Volume VI Part 2 (2/2)
”Well, they will be surprised to hearthis place in an hour If they are at Louisburg, I shall have a triumph; but I am sorry not to be able to accompany you, however we shall see each other the day after toht, and aith the beautiful idea of going to Louisburg, not to fight the three officers but to frighten theeance for the injury they had done ood many old friends; there was Madame Toscani, the duke's mistress; Baletti, and Vestri, who had married a former mistress of the duke's I had sounded the depths of the hu to fear The duke was on the point of returning, and nobody would drea the truth of my story
When he actually did arrive he would not find me, for as soon as the courier announced his approach I should go away, telling everybody that I had orders to precede his highness, and everybody would be duped
I never had so pleasant an idea before I was quite proud of it, and I should have despised myself if I had failed to carry it into effect
It would be otten the terrible letter I had written hireat services
I slept badly the following night, ave ates, without the addition of rees
I went to stay at the posting-inn, and just as I was asking for the address of Madame Toscani, she and her husband appeared on the scene
They both flung their arms around my neck, and overwhelmed me with compliments on my wounded arm and the victory I had achieved
”What victory?”
”Your appearance here has filled the hearts of all your friends with joy”
”Well, I certainly am in the duke's service, but how did you find it out?”
”It's the coave you the letter has spread it all abroad, and the officer as present and arrived here yesterday ine the consternation of your three foes However, we are afraid that you will have some trouble with theiven fro”
”Why didn't they o, and the third arrived too late”
”Very good If the duke has no objection I shall be happy to meet them one after another, not three all at once Of course, the duel must be with pistols; a sword duel is out of the question with ain My daughter wants to make peace before the duke coements, for there are three of them, and it isn't likely that you could kill the whole three one after the other”
”Your daughter rown into a beauty”
”You ; you will see her, for she is no longer the duke's hter can bring about an arrangeladly fall in with it, provided it is an honourable one forafter all these months?”
”I a loose You shall see it after dinner, for you must dine with me if you want me to sup with you”
Next came Vestri, whom I did not know, accompanied by my beloved Baletti With them was an officer as in love with Madahter, and another of their circle, horatulate me on my honourable position in the duke's service Baletti was quite overcoht The reader will recollect that he was art, and that I was once going to marry his sister Baletti was a fine fellow, and the duke was very fond of him He had a little country house, with a spare rooed me to accept, as he said he was only too proud that the duke should know hihness came, of course I would have an apartment in the palace
I accepted; and as it was still early, we all went to see the young Toscani I had loved her in Paris before her beauty had reached its zenith, and she was naturally proud to shew me how beautiful she had become She shewed me her house and her jewels, toldwith hie with a man she despised, but as forced on her by her position
At dinner-ti colonel; he was the first to take off his hat, we returned the salute, and he passed on his way
The dinner was a pleasant one, and when it was over I proceeded to take upent to Mada beauty, Madahter and Vestri's wife, of whom the duke had had two children Madame Vestri was a handsome woman, but her wit and the charm of her manner enchanted me still more She had only one fault--she lisped