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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Adventures In The South: Milan
+by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Adventures In The South: Milan
+       The Memoirs Of Jacques Casanova De Seingalt 1725-1798
+
+Author: Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
+
+Release Date: October 31, 2006 [EBook #2970]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH: MILAN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798
+
+ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH, Volume 4e--MILAN
+
+THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR MACHEN TO
+WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR SYMONS.
+
+
+
+
+MILAN
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+I Give up Agatha to Lord Percy--I Set out for Milan--The Actress at
+Pavia--Countess A * * * B * * *--Disappointment--Marquis
+Triulzi--Zenobia--The Two Marchionesses Q * * *--The Venetian Barbaro
+
+Far from punishing the Corticelli by making her live with Redegonde, the
+Count d'Aglie seemed to have encouraged her; and I was not sorry for it,
+since as long as she did not trouble me any more I did not care how many
+lovers she had. She had become a great friend of Redegonde's, and did
+exactly as she pleased, for their duenna was much more easy going than
+the Pacienza.
+
+Nobody knew of the trick which Lord Percy had played me, and I took care
+to say nothing about it. However, he did not give up his designs on
+Agatha, his passion for her was too violent. He hit upon an ingenious
+method for carrying out his plans. I have already said that Percy was
+very rich, and spent his money wildly, not caring at what expenditure he
+gratified his passion. I was the last person to reproach him for his
+extravagance, and in a country where money is always scarce his guineas
+opened every door to him.
+
+Four or five days after the ball night, Agatha came to tell me that the
+manager of the Alexandria Theatre had asked her if she would take the
+part of second dancer throughout the carnival time.
+
+"He offered me sixty sequins," she added, "and I told him I would let him
+know by to-morrow. Do you advise me to accept his offer?"
+
+"If you love me, dearest Agatha, you will prove it by refusing all
+engagements for a year. You know I will let you want for nothing.
+
+"I will get you the best masters, and in that time you can perfect your
+dancing, and will be able to ask for a first-class appointment, with a
+salary of five hundred sequins a year."
+
+"Mamma thinks that I should accept the offer, as the dancing on the stage
+will improve my style, and I can study under a good master all the same.
+I think myself that dancing in public would do me good."
+
+"There is reason in what you say, but you do not need the sixty sequins.
+You will dishonour me by accepting such a poor offer, and you will do
+yourself harm too, as you will not be able to ask for a good salary after
+taking such a small one."
+
+"But sixty sequins is not so bad for a carnival engagement."
+
+"But you don't want sixty sequins; you can have them without dancing at
+all. If you love me, I repeat, you will tell the manager that you are
+going to rest for a year."
+
+"I will do what you please, but it seems to me the best plan would be to
+ask an exorbitant sum."
+
+"You are right; that is a good idea. Tell him you must be first dancer,
+and that your salary must be five hundred sequins."
+
+"I will do so, and am only too happy to be able to prove that I love
+you."
+
+Agatha had plenty of inborn common sense, which only needed development.
+With that and the beauty which Heaven had given her her future was
+assured.
+
+She was eventually happy, and she deserved her happiness.
+
+The next day she told me that the manager did not appear at all
+astonished at her demands.
+
+"He reflected a few minutes," said she, "and told me he must think it
+over, and would see me again. It would be amusing if he took me at my
+word, would it not?"
+
+"Yes, but we should then have to enquire whether he is a madman or a
+beggar on the verge of bankruptcy."
+
+"And if he turns out to be a man of means?"
+
+"In that case you would be obliged to accept."
+
+"That is easily said and easily done, but have I sufficient talent? Where
+shall I find an actor to dance with me?"
+
+"I will engage to find you one. As to talent, you have enough and to
+spare; but you will see that it will come to nothing."
+
+All the time I felt a presentiment that she would be engaged, and I was
+right. The manager came to her the next day, and offered her the
+agreement for her signature. She was quite alarmed, and sent for me. I
+called at her house, and finding the manager there asked him what
+security he could give for the fulfilment of his part of the engagement.
+
+He answered by naming M. Martin, a banker of my acquaintance, who would
+be his surety. I could make no objection to this, and the agreement was
+made out in duplicate in good form.
+
+On leaving Agatha I went to M. Raiberti and told him the story. He shared
+my astonishment that M. Martin should become surety for the manager whom
+he knew, and whose financial position was by no means good; but the next
+day the problem was solved, for in spite of the secrecy that had been
+observed we found out that it was Lord Percy who was behind the manager.
+I might still bar the Englishman's way by continuing to keep Agatha, in
+spite of his five hundred sequins, but I was obliged to return to France
+after Easter to wait on Madame d'Urfe, and afterwards, peace having been
+concluded, I thought it would be a good opportunity for seeing England. I
+therefore determined to abandon Agatha, taking care to bind her new lover
+to provide for her, and I proceeded to make a friend of the nobleman.
+
+I was curious to see how he would win Agatha's good graces, for she did
+not love him, and physically he was not attractive.
+
+In less than a week we had become intimate. We supped together every
+night either at his house or mine, and Agatha and her mother were always
+of the party. I concluded that his attentions would soon touch Agatha's
+heart, and that finding herself so beloved she would end by loving. This
+was enough to make me determine not to put any obstacles in their way,
+and I resolved to leave Turin earlier than I had intended. In consequence
+I spoke as follows to Lord Percy, while we were breakfasting together:
+
+"My lord, you know that I love Agatha, and that she loves me,
+nevertheless I am your friend, and since you adore her I will do my best
+to hasten your bliss. I will leave you in possession of this treasure,
+but you must promise that when you abandon her you will give her two
+thousand guineas."
+
+"My dear sir," said he, "I will give them her now if you like."
+
+"No, my lord, I do not wish her to know anything about our agreement
+while you are living happily together."
+
+"Then I will give you a bond binding myself to pay her the two thousand
+guineas when we separate."
+
+"I don't want that, the word of an Englishman is enough; but since we
+cannot command the fates, and may die without having time to put our
+affairs in order, I wish you to take such steps as may seem convenient to
+you, whereby that sum would go to her after your death."
+
+"I give you my word on it."
+
+"That is enough; but I have one other condition to make."
+
+"Say on."
+
+"It is that you promise to say nothing to Agatha before my departure."
+
+"I swear I will not."
+
+"Very good; and on my part I promise to prepare her for the change:"
+
+The same day the Englishman, whose love grew hotter and hotter, made
+Agatha and her mother rich presents, which under any other circumstances
+I should not have allowed them to accept.
+
+I lost no time in preparing Agatha and her mother for the impending
+change. They seemed affected, but I knew they would soon get reconciled
+to the situation. Far from giving me any cause for complaint, Agatha was
+more affectionate than ever. She listened attentively to my advice as to
+her conduct towards her new lover and the world in general, and promised
+to follow it. It was to this advice that she owed her happiness, for
+Percy made her fortune. However, she did not leave the theatre for some
+years, when we shall hear more of her.
+
+I was not the man to take presents from my equals, and Percy no doubt
+being aware of that succeeded in making me a handsome present in a very
+singular way. I told him that I thought of paying a visit to England and
+requested him to give me a letter of introduction to the duchess, his
+mother, whereon he drew out a portrait of her set with magnificent
+diamonds, and gave it to me, saying,--
+
+"This is the best letter I can give you. I will write and tell her that
+you will call and give her the portrait, unless, indeed, she likes to
+leave it in your hands."
+
+"I hope my lady will think me worthy of such an honour."
+
+There are certain ideas, it seems to me, which enter no head but an
+Englishman's.
+
+I was invited by Count A---- B---- to Milan, and the countess wrote me a
+charming letter, begging me to get her two pieces of sarcenet, of which
+she enclosed the patterns.
+
+After taking leave of all my friends and acquaintances I got a letter of
+credit on the banker, Greppi, and started for the capital of Lombardy.
+
+My separation from Agatha cost me many tears, but not so many as those
+shed by her. Her mother wept also, for she loved me, and was grateful for
+all my kindness to her daughter. She said again and again that she could
+never have borne any rival but her own daughter, while the latter sobbed
+out that she wished she had not to part from me.
+
+I did not like Passano, so I sent him to his family at Genoa, giving him
+the wherewithal to live till I came for him. As to my man, I dismissed
+him for good reasons and took another, as I was obliged to have somebody;
+but since I lost my Spaniard I have never felt confidence in any of my
+servants.
+
+I travelled with a Chevalier de Rossignan, whose acquaintance I had made,
+and we went by Casal to see the opera-bouffe there.
+
+Rossignan was a fine man, a good soldier, fond of wine and women, and,
+though he was not learned, he knew the whole of Dante's Divine Comedy by
+heart. This was his hobby-horse, and he was always quoting it, making the
+passage square with his momentary feelings. This made him insufferable in
+society, but he was an amusing companion for anyone who knew the sublime
+poet, and could appreciate his numerous and rare beauties. Nevertheless
+he made me privately give in my assent to the proverb, Beware of the man
+of one book. Otherwise he was intelligent, statesmanlike, and
+good-natured. He made himself known at Berlin by his services as
+ambassador to the King of Sardinia.
+
+There was nothing interesting in the opera at Casal, so I went to Pavia,
+where, though utterly unknown, I was immediately welcomed by the
+Marchioness Corti, who received all strangers of any importance. In 1786
+I made the acquaintance of her son, an admirable man, who honoured me
+with his friendship, and died quite young in Flanders with the rank of
+major-general. I wept bitterly for his loss, but tears, after all, are
+but an idle tribute to those who cause them to flow. His good qualities
+had endeared him to all his acquaintances, and if he had lived longer he
+would undoubtedly have risen to high command in the army.
+
+I only stopped two days at Pavia, but it was decreed that I should get
+myself talked of, even in that short time.
+
+At the second ballet at the opera an actress dressed in a tippet held out
+her cap to the bones as if to beg an alms, while she was dancing a pas de
+deux. I was in the Marchioness of Corti's box, and when the girl held out
+her cap to me I was moved by feelings of ostentation and benevolence to
+draw forth my purse and drop it in. It contained about twenty ducats. The
+girl took it, thanked me with a smile, and the pit applauded loudly. I
+asked the Marquis Belcredi, who was near me, if she had a lover.
+
+"She has a penniless French officer, I believe," he replied; "there he
+is, in the pit."
+
+I went back to my inn, and was supping with M. Basili, a Modenese
+colonel, when the ballet girl, her mother, and her younger sister came to
+thank me for my providential gift. "We are so poor," said the girl.
+
+I had almost done supper, and I asked them all to sup with me after the
+performance the next day. This offer was quite a disinterested one, and
+it was accepted.
+
+I was delighted to have made a woman happy at so little expense and
+without any ulterior objects, and I was giving orders to the landlord for
+the supper, when Clairmont, my man, told me that a French officer wanted
+to speak to me. I had him in, and asked what I could do for him.
+
+"There are three courses before you, Mr. Venetian," said he, "and you can
+take which you like. Either countermand this supper, invite me to come to
+it, or come and measure swords with me now."
+
+Clairmont, who was attending to the fire, did not give me time to reply,
+but seized a burning brand and rushed on the officer, who thought it best
+to escape. Luckily for him the door of my room was open. He made such a
+noise in running downstairs that the waiter came out and caught hold of
+him, thinking he had stolen something; but Clairmont, who was pursuing
+him with his firebrand, had him released.
+
+This adventure became town talk directly. My servant, proud of his
+exploit and sure of my approval, came to tell me that I need not be
+afraid of going out, as the officer was only a braggart. He did not even
+draw his sword on the waiter who had caught hold of him, though the man
+only had a knife in his belt.
+
+"At all events," he added, "I will go out with you."
+
+I told him that he had done well this time, but that for the future he
+must not interfere in my affairs.
+
+"Sir," he replied, "your affairs of this kind are mine too, I shall take
+care not to go beyond my duty."
+
+With this speech, which I thought very sensible, though I did not tell
+him so, he took one of my pistols and saw to the priming, smiling at me
+significantly.
+
+All good French servants are of the same stamp as Clairmont; they are
+devoted and intelligent, but they all think themselves cleverer than
+their masters, which indeed is often the case, and when they are sure of
+it they become the masters of their masters, tyrannize over them, and
+give them marks of contempt which the foolish gentlemen endeavour to
+conceal. But when the master knows how to make himself respected, the
+Clairmonts are excellent.
+
+The landlord of my inn sent a report of the affair to the police, and the
+French officer was banished from the town the same day. At dinner Colonel
+Basili asked to hear the story, and said that no one but a French officer
+would think of attacking a man in his own room in such a foolish manner.
+I differed from him.
+
+"The French are brave," I replied, "but generally they are perfectly
+polite and have wonderful tact. Wretchedness and love, joined to a false
+spirit of courage, makes a fool of a man all the world over."
+
+At supper the ballet-girl thanked me for ridding her of the poor devil,
+who (as she said) was always threatening to kill her, and wearied her
+besides. Though she was not beautiful, there was something captivating
+about this girl. She was graceful, well-mannered, and intelligent, her
+mouth was well-shaped, and her eyes large and expressive. I think I
+should have found her a good bargain, but as I wanted to get away from
+Pavia, and piqued myself on having been good-natured without ulterior
+motive, I bade her farewell after supper, with many thanks for her
+kindness in coming. My politeness seemed rather to confuse her, but she
+went away reiterating her gratitude.
+
+Next day I dined at the celebrated Chartreuse, and in the evening I
+reached Milan, and got out at Count A---- B----'s, who had not expected me
+till the following day.
+
+The countess, of whom my fancy had made a perfect woman, disappointed me
+dreadfully. It is always so when passion gives reins to the imagination.
+The Countess was certainly pretty, though too small, and I might still
+have loved her, in spite of my disappointment, but at our meeting she
+greeted me with a gravity that was not to my taste, and which gave me a
+dislike to her.
+
+After the usual compliments, I gave her the two pieces of sarcenet she
+had commissioned me to get. She thanked me, telling me that her confessor
+would reimburse me for my expenditure. The count then took me to my room,
+and left me there till supper. It was nicely furnished, but I felt ill at
+ease, and resolved to leave in a day or two if the countess remained
+immovable. Twenty-four hours was as much as I cared to give her.
+
+We made a party of four at supper; the count talking all the time to draw
+me out, and to hide his wife's sulkiness. I answered in the same gay
+strain, speaking to his wife, however, in the hope of rousing her. It was
+all lost labour. The little woman only replied by faint smiles which
+vanished almost as they came, and by monosyllabic answers of the briefest
+description, without taking her eyes off the dishes which she thought
+tasteless; and it was to the priest, who was the fourth person present,
+that she addressed her complaints, almost speaking affably to him.
+
+Although I liked the count very well, I could not help pronouncing his
+wife decidedly ungracious. I was looking at her to see if I could find
+any justification for her ill humour on her features, but as soon as she
+saw me she turned away in a very marked manner, and began to speak about
+nothing to the priest. This conduct offended me, and I laughed heartily
+at her contempt, or her designs on me, for as she had not fascinated me
+at all I was safe from her tyranny.
+
+After supper the sarcenet was brought in; it was to be used for a dress
+with hoops, made after the extravagant fashion then prevailing.
+
+The count was grieved to see her fall so short of the praises he had
+lavished on her, and came to my room with me, begging me to forgive her
+Spanish ways, and saying that she would be very pleasant when she knew me
+better.
+
+The count was poor, his house was small, his furniture shabby, and his
+footman's livery threadbare; instead of plate he had china, and one of
+the countess's maids was chief cook. He had no carriages nor horses, not
+even a saddle horse of any kind. Clairmont gave me all this information,
+and added that he had to sleep in a little kitchen, and was to share his
+bed with the man who had waited at table.
+
+I had only one room, and having three heavy trunks found myself very
+uncomfortable, and I decided on seeking some other lodging more agreeable
+to my tastes.
+
+The count came early in the morning to ask what I usually took for
+breakfast.
+
+"My dear count," I replied, "I have enough fine Turin chocolate to go all
+round. Does the countess like it?"
+
+"Very much, but she won't take it unless it is made by her woman."
+
+"Here are six pounds: make her accept it, and tell her that if I hear
+anything about payment I shall take it back."
+
+"I am sure she will accept it, and thank you too. Shall I have your
+carriage housed?"
+
+"I shall be extremely obliged to you, and I shall be glad if you would
+get me a hired carriage, and a guide for whom you can answer."
+
+"It shall be done."
+
+The count was going out when the priest, who had supped with us the night
+before, came in to make his bow. He was a man of forty-one of the tribe
+of domestic chaplains who are so common in Italy--who, in return for
+keeping the accounts of the house, live with its master and mistress. In
+the morning this priest said mass in a neighbouring church, for the rest
+of the day he either occupied himself with the cares of the house, or was
+the lady's obedient servant.
+
+As soon as We were alone he begged me to say that he had paid me the
+three hundred Milanese crowns for the sarcenet, if the countess asked me
+about it.
+
+"Dear, dear, abbe!" said I, laughing, "this sort of thing is not exactly
+proper in a man of your sacred profession. How can you advise me to tell
+a lie? No, sir; if the countess asks me any such impertinent question, I
+shall tell her the truth."
+
+"I am sure she will ask you, and if you answer like that I shall suffer
+for it."
+
+"Well, sir, if you are in the wrong you deserve to suffer."
+
+"But as it happens, I should be blamed for nothing."
+
+"Well, go and tell her it's a present; and if she won't have that, tell
+her I am in no hurry to be paid."
+
+"I see, sir, that you don't know the lady or the way in which this house
+is managed. I will speak to her husband."
+
+In a quarter of an hour the count told me that he owed me a lot of money,
+which he hoped to pay back in the course of Lent, and that I must add the
+sarcenet to the account. I embraced him and said that he would have to
+keep the account himself, as I never noted down any of the moneys that I
+was only too happy to lend to my friends.
+
+"If your wife asks me whether I have received the money, be sure I will
+answer in the affirmative."
+
+He went out shedding grateful tears, while I felt indebted to him for
+having given me the opportunity of doing him a service; for I was very
+fond of him.
+
+In the morning, the countess being invisible, I watched my man spreading
+out my suits over the chairs, amongst them being some handsome women's
+cloaks, and a rich red dress deeply trimmed with fur, which had been
+originally intended for the luckless Corticelli. I should no doubt have
+given it to Agatha, if I had continued to live with her, and I should
+have made a mistake, as such a dress was only fit for a lady of rank.
+
+At one o'clock I received another visit from the count, who told me that
+the countess was going to introduce me to their best friend. This was the
+Marquis Triuizi, a man of about, my own age, tall, well made, squinting
+slightly, and with all the manner of a nobleman. He told me that besides
+coming to have the honour of my acquaintance, he also came to enjoy the
+fire, "for," said he, "there's only one fireplace in the house and that's
+in your room."
+
+As all the chairs were covered, the marquis drew the countess on to his
+knee and made her sit there like a baby; but she blushed, and escaped
+from his grasp. The marquis laughed heartily at her confusion, and she
+said,--
+
+"Is it possible that a man of your years has not yet learnt to respect a
+woman?"
+
+"Really, countess," said he, "I thought it would be very disrespectful to
+continue sitting while you were standing."
+
+While Clairmont was taking the clothes off the chairs, the marquis
+noticed the mantles and the beautiful dress, and asked me if I were
+expecting a lady.
+
+"No," said I, "but I hope to find someone at Milan who will be worthy of
+such presents." I added, "I know the Prince Triulzi, at Venice; I suppose
+he is of your family?"
+
+"He says he is, and it may be so; but I am certainly not a member of his
+family."
+
+This let me know that I should do well to say no more about the prince.
+
+"You must stay to dinner, marquis," said Count A---- B----; "and as you
+only like dishes prepared by your own cook you had better send for them."
+
+The marquis agreed, and we made good cheer. The table was covered with
+fair linen and handsome plate, the wine was good and plentiful, and the
+servants quick and well dressed. I could now understand the marquis's
+position in the house. It was his wit and mirth which kept the
+conversation going, and the countess came in for a share of his
+pleasantries, while she scolded him for his familiarity.
+
+I could see, however, that the marquis did not want to humiliate her; on
+the contrary, he was fond of her, and only wished to bring down her
+exaggerated pride. When he saw her on the point of bursting into tears of
+rage and shame, he quieted her down by saying that no one in Milan
+respected her charms and her high birth more than he.
+
+After dinner the tailor who was to measure the countess for a domino for
+the ball was announced. On the marquis's praising the colours and the
+beauty of the materials, she told him that I had brought her the sarcenet
+from Turin, and this reminded her to ask me whether I had been paid.
+
+"Your husband settled with me," said I, "but you have given me a lesson I
+can never forget."
+
+"What lesson?" said the marquis.
+
+"I had hoped that the countess would have deigned to receive this poor
+present at my hands."
+
+"And she wouldn't take it? It's absurd, on my life."
+
+"There is nothing to laugh at," said the countess, "but you laugh at
+everything."
+
+While the man was measuring her, she complained of feeling cold, as she
+was in her stays, and her beautiful breast was exposed. Thereupon, the
+marquis put his hands on it, as if he were quite accustomed to use such
+familiarities. But the Spaniard, no doubt ashamed because of my presence,
+got into a rage, and abused him in the most awful manner, while he
+laughed pleasantly, as if he could calm the storm when he pleased. This
+was enough to inform me of the position in which they stood to one
+another, and of the part I ought to take.
+
+We remained together till the evening, when the countess and the marquis
+went to the opera, and the count came with me to my room, till my
+carriage was ready to take us there too. The opera had begun when we got
+in, and the first person I noticed on the stage was my dear Therese
+Palesi, whom I had left at Florence. It was a pleasant surprise to me,
+and I foresaw that we should renew our sweet interviews while I remained
+at Milan I was discreet enough to say nothing to the count about his
+wife's charms, or the way their house was managed. I saw that the place
+was taken, and the odd humours of the lady prevented my falling in love
+with her. After the second act we went to the assembly rooms, where five
+or six banks at faro were being held; I staked and lost a hundred ducats
+as if to pay for my welcome, and then rose from the table.
+
+At supper the countess seemed to unbend a little, she condoled with me on
+my loss, and I said that I was glad of it as it made her speak so.
+
+Just as I rang my bell the next morning, Clairmont told me that a woman
+wanted to speak to me.
+
+"Is she young?"
+
+"Both young and pretty, sir."
+
+"That will do nicely, shew her in."
+
+I saw a simply dressed girl, who reminded me of Leah. She was tall and
+beautiful, but had not as high pretensions as the Jewess; as she only
+wanted to know whether she could do my washing for me. I was quite taken
+with her. Clairmont had just brought me my chocolate, and I asked her to
+sit down on the bed; but she answered modestly that she did not want to
+trouble me, and would come again when I was up.
+
+"Do you live at any distance?"
+
+"I live on the ground floor of this house."
+
+"All by yourself?"
+
+"No sir, I have my father and mother."
+
+"And what is your name?"
+
+"Zenobia."
+
+"Your name is as pretty as you are. Will you give me your hand to kiss?"
+
+"I can't," she replied, with a smile, "my hand is another's."
+
+"You are engaged, are you?"
+
+"Yes, to a tailor, and we are going to be married before the end of the
+carnival:"
+
+"Is he rich or handsome?"
+
+"Neither the one nor the other."
+
+"Then why are you going to marry him?"
+
+"Because I want to have a house of my own:"
+
+"I like you, and will stand your friend. Go and fetch your tailor. I will
+give him some work to do."
+
+As soon as she went out I got up and told Clairmont to put my linen on a
+table. I had scarcely finished dressing when she came back with her
+tailor. It was a striking contrast, for he was a little shrivelled-up
+man, whose appearance made one laugh.
+
+"Well, master tailor," said I, "so you are going to marry this charming
+girl?"
+
+"Yes, sir, the banns have been published already."
+
+"You are a lucky fellow indeed to have so much happiness in store. When
+are you going to marry her?"
+
+"In ten or twelve days."
+
+"Why not to-morrow?"
+
+"Your worship is in a great hurry."
+
+"I think I should be, indeed," said I, laughing, "if I were in your
+place. I want you to make me a domino for the ball to-morrow."
+
+"Certainly, sir; but your excellency must find me the stuff, for nobody
+in Milan would give me credit for it, and I couldn't afford to lay out so
+much money in advance."
+
+"When you are married you will have money and credit too. In the
+meanwhile here are ten sequins for you."
+
+He went away in high glee at such a windfall.
+
+I gave Zenobia some lace to do up, and asked her if she was afraid of
+having a jealous husband.
+
+"He is neither jealous nor amorous," she replied. "He is only marrying me
+because I earn more than he does."
+
+"With your charms I should have thought you might have made a better
+match."
+
+"I have waited long enough; I have got tired of maidenhood. Besides, he
+is sharp if he is not handsome, and perhaps a keen head is better than a
+handsome face."
+
+"You are sharp enough yourself, anyhow. But why does he put off the
+wedding?"
+
+"Because he hasn't got any money, and wants to have a fine wedding for
+his relations to come to. I should like it myself."
+
+"I think you are right; but I can't see why you should not let an honest
+man kiss your hand."
+
+"That was only a piece of slyness to let you know I was to be married. I
+have no silly prejudices myself."
+
+"Ah, that's better! Tell your future husband that if he likes me to be
+the patron of the wedding I will pay for everything."
+
+"Really?"
+
+"Yes, really. I will give him twenty-five sequins on the condition that
+he spends it all on the wedding."
+
+"Twenty-five sequins! That will make people talk; but what care we? I
+will give you an answer to-morrow."
+
+"And a kiss now?"
+
+"With all my heart."
+
+Zenobia went away in great delight, and I went out to call on my banker
+and dear Therese.
+
+When the door was opened the pretty maid recognized me, and taking me by
+the hand led me to her mistress, who was just going to get up. Her
+emotion at seeing me was so great that she could not utter a word, but
+only claps me to her breast.
+
+Our natural transports over, Therese told me that she had got tired of
+her husband, and that for the last six months they had not been living
+together. She had made him an allowance to get rid of him, and he lived
+on it at Rome.
+
+"And where is Cesarino?"
+
+"In this town. You can see him whenever you like."
+
+"Are you happy?"
+
+"Quite. People say that I have a lover, but it is not true; and you can
+see me at any time with perfect liberty."
+
+We spent two pleasant hours in telling each other of our experiences
+since our last meeting, and then, finding her as fresh and fair as in the
+season of our early loves, I asked her if she had vowed to be faithful to
+her husband.
+
+"At Florence," she replied, "I was still in love with him; but now, if I
+am still pleasing in your eyes, we can renew our connection, and live
+together till we die."
+
+"I will soon shew you, darling, that I love you as well as ever."
+
+She answered only by giving herself up to my embrace.
+
+After action and contemplation I left her as amorous as she had been
+eighteen years before, but my passion found too many new objects to
+remain constant long.
+
+Countess A---- B---- began to be more polite. "I know where you have been,"
+said she, with a pleased air; "but if you love that person, you will not
+go and see her again, or else her lover will leave her."
+
+"Then I would take his place, madam."
+
+"You are right in amusing yourself with women who know how to earn your
+presents. I am aware that you never give anything till you have received
+evident proofs of their affection."
+
+"That has always been my principle."
+
+"It's an excellent way to avoid being duped. The lover of the person you
+have been with kept a lady in society for some time in great splendour,
+but all the rest of us despised her."
+
+"Why so, if you please?"
+
+"Because she lowered herself so terribly. Greppi is absolutely a man of
+no family whatever."
+
+Without expressing my surprise at the name of Greppi, I replied that a
+man need not be well born to be an excellent lover.
+
+"The only thing needful," said I, "is a fine physique and plenty of
+money, and those ladies who despised their friend were either
+ridiculously proud or abominably envious. I have not the slightest doubt
+that if they could find any more Gieppis they would be willing enough to
+lower themselves."
+
+She would doubtless have made a sharp reply, for what I had said had
+angered her; but the Marquis Triulzi arriving, she went out with him,
+while her husband and myself went to a place where there was a bank at
+faro, the banker only having a hundred sequins before him.
+
+I took a card and staked small sums like the rest of the company. After
+losing twenty ducats I left the place.
+
+As we were going to the opera the poor count told me I had made him lose
+ten ducats on his word of honour, and that he did not know how he could
+pay it by the next day. I pitied him, and gave him the money without a
+word; for misery has always appealed strongly to me. Afterwards I lost
+two hundred ducats at the same bank to which I had lost money the evening
+before. The count was in the greatest distress. He did not know that
+Greppi, whom his proud wife considered so worthless, had a hundred
+thousand francs of my money, and that I possessed jewellery to an even
+greater amount.
+
+The countess, who had seen me lose, asked me if I would sell my beautiful
+dress.
+
+"They say it's worth a thousand sequins," said she.
+
+"Yes, that is so; but I would sell everything I possess before parting
+with any of the articles which I intend for the fair sex."
+
+"Marquis Triulzi wants it badly to present to someone."
+
+"I am very sorry, but I cannot sell it to him."
+
+She went away without a word, but I could see that she was exceedingly
+vexed at my refusal.
+
+As I was leaving the opera-house I saw Therese getting into her
+sedan-chair. I went up to her, and told her that I was sure she was going
+to sup with her lover. She whispered in my ear that she was going to sup
+by herself, and that I might come if I dared. I gave her an agreeable
+surprise by accepting the invitation.
+
+"I will expect you, then," she said.
+
+I asked the count to ride home in my carriage, and taking a chair I
+reached Therese's house just as she was going in.
+
+What a happy evening we had! We laughed heartily when we told each other
+our thoughts.
+
+"I know you were in love with Countess A---- B----," said she, "and I felt
+sure you would not dare to come to supper with me."
+
+"And I thought I should confound you by accepting your invitation, as I
+knew Greppi was your lover."
+
+"He is my friend," she replied. "If he loves me in any other way than
+that of friendship, I pity him, for as yet he has not discovered the
+secret of seduction."
+
+"Do you think he ever will?"
+
+"No, I don't. I am rich."
+
+"Yes, but he is richer than you."
+
+"I know that, but I think he loves his money better than he loves me."
+
+"I understand. You will make him happy if he loves you well enough to
+ruin himself."
+
+"That is it, but it will never come to pass. But here we are, together
+again after a divorce of nearly twenty years. I don't think you will find
+any change in me."
+
+"That is a privilege which nature grants to the fair sex only. You will
+find me changed, but you will be able to work miracles."
+
+This was a piece of politeness, for she was hardly capable of working any
+miracle. However, after an excellent supper, we spent two hours in
+amorous raptures, and then Morpheus claimed us for his own. When we awoke
+I did not leave her before giving her a good day equal to the good night
+which had sent us to sleep.
+
+When I got back I found the fair Zenobia, who said the tailor was ready
+to marry her next Sunday if my offer was not a joke.
+
+"To convince you of the contrary," said I, "here are the twenty-five
+sequins."
+
+Full of gratitude she let herself fall into my arms, and I covered her
+mouth and her beautiful bosom with my fiery kisses. Therese had exhausted
+me, so I did not go any further, but the girl no doubt attributed my
+self-restraint to the fact that the door was open. I dressed carefully,
+and made myself look less weary, and to freshen myself up I had a long
+drive in an open carriage.
+
+When I returned, I found the Marquis of Triulzi teasing the countess as
+usual. On that day he furnished the dinner, and it was consequently, a
+very good one.
+
+The conversation turned on the dress in my possession, and the countess
+told the marquis, like an idiot, that it was destined for the lady who
+would make me desirous and gratify my desire.
+
+With exquisite politeness the marquis told me that I deserved to enjoy
+favours at a cheaper rate.
+
+"I suppose you will be giving it to the person with whom you spent the
+night," said the countess.
+
+"That's an impossibility," I answered, "for I spent the night in play."
+
+Just then Clairmont came in, and told me an officer wanted to speak to
+me. I went to the door, and saw a handsome young fellow, who greeted me
+with an embrace. I recognized him as Barbaro, the son of a Venetian
+noble, and brother of the fair and famous Madame Gritti Scombro, of whom
+I spoke ten years ago, whose husband had died in the citadel of Cattaro,
+where the State Inquisitors had imprisoned him. My young friend had also
+fallen into disgrace with the despotic Inquisitors. We had been good
+friends during the year before my imprisonment, but I had heard nothing
+of him since.
+
+Barbaro told me the chief incidents in a life that had been adventurous
+enough, and informed me that he was now in the service of the Duke of
+Modena, the Governor of Milan.
+
+"I saw you losing money at Canano's bank," said he, "and remembering our
+old friendship I want to communicate to you a sure way of winning money.
+All that is necessary is for me to introduce you to a club of young men
+who are very fond of play, and cannot possibly win."
+
+"Where does this club meet?"
+
+"In an extremely respectable house. If you agree I will keep the bank
+myself, and I am sure of winning. I want you to lend me capital, and I
+only ask a fourth of the profits."
+
+"I suppose you can hold the cards well."
+
+"You are right."
+
+This was as much as to tell me that he was an adroit sharper, or, in
+other words, a skilful corrector of fortune's mistakes. He concluded by
+saying that I should find something worth looking at in the house he had
+mentioned.
+
+"My dear sir," I replied, "I will give you my decision after seeing the
+club to which you want to introduce me."
+
+"Will you be at the theatre coffee-house at three o'clock to-morrow?"
+
+"Yes, but I hope to see you at the ball in the evening."
+
+Zenobia's betrothed brought me my domino, and the countess had hers
+already. As the ball did not begin till the opera was over, I went to
+hear Therese's singing. In the interval between the acts I lost another
+two hundred sequins, and then went home to dress for the ball. The
+countess said that if I would be kind enough to take her to the ball in
+my carriage and fetch her home in it, she would not send for the Marquis
+Triulzi's. I replied that I was at her service.
+
+Under the impression that the fair Spaniard had only given me the
+preference to enable me to take liberties with her, I told her I should
+be very glad to give her the dress, and that the only condition was that
+I should spent a night with her.
+
+"You insult me cruelly," said she, "you must know my character better
+than that."
+
+"I know everything, my dear countess; but, after all, the insult's
+nothing; you can easily forgive me if you pluck up a little spirit;
+trample on a foolish prejudice; get the dress, and make me happy for a
+whole night long."
+
+"That it all very well when one is in love, but you must confess that
+your coarse way of speaking is more likely to make me hate you than love
+you."
+
+"I use that style, because I want to come to the point; I have no time to
+waste. And you, countess, must confess in your turn, that you would be
+delighted to have me sighing at your feet."
+
+"It would be all the same to me, I don't think I could love you."
+
+"Then we are agreed on one point at all events, for I love you no more
+than you love me."
+
+"And yet you would spend a thousand sequins for the pleasure of passing a
+night with me."
+
+"Not at all, I don't want to sleep with you for the sake of the pleasure,
+but to mortify your infernal pride, which becomes you so ill."
+
+God knows what the fierce Spaniard would have answered, but at that
+moment the carriage stopped at the door of the theatre. We parted, and
+after I had got tired of threading my way amidst the crowd I paid a visit
+to the gaming-room, hoping to regain the money I had lost. I had more
+than five hundred sequins about me and a good credit at the bank, but I
+certainly did my best to lose everything I had. I sat down at Canano's
+bank, and noticing that the poor count, who followed me wherever I went,
+was the only person who knew me, I thought I should have a lucky evening.
+I only punted on one card, and spent four hours without losing or
+gaining. Towards the end, wishing to force fortune's favour, I lost
+rapidly, and left all my money in the hands of the banker. I went back to
+the ball-room, where the countess rejoined me, and we returned home.
+
+When we were in the carriage, she said,--
+
+"You lost an immense sum, and I am very glad of it. The marquis will give
+you a thousand sequins, and the money will bring you luck."
+
+"And you, too, for I suppose you will have the dress?"
+
+"Maybe."
+
+"No, madam, you shall never have it in this way, and you know the other.
+I despise a thousand sequins."
+
+"And I despise you and your presents."
+
+"You may despise me as much as you please, and you may be sure I despise
+you."
+
+With these polite expressions we reached the house. When I got to my room
+I found the count there with a long face, as if he wanted to pity me but
+dared not do it. However, my good temper gave him the courage to say:--
+
+"Triulzi will give you a thousand sequins; that will fit you up again."
+
+"For the dress you mean?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I wanted to give it to your wife, but she said she would despise it,
+coming from my hands."
+
+"You astonish me; she is mad after it. You must have wounded her haughty
+temper in some way or another. But sell it, and get the thousand
+sequins."
+
+"I will let you know to-morrow."
+
+I slept four or five hours, and then rose and went out in my great coat
+to call on Greppi, for I had no more money. I took a thousand sequins,
+begging him not to tell my affairs to anyone. He replied that my affairs
+were his own, and that I could count on his secrecy. He complimented me
+on the esteem in which Madame Palesi held me, and said he hoped to meet
+me at supper at her house one night.
+
+"Such a meeting would give me the greatest pleasure," I replied.
+
+On leaving him I called on Therese, but as there were some people with
+her I did not stay long. I was glad to see that she knew nothing about my
+losses or my affairs. She said that Greppi wanted to sup with me at her
+house, and that she would let me know when the day was fixed. When I got
+home I found the count in front of my fire.
+
+"My wife is in a furious rage with you," said he, "and won't tell me
+why."
+
+"The reason is, my dear count, that I won't let her accept the dress from
+any hand but mine. She told me that she should despise it as a gift from
+me, but she has nothing to be furious about that I know."
+
+"It's some mad notion of hers, and I don't know what to make of it. But
+pray attend to what I am about to say to you. You despise a thousand
+sequins--good. I congratulate you. But if you are in a position to
+despise a sum which would make me happy, offer up a foolish vanity on the
+shrine of friendship, take the thousand sequins, and lend them to me, and
+let my wife have the dress, for of course he will give it her."
+
+This proposal made me roar with laughter, and certainly it was of a
+nature to excite the hilarity of a sufferer from confirmed melancholia,
+which I was far from being. However, I stopped laughing when I saw how
+the poor count blushed from shame. I kissed him affectionately to calm
+him, but at last I was cruel enough to say,
+
+"I will willingly assist you in this arrangement. I will sell the dress
+to the marquis as soon as you please, but I won't lend you the money.
+I'll give it to you in the person of your wife at a private interview;
+but when she receives me she must not only be polite and complaisant, but
+as gentle as a lamb. Go and see if it can be arranged, my dear count;
+'tis absolutely my last word."
+
+"I will see," said the poor husband; and with that he went out.
+
+Barbaro kept his appointment with exactitude. I made him get into my
+carriage, and we alighted at a house at the end of Milan. We went to the
+first floor, and there I was introduced to a fine-looking old man, an
+amiable lady of pleasing appearance, and then to two charming cousins. He
+introduced me as a Venetian gentleman in disgrace with the State
+Inquisitors, like himself, adding, that as I was a rich bachelor their
+good or ill favour made no difference to me.
+
+He said I was rich, and I looked like it. My luxury of attire was
+dazzling: My rings, my snuff-boxes, my chains, my diamonds, my jewelled
+cross hanging on my breast-all gave me the air of an important personage.
+The cross belonged to the Order of the Spur the Pope had given me, but as
+I had carefully taken the spur away it was not known to what order I
+belonged. Those who might be curious did not dare to ask me, for one can
+no more enquire of a knight what order he belongs to, than one can say to
+a lady how old are you? I wore it till 1785, when the Prince Palatine of
+Russia told me in private that I would do well to get rid of the thing.
+
+"It only serves to dazzle fools," said he, "and here you have none such
+to deal with."
+
+I followed his advice, for he was a man of profound intelligence.
+Nevertheless, he removed the corner-stone of the kingdom of Poland. He
+ruined it by the same means by which he had made it greater.
+
+The old man to whom Barbaro presented me was a marquis. He told me that
+he knew Venice, and as I was not a patrician I could live as pleasantly
+anywhere else. He told me to consider his house and all he possessed as
+mine.
+
+The two young marchionesses had enchanted me; they were almost ideal
+beauties. I longed to enquire about them of some good authority, for I
+did not put much faith in Barbaro.
+
+In half an hour the visitors commenced to come on foot and in carriages.
+Among the arrivals were several pretty and well-dressed girls, and
+numerous smart young men all vying with each other in their eagerness to
+pay court to the two cousins. There were twenty of us in all. We sat
+round a large table, and began to play a game called bankruptcy. After
+amusing myself for a couple of hours in losing sequins, I went out with
+Barbaro to the opera.
+
+"The two young ladies are two incarnate angels," I said to my countryman.
+"I shall pay my duty to them, and shall find out in a few days whether
+they are for me. As for the gaming speculation, I will lend you two
+hundred sequins; but I don't want to lose the money, so you must give me
+good security."
+
+"To that I agree willingly, but I am certain of giving it you back with
+good interest."
+
+"You shall have a half share and not twenty-five per cent., and I must
+strongly insist that nobody shall know of my having anything to do with
+your bank. If I hear any rumours, I shall bet heavily on my own account."
+
+"You may be sure I shall keep the secret; it is to my own interest to
+have it believed that I am my own capitalist."
+
+"Very good. Come to me early to-morrow morning, and bring me good
+security, and you shall have the money."
+
+He embraced me in the joy of his heart.
+
+The picture of the two fair ladies was still in my brain, and I was
+thinking of enquiring of Greppi when I chanced to see Triulzi in the pit
+of the opera-house. He saw me at the same moment, and came up to me,
+saying gaily that he was sure I had had a bad dinner, and that I had much
+better dine with him every day.
+
+"You make me blush, marquis, for not having called on you yet."
+
+"No, no; there can be nothing of that kind between men of the world, who
+know the world's worth."
+
+"We are agreed there, at all events."
+
+"By the way, I hear you have decided on selling me that handsome dress of
+yours. I am really very much obliged to you, and will give you the
+fifteen thousand livres whenever you like."
+
+"You can come and take it to-morrow morning."
+
+He then proceeded to tell me about the various ladies I noticed in the
+theatre. Seizing the opportunity, I said,--
+
+"When I was in church the other day I saw two exquisite beauties. A man
+at my side told me they were cousins, the Marchionesses Q---- and I----, I
+think he said. Do you know them? I am quite curious to hear about them."
+
+"I know them. As you say, they are charming. It's not very difficult to
+obtain access to them; and I suppose they are good girls, as I have not
+heard their names in connection with any scandal. However, I know that
+Mdlle. F has a lover, but it is a great secret; he is the only son of one
+of the noblest of our families. Unfortunately, they are not rich; but if
+they are clever, as I am sure they are, they may make good matches. If
+you like I can get someone to introduce you there."
+
+"I haven't made up my mind yet. I may be able to forget them easily only
+having seen them once. Nevertheless, I am infinitely obliged to you for
+your kind offer."
+
+After the ballet I went into the assembly-room and I heard "there he is"
+several times repeated as I came in. The banker made me a bow, and
+offered me a place next to him. I sat down and he handed me a pack of
+cards. I punted, and with such inveterate bad luck that in less than an
+hour I lost seven hundred sequins. I should probably have lost all the
+money I had in my pocket if Canano had not been obliged to go away. He
+gave the cards to a man whose looks displeased me, and I rose and went
+home and got into bed directly, so as not to be obliged to conceal my ill
+temper.
+
+In the morning Barbaro came to claim the two hundred sequins. He gave me
+the right to sequestrate his pay by way of surety. I do not think I
+should have had the heart to exercise my rights if things had gone wrong,
+but I liked to have some control over him. When I went out I called on
+Greppi, and took two thousand sequins in gold.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+Humiliation of The Countess--Zenobia's Wedding--Faro Conquest of The Fair
+Irene--Plan for a Masquerade
+
+On my return I found the count with one of the marquis's servants, who
+gave me a note, begging me to send the dress, which I did directly.
+
+"The marquis will dine with us," said the count, "and, no doubt, he will
+bring the money with him for this treasure."
+
+"You think it a treasure, then?"
+
+"Yes, fit for a queen to wear."
+
+"I wish the treasure had the virtue of giving you a crown; one head-dress
+is as good as another."
+
+The poor devil understood the allusion, and as I liked him I reproached
+myself for having humiliated him unintentionally, but I could not resist
+the temptation to jest. I hastened to smooth his brow by saying that as
+soon as I got the money for the dress I would take it to the countess.
+
+"I have spoken to her about it," said he, "and your proposal made her
+laugh; but I am sure she will make up her mind when she finds herself in
+possession of the dress."
+
+It was a Friday. The marquis sent in an excellent fish dinner, and came
+himself soon after with the dress in a basket. The present was made with
+all ceremony, and the proud countess was profuse in her expressions of
+thanks, which the giver received coolly enough, as if accustomed to that
+kind of thing. However, he ended by the no means flattering remark that
+if she had any sense she would sell it, as everybody knew she was too
+poor to wear it. This suggestion by no means met with her approval. She
+abused him to her heart's content, and told him he must be a great fool
+to give her a dress which he considered unsuitable to her.
+
+They were disputing warmly when the Marchioness Menafoglio was announced.
+As soon as she came in her eyes were attracted by the dress, which was
+stretched over a chair, and finding it superb she exclaimed,
+
+"I would gladly buy that dress."
+
+"I did not buy it to sell again," said the countess, sharply.
+
+"Excuse me," replied the marchioness, "I thought it was for sale, and I
+am sorry it is not."
+
+The marquis, who was no lover of dissimulation, began to laugh, and the
+countess, fearing he would cover her with ridicule, hastened to change
+the conversation. But when the marchioness was gone the countess gave
+reins to her passion, and scolded the marquis bitterly for having
+laughed. However, he only replied by remarks which, though exquisitely
+polite, had a sting in them; and at last the lady said she was tired, and
+was going to lie down.
+
+When she had left the room the marquis gave me the fifteen thousand
+francs, telling me that they would bring me good luck at Canano's.
+
+"You are a great favourite of Canano's," he added, "and he wants you to
+come and dine with him. He can't ask you to supper, as he is obliged to
+spend his nights in the assembly-rooms."
+
+"Tell him I will come any day he likes except the day after to-morrow,
+when I have to go to a wedding at the 'Apple Garden.'"
+
+"I congratulate you," said the count and the marquis together, "it will
+no doubt be very pleasant."
+
+"I expect to enjoy myself heartily there."
+
+"Could not we come, too?"
+
+"Do you really want to?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Then I will get you an invitation from the fair bride herself on the
+condition that the countess comes as well. I must warn you that the
+company will consist of honest people of the lower classes, and I cannot
+have them humiliated in any way."
+
+"I will persuade the countess," said Triulzi.
+
+"To make your task an easier one, I may as well tell you that the wedding
+is that of the fair Zenobia."
+
+"Bravo! I am sure the countess will come to that."
+
+The count went out, and shortly reappeared with Zenobia. The marquis
+congratulated her, and encouraged her to ask the countess to the wedding.
+She seemed doubtful, so the marquis took her by the hand and let her into
+the proud Spaniard's room. In half an hour they returned informing us
+that my lady had deigned to accept the invitation.
+
+When the marquis had gone, the count told me that I might go and keep his
+wife company, if I had nothing better to do, and that he would see to
+some business.
+
+"I have the thousand sequins in my pocket," I remarked, "and if I find
+her reasonable, I will leave them with her."
+
+"I will go and speak to her first."
+
+"Do so."
+
+While the count was out of the room, I exchanged the thousand sequins for
+the fifteen thousand francs in bank notes which Greppi had given me.
+
+I was just shutting up my cash-box when Zenobia came in with my lace
+cuffs. She asked me if I would like to buy a piece of lace. I replied in
+the affirmative, and she went out and brought it me.
+
+I liked the lace, and bought it for eighteen sequins, and said,--
+
+"This lace is yours, dearest Zenobia, if you will content me this
+moment."
+
+"I love you well, but I should be glad if you would wait till after my
+marriage."
+
+"No, dearest, now or never. I cannot wait. I shall die if you do not
+grant my prayer. Look! do you not see what a state I am in?"
+
+"I see it plainly enough, but it can't be done."
+
+"Why not? Are you afraid of your husband noticing the loss of your
+maidenhead?"
+
+"Not I, and if he did I shouldn't care. I promise you if he dared to
+reproach me, he should not have me at all."
+
+"Well said, for my leavings are too good for him. Come quick!"
+
+"But you will shut the door, at least?"
+
+"No, the noise would be heard, and might give rise to suspicion. Nobody
+will come in."
+
+With these words I drew her towards me, and finding her as gentle as a
+lamb and as loving as a dove, the amorous sacrifice was offered with
+abundant libations on both sides. After the first ecstacy was over, I
+proceeded to examine her beauties, and with my usual amorous frenzy told
+her that she should send her tailor out to graze and live with me.
+Fortunately she did not believe in the constancy of my passion. After a
+second assault I rested, greatly astonished that the count had not
+interrupted our pleasures. I thought he must have gone out, and I told
+Zenobia my opinion, whereon she overwhelmed me with caresses. Feeling at
+my ease, I set her free from her troublesome clothes, and gave myself up
+to toying with her in a manner calculated to arouse the exhausted senses;
+and then for the third time we were clasped to each other's arms, while I
+made Zenobia put herself into the many attitudes which I knew from
+experience as most propitious to the voluptuous triumph.
+
+We were occupied a whole hour in these pleasures, but Zenobia, in the
+flower of her age and a novice, poured forth many more libations than I.
+
+Just as I lost life for the third time, and Zenobia for the fourteenth, I
+heard the count's voice. I told my sweetheart, who had heard it as well,
+and after we had dressed hastily I gave her the eighteen sequins, and she
+left the room.
+
+A moment after the count came in laughing, and said,--
+
+"I have been watching you all the time by this chink" (which he shewed
+me), "and I have found it very amusing."
+
+"I am delighted to hear it, but keep it to yourself."
+
+"Of course, of course."
+
+"My wife," said he, "will be very pleased to see you; and I," he added,
+"shall be very pleased as well."
+
+"You are a philosophical husband," said I, "but I am afraid after the
+exercises you witnessed the countess will find me rather slow."
+
+"Not at all, the recollection will make it all the pleasanter for you."
+
+"Mentally perhaps, but in other respects . . ."
+
+"Oh! you will manage to get out of it."
+
+"My carriage is at your service, as I shall not be going out for the rest
+of the day."
+
+I softly entered the countess's room and finding her in bed enquired
+affectionately after her health.
+
+"I am very well," said she, smiling agreeably, "my husband has done me
+good."
+
+I had seated myself quietly on the bed, and she had shewn no vexation;
+certainly a good omen.
+
+"Aren't you going out any more to-day?" said she, "you have got your
+dressing-gown on."
+
+"I fell asleep lying on my bed, and when I awoke I decided on keeping you
+company if you will be as good and gentle as you are pretty."
+
+"If you behave well to me, you will always find me so.
+
+"And will you love me?"
+
+"That depends on you. So you are going to sacrifice Canano to me this
+evening."
+
+"Yes, and with the greatest pleasure. He has won a lot from me already,
+and I foresee that he will win the fifteen thousand francs I have in my
+pocket to-morrow. This is the money the Marquis Triulzi gave me for the
+dress."
+
+"It would be a pity to lose such a large sum."
+
+"You are right, and I need not lose them if you will be complaisant, for
+they are meant for you. Allow me to shut the door."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Because I am perishing with cold and desire, and intend warming myself
+in your bed."
+
+"I will never allow that."
+
+"I don't want to force you. Good-bye, countess, I will go and warm myself
+by my own fire, and to-morrow I will wage war on Canano's bank."
+
+"You are certainly a sad dog. Stay here, I like your conversation."
+
+Without more ado I locked the door, took off my clothes, and seeing that
+her back was turned to me, jumped into bed beside her. She had made up
+her mind, and let me do as I liked, but my combats with Zenobia had
+exhausted me. With closed eyes she let me place her in all the postures
+which lubricity could suggest, while her hands were not idle; but all was
+in vain, my torpor was complete, and nothing would give life to the
+instrument which was necessary to the operation.
+
+Doubtless the Spaniard felt that my nullity was an insult to her charms;
+doubtless I must have tortured her by raising desires which I could not
+appease; for several times I felt my fingers drenched with a flow that
+shewed she was not passive in the matter; but she pretended all the while
+to be asleep. I was vexed at her being able to feign insensibility to
+such an extent, and I attached myself to her head; but her lips, which
+she abandoned to me, and which I abused disgracefully, produced no more
+effect than the rest of her body. I felt angry that I could not effect
+the miracle of resurrection, and I decided on leaving a stage where I had
+so wretched a part, but I was not generous to her, and put the finishing
+stroke to her humiliation by saying,--
+
+"'Tis not my fault, madam, that your charms have so little power over me.
+Here, take these fifteen thousand francs by way of consolation."
+
+With this apostrophe I left her.
+
+My readers, more especially my lady readers, if I ever have any, will no
+doubt pronounce me a detestable fellow after this. I understand their
+feelings, but beg them to suspend their judgment. They will see
+afterwards that my instinct served me wonderfully in the course I had
+taken.
+
+Early the next day the count came into my room with a very pleased
+expression.
+
+"My wife is very well," said he, "and told me to wish you good day."
+
+I did not expect this, and I no doubt looked somewhat astonished.
+
+"I am glad," he said, "that you gave her francs instead of the sequins
+you got from Triulzi, and I hope, as Triulzi said, you will have luck
+with it at the bank."
+
+"I am not going to the opera," said I, "but to the masked ball, and I
+don't want anyone to recognize me."
+
+I begged him to go and buy me a new domino, and not to come near me in
+the evening, so that none but he should know who I was. As soon as he had
+gone out I began to write letters. I had heavy arrears to make up in that
+direction.
+
+The count brought me my domino at noon, and after hiding it we went to
+dine with the countess. Her affability, politeness, and gentleness
+astounded me. She looked so sweetly pretty that I repented having
+outraged her so scandalously. Her insensibility of the evening before
+seemed inconceivable, and I began to suspect that the signs I had noticed
+to the contrary were only due to the animal faculties which are specially
+active in sleep.
+
+"Was she really asleep," said I to myself, "when I was outraging her so
+shamefully?"
+
+I hoped it had been so. When her husband left us alone, I said, humbly
+and tenderly, that I knew I was a monster, and that she must detest me.
+
+"You a monster?" said she. "On the contrary I owe much to you, and there
+is nothing I can think of for which I have cause to reproach you."
+
+I took her hand, tenderly, and would have carried it to my lips, but she
+drew it away gently and gave me a kiss. My repentance brought a deep
+blush to my face.
+
+When I got back to my room I sealed my letters and went to the ball. I
+was absolutely unrecognizable. Nobody had ever seen my watches or my
+snuff-boxes before, and I had even changed my purses for fear of anybody
+recognizing me by them.
+
+Thus armed against the glances of the curious, I sat down at Canano's
+table and commenced to play in quite a different fashion. I had a hundred
+Spanish pieces in my pocket worth seven hundred Venetian sequins. I had
+got this Spanish money from Greppi, and I took care not to use what
+Triulzi had given me for fear he should know me.
+
+I emptied my purse on the table, and in less than an hour it was all
+gone. I rose from the table and everybody thought I was going to beat a
+retreat, but I took out another purse and put a hundred sequins on one
+card, going second, with paroli, seven, and the va. The stroke was
+successful and Canano gave me back my hundred Spanish pieces, on which I
+sat down again by the banker, and recommenced regular play. Canano was
+looking at me hard. My snuff-box was the one which the Elector of Cologne
+had given me, with the prince's portrait on the lid. I took a pinch of
+snuff and he gave me to understand that he would like one too, and the
+box was subjected to a general examination. A lady whom I did not know
+said the portrait represented the Elector of Cologne in his robes as
+Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. The box was returned to me and I saw
+that it had made me respected, so small a thing imposes on people. I then
+put fifty sequins on one card, going paroli and paix de paroli, and at
+daybreak I had broken the bank. Canano said politely that if I liked to
+be spared the trouble of carrying all that gold he would have it weighed
+and give me a cheque. A pair of scales was brought, and it was found that
+I had thirty-four pounds weight in gold, amounting to two thousand eight
+hundred and fifty-six sequins. Canano wrote me a cheque, and I slowly
+returned to the ball-room.
+
+Barbaro had recognized me with the keenness of a Venetian. He accosted me
+and congratulated me on my luck, but I gave him no answer, and seeing
+that I wished to remain incognito he left me.
+
+A lady in a Greek dress richly adorned with diamonds came up to me, and
+said in a falsetto voice that she would like to dance with me.
+
+I made a sign of assent, and as she took off her glove I saw a
+finely-shaped hand as white as alabaster, one of the fingers bearing an
+exquisite diamond ring. It was evidently no ordinary person, and though I
+puzzled my head I could not guess who she could be.
+
+She danced admirably, in the style of a woman of fashion, and I too
+exerted myself to the utmost. By the time the dance was over I was
+covered with perspiration.
+
+"You look hot," said my partner, in her falsetto voice, "come and rest in
+my box."
+
+My heart leaped with joy, and I followed her with great delight; but as I
+saw Greppi in the box to which she took me, I had no doubt that it must
+be Therese, which did not please me quite so well. In short, the lady
+took off her mask; it was Therese, and I complimented her on her
+disguise.
+
+"But how did you recognize me, dearest?"
+
+"By your snuff-box. I knew it, otherwise I should never have found you
+out."
+
+"Then you think that nobody has recognized me?"
+
+"Nobody, unless in the same way as I did."
+
+"None of the people here have seen my snuff-box."
+
+I took the opportunity of handing over to Greppi Canano's cheque, and he
+gave me a receipt for it. Therese asked us to supper for the ensuing
+evening, and said,--
+
+"There will be four of us in all."
+
+Greppi seemed curious to know who the fourth person could be, but I right
+guessed it would be my dear son Cesarino.
+
+As I went down once more to the ball-room two pretty female dominos
+attacked me right and left, telling me that Messer-Grande was waiting for
+me outside. They then asked me for some snuff, and I gave them a box
+ornamented with an indecent picture. I had the impudence to touch the
+spring and shew it them, and after inspecting it they exclaimed,--
+
+"Fie, fie! your punishment is never to know who we are."
+
+I was sorry to have displeased the two fair masquers, who seemed worth
+knowing, so I followed them, and meeting Barbaro, who knew everybody, I
+pointed them out to him, and heard to my delight that they were the two
+Marchionesses Q---- and F----. I promised Barbaro to go and see them. He
+said that everybody in the ball-room knew me, and that our bank was doing
+very well, though, of course, that was a trifle to me.
+
+Towards the end of the ball, when it was already full daylight, a
+masquer, dressed as a Venetian gondolier, was accosted by a lady masquer,
+also in Venetian costume. She challenged the gondolier to prove himself a
+Venetian by dancing the 'forlana' with her. The gondolier accepted, and
+the music struck up, but the boatman, who was apparently a Milanese, was
+hooted, while the lady danced exquisitely. I was very fond of the dance,
+and I asked the unknown Venetian lady to dance it again with me. She
+agreed, and a ring was formed round us, and we were so applauded that we
+had to dance it over again. This would have sufficed if a very pretty
+shepherdess without a mask had not begged me to dance it with her. I
+could not refuse her, and she danced exquisitely; going round and round
+the circle three times, and seeming to hover in the air. I was quite out
+of breath. When it was finished, she came up to me and whispered my name
+in my ear. I was astonished, and feeling the charm of the situation
+demanded her name.
+
+"You shall know," said she, in Venetian, "if you will come to the 'Three
+Kings.'"
+
+"Are you alone?"
+
+"No, my father and mother, who are old friends of yours, are with me"
+
+"I will call on Monday."
+
+What a number of adventures to have in one night! I went home wearily,
+and went to bed, but I was only allowed to sleep for two hours. I was
+roused and begged to dress myself. The countess, the marquis, and the
+count, all ready for Zenobia's wedding, teased me till I was ready,
+telling me it was not polite to keep a bride waiting. Then they all
+congratulated me on my breaking the bank and the run of luck against me.
+I told the marquis that it was his money that had brought me luck, but he
+replied by saying that he knew what had become of his money.
+
+This indiscretion either on the count's part or the countess's surprised
+me greatly; it seemed to me contrary to all the principles in intrigue.
+
+"Canano knew you," said the marquis, "by the way you opened your
+snuff-box, and he hopes to see us to dinner before long. He says he hopes
+you will win a hundred pounds weight of gold; he has a fancy for you."
+
+"Canano," said I, "has keen eyes, and plays faro admirably. I have not
+the slightest wish to win his money from him."
+
+We then started for the "Apple Garden," where we found a score of honest
+folks and the bride and bridegroom, who overwhelmed us with compliments.
+We soon put the company at their ease. At first our presence overawed
+them, but a little familiarity soon restored the general hilarity. We sat
+down to dinner, and among the guests were some very pretty girls, but my
+head was too full of Zenobia to care about them. The dinner lasted three
+hours. It was an abundant repast, and the foreign wines were so exquisite
+that it was easy to see that the sum I had furnished had been exceeded.
+Good fellowship prevailed, and after the first bumper had passed round
+everybody proposed somebody else's health, and as each tried to say
+something different to his neighbour the most fearful nonsense prevailed.
+Then everybody thought himself bound to sing, and they were not at all
+first-rate vocalists by any means. We laughed heartily and also caused
+laughter, for our speeches and songs were as bad as those of our humble
+friends.
+
+When we rose from the table kissing became general, and the countess
+could not resist laughing when she found herself obliged to hold out her
+cheeks for the salute of the tailor, who thought her laughter a special
+mark of favour.
+
+Strains of sweet music were heard, and the ball was duly opened by the
+newly-married couple. Zenobia danced, if not exactly well, at least
+gracefully; but the tailor, who had never put his legs to any other use
+besides crossing them, cut such a ridiculous figure that the countess had
+much ado to restrain her laughter. But in spite of that I led out Zenobia
+for the next minuet, and the proud countess was obliged to dance with the
+wretched tailor.
+
+When the minuets stopped the square dances began, and refreshments were
+liberally handed round. Confetti, a kind of sweetmeat, even better than
+that made at Verdun, were very plentiful.
+
+When we were just going I congratulated the husband and offered to bring
+Zenobia home in my carriage, which he was pleased to style a very
+honourable offer. I gave my hand to Zenobia, and helped her into the
+carriage, and having told the coachman to go slowly I put her on my knee,
+extinguisher fashion, and kept her there all the time. Zenobia was the
+first to get down, and noticing that my breeches of grey velvet were
+spoiled, I told her that I would be with her in a few minutes. In two
+minutes I put on a pair of black satin breeches, and I rejoined the lady
+before her husband came in. She asked what I had been doing, and on my
+telling her that our exploits in the carriage had left very evident marks
+on my trousers, she gave me a kiss, and thanked me for my forethought.
+
+Before long the husband and his sister arrived. He thanked me, calling me
+his gossip, and then noticing the change in my dress he asked me how I
+had contrived to make the alteration so quickly.
+
+"I went to my room, leaving your wife at your house, for which I beg your
+pardon."
+
+"Didn't you see that the gentleman had spilt a cup of coffee over his
+handsome breeches?" said Zenobia.
+
+"My dear wife," said the crafty tailor, "I don't see everything, nor is
+it necessary that I should do so, but you should have accompanied the
+gentleman to his room."
+
+Then turning to me with a laugh, he asked me how I had enjoyed the
+wedding.
+
+"Immensely, and my friends have done the same; but you must let me pay
+you, dear gossip, for what you spent over and above the twenty-four
+sequins. You can tell me how much it is."
+
+"Very little, a mere trifle; Zenobia shall bring you the bill."
+
+I went home feeling vexed with myself for not having foreseen that the
+rogue would notice my change of dress, and guess the reason. However, I
+consoled myself with the thought that the tailor was no fool, and that it
+was plain that he was content to play the part we had assigned to him. So
+after wishing good night to the count, the countess and the marquis, who
+all thanked me for the happy day they had spent, I went to bed.
+
+As soon as I was awake, I thought of the shepherdess who had danced the
+'forlana' so well at the ball, and I resolved to pay her a visit. I was
+not more interested in her beauty than to find out who her father and
+mother, "old friends of mine," could be. I dressed and walked to the
+"Three Kings," and on walking into the room which the shepherdess had
+indicated to me, what was my astonishment to find myself face to face
+with the Countess Rinaldi, whom Zavoisky had introduced me to at the
+'locanda' of Castelletto sixteen years ago. The reader will remember how
+M. de Bragadin paid her husband the money he won from me at play.
+
+Madame Rinaldi had aged somewhat, but I knew her directly. However, as I
+had never had more than a passing fancy for her, we did not go back to
+days which did neither of us any honour.
+
+"I am delighted to see you again," said I; "are you still living with
+your husband?"
+
+"You will see him in half an hour, and he will be glad to present his
+respects to you."
+
+"I should not at all care for it myself, madam; there are old quarrels
+between us which I do not want to renew, so, madam, farewell."
+
+"No, no, don't go yet, sit down."
+
+"Pardon me."
+
+"Irene, don't let the gentleman go."
+
+At these words Irene ran and barred the way--not like a fierce mastiff,
+but like an angel, entreating me to stay with that mingled look of
+innocence, fear, and hope, of which girls know the effect so well. I felt
+I could not go.
+
+"Let me through, fair Irene," said I, "we may see each other somewhere
+else."
+
+"Pray do not go before you have seen my father:"
+
+The words were spoken so tenderly that our lips met. Irene was
+victorious. How can one resist a pretty girl who implores with a kiss? I
+took a chair, and Irene, proud of her victory, sat on my knee and covered
+me with kisses.
+
+I took it into my head to task the countess where and when Irene was
+born.
+
+"At Mantua," said she, "three months after I left Venice."
+
+"And when did you leave Venice?"
+
+"Six months after I met you."
+
+"That is a curious coincidence, and if we had been tenderly acquainted
+you might say that Irene was my daughter, and I should believe you, and
+think that my affection for her was purely paternal."
+
+"Your memory is not very good, sir, I wonder at that."
+
+"I may tell you, that I never forget certain things, But I guess your
+meaning. You want me to subdue my liking for Irene. I am willing to do
+so, but she will be the loser."
+
+This conversation had silenced Irene, but she soon took courage, and said
+she was like me.
+
+"No, no," I answered, "if you were like me you would not be so pretty."
+
+"I don't think so; I think you are very handsome."
+
+"You flatter me."
+
+"Stay to dinner with us."
+
+"No, if I stayed I might fall in love with you, and that would be a pity,
+as your mother says I am your father."
+
+"I was joking," said the countess, "you may love Irene with a good
+conscience."
+
+"We will see what can be done."
+
+When Irene had left the room, I said to the mother,--
+
+"I like your daughter, but I won't be long sighing for her, and you
+mustn't take me for a dupe."
+
+"Speak to my husband about it. We are very poor, and we want to go to
+Cremona."
+
+"I suppose Irene has a lover?"
+
+"No."
+
+"But she has had one, of course?"
+
+"Never anything serious."
+
+"I can't believe it."
+
+"It's true, nevertheless. Irene is intact."
+
+Just then Irene came in with her father, who had aged to such an extent
+that I should never have known him in the street. He came up to me and
+embraced me, begging me to forget the past. "It is only you," he added,
+"who can furnish me with funds to go to Cremona.
+
+"I have several debts here, and am in some danger of imprisonment. Nobody
+of any consequence comes to see me. My dear daughter is the only thing of
+value which I still possess. I have just been trying to sell this
+pinchbeck watch, and though I asked only six sequins, which is half what
+it is worth, they would not give me more than two. When a man gets
+unfortunate, everything is against him."
+
+I took the watch, and gave the father six sequins for it, and then handed
+it to Irene. She said with a smile that she could not thank me, as I only
+gave her back her own, but she thanked me for the present I had made her
+father.
+
+"Here," said she seriously to the old man, "you can sell it again now."
+
+This made me laugh. I gave the count ten sequins in addition, embraced
+Irene, and said I must be gone, but that I would see them again in three
+or four days.
+
+Irene escorted me to the bottom of the stairs, and as she allowed me to
+assure myself that she still possessed the rose of virginity, I gave her
+another ten sequins, and told her that the first time she went alone to
+the ball with me I would give her a hundred sequins. She said she would
+consult her father.
+
+Feeling sure that the poor devil would hand over Irene to me, and having
+no apartment in which I could enjoy her in freedom, I stopped to read a
+bill in a pastrycook's window. It announced a room to let. I went in, and
+the pastrycook told me that the house belonged to him, and his pretty
+wife, who was suckling a baby, begged me to come upstairs and see the
+room. The street was a lonely one, and had a pleasing air of mystery
+about it. I climbed to the third floor, but the rooms there were wretched
+garrets of no use to me.
+
+"The first floor," said the woman, "consists of a suite of four nice
+rooms, but we only let them together."
+
+"Let us go and see them. Good! they will do. What is the rent?"
+
+"You must settle that with my husband."
+
+"And can't I settle anything with you, my dear?"
+
+So saying I gave her a kiss which she took very kindly, but she smelt of
+nursing, which I detested, so I did not go any farther despite her
+radiant beauty.
+
+I made my bargain with the landlord, and paid a month's rent in advance
+for which he gave me a receipt. It was agreed that I should come and go
+as I pleased, and that he should provide me with food. I gave him a name
+so common as to tell him nothing whatever about me, but he seemed to care
+very little about that.
+
+As I had agreed with Barbaro to visit the fair marchionesses, I dressed
+carefully, and after a slight repast with the countess, who was pleasant
+but did not quite please me, I met my fellow-countryman and we called on
+the two cousins.
+
+"I have come," said I, "to beg your pardons for having revealed to you
+the secret of the snuff-box."
+
+They blushed, and scolded Barbaro, thinking that he had betrayed them. On
+examining them I found them far superior to Irene, my present flame, but
+their manner, the respect they seemed to require, frightened me. I was
+not at all disposed to dance attendance on them. Irene, on the contrary,
+was an easy prey. I had only to do her parents a service, and she was in
+my power; while the two cousins had their full share of aristocratic
+pride, which debases the nobility to the level of the vilest of the
+people, and only imposes upon fools, who after all are in the majority
+everywhere. Further I was no longer at that brilliant age which fears
+nothing, and I was afraid that my appearance would hardly overcome them.
+It is true that Barbaro had made me hope that presents would be of some
+use, but after what the Marquis Triulzi had said, I feared that Barbaro
+had only spoken on supposition.
+
+When the company was sufficiently numerous, the card-tables were brought
+in. I sat down by Mdlle. Q----, and disposed myself to play for small
+stakes. I was introduced by the aunt, the mistress of the house, to a
+young gentleman in Austrian uniform who sat beside me.
+
+My dear countryman played like a true sharper, much to my displeasure. My
+fair neighbour, at the end of the game, which lasted four hours, found
+herself the gainer of a few sequins, but the officer, who had played on
+his word of honour, after losing all the money in his pockets, owed ten
+louis. The bank was the winner of fifty sequins, including the officer's
+debt. As the young man lived at some distance he honoured me by coming in
+my carriage.
+
+On the way, Barbaro told us he would introduce us to a girl who had just
+come from Venice. The officer caught fire at this, and begged that we
+should go and see her directly, and we accordingly went. The girl was
+well enough looking, but neither I nor the officer cared much about her.
+While they were making some coffee for us, and Barbaro was entertaining
+the young lady, I took a pack of cards, and had not much difficulty in
+inducing the officer to risk twenty sequins against the twenty I put on
+the table. While we were playing I spoke to him of the passion with which
+the young marchioness inspired me.
+
+"She's my sister," said he.
+
+I knew as much, but pretended to be astonished, and I went on playing.
+Taking the opportunity I told him that I knew of no one who could let the
+marchioness know of my affection better than he. I made him laugh, and as
+he thought I was jesting he only gave vague answers; but seeing that
+while I talked of my passion I forgot my card, he soon won the twenty
+sequins from me, and immediately paid them to Barbaro. In the excess of
+his joy he embraced me as if I had given him the money; and when we
+parted he promised to give me some good news of his sister at our next
+meeting.
+
+I had to go to supper with Therese, Greppi, and my son, but having some
+spare time before me I went to the opera-house. The third act was going
+on, and I accordingly visited the cardroom, and there lost two hundred
+sequins at a single deal. I left the room almost as if I was flying from
+an enemy. Canano shook me by the hand, and told me he expected me and the
+marquis to dinner every day, and I promised we would come at the earliest
+opportunity.
+
+I went to Therese's, and found Greppi there before me. Therese and Don
+Cesarino, whom I covered with kisses, came in a quarter of an hour
+afterwards. The banker stared at him in speechless wonder. He could not
+make out whether he was my son or my brother. Seeing his amazement,
+Therese told him Cesarino was her brother. This stupefied the worthy man
+still more. At last he asked me if I had known Therese's mother pretty
+well, and on my answering in the affirmative he seemed more at ease.
+
+The meal was excellent, but all my attention went to my son. He had all
+the advantages of a good disposition and an excellent education. He had
+grown a great deal since I had seen him at Florence, and his mental
+powers had developed proportionately. His presence made the party grave,
+but sweet. The innocence of youth throws around it an ineffable charm; it
+demands respect and restraint. An hour after midnight we left Therese,
+and I went to bed, well pleased with my day's work, for the loss of two
+hundred sequins did not trouble me much.
+
+When I got up I received a note from Irene, begging me to call on her.
+Her father had given her permission to go to the next ball with me, and
+she had a domino, but she wanted to speak to me. I wrote and told her I
+would see her in the course of the day. I had written to tell the Marquis
+Triulzi that I was going to dine with Canano, and he replied that he
+would be there.
+
+We found this skilled gamester in a fine house, richly furnished, and
+shewing traces on every side of the wealth and taste of its owner. Canano
+introduced me to two handsome women, one of whom was his mistress, and to
+five or six marquises; for at Milan no noble who is not a marquis is
+thought anything of, just as in the same way they are all counts at
+Vicenza. The dinner was magnificent and the conversation highly
+intellectual. In a mirthful moment Canano said he had known me for
+seventeen years, his acquaintance dating from the time I had juggled a
+professional gamester, calling himself Count Celi, out of a pretty
+ballet-girl whom I had taken to Mantua. I confessed the deed and amused
+the company by the story of what had happened at Mantua with Oreilan, and
+how I had found Count Celi at Cesena metamorphosed into Count Alfani.
+Somebody mentioned the ball which was to be held the next day, and when I
+said I was not going they laughed.
+
+"I bet I know you," said Canano, "if you come to the bank."
+
+"I am not going to play any more," said I.
+
+"All the better for me," answered Canano; "for though your punting is
+unlucky, you don't leave off till you have won my money. But that's only
+my joke; try again, and I protest I would see you win half my fortune
+gladly."
+
+Count Canano had a ring on his finger with a stone not unlike one of
+mine; it had cost him two thousand sequins, while mine was worth three
+thousand. He proposed that we should stake them against each other after
+having them unmounted and valued.
+
+"When?" said I.
+
+"Before going to the opera."
+
+"Very good; but on two turns of the cards, and a deal to each."
+
+"No, I never punt."
+
+"Then we must equalise the game."
+
+"How do you mean?"
+
+"By leaving doubles and the last two cards out of account."
+
+"Then you would have the advantage."
+
+"If you can prove that I will pay you a hundred sequins. Indeed, I would
+bet anything you like that the game would still be to the advantage of
+the banker."
+
+"Can you prove it?"
+
+"Yes; and I will name the Marquis Triulzi as judge."
+
+I was asked to prove my point without any question of a bet.
+
+"The advantages of the banker," said I, "are two. The first and the
+smaller is that all he has got to attend to is not to deal wrongly, which
+is a very small matter to an habitual player; and all the time the punter
+has to rack his brains on the chances of one card or another coming out.
+The other advantage is one of time. The banker draws his card at least a
+second before the punter, and this again gives him a purchase."
+
+No one replied; but after some thought the Marquis Triulzi said that to
+make the chances perfectly equal the players would have to be equal,
+which was almost out of the question.
+
+"All that is too sublime for me," said Canano; "I don't understand it."
+But, after all, there was not much to understand.
+
+After dinner I went to the "Three Kings" to find out what Irene had to
+say to me, and to enjoy her presence. When she saw me she ran up to me,
+threw her arms round my neck, and kissed me, but with too much eagerness
+for me to lay much value on the salute. However, I have always known that
+if one wants to enjoy pleasure one must not philosophise about it, or one
+runs a risk of losing half the enjoyment. If Irene had struck me in
+dancing the 'forlana', why should not I have pleased her in spite of my
+superiority in age? It was not impossible, and that should be enough for
+me, as I did not intend to make her my wife.
+
+The father and mother received me as their preserver, and they may have
+been sincere. The count begged me to come out of the room for a moment
+with him, and when we were on the other side of the door, said,--
+
+"Forgive an old and unfortunate man, forgive a father, if I ask you
+whether it is true that you promised Irene a hundred sequins if I would
+let her go to the ball with you."
+
+"It is quite true, but of course you know what the consequences will be."
+
+At these words the poor old rascal took hold of me in a way which would
+have frightened me if I had not possessed twice his strength, but it was
+only to embrace me.
+
+We went back to the room, he in tears and I laughing. He ran and told his
+wife, who had not been able to believe in such luck any more than her
+husband, and Irene added a comic element to the scene by saying,--
+
+"You must not think me a liar, or that my parents suspected that I was
+imposing on them; they only thought you said fifty instead of a hundred,
+as if I were not worth such a sum."
+
+"You are worth a thousand, my dear Irene; your courage in barring the way
+pleased me extremely. But you must come to the ball in a domino."
+
+"Oh! you will be pleased with my dress."
+
+"Are those the shoes and buckles you are going to wear? Have you no other
+stockings? Where are your gloves?"
+
+"Good heavens! I have nothing."
+
+"Quick! Send for the tradesmen. We will choose what we want, and I will
+pay."
+
+Rinaldi went out to summon a jeweller, a shoemaker, a stocking-maker, and
+a perfumer. I spent thirty sequins in what I considered necessary, but
+then I noticed that there was no English point on her mask, and burst out
+again. The father brought in a milliner, who adorned the mask with an ell
+of lace for which I paid twelve sequins. Irene was in great delight, but
+her father and mother would have preferred to have the money in their
+pockets, and at bottom they were right.
+
+When Irene put on her fine clothes I thought her delicious, and I saw
+what an essential thing dress is to a woman.
+
+"Be ready," said I, "before the time for the opera to-morrow, for before
+going to the ball we will sup together in a room which belongs to me,
+where we shall be quite at our ease. You know what to expect," I added,
+embracing her. She answered me with an ardent kiss.
+
+As I took leave of her father, he asked me where I was going after
+leaving Milan.
+
+"To Marseilles, then to Paris, and then to London, at which place I
+intend stopping a year."
+
+"Your flight from The Leads was wonderfully lucky."
+
+"Yes, but I risked my life."
+
+"You have certainly deserved all your good fortune."
+
+"Do you think so? I have only used my fortune--in subservience to my
+pleasures."
+
+"I wonder you do not have a regular mistress:"
+
+"The reason is, that I like to be my own master. A mistress at my
+coat-tails would be more troublesome than a wife; she would be an
+obstacle to the numerous pleasant adventures I encounter at every town.
+For example, if I had a mistress I should not be able to take the
+charming Irene to the ball to-morrow."
+
+"You speak like a wise man."
+
+"Yes, though my wisdom is by no means of the austere kind."
+
+In the evening I went to the opera, and should no doubt have gone to the
+card-table if I had not seen Cesarino in the pit. I spent two delightful
+hours with him. He opened his heart to me, and begged me to plead for him
+with his sister to get her consent to his going to sea, for which he had
+a great longing. He said that he might make a large fortune by a
+judicious course of trading. After a temperate supper with my dear boy, I
+went to bed. The next morning the fine young officer, the Marchioness of
+Q----'s brother, came and asked me to give him a breakfast. He said he
+had communicated my proposal to his sister, and that she had replied that
+I must be making a fool of him, as it was not likely that a man who lived
+as I did would be thinking of marrying.
+
+"I did not tell you that I aspired to the honour of marrying her."
+
+"No, and I did not say anything about marriage; but that's what the girls
+are always aiming at."
+
+"I must go and disabuse her of the notion."
+
+"That's a good idea; principals are always the best in these affairs.
+Come at two o'clock, I shall be dining there, and as I have got to speak
+to her cousin you will be at liberty to say what you like."
+
+This arrangement suited me exactly. I noticed that my future
+brother-in-law admired a little gold case on my night-table, so I begged
+him to accept it as a souvenir of our friendship. He embraced me, and put
+it in his pocket, saying he would keep it till his dying day.
+
+"You mean till the day when it advances your suit with a lady," said I.
+
+I was sure of having a good supper with Irene, so I resolved to take no
+dinner. As the count had gone to St. Angelo, fifteen miles from Milan,
+the day before, I felt obliged to wait on the countess in her room, to
+beg her to excuse my presence at dinner. She was very polite, and told me
+by no means to trouble myself. I suspected that she was trying to impose
+on me, but I wanted her to think she was doing so successfully. In my
+character of dupe I told her that in Lent I would make amends for the
+dissipation which prevented me paying my court to her. "Happily," I
+added, "Lent is not far off."
+
+"I hope it will be so," said the deceitful woman with an enchanting
+smile, of which only a woman with poison in her heart is capable. With
+these words she took a pinch of snuff, and offered me her box.
+
+"But what is this, my dear countess, it isn't snuff?"
+
+"No," she replied, "it makes the nose bleed, and is an excellent thing
+for the head-ache."
+
+I was sorry that I had taken it, but said with a laugh, that I had not
+got a head-ache, and did not like my nose to bleed.
+
+"It won't bleed much," said she, with a smile, "and it is really
+beneficial."
+
+As she spoke, we both began to sneeze, and I should have felt very angry
+if I had not seen her smile.
+
+Knowing something about these sneezing powders, I did not think we should
+bleed, but I was mistaken. Directly after, I felt a drop of blood, and
+she took a silver basin from her night-table.
+
+"Come here," said she, "I am beginning to bleed too."
+
+There we were, bleeding into the same basin, facing each other in the
+most ridiculous position. After about thirty drops had fallen from each
+of us, the bleeding ceased. She was laughing all the time, and I thought
+the best thing I could do was to imitate her example. We washed ourselves
+in fair water in another basin.
+
+"This admixture of our blood," said she, still smiling, "will create a
+sweet sympathy between us, which will only end with the death of one or
+the other."
+
+I could make no sense of this, but the reader will soon see that the
+wretched woman did not mean our friendship to last very long. I asked her
+to give me some of the powder, but she refused; and on my enquiring the
+name of it, she replied that she did not know, as a lady friend had given
+it to her.
+
+I was a good deal puzzled by the effects of this powder, never having
+heard of the like before, and as soon as I left the countess I went to an
+apothecary to enquire about it, but Mr. Drench was no wiser than I. He
+certainly said that euphorbia sometimes produced bleeding of the nose,
+but it was not a case of sometimes but always. This small adventure made
+me think seriously. The lady was Spanish, and she must hate me; and these
+two facts gave an importance to our blood-letting which it would not
+otherwise possess.
+
+I went to see the two charming cousins, and I found the young officer
+with Mdlle. F---- in the room by the garden. The lady was writing, and on
+the pretext of not disturbing her I went after Mdlle. Q----, who was in
+the garden. I greeted her politely, and said I had come to apologize for
+a stupid blunder which must have given her a very poor opinion of me.
+
+"I guess what you mean, but please to understand that my brother gave me
+your message in perfect innocence. Let him believe what he likes. Do you
+think I really believed you capable of taking such a step, when we barely
+knew each other?"
+
+"I am glad to hear you say so."
+
+"I thought the best thing would be to give a matrimonial turn to your
+gallantry. Otherwise my brother, who is quite a young man, might have
+interpreted it in an unfavourable sense."
+
+"That was cleverly done, and of course I have nothing more to say.
+Nevertheless, I am 'grateful to your brother for having given you to
+understand that your charms have produced a vivid impression on me. I
+would do anything to convince you of my affection."
+
+"That is all very well, but it would have been wiser to conceal your
+feelings from my brother, and, allow me to add, from myself as well. You
+might have loved me without telling me, and then, though I should have
+perceived the state of your affections, I could have pretended not to do
+so. Then I should have been at my ease, but as circumstances now stand I
+shall have to be careful. Do you see?"
+
+"Really, marchioness, you astonish me. I was never so clearly convinced
+that I have done a foolish thing. And what is still more surprising, is
+that I was aware of all you have told me. But you have made me lose my
+head. I hope you will not punish me too severely?"
+
+"Pray inform me how it lies in my power to punish you."
+
+"By not loving me."
+
+"Ah! loving and not loving; that is out of one's power. Of a sudden we
+know that we are in love, and our fate is sealed."
+
+I interpreted these last words to my own advantage, and turned the
+conversation. I asked her if she was going to the ball.
+
+"No."
+
+"Perhaps you are going incognito?"
+
+"We should like to, but it is an impossibility; there is always someone
+who knows us."
+
+"If you would take me into your service, I would wager anything that you
+would not be recognized."
+
+"You would not care to trouble yourself about us."
+
+"I like you to be a little sceptical, but put me to the proof. If you
+could manage to slip out unobserved, I would engage to disguise you in
+such a manner that no one would know you."
+
+"We could leave the house with my brother and a young lady with whom he
+is in love. I am sure he would keep our counsel."
+
+"I shall be delighted, but it must be for the ball on Sunday. I will talk
+it over with your brother. Kindly warn him not to let Barbaro know
+anything about it. You will be able to put on your disguise in a place I
+know of. However, we can settle about that again. I shall carry the
+matter through, you may be sure, with great secrecy. Permit me to kiss
+your hand."
+
+She gave it me, and after imprinting a gentle kiss I held it to my heart,
+and had the happiness of feeling a soft pressure. I had no particular
+disguise in my head, but feeling sure of hitting on something I put off
+the consideration of it till the next day; the present belonged to Irene.
+I put on my domino, and went to the "Three Kings," where I found Irene
+waiting for me at the door. She had run down as soon as she had seen my
+carriage, and I was flattered by this mark of her eagerness. We went to
+my rooms, and I ordered the confectioner to get me a choice supper by
+midnight. We had six hours before us, but the reader will excuse my
+describing the manner in which they were spent. The opening was made with
+the usual fracture, which Irene bore with a smile, for she was naturally
+voluptuous. We got up at midnight, pleasantly surprised to find ourselves
+famishing with hunger, and a delicious supper waiting for us.
+
+Irene told me that her father had taught her to deal in such a manner
+that she could not lose. I was curious to see how it was done, and on my
+giving her a pack of cards she proceeded to distract my attention by
+talking to me, and in a few minutes the thing was done. I gave her the
+hundred sequins I had promised her, and told her to go on with her play.
+
+"If you only play on a single card," said she, "you are sure to lose."
+
+"Never mind; go ahead."
+
+She did so, and I was forced to confess that if I had not been warned I
+should never have detected the trick. I saw what a treasure she must be
+to the old rascal Rinaldi. With her air of innocence and gaiety, she
+would have imposed on the most experienced sharpers. She said in a
+mortified manner that she never had any opportunity of turning her
+talents to account, as their associates were always a beggarly lot. She
+added tenderly that if I would take her with me she would leave her
+parents there and win treasures for me.
+
+"When I am not playing against sharpers," she said, "I can also punt very
+well."
+
+"Then you can come to Canano's bank and risk the hundred sequins I have
+given you. Put twenty sequins on a card, and if you win go paroli, seven,
+and the va, and leave the game when they turn up. If you can't make the
+three cards come out second, you will lose, but I will reimburse you."
+
+At this she embraced me, and asked if I would take half the profits.
+
+"No," said I, "you shall have it all."
+
+I thought she would have gone mad with joy.
+
+We went off in sedan-chairs, and the ball not having commenced we went to
+the assembly-rooms. Canano had not yet done anything, and he opened a
+pack of cards and pretended not to recognize me, but he smiled to see the
+pretty masker, my companion, sit down and play instead of me. Irene made
+him a profound bow as he made room for her by his side, and putting the
+hundred sequins before her she began by winning a hundred and
+twenty-five, as instead of going seven and the va, she only went the paix
+de paroli. I was pleased to see her thus careful, and I let her go on. In
+the following deal she lost on three cards in succession, and then won
+another paix de paroli. She then bowed to the banker, pocketed her
+winnings, and left the table, but just as we were going out I heard
+somebody sobbing, and on my turning to her she said,
+
+"I am sure it is my father weeping for joy."
+
+She had three hundred and sixty sequins which she took to him after
+amusing herself for a few hours. I only danced one minuet with her, for
+my amorous exploits and the heavy supper I had taken had tired me, and I
+longed for rest. I let Irene dance with whom she liked, and going into a
+corner fell asleep. I woke up with a start and saw Irene standing before
+me. I had been asleep for three hours. I took her back to the "Three
+Kings," and left her in the charge of her father and mother. The poor man
+was quite alarmed to see so much gold on the table, and told me to wish
+him a pleasant journey, as he was starting in a few hours. I could make
+no opposition and I did not wish to do so, but Irene was furious.
+
+"I won't go," she cried; "I want to stay with my lover. You are the ruin
+of my life. Whenever anybody takes a liking to me, you snatch me away. I
+belong to this gentleman, and I won't leave him."
+
+However, she saw that I did not back her up, and began to weep, then
+kissed me again and again, and just as she was going to sit down, worn
+out with fatigue and despair, I went off, wishing them a pleasant
+journey, and telling Irene we should meet again. The reader will learn in
+due time when and how I saw them again. After all the fatigue I had gone
+through I was glad to go to bed.
+
+It was eight o'clock when the young lieutenant awoke me.
+
+"My sister has told me about the masquerade," said he, "but I have a
+great secret to confide in you."
+
+"Say on, and count on my keeping your secret."
+
+"One of the finest noblemen of the town, my friend and my cousin's lover,
+who has to be very careful of his actions on account of his exalted
+position, would like to be of the party if you have no objection. My
+sister and my cousin would like him to come very much."
+
+"Of course he shall. I have been making my calculations for a party of
+five, and now it will be a party of six, that is all."
+
+"You really are a splendid fellow."
+
+"On Sunday evening you must be at a certain place, of which I will tell
+you. First of all we will have supper, then put on our disguises, and
+then go to the ball. To-morrow at five o'clock we shall meet at your
+sister's. All I want to know is what is the height of your mistress and
+of the young nobleman."
+
+"My sweetheart is two inches shorter than my sister, and a little
+thinner; my friend is just about the same make as you are, and if you
+were dressed alike you would be mistaken for each other."
+
+"That will do. Let me think it over, and leave me alone now; there's a
+Capuchin waiting for me, and I am curious to learn his business."
+
+A Capuchin had called on me and I had told Clairmont to give him an alms,
+but he had said he wanted to speak to me in private. I was puzzled, for
+what could a Capuchin have to say to me?
+
+He came in, and I was at once impressed by his grave and reverend
+appearance. I made him a profound bow and offered him a seat, but he
+remained standing, and said,
+
+"Sir, listen attentively to what I am about to tell you, and beware of
+despising my advice, for it might cost you your life. You would repent
+when it was too late. After hearing me, follow my advice immediately; but
+ask no questions, for I can answer none. You may guess, perhaps, that
+what silences me is a reason incumbent on all Christians--the sacred seal
+of the confessional. You may be sure that my word is above suspicion; I
+have no interests of my own to serve. I am acting in obedience to an
+inspiration; I think it must be your guardian angel speaking with my
+voice. God will not abandon you to the malice of your enemies. Tell me if
+I have touched your heart, and if you feel disposed to follow the
+counsels I am going to give you."
+
+"I have listened to you, father, with attention and respect. Speak freely
+and advise me; what you have said has not only moved me, but has almost
+frightened me. I promise to do as you tell me if it is nothing against
+honour or the light of reason."
+
+"Very good. A feeling of charity will prevent your doing anything to
+compromise me, whatever may be the end of the affair. You will not speak
+of me to anyone, or say either that you know me or do not know me?"
+
+"I swear to you I will not on my faith as a Christian. But speak, I
+entreat you. Your long preface has made me burn with impatience."
+
+"This day, before noon, go by yourself to---- Square, No.---, on the
+second floor, and ring at the bell on your left. Tell the person who
+opens the door that you want to speak to Madame. You will be taken to her
+room without any difficulty; I am sure your name will not be asked, but
+if they do ask you, give an imaginary name. When you are face to face
+with the woman, beg her to hear you, and ask her for her secret, and to
+inspire confidence put a sequin or two in her hand. She is poor, and I am
+sure that your generosity will make her your friend. She will shut her
+door, and tell you to say on.
+
+"You must then look grave, and tell her that you are not going to leave
+her house before she gives you the little bottle that a servant brought
+her yesterday with a note. If she resists, remain firm, but make no
+noise; do not let her leave the room or call anybody. Finally, tell her
+that you will give her double the money she may lose by giving you the
+bottle and all that depends on it. Remember these words: and all that
+depends on it. She will do whatever you want. It will not cost you much,
+but even if it did, your life is worth more than all the gold of Peru. I
+can say no more, but before I go, promise me that you will follow my
+advice."
+
+"Yes, reverend father, I will follow the inspiration of the angel who led
+you here."
+
+"May God give you His blessing."
+
+When the good priest went out I did not feel at all disposed to laugh.
+Reason, certainly, bade me despise the warning, but my inherent
+superstition was too strong for reason. Besides, I liked the Capuchin. He
+looked like a good man, and I felt bound by the promise I had given him.
+He had persuaded me, and my reason told me that a man should never go
+against his persuasion; in fine, I had made up my mind. I took the piece
+of paper on which I had written the words I had to use, I put a pair of
+pistols in my pocket, and I told Clairmont to wait for me in the square.
+This latter, I thought, was a precaution that could do no harm.
+
+Everything happened as the good Capuchin had said. The awful old creature
+took courage at the sight of the two sequins, and bolted her door. She
+began by laughing and saying that she knew I was amorous, and that it was
+my fault if I were not happy, but that she would do my business for me. I
+saw by these words that I had to do with a pretended sorceress. The
+famous Mother Bontemps had spoken in the same way to me at Paris. But
+when I told her that I was not going to leave the room till I had got the
+mysterious bottle, and all that depended on it, her face became fearful;
+she trembled, and would have escaped from the room; but I stood before
+her with an open knife, and would not suffer her to pass. But on my
+telling her that I would give her double the sum she was to be paid for
+her witchcraft, and that thus she would be the gainer and not a loser in
+complying with my demands, she became calm once more.
+
+"I shall lose six sequins," said she, "but you will gladly pay double
+when I shew you what I have got; I know who you are."
+
+"Who am I?"
+
+"Giacomo Casanova, the Venetian."
+
+It was then I drew the ten sequins from my purse. The old woman was
+softened at the sight of the money, and said,
+
+"I would not have killed you outright, certainly, but I would have made
+you amorous and wretched."
+
+"Explain what you mean."
+
+"Follow me."
+
+I went after her into a closet, and was greatly amazed at sing numerous
+articles about which my common sense could tell me nothing. There were
+phials of all shapes and sizes, stones of different colours, metals,
+minerals, big nails and small nails, pincers, crucibles, misshapen
+images, and the like.
+
+"Here is the bottle," said the old woman.
+
+"What does it contain?"
+
+"Your blood and the countess's, as you will see in this letter."
+
+I understood everything then, and now I wonder I did not burst out
+laughing. But as a matter of fact my hair stood on end, as I reflected on
+the awful wickedness of which the Spaniard was capable. A cold sweat
+burst out all over my body.
+
+"What would you have done with this blood?"
+
+"I should have plastered you with it."
+
+"What do you mean by 'plastered'? I don't understand you."
+
+"I will shew you."
+
+As I trembled with fear the old woman opened a casket, a cubit long,
+containing a waxen statue of a man lying on his back. My name was written
+on it, and though it was badly moulded, my features were recognizable.
+The image bore my cross of the Order of the Golden Spur, and the
+generative organs were made of an enormous size. At this I burst into a
+fit of hysterical laughter, and had to sit down in an arm-chair till it
+was over.
+
+As soon as I had got back my breath the sorceress said,
+
+"You laugh, do you? Woe to you if I had bathed you in the bath of blood
+mingled according to my art, and more woe still if, after I had bathed
+you, I had thrown your image on a burning coal:"
+
+"Is this all?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"All the apparatus is to become mine for twelve sequins; here they are.
+And now, quick! light me a fire that I may melt this monster, and as for
+the blood I think I will throw it out of the window."
+
+This was no sooner said than done.
+
+The old woman had been afraid that I should take the bottle and the image
+home with me, and use them to her ruin; and she was delighted to see me
+melt the image. She told me that I was an angel of goodness, and begged
+me not to tell anyone of what had passed between us. I swore I would keep
+my own counsel, even with the countess.
+
+I was astonished when she calmly offered to make the countess madly in
+love with me for another twelve sequins, but I politely refused and
+advised her to abandon her fearful trade if she did not want to be burnt
+alive.
+
+I found Clairmont at his post, and I sent him home. In spite of all I had
+gone through, I was not sorry to have acquired the information, and to
+have followed the advice of the good Capuchin who really believed me to
+be in deadly peril. He had doubtless heard of it in the confessional from
+the woman who had carried the blood to the witch. Auricular confession
+often works miracles of this kind.
+
+I was determined never to let the countess suspect that I had discovered
+her criminal project, and I resolved to behave towards her so as to
+appease her anger, and to make her forget the cruel insult to which I had
+subjected her. It was lucky for me that she believed in sorcery;
+otherwise she would have had me assassinated.
+
+As soon as I got in, I chose the better of the two cloaks I had, and
+presented her with it. She accepted the gift with exquisite grace, and
+asked me why I gave it her.
+
+"I dreamt," said I, "that you were so angry with me that you were going
+to have me assassinated."
+
+She blushed, and answered that she had not gone mad. I left her absorbed
+in a sombre reverie. Nevertheless, whether she forgot and forgave, or
+whether she could hit upon no other way of taking vengeance, she was
+perfectly agreeable to me during the rest of my stay in Milan.
+
+The count came back from his estate, and said that we must really go and
+see the place at the beginning of Lent. I promised I would come, but the
+countess said she could not be of the party. I pretended to be mortified,
+but in reality her determination was an extremely pleasant one to me.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+The Masquerade--My Amour with the Fair Marchioness--The Deserted Girl; I
+Become Her Deliverer--My Departure for St. Angelo
+
+As I had engaged myself to provide an absolutely impenetrable disguise, I
+wanted to invent a costume remarkable at once for its originality and its
+richness. I tortured my brains so to speak, and my readers shall see if
+they think my invention was a good one.
+
+I wanted someone on whom I could rely, and above all, a tailor. It may be
+imagined that my worthy gossip was the tailor I immediately thought of.
+Zenobia would be as serviceable as her husband; she could do some of the
+work, and wait on the young ladies whom I was going to dress up.
+
+I talked to my gossip, and told him to take me to the best second-hand
+clothes dealer in Milan.
+
+When we got to the shop I said to the man--
+
+"I want to look at your very finest costumes, both for ladies and
+gentlemen."
+
+"Would you like something that has never been worn?"
+
+"Certainly, if you have got such a thing."
+
+"I have a very rich assortment of new clothes."
+
+"Get me, then, in the first place, a handsome velvet suit, all in one
+piece, which nobody in Milan will be able to recognize."
+
+Instead of one he shewed me a dozen such suits, all in excellent
+condition. I chose a blue velvet lined with white satin. The tailor
+conducted the bargaining, and it was laid on one side; this was for the
+pretty cousin's lover. Another suit, in smooth sulphur-coloured velvet
+throughout, I put aside for the young officer. I also took two handsome
+pairs of trousers in smooth velvet, and two superb silk vests.
+
+I then chose two dresses, one flame-coloured and the other purple, and a
+third dress in shot silk. This was for the officer's mistress. Then came
+lace shirts, two for men, and three for women, then lace handkerchiefs,
+and finally scraps of velvet, satin, shot silk, etc., all of different
+colours.
+
+I paid two hundred gold ducats for the lot, but on the condition that if
+anybody came to know that I had bought them by any indiscretion of his he
+should give me the money and take back the materials in whatever
+condition they might be in. The agreement was written out and signed, and
+I returned with the tailor, who carried the whole bundle to my rooms over
+the pastrycook's.
+
+When it was all spread out on the table I told the tailor that I would
+blow out his brains if he told anybody about it, and then taking a
+stiletto I proceeded to cut and slash the coats, vests, and trousers all
+over, to the astonishment of the tailor, who thought I must be mad to
+treat such beautiful clothes in this manner.
+
+After this operation, which makes me laugh to this day when I remember
+it, I took the scraps I had bought and said to the tailor,--
+
+"Now, 'gossip, it is your turn; I want you to sew in these pieces into
+the holes I have made, and I hope your tailoring genius will aid you to
+produce some pretty contrasts. You see that you have got your work cut
+out for you and no time to lose. I will see that your meals are properly
+served in an adjoining chamber, but you must not leave the house till the
+work is finished. I will go for your wife, who will help you, and you can
+sleep together."
+
+"For God's sake, sir! you don't want the ladies' dresses treated like the
+coats and trousers?"
+
+"Just the same."
+
+"What a pity! it will make my wife cry."
+
+"I will console her."
+
+On my way to Zenobia's I bought five pairs of white silk stockings, men's
+and women's gloves, two fine castor hats, two burlesque men's masks, and
+three graceful-looking female masks. I also bought two pretty china
+plates, and I carried them all to Zenobia's in a sedan-chair.
+
+I found that charming woman engaged in her toilet. Her beautiful tresses
+hung about her neck, and her full breast was concealed by no kerchief.
+Such charms called for my homage, and to begin with I devoured her with
+kisses. I spent half an hour with her, and my readers will guess that it
+was well employed. I then helped her to finish her toilette, and we went
+off in the sedan-chair.
+
+We found the tailor engaged in picking out the scraps and cutting them to
+fit the holes I had made. Zenobia looked on in a kind of stupor, and when
+she saw me begin to slash the dresses she turned pale and made an
+involuntary motion to stay my hand, for not knowing my intentions she
+thought I must be beside myself. Her husband had got hardened, and
+reassured her, and when she heard my explanation she became calm, though
+the idea struck her as a very odd one.
+
+When it is a question of an affair of the heart, of the passions, or of
+pleasure, a woman's fancy moves much faster than a man's. When Zenobia
+knew that these dresses were meant for three beautiful women, whom I
+wished to make a centre of attraction to the whole assembly, she improved
+on my cuts and slashes, and arranged the rents in such a manner that they
+would inspire passion without wounding modesty. The dresses were slashed
+especially at the breast, the shoulders, and the sleeves; so that the
+lace shift could be seen, and in its turn the shift was cut open here and
+there, and the sleeves were so arranged that half the arms could be seen.
+I saw sure that she understood what I wanted, and that she would keep her
+husband right; and I left them, encouraging them to work their best and
+quickest. But I looked in three or four times in the day, and was more
+satisfied every time with my idea and their execution.
+
+The work was not finished till the Saturday afternoon. I gave the tailor
+six sequins and dismissed him, but I kept Zenobia to attend on the
+ladies. I took care to place powder, pomade, combs, pins, and everything
+that a lady needs, on the table, not forgetting ribbons and pack-thread.
+
+The next day I found play going on in a very spirited manner, but the two
+cousins were not at the tables, so I went after them. They told me they
+had given up playing as Barbaro always won.
+
+"You have been losing, then?"
+
+"Yes, but my brother has won something," said the amiable Q----.
+
+"I hope luck will declare itself on your side also."
+
+"No, we are not lucky."
+
+When their aunt left the room, they asked me if the lieutenant had told
+me that a lady friend of theirs was coming to the ball with them.
+
+"I know all," I answered, "and I hope you will enjoy yourselves, but you
+will not do so more than I. I want to speak to the gallant lieutenant
+to-morrow morning."
+
+"Tell us about our disguises."
+
+"You will be disguised in such a manner that nobody will recognize you."
+
+"But how shall we be dressed?"
+
+"Very handsomely."
+
+"But what costume have you given us?"
+
+"That is my secret, ladies. However much I should like to please you, I
+shall say nothing till the time for you to dress comes round. Don't ask
+me anything more, as I have promised myself the enjoyment of your
+surprise. I am very fond of dramatic situations. You shall know all after
+supper."
+
+"Are we to have supper, then?"
+
+"Certainly, if you would like it. I am a great eater myself and I hope
+you will not let me eat alone."
+
+"Then we will have some supper to please you. We will take care not to
+eat much dinner, so as to be able to vie with you in the evening. The
+only thing I am sorry about," added Mdlle. Q----, "is that you should be
+put to such expense."
+
+"It is a pleasure; and when I leave Milan I shall console myself with the
+thought that I have supped with the two handsomest ladies in the town."
+
+"How is fortune treating you?"
+
+"Canano wins two hundred sequins from me every day."
+
+"But you won two thousand from him in one night."
+
+"You will break his bank on Sunday. We will bring you luck."
+
+"Would you like to look on?"
+
+"We should be delighted, but my brother says you don't want to go with
+us."
+
+"Quite so, the reason is that I should be recognized. But I believe the
+gentleman who will accompany you is of the same figure as myself."
+
+"Exactly the same," said the cousin; "except that he is fair."
+
+"All the better," said I, "the fair always conquer the dark with ease."
+
+"Not always," said the other. "But tell us, at any rate, whether we are
+to wear men's dresses."
+
+"Fie! fie! I should be angry with myself if I had entertained such a
+thought."
+
+"That's curious; why so?"
+
+"I'll tell you. If the disguise is complete I am disgusted, for the shape
+of a woman is much more marked than that of a man, and consequently a
+woman in man's dress, who looks like a man, cannot have a good figure."
+
+"But when a woman skews her shape well?"
+
+"Then I am angry with her for skewing too much, for I like to see the
+face and the general outlines of the form and to guess the rest."
+
+"But the imagination is often deceptive!"
+
+"Yes, but it is with the face that I always fall in love, and that never
+deceives me as far as it is concerned. Then if I have the good fortune to
+see anything more I am always in a lenient mood and disposed to pass over
+small faults. You are laughing?"
+
+"I am smiling at your impassioned arguments."
+
+"Would you like to be dressed like a man?"
+
+"I was expecting something of the kind, but after you have said we can
+make no more objections."
+
+"I can imagine what you would say; I should certainly not take you for
+men, but I will say no more."
+
+They looked at each other, and blushed and smiled as they saw my gaze
+fixed on two pre-eminences which one would never expect to see in any
+man. We began to talk of other things, and for two hours I enjoyed their
+lively and cultured conversation.
+
+When I left them I went off to my apartments, then to the opera, where I
+lost two hundred sequins, and finally supped with the countess, who had
+become quite amiable. However, she soon fell back into her old ways when
+she found that my politeness was merely external, and that I had no
+intentions whatever of troubling her in her bedroom again.
+
+On the Saturday morning the young officer came to see me, and I told him
+that there was only one thing that I wanted him to do, but that it must
+be done exactly according to my instructions. He promised to follow them
+to the letter, and I proceeded,--
+
+"You must get a carriage and four, and as soon as the five of you are in
+it tell the coachman to drive as fast as his horses can gallop out of
+Milan, and to bring you back again by another road to the house. There
+you must get down, send the carriage away, after enjoining silence on the
+coachman, and come in. After the ball you will undress in the same house,
+and then go home in sedan-chairs. Thus we shall be able to baffle the
+inquisitive, who will be pretty numerous, I warn you."
+
+"My friend the marquis will see to all that," said he, "and I promise you
+he will do it well, for he is longing to make your acquaintance."
+
+"I shall expect you, then, at seven o'clock to-morrow.
+
+"Warn your friend that it is important the coachman should not be known,
+and do not let anybody bring a servant."
+
+All these arrangements being made, I determined to disguise myself as
+Pierrot. There's no disguise more perfect; for, besides concealing the
+features and the shape of the body, it does not even let the colour of
+the skin remain recognizable. My readers may remember what happened to me
+in this disguise ten years before. I made the tailor get me a new Pierrot
+costume, which I placed with the others, and with two new purses, in each
+of which I placed five hundred sequins, I repaired to the pastrycook's
+before seven o'clock. I found the table spread, and the supper ready. I
+shut up Zenobia in the room where the ladies were to make their toilette,
+and at five minutes past seven the joyous company arrived.
+
+The marquis was delighted to make my acquaintance, and I welcomed him as
+he deserved. He was a perfect gentleman in every respect, handsome, rich,
+and young, very much in love with the pretty cousin whom he treated with
+great respect. The lieutenant's mistress was a delightful little lady and
+madly fond of her lover.
+
+As they were all aware that I did not want them to know their costumes
+till after supper, nothing was said about it, and we sat down to table.
+The supper was excellent; I had ordered it in accordance with my own
+tastes; that is to say, everything was of the best, and there was plenty
+of everything. When we had eaten and drunk well, I said,--
+
+"As I am not going to appear with you, I may as well tell you the parts
+you are to play. You are to be five beggars, two men and three women, all
+rags and tatters."
+
+The long faces they pulled at this announcement were a pleasant sight to
+see.
+
+"You will each carry a plate in your hands to solicit alms, and you must
+walk together about the ball-room as a band of mendicants. But now follow
+me and take possession of your ragged robes."
+
+Although I had much ado to refrain from laughing at the vexation and
+disappointment which appeared on all their faces, I succeeded in
+preserving my serious air. They did not seem in any kind of hurry to get
+their clothes, and I was obliged to tell them that they were keeping me
+waiting. They rose from the table and I threw the door open, and all were
+struck with Zenobia's beauty as she stood up by the table on which the
+rich though tattered robes were displayed, bowing to the company with
+much grace.
+
+"Here, ladies," said I to the cousins, "are your dresses, and here is
+yours, mademoiselle--a little smaller. Here are your shifts, your
+handkerchiefs and your stockings, and I think you will find everything
+you require on this table. Here are masks, the faces of which shew so
+poorly beside your own, and here are three plates to crave alms. If
+anybody looks as high as your garters, they will see how wretched you
+are, and the holes in the stockings will let people know that you have
+not the wherewithal to buy silk to mend them. This packthread must serve
+you for buckles, and we must take care that there are holes in your shoes
+and also in your gloves, and as everything must match, as soon as you
+have put on your chemises you must tear the lace round the neck."
+
+While I was going through this explanation I saw surprise and delight
+efface the disappointment and vexation which had been there a moment
+before. They saw what a rich disguise I had provided for them, and they
+could not find it in their hearts to say, "What a pity!"
+
+"Here, gentlemen, are your beggar-clothes. I forgot to lacerate your
+beaver hats, but that is soon done. Well, what do you think of the
+costume?"
+
+"Now, ladies, we must leave you; shut the door fast, for it is a case of
+changing your shifts. Now, gentlemen, leave the room."
+
+The marquis was enthusiastic.
+
+"What a sensation we shall create!" said he, "nothing could be better."
+
+In half an hour we were ready. The stockings in holes, the worn-out
+shoes, the lace in rags, the straggling hair, the sad masks, the notched
+plates--all made a picture of sumptuous misery hard to be described.
+
+The ladies took more time on account of their hair, which floated on
+their shoulders in fine disorder. Mdlle. Q----'s hair was especially
+fine, it extended almost to her knees.
+
+When they were ready the door was opened, and we saw everything which
+could excite desire without wounding decency. I admired Zenobia's
+adroitness. The rents in dresses and chemises disclosed parts of their
+shoulders, their breasts, and their arms, and their white legs shone
+through the holes in the stockings.
+
+I shewed them how to walk, and to sway their heads to and fro, to excite
+compassion, and yet be graceful, and how to use their handkerchiefs to
+shew people the tears in them and the fineness of the lace. They were
+delighted, and longed to be at the ball, but I wanted to be there first
+to have the pleasure of seeing them come in. I put on my mask, told
+Zenobia to go to bed, as we would not be back till daybreak, and set out
+on my way.
+
+I entered the ball-room, and as there were a score of Pierrots nobody
+noticed me. Five minutes after there was a rush to see some maskers who
+were coming in, and I stood so as to have a good view. The marquis came
+in first between the two cousins. Their slow, pitiful step matched the
+part wonderfully. Mdlle. Q---- with her flame-coloured dress, her splendid
+hair, and her fine shape, drew all eyes towards her. The astonished and
+inquisitive crowd kept silence for a quarter of an hour after they had
+come in, and then I heard on every side, "What a disguise!" "It's
+wonderful!" "Who are they?" "Who can they be?" "I don't know." "I'll find
+out."
+
+I enjoyed the results of my inventiveness.
+
+The music struck up, and three fine dominos went up to the three
+beggar-girls to ask them to dance a minuet, but they excused themselves
+by pointing to their dilapidated shoes. I was delighted; it shewed that
+they had entered into the spirit of the part.
+
+I followed them about for a quarter of an hour, and the curiosity about
+them only increased, and then I paid a visit to Canano's table, where
+play was running high. A masquer dressed in the Venetian style was
+punting on a single card, going fifty sequins paroli and paix de paroli,
+in my fashion. He lost three hundred sequins, and as he was a man of
+about the same size as myself people said it was Casanova, but Canano
+would not agree. In order that I might be able to stay at the table, I
+took up the cards and punted three or four ducats like a beginner. The
+next deal the Venetian masquer had a run of luck, and going paroli, paix
+de paroli and the va, won back all the money he had lost.
+
+The next deal was also in his favour, and he collected his winnings and
+left the table.
+
+I sat down in the chair he had occupied, and a lady said,--
+
+"That's the Chevalier de Seingalt."
+
+"No," said another. "I saw him a little while ago in the ball-room
+disguised as a beggar, with four other masquers whom nobody knows."
+
+"How do you mean, dressed as a beggar?" said Canano.
+
+"Why, in rags, and the four others, too; but in spite of that the dresses
+are splendid and the effect is very good. They are asking for alms."
+
+"They ought to be turned out," said another.
+
+I was delighted to have attained my object, for the recognition of me was
+a mere guess. I began putting sequins on one card, and I lost five or six
+times running. Canano studied me, but I saw he could not make me out. I
+heard whispers running round the table.
+
+"It isn't Seingalt; he doesn't play like that; besides, he is at the
+ball."
+
+The luck turned; three deals were in my favour, and brought me back more
+than I had lost. I continued playing with a heap of gold before me, and
+on my putting a fistfull of sequins on a card it came out, and I went
+paroli and pair de paroli. I won again, and seeing that the bank was at a
+low ebb I stopped playing. Canano paid me, and told his cashier to get a
+thousand sequins, and as he was shuffling the cards I heard a cry of,
+"Here come the beggars."
+
+The beggars came in and stood by the table, and Canano, catching the
+marquis's eye, asked him for a pinch of snuff. My delight may be imagined
+when I saw him modestly presenting a common horn snuffbox to the banker.
+I had not thought of this detail, which made everybody laugh immensely.
+Mdlle. Q---- stretched out her plate to ask an alms of Canano, who said,--
+
+"I don't pity you with that fine hair of yours, and if you like to put it
+on a card I will allow you a thousand sequins for it."
+
+She gave no answer to this polite speech, and held out her plate to me,
+and I put a handful of sequins on it, treating the other beggars in the
+same way.
+
+"Pierrot seems to like beggars," said Canano, with a smile.
+
+The three mendicants bowed gratefully to me and left the room.
+
+The Marquis Triulzi who sat near Canano, said,--
+
+"The beggar in the straw-coloured dress is certainly Casanova."
+
+"I recognized him directly," replied the banker, "but who are the
+others?"
+
+"We shall find out in due time."
+
+"A dearer costume could not be imagined; all the dresses are quite new."
+
+The thousand sequins came in, and I carried them all off in two deals.
+
+"Would you like to go on playing?" said Canano.
+
+I shook my head, and indicating with a sign of my hand that I would take
+a cheque, he weighed my winnings and gave me a cheque for twenty-nine
+pounds of gold, amounting to two thousand, five hundred sequins. I put
+away the cheque, and after shaking him by the hand, I got up and rolled
+away in true Pierrot fashion, and after making the tour of the ball-room
+I went to a box on the third tier of which I had given the key to the
+young officer, and there I found my beggars.
+
+We took off our masks and congratulated each other on our success, and
+told our adventures. We had nothing to fear from inquisitive eyes, for
+the boxes on each side of us were empty. I had taken them myself, and the
+keys were in my pocket.
+
+The fair beggars talked of returning me the alms I had given them, but I
+replied in such a way that they said no more about it.
+
+"I am taken for you, sir," said the marquis, "and it may cause some
+annoyance to our fair friends here."
+
+"I have foreseen that," I replied, "and I shall unmask before the end of
+the ball. This will falsify all suppositions, and nobody will succeed in
+identifying you."
+
+"Our pockets are full of sweetmeats," said Mdlle. Q----. "Everybody
+wanted to fill our plates."
+
+"Yes," said the cousin, "everybody admired us; the ladies came down from
+their boxes to have a closer view of us, and everyone said that no richer
+disguise could be imagined."
+
+"You have enjoyed yourselves, then?"
+
+"Yes, indeed."
+
+"And I too. I feel quite boastful at having invented a costume which has
+drawn all eyes upon you, and yet has concealed your identity."
+
+"You have made us all happy," said the lieutenant's little mistress. "I
+never thought I should have such a pleasant evening."
+
+"Finis coronat opus," I replied, "and I hope the end will be even better
+than the beginning."
+
+So saying I gave my sweetheart's hand a gentle pressure, and whether she
+understood me or not I felt her hand tremble in mine.
+
+"We will go down now," said she.
+
+"So will I, for I want to dance, and I am sure I shall make you laugh as
+Pierrot."
+
+"Do you know how much money you gave each of us?"
+
+"I cannot say precisely, but I believe I gave each an equal share."
+
+"That is so. I think it is wonderful how you could do it."
+
+"I have done it a thousand times. When I lose a paroli of ten sequins I
+put three fingers into my purse, and am certain to bring up thirty
+sequins. I would bet I gave you each from thirty-eight to forty sequins."
+
+"Forty exactly. It's wonderful. We shall remember this masqued ball."
+
+"I don't think anybody will imitate us," said the marquis.
+
+"No," said the cousin, "and we would not dare to wear the same dresses
+again."
+
+We put on our masks, and I was the first to go out. After numerous little
+jocularities with the harlequins, especially the female ones, I
+recognized Therese in a domino, and walking up to her as awkwardly as I
+could I asked her to dance with me.
+
+"You are the Pierrot who broke the bank?" she said.
+
+I answered the question in the affirmative by a nod.
+
+I danced like a madman, always on the point of falling to the ground and
+never actually doing so.
+
+When the dance was over, I offered her my arm and took her back to her
+box, where Greppi was sitting by himself. She let me come in, and their
+surprise was great when I took off my mask. They had thought I was one of
+the beggars. I gave M. Greppi Canano's cheque, and as soon as he had
+handed me an acknowledgment I went down to the ball-room again with my
+mask off, much to the astonishment of the inquisitive, who had made sure
+that the marquis was I.
+
+Towards the end of the ball I went away in a sedan-chair, which I stopped
+near the door of an hotel, and a little further on I took another which
+brought me to the door of the pastry-cook's. I found Zenobia in bed. She
+said she was sure I would come back by myself. I undressed as quickly as
+I could, and got into bed with this Venus of a woman. She was absolute
+perfection. I am sure that if Praxiteles had had her for a model, he
+would not have required several Greek beauties from which to compose his
+Venus. What a pity that such an exquisite figure should be the property
+of a sorry tailor.
+
+I stripped her naked, and after due contemplation I made her feel how
+much I loved her. She was pleased with my admiration, and gave me back as
+much as she got. I had her entirely to myself for the first time. When we
+heard the trot of four horses we rose and put on our clothes in a
+twinkling.
+
+When the charming beggars came in, I told them that I should be able to
+help in their toilette as they had not to change their chemises, and they
+did not make many objections.
+
+My gaze was fixed all the while on Mdlle. Q----. I admired her charms,
+and I was delighted to see that she was not miserly in their display.
+After Zenobia had done her hair she left her to me, and went to attend on
+the others. She allowed me to put on her dress, and did not forbid my
+eyes wandering towards a large rent in her chemise, which let me see
+almost the whole of one of her beautiful breasts.
+
+"What are you going to do with this chemise?"
+
+"You will laugh at our silliness. We have determined to keep everything
+as a memorial of the splendid evening we have had. My brother will bring
+it all to the house. Are you coming to see us this evening?"
+
+"If I were wise I should avoid you."
+
+"And if I were wise I shouldn't ask you to come."
+
+"That is fairly answered! Of course I will come; but before we part may I
+ask one kiss?"
+
+"Say two."
+
+Her brother and the marquis left the room, and two sedan-chairs I had
+summoned took off the cousins.
+
+As soon as the marquis was alone with me he asked me very politely to let
+him share in the expenses.
+
+"I guessed you were going to humiliate me."
+
+"Such was not my intention, and I do not insist; but then you know I
+shall be humiliated."
+
+"Not at all; I reckon on your good sense. It really costs me nothing.
+Besides, I give you my word to let you pay for all the parties of
+pleasure we enjoy together during the carnival. We will sup here when you
+like; you shall invite the company, and I will leave you to pay the
+bill."
+
+"That arrangement will suit me admirably. We must be friends. I leave you
+with this charming attendant. I did not think that such a beauty could
+exist in Milan unknown to all but you."
+
+"She is a townswoman, who knows how to keep a secret. Do you not?"
+
+"I would rather die than tell anyone that this gentleman is the Marquis
+of F----."
+
+"That's right; always keep your word, and take this trifle as a souvenir
+of me."
+
+It was a pretty ring, which Zenobia received with much grace; it might be
+worth about fifty sequins.
+
+When the marquis was gone, Zenobia undressed me and did my hair for the
+night, and as I got into bed I gave her twenty-four sequins, and told her
+she might go and comfort her husband.
+
+"He won't be uneasy," said she, "he is a philosopher."
+
+"He need be with such a pretty wife. Kiss me again, Zenobia, and then we
+must part."
+
+She threw herself upon me, covering me with kisses, and calling me her
+happiness and her providence. Her fiery kisses produced their natural
+effect, and after I had given her a fresh proof of the power of her
+charms, she left me and I went to sleep.
+
+It was two o'clock when I awoke ravenously hungry. I had an excellent
+dinner, and then I dressed to call on the charming Mdlle. Q----, whom I
+did not expect to find too hard on me, after what she had said. Everybody
+was playing cards with the exception of herself. She was standing by a
+window reading so attentively that she did not hear me come into the
+room, but when she saw me near her, she blushed, shut up the book, and
+put it in her pocket.
+
+"I will not betray you," said I, "or tell anyone that I surprised you
+reading a prayer-book."
+
+"No, don't; for my reputation would be gone if I were thought to be a
+devotee."
+
+"Has there been any talk of the masqued ball or of the mysterious
+masquers?"
+
+"People talk of nothing else, and condole with us for not having been to
+the ball, but no one can guess who the beggars were. It seems that an
+unknown carriage and four that sped like the wind took them as far as the
+first stage, and where they went next God alone knows! It is said that my
+hair was false, and I have longed to let it down and thus give them the
+lie. It is also said that you must know who the beggars were, as you
+loaded them with ducats."
+
+"One must let people say and believe what they like and not betray
+ourselves."
+
+"You are right; and after all we had a delightful evening. If you acquit
+yourself of all commissions in the same way, you must be a wonderful
+man."
+
+"But it is only you who could give me such a commission."
+
+"I to-day, and another to-morrow."
+
+"I see you think I am inconstant, but believe me if I find favour in your
+eyes your face will ever dwell in my memory."
+
+"I am certain you have told a thousand girls the same story, and after
+they have admitted you to their favour you have despised them."
+
+"Pray do not use the word 'despise,' or I shall suppose you think me a
+monster. Beauty seduces me. I aspire to its possession, and it is only
+when it is given me from other motives than love that I despise it. How
+should I despise one who loved me? I should first be compelled to despise
+myself. You are beautiful and I worship you, but you are mistaken if you
+think that I should be content for you to surrender yourself to me out of
+mere kindness."
+
+"Ah! I see it is my heart you want."
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"To make me wretched at the end of a fortnight."
+
+"To love you till death, and to obey your slightest wishes."
+
+"My slightest wishes?"
+
+"Yes, for to me they would be inviolable laws."
+
+"Would you settle in Milan?"
+
+"Certainly, if you made that a condition of my happiness."
+
+"What amuses me in all this is that you are deceiving me without knowing
+it, if indeed you really love me."
+
+"Deceiving you without knowing it! That is something new. If I am not
+aware of it, I am innocent of deceit."
+
+"I am willing to admit your innocency, but you are deceiving me none the
+less, for after you had ceased to love me no power of yours could bring
+love back again."
+
+"That, of course, might happen, but I don't choose to entertain such
+unpleasant thoughts; I prefer to think of myself as loving you to all
+eternity. It is certain at all events that no other woman in Milan has
+attracted me."
+
+"Not the pretty girl who waited on us, and whose arms you have possibly
+left an hour or, two ago?"
+
+"What are you saying? She is the wife of the tailor who made your
+clothes. She left directly after you, and her husband would not have
+allowed her to come at all if he was not aware that she would be wanted
+to wait on the ladies whose dresses he had made."
+
+"She is wonderfully pretty. Is it possible that you are not in love with
+her?"
+
+"How could one love a woman who is at the disposal of a low, ugly fellow?
+The only pleasure she gave me was by talking of you this morning."
+
+"Of me?"
+
+"Yes. You will excuse me if I confess to having asked her which of the
+ladies she waited on looked handsomest without her chemise."
+
+"That was a libertine's question. Well, what did she say?"
+
+"That the lady with the beautiful hair was perfect in every respect."
+
+"I don't believe a word of it. I have learnt how to change my chemise
+with decency, and so as not to shew anything I might not shew a man. She
+only wished to flatter your impertinent curiosity. If I had a maid like
+that, she should soon go about her business."
+
+"You are angry with me."
+
+"No."
+
+"It's no good saying no, your soul flashed forth in your denunciation. I
+am sorry to have spoken."
+
+"Oh! it's of no consequence. I know men ask chambermaids questions of
+that kind, and they all give answers like your sweetheart, who perhaps
+wanted to make you curious about herself."
+
+"But how could she hope to do that by extolling your charms above those
+of the other ladies? And, how could she know that I preferred you?"
+
+"If she did not know it, I have made a mistake; but for all that, she
+lied to you."
+
+"She may have invented the tale, but I do not think she lied. You are
+smiling again! I am delighted."
+
+"I like to let you believe what pleases you."
+
+"Then you will allow me to believe that you do not hate me."
+
+"Hate you? What an ugly word! If I hated you, should I see you at all?
+But let's talk of something else. I want you to do me a favour. Here are
+two sequins; I want you to put them on an 'ambe' in the lottery. You can
+bring me the ticket when you call again, or still better, you can send it
+me, but don't tell anybody."
+
+"You shall have the ticket without fail, but why should I not bring it?"
+
+"Because, perhaps, you are tired of coming to see me."
+
+"Do I look like that? If so I am very unfortunate. But what numbers will
+you have?"
+
+"Three and forty; you gave them me yourself."
+
+"How did I give them you?"
+
+"You put your hand three times on the board, and took up forty sequins
+each time. I am superstitious, and you will laugh at me, I daresay, but
+it seems to me that you must have come to Milan to make me happy."
+
+"Now you make me happy indeed. You say you are superstitious, but if
+these numbers don't win you mustn't draw the conclusion that I don't love
+you; that would be a dreadful fallacy."
+
+"I am not superstitious as all that, nor so vile a logician."
+
+"Do you believe I love you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"May I tell you so a hundred times?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And prove it in every way?"
+
+"I must enquire into your methods before I consent to that, for it is
+possible that what you would call a very efficacious method might strike
+me as quite useless."
+
+"I see you are going to make me sigh after you for a long time."
+
+"As long as I can."
+
+"And when you have no strength left?"
+
+"I will surrender. Does that satisfy you?"
+
+"Certainly, but I shall exert all my strength to abate yours."
+
+"Do so; I shall like it."
+
+"And will you help me to succeed?"
+
+"Perhaps."
+
+"Ah, dear marchioness; you need only speak to make a man happy. You have
+made me really so, and I am leaving you full of ardour."
+
+On leaving this charming conversationalist I went to the theatre and then
+to the faro-table, where I saw the masquer who had won three hundred
+sequins the evening before. This night he was very unlucky. He had lost
+two thousand sequins, and in the course of the next hour his losses had
+doubled. Canano threw down his cards and rose, saying, "That will do."
+The masquer left the table. He was a Genoese named Spinola.
+
+"The bank is prosperous," I remarked to Canano.
+
+"Yes," he replied, "but it is not always so. Pierrot was very lucky the
+other night."
+
+"You did not recognize me in the least?"
+
+"No, I was so firmly persuaded that the beggar was you. You know who he
+is?"
+
+"I haven't an idea. I never saw him before that day." In this last
+particular I did not lie.
+
+"It is said that they are Venetians, and that they went to Bergamo."
+
+"It may be so, but I know nothing about them. I left the ball before they
+did."
+
+In the evening I supped with the countess, her husband, and Triulzi. They
+were of the same opinion as Canano. Triulzi said that I had let the cat
+out of the bag by giving the beggars handfuls of sequins.
+
+"That is a mistake," I answered. "When the luck is in my favour I never
+refuse anyone who asks me for money, for I have a superstition that I
+should lose if I did. I had won thirty pounds weight of gold, and I could
+afford to let fools talk."
+
+The next day I got the lottery ticket and took it to the marchioness. I
+felt madly in love with her because I knew she was in love with me.
+Neither of them were playing, and I spent two hours in their company,
+talking of love all the while and enjoying their conversation immensely,
+for they were exceedingly intelligent. I left them with the conviction
+that if the cousin, and not Mdlle. Q----, had been thrown in my way, I
+should have fallen in love with her in just the same manner.
+
+Although the carnival is four days longer at Milan than at any other
+town, it was now drawing to a close. There were three more balls. I
+played every day, and every day I lost two or three hundred sequins. My
+prudence caused even more surprise than my bad fortune. I went every day
+to the fair cousins and made love, but I was still at the same point; I
+hoped, but could get nothing tangible. The fair marchioness sometimes
+gave me a kiss, but this was not enough for me. It is true that so far I
+had not dared to ask her to meet me alone. As it was I felt my love might
+die for want of food, and three days before the ball I asked her if she,
+her two friends, the marquis, and the lieutenant, would come and sup with
+me.
+
+"My brother," she said, "will call on you to-morrow to see what can be
+arranged."
+
+This was a good omen. The next day the lieutenant came. I had just
+received the drawings at the lottery, and what was my surprise and
+delight to see the two numbers three and forty. I said nothing to the
+young marquis, as his sister had forbidden me, but I foresaw that this
+event would be favourable to my suit.
+
+"The Marquis of F----," said the worthy ambassador, "asks you to supper
+in your own rooms with all the band of beggars. He wishes to give us a
+surprise, and would be obliged if you would lend him the room to have a
+set of disguises made, and to ensure secrecy he wants you to let have the
+same waiting-maid."
+
+"With pleasure; tell the marquis that all shall be according to his
+pleasure."
+
+"Get the girl to come there at three o'clock to-day, and let the
+pastry-cook know that the marquis has full powers to do what he likes in
+the place."
+
+"Everything shall be done as you suggest."
+
+I guessed at once that the marquis wanted to have a taste of Zenobia; but
+this seemed to me so natural that, far from being angry, I felt disposed
+to do all in my power to favour his plans. Live and let live has always
+been my maxim, and it will be so to my dying day, though now I do but
+live a life of memories.
+
+As soon as I was dressed I went out, and having told the pastrycook to
+consider the gentleman who was coming as myself, I called on the tailor,
+who was delighted at my getting his wife work. He knew by experience that
+she was none the worse for these little absences.
+
+"I don't want you," said I to the tailor, "as it is only women's dresses
+that have to be done. My good gossip here will be sufficient."
+
+"At three o'clock she may go, and I shall not expect to see her again for
+three days."
+
+After I had dined I called as usual on the fair marchioness, and found
+her in a transport of delight. Her lottery ticket had got her five
+hundred sequins.
+
+"And that makes you happy, does it?" said I.
+
+"It does, not because of the gain in money, though I am by no means rich,
+but for the beauty of the idea and for the thought that I owe it all to
+you. These two things speak volumes in your favour."
+
+"What do they say?"
+
+"That you deserve to be loved."
+
+"And also that you love me?"
+
+"No, but my heart tells me as much."
+
+"You make me happy, but does not your heart also tell you that you should
+prove your love?"
+
+"Dearest, can you doubt it?"
+
+With these words she gave me her hand to kiss for the first time.
+
+"My first idea," she added, "was to put the whole forty sequins on the
+'ambe'."
+
+"You hadn't sufficient courage?"
+
+"It wasn't that, I felt ashamed to do it. I was afraid that you might
+have a thought you would not tell me of--namely, that if I gave you the
+forty sequins to risk on the lottery, you would think I despised your
+present. This would have been wrong, and if you had encouraged me I
+should have risked all the money."
+
+"I am so sorry not to have thought of it. You would have had ten thousand
+sequins, and I should be a happy man."
+
+"We will say no more about it."
+
+"Your brother tells me that we are going to the masqued ball under the
+direction of the marquis, and I leave you to imagine how glad I feel at
+the thought of spending a whole night with you. But one thought troubles
+me."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"I am afraid it will not go off so well as before."
+
+"Don't be afraid, the marquis is a man of much ingenuity, and loves my
+cousin's honour as herself. He is sure to get us disguises in which we
+shall not be recognized."
+
+"I hope so. He wants to pay for everything, including the supper."
+
+"He cannot do better than imitate your example in that respect."
+
+On the evening of the ball I went at an early hour to the pastry-cook's,
+where I found the marquis well pleased with the progress that had been
+made. The dressing room was shut. I asked him in a suggestive manner if
+he was satisfied with Zenobia.
+
+"Yes, with her work," he answered; "I did not ask her to do anything else
+for me."
+
+"Oh! of course I believe it, but I am afraid your sweetheart will be
+rather sceptical."
+
+"She knows that I cannot love anyone besides herself."
+
+"Well, well, we will say no more about it."
+
+When the guests came the marquis said that as the costumes would amuse us
+we had better put them on before supper.
+
+We followed him into the next room, and he pointed out two thick bundles.
+
+"Here, ladies, are your disguises," said he; "and here is your maid who
+will help you while we dress in another room."
+
+He took the larger of the two bundles, and when we were shut up in our
+room he undid the string, and gave us our dresses, saying,--
+
+"Let us be as quick as we can."
+
+We burst out laughing to see a set of women's clothes. Nothing was
+wanting, chemises, embroidered shoes with high heels, superb garters,
+and, to relieve us of the trouble of having our hair done, exquisite caps
+with rich lace coming over the forehead. I was surprised to find that my
+shoes fitted me perfectly, but I heard afterwards that he employed the
+same bootmaker as I did. Corsets, petticoats, gowns, kerchief, fans,
+work-bags, rouge-boxes, masks, gloves-all were there. We only helped each
+other with our hair, but when it was done we looked intensely stupid,
+with the exception of the young officer, who really might have been taken
+for a pretty woman; he had concealed his deficiency in feminine
+characteristics by false breasts and a bustle.
+
+We took off our breeches one after the other.
+
+"Your fine garters," said I, to the marquis, "make me want to wear some
+too."
+
+"Exactly," said the marquis; "but the worst of it is nobody will take the
+trouble to find out whether we have garters or not, for two young ladies
+five feet ten in height will not inspire very ardent desires."
+
+I had guessed that the girls would be dressed like men, and I was not
+mistaken. They were ready before us, and when we opened the door we saw
+them standing with their backs to the fireplace.
+
+They looked three young pages minus their impudence, for though they
+endeavoured to seem quite at their ease they were rather confused.
+
+We advanced with the modesty of the fair sex, and imitating the air of
+shy reserve which the part demanded. The girls of course thought
+themselves obliged to mimic the airs of men, and they did not accost us
+like young men accustomed to behave respectfully to ladies. They were
+dressed as running footmen, with tight breeches, well-fitting waistcoats,
+open throats, garters with a silver fringe, laced waistbands, and pretty
+caps trimmed with silver lace, and a coat of arms emblazoned in gold.
+Their lace shirts were ornamented with an immense frill of Alencon point.
+In this dress, which displayed their beautiful shapes under a veil which
+was almost transparent, they would have stirred the sense of a paralytic,
+and we had no symptoms of that disease. However, we loved them too well
+to frighten them.
+
+After the silly remarks usual on such occasions had been passed, we began
+to talk naturally while we were waiting for supper. The ladies said that
+as this was the first time they had dressed as men they were afraid of
+being recognized.
+
+"Supposing somebody knew us," cried the cousin, "we should be undone!"
+
+They were right; but our part was to reassure them, though I at any rate
+would have preferred to stay where we were. We sat down to supper, each
+next to his sweetheart, and to my surprise the lieutenant's mistress was
+the first to begin the fun. Thinking that she could not pretend to be a
+man without being impudent, she began to toy with the lady-lieutenant,
+who defended himself like a prudish miss. The two cousins, not to be
+outdone, began to caress us in a manner that was rather free. Zenobia,
+who was waiting on us at table could not help laughing when Mdlle.
+Q---reproached her for having made my dress too tight in the neck. She
+stretched out her hand as if to toy with me, whereupon I gave her a
+slight box on the ear, and imitating the manner of a repentant cavalier
+she kissed my hand and begged my pardon.
+
+The marquis said he felt cold, and his mistress asked him if he had his
+breeches on, and put her hand under his dress to see, but she speedily
+drew it back with a blush. We all burst out laughing, and she joined in,
+and proceeded with her part of hardy lover.
+
+The supper was admirable; everything was choice and abundant. Warm with
+love and wine, we rose from the table at which we had been for two hours,
+but as we got up sadness disfigured the faces of the two pretty cousins.
+They did not dare to go to the ball in a costume that would put them at
+the mercy of all the libertines there. The marquis and I felt that they
+were right.
+
+"We must make up our minds," said the lieutenant, "shall we go to the
+ball or go home?"
+
+"Neither," said the marquis, "we will dance here."
+
+"Where are the violins" asked his mistress, "you could not get them
+to-night for their weight in gold."
+
+"Well," said I, "we will do without them. We will have some punch, laugh,
+and be merry, and we shall enjoy ourselves better than at the ball, and
+when we are tired we can go to sleep. We have three beds here."
+
+"Two would be enough," said the cousin.
+
+"True, but we can't have too much of a good thing."
+
+Zenobia had gone to sup with the pastrycook's wife, but she was ready to
+come up again when she should be summoned.
+
+After two hours spent in amorous trifling, the lieutenant's mistress,
+feeling a little dizzy, went into an adjoining room and lay down on the
+bed. Her lover was soon beside her.
+
+Mdlle. Q----, who was in the same case, told me that she would like to
+rest, so I took her into a room where she could sleep the night, and
+advised her to do so.
+
+"I don't think I need fear its going any farther," I said, "we will leave
+the marquis with your cousin then, and I will watch over you while you
+sleep."
+
+"No, no, you shall sleep too." So saying, she went into the
+dressing-room, and asked me to get her cloak. I brought it to her, and
+when she came in she said,--
+
+"I breathe again. Those dreadful trousers were too tight; they hurt me."
+She threw herself on the bed, with nothing on besides her cloak.
+
+"Where did the breeches hurt you?" said I.
+
+"I can't tell you, but I should think you must find them dreadfully
+uncomfortable."
+
+"But, dearest, our anatomy is different, and breeches do not trouble us
+at all where they hurt you."
+
+As I spoke I held her to my breast and let myself fall gently beside her
+on the bed. We remained thus a quarter of an hour without speaking, our
+lips glued together in one long kiss. I left her a moment by herself, and
+when I returned she was between the sheets. She said she had undressed to
+be able to sleep better, and, shutting her eyes, turned away. I knew that
+the happy hour had come, and taking off my woman's clothes in a
+twinkling, I gently glided into the bed beside her, for the last
+struggles of modesty must be tenderly respected. I clasped her in my arms
+and a gentle pressure soon aroused her passions, and turning towards me
+she surrendered to me all her charms.
+
+After the first sacrifice I proposed a wash, for though I could not
+exactly flatter myself that I had been the first to break open the lock,
+the victim had left some traces on the bed, which looked as if it were
+so. The offer was received with delight, and when the operation was over
+she allowed me to gaze on all her charms, which I covered with kisses.
+Growing bolder, she made me grant her the same privilege.
+
+"What a difference there is," said she, "between nature and art!"
+
+"But of course you think that art is the better?"
+
+"No, certainly not."
+
+"But there may be imperfections in nature, whereas art is perfect."
+
+"I do not know whether there be any imperfection in what I behold, but I
+do know that I have never seen anything so beautiful."
+
+In fact she had the instrument of love before her eyes in all its
+majesty, and I soon made her feel its power. She did not remain still a
+moment, and I have known few women so ardent and flexible in their
+movements.
+
+"If we were wise," said she, "instead of going to the ball again we would
+come here and enjoy ourselves."
+
+I kissed the mouth which told me so plainly that I was to be happy, and I
+convinced her by my transports that no man could love her as ardently as
+I did. I had no need to keep her awake, she shewed no inclination for
+sleep. We were either in action or contemplation, or engaged in amorous
+discourse, the whole time. I cheated her now and then, but to her own
+advantage, for a young woman is always more vigorous than a man, and we
+did not stop till the day began to break. There was no need for
+concealment, for each had enjoyed his sweetheart in peace and happiness,
+and it was only modesty which silenced our congratulations. By this
+silence we did not proclaim our happiness, but neither did we deny it.
+
+When we were ready I thanked the marquis, and asked him to supper for the
+next ball night without any pretence of our going to the masquerade, if
+the ladies had no objection. The lieutenant answered for them in the
+affirmative, and his mistress threw her arms round his neck, reproaching
+him for having slept all night. The marquis confessed to the same fault,
+and I repeated the words like an article of faith, while the ladies
+kissed us, and thanked us for our kindness to them. We parted in the same
+way as before, except that this time the marquis remained with Zenobia.
+
+I went to bed as soon as I got home, and slept till three o'clock. When I
+got up I found the house was empty, so I went to dine at the
+pastry-cook's, where I found Zenobia and her husband, who had come to
+enjoy the leavings of our supper. He told me that I had made his fortune,
+as the marquis had given his wife twenty-four sequins and the woman's
+dress he had worn. I gave her mine as well. I told my gossip that I
+should like some dinner, and the tailor went away in a grateful mood.
+
+As soon as I was alone with Zenobia I asked her if she were satisfied
+with the marquis.
+
+"He paid me well," she answered, a slight blush mounting on her cheeks.
+
+"That is enough," said I, "no one can see you without loving you, or love
+you without desiring to possess your charms."
+
+"The marquis did not go so far as that."
+
+"It may be so, but I am surprised to hear it."
+
+When I had dined, I hastened to call on the fair marchioness, whom I
+loved more than ever after the delicious night she had given me. I wanted
+to see what effect she would have on me, after making me so happy. She
+looked prettier than ever. She received me in a way becoming in a
+mistress who is glad to have acquired some rights over her lover.
+
+"I was sure," said she, "that you would come and see me;" and though her
+cousin was there she kissed me so often and so ardently that there was no
+room for doubt as to the manner in which we had spent our night together.
+I passed five hours with her, which went by all too quickly, for we
+talked of love, and love is an inexhaustible subject. This five hours'
+visit on the day after our bridal shewed me that I was madly in love with
+my new conquest, while it must have convinced her that I was worthy of
+her affection.
+
+Countess A---- B---- had sent me a note asking me to sup with her, her
+husband, and the Marquis Triulzi, and other friends. This engagement
+prevented my paying a visit to Canano, who had won a thousand sequins of
+me since my great victory as Pierrot. I knew that he boasted that he was
+sure of me, but in my own mind I had determined to gain the mastery. At
+supper the countess waged war on me. I slept out at night. I was rarely
+visible. She tried hard to steal my secret from me, and to get some
+information as to my amorous adventures. It was known that I sometimes
+supped at Therese's with Greppi, who was laughed at because he had been
+silly enough to say that he had nothing to dread from my power. The
+better to conceal my game, I said he was quite right.
+
+The next day Barbaro, who was as honest as most professional sharpers
+are, brought me the two hundred sequins I had lent him, with a profit of
+two hundred more. He told me that he had had a slight difference with the
+lieutenant, and was not going to play any more. I thanked him for having
+presented me to the fair marchioness, telling him that I was quite in
+love with her and in hopes of overcoming her scruples. He smiled, and
+praised my discretion, letting me understand that I did not take him in;
+but it was enough for me not to confess to anything.
+
+About three o'clock I called on my sweetheart, and spent five hours with
+her as before. As Barbaro was not playing, the servants had been ordered
+to say that no one was at home. As I was the declared lover of the
+marchioness, her cousin treated me as an intimate friend. She begged me
+to stay at Milan as long as possible, not only to make her cousin happy,
+but for her sake as well, since without me she could not enjoy the
+marquis's society in private, and while her father was alive he would
+never dare to come openly to the house. She thought she would certainly
+become his wife as soon as her old father was dead, but she hoped vainly,
+for soon after the marquis fell into evil ways and was ruined.
+
+Next evening we all assembled at supper, and instead of going to the ball
+gave ourselves up to pleasure. We spent a delicious night, but it was
+saddened by the reflection that the carnival was drawing to a close, and
+with it our mutual pleasures would be over.
+
+On the eve of Shrove Tuesday as there was no ball I sat down to play, and
+not being able once to hit on three winning cards, I lost all the gold I
+had about me. I should have left the table as usual if a woman disguised
+as a man had not given me a card, and urged me by signs to play it. I
+risked a hundred sequins on it, giving my word for the payment. I lost,
+and in my endeavours to get back my money I lost a thousand sequins,
+which I paid the next day.
+
+I was just going out to console myself with the company of my dear
+marchioness, when I saw the evil-omened masquer approaching, accompanied
+by a man, also in disguise, who shook me by the hand and begged me to
+come at ten o'clock to the "Three Kings" at such a number, if the honour
+of an old friend was dear to me.
+
+"What friend is that?"
+
+"Myself."
+
+"What is your name?"
+
+"I cannot tell you."
+
+"Then you need not tell me to come, for if you were a true friend of mine
+you would tell me your name."
+
+I went out and he followed me, begging me to come with him to the end of
+the arcades. When we got there he took off his mask, and I recognized
+Croce, whom my readers may remember.
+
+I knew he was banished from Milan, and understood why he did not care to
+give his name in public, but I was exceedingly glad I had refused to go
+to his inn.
+
+"I am surprised to see you here," said I.
+
+"I dare say your are. I have come here in this carnival season, when one
+can wear a mask, to compel my relations to give me what they owe me; but
+they put me off from one day to another, as they are sure I shall be
+obliged to go when Lent begins."
+
+"And will you do so?"
+
+"I shall be obliged to, but as you will not come and see me, give me
+twenty sequins, which will enable me to leave Milan. My cousin owes me
+ten thousand livres, and will not pay me a tenth even. I will kill him
+before I go."
+
+"I haven't a farthing, and that mask of yours has made me lose a thousand
+sequins, which I do not know how to pay.
+
+"I know. I am an unlucky man, and bring bad luck to all my friends. It
+was I who told her to give you a card, in the hope that it would change
+the run against you."
+
+"Is she a Milanese girl?"
+
+"No, she comes from Marseilles, and is the daughter of a rich agent. I
+fell in love with her, seduced her, and carried her off to her
+unhappiness. I had plenty of money then, but, wretch that I am, I lost it
+all at Genoa, where I had to sell all my possessions to enable me to come
+here. I have been a week in Milan. Pray give me the wherewithal to
+escape."
+
+I was touched with compassion, and I borrowed twenty sequins from Canano,
+and gave them to the poor wretch, telling him to write to me.
+
+This alms-giving did me good; it made me forget my losses, and I spent a
+delightful evening with the marchioness.
+
+The next day we supped together at my rooms, and spent the rest of the
+night in amorous pleasures. It was the Saturday, the last day of the
+carnival at Milan, and I spent the whole of the Sunday in bed, for the
+marchioness had exhausted me, and I knew that a long sleep would restore
+my strength.
+
+Early on Monday morning Clairmont brought me a letter which had been left
+by a servant. It had no signature, and ran as follows:
+
+"Have compassion, sir, on the most wretched creature breathing. M. de la
+Croix has gone away in despair. He has left me here in the inn, where he
+has paid for nothing. Good God! what will become of me? I conjure you to
+come and see me, be it only to give me your advice."
+
+I did not hesitate for a moment, and it was not from any impulses of love
+or profligacy that I went, but from pure compassion. I put on my great
+coat, and in the same room in which I had seen Irene I saw a young and
+pretty girl, about whose face there was something peculiarly noble and
+attractive. I saw in her innocence and modesty oppressed and persecuted.
+As soon as I came in she humbly apologized for having dared to trouble
+me, and she asked me to tell a woman who was in the room to leave it, as
+she did not speak Italian.
+
+"She has been tiring me for more than an hour. I cannot understand what
+she says, but I can make out that she wants to do me a service. However,
+I do not feel inclined to accept her assistance."
+
+"Who told you to come and see this young lady?" said I, to the woman.
+
+"One of the servants of the inn told me that a young lady from foreign
+parts had been left alone here, and that she was much to be pitied. My
+feelings of humanity made me come and see if I could be useful to her;
+but I see she is in good hands, and I am very glad of it for her sake,
+poor dear!"
+
+I saw that the woman was a procuress, and I only replied with a smile of
+contempt.
+
+The poor girl then told me briefly what I had already heard, and added
+that Croce, who called himself De St. Croix, had gone to the gaming-table
+as soon as he had got my twenty sequins, and that he had then taken her
+back to the inn, where he had spent the next day in a state of despair,
+as he did not dare to shew himself abroad in the daytime. In the evening
+he put on his mask and went out, not returning till the next morning.
+
+"Soon after he put on his great coat and got ready to go out, telling me
+that if he did not return he would communicate with me by you, at the
+same time giving me your address, of which I have made use as you know.
+He has not come back, and if you have not seen him I am sure he has gone
+off on foot without a penny in his pocket. The landlord wants to be paid,
+and by selling all I have I could satisfy his claims; but, good God! what
+is to become of me, then?"
+
+"Dare you return to your father?"
+
+"Yes, sir, I dare return to him. He will forgive me when on my knees and
+with tears in my eyes I tell him that I am ready to bury myself in a
+nunnery."
+
+"Very good! then I will take you to Marseilles myself, and in the
+meanwhile I will find you a lodging with some honest people. Till then,
+shut yourself up in your room, do not admit anyone to see you, and be
+sure I will have a care for you."
+
+I summoned the landlord and paid the bill, which was a very small one,
+and I told him to take care of the lady till my return. The poor girl was
+dumb with surprise and gratitude. I said good-bye kindly and left her
+without even taking her hand. It was not altogether a case of the devil
+turning monk; I always had a respect for distress.
+
+I had already thought of Zenobia in connection with the poor girl's
+lodging, and I went to see her on the spot. In her husband's presence I
+told her what I wanted, and asked if she could find a corner for my new
+friend.
+
+"She shall have my place," cried the worthy tailor, "if she won't mind
+sleeping with my wife. I will hire a small room hard bye, and will sleep
+there as long as the young lady stays."
+
+"That's a good idea, gossip, but your wife will lose by the exchange."
+
+"Not much," said Zenobia; and the tailor burst out laughing.
+
+"As for her meals," he added, "she must arrange that herself."
+
+"That's a very simple matter," said I, "Zenobia will get them and I will
+pay for them."
+
+I wrote the girl a short note, telling her of the arrangements I had
+made, and charged Zenobia to take her the letter. The next day I found
+her in the poor lodging with these worthy folks, looking pleased and
+ravishingly pretty. I felt that I could behave well for the present, but
+I sighed at the thought of the journey. I should have to put a strong
+restraint on myself.
+
+I had nothing more to do at Milan, but the count had made me promise to
+spend a fortnight at St. Angelo. This was an estate belonging to him,
+fifteen miles from Milan, and the count spoke most enthusiastically of
+it. If I had gone away without seeing St. Angelo, he would have been
+exceedingly mortified. A married brother of his lived there, and the
+count often said that his brother was longing to know me. When we
+returned he would no doubt let me depart in peace.
+
+I had made up my mind to shew my gratitude to the worthy man for his
+hospitality, so on the fourth day of Lent I took leave of Therese,
+Greppi, and the affectionate marchioness, for two weeks, and we set out
+on our way.
+
+To my great delight the countess did not care to come. She much preferred
+staying in Milan with Triulzi, who did not let her lack for anything.
+
+We got to St. Angelo at three o'clock, and found that we were expected to
+dinner.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+An Ancient Castle--Clementine--The Fair Penitent--Lodi--A Mutual Passion
+
+The manorial castle of the little town of St. Angelo is a vast and
+ancient building, dating back at least eight centuries, but devoid of
+regularity, and not indicating the date of its erection by the style of
+its architecture. The ground floor consists of innumerable small rooms, a
+few large and lofty apartments, and an immense hall. The walls, which are
+full of chinks and crannies, are of that immense thickness which proves
+that our ancestors built for their remote descendants, and not in our
+modern fashion; for we are beginning to build in the English style, that
+is, barely for one generation. The stone stairs had been trodden by so
+many feet that one had to be very careful in going up or down. The floor
+was all of bricks, and as it had been renewed at various epochs with
+bricks of divers colours it formed a kind of mosaic, not very pleasant to
+look upon. The windows were of a piece with the rest; they had no glass
+in them, and the sashes having in many instances given way they were
+always open; shutters were utterly unknown there. Happily the want of
+glass was not much felt in the genial climate of the country. The
+ceilings were conspicuous by their absence, but there were heavy beams,
+the haunts of bats, owls, and other birds, and light ornament was
+supplied by the numerous spiders' webs.
+
+In this great Gothic palace--for palace it was rather than castle, for it
+had no towers or other attributes of feudalism, except the enormous
+coat-of-arms which crowned the gateway--in this palace, I say, the
+memorial of the ancient glories of the Counts A---- B----, which they
+loved better than the finest modern house, there were three sets of rooms
+better kept than the rest. Here dwelt the masters, of whom there were
+three; the Count A---- B----, my friend, Count Ambrose, who always lived
+there, and a third, an officer in the Spanish Walloon Guards. I occupied
+the apartment of the last named. But I must describe the welcome I
+received.
+
+Count Ambrose received me at the gate of the castle as if I had been some
+high and puissant prince. The door stood wide open on both sides, but I
+did not take too much pride to myself on this account, as they were so
+old that it was impossible to shut them.
+
+The noble count who held his cap in his hand, and was decently but
+negligently dressed, though he was only forty years old, told me with
+high-born modesty that his brother had done wrong to bring me here to see
+their miserable place, where I should find none of those luxuries to
+which I had been accustomed, but he promised me a good old-fashioned
+Milanese welcome instead. This is a phrase of which the Milanese are very
+fond, but as they put it into practice it becomes them well. They are
+generally most worthy and hospitable people, and contrast favourably with
+the Piedmontese and Genoese.
+
+The worthy Ambrose introduced me to his countess and his two
+sisters-in-law, one of whom was an exquisite beauty, rather deficient in
+manner, but this was no doubt due to the fact that they saw no polished
+company whatever. The other was a thoroughly ordinary woman, neither
+pretty nor ugly, of a type which is plentiful all the world over. The
+countess looked like a Madonna; her features had something angelic about
+them in their dignity and openness. She came from Lodi, and had only been
+married two years. The three sisters were very young, very noble, and
+very poor. While we were at dinner Count Ambrose told me that he had
+married a poor woman because he thought more of goodness than riches.
+
+"She makes me happy," he added; "and though she brought me no dower, I
+seem to be a richer man, for she has taught me to look on everything we
+don't possess as a superfluity."
+
+"There, indeed," said I, "you have the true philosophy of an honest man."
+
+The countess, delighted at her husband's praise and my approval, smiled
+lovingly at him, and took a pretty baby from the nurse's arms and offered
+it her alabaster breast. This is the privilege of a nursing mother;
+nature tells her that by doing so she does nothing against modesty. Her
+bosom, feeding the helpless, arouses no other feelings than those of
+respect. I confess, however, that the sight might have produced a
+tenderer sentiment in me; it was exquisitely beautiful, and I am sure
+that if Raphael had beheld it his Madonna would have been still more
+lovely.
+
+The dinner was excellent, with the exception of the made dishes, which
+were detestable. Soup, beef, fresh salted pork, sausages, mortadella,
+milk dishes, vegetables, game, mascarpon cheese, preserved fruits--all
+were delicious; but the count having told his brother that I was a great
+gourmand, the worthy Ambrose had felt it his duty to give me some
+ragouts, which were as bad as can well be imagined. I had to taste them,
+out of politeness; but I made up my mind that I would do so no more.
+After dinner I took my host apart, and spewed him that with ten plain
+courses his table would be delicate and excellent, and that he had no
+need of introducing any ragouts. From that time I had a choice dinner
+every day.
+
+There were six of us at table, and we all talked and laughed with the
+exception of the fair Clementine. This was the young countess who had
+already made an impression on me. She only spoke when she was obliged to
+do so, and her words were always accompanied with a blush; but as I had
+no other way of getting a sight of her beautiful eyes, I asked her a good
+many questions. However, she blushed so terribly that I thought I must be
+distressing her, and I left her in peace, hoping to become better
+acquainted with her.
+
+At last I was taken to my apartment and left there. The windows were
+glazed and curtained as in the diningroom, but Clairmont came and told me
+that he could not unpack my trunks as there were no locks to anything and
+should not care to take the responsibility. I thought he was right, and I
+went to ask my friend about it.
+
+"There's not a lock or a key," said he, "in the whole castle, except in
+the cellar, but everything is safe for all that. There are no robbers at
+St. Angelo, and if there were they would not dare to come here."
+
+"I daresay, my dear count, but you know' it is my business to suppose
+robbers everywhere. My own valet might take the opportunity of robbing
+me, and you see I should have to keep silence if I were robbed."
+
+"Quite so, I feel the force of your argument. Tomorrow morning a
+locksmith shall put locks and keys to your doors, and you will be the
+only person in the castle who is proof against thieves."
+
+I might have replied in the words of Juvenal, 'Cantabit vacuus coram
+latrone viator', but I should have mortified him. I told Clairmont to
+leave my trunks alone till next day, and I went out with Count
+A---- B---- and his sisters-in-law to take a walk in the town.
+
+Count Ambrose and his better-half stayed in the castle; the good mother
+would never leave her nursling. Clementine was eighteen, her married
+sister being four years older. She took my arm, and my friend offered his
+to Eleanore.
+
+"We will go and see the beautiful penitent," said the count.
+
+I asked him who the beautiful penitent was, and he answered, without
+troubling himself about his sisters-in-law,
+
+"She was once a Lais of Milan, and enjoyed such a reputation for beauty
+that not only all the flower of Milan but people from the neighbouring
+towns were at her feet. Her hall-door was opened and shut a hundred times
+in a day, and even then she was not able to satisfy the desires aroused.
+At last an end came to what the old and the devout called a scandal.
+Count Firmian, a man of learning and wit, went to Vienna, and on his
+departure received orders to have her shut up in a convent. Our august
+Marie Therese cannot pardon mercenary beauty, and the count had no choice
+but to have the fair sinner imprisoned. She was told that she had done
+amiss, and dealt wickedly; she was obliged to make a general confession,
+and was condemned to a life-long penance in this convent. She was
+absolved by Cardinal Pozzobonelli, Archbishop of Milan, and he then
+confirmed her, changing the name of Therese, which she had received at
+the baptismal font, to Mary Magdalen, thus shewing her how she should
+save her soul by following the example of her new patroness, whose
+wantonness had hitherto been her pattern.
+
+"Our family are the patrons of this convent, which is devoted to
+penitents. It is situated in an inaccessible spot, and the inmates are in
+the charge of a kind mother-superior, who does her best to soften the
+manifold austerities of their existences. They only work and pray, and
+see no one besides their confessor, who says mass every day. We are the
+only persons whom the superioress would admit, as long as some of our
+family are present she always let them bring whom they like."
+
+This story touched me and brought tears to my eyes. Poor Mary Magdalen!
+Cruel empress! I think I have noted in another passage the source of her
+austere virtue.
+
+When we were announced the mother-superior came to meet us, and took us
+into a large hall, where I soon made out the famous penitent amongst five
+or six other girls, who were penitents like herself, but I presume for
+trifling offences, as they were all ugly. As soon as the poor women saw
+us they ceased working, and stood up respectfully. In spite of the severe
+simplicity of her dress, Therese made a great impression on me. What
+beauty! What majesty brought low! With my profane eyes, instead of
+looking to the enormity of the offences for which she was suffering so
+cruelly, I saw before me a picture of innocence--a humbled Venus. Her
+fine eyes were fixed on the ground, but what was my surprise, when,
+suddenly looking at me, she exclaimed,--
+
+"O my God! what do I see? Holy Mary, come to my aid! Begone, dreadful
+sinner, though thou deservest to be here more than I. Scoundrel!"
+
+I did not feel inclined to laugh. Her unfortunate position, and the
+singular apostrophe she had addressed to me, pierced me to the heart. The
+mother-superior hastened to say,--
+
+"Do not be offended, sir, the poor girl has become mad, and unless she
+really has recognized you . . . ."
+
+"That is impossible, madam, I have never seen her before."
+
+"Of course not, but you must forgive her, as she has lost the use of her
+reason."
+
+"Maybe the Lord has made her thus in mercy."
+
+As a matter of fact, I saw more sense than madness in this outburst, for
+it must have been very grievous for the poor girl to have to encounter my
+idle curiosity, in the place of her penitence. I was deeply moved, and in
+spite of myself a big tear rolled down my face. The count, who had known
+her, laughed, but I begged him to restrain himself.
+
+A moment after, the poor wretch began again. She raved against me madly,
+and begged the mother-superior to send me away, as I had come there to
+damn her.
+
+The good lady chid her with all a true mother's gentleness, and told her
+to leave the room, adding that all who came there only desired that she
+should be saved eternally. She was stern enough, however, to add, that no
+one had been a greater sinner than she, and the poor Magdalen went out
+weeping bitterly.
+
+If it had been my fortune to enter Milan at the head of a victorious
+army, the first thing I should have done would be he setting free of this
+poor captive, and if the abbess had resisted she would have felt the
+weight of my whip.
+
+When Magdalen was gone, the mother-superior told us that the poor girl
+had many good qualities, and if God willed that she should keep some
+particle of sense she did not doubt her becoming a saint like her
+patroness.
+
+"She has begged me," she added, "to take down the pictures of St. Louis
+de Gonzaga and St. Antony from the chapel wall because she says they
+distract her fearfully. I have thought it my duty to yield to her
+request, in spite of our confessor, who says it's all nonsense."
+
+The confessor was a rude churl. I did not exactly tell the abbess that,
+but I said enough for a clever woman as she was to grasp my meaning.
+
+We left the sorrowful place in sadness and silence, cursing the sovereign
+who had made such ill use of her power.
+
+If, as our holy religion maintains, there is a future life before us all,
+Marie Therese certainly deserves damnation, if only the oppressions she
+has used towards those poor women whose life is wretched enough at the
+best. Poor Mary Magdalen had gone mad and suffered the torments of the
+damned because nature had given her two of her best gifts--beauty, and an
+excellent heart. You will say she had abused them, but for a fault which
+is only a crime before God, should a fellow-creature and a greater sinner
+have condemned her to such a fearful doom? I defy any reasonable man to
+answer in the affirmative.
+
+On our way back to the castle Clementine, who was on my arm, laughed to
+herself once or twice. I felt curious to know what she was laughing at,
+and said,--
+
+"May I ask you, fair countess, why you laugh thus to yourself?"
+
+"Forgive me; I was not amused at the poor girl's recognizing you, for
+that must have been a mistake, but I cannot help laughing when I think of
+your face at her wordy 'You are more deserving of imprisonment than I.'"
+
+"Perhaps you think she was right."
+
+"I? Not at all. But how is it that she attacked you and not my
+brother-in-law?"
+
+"Probably because she thought I looked a greater sinner than he."
+
+"That, I suppose, must have been the reason. One should never heed the
+talk of mad people."
+
+"You are sarcastic, but I take it all in good part. Perhaps I am as great
+a sinner as I look; but beauty should be merciful to me, for it is by
+beauty that I am led astray."
+
+"I wonder the empress does not shut up men as well as women."
+
+"Perhaps she hopes to see them all at her feet when there are no more
+girls left to amuse them."
+
+"That is a jest. You should rather say that she cannot forgive her own
+sex the lack of a virtue which she exercises so eminently, and which is
+so easily observed."
+
+"I have nothing to allege against the empress's virtue, but with your
+leave I beg to entertain very strong doubts as to the possibility of the
+general exercise of that virtue which we call continence."
+
+"No doubt everyone thinks by his own standard. A man may be praised for
+temperance in whom temperance is no merit. What is easy to you may be
+hard to me, and 'vice versa'. Both of us may be right."
+
+This interesting conversation made me compare Clementine to the fair
+marchioness at Milan, but there was this difference between them: Mdlle.
+Q---- spoke with an air of gravity and importance, whereas Clementine
+expounded her system with great simplicity and an utter indifference of
+manner. I thought her observations so acute and her utterance so perfect
+and artistic, that I felt ashamed of having misjudged her at dinner. Her
+silence, and the blush which mounted to her face when anyone asked her a
+question, had made me suspect both confusion and poverty in her ideas,
+for timidity is often another word for stupidity; but the conversation I
+have just reported made me feel that I had made a great mistake. The
+marchioness, being older and having seen more of the world, was more
+skilled in argument; but Clementine had twice eluded my questions with
+the utmost skill, and I felt obliged to award her the palm.
+
+When we got back to the castle we found a lady with her son and daughter,
+and another relation of the count's, a young abbe, whom I found most
+objectionable.
+
+He was a pitiless talker, and on the pretence of having seen me at Milan
+he took the opportunity of flattering me in a disgusting manner. Besides,
+he made sheep's eyes at Clementine, and I did not like the idea of having
+a fellow like that for a rival. I said very dryly that I did not remember
+him at all; but he was not a man of delicate feeling, and this did not
+disconcert him in the least. He sat down beside Clementine, and taking
+her hand told her that she must add me to the long catalogue of her
+victims. She could do nothing else but laugh at silly talk of this kind;
+I knew it, but that laugh of hers displeased me. I would have had her
+say--I do not know what, but something biting and sarcastic. Not at all;
+the impertinent fellow whispered something in her ear, and she answered
+in the same way. This was more than I could bear. Some question or other
+was being discussed, and the abbe asked for my opinion. I do not remember
+what I answered, but I know that I gave him a bitter reply in the hope of
+putting him in a bad temper and reducing him to silence. But he was a
+battle charger, and used to trumpet, fife, and gun; nothing put him out.
+He appealed to Clementine, and I had the mortification of hearing her
+opinion given, though with a blush, in his favour. The fop was satisfied,
+and kissed the young countess's hand with an air of fatuous happiness.
+This was too much; and I cursed the abbe and Clementine, too. I rose from
+my seat and went to the window.
+
+The window is a great blessing to an impatient man, whom the rules of
+politeness in some degree constrain. He can turn his back on bores,
+without their being able to charge him witch direct rudeness; but people
+know what he means, and that soothes his feelings.
+
+I have noted this trifling circumstance only to point out how bad temper
+blinds its victims. The poor abbe vexed me because he made himself
+agreeable to Clementine, with whom I was already in love without knowing
+it. I saw in him a rival, but far from endeavouring to offend me, he had
+done his best to please me; and I should have taken account of his good
+will. But under such circumstances I always gave way to ill humour, and
+now I am too old to begin curing myself. I don't think I need do so, for
+if I am ill tempered the company politely pass me over. My misfortune
+obliges me to submit.
+
+Clementine had conquered me in the space of a few hours. True, I was an
+inflammable subject, but hitherto no beauty had committed such ravages
+upon me in so short a time. I did not doubt of success, and I confess
+that there was a certain amount of vanity in this assurance; but at the
+same time I was modest, for I knew that at the slightest slip the
+enterprise would miscarry. Thus I regarded the abbe as a wasp to be
+crushed as speedily as possible. I was also a victim to that most
+horrible of passions, jealousy; it seemed to me that if Clementine was
+not in love with this man-monkey, she was extremely indulgent to him; and
+with this idea I conceived a horrible plan of revenging my wrongs on her.
+Love is the god of nature, but this god is, after all, only a spoilt
+child. We know all his follies and frailties, but we still adore him.
+
+My friend the count, who was surprised, I suppose, to see me
+contemplating the prospect for such a long time, came up to me and asked
+me if I wanted anything.
+
+"I am thinking some matter over," said I, "and I must go and write one or
+two letters in my room till it is time for supper."
+
+"You won't leave us surely?" said he.
+
+"Clementine, help me to keep M. de Seingalt; you must make him postpone
+his letter-writing."
+
+"But my dear brother," said the charming girl, "if M. de Seingalt has
+business to do, it would be rude of me to try and prevent his doing it."
+
+Though what she said was perfectly reasonable, it stung me to the quick;
+when one is in an ill humour, everything is fuel for the fire. But the
+abbe said pleasantly that I had much better come and make a bank at faro,
+and as everything echoed this suggestion I had to give in.
+
+The cards were brought in, and various coloured counters handed round,
+and I sat down putting thirty ducats before me. This was a very large sum
+for a company who only played for amusement's sake; fifteen counters were
+valued only at a sequin. Countess Ambrose sat at my right hand, and the
+abbe at my left. As if they had laid a plot to vex and annoy me,
+Clementine had made room for him. I took a mere accident for a studied
+impertinence, and told the poor man that I never dealt unless I had a
+lady on each side of me, and never by any chance with a priest beside me.
+
+"Do you think it would bring you ill luck?"
+
+"I don't like birds of ill omen."
+
+At this he got up, and Clementine took his place.
+
+At the end of three hours, supper was announced. Everybody had won from
+me except the abbe; the poor devil had lost counters to the extent of
+twenty sequins.
+
+As a relation the abbe stayed to supper, but the lady and her children
+were asked in vain to do so.
+
+The abbe looked wretched, which made me in a good temper, and inclined me
+to be pleasant. I proceeded to flirt with Clementine, and by making her
+reply to the numerous questions I asked, I gave her an opportunity of
+displaying her wit, and I could see that she was grateful. I was once
+more myself, and I took pity of the abbe, and spoke to him politely,
+asking him his opinion on some topic.
+
+"I was not listening," said he, "but I hope you will give me my revenge
+after supper."
+
+"After supper I shall be going to bed, but you shall have your revenge,
+and as much as you like of it, tomorrow, provided that our charming
+hostesses like playing. I hope the luck will be in your favour."
+
+After supper the poor abbe went sadly away, and the count took me to my
+room, telling me that I could sleep securely in spite of the lack of keys
+for his sisters-in-law who were lodged close by were no better off.
+
+I was astonished and delighted at the trust he put in me, and at the
+really magnificent hospitality (it must be remembered all things are
+relative) with which I had been treated in the castle.
+
+I told Clairmont to be quick about putting my hair in curl-papers, for I
+was tired and in need of rest, but he was only half-way through the
+operation when I was agreeably surprised by the apparition of Clementine.
+
+"Sir," said she, "as we haven't got a maid to look after your linen, I
+have come to beg you to let me undertake that office."
+
+"You! my dear countess?"
+
+"Yes, I, sir, and I hope you will make no objection. It will be a
+pleasure to me, and I hope to you as well. Let me have the shirt you are
+going to wear to-morrow, and say no more about it."
+
+"Very good, it shall be as you please."
+
+I helped Clairmont to carry my linen trunk into her room, and added,--
+
+"Every day I want a shirt, a collar, a front, a pair of drawers, a pair
+of stocking, and two handkerchiefs; but I don't mind which you take, and
+leave the choice to you as the mistress, as I wish you were in deed and
+truth. I shall sleep a happier sleep than Jove himself. Farewell, dear
+Hebe!"
+
+Her sister Eleanore was already in bed, and begged pardon for her
+position. I told Clairmont to go to the count directly, and inform him
+that I had changed my mind about the locks. Should I be afraid for my
+poor properties when these living treasures were confined to me so
+frankly? I should have been afraid of offending them.
+
+I had an excellent bed, and I slept wonderfully. Clairmont was doing my
+hair when my youthful Hebe presented herself with a basket in her hands.
+She wished me good day and said she hoped I would be contented with her
+handiwork. I gazed at her delightedly, no trace of false shame appeared
+on her features. The blush on her cheeks was a witness of the pleasure
+she experienced in being useful--a pleasure which is unknown to those
+whose curse is their pride, the characteristic of fools and upstarts. I
+kissed her hand and told her that I had never seen linen so nicely done.
+
+Just then the count came in and thanked Clementine for attending on me. I
+approved of that, but he accompanied his thanks with a kiss which was
+well received, and this I did not approve of at all. But you will say
+they were brother-in-law and sister-in-law? Just so, but I was jealous
+all the same. Nature is all-wise, and it was nature that made me jealous.
+When one loves and has not as yet gained possession, jealousy is
+inevitable; the heart must fear lest that which it longs for so be
+carried away by another.
+
+The count took a note from his pocket and begged me to read it. It came
+from his cousin the abbe, who begged the count to apologize to me for him
+if he was unable to pay the twenty sequins he had lost to me in the
+proper time, but that he would discharge his debt in the course of the
+week.
+
+"Very good! Tell him that he can pay when he likes, but warn him not to
+play this evening. I will not take his bets."
+
+"But you would have no objection to his punting with ready money."
+
+"Certainly I should, unless he pays me first, otherwise he would be
+punting with my money. Of course it's a mere trifle, and I hope he won't
+trouble himself in the least or put himself to any inconvenience to pay
+it."
+
+"I am afraid he will be mortified."
+
+"So much the better," said Clementine; "what did he play for, when he
+knew that he could not pay his debts if he incurred any? It will be a
+lesson to him."
+
+This outburst was balm to my heart. Such is man--a mere selfish egotist,
+when passion moves him.
+
+The count made no reply, but left us alone.
+
+"My dear Clementine, tell me frankly whether the rather uncivil way in
+which I have treated the abbe has pained you. I am going to give you
+twenty sequins, do you send them to him, and to-night he can pay me
+honourably, and make a good figure. I promise you no one shall know about
+it."
+
+"Thank you, but the honour of the abbe is not dear enough to me for me to
+accept your offer. The lesson will do him good. A little shame will teach
+him that he must mend his ways."
+
+"You will see he won't come this evening."
+
+"That may be, but do you think I shall care?"
+
+"Well--yes, I did think so."
+
+"Because we joked together, I suppose. He is a hare-brained fellow, to
+whom I do not give two thoughts in the year."
+
+"I pity him, as heartily as I congratulate anyone of whom you do think."
+
+"Maybe there is no such person"
+
+"What! You have not yet met a man worthy of your regard?"
+
+"Many worthy of regard, but none of love."
+
+"Then you have never been in love?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"Your heart is empty?"
+
+"You make me laugh. Is it happiness, is it unhappiness? Who can say. If
+it be happiness, I am glad, and if it be unhappiness, I do not care, for
+I do not feel it to be so."
+
+"Nevertheless, it is a misfortune, and you will know it to have been so
+on the day in which you love."
+
+"And if I become unhappy through love, shall I not pronounce my emptiness
+of heart to have been happiness."
+
+"I confess you would be right, but I am sure love would make you happy."
+
+"I do not know. To be happy one must live in perfect agreement; that is
+no easy matter, and I believe it to be harder still when the bond is
+lifelong."
+
+"I agree, but God sent us into the world that we might run the risk"
+
+"To a man it may be a necessity and a delight, but a girl is bound by
+stricter laws."
+
+"In nature the necessity is the same though the results are different,
+and the laws you speak of are laid down by society."
+
+The count came in at this point and was astonished to see us both
+together.
+
+"I wish you would fall in love with one another," said he.
+
+"You wish to see us unhappy, do you?" said she.
+
+"What do you mean by that?" I cried.
+
+"I should be unhappy with an inconstant lover, and you would be unhappy
+too, for you would feel bitter remorse for having destroyed my peace of
+mind."
+
+After this she discreetly fled.
+
+I remained still as if she had petrified me, but the count who never
+wearied himself with too much thinking, exclaimed,
+
+"Clementine is rather too romantic; she will get over it, however; she is
+young yet."
+
+We went to bid good day to the countess, whom we found suckling her baby.
+
+"Do you know, my dear sister," said the count, "that the chevalier here
+is in love with Clementine, and she seems inclined to pay him back in his
+own coin?"
+
+The countess smiled and said,--
+
+"I hope a suitable match like that may make us relations."
+
+There is something magical about the word "marriage."
+
+What the countess said pleased me extremely, and I replied with a bow of
+the most gracious character.
+
+We went to pay a call on the lady who had come to the castle the day
+before. There was a canon regular there, who after a great many polite
+speeches in praise of my country, which he knew only from books, asked me
+of what order was the cross I carried on my breast.
+
+I replied, with a kind of boastful modesty, that it was a peculiar mark
+of the favour of the Holy Father, the Pope, who had freely made me a
+knight of the Order of St. John Lateran, and a prothonotary-apostolic.
+
+This monk had stayed at home far from the world, or else he would not
+have asked me such a question. However, far from thinking he was
+offending me, he thought he was honouring me by giving me an opportunity
+of talking of my own merit.
+
+At London, the greatest possible rudeness is to ask anyone what his
+religion is, and it is something the same in Germany; an Anabaptist is by
+no means ready to confess his creed. And in fact the best plan is never
+to ask any questions whatever, not even if a man has change for a louis.
+
+Clementine was delightful at dinner. She replied wittily and gracefully
+to all the questions which were addressed to her. True, what she said was
+lost on the majority of her auditors--for wit cannot stand before
+stupidity--but I enjoyed her talk immensely. As she kept filling up my
+glass I reproached her, and this gave rise to the following little
+dialogue which completed my conquest.
+
+"You have no right to complain," said she, "Hebe's duty is to keep the
+cup of the chief of the gods always full."
+
+"Very good; but you know Jupiter sent her away."
+
+"Yes, but I know why. I will take care not to stumble in the same way;
+and no Ganymede shall take my place for a like cause."
+
+"You are very wise. Jupiter was wrong, and henceforth I will be Hercules.
+Will that please you, fair Hebe?"
+
+"No; because he did not marry her till after her death."
+
+"True, again. I will be Iolas then, for . . ."
+
+"Be quiet. Iolas was old."
+
+"True; but so was I yesterday. You have made me young again."
+
+"I am very glad, dear Iolas; but remember what I did when he left me."
+
+"And what did you do? I do not remember."
+
+"I did not believe a word he said."
+
+"You can believe."
+
+"I took away the gift I had made."
+
+At these words this charming girl's face was suffered with blushes. If I
+had touched her with my hand, sure it would have been on fire; but the
+rays that darted from her eyes froze my heart.
+
+Philosophers, be not angry if I talk of freezing rays. It is no miracle,
+but a very natural phenomenon, which is happening every day. A great
+love, which elevates a man's whole nature, is a strong flame born out of
+a great cold, such as I then felt for a moment; it would have killed me
+if it had lasted longer.
+
+The superior manner in which Clementine had applied the story of Hebe
+convinced me not only that she had a profound knowledge of mythology, but
+also that she had a keen and far-reaching intellect. She had given me
+more than a glimpse of her learning; she had let me guess that I
+interested her, and that she thought of me.
+
+These ideas, entering a heart which is already warm, speedily set all the
+senses in flames. In a moment all doubt was laid to rest; Clementine
+loved me, and I was sure that we should be happy.
+
+Clementine slipped away from the table to calm herself, and thus I had
+time to escape from my astonishment.
+
+"Pray where was that young lady educated?" I said to the countess.
+
+"In the country. She was always present when my brother had his lessons,
+but the tutor, Sardini, never took any notice of her, and it was only she
+who gained anything; my brother only yawned. Clementine used to make my
+mother laugh, and puzzle the old tutor sadly sometimes."
+
+"Sardini wrote and published some poems which are not bad; but nobody
+reads them, because they are so full of mythology."
+
+"Quite so. Clementine possesses a manuscript with which he presented her,
+containing a number of mythological tales verified. Try and make her shew
+you her books and the verses she used to write; she won't shew them to
+any of us."
+
+I was in a great state of admiration. When she returned I complimented
+her upon her acquirements, and said that as I was a great lover of
+literature myself I should be delighted if she would shew me her verses.
+
+"I should be ashamed. I had to give over my studies two years ago, when
+my sister married and we came to live here, where we only see honest
+folks who talk about the stable, the harvest, and the weather. You are
+the first person I have seen who has talked to me about literature. If
+our old Sardini had come with us I should have gone on learning, but my
+sister did not care to have him here."
+
+"But my dear Clementine," said the countess, "what do you think my
+husband could have done with an old man of eighty whose sole
+accomplishments are weighing the wind, writing verses, and talking
+mythology?"
+
+"He would have been useful enough," said the husband, "if he could have
+managed the estate, but the honest old man will not believe in the
+existence of rascals. He is so learned that he is quite stupid."
+
+"Good heavens!" cried Clementine. "Sardini stupid? It is certainly easy
+to deceive him, but that is because he is so noble. I love a man who is
+easily deceived, but they call me silly."
+
+"Not at all, my dear sister," said the countess. "On the contrary, there
+is wisdom in all you say, but it is wisdom out of place in a woman; the
+mistress of a household does not want to know anything about literature,
+poetry, or philosophy, and when it comes to marrying you I am very much
+afraid that your taste for this kind of thing will stand in your way."
+
+"I know it, and I am expecting to die a maid; not that it is much
+compliment to the men."
+
+To know all that such a dialogue meant for me, the reader must imagine
+himself most passionately in love. I thought myself unfortunate. I could
+have given her a hundred thousand crowns, and I would have married her
+that moment. She told me that Sardini was at Milan, very old and ill.
+
+"Have you been to see him?" I asked.
+
+"I have never been to Milan."
+
+"Is it possible? It is not far from here."
+
+"Distance is relative, you know."
+
+This was beautifully expressed. It told me without any false shame that
+she could not afford to go, and I was pleased by her frankness. But in
+the state of mind I was in I should have been pleased with anything she
+chose to do. There are moments in a man's life when the woman he loves
+can make anything of him.
+
+I spoke to her in a manner that affected her so that she took me into a
+closet next to her room to shew me her books. There were only thirty in
+all, but they were chosen, although somewhat elementary. A woman like
+Clementine needed something more.
+
+"Do you know, my dear Hebe, that you want more books?"
+
+"I have often suspected it, dear Iolas, without being able to say exactly
+what I want."
+
+After spending an hour in glancing over Sardini's works, I begged her to
+spew me her own.
+
+"No," said she, "they are too bad."
+
+"I expect so; but the good will outweigh the bad."
+
+"I don't think so."
+
+"Oh, yes! you needn't be afraid. I will forgive the bad grammar, bad
+style, absurd images, faulty method, and even the verses that won't
+scan."
+
+"That's too much, Iolas; Hebe doesn't need so vast a pardon as all that.
+Here, sir, these are my scribblings; sift the faults and the defaults.
+Read what you will."
+
+I was delighted that my scheme of wounding her vanity had succeeded, and
+I began by reading aloud an anacreontic, adding to its beauties by the
+modulation of my voice, and keenly enjoying her pleasure at finding her
+work so fair. When I improved a line by some trifling change she noticed
+it, for she followed me with her eyes; but far from being humiliated, she
+was pleased with my corrections. The picture was still hers, she thought,
+though with my skilled brush I brought out the lights and darkened the
+shadows, and she was charmed to see that my pleasure was as great or
+greater than hers. The reading continued for two hours. It was a
+spiritual and pure, but a most intensely voluptuous, enjoyment. Happy,
+and thrice happy, if we had gone no farther; but love is a traitor who
+laughs at us when we think to play with him without falling into his
+nets. Shall a man touch hot coals and escape the burning?
+
+The countess interrupted us, and begged us to join the company.
+Clementine hastened to put everything back, and thanked me for the
+happiness I had given her. The pleasure she felt shewed itself in her
+blushes, and when she came into the drawing-room she was asked if she had
+been fighting, which made her blush still more.
+
+The faro-table was ready, but before sitting down I told Clairmont to get
+me four good horses for the following day. I wanted to go to Lodi and
+back by dinnertime.
+
+Everybody played as before, the abbe excepted, and he, to my huge
+delight, did not put in an appearance at all, but his place was supplied
+by a canon, who punted a ducat at a time and had a pile of ducats before
+him. This made me increase my bank, and when the game was over, I was
+glad to see that everybody had won except the canon, but his losses had
+not spoilt his temper.
+
+Next day I started for Lodi at day-break without telling anybody where I
+was going, and bought all the books I judged necessary for Clementine,
+who only knew Italian. I bought numerous translation, which I was
+surprised to find at Lodi, which hitherto had been only famous in my mind
+for its cheese, usually called Parmesan. This cheese is made at Lodi and
+not at Parma, and I did not fail to make an entry to that effect under
+the article "Parmesan" in my "Dictionary of Cheeses," a work which I was
+obliged to abandon as beyond my powers, as Rousseau was obliged to
+abandon his "Dictionary of Botany." This great but eccentric individual
+was then known under the pseudonym of Renaud, the Botanist. 'Quisque
+histrioniam exercet'. But Rousseau, great man though he was, was totally
+deficient in humour.
+
+I conceived the idea of giving a banquet at Lodi the day after next, and
+a project of this kind not calling for much deliberation I went forthwith
+to the best hotel to make the necessary arrangements. I ordered a choice
+dinner for twelve, paid the earnest money, and made the host promise that
+everything should be of the best.
+
+When I got back to St. Angelo, I had a sackfull of books carried into
+Clementine's room. She was petrified. There were more than one
+hundred volumes, poets, historians, geographers, philosophers,
+scientists--nothing was forgotten. I had also selected some good novels,
+translated from the Spanish, English, and French, for we have no good
+novels in Italian.
+
+This admission does not prove by any means that Italian literature is
+surpassed by that of any other country. Italy has little to envy in other
+literatures, and has numerous masterpieces, which are unequalled the
+whole world over. Where will you find a worthy companion to the Orlando
+Furioso? There is none, and this great work is incapable of transalation.
+The finest and truest panegyric of Ariosto was written by Voltaire when
+he was sixty. If he had not made this apology for the rash judgement of
+his youthful days, he would not have enjoyed, in Italy at all events,
+that immortality which is so justly his due. Thirty-six years ago I told
+him as much, and he took me at my word. He was afraid, and he acted
+wisely.
+
+If I have any readers, I ask their pardon for these digressions. They
+must remember that these Memoirs were written in my old age, and the old
+are always garrulous. The time will come to them also, and then they will
+understand that if the aged repeat themselves, it is because they live in
+a world of memories, without a present and without a future.
+
+I will now return to my narrative, which I have kept steadily in view.
+
+Clementine gazed from me to the books, and from the books to me. She
+wondered and admired, and could scarcely believe this treasure belonged
+to her. At last she collected herself, and said in a tone full of
+gratitude,--
+
+"You have come to St. Angelo to make me happy."
+
+Such a saying makes a man into a god. He is sure that she who speaks thus
+will do all in her power to make a return for the happiness which she has
+been given.
+
+There is something supremely lovely in the expression of gratefulness on
+the face of the being one loves. If you have not experienced the feelings
+I describe, dear reader, I pity you, and am forced to conclude that you
+must have been either awkward or miserly, and therefore unworthy of love.
+
+Clementine ate scarcely anything at dinner, and afterwards retired to her
+room where I soon joined her. We amused ourselves by putting the books in
+order, and she sent for a carpenter to make a bookcase with a lock and
+key.
+
+"It will be my pleasure to read these books," said she, "when you have
+left us."
+
+In the evening she was lucky with the cards, and in delightful spirits. I
+asked them all to dine with me at Lodi, but as the dinner was for twelve
+the Countess Ambrose said she would be able to find the two guests who
+were wanted at Lodi, and the canon said he would take the lady friend
+with her two children.
+
+The next day was one of happy quiet, and I spent it without leaving the
+castle, being engaged in instructing my Hebe on the nature of the sphere,
+and in preparing her for the beauties of Wolf. I presented her with my
+case of mathematical instruments, which seemed to her invaluable.
+
+I burned with passion for this charming girl; but would I have done so in
+her taste for literature and science had not been backed up by her
+personal charms? I suspect not. I like a dish pleasing to the palate, but
+if it is not pleasing to the eye as well, I do not taste it but put down
+as bad. The surface is always the first to interest, close examination
+comes afterwards. The man who confines himself to superficial charms, is
+superficial himself, but with them all love begins, except that which
+rises in the realm of fancy, and this nearly always falls before the
+reality.
+
+When I went to bed, still thinking of Clementine, I began to reflect
+seriously, and I was astonished to find that during all the hours we had
+spent together she had not caused the slightest sensual feeling to arise
+in me. Nevertheless, I could not assign the reason to fear, nor to
+shyness which is unknown to me, nor to false shame, nor to what is called
+a feeling of duty. It was certainly not virtue, for I do not carry virtue
+so far as that. Then what was it? I did not tire myself by pursuing the
+question. I felt quite sure that the Platonic stage must soon come to an
+end, and I was sorry, but my sorrow was virtue in extremis. The fine
+things we read together interested us so strongly that we did not think
+of love, nor of the pleasure we took in each other's company; but as the
+saying goes, the devil lost nothing by us. When intellect enters on the
+field, the heart has to yield; virtue triumphs, but the battle must not
+last for long. Our conquests made us too sure, but this feeling of
+security was a Colossus whose feet were of clay; we knew that we loved
+but were not sure that we were beloved. But when this became manifest the
+Colossus must fall to the ground.
+
+This dangerous trust made me go to her room to tell her something about
+our journey to Lodi, the carriages were already waiting. She was still
+asleep, but my step on the floor made her awake with a start. I did not
+even think it necessary to apologize. She told me that Tasso's Aminta had
+interested her to such an extent that she had read it till she fell
+asleep.
+
+"The Pastor Fido will please you still more."
+
+"Is it more beautiful?"
+
+"Not exactly."
+
+"Then why do you say it will please me more?"
+
+"Because it charms the heart. It appeals to our softest feelings, and
+seduces us--and we love seduction."
+
+"It is a seducer, then?"
+
+"No, not a seducer; but seductive, like you."
+
+"That's a good distinction. I will read it this evening. Now I am going
+to dress."
+
+She put on her clothes in seeming oblivion that I was a man, but without
+shewing any sights that could be called indecent. Nevertheless it struck
+me that if she had thought I was in love with her, she would have been
+more reserved, for as she put on her chemise, laced her corset, fastened
+her garters above her knee, and drew on her boots, I saw glimpses of
+beauty which affected me so strongly that I was obliged to go out before
+she was ready to quench the flames she had kindled in my senses.
+
+I took the countess and Clementine in my carriage, and sat on the bracket
+seat holding the baby on my knee. My two fair companions laughed merrily,
+for I held the child as if to the manner born. When we had traversed half
+the distance the baby demanded nourishment, and the charming mother
+hastened to uncover a sphere over which my eyes roved with delight, not
+at all to her displeasure. The child left its mother's bosom satisfied,
+and at the sight of the liquor which flowed so abundantly I exclaimed,--
+
+"It must not be lost, madam; allow me to sip nectar which will elevate me
+to the rank of the gods. Do not be afraid of my teeth." I had some teeth
+in those days.
+
+The smiling countess made no opposition, and I proceeded to carry out my
+design, while the ladies laughed that magic laugh which not painter can
+portray. The divine Homer is the only poet who has succeeded in
+delineating it in those lines in which he describes Andromache with the
+young Astyanax in her arms, when Hector is leaving her to return to the
+battle.
+
+I asked Clementine if she had the courage to grant me a similar favour.
+
+"Certainly," said she, "if I had any milk."
+
+"You have the source of the milk; I will see to the rest."
+
+At this the girl's face suffused with such a violent blush that I was
+sorry I had spoken; however, I changed the conversation, and it soon
+passed away. Our spirits were so high that when the time came for us to
+get down at the inn at Lodi, we could scarcely believe it possible, so
+swiftly had the time gone by.
+
+The countess sent a message to a lady friend of hers, begging her to dine
+with us, and to bring her sister; while I dispatched Clairmont to a
+stationer's, where he bought me a beautiful morocco case with lock and
+key, containing paper, pens, sealing-wax, ink-well, paper knife, seal,
+and in fact, everything necessary for writing. It was a present I meant
+to give Clementine before dinner. It was delightful to watch her surprise
+and pleasure, and to read gratitude so legibly written in her beautiful
+eyes. There is not a woman in the world who cannot be overcome by being
+made grateful. It is the best and surest way to get on, but it must be
+skilfully used. The countess's friend came and brought her sister, a girl
+who was dazzlingly beautiful. I was greatly struck with her, but just
+then Venus herself could not have dethroned Clementine from her place in
+my affections. After the friends had kissed each other, and expressed
+their joy at meeting, I was introduced, and in so complimentary a manner
+that I felt obliged to turn it off with a jest.
+
+The dinner was sumptuous and delicious. At dessert two self-invited
+guests came in, the lady's husband and the sister's lover, but they were
+welcome, for it was a case of the more the merrier. After the meal, in
+accordance with the request of the company, I made a bank at faro, and
+after three hours' play I was delighted to find myself a loser to the
+extent of forty sequins. It was these little losses at the right time
+which gave me the reputation of being the finest gamester in Europe.
+
+The lady's lover was named Vigi, and I asked him if he was descended from
+the author of the thirteenth book of the "AEneid." He said he was, and
+that in honour of his ancestor he had translated the poem into Italian
+verse. I expressed myself curious as to his version, and he promised to
+bring it me in two days' time. I complimented him on belonging to such a
+noble and ancient family; Maffeo Vigi flourished at the beginning of the
+fifteenth century.
+
+We started in the evening, and less than two hours we got home. The moon
+which shone brightly upon us prevented me making any attempts on
+Clementine, who had put up her feet in order that she might be able to
+hold her little nephew with more ease. The pretty mother could not help
+thanking me warmly for the pleasure I had given them; I was a universal
+favourite with them all.
+
+We did not feel inclined to eat any supper, and therefore retired to our
+apartments; and I accompanied Clementine, who told me that she was
+ashamed at not knowing anything about the "AEneid."
+
+"Vigi will bring his translation of the thirteenth book, and I shall not
+know a word about it."
+
+I comforted her by telling her that we would read the fine translation by
+Annibale Caro that very night. It was amongst her books, as also the
+version by Anguilara, Ovid's Metamorphoses, and Marchetti's Lucreece.
+
+"But I wanted to read the Pastor Fido."
+
+"We are in a hurry; we must read that another time."
+
+"I will follow your advice in all things, my dear Iolas."
+
+"That will make me happy, dearest Hebe."
+
+We spent the night in reading that magnificent translation in Italian
+blank verse, but the reading was often interrupted by my pupil's laughter
+when we came to some rather ticklish passage. She was highly amused by
+the account of the chance which gave 'AEneas an opportunity of proving
+his love for Dido in a very inconvenient place, and still more, when
+Dido, complaining of the son of Priam's treachery, says,--
+
+"I might still pardon you if, before abandoning me, you had left me a
+little AEneas to play about these halls."
+
+Clementine had cause to be amused, for the reproach has something
+laughable in it; but how is it that one does not feel inclined to smile
+in reading the Latin--'Si quis mihi parvulus aula luderet AEneas?'. The
+reason must be sought for in the grave and dignified nature of the Latin
+tongue.
+
+We did not finish our reading till day-break.
+
+"What a night!" exclaimed Clementine, with a sigh.
+
+"It has been one of great pleasure to me, has it not to you?"
+
+"I have enjoyed it because you have."
+
+"And if you had been reading by yourself?"
+
+"It would have still been a pleasure, but a much smaller one. I love your
+intellect to distraction, Clementine, but tell me, do you think it
+possible to love the intellect without loving that which contains it?"
+
+"No, for without the body the spirit would vanish away."
+
+"I conclude from that that I am deeply in love with you, and that I
+cannot pass six or seven hours in your company without longing to kiss
+you."
+
+"Certainly, but we resist these desires because we have duties to
+perform, which would rise up against us if we left them undone."
+
+"True again, but if your disposition at all resembles mine this
+constraint must be very painful to you."
+
+"Perhaps I feel it as much as you do, but it is my belief that it is only
+hard to withstand temptation at first. By degrees one gets accustomed to
+loving without running any risk and without effort. Our senses, at first
+so sharp set, end by becoming blunted, and when this is the case we may
+spend hours and days in safety, untroubled by desire."
+
+"I have my doubts as far as I am concerned, but we shall see. Good night,
+fair Hebe."
+
+"Good night, my good Iolas, may you sleep well!"
+
+"My sleep will be haunted by visions of you."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+Our Excursion--Parting From Clementine--I Leave Milan With Croce's
+Mistress My Arrival At Genoa
+
+The ancients, whose fancy was so fertile in allegory, used to figure
+Innocence as playing with a serpent or with a sharp arrow. These old
+sages had made a deep study of the human heart; and whatever discoveries
+modern science may have made, the old symbols may still be profitably
+studied by those who wish to gain a deep insight into the working of
+man's mind.
+
+I went to bed, and after having dismissed Clairmont I began to reflect on
+my relations with Clementine, who seemed to have been made to shine in a
+sphere from which, in spite of her high birth, her intelligence, and her
+rare beauty, her want of fortune kept her apart. I smiled to myself at
+her doctrines, which were as much as to say that the best way of curing
+appetite was to place a series of appetising dishes before a hungry man,
+forbidding him to touch them. Nevertheless I could but approve the words
+which she had uttered with such an air of innocence--that if one resists
+desires, there is no danger of one being humiliated by giving way to
+them.
+
+This humiliation would arise from a feeling of duty, and she honoured me
+by supposing that I had as high principles as herself. But at the same
+time the motive of self-esteem was also present, and I determined not to
+do anything which would deprive me of her confidence.
+
+As may be imagined, I did not awake till very late the next morning, and
+when I rang my bell Clementine came in, looking very pleased, and holding
+a copy of the Pastor Fido in her hand. She wished me good day, and said
+she had read the first act, and that she thought it very beautiful, and
+told me to get up that we might read the second together before dinner.
+
+"May I rise in your presence?"
+
+"Why not? A man has need of very little care to observe the laws of
+decency."
+
+"Then please give me that shirt."
+
+She proceeded to unfold it, and then put it over my head, smiling all the
+time.
+
+"I will do the same for you at the first opportunity," said I.
+
+She blushed and answered, "It's not nearly so far from you to me as it is
+from me to you."
+
+"Divine Hebe, that is beyond my understanding. You speak like the Cumaean
+sibyls, or as if you were rendering oracles at your temple in Corinth."
+
+"Had Hebe a temple at Corinth? Sardini never said so."
+
+"But Apollodorus says so. It was an asylum as well as a temple. But come
+back to the point, and pray do not elude it. What you said is opposed to
+all the laws of geometry. The distance from you to me ought to be
+precisely the same as from me to you."
+
+"Perhaps, then, I have said a stupid thing."
+
+"Not at all, Hebe, you have an idea which may be right or wrong, but I
+want to bring it out. Come, tell me."
+
+"Well, then, the two distances differ from each other with respect to the
+ascent and descent, or fall, if you like. Are not all bodies inclined to
+obey the laws of gravitation unless they are held back by a superior
+force?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"And is it not the case that no bodies move in an upward direction unless
+they are impelled?"
+
+"Quite true."
+
+"Then you must confess that since I am shorter than you I should have to
+ascend to attain you, and ascension is always an effort; while if you
+wish to attain me, you have only to let yourself go, which is no effort
+whatever. Thus it is no risk at all for you to let me put on your shirt,
+but it would be a great risk for me if I allowed you to do the same
+service for me. I might be overwhelmed by your too rapid descent on me.
+Are you persuaded?"
+
+"Persuaded is not the word, fair Hebe. I am ravished in an ecstacy of
+admiration. Never was paradox so finely maintained. I might cavil and
+contest it, but I prefer to keep silence to admire and adore."
+
+"Thank you, dear Iolas, but I want no favour. Tell me how you could
+disprove my argument?"
+
+"I should attack it on the point of height. You know you would not let me
+change your chemise even if I were a dwarf."
+
+"Ah, dear Iolas! we cannot deceive each other. Would that Heaven had
+destined me to be married to a man like you!"
+
+"Alas! why am I not worthy of aspiring to such a position?"
+
+I do not know where the conversation would have landed us, but just then
+the countess came to tell us that dinner was waiting, adding that she was
+glad to see we loved one another.
+
+"Madly," said Clementine, "but we are discreet."
+
+"If you are discreet, you cannot love madly."
+
+"True, countess," said I, "for the madness of love and wisdom cannot
+dwell together. I should rather say we are reasonable, for the mind may
+be grave while the heart's gay."
+
+We dined merrily together, then we played at cards, and in the evening we
+finished reading the Pastor Fido. When we were discussing the beauties of
+this delightful work Clementine asked me if the thirteenth book of the
+"AEneid" was fine.
+
+"My dear countess, it is quite worthless; and I only praised it to
+flatter the descendant of the author. However, the same writer made a
+poem on the tricks of countryfolk, which is by no means devoid of merit.
+But you are sleepy, and I am preventing you from undressing."
+
+"Not at all."
+
+She took off her clothes in a moment with the greatest coolness, and did
+not indulge my licentious gaze in the least. She got into bed, and I sat
+beside her; whereupon she sat up again, and her sister turned her back
+upon us. The Pastor Fido was on her night-table, and opening the book I
+proceeded to read the passage where Mirtillo describes the sweetness of
+the kiss Amaryllis had given him, attuning my voice to the sentiment of
+the lines. Clementine seemed as much affected as I was, and I fastened my
+lips on hers. What happiness! She drew in the balm of my lips with
+delight, and appeared to be free from alarm, so I was about to clasp her
+in my arms when she pushed me away with the utmost gentleness, begging me
+to spare her.
+
+This was modesty at bay. I begged her pardon, and taking her hand
+breathed out upon it all the ecstasy of my lips.
+
+"You are trembling," said she, in a voice that did but increase the
+amorous tumult of my heart.
+
+"Yes, dearest countess, and I assure you I tremble for fear of you. Good
+night, I am going; and my prayer must be that I may love you less."
+
+"Why so? To love less is to begin to hate. Do as I do, and pray that your
+love may grow and likewise the strength to resist it."
+
+I went to bed ill pleased with myself. I did not know whether I had gone
+too far or not far enough; but what did it matter? One thing was certain,
+I was sorry for what I had done, and that was always a thought which
+pained me.
+
+In Clementine I saw a woman worthy of the deepest love and the greatest
+respect, and I knew not how I could cease to love her, nor yet how I
+could continue loving her without the reward which every faithful lover
+hopes to win.
+
+"If she loves me," I said to myself, "she cannot refuse me, but it is my
+part to beg and pray, and even to push her to an extremity, that she may
+find an excuse for her defeat. A lover's duty is to oblige the woman he
+loves to surrender at discretion, and love always absolves him for so
+doing."
+
+According to this argument, which I coloured to suit my passions,
+Clementine could not refuse me unless she did not love me, and I
+determined to put her to the proof. I was strengthened in this resolve by
+the wish to free myself from the state of excitement I was in, and I was
+sure that if she continued obdurate I should soon get cured. But at the
+same time I shuddered at the thought; the idea, of my no longer loving
+Clementine seemed to me an impossibility and a cruelty.
+
+After a troubled night I rose early and went to wish her good morning.
+She was still asleep, but her sister Eleanore was dressing.
+
+"My sister," said she, "read till three o'clock this morning. Now that
+she has so many books, she is getting quite mad over them. Let us play a
+trick on her; get into the bed beside her; it will be amusing to see her
+surprise when she wakes up."
+
+"But do you think she will take it as a joke?"
+
+"She won't be able to help laughing; besides, you are dressed."
+
+The opportunity was too tempting, and taking off my dressing-gown, I
+gently crept into the bed, and Eleanore covered me up to my neck. She
+laughed, but my heart was beating rapidly. I could not give the affair
+the appearance of a joke, and I hoped Clementine would be some time
+before she awoke that I might have time to compose myself.
+
+I had been in this position for about five minutes, when Clementine, half
+asleep and half awake, turned over, and stretching out her arm, gave me a
+hasty kiss, thinking I was her sister. She then fell asleep again in the
+same position. I should have stayed still long enough, for her warm
+breath played on my face, and gave me a foretaste of ambrosia; but
+Eleanore could restrain herself no longer, and, bursting into a peal of
+laughter, forced Clementine to open her eyes. Nevertheless, she did not
+discover that she held me in her arms till she saw her sister standing
+laughing beside the bed.
+
+"This is a fine trick," said she, "you are two charmers indeed!"
+
+This quiet reception gave me back my self-composure, and I was able to
+play my part properly.
+
+"You see," said I, "I have had a kiss from my sweet Hebe."
+
+"I thought I was giving it to my sister. 'Tis the kiss that Amaryllis
+gave to Mistillo."
+
+"It comes to the same thing. The kiss has produced its effects, and Iolas
+is young again."
+
+"Dear Eleanore, you have gone too far, for we love each other, and I was
+dreaming of him."
+
+"No, no," said her sister, "Iolas is dressed. Look!"
+
+So saying, the little wanton with a swift movement uncovered me, but at
+the same time she uncovered her sister, and Clementine with a little
+scream veiled the charms which my eyes had devoured for a moment. I had
+seen all, but as one sees lightning. I had seen the cornice and the
+frieze of the altar of love.
+
+Eleanore then went out, and I remained gazing at the treasure I desired
+but did not dare to seize. At last I broke the silence.
+
+"Dearest Hebe," said I, "you are certainly fairer than the cupbearer of
+the gods. I have just seen what must have been seen when Hebe was
+falling, and if I had been Jupiter I should have changed my mind."
+
+"Sardini told me that Jupiter drove Hebe away, and now I ought to drive
+Jupiter away out of revenge."
+
+"Yes; but, my angel, I am Iolas, and not Jupiter. I adore you, and I seek
+to quench the desires which torture me."
+
+"This is a trick between you and Eleanore."
+
+"My dearest, it was all pure chance. I thought I should find you dressed,
+and I went in to wish you good day. You were asleep and your sister was
+dressing. I gazed at you, and Eleanore suggested that I should lie down
+beside you to enjoy your astonishment when you awoke. I ought to be
+grateful to her for a pleasure which has turned out so pleasantly. But
+the beauties she discovered to me surpass all the ideas I had formed on
+the subject. My charming Hebe will not refuse to pardon me."
+
+"No, since all is the effect of chance. But it is curious that when one
+loves passionately one always feels inquisitive concerning the person of
+the beloved object."
+
+"It is a very natural feeling, dearest. Love itself is a kind of
+curiosity, if it be lawful to put curiosity in the rank of the passions;
+but you have not that feeling about me?"
+
+"No, for fear you might disappoint me, for I love you, and I want
+everything to speak in your favour."
+
+"I know you might be disappointed, and consequently I must do everything
+in my power to preserve your good opinion."
+
+"Then you are satisfied with me?"
+
+"Surely. I am a good architect, and I think you are grandly built."
+
+"Stay, Iolas, do not touch me; it is enough that you have seen me."
+
+"Alas! it is by touching that one rectifies the mistakes of the eyes; one
+judges thus of smoothness and solidity. Let me kiss these two fair
+sources of life. I prefer them to the hundred breasts of Cybele, and I am
+not jealous of Athys."
+
+"You are wrong there; Sardini told me that it was Diana of Ephesus who
+had the hundred breasts."
+
+How could I help laughing to hear mythology issuing from Clementine's
+mouth at such a moment! Could any lover foresee such an incident?
+
+I pressed with my hand her alabaster breast, and yet the desire of
+knowledge subdued love in the heart of Clementine. But far from mistaking
+her condition I thought it a good omen. I told her that she was perfectly
+right, and that I was wrong, and a feeling of literary vanity prevented
+her opposing my pressing with my lips a rosy bud, which stood out in
+relief against the alabaster sphere.
+
+"You apply your lips in vain, my dear Iolas, the land is barren. But what
+are you swallowing?"
+
+"The quintessence of a kiss."
+
+"I think you must have swallowed something of me, since you have given me
+a pleasurable sensation I have never before experienced."
+
+"Dear Hebe, you make me happy."
+
+"I am glad to hear it, but I think the kiss on the lips is much better."
+
+"Certainly, because the pleasure is reciprocal, and consequently
+greater."
+
+"You teach by precept and example too. Cruel teacher! Enough, this
+pleasure is too sweet. Love must be looking at us and laughing."
+
+"Why should we not let him enjoy a victory which would make us both
+happier?"
+
+"Because such happiness is not built on a sure foundation. No, no! put
+your arms down. If we can kill each other with kisses, let us kiss on;
+but let us use no other arms."
+
+After our lips had clung to each other cruelly but sweetly, she paused,
+and gazing at me with eyes full of passion she begged me to leave her
+alone.
+
+The situation in which I found myself is impossible to describe. I
+deplored the prejudice which had constrained me, and I wept with rage. I
+cooled myself by making a toilette which was extremely necessary, and
+returned to her room.
+
+She was writing.
+
+"I am delighted to see you back," said she, "I am full of the poetic
+frenzy and propose to tell the story of the victory we have gained in
+verse."
+
+"A sad victory, abhorred by love, hateful to nature."
+
+"That will do nicely. Will each write a poem; I to celebrate the victory
+and you to deplore it. But you look sad."
+
+"I am in pain; but as the masculine anatomy is unknown to you, I cannot
+explain matters."
+
+Clementine did not reply, but I could see that she was affected. I
+suffered a dull pain in that part which prejudice had made me hold a
+prisoner while love and nature bade me give it perfect freedom. Sleep was
+the only thing which would restore the balance of my constitution.
+
+We went down to dinner, but I could not eat. I could not attend to the
+reading of the translation which M. Vigi had brought with him, and I even
+forgot to compliment him upon it. I begged the count to hold the bank for
+me, and asked the company to allow me to lie down; nobody could tell what
+was the matter with me, though Clementine might have her suspicions.
+
+At supper-time Clementine, accompanied by a servant, brought me a
+delicate cold collation, and told me that the bank had won. It was the
+first time it had done so, for I had always taken care to play a losing
+game. I made a good supper, but remained still melancholy and silent.
+When I had finished Clementine bade me good night, saying that she was
+going to write her poem.
+
+I, too, was in the vein: I finished my poem, and made a fair copy of it
+before I went to bed. In the morning Clementine came to see me, and gave
+me her piece, which I read with pleasure; though I suspect that the
+delight my praises gave was equal to mine.
+
+Then came the turn of my composition, and before long I noticed that the
+picture of my sufferings was making a profound impression on her. Big
+tears rolled down her cheeks, and from her eyes shot forth tender
+glances. When I had finished, I had the happiness of hearing her say that
+if she had known that part of physiology better, she would not have
+behaved so.
+
+We took a cup of chocolate together, and I then begged her to lie down
+beside me in bed without undressing, and to treat me as I had treated her
+the day before, that she might have some experience of the martyrdom I
+had sung in my verses. She smiled and agreed, on the condition that I
+should do nothing to her.
+
+It was a cruel condition, but it was the beginning of victory, and I had
+to submit. I had no reason to repent of my submission, for I enjoyed the
+despotism she exercised on me, and the pain she must be in that I did
+nothing to her, whilst I would not let her see the charms which she held
+in her hands. In vain I excited her to satisfy herself, to refuse her
+desires nothing, but she persisted in maintaining that she did not wish
+to go any further.
+
+"Your enjoyment cannot be so great as mine," said I. But her subtle wit
+never left her without a reply.
+
+"Then," said she, "you have no right to ask me to pity you."
+
+The test, however, was too sharp for her. She left me in a state of great
+excitement, giving me a kiss which took all doubts away, and saying that
+in love we must be all or nothing.
+
+We spent the day in reading, eating, and walking, and in converse grave
+and gay. I could not see, however, that my suit had progressed, as far as
+the events of the morning seemed to indicate. She wanted to reverse the
+medal of Aristippus, who said, in speaking of Lois, "I possess her, but
+she does not possess me." She wanted to be my mistress, without my being
+her master. I ventured to bewail my fate a little, but that did not seem
+to advance my cause.
+
+Three or four days after, I asked Clementine in the presence of her
+sister to let me lie in bed beside her. This is the test proposed to a
+nun, a widow, a girl afraid of consequences, and it nearly always
+succeeds. I took a packet of fine English letters and explained their use
+to her. She took them examined them attentively, and after a burst of
+laughter declared them to be scandalous, disgusting, horrible in which
+anathema her sister joined. In vain I tried to plead their utility in
+defence, but Clementine maintained that there was no trusting them, and
+pushed her finger into one so strongly that it burst with a loud crack. I
+had to give way, and put my specialties in my pocket, and her final
+declaration was that such things made her shudder.
+
+I wished them good night, and retired in some confusion. I pondered over
+Clementine's strange resistance, which could only mean that I had not
+inspired her with sufficient love. I resolved on overcoming her by an
+almost infallible method. I would procure her pleasures that were new to
+her without sparing expense. I could think of nothing better than to take
+the whole family to Milan, and to give them a sumptuous banquet at my
+pastry-cook's. "I will take them there," I said to myself, "without
+saying a word about our destination till we are on our way, for if I were
+to name Milan the count might feel bound to tell his Spanish countess,
+that she might have an opportunity of making the acquaintance of her
+sisters-in-law, and this would vex me to the last degree." The party
+would be a great treat to the sisters, who had never been in Milan, and I
+resolved to make the expedition as splendid as I possibly could.
+
+When I awoke the next morning I wrote to Zenobia to buy three dresses of
+the finest Lyons silk for three young ladies of rank. I sent the
+necessary measurements, and instructions as to the trimming. The Countess
+Ambrose's dress was to be white satin with a rich border of Valenciennes
+lace. I also wrote to M. Greppi, asking him to pay for Zenobia's
+purchases. I told her to take the three dresses to my private lodgings,
+and lay them upon the bed, and give the landlord a note I enclosed. This
+note ordered him to provide a banquet for eight persons, without sparing
+expense. On the day and hour appointed, Zengbia was to be at the
+pastrycook's ready to wait on the three ladies. I sent the letter by
+Clairmont, who returned before dinner, bearing a note from Zenobia
+assuring me that all my wishes should be carried out. After dessert I
+broached my plan to the countess, telling her that I wanted to give a
+party like the one at Lodi, but on two conditions: the first, that no one
+was to know our destination till we were in the carriages, and the
+second, that after dinner we should return to St. Angelo.
+
+Out of politeness the countess looked at her husband before accepting the
+invitation, but he cried out, without ceremony, that he was ready to go
+if I took the whole family.
+
+"Very good," said I, "we will start at eight o'clock to-morrow, and
+nobody need be at any trouble, the carriages are ordered."
+
+I felt obliged to include the canon, because he was a great courtier of
+the countess, and also because he lost money to me every day, and thus it
+was he, in fact, who was going to pay for the expedition. That evening he
+lost three hundred sequins, and was obliged to ask me to give him three
+day's grace to pay the money. I replied by assuring him that all I had
+was at his service.
+
+When the company broke up I offered my hand to Hebe, and escorted her and
+her sister to their room. We had begun to read Fontenelle's "Plurality of
+Worlds," and I had thought we should finish it that night; but Clementine
+said that as she had to get up early, she would want to get to sleep
+early also.
+
+"You are right, dearest Hebe, do you go to bed, and I will read to you."
+
+She made no objection, so I took the Ariosto, and began to read the
+history of the Spanish princess who fell in love with Bradamante. I
+thought that by the time I had finished Clementine would be ardent, but I
+was mistaken; both she and her sister seemed pensive.
+
+"What is the matter with you, dearest? Has Ricciardetto displeased you?"
+
+"Not at all, he has pleased me, and in the princess's place I should have
+done the same; but we shall not sleep all night, and it is your fault."
+
+"What have I done, pray?"
+
+"Nothing, but you can make us happy, and give us a great proof of your
+friendship."
+
+"Speak, then. What is it you want of me? I would do anything to please
+you. My life is yours. You shall sleep soundly."
+
+"Well, then, tell us where we are going to-morrow."
+
+"Have I not already said that I would tell you just as we are going?"
+
+"Yes, but that won't do. We want to know now, and if you won't tell us we
+shan't sleep, all night, and we shall look frightful to-morrow."
+
+"I should be so sorry, but I don't think that you could look frightful."
+
+"You don't think we can keep a secret. It is nothing very important, is
+it?"
+
+"No, it is not very important, but all the same it is a secret."
+
+"It would be dreadful if you refused me."
+
+"Dearest Hebe! how can I refuse you anything? I confess freely that I
+have been wrong in keeping you waiting so long. Here is my secret: you
+are to dine with me to-morrow."
+
+"With you? Where?"
+
+"Milan."
+
+In their immoderate joy they got out of bed, and without caring for their
+state of undress, threw their arms round my neck, covered me with kisses,
+clasped me to their breasts, and finally sat down on my knees.
+
+"We have never seen Milan," they cried, "and it has been the dream of our
+lives to see that splendid town. How often I have been put to the blush
+when I have been forced to confess that I have never been to Milan."
+
+"It makes me very happy," said Hebe, "but my happiness is troubled by the
+idea that we shall see nothing of the town, for we shall have to return
+after dinner. It is cruel! Are we to go fifteen miles to Milan only to
+dine and come back again? At least we must see our sister-in-law."
+
+"I have foreseen all your objections, and that was the reason I made a
+mystery of it, but it has been arranged. You don't like it? Speak and
+tell me your pleasure."
+
+"Of course we like it, dear Iolas. The party will be charming, and
+perhaps, if we knew all, the very conditions are all for the best."
+
+"It may be so, but I may not tell you any more now."
+
+"And we will not press you."
+
+In an ecstasy of joy she began to embrace me again, and Eleanore said
+that she would go to sleep so as to be more on the alert for the morrow.
+This was the best thing she could have done. I knew the fortunate hour
+was at hand, and exciting Clementine by my fiery kisses, and drawing
+nearer and nearer, at last I was in full possession of the temple I had
+so long desired to attain. Hebe's pleasure and delight kept her silent;
+she shared my ecstasies, and mingled her happy tears with mine.
+
+I spent two hours in this manner, and then went to bed, impatient to
+renew the combat on the following day more at my ease and with greater
+comfort.
+
+At eight o'clock we were all assembled round the breakfast-table, but in
+spite of my high spirits I could not make the rest of the company share
+them. All were silent and pensive; curiosity shewed itself on every face.
+Clementine and her sister pretended to partake the general feeling, and
+were silent like the rest while I looked on and enjoyed their expectancy.
+
+Clairmont, who had fulfilled my instructions to the letter, came in and
+told us that the carriages were at the door. I asked my guests to follow
+me, and they did so in silence. I put the countess and Clementine in my
+carriage, the latter holding the baby on her lap, her sister and the
+three gentlemen being seated in the other carriage. I called out, with a
+laugh,
+
+"Drive to Milan."
+
+"Milan! Milan!" they exclaimed with one voice. "Capital! capital!"
+
+Clairmont galloped in front of us and went off. Clementine pretended to
+be astonished, but her sister looked as if she had known something of our
+destination before. All care, however, had disappeared, and the highest
+spirits prevailed. We stopped at a village half-way between St. Angelo
+and Milan to blow the horses, and everybody got down.
+
+"What will my wife say?" asked the count.
+
+"Nothing, for she will not know anything about it, and if she does I am
+the only guilty party. You are to dine with me in a suite of rooms which
+I have occupied incognito since I have been at Milan; for you will
+understand that I could not have my wants attended to at your house,
+where the place is already taken."
+
+"And how about Zenobia?"
+
+"Zenobia was a lucky chance, and is a very nice girl, but she would not
+suffice for my daily fare."
+
+"You are a lucky fellow!"
+
+"I try to make myself comfortable."
+
+"My dear husband," said the Countess Ambrose, "you proposed a visit to
+Milan two years ago, and the chevalier proposed it a few hours ago, and
+now we are on our way."
+
+"Yes, sweetheart, but my idea was that we should spend a month there."
+
+"If you want to do that," said I, "I will see to everything."
+
+"Thank you, my dear sir; you are really a wonderful man."
+
+"You do me too much honour, count, there is nothing wonderful about me,
+except that I execute easily an easy task."
+
+"Yes; but you will confess that a thing may be difficult from the way in
+which we regard it, or from the position in which we find ourselves."
+
+"You are quite right."
+
+When we were again on our way the countess said,--
+
+"You must confess, sir, that you are a very fortunate man."
+
+"I do not deny it, my dear countess, but my happiness is due to the
+company I find myself in; if you were to expel me from yours, I should be
+miserable."
+
+"You are not the kind of man to be expelled from any society."
+
+"That is a very kindly compliment."
+
+"Say, rather, a very true one."
+
+"I am happy to hear you say so, but it would be both foolish and
+presumptuous for me to say so myself."
+
+Thus we made merry on our way, above all at the expense of the canon, who
+had been begging the countess to intercede with me to give him leave to
+absent himself half an hour.
+
+"I want to call on a lady," said he; "I should lose her favour forever if
+she came to know that I had been in Milan without paying her a visit."
+
+"You must submit to the conditions," replied the amiable countess, "so
+don't count on my intercession."
+
+We got to Milan exactly at noon, and stepped out at the pastry-cook's
+door. The landlady begged the countess to confide her child to her care,
+and shewed her a bosom which proved her fruitfulness. This offer was made
+at the foot of the stairs, and the countess accepted it with charming
+grace and dignity. It was a delightful episode, which chance had willed
+should adorn the entertainment I had invented. Everybody seemed happy,
+but I was the happiest of all. Happiness is purely a creature of the
+imagination. If you wish to be happy fancy that you are so, though I
+confess that circumstances favourable to this state are often beyond our
+control. On the other hand, unfavourable circumstances are mostly the
+result of our own mistakes.
+
+The countess took my arm, and we led the way into my room which I found
+exquisitely neat and clean. As I had expected, Zenobia was there, but I
+was surprised to see Croce's mistress, looking very pretty; however, I
+pretended not to know her. She was well dressed, and her face, free from
+the sadness it had borne before, was so seductive in its beauty, that I
+felt vexed at her appearance at that particular moment.
+
+"Here are two pretty girls," said the countess. "Who are you, pray?"
+
+"We are the chevalier's humble servants," said Zenobia, "and we are here
+only to wait on you."
+
+Zenobia had taken it on herself to bring her lodger, who began to speak
+Italian, and looked at me in doubt, fearing that I was displeased at her
+presence. I had to reassure her by saying I was very glad she had come
+with Zenobia. These words were as balm to her heart; she smiled again,
+and became more beautiful than ever. I felt certain that she would not
+remain unhappy long; it was impossible to behold her without one's
+interest being excited in her favour. A bill signed by the Graces can
+never be protested; anyone with eyes and a heart honours it at sight.
+
+My humble servants took the ladies' cloaks and followed them into the
+bedroom, where the three dresses were laid out on a table. I only knew
+the white satin and lace, for that was the only one I had designed. The
+countess, who walked before her sisters, was the first to notice it, and
+exclaimed,--
+
+"What a lovely dress! To whom does it belong, M. de Seingalt? You ought
+to know."
+
+"Certainly. It belongs to your husband who can do what he likes with it,
+and I hope, if he gives it you, you will take it. Take it, count; it is
+yours; and if you refuse I will positively kill myself."
+
+"We love you too well to drive you to an act of despair. The idea is
+worthy of your nobility of heart. I take your beautiful present with one
+hand, and with the other I deliver it to her to whom it really belongs."
+
+"What, dear husband! is this beautiful dress really mine? Whom am I to
+thank? I thank you both, and I must put it on for dinner."
+
+The two others were not made of such rich materials, but they were more
+showy, and I was delighted to see Clementine's longing gaze fixed upon
+the one I had intended for her. Eleanore in her turn admired the dress
+that had been made for her. The first was in shot satin, and ornamented
+with lovely wreaths of flowers; the second was sky-blue satin, with a
+thousand flowers scattered all over it. Zenobia took upon herself to say
+that the first was for Clementine.
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"It is the longer, and you are taller than your sister."
+
+"That is true. It is really mine, then?" said she, turning to me.
+
+"If I may hope that you will deign to accept it."
+
+"Surely, dear Iolas, and I will put it on directly."
+
+Eleanore maintained that her dress was the prettier, and said she was
+dying to put it on.
+
+"Very good, very good!" I exclaimed, in high glee, "we will leave you to
+dress, and here are your maids."
+
+I went out with the two brothers and the canon, and I remarked that they
+looked quite confused. No doubt they were pondering the prodigality of
+gamesters; light come, light go. I did not interrupt their thoughts, for
+I loved to astonish people. I confess it was a feeling of vanity which
+raised me above my fellow-men-at least, in my own eyes, but that was
+enough for me. I should have despised anyone who told me that I was
+laughed at, but I daresay it was only the truth.
+
+I was in the highest spirits, and they soon proved infectious. I embraced
+Count Ambrose affectionately, begging his pardon for having presumed to
+make the family a few small presents, and I thanked his brother for
+having introduced me to them. "You have all given me such a warm
+welcome," I added, "that I felt obliged to give you some small proof of
+my gratitude."
+
+The fair countesses soon appeared, bedecked with smiles and their gay
+attire.
+
+"You must have contrived to take our measures," said they; "but we cannot
+imagine how you did it."
+
+"The funniest thing is," said the eldest, "that you have had my dress
+made so that it can be let out when necessary without destroying the
+shape. But what a beautiful piece of trimming! It is worth four times as
+much as the dress itself."
+
+Clementine could not keep away from the looking-glass. She fancied that
+in the colours of her dress, rose and green, I had indicated the
+characteristics of the youthful Hebe. Eleanore still maintained that her
+dress was the prettiest of all.
+
+I was delighted with the pleasure of my fair guests, and we sat down to
+table with excellent appetites. The dinner was extremely choice; but the
+finest dish of all was a dish of oysters, which the landlord had dressed
+a la maitre d'hotel. We enjoyed them immensely. We finished off three
+hundred of them, for the ladies relished them extremely, and the canon
+seemed to have an insatiable appetite; and we washed down the dishes with
+numerous bottles of champagne. We stayed at table for three hours,
+drinking, singing, and jesting, while my humble servants, whose beauty
+almost rivalled that of my guests, waited upon us.
+
+Towards the end of the meal the pastry-cook's wife came in with the
+countess's baby on her breast. This was a dramatic stroke. The mother
+burst into a cry of joy, and the woman seemed quite proud of having
+suckled the scion of so illustrious a house for nearly four hours. It is
+well known that women, even more than men, are wholly under the sway of
+the imagination. Who can say that this woman, simple and honest like the
+majority of the lower classes, did not think that her own offspring would
+be ennobled by being suckled at the breast which had nourished a young
+count? Such an idea is, no doubt, foolish, but that is the very reason
+why it is dear to the hearts of the people.
+
+We spent another hour in taking coffee and punch, and then the ladies
+went to change their clothes again. Zenobia took care that their new ones
+should be carefully packed in cardboard boxes and placed under the seat
+of my carriage.
+
+Croce's abandoned mistress found an opportunity of telling me that she
+was very happy with Zenobia. She asked me when we were to go.
+
+"You will be at Marseilles," said I, pressing her hand, "a fortnight
+after Easter at latest."
+
+Zenobia had told me that the girl had an excellent heart, behaved very
+discreetly, and that she should be very sorry to see her go. I gave
+Zenobia twelve sequins for the trouble she had taken.
+
+I was satisfied with everything and paid the worthy pastry-cook's bill. I
+noticed we had emptied no less than twenty bottles of champagne, though
+it is true that we drank very little of any other wine, as the ladies
+preferred it.
+
+I loved and was beloved, my health was good, I had plenty of money, which
+I spent freely; in fine, I was happy. I loved to say so in defiance of
+those sour moralists who pretend that there is no true happiness on this
+earth. It is the expression on this earth which makes me laugh; as if it
+were possible to go anywhere else in search of happiness. 'Mors ultima
+linea rerum est'. Yes, death is the end of all, for after death man has
+no senses; but I do not say that the soul shares the fate of the body. No
+one should dogmatise on uncertainties, and after death everything is
+doubtful.
+
+It was seven o'clock when we began our journey home, which we reached at
+midnight. The journey was so pleasant that it seemed to us but short. The
+champagne, the punch, and the pleasure, had warmed my two fair
+companions, and by favour of the darkness I was able to amuse myself with
+them, though I loved Clementine too well to carry matters very far with
+her sister.
+
+When we alighted we wished each other good night, and everybody retired
+to his or her room, myself excepted, for I spent several happy hours with
+Clementine, which I can never forget.
+
+"Do you think," said she, "that I shall be happy when you have left me
+all alone?"
+
+"Dearest Hebe, both of us will be unhappy for the first few days, but
+then philosophy will step in and soften the bitterness of parting without
+lessening our love."
+
+"Soften the bitterness! I do not think any philosophy can work such a
+miracle. I know that you, dear sophist, will soon console yourself with
+other girls. Don't think me jealous; I should abhor myself if I thought I
+was capable of so vile a passion, but I should despise myself if I was
+capable of seeking consolation in your way."
+
+"I shall be in despair if you entertain such ideas of me."
+
+"They are natural, however."
+
+"Possibly. What you call 'other girls' can never expel your image from my
+breast. The chief of them is the wife of a tailor, and the other is a
+respectable young woman, whom I am going to take back to Marseilles,
+whence she has been decoyed by her wretched seducer.
+
+"From henceforth to death, you and you alone will reign in my breast; and
+if, led astray by my senses, I ever press another in these arms, I shall
+soon be punished for an act of infidelity in which my mind will have no
+share."
+
+"I at all events will never need to repent in that fashion. But I cannot
+understand how, with your love for me, and holding me in your arms, you
+can even contemplate the possibility of becoming unfaithful to me."
+
+"I don't contemplate it, dearest, I merely take it as an hypothesis."
+
+"I don't see much difference."
+
+What reply could I make? There was reason in what Clementine said, though
+she was deceived, but her mistakes were due to her love. My love was so
+ardent as to be blind to possible--nay, certain, infidelities. The only
+circumstance which made me more correct in my estimate of the future than
+she, was that this was by no means my first love affair. But if my
+readers have been in the same position, as I suppose mast of them have,
+they will understand how difficult it is to answer such arguments coming
+from a woman one wishes to render happy. The keenest wit has to remain
+silent and to take refuge in kisses.
+
+"Would you like to take me away with you?" said she, "I am ready to
+follow you, and it would make me happy. If you love me, you ought to be
+enchanted for your own sake. Let us make each other happy, dearest."
+
+"I could not dishonour your family."
+
+"Do you not think me worthy of becoming your wife?"
+
+"You are worthy of a crown, and it is I who am all unworthy of possessing
+such a wife. You must know that I have nothing in the world except my
+fortune, and that may leave me to-morrow. By myself I do not dread the
+reverses of fortune, but I should be wretched if, after linking your fate
+with mine, you were forced to undergo any privation."
+
+"I think--I know not why--that you can never be unfortunate, and that you
+cannot be happy without me. Your love is not so ardent as mine; you have
+not so great a faith."
+
+"My angel, if my fate is weaker than yours, that is the result of cruel
+experience which makes me tremble for the future. Affrighted love loses
+its strength but gains reason."
+
+"Cruel reason! Must we, then, prepare to part?"
+
+"We must indeed, dearest; it is a hard necessity, but my heart will still
+be thine. I shall go away your fervent adorer, and if fortune favours me
+in England you will see me again next year. I will buy an estate wherever
+you like, and it shall be yours on your wedding day, our children and
+literature will be our delights."
+
+"What a happy prospect!--a golden vision indeed! I would that I might
+fall asleep dreaming thus, and wake not till that blessed day, or wake
+only to die if it is not to be. But what shall I do if you have left me
+with child?"
+
+"Divine Hebe, you need not fear. I have managed that."
+
+"Managed? I did not think of that, but I see what you mean, and I am very
+much obliged to you. Alas perhaps after all it would have been better if
+you had not taken any precautions, for surely you are not born for my
+misfortune, and you could never have abandoned the mother and the child."
+
+"You are right, sweetheart, and if before two months have elapsed you
+find any signs of pregnancy in spite of my precautions, you have only to
+write to me, and whatever my fortunes may be, I will give you my hand and
+legitimise our offspring. You would certainly be marrying beneath your
+station, but you would not be the less happy for that, would you?"
+
+"No, no! to bear your name, and to win your hand would be the crowning of
+all my hopes. I should never repent of giving myself wholly to you."
+
+"You make me happy."
+
+"All of us love you, all say that you are happy, and that you deserve
+your happiness. What praise is this! You cannot tell how my heart beats
+when I hear you lauded when you are away. When they say I love you, I
+answer that I adore you, and you know that I do not lie."
+
+It was with such dialogues that we passed away the interval between our
+amorous transports on the last five or six nights of my stay. Her sister
+slept, or pretended to sleep. When I left Clementine I went to bed and
+did not rise till late, and then I spent the whole day with her either in
+private or with the family. It was a happy time. How could I, as free as
+the air, a perfect master of my movements, of my own free will put my
+happiness away from me? I cannot understand it now.
+
+My luck had made me win all the worthy canon's money, which in turn I
+passed on to the family at the castle. Clementine alone would not profit
+by my inattentive play, but the last two days I insisted on taking her
+into partnership, and as the canon's bad luck still continued she
+profited to the extent of a hundred louis. The worthy monk lost a
+thousand sequins, of which seven hundred remained in the family. This was
+paying well for the hospitality I had received, and as it was at the
+expense of the monk, though a worthy one, the merit was all the greater.
+
+The last night, which I spent entirely with the countess, was very sad;
+we must have died of grief if we had not taken refuge in the transports
+of love. Never was night better spent. Tears of grief and tears of love
+followed one another in rapid succession, and nine times did I offer up
+sacrifice on the altar of the god, who gave me fresh strength to replace
+that which was exhausted. The sanctuary was full of blood and tears, but
+the desires of the priest and victim still cried for more. We had at last
+to make an effort and part. Eleanore had seized the opportunity of our
+sleeping for a few moments, and had softly risen and left us alone. We
+felt grateful to her, and agreed that she must either be very insensitive
+or have suffered torments in listening to our voluptuous combats. I left
+Clementine to her ablutions, of which she stood in great need, while I
+went to my room to make my toilette.
+
+When we appeared at the breakfast, table we looked as if we had been on
+the rack, and Clementine's eyes betrayed her feelings, but our grief was
+respected. I could not be gay in my usual manner, but no one asked me the
+reason. I promised to write to them, and come and see them again the
+following year. I did write to them, but I left off doing so at London,
+because the misfortunes I experienced there made me lose all hope of
+seeing them again. I never did see any of them again, but I have never
+forgotten Clementine.
+
+Six years later, when I came back from Spain, I heard to my great delight
+that she was living happily with Count N----, whom she had married three
+years after my departure. She had two sons, the younger, who must now be
+twenty-seven, is in the Austrian army. How delighted I should be to see
+him! When I heard of Clementine's happiness, it was, as I have said, on
+my return from Spain, and my fortunes were at a low ebb. I went to see
+what I could do at Leghorn, and as I went through Lombardy I passed four
+miles from the estate where she and her husband resided, but I had not
+the courage to go and see her; perhaps I was right. But I must return to
+the thread of my story.
+
+I felt grateful to Eleanore for her kindness to us, and I had resolved to
+leave her some memorial of me. I took her apart for a moment, and drawing
+a fine cameo, representing the god of Silence, off my finger, I placed it
+on hers, and then rejoined the company, without giving her an opportunity
+to thank me.
+
+The carriage was ready to take me away, and everyone was waiting to see
+me off, but my eyes filled with tears. I sought for Clementine in vain;
+she had vanished. I pretended to have forgotten something in my room, and
+going to my Hebe's chamber I found her in a terrible state, choking with
+sobs. I pressed her to my breast, and mingled my tears with hers; and
+then laying her gently in her bed, and snatching a last kiss from her
+trembling lips, I tore myself away from a place full of such sweet and
+agonizing memories.
+
+I thanked and embraced everyone, the good canon amongst others, and
+whispering to Eleanore to see to her sister I jumped into the carriage
+beside the count. We remained perfectly silent, and slept nearly the
+whole of the way. We found the Marquis Triulzi and the countess together,
+and the former immediately sent for a dinner for four. I was not much
+astonished to find that the countess had found out about our being at
+Milan, and at first she seemed inclined to let us feel the weight of her
+anger; but the count, always fertile in expedients, told her that it was
+delicacy on my part not to tell her, as I was afraid she would be put out
+with such an incursion of visitors.
+
+At dinner I said that I should soon be leaving for Genoa, and for my
+sorrow the marquis gave me a letter of introduction to the notorious
+Signora Isola-Bella, while the countess gave me a letter to her kinsman
+the Bishop of Tortona.
+
+My arrival at Milan was well-timed; Therese was on the point of going to
+Palermo, and I just succeeded in seeing her before she left. I talked to
+her of the wish of Cesarino to go to sea, and I did all in my power to
+make her yield to his inclinations.
+
+"I am leaving him at Milan," said she. "I know how he got this idea into
+his head, but I will never give my consent. I hope I shall find him wiser
+by the time I come back."
+
+She was mistaken. My son never altered his mind, and in fifteen years my
+readers will hear more of him.
+
+I settled my accounts with Greppi and took two bills of exchange on
+Marseilles, and one of ten thousand francs on Genoa, where I did not
+think I would have to spend much money. In spite of my luck at play, I
+was poorer by a thousand sequins when I left Milan than when I came
+there; but my extravagant expenditure must be taken into account.
+
+I spent all my afternoons with the fair Marchioness sometimes alone and
+sometimes with her cousin, but with my mind full of grief for Clementine
+she no longer charmed me as she had done three weeks ago.
+
+I had no need to make any mystery about the young lady I was going to
+take with me, so I sent Clairmont for her small trunk, and at eight
+o'clock on the morning of my departure she waited on me at the count's. I
+kissed the hand of the woman who had attempted my life, and thanked her
+for her hospitality, to which I attributed the good reception I had had
+at Milan. I then thanked the count, who said once more that he should
+never cease to be grateful to me, and thus I left Milan on the 20th of
+March, 1763. I never re-visited that splendid capital.
+
+The young lady, whom out of respect for her and her family I called
+Crosin, was charming. There was an air of nobility and high-bred reserve
+about her which bore witness to her excellent upbringing. As I sat next
+to her, I congratulated myself on my immunity from love of her, but the
+reader will guess that I was mistaken. I told Clairmont that she was to
+be called my niece, and to be treated with the utmost respect.
+
+I had had no opportunity of conversing with her, so the first thing I did
+was to test her intelligence, and though I had not the slightest
+intention of paying my court to her, I felt that it would be well to
+inspire her with friendship and confidence as far as I was concerned.
+
+The scar which my late amours had left was still bleeding, and I was glad
+to think that I should be able to restore the young Marseillaise to the
+paternal hearth without any painful partings or vain regrets. I enjoyed
+in advance my meritorious action, and I was quite vain to see my
+self-restraint come to such a pitch that I was able to live in close
+intimacy with a pretty girl without any other desire than that of
+rescuing her from the shame into which she might have fallen if she had
+traveled alone. She felt my kindness to her, and said,--
+
+"I am sure M. de la Croix would not have abandoned me if he had not met
+you at Milan."
+
+"You are very charitable, but I am unable to share in your good opinion.
+To my mind Croce has behaved in a rascally manner, to say the least of
+it, for in spite of your many charms he had no right to count on me in
+the matter. I will not say that he openly scorned you, since he might
+have acted from despair; but I am sure he must have ceased to love you,
+or he could never have abandoned you thus."
+
+"I am sure of the contrary. He saw that he had no means of providing for
+me, and he had to choose between leaving me and killing himself."
+
+"Not at all. He ought to have sold all he had and sent you back to
+Marseilles. Your journey to Genoa would not have cost much, and thence
+you could have gone to Marseilles by sea. Croce counted on my having been
+interested in your pretty face, and he was right; but you must see that
+he exposed you to a great risk. You must not be offended if I tell you
+the plain truth. If your face had not inspired me with a lively interest
+in you, I should have only felt ordinary compassion on reading your
+appeal, and this would not have been enough to force me to great
+sacrifices of time and trouble. But I have no business to be blaming
+Croce. You are hurt; I see you are still in love with him."
+
+"I confess it, and I pity him. As for myself, I only pity my cruel
+destiny. I shall never see him again, but I shall never love anyone else,
+for my mind is made up. I shall go into a convent and expiate my sins. My
+father will pardon me, for he is a man of an excellent heart. I have been
+the victim of love; my will was not my own. The seductive influence of
+passion ravished my reason from me, and the only thing that I blame
+myself for is for not having fortified my mind against it. Otherwise I
+cannot see that I have sinned deeply, but I confess I have done wrong."
+
+"You would have gone with Croce from Milan if he had asked you, even on
+foot."
+
+"Of course; it would have been my duty; but he would not expose me to the
+misery that he saw before us."
+
+"Nay, you were miserable enough already. I am sure that if you meet him
+at Marseilles you will go with him again."
+
+"Never. I begin to get back my reason. I am free once more, and the day
+will come when I shall thank God for having forgotten him."
+
+Her sincerity pleased me, and as I knew too well the power of love I
+pitied her from my heart. For two hours she told me the history of her
+unfortunate amour, and as she told it well I began to take a liking for
+her.
+
+We reached Tortona in the evening, and with the intention of sleeping
+there I told Clairmont to get us a supper to my taste. While we were
+eating it I was astonished at my false niece's wit, and she made a good
+match for me at the meal, for she had an excellent appetite, and drank as
+well as any girl of her age. As we were leaving the table, she made a
+jest which was so much to the point that I burst out laughing, and her
+conquest was complete. I embraced her in the joy of my heart, and finding
+my kiss ardently returned, I asked her without any, circumlocution if she
+was willing that we should content ourselves with one bed.
+
+At this invitation her face fell, and she replied, with an air of
+submission which kills desire,--
+
+"Alas! you can do what you like. If liberty is a precious thing, it is
+most precious of all in love."
+
+"There is no need for this disobedience. You have inspired me with a
+tender passion, but if you don't share my feelings my love for you shall
+be stifled at its birth. There are two beds here, as you see; you can
+choose which one you will sleep in."
+
+"Then I will sleep in that one, but I shall be very sorry if you are not
+so kind to me in the future as you have been in the past."
+
+"Don't be afraid. You shall not find me un worthy of your esteem. Good
+night; we shall be good friends."
+
+Early the next morning I sent the countess's letter to the bishop, and an
+hour afterwards, as I was at breakfast, an old priest came to ask me and
+the lady with me to dine with my lord. The countess's letter did not say
+anything about a lady, but the prelate, who was a true Spaniard and very
+polite, felt that as I could not leave my real or false niece alone in
+the inn I should not have accepted the invitation if she had not been
+asked as well. Probably my lord had heard of the lady through his
+footmen, who in Italy are a sort of spies, who entertain their masters
+with the scandalous gossip of the place. A bishop wants something more
+than his breviary to amuse him now that the apostolic virtues have grown
+old-fashioned and out of date; in short, I accepted the invitation,
+charging the priest to present my respects to his lordship.
+
+My niece was delightful, and treated me as if I had no right to feel any
+resentment for her having preferred her own bed to mine. I was pleased
+with her behaviour, for now that my head was cool I felt that she would
+have degraded herself if she had acted otherwise. My vanity was not even
+wounded, which is so often the case under similar circumstances.
+Self-love and prejudice prevent a woman yielding till she has been
+assidiously courted, whereas I had asked her to share my bed in an
+off-hand manner, as if it were a mere matter of form. However, I should
+not have done it unless it had been for the fumes of the champagne and
+the Somard, with which we had washed down the delicious supper mine host
+had supplied us with. She had been flattered by the bishop's invitation,
+but she did not know whether I had accepted for her as well as myself;
+and when I told her that we were going out to dinner together, she was
+wild with joy. She made a careful toilette, looking very well for a
+traveller, and at noon my lord's carriage came to fetch us.
+
+The prelate was a tall man, two inches taller than myself; and in spite
+of the weight of his eighty years, he looked well and seemed quite
+active, though grave as became a Spanish grandee. He received us with a
+politeness which was almost French, and when my niece would have kissed
+his hand, according to custom, he affectionately drew it back, and gave
+her a magnificent cross of amethysts and brilliants to kiss. She kissed
+it with devotion, saying,--
+
+"This is what I love."
+
+She looked at me as she said it, and the jest (which referred to her
+lover La Croix or Croce) surprised me.
+
+We sat down to dinner, and I found the bishop to be a pleasant and a
+learned man. We were nine in all; four priests, and two young gentlemen
+of the town, who behaved to my niece with great politeness, which she
+received with all the manner of good society. I noticed that the bishop,
+though he often spoke to her, never once looked at her face. My lord knew
+what danger lurked in those bright eyes, and like a prudent greybeard he
+took care not to fall into the snare. After coffee had been served, we
+took leave, and in four hours we left Tortona, intending to lie at Novi.
+
+In the course of the afternoon my fair niece amused me with the wit and
+wisdom of her conversation. While we were supping I led the conversation
+up to the bishop, and then to religion, that I might see what her
+principles were. Finding her to be a good Christian, I asked her how she
+could allow herself to make a jest when she kissed the prelate's cross.
+
+"It was a mere chance," she said. "The equivocation was innocent because
+it was not premeditated, for if I had thought it over I should never have
+said such a thing."
+
+I pretended to believe her; she might possibly be sincere. She was
+extremely clever, and my love for her was becoming more and more ardent,
+but my vanity kept my passion in check. When she went to bed I did not
+kiss her, but as her bed had no screen as at Tortona, she waited until
+she thought I was asleep to undress herself. We got to Genoa by noon the
+next day.
+
+Pogomas had got me some rooms and had forwarded me the address. I visited
+it, and found the apartment to consist of four well-furnished rooms,
+thoroughly comfortable, as the English, who understand how to take their
+ease, call it. I ordered a good dinner, and sent to tell Pogomas of my
+arrival.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Adventures In The South: Milan
+by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
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