“There may be a mistake,” said M. d’O——­; “at any rate we should ascertain the truth of the matter.”

“M.  Casanova, had you any adventures on your journey from the Hague to Amsterdam?”

At this I looked again at the young gentleman, and I guessed what they were talking about.

“No adventure to speak of,” I answered, “except a meeting with a fine fellow who desired to see my carriage turn upside down into the ditch, and who I think is present now.”

At these words the laughter broke out afresh, and the gentleman and I embraced each other; but after he had given the true account of the adventure his mistress pretended to be angry, and told him that he ought to have fought.  Esther observed that he had shewn more true courage in listening to reason, and M. d’O——­ said he was strongly of his daughter’s opinion; however, Mdlle.  Casanova, after airing her high-flown ideas, began to sulk with her lover.

To restore the general mirth, Esther said, gaily, “Come, come, let us put on our skates, and try the Amstel, for I am afraid that unless we go forthwith the ice will have melted.”  I was ashamed to ask her to let me off, though I would gladly have done so! but what will not love do!  M. d’O——­ left us to our own devices.  Mdlle.  Casanova’s intended put on my skates, and the ladies put on their short petticoats with black velvet drawers to guard against certain accidents.  We reached the river, and as I was a perfect neophyte in this sport the figure I cut may be imagined.  However, I resolutely determined to conquer my awkwardness, and twenty times, to the peril of my spine, did I fall down upon the ice.  I should have been wiser to have left off, but I was ashamed to do so, and I did not stop till, to my huge delight, we were summoned in to dinner.  But I paid dear for my obstinacy, for when I tried to rise from the table I felt as if I had lost the use of my limbs.  Esther pitied me, and said she would cure me.  There was a good deal of laughter at my expense, and I let them laugh, as I felt certain that the whole thing had been contrived to turn me into derision, and wishing to make Esther love me I thought it best to stimulate a good temper.  I passed the afternoon with M. d’O——­, letting the young people go by themselves on the Amstel, where they stopped till dusk.

Next morning when I awoke I thought I was a lost man.  I suffered a martyrdom of pain.  The last of my vertebral bones, called by doctors the os sacrum, felt as if it had been crushed to atoms, although I had used almost the whole of a pot of ointment which Esther had given me for that purpose.  In spite of my torments I did not forget my promise, and I had myself taken to a bookseller’s where I bought all the books I thought likely to interest her.  She was very grateful, and told me to come and embrace her before I started if I wanted a pretty present.

It was not likely that I was going to refuse such an invitation as that, so I went early in the morning, leaving my post-chaise at the door Her governess took me to her bed, where she was lying as fair and gay as Venus herself.