Volume V Part 97 (1/2)
In the ensuing chapter the reader will become more fully acquainted withpeacefully along the Dresden road
CHAPTER XXIII
My Arrival at Dresden with Maton--She Makes Me a Present-- Leipzig--Castelbajac--Schwerin--Return to Dresden and Departure--I Arrive at Vienna--Pocchini's Vengeance
When I saw irl, who had fallen on ined I was intended to shape her destiny Her tutelary genius must have placed her in ood that lay in ood or ill luck for ive the answer I knew that I was still living in er a young man
I was sure that my new companion could not have abandoned herself toh for me, it waselse was only fleeting enjoyment, and as I had not had a love affair since I parted with Zaira, I hoped most fervently that the present adventure would prove to be one
Before long I learnt that my companion's name was Maton; this at least was her surname, and I did not feel any curiosity to know the name of the he or she saint whom her Godmothers had constituted her patron at the baptismal font I asked her if she could write French as well as she spoke it, and she shewed me a letter by way of sample It assured me that she had received an excellent education, and this fact increased my pleasure in the conquest I hadher aunt or her cousin that she was going, perhaps never to return
”How about your belongings?”
”Belongings? They were not worth the trouble of gathering together All I have is included in that ss, some handkerchiefs, and a few nicknacks”
”What will your lover say?”
”Alas! I haven't got one to say anything”
”I cannot credit that”
”I have had two lovers; the first one was a rascal, who took advantage of my innocence to seduce me, and then left me when I ceased to present any novelty for him; my second was an honeston He has not abandoned iment was ordered to Stetin, and since then--”
”And since then?”
”We were too poor to write to one another, so we had to suffer in silence”
This pathetic history seeht it very possible that Maton had only come with me to make her fortune or to do rather better than she had been doing, which would not be difficult She enty-five years old, and as she had never been out of Breslau before, she would doubtless be delighted to see what the world was like at Dresden I could not help feeling that I had been a fool to burden irl, ould most likely cost me a lot of money; but still I found ainst her accepting the proposal I had been foolish enough toa pretty girl all tothe journey, being anxious to see whether her ly with htfall I stopped, wishi+ng to spend the night at the posting-station
Maton, who had been very hungry all day, but had not dared to tellappetite; but not being accustomed to wine, she would have fallen asleep at table, if I had not begged her to retire She beggedoccur again I s to see whether she undressed or went to bed in her clothes
I went to bed ain to order the coffee, and to see that the horses were put in Maton was lying on her bed with all her clothes on, fast asleep, and perspiring with the heat I woke her, telling her that another time she must sleep more coot up and left the rooay, and bade ive her a kiss
”I shall be delighted,” I replied; and, after kissing her, I made her hurry over the breakfast, as I wished to reach Dresden that evening
However, I could not e broke down, and took five hours tostation Maton undressed this time, but I had the firmness not to look at her
When I reached Dresden I put up at the ”Hotel de Saxe,” taking the whole of the first floor My mother was in the country, and I paid her a visit,picture, withI also saw irl whom I had known before him, and who made much of me
I also saw my sister, and I then ith my brother to pay hter of the palatin of Kioas delighted to hear news of her family I elcomed everywhere, and everywhere I had to tell the story ofwas required, for I was very proud of it