London to Berlin | Page 5

being in French; but as soon as those who knew the
subject of them had heard it, its audience increased and bids were made.
Fifty guineas seemed rather too much, and my negro wanted me to
lower the price, but I would not agree, having fallen in love with this
odd revenge.
In the course of a week Goudar came to inform me of the effect the
parrot's criticism had produced in the Charpillon family. As the vendor
was my negro, there could be no doubt as to whom it belonged, and
who had been its master of languages. Goudar said that the Charpillon
thought my vengeance very ingenious, but that the mother and aunts
were furious. They had consulted several counsel, who agreed in saying
that a parrot could not be indicted for libel, but that they could make
me pay dearly for my jest if they could prove that I had been the bird's
instructor. Goudar warned me to be careful of owning to the fact, as
two witnesses would suffice to undo me.

The facility with which false witnesses may be produced in London is
something dreadful. I have myself seen the word evidence written in
large characters in a window; this is as much as to say that false
witnesses may be procured within.
The St. James's Chronicle contained an article on my parrot, in which
the writer remarked that the ladies whom the bird insulted must be very
poor and friendless, or they would have bought it at once, and have
thus prevented the thing from becoming the talk of the town. He
added,--
"The teacher of the parrot has no doubt made the bird an instrument of
his vengeance, and has displayed his wit in doing so; he ought to be an
Englishman."
I met my good friend Edgar, and asked him why he had not bought the
little slanderer.
"Because it delights all who know anything about the object of the
slander," said he.
At last Jarbe found a purchaser for fifty guineas, and I heard afterwards
that Lord Grosvenor had bought it to please the Charpillon, with whom
he occasionally diverted himself.
Thus my relations with that girl came to an end. I have seen her since
with the greatest indifference, and without any renewal of the old pain.
One day, as I was going into St. James's Park, I saw two girls drinking
milk in a room on the ground floor of a house. They called out to me,
but not knowing them I passed on my way. However, a young officer
of my acquaintance came after me and said they were Italians, and
being curious to see them I retracted my steps.
When I entered the room I was accosted by the scoundrelly Pocchini,
dressed in a military uniform, who said he had the honour of
introducing me to his daughters.

"Indeed," said I, "I remember two other daughters of yours robbing me
of a snuff-box and two watches at Stuttgart."
"You lie!" said the impudent rascal.
I gave him no verbal answer, but took up a glass of milk and flung it in
his face, and then left the room without more ado.
I was without my sword. The young officer who had brought me into
the place followed me and told me I must not go without giving his
friend some satisfaction.
"Tell him to come out, and do you escort him to the Green Park, and I
shall have the pleasure of giving him a caning in your presence, unless
you would like to fight for him; if so, you must let me go home and get
my sword. But do you know this man whom you call your friend?"
"No, but he is an officer, and it is I that brought him here."
"Very good, I will fight to the last drop of my blood; but I warn you
your friend is a thief. But go; I will await you."
In the course of a quarter of an hour they all came out, but the
Englishman and Pocchini followed me alone. There were a good many
people about, and I went before them till we reached Hyde Park.
Pocchini attempted to speak to me, but I replied, lifting my cane,--
"Scoundrel, draw your sword, unless you want me to give you a
thrashing!"
"I will never draw upon a defenceless man."
I gave him a blow with my cane by way of answer, and the coward,
instead of drawing his sword, began to cry out that I wished to draw
him into a fight. The Englishman burst out laughing and begged me to
pardon his interference, and then, taking me by the arm, said,--
"Come along, sir, I see you know the gentleman."

The coward went off in another