登陆注册
4606300000534

第534章

Esther's answer was conceived in the sibylline style, and I admired the readiness of her wit; but mine went right to the point, and the worthy man embraced us joyfully, and, taking his hat and stick, said that since our replies agreed he would run the risk of losing three million francs and make a profit of five or six hundred thousand in the course of the year. His daughter began to recant, and would have warned him against the danger, but he, who was as firm as a Mussulman, kissed her again, saying, "The oracle is not wont to lie, and even if it does deceive me this time it will only be a fourth part of my fortune that I shall lose."

When Esther and I were alone I began to compliment her, much to her delight, on the cleverness of her answer, the elegance of her style, and her boldness, for she could not be as well acquainted with French affairs as I was.

"I am much obliged to you," said she, "for having confirmed my reply, but confess that you lied to please me."

"I confess, since that will please you, and I will even tell you that you have nothing more to learn."

"You are a cruel man! But how could you reply that there would be another comptroller-general in a year's time, and run the risk of compromising the oracle? I never dare to say things like that; I

love the oracle too well to expose it to shame and confusion."

"That shews that I do not invent the answers; but since the oracle has pronounced it I am willing to bet that Silhouette will be dismissed."

"Your obstinacy drives me to despair, for I shall not rest till I

know that I am as much a master of the cabala as you are, and yet you will not confess that you invent the answers yourself. For charity's sake do something to convince me of the contrary."

"I will think it over."

I passed the whole day with this delightful girl, whose amiable disposition and great wealth would have made me a happy man if it were not for my master-passion, the love of independence, and my aversion to make up my mind to live for the rest of my days in Holland.

In the course of my life I have often observed that the happiest hours are often the heralds of misfortune. The very next day my evil genius took me to the Ville de Lyon. This was the inn where Piccolomini and his wife were staying, and I found them there in the midst of a horde of cheats and sharpers, like themselves. As soon as the good people heard my name they rushed forward, some to greet me, and others to have a closer look at me, as if I were some strange wild beast. Amongst those present were a Chevalier de Sabi, who wore the uniform of a Polish major, and protested he had known me at Dresden; a Baron de Wiedan, claiming Bohemia as his fatherland, who greeted me by saying that his friend the Comte St. Germain had arrived at the Etoile d'Orient, and had been enquiring after me; an attenuated-looking bravo who was introduced to me as the Chevalier de la Perine, whom I recognized at the first glance as the fellow called Talvis, who had robbed the Prince-Bishop of Presburg, who had lent me a hundred Louis the same day, and with whom I had fought a duel at Paris. Finally, there was an Italian named Neri, who looked like a blacksmith minus his honesty, and said that he remembered seeing me one evening at the casino. I recollected having seen him at the place where I met the wretched Lucie.

In the midst of this band of cut-purses I saw the so-called wife of the pretended Chevalier de Sabi, a pretty woman from Saxony, who, speaking Italian indifferently well, was paying her addresses to the Countess Piccolomini.

I bit my lips with anger to find myself in such honourable company, but putting a good face on a bad game I greeted everybody politely, and then drawing a roll of a hundred Louis from my pocket I presented them to Master Perine Talvis, telling him I was glad to be able to return them to him with my best thanks.

My politeness did not meet with much of a reception, for the impudent scoundrel answered me, as he pocketed the money, that he remembered having lent it me at Presburg, but he also remembered a more important matter.

"And pray what is that?" said I, in a dry and half-disdainful tone.

"You owe me a revenge at the sword's point, as you know right well.

Here is the mark of the gash you gave me seven years ago."

So saying, the wretched little man opened his shirt and shewed the small round scar. This scene, which belonged more to farce than comedy, seemed to have struck all tongues with paralysis.

"Anywhere else than in Holland, where important and delicate business debars me from fighting, I shall be glad to meet you and mark you again, if you still desire to cross swords with me; but while I am here I must beg you not to disturb me. All the same, you may as well know that I never go out without a couple of friends in my pockets, and that if you attack me I shall blow your brains out in self-

defence"

"My revenge must be with crossed swords," said he. "However, I will let you finish your business."

"You will do wisely."

Piccolomini, who had been casting a hungry eye upon my hundred louis, proposed immediately afterwards a bank at faro, and began to deal.

Prudence would have restrained me from playing in such company, but the dictates of prudence were overcome by my desire to get back the hundred louis which I had given Talvis, so I cut in. I had a run of bad luck and lost a hundred ducats, but, as usual, my loss only excited me. I wished to regain what I had lost, so I stayed to supper, and afterwards, with better luck, won back my money. I was content to stop at this, and to let the money I had paid to Talvis go, so I asked Piccolomini to pay me, which he did with a bill of exchange on an Amsterdam bank drawn by a firm in Middlesburg. At first I made some difficulty in taking it, on the pretext that it would be difficult to negotiate, but he promised to let me have the money next day, and I had to give in.

同类推荐
  • 金陵纪略

    金陵纪略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 黥

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天台法华疏

    天台法华疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 十诵律毗尼序

    十诵律毗尼序

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玄和子十二月卦金诀

    玄和子十二月卦金诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 与总裁的危险关系

    与总裁的危险关系

    他残酷、冷血、无情,女人无数,却霸道地将她禁锢在金丝笼中。那年,他舍她,娶了别的女人。君已娶,情断尽。本以为,他们不会交集。新婚之夜,他不陪新婚妻子,却与她签下一纸契约……这个男人,就像罂粟,美丽而致命。他像豺狼虎豹一般凶猛地剥夺她的一切,两年来的残酷掠夺,她的一切早已失去……纯真、爱情、家庭、甚至是卑微残缺的自己。她不会爱他,这个艳若桃李的男子,注定属于很多女人……爱,从一开始,就先天不良!“安全期也会中奖,还做了安全措施,两道安全锁都守不住,唉。。。”我看着验孕棒上两条危险的红线,一脸密匝匝的黑线。带球跑是唯一的办法,可是跑到国外去也算是奇事一件了。宝宝,你不需要爸爸,妈妈会好好抚养你的!只因为,你老妈我也不知道你爸爸到底是哪一位……为了宝宝拥有一个完整美好的童年,妈妈就雇佣一位挂名老爸暂时充当你爸爸吧!奇怪,这个奶爸怎么这么酷?哪,哪有人开着十几部宝马奔驰来应征当奶爸的?!Ooxx【本文过程虐,结局圆满,亲们可放心阅读^_^】卖一下广告,推荐本人的旧作:《亲亲向日葵》链接地址:(已完结)《抢钱第一妃》链接地址:(已完结,已入半价书库)《汉武飞仙》链接地址:(已完结,已入半价书库)《校草》链接地址:(已完结,已入半价书库)推荐《残酷总裁的灰新娘》链接地址:内容简介:洛青夏,高中生,父母是陈市长家的帮佣。青夏十三岁那年遭人绑架,经历了一场刻骨铭心的虐恋情殇。他以帝王的姿态出现,侵略的手段无所不用其极。不费吹灰之力得到她的爱后,却对她弃如敝履。不爱她,也吝于还她自由。青夏决定离开他,并开始物色能帮助她逃离这座金屋的囚笼。可是一次次的出逃都以失败告终……直到,她遇到了他的高官朋友。在这场相互追逐侵略的残酷游戏中,她要高高地站在生物链的顶端。与他平等对望!【精彩回放】:眼前突然涌进光明,洛青夏微眯着眼,还不适应刺目的光线,这时龙二和刘四笔直地站立起来,耳听到齐刷刷响亮的一声“干爹”,皮鞋响亮的声音在光滑的大理石上回响,分外令人紧张。淡淡的药香一缕缕绽放,还有一点消毒水的味道,不难闻却也谈不上好闻。洛青夏皱皱眉,心想也许这干爹已是一个病入膏肓的老头子,因为好女色,手下才万般讨好他把年轻女孩子给他玩弄。
  • 如何管理与控制你的团队?

    如何管理与控制你的团队?

    管理者、老板们总是“忙”字当头,这是不争的事情,究其原因,固然比较复杂,但其中有一条重要的原因,就是许多管理者、老总不狠,甚至是不放心,将重要的事情交给下属,这也是不懂带人的表现。带人就是带团队,带团队就是带野心、带欲望、带状态。会带人的领导,带出一群“狼”,不会带人的领导,只会带出一群“羊”。企业说到底是人,管理说到底是借力。只有集众人之力、之智慧,企业才会成功。
  • 重回八零的美好人生

    重回八零的美好人生

    新书《穿越之直上青云》 青云醒来发现她在逃荒的途中,她以为她要开启种田模式,结果有人告诉她,她在上任的途中…… 所以,她要开启官途,青云直上 重点是:她是女的,女的,女的已有完结文《重生七零的悠闲人生》《良配攻略》,欢迎入坑。
  • 神豪无极限

    神豪无极限

    如何利用怂逼系统走上人生巅峰?在线等,挺急的!还有,我的系统好像要上我……新书《我的重返人生》已上传,欢迎光临。
  • 第七冥案

    第七冥案

    死亡奇案迭出,凶手竟是一位柔弱女子,更令郑北安惊异的是,她自称是来自地府的行刑者……
  • 大德昌国州图志

    大德昌国州图志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 神兵修行者

    神兵修行者

    2028年,当神话,仙侠,历史中的,甚至是幻想中,科幻中的无尽神兵降临地球时,地球从此进入了神兵修行者时代。
  • 致命危情

    致命危情

    初见共生死华灯初上,天津城的上空不时被绽放的烟火点亮,各种炮仗燃放时的硝烟味伴随着孩子们在外面嬉闹的笑声,顺着门缝渗进这间没有窗的逼仄的小房间,聚成一团愁云泪雾般的朦胧。江律之看着那个醒来后一点点从惊惶到强作镇定的大声呼喊的少年,从最初在门口踱步,自言自语安慰自己,到最后,天色一点点暗下来,门缝里只偶然照进一丝烟火绽放时的惨白光线时,少年已经颓然地靠在门边,满脸绝望了,而那一声声不合时宜却清晰得如擂鼓的肚子饿的咕咕声落在江律之的耳中,带来一种熟悉的凄怆感,仿佛让江律之又回到了早年在街头行乞时忍饥挨饿的日子。
  • 都市功夫圣医

    都市功夫圣医

    “穿越者?高手重生?你有系统?”“不好意思,在本帝面前,你们都是蝼蚁!”且看一代仙帝,带着整个宗门回归都市!管你人皇鬼帝,还是神魔仙佛,逆我者,通通轰成渣!!
  • 历史与文化

    历史与文化

    在人类发展史上,曾经有许多灿烂辉煌的文明,他们推动人类的发展和进步,也给后人展示了极其丰富的文化内涵……本书分辉煌古中华、灿烂的世界文明、历史文化名人、文化的传承四大版块。