“We will have a rehearsal to-morrow at my country house,” said he, “and I beg the favour of all your companies to dinner there.”

However, we all made each other compliments on our acting.  My lame friend told me I had played well, but not so well as in the part of waiter, which really suited me admirably.  This sarcasm got the laugh on her side, but I returned it by telling her that my performance was a work of art, while her playing of Lady Alton was pure nature.  M. de Chavigni told Madame that the spectators were wrong to applaud when she expressed her wonder at my loving her, since she had spoken the words disdainfully; and it was impossible that Lindane could have despised Murray.  The ambassador called for me the next day in his carriage, and when we reached his country-house we found all the actors assembled there.  His excellency addressed himself in the first place to M.——­, telling him he thought his business was as good as done, and that they would talk about it after dinner.  We sat down to table, and afterwards rehearsed the piece without any need of the prompter’s assistance.

Towards evening the ambassador told the company that he would expect them to supper that evening at Soleure, and everyone left with the exception of the ambassador, myself, and M.——­ and Madame——.  Just as we were going I had an agreeable surprise.

“Will you come with me,” said the Ambassador to M.——­, “we can talk the matter over at our ease?  M. Casanova will have the honour of keeping your wife company in your carriage.”

I gave the fair lady my hand respectfully, and she took it with an air of indifference, but as I was helping her in she pressed my hand with all her might.  The reader can imagine how that pressure made my blood circulate like fire in my veins.

Thus we were seated side by side, our knees pressed tenderly against each other.  Half an hour seemed like a minute, but it must not be thought that we wasted the time.  Our lips were glued together, and were not set apart till we came within ten paces of the ambassador’s house, which I could have wished at ten leagues distance.  She was the first to get down, and I was alarmed to see the violent blush which overspread her whole face.  Such redness looked unnatural; it might betray us; our spring of happiness would soon be dry.  The watchful eye of the envious Alton would be fixed upon us, and not in vain; her triumph would outweigh her humiliation.  I was at my wits’ end.

Love and luck, which have so favoured me throughout the course of my life, came to my aid.  I had about me a small box containing hellebore.  I opened it as if by instinct, and invited her to take a small pinch.  She did so, and I followed her example; but the dose was too strong, and as we were going up the stairs we began to sneeze, and for the next quarter of an hour we continued sneezing.  People were obliged to attribute her high colour to the sneezing, or at least no one could give voice to any other suppositions.  When the sneezing fit was over, this woman, who was as clever as she was pretty, said her headache was gone, but she would take care another time not to take so strong a dose.  I looked out of the corner of my eye at the malicious widow, who said nothing but seemed deep in thought.