The most comical part of this Adventure was, to find R—— quarrelling bitterly with the Duchess for holding a long Parley with a Gentleman in Masquerade at the Ball. He pretended to be jealous, and wrote a thundering Letter to her next day, wherein he told her, that he would have nothing more to do with her. On the other hand Madam de R——, with whom I went to the Ball, and whom I was still passionately fond of, took advantage of the Conference I had with the Duchess, and also pretended Jealousy, (for to be serious, I knew afterwards that 'twas only a Copy of her Countenance.) She expatiated a good deal upon her Uneasiness at the
long Conversation that pass'd betwixt us. I was silly enough to believe that she was sincere in what she said, and more Fool still to be transported with the Thought that I had made her jealous. I did all in my power, however, to remove her Suspicions; in a word, I said every thing that a Lover can say, who loves sincerely, and would convince that he does so. She seem'd to be satisfy'd with my Protestations; but yet instead of making a suitable Return to the Respect I had for her, she continu'd to teaze me all the rest of the Winter. Her Behavior was so extremely coquetish, that it gave me a deal of Vexation; and besides, I did not like to see the Marquis de V—— so often at her House.
I had been pester'd with this Marquis for a long time. 'Twas he that took away S—— from me; and no sooner was I got into the Favor of Madame de R——, but he found a way to insinuate himself there too. I was so provok'd to see him always at my Heels, that I quarrel'd with him one day at C——, where we happen'd to meet at the House of the President de N——. We were actually at Daggers-drawing, when M. de C—— came and parted us. V—— assur'd me that he had no manner of Pretence to Madame de R——, and actually promis'd me, that if I did not like his Visits to her, he would not renew them. And he was as good as his Word, so that I was perfectly reconcil'd to him; but I was not at all pleas'd with Madam de R——. I saw plainly that I was betray'd. I had fresh Cause to suspect her every day, and yet I hugged the Chains wherewith she had bound me; in which I sufficiently confuted the vulgar Error of those who assert,
that People never love heartily but once. I ought, however, to reflect a little upon this last Amour, which was extremely hurtful to me. Madam de R—— was so extravagant that a Man could not be upon good Terms with her, without being, at an excessive Expence. To support my self I borrow'd Money every where, till e'er long I knew not where to find Lenders. On the other hand my Creditors began to make me frequent Visits, till they were tir'd with my continually putting them off from one time to another, and then truly they resolv'd to proceed against me by Law; and at length took out a Writ to attach my Person. I was very much stunn'd at the News, but because I had put them in an ill Humor, I was willing to avoid the Effects of it, by keeping my Chamber for some days, till M. de N—— had procur'd me an Order to stay Prosecution. This Respite put me upon ways and means to find Money, all my Desire being to satisfy my Creditors. I was aware how difficult it was to get a sufficient Sum to pay them remitted from home; for all my Estate was entail'd upon my Brother and Mademoiselle de Pollnitz; and she never intended to give her Consent to the mortgaging of any part of it. Yet having no other way to bring my self out of Trouble, I got my Friends to intercede with her; which they did so powerfully, that at length they really prevail'd on her to agree to the borrowing of some Money upon the Estate, which was lent accordingly; and by this Means I got happily out of this Scrape. The Difficulties I had been plung'd in made me wiser, and I lessen'd my Expences, which I perceiv'd, indeed, was not the way to preserve the Favor of Madam de R——. But what should I do?
To dip my self again over head and ears in Debt, and to run the risque of having another scurvy Action enter'd against me, was what I could not resolve on. At this same time I obtain'd a Pension of 2000 Livres; but as to an Employment, none could I get of the Secretary at War.
This put me so much out of Temper, that notwithstanding my Passion for Madam de R——, and my being so much attach'd to France, I determin'd to try once more for an Establishment elsewhere. For this purpose I wrote to the Prince of H——, a General Officer in the Emperor's Service, and a Colonel of a Regiment of Foot, who return'd me a very obliging Answer, how glad he should be to admit me into his Regiment; but that there was no Company vacant in it, nor none like to be, unless I could strike a Bargain with a certain old Captain who had a Design to retire, and would gladly part with his Company for 2000 Crowns. To find such a round Sum as 2000 Crowns, in the Situation which I was in then, and to find the Philosopher's Stone, was as easy for me one as the other. I resolv'd, however, to treat with the Captain.
I therefore set out for Bruges, where the Prince of H—— was in Garison with his Regiment. I met with a Captain, but he was pretty stiff, and would absolutely hear of no Terms but the Money down, or old Plate for Security. The Prince, who really wish'd me well, and perfectly knew the State of my Affairs, wrote to my Cousin to persuade her to consent to my taking up some more Money upon the Estate. I also indited the most moving Letter I could, to melt her; but 'twas all to no purpose: The Answers
she return'd were very sarcastical. She set me off to the Life, and she had the Art to persuade the Prince who had wrote to her, that to give me Leave to borrow more Money, was to put a Sword into the Hands of a Mad-man. For my own part I was in a manner convinc'd that she had Reason on her side. I therefore quitted all Thoughts of the Company which I propos'd to buy, and set out for Paris.
I was not sorry to leave Bruges[52], it being one of the saddest Places in the Netherlands for a Man to live in, who is not a Merchant; yet 'tis a very considerable City. 'Tis said to be very ancient, and that it was encompass'd with Walls in the Year 865. It was formerly dependant on the Bishopric of Tournay; but since the Reign of Philip II. it has been erected into a Bishop's See, which is now Suffragan to the Archbishopric of Mechlin. Its Cathedral, which is dedicated to St. Donat, is a very old and a very fine Structure. The other Churches are also of an elegant Model, especially the Jesuits Church and our Lady's. In the latter there's the Tomb of Charles the Bold the last Duke of Burgundy who was kill'd before Nancy, from whence his Corpse was translated hither, by order of Mary of Austria, his Grandaughter, the Widow of a King of Hungary and Sister to the Emperor Charles V. The Situation of Bruges is very advantagious, it being but three Leagues from the Sea; and for the Ease of its Trade there are several Canals cut in it, on which Vessels pass to and fro as they do in Holland; with this Conveniency moreover, that People dine there as elegantly as in the best Tavern. Tho' all these
Canals have a Communication with the Sea, yet their Waters are not fast, by reason of the Sluices and other Machines, which they make use of to prevent it. 'Tis natural to suppose, that Fields in which so many Canals are cut, must be fertile; yet the Trade of Bruges is very much dwindled since the flourishing of that of Amsterdam, which has engross'd it all to it self.