A vagabond courtier; from the memoirs and letters of Baron Charles Louis von Pöllnitz . narrow streets of oldParis within easy reach. At first the air really did himgood, but soon it became very pernicious to me. For, one day, as he sat on the terrace, he saw afaroff two ladies of very distinguished, grand carriage,and mien, and most attractive in their deshabille—theshort, hooped skirts, and half-concealing hoods overunpowdered hair—of the period. * They came towards the Terrace where I was sat down on a bench to see them pass by. I confessthat they seemed to me as pleasant as their
A vagabond courtier; from the memoirs and letters of Baron Charles Louis von Pöllnitz . narrow streets of oldParis within easy reach. At first the air really did himgood, but soon it became very pernicious to me. For, one day, as he sat on the terrace, he saw afaroff two ladies of very distinguished, grand carriage,and mien, and most attractive in their deshabille—theshort, hooped skirts, and half-concealing hoods overunpowdered hair—of the period. * They came towards the Terrace where I was sat down on a bench to see them pass by. I confessthat they seemed to me as pleasant as their deshabillewas grand and gay. When they passed me by, one ofthem, perhaps by chance, let her handkerchief drop ; Ipicked it up at once and presented it to her. Shereceived it with much politeness. I paid her a compli-ment to which she replied with wit. Gradually we fellinto conversation, which in truth only lasted a quarterof an hour, but which, nevertheless, cost me dear;I fell in love, and more in love than I can express. TheseLadies asked me my name. You can imagine I did not. THE VAGRANT 97 require telling twice to give it, all the more as I hopedthat they, in return, would be kind enough to tell metheirs. But, however much I pressed them about itthey would not ever satisfy me. The one who had atfirst struck me most told me, in very good German, notto trouble to find out who they were, as I should not failto see them again if only I remained in Paris. Shetold me that as she was leaving. I gave her my handto escort her to her coach, which seemed to me very wellturned out. I also saw two tall, well-dressed this confirmed me in the surmise that they wereeither Ladies of Quality, or, at least, courtesans expen-sively provided for. I would have given everything in the world to betold exactly which it was ; but it was quite impossibleto find out anything. The Valet I had with me was aGerman, even more of a foreigner than myself, and,moreover, very unfitted to man
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectcourtsandcourtiers
