Part 29 (1/2)
”And what is his present occupation?”
”As usual,his kitchen and shop”
”Is he alone in his business?”
”Oh, no!man”
”His son then lives with him?”
”Yes, madam, and he isman I wish to speak, but of his sister, of Genevieve; tell me of her”
”I only learned, madam, that she hadbeen very unsuccessful in business, died suddenly, leaving her wholly destitute with two young children”
I i note toheard of thehowuseful to her She therefore requests madame Guerard will call next Monday, at two o'clock, on her at her hotel, rue de la pussienne”
Poor Genevieve nearly fainted when she received this note, which was conveyed to her by a footine to whoe, and she and her fa hours before her appointed interview in a thousand conjectures on the subject On Monday, punctually at two o'clock, she was at the hotel dressed in her best, her lovely countenance setting off the huarb She knew me the instant she sawshe could judge of mine, she ran to ,
”Oh, my dear Jeannette, what pleasure does it afford ain Oh! I see how it is; you are the friend of the coood fortune, as I do this present ood Genevieve,” cried I, weeping for joy, ”she who now embraces you is the comtesse du Barry”
After we had a little recovered ourselves, I took my friend by the hand, and led her to a sofa, where we seated ourselves side by side Returning to the scenes of our early youth, I related to Genevieve all that had occurred since-my adventures, faults, and favour When I had concluded my recital, Genevieve commenced hers, but it was soon told There is little to relate in the life of a woe of her duties
Our ed a most affectionate embrace, I put into the hands of30,000 livres in bank bills I promised her likewise to obtain for her some lucrative situation ”Do more than this for rant me your friendshi+p, secure foryou I can with truth declare, that of all your proofs of kindness and regard, that which I prefer is the pleasure of seeing you”
This ingenuous request touchedthe war her that my purse and my house should be ever open to her We then resu reminiscences, and Genevieve was the first to speak of her brother At the name of Nicolas I felt the blood mount to my very forehead, and an indefinable sensation passed over in love I strove, however, to conceal froitated me, and I replied, with apparent tranquillity, that I should be happy to assist her brother with the best offor him, at the solicitation, of his sister, some lucrative situation, the exact nature of which I do not now recollect, where they resided together in ease and comfort I had only to recone, who felt hi selected by me to make the fortunes of my two friends
From this time Genevieve visited hted me; whilst, in her conversation I found a frankness and sincerity which I had vainly sought for at court She had loved ard for me in my improved situation Her friendshi+p has not forsaken me in my reverses; and I feel quite assured that death only will dissolve the tender friendshi+p which still subsists between us As for her brother, he sparedwith him would indeed have overwhelmed me with painful recollections
And now, my friend, I am about to relate to you an adventure, the bare uilty blushes; fain would I conceal it froiven to lay my whole heart before you, and it shall be done, cost what it may
I know not why it should ever have been perentleratification of your passions, to descend ever so low in the scale of society without any disgrace attaching itself to you from the obscure condition of the object of your search, to us fe the utratify the inclination of our hearts when awakened by one of reat lord may love a kitchen e his fancy for a waiting-wonity, or of the esteem in which the world holds hih-born dae of an obscure citizen, or the noble countess who should lend a favourable ear to the sighs of her valet de chaainst so flagrant a breach of decorum And why should this be? But,to defend so weak a cause sufficient intimation that such a justification involves a consciousness of requiring it? Alas! I plead guilty, and will no longer delay the painful confession I have toarde, fascinated me till my very senses seemed bewildered by h him, I was expelled the house, as well as the termination of this foolish adventure You are now to pass over seven or eight years, and take your place withto summon a servant to convey a letter to the duc de Villeroi You may remember what I told you in the last chapter of the person who entered, of his agitation and his blushes, and of his fixing his eyes with deepupon me till he quitted the room-this servant was Noel!
Had I listened to the dictates of prudence, I should, without loss of tiainst him a lettre de cachet, which would have freed h his h cautious, suggestions One idea only took possession of my mind-the absurd desire to knohat had become of Noel since we separated, and by what accident I now found hi my livery in the castle With this intent I availed myself of the first moment I was secure from interruption, to sum of me to pardon his audacity ”Alas, uilty I saw you walking some time since, and I could obtain no rest or peace till I was fortunate enough to obtain admission to your establishment Punish me for my temerity if you will; expel me from the castle, have me confined in a prison, I deserve it all; but, voluntarily, I cannot leave this house; and if you will only per in my conduct but the zeal of an attached and respectful servant”
I eak enough to pardon Noel and shortly after to raise hiht him infinitely too much about me
Yes, my friend, the woman is, after all atte her affection on one below herself in the scale of society Nature herself appears to have planted in our bosoms a kind of instinct, which warns us frorade themselves It is different with men; they can confer rank and elevation on the beloved object A woman should always have reason to look up to and feel proud of the ns her heart; this species of vanity is mixed with the noblest love, and the woman who can overlook it, acts from passion of the lowest, basest kind How easy is it to reason! Alas! Why have I not always acted as well as I speak
I was thus again a second time enthralled by Noel, and much more so, too, than I will now tell you My faithful Henriette, whose devoted attachment for me kept her ever watchful ofwhat I vainly strove to conceal fro whether to speak to me of the affair, when an unexpected incident arose, which determined her, at every risk of raceful a connexion, which ht, or ratherpeacefully in the arms of Noel, when all at once I akened by the sudden opening of an outer door, which announced to , who had merely one more door to open ere he would be in my apartment Noel, terrified, leaped quickly out of bed, and ran to seek refuge in a s where Henriette slept Happily she was yet awake; and, by the light of a night-lanized Noel, ith clasped hands, conjured her to take pity upon hi out her hand, seized hi him rapidly towards her, oodness, was preparing to offer her the saratitude he had shownhim, she said in a low voice, ”Wretch, think not it is on your account I thus expose my reputation; 'tis to save that of my beloved mistress; either conduct yourself with silent respect or you are lost” At this threat Noel 's courage htened child ”Listen,” said Henriette, ”if you do not quit this place to-ain, I will denounce you to the king, ill inflict upon you the s were passing in the chamber of Henriette, I did not feel perfectly at ease on my side, and many were the wise reflections I ain to expose er Nor didhad quitted me At the sound of ood Henriette,” said I to her, treht of anxiety have I passed, I must indeed confess-”