Holland and Germany | Page 6

but I could see by his
sword-knot that he was a soldier.
Everybody pretended not to hear anything of this, and the conversation
went on for some time on indifferent subjects; and at last they all rose
from their seats and left the room.
My enemy said to his companion that they would see one another again
after the play, and remained by the fire, with his elbow resting on the
chimney-piece. I remained at table till the company had all left the
room, and when we were alone together I got up and looked him
straight in the face, and went out, walking towards Sheveningue, sure
that he would follow me if he were a man of any mettle. When I had
got to some distance from the hotel I looked round, and saw that he was
following me at a distance of fifty paces.
When I got to the wood I stopped at a suitable place, and stood
awaiting my antagonist. He was ten paces off when he drew his sword,
and I had plenty of time to draw mine though he came on fast. The
fight did not last long, for as soon as he was near enough I gave him a
thrust which has never failed me, and sent him back quicker than he
came. He was wounded in the chest above the right breast, but as my
sword was flat and the opening large enough the wound bled easily. I
lowered my sword and ran up to him, but I could do nothing; he said
that we should meet again at Amsterdam, if I was going there, and that
he would have his revenge. I saw him again five or six years afterwards
at Warsaw, and then I did him a kindness. I heard afterwards that his

name was Varnier, but I do not know whether he was identical with the
president of the National Convention under the infamous Robespierre.
I did not return to the hotel till after the play, and I then heard that the
Frenchman, after having the surgeon with him for an hour, had set out
for Rotterdam with his friend. We had a pleasant supper and talked
cheerfully together without a word being said about the duel, with the
exception that an English lady said, I forget in what connection, that a
man of honour should never risk sitting down to dinner at an hotel
unless he felt inclined, if necessary, to fight. The remark was very true
at that time, when one had to draw the sword for an idle word, and to
expose one's self to the consequences of a duel, or else be pointed at,
even by the ladies, with the finger of scorn.
I had nothing more to keep me at the Hague, and I set out next morning
before day-break for Amsterdam. On the way I stopped for dinner and
recognized Sir James Walpole, who told me that he had started from
Amsterdam the evening before, an hour after giving the countess into
her husband's charge. He said that he had got very tired of her, as he
had nothing more to get from a woman who gave more than one asked,
if one's purse-strings were opened wide enough. I got to Amsterdam
about midnight and took up my abode at "The Old Bible." The
neighbourhood of Esther had awakened my love for that charming girl,
and I was so impatient to see her that I could not sleep.
I went out about ten o'clock and called on M. d'O, who welcomed me in
the friendliest manner and reproached me for not having alighted at his
house. When he heard that I had given up business he congratulated me
on not having removed it into Holland, as I should have been ruined. I
did not tell him that I had nearly come to that in France, as I considered
such a piece of information would not assist my designs. He
complained bitterly of the bad faith of the French Government, which
had involved him in considerable losses; and then he asked me to come
and see Esther.
I was too impatient to embrace her to stay to be asked twice; I ran to
greet her. As soon as she saw me she gave a cry of surprise and delight,
and threw herself in my arms, where I received her with fondness equal

to her own. I found her grown and improved; she looked lovely. We
had scarcely sat down when she told me that she had become as skilled
in the cabala as myself.
"It makes my life happy," said she, "for it gives me a power over my
father, and assures me that he will never marry me to anyone but the
man of my choice."