this had been
the only truth he concealed, it would have been well, for it was a
piece of deception that hurt no one. He died miserably in Venice.
We reached Breslau in perfect safety, and without experiencing any
adventures. Campioni, who had accompanied me as far as Wurtemburg,
returned, but rejoined me at Vienna in the course of seven months.
Count Clary had left Breslau, and I thought I would make the
acquaintance of the Abbe Bastiani, a celebrated Venetian, whose
fortune had been made by the King of Prussia. He was canon of the
cathedral, and received me cordially; in fact, each mutually desired
the other's acquaintance. He was a fine well-made man, fair-
complexioned, and at least six feet high. He was also witty,
learned, eloquent, and gifted with a persuasive voice; his cook was
an artist, his library full of choice volumes, and his cellar a very
good one. He was well lodged on the ground floor, and on the first
floor he accommodated a lady, of whose children he was very fond,
possibly because he was their father. Although a great admirer of
the fair sex, his tastes were by no means exclusive, and he did not
despise love of the Greek or philosophic kind. I could see that he
entertained a passion for a young priest whom I met at his table.
This young abbe was Count di Cavalcano and Bastiani seemed to adore
him, if fiery glances signified anything; but the innocent young man
did not seem to understand, and I suppose Bastiani did not like to
lower his dignity by declaring his love. The canon shewed me all the
letters he had received from the King of Prussia before he had been
made canon. He was the son of a tailor at Venice, and became a
friar, but having committed some peccadillo which got him into
trouble, he was fortunate enough to be able to make his escape. He
fled to The Hague, and there met Tron, the Venetian ambassador, who
lent him a hundred ducats with which he made his way to Berlin and
favour with the king. Such are the ways by which men arrive at
fortune! 'Sequere deum'!
On the event of my departure from Breslau I went to pay a call on a
baroness for whom I had a letter of introduction from her son, who
was an officer of the Polish Court. I sent up my name and was asked
to wait a few moments, as the baroness was dressing. I sat down
beside a pretty girl, who was neatly dressed in a mantle with a hood.
I asked her if she were waiting for the baroness like myself.
"Yes, sir," she replied, "I have come to offer myself as governess
for her three daughters."
"What! Governess at your age?"
"Alas! sir, age has nothing to do with necessity. I have neither
father nor mother. My brother is a poor lieutenant who cannot help
me; what can I do? I can only get a livelihood by turning my good
education to account."
"What will your salary be?"
"Fifty wretched crowns, enough to buy my dresses."
"It's very little."
"It is as much as people give."
"Where are you living now?"
"With a poor aunt, where I can scarce earn enough bread to keep me
alive by sewing from morning till night."
"If you liked to become my governess instead of becoming a children's
governess, I would give you fifty crowns, not per year, but per
month."
"Your governess? Governess to your family, you mean, I suppose?"
"I have no family; I am a bachelor, and I spend my time in
travelling. I leave at five o'clock to-morrow morning for Dresden,
and if you like to come with me there is a place for you in my
carriage. I am staying at such an inn. Come there with your trunk,
and we will start together."
"You are joking; besides, I don't know you."
"I am not jesting; and we should get to know each other perfectly
well in twenty-four hours; that is ample time."
My serious air convinced the girl that I was not laughing at her; but
she was still very much astonished, while I was very much astonished
to find I had gone so far when I had only intended to joke. In
trying to win over the girl I had won over myself. It seemed to me a
rare adventure, and I was delighted to see that she was giving it her
serious attention by the side-glances she kept casting in my
direction to see if I was laughing at her. I began to think that
fate had brought us together that I might become the architect of her
fortune. I had no doubt whatever as to her goodness or her feelings
for me, for she completely infatuated my judgment. To put the
finishing stroke on the affair I drew out two ducats and gave them
her as an earnest of her first month's wages. She took them timidly,
but seemed convinced that I was not imposing on her.
By this time the baroness was ready, and she welcomed me very kindly;
but I said I could not accept her invitation to dine with her the
following day, as I was leaving at day-break. I replied to all the
questions that a fond mother makes concerning her son, and then took
leave of the worthy lady. As I went out I noticed that the would-be
governess had disappeared. The rest of the day I spent with the
canon, making good cheer, playing ombre, drinking hard, and talking
about girls or literature. The next day my carriage came to the door
at the time I had arranged, and I went off without thinking of the
girl I had met at the baroness's. But we had not gone two hundred
paces when the postillion stopped, a bundle of linen whirled through
the window into the carriage, and the governess got in. I gave her a
hearty welcome by embracing her, and made her sit down beside me, and
so we drove off.
In the ensuing chapter the reader will become more fully acquainted
with my fresh conquest. In the meantime let him imagine me rolling
peacefully along the Dresden road.
