Volume III Part 62 (2/2)
M de Chauvelin, whom I had the honour to know at Versailles, at M de Choiseul's, was an extremely pleasant man He arrived at Soleure in the course of two days, and M de Chavigni having advised me of his presence I hastened to pay my court to him He remembered me, and introducedAs chance placed me next to my charmer at table, my spirits rose, and ood te that he knew soni told him that he did not know the best of all, and recounted to him my adventure at Zurich M de Chauvelin then told Madaly transform himself into a footman, on which M---- joined in and said that I had a finer taste for beauty, as she, for whose sake I had uest of mine in my country house
”Ah, indeed!” said M de Chauvelin, ”then we oing to reply, when M de Chavigni anticipated ,
”Yes, indeed! and I hope he will lend ive you a ball next Sunday”
In thisto give a ball myself, and relievedin carrying out, as it would have been an encroach these distinguished strangers during the five or six days they ht stay at Soleure
Besides, if I had kept to my word, it would have involved me in a considerable expense, which would not have helpedon Voltaire, the Ecossaise was hly commended in words that made her blush and shi+ne in her beauty like a star, whereat her praises were renewed
After dinner the ambassador invited us to his ball on the day after the morrow, and I went home more deeply in love than ever with ned to inflict on rief I have had in my life, as the reader shall see
I found that lad of it, for the presence of my fair one had excited ht have failed to keepshe found me sad, and rallied me in such a way that I soon recoveredour chocolate the lahther that I would send the answer by my own servant This curious letter ran as follows:
”The ambassador has asked me to his ball on Sunday I answered that I was not well, but if I foundI would coht to be introduced by you or stay away altogether So if you do not wish to obligeof you to tell the ambassador that I aing our agreement in this peculiar instance, but it is a question of keeping up some sort of appearance in public”
”Not so,” I cried,my pen I wrote thus:
”I think your idea is a beautiful one, madam You will have to be ill, as I mean to keep to the conditions you s, and I shall therefore denyyou to the ball which the aive in my hall”
I read her insolent letter and ht the answer just what she deserved I then sent it to her
I passed the next two days quietly and agreeably without going out or seeing any visitors, but the society of Mada the ambassador's people came to make the necessary preparations for the ball and supper Lebel came to pay me his respects while I was at table Ime a housekeeper as all perfection
Lebel was a fine h perfectly honest
”Which of you two,” said he to me, ”is the most taken in?”
”We are equally pleased with each other,” answered ht the first pair to appear were M---- and Madame She was extrehtest astonishment when I introduced her as my housekeeper She told reat disgust I had to go We were received with a show of great friendshi+p, and she went out with us into the garden, taking M----'s arm, while his wife leant aarden, Madaed me to take her to her nurse As her husband was close by, I said,--
”Who is your nurse?”
”Your door-keeper's wife,” said her husband, ”ait for you in this lady's apartment”
”Tell me, sweetheart,” said she on the way, ”does not your pretty housekeeper sleep with you?”
”I swear she does not; I can only love you”
”I would like to believe you, but I find it hard to do so; however, if you are speaking the truth it is wrong of you to keep her in the house, as nobody will believe in your innocence”
”It is enough for me that you believe in it I admire her, and at any other time I expect we could not sleep under the sa in the same bed; but now that you rule my heart I am not capable of a passion for her”