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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.07.00*END* + + + +This etext was prepared by David Widger, <widger@cecomet.net> + + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 +ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH, Volume 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, dearling, 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 youself." + +"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 yon, 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 sedanchair. + +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 allwise, 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 that1 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 this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH, Vol. 4e, MILAN by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + |