Volume IV Part 60 (1/2)
It was notorious that nu barristers had undertaken the operation unsuccessfully, and all of theh to whetbefore I called on Raton, but not wishi+ng to be duped by her I took due precautions I told her that she ive her the twenty-five louis if my happiness was complete, and that if I were unsuccessful she should have six louis instead of one, provided that she was not tied Her aunt assuredof Victorine
Raton ca closet when the dessert was brought in The girl's figure was exquisitely beautiful, and I felt that I had no s, and defied old, but of ebony, which the youth of Metz had assaulted in vain
Perhaps the reader will think that I, as no longer in ht of the many who had failed; but I knew my powers, and it only amused me Her for places by assault than in eluding the artfulness of a girl who corked herself up I was an Italian, and knew all about that, so I had no doubts as to my victory
However, my preparations were superfluous; for as soon as Raton felt from my mode of attack that the trick would be of no avail shethe device which had er to her inexpert lovers She gave herself up in good faith, and when I had promised to keep the secret her ardours were equal to mine It was not her first trial, and I consequently need not have given her the twenty-five louis, but I ell satisfied, and not caring much for maidenheads rewarded her as if I had been the first to bite at the cherry
I kept Raton at a louis a day till the arrival of the Corticelli, and she had to be faithful to irl so well and found her so pleasant that I was sorry that the Corticelli was coht just as I was leaving my box at the theatre My foothter, and a gentle me at the inn
”Idiot,” I exclaihter”
However, all Metz heard that my family had arrived
The Corticelli threw her ar as usual, and her mother presented ue to Metz He was an Italian naue, where he taught his native language I saw that M Month and the old wo fool into rown, her shape was iirl
CHAPTER XV
I Returned to Paris With The Corticelli, Now Countess Lascaris--The Hypostasis Fails--Aix-la-Chapelle--Duel--Mimi d'Ache--The Corticelli Turns Traitress to Her Own Disadvantage--Journey to Sulzbach
”Why did you allow your mother to call herself my wife, little sioverness, as she wishes to pass you off as hter”
”My mother is an obstinate old woman who had rather be whipped at the cart-tail than call herself overness She has very narrow ideas, and always thinks that governess and procuress ”
”She's an old fool, but ill make her hear reason either with her will or in spite of it But you look well dressed, have you ue I captivated the affections of Count N----, and he proved a generous lover But let your first action be to send back M Month The worthy ue to look after; he can't afford to stay long here”
”True, I will see about it directly”
The coach started for Frankfort the sa Month I thanked hienerously, so he went off well pleased
I had nothing further to do at Metz, so I took leave of my new friends, and in two days time I was at Nancy, where I wrote to Madain, the last of the faned at Constantinople I begged her to receive her froed to her, where we should be occupied for some days in cabalistic ceremonies
She answered that she would await us at Pont-Carre, an old castle four leagues distant fro princess with all possible kindness
”I owe her all the more friendshi+p,” added the sublime madwoman, ”as the family of Lascaris is connected with the faain in the seed of the happy virgin”
I felt that my task would be not exactly to throw cold water on her enthusiasm, but to hold it in check and to moderate its manifestations
I therefore explained to her by return of post that she in as a countess, not a princess, and I ended by infor her that we should arrive, accooverness, on the Monday of Holy Week
I spent twelve days at Nancy, instructing the youngto persuade herthe Countess Lascaris's humble servant It was a task of ih to shew her that our success depended on her subna by herself I had good reason to repent of my perseverance
That wo reatest mistake I ever made
On the day appointed we reached Pont-Carre Madame d'Urfe, whom I had advised of the exact hour of our arrival, had the drawbridge of the castle lowered, and stood in the archway in thewith all the honours of war The dear lady, whose ave the false princess so distinguished a reception that she would have shewn her aht expect Thrice did she clasp her to her breast with a tenderness that was quitethe entire pedigrees of the families of Lascaris and d'Urfe to make the countess understand how she careeably surprised to see the polite and dignified air hich the Italian wench listened to all this; she did not even shable
As soon as we got into the castle Madame d'Urfe proceeded to cense the new-conity of an opera queen, and then threw herself into the arms of the priestess, who received her with enthusiastic affection