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diff --git a/old/jcrnp10.txt b/old/jcrnp10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0dcd936 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcrnp10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5267 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext of Return to Naples, by Jacques Casanova +#18 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 +ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH, Volume 4c--RETURN TO NAPLES + + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR +MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED +BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + + + + +RETURN TO NAPLES + +ROME--NAPLES--BOLOGNA + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Cardinal Passianei--The Pope--Masiuccia--I Arrive At Naples + +Cardinal Passionei received me in a large hall where he was +writing. He begged me to wait till he had finished, but he could +not ask me to take a seat as he occupied the only chair that his +vast room contained. + +When he had put down his pen, he rose, came to me, and after +informing me that he would tell the Holy Father of my visit, he +added,-- + +"My brother Cornaro might have made a better choice, as he knows +the Pope does not like me." + +"He thought it better to choose the man who is esteemed than the +man who is merely liked." + +"I don't know whether the Pope esteems me, but I am sure he knows +I don't esteem him. I both liked and esteemed him before he was +pope, and I concurred in his election, but since he has worn the +tiara it's a different matter; he has shewn himself too much of a +'coglione'." + +"The conclave ought to have chosen your eminence." + +"No, no; I'm a root-and-branch reformer, and my hand would not +have been stayed for fear of the vengeance of the guilty, and God +alone knows what would have come of that. The only cardinal fit +to be pope was Tamburini; but it can't be helped now. I hear +people coming; good-bye, come again to-morrow." + +What a delightful thing to have heard a cardinal call the Pope a +fool, and name Tamburini as a fit person. I did not lose a moment +in noting this pleasant circumstance down: it was too precious a +morsel to let slip. But who was Tamburini? I had never heard of +him. I asked Winckelmann, who dined with me. + +"He's a man deserving of respect for his virtues, his character, +his firmness, and his farseeing intelligence. He has never +disguised his opinion of the Jesuits, whom he styles the fathers +of deceits, intrigues, and lies; and that's what made Passionei +mention him. I think, with him, that Tamburini would be a great +and good pope." + +I will here note down what I heard at Rome nine years later from +the mouth of a tool of the Jesuits. The Cardinal Tamburini was at +the last gasp, and the conversation turned upon him, when somebody +else said,-- + +"This Benedictine cardinal is an impious fellow after all; he is +on his death-bed, and he has asked for the viaticum, without +wishing to purify his soul by confession." + +I did not make any remark, but feeling as if I should like to know +the truth of the matter I asked somebody about it next day, my +informant being a person who must have known the truth, and could +not have had any motive for disguising the real facts of the case. +He told me that the cardinal had said mass three days before, and +that if he had not asked for a confessor it was doubtless because +he had nothing to confess. + +Unfortunate are they that love the truth, and do not seek it out +at its source. I hope the reader will pardon this digression, +which is not without interest. + +Next day I went to see Cardinal Passionei, who told me I was quite +right to come early, as he wanted to learn all about my escape +from The Leads, of which he had heard some wonderful tales told. + +"I shall be delighted to satisfy your eminence, but the story is a +long one." + +"All the better; they say you tell it well." + +"But, my lord, am I to sit down on the floor?" + +"No, no; your dress is too good for that." + +He rang his bell, and having told one of his gentlemen to send up +a seat, a servant brought in a stool. A seat without a back and +without arms! It made me quite angry. I cut my story short, told +it badly, and had finished in a quarter of an hour. + +"I write better than you speak," said he. + +"My lord, I never speak well except when I am at my ease." + +"But you are not afraid of me?" + +"No, my lord, a true man and a philosopher can never make me +afraid; but this stool of yours . . . ." + +"You like to be at your ease, above all things." + +"Take this, it is the funeral oration of Prince Eugene; I make you +a present of it. I hope you will approve of my Latinity. You can +kiss the Pope's feet tomorrow at ten o'clock." + +When I got home, as I reflected on the character of this strange +cardinal--a wit, haughty, vain, and boastful, I resolved to make +him a fine present. It was the 'Pandectarum liber unicus' which +M. de F. had given me at Berne, and which I did not know what to +do with. It was a folio well printed on fine paper, choicely +bound, and in perfect preservation. As chief librarian the +present should be a valuable one to him, all the more as he had a +large private library, of which my friend the Abbe Winckelmann was +librarian. I therefore wrote a short Latin letter, which I +enclosed in another to Winckelmann, whom I begged to present my +offering to his eminence. + +I thought it was as valuable as his funeral oration at any rate, +and I hoped that he would give me a more comfortable chair for the +future. + +Next morning, at the time appointed, I went to Monte Cavallo, +which ought to be called Monte Cavalli, as it gets its name from +two fine statues of horses standing on a pedestal in the midst of +the square, where the Holy Father's palace is situated. + +I had no real need of being presented to the Pope by anyone, as +any Christian is at liberty to go in when he sees the door open. +Besides I had known His Holiness when he was Bishop of Padua; but +I had preferred to claim the honor of being introduced by a +cardinal. + +After saluting the Head of the Faithful, and kissing the holy +cross embroidered on his holy slipper, the Pope put his right hand +on my left shoulder, and said he remembered that I always forsook +the assembly at Padua, when he intoned the Rosary. + +"Holy Father, I have much worse sins than that on my conscience, +so I come prostrate at your foot to receive your absolution." + +He then gave me his benediction, and asked me very graciously what +he could do for me. + +"I beg Your Holiness to plead for me, that I may be able to return +to Venice." + +"We will speak of it to the ambassador, and then we will speak +again to you on the matter." + +"Do you often go and see Cardinal Passionei?" + +"I have been three times. He gave me his funeral oration on +Prince Eugene, and in return I sent him the 'Pandects'." + +"Has he accepted them?" + +"I think so, Holy Father." + +"If he has, he will send Winckelmann to pay you for them." + +"That would be treating me like a bookseller; I will not receive +any payment." + +"Then he will return the volume of the 'Pandects'; we are sure of +it, he always does so." + +"If his eminence returns me the 'Pandects', I will return him his +funeral oration." + +At this the Pope laughed till his sides shook. + +"We shall be pleased to hear the end of the story without anyone +being informed of our innocent curiosity." + +With these words, a long benediction delivered with much unction +informed me that my audience was at an end. + +As I was leaving His Holiness's palace, I was accosted by an old +abbe, who asked me respectfully if I were not the M. Casanova who +had escaped from The Leads. + +"Yes," said I, "I am the man." + +"Heaven be praised, worthy sir, that I see you again in such good +estate!" + +"But whom have I the honour of addressing?" + +"Don't you recollect me? I am Momolo, formerly gondolier at +Venice." + +"Have you entered holy orders, then?" + +"Not at all, but here everyone wears the cassock. I am the first +scopatore (sweeper) of His Holiness the Pope." + +"I congratulate you on your appointment, but you mustn't mind me +laughing." + +"Laugh as much as you like. My wife and daughters laugh when I +put on the cassock and bands, and I laugh myself, but here the +dress gains one respect. Come and see us." + +"Where do you live?" + +"Behind the Trinity of Monti; here's my address." + +"I will come to-night." + +I went home delighted with this meeting, and determined to enjoy +the evening with my Venetian boatman. I got my brother to come +with me, and I told him how the Pope had received me. + +The Abbe Winckelmann came in the afternoon and informed me that I +was fortunate enough to be high in favour with his cardinal, and +that the book I had sent him was very valuable; it was a rare +work, and in much better condition than the Vatican copy. + +"I am commissioned to pay you for it." + +"I have told his eminence that it was a present." + +"He never accepts books as presents, and he wants yours for his +own library; and as he is librarian of the Vatican Library he is +afraid lest people might say unpleasant things." + +"That's very well, but I am not a bookseller; and as this book +only cost me the trouble of accepting it, I am determined only to +sell it at the same price. Pray ask the cardinal to honour me by +accepting it." + +"He is sure to send it back to you." + +"He can if he likes, but I will send back his funeral oration, as +I am not going to be under an obligation to anyone who refuses to +take a present from me." + +Next morning the eccentric cardinal returned me my Pandects, and I +immediately returned his funeral oration, with a letter in which I +pronounced it a masterpiece of composition, though I laid barely +glanced over it in reality. My brother told me I was wrong, but I +did not trouble what he said, not caring to guide myself by his +rulings. + +In the evening my brother and I went to the 'scopatore +santissimo', who was expecting me, and had announced me to his +family as a prodigy of a man. I introduced my brother, and +proceeded to a close scrutiny of the family. I saw an elderly +woman, four girls, of whom the eldest was twenty-four, two small +boys, and above all universal ugliness. It was not inviting for a +man of voluptuous tastes, but I was there, and the best thing was +to put a good face on it; so I stayed and enjoyed myself. Besides +the general ugliness, the household presented the picture of +misery, for the 'scopatore santissimo' and his numerous family +were obliged to live on two hundred Roman crowns a year, and as +there are no perquisites attached to the office of apostolic +sweeper, he was compelled to furnish all needs out of this slender +sum. In spite of that Momolo was a most generous man. As soon as +he saw me seated he told me he should have liked to give me a good +supper, but there was only pork chops and a polenta. + +"They are very nice," said I ; "but will you allow me to send for +half a dozen flasks of Orvieto from my lodging?" + +"You are master here." + +I wrote a note to Costa, telling him to bring the six flasks +directly, with a cooked ham. He came in half an hour, and the +four girls cried when they saw him, "What a fine fellow!" I saw +Costa was delighted with this reception, and said to Momolo, + +"If you like him as well as your girls I will let him stay." + +Costa was charmed with such honour being shewn him, and after +thanking me went into the kitchen to help the mother with the +polenta. + +The large table was covered with a clean cloth, and soon after +they brought in two huge dishes of polenta and an enormous pan +full of chops. We were just going to begin when a knocking on the +street door was heard. + +"'Tis Signora Maria and her mother," said one of the boys. + +At this announcement I saw the four girls pulling a wry face. +"Who asked them?" said one. "What do they want?" said another. +"What troublesome people they are!" said a third. "They might +have stayed at home," said the fourth. But the good, kindly +father said, "My children, they are hungry, and they shall share +what Providence has given us." + +I was deeply touched with the worthy man's kindness. I saw that +true Christian charity is more often to be found in the breasts of +the poor than the rich, who are so well provided for that they +cannot feel for the wants of others. + +While I was making these wholesome reflections the two hungry ones +came in. One was a young woman of a modest and pleasant aspect, +and the other her mother, who seemed very humble and as if ashamed +of their poverty. The daughter saluted the company with that +natural grace which is a gift of nature, apologizing in some +confusion for her presence, and saying that she would not have +taken the liberty to come if she had known there was company. The +worthy Momolo was the only one who answered her, and he said, +kindly, that she had done quite right to come, and put her a chair +between my brother and myself. I looked at her and thought her a +perfect beauty. + +Then the eating began and there was no more talking. The polenta +was excellent, the chops delicious, and the ham perfect, and in +less than an hour the board was as bare as if there had been +nothing on it; but the Orvieto kept the company in good spirts. +They began to talk of the lottery which was to be drawn the day +after next, and all the girls mentioned the numbers on which they +had risked a few bajocchi. + +"If I could be sure of one number," said I, "I would stake +something on it." + +Mariuccia told me that if I wanted a number she could give me one. +I laughed at this offer, but in the gravest way she named me the +number 27. + +"Is the lottery still open?" I asked the Abbe Momolo. + +"Till midnight," he replied, "and if you like I will go and get +the number for you." + +"Here are fifty crowns," said I, "put twenty-five crowns on 27- +this for these five young ladies; and the other twenty-five on 27 +coming out the fifth number, and this I will keep for myself." + +He went out directly and returned with the two tickets. + +My pretty neighbour thanked me and said she was sure of winning, +but that she did not think I should succeed as it was not probable +that 27 would come out fifth. + +"I am sure of it," I answered, "for you are the fifth young lady I +saw in this house." This made everybody laugh. Momolo's wife +told me I would have done much better if I had given the money to +the poor, but her husband told her to be quiet, as she did not +know my intent. My brother laughed, and told me I had done a +foolish thing. "I do, sometimes," said I, "but we shall see how +it turns out, and when one plays one is obliged either to win or +lose." + +I managed to squeeze my fair neighbour's hand, and she returned +the pressure with all her strength. From that time I knew that my +fate with Mariuccia was sealed. I left them at midnight, begging +the worthy Momolo to ask me again in two days' time, that we might +rejoice together over our gains. On our way home my brother said +I had either become as rich as Croesus or had gone mad. I told +him that both suppositions were incorrect, but that Mariuccia was +as handsome as an angel, and he agreed. + +Next day Mengs returned to Rome, and I supped with him and his +family. He had an exceedingly ugly sister, who for all that, was +a good and talented woman. She had fallen deeply in love with my +brother, and it was easy to see that the flame was not yet +extinguished, but whenever she spoke to him, which she did +whenever she could get an opportunity, he looked another way. + +She was an exquisite painter of miniatures, and a capital hand at +catching a likeness. To the best of my belief she is still living +at Rome with Maroni her husband. She often used to speak of my +brother to me, and one day she said that he must be the most +thankless of men or he would not despise her so. I was not +curious enough to enquire what claim she had to his gratitude. + +Mengs's wife was a good and pretty woman, attentive to her +household duties and very submissive to her husband, though she +could not have loved him, for he was anything but amiable. He was +obstinate and fierce in his manner, and when he dined at home he +made a point of not leaving the table before he was drunk; out of +his own house he was temperate to the extent of not drinking +anything but water. His wife carried her obedience so far as to +serve as his model for all the nude figures he painted. I spoke +to her one day about this unpleasant obligation, and she said that +her confessor had charged her to fulfil it, "for," said he, "if +your husband has another woman for a model he will be sure to +enjoy her before painting her, and that sin would be laid to your +charge." + +After supper, Winckelmann, who was as far gone as all the other +male guests, played with Mengs's children. There was nothing of +the pedant about this philosopher; he loved children and young +people, and his cheerful disposition made him delight in all kinds +of enjoyment. + +Next day, as I was going to pay my court to the Pope, I saw Momolo +in the first ante-chamber, and I took care to remind him of the +polenta for the evening. + +As soon as the Pope saw me, he said,-- + +"The Venetian ambassador has informed us that if you wish to +return to your native land, you must go and present yourself +before the secretary of the Tribunal." + +"Most Holy Father, I am quite ready to take this step, if Your +Holiness will grant me a letter of commendation written with your +own hand. Without this powerful protection I should never dream +of exposing myself to the risk of being again shut up in a place +from which I escaped by a miracle and the help of the Almighty." + +"You are gaily dressed; you do not look as if you were going to +church." + +"True, most Holy Father, but neither am I going to a ball." + +"We have heard all about the presents being sent back. Confess +that you did so to gratify your pride." + +"Yes, but also to lower a pride greater than mine." + +Thp Pope smiled at this reply, and I knelt down and begged him to +permit me to present the volume of Pandects to the Vatican +Library. By way of reply he gave me his blessing, which +signifies, in papal language, "Rise; your request is granted." + +"We will send you," said he, "a mark of our singular affection for +you without your having to pay any fees." + +A second blessing bid me begone. I have often felt what a good +thing it would be if this kind of dismissal could be employed in +general society to send away importunate petitioners, to whom one +does not dare say, "Begone." + +I was extremely curious to know what the Pope had meant by "a mark +of our singular affection." I was afraid that it would be a +blessed rosary, with which I should not have known what to do. + +When I got home I sent the book by Costa to the Vatican, and then +I went to dine with Mengs. While we were eating the soup the +winning numbers from the lottery were brought in. My brother +glanced at them and looked at me with astonishment. I was not +thinking of the subject at that moment, and his gaze surprised me. + +"Twenty-seven," he cried, "came out fifth." + +"All the better," said I, "we shall have some amusement out of +it." + +I told the story to Mengs, who said,-- + +"It's a lucky folly for you this time; but it always is a folly." + +He was quite right, and I told him that I agreed with him; but I +added that to make a worthy use of the fifteen hundred roman +crowns which fortune had given me, I should go and spend fifteen +days at Naples. + +"I will come too," said the Abbe Alfani. "I will pass for your +secretary." + +"With all my heart," I answered, "I shall keep you to your word." + +I asked Winckelmann to come and eat polenta with the scopatore +santissimo, and told my brother to shew him the way; and I then +called on the Marquis Belloni, my banker, to look into my +accounts, and to get a letter of credit on the firm at Naples, who +were his agents. I still had two hundred thousand francs: I had +jewellery worth thirty thousand francs, and fifty thousand florins +at Amsterdam. + +I got to Momolo's in the dusk of the evening, and I found +Winckelmann and my brother already there; but instead of mirth +reigning round the board I saw sad faces on all sides. + +"What's the matter with the girls?" I asked Momolo. + +"They are vexed that you did not stake for them in the same way as +you did for yourself." + +"People are never satisfied. If I had staked for them as I did +for myself, and the number had come out first instead of fifth,, +they would have got nothing, and they would have been vexed then. +Two days ago they had nothing, and now that they have twenty-seven +pounds apiece they ought to be contented." + +"That's just what I tell their, but all women are the same." + +"And men too, dear countryman, unless they are philosophers. Gold +does not spell happiness, and mirth can only be found in hearts +devoid of care. Let us say no more about it, but be happy." + +Costa placed a basket containing ten packets of sweets, upon the +table. + +"I will distribute them," said I, "when everybody is here." + +On this, Momolo's second daughter told me that Mariuccia and her +mother were not coming, but that they would send them the sweets. + +"Why are they not coming?" + +"They had a quarrel yesterday," said the father, "and Mariuccia, +who was in the right, went away saying that she would never come +here again." + +"You ungrateful girls!" said I, to my host's daughters, "don't you +know that it is to her that you owe your winnings, for she gave me +the number twenty-seven, which I should never have thought of. +Quick! think of some way to make her come, or I will go away and +take all the sweets with me." + +"You are quite right," said Momolo. + +The mortified girls looked at one another and begged their father +to fetch her. + +"Ira," said he, "that won't do; you made her say that she would +never come here again, and you must make up the quarrel." + +They held a short consultation, and then, asking Costa to go with +them, they went to fetch her. + +In half an hour they returned in triumph, and Costa was quite +proud of the part he had taken in the reconciliation. I then +distributed the sweets, taking care to give the two best packets +to the fair Mary. + +A noble polenta was placed upon the board, flanked by two large +dishes of pork chops. But Momolo, who knew my tastes, and whom I +had made rich in the person of his daughters, added to the feast +some delicate dishes and some excellent wine. Mariuccia was +simply dressed, but her elegance and beauty and the modesty of her +demeanour completely seduced me. + +We could only express our mutual flames by squeezing each other's +hands; and she did this so feelingly that I could not doubt her +love. As we were going out I took care to go downstairs beside +her and asked if I could not meet her by herself, to which she +replied by making an appointment with me far the next day at eight +o'clock at the Trinity of Monti. + +Mariuccia was tall :and shapely, a perfect picture, as fair as a +white rose, and calculated to inspire voluptuous desires. She had +beautiful light brown hair, dark blue eyes, and exquisitely arched +eyelids. Her mouth, the vermilion of her lips, and her ivory +teeth were all perfect. Her well-shaped forehead gave her an air +approaching the majestic. Kindness and gaiety sparkled in her +eyes; while her plump white hands, her rounded finger-tips, her +pink nails, her breast, which the corset seemed scarcely able to +restrain, her dainty feet, and her prominent hips, made her worthy +of the chisel of Praxiteles. She was just on her eighteenth year, +and so far had escaped the connoisseurs. By a lucky chance I came +across her in a poor and wretched street, and I was fortunate +enough to insure her happiness. + +It may easily be believed that I did not fail to keep the +appointment, and when she was sure I had seen her she went out of +the church. I followed her at a considerable distance: she +entered a ruined building, and I after her. She climbed a flight +of steps which seemed to be built in air, and when she had reached +the top she turned. + +"No one will come and look for me here," said she, "so we can talk +freely together." + +I sat beside her on a stone, and I then declared my passionate +love for her. + +"Tell me," I added, "what I can do to make you happy; for I wish +to possess you, but first to shew my deserts." + +"Make me happy, and I will yield to your desires, for I love you." + +"Tell me what I can do." + +"You can draw me out of the poverty and misery which overwhelm me. +I live with my mother, who is a good woman, but devout to the +point of superstition; she will damn my soul in her efforts to +save it. She finds fault with my keeping myself clean, because +I have to touch myself when I wash, and that might give rise to +evil desires. + +If you had given me the money you made me win in the lottery as a +simple alms she would have made me refuse it, because you might +have had intentions. She allows me to go by myself to mass +because our confessor told her she might do so; but I dare not +stay away a minute beyond the time, except on feast days, when I +am allowed to pray in the church for two or three hours. We can +only meet here, but if you wish to soften my lot in life you can +do so as follows: + +"A fine young man, who is a hairdresser, and bears an excellent +character, saw me at Momolo's a fortnight ago, and met me at the +church door next day and gave me a letter. He declared himself my +lover, and said that if I could bring him a dowry of four hundred +crowns, he could open a shop, furnish it, and marry me. + +"'I am poor,' I answered, 'and I have only a hundred crowns in +charity tickets, which my confessor keeps for me.' Now I have two +hundred crowns, for if I marry, my mother will willingly give me +her share of the money you made us gain. You can therefore make +me happy by getting me tickets to the amount of two hundred crowns +more. Take the tickets to my confessor, who is a very good man +and fond of me; he will not say anything to my mother about it." + +"I needn't go about seeking for charity tickets, my angel. I will +take two hundred piastres to your confessor to-morrow, and you +must manage the rest yourself. Tell me his name, and to-morrow I +will tell you what I have done, but not here, as the wind and the +cold would be the death of me. You can leave me to find out a +room where we shall be at our ease, and without any danger of +people. suspecting that we have spent an hour together. I will +meet you at the church to-morrow at the same hour and when you see +me follow me." + +Mariuccia told me her confessor's name, and allowed me all the. +caresses possible in our uncomfortable position. The kisses she +gave me in return for mine left no doubt in my mind, as to her +love for me. As nine o'clock struck I left her, perishing with +cold, but burning with desire; my only thought being where to find +a room in which I might possess myself of the treasure the next +day. + +On leaving the ruined palace, instead of returning to the Piazza +di Spagna I turned to the left and passed along a narrow and dirty +street only inhabited by people of the lowest sort. As I slowly +walked along, a woman came out of her house and asked me politely +if I were looking for anybody. + +"I am looking for a room to let." + +"There are none here, sir, but, you will find a hundred in the +square." + +"I know it, but I want the room to be here, not for the sake of +the expense, but that I may be sure of being able to spend an hour +or so of a morning with a person in whom I am interested. I am +ready to pay anything." + +"I understand what you mean, and you should have a room in my +house if I had one to spare, but a neighbour of mine has one on +the ground floor, and if you will wait a moment I will go and +speak to her." + +"You will oblige me very much." + +"Kindly step in here." + +I entered a poor room, where all seemed wretchedness, and I saw +two children doing their lessons. Soon after, the good woman came +back and asked me to follow her. I took several pieces of money +from my pocket, and put them down on the only table which this +poor place contained. I must have seemed very generous, for the +poor mother came and kissed my hand with the utmost gratitude. So +pleasant is it to do good, that now when I have nothing left the +remembrance of the happiness I have given to others at small cost +is almost the only pleasure I enjoy. + +I went to a neighbouring house where a woman received me in an +empty room, which she told me she would let cheaply if I would pay +three months in advance, and bring in my own furniture. + +"What do you ask for the three months' rent?" + +"Three Roman crowns." + +"If you will see to the furnishing of the room this very day I +will give you twelve crowns." + +"Twelve crowns! What furniture do you want?" + +"A good clean bed, a small table covered with a clean cloth, four +good chairs, and a large brazier with plenty of fire in it, for I +am nearly perishing of cold here. I shall only come occasionally +in the morning, and I shall leave by noon at the latest." + +"Come at three o'clock, then, to-day, and you will find everything +to your satisfaction." + +>From there I went to the confessor. He was a French monk, about +sixty, a fine and benevolent-looking man, who won one's respect +and confidence. + +"Reverend father," I began, "I saw at the house of Abbe Momolo, +'scoptore santissimo', a young girl named Mary, whose confessor +you are. I fell in love with her, and offered her money to try +and seduce her. She replied that instead of trying to lead her +into sin I would do better to get her some charity tickets that +she might be able to marry a young man who loved her, and would +make her happy. I was touched by what she said, but my passion +still remained. I spoke to her again, and said that I would give +her two hundred crowns for nothing, and that her mother should +keep them. + +"'That would be my ruin,' said she; 'my mother would think the +money was the price of sin, and would not accept it. If you are +really going to be so generous, take the money to my confessor, +and ask him to do what he can for my marriage.'" + +"Here, then, reverend father, is the sum of money for the good +girl; be kind enough to take charge of it, and I will trouble her +no more. I am going to Naples the day after to-morrow, and I hope +when I come back she will be married." + +The good confessor took the hundred sequins and gave me a receipt, +telling me that in interesting myself on behalf of Mariuccia I was +making happy a most pure and innocent dove, whom he had confessed +since she was five years old, and that he had often told her that +she might communicate without making her confession because he +knew she was incapable of mortal sin. + +"Her mother," he added, "is a sainted woman, and as soon as I have +enquired into the character of the future husband I will soon +bring the marriage about. No one shall ever know from whom this +generous gift comes." + +After putting this matter in order I dined with the Chevalier +Mengs, and I willingly consented to go with the whole family to +the Aliberti Theatre that evening. I did not forget, however, to +go and inspect the room I had taken. I found all my orders +executed, and I gave twelve crowns to the landlady and took the +key, telling her to light the fire at seven every morning. + +So impatient did I feel for the next day to come that I thought +the opera detestable, and the night for me was a sleepless one. + +Next morning I went to the church before the time, and when +Mariuccia came, feeling sure that she had seen me, I went out. +She followed me at a distance, and when I got to the door of the +lodging I turned for her to be sure that it was I, and then went +in and found the room well warmed. Soon after Mariuccia came in, +looking timid, confused, and as if she were doubtful of the path +she was treading. I clasped her to my arms, and reassured her by +my tender embraces; and her courage rose when I shewed her the +confessor's receipt, and told her that the worthy man had promised +to care for her marriage. She kissed my hand in a transport of +delight, assuring me that she would never forget my kindness. +Then, as I urged her to make me a happy man, she said,-- + +"We have three hours before us, as I told my mother I was going to +give thanks to God for having made me a winner in the lottery." + +This reassured me, and I took my time, undressing her by degrees, +and unveiling her charms one by one, to my delight, without the +slightest attempt at resistance on her part. All the time she +kept her eyes fixed on mine, as if to soothe her modesty; but when +I beheld and felt all her charms I was in an ecstasy. What a +body; what beauties! Nowhere was there the slightest +imperfection. She was like Venus rising from the foam of the sea. +I carried her gently to the bed, and while she strove to hide her +alabaster breasts and the soft hair which marked the entrance to +the sanctuary, I undressed in haste, and consummated the sweetest +of sacrifices, without there being the slightest doubt in my mind +of the purity of the victim. In the first sacrifice no doubt the +young priestess felt some pain, but she assured me out of delicacy +that she had not been hurt, and at the second assault she shewed +that she shared my flames. I was going to immolate the victim for +the third time when the clock struck ten. She began to be +restless, and hurriedly put on our clothes. I had to go to +Naples, but I assured her that the desire of embracing her once +more before her marriage would hasten my return to Rome. I +promised to take another hundred crowns to her confessor, advising +her to spend the money she had won in the lottery on her +trousseau. + +"I shall be at Monolo's to-night, dearest, and you must come, too; +but we must appear indifferent to each other, though our hearts be +full of joy, lest those malicious girls suspect our mutual +understanding." + +"It is all the more necessary to be cautious," she replied, "as I +have noticed that they suspect that we love each other." + +Before we parted she thanked me for what I had done for her, and +begged me to believe that, her poverty notwithstanding, she had +given herself for love alone. + +I was the last to leave the house, and I told my landlady that I +should be away for ten or twelve days. I then went to the +confessor to give him the hundred crowns I had promised my +mistress. When the good old Frenchman heard that I had made this +fresh sacrifice that Mariuccia might be able to spend her lottery +winnings on her clothes, he told me that he would call on the +mother that very day and urge her to consent to her daughter's +marriage, and also learn where the young man lived. On my return +from Naples I heard that he had faithfully carried out his +promise. + +I was sitting at table with Mengs when a chamberlain of the Holy +Father called. When he came in he asked M. Mengs if I lived +there, and on that gentleman pointing me out, he gave me, from his +holy master, the Cross of the Order of the Golden Spur with the +diploma, and a patent under the pontifical seal, which, in my +quality as doctor of laws, made me a prothonotary-apostolic 'extra +urbem'. + +I felt that I had been highly honoured, and told the bearer that I +would go and thank my new sovereign and ask his blessing the next +day. The Chevalier Mengs embraced me as a brother, but I had the +advantage over him in not being obliged to pay anything, whereas +the great artist had to disburse twenty-five Roman crowns to have +his diploma made out. There is a saying at Rome, 'Sine efusione +sanguinis non fit remissio', which may be interpreted, Nothing +without money; and as a matter of fact, one can do anything with +money in the Holy City. + +Feeling highly flattered at the favour the Holy Father had shewn +me, I put on the cross which depended from a broad red ribbon-red +being the colour worn by the Knights of St. John of the Lateran, +the companions of the palace, 'comites palatini', or count- +palatins. About the same time poor Cahusac, author of the opera +of Zoroaster, went mad for joy on the receipt of the same order. +I was not so bad as that, but I confess, to my shame, that I was +so proud of my decoration that I asked Winckelmann whether I +should be allowed to have the cross set with diamonds and rubies. +He said I could if I liked, and if I wanted such a cross he could +get me one cheap. I was delighted, and bought it to make a show +at Naples, but I had not the face to wear it in Rome. When I went +to thank the Pope I wore the cross in my button-hole out of +modesty. Five years afterwards when I was at Warsaw, Czartoryski, +a Russian prince-palatine, made me leave it off by saying,-- + +"What are you doing with that wretched bauble? It's a drug in the +market, and no one but an impostor would wear it now." + +The Popes knew this quite well, but they continued to give the +cross to ambassadors while they also gave it to their 'valets de +chambre'. One has to wink at a good many things in Rome. + +In the evening Momolo gave me a supper by way of celebrating my +new dignity. I recouped him for the expense by holding a bank at +faro, at which I was dexterous enough to lose forty crowns to the +family, without having the slightest partiality to Mariuccia who +won like the rest. She found the opportunity to tell me that her +confessor had called on her, that she had told him where her +future husband lived, and that the worthy monk had obtained her +mother's consent to the hundred crowns being spent on her +trousseau. + +I noticed that Momolo's second daughter had taken a fancy to +Costa, and I told Momolo that I was going to Naples, but that I +would leave my man in Rome, and that if I found a marriage had +been arranged on my return I would gladly pay the expenses of the +wedding. + +Costa liked the girl, but he did not marry her then for fear of my +claiming the first-fruits. He was a fool of a peculiar kind, +though fools of all sorts are common enough. He married her a +year later after robbing me, but I shall speak of that again. + +Next day, after I had breakfasted and duly embraced my brother, I +set out in a nice carriage with the Abbe Alfani, Le Duc preceding +me on horseback, and I reached Naples at a time when everybody was +in a state of excitement because an eruption of Vesuvius seemed +imminent. At the last stage the inn-keeper made me read the will +of his father who had died during the eruption of 1754. He said +that in the year 1761 God would overwhelm the sinful town of +Naples, and the worthy host consequently advised me to return to +Rome. Alfani took the thing seriously, and said that we should do +well to be warned by so evident an indication of the will of God. +The event was predicted, therefore it had to happen. Thus a good +many people reason, but as I was not of the number I proceeded on +my way. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +My Short But Happy Stay at Naples--The Duke de Matalone My +Daughter--Donna Lucrezia--My Departure + +I shall not, dear reader, attempt the impossible, however much I +should like to describe the joy, the happiness, I may say the +ecstasy, which I experienced in returning to Naples, of which I +had such pleasant memories, and where, eighteen years ago, I had +made my first fortune in returning from Mataro. As I had come +there for the second time to keep a promise I had made to the Duke +de Matalone to come and see him at Naples, I ought to have visited +this nobleman at once; but foreseeing that from the time I did so +I should have little liberty left me, I began by enquiring after +all my old friends. + +I walked out early in the morning and called on Belloni's agent. +He cashed my letter of credit and gave me as many bank-notes as I +liked, promising that nobody should know that we did business +together. From the bankers I went to see Antonio Casanova, but +they told me he lived near Salerno, on an estate he had bought +which gave him the title of marquis. I was vexed, but I had no +right to expect to find Naples in the statu quo I left it. Polo +was dead, and his son lived at St. Lucia with his wife and +children; he was a boy when I saw him last, and though I should +have much liked to see him again I had no time to do so. + +It may be imagined that I did not forget the advocate, Castelli, +husband of my dear Lucrezia, whom I had loved so well at Rome and +Tivoli. I longed to see her face once more, and I thought of the +joy with which we should recall old times that I could never +forget. But Castelli had been dead for some years, and his widow +lived at a distance of twenty miles from Naples. I resolved not +to return to Rome without embracing her. As to Lelio Caraffa, he +was still alive and residing at the Matalone Palace. + +I returned, feeling tired with my researches, dressed with care, +and drove to the Matalone Palace, where they told me that the duke +was at table. I did not care for that but had my name sent in, +and the duke came out and did me the honour of embracing me and +thouing me, and then presented me to his wife, a daughter of the +Duke de Bovino, and to the numerous company at table. I told him +I had only come to Naples in fulfillment of the promise I had made +him at Paris. + +"Then," said he, "you must stay with me;" and, without waiting for +my answer, ordered my luggage to be brought from the inn, and my +carriage to be placed in his coach-house. I accepted his +invitation. + +One of the guests, a fine-looking man, on hearing my name +announced, said gaily,-- + +"If you bear my name, you must be one of my father's bastards." + +"No," said I, directly, "one of your mother's." + +This repartee made everybody laugh, and the gentleman who had +addressed me came and embraced me, not in the least offended. The +joke was explained to me. His name was Casalnovo, not Casanova, +and he was duke and lord of the fief of that name. + +"Did you know," said the Duke de Matalone, "that I had a son?" + +"I was told so, but did not believe it, but now I must do penance +for my incredulity, for I see before me an angel capable of +working this miracle." + +The duchess blushed, but did not reward my compliment with so much +as a glance; but all the company applauded what I had said, as it +was notorious that the duke had been impotent before his marriage. +The duke sent for his son, I admired him, and told the father that +the likeness was perfect. A merry monk, who sat at the right hand +of the duchess, said, more truthfully, that there was no likeness +at all. He had scarcely uttered the words when the duchess coolly +gave him a box on the ear, which the monk received with the best +grace imaginable. + +I talked away to the best of my ability, and in half an hour's +time I had won everybody's good graces, with the exception of the +duchess, who remained inflexible. I tried to make her talk for +two days without success; so as I did not care much about her I +left her to her pride. + +As the duke was taking me to my room he noticed my Spaniard, and +asked where my secretary was, and when he saw that it was the Abbe +Alfani, who had taken the title so as to escape the notice of the +Neapolitans, he said,-- + +"The abbe is very wise, for he has deceived so many people with +his false antiques that he might have got into trouble." + +He took me to his stables where he had some superb horses, Arabs, +English, and Andalusians ; and then to his gallery, a very fine +one; to his large and choice library; and at last to his study, +where he had a fine collection of prohibited books. + +I was reading titles and turning over leaves, when the duke said,-- + +"Promise to keep the most absolute secrecy on what I am going to +shew you." + +I promised, without making any difficulty, but I expected a +surprise of some sort. He then shewed me a satire which I could +not understand, but which was meant to turn the whole Court into +ridicule. Never was there a secret so easily kept. + +"You must come to the St. Charles Theatre," said he, "and I will +present you to the handsomest ladies in Naples, and afterwards you +can go when you like, as my box is always open to my friends. I +will also introduce you to my mistress, and she, I am sure, will +always be glad to see you." + +"What! you have a mistress, have you?" + +"Yes, but only for form's sake, as I am very fond of my wife. All +the same, I am supposed to be deeply in love with her, and even +jealous, as I never introduce anyone to her, and do not allow her +to receive any visitors." + +"But does not your young and handsome duchess object to your +keeping a mistress?" + +"My wife could not possibly be jealous, as she knows that I am +impotent--except, of course, with her." + +"I see, but it sems strange; can one be said to have a mistress +whom one does not love?" + +"I did not say I loved her not; on the contrary, I am very fond of +her; she has a keen and pleasant wit, but she interests my head +rather than my heart." + +"I see; but I suppose she is ugly?" + +"Ugly? You shall see her to-night, and you can tell me what you +think of her afterwards. She is a handsome and well-educated girl +of seventeen." + +"Can she speak French?" + +"As well as a Frenchwoman." + +"I am longing to see her." + +When we got to the theatre I was introduced to several ladies, but +none of them pleased me. The king, a mere boy, sat in his box in +the middle of the theatre, surrounded by his courtiers, richly but +tastefully dressed. The pit was full and the boxes also. The +latter were ornamented with mirrors, and on that occasion were all +illuminated for some reason or other. It was a magnificent scene, +but all this glitter and light put the stage into the background. + +After we had gazed for some time at the scene, which is almost +peculiar to Naples, the duke took me to his private box and +introduced me to his friends, who consisted of all the wits in the +town. + +I have often laughed on hearing philosophers declare that the +intelligence of a nation is not so much the result of the climate +as of education. Such sages should be sent to Naples and then to +St. Petersburg, and be told to reflect, or simply to look before +them. If the great Boerhaave had lived at Naples he would have +learnt more about the nature of sulphur by observing its effects +on vegetables, and still more on animals. In Naples, and Naples +alone, water, and nothing but water, will cure diseases which are +fatal elsewhere, despite the doctors' efforts. + +The duke, who had left me to the wits for a short time, returned +and took me to the box of his mistress, who was accompanied by an +old lady of respectable appearance. As he went in he said, +"'Leonilda mia, ti presento il cavalier Don Giacomo Casanova, +Veneziano, amico mio'." + +She received me kindly and modestly, and stopped listening to the +music to talk to me. + +When a woman is pretty, one recognizes her charms instantaneously; +if one has to examine her closely, her beauty is doubtful. +Leonilda was strikingly beautiful. I smiled and looked at the +duke, who had told me that he loved her like a daughter, and that +he only kept her for form's sake. He understood the glance, and +said,-- + +"You may believe me." + +"It's credible," I replied. + +Leonilda no doubt understood what we meant, and said, with a shy +smile,-- + +"Whatever is possible is credible." + +"Quite so," said I, "but one may believe, or not believe, +according to the various degrees of possibility." + +"I think it's easier to believe than to disbelieve. You came to +Naples yesterday; that's true and yet incredible." + +"Why incredible?" + +"Would any man suppose that a stranger would come to Naples at a +time when the inhabitants are wishing themselves away?" + +"Indeed, I have felt afraid till this moment, but now I feel quite +at my ease, since, you being here, St. Januarius will surely +protect Naples." + +"Why?" + +"Because I am sure he loves you; but you are laughing at me." + +"It is such a funny idea. I am afraid that if I had a lover like +St. Januarius I should not grant him many favours." + +"Is he very ugly, then?" + +"If his portrait is a good likeness, you can see for yourself by +examining his statue." + +Gaiety leads to freedom, and freedom to friendship. Mental graces +are superior to bodily charms. + +Leonilda's frankness inspired my confidence, and I led the +conversation to love, on which she talked like a past mistress. + +"Love," said she, "unless it leads to the possession of the +beloved object, is a mere torment; if bounds are placed to +passion, love must die." + +"You are right; and the enjoyment of a beautiful object is not a +true pleasure unless it be preceded by love." + +"No doubt if love precedes it accompanies, but I do not think it +necessarily follows, enjoyment." + +"True, it often makes love to cease." + +"She is a selfish daughter, then, to kill her father; and if after +enjoyment love still continue in the heart of one, it is worse +than murder, for the party in which love still survives must needs +be wretched." + +"You are right; and from your strictly logical arguments I +conjecture that you would have the senses kept in subjection: that +is too hard!" + +"I would have nothing to do with that Platonic affection devoid of +love, but I leave you to guess what my maxim would be." + +"To love and enjoy; to enjoy and love. Turn and turn about." + +"You have hit the mark." + +With this Leonilda burst out laughing, and the duke kissed her +hand. Her governess, not understanding French, was attending to +the opera, but I was in flames. + +Leonilda was only seventeen, and was as pretty a girl as the heart +could desire. + +The duke repeated a lively epigram of Lafontaine's on "Enjoyment," +which is only found in the first edition of his works. It begins +as follows:-- + + "La jouissance et les desirs + Sont ce que l'homme a de plus rare; + Mais ce ne sons pas vrais plaisirs + Des le moment qu'on les separe." + +I have translated this epigram into Italian and Latin; in the +latter language I was almost able to render Lafontaine line for +line; but I had to use twenty lines of Italian to translate the +first ten lines of the French. Of course this argues nothing as +to the superiority of the one language over the other. + +In the best society at Naples one addresses a newcomer in the +second person singular as a peculiar mark of distinction. This +puts both parties at their ease without diminishing their mutual +respect for one another. + +Leonilda had already turned my first feeling of admiration into +something much warmer, and the opera, which lasted for five hours, +seemed over in a moment. + +After the two ladies had gone the duke said, "Now we must part, +unless you are fond of games of chance." + +"I don't object to them when I am to play with good hands." + +"Then follow me; ten or twelve of my friends will play faro, and +then sit down to a cold collation, but I warn you it is a secret, +as gaming is forbidden. I will answer for you keeping your own +counsel, however." + +"You may do so." + +He took me to the Duke de Monte Leone's. We went up to the third +floor, passed through a dozen rooms, and at last reached the +gamester's chamber. A polite-looking banker, with a bank of about +four hundred sequins, had the cards in his hands. The duke +introduced me as his friend, and made me sit beside him. I was +going to draw out my purse, but I was told that debts were not +paid for twenty-four hours after they were due. The banker gave +me a pack of cards, with a little basket containing a thousand +counters. I told the company that I should consider each counter +as a Naples ducat. In less than two hours my basket was empty. I +stopped playing and proceeded to enjoy my supper. It was arranged +in the Neapolitan style, and consisted of an enormous dish of +macaroni and ten or twelve different kinds of shellfish which are +plentiful on the Neapolitan coasts. When we left I took care not +to give the duke. time to condole with me on my loss, but began +to talk to him about his delicious Leonilda. + +Early next day he sent a page to my room to tell me that if I +wanted to come with him and kiss the king's hand I must put on my +gala dress. I put on a suit of rose-coloured velvet, with gold +spangles, and I had the great honour of kissing a small hand, +covered with chilblains, belonging to a boy of nine. The Prince +de St. Nicander brought up the young king to the best of his +ability, but he was naturally a kindly, just, and generous +monarch; if he had had more dignity he would have been an ideal +king; but he was too unceremonious, and that, I think, is a defect +in one destined to rule others. + +I had the honour of sitting next the duchess at dinner, and she +deigned to say that she had never seen a finer dress. "That's my +way," I said, "of distracting attention from my face and figure." +She smiled, and her politeness to me during my stay were almost +limited to these few words. + +When we left the table the duke took me to the apartment occupied +by his uncle, Don Lelio, who recognized me directly. I kissed the +venerable old man's hand, and begged him to pardon me for the +freaks of my youth. "It's eighteen years ago," said he, "since I +chose M. Casanova as the companion of your studies" I delighted +him by giving him a brief account of my adventures in Rome with +Cardinal Acquaviva. As we went out, he begged me to come and see +him often. + +Towards the evening the duke said,-- + +"If you go to the Opera Buffa you will please Leonilda." + +He gave me the number of her box, and added,-- + +"I will come for you towards the close, and we will sup together +as before." + +I had no need to order my horses to be put in, as there was always +a carriage ready for me in the courtyard. + +When I got to the theatre the opera had begun. I presented myself +to Leonilda, who received me with the pleasant words, "Caro Don +Giacomo, I am so pleased to see you again." + +No doubt she did not like to thou me, but the expression of her +eyes and the tone of her voice were much better than the to which +is often used lavishly at Naples. + +The seductive features of this charming girl were not altogether +unknown to me, but I could not recollect of what woman she +reminded me. Leonilda was certainly a beauty, and something +superior to a beauty, if possible. She had splendid light +chestnut hair, and her black and brilliant eyes, shaded by thick +lashes, seemed to hear and speak at the same time. But what +ravished me still more was her expression, and the exquisite +appropriateness of the gestures with which she accompanied what +she was saying. It seemed as if her tongue could not give speech +to the thoughts which crowded her brain. She was naturally quick- +witted, and her intellect had been developed by an excellent +education. + +The conversation turned upon Lafontaine's epigram, of which I had +only recited the first ten verses, as the rest is too licentious; +and she said,-- + +"But I suppose it is only a poet's fancy, at which one could but +smile." + +"Possibly, but I did not care to wound your ears." + +"You are very good," said she, using the pleasant tu, "but all the +same, I am not so thin-skinned, as I have a closet which the duke +has had painted over with couples in various amorous attitudes. +We go there sometimes, and I assure you that I do not experience +the slightest sensation." + +"That may be through a defect of temperament, for whenever I see +well-painted voluptuous pictures I feel myself on fire. I wonder +that while you and the duke look at them, you do not try to put +some of them into practice." + +"We have only friendship for one another." + +"Let him believe it who will." + +"I am sure he is a man, but I am unable to say whether he is able +to give a woman any real proofs of his love." + +"Yet he has a son." + +"Yes, he has a child who calls him father; but he himself +confesses that he is only able to shew his manly powers with his +wife." + +"That's all nonsense, for you are made to give birth to amorous +desires, and a man who could live with you without being able to +possess you ought to cease to live." + +"Do you really think so?" + +"Dear Leonilda, if I were in the duke's place I would shew you +what a man who really loves can do." + +"Caro Don Giacomo, I am delighted to hear you love me, but you +will soon forget me, as you are leaving Naples." + +"Cursed be the gaming-table, for without it we might spend some +delightful hour together." + +"The duke told me that you lost a thousand ducats yesterday +evening like a perfect gentleman. You must be very unlucky." + +"Not always, but when I play on a day in which I have fallen in +love I am sure to lose." + +"You will win back your money this evening." + +"This is the declaration day; I shall lose again." + +"Then don't play." + +"People would say I was afraid, or that all my money was gone." + +"I hope at all events that you will win sometimes, and that you +will tell me of your good luck. Come and see me to-morrow with +the duke." + +The duke came in at that moment, and asked me if I had liked the +opera. Leonilda answered for me, + +"We have been talking about love all the time, so we don't know +what has been going on the stage." + +"You have done well." + +"I trust you will bring M. Casanova to see me tomorrow morning, +as I hope he will bring me news that he has won." + +"It's my turn to deal this evening, dearest, but whether he wins +or loses you shall see him to-morrow. You must give us some +breakfast." + +"I shall be delighted." + +We kissed her hand, and went to the same place as the night +before. The company was waiting for the duke. There were twelve +members of the club, and they all held the bank in turn. They +said that this made the chances more equal; but I laughed at this +opinion, as there is nothing more difficult to establish than +equality between players. + +The Duke de Matalone sat down, drew out his purse and his pocket- +book, and put two thousand ducats in the bank, begging pardon of +the others for doubling the usual sum in favour of the stranger. +The bank never exceeded a thousand ducats. + +"Then," said I, "I will hazard two thousand ducats also and not +more, for they say at Venice that a prudent player never risks +more than he can win. Each of my counters will be equivalent to +two ducats." So saying, I took ten notes of a hundred ducats each +from my pocket, and gave them to the last evening's banker who had +won them from me. + +Play began; and though I was prudent, and only risked my money on +a single card, in less than three hours my counters were all gone. +I stopped playing, though I had still twenty-five thousand ducats; +but I had said that I would not risk more than two thousand, and I +was ashamed to go back from my word. + +Though I have always felt losing my money, no one has ever seen me +put out, my natural gaiety was heightened by art on such +occasions, and seemed to be more brilliant than ever. I have +always found it a great advantage to be able to lose pleasantly. + +I made an excellent supper, and my high spirits furnished me with +such a fund of amusing conversation that all the table was in a +roar. I even succeeded in dissipating the melancholy of the Duke +de Matalone, who was in despair at having won such a sum from his +friend and guest. He was afraid he had half ruined me, and also +that people might say he had only welcomed me for the sake of my +money. + +As we returned to the palace the conversation was affectionate on +his side and jovial on mine, but I could see he was in some +trouble, and guessed what was the matter. He wanted to say that I +could pay the money I owed him whenever I liked, but was afraid of +wounding my feelings; but as soon as he got in he wrote me a +friendly note to the effect that if I wanted money his banker +would let me have as much as I required. I replied directly that +I felt the generosity of his offer, and if I was in need of funds +I would avail myself of it. + +Early next morning I went to his room, and after an affectionate +embrace I told him not to forget that we were going to breakfast +with his fair mistress. We both put on great coats and went to +Leonilda's pretty house. + +We found her sitting up in bed, negligently but decently dressed, +with a dimity corset tied with red ribbons. She looked beautiful, +and her graceful posture added to her charms. She was reading +Crebillon's Sopha. The duke sat down at the bottom of the bed, +and I stood staring at her in speechless admiration, endeavouring +to recall to my memory where I had seen such another face as hers. +It seemed to me that I had loved a woman like her. This was the +first time I had seen her without the deceitful glitter of +candles. She laughed at my absent-mindedness, and told me to sit +down on a chair by her bedside. + +The duke told her that I was quite pleased at having lost two +thousand ducats to his bank, as the loss made me sure she loved +me. + +"Caro mio Don Giacomo, I am sorry to hear that! You would have +done better not to play, for I should have loved you all the same, +and you would have been two thousand ducats better off." + +"And I two thousand ducats worse off," said the duke, laughing. + +"Never mind, dear Leonilda, I shall win this evening if you grant +me some favour to-day. If you do not do so, I shall lose heart, +and you will mourn at my grave before long." + +"Think, Leonilda, what you can do for my friend." + +"I don't see that I can do anything." + +The duke told her to dress, that we might go and breakfast in the +painted closet. She began at once, and preserved a just mean in +what she let us see and what she concealed, and thus set me in +flames, though I was already captivated by her face, her wit, and +her charming manners. I cast an indiscreet glance towards her +beautiful breast, and thus added fuel to the fire. I confess that +I only obtained this satisfaction by a species of larceny, but I +could not have succeeded if she had not been well disposed towards +me. I pretended to have seen nothing. + +While dressing she maintained with much ingenuity that a wise girl +will be much more chary of her favours towards a man she loves +than towards a man she does not love, because she would be afraid +to lose the first, whereas she does not care about the second. + +"It will not be so with me, charming Leonilda," said I. + +"You make a mistake, I am sure." + +The pictures with which the closet where we breakfasted was +adorned were admirable more from the colouring and the design than +from the amorous combats they represented. + +"They don't make any impression on me," said the duke, and he +shewed us that it was so. + +Leonilda looked away, and I felt shocked, but concealed my +feelings. + +"I am in the same state as you," said I, "but I will not take the +trouble of convincing you." + +"That can't be," said he; and passing his hand rapidly over me he +assured himself that it was so. "It's astonishing," he cried; +"you must be as impotent as I am." + +"If I wanted to controvert that assertion one glance into +Leonilda's eyes would be enough." + +"Look at him, dearest Leonilda, that I may be convinced." + +Leonilda looked tenderly at me, and her glance produced the result +I had expected. + +"Give me your hand," said I, to the poor duke, and he did so. + +"I was in the wrong," he exclaimed, but when he endeavoured to +bring the surprising object to light I resisted. He persisted in +his endeavours, and I determined to play on him a trick. I took +Leonilda's hand and pressed my lips to it, and just as the duke +thought he had triumphed I besprinkled him, and went off into a +roar of laughter. He laughed too, and went to get a napkin. + +The girl could see nothing of all this, as it went on under the +table; and while my burning lips rested on her hand, my eyes were +fixed on hers and our breath mingled. This close contact had +enabled me to baptise the duke, but when she took in the joke we +made a group worthy of the pen of Aretin. + +It was a delightful breakfast, though we passed certain bounds +which decency ought to have proscribed to us, but Leonilda was +wonderfully innocent considering her position. We ended the scene +by mutual embraces, and when I took my burning lips from +Leonilda's I felt consumed with a fire which I could not conceal. + +When we left I told the duke that I would see his mistress no +more, unless he would give her up to me, declaring that I would +marry her and give her a dower of five thousand ducats. + +"Speak to her, and if she consents I will not oppose it. She +herself will tell you what property she has." + +I then went to dress for dinner. I found the duchess in the midst +of a large circle, and she told me kindly that she was very sorry +to hear of my losses. + +"Fortune is the most fickle of beings, but I don't complain of my +loss--nay, when you speak thus I love it, and I even think that +you will make me win this evening." + +"I hope so, but I am afraid not; you will have to contend against +Monte Leone, who is usually very lucky." + +In considering the matter after dinner, I determined for the +future to play with ready money and not on my word of honour, lest +I should at any time be carried away by the excitement of play and +induced to stake more than I possessed. I thought, too, that the +banker might have his doubts after the two heavy losses I had +sustained, and I confess that I was also actuated by the gambler's +superstition that by making a change of any kind one changes the +luck. + +I spent four hours at the theatre in Leonilda's box, where I found +her more gay and charming than I had seen her before. + +"Dear Leonilda," I said, "the love I feel for you will suffer no +delay and no rivals, not even the slightest inconstancy. I have +told the duke that I am ready to marry you, and that I will give +you a dower of five thousand ducats." + +"What did he say?" + +"That I must ask you, and that he would offer no opposition." + +"Then we should leave Naples together." + +"Directly, dearest, and thenceforth death alone would part us." + +"We will talk of it to-morrow, dear Don Giacomo, and if I can make +you happy I am sure you will do the same by me." + +As she spoke these delightful words the duke came in. + +"Don Giacomo and I are talking of marrying," said she. + +"Marriage, mia carissima," he replied, "ought to be well +considered beforehand." + +"Yes, when one has time; but my dear Giacomo cannot wait, and we +shall have plenty of time to think it over afterwards." + +"As you are going to marry," said the duke, "you can put off your +departure, or return after the wedding." + +"I can neither put it off nor return, my dear duke. We have made +up our minds, and if we repent we have plenty of time before us." + +He laughed and said we would talk it over next day. I gave my +future bride a kiss which she returned with ardour, and the duke +and I went to the club, where we found the Duke de Monte Leone +dealing. + +"My lord," said I, "I am unlucky playing on my word of honour, so +I hope you will allow me to stake money." + +"Just as you please; it comes to the same thing, but don't trouble +yourself. I have made a bank of four thousand ducats that you may +be able to recoup yourself for your losses." + +"Thanks, I promise to break it or to lose as much." + +I drew out six thousand ducats, gave two thousand ducats to the +Duke de Matalone, and began to punt at a hundred ducats. After a +short time the duke left the table, and I finally succeeded in +breaking the bank. I went back to the place by myself, and when I +told the duke of my victory the next day, he embraced me with +tears of joy, and advised me to stake money for the future. + +As the Princess de Vale was giving a great supper, there was no +play that evening. This was some respite. We called on Leonilda, +and putting off talking of our marriage till the day after we +spent the time in viewing the wonders of nature around Naples. In +the evening I was introduced by a friend at the princess's supper, +and saw all the highest nobility of the place. + +Next morning the duke told me that he had some business to do, and +that I had better go and see Leonilda, and that he would call for +me later on. I went to Leonilda, but as the duke did not put in +an appearance we could not settle anything about our marriage. I +spent several hours with her, but I was obliged to obey her +commands, and could only shew myself amorous in words. Before +leaving I repeated that it only rested with her to unite our lives +by indissoluble ties, and to leave Naples almost immediately. + +When I saw the duke he said,-- + +"Well, Don Giacomo, you have spent all the morning with my +mistress; do you still wish to marry her?" + +"More than ever; what do you mean?" + +"Nothing; and as you have passed this trial to which I purposely +subjected you, we will discuss your union tomorrow, and I hope you +will make this charming woman happy, for she will be an excellent +wife." + +"I agree with you." + +When we went to Monte Leone's in the evening, we saw a banker with +a good deal of gold before him. The duke told me he was Don Marco +Ottoboni. He was a fine-looking man, but he held the cards so +closely together in his left hand that I could not see them. This +did not inspire me with confidence, so I only punted a ducat at a +time. I was persistently unlucky, but I only lost a score of +ducats. After five or six deals the banker, asked me politely why +I staked such small sums against him. + +"Because I can't see half the pack," I replied, "and I am afraid +of losing." + +Some of the company laughed at my answer. + +Next night I broke the bank held by the Prince the Cassaro, a +pleasant and rich nobleman, who asked me to give him revenge, and +invited me to supper at his pretty house at Posilipo, where he +lived with a virtuosa of whom he had become amorous at Palermo. +He also invited the Duke de Matalone and three or four other +gentlemen. This was the only occasion on which I held the bank +while I was at Naples, and I staked six thousand ducats after +warning the prince that as it was the eve of my departure I should +only play for ready money. + +He lost ten thousand ducats, and only rose from the table because +he had no more money. Everybody left the room, and I should have +done the same if the prince's mistress had not owed me a hundred +ducats. I continued to deal in the hope that she would get her +money back, but seeing that she still lost I put down the cards, +and told her that she must pay me at Rome. She was a handsome and +agreeable woman, but she did not inspire me with any passions, no +doubt because my mind was occupied with another, otherwise I +should have drawn a bill on sight, and paid myself without +meddling with her purse. It was two o'clock in the morning when I +got to bed. + +Both Leonilda and myself wished to see Caserta before leaving +Naples, and the duke sent us there in a carriage drawn by six +mules, which went faster than most horses. Leonilda's governess +accompanied us. + +The day after, we settled the particulars of our marriage in a +conversation which lasted for two hours. + +"Leonilda," began the duke, "has a mother, who lives at a short +distance from here, on an income of six hundred ducats, which I +have given her for life, in return for an estate belonging to her +husband; but Leonilda does not depend on her. She gave her up to +me seven years ago, and I have given her an annuity of five +hundred ducats, which she will bring to you, with all her diamonds +and an extensive trousseau. Her mother gave her up to me +entirely, and I gave my word of honour to get her a good husband. +I have taken peculiar care of her education, and as her mind has +developed I have put her on her guard against all prejudices, with +the exception of that which bids a woman keep herself intact for +her future husband. You may rest assured that you are the first +man whom Leonilda (who is a daughter to me) has pressed to her +heart." + +I begged the duke to get the contract ready, and to add to her +dower the sum of five thousand ducats, which I would give him when +the deed was signed. + +"I will mortgage them," said he, "on a house which is worth +double." + +Then turning to Leonilda, who was shedding happy tears, he said,-- + +"I am going to send for your mother, who will be delighted to sign +the settlement, and to make the acquaintance of your future +husband." + +The mother lived at the Marquis Galiani's, a day's journey from +Naples. The duke said he would send a carriage for her the next +day, and that we could all sup together the day after. + +"The law business will be all done by then, and we shall be able +to go to the little church at Portici, and the priest will marry +you. Then we will take your mother to St. Agatha and dine with +her, and you can go your way with her maternal blessing." + +This conclusion gave me an involuntary shudder, and Leonilda fell +fainting in the duke's arms. He called her dear child, cared for +her tenderly, and brought her to herself. + +We all had to wipe our eyes, as we were all equally affected. + +I considered myself as a married man and under obligation to alter +my way of living, and I stopped playing. I had won more than +fifteen thousand ducats, and this sum added to what I had before +and Leonilda's dowry should have sufficed for an honest +livelihood. + +Next day, as I was at supper with the duke and Leonilda, she +said,-- + +"What will my mother say to-morrow evening, when she sees you?" + +"She will say that you are silly to marry a stranger whom you have +only known for a week. Have you told her my name, my nation, my +condition, and my age?" + +"I wrote to her as follows: + +"'Dear mamma, come directly and sign my marriage contract with a +gentleman introduced to me by the duke, with whom I shall be +leaving for Rome on Monday next.'" + +"My letter ran thus," said the duke, + +"'Come without delay, and sign your daughter's marriage contract, +and give her your blessing. She has wisely chosen a husband old +enough to be her father; he is a friend of mine.'" + +"That's not true," cried Leonilda, rushing to my arms, "she will +think you are really old, and I am sorry." + +"Is your mother an elderly woman?" + +"She's a charming Woman," said the duke, "full of wit, and not +thirty-eight yet." + +"What has she got to do with Galiani?" + +"She is an intimate friend of the marchioness's, and she lives +with the family but pays for her board." + +Next morning, having some business with my banker to attend to, I +told the duke that I should not be able to see Leonilda till +supper-time. I went there at eight o'clock and I found the three +sitting in front of the fire. + +"Here he is!" cried the duke. + +As soon as the mother saw me she screamed and fell nearly fainting +on a chair. I looked at her fixedly for a minute, and exclaimed,-- + +"Donna Lucrezia! I am fortunate indeed!" + +"Let us take breath, my dear friend. Come and sit by me. So you +are going to marry my daughter, are you?" + +I took a chair and guessed it all. My hair stood on end, and I +relapsed into a gloomy silence. + +The stupefied astonishment of Leonilda and the duke cannot be +described. They could see that Donna Lucrezia and I knew each +other, but they could not get any farther. As for myself, as I +pondered gloomily and compared Leonilda's age with the period at +which I had been intimate with Lucrezia Castelli, I could see that +it was quite possible that she might be my daughter; but I told +myself that the mother could not be certain of the fact, as at the +time she lived with her husband, who was very fond of her and not +fifty years of age. I could bear the suspense no longer, so, +taking a light and begging Leonilda and the duke to excuse me, I +asked Lucrezia to come into the next room with me. + +As soon as she was seated, she drew me to her and said,-- + +"Must I grieve my dear one when I have loved so well? Leonilda is +your daughter, I am certain of it. I always looked upon her as +your daughter, and my husband knew it, but far from being angry, +he used to adore her. I will shew you the register of her birth, +and you can calculate for yourself. My husband was at Rome, and +did not see me once, and my daughter did not come before her time. +You must remember a letter which my mother should have given you, +in which I told you I was with child. That was in January, 1744, +and in six months my daughter will be seventeen. My late husband +gave her the names of Leonilda Giacomina at the baptismal font, +and when he played with her he always called her by the latter +name. This idea of your marrying her horrifies me, but I cannot +oppose it, as I am ashamed to tell the reason. What do you think? +Have you still the courage to marry her? You seem to hesitate. +Have you taken any earnest of the marriage-bed?" + +"No, dear Lucrezia, your daughter is as pure as a lily." + +"I breathe again." + +"Ah, yes! but my heart is torn asunder." + +"I am grieved to see you thus." + +"She has no likeness to me." + +"That proves nothing; she has taken after me. You are weeping, +dearest, you will break my heart." + +"Who would not weep in my place? I will send the duke to you; he +must know all." + +I left Lucrezia, and I begged the duke to go and speak to her. +The affectionate Leonilda came and sat on my knee, and asked me +what the dreadful mystery was. I was too much affected to be able +to answer her; she kissed me, and we began to weep. We remained +thus sad and silent till the return of the duke and Donna +Lucrezia, who was the only one to keep her head cool. + +"Dear Leonilda, said she, "you must be let into the secret of this +disagreeable mystery, and your mother is the proper person to +enlighten you. Do you remember what name my late husband used to +call you when he petted you?" + +"He used to call me his charming Giacomina." + +"That is M. Casanova's name; it is the name of your father. Go +and kiss him; his blood flows in your veins; and if he has been +your lover, repent of the crime which was happily quite +involuntary." + +The scene was a pathetic one, and we were all deeply moved. +Leonilda clung to her mother's knees, and in a voice that +struggled with sobs exclaimed,-- + +"I have only felt what an affectionate daughter might feel for a +father" + +At this point silence fell on us, a silence that was only broken +by the sobs of the two women, who held each other tightly +embraced; while the duke and I sat as motionless as two posts, our +heads bent and our hands crossed, without as much as looking at +each other. + +Supper was served, and we sat at table for three hours, talking +sadly over this dramatic recognition, which had brought more grief +than joy; and we departed at midnight full of melancholy, and +hoping that we should be calmer on the morrow, and able to take +the only step that now remained to us. + +As we were going away the duke made several observations on what +moral philosophers call prejudices. There is no philosopher who +would maintain or even advance the thesis that the union of a +father and daughter is horrible naturally, for it is entirely a +social prejudice; but it is so widespread, and education has +graven it so deeply in our hearts, that only a man whose heart is +utterly depraved could despise it. It is the result of a respect +for the laws, it keeps the social scheme together; in fact, it is +no longer a prejudice, it is a principle. + +I went to bed, but as usual, after the violent emotion I had +undergone, I could not sleep. The rapid transition from carnal to +paternal love cast my physical and mental faculties into such a +state of excitement that I could scarcely withstand the fierce +struggle that was taking place in my heart. + +Towards morning I fell asleep for a short time, and woke up +feeling as exhausted as two lovers who have been spending a long +and voluptuous winter's night. + +When I got up I told the duke that I intended to set out from +Naples the next day; and he observed that as everybody knew I was +on the eve of my departure, this haste would make people talk. + +"Come and have some broth with me," said he; "and from henceforth +look upon this marriage project as one of the many pranks in which +you have engaged. We will spend the three or four days pleasantly +together, and perhaps when we have thought over all this for some +time we shall end by thinking it matter for mirth and not sadness. +Believe me the mother's as good as the daughter; recollection is +often better than hope; console yourself with Lucrezia. I don't +think you can see any difference between her present appearance +and that of eighteen years ago, for I don't see how she can ever +have been handsomer than she is now." + +This remonstrance brought me to my senses. I felt that the best +thing I could do would be to forget the illusion which had amused +me for four or five days, and as my self-esteem was not wounded it +ought not to be a difficult task; but yet I was in love and unable +to satisfy my love. + +Love is not like merchandise, where one can substitute one thing +for another when one cannot have what one wants. Love is a +sentiment, only the object who has kindled the flame can soothe +the heat thereof. + +We went to call on my daughter, the duke in his usual mood, but I +looking pale, depressed, weary, and like a boy going to receive +the rod. I was extremely surprised when I came into the room to +find the mother and daughter quite gay, but this helped on my +cure. Leonilda threw her arms round my neck, calling me dear +papa, and kissing me with all a daughter's freedom. Donna +Lucrezia stretched out her hand, addressing me as her dear friend. +I regarded her attentively, and I was forced to confess that the +eighteen years that had passed away had done little ill to her +charms. There was the same sparkling glance, that fresh +complexion, those perfect shapes, those beautiful lips--in fine, +all that had charmed my youthful eyes. + +We mutely caressed each other. Leonilda gave and received the +tenderest kisses without seeming to notice what desires she might +cause to arise; no doubt she knew that as her father I should have +strength to resist, and she was right. One gets used to +everything, and I was ashamed to be sad any longer. + +I told Donna Lucrezia of the curious welcome her sister had given +me in Rome, and she went off into peals of laughter. We reminded +each other of the night at Tivoli, and these recollections +softened our hearts. From these softened feelings to love is but +a short way; but neither place nor time were convenient, so we +pretended not to be thinking of it. + +After a few moments of silence I told her that if she cared to +come to Rome with me to pay a visit to her sister Angelique, I +would take her back to Naples at the beginning of Lent. She +promised to let me know whether she could come on the following +day. + +I sat between her and Leonilda at dinner; and as I could no longer +think of the daughter, it was natural that my old flame for +Lucrezia should rekindle; and whether from the effect of her +gaiety and beauty, or from my need of someone to love, or from the +excellence of the wine, I found myself in love with her by the +dessert, and asked her to take the place which her daughter was to +have filled. + +"I will marry you," said I, "and we will all of us go to Rome on +Monday, for since Leonilda is my daughter I do not like to leave +her at Naples." + +At this the three guests looked at each other and said nothing. I +did not repeat my proposal, but led the conversation to some other +topic. + +After dinner I felt sleepy and lay down on a bed, and did not wake +till eight o'clock, when to my surprise I found that my only +companion was Lucrezia, who was writing. She heard me stir, and +came up to me and said affectionately,-- + +"My dear friend, you have slept for five hours; and as I did not +like to leave you alone I would not go with the duke and our +daughter to the opera." + +The memory of former loves awakens when one is near the once +beloved object, and desires rapidly become irresistible if the +beauty still remain. The lovers feel as if they were once more in +possession of a blessing which belongs to them, and of which they +have been long deprived by unfortunate incidents. These were our +feelings, and without delay, without idle discussion, and above +all, without false modesty, we abandoned ourselves to love, the +only true source of nature. + +In the first interval, I was the first to break the silence; and +if a man is anything of a wit, is he the less so at that delicious +moment of repose which follows on an amorous victory? + +"Once again, then," said I, "I am in this charming land which I +entered for the first time to the noise of the drum and the rattle +of musket shots." + +This remark made her laugh, and recalled past events to her +memory. We recollected with delight all the pleasures we had +enjoyed at Testaccio, Frascati, and Tivoli. We reminded each +other of these events, only to make each other laugh; but with two +lovers, what is laughter but a pretext for renewing the sweet +sacrifice of the goddess of Cythera? + +At the end of the second act, full of the enthusiasm of the +fortunate lover, I said,-- + +"Let us be united for life; we are of the same age, we love each +other, our means are sufficient for us, we may hope to live a +happy life, and to die at the same moment." + +"Tis the darling wish of my heart," Lucrezia replied, "but let us +stay at Naples and leave Leonilda to the duke. We will see +company, find her a worthy husband, and our happiness will be +complete." + +"I cannot live at Naples, dearest, and you know that your daughter +intended to leave with me." + +"My daughter! Say our daughter. I see that you are still in love +with her, and do not wish to be considered her father." + +"Alas, yes! But I am sure that if I live with you my passion for +her will be stilled, but otherwise I cannot answer for myself. I +shall fly, but flight will not bring me happiness. Leonilda +charms me still more by her intelligence than by her beauty. I +was sure that she loved me so well that I did not attempt to +seduce her, lest thereby I should weaken my hold on her +affections; and as I wanted to make her happy I wished to deserve +her esteem. I longed to possess her, but in a lawful manner, so +that our rights should have been equal. We have created an angel, +Lucrezia, and I cannot imagine how the duke . . ." + +"The duke is completely impotent. Do you see now how I was able +to trust my daughter to his care?" + +"Impotent? I always thought so myself, but he has a son" + +"His wife might possibly be able to explain that mystery to you, +but you may take it for granted that the poor duke will die a +virgin in spite of himself; and he knows that as well as anybody." + +"Do not let us say any more about it, but allow me to treat you as +at Tivoli." + +"Not just now, as I hear carriage wheels." + +A moment after the door opened, and Leonilda laughed heartily to +see her mother in my arms, and threw herself upon us, covering us +with kisses. The duke came in a little later, and we supped +together very merrily. He thought me the happiest of men when I +told him I was going to pass the night honourably with my wife +and daughter; and he was right, for I was so at that moment. + +As soon as the worthy man left us we went to bed, but here I must +draw a veil over the most voluptuous night I have ever spent. If +I told all I should wound chaste ears, and, besides, all the +colours of the painter and all the phrases of the poet could not +do justice to the delirium of pleasure, the ecstasy, and the +license which passed during that night, while two wax lights +burnt dimly on the table like candles before the shrine of a saint. + +We did not leave the stage, which I watered with my blood, till +long after the sun had risen. We were scarcely dressed when the +duke arrived. + +Leonilda gave him a vivid description of our nocturnal labours, +but in his unhappy state of impotence he must have been thankful +for his absence. + +I was determined to start the next day so as to be at Rome for the +last week of the carnival and I begged the duke to let me give +Leonilda the five thousand ducats which would have been her dower +if she had become my bride. + +"As she is your daughter," said he, "she can and ought to take +this present from her father, if only as a dowry for her future +husband." + +"Will you accept it, then, my dear Leonilda?" + +"Yes, papa dear," she said, embracing me, "on the condition that +you will promise to come and see me again as soon as you hear of +my marriage." + +I promised to do so, and I kept my word. + +"As you are going to-morrow," said the duke, "I shall ask all the +nobility of Naples to meet you at supper. In the meanwhile I +leave you with your daughter; we shall see each other again at +suppertime." + +He went out and I dined with my wife and daughter in the best of +spirits. I spent almost the whole afternoon with Leonilda, +keeping within the bounds of decency, less, perhaps, out of +respect to morality, than because of my labours of the night +before. We did not kiss each other till the moment of parting, +and I could see that both mother and daughter were grieved to lose +me. + +After a careful toilette I went to supper, and found an assembly +of a hundred of the very best people in Naples. The duchess was +very agreeable, and when I kissed her hand to take leave, she +said, + +"I hope, Don Giacomo, that you have had no unpleasantness during +your short stay at Naples, and that you will sometimes think of +your visit with pleasure." + +I answered that I could only recall my visit with delight after +the kindness with which she had deigned to treat me that evening; +and, in fact, my recollections of Naples were always of the +happiest description. + +After I had treated the duke's attendants with generosity, the +poor nobleman, whom fortune had favoured, and whom nature had +deprived of the sweetest of all enjoyments, came with me to the +door of my carriage and I went on my way. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +My Carriage Broken--Mariuccia's Wedding-Flight of Lord Lismore--My +Return to Florence, and My Departure with the Corticelli + +My Spainiard was going on before us on horseback, and I was +sleeping profoundly beside Don Ciccio Alfani in my comfortable +carriage, drawn by four horses, when a violent shock aroused me. +The carriage had been overturned on the highway, at midnight, +beyond Francolisa and four miles from St. Agatha. + +Alfani was beneath me and uttered piercing shrieks, for he thought +he had broken his left arm. Le Duc rode back and told me that the +postillions had taken flight, possibly to give notice of our +mishap to highwaymen, who are very common in the States of the +Church and Naples. + +I got out of the carriage easily enough, but poor old Alfani, who +was unwieldly with fat, badly hurt, and half dead with fright, +could not extricate himself without assistance. It took us a +quarter of an hour to get him free. The poor wretch amused me by +the blasphemies which he mingled with prayers to his patron saint, +St. Francis of Assisi. + +I was not without experience of such accidents and was not at all +hurt, for one's safety depends a good deal on the position one is +in. Don Ciccio had probably hurt his arm by stretching it out +just as the accident took place. + +I took my sword, my musket, and my horse-pistols out of the +carriage, and I made them and my pockets pistols ready so as to +offer a stiff resistance to the brigands if they came; and I then +told Le Duc to take some money and ride off and see if he could +bring some peasants to our assistance. + +Don Ciccio groaned over the accident, but I, resolving to sell my +money and my life dearly, made a rampart of the carriage and four +horses, and stood sentry, with my arms ready. + +I then felt prepared for all hazards, and was quite calm, but my +unfortunate companion continued to pour forth his groans, and +prayers, and blasphemies, for all that goes together at Naples as +at Rome. I could do nothing but compassionate him; but in spite +of myself I could not help laughing, which seemed to vex the poor +abbe, who looked for all the world like a dying dolphin as he +rested motionless against the bank. His distress may be imagined, +when the nearest horse yielded to the call of nature, and voided +over the unfortunate man the contents of its bladder. There was +nothing to be done, and I could not help roaring with laughter. + +Nevertheless, a strong northerly wind rendered our situation an +extremely unpleasant one. At the slightest noise I cried, "Who +goes there?" threatening to fire on anyone who dared approach. +I spent two hours in this tragic-comic position, until at last +Le Duc rode up and told me that a band of peasants, all armed and +provided with lanterns, were approaching to our assistance. + +In less than an hour, the carriage, the horses, and Alfani were +seen to. I kept two of the country-folk to serve as postillions, +and I sent the others away well paid for the interruption of their +sleep. I reached St. Agatha at day-break, and I made the devil's +own noise at the door of the postmaster, calling for an attorney +to take down my statement, and threatening to have the postillions +who had overturned and deserted me, hanged. + +A wheelwright inspected my coach and pronounced the axle-tree +broken, and told me I should have to remain for a day at least. + +Don Ciccio, who stood in need of a surgeon's aid, called on the +Marquis Galliani without telling me anything about it. However, +the marquis hastened to beg me to stay at his home till I could +continue my journey. I accepted the invitation with great +pleasure, and with this my ill humour, which was really only the +result of my desire to make a great fuss like a great man, +evaporated. + +The marquis ordered my carriage to be taken to his coach-house, +took me by the arm, and led me to his house. He was as learned as +he was polite, and a perfect Neapolitan--i.e., devoid of all +ceremony. He had not the brilliant wit of his brother, whom I had +known at Paris as secretary of embassy under the Count Cantillana +Montdragon, but he possessed a well-ordered judgment, founded on +study and the perusal of ancient and modern classics. Above all, +he was a great mathematician, and was then preparing an annotated +edition of Vitruvius, which was afterwards published. + +The marquis introduced me to his wife, whom I knew as the intimate +friend of my dear Lucrezia. There was something saint-like in her +expression, and to see her surrounded by her little children was +like looking at a picture of the Holy Family. + +Don Ciccio was put to bed directly, and a surgeon sent for, who +consoled him by saying that it was only a simple luxation, and +that he would be well again in a few days. + +At noon a carriage stopped at the door, and Lucrezia got down. +She embraced the marchioness, and said to me in the most natural +manner, as we shook hands,-- + +"What happy chance brings you hear, dear Don Giacomo?" + +She told her friend that I was a friend of her late husband's, and +that she had recently seen me again with great pleasure at the +Duke de Matalone's. + +After dinner, on finding myself alone with this charming woman, I +asked her if it were not possible for us to pass a happy night +together, but she shewed me that it was out of the question, and I +had to yield. I renewed my offer to marry her. + +"Buy a property," said she, "in the kingdom of Naples, and I will +spend the remainder of my days with you, without asking a priest +to give us his blessing, unless we happen to have children." + +I could not deny that Lucrezia spoke very sensibly, and I could +easily have bought land in Naples, and lived comfortably on it, +but the idea of binding myself down to one place was so contrary +to my feelings that I had the good sense to prefer my vagabond +life to all the advantages which our union would have given me, +and I do not think that Lucrezia altogether disapproved of my +resolution. + +After supper I took leave of everybody, and I set out at day-break +in order to get to Rome by the next day. I had only fifteen +stages to do, and the road was excellent. + +As we were getting into Carillano, I saw one of the two-wheeled +carriages, locally called mantice, two horses were being put into +it, while my carriage required four. I got out, and on hearing +myself called I turned round. I was not a little surprised to +find that the occupants of the mantice were a young and pretty +girl and Signora Diana, the Prince de Sassaro's mistress, who +owed me three hundred ounces. She told me that she was going +to Rome, and that she would be glad if we could make the journey +together. + +"I suppose you don't mind stopping for the night at Piperno?" + +"No," said I, "I am afraid that can't be managed; I don't intend +to break my journey." + +"But you would get to Rome by to-morrow." + +"I know that, but I sleep better in my carriage than in the bad +beds they give you in the inns." + +"I dare not travel by night." + +"Well, well, madam, I have no doubt we shall see each other at +Rome." + +"You are a cruel man. You see I have only a stupid servant, and a +maid who is as timid as I am, besides it is cold and my carriage +is open. I will keep you company in yours." + +"I really can't take you in, as all the available space is taken +up by my old secretary, who broke his arm yesterday." + +"Shall we dine together at Terracino? We could have a little +talk." + +"Certainly." + +We made good cheer at this small town, which is the frontier of +the States of the Church. We should not reach Piperno till far on +in the night, and the lady renewed and redoubled her efforts to +keep me till daybreak; but though young and pretty she did not +take my fancy; she was too fair and too fat. But her maid, who +was a pretty brunette, with a delicious rounded form and a +sparkling eye, excited all my feelings of desire. A vague hope of +possessing the maid won me over, and I ended by promising the +signora to sup with her, and not to continue my journey without +giving notice to the landlord. + +When we got to Piperno, I succeeded in telling the pretty maid +that if she would let me have her quietly I would not go any +further. She promised to wait for me, and allowed me to take such +liberties as are usually the signs of perfect complaisance. + +We had our supper, and I wished the ladies good night and escorted +them to their room, where I took note of the relative positions of +their beds so that there should be no mistake. I left them and +came back in a quarter of an hour. Finding the door open I felt +sure of success, and I got into bed; but as I found out, it was +the signora and not the maid who received me. Evidently the +little hussy had told her mistress the story, and the mistress had +thought fit to take the maid's place. There was no possibility of +my being mistaken, for though I could not see I could feel. + +For a moment I was undecided, should I remain in bed and make the +best of what I had got, or go on my way to Rome immediately? The +latter counsel prevailed. I called Le Duc, gave my orders, and +started, enjoying the thought of the confusion of the two women, +who must have been in a great rage at the failure of their plans. +I saw Signora Diana three or four times at Rome, and we bowed +without speaking; if I had thought it likely that she would pay me +the four hundred louis she owed me I might have taken the trouble +to call on her, but I know that your stage queens are the worst +debtors in the world. + +My brother, the Chevalier Mengs, and the Abbe Winckelmann were all +in good health and spirits. Costa was delighted to see me again. +I sent him off directly to His Holiness's 'scopatore maggiore' to +warn him that I was coming to take polenta with him, and all he +need do was to get a good supper for twelve. I was sure of +finding Mariuccia there, for I knew that Momolo had noticed her +presence pleased me. + +The carnival began the day after my arrival, and I hired a superb +landau for the whole week. The Roman landaus seat four people and +have a hood which may be lowered at pleasure. In these landaus +one drives along the Corso with or without masks from nine to +twelve o'clock during the carnival time. + +>From time immemorial the Corso at Rome has presented a strange and +diverting spectacle during the carnival. The horses start from +the Piazza del Popolo, and gallop along to the Column of Trajan, +between two lines of carriages drawn up beside two narrow +pavements which are crowded with maskers and people of all +classes. All the windows are decorated. As soon as the horses +have passed the carriages begin to move, and the maskers on foot +and horseback occupy the middle of the street. The air is full of +real and false sweetmeats, pamphlets, pasquinades, and puns. +Throughout the mob, composed of the best and worst classes of +Rome, liberty reigns supreme, and when twelve o'clock is announced +by the third report of the cannon of St. Angelo the Corso begins +to clear, and in five minutes you would look in vain for a +carriage or a masker. The crowd disperses amongst the +neighbouring streets, and fills the opera houses, the theatres, +the rope-dancers' exhibitions, and even the puppet-shows. The +restaurants and taverns are not left desolate; everywhere you will +find crowds of people, for during the carnival the Romans only +think of eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves. + +I banked my money with M. Belloni and got a letter of credit on +Turin, where I expected to find the Abbe Gama and to receive a +commission to represent the Portuguese Court at the Congress of +Augsburg, to which all Europe was looking forward, and then I went +to inspect my little room, where I hoped to meet Mariuccia the +next day. I found everything in good order. + +In the evening Momolo and his family received me with joyful +exclamations. The eldest daughter said with a smile that she was +sure she would please me by sending for Mariuccia. + +"You are right," said I, "I shall be delighted to see the fair +Mariuccia." + +A few minutes after she entered with her puritanical mother, who +told me I must not be surprised to see her daughter better +dressed, as she was going to be married in a few days. I +congratulated her, and Momolo's daughters asked who was the happy +man. Mariuccia blushed and said modestly, to one of them,-- + +"It is somebody whom you know, So and so, he saw me here, and we +are going to open a hair-dresser's shop." + +"The marriage was arranged by good Father St. Barnabe," added the +mother. "He has in his keeping my daughter's dower of four +hundred Roman crowns." + +"He's a good lad," said Momolo. "I have a high opinion of him; he +would have married one of my daughters if I could have given him +such a dowry." + +At these words the girl in question blushed and lowered her eyes. + +"Never mind, my dear," said I, "your turn will come in time." + +She took my words as seriously meant, and her face lit up with +joy. She thought I had guessed her love for Costa, and her idea +was confirmed when I told him to get my landau the next day and +take out all Momolo's daughters, well masked, as it would not do +for them to be recognized in a carriage I meant to make use of +myself. I also bade him hire some handsome costumes from a Jew, +and paid the hire-money myself. This put them all in a good humour. + +"How about Signora Maria?" said the jealous sister. + +"As Signora Maria is going to be married," I replied, "she must +not be present at any festivity without her future husband." + +The mother applauded this decision of mine, and sly Mariuccia +pretended to feel mortified. I turned to Momolo and begged him to +ask Mariuccia's future husband to meet me at supper, by which I +pleased her mother greatly. + +I felt very tired, and having nothing to keep me after seeing +Mariuccia, I begged the company to excuse me, and after wishing +them a good appetite I left them. + +I walked out next morning at an early hour. I had no need of +going into the church, which I reached at seven o'clock, for +Mariuccia saw me at some distance off and followed me, and we were +soon alone together in the little room, which love and voluptuous +pleasure had transmuted into a sumptuous place. We would gladly +have talked to each other, but as we had only an hour before us, +we set to without even taking off our clothes. After the last +kiss which ended the third assault, she told me that she was to be +married on the eve of Shrove Tuesday, and that all had been +arranged by her confessor. She also thanked me for having asked +Momolo to invite her intended. + +"When shall we see each other again, my angel?" + +"On Sunday, the eve of my wedding, we shall be able to spend four +hours together." + +"Delightful! I promise you that when you leave me you will be in +such a state that the caresses of your husband won't hurt you." + +She smiled and departed, and I threw myself on the bed where I +rested for a good hour. + +As I was going home I met a carriage and four going at a great +speed. A footman rode in front of the carriage, and within it I +saw a young nobleman. My attention was arrested by the blue +ribbon on his breast. I gazed at him, and he called out my name +and had the carriage stopped. I was extremely surprised when I +found it was Lord O'Callaghan, whom I had known at Paris at his +mother's, the Countess of Lismore, who was separated from her +husband, and was the kept mistress of M. de St. Aubin, the +unworthy successor of the good and virtuous Fenelon in the +archbishopric of Cambrai. However, the archbishop owed his +promotion to the fact that he was a bastard of the Duc d'Orleans, +the French Regent. + +Lord O'Callaghan was a fine-looking young man, with wit and +talent, but the slave of his unbridled passions and of every +species of vice. I knew that if he were lord in name he was not +so in fortune, and I was astonished to see him driving such a +handsome carriage, and still more so at his blue ribbon. In a few +words he told me that he was going to dine with the Pretender, but +that he would sup at home. He invited me to come to supper, and I +accepted. + +After dinner I took a short walk, and then went to enliven myself +at the theatre, where I saw Momolo's girls strutting about with +Costa; afterwards I went to Lord O'Callaghan, and was pleasantly +surprised to meet the poet Poinsinet. He was young, short, ugly, +full of poetic fire, a wit, and dramatist. Five or six years +later the poor fellow fell into the Guadalquivir and was drowned. +He had gone to Madrid in the hope of making his fortune. As I had +known him at Paris I addressed him as an old acquaintance. + +"What are you doing at Rome? Where's my Lord O'Callaghan?" + +"He's in the next room, but as his father is dead his title is now +Earl of Lismore. You know he was an adherent of the Pretender's. +I left Paris with him, well enough pleased at being able to come +to Rome without its costing me anything." + +"Then the earl is a rich man now?" + +"Not exactly; but he will be, as he is his father's heir, and the +old earl left an immense fortune. It is true that it is all +confiscated, but that is nothing, as his claims are irresistible." + +"In short, he is rich in claims and rich in the future; but how +did he get himself made a knight of one of the French king's +orders?" + +"You're joking. That is the blue ribbon of the Order of St. +Michael, of which the late Elector of Cologne was grand master. +As you know, my lord plays exquisitely on the violin, and when he +was at Bonn he played the Elector a concerto by Tartini. The +prince could not find words in which to express the pleasure of my +lord's performance, and gave him the ribbon you have seen." + +"A fine present, doubtless." + +"You don't know what pleasure it gave my lord, for when we go back +to Paris everybody will take it for the Order of the Holy Ghost." + +We passed into a large room, where we found the earl with the +party he had asked to supper. As soon as he saw me he embraced +me, called me his dear friend, and named his guests. There were +seven or eight girls, all of them pretty, three or four castrati +who played women's parts in the Roman theatre, and five or six +abbes, the husband of every wife and the wives of every husband, +who boasted of their wickedness, and challenged the girls to be +more shameless than they. The girls were not common courtezans, +but past mistresses of music, painting, and vice considered as a +fine art. The kind of society may be imagined when I say that I +found myself a perfect novice amongst them. + +"Where are you going, prince?" said the earl to a respectable- +looking man who was making for the door. + +"I don't feel well, my lord. I think I must go out." + +"What prince is that?" said I. + +"The Prince de Chimai. He is a sub-deacon, and is endeavouring to +gain permission to marry, lest his family should become extinct." + +"I admire his prudence or his delicacy, but I am afraid I should +not imitate him." + +There were twenty-four of us at table, and it is no exaggeration +to say that we emptied a hundred bottles of the choicest wines. +Everybody was drunk, with the exception of myself and the poet +Poinsinet, who had taken nothing but water. The company rose from +table, and then began a foul orgy which I should never have +conceived possible, and which no pen could describe, though +possibly a seasoned profligate might get some idea of it. + +A castrato and a girl of almost equal height proposed to strip in +an adjoining room, and to lie on their backs, in the same bed with +their faces covered. They challenged us all to guess which was +which. + +We all went in and nobody could pronounce from sight which was +male and which was female, so I bet the earl fifty crowns that I +would point out the woman. + +He accepted the wager, and I guessed correctly, but payment was +out of the question. + +This first act of the orgy ended with the prostitution of the two +individuals, who defied everybody to accomplish the great act. +All, with the exception of Poinsinet and myself, made the attempt, +but their efforts were in vain. + +The second act displayed four or five couples reversed, and here +the abbes shone, both in the active and passive parts of this +lascivious spectacle. I was the only person respected. + +All at once, the earl, who had hitherto remained perfectly +motionless, attacked the wretched Poinsinet, who in vain attempted +to defend himself. He had to strip like my lord, who was as naked +as the others. We stood round in a circle. Suddenly the earl, +taking his watch, promised it to the first who succeeded in giving +them a sure mark of sensibility. The desire of gaining the prize +excited the impure crowd immensely, and the castrati, the girls, +and the abbes all did their utmost, each one striving to be the +first. They had to draw lots. This part interested me most, for +throughout this almost incredible scene of debauchery I did not +experience the slightest sensation, although under other +circumstances any of the girls would have claimed my homage, but +all I did was to laugh, especially to see the poor poet in terror +of experiencing the lust of the flesh, for the profligate nobleman +swore that if he made him lose he would deliver him up to the +brutal lust of all the abbes. He escaped, probably through fear +of the consequences. + +The orgy came to an end when nobody had any further hopes of +getting the watch. The secret of the Lesbians was only employed, +however, by the abbes and the castrata. The girls, wishing to be +able to despise those who made use of it, refrained from doing so. +I suspect they were actuated by pride rather than shame, as they +might possibly have employed it without success. + +This vile debauch disgusted me, and yet gave me a better knowledge +of myself. I could not help confessing that my life had been +endangered, for the only arm I had was my sword, but I should +certainly have used it if the earl had tried to treat me like the +others, and as he had treated poor Poinsinet. I never understood +how it was that he respected me, for he was quite drunk, and in a +kind of Bacchic fury. + +As I left, I promised to come and see him as often as he pleased, +but I promised myself never to set foot in his house again. + +Next day, he came to see me in the afternoon, and asked me to walk +with him to the Villa Medici. + +I complimented him on the immense wealth he had inherited to +enable him to live so splendidly, but he laughed and told me that +he did not possess fifty piastres, that his father had left +nothing but debts, and that he himself already owed three or four +thousand crowns. + +"I wonder people give you credit, then." + +"They give me credit because everybody knows that I have drawn a +bill of exchange on Paris to the tune of two hundred thousand +francs. But in four or five days the bill will be returned +protested, and I am only waiting for that to happen to make my +escape." + +"If you are certain of its being protested, I advise you to make +your escape to-day; for as it is so large a sum it may be taken up +before it is due." + +"No, I won't do that; I have one hope left. I have written to +tell my mother that I shall be undone if she does not furnish the +banker, on whom I have drawn the bill, with sufficient funds and +if she does that, the bill will be accepted. You know my mother +is very fond of me." + +"Yes, but I also know that she is far from rich." + +"True, but M. de St. Aubin is rich enough, and between you and me +I think he is my father. Meanwhile, my creditors are almost as +quiet as I am. All those girls you saw yesterday would give me +all they have if I asked them, as they are all expecting me to +make them a handsome present in the course of the week, but I +won't abuse their trust in me. But I am afraid I shall be obliged +to cheat the Jew, who wants me to give him three thousand sequins +for this ring, as I know it is only worth one thousand." + +"He will send the police after you." + +"I defy him to do whatever he likes." + +The ring was set with a straw-coloured diamond of nine or ten +carats. He begged me to keep his secret as we parted. I did not +feel any sentiments of pity for this extravagant madman, as I only +saw in him a man unfortunate by his own fault, whose fate would +probably make him end his days in a prison unless he had the +courage to blow his brains out. + +I went to Momolo's in the evening, and found the intended husband +of my fair Mariuccia there, but not the lady herself. I heard she +had sent word to the 'scopatore santissimo' that, as her father +had come from Palestrina to be present at her wedding, she could +not come to supper. I admired her subtlety. A young girl has no +need of being instructed in diplomacy, nature and her own heart +are her teachers, and she never blunders. At supper I studied the +young man, and found him eminently suitable for Mariuccia; he was +handsome, modest, and intelligent, and whatever he said was spoken +frankly and to the point. + +He told me before Momolo's daughter, Tecla, that he would have +married her if she had possessed means to enable him to open his +shop, and that he had reason to thank God for having met Maria, +whose confessor had been such a true spiritual father to her. I +asked him where the wedding festivities were to take place, and he +told me they were to be at his father's house, on the other side +of the Tiber. As his father, who kept a garden, was poor, he had +furnished him with ten crowns to defray the expenses. + +I wanted to give him the ten crowns, but how was I to do it? It +would have betrayed me. + +"Is your father's garden a pretty one?" I asked. + +"Not exactly pretty, but very well kept. As he owns the land, he +has separated a plot which he wants to sell; it would bring in +twenty crowns a year, and I should be as happy as a cardinal if I +could buy it." + +"How much will it cost?" + +"It's a heavy price; two hundred crowns." + +"Why, that's cheap! Listen to me. I have met your future bride +at this house, and I have found her all worthy of happiness. She +deserves an honest young fellow like you for a husband. Now what +would you do supposing I were to make you a present of two hundred +crowns to buy the garden?" + +"I should put it to my wife's dowry." + +"Then here are the two hundred crowns. I shall give them to +Momolo, as I don't know you well enough, though I think you are +perfectly to be trusted. The garden is yours, as part of your +wife's dowry." + +Momolo took the money, and promised to buy the garden the +following day, and the young man shedding tears of joy and +gratitude fell on his knees and kissed my hand. All the girls +wept, as I myself did, for there's a contagion in such happy +tears. Nevertheless, they did not all proceed from the same +source; some were virtuous and some vicious, and the young man's +were the only ones whose source was pure and unalloyed. I lifted +him from the ground, kissed him, and wished him a happy marriage. +He made bold to ask me to his wedding, but I refused, thanking him +kindly. I told him that if he wanted to please me, he must come +and sup at Momolo's on the eve of his wedding, and I begged the +good scopatore to ask Mariuccia, her father and mother as well. I +was sure of seeing her for the last time on the Sunday morning. + +At seven o'clock on the Sunday morning we were in each other's +arms, with four hours before us. After the first burst of mutual +ardour she told me that all arrangements had been made in her +house the evening before, in the presence of her confessor and of +Momolo; and that on the receipt for the two hundred crowns being +handed in the notary had put the garden into the settlement, and +that the good father had made her a present of twenty piastres +towards defraying the notary's fees and the wedding expenses. + +"Everything is for the best, and I am sure I shall be happy. My +intended adores you, but you did wisely not to accept his +invitation, for you would have found everything so poor, and +besides tongues might have been set wagging to my disadvantage." + +"You are quite right, dearest, but what do you intend to do if +your husband finds that the door has been opened by someone else, +for possibly he expects you to be a maid." + +"I expect he will know no more about it than I did the first time +you knew me; besides, I do not feel that you have defiled me, and +my clean conscience will not allow me to think of the matter; and +I am sure that he will not think of it any more than I." + +"Yes, but if he does?" + +"It would not be delicate on his part, but what should prevent me +from replying that I don't know what he means?" + +"You are right; that's the best way. But have you told your +confessor of our mutual enjoyment?" + +"No, for as I did not give myself up to you with any criminal +intention, I do not think I have offended God." + +"You are an angel, and I admire the clearness of your reasoning. +But listen to me; it's possible that you are already with child, +or that you may become so this morning; promise to name the child +after me." + +"I will do so." + +The four hours sped rapidly away. After the sixth assault we were +wearied though not satiated. We parted with tears, and swore to +love each other as brother and sister ever after. + +I went home, bathed, slept an hour, rose, dressed, and dined +pleasantly with the family. In the evening I took the Mengs +family for a drive in my landau, and we then went to the theatre, +where the castrato who played the prima donna was a great +attraction. He was the favourite pathic of Cardinal Borghese, and +supped every evening with his eminence. + +This castrato had a fine voice, but his chief attraction was his +beauty. I had seen him in man's clothes in the street, but though +a fine-looking fellow, he had not made any impression on me, for +one could see at once that he was only half a man, but on the +stage in woman's dress the illusion was complete; he was +ravishing. + +He was enclosed in a carefully-made corset and looked like a +nymph; and incredible though it may seem, his breast was as +beautiful as any woman's; it was the monster's chiefest charm. +However well one knew the fellow's neutral sex, as soon as one +looked at his breast one felt all aglow and quite madly amorous of +him. To feel nothing one would have to be as cold and impassive +as a German. As he walked the boards, waiting for the refrain of +the air he was singing, there was something grandly voluptuous +about him; and as he glanced towards the boxes, his black eyes, at +once tender and modest, ravished the heart. He evidently wished +to fan the flame of those who loved him as a man, and probably +would not have cared for him if he had been a woman. + +Rome the holy, which thus strives to make all men pederasts, +denies the fact, and will not believe in the effects of the +glamour of her own devising. + +I made these reflections aloud, and an ecclesiastic, wishing to +blind me to the truth, spoke as follows:-- + +"You are quite right. Why should this castrato be allowed to shew +his breast, of which the fairest Roman lady might be proud, and +yet wish everyone to consider him as a man and not a woman? If +the stage is forbidden to the fair sex lest they excite desires, +why do they seek out men-monsters made in the form of women, who +excite much more criminal desires? They keep on preaching that +pederasty is comparatively unknown and entraps only a few, but +many clever men endeavour to be entrapped, and end by thinking it +so pleasant that they prefer these monsters to the most beautiful +women." + +"The Pope would be sure of heaven if he put a stop to this +scandalous practice." + +"I don't agree with you. One could not have a pretty actress to +supper without causing a scandal, but such an invitation to a +castrato makes nobody talk. It is of course known perfectly well +that after supper both heads rest on one pillow, but what +everybody knows is ignored by all. One may sleep with a man out +of mere friendship, it is not so with a woman." + +"True, monsignor, appearances are saved, and a sin concealed is +half pardoned, as they say in Paris." + +"At Rome we say it is pardoned altogether. 'Peccato nascosto non +offende'." + +His jesuitical arguments interested me, for I knew that he was an +avowed partisan of the forbidden fruit. + +In one of the boxes I saw the Marchioness Passarini (whom I had +known at Dresden) with Don Antonio Borghese, and I went to pay my +addresses to them. The prince, whom I had known at Paris ten +years before, recognized me, and asked me to dine with him on the +following day. I went, but my lord was not at home. A page told +me that my place was laid at table, and that I could dine just as +if the prince was there, on which I turned my back on him and went +away. On Ash Wednesday he sent his man to ask me to sup with him +and the marchioness, who was his mistress, and I sent word that I +would not fail to come; but he waited for me in vain. Pride is +the daughter of folly, and always keeps its mother's nature. + +After the opera I went to Momolo's, where I found Mariuccia, her +father, her mother, and her future husband. They were anxiously +expecting me. It is not difficult to make people happy when one +selects for one's bounty persons who really deserve happiness. I +was amidst poor but honest people, and I can truly say that I had +a delightful supper. It may be that some of my enjoyment +proceeded from a feeling of vanity, for I knew that I was the +author of the happiness depicted on the faces of the bride and +bridegroom and of the father and mother of Mariuccia; but when +vanity causes good deeds it is a virtue. Nevertheless, I owe it +to myself to tell my readers that my pleasure was too pure to have +in it any admixture of vice. + +After supper I made a small bank at faro, making everybody play +with counters, as nobody had a penny, and I was so fortunate as to +make everyone win a few ducats. + +After the game we danced in spite of the prohibition of the Pope, +whom no Roman can believe to be infallible, for he forbids dancing +and permits games of chance. His successor Ganganelli followed +the opposite course, and was no better obeyed. To avoid suspicion +I did not give the pair any present, but I gave up my landau to +them that they might enjoy the carnival on the Corso, and I told +Costa to get them a box at the Capranica Theatre. Momolo asked me +to supper on Shrove Tuesday. + +I wished to leave Rome on the second day of Lent, and I called on +the Holy Father at a time when all Rome was on the Corso. His +Holiness welcomed me most graciously, and said he was surprised +that I had not gone to see the sights on the Corso like everybody +else. I replied that as a lover of pleasure I had chosen the +greatest pleasure of all for a Christian--namely, to kneel at the +feet of the vicar of Christ on earth. He bowed with a kind of +majestic humility, which shewed me how the compliment had pleased +him. He kept me for more than an hour, talking about Venice, +Padua, and Paris, which latter city the worthy man would not have +been sorry to have visited. I again commended myself to his +apostolic intercession to enable me to return to my native +country, and he replied,-- + +"Have recourse to God, dear son; His grace will be more +efficacious than my prayers;" and then he blessed me and wished me +a prosperous journey. + +I saw that the Head of the Church had no great opinion of his own +power. + +On Shrove Tuesday I dressed myself richly in the costume of +Polichinello, and rode along the Corso showering sweetmeats on all +the pretty women I saw. Finally I emptied the basket on the +daughters of the worthy 'scopatore', whom Costa was taking about +in my landau with all the dignity of a pasha. + +At night-time I took off my costume and went to Momolo's, where I +expected to see dear Mariuccia for the last time. Supper passed +off in almost a similar manner to the supper of last Sunday; but +there was an interesting novelty for me--namely, the sight of my +beloved mistress in her character of bride. Her husband seemed to +be much more reserved with respect to me than at our first +meeting. I was puzzled by his behaviour, and sat down by +Mariuccia and proceeded to question her. She told me all the +circumstances which had passed on the first night, and she spoke +highly of her husband's good qualities. He was kind, amorous, +good-tempered, and delicate. No doubt he must have noticed that +the casket had been opened, but he had said nothing about it. As +he had spoken about me, she had not been able to resist the +pleasure of telling him that I was her sole benefactor, at which, +so far from being offended, he seemed to trust in her more than +ever. + +"But has he not questioned you indirectly as to the connection +between us?" + +"Not at all. I told him that you went to my confessor after +having spoken to me once only in the church, where I told you what +a good chance I had of being married to him." + +"Do you think he believed you?" + +"I am not sure; however, even if it were otherwise, it is enough +that he pretends to, for I am determined to win his esteem." + +"You are right, and I think all the better of him for his +suspicions, for it is better to marry a man with some sense in his +head than to marry a fool." + +I was so pleased with what she told me that when I took leave of +the company I embraced the hairdresser, and drawing a handsome +gold watch from my fob I begged him to accept it as a souvenir of +me. He received it with the utmost gratitude. From my pocket I +took a ring, worth at least six hundred francs, and put it on his +wife's finger, wishing them a fair posterity and all manner of +happiness, and I then went home to bed, telling Le Duc and Costa +that we must begin to pack up next day. + +I was just getting up when they brought me a note from Lord +Lismore, begging me to come and speak to him at noon at the Villa +Borghese. + +I had some suspicion of what he might want, and kept the +appointment. I felt in a mood to give him some good advice. +Indeed, considering the friendship between his mother and myself, +it was my duty to do so. + +He came up to me and gave me a letter he had received the evening +before from his mother. She told him that Paris de Monmartel had +just informed her that he was in possession of a bill for two +hundred thousand francs drawn by her son, and that he would honour +it if she would furnish him with the funds. She had replied that +she would let him know in two or three days if she could do so; +but she warned her son that she had only asked for this delay to +give him time to escape, as the bill would certainly be protested +and returned, it being absolutely out of the question for her +to get the money. + +"You had better make yourself scarce as soon as you can," said I, +returning him the letter. + +"Buy this ring, and so furnish me with the means for my escape. +You would not know that it was not my property if I had not told +you so in confidence." + +I made an appointment with him, and had the stone taken out and +valued by one of the best jewellers in Rome. + +"I know this stone," said he, "it is worth two thousand Roman +crowns." + +At four o'clock I took the earl five hundred crowns in gold and +fifteen hundred crowns in paper, which he would have to take to a +banker, who would give him a bill of exchange in Amsterdam. + +"I will be off at nightfall," said he, "and travel by myself to +Amsterdam, only taking such effects as are absolutely necessary, +and my beloved blue ribbon." + +"A pleasant journey to you," said I, and left him. In ten days I +had the stone mounted at Bologna. + +I got a letter of introduction from Cardinal Albani for Onorati, +the nuncio at Florence, and another letter from M. Mengs to Sir +Mann, whom he begged to receive me in his house. I was going to +Florence for the sake of the Corticelli and my dear Therese, and I +reckoned on the auditor's feigning to ignore my return, in spite +of his unjust order, especially if I were residing at the English +minister's. + +On the second day of Lent the disappearance of Lord Lismore was +the talk of the town. The English tailor was ruined, the Jew who +owned the ring was in despair, and all the silly fellow's servants +were turned out of the house in almost a state of nakedness, as +the tailor had unceremoniously taken possession of everything in +the way of clothes that he could lay his hands on. + +Poor Poinsinet came to see me in a pitiable condition; he had only +his shirt and overcoat. He had been despoiled of everything, and +threatened with imprisonment. "I haven't a farthing," said the +poor child of the muses, "I have only the shirt on my back. I +know nobody here, and I think I shall go and throw myself into the +Tiber." + +He was destined, not to be drowned in the Tiber but in the +Guadalquivir. I calmed him by offering to take him to Florence +with me, but I warned him that I must leave him there, as someone +was expecting me at Florence. He immediately took up his abode +with me, and wrote verses incessantly till it was time to go. + +My brother Jean made me a present of an onyx of great beauty. It +was a cameo, representing Venus bathing, and a genuine antique, as +the name of the artist, Sostrates, was cut on the stone. Two +years later I sold it to Dr. Masti, at London, for three hundred +pounds, and it is possibly still in the British Museum. + +I went my way with Poinsinet who amused me, in spite of his +sadness, with his droll fancies. In two days I got down at Dr. +Vannini's, who tried to conceal his surprise at seeing me. I lost +no time, but waited on Sir ---- Mann immediately, and found him +sitting at table. He gave me a very friendly reception, but he +seemed alarmed when, in reply to his question, I told him that my +dispute with the auditor had not been arranged. He told me +plainly that he thought I had made a mistake in returning to +Florence, and that he would be compromised by my staying with him. +I pointed out that I was only passing through Florence. + +"That's all very well," said he, "but you know you ought to call +on the auditor." + +I promised to do so, and returned to my lodging. I had scarcely +shut the door, when an agent of police came and told me that the +auditor had something to say to me, and would be glad to see me at +an early hour next morning. + +I was enraged at this order, and determined to start forthwith +rather than obey. Full of this idea I called on Therese and found +she was at Pisa. I then went to see the Corticelli, who threw her +arms round my neck, and made use of the Bolognese grimaces +appropriate to the occasion. To speak the truth, although the +girl was pretty, her chief merit in my eyes was that she made me +laugh. + +I gave some money to her mother to get us a good supper, and I +took the girl out on pretence of going for a walk. I went with +her to my lodging, and left her with Poinsinet, and going to +another room I summoned Costa and Vannini. I told Costa in +Vannini's presence to go on with Le Duc and my luggage the +following day, and to call for me at the "Pilgrim" at Bologna. I +gave Vannini my instructions, and he left the room; and then I +ordered Costa to leave Florence with Signora Laura and her son, +and to tell them that I and the daughter were on in front. Le Duc +received similar orders, and calling Poinsinet I gave him ten +Louis, and begged him to look out for some other lodging that very +evening. The worthy but unfortunate young man wept grateful +tears, and told me that he would set out for Parma on foot next +day, and that there M. Tillot would do some, thing for him. + +I went back to the next room, and told the Corticelli to come with +me. She did so under the impression that we were going back to +her mother's, but without taking the trouble to undeceive her I +had a carriage and pair got ready, and told the postillion to +drive to Uccellatoio, the first post on the Bologna road. + +"Where in the world are we going?" said she. + +"Bologna." + +"How about mamma?" + +"She will come on to-morrow." + +"Does she know about it?" + +"No, but she will to-morrow when Costa comes to tell her, and to +fetch her and your brother" + +She liked the joke, and got into the carriage laughing, and we +drove away. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +My Arrival at Bologna--I Am Expelled from Modena--I Visit Parma +and Turin--The Pretty Jewess--The Dressmaker + +The Corticelli had a good warm mantle, but the fool who carried +her off had no cloak, even of the most meagre kind, to keep off +the piercing cold, which was increased by a keen wind blowing +right in our faces. + +In spite of all I would not halt, for I was afraid I might be +pursued and obliged to return, which would have greatly vexed me. + +When I saw that the postillion was slackening his speed, I +increased the amount of the present I was going to make him, and +once more we rushed along at a headlong pace. I felt perishing +with the cold; while the postillions seeing me so lightly clad, +and so prodigal of my money to speed them on their way, imagined +that I was a prince carrying off the heiress of some noble family. +We heard them talking to this effect while they changed horses, +and the Corticelli was so much amused that she did nothing but +laugh for the rest of the way. In five hours we covered forty +miles; we started from Florence at eight o'clock, and at one in +the morning we stopped at a post in the Pope's territory, where I +had nothing to fear. The stage goes under the name of "The Ass +Unburdened." + +The odd name of the inn made my mistress laugh afresh. Everybody +was asleep, but the noise I made and the distribution of a few +pauls procured me the privilege of a fire. I was dying of hunger, +and they coolly told me there was nothing to eat. I laughed in +the landlord's face, and told him to bring me his butter, his +eggs, his macaroni, a ham, and some Parmesan cheese, for I knew +that so much will be found in the inns all over Italy. The repast +was soon ready, and I shewed the idiot host that he had materials +for an excellent meal. We ate like four, and afterwards they made +up an impromptu bed and we went to sleep, telling them to call me +as soon as a carriage and four drew up. + +Full of ham and macaroni, slightly warmed with the Chianti and +Montepulciano, and tired with our journey, we stood more in need +of slumber than of love, and so we gave ourselves up to sleep till +morning. Then we gave a few moments to pleasure, but it was so +slight an affair as not to be worth talking about. + +At one o'clock we began to feel hungry again and got up, and the +host provided us with an excellent dinner, after receiving +instructions from me. I was astonished not to see the carriage +draw up, but I waited patiently all day. Night came on and still +no coach, and I began to feel anxious; but the Corticelli +persisted in laughing at everything. Next morning I sent off an +express messenger with instructions for Costa. In the event of +any violence having taken place, I was resolved to return to +Florence, of which city I could at any time make myself free by +the expenditure of two hundred crowns. + +The messenger started at noon, and returned at two o'clock with +the news that my servants would shortly be with me. My coach was +on its way, and behind it a smaller carriage with two horses, in +which sat an old woman and a young man. + +"That's the mother," said Corticelli; "now we shall have some fun. +Let's get something for them to eat, and be ready to hear the +history of this marvellous adventure which she will remember to +her dying day." + +Costa told me that the auditor had revenged my contempt of his +orders by forbidding the post authorities to furnish any horses +for my carriage. Hence the delay. But here we heard the +allocution of the Signora Laura. + +"I got an excellent supper ready," she began, "according to your +orders; it cost me more than ten pauls, as I shall shew you, and I +hope you will make it up to me as I'm but a poor woman. All was +ready and I joyfully expected you, but in vain; I was in despair. +At last when midnight came I sent my son to your lodging to +enquire after you, but you may imagine my 'grief when I heard that +nobody knew what had become of you. I passed a sleepless night, +weeping all the time, and in the morning I went and complained to +the police that you had taken off my daughter, and asked them to +send after you and make you give her back to me. But only think, +they laughed at me! 'Why did you let her go out without you? +laughing in my face. 'Your daughter's in good hands,' says +another, 'you know perfectly well where she is.' In fact I was +grossly slandered." + +"Slandered?" said the Corticelli. + +"Yes, slandered, for it was as much as to say that I had consented +to your being carried off, and if I had done that the fools might +have known I would not have come to them about it. I went away in +a rage to Dr. Vannini's, where I found your man, who told me that +you had gone to Bologna, and that I could follow you if I liked. +I consented to this plan, and I hope you wilt pay my travelling +expenses. But I can't help telling you that this is rather beyond +a joke." + +I consoled her by telling her I would pay all she had spent, and +we set off for Bologna the next day, and reached that town at an +early hour. I sent my servants to the inn with my carriage, and I +went to lodge with the Corticelli. + +I spent a week with the girl, getting my meals from the inn, and +enjoying a diversity of pleasures which I shall remember all my +days; my young wanton had a large circle of female friends, all +pretty and all kind. I lived with them like a sultan, and still I +delight to recall this happy time, and I say with a sigh, 'Tempi +passati'! + +There are many towns in Italy where one can enjoy all the +pleasures obtainable at Bologna; but nowhere so cheaply, so +easily, or with so much freedom. The living is excellent, and +there are arcades where one can walk in the shade in learned and +witty company. It is a great pity that either from the air, the +water, or the wine--for men of science have not made up their +minds on the subject persons who live at Bologna are subject to a +slight itch. The Bolognese, however, far from finding this +unpleasant, seem to think it an advantage; it gives them the +pleasure of scratching themselves. In springtime the ladies +distinguish themselves by the grace with which they use their +fingers. + +Towards mid-Lent I left the Corticelli, wishing her a pleasant +journey, for she was going to fulfil a year's engagement at Prague +as second dancer. I promised to fetch her and her mother to +Paris, and my readers will see how I kept my word. + +I got to Modena the evening after I left Bologna, and I stopped +there, with one of those sudden whims to which I have always been +subject. Next morning I went out to see the pictures, and as I +was returning to my lodging for dinner a blackguardly-looking +fellow came up and ordered me, on the part of the Government, to +continue my journey on the day following at latest. + +"Very good," said I, and the fellow went away. + +"Who is that man?" I said to the landlord. + +"A SPY." + +"A spy; and the Government dares to send such a fellow to me?" + +"The 'borgello' must have sent him." + +"Then the 'borgello' is the Governor of Modena--the infamous +wretch!" + +"Hush! hush! all the best families speak to him in the street." + +"Then the best people are very low here, I suppose?" + +"Not more than anywhere else. He is the manager of the opera +house, and the greatest noblemen dine with him and thus secure his +favour." + +"It's incredible! But why should the high and mighty borgello +send me away from Modena?" + +"I don't know, but do you take my advice and go and speak to him; +you will find him a fine fellow." + +Instead of going to see this b. . . . I called on the Abbe Testa +Grossa, whom I had known at Venice in 1753. Although he was a man +of low extraction he had a keen wit. At this time he was old and +resting on his laurels; he had fought his way into favour by the +sheer force of merit, and his master, the Duke of Modena, had long +chosen him as his representative with other powers. + +Abbe Testa Grossa recognized me and gave me the most gracious +reception, but when he heard of what had befallen me he seemed +much annoyed. + +"What can I do?" said I. + +"You had better go, as the man may put a much more grievous insult +on you." + +"I will do so, but could you oblige me by telling me the reason +for such a high-handed action?" + +"Come again this evening; I shall probably be able to satisfy +you." + +I called on the abbe again in the evening, for I felt anxious to +learn in what way I had offended the lord borgello, to whom I +thought I was quite unknown. The abbe satisfied me. + +"The borgello," said he, "saw your name on the bill which he +receives daily containing a list of the names of those who enter +or leave the city. He remembered that you were daring enough to +escape from The Leads, and as he does not at all approve of that +sort of thing he resolved not to let the Modenese be contaminated +by so egregious an example of the defiance of justice, however +unjust it may be; and in short he has given you the order to leave +the town." + +"I am much obliged, but I really wonder how it is that while you +were telling me this you did not blush to be a subject of the Duke +of Modena's. What an unworthy action! How contrary is such a +system of government to all the best interests of the state!" + +"You are quite right, my dear sir, but I am afraid that as yet +men's eyes are not open to what best serves their interests." + +"That is doubtless due to the fact that so many men are unworthy." + +"I will not contradict you." + +"Farewell, abbe." + +"Farewell, M. Casanova." + +Next morning, just as I was going to get into my carriage, a young +man between twenty-five and thirty, tall and strong and broad +shouldered, his eyes black and glittering, his eyebrows strongly +arched, and his general air being that of a cut-throat, accosted +me and begged me to step aside and hear what he had to say. + +"If you like to stop at Parma for three days, and if you will +promise to give me fifty sequins when I bring you the news that +the borgello is dead, I promise to shoot him within the next +twenty-four hours." + +"Thanks. Such an animal as that should be allowed to die a +natural death. Here's a crown to drink my health." + +At the present time I feel very thankful that I acted as I did, +but I confess that if I had felt sure that it was not a trap I +should have promised the money. The fear of committing myself +spared me this crime. + +The next day I got to Parma, and I put up at the posting-house +under the name of the Chevalier de Seingalt, which I still bear. +When an honest man adopts a name which belongs to no one, no one +has a right to contest his use of it; it becomes a man's duty to +keep the name. I had now borne it for two years, but I often +subjoined to it my family name. + +When I got to Parma I dismissed Costa, but in a week after I had +the misfortune to take him on again. His father, who was a poor +violin player, as I had once been, with a large family to provide +for, excited my pity. + +I made enquiries about M. Antonio, but he had left the place; and +M. Dubois Chalelereux, Director of the Mint, had gone to Venice +with the permission of the Duke of Parma, to set up the beam, +which was never brought into use. Republics are famous for their +superstitious attachment to old customs; they are afraid that +changes for the better may destroy the stability of the state, and +the government of aristocratic Venice still preserves its original +Greek character. + +My Spaniard was delighted when I dismissed Costa and +proportionately sorry when I took him back. + +"He's no profligate," said Le Duc; "he is sober, and has no liking +for bad company. But I think he's a robber, and a dangerous +robber, too. I know it, because he seems so scrupulously careful +not to cheat you in small things. Remember what I say, sir; he +will do you. He is waiting to gain your confidence, and then he +will strike home. Now, I am quite a different sort of fellow, a +rogue in a small way; but you know me." + +His insight was, keener than mine, for five or six months later +the Italian robbed me of fifty thousand crowns. Twenty-three +years afterwards, in 1784, I found him in Venice, valet to Count +Hardegg, and I felt inclined to have him hanged. I shewed him by +proof positive that I could do so if I liked; but he had resource +to tears and supplications, and to the intercession of a worthy +man named Bertrand, who lived with the ambassador of the King of +Sardinia. I esteemed this individual, and he appealed to me +successfully to pardon Costa. I asked the wretch what he had done +with the gold and jewels he had stolen from me, and he told me +that he had lost the whole of it in furnishing funds for a bank at +Biribi, that he had been despoiled by his own associates, and had +been poor and miserable ever since. + +In the same year in which he robbed me he married Momolo's +daughter, and after making her a mother he abandoned her. + +To pursue our story. + +At Turin I lodged in a private house with the Abbe Gama, who had +been expecting me. In spite of the good abbe's sermon on economy, +I took the whole of the first floor, and a fine suite it was. + +We discussed diplomatic topics, and he assured me that I should be +accredited in May, and that he would give me instructions as to +the part I was to play. I was pleased with his commission, and I +told the abbe that I should be ready to go to Augsburg whenever +the ambassadors of the belligerent powers met there. + +After making the necessary arrangements with my landlady with +regard to my meals I went to a coffeehouse to read the papers, and +the first person I saw was the Marquis Desarmoises, whom I had +known in Savoy. The first thing he said was that all games of +chance were forbidden, and that the ladies I had met would no +doubt be delighted to see me. As for himself, he said that he +lived by playing backgammon, though he was not at all lucky at it, +as talent went for more than luck at that game. I can understand +how, if fortune is neutral, the best player will win, but I do not +see how the contrary can take place. + +We went for a walk in the promenade leading to the citadel, where +I saw numerous extremely pretty women. In Turin the fair sex is +most delightful, but the police regulations are troublesome to a +degree. Owing to the town being a small one and thinly peopled, +the police spies find out everything. Thus one cannot enjoy any +little freedoms without great precautions and the aid of cunning +procuresses, who have to be well paid, as they would be cruelly +punished if they were found out. No prostitutes and no kept women +are allowed, much to the delight of the married women, and with +results which the ignorant police might have anticipated. As well +be imagined, pederasty has a fine field in this town, where the +passions are kept under lock and key. + +Amongst the beauties I looked at, one only attracted me. I asked +Desarmoises her name, as he knew all of them. + +"That's the famous Leah," said he; "she is a Jewess, and +impregnable. She has resisted the attacks of the best strategists +in Turin. Her father's a famous horse-dealer; you can go and see +her easily enough, but there's nothing to be done there." + +The greater the difficulty the more I felt spurred on to attempt +it. + +"Take me there," said I, to Desarmoises. + +"As soon as you please." + +I asked him to dine with me, and we were on our way when we met M. +Zeroli and two or three other persons whom I had met at Aix. I +gave and received plenty of compliments, but not wishing to pay +them any visits I excused myself on the pretext of business. + +When we had finished dinner Desarmoises took me to the horse- +dealer's. I asked if he had a good saddle horse. He called a lad +and gave his orders, and whilst he was speaking the charming +daughter appeared on the scene. She was dazzlingly beautiful, and +could not be more than twenty-two. Her figure was as lissom as a +nymph's, her hair a raven black, her complexion a meeting of the +lily and the rose, her eyes full of fire, her lashes long, and her +eye-brows so well arched that they seemed ready to make war on any +who would dare the conquest of her charms. All about her +betokened an educated mind and knowledge of the world. + +I was so absorbed in the contemplation of her charms that I did +not notice the horse when it was brought to me. However, I +proceeded to scrutinise it, pretending to be an expert, and after +feeling the knees and legs, turning back the ears, and looking at +the teeth, I tested its behaviour at a walk, a trot, and a gallop, +and then told the Jew that I would come and try it myself in top- +boots the next day. The horse was a fine dappled bay, and was +priced at forty Piedmontese pistoles--about a hundred sequins. + +"He is gentleness itself," said Leah, "and he ambles as fast as +any other horse trots." + +"You have ridden it, then?" + +"Often, sir, and if I were rich I would never sell him." + +"I won't buy the horse till I have seen you ride it." + +She blushed at this. + +"You must oblige the gentleman," said her father. She consented +to do so, and I promised to come again at nine o'clock the next +day. + +I was exact to time, as may be imagined, and I found Leah in +riding costume. What proportions! What a Venus Callipyge! I was +captivated. + +Two horses were ready, and she leapt on hers with the ease and +grace of a practised rider, and I got up on my horse. We rode +together for some distance. The horse went well enough, but what +of that; all my eyes were for her. + +As we were turning, I said,-- + +"Fair Leah, I will buy the horse, but as a present for you; and if +you will not take it I shall leave Turin today. The only +condition I attach to the gift is, that you will ride with me +whenever I ask you." + +I saw she seemed favourably inclined to my proposal, so I told her +that I should stay six weeks at Turin, that I had fallen in love +with her on the promenade, and that the purchase of the horse had +been a mere pretext for discovering to her my feelings. She +replied modestly that she was vastly flattered by the liking I had +taken to her, and that I need not have made her such a present to +assure myself of her friendship. + +"The condition you impose on me is an extremely pleasant one, and +I am sure that my father will like me to accept it." + +To this she added,-- + +"All I ask is for you to make me the present before him, repeating +that you will only buy it on the condition that I will accept it." + +I found the way smoother than I had expected, and I did what she +asked me. Her father, whose name was Moses, thought it a good +bargain, congratulated his daughter, took the forty pistoles and +gave me a receipt, and begged me to do them the honour of +breakfasting with them the next day. This was just what I wanted. + +The following morning Moses received me with great respect. Leah, +who was in her ordinary clothes, told me that if I liked to ride +she would put on her riding habit. + +"Another day," said I; "to-day I should like to converse with you +in your own house." + +But the father, who was as greedy as most Jews are, said that if I +liked driving he could sell me a pretty phaeton with two excellent +horses. + +"You must shew them to the gentleman," said Leah, possibly in +concert with her father. + +Moses said nothing, but went out to get the horses harnessed. + +"I will look at them," I said to Leah, "but I won't buy, as I +should not know what to do with them." + +"You can take your lady-love out for a drive." + +"That would be you; but perhaps you would be afraid!" + +"Not at all, if you drove in the country or the suburbs." + +"Very good, Leah, then I will look at them." + +The father came in, and we went downstairs. I liked the carriage +and the horses, and I told Leah so. + +"Well," said Moses, "you can have them now for four hundred +sequins, but after Easter the price will be five hundred sequins +at least." + +Leah got into the carriage, and I sat beside her, and we went for +an hour's drive into the country. I told Moses I would give him +an answer by the next day, and he went about his business, while +Leah and I went upstairs again. + +"It's quite worth four hundred sequins," said I, "and to-morrow I +will buy it with pleasure; but on the same condition as that on +which I bought the horse, and something more--namely, that you +will grant me all the favours that a tender lover can desire." + +"You speak plainly, and I will answer you in the same way. I'm an +honest girl, sir, and not for sale." + +"All women, dear Leah, whether they are honest or not, are for +sale. When a man has plenty of time he buys the woman his heart +desires by unremitting attentions; but when he's in a hurry he +buys her with presents, and even with money." + +"Then he's a clumsy fellow; he would do better to let sentiment +and attention plead his cause and gain the victory." + +"I wish I could give myself that happiness, fair Leah, but I'm in +a great hurry." + +As I finished this sentence her father came in, and I left the +house telling him that if I could not come the next day I would +come the day after, and that we could talk about the phaeton then. + +It was plain that Leah thought I was lavish of my money, and would +make a capital dupe. She would relish the phaeton, as she had +relished the horse, but I knew that I was not quite such a fool as +that. It had not cost me much trouble to resolve to chance the +loss of a hundred sequins, but beyond that I wanted some value for +my money. + +I temporarily suspended my visits to see how Leah and her father +would settle it amongst themselves. I reckoned on the Jew's +greediness to work well for me. He was very fond of money, and +must have been angry that his daughter had not made me buy the +phaeton by some means or another, for so long as the phaeton was +bought the rest would be perfectly indifferent to him. I felt +almost certain that they would come and see me. + +The following Saturday I saw the fair Jewess on the promenade. We +were near enough for me to accost her without seeming to be +anxious to do so, and her look seemed to say, "Come." + +"We see no more of you now," said she, "but come and breakfast +with me to-morrow, or I will send you back the horse." + +I promised to be with her in good time, and, as the reader will +imagine, I kept my word. + +The breakfast party was almost confined to ourselves, for though +her aunt was present she was only there for decency's sake. After +breakfast we resolved to have a ride, and she changed her clothes +before me, but also before her aunt. She first put on her leather +breeches, then let her skirts fall, took off her corset, and +donned a jacket. With seeming indifference I succeeded in +catching a glimpse of a magnificent breast; but the sly puss knew +how much my indifference was worth. + +"Will you arrange my frill?" said she. + +This was a warm occupation for me, and I am afraid my hand was +indiscreet. Nevertheless, I thought I detected a fixed design +under all this seeming complaisance, and I was on my guard. + +Her father came up just as we were getting on horseback. + +"If you will buy the phaeton and horses," said he, "I will abate +twenty sequins." + +"All that depends on your daughter," said I. + +We set off at a walk, and Leah told me that she had been imprudent +enough to confess to her father that she could make me buy the +carriage, and that if I did not wish to embroil her with him I +would be kind enough to purchase it. + +"Strike the bargain," said she, "and you can give it me when you +are sure of my love." + +"My dear Leah, I am your humble servant, but you know on what +condition." + +"I promise to drive out with you whenever you please, without +getting out of the carriage, but I know you would not care for +that. No, your affection was only a temporary caprice." + +"To convince you of the contrary I will buy the phaeton and put it +in a coach-house. I will see that the horses are taken-care of, +though I shall not use them. But if you do not make me happy in +the course of a week I shall re-sell the whole." + +"Come to us to-morrow." + +"I will do so, but I trust have some pledge of your affection this +morning." + +"This morning? It's impossible." + +"Excuse me; I will go upstairs with you, and you can shew me more +than one kindness while you are undressing." + +We came back, and I was astonished to hear her telling her father +that the phaeton was mine, and all he had to do was to put in the +horses. The Jew grinned, and we all went upstairs, and Leah +coolly said,-- + +"Count out the money." + +"I have not any money about me, but I will write you a cheque, if +you like." + +"Here is paper." + +I wrote a cheque on Zappata for three hundred sequins, payable at +sight. The Jew went off to get the money, and Leah remained alone +with me. + +"You have trusted me," she said, "and have thus shewn yourself +worthy of my love." + +"Then undress, quick!" + +"No, my aunt is about the house; and as I cannot shut the door +without exciting suspicion, she might come in; but I promise that +you shall be content with me tomorrow. Nevertheless, I am going +to undress, but you must go in this closet; you may come back when +I have got my woman's clothes on again." + +I agreed to this arrangement, and she shut me in. I examined the +door, and discovered a small chink between the boards. I got on a +stool, and saw Leah sitting on a sofa opposite to me engaged in +undressing herself. She took off her shift and wiped her breasts +and her feet with a towel, and just as she had taken off her +breeches, and was as naked as my hand, one of her rings happened +to slip off her finger, and rolled under the sofa. She got up, +looked to right and left, and then stooped to search under the +sofa, and to do this she had to kneel with her head down. When +she got back to couch, the towel came again into requisition, and +she wiped herself all over in such a manner that all her charms +were revealed to my eager eyes. I felt sure that she knew I was a +witness of all these operations, and she probably guessed what a +fire the sight would kindle in my inflammable breast. + +At last her toilette was finished, and she let me out. I clasped +her in my arms, with the words, "I have seen everything." She +pretended not to believe me, so I chewed her the chink, and was +going to obtain my just dues, when the accursed Moses came in. He +must have been blind or he would have seen the state his daughter +had put me in; however, he thanked me, and gave me a receipt for +the money, saying, "Everything in my poor house is at your +service." + +I bade them adieu, and I went away in an ill temper. I got into +my phaeton, and drove home and told the coachman to find me a +stable for the horses and a coach-house for the carriage. + +I did not expect to see Leah again, and I felt enraged with her. +She had pleased me only too much by her voluptuous attitudes, but +she had set up an irritation wholly hostile to Love. She had made +Love a robber, and the hungry boy had consented, but afterwards, +when he craved more substantial fare, she refused him, and ardour +was succeeded by contempt. Leah did not want to confess herself +to be what she really was, and my love would not declare itself +knavish. + +I made the acquaintance of an amiable chevalier, a soldier, a man +of letters, and a great lover of horses, who introduced me to +several pleasant families. However, I did not cultivate them, as +they only offered me the pleasures of sentiment, while I longed +for lustier fare for which I was willing to pay heavily. The +Chevalier de Breze was not the man for me; he was too respectable +for a profligate like myself. He bought the phaeton and horses, +and I only lost thirty sequins by the transaction. + +A certain M. Baretti, who had known me at Aix, and had been the +Marquis de Pries croupier, took me to see the Mazzoli, formerly a +dancer, and then mistress to the Chevalier Raiberti, a hardheaded +but honest man, who was then secretary for foreign affairs. +Although the Mazzoli was by no means pretty, she was extremely +complaisant, and had several girls at her house for me to see; +but I did not think any of them worthy of occupying Leah's place. +I fancied I no longer loved Leah, but I was wrong. + +The Chevalier Cocona, who had the misfortune to be suffering from +a venereal disease, gave me up his mistress, a pretty little +'soubrette'; but in spite of the evidence of my own eyes, and in +spite of the assurances she gave me, I could not make up my mind +to have her, and my fear made me leave her untouched. Count +Trana, a brother of the chevalier's whom I had known at Aix, +introduced me to Madame de Sc----, a lady of high rank and very +good-looking, but she tried to involve me in a criminal +transaction, and I ceased to call on her. Shortly after, Count +Trana's uncle died and he became rich and got married, but he +lived an unhappy life. + +I was getting bored, and Desarmoises, who had all his meals with +me, did not know what to do. At last he advised me to make the +acquaintance of a certain Madame R----, a Frenchwoman, and well +known in Turin as a milliner and dressmaker. She had six or eight +girls working for her in a room adjoining her shop. Desarmoises +thought that if I got in there I might possibly be able to find +one to my taste. As my purse was well furnished I thought I +should not have much difficulty, so I called on Madame R----. I +was agreeably surprised to find Leah there, bargaining for a +quantity of articles, all of which she pronounced to be too dear. +She told me kindly but reproachfully that she had thought I must +be ill. + +"I have been very busy," I said; and felt all my old ardour +revive. She asked me to come to a Jewish wedding, where there +would be a good many people and several pretty girls. I knew that +ceremonies of this kind are very amusing, and I promised to be +present. She proceeded with her bargaining, but the price was +still too high and she left the shop. Madame R---- was going to +put back all the trifles in their places, but I said,-- + +"I will take the lot myself." + +She smiled, and I drew out my purse and paid the money. + +"Where do you live, sir?" said she; "and when shall I send you +your purchases?" + +"You may bring them to-morrow yourself, and do me the honour of +breakfasting with me." + +"I can never leave the shop, sir." In spite of her thirty-five +years, Madame R---- was still what would be called a tasty morsel, +and she had taken my fancy. + +"I want some dark lace," said I. + +"Then kindly follow me, sir." + +I was delighted when I entered the room to see a lot of young +work-girls, all charming, hard at work, and scarcely daring to +look at me. Madame R---- opened several cupboards, and showed me +some magnificent lace. I was distracted by the sight of so many +delicious nymphs, and I told her that I wanted the lace for two +'baoutes' in the Venetian style. She knew what I meant. The lace +cost me upwards of a hundred sequins. Madame R---- told two of +her girls to bring me the lace the next day, together with the +goods which Leah had thought too dear. They meekly replied,-- + +"Yes, mother." + +They rose and kissed the mother's hand, which I thought a +ridiculous ceremony; however, it gave me an opportunity of +examining them, and I thought them delicious. We went back to the +shop, and sitting down by the counter I enlarged on the beauty of +the girls, adding, though not with strict truth, that I vastly +preferred their mistress. She thanked me for the compliment and +told me plainly that she had a lover, and soon after named him. +He was the Comte de St. Giles, an infirm and elderly man, and by +no means a model lover. I thought Madame R---- was jesting, but +next day I ascertained that she was speaking the truth. Well, +everyone to his taste, and I suspect that she was more in love +with the count's purse than his person. I had met him at the +"Exchange" coffeehouse. + +The next day the two pretty milliners brought me my goods. I +offered them chocolate, but they firmly and persistently declined. +The fancy took me to send them to Leah with all the things she had +chosen, and I bade them return and tell me what sort of a +reception they had had. They said they would do so, and waited +for me to write her a note. + +I could not give them the slightest mark of affection. I dared +not shut the door, and the mistress and the ugly young woman of +the house kept going and coming all the time; but when they came +back I waited for them on the stairs, and giving them a sequin +each told each of them that she might command my heart if she +would. Leah had accepted my handsome present and sent to say that +she was waiting for me. + +As I was walking aimlessly about in the afternoon I happened to +pass the milliner's shop, and Madame R---- saw me and made me come +in and sit down beside her. + +"I am really much obliged to you," said she, "for your kindness to +my girls. They came home enchanted. Tell me frankly whether you +are really in love with the pretty Jewess." + +"I am really in love with her, but as she will not make me happy I +have signed my own dismissal." + +"You were quite right. All Leah thinks of is duping those who are +captivated by her charms." + +"Do not your charming apprentices follow your maxims?" + +"No; but they are only complaisant when I give them leave." + +"Then I commend myself to your intercession, for they would not +even take a cup of chocolate from me." + +"They were perfectly right not to accept your chocolate: but I see +you do not know the ways of Turin. Do you find yourself +comfortable in your present lodging?" + +"Quite so." + +"Are you perfectly free to do what you like?" + +"I think so." + +"Can you give supper to anyone you like in your own rooms? I am +certain you can't." + +"I have not had the opportunity of trying the experiment so far, +but I believe . . . ." + +"Don't flatter yourself by believing anything; that house is full +of the spies of the police." + +"Then you think that I could not give you and two or three of your +girls a little supper?" + +"I should take very good care not to go to it, that's all I know. +By next morning it would be known to all the town, and especially +to the police." + +"Well, supposing I look out for another lodging?" + +"It's the same everywhere. Turin is a perfect nest of spies; but +I do know a house where you could live at ease, and where my girls +might perhaps be able to bring you your purchases. But we should +have to be very careful." + +"Where is the house I will be guided by you in everything." + +"Don't trust a Piedmontese; that's the first commandment here." + +She then gave me the address of a small furnished house, which was +only inhabited by an old door-keeper and his wife. + +"They will let it you by the month," said she, "and if you pay a +month in advance you need not even tell them your name." + +I found the house to be a very pretty one, standing in a lonely +street at about two hundred paces from the citadel. One gate, +large enough to admit a carriage, led into the country. I found +everything to be as Madame R---- had described it. I paid a month +in advance without any bargaining, and in a day I had settled in +my new lodging. Madame R---- admired my celerity. + +I went to the Jewish wedding and enjoyed myself, for there is +something at once solemn and ridiculous about the ceremony; but I +resisted all Leah's endeavours to get me once more into her +meshes.. I hired a close carriage from her father, which with the +horses I placed in the coach-house and stables of my new house. +Thus I was absolutely free to go whenever I would by night or by +day, for I was at once in the town and in the country. I was +obliged to tell the inquisitive Gama where I was living, and I hid +nothing from Desarmoises, whose needs made him altogether +dependent on me. Nevertheless I gave orders that my door was shut +to them as to everyone else, unless I had given special +instructions that they were to be admitted. I had no reason to +doubt the fidelity of my two servants. + +In this blissful abode I enjoyed all Mdlle. R----'s girls, one +after the other. The one I wanted always brought a companion, +whom I usually sent back after giving her a slice of the cake. +The last of them, whose name was Victorine, as fair as day and as +soft as a dove, had the misfortune to be tied, though she knew +nothing about it. Mdlle. R----, who was equally ignorant on the +subject, had represented her to me as a virgin, and so I thought +her for two long hours in which I strove with might and main to +break the charm, or rather open the shell. All my efforts were in +vain. I was exhausted at last, and I wanted to see in what the +obstacle consisted. I put her in the proper position, and armed +with a candle I began my scrutiny. I found a fleshy membrane +pierced by so small a hole that large pin's head could scarcely +have gone through. Victorine encouraged me to force a passage +with my little finger, but in vain I tried to pierce this wall, +which nature had made impassable by all ordinary means. I was +tempted to see what I could do with a bistoury, and the girl +wanted me to try, but I was afraid of the haemorrhage which might +have been dangerous, and I wisely refrained. + +Poor Victorine, condemned to die a maid, unless some clever +surgeon performed the same operation that was undergone by Mdlle. +Cheruffini shortly after M. Lepri married her, wept when I said,-- + +"My dear child, your little Hymen defies the most vigorous lover +to enter his temple." + +But I consoled her by saying that a good surgeon could easily make +a perfect woman of her. + +In the morning I told Madame R---- of the case. + +She laughed and said,-- + +"It may prove a happy accident for Victorine; it may make her +fortune." + +A few years after the Count of Padua had her operated on, and made +her fortune. When I came back from Spain I found that she was +with child, so that I could not exact the due reward for all the +trouble I had taken with her. + +Early in the morning on Maunday Thursday they told me that Moses +and Leah wanted to see me. I had not expected to see them, but I +welcomed them warmly. Throughout Holy Week the Jews dared not +shew themselves in the streets of Turin, and I advised them to +stay with me till the Saturday. Moses began to try and get me to +purchase a ring from him, and I judged from that that I should not +have to press them very much. + +"I can only buy this ring from Leah's hands," said I. + +He grinned, thinking doubtless that I intended to make her a +present of it, but I was resolved to disappoint him. I gave them +a magnificent dinner and supper, and in the evening they were +shewn a double-bedded room not far from mine. I might have put +them in different rooms, and Leah in a room adjoining mine, which +would have facilitated any nocturnal excursions; but after all I +had done for her I was resolved to owe nothing to a surprise; she +should come of herself. + +The next day Moses (who noticed that I had not yet bought the +ring) was obliged to go out on business, and asked for the loan of +my carriage for the whole day, telling me that he would come for +his daughter in the evening. I had the horses harnessed, and when +he was gone I bought the ring for six hundred sequins, but on my +own terms. I was in my own house, and Leah could not deceive me. +As soon as the father was safely out of the way I possessed myself +of the daughter. She proved a docile and amorous subject the +whole day. I had reduced her to a state of nature, and though her +body was as perfect as can well be imagined I used it and abused +it in every way imaginable. In the evening her father found her +looking rather tired, but he seemed as pleased as I was. Leah was +not quite so well satisfied, for till the moment of their +departure she was expecting me to give her the ring, but I +contented myself with saying that I should like to reserve myself +the pleasure of taking it to her. + +On Easter Monday a man brought me a note summoning me to appear at +the police office. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +My Victory Over the Deputy Chief of Police--My Departure-- +Chamberi--Desarmoises's Daughter--M. Morin--M * * * M * * * +--At Aix--The Young Boarder--Lyons--Paris + + +This citation, which did not promise to lead to anything +agreeable, surprised and displeased me exceedingly. However, I +could not avoid it, so I drove to the office of the deputy- +superintendent of police. I found him sitting at a long table, +surrounded by about a score of people in a standing posture. He +was a man of sixty, hideously ugly, his enormous nose half +destroyed by an ulcer hidden by a large black silk plaster, his +mouth of huge dimensions, his lips thick, with small green eyes +and eyebrows which had partly turned white. As soon as this +disgusting fellow saw me, he began,-- + +"You are the Chevalier de Seingalt?" + +"That is my name, and I have come here to ask how I can oblige +you?" + +"I have summoned you here to order you to leave the place in three +days at latest." + +"And as you have no right to give such an order, I have come here +to tell you that I shall go when I please, and not before." + +"I will expel you by force." + +"You may do that whenever you please. I cannot resist force, but +I trust you will give the matter a second thought; for in a well- +ordered city they do not expel a man who has committed no crimes, +and has a balance of a hundred thousand francs at the bank." + +"Very good, but in three days you have plenty of time to pack up +and arrange matters with your banker. I advise you to obey, as +the command comes from the king." + +"If I were to leave the town I should become accessory to your +injustice! I will not obey, but since you mention the king's +name, I will go to his majesty at once, and he will deny your +words or revoke the unjust order you have given me with such +publicity." + +"Pray, does not the king possess the power to make you go?" + +"Yes, by force, but not by justice. He has also the power to kill +me, but he would have to provide the executioner, as he could not +make me commit suicide." + +"You argue well, but nevertheless you will obey." + +"I argue well, but I did not learn the art from you, and I will +not obey." + +With these words I turned my back on him, and left without another +word. + +I was in a furious rage. I felt inclined to offer overt +resistance to all the myrmidons of the infamous superintendent. +Nevertheless I soon calmed myself, and summoning prudence to my +aid I remembered the Chevalier Raiberti, whom I had seen at his +mistress's house, and I decided on asking his advice. He was the +chief permanent official in the department of foreign affairs. I +told the coachman to drive to his house, and I recounted to him +the whole tale, saying, finally, that I should like to speak to +the king, as I was resolved that I would not go unless I was +forced to do so. The worthy man advised me to go to the Chevalier +Osorio, the principal secretary for foreign affairs, who could +always get an audience of the king. I was pleased with his +advice, and I went immediately to the minister, who was a Sicilian +and a man of parts. He gave me a very good reception, and after I +had informed him of the circumstances of the case I begged him to +communicate the matter to his majesty, adding that as the +superintendent's order appeared horribly unjust to me I was +resolved not to obey it unless compelled to do so by main force. +He promised to oblige me in the way I wished, and told me to call +again the next day. + +After leaving him I took a short walk to cool myself, and then +went to the Abbe Gama, hoping to be the first to impart my +ridiculous adventure to him. I was disappointed; he already knew +that I had been ordered to go, and how I had answered the +superintendent. When he saw that I persisted in my determination +to resist, he did not condemn my firmness, though he must have +thought it very extraordinary, for the good abbe could not +understand anybody's disobeying the order of the authorities. He +assured me that if I had to go he would send me the necessary +instructions to any address I liked to name. + +The next day the Chevalier Osorio received me with the utmost +politeness, which I thought a good omen. The Chevalier Raiberti +had spoken to him in my behalf, and he had laid the matter before +the king and also before the Count d'Aglie, and the result was +that I could stay as long as I liked. The Count d'Aglie was none +other than the horrible superintendent. I was told that I must +wait on him, and he would give me leave to remain at Turin till my +affairs were settled. + +"My only business here," said I, "is to spend my money till I have +instructions from the Court of Portugal to attend the Congress of +Augsburg on behalf of his most faithful majesty." + +"Then you think that this Congress will take place?" + +"Nobody doubts it." + +"Somebody believes it will all end in smoke. However, I am +delighted to have been of service to you, and I shall be curious +to hear what sort of reception you get from the superintendent." + +I felt ill at ease. I went to the police office immediately, glad +to shew myself victorious, and anxious to see how the +superintendent would look when I came in. However, I could not +flatter myself that he looked ashamed of himself; these people +have a brazen forehead, and do not know what it is to blush. + +As soon as he saw me, he began,-- + +"The Chevalier Osorio tells me that you have business in Turin +which will keep you for some days. You may therefore stay, but +you must tell me as nearly as possible how long a time you +require." + +"I cannot possibly tell you that." + +"Why? if you don't mind telling me." + +"I am awaiting instructions from the Court of Portugal to attend +the Congress to be held at Augsburg, and before I could tell you +how long I shall have to stay I should be compelled to ask his +most faithful majesty. If this time is not sufficient for me to +do my business, I will intimate the fact to you." + +"I shall be much obliged by your doing so." + +This time I made him a bow, which was returned, and on leaving the +office I returned to the Chevalier Osorio, who said, with a smile, +that I had caught the superintendent, as I had taken an indefinite +period, which left me quite at my ease. + +The diplomatic Gama, who firmly believed that the Congress would +meet, was delighted when I told him that the Chevalier Osorio was +incredulous on the subject. He was charmed to think his wit +keener than the minister's; it exalted him in his own eyes. I +told him that whatever the chevalier might say I would go to +Augsburg, and that I would set out in three or four weeks. + +Madame R. congratulated me over and over again, for she was +enchanted that I had humiliated the superintendent; but all the +same we thought we had better give up our little suppers. As I +had had a taste of all her girls, this was not such a great +sacrifice for me to make. + +I continued thus till the middle of May, when I left Turin, after +receiving letters from the Abbe Gama to Lord Stormont, who was to +represent England at the approaching Congress. It was with this +nobleman that I was to work in concert at the Congress. + +Before going to Germany I wanted to see Madame d'Urfe, and I wrote +to her, asking her to send me a letter of introduction to M. de +Rochebaron, who might be useful to me. I also asked M. Raiberti +to give me a letter for Chamberi, where I wanted to visit the +divine M---- M---- (of whom I still thought with affection) at her +convent grating. I wrote to my friend Valenglard, asking him to +remind Madame Morin that she had promised to shew me a likeness to +somebody at Chamberi. + +But here I must note down an event worthy of being recorded, which +was extremely prejudicial to me. + +Five or six days before my departure Desarmoises came to me +looking very downcast, and told me that he had been ordered to +leave Turin in twenty-four hours. + +"Do you know why?" I asked him. + +"Last night when I was at the coffee-house, Count Scarnafis dared +to say that France subsidised the Berne newspapers. I told him he +lied, at which he rose and left the place in a rage, giving me a +glance the meaning of which is not doubtful. I followed him to +bring him to reason or to give him satisfaction; but he would do +nothing and I suspect he went to the police to complain. I shall +have to leave Turin early to-morrow morning." + +"You're a Frenchman, and as you can claim the protection of your +ambassador you will be wrong to leave so suddenly." + +"In the first place the ambassador is away, and in the second my +cruel father disavows me. No, I would rather go, and wait for you +at Lyons. All I want is for you to lend me a hundred crowns, for +which I will give you an account." + +"It will be an easy account to keep," said I, "but a long time +before it is settled." + +"Possibly; but if it is in my power I will shew my gratitude for +the kindnesses you have done me." + +I gave him a hundred crowns and wished him a pleasant journey, +telling him that I should stop some time at Lyons. + +I got a letter of credit on an Augsburg house, and three days +after I left Turin I was at Chamberi. There was only one inn +there in those days, so I was not much puzzled to choose where I +would go, but for all that I found myself very comfortable. + +As I entered my room, I was struck by seeing an extremely pretty +girl coming out of an adjacent room. + +"Who is that young lady?" said I to the chambermaid who was +escorting me. + +"That's the wife of a young gentleman who has to keep his bed to +get cured of a sword-thrust which he received four days ago on his +way from France." + +I could not look at her without feeling the sting of +concupiscence. As I was leaving my room I saw the door half open, +and I stopped short and offered my services as a neighbour. She +thanked me politely, and asked me in. I saw a handsome young man +sitting up in bed, so I went up to enquire how he felt. + +"The doctor will not let him talk," said the young lady, "on +account of a sword-thrust in the chest he received at half a +league from here. We hope he will be all right in a few days, and +then we can continue our journey." + +"Where are you going, madam?" + +"To Geneva." + +Just as I was leaving, a maid came to ask me if I would take +supper in my own room or with the lady. I laughed at her +stupidity, and said I would sup in my own apartment, adding that I +had not the honour of the lady's acquaintance. + +At this the young lady said it would give her great pleasure if I +would sup with her, and the husband repeated this assurance in a +whisper. I accepted the invitation gratefully, and I thought that +they were really pleased. The lady escorted me out as far as the +stairs, and I took the liberty of kissing her hand, which in +France is a declaration of tender though respectful affection. + +At the post-office I found a letter from Valenglard, telling me +that Madame Morin would wait on me at Chamberi if I would send her +a carriage, and another from Desarmoises dated from Lyons. He +told me that as he was on his way from Chamberi he had encountered +his daughter in company with a rascal who had carried her off. He +had buried his sword in his body, and would have killed them if he +had been able to stop their carriage. He suspected that they had +been staying in Chamberi, and he begged me to try and persuade his +daughter to return to Lyons; and he added that if she would not do +so I ought to oblige him by sending her back by force. He assured +me that they were not married, and he begged me to answer his +letter by express, for which purpose he sent me his address. + +I guessed at once that this daughter of his was my fair neighbour, +but I did not feel at all inclined to come to the aid of the +father in the way he wished. + +As soon as I got back to the inn I sent off Le Duc in a travelling +carriage to Madame Morin, whom I informed by letter that as I was +only at Chamberi for her sake I would await her convenience. This +done, I abandoned myself to the delight I felt at the romantic +adventure which fortune had put in my way. + +I repeated Mdlle. Desarmoises and her ravisher, and I did not care +to enquire whether I was impelled in what I did by virtue or vice; +but I could not help perceiving that my motives were of a mixed +nature; for if I were amorous, I was also very glad to be of +assistance to two young lovers, and all the more from my knowledge +of the father's criminal passion. + +On entering their room I found the invalid in the surgeon's hands. +He pronounced the wound not to be dangerous, in spite of its +depth; suppuration had taken place without setting up +inflammation--in short, the young man only wanted time and rest. +When the doctor had gone I congratulated the patient on his +condition, advising him to be careful what he ate, and to keep +silent. I then gave Mdlle. Desarmoises her father's letter, and +I said farewell for the present, telling them that I would go to +my own room till supper-time. I felt sure that she would come and +speak to me after reading her father's letter. + +In a quarter of an hour she knocked timidly at my door, and when I +let her in she gave me back the letter and asked me what I thought +of doing. + +"Nothing. I shall be only too happy, however, if I can be of any +service to you." + +"Ah! I breathe again!" + +"Could you imagine me pursuing any other line of conduct? I am +much interested in you, and will do all in my power to help you. +Are you married?" + +"Not yet, but we are going to be married when we get to Geneva." + +"Sit down and tell me all about yourself. I know that your father +is unhappily in love with you, and that you avoid his attentions." + +"He has told you that much? I am glad of it. A year ago he came +to Lyons, and as soon as I knew he was in the town I took refuge +with a friend of my mother's, for I was aware that I could not +stay in the same house with my father for an hour without exposing +myself to the most horrible outrage. The young man in bed is the +son of a rich Geneva merchant. My father introduced him to me two +years ago, and we soon fell in love with each other. My father +went away to Marseilles, and my lover asked my mother to give me +in marriage to him; but she did not feel authorized to do so +without my father's consent. She wrote and asked him, but he +replied that he would announce his decision when he returned to +Lyons. My lover went to Geneva, and as his father approved of the +match he returned with all the necessary documents and a strong +letter of commendation from M. Tolosan. When my father came +to Lyons I escaped, as I told you, and my lover got M. Tolosan +to ask my hand for him of my father. His reply was, +'I can give no answer till she returns to my house!' + +M. Tolosan brought this reply to me, and I told him that I was +ready to obey if my mother would guarantee my safety. She +replied, however, that she knew her husband too well to dare to +have us both under the same roof. Again did M. Tolosan endeavour +to obtain my father's consent, but to no purpose. A few days +after he left Lyons, telling us that he was first going to Aix and +then to Turin, and as it was evident that he would never give his +consent my lover proposed that I should go off with him, promising +to marry me as soon as we reached Geneva. By ill luck we +travelled through Savoy, and thus met my father. As soon as he +saw us he stopped the carriage and called to me to get out. I +began to shriek, and my lover taking me in his arms to protect me +my father stabbed him in the chest. No doubt he would have killed +him, but seeing that my shrieks were bringing people to our +rescue, and probably believing that my lover was as good as dead, +he got on horseback again and rode off at full speed. I can chew +you the sword still covered with blood." + +"I am obliged to answer this letter of his, and I am thinking how +I can obtain his consent." + +"That's of no consequence; we can marry and be happy without it." + +"True, but you ought not to despise your dower." + +"Good heavens! what dower? He has no money! + +"But on the death of his father, the Marquis Desarmoises . . . + +"That's all a lie. My father has only a small yearly pension for +having served thirty years as a Government messenger. His father +has been dead these thirty years, and my mother and my sister only +live by the work they do." + +I was thunderstruck at the impudence of the fellow, who, after +imposing on me so long, had himself put me in a position to +discover his deceit. I said nothing. Just then we were told that +supper was ready, and we sat at table for three hours talking the +matter over. The poor wounded man had only to listen to me to +know my feelings on the subject. His young mistress, as witty as +she was pretty, jested on the foolish passion of her father, who +had loved her madly ever since she was eleven. + +"And you were always able to resist his attempts?" said I. + +"Yes, whenever he pushed things too far." + +"And how long did this state of things continue?" + +"For two years. When I was thirteen he thought I was ripe, and +tried to gather the fruit; but I began to shriek, and escaped from +his bed stark naked, and I went to take refuge with my mother, who +from that day forth would not let me sleep with him again." + +"You used to sleep with him? How could your mother allow it?" + +"She never thought that there was anything criminal in his +affection for me, and I knew nothing about it. I thought that +what he did to me, and what he made me do to him, were mere +trifles." + +"But you have saved the little treasure?" + +"I have kept it for my lover." + +The poor lover, who was suffering more from the effects of hunger +than from his wounds, laughed at this speech of hers, and she ran +to him and covered his face with kisses. All this excited me +intensely. Her story had been told with too much simplicity not +to move me, especially when I had her before my eyes, for she +possessed all the attractions which a woman can have, and I almost +forgave her father for forgetting she was his daughter and falling +in love with her. + +When she escorted me back to my room I made her feel my emotion, +and she began to laugh; but as my servants were close by I was +obliged to let her go. + +Early next morning I wrote to her father that his daughter had +resolved not to leave her lover, who was only slightly wounded, +that they were in perfect safety and under the protection of the +law at Chamberi, and finally that having heard their story, and +judging them to be well matched, I could only approve of the +course they had taken. When I had finished I went into their room +and gave them the letter to read, and seeing the fair runaway at a +loss how to express her 'gratitude, I begged the invalid to let me +kiss her. + +"Begin with me," said he, opening his arms. + +My hypocritical love masked itself under the guise of paternal +affection. I embraced the lover, and then more amorously I +performed the same office for the mistress, and skewed them my +purse full of gold, telling them it was at their service. While +this was going on the surgeon came in, and I retired to my room. + +At eleven o'clock Madame Morin and her daughter arrived, preceded +by Le Duc on horseback, who announced their approach by numerous +smacks of his whip. I welcomed her with open arms, thanking her +for obliging me. + +The first piece of news she gave me was that Mdlle. Roman had +become mistress to Louis XV., that she lived in a beautiful house +at Passi, and that she was five months gone with child. Thus she +was in a fair way to become queen of France, as my divine oracle +had predicted. + +"At Grenoble," she added, "you are the sole topic of conversation; +and I advise you not to go there unless you wish to settle in the +country, for they would never let you go. You would have all the +nobility at your feet, and above all, the ladies anxious to know +the lot of their daughters. Everybody believes in judicial +astrology now, and Valenglard triumphs. He has bet a hundred +Louis to fifty that my niece will be delivered of a young prince, +and he is certain of winning; though to be sure, if he loses, +everybody will laugh at him." + +"Don't be afraid of his losing." + +"Is it quite certain?" + +"Has not the horoscope proved truthful in the principal +particular? If the other circumstances do not follow, I must have +made a great mistake in my calculations." + +"I am delighted to hear you say so." + +"I am going to Paris and I hope you will give me a letter of +introduction to Madame Varnier, so that I may have the pleasure of +seeing your niece." + +"You shall have the letter to-morrow without fail." + +I introduced Mdlle. Desarmoises to her under the family name of +her lover, and invited her to dine with Madame Morin and myself. +After dinner we went to the convent, and M---- M---- came down +very surprised at this unexpected visit from her aunt; but when +she saw me she had need of all her presence of mind. When her +aunt introduced me to her by name, she observed with true feminine +tact that during her stay at Aix she had seen me five or six times +at the fountain, but that I could not remember her features as she +had always worn her veil. I admired her wit as much as her +exquisite features. I thought she had grown prettier than ever, +and no doubt my looks told her as much. We spent an hour in +talking about Grenoble and her old friends, whom she gladly +recalled to her memory, and then she went to fetch a young girl +who was boarding at the convent, whom she liked and wanted to +present to her aunt. + +I seized the opportunity of telling Madame Morin that I was +astonished at the likeness, that her very voice was like that of +my Venetian M---- M-----, and I begged her to obtain me the +privilege of breakfasting with her niece the next day, and of +presenting her with a dozen pounds of capital chocolate. I had +brought it with me from Genoa. + +"You must make her the present yourself," said Madame Morin, "for +though she's a nun she's a woman, and we women much prefer a +present from a man's than from a woman's hand." + +M---- M---- returned with the superior of the convent, two other +nuns, and the young boarder, who came from Lyons, and was +exquisitely beautiful. I was obliged to talk to all the nuns, and +Madame Morin told her niece that I wanted her to try some +excellent chocolate I had brought from Genoa, but that I hoped her +lay-sister would make it. + +"Sir," said M---- M----, "kindly send me the chocolate, and to- +morrow we will breakfast together with these dear sisters." + +As soon as I got back to my inn I sent the chocolate with a +respectful note, and I took supper in Madame Morin's room with her +daughter and Mdlle. Desarmoises, of whom I was feeling more and +more amorous, but I talked of M---- M---- all the time, and I +could see that the aunt suspected that the pretty nun was not +altogether a stranger to me. + +I breakfasted at the convent and I remember that the chocolate, +the biscuits, and the sweetmeats were served with a nicety which +savoured somewhat of the world. When we had finished breakfast I +told M---- M---- that she would not find it so easy to give me +a dinner, with twelve persons sitting down to table, but I added +that half the company could be in the convent and half in the +parlour, separated from the convent by a light grating. + +"It's a sight I should like to see," said I, "if you will allow me +to pay all expenses." + +"Certainly," replied M---- M-----, and this dinner was fixed for +the next day. + +M---- M---- took charge of the whole thing, and promised to ask +six nuns. Madame Morin, who knew my tastes, told her to spare +nothing, and I warned her that I would send in the necessary +wines. + +I escorted Madame Morin, her daughter, and Mdlle. Desarmoises back +to the hotel, and I then called on M. Magnan, to whom I had been +recommended by the Chevalier Raiberti. I asked him to get me some +of the best wine, and he took me down to his cellar, and told me +to take what I liked. His wines proved to be admirable. + +This M. Magnan was a clever man, of a pleasant appearance, and +very comfortably off. He occupied an extremely large and +convenient house outside the town, and there his agreeable wife +dispensed hospitality. She had ten children, amongst whom there +were four pretty daughters; the eldest, who was nineteen, was +especially good-looking. + +We went to the convent at eleven o'clock, and after an hour's +conversation we were told that dinner was ready. The table was +beautifully laid, covered with a fair white cloth, and adorned +with vases filled with artificial flowers so strongly scented that +the air of the parlour was quite balmy. The fatal grill was +heavier than I had hoped. I found myself seated to the left of +M---- M----, and totally unable to see her. The fair Desarmoises +was at my right, and she entertained us all the time with her +amusing stories. + +We in the parlour were waited on by Le Duc and Costa, and the nuns +were served by their lay-sisters. The abundant provision, the +excellent wines, the pleasant though sometimes equivocal +conversation, kept us all merrily employed for three hours. Mirth +had the mastery over reason, or, to speak more plainly, we were +all drunk; and if it had not been for the fatal grill, I could +have had the whole eleven ladies without much trouble. The young +Desarmoises was so gay, indeed, that if I had not restrained her +she would probably have scandalised all the nuns, who would have +liked nothing better. I was longing to have her to myself, that I +might quench the flame she had kindled in my breast, and I had no +doubt of my success on the first attempt. After coffee had been +served, we went into another parlour and stayed there till night +came on. Madame Morin took leave of her niece, and the hand- +shakings, thanks, and promises of remembrance between me and the +nuns, lasted for a good quarter of an hour. After I had said +aloud to M---- M---- that I hoped to have the pleasure of seeing +her before I left, we went back to the inn in high good humour +with our curious party which I still remember with pleasure. + +Madame Morin gave me a letter for her cousin Madame Varnier, and I +promised to write to her from Paris, and tell her all about the +fair Mdlle. Roman. I presented the daughter with a beautiful pair +of ear-rings, and I gave Madame Morin twelve pounds of good +chocolate which M. Magnan got me, and which the lady thought had +come from Genoa. She went off at eight o'clock preceded by Le +Duc, who had orders to greet the doorkeeper's family on my behalf. + +At Magnan's I had a dinner worthy of Lucullus, and I promised to +stay with him whenever I passed Chamberi, which promise I have +faithfully performed. + +On leaving the gourmand's I went to the convent, and M---- M---- +came down alone to the grating. She thanked me for coming to see +her, and added that I had come to disturb her peace of mind. + +"I am quite ready, dearest, to climb the harden wall, and I shall +do it more dexterously than your wretched humpback." + +"Alas! that may not be, for, trust me, you are already spied +upon. Everybody here is sure that we knew each other at Aix. +Let us forget all, and thus spare ourselves the torments of vain +desires." + +"Give me your hand." + +"No. All is over. I love you still, probably I shall always love +you; but I long for you to go, and by doing so, you will give me a +proof of your love." + +"This is dreadful; you astonish me. You appear to me in perfect +health, you are prettier than ever, you are made for the worship +of the sweetest of the gods, and I can't understand how, with a +temperament like yours, you can live in continual abstinence." + +"Alas! lacking the reality we console ourselves by pretending. I +will not conceal from you that I love my young boarder. It is an +innocent passion, and keeps my mind calm. Her caresses quench the +flame which would otherwise kill me." + +"And that is not against your conscience?" + +"I do not feel any distress on the subject." + +"But you know it is a sin." + +"Yes, so I confess it." + +"And what does the confessor say?" + +"Nothing. He absolves me, and I am quite content:" + +"And does the pretty boarder confess, too?" + +"Certainly, but she does not tell the father of a matter which she +thinks is no sin." + +"I wonder the confessor has not taught her, for that kind of +instruction is a great pleasure." + +"Our confessor is a wise old man." + +"Am I to leave you, then, without a single kiss?" + +"Not one." + +"May I come again to-morrow? I must go the day after." + +"You may come, but I cannot see you by myself as the nuns might +talk. I will bring my little one with me to save appearances. +Come after dinner, but into the other parlour." + +If I had not known M---- M---- at Aix, her religious ideas would +have astonished me; but such was her character. She loved God, +and did not believe that the kind Father who made us with passions +would be too severe because we had not the strength to subdue +them. I returned to the inn, feeling vexed that the pretty nun +would have no more to do with me, but sure of consolation from the +fair Desarmoises. + +I found her sitting on her lover's bed; his poor diet and the +fever had left him in a state of great weakness. She told me that +she would sup in my room to leave him in quiet, and the worthy +young man shook my hand in token of his gratitude. + +As I had a good dinner at Magnan's I ate very little supper, but +my companion who had only had a light meal ate and drank to an +amazing extent. I gazed at her in a kind of wonder, and she +enjoyed my astonishment. When my servants had left the room I +challenged her to drink a bowl of punch with me, and this put her +into a mood which asked for nothing but laughter, and which +laughed to find itself deprived of reasoning power. Nevertheless, +I cannot accuse myself of taking an advantage of her condition, +for in her voluptuous excitement she entered eagerly into the +pleasure to which I excited her till two o'clock in the morning. +By the time we separated we were both of us exhausted. + +I slept till eleven, and when I went to wish her good day I found +her smiling and as fresh as a rose. I asked her how she had +passed the rest of the night. + +"Very pleasantly,' said she, "like the beginning of the night." + +"What time would you like to have dinner?" + +"I won't dine; I prefer to keep my appetite for supper." + +Here her lover joined in, saying in a weak voice,-- + +"It is impossible to keep up with her." + +"In eating or drinking?" I asked. + +"In eating, drinking, and in other things," he replied, with a +smile. She laughed, and kissed him affectionately. + +This short dialogue convinced me that Mdlle. Desarmoises must +adore her lover; for besides his being a handsome young man, his +disposition was exactly suitable to hers. I dined by myself, and +Le Duc came in as I was having dessert. He told me that the door- +keeper's daughters and their pretty cousin had made him wait for +them to write to me, and he gave me three letters and three dozen +of gloves which they had presented me. The letters urged me to +come and spend a month with them, and gave me to understand that I +should be well pleased with my treatment. I had not the courage +to return to a town, where with my reputation I should have been +obliged to draw horoscopes for all the young ladies or to make +enemies by refusing. + +After I had read the letters from Grenoble I went to the convent +and announced my presence, and then entered the parlour which +M---- M---- had indicated. She soon came down with the pretty +boarder, who feebly sustained my part in her amorous ecstacies. +She had not yet completed her twelfth year, but she was extremely +tall and well developed for her age. Gentleness, liveliness, +candour, and wit were united in her features, and gave her +expression an exquisite charm. She wore a well-made corset which +disclosed a white throat, to which the fancy easily added the two +spheres which would soon appear there. Her entrancing face, her +raven locks, and her ivory throat indicated what might be +concealed, and my vagrant imagination made her into a budding +Venus. I began by telling her that she was very pretty, and would +make her future husband a happy man. I knew she would blush at +that. It may be cruel, but it is thus that the language of +seduction always begins. A girl of her age who does not blush at +the mention of marriage is either an idiot or already an expert in +profligacy. In spite of this, however, the blush which mounts to +a young girl's cheek at the approach of such ideas is a puzzling +problem. Whence does it arise? It may be from pure simplicity, +it may be from shame, and often from a mixture of both feelings. +Then comes the fight between vice and virtue, and it is usually +virtue which has to give in. The desires--the servants of vice-- +usually attain their ends. As I knew the young boarder from M---- +M----'s description, I could not be ignorant of the source of +those blushes which added a fresh attraction to her youthful +charms. + +Pretending not to notice anything, I talked to M---- M---- for a +few moments, and then returned to the assault. She had regained +her calm. + +"What age are you, pretty one?" said I. + +"I am thirteen." + +"You are wrong," said M---- M----, "you have not +yet completed your twelfth year." + +"The time will come," said I, "when you will diminish the tale of +your years instead of increasing it." + +"I shall never tell a lie, sir; I am sure of that." + +"So you want to be a nun, do you?" + +"I have not yet received my vocation; but even if I live in the +world I need not be a liar." + +"You are wrong; you will begin to lie as soon as you have a +lover." + +"Will my lover tell lies, too?" + +"Certainly he will." + +"If the matter were really so, then, I should have a bad opinion +of love; but I do not believe it, for I love my sweetheart here, +and I never conceal the truth from her." + +"Yes, but loving a man is a different thing to loving a woman." + +"No, it isn't; it's just the same." + +"Not so, for you do not go to bed with a woman and you do with +your husband." + +"That's no matter, my love would be the same." + +"What? You would not rather sleep with me with M---- M----?" + +"No, indeed I should not, because you are a man and would see me." + +"You don't want a man to see you, then?" + +"No." + +"Do you think you are so ugly, then?" + +At this she turned to M---- M---- and said, with evident vexation, +"I am not really ugly, am I?" + +"No, darling," said M---- M----, bursting with laughter, "it is +quite the other way; you are very pretty." With these words she +took her on her knee and embraced her tenderly. + +"Your corset is too tight; you can't possibly have such a small +waist as that." + +"You make a mistake, you can put your hand there and see for +yourself." + +"I can't believe it." + +M---- M---- then held her close to the grill and told me to see +for myself. At the same moment she turned up her dress. + +"You were right," said I, "and I owe you an apology;" but in my +heart I cursed the grating and the chemise. + +"My opinion is," said I to M---- M----, "that we have here a +little boy." + +I did not wait for a reply, but satisfied myself by my sense of +touch as to her sex, and I could see that the little one and her +governess were both pleased that my mind was at rest on the +subject. + +I drew my hand away, and the little girl looked at M---- M----, +and reassured by her smiling air asked if she might go away for a +moment. I must have reduced her to a state in which a moment's +solitude was necessary, and I myself was in a very excited +condition. + +As soon as she was gone I said to M---- M----, + +"Do you know that what you have shewn me has made me unhappy?" + +"Has it? Why?" + +"Because your boarder is charming, and I am longing to enjoy her." + +"I am sorry for that, for you can't possibly go any further; and +besides, I know you, and even if you could satisfy your passion +without danger to her, I would not give her up to you, you would +spoil her." + +"How?" + +"Do you think that after enjoying you she would care to enjoy me? +I should lose too heavily by the comparison." + +"Give me your hand." + +"No." + +"Stay, one moment." + +"I don't want to see anything." + +"Not a little bit?" + +"Nothing at all." + +"Are you angry with me, then?" + +"Not at all. If you have been pleased I am glad, and if you have +filled her with desires she will love me all the better." + +"How pleasant it would be, sweetheart, if we could all three of us +be together alone and at liberty!" + +"Yes; but it is impossible." + +"Are you sure that no inquisitive eye is looking upon us?" + +"Quite sure." + +"The height of that fatal grill has deprived me of the sight of +many charms." + +"Why didn't you go to the other parlour it is much lower there." + +"Let us go there, then." + +"Not to-day; I should not be able to give any reason for the +change." + +"I will come again to-morrow, and start for Lyons in the evening." + +The little boarder came back, and I stood up facing her. I had a +number of beautiful seals and trinkets hanging from my watch- +chain, and I had not had the time to put myself in a state of +perfect decency again. + +She noticed it, and by way of pretext she asked if she might look +at them. + +"As long as you like; you may look at them and touch them as +well." + +M---- M---- foresaw what would happen and left the room, saying +that she would soon be back. I had intended to deprive the young +boarder of all interest in my seals by shewing her a curiosity of +another kind. She did not conceal her pleasure in satisfying her +inquisitiveness on an object which was quite new to her, and which +she was able to examine minutely for the first time in her life. +But soon an effusion changed her curiosity into surprise, and I +did not interrupt her in her delighted gaze. + +I saw M---- M---- coming back slowly, and I lowered my shirt +again, and sat down. My watch and chains were still on the ledge +of the grating, and M---- M---- asked her young friend if the +trinkets had pleased her. + +"Yes," she replied, but in a dreamy and melancholy voice. She had +learnt so much in the course of less than two hours that she had +plenty to think over. I spent the rest of the day in telling M---- +M---- the adventures I had encountered since I had left her; but +as I had not time to finish my tale I promised to return the next +day at the same time. + +The little girl, who had been listening to me all the time, though +I appeared to be only addressing her friend, said that she longed +to know the end of my adventure with the Duke of Matelone's +mistress. + +I supped with the fair Desarmoises, and after giving her sundry +proofs of my affection till midnight, and telling her that I only +stopped on for her sake, I went to bed. + +The next day after dinner I returned to the convent, and having +sent up my name to M---- M---- I entered the room where the +grating was more convenient. + +Before long M---- M---- arrived alone, but she anticipated my +thoughts by telling me that her pretty friend would soon join her. + +"You have fired her imagination. She has told me all about it, +playing a thousand wanton tricks, and calling me her dear husband. +You have seduced the girl, and I am very glad you are going or +else you would drive her mad. You will see how she has dressed +herself." + +"Are you sure of her discretion?" + +"Perfectly, but I hope you won't do anything in my presence. When +I see the time coming I will leave the room." + +"You are an angel, dearest, but you might be something better than +that if you would--" + +"I want nothing for myself; it is out of the question." + +"You could--" + +"No, I will have nothing to do with a pastime which would rekindle +fires that are hardly yet quenched. I have spoken; I suffer, but +let us say no more about it." + +At this moment the young adept came in smiling, with her eyes full +of fire. She was dressed in a short pelisse, open in front, and +an embroidered muslin skirt which did not go beyond her knees. +She looked like a sylph. + +We had scarcely sat down when she reminded me of the place where +my tale had stopped. I continued my recital, and when I was +telling them how Donna Lucrezia shewed me Leonilda naked, M---- +M---- went out, and the sly little puss asked me how I assured +myself that my daughter was a maid. + +I took bold of her through the fatal grating, against which she +placed her pretty body, and shewed her how assured myself of the +fact, and the girl liked it so much that she pressed my hand to +the spot. She then gave me her hand that I might share her +pleasure, and whilst this enjoyable occupation was in progress +M---- M---- appeared. My sweetheart said hastily,-- + +"Never mind, I told her all about it. She is a good creature and +will not be vexed." Accordingly M---- M---- pretended not to see +anything, and the precocious little girl wiped her hand in a kind +of voluptuous ecstacy, which shewed how well she was pleased. + +I proceeded with my history, but when I came to the episode of the +poor girl who was 'tied', describing all the trouble I had vainly +taken with her, the little boarder got so curious that she placed +herself in the most seducing attitude so that I might be able to +shew her what I did. Seeing this M---- M---- made her escape. + +"Kneel down on the ledge, and leave the rest to me," said the +little wanton. + +The reader will guess what she meant, and I have no doubt that she +would have succeeded in her purpose if the fire which consumed me +had not distilled itself away just at the happy moment. + +The charming novice felt herself sprinkled, but after ascertaining +that nothing more could be done she withdrew in some vexation. My +fingers, however, consoled her for the disappointment, and I had +the pleasure of seeing her look happy once more. + +I left these charming creatures in the evening, promising to visit +them again in a year, but as I walked home I could not help +reflecting how often these asylums, supposed to be devoted to +chastity and prayer, contain in themselves the hidden germs of +corruption. How many a timorous and trustful mother is persuaded +that the child of her affection will escape the dangers of the +world by taking refuge in the cloister. But behind these bolts +and bars desires grow to a frenzied extreme; they crave in vain to +be satisfied. + +When I returned to the inn I took leave of the wounded man, whom I +was happy to see out of danger. In vain I urged him to make use +of my purse; he told me, with an affectionate embrace, that he had +sufficient money, and if not, he had only to write to his father. +I promised to stop at Lyons, and to oblige Desarmoises to desist +from any steps he might be taking against them, telling them I had +a power over him which would compel him to obey. I kept my word. +After we had kissed and said good-bye, I took his future bride +into my room that we might sup together and enjoy ourselves till +midnight; but she could not have been very pleased with my +farewell salute, for I was only able to prove my love for her +once, as M---- M----'s young friend had nearly exhausted me. + +I started at day-break, and the next day I reached the "Hotel du +Parc," at Lyons. I sent for Desarmoises, and told him plainly +that his daughter's charms had seduced me, that I thought her +lover worthy of her, and that I expected him out of friendship for +me to consent to the marriage. I went further, and told him that +if he did not consent to everything that very instant I could no +longer be his friend, and at this he gave in. He executed the +requisite document in the presence of two witnesses, and I sent it +to Chamberi by an express messenger. + +This false marquis made me dine with him in his poor house. There +was nothing about his younger daughter to remind me of the elder, +and his wife inspired me with pity. Before I left I managed to +wrap up six Louis in a piece of paper, and gave it to her without +the knowledge of her husband. A grateful look shewed me how +welcome the present was. + +I was obliged to go to Paris, so I gave Desarmoises sufficient +money for him to go to Strasburg, and await me there in company +with my Spaniard. + +I thought myself wise in only taking Costa, but the inspiration +came from my evil genius. + +I took the Bourbonnais way, and on the third day I arrived at +Paris, and lodged at the Hotel du St. Esprit, in the street of the +same name. + +Before going to bed I sent Costa with a note to Madame d'Urfe, +promising to come and dine with her the next day. Costa was a +good-looking young fellow, and as he spoke French badly and was +rather a fool I felt sure that Madame d'Urfe would take him for +some extraordinary being. She wrote to say that she was +impatiently expecting me. + +"How did the lady receive you, Costa?" + +"She looked into a mirror, sir, and said some words I could make +nothing of; then she went round the room three times burning +incense; then she came up to me with a majestic air and looked me +in the face; and at last she smiled very pleasantly, and told me +to wait for a reply in the ante-chamber." + + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH, Vol. 4c, RETURN TO NAPLES +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + diff --git a/old/jcrnp10.zip b/old/jcrnp10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..42a5b20 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcrnp10.zip diff --git a/old/jcrnp11.txt b/old/jcrnp11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..76989cb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcrnp11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5300 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Return to Naples, by Jacques Casanova +#18 in our series by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 +ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH, Volume 4c--RETURN TO NAPLES + + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR +MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED +BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + + + + +RETURN TO NAPLES + +ROME--NAPLES--BOLOGNA + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Cardinal Passianei--The Pope--Masiuccia--I Arrive At Naples + +Cardinal Passionei received me in a large hall where he was +writing. He begged me to wait till he had finished, but he could +not ask me to take a seat as he occupied the only chair that his +vast room contained. + +When he had put down his pen, he rose, came to me, and after +informing me that he would tell the Holy Father of my visit, he +added,-- + +"My brother Cornaro might have made a better choice, as he knows +the Pope does not like me." + +"He thought it better to choose the man who is esteemed than the +man who is merely liked." + +"I don't know whether the Pope esteems me, but I am sure he knows +I don't esteem him. I both liked and esteemed him before he was +pope, and I concurred in his election, but since he has worn the +tiara it's a different matter; he has shewn himself too much of a +'coglione'." + +"The conclave ought to have chosen your eminence." + +"No, no; I'm a root-and-branch reformer, and my hand would not +have been stayed for fear of the vengeance of the guilty, and God +alone knows what would have come of that. The only cardinal fit +to be pope was Tamburini; but it can't be helped now. I hear +people coming; good-bye, come again to-morrow." + +What a delightful thing to have heard a cardinal call the Pope a +fool, and name Tamburini as a fit person. I did not lose a moment +in noting this pleasant circumstance down: it was too precious a +morsel to let slip. But who was Tamburini? I had never heard of +him. I asked Winckelmann, who dined with me. + +"He's a man deserving of respect for his virtues, his character, +his firmness, and his farseeing intelligence. He has never +disguised his opinion of the Jesuits, whom he styles the fathers +of deceits, intrigues, and lies; and that's what made Passionei +mention him. I think, with him, that Tamburini would be a great +and good pope." + +I will here note down what I heard at Rome nine years later from +the mouth of a tool of the Jesuits. The Cardinal Tamburini was at +the last gasp, and the conversation turned upon him, when somebody +else said,-- + +"This Benedictine cardinal is an impious fellow after all; he is +on his death-bed, and he has asked for the viaticum, without +wishing to purify his soul by confession." + +I did not make any remark, but feeling as if I should like to know +the truth of the matter I asked somebody about it next day, my +informant being a person who must have known the truth, and could +not have had any motive for disguising the real facts of the case. +He told me that the cardinal had said mass three days before, and +that if he had not asked for a confessor it was doubtless because +he had nothing to confess. + +Unfortunate are they that love the truth, and do not seek it out +at its source. I hope the reader will pardon this digression, +which is not without interest. + +Next day I went to see Cardinal Passionei, who told me I was quite +right to come early, as he wanted to learn all about my escape +from The Leads, of which he had heard some wonderful tales told. + +"I shall be delighted to satisfy your eminence, but the story is a +long one." + +"All the better; they say you tell it well." + +"But, my lord, am I to sit down on the floor?" + +"No, no; your dress is too good for that." + +He rang his bell, and having told one of his gentlemen to send up +a seat, a servant brought in a stool. A seat without a back and +without arms! It made me quite angry. I cut my story short, told +it badly, and had finished in a quarter of an hour. + +"I write better than you speak," said he. + +"My lord, I never speak well except when I am at my ease." + +"But you are not afraid of me?" + +"No, my lord, a true man and a philosopher can never make me +afraid; but this stool of yours . . . ." + +"You like to be at your ease, above all things." + +"Take this, it is the funeral oration of Prince Eugene; I make you +a present of it. I hope you will approve of my Latinity. You can +kiss the Pope's feet tomorrow at ten o'clock." + +When I got home, as I reflected on the character of this strange +cardinal--a wit, haughty, vain, and boastful, I resolved to make +him a fine present. It was the 'Pandectarum liber unicus' which +M. de F. had given me at Berne, and which I did not know what to +do with. It was a folio well printed on fine paper, choicely +bound, and in perfect preservation. As chief librarian the +present should be a valuable one to him, all the more as he had a +large private library, of which my friend the Abbe Winckelmann was +librarian. I therefore wrote a short Latin letter, which I +enclosed in another to Winckelmann, whom I begged to present my +offering to his eminence. + +I thought it was as valuable as his funeral oration at any rate, +and I hoped that he would give me a more comfortable chair for the +future. + +Next morning, at the time appointed, I went to Monte Cavallo, +which ought to be called Monte Cavalli, as it gets its name from +two fine statues of horses standing on a pedestal in the midst of +the square, where the Holy Father's palace is situated. + +I had no real need of being presented to the Pope by anyone, as +any Christian is at liberty to go in when he sees the door open. +Besides I had known His Holiness when he was Bishop of Padua; but +I had preferred to claim the honor of being introduced by a +cardinal. + +After saluting the Head of the Faithful, and kissing the holy +cross embroidered on his holy slipper, the Pope put his right hand +on my left shoulder, and said he remembered that I always forsook +the assembly at Padua, when he intoned the Rosary. + +"Holy Father, I have much worse sins than that on my conscience, +so I come prostrate at your foot to receive your absolution." + +He then gave me his benediction, and asked me very graciously what +he could do for me. + +"I beg Your Holiness to plead for me, that I may be able to return +to Venice." + +"We will speak of it to the ambassador, and then we will speak +again to you on the matter." + +"Do you often go and see Cardinal Passionei?" + +"I have been three times. He gave me his funeral oration on +Prince Eugene, and in return I sent him the 'Pandects'." + +"Has he accepted them?" + +"I think so, Holy Father." + +"If he has, he will send Winckelmann to pay you for them." + +"That would be treating me like a bookseller; I will not receive +any payment." + +"Then he will return the volume of the 'Pandects'; we are sure of +it, he always does so." + +"If his eminence returns me the 'Pandects', I will return him his +funeral oration." + +At this the Pope laughed till his sides shook. + +"We shall be pleased to hear the end of the story without anyone +being informed of our innocent curiosity." + +With these words, a long benediction delivered with much unction +informed me that my audience was at an end. + +As I was leaving His Holiness's palace, I was accosted by an old +abbe, who asked me respectfully if I were not the M. Casanova who +had escaped from The Leads. + +"Yes," said I, "I am the man." + +"Heaven be praised, worthy sir, that I see you again in such good +estate!" + +"But whom have I the honour of addressing?" + +"Don't you recollect me? I am Momolo, formerly gondolier at +Venice." + +"Have you entered holy orders, then?" + +"Not at all, but here everyone wears the cassock. I am the first +scopatore (sweeper) of His Holiness the Pope." + +"I congratulate you on your appointment, but you mustn't mind me +laughing." + +"Laugh as much as you like. My wife and daughters laugh when I +put on the cassock and bands, and I laugh myself, but here the +dress gains one respect. Come and see us." + +"Where do you live?" + +"Behind the Trinity of Monti; here's my address." + +"I will come to-night." + +I went home delighted with this meeting, and determined to enjoy +the evening with my Venetian boatman. I got my brother to come +with me, and I told him how the Pope had received me. + +The Abbe Winckelmann came in the afternoon and informed me that I +was fortunate enough to be high in favour with his cardinal, and +that the book I had sent him was very valuable; it was a rare +work, and in much better condition than the Vatican copy. + +"I am commissioned to pay you for it." + +"I have told his eminence that it was a present." + +"He never accepts books as presents, and he wants yours for his +own library; and as he is librarian of the Vatican Library he is +afraid lest people might say unpleasant things." + +"That's very well, but I am not a bookseller; and as this book +only cost me the trouble of accepting it, I am determined only to +sell it at the same price. Pray ask the cardinal to honour me by +accepting it." + +"He is sure to send it back to you." + +"He can if he likes, but I will send back his funeral oration, as +I am not going to be under an obligation to anyone who refuses to +take a present from me." + +Next morning the eccentric cardinal returned me my Pandects, and I +immediately returned his funeral oration, with a letter in which I +pronounced it a masterpiece of composition, though I laid barely +glanced over it in reality. My brother told me I was wrong, but I +did not trouble what he said, not caring to guide myself by his +rulings. + +In the evening my brother and I went to the 'scopatore +santissimo', who was expecting me, and had announced me to his +family as a prodigy of a man. I introduced my brother, and +proceeded to a close scrutiny of the family. I saw an elderly +woman, four girls, of whom the eldest was twenty-four, two small +boys, and above all universal ugliness. It was not inviting for a +man of voluptuous tastes, but I was there, and the best thing was +to put a good face on it; so I stayed and enjoyed myself. Besides +the general ugliness, the household presented the picture of +misery, for the 'scopatore santissimo' and his numerous family +were obliged to live on two hundred Roman crowns a year, and as +there are no perquisites attached to the office of apostolic +sweeper, he was compelled to furnish all needs out of this slender +sum. In spite of that Momolo was a most generous man. As soon as +he saw me seated he told me he should have liked to give me a good +supper, but there was only pork chops and a polenta. + +"They are very nice," said I; "but will you allow me to send for +half a dozen flasks of Orvieto from my lodging?" + +"You are master here." + +I wrote a note to Costa, telling him to bring the six flasks +directly, with a cooked ham. He came in half an hour, and the +four girls cried when they saw him, "What a fine fellow!" I saw +Costa was delighted with this reception, and said to Momolo, + +"If you like him as well as your girls I will let him stay." + +Costa was charmed with such honour being shewn him, and after +thanking me went into the kitchen to help the mother with the +polenta. + +The large table was covered with a clean cloth, and soon after +they brought in two huge dishes of polenta and an enormous pan +full of chops. We were just going to begin when a knocking on the +street door was heard. + +"'Tis Signora Maria and her mother," said one of the boys. + +At this announcement I saw the four girls pulling a wry face. +"Who asked them?" said one. "What do they want?" said another. +"What troublesome people they are!" said a third. "They might +have stayed at home," said the fourth. But the good, kindly +father said, "My children, they are hungry, and they shall share +what Providence has given us." + +I was deeply touched with the worthy man's kindness. I saw that +true Christian charity is more often to be found in the breasts of +the poor than the rich, who are so well provided for that they +cannot feel for the wants of others. + +While I was making these wholesome reflections the two hungry ones +came in. One was a young woman of a modest and pleasant aspect, +and the other her mother, who seemed very humble and as if ashamed +of their poverty. The daughter saluted the company with that +natural grace which is a gift of nature, apologizing in some +confusion for her presence, and saying that she would not have +taken the liberty to come if she had known there was company. The +worthy Momolo was the only one who answered her, and he said, +kindly, that she had done quite right to come, and put her a chair +between my brother and myself. I looked at her and thought her a +perfect beauty. + +Then the eating began and there was no more talking. The polenta +was excellent, the chops delicious, and the ham perfect, and in +less than an hour the board was as bare as if there had been +nothing on it; but the Orvieto kept the company in good spirts. +They began to talk of the lottery which was to be drawn the day +after next, and all the girls mentioned the numbers on which they +had risked a few bajocchi. + +"If I could be sure of one number," said I, "I would stake +something on it." + +Mariuccia told me that if I wanted a number she could give me one. +I laughed at this offer, but in the gravest way she named me the +number 27. + +"Is the lottery still open?" I asked the Abbe Momolo. + +"Till midnight," he replied, "and if you like I will go and get +the number for you." + +"Here are fifty crowns," said I, "put twenty-five crowns on 27- +this for these five young ladies; and the other twenty-five on 27 +coming out the fifth number, and this I will keep for myself." + +He went out directly and returned with the two tickets. + +My pretty neighbour thanked me and said she was sure of winning, +but that she did not think I should succeed as it was not probable +that 27 would come out fifth. + +"I am sure of it," I answered, "for you are the fifth young lady I +saw in this house." This made everybody laugh. Momolo's wife +told me I would have done much better if I had given the money to +the poor, but her husband told her to be quiet, as she did not +know my intent. My brother laughed, and told me I had done a +foolish thing. "I do, sometimes," said I, "but we shall see how +it turns out, and when one plays one is obliged either to win or +lose." + +I managed to squeeze my fair neighbour's hand, and she returned +the pressure with all her strength. From that time I knew that my +fate with Mariuccia was sealed. I left them at midnight, begging +the worthy Momolo to ask me again in two days' time, that we might +rejoice together over our gains. On our way home my brother said +I had either become as rich as Croesus or had gone mad. I told +him that both suppositions were incorrect, but that Mariuccia was +as handsome as an angel, and he agreed. + +Next day Mengs returned to Rome, and I supped with him and his +family. He had an exceedingly ugly sister, who for all that, was +a good and talented woman. She had fallen deeply in love with my +brother, and it was easy to see that the flame was not yet +extinguished, but whenever she spoke to him, which she did +whenever she could get an opportunity, he looked another way. + +She was an exquisite painter of miniatures, and a capital hand at +catching a likeness. To the best of my belief she is still living +at Rome with Maroni her husband. She often used to speak of my +brother to me, and one day she said that he must be the most +thankless of men or he would not despise her so. I was not +curious enough to enquire what claim she had to his gratitude. + +Mengs's wife was a good and pretty woman, attentive to her +household duties and very submissive to her husband, though she +could not have loved him, for he was anything but amiable. He was +obstinate and fierce in his manner, and when he dined at home he +made a point of not leaving the table before he was drunk; out of +his own house he was temperate to the extent of not drinking +anything but water. His wife carried her obedience so far as to +serve as his model for all the nude figures he painted. I spoke +to her one day about this unpleasant obligation, and she said that +her confessor had charged her to fulfil it, "for," said he, "if +your husband has another woman for a model he will be sure to +enjoy her before painting her, and that sin would be laid to your +charge." + +After supper, Winckelmann, who was as far gone as all the other +male guests, played with Mengs's children. There was nothing of +the pedant about this philosopher; he loved children and young +people, and his cheerful disposition made him delight in all kinds +of enjoyment. + +Next day, as I was going to pay my court to the Pope, I saw Momolo +in the first ante-chamber, and I took care to remind him of the +polenta for the evening. + +As soon as the Pope saw me, he said,-- + +"The Venetian ambassador has informed us that if you wish to +return to your native land, you must go and present yourself +before the secretary of the Tribunal." + +"Most Holy Father, I am quite ready to take this step, if Your +Holiness will grant me a letter of commendation written with your +own hand. Without this powerful protection I should never dream +of exposing myself to the risk of being again shut up in a place +from which I escaped by a miracle and the help of the Almighty." + +"You are gaily dressed; you do not look as if you were going to +church." + +"True, most Holy Father, but neither am I going to a ball." + +"We have heard all about the presents being sent back. Confess +that you did so to gratify your pride." + +"Yes, but also to lower a pride greater than mine." + +The Pope smiled at this reply, and I knelt down and begged him to +permit me to present the volume of Pandects to the Vatican +Library. By way of reply he gave me his blessing, which +signifies, in papal language, "Rise; your request is granted." + +"We will send you," said he, "a mark of our singular affection for +you without your having to pay any fees." + +A second blessing bid me begone. I have often felt what a good +thing it would be if this kind of dismissal could be employed in +general society to send away importunate petitioners, to whom one +does not dare say, "Begone." + +I was extremely curious to know what the Pope had meant by "a mark +of our singular affection." I was afraid that it would be a +blessed rosary, with which I should not have known what to do. + +When I got home I sent the book by Costa to the Vatican, and then +I went to dine with Mengs. While we were eating the soup the +winning numbers from the lottery were brought in. My brother +glanced at them and looked at me with astonishment. I was not +thinking of the subject at that moment, and his gaze surprised me. + +"Twenty-seven," he cried, "came out fifth." + +"All the better," said I, "we shall have some amusement out of +it." + +I told the story to Mengs, who said,-- + +"It's a lucky folly for you this time; but it always is a folly." + +He was quite right, and I told him that I agreed with him; but I +added that to make a worthy use of the fifteen hundred roman +crowns which fortune had given me, I should go and spend fifteen +days at Naples. + +"I will come too," said the Abbe Alfani. "I will pass for your +secretary." + +"With all my heart," I answered, "I shall keep you to your word." + +I asked Winckelmann to come and eat polenta with the scopatore +santissimo, and told my brother to shew him the way; and I then +called on the Marquis Belloni, my banker, to look into my +accounts, and to get a letter of credit on the firm at Naples, who +were his agents. I still had two hundred thousand francs: I had +jewellery worth thirty thousand francs, and fifty thousand florins +at Amsterdam. + +I got to Momolo's in the dusk of the evening, and I found +Winckelmann and my brother already there; but instead of mirth +reigning round the board I saw sad faces on all sides. + +"What's the matter with the girls?" I asked Momolo. + +"They are vexed that you did not stake for them in the same way as +you did for yourself." + +"People are never satisfied. If I had staked for them as I did +for myself, and the number had come out first instead of fifth, +they would have got nothing, and they would have been vexed then. +Two days ago they had nothing, and now that they have twenty-seven +pounds apiece they ought to be contented." + +"That's just what I tell their, but all women are the same." + +"And men too, dear countryman, unless they are philosophers. Gold +does not spell happiness, and mirth can only be found in hearts +devoid of care. Let us say no more about it, but be happy." + +Costa placed a basket containing ten packets of sweets, upon the +table. + +"I will distribute them," said I, "when everybody is here." + +On this, Momolo's second daughter told me that Mariuccia and her +mother were not coming, but that they would send them the sweets. + +"Why are they not coming?" + +"They had a quarrel yesterday," said the father, "and Mariuccia, +who was in the right, went away saying that she would never come +here again." + +"You ungrateful girls!" said I, to my host's daughters, "don't you +know that it is to her that you owe your winnings, for she gave me +the number twenty-seven, which I should never have thought of. +Quick! think of some way to make her come, or I will go away and +take all the sweets with me." + +"You are quite right," said Momolo. + +The mortified girls looked at one another and begged their father +to fetch her. + +"Ira," said he, "that won't do; you made her say that she would +never come here again, and you must make up the quarrel." + +They held a short consultation, and then, asking Costa to go with +them, they went to fetch her. + +In half an hour they returned in triumph, and Costa was quite +proud of the part he had taken in the reconciliation. I then +distributed the sweets, taking care to give the two best packets +to the fair Mary. + +A noble polenta was placed upon the board, flanked by two large +dishes of pork chops. But Momolo, who knew my tastes, and whom I +had made rich in the person of his daughters, added to the feast +some delicate dishes and some excellent wine. Mariuccia was +simply dressed, but her elegance and beauty and the modesty of her +demeanour completely seduced me. + +We could only express our mutual flames by squeezing each other's +hands; and she did this so feelingly that I could not doubt her +love. As we were going out I took care to go downstairs beside +her and asked if I could not meet her by herself, to which she +replied by making an appointment with me far the next day at eight +o'clock at the Trinity of Monti. + +Mariuccia was tall and shapely, a perfect picture, as fair as a +white rose, and calculated to inspire voluptuous desires. She had +beautiful light brown hair, dark blue eyes, and exquisitely arched +eyelids. Her mouth, the vermilion of her lips, and her ivory +teeth were all perfect. Her well-shaped forehead gave her an air +approaching the majestic. Kindness and gaiety sparkled in her +eyes; while her plump white hands, her rounded finger-tips, her +pink nails, her breast, which the corset seemed scarcely able to +restrain, her dainty feet, and her prominent hips, made her worthy +of the chisel of Praxiteles. She was just on her eighteenth year, +and so far had escaped the connoisseurs. By a lucky chance I came +across her in a poor and wretched street, and I was fortunate +enough to insure her happiness. + +It may easily be believed that I did not fail to keep the +appointment, and when she was sure I had seen her she went out of +the church. I followed her at a considerable distance: she +entered a ruined building, and I after her. She climbed a flight +of steps which seemed to be built in air, and when she had reached +the top she turned. + +"No one will come and look for me here," said she, "so we can talk +freely together." + +I sat beside her on a stone, and I then declared my passionate +love for her. + +"Tell me," I added, "what I can do to make you happy; for I wish +to possess you, but first to shew my deserts." + +"Make me happy, and I will yield to your desires, for I love you." + +"Tell me what I can do." + +"You can draw me out of the poverty and misery which overwhelm me. +I live with my mother, who is a good woman, but devout to the +point of superstition; she will damn my soul in her efforts to +save it. She finds fault with my keeping myself clean, because +I have to touch myself when I wash, and that might give rise to +evil desires. + +"If you had given me the money you made me win in the lottery as a +simple alms she would have made me refuse it, because you might +have had intentions. She allows me to go by myself to mass +because our confessor told her she might do so; but I dare not +stay away a minute beyond the time, except on feast days, when I +am allowed to pray in the church for two or three hours. We can +only meet here, but if you wish to soften my lot in life you can +do so as follows: + +"A fine young man, who is a hairdresser, and bears an excellent +character, saw me at Momolo's a fortnight ago, and met me at the +church door next day and gave me a letter. He declared himself my +lover, and said that if I could bring him a dowry of four hundred +crowns, he could open a shop, furnish it, and marry me. + +"'I am poor,' I answered, 'and I have only a hundred crowns in +charity tickets, which my confessor keeps for me.' Now I have two +hundred crowns, for if I marry, my mother will willingly give me +her share of the money you made us gain. You can therefore make +me happy by getting me tickets to the amount of two hundred crowns +more. Take the tickets to my confessor, who is a very good man +and fond of me; he will not say anything to my mother about it." + +"I needn't go about seeking for charity tickets, my angel. I will +take two hundred piastres to your confessor to-morrow, and you +must manage the rest yourself. Tell me his name, and to-morrow I +will tell you what I have done, but not here, as the wind and the +cold would be the death of me. You can leave me to find out a +room where we shall be at our ease, and without any danger of +people. suspecting that we have spent an hour together. I will +meet you at the church to-morrow at the same hour and when you see +me follow me." + +Mariuccia told me her confessor's name, and allowed me all the. +caresses possible in our uncomfortable position. The kisses she +gave me in return for mine left no doubt in my mind, as to her +love for me. As nine o'clock struck I left her, perishing with +cold, but burning with desire; my only thought being where to find +a room in which I might possess myself of the treasure the next +day. + +On leaving the ruined palace, instead of returning to the Piazza +di Spagna I turned to the left and passed along a narrow and dirty +street only inhabited by people of the lowest sort. As I slowly +walked along, a woman came out of her house and asked me politely +if I were looking for anybody. + +"I am looking for a room to let." + +"There are none here, sir, but, you will find a hundred in the +square." + +"I know it, but I want the room to be here, not for the sake of +the expense, but that I may be sure of being able to spend an hour +or so of a morning with a person in whom I am interested. I am +ready to pay anything." + +"I understand what you mean, and you should have a room in my +house if I had one to spare, but a neighbour of mine has one on +the ground floor, and if you will wait a moment I will go and +speak to her." + +"You will oblige me very much." + +"Kindly step in here." + +I entered a poor room, where all seemed wretchedness, and I saw +two children doing their lessons. Soon after, the good woman came +back and asked me to follow her. I took several pieces of money +from my pocket, and put them down on the only table which this +poor place contained. I must have seemed very generous, for the +poor mother came and kissed my hand with the utmost gratitude. So +pleasant is it to do good, that now when I have nothing left the +remembrance of the happiness I have given to others at small cost +is almost the only pleasure I enjoy. + +I went to a neighbouring house where a woman received me in an +empty room, which she told me she would let cheaply if I would pay +three months in advance, and bring in my own furniture. + +"What do you ask for the three months' rent?" + +"Three Roman crowns." + +"If you will see to the furnishing of the room this very day I +will give you twelve crowns." + +"Twelve crowns! What furniture do you want?" + +"A good clean bed, a small table covered with a clean cloth, four +good chairs, and a large brazier with plenty of fire in it, for I +am nearly perishing of cold here. I shall only come occasionally +in the morning, and I shall leave by noon at the latest." + +"Come at three o'clock, then, to-day, and you will find everything +to your satisfaction." + +From there I went to the confessor. He was a French monk, about +sixty, a fine and benevolent-looking man, who won one's respect +and confidence. + +"Reverend father," I began, "I saw at the house of Abbe Momolo, +'scoptore santissimo', a young girl named Mary, whose confessor +you are. I fell in love with her, and offered her money to try +and seduce her. She replied that instead of trying to lead her +into sin I would do better to get her some charity tickets that +she might be able to marry a young man who loved her, and would +make her happy. I was touched by what she said, but my passion +still remained. I spoke to her again, and said that I would give +her two hundred crowns for nothing, and that her mother should +keep them. + +"'That would be my ruin,' said she; 'my mother would think the +money was the price of sin, and would not accept it. If you are +really going to be so generous, take the money to my confessor, +and ask him to do what he can for my marriage.'" + +"Here, then, reverend father, is the sum of money for the good +girl; be kind enough to take charge of it, and I will trouble her +no more. I am going to Naples the day after to-morrow, and I hope +when I come back she will be married." + +The good confessor took the hundred sequins and gave me a receipt, +telling me that in interesting myself on behalf of Mariuccia I was +making happy a most pure and innocent dove, whom he had confessed +since she was five years old, and that he had often told her that +she might communicate without making her confession because he +knew she was incapable of mortal sin. + +"Her mother," he added, "is a sainted woman, and as soon as I have +enquired into the character of the future husband I will soon +bring the marriage about. No one shall ever know from whom this +generous gift comes." + +After putting this matter in order I dined with the Chevalier +Mengs, and I willingly consented to go with the whole family to +the Aliberti Theatre that evening. I did not forget, however, to +go and inspect the room I had taken. I found all my orders +executed, and I gave twelve crowns to the landlady and took the +key, telling her to light the fire at seven every morning. + +So impatient did I feel for the next day to come that I thought +the opera detestable, and the night for me was a sleepless one. + +Next morning I went to the church before the time, and when +Mariuccia came, feeling sure that she had seen me, I went out. +She followed me at a distance, and when I got to the door of the +lodging I turned for her to be sure that it was I, and then went +in and found the room well warmed. Soon after Mariuccia came in, +looking timid, confused, and as if she were doubtful of the path +she was treading. I clasped her to my arms, and reassured her by +my tender embraces; and her courage rose when I shewed her the +confessor's receipt, and told her that the worthy man had promised +to care for her marriage. She kissed my hand in a transport of +delight, assuring me that she would never forget my kindness. +Then, as I urged her to make me a happy man, she said,-- + +"We have three hours before us, as I told my mother I was going to +give thanks to God for having made me a winner in the lottery." + +This reassured me, and I took my time, undressing her by degrees, +and unveiling her charms one by one, to my delight, without the +slightest attempt at resistance on her part. All the time she +kept her eyes fixed on mine, as if to soothe her modesty; but when +I beheld and felt all her charms I was in an ecstasy. What a +body; what beauties! Nowhere was there the slightest +imperfection. She was like Venus rising from the foam of the sea. +I carried her gently to the bed, and while she strove to hide her +alabaster breasts and the soft hair which marked the entrance to +the sanctuary, I undressed in haste, and consummated the sweetest +of sacrifices, without there being the slightest doubt in my mind +of the purity of the victim. In the first sacrifice no doubt the +young priestess felt some pain, but she assured me out of delicacy +that she had not been hurt, and at the second assault she shewed +that she shared my flames. I was going to immolate the victim for +the third time when the clock struck ten. She began to be +restless, and hurriedly put on our clothes. I had to go to +Naples, but I assured her that the desire of embracing her once +more before her marriage would hasten my return to Rome. I +promised to take another hundred crowns to her confessor, advising +her to spend the money she had won in the lottery on her +trousseau. + +"I shall be at Monolo's to-night, dearest, and you must come, too; +but we must appear indifferent to each other, though our hearts be +full of joy, lest those malicious girls suspect our mutual +understanding." + +"It is all the more necessary to be cautious," she replied, "as I +have noticed that they suspect that we love each other." + +Before we parted she thanked me for what I had done for her, and +begged me to believe that, her poverty notwithstanding, she had +given herself for love alone. + +I was the last to leave the house, and I told my landlady that I +should be away for ten or twelve days. I then went to the +confessor to give him the hundred crowns I had promised my +mistress. When the good old Frenchman heard that I had made this +fresh sacrifice that Mariuccia might be able to spend her lottery +winnings on her clothes, he told me that he would call on the +mother that very day and urge her to consent to her daughter's +marriage, and also learn where the young man lived. On my return +from Naples I heard that he had faithfully carried out his +promise. + +I was sitting at table with Mengs when a chamberlain of the Holy +Father called. When he came in he asked M. Mengs if I lived +there, and on that gentleman pointing me out, he gave me, from his +holy master, the Cross of the Order of the Golden Spur with the +diploma, and a patent under the pontifical seal, which, in my +quality as doctor of laws, made me a prothonotary-apostolic 'extra +urbem'. + +I felt that I had been highly honoured, and told the bearer that I +would go and thank my new sovereign and ask his blessing the next +day. The Chevalier Mengs embraced me as a brother, but I had the +advantage over him in not being obliged to pay anything, whereas +the great artist had to disburse twenty-five Roman crowns to have +his diploma made out. There is a saying at Rome, 'Sine efusione +sanguinis non fit remissio', which may be interpreted, Nothing +without money; and as a matter of fact, one can do anything with +money in the Holy City. + +Feeling highly flattered at the favour the Holy Father had shewn +me, I put on the cross which depended from a broad red ribbon-red +being the colour worn by the Knights of St. John of the Lateran, +the companions of the palace, 'comites palatini', or count- +palatins. About the same time poor Cahusac, author of the opera +of Zoroaster, went mad for joy on the receipt of the same order. +I was not so bad as that, but I confess, to my shame, that I was +so proud of my decoration that I asked Winckelmann whether I +should be allowed to have the cross set with diamonds and rubies. +He said I could if I liked, and if I wanted such a cross he could +get me one cheap. I was delighted, and bought it to make a show +at Naples, but I had not the face to wear it in Rome. When I went +to thank the Pope I wore the cross in my button-hole out of +modesty. Five years afterwards when I was at Warsaw, Czartoryski, +a Russian prince-palatine, made me leave it off by saying,-- + +"What are you doing with that wretched bauble? It's a drug in the +market, and no one but an impostor would wear it now." + +The Popes knew this quite well, but they continued to give the +cross to ambassadors while they also gave it to their 'valets de +chambre'. One has to wink at a good many things in Rome. + +In the evening Momolo gave me a supper by way of celebrating my +new dignity. I recouped him for the expense by holding a bank at +faro, at which I was dexterous enough to lose forty crowns to the +family, without having the slightest partiality to Mariuccia who +won like the rest. She found the opportunity to tell me that her +confessor had called on her, that she had told him where her +future husband lived, and that the worthy monk had obtained her +mother's consent to the hundred crowns being spent on her +trousseau. + +I noticed that Momolo's second daughter had taken a fancy to +Costa, and I told Momolo that I was going to Naples, but that I +would leave my man in Rome, and that if I found a marriage had +been arranged on my return I would gladly pay the expenses of the +wedding. + +Costa liked the girl, but he did not marry her then for fear of my +claiming the first-fruits. He was a fool of a peculiar kind, +though fools of all sorts are common enough. He married her a +year later after robbing me, but I shall speak of that again. + +Next day, after I had breakfasted and duly embraced my brother, I +set out in a nice carriage with the Abbe Alfani, Le Duc preceding +me on horseback, and I reached Naples at a time when everybody was +in a state of excitement because an eruption of Vesuvius seemed +imminent. At the last stage the inn-keeper made me read the will +of his father who had died during the eruption of 1754. He said +that in the year 1761 God would overwhelm the sinful town of +Naples, and the worthy host consequently advised me to return to +Rome. Alfani took the thing seriously, and said that we should do +well to be warned by so evident an indication of the will of God. +The event was predicted, therefore it had to happen. Thus a good +many people reason, but as I was not of the number I proceeded on +my way. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +My Short But Happy Stay at Naples--The Duke de Matalone My +Daughter--Donna Lucrezia--My Departure + +I shall not, dear reader, attempt the impossible, however much I +should like to describe the joy, the happiness, I may say the +ecstasy, which I experienced in returning to Naples, of which I +had such pleasant memories, and where, eighteen years ago, I had +made my first fortune in returning from Mataro. As I had come +there for the second time to keep a promise I had made to the Duke +de Matalone to come and see him at Naples, I ought to have visited +this nobleman at once; but foreseeing that from the time I did so +I should have little liberty left me, I began by enquiring after +all my old friends. + +I walked out early in the morning and called on Belloni's agent. +He cashed my letter of credit and gave me as many bank-notes as I +liked, promising that nobody should know that we did business +together. From the bankers I went to see Antonio Casanova, but +they told me he lived near Salerno, on an estate he had bought +which gave him the title of marquis. I was vexed, but I had no +right to expect to find Naples in the statu quo I left it. Polo +was dead, and his son lived at St. Lucia with his wife and +children; he was a boy when I saw him last, and though I should +have much liked to see him again I had no time to do so. + +It may be imagined that I did not forget the advocate, Castelli, +husband of my dear Lucrezia, whom I had loved so well at Rome and +Tivoli. I longed to see her face once more, and I thought of the +joy with which we should recall old times that I could never +forget. But Castelli had been dead for some years, and his widow +lived at a distance of twenty miles from Naples. I resolved not +to return to Rome without embracing her. As to Lelio Caraffa, he +was still alive and residing at the Matalone Palace. + +I returned, feeling tired with my researches, dressed with care, +and drove to the Matalone Palace, where they told me that the duke +was at table. I did not care for that but had my name sent in, +and the duke came out and did me the honour of embracing me and +thouing me, and then presented me to his wife, a daughter of the +Duke de Bovino, and to the numerous company at table. I told him +I had only come to Naples in fulfillment of the promise I had made +him at Paris. + +"Then," said he, "you must stay with me;" and, without waiting for +my answer, ordered my luggage to be brought from the inn, and my +carriage to be placed in his coach-house. I accepted his +invitation. + +One of the guests, a fine-looking man, on hearing my name +announced, said gaily,-- + +"If you bear my name, you must be one of my father's bastards." + +"No," said I, directly, "one of your mother's." + +This repartee made everybody laugh, and the gentleman who had +addressed me came and embraced me, not in the least offended. The +joke was explained to me. His name was Casalnovo, not Casanova, +and he was duke and lord of the fief of that name. + +"Did you know," said the Duke de Matalone, "that I had a son?" + +"I was told so, but did not believe it, but now I must do penance +for my incredulity, for I see before me an angel capable of +working this miracle." + +The duchess blushed, but did not reward my compliment with so much +as a glance; but all the company applauded what I had said, as it +was notorious that the duke had been impotent before his marriage. +The duke sent for his son, I admired him, and told the father that +the likeness was perfect. A merry monk, who sat at the right hand +of the duchess, said, more truthfully, that there was no likeness +at all. He had scarcely uttered the words when the duchess coolly +gave him a box on the ear, which the monk received with the best +grace imaginable. + +I talked away to the best of my ability, and in half an hour's +time I had won everybody's good graces, with the exception of the +duchess, who remained inflexible. I tried to make her talk for +two days without success; so as I did not care much about her I +left her to her pride. + +As the duke was taking me to my room he noticed my Spaniard, and +asked where my secretary was, and when he saw that it was the Abbe +Alfani, who had taken the title so as to escape the notice of the +Neapolitans, he said,-- + +"The abbe is very wise, for he has deceived so many people with +his false antiques that he might have got into trouble." + +He took me to his stables where he had some superb horses, Arabs, +English, and Andalusians; and then to his gallery, a very fine +one; to his large and choice library; and at last to his study, +where he had a fine collection of prohibited books. + +I was reading titles and turning over leaves, when the duke said,-- + +"Promise to keep the most absolute secrecy on what I am going to +shew you." + +I promised, without making any difficulty, but I expected a +surprise of some sort. He then shewed me a satire which I could +not understand, but which was meant to turn the whole Court into +ridicule. Never was there a secret so easily kept. + +"You must come to the St. Charles Theatre," said he, "and I will +present you to the handsomest ladies in Naples, and afterwards you +can go when you like, as my box is always open to my friends. I +will also introduce you to my mistress, and she, I am sure, will +always be glad to see you." + +"What! you have a mistress, have you?" + +"Yes, but only for form's sake, as I am very fond of my wife. All +the same, I am supposed to be deeply in love with her, and even +jealous, as I never introduce anyone to her, and do not allow her +to receive any visitors." + +"But does not your young and handsome duchess object to your +keeping a mistress?" + +"My wife could not possibly be jealous, as she knows that I am +impotent--except, of course, with her." + +"I see, but it sems strange; can one be said to have a mistress +whom one does not love?" + +"I did not say I loved her not; on the contrary, I am very fond of +her; she has a keen and pleasant wit, but she interests my head +rather than my heart." + +"I see; but I suppose she is ugly?" + +"Ugly? You shall see her to-night, and you can tell me what you +think of her afterwards. She is a handsome and well-educated girl +of seventeen." + +"Can she speak French?" + +"As well as a Frenchwoman." + +"I am longing to see her." + +When we got to the theatre I was introduced to several ladies, but +none of them pleased me. The king, a mere boy, sat in his box in +the middle of the theatre, surrounded by his courtiers, richly but +tastefully dressed. The pit was full and the boxes also. The +latter were ornamented with mirrors, and on that occasion were all +illuminated for some reason or other. It was a magnificent scene, +but all this glitter and light put the stage into the background. + +After we had gazed for some time at the scene, which is almost +peculiar to Naples, the duke took me to his private box and +introduced me to his friends, who consisted of all the wits in the +town. + +I have often laughed on hearing philosophers declare that the +intelligence of a nation is not so much the result of the climate +as of education. Such sages should be sent to Naples and then to +St. Petersburg, and be told to reflect, or simply to look before +them. If the great Boerhaave had lived at Naples he would have +learnt more about the nature of sulphur by observing its effects +on vegetables, and still more on animals. In Naples, and Naples +alone, water, and nothing but water, will cure diseases which are +fatal elsewhere, despite the doctors' efforts. + +The duke, who had left me to the wits for a short time, returned +and took me to the box of his mistress, who was accompanied by an +old lady of respectable appearance. As he went in he said, +"'Leonilda mia, ti presento il cavalier Don Giacomo Casanova, +Veneziano, amico mio'." + +She received me kindly and modestly, and stopped listening to the +music to talk to me. + +When a woman is pretty, one recognizes her charms instantaneously; +if one has to examine her closely, her beauty is doubtful. +Leonilda was strikingly beautiful. I smiled and looked at the +duke, who had told me that he loved her like a daughter, and that +he only kept her for form's sake. He understood the glance, and +said,-- + +"You may believe me." + +"It's credible," I replied. + +Leonilda no doubt understood what we meant, and said, with a shy +smile,-- + +"Whatever is possible is credible." + +"Quite so," said I, "but one may believe, or not believe, +according to the various degrees of possibility." + +"I think it's easier to believe than to disbelieve. You came to +Naples yesterday; that's true and yet incredible." + +"Why incredible?" + +"Would any man suppose that a stranger would come to Naples at a +time when the inhabitants are wishing themselves away?" + +"Indeed, I have felt afraid till this moment, but now I feel quite +at my ease, since, you being here, St. Januarius will surely +protect Naples." + +"Why?" + +"Because I am sure he loves you; but you are laughing at me." + +"It is such a funny idea. I am afraid that if I had a lover like +St. Januarius I should not grant him many favours." + +"Is he very ugly, then?" + +"If his portrait is a good likeness, you can see for yourself by +examining his statue." + +Gaiety leads to freedom, and freedom to friendship. Mental graces +are superior to bodily charms. + +Leonilda's frankness inspired my confidence, and I led the +conversation to love, on which she talked like a past mistress. + +"Love," said she, "unless it leads to the possession of the +beloved object, is a mere torment; if bounds are placed to +passion, love must die." + +"You are right; and the enjoyment of a beautiful object is not a +true pleasure unless it be preceded by love." + +"No doubt if love precedes it accompanies, but I do not think it +necessarily follows, enjoyment." + +"True, it often makes love to cease." + +"She is a selfish daughter, then, to kill her father; and if after +enjoyment love still continue in the heart of one, it is worse +than murder, for the party in which love still survives must needs +be wretched." + +"You are right; and from your strictly logical arguments I +conjecture that you would have the senses kept in subjection: that +is too hard!" + +"I would have nothing to do with that Platonic affection devoid of +love, but I leave you to guess what my maxim would be." + +"To love and enjoy; to enjoy and love. Turn and turn about." + +"You have hit the mark." + +With this Leonilda burst out laughing, and the duke kissed her +hand. Her governess, not understanding French, was attending to +the opera, but I was in flames. + +Leonilda was only seventeen, and was as pretty a girl as the heart +could desire. + +The duke repeated a lively epigram of Lafontaine's on "Enjoyment," +which is only found in the first edition of his works. It begins +as follows:-- + + "La jouissance et les desirs + Sont ce que l'homme a de plus rare; + Mais ce ne sons pas vrais plaisirs + Des le moment qu'on les separe." + +I have translated this epigram into Italian and Latin; in the +latter language I was almost able to render Lafontaine line for +line; but I had to use twenty lines of Italian to translate the +first ten lines of the French. Of course this argues nothing as +to the superiority of the one language over the other. + +In the best society at Naples one addresses a newcomer in the +second person singular as a peculiar mark of distinction. This +puts both parties at their ease without diminishing their mutual +respect for one another. + +Leonilda had already turned my first feeling of admiration into +something much warmer, and the opera, which lasted for five hours, +seemed over in a moment. + +After the two ladies had gone the duke said, "Now we must part, +unless you are fond of games of chance." + +"I don't object to them when I am to play with good hands." + +"Then follow me; ten or twelve of my friends will play faro, and +then sit down to a cold collation, but I warn you it is a secret, +as gaming is forbidden. I will answer for you keeping your own +counsel, however." + +"You may do so." + +He took me to the Duke de Monte Leone's. We went up to the third +floor, passed through a dozen rooms, and at last reached the +gamester's chamber. A polite-looking banker, with a bank of about +four hundred sequins, had the cards in his hands. The duke +introduced me as his friend, and made me sit beside him. I was +going to draw out my purse, but I was told that debts were not +paid for twenty-four hours after they were due. The banker gave +me a pack of cards, with a little basket containing a thousand +counters. I told the company that I should consider each counter +as a Naples ducat. In less than two hours my basket was empty. I +stopped playing and proceeded to enjoy my supper. It was arranged +in the Neapolitan style, and consisted of an enormous dish of +macaroni and ten or twelve different kinds of shellfish which are +plentiful on the Neapolitan coasts. When we left I took care not +to give the duke. time to condole with me on my loss, but began +to talk to him about his delicious Leonilda. + +Early next day he sent a page to my room to tell me that if I +wanted to come with him and kiss the king's hand I must put on my +gala dress. I put on a suit of rose-coloured velvet, with gold +spangles, and I had the great honour of kissing a small hand, +covered with chilblains, belonging to a boy of nine. The Prince +de St. Nicander brought up the young king to the best of his +ability, but he was naturally a kindly, just, and generous +monarch; if he had had more dignity he would have been an ideal +king; but he was too unceremonious, and that, I think, is a defect +in one destined to rule others. + +I had the honour of sitting next the duchess at dinner, and she +deigned to say that she had never seen a finer dress. "That's my +way," I said, "of distracting attention from my face and figure." +She smiled, and her politeness to me during my stay were almost +limited to these few words. + +When we left the table the duke took me to the apartment occupied +by his uncle, Don Lelio, who recognized me directly. I kissed the +venerable old man's hand, and begged him to pardon me for the +freaks of my youth. "It's eighteen years ago," said he, "since I +chose M. Casanova as the companion of your studies" I delighted +him by giving him a brief account of my adventures in Rome with +Cardinal Acquaviva. As we went out, he begged me to come and see +him often. + +Towards the evening the duke said,-- + +"If you go to the Opera Buffa you will please Leonilda." + +He gave me the number of her box, and added,-- + +"I will come for you towards the close, and we will sup together +as before." + +I had no need to order my horses to be put in, as there was always +a carriage ready for me in the courtyard. + +When I got to the theatre the opera had begun. I presented myself +to Leonilda, who received me with the pleasant words, "Caro Don +Giacomo, I am so pleased to see you again." + +No doubt she did not like to thou me, but the expression of her +eyes and the tone of her voice were much better than the to which +is often used lavishly at Naples. + +The seductive features of this charming girl were not altogether +unknown to me, but I could not recollect of what woman she +reminded me. Leonilda was certainly a beauty, and something +superior to a beauty, if possible. She had splendid light +chestnut hair, and her black and brilliant eyes, shaded by thick +lashes, seemed to hear and speak at the same time. But what +ravished me still more was her expression, and the exquisite +appropriateness of the gestures with which she accompanied what +she was saying. It seemed as if her tongue could not give speech +to the thoughts which crowded her brain. She was naturally quick- +witted, and her intellect had been developed by an excellent +education. + +The conversation turned upon Lafontaine's epigram, of which I had +only recited the first ten verses, as the rest is too licentious; +and she said,-- + +"But I suppose it is only a poet's fancy, at which one could but +smile." + +"Possibly, but I did not care to wound your ears." + +"You are very good," said she, using the pleasant tu, "but all the +same, I am not so thin-skinned, as I have a closet which the duke +has had painted over with couples in various amorous attitudes. +We go there sometimes, and I assure you that I do not experience +the slightest sensation." + +"That may be through a defect of temperament, for whenever I see +well-painted voluptuous pictures I feel myself on fire. I wonder +that while you and the duke look at them, you do not try to put +some of them into practice." + +"We have only friendship for one another." + +"Let him believe it who will." + +"I am sure he is a man, but I am unable to say whether he is able +to give a woman any real proofs of his love." + +"Yet he has a son." + +"Yes, he has a child who calls him father; but he himself +confesses that he is only able to shew his manly powers with his +wife." + +"That's all nonsense, for you are made to give birth to amorous +desires, and a man who could live with you without being able to +possess you ought to cease to live." + +"Do you really think so?" + +"Dear Leonilda, if I were in the duke's place I would shew you +what a man who really loves can do." + +"Caro Don Giacomo, I am delighted to hear you love me, but you +will soon forget me, as you are leaving Naples." + +"Cursed be the gaming-table, for without it we might spend some +delightful hour together." + +"The duke told me that you lost a thousand ducats yesterday +evening like a perfect gentleman. You must be very unlucky." + +"Not always, but when I play on a day in which I have fallen in +love I am sure to lose." + +"You will win back your money this evening." + +"This is the declaration day; I shall lose again." + +"Then don't play." + +"People would say I was afraid, or that all my money was gone." + +"I hope at all events that you will win sometimes, and that you +will tell me of your good luck. Come and see me to-morrow with +the duke." + +The duke came in at that moment, and asked me if I had liked the +opera. Leonilda answered for me, + +"We have been talking about love all the time, so we don't know +what has been going on the stage." + +"You have done well." + +"I trust you will bring M. Casanova to see me tomorrow morning, +as I hope he will bring me news that he has won." + +"It's my turn to deal this evening, dearest, but whether he wins +or loses you shall see him to-morrow. You must give us some +breakfast." + +"I shall be delighted." + +We kissed her hand, and went to the same place as the night +before. The company was waiting for the duke. There were twelve +members of the club, and they all held the bank in turn. They +said that this made the chances more equal; but I laughed at this +opinion, as there is nothing more difficult to establish than +equality between players. + +The Duke de Matalone sat down, drew out his purse and his pocket- +book, and put two thousand ducats in the bank, begging pardon of +the others for doubling the usual sum in favour of the stranger. +The bank never exceeded a thousand ducats. + +"Then," said I, "I will hazard two thousand ducats also and not +more, for they say at Venice that a prudent player never risks +more than he can win. Each of my counters will be equivalent to +two ducats." So saying, I took ten notes of a hundred ducats each +from my pocket, and gave them to the last evening's banker who had +won them from me. + +Play began; and though I was prudent, and only risked my money on +a single card, in less than three hours my counters were all gone. +I stopped playing, though I had still twenty-five thousand ducats; +but I had said that I would not risk more than two thousand, and I +was ashamed to go back from my word. + +Though I have always felt losing my money, no one has ever seen me +put out, my natural gaiety was heightened by art on such +occasions, and seemed to be more brilliant than ever. I have +always found it a great advantage to be able to lose pleasantly. + +I made an excellent supper, and my high spirits furnished me with +such a fund of amusing conversation that all the table was in a +roar. I even succeeded in dissipating the melancholy of the Duke +de Matalone, who was in despair at having won such a sum from his +friend and guest. He was afraid he had half ruined me, and also +that people might say he had only welcomed me for the sake of my +money. + +As we returned to the palace the conversation was affectionate on +his side and jovial on mine, but I could see he was in some +trouble, and guessed what was the matter. He wanted to say that I +could pay the money I owed him whenever I liked, but was afraid of +wounding my feelings; but as soon as he got in he wrote me a +friendly note to the effect that if I wanted money his banker +would let me have as much as I required. I replied directly that +I felt the generosity of his offer, and if I was in need of funds +I would avail myself of it. + +Early next morning I went to his room, and after an affectionate +embrace I told him not to forget that we were going to breakfast +with his fair mistress. We both put on great coats and went to +Leonilda's pretty house. + +We found her sitting up in bed, negligently but decently dressed, +with a dimity corset tied with red ribbons. She looked beautiful, +and her graceful posture added to her charms. She was reading +Crebillon's Sopha. The duke sat down at the bottom of the bed, +and I stood staring at her in speechless admiration, endeavouring +to recall to my memory where I had seen such another face as hers. +It seemed to me that I had loved a woman like her. This was the +first time I had seen her without the deceitful glitter of +candles. She laughed at my absent-mindedness, and told me to sit +down on a chair by her bedside. + +The duke told her that I was quite pleased at having lost two +thousand ducats to his bank, as the loss made me sure she loved +me. + +"Caro mio Don Giacomo, I am sorry to hear that! You would have +done better not to play, for I should have loved you all the same, +and you would have been two thousand ducats better off." + +"And I two thousand ducats worse off," said the duke, laughing. + +"Never mind, dear Leonilda, I shall win this evening if you grant +me some favour to-day. If you do not do so, I shall lose heart, +and you will mourn at my grave before long." + +"Think, Leonilda, what you can do for my friend." + +"I don't see that I can do anything." + +The duke told her to dress, that we might go and breakfast in the +painted closet. She began at once, and preserved a just mean in +what she let us see and what she concealed, and thus set me in +flames, though I was already captivated by her face, her wit, and +her charming manners. I cast an indiscreet glance towards her +beautiful breast, and thus added fuel to the fire. I confess that +I only obtained this satisfaction by a species of larceny, but I +could not have succeeded if she had not been well disposed towards +me. I pretended to have seen nothing. + +While dressing she maintained with much ingenuity that a wise girl +will be much more chary of her favours towards a man she loves +than towards a man she does not love, because she would be afraid +to lose the first, whereas she does not care about the second. + +"It will not be so with me, charming Leonilda," said I. + +"You make a mistake, I am sure." + +The pictures with which the closet where we breakfasted was +adorned were admirable more from the colouring and the design than +from the amorous combats they represented. + +"They don't make any impression on me," said the duke, and he +shewed us that it was so. + +Leonilda looked away, and I felt shocked, but concealed my +feelings. + +"I am in the same state as you," said I, "but I will not take the +trouble of convincing you." + +"That can't be," said he; and passing his hand rapidly over me he +assured himself that it was so. "It's astonishing," he cried; +"you must be as impotent as I am." + +"If I wanted to controvert that assertion one glance into +Leonilda's eyes would be enough." + +"Look at him, dearest Leonilda, that I may be convinced." + +Leonilda looked tenderly at me, and her glance produced the result +I had expected. + +"Give me your hand," said I, to the poor duke, and he did so. + +"I was in the wrong," he exclaimed, but when he endeavoured to +bring the surprising object to light I resisted. He persisted in +his endeavours, and I determined to play on him a trick. I took +Leonilda's hand and pressed my lips to it, and just as the duke +thought he had triumphed I besprinkled him, and went off into a +roar of laughter. He laughed too, and went to get a napkin. + +The girl could see nothing of all this, as it went on under the +table; and while my burning lips rested on her hand, my eyes were +fixed on hers and our breath mingled. This close contact had +enabled me to baptise the duke, but when she took in the joke we +made a group worthy of the pen of Aretin. + +It was a delightful breakfast, though we passed certain bounds +which decency ought to have proscribed to us, but Leonilda was +wonderfully innocent considering her position. We ended the scene +by mutual embraces, and when I took my burning lips from +Leonilda's I felt consumed with a fire which I could not conceal. + +When we left I told the duke that I would see his mistress no +more, unless he would give her up to me, declaring that I would +marry her and give her a dower of five thousand ducats. + +"Speak to her, and if she consents I will not oppose it. She +herself will tell you what property she has." + +I then went to dress for dinner. I found the duchess in the midst +of a large circle, and she told me kindly that she was very sorry +to hear of my losses. + +"Fortune is the most fickle of beings, but I don't complain of my +loss--nay, when you speak thus I love it, and I even think that +you will make me win this evening." + +"I hope so, but I am afraid not; you will have to contend against +Monte Leone, who is usually very lucky." + +In considering the matter after dinner, I determined for the +future to play with ready money and not on my word of honour, lest +I should at any time be carried away by the excitement of play and +induced to stake more than I possessed. I thought, too, that the +banker might have his doubts after the two heavy losses I had +sustained, and I confess that I was also actuated by the gambler's +superstition that by making a change of any kind one changes the +luck. + +I spent four hours at the theatre in Leonilda's box, where I found +her more gay and charming than I had seen her before. + +"Dear Leonilda," I said, "the love I feel for you will suffer no +delay and no rivals, not even the slightest inconstancy. I have +told the duke that I am ready to marry you, and that I will give +you a dower of five thousand ducats." + +"What did he say?" + +"That I must ask you, and that he would offer no opposition." + +"Then we should leave Naples together." + +"Directly, dearest, and thenceforth death alone would part us." + +"We will talk of it to-morrow, dear Don Giacomo, and if I can make +you happy I am sure you will do the same by me." + +As she spoke these delightful words the duke came in. + +"Don Giacomo and I are talking of marrying," said she. + +"Marriage, mia carissima," he replied, "ought to be well +considered beforehand." + +"Yes, when one has time; but my dear Giacomo cannot wait, and we +shall have plenty of time to think it over afterwards." + +"As you are going to marry," said the duke, "you can put off your +departure, or return after the wedding." + +"I can neither put it off nor return, my dear duke. We have made +up our minds, and if we repent we have plenty of time before us." + +He laughed and said we would talk it over next day. I gave my +future bride a kiss which she returned with ardour, and the duke +and I went to the club, where we found the Duke de Monte Leone +dealing. + +"My lord," said I, "I am unlucky playing on my word of honour, so +I hope you will allow me to stake money." + +"Just as you please; it comes to the same thing, but don't trouble +yourself. I have made a bank of four thousand ducats that you may +be able to recoup yourself for your losses." + +"Thanks, I promise to break it or to lose as much." + +I drew out six thousand ducats, gave two thousand ducats to the +Duke de Matalone, and began to punt at a hundred ducats. After a +short time the duke left the table, and I finally succeeded in +breaking the bank. I went back to the place by myself, and when I +told the duke of my victory the next day, he embraced me with +tears of joy, and advised me to stake money for the future. + +As the Princess de Vale was giving a great supper, there was no +play that evening. This was some respite. We called on Leonilda, +and putting off talking of our marriage till the day after we +spent the time in viewing the wonders of nature around Naples. In +the evening I was introduced by a friend at the princess's supper, +and saw all the highest nobility of the place. + +Next morning the duke told me that he had some business to do, and +that I had better go and see Leonilda, and that he would call for +me later on. I went to Leonilda, but as the duke did not put in +an appearance we could not settle anything about our marriage. I +spent several hours with her, but I was obliged to obey her +commands, and could only shew myself amorous in words. Before +leaving I repeated that it only rested with her to unite our lives +by indissoluble ties, and to leave Naples almost immediately. + +When I saw the duke he said,-- + +"Well, Don Giacomo, you have spent all the morning with my +mistress; do you still wish to marry her?" + +"More than ever; what do you mean?" + +"Nothing; and as you have passed this trial to which I purposely +subjected you, we will discuss your union tomorrow, and I hope you +will make this charming woman happy, for she will be an excellent +wife." + +"I agree with you." + +When we went to Monte Leone's in the evening, we saw a banker with +a good deal of gold before him. The duke told me he was Don Marco +Ottoboni. He was a fine-looking man, but he held the cards so +closely together in his left hand that I could not see them. This +did not inspire me with confidence, so I only punted a ducat at a +time. I was persistently unlucky, but I only lost a score of +ducats. After five or six deals the banker, asked me politely why +I staked such small sums against him. + +"Because I can't see half the pack," I replied, "and I am afraid +of losing." + +Some of the company laughed at my answer. + +Next night I broke the bank held by the Prince the Cassaro, a +pleasant and rich nobleman, who asked me to give him revenge, and +invited me to supper at his pretty house at Posilipo, where he +lived with a virtuosa of whom he had become amorous at Palermo. +He also invited the Duke de Matalone and three or four other +gentlemen. This was the only occasion on which I held the bank +while I was at Naples, and I staked six thousand ducats after +warning the prince that as it was the eve of my departure I should +only play for ready money. + +He lost ten thousand ducats, and only rose from the table because +he had no more money. Everybody left the room, and I should have +done the same if the prince's mistress had not owed me a hundred +ducats. I continued to deal in the hope that she would get her +money back, but seeing that she still lost I put down the cards, +and told her that she must pay me at Rome. She was a handsome and +agreeable woman, but she did not inspire me with any passions, no +doubt because my mind was occupied with another, otherwise I +should have drawn a bill on sight, and paid myself without +meddling with her purse. It was two o'clock in the morning when I +got to bed. + +Both Leonilda and myself wished to see Caserta before leaving +Naples, and the duke sent us there in a carriage drawn by six +mules, which went faster than most horses. Leonilda's governess +accompanied us. + +The day after, we settled the particulars of our marriage in a +conversation which lasted for two hours. + +"Leonilda," began the duke, "has a mother, who lives at a short +distance from here, on an income of six hundred ducats, which I +have given her for life, in return for an estate belonging to her +husband; but Leonilda does not depend on her. She gave her up to +me seven years ago, and I have given her an annuity of five +hundred ducats, which she will bring to you, with all her diamonds +and an extensive trousseau. Her mother gave her up to me +entirely, and I gave my word of honour to get her a good husband. +I have taken peculiar care of her education, and as her mind has +developed I have put her on her guard against all prejudices, with +the exception of that which bids a woman keep herself intact for +her future husband. You may rest assured that you are the first +man whom Leonilda (who is a daughter to me) has pressed to her +heart." + +I begged the duke to get the contract ready, and to add to her +dower the sum of five thousand ducats, which I would give him when +the deed was signed. + +"I will mortgage them," said he, "on a house which is worth +double." + +Then turning to Leonilda, who was shedding happy tears, he said,-- + +"I am going to send for your mother, who will be delighted to sign +the settlement, and to make the acquaintance of your future +husband." + +The mother lived at the Marquis Galiani's, a day's journey from +Naples. The duke said he would send a carriage for her the next +day, and that we could all sup together the day after. + +"The law business will be all done by then, and we shall be able +to go to the little church at Portici, and the priest will marry +you. Then we will take your mother to St. Agatha and dine with +her, and you can go your way with her maternal blessing." + +This conclusion gave me an involuntary shudder, and Leonilda fell +fainting in the duke's arms. He called her dear child, cared for +her tenderly, and brought her to herself. + +We all had to wipe our eyes, as we were all equally affected. + +I considered myself as a married man and under obligation to alter +my way of living, and I stopped playing. I had won more than +fifteen thousand ducats, and this sum added to what I had before +and Leonilda's dowry should have sufficed for an honest +livelihood. + +Next day, as I was at supper with the duke and Leonilda, she +said,-- + +"What will my mother say to-morrow evening, when she sees you?" + +"She will say that you are silly to marry a stranger whom you have +only known for a week. Have you told her my name, my nation, my +condition, and my age?" + +"I wrote to her as follows: + +"'Dear mamma, come directly and sign my marriage contract with a +gentleman introduced to me by the duke, with whom I shall be +leaving for Rome on Monday next.'" + +"My letter ran thus," said the duke, + +"'Come without delay, and sign your daughter's marriage contract, +and give her your blessing. She has wisely chosen a husband old +enough to be her father; he is a friend of mine.'" + +"That's not true," cried Leonilda, rushing to my arms, "she will +think you are really old, and I am sorry." + +"Is your mother an elderly woman?" + +"She's a charming Woman," said the duke, "full of wit, and not +thirty-eight yet." + +"What has she got to do with Galiani?" + +"She is an intimate friend of the marchioness's, and she lives +with the family but pays for her board." + +Next morning, having some business with my banker to attend to, I +told the duke that I should not be able to see Leonilda till +supper-time. I went there at eight o'clock and I found the three +sitting in front of the fire. + +"Here he is!" cried the duke. + +As soon as the mother saw me she screamed and fell nearly fainting +on a chair. I looked at her fixedly for a minute, and exclaimed,-- + +"Donna Lucrezia! I am fortunate indeed!" + +"Let us take breath, my dear friend. Come and sit by me. So you +are going to marry my daughter, are you?" + +I took a chair and guessed it all. My hair stood on end, and I +relapsed into a gloomy silence. + +The stupefied astonishment of Leonilda and the duke cannot be +described. They could see that Donna Lucrezia and I knew each +other, but they could not get any farther. As for myself, as I +pondered gloomily and compared Leonilda's age with the period at +which I had been intimate with Lucrezia Castelli, I could see that +it was quite possible that she might be my daughter; but I told +myself that the mother could not be certain of the fact, as at the +time she lived with her husband, who was very fond of her and not +fifty years of age. I could bear the suspense no longer, so, +taking a light and begging Leonilda and the duke to excuse me, I +asked Lucrezia to come into the next room with me. + +As soon as she was seated, she drew me to her and said,-- + +"Must I grieve my dear one when I have loved so well? Leonilda is +your daughter, I am certain of it. I always looked upon her as +your daughter, and my husband knew it, but far from being angry, +he used to adore her. I will shew you the register of her birth, +and you can calculate for yourself. My husband was at Rome, and +did not see me once, and my daughter did not come before her time. +You must remember a letter which my mother should have given you, +in which I told you I was with child. That was in January, 1744, +and in six months my daughter will be seventeen. My late husband +gave her the names of Leonilda Giacomina at the baptismal font, +and when he played with her he always called her by the latter +name. This idea of your marrying her horrifies me, but I cannot +oppose it, as I am ashamed to tell the reason. What do you think? +Have you still the courage to marry her? You seem to hesitate. +Have you taken any earnest of the marriage-bed?" + +"No, dear Lucrezia, your daughter is as pure as a lily." + +"I breathe again." + +"Ah, yes! but my heart is torn asunder." + +"I am grieved to see you thus." + +"She has no likeness to me." + +"That proves nothing; she has taken after me. You are weeping, +dearest, you will break my heart." + +"Who would not weep in my place? I will send the duke to you; he +must know all." + +I left Lucrezia, and I begged the duke to go and speak to her. +The affectionate Leonilda came and sat on my knee, and asked me +what the dreadful mystery was. I was too much affected to be able +to answer her; she kissed me, and we began to weep. We remained +thus sad and silent till the return of the duke and Donna +Lucrezia, who was the only one to keep her head cool. + +"Dear Leonilda, said she, "you must be let into the secret of this +disagreeable mystery, and your mother is the proper person to +enlighten you. Do you remember what name my late husband used to +call you when he petted you?" + +"He used to call me his charming Giacomina." + +"That is M. Casanova's name; it is the name of your father. Go +and kiss him; his blood flows in your veins; and if he has been +your lover, repent of the crime which was happily quite +involuntary." + +The scene was a pathetic one, and we were all deeply moved. +Leonilda clung to her mother's knees, and in a voice that +struggled with sobs exclaimed,-- + +"I have only felt what an affectionate daughter might feel for a +father" + +At this point silence fell on us, a silence that was only broken +by the sobs of the two women, who held each other tightly +embraced; while the duke and I sat as motionless as two posts, our +heads bent and our hands crossed, without as much as looking at +each other. + +Supper was served, and we sat at table for three hours, talking +sadly over this dramatic recognition, which had brought more grief +than joy; and we departed at midnight full of melancholy, and +hoping that we should be calmer on the morrow, and able to take +the only step that now remained to us. + +As we were going away the duke made several observations on what +moral philosophers call prejudices. There is no philosopher who +would maintain or even advance the thesis that the union of a +father and daughter is horrible naturally, for it is entirely a +social prejudice; but it is so widespread, and education has +graven it so deeply in our hearts, that only a man whose heart is +utterly depraved could despise it. It is the result of a respect +for the laws, it keeps the social scheme together; in fact, it is +no longer a prejudice, it is a principle. + +I went to bed, but as usual, after the violent emotion I had +undergone, I could not sleep. The rapid transition from carnal to +paternal love cast my physical and mental faculties into such a +state of excitement that I could scarcely withstand the fierce +struggle that was taking place in my heart. + +Towards morning I fell asleep for a short time, and woke up +feeling as exhausted as two lovers who have been spending a long +and voluptuous winter's night. + +When I got up I told the duke that I intended to set out from +Naples the next day; and he observed that as everybody knew I was +on the eve of my departure, this haste would make people talk. + +"Come and have some broth with me," said he; "and from henceforth +look upon this marriage project as one of the many pranks in which +you have engaged. We will spend the three or four days pleasantly +together, and perhaps when we have thought over all this for some +time we shall end by thinking it matter for mirth and not sadness. +Believe me the mother's as good as the daughter; recollection is +often better than hope; console yourself with Lucrezia. I don't +think you can see any difference between her present appearance +and that of eighteen years ago, for I don't see how she can ever +have been handsomer than she is now." + +This remonstrance brought me to my senses. I felt that the best +thing I could do would be to forget the illusion which had amused +me for four or five days, and as my self-esteem was not wounded it +ought not to be a difficult task; but yet I was in love and unable +to satisfy my love. + +Love is not like merchandise, where one can substitute one thing +for another when one cannot have what one wants. Love is a +sentiment, only the object who has kindled the flame can soothe +the heat thereof. + +We went to call on my daughter, the duke in his usual mood, but I +looking pale, depressed, weary, and like a boy going to receive +the rod. I was extremely surprised when I came into the room to +find the mother and daughter quite gay, but this helped on my +cure. Leonilda threw her arms round my neck, calling me dear +papa, and kissing me with all a daughter's freedom. Donna +Lucrezia stretched out her hand, addressing me as her dear friend. +I regarded her attentively, and I was forced to confess that the +eighteen years that had passed away had done little ill to her +charms. There was the same sparkling glance, that fresh +complexion, those perfect shapes, those beautiful lips--in fine, +all that had charmed my youthful eyes. + +We mutely caressed each other. Leonilda gave and received the +tenderest kisses without seeming to notice what desires she might +cause to arise; no doubt she knew that as her father I should have +strength to resist, and she was right. One gets used to +everything, and I was ashamed to be sad any longer. + +I told Donna Lucrezia of the curious welcome her sister had given +me in Rome, and she went off into peals of laughter. We reminded +each other of the night at Tivoli, and these recollections +softened our hearts. From these softened feelings to love is but +a short way; but neither place nor time were convenient, so we +pretended not to be thinking of it. + +After a few moments of silence I told her that if she cared to +come to Rome with me to pay a visit to her sister Angelique, I +would take her back to Naples at the beginning of Lent. She +promised to let me know whether she could come on the following +day. + +I sat between her and Leonilda at dinner; and as I could no longer +think of the daughter, it was natural that my old flame for +Lucrezia should rekindle; and whether from the effect of her +gaiety and beauty, or from my need of someone to love, or from the +excellence of the wine, I found myself in love with her by the +dessert, and asked her to take the place which her daughter was to +have filled. + +"I will marry you," said I, "and we will all of us go to Rome on +Monday, for since Leonilda is my daughter I do not like to leave +her at Naples." + +At this the three guests looked at each other and said nothing. I +did not repeat my proposal, but led the conversation to some other +topic. + +After dinner I felt sleepy and lay down on a bed, and did not wake +till eight o'clock, when to my surprise I found that my only +companion was Lucrezia, who was writing. She heard me stir, and +came up to me and said affectionately,-- + +"My dear friend, you have slept for five hours; and as I did not +like to leave you alone I would not go with the duke and our +daughter to the opera." + +The memory of former loves awakens when one is near the once +beloved object, and desires rapidly become irresistible if the +beauty still remain. The lovers feel as if they were once more in +possession of a blessing which belongs to them, and of which they +have been long deprived by unfortunate incidents. These were our +feelings, and without delay, without idle discussion, and above +all, without false modesty, we abandoned ourselves to love, the +only true source of nature. + +In the first interval, I was the first to break the silence; and +if a man is anything of a wit, is he the less so at that delicious +moment of repose which follows on an amorous victory? + +"Once again, then," said I, "I am in this charming land which I +entered for the first time to the noise of the drum and the rattle +of musket shots." + +This remark made her laugh, and recalled past events to her +memory. We recollected with delight all the pleasures we had +enjoyed at Testaccio, Frascati, and Tivoli. We reminded each +other of these events, only to make each other laugh; but with two +lovers, what is laughter but a pretext for renewing the sweet +sacrifice of the goddess of Cythera? + +At the end of the second act, full of the enthusiasm of the +fortunate lover, I said,-- + +"Let us be united for life; we are of the same age, we love each +other, our means are sufficient for us, we may hope to live a +happy life, and to die at the same moment." + +"Tis the darling wish of my heart," Lucrezia replied, "but let us +stay at Naples and leave Leonilda to the duke. We will see +company, find her a worthy husband, and our happiness will be +complete." + +"I cannot live at Naples, dearest, and you know that your daughter +intended to leave with me." + +"My daughter! Say our daughter. I see that you are still in love +with her, and do not wish to be considered her father." + +"Alas, yes! But I am sure that if I live with you my passion for +her will be stilled, but otherwise I cannot answer for myself. I +shall fly, but flight will not bring me happiness. Leonilda +charms me still more by her intelligence than by her beauty. I +was sure that she loved me so well that I did not attempt to +seduce her, lest thereby I should weaken my hold on her +affections; and as I wanted to make her happy I wished to deserve +her esteem. I longed to possess her, but in a lawful manner, so +that our rights should have been equal. We have created an angel, +Lucrezia, and I cannot imagine how the duke . . ." + +"The duke is completely impotent. Do you see now how I was able +to trust my daughter to his care?" + +"Impotent? I always thought so myself, but he has a son" + +"His wife might possibly be able to explain that mystery to you, +but you may take it for granted that the poor duke will die a +virgin in spite of himself; and he knows that as well as anybody." + +"Do not let us say any more about it, but allow me to treat you as +at Tivoli." + +"Not just now, as I hear carriage wheels." + +A moment after the door opened, and Leonilda laughed heartily to +see her mother in my arms, and threw herself upon us, covering us +with kisses. The duke came in a little later, and we supped +together very merrily. He thought me the happiest of men when I +told him I was going to pass the night honourably with my wife +and daughter; and he was right, for I was so at that moment. + +As soon as the worthy man left us we went to bed, but here I must +draw a veil over the most voluptuous night I have ever spent. If +I told all I should wound chaste ears, and, besides, all the +colours of the painter and all the phrases of the poet could not +do justice to the delirium of pleasure, the ecstasy, and the +license which passed during that night, while two wax lights +burnt dimly on the table like candles before the shrine of a saint. + +We did not leave the stage, which I watered with my blood, till +long after the sun had risen. We were scarcely dressed when the +duke arrived. + +Leonilda gave him a vivid description of our nocturnal labours, +but in his unhappy state of impotence he must have been thankful +for his absence. + +I was determined to start the next day so as to be at Rome for the +last week of the carnival and I begged the duke to let me give +Leonilda the five thousand ducats which would have been her dower +if she had become my bride. + +"As she is your daughter," said he, "she can and ought to take +this present from her father, if only as a dowry for her future +husband." + +"Will you accept it, then, my dear Leonilda?" + +"Yes, papa dear," she said, embracing me, "on the condition that +you will promise to come and see me again as soon as you hear of +my marriage." + +I promised to do so, and I kept my word. + +"As you are going to-morrow," said the duke, "I shall ask all the +nobility of Naples to meet you at supper. In the meanwhile I +leave you with your daughter; we shall see each other again at +suppertime." + +He went out and I dined with my wife and daughter in the best of +spirits. I spent almost the whole afternoon with Leonilda, +keeping within the bounds of decency, less, perhaps, out of +respect to morality, than because of my labours of the night +before. We did not kiss each other till the moment of parting, +and I could see that both mother and daughter were grieved to lose +me. + +After a careful toilette I went to supper, and found an assembly +of a hundred of the very best people in Naples. The duchess was +very agreeable, and when I kissed her hand to take leave, she +said, + +"I hope, Don Giacomo, that you have had no unpleasantness during +your short stay at Naples, and that you will sometimes think of +your visit with pleasure." + +I answered that I could only recall my visit with delight after +the kindness with which she had deigned to treat me that evening; +and, in fact, my recollections of Naples were always of the +happiest description. + +After I had treated the duke's attendants with generosity, the +poor nobleman, whom fortune had favoured, and whom nature had +deprived of the sweetest of all enjoyments, came with me to the +door of my carriage and I went on my way. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +My Carriage Broken--Mariuccia's Wedding-Flight of Lord Lismore--My +Return to Florence, and My Departure with the Corticelli + +My Spainiard was going on before us on horseback, and I was +sleeping profoundly beside Don Ciccio Alfani in my comfortable +carriage, drawn by four horses, when a violent shock aroused me. +The carriage had been overturned on the highway, at midnight, +beyond Francolisa and four miles from St. Agatha. + +Alfani was beneath me and uttered piercing shrieks, for he thought +he had broken his left arm. Le Duc rode back and told me that the +postillions had taken flight, possibly to give notice of our +mishap to highwaymen, who are very common in the States of the +Church and Naples. + +I got out of the carriage easily enough, but poor old Alfani, who +was unwieldly with fat, badly hurt, and half dead with fright, +could not extricate himself without assistance. It took us a +quarter of an hour to get him free. The poor wretch amused me by +the blasphemies which he mingled with prayers to his patron saint, +St. Francis of Assisi. + +I was not without experience of such accidents and was not at all +hurt, for one's safety depends a good deal on the position one is +in. Don Ciccio had probably hurt his arm by stretching it out +just as the accident took place. + +I took my sword, my musket, and my horse-pistols out of the +carriage, and I made them and my pockets pistols ready so as to +offer a stiff resistance to the brigands if they came; and I then +told Le Duc to take some money and ride off and see if he could +bring some peasants to our assistance. + +Don Ciccio groaned over the accident, but I, resolving to sell my +money and my life dearly, made a rampart of the carriage and four +horses, and stood sentry, with my arms ready. + +I then felt prepared for all hazards, and was quite calm, but my +unfortunate companion continued to pour forth his groans, and +prayers, and blasphemies, for all that goes together at Naples as +at Rome. I could do nothing but compassionate him; but in spite +of myself I could not help laughing, which seemed to vex the poor +abbe, who looked for all the world like a dying dolphin as he +rested motionless against the bank. His distress may be imagined, +when the nearest horse yielded to the call of nature, and voided +over the unfortunate man the contents of its bladder. There was +nothing to be done, and I could not help roaring with laughter. + +Nevertheless, a strong northerly wind rendered our situation an +extremely unpleasant one. At the slightest noise I cried, "Who +goes there?" threatening to fire on anyone who dared approach. +I spent two hours in this tragic-comic position, until at last +Le Duc rode up and told me that a band of peasants, all armed and +provided with lanterns, were approaching to our assistance. + +In less than an hour, the carriage, the horses, and Alfani were +seen to. I kept two of the country-folk to serve as postillions, +and I sent the others away well paid for the interruption of their +sleep. I reached St. Agatha at day-break, and I made the devil's +own noise at the door of the postmaster, calling for an attorney +to take down my statement, and threatening to have the postillions +who had overturned and deserted me, hanged. + +A wheelwright inspected my coach and pronounced the axle-tree +broken, and told me I should have to remain for a day at least. + +Don Ciccio, who stood in need of a surgeon's aid, called on the +Marquis Galliani without telling me anything about it. However, +the marquis hastened to beg me to stay at his home till I could +continue my journey. I accepted the invitation with great +pleasure, and with this my ill humour, which was really only the +result of my desire to make a great fuss like a great man, +evaporated. + +The marquis ordered my carriage to be taken to his coach-house, +took me by the arm, and led me to his house. He was as learned as +he was polite, and a perfect Neapolitan--i.e., devoid of all +ceremony. He had not the brilliant wit of his brother, whom I had +known at Paris as secretary of embassy under the Count Cantillana +Montdragon, but he possessed a well-ordered judgment, founded on +study and the perusal of ancient and modern classics. Above all, +he was a great mathematician, and was then preparing an annotated +edition of Vitruvius, which was afterwards published. + +The marquis introduced me to his wife, whom I knew as the intimate +friend of my dear Lucrezia. There was something saint-like in her +expression, and to see her surrounded by her little children was +like looking at a picture of the Holy Family. + +Don Ciccio was put to bed directly, and a surgeon sent for, who +consoled him by saying that it was only a simple luxation, and +that he would be well again in a few days. + +At noon a carriage stopped at the door, and Lucrezia got down. +She embraced the marchioness, and said to me in the most natural +manner, as we shook hands,-- + +"What happy chance brings you hear, dear Don Giacomo?" + +She told her friend that I was a friend of her late husband's, and +that she had recently seen me again with great pleasure at the +Duke de Matalone's. + +After dinner, on finding myself alone with this charming woman, I +asked her if it were not possible for us to pass a happy night +together, but she shewed me that it was out of the question, and I +had to yield. I renewed my offer to marry her. + +"Buy a property," said she, "in the kingdom of Naples, and I will +spend the remainder of my days with you, without asking a priest +to give us his blessing, unless we happen to have children." + +I could not deny that Lucrezia spoke very sensibly, and I could +easily have bought land in Naples, and lived comfortably on it, +but the idea of binding myself down to one place was so contrary +to my feelings that I had the good sense to prefer my vagabond +life to all the advantages which our union would have given me, +and I do not think that Lucrezia altogether disapproved of my +resolution. + +After supper I took leave of everybody, and I set out at day-break +in order to get to Rome by the next day. I had only fifteen +stages to do, and the road was excellent. + +As we were getting into Carillano, I saw one of the two-wheeled +carriages, locally called mantice, two horses were being put into +it, while my carriage required four. I got out, and on hearing +myself called I turned round. I was not a little surprised to +find that the occupants of the mantice were a young and pretty +girl and Signora Diana, the Prince de Sassaro's mistress, who +owed me three hundred ounces. She told me that she was going +to Rome, and that she would be glad if we could make the journey +together. + +"I suppose you don't mind stopping for the night at Piperno?" + +"No," said I, "I am afraid that can't be managed; I don't intend +to break my journey." + +"But you would get to Rome by to-morrow." + +"I know that, but I sleep better in my carriage than in the bad +beds they give you in the inns." + +"I dare not travel by night." + +"Well, well, madam, I have no doubt we shall see each other at +Rome." + +"You are a cruel man. You see I have only a stupid servant, and a +maid who is as timid as I am, besides it is cold and my carriage +is open. I will keep you company in yours." + +"I really can't take you in, as all the available space is taken +up by my old secretary, who broke his arm yesterday." + +"Shall we dine together at Terracino? We could have a little +talk." + +"Certainly." + +We made good cheer at this small town, which is the frontier of +the States of the Church. We should not reach Piperno till far on +in the night, and the lady renewed and redoubled her efforts to +keep me till daybreak; but though young and pretty she did not +take my fancy; she was too fair and too fat. But her maid, who +was a pretty brunette, with a delicious rounded form and a +sparkling eye, excited all my feelings of desire. A vague hope of +possessing the maid won me over, and I ended by promising the +signora to sup with her, and not to continue my journey without +giving notice to the landlord. + +When we got to Piperno, I succeeded in telling the pretty maid +that if she would let me have her quietly I would not go any +further. She promised to wait for me, and allowed me to take such +liberties as are usually the signs of perfect complaisance. + +We had our supper, and I wished the ladies good night and escorted +them to their room, where I took note of the relative positions of +their beds so that there should be no mistake. I left them and +came back in a quarter of an hour. Finding the door open I felt +sure of success, and I got into bed; but as I found out, it was +the signora and not the maid who received me. Evidently the +little hussy had told her mistress the story, and the mistress had +thought fit to take the maid's place. There was no possibility of +my being mistaken, for though I could not see I could feel. + +For a moment I was undecided, should I remain in bed and make the +best of what I had got, or go on my way to Rome immediately? The +latter counsel prevailed. I called Le Duc, gave my orders, and +started, enjoying the thought of the confusion of the two women, +who must have been in a great rage at the failure of their plans. +I saw Signora Diana three or four times at Rome, and we bowed +without speaking; if I had thought it likely that she would pay me +the four hundred louis she owed me I might have taken the trouble +to call on her, but I know that your stage queens are the worst +debtors in the world. + +My brother, the Chevalier Mengs, and the Abbe Winckelmann were all +in good health and spirits. Costa was delighted to see me again. +I sent him off directly to His Holiness's 'scopatore maggiore' to +warn him that I was coming to take polenta with him, and all he +need do was to get a good supper for twelve. I was sure of +finding Mariuccia there, for I knew that Momolo had noticed her +presence pleased me. + +The carnival began the day after my arrival, and I hired a superb +landau for the whole week. The Roman landaus seat four people and +have a hood which may be lowered at pleasure. In these landaus +one drives along the Corso with or without masks from nine to +twelve o'clock during the carnival time. + +From time immemorial the Corso at Rome has presented a strange and +diverting spectacle during the carnival. The horses start from +the Piazza del Popolo, and gallop along to the Column of Trajan, +between two lines of carriages drawn up beside two narrow +pavements which are crowded with maskers and people of all +classes. All the windows are decorated. As soon as the horses +have passed the carriages begin to move, and the maskers on foot +and horseback occupy the middle of the street. The air is full of +real and false sweetmeats, pamphlets, pasquinades, and puns. +Throughout the mob, composed of the best and worst classes of +Rome, liberty reigns supreme, and when twelve o'clock is announced +by the third report of the cannon of St. Angelo the Corso begins +to clear, and in five minutes you would look in vain for a +carriage or a masker. The crowd disperses amongst the +neighbouring streets, and fills the opera houses, the theatres, +the rope-dancers' exhibitions, and even the puppet-shows. The +restaurants and taverns are not left desolate; everywhere you will +find crowds of people, for during the carnival the Romans only +think of eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves. + +I banked my money with M. Belloni and got a letter of credit on +Turin, where I expected to find the Abbe Gama and to receive a +commission to represent the Portuguese Court at the Congress of +Augsburg, to which all Europe was looking forward, and then I went +to inspect my little room, where I hoped to meet Mariuccia the +next day. I found everything in good order. + +In the evening Momolo and his family received me with joyful +exclamations. The eldest daughter said with a smile that she was +sure she would please me by sending for Mariuccia. + +"You are right," said I, "I shall be delighted to see the fair +Mariuccia." + +A few minutes after she entered with her puritanical mother, who +told me I must not be surprised to see her daughter better +dressed, as she was going to be married in a few days. I +congratulated her, and Momolo's daughters asked who was the happy +man. Mariuccia blushed and said modestly, to one of them,-- + +"It is somebody whom you know, So and so, he saw me here, and we +are going to open a hair-dresser's shop." + +"The marriage was arranged by good Father St. Barnabe," added the +mother. "He has in his keeping my daughter's dower of four +hundred Roman crowns." + +"He's a good lad," said Momolo. "I have a high opinion of him; he +would have married one of my daughters if I could have given him +such a dowry." + +At these words the girl in question blushed and lowered her eyes. + +"Never mind, my dear," said I, "your turn will come in time." + +She took my words as seriously meant, and her face lit up with +joy. She thought I had guessed her love for Costa, and her idea +was confirmed when I told him to get my landau the next day and +take out all Momolo's daughters, well masked, as it would not do +for them to be recognized in a carriage I meant to make use of +myself. I also bade him hire some handsome costumes from a Jew, +and paid the hire-money myself. This put them all in a good humour. + +"How about Signora Maria?" said the jealous sister. + +"As Signora Maria is going to be married," I replied, "she must +not be present at any festivity without her future husband." + +The mother applauded this decision of mine, and sly Mariuccia +pretended to feel mortified. I turned to Momolo and begged him to +ask Mariuccia's future husband to meet me at supper, by which I +pleased her mother greatly. + +I felt very tired, and having nothing to keep me after seeing +Mariuccia, I begged the company to excuse me, and after wishing +them a good appetite I left them. + +I walked out next morning at an early hour. I had no need of +going into the church, which I reached at seven o'clock, for +Mariuccia saw me at some distance off and followed me, and we were +soon alone together in the little room, which love and voluptuous +pleasure had transmuted into a sumptuous place. We would gladly +have talked to each other, but as we had only an hour before us, +we set to without even taking off our clothes. After the last +kiss which ended the third assault, she told me that she was to be +married on the eve of Shrove Tuesday, and that all had been +arranged by her confessor. She also thanked me for having asked +Momolo to invite her intended. + +"When shall we see each other again, my angel?" + +"On Sunday, the eve of my wedding, we shall be able to spend four +hours together." + +"Delightful! I promise you that when you leave me you will be in +such a state that the caresses of your husband won't hurt you." + +She smiled and departed, and I threw myself on the bed where I +rested for a good hour. + +As I was going home I met a carriage and four going at a great +speed. A footman rode in front of the carriage, and within it I +saw a young nobleman. My attention was arrested by the blue +ribbon on his breast. I gazed at him, and he called out my name +and had the carriage stopped. I was extremely surprised when I +found it was Lord O'Callaghan, whom I had known at Paris at his +mother's, the Countess of Lismore, who was separated from her +husband, and was the kept mistress of M. de St. Aubin, the +unworthy successor of the good and virtuous Fenelon in the +archbishopric of Cambrai. However, the archbishop owed his +promotion to the fact that he was a bastard of the Duc d'Orleans, +the French Regent. + +Lord O'Callaghan was a fine-looking young man, with wit and +talent, but the slave of his unbridled passions and of every +species of vice. I knew that if he were lord in name he was not +so in fortune, and I was astonished to see him driving such a +handsome carriage, and still more so at his blue ribbon. In a few +words he told me that he was going to dine with the Pretender, but +that he would sup at home. He invited me to come to supper, and I +accepted. + +After dinner I took a short walk, and then went to enliven myself +at the theatre, where I saw Momolo's girls strutting about with +Costa; afterwards I went to Lord O'Callaghan, and was pleasantly +surprised to meet the poet Poinsinet. He was young, short, ugly, +full of poetic fire, a wit, and dramatist. Five or six years +later the poor fellow fell into the Guadalquivir and was drowned. +He had gone to Madrid in the hope of making his fortune. As I had +known him at Paris I addressed him as an old acquaintance. + +"What are you doing at Rome? Where's my Lord O'Callaghan?" + +"He's in the next room, but as his father is dead his title is now +Earl of Lismore. You know he was an adherent of the Pretender's. +I left Paris with him, well enough pleased at being able to come +to Rome without its costing me anything." + +"Then the earl is a rich man now?" + +"Not exactly; but he will be, as he is his father's heir, and the +old earl left an immense fortune. It is true that it is all +confiscated, but that is nothing, as his claims are irresistible." + +"In short, he is rich in claims and rich in the future; but how +did he get himself made a knight of one of the French king's +orders?" + +"You're joking. That is the blue ribbon of the Order of St. +Michael, of which the late Elector of Cologne was grand master. +As you know, my lord plays exquisitely on the violin, and when he +was at Bonn he played the Elector a concerto by Tartini. The +prince could not find words in which to express the pleasure of my +lord's performance, and gave him the ribbon you have seen." + +"A fine present, doubtless." + +"You don't know what pleasure it gave my lord, for when we go back +to Paris everybody will take it for the Order of the Holy Ghost." + +We passed into a large room, where we found the earl with the +party he had asked to supper. As soon as he saw me he embraced +me, called me his dear friend, and named his guests. There were +seven or eight girls, all of them pretty, three or four castrati +who played women's parts in the Roman theatre, and five or six +abbes, the husband of every wife and the wives of every husband, +who boasted of their wickedness, and challenged the girls to be +more shameless than they. The girls were not common courtezans, +but past mistresses of music, painting, and vice considered as a +fine art. The kind of society may be imagined when I say that I +found myself a perfect novice amongst them. + +"Where are you going, prince?" said the earl to a respectable- +looking man who was making for the door. + +"I don't feel well, my lord. I think I must go out." + +"What prince is that?" said I. + +"The Prince de Chimai. He is a sub-deacon, and is endeavouring to +gain permission to marry, lest his family should become extinct." + +"I admire his prudence or his delicacy, but I am afraid I should +not imitate him." + +There were twenty-four of us at table, and it is no exaggeration +to say that we emptied a hundred bottles of the choicest wines. +Everybody was drunk, with the exception of myself and the poet +Poinsinet, who had taken nothing but water. The company rose from +table, and then began a foul orgy which I should never have +conceived possible, and which no pen could describe, though +possibly a seasoned profligate might get some idea of it. + +A castrato and a girl of almost equal height proposed to strip in +an adjoining room, and to lie on their backs, in the same bed with +their faces covered. They challenged us all to guess which was +which. + +We all went in and nobody could pronounce from sight which was +male and which was female, so I bet the earl fifty crowns that I +would point out the woman. + +He accepted the wager, and I guessed correctly, but payment was +out of the question. + +This first act of the orgy ended with the prostitution of the two +individuals, who defied everybody to accomplish the great act. +All, with the exception of Poinsinet and myself, made the attempt, +but their efforts were in vain. + +The second act displayed four or five couples reversed, and here +the abbes shone, both in the active and passive parts of this +lascivious spectacle. I was the only person respected. + +All at once, the earl, who had hitherto remained perfectly +motionless, attacked the wretched Poinsinet, who in vain attempted +to defend himself. He had to strip like my lord, who was as naked +as the others. We stood round in a circle. Suddenly the earl, +taking his watch, promised it to the first who succeeded in giving +them a sure mark of sensibility. The desire of gaining the prize +excited the impure crowd immensely, and the castrati, the girls, +and the abbes all did their utmost, each one striving to be the +first. They had to draw lots. This part interested me most, for +throughout this almost incredible scene of debauchery I did not +experience the slightest sensation, although under other +circumstances any of the girls would have claimed my homage, but +all I did was to laugh, especially to see the poor poet in terror +of experiencing the lust of the flesh, for the profligate nobleman +swore that if he made him lose he would deliver him up to the +brutal lust of all the abbes. He escaped, probably through fear +of the consequences. + +The orgy came to an end when nobody had any further hopes of +getting the watch. The secret of the Lesbians was only employed, +however, by the abbes and the castrata. The girls, wishing to be +able to despise those who made use of it, refrained from doing so. +I suspect they were actuated by pride rather than shame, as they +might possibly have employed it without success. + +This vile debauch disgusted me, and yet gave me a better knowledge +of myself. I could not help confessing that my life had been +endangered, for the only arm I had was my sword, but I should +certainly have used it if the earl had tried to treat me like the +others, and as he had treated poor Poinsinet. I never understood +how it was that he respected me, for he was quite drunk, and in a +kind of Bacchic fury. + +As I left, I promised to come and see him as often as he pleased, +but I promised myself never to set foot in his house again. + +Next day, he came to see me in the afternoon, and asked me to walk +with him to the Villa Medici. + +I complimented him on the immense wealth he had inherited to +enable him to live so splendidly, but he laughed and told me that +he did not possess fifty piastres, that his father had left +nothing but debts, and that he himself already owed three or four +thousand crowns. + +"I wonder people give you credit, then." + +"They give me credit because everybody knows that I have drawn a +bill of exchange on Paris to the tune of two hundred thousand +francs. But in four or five days the bill will be returned +protested, and I am only waiting for that to happen to make my +escape." + +"If you are certain of its being protested, I advise you to make +your escape to-day; for as it is so large a sum it may be taken up +before it is due." + +"No, I won't do that; I have one hope left. I have written to +tell my mother that I shall be undone if she does not furnish the +banker, on whom I have drawn the bill, with sufficient funds and +if she does that, the bill will be accepted. You know my mother +is very fond of me." + +"Yes, but I also know that she is far from rich." + +"True, but M. de St. Aubin is rich enough, and between you and me +I think he is my father. Meanwhile, my creditors are almost as +quiet as I am. All those girls you saw yesterday would give me +all they have if I asked them, as they are all expecting me to +make them a handsome present in the course of the week, but I +won't abuse their trust in me. But I am afraid I shall be obliged +to cheat the Jew, who wants me to give him three thousand sequins +for this ring, as I know it is only worth one thousand." + +"He will send the police after you." + +"I defy him to do whatever he likes." + +The ring was set with a straw-coloured diamond of nine or ten +carats. He begged me to keep his secret as we parted. I did not +feel any sentiments of pity for this extravagant madman, as I only +saw in him a man unfortunate by his own fault, whose fate would +probably make him end his days in a prison unless he had the +courage to blow his brains out. + +I went to Momolo's in the evening, and found the intended husband +of my fair Mariuccia there, but not the lady herself. I heard she +had sent word to the 'scopatore santissimo' that, as her father +had come from Palestrina to be present at her wedding, she could +not come to supper. I admired her subtlety. A young girl has no +need of being instructed in diplomacy, nature and her own heart +are her teachers, and she never blunders. At supper I studied the +young man, and found him eminently suitable for Mariuccia; he was +handsome, modest, and intelligent, and whatever he said was spoken +frankly and to the point. + +He told me before Momolo's daughter, Tecla, that he would have +married her if she had possessed means to enable him to open his +shop, and that he had reason to thank God for having met Maria, +whose confessor had been such a true spiritual father to her. I +asked him where the wedding festivities were to take place, and he +told me they were to be at his father's house, on the other side +of the Tiber. As his father, who kept a garden, was poor, he had +furnished him with ten crowns to defray the expenses. + +I wanted to give him the ten crowns, but how was I to do it? It +would have betrayed me. + +"Is your father's garden a pretty one?" I asked. + +"Not exactly pretty, but very well kept. As he owns the land, he +has separated a plot which he wants to sell; it would bring in +twenty crowns a year, and I should be as happy as a cardinal if I +could buy it." + +"How much will it cost?" + +"It's a heavy price; two hundred crowns." + +"Why, that's cheap! Listen to me. I have met your future bride +at this house, and I have found her all worthy of happiness. She +deserves an honest young fellow like you for a husband. Now what +would you do supposing I were to make you a present of two hundred +crowns to buy the garden?" + +"I should put it to my wife's dowry." + +"Then here are the two hundred crowns. I shall give them to +Momolo, as I don't know you well enough, though I think you are +perfectly to be trusted. The garden is yours, as part of your +wife's dowry." + +Momolo took the money, and promised to buy the garden the +following day, and the young man shedding tears of joy and +gratitude fell on his knees and kissed my hand. All the girls +wept, as I myself did, for there's a contagion in such happy +tears. Nevertheless, they did not all proceed from the same +source; some were virtuous and some vicious, and the young man's +were the only ones whose source was pure and unalloyed. I lifted +him from the ground, kissed him, and wished him a happy marriage. +He made bold to ask me to his wedding, but I refused, thanking him +kindly. I told him that if he wanted to please me, he must come +and sup at Momolo's on the eve of his wedding, and I begged the +good scopatore to ask Mariuccia, her father and mother as well. I +was sure of seeing her for the last time on the Sunday morning. + +At seven o'clock on the Sunday morning we were in each other's +arms, with four hours before us. After the first burst of mutual +ardour she told me that all arrangements had been made in her +house the evening before, in the presence of her confessor and of +Momolo; and that on the receipt for the two hundred crowns being +handed in the notary had put the garden into the settlement, and +that the good father had made her a present of twenty piastres +towards defraying the notary's fees and the wedding expenses. + +"Everything is for the best, and I am sure I shall be happy. My +intended adores you, but you did wisely not to accept his +invitation, for you would have found everything so poor, and +besides tongues might have been set wagging to my disadvantage." + +"You are quite right, dearest, but what do you intend to do if +your husband finds that the door has been opened by someone else, +for possibly he expects you to be a maid." + +"I expect he will know no more about it than I did the first time +you knew me; besides, I do not feel that you have defiled me, and +my clean conscience will not allow me to think of the matter; and +I am sure that he will not think of it any more than I." + +"Yes, but if he does?" + +"It would not be delicate on his part, but what should prevent me +from replying that I don't know what he means?" + +"You are right; that's the best way. But have you told your +confessor of our mutual enjoyment?" + +"No, for as I did not give myself up to you with any criminal +intention, I do not think I have offended God." + +"You are an angel, and I admire the clearness of your reasoning. +But listen to me; it's possible that you are already with child, +or that you may become so this morning; promise to name the child +after me." + +"I will do so." + +The four hours sped rapidly away. After the sixth assault we were +wearied though not satiated. We parted with tears, and swore to +love each other as brother and sister ever after. + +I went home, bathed, slept an hour, rose, dressed, and dined +pleasantly with the family. In the evening I took the Mengs +family for a drive in my landau, and we then went to the theatre, +where the castrato who played the prima donna was a great +attraction. He was the favourite pathic of Cardinal Borghese, and +supped every evening with his eminence. + +This castrato had a fine voice, but his chief attraction was his +beauty. I had seen him in man's clothes in the street, but though +a fine-looking fellow, he had not made any impression on me, for +one could see at once that he was only half a man, but on the +stage in woman's dress the illusion was complete; he was +ravishing. + +He was enclosed in a carefully-made corset and looked like a +nymph; and incredible though it may seem, his breast was as +beautiful as any woman's; it was the monster's chiefest charm. +However well one knew the fellow's neutral sex, as soon as one +looked at his breast one felt all aglow and quite madly amorous of +him. To feel nothing one would have to be as cold and impassive +as a German. As he walked the boards, waiting for the refrain of +the air he was singing, there was something grandly voluptuous +about him; and as he glanced towards the boxes, his black eyes, at +once tender and modest, ravished the heart. He evidently wished +to fan the flame of those who loved him as a man, and probably +would not have cared for him if he had been a woman. + +Rome the holy, which thus strives to make all men pederasts, +denies the fact, and will not believe in the effects of the +glamour of her own devising. + +I made these reflections aloud, and an ecclesiastic, wishing to +blind me to the truth, spoke as follows:-- + +"You are quite right. Why should this castrato be allowed to shew +his breast, of which the fairest Roman lady might be proud, and +yet wish everyone to consider him as a man and not a woman? If +the stage is forbidden to the fair sex lest they excite desires, +why do they seek out men-monsters made in the form of women, who +excite much more criminal desires? They keep on preaching that +pederasty is comparatively unknown and entraps only a few, but +many clever men endeavour to be entrapped, and end by thinking it +so pleasant that they prefer these monsters to the most beautiful +women." + +"The Pope would be sure of heaven if he put a stop to this +scandalous practice." + +"I don't agree with you. One could not have a pretty actress to +supper without causing a scandal, but such an invitation to a +castrato makes nobody talk. It is of course known perfectly well +that after supper both heads rest on one pillow, but what +everybody knows is ignored by all. One may sleep with a man out +of mere friendship, it is not so with a woman." + +"True, monsignor, appearances are saved, and a sin concealed is +half pardoned, as they say in Paris." + +"At Rome we say it is pardoned altogether. 'Peccato nascosto non +offende'." + +His jesuitical arguments interested me, for I knew that he was an +avowed partisan of the forbidden fruit. + +In one of the boxes I saw the Marchioness Passarini (whom I had +known at Dresden) with Don Antonio Borghese, and I went to pay my +addresses to them. The prince, whom I had known at Paris ten +years before, recognized me, and asked me to dine with him on the +following day. I went, but my lord was not at home. A page told +me that my place was laid at table, and that I could dine just as +if the prince was there, on which I turned my back on him and went +away. On Ash Wednesday he sent his man to ask me to sup with him +and the marchioness, who was his mistress, and I sent word that I +would not fail to come; but he waited for me in vain. Pride is +the daughter of folly, and always keeps its mother's nature. + +After the opera I went to Momolo's, where I found Mariuccia, her +father, her mother, and her future husband. They were anxiously +expecting me. It is not difficult to make people happy when one +selects for one's bounty persons who really deserve happiness. I +was amidst poor but honest people, and I can truly say that I had +a delightful supper. It may be that some of my enjoyment +proceeded from a feeling of vanity, for I knew that I was the +author of the happiness depicted on the faces of the bride and +bridegroom and of the father and mother of Mariuccia; but when +vanity causes good deeds it is a virtue. Nevertheless, I owe it +to myself to tell my readers that my pleasure was too pure to have +in it any admixture of vice. + +After supper I made a small bank at faro, making everybody play +with counters, as nobody had a penny, and I was so fortunate as to +make everyone win a few ducats. + +After the game we danced in spite of the prohibition of the Pope, +whom no Roman can believe to be infallible, for he forbids dancing +and permits games of chance. His successor Ganganelli followed +the opposite course, and was no better obeyed. To avoid suspicion +I did not give the pair any present, but I gave up my landau to +them that they might enjoy the carnival on the Corso, and I told +Costa to get them a box at the Capranica Theatre. Momolo asked me +to supper on Shrove Tuesday. + +I wished to leave Rome on the second day of Lent, and I called on +the Holy Father at a time when all Rome was on the Corso. His +Holiness welcomed me most graciously, and said he was surprised +that I had not gone to see the sights on the Corso like everybody +else. I replied that as a lover of pleasure I had chosen the +greatest pleasure of all for a Christian--namely, to kneel at the +feet of the vicar of Christ on earth. He bowed with a kind of +majestic humility, which shewed me how the compliment had pleased +him. He kept me for more than an hour, talking about Venice, +Padua, and Paris, which latter city the worthy man would not have +been sorry to have visited. I again commended myself to his +apostolic intercession to enable me to return to my native +country, and he replied,-- + +"Have recourse to God, dear son; His grace will be more +efficacious than my prayers;" and then he blessed me and wished me +a prosperous journey. + +I saw that the Head of the Church had no great opinion of his own +power. + +On Shrove Tuesday I dressed myself richly in the costume of +Polichinello, and rode along the Corso showering sweetmeats on all +the pretty women I saw. Finally I emptied the basket on the +daughters of the worthy 'scopatore', whom Costa was taking about +in my landau with all the dignity of a pasha. + +At night-time I took off my costume and went to Momolo's, where I +expected to see dear Mariuccia for the last time. Supper passed +off in almost a similar manner to the supper of last Sunday; but +there was an interesting novelty for me--namely, the sight of my +beloved mistress in her character of bride. Her husband seemed to +be much more reserved with respect to me than at our first +meeting. I was puzzled by his behaviour, and sat down by +Mariuccia and proceeded to question her. She told me all the +circumstances which had passed on the first night, and she spoke +highly of her husband's good qualities. He was kind, amorous, +good-tempered, and delicate. No doubt he must have noticed that +the casket had been opened, but he had said nothing about it. As +he had spoken about me, she had not been able to resist the +pleasure of telling him that I was her sole benefactor, at which, +so far from being offended, he seemed to trust in her more than +ever. + +"But has he not questioned you indirectly as to the connection +between us?" + +"Not at all. I told him that you went to my confessor after +having spoken to me once only in the church, where I told you what +a good chance I had of being married to him." + +"Do you think he believed you?" + +"I am not sure; however, even if it were otherwise, it is enough +that he pretends to, for I am determined to win his esteem." + +"You are right, and I think all the better of him for his +suspicions, for it is better to marry a man with some sense in his +head than to marry a fool." + +I was so pleased with what she told me that when I took leave of +the company I embraced the hairdresser, and drawing a handsome +gold watch from my fob I begged him to accept it as a souvenir of +me. He received it with the utmost gratitude. From my pocket I +took a ring, worth at least six hundred francs, and put it on his +wife's finger, wishing them a fair posterity and all manner of +happiness, and I then went home to bed, telling Le Duc and Costa +that we must begin to pack up next day. + +I was just getting up when they brought me a note from Lord +Lismore, begging me to come and speak to him at noon at the Villa +Borghese. + +I had some suspicion of what he might want, and kept the +appointment. I felt in a mood to give him some good advice. +Indeed, considering the friendship between his mother and myself, +it was my duty to do so. + +He came up to me and gave me a letter he had received the evening +before from his mother. She told him that Paris de Monmartel had +just informed her that he was in possession of a bill for two +hundred thousand francs drawn by her son, and that he would honour +it if she would furnish him with the funds. She had replied that +she would let him know in two or three days if she could do so; +but she warned her son that she had only asked for this delay to +give him time to escape, as the bill would certainly be protested +and returned, it being absolutely out of the question for her +to get the money. + +"You had better make yourself scarce as soon as you can," said I, +returning him the letter. + +"Buy this ring, and so furnish me with the means for my escape. +You would not know that it was not my property if I had not told +you so in confidence." + +I made an appointment with him, and had the stone taken out and +valued by one of the best jewellers in Rome. + +"I know this stone," said he, "it is worth two thousand Roman +crowns." + +At four o'clock I took the earl five hundred crowns in gold and +fifteen hundred crowns in paper, which he would have to take to a +banker, who would give him a bill of exchange in Amsterdam. + +"I will be off at nightfall," said he, "and travel by myself to +Amsterdam, only taking such effects as are absolutely necessary, +and my beloved blue ribbon." + +"A pleasant journey to you," said I, and left him. In ten days I +had the stone mounted at Bologna. + +I got a letter of introduction from Cardinal Albani for Onorati, +the nuncio at Florence, and another letter from M. Mengs to Sir +Mann, whom he begged to receive me in his house. I was going to +Florence for the sake of the Corticelli and my dear Therese, and I +reckoned on the auditor's feigning to ignore my return, in spite +of his unjust order, especially if I were residing at the English +minister's. + +On the second day of Lent the disappearance of Lord Lismore was +the talk of the town. The English tailor was ruined, the Jew who +owned the ring was in despair, and all the silly fellow's servants +were turned out of the house in almost a state of nakedness, as +the tailor had unceremoniously taken possession of everything in +the way of clothes that he could lay his hands on. + +Poor Poinsinet came to see me in a pitiable condition; he had only +his shirt and overcoat. He had been despoiled of everything, and +threatened with imprisonment. "I haven't a farthing," said the +poor child of the muses, "I have only the shirt on my back. I +know nobody here, and I think I shall go and throw myself into the +Tiber." + +He was destined, not to be drowned in the Tiber but in the +Guadalquivir. I calmed him by offering to take him to Florence +with me, but I warned him that I must leave him there, as someone +was expecting me at Florence. He immediately took up his abode +with me, and wrote verses incessantly till it was time to go. + +My brother Jean made me a present of an onyx of great beauty. It +was a cameo, representing Venus bathing, and a genuine antique, as +the name of the artist, Sostrates, was cut on the stone. Two +years later I sold it to Dr. Masti, at London, for three hundred +pounds, and it is possibly still in the British Museum. + +I went my way with Poinsinet who amused me, in spite of his +sadness, with his droll fancies. In two days I got down at Dr. +Vannini's, who tried to conceal his surprise at seeing me. I lost +no time, but waited on Sir ---- Mann immediately, and found him +sitting at table. He gave me a very friendly reception, but he +seemed alarmed when, in reply to his question, I told him that my +dispute with the auditor had not been arranged. He told me +plainly that he thought I had made a mistake in returning to +Florence, and that he would be compromised by my staying with him. +I pointed out that I was only passing through Florence. + +"That's all very well," said he, "but you know you ought to call +on the auditor." + +I promised to do so, and returned to my lodging. I had scarcely +shut the door, when an agent of police came and told me that the +auditor had something to say to me, and would be glad to see me at +an early hour next morning. + +I was enraged at this order, and determined to start forthwith +rather than obey. Full of this idea I called on Therese and found +she was at Pisa. I then went to see the Corticelli, who threw her +arms round my neck, and made use of the Bolognese grimaces +appropriate to the occasion. To speak the truth, although the +girl was pretty, her chief merit in my eyes was that she made me +laugh. + +I gave some money to her mother to get us a good supper, and I +took the girl out on pretence of going for a walk. I went with +her to my lodging, and left her with Poinsinet, and going to +another room I summoned Costa and Vannini. I told Costa in +Vannini's presence to go on with Le Duc and my luggage the +following day, and to call for me at the "Pilgrim" at Bologna. I +gave Vannini my instructions, and he left the room; and then I +ordered Costa to leave Florence with Signora Laura and her son, +and to tell them that I and the daughter were on in front. Le Duc +received similar orders, and calling Poinsinet I gave him ten +Louis, and begged him to look out for some other lodging that very +evening. The worthy but unfortunate young man wept grateful +tears, and told me that he would set out for Parma on foot next +day, and that there M. Tillot would do some, thing for him. + +I went back to the next room, and told the Corticelli to come with +me. She did so under the impression that we were going back to +her mother's, but without taking the trouble to undeceive her I +had a carriage and pair got ready, and told the postillion to +drive to Uccellatoio, the first post on the Bologna road. + +"Where in the world are we going?" said she. + +"Bologna." + +"How about mamma?" + +"She will come on to-morrow." + +"Does she know about it?" + +"No, but she will to-morrow when Costa comes to tell her, and to +fetch her and your brother" + +She liked the joke, and got into the carriage laughing, and we +drove away. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +My Arrival at Bologna--I Am Expelled from Modena--I Visit Parma +and Turin--The Pretty Jewess--The Dressmaker + +The Corticelli had a good warm mantle, but the fool who carried +her off had no cloak, even of the most meagre kind, to keep off +the piercing cold, which was increased by a keen wind blowing +right in our faces. + +In spite of all I would not halt, for I was afraid I might be +pursued and obliged to return, which would have greatly vexed me. + +When I saw that the postillion was slackening his speed, I +increased the amount of the present I was going to make him, and +once more we rushed along at a headlong pace. I felt perishing +with the cold; while the postillions seeing me so lightly clad, +and so prodigal of my money to speed them on their way, imagined +that I was a prince carrying off the heiress of some noble family. +We heard them talking to this effect while they changed horses, +and the Corticelli was so much amused that she did nothing but +laugh for the rest of the way. In five hours we covered forty +miles; we started from Florence at eight o'clock, and at one in +the morning we stopped at a post in the Pope's territory, where I +had nothing to fear. The stage goes under the name of "The Ass +Unburdened." + +The odd name of the inn made my mistress laugh afresh. Everybody +was asleep, but the noise I made and the distribution of a few +pauls procured me the privilege of a fire. I was dying of hunger, +and they coolly told me there was nothing to eat. I laughed in +the landlord's face, and told him to bring me his butter, his +eggs, his macaroni, a ham, and some Parmesan cheese, for I knew +that so much will be found in the inns all over Italy. The repast +was soon ready, and I shewed the idiot host that he had materials +for an excellent meal. We ate like four, and afterwards they made +up an impromptu bed and we went to sleep, telling them to call me +as soon as a carriage and four drew up. + +Full of ham and macaroni, slightly warmed with the Chianti and +Montepulciano, and tired with our journey, we stood more in need +of slumber than of love, and so we gave ourselves up to sleep till +morning. Then we gave a few moments to pleasure, but it was so +slight an affair as not to be worth talking about. + +At one o'clock we began to feel hungry again and got up, and the +host provided us with an excellent dinner, after receiving +instructions from me. I was astonished not to see the carriage +draw up, but I waited patiently all day. Night came on and still +no coach, and I began to feel anxious; but the Corticelli +persisted in laughing at everything. Next morning I sent off an +express messenger with instructions for Costa. In the event of +any violence having taken place, I was resolved to return to +Florence, of which city I could at any time make myself free by +the expenditure of two hundred crowns. + +The messenger started at noon, and returned at two o'clock with +the news that my servants would shortly be with me. My coach was +on its way, and behind it a smaller carriage with two horses, in +which sat an old woman and a young man. + +"That's the mother," said Corticelli; "now we shall have some fun. +Let's get something for them to eat, and be ready to hear the +history of this marvellous adventure which she will remember to +her dying day." + +Costa told me that the auditor had revenged my contempt of his +orders by forbidding the post authorities to furnish any horses +for my carriage. Hence the delay. But here we heard the +allocution of the Signora Laura. + +"I got an excellent supper ready," she began, "according to your +orders; it cost me more than ten pauls, as I shall shew you, and I +hope you will make it up to me as I'm but a poor woman. All was +ready and I joyfully expected you, but in vain; I was in despair. +At last when midnight came I sent my son to your lodging to +enquire after you, but you may imagine my 'grief when I heard that +nobody knew what had become of you. I passed a sleepless night, +weeping all the time, and in the morning I went and complained to +the police that you had taken off my daughter, and asked them to +send after you and make you give her back to me. But only think, +they laughed at me! 'Why did you let her go out without you? +laughing in my face. 'Your daughter's in good hands,' says +another, 'you know perfectly well where she is.' In fact I was +grossly slandered." + +"Slandered?" said the Corticelli. + +"Yes, slandered, for it was as much as to say that I had consented +to your being carried off, and if I had done that the fools might +have known I would not have come to them about it. I went away in +a rage to Dr. Vannini's, where I found your man, who told me that +you had gone to Bologna, and that I could follow you if I liked. +I consented to this plan, and I hope you wilt pay my travelling +expenses. But I can't help telling you that this is rather beyond +a joke." + +I consoled her by telling her I would pay all she had spent, and +we set off for Bologna the next day, and reached that town at an +early hour. I sent my servants to the inn with my carriage, and I +went to lodge with the Corticelli. + +I spent a week with the girl, getting my meals from the inn, and +enjoying a diversity of pleasures which I shall remember all my +days; my young wanton had a large circle of female friends, all +pretty and all kind. I lived with them like a sultan, and still I +delight to recall this happy time, and I say with a sigh, 'Tempi +passati'! + +There are many towns in Italy where one can enjoy all the +pleasures obtainable at Bologna; but nowhere so cheaply, so +easily, or with so much freedom. The living is excellent, and +there are arcades where one can walk in the shade in learned and +witty company. It is a great pity that either from the air, the +water, or the wine--for men of science have not made up their +minds on the subject persons who live at Bologna are subject to a +slight itch. The Bolognese, however, far from finding this +unpleasant, seem to think it an advantage; it gives them the +pleasure of scratching themselves. In springtime the ladies +distinguish themselves by the grace with which they use their +fingers. + +Towards mid-Lent I left the Corticelli, wishing her a pleasant +journey, for she was going to fulfil a year's engagement at Prague +as second dancer. I promised to fetch her and her mother to +Paris, and my readers will see how I kept my word. + +I got to Modena the evening after I left Bologna, and I stopped +there, with one of those sudden whims to which I have always been +subject. Next morning I went out to see the pictures, and as I +was returning to my lodging for dinner a blackguardly-looking +fellow came up and ordered me, on the part of the Government, to +continue my journey on the day following at latest. + +"Very good," said I, and the fellow went away. + +"Who is that man?" I said to the landlord. + +"A SPY." + +"A spy; and the Government dares to send such a fellow to me?" + +"The 'borgello' must have sent him." + +"Then the 'borgello' is the Governor of Modena--the infamous +wretch!" + +"Hush! hush! all the best families speak to him in the street." + +"Then the best people are very low here, I suppose?" + +"Not more than anywhere else. He is the manager of the opera +house, and the greatest noblemen dine with him and thus secure his +favour." + +"It's incredible! But why should the high and mighty borgello +send me away from Modena?" + +"I don't know, but do you take my advice and go and speak to him; +you will find him a fine fellow." + +Instead of going to see this b. . . . I called on the Abbe Testa +Grossa, whom I had known at Venice in 1753. Although he was a man +of low extraction he had a keen wit. At this time he was old and +resting on his laurels; he had fought his way into favour by the +sheer force of merit, and his master, the Duke of Modena, had long +chosen him as his representative with other powers. + +Abbe Testa Grossa recognized me and gave me the most gracious +reception, but when he heard of what had befallen me he seemed +much annoyed. + +"What can I do?" said I. + +"You had better go, as the man may put a much more grievous insult +on you." + +"I will do so, but could you oblige me by telling me the reason +for such a high-handed action?" + +"Come again this evening; I shall probably be able to satisfy +you." + +I called on the abbe again in the evening, for I felt anxious to +learn in what way I had offended the lord borgello, to whom I +thought I was quite unknown. The abbe satisfied me. + +"The borgello," said he, "saw your name on the bill which he +receives daily containing a list of the names of those who enter +or leave the city. He remembered that you were daring enough to +escape from The Leads, and as he does not at all approve of that +sort of thing he resolved not to let the Modenese be contaminated +by so egregious an example of the defiance of justice, however +unjust it may be; and in short he has given you the order to leave +the town." + +"I am much obliged, but I really wonder how it is that while you +were telling me this you did not blush to be a subject of the Duke +of Modena's. What an unworthy action! How contrary is such a +system of government to all the best interests of the state!" + +"You are quite right, my dear sir, but I am afraid that as yet +men's eyes are not open to what best serves their interests." + +"That is doubtless due to the fact that so many men are unworthy." + +"I will not contradict you." + +"Farewell, abbe." + +"Farewell, M. Casanova." + +Next morning, just as I was going to get into my carriage, a young +man between twenty-five and thirty, tall and strong and broad +shouldered, his eyes black and glittering, his eyebrows strongly +arched, and his general air being that of a cut-throat, accosted +me and begged me to step aside and hear what he had to say. + +"If you like to stop at Parma for three days, and if you will +promise to give me fifty sequins when I bring you the news that +the borgello is dead, I promise to shoot him within the next +twenty-four hours." + +"Thanks. Such an animal as that should be allowed to die a +natural death. Here's a crown to drink my health." + +At the present time I feel very thankful that I acted as I did, +but I confess that if I had felt sure that it was not a trap I +should have promised the money. The fear of committing myself +spared me this crime. + +The next day I got to Parma, and I put up at the posting-house +under the name of the Chevalier de Seingalt, which I still bear. +When an honest man adopts a name which belongs to no one, no one +has a right to contest his use of it; it becomes a man's duty to +keep the name. I had now borne it for two years, but I often +subjoined to it my family name. + +When I got to Parma I dismissed Costa, but in a week after I had +the misfortune to take him on again. His father, who was a poor +violin player, as I had once been, with a large family to provide +for, excited my pity. + +I made enquiries about M. Antonio, but he had left the place; and +M. Dubois Chalelereux, Director of the Mint, had gone to Venice +with the permission of the Duke of Parma, to set up the beam, +which was never brought into use. Republics are famous for their +superstitious attachment to old customs; they are afraid that +changes for the better may destroy the stability of the state, and +the government of aristocratic Venice still preserves its original +Greek character. + +My Spaniard was delighted when I dismissed Costa and +proportionately sorry when I took him back. + +"He's no profligate," said Le Duc; "he is sober, and has no liking +for bad company. But I think he's a robber, and a dangerous +robber, too. I know it, because he seems so scrupulously careful +not to cheat you in small things. Remember what I say, sir; he +will do you. He is waiting to gain your confidence, and then he +will strike home. Now, I am quite a different sort of fellow, a +rogue in a small way; but you know me." + +His insight was, keener than mine, for five or six months later +the Italian robbed me of fifty thousand crowns. Twenty-three +years afterwards, in 1784, I found him in Venice, valet to Count +Hardegg, and I felt inclined to have him hanged. I shewed him by +proof positive that I could do so if I liked; but he had resource +to tears and supplications, and to the intercession of a worthy +man named Bertrand, who lived with the ambassador of the King of +Sardinia. I esteemed this individual, and he appealed to me +successfully to pardon Costa. I asked the wretch what he had done +with the gold and jewels he had stolen from me, and he told me +that he had lost the whole of it in furnishing funds for a bank at +Biribi, that he had been despoiled by his own associates, and had +been poor and miserable ever since. + +In the same year in which he robbed me he married Momolo's +daughter, and after making her a mother he abandoned her. + +To pursue our story. + +At Turin I lodged in a private house with the Abbe Gama, who had +been expecting me. In spite of the good abbe's sermon on economy, +I took the whole of the first floor, and a fine suite it was. + +We discussed diplomatic topics, and he assured me that I should be +accredited in May, and that he would give me instructions as to +the part I was to play. I was pleased with his commission, and I +told the abbe that I should be ready to go to Augsburg whenever +the ambassadors of the belligerent powers met there. + +After making the necessary arrangements with my landlady with +regard to my meals I went to a coffeehouse to read the papers, and +the first person I saw was the Marquis Desarmoises, whom I had +known in Savoy. The first thing he said was that all games of +chance were forbidden, and that the ladies I had met would no +doubt be delighted to see me. As for himself, he said that he +lived by playing backgammon, though he was not at all lucky at it, +as talent went for more than luck at that game. I can understand +how, if fortune is neutral, the best player will win, but I do not +see how the contrary can take place. + +We went for a walk in the promenade leading to the citadel, where +I saw numerous extremely pretty women. In Turin the fair sex is +most delightful, but the police regulations are troublesome to a +degree. Owing to the town being a small one and thinly peopled, +the police spies find out everything. Thus one cannot enjoy any +little freedoms without great precautions and the aid of cunning +procuresses, who have to be well paid, as they would be cruelly +punished if they were found out. No prostitutes and no kept women +are allowed, much to the delight of the married women, and with +results which the ignorant police might have anticipated. As well +be imagined, pederasty has a fine field in this town, where the +passions are kept under lock and key. + +Amongst the beauties I looked at, one only attracted me. I asked +Desarmoises her name, as he knew all of them. + +"That's the famous Leah," said he; "she is a Jewess, and +impregnable. She has resisted the attacks of the best strategists +in Turin. Her father's a famous horse-dealer; you can go and see +her easily enough, but there's nothing to be done there." + +The greater the difficulty the more I felt spurred on to attempt +it. + +"Take me there," said I, to Desarmoises. + +"As soon as you please." + +I asked him to dine with me, and we were on our way when we met M. +Zeroli and two or three other persons whom I had met at Aix. I +gave and received plenty of compliments, but not wishing to pay +them any visits I excused myself on the pretext of business. + +When we had finished dinner Desarmoises took me to the horse- +dealer's. I asked if he had a good saddle horse. He called a lad +and gave his orders, and whilst he was speaking the charming +daughter appeared on the scene. She was dazzlingly beautiful, and +could not be more than twenty-two. Her figure was as lissom as a +nymph's, her hair a raven black, her complexion a meeting of the +lily and the rose, her eyes full of fire, her lashes long, and her +eye-brows so well arched that they seemed ready to make war on any +who would dare the conquest of her charms. All about her +betokened an educated mind and knowledge of the world. + +I was so absorbed in the contemplation of her charms that I did +not notice the horse when it was brought to me. However, I +proceeded to scrutinise it, pretending to be an expert, and after +feeling the knees and legs, turning back the ears, and looking at +the teeth, I tested its behaviour at a walk, a trot, and a gallop, +and then told the Jew that I would come and try it myself in top- +boots the next day. The horse was a fine dappled bay, and was +priced at forty Piedmontese pistoles--about a hundred sequins. + +"He is gentleness itself," said Leah, "and he ambles as fast as +any other horse trots." + +"You have ridden it, then?" + +"Often, sir, and if I were rich I would never sell him." + +"I won't buy the horse till I have seen you ride it." + +She blushed at this. + +"You must oblige the gentleman," said her father. She consented +to do so, and I promised to come again at nine o'clock the next +day. + +I was exact to time, as may be imagined, and I found Leah in +riding costume. What proportions! What a Venus Callipyge! I was +captivated. + +Two horses were ready, and she leapt on hers with the ease and +grace of a practised rider, and I got up on my horse. We rode +together for some distance. The horse went well enough, but what +of that; all my eyes were for her. + +As we were turning, I said,-- + +"Fair Leah, I will buy the horse, but as a present for you; and if +you will not take it I shall leave Turin today. The only +condition I attach to the gift is, that you will ride with me +whenever I ask you." + +I saw she seemed favourably inclined to my proposal, so I told her +that I should stay six weeks at Turin, that I had fallen in love +with her on the promenade, and that the purchase of the horse had +been a mere pretext for discovering to her my feelings. She +replied modestly that she was vastly flattered by the liking I had +taken to her, and that I need not have made her such a present to +assure myself of her friendship. + +"The condition you impose on me is an extremely pleasant one, and +I am sure that my father will like me to accept it." + +To this she added,-- + +"All I ask is for you to make me the present before him, repeating +that you will only buy it on the condition that I will accept it." + +I found the way smoother than I had expected, and I did what she +asked me. Her father, whose name was Moses, thought it a good +bargain, congratulated his daughter, took the forty pistoles and +gave me a receipt, and begged me to do them the honour of +breakfasting with them the next day. This was just what I wanted. + +The following morning Moses received me with great respect. Leah, +who was in her ordinary clothes, told me that if I liked to ride +she would put on her riding habit. + +"Another day," said I; "to-day I should like to converse with you +in your own house." + +But the father, who was as greedy as most Jews are, said that if I +liked driving he could sell me a pretty phaeton with two excellent +horses. + +"You must shew them to the gentleman," said Leah, possibly in +concert with her father. + +Moses said nothing, but went out to get the horses harnessed. + +"I will look at them," I said to Leah, "but I won't buy, as I +should not know what to do with them." + +"You can take your lady-love out for a drive." + +"That would be you; but perhaps you would be afraid!" + +"Not at all, if you drove in the country or the suburbs." + +"Very good, Leah, then I will look at them." + +The father came in, and we went downstairs. I liked the carriage +and the horses, and I told Leah so. + +"Well," said Moses, "you can have them now for four hundred +sequins, but after Easter the price will be five hundred sequins +at least." + +Leah got into the carriage, and I sat beside her, and we went for +an hour's drive into the country. I told Moses I would give him +an answer by the next day, and he went about his business, while +Leah and I went upstairs again. + +"It's quite worth four hundred sequins," said I, "and to-morrow I +will buy it with pleasure; but on the same condition as that on +which I bought the horse, and something more--namely, that you +will grant me all the favours that a tender lover can desire." + +"You speak plainly, and I will answer you in the same way. I'm an +honest girl, sir, and not for sale." + +"All women, dear Leah, whether they are honest or not, are for +sale. When a man has plenty of time he buys the woman his heart +desires by unremitting attentions; but when he's in a hurry he +buys her with presents, and even with money." + +"Then he's a clumsy fellow; he would do better to let sentiment +and attention plead his cause and gain the victory." + +"I wish I could give myself that happiness, fair Leah, but I'm in +a great hurry." + +As I finished this sentence her father came in, and I left the +house telling him that if I could not come the next day I would +come the day after, and that we could talk about the phaeton then. + +It was plain that Leah thought I was lavish of my money, and would +make a capital dupe. She would relish the phaeton, as she had +relished the horse, but I knew that I was not quite such a fool as +that. It had not cost me much trouble to resolve to chance the +loss of a hundred sequins, but beyond that I wanted some value for +my money. + +I temporarily suspended my visits to see how Leah and her father +would settle it amongst themselves. I reckoned on the Jew's +greediness to work well for me. He was very fond of money, and +must have been angry that his daughter had not made me buy the +phaeton by some means or another, for so long as the phaeton was +bought the rest would be perfectly indifferent to him. I felt +almost certain that they would come and see me. + +The following Saturday I saw the fair Jewess on the promenade. We +were near enough for me to accost her without seeming to be +anxious to do so, and her look seemed to say, "Come." + +"We see no more of you now," said she, "but come and breakfast +with me to-morrow, or I will send you back the horse." + +I promised to be with her in good time, and, as the reader will +imagine, I kept my word. + +The breakfast party was almost confined to ourselves, for though +her aunt was present she was only there for decency's sake. After +breakfast we resolved to have a ride, and she changed her clothes +before me, but also before her aunt. She first put on her leather +breeches, then let her skirts fall, took off her corset, and +donned a jacket. With seeming indifference I succeeded in +catching a glimpse of a magnificent breast; but the sly puss knew +how much my indifference was worth. + +"Will you arrange my frill?" said she. + +This was a warm occupation for me, and I am afraid my hand was +indiscreet. Nevertheless, I thought I detected a fixed design +under all this seeming complaisance, and I was on my guard. + +Her father came up just as we were getting on horseback. + +"If you will buy the phaeton and horses," said he, "I will abate +twenty sequins." + +"All that depends on your daughter," said I. + +We set off at a walk, and Leah told me that she had been imprudent +enough to confess to her father that she could make me buy the +carriage, and that if I did not wish to embroil her with him I +would be kind enough to purchase it. + +"Strike the bargain," said she, "and you can give it me when you +are sure of my love." + +"My dear Leah, I am your humble servant, but you know on what +condition." + +"I promise to drive out with you whenever you please, without +getting out of the carriage, but I know you would not care for +that. No, your affection was only a temporary caprice." + +"To convince you of the contrary I will buy the phaeton and put it +in a coach-house. I will see that the horses are taken-care of, +though I shall not use them. But if you do not make me happy in +the course of a week I shall re-sell the whole." + +"Come to us to-morrow." + +"I will do so, but I trust have some pledge of your affection this +morning." + +"This morning? It's impossible." + +"Excuse me; I will go upstairs with you, and you can shew me more +than one kindness while you are undressing." + +We came back, and I was astonished to hear her telling her father +that the phaeton was mine, and all he had to do was to put in the +horses. The Jew grinned, and we all went upstairs, and Leah +coolly said,-- + +"Count out the money." + +"I have not any money about me, but I will write you a cheque, if +you like." + +"Here is paper." + +I wrote a cheque on Zappata for three hundred sequins, payable at +sight. The Jew went off to get the money, and Leah remained alone +with me. + +"You have trusted me," she said, "and have thus shewn yourself +worthy of my love." + +"Then undress, quick!" + +"No, my aunt is about the house; and as I cannot shut the door +without exciting suspicion, she might come in; but I promise that +you shall be content with me tomorrow. Nevertheless, I am going +to undress, but you must go in this closet; you may come back when +I have got my woman's clothes on again." + +I agreed to this arrangement, and she shut me in. I examined the +door, and discovered a small chink between the boards. I got on a +stool, and saw Leah sitting on a sofa opposite to me engaged in +undressing herself. She took off her shift and wiped her breasts +and her feet with a towel, and just as she had taken off her +breeches, and was as naked as my hand, one of her rings happened +to slip off her finger, and rolled under the sofa. She got up, +looked to right and left, and then stooped to search under the +sofa, and to do this she had to kneel with her head down. When +she got back to couch, the towel came again into requisition, and +she wiped herself all over in such a manner that all her charms +were revealed to my eager eyes. I felt sure that she knew I was a +witness of all these operations, and she probably guessed what a +fire the sight would kindle in my inflammable breast. + +At last her toilette was finished, and she let me out. I clasped +her in my arms, with the words, "I have seen everything." She +pretended not to believe me, so I chewed her the chink, and was +going to obtain my just dues, when the accursed Moses came in. He +must have been blind or he would have seen the state his daughter +had put me in; however, he thanked me, and gave me a receipt for +the money, saying, "Everything in my poor house is at your +service." + +I bade them adieu, and I went away in an ill temper. I got into +my phaeton, and drove home and told the coachman to find me a +stable for the horses and a coach-house for the carriage. + +I did not expect to see Leah again, and I felt enraged with her. +She had pleased me only too much by her voluptuous attitudes, but +she had set up an irritation wholly hostile to Love. She had made +Love a robber, and the hungry boy had consented, but afterwards, +when he craved more substantial fare, she refused him, and ardour +was succeeded by contempt. Leah did not want to confess herself +to be what she really was, and my love would not declare itself +knavish. + +I made the acquaintance of an amiable chevalier, a soldier, a man +of letters, and a great lover of horses, who introduced me to +several pleasant families. However, I did not cultivate them, as +they only offered me the pleasures of sentiment, while I longed +for lustier fare for which I was willing to pay heavily. The +Chevalier de Breze was not the man for me; he was too respectable +for a profligate like myself. He bought the phaeton and horses, +and I only lost thirty sequins by the transaction. + +A certain M. Baretti, who had known me at Aix, and had been the +Marquis de Pries croupier, took me to see the Mazzoli, formerly a +dancer, and then mistress to the Chevalier Raiberti, a hardheaded +but honest man, who was then secretary for foreign affairs. +Although the Mazzoli was by no means pretty, she was extremely +complaisant, and had several girls at her house for me to see; +but I did not think any of them worthy of occupying Leah's place. +I fancied I no longer loved Leah, but I was wrong. + +The Chevalier Cocona, who had the misfortune to be suffering from +a venereal disease, gave me up his mistress, a pretty little +'soubrette'; but in spite of the evidence of my own eyes, and in +spite of the assurances she gave me, I could not make up my mind +to have her, and my fear made me leave her untouched. Count +Trana, a brother of the chevalier's whom I had known at Aix, +introduced me to Madame de Sc----, a lady of high rank and very +good-looking, but she tried to involve me in a criminal +transaction, and I ceased to call on her. Shortly after, Count +Trana's uncle died and he became rich and got married, but he +lived an unhappy life. + +I was getting bored, and Desarmoises, who had all his meals with +me, did not know what to do. At last he advised me to make the +acquaintance of a certain Madame R----, a Frenchwoman, and well +known in Turin as a milliner and dressmaker. She had six or eight +girls working for her in a room adjoining her shop. Desarmoises +thought that if I got in there I might possibly be able to find +one to my taste. As my purse was well furnished I thought I +should not have much difficulty, so I called on Madame R----. I +was agreeably surprised to find Leah there, bargaining for a +quantity of articles, all of which she pronounced to be too dear. +She told me kindly but reproachfully that she had thought I must +be ill. + +"I have been very busy," I said; and felt all my old ardour +revive. She asked me to come to a Jewish wedding, where there +would be a good many people and several pretty girls. I knew that +ceremonies of this kind are very amusing, and I promised to be +present. She proceeded with her bargaining, but the price was +still too high and she left the shop. Madame R---- was going to +put back all the trifles in their places, but I said,-- + +"I will take the lot myself." + +She smiled, and I drew out my purse and paid the money. + +"Where do you live, sir?" said she; "and when shall I send you +your purchases?" + +"You may bring them to-morrow yourself, and do me the honour of +breakfasting with me." + +"I can never leave the shop, sir." In spite of her thirty-five +years, Madame R---- was still what would be called a tasty morsel, +and she had taken my fancy. + +"I want some dark lace," said I. + +"Then kindly follow me, sir." + +I was delighted when I entered the room to see a lot of young +work-girls, all charming, hard at work, and scarcely daring to +look at me. Madame R---- opened several cupboards, and showed me +some magnificent lace. I was distracted by the sight of so many +delicious nymphs, and I told her that I wanted the lace for two +'baoutes' in the Venetian style. She knew what I meant. The lace +cost me upwards of a hundred sequins. Madame R---- told two of +her girls to bring me the lace the next day, together with the +goods which Leah had thought too dear. They meekly replied,-- + +"Yes, mother." + +They rose and kissed the mother's hand, which I thought a +ridiculous ceremony; however, it gave me an opportunity of +examining them, and I thought them delicious. We went back to the +shop, and sitting down by the counter I enlarged on the beauty of +the girls, adding, though not with strict truth, that I vastly +preferred their mistress. She thanked me for the compliment and +told me plainly that she had a lover, and soon after named him. +He was the Comte de St. Giles, an infirm and elderly man, and by +no means a model lover. I thought Madame R---- was jesting, but +next day I ascertained that she was speaking the truth. Well, +everyone to his taste, and I suspect that she was more in love +with the count's purse than his person. I had met him at the +"Exchange" coffeehouse. + +The next day the two pretty milliners brought me my goods. I +offered them chocolate, but they firmly and persistently declined. +The fancy took me to send them to Leah with all the things she had +chosen, and I bade them return and tell me what sort of a +reception they had had. They said they would do so, and waited +for me to write her a note. + +I could not give them the slightest mark of affection. I dared +not shut the door, and the mistress and the ugly young woman of +the house kept going and coming all the time; but when they came +back I waited for them on the stairs, and giving them a sequin +each told each of them that she might command my heart if she +would. Leah had accepted my handsome present and sent to say that +she was waiting for me. + +As I was walking aimlessly about in the afternoon I happened to +pass the milliner's shop, and Madame R---- saw me and made me come +in and sit down beside her. + +"I am really much obliged to you," said she, "for your kindness to +my girls. They came home enchanted. Tell me frankly whether you +are really in love with the pretty Jewess." + +"I am really in love with her, but as she will not make me happy I +have signed my own dismissal." + +"You were quite right. All Leah thinks of is duping those who are +captivated by her charms." + +"Do not your charming apprentices follow your maxims?" + +"No; but they are only complaisant when I give them leave." + +"Then I commend myself to your intercession, for they would not +even take a cup of chocolate from me." + +"They were perfectly right not to accept your chocolate: but I see +you do not know the ways of Turin. Do you find yourself +comfortable in your present lodging?" + +"Quite so." + +"Are you perfectly free to do what you like?" + +"I think so." + +"Can you give supper to anyone you like in your own rooms? I am +certain you can't." + +"I have not had the opportunity of trying the experiment so far, +but I believe . . . ." + +"Don't flatter yourself by believing anything; that house is full +of the spies of the police." + +"Then you think that I could not give you and two or three of your +girls a little supper?" + +"I should take very good care not to go to it, that's all I know. +By next morning it would be known to all the town, and especially +to the police." + +"Well, supposing I look out for another lodging?" + +"It's the same everywhere. Turin is a perfect nest of spies; but +I do know a house where you could live at ease, and where my girls +might perhaps be able to bring you your purchases. But we should +have to be very careful." + +"Where is the house I will be guided by you in everything." + +"Don't trust a Piedmontese; that's the first commandment here." + +She then gave me the address of a small furnished house, which was +only inhabited by an old door-keeper and his wife. + +"They will let it you by the month," said she, "and if you pay a +month in advance you need not even tell them your name." + +I found the house to be a very pretty one, standing in a lonely +street at about two hundred paces from the citadel. One gate, +large enough to admit a carriage, led into the country. I found +everything to be as Madame R---- had described it. I paid a month +in advance without any bargaining, and in a day I had settled in +my new lodging. Madame R---- admired my celerity. + +I went to the Jewish wedding and enjoyed myself, for there is +something at once solemn and ridiculous about the ceremony; but I +resisted all Leah's endeavours to get me once more into her +meshes.. I hired a close carriage from her father, which with the +horses I placed in the coach-house and stables of my new house. +Thus I was absolutely free to go whenever I would by night or by +day, for I was at once in the town and in the country. I was +obliged to tell the inquisitive Gama where I was living, and I hid +nothing from Desarmoises, whose needs made him altogether +dependent on me. Nevertheless I gave orders that my door was shut +to them as to everyone else, unless I had given special +instructions that they were to be admitted. I had no reason to +doubt the fidelity of my two servants. + +In this blissful abode I enjoyed all Mdlle. R----'s girls, one +after the other. The one I wanted always brought a companion, +whom I usually sent back after giving her a slice of the cake. +The last of them, whose name was Victorine, as fair as day and as +soft as a dove, had the misfortune to be tied, though she knew +nothing about it. Mdlle. R----, who was equally ignorant on the +subject, had represented her to me as a virgin, and so I thought +her for two long hours in which I strove with might and main to +break the charm, or rather open the shell. All my efforts were in +vain. I was exhausted at last, and I wanted to see in what the +obstacle consisted. I put her in the proper position, and armed +with a candle I began my scrutiny. I found a fleshy membrane +pierced by so small a hole that large pin's head could scarcely +have gone through. Victorine encouraged me to force a passage +with my little finger, but in vain I tried to pierce this wall, +which nature had made impassable by all ordinary means. I was +tempted to see what I could do with a bistoury, and the girl +wanted me to try, but I was afraid of the haemorrhage which might +have been dangerous, and I wisely refrained. + +Poor Victorine, condemned to die a maid, unless some clever +surgeon performed the same operation that was undergone by Mdlle. +Cheruffini shortly after M. Lepri married her, wept when I said,-- + +"My dear child, your little Hymen defies the most vigorous lover +to enter his temple." + +But I consoled her by saying that a good surgeon could easily make +a perfect woman of her. + +In the morning I told Madame R---- of the case. + +She laughed and said,-- + +"It may prove a happy accident for Victorine; it may make her +fortune." + +A few years after the Count of Padua had her operated on, and made +her fortune. When I came back from Spain I found that she was +with child, so that I could not exact the due reward for all the +trouble I had taken with her. + +Early in the morning on Maunday Thursday they told me that Moses +and Leah wanted to see me. I had not expected to see them, but I +welcomed them warmly. Throughout Holy Week the Jews dared not +shew themselves in the streets of Turin, and I advised them to +stay with me till the Saturday. Moses began to try and get me to +purchase a ring from him, and I judged from that that I should not +have to press them very much. + +"I can only buy this ring from Leah's hands," said I. + +He grinned, thinking doubtless that I intended to make her a +present of it, but I was resolved to disappoint him. I gave them +a magnificent dinner and supper, and in the evening they were +shewn a double-bedded room not far from mine. I might have put +them in different rooms, and Leah in a room adjoining mine, which +would have facilitated any nocturnal excursions; but after all I +had done for her I was resolved to owe nothing to a surprise; she +should come of herself. + +The next day Moses (who noticed that I had not yet bought the +ring) was obliged to go out on business, and asked for the loan of +my carriage for the whole day, telling me that he would come for +his daughter in the evening. I had the horses harnessed, and when +he was gone I bought the ring for six hundred sequins, but on my +own terms. I was in my own house, and Leah could not deceive me. +As soon as the father was safely out of the way I possessed myself +of the daughter. She proved a docile and amorous subject the +whole day. I had reduced her to a state of nature, and though her +body was as perfect as can well be imagined I used it and abused +it in every way imaginable. In the evening her father found her +looking rather tired, but he seemed as pleased as I was. Leah was +not quite so well satisfied, for till the moment of their +departure she was expecting me to give her the ring, but I +contented myself with saying that I should like to reserve myself +the pleasure of taking it to her. + +On Easter Monday a man brought me a note summoning me to appear at +the police office. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +My Victory Over the Deputy Chief of Police--My Departure-- +Chamberi--Desarmoises's Daughter--M. Morin--M * * * M * * * +--At Aix--The Young Boarder--Lyons--Paris + + +This citation, which did not promise to lead to anything +agreeable, surprised and displeased me exceedingly. However, I +could not avoid it, so I drove to the office of the deputy- +superintendent of police. I found him sitting at a long table, +surrounded by about a score of people in a standing posture. He +was a man of sixty, hideously ugly, his enormous nose half +destroyed by an ulcer hidden by a large black silk plaster, his +mouth of huge dimensions, his lips thick, with small green eyes +and eyebrows which had partly turned white. As soon as this +disgusting fellow saw me, he began,-- + +"You are the Chevalier de Seingalt?" + +"That is my name, and I have come here to ask how I can oblige +you?" + +"I have summoned you here to order you to leave the place in three +days at latest." + +"And as you have no right to give such an order, I have come here +to tell you that I shall go when I please, and not before." + +"I will expel you by force." + +"You may do that whenever you please. I cannot resist force, but +I trust you will give the matter a second thought; for in a well- +ordered city they do not expel a man who has committed no crimes, +and has a balance of a hundred thousand francs at the bank." + +"Very good, but in three days you have plenty of time to pack up +and arrange matters with your banker. I advise you to obey, as +the command comes from the king." + +"If I were to leave the town I should become accessory to your +injustice! I will not obey, but since you mention the king's +name, I will go to his majesty at once, and he will deny your +words or revoke the unjust order you have given me with such +publicity." + +"Pray, does not the king possess the power to make you go?" + +"Yes, by force, but not by justice. He has also the power to kill +me, but he would have to provide the executioner, as he could not +make me commit suicide." + +"You argue well, but nevertheless you will obey." + +"I argue well, but I did not learn the art from you, and I will +not obey." + +With these words I turned my back on him, and left without another +word. + +I was in a furious rage. I felt inclined to offer overt +resistance to all the myrmidons of the infamous superintendent. +Nevertheless I soon calmed myself, and summoning prudence to my +aid I remembered the Chevalier Raiberti, whom I had seen at his +mistress's house, and I decided on asking his advice. He was the +chief permanent official in the department of foreign affairs. I +told the coachman to drive to his house, and I recounted to him +the whole tale, saying, finally, that I should like to speak to +the king, as I was resolved that I would not go unless I was +forced to do so. The worthy man advised me to go to the Chevalier +Osorio, the principal secretary for foreign affairs, who could +always get an audience of the king. I was pleased with his +advice, and I went immediately to the minister, who was a Sicilian +and a man of parts. He gave me a very good reception, and after I +had informed him of the circumstances of the case I begged him to +communicate the matter to his majesty, adding that as the +superintendent's order appeared horribly unjust to me I was +resolved not to obey it unless compelled to do so by main force. +He promised to oblige me in the way I wished, and told me to call +again the next day. + +After leaving him I took a short walk to cool myself, and then +went to the Abbe Gama, hoping to be the first to impart my +ridiculous adventure to him. I was disappointed; he already knew +that I had been ordered to go, and how I had answered the +superintendent. When he saw that I persisted in my determination +to resist, he did not condemn my firmness, though he must have +thought it very extraordinary, for the good abbe could not +understand anybody's disobeying the order of the authorities. He +assured me that if I had to go he would send me the necessary +instructions to any address I liked to name. + +The next day the Chevalier Osorio received me with the utmost +politeness, which I thought a good omen. The Chevalier Raiberti +had spoken to him in my behalf, and he had laid the matter before +the king and also before the Count d'Aglie, and the result was +that I could stay as long as I liked. The Count d'Aglie was none +other than the horrible superintendent. I was told that I must +wait on him, and he would give me leave to remain at Turin till my +affairs were settled. + +"My only business here," said I, "is to spend my money till I have +instructions from the Court of Portugal to attend the Congress of +Augsburg on behalf of his most faithful majesty." + +"Then you think that this Congress will take place?" + +"Nobody doubts it." + +"Somebody believes it will all end in smoke. However, I am +delighted to have been of service to you, and I shall be curious +to hear what sort of reception you get from the superintendent." + +I felt ill at ease. I went to the police office immediately, glad +to shew myself victorious, and anxious to see how the +superintendent would look when I came in. However, I could not +flatter myself that he looked ashamed of himself; these people +have a brazen forehead, and do not know what it is to blush. + +As soon as he saw me, he began,-- + +"The Chevalier Osorio tells me that you have business in Turin +which will keep you for some days. You may therefore stay, but +you must tell me as nearly as possible how long a time you +require." + +"I cannot possibly tell you that." + +"Why? if you don't mind telling me." + +"I am awaiting instructions from the Court of Portugal to attend +the Congress to be held at Augsburg, and before I could tell you +how long I shall have to stay I should be compelled to ask his +most faithful majesty. If this time is not sufficient for me to +do my business, I will intimate the fact to you." + +"I shall be much obliged by your doing so." + +This time I made him a bow, which was returned, and on leaving the +office I returned to the Chevalier Osorio, who said, with a smile, +that I had caught the superintendent, as I had taken an indefinite +period, which left me quite at my ease. + +The diplomatic Gama, who firmly believed that the Congress would +meet, was delighted when I told him that the Chevalier Osorio was +incredulous on the subject. He was charmed to think his wit +keener than the minister's; it exalted him in his own eyes. I +told him that whatever the chevalier might say I would go to +Augsburg, and that I would set out in three or four weeks. + +Madame R. congratulated me over and over again, for she was +enchanted that I had humiliated the superintendent; but all the +same we thought we had better give up our little suppers. As I +had had a taste of all her girls, this was not such a great +sacrifice for me to make. + +I continued thus till the middle of May, when I left Turin, after +receiving letters from the Abbe Gama to Lord Stormont, who was to +represent England at the approaching Congress. It was with this +nobleman that I was to work in concert at the Congress. + +Before going to Germany I wanted to see Madame d'Urfe, and I wrote +to her, asking her to send me a letter of introduction to M. de +Rochebaron, who might be useful to me. I also asked M. Raiberti +to give me a letter for Chamberi, where I wanted to visit the +divine M---- M---- (of whom I still thought with affection) at her +convent grating. I wrote to my friend Valenglard, asking him to +remind Madame Morin that she had promised to shew me a likeness to +somebody at Chamberi. + +But here I must note down an event worthy of being recorded, which +was extremely prejudicial to me. + +Five or six days before my departure Desarmoises came to me +looking very downcast, and told me that he had been ordered to +leave Turin in twenty-four hours. + +"Do you know why?" I asked him. + +"Last night when I was at the coffee-house, Count Scarnafis dared +to say that France subsidised the Berne newspapers. I told him he +lied, at which he rose and left the place in a rage, giving me a +glance the meaning of which is not doubtful. I followed him to +bring him to reason or to give him satisfaction; but he would do +nothing and I suspect he went to the police to complain. I shall +have to leave Turin early to-morrow morning." + +"You're a Frenchman, and as you can claim the protection of your +ambassador you will be wrong to leave so suddenly." + +"In the first place the ambassador is away, and in the second my +cruel father disavows me. No, I would rather go, and wait for you +at Lyons. All I want is for you to lend me a hundred crowns, for +which I will give you an account." + +"It will be an easy account to keep," said I, "but a long time +before it is settled." + +"Possibly; but if it is in my power I will shew my gratitude for +the kindnesses you have done me." + +I gave him a hundred crowns and wished him a pleasant journey, +telling him that I should stop some time at Lyons. + +I got a letter of credit on an Augsburg house, and three days +after I left Turin I was at Chamberi. There was only one inn +there in those days, so I was not much puzzled to choose where I +would go, but for all that I found myself very comfortable. + +As I entered my room, I was struck by seeing an extremely pretty +girl coming out of an adjacent room. + +"Who is that young lady?" said I to the chambermaid who was +escorting me. + +"That's the wife of a young gentleman who has to keep his bed to +get cured of a sword-thrust which he received four days ago on his +way from France." + +I could not look at her without feeling the sting of +concupiscence. As I was leaving my room I saw the door half open, +and I stopped short and offered my services as a neighbour. She +thanked me politely, and asked me in. I saw a handsome young man +sitting up in bed, so I went up to enquire how he felt. + +"The doctor will not let him talk," said the young lady, "on +account of a sword-thrust in the chest he received at half a +league from here. We hope he will be all right in a few days, and +then we can continue our journey." + +"Where are you going, madam?" + +"To Geneva." + +Just as I was leaving, a maid came to ask me if I would take +supper in my own room or with the lady. I laughed at her +stupidity, and said I would sup in my own apartment, adding that I +had not the honour of the lady's acquaintance. + +At this the young lady said it would give her great pleasure if I +would sup with her, and the husband repeated this assurance in a +whisper. I accepted the invitation gratefully, and I thought that +they were really pleased. The lady escorted me out as far as the +stairs, and I took the liberty of kissing her hand, which in +France is a declaration of tender though respectful affection. + +At the post-office I found a letter from Valenglard, telling me +that Madame Morin would wait on me at Chamberi if I would send her +a carriage, and another from Desarmoises dated from Lyons. He +told me that as he was on his way from Chamberi he had encountered +his daughter in company with a rascal who had carried her off. He +had buried his sword in his body, and would have killed them if he +had been able to stop their carriage. He suspected that they had +been staying in Chamberi, and he begged me to try and persuade his +daughter to return to Lyons; and he added that if she would not do +so I ought to oblige him by sending her back by force. He assured +me that they were not married, and he begged me to answer his +letter by express, for which purpose he sent me his address. + +I guessed at once that this daughter of his was my fair neighbour, +but I did not feel at all inclined to come to the aid of the +father in the way he wished. + +As soon as I got back to the inn I sent off Le Duc in a travelling +carriage to Madame Morin, whom I informed by letter that as I was +only at Chamberi for her sake I would await her convenience. This +done, I abandoned myself to the delight I felt at the romantic +adventure which fortune had put in my way. + +I repeated Mdlle. Desarmoises and her ravisher, and I did not care +to enquire whether I was impelled in what I did by virtue or vice; +but I could not help perceiving that my motives were of a mixed +nature; for if I were amorous, I was also very glad to be of +assistance to two young lovers, and all the more from my knowledge +of the father's criminal passion. + +On entering their room I found the invalid in the surgeon's hands. +He pronounced the wound not to be dangerous, in spite of its +depth; suppuration had taken place without setting up +inflammation--in short, the young man only wanted time and rest. +When the doctor had gone I congratulated the patient on his +condition, advising him to be careful what he ate, and to keep +silent. I then gave Mdlle. Desarmoises her father's letter, and +I said farewell for the present, telling them that I would go to +my own room till supper-time. I felt sure that she would come and +speak to me after reading her father's letter. + +In a quarter of an hour she knocked timidly at my door, and when I +let her in she gave me back the letter and asked me what I thought +of doing. + +"Nothing. I shall be only too happy, however, if I can be of any +service to you." + +"Ah! I breathe again!" + +"Could you imagine me pursuing any other line of conduct? I am +much interested in you, and will do all in my power to help you. +Are you married?" + +"Not yet, but we are going to be married when we get to Geneva." + +"Sit down and tell me all about yourself. I know that your father +is unhappily in love with you, and that you avoid his attentions." + +"He has told you that much? I am glad of it. A year ago he came +to Lyons, and as soon as I knew he was in the town I took refuge +with a friend of my mother's, for I was aware that I could not +stay in the same house with my father for an hour without exposing +myself to the most horrible outrage. The young man in bed is the +son of a rich Geneva merchant. My father introduced him to me two +years ago, and we soon fell in love with each other. My father +went away to Marseilles, and my lover asked my mother to give me +in marriage to him; but she did not feel authorized to do so +without my father's consent. She wrote and asked him, but he +replied that he would announce his decision when he returned to +Lyons. My lover went to Geneva, and as his father approved of the +match he returned with all the necessary documents and a strong +letter of commendation from M. Tolosan. When my father came +to Lyons I escaped, as I told you, and my lover got M. Tolosan +to ask my hand for him of my father. His reply was, +'I can give no answer till she returns to my house!' + +"M. Tolosan brought this reply to me, and I told him that I was +ready to obey if my mother would guarantee my safety. She +replied, however, that she knew her husband too well to dare to +have us both under the same roof. Again did M. Tolosan endeavour +to obtain my father's consent, but to no purpose. A few days +after he left Lyons, telling us that he was first going to Aix and +then to Turin, and as it was evident that he would never give his +consent my lover proposed that I should go off with him, promising +to marry me as soon as we reached Geneva. By ill luck we +travelled through Savoy, and thus met my father. As soon as he +saw us he stopped the carriage and called to me to get out. I +began to shriek, and my lover taking me in his arms to protect me +my father stabbed him in the chest. No doubt he would have killed +him, but seeing that my shrieks were bringing people to our +rescue, and probably believing that my lover was as good as dead, +he got on horseback again and rode off at full speed. I can chew +you the sword still covered with blood." + +"I am obliged to answer this letter of his, and I am thinking how +I can obtain his consent." + +"That's of no consequence; we can marry and be happy without it." + +"True, but you ought not to despise your dower." + +"Good heavens! what dower? He has no money!" + +"But on the death of his father, the Marquis Desarmoises . . . " + +"That's all a lie. My father has only a small yearly pension for +having served thirty years as a Government messenger. His father +has been dead these thirty years, and my mother and my sister only +live by the work they do." + +I was thunderstruck at the impudence of the fellow, who, after +imposing on me so long, had himself put me in a position to +discover his deceit. I said nothing. Just then we were told that +supper was ready, and we sat at table for three hours talking the +matter over. The poor wounded man had only to listen to me to +know my feelings on the subject. His young mistress, as witty as +she was pretty, jested on the foolish passion of her father, who +had loved her madly ever since she was eleven. + +"And you were always able to resist his attempts?" said I. + +"Yes, whenever he pushed things too far." + +"And how long did this state of things continue?" + +"For two years. When I was thirteen he thought I was ripe, and +tried to gather the fruit; but I began to shriek, and escaped from +his bed stark naked, and I went to take refuge with my mother, who +from that day forth would not let me sleep with him again." + +"You used to sleep with him? How could your mother allow it?" + +"She never thought that there was anything criminal in his +affection for me, and I knew nothing about it. I thought that +what he did to me, and what he made me do to him, were mere +trifles." + +"But you have saved the little treasure?" + +"I have kept it for my lover." + +The poor lover, who was suffering more from the effects of hunger +than from his wounds, laughed at this speech of hers, and she ran +to him and covered his face with kisses. All this excited me +intensely. Her story had been told with too much simplicity not +to move me, especially when I had her before my eyes, for she +possessed all the attractions which a woman can have, and I almost +forgave her father for forgetting she was his daughter and falling +in love with her. + +When she escorted me back to my room I made her feel my emotion, +and she began to laugh; but as my servants were close by I was +obliged to let her go. + +Early next morning I wrote to her father that his daughter had +resolved not to leave her lover, who was only slightly wounded, +that they were in perfect safety and under the protection of the +law at Chamberi, and finally that having heard their story, and +judging them to be well matched, I could only approve of the +course they had taken. When I had finished I went into their room +and gave them the letter to read, and seeing the fair runaway at a +loss how to express her 'gratitude, I begged the invalid to let me +kiss her. + +"Begin with me," said he, opening his arms. + +My hypocritical love masked itself under the guise of paternal +affection. I embraced the lover, and then more amorously I +performed the same office for the mistress, and skewed them my +purse full of gold, telling them it was at their service. While +this was going on the surgeon came in, and I retired to my room. + +At eleven o'clock Madame Morin and her daughter arrived, preceded +by Le Duc on horseback, who announced their approach by numerous +smacks of his whip. I welcomed her with open arms, thanking her +for obliging me. + +The first piece of news she gave me was that Mdlle. Roman had +become mistress to Louis XV., that she lived in a beautiful house +at Passi, and that she was five months gone with child. Thus she +was in a fair way to become queen of France, as my divine oracle +had predicted. + +"At Grenoble," she added, "you are the sole topic of conversation; +and I advise you not to go there unless you wish to settle in the +country, for they would never let you go. You would have all the +nobility at your feet, and above all, the ladies anxious to know +the lot of their daughters. Everybody believes in judicial +astrology now, and Valenglard triumphs. He has bet a hundred +Louis to fifty that my niece will be delivered of a young prince, +and he is certain of winning; though to be sure, if he loses, +everybody will laugh at him." + +"Don't be afraid of his losing." + +"Is it quite certain?" + +"Has not the horoscope proved truthful in the principal +particular? If the other circumstances do not follow, I must have +made a great mistake in my calculations." + +"I am delighted to hear you say so." + +"I am going to Paris and I hope you will give me a letter of +introduction to Madame Varnier, so that I may have the pleasure of +seeing your niece." + +"You shall have the letter to-morrow without fail." + +I introduced Mdlle. Desarmoises to her under the family name of +her lover, and invited her to dine with Madame Morin and myself. +After dinner we went to the convent, and M---- M---- came down +very surprised at this unexpected visit from her aunt; but when +she saw me she had need of all her presence of mind. When her +aunt introduced me to her by name, she observed with true feminine +tact that during her stay at Aix she had seen me five or six times +at the fountain, but that I could not remember her features as she +had always worn her veil. I admired her wit as much as her +exquisite features. I thought she had grown prettier than ever, +and no doubt my looks told her as much. We spent an hour in +talking about Grenoble and her old friends, whom she gladly +recalled to her memory, and then she went to fetch a young girl +who was boarding at the convent, whom she liked and wanted to +present to her aunt. + +I seized the opportunity of telling Madame Morin that I was +astonished at the likeness, that her very voice was like that of +my Venetian M---- M-----, and I begged her to obtain me the +privilege of breakfasting with her niece the next day, and of +presenting her with a dozen pounds of capital chocolate. I had +brought it with me from Genoa. + +"You must make her the present yourself," said Madame Morin, "for +though she's a nun she's a woman, and we women much prefer a +present from a man's than from a woman's hand." + +M---- M---- returned with the superior of the convent, two other +nuns, and the young boarder, who came from Lyons, and was +exquisitely beautiful. I was obliged to talk to all the nuns, and +Madame Morin told her niece that I wanted her to try some +excellent chocolate I had brought from Genoa, but that I hoped her +lay-sister would make it. + +"Sir," said M---- M----, "kindly send me the chocolate, and to- +morrow we will breakfast together with these dear sisters." + +As soon as I got back to my inn I sent the chocolate with a +respectful note, and I took supper in Madame Morin's room with her +daughter and Mdlle. Desarmoises, of whom I was feeling more and +more amorous, but I talked of M---- M---- all the time, and I +could see that the aunt suspected that the pretty nun was not +altogether a stranger to me. + +I breakfasted at the convent and I remember that the chocolate, +the biscuits, and the sweetmeats were served with a nicety which +savoured somewhat of the world. When we had finished breakfast I +told M---- M---- that she would not find it so easy to give me +a dinner, with twelve persons sitting down to table, but I added +that half the company could be in the convent and half in the +parlour, separated from the convent by a light grating. + +"It's a sight I should like to see," said I, "if you will allow me +to pay all expenses." + +"Certainly," replied M---- M-----, and this dinner was fixed for +the next day. + +M---- M---- took charge of the whole thing, and promised to ask +six nuns. Madame Morin, who knew my tastes, told her to spare +nothing, and I warned her that I would send in the necessary +wines. + +I escorted Madame Morin, her daughter, and Mdlle. Desarmoises back +to the hotel, and I then called on M. Magnan, to whom I had been +recommended by the Chevalier Raiberti. I asked him to get me some +of the best wine, and he took me down to his cellar, and told me +to take what I liked. His wines proved to be admirable. + +This M. Magnan was a clever man, of a pleasant appearance, and +very comfortably off. He occupied an extremely large and +convenient house outside the town, and there his agreeable wife +dispensed hospitality. She had ten children, amongst whom there +were four pretty daughters; the eldest, who was nineteen, was +especially good-looking. + +We went to the convent at eleven o'clock, and after an hour's +conversation we were told that dinner was ready. The table was +beautifully laid, covered with a fair white cloth, and adorned +with vases filled with artificial flowers so strongly scented that +the air of the parlour was quite balmy. The fatal grill was +heavier than I had hoped. I found myself seated to the left of +M---- M----, and totally unable to see her. The fair Desarmoises +was at my right, and she entertained us all the time with her +amusing stories. + +We in the parlour were waited on by Le Duc and Costa, and the nuns +were served by their lay-sisters. The abundant provision, the +excellent wines, the pleasant though sometimes equivocal +conversation, kept us all merrily employed for three hours. Mirth +had the mastery over reason, or, to speak more plainly, we were +all drunk; and if it had not been for the fatal grill, I could +have had the whole eleven ladies without much trouble. The young +Desarmoises was so gay, indeed, that if I had not restrained her +she would probably have scandalised all the nuns, who would have +liked nothing better. I was longing to have her to myself, that I +might quench the flame she had kindled in my breast, and I had no +doubt of my success on the first attempt. After coffee had been +served, we went into another parlour and stayed there till night +came on. Madame Morin took leave of her niece, and the hand- +shakings, thanks, and promises of remembrance between me and the +nuns, lasted for a good quarter of an hour. After I had said +aloud to M---- M---- that I hoped to have the pleasure of seeing +her before I left, we went back to the inn in high good humour +with our curious party which I still remember with pleasure. + +Madame Morin gave me a letter for her cousin Madame Varnier, and I +promised to write to her from Paris, and tell her all about the +fair Mdlle. Roman. I presented the daughter with a beautiful pair +of ear-rings, and I gave Madame Morin twelve pounds of good +chocolate which M. Magnan got me, and which the lady thought had +come from Genoa. She went off at eight o'clock preceded by Le +Duc, who had orders to greet the doorkeeper's family on my behalf. + +At Magnan's I had a dinner worthy of Lucullus, and I promised to +stay with him whenever I passed Chamberi, which promise I have +faithfully performed. + +On leaving the gourmand's I went to the convent, and M---- M---- +came down alone to the grating. She thanked me for coming to see +her, and added that I had come to disturb her peace of mind. + +"I am quite ready, dearest, to climb the harden wall, and I shall +do it more dexterously than your wretched humpback." + +"Alas! that may not be, for, trust me, you are already spied +upon. Everybody here is sure that we knew each other at Aix. +Let us forget all, and thus spare ourselves the torments of vain +desires." + +"Give me your hand." + +"No. All is over. I love you still, probably I shall always love +you; but I long for you to go, and by doing so, you will give me a +proof of your love." + +"This is dreadful; you astonish me. You appear to me in perfect +health, you are prettier than ever, you are made for the worship +of the sweetest of the gods, and I can't understand how, with a +temperament like yours, you can live in continual abstinence." + +"Alas! lacking the reality we console ourselves by pretending. I +will not conceal from you that I love my young boarder. It is an +innocent passion, and keeps my mind calm. Her caresses quench the +flame which would otherwise kill me." + +"And that is not against your conscience?" + +"I do not feel any distress on the subject." + +"But you know it is a sin." + +"Yes, so I confess it." + +"And what does the confessor say?" + +"Nothing. He absolves me, and I am quite content:" + +"And does the pretty boarder confess, too?" + +"Certainly, but she does not tell the father of a matter which she +thinks is no sin." + +"I wonder the confessor has not taught her, for that kind of +instruction is a great pleasure." + +"Our confessor is a wise old man." + +"Am I to leave you, then, without a single kiss?" + +"Not one." + +"May I come again to-morrow? I must go the day after." + +"You may come, but I cannot see you by myself as the nuns might +talk. I will bring my little one with me to save appearances. +Come after dinner, but into the other parlour." + +If I had not known M---- M---- at Aix, her religious ideas would +have astonished me; but such was her character. She loved God, +and did not believe that the kind Father who made us with passions +would be too severe because we had not the strength to subdue +them. I returned to the inn, feeling vexed that the pretty nun +would have no more to do with me, but sure of consolation from the +fair Desarmoises. + +I found her sitting on her lover's bed; his poor diet and the +fever had left him in a state of great weakness. She told me that +she would sup in my room to leave him in quiet, and the worthy +young man shook my hand in token of his gratitude. + +As I had a good dinner at Magnan's I ate very little supper, but +my companion who had only had a light meal ate and drank to an +amazing extent. I gazed at her in a kind of wonder, and she +enjoyed my astonishment. When my servants had left the room I +challenged her to drink a bowl of punch with me, and this put her +into a mood which asked for nothing but laughter, and which +laughed to find itself deprived of reasoning power. Nevertheless, +I cannot accuse myself of taking an advantage of her condition, +for in her voluptuous excitement she entered eagerly into the +pleasure to which I excited her till two o'clock in the morning. +By the time we separated we were both of us exhausted. + +I slept till eleven, and when I went to wish her good day I found +her smiling and as fresh as a rose. I asked her how she had +passed the rest of the night. + +"Very pleasantly,' said she, "like the beginning of the night." + +"What time would you like to have dinner?" + +"I won't dine; I prefer to keep my appetite for supper." + +Here her lover joined in, saying in a weak voice,-- + +"It is impossible to keep up with her." + +"In eating or drinking?" I asked. + +"In eating, drinking, and in other things," he replied, with a +smile. She laughed, and kissed him affectionately. + +This short dialogue convinced me that Mdlle. Desarmoises must +adore her lover; for besides his being a handsome young man, his +disposition was exactly suitable to hers. I dined by myself, and +Le Duc came in as I was having dessert. He told me that the door- +keeper's daughters and their pretty cousin had made him wait for +them to write to me, and he gave me three letters and three dozen +of gloves which they had presented me. The letters urged me to +come and spend a month with them, and gave me to understand that I +should be well pleased with my treatment. I had not the courage +to return to a town, where with my reputation I should have been +obliged to draw horoscopes for all the young ladies or to make +enemies by refusing. + +After I had read the letters from Grenoble I went to the convent +and announced my presence, and then entered the parlour which +M---- M---- had indicated. She soon came down with the pretty +boarder, who feebly sustained my part in her amorous ecstacies. +She had not yet completed her twelfth year, but she was extremely +tall and well developed for her age. Gentleness, liveliness, +candour, and wit were united in her features, and gave her +expression an exquisite charm. She wore a well-made corset which +disclosed a white throat, to which the fancy easily added the two +spheres which would soon appear there. Her entrancing face, her +raven locks, and her ivory throat indicated what might be +concealed, and my vagrant imagination made her into a budding +Venus. I began by telling her that she was very pretty, and would +make her future husband a happy man. I knew she would blush at +that. It may be cruel, but it is thus that the language of +seduction always begins. A girl of her age who does not blush at +the mention of marriage is either an idiot or already an expert in +profligacy. In spite of this, however, the blush which mounts to +a young girl's cheek at the approach of such ideas is a puzzling +problem. Whence does it arise? It may be from pure simplicity, +it may be from shame, and often from a mixture of both feelings. +Then comes the fight between vice and virtue, and it is usually +virtue which has to give in. The desires--the servants of vice-- +usually attain their ends. As I knew the young boarder from M---- +M----'s description, I could not be ignorant of the source of +those blushes which added a fresh attraction to her youthful +charms. + +Pretending not to notice anything, I talked to M---- M---- for a +few moments, and then returned to the assault. She had regained +her calm. + +"What age are you, pretty one?" said I. + +"I am thirteen." + +"You are wrong," said M---- M----, "you have not +yet completed your twelfth year." + +"The time will come," said I, "when you will diminish the tale of +your years instead of increasing it." + +"I shall never tell a lie, sir; I am sure of that." + +"So you want to be a nun, do you?" + +"I have not yet received my vocation; but even if I live in the +world I need not be a liar." + +"You are wrong; you will begin to lie as soon as you have a +lover." + +"Will my lover tell lies, too?" + +"Certainly he will." + +"If the matter were really so, then, I should have a bad opinion +of love; but I do not believe it, for I love my sweetheart here, +and I never conceal the truth from her." + +"Yes, but loving a man is a different thing to loving a woman." + +"No, it isn't; it's just the same." + +"Not so, for you do not go to bed with a woman and you do with +your husband." + +"That's no matter, my love would be the same." + +"What? You would not rather sleep with me than with M---- M----?" + +"No, indeed I should not, because you are a man and would see me." + +"You don't want a man to see you, then?" + +"No." + +"Do you think you are so ugly, then?" + +At this she turned to M---- M---- and said, with evident vexation, +"I am not really ugly, am I?" + +"No, darling," said M---- M----, bursting with laughter, "it is +quite the other way; you are very pretty." With these words she +took her on her knee and embraced her tenderly. + +"Your corset is too tight; you can't possibly have such a small +waist as that." + +"You make a mistake, you can put your hand there and see for +yourself." + +"I can't believe it." + +M---- M---- then held her close to the grill and told me to see +for myself. At the same moment she turned up her dress. + +"You were right," said I, "and I owe you an apology;" but in my +heart I cursed the grating and the chemise. + +"My opinion is," said I to M---- M----, "that we have here a +little boy." + +I did not wait for a reply, but satisfied myself by my sense of +touch as to her sex, and I could see that the little one and her +governess were both pleased that my mind was at rest on the +subject. + +I drew my hand away, and the little girl looked at M---- M----, +and reassured by her smiling air asked if she might go away for a +moment. I must have reduced her to a state in which a moment's +solitude was necessary, and I myself was in a very excited +condition. + +As soon as she was gone I said to M---- M----, + +"Do you know that what you have shewn me has made me unhappy?" + +"Has it? Why?" + +"Because your boarder is charming, and I am longing to enjoy her." + +"I am sorry for that, for you can't possibly go any further; and +besides, I know you, and even if you could satisfy your passion +without danger to her, I would not give her up to you, you would +spoil her." + +"How?" + +"Do you think that after enjoying you she would care to enjoy me? +I should lose too heavily by the comparison." + +"Give me your hand." + +"No." + +"Stay, one moment." + +"I don't want to see anything." + +"Not a little bit?" + +"Nothing at all." + +"Are you angry with me, then?" + +"Not at all. If you have been pleased I am glad, and if you have +filled her with desires she will love me all the better." + +"How pleasant it would be, sweetheart, if we could all three of us +be together alone and at liberty!" + +"Yes; but it is impossible." + +"Are you sure that no inquisitive eye is looking upon us?" + +"Quite sure." + +"The height of that fatal grill has deprived me of the sight of +many charms." + +"Why didn't you go to the other parlour it is much lower there." + +"Let us go there, then." + +"Not to-day; I should not be able to give any reason for the +change." + +"I will come again to-morrow, and start for Lyons in the evening." + +The little boarder came back, and I stood up facing her. I had a +number of beautiful seals and trinkets hanging from my watch- +chain, and I had not had the time to put myself in a state of +perfect decency again. + +She noticed it, and by way of pretext she asked if she might look +at them. + +"As long as you like; you may look at them and touch them as +well." + +M---- M---- foresaw what would happen and left the room, saying +that she would soon be back. I had intended to deprive the young +boarder of all interest in my seals by shewing her a curiosity of +another kind. She did not conceal her pleasure in satisfying her +inquisitiveness on an object which was quite new to her, and which +she was able to examine minutely for the first time in her life. +But soon an effusion changed her curiosity into surprise, and I +did not interrupt her in her delighted gaze. + +I saw M---- M---- coming back slowly, and I lowered my shirt +again, and sat down. My watch and chains were still on the ledge +of the grating, and M---- M---- asked her young friend if the +trinkets had pleased her. + +"Yes," she replied, but in a dreamy and melancholy voice. She had +learnt so much in the course of less than two hours that she had +plenty to think over. I spent the rest of the day in telling M---- +M---- the adventures I had encountered since I had left her; but +as I had not time to finish my tale I promised to return the next +day at the same time. + +The little girl, who had been listening to me all the time, though +I appeared to be only addressing her friend, said that she longed +to know the end of my adventure with the Duke of Matelone's +mistress. + +I supped with the fair Desarmoises, and after giving her sundry +proofs of my affection till midnight, and telling her that I only +stopped on for her sake, I went to bed. + +The next day after dinner I returned to the convent, and having +sent up my name to M---- M---- I entered the room where the +grating was more convenient. + +Before long M---- M---- arrived alone, but she anticipated my +thoughts by telling me that her pretty friend would soon join her. + +"You have fired her imagination. She has told me all about it, +playing a thousand wanton tricks, and calling me her dear husband. +You have seduced the girl, and I am very glad you are going or +else you would drive her mad. You will see how she has dressed +herself." + +"Are you sure of her discretion?" + +"Perfectly, but I hope you won't do anything in my presence. When +I see the time coming I will leave the room." + +"You are an angel, dearest, but you might be something better than +that if you would--" + +"I want nothing for myself; it is out of the question." + +"You could--" + +"No, I will have nothing to do with a pastime which would rekindle +fires that are hardly yet quenched. I have spoken; I suffer, but +let us say no more about it." + +At this moment the young adept came in smiling, with her eyes full +of fire. She was dressed in a short pelisse, open in front, and +an embroidered muslin skirt which did not go beyond her knees. +She looked like a sylph. + +We had scarcely sat down when she reminded me of the place where +my tale had stopped. I continued my recital, and when I was +telling them how Donna Lucrezia shewed me Leonilda naked, M---- +M---- went out, and the sly little puss asked me how I assured +myself that my daughter was a maid. + +I took bold of her through the fatal grating, against which she +placed her pretty body, and shewed her how assured myself of the +fact, and the girl liked it so much that she pressed my hand to +the spot. She then gave me her hand that I might share her +pleasure, and whilst this enjoyable occupation was in progress +M---- M---- appeared. My sweetheart said hastily,-- + +"Never mind, I told her all about it. She is a good creature and +will not be vexed." Accordingly M---- M---- pretended not to see +anything, and the precocious little girl wiped her hand in a kind +of voluptuous ecstacy, which shewed how well she was pleased. + +I proceeded with my history, but when I came to the episode of the +poor girl who was 'tied', describing all the trouble I had vainly +taken with her, the little boarder got so curious that she placed +herself in the most seducing attitude so that I might be able to +shew her what I did. Seeing this M---- M---- made her escape. + +"Kneel down on the ledge, and leave the rest to me," said the +little wanton. + +The reader will guess what she meant, and I have no doubt that she +would have succeeded in her purpose if the fire which consumed me +had not distilled itself away just at the happy moment. + +The charming novice felt herself sprinkled, but after ascertaining +that nothing more could be done she withdrew in some vexation. My +fingers, however, consoled her for the disappointment, and I had +the pleasure of seeing her look happy once more. + +I left these charming creatures in the evening, promising to visit +them again in a year, but as I walked home I could not help +reflecting how often these asylums, supposed to be devoted to +chastity and prayer, contain in themselves the hidden germs of +corruption. How many a timorous and trustful mother is persuaded +that the child of her affection will escape the dangers of the +world by taking refuge in the cloister. But behind these bolts +and bars desires grow to a frenzied extreme; they crave in vain to +be satisfied. + +When I returned to the inn I took leave of the wounded man, whom I +was happy to see out of danger. In vain I urged him to make use +of my purse; he told me, with an affectionate embrace, that he had +sufficient money, and if not, he had only to write to his father. +I promised to stop at Lyons, and to oblige Desarmoises to desist +from any steps he might be taking against them, telling them I had +a power over him which would compel him to obey. I kept my word. +After we had kissed and said good-bye, I took his future bride +into my room that we might sup together and enjoy ourselves till +midnight; but she could not have been very pleased with my +farewell salute, for I was only able to prove my love for her +once, as M---- M----'s young friend had nearly exhausted me. + +I started at day-break, and the next day I reached the "Hotel du +Parc," at Lyons. I sent for Desarmoises, and told him plainly +that his daughter's charms had seduced me, that I thought her +lover worthy of her, and that I expected him out of friendship for +me to consent to the marriage. I went further, and told him that +if he did not consent to everything that very instant I could no +longer be his friend, and at this he gave in. He executed the +requisite document in the presence of two witnesses, and I sent it +to Chamberi by an express messenger. + +This false marquis made me dine with him in his poor house. There +was nothing about his younger daughter to remind me of the elder, +and his wife inspired me with pity. Before I left I managed to +wrap up six Louis in a piece of paper, and gave it to her without +the knowledge of her husband. A grateful look shewed me how +welcome the present was. + +I was obliged to go to Paris, so I gave Desarmoises sufficient +money for him to go to Strasburg, and await me there in company +with my Spaniard. + +I thought myself wise in only taking Costa, but the inspiration +came from my evil genius. + +I took the Bourbonnais way, and on the third day I arrived at +Paris, and lodged at the Hotel du St. Esprit, in the street of the +same name. + +Before going to bed I sent Costa with a note to Madame d'Urfe, +promising to come and dine with her the next day. Costa was a +good-looking young fellow, and as he spoke French badly and was +rather a fool I felt sure that Madame d'Urfe would take him for +some extraordinary being. She wrote to say that she was +impatiently expecting me. + +"How did the lady receive you, Costa?" + +"She looked into a mirror, sir, and said some words I could make +nothing of; then she went round the room three times burning +incense; then she came up to me with a majestic air and looked me +in the face; and at last she smiled very pleasantly, and told me +to wait for a reply in the ante-chamber." + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH, Vol. 4c, RETURN TO NAPLES +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + diff --git a/old/jcrnp11.zip b/old/jcrnp11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0015fb3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcrnp11.zip |