Volume V Part 88 (2/2)

”Not at all You do not know Catherine, but I do Have this copied, and present it in person”

”I will copy it out h hand Indeed, it almost seems as if I had composed it; it is exactly my style I believe you are a better actor than I a I shall call myself your pupil Coive me my first lesson”

After a delicate supper, seasoned by pleasant and witty talk, Madaranted me all I could desire I went downstairs for a moment to send away my coachman and to instruct him what he was to say to Zaira, whoht not return till the next day My coachman was a Ukrainian on whose fidelity I could rely, but I knew that it would be necessary for me to be off with the old love before I was on with the new

Mada Frenchwomen of her class; she had charms which she wished to turn to account, and a passable education; her ambition was to be kept by onein her ears than that of wife

In the intervals of four ah of her life for athering together a co her acquaintance by chance and finding her to be intelligent, he assured her that she was a born actress, though she had never suspected it The idea had dazzled her, and she had signed the agreement She started from Paris with six other actors and actresses, of whoht,” she said, ”it was like what is done at Paris, where a girl goes into the chorus or the ballet without having learnt to sing or dance What else could I think, after an actor like Clerval had assured ement? All he required of me was that I should learn by heart and repeat certain passages which I rehearsed in his presence He said I made a capital soubrette, and he certainly could not have been trying to deceive ht after my arrival I madeone”

”Perhaps you were nervous?”

”Nervous? not in the least Clerval said that if I could have put on the appearance of nervousness the eedafter I had seen her copy out the petition

She wrote a very good hand

”I shall present it to-day,” said she

I wished her good luck, and arranged to sup with her again on the day I irls who sacrifice to Venus are in the same style as the Valville; they are entirely without passion or love, but they are pleasant and caressing They have only one object; and that is their own profit Theyface and without the slightest difficulty It is their system, and if it be not absolutely the best it is certainly the ot home I found Zaira suber would have done, for I loved her However, it was ti the matter to an end, and to

Rinaldi, the architect, a orous and sensual, was in love with her, and he had hinted to me several times that he would be only too happy to take her over and to pay double the suive her to a man she liked, and that I iven for her Rinaldi did not like this answer, as he had not very strong hopes of the girl taking a fancy to him; however, he did not despair

He happened to call on ive her up, and as he spoke Russian perfectly he gave Zaira to understand how much he loved her Her ansas that he must apply to me, as my as law to her, but that she neither liked nor disliked anyone else The old man could not obtain any more positive reply and left us with but feeble hopes, but coone, I asked Zaira whether she would not like me to leave her to the worthy hter

She was just going to reply when I was handed a note fro iveZaira that I should not be long

”Very good,” she replied, ”I will give you a plain anshen you coh state of delight

”Long live the petition!” she exclaimed, as soon as she saw me ”I waited for the empress to come out of her private chapel I respectfully presented , and then told me with a kindly smile to wait a moment I waited, and her majesty returned me the petition initialled in her own hand, and bade ave n hand ordered hiive me my passport, my salary for a year, and a hundred ducats for the journey The ht, as my name will have to be sent to the Gazette”

Madarateful, and we fixed the day of our departure Three or four days later I sent in my name to the Gazette

I had pro my new love that I would co Russian in good hands, I went ho rather curious to hear Zaira's deterood humour, she asked if M Rinaldi would pay iven far her I said he would, and she went on,--

”It seems to me that I am worth more than I was, for I have all your presents, and I know Italian”