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diff --git a/old/jculd10.txt b/old/jculd10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dc692d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jculd10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5608 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Under the Leads by Jacques Casanova +#10 in our series by Jacques Casanova + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.07.00*END* + + + +This etext was prepared by David Widger, <widger@cecomet.net> + + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 +TO PARIS AND PRISON, Volume 2e--UNDER THE LEADS + + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR +MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED +BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + + + + +UNDER THE LEADS + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +Under The Leads--The Earthquake + +What a strange and unexplained power certain words exercise upon the +soul! I, who the evening before so bravely fortified myself with my +innocence and courage, by the word tribunal was turned to a stone, +with merely the faculty of passive obedience left to me. + +My desk was open, and all my papers were on a table where I was +accustomed to write. + +"Take them," said I, to the agent of the dreadful Tribunal, pointing +to the papers which covered the table. He filled a bag with them, +and gave it to one of the sbirri, and then told me that I must also +give up the bound manuscripts which I had in my possession. I shewed +him where they were, and this incident opened my eyes. I saw now, +clearly enough, that I had been betrayed by the wretch Manuzzi. The +books were, "The Key of Solomon the King," "The Zecorben," a +"Picatrix," a book of "Instructions on the Planetary Hours," and the +necessary incantations for conversing with demons of all sorts. +Those who were aware that I possessed these books took me for an +expert magician, and I was not sorry to have such a reputation. + +Messer-Grande took also the books on the table by my bed, such as +Petrarch, Ariosto, Horace. "The Military' Philosopher" (a manuscript +which Mathilde had given me), "The Porter of Chartreux," and "The +Aretin," which Manuzzi had also denounced, for Messer-Grande asked me +for it by name. This spy, Manuzzi, had all the appearance of an +honest man--a very necessary qualification for his profession. His +son made his fortune in Poland by marrying a lady named Opeska, whom, +as they say, he killed., though I have never had any positive proof +on the matter, and am willing to stretch Christian charity to the +extent of believing he was innocent, although he was quite capable of +such a crime. + +While Messer-Grande was thus rummaging among my manuscripts, books +and letters, I was dressing myself in an absent-minded manner, +neither hurrying myself nor the reverse. I made my toilette, shaved +myself, and combed my hair; putting on mechanically a laced shirt and +my holiday suit without saying a word, and without Messer-Grande--who +did not let me escape his sight for an instant--complaining that I +was dressing myself as if I were going to a wedding. + +As I went out I was surprised to see a band of forty men-at-arms in +the ante-room. They had done me the honour of thinking all these men +necessary for my arrest, though, according to the axiom 'Ne Hercules +quidem contra duos', two would have been enough. It is curious that +in London, where everyone is brave, only one man is needed to arrest +another, whereas in my dear native land, where cowardice prevails, +thirty are required. The reason is, perhaps, that the coward on the +offensive is more afraid than the coward on the defensive, and thus a +man usually cowardly is transformed for the moment into a man of +courage. It is certain that at Venice one often sees a man. +defending himself against twenty sbirri, and finally escaping after +beating them soundly. I remember once helping a friend of mine at +Paris to escape from the hands of forty bum-bailiffs, and we put the +whole vile rout of them to flight. + +Messer-Grande made me get into a gondola, and sat down near me with +an escort of four men. When we came to our destination he offered me +coffee, which I refused; and he then shut me up in a room. I passed +these four hours in sleep, waking up every quarter of an hour to pass +water--an extraordinary occurrence, as I was not at all subject to +stranguary; the heat was great, and I had not supped the evening +before. I have noticed at other times that surprise at a deed of +oppression acts on me as a powerful narcotic, but I found out at the +time I speak of that great surprise is also a diuretic. I make this +discovery over to the doctors, it is possible that some learned man +may make use of it to solace the ills of humanity. I remember +laughing very heartily at Prague six years ago, on learning that some +thin-skinned ladies, on reading my flight from The Leads, which was +published at that date, took great offence at the above account, +which they thought I should have done well to leave out. I should +have left it out, perhaps, in speaking to a lady, but the public is +not a pretty woman whom I am intent on cajoling, my only aim is to be +instructive. Indeed, I see no impropriety in the circumstance I have +narrated, which is as common to men and women as eating and drinking; +and if there is anything in it to shock too sensitive nerves, it is +that we resemble in this respect the cows and pigs. + +It is probable that just as my overwhelmed soul gave signs of its +failing strength by the loss of the thinking faculty, so my body +distilled a great part of those fluids which by their continual +circulation set the thinking faculty in motion. Thus a sudden shock +might cause instantaneous death, and send one to Paradise by a cut +much too short. + +In course of time the captain of the men-at-arms came to tell me that +he was under orders to take me under the Leads. Without a word I +followed him. We went by gondola, and after a thousand turnings +among the small canals we got into the Grand Canal, and landed at the +prison quay. After climbing several flights of stairs we crossed a +closed bridge which forms the communication between the prisons and +the Doge's palace, crossing the canal called Rio di Palazzo. On the +other side of this bridge there is a gallery which we traversed. We +then crossed one room, and entered another, where sat an individual +in the dress of a noble, who, after looking fixedly at me, said, +"E quello, mettetelo in deposito:" + +This man was the secretary of the Inquisitors, the prudent Dominic +Cavalli, who was apparently ashamed to speak Venetian in my presence +as he pronounced my doom in the Tuscan language. + +Messer-Grande then made me over to the warden of The Leads, who stood +by with an enormous bunch of keys, and accompanied by two guards, +made me climb two short flights of stairs, at the top of which +followed a passage and then another gallery, at the end of which he +opened a door, and I found myself in a dirty garret, thirty-six feet +long by twelve broad, badly lighted by a window high up in the roof. +I thought this garret was my prison, but I was mistaken; for, taking +an enormous key, the gaoler opened a thick door lined with iron, +three and a half feet high, with a round hole in the middle, eight +inches in diameter, just as I was looking intently at an iron +machine. This machine was like a horse shoe, an inch thick and about +five inches across from one end to the other. I was thinking what +could be the use to which this horrible instrument was put, when the +gaoler said, with a smile, + +"I see, sir, that you wish to know what that is for, and as it +happens I can satisfy your curiosity. When their excellencies give +orders that anyone is to be strangled, he is made to sit down on a +stool, the back turned to this collar, and his head is so placed that +the collar goes round one half of the neck. A silk band, which goes +round the other half, passes through this hole, and the two ends are +connected with the axle of a wheel which is turned by someone until +the prisoner gives up the ghost, for the confessor, God be thanked! +never leaves him till he is dead." + +"All this sounds very ingenious, and I should think that it is you +who have the honour of turning the wheel." + +He made no answer, and signing to me to enter, which I did by bending +double, he shut me up, and afterwards asked me through the grated +hole what I would like to eat. + +"I haven't thought anything about it yet," I answered. And he went +away, locking all the doors carefully behind him. + +Stunned with grief, I leant my elbows on the top of the grating. It +was crossed, by six iron bars an inch thick, which formed sixteen +square holes. This opening would have lighted my cell, if a square +beam supporting the roof which joined the wall below the window had +not intercepted what little light came into that horrid garret. +After making the tour of my sad abode, my head lowered, as the cell +was not more than five and a half feet high, I found by groping along +that it formed three-quarters of a square of twelve feet. The fourth +quarter was a kind of recess, which would have held a bed; but there +was neither bed, nor table, nor chair, nor any furniture whatever, +except a bucket--the use of which may be guessed, and a bench fixed +in the wall a foot wide and four feet from the ground. On it I +placed my cloak, my fine suit, and my hat trimmed with Spanish paint +and adorned with a beautiful white feather. The heat was great, and +my instinct made me go mechanically to the grating, the only place +where I could lean on my elbows. I could not see the window, but I +saw the light in the garret, and rats of a fearful size, which walked +unconcernedly about it; these horrible creatures coming close under +my grating without shewing the slightest fear. At the sight of these +I hastened to close up the round hole in the middle of the door with +an inside shutter, for a visit from one of the rats would have frozen +my blood. I passed eight hours in silence and without stirring, my +arms all the time crossed on the top of the grating. + +At last the clock roused me from my reverie, and I began to feel +restless that no one came to give me anything to eat or to bring me a +bed whereon to sleep. I thought they might at least let me have a +chair and some bread and water. I had no appetite, certainly; but +were my gaolers to guess as much? And never in my life had I been so +thirsty. I was quite sure, however, that somebody would come before +the close of the day; but when I heard eight o'clock strike I became +furious, knocking at the door, stamping my feet, fretting and fuming, +and accompanying this useless hubbub with loud cries. After more +than an hour of this wild exercise, seeing no one, without the +slightest reason to think I could be heard, and shrouded in darkness, +I shut the grating for fear of the rats, and threw myself at full +length upon the floor. So cruel a desertion seemed to me unnatural, +and I came to the conclusion that the Inquisitors had sworn my death. +My investigation as to what I had done to deserve such a fate was not +a long one, for in the most scrupulous examination of my conduct I +could find no crimes. I was, it is true, a profligate, a gambler, a +bold talker, a man who thought of little besides enjoying this +present life, but in all that there was no offence against the state. +Nevertheless, finding myself treated as a criminal, rage and despair +made me express myself against the horrible despotism which oppressed +me in a manner which I will leave my readers to guess, but which I +will not repeat here. But notwithstanding my brief and anxiety, the +hunger which began to make itself felt, and the thirst which +tormented me, and the hardness of the boards on which I lay, did not +prevent exhausted nature from reasserting her rights; I fell asleep. + +My strong constitution was in need of sleep; and in a young and +healthy subject this imperious necessity silences all others, and in +this way above all is sleep rightly termed the benefactor of man. + +The clock striking midnight awoke me. How sad is the awaking when it +makes one regret one's empty dreams. I could scarcely believe that I +had spent three painless hours. As I lay on my left side, I +stretched out my right hand to get my handkerchief, which I +remembered putting on that side. I felt about for it, when--heavens! +what was my surprise to feel another hand as cold as ice. The fright +sent an electric shock through me, and my hair began to stand on end. + +Never had I been so alarmed, nor should I have previously thought +myself capable of experiencing such terror. I passed three or four +minutes in a kind of swoon, not only motionless but incapable of +thinking. As I got back my senses by degrees, I tried to make myself +believe that the hand I fancied I had touched was a mere creature of +my disordered imagination; and with this idea I stretched out my hand +again, and again with the same result. Benumbed with fright, I +uttered a piercing cry, and, dropping the hand I held, I drew back my +arm, trembling all over: + +Soon, as I got a little calmer and more capable of reasoning, I +concluded that a corpse had been placed beside me whilst I slept, for +I was certain it was not there when I lay down. + +"This," said I, "is the body of some strangled wretch, and they would +thus warn me of the fate which is in store for me." + +The thought maddened me; and my fear giving place to rage, for the +third time I stretched my arm towards the icy hand, seizing it to +make certain of the fact in all its atrocity, and wishing to get up, +I rose upon my left elbow, and found that I had got hold of my other +hand. Deadened by the weight of my body and the hardness of the +boards, it had lost warmth, motion, and all sensation. + +In spite of the humorous features in this incident, it did not cheer +me up, but, on the contrary, inspired me with the darkest fancies. I +saw that I was in a place where, if the false appeared true, the +truth might appear false, where understanding was bereaved of half +its prerogatives, where the imagination becoming affected would +either make the reason a victim to empty hopes or to dark despair. I +resolved to be on my guard; and for the first time in my life, at the +age of thirty, I called philosophy to my assistance. I had within me +all the seeds of philosophy, but so far I had had no need for it. + +I am convinced that most men die without ever having thought, in the +proper sense of the word, not so much for want of wit or of good +sense, but rather because the shock necessary to the reasoning +faculty in its inception has never occurred to them to lift them out +of their daily habits. + +After what I had experienced, I could think of sleep no more, and to +get up would have been useless as I could not stand upright, so I +took the only sensible course and remained seated. I sat thus till +four o'clock in the morning, the sun would rise at five, and I longed +to see the day, for a presentiment which I held infallible told me +that it would set me again at liberty. I was consumed with a desire +for revenge, nor did I conceal it from myself. I saw myself at the +head of the people, about to exterminate the Government which had +oppressed me; I massacred all the aristocrats without pity; all must +be shattered and brought to the dust. I was delirious; I knew the +authors of my misfortune, and in my fancy I destroyed them. I +restored the natural right common to all men of being obedient only +to the law, and of being tried only by their peers and by laws to +which they have agreed-in short, I built castles in Spain. Such is +man when he has become the prey of a devouring passion. He does not +suspect that the principle which moves him is not reason but wrath, +its greatest enemy. + +I waited for a less time than I had expected, and thus I became a +little more quiet. At half-past four the deadly silence of the +place--this hell of the living--was broken by the shriek of bolts +being shot back in the passages leading to my cell. + +"Have you had time yet to think about what you will take to eat?" +said the harsh voice of my gaoler from the wicket. + +One is lucky when the insolence of a wretch like this only shews +itself in the guise of jesting. I answered that I should like some +rice soup, a piece of boiled beef, a roast, bread, wine, and water. +I saw that the lout was astonished not to hear the lamentations he +expected. He went away and came back again in a quarter of an hour +to say that he was astonished I did not require a bed and the +necessary pieces of furniture, "for" said he, "if you flatter +yourself that you are only here for a night, you are very much +mistaken." + +"Then bring me whatever you think necessary." + +"Where shall I go for it? Here is a pencil and paper; write it +down." + +I skewed him by writing where to go for my shirts, stockings, and +clothes of all sorts, a bed, table, chair, the books which Messer- +Grande had confiscated, paper, pens, and so forth. On my reading out +the list to him (the lout did not know how to read) he cried, +"Scratch out," said he, "scratch out books, paper, pens, looking- +glass and razors, for all that is forbidden fruit here, and then give +me some money to get your dinner." I had three sequins so I gave him +one, and he went off. He spent an hour in the passages engaged, as I +learnt afterwards, in attending on seven other prisoners who were +imprisoned in cells placed far apart from each other to prevent all +communication. + +About noon the gaoler reappeared followed by five guards, whose duty +it was to serve the state prisoners. He opened: the cell door to +bring in my dinner and the furniture I had asked for. The bed was +placed in the recess; my dinner was laid out on a small table, and I +had to eat with an ivory spoon he had procured out of the money I had +given him; all forks, knives, and edged tools being forbidden. + +"Tell me what you would like for to-morrow," said he, "for I can only +come here once a day at sunrise. The Lord High Secretary has told me +to inform you that he will send you some suitable books, but those +you wish for are forbidden." + +"Thank him for his kindness in putting me by myself." + +"I will do so, but you make a mistake in jesting thus." + +"I don't jest at all, for I think truly that it is much better to be +alone than to mingle with the scoundrels who are doubtless here." + +"What, sir! scoundrels? Not at all, not at all. They are only +respectable people here, who, for reasons known to their excellencies +alone, have to be sequestered from society. You have been put by +yourself as an additional punishment, and you want me to thank the +secretary on that account?" + +"I was not aware of that." + +The fool was right, and I soon found it out. I discovered that a man +imprisoned by himself can have no occupations. Alone in a gloomy +cell where he only sees the fellow who brings his food once a day, +where he cannot walk upright, he is the most wretched of men. He +would like to be in hell, if he believes in it, for the sake of the +company. So strong a feeling is this that I got to desire the +company of a murderer, of one stricken with the plague, or of a bear. +The loneliness behind the prison bars is terrible, but it must be +learnt by experience to be understood, and such an experience I would +not wish even to my enemies. To a man of letters in my situation, +paper and ink would take away nine-tenths of the torture, but the +wretches who persecuted me did not dream of granting me such an +alleviation of my misery. + +After the gaoler had gone, I set my table near the grating for the +sake of the light, and sat down to dinner, but I could only swallow a +few spoonfuls of soup. Having fasted for nearly forty-eight hours, +it was not surprising that I felt ill. I passed the day quietly +enough seated on my sofa, and proposing myself to read the "suitable +books" which they had been good enough to promise me. I did not shut +my eyes the whole night, kept awake by the hideous noise made by the +rats, and by the deafening chime of the clock of St. Mark's, which +seemed to be striking in my room. This double vexation was not my +chief trouble, and I daresay many of my readers will guess what I am +going to speak of-namely, the myriads of fleas which held high +holiday over me. These small insects drank my blood with unutterable +voracity, their incessant bites gave me spasmodic convulsions and +poisoned my blood. + +At day-break, Lawrence (such was the gaoler's name) came to my cell +and had my bed made, and the room swept and cleansed, and one of the +guards gave me water wherewith to wash myself. I wanted to take a +walk in the garret, but Lawrence told me that was forbidden. He gave +me two thick books which I forbore to open, not being quite sure of +repressing the wrath with which they might inspire me, and which the +spy would have infallibly reported to his masters. After leaving me +my fodder and two cut lemons he went away. + +As soon as I was alone I ate my soup in a hurry, so as to take it +hot, and then I drew as near as I could to the light with one of the +books, and was delighted to find that I could see to read. I looked +at the title, and read, "The Mystical City of Sister Mary of Jesus, +of Agrada." I had never heard of it. The other book was by a Jesuit +named Caravita. This fellow, a hypocrite like the rest of them, had +invented a new cult of the "Adoration of the Sacred Heart of our Lord +Jesus Christ." This, according to the author, was the part of our +Divine Redeemer, which above all others should be adored a curious +idea of a besotted ignoramus, with which I got disgusted at the first +page, for to my thinking the heart is no more worthy a part than the +lungs, stomach; or any other of the inwards. The "Mystical City" +rather interested me. + +I read in it the wild conceptions of a Spanish nun, devout to +superstition, melancholy, shut in by convent walls, and swayed by the +ignorance and bigotry of her confessors. All these grotesque, +monstrous, and fantastic visions of hers were dignified with the name +of revelations. The lover and bosom-friend of the Holy Virgin, she +had received instructions from God Himself to write the life of His +divine mother; the necessary information was furnished her by the +Holy Ghost. + +This life of Mary began, not with the day of her birth, but with her +immaculate conception in the womb of Anne, her mother. This Sister +Mary of Agrada was the head of a Franciscan convent founded by +herself in her own house. After telling in detail all the deeds of +her divine heroine whilst in her mother's womb, she informs us that +at the age of three she swept and cleansed the house with the +assistance of nine hundred servants, all of whom were angels whom God +had placed at her disposal, under the command of Michael, who came +and went between God and herself to conduct their mutual +correspondence. + +What strikes the judicious reader of the book is the evident belief +of the more than fanatical writer that nothing is due to her +invention; everything is told in good faith and with full belief. +The work contains the dreams of a visionary, who, without vanity but +inebriated with the idea of God, thinks to reveal only the +inspirations of the Divine Spirit. + +The book was published with the permission of the very holy and very +horrible Inquisition. I could not recover from my astonishment! Far +from its stirring up in my breast a holy and simple zeal of religion, +it inclined me to treat all the mystical dogmas of the Faith as +fabulous. + +Such works may have dangerous results; for example, a more +susceptible reader than myself, or one more inclined to believe in +the marvellous, runs the risk of becoming as great a visionary as the +poor nun herself. + +The need of doing something made me spend a week over this +masterpiece of madness, the product of a hyper-exalted brain. I took +care to say nothing to the gaoler about this fine work, but I began +to feel the effects of reading it. As soon as I went off to sleep I +experienced the disease which Sister Mary of Agrada had communicated +to my mind weakened by melancholy, want of proper nourishment and +exercise, bad air, and the horrible uncertainty of my fate. The +wildness of my dreams made me laugh when I recalled them in my waking +moments. If I had possessed the necessary materials I would have +written my visions down, and I might possibly have produced in my +cell a still madder work than the one chosen with such insight by +Cavalli. + +This set me thinking how mistaken is the opinion which makes human +intellect an absolute force; it is merely relative, and he who +studies himself carefully will find only weakness. I perceived that +though men rarely become mad, still such an event is well within the +bounds of possibility, for our reasoning faculties are like powder, +which, though it catches fire easily, will never catch fire at all +without a spark. The book of the Spanish nun has all the properties +necessary to make a man crack-brained; but for the poison to take +effect he must be isolated, put under the Leads, and deprived of all +other employments. + +In November, 1767, as I was going from Pampeluna to Madrid, my +coachman, Andrea Capello, stopped for us to dine in a town of Old +Castille. So dismal and dreary a place did I find it that I asked +its name. How I laughed when I was told that it was Agrada! + +"Here, then," I said to myself, "did that saintly lunatic produce +that masterpiece which but for M. Cavalli I should never have known." + +An old priest, who had the highest possible opinion of me the moment +I began to ask him about this truthful historian of the mother of +Christ, shewed me the very place where she had written it, and +assured me that the father, mother, sister, and in short all the +kindred of the blessed biographer, had been great saints in their +generation. He told me, and spoke truly, that the Spaniards had +solicited her canonization at Rome, with that of the venerable +Palafox. This "Mystical City," perhaps, gave Father Malagrida the +idea of writing the life of St. Anne, written, also, at the dictation +of the Holy Ghost, but the poor devil of a Jesuit had to suffer +martyrdom for it--an additional reason for his canonization, if the +horrible society ever comes to life again, and attains the universal +power which is its secret aim. + +At the end of eight or nine days I found myself moneyless. Lawrence +asked me for some, but I had not got it. + +"Where can I get some?" + +"Nowhere." + +What displeased this ignorant and gossiping fellow about me was my +silence and my laconic manner of talking. + +Next day he told me that the Tribunal had assigned me fifty sous per +diem of which he would have to take charge, but that he would give me +an account of his expenditure every month, and that he would spend +the surplus on what I liked. + +"Get me the Leyden Gazette twice a week." + +"I can't do that, because it is not allowed by the authorities." + +Sixty-five livres a month was more than I wanted, since I could not +eat more than I did: the great heat and the want of proper +nourishment had weakened me. It was in the dog-days; the strength of +the sun's rays upon the lead of the roof made my cell like a stove, +so that the streams of perspiration which rolled off my poor body as +I sat quite naked on my sofa-chair wetted the floor to right and left +of me. + +I had been in this hell-on-earth for fifteen days without any +secretion from the bowels. At the end of this almost incredible time +nature re-asserted herself, and I thought my last hour was come. The +haemorrhoidal veins were swollen to such an extent that the pressure +on them gave me almost unbearable agony. To this fatal time I owe +the inception of that sad infirmity of which I have never been able +to completely cure myself. The recurrence of the same pains, though +not so acute, remind me of the cause, and do not make my remembrance +of it any the more agreeable. This disease got me compliments in +Russia when I was there ten years later, and I found it in such +esteem that I did not dare to complain. The same kind of thing +happened to me at Constantinople, when I was complaining of a cold in +the head in the presence of a Turk, who was thinking, I could see, +that a dog of a Christian was not worthy of such a blessing. + +The same day I sickened with a high fever and kept my bed. I said +nothing to Lawrence about it, but the day after, on finding my dinner +untouched, he asked me how I was. + +"Very well." + +"That can't be, sir, as you have eaten nothing. You are ill, and you +will experience the generosity of the Tribunal who will provide you, +without fee or charge, with a physician, surgeon, and all necessary +medicines." + +He went out, returning after three hours without guards, holding a +candle in his hand, and followed by a grave-looking personage; this +was the doctor. I was in the height of the fever, which had not left +me for three days. He came up to me and began to ask me questions, +but I told him that with my confessor and my doctor I would only +speak apart. The doctor told Lawrence to leave the room, but on the +refusal of that Argus to do so, he went away saying that I was +dangerously ill, possibly unto death. For this I hoped, for my life +as it had become was no longer my chiefest good. I was somewhat glad +also to think that my pitiless persecutors might, on hearing of my +condition, be forced to reflect on the cruelty of the treatment to +which they had subjected me. + +Four hours afterwards I heard the noise of bolts once more, and the +doctor came in holding the candle himself. Lawrence remained +outside. I had become so weak that I experienced a grateful +restfulness. Kindly nature does not suffer a man seriously ill to +feel weary. I was delighted to hear that my infamous turnkey was +outside, for since his explanation of the iron collar I had looked an +him with loathing. + +In a quarter of an hour I had told the doctor all. + +"If we want to get well," said he, "we must not be melancholy." + +"Write me the prescription, and take it to the only apothecary who +can make it up. M. Cavalli is the bad doctor who exhibited 'The +Heart of Jesus,' and 'Tire Mystical City.'" + +"Those two preparations are quite capable of having brought on the +fever and the haemorrhoids. I will not forsake you" + +After making me a large jug of lemonade, and telling the to drink +frequently, he went away. I slept soundly, dreaming fantastic +dreams. + +In he morning the doctor came again with Lawrence and a surgeon, who +bled me. The doctor left me some medicine which he told me to take +in the evening, and a bottle of soap. "I have obtained leave," said +he, "for you to move into the garret where the heat is less, and the +air better than here." + +"I decline the favour, as I abominate the rats, which you know +nothing about, and which would certainly get into my bed." + +"What a pity! I told M. Cavalli that he had almost killed you with +his books, and he has commissioned me to take them back, and to give +you Boethius; and here it is." + +"I am much obliged to you. I like it better than Seneca, and I am +sure it will do me good." + +"I am leaving you a very necessary instrument, and some barley water +for you to refresh yourself with." + +He visited me four times, and pulled me through; my constitution did +the rest, and my appetite returned. At the beginning of September I +found myself, on the whole, very well, suffering from no actual ills +except the heat, the vermin, and weariness, for I could not be always +reading Boethius. + +One day Lawrence told me that I might go out of my cell to wash +myself whilst the bed was being made and the room swept. I took +advantage of the favour to walk up and down for the ten minutes taken +by these operations, and as I walked hard the rats were alarmed and +dared not shew themselves. On the same day Lawrence gave me an +account of my money, and brought himself in as my debtor to the +amount of thirty livres, which however, I could not put into my +pocket. I left the money in his hands, telling him to lay it out on +masses on my behalf, feeling sure that he would make quite a +different use of it, and he thanked me in a tone that persuaded me he +would be his own priest. I gave him the money every month, and I +never saw a priest's receipt. Lawrence was wise to celebrate the +sacrifice at the tavern; the money was useful to someone at all +events. + +I lived from day to day, persuading myself every night that the next +day I should be at liberty; but as I was each day deceived, I decided +in my poor brain that I should be set free without fail on the 1st of +October, on which day the new Inquisitors begin their term of office. +According to this theory, my imprisonment would last as long as the +authority of the present Inquisitors, and thus was explained the fact +that I had seen nothing of the secretary, who would otherwise have +undoubtedly come to interrogate, examine, and convict me of my +crimes, and finally to announce my doom. All this appeared to me +unanswerable, because it seemed natural, but it was fallacious under +the Leads, where nothing is done after the natural order. I imagined +the Inquisitors must have discovered my innocence and the wrong they +had done me, and that they only kept me in prison for form's sake, +and to protect their repute from the stain of committing injustice; +hence I concluded that they would give me my freedom when they laid +down their tyrannical authority. My mind was so composed and quiet +that I felt as if I could forgive them, and forget the wrong that +they had done me. "How can they leave me here to the mercy of their +successors," I thought, "to whom they cannot leave any evidence +capable of condemning me?" I could not believe that my sentence had +been pronounced and confirmed, without my being told of it, or of the +reasons by which my judges had been actuated. I was so certain that +I had right on my side, that I reasoned accordingly; but this was not +the attitude I should have assumed towards a court which stands aloof +from all the courts in the world for its unbounded absolutism. To +prove anyone guilty, it is only necessary for the Inquisitors to +proceed against him; so there is no need to speak to him, and when he +is condemned it would be useless to announce to the prisoner his +sentence, as his consent is not required, and they prefer to leave +the poor wretch the feeling of hope; and certainly, if he were told +the whole process, imprisonment would not be shortened by an hour. +The wise man tells no one of his business, and the business of the +Tribunal of Venice is only to judge and to doom. The guilty party is +not required to have any share in the matter; he is like a nail, +which to be driven into a wall needs only to be struck. + +To a certain extent I was acquainted with the ways of the Colossus +which was crushing me under foot, but there are things on earth which +one can only truly understand by experience. If amongst my readers +there are any who think such laws unjust, I forgive them, as I know +they have a strong likeness to injustice; but let me tell them that +they are also necessary, as a tribunal like the Venetian could not +subsist without them. Those who maintain these laws in full vigour +are senators, chosen from amongst the fittest for that office, and +with a reputation for honour and virtue. + +The last day of September I passed a sleepless night, and was on +thorns to see the dawn appear, so sure was I that that day would make +me free. The reign of those villains who had made me a captive drew +to a close; but the dawn appeared, Lawrence came as usual, and told +me nothing new. For five or six days I hovered between rage and +despair, and then I imagined that for some reasons which to me were +unfathomable they had decided to keep me prisoner for the remainder +of my days. This awful idea only made me laugh, for I knew that it +was in my power to remain a slave for no long time, but only till I +should take it into my own hands to break my prison. I knew that I +should escape or die: 'Deliberata morte ferocior'. + +In the beginning of November I seriously formed the plan of forcibly +escaping from a place where I was forcibly kept. I began to rack my +brains to find a way of carrying the idea into execution, and I +conceived a hundred schemes, each one bolder than the other, but a +new plan always made me give up the one I was on the point of +accepting. + +While I was immersed in this toilsome sea of thought, an event +happened which brought home to me the sad state of mind I was in. + +I was standing up in the garret looking towards the top, and my +glance fell on the great beam, not shaking but turning on its right +side, and then, by slow and interrupted movement in the opposite +direction, turning again and replacing itself in its original +position. As I lost my balance at the same time, I knew it was the +shock of an earthquake. Lawrence and the guards, who just then came +out of my room, said that they too, had felt the earth tremble. In +such despair was I that this incident made me feel a joy which I kept +to myself, saying nothing. Four or five seconds after the same +movement occurred, and I could not refrain from saying, + +"Another, O my God! but stronger." + +The guards, terrified with what they thought the impious ravings of a +desperate madman, fled in horror. + +After they were gone, as I was pondering the matter over, I found +that I looked upon the overthrow of the Doge's palace as one of the +events which might lead to liberty; the mighty pile, as it fell, +might throw me safe and sound, and consequently free, on St. Mark's +Place, or at the worst it could only crush me beneath its ruins. +Situated as I was, liberty reckons for all, and life for nothing, or +rather for very little. Thus in the depths of my soul I began to +grow mad. + +This earthquake shock was the result of those which at the same time +destroyed Lisbon. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +Various Adventures--My Companions--I Prepare to Escape--Change of +Cell + + +To make the reader understand how I managed to escape from a place +like the Leads, I must explain the nature of the locality. + +The Leads, used for the confinement of state prisoners, are in fact +the lofts of the ducal palace, and take their name from the large +plates of lead with which the roof is covered. One can only reach +them through the gates of the palace, the prison buildings, or by the +bridge of which I have spoken called the Bridge of Sighs. It is +impossible to reach the cells without passing through the hall where +the State Inquisitors hold their meetings, and their secretary has +the sole charge of the key, which he only gives to the gaoler for a +short time in the early morning whilst he is attending to the +prisoners. This is done at day-break, because otherwise the guards +as they came and went would be in the way of those who have to do +with the Council of Ten, as the Council meets every day in a hall +called The Bussola, which the guards have to cross every time they go +to the Leads. + +The prisons are under the roof on two sides of the palace; three to +the west (mine being among the number) and four to the east. On the +west the roof looks into the court of the palace, and on the east +straight on to the canal called Rio di Palazzo. On this side the +cells are well lighted, and one can stand up straight, which is not +the case in the prison where I was, which was distinguished by the +name of 'Trave', on account of the enormous beam which deprived me of +light. The floor of my cell was directly over the ceiling of the +Inquisitors' hall, where they commonly met only at night after the +sitting of the Council of Ten of which the whole three are members. + +As I knew my ground and the habits of the Inquisitors perfectly well, +the only way to escape--the only way at least which I deemed likely +to succeed--was to make a hole in the floor of my cell; but to do +this tools must be obtained--a difficult task in a place where all +communication with the outside world was forbidden, where neither +letters nor visits were allowed. To bribe a guard a good deal of +money would be necessary, and I had none. And supposing that the +gaoler and his two guards allowed themselves to be strangled--for my +hands were my only weapons--there was always a third guard on duty at +the door of the passage, which he locked and would not open till his +fellow who wished to pass through gave him the password. In spite of +all these difficulties my only thought was how to escape, and as +Boethius gave me no hints on this point I read him no more, and as I +was certain that the difficulty was only to be solved by stress of +thinking I centered all my thoughts on this one object. + +It has always been my opinion that when a man sets himself +determinedly to do something, and thinks of nought but his design, he +must succeed despite all difficulties in his path: such an one may +make himself Pope or Grand Vizier, he may overturn an ancient line of +kings--provided that he knows how to seize on his opportunity, and be +a man of wit and pertinacity. To succeed one must count on being +fortunate and despise all ill success, but it is a most difficult +operation. + +Towards the middle of November, Lawrence told me that Messer-Grande +had a prisoner in his hands whom the new secretary, Businello, had +ordered to be placed in the worst cell, and who consequently was +going to share mine. He told me that on the secretary's reminding +him that I looked upon it as a favour to be left alone, he answered +that I had grown wiser in the four months of my imprisonment. I was +not sorry to hear the news or that there was a new secretary. This +M. Pierre Businello was a worthy man whom I knew at Paris. He +afterwards went to London as ambassador of the Republic. + +In the afternoon I heard the noise of the bolts, and presently +Lawrence and two guards entered leading in a young man who was +weeping bitterly; and after taking off his handcuffs they shut him up +with me, and went out without saying a word. I was lying on my bed, +and he could not see me. I was amused at his astonishment. Being, +fortunately for himself, seven or eight inches shorter than I, he was +able to stand upright, and he began to inspect my arm-chair, which he +doubtless thought was meant for his own use. Glancing at the ledge +above the grating he saw Boethius, took it up, opened it, and put it +down with a kind of passion, probably because being in Latin it was +of no use to him. Continuing his inspection of the cell he went to +the left, and groping about was much surprised to find clothes. He +approached the recess, and stretching out his hand he touched me, and +immediately begged my pardon in a respectful manner. I asked him to +sit down and we were friends. + +"Who are you?" said I. + +"I am Maggiorin, of Vicenza. My father, who was a coachman, kept me +at school till I was eleven, by which time I had learnt to read and +write; I was afterwards apprenticed to a barber, where I learnt my +business thoroughly. After that I became valet to the Count of X---. +I had been in the service of the nobleman for two years when his +daughter came from the convent. It was my duty to do her hair, and +by degrees I fell in love with her, and inspired her with a +reciprocal passion. After having sworn a thousand times to exist +only for one another, we gave ourselves up to the task of shewing +each other marks of our affection, the result of which was that the +state of the young countess discovered all. An old and devoted +servant was the first to find out our connection and the condition of +my mistress, and she told her that she felt in duty bound to tell her +father, but my sweetheart succeeded in making her promise to be +silent, saying that in the course of the week she herself would tell +him through her confessor. She informed me of all this, and instead +of going to confession we prepared for flight. She had laid hands on +a good sum of money and some diamonds which had belonged to her +mother, and we were to set out for Milan to-night. But to-day the +count called me after dinner, and giving me a letter, he told me to +start at once and to deliver it with my own hand to the person to +whom it was addressed at Venice. He spoke to me so kindly and +quietly that I had not the slightest suspicion of the fate in store +for me. I went to get my cloak, said good-bye to my little wife, +telling her that I should soon return. Seeing deeper below the +surface than I, and perchance having a presentiment of my misfortune, +she was sick at heart. I came here in hot haste, and took care to +deliver the fatal letter. They made me wait for an answer, and in +the mean time I went to an inn; but as I came out I was arrested and +put in the guard-room, where I was kept till they brought me here. I +suppose, sir, I might consider the young countess as my wife?" + +"You make a mistake." + +"But nature----" + +"Nature, when a man listens to her and nothing else, takes him from +one folly to another, till she puts him under the Leads." + +"I am under the Leads, then, am I?" + +"As I am." + +The poor young man shed some bitter tears. He was a well-made lad, +open, honest, and amorous beyond words. I secretly pardoned the +countess, and condemned the count for exposing his daughter to such +temptation. A shepherd who shuts up the wolf in the fold should not +complain if his flock be devoured. In all his tears and lamentations +he thought not of himself but always of his sweetheart. He thought +that the gaoler would return and bring him some food and a bed; but I +undeceived him, and offered him a share of what I had. His heart, +however, was too full for him to eat. In the evening I gave him my +mattress, on which he passed the night, for though he looked neat and +clean enough I did not care to have him to sleep with me, dreading +the results of a lover's dreams. He neither understood how wrongly +he had acted, nor how the count was constrained to punish him +publicly as a cloak to the honour of his daughter and his house. +The next day he was given a mattress and a dinner to the value of +fifteen sous, which the Tribunal had assigned to him, either as a +favour or a charity, for the word justice would not be appropriate in +speaking of this terrible body. I told the gaoler that my dinner +would suffice for the two of us, and that he could employ the young +man's allowance in saying masses in his usual manner. He agreed +willingly, and having told him that he was lucky to be in my company, +he said that we could walk in the garret for half an hour. I found +this walk an excellent thing for my health and my plan of escape, +which, however, I could not carry out for eleven months afterwards. +At the end of this resort of rats, I saw a number of old pieces of +furniture thrown on the ground to the right and left of two great +chests, and in front of a large pile of papers sewn up into separate +volumes. I helped myself to a dozen of them for the sake of the +reading, and I found them to be accounts of trials, and very +diverting; for I was allowed to read these papers, which had once +contained such secrets. I found some curious replies to the judges' +questions respecting the seduction of maidens, gallantries carried a +little too far by persons employed in girls' schools, facts relating +to confessors who had abused their penitents, schoolmasters convicted +of pederasty with their pupils, and guardians who had seduced their +wards. Some of the papers dating two or three centuries back, in +which the style and the manners illustrated gave me considerable +entertainment. Among the pieces of furniture on the floor I saw a +warming-pan, a kettle, a fire-shovel, a pair of tongs, some old +candle-sticks, some earthenware pots, and even a syringe. From this +I concluded that some prisoner of distinction had been allowed to +make use of these articles. But what interested me most was a +straight iron bar as thick as my thumb, and about a foot and a half +long. However, I left everything as it was, as my plans had not been +sufficiently ripened by time for me to appropriate any object in +particular. + +One day towards the end of the month my companion was taken away, and +Lawrence told me that he had been condemned to the prisons known as +The Fours, which are within the same walls as the ordinary prisons, +but belong to the State Inquisitors. Those confined in them have the +privilege of being able to call the gaoler when they like. The +prisons are gloomy, but there is an oil lamp in the midst which gives +the necessary light, and there is no fear of fire as everything is +made of marble. I heard, a long time after, that the unfortunate +Maggiorin was there for five years, and was afterwards sent to Cerigo +for ten. I do not know whether he ever came from there. He had kept +me good company, and this I discovered as soon as he was gone, for in +a few days I became as melancholy as before. Fortunately, I was +still allowed my walk in the garret, and I began to examine its +contents with more minuteness. One of the chests was full of fine +paper, pieces of cardboard, uncut pens, and clews of pack thread; the +other was fastened down. A piece of polished black marble, an inch +thick, six inches long, and three broad, attracted my attention, and +I possessed myself of it without knowing what I was going to do with +it, and I secreted it in my cell, covering it up with my shirts. + +A week after Maggiorin had gone, Lawrence told me that in all +probability I should soon get another companion. This fellow +Lawrence, who at bottom was a mere gabbling fool, began to get uneasy +at my never asking him any questions. This fondness for gossip was +not altogether appropriate to his office, but where is one to find +beings absolutely vile? There are such persons, but happily they are +few and far between, and are not to be sought for in the lower +orders. Thus my gaoler found himself unable to hold his tongue, and +thought that the reason I asked no questions must be that I thought +him incapable of answering them; and feeling hurt at this, and +wishing to prove to me that I made a mistake, he began to gossip +without being solicited. + +"I believe you will often have visitors," said he, "as the other six +cells have each two prisoners, who are not likely to be sent to the +Fours." I made him no reply, but he went on, in a few seconds, "They +send to the Fours all sorts of people after they have been sentenced, +though they know nothing of that. The prisoners whom I have charge +of under the Leads are like yourself, persons of note, and are only +guilty of deeds of which the inquisitive must know nothing. If you +knew, sir, what sort of people shared your fate, you would be +astonished, It's true that you are called a man of parts; but you +will pardon me.... You know that all men of parts are treated well +here. You take me, I see. Fifty sous a day, that's something. They +give three livres to a citizen, four to a gentleman, and eight to a +foreign count. I ought to know, I think, as everything goes through +my hands." + +He then commenced to sing his own praises, which consisted of +negative clauses. + +"I'm no thief, nor traitor, nor greedy, nor malicious, nor brutal, as +all my predecessors were, and when I have drunk a pint over and above +I am all the better for it. If my father had sent me to school I +should have learnt to read and write, and I might be Messer-Grande +to-day, but that's not my fault. M. Andre Diedo has a high opinion +of me. My wife, who cooks for you every day, and is only twenty- +four, goes to see him when she will, and he will have her come in +without ceremony, even if he be in bed, and that's more than he'll do +for a senator. I promise you you will be always having the new- +comers in your cell, but never for any length of time, for as soon +as the secretary has got what he wants to know from them, he sends +them to their place--to the Fours, to some fort, or to the Levant; +and if they be foreigners they are sent across the frontier, for our +Government does not hold itself master of the subjects of other +princes, if they be not in its service. The clemency of the Court is +beyond compare; there's not another in the world that treats its +prisoners so well. They say it's cruel to disallow writing and +visitors; but that's foolish, for what are writing and company but +waste of time? You will tell me that you have nothing to do, but we +can't say as much." + +Such was, almost word for word, the first harangue with which the +fellow honoured me, and I must say I found it amusing. I saw that if +the man had been less of a fool he would most certainly have been +more of a scoundrel. + +The next day brought me a new messmate, who was treated as Maggiorin +had been, and I thus found it necessary to buy another ivory spoon, +for as the newcomers were given nothing on the first day of their +imprisonment I had to do all the honours of the cell. + +My new mate made me a low bow, for my beard, now four inches long, +was still more imposing than my figure. Lawrence often lent me +scissors to cut my nails, but he was forbidden, under pain of very +heavy punishment, to let me touch my beard. I knew not the reason of +this order, but I ended by becoming used to my beard as one gets used +to everything. + +The new-comer was a man of about fifty, approaching my size, a little +bent, thin, with a large mouth, and very bad teeth. He had small +grey eyes hidden under thick eyebrows of a red colour, which made him +look like an owl; and this picture was set off by a small black wig, +which exhaled a disagreeable odour of oil, and by a dress of coarse +grey cloth. He accepted my offer of dinner, but was reserved, and +said not a word the whole day, and I was also silent, thinking he +would soon recover the use of his tongue, as he did the next day. + +Early in the morning he was given a bed and a bag full of linen. The +gaoler asked him, as he had asked me, what he would have for dinner, +and for money to pay for it. + +"I have no money." + +"What! a moneyed man like you have no money?" + +"I haven't a sou." + +"Very good; in that case I will get you some army biscuit and water, +according to instructions." + +He went out, and returned directly afterwards with a pound and a half +of biscuit, and a pitcher, which he set before the prisoner, and then +went away. + +Left alone with this phantom I heard a sigh, and my pity made me +break the silence. + +"Don't sigh, sir, you shall share my dinner. But I think you have +made a great mistake in coming here without money." + +"I have some, but it does not do to let those harpies know of it:" + +"And so you condemn yourself to bread and water. Truly a wise +proceeding! Do you know the reason of your imprisonment?" + +"Yes, sir, and I will endeavour in a few words to inform you of it." + +"My name is Squaldo Nobili. My father was a countryman who had me +taught reading and writing, and at his death left me his cottage and +the small patch of ground belonging to it. I lived in Friuli, about +a day's journey from the Marshes of Udine. As a torrent called Corno +often damaged my little property, I determined to sell it and to set +up in Venice, which I did ten years ago. I brought with me eight +thousand livres in fair sequins, and knowing that in this happy +commonwealth all men enjoyed the blessings of liberty, I believed +that by utilizing my capital I might make a little income, and I +began to lend money, on security. Relying on my thrift, my judgment, +and my, knowledge of the world, I chose this business in preference +to all others. I rented a small house in the neighbourhood of the +Royal Canal, and having furnished it I lived there in comfort by +myself; and in the course of two years I found I had made a profit of +ten thousand livres, though I had expended two thousand on household +expenses as I wished to live in comfort. In this fashion I saw +myself in a fair way of making a respectable fortune in time; but +one, day, having lent a Jew two sequins upon some books, I found one +amongst them called "La Sagesse," by Charron. It was then I found +out how good a thing it is to be able to read, for this book, which +you, sir, may not have read, contains all that a man need know-- +purging him of all the prejudices of his childhood. With Charron +good-bye to hell and all the empty terrors of a future life; one's +eyes are opened, one knows the way to bliss, one becomes wise indeed. +Do you, sir, get this book, and pay no heed to those foolish persons +who would tell you this treasure is not to be approached." + +This curious discourse made me know my man. As to Charron, I had +read the book though I did not know it had been translated into +Italian. The author who was a great admirer of Montaigne thought to +surpass his model, but toiled in vain. He is not much read despite +the prohibition to read his works, which should have given them some +popularity. He had the impudence to give his book the title of one +of Solomon's treatises--a circumstance which does not say much for +his modesty. My companion went on as follows: + +"Set free by Charron from any scruples I still might have, and from +those false ideas so hard to rid one's self of, I pushed my business +in such sort, that at the end of six years I could lay my hand on ten +thousand sequins. There is no need for you to be astonished at that, +as in this wealthy city gambling, debauchery, and idleness set all +the world awry and in continual need of money; so do the wise gather +what the fool drops. + +"Three years ago a certain Count Seriman came and asked me to take +from him five hundred sequins, to put them in my business, and to +give him half profits. All he asked for was an obligation in which I +promised to return him the whole sum on demand. At the end of a year +I sent him seventy-five sequins, which made fifteen per cent. on his +money; he gave me a receipt for it, but was ill pleased. He was +wrong, for I was in no need of money, and had not used his for +business purposes. At the end of the second year, out of pure +generosity, I sent him the same amount; but we came to a quarrel and +he demanded the return of the five hundred sequins. 'Certainly,' I +said, 'but I must deduct the hundred and fifty you have already +received.' Enraged at this he served me with a writ for the payment +of the whole sum. A clever lawyer undertook my defence and was able +to gain me two years. Three months ago I was spoken to as to an +agreement, and I refused to hear of it, but fearing violence I went +to the Abbe Justiniani, the Spanish ambassador's secretary, and for a +small sum he let me a house in the precincts of the Embassy, where +one is safe from surprises. I was quite willing to let Count Seriman +have his money, but I claimed a reduction of a hundred sequins on +account of the costs of the lawsuit. A week ago the lawyers on both +sides came to me. I shewed them a purse of two hundred and fifty +sequins, and told them they might take it, but not a penny more. +They went away without saying a word, both wearing an ill-pleased +air, of which I took no notice. Three days ago the Abbe Justiniani +told me that the ambassador had thought fit to give permission to the +State Inquisitors to send their men at once to my house to make +search therein. I thought the thing impossible under the shelter of +a foreign ambassador, and instead of taking the usual precautions, I +waited the approach of the men-at-arms, only putting my money in a +place of safety. At daybreak Messer-Grande came to the house, and +asked me for three hundred and fifty sequins, and on my telling him +that I hadn't a farthing he seized me, and here I am." + +I shuddered, less at having such an infamous companion than at his +evidently considering me as his equal, for if he had thought of me in +any other light he would certainly not have told me this long tale, +doubtless in the belief that I should take his part. In all the +folly about Charron with which he tormented me in the three days we +were together, I found by bitter experience the truth of the Italian +proverb: 'Guardati da colui che non ha letto che un libro solo'. By +reading the work of the misguided priest he had become an Atheist, +and of this he made his boast all the day long. In the afternoon +Lawrence came to tell him to come and speak with the secretary. He +dressed himself hastily, and instead of his own shoes he took mine +without my seeing him. He came back in half an hour in tears, and +took out of his shoes two purses containing three hundred and fifty +sequins, and, the gaoler going before, he went to take them to the +secretary. A few moments afterwards he returned, and taking his +cloak went away. Lawrence told me that he had been set at liberty. +I thought, and with good reason, that, to make him acknowledge his +debt and pay it, the secretary had threatened him with the torture; +and if it were only used in similar cases, I, who detest the +principle of torture, would be the first to proclaim its utility. + +On New Year's Day, 1733, I received my presents. Lawrence brought me +a dressing-gown lined with foxskin, a coverlet of wadded silk, and a +bear-skin bag for me to put my legs in, which I welcomed gladly, for +the coldness was unbearable as the heat in August. Lawrence told me +that I might spend to the amount of six sequins a month, that I might +have what books I liked, and take in the newspaper, and that this +present came from M. de Bragadin. I asked him for a pencil, and I +wrote upon a scrap of paper: "I am grateful for the kindness of the +Tribunal and the goodness of M. de Bragadin." + +The man who would know what were my feelings at all this must have +been in a similar situation to my own. In the first gush of feeling +I forgave my oppressors, and was on the point of giving up the idea +of escape; so easily shall you move a man that you have brought low +and overwhelmed with misfortune. Lawrence told me that M. de +Bragadin had come before the three Inquisitors, and that on his +knees, and with tears in his eyes, he had entreated them to let him +give me this mark of his affection if I were still in the land of the +living; the Inquisitors were moved, and were not able to refuse his +request. + +I wrote down without delay the names of the books I wanted. + +One fine morning, as I was walking in the garret, my eyes fell on the +iron bar I have mentioned, and I saw that it might very easily be +made into a defensive or offensive weapon. I took possession of it, +and having hidden it under my dressing-gown I conveyed it into my +cell. As soon as I was alone, I took the piece of black marble, and +I found that I had to my hand an excellent whetstone; for by rubbing +the bar with the stone I obtained a very good edge. + +My interest roused in this work in which I was but an apprentice, and +in the fashion in which I seemed likely to become possessed of an +instrument totally prohibited under the Leads, impelled, perhaps, +also by my vanity to make a weapon without any of the necessary +tools, and incited by my very difficulties (for I worked away till +dark without anything to hold my whetstone except my left hand, and +without a drop of oil to soften the iron), I made up my mind to +persevere in my difficult task. My saliva served me in the stead of +oil, and I toiled eight days to produce eight edges terminating in a +sharp point, the edges being an inch and a half in length. My bar +thus sharpened formed an eight-sided dagger, and would have done +justice to a first-rate cutler. No one can imagine the toil and +trouble I had to bear, nor the patience required to finish this +difficult task without any other tools than a loose piece of stone. +I put myself, in fact, to a kind of torture unknown to the tyrants of +all ages. My right arm had become so stiff that I could hardly move +it; the palm of my hand was covered with a large scar, the result of +the numerous blisters caused by the hardness and the length of the +work. No one would guess the sufferings I underwent to bring my work +to completion. + +Proud of what I had done, without thinking what use I could make of +my weapon, my first care was to hide it in such a manner as would +defy a minute search. After thinking over a thousand plans, to all +of which there was some objection, I cast my eyes on my arm-chair, +and there I contrived to hide it so as to be secure from all +suspicion. Thus did Providence aid me to contrive a wonderful and +almost inconceivable plan of escape. I confess to a feeling of +vanity, not because I eventually succeeded--for I owed something to +good luck--but because I was brave enough to undertake such a scheme +in spite of the difficulties which might have ruined my plans and +prevented my ever attaining liberty. + +After thinking for three or four days as to what I should do with the +bar I had made into an edged tool, as thick as a walking-stick and +twenty inches long, I determined that the best plan would be to make +a hole in the floor under my bed. + +I was sure that the room below my cell was no other than the one in +which I had seen M. Cavalli. I knew that this room was opened every +morning, and I felt persuaded that, after I had made my hole, I could +easily let myself down with my sheets, which I would make into a rope +and fasten to my bed. Once there, I would hide under the table of +the court, and in the morning, when the door was opened, I could +escape and get to a place of safety before anyone could follow me. I +thought it possible that a sentry might be placed in the hall, but my +short pike ought to soon rid me of him. The floor might be of double +or even of triple thickness, and this thought puzzled me; for in that +case how was I to prevent the guard sweeping out the room throughout +the two months my work might last. If I forbade them to do so, I +might rouse suspicion; all the more as, to free myself of the fleas, +I had requested them to sweep out the cell every day, and in sweeping +they would soon discover what I was about. I must find some way out +of this difficulty. + +I began by forbidding them to sweep, without giving any reason. A +week after, Lawrence asked me why I did so. I told him because of +the dust which might make me cough violently and give me some fatal +injury. + +"I will make them water the floor," said he. + +"That would be worse, Lawrence, for the damp might cause a plethora." + +In this manner I obtained a week's respite, but at the end of that. +time the lout gave orders that my cell should be swept. He had the +bed carried out into the garret, and on pretence of having the +sweeping done with greater care, he lighted a candle. This let me +know that the rascal was suspicious of something; but I was crafty +enough to take no notice of him, and so far from giving up my plea, I +only thought how I could put it on good train. Next morning I +pricked my finger and covered my handkerchief with the blood, and +then awaited Lawrence in bed. As soon as he came I told him that I +had coughed so violently as to break a blood-vessel, which had made +me bring up all the blood he saw. "Get me a doctor." The doctor +came, ordered me to be bled, and wrote me a prescription. I told him +it was Lawrence's fault, as he had persisted in having the room +swept. The doctor blamed him for doing so, and just as if I had +asked him he told us of a young man who had died from the same cause, +and said that there was nothing more dangerous than breathing in +dust. Lawrence called all the gods to witness that he had only had +the room swept for my sake, and promised it should not happen again. +I laughed to myself, for the doctor could not have played his part +better if I had given him the word. The guards who were there were +delighted, and said they would take care only to sweep the cells of +those prisoners who had angered them. + +When the doctor was gone, Lawrence begged my pardon, and assured me +that all the other prisoners were in good health although their cells +were swept out regularly. + +"But what the doctor says is worth considering," said he, "and I +shall tell them all about it, for I look upon them as my children." + +The blood-letting did me good, as it made me sleep, and relieved me +of the spasms with which I was sometimes troubled. I had regained my +appetite and was getting back my strength every day, but the time to +set about my work was not yet come; it was still too cold, and I +could not hold the bar for any length of time without my hand +becoming stiff. My scheme required much thought. I had to exercise +boldness and foresight to rid myself of troubles which chance might +bring to pass or which I could foresee. The situation of a man who +had to act as I had, is an unhappy one, but in risking all for all +half its bitterness vanishes. + +The long nights of winter distressed me, for I had to pass nineteen +mortal hours in darkness; and on the cloudy days, which are common +enough at Venice, the light I had was not sufficient for me to be +able to read. Without any distractions I fell back on the idea of my +escape, and a man who always thinks on one subject is in danger of +becoming a monomaniac. A wretched kitchen-lamp would have made me +happy, but how am I to get such a thing? O blessed prerogative of +thought! how happy was I when I thought I had found a way to possess +myself of such a treasure! To make such a lamp I required a vase, +wicks, oil, a flint and steel, tinder, and matches. A porringer +would do for the vase, and I had one which was used for cooking eggs +in butter. Pretending that the common oil did not agree with me, I +got them to buy me Lucca oil for my salad, and my cotton counterpane +would furnish me with wicks. I then said I had the toothache, and +asked Lawrence to get me a pumice-stone, but as he did not know what +I meant I told him that a musket-flint would do as well if it were +soaked in vinegar for a day, and, then being applied to the tooth the +pain would be eased. Lawrence told me that the vinegar I had was +excellent, and that I could soak the stone myself, and he gave me +three or four flints he had in his pocket. All I had to do was to +get some sulphur and tinder, and the procuring of these two articles +set all my wits to work. At last fortune came to my assistance. + +I had suffered from a kind of rash, which as it came off had left +some red spots on my arms, and occasionally caused me some +irritation. I told Lawrence to ask the doctor for a cure, and the +next day he brought me a piece of paper which the secretary had seen, +and on which the doctor had written, "Regulate the food for a day, +and the skin will be cured by four ounces of oil of sweet almonds or +an ointment of flour of sulphur, but this local application is +hazardous." + +"Never mind the danger," said I to Lawrence; "buy me the ointment, or +rather get me the sulphur, as I have some butter by me, and I can +make it up myself. Have you any matches? Give me a few." + +He found some in his pockets, and he gave me them. + +What a small thing brings comfort in distress! But in my place these +matches were no small thing, but rather a great treasure. + +I had puzzled my head for several hours as to what substitute I could +find for tinder--the only thing I still lacked, and which I could not +ask for under any pretense whatsoever--when I remembered that I had +told the tailor to put some under the armpits of my coat to prevent +the perspiration spoiling the stuff. The coat, quite new, was before +me, and my heart began to beat, but supposing the tailor had not put +it in! Thus I hung between hope and fear. I had only to take a step +to know all; but such a step would have been decisive, and I dared +not take it. At last I drew nigh, and feeling myself unworthy of +such mercies I fell on my knees and fervently prayed of God that the +tailor might not have forgotten the tinder. After this heartfelt +prayer I took my coat, unsewed it, and found-the tinder! My joy knew +no bounds. I naturally gave thanks to God, since it was with +confidence in Him that I took courage and searched my coat, and I +returned thanks to Him with all my heart. + +I now had all the necessary materials, and I soon made myself a lamp. +Let the reader imagine my joy at having in a manner made light in the +midst of darkness, and it was no less sweet because against the +orders of my infamous oppressors. Now there was no more night for +me, and also no more salad, for though I was very fond of it the need +of keeping the oil to give light caused me to make this sacrifice +without it costing me many pangs. I fixed upon the first Monday in +Lent to begin the difficult work of breaking through the floor, for I +suspected that in the tumult of the carnival I might have some +visitors, and I was in the right. + +At noon, on Quinquagesima Sunday, I heard the noise of the bolts, and +presently Lawrence entered, followed by a thick-set man whom I +recognized as the Jew, Gabriel Schalon, known for lending money to +young men. + +We knew each other, so exchanged compliments. His company was by no +means agreeable to me, but my opinion was not asked. He began by +congratulating me on having the pleasure of his society; and by way +of answer I offered him to share my dinner, but he refused, saying he +would only take a little soup, and would keep his appetite for a +better supper at his own house. + +"When?" + +"This evening. You heard when I asked for my bed he told me that we +would talk about that to-morrow. That means plainly that I shall +have no need of it. And do you think it likely that a man like me +would be left without anything to eat?" + +"That was my experience." + +"Possibly, but between ourselves our cases are somewhat different; +and without going any farther into that question, the Inquisitors +have made a mistake in arresting me, and they will be in some +trouble, I am certain, as to how to atone for doing so." + +"They will possibly give you a pension. A man of your importance has +to be conciliated." + +"True, there's not a broker on the exchange more useful than myself, +and the five sages have often profited by the advice I have given +them. My detention is a curious incident, which, perchance, will be +of service to you." + +"Indeed. How, may I ask?" + +"I will get you out of here in a month's time. I know to whom to +speak and what way to do it:" + +"I reckon on you, then." + +"You may do so." + +This knave and fool together believed himself to be somebody. He +volunteered to inform me as to what was being said of me in the town, +but as he only related the idle tales of men as ignorant as himself, +he wearied me, and to escape listening to him I took up a book. The +fellow had the impudence to ask me not to read, as he was very fond +of talking, but henceforth he talked only to himself. I did not dare +to light my lamp before this creature, and as night drew on he +decided on accepting some bread and Cyprus wine, and he was +afterwards obliged to do as best he could with my mattress, which was +now the common bed of all new-comers. + +In the morning he had a bed and some food from his own house. I was +burdened with this wretched fellow for two months, for before +condemning him to the Fours the secretary had several interviews with +him to bring to light his knaveries, and to oblige him to cancel a +goodly number of illegal agreements. He confessed to me himself that +he had bought of M. Domenico Micheli the right to moneys which could +not belong to the buyer till after the father of the seller was dead. +"It's true," said he, "that he agreed to give me fifty per cent., but +you must consider that if he died before his father I should lose +all." At last, seeing that my cursed fellow did not go, I determined +to light my lamp again after having made him promise to observe +secrecy. He only kept his promise while he was with me, as Lawrence +knew all about it, but luckily he attached no importance to the fact. + +This unwelcome guest was a true burden to me, as he not only +prevented me from working for my escape but also from reading. He +was troublesome, ignorant, superstitious, a braggart, cowardly, and +sometimes like a madman. He would have had me cry, since fear made +him weep, and he said over and over again that this imprisonment +would ruin his reputation. On this count I reassured him with a +sarcasm he did not understand. I told him that his reputation was +too well known to suffer anything from this little misfortune, and he +took that for a compliment. He would not confess to being a miser, +but I made him admit that if the Inquisitors would give him a hundred +sequins for every day of his imprisonment he would gladly pass the +rest of his life under the Leads. + +He was a Talmudist, like all modern Jews, and he tried to make me +believe that he was very devout; but I once extracted a smile of +approbation from him by telling him that he would forswear Moses if +the Pope would make him a cardinal. As the son of a rabbi he was +learned in all the ceremonies of his religion, but like most men he +considered the essence of a religion to lie in its discipline and +outward forms. + +This Jew, who was extremely fat, passed three-quarters of his life in +bed; and though he often dozed in the daytime, he was annoyed at not +being able to sleep at night--all the more as he saw that I slept +excellently. He once took it into his head to wake me up as I was +enjoying my sleep. + +"What do you want?" said I; "waking me up with a start like this." + +"My dear fellow, I can't sleep a wink. Have compassion on me and let +us have a little talk." + +"You scoundrel) You act thus and you dare to call yourself my friend! +I know your lack of sleep torments you, but if you again deprive me +of the only blessing I enjoy I will arise and strangle you." + +I uttered these words in a kind of transport. + +"Forgive me, for mercy's sake! and be sure that I will not trouble +you again." + +It is possible that I should not have strangled him, but I was very +much tempted to do so. A prisoner who is happy enough to sleep +soundly, all the while he sleeps is no longer a captive, and feels no +more the weight of his chains. He ought to look upon the wretch who +awakens him as a guard who deprives him of his liberty, and makes him +feel his misery once more, since, awakening, he feels all his former +woes. Furthermore, the sleeping prisoner often dreams that he is +free again, in like manner as the wretch dying of hunger sees himself +in dreams seated at a sumptuous feast. + +I congratulated myself on not having commenced my great work before +he came, especially as he required that the room should be swept out. +The first time he asked for it to be dote, the guards made me laugh +by saying that it would kill me. However, he insisted; and I had my +revenge by pretending to be ill, but from interested motives I made +no further opposition. + +On the Wednesday in Holy Week Lawrence told us that the secretary +would make us the customary visit in the afternoon, the object being +to give peace to them that would receive the sacrament at Easter, and +also to know if they had anything to say against the gaoler. "So, +gentlemen," said Lawrence, "if you have any complaints to make of me +make them. Dress yourselves fully, as is customary." I told +Lawrence to get me a confessor for the day. + +I put myself into full dress, and the Jew followed my example, taking +leave of me in advance, so sure was he that the secretary would set +him free on hearing what he had to say. "My presentiment," said he, +"is of the same kind as I have had before, and I have never been +deceived." + +"I congratulate you, but don't reckon without your host." He did not +understand what I meant. + +In course of time the secretary came, and as soon as the cell-door +was opened the Jew ran out and threw himself at his feet on both +knees, I heard for five minutes nothing but his tears and complaints, +for the secretary said not one word. He came back, and Lawrence told +me to go out. With a beard of eight months' growth, and a dress made +for love-making in August, I must have presented a somewhat curious +appearance. Much to my disgust I shivered with cold, and was afraid +that the secretary would think I was trembling with fear. As I was +obliged to bend low to come out of my hole, my bow was ready made, +and drawing myself up, I looked at him calmly without affecting any +unseasonable hardihood, and waited for him to speak. The secretary +also kept silence, so that we stood facing each other like a pair of +statues. At the end of two minutes, the secretary, seeing that I +said nothing, gave me a slight bow, and went away. I re-entered my +cell, and taking off my clothes in haste, got into bed to get warm +again. The Jew was astonished at my not having spoken to the +secretary, although my silence had cried more loudly than his +cowardly complaints. A prisoner of my kind has no business to open +his mouth before his judge, except to answer questions. On Maundy +Thursday a Jesuit came to confess me, and on Holy Saturday a priest +of St. Mark's came to administer to me the Holy Communion. My +confession appearing rather too laconic to the sweet son of Ignatius +he thought good to remonstrate with me before giving me his +absolution. + +"Do you pray to God?" he said. + +"From the morning unto the evening, and from the evening unto the +morning, for, placed as I am, all that I feel--my anxiety, my grief, +all the wanderings of my mind--can be but a prayer in the eyes of the +Divine Wisdom which alone sees my heart." + +The Jesuit smiled slightly and replied by a discourse rather +metaphysical than moral, which did not at all tally with my views. +I should have confuted him on every point if he had not astonished me +by a prophecy he made. "Since it is from us," said he, "that you +learnt what you know of religion, practise it in our fashion, pray +like us, and know that you will only come out of this place on the +day of the saint whose name you bear." So saying he gave me +absolution, and left me. This man left the strongest possible +impression on my mind. I did my best, but I could not rid myself of +it. I proceeded to pass in review all the saints in the calendar. + +The Jesuit was the director of M. Flaminio Corner, an old senator, +and then a State Inquisitor. This statesman was a famous man of +letters, a great politician, highly religious, and author of several +pious and ascetic works written in Latin. His reputation was +spotless. + +On being informed that I should be set free on the feast-day of my +patron saint, and thinking that my informant ought to know for +certain what he told me, I felt glad to have a patron-saint. "But +which is it?" I asked myself. "It cannot be St. James of +Compostella, whose name I bear, for it was on the feast-day of that +saint that Messer-Grande burst open my door." I took the almanac and +looking for the saints' days nearest at hand I found St. George--a +saint of some note, but of whom I had never thought. I then devoted +myself to St. Mark, whose feast fell on the twenty-fifth of the +month, and whose protection as a Venetian I might justly claim. To +him, then, I addressed my vows, but all in vain, for his feast came +round and still I was in prison. Then I took myself to St. James, +the brother of Christ, who comes before St. Philip, but again in the +wrong. I tried St. Anthony, who, if the tale told at Padua be true, +worked thirteen miracles a day. He worked none for me. Thus I +passed from one to the other, and by degrees I got to hope in the +protection of the saints just as one hopes for anything one desires, +but does not expect to come to pass; and I finished up by hoping only +in my Saint Bar, and in the strength of my arms. Nevertheless the +promise of the Jesuit came to pass, since I escaped from The Leads on +All Hallows Day; and it is certain that if I had a patron-saint, he +must be looked for in their number since they are all honoured on +that day. + +A fortnight after Easter I was delivered from my troublesome +Israelite, and the poor devil instead of being sent back to his home +had to spend two years in The Fours, and on his gaining his freedom +he went and set up in Trieste, where he ended his days. + +No sooner was I again alone than I set zealously about my work. I +had to make haste for fear of some new visitor, who, like the Jew, +might insist on the cell being swept. I began by drawing back my +bed, and after lighting my lamp I lay down on my belly, my pike in my +hand, with a napkin close by in which to gather the fragments of +board as I scooped them out. My task was to destroy the board by +dint of driving into it the point of my tool. At first the pieces I +got away were not much larger than grains of wheat, but they soon +increased in size. + +The board was made of deal, and was sixteen inches broad. I began to +pierce it at its juncture with another board, and as there were no +nails or clamps my work was simple. After six hours' toil I tied up +the napkin, and put it on one side to empty it the following day +behind the pile of papers in the garret. The fragments were four or +five times larger in bulk than the hole from whence they came. I put +back my bed in its place, and on emptying the napkin the next morning +I took care so to dispose the fragments that they should not be seen. + +Having broken through the first board, which I found to be two inches +thick, I was stopped by a second which I judged to be as thick as the +first. Tormented by the fear of new visitors I redoubled my efforts, +and in three weeks I had pierced the three boards of which the floor +was composed; and then I thought that all was lost, for I found I had +to pierce a bed of small pieces of marble known at Venice as terrazzo +marmorin. This forms the usual floor of venetian houses of all +kinds, except the cottages, for even the high nobility prefer the +terrazzo to the finest boarded floor. I was thunderstruck to find +that my bar made no impression on this composition; but, +nevertheless, I was not altogether discouraged and cast down. I +remembered Hannibal, who, according to Livy, opened up a passage +through the Alps by breaking the rocks with axes and other +instruments, having previously softened them with vinegar. I thought +that Hannibal had succeeded not by aceto, but aceta, which in the +Latin of Padua might well be the same as ascia; and who can guarantee +the text to be free from the blunders of the copyist? All the same, +I poured into the hole a bottle of strong vinegar I had by me, and in +the morning, either because of the vinegar or because I, refreshed +and rested, put more strength and patience into the work, I saw that +I should overcome this new difficulty; for I had not to break the +pieces of marble, but only to pulverize with the end of my bar the +cement which kept them together. I soon perceived that the greatest +difficulty was on the surface, and in four days the whole mosaic was +destroyed without the point of my pike being at all damaged. + +Below the pavement I found another plank, but I had expected as much. +I concluded that this would be the last; that is the first to be put +down when the rooms below were being ceiled. I pierced it with some +difficulty, as, the hole being ten inches deep, it had become +troublesome to work the pike. A thousand times I commended myself to +the mercy of God. Those Free-thinkers who say that praying is no +good do not know what they are talking about; for I know by +experience that, having prayed to God, I always felt myself grow +stronger, which fact amply proves the usefulness of prayer, whether +the renewal of strength come straight from God, or whether it comes +only from the trust one has in Him. + +On the 25th of June, on which day the Republic celebrates the +wonderful appearance of St. Mark under the form of a winged lion in +the ducal church, about three o'clock in the afternoon, as I was +labouring on my belly at the hole, stark naked, covered with sweat, +my lamp beside me. I heard with mortal fear the shriek of a bolt and +the noise of the door of the first passage. It was a fearful moment! +I blew out my lamp, and leaving my bar in the hole I threw into it +the napkin with the shavings it contained, and as swift as lightning +I replaced my bed as best I could, and threw myself on it just as the +door of my cell opened. If Lawrence had come in two seconds sooner +he would have caught me. He was about to walk over me, but crying +out dolefully I stopped him, and he fell back, saying, + +"Truly, sir, I pity you, for the air here is as hot as a furnace. +Get up, and thank God for giving you such good company." + +"Come in, my lord, come in," said he to the poor wretch who followed +him. Then, without heeding my nakedness, the fellow made the noble +gentleman enter, and he seeing me to be naked, sought to avoid me +while I vainly tried to find my shirt. + +The new-comer thought he was in hell, and cried out, + +"Where am I? My God! where have I been put? What heat! What a +stench! With whom am I?" + +Lawrence made him go out, and asked me to put on my shirt to go into +the garret for a moment. Addressing himself to the new prisoner, he +said that, having to get a bed and other necessaries, he would leave +us in the garret till he came back, and that, in the mean time, the +cell would be freed from the bad smell, which was only oil. What a +start it gave me as I heard him utter the word "oil." In my hurry I +had forgotten to snuff the wick after blowing it out. As Lawrence +asked me no questions about it, I concluded that he knew all, and the +accursed Jew must have betrayed me. I thought myself lucky that he +was not able to tell him any more. + +>From that time the repulsion which I had felt for Lawrence +disappeared. + +After putting on my shirt and dressing-gown, I went out and found my +new companion engaged in writing a list of what he wanted the gaoler +to get him. As soon as he saw me, he exclaimed, "Ah! it's Casanova." +I, too, recognised him as the Abbe and Count Fenarolo, a man of +fifty, amiable, rich, and a favourite in society. He embraced me, +and when I told him that I should have expected to see anybody in +that place rather than him, he could not keep back his tears, which +made me weep also. + +When we were alone I told him that, as soon as his bed came, I should +offer him the recess, begging him at the same time not to accept it. +I asked him, also, not to ask to have the cell swept, saying that I +would tell him the reason another time. He promised to keep all +secrecy in the matter, and said he thought himself fortunate to be +placed with me. He said that as no one knew why I was imprisoned, +everyone was guessing at it. Some said that I was the heresiarch of +a new sect; others that Madame Memmo had persuaded the Inquisitors +that I had made her sons Atheists, and others that Antony Condulmer, +the State Inquisitor, had me imprisoned as a disturber of the peace, +because I hissed Abbe Chiari's plays, and had formed a design to go +to Padua for the express purpose of killing him. + +All these accusations had a certain foundation in fact which gave +them an air of truth, but in reality they were all wholly false. I +cared too little for religion to trouble myself to found a new one. +The sons of Madame Memmo were full of wit, and more likely to seduce +than to be seduced; and Master Condulmer would have had too much on +his hands if he had imprisoned all those who hissed the Abbe Chiari; +and as for this abbe, once a Jesuit, I had forgiven him, as the +famous Father Origo, himself formerly a Jesuit, had taught me to take +my revenge by praising him everywhere, which incited the malicious to +vent their satire on the abbe; and thus I was avenged without any +trouble to myself. + +In the evening they brought a good bed, fine linen, perfumes, an +excellent supper, and choice wines. The abbe ate nothing, but I +supped for two. When Lawrence had wished us good night and had shut +us up till the next day, I got out my lamp, which I found to be +empty, the napkin having sucked up all the oil. This made me laugh, +for as the napkin might very well have caught and set the room on +fire, the idea of the confusion which would have ensued excited my +hilarity. I imparted the cause of my mirth to my companion, who +laughed himself, and then, lighting the lamp, we spent the night in +pleasant talk. The history of his imprisonment was as follows: + +"Yesterday, at three o'clock in the afternoon, Madame Alessandria, +Count Martinengo, and myself, got into a gondola. We went to Padua +to see the opera, intending to return to Venice afterwards. In the +second act my evil genius led me to the gaming-table, where I +unfortunately saw Count Rosenberg, the Austrian ambassador, without +his mask, and about ten paces from him was Madame Ruzzini, whose +husband is going to Vienna to represent the Republic. I greeted them +both, and was just going away, when the ambassador called out to me, +so as to be heard by everyone, 'You are very fortunate in being able +to pay your court to so sweet a lady. At present the personage I +represent makes the fairest land in the world no better for me than a +galley. Tell the lady, I beseech you, that the laws which now +prevent me speaking to her will be without force at Venice, where I +shall go next year, and then I shall declare war against her.' +Madame Ruzzini, who saw that she was being spoken of, asked me what +the count had said, and I told her, word for word. 'Tell him,' said +she, 'that I accept his declaration of war, and that we shall see who +will wage it best.' I did not think I had committed a crime in +reporting her reply, which was after all a mere compliment. After +the opera we set out, and got here at midnight. I was going to sleep +when a messenger brought me a note ordering me to go to the Bussola +at one o'clock, Signor Bussinello, Secretary of the Council of Ten, +having something to say to me. Astonished at such an order--always +of bad omen, and vexed at being obliged to obey, I went at the time +appointed, and my lord secretary, without giving me a word, ordered +me to be taken here." + +Certainly no fault could be less criminal than that which Count +Fenarolo had committed, but one can break certain laws in all +innocence without being any the less punishable. I congratulated him +on knowing what his crime had been, and told him that he would be set +free in a week, and would be requested to spend six months in the +Bressian. "I can't think," said he, "that they will leave me here +for a week." I determined to keep him good company, and to soften +the bitterness of his imprisonment, and so well did I sympathize with +his position that I forgot all about my own. + +The next morning at day-break, Lawrence brought coffee and a basket +filled with all the requisites for a good dinner. The abbe was +astonished, for he could not conceive how anyone could eat at such an +early hour. They let us walk for an hour in the garret and then shut +us up again, and we saw no more of them throughout the day. The +fleas which tormented us made the abbe ask why I did not have the +cell swept out. I could not let him think that dirt and untidiness +was agreeable to me, or that my skin was any harder than his own, so +I told him the whole story, and shewed him what I had done. He was +vexed at having as it were forced me to make him my confidant, but he +encouraged me to go on, and if possible to finish what I was about +that day, as he said he would help me to descend and then would draw +up the rope, not wishing to complicate his own difficulties by an +escape. I shewed him the model of a contrivance by means of which I +could certainly get possession of the sheets which were to be my +rope; it was a short stick attached by one end to a long piece of +thread. By this stick I intended to attach my rope to the bed, and +as the thread hung down to the floor of the room below, as soon as I +got there I should pull the thread and the rope would fall down. He +tried it, and congratulated me on my invention, as this was a +necessary part of my scheme, as otherwise the rope hanging down would +have immediately discovered me. My noble companion was convinced +that I ought to stop my work, for I might be surprised, having to do +several days' work before finishing the hole which would cost +Lawrence his life. Should the thought of gaining my liberty at the +expense of a fellow-creature have made me desist? I should have +still persisted if my escape had meant death to the whole body of +Venetian guards, and even to the Inquisitors themselves. Can the +love of country, all holy though it be, prevail in the heart of the +man whose country is oppressing him? + +My good humour did not prevent my companion having some bad quarters +of an hour. He was in love with Madame Alessandria, who had been a +singer, and was either the mistress or the wife of his friend +Martinengo; and he should have deemed himself happy, but the happier +a lover is, so much the more his unhappiness when he is snatched from +the beloved object. He sighed, wept, and declared that he loved a +woman in whom all the noble virtues were contained. I compassionated +him, and took care not to comfort him by saying that love is a mere +trifle--a cold piece of comfort given to lovers by fools, and, +moreover, it is not true that love is a mere trifle. + +The week I had mentioned as the probable term of his imprisonment +passed quickly enough, and I lost my friend, but did not waste my +time by mourning for him; he was set free, and I was content. I did +not beg him to be discreet, for the least doubt on that score would +have wounded his noble spirit. During the week he was with me he +only ate soup and fruit, taking a little Canary wine. It was I who +made good cheer in his stead and greatly to his delight. Before he +left we swore eternal friendship. + +The next day Lawrence gave me an account of my money, and on finding +that I had a balance of four sequins I gave them to him, telling him +it was a present from me to his wife. I did not tell him that it was +for the rent of my lamp, but he was free to think so if he chose. +Again betaking myself to my work, and toiling without cessation, on +the 23rd of August I saw it finished. This delay was caused by an +inevitable accident. As I was hollowing out the last plank, I put my +eye to a little hole, through which I ought to have seen the hall of +the Inquisitors-in fact, I did see it, but I saw also at one side of +the hole a surface about eight inches thick. It was, as I had feared +all the time it would be, one of the beams which kept up the ceiling. +I was thus compelled to enlarge my hole on the other side, for the +beam would have made it so narrow that a man of my size could never +have got through. I increased the hole, therefore, by a fourth, +working--between fear and hope, for it was possible that the space +between two of the beams would not be large enough. After I had +finished, a second little hole assured me that God had blessed my +labour. I then carefully stopped up the two small holes to prevent +anything falling down into the hall, and also lest a ray from my lamp +should be perceived, for this would have discovered all and ruined +me. + +I fixed my escape for the eve of St. Augustine's Day, because I knew +that the Grand Council assembled on that feast, and there would +consequently be nobody near the room through which I must pass in +getting away. This would have been on the twenty-seventh of the +month, but a misfortune happened to me on the twenty-fifth which +makes me still shudder when I think of it, notwithstanding the years +which have passed since then. + +Precisely at noon I heard the noise of bolts, and I thought I should +die; for a violent beating of the heart made me imagine my last hour +was come. I fell into my easy chair, and waited. Lawrence came into +the garret and put his head at the grating, and said, "I give you +joy, sir, for the good news I am bringing you." At first, not being +able to think of any other news which could be good to me, I fancied +I had been set at liberty, and I trembled, for I knew that the +discovery of the hole I had made would have caused my pardon to be +recalled. + +Lawrence came in and told me to follow him. + +"Wait till I put on my clothes." + +"It's of no consequence, as you only have to walk from this +abominable cell to another, well lighted and quite fresh, with two +windows whence you can see half Venice, and you can stand upright +too." -----I could bear no more, I felt that I was fainting. +"Give me the vinegar," said I, "and go and tell the secretary that I +thank the Court for this favour, and entreat it to leave me where I +am." + +"You make me laugh, sir. Have you gone mad? They would take you +from hell to put you in heaven, and you would refuse to stir? Come, +come, the Court must be obeyed, pray rise, sir. I will give you my +arm, and will have your clothes and your books brought for you." +Seeing that resistance was of no avail, I got up, and was much +comforted at hearing him give orders for my arm-chair to be brought, +for my pike was to follow me, and with it hope. I should have much +liked to have been able to take the hole--the object of so much +wasted trouble and hope--with me. I may say with truth that, as I +came forth from that horrible and doleful place, my spirit remained +there. + +Leaning on Lawrence's shoulder, while he, thinking to cheer me up, +cracked his foolish jokes, I passed through two narrow passages, and +going down three steps I found myself in a well-lighted hall, at the +end of which, on the left-hand side, was a door leading into another +passage two feet broad by about twelve long, and in the corner was my +new cell. It had a barred window which was opposite to two windows, +also barred, which lighted the passage, and thus one had a fine view +as far as Lido. At that trying moment I did not care much for the +view; but later on I found that a sweet and pleasant wind came +through the window when it was opened, and tempered the insufferable +heat; and this was a true blessing for the poor wretch who had to +breathe the sultry prison air, especially in the hot season. + +As soon as I got into my new cell Lawrence had my arm-chair brought +in, and went away, saying that he would have the remainder of my +effects brought to me. I sat on my arm-chair as motionless as a +statue, waiting for the storm, but not fearing it. What overwhelmed +me was the distressing idea that all my pains and contrivances were +of no use, nevertheless I felt neither sorry nor repentant for what I +had done, and I made myself abstain from thinking of what was going +to happen, and thus kept myself calm. + +Lifting up my soul to God I could not help thinking that this +misfortune was a Divine punishment for neglecting to escape when all +was ready. Nevertheless, though I could have escaped three days +sooner, I thought my punishment too severe, all the more as I had put +off my escape from motives of prudence, which seemed to me worthy of +reward, for if I had only consulted my own impatience to be gone I +should have risked everything. To controvert the reasons which made +me postpone my flight to the 27th of August, a special revelation +would have been requisite; and though I had read "Mary of Agrada" I +was not mad enough for that. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +The Subterranean Prisons Known as the Wells--Lawrence's Vengeance-- +I Enter into a Correspondence With Another Prisoner, Father Balbi: +His Character--I Plan With Him a Means of Escape--How I Contrived to +Let Him Have My Pike I Am Given a Scoundrelly Companion: His +Portrait. + +I was thus anxious and despairing when two of the guards brought me +my bed. They went back to fetch the rest of my belongings, and for +two hours I saw no one, although the door of my cell remained open. +This unnatural delay engendered many thoughts, but I could not fix +exactly on the reason of it. I only knew that I had everything to +fear, and this knowledge made me brace up my mind so that I should be +able to meet calmly all possible misfortunes. + +Besides The Leads and The Fours the State Inquisitors also possess +certain horrible subterranean cells beneath the ducal palace, where +are sent men whom they do not wish to put to death, though they be +thought worthy of it. + +These subterranean prisons are precisely like tombs, but they call +them "wells," because they always contain two feet of water, which +penetrates from the sea by the same grating by which light is given, +this grating being only a square foot in size. If the unfortunates +condemned to live in these sewers do not wish to take a bath of +filthy water, they have to remain all day seated on a trestle, which +serves them both for bed and cupboard. In the morning they are given +a pitcher of water, some thin soup, and a ration of army bread which +they have to eat immediately, or it becomes the prey of the enormous +water rats who swarm in those dreadful abodes. Usually the wretches +condemned to The Wells are imprisoned there for life, and there have +been prisoners who have attained a great age. A villain who died +whilst I was under the Leads had passed thirty-seven years in The +Wells, and he was forty-four when sentenced. Knowing that he +deserved death, it is possible that he took his imprisonment as a +favour, for there are men who fear nought save death. His name was +Beguelin. A Frenchman by birth, he had served in the Venetian army +during the last war against the Turks in 1716, under the command of +Field-Marshal the Count of Schulenbourg, who made the Grand Vizier +raise the siege of Corfu. This Beguelin was the marshal's spy. He +disguised himself as a Turk, and penetrated into the Mussulman +quarters, but at the same time he was also in the service of the +Grand Vizier, and being detected in this course he certainly had +reason to be thankful for being allowed to die in The Wells. The +rest of his life must have been divided between weariness and hunger, +but no doubt he often said, 'Dum vita superest, bene est'. + +I have seen at Spiegelberg, in Moravia, prisons fearful in another +way. There mercy sends the prisoners under sentence of death, and +not one of them ever survives a year of imprisonment. What mercy! + +During the two mortal hours of suspense, full of sombre thoughts and +the most melancholy ideas, I could not help fancying that I was going +to be plunged in one of these horrible dens, where the wretched +inhabitants feed on idle hopes or become the prey of panic fears. +The Tribunal might well send him to hell who had endeavoured to +escape from purgatory. + +At last I heard hurried steps, and I soon saw Lawrence standing +before me, transformed with rage, foaming at the mouth, and +blaspheming God and His saints. He began by ordering me to give him +the hatchet and the tools I had used to pierce the floor, and to tell +him from which of the guards I had got the tools. Without moving, +and quite calmly, I told him that I did not know what he was talking +about. At this reply he gave orders that I should be searched, but +rising with a determined air I shook my fist at the knaves, and +having taken off my clothes I said to them, "Do your duty, but let no +one touch me." + +They searched my mattress, turned my bed inside out, felt the +cushions of my arm-chair, and found nothing. + +"You won't tell me, then, where are the instruments with which you +made the hole. It's of no matter, as we shall find a way to make you +speak." + +"If it be true that I have made a hole at all, I shall say that you +gave me the tools, and that I have returned them to you." + +At this threat, which made his followers smile with glee, probably +because he had been abusing them, he stamped his feet, tore his hair, +and went out like one possessed. The guards returned and brought me +all my properties, the whetstone and lamp excepted. After locking up +my cell he shut the two windows which gave me a little air. I thus +found myself confined in a narrow space without the possibility of +receiving the least breath of air from any quarter. Nevertheless, my +situation did not disturb me to any great extent, as I must confess I +thought I had got off cheaply. In spite of his training, Lawrence +had not thought of turning the armchair over; and thus, finding +myself still possessor of the iron bar, I thanked Providence, and +thought myself still at liberty to regard the bar as means by which, +sooner or later, I should make my escape. + +I passed a sleepless night, as much from the heat as the change in my +prospects. At day-break Lawrence came and brought some insufferable +wine, and some water I should not have cared to drink. All the rest +was of a piece; dry salad, putrid meat, and bread harder than English +biscuit. He cleaned nothing, and when I asked him to open the +windows he seemed not to hear me; but a guard armed with an iron bar +began to sound all over my room, against the wall, on the floor, and +above all under my bed. I looked on with an unmoved expression, but +it did not escape my notice that the guard did not sound the ceiling. +"That way," said I to myself, will lead me out of this place of +torments." But for any such project to succeed I should have to +depend purely on chance, for all my operations would leave visible +traces. The cell was quite new, and the least scratch would have +attracted the notice of my keepers. + +I passed a terrible day, for the heat was like that of a furnace, and +I was quite unable to make any use of the food with which I had been +provided. The perspiration and the lack of nourishment made me so +weak that I could neither walk nor read. Next day my dinner was the +same; the horrible smell of the veal the rascal brought me made me +draw back from it instantly. "Have you received orders," said I, "to +kill me with hunger and heat?" + +He locked the door, and went out without a word. On the third day I +was treated in the same manner. I asked for a pencil and paper to +write to the secretary. Still no answer. + +In despair, I eat my soup, and then soaking my bread in a little +Cyprus wine I resolved to get strength to avenge myself on Lawrence +by plunging my pike into his throat. My rage told me that I had no +other course, but I grew calmer in the night, and in the morning, +when the scoundrel appeared, I contented myself with saying that I +would kill him as soon as I was at liberty. He only laughed at my +threat, and again went out without opening his lips. + +I began to think that he was acting under orders from the secretary, +to whom he must have told all. I knew not what to do. I strove +between patience and despair, and felt as if I were dying for want of +food. At last on the eighth day, with rage in my heart and in a +voice of thunder, I bade him, under the name of "hangman," and in the +presence of the archers, give me an account of my money. He answered +drily that I should have it the next day. Then as he was about to go +I took my bucket, and made as if I would go and empty it in the +passage. Foreseeing my design, he told a guard to take it, and +during the disgusting operation opened a window, which he shut as +soon as the affair was done, so that in spite of my remonstrances I +was left in the plague-stricken atmosphere. I determined to speak to +him still worse the next day; but as soon as he appeared my anger +cooled, for before giving me the account of my money he presented me +with a basket of lemons which M. de Bragadin had sent me, also a +large bottle of water, which seemed drinkable, and a nice roasted +fowl; and, besides this, one of the guards opened the two windows. +When he gave me the account I only looked at the sum total, and I +told him to give the balance to his wife with the exception of a +sequin, which I told him to give the guards who were with him. I +thus made friends with these fellows, who thanked me heartily. + +Lawrence, who remained alone with me on purpose, spoke as follows: + +"You have already told me, sir, that I myself furnished you with the +tools to make that enormous hole, and I will ask no more about it; +but would you kindly tell me where you got the materials to make a +lamp?" + +"From you." + +"Well, for the moment, sir, I'm dashed, for I did not think that wit +meant impudence." + +"I am not telling you any lies. You it was who with your own hands +gave me all the requisites--oil, flint, and matches; the rest I had +by me." + +"You are right; but can you shew me as simply that I gave you the +tools to make that hole?" + +"Certainly, for you are the only person who has given me anything." + +"Lord have mercy upon me! what do I hear? Tell me, then, how I gave +you a hatchet?" + +"I will tell you the whole story and I will speak the truth, but only +in the presence of the secretary." + +"I don't wish to know any more, and I believe everything you say. I +only ask you to say nothing about it, as I am a poor man with a +family to provide for." He went out with his head between his hands. + +I congratulated myself heartily on having found a way to make the +rascal afraid of me; he thought that I knew enough to hang him. I +saw that his own interest would keep him from saying anything to his +superiors about the matter. + +I had told Lawrence to bring me the works of Maffei, but the expense +displeased him though he did not dare to say so. He asked me what I +could want with books with so many to my hand. + +"I have read them all," I said, "and want some fresh ones." + +"I will get someone who is here to lend you his books, if you will +lend yours in return; thus you will save your money." + +"Perhaps the books are romances, for which I do not care." + +"They are scientific works; and if you think yours is the only long +head here, you are very much mistaken." + +"Very good, we shall see. I will lend this book to the 'long head,' +and do you bring me one from him:' + +I had given him Petau's Rationarium, and in four minutes he brought +me the first volume of Wolff's works. Well pleased with it I told +him, much to his delight, that I would do without Maffei. + +Less pleased with the learned reading than at the opportunity to +begin a correspondence with someone who might help me in my plan of +escape (which I had already sketched out in my head), I opened the +book as soon as Lawrence was gone, and was overjoyed to find on one +of the leaves the maxim of Seneca, 'Calamitosus est animus futuri +anxius', paraphrased in six elegant verses. I made another six on +the spot, and this is the way in which I contrived to write them, I +had let the nail of my little finger grow long to serve as an +earpick; I out it to a point, and made a pen of it. I had no ink, +and I was going to prick myself and write in my blood, when I +bethought me that the juice of some mulberries I had by me would be +an excellent substitute for ink. Besides the six verses I wrote out +a list of my books, and put it in the back of the same book. It must +be understood that Italian books are generally bound in parchment, +and in such a way that when the book is opened the back becomes a +kind of pocket. On the title page I wrote, 'latet'. I was anxious +to get an answer, so the next day I told Lawrence that I had read the +book and wanted another; and in a few minutes the second volume was +in my hands. + +As soon as I was alone I opened the book, and found a loose leaf with +the following communication in Latin: + +"Both of us are in the same prison, and to both of us it must be +pleasant to find how the ignorance of our gaoler procures us a +privilege before unknown to such a place. I, Marin Balbi, who write +to you, am a Venetian of high birth, and a regular cleric, and my +companion is Count Andre Asquin, of Udine, the capital of Friuli. He +begs me to inform you that all the books in his possession, of which +you will find a list at the back of this volume, are at your service; +but we warn you that we must use all possible care to prevent our +correspondence being discovered by Lawrence." + +In our position there was nothing wonderful in our both pitching on +the idea of sending each other the catalogues of our small libraries, +or in our choosing the same hiding-place--the back of the books; all +this was plain common sense; but the advice to be careful contained +on the loose leaf struck me with some astonishment. It seemed next +to impossible that Lawrence should leave the book unopened, but if he +had opened it he would have seen the leaf, and not knowing how to +read he would have kept it in his pocket till he could get someone to +tell him the contents, and thus all would have been strangled at its +birth. This made me think that my correspondent was an arrant block- +head. + +After reading through the list, I wrote who I was, how I had been +arrested, my ignorance as to what crime I had committed, and my hope +of soon becoming free. Balbi then wrote me a letter of sixteen +pages, in which he gave me the history of all his misfortunes. He +had been four years in prison, and the reason was that he had enjoyed +the good graces of three girls, of whom he had three children, all of +whom he baptized under his own name. + +The first time his superior had let him off with an admonition, the +second time he was threatened with punishment, and on the third and +last occasion he was imprisoned. The father-superior of his convent +brought him his dinner every day. He told me in his letter that both +the superior and the Tribunal were tyrants, since they had no lawful +authority over his conscience: that being sure that the three +children were his, he thought himself constrained as a man of honour +not to deprive them of the advantage of bearing his name. He +finished by telling me that he had found himself obliged to recognize +his children to prevent slander attributing them to others, which +would have injured the reputation of the three honest girls who bore +them; and besides he could not stifle the voice of nature, which +spoke so well on behalf of these little ones. His last words were, +"There is no danger of the superior falling into the same fault, as +he confines his attention to the boys." + +This letter made me know my man. Eccentric, sensual, a bad logician, +vicious, a fool, indiscreet, and ungrateful, all this appeared in his +letter, for after telling me that he should be badly off without +Count Asquin who was seventy years old, and had books and money, he +devoted two pages to abusing him, telling me of his faults and +follies. In society I should have had nothing more to do with a man +of his character, but under the Leads I was obliged to put everything +to some use. I found in the back of the book a pencil, pens, and +paper, and I was thus enabled to write at my ease. + +He told me also the history of the prisoners who were under the +Leads, and of those who had been there since his imprisonment. He +said that the guard who secretly brought him whatever he wanted was +called Nicolas, he also told me the names of the prisoners, and what +he knew about them, and to convince me he gave me the history of the +hole I had made. It seems I had been taken from my cell to make room +for the patrician Priuli, and that Lawrence had taken two hours to +repair the damage I had done, and that he had imparted the secret to +the carpenter, the blacksmith, and all the guards under pain of death +if they revealed it. "In another day," the guard had said, "Casanova +would have escaped, and Lawrence would have swung, for though he +pretended great astonishment when he saw the hole, there can be no +doubt that he and no other provided the tools." "Nicolas has told +me," added my correspondent, "that M. de Bragadin has promised him a +thousand sequins if he will aid you to make your escape but that +Lawrence, who knows of it, hopes to get the money without risking his +neck, his plan being to obtain your liberty by means of the influence +of his wife with M. Diedo. None of the guards dare to speak of what +happened for fear Lawrence might get himself out of the difficulty, +and take his revenge by having them dismissed." He begged me to tell +him all the details, and how I got the tools, and to count upon his +keeping the secret. + +I had no doubts as to his curiosity, but many as to his discretion, +and this very request shewed him to be the most indiscreet of men. +Nevertheless, I concluded that I must make use of him, for he seemed +to me the kind of man to assist me in my escape. I began to write an +answer to him, but a sudden suspicion made me keep back what I had +written. I fancied that the correspondence might be a mere artifice +of Lawrence's to find out who had given me the tools, and what I had +done with them. To satisfy him without compromising myself I told +him that I had made the hole with a strong knife in my possession, +which I had placed on the window-ledge in the passage. In less than +three days this false confidence of mine made me feel secure, as +Lawrence did not go to the window, as he would certainly have done if +the letter had been intercepted. Furthermore, Father Balbi told me +that he could understand how I might have a knife, as Lawrence had +told him that I had not been searched previous to my imprisonment. +Lawrence himself had received no orders to search me, and this +circumstance might have stood him in good stead if I had succeeded in +escaping, as all prisoners handed over to him by the captain of the +guard were supposed to have been searched already. On the other +hand, Messer-Grande might have said that, having seen me get out of +my bed, he was sure that I had no weapons about me, and thus both of +them would have got out of trouble. The monk ended by begging me to +send him my knife by Nicolas, on whom I might rely. + +The monk's thoughtlessness seemed to me almost incredible. I wrote +and told him that I was not at all inclined to put my trust in +Nicolas, and that my secret was one not to be imparted in writing. +However, I was amused by his letters. In one of them he told me why +Count Asquin was kept under the Leads, in spite of his helplessness, +for he was enormously fat, and as he had a broken leg which had been +badly set he could hardly put one foot before another. It seems that +the count, not being a very wealthy man, followed the profession of +a barrister at Udine, and in that capacity defended the country-folk +against the nobility, who wished to deprive the peasants of their +vote in the assembly of the province. The claims of the farmers +disturbed the public peace, and by way of bringing them to reason the +nobles had recourse to the State Inquisitors, who ordered the count- +barrister to abandon his clients. The count replied that the +municipal law authorized him to defend the constitution, and would +not give in; whereon the Inquisitors arrested him, law or no law, and +for the last five years he had breathed the invigorating air of The +Leads. Like myself he had fifty sous a day, but he could do what he +liked with the money. The monk, who was always penniless, told me a +good deal to the disadvantage of the count, whom he represented as +very miserly. He informed me that in the cell on the other side of +the hall there were two gentlemen of the "Seven Townships," who were +likewise imprisoned for disobedience, but one of them had become mad, +and was in chains; in another cell, he said, there were two lawyers. + +My suspicions quieted, I reasoned as follows: + +I wish to regain my liberty at all hazards. My pike is an admirable +instrument, but I can make no use of it as my cell is sounded all +over (except the ceiling) every day. If I would escape, it is by the +ceiling, therefore, that way I must go, but to do that I must make a +hole through it, and that I cannot do from my side, for it would not +be the work of a day. I must have someone to help me; and not having +much choice I had to pick out the monk. He was thirty-eight, and +though not rich in common sense I judged that the love of liberty-- +the first need of man--would give him sufficient courage to carry out +any orders I might give. I must begin by telling him my plan in its +entirety, and then I shall have to find a way to give him the bar. I +had, then, two difficult problems before me. + +My first step was to ask him if he wished to be free, and if he were +disposed to hazard all in attempting his escape in my company. He +replied that his mate and he would do anything to break their chains, +but, added he, "it is of no use to break one's head against a stone +wall." He filled four pages with the impossibilities which presented +themselves to his feeble intellect, for the fellow saw no chance of +success on any quarter. I replied that I did not trouble myself with +general difficulties, and that in forming my plan I had only thought +of special difficulties, which I would find means to overcome, and I +finished by giving him my word of honour to set him free, if he would +promise to carry out exactly whatever orders I might give. + +He gave me his promise to do so. I told him that I had a pike twenty +inches long, and with this tool he must pierce the ceiling of his +cell next the wall which separated us, and he would then be above my +head; his next step would be to make a hole in the ceiling of my cell +and aid me to escape by it. "Here your task will end and mine will +begin, and I will undertake to set both you and Count Asquin at +liberty." + +He answered that when I had got out of my cell I should be still in +prison, and our position would be the same as now, as we should only +be in the garrets which were secured by three strong doors. + +"I know that, reverend father," I replied, "but we are not going to +escape by the doors. My plan is complete, and I will guarantee its +success. All I ask of you is to carry out my directions, and to make +no difficulties. Do you busy yourself to find out some way of +getting my bar without the knowledge of the gaoler. In the +meanwhile, make him get you about forty pictures of saints, large +enough to cover all the walls of your cell. Lawrence will suspect +nothing, and they will do to conceal the opening you are to make in +the ceiling. To do this will be the work of some days, and of +mornings Lawrence will not see what you have done the day before, as +you will have covered it up with one of the pictures. If you ask me +why I do not undertake the work myself, I can only say that the +gaoler suspects me, and the objection will doubtless seem to you a +weighty one." + +Although I had told him to think of a plan to get hold of the pike, I +thought of nothing else myself, and had a happy thought which I +hastened to put into execution. I told Lawrence to buy me a folio +Bible, which had been published recently; it was the Vulgate with the +Septuagint. I hoped to be able to put the pike in the back of the +binding of this large volume, and thus to convey it to the monk, but +when I saw the book I found the tool to be two inches longer. + +My correspondent had written to tell me that his cell was covered +with pictures, and I had communicated him my idea about the Bible and +the difficulty presented by its want of length. Happy at being able +to display his genius, he rallied me on the poverty of my +imagination, telling me that I had only to send him the pike wrapped +up in my fox-skin cloak. + +"Lawrence," said he, "had often talked about your cloak, and Count +Asquin would arouse no suspicion by asking to see it in order to buy +one of the same kind. All you have to do is to send it folded up. +Lawrence would never dream of unfolding it." + +I, on the other hand, was sure that he would. In the first place, +because a cloak folded up is more troublesome to carry than when it +is unfolded. However, not to rebuff him and at the same time to shew +him that I was the wiser, I wrote that he had only to send for the +cloak. The next day Lawrence asked me for it, and I gave it folded +up, but without the bar, and in a quarter of an hour he brought it +back to me, saying that the gentleman had admired it very much. + +The monk wrote me a doleful letter, in which he confessed he had +given me a piece of bad advice, adding that I was wrong to follow it. +According to him the pike was lost, as Lawrence had brought in the +cloak all unfolded. After this, all hope was gone. I undeceived +him, and begged him for the future to be a little more sparing of his +advice. It was necessary to bring the matter to a head, and I +determined to send him the bar under cover of my Bible, taking +measures to prevent the gaoler from seeing the ends of the great +volume. My scheme was as follows: + +I told Lawrence that I wanted to celebrate St. Michael's Day with a +macaroni cheese; but wishing to shew my gratitude to the person who +had kindly lent me his books, I should like to make him a large dish +of it, and to prepare it with my own hands. Lawrence told me (as had +been arranged between the monk and myself) that the gentleman in +question wished to read the large book which cost three sequins. + +"Very good," said I, "I will send it him with the macaroni; but get +me the largest dish you have, as I wish to do the thing on a grand +scale." + +He promised to do what I asked him. I wrapped up the pike in paper +and put it in the back of the Bible, taking care that it projected an +equal distance at each end. Now, if I placed on the Bible a great +dish of macaroni full of melted butter I was quite sure that Lawrence +would not examine the ends. All his gaze would be concentrated upon +the plate, to avoid spilling the grease on the book. I told Father +Balbi of my plan, charging him to take care how he took the dish, and +above all to take dish and Bible together, and not one by one. +On the day appointed Lawrence came earlier than usual, carrying a +saucepan full of boiling macaroni, and all the necessary ingredients +for seasoning the dish. I melted a quantity of butter, and after +putting the macaroni into the dish I poured the butter over it till +it was full to the brim. The dish was a huge one, and was much +larger than the book on which I placed it. I did all this at the +door of my cell, Lawrence being outside. + +When all was ready I carefully took up the Bible and dish, placing +the back of the book next to the bearer, and told Lawrence to stretch +out his arms and take it, to be careful not to spill the grease over +the book, and to carry the whole to its destination immediately. As +I gave him this weighty load I kept my eyes fixed on his, and I saw +to my joy that he did not take his gaze off the butter, which he was +afraid of spilling. He said it would be better to take the dish +first, and then to come back for the book; but I told him that this +would spoil the present, and that both must go together. He then +complained that I had put in too much butter, and said, jokingly, +that if it were spilt he would not be responsible for the loss. +As soon as I saw the Bible in the lout's arms I was certain of +success, as he could not see the ends of the pike without twisting +his head, and I saw no reason why he should divert his gaze from the +plate, which he had enough to do to carry evenly. I followed him +with my eyes till he disappeared into the ante-chamber of the monk's +cell, and he, blowing his nose three times, gave me the pre-arranged +signal that all was right, which was confirmed by the appearance of +Lawrence in a few moments afterwards. + +Father Balbi lost no time in setting about the work, and in eight +days he succeeded in making a large enough opening in the ceiling, +which he covered with a picture pasted to the ceiling with +breadcrumbs. On the 8th of October he wrote to say that he had +passed the whole night in working at the partition wall, and had only +succeeded in loosening one brick. He told me the difficulty of +separating the bricks joined to one another by a strong cement was +enormous, but he promised to persevere, "though," he said, "we shall +only make our position worse than it is now." I told him that I was +certain of success; that he must believe in me and persevere. +Alas! I was certain of nothing, but I had to speak thus or to give +up all. I was fain to escape from this hell on earth, where I was +imprisoned by a most detestable tyranny, and I thought only of +forwarding this end, with the resolve to succeed, or at all events +not to stop before I came to a difficulty which was insurmountable. +I had read in the great book of experience that in important schemes +action is the grand requisite, and that the rest must be left to +fortune. If I had entrusted Father Balbi with these deep mysteries +of moral philosophy he would have pronounced me a madman. +His work was only toilsome on the first night, for the more he worked +the easier it became, and when he had finished he found he had taken +out thirty-six bricks. + +On the 16th of October, as I was engaged in translating an ode of +Horace, I heard a trampling noise above my head, and then three light +blows were struck. This was the signal agreed upon to assure us that +our calculations were correct. He worked till the evening, and the +next day he wrote that if the roof of my cell was only two boards +thick his work would be finished that day. He assured me that he was +carefully making the hole round as I had charged him, and that he +would not pierce the ceiling. This was a vital point, as the +slightest mark would have led to discovery. "The final touch," he +said, "will only take a quarter of an hour." I had fixed on the day +after the next to escape from my cell at night-time to enter no more, +for with a mate I was quite sure that I could make in two or three +hours a hole in the roof of the ducal palace, and once on the outside +of the roof I would trust to chance for the means of getting to the +ground. + +I had not yet got so far as this, for my bad luck had more than one +obstacle in store for me. On the same day (it was a Monday) at two +o'clock in the afternoon, whilst Father Balbi was at work, I heard +the door of the hall being opened. My blood ran cold, but I had +sufficient presence of mind to knock twice-the signal of alarm--at +which it had been agreed that Father Balbi was to make haste back to +his cell and set all in order. In less than a minute afterwards +Lawrence opened the door, and begged my pardon for giving me a very +unpleasant companion. This was a man between forty and fifty, short, +thin, ugly, and badly dressed, wearing a black wig; while I was +looking at him he was unbound by two guards. I had no reason to +doubt that he was a knave, since Lawrence told me so before his face +without his displaying the slightest emotion. "The Court," I said, +"can do what seems good to it." After Lawrence had brought him a bed +he told him that the Court allowed him ten sous a day, and then +locked us up together. + +Overwhelmed by this disaster, I glanced at the fellow, whom his every +feature proclaimed rogue. I was about to speak to him when he began +by thanking me for having got him a bed. Wishing to gain him over, I +invited him to take his meals with me. He kissed my hand, and asked +me if he would still be able to claim the ten sous which the Court +had allowed him. On my answering in the affirmative he fell on his +knees, and drawing an enormous rosary from his pocket he cast his +gaze all round the cell. + +"What do you want?" + +"You will pardon me, sir, but I am looking for some statue of the +Holy Virgin, for I am a Christian; if there were even a small +crucifix it would be something, for I have never been in so much need +of the protection of St. Francis d'Assisi, whose name I bear, though +all unworthy." + +I could scarcely help laughing, not at his Christian piety, since +faith and conscience are beyond control, but at the curious turn he +gave his remonstrance. I concluded he took me for a Jew; and to +disabuse him of this notion I made haste to give him the "Hours of +the Holy Virgin," whose picture he kissed, and then gave me the book +back, telling me in a modest voice that his father--a, galley +officer--had neglected to have him taught to read. "I am," said he, +"a devotee of the Holy Rosary," and he told me a host of miracles, to +which I listened with the patience of an angel. When he had come to +an end I asked him if he had had his dinner, and he replied that he +was dying of hunger. I gave him everything I had, which he devoured +rather than ate; drinking all my wine, and then becoming maudlin he +began to weep, and finally to talk without rhyme or reason. I asked +him how he got into trouble, and he told me the following story: + +"My aim and my only aim has always been the glory of God, and of the +holy Republic of Venice, and that its laws may be exactly obeyed. +Always lending an attentive ear to the plots of the wicked, whose end +is to deceive, to deprive their prince of his just dues, and to +conspire secretly, I have over and again unveiled their secret plans, +and have not failed to report to Messer-Grande all I know. It is +true that I am always paid, but the money has never given me so much +pleasure as the thought that I have been able to serve the blessed +St. Mark. I have always despised those who think there is something +dishonourable in the business of a spy. The word sounds ill only to +the ill-affected; for a spy is a lover of the state, the scourge of +the guilty, and faithful subject of his prince. When I have been put +to the test, the feeling of friendship, which might count for +something with other men, has never had the slightest influence over +me, and still less the sentiment which is called gratitude. I have +often, in order to worm out a secret, sworn to be as silent as the +grave, and have never failed to reveal it. Indeed, I am able to do +so with full confidence, as my director who is a good Jesuit has told +me that I may lawfully reveal such secrets, not only because my +intention was to do so, but because, when the safety of the state is +at stake, there is no such thing as a binding oath. I must confess +that in my zeal I have betrayed my own father, and that in me the +promptings of our weak nature have been quite mortified. Three weeks +ago I observed that there was a kind of cabal between four or five +notables of the town of Isola, where I live. I knew them to be +disaffected to the Government on account of certain contraband +articles which had been confiscated. The first chaplain--a subject +of Austria by birth--was in the plot. They gathered together of +evenings in an inn, in a room where there was a bed; there they drank +and talked, and afterwards went their ways. As I was determined to +discover the conspiracy, I was brave enough to hide under the bed on +a day on which I was sure I would not be seen. Towards the evening +my gentlemen came, and began to talk; amongst other things, they said +that the town of Isola was not within the jurisdiction of St. Mark, +but rather in the principality of Trieste, as it could not possibly +be considered to form part of the Venetian territory. The chaplain +said to the chief of the plot, a man named Pietro Paolo, that if he +and the others would sign a document to that effect, he himself would +go to the imperial ambassador, and that the Empress would not only +take possession of the island, but would reward them for what they +had done. They all professed themselves ready to go on, and the +chaplain promised to bring the document the next day, and afterwards +to take it to the ambassadors. + +"I determined to frustrate this detestable project, although one of +the conspirators was my gossip--a spiritual relationship which gave +him a greater claim on me than if he had been my own brother. + +"After they were gone, I came out of my hiding-place and did not +think it necessary to expose myself to danger by hiding again as I +had found out sufficient for my purpose. I set out the same night in +a boat, and reached here the next day before noon. I had the names +of the six rebels written down, and I took the paper to the secretary +of the Tribunal, telling him all I had heard. He ordered me to +appear, the day following, at the palace, and an agent of the +Government should go back with me to Isola that I might point the +chaplain out to him, as he had probably not yet gone to the Austrian +ambassador's. 'That done,' said the lord secretary, 'you will no +longer meddle in the matter.' I executed his orders, and after +having shewn the chaplain to the agent, I was at leisure for my own +affairs. + +"After dinner my gossip called me in to shave him (for I am a barber +by profession), and after I had done so he gave me a capital glass of +refosco with some slices of sausages, and we ate together in all good +fellowship. My love for him had still possession of my soul, so I +took his hand, and, shedding some heartfelt tears, I advised him to +have no more to do with the canon, and above all, not to sign the +document he knew of. He protested that he was no particular friend +of the chaplain's, and swore he did not know what document I was +talking about. I burst into a laugh, telling him it was only my +joke, and went forth very sorry at having yielded to a sentiment of +affection which had made me commit so grievous a fault. The next day +I saw neither the man nor the chaplain. A week after, having paid a +visit to the palace, I was promptly imprisoned, and here I am with +you, my dear sir. I thank St. Francis for having given me the +company of a good Christian, who is here for reasons of which I +desire to know nothing, for I am not curious. My name is Soradaci, +and my wife is a Legrenzi, daughter of a secretary to the Council of +Ten, who, in spite of all prejudice to the contrary, determined to +marry me. She will be in despair at not knowing what has become of +me, but I hope to be here only for a few days, since the only reason +of my imprisonment is that the secretary wishes to be able to examine +me more conveniently." + +I shuddered to think of the monster who was with me, but feeling that +the situation was a risky one, And that I should have to make use of +him, I compassionated him, praised his patriotism, and predicted that +he would be set at liberty in a few days. A few moments after he +fell asleep, and I took the opportunity of telling the whole story to +Father Balbi, shewing him that we should be obliged to put off our +work to a more convenient season. Next day I told Lawrence to buy me +a wooden crucifix, a statue of Our Lady, a portrait of St. Francis, +and two bottles of holy water. Soradaci asked for his ten sous, and +Lawrence, with an air of contempt, gave him twenty. I asked Lawrence +to buy me four times the usual amount of garlic, wine, and salt--a +diet in which my hateful companion delighted. After the gaoler was +gone I deftly drew out the letter Balbi had written me, and in which +he drew a vivid picture of his alarm. He thought all was lost, and +over and over again thanked Heaven that Lawrence had put Soradaci in +my cell, "for," said he, "if he had come into mine, he would not have +found me there, and we should possibly have shared a cell in The +Wells as a reward for our endeavours." + +Soradaci's tale had satisfied me that he was only imprisoned to be +examined, as it seemed plain that the secretary had arrested him on +suspicion of bearing false witness. I thereupon resolved to entrust +him with two letters which would do me neither good nor harm if they +were delivered at their addresses, but which would be beneficial to +me if the traitor gave them to the secretary as a proof of his +loyalty, as I had not the slightest doubt he would do. + +I spent two hours in writing these two letters in pencil. Next day +Lawrence brought me the crucifix, the two pictures, and the holy +water, and having worked the rascal well up to the point, I said, +"I reckon upon your friendship and your courage. Here are two +letters I want you to deliver when you recover your liberty. My +happiness depends on your loyality, but you must hide the letters, as +they were found upon you we should both of us be undone. You must +swear by the crucifix and these holy pictures not to betray me." + +"I am ready, dear master, to swear to anything you like, and I owe +you too much to betray you." + +This speech was followed by much weeping and lamentation. He called +himself unhappy wretch at being suspected of treason towards a man +for whom he would have given his life. I knew my man, but I played +out the comedy. Having given him a shirt and a cap, I stood up bare- +headed, and then having sprinkled the cell with holy water, and +plentifully bedewed him with the same liquid, I made him swear a +dreadful oath, stuffed with senseless imprecations, which for that +very reason were the better fitted to strike terror to his soul. +After his having sworn the oath to deliver my letters to their +addresses, I gave him them, and he himself proposed to sew them up at +the back of his waistcoat, between the stuff and the lining, to which +proceedings I assented. + +I was morally sure that he would deliver my letters to the secretary +in the first opportunity, so I took the utmost care that my style of +writing should not discover the trick. They could only gain me the +esteem of the Court, and possibly its mercy. One of the letters was +addressed to M. de Bragadin and the other to the Abbe Grimani, and I +told them not to be anxious about me as I was in good hopes of soon +being set at liberty, that they would find when I came out that my +imprisonment had done me more good than harm, as there was no one in +Venice who stood in need of reform more than I. + +I begged M. de Bragadin to be kind enough to send me a pair of fur +boots for the winter, as my cell was high enough for me to stand +upright and to walk up and down. + +I took care that Soradaci should not suspect the innocent nature of +these letters, as he might then have been seized with the temptation +to do an honest thing for me, and have delivered them, which was not +what I was aiming at. You will see, dear reader, in the following +chapter, the power of oaths over the vile soul of my odious +companion, and also if I have not verified the saying 'In vino +veritas', for in the story he told me the wretch had shewn himself in +his true colours. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +Treason of Soradaci--How I Get the Best of Him--Father Balbi Ends His +Work--I Escape from My Cell--Unseasonable Observations of Count +Asquin The Critical Moment + +Soradaci had had my letters for two or three days when Lawrence came +one afternoon to take him to the secretary. As he was several hours +away, I hoped to see his face no more; but to my great astonishment +he was brought back in the evening. As soon as Lawrence had gone, he +told me that the secretary suspected him of having warned the +chaplain, since that individual had never been near the ambassador's +and no document of any kind was found upon him. He added that after +a long examination he had been confined in a very small cell, and was +then bound and brought again before the secretary, who wanted him to +confess that he told someone at Isola that the priest would never +return, but that he had not done so as he had said no such thing. At +last the secretary got tired, called the guards, and had him brought +back to my cell. + +I was distressed to hear his account, as I saw that the wretch would +probably remain a long time in my company. Having to inform Father +Balbi of this fatal misadventure, I wrote to him during the night, +and being obliged to do so more than once, I got accustomed to write +correctly enough in the dark. + +On the next day, to assure myself that my suspicions were well +founded, I told the spy to give me the letter I had written to M. de +Bragadin as I wanted to add something to it. "You can sew it up +afterwards," said I. + +"It would be dangerous," he replied, "as the gaoler might come in in +the mean time, and then we should be both ruined." + +"No matter. Give me my letters:" + +Thereupon the hound threw himself at my feet, and swore that on his +appearing for a second time before the dreaded secretary, he had been +seized with a severe trembling; and that he had felt in his back, +especially in the place where the letters were, so intolerable an +oppression, that the secretary had asked him the cause, and that he +had not been able to conceal the truth. Then the secretary rang his +bell, and Lawrence came in, unbound him, and took off his waist-coat +and unsewed the lining. The secretary then read the letters and put +them in a drawer of his bureau, telling him that if he had taken the +letters he would have been discovered and have lost his life. + +I pretended to be overwhelmed, and covering my face with my hands I +knelt down at the bedside before the picture of the Virgin, and +asked, her to avenge me on the wretch who had broken the most sacred +oaths. I afterwards lay down on the bed, my face to the wall, and +remained there the whole day without moving, without speaking a word, +and pretending not to hear the tears, cries, and protestations of +repentance uttered by the villain. I played my part in the comedy I +had sketched out to perfection. In the night I wrote to Father Balbi +to come at two o'clock in the afternoon, not a minute sooner or +later, to work for four hours, and not a minute more. "On this +precision," I wrote, "our liberty depends and if you observe it all +will be well." + +It was the 25th of October, and the time for me to carry out my +design or to give it up for ever drew near. The State Inquisitors +and their secretary went every year to a village on the mainland, and +passed there the first three days of November. Lawrence, taking +advantage of his masters' absence, did not fail to get drunk every +evening, and did not appear at The Leads in the morning till a late +hour. + +Advised of these circumstances, I chose this time to make my escape, +as I was certain that my flight would not be noticed till late in the +morning. Another reason for my determination to hurry my escape, +when I could no longer doubt the villainy of my detestable companion, +seems to me to be worthy of record. + +The greatest relief of a man in the midst of misfortune is the hope +of escaping from it. He sighs for the hour when his sorrows are to +end; he thinks he can hasten it by his prayers; he will do anything +to know when his torments shall cease. The sufferer, impatient and +enfeebled, is mostly inclined to superstition. "God," says he, +"knows the time, and God may reveal it to me, it matters not how." +Whilst he is in this state he is ready to trust in divination in any +manner his fancy leads him, and is more or less disposed to believe +in the oracle of which he makes choice. + +I then was in this state of mind; but not knowing how to make use of +the Bible to inform me of the moment in which I should recover my +liberty, I determined to consult the divine Orlando Furioso, which I +had read a hundred times, which I knew by heart, and which was my +delight under the Leads. I idolized the genius of Ariosto, and +considered him a far better fortune-teller than Virgil. + +With this idea I wrote a question addressed to the supposed +Intelligence, in which I ask in what canto of Ariosto I should find +the day of my deliverance. I then made a reversed pyramid composed +of the number formed from the words of the question, and by +subtracting the number nine I obtained, finally, nine. This told me +that I should find my fate in the ninth canto. I followed the same +method to find out the exact stanza and verse, and got seven for the +stanza and one for the verse. + +I took up the poem, and my heart beating as if I trusted wholly in +the oracle, I opened it, turned down the leaf, and read; + +'Fra il fin d'ottobre, a il capo di novembre'. + +The precision of the line and its appropriateness to my circumstances +appeared so wonderful to me, that I will not confess that I placed my +faith entirely in it; but the reader will pardon me if I say that I +did all in my power to make the prediction a correct one. The most +singular circumstance is that between the end of October and the +beginning of November, there is only the instant midnight, and it was +just as the clock was striking midnight on the 3ist of October that I +escaped from my cell, as the reader will soon see. + +The following is the manner in which I passed the morning to strike +awe into the soul of that vicious brute, to confound his feeble +intellect, and to render him harmless to me. + +As soon as Lawrence had left us I told Soradaci to come and take some +soup. The scoundrel was in bed, and he had told Lawrence that he was +ill. He would not have dared to approach me if I had not called him. +However, he rose from his bed, and threw himself flat upon the ground +at my feet, and said, weeping violently, that if I would not forgive +him he would die before the day was done, as he already felt the +curse and the vengeance of the Holy Virgin which I had denounced +against him. He felt devouring pains in his bowels, and his mouth +was covered with sores. He shewed it me, and I saw it was full of +ulcers, but I cannot say whether it was thus the night before. I did +not much care to examine him to see if he were telling me the truth. +My cue was to pretend to believe him, and to make him hope for mercy. +I began by making him eat and drink. The traitor most likely intended +to deceive me, but as I was myself determined to deceive him it +remained to be seen which was the a cuter. I had planned an attack +against which it was improbable that he could defend himself. + +Assuming an inspired air, I said, "Be seated and take this soup, and +afterwards I will tell you of your good fortune, for know that the +Virgin of the Rosary appeared to me at day-break, and bids me pardon +you. Thou shalt not die but live, and shalt come out of this place +with me." In great wonderment, and kneeling on the ground for want +of a chair, he ate the soup with me, and afterwards seated himself on +the bed to hear what I had to say. Thus I spoke to him: + +"The grief I experienced at your dreadful treason made me pass a +sleepless night, as the letters might condemn me to spend here the +remnant of my days. My only consolation, I confess, was the +certainty that you would die here also before my eyes within three +days. Full of this thought not worthy of a Christian (for God bids +us forgive our enemies) my weariness made me sleep, and in my sleep I +had a vision. I saw that Holy Virgin, Mother of God, whose likeness +you behold--I saw her before me, and opening her lips she spoke thus: + +"'Soradaci is a devotee of my Holy Rosary. I protect him, and I will +that you forgive him, and then the curse he has drawn on himself will +cease. In return for your generosity, I will order one of my angels +to take the form of man, to come down from heaven, to break open the +roof of your prison, and set you free within five or six days. The +angel will begin his task this day at two o'clock precisely, and he +will work till half an hour before sunset, since he must ascend again +into heaven while the daylight lasts. When you come out of this +place, take Soradaci with you, and have a care for him if he will +renounce his business of spying. Tell him all.' + +"With these words the Holy Virgin vanished out of my sight, and I +awoke." + +I spoke all the while with a serious face and the air of one +inspired, and I saw that the traitor was petrified. I then took my +Book of Hours, sprinkled the cell with holy water, and pretended to +pray, kissing from time to time the picture of the Virgin. An hour +afterwards the brute, who so far had not opened his mouth, asked me +bluntly at what time the angel would come down from heaven, and if we +should hear him breaking in the cell. + +"I am certain that he will begin at two o'clock, that we shall hear +him at his work, and that he will depart at the hour named by the +Holy Virgin." + +"You may have dreamt it all." + +"Nay, not so. Will you swear to me to spy no more?" + +Instead of answering he went off to sleep, and did not awake for two +hours after, when he asked if he could put off taking the oath. I +asked of him, + +"You can put off taking it," I said, "till the angel enters to set me +free; but if you do not then renounce by an oath the infamous trade +which has brought you here, and which will end by bringing you to the +gallows, I shall leave you in the cell, for so the Mother of God +commands, and if you do not obey you will lose her protection." + +As I had expected, I saw an expression of satisfaction on his hideous +features, for he was quite certain that the angel would not come. He +looked at me with a pitying air. I longed to hear the hour strike. +The play amused me intensely, for I was persuaded that the approach +of the angel would set his miserable wits a-reeling. I was sure, +also, that the plan would succeed if Lawrence had not forgotten to +give the monk the books, and this was not likely. + +An hour before the time appointed I was fain to dine. I only drank +water, and Soradaci drank all the wine and consumed all the garlic I +had, and thus made himself worse. + +As soon as I heard the first stroke of two I fell on my knees, +ordering him, in an awful voice, to do the like. He obeyed, looking +at me in a dazed way. When I heard the first slight noise I +examined, "Lo! the angel cometh!" and fell down on my face, and with +a hearty fisticuff forced him into the same position. The noise of +breaking was plainly heard, and for a quarter of an hour I kept in +that troublesome position, and if the circumstances had been +different I should have laughed to see how motionless the creature +was; but I restrained myself, remembering my design of completely +turning the fellow's head, or at least of obsessing him for a time. +As soon as I got up I knelt and allowed him to imitate me, and I +spent three hours in saying the rosary to him. From time to time he +dozed off, wearied rather by his position than by the monotony of the +prayer, but during the whole time he never interrupted me. Now and +again he dared to raise a furtive glance towards the ceiling. With a +sort of stupor on his face, he turned his head in the direction of +the Virgin, and the whole of his behaviour was for me the highest +comedy. When I heard the clock strike the hour for the work to +cease, I said to him, + +"Prostrate thyself, for the angel departeth." + +Balbi returned to his cell, and we heard him no more. As I rose to +my feet, fixing my gaze on the wretched fellow, I read fright on +every feature, and was delighted. I addressed a few words to him +that I might see in what state of mind he was. He shed tears in +abundance, and what he said was mostly extravagant, his ideas having +no sequence or connection. He spoke of his sins, of his acts of +devotion, of his zeal in the service of St. Mark, and of the work he +had done for the Commonwealth, and to this attributed the special +favours Mary had shewn him. I had to put up with a long story about +the miracles of the Rosary which his wife, whose confessor was a +young Dominican, had told him. He said that he did not know what use +I could make of an ignorant fellow like him. + +"I will take you into my service, and you shall have all that you +need without being obliged to pursue the hazardous trade of a spy." + +"Shall we not be able to remain at Venice?" + +"Certainly not. The angel will take us to a land which does not +belong to St. Mark. Will you swear to me that you will spy no more? +And if you swear, will you become a perjurer a second time?" + +"If I take the oath, I will surely keep it, of that there can be no +doubt; but you must confess that if I had not perjured myself you +would never have received such favour at the hands of the Virgin. My +broken faith is the cause of your bliss. You ought, therefore, to +love me and to be content with my treason." + +"Dost love Judas who betrayed Jesus Christ?" + +"No." + +"You perceive, then, that one detests the traitor and at the same +time adores the Divine Providence, which knows how to bring good out +of evil. Up to the present time you have done wickedly. You have +offended God and the Virgin His Mother, and I will not receive your +oath till you have expiated your sins." + +"What sin have I done?" + +"You have sinned by pride, Soradaci, in thinking that I was under an +obligation to you for betraying me and giving my letters to the +secretary." + +"How shall I expiate this sin?" + +"Thus. To-morrow, when Lawrence comes, you must lie on your bed, +your face towards the wall, and without the slightest motion or a +single glance at Lawrence. If he address you, you must answer, +without looking at him, that you could not sleep, and need rest. Do +you promise me entirely to do this thing?" + +"I will do whatsoever you tell me." + +"Quick, then, take your oath before this holy picture." + +"I promise, Holy Mother of God, that when Lawrence comes I will not +look at him, nor stir from my bed." + +"And I, Most Holy Virgin, swear by the bowels of your Divine Son that +if I see Soradici move in the least or look towards Lawrence, I will +throw myself straightway upon him and strangle him without mercy, to +your honour and glory." + +I counted on my threat having at least as much effect upon him as his +oath. Nevertheless, as I was anxious to make sure, I asked him if he +had anything to say against the oath, and after thinking for a moment +he answered that he was quite content with it. Well pleased myself, +I gave him something to eat, and told him to go to bed as I needed +sleep. + +As soon as he was asleep I began to write, and wrote on for two +hours. I told Balbi all that had happened, and said that if the work +was far enough advanced he need only come above my cell to put the +final stroke to it and break through. I made him note that we should +set out on the night of the 31st of October, and that we should be +four in all, counting his companion and mine. It was now the twenty- +eighth of the month. + +In the morning the monk wrote me that the passage was made, and that +he should only require to work at the ceiling of my cell to break +through the last board and this would be done in four minutes. +Soradaci observed his oath, pretending to sleep, and Lawrence said +nothing to him. I kept my eyes upon him the whole time, and I verily +believe I should have strangled him if he had made the slightest +motion towards Lawrence, for a wink would have been enough to betray +me. + +The rest of the day was devoted to high discourses and exalted +expressions, which I uttered as solemnly as I could, and I enjoyed +the sight of seeing him become more and more fanatical. To heighten +the effect of my mystic exhortation I dosed him heavily with wine, +and did not let him go till he had fallen into a drunken sleep. + +Though a stranger to all metaphysical speculations, and a man who had +never exercised his reasoning faculties except in devising some piece +of spy-craft, the fellow confused me for a moment by saying that he +could not conceive how an angel should have to take so much trouble +to break open our cell. But after lifting my eyes to heaven, or +rather to the roof of my dungeon-cell, I said, + +"The ways of God are inscrutable; and since the messenger of Heaven +works not as an angel (for then a slight single blow would be +enough), he works like a man, whose form he has doubtless taken, as +we are not worthy to look upon his celestial body. And, +furthermore," said I, like a true Jesuit, who knows how to draw +advantage from everything, "I foresee that the angel, to punish us +for your evil thought, which has offended the Holy Virgin, will not +come to-day. Wretch, your thoughts are not those of an honest, +pious, and religious man, but those of a sinner who thinks he has to +do with Messer-Grande and his myrmidons." + +I wanted to drive him to despair, and I had succeeded. He began to +weep bitterly, and his sobs almost choked him, when two o'clock +struck and not sign of the angel was heard. Instead of calming him I +endeavoured to augment his misery by my complaints. The next morning +he was obedient to my orders, for when Lawrence asked him how he was, +he replied without moving his head. He behaved in the same manner on +the day following, and until I saw Lawrence for the last time on the +morning of the 31st October. I gave him the book for Barbi, and told +the monk to come at noon to break through the ceiling. I feared +nothing, as Lawrence had told me that the Inquisitors and the +secretary had already set out for the country. I had no reason to +dread the arrival of a new companion, and all I had to do was to +manage my knave. + +After Lawrence was gone I told Soradaci that the angel would come and +make an opening in the ceiling about noon. + +"He will bring a pair of scissors with him," I said, "and you will +have to cut the angel's beard and mine." + +"Has the angel a beard?" + +"Yes, you shall see it for yourself. Afterwards we will get out of +the cell and proceed to break the roof of the palace, whence we shall +descend into St. Mark's Place and set out for Germany." + +He answered nothing. He had to eat by himself, for my mind was too +much occupied to think about dinner--indeed, I had been unable to +sleep. + +The appointed hour struck--and the angel came, Soradaci was going to +fall down on his face, but I told him it was not necessary. In three +minutes the passage was completed, the piece of board fell at my +feet, and Father Balbi into my arms. "Your work is ended and mine +begun," said I to him. We embraced each other, and he gave me the +pike and a pair of scissors. I told Soradaci to cut our beards, but +I could not help laughing to see the creature--his mouth all agape- +staring at the angel, who was more like a devil. However, though +quite beside himself, he cut our beards admirably. + +Anxious to see how the land lay, I told the monk to stay with +Soradaci, as I did not care to leave him alone, and I went out. I +found the hole in the wall narrow, but I succeeded in getting through +it. I was above the count's cell, and I came in and greeted the +worthy old man. The man before me was not fitted to encounter such +diffiulties as would be involved in an escape by a steep roof covered +with plates of lead. He asked me what my plan was, and told me that +he thought I had acted rather inconsiderately. "I only ask to go +forward," said I, "till I find death or freedom." "If you intend," +he answered, "to pierce the roof and to descend from thence, I see no +prospect of success, unless you have wings; and I at all events have +not the courage to accompany you. I will remain here, and pray to +God on your behalf." + +I went out again to look at the roof, getting as close as I could to +the sides of the loft. Touching the lower part of the roof, I took +up a position between the beams, and feeling the wood with the end of +the bar I luckily found them to be half rotten. At every blow of the +bar they fell to dust, so feeling certain of my ability to make a +large enough hole in less than a hour I returned to my cell, and for +four hours employed myself in cutting up sheets, coverlets, and +bedding, to make ropes. I took care to make the knots myself and to +be assured of their strength, for a single weak knot might cost us +our lives. At last I had ready a hundred fathoms of rope. + +In great undertakings there are certain critical points which the +leader who deserves to succeed trusts to no one but himself. When +the rope was ready I made a parcel of my suit, my cloak, a few +shirts, stockings, and handkerchiefs, and the three of us went into +the count's cell. The first thing the count did was to congratulate +Soradaci on having been placed in the same cell as myself, and on +being so soon about to regain his liberty. His air of speechless +confusion made me want to laugh. I took no more trouble about him, +for I had thrown off the mask of Tartuffe which I had found terribly +inconvenient all the time I had worn it for the rascal's sake. He +knew, I could see, that he had been deceived, but he understood +nothing else, as he could not make out how I could have arranged with +the supposed angel to come and go at certain fixed times. He +listened attentively to the count, who told us we were going to our +destruction, and like the coward that he was, he began to plan how to +escape from the dangerous journey. I told the monk to put his bundle +together while I was making the hole in the roof by the side of the +loft. + +At eight o'clock, without needing any help, my opening was made. I +had broken up the beams, and the space was twice the size required. +I got the plate of lead off in one piece. I could not do it by +myself, because it was riveted. The monk came to my aid, and by dint +of driving the bar between the gutter and the lead I succeeded in +loosening it, and then, heaving at it with our shoulders, we beat it +up till the opening was wide enough. On putting my head out through +the hole I was distressed to see the brilliant light of the crescent +moon then entering in its first quarter. This was a piece of bad +luck which must be borne patiently, and we should have to wait till +midnight, when the moon would have gone to light up the Antipodes. +On such a fine night as this everybody would be walking in St. +Mark's Place, and I dared not shew myself on the roof as the +moonlight would have thrown a huge shadow of me on the place, and +have drawn towards me all eyes, especially those of Messer-Grande and +his myrmidons, and our fine scheme would have been brought to nothing +by their detestable activity. I immediately decided that we could +not escape till after the moon set; in the mean time I prayed for the +help of God, but did not ask Him to work any miracles for me. I was +at the mercy of Fortune, and I had to take care not to give her any +advantages; and if my scheme ended in failure I should be consoled by +the thought that I had not made a single mistake. The moon would set +at eleven and sunrise was at six, so we had seven hours of perfect +darkness at our service; and though we had a hard task, I considered +that in seven hours it would be accomplished. + +I told Father Balbi that we could pass the three hours in talking to +Count Asquin. I requested him to go first and ask the count to lend +me thirty sequins, which would be as necessary to me as my pike had +been hitherto. He carried my message, and a few minutes after came +and asked me to go myself, as the count wished to talk to me alone. +The poor old man began by saying with great politeness that I really +stood in no need of money to escape, that he had none, that he had a +large family, that if I was killed the money would be lost, with a +thousand other futilities of the same kind to disguise his avarice, +or the dislike he felt to parting with his money. My reply lasted +for half an hour, and contained some excellent arguments, which never +have had and never will have any force, as the finest weapons of +oratory are blunted when used against one of the strongest of the +passions. It was a matter of a 'nolenti baculus'; not that I was +cruel enough to use force towards an unhappy old man like the count. +I ended my speech by saying that if he would flee with us I would +carry him upon my back like AEneas carried Anchises; but if he was +going to stay in prison to offer up prayers for our success, his +prayers would be observed, as it would be a case of praying God to +give success when he himself had refused to contribute the most +ordinary aid. + +He replied by a flood of tears, which affected me. He then asked if +two sequins would be enough, and I answered in the affirmative. He +then gave them to me begging me to return them to him if after +getting on the roof I saw my wisest course would be to come back. I +promised to do so, feeling somewhat astonished that he should deem me +capable of a retreat. He little knew me, for I would have preferred +death to an imprisonment which would have been life-long. + +I called my companions, and we set all our baggage near the hole. I +divided the hundred fathoms of rope into two packets, and we spent +two hours in talking over the chances of our undertaking. The first +proof which Father Balbi gave me of his fine character was to tell +me, ten times over, that I had broken my word with him, since I had +assured him that my scheme was complete and certain, while it was +really nothing of the kind. He went so far as to tell me that if he +had known as much he would not have taken me from my cell. The count +also, with all the weight of his seventy years, told me that I should +do well to give up so hazardous an undertaking, in which success was +impossible and death probable. As he was a barrister he made me a +speech as follows, and I had not much difficulty in guessing that he +was inspired by the thought of the two sequins which I should have +had to give him back, if he had succeeded in persuading me to stay +where I was: + +"The incline of the roof covered with lead plates," said he, "will +render it impossible for you to walk, indeed you will scarcely be +able to stand on your feet. It is true that the roof has seven or +eight windows, but they are all barred with iron, and you could not +keep your footing near them since they are far from the sides. Your +ropes are useless, as you will find nothing whereon to fasten them; +and even if you did, a man descending from such a height cannot reach +the ground by himself. One of you will therefore have to lower the +two others one at a time as one lowers a bucket or a bundle of wood, +and he who does so will have to stay behind and go back to his cell. +Which of you three has a vocation for this dangerous work of charity? +And supposing that one of you is heroic enough to do so, can you tell +me on which side you are going to descend? Not by the side towards +the palace, for you would be seen; not by the church, as you would +find yourselves still shut up, and as to the court side you surely +would not think of it, for you would fall into the hands of the +'arsenalotti' who are always going their rounds there. You have only +the canal side left, and where is your gondola to take you off? Not +having any such thing, you will be obliged to throw yourself in and +escape by swimming towards St. Appollonia, which you will reach in a +wretched condition, not knowing where to turn to next. You must +remember that the leads are slippery, and that if you were to fall +into the canal, considering the height of the fall and the +shallowness of the water, you would most certainly be killed if you +could swim like sharks. You would be crushed to death, for three or +four feet of water are not sufficient to counteract the effect of a +fall from such a height. In short, the best fate you can expect is +to find yourselves on the ground with broken arms and legs." + +The effect of this discourse--a very unseasonable one, under the +circumstances--was to make my blood boil, but I listened with a +patience wholly foreign to my nature. The rough reproaches of the +monk enraged me, and inclined me to answer him in his own way; but I +felt that my position was a difficult one, and that unless I was +careful I might ruin all, for I had to do with a coward quite capable +of saying that he was not going to risk his life, and by myself I +could not hope to succeed. I constrained myself, therefore, and as +politely as I could I told them that I was sure of success, though I +could not as yet communicate the details of my plan. "I shall profit +by your wise counsels," said I to Count Asquin, "and be very prudent, +but my trust in God and in my own strength will carry me through all +difficulties." + +>From time to time I stretched out my hand to assure myself that +Soradaci was there, for he did not speak a word. I laughed to myself +to think what he might be turning in his head now that he was +convinced that I had deceived him. At half-past ten I told him to go +and see what was the position of the moon. He obeyed and returned, +saying that in an hour and a-half it would have disappeared, and that +there was a thick fog which would make the leads very dangerous. + +"All I ask," I said, "is that the fog be not made of oil. Put your +cloak in a packet with some of the rope which must be divided equally +between us." + +At this I was astonished to find him at my knees kissing my hands, +and entreating me not to kill him. "I should be sure," said he, "to +fall over into the canal, and I should not be of any use to you. Ah! +leave me here, and all the night I will pray to St. Francis for you. +You can kill me or save me alive; but of this I am determined, never +to follow you." + +The fool never thought how he had responded to my prayers. + +"You are right," I said, "you may stop here on the condition that you +will pray to St. Francis; and that you go forthwith and fetch my +books, which I wish to leave to the count." + +He did so without answering me, doubtless with much joy. My books +were worth at least a hundred crowns. The count told me that he +would give them back on my return. + +"You may be sure," I said, "that you will never see me here again. +The books will cover your expenditure of two sequins. As to this +rascal, I am delighted, as he cannot muster sufficient courage to +come with me. He would be in the way, and the fellow is not worthy +of sharing with Father Balbi and myself the honours of so brave a +flight." + +"That's true," said the count, "provided that he does not +congratulate himself to-morrow." + +I asked the count to give me pens, ink, and paper, which he possessed +in spite of the regulations to the contrary, for such prohibitions +were nothing to Lawrence, who would have sold St. Mark himself for a +crown. I then wrote the following letter, which I gave to Soradaci, +not being able to read it over, as I had written it in the dark. I +began by a fine heading, which I wrote in Latin, and which in English +would run thus: + +"'I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord.'" + +"Our lords of state are bound to do all in their power to keep a +prisoner under the Leads, and on the other hand the prisoner, who is +fortunately not on parole, is bound also to make his escape. Their +right to act thus is founded on justice, while the prisoner follows +the voice of nature; and since they have not asked him whether he +will be put in prison, so he ought not to ask them leave to escape. + +"Jacques Casanova, writing in the bitterness of his heart, knows that +he may have the ill luck to be recaptured before he succeeds in +leaving the Venetian territory and escaping to a friendly state; but +if so, he appeals to the humanity of the judges not to add to the +misery of the condition from which, yielding to the voice of nature, +he is endeavouring to escape. He begs them, if he be taken, to +return him whatever may be in his cell, but if he succeed he gives +the whole to Francis Soradaci, who is still a captive for want of +courage to escape, not like me preferring liberty to life. Casanova +entreats their excellencies not to refuse the poor wretch this gift. +Dated an hour before midnight, in the cell of Count Asquin, on +October 31t, 1756." + +I warned Soradaci not to give this letter to Lawrence, but to the +secretary in person, who, no doubt, would interrogate him if he did +not go himself to the cell, which was the more likely course. The +count said my letter was perfect, but that he would give me back all +my books if I returned. The fool said he wished to see me again to +prove that he would return everything gladly. + +But our time was come. The moon had set. I hung the half of the +ropes by Father Balbi's neck on one side and his clothes on the +other. I did the same to myself, and with our hats on and our coats +off we went to the opening. + + E quindi uscimmo a rimirar le stelle.--DANTE. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +The Escape I Nearly Lose My Life on the Roof I Get out of the Ducal +Palace, Take a Boat, and Reach the Mainland--Danger to Which I Am +Exposed by Father Balbi--My Scheme for Ridding Myself of Him + +I got out the first, and Father Balbi followed me. Soradaci who had +come as far as the opening, had orders to put the plate of lead back +in its place, and then to go and pray to St. Francis for us. Keeping +on my hands and knees, and grasping my pike firmly I pushed it +obliquely between the joining of the plates of lead, and then holding +the side of the plate which I had lifted I succeeded in drawing +myself up to the summit of the roof. The monk had taken hold of my +waistband to follow me, and thus I was like a beast of burden who has +to carry and draw along at the same time; and this on a steep and +slippery roof. + +When we were half-way up the monk asked me to stop, as one of his +packets had slipped off, and he hoped it had not gone further than +the gutter. My first thought was to give him a kick and to send him +after his packet, but, praised be to God! I had sufficient self- +control not to yield to it, and indeed the punishment would have been +too heavy for both of us, as I should have had no chance of escaping +by myself. I asked him if it were the bundle of rope, and on his +replying that it was a small packet of his own containing manuscript +he had found in one of the garrets under the Leads, I told him he +must bear it patiently, as a single step might be our destruction. +The poor monk gave a sigh, and he still clinging to my waist we +continued climbing. + +After having surmounted with the greatest difficulty fifteen or +sixteen plates we got to the top, on which I sat astride, Father +Balbi imitating my example. Our backs were towards the little island +of St. George the Greater, and about two hundred paces in front of us +were the numerous cupolas of St. Mark's Church, which forms part of +the ducal palace, for St. Mark's is really the Doge's private chapel, +and no monarch in the world can boast of having a finer. My first +step was to take off my bundle, and I told my companion to do the +same. He put the rope as best he could upon his thighs, but wishing +to take off his hat, which was in his way, he took hold of it +awkwardly, and it was soon dancing from plate to plate to join the +packet of linen in the gutter. My poor companion was in despair. + +"A bad omen," he exclaimed; "our task is but begun and here am I +deprived of shirt, hat, and a precious manuscript, containing a +curious account of the festivals of the palace." + +I felt calmer now that I was no longer crawling on hands and knees, +and I told him quietly that the two accidents which had happened to +him had nothing extraordinary in them, and that not even a +superstitious person would call them omens, that I did not consider +them in that light, and that they were far from damping my spirits. + +"They ought rather," said I, "to warn you to be prudent, and to +remind you that God is certainly watching over us, for if your hat +had fallen to the left instead of to the right, we should have been +undone; as in that case it would have fallen into the palace court, +where it would have caught the attention of the guards, and have let +them know that there was someone on the roof; and in a few minutes we +should have been retaken." + +After looking about me for some time I told the monk to stay still +till I came back, and I set out, my pike in my hand, sitting astride +the roof and moving along without any difficulty. For nearly an hour +I went to this side and that, keeping a sharp look-out, but in vain; +for I could see nothing to which the rope could be fastened, and I +was in the greatest perplexity as to what was to be done. It was of +no use thinking of getting down on the canal side or by the court of +the palace, and the church offered only precipices which led to +nothing. To get to the other side of the church towards the +Canonica, I should have had to climb roofs so steep that I saw no +prospect of success. The situation called for hardihood, but not the +smallest piece of rashness. + +It was necessary, however, either to escape, or to reenter the +prison, perhaps never again to leave it, or to throw myself into the +canal. In such a dilemma it was necessary to leave a good deal to +chance, and to make a start of some kind. My eye caught a window on +the canal sides, and two-thirds of the distance from the gutter to +the summit of the roof. It was a good distance from the spot I had +set out from, so I concluded that the garret lighted by it did not +form part of the prison I had just broken. It could only light a +loft, inhabited or uninhabited, above some rooms in the palace, the +doors of which would probably be opened by day-break. I was morally +sure that if the palace servants saw us they would help us to escape, +and not deliver us over to the Inquisitors, even if they recognized +us as criminals of the deepest dye; so heartily was the State +Inquisition hated by everyone. + +It was thus necessary for me to get in front of the window, and +letting myself slide softly down in a straight line I soon found +myself astride on top of the dormer-roof. Then grasping the sides I +stretched my head over, and succeeded in seeing and touching a small +grating, behind which was a window of square panes of glass joined +with thin strips of lead. I did not trouble myself about the window, +but the grating, small as it was, appeared an insurmountable +difficulty, failing a file, and I had only my pike. + +I was thoroughly perplexed, and was beginning to lose courage, when +an incident of the simplest and most natural kind came to my aid and +fortified my resolution. + +Philosophic reader, if you will place yourself for a moment in my +position, if you will share the sufferings which for fifteen months +had been my lot, if you think of my danger on the top of a roof, +where the slightest step in a wrong direction would have cost me my +life, if you consider the few hours at my disposal to overcome +difficulties which might spring up at any moment, the candid +confession I am about to make will not lower me in your esteem; at +any rate, if you do not forget that a man in an anxious and dangerous +position is in reality only half himself. + +It was the clock of St. Mark's striking midnight, which, by a +violent shock, drew me out of the state of perplexity I had fallen +into. The clock reminded me that the day just beginning was All +Saints' Day--the day of my patron saint (at least if I had one)--and +the prophecy of my confessor came into my mind. But I confess that +what chiefly strengthened me, both bodily and mentally, was the +profane oracle of my beloved Ariosto: 'Fra il fin d'ottobre, a il +capo di novembre'. + +The chime seemed to me a speaking talisman, commanding me to be up +and doing,--and--promising me the victory. Lying on my belly I +stretched my head down towards the grating, and pushing my pike into +the sash which held it I resolved to take it out in a piece. In a +quarter of an hour I succeeded, and held the whole grate in my hands, +--and putting it on one side I easily broke the glass window, though +wounding my left hand. + +With the aid of my pike, using it as I had done before, I regained +the ridge of the roof, and went back to the spot where I had left +Balbi. I found him enraged and despairing, and he abused me heartily +for having left him for so long. He assured me that he was only +waiting for it to get light to return to the prison. + +"What did you think had become of me?" + +"I thought you must have fallen over." + +"And you can find no better way than abuse to express the joy you +ought to feel at seeing me again?" + +"What have you been doing all this time.?" + +"Follow me, and you shall see." + +I took up my packets again and made my way towards the window. As +soon as were opposite to it I told Balbi what I had done, and asked +him if he could think of any way of getting into the loft. For one +it was easy enough, for the other could lower him by the rope; but I +could not discover how the second of us was to get down afterwards, +as there was nothing to which the rope could be fastened. If I let +myself fall I might break my arms and legs, for I did not know the +distance between the window and the floor of the room. To this chain +of reasoning uttered in the friendliest possible tone, the brute +replied thus: + +"You let me down, and when I have got to the bottom you will have +plenty of time to think how you are going to follow me." + +I confess that my first indignant impulse was to drive my pike into +his throat. My good genius stayed my arm, and I uttered not a word +in reproach of his base selfishness. On the contrary, I straightway +untied my bundle of rope and bound him strongly under the elbows, and +making him lie flat down I lowered him feet foremost on to the roof +of the dormer-window. When he got there I told him to lower himself +into the window as far as his hips, supporting himself by holding his +elbows against the sides of the window. As soon as he had done so, I +slid down the roof as before, and lying down on the dormer-roof with +a firm grasp of the rope I told the monk not to be afraid but to let +himself go. When he reached the floor of the loft he untied himself, +and on drawing the rope back I found the fall was one of fifty feet- +too dangerous a jump to be risked. The monk who for two hours had +been a prey to terror; seated in a position which I confess was not a +very reassuring one, was not quite cool, and called out to me to +throw him the ropes for him to take care of--a piece of advice you +may be sure I took care not to follow. + +Not knowing what to do next, and waiting for some fortunate idea, I +made my way back to the ridge of the roof, and from there spied out a +corner near a cupola; which I had not visited. I went towards it and +found a flat roof, with a large window closed with two shutters. At +hand was a tubful of plaster, a trowel, and ladder which I thought +long enough for my purpose. This was enough, and tying my rope to +the first round I dragged this troublesome burden after me to the +window. My next task was to get the end of the ladder (which was +twelve fathoms long) into the opening, and the difficulties I +encountered made me sorry that I had deprived myself of the aid of +the monk. [The unit of measure:'fathoms' describing the ladder and +earlier the 100 fathoms of rope, is likely a translation error: +Casanova might have manufactured 100 feet of rope and might have +dragged a 12 foot ladder up the steep roof, but not a longer. D.W.] + +I had set the ladder in such a way that one end touched the window, +and the other went below the gutter. I next slid down to the roof of +the window, and drawing the ladder towards me I fastened the end of +my rope to the eighth round, and then let it go again till it was +parallel with the window. I then strove to get it in, but I could +not insert it farther than the fifth round, for the end of the ladder +being stopped by the inside roof of the window no force on earth +could have pushed it any further without breaking either the ladder +or the ceiling. There was nothing to be done but to lift it by the +other end; it would then slip down by its own weight. I might, it is +true, have placed the ladder across the window, and have fastened the +rope to it, in which manner I might have let myself down into the +loft without any risk; but the ladder would have been left outside to +shew Lawrence and the guards where to look for us and possibly to +find us in the morning. + +I did not care to risk by a piece of imprudence the fruit of so much +toil and danger, and to destroy all traces of our whereabouts the +ladder must be drawn in. Having no one to give me a helping hand, I +resolved to go myself to the parapet to lift the ladder and attain +the end I had in view. I did so, but at such a hazard as had almost +cost me my life. I could let go the ladder while I slackened the +rope without any fear of its falling over, as it had caught to the +parapet by the third rung. Then, my pike in my hand, I slid down +beside the ladder to the parapet, which held up the points of my +feet, as I was lying on my belly. In this position I pushed the +ladder forward, and was able to get it into the window to the length +of a foot, and that diminished by a good deal its weight. I now only +had to push it in another two feet, as I was sure that I could get it +in altogether by means of the rope from the roof of the window. To +impel the ladder to the extent required I got on my knees, but the +effort I had to use made me slip, and in an instant I was over the +parapet as far as my chest, sustained by my elbows. + +I shudder still when I think of this awful moment, which cannot be +conceived in all its horror. My natural instinct made me almost +unconsciously strain every nerve to regain the parapet, and--I had +nearly said miraculously--I succeeded. Taking care not to let myself +slip back an inch I struggled upwards with my hands and arms, while +my belly was resting on the edge of the parapet. Fortunately the +ladder was safe, for with that unlucky effort which had nearly cost +me so dearly I had pushed it in more than three feet, and there it +remained. + +Finding myself resting on my groin on the parapet, I saw that I had +only to lift up my right leg and to put up first one knee and then +the other to be absolutely out of danger; but I had not yet got to +the end of my trouble. The effort I made gave me so severe a spasm +that I became cramped and unable to use my limbs. However, I did not +lose my head, but kept quiet till the pain had gone off, knowing by +experience that keeping still is the best cure for the false cramp. +It was a dreadful moment! In two minutes I made another effort, and +had the good fortune to get my two knees on to the parapet, and as +soon as I had taken breath I cautiously hoisted the ladder and pushed +it half-way through the window. I then took my pike, and crawling up +as I had done before I reached the window, where my knowledge of the +laws of equilibrium and leverage aided me to insert the ladder to its +full length, my companion receiving the end of it. I then threw into +the loft the bundles and the fragments that I had broken off the +window, and I stepped down to the monk, who welcomed me heartily and +drew in the ladder. Arm in arm, we proceeded to inspect the gloomy +retreat in which we found ourselves, and judged it to be about thirty +paces long by twenty wide. + +At one end were folding-doors barred with iron. This looked bad, but +putting my hand to the latch in the middle it yielded to the +pressure, and the door opened. The first thing we did was to make +the tour of the room, and crossing it we stumbled against a large +table surrounded by stools and armchairs. Returning to the part +where we had seen windows, we opened the shutters of one of them, and +the light of the stars only shewed us: the cupolas and the depths +beneath them. I did not think for a moment of lowering myself down, +as I wished to know where I was going, and I did not recognize our +surroundings. I shut the window up, and we returned to the place +where we had left our packages. Quite exhausted I let myself fall on +the floor, and placing a bundle of rope under my head a sweet sleep +came to my, relief. I abandoned myself to it without resistance, and +indeed, I believe if death were to have been the result, I should +have slept all the same, and I still remember how I enjoyed that +sleep. + +It lasted for three and a half hours, and I was awakened by the +monk's calling out and shaking me. He told me that it had just +struck five. He said it was inconceivable to him how I could sleep +in the situation we were in. But that which was inconceivable to him +was not so to me. I had not fallen asleep on purpose, but had only +yielded to the demands of exhausted nature, and, if I may say so, to +the extremity of my need. In my exhaustion there was nothing to +wonder at, since I had neither eaten nor slept for two days, and the +efforts I had made--efforts almost beyond the limits of mortal +endurance--might well have exhausted any man. In my sleep my +activity had come back to me, and I was delighted to see the darkness +disappearing, so that we should be able to proceed with more +certainty and quickness. + +Casting a rapid glance around, I said to myself, "This is not a +prison, there ought, therefore, be some easy exit from it." We +addressed ourselves to the end opposite to the folding-doors, and in +a narrow recess I thought I made out a doorway. I felt it over and +touched a lock, into which I thrust my pike, and opened it with three +or four heaves. We then found ourselves in a small room, and I +discovered a key on a table, which I tried on a door opposite to us, +which, however, proved to be unlocked. I told the monk to go for our +bundles, and replacing the key we passed out and came into a gallery +containing presses full of papers. They were the state archives. I +came across a short flight of stone stairs, which I descended, then +another, which I descended also, and found a glass door at the end, +on opening which I entered a hall well known to me: we were in the +ducal chancery. I opened a window and could have got down easily, +but the result would have been that we should have been trapped in +the maze of little courts around St. Mark's Church. I saw on a desk +an iron instrument, of which I took possession; it had a rounded +point and a wooden handle, being used by the clerks of the chancery +to pierce parchments for the purpose of affixing the leaden seals. +On opening the desk I saw the copy of a letter advising the +Proveditore of Corfu of a grant of three thousand sequins for the +restoration of the old fortress. I searched for the sequins but they +were not there. God knows how gladly I would have taken them, and +how I would have laughed the monk to scorn if he had accused me of +theft! I should have received the money as a gift from Heaven, and +should have regarded myself as its master by conquest. + +Going to the door of the chancery, I put my bar in the keyhole, but +finding immediately that I could not break it open, I resolved on +making a hole in the door. I took care to choose the side where the +wood had fewest knots, and working with all speed I struck as hard +and as cleaving strokes as I was able. The monk, who helped me as +well as he could with the punch I had taken from the desk, trembled +at the echoing clamour of my pike which must have been audible at +some distance. I felt the danger myself, but it had to be risked. + +In half an hour the hole was large enough--a fortunate circumstance, +for I should have had much trouble in making it any larger without +the aid of a saw. I was afraid when I looked at the edges of the +hole, for they bristled with jagged pieces of wood which seemed made +for tearing clothes and flesh together. The hole was at a height of +five feet from the ground. We placed beneath it two stools, one +beside the other, and when we had stepped upon them the monk with +arms crossed and head foremost began to make his way through the +hole, and taking him by the thighs, and afterwards by the legs, I +succeeded in pushing him through, and though it was dark I felt quite +secure, as I knew the surroundings. As soon as my companion had +reached the other side I threw him my belongings, with the exception +of the ropes, which I left behind, and placing a third stool on the +two others, I climbed up, and got through as far as my middle, though +with much difficulty, owing to the extreme narrowness of the hole. +Then, having nothing to grasp with my hands, nor anyone to push me as +I had pushed the monk, I asked him to take me, and draw me gently and +by slow degrees towards him. He did so, and I endured silently the +fearful torture I had to undergo, as my thighs and legs were torn by +the splinters of wood. + +As soon as I got through I made haste to pick up my bundle of linen, +and going down two flights of stairs I opened without difficulty the +door leading into the passage whence opens the chief door to the +grand staircase, and in another the door of the closet of the 'Savio +alla scrittura'. The chief door was locked, and I saw at once that, +failing a catapult or a mine of gunpowder, I could not possibly get +through. The bar I still held seemed to say, "Hic fines posuit. My +use is ended and you can lay me down." It was dear to me as the +instrument of freedom, and was worthy of being hung as an 'ex voto' +on the altar of liberty. + +I sat down with the utmost tranquillity, and told the monk to do the +same. + +"My work is done," I said, "the rest must be left to God and fortune. + +"Abbia chi regge il ciel cura del resto, +O la fortuna se non tocca a lui. + +"I do not know whether those who sweep out the palace will come here +to-day, which is All Saints' Day, or tomorrow, All Souls' Day. If +anyone comes, I shall run out as soon as the door opens, and do you +follow after me; but if nobody comes, I do not budge a step, and if I +die of hunger so much the worse for me." + +At this speech of mine he became beside himself. He called me a +madman, seducer, deceiver, and a liar. I let him talk, and took no +notice. It struck six; only an hour had passed since I had my +awakening in the loft. + +My first task was to change my clothes. Father Balbi looked like a +peasant, but he was in better condition than I, his clothes were not +torn to shreds or covered with blood, his red flannel waistcoat and +purple breeches were intact, while my figure could only inspire pity +or terror, so bloodstained and tattered was I. I took off my +stockings, and the blood gushed out of two wounds I had given myself +on the parapet, while the splinters in the hole in the door had torn +my waistcoat, shirt, breeches, legs and thighs. I was dreadfully +wounded all over my body. I made bandages of handkerchiefs, and +dressed my wounds as best I could, and then put on my fine suit, +which on a winter's day would look odd enough. Having tied up my +hair, I put on white stockings, a laced shirt, failing any other, and +two others over it, and then stowing away some stockings and +handkerchiefs in my pockets, I threw everything else into a corner of +the room. I flung my fine cloak over the monk, and the fellow looked +as if he had stolen it. I must have looked like a man who has been +to a dance and has spent the rest of the night in a disorderly house, +though the only foil to my reasonable elegance of attire was the +bandages round my knees. + +In this guise, with my exquisite hat trimmed with Spanish lace and +adorned with a white feather on my head, I opened a window. I was +immediately remarked by some lounger in the palace court, who, not +understanding what anyone of my appearance was doing there at such an +early hour, went to tell the door-keeper of the circumstance. He, +thinking he must have locked somebody in the night before, went for +his keys and came towards us. I was sorry to have let myself be seen +at the window, not knowing that therein chance was working for our +escape, and was sitting down listening to the idle talk of the monk, +when I heard the jingling of keys. Much perturbed I got up and put +my eye to a chink in the door, and saw a man with a great bunch of +keys in his hand mounting leisurely up the stairs. I told the monk +not to open his mouth, to keep well behind me, and to follow my +steps. I took my pike, and concealing it in my right sleeve I got +into a corner by the door, whence I could get out as soon as it was +opened and run down the stairs. I prayed that the man might make no +resistance, as if he did I should be obliged to fell him to the +earth, and I determined to do so. + +The door opened; and the poor man as soon as he saw me seemed turned +to a stone. Without an instant's delay and in dead silence, I made +haste to descend the stairs, the monk following me. Avoiding the +appearance of a fugitive, but walking fast, I went by the giants' +Stairs, taking no notice of Father Balbi, who kept cabling: out "To +the church! to the church!" + +The church door was only about twenty paces from the stairs, but the +churches were no longer sanctuaries in Venice; and no one ever took +refuge in them. The monk knew this, but fright had deprived him of +his faculties. He told me afterwards that the motive which impelled +him to go to the church was the voice of religion bidding him seek +the horns of the altar. + +"Why didn't you go by yourself?" said I. + +"I did not, like to abandon you," but he should rather have said, "I +did not like to lose the comfort of your company." + +The safety I sought was beyond the borders of the Republic, and +thitherward I began to bend my steps. Already there in spirit, I +must needs be there in body also. I went straight towards the chief +door of the palace, and looking at no one that might be tempted to +look at me I got to the canal and entered the first gondola that I +came across, shouting to the boatman on the poop, + +"I want to go to Fusina ; be quick and, call another gondolier." + +This was soon done, and while the gondola was being got off I sat +down on the seat in the middle, and Balbi at the side. The odd +appearance of the monk, without a hat and with a fine cloak on his +shoulders, with my unseasonable attire, was enough to make people +take us for an astrologer and his man. + +As soon as we had passed the custom-house, the gondoliers began to +row with a will along the Giudecca Canal, by which we must pass to go +to Fusina or to Mestre, which latter place was really our +destination. When we had traversed half the length of the canal I +put my head out, and said to the waterman on the poop, + +"When do you think we shall get to Mestre?" + +"But you told me to go to Fusina." + +"You must be mad; I said Mestre." + +The other boatman said that I was mistaken, and the fool of a monk, +in his capacity of zealous Christian and friend of truth, took care +to tell me that I was wrong. I wanted to give him a hearty kick as a +punishment for his stupidity, but reflecting that common sense comes +not by wishing for it I burst into a peal of laughter, and agreed +that I might have made a mistake, but that my real intention was to +go to Mestre. To that they answered nothing, but a minute after the +master boatman said he was ready to take me to England if I liked. + +"Bravely spoken," said I, "and now for Mestre, ho!" "We shall be +there in three quarters of an hour, as the wind and tide are in our +favour." + +Well pleased I looked at the canal behind us, and thought it had +never seemed so fair, especially as there was not a single boat +coming our way. It was a glorious morning, the air was clear and +glowing with the first rays of the sun, and my two young watermen +rowed easily and well; and as I thought over the night of sorrow, the +dangers I had escaped, the abode where I had been fast bound the day +before, all the chances which had been in my favour, and the liberty +of which I now began to taste the sweets, I was so moved in my heart +and grateful to my God that, well nigh choked with emotion, I burst +into tears. + +My nice companion who had hitherto only spoken to back up the +gondoliers, thought himself bound to offer me his consolations. He +did not understand why I was weeping, and the tone he took made me +pass from sweet affliction to a strange mirthfulness which made him +go astray once more, as he thought I had got mad. The poor monk, as +I have said, was a fool, and whatever was bad about him was the +result of his folly. I had been under the sad necessity of turning +him to account, but though without intending to do so he had almost +been my ruin. It was no use trying to make him believe that I had +told the gondoliers to go to Fusina whilst I intended to go to +Mestre; he said I could not have thought of that till I got on to the +Grand Canal. + +In due course we reached Mestre. There were no horses to ride post, +but I found men with coaches who did as well, and I agreed with one +of them to take me to Trevisa in an hour and a quarter. The horses +were put in in three minutes, and with the idea that Father Balbi was +behind me I turned round to say "Get up," but lie was not there. I +told an ostler to go and look for him, with the intention of +reprimanding him sharply, even if he had gone for a necessary +occasion, for we had no time to waste, not even thus. The man came +back saying he could not find' him, to my great rage and indignation. +I was tempted to abandon him, but a feeling of humanity restrained +me. I made enquiries all round; everybody had seen him, but not a +soul knew where he was. I walked along the High Street, and some +instinct prompting me to put my head in at the window of a caf‚. +I saw the wretched man standing at the bar drinking chocolate and +making love to the girl. Catching sight of me, he pointed to the +girl and said-- + +"She's charming," and then invited me to take a cup of chocolate, +saying that I must pay, as he hadn't a penny. I kept back my wrath +and answered, + +"I don't want any, and do you make haste!" and caught hold of his arm +in such sort that he turned white with pain. I paid the money and we +went out. I trembled with anger. We got into our coach, but we had +scarcely gone ten paces before I recognised: an inhabitant, of Mestre +named Balbi Tommasi, a good sort of man; but reported to be one of +the familiars of the Holy Office. He knew me, too, and coming up +called out, + +"I am delighted to see you here. I suppose you have just escaped. +How did you do it?" + +"I have not escaped, but have been set at liberty." + +"No, no, that's not possible, as I was at M. Grimani's yesterday +evening, and I should have heard of it." + +It will be easier for the reader to imagine my state of mind than for +me to describe it. I was discovered by a man whom I believed to be a +hired agent of the Government, who only had to give a glance to one +of the sbirri with whom Mestre swarmed to have me arrested. I told +him to speak softly, and getting down I asked him to come to one +side. I took him behind a house, and seeing that there was nobody in +sight, a ditch in front, beyond which the open country extended, I +grasped my pike and took him by the neck. At this: he gave a +struggle, slipped out of my hands, leapt over the ditch, and without +turning round set off to run at, full speed. As soon as he was some +way off he slackened his course, turned round and kissed his hand to +me, in token of wishing me a prosperous journey. And as soon; as he +was out of my sight I gave thanks to God that, this man by his +quickness had- preserved me from the commission of a crime, for I +would have killed him; and he, as it turned out, bore me no ill will. + +I was in a terrible position. In open war with all the powers of- +the Republic, everything had to give way to my safety, which made me +neglect no means of attaining my ends. + +With the gloom of a man who has passed through a great peril, I gave +a glance of contempt towards the monk, who now saw to what danger he +had exposed us, and then got up again into the carriage. We reached +Trevisa without further adventure, and I told the posting-master to +get me a carriage and two horses ready by ten o'clock; though I had +no intention of continuing my journey along the highway, both +because. I lacked means; and because I feared pursuit. The inn- +keeper asked me, if I would take any breakfast, of which I stood in +great need, for I was dying with hunger, but I did not dare to, +accept his offer, as a quarter of an hour's delay might, prove fatal. +I was afraid of being retaken, and of being ashamed of it for the +rest of my life; for a man of sense ought to be able to snap his +fingers at four hundred thousand men in the open country, and if he +cannot escape capture he must be a fool. + +I went out by St. Thomas's Gate as if I was going for a short walk, +and after walking for a mile on the highway I struck into the fields, +resolving not to leave them as long as I should be within the borders +of the Republic. The shortest way was by Bassano, but I took the +longer path, thinking I might possibly be expected on the more direct +road, while they would never think of my leaving the Venetian +territory by way of Feltre, which is the longest way of getting into +the state subject to the Bishop of Trent. + +After walking for three hours I let myself drop to the ground, for I +could not move a step further. I must either take some food or die +there, so I told the monk to leave the cloak with me and go to a farm +I saw, there to buy something to eat. I gave him the money, and he +set off, telling me that he thought I had more courage. The +miserable man did not know what courage was, but he was more robust +than myself, and he had, doubtless, taken in provisions before +leaving the prison. Besides he had had some chocolate; he was thin +and wiry, and a monk, and mental anxieties were unknown to him. + +Although the house was not an inn, the good farmer's wife sent me a +sufficient meal which only cost me thirty Venetian sous. After +satisfying my appetite, feeling that sleep was creeping on me, I set +out again on the tramp, well braced up. In four hours' time I +stopped at a hamlet, and found that I was twenty-four miles from +Trevisa. I was done up, my ankles were swollen, and my shoes were in +holes. There was only another hour of day-light before us. +Stretching myself out beneath a grove of trees I made Father Balbi +sit by me, and discoursed to him in the manner following: + +"We must make for Borgo di Valsugano, it is the first town beyond the +borders of the Republic. We shall be as safe there as if we were in +London, and we can take our ease for awhile; but to get there we must +go carefully to work, and the first thing we must do is to separate. +You must go by Mantello Woods, and I by the mountains; you by the +easiest and shortest way, and I by the longest and most difficult; +you with money and I without a penny. I will make you a present of +my cloak, which you must exchange for a great coat and a hat, and +everybody will take you for a countryman, as you are luckily rather +like one in the face. Take these seventeen livres, which is all that +remains to me of the two sequins Count Asquin gave me. You will +reach Borgo by the day after to-morrow, and I shall be twenty-four +hours later. Wait for me in the first inn on the left-hand side of +the street, and be sure I shall come in due season. I require a good +night's rest in a good bed; and Providence will get me one somewhere, +but I must sleep without fear of being disturbed, and in your company +that would be out of the question. I am certain that we are being +sought for on all sides, and that our descriptions have been so +correctly given that if we went into any inn together we should be +certain to be arrested. You see the state I am in, and my urgent +necessity for a ten hours' rest. Farewell, then, do you go that way +and I will take this, and I will find somewhere near here a rest for +the sole of my foot." + +"I have been expecting you to say as much," said Father Balbi, "and +for answer I will remind you of the promise you gave me when I let +myself be persuaded to break into your cell. You promised me that we +should always keep company; and so don't flatter yourself that I +shall leave you, your fate and mine are linked together. We shall be +able to get a good refuge for our money, we won't go to the inns, and +no one will arrest us." + +"You are determined, are you, not to follow the good advice I have +given you?" + +"I am." + +"We shall see about that." + +I rose to my feet, though with some difficulty, and taking the +measure of his height I marked it out upon the ground, then drawing +my pike from my pocket, I proceeded with the utmost coolness to +excavate the earth, taking no notice of the questions the monk asked +me. After working: for a quarter of an hour I set myself to gaze +sadly upon him, and I told him that I felt obliged as a Christian to +warn him to commend his soul to God, "since I am about to bury you +here, alive or dead; and if you prove the stronger, you will bury me. +You can escape if you wish to, as I shall not pursue you." + +He made no reply, and I betook myself to my work again, but I confess +that I began to be afraid of being (rushed to extremities by this +brute, of whom I was determined to rid myself. + +At last, whether convinced by my arguments or afraid Of my pike, he +came towards me. Not guessing. What he was about, I presented the +point of my pike towards him, but I had nothing to fear. + +"I will do what you want," said he. + +I straightway gave him all the money I had, and promising to rejoin +him at Borgo I bade him farewell. Although I had not a penny in my +pocket and had two rivers to cross over, I congratulated myself on +having got rid of a man of his character, for by myself I felt +confident of being able to cross the bounds of the Republic. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +I Find a Lodging in the House of the Chief of the Sbirri--I Pass a +Good Night There and Recover My Strength--I Go to Mass-- +A Disagreeable Meeting I Am Obliged to Take Six Sequins by Force-- +Out of Danger--Arrived at Munich--Balbi I Set Out for Paris-- +My Arrival--Attempt on the Life of Louis XV + + +As soon as I saw Father Balbi far enough off I got up, and seeing at +a little distance a shepherd keeping his flock on the hill-side, I +made my way-towards him to obtain such information as I needed. +"What is the name of this village, my friend?" said I. + +"Valde Piadene, signor," he answered, to my surprise, for I found I +was much farther on my way that I thought. I next asked him the +owners of five or six houses which I saw scattered around, and the +persons he mentioned chanced to be all known to me, but were not the +kind of men I should have cared to trouble with my presence. On my +asking him the name of a palace before me, he said it belonged to the +Grimanis, the chief of whom was a State Inquisitor, and then resident +at the palace, so I had to take care not to let him see me. Finally, +an my enquiring the owner of a red house in the distance, he told me, +much to my surprise, that it belonged to the chief of the sbirri. +Bidding farewell to the kindly shepherd I began to go down the hill +mechanically, and I am still puzzled to know what instinct directed +my steps towards that house, which common sense and fear also should +have made me shun. I steered my course for it in a straight line, +and I can say with truth that I did so quite unwittingly. If it be +true that we have all of us an invisible intelligence--a beneficent +genius who guides our steps aright--as was the case with Socrates, to +that alone I should attribute the irresistible attraction which drew +me towards the house where I had most to dread. However that may be, +it was the boldest stroke I have played in my whole life. + +I entered with an easy and unconstrained air, and asked a child who +was playing at top in the court-yard where his father was. Instead +of replying, the child went to call his mother, and directly +afterwards appeared a pretty woman in the family way, who politely +asked me my business with her husband, apologizing for his absence. + +"I am sorry," I said, "to hear that my gossip is not in, though at +the same time I am delighted to make the acquaintance of his charming +wife." + +"Your gossip? You will be M. Vetturi, then? My husband told me that +you had kindly promised to be the god-father of our next child. I am +delighted to know you, but my husband will be very vexed to have been +away: + +"I hope he will soon return, as I wanted to ask him for a night's +lodging. I dare not go anywhere in the state you see me." + +"You shall have the best bed in the house, and I will get you a good +supper. My husband when he comes back will thank your excellence for +doing us so much honour. He went away with all his people an hour +ago, and I don't expect him back for three or four days." + +"Why is he away for such a long time, my dear madam?" + +"You have not heard, then, that two prisoners have escaped from The +Leads? One is a noble and the other a private individual named +Casanova. My husband has received a letter from Messer-Grande +ordering him to make a search for them; if he find them he will take +them back to Venice, and if not he will return here, but he will be +on the look-out for three days at least." + +"I am sorry for this accident, my dear madam, but I should not like +to put you out, and indeed I should be glad to lie down immediately." + +"You shall do so, and my mother shall attend to your wants. But what +is the matter with your knees?" + +"I fell down whilst hunting on the mountains, and gave myself some +severe wounds, and am much weakened by loss of blood." + +"Oh! my poor gentleman, my poor gentleman! But my mother will cure +you." + +She called her mother, and having told her of my necessities she went +out. This pretty sbirress had not the wit of her profession, for the +story I had told her sounded like a fairy-tale. On horseback with +white silk stockings! Hunting in sarcenet, without cloak and without +a man! Her husband would make fine game of her when he came back; +but God bless her for her kind heart and benevolent stupidity. Her +mother tended me with all the politeness I should have met with in +the best families. The worthy woman treated me like a mother, and +called me "son" as she attended to my wounds. The name sounded +pleasantly in my ears, and did no little towards my cure by the +sentiments it awoke in my breast. If I had been less taken up with +the position I was in I should have repaid her care with some evident +marks of the gratitude I felt, but the place I was in and the part I +was playing made the situation too serious a one for me to think of +anything else. + +This kindly woman, after looking at my knees and my thighs, told me +that I must make my mind to suffer a little pain, but I might be sure +of being cured by the morning. All I had to do was to bear the +application of medicated linen to my wounds, and not to stir till the +next day. I promised to bear the pain patiently, and to do exactly +as she told me. + +I was given an excellent supper, and I ate and drank with good +appetite. I then gave myself up to treatment, and fell asleep whilst +my nurse was attending to me. I suppose she undressed me as she +would a child, but I remembered nothing about it when I woke up--I +was, in fact, totally unconscious. Though I had made a good supper I +had only done so to satisfy my craving for food and to regain my +strength, and sleep came to me with an irresistible force, as my +physical exhaustion did not leave me the power of arguing myself out +of it. I took my supper at six o'clock in the evening, and I heard +six striking as I awoke. I seemed to have been enchanted. Rousing +myself up and gathering my wits together, I first took off the linen +bandages, and I was astonished to find my wounds healed and quite +free from pain. I did my hair, dressed myself in less than five +minutes, and finding the door of my room open I went downstairs, +crossed the court, and left the house behind me, without appearing to +notice two individuals who were standing outside, and must have been +sbirri. I made haste to lengthen the distance between me and the +place where I had found the kindliest hospitality, the utmost +politeness, the most tender care, and best of all, new health and +strength, and as I walked I could not help feeling terrified at the +danger I had been in. I shuddered involuntarily; and at the present +moment, after so many years, I still shudder when I think of the +peril to which I had so heedlessly exposed myself. I wondered how I +managed to go in, and still more how I came out; it seemed absurd +that I should not be followed. For five hours I tramped on, keeping +to the woods and mountains, not meeting a soul besides a few +countryfolk, and turning neither to the right nor left. + +It was not yet noon, when, as I went along my way, I stopped short at +the sound of a bell. I was on high ground, and looking in the +direction from which the sound came I saw, a little church in the +valley, and many, people going towards it to hear mass. My heart +desired to express thankfulness for the protection of Providence, +and, though all nature was a temple worthy of its Creator, custom +drew me to the church. When men are in trouble, every passing +thought seems an inspiration. It was All Souls' Day. I went down +the hill, and came into the church, and saw, to my astonishment, M. +Marc Antoine Grimani, the nephew of the State Inquisitor, with Madame +Marie Visani, his wife. I made my bow; which was returned, and after +I had heard mass I left the church. M. Grimani followed me by +himself, and when he had got near me, called me by name, saying, +"What are you doing here, Casanova, and what has become of your +friend?" + +"I have given him what little money I had for him to escape by +another road, whilst I, without a penny in my pocket, am endeavouring +to reach a place of safety by this way. If your excellence would +kindly give me some help, it would speed my journey for me." + +"I can't give you anything, but you will find recluses on your way +who won't let you die of hunger. But tell me how you contrived to +pierce the roof of The Leads." + +"The story is an interesting one, but it would take up too much time, +and in the meanwhile the recluses might eat up the food which is to +keep me from dying of hunger." + +With this sarcasm I made him a profound bow, and went upon my way. +In spite of my great want, his refusal pleased me, as it made me +think myself a better gentleman than the "excellence" who had +referred me to the charity of recluses. I heard at Paris afterwards +that when his wife heard of it she reproached him for his hard- +hearted behaviour. There can be no doubt that kindly and generous +feelings are more often to be found in the hearts of women than of +men. + +I continued my journey till sunset. Weary and faint with hunger I +stopped at a good-looking house, which stood by itself. I asked to +speak to the master, and the porter told me that he was not in as he +had gone to a wedding on the other side of the river, and would be +away for two days, but that he had bidden him to welcome all his +friends while he was away. Providence! luck! chance! whichever you +like. + +I went in and was treated to a good supper and a good bed. I found +by the addresses of some letters which were lying about that I was +being entertained in the house of M. Rombenchi--a consul, of what +nation I know not. I wrote a letter to him and sealed it to await +his return. After making an excellent supper and having had a good +sleep, I rose, and dressing myself carefully set out again without +being able to leave the porter any mark of my gratitude, and shortly +afterwards crossed the river, promising to pay when I came back. +After walking for five hours I dined in a monastery of Capuchins, who +are very useful to people in my position. I then set out again, +feeling fresh and strong, and walked along at a good pace till three +o'clock. I halted at a house which I found from a countryman +belonged to a friend of mine. I walked in, asked if the master was +at home, and was shewn into a room where he was writing by himself. +I stepped forward to greet him, but as soon as he saw me he seemed +horrified and bid me be gone forthwith, giving me idle and insulting +reasons for his behaviour. I explained to him how I was situated, +and asked him to let me have sixty sequins on my note of hand, drawn +on M. de Bragadin. He replied that he could not so much as give me a +glass of water, since he dreaded the wrath of the Tribunal for my +very presence in his house. He was a stockbroker, about sixty years +old, and was under great obligations to me. His inhuman refusal +produced quite a different effect on me than that of M. Grimani. +Whether from rage, indignation, or nature, I took him by the collar, +I shewed him my pike, and raising my voice threatened to kill him. +Trembling all over, he took a key from his pocket and shewing me a +bureau told me he kept money there, and I had only to open it and +take what I wanted; I told him to open it himself. He did so, and on +his opening a drawer containing gold, I told him to count me out six +sequins. + +"You asked me for sixty." + +"Yes, that was when I was asking a loan of you as a friend; but since +I owe the money to force, I require six only, and I will give you no +note of hand. You shall be repaid at Venice, where I shall write of +the pass to which you forced me, you cowardly wretch!" + +"I beg your pardon! take the sixty sequins, I entreat you." + +"No, no more. I am going on my way, and I advise you not to hinder +me, lest in my despair I come back and burn your house about your +ears." + +I went out and walked for two hours, until the approach of night and +weariness made me stop short at the house of a farmer, where I had a +bad supper and a bed of straw. In the morning, I bought an old +overcoat, and hired an ass to journey on, and near Feltre I bought a +pair of boots. In this guise I passed the hut called the Scala. +There was a guard there who, much to my delight, as the reader will +guess, did not even honour me by asking my name. I then took a two- +horse carriage and got to Borgo de Valsugano in good time, and found +Father Balbi at the inn I had told him of. If he had not greeted me +first I should not have known him. A great overcoat, a low hat over +a thick cotton cap, disguised him to admiration. He told me that a +farmer had given him these articles in exchange for my cloak, that he +had arrived without difficulty, and was faring well. He was kind +enough to tell me that he did not expect to see me, as he did not +believe my promise to rejoin him was made in good faith. Possibly I +should have been wise not to undeceive him on this account. + +I passed the following day in the inn, where, without getting out of +my bed, I wrote more than twenty letters to Venice, in many of which +I explained what I had been obliged to do to get the six sequins. + +The monk wrote impudent letters to his superior, Father Barbarigo, +and to his brother nobles, and love-letters to the servant girls who +had been his ruin. I took the lace off my dress, and sold my hat, +and thus got rid of a gay appearance unsuitable to my position, as it +made me too much an object of notice. + +The next day I went to Pergina and lay there, and was visited by a +young Count d'Alberg, who had discovered, in some way or another, +that we had escaped from the state-prisons of Venice. From Pergina I +went to Trent and from there to Bolzan, where, needing money for my +dress, linen, and the continuation of my journey, I introduced myself +to an old banker named Mensch, who gave me a man to send to Venice +with a letter to M. de Bragadin. In the mean time the old banker put +me in a good inn where I spent the six days the messenger was away in +bed. He brought me the sum of a hundred sequins, and my first care +was to clothe my companion, and afterwards myself. Every day I found +the society of the wretched Balbi more intolerable. "Without me you +would never have escaped" was continually in his mouth, and he kept +reminding me that I had promised him half of whatever money I got. +He made love to all the servant girls, and as he had neither the +figure nor the manners to please them, his attentions were returned +with good hearty slaps, which he bore patiently, but was as +outrageous as ever in the course of twenty-four hours. I was amused, +but at the same time vexed to be coupled to a man of so low a nature. + +We travelled post, and in three days we got to Munich, where I went +to lodge at the sign of the "Stag." There I found two young +Venetians of the Cantarini family, who had been there some time in +company with Count Pompei, a Veronese; but not knowing them, and +having no longer any need of depending on recluses for my daily +bread, I did not care to pay my respects to them. It was otherwise +with Countess Coronini, whom I knew at St. Justine's Convent at +Venice, and who stood very well with the Bavarian Court. + +This illustrious lady, then seventy years old, gave me a good +reception and promised to speak , on my behalf to the Elector, with a +view to his granting me an asylum in his country. The next day, +having fulfilled her promise, she told me that his highness had +nothing to say against me, but as for Balbi there was no safety for +him in Bavaria, for as a fugitive monk he might be claimed by the +monks at Munich, and his highness had no wish to meddle with the +monks. The countess advised me therefore to get him out of the town +as soon as possible, for him to fly to some other quarter, and thus +to avoid the bad turn which his beloved brethren the monks were +certain to do him. + +Feeling in duty bound to look after the interests of the wretched +fellow, I went to the Elector's confessor to ask him to give Balbi +letters of introduction to some town in Swabia. The confessor, a +Jesuit, did not give the lie to the fine reputation of his brethren +of the order; his reception of me was as discourteous as it well +could be. He told me in a careless way that at Munich I was well +known. I asked him without flinching if I was to take this as a +piece of good or bad news; but he made no answer, and left me +standing. Another priest told me that he had gone out to verify the +truth of a miracle of which the whole town was talking. + +"What miracle is that, reverend father?" I said. + +"The empress, the widow of Charles VII, whose body is still exposed +to the public gaze, has warm feet, although she is dead." + +"Perhaps something keeps them warm." + +"You can assure yourself personally of the truth of this wonderful +circumstance." + +To neglect such an opportunity would have been to lose the chance of +mirth or edification, and I was as desirous of the one as of the +other. Wishing to be able to boast that I had seen a miracle--and +one, moreover, of a peculiar interest for myself, who have always had +the misfortune to suffer from cold feet--I went to see the mighty +dead. It was quite true that her feet were warm, but the matter was +capable of a simple explanation, as the feet of her defunct majesty +were turned towards a burning lamp at a little distance off. A +dancer of my acquaintance, whom curiosity had brought there with the +rest, came up to me, complimented me upon my fortunate escape, and +told me everybody was talking about it. His news pleased me, as it +is always a good thing to interest the public. This son of +Terpsichore asked me to dinner, and I was glad to accept his +invitation. His name was Michel de l'Agata, and his wife was the +pretty Gandela, whom I had known sixteen years ago at the old +Malipiero's. The Gandela was enchanted to see me, and to hear from +my own lips the story of my wondrous escape. She interested herself +on behalf of the monk, and offered me to give him a letter of +introduction for Augsburg Canon Bassi, of Bologna, who was Dean of +St. Maurice's Chapter, and a friend of hers. I took advantage of the +offer, and she forthwith wrote me the letter, telling me that I need +not trouble myself any more about the monk, as she was sure that the +dean would take care of him, and even make it all right at Venice. + +Delighted at getting rid of him in so honourable a manner, I ran to +the inn, told him what I had done, gave him the letter, and promised +not to abandon him in the case of the dean's not giving him a warm +welcome. I got him a good carriage, and started him off the next day +at daybreak. Four days after, Balbi wrote that the dean had received +him with great kindness, that he had given him a room in the deanery, +that he had dressed him as an abbe, that he had introduced him to +the Prince-Bishop of Armstadt, and that he had received assurances of +his safety from the civil magistrates. Furthermore, the dean had +promised to keep him till he obtained his secularization from Rome, +and with it freedom to return to Venice, for as soon as he ceased to +be a monk the Tribunal would have no lien upon him. Father Balbi +finished by asking me to send him a few sequins for pocket-money, as +he was too much of a gentleman to ask the dean who, quoth the +ungrateful fellow, "is not gentleman enough to offer to give me +anything." I gave him no answer. + +As I was now alone in peace and quietness, I thought seriously of +regaining my health, for my sufferings had given me nervous spasms +which might become dangerous. I put myself on diet, and in three +weeks I was perfectly well. In the meanwhile Madame Riviere came +from Dresden with her son and two daughters. She was going to Paris +to marry the elder. The son had been diligent, and would have passed +for a young man of culture. The elder daughter, who was going to +marry an actor, was extremely beautiful, an accomplished ,dancer, and +played on the clavichord like a professional, and was altogether most +charming and graceful. This pleasant family was delighted to see me +again, and I thought myself fortunate when Madame Riviere, +anticipating my wishes, intimated to me that my company as far as +Paris would give them great pleasure. I had nothing to say +respecting the expenses of the journey. I had to accept their offer +in its entirety. My design was to settle in Paris, and I took this +stroke of fortune as an omen of success in the only town where the +blind goddess freely dispenses her favours to those who leave +themselves to be guided by her, and know how to take advantage of her +gifts. And, as the reader will see by and by, I was not mistaken; +but all the gifts of fortune were of no avail, since I abused them +all by my folly. Fifteen months under the Leads should have made me +aware of my weak points, but in point of fact I needed a little +longer stay to learn how to cure myself of my failings. + +Madame Riviere wished to take me with her, but she could not put off +her departure, and I required a week's delay to get money and letters +from Venice. She promised to wait a week in Strassburg, and we +agreed that if possible I would join her there. She left Munich on +the 18th of December. + +Two days afterwards I got from Venice the bill of exchange for which +I was waiting. I made haste to pay my debts, and immediately +afterwards I started for Augsburg, not so much for the sake of seeing +Father Balbi, as because I wanted to make the acquaintance of the +kindly dean who had rid me of him. I reached Augsburg in seven hours +after leaving Munich, and I went immediately to the house of the good +ecclesiastic. He was not in, but I found Balbi in an abbe's dress, +with his hair covered with white powder, which set off in a new but +not a pleasing manner the beauties of his complexion of about the +same colour as a horse chestnut. Balbi was under forty, but he was +decidedly ugly, having one of those faces in which baseness, +cowardice, impudence, and malice are plainly expressed, joining to +this advantage a tone of voice and manners admirably calculated to +repulse anyone inclined to do him a service. I found him comfortably +housed, well looked after, and well clad; he had books and all the +requisites for writing. I complimented him upon his situation, +calling him a fortunate fellow, and applying the same epithet to +myself for having gained him all the advantages he enjoyed, and the +hope of one day becoming a secular priest. But the ungrateful hound, +instead of thanking me, reproached me for having craftily rid myself +of him, and added that, as I was going to Paris, I might as well take +him with me, as the dullness of Augsburg was almost killing him. + +"What do you want at Paris?" + +"What do you want yourself?" + +"To put my talents to account." + +"So do I." + +"Well, then, you don't require me, and can fly on your own wings. +The people who are taking me to Paris would probably not care for me +if I had you for a companion." + +"You promised not to abandon me." + +"Can a man who leaves another well provided for and an assured future +be said to abandon him?" + +"Well provided! I have not got a penny." + +"What do you want with money? You have a good table, a good lodging, +clothes, linen, attendance, and so forth. And if you want pocket- +money, why don't you ask your brethren the monks?" + +"Ask monks for money? They take it, but they don't give it." + +"Ask your friends, then." + +"I have no friends." + +"You are to be pitied, but the reason probably is that you have never +been a friend to anyone. You ought to say masses, that is a good way +of getting money." + +"I am unknown." + +"You must wait, then, till you are known, and then you can make up +for lost time." + +"Your suggestions are idle; you will surely give me a few sequins." + +"I can't spare any." + +"Wait for the dean. He will be back to-morrow. You can talk to him +and persuade him to lend me some money. You can tell him that I will +pay it back." + +"I cannot wait, for I am setting out on my journey directly, and were +he here this moment I should not have the face to tell him to lend +you money after all his generous treatment of you, and when he or +anyone can see that you have all you need." + +After this sharp dialogue I left him, and travelling post I set out, +displeased with myself for having given such advantages to a man +wholly unworthy of them. In the March following I had a letter from +the good Dean Bassi, in which he told me how Balbi had run away, +taking with him one of his servant girls, a sum of money, a gold +watch, and a dozen silver spoons and forks. He did not know where he +was gone. + +Towards the end of the same year I learnt at Paris that the wretched +man had taken refuge at Coire, the capital of the Grisons, where he +asked to be made a member of the Calvinistic Church, and to be +recognized as lawful husband of the woman with him; but in a short +time the community discovered that the new convert was no good, and +expelled him from the bosom of the Church of Calvin. Our ne'er-do- +well having no more money, his wife left him, and he, not knowing +what to do next, took the desperate step of going to Bressa, a town +within the Venetian territory, where he sought the governor, telling +him his name, the story of his flight, and his repentance, begging +the governor to take him under his protection and to obtain his +pardon. + +The first effect of the podesta's protection was that the penitent +was imprisoned, and he then wrote to the Tribunal to know what to do +with him. The Tribunal told him to send Father Balbi in chains to +Venice, and on his arrival Messer-Grande gave him over to the +Tribunal, which put him once more under the Leads. He did not find +Count Asquin there, as the Tribunal, out of consideration for his +great age, had moved him to The Fours a couple of months after our +escape. + +Five or six years later, I heard that the Tribunal, after keeping the +unlucky monk for two years under the Leads, had sent him to his +convent. There, his superior fearing lest his flock should take +contagion from this scabby sheep, sent him to their original +monastery near Feltre, a lonely building on a height. However, Balbi +did not stop there six months. Having got the key of the fields, he +went to Rome, and threw himself at the feet of Pope Rezzonico, who +absolved him of his sins, and released him from his monastic vows. +Balbi, now a secular priest, returned to Venice, where he lived a +dissolute and wretched life. In 1783 he died the death of Diogenes, +minus the wit of the cynic. + +At Strassburg I rejoined Madame Riviere and her delightful family, +from whom I received a sincere and hearty welcome. We were staying +at the "Hotel de l'Esprit," and we passed a few days there most +pleasurably, afterwards setting out in an excellent travelling +carriage for Paris the Only, Paris the Universal. During the journey +I thought myself bound to the expense of making it a pleasant one, as +I had not to put my hand in my pocket for other expenses. The charms +of Mdlle. Riviere enchanted me, but I should have esteemed myself +wanting in gratitude and respect to this worthy family if I had +darted at her a single amorous glance, or if I had let her suspect my +feelings for her by a single word. In fact I thought myself obliged +to play the heavy father, though my age did not fit me for the part, +and I lavished on this agreeable family all the care which can be +given in return for pleasant society, a seat in a comfortable +travelling carriage, an excellent table, and a good bed. + +We reached Paris on the 5th of January, 1757, and I went to the house +of my friend Baletti, who received me with open arms, and assured me +that though I had not written he had been expecting me, since he +judged that I would strive to put the greatest possible distance +between myself and Venice, and he could think of no other retreat for +me than Paris. The whole house kept holiday when my arrival became +known, and I have never met with more sincere regard than in that +delightful family. I greeted with enthusiasm the father and mother, +whom I found exactly the same as when I had seen them last in 1752, +but I was struck with astonishment at the daughter whom I had left a +child, for she was now a tall and well-shaped girl. Mdlle. Baletti +was fifteen years old, and her mother had brought her up with care, +had given her the best masters, virtue, grace, talents, a good +manner, tact, a knowledge of society-in short, all that a clever +mother can give to a dear daughter. + +After finding a pleasant lodging near the Baletti's, I took a coach +and went to the "Hotel de Bourbon" with the intention of calling on +M. de Bernis, who was then chief secretary for foreign affairs. I +had good reasons for relying on his assistance. He was out; he had +gone to Versailles. At Paris one must go sharply to work, and, as it +is vulgarly but forcibly said, "strike while the iron's hot." As I +was impatient to see what kind of a reception I should get from the +liberal-minded lover of my fair M---- M----, I went to the Pont- +Royal, took a hackney coach, and went to Versailles. Again bad luck! + +Our coaches crossed each other on the way, and my humble equipage had +not caught his excellency's eye. M. de Bernis had returned to Paris +with Count de Castillana, the ambassador from Naples, and I +determined to return also; but when I got to the gate I saw a mob of +people running here and there in the greatest confusion, and from all +sides I heard the cry, "The king is assassinated! The king is +assassinated!" + +My frightened coachman only thought of getting on his way, but the +coach was stopped. I was made to get out and taken to the guard- +room, where there were several people already, and in less than three +minutes there were twenty of us, all under arrest, all astonished at +the situation, and all as much guilty as I was. We sat glum and +silent, looking at each other without daring to speak. I knew not +what to think, and not believing in enchantment I began to think I +must be dreaming. Every face expressed surprise, as everyone, though +innocent, was more or less afraid. + +We were not left in this disagreeable position for long, as in five +minutes an officer came in, and after some polite apologies told us +we were free. + +"The king is wounded," he said, "and he has been taken to his room. +The assassin, whom nobody knows, is under arrest. M. de la +Martiniere is being looked for everywhere." + +As soon as I had got back to my coach, and was thinking myself lucky +for being there, a gentlemanly-looking young man came up to me and +besought me to give him a seat in my coach, and he would gladly pay +half the fare; but in spite of the laws of politeness I refused his +request. I may possibly have been wrong. On any other occasion I +should have been most happy to give him a place, but there are times +when prudence does not allow one to be polite. I was about three +hours on the way, and in this short time I was overtaken every minute +by at least two hundred couriers riding at a breakneck pace. Every +minute brought a new courier, and every courier shouted his news to +the winds. The first told me what I already knew; then I heard that +the king had been bled, that the wound was not mortal, and finally, +that the wound was trifling, and that his majesty could go to the +Trianon if he liked. + +Fortified with this good news, I went to Silvia's and found the +family at table. I told them I had just come from Versailles. + +"The king has been assassinated." + +"Not at all; he is able to go to the Trianon, or the Parc-aux-cerfs, +if he likes. M. de la Martiniere has bled him, and found him to be +in no danger. The assassin has been arrested, and the wretched man +will be burnt, drawn with red-hot pincers, and quartered." + +This news was soon spread abroad by Silvia's servants, and a crowd of +the neighbours came to hear what I had to say, and I had to repeat +the same thing ten times over. At this period the Parisians fancied +that they loved the king. They certainly acted the part of loyal +subjects to admiration. At the present day they are more +enlightened, and would only love the sovereign whose sole desire is +the happiness of his people, and such a king--the first citizens of a +great nation--not Paris and its suburbs, but all France, will be +eager to love and obey. As for kings like Louis XV., they have +become totally impracticable; but if there are any such, however much +they may be supported by interested parties, in the eyes of public +opinion they will be dishonoured and disgraced before their bodies +are in a grave and their names are written in the book of history. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +The Minister of Foreign Affairs M. de Boulogne, the Comptroller-- +M. le Duc de Choiseul--M. Paris du Vernai--Establishment of the +Lottery--My Brother's Arrival at Paris; His Reception by the Academy + +Once more, then, I was in Paris, which I ought to regard as my +fatherland, since I could return no more to that land which gave me +birth: an unworthy country, yet, in spite of all, ever dear to me, +possibly on account of early impressions and early prejudices, or +possibly because the beauties of Venice are really unmatched in the +world. But mighty Paris is a place of good luck or ill, as one takes +it, and it was my part to catch the favouring gale. + +Paris was not wholly new to me, as my readers know I had spent two +years there, but I must confess that, having then no other aim than +to pass the time pleasantly, I had merely devoted myself to pleasure +and enjoyment. Fortune, to whom I had paid no court, had not opened +to me her golden doors; but I now felt that I must treat her more +reverently, and attach myself to the throng of her favoured sons whom +she loads with her gifts. I understood now that the nearer one draws +to the sun the more one feels the warmth of its rays. I saw that to +attain my end I should have to employ all my mental and physical +talents, that I must make friends of the great, and take cue from all +whom I found it to be my interest to please. To follow the plans +suggested by these thoughts, I saw that I must avoid what is called +bad company, that I must give up my old habits and pretensions, which +would be sure to make me enemies, who would have no scruple in +representing me as a trifler, and not fit to be trusted with affairs +of any importance. + +I think I thought wisely, and the reader, I hope, will be of the same +opinion. "I will be reserved," said I, "in what I say and what I do, +and thus I shall get a reputation for discretion which will bring its +reward." + +I was in no anxiety on the score of present needs, as I could reckon +on a monthly allowance of a hundred crowns, which my adopted father, +the good and generous M. de Bragadin, sent me, and I found this sum +sufficient in the meanwhile, for with a little self-restraint one can +live cheaply at Paris, and cut a good figure at the same time. I was +obliged to wear a good suit of clothes, and to have a decent lodging; +for in all large towns the most important thing is outward show, by +which at the beginning one is always judged. My anxiety was only for +the pressing needs of the moment, for to speak the truth I had +neither clothes nor linen--in a word, nothing. + +If my relations with the French ambassador are recalled, it will be +found natural that my first idea was to address myself to him, as I +knew him sufficiently well to reckon on his serving me. + +Being perfectly certain that the porter would tell me that my lord +was engaged, I took care to have a letter, and in the morning I went +to the Palais Bourbon. The porter took my letter, and I gave him my +address and returned home. + +Wherever I went I had to tell the story of my escape from The Leads. +This became a service almost as tiring as the flight itself had been, +as it took me two hours to tell my tale, without the slightest bit of +fancy-work; but I had to be polite to the curious enquirers, and to +pretend that I believed them moved by the most affectionate interest +in my welfare. In general, the best way to please is to take the +benevolence of all with whom one has relation for granted. + +I supped at Silvia's, and as the evening was quieter than the night +before, I had time to congratulate myself on all the friendship they +shewed me. The girl was, as I had said, fifteen years old, and I was +in every way charmed with her. I complimented the mother on the good +results of her education, and I did not even think of guarding myself +from falling a victim to her charms. I had taken so lately such +well-founded and philosophical resolutions, and I was not yet +sufficiently at my ease to value the pain of being tempted. I left +at an early hour, impatient to see what kind of an answer the +minister had sent me. I had not long to wait, and I received a short +letter appointing a meeting for two o'clock in the afternoon. It may +be guessed that I was punctual, and my reception by his excellence +was most flattering. M. de Bernis expressed his pleasure at seeing +me after my fortunate escape, and at being able to be of service to +me. He told me that M---- M---- had informed him of my escape, and +he had flattered himself that the first person I should go and see in +Paris would be himself. He shewed me the letters from M---- M---- +relating to my arrest and escape, but all the details in the latter +were purely imaginary and had no foundation in fact. M---- M---- was +not to blame, as she could only write what she had heard, and it was +not easy for anyone besides myself to know the real circumstances of +my escape. The charming nun said that, no longer buoyed up by the +hope of seeing either of the men who alone had made her in love with +life, her existence had become a burden to her, and she was +unfortunate in not being able to take any comfort in religion. "C--- +C---- often comes to see me," she said, "but I grieve to say she is +not happy with her husband." + +I told M. de Bernis that the account of my flight from The Leads, as +told by our friend, was wholly inaccurate, and I would therefore take +the liberty of writing out the whole story with the minutest details. +He challenged me to keep my word, assuring me that he would send a +copy to M---- M----, and at the same time, with the utmost courtesy, +he put a packet of a hundred Louis in my hand, telling me that he +would think what he could do for me, and would advise me as soon as +he had any communication to make. + +Thus furnished with ample funds, my first care was for my dress; and +this done I went to work, and in a week sent my generous protector +the result, giving him permission to have as many copies printed as +he liked, and to make any use he pleased of it to interest in my +behalf such persons as might be of service to me. + +Three weeks after, the minister summoned me to say that he had spoken +of me to M. Erizzo, the Venetian ambassador, who had nothing to say +against me, but for fear of embroiling himself with the State +Inquisitors declined to receive me. Not wanting anything from him-- +his refusal did me no harm. M. de Bernis then told me that he had +given a copy of my history to Madame la Marquise de Pompadour, and he +promised to take the first opportunity of presenting me to this all- +powerful lady. "You can present yourself, my dear Casanova," added +his excellence, "to the Duc de Choiseul, and M. de Boulogne, the +comptroller. You will be well received, and with a little wit you +ought to be able to make good use of the letter. He himself will +give you the cue, and you will see that he who listens obtains. Try +to invent some useful plan for the royal exchequer; don't let it be +complicated or chimerical, and if you don't write it out at too great +length I will give you my opinion on it." + +I left the minister in a pleased and grateful mood, but extremely +puzzled to find a way of increasing the royal revenue. I knew +nothing of finance, and after racking my brains all that I could +think of was new methods of taxation; but all my plans were either +absurd or certain to be unpopular, and I rejected them all on +consideration. + +As soon as I found out that M. de Choiseul was in Paris I called on +him. He received me in his dressing-room, where he was writing while +his valet did his hair. He stretched his politeness so far as to +interrupt himself several times to ask me questions, but as soon as I +began to reply his grace began to write again, and I suspect did not +hear what I was saying; and though now and again he seemed to be +looking at me, it was plain that his eyes and his thoughts were +occupied on different objects. In spite of this way of receiving +visitors--or me, at all events, M. de Choiseul was a man of wit. + +When he had finished writing he said in Italian that M. de Bernis had +told him of some circumstances of my escape, and he added, + +"Tell me how you succeeded." + +"My lord, it would be too long a story; it would take me at least two +hours, and your grace seems busy." + +"Tell me briefly about it." + +"However much I speak to the point, I shall take two hours." + +"You can keep the details for another time." + +"The story is devoid of interest without the details" + +"Well, well, you can tell me the whole story in brief, without losing +much of the interest:" + +"Very good; after that I can say no more. I must tell your lordship, +then, that, the State Inquisitors shut me up under the Leads; that +after fifteen months and five days of imprisonment I succeeded in +piercing the roof; that after many difficulties I reached the +chancery by a window, and broke open the door; afterwards I got to +St. Mark's Place, whence, taking a gondola which bore me to the +mainland, I arrived at Paris, and have had the honour to pay my duty +to your lordship." + +"But.... what are The Leads?" + +"My lord, I should take a quarter of an hour, at least, to explain." + +"How did you pierce the roof?" + +"I could not tell your lordship in less than half an hour:" + +"Why were you shut up?" + +"It would be a long tale, my lord." + +"I think you are right. The interest of the story lies chiefly in +the details." + +"I took the liberty of saying as much to your grace." + +"Well, I must go to Versailles, but I shall be delighted if you will +come and see me sometimes. In the meanwhile, M. Casanova, think what +I can do for you." + +I had been almost offended at the way in which M. de Choiseul had +received me, and I was inclined to resent it; but the end of our +conversation, and above all the kindly tone of his last words, +quieted me, and I left him, if not satisfied, at least without +bitterness in my heart. + +>From him I went to M. de Boulogne's, and found him a man of quite a +different stamp to the duke--in manners, dress, and appearance. He +received me with great politeness, and began by complimenting me on +the high place I enjoyed in the opinion of M. de Bernis, and on my +skill in matters of finance. + +I felt that no compliment had been so ill deserved, and I could +hardly help bursting into laughter. My good angel, however, made me +keep my countenance. + +M. de Boulogne had an old man with him, every feature bore the +imprint of genius, and who inspired me with respect. + +"Give me your views;" said the comptroller, "either on paper or 'viva +voce'. You will find me willing to learn and ready to grasp your +ideas. Here is M. Paris du Vernai, who wants twenty millions for his +military school; and he wishes to get this sum without a charge on +the state or emptying the treasury." + +"It is God alone, sir, who has the creative power." + +"I am not a god," said M. du Vernai, "but for all that I have now and +then created but the times have changed." + +"Everything," I said, "is more difficult than it used to be; but in +spite of difficulties I have a plan which would give the king the +interest of a hundred millions." + +"What expense would there be to the Crown?" + +"Merely the cost of receiving." + +"The nation, then, would furnish the sum in question?" + +"Undoubtedly, but voluntarily." + +"I know what you are thinking of." + +"You astonish me, sir, as I have told nobody of my plan." + +"If you have no other engagement, do me the honour of dining with me +to-morrow, and I will tell you what your project is. It is a good +one, but surrounded, I believe, with insuperable difficulties. +Nevertheless, we will talk it over and see what can be done. Will +you come?" + +"I will do myself that honour." + +"Very good, I will expect you at Plaisance." + +After he had gone, M. de Boulogne praised his talents and honesty. +He was the brother of M. de Montmartel, whom secret history makes the +father of Madame de Pompadour, for he was the lover of Madame Poisson +at the same time as M. le Normand. + +I left the comptroller's and went to walk in the Tuileries, thinking +over the strange stroke of luck which had happened to me. I had been +told that twenty millions were wanted, and I had boasted of being +able to get a hundred, without the slightest idea of how it was to be +done; and on that a well-known man experienced in the public business +had asked me to dinner to convince me that he knew what my scheme +was. There was something odd and comic about the whole affair; but +that corresponded very well with my modes of thought and action. "If +he thinks he is going to pump me," said I, "he will find himself +mistaken. When he tells me what the plan is, it will rest with me to +say he has guessed it or he is wrong as the inspiration of the moment +suggests. If the question lies within my comprehension I may, +perhaps, be able to suggest something new; and if I understand +nothing I will wrap myself up in a mysterious silence, which +sometimes produces a good effect. At all events, I will not repulse +Fortune when she appears to be favourable to me." + +M. de Bernis had only told M. de Boulogne that I was a financier to +get me a hearing, as otherwise he might have declined to see me. I +was sorry not to be master, at least, of the jargon of the business, +as in that way men have got out of a similar difficulty, and by +knowing the technical terms, and nothing more, have made their mark. +No matter, I was bound to the engagement. I must put a good face on +a bad game, and if necessary pay with the currency of assurance. The +next morning I took a carriage, and in a pensive mood I told the +coachman to take me to M. du Vernai's, at Plaisance--a place a little +beyond Vincennes. + +I was set down at the door of the famous man who, forty years ago, +had rescued France on the brink of the precipice down which Law had +almost precipitated her. I went in and saw a great fire burning on +the hearth, which was surrounded by seven or eight persons, to whom I +was introduced as a friend of the minister for foreign affairs and of +the comptroller; afterwards he introduced these gentlemen to me, +giving to each his proper title, and I noted that four of them were +treasury officials. After making my bow to each, I gave myself over +to the worship of Harpocrates, and without too great an air of +listening was all ears and eyes. + +The conversation at first was of no special interest as they were +talking of the Seine being frozen over, the ice being a foot thick. +Then came the recent death of M. de Fontenelle, then the case of +Damien, who would confess nothing, and of the five millions his trial +would cost the Crown. Then coming to war they praised M. de Soubise, +who had been chosen by the king to command the army. Hence the +transition was easy to the expenses of the war, and how they were to +be defrayed. + +I listened and was weary, for all they said was so full of +technicalities that I could not follow the meaning; and if silence +can ever be imposing, my determined silence of an hour and a half's +duration ought to have made me seem a very important personage in the +eyes of these gentlemen. At last, just as I was beginning to yawn, +dinner was announced, and I was another hour and a half without +opening my mouth, except to do honour to an excellent repast. +Directly the dessert had been served, M. du Vernai asked me to follow +him into a neighbouring apartment, and to leave the other guests at +the table. I followed him, and we crossed a hall where we found a +man of good aspect, about fifty years old, who followed us into a +closet and was introduced to me by M. du Vernai under the name of +Calsabigi. Directly after, two superintendents of the treasury came +in, and M. du Vernai smilingly gave me a folio book, saying, + +"That, I think, M. Casanova, is your plan." + +I took the book and read, Lottery consisting of ninety tickets, to be +drawn every month, only one in eighteen to be a winning number. I +gave him back the book and said, with the utmost calmness, + +"I confess, sir, that is exactly my idea." + +"You have been anticipated, then; the project is by M. de Calsabigi +here." + +"I am delighted, not at being anticipated, but to find that we think +alike; but may I ask you why you have not carried out the plan?" + +"Several very plausible reasons have been given against it, which +have had no decisive answers." + +"I can only conceive one reason against it," said I, coolly; "perhaps +the king would not allow his subjects to gamble." + +"Never mind that, the king will let his subjects gamble as much as +they like: the question is, will they gamble?" + +"I wonder how anyone can have any doubt on that score, as the winners +are certain of being paid." + +"Let us grant, then, that they will gamble: how is the money to be +found?" + +"How is the money to be found? The simplest thing in the world. All +you want is a decree in council authorizing you to draw on the +treasury. All I want is for the nation to believe that the king can +afford to pay a hundred millions." + +"A hundred millions!" + +"Yes, a hundred millions, sir. We must dazzle people." + +"But if France is to believe that the Crown can afford to pay a +hundred millions, it must believe that the Crown can afford to lose a +hundred millions, and who is going to believe that? Do you?" + +"To be sure I do, for the Crown, before it could lose a hundred +millions, would have received at least a hundred and fifty millions, +and so there need be no anxiety on that score." + +"I am not the only person who has doubts on the subject. You must +grant the possibility of the Crown losing an enormous sum at the +first drawing?" + +"Certainly, sir, but between possibility and reality is all the +region of the infinite. Indeed, I may say that it would be a great +piece of good fortune if the Crown were to lose largely on the first +drawing." + +"A piece of bad fortune, you mean, surely?" + +"A bad fortune to be desired. You know that all the insurance +companies are rich. I will undertake to prove before all the +mathematicians in Europe that the king is bound to gain one in five +in this lottery. That is the secret. You will confess that the +reason ought to yield to a mathematical proof?" + +"Yes, of course; but how is it that the Castelletto cannot guarantee +the Crown a certain gain?" + +"Neither the Castelletto nor anybody in the world can guarantee +absolutely that the king shall always win. What guarantees us +against any suspicion of sharp practice is the drawing once a month, +as then the public is sure that the holder of the lottery may lose." + +"Will you be good enough to express your sentiments on the subject +before the council?" + +"I will do so with much pleasure." + +"You will answer all objections?" + +"I think I can promise as much." + +"Will you give me your plan?" + +"Not before it is accepted, and I am guaranteed a reasonable profit." + +"But your plan may possibly be the same as the one before us." + +"I think not. I see M. de Calsabigi for the first time, and as he +has not shewn me his scheme, and I have not communicated mine to him, +it is improbable, not to say impossible, that we should agree in all +respects. Besides, in my plan I clearly shew how much profit the +Crown ought to get per annum." + +"It might, therefore, be formed by a company who would pay the Crown +a fixed sum?" + +"I think not." + +"Why?" + +"For this reason. The only thing which would make the lottery pay, +would be an irresistible current of public opinion in its favour. +I should not care to have anything to do with it in the service of a +company, who, thinking to increase their profits, might extend their +operations--a course which would entail certain loss." + +"I don't see how." + +"In a thousand ways which I will explain to you another time, and +which I am sure you can guess for yourself. In short, if I am to +have any voice in the matter, it must be a Government lottery or +nothing." + +"M. de Calsabigi thinks so, too." + +"I am delighted to hear it, but not at all surprised; for, thinking +on the same lines, we are bound to arrive at the same results." + +"Have you anybody ready for the Castelletto?" + +"I shall only want intelligent machines, of whom there are plenty in +France." + +I went out for a moment and found them in groups on my return, +discussing my project with great earnestness. + +M. Calsabigi after asking me a few questions took my hand, which he +shook heartily, saying he should like to have some further +conversation with me; and returning the friendly pressure, I told him +that I should esteem it as an honour to be numbered amongst his +friends. Thereupon I left my address with M. du Vernai and took my +leave, satisfied, by my inspection of the faces before me, that they +all had a high opinion of my talents. + +Three days after, M. de Calsabigi called on me; and after receiving +him in my best style I said that if I had not called on him it was +only because I did not wish to be troublesome. He told me that my +decisive way of speaking had made a great impression, and he was +certain that if I cared to make interest with the comptroller we +could set up the lottery and make a large profit. + +"I think so, too," said I, "but the financiers will make a much +larger profit, and yet they do not seem anxious about it. They have +not communicated with me, but it is their look-out, as I shall not +make it my chief aim." + +"You will undoubtedly hear something about it today, for I know for a +fact that M. de Boulogne has spoken of you to M. de Courteuil." + +"Very good, but I assure you I did not ask him to do so." + +After some further conversation he asked me, in the most friendly +manner possible, to come and dine with him, and I accepted his +invitation with a great pleasure; and just as we were starting I +received a note from M. de Bernis, in which he said that if I could +come to Versailles the next day he would present me to Madame de +Pompadour, and that I should have an opportunity of seeing M. de +Boulogne. + +In high glee at this happy chance, less from vanity than policy I +made M. de Calsabigi read the letter, and I was pleased to see him +opening his eyes as he read it. + +"You can force Du Vernai himself to accept the lottery," he said, +"and your fortune is made if you are not too rich already to care +about such matters." + +"Nobody is ever rich enough to despise good fortune, especially when +it is not due to favour." + +"Very true. We have been doing our utmost for two years to get the +plan accepted, and have met with nothing beyond foolish objections +which you have crushed to pieces. Nevertheless, our plans must be +very similar. Believe me it will be best for us to work in concert, +for by yourself you would find insuperable difficulties in the +working, and you will find no 'intelligent machines' in Paris. My +brother will do all the work, and you will be able to reap the +advantages at your ease." + +"Are you, then, not the inventor of the scheme which has been shewn +me?" + +"No, it is the work of my brother." + +"Shall I have the pleasure or seeing him?" + +"Certainly. His body is feeble, but his mind is in all its vigour. +We shall see him directly." + +The brother was not a man of a very pleasing appearance, as he was +covered with a kind of leprosy; but that did not prevent him having a +good appetite, writing, and enjoying all his bodily and intellectual +faculties; he talked well and amusingly. He never went into society, +as, besides his personal disfigurement, he was tormented with an +irresistible and frequent desire of scratching himself, now in one +place, and now in another; and as all scratching is accounted an +abominable thing in Paris, he preferred to be able to use his +fingernails to the pleasures of society. He was pleased to say that, +believing in God and His works, he was persuaded his nails had been +given him to procure the only solace he was capable of in the kind of +fury with which he was tormented. + +"You are a believer, then, in final causes? I think you are right, +but still I believe you would have scratched yourself if God had +forgotten to give you any nails." + +My remarks made him laugh, and he then began to speak of our common +business, and I soon found him to be a man of intellect. He was the +elder of the two brothers, and a bachelor. He was expert in all +kinds of calculations, an accomplished financier, with a universal +knowledge of commerce, a good historian, a wit, a poet, and a man of +gallantry. His birthplace was Leghorn, he had been in a Government +office at Naples, and had come to Paris with M. de l'Hopital. His +brother was also a man of learning and talent, but in every respect +his inferior. + +He shewed me the pile of papers, on which he had worked out all the +problems referring to the lottery. + +"If you think you can do without me," said he, "I must compliment you +on your abilities; but I think you will find yourself mistaken, for +if you have no practical knowledge of the matter and no business men +to help you, your theories will not carry you far. What will you do +after you have obtained the decree? When you speak before the +council, if you take my advice, you will fix a date after which you +are not to be held responsible--that is to say, after which you will +have nothing more to do with it. Unless you do so, you will be +certain to encounter trifling and procrastination which will defer +your plan to the Greek Kalends. On the other hand, I can assure you +that M. du Vernai would be very glad to see us join hands:" + +Very much inclined to take these gentlemen into partnership, for the +good reason that I could not do without them, but taking care that +they should suspect nothing, I went down with the younger brother, +who introduced me to his wife before dinner. I found present an old +lady well known at Paris under the name of General La Mothe, famous +for her former beauty and her gout, another lady somewhat advanced in +years, who was called Baroness Blanche, and was still the mistress of +M. de Vaux, another styled the President's lady, and a fourth, fair +as the dawn, Madame Razzetti, from Piedmont, the wife of one of the +violin players at the opera, and said to be courted by M. de +Fondpertuis, the superintendent of the opera. + +We sat down to dinner, but I was silent and absorbed, all my thoughts +being monopolized by the lottery. In the evening, at Silvia's, I was +pronounced absent and pensive, and so I was in spite of the sentiment +with which Mademoiselle Baletti inspired me--a sentiment which every +day grew in strength. + +I set out for Versailles next morning two hours before day-break, and +was welcomed by M. de Bernis, who said he would bet that but for him +I should never have discovered my talent for finance. + +"M. de Boulogne tells me you astonished M. du Vernai, who is +generally esteemed one of the acutest men in France. If you will +take my advice, Casanova, you will keep up that acquaintance and pay +him assiduous court. I may tell you that the lottery is certain to +be established, that it will be your doing, and that you ought to +make something considerable out of it. As soon as the king goes out +to hunt, be at hand in the private apartments, and I will seize a +favourable moment for introducing you to the famous marquise. +Afterwards go to the Office for Foreign Affairs, and introduce +yourself in my name to the Abbe de la Ville. He is the chief +official there, and will give you a good reception." + +M. de Boulogne told me that, as soon as the council of the military +school had given their consent, he would have the decree for the +establishment of the lottery published, and he urged me to +communicate to him any ideas which I might have on the subject of +finance. + +At noon Madame de Pompadour passed through the private apartments +with the Prince de Soubise, and my patron hastened to point me out to +the illustrious lady. She made me a graceful curtsy, and told me +that she had been much interested in the subject of my flight. + +"Do you go," said she, "to see your ambassador?" + +"I shew my respect to him, madam, by keeping away." + +"I hope you mean to settle in France." + +"It would be my dearest wish to do so, madam, but I stand in need of +patronage, and I know that in France patronage is only given to men +of talent, which is for me a discouraging circumstance." + +"On the contrary, I think you have reason to be hopeful, as you have +some good friends. I myself shall be delighted if I can be of any +assistance to you." + +As the fair marquise moved on, I could only stammer forth my +gratitude. + +I next went to the Abbe de la Ville, who received me with the utmost +courtesy, and told me that he would remember me at the earliest +opportunity. + +Versailles was a beautiful spot, but I had only compliments and not +invitations to expect there, so after leaving M. de la Ville I went +to an inn to get some dinner. As I was sitting down, an abbe of +excellent appearance, just like dozens of other French abbes, +accosted me politely, and asked me if I objected to our dining +together. I always thought the company of a pleasant man a thing to +be desired, so I granted his request; and as soon as he sat down he +complimented me on the distinguished manner in which I had been +treated by M. de la Ville. "I was there writing a letter," said he, +"and I could hear all the obliging things the abbe said to you. May +I ask, sir, how you obtained access to him?" + +"If you really wish to know, I may be able to tell you." + +"It is pure curiosity on my part." + +"Well, then, I will say nothing, from pure prudence." + +"I beg your pardon." + +"Certainly, with pleasure." + +Having thus shut the mouth of the curious impertinent, he confined +his conversation to ordinary and more agreeable topics. After +dinner, having no further business at Versailles, I made preparations +for leaving, on which the abbe begged to be of my company. Although +a man who frequents the society of abbes is not thought much more of +than one who frequents the society of girls. I told him that as I +was going to Paris in a public conveyance--far from its being a +question of permission--I should be only too happy to have the +pleasure of his company. On reaching Paris we parted, after +promising to call on each other, and I went to Silvia's and took +supper there. The agreeable mistress of the house complimented me on +my noble acquaintances, and made me promise to cultivate their +society. + +As soon as I got back to my own lodging, I found a note from M. du +Vernai, who requested me to come to the military school at eleven +o'clock on the next day, and later in the evening Calsabigi came to +me from his brother, with a large sheet of paper containing all the +calculations pertaining to the lottery. + +Fortune seemed to be in my favour, for this tabular statement came to +me like a blessing from on high. Resolving, therefore, to follow the +instructions which I pretended to receive indifferently. I went to +the military school, and as soon as I arrived the conference began. +M. d'Alembert had been requested to be present as an expert in +arithmetical calculations. If M. du Vernai had been the only person +to be consulted, this step would not have been necessary; but the +council contained some obstinate heads who were unwilling to give in. +The conference lasted three hours. + +After my speech, which only lasted half an hour, M. de Courteuil +summed up my arguments, and an hour was passed in stating objections +which I refuted with the greatest ease. I finally told them that no +man of honour and learning would volunteer to conduct the lottery on +the understanding that it was to win every time, and that if anyone +had the impudence to give such an undertaking they should turn him +out of the room forthwith, for it was impossible that such an +agreement could be maintained except by some roguery. + +This had its effect, for nobody replied; and M. du Vernai remarked +that if the worst came to the worst the lottery could be suppressed. +At this I knew my business was done, and all present, after signing a +document which M. du Vernai gave them, took their leave, and I myself +left directly afterwards with a friendly leave-taking from M. du +Vernal. + +M. Calsabigi came to see me the next day, bringing the agreeable news +that the affair was settled, and that all that was wanting was the +publication of the decree. + +"I am delighted to hear it," I said, "and I will go to M. de +Boulogne's every day, and get you appointed chief administrator as +soon as I know what I have got for myself." + +I took care not to leave a stone unturned in this direction, as I +knew that, with the great, promising and keeping a promise are two +different things. The decree appeared a week after. Calsabigi was +made superintendent, with an allowance of three thousand francs for +every drawing, a yearly pension of four thousand francs for us both, +and the chief of the lottery. His share was a much larger one than +mine, but I was not jealous as I knew he had a greater claim than I. +I sold five of the six offices that had been allotted to me for two +thousand francs each, and opened the sixth with great style in the +Rue St. Denis, putting my valet there as a clerk. He was a bright +young Italian, who had been valet to the Prince de la Catolica, the +ambassador from Naples. + +The day for the first drawing was fixed, and notice was given that +the winning numbers would be paid in a week from the time of drawing +at the chief office. + +With the idea of drawing custom to my office, I gave notice that all +winning tickets bearing my signature would be paid at my office in +twenty-four hours after the drawing. This drew crowds to my office +and considerably increased my profits, as I had six per cent. on the +receipts. A number of the clerks in the other offices were foolish +enough to complain to Calsabigi that I had spoilt their gains, but he +sent them about their business telling them that to get the better of +me they had only to do as I did--if they had the money. + +My first taking amounted to forty thousand francs. An hour after the +drawing my clerk brought me the numbers, and shewed me that we had +from seventeen to eighteen thousand francs to pay, for which I gave +him the necessary funds. + +Without my thinking of it I thus made the fortune of my clerk, for +every winner gave him something, and all this I let him keep for +himself. + +The total receipts amounted to two millions, and the administration +made a profit of six hundred thousand francs, of which Paris alone +had contributed a hundred thousand francs. This was well enough for +a first attempt. + +On the day after the drawing I dined with Calsabigi at M. du +Vernai's, and I had the pleasure of hearing him complain that he had +made too much money. Paris had eighteen or twenty ternes, and +although they were small they increased the reputation of the +lottery, and it was easy to see that the receipts at the next drawing +would be doubled. The mock assaults that were made upon me put me in +a good humour, and Calsabigi said that my idea had insured me an +income of a hundred thousand francs a year, though it would ruin the +other receivers. + +"I have played similar strokes myself," said M. du Vernai, "and have +mostly succeeded; and as for the other receivers they are at perfect +liberty to follow M. Casanova's example, and it all tends to increase +the repute of an institution which we owe to him and to you. + +At the second drawing a terne of forty thousand francs obliged me to +borrow money. My receipts amounted to sixty thousand, but being +obliged to deliver over my chest on the evening before the drawing, I +had to pay out of my own funds, and was not repaid for a week. + +In all the great houses I went to, and at the theatres, as soon as I +was seen, everybody gave me money, asking me to lay it out as I liked +and to send them the tickets, as, so far, the lottery was strange to +most people. I thus got into the way of carrying about me tickets of +all sorts, or rather of all prices, which I gave to people to choose +from, going home in the evening with my pockets full of gold. This +was an immense advantage to me, as kind of privilege which I enjoyed +to the exclusion of the other receivers who were not in society, and +did not drive a carriage like myself--no small point in one's favour, +in a large town where men are judged by the state they keep. I found +I was thus able to go into any society, and to get credit everywhere. + +I had hardly been a month in Paris when my brother Francis, with whom +I had parted in 1752, arrived from Dresden with Madame Sylvestre. +He had been at Dresden for four years, taken up with the pursuit of +his art, having copied all the battle pieces in the Elector's Galley. +We were both of us glad to meet once more, but on my offering to see +what my great friends could do for him with the Academicians, he +replied with all an artist's pride that he was much obliged to me, +but would rather not have any other patrons than his talents. "The +French," said he, "have rejected me once, and I am far from bearing +them ill-will on that account, for I would reject myself now if I +were what I was then; but with their love of genius I reckon on a +better reception this time." + +His confidence pleased me, and I complimented him upon it, for I have +always been of the opinion that true merit begins by doing justice to +itself. + +Francis painted a fine picture, which on being exhibited at the +Louvre, was received with applause. The Academy bought the picture +for twelve thousand francs, my brother became famous, and in twenty- +six years he made almost a million of money; but in spite of that, +foolish expenditure, his luxurious style of living, and two bad +marriages, were the ruin of him. + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +TO PARIS AND PRISON, Vol. 2e, UNDER THE LEADS +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt diff --git a/old/jculd10.zip b/old/jculd10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c8189fe --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jculd10.zip diff --git a/old/jculd11.txt b/old/jculd11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..61a510f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jculd11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5654 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Under the Leads, by Jacques Casanova +#10 in our series by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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I, who the evening before so bravely fortified myself with my +innocence and courage, by the word tribunal was turned to a stone, +with merely the faculty of passive obedience left to me. + +My desk was open, and all my papers were on a table where I was +accustomed to write. + +"Take them," said I, to the agent of the dreadful Tribunal, pointing +to the papers which covered the table. He filled a bag with them, +and gave it to one of the sbirri, and then told me that I must also +give up the bound manuscripts which I had in my possession. I shewed +him where they were, and this incident opened my eyes. I saw now, +clearly enough, that I had been betrayed by the wretch Manuzzi. The +books were, "The Key of Solomon the King," "The Zecorben," a +"Picatrix," a book of "Instructions on the Planetary Hours," and the +necessary incantations for conversing with demons of all sorts. +Those who were aware that I possessed these books took me for an +expert magician, and I was not sorry to have such a reputation. + +Messer-Grande took also the books on the table by my bed, such as +Petrarch, Ariosto, Horace. "The Military' Philosopher" (a manuscript +which Mathilde had given me), "The Porter of Chartreux," and "The +Aretin," which Manuzzi had also denounced, for Messer-Grande asked me +for it by name. This spy, Manuzzi, had all the appearance of an +honest man--a very necessary qualification for his profession. His +son made his fortune in Poland by marrying a lady named Opeska, whom, +as they say, he killed, though I have never had any positive proof +on the matter, and am willing to stretch Christian charity to the +extent of believing he was innocent, although he was quite capable of +such a crime. + +While Messer-Grande was thus rummaging among my manuscripts, books +and letters, I was dressing myself in an absent-minded manner, +neither hurrying myself nor the reverse. I made my toilette, shaved +myself, and combed my hair; putting on mechanically a laced shirt and +my holiday suit without saying a word, and without Messer-Grande--who +did not let me escape his sight for an instant--complaining that I +was dressing myself as if I were going to a wedding. + +As I went out I was surprised to see a band of forty men-at-arms in +the ante-room. They had done me the honour of thinking all these men +necessary for my arrest, though, according to the axiom 'Ne Hercules +quidem contra duos', two would have been enough. It is curious that +in London, where everyone is brave, only one man is needed to arrest +another, whereas in my dear native land, where cowardice prevails, +thirty are required. The reason is, perhaps, that the coward on the +offensive is more afraid than the coward on the defensive, and thus a +man usually cowardly is transformed for the moment into a man of +courage. It is certain that at Venice one often sees a man. +defending himself against twenty sbirri, and finally escaping after +beating them soundly. I remember once helping a friend of mine at +Paris to escape from the hands of forty bum-bailiffs, and we put the +whole vile rout of them to flight. + +Messer-Grande made me get into a gondola, and sat down near me with +an escort of four men. When we came to our destination he offered me +coffee, which I refused; and he then shut me up in a room. I passed +these four hours in sleep, waking up every quarter of an hour to pass +water--an extraordinary occurrence, as I was not at all subject to +stranguary; the heat was great, and I had not supped the evening +before. I have noticed at other times that surprise at a deed of +oppression acts on me as a powerful narcotic, but I found out at the +time I speak of that great surprise is also a diuretic. I make this +discovery over to the doctors, it is possible that some learned man +may make use of it to solace the ills of humanity. I remember +laughing very heartily at Prague six years ago, on learning that some +thin-skinned ladies, on reading my flight from The Leads, which was +published at that date, took great offence at the above account, +which they thought I should have done well to leave out. I should +have left it out, perhaps, in speaking to a lady, but the public is +not a pretty woman whom I am intent on cajoling, my only aim is to be +instructive. Indeed, I see no impropriety in the circumstance I have +narrated, which is as common to men and women as eating and drinking; +and if there is anything in it to shock too sensitive nerves, it is +that we resemble in this respect the cows and pigs. + +It is probable that just as my overwhelmed soul gave signs of its +failing strength by the loss of the thinking faculty, so my body +distilled a great part of those fluids which by their continual +circulation set the thinking faculty in motion. Thus a sudden shock +might cause instantaneous death, and send one to Paradise by a cut +much too short. + +In course of time the captain of the men-at-arms came to tell me that +he was under orders to take me under the Leads. Without a word I +followed him. We went by gondola, and after a thousand turnings +among the small canals we got into the Grand Canal, and landed at the +prison quay. After climbing several flights of stairs we crossed a +closed bridge which forms the communication between the prisons and +the Doge's palace, crossing the canal called Rio di Palazzo. On the +other side of this bridge there is a gallery which we traversed. We +then crossed one room, and entered another, where sat an individual +in the dress of a noble, who, after looking fixedly at me, said, +"E quello, mettetelo in deposito:" + +This man was the secretary of the Inquisitors, the prudent Dominic +Cavalli, who was apparently ashamed to speak Venetian in my presence +as he pronounced my doom in the Tuscan language. + +Messer-Grande then made me over to the warden of The Leads, who stood +by with an enormous bunch of keys, and accompanied by two guards, +made me climb two short flights of stairs, at the top of which +followed a passage and then another gallery, at the end of which he +opened a door, and I found myself in a dirty garret, thirty-six feet +long by twelve broad, badly lighted by a window high up in the roof. +I thought this garret was my prison, but I was mistaken; for, taking +an enormous key, the gaoler opened a thick door lined with iron, +three and a half feet high, with a round hole in the middle, eight +inches in diameter, just as I was looking intently at an iron +machine. This machine was like a horse shoe, an inch thick and about +five inches across from one end to the other. I was thinking what +could be the use to which this horrible instrument was put, when the +gaoler said, with a smile, + +"I see, sir, that you wish to know what that is for, and as it +happens I can satisfy your curiosity. When their excellencies give +orders that anyone is to be strangled, he is made to sit down on a +stool, the back turned to this collar, and his head is so placed that +the collar goes round one half of the neck. A silk band, which goes +round the other half, passes through this hole, and the two ends are +connected with the axle of a wheel which is turned by someone until +the prisoner gives up the ghost, for the confessor, God be thanked! +never leaves him till he is dead." + +"All this sounds very ingenious, and I should think that it is you +who have the honour of turning the wheel." + +He made no answer, and signing to me to enter, which I did by bending +double, he shut me up, and afterwards asked me through the grated +hole what I would like to eat. + +"I haven't thought anything about it yet," I answered. And he went +away, locking all the doors carefully behind him. + +Stunned with grief, I leant my elbows on the top of the grating. It +was crossed, by six iron bars an inch thick, which formed sixteen +square holes. This opening would have lighted my cell, if a square +beam supporting the roof which joined the wall below the window had +not intercepted what little light came into that horrid garret. +After making the tour of my sad abode, my head lowered, as the cell +was not more than five and a half feet high, I found by groping along +that it formed three-quarters of a square of twelve feet. The fourth +quarter was a kind of recess, which would have held a bed; but there +was neither bed, nor table, nor chair, nor any furniture whatever, +except a bucket--the use of which may be guessed, and a bench fixed +in the wall a foot wide and four feet from the ground. On it I +placed my cloak, my fine suit, and my hat trimmed with Spanish paint +and adorned with a beautiful white feather. The heat was great, and +my instinct made me go mechanically to the grating, the only place +where I could lean on my elbows. I could not see the window, but I +saw the light in the garret, and rats of a fearful size, which walked +unconcernedly about it; these horrible creatures coming close under +my grating without shewing the slightest fear. At the sight of these +I hastened to close up the round hole in the middle of the door with +an inside shutter, for a visit from one of the rats would have frozen +my blood. I passed eight hours in silence and without stirring, my +arms all the time crossed on the top of the grating. + +At last the clock roused me from my reverie, and I began to feel +restless that no one came to give me anything to eat or to bring me a +bed whereon to sleep. I thought they might at least let me have a +chair and some bread and water. I had no appetite, certainly; but +were my gaolers to guess as much? And never in my life had I been so +thirsty. I was quite sure, however, that somebody would come before +the close of the day; but when I heard eight o'clock strike I became +furious, knocking at the door, stamping my feet, fretting and fuming, +and accompanying this useless hubbub with loud cries. After more +than an hour of this wild exercise, seeing no one, without the +slightest reason to think I could be heard, and shrouded in darkness, +I shut the grating for fear of the rats, and threw myself at full +length upon the floor. So cruel a desertion seemed to me unnatural, +and I came to the conclusion that the Inquisitors had sworn my death. +My investigation as to what I had done to deserve such a fate was not +a long one, for in the most scrupulous examination of my conduct I +could find no crimes. I was, it is true, a profligate, a gambler, a +bold talker, a man who thought of little besides enjoying this +present life, but in all that there was no offence against the state. +Nevertheless, finding myself treated as a criminal, rage and despair +made me express myself against the horrible despotism which oppressed +me in a manner which I will leave my readers to guess, but which I +will not repeat here. But notwithstanding my brief and anxiety, the +hunger which began to make itself felt, and the thirst which +tormented me, and the hardness of the boards on which I lay, did not +prevent exhausted nature from reasserting her rights; I fell asleep. + +My strong constitution was in need of sleep; and in a young and +healthy subject this imperious necessity silences all others, and in +this way above all is sleep rightly termed the benefactor of man. + +The clock striking midnight awoke me. How sad is the awaking when it +makes one regret one's empty dreams. I could scarcely believe that I +had spent three painless hours. As I lay on my left side, I +stretched out my right hand to get my handkerchief, which I +remembered putting on that side. I felt about for it, when--heavens! +what was my surprise to feel another hand as cold as ice. The fright +sent an electric shock through me, and my hair began to stand on end. + +Never had I been so alarmed, nor should I have previously thought +myself capable of experiencing such terror. I passed three or four +minutes in a kind of swoon, not only motionless but incapable of +thinking. As I got back my senses by degrees, I tried to make myself +believe that the hand I fancied I had touched was a mere creature of +my disordered imagination; and with this idea I stretched out my hand +again, and again with the same result. Benumbed with fright, I +uttered a piercing cry, and, dropping the hand I held, I drew back my +arm, trembling all over: + +Soon, as I got a little calmer and more capable of reasoning, I +concluded that a corpse had been placed beside me whilst I slept, for +I was certain it was not there when I lay down. + +"This," said I, "is the body of some strangled wretch, and they would +thus warn me of the fate which is in store for me." + +The thought maddened me; and my fear giving place to rage, for the +third time I stretched my arm towards the icy hand, seizing it to +make certain of the fact in all its atrocity, and wishing to get up, +I rose upon my left elbow, and found that I had got hold of my other +hand. Deadened by the weight of my body and the hardness of the +boards, it had lost warmth, motion, and all sensation. + +In spite of the humorous features in this incident, it did not cheer +me up, but, on the contrary, inspired me with the darkest fancies. I +saw that I was in a place where, if the false appeared true, the +truth might appear false, where understanding was bereaved of half +its prerogatives, where the imagination becoming affected would +either make the reason a victim to empty hopes or to dark despair. I +resolved to be on my guard; and for the first time in my life, at the +age of thirty, I called philosophy to my assistance. I had within me +all the seeds of philosophy, but so far I had had no need for it. + +I am convinced that most men die without ever having thought, in the +proper sense of the word, not so much for want of wit or of good +sense, but rather because the shock necessary to the reasoning +faculty in its inception has never occurred to them to lift them out +of their daily habits. + +After what I had experienced, I could think of sleep no more, and to +get up would have been useless as I could not stand upright, so I +took the only sensible course and remained seated. I sat thus till +four o'clock in the morning, the sun would rise at five, and I longed +to see the day, for a presentiment which I held infallible told me +that it would set me again at liberty. I was consumed with a desire +for revenge, nor did I conceal it from myself. I saw myself at the +head of the people, about to exterminate the Government which had +oppressed me; I massacred all the aristocrats without pity; all must +be shattered and brought to the dust. I was delirious; I knew the +authors of my misfortune, and in my fancy I destroyed them. I +restored the natural right common to all men of being obedient only +to the law, and of being tried only by their peers and by laws to +which they have agreed-in short, I built castles in Spain. Such is +man when he has become the prey of a devouring passion. He does not +suspect that the principle which moves him is not reason but wrath, +its greatest enemy. + +I waited for a less time than I had expected, and thus I became a +little more quiet. At half-past four the deadly silence of the +place--this hell of the living--was broken by the shriek of bolts +being shot back in the passages leading to my cell. + +"Have you had time yet to think about what you will take to eat?" +said the harsh voice of my gaoler from the wicket. + +One is lucky when the insolence of a wretch like this only shews +itself in the guise of jesting. I answered that I should like some +rice soup, a piece of boiled beef, a roast, bread, wine, and water. +I saw that the lout was astonished not to hear the lamentations he +expected. He went away and came back again in a quarter of an hour +to say that he was astonished I did not require a bed and the +necessary pieces of furniture, "for" said he, "if you flatter +yourself that you are only here for a night, you are very much +mistaken." + +"Then bring me whatever you think necessary." + +"Where shall I go for it? Here is a pencil and paper; write it +down." + +I skewed him by writing where to go for my shirts, stockings, and +clothes of all sorts, a bed, table, chair, the books which Messer- +Grande had confiscated, paper, pens, and so forth. On my reading out +the list to him (the lout did not know how to read) he cried, +"Scratch out," said he, "scratch out books, paper, pens, looking- +glass and razors, for all that is forbidden fruit here, and then give +me some money to get your dinner." I had three sequins so I gave him +one, and he went off. He spent an hour in the passages engaged, as I +learnt afterwards, in attending on seven other prisoners who were +imprisoned in cells placed far apart from each other to prevent all +communication. + +About noon the gaoler reappeared followed by five guards, whose duty +it was to serve the state prisoners. He opened: the cell door to +bring in my dinner and the furniture I had asked for. The bed was +placed in the recess; my dinner was laid out on a small table, and I +had to eat with an ivory spoon he had procured out of the money I had +given him; all forks, knives, and edged tools being forbidden. + +"Tell me what you would like for to-morrow," said he, "for I can only +come here once a day at sunrise. The Lord High Secretary has told me +to inform you that he will send you some suitable books, but those +you wish for are forbidden." + +"Thank him for his kindness in putting me by myself." + +"I will do so, but you make a mistake in jesting thus." + +"I don't jest at all, for I think truly that it is much better to be +alone than to mingle with the scoundrels who are doubtless here." + +"What, sir! scoundrels? Not at all, not at all. They are only +respectable people here, who, for reasons known to their excellencies +alone, have to be sequestered from society. You have been put by +yourself as an additional punishment, and you want me to thank the +secretary on that account?" + +"I was not aware of that." + +The fool was right, and I soon found it out. I discovered that a man +imprisoned by himself can have no occupations. Alone in a gloomy +cell where he only sees the fellow who brings his food once a day, +where he cannot walk upright, he is the most wretched of men. He +would like to be in hell, if he believes in it, for the sake of the +company. So strong a feeling is this that I got to desire the +company of a murderer, of one stricken with the plague, or of a bear. +The loneliness behind the prison bars is terrible, but it must be +learnt by experience to be understood, and such an experience I would +not wish even to my enemies. To a man of letters in my situation, +paper and ink would take away nine-tenths of the torture, but the +wretches who persecuted me did not dream of granting me such an +alleviation of my misery. + +After the gaoler had gone, I set my table near the grating for the +sake of the light, and sat down to dinner, but I could only swallow a +few spoonfuls of soup. Having fasted for nearly forty-eight hours, +it was not surprising that I felt ill. I passed the day quietly +enough seated on my sofa, and proposing myself to read the "suitable +books" which they had been good enough to promise me. I did not shut +my eyes the whole night, kept awake by the hideous noise made by the +rats, and by the deafening chime of the clock of St. Mark's, which +seemed to be striking in my room. This double vexation was not my +chief trouble, and I daresay many of my readers will guess what I am +going to speak of-namely, the myriads of fleas which held high +holiday over me. These small insects drank my blood with unutterable +voracity, their incessant bites gave me spasmodic convulsions and +poisoned my blood. + +At day-break, Lawrence (such was the gaoler's name) came to my cell +and had my bed made, and the room swept and cleansed, and one of the +guards gave me water wherewith to wash myself. I wanted to take a +walk in the garret, but Lawrence told me that was forbidden. He gave +me two thick books which I forbore to open, not being quite sure of +repressing the wrath with which they might inspire me, and which the +spy would have infallibly reported to his masters. After leaving me +my fodder and two cut lemons he went away. + +As soon as I was alone I ate my soup in a hurry, so as to take it +hot, and then I drew as near as I could to the light with one of the +books, and was delighted to find that I could see to read. I looked +at the title, and read, "The Mystical City of Sister Mary of Jesus, +of Agrada." I had never heard of it. The other book was by a Jesuit +named Caravita. This fellow, a hypocrite like the rest of them, had +invented a new cult of the "Adoration of the Sacred Heart of our Lord +Jesus Christ." This, according to the author, was the part of our +Divine Redeemer, which above all others should be adored a curious +idea of a besotted ignoramus, with which I got disgusted at the first +page, for to my thinking the heart is no more worthy a part than the +lungs, stomach; or any other of the inwards. The "Mystical City" +rather interested me. + +I read in it the wild conceptions of a Spanish nun, devout to +superstition, melancholy, shut in by convent walls, and swayed by the +ignorance and bigotry of her confessors. All these grotesque, +monstrous, and fantastic visions of hers were dignified with the name +of revelations. The lover and bosom-friend of the Holy Virgin, she +had received instructions from God Himself to write the life of His +divine mother; the necessary information was furnished her by the +Holy Ghost. + +This life of Mary began, not with the day of her birth, but with her +immaculate conception in the womb of Anne, her mother. This Sister +Mary of Agrada was the head of a Franciscan convent founded by +herself in her own house. After telling in detail all the deeds of +her divine heroine whilst in her mother's womb, she informs us that +at the age of three she swept and cleansed the house with the +assistance of nine hundred servants, all of whom were angels whom God +had placed at her disposal, under the command of Michael, who came +and went between God and herself to conduct their mutual +correspondence. + +What strikes the judicious reader of the book is the evident belief +of the more than fanatical writer that nothing is due to her +invention; everything is told in good faith and with full belief. +The work contains the dreams of a visionary, who, without vanity but +inebriated with the idea of God, thinks to reveal only the +inspirations of the Divine Spirit. + +The book was published with the permission of the very holy and very +horrible Inquisition. I could not recover from my astonishment! Far +from its stirring up in my breast a holy and simple zeal of religion, +it inclined me to treat all the mystical dogmas of the Faith as +fabulous. + +Such works may have dangerous results; for example, a more +susceptible reader than myself, or one more inclined to believe in +the marvellous, runs the risk of becoming as great a visionary as the +poor nun herself. + +The need of doing something made me spend a week over this +masterpiece of madness, the product of a hyper-exalted brain. I took +care to say nothing to the gaoler about this fine work, but I began +to feel the effects of reading it. As soon as I went off to sleep I +experienced the disease which Sister Mary of Agrada had communicated +to my mind weakened by melancholy, want of proper nourishment and +exercise, bad air, and the horrible uncertainty of my fate. The +wildness of my dreams made me laugh when I recalled them in my waking +moments. If I had possessed the necessary materials I would have +written my visions down, and I might possibly have produced in my +cell a still madder work than the one chosen with such insight by +Cavalli. + +This set me thinking how mistaken is the opinion which makes human +intellect an absolute force; it is merely relative, and he who +studies himself carefully will find only weakness. I perceived that +though men rarely become mad, still such an event is well within the +bounds of possibility, for our reasoning faculties are like powder, +which, though it catches fire easily, will never catch fire at all +without a spark. The book of the Spanish nun has all the properties +necessary to make a man crack-brained; but for the poison to take +effect he must be isolated, put under the Leads, and deprived of all +other employments. + +In November, 1767, as I was going from Pampeluna to Madrid, my +coachman, Andrea Capello, stopped for us to dine in a town of Old +Castille. So dismal and dreary a place did I find it that I asked +its name. How I laughed when I was told that it was Agrada! + +"Here, then," I said to myself, "did that saintly lunatic produce +that masterpiece which but for M. Cavalli I should never have known." + +An old priest, who had the highest possible opinion of me the moment +I began to ask him about this truthful historian of the mother of +Christ, shewed me the very place where she had written it, and +assured me that the father, mother, sister, and in short all the +kindred of the blessed biographer, had been great saints in their +generation. He told me, and spoke truly, that the Spaniards had +solicited her canonization at Rome, with that of the venerable +Palafox. This "Mystical City," perhaps, gave Father Malagrida the +idea of writing the life of St. Anne, written, also, at the dictation +of the Holy Ghost, but the poor devil of a Jesuit had to suffer +martyrdom for it--an additional reason for his canonization, if the +horrible society ever comes to life again, and attains the universal +power which is its secret aim. + +At the end of eight or nine days I found myself moneyless. Lawrence +asked me for some, but I had not got it. + +"Where can I get some?" + +"Nowhere." + +What displeased this ignorant and gossiping fellow about me was my +silence and my laconic manner of talking. + +Next day he told me that the Tribunal had assigned me fifty sous per +diem of which he would have to take charge, but that he would give me +an account of his expenditure every month, and that he would spend +the surplus on what I liked. + +"Get me the Leyden Gazette twice a week." + +"I can't do that, because it is not allowed by the authorities." + +Sixty-five livres a month was more than I wanted, since I could not +eat more than I did: the great heat and the want of proper +nourishment had weakened me. It was in the dog-days; the strength of +the sun's rays upon the lead of the roof made my cell like a stove, +so that the streams of perspiration which rolled off my poor body as +I sat quite naked on my sofa-chair wetted the floor to right and left +of me. + +I had been in this hell-on-earth for fifteen days without any +secretion from the bowels. At the end of this almost incredible time +nature re-asserted herself, and I thought my last hour was come. The +haemorrhoidal veins were swollen to such an extent that the pressure +on them gave me almost unbearable agony. To this fatal time I owe +the inception of that sad infirmity of which I have never been able +to completely cure myself. The recurrence of the same pains, though +not so acute, remind me of the cause, and do not make my remembrance +of it any the more agreeable. This disease got me compliments in +Russia when I was there ten years later, and I found it in such +esteem that I did not dare to complain. The same kind of thing +happened to me at Constantinople, when I was complaining of a cold in +the head in the presence of a Turk, who was thinking, I could see, +that a dog of a Christian was not worthy of such a blessing. + +The same day I sickened with a high fever and kept my bed. I said +nothing to Lawrence about it, but the day after, on finding my dinner +untouched, he asked me how I was. + +"Very well." + +"That can't be, sir, as you have eaten nothing. You are ill, and you +will experience the generosity of the Tribunal who will provide you, +without fee or charge, with a physician, surgeon, and all necessary +medicines." + +He went out, returning after three hours without guards, holding a +candle in his hand, and followed by a grave-looking personage; this +was the doctor. I was in the height of the fever, which had not left +me for three days. He came up to me and began to ask me questions, +but I told him that with my confessor and my doctor I would only +speak apart. The doctor told Lawrence to leave the room, but on the +refusal of that Argus to do so, he went away saying that I was +dangerously ill, possibly unto death. For this I hoped, for my life +as it had become was no longer my chiefest good. I was somewhat glad +also to think that my pitiless persecutors might, on hearing of my +condition, be forced to reflect on the cruelty of the treatment to +which they had subjected me. + +Four hours afterwards I heard the noise of bolts once more, and the +doctor came in holding the candle himself. Lawrence remained +outside. I had become so weak that I experienced a grateful +restfulness. Kindly nature does not suffer a man seriously ill to +feel weary. I was delighted to hear that my infamous turnkey was +outside, for since his explanation of the iron collar I had looked an +him with loathing. + +In a quarter of an hour I had told the doctor all. + +"If we want to get well," said he, "we must not be melancholy." + +"Write me the prescription, and take it to the only apothecary who +can make it up. M. Cavalli is the bad doctor who exhibited 'The +Heart of Jesus,' and 'Tire Mystical City.'" + +"Those two preparations are quite capable of having brought on the +fever and the haemorrhoids. I will not forsake you" + +After making me a large jug of lemonade, and telling the to drink +frequently, he went away. I slept soundly, dreaming fantastic +dreams. + +In he morning the doctor came again with Lawrence and a surgeon, who +bled me. The doctor left me some medicine which he told me to take +in the evening, and a bottle of soap. "I have obtained leave," said +he, "for you to move into the garret where the heat is less, and the +air better than here." + +"I decline the favour, as I abominate the rats, which you know +nothing about, and which would certainly get into my bed." + +"What a pity! I told M. Cavalli that he had almost killed you with +his books, and he has commissioned me to take them back, and to give +you Boethius; and here it is." + +"I am much obliged to you. I like it better than Seneca, and I am +sure it will do me good." + +"I am leaving you a very necessary instrument, and some barley water +for you to refresh yourself with." + +He visited me four times, and pulled me through; my constitution did +the rest, and my appetite returned. At the beginning of September I +found myself, on the whole, very well, suffering from no actual ills +except the heat, the vermin, and weariness, for I could not be always +reading Boethius. + +One day Lawrence told me that I might go out of my cell to wash +myself whilst the bed was being made and the room swept. I took +advantage of the favour to walk up and down for the ten minutes taken +by these operations, and as I walked hard the rats were alarmed and +dared not shew themselves. On the same day Lawrence gave me an +account of my money, and brought himself in as my debtor to the +amount of thirty livres, which however, I could not put into my +pocket. I left the money in his hands, telling him to lay it out on +masses on my behalf, feeling sure that he would make quite a +different use of it, and he thanked me in a tone that persuaded me he +would be his own priest. I gave him the money every month, and I +never saw a priest's receipt. Lawrence was wise to celebrate the +sacrifice at the tavern; the money was useful to someone at all +events. + +I lived from day to day, persuading myself every night that the next +day I should be at liberty; but as I was each day deceived, I decided +in my poor brain that I should be set free without fail on the 1st of +October, on which day the new Inquisitors begin their term of office. +According to this theory, my imprisonment would last as long as the +authority of the present Inquisitors, and thus was explained the fact +that I had seen nothing of the secretary, who would otherwise have +undoubtedly come to interrogate, examine, and convict me of my +crimes, and finally to announce my doom. All this appeared to me +unanswerable, because it seemed natural, but it was fallacious under +the Leads, where nothing is done after the natural order. I imagined +the Inquisitors must have discovered my innocence and the wrong they +had done me, and that they only kept me in prison for form's sake, +and to protect their repute from the stain of committing injustice; +hence I concluded that they would give me my freedom when they laid +down their tyrannical authority. My mind was so composed and quiet +that I felt as if I could forgive them, and forget the wrong that +they had done me. "How can they leave me here to the mercy of their +successors," I thought, "to whom they cannot leave any evidence +capable of condemning me?" I could not believe that my sentence had +been pronounced and confirmed, without my being told of it, or of the +reasons by which my judges had been actuated. I was so certain that +I had right on my side, that I reasoned accordingly; but this was not +the attitude I should have assumed towards a court which stands aloof +from all the courts in the world for its unbounded absolutism. To +prove anyone guilty, it is only necessary for the Inquisitors to +proceed against him; so there is no need to speak to him, and when he +is condemned it would be useless to announce to the prisoner his +sentence, as his consent is not required, and they prefer to leave +the poor wretch the feeling of hope; and certainly, if he were told +the whole process, imprisonment would not be shortened by an hour. +The wise man tells no one of his business, and the business of the +Tribunal of Venice is only to judge and to doom. The guilty party is +not required to have any share in the matter; he is like a nail, +which to be driven into a wall needs only to be struck. + +To a certain extent I was acquainted with the ways of the Colossus +which was crushing me under foot, but there are things on earth which +one can only truly understand by experience. If amongst my readers +there are any who think such laws unjust, I forgive them, as I know +they have a strong likeness to injustice; but let me tell them that +they are also necessary, as a tribunal like the Venetian could not +subsist without them. Those who maintain these laws in full vigour +are senators, chosen from amongst the fittest for that office, and +with a reputation for honour and virtue. + +The last day of September I passed a sleepless night, and was on +thorns to see the dawn appear, so sure was I that that day would make +me free. The reign of those villains who had made me a captive drew +to a close; but the dawn appeared, Lawrence came as usual, and told +me nothing new. For five or six days I hovered between rage and +despair, and then I imagined that for some reasons which to me were +unfathomable they had decided to keep me prisoner for the remainder +of my days. This awful idea only made me laugh, for I knew that it +was in my power to remain a slave for no long time, but only till I +should take it into my own hands to break my prison. I knew that I +should escape or die: 'Deliberata morte ferocior'. + +In the beginning of November I seriously formed the plan of forcibly +escaping from a place where I was forcibly kept. I began to rack my +brains to find a way of carrying the idea into execution, and I +conceived a hundred schemes, each one bolder than the other, but a +new plan always made me give up the one I was on the point of +accepting. + +While I was immersed in this toilsome sea of thought, an event +happened which brought home to me the sad state of mind I was in. + +I was standing up in the garret looking towards the top, and my +glance fell on the great beam, not shaking but turning on its right +side, and then, by slow and interrupted movement in the opposite +direction, turning again and replacing itself in its original +position. As I lost my balance at the same time, I knew it was the +shock of an earthquake. Lawrence and the guards, who just then came +out of my room, said that they too, had felt the earth tremble. In +such despair was I that this incident made me feel a joy which I kept +to myself, saying nothing. Four or five seconds after the same +movement occurred, and I could not refrain from saying, + +"Another, O my God! but stronger." + +The guards, terrified with what they thought the impious ravings of a +desperate madman, fled in horror. + +After they were gone, as I was pondering the matter over, I found +that I looked upon the overthrow of the Doge's palace as one of the +events which might lead to liberty; the mighty pile, as it fell, +might throw me safe and sound, and consequently free, on St. Mark's +Place, or at the worst it could only crush me beneath its ruins. +Situated as I was, liberty reckons for all, and life for nothing, or +rather for very little. Thus in the depths of my soul I began to +grow mad. + +This earthquake shock was the result of those which at the same time +destroyed Lisbon. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +Various Adventures--My Companions--I Prepare to Escape--Change of +Cell + + +To make the reader understand how I managed to escape from a place +like the Leads, I must explain the nature of the locality. + +The Leads, used for the confinement of state prisoners, are in fact +the lofts of the ducal palace, and take their name from the large +plates of lead with which the roof is covered. One can only reach +them through the gates of the palace, the prison buildings, or by the +bridge of which I have spoken called the Bridge of Sighs. It is +impossible to reach the cells without passing through the hall where +the State Inquisitors hold their meetings, and their secretary has +the sole charge of the key, which he only gives to the gaoler for a +short time in the early morning whilst he is attending to the +prisoners. This is done at day-break, because otherwise the guards +as they came and went would be in the way of those who have to do +with the Council of Ten, as the Council meets every day in a hall +called The Bussola, which the guards have to cross every time they go +to the Leads. + +The prisons are under the roof on two sides of the palace; three to +the west (mine being among the number) and four to the east. On the +west the roof looks into the court of the palace, and on the east +straight on to the canal called Rio di Palazzo. On this side the +cells are well lighted, and one can stand up straight, which is not +the case in the prison where I was, which was distinguished by the +name of 'Trave', on account of the enormous beam which deprived me of +light. The floor of my cell was directly over the ceiling of the +Inquisitors' hall, where they commonly met only at night after the +sitting of the Council of Ten of which the whole three are members. + +As I knew my ground and the habits of the Inquisitors perfectly well, +the only way to escape--the only way at least which I deemed likely +to succeed--was to make a hole in the floor of my cell; but to do +this tools must be obtained--a difficult task in a place where all +communication with the outside world was forbidden, where neither +letters nor visits were allowed. To bribe a guard a good deal of +money would be necessary, and I had none. And supposing that the +gaoler and his two guards allowed themselves to be strangled--for my +hands were my only weapons--there was always a third guard on duty at +the door of the passage, which he locked and would not open till his +fellow who wished to pass through gave him the password. In spite of +all these difficulties my only thought was how to escape, and as +Boethius gave me no hints on this point I read him no more, and as I +was certain that the difficulty was only to be solved by stress of +thinking I centered all my thoughts on this one object. + +It has always been my opinion that when a man sets himself +determinedly to do something, and thinks of nought but his design, he +must succeed despite all difficulties in his path: such an one may +make himself Pope or Grand Vizier, he may overturn an ancient line of +kings--provided that he knows how to seize on his opportunity, and be +a man of wit and pertinacity. To succeed one must count on being +fortunate and despise all ill success, but it is a most difficult +operation. + +Towards the middle of November, Lawrence told me that Messer-Grande +had a prisoner in his hands whom the new secretary, Businello, had +ordered to be placed in the worst cell, and who consequently was +going to share mine. He told me that on the secretary's reminding +him that I looked upon it as a favour to be left alone, he answered +that I had grown wiser in the four months of my imprisonment. I was +not sorry to hear the news or that there was a new secretary. This +M. Pierre Businello was a worthy man whom I knew at Paris. He +afterwards went to London as ambassador of the Republic. + +In the afternoon I heard the noise of the bolts, and presently +Lawrence and two guards entered leading in a young man who was +weeping bitterly; and after taking off his handcuffs they shut him up +with me, and went out without saying a word. I was lying on my bed, +and he could not see me. I was amused at his astonishment. Being, +fortunately for himself, seven or eight inches shorter than I, he was +able to stand upright, and he began to inspect my arm-chair, which he +doubtless thought was meant for his own use. Glancing at the ledge +above the grating he saw Boethius, took it up, opened it, and put it +down with a kind of passion, probably because being in Latin it was +of no use to him. Continuing his inspection of the cell he went to +the left, and groping about was much surprised to find clothes. He +approached the recess, and stretching out his hand he touched me, and +immediately begged my pardon in a respectful manner. I asked him to +sit down and we were friends. + +"Who are you?" said I. + +"I am Maggiorin, of Vicenza. My father, who was a coachman, kept me +at school till I was eleven, by which time I had learnt to read and +write; I was afterwards apprenticed to a barber, where I learnt my +business thoroughly. After that I became valet to the Count of X---. +I had been in the service of the nobleman for two years when his +daughter came from the convent. It was my duty to do her hair, and +by degrees I fell in love with her, and inspired her with a +reciprocal passion. After having sworn a thousand times to exist +only for one another, we gave ourselves up to the task of shewing +each other marks of our affection, the result of which was that the +state of the young countess discovered all. An old and devoted +servant was the first to find out our connection and the condition of +my mistress, and she told her that she felt in duty bound to tell her +father, but my sweetheart succeeded in making her promise to be +silent, saying that in the course of the week she herself would tell +him through her confessor. She informed me of all this, and instead +of going to confession we prepared for flight. She had laid hands on +a good sum of money and some diamonds which had belonged to her +mother, and we were to set out for Milan to-night. But to-day the +count called me after dinner, and giving me a letter, he told me to +start at once and to deliver it with my own hand to the person to +whom it was addressed at Venice. He spoke to me so kindly and +quietly that I had not the slightest suspicion of the fate in store +for me. I went to get my cloak, said good-bye to my little wife, +telling her that I should soon return. Seeing deeper below the +surface than I, and perchance having a presentiment of my misfortune, +she was sick at heart. I came here in hot haste, and took care to +deliver the fatal letter. They made me wait for an answer, and in +the mean time I went to an inn; but as I came out I was arrested and +put in the guard-room, where I was kept till they brought me here. I +suppose, sir, I might consider the young countess as my wife?" + +"You make a mistake." + +"But nature----" + +"Nature, when a man listens to her and nothing else, takes him from +one folly to another, till she puts him under the Leads." + +"I am under the Leads, then, am I?" + +"As I am." + +The poor young man shed some bitter tears. He was a well-made lad, +open, honest, and amorous beyond words. I secretly pardoned the +countess, and condemned the count for exposing his daughter to such +temptation. A shepherd who shuts up the wolf in the fold should not +complain if his flock be devoured. In all his tears and lamentations +he thought not of himself but always of his sweetheart. He thought +that the gaoler would return and bring him some food and a bed; but I +undeceived him, and offered him a share of what I had. His heart, +however, was too full for him to eat. In the evening I gave him my +mattress, on which he passed the night, for though he looked neat and +clean enough I did not care to have him to sleep with me, dreading +the results of a lover's dreams. He neither understood how wrongly +he had acted, nor how the count was constrained to punish him +publicly as a cloak to the honour of his daughter and his house. +The next day he was given a mattress and a dinner to the value of +fifteen sous, which the Tribunal had assigned to him, either as a +favour or a charity, for the word justice would not be appropriate in +speaking of this terrible body. I told the gaoler that my dinner +would suffice for the two of us, and that he could employ the young +man's allowance in saying masses in his usual manner. He agreed +willingly, and having told him that he was lucky to be in my company, +he said that we could walk in the garret for half an hour. I found +this walk an excellent thing for my health and my plan of escape, +which, however, I could not carry out for eleven months afterwards. +At the end of this resort of rats, I saw a number of old pieces of +furniture thrown on the ground to the right and left of two great +chests, and in front of a large pile of papers sewn up into separate +volumes. I helped myself to a dozen of them for the sake of the +reading, and I found them to be accounts of trials, and very +diverting; for I was allowed to read these papers, which had once +contained such secrets. I found some curious replies to the judges' +questions respecting the seduction of maidens, gallantries carried a +little too far by persons employed in girls' schools, facts relating +to confessors who had abused their penitents, schoolmasters convicted +of pederasty with their pupils, and guardians who had seduced their +wards. Some of the papers dating two or three centuries back, in +which the style and the manners illustrated gave me considerable +entertainment. Among the pieces of furniture on the floor I saw a +warming-pan, a kettle, a fire-shovel, a pair of tongs, some old +candle-sticks, some earthenware pots, and even a syringe. From this +I concluded that some prisoner of distinction had been allowed to +make use of these articles. But what interested me most was a +straight iron bar as thick as my thumb, and about a foot and a half +long. However, I left everything as it was, as my plans had not been +sufficiently ripened by time for me to appropriate any object in +particular. + +One day towards the end of the month my companion was taken away, and +Lawrence told me that he had been condemned to the prisons known as +The Fours, which are within the same walls as the ordinary prisons, +but belong to the State Inquisitors. Those confined in them have the +privilege of being able to call the gaoler when they like. The +prisons are gloomy, but there is an oil lamp in the midst which gives +the necessary light, and there is no fear of fire as everything is +made of marble. I heard, a long time after, that the unfortunate +Maggiorin was there for five years, and was afterwards sent to Cerigo +for ten. I do not know whether he ever came from there. He had kept +me good company, and this I discovered as soon as he was gone, for in +a few days I became as melancholy as before. Fortunately, I was +still allowed my walk in the garret, and I began to examine its +contents with more minuteness. One of the chests was full of fine +paper, pieces of cardboard, uncut pens, and clews of pack thread; the +other was fastened down. A piece of polished black marble, an inch +thick, six inches long, and three broad, attracted my attention, and +I possessed myself of it without knowing what I was going to do with +it, and I secreted it in my cell, covering it up with my shirts. + +A week after Maggiorin had gone, Lawrence told me that in all +probability I should soon get another companion. This fellow +Lawrence, who at bottom was a mere gabbling fool, began to get uneasy +at my never asking him any questions. This fondness for gossip was +not altogether appropriate to his office, but where is one to find +beings absolutely vile? There are such persons, but happily they are +few and far between, and are not to be sought for in the lower +orders. Thus my gaoler found himself unable to hold his tongue, and +thought that the reason I asked no questions must be that I thought +him incapable of answering them; and feeling hurt at this, and +wishing to prove to me that I made a mistake, he began to gossip +without being solicited. + +"I believe you will often have visitors," said he, "as the other six +cells have each two prisoners, who are not likely to be sent to the +Fours." I made him no reply, but he went on, in a few seconds, "They +send to the Fours all sorts of people after they have been sentenced, +though they know nothing of that. The prisoners whom I have charge +of under the Leads are like yourself, persons of note, and are only +guilty of deeds of which the inquisitive must know nothing. If you +knew, sir, what sort of people shared your fate, you would be +astonished, It's true that you are called a man of parts; but you +will pardon me.... You know that all men of parts are treated well +here. You take me, I see. Fifty sous a day, that's something. They +give three livres to a citizen, four to a gentleman, and eight to a +foreign count. I ought to know, I think, as everything goes through +my hands." + +He then commenced to sing his own praises, which consisted of +negative clauses. + +"I'm no thief, nor traitor, nor greedy, nor malicious, nor brutal, as +all my predecessors were, and when I have drunk a pint over and above +I am all the better for it. If my father had sent me to school I +should have learnt to read and write, and I might be Messer-Grande +to-day, but that's not my fault. M. Andre Diedo has a high opinion +of me. My wife, who cooks for you every day, and is only twenty- +four, goes to see him when she will, and he will have her come in +without ceremony, even if he be in bed, and that's more than he'll do +for a senator. I promise you you will be always having the new- +comers in your cell, but never for any length of time, for as soon +as the secretary has got what he wants to know from them, he sends +them to their place--to the Fours, to some fort, or to the Levant; +and if they be foreigners they are sent across the frontier, for our +Government does not hold itself master of the subjects of other +princes, if they be not in its service. The clemency of the Court is +beyond compare; there's not another in the world that treats its +prisoners so well. They say it's cruel to disallow writing and +visitors; but that's foolish, for what are writing and company but +waste of time? You will tell me that you have nothing to do, but we +can't say as much." + +Such was, almost word for word, the first harangue with which the +fellow honoured me, and I must say I found it amusing. I saw that if +the man had been less of a fool he would most certainly have been +more of a scoundrel. + +The next day brought me a new messmate, who was treated as Maggiorin +had been, and I thus found it necessary to buy another ivory spoon, +for as the newcomers were given nothing on the first day of their +imprisonment I had to do all the honours of the cell. + +My new mate made me a low bow, for my beard, now four inches long, +was still more imposing than my figure. Lawrence often lent me +scissors to cut my nails, but he was forbidden, under pain of very +heavy punishment, to let me touch my beard. I knew not the reason of +this order, but I ended by becoming used to my beard as one gets used +to everything. + +The new-comer was a man of about fifty, approaching my size, a little +bent, thin, with a large mouth, and very bad teeth. He had small +grey eyes hidden under thick eyebrows of a red colour, which made him +look like an owl; and this picture was set off by a small black wig, +which exhaled a disagreeable odour of oil, and by a dress of coarse +grey cloth. He accepted my offer of dinner, but was reserved, and +said not a word the whole day, and I was also silent, thinking he +would soon recover the use of his tongue, as he did the next day. + +Early in the morning he was given a bed and a bag full of linen. The +gaoler asked him, as he had asked me, what he would have for dinner, +and for money to pay for it. + +"I have no money." + +"What! a moneyed man like you have no money?" + +"I haven't a sou." + +"Very good; in that case I will get you some army biscuit and water, +according to instructions." + +He went out, and returned directly afterwards with a pound and a half +of biscuit, and a pitcher, which he set before the prisoner, and then +went away. + +Left alone with this phantom I heard a sigh, and my pity made me +break the silence. + +"Don't sigh, sir, you shall share my dinner. But I think you have +made a great mistake in coming here without money." + +"I have some, but it does not do to let those harpies know of it:" + +"And so you condemn yourself to bread and water. Truly a wise +proceeding! Do you know the reason of your imprisonment?" + +"Yes, sir, and I will endeavour in a few words to inform you of it." + +"My name is Squaldo Nobili. My father was a countryman who had me +taught reading and writing, and at his death left me his cottage and +the small patch of ground belonging to it. I lived in Friuli, about +a day's journey from the Marshes of Udine. As a torrent called Corno +often damaged my little property, I determined to sell it and to set +up in Venice, which I did ten years ago. I brought with me eight +thousand livres in fair sequins, and knowing that in this happy +commonwealth all men enjoyed the blessings of liberty, I believed +that by utilizing my capital I might make a little income, and I +began to lend money, on security. Relying on my thrift, my judgment, +and my, knowledge of the world, I chose this business in preference +to all others. I rented a small house in the neighbourhood of the +Royal Canal, and having furnished it I lived there in comfort by +myself; and in the course of two years I found I had made a profit of +ten thousand livres, though I had expended two thousand on household +expenses as I wished to live in comfort. In this fashion I saw +myself in a fair way of making a respectable fortune in time; but +one, day, having lent a Jew two sequins upon some books, I found one +amongst them called "La Sagesse," by Charron. It was then I found +out how good a thing it is to be able to read, for this book, which +you, sir, may not have read, contains all that a man need know-- +purging him of all the prejudices of his childhood. With Charron +good-bye to hell and all the empty terrors of a future life; one's +eyes are opened, one knows the way to bliss, one becomes wise indeed. +Do you, sir, get this book, and pay no heed to those foolish persons +who would tell you this treasure is not to be approached." + +This curious discourse made me know my man. As to Charron, I had +read the book though I did not know it had been translated into +Italian. The author who was a great admirer of Montaigne thought to +surpass his model, but toiled in vain. He is not much read despite +the prohibition to read his works, which should have given them some +popularity. He had the impudence to give his book the title of one +of Solomon's treatises--a circumstance which does not say much for +his modesty. My companion went on as follows: + +"Set free by Charron from any scruples I still might have, and from +those false ideas so hard to rid one's self of, I pushed my business +in such sort, that at the end of six years I could lay my hand on ten +thousand sequins. There is no need for you to be astonished at that, +as in this wealthy city gambling, debauchery, and idleness set all +the world awry and in continual need of money; so do the wise gather +what the fool drops. + +"Three years ago a certain Count Seriman came and asked me to take +from him five hundred sequins, to put them in my business, and to +give him half profits. All he asked for was an obligation in which I +promised to return him the whole sum on demand. At the end of a year +I sent him seventy-five sequins, which made fifteen per cent. on his +money; he gave me a receipt for it, but was ill pleased. He was +wrong, for I was in no need of money, and had not used his for +business purposes. At the end of the second year, out of pure +generosity, I sent him the same amount; but we came to a quarrel and +he demanded the return of the five hundred sequins. 'Certainly,' I +said, 'but I must deduct the hundred and fifty you have already +received.' Enraged at this he served me with a writ for the payment +of the whole sum. A clever lawyer undertook my defence and was able +to gain me two years. Three months ago I was spoken to as to an +agreement, and I refused to hear of it, but fearing violence I went +to the Abbe Justiniani, the Spanish ambassador's secretary, and for a +small sum he let me a house in the precincts of the Embassy, where +one is safe from surprises. I was quite willing to let Count Seriman +have his money, but I claimed a reduction of a hundred sequins on +account of the costs of the lawsuit. A week ago the lawyers on both +sides came to me. I shewed them a purse of two hundred and fifty +sequins, and told them they might take it, but not a penny more. +They went away without saying a word, both wearing an ill-pleased +air, of which I took no notice. Three days ago the Abbe Justiniani +told me that the ambassador had thought fit to give permission to the +State Inquisitors to send their men at once to my house to make +search therein. I thought the thing impossible under the shelter of +a foreign ambassador, and instead of taking the usual precautions, I +waited the approach of the men-at-arms, only putting my money in a +place of safety. At daybreak Messer-Grande came to the house, and +asked me for three hundred and fifty sequins, and on my telling him +that I hadn't a farthing he seized me, and here I am." + +I shuddered, less at having such an infamous companion than at his +evidently considering me as his equal, for if he had thought of me in +any other light he would certainly not have told me this long tale, +doubtless in the belief that I should take his part. In all the +folly about Charron with which he tormented me in the three days we +were together, I found by bitter experience the truth of the Italian +proverb: 'Guardati da colui che non ha letto che un libro solo'. By +reading the work of the misguided priest he had become an Atheist, +and of this he made his boast all the day long. In the afternoon +Lawrence came to tell him to come and speak with the secretary. He +dressed himself hastily, and instead of his own shoes he took mine +without my seeing him. He came back in half an hour in tears, and +took out of his shoes two purses containing three hundred and fifty +sequins, and, the gaoler going before, he went to take them to the +secretary. A few moments afterwards he returned, and taking his +cloak went away. Lawrence told me that he had been set at liberty. +I thought, and with good reason, that, to make him acknowledge his +debt and pay it, the secretary had threatened him with the torture; +and if it were only used in similar cases, I, who detest the +principle of torture, would be the first to proclaim its utility. + +On New Year's Day, 1733, I received my presents. Lawrence brought me +a dressing-gown lined with foxskin, a coverlet of wadded silk, and a +bear-skin bag for me to put my legs in, which I welcomed gladly, for +the coldness was unbearable as the heat in August. Lawrence told me +that I might spend to the amount of six sequins a month, that I might +have what books I liked, and take in the newspaper, and that this +present came from M. de Bragadin. I asked him for a pencil, and I +wrote upon a scrap of paper: "I am grateful for the kindness of the +Tribunal and the goodness of M. de Bragadin." + +The man who would know what were my feelings at all this must have +been in a similar situation to my own. In the first gush of feeling +I forgave my oppressors, and was on the point of giving up the idea +of escape; so easily shall you move a man that you have brought low +and overwhelmed with misfortune. Lawrence told me that M. de +Bragadin had come before the three Inquisitors, and that on his +knees, and with tears in his eyes, he had entreated them to let him +give me this mark of his affection if I were still in the land of the +living; the Inquisitors were moved, and were not able to refuse his +request. + +I wrote down without delay the names of the books I wanted. + +One fine morning, as I was walking in the garret, my eyes fell on the +iron bar I have mentioned, and I saw that it might very easily be +made into a defensive or offensive weapon. I took possession of it, +and having hidden it under my dressing-gown I conveyed it into my +cell. As soon as I was alone, I took the piece of black marble, and +I found that I had to my hand an excellent whetstone; for by rubbing +the bar with the stone I obtained a very good edge. + +My interest roused in this work in which I was but an apprentice, and +in the fashion in which I seemed likely to become possessed of an +instrument totally prohibited under the Leads, impelled, perhaps, +also by my vanity to make a weapon without any of the necessary +tools, and incited by my very difficulties (for I worked away till +dark without anything to hold my whetstone except my left hand, and +without a drop of oil to soften the iron), I made up my mind to +persevere in my difficult task. My saliva served me in the stead of +oil, and I toiled eight days to produce eight edges terminating in a +sharp point, the edges being an inch and a half in length. My bar +thus sharpened formed an eight-sided dagger, and would have done +justice to a first-rate cutler. No one can imagine the toil and +trouble I had to bear, nor the patience required to finish this +difficult task without any other tools than a loose piece of stone. +I put myself, in fact, to a kind of torture unknown to the tyrants of +all ages. My right arm had become so stiff that I could hardly move +it; the palm of my hand was covered with a large scar, the result of +the numerous blisters caused by the hardness and the length of the +work. No one would guess the sufferings I underwent to bring my work +to completion. + +Proud of what I had done, without thinking what use I could make of +my weapon, my first care was to hide it in such a manner as would +defy a minute search. After thinking over a thousand plans, to all +of which there was some objection, I cast my eyes on my arm-chair, +and there I contrived to hide it so as to be secure from all +suspicion. Thus did Providence aid me to contrive a wonderful and +almost inconceivable plan of escape. I confess to a feeling of +vanity, not because I eventually succeeded--for I owed something to +good luck--but because I was brave enough to undertake such a scheme +in spite of the difficulties which might have ruined my plans and +prevented my ever attaining liberty. + +After thinking for three or four days as to what I should do with the +bar I had made into an edged tool, as thick as a walking-stick and +twenty inches long, I determined that the best plan would be to make +a hole in the floor under my bed. + +I was sure that the room below my cell was no other than the one in +which I had seen M. Cavalli. I knew that this room was opened every +morning, and I felt persuaded that, after I had made my hole, I could +easily let myself down with my sheets, which I would make into a rope +and fasten to my bed. Once there, I would hide under the table of +the court, and in the morning, when the door was opened, I could +escape and get to a place of safety before anyone could follow me. I +thought it possible that a sentry might be placed in the hall, but my +short pike ought to soon rid me of him. The floor might be of double +or even of triple thickness, and this thought puzzled me; for in that +case how was I to prevent the guard sweeping out the room throughout +the two months my work might last. If I forbade them to do so, I +might rouse suspicion; all the more as, to free myself of the fleas, +I had requested them to sweep out the cell every day, and in sweeping +they would soon discover what I was about. I must find some way out +of this difficulty. + +I began by forbidding them to sweep, without giving any reason. A +week after, Lawrence asked me why I did so. I told him because of +the dust which might make me cough violently and give me some fatal +injury. + +"I will make them water the floor," said he. + +"That would be worse, Lawrence, for the damp might cause a plethora." + +In this manner I obtained a week's respite, but at the end of that. +time the lout gave orders that my cell should be swept. He had the +bed carried out into the garret, and on pretence of having the +sweeping done with greater care, he lighted a candle. This let me +know that the rascal was suspicious of something; but I was crafty +enough to take no notice of him, and so far from giving up my plea, I +only thought how I could put it on good train. Next morning I +pricked my finger and covered my handkerchief with the blood, and +then awaited Lawrence in bed. As soon as he came I told him that I +had coughed so violently as to break a blood-vessel, which had made +me bring up all the blood he saw. "Get me a doctor." The doctor +came, ordered me to be bled, and wrote me a prescription. I told him +it was Lawrence's fault, as he had persisted in having the room +swept. The doctor blamed him for doing so, and just as if I had +asked him he told us of a young man who had died from the same cause, +and said that there was nothing more dangerous than breathing in +dust. Lawrence called all the gods to witness that he had only had +the room swept for my sake, and promised it should not happen again. +I laughed to myself, for the doctor could not have played his part +better if I had given him the word. The guards who were there were +delighted, and said they would take care only to sweep the cells of +those prisoners who had angered them. + +When the doctor was gone, Lawrence begged my pardon, and assured me +that all the other prisoners were in good health although their cells +were swept out regularly. + +"But what the doctor says is worth considering," said he, "and I +shall tell them all about it, for I look upon them as my children." + +The blood-letting did me good, as it made me sleep, and relieved me +of the spasms with which I was sometimes troubled. I had regained my +appetite and was getting back my strength every day, but the time to +set about my work was not yet come; it was still too cold, and I +could not hold the bar for any length of time without my hand +becoming stiff. My scheme required much thought. I had to exercise +boldness and foresight to rid myself of troubles which chance might +bring to pass or which I could foresee. The situation of a man who +had to act as I had, is an unhappy one, but in risking all for all +half its bitterness vanishes. + +The long nights of winter distressed me, for I had to pass nineteen +mortal hours in darkness; and on the cloudy days, which are common +enough at Venice, the light I had was not sufficient for me to be +able to read. Without any distractions I fell back on the idea of my +escape, and a man who always thinks on one subject is in danger of +becoming a monomaniac. A wretched kitchen-lamp would have made me +happy, but how am I to get such a thing? O blessed prerogative of +thought! how happy was I when I thought I had found a way to possess +myself of such a treasure! To make such a lamp I required a vase, +wicks, oil, a flint and steel, tinder, and matches. A porringer +would do for the vase, and I had one which was used for cooking eggs +in butter. Pretending that the common oil did not agree with me, I +got them to buy me Lucca oil for my salad, and my cotton counterpane +would furnish me with wicks. I then said I had the toothache, and +asked Lawrence to get me a pumice-stone, but as he did not know what +I meant I told him that a musket-flint would do as well if it were +soaked in vinegar for a day, and, then being applied to the tooth the +pain would be eased. Lawrence told me that the vinegar I had was +excellent, and that I could soak the stone myself, and he gave me +three or four flints he had in his pocket. All I had to do was to +get some sulphur and tinder, and the procuring of these two articles +set all my wits to work. At last fortune came to my assistance. + +I had suffered from a kind of rash, which as it came off had left +some red spots on my arms, and occasionally caused me some +irritation. I told Lawrence to ask the doctor for a cure, and the +next day he brought me a piece of paper which the secretary had seen, +and on which the doctor had written, "Regulate the food for a day, +and the skin will be cured by four ounces of oil of sweet almonds or +an ointment of flour of sulphur, but this local application is +hazardous." + +"Never mind the danger," said I to Lawrence; "buy me the ointment, or +rather get me the sulphur, as I have some butter by me, and I can +make it up myself. Have you any matches? Give me a few." + +He found some in his pockets, and he gave me them. + +What a small thing brings comfort in distress! But in my place these +matches were no small thing, but rather a great treasure. + +I had puzzled my head for several hours as to what substitute I could +find for tinder--the only thing I still lacked, and which I could not +ask for under any pretense whatsoever--when I remembered that I had +told the tailor to put some under the armpits of my coat to prevent +the perspiration spoiling the stuff. The coat, quite new, was before +me, and my heart began to beat, but supposing the tailor had not put +it in! Thus I hung between hope and fear. I had only to take a step +to know all; but such a step would have been decisive, and I dared +not take it. At last I drew nigh, and feeling myself unworthy of +such mercies I fell on my knees and fervently prayed of God that the +tailor might not have forgotten the tinder. After this heartfelt +prayer I took my coat, unsewed it, and found-the tinder! My joy knew +no bounds. I naturally gave thanks to God, since it was with +confidence in Him that I took courage and searched my coat, and I +returned thanks to Him with all my heart. + +I now had all the necessary materials, and I soon made myself a lamp. +Let the reader imagine my joy at having in a manner made light in the +midst of darkness, and it was no less sweet because against the +orders of my infamous oppressors. Now there was no more night for +me, and also no more salad, for though I was very fond of it the need +of keeping the oil to give light caused me to make this sacrifice +without it costing me many pangs. I fixed upon the first Monday in +Lent to begin the difficult work of breaking through the floor, for I +suspected that in the tumult of the carnival I might have some +visitors, and I was in the right. + +At noon, on Quinquagesima Sunday, I heard the noise of the bolts, and +presently Lawrence entered, followed by a thick-set man whom I +recognized as the Jew, Gabriel Schalon, known for lending money to +young men. + +We knew each other, so exchanged compliments. His company was by no +means agreeable to me, but my opinion was not asked. He began by +congratulating me on having the pleasure of his society; and by way +of answer I offered him to share my dinner, but he refused, saying he +would only take a little soup, and would keep his appetite for a +better supper at his own house. + +"When?" + +"This evening. You heard when I asked for my bed he told me that we +would talk about that to-morrow. That means plainly that I shall +have no need of it. And do you think it likely that a man like me +would be left without anything to eat?" + +"That was my experience." + +"Possibly, but between ourselves our cases are somewhat different; +and without going any farther into that question, the Inquisitors +have made a mistake in arresting me, and they will be in some +trouble, I am certain, as to how to atone for doing so." + +"They will possibly give you a pension. A man of your importance has +to be conciliated." + +"True, there's not a broker on the exchange more useful than myself, +and the five sages have often profited by the advice I have given +them. My detention is a curious incident, which, perchance, will be +of service to you." + +"Indeed. How, may I ask?" + +"I will get you out of here in a month's time. I know to whom to +speak and what way to do it:" + +"I reckon on you, then." + +"You may do so." + +This knave and fool together believed himself to be somebody. He +volunteered to inform me as to what was being said of me in the town, +but as he only related the idle tales of men as ignorant as himself, +he wearied me, and to escape listening to him I took up a book. The +fellow had the impudence to ask me not to read, as he was very fond +of talking, but henceforth he talked only to himself. I did not dare +to light my lamp before this creature, and as night drew on he +decided on accepting some bread and Cyprus wine, and he was +afterwards obliged to do as best he could with my mattress, which was +now the common bed of all new-comers. + +In the morning he had a bed and some food from his own house. I was +burdened with this wretched fellow for two months, for before +condemning him to the Fours the secretary had several interviews with +him to bring to light his knaveries, and to oblige him to cancel a +goodly number of illegal agreements. He confessed to me himself that +he had bought of M. Domenico Micheli the right to moneys which could +not belong to the buyer till after the father of the seller was dead. +"It's true," said he, "that he agreed to give me fifty per cent., but +you must consider that if he died before his father I should lose +all." At last, seeing that my cursed fellow did not go, I determined +to light my lamp again after having made him promise to observe +secrecy. He only kept his promise while he was with me, as Lawrence +knew all about it, but luckily he attached no importance to the fact. + +This unwelcome guest was a true burden to me, as he not only +prevented me from working for my escape but also from reading. He +was troublesome, ignorant, superstitious, a braggart, cowardly, and +sometimes like a madman. He would have had me cry, since fear made +him weep, and he said over and over again that this imprisonment +would ruin his reputation. On this count I reassured him with a +sarcasm he did not understand. I told him that his reputation was +too well known to suffer anything from this little misfortune, and he +took that for a compliment. He would not confess to being a miser, +but I made him admit that if the Inquisitors would give him a hundred +sequins for every day of his imprisonment he would gladly pass the +rest of his life under the Leads. + +He was a Talmudist, like all modern Jews, and he tried to make me +believe that he was very devout; but I once extracted a smile of +approbation from him by telling him that he would forswear Moses if +the Pope would make him a cardinal. As the son of a rabbi he was +learned in all the ceremonies of his religion, but like most men he +considered the essence of a religion to lie in its discipline and +outward forms. + +This Jew, who was extremely fat, passed three-quarters of his life in +bed; and though he often dozed in the daytime, he was annoyed at not +being able to sleep at night--all the more as he saw that I slept +excellently. He once took it into his head to wake me up as I was +enjoying my sleep. + +"What do you want?" said I; "waking me up with a start like this." + +"My dear fellow, I can't sleep a wink. Have compassion on me and let +us have a little talk." + +"You scoundrel! You act thus and you dare to call yourself my friend! +I know your lack of sleep torments you, but if you again deprive me +of the only blessing I enjoy I will arise and strangle you." + +I uttered these words in a kind of transport. + +"Forgive me, for mercy's sake! and be sure that I will not trouble +you again." + +It is possible that I should not have strangled him, but I was very +much tempted to do so. A prisoner who is happy enough to sleep +soundly, all the while he sleeps is no longer a captive, and feels no +more the weight of his chains. He ought to look upon the wretch who +awakens him as a guard who deprives him of his liberty, and makes him +feel his misery once more, since, awakening, he feels all his former +woes. Furthermore, the sleeping prisoner often dreams that he is +free again, in like manner as the wretch dying of hunger sees himself +in dreams seated at a sumptuous feast. + +I congratulated myself on not having commenced my great work before +he came, especially as he required that the room should be swept out. +The first time he asked for it to be dote, the guards made me laugh +by saying that it would kill me. However, he insisted; and I had my +revenge by pretending to be ill, but from interested motives I made +no further opposition. + +On the Wednesday in Holy Week Lawrence told us that the secretary +would make us the customary visit in the afternoon, the object being +to give peace to them that would receive the sacrament at Easter, and +also to know if they had anything to say against the gaoler. "So, +gentlemen," said Lawrence, "if you have any complaints to make of me +make them. Dress yourselves fully, as is customary." I told +Lawrence to get me a confessor for the day. + +I put myself into full dress, and the Jew followed my example, taking +leave of me in advance, so sure was he that the secretary would set +him free on hearing what he had to say. "My presentiment," said he, +"is of the same kind as I have had before, and I have never been +deceived." + +"I congratulate you, but don't reckon without your host." He did not +understand what I meant. + +In course of time the secretary came, and as soon as the cell-door +was opened the Jew ran out and threw himself at his feet on both +knees, I heard for five minutes nothing but his tears and complaints, +for the secretary said not one word. He came back, and Lawrence told +me to go out. With a beard of eight months' growth, and a dress made +for love-making in August, I must have presented a somewhat curious +appearance. Much to my disgust I shivered with cold, and was afraid +that the secretary would think I was trembling with fear. As I was +obliged to bend low to come out of my hole, my bow was ready made, +and drawing myself up, I looked at him calmly without affecting any +unseasonable hardihood, and waited for him to speak. The secretary +also kept silence, so that we stood facing each other like a pair of +statues. At the end of two minutes, the secretary, seeing that I +said nothing, gave me a slight bow, and went away. I re-entered my +cell, and taking off my clothes in haste, got into bed to get warm +again. The Jew was astonished at my not having spoken to the +secretary, although my silence had cried more loudly than his +cowardly complaints. A prisoner of my kind has no business to open +his mouth before his judge, except to answer questions. On Maundy +Thursday a Jesuit came to confess me, and on Holy Saturday a priest +of St. Mark's came to administer to me the Holy Communion. My +confession appearing rather too laconic to the sweet son of Ignatius +he thought good to remonstrate with me before giving me his +absolution. + +"Do you pray to God?" he said. + +"From the morning unto the evening, and from the evening unto the +morning, for, placed as I am, all that I feel--my anxiety, my grief, +all the wanderings of my mind--can be but a prayer in the eyes of the +Divine Wisdom which alone sees my heart." + +The Jesuit smiled slightly and replied by a discourse rather +metaphysical than moral, which did not at all tally with my views. +I should have confuted him on every point if he had not astonished me +by a prophecy he made. "Since it is from us," said he, "that you +learnt what you know of religion, practise it in our fashion, pray +like us, and know that you will only come out of this place on the +day of the saint whose name you bear." So saying he gave me +absolution, and left me. This man left the strongest possible +impression on my mind. I did my best, but I could not rid myself of +it. I proceeded to pass in review all the saints in the calendar. + +The Jesuit was the director of M. Flaminio Corner, an old senator, +and then a State Inquisitor. This statesman was a famous man of +letters, a great politician, highly religious, and author of several +pious and ascetic works written in Latin. His reputation was +spotless. + +On being informed that I should be set free on the feast-day of my +patron saint, and thinking that my informant ought to know for +certain what he told me, I felt glad to have a patron-saint. "But +which is it?" I asked myself. "It cannot be St. James of +Compostella, whose name I bear, for it was on the feast-day of that +saint that Messer-Grande burst open my door." I took the almanac and +looking for the saints' days nearest at hand I found St. George--a +saint of some note, but of whom I had never thought. I then devoted +myself to St. Mark, whose feast fell on the twenty-fifth of the +month, and whose protection as a Venetian I might justly claim. To +him, then, I addressed my vows, but all in vain, for his feast came +round and still I was in prison. Then I took myself to St. James, +the brother of Christ, who comes before St. Philip, but again in the +wrong. I tried St. Anthony, who, if the tale told at Padua be true, +worked thirteen miracles a day. He worked none for me. Thus I +passed from one to the other, and by degrees I got to hope in the +protection of the saints just as one hopes for anything one desires, +but does not expect to come to pass; and I finished up by hoping only +in my Saint Bar, and in the strength of my arms. Nevertheless the +promise of the Jesuit came to pass, since I escaped from The Leads on +All Hallows Day; and it is certain that if I had a patron-saint, he +must be looked for in their number since they are all honoured on +that day. + +A fortnight after Easter I was delivered from my troublesome +Israelite, and the poor devil instead of being sent back to his home +had to spend two years in The Fours, and on his gaining his freedom +he went and set up in Trieste, where he ended his days. + +No sooner was I again alone than I set zealously about my work. I +had to make haste for fear of some new visitor, who, like the Jew, +might insist on the cell being swept. I began by drawing back my +bed, and after lighting my lamp I lay down on my belly, my pike in my +hand, with a napkin close by in which to gather the fragments of +board as I scooped them out. My task was to destroy the board by +dint of driving into it the point of my tool. At first the pieces I +got away were not much larger than grains of wheat, but they soon +increased in size. + +The board was made of deal, and was sixteen inches broad. I began to +pierce it at its juncture with another board, and as there were no +nails or clamps my work was simple. After six hours' toil I tied up +the napkin, and put it on one side to empty it the following day +behind the pile of papers in the garret. The fragments were four or +five times larger in bulk than the hole from whence they came. I put +back my bed in its place, and on emptying the napkin the next morning +I took care so to dispose the fragments that they should not be seen. + +Having broken through the first board, which I found to be two inches +thick, I was stopped by a second which I judged to be as thick as the +first. Tormented by the fear of new visitors I redoubled my efforts, +and in three weeks I had pierced the three boards of which the floor +was composed; and then I thought that all was lost, for I found I had +to pierce a bed of small pieces of marble known at Venice as terrazzo +marmorin. This forms the usual floor of venetian houses of all +kinds, except the cottages, for even the high nobility prefer the +terrazzo to the finest boarded floor. I was thunderstruck to find +that my bar made no impression on this composition; but, +nevertheless, I was not altogether discouraged and cast down. I +remembered Hannibal, who, according to Livy, opened up a passage +through the Alps by breaking the rocks with axes and other +instruments, having previously softened them with vinegar. I thought +that Hannibal had succeeded not by aceto, but aceta, which in the +Latin of Padua might well be the same as ascia; and who can guarantee +the text to be free from the blunders of the copyist? All the same, +I poured into the hole a bottle of strong vinegar I had by me, and in +the morning, either because of the vinegar or because I, refreshed +and rested, put more strength and patience into the work, I saw that +I should overcome this new difficulty; for I had not to break the +pieces of marble, but only to pulverize with the end of my bar the +cement which kept them together. I soon perceived that the greatest +difficulty was on the surface, and in four days the whole mosaic was +destroyed without the point of my pike being at all damaged. + +Below the pavement I found another plank, but I had expected as much. +I concluded that this would be the last; that is the first to be put +down when the rooms below were being ceiled. I pierced it with some +difficulty, as, the hole being ten inches deep, it had become +troublesome to work the pike. A thousand times I commended myself to +the mercy of God. Those Free-thinkers who say that praying is no +good do not know what they are talking about; for I know by +experience that, having prayed to God, I always felt myself grow +stronger, which fact amply proves the usefulness of prayer, whether +the renewal of strength come straight from God, or whether it comes +only from the trust one has in Him. + +On the 25th of June, on which day the Republic celebrates the +wonderful appearance of St. Mark under the form of a winged lion in +the ducal church, about three o'clock in the afternoon, as I was +labouring on my belly at the hole, stark naked, covered with sweat, +my lamp beside me. I heard with mortal fear the shriek of a bolt and +the noise of the door of the first passage. It was a fearful moment! +I blew out my lamp, and leaving my bar in the hole I threw into it +the napkin with the shavings it contained, and as swift as lightning +I replaced my bed as best I could, and threw myself on it just as the +door of my cell opened. If Lawrence had come in two seconds sooner +he would have caught me. He was about to walk over me, but crying +out dolefully I stopped him, and he fell back, saying, + +"Truly, sir, I pity you, for the air here is as hot as a furnace. +Get up, and thank God for giving you such good company." + +"Come in, my lord, come in," said he to the poor wretch who followed +him. Then, without heeding my nakedness, the fellow made the noble +gentleman enter, and he seeing me to be naked, sought to avoid me +while I vainly tried to find my shirt. + +The new-comer thought he was in hell, and cried out, + +"Where am I? My God! where have I been put? What heat! What a +stench! With whom am I?" + +Lawrence made him go out, and asked me to put on my shirt to go into +the garret for a moment. Addressing himself to the new prisoner, he +said that, having to get a bed and other necessaries, he would leave +us in the garret till he came back, and that, in the mean time, the +cell would be freed from the bad smell, which was only oil. What a +start it gave me as I heard him utter the word "oil." In my hurry I +had forgotten to snuff the wick after blowing it out. As Lawrence +asked me no questions about it, I concluded that he knew all, and the +accursed Jew must have betrayed me. I thought myself lucky that he +was not able to tell him any more. + +From that time the repulsion which I had felt for Lawrence +disappeared. + +After putting on my shirt and dressing-gown, I went out and found my +new companion engaged in writing a list of what he wanted the gaoler +to get him. As soon as he saw me, he exclaimed, "Ah! it's Casanova." +I, too, recognised him as the Abbe and Count Fenarolo, a man of +fifty, amiable, rich, and a favourite in society. He embraced me, +and when I told him that I should have expected to see anybody in +that place rather than him, he could not keep back his tears, which +made me weep also. + +When we were alone I told him that, as soon as his bed came, I should +offer him the recess, begging him at the same time not to accept it. +I asked him, also, not to ask to have the cell swept, saying that I +would tell him the reason another time. He promised to keep all +secrecy in the matter, and said he thought himself fortunate to be +placed with me. He said that as no one knew why I was imprisoned, +everyone was guessing at it. Some said that I was the heresiarch of +a new sect; others that Madame Memmo had persuaded the Inquisitors +that I had made her sons Atheists, and others that Antony Condulmer, +the State Inquisitor, had me imprisoned as a disturber of the peace, +because I hissed Abbe Chiari's plays, and had formed a design to go +to Padua for the express purpose of killing him. + +All these accusations had a certain foundation in fact which gave +them an air of truth, but in reality they were all wholly false. I +cared too little for religion to trouble myself to found a new one. +The sons of Madame Memmo were full of wit, and more likely to seduce +than to be seduced; and Master Condulmer would have had too much on +his hands if he had imprisoned all those who hissed the Abbe Chiari; +and as for this abbe, once a Jesuit, I had forgiven him, as the +famous Father Origo, himself formerly a Jesuit, had taught me to take +my revenge by praising him everywhere, which incited the malicious to +vent their satire on the abbe; and thus I was avenged without any +trouble to myself. + +In the evening they brought a good bed, fine linen, perfumes, an +excellent supper, and choice wines. The abbe ate nothing, but I +supped for two. When Lawrence had wished us good night and had shut +us up till the next day, I got out my lamp, which I found to be +empty, the napkin having sucked up all the oil. This made me laugh, +for as the napkin might very well have caught and set the room on +fire, the idea of the confusion which would have ensued excited my +hilarity. I imparted the cause of my mirth to my companion, who +laughed himself, and then, lighting the lamp, we spent the night in +pleasant talk. The history of his imprisonment was as follows: + +"Yesterday, at three o'clock in the afternoon, Madame Alessandria, +Count Martinengo, and myself, got into a gondola. We went to Padua +to see the opera, intending to return to Venice afterwards. In the +second act my evil genius led me to the gaming-table, where I +unfortunately saw Count Rosenberg, the Austrian ambassador, without +his mask, and about ten paces from him was Madame Ruzzini, whose +husband is going to Vienna to represent the Republic. I greeted them +both, and was just going away, when the ambassador called out to me, +so as to be heard by everyone, 'You are very fortunate in being able +to pay your court to so sweet a lady. At present the personage I +represent makes the fairest land in the world no better for me than a +galley. Tell the lady, I beseech you, that the laws which now +prevent me speaking to her will be without force at Venice, where I +shall go next year, and then I shall declare war against her.' +Madame Ruzzini, who saw that she was being spoken of, asked me what +the count had said, and I told her, word for word. 'Tell him,' said +she, 'that I accept his declaration of war, and that we shall see who +will wage it best.' I did not think I had committed a crime in +reporting her reply, which was after all a mere compliment. After +the opera we set out, and got here at midnight. I was going to sleep +when a messenger brought me a note ordering me to go to the Bussola +at one o'clock, Signor Bussinello, Secretary of the Council of Ten, +having something to say to me. Astonished at such an order--always +of bad omen, and vexed at being obliged to obey, I went at the time +appointed, and my lord secretary, without giving me a word, ordered +me to be taken here." + +Certainly no fault could be less criminal than that which Count +Fenarolo had committed, but one can break certain laws in all +innocence without being any the less punishable. I congratulated him +on knowing what his crime had been, and told him that he would be set +free in a week, and would be requested to spend six months in the +Bressian. "I can't think," said he, "that they will leave me here +for a week." I determined to keep him good company, and to soften +the bitterness of his imprisonment, and so well did I sympathize with +his position that I forgot all about my own. + +The next morning at day-break, Lawrence brought coffee and a basket +filled with all the requisites for a good dinner. The abbe was +astonished, for he could not conceive how anyone could eat at such an +early hour. They let us walk for an hour in the garret and then shut +us up again, and we saw no more of them throughout the day. The +fleas which tormented us made the abbe ask why I did not have the +cell swept out. I could not let him think that dirt and untidiness +was agreeable to me, or that my skin was any harder than his own, so +I told him the whole story, and shewed him what I had done. He was +vexed at having as it were forced me to make him my confidant, but he +encouraged me to go on, and if possible to finish what I was about +that day, as he said he would help me to descend and then would draw +up the rope, not wishing to complicate his own difficulties by an +escape. I shewed him the model of a contrivance by means of which I +could certainly get possession of the sheets which were to be my +rope; it was a short stick attached by one end to a long piece of +thread. By this stick I intended to attach my rope to the bed, and +as the thread hung down to the floor of the room below, as soon as I +got there I should pull the thread and the rope would fall down. He +tried it, and congratulated me on my invention, as this was a +necessary part of my scheme, as otherwise the rope hanging down would +have immediately discovered me. My noble companion was convinced +that I ought to stop my work, for I might be surprised, having to do +several days' work before finishing the hole which would cost +Lawrence his life. Should the thought of gaining my liberty at the +expense of a fellow-creature have made me desist? I should have +still persisted if my escape had meant death to the whole body of +Venetian guards, and even to the Inquisitors themselves. Can the +love of country, all holy though it be, prevail in the heart of the +man whose country is oppressing him? + +My good humour did not prevent my companion having some bad quarters +of an hour. He was in love with Madame Alessandria, who had been a +singer, and was either the mistress or the wife of his friend +Martinengo; and he should have deemed himself happy, but the happier +a lover is, so much the more his unhappiness when he is snatched from +the beloved object. He sighed, wept, and declared that he loved a +woman in whom all the noble virtues were contained. I compassionated +him, and took care not to comfort him by saying that love is a mere +trifle--a cold piece of comfort given to lovers by fools, and, +moreover, it is not true that love is a mere trifle. + +The week I had mentioned as the probable term of his imprisonment +passed quickly enough, and I lost my friend, but did not waste my +time by mourning for him; he was set free, and I was content. I did +not beg him to be discreet, for the least doubt on that score would +have wounded his noble spirit. During the week he was with me he +only ate soup and fruit, taking a little Canary wine. It was I who +made good cheer in his stead and greatly to his delight. Before he +left we swore eternal friendship. + +The next day Lawrence gave me an account of my money, and on finding +that I had a balance of four sequins I gave them to him, telling him +it was a present from me to his wife. I did not tell him that it was +for the rent of my lamp, but he was free to think so if he chose. +Again betaking myself to my work, and toiling without cessation, on +the 23rd of August I saw it finished. This delay was caused by an +inevitable accident. As I was hollowing out the last plank, I put my +eye to a little hole, through which I ought to have seen the hall of +the Inquisitors-in fact, I did see it, but I saw also at one side of +the hole a surface about eight inches thick. It was, as I had feared +all the time it would be, one of the beams which kept up the ceiling. +I was thus compelled to enlarge my hole on the other side, for the +beam would have made it so narrow that a man of my size could never +have got through. I increased the hole, therefore, by a fourth, +working--between fear and hope, for it was possible that the space +between two of the beams would not be large enough. After I had +finished, a second little hole assured me that God had blessed my +labour. I then carefully stopped up the two small holes to prevent +anything falling down into the hall, and also lest a ray from my lamp +should be perceived, for this would have discovered all and ruined +me. + +I fixed my escape for the eve of St. Augustine's Day, because I knew +that the Grand Council assembled on that feast, and there would +consequently be nobody near the room through which I must pass in +getting away. This would have been on the twenty-seventh of the +month, but a misfortune happened to me on the twenty-fifth which +makes me still shudder when I think of it, notwithstanding the years +which have passed since then. + +Precisely at noon I heard the noise of bolts, and I thought I should +die; for a violent beating of the heart made me imagine my last hour +was come. I fell into my easy chair, and waited. Lawrence came into +the garret and put his head at the grating, and said, "I give you +joy, sir, for the good news I am bringing you." At first, not being +able to think of any other news which could be good to me, I fancied +I had been set at liberty, and I trembled, for I knew that the +discovery of the hole I had made would have caused my pardon to be +recalled. + +Lawrence came in and told me to follow him. + +"Wait till I put on my clothes." + +"It's of no consequence, as you only have to walk from this +abominable cell to another, well lighted and quite fresh, with two +windows whence you can see half Venice, and you can stand upright +too." -----I could bear no more, I felt that I was fainting. +"Give me the vinegar," said I, "and go and tell the secretary that I +thank the Court for this favour, and entreat it to leave me where I +am." + +"You make me laugh, sir. Have you gone mad? They would take you +from hell to put you in heaven, and you would refuse to stir? Come, +come, the Court must be obeyed, pray rise, sir. I will give you my +arm, and will have your clothes and your books brought for you." +Seeing that resistance was of no avail, I got up, and was much +comforted at hearing him give orders for my arm-chair to be brought, +for my pike was to follow me, and with it hope. I should have much +liked to have been able to take the hole--the object of so much +wasted trouble and hope--with me. I may say with truth that, as I +came forth from that horrible and doleful place, my spirit remained +there. + +Leaning on Lawrence's shoulder, while he, thinking to cheer me up, +cracked his foolish jokes, I passed through two narrow passages, and +going down three steps I found myself in a well-lighted hall, at the +end of which, on the left-hand side, was a door leading into another +passage two feet broad by about twelve long, and in the corner was my +new cell. It had a barred window which was opposite to two windows, +also barred, which lighted the passage, and thus one had a fine view +as far as Lido. At that trying moment I did not care much for the +view; but later on I found that a sweet and pleasant wind came +through the window when it was opened, and tempered the insufferable +heat; and this was a true blessing for the poor wretch who had to +breathe the sultry prison air, especially in the hot season. + +As soon as I got into my new cell Lawrence had my arm-chair brought +in, and went away, saying that he would have the remainder of my +effects brought to me. I sat on my arm-chair as motionless as a +statue, waiting for the storm, but not fearing it. What overwhelmed +me was the distressing idea that all my pains and contrivances were +of no use, nevertheless I felt neither sorry nor repentant for what I +had done, and I made myself abstain from thinking of what was going +to happen, and thus kept myself calm. + +Lifting up my soul to God I could not help thinking that this +misfortune was a Divine punishment for neglecting to escape when all +was ready. Nevertheless, though I could have escaped three days +sooner, I thought my punishment too severe, all the more as I had put +off my escape from motives of prudence, which seemed to me worthy of +reward, for if I had only consulted my own impatience to be gone I +should have risked everything. To controvert the reasons which made +me postpone my flight to the 27th of August, a special revelation +would have been requisite; and though I had read "Mary of Agrada" I +was not mad enough for that. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +The Subterranean Prisons Known as the Wells--Lawrence's Vengeance-- +I Enter into a Correspondence With Another Prisoner, Father Balbi: +His Character--I Plan With Him a Means of Escape--How I Contrived to +Let Him Have My Pike I Am Given a Scoundrelly Companion: His +Portrait. + +I was thus anxious and despairing when two of the guards brought me +my bed. They went back to fetch the rest of my belongings, and for +two hours I saw no one, although the door of my cell remained open. +This unnatural delay engendered many thoughts, but I could not fix +exactly on the reason of it. I only knew that I had everything to +fear, and this knowledge made me brace up my mind so that I should be +able to meet calmly all possible misfortunes. + +Besides The Leads and The Fours the State Inquisitors also possess +certain horrible subterranean cells beneath the ducal palace, where +are sent men whom they do not wish to put to death, though they be +thought worthy of it. + +These subterranean prisons are precisely like tombs, but they call +them "wells," because they always contain two feet of water, which +penetrates from the sea by the same grating by which light is given, +this grating being only a square foot in size. If the unfortunates +condemned to live in these sewers do not wish to take a bath of +filthy water, they have to remain all day seated on a trestle, which +serves them both for bed and cupboard. In the morning they are given +a pitcher of water, some thin soup, and a ration of army bread which +they have to eat immediately, or it becomes the prey of the enormous +water rats who swarm in those dreadful abodes. Usually the wretches +condemned to The Wells are imprisoned there for life, and there have +been prisoners who have attained a great age. A villain who died +whilst I was under the Leads had passed thirty-seven years in The +Wells, and he was forty-four when sentenced. Knowing that he +deserved death, it is possible that he took his imprisonment as a +favour, for there are men who fear nought save death. His name was +Beguelin. A Frenchman by birth, he had served in the Venetian army +during the last war against the Turks in 1716, under the command of +Field-Marshal the Count of Schulenbourg, who made the Grand Vizier +raise the siege of Corfu. This Beguelin was the marshal's spy. He +disguised himself as a Turk, and penetrated into the Mussulman +quarters, but at the same time he was also in the service of the +Grand Vizier, and being detected in this course he certainly had +reason to be thankful for being allowed to die in The Wells. The +rest of his life must have been divided between weariness and hunger, +but no doubt he often said, 'Dum vita superest, bene est'. + +I have seen at Spiegelberg, in Moravia, prisons fearful in another +way. There mercy sends the prisoners under sentence of death, and +not one of them ever survives a year of imprisonment. What mercy! + +During the two mortal hours of suspense, full of sombre thoughts and +the most melancholy ideas, I could not help fancying that I was going +to be plunged in one of these horrible dens, where the wretched +inhabitants feed on idle hopes or become the prey of panic fears. +The Tribunal might well send him to hell who had endeavoured to +escape from purgatory. + +At last I heard hurried steps, and I soon saw Lawrence standing +before me, transformed with rage, foaming at the mouth, and +blaspheming God and His saints. He began by ordering me to give him +the hatchet and the tools I had used to pierce the floor, and to tell +him from which of the guards I had got the tools. Without moving, +and quite calmly, I told him that I did not know what he was talking +about. At this reply he gave orders that I should be searched, but +rising with a determined air I shook my fist at the knaves, and +having taken off my clothes I said to them, "Do your duty, but let no +one touch me." + +They searched my mattress, turned my bed inside out, felt the +cushions of my arm-chair, and found nothing. + +"You won't tell me, then, where are the instruments with which you +made the hole. It's of no matter, as we shall find a way to make you +speak." + +"If it be true that I have made a hole at all, I shall say that you +gave me the tools, and that I have returned them to you." + +At this threat, which made his followers smile with glee, probably +because he had been abusing them, he stamped his feet, tore his hair, +and went out like one possessed. The guards returned and brought me +all my properties, the whetstone and lamp excepted. After locking up +my cell he shut the two windows which gave me a little air. I thus +found myself confined in a narrow space without the possibility of +receiving the least breath of air from any quarter. Nevertheless, my +situation did not disturb me to any great extent, as I must confess I +thought I had got off cheaply. In spite of his training, Lawrence +had not thought of turning the armchair over; and thus, finding +myself still possessor of the iron bar, I thanked Providence, and +thought myself still at liberty to regard the bar as means by which, +sooner or later, I should make my escape. + +I passed a sleepless night, as much from the heat as the change in my +prospects. At day-break Lawrence came and brought some insufferable +wine, and some water I should not have cared to drink. All the rest +was of a piece; dry salad, putrid meat, and bread harder than English +biscuit. He cleaned nothing, and when I asked him to open the +windows he seemed not to hear me; but a guard armed with an iron bar +began to sound all over my room, against the wall, on the floor, and +above all under my bed. I looked on with an unmoved expression, but +it did not escape my notice that the guard did not sound the ceiling. +"That way," said I to myself, "will lead me out of this place of +torments." But for any such project to succeed I should have to +depend purely on chance, for all my operations would leave visible +traces. The cell was quite new, and the least scratch would have +attracted the notice of my keepers. + +I passed a terrible day, for the heat was like that of a furnace, and +I was quite unable to make any use of the food with which I had been +provided. The perspiration and the lack of nourishment made me so +weak that I could neither walk nor read. Next day my dinner was the +same; the horrible smell of the veal the rascal brought me made me +draw back from it instantly. "Have you received orders," said I, "to +kill me with hunger and heat?" + +He locked the door, and went out without a word. On the third day I +was treated in the same manner. I asked for a pencil and paper to +write to the secretary. Still no answer. + +In despair, I eat my soup, and then soaking my bread in a little +Cyprus wine I resolved to get strength to avenge myself on Lawrence +by plunging my pike into his throat. My rage told me that I had no +other course, but I grew calmer in the night, and in the morning, +when the scoundrel appeared, I contented myself with saying that I +would kill him as soon as I was at liberty. He only laughed at my +threat, and again went out without opening his lips. + +I began to think that he was acting under orders from the secretary, +to whom he must have told all. I knew not what to do. I strove +between patience and despair, and felt as if I were dying for want of +food. At last on the eighth day, with rage in my heart and in a +voice of thunder, I bade him, under the name of "hangman," and in the +presence of the archers, give me an account of my money. He answered +drily that I should have it the next day. Then as he was about to go +I took my bucket, and made as if I would go and empty it in the +passage. Foreseeing my design, he told a guard to take it, and +during the disgusting operation opened a window, which he shut as +soon as the affair was done, so that in spite of my remonstrances I +was left in the plague-stricken atmosphere. I determined to speak to +him still worse the next day; but as soon as he appeared my anger +cooled, for before giving me the account of my money he presented me +with a basket of lemons which M. de Bragadin had sent me, also a +large bottle of water, which seemed drinkable, and a nice roasted +fowl; and, besides this, one of the guards opened the two windows. +When he gave me the account I only looked at the sum total, and I +told him to give the balance to his wife with the exception of a +sequin, which I told him to give the guards who were with him. I +thus made friends with these fellows, who thanked me heartily. + +Lawrence, who remained alone with me on purpose, spoke as follows: + +"You have already told me, sir, that I myself furnished you with the +tools to make that enormous hole, and I will ask no more about it; +but would you kindly tell me where you got the materials to make a +lamp?" + +"From you." + +"Well, for the moment, sir, I'm dashed, for I did not think that wit +meant impudence." + +"I am not telling you any lies. You it was who with your own hands +gave me all the requisites--oil, flint, and matches; the rest I had +by me." + +"You are right; but can you shew me as simply that I gave you the +tools to make that hole?" + +"Certainly, for you are the only person who has given me anything." + +"Lord have mercy upon me! what do I hear? Tell me, then, how I gave +you a hatchet?" + +"I will tell you the whole story and I will speak the truth, but only +in the presence of the secretary." + +"I don't wish to know any more, and I believe everything you say. I +only ask you to say nothing about it, as I am a poor man with a +family to provide for." He went out with his head between his hands. + +I congratulated myself heartily on having found a way to make the +rascal afraid of me; he thought that I knew enough to hang him. I +saw that his own interest would keep him from saying anything to his +superiors about the matter. + +I had told Lawrence to bring me the works of Maffei, but the expense +displeased him though he did not dare to say so. He asked me what I +could want with books with so many to my hand. + +"I have read them all," I said, "and want some fresh ones." + +"I will get someone who is here to lend you his books, if you will +lend yours in return; thus you will save your money." + +"Perhaps the books are romances, for which I do not care." + +"They are scientific works; and if you think yours is the only long +head here, you are very much mistaken." + +"Very good, we shall see. I will lend this book to the 'long head,' +and do you bring me one from him." + +I had given him Petau's Rationarium, and in four minutes he brought +me the first volume of Wolff's works. Well pleased with it I told +him, much to his delight, that I would do without Maffei. + +Less pleased with the learned reading than at the opportunity to +begin a correspondence with someone who might help me in my plan of +escape (which I had already sketched out in my head), I opened the +book as soon as Lawrence was gone, and was overjoyed to find on one +of the leaves the maxim of Seneca, 'Calamitosus est animus futuri +anxius', paraphrased in six elegant verses. I made another six on +the spot, and this is the way in which I contrived to write them, I +had let the nail of my little finger grow long to serve as an +earpick; I out it to a point, and made a pen of it. I had no ink, +and I was going to prick myself and write in my blood, when I +bethought me that the juice of some mulberries I had by me would be +an excellent substitute for ink. Besides the six verses I wrote out +a list of my books, and put it in the back of the same book. It must +be understood that Italian books are generally bound in parchment, +and in such a way that when the book is opened the back becomes a +kind of pocket. On the title page I wrote, 'latet'. I was anxious +to get an answer, so the next day I told Lawrence that I had read the +book and wanted another; and in a few minutes the second volume was +in my hands. + +As soon as I was alone I opened the book, and found a loose leaf with +the following communication in Latin: + +"Both of us are in the same prison, and to both of us it must be +pleasant to find how the ignorance of our gaoler procures us a +privilege before unknown to such a place. I, Marin Balbi, who write +to you, am a Venetian of high birth, and a regular cleric, and my +companion is Count Andre Asquin, of Udine, the capital of Friuli. He +begs me to inform you that all the books in his possession, of which +you will find a list at the back of this volume, are at your service; +but we warn you that we must use all possible care to prevent our +correspondence being discovered by Lawrence." + +In our position there was nothing wonderful in our both pitching on +the idea of sending each other the catalogues of our small libraries, +or in our choosing the same hiding-place--the back of the books; all +this was plain common sense; but the advice to be careful contained +on the loose leaf struck me with some astonishment. It seemed next +to impossible that Lawrence should leave the book unopened, but if he +had opened it he would have seen the leaf, and not knowing how to +read he would have kept it in his pocket till he could get someone to +tell him the contents, and thus all would have been strangled at its +birth. This made me think that my correspondent was an arrant block- +head. + +After reading through the list, I wrote who I was, how I had been +arrested, my ignorance as to what crime I had committed, and my hope +of soon becoming free. Balbi then wrote me a letter of sixteen +pages, in which he gave me the history of all his misfortunes. He +had been four years in prison, and the reason was that he had enjoyed +the good graces of three girls, of whom he had three children, all of +whom he baptized under his own name. + +The first time his superior had let him off with an admonition, the +second time he was threatened with punishment, and on the third and +last occasion he was imprisoned. The father-superior of his convent +brought him his dinner every day. He told me in his letter that both +the superior and the Tribunal were tyrants, since they had no lawful +authority over his conscience: that being sure that the three +children were his, he thought himself constrained as a man of honour +not to deprive them of the advantage of bearing his name. He +finished by telling me that he had found himself obliged to recognize +his children to prevent slander attributing them to others, which +would have injured the reputation of the three honest girls who bore +them; and besides he could not stifle the voice of nature, which +spoke so well on behalf of these little ones. His last words were, +"There is no danger of the superior falling into the same fault, as +he confines his attention to the boys." + +This letter made me know my man. Eccentric, sensual, a bad logician, +vicious, a fool, indiscreet, and ungrateful, all this appeared in his +letter, for after telling me that he should be badly off without +Count Asquin who was seventy years old, and had books and money, he +devoted two pages to abusing him, telling me of his faults and +follies. In society I should have had nothing more to do with a man +of his character, but under the Leads I was obliged to put everything +to some use. I found in the back of the book a pencil, pens, and +paper, and I was thus enabled to write at my ease. + +He told me also the history of the prisoners who were under the +Leads, and of those who had been there since his imprisonment. He +said that the guard who secretly brought him whatever he wanted was +called Nicolas, he also told me the names of the prisoners, and what +he knew about them, and to convince me he gave me the history of the +hole I had made. It seems I had been taken from my cell to make room +for the patrician Priuli, and that Lawrence had taken two hours to +repair the damage I had done, and that he had imparted the secret to +the carpenter, the blacksmith, and all the guards under pain of death +if they revealed it. "In another day," the guard had said, "Casanova +would have escaped, and Lawrence would have swung, for though he +pretended great astonishment when he saw the hole, there can be no +doubt that he and no other provided the tools." "Nicolas has told +me," added my correspondent, "that M. de Bragadin has promised him a +thousand sequins if he will aid you to make your escape but that +Lawrence, who knows of it, hopes to get the money without risking his +neck, his plan being to obtain your liberty by means of the influence +of his wife with M. Diedo. None of the guards dare to speak of what +happened for fear Lawrence might get himself out of the difficulty, +and take his revenge by having them dismissed." He begged me to tell +him all the details, and how I got the tools, and to count upon his +keeping the secret. + +I had no doubts as to his curiosity, but many as to his discretion, +and this very request shewed him to be the most indiscreet of men. +Nevertheless, I concluded that I must make use of him, for he seemed +to me the kind of man to assist me in my escape. I began to write an +answer to him, but a sudden suspicion made me keep back what I had +written. I fancied that the correspondence might be a mere artifice +of Lawrence's to find out who had given me the tools, and what I had +done with them. To satisfy him without compromising myself I told +him that I had made the hole with a strong knife in my possession, +which I had placed on the window-ledge in the passage. In less than +three days this false confidence of mine made me feel secure, as +Lawrence did not go to the window, as he would certainly have done if +the letter had been intercepted. Furthermore, Father Balbi told me +that he could understand how I might have a knife, as Lawrence had +told him that I had not been searched previous to my imprisonment. +Lawrence himself had received no orders to search me, and this +circumstance might have stood him in good stead if I had succeeded in +escaping, as all prisoners handed over to him by the captain of the +guard were supposed to have been searched already. On the other +hand, Messer-Grande might have said that, having seen me get out of +my bed, he was sure that I had no weapons about me, and thus both of +them would have got out of trouble. The monk ended by begging me to +send him my knife by Nicolas, on whom I might rely. + +The monk's thoughtlessness seemed to me almost incredible. I wrote +and told him that I was not at all inclined to put my trust in +Nicolas, and that my secret was one not to be imparted in writing. +However, I was amused by his letters. In one of them he told me why +Count Asquin was kept under the Leads, in spite of his helplessness, +for he was enormously fat, and as he had a broken leg which had been +badly set he could hardly put one foot before another. It seems that +the count, not being a very wealthy man, followed the profession of +a barrister at Udine, and in that capacity defended the country-folk +against the nobility, who wished to deprive the peasants of their +vote in the assembly of the province. The claims of the farmers +disturbed the public peace, and by way of bringing them to reason the +nobles had recourse to the State Inquisitors, who ordered the count- +barrister to abandon his clients. The count replied that the +municipal law authorized him to defend the constitution, and would +not give in; whereon the Inquisitors arrested him, law or no law, and +for the last five years he had breathed the invigorating air of The +Leads. Like myself he had fifty sous a day, but he could do what he +liked with the money. The monk, who was always penniless, told me a +good deal to the disadvantage of the count, whom he represented as +very miserly. He informed me that in the cell on the other side of +the hall there were two gentlemen of the "Seven Townships," who were +likewise imprisoned for disobedience, but one of them had become mad, +and was in chains; in another cell, he said, there were two lawyers. + +My suspicions quieted, I reasoned as follows: + +I wish to regain my liberty at all hazards. My pike is an admirable +instrument, but I can make no use of it as my cell is sounded all +over (except the ceiling) every day. If I would escape, it is by the +ceiling, therefore, that way I must go, but to do that I must make a +hole through it, and that I cannot do from my side, for it would not +be the work of a day. I must have someone to help me; and not having +much choice I had to pick out the monk. He was thirty-eight, and +though not rich in common sense I judged that the love of liberty-- +the first need of man--would give him sufficient courage to carry out +any orders I might give. I must begin by telling him my plan in its +entirety, and then I shall have to find a way to give him the bar. I +had, then, two difficult problems before me. + +My first step was to ask him if he wished to be free, and if he were +disposed to hazard all in attempting his escape in my company. He +replied that his mate and he would do anything to break their chains, +but, added he, "it is of no use to break one's head against a stone +wall." He filled four pages with the impossibilities which presented +themselves to his feeble intellect, for the fellow saw no chance of +success on any quarter. I replied that I did not trouble myself with +general difficulties, and that in forming my plan I had only thought +of special difficulties, which I would find means to overcome, and I +finished by giving him my word of honour to set him free, if he would +promise to carry out exactly whatever orders I might give. + +He gave me his promise to do so. I told him that I had a pike twenty +inches long, and with this tool he must pierce the ceiling of his +cell next the wall which separated us, and he would then be above my +head; his next step would be to make a hole in the ceiling of my cell +and aid me to escape by it. "Here your task will end and mine will +begin, and I will undertake to set both you and Count Asquin at +liberty." + +He answered that when I had got out of my cell I should be still in +prison, and our position would be the same as now, as we should only +be in the garrets which were secured by three strong doors. + +"I know that, reverend father," I replied, "but we are not going to +escape by the doors. My plan is complete, and I will guarantee its +success. All I ask of you is to carry out my directions, and to make +no difficulties. Do you busy yourself to find out some way of +getting my bar without the knowledge of the gaoler. In the +meanwhile, make him get you about forty pictures of saints, large +enough to cover all the walls of your cell. Lawrence will suspect +nothing, and they will do to conceal the opening you are to make in +the ceiling. To do this will be the work of some days, and of +mornings Lawrence will not see what you have done the day before, as +you will have covered it up with one of the pictures. If you ask me +why I do not undertake the work myself, I can only say that the +gaoler suspects me, and the objection will doubtless seem to you a +weighty one." + +Although I had told him to think of a plan to get hold of the pike, I +thought of nothing else myself, and had a happy thought which I +hastened to put into execution. I told Lawrence to buy me a folio +Bible, which had been published recently; it was the Vulgate with the +Septuagint. I hoped to be able to put the pike in the back of the +binding of this large volume, and thus to convey it to the monk, but +when I saw the book I found the tool to be two inches longer. + +My correspondent had written to tell me that his cell was covered +with pictures, and I had communicated him my idea about the Bible and +the difficulty presented by its want of length. Happy at being able +to display his genius, he rallied me on the poverty of my +imagination, telling me that I had only to send him the pike wrapped +up in my fox-skin cloak. + +"Lawrence," said he, "had often talked about your cloak, and Count +Asquin would arouse no suspicion by asking to see it in order to buy +one of the same kind. All you have to do is to send it folded up. +Lawrence would never dream of unfolding it." + +I, on the other hand, was sure that he would. In the first place, +because a cloak folded up is more troublesome to carry than when it +is unfolded. However, not to rebuff him and at the same time to shew +him that I was the wiser, I wrote that he had only to send for the +cloak. The next day Lawrence asked me for it, and I gave it folded +up, but without the bar, and in a quarter of an hour he brought it +back to me, saying that the gentleman had admired it very much. + +The monk wrote me a doleful letter, in which he confessed he had +given me a piece of bad advice, adding that I was wrong to follow it. +According to him the pike was lost, as Lawrence had brought in the +cloak all unfolded. After this, all hope was gone. I undeceived +him, and begged him for the future to be a little more sparing of his +advice. It was necessary to bring the matter to a head, and I +determined to send him the bar under cover of my Bible, taking +measures to prevent the gaoler from seeing the ends of the great +volume. My scheme was as follows: + +I told Lawrence that I wanted to celebrate St. Michael's Day with a +macaroni cheese; but wishing to shew my gratitude to the person who +had kindly lent me his books, I should like to make him a large dish +of it, and to prepare it with my own hands. Lawrence told me (as had +been arranged between the monk and myself) that the gentleman in +question wished to read the large book which cost three sequins. + +"Very good," said I, "I will send it him with the macaroni; but get +me the largest dish you have, as I wish to do the thing on a grand +scale." + +He promised to do what I asked him. I wrapped up the pike in paper +and put it in the back of the Bible, taking care that it projected an +equal distance at each end. Now, if I placed on the Bible a great +dish of macaroni full of melted butter I was quite sure that Lawrence +would not examine the ends. All his gaze would be concentrated upon +the plate, to avoid spilling the grease on the book. I told Father +Balbi of my plan, charging him to take care how he took the dish, and +above all to take dish and Bible together, and not one by one. +On the day appointed Lawrence came earlier than usual, carrying a +saucepan full of boiling macaroni, and all the necessary ingredients +for seasoning the dish. I melted a quantity of butter, and after +putting the macaroni into the dish I poured the butter over it till +it was full to the brim. The dish was a huge one, and was much +larger than the book on which I placed it. I did all this at the +door of my cell, Lawrence being outside. + +When all was ready I carefully took up the Bible and dish, placing +the back of the book next to the bearer, and told Lawrence to stretch +out his arms and take it, to be careful not to spill the grease over +the book, and to carry the whole to its destination immediately. As +I gave him this weighty load I kept my eyes fixed on his, and I saw +to my joy that he did not take his gaze off the butter, which he was +afraid of spilling. He said it would be better to take the dish +first, and then to come back for the book; but I told him that this +would spoil the present, and that both must go together. He then +complained that I had put in too much butter, and said, jokingly, +that if it were spilt he would not be responsible for the loss. +As soon as I saw the Bible in the lout's arms I was certain of +success, as he could not see the ends of the pike without twisting +his head, and I saw no reason why he should divert his gaze from the +plate, which he had enough to do to carry evenly. I followed him +with my eyes till he disappeared into the ante-chamber of the monk's +cell, and he, blowing his nose three times, gave me the pre-arranged +signal that all was right, which was confirmed by the appearance of +Lawrence in a few moments afterwards. + +Father Balbi lost no time in setting about the work, and in eight +days he succeeded in making a large enough opening in the ceiling, +which he covered with a picture pasted to the ceiling with +breadcrumbs. On the 8th of October he wrote to say that he had +passed the whole night in working at the partition wall, and had only +succeeded in loosening one brick. He told me the difficulty of +separating the bricks joined to one another by a strong cement was +enormous, but he promised to persevere, "though," he said, "we shall +only make our position worse than it is now." I told him that I was +certain of success; that he must believe in me and persevere. +Alas! I was certain of nothing, but I had to speak thus or to give +up all. I was fain to escape from this hell on earth, where I was +imprisoned by a most detestable tyranny, and I thought only of +forwarding this end, with the resolve to succeed, or at all events +not to stop before I came to a difficulty which was insurmountable. +I had read in the great book of experience that in important schemes +action is the grand requisite, and that the rest must be left to +fortune. If I had entrusted Father Balbi with these deep mysteries +of moral philosophy he would have pronounced me a madman. +His work was only toilsome on the first night, for the more he worked +the easier it became, and when he had finished he found he had taken +out thirty-six bricks. + +On the 16th of October, as I was engaged in translating an ode of +Horace, I heard a trampling noise above my head, and then three light +blows were struck. This was the signal agreed upon to assure us that +our calculations were correct. He worked till the evening, and the +next day he wrote that if the roof of my cell was only two boards +thick his work would be finished that day. He assured me that he was +carefully making the hole round as I had charged him, and that he +would not pierce the ceiling. This was a vital point, as the +slightest mark would have led to discovery. "The final touch," he +said, "will only take a quarter of an hour." I had fixed on the day +after the next to escape from my cell at night-time to enter no more, +for with a mate I was quite sure that I could make in two or three +hours a hole in the roof of the ducal palace, and once on the outside +of the roof I would trust to chance for the means of getting to the +ground. + +I had not yet got so far as this, for my bad luck had more than one +obstacle in store for me. On the same day (it was a Monday) at two +o'clock in the afternoon, whilst Father Balbi was at work, I heard +the door of the hall being opened. My blood ran cold, but I had +sufficient presence of mind to knock twice-the signal of alarm--at +which it had been agreed that Father Balbi was to make haste back to +his cell and set all in order. In less than a minute afterwards +Lawrence opened the door, and begged my pardon for giving me a very +unpleasant companion. This was a man between forty and fifty, short, +thin, ugly, and badly dressed, wearing a black wig; while I was +looking at him he was unbound by two guards. I had no reason to +doubt that he was a knave, since Lawrence told me so before his face +without his displaying the slightest emotion. "The Court," I said, +"can do what seems good to it." After Lawrence had brought him a bed +he told him that the Court allowed him ten sous a day, and then +locked us up together. + +Overwhelmed by this disaster, I glanced at the fellow, whom his every +feature proclaimed rogue. I was about to speak to him when he began +by thanking me for having got him a bed. Wishing to gain him over, I +invited him to take his meals with me. He kissed my hand, and asked +me if he would still be able to claim the ten sous which the Court +had allowed him. On my answering in the affirmative he fell on his +knees, and drawing an enormous rosary from his pocket he cast his +gaze all round the cell. + +"What do you want?" + +"You will pardon me, sir, but I am looking for some statue of the +Holy Virgin, for I am a Christian; if there were even a small +crucifix it would be something, for I have never been in so much need +of the protection of St. Francis d'Assisi, whose name I bear, though +all unworthy." + +I could scarcely help laughing, not at his Christian piety, since +faith and conscience are beyond control, but at the curious turn he +gave his remonstrance. I concluded he took me for a Jew; and to +disabuse him of this notion I made haste to give him the "Hours of +the Holy Virgin," whose picture he kissed, and then gave me the book +back, telling me in a modest voice that his father--a, galley +officer--had neglected to have him taught to read. "I am," said he, +"a devotee of the Holy Rosary," and he told me a host of miracles, to +which I listened with the patience of an angel. When he had come to +an end I asked him if he had had his dinner, and he replied that he +was dying of hunger. I gave him everything I had, which he devoured +rather than ate; drinking all my wine, and then becoming maudlin he +began to weep, and finally to talk without rhyme or reason. I asked +him how he got into trouble, and he told me the following story: + +"My aim and my only aim has always been the glory of God, and of the +holy Republic of Venice, and that its laws may be exactly obeyed. +Always lending an attentive ear to the plots of the wicked, whose end +is to deceive, to deprive their prince of his just dues, and to +conspire secretly, I have over and again unveiled their secret plans, +and have not failed to report to Messer-Grande all I know. It is +true that I am always paid, but the money has never given me so much +pleasure as the thought that I have been able to serve the blessed +St. Mark. I have always despised those who think there is something +dishonourable in the business of a spy. The word sounds ill only to +the ill-affected; for a spy is a lover of the state, the scourge of +the guilty, and faithful subject of his prince. When I have been put +to the test, the feeling of friendship, which might count for +something with other men, has never had the slightest influence over +me, and still less the sentiment which is called gratitude. I have +often, in order to worm out a secret, sworn to be as silent as the +grave, and have never failed to reveal it. Indeed, I am able to do +so with full confidence, as my director who is a good Jesuit has told +me that I may lawfully reveal such secrets, not only because my +intention was to do so, but because, when the safety of the state is +at stake, there is no such thing as a binding oath. I must confess +that in my zeal I have betrayed my own father, and that in me the +promptings of our weak nature have been quite mortified. Three weeks +ago I observed that there was a kind of cabal between four or five +notables of the town of Isola, where I live. I knew them to be +disaffected to the Government on account of certain contraband +articles which had been confiscated. The first chaplain--a subject +of Austria by birth--was in the plot. They gathered together of +evenings in an inn, in a room where there was a bed; there they drank +and talked, and afterwards went their ways. As I was determined to +discover the conspiracy, I was brave enough to hide under the bed on +a day on which I was sure I would not be seen. Towards the evening +my gentlemen came, and began to talk; amongst other things, they said +that the town of Isola was not within the jurisdiction of St. Mark, +but rather in the principality of Trieste, as it could not possibly +be considered to form part of the Venetian territory. The chaplain +said to the chief of the plot, a man named Pietro Paolo, that if he +and the others would sign a document to that effect, he himself would +go to the imperial ambassador, and that the Empress would not only +take possession of the island, but would reward them for what they +had done. They all professed themselves ready to go on, and the +chaplain promised to bring the document the next day, and afterwards +to take it to the ambassadors. + +"I determined to frustrate this detestable project, although one of +the conspirators was my gossip--a spiritual relationship which gave +him a greater claim on me than if he had been my own brother. + +"After they were gone, I came out of my hiding-place and did not +think it necessary to expose myself to danger by hiding again as I +had found out sufficient for my purpose. I set out the same night in +a boat, and reached here the next day before noon. I had the names +of the six rebels written down, and I took the paper to the secretary +of the Tribunal, telling him all I had heard. He ordered me to +appear, the day following, at the palace, and an agent of the +Government should go back with me to Isola that I might point the +chaplain out to him, as he had probably not yet gone to the Austrian +ambassador's. 'That done,' said the lord secretary, 'you will no +longer meddle in the matter.' I executed his orders, and after +having shewn the chaplain to the agent, I was at leisure for my own +affairs. + +"After dinner my gossip called me in to shave him (for I am a barber +by profession), and after I had done so he gave me a capital glass of +refosco with some slices of sausages, and we ate together in all good +fellowship. My love for him had still possession of my soul, so I +took his hand, and, shedding some heartfelt tears, I advised him to +have no more to do with the canon, and above all, not to sign the +document he knew of. He protested that he was no particular friend +of the chaplain's, and swore he did not know what document I was +talking about. I burst into a laugh, telling him it was only my +joke, and went forth very sorry at having yielded to a sentiment of +affection which had made me commit so grievous a fault. The next day +I saw neither the man nor the chaplain. A week after, having paid a +visit to the palace, I was promptly imprisoned, and here I am with +you, my dear sir. I thank St. Francis for having given me the +company of a good Christian, who is here for reasons of which I +desire to know nothing, for I am not curious. My name is Soradaci, +and my wife is a Legrenzi, daughter of a secretary to the Council of +Ten, who, in spite of all prejudice to the contrary, determined to +marry me. She will be in despair at not knowing what has become of +me, but I hope to be here only for a few days, since the only reason +of my imprisonment is that the secretary wishes to be able to examine +me more conveniently." + +I shuddered to think of the monster who was with me, but feeling that +the situation was a risky one, And that I should have to make use of +him, I compassionated him, praised his patriotism, and predicted that +he would be set at liberty in a few days. A few moments after he +fell asleep, and I took the opportunity of telling the whole story to +Father Balbi, shewing him that we should be obliged to put off our +work to a more convenient season. Next day I told Lawrence to buy me +a wooden crucifix, a statue of Our Lady, a portrait of St. Francis, +and two bottles of holy water. Soradaci asked for his ten sous, and +Lawrence, with an air of contempt, gave him twenty. I asked Lawrence +to buy me four times the usual amount of garlic, wine, and salt--a +diet in which my hateful companion delighted. After the gaoler was +gone I deftly drew out the letter Balbi had written me, and in which +he drew a vivid picture of his alarm. He thought all was lost, and +over and over again thanked Heaven that Lawrence had put Soradaci in +my cell, "for," said he, "if he had come into mine, he would not have +found me there, and we should possibly have shared a cell in The +Wells as a reward for our endeavours." + +Soradaci's tale had satisfied me that he was only imprisoned to be +examined, as it seemed plain that the secretary had arrested him on +suspicion of bearing false witness. I thereupon resolved to entrust +him with two letters which would do me neither good nor harm if they +were delivered at their addresses, but which would be beneficial to +me if the traitor gave them to the secretary as a proof of his +loyalty, as I had not the slightest doubt he would do. + +I spent two hours in writing these two letters in pencil. Next day +Lawrence brought me the crucifix, the two pictures, and the holy +water, and having worked the rascal well up to the point, I said, +"I reckon upon your friendship and your courage. Here are two +letters I want you to deliver when you recover your liberty. My +happiness depends on your loyality, but you must hide the letters, as +they were found upon you we should both of us be undone. You must +swear by the crucifix and these holy pictures not to betray me." + +"I am ready, dear master, to swear to anything you like, and I owe +you too much to betray you." + +This speech was followed by much weeping and lamentation. He called +himself unhappy wretch at being suspected of treason towards a man +for whom he would have given his life. I knew my man, but I played +out the comedy. Having given him a shirt and a cap, I stood up bare- +headed, and then having sprinkled the cell with holy water, and +plentifully bedewed him with the same liquid, I made him swear a +dreadful oath, stuffed with senseless imprecations, which for that +very reason were the better fitted to strike terror to his soul. +After his having sworn the oath to deliver my letters to their +addresses, I gave him them, and he himself proposed to sew them up at +the back of his waistcoat, between the stuff and the lining, to which +proceedings I assented. + +I was morally sure that he would deliver my letters to the secretary +in the first opportunity, so I took the utmost care that my style of +writing should not discover the trick. They could only gain me the +esteem of the Court, and possibly its mercy. One of the letters was +addressed to M. de Bragadin and the other to the Abbe Grimani, and I +told them not to be anxious about me as I was in good hopes of soon +being set at liberty, that they would find when I came out that my +imprisonment had done me more good than harm, as there was no one in +Venice who stood in need of reform more than I. + +I begged M. de Bragadin to be kind enough to send me a pair of fur +boots for the winter, as my cell was high enough for me to stand +upright and to walk up and down. + +I took care that Soradaci should not suspect the innocent nature of +these letters, as he might then have been seized with the temptation +to do an honest thing for me, and have delivered them, which was not +what I was aiming at. You will see, dear reader, in the following +chapter, the power of oaths over the vile soul of my odious +companion, and also if I have not verified the saying 'In vino +veritas', for in the story he told me the wretch had shewn himself in +his true colours. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +Treason of Soradaci--How I Get the Best of Him--Father Balbi Ends His +Work--I Escape from My Cell--Unseasonable Observations of Count +Asquin The Critical Moment + +Soradaci had had my letters for two or three days when Lawrence came +one afternoon to take him to the secretary. As he was several hours +away, I hoped to see his face no more; but to my great astonishment +he was brought back in the evening. As soon as Lawrence had gone, he +told me that the secretary suspected him of having warned the +chaplain, since that individual had never been near the ambassador's +and no document of any kind was found upon him. He added that after +a long examination he had been confined in a very small cell, and was +then bound and brought again before the secretary, who wanted him to +confess that he told someone at Isola that the priest would never +return, but that he had not done so as he had said no such thing. At +last the secretary got tired, called the guards, and had him brought +back to my cell. + +I was distressed to hear his account, as I saw that the wretch would +probably remain a long time in my company. Having to inform Father +Balbi of this fatal misadventure, I wrote to him during the night, +and being obliged to do so more than once, I got accustomed to write +correctly enough in the dark. + +On the next day, to assure myself that my suspicions were well +founded, I told the spy to give me the letter I had written to M. de +Bragadin as I wanted to add something to it. "You can sew it up +afterwards," said I. + +"It would be dangerous," he replied, "as the gaoler might come in in +the mean time, and then we should be both ruined." + +"No matter. Give me my letters:" + +Thereupon the hound threw himself at my feet, and swore that on his +appearing for a second time before the dreaded secretary, he had been +seized with a severe trembling; and that he had felt in his back, +especially in the place where the letters were, so intolerable an +oppression, that the secretary had asked him the cause, and that he +had not been able to conceal the truth. Then the secretary rang his +bell, and Lawrence came in, unbound him, and took off his waist-coat +and unsewed the lining. The secretary then read the letters and put +them in a drawer of his bureau, telling him that if he had taken the +letters he would have been discovered and have lost his life. + +I pretended to be overwhelmed, and covering my face with my hands I +knelt down at the bedside before the picture of the Virgin, and +asked, her to avenge me on the wretch who had broken the most sacred +oaths. I afterwards lay down on the bed, my face to the wall, and +remained there the whole day without moving, without speaking a word, +and pretending not to hear the tears, cries, and protestations of +repentance uttered by the villain. I played my part in the comedy I +had sketched out to perfection. In the night I wrote to Father Balbi +to come at two o'clock in the afternoon, not a minute sooner or +later, to work for four hours, and not a minute more. "On this +precision," I wrote, "our liberty depends and if you observe it all +will be well." + +It was the 25th of October, and the time for me to carry out my +design or to give it up for ever drew near. The State Inquisitors +and their secretary went every year to a village on the mainland, and +passed there the first three days of November. Lawrence, taking +advantage of his masters' absence, did not fail to get drunk every +evening, and did not appear at The Leads in the morning till a late +hour. + +Advised of these circumstances, I chose this time to make my escape, +as I was certain that my flight would not be noticed till late in the +morning. Another reason for my determination to hurry my escape, +when I could no longer doubt the villainy of my detestable companion, +seems to me to be worthy of record. + +The greatest relief of a man in the midst of misfortune is the hope +of escaping from it. He sighs for the hour when his sorrows are to +end; he thinks he can hasten it by his prayers; he will do anything +to know when his torments shall cease. The sufferer, impatient and +enfeebled, is mostly inclined to superstition. "God," says he, +"knows the time, and God may reveal it to me, it matters not how." +Whilst he is in this state he is ready to trust in divination in any +manner his fancy leads him, and is more or less disposed to believe +in the oracle of which he makes choice. + +I then was in this state of mind; but not knowing how to make use of +the Bible to inform me of the moment in which I should recover my +liberty, I determined to consult the divine Orlando Furioso, which I +had read a hundred times, which I knew by heart, and which was my +delight under the Leads. I idolized the genius of Ariosto, and +considered him a far better fortune-teller than Virgil. + +With this idea I wrote a question addressed to the supposed +Intelligence, in which I ask in what canto of Ariosto I should find +the day of my deliverance. I then made a reversed pyramid composed +of the number formed from the words of the question, and by +subtracting the number nine I obtained, finally, nine. This told me +that I should find my fate in the ninth canto. I followed the same +method to find out the exact stanza and verse, and got seven for the +stanza and one for the verse. + +I took up the poem, and my heart beating as if I trusted wholly in +the oracle, I opened it, turned down the leaf, and read; + +'Fra il fin d'ottobre, a il capo di novembre'. + +The precision of the line and its appropriateness to my circumstances +appeared so wonderful to me, that I will not confess that I placed my +faith entirely in it; but the reader will pardon me if I say that I +did all in my power to make the prediction a correct one. The most +singular circumstance is that between the end of October and the +beginning of November, there is only the instant midnight, and it was +just as the clock was striking midnight on the 3ist of October that I +escaped from my cell, as the reader will soon see. + +The following is the manner in which I passed the morning to strike +awe into the soul of that vicious brute, to confound his feeble +intellect, and to render him harmless to me. + +As soon as Lawrence had left us I told Soradaci to come and take some +soup. The scoundrel was in bed, and he had told Lawrence that he was +ill. He would not have dared to approach me if I had not called him. +However, he rose from his bed, and threw himself flat upon the ground +at my feet, and said, weeping violently, that if I would not forgive +him he would die before the day was done, as he already felt the +curse and the vengeance of the Holy Virgin which I had denounced +against him. He felt devouring pains in his bowels, and his mouth +was covered with sores. He shewed it me, and I saw it was full of +ulcers, but I cannot say whether it was thus the night before. I did +not much care to examine him to see if he were telling me the truth. +My cue was to pretend to believe him, and to make him hope for mercy. +I began by making him eat and drink. The traitor most likely intended +to deceive me, but as I was myself determined to deceive him it +remained to be seen which was the a cuter. I had planned an attack +against which it was improbable that he could defend himself. + +Assuming an inspired air, I said, "Be seated and take this soup, and +afterwards I will tell you of your good fortune, for know that the +Virgin of the Rosary appeared to me at day-break, and bids me pardon +you. Thou shalt not die but live, and shalt come out of this place +with me." In great wonderment, and kneeling on the ground for want +of a chair, he ate the soup with me, and afterwards seated himself on +the bed to hear what I had to say. Thus I spoke to him: + +"The grief I experienced at your dreadful treason made me pass a +sleepless night, as the letters might condemn me to spend here the +remnant of my days. My only consolation, I confess, was the +certainty that you would die here also before my eyes within three +days. Full of this thought not worthy of a Christian (for God bids +us forgive our enemies) my weariness made me sleep, and in my sleep I +had a vision. I saw that Holy Virgin, Mother of God, whose likeness +you behold--I saw her before me, and opening her lips she spoke thus: + +"'Soradaci is a devotee of my Holy Rosary. I protect him, and I will +that you forgive him, and then the curse he has drawn on himself will +cease. In return for your generosity, I will order one of my angels +to take the form of man, to come down from heaven, to break open the +roof of your prison, and set you free within five or six days. The +angel will begin his task this day at two o'clock precisely, and he +will work till half an hour before sunset, since he must ascend again +into heaven while the daylight lasts. When you come out of this +place, take Soradaci with you, and have a care for him if he will +renounce his business of spying. Tell him all.' + +"With these words the Holy Virgin vanished out of my sight, and I +awoke." + +I spoke all the while with a serious face and the air of one +inspired, and I saw that the traitor was petrified. I then took my +Book of Hours, sprinkled the cell with holy water, and pretended to +pray, kissing from time to time the picture of the Virgin. An hour +afterwards the brute, who so far had not opened his mouth, asked me +bluntly at what time the angel would come down from heaven, and if we +should hear him breaking in the cell. + +"I am certain that he will begin at two o'clock, that we shall hear +him at his work, and that he will depart at the hour named by the +Holy Virgin." + +"You may have dreamt it all." + +"Nay, not so. Will you swear to me to spy no more?" + +Instead of answering he went off to sleep, and did not awake for two +hours after, when he asked if he could put off taking the oath. I +asked of him, + +"You can put off taking it," I said, "till the angel enters to set me +free; but if you do not then renounce by an oath the infamous trade +which has brought you here, and which will end by bringing you to the +gallows, I shall leave you in the cell, for so the Mother of God +commands, and if you do not obey you will lose her protection." + +As I had expected, I saw an expression of satisfaction on his hideous +features, for he was quite certain that the angel would not come. He +looked at me with a pitying air. I longed to hear the hour strike. +The play amused me intensely, for I was persuaded that the approach +of the angel would set his miserable wits a-reeling. I was sure, +also, that the plan would succeed if Lawrence had not forgotten to +give the monk the books, and this was not likely. + +An hour before the time appointed I was fain to dine. I only drank +water, and Soradaci drank all the wine and consumed all the garlic I +had, and thus made himself worse. + +As soon as I heard the first stroke of two I fell on my knees, +ordering him, in an awful voice, to do the like. He obeyed, looking +at me in a dazed way. When I heard the first slight noise I +examined, "Lo! the angel cometh!" and fell down on my face, and with +a hearty fisticuff forced him into the same position. The noise of +breaking was plainly heard, and for a quarter of an hour I kept in +that troublesome position, and if the circumstances had been +different I should have laughed to see how motionless the creature +was; but I restrained myself, remembering my design of completely +turning the fellow's head, or at least of obsessing him for a time. +As soon as I got up I knelt and allowed him to imitate me, and I +spent three hours in saying the rosary to him. From time to time he +dozed off, wearied rather by his position than by the monotony of the +prayer, but during the whole time he never interrupted me. Now and +again he dared to raise a furtive glance towards the ceiling. With a +sort of stupor on his face, he turned his head in the direction of +the Virgin, and the whole of his behaviour was for me the highest +comedy. When I heard the clock strike the hour for the work to +cease, I said to him, + +"Prostrate thyself, for the angel departeth." + +Balbi returned to his cell, and we heard him no more. As I rose to +my feet, fixing my gaze on the wretched fellow, I read fright on +every feature, and was delighted. I addressed a few words to him +that I might see in what state of mind he was. He shed tears in +abundance, and what he said was mostly extravagant, his ideas having +no sequence or connection. He spoke of his sins, of his acts of +devotion, of his zeal in the service of St. Mark, and of the work he +had done for the Commonwealth, and to this attributed the special +favours Mary had shewn him. I had to put up with a long story about +the miracles of the Rosary which his wife, whose confessor was a +young Dominican, had told him. He said that he did not know what use +I could make of an ignorant fellow like him. + +"I will take you into my service, and you shall have all that you +need without being obliged to pursue the hazardous trade of a spy." + +"Shall we not be able to remain at Venice?" + +"Certainly not. The angel will take us to a land which does not +belong to St. Mark. Will you swear to me that you will spy no more? +And if you swear, will you become a perjurer a second time?" + +"If I take the oath, I will surely keep it, of that there can be no +doubt; but you must confess that if I had not perjured myself you +would never have received such favour at the hands of the Virgin. My +broken faith is the cause of your bliss. You ought, therefore, to +love me and to be content with my treason." + +"Dost love Judas who betrayed Jesus Christ?" + +"No." + +"You perceive, then, that one detests the traitor and at the same +time adores the Divine Providence, which knows how to bring good out +of evil. Up to the present time you have done wickedly. You have +offended God and the Virgin His Mother, and I will not receive your +oath till you have expiated your sins." + +"What sin have I done?" + +"You have sinned by pride, Soradaci, in thinking that I was under an +obligation to you for betraying me and giving my letters to the +secretary." + +"How shall I expiate this sin?" + +"Thus. To-morrow, when Lawrence comes, you must lie on your bed, +your face towards the wall, and without the slightest motion or a +single glance at Lawrence. If he address you, you must answer, +without looking at him, that you could not sleep, and need rest. Do +you promise me entirely to do this thing?" + +"I will do whatsoever you tell me." + +"Quick, then, take your oath before this holy picture." + +"I promise, Holy Mother of God, that when Lawrence comes I will not +look at him, nor stir from my bed." + +"And I, Most Holy Virgin, swear by the bowels of your Divine Son that +if I see Soradici move in the least or look towards Lawrence, I will +throw myself straightway upon him and strangle him without mercy, to +your honour and glory." + +I counted on my threat having at least as much effect upon him as his +oath. Nevertheless, as I was anxious to make sure, I asked him if he +had anything to say against the oath, and after thinking for a moment +he answered that he was quite content with it. Well pleased myself, +I gave him something to eat, and told him to go to bed as I needed +sleep. + +As soon as he was asleep I began to write, and wrote on for two +hours. I told Balbi all that had happened, and said that if the work +was far enough advanced he need only come above my cell to put the +final stroke to it and break through. I made him note that we should +set out on the night of the 31st of October, and that we should be +four in all, counting his companion and mine. It was now the twenty- +eighth of the month. + +In the morning the monk wrote me that the passage was made, and that +he should only require to work at the ceiling of my cell to break +through the last board and this would be done in four minutes. +Soradaci observed his oath, pretending to sleep, and Lawrence said +nothing to him. I kept my eyes upon him the whole time, and I verily +believe I should have strangled him if he had made the slightest +motion towards Lawrence, for a wink would have been enough to betray +me. + +The rest of the day was devoted to high discourses and exalted +expressions, which I uttered as solemnly as I could, and I enjoyed +the sight of seeing him become more and more fanatical. To heighten +the effect of my mystic exhortation I dosed him heavily with wine, +and did not let him go till he had fallen into a drunken sleep. + +Though a stranger to all metaphysical speculations, and a man who had +never exercised his reasoning faculties except in devising some piece +of spy-craft, the fellow confused me for a moment by saying that he +could not conceive how an angel should have to take so much trouble +to break open our cell. But after lifting my eyes to heaven, or +rather to the roof of my dungeon-cell, I said, + +"The ways of God are inscrutable; and since the messenger of Heaven +works not as an angel (for then a slight single blow would be +enough), he works like a man, whose form he has doubtless taken, as +we are not worthy to look upon his celestial body. And, +furthermore," said I, like a true Jesuit, who knows how to draw +advantage from everything, "I foresee that the angel, to punish us +for your evil thought, which has offended the Holy Virgin, will not +come to-day. Wretch, your thoughts are not those of an honest, +pious, and religious man, but those of a sinner who thinks he has to +do with Messer-Grande and his myrmidons." + +I wanted to drive him to despair, and I had succeeded. He began to +weep bitterly, and his sobs almost choked him, when two o'clock +struck and not sign of the angel was heard. Instead of calming him I +endeavoured to augment his misery by my complaints. The next morning +he was obedient to my orders, for when Lawrence asked him how he was, +he replied without moving his head. He behaved in the same manner on +the day following, and until I saw Lawrence for the last time on the +morning of the 31st October. I gave him the book for Barbi, and told +the monk to come at noon to break through the ceiling. I feared +nothing, as Lawrence had told me that the Inquisitors and the +secretary had already set out for the country. I had no reason to +dread the arrival of a new companion, and all I had to do was to +manage my knave. + +After Lawrence was gone I told Soradaci that the angel would come and +make an opening in the ceiling about noon. + +"He will bring a pair of scissors with him," I said, "and you will +have to cut the angel's beard and mine." + +"Has the angel a beard?" + +"Yes, you shall see it for yourself. Afterwards we will get out of +the cell and proceed to break the roof of the palace, whence we shall +descend into St. Mark's Place and set out for Germany." + +He answered nothing. He had to eat by himself, for my mind was too +much occupied to think about dinner--indeed, I had been unable to +sleep. + +The appointed hour struck--and the angel came, Soradaci was going to +fall down on his face, but I told him it was not necessary. In three +minutes the passage was completed, the piece of board fell at my +feet, and Father Balbi into my arms. "Your work is ended and mine +begun," said I to him. We embraced each other, and he gave me the +pike and a pair of scissors. I told Soradaci to cut our beards, but +I could not help laughing to see the creature--his mouth all agape- +staring at the angel, who was more like a devil. However, though +quite beside himself, he cut our beards admirably. + +Anxious to see how the land lay, I told the monk to stay with +Soradaci, as I did not care to leave him alone, and I went out. I +found the hole in the wall narrow, but I succeeded in getting through +it. I was above the count's cell, and I came in and greeted the +worthy old man. The man before me was not fitted to encounter such +diffiulties as would be involved in an escape by a steep roof covered +with plates of lead. He asked me what my plan was, and told me that +he thought I had acted rather inconsiderately. "I only ask to go +forward," said I, "till I find death or freedom." "If you intend," +he answered, "to pierce the roof and to descend from thence, I see no +prospect of success, unless you have wings; and I at all events have +not the courage to accompany you. I will remain here, and pray to +God on your behalf." + +I went out again to look at the roof, getting as close as I could to +the sides of the loft. Touching the lower part of the roof, I took +up a position between the beams, and feeling the wood with the end of +the bar I luckily found them to be half rotten. At every blow of the +bar they fell to dust, so feeling certain of my ability to make a +large enough hole in less than a hour I returned to my cell, and for +four hours employed myself in cutting up sheets, coverlets, and +bedding, to make ropes. I took care to make the knots myself and to +be assured of their strength, for a single weak knot might cost us +our lives. At last I had ready a hundred fathoms of rope. + +In great undertakings there are certain critical points which the +leader who deserves to succeed trusts to no one but himself. When +the rope was ready I made a parcel of my suit, my cloak, a few +shirts, stockings, and handkerchiefs, and the three of us went into +the count's cell. The first thing the count did was to congratulate +Soradaci on having been placed in the same cell as myself, and on +being so soon about to regain his liberty. His air of speechless +confusion made me want to laugh. I took no more trouble about him, +for I had thrown off the mask of Tartuffe which I had found terribly +inconvenient all the time I had worn it for the rascal's sake. He +knew, I could see, that he had been deceived, but he understood +nothing else, as he could not make out how I could have arranged with +the supposed angel to come and go at certain fixed times. He +listened attentively to the count, who told us we were going to our +destruction, and like the coward that he was, he began to plan how to +escape from the dangerous journey. I told the monk to put his bundle +together while I was making the hole in the roof by the side of the +loft. + +At eight o'clock, without needing any help, my opening was made. I +had broken up the beams, and the space was twice the size required. +I got the plate of lead off in one piece. I could not do it by +myself, because it was riveted. The monk came to my aid, and by dint +of driving the bar between the gutter and the lead I succeeded in +loosening it, and then, heaving at it with our shoulders, we beat it +up till the opening was wide enough. On putting my head out through +the hole I was distressed to see the brilliant light of the crescent +moon then entering in its first quarter. This was a piece of bad +luck which must be borne patiently, and we should have to wait till +midnight, when the moon would have gone to light up the Antipodes. +On such a fine night as this everybody would be walking in St. +Mark's Place, and I dared not shew myself on the roof as the +moonlight would have thrown a huge shadow of me on the place, and +have drawn towards me all eyes, especially those of Messer-Grande and +his myrmidons, and our fine scheme would have been brought to nothing +by their detestable activity. I immediately decided that we could +not escape till after the moon set; in the mean time I prayed for the +help of God, but did not ask Him to work any miracles for me. I was +at the mercy of Fortune, and I had to take care not to give her any +advantages; and if my scheme ended in failure I should be consoled by +the thought that I had not made a single mistake. The moon would set +at eleven and sunrise was at six, so we had seven hours of perfect +darkness at our service; and though we had a hard task, I considered +that in seven hours it would be accomplished. + +I told Father Balbi that we could pass the three hours in talking to +Count Asquin. I requested him to go first and ask the count to lend +me thirty sequins, which would be as necessary to me as my pike had +been hitherto. He carried my message, and a few minutes after came +and asked me to go myself, as the count wished to talk to me alone. +The poor old man began by saying with great politeness that I really +stood in no need of money to escape, that he had none, that he had a +large family, that if I was killed the money would be lost, with a +thousand other futilities of the same kind to disguise his avarice, +or the dislike he felt to parting with his money. My reply lasted +for half an hour, and contained some excellent arguments, which never +have had and never will have any force, as the finest weapons of +oratory are blunted when used against one of the strongest of the +passions. It was a matter of a 'nolenti baculus'; not that I was +cruel enough to use force towards an unhappy old man like the count. +I ended my speech by saying that if he would flee with us I would +carry him upon my back like AEneas carried Anchises; but if he was +going to stay in prison to offer up prayers for our success, his +prayers would be observed, as it would be a case of praying God to +give success when he himself had refused to contribute the most +ordinary aid. + +He replied by a flood of tears, which affected me. He then asked if +two sequins would be enough, and I answered in the affirmative. He +then gave them to me begging me to return them to him if after +getting on the roof I saw my wisest course would be to come back. I +promised to do so, feeling somewhat astonished that he should deem me +capable of a retreat. He little knew me, for I would have preferred +death to an imprisonment which would have been life-long. + +I called my companions, and we set all our baggage near the hole. I +divided the hundred fathoms of rope into two packets, and we spent +two hours in talking over the chances of our undertaking. The first +proof which Father Balbi gave me of his fine character was to tell +me, ten times over, that I had broken my word with him, since I had +assured him that my scheme was complete and certain, while it was +really nothing of the kind. He went so far as to tell me that if he +had known as much he would not have taken me from my cell. The count +also, with all the weight of his seventy years, told me that I should +do well to give up so hazardous an undertaking, in which success was +impossible and death probable. As he was a barrister he made me a +speech as follows, and I had not much difficulty in guessing that he +was inspired by the thought of the two sequins which I should have +had to give him back, if he had succeeded in persuading me to stay +where I was: + +"The incline of the roof covered with lead plates," said he, "will +render it impossible for you to walk, indeed you will scarcely be +able to stand on your feet. It is true that the roof has seven or +eight windows, but they are all barred with iron, and you could not +keep your footing near them since they are far from the sides. Your +ropes are useless, as you will find nothing whereon to fasten them; +and even if you did, a man descending from such a height cannot reach +the ground by himself. One of you will therefore have to lower the +two others one at a time as one lowers a bucket or a bundle of wood, +and he who does so will have to stay behind and go back to his cell. +Which of you three has a vocation for this dangerous work of charity? +And supposing that one of you is heroic enough to do so, can you tell +me on which side you are going to descend? Not by the side towards +the palace, for you would be seen; not by the church, as you would +find yourselves still shut up, and as to the court side you surely +would not think of it, for you would fall into the hands of the +'arsenalotti' who are always going their rounds there. You have only +the canal side left, and where is your gondola to take you off? Not +having any such thing, you will be obliged to throw yourself in and +escape by swimming towards St. Appollonia, which you will reach in a +wretched condition, not knowing where to turn to next. You must +remember that the leads are slippery, and that if you were to fall +into the canal, considering the height of the fall and the +shallowness of the water, you would most certainly be killed if you +could swim like sharks. You would be crushed to death, for three or +four feet of water are not sufficient to counteract the effect of a +fall from such a height. In short, the best fate you can expect is +to find yourselves on the ground with broken arms and legs." + +The effect of this discourse--a very unseasonable one, under the +circumstances--was to make my blood boil, but I listened with a +patience wholly foreign to my nature. The rough reproaches of the +monk enraged me, and inclined me to answer him in his own way; but I +felt that my position was a difficult one, and that unless I was +careful I might ruin all, for I had to do with a coward quite capable +of saying that he was not going to risk his life, and by myself I +could not hope to succeed. I constrained myself, therefore, and as +politely as I could I told them that I was sure of success, though I +could not as yet communicate the details of my plan. "I shall profit +by your wise counsels," said I to Count Asquin, "and be very prudent, +but my trust in God and in my own strength will carry me through all +difficulties." + +From time to time I stretched out my hand to assure myself that +Soradaci was there, for he did not speak a word. I laughed to myself +to think what he might be turning in his head now that he was +convinced that I had deceived him. At half-past ten I told him to go +and see what was the position of the moon. He obeyed and returned, +saying that in an hour and a-half it would have disappeared, and that +there was a thick fog which would make the leads very dangerous. + +"All I ask," I said, "is that the fog be not made of oil. Put your +cloak in a packet with some of the rope which must be divided equally +between us." + +At this I was astonished to find him at my knees kissing my hands, +and entreating me not to kill him. "I should be sure," said he, "to +fall over into the canal, and I should not be of any use to you. Ah! +leave me here, and all the night I will pray to St. Francis for you. +You can kill me or save me alive; but of this I am determined, never +to follow you." + +The fool never thought how he had responded to my prayers. + +"You are right," I said, "you may stop here on the condition that you +will pray to St. Francis; and that you go forthwith and fetch my +books, which I wish to leave to the count." + +He did so without answering me, doubtless with much joy. My books +were worth at least a hundred crowns. The count told me that he +would give them back on my return. + +"You may be sure," I said, "that you will never see me here again. +The books will cover your expenditure of two sequins. As to this +rascal, I am delighted, as he cannot muster sufficient courage to +come with me. He would be in the way, and the fellow is not worthy +of sharing with Father Balbi and myself the honours of so brave a +flight." + +"That's true," said the count, "provided that he does not +congratulate himself to-morrow." + +I asked the count to give me pens, ink, and paper, which he possessed +in spite of the regulations to the contrary, for such prohibitions +were nothing to Lawrence, who would have sold St. Mark himself for a +crown. I then wrote the following letter, which I gave to Soradaci, +not being able to read it over, as I had written it in the dark. I +began by a fine heading, which I wrote in Latin, and which in English +would run thus: + +"'I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord.'" + +"Our lords of state are bound to do all in their power to keep a +prisoner under the Leads, and on the other hand the prisoner, who is +fortunately not on parole, is bound also to make his escape. Their +right to act thus is founded on justice, while the prisoner follows +the voice of nature; and since they have not asked him whether he +will be put in prison, so he ought not to ask them leave to escape. + +"Jacques Casanova, writing in the bitterness of his heart, knows that +he may have the ill luck to be recaptured before he succeeds in +leaving the Venetian territory and escaping to a friendly state; but +if so, he appeals to the humanity of the judges not to add to the +misery of the condition from which, yielding to the voice of nature, +he is endeavouring to escape. He begs them, if he be taken, to +return him whatever may be in his cell, but if he succeed he gives +the whole to Francis Soradaci, who is still a captive for want of +courage to escape, not like me preferring liberty to life. Casanova +entreats their excellencies not to refuse the poor wretch this gift. +Dated an hour before midnight, in the cell of Count Asquin, on +October 31st, 1756." + +I warned Soradaci not to give this letter to Lawrence, but to the +secretary in person, who, no doubt, would interrogate him if he did +not go himself to the cell, which was the more likely course. The +count said my letter was perfect, but that he would give me back all +my books if I returned. The fool said he wished to see me again to +prove that he would return everything gladly. + +But our time was come. The moon had set. I hung the half of the +ropes by Father Balbi's neck on one side and his clothes on the +other. I did the same to myself, and with our hats on and our coats +off we went to the opening. + + E quindi uscimmo a rimirar le stelle.--DANTE. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +The Escape I Nearly Lose My Life on the Roof I Get out of the Ducal +Palace, Take a Boat, and Reach the Mainland--Danger to Which I Am +Exposed by Father Balbi--My Scheme for Ridding Myself of Him + +I got out the first, and Father Balbi followed me. Soradaci who had +come as far as the opening, had orders to put the plate of lead back +in its place, and then to go and pray to St. Francis for us. Keeping +on my hands and knees, and grasping my pike firmly I pushed it +obliquely between the joining of the plates of lead, and then holding +the side of the plate which I had lifted I succeeded in drawing +myself up to the summit of the roof. The monk had taken hold of my +waistband to follow me, and thus I was like a beast of burden who has +to carry and draw along at the same time; and this on a steep and +slippery roof. + +When we were half-way up the monk asked me to stop, as one of his +packets had slipped off, and he hoped it had not gone further than +the gutter. My first thought was to give him a kick and to send him +after his packet, but, praised be to God! I had sufficient self- +control not to yield to it, and indeed the punishment would have been +too heavy for both of us, as I should have had no chance of escaping +by myself. I asked him if it were the bundle of rope, and on his +replying that it was a small packet of his own containing manuscript +he had found in one of the garrets under the Leads, I told him he +must bear it patiently, as a single step might be our destruction. +The poor monk gave a sigh, and he still clinging to my waist we +continued climbing. + +After having surmounted with the greatest difficulty fifteen or +sixteen plates we got to the top, on which I sat astride, Father +Balbi imitating my example. Our backs were towards the little island +of St. George the Greater, and about two hundred paces in front of us +were the numerous cupolas of St. Mark's Church, which forms part of +the ducal palace, for St. Mark's is really the Doge's private chapel, +and no monarch in the world can boast of having a finer. My first +step was to take off my bundle, and I told my companion to do the +same. He put the rope as best he could upon his thighs, but wishing +to take off his hat, which was in his way, he took hold of it +awkwardly, and it was soon dancing from plate to plate to join the +packet of linen in the gutter. My poor companion was in despair. + +"A bad omen," he exclaimed; "our task is but begun and here am I +deprived of shirt, hat, and a precious manuscript, containing a +curious account of the festivals of the palace." + +I felt calmer now that I was no longer crawling on hands and knees, +and I told him quietly that the two accidents which had happened to +him had nothing extraordinary in them, and that not even a +superstitious person would call them omens, that I did not consider +them in that light, and that they were far from damping my spirits. + +"They ought rather," said I, "to warn you to be prudent, and to +remind you that God is certainly watching over us, for if your hat +had fallen to the left instead of to the right, we should have been +undone; as in that case it would have fallen into the palace court, +where it would have caught the attention of the guards, and have let +them know that there was someone on the roof; and in a few minutes we +should have been retaken." + +After looking about me for some time I told the monk to stay still +till I came back, and I set out, my pike in my hand, sitting astride +the roof and moving along without any difficulty. For nearly an hour +I went to this side and that, keeping a sharp look-out, but in vain; +for I could see nothing to which the rope could be fastened, and I +was in the greatest perplexity as to what was to be done. It was of +no use thinking of getting down on the canal side or by the court of +the palace, and the church offered only precipices which led to +nothing. To get to the other side of the church towards the +Canonica, I should have had to climb roofs so steep that I saw no +prospect of success. The situation called for hardihood, but not the +smallest piece of rashness. + +It was necessary, however, either to escape, or to reenter the +prison, perhaps never again to leave it, or to throw myself into the +canal. In such a dilemma it was necessary to leave a good deal to +chance, and to make a start of some kind. My eye caught a window on +the canal sides, and two-thirds of the distance from the gutter to +the summit of the roof. It was a good distance from the spot I had +set out from, so I concluded that the garret lighted by it did not +form part of the prison I had just broken. It could only light a +loft, inhabited or uninhabited, above some rooms in the palace, the +doors of which would probably be opened by day-break. I was morally +sure that if the palace servants saw us they would help us to escape, +and not deliver us over to the Inquisitors, even if they recognized +us as criminals of the deepest dye; so heartily was the State +Inquisition hated by everyone. + +It was thus necessary for me to get in front of the window, and +letting myself slide softly down in a straight line I soon found +myself astride on top of the dormer-roof. Then grasping the sides I +stretched my head over, and succeeded in seeing and touching a small +grating, behind which was a window of square panes of glass joined +with thin strips of lead. I did not trouble myself about the window, +but the grating, small as it was, appeared an insurmountable +difficulty, failing a file, and I had only my pike. + +I was thoroughly perplexed, and was beginning to lose courage, when +an incident of the simplest and most natural kind came to my aid and +fortified my resolution. + +Philosophic reader, if you will place yourself for a moment in my +position, if you will share the sufferings which for fifteen months +had been my lot, if you think of my danger on the top of a roof, +where the slightest step in a wrong direction would have cost me my +life, if you consider the few hours at my disposal to overcome +difficulties which might spring up at any moment, the candid +confession I am about to make will not lower me in your esteem; at +any rate, if you do not forget that a man in an anxious and dangerous +position is in reality only half himself. + +It was the clock of St. Mark's striking midnight, which, by a +violent shock, drew me out of the state of perplexity I had fallen +into. The clock reminded me that the day just beginning was All +Saints' Day--the day of my patron saint (at least if I had one)--and +the prophecy of my confessor came into my mind. But I confess that +what chiefly strengthened me, both bodily and mentally, was the +profane oracle of my beloved Ariosto: 'Fra il fin d'ottobre, a il +capo di novembre'. + +The chime seemed to me a speaking talisman, commanding me to be up +and doing,--and--promising me the victory. Lying on my belly I +stretched my head down towards the grating, and pushing my pike into +the sash which held it I resolved to take it out in a piece. In a +quarter of an hour I succeeded, and held the whole grate in my hands, +--and putting it on one side I easily broke the glass window, though +wounding my left hand. + +With the aid of my pike, using it as I had done before, I regained +the ridge of the roof, and went back to the spot where I had left +Balbi. I found him enraged and despairing, and he abused me heartily +for having left him for so long. He assured me that he was only +waiting for it to get light to return to the prison. + +"What did you think had become of me?" + +"I thought you must have fallen over." + +"And you can find no better way than abuse to express the joy you +ought to feel at seeing me again?" + +"What have you been doing all this time?" + +"Follow me, and you shall see." + +I took up my packets again and made my way towards the window. As +soon as were opposite to it I told Balbi what I had done, and asked +him if he could think of any way of getting into the loft. For one +it was easy enough, for the other could lower him by the rope; but I +could not discover how the second of us was to get down afterwards, +as there was nothing to which the rope could be fastened. If I let +myself fall I might break my arms and legs, for I did not know the +distance between the window and the floor of the room. To this chain +of reasoning uttered in the friendliest possible tone, the brute +replied thus: + +"You let me down, and when I have got to the bottom you will have +plenty of time to think how you are going to follow me." + +I confess that my first indignant impulse was to drive my pike into +his throat. My good genius stayed my arm, and I uttered not a word +in reproach of his base selfishness. On the contrary, I straightway +untied my bundle of rope and bound him strongly under the elbows, and +making him lie flat down I lowered him feet foremost on to the roof +of the dormer-window. When he got there I told him to lower himself +into the window as far as his hips, supporting himself by holding his +elbows against the sides of the window. As soon as he had done so, I +slid down the roof as before, and lying down on the dormer-roof with +a firm grasp of the rope I told the monk not to be afraid but to let +himself go. When he reached the floor of the loft he untied himself, +and on drawing the rope back I found the fall was one of fifty feet- +too dangerous a jump to be risked. The monk who for two hours had +been a prey to terror; seated in a position which I confess was not a +very reassuring one, was not quite cool, and called out to me to +throw him the ropes for him to take care of--a piece of advice you +may be sure I took care not to follow. + +Not knowing what to do next, and waiting for some fortunate idea, I +made my way back to the ridge of the roof, and from there spied out a +corner near a cupola; which I had not visited. I went towards it and +found a flat roof, with a large window closed with two shutters. At +hand was a tubful of plaster, a trowel, and ladder which I thought +long enough for my purpose. This was enough, and tying my rope to +the first round I dragged this troublesome burden after me to the +window. My next task was to get the end of the ladder (which was +twelve fathoms long) into the opening, and the difficulties I +encountered made me sorry that I had deprived myself of the aid of +the monk. [The unit of measure:'fathoms' describing the ladder and +earlier the 100 fathoms of rope, is likely a translation error: +Casanova might have manufactured 100 feet of rope and might have +dragged a 12 foot ladder up the steep roof, but not a longer. D.W.] + +I had set the ladder in such a way that one end touched the window, +and the other went below the gutter. I next slid down to the roof of +the window, and drawing the ladder towards me I fastened the end of +my rope to the eighth round, and then let it go again till it was +parallel with the window. I then strove to get it in, but I could +not insert it farther than the fifth round, for the end of the ladder +being stopped by the inside roof of the window no force on earth +could have pushed it any further without breaking either the ladder +or the ceiling. There was nothing to be done but to lift it by the +other end; it would then slip down by its own weight. I might, it is +true, have placed the ladder across the window, and have fastened the +rope to it, in which manner I might have let myself down into the +loft without any risk; but the ladder would have been left outside to +shew Lawrence and the guards where to look for us and possibly to +find us in the morning. + +I did not care to risk by a piece of imprudence the fruit of so much +toil and danger, and to destroy all traces of our whereabouts the +ladder must be drawn in. Having no one to give me a helping hand, I +resolved to go myself to the parapet to lift the ladder and attain +the end I had in view. I did so, but at such a hazard as had almost +cost me my life. I could let go the ladder while I slackened the +rope without any fear of its falling over, as it had caught to the +parapet by the third rung. Then, my pike in my hand, I slid down +beside the ladder to the parapet, which held up the points of my +feet, as I was lying on my belly. In this position I pushed the +ladder forward, and was able to get it into the window to the length +of a foot, and that diminished by a good deal its weight. I now only +had to push it in another two feet, as I was sure that I could get it +in altogether by means of the rope from the roof of the window. To +impel the ladder to the extent required I got on my knees, but the +effort I had to use made me slip, and in an instant I was over the +parapet as far as my chest, sustained by my elbows. + +I shudder still when I think of this awful moment, which cannot be +conceived in all its horror. My natural instinct made me almost +unconsciously strain every nerve to regain the parapet, and--I had +nearly said miraculously--I succeeded. Taking care not to let myself +slip back an inch I struggled upwards with my hands and arms, while +my belly was resting on the edge of the parapet. Fortunately the +ladder was safe, for with that unlucky effort which had nearly cost +me so dearly I had pushed it in more than three feet, and there it +remained. + +Finding myself resting on my groin on the parapet, I saw that I had +only to lift up my right leg and to put up first one knee and then +the other to be absolutely out of danger; but I had not yet got to +the end of my trouble. The effort I made gave me so severe a spasm +that I became cramped and unable to use my limbs. However, I did not +lose my head, but kept quiet till the pain had gone off, knowing by +experience that keeping still is the best cure for the false cramp. +It was a dreadful moment! In two minutes I made another effort, and +had the good fortune to get my two knees on to the parapet, and as +soon as I had taken breath I cautiously hoisted the ladder and pushed +it half-way through the window. I then took my pike, and crawling up +as I had done before I reached the window, where my knowledge of the +laws of equilibrium and leverage aided me to insert the ladder to its +full length, my companion receiving the end of it. I then threw into +the loft the bundles and the fragments that I had broken off the +window, and I stepped down to the monk, who welcomed me heartily and +drew in the ladder. Arm in arm, we proceeded to inspect the gloomy +retreat in which we found ourselves, and judged it to be about thirty +paces long by twenty wide. + +At one end were folding-doors barred with iron. This looked bad, but +putting my hand to the latch in the middle it yielded to the +pressure, and the door opened. The first thing we did was to make +the tour of the room, and crossing it we stumbled against a large +table surrounded by stools and armchairs. Returning to the part +where we had seen windows, we opened the shutters of one of them, and +the light of the stars only shewed us: the cupolas and the depths +beneath them. I did not think for a moment of lowering myself down, +as I wished to know where I was going, and I did not recognize our +surroundings. I shut the window up, and we returned to the place +where we had left our packages. Quite exhausted I let myself fall on +the floor, and placing a bundle of rope under my head a sweet sleep +came to my, relief. I abandoned myself to it without resistance, and +indeed, I believe if death were to have been the result, I should +have slept all the same, and I still remember how I enjoyed that +sleep. + +It lasted for three and a half hours, and I was awakened by the +monk's calling out and shaking me. He told me that it had just +struck five. He said it was inconceivable to him how I could sleep +in the situation we were in. But that which was inconceivable to him +was not so to me. I had not fallen asleep on purpose, but had only +yielded to the demands of exhausted nature, and, if I may say so, to +the extremity of my need. In my exhaustion there was nothing to +wonder at, since I had neither eaten nor slept for two days, and the +efforts I had made--efforts almost beyond the limits of mortal +endurance--might well have exhausted any man. In my sleep my +activity had come back to me, and I was delighted to see the darkness +disappearing, so that we should be able to proceed with more +certainty and quickness. + +Casting a rapid glance around, I said to myself, "This is not a +prison, there ought, therefore, be some easy exit from it." We +addressed ourselves to the end opposite to the folding-doors, and in +a narrow recess I thought I made out a doorway. I felt it over and +touched a lock, into which I thrust my pike, and opened it with three +or four heaves. We then found ourselves in a small room, and I +discovered a key on a table, which I tried on a door opposite to us, +which, however, proved to be unlocked. I told the monk to go for our +bundles, and replacing the key we passed out and came into a gallery +containing presses full of papers. They were the state archives. I +came across a short flight of stone stairs, which I descended, then +another, which I descended also, and found a glass door at the end, +on opening which I entered a hall well known to me: we were in the +ducal chancery. I opened a window and could have got down easily, +but the result would have been that we should have been trapped in +the maze of little courts around St. Mark's Church. I saw on a desk +an iron instrument, of which I took possession; it had a rounded +point and a wooden handle, being used by the clerks of the chancery +to pierce parchments for the purpose of affixing the leaden seals. +On opening the desk I saw the copy of a letter advising the +Proveditore of Corfu of a grant of three thousand sequins for the +restoration of the old fortress. I searched for the sequins but they +were not there. God knows how gladly I would have taken them, and +how I would have laughed the monk to scorn if he had accused me of +theft! I should have received the money as a gift from Heaven, and +should have regarded myself as its master by conquest. + +Going to the door of the chancery, I put my bar in the keyhole, but +finding immediately that I could not break it open, I resolved on +making a hole in the door. I took care to choose the side where the +wood had fewest knots, and working with all speed I struck as hard +and as cleaving strokes as I was able. The monk, who helped me as +well as he could with the punch I had taken from the desk, trembled +at the echoing clamour of my pike which must have been audible at +some distance. I felt the danger myself, but it had to be risked. + +In half an hour the hole was large enough--a fortunate circumstance, +for I should have had much trouble in making it any larger without +the aid of a saw. I was afraid when I looked at the edges of the +hole, for they bristled with jagged pieces of wood which seemed made +for tearing clothes and flesh together. The hole was at a height of +five feet from the ground. We placed beneath it two stools, one +beside the other, and when we had stepped upon them the monk with +arms crossed and head foremost began to make his way through the +hole, and taking him by the thighs, and afterwards by the legs, I +succeeded in pushing him through, and though it was dark I felt quite +secure, as I knew the surroundings. As soon as my companion had +reached the other side I threw him my belongings, with the exception +of the ropes, which I left behind, and placing a third stool on the +two others, I climbed up, and got through as far as my middle, though +with much difficulty, owing to the extreme narrowness of the hole. +Then, having nothing to grasp with my hands, nor anyone to push me as +I had pushed the monk, I asked him to take me, and draw me gently and +by slow degrees towards him. He did so, and I endured silently the +fearful torture I had to undergo, as my thighs and legs were torn by +the splinters of wood. + +As soon as I got through I made haste to pick up my bundle of linen, +and going down two flights of stairs I opened without difficulty the +door leading into the passage whence opens the chief door to the +grand staircase, and in another the door of the closet of the 'Savio +alla scrittura'. The chief door was locked, and I saw at once that, +failing a catapult or a mine of gunpowder, I could not possibly get +through. The bar I still held seemed to say, "Hic fines posuit. My +use is ended and you can lay me down." It was dear to me as the +instrument of freedom, and was worthy of being hung as an 'ex voto' +on the altar of liberty. + +I sat down with the utmost tranquillity, and told the monk to do the +same. + +"My work is done," I said, "the rest must be left to God and fortune. + +"Abbia chi regge il ciel cura del resto, +O la fortuna se non tocca a lui. + +"I do not know whether those who sweep out the palace will come here +to-day, which is All Saints' Day, or tomorrow, All Souls' Day. If +anyone comes, I shall run out as soon as the door opens, and do you +follow after me; but if nobody comes, I do not budge a step, and if I +die of hunger so much the worse for me." + +At this speech of mine he became beside himself. He called me a +madman, seducer, deceiver, and a liar. I let him talk, and took no +notice. It struck six; only an hour had passed since I had my +awakening in the loft. + +My first task was to change my clothes. Father Balbi looked like a +peasant, but he was in better condition than I, his clothes were not +torn to shreds or covered with blood, his red flannel waistcoat and +purple breeches were intact, while my figure could only inspire pity +or terror, so bloodstained and tattered was I. I took off my +stockings, and the blood gushed out of two wounds I had given myself +on the parapet, while the splinters in the hole in the door had torn +my waistcoat, shirt, breeches, legs and thighs. I was dreadfully +wounded all over my body. I made bandages of handkerchiefs, and +dressed my wounds as best I could, and then put on my fine suit, +which on a winter's day would look odd enough. Having tied up my +hair, I put on white stockings, a laced shirt, failing any other, and +two others over it, and then stowing away some stockings and +handkerchiefs in my pockets, I threw everything else into a corner of +the room. I flung my fine cloak over the monk, and the fellow looked +as if he had stolen it. I must have looked like a man who has been +to a dance and has spent the rest of the night in a disorderly house, +though the only foil to my reasonable elegance of attire was the +bandages round my knees. + +In this guise, with my exquisite hat trimmed with Spanish lace and +adorned with a white feather on my head, I opened a window. I was +immediately remarked by some lounger in the palace court, who, not +understanding what anyone of my appearance was doing there at such an +early hour, went to tell the door-keeper of the circumstance. He, +thinking he must have locked somebody in the night before, went for +his keys and came towards us. I was sorry to have let myself be seen +at the window, not knowing that therein chance was working for our +escape, and was sitting down listening to the idle talk of the monk, +when I heard the jingling of keys. Much perturbed I got up and put +my eye to a chink in the door, and saw a man with a great bunch of +keys in his hand mounting leisurely up the stairs. I told the monk +not to open his mouth, to keep well behind me, and to follow my +steps. I took my pike, and concealing it in my right sleeve I got +into a corner by the door, whence I could get out as soon as it was +opened and run down the stairs. I prayed that the man might make no +resistance, as if he did I should be obliged to fell him to the +earth, and I determined to do so. + +The door opened; and the poor man as soon as he saw me seemed turned +to a stone. Without an instant's delay and in dead silence, I made +haste to descend the stairs, the monk following me. Avoiding the +appearance of a fugitive, but walking fast, I went by the giants' +Stairs, taking no notice of Father Balbi, who kept cabling: out "To +the church! to the church!" + +The church door was only about twenty paces from the stairs, but the +churches were no longer sanctuaries in Venice; and no one ever took +refuge in them. The monk knew this, but fright had deprived him of +his faculties. He told me afterwards that the motive which impelled +him to go to the church was the voice of religion bidding him seek +the horns of the altar. + +"Why didn't you go by yourself?" said I. + +"I did not, like to abandon you," but he should rather have said, "I +did not like to lose the comfort of your company." + +The safety I sought was beyond the borders of the Republic, and +thitherward I began to bend my steps. Already there in spirit, I +must needs be there in body also. I went straight towards the chief +door of the palace, and looking at no one that might be tempted to +look at me I got to the canal and entered the first gondola that I +came across, shouting to the boatman on the poop, + +"I want to go to Fusina; be quick and, call another gondolier." + +This was soon done, and while the gondola was being got off I sat +down on the seat in the middle, and Balbi at the side. The odd +appearance of the monk, without a hat and with a fine cloak on his +shoulders, with my unseasonable attire, was enough to make people +take us for an astrologer and his man. + +As soon as we had passed the custom-house, the gondoliers began to +row with a will along the Giudecca Canal, by which we must pass to go +to Fusina or to Mestre, which latter place was really our +destination. When we had traversed half the length of the canal I +put my head out, and said to the waterman on the poop, + +"When do you think we shall get to Mestre?" + +"But you told me to go to Fusina." + +"You must be mad; I said Mestre." + +The other boatman said that I was mistaken, and the fool of a monk, +in his capacity of zealous Christian and friend of truth, took care +to tell me that I was wrong. I wanted to give him a hearty kick as a +punishment for his stupidity, but reflecting that common sense comes +not by wishing for it I burst into a peal of laughter, and agreed +that I might have made a mistake, but that my real intention was to +go to Mestre. To that they answered nothing, but a minute after the +master boatman said he was ready to take me to England if I liked. + +"Bravely spoken," said I, "and now for Mestre, ho!" "We shall be +there in three quarters of an hour, as the wind and tide are in our +favour." + +Well pleased I looked at the canal behind us, and thought it had +never seemed so fair, especially as there was not a single boat +coming our way. It was a glorious morning, the air was clear and +glowing with the first rays of the sun, and my two young watermen +rowed easily and well; and as I thought over the night of sorrow, the +dangers I had escaped, the abode where I had been fast bound the day +before, all the chances which had been in my favour, and the liberty +of which I now began to taste the sweets, I was so moved in my heart +and grateful to my God that, well nigh choked with emotion, I burst +into tears. + +My nice companion who had hitherto only spoken to back up the +gondoliers, thought himself bound to offer me his consolations. He +did not understand why I was weeping, and the tone he took made me +pass from sweet affliction to a strange mirthfulness which made him +go astray once more, as he thought I had got mad. The poor monk, as +I have said, was a fool, and whatever was bad about him was the +result of his folly. I had been under the sad necessity of turning +him to account, but though without intending to do so he had almost +been my ruin. It was no use trying to make him believe that I had +told the gondoliers to go to Fusina whilst I intended to go to +Mestre; he said I could not have thought of that till I got on to the +Grand Canal. + +In due course we reached Mestre. There were no horses to ride post, +but I found men with coaches who did as well, and I agreed with one +of them to take me to Trevisa in an hour and a quarter. The horses +were put in in three minutes, and with the idea that Father Balbi was +behind me I turned round to say "Get up," but lie was not there. I +told an ostler to go and look for him, with the intention of +reprimanding him sharply, even if he had gone for a necessary +occasion, for we had no time to waste, not even thus. The man came +back saying he could not find' him, to my great rage and indignation. +I was tempted to abandon him, but a feeling of humanity restrained +me. I made enquiries all round; everybody had seen him, but not a +soul knew where he was. I walked along the High Street, and some +instinct prompting me to put my head in at the window of a cafe. +I saw the wretched man standing at the bar drinking chocolate and +making love to the girl. Catching sight of me, he pointed to the +girl and said-- + +"She's charming," and then invited me to take a cup of chocolate, +saying that I must pay, as he hadn't a penny. I kept back my wrath +and answered, + +"I don't want any, and do you make haste!" and caught hold of his arm +in such sort that he turned white with pain. I paid the money and we +went out. I trembled with anger. We got into our coach, but we had +scarcely gone ten paces before I recognised: an inhabitant, of Mestre +named Balbi Tommasi, a good sort of man; but reported to be one of +the familiars of the Holy Office. He knew me, too, and coming up +called out, + +"I am delighted to see you here. I suppose you have just escaped. +How did you do it?" + +"I have not escaped, but have been set at liberty." + +"No, no, that's not possible, as I was at M. Grimani's yesterday +evening, and I should have heard of it." + +It will be easier for the reader to imagine my state of mind than for +me to describe it. I was discovered by a man whom I believed to be a +hired agent of the Government, who only had to give a glance to one +of the sbirri with whom Mestre swarmed to have me arrested. I told +him to speak softly, and getting down I asked him to come to one +side. I took him behind a house, and seeing that there was nobody in +sight, a ditch in front, beyond which the open country extended, I +grasped my pike and took him by the neck. At this: he gave a +struggle, slipped out of my hands, leapt over the ditch, and without +turning round set off to run at, full speed. As soon as he was some +way off he slackened his course, turned round and kissed his hand to +me, in token of wishing me a prosperous journey. And as soon; as he +was out of my sight I gave thanks to God that, this man by his +quickness had preserved me from the commission of a crime, for I +would have killed him; and he, as it turned out, bore me no ill will. + +I was in a terrible position. In open war with all the powers of- +the Republic, everything had to give way to my safety, which made me +neglect no means of attaining my ends. + +With the gloom of a man who has passed through a great peril, I gave +a glance of contempt towards the monk, who now saw to what danger he +had exposed us, and then got up again into the carriage. We reached +Trevisa without further adventure, and I told the posting-master to +get me a carriage and two horses ready by ten o'clock; though I had +no intention of continuing my journey along the highway, both +because. I lacked means; and because I feared pursuit. The inn- +keeper asked me, if I would take any breakfast, of which I stood in +great need, for I was dying with hunger, but I did not dare to, +accept his offer, as a quarter of an hour's delay might, prove fatal. +I was afraid of being retaken, and of being ashamed of it for the +rest of my life; for a man of sense ought to be able to snap his +fingers at four hundred thousand men in the open country, and if he +cannot escape capture he must be a fool. + +I went out by St. Thomas's Gate as if I was going for a short walk, +and after walking for a mile on the highway I struck into the fields, +resolving not to leave them as long as I should be within the borders +of the Republic. The shortest way was by Bassano, but I took the +longer path, thinking I might possibly be expected on the more direct +road, while they would never think of my leaving the Venetian +territory by way of Feltre, which is the longest way of getting into +the state subject to the Bishop of Trent. + +After walking for three hours I let myself drop to the ground, for I +could not move a step further. I must either take some food or die +there, so I told the monk to leave the cloak with me and go to a farm +I saw, there to buy something to eat. I gave him the money, and he +set off, telling me that he thought I had more courage. The +miserable man did not know what courage was, but he was more robust +than myself, and he had, doubtless, taken in provisions before +leaving the prison. Besides he had had some chocolate; he was thin +and wiry, and a monk, and mental anxieties were unknown to him. + +Although the house was not an inn, the good farmer's wife sent me a +sufficient meal which only cost me thirty Venetian sous. After +satisfying my appetite, feeling that sleep was creeping on me, I set +out again on the tramp, well braced up. In four hours' time I +stopped at a hamlet, and found that I was twenty-four miles from +Trevisa. I was done up, my ankles were swollen, and my shoes were in +holes. There was only another hour of day-light before us. +Stretching myself out beneath a grove of trees I made Father Balbi +sit by me, and discoursed to him in the manner following: + +"We must make for Borgo di Valsugano, it is the first town beyond the +borders of the Republic. We shall be as safe there as if we were in +London, and we can take our ease for awhile; but to get there we must +go carefully to work, and the first thing we must do is to separate. +You must go by Mantello Woods, and I by the mountains; you by the +easiest and shortest way, and I by the longest and most difficult; +you with money and I without a penny. I will make you a present of +my cloak, which you must exchange for a great coat and a hat, and +everybody will take you for a countryman, as you are luckily rather +like one in the face. Take these seventeen livres, which is all that +remains to me of the two sequins Count Asquin gave me. You will +reach Borgo by the day after to-morrow, and I shall be twenty-four +hours later. Wait for me in the first inn on the left-hand side of +the street, and be sure I shall come in due season. I require a good +night's rest in a good bed; and Providence will get me one somewhere, +but I must sleep without fear of being disturbed, and in your company +that would be out of the question. I am certain that we are being +sought for on all sides, and that our descriptions have been so +correctly given that if we went into any inn together we should be +certain to be arrested. You see the state I am in, and my urgent +necessity for a ten hours' rest. Farewell, then, do you go that way +and I will take this, and I will find somewhere near here a rest for +the sole of my foot." + +"I have been expecting you to say as much," said Father Balbi, "and +for answer I will remind you of the promise you gave me when I let +myself be persuaded to break into your cell. You promised me that we +should always keep company; and so don't flatter yourself that I +shall leave you, your fate and mine are linked together. We shall be +able to get a good refuge for our money, we won't go to the inns, and +no one will arrest us." + +"You are determined, are you, not to follow the good advice I have +given you?" + +"I am." + +"We shall see about that." + +I rose to my feet, though with some difficulty, and taking the +measure of his height I marked it out upon the ground, then drawing +my pike from my pocket, I proceeded with the utmost coolness to +excavate the earth, taking no notice of the questions the monk asked +me. After working: for a quarter of an hour I set myself to gaze +sadly upon him, and I told him that I felt obliged as a Christian to +warn him to commend his soul to God, "since I am about to bury you +here, alive or dead; and if you prove the stronger, you will bury me. +You can escape if you wish to, as I shall not pursue you." + +He made no reply, and I betook myself to my work again, but I confess +that I began to be afraid of being rushed to extremities by this +brute, of whom I was determined to rid myself. + +At last, whether convinced by my arguments or afraid Of my pike, he +came towards me. Not guessing. What he was about, I presented the +point of my pike towards him, but I had nothing to fear. + +"I will do what you want," said he. + +I straightway gave him all the money I had, and promising to rejoin +him at Borgo I bade him farewell. Although I had not a penny in my +pocket and had two rivers to cross over, I congratulated myself on +having got rid of a man of his character, for by myself I felt +confident of being able to cross the bounds of the Republic. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +I Find a Lodging in the House of the Chief of the Sbirri--I Pass a +Good Night There and Recover My Strength--I Go to Mass-- +A Disagreeable Meeting I Am Obliged to Take Six Sequins by Force-- +Out of Danger--Arrived at Munich--Balbi I Set Out for Paris-- +My Arrival--Attempt on the Life of Louis XV + + +As soon as I saw Father Balbi far enough off I got up, and seeing at +a little distance a shepherd keeping his flock on the hill-side, I +made my way-towards him to obtain such information as I needed. +"What is the name of this village, my friend?" said I. + +"Valde Piadene, signor," he answered, to my surprise, for I found I +was much farther on my way that I thought. I next asked him the +owners of five or six houses which I saw scattered around, and the +persons he mentioned chanced to be all known to me, but were not the +kind of men I should have cared to trouble with my presence. On my +asking him the name of a palace before me, he said it belonged to the +Grimanis, the chief of whom was a State Inquisitor, and then resident +at the palace, so I had to take care not to let him see me. Finally, +an my enquiring the owner of a red house in the distance, he told me, +much to my surprise, that it belonged to the chief of the sbirri. +Bidding farewell to the kindly shepherd I began to go down the hill +mechanically, and I am still puzzled to know what instinct directed +my steps towards that house, which common sense and fear also should +have made me shun. I steered my course for it in a straight line, +and I can say with truth that I did so quite unwittingly. If it be +true that we have all of us an invisible intelligence--a beneficent +genius who guides our steps aright--as was the case with Socrates, to +that alone I should attribute the irresistible attraction which drew +me towards the house where I had most to dread. However that may be, +it was the boldest stroke I have played in my whole life. + +I entered with an easy and unconstrained air, and asked a child who +was playing at top in the court-yard where his father was. Instead +of replying, the child went to call his mother, and directly +afterwards appeared a pretty woman in the family way, who politely +asked me my business with her husband, apologizing for his absence. + +"I am sorry," I said, "to hear that my gossip is not in, though at +the same time I am delighted to make the acquaintance of his charming +wife." + +"Your gossip? You will be M. Vetturi, then? My husband told me that +you had kindly promised to be the god-father of our next child. I am +delighted to know you, but my husband will be very vexed to have been +away: + +"I hope he will soon return, as I wanted to ask him for a night's +lodging. I dare not go anywhere in the state you see me." + +"You shall have the best bed in the house, and I will get you a good +supper. My husband when he comes back will thank your excellence for +doing us so much honour. He went away with all his people an hour +ago, and I don't expect him back for three or four days." + +"Why is he away for such a long time, my dear madam?" + +"You have not heard, then, that two prisoners have escaped from The +Leads? One is a noble and the other a private individual named +Casanova. My husband has received a letter from Messer-Grande +ordering him to make a search for them; if he find them he will take +them back to Venice, and if not he will return here, but he will be +on the look-out for three days at least." + +"I am sorry for this accident, my dear madam, but I should not like +to put you out, and indeed I should be glad to lie down immediately." + +"You shall do so, and my mother shall attend to your wants. But what +is the matter with your knees?" + +"I fell down whilst hunting on the mountains, and gave myself some +severe wounds, and am much weakened by loss of blood." + +"Oh! my poor gentleman, my poor gentleman! But my mother will cure +you." + +She called her mother, and having told her of my necessities she went +out. This pretty sbirress had not the wit of her profession, for the +story I had told her sounded like a fairy-tale. On horseback with +white silk stockings! Hunting in sarcenet, without cloak and without +a man! Her husband would make fine game of her when he came back; +but God bless her for her kind heart and benevolent stupidity. Her +mother tended me with all the politeness I should have met with in +the best families. The worthy woman treated me like a mother, and +called me "son" as she attended to my wounds. The name sounded +pleasantly in my ears, and did no little towards my cure by the +sentiments it awoke in my breast. If I had been less taken up with +the position I was in I should have repaid her care with some evident +marks of the gratitude I felt, but the place I was in and the part I +was playing made the situation too serious a one for me to think of +anything else. + +This kindly woman, after looking at my knees and my thighs, told me +that I must make my mind to suffer a little pain, but I might be sure +of being cured by the morning. All I had to do was to bear the +application of medicated linen to my wounds, and not to stir till the +next day. I promised to bear the pain patiently, and to do exactly +as she told me. + +I was given an excellent supper, and I ate and drank with good +appetite. I then gave myself up to treatment, and fell asleep whilst +my nurse was attending to me. I suppose she undressed me as she +would a child, but I remembered nothing about it when I woke up--I +was, in fact, totally unconscious. Though I had made a good supper I +had only done so to satisfy my craving for food and to regain my +strength, and sleep came to me with an irresistible force, as my +physical exhaustion did not leave me the power of arguing myself out +of it. I took my supper at six o'clock in the evening, and I heard +six striking as I awoke. I seemed to have been enchanted. Rousing +myself up and gathering my wits together, I first took off the linen +bandages, and I was astonished to find my wounds healed and quite +free from pain. I did my hair, dressed myself in less than five +minutes, and finding the door of my room open I went downstairs, +crossed the court, and left the house behind me, without appearing to +notice two individuals who were standing outside, and must have been +sbirri. I made haste to lengthen the distance between me and the +place where I had found the kindliest hospitality, the utmost +politeness, the most tender care, and best of all, new health and +strength, and as I walked I could not help feeling terrified at the +danger I had been in. I shuddered involuntarily; and at the present +moment, after so many years, I still shudder when I think of the +peril to which I had so heedlessly exposed myself. I wondered how I +managed to go in, and still more how I came out; it seemed absurd +that I should not be followed. For five hours I tramped on, keeping +to the woods and mountains, not meeting a soul besides a few +countryfolk, and turning neither to the right nor left. + +It was not yet noon, when, as I went along my way, I stopped short at +the sound of a bell. I was on high ground, and looking in the +direction from which the sound came I saw, a little church in the +valley, and many, people going towards it to hear mass. My heart +desired to express thankfulness for the protection of Providence, +and, though all nature was a temple worthy of its Creator, custom +drew me to the church. When men are in trouble, every passing +thought seems an inspiration. It was All Souls' Day. I went down +the hill, and came into the church, and saw, to my astonishment, M. +Marc Antoine Grimani, the nephew of the State Inquisitor, with Madame +Marie Visani, his wife. I made my bow; which was returned, and after +I had heard mass I left the church. M. Grimani followed me by +himself, and when he had got near me, called me by name, saying, +"What are you doing here, Casanova, and what has become of your +friend?" + +"I have given him what little money I had for him to escape by +another road, whilst I, without a penny in my pocket, am endeavouring +to reach a place of safety by this way. If your excellence would +kindly give me some help, it would speed my journey for me." + +"I can't give you anything, but you will find recluses on your way +who won't let you die of hunger. But tell me how you contrived to +pierce the roof of The Leads." + +"The story is an interesting one, but it would take up too much time, +and in the meanwhile the recluses might eat up the food which is to +keep me from dying of hunger." + +With this sarcasm I made him a profound bow, and went upon my way. +In spite of my great want, his refusal pleased me, as it made me +think myself a better gentleman than the "excellence" who had +referred me to the charity of recluses. I heard at Paris afterwards +that when his wife heard of it she reproached him for his hard- +hearted behaviour. There can be no doubt that kindly and generous +feelings are more often to be found in the hearts of women than of +men. + +I continued my journey till sunset. Weary and faint with hunger I +stopped at a good-looking house, which stood by itself. I asked to +speak to the master, and the porter told me that he was not in as he +had gone to a wedding on the other side of the river, and would be +away for two days, but that he had bidden him to welcome all his +friends while he was away. Providence! luck! chance! whichever you +like. + +I went in and was treated to a good supper and a good bed. I found +by the addresses of some letters which were lying about that I was +being entertained in the house of M. Rombenchi--a consul, of what +nation I know not. I wrote a letter to him and sealed it to await +his return. After making an excellent supper and having had a good +sleep, I rose, and dressing myself carefully set out again without +being able to leave the porter any mark of my gratitude, and shortly +afterwards crossed the river, promising to pay when I came back. +After walking for five hours I dined in a monastery of Capuchins, who +are very useful to people in my position. I then set out again, +feeling fresh and strong, and walked along at a good pace till three +o'clock. I halted at a house which I found from a countryman +belonged to a friend of mine. I walked in, asked if the master was +at home, and was shewn into a room where he was writing by himself. +I stepped forward to greet him, but as soon as he saw me he seemed +horrified and bid me be gone forthwith, giving me idle and insulting +reasons for his behaviour. I explained to him how I was situated, +and asked him to let me have sixty sequins on my note of hand, drawn +on M. de Bragadin. He replied that he could not so much as give me a +glass of water, since he dreaded the wrath of the Tribunal for my +very presence in his house. He was a stockbroker, about sixty years +old, and was under great obligations to me. His inhuman refusal +produced quite a different effect on me than that of M. Grimani. +Whether from rage, indignation, or nature, I took him by the collar, +I shewed him my pike, and raising my voice threatened to kill him. +Trembling all over, he took a key from his pocket and shewing me a +bureau told me he kept money there, and I had only to open it and +take what I wanted; I told him to open it himself. He did so, and on +his opening a drawer containing gold, I told him to count me out six +sequins. + +"You asked me for sixty." + +"Yes, that was when I was asking a loan of you as a friend; but since +I owe the money to force, I require six only, and I will give you no +note of hand. You shall be repaid at Venice, where I shall write of +the pass to which you forced me, you cowardly wretch!" + +"I beg your pardon! take the sixty sequins, I entreat you." + +"No, no more. I am going on my way, and I advise you not to hinder +me, lest in my despair I come back and burn your house about your +ears." + +I went out and walked for two hours, until the approach of night and +weariness made me stop short at the house of a farmer, where I had a +bad supper and a bed of straw. In the morning, I bought an old +overcoat, and hired an ass to journey on, and near Feltre I bought a +pair of boots. In this guise I passed the hut called the Scala. +There was a guard there who, much to my delight, as the reader will +guess, did not even honour me by asking my name. I then took a two- +horse carriage and got to Borgo de Valsugano in good time, and found +Father Balbi at the inn I had told him of. If he had not greeted me +first I should not have known him. A great overcoat, a low hat over +a thick cotton cap, disguised him to admiration. He told me that a +farmer had given him these articles in exchange for my cloak, that he +had arrived without difficulty, and was faring well. He was kind +enough to tell me that he did not expect to see me, as he did not +believe my promise to rejoin him was made in good faith. Possibly I +should have been wise not to undeceive him on this account. + +I passed the following day in the inn, where, without getting out of +my bed, I wrote more than twenty letters to Venice, in many of which +I explained what I had been obliged to do to get the six sequins. + +The monk wrote impudent letters to his superior, Father Barbarigo, +and to his brother nobles, and love-letters to the servant girls who +had been his ruin. I took the lace off my dress, and sold my hat, +and thus got rid of a gay appearance unsuitable to my position, as it +made me too much an object of notice. + +The next day I went to Pergina and lay there, and was visited by a +young Count d'Alberg, who had discovered, in some way or another, +that we had escaped from the state-prisons of Venice. From Pergina I +went to Trent and from there to Bolzan, where, needing money for my +dress, linen, and the continuation of my journey, I introduced myself +to an old banker named Mensch, who gave me a man to send to Venice +with a letter to M. de Bragadin. In the mean time the old banker put +me in a good inn where I spent the six days the messenger was away in +bed. He brought me the sum of a hundred sequins, and my first care +was to clothe my companion, and afterwards myself. Every day I found +the society of the wretched Balbi more intolerable. "Without me you +would never have escaped" was continually in his mouth, and he kept +reminding me that I had promised him half of whatever money I got. +He made love to all the servant girls, and as he had neither the +figure nor the manners to please them, his attentions were returned +with good hearty slaps, which he bore patiently, but was as +outrageous as ever in the course of twenty-four hours. I was amused, +but at the same time vexed to be coupled to a man of so low a nature. + +We travelled post, and in three days we got to Munich, where I went +to lodge at the sign of the "Stag." There I found two young +Venetians of the Cantarini family, who had been there some time in +company with Count Pompei, a Veronese; but not knowing them, and +having no longer any need of depending on recluses for my daily +bread, I did not care to pay my respects to them. It was otherwise +with Countess Coronini, whom I knew at St. Justine's Convent at +Venice, and who stood very well with the Bavarian Court. + +This illustrious lady, then seventy years old, gave me a good +reception and promised to speak on my behalf to the Elector, with a +view to his granting me an asylum in his country. The next day, +having fulfilled her promise, she told me that his highness had +nothing to say against me, but as for Balbi there was no safety for +him in Bavaria, for as a fugitive monk he might be claimed by the +monks at Munich, and his highness had no wish to meddle with the +monks. The countess advised me therefore to get him out of the town +as soon as possible, for him to fly to some other quarter, and thus +to avoid the bad turn which his beloved brethren the monks were +certain to do him. + +Feeling in duty bound to look after the interests of the wretched +fellow, I went to the Elector's confessor to ask him to give Balbi +letters of introduction to some town in Swabia. The confessor, a +Jesuit, did not give the lie to the fine reputation of his brethren +of the order; his reception of me was as discourteous as it well +could be. He told me in a careless way that at Munich I was well +known. I asked him without flinching if I was to take this as a +piece of good or bad news; but he made no answer, and left me +standing. Another priest told me that he had gone out to verify the +truth of a miracle of which the whole town was talking. + +"What miracle is that, reverend father?" I said. + +"The empress, the widow of Charles VII, whose body is still exposed +to the public gaze, has warm feet, although she is dead." + +"Perhaps something keeps them warm." + +"You can assure yourself personally of the truth of this wonderful +circumstance." + +To neglect such an opportunity would have been to lose the chance of +mirth or edification, and I was as desirous of the one as of the +other. Wishing to be able to boast that I had seen a miracle--and +one, moreover, of a peculiar interest for myself, who have always had +the misfortune to suffer from cold feet--I went to see the mighty +dead. It was quite true that her feet were warm, but the matter was +capable of a simple explanation, as the feet of her defunct majesty +were turned towards a burning lamp at a little distance off. A +dancer of my acquaintance, whom curiosity had brought there with the +rest, came up to me, complimented me upon my fortunate escape, and +told me everybody was talking about it. His news pleased me, as it +is always a good thing to interest the public. This son of +Terpsichore asked me to dinner, and I was glad to accept his +invitation. His name was Michel de l'Agata, and his wife was the +pretty Gandela, whom I had known sixteen years ago at the old +Malipiero's. The Gandela was enchanted to see me, and to hear from +my own lips the story of my wondrous escape. She interested herself +on behalf of the monk, and offered me to give him a letter of +introduction for Augsburg Canon Bassi, of Bologna, who was Dean of +St. Maurice's Chapter, and a friend of hers. I took advantage of the +offer, and she forthwith wrote me the letter, telling me that I need +not trouble myself any more about the monk, as she was sure that the +dean would take care of him, and even make it all right at Venice. + +Delighted at getting rid of him in so honourable a manner, I ran to +the inn, told him what I had done, gave him the letter, and promised +not to abandon him in the case of the dean's not giving him a warm +welcome. I got him a good carriage, and started him off the next day +at daybreak. Four days after, Balbi wrote that the dean had received +him with great kindness, that he had given him a room in the deanery, +that he had dressed him as an abbe, that he had introduced him to +the Prince-Bishop of Armstadt, and that he had received assurances of +his safety from the civil magistrates. Furthermore, the dean had +promised to keep him till he obtained his secularization from Rome, +and with it freedom to return to Venice, for as soon as he ceased to +be a monk the Tribunal would have no lien upon him. Father Balbi +finished by asking me to send him a few sequins for pocket-money, as +he was too much of a gentleman to ask the dean who, quoth the +ungrateful fellow, "is not gentleman enough to offer to give me +anything." I gave him no answer. + +As I was now alone in peace and quietness, I thought seriously of +regaining my health, for my sufferings had given me nervous spasms +which might become dangerous. I put myself on diet, and in three +weeks I was perfectly well. In the meanwhile Madame Riviere came +from Dresden with her son and two daughters. She was going to Paris +to marry the elder. The son had been diligent, and would have passed +for a young man of culture. The elder daughter, who was going to +marry an actor, was extremely beautiful, an accomplished dancer, and +played on the clavichord like a professional, and was altogether most +charming and graceful. This pleasant family was delighted to see me +again, and I thought myself fortunate when Madame Riviere, +anticipating my wishes, intimated to me that my company as far as +Paris would give them great pleasure. I had nothing to say +respecting the expenses of the journey. I had to accept their offer +in its entirety. My design was to settle in Paris, and I took this +stroke of fortune as an omen of success in the only town where the +blind goddess freely dispenses her favours to those who leave +themselves to be guided by her, and know how to take advantage of her +gifts. And, as the reader will see by and by, I was not mistaken; +but all the gifts of fortune were of no avail, since I abused them +all by my folly. Fifteen months under the Leads should have made me +aware of my weak points, but in point of fact I needed a little +longer stay to learn how to cure myself of my failings. + +Madame Riviere wished to take me with her, but she could not put off +her departure, and I required a week's delay to get money and letters +from Venice. She promised to wait a week in Strassburg, and we +agreed that if possible I would join her there. She left Munich on +the 18th of December. + +Two days afterwards I got from Venice the bill of exchange for which +I was waiting. I made haste to pay my debts, and immediately +afterwards I started for Augsburg, not so much for the sake of seeing +Father Balbi, as because I wanted to make the acquaintance of the +kindly dean who had rid me of him. I reached Augsburg in seven hours +after leaving Munich, and I went immediately to the house of the good +ecclesiastic. He was not in, but I found Balbi in an abbe's dress, +with his hair covered with white powder, which set off in a new but +not a pleasing manner the beauties of his complexion of about the +same colour as a horse chestnut. Balbi was under forty, but he was +decidedly ugly, having one of those faces in which baseness, +cowardice, impudence, and malice are plainly expressed, joining to +this advantage a tone of voice and manners admirably calculated to +repulse anyone inclined to do him a service. I found him comfortably +housed, well looked after, and well clad; he had books and all the +requisites for writing. I complimented him upon his situation, +calling him a fortunate fellow, and applying the same epithet to +myself for having gained him all the advantages he enjoyed, and the +hope of one day becoming a secular priest. But the ungrateful hound, +instead of thanking me, reproached me for having craftily rid myself +of him, and added that, as I was going to Paris, I might as well take +him with me, as the dullness of Augsburg was almost killing him. + +"What do you want at Paris?" + +"What do you want yourself?" + +"To put my talents to account." + +"So do I." + +"Well, then, you don't require me, and can fly on your own wings. +The people who are taking me to Paris would probably not care for me +if I had you for a companion." + +"You promised not to abandon me." + +"Can a man who leaves another well provided for and an assured future +be said to abandon him?" + +"Well provided! I have not got a penny." + +"What do you want with money? You have a good table, a good lodging, +clothes, linen, attendance, and so forth. And if you want pocket- +money, why don't you ask your brethren the monks?" + +"Ask monks for money? They take it, but they don't give it." + +"Ask your friends, then." + +"I have no friends." + +"You are to be pitied, but the reason probably is that you have never +been a friend to anyone. You ought to say masses, that is a good way +of getting money." + +"I am unknown." + +"You must wait, then, till you are known, and then you can make up +for lost time." + +"Your suggestions are idle; you will surely give me a few sequins." + +"I can't spare any." + +"Wait for the dean. He will be back to-morrow. You can talk to him +and persuade him to lend me some money. You can tell him that I will +pay it back." + +"I cannot wait, for I am setting out on my journey directly, and were +he here this moment I should not have the face to tell him to lend +you money after all his generous treatment of you, and when he or +anyone can see that you have all you need." + +After this sharp dialogue I left him, and travelling post I set out, +displeased with myself for having given such advantages to a man +wholly unworthy of them. In the March following I had a letter from +the good Dean Bassi, in which he told me how Balbi had run away, +taking with him one of his servant girls, a sum of money, a gold +watch, and a dozen silver spoons and forks. He did not know where he +was gone. + +Towards the end of the same year I learnt at Paris that the wretched +man had taken refuge at Coire, the capital of the Grisons, where he +asked to be made a member of the Calvinistic Church, and to be +recognized as lawful husband of the woman with him; but in a short +time the community discovered that the new convert was no good, and +expelled him from the bosom of the Church of Calvin. Our ne'er-do- +well having no more money, his wife left him, and he, not knowing +what to do next, took the desperate step of going to Bressa, a town +within the Venetian territory, where he sought the governor, telling +him his name, the story of his flight, and his repentance, begging +the governor to take him under his protection and to obtain his +pardon. + +The first effect of the podesta's protection was that the penitent +was imprisoned, and he then wrote to the Tribunal to know what to do +with him. The Tribunal told him to send Father Balbi in chains to +Venice, and on his arrival Messer-Grande gave him over to the +Tribunal, which put him once more under the Leads. He did not find +Count Asquin there, as the Tribunal, out of consideration for his +great age, had moved him to The Fours a couple of months after our +escape. + +Five or six years later, I heard that the Tribunal, after keeping the +unlucky monk for two years under the Leads, had sent him to his +convent. There, his superior fearing lest his flock should take +contagion from this scabby sheep, sent him to their original +monastery near Feltre, a lonely building on a height. However, Balbi +did not stop there six months. Having got the key of the fields, he +went to Rome, and threw himself at the feet of Pope Rezzonico, who +absolved him of his sins, and released him from his monastic vows. +Balbi, now a secular priest, returned to Venice, where he lived a +dissolute and wretched life. In 1783 he died the death of Diogenes, +minus the wit of the cynic. + +At Strassburg I rejoined Madame Riviere and her delightful family, +from whom I received a sincere and hearty welcome. We were staying +at the "Hotel de l'Esprit," and we passed a few days there most +pleasurably, afterwards setting out in an excellent travelling +carriage for Paris the Only, Paris the Universal. During the journey +I thought myself bound to the expense of making it a pleasant one, as +I had not to put my hand in my pocket for other expenses. The charms +of Mdlle. Riviere enchanted me, but I should have esteemed myself +wanting in gratitude and respect to this worthy family if I had +darted at her a single amorous glance, or if I had let her suspect my +feelings for her by a single word. In fact I thought myself obliged +to play the heavy father, though my age did not fit me for the part, +and I lavished on this agreeable family all the care which can be +given in return for pleasant society, a seat in a comfortable +travelling carriage, an excellent table, and a good bed. + +We reached Paris on the 5th of January, 1757, and I went to the house +of my friend Baletti, who received me with open arms, and assured me +that though I had not written he had been expecting me, since he +judged that I would strive to put the greatest possible distance +between myself and Venice, and he could think of no other retreat for +me than Paris. The whole house kept holiday when my arrival became +known, and I have never met with more sincere regard than in that +delightful family. I greeted with enthusiasm the father and mother, +whom I found exactly the same as when I had seen them last in 1752, +but I was struck with astonishment at the daughter whom I had left a +child, for she was now a tall and well-shaped girl. Mdlle. Baletti +was fifteen years old, and her mother had brought her up with care, +had given her the best masters, virtue, grace, talents, a good +manner, tact, a knowledge of society-in short, all that a clever +mother can give to a dear daughter. + +After finding a pleasant lodging near the Baletti's, I took a coach +and went to the "Hotel de Bourbon" with the intention of calling on +M. de Bernis, who was then chief secretary for foreign affairs. I +had good reasons for relying on his assistance. He was out; he had +gone to Versailles. At Paris one must go sharply to work, and, as it +is vulgarly but forcibly said, "strike while the iron's hot." As I +was impatient to see what kind of a reception I should get from the +liberal-minded lover of my fair M---- M----, I went to the Pont- +Royal, took a hackney coach, and went to Versailles. Again bad luck! + +Our coaches crossed each other on the way, and my humble equipage had +not caught his excellency's eye. M. de Bernis had returned to Paris +with Count de Castillana, the ambassador from Naples, and I +determined to return also; but when I got to the gate I saw a mob of +people running here and there in the greatest confusion, and from all +sides I heard the cry, "The king is assassinated! The king is +assassinated!" + +My frightened coachman only thought of getting on his way, but the +coach was stopped. I was made to get out and taken to the guard- +room, where there were several people already, and in less than three +minutes there were twenty of us, all under arrest, all astonished at +the situation, and all as much guilty as I was. We sat glum and +silent, looking at each other without daring to speak. I knew not +what to think, and not believing in enchantment I began to think I +must be dreaming. Every face expressed surprise, as everyone, though +innocent, was more or less afraid. + +We were not left in this disagreeable position for long, as in five +minutes an officer came in, and after some polite apologies told us +we were free. + +"The king is wounded," he said, "and he has been taken to his room. +The assassin, whom nobody knows, is under arrest. M. de la +Martiniere is being looked for everywhere." + +As soon as I had got back to my coach, and was thinking myself lucky +for being there, a gentlemanly-looking young man came up to me and +besought me to give him a seat in my coach, and he would gladly pay +half the fare; but in spite of the laws of politeness I refused his +request. I may possibly have been wrong. On any other occasion I +should have been most happy to give him a place, but there are times +when prudence does not allow one to be polite. I was about three +hours on the way, and in this short time I was overtaken every minute +by at least two hundred couriers riding at a breakneck pace. Every +minute brought a new courier, and every courier shouted his news to +the winds. The first told me what I already knew; then I heard that +the king had been bled, that the wound was not mortal, and finally, +that the wound was trifling, and that his majesty could go to the +Trianon if he liked. + +Fortified with this good news, I went to Silvia's and found the +family at table. I told them I had just come from Versailles. + +"The king has been assassinated." + +"Not at all; he is able to go to the Trianon, or the Parc-aux-cerfs, +if he likes. M. de la Martiniere has bled him, and found him to be +in no danger. The assassin has been arrested, and the wretched man +will be burnt, drawn with red-hot pincers, and quartered." + +This news was soon spread abroad by Silvia's servants, and a crowd of +the neighbours came to hear what I had to say, and I had to repeat +the same thing ten times over. At this period the Parisians fancied +that they loved the king. They certainly acted the part of loyal +subjects to admiration. At the present day they are more +enlightened, and would only love the sovereign whose sole desire is +the happiness of his people, and such a king--the first citizens of a +great nation--not Paris and its suburbs, but all France, will be +eager to love and obey. As for kings like Louis XV., they have +become totally impracticable; but if there are any such, however much +they may be supported by interested parties, in the eyes of public +opinion they will be dishonoured and disgraced before their bodies +are in a grave and their names are written in the book of history. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +The Minister of Foreign Affairs M. de Boulogne, the Comptroller-- +M. le Duc de Choiseul--M. Paris du Vernai--Establishment of the +Lottery--My Brother's Arrival at Paris; His Reception by the Academy + +Once more, then, I was in Paris, which I ought to regard as my +fatherland, since I could return no more to that land which gave me +birth: an unworthy country, yet, in spite of all, ever dear to me, +possibly on account of early impressions and early prejudices, or +possibly because the beauties of Venice are really unmatched in the +world. But mighty Paris is a place of good luck or ill, as one takes +it, and it was my part to catch the favouring gale. + +Paris was not wholly new to me, as my readers know I had spent two +years there, but I must confess that, having then no other aim than +to pass the time pleasantly, I had merely devoted myself to pleasure +and enjoyment. Fortune, to whom I had paid no court, had not opened +to me her golden doors; but I now felt that I must treat her more +reverently, and attach myself to the throng of her favoured sons whom +she loads with her gifts. I understood now that the nearer one draws +to the sun the more one feels the warmth of its rays. I saw that to +attain my end I should have to employ all my mental and physical +talents, that I must make friends of the great, and take cue from all +whom I found it to be my interest to please. To follow the plans +suggested by these thoughts, I saw that I must avoid what is called +bad company, that I must give up my old habits and pretensions, which +would be sure to make me enemies, who would have no scruple in +representing me as a trifler, and not fit to be trusted with affairs +of any importance. + +I think I thought wisely, and the reader, I hope, will be of the same +opinion. "I will be reserved," said I, "in what I say and what I do, +and thus I shall get a reputation for discretion which will bring its +reward." + +I was in no anxiety on the score of present needs, as I could reckon +on a monthly allowance of a hundred crowns, which my adopted father, +the good and generous M. de Bragadin, sent me, and I found this sum +sufficient in the meanwhile, for with a little self-restraint one can +live cheaply at Paris, and cut a good figure at the same time. I was +obliged to wear a good suit of clothes, and to have a decent lodging; +for in all large towns the most important thing is outward show, by +which at the beginning one is always judged. My anxiety was only for +the pressing needs of the moment, for to speak the truth I had +neither clothes nor linen--in a word, nothing. + +If my relations with the French ambassador are recalled, it will be +found natural that my first idea was to address myself to him, as I +knew him sufficiently well to reckon on his serving me. + +Being perfectly certain that the porter would tell me that my lord +was engaged, I took care to have a letter, and in the morning I went +to the Palais Bourbon. The porter took my letter, and I gave him my +address and returned home. + +Wherever I went I had to tell the story of my escape from The Leads. +This became a service almost as tiring as the flight itself had been, +as it took me two hours to tell my tale, without the slightest bit of +fancy-work; but I had to be polite to the curious enquirers, and to +pretend that I believed them moved by the most affectionate interest +in my welfare. In general, the best way to please is to take the +benevolence of all with whom one has relation for granted. + +I supped at Silvia's, and as the evening was quieter than the night +before, I had time to congratulate myself on all the friendship they +shewed me. The girl was, as I had said, fifteen years old, and I was +in every way charmed with her. I complimented the mother on the good +results of her education, and I did not even think of guarding myself +from falling a victim to her charms. I had taken so lately such +well-founded and philosophical resolutions, and I was not yet +sufficiently at my ease to value the pain of being tempted. I left +at an early hour, impatient to see what kind of an answer the +minister had sent me. I had not long to wait, and I received a short +letter appointing a meeting for two o'clock in the afternoon. It may +be guessed that I was punctual, and my reception by his excellence +was most flattering. M. de Bernis expressed his pleasure at seeing +me after my fortunate escape, and at being able to be of service to +me. He told me that M---- M---- had informed him of my escape, and +he had flattered himself that the first person I should go and see in +Paris would be himself. He shewed me the letters from M---- M---- +relating to my arrest and escape, but all the details in the latter +were purely imaginary and had no foundation in fact. M---- M---- was +not to blame, as she could only write what she had heard, and it was +not easy for anyone besides myself to know the real circumstances of +my escape. The charming nun said that, no longer buoyed up by the +hope of seeing either of the men who alone had made her in love with +life, her existence had become a burden to her, and she was +unfortunate in not being able to take any comfort in religion. "C--- +C---- often comes to see me," she said, "but I grieve to say she is +not happy with her husband." + +I told M. de Bernis that the account of my flight from The Leads, as +told by our friend, was wholly inaccurate, and I would therefore take +the liberty of writing out the whole story with the minutest details. +He challenged me to keep my word, assuring me that he would send a +copy to M---- M----, and at the same time, with the utmost courtesy, +he put a packet of a hundred Louis in my hand, telling me that he +would think what he could do for me, and would advise me as soon as +he had any communication to make. + +Thus furnished with ample funds, my first care was for my dress; and +this done I went to work, and in a week sent my generous protector +the result, giving him permission to have as many copies printed as +he liked, and to make any use he pleased of it to interest in my +behalf such persons as might be of service to me. + +Three weeks after, the minister summoned me to say that he had spoken +of me to M. Erizzo, the Venetian ambassador, who had nothing to say +against me, but for fear of embroiling himself with the State +Inquisitors declined to receive me. Not wanting anything from him-- +his refusal did me no harm. M. de Bernis then told me that he had +given a copy of my history to Madame la Marquise de Pompadour, and he +promised to take the first opportunity of presenting me to this all- +powerful lady. "You can present yourself, my dear Casanova," added +his excellence, "to the Duc de Choiseul, and M. de Boulogne, the +comptroller. You will be well received, and with a little wit you +ought to be able to make good use of the letter. He himself will +give you the cue, and you will see that he who listens obtains. Try +to invent some useful plan for the royal exchequer; don't let it be +complicated or chimerical, and if you don't write it out at too great +length I will give you my opinion on it." + +I left the minister in a pleased and grateful mood, but extremely +puzzled to find a way of increasing the royal revenue. I knew +nothing of finance, and after racking my brains all that I could +think of was new methods of taxation; but all my plans were either +absurd or certain to be unpopular, and I rejected them all on +consideration. + +As soon as I found out that M. de Choiseul was in Paris I called on +him. He received me in his dressing-room, where he was writing while +his valet did his hair. He stretched his politeness so far as to +interrupt himself several times to ask me questions, but as soon as I +began to reply his grace began to write again, and I suspect did not +hear what I was saying; and though now and again he seemed to be +looking at me, it was plain that his eyes and his thoughts were +occupied on different objects. In spite of this way of receiving +visitors--or me, at all events, M. de Choiseul was a man of wit. + +When he had finished writing he said in Italian that M. de Bernis had +told him of some circumstances of my escape, and he added, + +"Tell me how you succeeded." + +"My lord, it would be too long a story; it would take me at least two +hours, and your grace seems busy." + +"Tell me briefly about it." + +"However much I speak to the point, I shall take two hours." + +"You can keep the details for another time." + +"The story is devoid of interest without the details" + +"Well, well, you can tell me the whole story in brief, without losing +much of the interest:" + +"Very good; after that I can say no more. I must tell your lordship, +then, that, the State Inquisitors shut me up under the Leads; that +after fifteen months and five days of imprisonment I succeeded in +piercing the roof; that after many difficulties I reached the +chancery by a window, and broke open the door; afterwards I got to +St. Mark's Place, whence, taking a gondola which bore me to the +mainland, I arrived at Paris, and have had the honour to pay my duty +to your lordship." + +"But.... what are The Leads?" + +"My lord, I should take a quarter of an hour, at least, to explain." + +"How did you pierce the roof?" + +"I could not tell your lordship in less than half an hour:" + +"Why were you shut up?" + +"It would be a long tale, my lord." + +"I think you are right. The interest of the story lies chiefly in +the details." + +"I took the liberty of saying as much to your grace." + +"Well, I must go to Versailles, but I shall be delighted if you will +come and see me sometimes. In the meanwhile, M. Casanova, think what +I can do for you." + +I had been almost offended at the way in which M. de Choiseul had +received me, and I was inclined to resent it; but the end of our +conversation, and above all the kindly tone of his last words, +quieted me, and I left him, if not satisfied, at least without +bitterness in my heart. + +From him I went to M. de Boulogne's, and found him a man of quite a +different stamp to the duke--in manners, dress, and appearance. He +received me with great politeness, and began by complimenting me on +the high place I enjoyed in the opinion of M. de Bernis, and on my +skill in matters of finance. + +I felt that no compliment had been so ill deserved, and I could +hardly help bursting into laughter. My good angel, however, made me +keep my countenance. + +M. de Boulogne had an old man with him, every feature bore the +imprint of genius, and who inspired me with respect. + +"Give me your views;" said the comptroller, "either on paper or 'viva +voce'. You will find me willing to learn and ready to grasp your +ideas. Here is M. Paris du Vernai, who wants twenty millions for his +military school; and he wishes to get this sum without a charge on +the state or emptying the treasury." + +"It is God alone, sir, who has the creative power." + +"I am not a god," said M. du Vernai, "but for all that I have now and +then created but the times have changed." + +"Everything," I said, "is more difficult than it used to be; but in +spite of difficulties I have a plan which would give the king the +interest of a hundred millions." + +"What expense would there be to the Crown?" + +"Merely the cost of receiving." + +"The nation, then, would furnish the sum in question?" + +"Undoubtedly, but voluntarily." + +"I know what you are thinking of." + +"You astonish me, sir, as I have told nobody of my plan." + +"If you have no other engagement, do me the honour of dining with me +to-morrow, and I will tell you what your project is. It is a good +one, but surrounded, I believe, with insuperable difficulties. +Nevertheless, we will talk it over and see what can be done. Will +you come?" + +"I will do myself that honour." + +"Very good, I will expect you at Plaisance." + +After he had gone, M. de Boulogne praised his talents and honesty. +He was the brother of M. de Montmartel, whom secret history makes the +father of Madame de Pompadour, for he was the lover of Madame Poisson +at the same time as M. le Normand. + +I left the comptroller's and went to walk in the Tuileries, thinking +over the strange stroke of luck which had happened to me. I had been +told that twenty millions were wanted, and I had boasted of being +able to get a hundred, without the slightest idea of how it was to be +done; and on that a well-known man experienced in the public business +had asked me to dinner to convince me that he knew what my scheme +was. There was something odd and comic about the whole affair; but +that corresponded very well with my modes of thought and action. "If +he thinks he is going to pump me," said I, "he will find himself +mistaken. When he tells me what the plan is, it will rest with me to +say he has guessed it or he is wrong as the inspiration of the moment +suggests. If the question lies within my comprehension I may, +perhaps, be able to suggest something new; and if I understand +nothing I will wrap myself up in a mysterious silence, which +sometimes produces a good effect. At all events, I will not repulse +Fortune when she appears to be favourable to me." + +M. de Bernis had only told M. de Boulogne that I was a financier to +get me a hearing, as otherwise he might have declined to see me. I +was sorry not to be master, at least, of the jargon of the business, +as in that way men have got out of a similar difficulty, and by +knowing the technical terms, and nothing more, have made their mark. +No matter, I was bound to the engagement. I must put a good face on +a bad game, and if necessary pay with the currency of assurance. The +next morning I took a carriage, and in a pensive mood I told the +coachman to take me to M. du Vernai's, at Plaisance--a place a little +beyond Vincennes. + +I was set down at the door of the famous man who, forty years ago, +had rescued France on the brink of the precipice down which Law had +almost precipitated her. I went in and saw a great fire burning on +the hearth, which was surrounded by seven or eight persons, to whom I +was introduced as a friend of the minister for foreign affairs and of +the comptroller; afterwards he introduced these gentlemen to me, +giving to each his proper title, and I noted that four of them were +treasury officials. After making my bow to each, I gave myself over +to the worship of Harpocrates, and without too great an air of +listening was all ears and eyes. + +The conversation at first was of no special interest as they were +talking of the Seine being frozen over, the ice being a foot thick. +Then came the recent death of M. de Fontenelle, then the case of +Damien, who would confess nothing, and of the five millions his trial +would cost the Crown. Then coming to war they praised M. de Soubise, +who had been chosen by the king to command the army. Hence the +transition was easy to the expenses of the war, and how they were to +be defrayed. + +I listened and was weary, for all they said was so full of +technicalities that I could not follow the meaning; and if silence +can ever be imposing, my determined silence of an hour and a half's +duration ought to have made me seem a very important personage in the +eyes of these gentlemen. At last, just as I was beginning to yawn, +dinner was announced, and I was another hour and a half without +opening my mouth, except to do honour to an excellent repast. +Directly the dessert had been served, M. du Vernai asked me to follow +him into a neighbouring apartment, and to leave the other guests at +the table. I followed him, and we crossed a hall where we found a +man of good aspect, about fifty years old, who followed us into a +closet and was introduced to me by M. du Vernai under the name of +Calsabigi. Directly after, two superintendents of the treasury came +in, and M. du Vernai smilingly gave me a folio book, saying, + +"That, I think, M. Casanova, is your plan." + +I took the book and read, Lottery consisting of ninety tickets, to be +drawn every month, only one in eighteen to be a winning number. I +gave him back the book and said, with the utmost calmness, + +"I confess, sir, that is exactly my idea." + +"You have been anticipated, then; the project is by M. de Calsabigi +here." + +"I am delighted, not at being anticipated, but to find that we think +alike; but may I ask you why you have not carried out the plan?" + +"Several very plausible reasons have been given against it, which +have had no decisive answers." + +"I can only conceive one reason against it," said I, coolly; "perhaps +the king would not allow his subjects to gamble." + +"Never mind that, the king will let his subjects gamble as much as +they like: the question is, will they gamble?" + +"I wonder how anyone can have any doubt on that score, as the winners +are certain of being paid." + +"Let us grant, then, that they will gamble: how is the money to be +found?" + +"How is the money to be found? The simplest thing in the world. All +you want is a decree in council authorizing you to draw on the +treasury. All I want is for the nation to believe that the king can +afford to pay a hundred millions." + +"A hundred millions!" + +"Yes, a hundred millions, sir. We must dazzle people." + +"But if France is to believe that the Crown can afford to pay a +hundred millions, it must believe that the Crown can afford to lose a +hundred millions, and who is going to believe that? Do you?" + +"To be sure I do, for the Crown, before it could lose a hundred +millions, would have received at least a hundred and fifty millions, +and so there need be no anxiety on that score." + +"I am not the only person who has doubts on the subject. You must +grant the possibility of the Crown losing an enormous sum at the +first drawing?" + +"Certainly, sir, but between possibility and reality is all the +region of the infinite. Indeed, I may say that it would be a great +piece of good fortune if the Crown were to lose largely on the first +drawing." + +"A piece of bad fortune, you mean, surely?" + +"A bad fortune to be desired. You know that all the insurance +companies are rich. I will undertake to prove before all the +mathematicians in Europe that the king is bound to gain one in five +in this lottery. That is the secret. You will confess that the +reason ought to yield to a mathematical proof?" + +"Yes, of course; but how is it that the Castelletto cannot guarantee +the Crown a certain gain?" + +"Neither the Castelletto nor anybody in the world can guarantee +absolutely that the king shall always win. What guarantees us +against any suspicion of sharp practice is the drawing once a month, +as then the public is sure that the holder of the lottery may lose." + +"Will you be good enough to express your sentiments on the subject +before the council?" + +"I will do so with much pleasure." + +"You will answer all objections?" + +"I think I can promise as much." + +"Will you give me your plan?" + +"Not before it is accepted, and I am guaranteed a reasonable profit." + +"But your plan may possibly be the same as the one before us." + +"I think not. I see M. de Calsabigi for the first time, and as he +has not shewn me his scheme, and I have not communicated mine to him, +it is improbable, not to say impossible, that we should agree in all +respects. Besides, in my plan I clearly shew how much profit the +Crown ought to get per annum." + +"It might, therefore, be formed by a company who would pay the Crown +a fixed sum?" + +"I think not." + +"Why?" + +"For this reason. The only thing which would make the lottery pay, +would be an irresistible current of public opinion in its favour. +I should not care to have anything to do with it in the service of a +company, who, thinking to increase their profits, might extend their +operations--a course which would entail certain loss." + +"I don't see how." + +"In a thousand ways which I will explain to you another time, and +which I am sure you can guess for yourself. In short, if I am to +have any voice in the matter, it must be a Government lottery or +nothing." + +"M. de Calsabigi thinks so, too." + +"I am delighted to hear it, but not at all surprised; for, thinking +on the same lines, we are bound to arrive at the same results." + +"Have you anybody ready for the Castelletto?" + +"I shall only want intelligent machines, of whom there are plenty in +France." + +I went out for a moment and found them in groups on my return, +discussing my project with great earnestness. + +M. Calsabigi after asking me a few questions took my hand, which he +shook heartily, saying he should like to have some further +conversation with me; and returning the friendly pressure, I told him +that I should esteem it as an honour to be numbered amongst his +friends. Thereupon I left my address with M. du Vernai and took my +leave, satisfied, by my inspection of the faces before me, that they +all had a high opinion of my talents. + +Three days after, M. de Calsabigi called on me; and after receiving +him in my best style I said that if I had not called on him it was +only because I did not wish to be troublesome. He told me that my +decisive way of speaking had made a great impression, and he was +certain that if I cared to make interest with the comptroller we +could set up the lottery and make a large profit. + +"I think so, too," said I, "but the financiers will make a much +larger profit, and yet they do not seem anxious about it. They have +not communicated with me, but it is their look-out, as I shall not +make it my chief aim." + +"You will undoubtedly hear something about it today, for I know for a +fact that M. de Boulogne has spoken of you to M. de Courteuil." + +"Very good, but I assure you I did not ask him to do so." + +After some further conversation he asked me, in the most friendly +manner possible, to come and dine with him, and I accepted his +invitation with a great pleasure; and just as we were starting I +received a note from M. de Bernis, in which he said that if I could +come to Versailles the next day he would present me to Madame de +Pompadour, and that I should have an opportunity of seeing M. de +Boulogne. + +In high glee at this happy chance, less from vanity than policy I +made M. de Calsabigi read the letter, and I was pleased to see him +opening his eyes as he read it. + +"You can force Du Vernai himself to accept the lottery," he said, +"and your fortune is made if you are not too rich already to care +about such matters." + +"Nobody is ever rich enough to despise good fortune, especially when +it is not due to favour." + +"Very true. We have been doing our utmost for two years to get the +plan accepted, and have met with nothing beyond foolish objections +which you have crushed to pieces. Nevertheless, our plans must be +very similar. Believe me it will be best for us to work in concert, +for by yourself you would find insuperable difficulties in the +working, and you will find no 'intelligent machines' in Paris. My +brother will do all the work, and you will be able to reap the +advantages at your ease." + +"Are you, then, not the inventor of the scheme which has been shewn +me?" + +"No, it is the work of my brother." + +"Shall I have the pleasure or seeing him?" + +"Certainly. His body is feeble, but his mind is in all its vigour. +We shall see him directly." + +The brother was not a man of a very pleasing appearance, as he was +covered with a kind of leprosy; but that did not prevent him having a +good appetite, writing, and enjoying all his bodily and intellectual +faculties; he talked well and amusingly. He never went into society, +as, besides his personal disfigurement, he was tormented with an +irresistible and frequent desire of scratching himself, now in one +place, and now in another; and as all scratching is accounted an +abominable thing in Paris, he preferred to be able to use his +fingernails to the pleasures of society. He was pleased to say that, +believing in God and His works, he was persuaded his nails had been +given him to procure the only solace he was capable of in the kind of +fury with which he was tormented. + +"You are a believer, then, in final causes? I think you are right, +but still I believe you would have scratched yourself if God had +forgotten to give you any nails." + +My remarks made him laugh, and he then began to speak of our common +business, and I soon found him to be a man of intellect. He was the +elder of the two brothers, and a bachelor. He was expert in all +kinds of calculations, an accomplished financier, with a universal +knowledge of commerce, a good historian, a wit, a poet, and a man of +gallantry. His birthplace was Leghorn, he had been in a Government +office at Naples, and had come to Paris with M. de l'Hopital. His +brother was also a man of learning and talent, but in every respect +his inferior. + +He shewed me the pile of papers, on which he had worked out all the +problems referring to the lottery. + +"If you think you can do without me," said he, "I must compliment you +on your abilities; but I think you will find yourself mistaken, for +if you have no practical knowledge of the matter and no business men +to help you, your theories will not carry you far. What will you do +after you have obtained the decree? When you speak before the +council, if you take my advice, you will fix a date after which you +are not to be held responsible--that is to say, after which you will +have nothing more to do with it. Unless you do so, you will be +certain to encounter trifling and procrastination which will defer +your plan to the Greek Kalends. On the other hand, I can assure you +that M. du Vernai would be very glad to see us join hands:" + +Very much inclined to take these gentlemen into partnership, for the +good reason that I could not do without them, but taking care that +they should suspect nothing, I went down with the younger brother, +who introduced me to his wife before dinner. I found present an old +lady well known at Paris under the name of General La Mothe, famous +for her former beauty and her gout, another lady somewhat advanced in +years, who was called Baroness Blanche, and was still the mistress of +M. de Vaux, another styled the President's lady, and a fourth, fair +as the dawn, Madame Razzetti, from Piedmont, the wife of one of the +violin players at the opera, and said to be courted by M. de +Fondpertuis, the superintendent of the opera. + +We sat down to dinner, but I was silent and absorbed, all my thoughts +being monopolized by the lottery. In the evening, at Silvia's, I was +pronounced absent and pensive, and so I was in spite of the sentiment +with which Mademoiselle Baletti inspired me--a sentiment which every +day grew in strength. + +I set out for Versailles next morning two hours before day-break, and +was welcomed by M. de Bernis, who said he would bet that but for him +I should never have discovered my talent for finance. + +"M. de Boulogne tells me you astonished M. du Vernai, who is +generally esteemed one of the acutest men in France. If you will +take my advice, Casanova, you will keep up that acquaintance and pay +him assiduous court. I may tell you that the lottery is certain to +be established, that it will be your doing, and that you ought to +make something considerable out of it. As soon as the king goes out +to hunt, be at hand in the private apartments, and I will seize a +favourable moment for introducing you to the famous marquise. +Afterwards go to the Office for Foreign Affairs, and introduce +yourself in my name to the Abbe de la Ville. He is the chief +official there, and will give you a good reception." + +M. de Boulogne told me that, as soon as the council of the military +school had given their consent, he would have the decree for the +establishment of the lottery published, and he urged me to +communicate to him any ideas which I might have on the subject of +finance. + +At noon Madame de Pompadour passed through the private apartments +with the Prince de Soubise, and my patron hastened to point me out to +the illustrious lady. She made me a graceful curtsy, and told me +that she had been much interested in the subject of my flight. + +"Do you go," said she, "to see your ambassador?" + +"I shew my respect to him, madam, by keeping away." + +"I hope you mean to settle in France." + +"It would be my dearest wish to do so, madam, but I stand in need of +patronage, and I know that in France patronage is only given to men +of talent, which is for me a discouraging circumstance." + +"On the contrary, I think you have reason to be hopeful, as you have +some good friends. I myself shall be delighted if I can be of any +assistance to you." + +As the fair marquise moved on, I could only stammer forth my +gratitude. + +I next went to the Abbe de la Ville, who received me with the utmost +courtesy, and told me that he would remember me at the earliest +opportunity. + +Versailles was a beautiful spot, but I had only compliments and not +invitations to expect there, so after leaving M. de la Ville I went +to an inn to get some dinner. As I was sitting down, an abbe of +excellent appearance, just like dozens of other French abbes, +accosted me politely, and asked me if I objected to our dining +together. I always thought the company of a pleasant man a thing to +be desired, so I granted his request; and as soon as he sat down he +complimented me on the distinguished manner in which I had been +treated by M. de la Ville. "I was there writing a letter," said he, +"and I could hear all the obliging things the abbe said to you. May +I ask, sir, how you obtained access to him?" + +"If you really wish to know, I may be able to tell you." + +"It is pure curiosity on my part." + +"Well, then, I will say nothing, from pure prudence." + +"I beg your pardon." + +"Certainly, with pleasure." + +Having thus shut the mouth of the curious impertinent, he confined +his conversation to ordinary and more agreeable topics. After +dinner, having no further business at Versailles, I made preparations +for leaving, on which the abbe begged to be of my company. Although +a man who frequents the society of abbes is not thought much more of +than one who frequents the society of girls. I told him that as I +was going to Paris in a public conveyance--far from its being a +question of permission--I should be only too happy to have the +pleasure of his company. On reaching Paris we parted, after +promising to call on each other, and I went to Silvia's and took +supper there. The agreeable mistress of the house complimented me on +my noble acquaintances, and made me promise to cultivate their +society. + +As soon as I got back to my own lodging, I found a note from M. du +Vernai, who requested me to come to the military school at eleven +o'clock on the next day, and later in the evening Calsabigi came to +me from his brother, with a large sheet of paper containing all the +calculations pertaining to the lottery. + +Fortune seemed to be in my favour, for this tabular statement came to +me like a blessing from on high. Resolving, therefore, to follow the +instructions which I pretended to receive indifferently. I went to +the military school, and as soon as I arrived the conference began. +M. d'Alembert had been requested to be present as an expert in +arithmetical calculations. If M. du Vernai had been the only person +to be consulted, this step would not have been necessary; but the +council contained some obstinate heads who were unwilling to give in. +The conference lasted three hours. + +After my speech, which only lasted half an hour, M. de Courteuil +summed up my arguments, and an hour was passed in stating objections +which I refuted with the greatest ease. I finally told them that no +man of honour and learning would volunteer to conduct the lottery on +the understanding that it was to win every time, and that if anyone +had the impudence to give such an undertaking they should turn him +out of the room forthwith, for it was impossible that such an +agreement could be maintained except by some roguery. + +This had its effect, for nobody replied; and M. du Vernai remarked +that if the worst came to the worst the lottery could be suppressed. +At this I knew my business was done, and all present, after signing a +document which M. du Vernai gave them, took their leave, and I myself +left directly afterwards with a friendly leave-taking from M. du +Vernal. + +M. Calsabigi came to see me the next day, bringing the agreeable news +that the affair was settled, and that all that was wanting was the +publication of the decree. + +"I am delighted to hear it," I said, "and I will go to M. de +Boulogne's every day, and get you appointed chief administrator as +soon as I know what I have got for myself." + +I took care not to leave a stone unturned in this direction, as I +knew that, with the great, promising and keeping a promise are two +different things. The decree appeared a week after. Calsabigi was +made superintendent, with an allowance of three thousand francs for +every drawing, a yearly pension of four thousand francs for us both, +and the chief of the lottery. His share was a much larger one than +mine, but I was not jealous as I knew he had a greater claim than I. +I sold five of the six offices that had been allotted to me for two +thousand francs each, and opened the sixth with great style in the +Rue St. Denis, putting my valet there as a clerk. He was a bright +young Italian, who had been valet to the Prince de la Catolica, the +ambassador from Naples. + +The day for the first drawing was fixed, and notice was given that +the winning numbers would be paid in a week from the time of drawing +at the chief office. + +With the idea of drawing custom to my office, I gave notice that all +winning tickets bearing my signature would be paid at my office in +twenty-four hours after the drawing. This drew crowds to my office +and considerably increased my profits, as I had six per cent. on the +receipts. A number of the clerks in the other offices were foolish +enough to complain to Calsabigi that I had spoilt their gains, but he +sent them about their business telling them that to get the better of +me they had only to do as I did--if they had the money. + +My first taking amounted to forty thousand francs. An hour after the +drawing my clerk brought me the numbers, and shewed me that we had +from seventeen to eighteen thousand francs to pay, for which I gave +him the necessary funds. + +Without my thinking of it I thus made the fortune of my clerk, for +every winner gave him something, and all this I let him keep for +himself. + +The total receipts amounted to two millions, and the administration +made a profit of six hundred thousand francs, of which Paris alone +had contributed a hundred thousand francs. This was well enough for +a first attempt. + +On the day after the drawing I dined with Calsabigi at M. du +Vernai's, and I had the pleasure of hearing him complain that he had +made too much money. Paris had eighteen or twenty ternes, and +although they were small they increased the reputation of the +lottery, and it was easy to see that the receipts at the next drawing +would be doubled. The mock assaults that were made upon me put me in +a good humour, and Calsabigi said that my idea had insured me an +income of a hundred thousand francs a year, though it would ruin the +other receivers. + +"I have played similar strokes myself," said M. du Vernai, "and have +mostly succeeded; and as for the other receivers they are at perfect +liberty to follow M. Casanova's example, and it all tends to increase +the repute of an institution which we owe to him and to you." + +At the second drawing a terne of forty thousand francs obliged me to +borrow money. My receipts amounted to sixty thousand, but being +obliged to deliver over my chest on the evening before the drawing, I +had to pay out of my own funds, and was not repaid for a week. + +In all the great houses I went to, and at the theatres, as soon as I +was seen, everybody gave me money, asking me to lay it out as I liked +and to send them the tickets, as, so far, the lottery was strange to +most people. I thus got into the way of carrying about me tickets of +all sorts, or rather of all prices, which I gave to people to choose +from, going home in the evening with my pockets full of gold. This +was an immense advantage to me, as kind of privilege which I enjoyed +to the exclusion of the other receivers who were not in society, and +did not drive a carriage like myself--no small point in one's favour, +in a large town where men are judged by the state they keep. I found +I was thus able to go into any society, and to get credit everywhere. + +I had hardly been a month in Paris when my brother Francis, with whom +I had parted in 1752, arrived from Dresden with Madame Sylvestre. +He had been at Dresden for four years, taken up with the pursuit of +his art, having copied all the battle pieces in the Elector's Galley. +We were both of us glad to meet once more, but on my offering to see +what my great friends could do for him with the Academicians, he +replied with all an artist's pride that he was much obliged to me, +but would rather not have any other patrons than his talents. "The +French," said he, "have rejected me once, and I am far from bearing +them ill-will on that account, for I would reject myself now if I +were what I was then; but with their love of genius I reckon on a +better reception this time." + +His confidence pleased me, and I complimented him upon it, for I have +always been of the opinion that true merit begins by doing justice to +itself. + +Francis painted a fine picture, which on being exhibited at the +Louvre, was received with applause. The Academy bought the picture +for twelve thousand francs, my brother became famous, and in twenty- +six years he made almost a million of money; but in spite of that, +foolish expenditure, his luxurious style of living, and two bad +marriages, were the ruin of him. + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +TO PARIS AND PRISON, Vol. 2e, UNDER THE LEADS +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + diff --git a/old/jculd11.zip b/old/jculd11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2957367 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jculd11.zip |