I had hoped, in obtaining my answers from the oracle, that she would be deterred by the prospect of death, and I reckoned on the natural love of life making her defer the operation for an indefinite period.  But such was not the case, and I found myself obliged to keep my word, in appearance at all events, and to go on my quest for the mysterious virgin.

What I wanted was some young hussy whom I could teach the part, and I thought of the Corticelli.  She had been at Prague for the last nine months, and when we were at Bologna I had promised to come and see her before the end of the year.  But as I was leaving Germany—­by no means a land of pleasant memories to me—­I did not think it was worth while going out of my way for such a trifle in the depth of winter.  I resolved to send her enough money for the journey, and to let her meet me in some French town.

M. de Fouquet, a friend of Madame d’Urfe’s, was Governor of Metz, and I felt sure that, with a letter of introduction from Madame d’Urfe, this nobleman would give me a distinguished reception.  Besides, his nephew, the Comte de Lastic, whom I knew well, was there with his regiment.  For these reasons I chose Metz as a meeting-place with the virgin Corticelli, to whom this new part would certainly be a surprise.  Madame d’Urfe gave me the necessary introductions, and I left Paris on January 25th, 1762, loaded with presents.  I had a letter of credit to a large amount, but I did not make use of it as my purse was abundantly replenished.

I took no servant, for after Costa’s robbing me and Le Duc’s cheating me I felt as if I could not trust in anyone.  I got to Metz in two days, and put up at the “Roi Dagobert,” an excellent inn, where I found the Comte de Louvenhaupt, a Swede, whom I had met at the house of the Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst, mother of the Empress of Russia.  He asked me to sup with him and the Duc de Deux Pants, who was travelling incognito to Paris to visit Louis XV., whose constant friend he was.

The day after my arrival I took my letters to the governor, who told me I must dine with him every day.  M. de Lastic had left Metz, much to my regret, as he would have contributed in no small degree to the pleasure of my stay.  The same day I wrote to the Corticelli, sending her fifty louis, and telling her to come with her mother as soon as possible, and to get someone who knew the way to accompany her.  She could not leaves Prague before the beginning of Lent, and to make sure of her coming I promised that I would make her fortune.

In four or five days I knew my way about the town, but I did not frequent polite assemblies, preferring to go to the theatre, where a comic opera singer had captivated me.  Her name was Raton, and she was only fifteen, after the fashion of actresses who always subtract at least two or three years from their age.  However, this failing is common to women, and is a pardonable one, since to be youthful is the greatest of all advantages to them.  Raton was not so much handsome as attractive, but what chiefly made her an object of desire was the fact that she had put the price of twenty-five louis on her maidenhead.  One could spend a night with her, and make the trial for a Louis; the twenty-five were only to be paid on the accomplishment of the great work.