The False Nun | Page 7

of us. M---- M---- had the air of a person
satisfied with her own work, and I was playing the part of an approving
spectator. C---- C---- looked highly pleased at having secured the
general approbation, and there was, perhaps, a slight feeling of vanity
in her arising from the special attention which the ambassador had
bestowed on her. She looked at me, smiling, and I could easily
understand the language of her soul, by which she wished to tell me
that she felt perfectly well the difference between the society in which
she was then, and that in which her brother had given us such a
disgusting specimen of his depravity.
After midnight it was time to think of our departure, and M. de Bernis
undertook all the complimentary part. Thanking M---- M---- for the
most agreeable supper he had ever made in his life, he contrived to
make her offer a repetition of it for two days afterwards, and he asked
me, for the sake of appearance, whether I should not find as much
delight in that second meeting as himself. Could he have any doubt of
my answering affirmatively? I believe not, for I had placed myself
under the necessity of being compliant. All being agreed, we parted
company.
The next day, when I thought of that exemplary supper, I had no
difficulty in guessing what the ultimate result would be. The
ambassador owed his great fortune entirely to the fair sex, because he
possessed to the highest degree the art of coddling love; and as his
nature was eminently voluptuous he found his advantage in it, because
he knew how to call desires into existence, and this procured him
enjoyments worthy of his delicate taste. I saw that he was deeply in
love with C---- C----, and I was far from supposing him the man to be
satisfied with looking at her lovely eyes. He certainly had some plan

arranged, and M---- M----, in spite of all her honesty, was the prime
manager of it. I knew that she would carry it on with such delicate skill
that I should not see any evidence of it. Although I did not feel
disposed to shew more compliance than was strictly just, I foresaw that
in the end I should be the dupe, and my poor C---- C---- the victim, of a
cunningly-contrived trick. I could not make up my mind either to
consent with a good grace, or to throw obstacles in the way, and,
believing my dear little wife incapable of abandoning herself to
anything likely to displease me, I allowed myself to be taken off my
guard, and to rely upon the difficulty of seducing her. Stupid
calculation! Self-love and shamefacedness prevented me from using
my common sense. At all events, that intrigue kept me in a state of
fever because I was afraid of its consequences, and yet curiosity
mastered me to such an extent that I was longing for the result. I knew
very well that a second edition of the supper did not imply that the
same play would be performed a second time, and I foresaw that the
changes would be strongly marked. But I thought myself bound in
honour not to retract. I could not lead the intrigue, but I believed myself
sufficiently skilful to baffle all their manoeuvrings.
After all those considerations, however, considerations which enabled
me to assume the countenance of false bravery, the inexperience of C-
--- C----, who, in spite of all the knowledge she had lately acquired,
was only a novice, caused me great anxiety. It was easy to abuse her
natural wish to be polite, but that fear gave way very soon before the
confidence I had in M---- M----s delicacy. I thought that, having seen
how I had spent six hours with that young girl, knowing for a certainty
that I intended to marry her, M---- M---- would never be guilty of such
base treason. All these thoughts, worthy only of a weak and bashful
jealousy, brought no conclusive decision. I had to follow the current
and watch events.
At the appointed time I repaired to the casino, where I found my two
lovely friends sitting by the fire.
"Good evening, my two divinities, where is our charming Frenchman?"
"He has not arrived yet," answered M---- M----, "but he will doubtless

soon be here."
I took off my mask, and sitting between them, I gave them a thousand
kisses, taking good care not to shew any preference, and although I
knew that they were aware of the unquestionable right I had upon both
of them, I kept within the limits of the utmost decency. I congratulated
them upon the mutual inclination they felt for each other, and I saw that
they were pleased not to