Volume V Part 27 (1/2)

”My dear M Casanova, how is it that the oracle has deceived us? M du Ruo It is true that he is not well, but ill not go into all that again The really important question is this: You know that music is my favourite pursuit, and that th and co a note for three months The doctors have stuffed me with remedies which have had no effect: Itthatto life I entreat you to ask the oracle how I can recoverby to- here, and I should enjoy the general astonishht be so, for I have a very strong chest That isone, but soanswers”

I was of the sa one, I had time to think over the answer as I made the pyra trifling, but I was no physician, and knew nothing about medicine Besides, for the honour of the cabala, the oracleto do with mere empiric remedies I soonwould soon restore the throat to its normal condition, and any doctor with brains in his head could have told her as uage of a charlatan, so I resolved on prescribing a ceremonial worshi+p to the sun, at an hour which would insure soularity in her mode of life

The oracle declared that she would recover her voice in twenty-one days, reckoning fro sun everyto the east

A second reply bade her sleep seven hours in succession before she sacrificed to the sun, each hour sy one of the seven planets; and before she went to sleep she was to take a bath in honour of the s in lukeater up to the knees I then pointed out the psalms which she was to recite to thesun, at a closed

This last direction filled her with admiration, ”for,” said she, ”the oracle knew that I should catch cold if the ere open I will do everything the oracle bids etnecessary for the ceremonies”

”I will not only take care that you have all the requisites, but as a proof of ations myself that you may learn how it is done”

She seemed deeply moved by this offer, but I expected asservices are assessed at the highest rates; and herein lies the great secret of success in the world, above all, where ladies of fashi+on are concerned

As we had to begin the next day, being the new moon, I called on her at nine o'clock As she had to sleep for seven successive hours before perforo to bed before ten; and the observance of all these trifles was of importance, as anyone can understand

I was sure that if anything could restore this lady's voice a careful regiht, and at London I received a grateful letter announcing the success of hter nac, was a lover of pleasure, and haunted grand supper-parties She could not expect to enjoy perfect health, and she had lost her voice by the way in which she had abused it When she had recovered her voice, as she thought, by the influence of the genii, she laughed at anyone who told her that there was no such thing as ic

I found a letter from Therese at Madame d'Urfe's, in which she informed me that she would co hi that she wanted a positive reply I did not ask for anything ht Therese very insolent

I told Aranda that hisfor us at Abbeville in a week's tiive her the pleasure of seeing us”

”Certainly,” said he; ”but as you are going on to London, how shall I come back?”

”By yourself,” said Madame d'Urfe, ”dressed as a postillion”

”What shall I ride post? How delightful!”

”You ht or ten posts a day, for you have no need to risk your life by riding all night”

”Yes, yes; but I am to dress like a postillion, am I not?”

”Yes; I will have a handsome jacket and a pair of leather breecheswith the aroing to London”

With the idea that to throw difficulties in the ould confirhly that I could not hear of it, as the horse ed and entreated for three days before I would give in, and I did so on the condition that he should only ride on his way back

As he was certain of returning to Paris, he only took linen sufficient for a very short absence; but as I knew that once at Abbeville he could not escape me, I sent his trunk on to Calais, where we found it on our arrival However, the worthy Madaetting the top-boots

This business which offered a good ed by the action of pure chance; and I alad to confess that often in my life has chance turned the scale in ive me heavy credits on several of the most important houses in London, where I wished tothe Place des Victoires, I passed by the house where the Corticelli lived, and my curiositysilence she burst into tears, and said,--

”I should never have been unhappy if I had never known you”