Part 3 (1/2)
He was soon favourably heard upon this topic; and as soon as they were agreed, they consulted upon two measures necessary to be taken, the one to deceive her husband, the other his friend, which was not very difficult: Matta was not at all suspicious: and the stupid Senantes, towards whom the Chevalier had already behaved as Matta had refused to do, could not be easy without him This was much more than anted; for as soon as ever the Chevalier ith the Marchioness, her husband immediately joined them out of politeness; and on no account would have left theroeary of each other without hinorant that he was disgraced, continued to serve his reed with the Chevalier de Gra should be carried on as before; so that the court always believed that the Marchioness only thought of Matta, and that the Chevalier was entirely devoted to Mademoiselle de Saint Germain
There were very frequently little lotteries for trinkets: the Chevalier de Grammont always tried his fortune, and was sometimes fortunate; and under pretence of the prizes he had won, he bought a thousand things which he indiscreetly gave to the Marchioness, and which she still more indiscreetly accepted: the little Saint Ger whisperers everywhere: res; and the same person that made them communicated them likewise to Madeh, but in reality was piqued It is a iously observed by the fair sex, to envy each other those indulgences which themselves refuse She took this very ill of the Marchioness On the other hand, Matta was asked if he was not old enough to make his own presents hi them by the Chevalier de Grammont This roused him; for of himself, he would never have perceived it: his suspicions, however, were but slight, and he illing to have them removed ”I must confess,” said he to the Chevalier de Grammont, ”that they make love here quite in a new style; a man serves here without reward: he addresses himself to the husband when he is in love with the wife, and ood graces of his own The Marchioness is ed,” replied the Chevalier, ”since thus was done on your account: I was asha her with any trifling token of your attention: do you know that the people of this court have such extraordinary notions, as to think that it is rather owing to inadvertency that you never yet have had the spirit to make your mistress the smallest present? For shame!
how ridiculous it is, that you can never think for yourself?”
Matta took this rebuke, withoutpersuaded that he had in some measure deserved it: besides, he was neither sufficiently jealous, nor sufficiently amorous, to think any more of it; however, as it was necessary for the Chevalier's affairs that Matta should be acquainted with the Marquis de Senantes, he plagued him so much about it, that at last he complied His friend introduced him, and his h she was resolved that he should gain nothing by it; and the husband, being gratified with a piece of civility which he had long expected, deterive them a supper at a little country seat of his, on the banks of the river, very near the city
The Chevalier de Gra for them both, accepted the offer; and as this was the only one Matta would not have refused from the Marquis, he likewise consented The Marquis cae at the hour appointed; but he found only Matta The Chevalier had engaged hio without hireat was his fear of being left alone with the Marquis; but the Chevalier having sent to desire theo on before, and that he would be with theed to set out with the man who, of all the world, was most offensive to him It was not the Chevalier's intention quickly to extricate Matta out of this eone, than he waited on the Marchioness, under pretence of still finding her husband, that they ether to supper
The plot was in a fair way; and as the Marchioness was of opinion that Matta's indifference merited no better treat her part in it: she therefore waited for the Chevalier de Grammont with intentions sotime expected him, and had some curiosity to receive a visit from him in the absence of her husband We may therefore suppose that this first opportunity would not have been lost, if Mademoiselle de Saint Germain had not unexpectedly come in, almost at the same time with the Chevalier
She wasthat day than she had ever been before; however, she appeared to thely and very tiresoreeable, and being determined that they should not be out of hu half hour in diverting herself with their uneasiness, and in playing a thousand monkey tricks, which she plainly saw could never be more unseasonable, she pulled off her hood, scarf, and all that part of her dress which ladies lay aside, when in a familiar manner they intend to pass the day anywhere The Chevalier de Grammont cursed her in his heart, while she continued to torood company: at last the Marchioness, as as ed to wait on her Royal Highness: Mademoiselle de Saint Germain told her that she would have the honour to accoreeable: she took not the s that it would be entirely useless to prolong his visit at that tirace
As soon as he had left the house, he sent one of his scouts to desire the Marquis to sit down to table with his coht not perhaps be finished as soon as he expected, but that he would be with hier, he placed a sentinel at the Marchioness's door, in hopes that the tedious Saint Gero out before her; but this was in vain, for his spy came and told hione out together He found there was no chance of seeing her again that day, everything falling out contrary to his wishes; he was forced therefore to leave the Marchioness, and go in quest of the Marquis
While these things were going on in the city, Matta was not ainst the Marquis, all that he said displeased him: he cursed the Chevalier heartily for the tete-a-tete which he had procured hi ahen he found that he was to sit down to supper without any other company
However, as his host was very choice in his entertainments, and had the best wine and the best cook in all Piedany attention to the Marquis, he flattered himself that the supper would end without any dispute; but he was mistaken
When the Chevalier de Gra about an intercourse between the Marquis and Matta, he had given a very advantageous character of the latter, to make the former more desirous of his acquaintance; and in the display of a thousand other acco what an infatuation the Marquis had for the very name of erudition, he assured him that Matta was one of the most learned men in Europe
The Marquis, therefore, from the moment they sat down to supper, had expected so his own into play; but he was ht less, and no one had ever spoken so little at an entertainment as he had done as he did not wish to enter into conversation, he opened hisoffended at a silence which appeared to hi uselessly attacked hi out of hiallantry; and therefore, to begin the subject, he accosted hiallant--” ”I!” said Matta ished to carry it discreetly: ”those who told you so, told a damned lie” ”Zounds, sir,” said the Marquis, ”you speak in a tone which does not at all beco your contemptuous airs, that the Marchioness de Senantes is perhaps as worthy of your attentions as any of your French ladies, and that I have known soht it an honour to serve her” ”Very well,” said Matta, ”I think she is very deserving, and since you insist upon it, I ae you”
”You think, perhaps,” continued the other, ”that the same custom prevails in this country as in your own, and that the ladies have lovers, with no other intentions than to grant them favours: undeceive yourself if you please, and know, likewise, that even if such events were frequent in this court, I should not be at all uneasy” ”Nothing can be more civil,” said Matta; ”but wherefore would you not?” ”I will tell you why,” replied he: ”I am well acquainted with the affection my wife entertains for me: I am acquainted with her discretion towards all the world; and, what is more, I am acquainted with my own merit”
”You have a ratulate you upon it; I have the honour to drink it in a bu that the conversation dropped on their ceasing to drink, after two or three healths, he wished toside, that is to say, on his learning
He desired hiht the Allobroges came to settle in Piedes at the devil, said, that it must be in the time of the civil wars ”I doubt that,” said the other ”Just as you like,” said Matta
”Under what consulate?” replied the Marquis: ”Under that of the League,”
said Matta, ”when the Guises brought the Lansquenets into France; but what the devil does that signify?”
The Marquis was tolerably ware, so that God kno the conversation would have ended, if the Chevalier de Grammont had not unexpectedly come in to appease them It was some time before he could find out what their debate was; for the one had forgotten the questions, and the other the answers, which had disobliged him, in order to reproach the Chevalier with his eternal passion for play, which made him always uncertain The Chevalier, who knew that he was still ht, bore it all with patience, and condemned himself more than they desired: this appeased thereater tranquillity than it had begun The conversation was again reduced to order; but he could not enliven it as he usually did He was in very ill humour, and as he pressed them every minute to rise froreat deal Matta said, on the contrary, that he had won; but for want of precautions had made perhaps an unfortunate retreat; and asked him if he had not stood in need of Serjeant La Place, with his ambuscade
This piece of history was beyond the coht explain it, the Chevalier changed the discourse, and was for rising from table; but Matta would not consent to it This effected a reconciliation between hiht this was a piece of civility intended for him; however, it was not for hiious liking
The duchess, who knew the character of the Marquis, was charave her of the entertainment and conversation: she sent for Matta to know the truth of it froes werewith him, because he was not in love with his wife
Their acquaintance having begun in this manner, all the esteem which the Marquis had formerly expressed for the Chevalier seemed now directed towards Matta: he went every day to pay Matta a visit, and Matta was every day with his wife This did not at all suit the Chevalier: he repented of his having chid Matta, whose assiduity now interrupted all his schemes; and the Marchioness was still more embarrassed Whatever wit a man may have, it will never please where his company is disliked; and she repented that she had been for advances towards hiht have found the same in her conversation, if she had been inclined to display theood huns