The Memoires of Casanova

ive the Clerk Thre

-Bajac Imprisoned-

Son and Obliges He

inst Me Is Quashed-

russels and From The

t Lady-My Work-gir

son, and Set at Li

tius' "Esprit

early hour. Considering the urgency of the case I took the liberty of rousing h

lightful woman. "We must make a confidant of M. de Sarti

in the afternoon. In less than an hour the servant returned with a note in which he said he would expect

ive o'clock, and had onl

as over, and the young lady had recovered her health, she would return to her mother, though she would make no confession, and that the child should be well looked after. You have now nothing to fear, and can

sitting he told me that he was obliged to remand me, and that during my remand I must not leave Paris or ge

ht named in my accusation, but I denied everything else. As for Mdlle. X. C. V., I s

lerk of the court, and I accordingly paid him a visit. After telling him of my fears, I slipped into his hand a packet of three hundred louis, for which I did not ask for a receipt, saying that they were t

nformed that somebody in an alley, fifty paces off, wanted to speak to me. "Either a love affair or a chall

ght a pregnant lady to her, but she is vexed that you are accused of making away with her. Give her a hundred louis; she will then declare to the court that she has been mistaken, and your trouble will be ended. You need not pa

aid I to the fellow, "you go on, and I will follow." I went after him to the third floor of a house in the Rue aux Ours

she won't be able to recognize you. She will then proceed with the witness to the court, and will declare that she has made a mistake, and th

, and said that they would find m

e wants a hundr

never mind, I will pay the money, and you may trust to my word; but I

ive me twenty-five louis to reim

ll give me a formal r

He thanked me, and said that though Madame X. C. V. was his client, he would let me know confidentially how best to put a stop to the proceedings. I tha

man and woman wanted to see me. I went d

speak to M.

am

stake, for which I hop

smiled, and

been sent away to a place where he would be well looked after. She stated that the young lady could not leave the convent for the ne

that I had nothing to fear. The girl returned to her mother about the end of August armed with a certificate from the abbess, who said she had been under her protection for four months, during which time she had never left the convent or se

bess's certificate, stop all proceedings against me, and withdraw all the charges she had made. Her daughter told her that if I liked I

hus putting an end to the prosecution. In my turn I wrote to congratulate her on the recovery of he

ter, her mother followed her, and they then went on to Venice, and there in three years' time she became a great lady. Fifteen years afterwards I saw her again, an

the end of the same year (1759), before I went to Holland, I sp

there were rocks ahead. My business would have kept me going for a long time, if custom had not been paralyzed by the war; but as it was, I, like everybody else, experienced the effect of bad times.

nd to join in my speculation. M. d'O-- said that if I would set up in Holland he would become responsible for everyt

l of them pretty and seductive, as most Paris girls are, was a reef on which my virtue made shipwreck every day. Curiosity had a good deal to do with it, and they profited by my impatience to take possession by selling their favours dearly. They all followed the example of the first favourite, a

r every day, although she never attained her aim. Manon Baletti, however, grieved me sorely by her jealousy and her well-founded reproaches. She would not understand-and I did not wonder at it-how I could put off marrying her if I really loved her. She accused me of deceiving her. Her moth

me the sad news. I got him a lodging near the Temple, and a month after, approving his idea to try his fortune in India, I gave him a letter of introduction to M. d'O--, of Amsterdam; and in the course of a week this gentleman got him a post as clerk, and shipped him aboard one of the company's ships which was bound for Batavia. If he had behaved w

o much; but she looked quite piteous when she heard the clerk tell her father that he would have to buy the whole piece, as they could not cut it. I felt that I must give in, and to avoid making an exception in her favour I beat a hasty retreat into my private room. I wish I had gone out of

you buy the piece and let me have enough

wore an apologetic air, as if depr

o her, "and since it will make you

r worthy father was dying with laughter. Her kisses put the last strok

pper and a ball, and we shall be delighted if you will honour us with your pr

he young lady gave a skip of joy which

are. They were all officials in noblemen's houses, with their wives and daughters, who all aped the manners of their betters in the most ridiculous way; nobody knew me and I was known to nobody, and I

r monetary considerations, and I knew pretty well what kind of a head-dress his handsome, fiery wife would give her husband, who was plain-featured, and seemed not to be aware of his wife's beauty. I was seized with the desire

e longing to take it off. I know what

in love, though I saw M. Baret for the first time only a week

ed in such a hurry without wai

her does everyt

r husband is a

ings at the corner of the Rue St. Honore and the Rue des Prouveres, and

I will be your first customer,

usband, who was standing close by, "this ge

husband, "and I am sure he will be sati

f the Rue des Prouveres, and waited there till the servant came out t

some stockings,

still in bed, so you ha

d I, giving her six francs, "go and get me

ee, but I am not so silly as to l

id I might st

ch things being done, and

I shall stay her

r me to choose from. He kept stockings, vests, and silk drawers, and I turned one packet over after another, looking at them all and not fixing on anything till I saw his wife c

aid, "especially when such a

lendid teeth, the dazzling whiteness of her complexion, the pleasing air with which she listened to what was being said, her silvery voice, the sweetness and sparkling vivacity of her manner, her lack of conceit, or rather her unconsciousness of the power of her charms-in fine, everything about this masterpiece of na

face of the fair shopwoman light up, and I augured well for my success, though I could not expect to do much while the honeym

nness in depriving his maid of the six francs after having made a good profit in what he had sold me; but I wanted to stand well with him, and I was not sorry to find so simple a way of throwing dust into his eyes.

," said he, "but I was afr

been delighted. I think y

o say so; but she's

cares for the walk, bring her with you another t

crowd of fops with which the shop was always full. She began to be a topic of conversation in the town; the Palais Royal was full of her; and I was glad to hear that she kep

shion in breeches he had just got in. The breeches were parti-coloured, and no man of fashion would be seen without them. They were odd-looking things, but became a well-made young

him tell his wife to go and help me. I went upstairs, she follow

ur valet," said she,

thers, and all this without any impropriety on either side; for I had determined to behave with discretion till the opportunity came to be indiscreet. She decided that four pairs fitted me admirably, and, not wishing to contradict her, I gave her the sixteen louis she

ret," said I, "especially

nd he would return at about five to fetch his wife. I found the plan vastly to my taste, but I knew how to conceal my joy; and I quietly said

. The good man ate much and drank deeply, indeed to such an extent that in common politeness I was obliged to remind him that he had an important appointment at two. His wits being sharpened with champagne, the happy thought occurred to him to tell his wife to go home by herself, if he were kept later than five; and I has

l door shut on the kind hu

ng such a kind husband; with a man l

contracted heavy debts to set up in business which oblige us to observe the strictest economy. We came here on foot to save the twenty-four sous. We could live o

omers, for whenever I pass I

, our shop would have been emptied long ago. I am rude to them, in the hopes that they may leave me alone, but it's of no use. Their impudence is astonishing. When my husband is in I retreat to my room, but he is often away, and then I am obliged to put up with them. And the scarcity o

arly days of your marriage. I suppose your father knew a

he shop and to pay our debts. We have goods which would pay our deb

not made your situation will become worse, fo

usband is better we

alth prevents him from making yo

her who am still a maid; not th

an a man not in the agony of death f

y dead, but he doesn't

ut experiencing much resistance. The first kiss was like an electric spark; it fired

o saying I drew her gently into a closet where a soft divan for

ion of the act, and was already in the proper posture between the two columns, she moved in such a way as to hinder my advance. I thought at first that it was onl

this at a moment when I thought I sa

hat would my husband say if he found

ave left yo

lf if you like. Can I, then, give to you what

ty and adore you. Come to my arms, abandon yourself to my love, and fear nothing. The fr

e now and again poured forth. I was consoled by her swearing to be mine as soon as Baret had good grounds for thinking

d and round, to the wrath of my coachman, who got sick of telling me that I was ruining my horses. I was happy

this day, so ardently desired and so long waited for, arrived. The sign was given, and I stopped the coach and she

han a quarter of an hour when she came towards me, her head muffled in a hood. She got into the

d. In point of fact she left few shops unvisited, going from jewels to pretty trifles and toys of different kinds, and from these to dresses of the latest fashion, which they displayed before her, addressing her as princess, and saying that this would

y ill-luck brought about an incident which placed me in a fearfu

s which the girl had in her hands, and on which she had evidently set her heart: she looked sad at not being able to buy them. I h

pwoman, but the young lady said she did not care about it, and was g

to her, called her little queen, told her she was as f

de Boulainvil

"as to refuse your charming niece a toy which would ma

l's hands, while she blushed and looked

tleman has been kind enough to give you such a prese

the shopwoman, "will

comic turn; the old woman

cheat? You told me th

am, I ask

o rob this gentleman. Niece, put those ear

od at another shop. It was all the same to me, so I smilingly put the three louis in front of the young lady, who still had the ear-rings in her hands. The sho

" cried out the e

the two harpies. Foreseeing a good deal of unpleasantness, I took the aunt by the arm and led her gently away. The niece, who was quite

we got into the carriage again, and I took her to the church door from which we had started. On the way she told me she

ill he

and buy some stockings; I shall have a b

next day, and as I did not see his wife in the

e replied; "she wants

y place, I shall be happy to

by a smile

; in the meanwhile, M. Baret, will you

you will soon hear of it." As I had said, the husband came upstairs with my stockings and told her that I had been good enough t

pany-I have to attend to my business. M. Baret will be able to come and sleep with you eve

ay in the house while his wife was away, and as I took leave I said that, I should

edded couple had made a good supper and had gone to bed. I warned her that

th reason she was not asleep for me, and I went to pay her my first visit. In point of fact she was awake, and I took a foretaste of greater joys by a thousand kisses, which she returned with intere

and put on a few clothes and we

all, but how the simple dress was lighted by the roses of her cheeks! We were quick over our breakfast, we we

I had left her, I told her I had hoped . . . but sh

as a husband; but he is no hand at the business, and I am disposed to p

doing him a service, and th

he truth, the altar of love was covered with the blood of the victim. After the necessary ablutions the priest once more began his pious work, while the victim growing bolder so provoked his rage that it was not till the

ether, sure that in a sumptuous repast, washed down by the choicest wines, we s

r glass, I asked her how with such a fiery tem

that Hymen could not taste. You are seventeen, a

t I have never

ev

ever silent. Possibly my father thought otherwise whe

were not in love, why w

d that if he found me still single he would oblige me to becom

for whom you have

s pets, a monster who s

ot know the duke

d he thinks himself a woman; h

d is this aspirant to y

but everybody else th

ith coral, were as hard as marble. The exquisite curves of her figure would have defied the skill of the ablest painter. I experienced an ineffable joy in contemplating her, and in the midst of my happiness I called myself unhappy because I could not satisfy all the desires which her charms aroused in me. The frieze which crowned her columns was composed of

away, I went to see her, more in love than ever, and I gave her two notes of five thousand francs apiece. Her husband might have his suspicions, but he was too happy at

e painter. This loss was a serious blow to me, as my affairs were getting into an embroiled condition; and, for a finishing touch to my misfortunes, Garnier had me served with a summons to repay him the fifty thousand francs. My answer was that I was not liable, that his manager had been appointed, the agreement and sale of the shares was valid, and that he being one of the company would have to share in the loss. As he persisted in his claim, I was advised to go to law, bu

a great expense, and replaced them with workmen and some of my servants. The painter still

e day, which he did not do, while he appropriated to his own use the money assigned by me for the costs of an action which, if there had been justice in France, I should certainly have gained. Two other summonses were issued against me, and before I knew what was going on a warrant was

informed me that by payment of the fifty thousand francs, o

d I, "I can neither c

en you will st

ooking room, and I told him I ha

often happens like that; but i

als, and have a trusty m

ey called immediately, but the barrister contented himself with writing to the effect that as he had put in an appeal my seizure wa

ndly note in which she said that if I wanted five hundred louis I should have them to-morrow. My brother neither wrote nor came to see me. As to

At last I was told that a lady in a coach wanted to see me. I waited, but nobody came. In my impatience I called the turnkey, who told me that, after ques

cursed my fate as I foresaw that my imprisonment would damage my reputation. I had thirty thousand francs in hard cash and jewels to more than double that amount,

anded which I will give to the clerk of the court, and in a short time I

ter, when the gaoler enter

, and a lady is waiting for yo

information that it was Madame d'Urfe. I made my bow to everybody, and after four very di

at I was glad to become her debtor, but that it was Garnier who benefited by her generosity. She replied with a pleasant smile that she was not so sure of that, and that we would talk it over at dinner. She wanted m

ear-rings to my dear Manon, who gave an astonished but a happy cry when she saw me. I thanked her tenderly for the proof she had given me of her attachment, an

h when she said that her genius had told her that I had got myself arr

to bail you out. If you are not in a position to have justice done you, Garnier will have to reckon with me before he takes the money I have deposited. But yo

der myself conspicuous that my reappearance might be complete. Afterwards I went to sup with Manon Baletti, who was too happy to have had an opportunity of shewing her a

es with which I furnished her, and by following which she was safely guided through the perplexities of life. I cannot understand how she, whose wit was keen, and whose judgment on other subjects was of the

I was going to execution. In this perturbed kind of life, so contrary to my inclinations, I resolved to set to work in earnest to make my fortune, so that I might become independent and free to enjoy life according to my tastes. I decided in the first place that I would cut myself free of all that bound me to Paris, make a

lottery office in the Rue St. Denis. Thus I got rid of my ridiculous office of lottery receiver, and after getting my clerk marri

th Garnier, so I went to Versailles to see the Abbe de la Ville, a grea

to help me; and a few days afterwards he wrote to me to go and see him, assur

er enjoyment of their society. I found him in company with three young ladies, all of whom were pretty, and (as I heard afterwards) of good families; but they were poor, and their necessities forced them to submit to a disgusting intercourse with the old profligate. I stayed to dinner and admired the propriety and

few days, he saw that as he could not keep me, Madame d'Urfe might take the suit over and carry it on to infinity, and that he might lo

nty-five thousand francs, or keep the ma

me d'Urfe's solicitor, and that he could receive it as soo

d her that my genius had commanded me not to leave Paris before my affairs were settled, so that no o

who promised to instruct M. d'Afri to aid me in negotiating a loan a

e made in the course of the winter, and I will take care that

o definite project, and I repented of having given M. de Boulogne my confidence, and also o

as he had several pictures on the easel which he had been ordered to paint by some of his rich and noble patrons. I took

cs in bills of exchange and jewels to the same amount. I was alone in my post-chaise, Le

ecially because he did my hair better than anyone else. I never refused him a pleasure which

iflers), or in the position that morality is dependent on the reason. All that he says has been said over and over again, and Blaise Pascal went much farther, but he wrote more skilfully and better in every way than Helvetius, who, wishing to remain in France, was obliged to retract. He preferred a quiet life to his honour and his philosophy. His wife had a nobler soul than he, as she wanted to sell all they had, and to take refuge in Holland rather than submit to the shame of a recantation. Perhaps Helvetius would have followed the noble advice of his wife if he had foreseen that this monstrous recantation would make his book into a fraud; for he had to c

n would not admit the existence of virtue. It is an amusing suggestion that he only published his book out of modesty, but that would have contradicted his own system. But if it were so, was it well done to render himself con

them. From Brussels I went straight to the Hague, and got out at the "Prince of Orange." On my asking the host who sat down at his table, he told me his company consisted

ian princess, who was pretty enough, and more especially of her husband whom I seemed to recognize. In the course of

g of going to bed, when Prince Piccolomini

ixteen years that have passed since we saw each other at Vicenza. To-morrow you can tell everybody that we are friend

or where or how I knew not. I opened the passport and read the name of Ruggero di Rocco, Count Piccolomini. That was enough; I remembered an individual of that nam

change of employment, your new business

an that he would not give me the wherewithal to live, and I disguised my name so as not to disgrace

aste, for she's

ght so, and it was a l

find good company and a bank at faro, which he kept himself. He added, without ceremony, that if I liked we

death of the Princess of Orange, the Regent of the Low Countries, was generally known as His Most Christian Majesty's ambassador. He gave me an excellent reception, but he said that if I had returned to Hollan

ery badly. It is all very well to say that payments a

rtain Comte de St. Germain, who

hat I know nothing about him, for fear of compromising myself. Such a reply, as you can understand, is not likely to increase his chance of success, but that is his fault and not mine. W

him an apartment at Chambord, but when I told him that the count professed to be able to make diamonds he laughed and said that in th

otel I called on the

rt, but you will find your task a difficult one, as the Exchange is highly offended at the late doings of that fool Silhouette. All the same I hope I shall be able to get my

k M. d'Afri mi

call upon him, as he might say he helped me. No, I shall h

Court, where the Duke of Bruns

All I have got to do is to go to Amsterdam, where my credit is sufficiently good for

igh table, the company is of

ever sit down at a table where I may

l; we shall see each ot

th some officers. They asked me if I knew Prince Piccolomini, to which I answered th

ke Italian) came down, I shewed them some poli

- HOLLAND