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Post by Monique Adelina De'Ath on Oct 17, 2019 9:52:28 GMT
Such a dilemma, the costs were never ending and the prices in Paris were so high. How was a man, and a junior docteur at that, supposed to survive?
Surely there must be a way to secure some funds, presumably a legal one, but how? The Army perhaps, but think of the risks! Then there was the foreign looking gentleman who seemed to be extremely interested in news of our troops and regimental sizes etc, I mean he seemed like a nice enough fellow and awfully keen to continue a chat over a wine or two, he even offered to pay and said if I was happy to meet him each month there was 'more where that came from', it's not that I've much else to do or many friends I know here.
Dr Guiseppi Spaghetti
Physician to the Ladies Slipper
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Post by Monique Adelina De'Ath on Oct 17, 2019 17:20:08 GMT
Well that was certainly an interesting night out, but what a strange fellow my new friend proved to be. Now I appreciate I am a medical man but my learning doesn't extend into maladies of the brain and if I would have to have guessed I would say he suffers from a persona disorder.
When we met up he was all fun and laughter, happy to get the drinks in and in high spirits, seemingly full of jest and humor. When I asked him his name he laughed and said people just called him Monsieur X and that was how I was to address him! During the course of our evening his conversation turned to the matter of military issues and what did I know about the forthcoming Summer Campaign? I told him I had seen a few troop parades but I didn't really know a great deal about soldiery. It was at this point he suddenly seemed to lose his outgoing joviality and mumbled something about 'wasting good money on pointless drinks' and 'how he had suddenly remembered he had a meeting to attend elsewhere'
I was left wondering it is was something I had said and grew embarrassed that I had offended him somehow. Apologies for any unintended offence I explained and that as a humble doctor at the Ladies Slipper my expertise and interests lay elsewhere from the military. At this he perked up again and enquired as to whether the Slipper was frequented by Officers of the Army and was I on good terms with the ladies there? Well, yes I've seen a few senior officers come into the establishment and even saw a General on one occasion, a randy old goat so it goes, and, of course, I get on well with the girls. Suddenly he was all smiles again and said he'd made a mistake about the meeting, it was another day, and it was his turn to get the drinks in again!
I can't recall a great deal more of the evening, the wine took it's toll, odd snippets about Monsieur X is a military enthusiast writing a book for his patron, a Stuart Charles or Charles something I think he said, and was looking for details of uniforms and equipment of European armies, with particular interest in our army. Apparently his friend lives in a place called Londres or somewhere, up north apparently, and he needs the information quickly so he can finish it. He also said he will be looking to write more books in the future and if I could meet up with him again next month we could chat again.
Several hours later I woke up with a mother of all hang-overs in my lodgings and was surprised to find in my doublet pocket a small bag with a note and a list, the note reading 'until next time' and the list headed 'Regiment name, current strength, summer deployment'. Next imagine my surprise at finding the princely sum of 50 livres inside. Monsieur X certainly knows how to treat a friend and I can't wait until our next meet up, although he did say it would be best if we met at different locations each time, he is interested in site seeing apparently.
Dr Guiseppi Spaghetti
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