Volume IV Part 51 (2/2)
”I aive me a letter of introduction to Mada your niece”
”You shall have the letter to-morroithout fail”
I introduced Mdlle Desarmoises to her under the family name of her lover, and invited her to dine with Madame Morin and myself After dinner ent to the convent, and M---- M---- came down very surprised at this unexpected visit from her aunt; but when she saw me she had need of all her presence of mind When her aunt introduced me to her by na her stay at Aix she had seen me five or six times at the fountain, but that I could not remember her features as she had alorn her veil I adht she had grown prettier than ever, and no doubtabout Grenoble and her old friends, wholadly recalled to her irl as boarding at the convent, whom she liked and wanted to present to her aunt
I seized the opportunity of telling Madame Morin that I was astonished at the likeness, that her very voice was like that of ed her to obtainwith her niece the next day, and of presenting her with a dozen pounds of capital chocolate I had brought it with me from Genoa
”You must h she's a nun she's a woman, and omen much prefer a present from a man's than from a woman's hand”
M---- M---- returned with the superior of the convent, two other nuns, and the young boarder, who caed to talk to all the nuns, and Madame Morin told her niece that I wanted her to try soht from Genoa, but that I hoped her lay-sister would make it
”Sir,” said M---- M----, ”kindly send ether with these dear sisters”
As soon as I got back to my inn I sent the chocolate with a respectful note, and I took supper in Madahter and Mdlle Desar more and more amorous, but I talked of M---- M---- all the time, and I could see that the aunt suspected that the pretty nun was not altogether a stranger to me
I breakfasted at the convent and I remember that the chocolate, the biscuits, and the sweetmeats were served with a nicety which savoured somewhat of the world When we had finished breakfast I told M---- M---- that she would not find it so easy to givedown to table, but I added that half the company could be in the convent and half in the parlour, separated froht I should like to see,” said I, ”if you will allow me to pay all expenses”
”Certainly,” replied M---- M----, and this dinner was fixed for the next day
M---- M---- took charge of the whole thing, and promised to ask six nuns Mada, and I warned her that I would send in the necessary wines
I escorted Madahter, and Mdlle Desarnan, to whom I had been recoet me some of the best wine, and he took me down to his cellar, and told me to take what I liked His wines proved to be adnan was a clever man, of a pleasant appearance, and very coe and convenient house outside the town, and there his agreeable wife dispensed hospitality
She had ten children, ahters; the eldest, as nineteen, was especially good-looking
We went to the convent at eleven o'clock, and after an hour's conversation ere told that dinner was ready The table was beautifully laid, covered with a fair white cloth, and adorned with vases filled with artificial flowers so strongly scented that the air of the parlour was quite balrill was heavier than I had hoped I found myself seated to the left of M---- M----, and totally unable to see her The fair Desarht, and she entertained us all the ti stories
We in the parlour aited on by Le Duc and Costa, and the nuns were served by their lay-sisters The abundant provision, the excellent wines, the pleasant though sometimes equivocal conversation, kept us all merrily employed for three hours Mirth had the mastery over reason, or, to speak more plainly, ere all drunk; and if it had not been for the fatal grill, I could have had the whole eleven ladies without ay, indeed, that if I had not restrained her she would probably have scandalised all the nuns, ould have liked nothing better I was longing to have her to ht quench the flame she had kindled in my breast, and I had no doubt of my success on the first attempt After coffee had been served, ent into another parlour and stayed there till night came on
Madas, thanks, and proood quarter of an hour After I had said aloud to M---- M---- that I hoped to have the pleasure of seeing her before I left, ent back to the inn in high good humour with our curious party which I still reave me a letter for her cousin Madame Varnier, and I promised to write to her from Paris, and tell her all about the fair Mdlle Rohter with a beautiful pair of ear-rings, and I gave Madaot ht had coht o'clock preceded by Le Duc, who had orders to greet the doorkeeper's fanan's I had a dinner worthy of Lucullus, and I promised to stay with him whenever I passed Chamberi, which proourmand's I went to the convent, and M---- M---- ca to see her, and added that I had come to disturb her peace of mind
”I am quite ready, dearest, to climb the harden wall, and I shall do it more dexterously than your wretched humpback”