I had been in Italy, where Gaming, in short, had defray’d all my Expences; insomuch that when I got to the other Side of the Mountains, I found that I was still a Gainer by about 200 Pistoles.
I found a great many Foreigners in the Service of the King of Sardinia: The Commander of his Forces was M. de Rhebinder, a Swede, who gave Foreigners a complete Reception, and his House was one of the best in Turin. M. de Schulembourg, whose Family you know perfectly well, was a Lieutenant-General: This Nobleman being a Lutheran, had obtain’d Leave to have a Chaplain of his own Religion. I shall not mention the other foreign Officers to you, because I had no particular Acquaintance with them.
Before I leave Turin, I fancy you will not be displeas’d with some Account of the King’s Houshold, which tho’ not numerous, is very magnificent. His Majesty has Three Companies of Life-Guards, which are distinguish’d by the Names of Sardinia, Savoy, and Piedmont, and are very well cloath’d. The King has a considerable Number of Pages, who are brought up much more carefully than at our German Courts, where one very often forgets that the Pages are Gentlemen. Their Livery is Scarlet, with a blue and white Velvet Lace.
The Prince of Piedmont was serv’d by the King’s Officers.
The Queen had her separate Houshold. She had a Lady of Honour, a Tire-Woman, and Six Maids of Honour, who were to be cashier’d, and they talk’d of appointing Six Ladies of the Bedchamber, that were marry’d, to attend the Queen’s Person in their room.
Madame Royale had also her Houshold and her Guards. As she was naturally fond of Splendor, all her Court made a very gay Appearance. She had likewise in her Service the same Number of Ladies and Maids of Honour as the Queen had.
There happen’d an Adventure at the Court of her Royal Highness which made a very great Noise. Among this Princess’s Maids of Honour, who were all very amiable, there was one that so far excell’d the rest, that her Beauty engag’d her a great many Admirers from all Parts. Among others that enter’d the Lists, was a young Piedmontese, whom I knew full well. He was a very handsome lively Man, but a mere Rattle; so that after having set all Engines at work to carry his Point, and sigh’d a long time, he found himself just as far advanc’d as the first Day that he began. However, this young Lover was not dishearten’d, but continu’d his Addresses with a Constancy which really deserv’d some Regard; but whether ’twas owing to Virtue, or perhaps to the Fear of disgusting some favourite Lover, the Damsel remain’d inflexible. The Piedmontese being thus rebuff’d, thought he was bound in Honour not to survive such Treatment; but in so critical an Affair he resolv’d to do nothing rashly. He believ’d that when the cruel Fair One saw the Despair into which she had cast him, and the dreadful Extreme to which he was reduc’d, it might engage her to treat him with less Severity; but it happen’d quite otherwise, insomuch that the silly young Fellow having declar’d in plain Terms that he would kill himself if he was to suffer Martyrdom any longer, the Damsel answer’d him very indifferently, Kill yourself if you will,
what’s that to me? This Expression, indeed, made the young Piedmontese not so desirous to be his own Executioner as he pretended; but nevertheless he was resolv’d to frighten his Mistress, and leaving her very abruptly, he went and fill’d a Bladder with Blood, and putting it very artfully under his Shirt, he return’d to the Damsel, and threaten’d even to destroy himself in her Presence, if she persisted in her Refusal of his Addresses. The Answer he received being much of the same kind with the former, he cry’d out in a Passion, What, will you have my Life, Mademoiselle? Well then, so be it: At the same Instant he drew his Sword, and having prick’d the Bladder, he fell down as if he was a dead Man; Upon this the Damsel gave a dreadful Shriek, and Help came immediately. The great Effusion of Blood was terrifying at the first Sight; but when the young Spark was set upon his Legs, ’twas quickly perceiv’d by his Countenance, that the Sacrifice he had made did not cost him very dear. The worse Luck for him, it happen’d that Madame Royale was inform’d of it that very Instant; for the Tragi-Comedy being presently divulg’d in her Antichamber, that Princess, in order to teach the Puppy not to fail hereafter in the Respect due to Princes, caus’d him to be committed to a Castle not far from Turin, where he was for about Two Years a Prisoner.
From Turin I went the same Day to the Foot of Mount Cenis. I saw nothing remarkable all the Way, except the Town of Susa, in which were formerly kept the Titles and Charters of the House of Savoy; but the Emperor Frederic I. set Fire to it, and burnt them all.