Volume III Part 24 (2/2)
”I know very hy,” I answered; and drawing a watch froave it to Sophie, embraced her, and went on my way I arrived at Paris on February 10th, and took suueil
CHAPTER VI
I Meet With a Flattering Reception From My Patron--Madame D'Urfe's Infatuation--Mada ue to Paris, short as it was, I had plenty of opportunities for seeing that the mental qualities of my adopted son were by no means equal to his physical ones
As I had said, the chief point which his mother had impressed on hiard for her own interests My readers will understand what Ihis one beyond the bounds of moderation; he possessed reserve, it is true, but he was also full of dissimulation, suspicion, and hypocrisy--a fine trio of deceit in one as still a boy He not only concealed what he knew, but he pretended to know that which he did not His idea of the one quality necessary to success in life was an impenetrable reserve, and to obtain this he had accustomed himself to silence the dictates of his heart, and to say no word that had not been carefully weighed Giving other people wrong impressions passed with hienerous thought, he see what friendshi+pthat Madame d'Urfe counted on the boy for the accomplishment of her absurd hypostasis, and that the ant would be her fancies about it, I told the lad that if I introduced him to a lady who questioned him by himself about his birth, he was to be perfectly open with her
On my arrival at Paris rand conized the Venetian a have you been in Paris?” said theme by the hand
”I have only just stepped out of o to Versailles You will find the Duc de Choiseul and the coeneral there You have been wonderfully successful, go and get your meed of praise and come and see me afterwards Tell the duke that Voltaire's appoint is ready”
I was not going to start for Versailles atin this style, as if Versailles were at the end of the street Instead of going there, I went to see Madaenius had inforhted with the fulfilment of the prophecy
”Corne wonders in Holland; but I see more in the matter than he does, as I am quite certain that you have taken over the twenty millions yourself The funds have risen, and a hundred millions at least will be in circulation in the course of the next week You must not be offended at my shabby present, for, of course, twelve thousand francs are nothing to you You must look upon the to tell lad to see you not to want to have you all to myself”
A profound boas the only reply Ispeech, and I saw her treht a lad of twelve with me, whom I intended to place in the best school I could find that he ood education
”I will send him myself to Viar, where my nephews are What is his na to see hiht from your journey at my house?”
Her questions and replies followed one another in rapid succession I should have found it ieways, even if I had wanted to, but I was very glad to let her expend her enthusiasood care not to interrupt her On the first opportunity, I told her that I should have the pleasure of presenting the young gentleman to her the day after toement at Versailles
”Does the dear lad speak French? While I a to school you must really let him come and live with me”
”We will discuss that question on the day after tomorrow, madam”
”Oh, hoish the day after to- Mada in perfect order I then went to the Italian play, and found Silvia and her daughter in their dressing-room
”My dear friend,” said she when she saw me, ”I know that you have achieved a wonderful success in Holland, and I congratulate you”
I gave her an agreeable surprise by saying that I had been working for her daughter, and Marion herself blushed, and lowered her eyes in a very suggestive manner ”I will be with you at supper,” I added, ”and then we can talk at our ease” On leaving them I went to the amphitheatre, and as my surprise to see in one of the first boxes Madame X---- C---- V----, with all her falad to hear their history
Madame X---- C---- V----, by birth a Greek, was theof an Englishirls On his death-bed he became a Catholic out of deference to the tears of his wife; but as his children could not inherit his forty thousand pounds invested in England, without conforland, the family returned to London, where thecoland What will people not do when their interests are at stake! though in a case like this there is no need to bla, to prejudices which had the sanction of the law