“After a silence of twenty-one years . . .”

She did not deign to reply, and I was by no means displeased.  We cared no longer for one another, and it is quite natural that it should be so.

When I tell my reader who Madame G——­ is, he will be amused.  Two years ago I set out for Hamburg, but my good genius made me turn back to Dux; what had I to do at Hamburg?

After my guests were gone I went to the Italian Opera at Covent Garden, and met Goudar, who asked me if I would come to the Sartori’s concert.  He told me I should see a beautiful young English woman there who spoke Italian.  As I had just lost Sara I did not much care about making new acquaintances, but still I was curious to see the young marvel.  I indulged my curiosity, and I am glad to say that instead of being amused I was wearied, though the young English woman was pretty enough.  A young Livonian, who called himself Baron of Stenau, seemed extremely interested in her.  After supper she offered us tickets for the next concert, and I took one for myself and one for Gondar, giving her two guineas, but the Livonian baron took fifty tickets, and gave her a bank note for fifty guineas.  I saw by this that he wanted to take the place by storm, and I liked his way of doing it.  I supposed him to be rich, without caring to enquire into his means.  He made advances to me and we became friends, and the reader will see in due time what a fatal acquaintance he was.

One day as I was walking with Goudar in Hyde Park he left me to speak to two ladies who seemed pretty.

He was not long absent, and said, when he rejoined me,—­

“A Hanoverian lady, a widow and the mother of five daughters, came to England two months ago with her whole family.  She lives close by, and is occupied in soliciting compensation from the Government for any injury that was done her by the passage of the Duke of Cumberland’s army.  The mother herself is sick and and never leaves her bed; she sends her two eldest daughters to petition the Government, and they are the two young ladies you have just seen.  They have not met with any success.  The eldest daughter is twenty-two, and the youngest fourteen; they are all pretty and can speak English, French, and German equally well, and are always glad to see visitors.  I had been to visit them myself, but as I gave them nothing I do not care to go there alone a second time.  If you like, however, I can introduce you.”

“You irritate my curiosity.  Come along, but if the one that pleases me is not complaisant she shall have nothing.”

“They will not even allow one to take them by the hand.”

“They are Charpillons, I suppose.”

“It looks like it.  But you won’t see any men there:” 

We were shewn into a large room where I noticed three pretty girls and an evil-looking man.  I began with the usual compliments, to which the girls replied politely, but with an air of great sadness.