This reply shewed me that Maton was an old hand, and that I had better give her up if I did not wish to be duped.

I changed the rooms, and we supped pleasantly together, laughing and talking, and in spite of all her craft Maton did not notice any change in me.

I remained alone in my new room, and soon heard the voices of Bellegarde and his merry companions.  I went on to the balcony, but the curtains of Bellegarde’s room were drawn, as if to assure me that there was no complot.  However, I was not so easily deceived, and I found afterwards that Mercury had warned Jupiter that Amphytrion had changed his room.

Next day, a severe headache, a thing from which I seldom suffer, kept me to the house all day.  I had myself let blood, and my worthy mother, who came to keep me company, dined with Maton.  My mother had taken a weakness for the girl, and had often asked me to let her come and see her, but I had the good sense to refuse this request.  The next day I was still far from well, and took medicine, and in the evening, to my horror, I found myself attacked by a fearful disease.  This must be a present from Maton, for I had not known anyone else since leaving Leopol.  I spent a troubled night, rage and indignation being my principal emotions; and next morning, coming upon Maton suddenly, I found everything in the most disgusting state.  The wretched creature confessed she had been infected for the last six months, but that she had hoped not to give it me, as she had washed herself carefully whenever she thought I was going to have to do with her.

“Wretch, you have poisoned me; but nobody shall know it, as it is by my own fault, and I am ashamed of it.  Get up, and you shall see how generous I can be.”

She got up, and I had all the linen I had given her packed into a trunk.  This done, I told my man to take a small room for her at another inn.  His errand was soon over, and I then told Maton to go immediately, as I had done with her.  I gave her fifty crowns, and made her sign a receipt specifying the reason why I had sent her away, and acknowledging that she had no further claim upon me.  The conditions were humiliating, and she wished me to soften them down, but she soon gave in when I told her that unless she signed I would turn her into the streets as naked as when I found her.

“What am I to do here?  I don’t know anyone.”

“If you like to return to Breslau I will pay your expenses there.”

She made no answer, so I sent her away bag and baggage, and merely turned my back on her when she went down on her knees to excite my compassion.

I got rid of her without the slightest feeling of pity, for from what she had done to me and from what she was preparing to do I considered her as a mere monster, who would sooner or later have cost me my life.

I left the inn the following day, and I took a furnished apartment on the first floor of the house where my mother lived for six months, and proceeded about my cure.  Everyone asked me what I had done with my housekeeper, and I said that having no further need of her services I had sent her away.