k'i 
 
 ( 
 
 M rt
 
 'LI B RAHY 
 
 OF THE 
 U N IVERSITY 
 Of ILLI NOIS 
 
 WG933c 
 v.l
 
 NOTICE: Return or renew all Library Materials! The Minimum Fee for 
 each Lost Book is $50.00. 
 
 The person charging this material is responsible for 
 its return to the library from which it was withdrawn 
 on or before the Latest Date stamped below. 
 
 Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for discipli- 
 nary action and may result in dismissal from the University. 
 To renew call Telephone Center, 333-8400 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
 CT 2il9«i 
 0C1 : - ffl 
 
 L161— O-1096
 
 CLARA GAZUL 
 
 OR 
 
 HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE. 
 
 Jf any person should presume to assert 
 
 This story is not moral, first, I pray 
 
 That they will not cry out before they're hurt. 
 
 Loud Byron, 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR AND PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 
 No. 16, TRFVOR SQUARF. KNIGHTSBRIDGE, 
 
 OPPOSITE HYDE PARK BARRACK CATF. 
 
 To be had by all Booksellers. 
 
 1830.
 
 8^5 
 
 v. x 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 CONTAINING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR. 
 
 Though my Memoirs have long been be- 
 fore the public, I have not yet explained 
 how and why I became the mistress of 
 Lord Craven, at the early age of fifteen, 
 and the public is still ignorant whether it 
 was love, the seventy of my father, or the 
 depravity of my own heart which placed 
 
 me in that unfortunate situation .... 
 
 I am now disposed to gratify curiosity, 
 provided the reader has the grace to attend 

 
 IV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 to " a plain unvarnished " statement of 
 facts which I will make as short as pos- 
 sible ; and I offer this explanation in ex- 
 tenuation of my offences against the good 
 order of society. 
 
 My father was a native of Vevey, and 
 you all know or you ought to know, that 
 Vevey is a small town situated on the bor- 
 ders of the Lake of Geneva, in the Canton 
 de Vaud, w r hich once formed part of the 
 Canton de Berne, until it was separated in 
 1798, by the rebellion which broke out in 
 Switzerland at that period. 
 
 My father's native place has always been 
 celebrated by travellers as presenting- scen- 
 ery of incomparable beauty. Vevey is 
 not very distant from Clarens — that spot
 
 NTKOIIUCTION. 
 
 which J. Jacques Rousseau has immorta- 
 lized. 
 
 My paternal ancestors in old times were 
 nobles, and distinguished themselves in 
 the politics of Europe. I could furnish my 
 readers with an account of the former feats, 
 armorial bearings, &c. of the late Barons 
 I)u Bochet, but that I should be afraid of 
 sending them to sleep, and therefore, I brief- 
 ly proceed to inform them that my grand- 
 father was the worst tempered man in all 
 the Canton and my father, John Du Bo- 
 chet, at the age of thirteen left his parents 
 roof in search of adventures, never to return. 
 His two Brothers soon followed his ex- 
 ample, and were not afterwards heard of. 
 
 My father joined a recruiting parly
 
 VI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 journeying towards Holland, who refus- 
 ed to take him into their service on account 
 of his extreme youth. Charmed, however, 
 with the beauty of his countenance, and 
 his intelligent discourse, they supported 
 him on his journey, and suffered him to 
 partake of their meals. 
 
 Arrived in Holland his fine face and ta- 
 lents caused him, to be remarked and ad- 
 mired by all who beheld him, and he had 
 scearcely passed a month in that country, 
 when the colonel of a Swiss Regiment, be- 
 ing accidentally in his society, attached 
 himself to his interest at once, and engag- 
 ed him as military secretary. 
 
 My father continued in this Colonel's 
 service for some time, when oh! love, fa-
 
 INTRODUCTION". VII 
 
 tal, all powerful love! what misery, whaA 
 
 crimes, do you some times occasion. 
 
 The Colonel had a Mistress, that Mis- 
 tress was but frail, my father was the love- 
 liest youth in Christendom, and as ardent, 
 as lovely, so there was no such thing as 
 resisting him; and the Colonel surprised 
 his interesting, and youug but most intelli- 
 gent protege in the aims of his mistress. 
 A meeting was the result. My father 
 excelled in the use of arms, the Colonel 
 fell, and the secretary's life, by the laws 
 of that country, was forfeited- Can we 
 wonder if he desired to make an abrupt 
 retreat? This alas, was interrupted by the 
 guards ! 
 
 It is in the course of nature that we de-
 
 Vill INTRODUCTION. 
 
 fend our own lives; my father fired, and 
 the guard fell dead at his feet 
 
 His mind, as I have heard, was deeply 
 affected by this two-fold misfortune, and 
 he wandered half over the known world ; 
 from Italy to Spain, then to America, 
 then to Lisbon ; and it was by his talents, 
 grace, and high courage, that he conti- 
 nued to make his way every where. 
 
 At length he obtained a sufficient sum 
 
 of money to embark with merchandise for 
 
 England, on a speculation. The ship in 
 
 which he sailed was lost in sight of Lis- 
 bon, but my father saved his life by his 
 
 expertness in swimming, and found him- 
 self once more pennyless on the shores of 
 Portugal. In a few hours afterwards he
 
 INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 announced himself to the principal inha- 
 bitants of the capital, as professor of al- 
 gebra, mathematics, German, French, 
 dancing and fencing, and soon obtained 
 scholars in all these branches of education, 
 saved money, and embarked once more 
 for England. 
 
 Here he made the acquaintance of Ge- 
 neral Burgoyne, who afterwards engaged 
 him as private secretary. 
 
 My father accompanied him to America, 
 where, although attached to his staff, he 
 had the good fortune to escape the dis- 
 grace of that General, when with the 
 whole British army, he was made prisoner 
 by the Americans. My father being dis- 
 patched on some important mission at
 
 NTRODUCTION. 
 
 some distance from the scene of ac- 
 tion. 
 
 I remember he used to bless his lucky 
 stars, while recounting to us, that at the 
 very moment of the action he happened to 
 be quietly and innocently enjoying himself 
 over a bottle of Burgundy with a friend in 
 total ignorance of what was going on. 
 
 From thence he started again for England, 
 where he arrived and fell desperately in 
 love with my mother, and he had the talent 
 to prevail on the most modest timid girl 
 that could well be imagined, to consent, at 
 fourteen years of age, to a private marriage. 
 The tamenessof a married life, however, 
 but ill suited my father's ardent spirit, 
 and it was impossible for two minds or
 
 NTHODUCTIOX. XI 
 
 dispositions to be more widely different, 
 or more unlikely to agree than my pa- 
 rents. 
 
 I was their sixth daughter, and born on 
 a Friday the 2d of February, 1786, at No. 
 23, Queen Street, May Fair. 
 
 Early impressions are lasting. My 
 father made a strong impression upon 
 me by dint of birch, when I was about 
 five years old, but 1 deserved it all, hav- 
 ing torn up a problem of his to make my- 
 self a fly-trap, and Papa undertook to use 
 the birch until I should promise never to 
 
 sin again. 
 
 I remember feeling indignant at the 
 
 first sight of the rod, and screwing my 
 
 courage up to the coming emergency, ! 
 Vol. I c
 
 Xll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 I fixed my eyes with firmness on my fa- 
 ther's face. 
 
 " Promise not to do it again," said Pa- 
 pa between each heavy lash of the rod. 
 
 81 Say no/' cried my poor mother, 
 " only say no, child — it is easy to say no, 
 surely" — but my mind was made up, that 
 nothing, not even a negative should be ex- 
 torted from me by dint of blows. 
 
 44 This devil must be got out of the 
 child," said my father ; 1 was thrown on 
 the bed and whipped, till my body was 
 disfigured from head to foot ; yet I be- 
 lieve my father acted from principle, for he 
 was not habitually cruel to children, but 
 such unusual obstinacy in so young a child, 
 required, as he no doubt conceived, ex-
 
 INTRODUCTION". Xlll 
 
 traordinary correction. If he gave me my 
 way this time, there would be an end to 
 all discipline for ever. However, I did 
 not cry out once, but let him beat me till 
 I was fainting At last, the feelings of 
 nature, added to my mother's tears, in- 
 duced him to give up the case as hope- 
 less. Indeed, it was so, for 1 feel well as- 
 sured I should have died of blows at any 
 period of my life, rather than any thing 
 should have been beat out of me by force. 
 
 I was, nevertheless, a very affectionate 
 child, and have often, even at that very 
 early age laid awake and wept, while my 
 mother thought 1 slept, because I saw the 
 trace of tears on her cheeks. 
 
 With regard to the above-mentioned
 
 XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 sound and desperate flogging, it is incredi- 
 ble even to myself how clearly I recollect 
 every circumstance attending it ; name- 
 ly, that the dispute began in the back 
 parlour, that I was by my father car- 
 ried from thence to his bed room on 
 the second floor, and placed on his bed 
 to be whipped. 1 remember even the 
 thoughts and feelings which determined 
 me to die, rather than they should beat 
 any thing out of me, St was not anger 
 or rage, for young* as J was, 1 felt and 
 knew that this punishment was not in- 
 flicted with malice, but a mixture of sen- 
 sations for which I had no name, although 
 their united influence was felt. I fancied 
 there could be no merit in my promising
 
 INTRODUCTION. XY 
 
 any thing out of fear ; and my mind be- 
 ing firmly made up at the beginning of 
 the chapter, this severe punishment which 
 after my skin was broken became pain- 
 ful in the extreme, never made me waver a 
 single instant, so as to afford my father 
 the slightest hopes or chance of victory. 
 
 The day was my own ! ! My father re- 
 signed the birch, absolutely fatigued with 
 the exercise, and my poor body was rub- 
 bed with what was considered most heal- 
 ing, yet I continued more than a fortnight, 
 stiff, feverish, and full of pain. 
 
 My eldest, sister whose education had 
 
 been particularly attended to, undertook 
 the arduous task of teaching me to read. 
 
 I was the greatest dunce in the world, 
 
 and at an age when she had been an ex-
 
 XVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 cellent reader of a newspaper aloud, 1 
 scarcely knew my alphabet. 
 
 My sister, whom we will call Diana, 
 used to shake me, and call me a tire- 
 some, absent little brat. As well might 
 she have talked to the wind. My ideas 
 always wandered from the book, to 
 the blue bottles and wasps flying about 
 the room, and as to learning any thing 
 by heart that was not entertaining, it seem- 
 ed to me to be utterly beyond all possibi- 
 lity. 
 
 At last a lady happened to read some- 
 thing aloud in my presence that delighted 
 me, I asked for the book, wanted to. read 
 the passage myself, and implored sister 
 Diana's instructions. Reading was no 
 longer dry: I learn't it easily and at once,
 
 INTRODUCTION. XVII 
 
 just as mv sister had given me over for a 
 dunce. As soon as 1 could read, I be- 
 gan teazing ever body for books, I could 
 not endure story books about naughty 
 boys and girls, &c. but there was an old 
 book in our nursery, called the Speaker, 
 containing scraps of Shakespeare, and other 
 great authors, which delighted me, espe- 
 cially Cardinal Wolsey s speech, not that 
 I understood it, but I had a sort of guess 
 that I should do so one day or other. In 
 the meantime I read it over and over pgain, 
 and asked Diana the meaning of every 
 line. My sister Paragon was my constant 
 companion and play-feilow ; she was two 
 years my senior. 
 
 1 he habit of reflect. on came upon me
 
 XVI11 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 very young, and long before I could read, 
 1 used to sit on my little stool apart from 
 the rest to puzzle my head about the 
 nature and attributes of God. Why we 
 are often ill and unhappy ? What was 
 heaven ? What was death ? When was 
 the world to be at an end, &c. My sis- 
 ter Paragon must still recollect how often 
 I used to consult and plague her about the 
 end of the world, before I had attained 
 my fifth year. 
 
 Paragon was so proud of being my 
 elder sister, that she could not endure to 
 appear ignorant on any subject ; so she 
 answered my question one day in these 
 words, delivered with just as dignified 
 an air, as that with which she now holds
 
 INTRODUCTION. XIX 
 
 forth on the virtues of Doctor Anderson's 
 Scots pills. 
 
 "Chilli/' said Paragon, " this world 
 will be at an end when all the little chil- 
 dren shall be grown up t_> men and wo- 
 men.*' 
 
 44 Oh ! ver\ well," said 1 delighted to 
 comeata reasonable conclusion, and I put 
 my head on my hand while I reflected, in 
 order to study the probability of the case. 
 
 " It is all wrong," said 1 to Paragon, 
 after ten minutes deep cogitation. 
 
 " What is all wrong?" Paragon asked. 
 
 44 Why because when I am only half 
 
 grown up, the big girls and boys will be 
 
 men and women, and more little ones will 
 
 come, whilst I am getting to my full size." 
 Vol. I d
 
 XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 " Oh never mind that puzzling stuff," 
 said Paragon carelessly, while tying on 
 her doll's new bonnet. 
 
 " 1 wish I could speak to God Al- 
 mighty about it," I exclaimed very seri- 
 ously. 
 
 " Oh! for shame, Miss," said our nurse, 
 " it is very wicked to talk about the Al- 
 mighty in this sort of way.'' 
 
 " Well, but if I am never to see God, or 
 to talk about him, how am I to love him ; 
 why, I shall forget all about him." 
 
 "Fye! fye ! Miss, you must pray to 
 God, and not chatter about him in that 
 sort of manner." 
 
 " But then I don't know what prayers 
 mean:"
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXI 
 
 * Mean child * you pray that God 
 may make you a good girl." 
 
 "Yes! but then I want to know if he 
 hears me." 
 
 * He hears every word you say, and 
 knows all your thoughts." 
 
 " How are you sure of that ?" 
 
 " It is so written in the Bible — Don't 
 ask so many questions child, you are too 
 young : — You must be a good girl, love 
 God and then you will go to heaven. " 
 
 " Is heaven a nice place," I enquired, 
 and continued earnestly to question the 
 old woman, until she refused to answer 
 me. 
 
 I was sent to school for a short time, 
 where I learn't nothing; and my mother,
 
 XX11 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 before I was eight years of age, discovered 
 that 1 could only learn what struck my 
 fancy, and nothing that any person might 
 wish to drive into my head ; I, therefore, re- 
 turned home, quite as ignorant as I had left 
 it, to hear talk of nothing but my sister's 
 conquests, the kiss that Tom Sheridan had 
 given Fanny, the appointment Paragon had 
 made to walk with Ned Jess, &c. Then 
 Fanny would read to us for the hundred 
 and fiftieth time, her cousin's warm effu- 
 sion, the first and only love letter she had 
 ever received. " Dear me/ 5 said I one 
 night to her, ?« how very tiresome all this 
 love and nonsense is," just as Fanny, af- 
 ter undressing and cold-creaming her nose 
 for the freckles, had placed herself in our
 
 INTRODUCTION. XX Ml 
 
 old fashioned ponderous arm chair to read 
 us her love letter once more ; the con- 
 tents of which, I shall never be able to 
 forget — beginning thus: 
 
 M The lover that but seldom requires 
 11 the making of apologies, is too frequent- 
 " ly confounded in the attempt, whilst the 
 11 gaj and volatile, with hearts as light as 
 " their heads, pass over these matters, 
 " with complete indifference, and escape 
 " with impunity. 1 should be happy 
 " to escape your censure, for daring to 
 •* violate my engagement for our walk in 
 " the Green Park, but would fain con- 
 u vince you that the emergency of the 
 "case," &c. &c.
 
 XXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 My readers, like myself, have had quite 
 enough of Fanny's cousin's love letter ; 
 but my sisters Paragon, Diana, and Amy, 
 were never satiated. 
 
 We slept in two adjoining rooms, and 
 I, who was always in bed first, could get 
 no rest for their abominable chattering — 
 " Read your letter to us," said Paragon 
 to Fanny, " and don't attend to that tire- 
 some little plague Harriette, who will never 
 get married as long as she lives. 
 
 To be brief, my sisters might have set 
 me a good example, and it is just pos- 
 sible I might have followed it ; but the fact 
 is, no poor girl could well be thrown into 
 worse hands. Morning, noon, and night 
 I heard of nothing but the softness of Tom
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXV 
 
 Sheridan's hand, the brightness of Berke- 
 ley Craven's eyes, &c. &c. and my elder 
 sisters must still recollect how disgusted 
 1 used to be with their conversations, in 
 return for which they called me ;t tell-tale, 
 and brown, ugly, straight-haired figure of 
 fun ,J> In short, I was considered a spy 
 amongst them, and only because I could 
 not enter into their feelings, or desire to 
 be followed and made love to in the 
 streets ; indeed, I never dream't of being 
 liked, either abroad or at home. Natu- 
 rally shy, my sisters had succeeded in 
 making me believe myself both ugly and 
 every way uninteresting, but I was no tell- 
 tale, although 1 did once threaten to ac- 
 quaint my mother, with their sly meetings
 
 XXVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 wifh gentlemen, and what was still worse, 
 1 contrived to steal Fanny's worn out 
 love effusion, and slip it into our meat pye 
 just before it was carried to the baker, in 
 order that 1 might be relieved from the 
 intolerable bore of listening* to its peru- 
 sal. 
 
 Now, 1 will ask my readers whether it 
 be possible for a child to listen for months 
 and years together, to a set of gay young 
 girls, for ever raving on their love, their 
 lovers, and their sensations, without hav- 
 ing her curiosity a little bit excited ? At 
 length, I began to look slyly under my bon- 
 net at these lovers they all made such a 
 fuss about, and as soon as 1 took the 
 trouble to curl my hair, J was beset with
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXV11 
 
 a host of admirers, who sent me messages, 
 and pretty copies of verses by our maid 
 servant, for I appeared much older than 
 
 I really was. 
 
 However, I never went out alone, or 
 encouraged any man to address me, but 
 my mother, who used to accompany me in 
 my walks, having observed the admiration 
 I excited in the street, advised my father 
 to take me to France, and place me in 
 some school or convent out of harm's way. 
 
 Let my readers then suppose me equip- 
 ed in my new little travelling dress, all 
 impatience, and trembling with anxiety to 
 see the world, kissing my mother and sis- 
 ters by turns, and taking a last look at the 
 
 crows I had been so long in the habit of 
 Vol. I e
 
 XXV1U INTRODUCTION. 
 
 watching and feeding from the leads at 
 the top of our house. 
 
 At length I was seated with Papa in 
 
 the Brighton coach, The trees seemed to 
 dance on merrily before me, and for the first 
 half hour I could not believe they kept 
 their station. 1 was, however, disappoint- 
 ed in the pleasure I expected to derive 
 from a first view of the country : sanguine 
 people, like myself, are often disappointed, 
 and Sussex is so flat and ugly. The sea 
 struck me with wonder and astonishment. 
 " What a pity we are not going to India 
 instead of Dieppe/' said I to my father be- 
 cause I wanted to see with my own eyes 
 how far the sea would go. 
 
 Two gentlemen sailed with us, one of
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXix 
 
 them was called Allen ; his companion, an 
 aristocratical looking young stripling, was 
 handsome, graceful and particularly ele- 
 gant in his attire. We had a tedious pas- 
 sage of three days and three nights. My 
 poor father, always suffered at sea, and 
 could not bear the smell of a cabin, so he 
 remained all the first night on deck. I 
 was still more affected than my father, 
 and remained in bed. The youth, Mr. Al- 
 len's friend, passed the whole night by my 
 side, and paid me every kind of civility, 
 handing me tea and various refreshing 
 scents from his magnificent dressing case. 
 At last, an old lady thought it incum- 
 bent on her to send a message to my fa- 
 ther, advising him to interrupt the close
 
 XXX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and pointed attentions of the young gen- 
 tleman to his daughter. After this hint, 
 ray father never once lost sight of me for 
 the rest of the passage. He would have 
 scolded me, but he found me too ill either 
 to resist or encourage the addresses of any 
 man. 
 
 The youth now laboured to convince me 
 by slight, almost imperceptible signs, that 
 he had not forgotten me. My father was 
 annoyed, and a sort of talking at each other 
 conversation took place, in which my fa- 
 ther had much the best of it. 
 
 Dieppe, as we approached it, struck me 
 as the most picturesque place imaginable. 
 The women's caps three stories high, and 
 so curiously adorned, and their immense
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXI 
 
 long ear rings and pretty faces, delighted 
 me. I was interrupted in my admiration 
 by a custom house officer, who came to 
 inquire my name, The handsome youth 
 stood close behind us. " The misfortune 
 of it is Sir/' said he to my father, who had 
 thrown out many severe hints, about the 
 emptiness of the youths of the day, &c. 
 4 * that we are obliged here to tell our se- 
 crets whether we like it or not." 
 
 " My daughter is not ashamed of her 
 name or of her age,' 5 said my father, glau- 
 cing contemptuously on the youth, and 
 speaking as usual with a slight foreign ac- 
 cent. c; I might be ashamed of mine/' ad- 
 ded he, " for I am growing old, but that 1 
 see youth so impertinent and ridiculous."
 
 XXX11 INTRODUCTION, 
 
 The young gentleman reddened,^ and 
 seemed about to answer in anger, but his 
 friend eagerly made signs to him to be si- 
 lent, and he obeyed. There was good taste 
 in his forbearance towards an offended 
 father, and I began to consider the young 
 gentleman with some degree of interest. 
 
 Since we were about to be separated, I 
 wished much to have been permitted to 
 bid him adieu ! I hate parting with any 
 body, when 1 believe the separation is to 
 last for ever. I would have looked my 
 good wishes at some safe opportunity, but 
 that 1 loved my father, and conceived he 
 had been treated with disrespect. 
 
 Under this impression, I took care that 
 our eyes should not meet, although, when
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXlll 
 
 unobserved, I examined the young gentle- 
 man's countenance. I thought I read 
 something of contrition there, and guessed 
 that his friend iiad read him a lecture on 
 the bad taste he had been guilty of. He 
 was high bred and thoughtless, but not, I 
 think, unfeeling. They had a handsome 
 travelling equipage on board, and appear- 
 ed to be men of fortune. 
 
 We went to an hotel kept by Monsieur 
 de la Rue, and retired immediately to bed, 
 being both worn out with fatigue. Early 
 the next morning, my father accompanied 
 me in a long walk. I was charmed with 
 everything I saw. We did not return till 
 my legs would carry me no farther. 
 
 As 1 stood at the window of our sitting
 
 XXXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 room which faced the court, I saw a.l ele- 
 gant English chariot, and four post hor- 
 ses, preparing for some travellers depar- 
 ture. Soon afterwards we observed Mr. 
 Allen's graceful young friend, wrapped up 
 in a pelisse, addressing an English ser- 
 vant. He raised his eyes towards our 
 window, but appeared timid, and half 
 afraid to acknowledge us, lest his bow 
 should not be returned. Wheu we had 
 breakfasted, we again went out in search 
 of the bureau de la Malle-Poste, and as 
 we left the hotel, Mr. Allen stept into the 
 carriage. His young friend was about to 
 follow him when we passed. He blush- 
 ed — hesitated — pursued us a few steps — 
 then returned towards the carriage, and
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXV 
 
 again followed us with an appearance of 
 more resolution. His present timid agi- 
 tation interested us the more, by its con- 
 trast with his former boldness ; even my 
 father was softened. 
 
 44 I could not leave Dieppe, Sir/' said 
 the young gentleman, respectfully taking 
 off his hat — " 1 really Sir, could not make 
 up my mind to lose sight of you and your 
 daughter, perhaps for ever, without offer- 
 ing my best and most sincere wishes for 
 the happiness of you both." My father 
 looked undetermined, and the young gen- 
 tleman's confusion increased. As 1 watch- 
 ed his countenance, and his earnest natu- 
 ral manner I began to hope that he had 
 
 taken a sort of liking to my parent, and 
 Vol. I. f
 
 XXXVi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 for this, I could have thanked him on my 
 knees, so dearly did I love my father. 
 
 " I am a very wild profligate fellow,'' 
 said the young man at last, his colour 
 heightening as he went on. "I am not 
 good for much Sir, but upon my word and 
 honour I mean right now, and if you will 
 do me the honor to shake hands with me, 
 I shall travel with a lighter heart .*' 
 
 " Sir," said my father, shaking him cor- 
 dially by the hand, " I wish you a pleasant 
 journey to Italy/' My father's smile, con- 
 trasted with his usual severity of expres- 
 sion, produced a wonderful effect, it was 
 so perfectly beautiful, independent of the 
 glimpse it afforded of his brilliant teeth. 
 
 " i was quite wrong Sir, and enough to
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXV11 
 
 disgust you of young men in general, but 
 you must not refuse to acknowledge me, 
 should we hereafter meet ; I shall mend, Sir, 
 and grow amiable after mv travels." The last 
 
 b 
 
 my 
 
 words were uttered with such boyish arch- 
 ness, as a child is apt to use when coaxing 
 a parent ; then bowing low and gracefully to 
 me, he added with something like emotion, 
 and as if from his heart, "God bless you Ma- 
 demoiselle, I wish you both every possible 
 happiness :" in another instant he had 
 sprung into his carriage, and was out of 
 sight. 
 
 There is something, I repeat, in an eter- 
 nal farewell, which always affects me 
 deeply. I was not at all in love with this 
 youth, but he had jus* stood before me,
 
 XXXVlll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and was gone for ever. His eyes had met 
 mi ue for an instant, and 1 remembered 
 their expression was benevolent and ten- 
 der, and the tone of his voice was soften- 
 ed. He, too, disliked parting with the face 
 that had pleased him; he, too had felt 
 that chill, cold, tremulous sensation, which 
 at the same instant had weighed upon my 
 heart, whilst turning his back upon us for 
 eve r ! — My father too, would soon leave 
 me in a foreign country to the care of 
 strangers whom I bad never beheld, and 
 might not like. My heart was suddenly- 
 oppressed, I drew my large bonnet over 
 my eyes to conceal a tear I could not sup- 
 press, and to this hour, I remember that 
 parting with a feeling of melancholy.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXX X 
 
 We proceeded to Roueu on the same 
 evening that we took leave of the stranger. 
 My father having agreed with the Abbess 
 of the celebrated convent of St. Ursulines, 
 I took an affectionote leave of him, and was 
 presented by the Abbess to all her board- 
 ers, nearly a hundred in number. J felt 
 very melancholy among so many strange 
 faces, and my school-fellows countenances 
 did not please me, with the exception of 
 of La petite Comtesse de Richmond, who 
 was very lovely indeed. We were soon 
 sworn friends, which friendship lasted with 
 warmth, as long as 1 remained in Rouen. 
 
 I will not, at present, take up the read- 
 er's time, with the convent, or its anec- 
 dotes, nor will I dwell on such matters as
 
 Xl INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Julia's romantic passion for our confessor, 
 Le Pere Petersin, who laboured so vainly 
 to make me a catholic — Mademoiselle 
 Moreau's black beard — The candle snuf- 
 fer's crooked nose — The kindness of the 
 Demoiselles Lambert's, nieces to the 
 Archbishop of Rouen, who procured 
 me invitations to dine with their Right 
 Reverend Uncle, every Thursday, four 
 holiday) — Nor will 1 now enumerate how 
 many times I was selected by our Ab- 
 bess for the high favor of pressing my 
 ruby lips on his right reverend great toe, 
 there to hold them fast, and inhale French 
 cirage, while we received his blessing, 
 " Bene, Bene, sancto spiritu/' but I have 
 forgotten mv Latin.
 
 INTRODUCTION. Xll 
 
 I was too ignorant even for the third 
 and lowest class in our convent, so I was 
 an outcast, and I used to amuse myself with 
 drawing* horses and cows on my slate, 
 while the young ladies wrote down their 
 lessons from the lips of their masters, in 
 the shape of dictation. The Abbess was 
 a noble lady of high birth, and as 1 was 
 the first English girl she had ever had un- 
 der her protection, she made me her pet 
 " sa folie," and I shall never forget her ten- 
 derness, or cease to regret the advantage 
 I took of it, and the tricks I used to play 
 her. However, they were all good na- 
 tured tricks, and when she shook her head 
 at me, or held up her finger, 1 used to hug 
 her and half smother her with kisses ; and
 
 Xlii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 then in her very pretty voice she would 
 read me a lecture, invite me to dinner, and 
 give me pralines, jelly, eau de Cologne, and 
 eau benite — She was a beautiful woman 
 of her age, which might be fifty, or less, 
 and her fair countenance, was most truly 
 soft and benevolent. I always told her 
 she was beautiful, but she really did not 
 seem to know what beauty meant ; a wo- 
 man so accomplished, yet so pure and 
 completely innocent, I should have be- 
 lieved was not in human nature, but for 
 my acquaintance with Madame Cousin, 
 which was the name the lady Abbess 
 bore. 
 
 Her brother, the handsome confessor, 
 used to expound the Bible, and explain
 
 INTRODUCTION-. XllfJ 
 
 the catholic religion : this was not at all 
 dry to me, but a matter of deep interest. 
 
 " Hors de la religion catholique point 
 de salue*^ said the good priest, and I 
 had no idea of being cut out of my " sa- 
 lue," in this sort of wav. 
 
 After all my vain puzzling- at home, I 
 was deligthed to find a patient, willing, 
 handsome priest, who was never tired of 
 reasoning with me on the very subject 
 which had been tormenting me ever since 
 I was four years of age. 
 
 The priest did not like me to make him 
 laugh on serious subjects, au reste, he gave 
 me carte blanche to state, all my objections 
 
 * Out of the holy Roman catholic religion none shall 
 
 be saved. Ed. 
 
 Vol. I g
 
 xlir introduction. 
 
 straight forward as they occurred to me, 
 in doing which, I sometimes placed his 
 creed in a ludicrous light, without really 
 meaning it, because I naturally seize upon 
 the ludicrous points of any subject with 
 great quickness — 'tis my forte or calling. 
 
 This our priest pitied and forgave when- 
 ever his own gravity of countenance was 
 not disturbed by it, but he was no dense 
 stupid bigot, and wit amused him mal- 
 gre* lui. 
 
 " You have the talent to make me 
 laugh, ^ said he, " but I forbid you to ex- 
 ert that talent when we discourse on mat- 
 ter of religion. 
 
 " Et moi moii cher Pere* je vous de- 
 
 * And I, Father, I forbid vou. Ed.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xlv 
 
 fends, at least 1 must request that you do 
 not place St. Peter before my mind's eye in 
 such a ludicrous light, or St. Paul either." 
 
 ; * Yon go too far." 
 
 " Eh bien I* voulez vous me pardonner 
 mon Pere V 
 
 " Je ne sais pas ! " 
 
 ' " Mais je ne rirai plus de ma vieje vous 
 dis — c'est que je me suis trompee voyez 
 vous mon cher Pere car j'ai cru que la 
 
 * " Well Father, will you forgive me ?" 
 
 M I don't know." 
 
 " But I'll never laugh again as long as I live, I tell you. 
 I have been mistaken Father, for I had thought that the 
 good and true religion was merry and gay, and far from 
 disregarding these two gentlemen, I esteem them greatly, 
 and should do more so, if you could only assure me that 
 they were less dirty fellows than the poor Jews of this pre- 
 sent day."
 
 XU'\ INTRODUCTION. 
 
 bonne et veritable religion fut gaie, et 
 bien loin de mepriser ces deux messieurs 
 la, je les estime fortemenl et surtout si 
 vous pouvez m'assurer qu'ils etoient un 
 peu moins sales que les pauvres juifs d' 
 aujourdhui." 
 
 " Vous etes mechante," said the priest, 
 who had taken me into his beautiful little 
 library, adorned with fine paintings and 
 scarlet and damask draperies. 
 
 " Mam an, ma petite ma man viens done 
 vite ? Viens ici , vite ! vite!^ 1 exclaimed, 
 calling out to the Abbess who sat reading in 
 the adjoining room, which washer study, 
 M Pourquoi Maman m'as tu enfermee avec 
 
 * " You are very wicked.
 
 INTRODUCTION. xlvii 
 
 ce beau pretre qui deja s'oublie et com- 
 mence a me dire des sottisses* *] — " 
 
 " La petite Maman, as we all called the 
 lady Abbess, hastened to join us with a 
 face of alarm. 
 
 " Voila qui est trop farce-fV' said the 
 priest, laughing outright. 
 
 k< Suis-je mechante doncj V — I asked. 
 
 " Du moins vous avez bonne physio- 
 nomie,||" he replied, still laughing. 
 
 " Embrasse moi done mon Pere§, ,> said 
 I. 
 
 * Mother ! quick come here ! Quick ! Quick !— Why 
 have you shut me up with a gay priest, who begins so soon 
 to forget himself, and say improper things to me ? 
 
 f That is too much for a joke. 
 
 J Am I very wicked then ? 
 
 || " Your face at least, is in your favor." 
 
 § " Kiss me then, Father !"
 
 xlvill INTRODUCTION. 
 
 " Savez vons que ce sera pour la pre- 
 miere fois," observed the handsome priest, 
 half inclined to blush, as he pressed his 
 virgin lips on my cheek, now that this 
 harmless liberty was sanctioned by the 
 presence of his sister. The lady Abbess 
 was kind enough to exert herself in vain, 
 to prepare me for one of the classes by pri- 
 vate lessons, but I could really learn no- 
 thing by rule. 1 was too " distrait," and 
 could not help it. — All l s did in the con- 
 vent was to reflect much, study music a 
 little, and religion a good deal — and then 
 I learnt the rule of three, in the hopes of 
 giving my poor father an agreeable sur- 
 
 * " Do you know then, it will be for the first time"— - 
 Ed.
 
 INTRODUCTION. x\\X 
 
 pris, and the verbs " avoir" and " etre,,' 
 for which I received a shilling, and our 
 daily little prayer, for which 1 received 
 nothing, 
 
 " Je vous salue, Marie pleine de grace ! 
 " Le seigneur est avec vous et Jesus le 
 " fruit de vos entrailles est benit ! Sanite 
 " Marie! Mere de Dieu! Priez pour 
 " nous pauvres pecheurs maintenant et a 
 4i Theure de uotre mort*." 
 
 En voila assez du couvent ! f — 
 
 * I kneel before you gracious Mary ! The Father Al- 
 mighty is with you, and Jesus the offspring of your womb 
 is blessed ! Holy Mary ! Mother of God, pray for us poor 
 sinnners, now, and at the hour of death ! 
 
 f Enough here, I think of the convent. — Ed.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 After two years residence, during all 
 which time 1 stoutly resisted and abjured 
 the holy Roman Catholic religion, I re- 
 turned to a very uncomfortable home. 
 
 My sisters Amy and Fanny had both 
 ran off;— One with Mr. Trench, the other 
 with Mr. Woodcock. Paragon and Diana 
 lived still in all their purity, but they were 
 both very cross to me, which I felt the 
 more from having been made so much of 
 in Rouen, not only by the Abbess and her 
 brother, who both shed tears on taking 
 leave of me, but also by many of the pa- 
 rents and connections of my school-fellows, 
 who had been kind enough to invite me 
 to their houses. 
 
 1 entreated my dear mother to look out
 
 INTRODUCTION. 11 
 
 for some situation for me, and she procur- 
 ed me that of music mistress, or rather, to 
 superintend the young ladies studies in 
 music, at a certain elegant boarding school 
 near Bayswater. 
 
 I only wish I could recollect the school 
 mistress's name for I have good and suf- 
 ficient reason to complain of her very illi- 
 beral and unfeeling conduct towards me. 
 She was at that time rather a pretty deli- 
 cate woman, and always wore white as did 
 her scholars. Mine was a fatiguing duty, 
 for 1 was required to keep my station, nail- 
 ed to my chair, by the side of a piano- 
 forte, in the music room, from nire till 
 three every day, while the whole school 
 
 Vol. I h
 
 Hi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 in turn, practised their dull lessons out of 
 tune and out of time. 
 
 Though my head was often severely af- 
 fected by this eternal unharmonious ging- 
 ling in my ears., I endured it without a 
 single complaint, and I defy them to point 
 out any poor devil of a music mistress, who 
 was ever more steady to her post, or atten- 
 tive to her pupils. The English teacher 
 was a little fat brandy-faced vulgar looking 
 woman, to whom the young ladies never 
 shewed the slightest respect. To make a 
 amends, they were all frightened to death 
 at the least sound of the little black French 
 teacher's voice, who ruled them with a 
 rod of iron. I, who had lived long enough 
 in France, among French ladies to be a
 
 INTRODUCTION. Jill 
 
 tolerable judge of French manners, could 
 not for the life of me help expressing 
 my surprise one day to the English teach- 
 er, that the mistress should have placed a 
 woman of the very lowest order, about 
 young ladies of fashion 
 
 The English woman thought I had mis- 
 judged the French teacher, but no one 
 could have beeu mistaken in her, who like 
 myself, had lived in good high bred French 
 society. How this woman had picked up 
 a little French grammar, I cannot guess, 
 for her habits and expressions were the 
 lowest and most common that can well be 
 imagined. Policy is not mv forte, 1 hate 
 it, so it was easy for the French woman to 
 read my heart, and perceive that I appre-
 
 liv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ciated her a sa juste valeur,* and held her 
 in notable contempt, therefore she hated 
 me with her whole heart and soul, and 
 easily contrived to render me perfectly 
 wretched. 
 
 One night, when I had been at this 
 academy about three months; a young lady 
 who slept in the bed next to mine, was 
 taken ill, and the French teacher entered 
 our room, just as 1 had stepped out of 
 bed en chemise, to offer my assistance. 
 My full bosom was completely uncovered. 
 The French woman fixed her penetrating 
 eyes on it, with the severe scrutiny of a 
 judge on the (bench. I hastened to cover 
 
 * Just for what she was worth.
 
 INTRODUCTION. lv 
 
 it in much confusion. " Don't cover your 
 "bosom." said the fury in French, " pray 
 " don't cover it, I have long been curious 
 s< to see your bosom, in order to ascertain 
 * what I strongly suspected : that is not 
 " the bosom of a virgin, vous etes une fille,^* 
 said she, laying the deepest stress on the 
 word fille, and screaming with revengeful 
 passion — " vous etes une fille qui a bien 
 " fait ses farces en France ; je parierai ma 
 " tete que vous etes une fille ! ! et j'en dirai 
 " autanta madame." 
 
 The deep wound this wretch inflicted, 
 the shame, indignation, and bitterness of 
 feeling, she on that occasion excited in me, 
 no time can erase from my memory. I 
 was, God knows, innocent in thought and
 
 lvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 word, and my heart as pure, as was my 
 person from the touch of man ; yet, there 
 1 stood accused and condemned in the 
 presence of the whole school, by] the low- 
 est order of French reptiles, on no other 
 ground than the fulness of my bosom, 
 which was the more remarkable, because 
 of my very slender waist. 
 
 To any plausible though false accusa- 
 tion I had promptly, and perhaps, wittily 
 replied, but I had enough of the dignity 
 of woman about me, to offer no refutation 
 here. I remained perfectly silent, trem- 
 bling all over, with my heart beating and 
 my cheek glowing, while my mouth be- 
 came parched and feverish from the vio- 
 lence of my agitation. One of the young
 
 INTRODUCTION. Ivil 
 
 ladies, in pity, banded me a glass of water. 
 I passed a wretched night after the French 
 fury had left me, which was not till she 
 had made herself hoarser than usual by 
 every insulting expression, and by which 
 she vainly expected to provoke me to re- 
 ply. Early in the morning I requested an 
 interview with the fine lady of the house. 
 
 " I have been cruelly insulted,'' said I 
 to her in a slow trembling voice. 
 
 She interrupted me to say she knew all ; 
 that her French teacher was an accom- 
 plished woman, and she was persuaded 
 had not said any thing worse of me than 
 I richly deserved. 
 
 Bursting with pride and anger, 1 flew 
 up stairs to my room, where having hasti-
 
 Wiii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ly put my clothes in my trunk I descend- 
 ed into the road by a back entrance from 
 the garden, and returned to my parents to 
 be harshly treated by my father, to whom 
 I could not find courage to explain my rea- 
 sons for running away from the school 
 where my mother had placed me, and I 
 merely assigned as a reason that I found 
 it impossible to agree with the French 
 teacher. 
 
 Ah ! Dear, kind, gentle Abbess of 
 St. Ursuline ! little did you dream that 
 your poor little favorite, who had slept in 
 your arms, listened to your pure innoceut 
 conversation and been loved by you as 
 your own child ,would so soon be insulted 
 and suspected of such degradation of vice
 
 INTRODUCTION. lix 
 
 as we neither of us rightly understand, and 
 mistaken for one belonging to a race of 
 wretched outcasts whom we had scarcely 
 even once encountered in the course of our 
 lives. 
 
 • Though deeply wounded, I was not dis- 
 heartened, and hoping to be more fortunate 
 for the time to come, 1 determined to seek 
 out for another situation. I had, indeed, no 
 choice, for my father assured me drily and 
 harshly, that being nearly fourteen years 
 of age, i must earn my livelihood, instead 
 of eating the bread of my young brothers 
 and sisters. Heaven knows, I ate but little 
 of their bread, being subject to violent head 
 aches, faintness, and pains in the side. 
 
 Dear sisters in affliction ! ye set of ma- 
 
 Vol. i
 
 lx INTRODUCTION. 
 
 hogany coloured governesses and teach- 
 ers in seminaries, martyrs to the rising 
 generation, whose ideas must be taught to 
 shoot amongst us though we die of it, from 
 my heart I pity you, particularly if you 
 have exercised your functions in the north 
 of England, and happen to he tant-soit peu 
 poitrinaire. * 
 
 A lady, in Bedford Square, who had re- 
 ceived a commission from Miss Ketridge 
 of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to engage a teach- 
 er and music mistress under one, for her 
 pupils at Ketridge House, was pleased to 
 express herself " prepossessed with my 
 appearance, 5 ' so 1 was hired. I felt my 
 spirits sink very low on taking leave of my 
 
 * Ever so little affected in the lungs. — Ed.
 
 INTRODUCTION. lx i 
 
 dear mother, to go to this freezing atmos- 
 phere. Cold weather disagreed with me. 
 I was in low miserable health, and I shud- 
 dered at the recollection of the unmerited 
 insults I had received from the French 
 teacher at Bayswater. 
 
 However, as there was no remedy, I arm- 
 ed myself with courage, and determined to 
 do my best. I travelled two nights in the 
 mail with the late Tom Sheridan, who was 
 on his road, I think, to join Lord Moira in 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 He was very attentive and respectful, 
 and begged me to allow him to correspond 
 with me. I told him if I had not wished 
 to act rightly, I should not have gone to 
 Newcastle, as I found no lack of admirers
 
 lxii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 in London, who wished to get me under 
 their protection. 
 
 " But I want to write you a brotherly 
 letter, and give you good advice/' said 
 Tom Sheridan. " Well, write to me once 
 at all events,'' I replied, adding with my 
 usual comical sort of frankness; " I do 
 want a love letter so very bad to send to 
 Fanny, and read to her over and over 
 again, to pay her for tiring me so with her 
 cousin's effusion, till I was forced to put it 
 into the meat pye." Tom Sheridan laugh- 
 ed violently, and asked me if 1 had never 
 yet received a love letter. 
 
 " Oh yes, a good many," said I, " only 
 they were from quite strangers, and I never
 
 INTRODUCTION. 1X111 
 
 opened them, but returned them untouch- 
 ed." 
 
 " By way of shewing yourself over vir- 
 tuous, Ty asked Tom Sheridan. 
 
 " jNo, but lam proud. My school fellows, 
 in the convent, would have felt deeply 
 insulted, if strangers would had addres- 
 sed love letters to them slyly, and however 
 unfortunate may be my situation, my 
 school fellows loved me as their friend and 
 sister, and I at least may emulate them. 
 
 " Well, but I am no stranger," said 
 Tom Sheridan, and he promised to write 
 me such a letter, as would not offend my 
 pride. 
 
 It was midnight when 1 arrived at this 
 northern academv for voung ladies, the
 
 lxiV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 freezing tall bonny mistress of which, was 
 a maiden lady, for any thing I know to the 
 contrary, aged fifty, and she called herself 
 Miss Ketridge. It was on a Saturday 
 night, and I was ushered, by a bare-footed 
 nymph through a wet kitchen, which was 
 being mopped clean for the following Sun- 
 day, into a large dismal parlour, where I 
 was not welcomed the least in the world, 
 but formally desired to take a seat at the 
 supper table. 
 
 This being the very first time I had tra- 
 velled by night in a public coach, I was 
 completely overcome with fatigue, and 
 unable to partake either of Miss Ketridge's 
 small beer, which was very small indeed, 
 or of her uninteresting little Dutch cheese.
 
 INTRODUCTION. lxV 
 
 A fat smiling- young lady in a Scotch plad 
 dress, sat on the left of mine hostess, stitch- 
 ing away at a new shirt. Miss Ketridge 
 presented her to me as Miss Macdougal, 
 the English teacher, and desired her to put 
 bye her work and eat her supper, and then 
 accompany me to my bed room. 
 
 u You will not be sorry to retire Miss 
 Du Bochet," was one of Miss Ketridge's 
 hospitable remarks, drawing up her long 
 throat which was uncovered, and screw- 
 ing up her lips which were like two bits of 
 dry leather. " I will point out to you, Miss 
 Du Bochet," continued the lady, " your 
 various duties to-morrow morning when 
 you will be refreshed." 
 
 I bowed, or rather nodded ; " for it was
 
 lxvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 all nodding — nid, nid, noddy, noddy/' 
 with me ever since I had been seated. 
 
 Miss Macdougal's unsavoury meal was 
 soon dispatched, when she arose, and with 
 a smile, proposed to accompany me to my 
 apartment. In less than ten minutes, I 
 was in a profonnd sleep, after having hum- 
 bly intreated not to be disturbed too early 
 in the morning; because two nights and 
 days, in snch excessive cold, had quite 
 worn me out. 
 
 Nevertheless, precisely at six the uext 
 morning, Miss Macdougal, in her green 
 plad, stood at the foot of my bed, desiring 
 me to loose no time, as she had trespas- 
 sed on Miss Ketridge's commauds, in
 
 INTRODUCTION. lxvii 
 
 order to afford me the indulgence 1 had 
 begged for. 
 
 " If six o'clock is an indulgence at 
 Christmas, after two nights in the mail, 
 pray Miss Macdougal, what is your usual 
 hour of rising V said 1, rubbing my eyes 
 and vainly tning to open them. 
 
 " Miss Ketridge expects the teachers 
 to be dressed and ready to attend prayers 
 while the clock is striking the hour of six," 
 replied Miss Macdougal, at the same time, 
 placing a small glimmering lamp, such as 
 only served to make darkness visible, and 
 then she left me to attend on her young 
 pupils, in their dressing room, where I 
 joined her as soon as I had contrived to 
 
 open my eyes and put on my clothes." 
 
 V ol. I A
 
 lxviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 u Have you made your bed ?" said Miss 
 Macdougal, and answering in the nega- 
 tive, she told me that it was the establish- 
 ed custom of Ketridge house, for both 
 teachers and scholars to make their beds 
 before they left their apartment. 
 
 " Never mind,'' said I, while my teeth 
 chattered in my head, " any thing to make 
 my blood circulate, for I really fear that 
 your northern climate will cause my death, 
 but may I not even see a fire, before 1 turn 
 house- maid. " 
 
 Oh ! dear no, ,J> replied Miss Macdougal, 
 shaking her head, and I went back to my 
 room to obey orders, but my fingers were 
 so completely numbed, that I made but a
 
 INTRODUCTION. lxix 
 
 poor business of it. Miss Macdougal en- 
 tered just as I had finished my bed. 
 
 " That won't do," said she, " Oh ! how 
 lucky it is, that Miss Ketridge did not'see 
 that bed, she is so extremely particu- 
 lar." Patience does wonders: I tried 
 again, and felt satisfied with my improve- 
 ment. 
 
 Then we went to prayers, and at last I 
 was desired to seat myself at the foot of 
 the breakfast table, opposite to Miss Mac- 
 dougal. 
 
 Oh what a blessed sight was a large 
 fire and something to eat and drink. 
 
 I soon dispatched my little roll, and 
 then I begged to have a slice off the large 
 loaf. Miss Ketridge exchanged significant
 
 1XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 looks with her Scotch teacher. No mat- 
 ter, since my wish was complied with, for 
 that was all I cared about. The bleak 
 northern air, added to the very laudable 
 scarcity and scantiness of provision at 
 Ketridge academy, had given me an unusual 
 appetite. 
 
 After breakfast, as the clock struck nine, 
 I was commanded to place myself on a 
 high stool in the school-room, ata distance 
 from the tire, and listen to the miserable 
 attempts of three gawkey Scotch girls to 
 spell and read French, in rotation. At pre- 
 cisely eleven, Miss Ketridge entered the 
 room, and presented me with a stiff gen- 
 tleman's shirt to make, hinting at the per- 
 fect feasibility of a French teacher being
 
 I^TRODUCTIOX. L\xi 
 
 employed several ways at once, like the 
 Paudeans at Vauxhall. 
 
 " I am very sorry to say that I do not 
 understand needle work/' said 1. 
 
 " iMercy on me/ 5 exclaimed the lady, 
 " what will become of you! what have 
 your parents to answ r er for." 
 
 '* I will try and learn how to make a 
 shirt, madam/ 5 said I, " although I never 
 understood that as a French and music 
 mistress, I should be so employed. " 
 
 " And how do you propose passing 
 your evenings ?" enquired the damsel. 
 
 " After the young ladies retired to rest 
 I hoped 1 should have had an hour to my- 
 self," I replied. 
 
 " Vet Miss Macdougal is satisfied to
 
 IXXU INTRODUCTION. 
 
 employ herself in needle work till mid- 
 night," observed the school mistress. 
 
 To describe the petty torments and 
 hardships I endured, would be difficult ; 
 vainly did I, while the children were croak- 
 ing their vile French in my ears, in their 
 broad Scotch accent, labour to become a 
 model of shirt-making, or to excel in but- 
 ton holes ; needle work was not my vo- 
 cation, and my seat was perched up so 
 far from the fire place, that I became 
 numbed with cold. The scholars were 
 most of them older than myself, although 
 they appeared younger. A set of raw- 
 boned illiterate Scotch girls, who had 
 scarcely heard a word of French spoken 
 in their lives, till I came amongst them to
 
 INTRODUCTION. IXXlll 
 
 make a fashionable academy out of Miss 
 Ketridge's boarding school for grown up 
 dunces. 
 
 Once Miss Ketridge and her teacher 
 laid their heads together and formed a plan 
 to shame me out of eating more than the 
 little flat roll. This was done by placing 
 a loaf of six or eight pounds on my plate, 
 and then tittering and laughing a£ one 
 another, when I came to the table. A 
 stranger, in ill health, and in a raw cold 
 place, I felt for a moment rather forlorn ; 
 few very young people can endure ridicule 
 unmoved, however undeserved. 1 am, how- 
 ever, of a contented disposition. 
 
 I had tried to do my duty in this un hos- 
 pitable mansion, and would not despond,
 
 lxXir INTRODUCTION. 
 
 so on second thoughts, I thanked Miss 
 Ketridge for her attention in making me 
 such ample amends for her former scarcity 
 of allowance, then observing their sneers 
 and giggling, 1 shook my head at them, 
 whilst helping myself to a thick slice. 
 
 ■ 'Tis a brilliant invention, ladies," said 
 I, "but vou see it won't answer, as 1 never 
 will be the simpleton to quarrel with my 
 bread and butter." 
 
 I cannot describe what I endured on a 
 dancing day, from cold, during that se- 
 vere winter, dressed up in a muslin gown, 
 and seated stock still in a long room, with 
 eight large windows where the fire was 
 lighted only once a week, and that, at the 
 very moment we entered ; yet, I armed
 
 INTRODUCTION. I.XXV 
 
 myself with patience, and remained six 
 months in the north, but health may not 
 be commanded. By this time I was af- 
 flicted with a severe and constant cough, 
 and my nose was drawn in, like a person's 
 in a deep decline ; in short, 1 looked so 
 truly miserable and forlorn, sewing away 
 at my hard shirt, that even Miss Ketridge 
 at length was softened, and sent for the 
 apothecary to prescribe something for my 
 increasing cough, but when he mentioned 
 warm milk from the cow and early hours, 
 she advised me to consult him no more, 
 assuring me that too much sleep was very 
 injurious, and that as my real friend, she 
 must beg me to perfect myself in the femi- 
 
 VOL. I /
 
 lxxvi INTRODUCTION, 
 
 nine necessary accomplishment of needle- 
 work* 
 
 " Why are there so many gentlemen's 
 shirts about this virgin's abode ?" said I 
 to Miss Macdougal one day, and was in- 
 formed that she was quite a miser, and 
 took in shirts to make. 
 
 I grew worse and worse, and was at 
 length forced to take my place in the mail 
 for London, i had received several long 
 friendly letters from Tom Sheridan, who 
 advised me to go on the stage. My face 
 was the best stage face for tragedy, after 
 Mrs. Siddons, whom he was polite enough 
 to say 1 much resembled ; and then the 
 tones of my voice, he said, were well ad- 
 apted for tragedy. He only wished to 

 
 INTRODUCTION. l.KXVIl 
 
 hear me read Shakespeare, in order to 
 form a more decided opinion of my talents. 
 If he found them equal to his expectations, 
 he promised me all his father's best as- 
 sistance, to get me well introduced and 
 brought out at Drury Lane. 
 
 Tom Sheridan's letters were truly friend- 
 ly, and i felt that 1 had excited his best 
 and most benevolent feelings in my be- 
 half, because, said he, " if others do not 
 take care of you, I feel sure that you are 
 the last person in the world to take care of 
 yourself." 
 
 I feared it would be impossible to get 
 rid of my natural shyness, or find nerve 
 for appealing on the stage ; however, 
 such was my fixed abhorrence and dread
 
 IXXVlll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of schools, that I resolved to try, and af- 
 ter I had been a short time at home, I 
 prevailed on my mother, to permit me to 
 read a passage in Shakespeare to Tom 
 Sheridan, who had returned to London a 
 short time before I left Newcastle. 
 
 She had the less scruple in doing so, 
 because his letters were so very kind and 
 brotherly, and we had known Tom Sheri- 
 dan, with Lord Craven, and his brother 
 Berkeley, all our lives, in consequence of 
 their living in sight of our house, and pas- 
 sing it constantly. 
 
 Tom Sherid n was quite delighted with 
 my reading Shakespeare, and discovered 
 that 1 had a turn for low comedy, as well 
 as a beautiful voice for tragedy. But
 
 INTRODUC TTOX. 1XX1X 
 
 when I managed a sort of costume to play 
 Falstaff, with a pillow shut up in the coach- 
 man 's large waistcoat he laughed till he 
 absolutely cried, without being able to alter 
 a muscle of my countenance, so much had 
 I identified myself in the character, whilst 
 he read the part of King Henry, and 1 knew 
 Falstaff, as far as manners went, was always 
 a gentleman, and would not have laugh- 
 ed at his own wit or humour. I could 
 not have done this if 1 had been the least 
 in love with Tom Sheridan, but as that 
 was not the case, and as I was play mad, 
 I made an effort, and the encouragement 
 1 got, at length gave me confidence. 
 
 Sheridan afterwards assured me that he 
 had not the smallest doubt of my ultimate
 
 lxXX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 success in any thing very tragic and pa- 
 thetic, or very comic. My mother having 
 such a large family, would have fain con- 
 sented, rather than have me pine away in a 
 school, seeing that a sedentary life would 
 never agree with my health, but when it 
 was mentioned to my father, he fell into 
 a violent passion, and declared he would 
 rather see me in my grave. 
 
 My reflections were now melancholy, 
 my prospects a blank. And must I drag 
 on a forlorn existence — so reasoned 1 at 
 fifteen — and teach children dementi's les- 
 sons, and the verbs "avoir," and " etre,' ; 
 from fifteen to fifty years of age, and then 
 to retire withered and still more forlorn, 
 to a work house I — And is it meant by
 
 INTRODUCTION. IWXl 
 
 nature that 1 should pass away from this 
 world without having loved and been be- 
 loved? Why then does my heart glow with 
 sensibility and tenderness? — Why is this 
 ardent desire to love with all my soul and 
 all my strength implanted in my nature? 
 What chance on earth have I of marrying 
 a man of polished refinement? and well I 
 feel the impossibility of attaching myself 
 to any other. Who will scale the walls of 
 any of these high dried academies, to pro- 
 pose marriage to me? The confinement 
 will soon bring on a decline, and then 
 will this pretty person of mine wither in 
 solitude till it is changed to a hideous ske- 
 leton ! No, I cannot " teach the young 
 idea to shoot, 1 ' death even were preferable.
 
 Wxxii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 These ideas had been tormenting me for 
 three months, during which time I was al- 
 most daily reproached by my father for liv- 
 ing in idleness and " eating the bread of 
 my younger sisters and brothers," although 
 I knew he was not so poor as he was 
 stingy, when 1 once hoped to give him an 
 agreeable surprise, for I loved my father 
 almost romantically, and deep, indeed, was 
 the wound his harshness inflicted. 
 
 There was an ancient Swiss dish which he 
 had once cooked himself, in my presence, 
 as a curiosity, I had watched him with 
 great attention, and one night when he was 
 expected home to supper, I took infinite 
 pains to prepare this dish, and succeeded. 
 His supper was ready at my usual bed
 
 l> I UODUCTION. lxXXIll 
 
 time len o'clock, but I was so afraid it 
 would get cold or spoiled that 1 sat up till 
 his return, to watch it, and got soundly 
 boxed on the ears, pour commencer. 
 
 Nothing can be done with me by blows, 
 I hate them, and I swore immediately to 
 leave my wretched uncomfortable home, 
 on the following day. My dear mother 
 would forgive me, and visit me. Of that I 
 felt sure, for she knew I should soon die 
 if she forsook me, and for my father, strong 
 indignation, at that moment, hardened my 
 heart against him. I loved no one amongst 
 those who sought to seduce me, but the 
 Cravens were our near neighbours, and old 
 acquaintances, and they were gentlemen. I 
 
 Vol. m
 
 IXXXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 was less afraid of them than any other men, 
 so I became the mistress of Lord Craven. 
 44 And there I was on the Marine Parade, 
 44 where Lord Craven was kind enough to 
 44 draw cocoa trees, and black men for 
 44 my amusement, but my readers have 
 44 read all this before/ 1
 
 TO THE PUBLIC 
 
 London, January, 1850. 
 
 It is but fair to state of a man who has been so harshly 
 dealt by, that Mr. Stockdale, as my publisher, conducted 
 himself towards me liberally and honestly. 
 
 At the same time, I must, in justice to myself declare 
 that in the latter part of my Memoirs, independent of much 
 extraneous matter being introduced, under the head of my 
 Memoirs, which never belonged to them, and for which 
 J have been reproached ; many expressions have been put 
 into my mouth, which never issued from my pen. 
 
 It is, therefore, to prevent a recurrence of the like an- 
 noyance, that I am compelled to acquaint the public, that 
 Mr. Stockdale has now published nearly the whole part of 
 my Memoirs which I wrote and sold to him in M. S. 
 
 Some few pages may yet remain in his hands, but I 
 should imagine, indeed, I am almost positive that of my 
 composition, he cannot have sufficient to form a single 
 number or part of a volume, such as was at first sold for 
 half a crown. 
 
 The M. S. of the remaining unpurchased and conse- 
 quently unpublished parts, about half a dozen in number
 
 TO THE PUBLIC. 
 
 have not been out o/, and are still in ray possession, and 
 without intention, at present, on my part, of being given 
 to the public. 
 
 I give this information very reluctantly, as I should be 
 truly sorry, to injure the father of a family, of whom, with 
 the above exception, I have no cause to complain
 
 PREFACE 
 
 A Sketch-book or light novel was what 
 an illustrious, and in my opinion, very 
 amiable nobleman strongly recommended 
 me to write, a few years ago, instead of a 
 comedy. A gentleman belonging to the 
 company of -Edinburgh Reviewers, whom 
 I consulted as to its merits, favored me 
 with the following reply to my letter s
 
 IxXXVill I'REFAl L 
 
 ; ' Madam, 
 " 1 have mau) apologies to make for not 
 having answered your letter sooner ; yet, 
 however, not to miss an opportunity of 
 writing a letter of encouragement, after my 
 former one of criticism ; the plan you 
 mention of a Novel or Work, like the 
 Sketch-book, is, I think, very promising, 
 and as far as I can judge, very well ad- 
 apted to your talents. The risk and an- 
 noyance incidental to publications, are al- 
 ways less than that of dramatic adventure, 
 and the profits, in case of success much 
 greater. In case of publication, the know- 
 ledge that it was written by you, would 
 insure a sale, so that at least people would
 
 PREFACE. IXXX1X 
 
 be forced to pay you before they could 
 abuse; whereas, in bringing out a play, 
 the managers may get all the profit, and 
 the author nothing but the abuse. I don't 
 know that I can say any more or give 
 any serviceable advice. Go on andpros- 
 per, and may you find Apollo and Par- 
 nassus, to the full as pleasant as Venus 
 and Idalia, 
 
 " Yours, &c. &c. 
 
 (Signed) " 
 
 The writer of the above, is a well known 
 whig from principle, a poet by inclina- 
 tion, a dramatist from taste, whose compo- 
 sitions were unfortunately un tasted by the
 
 XC FKEFACE. 
 
 public ; an atheist, par excellence, and a 
 very gouty subject, malgre lui. 
 
 1 have, at length, resolved, to present to 
 the public, such a Work as recommended, 
 which, however, is chiefly founded on 
 facts. 
 
 Fanchette, the little French repasseuse, 
 who is introduced in the first volume, had 
 resided in Italy with an Italian nobleman, 
 whose real name I have concealed under 
 that of St. Betise, when she hired herself 
 to me, in Paris, as my waiting-woman, in 
 January 1828. Fanchette referred me to 
 her late master and mistress for her charac- 
 ter, and it was on that occasion that I first 
 visited the lovely Marchesa, whose noble 
 husband having been banished from Italy
 
 PREFACE. NCI 
 
 by the Pope, at the instigation of her 
 uncle the Cardinal * * * * they had tra- 
 velled to Paris, and resided in the Rue 
 Neuve des Petits Champs, in the immedi- 
 ate neighbourhood of the Rue de la Paix. 
 
 1 was so struck with the beauty of the 
 Marchesa St. Betise, that I prevailed upon 
 my new waiting-woman Fanchette, to re- 
 late to me whatever she knew about her 
 late charming mistress. The girl was very 
 intelligent, and spoke Italian fluently. 
 
 While travelling tete-a-tete with her in 
 my carriage from Paris to Dieppe, we con- 
 versed constantly on the subject of the 
 Marchesa, and the society about her, par- 
 ticularly of her ladyship's uncle, the Car- 
 dinal . , . . . 
 
 Vol. I n
 
 XCli PREFACE. 
 
 The story of Laura, 1 believe to be true, 
 but it does not regard the Marchesa St. 
 Betise's uncle. The affair happened in 
 Germany. 
 
 The Marchesa St. Betise, is, by birth, 
 a Spanish woman. 
 
 The young Prince Orazio died a few 
 days after the Marquis St. Betise had 
 been banished from his castle, which was 
 not situated in Naples, but in another 
 part of Italy. 
 
 The summer house, the signal gun, in- 
 trigues, duels, &c. have been all so "ac- 
 curately and humourously described to 
 me by Fanchette over and over again, 
 as to leave no doubt on my own mind 
 as to the exact truth of every circum-
 
 PREFACE. XCU 
 
 stance ; and they were corroborated by a 
 letter of the young Prince's, addressed to his 
 fair mistress, which Fanchette had found 
 sewed up in the hem of the Lady St. Be- 
 tise's morning dress, andjiad stolen from 
 her. It was written in French, and 1 took 
 a copy of it, which my readers will find in 
 my Second Volume translated verbatim. 
 
 The little Marquis is described with 
 simple truth. Fanchette, I am convinced, 
 did not broder or high colour his cha- 
 racter. She delighted to describe what 
 she had seen in Italy, and 1 could not but 
 be amused by her lively animated discourse. 
 Her descriptions were free from either ma- 
 lice or benevolence. Neither of us were 
 likely to meet with her Italian friends
 
 XCJV PREFACE. 
 
 again, and it was now her business to amuse 
 her new mistress, and beguile the time 
 away as we travelled together. 
 
 Premeditated falsehood is easily detect- 
 ed, and as Fanchette's descriptions bore 
 the stamp and character of truth in all 
 trifling details, which led naturally to the 
 matter, 1 give, therefore, the St. Betise 
 anecdotes to the world as facts, with a 
 clear conscience aud entire persuasion of 
 their truth. 
 
 Alberto is a high coloured sketch of a 
 gentleman's character now in England. 
 
 I have concealed the name of the noble 
 mother of Napoleon Bonaparte's natural 
 son, under that of Countess de Polignac. 
 1 was not acquainted with her, but I once
 
 PRLFACE. XCV 
 
 passed some months in the country, near 
 her chateau, where 1 heard much good of 
 her, and Napoleon's son dined frequently 
 at my house. She seldom visits Paris 
 now, but in the country keeps up all the 
 splendour and eclat of her rank, which 
 is superior to what 1 have assigned to her, 
 by acts of benevolence to the poor, and 
 hospitality to the rich. 
 
 Monsieur and Madame St. Sauveur, with 
 their daughter, resided in Lyons in 1798, I 
 have not disguised their names, having ta- 
 ken the account from a french newspa- 
 per. 
 
 I have so far, however, varied the real 
 story, as to make Ligonia the half, instead 
 of the whole brother, and I have made
 
 XCV1 PREFACE. 
 
 soma other trifling alterations which 
 would destroy the interest of the narrative 
 prematurely to anticipate in a preface. 
 
 It may be worth relating, as a curious 
 fact, altho' purely a matter of chance, that 
 after murdering his brother, Ligonia en- 
 tered the Russian service as a private sol- 
 dier, in which capacity he so often and sig- 
 nally distinguished, himself that he was 
 promoted to high rank, and in 1814, upon 
 the occupation of Lyons by the Cossacks, 
 he was absolutely billetted in his native 
 town, upon his orphan niece's house ! ! 
 
 Having however changed his name, and 
 being greatly altered by grief and service, 
 he was not after such a lapse of time recog- 
 nized by any one. Count Drognichieff
 
 PREFACE. XCVll 
 
 commanded the regiment of Cossacks in 
 which Ligonia served. 
 
 To the curious, or lovers of research, it 
 may be satisfactory to mention that I have 
 disguised the real name of " [vaiidier!," 
 which he bore in the Russian service, un- 
 der that of Ligonia. 
 
 Anglo Neapolitans may, perhaps, recog- 
 nise an aquaintance in the Countess Dia- 
 blo. I believe she is not yet dead. 
 
 The Comtessa Lorenza is alive, but is 
 cured of way-laying lovers in the dark. 
 
 Jacques Tracasse is taken from a living 
 character on the continent, who much 
 amused me. 
 
 As the English characters which the 
 Page Eugenio describes in his letters
 
 XCV111 PREFACE. 
 
 from London, are sketched from nature, 
 they will, of course, resemble those of 
 many persons in high life. 
 
 After declaring that I mean no offence, 
 I have only to add, that whoever may hit 
 upon a cap to fit him, is welcome to wear 
 it, whether it be adorned with " laurels," 
 or " long ears." 
 
 " HONI SOI QUI MAL Y PENSE." 
 
 If amongst various others, I have in- 
 truded a sketch of my own character drawn 
 with impartial truth, as far as 1 am a judge, 
 it is, as I conceive, but a piece of com- 
 mon justice to myself, considering the vi- 
 rulence and disgusting slander which has 
 been published on my subject- 
 True, 1 have in my Memoirs exposed
 
 PREFAEC XCIX 
 
 many truths, which for the honor of our 
 aristocracy, it had been desirable to have 
 kept secret ; but I have traduced no charac- 
 ter by such false calumnies as have been 
 practised against myself. I, however, for- 
 give all freely, and would not have intro- 
 duced the matter here, but by way of apo- 
 logy for the intrusion of my own charac- 
 ter amongst EugemVs sketches of life and 
 manners in London. 
 
 My object has been to keep as near to 
 facts as possible, and to draw varied and 
 spirited dramatic scenes, such as are likely 
 to enliven and interest an invalid or a 
 weary traveller, uo matter at what Chapter 
 he might open my book. L have endea- 
 
 VOL. I. O
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 v oil red to avoid all prosy heavy descrip- 
 tions in a work of this light nature. 
 
 " U fault un peu de tout dans ce bas 
 monde," and there appears to me to be no 
 lack of learned books out already, profess- 
 ing morality, and pressing the reader to 
 " read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest'' 
 as much of them as convenient. 
 
 My only chance, then, of benefitting 
 mankind, with my humble abilities, is to 
 offer to the sick, the indolent, and unlearn- 
 ed, a work they can understand, and will, 
 be at the trouble of reading, instead of 
 having recourse to some less harmless 
 amusements. 
 
 1 am aware that objections may be made 
 to this work on the score of the various
 
 P&EFACE. CI 
 
 intrigues it describes. I hope, however, 
 that whoever has read Gil Bias with plea- 
 sure, will not affect to be shocked at de- 
 scriptions, at least as delicate and modest, 
 as any contained in that most populai 
 work. 
 
 If I have described the errors and vices 
 incidental to humanity, if I have not paint- 
 ed all my females virtuous, and in Italy 
 too, professing as 1 do to draw from nature, 
 yet has their dereliction from virtue been 
 invariably punished. 
 
 Triumphant vice is no where set forth. 
 
 The errors of the Lady St. Betise are 
 the cause of much misery to herself, and 
 disorder in her family. 
 
 Laura witnessed as shocking a sight, as
 
 Cll PREfACE. 
 
 could for punishment be inflicted on a 
 mother. 
 
 The young Prince Orazio pays dearly 
 for the indulgence of his guilty passion. 
 
 Alberto is a frank libertine who deceives 
 no body, and possesses a thousand re- 
 deeming qualities, but Gil Bias is a cow- 
 ardly knave, whose vices and dishonesty 
 are rewarded by riches, and every honor 
 being heaped on his head. I, therefore, 
 humbly hope, my work is the more moral 
 of the two. 
 
 As to plot, it is what I fear I have no 
 sort of taste or talent for, and the reader 
 may despise my faint brief attempt in 
 that department, without the possibility 

 
 PREFACE. CHI 
 
 of making me think worse of myself than 
 I have always done hitherto 
 
 I shall be more than satisfied, 1 shall 
 be proud, if in spite of the faults, incon- 
 sistencies, and irregularities of all kinds 
 which abound more in my work than al- 
 most any other, it yet is found to amuse, 
 by its spirit, its originality, or effect, those 
 who are either too unwell, or too in- 
 dolent for more serious study ; and as we 
 are one and all occasionally placed in some 
 of these predicaments, I humbly hope, 
 that this my first work of imagination, 
 will find favor ; if it does, Clara Gazul 
 may, perhaps, one day, continue her ad- 
 ventures, but if in these Three Volumes 
 *he has failed to amuse, vou will hear no
 
 CIV PREFACE. 
 
 more of her — Not so the authoress, who 
 will try again and again if life be spared 
 her, because of her faith and belief that 
 she was born to please you, and is bound 
 to fulfill her destination. 
 
 To conclude, 1 shall feel grateful to any 
 Editor or Reviewer who will be at the 
 trouble of freely animadverting on the de- 
 fects of my Novel, because 1 have the de- 
 sire to improve, and I hope to benefit by 
 impartial criticism.
 
 CLARA GAZUL
 
 CLARA GAZUL, 
 
 OR 
 
 HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 MY BIRTH AND EDUCATION. 
 
 My mother, Dona Euphrasia, was bred to the 
 stage, so was my grandmother. My mother 
 had made her successful debut at Madrid, ten 
 years before I was born, 
 
 " On ne connoit pas toujoursson pere, c'est 
 un malheur*." 
 
 I was sent to a distant country to be nursed, 
 and my mother continued her dissipated ca- 
 reer. Luckily, I fell into kind hands. My 
 
 One does not always know who one's father is ; — this i« * 
 misfortune. — Editor- 
 
 Vol. I. is
 
 2 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 nurse, Agnes, loved me; she was a young 
 French woman, whose infant had been born 
 dead. 
 
 When I had attained my fifth year, my mo- 
 ther sent for me, and being struck with my 
 beauty, began to speculate on the rich harvest 
 it promised to her insatiable avarice. 
 
 To be brief, masters were provided for me, 
 and no expense spared to render mean accom- 
 plished woman. 
 
 My nurse was hired to attend on me. My 
 mother's violent temper and profligate habits, 
 disgusted us both, whilst our affection for each 
 other increased daily. 
 
 One night, soon after I had attained my four- 
 teenth year, my nurse called me into her room, 
 when throwing her arms about my neck, she 
 burst ino tears. 
 
 I soon learned from Agnes, that I was des- 
 tined for a victim of prostitution. She had 
 overheard a conversation between Euphrasia 
 and the rich Senor Don Gonzales, irto whose
 
 CLAUA G.UUL. 3 
 
 arms I was shortly to be delivered for a stipu- 
 lated sum of money. 
 
 Our resolution was soon taken ; death itself 
 had been preferred by me to the hideous Don 
 Gonzales. 
 
 We passed the whole night in arranging our 
 flight, and early next morning beheld us al- 
 ready on the road, journeying towards France, 
 with a small basket of provisions, a few ducats, 
 the property of my nurse, and in the complete 
 costume of two French peasants. We had 
 such a dread of being overtaken, that we pur- 
 sued our journey with great swiftness on foot, 
 or any humble conveyance that fell in our 
 way. In less than three weeks we passed the 
 frontiers, and arrived at Lyons, exhausted and 
 pennyless. 
 
 I was a high spirited girl, and too proud of 
 my liberty to despond. Among other ac- 
 complishments which I had acquired under my 
 mother's roof, I excelled on the guitar, and 
 my voice was remarkably sweet Agnes, had
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 brought my instrument slung across her shoul- 
 ders. Take courage, my dear Agnes, said I, 
 I can sing and play, and we will tell our story 
 to some kind lady, who will pity us. 
 
 Alas! my poor child, said Agnes, it is for 
 you I grieve, who are so delicate, your poor 
 little feet are bleeding, your shoes are worn 
 out, and your clothes are torn : we must sell 
 the guitar, since we have not the means where- 
 with to procure a single meal. I have bread 
 and fruit in my basket, said I, with the 
 buoyant spirit of extreme youth ; let us seek out 
 some shady retreat near a river, where we 
 can bathe our feet and refresh ourselves. 
 
 It was on a delicious evening, in the month 
 of July, quitting the town; on the left, a 
 winding lane led us to a most inviting spot, 
 where, having unbound my hair, Agnes began 
 to arrange it in decent folds about my head, 
 while I bathed my feet in a clear brook that 
 murmured amongst the trees. 
 
 Our simple toilette concluded, we began to
 
 ( L \ B A (■ \ZUL. o 
 
 refresh ourselves with the contents of my 
 basket, and forgot for a moment the forlorn- 
 ness of our situation. Night was advancing 
 when our merriment was interrupted by the 
 sound of heavy footsteps approaching us. 
 Imagine our dismay, when four athletic male 
 figures, with beards and moustachios of a 
 tremendous growth, stood grinning before us, 
 habited in a strange costume, such as we had 
 never before beheld. The language of these wild 
 looking beings was unintelligible, although my 
 nurse had taught me to speak French almost as 
 well as Spanish. The most hideous of them 
 seemed to be expressing his admiration at the 
 beauty of my hair and features, and another 
 forcibly pressed his lips to mine. 
 
 I threw myself on my knees in dreadful 
 alarm ; Agnes tried to protect me, but was 
 fiercely thrown aside. The savages surround- 
 ed me, and appeared to contend and quarrel 
 among themselves. At this moment, a figure of
 
 6 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 exquisite manly beauty, suddenly made his ap- 
 pearance from behind some trees. 
 
 He addressed our tormentors in a command- 
 ing voice, and in their own language. 
 
 They immediately desisted, and saluted the 
 stranger, as soldiers salute their chief. 
 
 You will protect us, said I, in Spanish, throw- 
 ing myself at the feet of the handsome stran- 
 ger, and raising my eyes beseechingly to his 
 face. 
 
 He answered me in good Spanish, and the 
 melancholy tone of his voice, added to the ex- 
 traordinary beauty of his countenance, made 
 that deep impression on my sanguine imagina- 
 tion, which no time or absence could efface. 
 The stranger wore the same foreign style of 
 dress or uniform, as that of the men, but of 
 a finer texture. He apologised for the alarm 
 bis men had occasioned us, and informed us 
 that his name was Ligonia, that they were a 
 party of Cossacks under his command, and
 
 CLAJtA CrAZLL. 7 
 
 quartered at Lyons ; he then proposed protect- 
 ing us to our home. 
 
 In a very few words, Agnes acquainted Cap- 
 tain Ligonia with the history of my life. 
 
 Poor child, said he, in a tone of compassion, 
 I will endeavour to procure you some female 
 friend, although, I am, myself, a stranger in 
 this town : in the mean time, let us proceed 
 towards the nearest inn, where I will place you 
 under the care of the hostess, and make my- 
 self accountable for your expenses. 
 
 Overcome by fatigue, gratitude, and a va- 
 riety of other sensations, I was nearly sinking 
 at the feet of the stranger, who supported me 
 with great kindness His expressive face 
 was pale as death, deep melancholy seem- 
 ed to have stamped its seal for ever, on the 
 finest of ail human countenances. His age, 
 I guessed, might be thirty-five, or thereabouts, 
 his eyes were sunk, but their fire was not ex- 
 tinguished. 
 
 I had never received a lesson on propriety
 
 c; L A R A f ; A Z U L 
 
 and knew not how to hide from the handsome 
 stranger, the impression he had made on feelings, 
 warm as my native climate, aided by the deep 
 gratitude which his services so justly in- 
 spired. 
 
 When Captain Ligonia had succeded in 
 calming my agitation, and recommended us 
 to the care of our landlady, he took his leave, 
 promising to return on the following morn- 
 ing 
 
 Thank God! for our good fortune, said 
 Agnes, as soon as we were alone; we are in 
 luck's way, my child, and though thrown on 
 the wide world, we need not despair, since we 
 are both young and willing to exert ourselves. 
 We gathered from our friendly hostess, that 
 Captain Ligonia, with his friend the Count 
 Drognichief, lived with a rich widow-lady, 
 whose name was de Fleury, and that people 
 talked of a match between Mademoiselle 
 Fleury, and the young Russian Count
 
 < l \ ii a (Mzn,. 
 
 We enquired if Captain Ligonia was a Rus- 
 sian by birth ? 
 
 No one knows, replied our hostess, as the 
 Captain speaks so many languages in perfec- 
 tion. He is, indeed, she continued, a most ac- 
 complished gentleman, highly esteemed by all 
 who know him, rich or poor, yet is he ever a 
 prey to the most desponding melancholy. But 
 you are fatigued; my children, said she, observ- 
 ing that Agnes' head was nodding; then leading us 
 to our comfortable apartment, she bade us good 
 night, and we fell asleep in each other's arms. 
 
 Vol. F.
 
 10 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 I MAKE KIND FRIENDS, AND BECOME CELEBRATED 
 FOR MY SKILL IN MUSIC. 
 
 The next morning the gay carriage of the rich 
 widow, drove up to the door of the inn, from 
 whence alighted Madame de Fleury, and her 
 daughter, the dashing, graceful Mademoiselle 
 Rosa. 
 
 Oh! Qu'elle est jolie! qu'elle est belle! 
 exclaimed both at once. 
 
 How old are you, child ? Are you really a 
 Spanish girl born and bred ? and thus they 
 continued to questi me, till at length, having 
 obtained my whole history from Agnes, Ma- 
 dame de Fleury invited us to step into her car- 
 riage. We were set down at her beautiful re- 
 sidence, situated half a league from Lyons. 
 
 *A'u! how pretty she is ! how beautiful ! ! — En.
 
 CLARA GAZUL. II 
 
 After Madame de Fleury had recommended 
 Agnes to the care of her first waiting woman, 
 Bertram, she invited me into the drawing room. 
 I hesitated at first to enter in my simple dress, 
 or rather disguise, but Rosa seized my hand, 
 and presenting me to the young Russian Count, 
 who sat reading on a sopha, soon made him ac- 
 quainted with my romantic adventures. 
 
 After some indifferent conversation, Madame 
 de Fleury spoke to me as follows : 
 
 I have under my protection, the niece of a 
 dear friend. The poor young creature is de- 
 ranged, but she has her intervals of reason, and 
 is at all times perfectly harmless. Her physi- 
 cian has lately recommended me to seek out a 
 lively young person to attend her as her com- 
 panion, believing that she is disposed to the 
 study of music. 
 
 Does the young lady inhabit this house ? I 
 asked. 
 
 Madame de Fleury pointed to a small, neat 
 white building, at the bottom of her large gar-
 
 12 CLARA SAZUL. 
 
 den, and replied, Mademoiselle St. Sauveur, and 
 her two nurses, have for some time occupied 
 that summer house, and she then promised to 
 introduce me to the poor invalid on the first 
 opportunity. 
 
 Captain Ligonia made his appearance just 
 before dinner was announced, he warmly ex- 
 pressed his satisfaction at finding me under the 
 protection of Madame de Fleury, and conversed 
 with much kindness on various subjects. He 
 was the most sensible man I had ever met with ; 
 every body seemed to hang on his words, and 
 delight in his conversation. 
 
 Madame de Fleury, as soon as we had dined, 
 asked him if he would like to hear his little 
 protegee sing a song, and on his expressing 
 the pleasure he should experience at witnes- 
 ing my peformance, I was seized with a fit of 
 trembling. 
 
 Love, all powerful love, however, soon fur- 
 nished me with the tact of a more advanced 
 age. The plaintive air I choose, was in
 
 ( I. \ 11 a BAZVL. 13 
 
 unison with the melancholy tone of Ligonia's 
 mind. I saw him brush a tear from his pale 
 cheek, at sight of which, my voice died away 
 in notes of such softness that all were touched 
 by it; then observing the effort that Ligonia 
 made to recover his serenity, I struck up a 
 merry madrigol, for which spirited performance, 
 I had been much admired in my native country. 
 Bravo! Bravo! was reiterated from every one 
 in the room, and Captain Ligonia for an instant 
 seemed to forget his deep melancholy, to smile 
 at my efforts to amuse him. 
 
 It was late when I was permitted to retire 
 with my nurse Agnes, to whom I related the 
 proposal that had been made to me by Madame 
 de Fleury to offer myself as companion to the 
 unhappy young lady who inhabited the white 
 building in the garden. 
 
 We soon fell fast asleep, and did not awake 
 until Bertram, Madame de Fleury's woman, tap- 
 ped at our door. She came by her ladies' desire 
 to accompany me to the dress makers, and pro-
 
 14 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 cure for me a fashionable change of ready-made 
 clothes that I might appear like a young lady of 
 education. 
 
 Passing through the church-yard on our way 
 to the dress-makers, we saw Captain Ligonia ; 
 he was examining the magnificent tomb which 
 had been, as I was afterwards told, erected to the 
 memory of Monsieur and Madame St. Sauveur, 
 the parents of the poor deranged young lady 
 Isabelle. 
 
 This tomb was said to be a master-piece of 
 sculptural beauty, and attracted the admiration 
 of all foreigners. As we approached it, I was 
 struck with the deadly paleness of Captain Ligo- 
 nia's face ; he merely bowed to us and hurried 
 away. 
 
 I was soon equipped in a neat white muslin 
 dress, and large silk morning bonnet ; Mrs. Ber- 
 tram chose for my evening costume, a black 
 satin dress with tight bodice, after the Spanish 
 fashion, which set off my delicate waist to the
 
 CLARA (iAZl'L. 1") 
 
 greatest advantage; although scarcely fifteen 
 years of age, I was tall, and though slender, was 
 so far formed as to have been mistaken for eigh- 
 teen, judging me only by my person, whilst my 
 face was that of an intelligent child. 
 
 My features were regular, but my eyes were 
 my chief beauty, than which none could be 
 more expressive of strong sense and arch hu- 
 mour: their brightness was tempered by the 
 sensibility that glowed in my heart. 
 
 Few loved truth and abhorred deception of 
 every species more than myself, who had been 
 so greatly disgusted with my mother's habit of 
 hypocrisy. 
 
 Of religion I had heard seldom tell, except 
 when my nurse had taught me to pronounce a 
 short prayer on my knees, night and morning. 
 
 My reading had been chiefly confined to a 
 few Spanish romances, yet I was not entirely 
 unacquainted with French literature. 
 
 The French language delighted me, and I
 
 16 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 spoke it like my mother tongue. But I will not 
 dwell on my good or bad qualities, since my ac- 
 tions will best speak for me, and I beg pardon 
 for this digression.
 
 CLARA (JAZUL. 17 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 I AM ENGAGED AS THE COMPANION OF A YOUNG 
 LADY OF UNSOUND MIND ; SOME ACCOUNT OF 
 CAPTAIN LIGONIA. 
 
 Having purchased all the necessary little re- 
 quisites to complete my morning and evening 
 costume, and render it worthy the society of 
 Madame de Fleury, we retraced our steps 
 homewards ; I found Mademoiselle Rosa in her 
 dressing-room, she had just returned from riding 
 with the young Count, who (as I soon learnt) 
 had proposed, and been accepted as her future 
 husband. 
 
 Come here and let me look at you, said Rosa, 
 and having examined me at all points, she grew 
 jealous, and confessed as much : an heiress is apt 
 to be frank. 
 
 Madame de Fleury, in the course of that day, 
 
 introduced me to Doctor Lambert, who was the 
 Vol. I. d
 
 18 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 poor deranged young lady's physician ; and he 
 addressed me in about these terms. 
 
 "Hearing Mademoiselle that you are willing to 
 offer your services to this afflicted and interesting 
 young lady, I beg permission to acquaint you 
 with a few particulars of her case, which hap- 
 pened in Italy. 
 
 The parents of Mademoiselle St. Sauveur 
 were my best friends. The death of Monsieur 
 St. Sauveur was a shock which caused Madame 
 St. Sauveur to be seized with the pangs of pre- 
 mature labour, and she died three hours after 
 her child saw the light, but not until she had in- 
 treated me to watch over the poor orphan's health 
 and happiness. Madame de Fleury, as her last 
 surviving connexion, was chosen guardian of the 
 young lady's fortune. 
 
 No symptoms of insanity had been remarked 
 in Isabelle, until she had attained her tenth year. 
 The poor thing, now believes herself skilled in 
 foretelling events; but, I still hope to restore 
 this lovely, and afflicted young lady to society,
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 19 
 
 if I can only divert her mind, or fix it to some 
 kind of study. I have said enough to you Miss 
 Clara, and will now introduce you into her 
 closet. I was accordingly conducted into a 
 small apartment adjoining Isabel le's sitting- 
 room ; at the first sound of my voice and guitar, 
 Isabelle flew to the closet, she wore a simple 
 white robe fastened round the waist by a ribbon, 
 her light brown hair fell below her girdle, her 
 cheeks were pale, and the unnatural fire" of mad- 
 ness glowed in her eyes; she examined me with 
 intense interest, stood at some distance from me, 
 in the attitude of listening, with one of her deli- 
 cate fairy fingers held up ; I struck a few chords 
 and murmured the first stanza of a Spanish 
 hymn, Isabelle listened with rapture; I ceased 
 suddenly, and gently slung my guitar across her 
 shoulders ; she eagerly examined it, struck the 
 chords with her fingers, and then returned it me 
 in disgust at the unharmonious sounds she had 
 produced ; knelt down at my feet, and fixed her 
 eyes beseechingly on my face. I raised her,
 
 20 (Lara GAZUL. 
 
 nodded assent, and tried the effect of a livelier 
 air, she appeared to understand the very soul ol 
 music. 
 
 We will live together Isabelle, said I, laying 
 down my instrument, we will sing together, and 
 I will be your companion. 
 
 Your destiny does not lie with mine, said 
 poor Isabelle, there is a fatality against it, she 
 continued, something tells me that I shall one 
 day destroy your peace of mind ; I have seen 
 you in my dreams, but I have odd thoughts and 
 fancies. There are times when, as now, I re- 
 collect all the incoherent things I have said and 
 done, and then I weep, oh ! 'tis shocking to 
 know that we have seen in our minds eye, what 
 in fact is no where else visible; to be aware that 
 one is watched and chained up like a wild beast, 
 nay more, (continued Isabelle looking wildly 
 about her, and pressing her hand on her fore- 
 head) " to feel that confusion here, which ren- 
 ders such bondage necessary:" 
 
 Oh, how shocking ! I exclaimed in the tone oi 
 genuine pity.
 
 CLARA GAZUL "21 
 
 I have seen a murderous hand raised against my 
 life; I have seen blood flow, and the earth be- 
 strewed with mangled human frames !!.... I 
 have seen all this, and know it was but the vision 
 of a disordered mind. 
 
 They will pass away as dreams, said I, (put- 
 ting my arms round poor Isabelle's neck and 
 kissing her) these are fearful fancies, but we 
 will charm them away with music. 
 
 Do you not fear me then ? she asked. 
 
 And why so my sweet delicate sister, I re- 
 plied, even though some shocking phantoms do 
 disturb your mind ? you shall learn of me to 
 touch the light guitar, and we will live together. 
 
 I passed the whole of the day with Isabelle, 
 and at parting delighted her by my promise to 
 return to her the next morning. 
 
 I found my nurse Agnes in high spirits, 
 Albert,, the Count Drognichieff's gentleman, had 
 been very particular in his attentions to her; 
 and she believed him to be an excellent young 
 man.
 
 22 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 I eagerly changed the subject, to enquire 
 when she had seen Captain Ligonia ? 
 
 Poor dear gentleman, said Agnes; I have 
 just been talking about him to Monsieur Albert 
 
 And what said Monsieur Albert? I asked 
 eagerly. 
 
 The substance of what Agnes had gathered 
 from the Count's servant Albert, was simply 
 this. " That about fourteen years back, when 
 the Count was a mere child, Ligonia had entered 
 the regiment of cossacks, to which his father 
 belonged as a private soldier, where, by his bra- 
 very and talents, he had immediately distinguish- 
 ed himself, and was soon promoted to the rank 
 of captain ; that higher honors had been tender- 
 ed to him which he had declined. He spoke 
 the Russian language without foreign accent, 
 but as he had perfected himself in so many 
 others, no one knew for certain from whence he 
 came ; that his grace and beauty had captivated 
 the Count's sister; that his father who owed 
 his life to the courage and generosity pf Ligonia,
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 23 
 
 had desired to promote the match, provided he 
 would have explained who and what he was, 
 which Ligonia had refused to do, declaring that 
 he should never marry under any possible circum- 
 stance ; that he was adored by every soldier in 
 the regiment to which he had attached himself, 
 for his noble courage, charity and benevolence ; 
 that he seemed to be from the first independent 
 in his circumstances, but so deeply oppressed 
 with melancholy, as to endure existence only 
 that he might lighten the hardships of the poor 
 soldiers he commanded. 
 
 The deep interest I had before felt for Ligonia 
 was increased to enthusiasm, by Agnes's ac- 
 count of his virtues and courage ; and I was 
 vexed to find that I could no longer keep her 
 awake, to delight me with every trifling parti- 
 cular which she had gathered from her new ad- 
 mirer Albert.
 
 •24 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 A SENTIMENTAL SCENE WITH A COLD LOVER ; — 
 I RECEIVE A DANGEROUS WOUND FROM THE HAND 
 OF A LADY. — CAPTAIN LIGONIA RETURNS INTO 
 RUSSIA. — MARRIAGE OF MADEMOISELLE FLEURY ; 
 I ACCOMPANY HER TO NAPLES ; SOME ACCOUNT 
 OF MY TRAVELLING COMPANION. 
 
 But few events occurred during the next four 
 or five weeks : my performance on the guitar, 
 had, by this time, got me in vogue at Lyons, 
 where nothing was talked of but the Spanish 
 girl and her guitar; and every body's balls or 
 assemblies were considered not worth attending, 
 unless Madame Fleury would bring her prote- 
 gee to play one little song, and accompany it 
 with her beautiful voice. 
 
 From the first day of my attendance on Isa- 
 belle, her health was said to improve. I was
 
 Clara gazcl. - 5 
 
 iier companion and music mistress, and her pro- 
 gress was rapid. 
 
 I saw Captain Ligonia, daily, and melancholy 
 as he was, I could not help flattering myself 
 that he liked my society. Those were indeed 
 delightful moments to me, who loved for the 
 first time, with all the impassioned ardour that 
 my nature was capable of. 
 
 I was roused from my happy dream by the 
 unwelcome news that Captain Ligonia proposed 
 shortly returning to Russia, in consequence of 
 the breaking up of the army of occupation that 
 year (1818.) 
 
 On his naming this resolution to me, I burst 
 into tears. We were alone; Ligonia soothed 
 me in terms of the gentlest pity ; he could not 
 be blind to the sentiments he had inspired, and 
 he was too frank to affect ignorance on the sub- 
 ject. 
 
 Clara, said he, feelingly, you see before you 
 an unhappy man, whose heart is dead to love, 
 and whose mind is subdued by a weight of an* 
 
 Vol. I. e
 
 2(j CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 guish which renders ex istence a burthen to him ; 
 
 it has not, however, made me so callous, but that 
 
 T can still desire to promote the welfare of one so 
 
 young, so lovely, and so deserted. 
 
 As I listened to Ligonia's discourse, my tears 
 fell unheeded down my cheeks. 
 
 I would fain be as a parent or a brother to 
 you Clara, continued he, pressing my hand, and 
 looking at me with tenderness, but my mind is 
 so disturbed. I cannot direct you ; yet, I do 
 believe, you love me, Clara, and your affection 
 may be proved towards me in a way to afford 
 me much comfort. Attend to the little counsel 
 I can offer you ; subdue your passions ; acquire 
 the command of them as you would save your- 
 self from crime and destruction. We may meet 
 again, Clara. Let me find you a respected, use- 
 ful member of society. 
 
 And will you smile kindly on me, if }^ou hear, 
 that unaided by a single friend, I shall have 
 subdued my passions, and learnt to merit the 
 esteem of the wise and the good ?
 
 CL\RA GAZUL. 2? 
 
 Alas ! Clara, save in bitterness of spirit, I shall 
 never, I fear, smile again. 
 
 Oh ! What hope will support me then? said 
 I, sobbing aloud; Who, in this dreary world, 
 where I am a stranger, shall speak comfort to 
 me? 
 
 Vainly would you come to me for comfort, 
 poor Clara, said Ligonia, while his beautiful 
 countenance, bore the fixed character of des- 
 pair. 
 
 I will be all you wish, continued I. If I live 
 and preserve my senses, I will never love you 
 less than at this moment. 
 
 And suppose you were to discover that your 
 affections had been fixed on a man whose vices 
 were 
 
 I can suppose no vice, I could not pardon in 
 you Ligonia, I interrupted. 
 
 Clara, you have soothed some of my bitter- 
 est feelings, and rendered me for a moment 
 less wretched : we may meet, perhaps, when 
 you least expect it Of one thing, be certain.
 
 28 CLAUA (iAZUL. 
 
 that I shall not cease to interest myself for your 
 happiness. Let me hope that my advice has 
 been of service to one of my fellow-creatures. 
 
 Ligonia refused to be more communicative, 
 as to what chance I had of ever meeting him 
 again. When he was about to take leave 
 of me, I wept bitterly. 
 
 May God bless you, Clara! Pray for me, 
 poor Clara, said he, and he was going ; a phan- 
 tom obstructed his path ! Isabelle stood be- 
 fore him, pale as a corpse ; her attitude was 
 menacing, her eyes darted fire, and her hair 
 was dishevelled. This sudden apparition seem- 
 ed to appal the very soul of Ligonia, who uttered 
 a deep groan. On a sudden, Isabelle snatched 
 up a pruning knife which the gardener had 
 accidentally left in her path, and aimed it, with 
 the quickness of thought, at the breast of Ligo- 
 nia, whose face was covered with his hands, as if 
 to shut out from his sight some terrific object. 
 
 I sprang forward, and throwing myself on Li- 
 gonia' s bosom, received the intended death wound
 
 CLARA GA2UL. 29 
 
 for him in my shoulder. At sight of the blood, 
 which flowed from the wound, Isabelle's loud 
 screams brought both servants and neighbours 
 to my assistance. Let the reader judge of their 
 surprise and consternation at the scene which 
 presented itself. 
 
 Ligonia was on his knees, his features covered 
 with a deadly paleness, was employed in endea- 
 vouring to stop with his handkerchief the blood 
 which flowed from my wound. 
 
 As I shortly afterwards fell into a deep 
 swoon, 1 cannot describe what followed. 
 
 On coming to my senses, I found myself in 
 bed, Agnes and the physican were watching by 
 my side. For several days, I was not permitted 
 to speak; my wound was dangerous, but the 
 excellence of my constitution aided my reco- 
 very. 
 
 As soon as I was permitted to converse, I ga- 
 thered the following particulars from Agnes. The 
 doctor had forgotten to fasten the door of Isabel- 
 le'sapartment, who finding herself at liberty, had
 
 30 CLAftA G\ZUL. 
 
 wandered towards that part of the garden where 
 
 we stood. No one eould account for those 
 
 symptoms of horror and abhorrence which she 
 
 evinced at the sight of Ligonia. Conjectures 
 
 were fruitless, since Ligonia had served in Russia 
 
 nearly as long as Isabelle had been born. The 
 
 attempt she had made on his life could, 
 
 therefore, only be attributed to the sudden freak 
 
 of a maniac. 
 
 Poor Isabelle was consequently more closely 
 
 watched than usual. On being questioned why 
 
 she attempted such a crime, she had shewn so 
 
 much agitation, and spoken so wildly, that the 
 
 physician had thought it prudent, to change the 
 
 subject, and her attendants were forbidden to 
 
 recur to it. 
 Ligonia, who was still an inmate of Madame 
 
 de Fleury, as soon as I was permitted to con- 
 verse, took an affectionate leave of me. Alas ! 
 said he, at parting, could one fatal hour be blot- 
 ted from time, we might enjoy more happiness
 
 CLARA GAZUL 3l 
 
 than usually falls to the lot of man ; but it can- 
 not must not be. 
 
 Ligonia, said I, your will and pleasure be 
 ever sacred to me, when that sweet countenance 
 which I now gaze on shall be seen no more, 
 when immense space shall divide us, and when 
 I hear of you no longer, methinks I shall have 
 ceased to exist for ought, save stern duty and 
 severe privation. I ask no promises, I will ac- 
 cept no pity, and I claim no merit, that I threw 
 myself between you and danger, for it was the 
 act of involuntary impulse; if ever my affec- 
 tion can comfort you, you will seek me ; in the 
 mean time be free. It shall be my ambition to 
 deserve your esteem, with that of all good men, 
 and every evening while the sun is setting, I 
 will fervently pray to the Father of all good to 
 give you comfort. 
 
 Ligonia clasped me to his heart in a short but 
 fervent embrace. 
 
 Be assured, said he, that the heart that turns
 
 3*2 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 from you Clara, shall never enjoy woman's love, 
 and he disappeared. 
 
 The physician found my pulse high. My re- 
 lapse was very serious ; for eight days, my life 
 was despaired of. 
 
 When I recovered, I learned that Ligonia was 
 on his road to Russia, having left Lyons immedi- 
 ately after our last interview, but ^rst he had 
 deposited a purse of gold with Agnes for my use. 
 
 Shortly after the departure of Ligonia, Rosa 
 informed me that the young Count DrognichiefY 
 had proposed to her, and been accepted, that an 
 early day was fixed for their marriage ; imme- 
 diately after which, they had determined to pro- 
 ceed to Naples. Rosa invited me to accompany 
 her, which invitation I joyfully accepted, and 
 promised to hold myself in readiness. 
 
 In the mean time I received a visit from Doc- 
 tor Lambert, who came to take his leave of me, 
 being about to accompany Mademoiselle St. 
 Sauveur to England. Since the attempt she had 
 made in her frenzy on the life of Ligonia, her
 
 CLAftA GaZI'L. ^3 
 
 mind had conjured up some horrible images 
 respecting him. All her medical attendants had 
 therefore recommended change of scene to the 
 poor invalid, who would leave Lyons for Lon- 
 don on that very evening, after which they pro- 
 posed passing a few months in Italy. The 
 Doctor having shook me cordially by the hand, 
 and expressed his hopes of meeting me in Na- 
 ples, took his departure. 
 
 In another month the nuptials of Count 
 Drognichieff and Rosa were celebrated at Lyons, 
 and the next day we were all three journeying 
 on our road to Naples, accompanied by Agnes 
 and her new lover Albert, (the Count's servant) 
 Rosa's femme de chambre Pauline, and three 
 male domestics. The bride and bridegroom 
 travelled tete-a-tete in their travelling chariot, 
 the large family coach was loaded chiefly with 
 baggage, and the inside occupied by myself, 
 Agnes, Pauline, and a little repasseuse whom 
 the Count had engaged in Paris, at the recom- 
 mendation of a great countess, not for himself 
 
 Vol. T. f
 
 34 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 but for the service of a Neapolitan marquis 
 whose name was St. Betise, and she assured the 
 Count " que la petite repasseuse dont il vou- 
 " loit bien se charger seroit un vrai tresor 
 " pour son cher ami a Naples, M. le Marquis 
 "de St. Betise; vu, qu'il tenoit a avoir ses che- 
 " mises plissees dans la plus haute perfection.*" 
 Rosa and the Count would have had me tra- 
 vel with them, but besides the scruples I felt to 
 interfere with their tete-a-tete, I experienced, in 
 my present melancholy tone of mind, a strong 
 antipathy to the idea of witnessing two happy 
 lovers during their honey-moon. 
 
 The Countess, however, never treated me as 
 an inferior, but insisted on my dining at her own 
 table. 
 
 Pauline, her dashing waiting woman, turned 
 up her nose at my poor simple nurse Agnes ; 
 
 * That the little laundress, of which he was so polite as to take 
 charge, would turn out quite an acquisition to his friend at Naples, 
 the Marquis of St. Betise ; and most essentially so, as he was so 
 particular in having his shirt frills got up, and plaited in the very 
 highest perfection.
 
 CLARA GAZUL 35 
 
 perhaps some degree of jealousy existed be- 
 tween them; I suspected that Albert was the 
 prize for which they contended. The little 
 French repasseuse possessed more ready wit 
 than modesty; she wore a smart green silk 
 apron, adorned with full trimmed pockets, and a 
 cap ornamented with rose coloured ribbons, a 
 little rouge, and a great deal of sandy hair ; her 
 pretensions to beauty were very moderate, in- 
 deed, I was greatly surprised at the choice of the 
 Count's friends in Paris, of this female who ap- 
 peared so deficient in every amiable quality.
 
 3(5 CLAUA GAZUL. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 SERENADING AND SERENADERS— JEALOUSY IN LOW 
 LIFE — HONOR DEFINED BY A FRENCH COOK SHEW- 
 ING WHAT A HOLD VANITY HAS ON THE PASSIONS 
 OF MAN — A HOAX. 
 
 As we passed through Italy, everybody ex- 
 claimed at the dirt and poverty which was min- 
 gled with splendour, so as to completely destroy 
 its effects. 
 
 But I, as a Spaniard, saw nothing to astonish 
 me in a fine castle loaded with rich furniture, 
 paintings, and precious stones, while the lower 
 stories were appropriated for filthy stalls where 
 squalid penury reigned, without regard to order 
 or decency. 
 
 The twanging of innumerable guitars, was as 
 frequently heard in this country of an evening 
 as in my own, and the Italians are better musi- 
 cians but the higher romantic spirit of serenad-
 
 CLAIIA GAZUL. .'*7 
 
 ing exists in Spain, or may be I am partial 
 in saying so much. 
 
 In Italy, every barber, as a means of adding 
 some touch of refinement to the expression of 
 his coarse desires, has recourse to a guitar, on 
 which he contrives from his good ear to accom- 
 pany his voice. The same love rigmarole, to 
 the same air is twanged all over the towns at 
 midnight; the number of guitars being regu- 
 lated by the fortune of the serenader, or by the 
 degree of respect and love which the object has 
 inspired. 
 
 I have heard fifty or sixty guitars at a time, 
 twanging merrily under my window, after I had 
 returned from visiting one of the theatres with 
 the Count and Rosa ; nay, Pauline too was sere- 
 naded by three musicians one night at Bologna. 
 To shew what a hold vanity has on the passions 
 of man, Albert was just growing tired of Pau- 
 line, and he now conceived she must be an 
 angel. Pauline on her part, elated with what 
 she pretended was proof positive of the won-
 
 38 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 derful effect of her charms, in her turn began to 
 treat Albert with high disdain. Albert had 
 served three years with his young master in 
 Russia, he had certainly been once, half in love 
 with Pauline. Reflecting on these weighty sub- 
 jects, he began to fancy himself jealous, and to 
 think about his honor, not that he quite under- 
 stood what the word meant. 
 
 He would fain have consulted some military 
 hero on the subject, but being ignorant of their 
 language, he addressed himself to Pedro the 
 French cook. 
 
 Pedro was a merry wag who had formerly 
 kept a gambling house in Paris, until he had 
 been forced to emigrate for the simple circum- 
 stance, of having at a game of whist, when a 
 large sum of money was at stake, kept all the 
 honors to himself. 
 
 Honor, said the Frenchman as soon as 
 Albert had sharpened his wit by a cup of 
 wine, "honor is of various sorts and kinds; 
 the honor of a man-cook requires that he should
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 39 
 
 send to table a delicious repast , a tailor's honor 
 is in his measure, for if he mismeasures, he is 
 dishonored; the honor of a justice of peace rests 
 in his prudence, and he may commit any body 
 but himself; the honor of a prime minister is to 
 keep down the opposition; and the honor of 
 an Italian actress dwells, as you well know, with 
 the number and high rank of her lovers. 
 
 But speak tome of military honor! said Al- 
 bert impatiently. 
 
 Military honor consists in never flinching 
 from the bottle said Pedro, filling both their 
 glasses. 
 
 True, replied Albert, after swallowing a 
 bumper, but on that point I have ever conform- 
 ed religiously to the rules prescribed ; but sup- 
 pose a man tries to seduce my mistress, what 
 says honor to that ? 
 
 Speak you of Italian honor? 
 
 I speak of military honor. 
 
 Yes! but 'tis widely different in Italy and in 
 France: which will you have?
 
 40 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 Either is good enough for me ; give me the 
 most simple. 
 
 In this country then it is the custom to stab 
 the offender in the dark ! 
 
 A Rome comme a Rome, said Albert, taking 
 up his hat, his mind bent on deeds of blood. 
 
 It was striking eleven o'clock when Albert 
 left the French cook, who had received him in 
 his bed room. As he traversed the corridors 
 in his way towards the kitchen, he met Agnes, 
 who told him that supper was ready. Albert 
 pushed her on one side with such rudeness, that 
 the poor young woman burst into tears. Albert 
 relented, he could have given her his heart and 
 best affections, whom he esteemed for her gentle 
 virtue, if any body would have but given her a 
 serenade. In the mean time, but little glory was 
 attached to a conquest which no one coveted or 
 contended for, so having begged her pardon, and 
 excused himself from joining her at supper, he 
 hastened towards his own bed room, where he 
 armed himself with his travelling dagger and
 
 CLARA GAZUL 41 
 
 small pair of pocket pistols, and then hurried 
 into the street. 
 
 Here he began to parade up and down un- 
 der Pauline's window. 
 
 His courage, for the first quarter of an hour, 
 was firm and terrible ; the fumes of the wine he 
 had just swallowed, had worked him into a 
 jealous phrensy, and he grasped his dagger with 
 a savage gripe. Towards midnight he began to 
 reflect seriously on what be was about. Sud- 
 denly he heard the twang of several guitars. 
 
 The night was dark, and Albert advanced un- 
 perceived, nearly close behind the musicians. 
 They were three in number, as before, and ap- 
 peared to be mere lads: they sang a pretty amo- 
 rous ditty, which they accompanied with some 
 skill. 
 
 Villains! cried Albert, who could contain him- 
 self no longer — Rogues! Thieves! away with 
 you, or I will send a brace of pistol bullets 
 through your empty heads, an you dont leave 
 
 off your twanging ; saying which, he seized hold 
 Vol. I. g
 
 42 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 of the youths by the collar, one after the other, 
 and flung them to the earth with the greatest 
 possible ease. 
 
 Murder! murder! rape! murder! scream- 
 ed out the poor musicians, as they each measur- 
 ed their length on the ground. 
 
 However, it was soon evident, that two out 
 of the three had escaped death from the dread 
 hands of the terrible Albert, since they were no 
 sooner down than up again, and scampering to- 
 wards the kitchen, as though old nick had been 
 in pursuit of them. But the last of these three 
 amorous heroes happened to be less fortunate, if 
 one might judge from the noise he made, and 
 from his continuing on the earth, just where Al- 
 bert had tossed him. 
 
 Wretch ! you have broken all my bones, 
 screamed out the prostrate youth, in good 
 French. 
 
 The Count, Rosa, and myself, accompanied 
 by the hostler and the maitre d' hotel, attracted 
 and alarmed by this midnight disturbance, has-
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 43 
 
 tened to the outer gate. We arrived just in 
 time to witness a most ridiculous scene. Albert 
 had picked up the wounded hero, and was car- 
 rying him towards the kitchen. He was mask- 
 ed, and being placed on the dresser, persisted in 
 declaring that his bones were all broken. 
 
 Surely, said the Count, this youth has got on 
 my surtout! — and holy Virgin ! exclaimed Al- 
 bert, these are your Lordship's overalls. We 
 have caught a thief! Here Pedro! Pedro ! send 
 for an officer ! — Take the rogue into safe custody, 
 bawled out the maitre d' hotel. 
 
 Spare me! Pardon me! Pardon! said the 
 phantom, suddenly rising from the dresser, and 
 tearing off his mask, he fell prostrate at the 
 feet of the Countess. 
 
 It was Pauline, as large as life, who had been 
 serenading herself; grown desperate at the 
 change in Albert's manners since he had become 
 acquainted with Agnes, she had imagined this 
 stratagem to rouse the jealousy of her ci-devant 
 lover, and induced the little repasseuse, with the
 
 44 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 kitchen maid, to accompany her, after leaving a 
 light in her bed room, and putting the key in 
 her pocket. 
 
 Bursts of laughter now resounded from all 
 quarters; the Countess pitying the extreme dis- 
 tress of her woman Pauline, refrained from re- 
 proaching her; Agnes, instead of triumphing 
 in the disgrace of her rival, feeling her gentle 
 heart melted with pity, offered to lead Pauline 
 out of the room. 
 
 Bruised and crest-fallen, the poor self-sere- 
 nader, was easily prevailed upon to go and hide 
 her diminished head-
 
 C L A R A G A Z U L . A ~> 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 IN WHICH FANCHETTE THE LITTLE FRENCH RE- 
 PASSEUSE RELATES HER ADVENTURES. 
 
 We continued our journey towards Naples, by 
 short stages. 
 
 One day when we had exhausted many sub- 
 jects of conversation, and had been silent for 
 some time, the little indefatigable repasseuse, 
 whose name was Fanchette, proposed that each 
 should relate the adventures of her life. 
 
 My story was soon told ; Pauline's had little 
 interest in it, but the French woman's account 
 of herself, being more lively, I will endeavour to 
 give it my readers in her own words. 
 
 " My mother was a repasseuse, and I was 
 bred up to her trade. Having, at the age of 
 nineteen, become intimate with a very profligate
 
 46 CLARA UAZUL. 
 
 set of girls ; my mother, under the idea of sepa- 
 rating me from the connection I had formed, 
 procured me a place of femme de chambre, to 
 Madam la Marquise de la Croix, who was so 
 celebrated in Paris, for her beauty and whimsi- 
 cal disposition. 
 
 The Marquis, her husband, was a stiff formal 
 pair de France, about forty years of age. His 
 beautiful wife was only fifteen, when I entered 
 her service. All the men were in love with 
 her, but though she was the gayest of the gay, 
 and dressed herself in the most extravagant ec- 
 centric and coquetish manner, yet was her virtue 
 never suspected. We led a merry life at the 
 Marquis de la Croix's, and drank champagne 
 constantly at the second table. Heaven defend 
 me from an ugly mistress, who is sure to under- 
 stand domestic duties, and regulate the expenses 
 and table of her servants, whilst a beauty is ab- 
 sorbed in the delights of making and preserving 
 conquests. The Marquis thought only of his
 
 CLARA (i\7.VL 47 
 
 lovely wife, when he was not more deeply en- 
 gaged with his senatorial duties. 
 
 " Thou/h my mistress was indifferent to all 
 her other noble conquests, yet I could not help 
 fancying that she distinguished her cousin, whom 
 she called Alfred, with peculiar attention. Al- 
 fred was a novice in the gay world, a mere stu- 
 dent, hot from the university, all passion and 
 sensibility. He was a sweet pretty youth to 
 look at, with a dimple in his cheek like a wo- 
 man's. I was told that he was clever and accom- 
 plished too, and I remarked, he sang like a night- 
 ingale, and his breath was as sweet as a rose. 
 
 It was easy for every one to observe, how he 
 loved his cousin, but I believe the idea of pos- 
 sessing her, had never once entered his young- 
 head, when the anecdote I am about to relate 
 to you took place. But first, I must acquaint 
 you that though the Marquis and his wife loved 
 each other dearly, yet they quarrelled like dog 
 and cat, often for the most absurd trifles, and 
 then they would kiss and make it up, as other
 
 48 CLARA C5AZUL. 
 
 married people do. The Marquis would then 
 ransack all the jeweller's shops in the Palais- 
 Royal, for some new fanciful bauble to present 
 to his pretty pet-wife, who used to vex and tease 
 him so much occasionally, and particularly 
 when she taught her parrot to call him odd 
 names, such as, vieux emplatre — fane — passe — 
 blase — ci-devant jeune-homme,* &c. &c. &c. 
 
 On one of these occasions, the Marquis so 
 completely lost his temper and his manners, as 
 literally to have laid his childish wife across his 
 knees, and actually whipped her smartly with a 
 rod, as though she had been an infant. 
 
 My mistress was, generally speaking, as sweet 
 in temper, as she was lovely, and though in a 
 tremendous passion at the moment, soon forgave 
 her husband for the unwarrantable liberty he 
 had taken with her. 
 
 Unhappily for the Marquis, he was of a fid- 
 getty tiresome temper, and knew not how to be 
 
 * You drone of a fellow ! — you dried up— done up — worn out 
 old codger ! — Ed.
 
 I J. A R.\ &AZU L. 4U 
 
 quiet when he was well otT. Not content with 
 having whipped his beautiful wife, he had the 
 folly to boast of it in her presence, and before 
 at lea>t twenty visitors. " Regarded moi cette 
 belle sauvage, cette beaute fiere, said he, half 
 in kindness, half ironically ! Qui croiroit qu'elle 
 aete fouettee . . . mais bien fouettee .... fouettee 
 comme il faut*!' ' 
 
 The young countess's cheek glowed deep 
 scarlet She rushed out of the room, flew up 
 stairs tojoin her cousin, who resided in the house, 
 invited him to her boudoir, and when she re- 
 turned to the saloon, where she left the aston- 
 ished company, she addressed them as follows, 
 in a loud voice : Si Messieurs et mesdames j'ai 
 l'honneur fie vous annoncer que vons voyez la, 
 devant vos yeux monsieur le Marquis de la 
 Croix, que vient a l'instant d'etre coiffe — mais 
 
 Look, gentlemen, at this proud and savage beauty ! Who, here, 
 will credit me, when I assure them honestly, that she was, not 
 long since well whipped!— well whipped — to her heart's content 
 too!! Editor 
 
 Vol. I. h
 
 50 CLARA UAZUL. 
 
 bien coifi'e — coiife coinme il taut ! ! — Demandez 
 a mon cousin."* — Every body opened their eyes, 
 but were tongue-tied with astonishment. 
 
 The marquis knew the world, and affected to 
 consider this story as a joke; in short, up tc 
 this day, he has never acknowleged that he be* 
 lieved one word of it, although I am persuaded 
 that no man knew the character of his wife 
 better than the Marquis. However that may be, 
 they have lived upon such excellent terms, that 
 my master has never once had recourse to birch- 
 ing his lady from that hour ; neither do I, in my 
 conscience, believe, that the beau cousin, was 
 ever again permitted to become an instrument 
 of revenge to the Marchioness de la Croixf. The 
 Marquis had an ugly knack of putting his ear 
 to the key hole of the servant's office, in order to 
 listen to our discourse. 
 
 * Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honour to announce to you 
 
 that you see here, before jour own eyes, the Marquis de la Croix 
 
 whose I ead has w* 11 bien this instant dressed and ornamented !— 
 
 iir.d ornamented— to his heart's content tco ! ! — Ask my cousin ! 
 
 t This is a true stur;. • 
 
 Editor.
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 51 
 
 One night, after the Marchioness had been 
 thus revenged on him, he heard me relate the 
 circumstance of my having been an eye-witness 
 of the tete-a-tete between the Marchioness and 
 her cousin, from the key hole of the room ad- 
 joining her boudoir, when instead of pardoning 
 me for such curiosity, as he was, himself, in 
 the habit of gratifying by the like means, even 
 on much less interesting occasions, he, without 
 further ceremony, turned me out of doors. 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 ILLINOIS LIBRARY
 
 52 CLARA HAZUL. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 CONTINUATION OF FANCHETTE'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 My talents, as a repasseuse, however, soon pro- 
 cured me a good post with a prude of the name 
 of de Vallier, who resided with her husband at 
 her chateau near Versailles. 
 
 This lady was a strict catholic, and led us a 
 very dull life, making us attend mass, twice a 
 day, and fast the whole of lent. 
 
 Madame de Vallier was not half so beautiful as 
 my late mistress, although possessed of some 
 charms; she was a weak, vain, amorous woman, 
 and I soon contrived to flatter her weak side, till 
 I obtained her confidence. Listen, said she, one 
 day to me, as I sat by her bed-side, at work, 
 while she sipped her chocolate. I have a good 
 opinion of you, and believe you trust worthy.
 
 CLAW A GAZUL. 53 
 
 I expressed my gratitude, and my anxiety to 
 deserve her flattering predilection in my favor. 
 
 Asa reward for your fidelity, take this purse, 
 continued my mistress, presenting me with one 
 that was tolerably well lined. 
 
 After much preamble, and many attempts to 
 blush, she acknowleged that she adored a young 
 military hero, by name De Julien, who was the 
 constant visitor of her husband. 
 
 Madame de Vallier proceeded with her con- 
 fession, in! about these words: — "Although my 
 lover returns my passion, we have found it im- 
 possible to gratify our wishes, owing to my hus- 
 band's indefatigable zeal in watching our very 
 looks, and his obstinate perseverance in accom- 
 panying me wherever I go. Cependant ceque 
 femme veut, Dieu veut* ; >and I have hit upon a 
 plan that with your assistance cannot fail. Re- 
 member your fidelity shall be well rewarded, 
 whilst the least indiscretion on your part, will 
 cause your immediate dismissal." 
 
 * What woman wills ; (Jod wills. — Ed.
 
 .54 ILAIU 6AZUL 
 
 Having made the warmest professions of good 
 faith and honor, the lady proceeded to explain 
 her intentions, as follows : 
 
 " De Julien dines here to day ; at ten, in 
 the evening, he will take his leave, our foot- 
 man, Ambrose, remains absent till to-morrow 
 night. When you hear De Julien descend the 
 stairs, open the gate, and affect to let him out, 
 Having shut it again with a loud noise, you have 
 only to lead De Julien, into your small sitting 
 room down stairs. Take care to place lights, and 
 whatever may be necessary, before hand." 
 Willingly, Madam. 
 
 " You will then," continued my mistress, " go 
 to your bed, and I command you on no account 
 to leave it till the morning, not though I should 
 ring my bell for an hour together." 
 
 The heavyj purse I still held in my hand had 
 put me in such excellent temper, that I vehe- 
 mently protested and promised my mistress that 
 all her wishes should be blindl} obeyed. 
 
 Alas, continued my mistress, with uplifted
 
 CLAMA SAZUL. 55 
 
 eyes, how arbitary is the passion of love ! How 
 impossible to overcome ! 
 
 Then do not attempt impossibilities, Madam, 
 said I. 
 
 I have before hand made up my mind to do 
 heavy penance for this sin, said my mistress, 
 and left me. 
 
 Every thing succeeded to our wishes, and De 
 J ulien being safely lodged in my sitting room, 
 my mistress and master shortly afterwards went 
 to bed. I soon followed their example. 
 
 At midnight I was awoke out of my sleep 
 by a violent ringing of my mistress's bell, which 
 tingled loudly and without intermission for near- 
 ly three quarters of an hour, after which, all was 
 still as death. 
 
 My mistress went out early the next day to 
 confess, but did not once allude to the circum- 
 stance of the night before. Xo suspicion what- 
 ever was entertained by the tender husband, and 
 all went on smooth, for more than a week. But 
 it happened that De .1 ulien had a friend who was
 
 56' CLAM A GAZUL. 
 
 quartered at Versailles, whom he loved as a 
 brother. The discretion of a Frenchman in 
 love affairs, is not always to be depended upon. 
 De Julien's intrigue with Madame de Vallier, 
 was too piquante; the story of the bell too 
 amusing to be buried in his own breast, so under 
 promise of strict secrecy, he related it to his 
 friend, taking care, however, to conceal the 
 name of the lady. His friend repeated it to al- 
 most every officer in the regiment, and thus it got 
 round to Jacques Tracasse, the barber of the ad- 
 joining village, near our chateau, a tooth-draw- 
 er, and merry fellow to boot, possessing an infal- 
 lible remedy for the lumbago, and another for 
 dyeing hair. 
 
 The said Jacques Tracasse was well known to 
 all the good families about Versailles, many 
 of whom preferred sending to him at his 
 village, which was at some distance, to emplov- 
 ing any one of the town, partly on account of 
 his excellent talents, as a hair dresser, but chief- 
 ly because of his lively humour. He was, in
 
 <L \ R. \ G IXUL 0/ 
 
 fact, a most amusing gossip, and it became the 
 fashion to send for Jacques Tracasse, as an occa- 
 sional remedy for the spleen, as the English 
 people call it 
 
 But to proceed with my story ; the French 
 are a fickle race, and De Julien having succeed- 
 ed in a tete-a-tete with his mistress, as I have 
 described, never thought of trying to obtain a 
 second, on the contrary, in a few days after- 
 wards, he procured six months leave of absence, 
 and departed for a distant country. 
 
 This insulting conduct, so enraged my mis- 
 tress, that her former passion was converted into 
 hatred, and she called down vengeance and 
 many imprecations upon De Julien's head, 
 vowing she would renounce the whole sex. 
 
 Soon afterward she sent for two female re- 
 lations to come and reside with her, but cruel 
 and false as may be those vile men, there is. it 
 should seem, no such thing as dispensing with 
 
 them. My mistress and her two female friends 
 Vol. L 1
 
 38 CL \ R \ GAZUL 
 
 did nothing but yawn from morning till night, 
 or they would sit fortune-telling, and promising 
 a brace of new lovers to each other at every 
 cut of the cards 
 
 My mistress's husband was a merchant, whose 
 affairs detained him continually at Paris. When 
 at home, lie acted the husband to perfection, 
 just as I have seen that character performed at 
 every place where I have lived. I don't mean 
 to say that there are no light and dark shades, 
 and that all husbands are exactly alike, be- 
 cause some I have seen, who in society seem 
 perfect models, ever calling their wives " my 
 dear," or, M my sweet one," giving them the 
 warmest seat by the fire, and speakiug of them 
 to their friends, with the highest respect: whilst 
 others, more frank and natural, will call their 
 wife a fool, before all the world, and ever keep 
 the warmest seat by the fire, to the aslonish- 
 ment of all the well-bred part of the company. 
 This latter class, I must say, have generally been 
 in private, the best husbands, and some of these
 
 CL MIA Ci NZL'L. 10 
 
 have, in ti.t-ir hearts, really loved their wives next 
 and second only to themselves; but bad are the 
 best. AH husbands consider their wnes as pa- 
 tient tools, destined to bear more harsh usage, 
 and insulting taunting remarks, than the lowest 
 menial would endure for an hour ; being bound 
 in honor and decency to stand by them in their 
 poverty and gaunt misery, not a jot the less 
 firmly, when they have brought it on by their 
 own careless extravagance or profligacy. True, 
 most husbands will stand by their wives, fight, 
 nay, die for their wives, should they be sudden- 
 ly in danger of violence or ill usage, but these 
 
 occasions are rare, and in the mean time the 
 * « 
 
 wife is daily neglected and ill used, because, 
 bear it she must, and forgive it she must, since 
 she is fastened for life to him, and to force her 
 chains is but to incur disgrace, and have the 
 finger of scorn pointed at her, or be reduced 
 to the hard case of perpetuai celibacy. But 1 
 am straying from my story. 
 
 One Sunday afternoon my master being in a
 
 6*0 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 livelier humour than usual, his wife proposed 
 sending for Jacques Tracasse, to amuse her two 
 female friends, who had never seen him. We 
 will pretend to have the lumbago, or to want 
 some of his box-combs, of which he talks so 
 much, said my mistress ; my master w T as delighted 
 with the idea, and Tracasse being sent for, soon 
 made his appearance. 
 
 Figure to yourself a dapper, sturdy|built little 
 man, about five and forty years of age, scarcely 
 five feet high, with a little periwig" on his pate, 
 covered with stale pomatum, and a small cocked 
 hat placed erect over all, his face round, his eyes 
 bright and twinkling, his nose red and snubby, 
 with a comic expression of the mouth, small 
 even black teeth, a dingy skin, and whiskers of 
 no given or acknowledged colour, but dusty red- 
 dish, or red dusted with brown powder. 
 
 The costume of Jacques Tracasse, had been, 
 as I was told, uniformly the same for the last 
 fifteen years. A short coat of light stone blue, 
 fashioned somewhat like un habit de chasse, nan-
 
 CLARA UAZLL. 61 
 
 keen knee breeches, with pearl flat buttons, blue 
 cotton stockings, shoes up to his instep, and 
 large buckles; a neat plaited frill to his shirt, 
 and a small stiff' black cravat, which looked as if 
 it half choaked him, under which he was perpe- 
 tually digging his two fore fingers, in the vain 
 attempt of giving more breathing room, without 
 disturbing the fatal knot, which looked, as if, it 
 had not been untied for half a century. Add to 
 this sketch, an old neatly darned white quilted- 
 waist coat, and one-third of a Swiss check snuff- 
 pocket handkerchief, which was to be seen at 
 all times dangling % out of his coat pocket, and 
 Jacques Tracasse stands before you. 
 
 On entering the room he just lifted his little 
 cocked hat, two inches from his head, while 
 shrugging up his shoulders, he bowed ; and then 
 replacing it with its usual starch precision, said 
 " votre serviteur tres humble," a fine afternoon 
 ladies. Qu'y-a-t-il pour votre service?* a fine qua- 
 lity of hair this young lady's, but she does not 
 
 r What nia} be vour pleasure. — Ed.
 
 6'2 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 take care of it. Mademoiselle, you must amuse 
 yourself with cutting the tips, only — the tips, 
 mind, twice a week. 
 
 Has any body got the lumbago here ? I cured 
 a gentleman who was laid out for dead last 
 week, and not a grey head leit in Versailles ! ! 
 I am a ruined man ; I'm to be compared only to 
 Caesar,* who wanted new worlds to conquer ! 
 Was it not Caesar, ladies ? You have heard of 
 Caesar, no doubt. He was an Italian. A Ro- 
 man, that is to say — same thing ; only when I 
 hear of these fiddling, popingjay singing effe- 
 minate Italians of to-day, I can't fancy how it 
 happened, that Caesar was such a devil of a fel- 
 low! Will you hear the news, fair ladies, or shall 
 I dress your hair ? 
 
 The news, the news, Tracasse, give us news, 
 for we are moped to death, said my mistress. 
 
 Oh ! I hate scandal, said my master, yawning, 
 then added, but Tracasse, you are quite a cha- 
 racter, how long have you lived in this neigh- 
 
 « Qu._ Alcximdn >— Rd.
 
 CLARA CAZL'L. f)3 
 
 bourhood? do sit down man in that chair, and 
 give some account of yourself! Its done in the 
 twinkling of an eye, said Tracasse, tapping his 
 large snuff box. 
 
 Commencons par le petit verre, said my mas- 
 ter, offering the barber a glass of curious li- 
 queur, who having swallowed it, smacked his 
 lips, and pitched his finger under his cravat 
 with a wry face, he hemmed to clear his voice, 
 and then delivered himself as follows: 
 
 I was born in the Pays de Vaud, my father, a 
 respectable Swiss gentleman, wanted to make a 
 merchant of me, for which purpose, he bound 
 me to a bankers' at Lausanne, but I felt such a 
 strong predilection for the stage, and such a 
 hatred to the business of a clerk, that I resolved 
 to run away to Paris. Having performed this 
 journey on foot, I presented myself to some of 
 my father's relations, who, after scolding me for 
 my disobedience, pitied my youth, and gave me a 
 small sum of money to begin the world with. 
 This put me in hicfh spirits.
 
 (54 CLAttA (i \ZUL. 
 
 Having hired a back garret in the Rue St 
 Jacques, I passed whole days in studying for the 
 stage, stamping, raving, dying, and singing by 
 the hour together. At last, my neighbour, in 
 the front garret, who was an author, threatened 
 to complain to our landlord of the noise I made. 
 I called him a grovelling minded wretch, who 
 wanted to clip the wings of my soaring genius, 
 and asked him how he dared interrupt a youth 
 like me, in his studies. 
 
 At least, said the poor devil, since you pre- 
 vent me from working by day light, give me a 
 few candles, that I may continue my book while 
 you sleep. 
 
 I pushed him out of my room by the shoul- 
 ders. 
 
 The next day, the gentleman who lodged 
 under me, gave notice to quit, on account of 
 my stamping my foot so vehementlly exactly 
 over his head, while exercising myself in a 
 deep tragedy. My landlord, to preserve a more 
 profitable lodger, turned me into the street, T
 
 CL\KA UAZUL. 65 
 
 proceeded, but little dismayed, at this accident, 
 towards a small country town, and presented 
 myself to the manager. 
 
 Having a fine voice, they engaged me at thirty 
 sous a night 
 
 I got on better than I expected, and improved 
 daily, but grew very thin on my poor stipend of 
 thirty sous per night, out of which I had to 
 deduct my wig's, gloves, and various articles_of 
 dress. However, I looked forward to better 
 times. 
 
 In three months, my salary was increased, 
 and before the end of the year, I obtained an 
 engagement at Calais, at twenty franks a week. 
 
 To shew you what trifles stamp our future 
 
 destinies, one night when I played the first part 
 
 in a popular tragedy, in which I was required 
 
 to kneel down and offer up a prayer to Heaven, 
 
 I began, by taking of my hat. Here a heavy 
 
 disaster befel me, my wig being too large for my 
 
 head, came flying off at the same time, and in 
 
 my zeal, I dashed it exactly in the face of the 
 Vol. I. k
 
 ()() TLA it A (i \ZC"J.. 
 
 youth who was performing with me. He was 
 a shy nervous young man, who had that night 
 appeared on the stage for the first time ; my 
 wig flapping right in his face, frightened him 
 to such a degree, that he was disqualified for 
 the rest of the evening, while no one missed 
 it from my head, owing to my own excellent 
 hair, and to the row of extra curls which were 
 separately attached to my collar. 
 
 But though I got off with eclar, yet as it was at 
 the expence of one of our company, I fell into a 
 violent passion with the barber, of whom I had 
 hired my wig, for having so shamefully misfitted 
 me. Ever after, dreading the like accident, I 
 used to patch and alter my wigs myself, until I 
 acquired a taste for periwig-making, which I 
 improved under the able tuition of Charles Bap- 
 tiste, who was bred to the trade, and at length 
 I became a proficient in the art. 
 
 In the course of ten years that I played my part 
 in the drama, I earned more by occasionally fa-
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 6f 
 
 bricating a wig, for the trade, than ever I gained 
 by the stage, spite of my superior abilities. 
 
 The ingratitude and meanness of managers, 
 at length disgusted me with a profession, I had in 
 the beginning, thought so highly of, so having 
 obtained the good will of my little shop, by the 
 interest of some friends, I joyfully established 
 myself in this village, where I have reigned as 
 first rate hair dresser, without a rival, for the 
 last fifteen years. Old Juliette has been my 
 cook, friend, and steady companion ; her tender 
 care of me, I am just thinking about rewarding 
 by marriage. 
 
 My mistress thanked the barber, for the trou- 
 ble he had taken. Several glasses of excellent 
 wine which my master presented to Jacques 
 Tracasse, so enlivened the good man, that he 
 grew irresistibly entertaining. 
 
 After relating various little anecdotes of the 
 inhabitants of Versailles, he continued thus : but 
 ladies, my best story is tu come, only in the
 
 68 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 name of Heaven, don't betray me— its a secret 
 the very best joke ! Oh ! its delicious ! ! 
 
 Give it us then, quickly, you provoking man, 
 exclaimed my mistress, impatiently. 
 
 You must know then, said the barber, rub- 
 bing his hands gleefully, you must know that 
 
 Oh ! how you will laugh ! — I had it from 
 
 the very best authority ! — You must excuse 
 names ! but as to the facts, sweet ladies, you 
 may take Jacques Tracasse's word for them. 
 A lady of Versailles, of high birth and character, 
 fell desperately in love with an officer, about 
 a fortnight ago. He was a Frenchman ! I need 
 not add, that he was at her service. The dif- 
 ficulty was this ; her stupid jealous husband 
 never left her for an instant. No matter, she 
 
 resolved to gratify her passion Listen 
 
 ladies 'tis the merriest farce ! would make an 
 excellent dramatic piece. The lady's waiting 
 woman concealed her lover in a closet down 
 stairs, after he had been dining at the house.
 
 CL\KA KAZUL. (jy 
 
 The husband and his wife, having retired toge- 
 ther to bed, the husband, as often happens, soon 
 fell asleep. Suddenly, the barber continued, 
 riggling his chair towards the ladies, and wink- 
 ing his merry eyes, suddenly the wife made be- 
 lieve to be seized with a violent pain about the 
 lower stomach ; imaginez vous. The husband, 
 who awoke from the noise of her continual 
 groans, expressed much anxiety. 
 
 It is nothing, my dear, said the tender spouse, 
 
 but I wish to retire, I must go 
 
 down stairs ! 
 
 Shall I accompany you ? enquired the hus- 
 band. 
 
 Xo my love, not for the world ; but I 
 
 am dreadfully afraid of ghosts, will you oblige 
 me by laying hold of the bell, and ringing it all 
 the while I am absent, that I may know you 
 are awake. The bell will be company for me, 
 at this solemn hour of the night, so don't refuse 
 me my sweet, since I am so so very ill.
 
 ?0 CLARA G\ZUL. 
 
 The husband agreed. Down went the wife, 
 and in a second, was in the arms of her lover. 
 
 Tingle, tingle, tingle, tingle, went the bell for 
 nearly three quarter's of an hour, while the 
 happy lovers, secure of the good husband's 
 " whereabouts" — Hem — translation from Shake- 
 peare's play of Macbeth — enjoyed each other's 
 society, without fear or constraint. Ha! ha! 
 ha ! cette invention ! les dames sont uniques 
 pour inventer, les scenes dramatiques. 
 
 Jacques Tracasse, was so taken up with his 
 own story, that he did not observe the impres- 
 sion it made on his auditors, till the husband 
 strided past him towards the street door, and left 
 the house ; at the same instant, that my mis- 
 tress fell back on the sofa in a fainting fit 
 
 The dismayed barber, when it was too late, 
 guessed the truth, and lamented the mischief he 
 had innocently committed. He bustled up and 
 down, fanned my mistress's face, with his little 
 three cornered hat, wiped the drops from his 
 own with his Swiss pocket handkerchief, de-
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 71 
 
 clared it was a scene for the drama, un coup 
 de Theatre: and then departed, with uplifted 
 eyes, muttering wondrous! curious! who 
 would have thought it? 
 
 For my part, as I was morally certain, that 
 my master would dismiss me for the part I had 
 acted, I began quietly to pack up my clothes 
 as soon as my mistress came out of her swoon, 
 and having demanded the payment of my wages, 
 I left Versailles, on that very evening. 
 
 My master, as I have since heard, never re- 
 turned to his home, but had regular articles of 
 separation drawn out, which procured for my 
 mistress full liberty of action, without the noise 
 of bells in her ears. 
 
 At this moment the loud snoaring of Pauline, 
 who had fallen asleep in the corner of the car- 
 riage, so offended the little repasseuse that she 
 vowed she would waste no more time in relating 
 pleasant adventures to persons who had not the 
 good taste or the good breeding to listen to them.
 
 72 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 WE ARRIVE AT NAPLES — MY CONQUESTS — JEALOUSY 
 IN HIGH LIFE— NEW FRIENDS. 
 
 In a few days after Fanchette had related these 
 adventures, we arrived at Naples, and as soon 
 as we were comfortably settled, in an elegant ho- 
 tel, which the count hired by the month, he 
 sent his letter of introduction to the Marquis St 
 Betise by the little repasseuse. 
 
 The next day, while Rosa and myself were 
 singing a duet together, the Marquis was an- 
 nounced. A little dry yellow looking man with 
 fine eyes, of about eight and thirty. He was 
 all over diamonds, perfume, and emeralds ; the 
 rings on his fingers dazzled us ; his massive 
 gold snuff box, was curiously wrought ; his cam- 
 bric shirt beautifuly embroidered, and fastened
 
 ( t. < R \ HAZUL. 73 
 
 down the breast with a row of diamond buttons. 
 His whole appearance was that of an Italian no- 
 bleman. 
 
 Having saluted us with studied grace, and ex- 
 pressed himself charmed to make our acquain- 
 tance, and grateful for the vast kindness we had 
 done him in bringing over such an excellent repas- 
 seuse, " qui plisoita ravir,*" said the Marquis, kis- 
 sing the tips of his delicate fingers, he hesitat- 
 ed ... . begged mille et mille pardons but he 
 
 had heard such sounds ! — Was it really a sim- 
 ple guitar that he heard ? — and he cast an eager 
 glance towards my instrument, which lay on the 
 table. 
 
 " You are very musical Monsieur le Marquis," 
 said the Count, " and will probably like to hear 
 Mademoiselle Clara's performance." 
 
 Monsieur le Marquis, said he, should be " ravi 
 on ne peut plus." 
 
 I took up my instrument, and bowing to the 
 Marquis, began to play a solo in my best style. 
 
 Who plaited to perfection. 
 Vol. I. l
 
 74 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 The Marquis's demonstrations of delight were 
 so ridiculously exaggerated, that I with difficulty 
 refrained from laughing. "Bravo! Bravo! c'est ca. 
 — Oh ! delicieuse, — Tantini is a fool to you — Oh ! 
 
 Tan — ti — ni peut — se — fai — re,'* and as 
 
 my air at this critical moment ended, the Marquis 
 suddenly paused, and I lost the intended finish of 
 his Lordship's accompaniment. 
 
 " Figurez vous Mademoiselle," said the Marquis, 
 when I had finished, " Figurez vous que je suis 
 fou moi,* si fou pour la musique qu'on se moque 
 de moi habituellement et partout. — Sur ma parole 
 d'honneur, you are superior to Tantini ; but I for- 
 got, you are strangers, and have not the advantage 
 of knowing Tantini, I will bring him to you si cela 
 peut vous faire plaisir : la Marquise mon epouse is 
 la belle Signora's countrywoman, and will be 
 charmed with her acquaintance." After having 
 chatted an hour, and fixed a day for our dining at 
 his castello, the Marquis took his leave of us. 
 
 * Only imagine Miss, I am mad ! — so very mad for music that it is 
 quite a common thiug to laugh at me, and that too, wherever I go.
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 75 
 
 The Count having brought various introduc- 
 tory letters, we shortly afterwards received cards 
 from all the best families in Naples, and in the 
 course of two months, I made several conquests. 
 
 The Signor Roderigo, a rich superannuated no- 
 bleman, was struck through his spectacles, one 
 night, on seeing me dance a Spanish castagnette 
 dance at the house of the Marchioness St. Betise ; 
 and here I must mention the great beauty of my 
 charming countrywoman the lady St. Betise, whose 
 apparent modesty and dignified reserve inspired 
 me with the highest respect for her virtue. 
 
 She received me with distinguished politeness, 
 and after we had been acquainted a few weeks, 
 often hinted to me how happy she should feel if I 
 would become her inmate. 
 
 It was in this hospitable mansion, as I have 
 before said, that I touched the heart of the Signor 
 Roderigo. My second conquest was that of a 
 young English gentleman of the name of Delford , 
 to whom I frankly related my adventures, without 
 concealing my passion for Ligonia.
 
 76 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 From being the most ardent lover, he became 
 my sincere friend, and I parted from him with 
 regret; some months afterwards, when his health 
 (which had required Italian skies and air to re- 
 store) permitted him to return to England. One 
 evening as I sat chattering with my old superan- 
 nuated admirer, the Signor Roderigo, without 
 observing that the Countess had left us tete-a-tete, 
 was seized with a fit of heroics, and dropping 
 on his knees, began a rapturous declaration, in the 
 midst of which, he was surprized by the entrance 
 of the lovely Marchesa de St. Betise, accompanied 
 by her uncle the Cardinal Poco-puranti. 
 
 I blushed deeply, but I could not help laugh- 
 ing. 
 
 The Cardinal Poco-puranti's character stood 
 high as a prelate in Italy, spite of and in defiance 
 of a certain sly expression which lurked in his 
 eye, and reminded me of a cautious voluptuary. 
 
 His sudden appearance had such a violent 
 effect on my antique lover, that he fell prostrate 
 backwards. The beautiful Marchesa assisted me
 
 CLAKA GAZUL. 77 
 
 to place my noble conquest on his legs again, who, 
 now with shrugs and bows innumerable, paid his 
 respects to the Cardinal and his niece. 
 
 His Eminence condescended to put many ques- 
 tions to me on the subject of my religious belief. 
 " Alas! poor child," said he, after I had frankly 
 explained to him all I had been taught, " you 
 walk in darkness ; but, my niece has interested 
 me in your behalf." 
 
 I was eager to change the subject, because I 
 had lately been induced by the instructions of my 
 young English admirer, to entertain a strong pre- 
 dilection in favor of the protestant belief. Rosa 
 soon joined us, when the conversation took a ge- 
 neral turn. 
 
 " Thank Heavens ! they are gone," said Rosa, as 
 soon as the Cardinal and his niece had taken their 
 departure, adding, " I have taken such a disgust to 
 that Cardinal, that I never was in such a humour 
 to quarrel with bigots. Listen to me Clara," she 
 continued, " you have met the Countess Lorenza,
 
 78 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 that pious looking widow, who always wears 
 black and attends mass three times a day." 
 
 I have seen her at the Marchesa de St. Betise, 
 1 replied. 
 
 " The same," said the Countess ; " last night she 
 continued, " as I sat watching at my window for 
 the return of my husband, who dined with one of 
 the ministers, I observed a figure coming along 
 the street, which I believed to be the Count. As 
 it past the castello of the Countess de Lorenza, 
 which is to be seen from my window on a moon- 
 light night, a short figure issued from the portico 
 in a hood and cloak ; I guessed it to be that of a 
 female : it seemed to arrest the steps of the tall 
 figure by laying hold of his cloak, and having 
 spoken in his ear, I thought it slipped a letter into 
 his hand. 
 
 •' It was the Count! 
 
 " I was almost speechless when he entered the 
 room from agitation." " What can be the matter 
 with you?" said he. 
 
 " Having explained what I had seen, I insisted
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 79 
 
 on his showing me the letter, which was at length 
 reluctantly handed to me; I will read you the 
 contents. 
 
 The letter ran thus : 
 
 " Charming stranger, — I can no longer resist 
 the passion with which you have inspired me ; the 
 bearer will meet you to-morrow evening at nine 
 o'clock, and conduct you by the small grey lattice 
 entrance, along the garden to my secret chamber, 
 where I will receive you in total darkness. You 
 shall not once hear the sound of my voice : for 
 know, too charming stranger, that I value reputa- 
 tion more than life. The bearer of this note is 
 completely in my power, nor shall you ever be 
 able to prove my dishonor to the world. Be 
 punctual, and mystery shall but add zest to our 
 stolen happiness." 
 
 " Can this epistle be written by the Signora Lo- 
 renza?" I enquired in the greatest astonishment. 
 
 " It is the hand-writing no doubt of her minion, 
 the duenna," replied Rosa, adding that she was de- 
 termined to play her a trick. l The Count," oda- 
 
 Vol. I. l 4
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 tinued she, " is to dine with the Marquis de St. 
 Betise, I will plead indisposition as an excuse for 
 remaining at home ; I am tall, and in my husband's 
 clothes, wrapped up in his large mantle, I can 
 easily pass myself on the old duenna." 
 
 Rosa s plan succeeded ; the Count left her at 
 liberty, and in about an hour after, Rosa, in the 
 disguise of her husband, had followed love's mes- 
 senger to the dark chamber of the longing fair 
 one. She returned in safety, and amused me with 
 the following account. — " The old duenna," said 
 Rosa, " desired me to take off my shoes, that we 
 might pace along the corridor with noiseless step. 
 When we arrived at the door, my guide tapped 
 
 gently, and we were immediately admitted into a 
 
 room so dark, that I required the hand of the 
 
 duenna to lead me towards a bed. 
 
 " She then whispered in the ear of some one 
 
 who put forth her hand to welcome me, and 
 
 drew me gently towards her. 
 " How short was to be her pleasing illusions ! 
 
 Throwing her arms about my neck and pressing
 
 (LAKA GA/UL. 81 
 
 her lips to mine, she was seized with a violent 
 
 tremor then hastily passing the back of her 
 
 hand over my face, vainly searching for either 
 my beard or moustache, she seemed ready to give 
 up the ghost, feeling certain that she was betray- 
 ed. 
 
 She touched a silver bell which was imme- 
 diately answered by her watchful duenna. 
 
 " Leave the room villain, whoever you are," 
 said the Signora, " or I will alarm the house!" 
 
 " Xot till you have shewn me your face, chaste 
 lair one," said I, at the same time seizing hold of 
 the duenna's dark lanthorn, and turning its shade 
 round till it emitted a bright ray of light. 
 
 " Chaste lady, I salute you," said I, taking off 
 my husband's gay plumed hat, and bowing low 
 in mockery 
 
 " The Countess Drognichieff ! ! !" exclaimed 
 the prude and then fell into hysterics. 
 
 4< Why thou purblind, mercury", said I, be- 
 tween bursts of laughter, addressing myself to the 
 
 duenna; "thou impotent pandor to the lascivious 
 Vol. I. m
 
 $'l CLARA (iAZUL. 
 
 desires of that pious hypocrite, thy mistress! 
 Art thou so recently in her service, as to mistake 
 me for a man ? — Poor, poor Signora! ! !" Having 
 enjoyed my revenge, I insisted on being safely 
 conducted out of the house, and left the prude 
 bursting with rage and hysterics.
 
 CLARA. GAZUL. 83 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 I LEAVE ROSA AND GO TO LIVE WITH THE FAMILY OF 
 POCO-PURANTI — A DINNER-PARTY — THE COUNTESS 
 DIABLO — A FAUX-PAS SUSPECTED IN HIGH LIFE. 
 
 During the rest of the winter which I passed 
 with the Countess Drognichieff, nothing very re- 
 markable occurred. 
 
 The nuptials of my nurse Agnes and Albert 
 were fixed for the following month, which cir- 
 cumstance so enraged Rosa's woman Pauline, that 
 she abruptly quitted her service. 
 
 I proposed that Agnes should supply the 
 place of Pauline about the person of Rosa, who 
 determined to return to Lyons for her accouche- 
 ment. 
 
 Suspecting that lady of a general disposition to 
 jealousy, I resolved for the sake of her peace of 
 mind to decline accompanying her, as I guessed
 
 84 C LA 11 A GAZUL. 
 
 she dreaded the frequent tetes-a-tete which might 
 occur with the Count and myself during her 
 confinement 
 
 Rosa but faintly attempted to dissuade me, and 
 finding me resolute, " It happens very lucky," said 
 she, " since you are determined to remain in Italy, 
 that I know of a family, of the highest respecta- 
 bility who desires you to become their inmate." 
 
 " The Cardinal Poco-puranti resides with his 
 maiden sister, in the most splendid palace in all 
 Naples. The Cardinal is lately appointed by her 
 deceased parent, guardian to a noble young lady, 
 the affianced bride of a Castilian nobleman, now 
 on his travels." 
 
 " The young lady, Mademoiselle Laura being 
 a distant relation of the Cardinals', was sent to 
 them that she might be prepared for her commu- 
 nion. The Cardinal's sister, the Signora Poco- 
 puranti, seeks an amiable young lady as compa- 
 nion for Laura, during her residence with them." 
 
 I made no objections to this proposal, although 
 I had taken a sort of dislike to the expression of
 
 CI.AKA CAZUL. 85 
 
 the Cardinal's features. Accordingly the next 
 day, we waited on the Marchesa St. Betise who 
 presented me to her aunt, the good-natured Sig- 
 nora Poco-puranti, as a young person highly re- 
 commended, and desirous of olfering myself to be 
 the companion of their ward, Mademoiselle 
 Laura. 
 
 The Signora immediately engaged me. Having 
 invited us into the next room, and presented me 
 to her pretty ward, who sat playing on her harp, 
 that young lady appeared so elated at the idea of 
 having a companion of her own age, and express- 
 ed so much impatience to see me regularly in- 
 stalled, that Rosa, to oblige the Signora Poco-pu- 
 ranti, suffered me to remain from that hour ; pro- 
 mising to send my clothes by Agnes, and to visit 
 me as long as she should remain in Naples ; she 
 soon afterwards took her leave. 
 
 The Signora Poco-puranti having left me alone 
 with Laura, we were soon on the most intimate 
 footing. 
 
 M How delightful to have a young companion/'
 
 SO (LA I! A (.'AZIL. 
 
 said she, " after having for mouths been living 
 with these pious people. What do you think of the 
 Cardinal, Miss Clara?" 
 
 I unwillingly admitted that his Eminence was 
 handsome. 
 
 The person of the Cardinal Poco-puranti was 
 nevertheless among the finest order of fine forms; 
 Of majestic height, with full chest, and if his en- 
 bon-point had began slightly to encroach on the 
 perfect symmetry for which in his younger days 
 he had been so justly admired, yet his ancles, 
 feet, and hands would still have furnished fine 
 models for the sculptor's art. His forehead was 
 high, his skin florid, his nose roman, and if in his 
 pale blue eye there lurked the expression of sly 
 voluptuousness, his mouth had a character about 
 it both distinguished and manly, while nothing 
 could exceed the brilliant beauty of his teeth. 
 
 He passed for a man of tolerable sanctity, yet 
 was he the Cardinal a la mode at Naples, and es- 
 teemed above all things amongst the ladies, with 
 the exception of a few old devotees who blamed
 
 CI.AKA CJAZUt. 87 
 
 his love of expence and courtly phrases, whilst 
 they lamented the pious parsimonious crooked- 
 backed little Cardinal whom he had succeeded. 
 But these grumbling souls were few in number, 
 and bore no comparison to the admirers of Car- 
 dinal Poco-puranti. His Eminence possessed a 
 certain eloquence both of voice and manner, 
 which was particularly popular and persuasive. 
 
 He was a man of sound learning too, gentle 
 and easy in his temper, and he threw his money 
 right and left among the lazaronies with princely 
 magnificence. Who would be severe on the qua- 
 lities of the heart, or examine too closely into the 
 motive or ruling principles of such an amiable 
 individual as the gay Cardinal Poco-puranti? 
 I enquired his age ? 
 
 Laura guessed it might be five and thirty, or 
 more; she spoke of her intended marriage with 
 the Castilian nobleman with the greatest possible 
 indifference. The match, she said, had been ar- 
 ranged by her parents as soon as she was born. 
 Our conversation was interrupted by the sound
 
 88 CLARA GAZUf*. 
 
 of the large dinner-bell, when a magnificent ban- 
 quet was served up in a beautiful saloon, the 
 floor of which was inlaid with pure mosaic stone. 
 
 The company assembled at dinner, consisted of 
 Rosa and her husband, the Marquis and Marchio- 
 ness of St. Betise, and the Marquis's aunt, the gay 
 old Contessa Diablo, who was excellent company 
 and made us all laug'i with accounts of her former 
 beauty and conquests. 
 
 At this period, painted up to the eyes, her 
 cheeks covered with black patches, her costume 
 in the fashion of times long gone bye, her robe of 
 red satin that stood alone, slashed with black, and 
 trimmed with point lace, her extraordinary head- 
 dress, her enormous fan, on which was curiously 
 wrought the figure of Tasso the poet, in red 
 velvet slashed breeches, kneeling at the feet of a 
 damsel as stiff as himself, who was crowning him 
 with a wreath of laurels, I say, the old Contessa 
 Diablo with her patches, lappets, fan, and mittens, 
 was the most grotesque figure in nature. The
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 89 
 
 Cardinal saying grace, and the Cardinal during 
 dinner was two persons. 
 
 Nothing could be more solemn and impres- 
 sive than his tone and manner of calling down a 
 blessing on our repast, but that ceremony over, 
 the Cardinal was almost abon vivant; he was cer- 
 tainly an epicure. His great tact, it seemed to 
 me was, in choosing at all times for his subject of 
 conversation, something that should be intelligible 
 and amusing, not only to the persons to whom 
 he particularly addressed himself, but also to 
 each and every individual at his table. And it 
 was curious to observe how near, how very near 
 his Eminence would sometimes touch on sub- 
 jects irrelevant, too light, and too profligate for 
 his pretended sanctity ; and yet had he the tact 
 to wave them in good time, just when he had 
 roused and excited an interest in the breast of 
 such fair ladies as liked not the too rigid morals of 
 handsome men. 
 
 The freedom of the Contessa Diablo's discourse 
 Vol. I.
 
 {HI CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 often occasioned Laura and myself to blush, 
 wiiile the modesty of the lovely March esa St. Be- 
 tise, appeared to suffer even more than ours. 
 She begged and implored, with tears in her beauti- 
 ful eyes, that the Contessa, her aunt, would change 
 her subject, but the incorrigible merry old lady 
 scorned restraint. 
 
 " Never tell me — never tell me," said she, 
 in answer to her niece's expostulations, " there 
 was more candour in my time. I was a pret- 
 ty blossom like yourself once, and as pure as 
 snow, up to the hour when the divine Signor Ro- 
 derigo, saved my life, at the risk of his own, by 
 plunging into a muddy pond, where I had fal- 
 len, without taking time to throw of his embroi- 
 dered cloak of pale blue satin or his . . . ." 
 
 "Are^you alludingt o Clara's poor old shrivelled 
 beau, or some other Roderigo pray ?" interrupt- 
 ed Rosa, laughing. 
 
 "Aye! aye! aye! aye!" said the Contessa, " the 
 same, we shall all of us be shrivelled in time; 
 even this blooming little bird, Clara, who now
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 91 
 
 presumes to despise the first toucher of my vir- 
 gin heart. Aye! aye! laugh and giggle if you 
 will, but there was not in all Naples so graceful 
 a couple, or one who danced a minuet or gavotte 
 half so well, as dear Roderigo and myself." 
 
 "Nephew St. Betise, send me a glass of that 
 muscado wine, at your elbow, and let us drink 
 to his health and longevity. I was never unfaith- 
 ful to him but once." 
 
 "Hush! hush", said the Cardinal, half seriously. 
 " I earnestly implore you to consider, dear Con- 
 tessa, these two very young ladies," alluding to 
 Laura and myself, " consider the sacred trust re- 
 posed in me. I am ready," continued the Cardi- 
 nal, smiling gracefully," to wave all claim to such 
 deference and respect as may be due to my red 
 hat, and episcopal dignity: but I implore you good 
 Contessa Diablo, consider my protegees ; con- 
 sider the Marchesa St. Betise my lovely timid 
 niece." 
 
 " Bah ! bah ! bah ! about your timid niece," re- 
 plied the old lady, shrugging up her shoulders,
 
 92 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 and regarding the young Marchesa with a gro- 
 tesque expression of irony. 
 
 The young Marchesa fixed her modest eyes on 
 the table cloth, and was silent 
 
 " Well, then," said the pol ta Cardinal, in his 
 zeal to preserve decorum, without losing sight of 
 hospitality, M desist from this light discourse dear 
 Contesa, for my sake, who am bound by my sacred 
 vow, yet am, alas, but a man, in the presence of 
 some of the fairest and noblest dames in Naples." 
 
 " The Cardinal is complaining to me ladies," 
 said the Contessa, whose noddle was beginning to 
 warm with the juice of the Tuscan grape — " the 
 pious Cardinal has been complaining to me that 
 his manhood sutlers somewhat in our fair pre- 
 sence." 
 
 This remark caused a tear to tremble in the 
 bright eye of the Marchesa ; Laura and I smiled 
 on each other, without quite undersanding it. 
 
 The Marquis de St. Betise, in pity to his timid 
 wife, changed the conversation to that eternal 
 theme of his music, and the Signor Tantini.
 
 CLARA C.AZL'L. 93 
 
 Methought the Cardinal, though polite to all 
 his guests, was more than usually attentive to his 
 young ward, who appeared delighted when he 
 addressed her. 
 
 After dinner, a magnificent suite of rooms were 
 thrown open, and the arrival of the celebrated 
 Tantini put the Marquis St. Be tise, into an ex- 
 tacy of delight. Tantini's handsome melancholy 
 countenance, inspired the beholders with pity, be- 
 cause of the degrading sacrifice which had been 
 inflicted on him in his youth, for the improvement 
 of his voice, according to the fashion of Italy. 
 
 At the entreaty of the Marquis I sang a duet 
 with Tantini from a popular opera, and was ap- 
 plauded more than ever I was in Spain. Rosa 
 sang very pleasantly, the old Contessa gave us her 
 song too, the chorus of which was something 
 about her regrets for the time gone bye, her round 
 arm, and swelling bosom. 
 
 The Marchesa laid her little hand upon her 
 aunt's lip. 
 
 " Enough! enough! dear Contessa," said she
 
 94 CLARA. BAZUL. 
 
 beseechingly — " Dans ma jeunesse j'ai fait comme 
 ma grande tante, et toi, tu peux faire comme 
 moi,"* replied the old lady, in her niece's ear. 
 
 "Chan tons! Chantons!" said the Marquis de 
 St. Betise. 
 
 Laura and myself retired early to rest 
 
 Rosa departed for Lyons shortly after I had 
 taken up my abode with the lady Poco-puranti, 
 accompanied by my nurse Agnes. 
 
 The kind creature seeing herself about to be 
 separated from me for the first time in her life, 
 was greatly distressed, but I knew she loved her 
 husband Albert too dearly to part with him 
 without deep regret, I therefore insisted, and took 
 leave of her with a heavy heart 
 
 The lady Poco-puranti ever treated me wit 
 kindness. They lived in a style of princely mag- 
 nificence, and were visited by the best society in 
 Naples. 
 
 When I had been with them about three 
 
 * In my youth I did as my great aunt did before me, and you 
 rav nirre cpu do a« T do. — Rn.
 
 CLARA QAZUL. 9> 
 
 months, I was struck with the change in Laura's 
 manner and appearance. She became subject to 
 violent nausea of the stomach, her eyes were con- 
 tinually red and swollen, her appetite fell off, yet 
 her en-bon-point increased. It was, in fact, im- 
 possible for me to drive away certain suspicions 
 injurious to her character. 
 
 The subject was too delicate to question Laura 
 about, whose reserve towards me became almost 
 haughty, the moment she observed curious anxie- 
 ty in my countenance. Of ancient descent, Laura 
 was proud and high minded. 
 
 I hoped I was mistaken, for she never left the 
 palace, or was for an instant alone. With whom, 
 therefore, could she have formed any criminal in- 
 tercourse.
 
 <K> (LARA UAZL'L 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 A BLUNDER— A HANDSOME PAGE IN LOVE. 
 
 As I sat musing on this subject, the Signora Po- 
 co-puranti's little fancifully equipped page, tap- 
 ped at my door, and was desired to enter. He 
 bowed gracefully, and begged leave to present 
 me with a bouquet which he had just gathered. 
 " Signora," said he to me, " I heard you say yester- 
 day, that you were fond of flowers, particularly 
 the heliotrope, and I have fancied they might be 
 acceptable." 
 
 The boy's voice was sweet and plaintive, and 
 there was an expression of melancholy in his 
 handsome face, which rendered it interesting be- 
 yond description. 
 
 Eugenio's, for such was the page's name, 
 countenance was congenial with his native sky :
 
 CLARA GAZL'L. J)$ 
 
 it's softness formed a touching contrast to that 
 characteristic ardor which beams passion from 
 the bright eyes of a Spaniard. 
 
 If ever I read love in the eves ofmcrtal, this 
 boy was in love. Here then was the mystery 
 unravelled! here was Laura's excuse ; for who 
 could be altogether indifferent to the tender 
 pleadings of such a lovely countenance. 1 
 
 These ideas passed rapidly through my brain, 
 and before Eugenio had placed his sweet offering 
 in the rich vases that ornamented a curious mar- 
 ble slab, which stood between my window, I had 
 acknowledged his gallantry with sincere thanks. 
 
 Eugenio, said I, you are, I am told, a great 
 botanist. 
 
 " One must study something," he replied, with 
 a gentle sigh. 
 
 Are your parents living Eugenio: 
 " Have you not heard Miss Clara that I was 
 found in a basket, fastened to the gates of this pa- 
 lace, fifteen years ago, for this is my birth day." 
 
 Vol. I. o
 
 £8 CI.AIU UAZUL. 
 
 Poor Eugenio! and what are your future 
 plans? 
 
 u My future plans ?" said the youth, fixing his 
 soft dark blue eyes intensely on my face, and then 
 dropping their black fringes towards the earth 
 
 There was something in his ardent glance 
 
 that tinged my cheek with crimson. 
 
 " I have formed no projects or plans for the fu- 
 ture latterly," said Eugenio, " for my mind has 
 been occupied by desires and visions of happiness, 
 which may never be gratified." 
 
 And yet Eugenio, said I, smiling, were one to 
 judge of the state of your mind and heart, by 
 your dress, one would suppose you the gayest of 
 the gay. What desponding youth ever sported 
 such gay colours? That blue vest how becom- 
 ingly is it fastened ; those cambric sleeves, how 
 white and delicately plaited; that sash so elegantly 
 tied, and those dark curls how fragrant with per- 
 fume ! Is this the livery of despair Eugenio ? 
 
 " I will stand here no longer to be laughed at," 
 retorted the handsome page archly, while seating
 
 CLAIIA GAZUL. 9V 
 
 himself in a chair, which stood close to mine .... 
 yet did Eugenio possess more modesty than pages 
 in general, although not enough to believe that 
 theie were many of the other sex who could look 
 on him with aversion, or be uncharitably severe 
 on his faults. 
 
 " It is the wish of the Lady Poco-puranti, that 
 I dress with taste and elegance," said the page, as 
 soon as he had seated himself. 
 
 But, Eugenio, I replieJ, you were not always 
 so much inclined to obedience as now, I have been 
 told you are in love, that is the truth of it ; 
 I can read it in the soft expression of your eyes — 
 I hear it in the melancholy tones of your lute — 
 you tremble, Eugenio, I have guessed right, and 
 you are too handsome to love in vain. 
 
 My words seemed to produce a strange effect 
 on the youth, who blushing deeply, stammered 
 
 ojt in great confusion, "I dare not hope j 
 
 am I ought to be very grateful, if 
 
 b t real love is ti . id, | articularly in extreme 
 youth, and you are so young .... you . . ."
 
 100 CLARA (JAZUL. 
 
 True, I am not much older than yourself, but 
 I have seen more of the world, and can read your 
 heart, Eugenio. — Your love was irresistible in the 
 heart of the unfortunate lovely girl, whose affec- 
 tions you have seduced. 
 
 " You astonish me, Miss Clara! No doubt, as 
 you say, you are but too lovely, but with regard 
 to my having seduced your affections — I declare, 
 I " 
 
 My affections ! ! — What are ycu talking about, 
 Eugenio ? What can you mean ? 
 
 " And is it possible, Clara," said the page, 
 growing bold by an effort, aided by a glance at the 
 large mirror, which reflected at full length his 
 very graceful person; "can it be possible you do 
 not read my heart? and can you suspect me of 
 loving aother?" 
 
 The boy fixed his bright blue eyes tenderly on 
 my face. 
 
 What, do you really mean to say you are in love 
 with me pretty Eugenio? I asked, blushing and 
 laughing.
 
 CLARA (,AZJL. 101 
 
 M My height is five feet eight," said the youth, 
 with something of indignation, " and young as I 
 am, there will never be a period of my existence 
 when I shall love with the same ardour and pu- 
 rity" . . . . " Clara," he continued, " I intreat you 
 do not vex me ; I would sacrifice a thousand times 
 my life for you ; I have said my prayers to you, 
 I have loved you as my divinity from the first 
 hour that I beheld you ; both of us are deprived 
 of our parents, let us love, and never forsake 
 each other." 
 
 Eugenio, I replied, I have no heart to bestow. 
 
 The page's sunny face was now bathed in tears 
 which he hastily brushed away with one of his 
 bright curls, " You despise the poor page then, 
 said he, proudly ; yet is there good blood in my 
 veins ; my father is a great man, I will not dis- 
 grace his name or high courage." 
 
 You know your father then, Eugenio. 
 
 " By name, as I am informed by my mother 
 you would not ask me to betray my parent's, 
 •ectets," continued Eugenio.
 
 102 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 No ! indeed, dear Eugenio, I replied — I would 
 be as a kind sister to you and love you as my bro- 
 ther. 
 
 " But you love another, Clara I" 
 
 One, Eugenio to whom I can never be unit- 
 ed, and whom I may never see again. I then 
 related to the amiable boy, the whole history of 
 my life. To my great astonishment Eugenio as- 
 sured me he knew Ligonia, whose self-devotion to 
 the cause he undertook, and brilliant qualities he 
 spoke of with enthusiastic admiration. We will 
 be the very iriends all our lives, said I, hold- 
 ing out my hand to the page, who covered it 
 with ardent kisses. 
 
 Some one tapped at the door.
 
 CLARA GA/L'L. 103 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 PRIVATE THEATRICALS — AN ELOPEMENT. 
 
 It was the Marchesa de St. Bt-tise ; her modest 
 eyes glanced on the page with shy, but unequi- 
 vocal admiration. 
 
 Her ladyship brought me a ticket for a mag- 
 nificent masked ball, which she proposed giving 
 the following month, in honor ot her husband's 
 birth day. " Come down stairs and obtain the 
 permission of the lady Poco-puranti, for yourself 
 and Laura," said the Marchesa. 
 
 The Marchioness proposed getting up the per- 
 formance of that classical piece Telemaehus, in 
 which figured, according to the Italian composi- 
 tion, Cupid, Psyche, Bacchus, all the Graces. 
 Muses, Furies, &c. &c. The piece had already 
 been ably performed at the private theatr- 
 Vol. I o 4
 
 104 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 their palazzo, which was beautifully decorated 
 and adorned ; since which, Psyche was in a de- 
 cline, Cupid had taken a trip to England, Bacchus 
 to the Paysde Vaud, and the Muses were scattered 
 all over France, jostling each other in every town. 
 In fact, in Paris they had turned out such com- 
 mon women, that no one cared to patronize them, 
 and Mentor was dead and buried. 
 
 To be brief the old company was dispersed, 
 and the Marchesa expressed her anxiety to form 
 a new one. The young Prince Orazio, whose 
 beauty and talents rang through Naples, had un- 
 dertaken the part of Telemachus, as the Marchesa 
 informed us, whilst her ladyship chose that of the 
 nymph kucharis. I was intreated to play Ca- 
 lypso, and the characters were all cast and ar- 
 ranged by the following evening. 
 
 When the Marchesa had taken her leave of us, 
 after appointing an early day for our first rehear- 
 sal at her palazzo, the Signora Poco-puranti called 
 me into her closet, and related to me with tears in 
 her eyes, her suspicions as to Laura's state of
 
 (LARA GAZUL. 105 
 
 health, which exactly corresponded with my 
 own. <w 
 
 She implored me to speak to Laura on the 
 subject, remarking, that the poor girl would be 
 more inclined to open her mind to a companion of 
 her own age. 
 
 I replied, that I had already vainly endeavour- 
 ed to draw Laura into conversation, which might 
 lead to the subject of her altered health and ap- 
 pearance. 
 
 "After all," said the good Signora, u we may be 
 mistaken ; how is it possible that this child can 
 be pregnant ? Who does she see ? Has she been 
 once absent alone, or shown the slightest pre- 
 ference towards any one of our male visitors : 
 were it possible to suspect the page Eugenio of so 
 dishonorable a crime, I would spurn him from 
 my presence ; but it cannot be, Eugenio's heart 
 is pure, his mind is noble, and he is always oc- 
 cupied in deep study." 
 
 I assured the Lady Poco-puranti of my belief 
 
 Vcfe. I. p
 
 106 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 that her page was innocent of any crime against 
 the peace and honor of her ward, and I promised 
 to make one more attempt to induce that young 
 lady to open her heart to me. 
 
 Vain, however, were all my efforts for that 
 purpose. Laura confessed that something had 
 destroyed her peace, and she thought change of 
 scene would be of service to her ; she had, there- 
 fore, she said, written to her brother to entreat 
 him to take her to his house at Florence ; but she 
 begged me not to question her on the subject 
 of her grief, as she had determined to conceal the 
 cause of it for ever in her own breast. Do not, 
 continued Laura, touch upon this subject again. 
 Lauras face was bathed in tears, and her poor 
 heart seemed heavily oppressed. Sincerely did I 
 sympathise in her suffering, and pressing her in 
 my arms, I mingled my tears with hers. 
 
 The Signora Poco-puranti, on learning the 
 result of our conversation, rejoiced that her in- 
 teresting ward would soon be under the protec- 
 tion of her brother who was the friend and com-
 
 CLARA fiAZUL. 10? 
 
 panion of the Castilian nobleman to whom Laura 
 was betrothed. 
 
 On the day fixed by the Marchesa St. Betise 
 for our first rehearsal, poor Laura refused to ac- 
 company us, on the plea of head-ache. 
 
 At this rehearsal I met for the first time the 
 handsome and youthful Prince Orazio, of whom 
 I had heard such frequent and favorable mention. 
 His Highness having been invited by the Mar- 
 chesa to take the part of Telemachus, was charm- 
 ed with the proposal, and evinced much talent 
 in the course of this rehearsal; I was also sur- 
 prised to observe, how ably the Marchesa St. 
 Betise performed her part ; hitherto she had not 
 evinced any extraordinary talent in conversation, 
 yet she seemed now to possess qualities to make a 
 finished actress ; above all, she could throw what 
 expression she pleased into her beautiful features, 
 and was particularly happy in her delineation 
 of the tender passion displayed by the nymph 
 Eucharis for Telemachus. With what ardent
 
 108 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 glances of love did she regard the young Prince! 
 How sweet and tremulous were the tones of her 
 voice when kneeling before the altar of love, she 
 vowed eternal truth to her lover. 
 
 And then to see the fire that glowed in the eyes 
 of young Orazio ! How he lingered in her em- 
 brace ! How his eloquent blood mounted to his 
 cheek when his arm clasped the delicate yielding 
 waist of the lovely Marchesa. 
 
 Surely, me thought, these are the best actors 
 in Naples; it is nature itself ! who would not be 
 carried away by this illusion? who would not 
 fancy them two real lovers glowing with mutual 
 passionate desires ? 
 
 Every body was delighted; but the loudest 
 applause issued from the lips of the good Marquis 
 St Betise, who declared to me in French " que sa 
 femme jouoit avec le beau jeune Prince comme 
 un ange!*" 
 
 The audience assembled to witness this re- 
 
 * That his wife played with the handsome young Prince like an 
 angel.
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 109 
 
 hearsal, did me the honor to say many flattering 
 things of my performance of Calypso. 
 
 We dined at the Palazzo of the Marquis St. 
 Betise, and it was late in the evening when we re- 
 turned home delighted with our kind hosts. 
 
 We found the domestics of the palace of Poco- 
 puranti in the greatest confusion and consterna- 
 tion. Miss Laura was no w here to be found ; a 
 letter was lying upon- her dressing-table, sealed 
 and directed to the Lady Poco-puranti ; hastily 
 tearing it open she read as follows— 
 
 " I humbly thank you my dear Lady for the 
 " kind attention you have ever shewn towards 
 " me, although Jt has been my heaviest misfortune 
 *' to have ever entered your doors. 
 
 "Feelings, I am not at liberty to describe, ren- 
 " dered the idea of taking a formal leave of your- 
 " self and brother, so truly painful to me that I en- 
 " treat permission to be allowed to substitute the 
 "expression in writing of my sincere prayers for 
 " the happiness of you all.
 
 HO CLARA fiAZUL. 
 
 " My affectionate attendant Esterre will accom- 
 " pany me to the spot, where I shall await my bro- 
 " ther's arrival, by his own appointment I beg 
 " my dear friend Clara's acceptance of the en- 
 " closed ring, which she will, I hope, preserve in 
 " memory of one who loves her sincerely, 
 " Farewell, may God bless you all, 
 
 "Laura."
 
 L LA At A GAZL'L. 11 J 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 A MASQUERADE. 
 
 The news being thus confirmed of Laura's 
 elopement, the Cardinal seemed greatly moved, 
 and actually was seen to shed tears. 
 
 It was the general opinion that she had fled 
 with her seducer, but no one could guess who 
 that seducer could be. Eugenio, the page, ex- 
 pressed his unfeigned regret so uaturally, that it 
 
 was impossible to suspect him, at the tender age 
 of fifteen, of such deep deception. 
 
 The Cardinal wrote to Laura's brother at 
 Florence, to express his deep regret at what had 
 occurred. Couriers were dispatched right and 
 left, but none overtook Laura. At length the 
 feelings of the Cardinal's family were much re-
 
 11-2 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 lieved by the receipt of the following letter from 
 Laura's brother. 
 
 " The Count de L F has the honor to 
 
 11 inform his Eminence, the Cardinal Poco-puranti, 
 " that his sister, the Signora Laura, is under his 
 " immediate protection, also that the Cardinal's fa- 
 " mily have laboured under the mostextraordina- 
 " ry mistake as to their ungrounded suspicions 
 " touching the honor and character of his sister, 
 u who has entirely recovered from her late indis- 
 " position. 
 
 " The Count de L F ." 
 
 Neither the Cardinal or his sister appeared to 
 place implicit faith in this assurance of Laura's 
 brother, touching the innocence of his sister. Ap- 
 pearances were too strikingly evident against that 
 unfortunate young lady, who had endeared her- 
 self to all the members of the Cardinal's family, 
 by the sweetness of her disposition. 
 
 Having been engaged by the lady Poco puranti 
 as companion to her ward, I now proposed
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 113 
 
 seeking a new situation, but the kind lady en- 
 treated me to continue with her, until she had in 
 some degree recovered the shock of the late 
 
 elopement. 
 Our frequent rehearsals, however, had not 
 
 been interrupted by poor Laura's misfortunes, 
 and on the night appointed for the masquerade, 
 the streets of Naples were, at an early hour, al- 
 most blocked up by strings of elegant equipages 
 filled with masked characters, some grotesque, 
 others sentimental. 
 
 The Italians are the only people in the world 
 for masquerading. The beautiful gardens belong- 
 ing to the noble palace of St. Betise were illumi- 
 nated with millions of variegated lamps ; groups 
 of musicians wandered up and down the groves, 
 and among the trees were heard the sounds of 
 various instruments as they moved along, flutes, 
 cymbals, clarionettes, tambourines, &c. Sec. 
 
 The Marquis, who superintended all the bands, 
 was in his glory, running here and there count- 
 
 Vol. I. Q
 
 114 £f,ARA GAZUL. 
 
 nag and beating time every where. There was 
 Euterpe personified by the gay Marquise de la 
 Croix, of whom it will be remembered the little 
 repasseuse related an anecdote. She presided 
 over a group of lovely nymphs, who were to exe- 
 cute on twelve harps the Marquis of St. Betise s 
 new composition, which had cost him three years 
 labour. 
 
 It was late in the evening when a set of bells 
 rang merrily to summon all this gay assembly to 
 the theatre, to witness our performance of Tele- 
 machus. Instead of an overture, such as is usual- 
 ly performed previous to an opera, the rising of 
 the curtain discovered the twelve lovely nymphs 
 with Euterpe as their leader, who ably struck the 
 chords of their well strung harps to do honor to 
 the laborious composition of their noble host. 
 The music had no sooner ceased than the rich 
 scene represented the shipwreck of Telemachus 
 and Mentor. The youn^ and graceful Prince 
 Orazio, who played this hero, wore a most splen- 
 did dress, and charmed the whole of the audience
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 115 
 
 by his beauty and excellent performance. Never 
 yet had I 8een such acting! so true to nature, so 
 impassioned ! 
 
 The Prince's enthusiasm was for the moment 
 sympathetic. I felt the passion of love in my 
 very soul, and as Calypso, I had reason to believe 
 I did not disgrace my mother's celebrity as an 
 actress. The piece concluded amidst the loud 
 plaudits of the well-disposed assembly. 
 
 Then commenced the merry mazy dance. The 
 variegated tints of many thousand lamps — the 
 sweet flowers that perfumed the air — the groups 
 of lovely females — their chaste and classical 
 costumes— the harmonious sound of many 
 harps — the gentle breezes that just caused the 
 leaves of the tall orange trees to tremble and waft 
 their fragrance around, softly fanning lovers 
 cheeks, and echoing back their sighs of passion, 
 in murmurs softer still -all stole upon the de~ 
 lighted senses like enchantment. 
 
 The Marquis de St. Betise, was seen every 
 where, the most officious and polite of hosts ;
 
 116 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 while the Marchesa reclined her delicate frame 
 on a mossy bank, surrounded by her female at- 
 tendants, whose nymph -like attire of snowy 
 white, formed a pleasing contrast to the rich glit- 
 tering robe of azure blue, worn by our fair hos- 
 tess, w hose pleasure or caprice it was to employ 
 them thus publicly, to display the extraordinary 
 luxuriance and profusion of her shining tresses, 
 which they wetted with sweet essence out of 
 curious vases, and laid in fantastic ringlets about 
 her head and neck. 
 
 The bank where this beautiful group of females 
 reposed, was artificially arranged in the most 
 picturesque wild style, and was lighted with 
 still bluish lamps, which emitted a soft twy-light. 
 The page and myself proceeded along this 
 bank in a winding direction by a gradual [ascent 
 and arrived at a hermit's cell. It was dimly light- 
 ed by a lamp made out of a human scull. Here 
 sat an anchorite, whose beard was as white as 
 as snow. His simple garb of dark iron grey, 
 was fastened round his waist by a leathern
 
 CLARA OAZUL. 117 
 
 belt. He wore sandals on his feet, and the upper 
 part of his face was concealed by a cowl. He 
 sat leaning on his hand, apparently in deep 
 thought ; a large volume lay open on a rude table 
 before him, but he seemed to disregard it. 
 
 Some high spirited young ladies who represent- 
 ed flower girls, came gambling and laughing to- 
 wards the venerable man, and in burlesque 
 merriment, made their ottering of flowers on their 
 knees, while praying for his blessing. 
 
 The hermit waved his hand impatiently, as if to 
 engage them to depart without uttering a single 
 word. 
 
 " Oh! you hard hearted hermit,'* said the elder 
 flower girl, " how came such an anchorite with 
 this pretty white hand," saying which, she seized 
 hold of the hermit's tight hand, and pushing aside 
 the sleeve of his gown, exhibited for an instant, 
 a very model of hands, moulded in Nature's finest 
 proportions. 
 
 He of the white beard, having snatched away 
 his hand, darted out of the cell, with the swift-
 
 118 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 ness of the rein deer, rather than the tottering of 
 age and infirmity, and had reached the busy buz- 
 zing throng of masks in a second. 
 
 "Pursue him! pursue him! let him have no 
 rest," exclaimed the merry flower girls, hurry- 
 ing onwards, towards the spot from whence he 
 disappeared, while the Page and myself tired of 
 the dumb hermit, proceeded in a contrary direc- 
 tion towards the centre of the vast gardens. 
 
 " Eugenio! Eugenio," whispered a soft trem- 
 bling voice close behind us ; " dear Eugenio ! let 
 me speak a word with you in private." 
 
 " Most willingly, Madame," replied the page, 
 «' but . . . ." and he paused, making signs to the 
 lady that I was under his protection. 
 
 «.« Present me to Miss Clara," said the mask, 
 who wore a rich purple mantle. 
 
 " The Countess de Polignac, my best friend," 
 said the page, presenting me. 
 
 The mask held out her hand— mutual compli- 
 ments having passed, we bent our steps to a retired 
 spot, when the Countess having unmasked for an
 
 CLARA GAZTJL. 119 
 
 instant, and discovered a countenance of com- 
 manding beauty, spoke to me as follows : 
 
 •' Though you now see my face for the first 
 time, I have heard much about you from the 
 lady Poco-puranti, as well as from her protege^ 
 the young Eugenio ; and I am so prepossessed 
 in your favor, as to have determined to open my 
 heart to you, urged as I am by peculiar circum- 
 stances. Will you accept of my friendship, Miss 
 Clara, and may I expect to enjoy your society 
 to-morrow," said the lady, presenting me with 
 her card, adding, " that she would take upon her- 
 self to answer that the lady Poco-puranii, would 
 not oppose her wishes." 
 
 I replied, that in that case, her ladyship might 
 expect me at an early hour. 
 
 " Farewell then, till to-morrow," said the 
 Countess, and having pressed the hand of Eugenio 
 with tender warmth, she left us. 
 
 My remarks on the subject of this lady's invita- 
 tion were interrupted by the crowd assembled 
 round a merry pedler, who was exposing his
 
 120 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 ware, and extolling the perfection of his drugs 
 and charms of various sorts By his side stood a 
 young gipsy girl, whose graceful form and bright 
 dark eyes, attracted general admiration. 
 
 Maids, wives, and w T ido<vs, and many, no 
 doubt, of a fourth class, which belong to neither 
 of the three, crowded about the young gipsy, and 
 eagerly presented their palms for her inspection. 
 With timid but arch humour, the gipsy answered, 
 teased, and vexed them in turn, by the varied in- 
 terpretation of the lines in their hands. 
 
 When I put mine forward, she fixed her eyes 
 on me with a singular expression of curiosity ; 
 but my disguise which was that of a Spanish 
 nun w f -s complete, and my close wax mask 
 defied the most penetrating observer. At length 
 the gipsy turned her eyes on my hand, but paus- 
 ed again, as if some doubt remained that she 
 desired to satisfy. 
 
 Do you know me pretty gipsy? I asked, 
 disguising my voice. 
 
 The gipsy shook her head significantly, when
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 121 
 
 having studied my palm for a few moments — 
 " Heavens defend us," said she," what a chequered 
 scene is here unfolded! what viscissitudes of grief 
 and joy, and anguish! .... and the worst pang 
 your heart will know shall be inflicted by a fe- 
 male — I see a scaffold ! .... a dungeon ! a 
 
 ring ! prosperity for yourself and destruc- 
 tion to him you love !" 
 
 Enough, enough, said I, shuddering, for the 
 gipsy's voice sounded in my ear like that of my 
 evil genius. Me thought I had somewhere heard 
 such sounds before, yet where or when I knew 
 not — Snatching away my hand, I turned towards 
 her companion and protector the pedlar, who was 
 delighting the page Eugenio with his merry dis- 
 course. 
 
 " Come and buy ; my pretty maidens, come and 
 buy" said he. — " Here is love powder for your 
 sweethearts pretty maidens, the true ruby tint for 
 your lips, and top-knots for your bonny hair! here's 
 Doctor Gascony's book of dreams, and old Dame 
 Vol. I. r
 
 12-2 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 Ventre-bleu's, the wise woman's receipt for twins, 
 printed on large letters, and not a hard word in all 
 the book ! here are garters that have a charm 
 against being crossed in love ! come buy my lads, 
 buy. Here's a liqueur to try the faith of your 
 mistresses, come buy it and try it! 'twill sweeten 
 your cotfee and cheer up your spirits — 'twill float 
 if they're virgins, else 'twill sink to the bottom 
 like lead." 
 
 Eugenio and myself now endeavoured to retire 
 from the crowd that w T as increasing about the 
 pedlar and his protejee the gipsy ; turning myself 
 round for the purpose of effecting my escape, I 
 came in close contact with the silent hermit, who 
 contrived to give my hand a gentle pressure un- 
 observed by any one. 
 
 " This dumb hermit has been watching us for 
 some time" said Eugenio— M father will you pur- 
 chase this rosary" called out the pedlar to the an- 
 chorite, who shook his head. 
 
 " Our reverend brother was born dumb," ob-
 
 CLARA GAZUt. 125 
 
 served a young friar who passed near us at that 
 instant. 
 
 "Not he! not he! said the gipsy," siezing hold 
 of his hand, as he was hurrying past her, " not 
 he indeed ! " 
 
 The hermit snatched away his hand, but not 
 before the gipsy had thrown a hasty glance on the 
 lines that marked it 
 
 " Thou do' st well to conceal the delineation of 
 thy crimes from my penetration," observed the 
 gipsy with a tone of biting asperity, 7 such as she 
 had not hitherto used. 
 
 I thought the hermit's whole frame shuddered, 
 but it might have been fancy. In a second of 
 time, he had forced hi9 way through the crowd, 
 and was out of sight. 
 
 The pedlar rebuked the gipsy for her harsh- 
 ness, but she only placed her finger on her lips 
 significantly, and muttered some unintelligible 
 sounds, like one spell-bound. 
 
 Suddenly the hermit again rushed into her pre- 
 sence, and presenting his hand to the sybil, in a
 
 124 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 faint disguised voice, said, " I would know what 
 observations your kindness or your malice is 
 disposed to make as to the lines of my hand, 
 which you profess to interpret ." 
 
 "Father," said the gipsy in a tremulous voice 
 the tone of which again struck me, as familiar to 
 my ear, " father, neither our antipathies or our 
 predelictions are to be accounted for, or com- 
 manded. The touch of your hand, is like the 
 glance of the basilisk in it's effects upon my shud- 
 dering senses, and I know not why! ... . Away 
 with you I entreat you I will not again touch 
 your palm." 
 
 The hermit sighed audibly ; — 'twas the sigh of 
 hopeless despair, and he then vanished. 
 
 The pedlar looked on the scene with an appear- 
 ance of anxious curiosity, and hastened to lead 
 his protejee towards a seat where he could con- 
 verse with her in private. 
 
 We were shortly afterwards joined by the 
 merry Countess of Diablo, who was accompanied
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 12 3 
 
 by her old friend and ci-devant lover the anti- 
 quated but amorous Count Roderigo. 
 
 Both were unmasked, the lady wore a rich 
 dress of green and point lace, made after the fa- 
 shion of her youth. 
 
 The Countess pressed me in her arms and pro- 
 fessed much joy at seeing me. Her nephew, the 
 Marquis de St. Betise had described my dress to 
 her, and she wished me to witness her minuet, with 
 Count Roderigo. " This" continued the old lady, 
 " is the very same dress I wore fifty years ago at 
 the famous Regent's ball, where I danced the 
 minuet de la cour with the then fascinating Rode- 
 rigo;" the said fascinating object, who by the bye 
 was at this period of time the very image of a 
 baboon, bowed low for the compliment. 
 
 "I will go in quest of a fiddler, and if I can't 
 find one, I'll fetch my own flute," said the delight- 
 ed page. 
 
 In another second he dragged an unwilling 
 member of the nearest band, fiddle and all to- 
 wards us, who having scraped his instrument into
 
 126 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 tune, struck up the minuet. Roderigo and the 
 Countess's dance excited bursts of laughter from 
 the crowd that soon gathered around them. It 
 was in fact the most grotesque exhibition that 
 could be imagined, and the good-tempered Coun- 
 tess delighted in the merriment she occasioned. 
 "Ah! ah! ah! those were happy days Rode- 
 rigo," said she, when the dance was ended, 
 " those were delicious days, when the pressure of 
 your hand made my heart dance ; . . . . but ob- 
 serve," she continued, " the young Prince Ora- 
 zio there in coversation with my niece." 
 
 The Prince still wore the costume of Tele- 
 machus; the Marchesa St. Betise seemed to hang 
 on his words with delight, as they retired together 
 under a thick orange grove. 
 
 The Countess Diablo having recommended the 
 Page to go about his business or pleasure, with 
 Roderigo, invited me to accompany her. As she 
 led the way towards the spot to which the Prince 
 and his companion had retired, I would have re*
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 127 
 
 monstrated on the indelicacy of our listening to, 
 or interrupting private conversation. 
 
 "Bah! bah ! bah! said the old lady," dragging 
 me along, " what do we come to the masquerade 
 for? — not to be straight laced, but to enjoy our- 
 selves. I know that sly niece of mine; I saw the 
 melting softness of her eyes when she addressed 
 that sweet boy How delicate are his blushes ! 
 how ardent the fire that flashes from his eyes! 
 How interesting his youthful modesty .... Oh ! 
 ma foi ! were I but twenty, only twenty years 
 younger! ! . . pretty doves ! ! . . Would not one 
 say they were made by Nature for each other's 
 happiness? but hush! we are approaching.'' 
 
 I would have spoken ; .... I wanted to retire 
 but the old lady held me in a grasp, which age 
 had not yet rendered feeble, and placed her other 
 hand on my lips. 
 
 "Softly then," she whispered "we are her 
 friends. . . . hush ! hush! the very life and spirit of 
 a masked ball would be destroyed but for a little 
 intrigue." In another second we approached as
 
 128 CLARA GAZUL 
 
 near as to hear the sound 'of their voices, while 
 a large tree, completely concealed our persons. 
 
 The Marchesa spoke in a soft thrilling voice of 
 the fatigue she had encountered, of her delicate 
 health, of the music, of any thing but love. The 
 Prince paid her the homage that a slave pays to 
 a divinity. 
 
 Scarcely fifteen years of age, bred and educated 
 in the strictest moral feelings, his blood now 
 warmed with the wildest desires, probably for 
 the first time. He seemed afraid to breath or 
 sigh, or utter a word, lest the noble and pure 
 Marchesa should guess at what was passing in 
 his heart. Perhaps a bolder lover might have 
 presumed to hope from the unusual softness of 
 the fair lady's tones, that some degree either of 
 favor or of pity had been granted towards him, 
 even had he so far transgressed as to have hinted 
 at these ardent feelings, with w 7 hich she had evi- 
 dently inspired him. But the Marchesa's lovely 
 lips breathed only the purest sentiments of virtue. 
 Her rich mantle of blue velvet had been thrown
 
 CLARA GA/.'JL. 129 
 
 aside. M The night air, at this late hour, grows 
 chilly to a Spanish constitution," said my fair 
 country woman, languidly attempting with her 
 little hands to draw the cloak about her, as we 
 could imperfectly observe from our hiding place. 
 
 The young Prince assisted her. 
 
 " Are not my hands cold," she inquired in ten- 
 der accents. The touch of her hand which she 
 presented, seemed to produce the effect of magic 
 on the young novice, whose voice became tremu- 
 lous from agitation 1 believe he ventured to 
 
 press it to his lips — There w^as a pause 
 
 " Lady ! Marchesa," said he at length 
 
 "Havel otf ended that you are silent? Did 
 
 you not allow me the honour of pressing your 
 hand, and could it be resigned e're it had been 
 pressed by my lips, without a deviation from 
 that chivalric gallantry, which your ladyship's 
 presence must naturally inspire? .... Still silent 
 lady ? Then am I indeed wretched, for you are 
 offended ! ' 
 
 Vol. I. s
 
 1.'30 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 " And for what, dear Prince," asked the Mar- 
 chesa laughing, " why should I be offended with 
 one so truly amiable ? 
 
 "Ha! Ha! Ha!" bawled out the Countess 
 Diablo, advancing from our place of concealment 
 and dragging me after her. We have caught the 
 pretty doves. Oh ! the silly things, how must 
 you suffer! How hard hearted is virtue! What 
 w r ould you give to be free from her restraint at this 
 moment ? Pretty youth ! — modest boy ! — which 
 of our sex could long resist you?" said the pro- 
 fligate old lady, parting the rich profusion of the 
 Prince's glossy waving hair. 
 
 The Marchesa with soft, but dignified compo- 
 sure, observed with a smile, " that Madame, the 
 Countess, her noble aunt, was privileged to say in 
 all societies just what came into her fanciful head, 
 without regard to time, or place, or truth. 
 
 Chanson ! Chanson!"* said the old lady, " you 
 were made for each other, and I defy you to re- 
 
 * Nonsense, Nonsense.— Ed.
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 131 
 
 sist your destiny ; hold out as long as you will, I 
 know where it must end. 
 
 The Marchesa now began to look seriously 
 offended, a tear trembled in her eye. " How 
 have I deserved this, what have I said that could 
 deserve such scandal ?" she asked with simplicity, 
 either real or very well acted. 
 
 The young Prince who was evidently under 
 the influence of a new passion, which in its first 
 stage was of that pure and ardent kind that re- 
 sembles idolatry, appeared to suffer tortures, and 
 dropping on his knees, he seized the Countess 
 Diablo, by the hand and looked in her face so be- 
 seechingly, that the old lady's heart softened. 
 
 " I will not vex you, lovely boy ! arise dear 
 child and play the fool as much as you please 
 with your exaggerated sentiments; I could not 
 have resisted you in youth, neither can I now." 
 
 The Prince, in the ardor of his youthful enthu- 
 siasm, covered the old lady's hand with kisses. 
 
 For my part, I seized the first opportunity to 
 apologize for my intrusion.
 
 132 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 V Enough, Rnough," said the Countess, inter 
 rupting me, and turning to her niece, " I tell you 
 niece, this child is free from blame, 'twas all my 
 doing." 
 
 " I am not afraid of being surprised," said the 
 Marchesa, smiling and presenting her hand to me, 
 with dignified politeness. " Miss Clara is not un- 
 acquainted with the comic humour of my aunt." 
 
 While conversing amicably; we advanced to- 
 wards a more public part of the gardens: the first 
 acquaintance we met was the Marchesa's uncle, 
 the Cardinal Poco-puranti. He was masked and 
 wore the red hat and full cardinal's costume ; he 
 appeared in high spirits, and expressed himself 
 delighted with the variety he had witnessed du- 
 ring the evening. In the course of our conversa- 
 tion, his Eminence mentioned two new acquain- 
 tances, which he had just made, and called our 
 attention to two masks in dark green dominos 
 who stood at a short distance conversing together. 
 
 " They are men of vast erudition," said the 
 Cardinal, "in short," so he went on, "I have
 
 CLARA UAZUL. 133 
 
 seldom been more charmed with the conversation 
 of any individual than with that of the elder. They 
 have both been great travellers and were lately in 
 Africa; I could not resist the fascination of their 
 discourse, and I have invited these strangers to 
 dine with me to-morrow. " We can accept your 
 invitation," replied the elder stranger, " but on 
 one condition, namely, that you do not require us 
 to unmask ; we travel in strict incognito, and we 
 are under a vow, the most solemn to conceal our 
 existence, during the next two months, at the end 
 of which period, if you will allow us the honor of 
 your acquaintance, we will remove our masks and 
 fully satisfy you as to who and what we are. It 
 now remains for you to choose whether you will 
 admit us to your table to-morrow under all these 
 mysterious circumstances, or frankly refuse us 
 that pleasure, until we can prove ourselves wor- 
 thy of your confidence, in which latter case we 
 shall journey forward to night." 
 
 I assured them, that though it would be the 
 first time I had dined with masked gentlemen at
 
 134 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 my own table, yet it being the season of the Car- 
 nival I had no objection, and should feel proud of 
 the company of such enlightened men, even 
 though they refused to shew their faces." 
 
 The Countess Diablo was violent in her excla- 
 mations against receiving strange men, who dared 
 not shew their faces, adding that her dear nephew 
 was wont to be more cautious : that in fact, the 
 green dominos must be fairies, who had bewitch- 
 ed him, or for all she knew, they might be two 
 robbers. 
 
 The Cardinal replied that they were the most 
 high bred men he had met with in Naples, that it 
 was impossible to converse with them and mis- 
 take them for thieves. 
 
 Bigots they might be, who might have made a 
 silly vow, but the idea of their being robbers was 
 absurd, he should take them for men of even re- 
 gal rank from the suavity and dignity of their 
 
 » 
 
 manners. 
 
 " In spite of all you can say nephew," said the
 
 CLARA GAZL'L. 135 
 
 persevering Countess Diablo, " I hope you will 
 invite a friend to meet them, and be well armed." 
 
 "Bah! I fear no one," said the Cardinal, 
 "much less these elegant intelligent strangers, 
 whose genius and merits alone induced me to 
 press them to dine with me. They are coming 
 towards us." 
 
 In another instant the green dominos joined us, 
 and the Cardinal having presented them, the 
 conversation took a general turn. 
 
 I soon ceased to be surprised at the favorable 
 impression their discourse had made on the Car- 
 dinal, for two reasons; first, because they con- 
 versed with infinite grace and talent, and lastly, 
 because I never heard a man more delicately- 
 flattered, and put in good humour with himself, 
 than the Cardinal by the elder incognito. 
 
 An age could not have made him better ac- 
 quainted and more competent to administer to 
 Poco-puranti's foibles. There seemed to exist a 
 degree of sympathy in their tastes and feelings, 
 in their manner of seeing things which rendered
 
 136 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 natural and simple, what else, had been mere ful- 
 some flattery, such as his Eminence had too good 
 sense to have admired. 
 
 The same happy medium between the excess 
 of rigid sanctity, and the ease of worldly profli- 
 gacy seemed to exist in the minds of all three 
 gentlemen; the same tact and lively turn of 
 thought. 
 
 Half an hour passed quickly in this pleasing 
 society, when the Cardinal and his friends saluted 
 and left us. 
 
 As we strolled along, the Countess Diablo 
 nodded and chatted with almost every mask she 
 met In the thickest of the crowd I know not 
 how it happened, but I suddenly lost sight of her 
 Ladyship. Vexed and ashamed at finding my- 
 self alone among such a vast concourse of fashio- 
 nable persons, I hastened down a long avenue of 
 orange shrubs, searching eagerly for some of my 
 acquaintances 
 
 I heard steps close behind me Turning 
 
 mv head round. I saw the silent hermit who ad-
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 137 
 
 vanced, and in a voice never to be forgotten by 
 me, asked me if I knew him. It was Ligonia' s 
 voice, and its tones thrilled on my heart. 
 
 You here, dear Ligonia! — dear Sir, said I, cor- 
 recting myself in accents tremulous from delight? 
 " Hush," replied Ligonia, for it was indeed him- 
 self, leading me gently to a more retired spot* 
 " Particular business of a very private nature call- 
 ed me suddenly to this country ; passing through 
 Naples this morning on my road to a distant part of 
 Italy, I waited on my particular acquaintance the 
 Countess of Polignac. It was from her I learnt 
 your residence with the Cardinal Poco-puranti, 
 and also that you would be at this masked ball to 
 night, in the dress of a Spanish nun. Though I 
 have long turned my back on the gaieties of the 
 world, yet I could not resist availing myself of 
 the only opportunity I might have of enquiring 
 after your welfare, since I must be journeying 
 onwards before to-morrow night." 
 
 So soon Ligonia? 1 exclaimed, an i may I not 
 
 speak to you now, and will you not unmask ? 
 Vol. I. t
 
 138 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 nay then, you must not, you cannot reproach me 
 justly with boldness, for my heart is honest. 
 But little can I know of the forms of etiquette, or 
 of the rules set down for female propriety. I am 
 told they are arbitrary, and I guess that in some 
 degree, the manner often passes for the matter; be 
 that as it may, there are surely exceptions to every 
 rule of conduct. I see my protector from insult, 
 
 my best, my only friend a prey to despair ; 
 
 my heart glows with the most ardent desire to 
 sooth, to comfort, and console him, whose amia- 
 ble character is appreciated by all. Alas! the 
 power I fear is denied me, but my heart is too 
 full, and it would burst were I to be silent. 
 Ligonia! I repeat mine is an honest heart, and 
 every thought, and every wish towards you, is 
 pure as your own mind. 
 
 " A'o more of this Clara! — You distress me," 
 said Ligonia. 
 
 Nay then, I exclaimed in a tremulous voice, 
 this is harshness, and you are unkind to trifle 
 with a poor friendless girl, giving her the most
 
 CLARA (iAZUL. 139 
 
 touching proofs of disinterested kindness, yet 
 would have her return them with cold ingrati- 
 tude. Oh 1 how have I thought of you, and 
 prayed for you, and how eloquent I have fancied 
 I could plead to you! what projects have I not 
 formed to restore you to tranquillity 1 how san- 
 guine have been my dreams! In some of 
 
 them me thought you smiled, and were pleased 
 with my devotion to you! I have watched for 
 you in the twilight of the evening, I have sang to 
 you while you enjoyed the delicate repast my 
 
 own hands had prepared for you Sometimes I 
 
 have stood amidst the thickest of the battle, stout 
 of heart and able and willing to administer to 
 your distresses, or your wounds, bodily or mental. 
 I was your companion in sorrow, and in health — 
 Your head has rested on my bosom, and I have 
 watched your sweet sleep with pleasure untold, 
 when I have fancied it refreshing. Alas! alas! 
 that all this should have passed but in my dreams ! 
 "And who does more than dream of happi-
 
 140 CLARA (iAZUL. 
 
 ness Clara ?" asked Ligonia in a softened voice 
 expressive of the deepest melancholy. 
 
 Let us awake then Ligonia to stern truth, let 
 
 us dream no more! thy heart is chilled! 
 
 thou art cold as marble so then, will I be — 
 
 you shall not hear my voice — I will be no offici- 
 cious hand-maid to vex you with misplaced ten- 
 derness Live if thou wilt in solitude! 
 
 eternal solitude, but place me where the sound of 
 thy foot-step shall cheer my heart and inspire me 
 
 with courage Nay ! I will not listen to you, 
 
 I read the omnious wave of your hand! 
 
 speak not! Pause dear Ligonia e're you turn 
 
 away from the prayer of poor Clara, who is 
 
 friendless and lives but in this hope! turn 
 
 not from the child of your bounty, who asks of 
 Heaven but to live in the same atmosphere with 
 you, who breathes no prayers but for your re 
 pose, and whose prospects are all a blank if you 
 forsake her. Think you I could thus plead but for 
 that secret voice which whispers to me, I could 
 comfort your affliction and deserve your esteem ?
 
 < LARA GAZUL. 141 
 
 My friend! my noble, kind, and generous 
 benefactor, continued I, throwing myself on my 
 knees, and bending'my face over his hand to hide 
 my~tears,.' pray, oh ! pray take me with you, our 
 tears shall mingle and so lose half their bitterness. 
 I shall soon grow older and wiser, and I will learn 
 to deserve your friendship. My heart shall be 
 schooled by yours, and every thing, I hope, or 
 wish, or pray for shall be comprized in these four 
 simple words, "thy will be done." 
 
 Ligonia drew aside his mask, raised me in his 
 arms, and hid my face in his bosom. 
 
 IT WAS THE SWEETEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE. 
 
 The spot where we stood was completely sha- 
 ded from observations by tall trees. — 
 
 "I am not of stone Clara," said Ligonia, ten- 
 derly kissing my cheek. — " I am a man, yet lia- 
 ble to the passions and feelings of my sex, but I 
 have forsworn them. There is in my memory that 
 which forbids me to wish for rest until I shall 
 find it in the tomb ! — I would you could read 
 my heart, none know the anguish that is buried
 
 13*2 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 here," said he touching his breast. — " Me-thinks 
 you who can love one so wretched and absorbed 
 in his own misery ought to know him. — I can 
 confide in you, and I am inclined to place my life 
 
 in your hands yet, 'twere folly surely at 
 
 your tender age to shock you with a tale of 
 
 horror 'twere madness so the world 
 
 would call it, to confide the most important se- 
 cret on which existence hangs, to the keeping of 
 an infant." 
 
 Tell me nothing! — I will hear no secret of 
 import to you until I am older, and yet more sure 
 of my own prudence. — Enough of happiness is 
 mine at this instant; I would not frighten away 
 your disposition to be kind to my wishes, by ask- 
 ing too much. Sulficient for the delightful mo- 
 ment is my waking present sense, that tells me 
 all is not illusion and that I have been held in re- 
 ality of tenderness to your heart. 
 
 "A dream! all a dream of unreal joy! The 
 mere fever of the brain ! — Thou wouldst shrink in
 
 C LA It A CJ/*ZUL. 143 
 
 horror from my embrace, were you awake Clara," 
 said Ligonia, distractedly turning from me. 
 
 You frighten me Ligonia, said I, hastening after 
 him and seizing hold of his gown with my tremb- 
 ling hands. Have pity on me ! Hint not at things 
 too horrible for me to imagine, or I shall lose my 
 
 senses Talk not to me with that countenance* 
 
 so sweet, so sad, yet so noble, that the recollec- 
 tion ever makes my heart thrill with tenderness. 
 Hint not to me I beseech you of such crimes as 
 could make me turn from you in horror. Sit near 
 me Ligonia, and I will try to sooth this phantom 
 of your feverish imagination. 
 
 Ligonia' s hand which I ventured to press, was 
 chill and clammy, he did not withdraw it, but 
 sighed heavily as he seated himself by my side. 
 
 Surely, Ligonia, said I, Heaven's wrath for the 
 heaviest crimes are appeased by man's sincere 
 repentance, and justice is rendered to offended 
 society by a life of sacrifice to our fellow crea- 
 ture's happiness. Why then do you talk of de- 
 spair? Some pass their lives in the commission
 
 144 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 of petty vices and selfish sins ; others there are 
 of nobler character possessed of great virtues, 
 who have at some fatal moment committed a 
 crime ! a single crime ! in lieu of a host of endless 
 vices: Yet the sincere repentance the contri- 
 tion of either will find rest here and hereafter. 
 How has my heart glowed with pleasure when I 
 heard of the sacrifices you have made for the re- 
 lief and comfort of the distressed soldiers under 
 your command. Dear Ligonia, T would share your 
 fate here and hereafter ; fearlessly would I share 
 it, for I believe you capable of all good and noble 
 actions. 
 
 " Clara, the sweet tones of your voice have 
 magic in them to blunt the keenness of my sor- 
 row ; your beauty is so bright, your warmth of 
 heart so genuine, your firmness so touching, 
 that all will live in my recollection. Your love 
 I cannot return, for my heart is seared with 
 sorrow ; yet I would fain express to you my 
 
 deep sense of your kindness, my gratidude, 
 
 my "
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 145 
 
 Then go not hence, my dearest friend, go not 
 away from me for ever. 
 
 " Alas !" sighed Ligonia, and paused 
 
 Oh! not to-morrow, I exclaimed. Fleeting 
 and transitory are our moments of happiness ; ab- 
 ridge not mine, the last I may know on earth ; 
 the purest I have yet experienced. Stay yet to 
 look with me on one more revolving moon ! See 
 she smiles on my prayers, and as I plead, that 
 dark cloud is passing away, leaving her beams 
 
 bright as my hopes. — You will stay, Ligonia ? 
 
 I pressed his hand between mine, and looked 
 eagerly in his face. 
 
 " Clara, it were madness !" 
 Nay, this is cruel, said I, let each day bear it's 
 
 burthen, grant me only this little respite Oh! 
 
 strange being to fly from my presence as though I 
 -were contagious poison. 
 
 " Be it as thou wilt then, Clara/' said Ligonia, 
 with an effort to drive away painful reflections. 
 My happiness was now perfect, delightful 
 
 state of extreme youth when the buoyant spirit 
 Vol. I. u
 
 146 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 lives but in the present moment of fairy hopes 
 and visions of bliss, which pass away with the 
 hour. 
 
 " Heaven bless thee, and farewell!" said Li- 
 gonia, " you are to visit the Countess Polignac 
 to-morrow, and there I will meet you — yet Clara, 
 where is thy prudence thus to throw thyself upon 
 the honor of a stranger. Consider the temptation 
 you throw in his way: what if he should be unde- 
 serving of the trust you repose in him! Should 
 passion yet exist in his breast stronger than his 
 discretion, would you forgive him?" 
 
 Farewell Ligonia, I whispered in a voice tre- 
 mulous with happiness, Clara confides in you, 
 she is yours and you will not offend her, for your 
 heart is kind and she trusts you. 
 
 "But," retorted Ligonia, "if the charm with 
 magic force were to drown for an instant the 
 voice of honor and remorse?" 
 
 Ligonia, I answered, I dread no harm when 
 you are near me, nor have I in those moments
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 147 
 
 room in my heart tor ought but happiness, sweet 
 as my brightest dreams e'er pictured. 
 
 " Sleep then secure in thy innocent love, for a 
 grateful but wretched man," said Ligonia, when 
 having once more pressed me to his heart we se- 
 parated hastily, at the approach of the merry 
 pedlar and gipsy who passed me at that moment. 
 "Oh! you sly hermit! you hoary sinner," ex- 
 claimed the pedlar in lively accents. "Go hide 
 thee in thy den false hermit," the gipsy called out 
 as Ligonia was departing. 
 
 And whence this unusual severity towards an 
 individual who is received by our host? I asked, 
 Me thinks young gipsy, thy satire has in it, more 
 of harshness, than point or aptness. 
 * " Maiden, thou speaketh after thy light which 
 is darkness," she replied : "I am a soothsayer, and 
 I warn thee, there is blood upon the hermit's 
 hands, I read them but now, and me thinks thv- 
 self stood by when the guilty man trembled be- 
 fore my w isdom." 
 
 Gipsy, thy voice sounds in my ear, like the
 
 148 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 croaking of some ominous bird of ill promise. 
 I'll tarry no longer near thy spell; I'll away from 
 thee, dingy sorceress, black witch whom I begin 
 to hate in sober earnest. 
 
 " Surely I know that voice," said the pedlar, 
 adding "your tones grow more familiar tome, 
 you are certainly the young lady we have been 
 
 all the evening in search of you are Miss 
 
 Clara— 
 
 And you Sir are ? 
 
 " Your old friend Doctor Lambert," unmask- 
 ing as he spoke. 
 
 I expressed my joy at this unexpected meet- 
 ing. 
 
 Mutual congratulations having passed, the 
 Doctor addressed me to this effect. "I hope 
 when my young patient unmasks you will re- 
 ceive her with open arms ;" here the young gipsy 
 suffered her mask to be loosened, and Mademoi- 
 selle St. Sauveur offered me her hand. 
 
 Without accepting it, I coldly expressed my 
 hopes that I saw her in good health.
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 140 
 
 The Doctor briefly gave me the following ac- 
 count of himself; " On his arrival in London he 
 had immediately placed his patient under the care 
 of Doctor Willis ; change of scene and the skill 
 of this most eminent physician, had proved all 
 powerful in restoring Mademoiselle St. Sauveur 
 to health, who was entirely cured of her former 
 dreadful malady. Her lungs, however, being de- 
 licate, a journey to Italy was deemed advisable, 
 they were, therefore, on their road towards the 
 residence of a female relation of the Doctor's, who 
 had married a Florentine, and resided ten leagues 
 from Naples. They had called at the Cardinal's 
 and there learn't that I was at the masquerade ; 
 had therefore, by means of all powerful gold pro- 
 cured tickets and disguises desiring to shake hands 
 with me, as they passed through Naples, which 
 place they proposed leaving as soon as the fete 
 was over." 
 
 I endeavoured to reason away the disgust and 
 coldness I felt towards poor Mademoiselle St. 
 Sauveu , for having attempted to destroy Ligonia
 
 loO CLARA OAZUL 
 
 I fear I was not very successful, and my manner 
 seemed to offend Doctor Lambert, but the young 
 lady, on taking her leave, proposed writing to me 
 from the country, and most cordial iy shook me 
 by the hand. 
 
 I wanted to forgive her but could not ; she had 
 appeared before me in such an unpropitions mo- 
 ment, when my heart was glowing with love to- 
 wards him whose life she had attempted to des- 
 troy, and my mind w r as doubl} hardened against 
 her, by that instinctive and unaccountable seve- 
 rity which even in her present sane state of intel- 
 lect, she had a second time evinced towards Ligo- 
 nia. 
 
 A loud merry peal of bells now summoned all 
 the gay masks to a sumptuous supper, served in a 
 suite of apartments fitted up with regal magnifi- 
 cence. I will not attempt to describe this feast of- 
 made dishes, and flow of bowls, my head was 
 giddy with anticipation of expected happiness in 
 the society of Ligonia. 
 
 On my entrance, I remember noticing the
 
 CLARA GAZUL. lJl 
 
 twelve minstrels wlio sat tuning their harps at 
 the bottom of the room. I can never forget the 
 beauty of our fair hostess which seemed too bright 
 for earth, and her spangled robe of azure blue, the 
 many glittering diamonds in her hair, her soft 
 smile, her languid delicacy, her fairy hands and 
 feet, and her rosy little slipper just visible on the 
 rich carpet, I remember too that the young prince 
 Orazio was seated by her side, and their looks 
 of burning intelligence, their blushes, their whis- 
 pers soft as the air of their native skies, and then 
 the Marquis St. Betise ! 1 ! How rapt was he in 
 the sweets of harmony ! ! ! 
 
 My eager eyes vainly sought the hermit, but 
 the Cardinal! me thinks I see him now in his red 
 hat and other episcopal dignities, lending a willing 
 left or right ear to his graceful flatterers, the two 
 green dominos, his bright eye? sparkling like the 
 wine in his goblet, nor do I forget Eugenio, the 
 handsome page, or his white and silver costume, 
 which made him look so bland and fair, or the
 
 1.3 2 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 love that spoke in his pensive eyes, for my heart 
 was all made up of passion. 
 
 A touch of melancholy was mixed with my 
 happy sensations on that evening, when visions 
 of bliss flitted across my brain. Pity, the most 
 intense for Ligonia, was mingled with the bright 
 hope that I could soften his sorrow. 
 
 Covering my eyes with my hand, in order to 
 shut out all these objects, I indulged for an instant 
 in luxurious recollection. 
 
 These sweet reflections were interrupted by the 
 gentle voice of the page Eugenio, who whispered 
 in my ear, en passant " Clara the hermit is known 
 to me, may you be happy to the extent of your 
 most sanguine wishes ; I told you I would never 
 encourage jealousy ; good night dear Clara! May 
 he whom you love, deserve you " ^^ 
 
 I was about to answer the page with affec- 
 tionate tenderness, but he had vanished. It was 
 past six in the morning when the party broke 
 up, I then threw myself on my couch, quite ex- 
 hausted, to dream of Ligonia.
 
 C L \ ha (; A/.r L. 153 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 CONTAINING THE CONFESSIONS OF EUGENIO'S MO- 
 THER — A SCENE WITH THE GREATEST MAN OF HIS 
 AGE. — A LOVE SCENE — A PARTING. 
 
 The Countess of Polignac received me with the 
 warmest expressions ot friendship, and invited me 
 to her boudoir, where an elegant breakfast was 
 prepared for us. Having partaken of it together, 
 the Countess briefly related to me what I will en- 
 deavour a6 nearly as possible to put down in her 
 own words : — " My real name it will be neces- 
 sary to conceal under that of my relative's, the 
 Count of Polignac : I was bred in the Protestant 
 faith, my husband was many years in the service 
 of the French Republic. I had the honour to be 
 engaged in the year 1799, as first lady of the bed- 
 
 V r OL. I. X
 
 154 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 chamber, to Josephine, the wife of Bonaparte. 
 Young, analsingularly romantic, I admired and 
 looked up to the then first Consul as to a being 
 superior to all the world. On his part he ever 
 treated me with marked and flattering attention. 
 Allow me to pass briefly over the subject of 
 my disgrace. 
 
 " Neglected by my husband, and fascinated by 
 the glory that surrounded Napoleon, in a fatal 
 moment, I lost sight of honor, and the respect 
 due to myself. 
 
 But I soon repented of my crime. The first 
 Consul's temper was uncertain, and he often trea- 
 ted me with harsh neglect. Stung to the quick by 
 his careless indifference, I resolved to conceal from 
 him my pregnancy, for which purpose I begged 
 permission to resign my situation, pleaded ill 
 health as my excuse for quitting the Count, and 
 retiring to an estate I possessed near Naples, 
 
 My husband was absent on a secret mission, 
 and not expected to return for many months. 
 
 The kind Josephine parted from me with
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 155 
 
 regret. A dear respected aunt who accompanied 
 me to Naples, advised me to conceal my real 
 name under the one I now bear. 
 
 "The Lady Poco-puranti and myself were edu- 
 cated together; I flew to my old school-fellow, 
 and having. laid open my heart and explained to 
 her my unfortunate situation, I implored her on 
 my knees to take charge of my unfortunate infant, 
 as soon as it should be born, and so save me from 
 disgrace, and the indignation of my justly offend- 
 ed husband. 
 
 "After consulting her brother, the Cardinal, it 
 was agreed that my poor infant should be placed 
 in a basket and slung to the gates of their Cas- 
 tello, when they promised to adopt it. 
 
 " Three months after my arrival at Naples, and 
 in this very house, my son Eugenio first saw the 
 light. 
 
 " You are surprised, Miss Clara, but judge me 
 not too severely. You know not the wiles of a 
 court, or half the temptation I had to err !
 
 150 CLAKA GAZUL. 
 
 " Let me hasten to conclude a story which is 
 painful to me to relate. 
 
 " A wet nurse was provided secretly, and all 
 necessary preparations being made, for the safety 
 and preservation of my infant's health, the kind 
 Countess received him from her gates, and im- 
 mediately explained to her household that since 
 providence had thrown this poor deserted inno- 
 cent on her mercy, she had resolved to adopt it, 
 as her own. 
 
 M V r ainly should I attempt to do justice to the 
 indefatigable kindness' which the lady Poco-pu- 
 ranti has ever evinced, towards my poor boy, 
 whom by her means, I have been permitted to 
 press daily in my arms. The first three years of 
 his existence, was passed by me in retirement, 
 never interrupted, save by the occasional visit of 
 the Cardinal and his sister. The beauty of my 
 child was the theme of all who saw him, and his 
 lively temper, made him a favorite with every 
 one. 
 
 About this time I received a letter from my
 
 CLARA GAZLL. Io7 
 
 husband, announcing his approaching return, 
 and inviting me to meet him at Paris. 
 
 Trembling between shame and dread of his 
 presence, I hastened to obey his summons, and 
 ha \ mg taken a tender leave of my child and his 
 kind guardians, I arrived in the French capital a 
 Tew weeks before my husband. 
 
 " He was much changed, and I thought he ob- 
 served me with doubt and suspicion. He often ques- 
 tioned me as to my motive for quitting the ser- 
 vice of Josephine, and while making these enqui- 
 ries, he would fix his eyes on my face, as though 
 he would have penetrated my most secret 
 thoughts. A thousand times I was on the pointy 
 of throwing myself at his feet, and confessing my 
 crime, but shame, and fear of his violence, tied 
 my tongue. 
 
 " 1 passed about five years in Paris, and its en- 
 virons, consumed with melancholy, deprived of 
 the presence of my beloved child, and feeling my- 
 self an object of distrust and suspicion to a jea- 
 lous husband. My chief consolation, during that
 
 158 
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 period, was the letters I received from my friend 
 the Lady Poco-puranti, bringing me accounts of 
 the progress of my dear child in every branch 
 of his education, of his strength and beauty, his 
 taste for study, his passion for reading, and thirst 
 for general information. 
 
 " In short, the accounts that were poured into 
 the gratified ear of a fond mother, were such as 
 to make me fancy my child would turn out a 
 prodigy of learning and beauty. 
 
 " Possessing a large paternal inheritance in Ita- 
 ly, I need not say that I spared no expence in the 
 progress of my darling boy's education. Having 
 at this time attained his ninth year, it became ad- 
 visable that he should come to Paris, in order to 
 be placed in the most distinguished college to fit 
 him for the university. My affectionate friend, 
 the Lady Poco-puranti, accompanied my son to 
 Paris, and with the assistance of a friend, saw* 
 him, safely installed, and under the auspices of a 
 tutor, distinguished for his learning and general 
 merit, before she returned to Italy.
 
 CLARA GAZUL 159 
 
 " Eugenio was now in Paris, yet was his tender 
 parent deprived of the pleasure of calling him her 
 son. What agony of mind has this restraint oc- 
 casioned me ! It was with difficulty my kind 
 aunt, who returned with me to Paris, contrived 
 to procure me an occasional interview with 
 Eugenio. 
 
 " How seldom seemed our meetings to my eager 
 affection ! Often have I watched for hours the 
 chance of beholding my child during his hours of 
 recreation, which were some times passed in an 
 orchard adjoining the college that was situated in 
 the neighbourhood of the capital. 
 
 * Maternal affection, at length too strong for 
 longer restraint, burst forth, and during a short ab- 
 sence which my husband made, I one day having 
 obtained a private interview with my darling 
 child, threw my arms about his neck and dis- 
 closed the fatal secret which was to doom him to 
 shame and disgrace for ever. 
 
 " My confession was made just when my son 
 had obtained his tenth year. The deep impression
 
 160 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 it produced on his young mind proved his sensi- 
 bility of heart, and that maturity of thought and 
 judgement, the knowledge of which had given 
 me courage to entrust him thus young with the 
 secret of his birth. Wounded and bitterly lamen- 
 ting his own situation, yet did he sooth me with 
 the tenderest professions of duty and filial affec- 
 tion. After this eclaircissement my mind grew 
 calmer. 
 
 ■' My son's progress astonished his preceptors, 
 the best of his studies were directed towards ac- 
 quiring a profound knowledge of the laws of the 
 land, not with a view alone that he should one 
 day become great as a counsellor, but his ambition 
 soared higher still He would create new laws, 
 and become the means of high and essential 
 benefit and increased happiness to mankind ; a 
 great and eloquent legislator, a martyr to some 
 noble cause, that his renown might live after him, 
 and that children unborn might bless the name 
 of him who had bettered the lot of his fellow 
 pecies. Such were the bright, honorable, and
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 161 
 
 and romantic dreams of Eugenio's earliest youth, 
 inspired by the benevolence of his heart, and that 
 ambitious disposition which might in a son of 
 Napoleon Bonaparte, be supposed an hereditary 
 quality. 
 
 " My son before he was twelve years of age 
 passed the most brilliant examination in the col- 
 lege of Henri IV. which had been known for 
 many years, and was spoken of by the professors 
 as a young protege of deep learning, besides hav- 
 ing acquired many lighter accomplishments, par- 
 ticularly that of music. 
 
 " The Emperor, who happened to visit that 
 celebrated college, a few days after my son's suc- 
 cessful examination had taken place, lent an at- 
 
 « 
 tentive ear to the praise bestowed on young Eu- 
 
 genio by various professors attached to the esta- 
 blishment, which was then particularly patronized 
 by Bonaparte himself. 
 
 "On learning that the boy was a protegS of 
 the Cardinal Poco-puranti, who possessed large 
 
 estates in Naples, and that he had been found at 
 + Vol. I. t
 
 162 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 ills gate when an infant, Napoleon commanded 
 Eugenio to be brought before him. My child 
 came into the presence of his unconscious par- 
 ent with feelings much agitated, almost amount- 
 ing to dislike. The Emperor addressed him in 
 a voice and with a manner unusually kind. It 
 almost seemed as if nature spoke by instinct in 
 the father's heart. 
 
 "Taking the youth aside and having question- 
 ed him patiently as to his studies, he patted the 
 beautiful boy's head and told him he would be 
 his friend, and not lose sight of his interests, 
 while he continued to distinguish himself. Eu- 
 genio greatly surprised and much offended his 
 preceptors by the rude abruptness of his replies. 
 
 " I hope Sire to dispense with patronage alto- 
 gether," was my son's uncourteous answer. 
 
 "And why so child?" said the Emperor, half 
 smiling half displeased. 
 
 " Fatherless from my cradle, Sire, I have ever 
 felt it my duty to strive to make my way through 
 the world, by means of my own steady exertions
 
 CLARA CAZUL. 163 
 
 alone, unassisted by any great man's patronage 
 whatever, until I have acquired the taste as well 
 as state of independence, and that to such an ex- 
 tent Sire, that me thinks I would refuse a diadem 
 that policy or patronage should place upon my 
 brow, and were not mine by birth-right." 
 
 " You grow saucy youngster," said the Em- 
 peror. 
 
 " May I retire Sire ?" 
 
 "Attendez done! attendez done!* Would 
 you like the army for a profession ?" 
 
 "No Sire!" 
 
 " What if I were to take you near my own 
 person ? Would you refuse to form one of my 
 body-guard ?" 
 
 " Sire, I will not be a soldier, unless my coun- 
 try should be invaded, and then I w r ould defend 
 her with my best blood and abilities." 
 
 * Yet I am told you are ambitious boy, and 
 
 'Stay ! slay a minute.
 
 164 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 the army opens a wide field for renown at this 
 moment," said the Emperor. 
 
 " Vanity, Sire may be satisfied with mean ad- 
 vantages, but my ambition soars higher than 
 yours. I would not stoop down to have a crown 
 placed on my head that never of right belonged to 
 it; neither would I marry for promotion, nor 
 care for conquests which could never benefit 
 mankind; nor would my conscience permit me 
 to slaughter my fellow-creatures oftener than my 
 reason should teli me, that to war with them was 
 inevitable, for the safety and preservation of our 
 citizens, and our countrymen.*' 
 
 "Thou shal't take orders, and be a priest, 
 boy," said the Emperor ironically. 
 
 " Not I indeed ! said Eugenio boldly, " for I 
 am a protestant — I hate priesthood, and the 
 whole system of popish infallibility, so much so, 
 that I cannot forgive any one who would stoop to 
 patronize it, believing every such man to be either 
 a fool, or a hypocrite." 
 
 " There are situations," said the Emperor,
 
 CLARA GAZl'L. 165 
 
 vvitl) unusual mildness and moderation such as 
 astonished those about him, " there are surely si- 
 tuations a man may be thrown into, where, what 
 would else be termed hypocrisy, becomes matter 
 of mere common, necessar) policy — situations, 
 in which he naturally, and wisely embraces one 
 steady vast plan, in defiance of all larger or smaller 
 obstacles, setting at nought certain forms which 
 would obstruct the less expanded views of com- 
 mon men — II faut voir I'ensemble— II faut voir les 
 choses en grand — II faut voir avec mes yeux — II 
 faut entrer dans mes vues, mon enfant, avant 
 d'oser me critiquer.*" 
 
 In saying this, the Emperor playfully touched 
 Eugenio's cheek with his glove. 
 
 "Sire!" said my child somewhat softened to- 
 wards his parent at hearing himself unconsciously 
 called " mon enfant," " I am not prepared to prove 
 that hypocrisy is, under any circumstances bad 
 
 * You must look at the whole together, examine things at large, 
 look at things with my eves, and enter into my conceptions, my 
 child, before you presume to criticise me. 
 
 Vol. I. y
 
 16Y) CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 policy, or that a government which is not found- 
 ed on the simple principle of truth and honour 
 must eventually be crushed, be it governed by 
 whom it may, because I am but a child, and the 
 arguments I could produce, would probably be 
 weak and unsatisfactory ; but I am old enough to 
 know my own mind, and I could suffer or die if it 
 were necessary, before my pride would allow me 
 to act with deception: and methinks, were I an 
 Emperor, I should consider that my safety, as well 
 as glory rested on my own real merits, and the 
 affections of my people." 
 
 " And are our people disaffected then, think'st 
 thou, pert boy ?" enquired the Emperor. 
 
 " I know not. Sire, for I never lived in the 
 world, but I should guess that, though we may 
 be fascinated for a time by a brilliant character, 
 our permanent respect and affection, can only rest 
 with him, whom principles, and pure motives of 
 action should command, and compel us to esteem, 
 even long after the fashion of his celebrity 
 should have died a natural death."
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 167 
 
 w Thou wouldstmake me angry child, were it in 
 thy power, it should seem," said the Emperor. 
 
 " Nay Sire, I did but state my opinion of an un- 
 principled king, but since you are so touchy, even 
 on extraneous matters, I would fain retire with 
 your gracious permission." 
 
 " Va-t-en petit drole* " said the Emperor, 
 " mais ecoute thou art a singular child, and 
 though unpolished and rude to thy superiors I 
 like thy countenance and thy sharpness. Give me 
 thy hand." 
 
 Eugenio half pleased, half reluctant, presented 
 his little hand to the Emperor. Napoleon took 
 from his pocket a small gold snuff box, with his 
 likeness excellently engraved on the lid, and pre- 
 senting it to Eugenio, said with much cordiality, 
 whilst pressing the child's fingers over the box. 
 " Ne me raillez plus mon petit ami — Soyons bons 
 amis — Nous nons reverrons!"t 
 
 * Go along then you littie ruonkey, said the Emperor, but hear 
 nie — Ed. 
 
 f Banter me no more my little fellow, let uw be good friends — 
 We shall see each other again. — Ed.
 
 168 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 The son spoke for an instant in the heart of 
 the child, which warmed towards his parent, and 
 dropping gracefully on one knee, he pressed his 
 rosy lips on the Emperor's hand. 
 
 Napoleon's countenance expressed admiration 
 and pleasure as he gazed on the blooming boy at 
 his feet, whom he quickly raised, saying, " Em- 
 brasse moi mon enfant bien — Est ce de bon 
 coeur* ?" 
 
 "Mais ouilf" said Eugenio, putting his 
 
 arms about the Emperor's neck, after a moment's 
 pause, and giving him as unceremonious and 
 warm a hug as though his Majesty had been 
 aware of their relationship, to the astonishment of 
 the grave professors, and great amusement of 
 the Emperor, who left the college in high good 
 humour. 
 
 " I afterwards asked my child why he had 
 
 * Embrace me my child — Is it with all your heart ? 
 f Why**.. Yes!
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 109 
 
 first received the advances of the Emperor so un- 
 courteously and afterwards embraced him so cor- 
 dially ? 
 
 " The vanity and vices of the Emperor disgust 
 me " said Eugenio " but I could not resist the 
 kind tone of my parent, the less, because it was 
 tendered to me voluntary when I had least right 
 to expect it." 
 
 " I tire you Clara," said the Countess de Polig- 
 nac. 
 
 Having assured her .Ladyship with truth, of the 
 deep interest I took in her story, she continued as 
 follows : — " But little more remains for me to re- 
 late of my melancholy adventures. My husband 
 accompanied Marechai Xey to Russia, and lost 
 his life in that disastrous campaign at the battle 
 fought by the Imperial armies between Ghiac and 
 Mojaisk in 1812. 
 
 Ligonia, who was in the Russian service, and had 
 fought in Prince KutusorT's army, under the aus- 
 pices of the old Count Drognichief, was entrusted 
 
 by the emperor Alexander with a secret mission 
 Vol. I. z
 
 170 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 to the court of the Tuilleries, and despatched to 
 Paris, where Napoleon had arrived soon after the 
 fatal passage of the Beresina. 
 
 " He brought me in person the melancholy 
 news of my husband's having died in his arms. 
 A letter from my lost husband came to hand 
 three days after Ligonia's first visit. In that let- 
 ter he spoke of Ligonia, as of one whose noble 
 conduct and generous forbearance in the field of 
 battle w T as above all praise. 
 
 Ligonia remained some weeks in Paris, and in- 
 terested himself in the arrangement of my affairs 
 with as much warmth and zeal, as though he had 
 been my brother. In the desponding state of my 
 mind, and my heart almost broken, I felt that, 
 but for his active kindness, I must have lost my 
 senses. My son loved him with his whole heart, 
 and respected him as the first of men ; and when 
 Ligonia's mission terminated, and his military 
 duties forced him to depart, we were as deeply 
 affected, as though we had known each other 
 all our lives.
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 171 
 
 Such real acts of affectionate kindness did we 
 receive from him, that I was induced to explain 
 every particular of my unfortunate situation. 
 He promised, unasked, to cherish my poor Eu- 
 genio as a brother. 
 
 " To conclude — shortly after the departure of 
 Ligonia, we were on our road journeying back to- 
 wards Naples, accompanied by my son's tutor, 
 under whose instruction he proposed entering on 
 a course of reading which should perfect him in 
 such sciences as he preferred, as well as in the 
 deep and profound knowledge of practical law, 
 which, he desired to join to elocution, of a style 
 that already held out the promise of obtaining 
 rare and brilliant superiority. 
 
 " My child's birth is still a secret to the world. 
 Fain would I dare to seem what I am. Shame, 
 ties my tongue and forbids the exposure of my dis- 
 grace. Eugenio, is therefore, still supposed to be 
 ignorant of the author of his being. 
 
 The Cardinal and his sister received my child
 
 172 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 and his tutor with unabated kindness, and we 
 have not since quitted Naples. 
 
 " Your beauty and amiable character, Clara, 
 made a sudden and violent impression on the heart 
 of my son, who from being the gayest and mer- 
 riest, soon after your arrival grew thoughtful, and 
 touched with a tender melancholy ; when having 
 at length ventured to lay open his young heart to 
 you and implore your sympathy, you with your 
 natural frankness informed him of your passion 
 for our kind friend Ligonia. You know the rest. 
 My son will never be the rival of Ligonia. He 
 would prefer death to standing in his light 
 
 u A las! my child grows pale and his tender 
 mother trembles for the health of her darling. 
 During the last few months I have been prepa- 
 ring my mind for our separation, and that nothing 
 may be wanting to form his mind and manners, 
 Eugenio, must travel. The moment is at hand — 
 the pang is past — and my child with his tutor ac- 
 companies his beloved friend through Italy and 
 afterwards to Russia.
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 173 
 
 " Ligonia brings him an invitation from the old 
 Count Drognichieff, who resides near \Yilna, 
 where the Emperor's head quarters have been es- 
 tablished some time. They take their departure 
 by to-morrow's dawn, when unless you feel pity 
 for my solitude and will come to me, I shall be 
 disconsolate. 
 
 "Joyfully I accept your invitation, I exclaimed, 
 adding that I would on that evening mention to 
 the Lady Poco-puranti my earnest wish to leave 
 her house for that of the Countess of Polignac's, 
 since Miss Laura, for whom I had been engaged, 
 had departed, and my services were no longer ne- 
 cessary at the Cardinal's. Our conversation was 
 shortly afterwards interrupted by a servant who 
 announced the visit of Ligonia. 
 
 "How did my heart bound! How the colour 
 rushed to my cheek ! ! He paid, the usual com • 
 plimentsto me in a voice which sounded affectio- 
 nately tender. The Countess was never tired of 
 questioning him as to their route, making memo- 
 randums of where her darling son was to sleep*
 
 *74 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 or dine on the road. Ligonia informed us that 
 Eugenio could not escape from the eager tender- 
 ness of all the inhabitants at the Palazzo of Poco- 
 puranti. His old and first nurse sat weeping and 
 hugging him by turns. Not a menial that did 
 not tender her little humble gift of friendship to 
 the beautiful young page, who had been bred 
 amongst them, and was going to such a cold and 
 distant country. Eugenio's choice of presents to 
 his old companions was happy, offering to each 
 exactly what they were most likely to want. 
 
 Not a friend or even a child was forgotten by 
 this kind hearted youth, among those who had 
 regarded him with affection. 
 
 At length he contrived to disengage himself 
 from his earliest acquaintances, and soon after he 
 had joined us, his mother proposed that Ligonia 
 should accompany me in a walk before dinner ; 
 whether this tete-a-tete was planned out of regard 
 to my wishes, or, those of Ligonia, I could not 
 guess. Fain would I have believed the latter. 
 
 Love scenes,, however exquisite to those who
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 17 
 
 Ogure in them, are to me heavy in the descrip- 
 tion. The feelings of enthusiasm which had, under 
 the mask, given me a sort of unnatural courage, 
 by the light of the lamps, was now changed to shy 
 timidity. Hanging on the arm of Ligonia, my 
 sensations were so exquisite, that I almost feared 
 even lest the sound of my voice should diminish, 
 or destroy the charm. We directed our steps to- 
 wards the bay. Ligonia spoke to me of his satis- 
 faction in leaving me under the protection of so 
 amiable a lady as the Countess de Polignac. I 
 eagerly enquired when and where we might have 
 the chance of meeting again. 
 
 " Heaven only knows," said Ligonia "perhaps 
 in France, perhaps in England, perhaps never! 
 But remember our last night's conversation Clara! 
 Let us banish all thought of the future and endea- 
 vour to enjoy the hour." 
 
 Ligonia with an art peculiarly his own, drew 
 out all my power of conversation; my playful re- 
 marks were more successful than I had dared to 
 hope : he became almost cheerful.
 
 176 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 All my sophistry, I blush to own it, was 
 then exerted to reconcile him to himself, yet I 
 felt a secret conviction, that he had committed 
 some heavy crime. The ardor of my affection 
 had made me perhaps short sighted ; be that as it 
 may, my love w r as increased by the mystery that 
 obscured the character ofLigonia. The dread of 
 his supposed crimes rendered my passion for him 
 more intense from the heartfelt pity which his re- 
 pentance and desponding melancholy inspired. 
 I tried to prove by many ingenious arguments 
 that to enjoy the present and to forbear idle spe- 
 culations, or retrospection of past crimes, was to 
 fulfil the order of nature. I was no saint, and 
 love had stifled the small still whispers of religion 
 in my impassioned mind ; dreary as the sandy 
 desarts of Arabia would be my path in life alone, 
 while the bare thought of such happiness as I 
 could enjoy with Ligonia, made my heart thrill 
 with rapture far too sweet and w T ild to be sub- 
 dued by the reason of sixteen. 
 
 Leaving the bay to the right we arrived at a
 
 CLARA GAZCL. 177 
 
 most lovely retreat, which sheltered us from a 
 heavy storm by which we were unexpectedly 
 overtaken. — " We are alone, Clara," said Ligonia, 
 " no eye observes us, the present is ours, nor the 
 past nor the future shall trouble this moment, and 
 since thou woulds't have me thine, I am no ancho- 
 rite or marble stone to resist thy beauty so bright 
 and intelligent, thy love so sweet, and thy soft 
 and glowing blushes." 
 
 Ligonia had thrown his arm about my waist, — 
 the fire of passion beamed in his dark eye, my 
 head was sinking on his bosom, when he sudden- 
 ly withdrew himself from my embrace. After a 
 pause during which he had turned away from my 
 anxious gaze, "Clara,"— said he, "the atmos- 
 phere is clearing, let us return ; thou hast placed 
 thy fate in my hands, thou hast bestowed thy 
 young heart on a stranger, for whose safety thou 
 wouldst have sacrificed thy life. With me, thou 
 must be safe ; but tempt me no further,'nor de- 
 ceive thyself; thy love would lose its greatest 
 charm with the innocence that purifies and refines 
 
 Vol. I. a a
 
 178 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 it. Destroy the mystery, — lift up the veil which 
 ignorance throws over your desires, as yet vague 
 as dreams of Heaven, and w 7 e become mere com- 
 mon lovers, partaking with the herd of mortals of 
 their common appetites with the satiety that ever 
 follows their indulgence. 
 
 " Look up, dear Clara, droop not," added Li- 
 gonia, observing the shame that overspread my 
 cheek, with which I was almost sinking into the 
 earth ; " Dread no censure from Ligonia, for he 
 loves thee as thou art, with all thy imprudence, thy 
 impassioned ardor, and thy tender devotion to his 
 will. If ever my distracted mind will permit me to 
 hope for the enjoyment of one hour of domestic 
 comfort, Clara, thou shalt share it — thou shalt 
 rest in my bosom, and be my cherished wife. 
 Till then, I will watch over thy happiness with a 
 father's care." Ligonia here changed the subject 
 to one more general and less interesting, purposely 
 leading tne towards a more public promenade. 
 
 How pure were now my sensations as I listened 
 to Ligonia, hanging on his arm, and watching his
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 17^ 
 
 countenance, — the noblest and most expressive I 
 had ever beheld, yet so stiW and pale, that it seemed 
 to me no earthly beauty. 
 
 Ligonia's advice for my future conduct was 
 offered with the tender solicitude of a parent 
 
 " I have lived and suffered till I am weary of 
 life, and care not when I take my leave of the 
 rude scene," said he, " save that I would first ex- 
 ert every nerve to sooth and soften the misery 
 that the duties of my profession have thrown in 
 my way — but your happiness, Clara, is dear to 
 me. Be prudent then, as you would avoid vex- 
 ing the heart of an unhappy man. Let me fancy 
 in the dead of the night when I am reclin- 
 ed on a restless couch, that the beautiful eyes of 
 Clara Gazul, of her who loves me, are closed in 
 calm sweet sleep. And may be, with this convic- 
 tion on my mind, I may rest too, and dream of 
 her. In absence, cold as you suppose me, yet 
 will the recollection of your beauty, as I first 
 beheld you, so young and wild, your accents 
 so sweet and energetic, your bright eyes raised
 
 ISO CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 beseechingly to heaven, your tears, and all 
 that luxurious hair, wbich floated in the breeze 
 of the evening — yet will the recollection of all 
 these realities and Clara Gazul's beauty, often 
 flit across my memory, like a gay vision sent 
 from heaven, to lighten my deep despair." 
 
 And you will leave me, said I with a profound 
 sigh. 
 
 " Why, dearest, will you vex me with re- 
 proaches? Trust to my honor; and be certain, 
 if I depart, that some imperious duty forces me 
 away from you, or some feelings of remorse, 
 which at present are not to be overcome. — Ligo- 
 nia tenderly pressed my arm, just at the moment 
 of our reaching the Palazzo of the Countess, whom 
 we found impatiently waiting our arrival. 
 
 Dinner was shortly afterwards served, of which 
 we all partook sparingly, being deeply affected 
 with the idea of our fast approaching separation. 
 The amiable Eugenio, much as he desired to see 
 the world, could not leave his adoring mother 
 without a struggle.
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 181 
 
 Early in the evening, the Lady Poco-puranti 
 sent her carriage for me, when I bid a tender 
 farewell to Ligonia and Eugenio. Both pressed 
 me in their arms, and kissed my cheek. My 
 tears fell fast as again and again I offered my 
 prayers for their welfare. As Ligonia conducted 
 me acros the long corridors to the carriage, he 
 placed a small parcel in my hand — " Keep this for 
 my sake," he whispered — Our lips met in one long 
 sweet embrace — The rays of the bright moon fell 
 upon Ligonia' s pale features. See how cloudless she 
 shines on our hopes, said I. — In another instant, 
 I was alone in the carriage driving through the 
 streets of Naples towards the Cardinal's habita- 
 tion, as fast as his high spirited horses could bear 
 me away.
 
 '82 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 THE ASSASSINS— DOCTOR STACATO AND DOCTOR 
 AGITATO— FATHER PIETRO. 
 
 On arriving at the Cardinal's I flew to my cham- 
 ber and hastened to examine the parcel which 
 Ligonia had placed in my hand. What joy did 
 I experience at the sight of a most excellent like- 
 ness in miniature of my beloved. The picture 
 was set in brilliants of considerable value, and re- 
 presented him in the full Russian uniform, after 
 covering it with tender kisses, I had just time to 
 place it in my bosom, when some one tapped at 
 my door, It was the lady Poco-puranti, who 
 came to pass half an hour with me. On enquir- 
 ing for her brother I was informed that his Emi- 
 nence had not yet left the dining saloon, where he 
 entertained the two green dominos. The Lady
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 1S3 
 
 Poco-puranti was uneasy — never knew the Cardi- 
 nal remain 60 late at table — could not guess what 
 good motive the two strangers could have for 
 their perseverance in masking their faces — had re- 
 monstrated with her brother as to the impropriety 
 of receiving such ambiguous characters, but all in 
 vain ; the Cardinal was convinced that his visitors 
 were noble. In short, their graceful flattery had 
 found the way to his heart, and they had been 
 carousing many hours. Their merry peals of 
 laughter had resounded along the hall. 
 
 The lady now changed the subject to that of the 
 Countess de Polignac, when I seized this opportu- 
 nity of begging permission to remove to that 
 kind lady's house on the following day. No ob- 
 jections were offered, the Countess was her oldest 
 friend and school-fellow, and she had never refus- 
 ed her reasonable wishes : she would often visit 
 us, she said, and promised to interest herself in my 
 welfare. 
 
 While I was endeavouring to express my gra- 
 titude, our ears were assailed with the dismal stif-
 
 184 CLARA QAZUL. 
 
 fled cries of s> Help ! Murder ! Help ! Help ! 
 Seize the assasins! Help, or I die! 
 
 Trembling, and as pale as death, the Lady Po- 
 co-puranti rung the bell with violence, and then 
 we hastened along the gallery, where we en- 
 countered several of the scared household running 
 to and fro with torches, candles, lamps, or what- 
 ever they could lay their hands on. — The cries 
 ceased. — We soon reached the saloon, it was 
 empty ! — On the table were some remains of the 
 sparkling wine which they had been drinking, and 
 a massive gold snuff' box had fallen on the ground. 
 
 The lights were still burning but without stay- 
 ing to examine further, we all hurried from one 
 room to another, in the deepest alarm. No traces 
 could be discovered of the Cardinal. His tender 
 sister could no longer support herself from very 
 fright, and we led her back to her boudoir, where, 
 reclined on her chaise longue, she awaited the event 
 in almost speechless agony, exclaiming — " Oh 
 merciful powers ! My brother is being murdered 
 by these disguised ruffians, and no one will assist 
 him!"
 
 CLARA GAZUL. IS) 
 
 Suspense being unsupportableto my eager im- 
 patient nature, after recommending the Lady 
 Poco-puranti to the care of her women, I hurried 
 down stairs towards the stable, where I procured 
 a lanthorn and accompanied by Eugenio's old 
 favorite nurse, we commenced our search over 
 the vast gardens of the Palazzo. We had wander- 
 ed for nearly ten minutes from right to left when 
 to the farthest extremity my foot stumbled against 
 something heavy. 
 
 Holding down my lanthorn to ascertain what 
 impeded my path, my fright and horror may be 
 easily imagined at beholding the body of the Car- 
 dinal apparently stiff and dead. The screams of 
 the old nurse brought all the household around 
 us, when it was discovered that the Cardinal still 
 breathed. 
 
 He had fainted from loss of blood which flowed 
 
 from a deep wound in his side, and had received 
 
 various other wounds of a less serious nature ; 
 
 that on the left side must have proved mortal but 
 
 that the Cardinal was a great padder, and the 
 Vol. I. b b
 
 186 CLARA CAZUL. 
 
 assassin's dagger had a long journey in wadding to 
 make, before arriving at his heart of hearts, Be- 
 lieving no doubt, that their murderous purpose 
 had been effected, the ruffians had escaped. 
 
 All was confusion and dismay in the Palazzo 
 di Poco-puranti. The lady Poco-puranti was in a 
 swoon- The old butler issued his orders in such 
 a trembling voice while his teeth did so chatter 
 in his head, that nobody understood him. The 
 servants mounted their horses and went in search 
 of the delinquents, having stoutly resolved to scour 
 the country and bring them to justice dead or 
 alive. The Cardinal was placed on his bed, and 
 the celebrated Doctor Spilletti was sent for to 
 attend him forthwith. 
 
 The surgeon having probed the wound, shook 
 his head, and was silent; the Cardinal was still in- 
 sensible. There was an awful pause. Doctor 
 Spiletti pulled out his watch and counted his pa- 
 tients' pulse. " Where is the father Pietro?" said 
 he, at length. 
 
 "At the bottom of the garden on his knees be-
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 18? 
 
 fore the image of our blessed Virgin" replied the 
 nurse," 
 
 "And what good will he do there/' said the 
 Doctor half beside himself, for it was a ticklish 
 matter to handle a Cardinal's wounds. 
 
 The secret was this, — according to the anatomy 
 that Doctor Spiletti had gleaned in the course of 
 his practice, which was little or none, it struck him 
 that the wounded part ought to be cut away with- 
 out a moment's loss of time. He would have 
 made no bones about this, but have quickly hack- 
 ed at the wound of any other man at a venture, 
 trusting to providence to see him well through it, 
 but the red hat frightened him. A Cardinal be- 
 ing a sort of God, all powerful in Italy and Spain, 
 he would have preferred first trying the effect of 
 exactly such an operation on the person of any 
 less distinguished individual. 
 
 Father Pietro having been summoned from his 
 prostrate position at the feet of the Virgin, the 
 foot rather, for Kugenio the page had knocked off 
 the Virgin's left foot and broken her leg when he
 
 188 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 was a child and knew no better, however, Father 
 Pietro entered the room, the picture of lank 
 misery and despair. No wonder, either, for where 
 should the pious man hope to get such another 
 patron who kept such a table? such a cellar too! ! 
 And wine in moderation encouraged zeal, of which 
 no one could possess too much in a religious 
 cause. No wonder then that Pietro had hastened 
 to implore the Virgin to take care of the Cardi- 
 nal's wounds. 
 
 "Art thou a faithful servant?" said the Doctor 
 to the priest ! " We live by faith " replied Pietro 
 crossing himself. 
 
 " I am delighted to hear you say so father, — 
 you wont die then, so listen to my proposal. Thy 
 beloved patron is in a swoon, in which state I am 
 reluctant to attempt any operation, — nothing ought 
 to be risked, no experiment ventured that might 
 by possibility endanger the life of a Cardinal. But 
 the risk is small, and as thou art a faithful and true 
 servant of the church, she will protectyou, — permit 
 me therefore to make a small incision in thy side
 
 CLARA GAZUL. \89 
 
 that I may observe in what safest direction I can 
 direct my knife." The Curate's face was the co- 
 lour of saffron. 
 
 " Thy jokes are unseasonable, Doctor," he 
 stammered out. 
 
 " Jokes," exclaimed Dr. Spiletti, " Art thou 
 mad, to dream of jokes, when the Cardinal lies 
 there, and my reputation, — nay, my life is at 
 stake? Listen to me thou holy man; — What 
 flagellation hast thou inflicted on thy body for the 
 sake of thy soul during the last year ?" 
 
 " Alas!" said this true believer with a sigh. 
 
 " I see, I see how it is," observed the Doctor, 
 " thou art wofully in arrears, and must submit to 
 mortify thy flesh, in order to cure thy pampered 
 appetites, thy Lewd and greedy propensities. 
 
 "There is an English proverb about killing two 
 birds with one stone quite applicable to vour 
 case ; let me practise on thy side, to steady my 
 hand and nerves; the Cardinal's wound will fare 
 better for it, and so man will thy soul." 
 
 The saflron colour of father Pietro's couute- 
 
 Vol. I. b b 3
 
 190 CLARA C.AZUL 
 
 nance now seemed changing to a greenish hue; 
 cold drops hung upon his brow, for he was a rank 
 coward, besides, being a true believer in the Pope, 
 and a fool to boot. 
 
 Twisting up his nose, like a cur coming in con« 
 tact with a cat, pressing his teeth into his nether 
 lip, and raising his ray less green eyes upwards, 
 he said in a faint voice, " I am ready." 
 
 " Down with you then," said the Doctor, 
 taking the poor besotted bigot at his word, who 
 being placed on a long table, with his bosom 
 bare, the Doctor was just about to make his 
 incision, when the Cardinal suddenly recovering 
 from his swoon, opened his languid eyes. The 
 first object they fell upon was the Doctor about 
 to inflict a wound in the breast of the prostrate 
 priest. 
 
 At the sight of his sharp knife, the Cardinal 
 found strength to seize hold of a silver candlestick, 
 and send it at the head of the surgeon, at the 
 same time crying out in a feeble voice, " Murde- 
 rers! ! Assassins! Will no one assist me to secure
 
 CLARA GAZUL. 191 
 
 these murderers! help! help." At this critical 
 moment arrived in his state carriage Doctor Sta- 
 cato, and immediately after him, Doctor Agitato, 
 both of the King's Household. They came by 
 command of his Majesty, who had heard of the 
 assault on the Cardinal, and had consequently 
 dispatched them immediately. 
 
 Stacato stepped on the point of his toes, like a 
 man whose shoes were filled with peas. He was 
 a spruce dapper looking personage, whose appear- 
 ance reminded one of an English groom, rather 
 than a member of the learned college of Nea- 
 politan physicians, or of his Majesty's House- 
 hold. 
 
 Dr. Agitato was a very fine gentleman indeed, 
 all over ribbands and orders, and diamond pins 
 and garters, his hands covered with rings, and his 
 whole person impregnated with otto of roses. He 
 was rather a corpulent man, with a bright florid 
 complexion, white teeth, and a pair of pretty 
 twinkling blue eyes. 
 
 He wore an embroidered cloak, lined with real 
 
 Vol. I. b b 4
 
 192 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 ermine, gracefully slung over his shoulders, spite 
 of the heat of the climate, lest " the air should 
 visit him too roughly." 
 
 True, he had been an accoucheur, at the beck 
 and call of any woman in the straw, but then 
 Royal Patronage had washed all that dirt and 
 filth from his hands. 
 
 The doctors meeting in the corridor, saluted 
 each other with a show of cordiality, although 
 in their hearts dwelt envy, jealousy, and vast un- 
 charitableness. 
 
 " Your servant, Signor."— " Doctor Stacato, 
 your most obedient; What a calamity! To be 
 disturbed out of one's first nap too! I am perish- 
 ed ! ! and had just taken an otto of rose bath. A 
 case of apoplexy this, eh ? the Cardinal has no 
 throat. I knew what would happen." 
 
 ■■ No such thing," whispered Stacato, arrang- 
 ing the formal tye of his stiff neckcloth ; " quite 
 the contrary Signor, the Cardinal has been mur- 
 dered, or something of that kind." 
 
 «'Ah! Ah! — Why it is a case for surgeons
 
 < LARA GAZUL 1P3 
 
 then, Have they got Spiietti — a monstrous ass, by 
 the bye Only imagine their bringing me here 
 in a hired vehicle! pshaw! the odour of it still 
 remains on my cloak. I should not be surprised 
 to find that I had caught some diabolical Laza- 
 roni fever, my teeth are so dancing in my head." 
 
 By this time the two learned physicians hav- 
 ing traversed the corridors, arrived at the Cardi- 
 nal's bed chamber, just at the critical moment 
 when the pious Poco-puranti had sent his silver 
 candlestick, at the head of the surgeon. 
 
 On entering, their ears were assailed by the 
 cry of murder, assassins, thieves/mingled with the 
 deep groans of Spiietti, who had sunk into an 
 easy chair, and holding a handkerchief over a deep 
 wound in his forehead. 
 
 My faith has saved me, thought Father Pietro, 
 who, on the entrance of the two great men, was 
 gliding like a phantom out of the apartment, feel- 
 ing that it would be entirely out of the question 
 to screw his courage to the sticking place a se- 
 
 Vol. I. cc
 
 \g4 CLARA GAZUL 
 
 cond time even though it should be by prescrip- 
 tion of the two great men themselves. 
 
 Agitato, with much sang froid, having made his 
 court-bred bow, bent his steps toward the bed, 
 pulling of his white kid gloves. Having placed 
 his forefinger for an instant on the patient's wrist, 
 and used the word " delirious," in Latin, to Sta- 
 cato, he addressed the Cardinal with infinite non 
 chalance. — " I am sorry to see your Eminence 
 indisposed ; His Majesty is all sympathy ; do me 
 the favor to put out your tongue." 
 
 " I am wounded, and there stands the assas- 
 sin," said the Cardinal faintly, while pointing to 
 Spiletti. 
 
 " You don't say so," replied Agitato, opening 
 his small twinklers as wide as they would stare, 
 and turning towards the discomforted Spiletti, 
 who, fearing to make matters worse, by a candid 
 confession, informed the two great men that" hav- 
 ing been sent for to examine a serious wound, 
 which the Cardinal had just received from the 
 dagger of some unknown assassin, that his Emi- 
 nence being delirious, had sent a candlestick at
 
 CLARA GAZUL. lt)3 
 
 his head with such force as entirely disqualified 
 him."—" We must expect these kind of things 
 in the course of our professional duties," said 
 Stacato, but K seniores priores, bind thy linen ker- 
 chief, about thy brow man, and assist us to ex- 
 amine his Eminence's wounds." 
 
 His Eminence being exhausted, now uttered a 
 deep groan ; some drops were administered ; the 
 wound was dressed, no incision having been pre- 
 cribed by the two great men, after which, Sta- 
 cato having touched the Cardinal's pulse, pre- 
 scribed to let out, by means of Spiletti's lancet, 
 some dozen of ounces of his Eminence's blood. 
 
 Agitato refused his concurrence. His Majesty 
 had entrusted him with the life of the Cardinal, 
 and no power on earth should induce him to con- 
 sent to such an unnecessary expedient. Bleeding 
 was his abhorrence, he never attacked the vital 
 juices, but where he saw physical necessity ; it 
 was a bad system, a dirty remedy ; it was at best 
 but robbing Peter to pay Paul, putting back an 
 inflammation at the ex pence of the general consti- 
 
 Vol. I, c c 2
 
 1£0 CLARA GAZUL. 
 
 tution. Agitato carried it with a high hand, while 
 Stacato was merely the King's Household physi- 
 cian for ordinary services. 
 
 " Well then," sighed out Stacato, " I bow to 
 the Signor Agitato's superior skill and judge- 
 ment ; but as to you Spiletti, who have received 
 such a heavy blow from his Eminence's candle- 
 stick, if you don't immediately lose eighty ounces 
 of what the learned Doctor calls • the vital juice,' 
 you will soon be a dead man." 
 
 Having prescribed quiet, a sleeping draught, 
 and some extract of lillies of the valley to wash 
 his Eminence's minor wounds, in order, as Agi- 
 tato learnedly observed, that they might smell 
 sweet, the Cardinal in a faint voice, complained 
 that Agitato's otto of roses would cause him to 
 expire ; upon which hint, vanished backwards, 
 bowing themselves out of doors, the two great men 
 followed by Spiletti. 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 R.Greenlaw, Printer, 39, Chichester Place.
 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 3 0112 000773405