Volume V Part 81 (1/2)
I returned to Mitau quite delighted at havingdiscovered in myself a talent which I had never suspected I spent the following day inthe plans done on a larger scale The day after I took the whole to the duke, who see leave of hia in one of his carriages, and he gave arrison there
The worthy old man told me to say plainly whether I should prefer a jewel or a sum of money of equivalent value
”Frohness,” I replied, ”I am not afraid to take money, for it may be ave ot cashed i worth half a ducat I bade farewell to the duchess, and dined a second ti cha me the duke's letter, to wish e was at my door I set out well pleased with the assistance the stuttering La I did was to deliver my letter of introduction to Prince Charles
EPISODE 25 -- RUSSIA AND POLAND
CHAPTER XIX
My Stay at Riga--Caon--Arrival of the E--I See Society--I Buy Zaira
Prince Charles de Biron, the younger son of the Duke of Courland, Major-General in the Russian service, Knight of the Order of St
Alexander Newski, gavehis father's letter He was thirty-six years of age, pleasant-looking without being handsome, and polite and well-mannered, and he spoke French extremely well In a few sentences he let me knohat he could do for a His table, his friends, his pleasures, his horses, his advice, and his purse, all these were at my service, and he offered theeniality of the prince
”I cannot offer you a lodging,” he said, ”because I have hardly enough rooet a comfortable apartment somewhere”
The apartment was soon found, and I was taken to it by one of the prince's aides-de-camp I was scarcely established when the prince came to see me, and made me dine with him just as I was It was an unceremonious dinner, and I was pleased to meet Campioni, of whom I have spoken several times in these Memoirs He was a dancer, but very superior to his fellows, and fit for the best coentleood cheer, and heavy play, and kne to keep an even ood and evil fortune We were uest, a certain Baron de St Heleine fronificant wife The baron, a fat ourmand, and a lover of wine; add that he was a pasthis creditors into a state of false security, and you have all his capacities, for in all other respects he was a fool in the fullest sense of the word An aide-decamp and the prince's mistress also dined with us This , but also pretty,that she was ill and did not like anything on the table Discontent shewed itself on her every feature The prince endeavoured, but all in vain, todisdainfully The prince laughed good-hus
We spent two hours pleasantly enough at table, and after coffee had been served, the prince, who had business, shookard his table as my last resource
This old friend and fellow-countryman took me to his house to introduce me to his wife and family I did not know that he had lishwohter of eleven, who ht easily have been taken for fifteen; she, too, was , and played on the piano and gave such glances that shewed that nature had been swifter than her years She ratulated ht, but herher baby
I went for a ith Ca with himself
”I have lived for ten years,” he said, ”with that wohter, the others arefor two years, and I live here well enough, and have pupils who doand soh to enable , who persecutes e Hehie sum?”
”Five hundred roubles”
”That is only two thousand francs”
”Yes, but unfortunately I have not got it”
”You ought to annul the debt by paying small sums on account”