“Against what?  If I fall in love with her, so much the better; that is just what I want.  What name did she give you?”

“Mistress Pauline.  She was quite pale when she came, and she went away covered with blushes.”

I was delighted to hear it.  I did not want a woman merely to satisfy my natural desires, for such can be found easily enough; I wished for some one whom I could love.  I expected beauty, both of the body and the soul; and my love increased with the difficulties and obstacles I saw before me.  As to failure, I confess I did not give it a moment’s thought, for there is not a woman in the world who can resist constant and loving attentions, especially when her lover is ready to make great sacrifices.

When I got back from the theatre in the evening the maid told me that the lady had chosen a modest closet at the back, which was only suitable for a servant.  She had had a moderate supper, only drinking water, and had begged the cook’s wife only to send her up soup and one dish, to which the woman had replied that she must take what was served, and what she did not eat would do for the servant.

“When she finished she shut herself up to write, and wished me good evening with much politeness.”

“What is she going to take in the morning?”

“I asked her, and she said she would only take a little bread.”

“Then you had better tell her that it is the custom of the house for the cook to serve everybody with coffee, chocolate, or tea, according to taste, in the morning, and that I shall be pained if she refuses to fare like the rest of us.  But don’t tell her I said so.  Here’s a crown for you, and you shall have one every week if you will wait upon and care for her properly.”

Before going to bed I wrote her a polite note, begging her to leave the closet.  She did so, but she went into another back room, and consented to take coffee for her breakfast.  Wishing to make her dine and sup with me, I was dressing myself, and preparing to proffer my request in such a way as to make a refusal impossible, when young Cornelis was announced.  I received him smilingly, and thanked him for the first visit he had paid me in the course of six weeks.

“Mamma hasn’t allowed me to come.  I have tried to do so a score of times without her leave.  Read this letter, and you will find something which will surprise you.”

I opened the letter and read as follows: 

“Yesterday a bailiff waited for my door to be opened and slipped in and arrested me.  I was obliged to go with him, and I am now in the sponging-house, and if I can’t get bail by to-day he will take me to Kings Bench Prison.  The bail I require is to the amount of two hundred pounds, to pay a bill which has fallen due.  Dear friend, come and succour me or else my other creditors will get wind of my imprisonment and I shall be ruined.  You surely will not allow that to happen, if not for my sake at least for the sake of my innocent children.  You cannot bail me yourself, but you can easily get a householder to do so.  If you have the time come and call on me, and I will shew you that I could not help doing the bill, otherwise I could not have given my last ball, as the whole of my plate and china was pledged.”