Volume III Part 46 (2/2)
”If love has taken away froive you, but I aiven me too positive proof of the reality of your science to be able to shakeof which I norant, and of which no mortal man could know”
”And if I shew you, Esther dear, that I knew you had this norant of it, will your belief be shaken then?”
”You knew it? How could you have seen it? It's incredible!”
”I will tell you all”
I then explained to her the theory of the correspondence of moles on the various parts of the huoverness who had a large ht to have one very like it on her left thigh At this she burst into laughter, and said, ”I will find out, but after all you have toldwhat no one else does”
”Do you really think, Esther, that I am the sole possessor of this science? Undeceive yourself All who have studied anato you to get me, by to-morrow--yes, tomorrow--all the books which will teachto be able to astonish the ignorant with e and imposition I wish to devote myself entirely to this study We can love each other to the death, but we can do that without gettingin a peaceful and happy fraht see I purchased such volued would instruct and amuse her at the same time, and went to present them to her She was most pleased with my Conis, as she found in it the character of truth As she wished to shi+ne by her answers through the oracle it was necessary for her to have an extensive knowledge of science, and I put her on the way
About that ti a short tour in Gered ain before the end of the year
This proh fro and re deceived her wilfully, for subsequent events preventedhih the eerent poere then ca He answered very politely that I had no need of a passport, but that if I wished to have one he would send itot me a better reception than all the passports in the world
I made M d'O---- the depositary of the varioushouses, and the worthy e on a dozen of the chief houses in Germany
When my affairs were all in order I started in my post-chaise, with the sum of nearly a hundred thousand Dutch florins to my credit, some valuable jewels, and a well-stocked wardrobe I sentonly my faithful Spaniard, who on this occasion travelled with me, seated behind my chaise
Thus ends the history of ment my fortune I had some unpleasant experiences there for which I had my own imprudence to thank, but after the lapse of so many years I feel that these mishaps were more than compensated by the charms of Esther's society
I only stopped one day at Utrecht, and two days after I reached Cologne at noon, without accident, but not without danger, for at a distance of half a league froht hand and two on the left, levelled their pistols at me, with the words, ”Your money or your life” However, I covered the postillion withto fire if he did not drive on, and the robbers discharged their weapons at the carriage, not having enough spirit to shoot the postillion
If I had been like the English, who carry a light purse for the benefit of the highwaymen, I would have thrown it to these poor wretches; but, as it was, I risked my life rather than be robbed My Spaniard was quite astonished not to have been struck by any of the balls which whistled past his ears
The French were in winter quarters at Cologne, and I put up at the ”Soleil d'Or” As I was going in, the first person I reeted me with the utmost politeness, and offered to take me to M de Torci, as in coentleman was quite satisfied with the letter M d'Afri had writteninto Cologne, and he congratulated me on the happy issue of the affair, but with a soldier's freedoe
”You played high,” said he, ”to save yourwould have ht of a danger often dioing to ne I should probably have the pleasure of seeing the highwayo to-ne it would certainly not be the prospect of being present at an execution, as such sights are not at all to my taste”
I had to accept M de Lastic's invitation to dinner, and he persuaded o with hih rank, and an agreeable man, to the theatre As I felt sure that I should be introduced to ladies, and wished to
I found myself in a box opposite to a pretty wolass That was enough to rouse ed M de Lastic to introduce inable He first presented eneral in the Austrian areneral staff of the French army--just as the French General Montacet was on the staff of the Austrian army I was then presented to the lady whose beauty had attracted raciously, and asked me questions about Paris and Brussels, where she had been educated, without appearing to pay any attention toatof indifferent matters, like new acquaintances, she suddenly but politely asked ne
”I think of crossing the Rhine to-morrow,” I answered, ”and shall probably dine at Bonn”
This reply, which was given as indifferently as her question, appeared to vex her; and I thought her vexation a good o,--
”I am sure, sir, that this lady will persuade you to delay your departure--at least, I hope so, that Imore of your co oeneral was nearly alith her