Spain | Page 8

had tried in vain to retrace Gertrude; the engraver
was dead, and no one knew what had become of his daughter.
Two or three days before the end of the carnival I went to a hirer of
carriages, as I had to go to a ball at some distance from the town. While

the horses were being put in, I entered the room to warm my hands, for
the weather was very cold. A girl came up and asked me if I would
drink a glass of wine.
"No," said I; and on the question being repeated, repeated the
monosyllable somewhat rudely. The girl stood still and began to laugh,
and I was about to turn angrily away when she said,--
"I see you do not remember me?"
I looked at her attentively, and at last I discovered beneath her
unusually ugly features the lineaments of Anna Midel, the maid in the
engraver's house.
"You remind me of Anna Midel," said I.
"Alas, I was Anna Midel once. I am no longer an object fit for love, but
that is your fault."
"Mine?"
"Yes; the four hundred florins you gave me made Count Fugger's
coachman marry me, and he not only abandoned me but gave me a
disgusting disease, which was like to have been my death. I recovered
my health, but I never shall recover my good looks."
"I am very sorry to hear all this; but tell me what has become of
Gertrude?"
"Then you don't know that you are going to a ball at her house
to-night?"
"Her house?"
"Yes. After her father's death she married a well-to-do and respectable
man, and I expect you will be pleased with the entertainment"
"Is she pretty still?"

"She is just as she used to be, except that she is six years older and has
had children."
"Is she gallant?"
"I don't think so."
Anna had spoken the truth. Gertrude was pleased to see me, and
introduced me to her husband as one of her father's old lodgers, and I
had altogether a pleasant welcome; but, on sounding her, I found she
entertained those virtuous sentiments which might have been expected
under the circumstances.
Campioni arrived at Augsburg at the beginning of Lent. He was in
company with Binetti, who was going to Paris. He had completely
despoiled his wife, and had left her for ever. Campioni told me that no
one at Vienna doubted my story in the slightest degree. Pocchini and
the Sclav had disappeared a few days after my departure, and the
Statthalter had incurred a great deal of odium by his treatment of me.
Campioni spent a month with me, and then went on to London.
I called on Count Lamberg and his countess, who, without being
beautiful, was an epitome of feminine charm and amiability. Her name
before marriage was Countess Dachsberg. Three months after my
arrival, this lady, who was enciente, but did not think her time was due,
went with Count Fugger, dean of the chapter, to a party of pleasure at
an inn three quarters of a league from Augsburg. I was present; and in
the course of the meal she was taken with such violent pains that she
feared she would be delivered on the spot. She did not like to tell the
noble canon, and thinking that I was more likely to be acquainted with
such emergencies she came up to me and told me all. I ordered the
coachman to put in his horses instantly, and when the coach was ready
I took up the countess and carried her to it. The canon followed us in
blank astonishment, and asked me what was the matter. I told him to
bid the coachman drive fast and not to spare his horses. He did so, but
he asked again what was the matter.
"The countess will be delivered of a child if we do not make haste."

I thought I should be bound to laugh, in spite of my sympathies for the
poor lady's pains, when I saw the dean turn green and white and purple,
and look as if he were going into a fit, as he realized that the countess
might be delivered before his eyes in his own carriage. The poor man
looked as grievously tormented as St. Laurence on his gridiron. The
bishop was at Plombieres; they would write and tell him! It would be in
all the papers! "Quick! coachman, quick!"
We got to the castle before it was too late. I carried the lady into her
rook, and they ran for a surgeon and a midwife. It was no good,
however, for in five minutes the count came out and said the countess
had just been happily delivered. The dean looked as if a weight had
been taken