Paris | Page 9

where we
are. Oh! happy times of the house of Farnese, whither have you

departed? The day before yesterday I went to the theatre, and Harlequin
made everybody roar with laughter. Well, now, fancy, Don Philipo, our
new duke, did all he could to remain serious, and when he could not
manage it, he would hide his face in his hat so that people should not
see that he was laughing, for it is said that laughter ought never to
disturb the grave and stiff countenance of an Infante of Spain, and that
he would be dishonoured in Madrid if he did not conceal his mirth.
What do you think of that? Can such manners suit us? Here we laugh
willingly and heartily! Oh! the good Duke Antonio (God rest his soul!)
was certainly as great a prince as Duke Philipo, but he did not hide
himself from his subjects when he was pleased, and he would
sometimes laugh so heartily that he could be heard in the streets. Now
we are all in the most fearful confusion, and for the last three months
no one in Parma knows what's o'clock."
"Have all the clocks been destroyed?"
"No, but ever since God created the world, the sun has always gone
down at half-past five, and at six the bells have always been tolled for
the Angelus. All respectable people knew that at that time the candle
had to be lit. Now, it is very strange, the sun has gone mad, for he sets
every day at a different hour. Our peasants do not know when they are
to come to market. All that is called a regulation but do you know why?
Because now everybody knows that dinner is to be eaten at twelve
o'clock. A fine regulation, indeed! Under the Farnese we used to eat
when we were hungry, and that was much better."
That way of reasoning was certainly singular, but I did not think it
sounded foolish in the mouth of a woman of humble rank. It seems to
me that a government ought never to destroy ancient customs abruptly,
and that innocent errors ought to be corrected only by degrees.
Henriette had no watch. I felt delighted at the idea of offering her such
a present, and I went out to purchase one, but after I had bought a very
fine watch, I thought of ear-rings, of a fan, and of many other pretty
nicknacks. Of course I bought them all at once. She received all those
gifts offered by love with a tender delicacy which overjoyed me. She
was still with the teacher when I came back.

"I should have been able," he said to me, "to teach your lady heraldry,
geography, history, and the use of the globes, but she knows that
already. She has received an excellent education."
The teacher's name was Valentin de la Haye. He told me that he was an
engineer and professor of mathematics. I shall have to speak of him
very often in these Memoirs, and my readers will make his
acquaintance by his deeds better than by any portrait I could give of
him, so I will merely say that he was a true Tartufe, a worthy pupil of
Escobar.
We had a pleasant dinner with our Hungarian friend. Henriette was still
wearing the uniform, and I longed to see her dressed as a woman. She
expected a dress to be ready for the next day, and she was already
supplied with petticoats and chemises.
Henriette was full of wit and a mistress of repartee. The milliner, who
was a native of Lyons, came in one morning, and said in French:
"Madame et Monsieur, j'ai l'honneur de vous souhaiter le bonjour."
"Why," said my friend, "do you not say Monsieur et madame?"
"I have always heard that in society the precedence is given to the
ladies."
"But from whom do we wish to receive that honour?"
"From gentlemen, of course."
"And do you not see that women would render themselves ridiculous if
they did not grant to men the same that they expect from them. If we
wish them never to fail in politeness towards us, we must shew them
the example."
"Madam," answered the shrewd milliner, "you have taught me an
excellent lesson, and I will profit by it. Monsieur et madame, je suis
votre servante."

This feminine controversy greatly amused me.
Those who do not believe that a woman can make a man happy through
the twenty-four hours of the day have never possessed a woman like
Henriette. The happiness which filled me, if I can express it in that
manner, was much greater when I conversed with her even than when I
held her in my arms. She had read much, she had great tact, and her