Depart Switzerland | Page 4

de Prie, his
mistress, and perhaps all the company, who had undoubtedly coveted
the contents of my cash-box, amused me till I reached Chamberi, where
I only stopped to change horses. When I reached Grenoble, where I
intended to stay a week, I did not find my lodging to my liking, and
went in my carriage to the post-office, where I found several letters,
amongst others, one from Madame d'Urfe, enclosing a letter of
introduction to an officer named Valenglard, who, she told me, was a
learned man, and would present me at all the best houses in the town.
I called on this officer and received a cordial welcome. After reading
Madame d'Urfe's letter he said he was ready to be useful to me in
anything I pleased.
He was an amiable, middle aged man, and fifteen years before had been
Madame d'Urfe's friend, and in a much more intimate degree the friend
of her daughter, the Princess de Toudeville. I told him that I was
uncomfortable at the inn, and that the first service I would ask of him

would be to procure me a comfortable lodging. He rubbed his head, and
said,--
"I think I can get you rooms in a beautiful house, but it is outside the
town walls. The door-keeper is an excellent cook, and for the sake of
doing your cooking I am sure he will lodge you for nothing."
"I don't wish that," said I.
"Don't be afraid," said the baron, "he will make it up by means of his
dishes; and besides, the house is for sale and costs him nothing. Come
and see it."
I took a suite of three rooms and ordered supper for two, warning the
man that I was dainty, liked good things, and did not care for the cost. I
also begged M. de Valenglard to sup with me. The doorkeeper said that
if I was not pleased with his cooking I had only to say so, and in that
case I should have nothing to pay. I sent for my carriage, and felt that I
had established myself in my new abode. On the ground floor I saw
three charming girls and the door-keeper's wife, who all bowed
profoundly. M. de Valenglard took me to a concert with the idea of
introducing me to everybody, but I begged him not to do so, as I
wished to see the ladies before deciding which of them I should like to
know.
The company was a numerous one, especially where women were
concerned, but the only one to attract my attention was a pretty and
modest-looking brunette, whose fine figure was dressed with great
simplicity. Her charming eyes, after having thrown one glance in my
direction, obstinately refused to look at me again. My vanity made me
conclude at once that she behaved thus only to increase my desire of
knowing her, and to give me plenty of time to examine her side-face
and her figure, the proportions of which were not concealed by her
simple attire. Success begets assurance, and the wish is father to the
thought. I cast a hungry gaze on this young lady without more ado, just
as if all the women in Europe were only a seraglio kept for my
pleasures. I told the baron I should like to know her.

"She is a good girl," said he, "who sees no company, and is quite poor."
"Those are three reasons which make me the more anxious to know
her."
"You will really find nothing to do in that quarter."
"Very good."
"There is her aunt, I will introduce you to her as we leave the
concert-room."
After doing me this service, he came to sup with me. The door-keeper
and cook struck me as being very like Lebel. He made his two pretty
daughters wait on me, and I saw that Valenglard was delighted at
having lodged me to my satisfaction, but he grumbled when he saw
fifteen dishes.
"He is making a fool of you and me," he said.
"On the contrary, he has guessed my tastes. Don't you think everything
was very good?"
"I don't deny it, but . . . "
"Don't be afraid; I love spending my money."
"I beg your pardon, I only want you to be pleased."
We had exquisite wines, and at dessert some ratafia superior to the
Turkish 'visnat' I had tasted seventeen years before at Yussuf Ali's.
When my landlord came up at the end of supper, I told him that he
ought to be Louis XV.'s head cook.
"Go on as you have begun, and do better if you can; but let me have
your bill every morning."
"You are quite right; with such an arrangement one can tell how one is
getting on."

"I should