HEaring her speak with unusual emotion, I approach’d her: she was giving her mother an account of what had happened. Madame de Lussan was as much offended at the chevalier’s behaviour as her daughter. I was silent: I even continued my walk with the ladies. When they retired, I sent a message to the chevalier: he was at home, and in consequence of my desiring him to meet me, he came instantly to the place appointed.
‘I cannot persuade myself, said I, approaching him, that what has happened during our walk to-day, is more than a mere pleasantry: you are too gallant and well bred, to keep a lady’s picture, contrary to her inclination.’
‘I know not, answered he warmly, what interest you take in my keeping or restoring it; but I know that I neither need, nor will accept of your advice.’ ‘Then, replied I, clapping my hand to my sword, I will force you to receive it in this manner.’
The chevalier was brave. He eagerly answered my defiance: we fought for some time with equal success; but he was not animated like me with the desire of serving what I loved. He wounded me slightly in two places; but I gave him two large wounds, and obliged him both to ask his life, and to resign the picture. After I had assisted him to rise, and had conducted him to the nearest house, I retired to my own lodgings, where as soon as the wounds I had received were drest, I set myself to contemplate the lovely picture, and kissed it a thousand and a thousand times.
I had a genius for painting, which I had taken some pains to cultivate; yet I was far from being a master in the art: but what will not love accomplish? I undertook to copy this portrait. I spent two days in this employment. Delightful task! I succeeded so well, that even a very discerning eye might have mistaken mine for the original. This inspired me with the thought of substituting one for the other, by which contrivance I should have the advantage of keeping that which belonged to Adelaida; and she, without knowing it, would always bear my work about her.
These trifles to one who truly loves are matters of great importance, and my heart knew how to set a full value on them.
After I had fastened the picture I had painted to the riband in such a manner that my cheat could not be discovered, I presented it to Adelaida. Madame de Lussan express’d herself highly obliged to me. Adelaida said little: she seemed embarrassed; but in the midst of that embarassment, I thought I discovered that she was pleased at having received this little obligation from me, and that thought gave me real transport.
I have in my life experienced some of those happy moments; and had my misfortunes been only common ones, I shoud not have believed them too dearly purchased.
After this little adventure, I stood extremely well in the esteem of Madame de Lussan. I was always at her lodgings: I saw Adelaida every hour in the day; and although I did not speak to her of my passion, yet I was sure she knew it, and I had reason to believe she did not hate me. Hearts as sensible as ours were, quickly understand each other: to them every thing is expression.
I had lived two months in this manner, when I received a letter from my father, in which he commanded me to return immediately. This command was to me like the stroke of a thunder-bolt: my whole soul had been engrossed with the pleasure of seeing and loving Adelaida. The idea of leaving her was wholly new to me; the horror of parting from her, the consequence of the law-suit between our families, rose to my thoughts with every aggravation to distract me.
[To be continued.]