STORY OF THE LOVES OF THE COUNT DE BELFLOR AND LEONORA DE CESPEDES.
Leonora de Cespedes was passionately beloved by the young Count de
Belflor, one of the most distinguished nobles of the court. He had,
however, no thoughts of suing for her hand; the daughter of a private
gentleman might command his love, but had no pretensions in his eyes to
rank above his mistress; and such was the honour he designed for her.
Accordingly, he followed her everywhere; and lost no opportunity of
testifying by his glances the extent of his affection for her person;
but he was unable to converse with her, or even to communicate by
letter, so incessantly and vigilantly was she guarded by an austere
duenna, the lady Marcella. He was almost in despair; yet, incited by
the obstacles which were thus opposed to his desires, he was constantly
occupied in devising means for their attainment, and for deceiving the
Argus who so carefully watched his Io.
In the meanwhile, Leonora had perceived the attention with which the
Count regarded her; and flattered by that first homage, so delightful
to the unworn heart, she soon yielded to the soft persuasion of his
eyes, and insensibly formed for him a passion as violent as his own.
The flames of love are seldom kindled at the altar but they burn the
temple. I did not, however, fan those thus lighted in her bosom, for
the magician had put a stopper on my operations; but Nature, and
woman's nature especially, is generally potent enough in such cases,
without my assistance. Indeed, I doubt if she does not manage these
matters best by herself; the only difference in our modes of procedure
being, that Nature saps the heart by slow degrees, while I love to
carry it by storm.
Affairs were in this posture, when Leonora, and her eternal governante,
going one morning to church, were accosted by an old woman, carrying
in her hand one of the largest chaplets ever framed by hypocrisy.
"Heaven bless you!" said she, addressing herself, with a saintly
smile, to the duenna, "the peace of God be with you! Have I not the
honour of speaking to the lady Marcella, the chaste widow of the
lamented Signor Martin Rosetta?" "You have," replied the governante.
"How fortunate!" exclaimed the old hypocrite; "I have a relation, at
this moment lying at my house, who would see you ere he dies. He was
intimately acquainted with your dear husband, and has matters of the
utmost importance to communicate to you. It is only three days since
he arrived in Madrid, from Flanders, for the express purpose of seeing
you; but scarcely had he entered my house when he was stretched on a
bed of sickness, and he has now, I fear, but a few hours to live. Let
us hasten, while there is yet time, to soothe the pangs of his passing
spirit: a few steps will bring us to his side."
[Illustration: Leonora, Marcella and the old woman]
The wary duenna, who had seen enough of the world to be suspicious of
the best even of her own sex, still, however, hesitated to follow:
which the old lady perceiving, "My dear lady Marcella," said she,
"surely you do not doubt me. You must have heard of La Chichona. Why!
the licentiate Marcos de Figuerna and the bachelor Mira de Mesqua
would answer for me as for their grandmothers. If I desire that you
accompany me to my house, it is for your good only. Heaven forbid
that I should touch the smallest portion of that which is your due,
and which my poor relation is so anxious to repay to the wife of his
friend!" At the word "repay," the lady Marcella hesitated no longer:
"Let us go, my child," said she to Leonora; "we will see this good
woman's relation;--to visit the sick is among the first of our duties."
"Verily," said the Demon, "charity does cover a multitude of sins!"
[Illustration: at the house of La Chichona]
They soon arrived at the house of La Chichona, who introduced them to
a mean apartment, where they found a man in bed: he had a long beard,
and if he were not really desperately ill, he at least appeared to
be so. "See, cousin!" said the old woman, presenting the governante;
"behold the person whom you sought so anxiously; this is the lady
Marcella, the respected widow of your friend Rosetta." At these words,
the old man raised himself on his pillow with apparent difficulty;
and, making signs for the duenna to approach him, said with a feeble
voice,--"Heaven be praised, for its mercy in permitting me to live till
now!--to see you, my dear lady, was all that I desired upon earth.
Indeed, I feared to die, without the satisfaction of seeing you, and of
rendering into your hands the hundred ducats which your late husband,
my dearest friend, so kindly lent me in my dire necessity, at Bruges,
when but for that assistance my honour had been for ever lost:--but you
must have often heard of me and my adventures."
"Alas! no," replied Marcella, "he never mentioned it to me. God rest
his soul! he was ever so generous as to forget the services he rendered
to his friends; and so far from boasting of such kindnesses as these,
I can declare that I even never heard of his doing a good action in
his life." "His was indeed a noble mind," replied the sick man, "as
I have perhaps better reason to know than most persons; and to prove
this to you I must relate the history of the unfortunate affair from
which his liberality so happily released me. But as I shall have to
speak of things which should be disclosed to no other ears than thine,
honourable as they are to the memory of my deceased friend, it were
better that we should be alone."
"Oh, certainly!" cried Chichona, "though it would delight me to hear
of the good Rosetta, whom you are always praising, we will retire to
my closet;" saying which, she led Leonora into the next apartment. No
sooner had she done so, and closed the door, than without ceremony the
old woman thus addressed her companion:--"Charming Leonora, our moments
are too precious to be wasted. You know the young Count de Belflor, at
least by sight. Need I say how long he has loved you, and how ardently
he desires to tell you so? Driven to despair by the vigilance and
austerity of Marcella, he has had recourse to my assistance to procure
him an interview; and I, who could refuse nothing to so handsome a
cavalier, have dressed up his valet as the sick man you have just seen,
that I might engage your governante's attention and bring you hither."
As she finished speaking, the Count, who was concealed by the drapery
of a little window, discovered himself, and, falling at the feet of
Leonora: "Madam," said he, "pardon the stratagem of a lover, who could
no longer conceal from you the passion that is destroying the life to
which it alone gives value:--but for this good woman's kindness, I had
perished in despair." These words, uttered with respectful earnestness,
by a man whose appearance was far from displeasing, affected, while
they perplexed Leonora, and she remained for some time speechless.
But at length recovering herself, she looked, or endeavoured to look,
haughtily on her prostrate lover, and replied: "Truly you are deeply
indebted to your obliging confidante for this attention, but I am not
so sure that I have equal reason to be thankful, or that you will gain
by her kindness the object you desire."
In saying these words, she moved towards the door; but the Count,
gently detaining her, exclaimed: "Stay, adorable Leonora! deign to
listen to me but for an instant. Be not alarmed! my affection for you
is pure as your own thoughts. I feel that the artifice to which I have
descended must revolt you; but consider how vainly I have striven by
more honourable means to address you. You cannot be ignorant that for
many months, at the church, in the public walk, at the theatre, I have
vainly sought to confirm with my lips that passion which my eyes could
not disguise. Alas! while I implore pardon for a crime to which the
cruelty of the merciless duenna has compelled me, let me also entreat
your pity for the torments I have endured; and judge, by the charms
which your happy mirror discloses, of the extent of his wretchedness
who is banished from their sight."
[Illustration: Belflor woos Leonora]
Belflor did not fail to accompany these words with all the arts of
persuasion commonly practised with so much success by my devotees:
tender looks, heart-broken sighs, and even a few tears were not
wanting; and Leonora was of course affected. Despite herself, she began
to feel those little flutterings of the heart, which are the usual
preludes of capitulation with woman; but far from yielding without a
struggle to her tenderness, or pity, or weakness, the more sensible
she became of treason in the garrison, the more hastily she resolved
to vacate the place. "Count," she exclaimed, "it is in vain you tell
me this. I will listen no longer. Do not attempt to detain me: let me
leave a house in which my honour is exposed to suspicion; or my cries
shall alarm the neighbourhood, and expose your audacity which has dared
to insult me." This she uttered with so resolute an air that Chichona,
who was on very punctilious terms with the police, prayed the Count
not to push matters to extremity. Finding his entreaties useless, he
released Leonora, who hastened from the apartment, and, what never
happened to any maiden before, left it as she had entered it.
"Let us quit this dangerous house," said Leonora, on rejoining her
governante: "finish this idle talk,--we are deceived." "What ails you,
child?" cried Marcella in reply; "and why should we leave this poor man
so hastily?" "I will tell you," said Leonora; "but let us fly: every
instant I remain here but adds to my affliction." However desirous
was the duenna to learn the cause of her ward's anxiety, she saw that
the best way to be satisfied was to yield to her entreaties; and they
quitted the apartment with a celerity which quite discomposed the
stately governante, leaving Chichona, the Count, and his valet as much
disconcerted as a company of comedians, when the curtain falls on a
wretched farce, which the presiding deities of the pit have consigned
to a lower deep.
When Leonora found herself safely in the street, she related, as well
as her extreme agitation, and Marcella's exclamations of astonishment,
would permit, all that had passed in the chamber with the Count and
Chichona. "I must confess, child," said the duenna, when they had
reached home, "that I am exceedingly mortified to hear what you have
just been telling me. To think that I have been the dupe of that wicked
woman! You will allow, however, that I was not without my doubts. Why
did I yield them? I should have been suspicious of so much kindness
and honesty. I have committed a folly which is absolutely inexcusable
in a person of my sagacity and experience. Ah! why did you not tell
me this in her presence? I would have torn her eyes out: I would have
loaded the Count de Belflor with reproaches for his perfidy: and as
for the scoundrel with his ducats and his beard, he should not have
had a hair left on his head. But I will return, this instant, with the
money which I have received as a real restitution; and if I find them
still together, they shall not have waited for nothing." So saying, the
enraged widow of the generous Rosetta folded her mantilla around her,
and left Leonora to weep over the treachery of mankind.
Marcella found the Count with Chichona, in despair at the failure of
his design. Most of my pupils, in his place, would have been abashed at
seeing her: it is extraordinary what scruples I have to overcome. But
Belflor was of another stamp: to a thousand good qualities, he added
that of yielding implicit obedience to my inspirations. When he loved,
nothing could exceed the ardour with which he followed the devoted
object of his affections; and though naturally what the world calls
an honourable man, he was then capable of violating the most sacred
duties for the attainment of his desires. No sooner, therefore, did he
perceive Marcella, than, as he saw that their fulfilment could only be
completed through the duenna's agency, he resolved to spare nothing to
win her to his interests. He shrewdly guessed that, rigidly virtuous
as the lady appeared, she, like her betters, had her price; and as he
was disposed to bid pretty liberally, you will own he did no great
injustice to a duenna's fidelity: for so rare a commodity will only be
found where lovers are not over-rich, or not sufficiently liberal.
The instant Marcella entered the room, and perceived the three persons
she sought, her tongue went as though possessed; and while she poured
a torrent of abuse on the Count and Chichona, she sent the restitution
flying at the head of the valet. The Count patiently endured the
storm; and throwing himself on his knees before the duenna, to render
the scene more moving, he pressed her to take back the purse she had
rejected; and offering to add to it a thousand pistoles, he besought
her compassion on his sufferings. As Marcella had never before been so
earnestly entreated, it is no wonder that she was, on this occasion,
not inexorable: her invectives, therefore, speedily ceased; and
on comparing the tempting sum now offered to her, with the paltry
recompence she expected from Don Luis de Cespedes, she was not slow in
discovering that it would be much more profitable to turn Leonora from
her duty, than to keep her in its path. Accordingly, after some little
affectation, she again received the purse, accepted the offer of the
thousand pistoles, promised to assist the Count in his designs, and
departed at once to labour for their accomplishment.
[Illustration: Belflor bribes Marcella]
As she knew Leonora to be strictly virtuous, she was extremely cautious
of exciting the least suspicion of her intelligence with the Count,
lest the plot should be discovered to Don Luis, her father; so,
desirous of skilfully effecting her ruin, she thus addressed her on her
return: "My dear Leonora, I have revenged myself on the wretches who
deceived us. I found them quite confounded at your virtuous resolution;
and, threatening the infamous Chichona with your father's resentment,
and the most rigorous severity of the law, I bestowed on the Count
de Belflor all the insulting epithets that my anger could suggest. I
warrant that the Signor will make no more attempts of this kind on you;
and that henceforth his gallantries will cease to engage my attention.
I thank Heaven that, by your firmness, you have escaped the snare that
was laid for you. I could weep for joy to think that the deceiver has
gained nothing by his stratagem; for these noble signors make it
their amusement to seduce the young and innocent. Indeed, the greater
part even of those who pique themselves on their honourable conduct
have no scruples on this point, as though it were no disgrace to carry
ruin into virtuous families. Not that I think the Count absolutely of
this character, nor even that he intends studiously to deceive you: we
should not judge too harshly of our neighbours; and perhaps, after all,
he meant you honourably. Although his rank would give him pretensions
to the hand of the noblest at our court, your beauty may yet have
induced him to resolve on marriage with yourself. In fact, I recollect
that in his answers to my reproaches, which I heeded not at the time, I
might have perceived something of the sort."
"What say you, dear Marcella?" interrupted Leonora. "If that were
his intention, he would have sought me of my father, who would never
have refused his daughter to a person of his rank." "What you say
is perfectly just," replied the governante, "and I am quite of your
opinion; the Count's proceedings are certainly suspicious, or rather
his designs cannot be good: for a trifle, I would return and scold him
again." "No, good Marcella," replied Leonora, "we had better forget
the past, and revenge ourselves by contempt." "Very true," said the
duenna; "I believe that is the best plan: you are more prudent than
myself. But, after all, may we not do the Count injustice? Who knows
that he has not been actuated by the purest and most delicate motives?
It is possible that, before obtaining your father's consent, he may
have resolved to deserve and to please you; to render your union more
delightful by first gaining your heart. If that were so, child, would
it be a very great sin to listen to him? Tell me your thoughts, love;
you know my affection: does your heart incline towards the Count, or
would it be very disagreeable to marry such a man?"
To this malicious question, the too-sincere Leonora replied, with
down-cast eyes, and face suffused with blushes, by avowing that she
had no aversion to the Count; but, as modesty prevented her explaining
herself more openly, the duenna still pressed her to conceal nothing
from her; and at last succeeded, by affected tenderness, in obtaining a
full confession of her love. "Dearest Marcella," said the unsuspicious
girl, "since you desire me to speak to you without disguise, I must
confess that Belflor has appeared to me not unworthy of my love. I was
struck by his appearance; and I have heard him so much praised, that
I could not remain insensible to the affection he displayed for me.
Your watchful care to guard me from his addresses has cost me many a
sigh: nay, I will own I have in secret wept his absence; and repaid
with my tears the sufferings your vigilance has caused him. Even at
this moment, instead of hating him for the insult he has offered to my
honour, my heart against my will excuses him, and throws his fault on
your severity."
"My child," said the governante, "since you give me reason to believe
that his attentions are pleasing to you, I will endeavour to secure
this lover." "I am very sensible," replied Leonora, "of the kindness
you intend me. It is not that the Count holds the first place at court;
were he but an honourable private gentleman, I should prefer him to all
others upon earth, but let us not flatter ourselves: Belflor is a noble
signor, destined, without doubt, for one of the richest heiresses in
our kingdom. Let us not expect that he would descend to ally himself
with Don Luis, who has but a moderate fortune to offer with his
daughter. No, no," she added, "he entertains for me no such favourable
thoughts: he thinks not of me as one worthy to bear his name, but seeks
only my dishonour."
"Ah! wherefore," said the duenna, "will you insist he loves you not
well enough to seek your hand? Love daily works much greater miracles.
One would imagine, to hear you, that Heaven had made some infinite
distinction between you and the Count. Do yourself more justice,
Leonora! He would not condescend, in uniting his destiny with yours.
You are of an ancient and noble family, and your alliance would never
call a blush upon his cheek. However, you love him," continued she;
"and I must therefore see him, and sound him on the subject; and if I
find his designs as honourable as they should be, I will indulge him
with some slight hopes." "Not for the world!" cried Leonora; "on no
account would I have you seek him: should he but suspect my knowledge
of your proceedings, he must cease even to esteem me." "Oh! I am more
cunning than you think me," answered Marcella. "I shall begin by
accusing him of a design to seduce you. He of course will not fail
to defend himself; I shall listen to his excuses, and shall mark the
event: in short, my dear child, leave it to me; I will be as careful of
your honour as of my own."
Towards night, the duenna left the house, and found Belflor watching
in the neighbourhood. She informed him of her conversation with his
mistress, not forgetting to boast of the address with which she had
elicited from Leonora the confession of her love. Nothing could more
agreeably surprise the Count than this discovery; and accordingly his
gratitude was displayed in the most ardent manner; that is to say, he
promised to Marcella the thousand ducats on the morrow, and to himself
the most complete success of his enterprise; well knowing, as he
did, that a woman prepossessed is half seduced. They then separated,
extremely well satisfied with each other, and the duenna returned to
her home.
Leonora, who had waited for her with extreme anxiety, timidly inquired
if she brought any news of the Count. "The best news you could hear,"
replied the governante. "I have seen him, and I can assure you of
the purity of his intentions: he declared that his only object is to
marry you; and this he confirmed by every oath that man holds sacred.
I did not, however, as you may suppose, yield implicitly to these
protestations. 'If you are sincere,' said I to him, 'why do you not at
once apply to Don Luis, her father?' 'Ah! my dear Marcella,' replied
he, without appearing in the least embarrassed by this question,
'could you, even, approve that, without assuring myself of Leonora's
affection, and following, blindly, the dictates of a devouring passion,
I should seek her of Don Luis as a slave? No! her happiness is dearer
to me than my own desires; and I have too nice a sense of honour, even
to endanger that happiness by an indiscreet avowal.'
"While he thus spoke," continued the duenna, "I observed him with
extreme attention; and employed all my experience to discover in his
eyes if he were really possessed of all the love that he expressed.
What shall I say?--He appeared to me penetrated by the truest love;
I felt elated with joy, which I took good care, however, to conceal:
nevertheless, when I felt persuaded of his sincerity, I thought that,
in order to secure for you so important a conquest, it would be but
proper to give him some faint idea of your feelings towards him.
'Signor,' said I, 'Leonora has no aversion for you; I know that she
esteems you; and, as far as I can judge, her heart would not be grieved
by your addresses.' 'Great God,' he cried, transported with delight,
'what do I hear? Is it possible, that the charming Leonora should be
disposed so favourably towards me? What do I not owe to you, kindest
Marcella, for thus relieving me from such torturing suspense? I am
the more rejoiced, too, that this should be announced by you;--you,
who have ever opposed my love; you, who have inflicted on me such
lengthened suffering. But, my dear Marcella, complete my bliss! let me
see my divine Leonora, and pledge to her my faith; let me swear, in
your presence, to be hers only for ever.'
"To all these expressions of his devotion," continued the governante,
"he added others still more touching. At last, my dear child, he
entreated me in so pressing a manner to procure for him a secret
interview, that I could not forbear promising he should see you."
"Ah! why have you done so?" exclaimed Leonora, with emotion. "How
often have you told me, that a virtuous girl should ever shun such
secret conversations,--always wrong, and almost always dangerous?"
"Certainly," replied the duenna, "I acknowledge to have said so, and a
very good maxim it is; but you are not obliged to adhere to it strictly
on this occasion; for you may look upon the Count as your husband."
"He is not so yet," said Leonora, "and I ought not to see him until my
father permits his addresses."
Marcella, at this moment, repented of having imbued the mind of her
pupil with those notions of propriety which she found so much trouble
to overcome. Determined, however, at any rate to effect her object, she
thus recommenced her attack: "My dear Leonora! I am proud to witness
so much virtuous delicacy. Happy fruit of all my cares! You have truly
profited by the lessons I have taught you. I am delighted with the
result of my labours. But, child, you have read rather too literally;
you construe my maxims too rigidly; your susceptibility is indeed
somewhat prudish. However much I pique myself on my severity, I do not
quite approve of that precise chastity which arms itself indifferently
against guilt or innocence. A girl ceases not to be virtuous who yields
her ear only to her lover, especially when she is conscious of the
purity which chastens his desires; and she is then no more wrong in
responding to his love, than she is for her sensibility to the passion.
Rely upon me, Leonora; I have too much experience, and am too much
interested in your welfare, to suffer you to take a step that might be
prejudicial to it."
"But where would you have me see the Count?" said Leonora. "In this
room, to be sure," replied the duenna. "Where could you see him so
safely? I will introduce him to-morrow evening." "You are not surely
serious, Marcella!" exclaimed Leonora. "What! think you I would permit
a man----" "To be sure you will!" interrupted the duenna; "there is
nothing so wonderful in that, as you imagine. It happens daily; and
would to heaven that every damsel who receives such visits, had desires
as pure as those by which you are animated! Besides, what have you to
fear? shall not I be with you?" "Alas!" said Leonora, "should my father
surprise us!" "Do not trouble yourself about that," replied Marcella.
"Your father is perfectly satisfied as to your conduct: he knows my
fidelity, and would not do me so much wrong as to suspect it." Poor
Leonora, thus artfully instigated by the duenna, and secretly moved
by her own feelings, could withstand no longer; and at last yielded,
although unwillingly, to her governante's proposal.
The Count was soon informed of Marcella's success, of which he was
so well satisfied, that he at once gave her five hundred pistoles,
and a ring of equal value. The duenna, finding his promises so well
performed, was determined to be as scrupulously exact in the fulfilment
of her own; and, accordingly, on the following night, when she felt
assured that every one in the house was fast asleep, she fastened
to the balcony a silken ladder, which the Count had provided, and
introduced his lordship to the chamber of his mistress.
In the meanwhile, the fair Leonora was immersed in reflections of the
most painfully agitating nature. Notwithstanding her affection for the
Count, and despite her governante's assurances, she bitterly reproached
herself for her weakness, in yielding a consent to an interview which
she still felt was in violation of her duty; nor could a knowledge of
the purity of her intentions bring comfort to her bosom. To receive,
by night, in her apartment, a man whose love was unsanctioned by her
parent, and not certainly known even by herself, now appeared to her
not only criminal, but calculated to degrade her in the estimation of
her lover also; and this last thought tortured her almost to madness,
when that lover entered.
He threw himself on his knees before her; and, apparently penetrated
by love and gratitude, thanked her for that confidence in his honour,
which had permitted this visit, and assured her of his determination to
merit it, by shortly espousing her. However, as he was not as explicit
upon this point as Leonora desired, "Count," said she to him, "I am too
anxious to believe that you have no other views than those you express
to me; but whatever assurances you may offer must always appear to me
suspicious, so long as my father is ignorant of your designs, and has
not ratified them by his consent."
"Madam," replied Belflor, "that would have been long since demanded
by me, had I not feared to have obtained it at the sacrifice of your
repose." "Alas!" said Leonora, "I do not reproach you that you have
not yet sought Don Luis,--I cannot but be sensible of your delicacy;
but nothing now restrains you, and you must at once resolve to see my
father, or never to see me more."
[Illustration: Belflor climbs up to Leonora's balcony]
"What do I hear?" exclaimed the Count,--"never to see you more!
Beauteous Leonora! how little sensible are you to the charms of love!
Did you know how to love like me, you would delight in secret to
receive my vows; and, for some time at least, to conceal them from
your father as from all the world. Oh! who can paint the charms of
that mysterious intercourse, in which two hearts indulge, united by
a passion as intense as pure." "It may have charms for you," replied
Leonora; "to me, such intercourse would bring but sorrow: this
refinement of tenderness but ill becomes a virtuous maiden. Speak not
to me of such impure delights! Did you esteem me, you had not dared
to do so; and were your intentions such as you would persuade me, you
would, from your soul, reproach me that I could listen to you with
patience. But, alas!" she added, while tears filled her eyes, "my
weakness alone has exposed me to this outrage: I have indeed deserved
it, that I see you here."
"Adorable Leonora!" cried the Count, "you wrong my love most cruelly!
Your virtue, too scrupulous, is causelessly alarmed. What! can you
conceive that, because I have been so happy as to prevail on you to
favour my passion, I should cease to esteem you? What injustice! No,
madam, I know, too well, the value of your kindness; it can never
deprive you of my esteem; and I am ready to do as you require me. I
will, to-morrow, see Don Luis; and nothing shall be wanting on my part
to ensure my happiness: but I cannot conceal from you, that I scarcely
indulge a hope." "How!" replied; Leonora, with extreme surprise;
"is it possible that my father should refuse me to the Count de
Belflor?"--"Ah! it is that very title which gives me cause for alarm.
But I see this surprises you: your astonishment, however, will soon
cease.
"Only a few days ago," continued he, "the King was pleased to declare
his will, that I should marry: you know how these matters are managed
at our Court. He has not, however, named the lady for whom I am
intended; but has contented himself with intimating that she is one
who will do me honour, and that he has set his mind upon our union.
As I was then ignorant of your disposition towards me,--for, as you
well know, your rigorous severity has never until now, permitted me
to divine it,--I did not let him perceive in me any aversion to the
accomplishment of his desires. You may now therefore, judge, madam,
whether Don Luis would hazard the King's displeasure, by accepting me
as his son-in-law."
"No, doubtless," said Leonora; "I know my father well: however
desirable he might esteem your alliance, he would not hesitate to
renounce it, rather than expose himself to the anger of his Majesty.
But, even though my father had consented to our union, we should not
be less unfortunate; for, Belflor, how could you possibly bestow on
me a hand which the King has destined for another?" "Madam," replied
the Count, "I will not disguise that your question embarrasses me.
Still, I am not without hope that, by prudent management with the King,
and by availing myself of the influence which his friendship for me
secures, I should find means to avoid the misfortune which threatens
me; and yourself, lovely Leonora, might assist me in so doing, did
you but deem me worthy of the happiness of being yours." "I assist
you!" she exclaimed; "how could I possibly enable you to avert an
union which the King proposes for you?" "Ah! madam," he replied, with
impassioned looks, "would you deign to receive my vows of eternal
fidelity to you, I should have no difficulty in preserving my faith
inviolate, without offending my sovereign. Permit, charming Leonora,"
he continued, throwing himself at her feet, "permit me to espouse you
in the presence of our friend Marcella; she is a witness who will vouch
for the sanctity of our engagements. I shall thus escape the hateful
bonds they would impose upon me; for, should the King still press me
to accept the lady he designs for me, I will prostrate myself before
him, and, on my knees, confess how long and ardently my love has been
devoted to you, and that we are secretly married. However desirous he
may be to unite me with another, he is too gracious to think of tearing
me from the object I adore, and too just to offer so grievous an
affront to your honourable family.
"What is your opinion, discreet Marcella?" added he, turning towards
the governante; "what think you of this project with which love has
so opportunely inspired me?" "I am charmed with it," said the duenna;
"the rogue, Cupid, is never at a loss for an expedient." "And you,
dearest Leonora," resumed the Count, "what do you say to it? Can your
heart, always mistrustful, refuse its assent to my proposal?" "No," she
replied, "provided my father consent to it; and I do not doubt that
he will, when you have explained to him your reasons for secrecy."
"You must be very cautious how you consult him upon the subject,"
interrupted the abominable duenna; "you do not know Don Luis: his
notions of honour are too scrupulous to permit him to engage himself
with secret amours. The proposal of a private marriage would shock
him; besides which, he is too prudent not to foresee the possible
consequences of one which interfered with the designs of the King.
And, once proposed to him, and his suspicion aroused, his eyes will
be constantly upon you; and he will take good care to prevent your
marriage, by separating you for ever."
"And I should die with grief and despair," cried our courtier. "But
madam," continued he, addressing himself to Marcella, with an air of
profound disappointment, "do you really think, then, that there is
no chance of Don Luis yielding to our prayer?" "Not the slightest!"
replied the governante. "But suppose he should! Exact and scrupulous
as he is, he would never consent to the omission of a single religious
ceremony on the occasion; and if they are all to be observed in your
marriage, the secret will be soon known in Madrid."
"Ah! my dear Leonora," said the Count, taking her hand, and tenderly
pressing it within his own, "must we, then, to satisfy a vain notion
of decorum, expose ourselves to the frightful danger of an eternal
separation? Our happiness is in your hands; since it depends on you
alone to bestow yourself on me. A father's consent might, perhaps,
spare you some uneasiness; but since our kind Marcella has convinced us
of the impossibility of obtaining it, yield yourself, without further
scruple, to my innocent desires. Receive my heart and hand; and when
the time shall have arrived, that we may inform Don Luis of our union,
we shall have no difficulty in satisfying him as to our reasons for
its concealment." "Well, Count," said Leonora, "I consent to your not
at once speaking to my father, but that you first sound the King upon
the subject. Before, however, I receive thus secretly your hand, I
would have this done. See his Majesty; tell him even, if necessary,
that we are married. Let us endeavour, by this show of confidence,----"
"Alas! madam," interrupted Belflor, "what do you ask of me? No, my
soul revolts at the thoughts of falsehood. I cannot lie; and you would
despise me, could I thus dissemble with the King;--besides, how could I
hope for pardon at his hands, should he discover the meanness of which
I had been guilty?"
"I should never have done, Signor Don Cleophas," continued the Demon,
"were I to repeat word for word all that Belflor said, in order to
seduce his lovely mistress; I will only add, that he repeated, without
my assistance, all those passionate phrases with which I usually
inspire gallants upon similar occasions. But in vain did he swear
he would publicly confirm, as soon as possible, the faith which he
proposed to pledge in secret: Leonora's virtue was proof against his
oaths; and the blushing day, which surprised him while he called Heaven
to witness for his fidelity, compelled him to retire less triumphant
than he had anticipated."
On the following morning, the duenna, conceiving that her honour, or
rather her interest, engaged her not to abandon the enterprise, took
an opportunity of reverting to the subject. "Leonora," said she, "I
am confounded by what passed last evening; you appear to disdain the
Count's affection, or to regard it as inspired by an unworthy motive.
Perhaps, however, after all, you remarked something in his person or
manner that displeased you?" "No, good governante," replied Leonora;
"he never appeared to me more amiable; and his conversation discovered
to me a thousand new charms." "If that be the case," said the duenna,
"I am still more perplexed. You acknowledge to be strongly prepossessed
in his favour, and yet refuse to yield in a point, the absolute
necessity of which he has so clearly demonstrated."
"My dear Marcella," replied her ward, "you are wiser, and have had more
experience in these matters, than myself; but have you sufficiently
reflected on the consequences of a marriage contracted without my
father's knowledge?" "Yes, certainly," answered the duenna, "I have
maturely considered all that; and I regret to find you oppose yourself,
with an obstinacy of which I deemed you incapable, to the brilliant
establishment which fortune presents so uselessly. Have a care that
your perverseness does not weary and repel your lover; remember that
he may discover the inequality of your station and fortune, which his
passion overlooks. While he offers you his faith, receive it without
hesitation. His word is his bond; there is no tie more sacred with a
man of honour, like Belflor: besides, I am witness that he acknowledges
you as his wife; and I need not tell you that a testimony like mine
would be more than sufficient to condemn a lover who should dare to
perjure himself, and attempt to evade a legal contract."
By this and similar conversations, the resolution of the artless
Leonora was at last shaken; and the perils which surrounded her were
so adroitly concealed by her perfidious governante, that, some days
afterwards, she abandoned herself, without further reflection, to the
will of the Count. Belflor was introduced nightly, by the balcony, into
his mistress's apartment; which he left again before daybreak, when
summoned by the duenna.
One morning, the old lady overslept herself; and Aurora had already
half opened the golden chambers of the east, when the Count hastily
departed, as usual. Unfortunately, in his hurry to descend the ladder,
his foot missed, and he fell heavily on the ground.
Don Luis de Cespedes, who slept in the room over Leonora's, had
that morning risen earlier than usual to attend to some important
engagements; and hearing the noise of Belflor's fall he opened his
window to learn whence it proceeded. To his astonishment, he perceived
a man just raising himself, with difficulty, from the earth, while
Marcella was busily engaged in the balcony with the silken ladder,
of which the Count had made such bad use in his descent. Scarcely
believing his eyes, and rubbing them to make sure that he was awake,
Don Luis stood for some time in amazement; but he was too soon
convinced that what he saw was no illusion; and that the light of day,
although just breaking, was bright enough to discover to him, too
clearly, his disgrace.
[Illustration: Don Luis de Cespedes looking out of the window]
Afflicted at this fatal sight, transported by a just wrath, he
instantly sought the apartment of Leonora, holding the light by which
he had been writing in one hand, and his sword in the other. With a
frantic determination of sacrificing his daughter and her governante
to his resentment, he struck the door of their chamber violently, and
commanded them to admit him. Trembling, they obeyed his summons; when
he entered with infuriated looks, and displaying his naked sword: "I
come," he cried, "to wash out, in the blood of an infamous child, the
stains on the wounded honour of her father; and to punish the crime of
a perfidious wretch, who has betrayed his confidence."
[Illustration: Don Luis confronts Leonora and Marcella]
They were in a moment on their knees before him; and, as he raised his
arm, the trembling duenna exclaimed: "In mercy hold, Signor! Before
you inflict on us the punishment you meditate, deign but to listen to
me for a moment." "Speak, then, unhappy woman," said Don Luis; "I will
retard my vengeance but for the instant you require: speak, I repeat!
tell me all the circumstances of my misfortune. But what do I say,--all
the circumstances? Alas! I am ignorant but of one; it is, the name of
the villain who has dishonoured me." "Signor," replied Marcella, "the
cavalier who has just left us is the Count de Belflor." "The Count de
Belflor!" repeated Don Luis; "and where did he see my daughter? By
what means has he seduced her? On your life, hide nothing from me!"
"Signor," replied the governante, "I will relate the whole history to
you, with all the sincerity of which I am capable."
She then related, with infinite art, all the conversations she had
previously narrated to Leonora, as having passed between herself and
the Count; whom she painted in the most flattering colours, as a lover
tender, delicate, and sincere, beyond description. As, however, there
was no escaping the event in which this heroic love most naturally
terminated, she was obliged to avow the truth. But she managed this
so adroitly, insisting on the weighty reasons which Belflor had for
secrecy in his nuptials, and on the regret he had always expressed for
its necessity, that she gradually appeased the fury of her master. This
she was not slow to perceive; and, to completely soften the old man,
she wound up by a peroration that would have done as much honour to a
wig as to a gown:--"Signor," said she, "I have thus told you the simple
truth: now punish us if you will, and plunge your sword into your
daughter's bosom! But what say I? No! Leonora is innocent; she has but
followed the faithful counsels of her to whom you confided the guidance
of her conduct. It is my heart against which your sword should be
directed; it was I who first introduced the Count to her apartment; it
is I who formed those ties which bind him to your daughter. I would
not perceive the irregularity of his engagement, although unauthorised
by you: I saw in him but a son-in-law, whom I was anxious to secure to
you; but the channel through which the favours of our Court might reach
you. I forgot all but the happiness of Leonora, and the advancement of
your family, in the brilliant alliance of the Count. I have erred: the
excess of my zeal has made me forgetful of my duty."
While the subtle Marcella was speaking thus, poor Leonora was not
sparing of her tears; and her grief appeared so excessive that the good
old man could not resist it. He was affected. His anger was changed
into compassion; his sword fell on the ground; and, quitting the air of
an irritated parent: "Ah! my daughter," he cried, while tears sprung
from his aged eyes, like water from the rock of Horeb, "what a fatal
passion is love! Alas! you know not yet all the causes it will bring
you for affliction. The shame which a father's presence alone excites,
can bring tears to your eyes at this moment; but you foresee not the
woes which your lover is, perhaps even now, preparing for the future.
And you, imprudent Marcella, what have you done? Into what an abyss has
your indiscreet zeal for my family plunged us! I allow that an alliance
with a man like Belflor might dazzle you, and it is that which alone
excuses and saves you; but, miserable that you are, why were you not
more cautious with a lover of his station? The greater his credit and
favour at court, the more guarded should you have been against his
approaches. Should he not scruple to break his faith with my daughter,
how shall I avenge the insult? Shall I implore the power of our laws?
A person of his rank can easily shelter himself from its severity.
I will suppose that, faithful to his oaths, he would abide by his
engagements with my daughter: if the King, as you say, has decreed that
he shall marry with another, is it likely that our sovereign will fail
to be obeyed?"
"Oh! my father," replied Leonora, "that need not alarm us. The Count
has assured us that the King would never do so great a violence to his
feelings--" "Of which I am convinced," interrupted the duenna; "for,
besides that the monarch loves Belflor too much to exercise so great a
tyranny upon his favourite, he is of too noble a character to afflict
so grievously the valiant Don Luis de Cespedes, who has devoted to the
service of the state the best years of his life."
"Heaven grant," exclaimed the old man, sighing, "that all my fears
are vain! I will seek the Count, and demand a full explanation of his
conduct: the eyes of a father, alarmed for a daughter's welfare, will
pierce his very soul. If I find him what I would hope, and what you
would persuade me he is, I will pardon what has passed; but," added he
firmly, "if in his discourse I discern the perfidy of his heart, you
go, both of you, to bewail in retirement, for the rest of your days,
the imprudence of which you have been guilty." As he finished, he took
up his sword, and retired to his own room, leaving his daughter and
her governante to recover themselves from the fright into which this
discovery had so unexpectedly thrown them.
[Illustration: The lady, her husband and her lover]
Asmodeus was at this moment interrupted in his recital by the Student,
who thus addressed him:--"My dear Devil, interesting as is the history
you are relating to me, my eyes have wandered to an object which
prevents my listening to you as attentively as I could wish. I see a
lady, who is rather good-looking, seated between a young man and a
gentleman old enough to be his grandfather. They seem to enjoy the
liqueurs which are on the table near them, but what amuses me, is, that
as from time to time the amorous old dotard embraces his mistress, the
deceiver conveys her hand to the lips of the other, who covers it with
silent kisses. He is doubtless her gallant." "On the contrary," replied
the cripple, "he is her husband, and the old fool is her lover. He is
a man of consequence,--no less than a commandant of the military order
of Calatrava; and is ruining himself for the lady, whose complaisant
husband holds some inferior place at court She bestows her caresses on
the sighing knight, for the sake of his gold; and is unfaithful to him
in favour of her husband, from inclination."
"That is a marvellously pretty picture," said Zambullo. "The husband of
course is French?" "No, no," replied the Demon: "he is a Spaniard. Oh!
the good city of Madrid can boast within its walls a fair proportion
of such well-bred spouses: still, they do not swarm here as in Paris,
which is, beyond contradiction, the most fruitful city of the world
in such inhabitants." "I thought so," said Don Cleophas; "but pardon
me, Signor Asmodeus, if I have broken the thread of the fair Leonora's
story. Continue it, I pray you; it interests me exceedingly; and
exhibits such variety in the art of seduction as transports me with
admiration."