Memoirs of Casanova — Volume 24: London to Berlin by Giacomo Casanova
page 29 of 133 (21%)
page 29 of 133 (21%)
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occupied in soliciting compensation from the Government for any injury
that was done her by the passage of the Duke of Cumberland's army. The mother herself is sick and and never leaves her bed; she sends her two eldest daughters to petition the Government, and they are the two young ladies you have just seen. They have not met with any success. The eldest daughter is twenty-two, and the youngest fourteen; they are all pretty and can speak English, French, and German equally well, and are always glad to see visitors. I had been to visit them myself, but as I gave them nothing I do not care to go there alone a second time. If you like, however, I can introduce you." "You irritate my curiosity. Come along, but if the one that pleases me is not complaisant she shall have nothing." "They will not even allow one to take them by the hand." "They are Charpillons, I suppose." "It looks like it. But you won't see any men there:" We were shewn into a large room where I noticed three pretty girls and an evil-looking man. I began with the usual compliments, to which the girls replied politely, but with an air of great sadness. Goudar spoke to the man, and then came to me shrugging his shoulders, and saying,-- "We have come at a sad time. That man is a bailiff who has come to take the mother to prison if she can't pay her landlord the twenty guineas' rent she owes him, and they haven't got a farthing. When the mother has |
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