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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2979.txt b/2979.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f54462e --- /dev/null +++ b/2979.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4895 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Spanish Passions: Florence to Trieste +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Spanish Passions: Florence to Trieste + The Memoirs Of Jacques Casanova De Seingalt 1725-1798 + +Author: Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Release Date: October 31, 2006 [EBook #2979] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FLORENCE TO TRIESTE *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 + +SPANISH PASSIONS, Volume 6d--FLORENCE TO TRIESTE +THE MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA DE SEINGALT + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR MACHEN TO +WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + + + + +FLORENCE to TRIESTE + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +Madame Denis--Dedini--Zanovitch--Zen--I Am Obliged to Leave--I Arrive at +Bologna--General Albergati + +Without speaking at any length I asked the young grand duke to give me an +asylum in his dominions for as long as I might care to stay. I +anticipated any questions he might have asked by telling him the reasons +which had made me an exile from my native land. + +"As to my necessities," I added, "I shall ask for help of no one; I have +sufficient funds to ensure my independence. I think of devoting the whole +of my time to study." + +"So long as your conduct is good," he replied, "the laws guarantee your +freedom; but I am glad you have applied to me. Whom do you know in +Florence?" + +"Ten years ago, my lord, I had some distinguished acquaintances here; but +now I propose to live in retirement, and do not intend renewing any old +friendships." + +Such was my conversation with the young sovereign, and after his +assurances I concluded that no one would molest me. + +My adventures in Tuscany the years before were in all probability +forgotten, or almost forgotten, as the new Government had nothing in +common with the old. + +After my interview with the grand duke I went to a bookseller's shop and +ordered some books. A gentleman in the shop, hearing me making enquiries +about Greek works, accosted me, and we got on well together. I told him I +was working at a translation of the "Iliad," and in return he informed me +that he was making a collection of Greek epigrams, which he wished to +publish in Greek and Italian. I told him I should like to see this work, +whereupon he asked me where I lived. I told him, learnt his name and +address, and called on him the next day. He returned the visit, and we +became fast friends, though we never either walked or ate together. + +This worthy Florentine was named (or is named, if he be still alive) +Everard de Medici. + +I was very comfortable with Allegranti; I had the quiet so necessary to +literary labours, but nevertheless I made up my mind to change my +lodging. Magdalena, my landlord's niece, was so clever and charming, +though but a child, that she continually disturbed my studies. She came +into my room, wished me good day, asked me what kind of a night I had +spent, if I wanted anything, and the sight of her grace and beauty and +the sound of her voice so ravished me, that I determined to seek safety +in flight. + +A few years later Magdalena became a famous musician. + +After leaving Allegranti I took rooms in a tradesman's house; his wife +was ugly, and he had no pretty daughters or seductive nieces. There I +lived for three weeks like Lafontaine's rat, very discreetly. + +About the same time, Count Stratico arrived at Florence with his pupil, +the Chevalier Morosini, who was then eighteen. I could not avoid calling +on Stratico. He had broken his leg some time before and was still unable +to go out with his pupil, who had all the vices and none of the virtues +of youth. Consequently, Stratico was always afraid of something happening +to him, and he begged me to make myself his companion, and even to share +his pleasures, so that he might not go into bad company and dangerous +houses alone and undefended. + +Thus my days of calm study vanished away. I had to partake in the +debauchery of a young rake, and all out of pure sensibility. + +The Chevalier Morosini was a thorough-paced profligate. He hated +literature, good society, and the company of sensible people. His daily +pleasures were furious riding, hard drinking, and hard dissipation with +prostitutes, whom he sometimes almost killed. + +This young nobleman paid a man for the sole service of getting him a +woman or a girl every day. + +During the two months which he passed in Florence I saved his life a +score of times. I got very tired of my duty, but I felt bound to +persevere. + +He was liberal to the verge of recklessness, and would never allow me to +pay for anything. Even here, however, disputes often arose between us; as +he paid, he wanted me to eat, drink, and dissipate in the same measures +as himself. However, I had my own way on most occasions, only giving in +when it suited me to do so. + +We went to see the opera at Lucca, and drought two of the dancers home to +supper. As the chevalier was drunk as usual, he treated the woman he had +chosen--a superb creature--very indifferently. The other was pretty +enough, but I had done nothing serious with her, so I proceeded to avenge +the beauty. She took me for the chevalier's father, and advised me to +give him a better education. + +After the chevalier was gone I betook myself to my studies again, but I +supped every night with Madame Denis, who had formerly been a dancer in +the King of Prussia's service, and had retired to Florence. + +She was about my age, and therefore not young, but still she had +sufficient remains of her beauty to inspire a tender passion; she did not +look more than thirty. She was as fresh as a young girl, had excellent +manners, and was extremely intelligent. Besides all these advantages, she +had a comfortable apartment on the first floor of one of the largest +cafes in Florence. In front of her room was a balcony where it was +delicious to sit and enjoy the cool of the evening. + +The reader may remember how I had become her friend at Berlin in 1764, +and when we met again at Florence our old flames were rekindled. + +The chief boarder in the house where she lived was Madame Brigonzi, whom +I had met at Memel. This lady, who pretended that she had been my +mistress twenty-five years before, often came into Madame Denis's rooms +with an old lover of hers named Marquis Capponi. + +He was an agreeable and well-educated man; and noticing that he seemed to +enjoy my conversation I called on him, and he called on me, leaving his +card as I was not at home. + +I returned the visit, and he introduced me to his family and invited me +to dinner. For the first time since I had come to Florence I dressed +myself with elegance and wore my jewels. + +At the Marquis Capponi's I made the acquaintance of Corilla's lover, the +Marquis Gennori, who took me to a house where I met my fate. I fell in +love with Madame a young widow, who had been spending a few months in +Paris. This visit had added to her other attractions the charm of a good +manner, which always counts for so much. + +This unhappy love made the three months longer which I spent in Florence +painful to me. + +It was at the beginning of October, and about that time Count Medini +arrived at Florence without a penny in his pocket, and without being able +to pay his vetturino, who had arrested him. + +The wretched man, who seemed to follow me wherever I went, had taken up +his abode in the house of a poor Irishman. + +I do not know how Medini found out that I was at Florence, but he wrote +me a letter begging me to come and deliver him from the police, who +besieged his room and talked of taking him to prison. He said he only +wanted me to go bail for him, and protested that I should not run any +risk, as he was sure of being able to pay in a few days. + +My readers will be aware that I had good reason for not liking Medini, +but in spite of our quarrel I could not despise his entreaty. I even felt +inclined to become his surety, if he could prove his capability of paying +the sum for which he had been arrested. I imagined that the sum must be a +small one, and could not understand why the landlord did not answer for +him. My surprise ceased, however, when I entered his room. + +As soon as I appeared he ran to embrace me, begging me to forget the +past, and to extract him from the painful position in which he found +himself. + +I cast a rapid glance over the room, and saw three trunks almost empty, +their contents being scattered about the floor. There was his mistress, +whom I knew, and who had her reasons for not liking me; her young sister, +who wept; and her mother, who swore, and called Medini a rogue, saying +that she would complain of him to the magistrate, and that she was not +going to allow her dresses and her daughter's dresses to be seized for +his debts. + +I asked the landlord why he did not go bail, as he had these persons and +their effects as security. + +"The whole lot," he answered, "won't pay the vetturino, and the sooner +they are out of my house the better I shall be pleased." + +I was astonished, and could not understand how the bill could amount to +more than the value of all the clothes I saw on the floor, so I asked the +vetturino to tell me the extent of the debt. + +He gave me a paper with Medini's signature; the amount was two hundred +and forty crowns. + +"How in the world," I exclaimed, "could he contract this enormous debt?" + +I wondered no longer when the vetturino told me that he had served them +for the last six weeks, having conducted the count and the three women +from Rome to Leghorn, and from Leghorn to Pisa, and from Pisa to +Florence, paying for their board all the way. + +"The vetturino will never take me as bail for such an amount," I said to +Medini, "and even if he would I should never be so foolish as to contract +such a debt." + +"Let me have a word with you in the next room," said he; "I will put the +matter clearly before you." + +"Certainly." + +Two of the police would have prevented his going into the next room, on +the plea that he might escape through the window, but I said I would be +answerable for him. + +Just then the poor vetturino came in and kissed my hand, saying that if I +would go bail for the count he would let me have three months wherein to +find the money. + +As it happened it was the same man who had taken me to Rome with the +Englishwoman who had been seduced by the actor l'Etoile. I told him to +wait a moment. + +Medini who was a great talker and a dreadful liar thought to persuade me +by shewing me a number of open letters, commending him in pompous terms +to the best houses in Florence. I read the letters, but I found no +mention of money in them, and I told him as much. + +"I know," said he, "but there is play going on in these houses, and I am +sure of gaining immense sums." + +"You may be aware that I have no confidence in your good luck." + +"Then I have another resource." + +"What is that?" + +He shewed me a bundle of manuscript, which I found to be an excellent +translation of Voltaire's "Henriade" into Italian verse. Tasso himself +could not have done it better. He said he hoped to finish the poem at +Florence, and to present it to the grand duke, who would be sure to make +him a magnificent present, and to constitute him his favourite. + +I would not undeceive him, but I laughed to myself, knowing that the +grand duke only made a pretence of loving literature. A certain Abbe +Fontaine, a clever man, amused him with a little natural history, the +only science in which he took any interest. He preferred the worst prose +to the best verse, not having sufficient intellect to enjoy the subtle +charms of poetry. In reality he had only two passions--women and money. + +After spending two wearisome hours with Medini, whose wit was great and +his judgment small, after heartily repenting of having yielded to my +curiosity and having paid him a visit, I said shortly that I could do +nothing for him. Despair drives men crazy; as I was making for the door, +he seized me by the collar. + +He did not reflect in his dire extremity that he had no arms, that I was +stronger than he, that I had twice drawn his blood, and that the police, +the landlord, the vetturirco, and the servants, were in the next room. I +was not coward enough to call for help; I caught hold of his neck with +both hands and squeezed him till he was nearly choked. He had to let go +at last, and then I took hold of his collar and asked him if he had gone +mad. + +I sent him against the wall, and opened the door and the police came in. + +I told the vetturino that I would on no account be Medini's surety, or be +answerable for him in any way. + +Just as I was going out, he leapt forward crying that I must not abandon +him. + +I had opened the door, and the police, fearing he would escape, ran +forward to get hold of him. Then began an interesting battle. Medini, who +had no arms, and was only in his dressing-gown, proceeded to distribute +kicks, cuffs, and blows amongst the four cowards, who had their swords at +their sides, whilst I held the door to prevent the Irishman going out and +calling for assistance. + +Medini, whose nose was bleeding and his dress all torn, persisted in +fighting till the four policemen let him alone. I liked his courage, and +pitied him. + +There was a moment's silence, and I asked his two liveried servants who +were standing by me why they had not helped their master. One said he +owed him six months' wages, and the other said he wanted to arrest him on +his own account. + +As Medini was endeavouring to staunch the blood in a basin of water, the +vetturino told him that as I refused to be his surety he must go to +prison. + +I was moved by the scene that I had witnessed, and said to the vetturino, + +"Give him a fortnight's respite, and if he escapes before the expiration +of that term I will pay you." + +He thought it over for a few moments, and then said,-- + +"Very good, sir, but I am not going to pay any legal expenses." + +I enquired how much the costs amounted to, and paid them, laughing at the +policemen's claim of damages for blows they had received. + +Then the two rascally servants said that if I would not be surety in the +same manner on their account, they would have Medini arrested. However, +Medini called out to me to pay no attention to them whatever. + +When I had given the vetturino his acknowledgment and paid the four or +five crowns charged by the police, Medini told me that he had more to say +to me; but I turned my back on him, and went home to dinner. + +Two hours later one of his servants came to me and promised if I would +give him six sequins to warn me if his master made any preparations for +flight. + +I told him drily that his zeal was useless to me, as I was quite sure +that the count would pay all his debts within the term; and the next +morning I wrote to Medini informing him of the step his servant had +taken. He replied with a long letter full of thanks, in which he exerted +all his eloquence to persuade me to repair his fortunes. I did not +answer. + +However, his good genius, who still protected him, brought a person to +Florence who drew him out of the difficulty. This person was Premislas +Zanovitch, who afterwards became as famous as his brother who cheated the +Amsterdam merchants, and adopted the style of Prince Scanderbeck. I shall +speak of him later on. Both these finished cheats came to a bad end. + +Premislas Zanovitch was then at the happy age of twenty-five; he was the +son of a gentleman of Budua, a town on the borders of Albania and +Dalmatia, formerly subject to the Venetian Republic and now to the Grand +Turk. In classic times it was known as Epirus. + +Premislas was a young man of great intelligence, and after having studied +at Venice, and contracted a Venetian taste for pleasures and enjoyments +of all sorts, he could not make up his mind to return to Budua, where his +only associates would be dull Sclavs--uneducated, unintellectual, coarse, +and brutish. Consequently, when Premislas and his still more talented +brother Stephen were ordered by the Council of Ten to enjoy the vast sums +they had gained at play in their own country, they resolved to become +adventurers. One took the north and the other the south of Europe, and +both cheated and duped whenever the opportunity for doing so presented +itself. + +I had seen Premislas when he was a child, and had already heard reports +of a notable achievement of his. At Naples he had cheated the Chevalier +de Morosini by persuading him to become his surety to the extent of six +thousand ducats, and now he arrived in Florence in a handsome carriage, +bringing his mistress with him, and having two tall lackeys and a valet +in his service. + +He took good apartments, hired a carriage, rented a box at the opera, had +a skilled cook, and gave his mistress a lady-in-waiting. He then shewed +himself at the best club, richly dressed, and covered with jewellery. He +introduced himself under the name of Count Premislas Zanovitch. + +There is a club in Florence devoted to the use of the nobility. Any +stranger can go there without being introduced, but so much the worse for +him if his appearance fails to indicate his right to be present. The +Florentines are ice towards him, leave him alone, and behave in such a +manner that the visit is seldom repeated. The club is at once decent and +licentious, the papers are to be read there, games of all kinds are +played, food and drink may be had, and even love is available, for ladies +frequent the club. + +Zanovitch did not wait to be spoken to, but made himself agreeable to +everyone, and congratulated himself on mixing in such distinguished +company, talked about Naples which he had just left, brought in his own +name with great adroitness, played high, lost merrily, paid after +pretending to forget all about his debts, and in short pleased everyone. +I heard all this the next day from the Marquis Capponi, who said that +someone had asked him if he knew me, whereat he answered that when I left +Venice he was at college, but that he had often heard his father speak of +me in very high terms. He knew both the Chevalier Morosini and Count +Medini, and had a good deal to say in praise of the latter. The marquis +asked me if I knew him, and I replied in the affirmative, without feeling +it my duty to disclose certain circumstances which might not have been +advantageous to him; and as Madame Denis seemed curious to make his +acquaintance the Chevalier Puzzi promised to bring him to see her, which +he did in the course of a few days. + +I happened to be with Madame Denis when Puzzi presented Zanovitch, and I +saw before me a fine-looking young men, who seemed by his confident +manner to be sure of success in all his undertakings. He was not exactly +handsome, but he had a perfect manner and an air of gaiety which seemed +infectious, with a thorough knowledge of the laws of good society. He was +by no means an egotist, and seemed never at a loss for something to talk +about. I led the conversation to the subject of his country, and he gave +me an amusing description of it, talking of his fief-part of which was +within the domains of the sultan-as a place where gaiety was unknown, and +where the most determined misanthrope would die of melancholy. + +As soon as he heard my name he began speaking to me in a tone of the most +delicate flattery. I saw the makings of a great adventurer in him, but I +thought his luxury would prove the weak point in his cuirass. I thought +him something like what I had been fifteen years ago, but as it seemed +unlikely that he had my resources I could not help pitying him. + +Zanovitch paid me a visit, and told me that Medini's position had excited +his pity, and that he had therefore paid his debts. + +I applauded his generosity, but I formed the conclusion that they had +laid some plot between them, and that I should soon hear of the results +of this new alliance. + +I returned Zanovitch's call the next day. He was at table with his +mistress, whom I should not have recognized if she had not pronounced my +name directly she saw me. + +As she had addressed me as Don Giacomo, I called her Donna Ippolita, but +in a voice which indicated that I was not certain of her identity. She +told me I was quite right. + +I had supped with her at Naples in company with Lord Baltimore, and she +was very pretty then. + +Zanovitch asked me to dine with him the following day, and I should have +thanked him and begged to be excused if Donna Ippolita had not pressed me +to come. She assured me that I should find good company there, and that +the cook would excel himself. + +I felt rather curious to see the company, and with the idea of shewing +Zanovitch that I was not likely to become a charge on his purse, I +dressed myself magnificently once more. + +As I had expected, I found Medini and his mistress there, with two +foreign ladies and their attendant cavaliers, and a fine-looking and +well-dressed Venetian, between thirty-five and forty, whom I would not +have recognized if Zanovitch had not told me his name, Alois Zen. + +"Zen was a patrician name, and I felt obliged to ask what titles I ought +to give him. + +"Such titles as one old friend gives another, though it is very possible +you do not recollect me, as I was only ten years old when we saw each +other last." + +Zen then told me he was the son of the captain I had known when I was +under arrest at St. Andrews. + +"That's twenty-eight years ago; but I remember you, though you had not +had the small-pox in those days." + +I saw that he was annoyed by this remark, but it was his fault, as he had +no business to say where he had known me, or who his father was. + +He was the son of a noble Venetian--a good-for-nothing in every sense of +the word. + +When I met him at Florence he had just come from Madrid, where he had +made a lot of money by holding a bank at faro in the house of the +Venetian ambassador, Marco Zen. + +I was glad to meet him, but I found out before the dinner was over that +he was completely devoid of education and the manners of a gentleman; but +he was well content with the one talent he possessed, namely, that of +correcting the freaks of fortune at games of chance. I did not wait to +see the onslaught of the cheats on the dupes, but took my leave while the +table was being made ready. + +Such was my life during the seven months which I spent at Florence. + +After this dinner I never saw Zen, or Medini, or Zanovitch, except by +chance in the public places. + +Here I must recount some incidents which took place towards the middle of +December. + +Lord Lincoln, a young man of eighteen, fell in love with a Venetian +dancer named Lamberti, who was a universal favourite. On every night when +the opera was given the young Englishman might be seen going to her +camerino, and everyone wondered why he did not visit her at her own +house, where he would be certain of a good welcome, for he was English, +and therefore rich, young, and handsome. I believe he was the only son of +the Duke of Newcastle. + +Zanovitch marked him down, and in a short time had become an intimate +friend of the fair Lamberti. He then made up to Lord Lincoln, and took +him to the lady's house, as a polite man takes a friend to see his +mistress. + +Madame Lamberti, who was in collusion with the rascal, was not niggardly +of her favours with the young Englishman. She received him every night to +supper with Zanovitch and Zen, who had been presented by the Sclav, +either because of his capital, or because Zanovitch was not so +accomplished a cheat. + +For the first few nights they took care to let the young nobleman win. As +they played after supper, and Lord Lincoln followed the noble English +custom of drinking till he did not know his right hand from his left, he +was quite astonished on waking the next morning to find that luck had +been as kind to him as love. The trap was baited, the young lord nibbled, +and, as may be expected, was finally caught. + +Zen won twelve thousand pounds of him, and Zanovitch lent him the money +by installments of three and four hundred louis at a time, as the +Englishman had promised his tutor not to play, on his word of honour. + +Zanovitch won from Zen what Zen won from the lord, and so the game was +kept up till the young pigeon had lost the enormous sum of twelve +thousand guineas. + +Lord Lincoln promised to pay three thousand guineas the next day, and +signed three bills of exchange for three thousand guineas each, payable +in six months, and drawn on his London banker. + +I heard all about this from Lord Lincoln himself when we met at Bologna +three months later. + +The next morning the little gaming party was the talk of Florence. Sasso +Sassi, the banker, had already paid Zanovitch six thousand sequins by my +lord's orders. + +Medini came to see me, furious at not having been asked to join the +party, while I congratulated myself on my absence. My surprise may be +imagined, when, a few days after, a person came up to my room, and +ordered me to leave Florence in three days and Tuscany in a week. + +I was petrified, and called to my landlord to witness the unrighteous +order I had received. + +It was December 28th. On the same date, three years before, I had +received orders to leave Barcelona in three days. + +I dressed hastily and went to the magistrate to enquire the reason for my +exile, and on entering the room I found it was the same man who had +ordered me to leave Florence eleven years before. + +I asked him to give me his reasons, and he replied coldly that such was +the will of his highness. + +"But as his highness must have his reasons, it seems to me that I am +within my rights in enquiring what they are." + +"If you think so you had better betake yourself to the prince; I know +nothing about it. He left yesterday for Pisa, where he will stay three +days; you can go there." + +"Will he pay for my journey?" + +"I should doubt it, but you can see for yourself." + +"I shall not go to Pisa, but I will write to his highness if you will +promise to send on the letter." + +"I will do so immediately, for it is my duty." + +"Very good; you shall have the letter before noon tomorrow, and before +day-break I shall be in the States of the Church." + +"There's no need for you to hurry yourself." + +"There is a very great hurry. I cannot breathe the air of a country where +liberty is unknown and the sovereign breaks his word; that is what I am +going to write to your master." + +As I was going out I met Medini, who had come on the same business as +myself. + +I laughed, and informed him of the results of my interview, and how I had +been told to go to Pisa. + +"What! have you been expelled, too?" + +"Yes." + +"What have you done?" + +"Nothing." + +"Nor I. Let us go to Pisa." + +"You can go if you like, but I shall leave Florence tonight." + +When I got home I told my landlord to get me a carriage and to order four +post-horses for nightfall, and I then wrote the following letter to the +grand duke: + +"My Lord; The thunder which Jove has placed in your hands is only for the +guilty; in launching it at me you have done wrong. Seven months ago you +promised that I should remain unmolested so long as I obeyed the laws. I +have done so scrupulously, and your lordship has therefore broken your +word. I am merely writing to you to let you know that I forgive you, and +that I shall never give utterance to a word of complaint. Indeed I would +willingly forget the injury you have done me, if it were not necessary +that I should remember never to set foot in your realms again. The +magistrate tells me that I can go and see you at Pisa, but I fear such a +step would seem a hardy one to a prince, who should hear what a man has +to say before he condemns him, and not afterwards. + +"I am, etc." + +When I had finished the letter I sent it to the magistrate, and then I +began my packing. + +I was sitting down to dinner when Medini came in cursing Zen and +Zanovitch, whom he accused of being the authors of his misfortune, and of +refusing to give him a hundred sequins, without which he could not +possibly go. + +"We are all going to Pisa," said he, "and cannot imagine why you do not +come, too." + +"Very good," I said, laughingly, "but please to leave me now as I have to +do my packing." + +As I expected, he wanted me to lend him some money, but on my giving him +a direct refusal he went away. + +After dinner I took leave of M. Medici and Madame Dennis, the latter of +whom had heard the story already. She cursed the grand duke, saying she +could not imagine how he could confound the innocent with the guilty. She +informed me that Madame Lamberti had received orders to quit, as also a +hunchbacked Venetian priest, who used to go and see the dancer but had +never supped with her. In fact, there was a clean sweep of all the +Venetians in Florence. + +As I was returning home I met Lord Lincoln's governor; whom I had known +at Lausanne eleven years before. I told him of what had happened to me +through his hopeful pupil getting himself fleeced. He laughed, and told +me that the grand duke had advised Lord Lincoln not to pay the money he +had lost, to which the young man replied that if he were not to pay he +should be dishonoured since the money he had lost had been lent to him. + +In leaving Florence I was cured of an unhappy love which would doubtless +have had fatal consequences if I had stayed on. I have spared my readers +the painful story because I cannot recall it to my mind even now without +being cut to the heart. The widow whom I loved, and to whom I was so weak +as to disclose my feelings, only attached me to her triumphal car to +humiliate me, for she disdained my love and myself. I persisted in my +courtship, and nothing but my enforced absence would have cured me. + +As yet I have not learnt the truth of the maxim that old age, especially +when devoid of fortune, is not likely to prove attractive to youth. + +I left Florence poorer by a hundred sequins than when I came there. I had +lived with the most careful economy throughout the whole of my stay. + +I stopped at the first stage within the Pope's dominions, and by the last +day but one of the year I was settled at Bologna, at "St. Mark's Hotel." + +My first visit was paid to Count Marulli, the Florentine charge +d'affaires. I begged him to write and tell his master, that, out of +gratitude for my banishment, I should never cease to sing his praises. + +As the count had received a letter containing an account of the whole +affair, he could not quite believe that I meant what I said. + +"You may think what you like," I observed, "but if you knew all you would +see that his highness has done me a very great service though quite +unintentionally." + +He promised to let his master know how I spoke of him. + +On January 1st, 1772, I presented myself to Cardinal Braneaforte, the +Pope's legate, whom I had known twenty years before at Paris, when he had +been sent by Benedict XVI. with the holy swaddling clothes for the +newly-born Duke of Burgundy. We had met at the Lodge of Freemasons, for +the members of the sacred college were by no means afraid of their own +anathemas. We had also some very pleasant little suppers with pretty +sinners in company with Don Francesco Sensate and Count Ranucci. In +short, the cardinal was a man of wit, and what is called a bon vivant. + +"Oh, here you are!" cried he, when he saw me; "I was expecting you." + +"How could you, my lord? Why should I have come to Bologna rather than to +any other place?" + +"For two reasons. In the first place because Bologna is better than many +other places, and besides I flatter myself you thought of me. But you +needn't say anything here about the life we led together when we were +young men." + +"It has always been a pleasant recollection to me." + +"No doubt. Count Marulli told me yesterday that you spoke very highly of +the grand duke, and you are quite right. You can talk to me in +confidence; the walls of this room have no ears. How much did you get of +the twelve thousand guineas?" + +I told him the whole story, and shewed him a copy of the letter which I +had written to the grand duke. He laughed, and said he was sorry I had +been punished for nothing. + +When he heard I thought of staying some months at Bologna he told me that +I might reckon on perfect freedom, and that as soon as the matter ceased +to become common talk he would give me open proof of his friendship. + +After seeing the cardinal I resolved to continue at Bologna the kind of +life that I had been leading at Florence. Bologna is the freest town in +all Italy; commodities are cheap and good, and all the pleasures of life +may be had there at a low price. The town is a fine one, and the streets +are lined with arcades--a great comfort in so hot a place. + +As to society, I did not trouble myself about it. I knew the Bolognese; +the nobles are proud, rude, and violent; the lowest orders, known as the +birichini, are worse than the lazzaroni of Naples, while the tradesmen +and the middle classes are generally speaking worthy and respectable +people. At Bologna, as at Naples, the two extremes of society are +corrupt, while the middle classes are respectable, and the depository of +virtue, talents, and learning. + +However, my intention was to leave society alone, to pass my time in +study, and to make the acquaintance of a few men of letters, who are +easily accessible everywhere. + +At Florence ignorance is the rule and learning the exception, while at +Bologna the tincture of letters is almost universal. The university has +thrice the usual number of professors; but they are all ill paid, and +have to get their living out of the students, who are numerous. Printing +is cheaper at Bologna than anywhere else, and though the Inquisition is +established there the press is almost entirely free. + +All the exiles from Florence reached Bologna four or five days after +myself. Madame Lamberti only passed through on her way to Venice. +Zanovitch and Zen stayed five or six days; but they were no longer in +partnership, having quarreled over the sharing of the booty. + +Zanovitch had refused to make one of Lord Lincoln's bills of exchange +payable to Zen, because he did not wish to make himself liable in case +the Englishman refused to pay. He wanted to go to England, and told Zen +he was at liberty to do the same. + +They went to Milan without having patched up their quarrel, but the +Milanese Government ordered them to leave Lombardy, and I never heard +what arrangements they finally came to. Later on I was informed that the +Englishman's bills had all been settled to the uttermost farthing. + +Medini, penniless as usual, had taken up his abode in the hotel where I +was staying, bringing with him his mistress, her sister, and her mother, +but with only one servant. He informed me that the grand duke had refused +to listen to any of them at Pisa, where he had received a second order to +leave Tuscany, and so had been obliged to sell everything. Of course he +wanted me to help him, but I turned a deaf ear to his entreaties. + +I have never seen this adventurer without his being in a desperate state +of impecuniosity, but he would never learn to abate his luxurious habits, +and always managed to find some way or other out of his difficulties. He +was lucky enough to fall in with a Franciscan monk named De Dominis at +Bologna, the said monk being on his way to Rome to solicit a brief of +'laicisation' from the Pope. He fell in love with Medini's mistress, who +naturally made him pay dearly for her charms. + +Medini left at the end of three weeks. He went to Germany, where he +printed his version of the "Henriade," having discovered a Maecenas in +the person of the Elector Palatin. After that he wandered about Europe +for twelve years, and died in a London prison in 1788. + +I had always warned him to give England a wide berth, as I felt certain +that if he once went there he would not escape English bolts and bars, +and that if he got on the wrong side of the prison doors he would never +come out alive. He despised my advice, and if he did so with the idea of +proving me a liar, he made a mistake, for he proved me to be a prophet. + +Medini had the advantage of high birth, a good education, and +intelligence; but as he was a poor man with luxurious tastes he either +corrected fortune at play or went into debt, and was consequently obliged +to be always on the wing to avoid imprisonment. + +He lived in this way for seventy years, and he might possibly be alive +now if he had followed my advice. + +Eight years ago Count Torio told me that he had seen Medini in a London +prison, and that the silly fellow confessed he had only come to London +with the hope of proving me to be a liar. + +Medini's fate shall never prevent me from giving good advice to a poor +wretch on the brink of the precipice. Twenty years ago I told Cagliostro +(who called himself Count Pellegrini in those days) not to set his foot +in Rome, and if he had followed this counsel he would not have died +miserably in a Roman prison. + +Thirty years ago a wise man advised me to beware visiting Spain. I went, +but, as the reader knows, I had no reason to congratulate myself on my +visit. + +A week after my arrival at Bologna, happening to be in the shop of +Tartuffi, the bookseller, I made the acquaintance of a cross-eyed priest, +who struck me, after a quarter of an hour's talk as a man of learning and +talent. He presented me with two works which had recently been issued by +two of the young professors at the university He told me that I should +find them amusing reading, and he was right. + +The first treatise contended that women's faults should be forgiven them, +since they were really the work of the matrix, which influenced them in +spite of themselves. The second treatise was a criticism of the first. +The author allowed that the uterus was an animal, but he denied the +alleged influence, as no anatomist had succeeded in discovering any +communication between it and the brain. + +I determined to write a reply to the two pamphlets, and I did so in the +course of three days. When my reply was finished I sent it to M. Dandolo, +instructing him to have five hundred copies printed. When they arrived I +gave a bookseller the agency, and in a fortnight I had made a hundred +sequins. + +The first pamphlet was called "Lutero Pensante," the second was in French +and bore the title "La Force Vitale," while I called my reply "Lana +Caprina." I treated the matter in an easy vein, not without some hints of +deep learning, and made fun of the lucubrations of the two physicians. My +preface was in French, but full of Parisian idioms which rendered it +unintelligible to all who had not visited the gay capital, and this +circumstance gained me a good many friends amongst the younger +generation. + +The squinting priest, whose name was Zacchierdi, introduced me to the +Abbe Severini, who became my intimate friend in the course of ten or +twelve days. + +This abbe made me leave the inn, and got me two pleasant rooms in the +house of a retired artiste, the widow of the tenor Carlani. He also made +arrangements with a pastrycook to send me my dinner and supper. All this, +plus a servant, only cost me ten sequins a month. + +Severini was the agreeable cause of my losing temporarily my taste for +study. I put by my "Iliad," feeling sure that I should be able to finish +it again. + +Severini introduced me to his family, and before long I became very +intimate with him. I also became the favourite of his sister, a lady +rather plain than pretty, thirty years old, but full of intelligence. + +In the course of Lent the abbe introduced me to all the best dancers and +operatic singers in Bologna, which is the nursery of the heroines of the +stage. They may be had cheaply enough on their native soil. + +Every week the good abbe introduced me to a fresh one, and like a true +friend he watched carefully over my finances. He was a poor man himself, +and could not afford to contribute anything towards the expenses of our +little parties; but as they would have cost me double without his help, +the arrangement was a convenient one for both of us. + +About this time there was a good deal of talk about a Bolognese nobleman, +Marquis Albergati Capacelli. He had made a present of his private theatre +to the public, and was himself an excellent actor. He had made himself +notorious by obtaining a divorce from his wife, whom he did not like, so +as to enable him to marry a dancer, by whom he had two children. The +amusing point in this divorce was that he obtained it on the plea that he +was impotent, and sustained his plea by submitting to an examination, +which was conducted as follows: + +Four skilled and impartial judges had the marquis stripped before them, +and did all in their power to produce an erection; but somehow or other +he succeeded in maintaining his composure, and the marriage was +pronounced null and void on the ground of relative impotence, for it was +well known that he had had children by another woman. + +If reason and not prejudice had been consulted, the procedure would have +been very different; for if relative impotence was considered a +sufficient ground for divorce, of what use was the examination? + +The marquis should have sworn that he could do nothing with his wife, and +if the lady had traversed this statement the marquis might have +challenged her to put him into the required condition. + +But the destruction of old customs and old prejudices is often the work +of long ages. + +I felt curious to know this character, and wrote to M. Dandolo to get me +a letter of introduction to the marquis. + +In a week my good old friend sent me the desired letter. It was written +by another Venetian, M. de Zaguri, an intimate friend of the marquis. + +The letter was not sealed, so I read it. I was delighted; no one could +have commended a person unknown to himself but the friend of a friend in +a more delicate manner. + +I thought myself bound to write a letter of thanks to M. Zaguri. I said +that I desired to obtain my pardon more than ever after reading his +letter, which made me long to go to Venice, and make the acquaintance of +such a worthy nobleman. + +I did not expect an answer, but I got one. M. Zaguri said that my desire +was such a flattering one to himself, that he meant to do his best to +obtain my recall. + +The reader will see that he was successful, but not till after two years +of continuous effort. + +Albergati was away from Bologna at the time, but when he returned +Severini let me know, and I called at the palace. The porter told me that +his excellence (all the nobles are excellences at Bologna) had gone to +his country house, where he meant to pass the whole of the spring. + +In two or three days I drove out to his villa. I arrived at a charming +mansion, and finding no one at the door I went upstairs, and entered a +large room where a gentleman and an exceedingly pretty woman were just +sitting down to dinner. The dishes had been brought in, and there were +only two places laid. + +I made a polite bow, and asked the gentleman if I had the honour of +addressing the Marquis Albergati. He replied in the affirmative, +whereupon I gave him my letter of introduction. He took it, read the +superscription, and put it in his pocket, telling me I was very kind to +have taken so much trouble, and that he would be sure to read it. + +"It has been no trouble at all," I replied, "but I hope you will read the +letter. It is written by M. de Zaguri, whom I asked to do me this +service, as I have long desired to make your lordship's acquaintance." + +His lordship smiled and said very pleasantly that he would read it after +dinner, and would see what he could do for his friend Zaguri. + +Our dialogue was over in a few seconds. Thinking him extremely rude I +turned my back and went downstairs, arriving just in time to prevent the +postillion taking out the horses. I promised him a double gratuity if he +would take me to some village at hand, where he could bait his horses +while I breakfasted. + +Just as the postillion had got on horseback a servant came running up. He +told me very politely that his excellence begged me to step upstairs. + +I put my hand in my pocket and gave the man my card with my name and +address, and telling him that that was what his master wanted, I ordered +the postillion to drive off at a full gallop. + +When we had gone half a league we stopped at a good inn, and then +proceeded on our way back to Bologna. + +The same day I wrote to M. de Zaguri, and described the welcome I had +received at the hands of the marquis. I enclosed the letter in another to +M. Dandolo, begging him to read it, and to send it on. I begged the noble +Venetian to write to the marquis that having offended me grievously he +must prepare to give me due satisfaction. + +I laughed with all my heart next day when my landlady gave me a visiting +card with the inscription, General the Marquis of Albeygati. She told me +the marquis had called on me himself, and on hearing I was out had left +his card. + +I began to look upon the whole of his proceedings as pure gasconnade, +only lacking the wit of the true Gascon. I determined to await M. +Zaguri's reply before making up my mind as to the kind of satisfaction I +should demand. + +While I was inspecting the card, and wondering what right the marquis had +to the title of general, Severini came in, and informed me that the +marquis had been made a Knight of the Order of St. Stanislas by the King +of Poland, who had also given him the style of royal chamberlain. + +"Is he a general in the Polish service as well?" I asked. + +"I really don't know." + +"I understand it all," I said to myself. "In Poland a chamberlain has the +rank of adjutant-general, and the marquis calls himself general. But +general what? The adjective without a substantive is a mere cheat." + +I saw my opportunity, and wrote a comic dialogue, which I had printed the +next day. I made a present of the work to a bookseller, and in three or +four days he sold out the whole edition at a bajocco apiece. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Farinello and the Electress Dowager of Saxony--Madame Slopitz--Nina--The +Midwife--Madame Soavi--Abbe Bolini--Madame Viscioletta--The +Seamstress--The Sorry Pleasure of Revenge--Severini Goes to Naples--My +Departure--Marquis Mosca + +Anyone who attacks a proud person in a comic vein is almost sure of +success; the laugh is generally on his side. + +I asked in my dialogue whether it was lawful for a provost-marshal to +call himself simply marshal, and whether a lieutenant-colonel had a right +to the title of colonel. I also asked whether the man who preferred +titles of honour, for which he had paid in hard cash, to his ancient and +legitimate rank, could pass for a sage. + +Of course the marquis had to laugh at my dialogue, but he was called the +general ever after. He had placed the royal arms of Poland over the gate +of his palace, much to the amusement of Count Mischinski, the Polish +ambassador to Berlin, who happened to be passing through Bologna at that +time. + +I told the Pole of my dispute with the mad marquis, and persuaded him to +pay Albergati a visit, leaving his card. The ambassador did so, and the +call was returned, but Albergati's cards no longer bore the title of +general. + +The Dowager Electress of Saxony having come to Bologna, I hastened to pay +my respects to her. She had only come to see the famous castrato +Farinello, who had left Madrid, and now lived at Bologna in great +comfort. He placed a magnificent collation before the Electress, and sang +a song of his own composition, accompanying himself on the piano. The +Electress, who was an enthusiastic musician, embraced Farinello, +exclaiming,-- + +"Now I can die happy." + +Farinello, who was also known as the Chevalier Borschi had reigned, as it +were, in Spain till the Parmese wife of Philip V. had laid plots which +obliged him to leave the Court after the disgrace of Enunada. The +Electress noticed a portrait of the queen, and spoke very highly of her, +mentioning some circumstances which must have taken place in the reign of +Ferdinand VI. + +The famous musician burst into tears, and said that Queen Barbara was as +good as Elizabeth of Parma was wicked. + +Borschi might have been seventy when I saw him at Bologna. He was very +rich and in the enjoyment of good health, and yet he was unhappy, +continually shedding tears at the thought of Spain. + +Ambition is a more powerful passion than avarice. Besides, Farinello had +another reason for unhappiness. + +He had a nephew who was the heir to all his wealth, whom he married to a +noble Tuscan lady, hoping to found a titled family, though in an indirect +kind of way. But this marriage was a torment to him, for in his impotent +old age he was so unfortunate as to fall in love with his niece, and to +become jealous of his nephew. Worse than all the lady grew to hate him, +and Farinello had sent his nephew abroad, while he never allowed the wife +to go out of his sight. + +Lord Lincoln arrived in Bologna with an introduction for the cardinal +legate, who asked him to dinner, and did me the honour of giving me an +invitation to meet him. The cardinal was thus convinced that Lord Lincoln +and I had never met, and that the grand duke of Tuscany had committed a +great injustice in banishing me. It was on that occasion that the young +nobleman told me how they had spread the snare, though he denied that he +had been cheated; he was far too proud to acknowledge such a thing. He +died of debauchery in London three or four years after. + +I also saw at Bologna the Englishman Aston with Madame Slopitz, sister of +the Charming Cailimena. Madame Slopitz was much handsomer than her +sister. She had presented Aston with two babes as beautiful as Raphael's +cherubs. + +I spoke of her sister to her, and from the way in which I sang her +praises she guessed that I had loved her. She told me she would be in +Florence during the Carnival of 1773, but I did not see her again till +the year 1776, when I was at Venice. + +The dreadful Nina Bergonci, who had made a madman of Count Ricla, and was +the source of all my woes at Barcelona, had come to Bologna at the +beginning of Lent, occupying a pleasant house which she had taken. She +had carte blanche with a banker, and kept up a great state, affirming +herself to be with child by the Viceroy of Catalonia, and demanding the +honours which would be given to a queen who had graciously chosen Bologna +as the place of her confinement. She had a special recommendation to the +legate, who often visited her, but in the greatest secrecy. + +The time of her confinement approached, and the insane Ricla sent over a +confidential man, Don Martino, who was empowered to have the child +baptized, and to recognize it as Ricla's natural offspring. + +Nina made a show of her condition, appearing at the theatre and in the +public places with an enormous belly. The greatest noble of Bologna paid +court to her, and Nina told them that they might do so, but that she +could not guarantee their safety from the jealous dagger of Ricla. She +was impudent enough to tell them what happened to me at Barcelona, not +knowing that I was at Bologna. + +She was extremely surprised to hear from Count Zini, who knew me, that I +inhabited the same town as herself. + +When the count met me he asked me if the Barcelona story was true. I did +not care to take him into my confidence, so I replied that I did not know +Nina, and that the story had doubtless been made up by her to see whether +he would encounter danger for her sake. + +When I met the cardinal I told him the whole story, and his eminence was +astonished when I gave him some insight into Nina's character, and +informed him that she was the daughter of her sister and her grandfather. + +"I could stake my life," said I, "that Nina is no more with child than +you are." + +"Oh, come!" said he, laughing, "that is really too strong; why shouldn't +she have a child? It is a very simple matter, it seems to me. Possibly it +may not be Ricla's child but there can be no doubt that she is with +somebody's child. What object could she have for feigning pregnancy?" + +"To make herself famous by defiling the Count de Ricla, who was a model +of justice and virtue before knowing this Messalina. If your eminence +knew the hideous character of Nina you would not wonder at anything she +did." + +"Well, we shall see." + +"Yes." + +About a week later I heard a great noise in the street, and on putting my +head out of the window I saw a woman stripped to the waist, and mounted +on an ass, being scourged by the hangman, and hooted by a mob of all the +biricchini in Bologna. Severini came up at the same moment and informed +me that the woman was the chief midwife in Bologna, and that her +punishment had been ordered by the cardinal archbishop. + +"It must be for some great crime," I observed. + +"No doubt. It is the woman who was with Nina the day before yesterday." + +"What! has Nina been brought to bed?" + +"Yes; but of a still-born child." + +"I see it all." + +Next day the story was all over the town. + +A poor woman had come before the archbishop, and had complained bitterly +that the midwife Teresa had seduced her, promising to give her twenty +sequins if she would give her a fine boy to whom she had given birth a +fortnight ago. She was not given the sum agreed upon, and in her despair +at hearing of the death of her child she begged for justice, declaring +herself able to prove that the dead child said to be Nina's was in +reality her own. + +The archbishop ordered his chancellor to enquire into the affair with the +utmost secrecy, and then proceed to instant and summary execution. + +A week after this scandal Don Martino returned to Barcelona; but Nina +remained as impudent as ever, doubled the size of the red cockades which +she made her servants wear, and swore that Spain would avenge her on the +insolent archbishop. She remained at Bologna six weeks longer, pretending +to be still suffering from the effects of her confinement. The cardinal +legate, who was ashamed of having had anything to do with such an +abandoned prostitute, did his best to have her ordered to leave. + +Count Ricla, a dupe to the last, gave her a considerable yearly income on +the condition that she should never come to Barcelona again; but in a +year the count died. + +Nina did not survive him for more than a year, and died miserably from +her fearful debauchery. I met her mother and sister at Venice, and she +told me the story of the last two years of her daughter's life; but it is +so sad and so disgusting a tale that I feel obliged to omit it. + +As for the infamous midwife, she found powerful friends. + +A pamphlet appeared in which the anonymous author declared that the +archbishop had committed a great wrong in punishing a citizen in so +shameful a manner without any of the proper formalities of justice. The +writer maintained that even if she were guilty she had been unjustly +punished, and should appeal to Rome. + +The prelate, feeling the force of these animadversions, circulated a +pamphlet in which it appeared that the midwife had made three prior +appearances before the judge, and that she would have been sent to the +gallows long ago if the archbishop had not hesitated to shame three of +the noblest families in Bologna, whose names appeared in documents in the +custody of his chancellor. + +Her crimes were procuring abortion and killing erring mothers, +substituting the living for the dead, and in one case a boy for a girl, +thus giving him the enjoyment of property which did not belong to him. + +This pamphlet of the prelate reduced the patrons of the infamous midwife +to silence, for several young noblemen whose mothers had been attended by +her did not relish the idea of their family secrets being brought to +light. + +At Bologna I saw Madame Marucci, who had been expelled from Spain for the +same reason as Madame Pelliccia. The latter had retired to Rome, while +Madame Marucci was on her way to Lucca, her native country. + +Madame Soavi, a Bolognese dancer whom I had known at Parma and Paris, +came to Bologna with her daughter by M. de Marigni. The girl, whose name +was Adelaide, was very beautiful, and her natural abilities had been +fostered by a careful education. + +When Madame Soavi got to Bologna she met her husband whom she had not +seen for fifteen years. + +"Here is a treasure for you," said she, shewing him her daughter. + +"She's certainly very pretty, but what am I to do with her? She does not +belong to me." + +"Yes she does, as I have given her to you. You must know that she has six +thousand francs a year, and that I shall be her cashier till I get her +married to a good dancer. I want her to learn character dancing, and to +make her appearance on the boards. You must take her out on holidays." + +"What shall I say if people ask me who she is?" + +"Say she is your daughter, and that you are certain, because your wife +gave her to you." + +"I can't see that." + +"Ah, you have always stayed at home, and consequently your wits are +homely." + +I heard this curious dialogue which made me laugh then, and makes me +laugh now as I write it. I offered to help in Adelaide's education, but +Madame Soavi laughed, and said,-- + +"Fox, you have deceived so many tender pullets, that I don't like to +trust you with this one, for fear of your making her too precocious." + +"I did not think of that, but you are right." + +Adelaide became the wonder of Bologna. + +A year after I left the Comte du Barri, brother-in-law of the famous +mistress of Louis XV., visited Bologna, and became so amorous of Adelaide +that her mother sent her away, fearing he would carry her off. + +Du Barri offered her a hundred thousand francs for the girl, but she +refused the offer. + +I saw Adelaide five years later on the boards of a Venetian theatre. When +I went to congratulate her, she said,-- + +"My mother brought me into the world, and I think she will send me out of +it; this dancing is killing me." + +In point of fact this delicate flower faded and died after seven years of +the severe life to which her mother had exposed her. + +Madame Soavi who had not taken the precaution to settle the six thousand +francs on herself, lost all in losing Adelaide, and died miserably after +having rolled in riches. But, alas! I am not the man to reproach anyone +on the score of imprudence. + +At Bologna I met the famous Afflisio, who had been discharged from the +imperial service and had turned manager. He went from bad to worse, and +five or six years later committed forgery, was sent to the galleys, and +there died. + +I was also impressed by the example of a man of a good family, who had +once been rich. This was Count Filomarino. He was living in great misery, +deprived of the use of all his limbs by a succession of venereal +complaints. I often went to see him to give him a few pieces of money, +and to listen to his malevolent talk, for his tongue was the only member +that continued active. He was a scoundrel and a slanderer, and writhed +under the thought that he could not go to Naples and torment his +relations, who were in reality respectable people, but monsters according +to his shewing. + +Madame Sabatini, the dancer, had returned to Bologna, having made enough +money to rest upon her laurels. She married a professor of anatomy, and +brought all her wealth to him as a dower. She had with her her sister, +who was not rich and had no talents, but was at the same time very +agreeable. + +At the house I met an abbe, a fine young man of modest appearance. The +sister seemed to be deeply in love with him, while he appeared to be +grateful and nothing more. + +I made some remark to the modest Adonis, and he gave me a very sensible +answer. We walked away together, and after telling each other what +brought us to Bologna we parted, agreeing to meet again. + +The abbe, who was twenty-four or twenty-five years old, was not in +orders, and was the only son of a noble family of Novara, which was +unfortunately poor as well as noble. + +He had a very scanty revenue, and was able to live more cheaply at +Bologna than Novara, where everything is dear. Besides, he did not care +for his relations; he had no friends, and everybody there was more or +less ignorant. + +The Abbe de Bolini, as he was called, was a man of tranquil mind, living +a peaceful and quiet life above all things. He liked lettered men more +than letters, and did not trouble to gain the reputation of a wit. He +knew he was not a fool, and when he mixed with learned men he was quite +clever enough to be a good listener. + +Both temperament and his purse made him temperate in all things, and he +had received a sound Christian education. He never talked about religion, +but nothing scandalized him. He seldom praised and never blamed. + +He was almost entirely indifferent to women, flying from ugly women and +blue stockings, and gratifying the passion of pretty ones more out of +kindliness than love, for in his heart he considered women as more likely +to make a man miserable than happy. I was especially interested in this +last characteristic. + +We had been friends for three weeks when I took the liberty of asking him +how he reconciled his theories with his attachment to Brigida Sabatini. + +He supped with her every evening, and she breakfasted with him every +morning. When I went to see him, she was either there already or came in +before my call was over. She breathed forth love in every glance, while +the abbe was kind, but, in spite of his politeness, evidently bored. + +Brigida looked well enough, but she was at least ten years older than the +abbe. She was very polite to me and did her best to convince me that the +abbe was happy in the possession of her heart, and that they both enjoyed +the delights of mutual love. + +But when I asked him over a bottle of good wine about his affection for +Brigida, he sighed, smiled, blushed, looked down, and finally confessed +that this connection was the misfortune of his life. + +"Misfortune? Does she make you sigh in vain? If so you should leave her, +and thus regain your happiness." + +"How can I sigh? I am not in love with her. She is in love with me, and +tries to make me her slave." + +"How do you mean?" + +"She wants me to marry her, and I promised to do so, partly from +weakness, and partly from pity; and now she is in a hurry." + +"I daresay; all these elderly girls are in a hurry." + +"Every evening she treats me to tears, supplications, and despair. She +summons me to keep my promise, and accuses me of deceiving her, so you +may imagine that my situation is an unhappy one." + +"Have you any obligations towards her?" + +"None whatever. She has violated me, so to speak, for all the advances +came from her. She has only what her sister gives her from day to day, +and if she got married she would not get that." + +"Have you got her with child?" + +"I have taken good care not to do so, and that's what has irritated her; +she calls all my little stratagems detestable treason." + +"Nevertheless, you have made up your mind to marry her sooner or later?" + +"I'd as soon hang myself. If I got married to her I should be four times +as poor as I am now, and all my relations at Novara would laugh at me for +bringing home a wife of her age. Besides, she is neither rich nor well +born, and at Novara they demand the one or the other." + +"Then as a man of honour and as a man of sense, you ought to break with +her, and the sooner the better." + +"I know, but lacking normal strength what am I to do? If I did not go and +sup with her to-night, she would infallibly come after me to see what had +happened. I can't lock my door in her face, and I can't tell her to go +away." + +"No, but neither can go on in this miserable way. + +"You must make up your mind, and cut the Gordian knot, like Alexander." + +"I haven't his sword." + +"I will lend it you." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Listen to me. You must go and live in another town. She will hardly go +after you there, I suppose." + +"That is a very good plan, but flight is a difficult matter." + +"Difficult? Not at all. Do you promise to do what I tell you, and I will +arrange everything quite comfortably. Your mistress will not know +anything about it till she misses you at supper." + +"I will do whatever you tell me, and I shall never forget your kindness; +but Brigida will go mad with grief." + +"Well my first order to you is not to give her grief a single thought. +You have only to leave everything to me. Would you like to start +to-morrow?" + +"To-morrow?" + +"Yes. Have you any debts?" + +"No." + +"Do you want any money?" + +"I have sufficient. But the idea of leaving tomorrow has taken my breath +away. I must have three days delay." + +"Why so?" + +"I expect some letters the day after to-morrow, and I must write to my +relations to tell them where I am going." + +"I will take charge of your letters and send them on to you." + +"Where shall I be?" + +"I will tell you at the moment of your departure; trust in me. I will +send you at once where you will be comfortable. All you have to do is to +leave your trunk in the hands of your landlord, with orders not to give +it up to anyone but myself." + +"Very good. I am to go without my trunk, then." + +"Yes. You must dine with me every day till you go, and mind not to tell +anyone whatsoever that you intend leaving Bologna." + +"I will take care not to do so." + +The worthy young fellow looked quite radiant. I embraced him and thanked +him for putting so much trust in me. + +I felt proud at the good work I was about to perform, and smiled at the +thought of Brigida's anger when she found that her lover had escaped. I +wrote to my good friend Dandolo that in five or six days a young abbe +would present himself before him bearing a letter from myself. I begged +Dandolo to get him a comfortable and cheap lodging, as my friend was so +unfortunate as to be indifferently provided with money, though an +excellent man. I then wrote the letter of which the abbe was to be the +bearer. + +Next day Bolini told me that Brigida was far from suspecting his flight, +as owing to his gaiety at the thought of freedom he had contented her so +well during the night she had passed with him that she thought him as +much in love as she was. + +"She has all my linen," he added, "but I hope to get a good part of it +back under one pretext or another, and she is welcome to the rest." + +On the day appointed he called on me as we had arranged the night before, +carrying a huge carpet bag containing necessaries. I took him to Modena +in a post chaise, and there we dined; afterward I gave him a letter for +M. Dandolo, promising to send on his trunk the next day. + +He was delighted to hear that Venice was his destination, as he had long +wished to go there, and I promised him that M. Dandolo should see that he +lived as comfortably and cheaply as he had done at Bologna. + +I saw him off, and returned to Bologna. The trunk I dispatched after him +the following day. + +As I had expected, the poor victim appeared before me all in tears the +next day. I felt it my duty to pity her; it would have been cruel to +pretend I did not know the reason for her despair. I gave her a long but +kindly sermon, endeavouring to persuade her that I had acted for the best +in preventing the abbe marrying her, as such a step would have plunged +them both into misery. + +The poor woman threw herself weeping at my feet, begging me to bring her +abbe back, and swearing by all the saints that she would never mention +the word "marriage" again. By way of calming her, I said I would do my +best to win him over. + +She asked where he was, and I said at Venice; but of course she did not +believe me. There are circumstances when a clever man deceives by telling +the truth, and such a lie as this must be approved by the most rigorous +moralists. + +Twenty-seven months later I met Bolini at Venice. I shall describe the +meeting in its proper place. + +A few days after he had gone, I made the acquaintance of the fair +Viscioletta, and fell so ardently in love with her that I had to make up +my mind to buy her with hard cash. The time when I could make women fall +in love with me was no more, and I had to make up my mind either to do +without them or to buy them. + +I cannot help laughing when people ask me for advice, as I feel so +certain that my advice will not be taken. Man is an animal that has to +learn his lesson by hard experience in battling with the storms of life. +Thus the world is always in disorder and always ignorant, for those who +know are always in an infinitesimal proportion to the whole. + +Madame Viscioletta, whom I went to see every day, treated me as the +Florentine widow had done, though the widow required forms and ceremonies +which I could dispense with in the presence of the fair Viscioletta, who +was nothing else than a professional courtezan, though she called herself +a virtuosa. + +I had besieged her for three weeks without any success, and when I made +any attempts she repulsed me laughingly. + +Monsignor Buoncompagni, the vice-legate, was her lover in secret, though +all the town knew it, but this sort of conventional secrecy is common +enough in Italy. As as ecclesiastic he could not court her openly, but +the hussy made no mystery whatever of his visits. + +Being in need of money, and preferring to get rid of my carriage than of +anything else, I announced it for sale at the price of three hundred and +fifty Roman crowns. It was a comfortable and handsome carriage, and was +well worth the price. I was told that the vice-legate offered three +hundred crowns, and I felt a real pleasure in contradicting my favoured +rival's desires. I told the man that I had stated my price and meant to +adhere to it, as I was not accustomed to bargaining. + +I went to see my carriage at noon one day to make sure that it was in +good condition, and met the vice-legate who knew me from meeting me at +the legate's, and must have been aware that I was poaching on his +preserves. He told me rudely that the carriage was not worth more than +three hundred crowns, and that I ought to be glad of the opportunity of +getting rid of it, as it was much too good for me. + +I had the strength of mind to despise his violence, and telling him dryly +that I did not chaffer I turned my back on him and went my way. + +Next day the fair Viscioletta wrote me a note to the effect that she +would be very much obliged if I would let the vice-legate have the +carriage at his own price, as she felt sure he would give it to her. I +replied that I would call on her in the afternoon, and that my answer +would depend on my welcome, I went in due course, and after a lively +discussion, she gave way, and I signified my willingness to sell the +carriage for the sum offered by the vice-legate. + +The next day she had her carriage, and I had my three hundred crowns, and +I let the proud prelate understand that I had avenged myself for his +rudeness. + +About this time Severini succeeded in obtaining a position as tutor in an +illustrious Neapolitan family, and as soon as he received his +journey-money he left Bologna. I also had thoughts of leaving the town. + +I had kept up an interesting correspondence with M. Zaguri, who had made +up his mind to obtain my recall in concert with Dandolo, who desired +nothing better. Zaguri told me that if I wanted to obtain my pardon I +must come and live as near as possible to the Venetian borders, so that +the State Inquisitors might satisfy themselves of my good conduct. M. +Zuliani, brother to the Duchess of Fiano, gave me the same advice, and +promised to use all his interest in my behalf. + +With the idea of following this counsel I decided to set up my abode at +Trieste, where M. Zaguri told me he had an intimate friend to whom he +would give me a letter of introduction. As I could not go by land without +passing through the States of Venice I resolved to go to Ancona, whence +boats sail to Trieste every day. As I should pass through Pesaro I asked +my patron to give me a letter for the Marquis Mosca, a distinguished man +of letters whom I had long wished to know. Just then he was a good deal +talked about on account of a treatise on alms which he had recently +published, and which the Roman curia had placed on the "Index." + +The marquis was a devotee as well as a man of learning, and was imbued +with the doctrine of St. Augustine, which becomes Jansenism if pushed to +an extreme point. + +I was sorry to leave Bologna, for I had spent eight pleasant months +there. In two days I arrived at Pesaro in perfect health and well +provided for in every way. + +I left my letter with the marquis, and he came to see me the same day. He +said his house would always be open to me, and that he would leave me in +his wife's hands to be introduced to everybody and everything in the +place. He ended by asking me to dine with him the following day, adding +that if I cared to examine his library he could give me an excellent cup +of chocolate. + +I went, and saw an enormous collection of comments on the Latin poets +from Ennius to the poets of the twelfth century of our era. He had had +them all printed at his own expense and at his private press, in four +tall folios, very accurately printed but without elegance. I told him my +opinion, and he agreed that I was right. + +The want of elegance which had spared him an outlay of a hundred thousand +francs had deprived him of a profit of three hundred thousand. + +He presented me with a copy, which he sent to my inn, with an immense +folio volume entitled "Marmora Pisaurentia," which I had no time to +examine. + +I was much pleased with the marchioness, who had three daughters and two +sons, all good-looking and well bred. + +The marchioness was a woman of the world, while her husband's interests +were confined to his books. This difference in disposition sometimes gave +rise to a slight element of discord, but a stranger would never have +noticed it if he had not been told. + +Fifty years ago a wise man said to me: "Every family is troubled by some +small tragedy, which should be kept private with the greatest care. In +fine, people should learn to wash their dirty linen in private." + +The marchioness paid me great attention during the five days I spent at +Pesaro. In the day she drove me from one country house to another, and at +night she introduced me to all the nobility of the town. + +The marquis might have been fifty then. He was cold by temperament, had +no other passion but that of study, and his morals were pure. He had +founded an academy of which he was the president. Its design was a fly, +in allusion to his name Mosca, with the words 'de me ce', that is to say, +take away 'c' from 'musca' and you have 'musa'. + +His only failing was that which the monks regard as his finest quality, +he was religious to excess, and this excess of religion went beyond the +bounds where 'nequit consistere rectum'. + +But which is the better, to go beyond these bounds, or not to come up to +them? I cannot venture to decide the question. Horace says,-- + + "Nulla est mihi religio!" + +and it is the beginning of an ode in which he condemns philosophy for +estranging him from religion. + +Excess of every kind is bad. + +I left Pesaro delighted with the good company I had met, and only sorry I +had not seen the marquis's brother who was praised by everyone. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A Jew Named Mardocheus Becomes My Travelling Companion--He Persuades Me +to Lodge in His House--I Fall in Love With His Daughter Leah--After a +Stay of Six Weeks I Go to Trieste + +Some time elapsed before I had time to examine the Marquis of Mosca's +collection of Latin poets, amongst which the 'Priapeia' found no place. + +No doubt this work bore witness to his love for literature but not to his +learning, for there was nothing of his own in it. All he had done was to +classify each fragment in chronological order. I should have liked to see +notes, comments, explanations, and such like; but there was nothing of +the kind. Besides, the type was not elegant, the margins were poor, the +paper common, and misprints not infrequent. All these are bad faults, +especially in a work which should have become a classic. Consequently, +the book was not a profitable one; and as the marquis was not a rich man +he was occasionally reproached by his wife for the money he had expended. + +I read his treatise on almsgiving and his apology for it, and understood +a good deal of the marquis's way of thinking. I could easily imagine that +his writings must have given great offence at Rome, and that with sounder +judgment he would have avoided this danger. Of course the marquis was +really in the right, but in theology one is only in the right when Rome +says yes. + +The marquis was a rigorist, and though he had a tincture of Jansenism he +often differed from St. Augustine. + +He denied, for instance, that almsgiving could annul the penalty attached +to sin, and according to him the only sort of almsgiving which had any +merit was that prescribed in the Gospel: "Let not thy right hand know +what thy left hand doeth." + +He even maintained that he who gave alms sinned unless it was done with +the greatest secrecy, for alms given in public are sure to be accompanied +by vanity. + +It might have been objected that the merit of alms lies in the intention +with which they are given. It is quite possible for a good man to slip a +piece of money into the palm of some miserable being standing in a public +place, and yet this may be done solely with the idea of relieving +distress without a thought of the onlookers. + +As I wanted to go to Trieste, I might have crossed the gulf by a small +boat from Pesaro; a good wind was blowing, and I should have got to +Trieste in twelve hours. This was my proper way, for I had nothing to do +at Ancona, and it was a hundred miles longer; but I had said I would go +by Ancona, and I felt obliged to do so. + +I had always a strong tincture of superstition, which has exercised +considerable influence on my strange career. + +Like Socrates I, too, had a demon to whom I referred my doubtful +counsels, doing his will, and obeying blindly when I felt a voice within +me telling me to forbear. + +A hundred times have I thus followed my genius, and occasionally I have +felt inclined to complain that it did not impel me to act against my +reason more frequently. Whenever I did so I found that impulse was right +and reason wrong, and for all that I have still continued reasoning. + +When I arrived at Senegallia, at three stages from Ancona, my vetturino +asked me, just as I was going to bed, whether I would allow him to +accommodate a Jew who was going to Ancona in the chaise. + +My first impulse made me answer sharply that I wanted no one in my +chaise, much less a Jew. + +The vetturino went out, but a voice said within me, "You must take this' +poor Israelite;" and in spite of my repugnance I called back the man and +signified my assent. + +"Then you must make up your mind to start at an earlier hour, for it is +Friday to-morrow, and you know the Jews are not allowed to travel after +sunset." + +"I shall not start a moment earlier than I intended, but you can make +your horses travel as quickly as you like." + +He gave me no answer, and went out. The next morning I found my Jew, an +honest-looking fellow, in the carriage. The first thing he asked me was +why I did not like Jews. + +"Because your religion teaches you to hate men of all other religions, +especially Christians, and you think you have done a meritorious action +when you have deceived us. You do not look upon us as brothers. You are +usurious, unmerciful, our enemies, and so I do not like you." + +"You are mistaken, sir. Come with me to our synagogue this evening, and +you will hear us pray for all Christians, beginning with our Lord the +Pope." + +I could not help bursting into a roar of laughter. + +"True," I replied, "but the prayer comes from the mouth only, and not +from the heart. If you do not immediately confess that the Jews would not +pray for the Christians if they were the masters, I will fling you out of +the chaise." + +Of course I did not carry out this threat, but I completed his confusion +by quoting in Hebrew the passages in the Old Testament, where the Jews +are bidden to do all possible harm to the Gentiles, whom they were to +curse every day. + +After this the poor man said no more. When we were going to take our +dinner I asked him to sit beside me, but he said his religion would not +allow him to do so, and that he would only eat eggs, fruit, and some +foiegras sausage he had in his pocket. He only drank water because he was +not sure that the wine was unadulterated. + +"You stupid fellow," I exclaimed, "how can you ever be certain of the +purity of wine unless you have made it yourself?" + +When we were on our way again he said that if I liked to come and stay +with him, and to content myself with such dishes as God had not +forbidden, he would make me more comfortable than if I went to the inn, +and at a cheaper rate. + +"Then you let lodgings to Christians?" + +"I don't let lodgings to anybody, but I will make an exception in your +case to disabuse you of some of your mistaken notions. I will only ask +you six pauls a day, and give you two good meals without wine." + +"Then you must give me fish and wine, I paying for them as extras." + +"Certainly; I have a Christian cook, and my wife pays a good deal of +attention to the cooking." + +"You can give me the foie gras every day, if you will eat it with me." + +"I know what you think, but you shall be satisfied." + +I got down at the Jew's house, wondering at myself as I did so. However, +I knew that if I did not like my accommodation I could leave the next +day. + +His wife and children were waiting for him, and gave him a joyful welcome +in honour of the Sabbath. All servile work was forbidden on this day holy +to the Lord; and all over the house, and in the face of all the family, I +observed a kind of festal air. + +I was welcomed like a brother, and I replied as best I could; but a word +from Mardocheus (so he was called) changed their politeness of feeling +into a politeness of interest. + +Mardocheus shewed me two rooms for me to choose the one which suited me, +but liking them both I said I would take the two for another paul a day, +with which arrangement he was well enough pleased. + +Mardocheus told his wife what we had settled, and she instructed the +Christian servant to cook my supper for me. + +I had my effects taken upstairs, and then went with Mardocheus to the +synagogue. + +During the short service the Jews paid no attention to me or to several +other Christians who were present. The Jews go to the synagogue to pray, +and in this respect I think their conduct worthy of imitation by the +Christians. + +On leaving the synagogue I went by myself to the Exchange, thinking over +the happy time which would never return. + +It was in Ancona that I had begun to enjoy life; and when I thought it +over, it was quite a shock to find that this was thirty years ago, for +thirty years is a long period in a man's life. And yet I felt quite +happy, in spite of the tenth lustrum so near at hand for me. + +What a difference I found between my youth and my middle age! I could +scarcely recognize myself. I was then happy, but now unhappy; then all +the world was before me, and the future seemed a gorgeous dream, and now +I was obliged to confess that my life had been all in vain. I might live +twenty years more, but I felt that the happy time was passed away, and +the future seemed all dreary. + +I reckoned up my forty-seven years, and saw fortune fly away. This in +itself was enough to sadden me, for without the favours of the fickle +goddess life was not worth living, for me at all events. + +My object, then, was to return to my country; it was as if I struggled to +undo all that I had done. All I could hope for was to soften the +hardships of the slow but certain passage to the grave. + +These are the thoughts of declining years and not of youth. The young man +looks only to the present, believes that the sky will always smile upon +him, and laughs at philosophy as it vainly preaches of old age, misery, +repentance, and, worst of all, abhorred death. + +Such were my thoughts twenty-six years ago; what must they be now, when I +am all alone, poor, despised, and impotent. They would kill me if I did +not resolutely subdue them, for whether for good or ill my heart is still +young. Of what use are desires when one can no longer satisfy them? I +write to kill ennui, and I take a pleasure in writing. Whether I write +sense or nonsense, what matters? I am amused, and that is enough. + + 'Malo scriptor delirus, inersque videri, + Dum mea delectent mala me vel denique fallunt, + Quam sapere.' + +When I came back I found Mardocheus at supper with his numerous family, +composed of eleven or twelve individuals, and including his mother--an +old woman of ninety, who looked very well. I noticed another Jew of +middle age; he was the husband of his eldest daughter, who did not strike +me as pretty; but the younger daughter, who was destined for a Jew of +Pesaro, whom she had never seen, engaged all my attention. I remarked to +her that if she had not seen her future husband she could not be in love +with him, whereupon she replied in a serious voice that it was not +necessary to be in love before one married. The old woman praised the +girl for this sentiment, and said she had not been in love with her +husband till the first child was born. + +I shall call the pretty Jewess Leah, as I have good reasons for not using +her real name. + +While they were enjoying their meal I sat down beside her and tried to +make myself as agreeable as possible, but she would not even look at me. + +My supper was excellent, and my bed very comfortable. + +The next day my landlord told me that I could give my linen to the maid, +and that Leah could get it up for me. + +I told him I had relished my supper, but that I should like the foie gras +every day as I had a dispensation. + +"You shall have some to-morrow, but Leah is the only one of us who eats +it." + +"Then Leah must take it with me, and you can tell her that I shall give +her some Cyprus wine which is perfectly pure." + +I had no wine, but I went for it the same morning to the Venetian consul, +giving him M. Dandolo's letter. + +The consul was a Venetian of the old leaven. He had heard my name, and +seemed delighted to make my acquaintance. He was a kind of clown without +the paint, fond of a joke, a regular gourmand, and a man of great +experience. He sold me some Scopolo and old Cyprus Muscat, but he began +to exclaim when he heard where I was lodging, and how I had come there. + +"He is rich," he said, "but he is also a great usurer, and if you borrow +money of him he will make you repent it." + +After informing the consul that I should not leave till the end of the +month, I went home to dinner, which proved excellent. + +The next day I gave out my linen to the maid, and Leah came to ask me how +I liked my lace got up. + +If Leah had examined me more closely she would have seen that the sight +of her magnificent breast, unprotected by any kerchief, had had a +remarkable effect on me. + +I told her that I left it all to her, and that she could do what she +liked with the linen. + +"Then it will all come under my hands if you are in no hurry to go." + +"You can make me stay as long as you like," said I; but she seemed not to +hear this declaration. + +"Everything is quite right," I continued, "except the chocolate; I like +it well frothed." + +"Then I will make it for you myself." + +"Then I will give out a double quantity, and we will take it together." + +"I don't like chocolate." + +"I am sorry to hear that; but you like foie gras?" + +"Yes, I do; and from what father tells me I am going to take some with +you to-day." + +"I shall be delighted." + +"I suppose you are afraid of being poisoned?" + +"Not at all; I only wish we could die together." + +She pretended not to understand, and left me burning with desire. I felt +that I must either obtain possession of her or tell her father not to +send her into my room any more. + +The Turin Jewess had given me some valuable hints as to the conduct of +amours with Jewish girls. + +My theory was that Leah would be more easily won than she, for at Ancona +there was much more liberty than at Turin. + +This was a rake's reasoning, but even rakes are mistaken sometimes. + +The dinner that was served to me was very good, though cooked in the +Jewish style, and Leah brought in the foie gras and sat down opposite to +me with a muslin kerchief over her breast. + +The foie gras was excellent, and we washed it down with copious libations +of Scopolo, which Leah found very much to her taste. + +When the foie gras was finished she got up, but I stopped her, for the +dinner was only half over. + +"I will stay then," said she, "but I am afraid my father will object." + +"Very good. Call your master," I said to the maid who came in at that +moment, "I have a word to speak to him." + +"My dear Mardocheus," I said when he came, "your daughter's appetite +doubles mine, and I shall be much obliged if you will allow her to keep +me company whenever we have foie gras." + +"It isn't to my profit to double your appetite, but if you like to pay +double I shall have no objection." + +"Very good, that arrangement will suit me." + +In evidence of my satisfaction I gave him a bottle of Scopolo, which Leah +guaranteed pure. + +We dined together, and seeing that the wine was making her mirthful I +told her that her eyes were inflaming me and that she must let me kiss +them. + +"My duty obliges me to say nay. No kissing and no touching; we have only +got to eat and drink together, and I shall like it as much as you." + +"You are cruel." + +"I am wholly dependent on my father." + +"Shall I ask your father to give you leave to be kind?" + +"I don't think that would be proper, and my father might be offended and +not allow me to see you any more." + +"And supposing he told you not to be scrupulous about trifles?" + +"Then I should despise him and continue to do my duty." + +So clear a declaration shewed me that if I persevered in this intrigue I +might go on for ever without success. I also bethought me that I ran a +risk of neglecting my chief business, which would not allow me to stay +long in Ancona. + +I said nothing more to Leah just then, and when the dessert came in I +gave her some Cyprus wine, which she declared was the most delicious +nectar she had ever tasted. + +I saw that the wine was heating her, and it seemed incredible to me that +Bacchus should reign without Venus; but she had a hard head, her blood +was hot and her brain cool. + +However, I tried to seize her hand and kiss it, but she drew it away, +saying pleasantly,-- + +"It's too much for honour and too little for love." + +This witty remark amused me, and it also let me know that she was not +exactly a neophyte. + +I determined to postpone matters till the next day, and told her not to +get me any supper as I was supping with the Venetian consul. + +The consul had told me that he did not dine, but that he would always be +delighted to see me at supper. + +It was midnight when I came home, and everyone was asleep except the maid +who let me in. I gave her such a gratuity that she must have wished me to +keep late hours for the rest of my stay. + +I proceeded to sound her about Leah, but she told me nothing but good. If +she was to be believed, Leah was a good girl, always at work, loved by +all, and fancy free. The maid could not have praised her better if she +had been paid to do so. + +In the morning Leah brought the chocolate and sat down on my bed, saying +that we should have some fine foie gras, and that she should have all the +better appetite for dinner as she had not taken any supper. + +"Why didn't you take any supper?" + +"I suppose it was because of your excellent Cyprus wine, to which my +father has taken a great liking." + +"Ah! he like it? We will give him some." + +Leah was in a state of undress as before, and the sight of her +half-covered spheres drove me to distraction. + +"Are you not aware that you have a beautiful breast?" said I. + +"I thought all young girls were just the same." + +"Have you no suspicion that the sight is a very pleasant one for me?" + +"If that be so, I am very glad, for I have nothing to be ashamed of, for +a girl has no call to hide her throat any more than her face, unless she +is in grand company." + +As she was speaking, Leah looked at a golden heart transfixed with an +arrow and set with small diamonds which served me as a shirt stud. + +"Do you like the little heart?" said I. + +"Very much. Is it pure gold?" + +"Certainly, and that being so I think I may offer it to you." + +So saying I took it off, but she thanked me politely, and said that a +girl who gave nothing must take nothing. + +"Take it; I will never ask any favour of you." + +"But I should be indebted to you, and that's the reason why I never take +anything." + +I saw that there was nothing to be done, or rather that it would be +necessary to do too much to do anything, and that in any case the best +plan would be to give her up. + +I put aside all thoughts of violence, which would only anger her or make +her laugh at me. I should either have been degraded, or rendered more +amorous, and all for nothing. If she had taken offense she would not have +come to see me any more, and I should have had nought to complain of. In +fine I made up my mind to restrain myself, and indulge no more in amorous +talk. + +We dined very pleasantly together. The servant brought in some +shell-fish, which are forbidden by the Mosaic Law. While the maid was in +the room I asked Leah to take some, and she refused indignantly; but +directly the girl was gone she took some of her own accord and ate them +eagerly, assuring me that it was the first time she had had the pleasure +of tasting shellfish. + +"This girl," I said to myself, "who breaks the law of her religion with +such levity, who likes pleasure and does not conceal it, this is the girl +who wants to make me believe that she is insensible to the pleasures of +love; that's impossible, though she may not love me. She must have some +secret means of satisfying her passions, which in my opinion are very +violent. We will see what can be done this evening with the help of a +bottle of good Muscat." + +However, when the evening came, she said she could not drink or eat +anything, as a meal always prevented her sleeping. + +The next day she brought me my chocolate, but her beautiful breast was +covered with a white kerchief. She sat down on the bed as usual, and I +observed in a melancholy manner that she had only covered her breast +because I had said I took a pleasure in seeing it. + +She replied that she had not thought of anything, and had only put on her +kerchief because she had had no time to fasten her stays. + +"You are whole right," I said, smilingly, "for if I were to see the whole +breast I might not think it beautiful." + +She gave no answer, and I finished my chocolate. + +I recollected my collection of obscene pictures, and I begged Leah to +give me the box, telling her that I would shew her some of the most +beautiful breasts in the world. + +"I shan't care to see them," said she; but she gave me the box, and sat +down on my bed as before. + +I took out a picture of a naked woman lying on her back and abusing +herself, and covering up the lower part of it I shewed it to Leah. + +"But her breast is like any other," said Leah. + +"Take away your handkerchief." + +"Take it back; it's disgusting. It's well enough done," she added, with a +burst of laughter, "but it's no novelty for me." + +"No novelty for you?" + +"Of course not; every girl does like that before she gets married." + +"Then you do it, too?" + +"Whenever I want to." + +"Do it now." + +"A well-bred girl always does it in private." + +"And what do you do after?" + +"If I am in bed I go to sleep." + +"My dear Leah, your sincerity is too much for me. Either be kind or visit +me no more." + +"You are very weak, I think." + +"Yes, because I am strong." + +"Then henceforth we shall only meet at dinner. But chew me some more +miniatures." + +"I have some pictures which you will not like." + +"Let me see them." + +I gave her Arentin's figures, and was astonished to see how coolly she +examined them, passing from one to the other in the most commonplace way. + +"Do you think them interesting?" I said. + +"Yes, very; they are so natural. But a good girl should not look at such +pictures; anyone must be aware that these voluptuous attitudes excite +one's emotions." + +"I believe you, Leah, and I feel it as much as you. Look here!" + +She smiled and took the book away to the window, turning her back towards +me without taking any notice of my appeal. + +I had to cool down and dress myself, and when the hairdresser arrived +Leah went away, saying she would return me my book at dinner. + +I was delighted, thinking I was sure of victory either that day or the +next, but I was out of my reckoning. + +We dined well and drank better. At dessert Leah took the book out of her +pocket and set me all on fire by asking me to explain some of the +pictures but forbidding all practical demonstration. + +I went out impatiently, determined to wait till next morning. + +When the cruel Jewess came in the morning she told me that she wanted +explanations, but that I must use the pictures and nothing more as a +demonstration of my remarks. + +"Certainly," I replied, "but you must answer all my questions as to your +sex." + +"I promise to do so, if they arise naturally from the pictures." + +The lesson lasted two hours, and a hundred times did I curse Aretin and +my folly in shewing her his designs, for whenever I made the slightest +attempt the pitiless woman threatened to leave me. But the information +she gave me about her own sex was a perfect torment to me. She told me +the most lascivious details, and explained with the utmost minuteness the +different external and internal movements which would be developed in the +copulations pictured by Aretin. I thought it quite impossible that she +could be reasoning from theory alone. She was not troubled by the +slightest tincture of modesty, but philosophized on coition as coolly and +much more learnedly than Hedvig. I would willingly have given her all I +possessed to crown her science by the performance of the great work. She +swore it was all pure theory with her, and I thought she must be speaking +the truth when she said she wanted to get married to see if her notions +were right or wrong. She looked pensive when I told her that the husband +destined for her might be unable to discharge his connubial duties more +than once a week. + +"Do you mean to say," said she, "that one man is not as good as another?" + +"How do you mean?" + +"Are not all men able to make love every day, and every hour, just as +they eat, drink and sleep every day?" + +"No, dear Leah, they that can make love every day are very scarce." + +In my state of chronic irritation I felt much annoyed that there was no +decent place at Ancona where a man might appease his passions for his +money. I trembled to think that I was in danger of falling really in love +with Leah, and I told the consul every day that I was in no hurry to go. +I was as foolish as a boy in his calf-love. I pictured Leah as the purest +of women, for with strong passions she refused to gratify them. I saw in +her a model of virtue; she was all self-restraint and purity, resisting +temptation in spite of the fire that consumed her. + +Before long the reader will discover how very virtuous Leah was. + +After nine or ten days I had recourse to violence, not in deeds but in +words. She confessed I was in the right, and said my best plan would be +to forbid her to come and see me in the morning. At dinner, according to +her, there would be no risk. + +I made up my mind to ask her to continue her visits, but to cover her +breast and avoid all amorous conversation. + +"With all my heart," she replied, laughing; "but be sure I shall not be +the first to break the conditions." + +I felt no inclination to break them either, for three days later I felt +weary of the situation, and told the consul I would start on the first +opportunity. My passion for Leah was spoiling my appetite, and I thus saw +myself deprived of my secondary pleasure without any prospect of gaining +my primary enjoyment. + +After what I had said to the consul I felt I should be bound to go, and I +went to bed calmly enough. But about two o'clock in the morning I had, +contrary to my usual habit, to get up and offer sacrifice to Cloacina. I +left my room without any candle, as I knew my way well enough about the +house. + +The temple of the goddess was on the ground floor, but as I had put on my +soft slippers, and walked very softly, my footsteps did not make the +least noise. + +On my way upstairs I saw a light shining through a chink in the door of a +room which I knew to be unoccupied. I crept softly up, not dreaming for a +moment that Leah could be there at such an hour. But on putting my eye to +the chink I found I could see a bed, and on it were Leah and a young man, +both stark naked, and occupied in working out Aretin's postures to the +best of their ability. They were whispering to one another, and every +four or five minutes I had the pleasure of seeing a new posture. These +changes of position gave me a view of all the beauties of Leah, and this +pleasure was something to set against my rage in having taken such a +profligate creature for a virtuous woman. + +Every time they approached the completion of the great work they stopped +short, and completed what they were doing with their hands. + +When they were doing the Straight Tree, to my mind the most lascivious of +them all, Leah behaved like a true Lesbian; for while the young man +excited her amorous fury she got hold of his instrument and took it +between her lips till the work was complete. I could not doubt that she +had swallowed the vital fluid of my fortunate rival. + +The Adonis then shewed her the feeble instrument, and Leah seemed to +regret what she had done. Before long she began to excite him again; but +the fellow looked at his watch, pushed her away, and began to put on his +shirt. + +Leah seemed angry, and I could see that she reproached him for some time +before she began to dress. + +When they were nearly clothed I softly returned to my room and looked out +of a window commanding the house-door. I had not to wait long before I +saw the fortunate lover going out. + +I went to bed indignant with Leah; I felt myself degraded. She was no +longer virtuous, but a villainous prostitute in my eyes; and I fell to +sleep with the firm resolve of driving her from my room the next morning, +after shaming her with the story of the scene I had witnessed. But, alas, +hasty and angry resolves can seldom withstand a few hours' sleep. As soon +as I saw Leah coming in with my chocolate, smiling and gay as usual, I +told her quite coolly all the exploits I had seen her executing, laying +particular stress on the Straight Tree, and the curious liquid she had +swallowed. I ended by saying that I hoped she would give me the next +night, both to crown my love and insure my secrecy. + +She answered with perfect calm that I had nothing to expect from her as +she did not love me, and as for keeping the secret she defied me to +disclose it. + +"I am sure you would not be guilty of such a disgraceful action," said +she. + +With these words she turned her back on me and went out. + +I could not help confessing to myself that she was in the right; I could +not bring myself to commit such a baseness. She had made me reasonable in +a few words: + +"I don't love you." There was no reply to this, and I felt I had no claim +on her. + +Rather it was she who might complain of me; what right had I to spy over +her? I could not accuse her of deceiving me; she was free to do what she +liked with herself. My best course was clearly to be silent. + +I dressed myself hastily, and went to the Exchange, where I heard that a +vessel was sailing for Fiume the same day. + +Fiume is just opposite Ancona on the other side of the gulf. From Fiume +to Trieste the distance is forty miles, and I decided to go by that +route. + +I went aboard the ship and took the best place, said good-bye to the +consul, paid Mardocheus, and packed my trunks. + +Leah heard that I was going the same day, and came and told me that she +could not give me back my lace and my silk stockings that day, but that I +could have them by the next day. + +"Your father," I replied coolly, "will hand them all over to the Venetian +consul, who will send them to me at Trieste." + +Just as I was sitting down to dinner, the captain of the boat came for my +luggage with a sailor. I told him he could have my trunk, and that I +would bring the rest aboard whenever he liked to go. + +"I intend setting out an hour before dusk." + +"I shall be ready." + +When Mardocheus heard where I was going he begged me to take charge of a +small box and a letter he wanted to send to a friend. + +"I shall be delighted to do you this small service." + +At dinner Leah sat down with me and chattered as usual, without troubling +herself about my monosyllabic answers. + +I supposed she wished me to credit her with calm confidence and +philosophy, while I looked upon it all as brazen impudence. + +I hated and despised her. She had inflamed my passions, told me to my +face she did not love me, and seemed to claim my respect through it all. +Possibly she expected me to be grateful for her remark that she believed +me incapable of betraying her to her father. + +As she drank my Scopolo she said there were several bottles left, as well +as some Muscat. + +"I make you a present of it all," I replied, "it will prime you up for +your nocturnal orgies." + +She smiled and said I had had a gratuitous sight of a spectacle which was +worth money, and that if I were not going so suddenly she would gladly +have given me another opportunity. + +This piece of impudence made me want to break the wine bottle on her +head. She must have known what I was going to do from the way I took it +up, but she did not waver for a moment. This coolness of hers prevented +my committing a crime. + +I contented myself with saying that she was the most impudent slut I had +ever met, and I poured the wine into my glass with a shaking hand, as if +that were the purpose for which I had taken up the bottle. + +After this scene I got up and went into the next room; nevertheless, in +half an hour she came to take coffee with me. + +This persistence of hers disgusted me, but I calmed myself by the +reflection that her conduct must be dictated by vengeance. + +"I should like to help you to pack," said she. + +"And I should like to be left alone," I replied; and taking her by the +arm I led her out of the room and locked the door after her. + +We were both of us in the right. Leah had deceived and humiliated me, and +I had reason to detest her, while I had discovered her for a monster of +hypocrisy and immodesty, and this was good cause for her to dislike me. + +Towards evening two sailors came after the rest of the luggage, and +thanking my hostess I told Leah to put up my linen, and to give it to her +father, who had taken the box of which I was to be the bearer down to the +vessel. + +We set sail with a fair wind, and I thought never to set face on Leah +again. But fate had ordered otherwise. + +We had gone twenty miles with a good wind in our quarter, by which we +were borne gently from wave to wave, when all of a sudden there fell a +dead calm. + +These rapid changes are common enough in the Adriatic, especially in the +part we were in. + +The calm lasted but a short time, and a stiff wind from the +west-north-west began to blow, with the result that the sea became very +rough, and I was very ill. + +At midnight the storm had become dangerous. The captain told me that if +we persisted in going in the wind's eye we should be wrecked, and that +the only thing to be done was to return to Ancona. + +In less than three hours we made the harbour, and the officer of the +guard having recognized me kindly allowed me to land. + +While I was talking to the officer the sailors took my trunks, and +carried them to my old lodgings without waiting to ask my leave. + +I was vexed. I wanted to avoid Leah, and I had intended to sleep at the +nearest inn. However, there was no help for it. When I arrived the Jew +got up, and said he was delighted to see me again. + +It was past three o'clock in the morning, and I felt very ill, so I said +I would not get up till late, and that I would dine in my bed without any +foie gras. I slept ten hours, and when I awoke I felt hungry and rang my +bell. + +The maid answered and said that she would have the honour of waiting on +me, as Leah had a violent headache. + +I made no answer, thanking Providence for delivering me from this +impudent and dangerous woman. + +Having found my dinner rather spare I told the cook to get me a good +supper. + +The weather was dreadful. The Venetian consul had heard of my return, and +not having seen me concluded I was ill, and paid me a two hours' visit. +He assured me the storm would last for a week at least. I was very sorry +to hear it; in the first place, because I did not want to see any more of +Leah, and in the second, because I had not got any money. Luckily I had +got valuable effects, so this second consideration did not trouble me +much. + +As I did not see Leah at supper-time I imagined that she was feigning +illness to avoid meeting me, and I felt very much obliged to her on this +account. As it appeared, however, I was entirely mistaken in my +conjectures. + +The next day she came to ask for chocolate in her usual way, but she no +longer bore upon her features her old tranquillity of expression. + +"I will take coffee, mademoiselle," I observed; "and as I do not want +foie gras any longer, I will take dinner by myself. Consequently, you may +tell your father that I shall only pay seven pauls a day. In future I +shall only drink Orvieto wine." + +"You have still four bottles of Scopolo and Cyprus." + +"I never take back a present; the wine belongs to you. I shall be obliged +by your leaving me alone as much as possible, as your conduct is enough +to irritate Socrates, and I am not Socrates. Besides, the very sight of +you is disagreeable to me. Your body may be beautiful, but knowing that +the soul within is a monster it charms me no longer. You may be very sure +that the sailors brought my luggage here without my orders, or else you +would never have seen me here again, where I dread being poisoned every +day." + +Leah went out without giving me any answer, and I felt certain that after +my plain-spoken discourse she would take care not to trouble me again. + +Experience had taught me that girls like Leah are not uncommon. I had +known specimens at Spa, Genoa, London, and at Venice, but this Jewess was +the worst I had ever met. + +It was Saturday. When Mardocheus came back from the synagogue he asked me +gaily why I had mortified his daughter, as she had declared she had done +nothing to offend me. + +"I have not mortified her, my dear Mardocheus, or at all events, such was +not my intention; but as I have put myself on diet, I shall be eating no +more foie gras, and consequently I shall dine by myself, and save three +pauls a day." + +"Leah is quite ready to pay me out of her private purse, and she wants to +dine with you to assure you against being poisoned, as she informs me +that you have expressed that fear." + +"That was only a jest; I am perfectly aware that I am in the house of an +honest man. I don't want your daughter to pay for herself, and to prove +that I am not actuated by feelings of economy, you shall dine with me +too. To offer to pay for me is an impertinence on her part. In fine, I +will either dine by myself and pay you seven pawls a day, or I will pay +you thirteen, and have both father and daughter to dine with me." + +The worthy Mardocheus went away, saying that he really could not allow me +to dine by myself. + +At dinner-time I talked only to Mardocheus, without glancing at Leah or +paying any attention to the witty sallies she uttered to attract me. I +only drank Orvieto. + +At dessert Leah filled my glass with Scopolo, saying that if I did not +drink it neither would she. + +I replied, without looking at her, that I advised her only to drink water +for the future, and that I wanted nothing at her hands. + +Mardocheus, who liked wine, laughed and said I was right, and drank for +three. + +The weather continued bad, and I spent the rest of the day in writing, +and after supper I retired and went to sleep. + +Suddenly I was aroused by a slight noise. + +"Who is there?" said I. + +I heard Leah's voice, whispering in reply, + +"'Tis I; I have not come to disturb you, but to justify myself." + +So saying she lay down on the bed, but on the outside of the coverlet. + +I was pleased with this extraordinary visit, for my sole desire was for +vengeance, and I felt certain of being able to resist all her arts. I +therefore told her politely enough that I considered her as already +justified and that I should be obliged by her leaving me as I wanted to +go to sleep. + +"Not before you have heard what I have to say." + +"Go on; I am listening to you." + +Thereupon she began a discourse which I did not interrupt, and which +lasted for a good hour. + +She spoke very artfully, and after confessing she had done wrong she said +that at my age I should have been ready to overlook the follies of a +young and passionate girl. According to her it was all weakness, and +pardonable at such an age. + +"I swear I love you," said she, "and I would have given you good proof +before now if I had not been so unfortunate as to love the young +Christian you saw with me, while he does not care for me in the least; +indeed I have to pay him. + +"In spite of my passion," she continued, "I have never given him what a +girl can give but once. I had not seen him for six months, and it was +your fault that I sent for him, for you inflamed me with your pictures +and strong wines." + +The end of it all was that I ought to forget everything, and treat her +kindly during the few days I was to remain there. + +When she finished I did not allow myself to make any objection. I +pretended to be convinced, assuring her that I felt I had been in the +wrong in letting her see Aretin's figures, and that I would no longer +evince any resentment towards her. + +As her explanation did not seem likely to end in the way she wished, she +went on talking about the weakness of the flesh, the strength of +self-love which often hushes the voice of passion, etc., etc.; her aim +being to persuade me that she loved me, and that her refusals had all +been given with the idea of making my love the stronger. + +No doubt I might have given her a great many answers, but I said nothing. +I made up my mind to await the assault that I saw was impending, and then +by refusing all her advances I reckoned on abasing her to the uttermost. +Nevertheless, she made no motion; her hands were at rest, and she kept +her face at a due distance from mine. + +At last, tired out with the struggle, she left me pretending to be +perfectly satisfied with what she had done. + +As soon as she had gone, I congratulated myself on the fact that she had +confined herself to verbal persuasion; for if she had gone further she +would probably have achieved a complete victory, though we were in the +dark. + +I must mention that before she left me I had to promise to allow her to +make my chocolate as usual. + +Early the next morning she came for the stick of chocolate. She was in a +complete state of negligee, and came in on tiptoe, though if she chose to +look towards the bed she might have seen that I was wide awake. + +I marked her artifices and her cunning, and resolved to be equal to all +her wiles. When she brought the chocolate I noticed that there were two +cups on the tray, and I said,-- + +"Then it is not true that you don't like chocolate?" + +"I feel obliged to relieve you of all fear of being poisoned." + +I noticed that she was now dressed with the utmost decency, while half an +hour before she had only her chemise and petticoat her neck being +perfectly bare. The more resolved she seemed to gain the victory, the +more firmly I was determined to humiliate her, as it appeared to me the +only other alternative would have been my shame and dishonour; and this +turned me to stone. + +In spite of my resolves, Leah renewed the attack at dinner, for, contrary +to my orders, she served a magnificent foie gras, telling me that it was +for herself, and that if she were poisoned she would die of pleasure; +Mardocheus said he should like to die too, and began regaling himself on +it with evident relish. + +I could not help laughing, and announced my wish to taste the deadly +food, and so we all of us were eating it. + +"Your resolves are not strong enough to withstand seduction," said Leah. +This remark piqued me, and I answered that she was imprudent to disclose +her designs in such a manner, and that she would find my resolves strong +enough when the time came. + +A faint smile played about her lips. + +"Try if you like," I said, "to persuade me to drink some Scopolo or +Muscat. I meant to have taken some, but your taunt has turned me to +steel. I mean to prove that when I make up my mind I never alter it." + +"The strong-minded man never gives way," said Leah, "but the good-hearted +man often lets himself be overpersuaded." + +"Quite so, and the good-hearted girl refrains from taunting a man for his +weakness for her." + +I called the maid and told her to go to the Venetian consul's and get me +some more Scopolo and Muscat. Leah piqued me once more by saying +enthusiastically,-- + +"I am sure you are the most good-hearted of men as well as the firmest." +Mardocheus, who could not make out what we meant, ate, drank, and +laughed, and seemed pleased with everything. + +In the afternoon I went out to a cafe in spite of the dreadful weather. I +thought over Leah and her designs, feeling certain that she would pay me +another nocturnal visit and renew the assault in force. I resolved to +weaken myself with some common woman, if I could find one at all +supportable. + +A Greek who had taken me to a disgusting place a few days before, +conducted me to another where he introduced me to a painted horror of a +woman from whose very sight I fled in terror. + +I felt angry that in a town like Ancona a man of some delicacy could not +get his money's worth for his money, and went home, supped by myself, and +locked the door after me. + +The precaution, however, was useless. + +A few minutes after I had shut the door, Leah knocked on the pretext that +I had forgotten to give her the chocolate. + +I opened the door and gave it her, and she begged me not to lock myself +in, as she wanted to have an important and final interview. + +"You can tell me now what you want to say." + +"No, it will take some time, and I should not like to come till everyone +is asleep. You have nothing to be afraid of; you are lord of yourself. +You can go to bed in peace." + +"I have certainly nothing to be afraid of, and to prove it to you I will +leave the door open." + +I felt more than ever certain of victory, and resolved not to blow out +the candles, as my doing so might be interpreted into a confession of +fear. Besides, the light would render my triumph and her humiliation more +complete. With these thoughts I went to bed. + +At eleven o'clock a slight noise told me that my hour had come. I saw +Leah enter my room in her chemise and a light petticoat. She locked my +door softly, and when I cried, "Well; what do you want with me?" she let +her chemise and petticoat drop, and lay down beside me in a state of +nature. + +I was too much astonished to repulse her. + +Leah was sure of victory, and without a word she threw herself upon me, +pressing her lips to mine, and depriving me of all my faculties except +one. + +I utilised a short moment of reflection by concluding that I was a +presumptuous fool, and that Leah was a woman with a most extensive +knowledge of human nature. + +In a second my caress became as ardent as hers, and after kissing her +spheres of rose and alabaster I penetrated to the sanctuary of love, +which, much to my astonishment, I found to be a virgin citadel. + +There was a short silence, and then I said,-- + +"Dearest Leah, you oblige me to adore you; why did you first inspire me +with hate? Are you not come here merely to humiliate me, to obtain an +empty victory? If so, I forgive you; but you are in the wrong, for, +believe me, enjoyment is sweeter far than vengeance." + +"Nay, I have not come to achieve a shameful victory, but to give myself +to you without reserve, to render you my conqueror and my king. Prove +your love by making me happy, break down the barrier which I kept intact, +despite its fragility and my ardour, and if this sacrifice does not +convince you of my affection you must be the worst of men." + +I had never heard more energetic opinions, and I had never seen a more +voluptuous sight. I began the work, and while Leah aided me to the best +of her ability, I forced the gate, and on Leah's face I read the most +acute pain and pleasure mingled. In the first ecstasy of delight I felt +her tremble in every limb. + +As for me, my enjoyment was quite new; I was twenty again, but I had the +self-restraint of my age, and treated Leah with delicacy, holding her in +my arms till three o'clock in the morning. When I left her she was +inundated and exhausted with pleasure, while I could do no more. + +She left me full of gratitude, carrying the soaking linen away with her. +I slept on till twelve o'clock. + +When I awoke and saw her standing by my bedside with the gentle love of +the day after the wedding, the idea of my approaching departure saddened +me. I told her so, and she begged me to stay on as long as I could. I +repeated that we would arrange everything when we met again at night. + +We had a delicious dinner, for Mardocheus was bent on convincing me that +he was no miser. + +I spent the afternoon with the consul, and arranged that I should go on a +Neapolitan man-of-war which was in quarantine at the time, and was to +sail for Trieste. + +As I should be obliged to pass another month at Ancona, I blessed the +storm that had driven me back. + +I gave the consul the gold snuff-box with which the Elector of Cologne +had presented me, keeping the portrait as a memento. Three days later he +handed me forty gold sequins, which was ample for my needs. + +My stay in Ancona was costing me dear; but when I told Mardocheus that I +should not be going for another month he declared he would no longer feed +at my expense. Of course I did not insist. Leah still dined with me. + +It has always been my opinion, though perhaps I may be mistaken, that the +Jew was perfectly well aware of my relations with his daughter. Jews are +usually very liberal on this article, possibly because they count on the +child being an Israelite. + +I took care that my dear Leah should have no reason to repent of our +connection. How grateful and affectionate she was when I told her that I +meant to stay another month! How she blessed the bad weather which had +driven me back. We slept together every night, not excepting those nights +forbidden by the laws of Moses. + +I gave her the little gold heart, which might be worth ten sequins, but +that would be no reward for the care she had taken of my linen. She also +made me accept some splendid Indian handkerchiefs. Six years later I met +her again at Pesaro. + +I left Ancona on November 14th, and on the 15th I was at Trieste. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Pittoni--Zaguri--The Procurator Morosini--The Venetian +Consul--Gorice--The French Consul--Madame Leo--My Devotion to The State +Inquisitors--Strasoldo--Madame Cragnoline--General Burghausen + +The landlord asked me my name, we made our agreement, and I found myself +very comfortably lodged. Next day I went to the post-office and found +several letters which had been awaiting me for the last month. I opened +one from M. Dandolo, and found an open enclosure from the patrician Marco +Dona, addressed to Baron Pittoni, Chief of Police. On reading it, I found +I was very warmly commended to the baron. I hastened to call on him, and +gave him the letter, which he took but did not read. He told me that M. +Donna had written to him about me, and that he would be delighted to do +anything in his power for me. + +I then took Mardocheus's letter to his friend Moses Levi. I had not the +slightest idea that the letter had any reference to myself, so I gave it +to the first clerk that I saw in the office. + +Levi was an honest and an agreeable man, and the next day he called on me +and offered me his services in the most cordial manner. He shewed me the +letter I had delivered, and I was delighted to find that it referred to +myself. The worthy Mardocheus begged him to give me a hundred sequins in +case I needed any money, adding that any politeness shewn to me would be +as if shewn to himself. + +This behaviour on the part of Mardocheus filled me with gratitude, and +reconciled me, so to speak, with the whole Jewish nation. I wrote him a +letter of thanks, offering to serve him at Venice in any way I could. + +I could not help comparing the cordiality of Levi's welcome with the +formal and ceremonious reception of Baron Pittoni. The baron was ten or +twelve years younger than I. He was a man of parts, and quite devoid of +prejudice. A sworn foe of 'meum and tuum', and wholly incapable of +economy, he left the whole care of his house to his valet, who robbed +him, but the baron knew it and made no objection. He was a determined +bachelor, a gallant, and the friend and patron of libertines. His chief +defect was his forgetfulness and absence of mind, which made him +mismanage important business. + +He was reputed, though wrongly, to be a liar. A liar is a person who +tells falsehoods intentionally, while if Pittoni told lies it was because +he had forgotten the truth. We became good friends in the course of a +month, and we have remained friends to this day. + +I wrote to my friends at Venice, announcing my arrival at Trieste, and +for the next ten days I kept my room, busied in putting together the +notes I had made on Polish events since the death of Elizabeth Petrovna. +I meant to write a history of the troubles of unhappy Poland up to its +dismemberment, which was taking place at the epoch in which I was +writing. + +I had foreseen all this when the Polish Diet recognized the dying czarina +as Empress of all the Russians, and the Elector of Brandenburg as King of +Prussia, and I proceeded with my history; but only the first three +volumes were published, owing to the printers breaking the agreement. + +The four last volumes will be found in manuscript after my death, and +anyone who likes may publish them. But I have become indifferent to all +this as to many other matters since I have seen Folly crowned king of the +earth. + +To-day there is no such country as Poland, but it might still be in +existence if it had not been for the ambition of the Czartoryski family, +whose pride had been humiliated by Count Bruhl, the prime minister. To +gain vengeance Prince Augustus Czartoryski ruined his country. He was so +blinded by passion that he forgot that all actions have their inevitable +results. + +Czartoryski had determined not only to exclude the House of Saxony from +the succession, but to dethrone the member of that family who was +reigning. To do this the help of the Czarina and of the Elector of +Brandenburg was necessary, so he made the Polish Diet acknowledge the one +as Empress of all the Russians, and the other as King of Prussia. The two +sovereigns would not treat with the Polish Commonwealth till this claim +had been satisfied; but the Commonwealth should never have granted these +titles, for Poland itself possessed most of the Russias, and was the true +sovereign of Prussia, the Elector of Brandenburg being only Duke of +Prussia in reality. + +Prince Czartoryski, blinded by the desire of vengeance, persuaded the +Diet that to give the two sovereigns these titles would be merely a form, +and that they would never become anything more than honorary. This might +be so, but if Poland had possessed far-seeing statesmen they would have +guessed that an honorary title would end in the usurpation of the whole +country. + +The Russian palatin had the pleasure of seeing his nephew Stanislas +Poniatowski on the throne. + +I myself told him that these titles gave a right, and that the promise +not to make any use of them was a mere delusion. I added jokingly--for I +was obliged to adopt a humorous tone--that before long Europe would take +pity on Poland, which had to bear the heavy weight of all the Russias and +the kingdom of Prussia as well, and the Commonwealth would find itself +relieved of all these charges. + +My prophecy has been fulfilled. The two princes whose titles were allowed +have torn Poland limb from limb; it is now absorbed in Russia and +Prussia. + +The second great mistake made by Poland was in not remembering the +apologue of the man and the horse when the question of protection +presented itself. + +The Republic of Rome became mistress of the world by protecting other +nations. + +Thus Poland came to ruin through ambition, vengeance, and folly--but +folly most of all. + +The same reason lay at the root of the French Revolution. Louis XVI. paid +the penalty of his folly with his life. If he had been a wise ruler he +would still be on the throne, and France would have escaped the fury of +the Revolutionists. France is sick; in any other country this sickness +might be remedied, but I would not wonder if it proved incurable in +France. + +Certain emotional persons are moved to pity by the emigrant French +nobles, but for my part I think them only worthy of contempt. Instead of +parading their pride and their disgrace before the eyes of foreign +nations, they should have rallied round their king, and either have saved +the throne or died under its ruins. What will become of France? It was +hard to say; but it is certain that a body without a head cannot live +very long, for reason is situate in the head. + +On December 1st Baron Pittoni begged me to call on him as some one had +come from Venice on purpose to see me. + +I dressed myself hastily, and went to the baron's, where I saw a +fine-looking man of thirty-five or forty, elegantly dressed. He looked at +me with the liveliest interest. + +"My heart tells me," I began, "that your excellence's name is Zaguri?" + +"Exactly so, my dear Casanova. As soon as my friend Dandolo told me of +your arrival here, I determined to come and congratulate you on your +approaching recall, which will take place either this year or the next, +as I hope to see two friends of mine made Inquisitors. You may judge of +my friendship for you when I tell you that I am an 'avogador', and that +there is a law forbidding such to leave Venice. We will spend to-day and +to-morrow together." + +I replied in a manner to convince him that I was sensible of the honour +he had done me; and I heard Baron Pittoni begging me to excuse him for +not having come to see me. He said he had forgotten all about it, and a +handsome old man begged his excellence to ask me to dine with him, though +he had not the pleasure of knowing me. + +"What!" said Zaguri. "Casanova has been here for the last ten days, and +does not know the Venetian consul?" + +I hastened to speak. + +"It's my own fault," I observed, "I did not like calling on this +gentleman, for fear he might think me contraband." + +The consul answered wittily that I was not contraband but in quarantine, +pending my return to my native land; and that in the meanwhile his house +would always be open to me, as had been the house of the Venetian consul +at Ancona. + +In this manner he let me know that he knew something about me, and I was +not at all sorry for it. + +Marco Monti, such was the consul's name, was a man of parts and much +experience; a pleasant companion and a great conversationalist, fond of +telling amusing stories with a grave face--in fact, most excellent +company. + +I was something of a 'conteur' myself, and we soon became friendly rivals +in telling anecdotes. In spite of his thirty additional years I was a +tolerable match for him, and when we were in a room there was no question +of gaining to kill the time. + +We became fast friends, and I benefited a good deal by his offices during +the two years I spent in Trieste, and I have always thought that he had a +considerable share in obtaining my recall. That was my great object in +those days; I was a victim to nostalgia, or home sickness. + +With the Swiss and the Sclavs it is really a fatal disease, which carries +them off if they are not sent home immediately. Germans are subject to +this weakness also; whilst the French suffer very little, and Italians +not much more from the complaint. + +No rule, however, lacks its exception, and I was one. I daresay I should +have got over my nostalgia if I had treated it with contempt, and then I +should not have wasted ten years of my life in the bosom of my cruel +stepmother Venice. + +I dined with M. Zaguri at the consul's, and I was invited to dine with +the governor, Count Auersperg, the next day. + +The visit from a Venetian 'avogador' made me a person of great +consideration. I was no longer looked upon as an exile, but as one who +had successfully escaped from illegal confinement. + +The day after I accompanied M. Zaguri to Gorice, where he stayed three +days to enjoy the hospitality of the nobility. I was included in all +their invitations, and I saw that a stranger could live very pleasantly +at Gorice. + +I met there a certain Count Cobenzl, who may be alive now--a man of +wisdom, generosity, and the vastest learning, and yet without any kind of +pretention. He gave a State dinner to M. Zaguri, and I had the pleasure +of meeting there three or four most charming ladies. I also met Count +Tomes, a Spaniard whose father was in in the Austrian service. He had +married at sixty, and had five children all as ugly as himself. His +daughter was a charming girl in spite of her plainness; she evidently got +her character from the mother's side. The eldest son, who was ugly and +squinted, was a kind of pleasant madman, but he was also a liar, a +profligate, a boaster, and totally devoid of discretion. In spite of +these defects he was much sought after in society as he told a good tale +and made people laugh. If he had been a student, he would have been a +distinguished scholar, as his memory was prodigious. He it was who vainly +guaranteed the agreement I made with Valerio Valeri for printing my +"History of Poland." I also met at Gorice a Count Coronini, who was known +in learned circles as the author of some Latin treatises on diplomacy. +Nobody read his books, but everybody agreed that he was a very learned +man. + +I also met a young man named Morelli, who had written a history of the +place and was on the point of publishing the first volume. He gave me his +MS. begging me to make any corrections that struck me as desirable. I +succeeded in pleasing him, as I gave him back his work without a single +note or alteration of any kind, and thus he became my friend. + +I became a great friend of Count Francis Charles Coronini, who was a man +of talents. He had married a Belgian lady, but not being able to agree +they had separated and he passed his time in trifling intrigues, hunting, +and reading the papers, literary and political. He laughed at those sages +who declared that there was not one really happy person in the world, and +he supported his denial by the unanswerable dictum: + +"I myself am perfectly happy." + +However, as he died of a tumor in the head at the age of thirty-five, he +probably acknowledged his mistake in the agonies of death. + +There is no such thing as a perfectly happy or perfectly unhappy man in +the world. One has more happiness in his life and another more +unhappiness, and the same circumstance may produce widely different +effects on individuals of different temperaments. + +It is not a fact that virtue ensures happiness for the exercise of some +virtues implies suffering, and suffering is incompatible with happiness. + +My readers may be aware that I am not inclined to make mental pleasure +pre-eminent and all sufficing. It may be a fine thing to have a clear +conscience, but I cannot see that it would at all relieve the pangs of +hunger. + +Baron Pittoni and myself escorted Zaguri to the Venetian border, and we +then returned to Trieste together. + +In three or four days Pittoni took me everywhere, including the club +where none but persons of distinction were admitted. This club was held +at the inn where I was staying. + +Amongst the ladies, the most noteworthy was the wife of the merchant, +David Riguelin, who was a Swabian by birth. + +Pittoni was in love with her and continued so till her death. His suit +lasted for twelve years, and like Petrarch, he still sighed, still hoped, +but never succeeded. Her name was Zanetta, and besides her beauty she had +the charm of being an exquisite singer and a polished hostess. Still more +noteworthy, however, was the unvarying sweetness and equability of her +disposition. + +I did not want to know her long before recognizing that she was +absolutely impregnable. I told Pittoni so, but all in vain; he still fed +on empty hope. + +Zanetta had very poor health, though no one would have judged so from her +appearance, but it was well known to be the case. She died at an early +age. + +A few days after M. Zaguri's departure, I had a note from the consul +informing me that the Procurator Morosini was stopping in my inn, and +advising me to call on him if I knew him. + +I was infinitely obliged for this advice, for M. Morosini was a personage +of the greatest importance. He had known me from childhood, and the +reader may remember that he had presented me to Marshal Richelieu, at +Fontainebleau, in 1750. + +I dressed myself as if I had been about to speak to a monarch, and sent +in a note to his room. + +I had not long to wait; he came out and welcomed me most graciously, +telling me how delighted he was to see me again. + +When he heard the reason of my being at Trieste, and how I desired to +return to my country, he assured me he would do all in his power to +obtain me my wish. He thanked me for the care I had taken of his nephew +at Florence, and kept me all the day while I told him my principal +adventures. + +He was glad to hear that M. Zaguri was working for me, and said that they +must concert the mater together. He commended me warmly to the consul, +who was delighted to be able to inform the Tribunal of the consideration +with which M. Morosini treated me. + +After the procurator had gone I began to enjoy life at Trieste, but in +strict moderation and with due regard for economy, for I had only fifteen +sequins a month. I abjured play altogether. + +Every day I dined with one of the circle of my friends, who were the +Venetian consul, the French consul (an eccentric but worthy man who kept +a good cook), Pittoni, who kept an excellent table, thanks to his man who +knew what was to his own interests, and several others. + +As for the pleasures of love I enjoyed them in moderation, taking care of +my purse and of my health. + +Towards the end of the carnival I went to a masked ball at the theatre, +and in the course of the evening a harlequin came up and presented his +columbine to me. They both began to play tricks on me. I was pleased with +the columbine, and felt a strong desire to be acquainted with her. After +some vain researches the French consul, M. de St. Sauveur, told me that +the harlequin was a young lady of rank, and that the columbine was a +handsome young man. + +"If you like," he added, "I will introduce you to the harlequin's family, +and I am sure you will appreciate her charms when you see her as a girl." + +As they persisted in their jokes I was able, without wounding decency +overmuch, to convince myself that the consul was right on the question of +sex; and when the ball was over I said I should be obliged by his +introducing me as he had promised. He promised to do so the day after Ash +Wednesday. + +Thus I made the acquaintance of Madame Leo, who was still pretty and +agreeable, though she had lived very freely in her younger days. There +was her husband, a son, and six daughters, all handsome, but especially +the harlequin with whom I was much taken. Naturally I fell in love with +her, but as I was her senior by thirty years, and had begun my addresses +in a tone of fatherly affection, a feeling of shame prevented my +disclosing to her the real state of my heart. Four years later she told +me herself that she had guessed my real feelings, and had been amused by +my foolish restraint. + +A young girl learns deeper lessons from nature than we men can acquire +with all our experience. + +At the Easter of 1773 Count Auersperg, the Governor of Trieste, was +recalled to Vienna, and Count Wagensberg took his place. His eldest +daughter, the Countess Lantieri, who was a great beauty, inspired me with +a passion which would have made me unhappy if I had not succeeded in +hiding it under a veil of the profoundest respect. + +I celebrated the accession of the new governor by some verses which I had +printed, and in which, while lauding the father, I paid conspicuous +homage to the charms of the daughter. + +My tribute pleased them, and I became an intimate friend of the count's. +He placed confidence in me with the idea of my using it to my own +advantage, for though he did not say so openly I divined his intention. + +The Venetian consul had told me that he had been vainly endeavouring for +the last four years to get the Government of Trieste to arrange for the +weekly diligence from Trieste to Mestre to pass by Udine, the capital of +the Venetian Friuli. + +"This alteration," he had said, "would greatly benefit the commerce of +the two states; but the Municipal Council of Trieste opposes it for a +plausible but ridiculous reason." + +These councillors, in the depth of their wisdom, said that if the +Venetian Republic desired the alteration it would evidently be to their +advantage, and consequently to the disadvantage of Trieste. + +The consul assured me that if I could in any way obtain the concession it +would weigh strongly in my favour with the State Inquisitors, and even in +the event of my non-success he would represent my exertions in the most +favourable light. + +I promised I would think the matter over. + +Finding myself high in the governor's favour, I took the opportunity of +addressing myself to him on the subject. He had heard about the matter, +and thought the objection of the Town Council absurd and even monstrous; +but he professed his inability to do anything himself. + +"Councillor Rizzi," said he, "is the most obstinate of them all, and has +led astray the rest with his sophisms. But do you send me in a memorandum +shewing that the alteration will have a much better effect on the large +commerce of Trieste than on the comparatively trifling trade of Udine. I +shall send it into the Council without disclosing the authorship, but +backing it with my authority, and challenging the opposition to refute +your arguments. Finally, if they do not decide reasonably I shall +proclaim before them all my intention to send the memoir to Vienna with +my opinion on it." + +I felt confident of success, and wrote out a memoir full of +incontrovertible reasons in favour of the proposed change. + +My arguments gained the victory; the Council were persuaded, and Count +Wagensberg handed me the decree, which I immediately laid before the +Venetian consul. Following his advice, I wrote to the secretary of the +Tribunal to the effect that I was happy to have given the Government a +proof of my zeal, and an earnest of my desire to be useful to my country +and to be worthy of being recalled. + +Out of regard for me the count delayed the promulgation of the decree for +a week, so that the people of Udine heard the news from Venice before it +had reached Trieste, and everybody thought that the Venetian Government +had achieved its ends by bribery. The secretary of the Tribunal did not +answer my letter, but he wrote to the consul ordering him to give me a +hundred ducats, and to inform me that this present was to encourage me to +serve the Republic. He added that I might hope great things from the +mercy of the Inquisitors if I succeeded in negotiating the Armenian +difficulty. + +The consul gave me the requisite information, and my impression was that +my efforts would be in vain; however, I resolved to make the attempt. + +Four Armenian monks had left the Convent of St. Lazarus at Venice, having +found the abbot's tyranny unbearable. They had wealthy relations at +Constantinople, and laughed the excommunication of their late tyrant to +scorn. They sought asylum at Vienna, promising to make themselves useful +to the State by establishing an Armenian press to furnish all the +Armenian convents with books. They engaged to sink a capital of a million +florins if they were allowed to settle in Austria, to found their press, +and to buy or build a convent, where they proposed to live in community +but without any abbot. + +As might be expected the Austrian Government did not hesitate to grant +their request; it did more, it gave them special privileges. + +The effect of this arrangement would be to deprive Venice of a lucrative +trade, and to place it in the emperor's dominions. Consequently the +Viennese Court sent them to Trieste with a strong recommendation to the +governor, and they had been there for the past six months. + +The Venetian Government, of course, wished to entice them back to Venice. +They had vainly induced their late abbot to make handsome offers to them, +and they then proceeded by indirect means, endeavoring to stir up +obstacles in their way, and to disgust them with Trieste. + +The consul told me plainly that he had not touched the matter, thinking +success to be out of the question; and he predicted that if I attempted +it I should find myself in the dilemma of having to solve the insoluble. +I felt the force of the consul's remark when I reflected that I could not +rely on the governor's assistance, or even speak to him on the subject. I +saw that I must not let him suspect my design, for besides his duty to +his Government he was a devoted friend to the interests of Trieste, and +for this reason a great patron of the monks. + +In spite of these obstacles my nostalgia made me make acquaintance with +these monks under pretence of inspecting their Armenian types, which they +were already casting. In a week or ten days I became quite intimate with +them. One day I said that they were bound in honour to return to the +obedience of their abbot, if only to annul his sentence of +excommunication. + +The most obstinate of them told me that the abbot had behaved more like a +despot than a father, and had thus absolved them from their obedience. +"Besides," he said, "no rascally priest has any right to cut off good +Christians from communion with the Saviour, and we are sure that our +patriarch will give us absolution and send us some more monks." + +I could make no objection to these arguments; however, I asked on another +occasion on what conditions they would return to Venice. + +The most sensible of them said that in the first place the abbot must +withdraw the four hundred thousand ducats which he had entrusted to the +Marquis Serpos at four per cent. + +This sum was the capital from which the income of the Convent of St. +Lazarus was derived. The abbot had no right whatever to dispose of it, +even with the consent of a majority among the monks. If the marquis +became bankrupt the convent would be utterly destitute. The marquis was +an Armenian diamond merchant, and a great friend of the abbot's. + +I then asked the monks what were the other conditions, and they replied +that these were some matters of discipline which might easily be settled; +they would give me a written statement of their grievances as soon as I +could assure them that the Marquis Serpos was no longer in possession of +their funds. + +I embodied my negotiations in writing, and sent the document to the +Inquisitors by the consul. In six weeks I received an answer to the +effect that the abbot saw his way to arranging the money difficulty, but +that he must see a statement of the reforms demanded before doing so. +This decided me to have nothing to do with the affair, but a few words +from Count Wagensberg made me throw it up without further delay. He gave +me to understand that he knew of my attempts to reconcile the four monks +with their abbot, and he told me that he had been sorry to hear the +report, as my success would do harm to a country where I lived and where +I was treated as a friend. + +I immediately told him the whole story, assuring him that I would never +have begun the negotiation if I had not been certain of failure, for I +heard on undoubted authority that Serpos could not possibly restore the +four hundred thousand ducats. + +This explanation thoroughly dissipated any cloud that might have arisen +between us. + +The Armenians bought Councillor Rizzi's house for thirty thousand +florins. Here they established themselves, and I visited them from time +to time without saying anything more about Venice. + +Count Wagensberg gave me another proof of his friendship. Unhappily for +me he died during the autumn of the same year, at the age of fifty. + +One morning he summoned me, and I found him perusing a document he had +just received from Vienna. He told me he was sorry I did not read German, +but that he would tell me the contents of the paper. + +"Here," he continued, "you will be able to serve your country without in +any way injuring Austria. + +"I am going to confide in you a State secret (it being understood of +course that my name is never to be mentioned) which ought to be greatly +to your advantage, whether you succeed or fail; at all hazards your +patriotism, your prompt action, and your cleverness in obtaining such +information will be made manifest. Remember you must never divulge your +sources of information; only tell your Government that you are perfectly +sure of the authenticity of the statement you make. + +"You must know," he continued, "that all the commodities we export to +Lombardy pass through Venice where they have to pay duty. Such has long +been the custom, and it may still be so if the Venetian Government will +consent to reduce the duty of four per cent to two per cent. + +"A plan has been brought before the notice of the Austrian Court, and it +has been eagerly accepted. I have received certain orders on the matter, +which I shall put into execution without giving any warning to the +Venetian Government. + +"In future all goods for Lombardy will be embarked here and disembarked +at Mezzola without troubling the Republic. Mezzola is in the territories +of the Duke of Modem; a ship can cross the gulf in the night, and our +goods will be placed in storehouses, which will be erected. + +"In this way we shall shorten the journey and decrease the freights, and +the Modenese Government will be satisfied with a trifling sum, barely +equivalent to a fourth of what we pay to Venice. + +"In spite of all this, I feel sure that if the Venetian Government wrote +to the Austrian Council of Commerce expressing their willingness to take +two per cent henceforth, the proposal would be accepted, for we Austrians +dislike novelties. + +"I shall not lay the matter before the Town Council for four or five +days, as there is no hurry for us; but you had better make haste, that +you may be the first to inform your Government of the matter. + +"If everything goes as I should wish I hope to receive an order from +Vienna suspending the decree just as I am about to make it public." + +Next morning the governor was delighted to hear that everything had been +finished before midnight. He assured me that the consul should not have +official information before Saturday. In the meanwhile the consul's +uneasy state of mind was quite a trouble to me, for I could not do +anything to set his mind at ease. + +Saturday came and Councillor Rizzi told me the news at the club. He +seemed in high spirits over it, and said that the loss of Venice was the +gain of Trieste. The consul came in just then, and said that the loss +would be a mere trifle for Venice, while the first-shipwreck would cost +more to Trieste than ten years' duty. The consul seemed to enjoy the +whole thing, but that was the part he had to play. In all small trading +towns like Trieste, people make a great account of trifles. + +I went to dine with the consul, who privately confessed his doubts and +fears on the matter. + +I asked him how the Venetians would parry the blow, and he replied,-- + +"They will have a number of very learned consultations, and then they +will do nothing at all, and the Austrians will send their goods wherever +they please." + +"But the Government is such a wise one." + +"Or rather has the reputation of wisdom." + +"Then you think it lives on its reputation?" + +"Yes; like all your mouldy institutions, they continue to be simply +because they have been. Old Governments are like those ancient dykes +which are rotten at the base, and only stay in position by their weight +and bulk." + +The consul was in the right. He wrote to his chief the same day, and in +the course of the next week he heard that their excellencies had received +information of the matter some time ago by extraordinary channels. + +For the present his duties would be confined to sending in any additional +information on the same subject. + +"I told you so," said the consul; "now, what do you think of the wisdom +of our sages?" + +"I think Bedlam of Charenton were their best lodging." + +In three weeks the consul received orders to give me another grant of a +hundred ducats, and to allow me ten sequins a month, to encourage me to +deserve well of the State. + +From that time I felt sure I should be allowed to return in the course of +the year, but I was mistaken, for I had to wait till the year following. + +This new present, and the monthly payment of ten sequins put me at my +ease, for I had expensive tastes of which I could not cure myself. I felt +pleased at the thought that I was now in the pay of the Tribunal which +had punished me, and which I had defied. It seemed to me a triumph, and I +determined to do all in my power for the Republic. + +Here I must relate an amusing incident, which delighted everyone in +Trieste. + +It was in the beginning of summer. I had been eating sardines by the +sea-shore, and when I came home at ten o'clock at night I was astonished +to be greeted by a girl whom I recognized as Count Strasoldo's maid. + +The count was a handsome young man, but poor like most of that name; he +was fond of expensive pleasures, and was consequently heavily in debt. He +had a small appointment which brought him in an income of six hundred +florins, and he had not the slightest difficulty in spending a year's pay +in three months. He had agreeable manners and a generous disposition, and +I had supped with him in company with Baron Pittoni several times. He had +a girl in his service who was exquisitely pretty, but none of the count's +friends attempted her as he was very jealous. Like the rest, I had seen +and admired her, I had congratulated the count on the possession of such +a treasure in her presence, but I had never addressed a word to her. + +Strasoldo had just been summoned to Vienna by Count Auersperg who liked +him, and had promised to do what he could for him. He had got an +employment in Poland, his furniture had been sold, he had taken leave of +everyone, and nobody doubted that he would take his pretty maid with him. +I thought so too, for I had been to wish him a pleasant journey that +morning, and my astonishment at finding the girl in my room may be +imagined. + +"What do you want, my dear?" I asked. + +"Forgive me, sir, but I don't want to go with Strasoldo, and I thought +you would protect me. Nobody will be able to guess where I am, and +Strasoldo will be obliged to go by himself. You will not be so cruel as +to drive me away?" + +"No, dearest." + +"I promise you I will go away to-morrow, for Strasoldo is going to leave +at day-break." + +"My lovely Leuzica (this was her name), no one would refuse you an +asylum, I least of all. You are safe here, and nobody shall come in +without your leave. I am only too happy that you came to me, but if it is +true that the count is your lover you may be sure he will not go so +easily. He will stay the whole of to-morrow at least, in the hope of +finding you again." + +"No doubt he will look for me everywhere but here. Will you promise not +to make me go with him even if he guesses that I am with you?" + +"I swear I will not." + +"Then I am satisfied." + +"But you will have to share my bed." + +"If I shall not inconvenience you, I agree with all my heart." + +"You shall see whether you inconvenience me or not. Undress, quick! But +where are your things?" + +"All that I have is in a small trunk behind the count's carriage, but I +don't trouble myself about it." + +"The poor count must be raging at this very moment." + +"No, for he will not come home till midnight. He is supping with Madame +Bissolotti, who is in love with him." + +In the meantime Leuzica had undressed and got into bed. In a moment I was +beside her, and after the severe regimen of the last eight months I spent +a delicious night in her arms, for of late my pleasures had been few. + +Leuzica was a perfect beauty, and worthy to be a king's mistress; and if +I had been rich I would have set up a household that I might retain her +in my service. + +We did not awake till seven o'clock. She got up, and on looking out of +the window saw Strasoldo's carriage waiting at the door. + +I confronted her by saying that as long as she liked to stay with me no +one could force her away. + +I was vexed that I had no closet in my room, as I could not hide her from +the waiter who would bring us coffee. We accordingly dispensed with +breakfast, but I had to find out some way of feeding her. I thought I had +plenty of time before me, but I was wrong. + +At ten o'clock I saw Strasoldo and his friend Pittoni coming into the +inn. They spoke to the landlord, and seemed to be searching the whole +place, passing from one room to another. + +I laughed, and told Leuzica that they were looking for her, and that our +turn would doubtless come before long. + +"Remember your promise," said she. + +"You may be sure of that." + +The tone in which this remark was delivered comforted her, and she +exclaimed,-- + +"Well; well, let them come; they will get nothing by it." + +I heard footsteps approaching, and went out, closing the door behind me, +and begging them to excuse my not asking them in, as there was a +contraband commodity in my room. + +"Only tell me that it is not my maid," said Strasoldo, in a pitiable +voice. "We are sure she is here, as the sentinel at the gate saw her come +in at ten o'clock." + +"You are right, the fair Leuzica is at this moment in my room. I have +given her my word of honour that no violence shall be used, and you may +be sure I shall keep my word." + +"I shall certainly not attempt any violence, but I am sure she would come +of her own free will if I could speak to her." + +"I will ask her if she wishes to see you. Wait a moment." + +Leuzica had been listening to our conversation, and when I opened the +door she told me that I could let them in. + +As soon as Strasoldo appeared she asked him proudly if she was under any +obligations to him, if she had stolen anything from him, and if she was +not perfectly free to leave him when she liked. + +The poor count replied mildly that on the contrary it was he who owed her +a year's wages and had her box in his possession, but that she should not +have left him without giving any reason. + +"The only reason is that I don't want to go to Vienna," she replied. "I +told you so a week ago. If you are an honest man you will leave me my +trunk, and as to my wages you can send them to me at my aunt's at Laibach +if you haven't got any money now." + +I pitied Strasoldo from the bottom of my heart; he prayed and entreated, +and finally wept like a child. However, Pittoni roused my choler by +saying that I ought to drive the slut out of my room. + +"You are not the man to tell me what I ought and what I ought not to do," +I replied, "and after I have received her in my apartments you ought to +moderate your expressions." + +Seeing that I stood on my dignity he laughed, and asked me if I had +fallen in love with her in so short a time. + +Strasoldo here broke in by saying he was sure she had not slept with me. + +"That's where you are mistaken," said she, "for there's only one bed, and +I did not sleep on the floor." + +They found prayers and reproaches alike useless and left us at noon. +Leuzica was profuse in her expressions of gratitude to me. + +There was no longer any mystery, so I boldly ordered dinner for two, and +promised that she should remain with me till the count had left Trieste. + +At three o'clock the Venetian consul came, saying that Count Strasoldo +had begged him to use his good offices with me to persuade me to deliver +up the fair Leuzica. + +"You must speak to the girl herself," I replied; "she came here and stays +here of her own free will." + +When the worthy man had heard the girl's story he went away, saying that +we had the right on our side. + +In the evening a porter brought her trunk, and at this she seemed touched +but not repentant. + +Leuzica supped with me and again shared my couch. The count left Trieste +at day-break. + +As soon as I was sure that he was gone, I took a carriage and escorted +the fair Leuzica two stages on her way to Laibach. We dined together, and +I left her in the care of a friend of hers. + +Everybody said I had acted properly, and even Pittoni confessed that in +my place he would have done the same. + +Poor Strasoldo came to a bad end. He got into debt, committed peculation, +and had to escape into Turkey and embrace Islam to avoid the penalty of +death. + +About this time the Venetian general, Palmanova, accompanied by the +procurator Erizzo, came to Trieste to visit the governor, Count +Wagensberg. In the afternoon the count presented me to the patricians who +seemed astonished to see me at Trieste. + +The procurator asked me if I amused myself as well as I had done at Paris +sixteen years ago, and I told him that sixteen years more, and a hundred +thousand francs less, forced me to live in a different fashion. While we +were talking, the consul came in to announce that the felucca was ready. +Madame de Lantieri as well as her father pressed me to join the party. + +I gave a bow, which might mean either no or yes, and asked the consul +what the party was. He told me that they were going to see a Venetian +man-of-war at anchor in the harbor; his excellence there being the +captain I immediately turned to the countess and smilingly professed my +regret that I was unable to set foot on Venetian soil. + +Everybody exclaimed at me,-- + +"You have nothing to fear. You are with honest people. Your suspicion is +quite offensive." + +"That is all very fine, ladies and gentlemen, and I will come with all my +heart, if your excellences will assure me that my joining this little +party will not be known to the State Inquisitors possibly by to-morrow." + +This was enough. Everybody looked at me in silence, and no objections +could be found to my argument. + +The captain of the vessel, who did not know me, spoke a few whispered +words to the others, and then they left. + +The next day the consul told me that the captain had praised my prudence +in declining to go on board, as if anyone had chanced to tell him my name +and my case whilst I was on his ship, it would have been his duty to +detain me. + +When I told the governor of this remark he replied gravely that he should +not have allowed the ship to leave the harbour. + +I saw the procurator Erizzo the same evening, and he congratulated me on +my discretion, telling me he would take care to let the Tribunal know how +I respected its decisions. + +About this time I had the pleasure of seeing a beautiful Venetian, who +visited Trieste with several of her admirers. She was of the noble family +of Bon, and had married Count Romili de Bergamo, who left her free to do +whatever she liked. She drew behind her triumphal chariot an old general, +Count Bourghausen, a famous rake who had deserted Mars for the past ten +years in order to devote his remaining days to the service of Venus. He +was a delightful man, and we became friends. Ten years later he was of +service to me, as my readers will find in the next volume, which may +perhaps be the last. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +Some Adventures at Trieste--I Am of Service to the Venetian +Government--My Expedition to Gorice and My Return to Trieste--I Find +Irene as an Actress and Expert Gamester + +Some of the ladies of Trieste thought they would like to act a French +play, and I was made stage manager. I had not only to choose the pieces, +but to distribute the parts, the latter being a duty of infinite +irksomeness. + +All the actresses were new to the boards, and I had immense trouble in +hearing them repeat their parts, which they seemed unable to learn by +heart. It is a well-known fact that the revolution which is really wanted +in Italy is in female education. The very best families with few +exceptions are satisfied with shutting up their daughters in a convent +for several years till the time comes for them to marry some man whom +they never see till the eve or the day of their marriage. As a +consequence we have the 'cicisbeo', and in Italy as in France the idea +that our nobles are the sons of their nominal fathers is a purely +conventional one. + +What do girls learn in convents, especially in Italian convents? A few +mechanical acts of devotion and outward forms, very little real religion, +a good deal of deceit, often profligate habits, a little reading and +writing, many useless accomplishments, small music and less drawing, no +history, no geography or mythology, hardly any mathematics, and nothing +to make a girl a good wife and a good mother. + +As for foreign languages, they are unheard of; our own Italian is so soft +that any other tongue is hard to acquire, and the 'dolce far niente' +habit is an obstacle to all assiduous study. + +I write down these truths in spite of my patriotism. I know that if any +of my fellow-countrywomen come to read me they will be very angry; but I +shall be beyond the reach of all anger. + +To return to our theatricals. As I could not make my actresses get their +parts letter perfect, I became their prompter, and found out by +experience all the ungratefulness of the position. + +The actors never acknowledged their debt to the prompter, and put down to +his account all the mistakes they make. + +A Spanish doctor is almost as badly off; if his patient recovers, the +cure is set down to the credit of one saint or another; but if he dies, +the physician is blamed for his unskilful treatment. + +A handsome negress, who served the prettiest of my actresses to whom I +shewed great attentions, said to me one day,-- + +"I can't make out how you can be so much in love with my mistress, who is +as white as the devil." + +"Have you never loved a white man?" I asked. + +"Yes," said she, "but only because I had no negro, to whom I should +certainly have given the preference." + +Soon after the negress became mine, and I found out the falsity of the +axiom, 'Sublata lucerna nullum discrimen inter feminas', for even in the +darkness a man would know a black woman from a white one. + +I feel quite sure myself that the negroes are a distinct species from +ourselves. There is one essential difference, leaving the colour out of +account--namely, that an African woman can either conceive or not, and +can conceive a boy or a girl. No doubt my readers will disbelieve this +assertion, but their incredulity would cease if I instructed them in the +mysterious science of the negresses. + +Count Rosenberg, grand chamberlain of the emperor, came on a visit to +Trieste in company with an Abbe Casti, whose acquaintance I wished to +make on account of some extremely blasphemous poems he had written. +However, I was disappointed; and instead of a man of parts, I found the +abbe to be an impudent worthless fellow, whose only merit was a knack of +versification. + +Count Rosenberg took the abbe with him, because he was useful in the +capacities of a fool and a pimp-occupations well suited to his morals, +though by no means agreeable to his ecclesiastical status. In those days +syphilis had not completely destroyed his uvula. + +I heard that this shameless profligate, this paltry poetaster, had been +named poet to the emperor. What a dishonour to the memory of the great +Metastasio, a man free from all vices, adorned with all virtues, and of +the most singular ability. + +Casti had neither a fine style, nor a knowledge of dramatic requirements, +as appears from two or three comic operas composed by him, in which the +reader will find nothing but foolish buffooneries badly put together. In +one of these comic operas he makes use of slander against King Theodore +and the Venetian Republic, which he turns into ridicule by means of +pitiful lies. + +In another piece called The Cave of Trophonius, Casti made himself the +laughing-stock of the literary world by making a display of useless +learning which contributes nothing towards the plot. + +Among the persons of quality who came to Gorice, I met a certain Count +Torriano, who persuaded me to spend the autumn with him at a country +house of his six miles from Gorice. + +If I had listened to the voice of my good genius I should certainly never +have gone. + +The count was under thirty, and was not married. He could not exactly be +called ugly in spite of his hangdog countenance, in which I saw the +outward signs of cruelty, disloyalty, treason, pride, brutal sensuality, +hatred, and jealousy. The mixture of bad qualities was such an appalling +one that I thought his physiognomy was at fault, and the goods better +than the sign. He asked me to come and see him so graciously that I +concluded that the man gave the lie to his face. + +I asked about him before accepting the invitation, and I heard nothing +but good. People certainly said he was fond of the fair sex, and was a +fierce avenger of any wrong done to him, but not thinking either of these +characteristics unworthy of a gentleman I accepted his invitation. He +told me that he would expect me to meet him at Gorice on the first day of +September, and that the next day we would leave for his estate. + +In consequence of Torriano's invitation I took leave of everybody, +especially of Count Wagensberg, who had a serious attack of that malady +which yields so easily to mercury when it is administered by a skilled +hand, but which kills the unfortunate who falls amongst quacks. Such was +the fate of the poor count; he died a month after I had left Trieste. + +I left Trieste in the morning, dined at Proseco, and reached Gorice in +good time. I called at Count Louis Torriano's mansion, but was told he +was out. However, they allowed me to deposit what little luggage I had +when I informed them that the count had invited me. I then went to see +Count Torres, and stayed with him till supper-time. + +When I got back to the count's I was told he was in the country, and +would not be back till the next day, and that in the meantime my trunks +had been taken to the inn where a room and supper had been ordered. + +I was extremely astonished, and went to the inn, where I was served with +a bad supper in an uncomfortable room; however, I supposed that the count +had been unable to accommodate me in his house, and I excused him though +I wished he had forewarned me. I could not understand how a gentleman who +has a house and invites a friend can be without a room wherein to lodge +him. + +Next morning Count Torriano came to see me, thanked me for my +punctuality, congratulated himself on the pleasure he expected to derive +from my society, and told me he was very sorry we could not start for two +days, as a suit was to be heard the next day between himself and a +rascally old farmer who was trying to cheat him. + +"Well, well," said I, "I will go and hear the pleadings; it will be an +amusement for me." + +Soon after he took his leave, without asking me where I intended dining, +or apologizing for not having accommodated me himself. + +I could not make him out; I thought he might have taken offence at my +descending at his doors without having given him any warning. + +"Come, come, Casanova," I said to myself, "you may be all abroad. +Knowledge of character is an unfathomable gulf. We thought we had studied +it deeply, but there is still more to learn; we shall see. He may have +said nothing out of delicacy. I should be sorry to be found wanting in +politeness, though indeed I am puzzled to know what I have done amiss." + +I dined by myself, made calls in the afternoon, and supped with Count +Tomes. I told him that I promised myself the pleasure of hearing the +eloquence of the bar of Gorice the next day. + +"I shall be there, too," said he, "as I am curious to see what sort of a +face Torriano will put on it, if the countryman wins. I know something +about the case," he continued, "and Torriano is sure of victory, unless +the documents attesting the farmer's indebtedness happen to be forgeries. +On the other hand, the farmer ought to win unless it can be shewn that +the receipts signed by Torriano are forgeries. The farmer has lost in the +first court and in the second court, but he has paid the costs and +appealed from both, though he is a poor man. If he loses to-morrow he +will not only be a ruined man, but be sentenced to penal servitude, while +if he wins, Torriano should be sent to the galleys, together with his +counsel, who has deserved this fate many times before." + +I knew Count Tomes passed for somewhat of a scandal-monger, so his +remarks made little impression on me beyond whetting my curiosity. The +next day I was one of the first to appear in the court, where I found the +bench, plaintiff and defendant, and the barristers, already assembled. +The farmer's counsel was an old man who looked honest, while the count's +had all the impudence of a practised knave. The count sat beside him, +smiling disdainfully, as if he was lowering himself to strive with a +miserable peasant whom he had already twice vanquished. + +The farmer sat by his wife, his son, and two daughters, and had that air +of modest assurance which indicates resignation and a good conscience. + +I wondered how such honest people could have lost in two courts; I was +sure their cause must be a just one. + +They were all poorly clad, and from their downcast eyes and their humble +looks I guessed them to be the victims of oppression. + +Each barrister could speak for two hours. + +The farmer's advocate spoke for thirty minutes, which he occupied by +putting in the various receipts bearing the count's signature up to the +time when he had dismissed the farmer, because he would not prostitute +his daughters to him. He then continued, speaking with calm precision, to +point out the anachronisms and contradictions in the count's books (which +made his client a debtor), and stated that his client was in a position +to prosecute the two forgers who had been employed to compass the ruin of +an honest family, whose only crime was poverty. He ended his speech by an +appeal for costs in all the suits, and for compensation for loss of time +and defamation of character. + +The harangue of the count's advocate would have lasted more than two +hours if the court had not silenced him. He indulged in a torrent of +abuse against the other barrister, the experts in hand-writing, and the +peasant, whom he threatened with a speedy consignment to the galleys. + +The pleadings would have wearied me if I had been a blind man, but as it +was I amused myself by a scrutiny of the various physiognomies before me. +My host's face remained smiling and impudent through it all. + +The pleadings over, the court was cleared, and we awaited the sentence in +the adjoining room. + +The peasant and his family sat in a corner apart, sad, sorry, and +comfortless, with no friend to speak a consoling word, while the count +was surrounded by a courtly throng, who assured him that with such a case +he could not possibly lose; but that if the judges did deliver judgment +against him he should pay the peasant, and force him to prove the alleged +forgery. + +I listened in profound silence, sympathising with the countryman rather +than my host, whom I believed to be a thorough-paced scoundrel, though I +took care not to say so. + +Count Torres, who was a deadly foe to all prudence and discretion, asked +me my opinion of the case, and I whispered that I thought the count +should lose, even if he were in the right, on account of the infamous +apostrophes of his counsel, who deserved to have his ears cut off or to +stand in the pillory for six months. + +"And the client too," said Tomes aloud; but nobody had heard what I had +said. + +After we had waited for an hour the clerk of the court came in with two +papers, one of which he gave to the peasant's counsel and the other to +Torriano's. Torriano read it to himself, burst into a loud laugh, and +then read it aloud. + +The court condemned the count to recognize the peasant as his creditor, +to pay all costs, and to give him a year's wages as damages; the +peasant's right to appeal ad minimum on account of any other complaints +he might have being reserved. + +The advocate looked downcast, but Torriano consoled him by a fee of six +sequins, and everybody went away. + +I remained with the defendant, and asked him if he meant to appeal to +Vienna. + +"I shall appeal in another sort," said he; but I did not ask him what he +meant. + +We left Gorice the next morning. + +My landlord gave me the bill, and told me he had received instructions +not to insist on my paying it if I made any difficulty, as in that case +the count would pay himself. + +This struck me as somewhat eccentric, but I only laughed. However, the +specimens I had seen of his character made me imagine that I was going to +spend six weeks with a dangerous original. + +In two hours we were at Spessa, and alighted at a large house, with +nothing distinguished about it from an architectural point of view. We +went up to the count's room, which was tolerably furnished, and after +shewing me over the house he took me to my own room. It was on the ground +floor, stuffy, dark, and ill furnished. + +"Ah!" said he, "this is the room my poor old father used to love to sit +in; like you, he was very fond of study. You may be sure of enjoying +perfect liberty here, for you will see no one." + +We dined late, and consequently no supper was served. The eating and the +wine were tolerable, and so was the company of a priest, who held the +position of the count's steward; but I was disgusted at hearing the +count, who ate ravenously, reproach me with eating too slowly. + +When we rose from table he told me he had a lot to do, and that we should +see each other the next day. + +I went to my room to put things in order, and to get out my papers. I was +then working at the second volume of the Polish troubles. + +In the evening I asked for a light as it was growing dark, and presently +a servant came with one candle. I was indignant; they ought to have given +me wax lights or a lamp at least. However, I made no complaint, merely +asking one of the servants if I was to rely on the services of any +amongst them. + +"Our master has given us no instructions on the subject, but of course we +will wait on you whenever you call us." + +This would have been a troublesome task, as there was no bell, and I +should have been obliged to wander all over the house, to search the +courtyard, and perhaps the road, whenever I wanted a servant. + +"And who will do my room?" I asked. + +"The maid." + +"Then she has a key of her own?" + +"There is no need for a key, as your door has no lock, but you can bolt +yourself in at night." + +I could only laugh, whether from ill humour or amusement I really cannot +say. However, I made no remark to the man. + +I began my task, but in half an hour I was so unfortunate as to put out +the candle whilst snuffing it. I could not roam about the house in the +dark searching for a light, as I did not know my way, so I went to bed in +the dark more inclined to swear than to laugh. + +Fortunately the bed was a good one, and as I had expected it to be +uncomfortable I went to sleep in a more tranquil humour. + +In the morning nobody came to attend on me, so I got up, and after +putting away my papers I went to say good morning to my host in +dressing-gown and nightcap. I found him under the hand of one of his men +who served him as a valet. I told him I had slept well, and had come to +breakfast with him; but he said he never took breakfast, and asked me, +politely enough, not to trouble to come and see him in the morning as he +was always engaged with his tenants, who were a pack of thieves. He then +added that as I took breakfast he would give orders to the cook to send +me up coffee whenever I liked. + +"You will also be kind enough to tell your man to give me a touch with +his comb after he has done with you." + +"I wonder you did not bring a servant." + +"If I had guessed that I should be troubling you, I should certainly have +brought one." + +"It will not trouble me but you, for you will be kept waiting." + +"Not at all. Another thing I want is a lock to my door, for I have +important papers for which I am responsible, and I cannot lock them up in +my trunk whenever I leave my room." + +"Everything is safe in my house." + +"Of course, but you see how absurd it would be for you to be answerable +in case any of my papers were missing. I might be in the greatest +distress, and yet I should never tell you of it." + +He remained silent for some time, and then ordered his man to tell the +priest to put a lock on my door and give me the key. + +While he was thinking, I noticed a taper and a book on the table beside +his bed. I went up to it, and asked politely if I might see what kind of +reading had beguiled him to sleep. He replied as politely, requesting me +not to touch it. I withdrew immediately, telling him with a smile that I +felt sure that it was a book of prayers, but that I would never reveal +his secret. + +"You have guessed what it is," he said, laughing. + +I left him with a courteous bow, begging him to send me his man and a cup +of coffee, chocolate, or broth, it mattered not which. + +I went back to my room meditating seriously on his strange behaviour, and +especially on the wretched tallow candle which was given me, while he had +a wax taper. My first idea was to leave the house immediately, for though +I had only fifty ducats in my possession my spirit was as high as when I +was a rich man; but on second thoughts I determined not to put myself in +the wrong by affronting him in such a signal manner. + +The tallow candle was the most grievous wrong, so I resolved to ask the +man whether he had not been told to give me wax lights. This was +important, as it might be only a piece of knavery or stupidity on the +part of the servant. + +The man came in an hour with a cup of coffee, sugared according to his +taste or that of the cook. This disgusted me, so I let it stay on the +table, telling him, with a burst of laughter (if I had not laughed I must +have thrown the coffee in his face), that that was not the way to serve +breakfast. I then got ready to have my hair done. + +I asked him why he had brought me a wretched tallow candle instead of two +wax lights. + +"Sir," the worthy man replied, humbly, "I could only give you what the +priest gave me; I received a wax taper for my master and a candle for +you." + +I was sorry to have vexed the poor fellow, and said no more, thinking the +priest might have taken a fancy to economise for the count's profit or +his own. I determined to question him on the subject. + +As soon as I was dressed I went out to walk off my bad humour. I met the +priest-steward, who had been to the locksmith. He told me that the man +had no ready-made locks, but he was going to fit my door with a padlock, +of which I should have the key. + +"Provided I can lock my door," I said, "I care not how it's done." + +I returned to the house to see the padlock fitted, and while the +locksmith was hammering away I asked the priest why he had given a tallow +candle instead of one or two wax tapers. + +"I should never dare to give you tapers, sir, without express orders from +the count." + +"I should have thought such a thing would go without saying." + +"Yes, in other houses, but here nothing goes without saying. I have to +buy the tapers and he pays me, and every time he has one it is noted +down." + +"Then you can give me a pound of wax lights if I pay you for them?" + +"Of course, but I think I must tell the count, for you know . . . ." + +"Yes, I know all about it, but I don't care:" + +I gave him the price of a pound of wax lights, and went for a walk, as he +told me dinner was at one. I was somewhat astonished on coming back to +the house at half-past twelve to be told that the count had been half an +hour at table. + +I did not know what to make of all these acts of rudeness; however, I +moderated my passion once more, and came in remarking that the abbe had +told me dinner was at one. + +"It is usually," replied the count, "but to-day I wanted to pay some +calls and take you with me, so I decided on dining at noon. You will have +plenty of time." + +He then gave orders for all the dishes that had been taken away to be +brought back. + +I made no answer, and sat down to table, and feigning good humour ate +what was on the table, refusing to touch those dishes which had been +taken away. He vainly asked me to try the soup, the beef, the entrees; I +told him that I always punished myself thus when I came in late for a +nobleman's dinner. + +Still dissembling my ill humour, I got into his carriage to accompany him +on his round of visits. He took me to Baron del Mestre, who spent the +whole of the year in the country with his family, keeping up a good +establishment. + +The count spent the whole of the day with the baron, putting off the +other visits to a future time. In the evening we returned to Spessa. Soon +after we arrived the priest returned the money I had given him for the +candles, telling me that the count had forgotten to inform him that I was +to be treated as himself. + +I took this acknowledgement for what it was worth. + +Supper was served, and I ate with the appetite of four, while the count +hardly ate at all. + +The servant who escorted me to my room asked me at what time I should +like breakfast. I told him, and he was punctual; and this time the coffee +was brought in the coffee-pot and the sugar in the sugar basin. + +The valet did my hair, and the maid did my room, everything was changed, +and I imagined that I had given the count a little lesson, and that I +should have no more trouble with him. Here, however, I was mistaken, as +the reader will discover. + +Three or four days later the priest came to me one morning, to ask when I +would like dinner, as I was to dine in my room. + +"Why so?" I asked. + +"Because the count left yesterday for Gorice, telling me he did not know +when he should come back. He ordered me to give you your meals in your +room." + +"Very good. I will dine at one." + +No one could be more in favour of liberty and independence than myself, +but I could not help feeling that my rough host should have told me he +was going to Gorice. He stayed a week, and I should have died of +weariness if it had not been for my daily visits to the Baron del Mestre. +Otherwise there was no company, the priest was an uneducated man, and +there were no pretty country girls. I felt as if I could not bear another +four weeks of such a doleful exile. + +When the count came back, I spoke to him plainly. + +"I came to Spessa," I said, "to keep you company and to amuse myself; but +I see that I am in the way, so I hope you will take me back to Gorice and +leave me there. You must know that I like society as much as you do, and +I do not feel inclined to die of solitary weariness in your house." + +He assured me that it should not happen again, that he had gone to Gorice +to meet an actress, who had come there purposely to see him, and that he +had also profited by the opportunity to sign a contract of marriage with +a Venetian lady. + +These excuses and the apparently polite tone in which they were uttered +induced me to prolong my stay with the extraordinary count. + +He drew the whole of his income from vineyards, which produced an +excellent white wine and a revenue of a thousand sequins a year. However, +as the count did his best to spend double that amount, he was rapidly +ruining himself. He had a fixed impression that all the tenants robbed +him, so whenever he found a bunch of grapes in a cottage he proceeded to +beat the occupants unless they could prove that the grapes did not come +from his vineyards. The peasants might kneel down and beg pardon, but +they were thrashed all the same. + +I had been an unwilling witness of several of these arbitrary and cruel +actions, when one day I had the pleasure of seeing the count soundly +beaten by two peasants. He had struck the first blow himself, but when he +found that he was getting the worst of it he prudently took to his heels. + +He was much offended with me for remaining a mere spectator of the fray; +but I told him very coolly that, being the aggressor, he was in the +wrong, and in the second place I was not going to expose myself to be +beaten to a jelly by two lusty peasants in another man's quarrel. + +These arguments did not satisfy him, and in his rage he dared to tell me +that I was a scurvy coward not to know that it was my duty to defend a +friend to the death. + +In spite of these offensive remarks I merely replied with a glance of +contempt, which he doubtless understood. + +Before long the whole village had heard what had happened, and the joy +was universal, for the count had the singular privilege of being feared +by all and loved by none. The two rebellious peasants had taken to their +heels. But when it became known that his lordship had announced his +resolution to carry pistols with him in all future visits, everybody was +alarmed, and two spokesmen were sent to the count informing him that all +his tenants would quit the estate in a week's time unless he gave them a +promise to leave them in peace in their humble abodes. + +The rude eloquence of the two peasants struck me as sublime, but the +count pronounced them to be impertinent and ridiculous. + +"We have as good a right to taste the vines which we have watered with +the sweat of our brow," said they, "as your cook has to taste the dishes +before they are served on your table." + +The threat of deserting just at the vintage season frightened the count, +and he had to give in, and the embassy went its way in high glee at its +success. + +Next Sunday we went to the chapel to hear mass, and when we came in the +priest was at the altar finishing the Credo. The count looked furious, +and after mass he took me with him to the sacristy, and begun to abuse +and beat the poor priest, in spite of the surplice which he was still +wearing. It was really a shocking sight. + +The priest spat in his face and cried help, that being the only revenge +in his power. + +Several persons ran in, so we left the sacristy. I was scandalised, and I +told the count that the priest would be certain to go to Udine, and that +it might turn out a very awkward business. + +"Try to prevent his doing so," I added, "even by violence, but in the +first place endeavour to pacify him." + +No doubt the count was afraid, for he called out to his servants and +ordered them to fetch the priest, whether he could come or no. His order +was executed, and the priest was led in, foaming with rage, cursing the +count, calling him excommunicated wretch, whose very breath was +poisonous; swearing that never another mass should be sung in the chapel +that had been polluted with sacrilege, and finally promising that the +archbishop should avenge him. + +The count let him say on, and then forced him into a chair, and the +unworthy ecclesiastic not only ate but got drunk. Thus peace was +concluded, and the abbe forgot all his wrongs. + +A few days later two Capuchins came to visit him at noon. They did not +go, and as he did not care to dismiss them, dinner was served without any +place being laid for the friars. Thereupon the bolder of the two informed +the count that he had had no dinner. Without replying, the count had him +accommodated with a plateful of rice. The Capuchin refused it, saying that +he was worthy to sit, not only at his table, but at a monarch's. The +count, who happened to be in a good humour, replied that they called +themselves "unworthy brethren," and that they were consequently not +worthy of any of this world's good things. + +The Capuchin made but a poor answer, and as I thought the count to be in +the right I proceeded to back him up, telling the friar he ought to be +ashamed at having committed the sin of pride, so strictly condemned by +the rules of his order. + +The Capuchin answered me with a torrent of abuse, so the count ordered a +pair of scissors to be brought, that the beards of the filthy rogues +might be cut off. At this awful threat the two friars made their escape, +and we laughed heartily over the incident. + +If all the count's eccentricities had been of this comparatively harmless +and amusing nature, I should not have minded, but such was far from being +the case. + +Instead of chyle his organs must have distilled some virulent poison; he +was always at his worst in his after dinner hours. His appetite was +furious; he ate more like a tiger than a man. One day we happened to be +eating woodcock, and I could not help praising the dish in the style of +the true gourmand. He immediately took up his bird, tore it limb from +limb, and gravely bade me not to praise the dishes I liked as it +irritated him. I felt an inclination to laugh and also an inclination to +throw the bottle at his head, which I should probably have indulged in +had I been twenty years younger. However, I did neither, feeling that I +should either leave him or accommodate myself to his humours. + +Three months later Madame Costa, the actress whom he had gone to see at +Gorice, told me that she would never have believed in the possibility of +such a creature existing if she had not known Count Torriano. + +"Though he is a vigorous lover," she continued, "it is a matter of great +difficulty with him to obtain the crisis; and the wretched woman in his +arms is in imminent danger of being strangled to death if she cannot +conceal her amorous ecstacy. He cannot bear to see another's pleasure. I +pity his wife most heartily." + +I will now relate the incident which put an end to my relations with this +venomous creature. + +Amidst the idleness and weariness of Spessa I happened to meet a very +pretty and very agreeable young widow. I made her some small presents, +and finally persuaded her to pass the night in my room. She came at +midnight to avoid observation, and left at day-break by a small door +which opened on to the road. + +We had amused ourselves in this pleasant manner for about a week, when +one morning my sweetheart awoke me that I might close the door after her +as usual. I had scarcely done so when I heard cries for help. I quickly +opened it again, and I saw the scoundrelly Torriano holding the widow +with one hand while he beat her furiously with a stick he held in the +other. I rushed upon him, and we fell together, while the poor woman made +her escape. + +I had only my dressing-gown on, and here I was at a disadvantage; for +civilized man is a poor creature without his clothes. However, I held the +stick with one hand, while I squeezed his throat with the other. On his +side he clung to the stick with his right hand, and pulled my hair with +the left. At last his tongue started out and he had to let go. + +I was on my feet again in an instant, and seizing the stick I aimed a +sturdy blow at his head, which, luckily for him, he partially parried. + +I did not strike again, so he got up, ran a little way, and began to pick +up stones. However, I did not wait to be pelted, but shut myself in my +room and lay down on the bed, only sorry that I had not choked the +villain outright. + +As soon as I had rested I looked to my pistols, dressed myself, and went +out with the intention of looking for some kind of conveyance to take me +back to Gorice. Without knowing it I took a road that led me to the +cottage of the poor widow, whom I found looking calm though sad. She told +me she had received most of the blows on her shoulders, and was not much +hurt. What vexed her was that the affair would become public, as two +peasants had seen the count beating her, and our subsequent combat. + +I gave her two sequins, begging her to come and see me at Gorice, and to +tell me where I could find a conveyance. + +Her sister offered to shew me the way to a farm, where I could get what I +wanted. On the way she told me that Torriano had been her sister's enemy +before the death of her husband because she rejected all his proposals. + +I found a good conveyance at the farm, and the man promised to drive me +in to Gorice by dinner-time. + +I gave him half-a-crown as an earnest, and went away, telling him to come +for me. + +I returned to the count's and had scarcely finished getting ready when +the conveyance drove up. + +I was about to put my luggage in it, when a servant came from the count +asking me to give him a moment's conversation. + +I wrote a note in French, saying that after what had passed we ought not +to meet again under his roof. + +A minute later he came into my room, and shut the door, saying,-- + +"As you won't speak to me, I have come to speak to you." + +"What have you got to say?" + +"If you leave my house in this fashion you will dishonour me, and I will +not allow it." + +"Excuse me, but I should very much like to see how you are going to +prevent me from leaving your house." + +"I will not allow you to go by yourself; we must go together." + +"Certainly; I understand you perfectly. Get your sword or your pistols, +and we will start directly. There is room for two in the carriage." + +"That won't do. You must dine with me, and then we can go in my +carriage." + +"You make a mistake. I should be a fool if I dined with you when our +miserable dispute is all over the village; to-morrow it will have reached +Gorice." + +"If you won't dine with me, I will dine with you, and people may say what +they like. We will go after dinner, so send away that conveyance." + +I had to give in to him. The wretched count stayed with me till noon, +endeavouring to persuade me that he had a perfect right to beat a +country-woman in the road, and that I was altogether in the wrong. + +I laughed, and said I wondered how he derived his right to beat a free +woman anywhere, and that his pretence that I being her lover had no right +to protect her was a monstrous one. + +"She had just left my arms," I continued, "was I not therefore her +natural protector? Only a coward or a monster like yourself would have +remained indifferent, though, indeed, I believe that even you would have +done the same." + +A few minutes before we sat down to dinner he said that neither of us +would profit by the adventure, as he meant the duel to be to the death. + +"I don't agree with you as far as I am concerned," I replied; "and as to +the duel, you can fight or not fight, as you please; for my part I have +had satisfaction. If we come to a duel I hope to leave you in the land of +the living, though I shall do my best to lay you up for a considerable +time, so that you may have leisure to reflect on your folly. On the other +hand, if fortune favours you, you may act as you please." + +"We will go into the wood by ourselves, and my coachman shall have orders +to drive you wherever you like if you come out of the wood by yourself." + +"Very good indeed; and which would you prefer--swords or pistols?" + +"Swords, I think." + +"Then I promise to unload my pistols as soon as we get into the +carriage." + +I was astonished to find the usually brutal count become quite polite at +the prospect of a duel. I felt perfectly confident myself, as I was sure +of flooring him at the first stroke by a peculiar lunge. Then I could +escape through Venetian territory where I was not known. + +But I had good reasons for supposing that the duel would end in smoke as +so many other duels when one of the parties is a coward, and a coward I +believed the count to be. + +We started after an excellent dinner; the count having no luggage, and +mine being strapped behind the carriage. + +I took care to draw the charges of my pistols before the count. + +I had heard him tell the coachman to drive towards Gorice, but every +moment I expected to hear him order the man to drive up this or that +turning that we might settle our differences. + +I asked no questions, feeling that the initiative lay with him; but we +drove on till we were at the gates of Gorice, and I burst out laughing +when I heard the count order the coachman to drive to the posting inn. + +As soon as we got there he said,-- + +"You were in the right; we must remain friends. Promise me not to tell +anyone of what has happened." + +I gave him the promise; we shook hands, and everything was over. + +The next day I took up my abode in one of the quietest streets to finish +my second volume on the Polish troubles, but I still managed to enjoy +myself during my stay at Gorice. At last I resolved on returning to +Trieste, where I had more chances of serving and pleasing the State +Inquisitors. + +I stayed at Gorice till the end of the year 1773, and passed an extremely +pleasant six weeks. + +My adventure at Spessa had become public property. At first everybody +addressed me on the subject, but as I laughed and treated the whole thing +as a joke it would soon be forgotten. Torriano took care to be most +polite whenever we met; but I had stamped him as a dangerous character, +and whenever he asked me to dinner or supper I had other engagements. + +During the carnival he married the young lady of whom he had spoken to +me, and as long as he lived her life was misery. Fortunately he died a +madman thirteen or fourteen years after. + +Whilst I was at Gorice Count Charles Coronini contributed greatly to my +enjoyment. He died four years later, and a month before his death he sent +me his will in ostosyllabic Italian verses--a specimen of philosophic +mirth which I still preserve. It is full of jest and wit, though I +believe if he had guessed the near approach of death he would not have +been so cheerful, for the prospect of imminent destruction can only +enliven the heart of a maniac. + +During my stay at Gorice a certain M. Richard Lorrain came there. He was +a bachelor of forty, who had done good financial service under the +Viennese Government, and had now retired with a comfortable pension. He +was a fine man, and his agreeable manners and excellent education +procured him admission into the best company in the town. + +I met him at the house of Count Torres, and soon after he was married to +the young countess. + +In October the new Council of Ten and the new Inquisitors took office, +and my protectors wrote to me that if they could not obtain my pardon in +the course of the next twelve months they would be inclined to despair. +The first of the Inquisitors was Sagredo, and intimate friend of the +Procurator Morosini's; the second, Grimani, the friend of my good +Dandolo; and M. Zaguri wrote to me that he would answer for the third, +who, according to law, was one of the six councillors who assist the +Council of Ten. + +It may not be generally known that the Council of Ten is really a council +of seventeen, as the Doge has always a right to be present. + +I returned to Trieste determined to do my best for the Tribunal, for I +longed to return to Venice after nineteen years' wanderings. + +I was then forty-nine, and I expected no more of Fortune's gifts, for the +deity despises those of ripe age. I thought, however, that I might live +comfortably and independently at Venice. + +I had talents and experience, I hoped to make use of them, and I thought +the Inquisitors would feel bound to give me some sufficient employment. + +I was writing the history of the Polish troubles, the first volume was +printed, the second was in preparation, and I thought of concluding the +work in seven volumes. Afterwards I had a translation of the "Iliad" in +view, and other literary projects would no doubt present themselves. + +In fine, I thought myself sure of living in Venice, where many persons +who would be beggars elsewhere continue to live at their ease. + +I left Gorice on the last day of December, 1773, and on January 1st I +took up my abode at Trieste. + +I could not have received a warmer welcome. Baron Pittoni, the Venetian +consul, all the town councillors, and the members of the club, seemed +delighted to see me again. My carnival was a pleasant one, and in the +beginning of Lent I published the second volume of my work on Poland. + +The chief object of interest to me at Trieste was an actress in a company +that was playing there. She was no other than the daughter of the +so-called Count Rinaldi, and my readers may remember her under the name +of Irene. I had loved her at Milan, and neglected her at Genoa on account +of her father's misdeeds, and at Avignon I had rescued her at Marcoline's +request. Eleven years had passed by since I had heard of her. + +I was astonished to see her, and I think more sorry than glad, for she +was still beautiful, and I might fall in love again; and being no longer +in a position to give her assistance, the issue might be unfortunate for +me. However, I called on her the next day, and was greeted with a shriek +of delight. She told me she had seen me at the theatre, and felt sure I +would come and see her. + +She introduced me to her husband, who played parts like Scapin, and to +her nine-year-old daughter, who had a talent for dancing. + +She gave me an abridged account of her life since we had met. In the year +I had seen her at Avignon she had gone to Turin with her father. At Turin +she fell in love with her present husband, and left her parents to join +her lot to his. + +"Since that," she said, "I have heard of my father's death, but I do not +know what has become of my mother." + +After some further conversation she told me she was a faithful wife, +though she did not push fidelity so far as to drive a rich lover to +despair. + +"I have no lovers here," she added, "but I give little suppers to a few +friends. I don't mind the expense, as I win some money at faro." + +She was the banker, and she begged me to join the party now and then. + +"I will come after the play to-night," I replied, "but you must not +expect any high play of me." + +I kept the appointment and supped with a number of silly young tradesmen, +who were all in love with her. + +After supper she held a bank, and I was greatly astonished when I saw her +cheating with great dexterity. It made me want to laugh; however, I lost +my florins with a good grace and left. However, I did not mean to let +Irene think she was duping me, and I went to see her next morning at +rehearsal, and complimented her on her dealing. She pretended not to +understand what I meant, and on my explaining myself she had the +impudence to tell me that I was mistaken. + +In my anger I turned my back on her saying, "You will be sorry for this +some day." + +At this she began to laugh, and said, "Well, well, I confess! and if you +tell me how much you lost you shall have it back, and if you like you +shall be a partner in the game." + +"No, thank you, Irene, I will not be present at any more of your suppers. +But I warn you to be cautious; games of chance are strictly forbidden." + +"I know that, but all the young men have promised strict secrecy." + +"Come and breakfast with me whenever you like." + +A few days later she came, bringing her daughter with her. The girl was +pretty, and allowed me to caress her. + +One day Baron Pittoni met them at my lodgings, and as he liked young +girls as well as I he begged Irene to make her daughter include him in +her list of favoured lovers. + +I advised her not to reject the offer, and the baron fell in love with +her, which was a piece of luck for Irene, as she was accused of playing +unlawful games, and would have been severely treated if the baron had not +given her warning. When the police pounced on her, they found no gaming +and no gamesters, and nothing could be done. + +Irene left Trieste at the beginning of Lent with the company to which she +belonged. Three years later I saw her again at Padua. Her daughter had +become a charming girl, and our acquaintance was renewed in the tenderest +manner. + + [Thus abruptly end the Memoirs of Giacome Casanova, + Chevalier de Seingalt, Knight of the Golden Spur, + Prothonotary Apostolic, and Scoundrel Cosmopolitic.] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Spanish Passions: Florence to Trieste +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FLORENCE TO TRIESTE *** + +***** This file should be named 2979.txt or 2979.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/7/2979/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.07.00*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + +Florence to Trieste +By Jacques Casanova + + + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 +SPANISH PASSIONS, Volume 6d--FLORENCE TO TRIESTE + + + +THE MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA DE SEINGALT + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR MACHEN TO +WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + + + + +FLORENCE to TRIESTE + + +CHAPTER XVIII +Madame Denis--Dedini--Zanovitch--Zen--I Am Obliged to Leave--I Arrive at +Bologna--General Albergati + +Without speaking at any length I asked the young grand duke to give me an +asylum in his dominions for as long as I might care to stay. I +anticipated any questions he might have asked by telling him the reasons +which had made me an exile from my native land. + +"As to my necessities," I added, "I shall ask for help of no one; I have +sufficient funds to ensure my independence. I think of devoting the +whole of my time to study." + +"So long as your conduct is good," he replied, "the laws guarantee your +freedom; but I am glad you have applied to me. Whom do you know in +Florence?" + +"Ten years ago, my lord, I had some distinuished acquaintances here; but +now I propose to live in retirement, and do not intend renewing any old +friendships." + +Such was my conversation with the young sovereign, and after his +assurances I concluded that no one would molest me. + +My adventures in Tuscany the years before were in all probability +forgotten, or almost forgotten, as the new Government had nothing in +common with the old. + +After my interview with the grand duke I went to a bookseller's shop and +ordered some books. A gentleman in the shop, hearing me making enquiries +about Greek works, accosted me, and we got on well together. I told him +I was working at a translation of the "Iliad," and in return he informed +me that he was making a collection of Greek epigrams, which he wished to +publish in Greek and Italian. I told him I should like to see this work, +whereupon he asked me where I lived. I told him, learnt his name and +address, and called on him the next day. He returned the visit, and we +became fast friends, though we never either walked or ate together. + +This worthy Florentine was named (or is named, if he be still alive) +Everard de Medici. + +I was very comfortable with Allegranti; I had the quiet so necessary to +literary labours, but nevertheless I made up my mind to change my +lodging. Magdalena, my landlord's niece, was so clever and charming, +though but a child, that she continually disturbed my studies. She came +into my room, wished me good day, asked me what kind of a night I had +spent, if I wanted anything, and the sight of her grace and beauty and +the sound of her voice so ravished me, that I determined to seek safety +in flight. + +A few years later Magdalena became a famous musician. + +After leaving Allegranti I took rooms in a tradesman's house; his wife +was ugly, and he had no pretty daughters or seductive nieces. There I +lived for three weeks like Lafontaine's rat, very discreetly. + +About the same time, Count Stratico arrived at Florence with his pupil, +the Chevalier Morosini, who was then eighteen. I could not avoid calling +on Stratico. He had broken his leg some time before and was still unable +to go out with his pupil, who had all the vices and none of the virtues +of youth. Consequently, Stratico was always afraid of something +happening to him, and he begged me to make myself his companion, and even +to share his pleasures, so that he might not go into bad company and +dangerous houses alone and undefended. + +Thus my days of calm study vanished away. I had to partake in the +debauchery of a young rake, and all out of pure sensibility. + +The Chevalier Morosini was a thorough-paced profligate. He hated +literature, good society, and the company of sensible people. His daily +pleasures were furious riding, hard drinking, and hard dissipation with +prostitutes, whom he sometimes almost killed. + +This young nobleman paid a man for the sole service of getting him a +woman or a girl every day. + +During the two months which he passed in Florence I saved his life a +score of times. I got very tired of my duty, but I felt bound to +persevere. + +He was liberal to the verge of recklessness, and would never allow me to +pay for anything. Even here, however, disputes often arose between us; +as he paid, he wanted me to eat, drink, and dissipate in the same +measures as himself. However, I had my own way on most occasions, only +giving in when it suited me to do so. + +We went to see the opera at Lucca, and drought two of the dancers home to +supper. As the chevalier was drunk as usual, he treated the woman he had +chosen--a superb creature--very indifferently. The other was pretty +enough, but I had done nothing serious with her, so I proceeded to avenge +the beauty. She took me for the chevalier's father, and advised me to +give him a better education. + +After the chevalier was gone I betook myself to my studies again, but I +supped every night with Madame Denis, who had formerly been a dancer in +the King of Prussia's service, and had retired to Florence. + +She was about my age, and therefore not young, but still she had +sufficient remains of her beauty to inspire a tender passion; she did not +look more than thirty. She was as fresh as a young girl, had excellent +manners, and was extremely intelligent. Besides all these advantages, +she had a comfortable apartment on the first floor of one of the largest +cafes in Florence. In front of her room was a balcony where it was +delicious to sit and enjoy the cool of the evening. + +The reader may remember how I had become her friend at Berlin in 1764, +and when we met again at Florence our old flames were rekindled. + +The chief boarder in the house where she lived was Madame Brigonzi, whom +I had met at Memel. This lady, who pretended that she had been my +mistress twenty-five years before, often came into Madame Denis's rooms +with an old lover of hers named Marquis Capponi. + +He was an agreeable and well-educated man; and noticing that he seemed to +enjoy my conversation I called on him, and he called on me, leaving his +card as I was not at home. + +I returned the visit, and he introduced me to his family and invited me +to dinner. For the first time since I had come to Florence I dressed +myself with elegance and wore my jewels. + +At the Marquis Capponi's I made the acquaintance of Corilla's lover, the +Marquis Gennori, who took me to a house where I met my fate. I fell in +love with Madame a young widow, who had been spending a few months in +Paris. This visit had added to her other attractions the charm of a good +manner, which always counts for so much. + +This unhappy love made the three months longer which I spent in Florence +painful to me. + +It was at the beginning of October, and about that time Count Medini +arrived at Florence without a penny in his pocket, and without being able +to pay his vetturino, who had arrested him. + +The wretched man, who seemed to follow me wherever I went, had taken up +his abode in the house of a poor Irishman. + +I do not know how Medini found out that I was at Florence, but he wrote +me a letter begging me to come and deliver him from the police, who +besieged his room and talked of taking him to prison. He said he only +wanted me to go bail for him, and protested that I should not run any +risk, as he was sure of being able to pay in a few days. + +My readers will be aware that I had good reason for not liking Medini, +but in spite of our quarrel I could not despise his entreaty. I even +felt inclined to become his surety, if he could prove his capability of +paying the sum for which he had been arrested. I imagined that the sum +must be a small one, and could not understand why the landlord did not +answer for him. My surprise ceased, however, when I entered his room. + +As soon as I appeared he ran to embrace me, begging me to forget the +past, and to extract him from the painful position in which he found +himself. + +I cast a rapid glance over the room, and saw three trunks almost empty, +their contents being scattered about the floor. There was his mistress, +whom I knew, and who had her reasons for not liking me; her young sister, +who wept; and her mother, who swore, and called Medini a rogue, saying +that she would complain of him to the magistrate, and that she was not +going to allow her dresses and her daughter's dresses to be seized for +his debts. + +I asked the landlord why he did not go bail, as he had these persons and +their effects as security. + +"The whole lot," he answered, "won't pay the vetturino, and the sooner +they are out of my house the better I shall be pleased." + +I was astonished, and could not understand how the bill could amount to +more than the value of all the clothes I saw on the floor, so I asked the +vetturino to tell me the extent of the debt. + +He gave me a paper with Medini's signature; the amount was two hundred +and forty crowns. + +"How in the world," I exclaimed, "could he contract this enormous debt?" + +I wondered no longer when the vetturino told me that he had served them +for the last six weeks, having conducted the count and the three women +from Rome to Leghorn, and from Leghorn to Pisa, and from Pisa to +Florence, paying for their board all the way. + +"The vetturino will never take me as bail for such an amount," I said to +Medini, "and even if he would I should never be so foolish as to contract +such a debt." + +"Let me have a word with you in the next room," said he; "I will put the +matter clearly before you." + +"Certainly." + +Two of the police would have prevented his going into the next room, on +the plea that he might escape through the window, but I said I would be +answerable for him. + +Just then the poor vetturino came in and kissed my hand, saying that if I +would go bail for the count he would let me have three months wherein to +find the money. + +As it happened it was the same man who had taken me to Rome with the +Englishwoman who had been seduced by the actor l'Etoile. I told him to +wait a moment. + +Medini who was a great talker and a dreadful liar thought to persuade me +by shewing me a number of open letters, commending him in pompous terms +to the best houses in Florence. I read the letters, but I found no +mention of money in them, and I told him as much. + +"I know," said he, "but there is play going on in these houses, and I am +sure of gaining immense sums." + +"You may be aware that I have no confidence in your good luck." + +"Then I have another resource." + +"What is that?" + +He shewed me a bundle of manuscript, which I found to be an excellent +translation of Voltaire's "Henriade" into Italian verse. Tasso himself +could not have done it better. He said he hoped to finish the poem at +Florence, and to present it to the grand duke, who would be sure to make +him a magnificent present, and to constitute him his favourite. + +I would not undeceive him, but I laughed to myself, knowing that the +grand duke only made a pretence of loving literature. A certain Abbe +Fontaine, a clever man, amused him with a little natural history, the +only science in which he took any interest. He preferred the worst prose +to the best verse, not having sufficient intellect to enjoy the subtle +charms of poetry. In reality he had only two passions--women and money. + +After spending two wearisome hours with Medini, whose wit was great and +his judgment small, after heartily repenting of having yielded to my +curiosity and having paid him a visit, I said shortly that I could do +nothing for him. Despair drives men crazy; as I was making for the door, +he seized me by the collar. + +He did not reflect in his dire extremity that he had no arms, that I was +stronger than he, that I had twice drawn his blood, and that the police, +the landlord, the vetturirco, and the servants, were in the next room. I +was not coward enough to call for help; I caught hold of his neck with +both hands and squeezed him till he was nearly choked. He had to let go +at last, and then I took hold of his collar and asked him if he had gone +mad. + +I sent him against the wall, and opened the door and the police came in. + +I told the vetturino that I would on no account be Medini's surety, or be +answerable for him in any way. + +Just as I was going out, he leapt forward crying that I must not abandon +him. + +I had opened the door, and the police, fearing he would escape, ran +forward to get hold of him. Then began an interesting battle. Medini, +who had no arms, and was only in his dressing-gown, proceeded to +distribute kicks, cuffs, and blows amongst the four cowards, who had +their swords at their sides, whilst I held the door to prevent the +Irishman going out and calling for assistance. + +Medini, whose nose was bleeding and his dress all torn, persisted in +fighting till the four policemen let him alone. I liked his courage, and +pitied him. + +There was a moment's silence, and I asked his two liveried servants who +were standing by me why they had not helped their master. One said he +owed him six months' wages, and the other said he wanted to arrest him on +his own account. + +As Medini was endeavouring to staunch the blood in a basin of water, the +vetturino told him that as I refused to be his surety he must go to +prison. + +I was moved by the scene that I had witnessed, and said to the vetturino, + +"Give him a fortnight's respite, and if he escapes before the expiration +of that term I will pay you." + +He thought it over for a few moments, and then said,-- + +"Very good, sir, but I am not going to pay any legal expenses." + +I enquired how much the costs amounted to, and paid them, laughing at the +policemen's claim of damages for blows they had received. + +Then the two rascally servants said that if I would not be surety in the +same manner on their account, they would have Medini arrested. However, +Medini called out to me to pay no attention to them whatever. + +When I had given the vetturino his acknowledgment and paid the four or +five crowns charged by the police, Medini told me that he had more to say +to me; but I turned my back on him, and went home to dinner. + +Two hours later one of his servants came to me and promised if I would +give him six sequins to warn me if his master made any preparations for +flight. + +I told him drily that his zeal was useless to me, as I was quite sure +that the count would pay all his debts within the term; and the next +morning I wrote to Medini informing him of the step his servant had +taken. He replied with a long letter full of thanks, in which he exerted +all his eloquence to persuade me to repair his fortunes. I did not +answer. + +However, his good genius, who still protected him, brought a person to +Florence who drew him out of the difficulty. This person was Premislas +Zanovitch, who afterwards became as famous as his brother who cheated +the Amsterdam merchants, and adopted the style of Prince Scanderbeck. I +shall speak of him later on. Both these finished cheats came to a bad +end. + +Premislas Zanovitch was then at the happy age of twenty-five; he was the +son of a gentleman of Budua, a town on the borders of Albania and +Dalmatia, formerly subject to the Venetian Republic and now to the Grand +Turk. In classic times it was known as Epirus. + +Premislas was a young man of great intelligence, and after having studied +at Venice, and contracted a Venetian taste for pleasures and enjoyments +of all sorts, he could not make up his mind to return to Budua, where his +only associates would be dull Sclavs--uneducated, unintellectual, coarse, +and brutish. Consequently, when Premislas and his still more talented +brother Stephen were ordered by the Council of Ten to enjoy the vast sums +they had gained at play in their own country, they resolved to become +adventurers. One took the north and the other the south of Europe, and +both cheated and duped whenever the opportunity for doing so presented +itself. + +I had seen Premislas when he was a child, and had already heard reports +of a notable achievement of his. At Naples he had cheated the Chevalier +de Morosini by persuading him to become his surety to the extent of six +thousand ducats, and now he arrived in Florence in a handsome carriage, +bringing his mistress with him, and having two tall lackeys and a valet +in his service. + +He took good apartments, hired a carriage, rented a box at the opera, had +a skilled cook, and gave his mistress a lady-in-waiting. He then shewed +himself at the best club, richly dressed, and covered with jewellery. He +introduced himself under the name of Count Premislas Zanovitch. + +There is a club in Florence devoted to the use of the nobility. Any +stranger can go there without being introduced, but so much the worse for +him if his appearance fails to indicate his right to be present. The +Florentines are ice towards him, leave him alone, and behave in such a +manner that the visit is seldom repeated. The club is at once decent and +licentious, the papers are to be read there, games of all kinds are +played, food and drink may be had, and even love is available, for ladies +frequent the club. + +Zanovitch did not wait to be spoken to, but made himself agreeable to +everyone, and congratulated himself on mixing in such distinguished +company, talked about Naples which he had just left, brought in his own +name with great adroitness, played high, lost merrily, paid after +pretending to forget all about his debts, and in short pleased everyone. +I heard all this the next day from the Marquis Capponi, who said that +someone had asked him if he knew me, whereat he answered that when I left +Venice he was at college, but that he had often heard his father speak of +me in very high terms. He knew both the Chevalier Morosini and Count +Medini, and had a good deal to say in praise of the latter. The marquis +asked me if I knew him, and I replied in the affirmative, without feeling +it my duty to disclose certain circumstances which might not have been +advantageous to him; and as Madame Denis seemed curious to make his +acquaintance the Chevalier Puzzi promised to bring him to see her, which +he did in the course of a few days. + +I happened to be with Madame Denis when Puzzi presented Zanovitch, and I +saw before me a fine-looking young men, who seemed by his confident +manner to be sure of success in all his undertakings. He was not exactly +handsome, but he had a perfect manner and an air of gaiety which seemed +infectious, with a thorough knowledge of the laws of good society. He +was by no means an egotist, and seemed never at a loss for something to +talk about. I led the conversation to the subject of his country, and he +gave me an amusing description of it, talking of his fief-part of which +was within the domains of the sultan-as a place where gaiety was unknown, +and where the most determined misanthrope would die of melancholy. + +As soon as he heard my name he began speaking to me in a tone of the most +delicate flattery. I saw the makings of a great adventurer in him, but I +thought his luxury would prove the weak point in his cuirass. I thought +him something like what I had been fifteen years ago, but as it seemed +unlikely that he had my resources I could not help pitying him. + +Zanovitch paid me a visit, and told me that Medini's position had excited +his pity, and that he had therefore paid his debts. + +I applauded his generosity, but I formed the conclusion that they had +laid some plot between them, and that I should soon hear of the results +of this new alliance. + +I returned Zanovitch's call the next day. He was at table with his +mistress, whom I should not have recognized if she had not pronounced my +name directly she saw me. + +As she had addressed me as Don Giacomo, I called her Donna Ippolita, but +in a voice which indicated that I was not certain of her identity. She +told me I was quite right. + +I had supped with her at Naples in company with Lord Baltimore, and she +was very pretty then. + +Zanovitch asked me to dine with him the following day, and I should have +thanked him and begged to be excused if Donna Ippolita had not pressed me +to come. She assured me that I should find good company there, and that +the cook would excel himself. + +I felt rather curious to see the company, and with the idea of shewing +Zanovitch that I was not likely to become a charge on his purse, I +dressed myself magnificently once more. + +As I had expected, I found Medini and his mistress there, with two +foreign ladies and their attendant cavaliers, and a fine-looking and +well-dressed Venetian, between thirty-five and forty, whom I would not +have recognized if Zanovitch had not told me his name, Alois Zen. + +"Zen was a patrician name, and I felt obliged to ask what titles I ought +to give him. + +"Such titles as one old friend gives another, though it is very possible +you do not recollect me, as I was only ten years old when we saw each +other last." + +Zen then told me he was the son of the captain I had known when I was +under arrest at St. Andrews. + +"That's twenty-eight years ago; but I remember you, though you had not +had the small-pox in those days." + +I saw that he was annoyed by this remark, but it was his fault, as he had +no business to say where he had known me, or who his father was. + +He was the son of a noble Venetian--a good-for-nothing in every sense of +the word. + +When I met him at Florence he had just come from Madrid, where he had +made a lot of money by holding a bank at faro in the house of the +Venetian ambassador, Marco Zen. + +I was glad to meet him, but I found out before the dinner was over that +he was completely devoid of education and the manners of a gentleman; but +he was well content with the one talent he possessed, namely, that of +correcting the freaks of fortune at games of chance. I did not wait to +see the onslaught of the cheats on the dupes, but took my leave while the +table was being made ready. + +Such was my life during the seven months which I spent at Florence. + +After this dinner I never saw Zen, or Medini, or Zanovitch, except by +chance in the public places. + +Here I must recount some incidents which took place towards the middle of +December. + +Lord Lincoln, a young man of eighteen, fell in love with a Venetian +dancer named Lamberti, who was a universal favourite. On every night +when the opera was given the young Englishman might be seen going to her +camerino, and everyone wondered why he did not visit her at her own +house, where he would be certain of a good welcome, for he was English, +and therefore rich, young, and handsome. I believe he was the only son +of the Duke of Newcastle. + +Zanovitch marked him down, and in a short time had become an intimate +friend of the fair Lamberti. He then made up to Lord Lincoln, and took +him to the lady's house, as a polite man takes a friend to see his +mistress. + +Madame Lamberti, who was in collusion with the rascal, was not niggardly +of her favours with the young Englishman. She received him every night +to supper with Zanovitch and Zen, who had been presented by the Sclav, +either because of his capital, or because Zanovitch was not so +accomplished a cheat. + +For the first few nights they took care to let the young nobleman win. +As they played after supper, and Lord Lincoln followed the noble English +custom of drinking till he did not know his right hand from his left, he +was quite astonished on waking the next morning to find that luck had +been as kind to him as love. The trap was baited, the young lord +nibbled, and, as may be expected, was finally caught. + +Zen won twelve thousand pounds of him, and Zanovitch lent him the money +by installments of three and four hundred louis at a time, as the +Englishman had promised his tutor not to play, on his word of honour. + +Zanovitch won from Zen what Zen won from the lord, and so the game was +kept up till the young pigeon had lost the enormous sum of twelve +thousand guineas. + +Lord Lincoln promised to pay three thousand guineas the next day, and +signed three bills of exchange for three thousand guineas each, payable +in six months, and drawn on his London banker. + +I heard all about this from Lord Lincoln himself when we met at Bologna +three months later. + +The next morning the little gaming party was the talk of Florence. Sasso +Sassi, the banker, had already paid Zanovitch six thousand sequins by my +lord's orders. + +Medini came to see me, furious at not having been asked to join the +party, while I congratulated myself on my absence. My surprise may be +imagined, when, a few days after, a person came up to my room, and +ordered me to leave Florence in three days and Tuscany in a week. + +I was petrified, and called to my landlord to witness the unrighteous +order I had received. + +It was December 28th. On the same date, three years before, I had +received orders to leave Barcelona in three days. + +I dressed hastily and went to the magistrate to enquire the reason for my +exile, and on entering the room I found it was the same man who had +ordered me to leave Florence eleven years before. + +I asked him to give me his reasons, and he replied coldly that such was +the will of his highness. + +"But as his highness must have his reasons, it seems to me that I am +within my rights in enquiring what they are." + +"If you think so yqu had better betake yourself to the prince; I know +nothing about it. He left yesterday for Pisa, where he will stay three +days; you can go there." + +"Will he pay for my journey?" + +"I should doubt it, but you can see for yourself." + +"I shall not go to Pisa, but I will write to his highness if you will +promise to send on the letter." + +"I will do so immediately, for it is my duty." + +"Very good; you shall have the letter before noon tomorrow, and before +day-break I shall be in the States of the Church." + +"There's no need for you to hurry yourself." + +"There is a very great hurry. I cannot breathe the air of a country +where liberty is unknown and the sovereign breaks his word; that is what +I am going to write to your master." + +As I was going out I met Medini, who had come on the same business as +myself. + +I laughed, and informed him of the results of my interview, and how I had +been told to go to Pisa. + +"What! have you been expelled, too?" + +"Yes." + +"What have you done?" + +"Nothing." + +"Nor I. Let us go to Pisa." + +"You can go if you like, but I shall leave Florence tonight." + +When I got home I told my landlord to get me a carriage and to order four +post-horses for nightfall, and I then wrote the following letter to the +grand duke: + +"My Lord; The thunder which Jove has placed in your hands is only for the +guilty; in launching it at me you have done wrong. Seven months ago you +promised that I should remain unmolested so long as I obeyed the laws. +I have done so scrupulously, and your lordship has therefore broken your +word. I am merely writing to you to let you know that I forgive you, and +that I shall never give utterance to a word of complaint. Indeed I would +willingly forget the injury you have done me, if it were not necessary +that I should remember never to set foot in your realms again. The +magistrate tells me that I can go and see you at Pisa, but I fear such a +step would seem a hardy one to a prince, who should hear what a man has +to say before he condemns him, and not afterwards. + +"I am, etc." + + +When I had finished the letter I sent it to the magistrate, and then I +began my packing. + +I was sitting down to dinner when Medini came in cursing Zen and +Zanovitch, whom he accused of being the authors of his misfortune, and of +refusing to give him a hundred sequins, without which he could not +possibly go. + +"We are all going to Pisa," said he, "and cannot imagine why you do not +come, too." + +"Very good," I said, laughingly, "but please to leave me now as I have to +do my packing." + +As I expected, he wanted me to lend him some money, but on my giving him +a direct refusal he went away. + +After dinner I took leave of M. Medici and Madame Dennis, the latter of +whom had heard the story already. She cursed the grand duke, saying she +could not imagine how he could confound the innocent with the guilty. +She informed me that Madame Lamberti had received orders to quit, as also +a hunchbacked Venetian priest, who used to go and see the dancer but had +never supped with her. In fact, there was a clean sweep of all the +Venetians in Florence. + +As I was returning home I met Lord Lincoln's governor; whom I had known +at Lausanne eleven years before. I told him of what had happened to me +through his hopeful pupil getting himself fleeced. He laughed, and told +me that the grand duke had advised Lord Lincoln not to pay the money he +had lost, to which the young man replied that if he were not to pay he +should be dishonoured since the money he had lost had been lent to him. + +In leaving Florence I was cured of an unhappy love which would doubtless +have had fatal consequences if I had stayed on. I have spared my readers +the painful story because I cannot recall it to my mind even now without +being cut to the heart. The widow whom I loved, and to whom I was so +weak as to disclose my feelings, only attached me to her triumphal car to +humiliate me, for she disdained my love and myself. I persisted in my +courtship, and nothing but my enforced absence would have cured me. + +As yet I have not learnt the truth of the maxim that old age, especially +when devoid of fortune, is not likely to prove attractive to youth. + +I left Florence poorer by a hundred sequins than when I came there. I +had lived with the most careful economy throughout the whole of my stay. + +I stopped at the first stage within the Pope's dominions, and by the last +day but one of the year I was settled at Bologna, at "St. Mark's Hotel." + +My first visit was paid to Count Marulli, the Florentine charge +d'affaires. I begged him to write and tell his master, that, out of +gratitude for my banishment, I should never cease to sing his praises. + +As the count had received a letter containing an account of the whole +affair, he could not quite believe that I meant what I said. + +"You may think what you like," I observed, "but if you knew all you would +see that his highness has done me a very great service though quite +untentionally." + +He promised to let his master know how I spoke of him. + +On January 1st, 1772, I presented myself to Cardinal Braneaforte, the +Pope's legate, whom I had known twenty years before at Paris, when he had +been sent by Benedict XVI. with the holy swaddling clothes for the newly- +born Duke of Burgundy. We had met at the Lodge of Freemasons, for the +members of the sacred college were by no means afraid of their own +anathemas. We had also some very pleasant little suppers with pretty +sinners in company with Don Francesco Sensate and Count Ranucci. In +short, the cardinal was a man of wit, and what is called a bon vivant. + +"Oh, here you are!" cried he, when he saw me; "I was expecting you" + +"How could you, my lord? Why should I have come to Bologna rather than +to any other place?" + +"For two reasons. In the first place because Bologna is better than many +other places, and besides I flatter myself you thought of me. But you +needn't say anything here about the life we led together when we were +young men." + +"It has always been a pleasant recollection to me." + +"No doubt. Count Marulli told me yesterday that you spoke very highly of +the grand duke, and you are quite right. You can talk to me in +confidence; the walls of this room have no ears. How much did you get of +the twelve thousand guineas?" + +I told him the whole story, and shewed him a copy of the letter which I +had written to the grand duke. He laughed, and said he was sorry I had +been punished for nothing. + +When he heard I thought of staying some months at Bologna he told me that +I might reckon on perfect freedom, and that as soon as the matter ceased +to become common talk he would give me open proof of his friendship. + +After seeing the cardinal I resolved to continue at Bologna the kind of +life that I had been leading at Florence. Bologna is the freest town in +all Italy; commodities are cheap and good, and all the pleasures of life +may be had there at a low price. The town is a fine one, and the streets +are lined with arcades--a great comfort in so hot a place. + +As to society, I did not trouble myself about it. I knew the Bolognese; +the nobles are proud, rude, and violent; the lowest orders, known as the +birichini, are worse than the lazzaroni of Naples, while the tradesmen +and the middle classes are generally speaking worthy and respectable +people. At Bologna, as at Naples, the two extremes of society are +corrupt, while the middle classes are respectable, and the depository of +virtue, talents, and learning. + +However, my intention was to leave society alone, to pass my time in +study, and to make the acquaintance of a few men of letters, who are +easily accessible everywhere. + +At Florence ignorance is the rule and learning the exception, while at +Bologna the tincture of letters is almost universal. The university has +thrice the usual number of professors; but they are all ill paid, and +have to get their living out of the students, who are numerous. Printing +is cheaper at Bologna than anywhere else, and though the Inquisition is +established there the press is almost entirely free. + +All the exiles from Florence reached Bologna four or five days after +myself. Madame Lamberti only passed through on her way to Venice. +Zanovitch and Zen stayed five or six days; but they were no longer in +partnership, having quarreled over the sharing of the booty. + +Zanovitch had refused to make one of Lord Lincoln's bills of exchange +payable to Zen, because he did not wish to make himself liable in case +the Englishman refused to pay. He wanted to go to England, and told Zen +he was at liberty to do the same. + +They went to Milan without having patched up their quarrel, but the +Milanese Government ordered them to leave Lombardy, and I never heard +what arrangements they finally came to. Later on I was informed that the +Englishman's bills had all been settled to the uttermost farthing. + +Medini, penniless as usual, had taken up his abode in the hotel where I +was staying, bringing with him his mistress, her sister, and her mother, +but with only one servant. He informed me that the grand duke had +refused to listen to any of them at Pisa, where he had received a second +order to leave Tuscany, and so had been obliged to sell everything. Of +course he wanted me to help him, but I turned a deaf ear to his +entreaties. + +I have never seen this adventurer without his being in a desperate state +of impecuniosity, but he would never learn to abate his luxurious habits, +and always managed to find some way or other out of his difficulties. He +was lucky enough to fall in with a Franciscan monk named De Dominis at +Bologna, the said monk being on his way to Rome to solicit a brief of +'laicisation' from the Pope. He fell in love with Medini's mistress, who +naturally made him pay dearly for her charms. + +Medini left at the end of three weeks. He went to Germany, where he +printed his version of the "Henriade," having discovered a Maecenas in +the person of the Elector Palatin. After that he wandered about Europe +for twelve years, and died in a London prison in 1788. + +I had always warned him to give England a wide berth, as I felt certain +that if he once went there he would not escape English bolts and bars, +and that if he got on the wrong side of the prison doors he would never +come out alive. He despised my advice, and if he did so with the idea of +proving me a liar, he made a mistake, for he proved me to be a prophet. + +Medini had the advantage of high birth, a good education, and +intelligence; but as he was a poor man with luxurious tastes he either +corrected fortune at play or went into debt, and was consequently obliged +to be always on the wing to avoid imprisonment. + +He lived in this way for seventy years, and he might possibly be alive +now if he had followed my advice. + +Eight years ago Count Torio told me that he had seen Medini in a London +prison, and that the silly fellow confessed he had only come to London +with the hope of proving me to be a liar. + +Medini's fate shall never prevent me from giving good advice to a poor +wretch on the brink of the precipice. Twenty years ago I told Cagliostro +(who called himself Count Pellegrini in those days) not to set his foot +in Rome, and if he had followed this counsel he would not have died +miserably in a Roman prison. + +Thirty years ago a wise man advised me to beware visiting Spain. I went, +but, as the reader knows, I had no reason to congratulate myself on my +visit. + +A week after my arrival at Bologna, happening to be in the shop of +Tartuffi, the bookseller, I made the acquaintance of a cross-eyed priest, +who struck me, after a quarter of an hour's talk as a man of learning and +talent. He presented me with two works which had recently been issued by +two of the young professors at the university He told me that I should +find them amusing reading, and he was right. + +The first treatise contended that women's faults should be forgiven them, +since they were really the work of the matrix, which influenced them in +spite of themselves. The second treatise was a criticism of the first. +The author allowed that the uterus was an animal, but he denied the +alleged influence, as no anatomist had succeeded in discovering any +communication between it and the brain. + +I determined to write a reply to the two pamphlets, and I did so in the +course of three days. When my reply was finished I sent it to M. +Dandolo, instructing him to have five hundred copies printed. When they +arrived I gave a bookseller the agency, and in a fortnight I had made a +hundred sequins. + +The first pamphlet was called "Lutero Pensante," the second was in French +and bore the title "La Force Vitale," while I called my reply "Lana +Caprina." I treated the matter in an easy vein, not without some hints +of deep learning, and made fun of the lucubrations of the two physicians. +My preface was in French, but full of Parisian idioms which rendered it +unintelligible to all who had not visited the gay capital, and this +circumstance gained me a good many friends amongst the younger +generation. + +The squinting priest, whose name was Zacchierdi, introduced me to the +Abbe Severini, who became my intimate friend in the course of ten or +twelve days. + +This abbe made me leave the inn, and got me two pleasant rooms in the +house of a retired artiste, the widow of the tenor Carlani. He also made +arrangements with a pastrycook to send me my dinner and supper. All +this, plus a servant, only cost me ten sequins a month. + +Severini was the agreeable cause of my losing temporarily my taste for +study. I put by my "Iliad," feeling sure that I should be able to finish +it again. + +Severini introduced me to his family, and before long I became very +intimate with him. I also became the favourite of his sister, a lady +rather plain than pretty, thirty years old, but full of intelligence. + +In the course of Lent the abbe introduced me to all the best dancers and +operatic singers in Bologna, which is the nursery of the heroines of the +stage. They may be had cheaply enough on their native soil. + +Every week the good abbe introduced me to a fresh one, and like a true +friend he watched carefully over my finances. He was a poor man himself, +and could not afford to contribute anything towards the expenses of our +little parties; but as they would have cost me double without his help, +the arrangement was a convenient one for both of us. + +About this time there was a good deal of talk about a Bolognese nobleman, +Marquis Albergati Capacelli. He had made a present of his private +theatre to the public, and was himself an excellent actor. He had made +himself notorious by obtaining a divorce from his wife, whom he did not +like, so as to enable him to marry a dancer, by whom he had two children. +The amusing point in this divorce was that he obtained it on the plea +that he was impotent, and sustained his plea by submitting to an +examination, which was conducted as follows: + +Four skilled and impartial judges had the marquis stripped before them, +and did all in their power to produce an erection; but somehow or other +he succeeded in maintaining his composure, and the marriage was +pronounced null and void on the ground of relative impotence, for it was +well known that he had had children by another woman. + +If reason and not prejudice had been consulted, the procedure would have +been very different; for if relative impotence was considered a +sufficient ground for divorce, of what use was the examination? + +The marquis should have sworn that he could do nothing with his wife, and +if the lady had traversed this statement the marquis might have +challenged her to put him into the required condition. + +But the destruction of old customs and old prejudices is often the work +of long ages. + +I felt curious to know this character, and wrote to M. Dandolo to get me +a letter of introduction to the marquis. + +In a week my good old friend sent me the desired letter. It was written +by another Venetian, M. de Zaguri, an intimate friend of the marquis. + +The letter was not sealed, so I read it. I was delighted; no one could +have commended a person unknown to himself but the friend of a friend in +a more delicate manner. + +I thought myself bound to write a letter of thanks to M. Zaguri. I said +that I desired to obtain my pardon more than ever after reading his +letter, which made me long to go to Venice, and make the acquaintance of +such a worthy nobleman. + +I did not expect an answer, but I got one. M. Zaguri said that my desire +was such a flattering one to himself, that he meant to do his best to +obtain my recall. + +The reader will see that he was successful, but not till after two years +of continuous effort. + +Albergati was away from Bologna at the time, but when he returned +Severini let me know, and I called at the palace. The porter told me +that his excellence (all the nobles are excellences at Bologna) had gone +to his country house, where he meant to pass the whole of the spring. + +In two or three days I drove out to his villa. I arrived at a charming +mansion, and finding no one at the door I went upstairs, and entered a +large room where a gentleman and an exceedingly pretty woman were just +sitting down to dinner. The dishes had been brought in, and there were +only two places laid. + +I made a polite bow, and asked the gentleman if I had the honour of +addressing the Marquis Albergati. He replied in the affirmative, +whereupon I gave him my letter of introduction. He took it, read the +superscription, and put it in his pocket, telling me I was very kind to +have taken so much trouble, and that he would be sure to read it. + +"It has been no trouble at all," I replied, "but I hope you will read the +letter. It is written by M. de Zaguri, whom I asked to do me this +service, as I have long desired to make your lordship's acquaintance." + +His lordship smiled and said very pleasantly that he would read it after +dinner, and would see what he could do for his friend Zaguri. + +Our dialogue was over in a few seconds. Thinking him extremely rude I +turned my back and went downstairs, arriving just in time to prevent the +postillion taking out the horses. I promised him a double gratuity if he +would take me to some village at hand, where he could bait his horses +while I breakfasted. + +Just as the postillion had got on horseback a servant came running up. +He told me very politely that his excellence begged me to step upstairs. + +I put my hand in my pocket and gave the man my card with my name and +address, and telling him that that was what his master wanted, I ordered +the postillion to drive off at a full gallop. + +When we had gone half a league we stopped at a good inn, and then +proceeded on our way back to Bologna. + +The same day I wrote to M. de Zaguri, and described the welcome I had +received at the hands of the marquis. I enclosed the letter in another +to M. Dandolo, begging him to read it, and to send it on. I begged the +noble Venetian to write to the marquis that having offended me grievously +he must prepare to give me due satisfaction. + +I laughed with all my heart next day when my landlady gave me a visiting +card with the inscription, General the Marquis of Albeygati. She told me +the marquis had called on me himself, and on hearing I was out had left +his card. + +I began to look upon the whole of his proceedings as pure gasconnade, +only lacking the wit of the true Gascon. I determined to await M. +Zaguri's reply before making up my mind as to the kind of satisfaction I +should demand. + +While I was inspecting the card, and wondering what right the marquis had +to the title of general, Severini came in, and informed me that the +marquis had been made a Knight of the Order of St. Stanislas by the King +of Poland, who had also given him the style of royal chamberlain. + +"Is he a general in the Polish service as well?" I asked. + +"I really don't know." + +"I understand it all," I said to myself. "In Poland a chamberlain has +the rank of adjutant-general, and the marquis calls himself general. But +general what? The adjective without a substantive is a mere cheat." + +I saw my opportunity, and wrote a comic dialogue, which I had printed the +next day. I made a present of the work to a bookseller, and in three or +four days he sold out the whole edition at a bajocco apiece. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Farinello and the Electress Dowager of Saxony--Madame Slopitz--Nina-- +The Midwife--Madame Soavi--Abbe Bolini--Madame Viscioletta-- +The Seamstress--The Sorry Pleasure of Revenge--Severini Goes to Naples +--My Departure--Marquis Mosca + + +Anyone who attacks a proud person in a comic vein is almost sure of +success; the laugh is generally on his side. + +I asked in my dialogue whether it was lawful for a provost-marshal to +call himself simply marshal, and whether a lieutenant-colonel had a right +to the title of colonel. I also asked whether the man who preferred +titles of honour, for which he had paid in hard cash, to his ancient and +legitimate rank, could pass for a sage. + +Of course the marquis had to laugh at my dialogue, but he was called the +general ever after. He had placed the royal arms of Poland over the gate +of his palace, much to the amusement of Count Mischinski, the Polish +ambassador to Berlin, who happened to be passing through Bologna at that +time. + +I told the Pole of my dispute with the mad marquis, and persuaded him to +pay Albergati a visit, leaving his card. The ambassador did so, and the +call was returned, but Albergati's cards no longer bore the title of +general. + +The Dowager Electress of Saxony having come to Bologna, I hastened to pay +my respects to her. She had only come to see the famous catstrato +Farinello, who had left Madrid, and now lived at Bologna in great +comfort. He placed a magnificent collation before the Electress, and +sang a song of his own composition, accompanying himself on the piano. +The Electress, who was an enthusiastic musician, embraced Farinello, +exclaiming,-- + +"Now I can die happy." + +Farinello, who was also known as the Chevalier Borschi had reigned, as it +were, in Spain till the Parmese wife of Philip V. had laid plots which +obliged him to leave the Court after the disgrace of Enunada. The +Electress noticed a portrait of the queen, and spoke very highly of her, +mentioning some circumstances which must have taken place in the reign of +Ferdinand VI. + +The famous musician burst into tears, and said that Queen Barbara was as +good as Elizabeth of Parma was wicked. + +Borschi might have been seventy when I saw him at Bologna. He was very +rich and in the enjoyment of good health, and yet he was unhappy, +continually shedding tears at the thought of Spain. + +Ambition is a more powerful passion than avarice. Besides, Farinello had +another reason for unhappiness. + +He had a nephew who was the heir to all his wealth, whom he married to a +noble Tuscan lady, hoping to found a titled family, though in an indirect +kind of way. But this marriage was a torment to him, for in his impotent +old age he was so unfortunate as to fall in love with his niece, and to +become jealous of his nephew. Worse than all the lady grew to hate him, +and Farinello had sent his nephew abroad, while he never allowed the wife +to go out of his sight. + +Lord Lincoln arrived in Bologna with an introduction for the cardinal +legate, who asked him to dinner, and did me the honour of giving me an +invitation to meet him. The cardinal was thus convinced that Lord +Lincoln and I had never met, and that the grand duke of Tuscany had +committed a great injustice in banishing me. It was on that occasion +that the young nobleman told me how they had spread the snare, though he +denied that he had been cheated; he was far too proud to acknowledge such +a thing. He died of debauchery in London three or four years after. + +I also saw at Bologna the Englishman Aston with Madame Slopitz, sister of +the Charming Cailimena. Madame Slopitz was much handsomer than her +sister. She had presented Aston with two babes as beautiful as Raphael's +cherubs. + +I spoke of her sister to her, and from the way in which I sang her +praises she guessed that I had loved her. She told me she would be in +Florence during the Carnival of 1773, but I did not see her again till +the year 1776, when I was at Venice. + +The dreadful Nina Bergonci, who had made a madman of Count Ricla, and was +the source of all my woes at Barcelona, had come to Bologna at the +beginning of Lent, occupying a pleasant house which she had taken. She +had carte blanche with a banker, and kept up a great state, affirming +herself to be with child by the Viceroy of Catalonia, and demanding the +honours which would be given to a queen who had graciously chosen Bologna +as the place of her confinement. She had a special recommendation to the +legate, who often visited her, but in the greatest secrecy. + +The time of her confinement approached, and the insane Ricla sent over a +confidential man, Don Martino, who was empowered to have the child +baptized, and to recognize it as Ricla's natural offspring. + +Nina made a show of her condition, appearing at the theatre and in the +public places with an enormous belly. The greatest noble of Bologna paid +court to her, and Nina told them that they might do so, but that she +could not guarantee their safety from the jealous dagger of Ricla. She +was impudent enough to tell them what happened to me at Barcelona, not +knowing that I was at Bologna. + +She was extremely surprised to hear from Count Zini, who knew me, that I +inhabited the same town as herself. + +When the count met me he asked me if the Barcelona story was true. I did +not care to take him into my confidence, so I replied that I did not know +Nina, and that the story had doubtless been made up by her to see whether +he would encounter danger for her sake. + +When I met the cardinal I told him the whole story, and his eminence was +astonished when I gave him some insight into Nina's character, and +informed him that she was the daughter of her sister and her grandfather. + +"I could stake my life," said I, "that Nina is no more with child than +you are." + +"Oh, come!" said he, laughing, "that is really too strong; why shouldn't +she have a child? It is a very simple matter, it seems to me. Possibly +it may not be Ricla's child but there can be no doubt that she is with +somebody's child. What object could she have for feigning pregnancy?" + +"To make herself famous by defiling the Count de Ricla, who was a model +of justice and virtue before knowing this Messalina. If your eminence +knew the hideous character of Nina you would not wonder at anything she +did." + +"Well, we shall see." + +"Yes." + +About a week later I heard a great noise in the street, and on putting my +head out of the window I saw a woman stripped to the waist, and mounted +on an ass, being scourged by the hangman, and hooted by a mob of all the +biricchini in Bologna. Severini came up at the same moment and informed +me that the woman was the chief midwife in Bologna, and that her +punishment had been ordered by the cardinal archbishop. + +"It must be for some great crime," I observed. + +"No doubt. It is the woman who was with Nina the day before yesterday." + +"What! has Nina been brought to bed?" + +"Yes; but of a still-born child." + +"I see it all." + +Next day the story was all over the town. + +A poor woman had come before the archbishop, and had complained bitterly +that the midwife Teresa had seduced her, promising to give her twenty +sequins if she would give her a fine boy to whom she had given birth a +fortnight ago. She was not given the sum agreed upon, and in her despair +at hearing of the death of her child she begged for justice, declaring +herself able to prove that the dead child said to be Nina's was in +reality her own. + +The archbishop ordered his chancellor to enquire into the affair with the +utmost secrecy, and then proceed to instant and summary execution. + +A week after this scandal Don Martino returned to Barcelona; but Nina +remained as impudent as ever, doubled the size of the red cockades which +she made her servants wear, and swore that Spain would avenge her on the +insolent archbishop. She remained at Bologna six weeks longer, +pretending to be still suffering from the effects of her confinement. +The cardinal legate, who was ashamed of having had anything to do with +such an abandoned prostitute, did his best to have her ordered to leave. + +Count Ricla, a dupe to the last, gave her a considerable yearly income on +the condition that she should never come to Barcelona again; but in a +year the count died. + +Nina did not survive him for more than a year, and died miserably from +her fearful debauchery. I met her mother and sister at Venice, and she +told me the story of the last two years of her daughter's life; but it is +so sad and so disgusting a tale that I feel obliged to omit it. + +As for the infamous midwife, she found powerful friends. + +A pamphlet appeared in which the anonymous author declared that the +archbishop had committed a great wrong in punishing a citizen in so +shameful a manner without any of the proper formalities of justice. The +writer maintained that even if she were guilty she had been unjustly +punished, and should appeal to Rome. + +The prelate, feeling the force of these animadversions, circulated a +pamphlet in which it appeared that the midwife had made three prior +appearances before the judge, and that she would have been sent to the +gallows long ago if the archbishop had not hesitated to shame three of +the noblest families in Bologna, whose names appeared in documents in the +custody of his chancellor. + +Her crimes were procuring abortion and killing erring mothers, +substituting the living for the dead, and in one case a boy for a girl, +thus giving him the enjoyment of property which did not belong to him. + +This pamphlet of the prelate reduced the patrons of the infamous midwife +to silence, for several young noblemen whose mothers had been attended by +her did not relish the idea of their family secrets being brought to +light. + +At Bologna I saw Madame Marucci, who had been expelled from Spain for the +same reason as Madame Pelliccia. The latter had retired to Rome, while +Madame Marucci was on her way to Lucca, her native country. + +Madame Soavi, a Bolognese dancer whom I had known at Parma and Paris, +came to Bologna with her daughter by M. de Marigni. The girl, whose name +was Adelaide, was very beautiful, and her natural abilities had been +fostered by a careful education. + +When Madame Soavi got to Bologna she met her husband whom she had not +seen for fifteen years. + +"Here is a treasure for you," said she, shewing him her daughter. + +"She's certainly very pretty, but what am I to do with her? She does not +belong to me." + +"Yes she does, as I have given her to you. You must know that she has +six thousand francs a year, and that I shall be her cashier till I get +her married to a good dancer. I want her to learn character dancing, and +to make her appearance on the boards. You must take her out on +holidays." + +"What shall I say if people ask me who she is?" + +"Say she is your daughter, and that you are certain, because your wife +gave her to you." + +"I can't see that." + +"Ah, you have always stayed at home, and consequently your wits are +homely." + +I heard this curious dialogue which made me laugh then, and makes me +laugh now as I write it. I offered to help in Adelaide's education, but +Madame Soavi laughed, and said,-- + +"Fox, you have deceived so many tender pullets, that I don't like to +trust you with this one, for fear of your making her too precocious." + +"I did not think of that, but you are right." + +Adelaide became the wonder of Bologna. + +A year after I left the Comte du Barri, brother-in-law of the famous +mistress of Louis XV., visited Bologna, and became so amorous of Adelaide +that her mother sent her away, fearing he would carry her off. + +Du Barri offered her a hundred thousand francs for the girl, but she +refused the offer. + +I saw Adelaide five years later on the boards of a Venetian theatre. +When I went to congratulate her, she said,-- + +"My mother brought me into the world, and I think she will send me out of +it; this dancing is killing me." + +In point of fact this delicate flower faded and died after seven years of +the severe life to which her mother had exposed her. + +Madame Soavi who had not taken the precaution to settle the six thousand +francs on herself, lost all in losing Adelaide, and died miserably after +having rolled in riches. But, alas! I am not the man to reproach anyone +on the score of imprudence. + +At Bologna I met the famous Afflisio, who had been discharged from the +imperial service and had turned manager. He went from bad to worse, and +five or six years later committed forgery, was sent to the galleys, and +there died. + +I was also impressed by the example of a man of a good family, who had +once been rich. This was Count Filomarino. He was living in great +misery, deprived of the use of all his limbs by a succession of venereal +complaints. I often went to see him to give him a few pieces of money, +and to listen to his malevolent talk, for his tongue was the only member +that continued active. He was a scoundrel and a slanderer, and writhed +under the thought that he could not go to Naples and torment his +relations, who were in reality respectable people, but monsters according +to his shewing. + +Madame Sabatini, the dancer, had returned to Bologna, having made enough +money to rest upon her laurels. She married a professor of anatomy, and +brought all her wealth to him as a dower. She had with her her sister, +who was not rich and had no talents, but was at the same time very +agreeable. + +At the house I met an abbe, a fine young man of modest appearance. The +sister seemed to be deeply in love with him, while he appeared to be +grateful and nothing more. + +I made some remark to the modest Adonis, and he gave me a very sensible +answer. We walked away together, and after telling each other what +brought us to Bologna we parted, agreeing to meet again. + +The abbe, who was twenty-four or twenty-five years old, was not in +orders, and was the only son of a noble family of Novara, which was +unfortunately poor as well as noble. + +He had a very scanty revenue, and was able to live more cheaply at +Bologna than Novara, where everything is dear. Besides, he did not care +for his relations; he had no friends, and everybody there was more or +less ignorant. + +The Abbe de Bolini, as he was called, was a man of tranquil mind, living +a peaceful and quiet life above all things. He liked lettered men more +than letters, and did not trouble to gain the reputation of a wit. He +knew he was not a fool, and when he mixed with learned men he was quite +clever enough to be a good listener. + +Both temperament and his purse made him temperate in all things, and he +had received a sound Christian education. He never talked about +religion, but nothing scandalized him. He seldom praised and never +blamed. + +He was almost entirely indifferent to women, flying from ugly women and +blue stockings, and gratifying the passion of pretty ones more out of +kindliness than love, for in his heart he considered women as more likely +to make a man miserable than happy. I was especially interested in this +last characteristic. + +We had been friends for three weeks when I took the liberty of asking him +how he reconciled his theories with his attachment to Brigida Sabatini. + +He supped with her every evening, and she breakfasted with him every +morning. When I went to see him, she was either there already or came in +before my call was over. She breathed forth love in every glance, while +the abbe was kind, but, in spite of his politeness, evidently bored. + +Brigida looked well enough, but she was at least ten years older than the +abbe. She was very polite to me and did her best to convince me that the +abbe was happy in the possession of her heart, and that they both enjoyed +the delights of mutual love. + +But when I asked him over a bottle of good wine about his affection for +Brigida, he sighed, smiled, blushed, looked down, and finally confessed +that this connection was the misfortune of his life. + +"Misfortune? Does she make you sigh in vain? If so you should leave +her, and thus regain your happiness." + +"How can I sigh? I am not in love with her. She is in love with me, and +tries to make me her slave." + +"How do you mean?" + +"She wants me to marry her, and I promised to do so, partly from +weakness, and partly from pity; and now she is in a hurry." + +"I daresay; all these elderly girls are in a hurry." + +"Every evening she treats me to tears, supplications, and despair. She +summons me to keep my promise, and accuses me of deceiving her, so you +may imagine that my situation is an unhappy one." + +"Have you any obligations towards her?" + +"None whatever. She has violated me, so to speak, for all the advances +came from her. She has only what her sister gives her from day to day, +and if she got married she would not get that." + +"Have you got her with child?" + +"I have taken good care not to do so, and that's what has irritated her; +she calls all my little stratagems detestable treason." + +"Nevertheless, you have made up your mind to marry her sooner or later?" + +"I'd as soon hang myself. If I got married to her I should be four times +as poor as I am now, and all my relations at Novara would laugh at me for +bringing home a wife of her age. Besides, she is neither rich nor well +born, and at Novara they demand the one or the other." + +"Then as a man of honour and as a man of sense, you ought to break with +her, and the sooner the better." + +"I know, but lacking normal strength what am I to do? If I did not go +and sup with her to-night, she would infallibly come after me to see what +had happened. I can't lock my door in her face, and I can't tell her to +go away." + +"No, but neither can go on in this miserable way. + +You must make up your mind, and cut the Gordian knot, like Alexander." + +"I haven't his sword." + +"I will lend it you." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Listen to me. You must go and live in another town. She will hardly go +after you there, I suppose." + +"That is a very good plan, but flight is a difficult matter." + +"Difficult? Not at all. Do you promise to do what I tell you, and I +will arrange everything quite comfortably. Your mistress will not know +anything about it till she misses you at supper." + +"I will do whatever you tell me, and I shall never forget your kindness; +but Brigida will go mad with grief." + +"Well my first order to you is not to give her grief a single thought. +You have only to leave everything to me. Would you like to start to- +morrow?" + +"To-morrow?" + +"Yes. Have you any debts?" + +"No." + +"Do you want any money?" + +"I have sufficient. But the idea of leaving tomorrow has taken my breath +away. I must have three days delay." + +"Why so?" + +"I expect some letters the day after to-morrow, and I must write to my +relations to tell them where I am going." + +"I will take charge of your letters and send them on to you." + +"Where shall I be?" + +"I will tell you at the moment of your departure; trust in me. I will +send you at once where you will be comfortable. All you have to do is to +leave your trunk in the hands of your landlord, with orders not to give +it up to anyone but myself." + +"Very good. I am to go without my trunk, then." + +"Yes. You must dine with me every day till you go, and mind not to tell +anyone whatsoever that you intend leaving Bologna." + +"I will take care not to do so." + +The worthy young fellow looked quite radiant. I embraced him and thanked +him for putting so much trust in me. + +I felt proud at the good work I was about to perform, and smiled at the +thought of Brigida's anger when she found that her lover had escaped. +I wrote to my good friend Dandolo that in five or six days a young abbe +would present himself before him bearing a letter from myself. I begged +Dandolo to get him a comfortable and cheap lodging, as my friend was so +unfortunate as to be indifferently provided with money, though an +excellent man. I then wrote the letter of which the abbe was to be the +bearer. + +Next day Bolini told me that Brigida was far from suspecting his flight, +as owing to his gaiety at the thought of freedom he had contented her so +well during the night she had passed with him that she thought him as +much in love as she was. + +"She has all my linen," he added, "but I hope to get a good part of it +back under one pretext or another, and she is welcome to the rest." + +On the day appointed he called on me as we had arranged the night before, +carrying a huge carpet bag containing necessaries. I took him to Modena +in a post chaise, and there we dined; afterward I gave him a letter for +M. Dandolo, promising to send on his trunk the next day. + +He was delighted to hear that Venice was his destination, as he had long +wished to go there, and I promised him that M. Dandolo should see that he +lived as comfortably and cheaply as he had done at Bologna. + +I saw him off, and returned to Bologna. The trunk I dispatched after him +the following day. + +As I had expected, the poor victim appeared before me all in tears the +next day. I felt it my duty to pity her; it would have been cruel to +pretend I did not know the reason for her despair. I gave her a long but +kindly sermon, endeavouring to persuade her that I had acted for the best +in preventing the abbe marrying her, as such a step would have plunged +them both into misery. + +The poor woman threw herself weeping at my feet, begging me to bring her +abbe back, and swearing by all the saints that she would never mention +the word "marriage" again. By way of calming her, I said I would do my +best to win him over. + +She asked where he was, and I said at Venice; but of course she did not +believe me. There are circumstances when a clever man deceives by +telling the truth, and such a lie as this must be approved by the most +rigorous moralists. + +Twenty-seven months later I met Bolini at Venice. I shall describe the +meeting in its proper place. + +A few days after he had gone, I made the acquaintance of the fair +Viscioletta, and fell so ardently in love with her that I had to make up +my mind to buy her with hard cash. The time when I could make women fall +in love with me was no more, and I had to make up my mind either to do +without them or to buy them. + +I cannot help laughing when people ask me for advice, as I feel so +certain that my advice will not be taken. Man is an animal that has to +learn his lesson by hard experience in battling with the storms of life. +Thus the world is always in disorder and always ignorant, for those who +know are always in an infinitesimal proportion to the whole. + +Madame Viscioletta, whom I went to see every day, treated me as the +Florentine widow had done, though the widow required forms and ceremonies +which I could dispense with in the presence of the fair Viscioletta, who +was nothing else than a professional courtezan, though she called herself +a virtuosa. + +I had besieged her for three weeks without any success, and when I made +any attempts she repulsed me laughingly. + +Monsignor Buoncompagni, the vice-legate, was her lover in secret, though +all the town knew it, but this sort of conventional secrecy is common +enough in Italy. As as ecclesiastic he could not court her openly, but +the hussy made no mystery whatever of his visits. + +Being in need of money, and preferring to get rid of my carriage than of +anything else, I announced it for sale at the price of three hundred and +fifty Roman crowns. It was a comfortable and handsome carriage, and was +well worth the price. I was told that the vice-legate offered three +hundred crowns, and I felt a real pleasure in contradicting my favoured +rival's desires. I told the man that I had stated my price and meant to +adhere to it, as I was not accustomed to bargaining. + +I went to see my carriage at noon one day to make sure that it was in +good condition, and met the vice-legate who knew me from meeting me at +the legate's, and must have been aware that I was poaching on his +preserves. He told me rudely that the carriage was not worth more than +three hundred crowns, and that I ought to be glad of the opportunity of +getting rid of it, as it was much too good for me. + +I had the strength of mind to despise his violence, and telling him dryly +that I did not chaffer I turned my back on him and went my way. + +Next day the fair Viscioletta wrote me a note to the effect that she +would be very much obliged if I would let the vice-legate have the +carriage at his own price, as she felt sure he would give it to her. I +replied that I would call on her in the afternoon, and that my answer +would depend on my welcome, I went in due course, and after a lively +discussion, she gave way, and I signified my willingness to sell the +carriage for the sum offered by the vice-legate. + +The next day she had her carriage, and I had my three hundred crowns, and +I let the proud prelate understand that I had avenged myself for his +rudeness. + +About this time Severini succeeded in obtaining a position as tutor in an +illustrious Neapolitan family, and as soon as he received his journey- +money he left Bologna. I also had thoughts of leaving the town. + +I had kept up an interesting correspondence with M. Zaguri, who had made +up his mind to obtain my recall in concert with Dandolo, who desired +nothing better. Zaguri told me that if I wanted to obtain my pardon I +must come and live as near as possible to the Venetian borders, so that +the State Inquisitors might satisfy themselves of my good conduct. +M. Zuliani, brother to the Duchess of Fiano, gave me the same advice, and +promised to use all his interest in my behalf. + +With the idea of following this counsel I decided to set up my abode at +Trieste, where M. Zaguri told me he had an intimate friend to whom he +would give me a letter of introduction. As I could not go by land +without passing through the States of Venice I resolved to go to Ancona, +whence boats sail to Trieste every day. As I should pass through Pesaro +I asked my patron to give me a letter for the Marquis Mosca, a +distinguished man of letters whom I had long wished to know. Just then +he was a good deal talked about on account of a treatise on alms which he +had recently published, and which the Roman curia had placed on the +"Index." + +The marquis was a devotee as well as a man of learning, and was imbued +with the doctrine of St. Augustine, which becomes Jansenism if pushed to +an extreme point. + +I was sorry to leave Bologna, for I had spent eight pleasant months +there. In two days I arrived at Pesaro in perfect health and well +provided for in every way. + +I left my letter with the marquis, and he came to see me the same day. +He said his house would always be open to me, and that he would leave me +in his wife's hands to be introduced to everybody and everything in the +place. He ended by asking me to dine with him the following day, adding +that if I cared to examine his library he could give me an excellent cup +of chocolate. + +I went, and saw an enormours collection of comments on the Latin poets +from Ennius to the poets of the twelfth century of our era. He had had +them all printed at his own expense and at his private press, in four +tall folios, very accurately printed but without elegance. I told him my +opinion, and he agreed that I was right. + +The want of elegance which had spared him an outlay of a hundred thousand +francs had deprived him of a profit of three hundred thousand. + +He presented me with a copy, which he sent to my inn, with an immense +folio volume entitled "Marmora Pisaurentia," which I had no time to +examine. + +I was much pleased with the marchioness, who had three daughters and two +sons, all good-looking and well bred. + +The marchioness was a woman of the world, while her husband's interests +were confined to his books. This difference in disposition sometimes +gave rise to a slight element of discord, but a stranger would never have +noticed it if he had not been told. + +Fifty years ago a wise man said to me: "Every family is troubled by some +small tragedy, which should be kept private with the greatest care. In +fine, people should learn to wash their dirty linen in private." + +The marchioness paid me great attention during the five days I spent at +Pesaro. In the day she drove me from one country house to another, and +at night she introduced me to all the nobility of the town. + +The marquis might have been fifty then. He was cold by temperament, had +no other passion but that of study, and his morals were pure. He had +founded an academy of which he was the president. Its design was a fly, +in allusion to his name Mosca, with the words 'de me ce', that is to say, +take away 'c' from 'musca' and you have 'musa'. + +His only failing was that which the monks regard as his finest quality, +he was religious to excess, and this excess of religion went beyond the +bounds where 'nequit consistere rectum'. + +But which is the better, to go beyond these bounds, or not to come up to +them? I cannot venture to decide the question. Horace says,-- + + "Nulla est mihi religio!" + +and it is the beginning of an ode in which he condemns philosophy for +estranging him from religion. + +Excess of every kind is bad. + +I left Pesaro delighted with the good company I had met, and only sorry I +had not seen the marquis's brother who was praised by everyone. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A Jew Named Mardocheus Becomes My Travelling Companion--He Persuades Me +to Lodge in His House--I Fall in Love With His Daughter Leah-- +After a Stay of Six Weeks I Go to Trieste + + +Some time elapsed before I had time to examine the Marquis of Mosca's +collection of Latin poets, amongst which the 'Priapeia' found no place. + +No doubt this work bore witness to his love for literature but not to his +learning, for there was nothing of his own in it. All he had done was to +classify each fragment in chronological order. I should have liked to +see notes, comments, explanations, and such like; but there was nothing +of the kind. Besides, the type was not elegant, the margins were poor, +the paper common, and misprints not infrequent. All these are bad +faults, especially in a work which should have become a classic. +Consequently, the book was not a profitable one; and as the marquis was +not a rich man he was occasionally reproached by his wife for the money +he had expended. + +I read his treatise on almsgiving and his apology for it, and understood +a good deal of the marquis's way of thinking. I could easily imagine +that his writings must have given great offence at Rome, and that with +sounder judgment he would have avoided this danger. Of course the +marquis was really in the right, but in theology one is only in the right +when Rome says yes. + +The marquis was a rigorist, and though he had a tincture of Jansenism he +often differed from St. Augustine. + +He denied, for instance, that almsgiving could annul the penalty attached +to sin, and according to him the only sort of almsgiving which had any +merit was that prescribed in the Gospel: "Let not thy right hand know +what thy left hand doeth." + +He even maintained that he who gave alms sinned unless it was done with +the greatest secrecy, for alms given in public are sure to be accompanied +by vanity. + +It might have been objected that the merit of alms lies in the intention +with which they are given. It is quite possible for a good man to slip a +piece of money into the palm of some miserable being standing in a public +place, and yet this may be done solely with the idea of relieving +distress without a thought of the onlookers. + +As I wanted to go to Trieste, I might have crossed the gulf by a small +boat from Pesaro; a good wind was blowing, and I should have got to +Trieste in twelve hours. This was my proper way, for I had nothing to do +at Ancona, and it was a hundred miles longer; but I had said I would go +by Ancona, and I felt obliged to do so. + +I had always a strong tincture of superstition, which has exercised +considerable influence on my strange career. + +Like Socrates I, too, had a demon to whom I referred my doubtful +counsels, doing his will, and obeying blindly when I felt a voice within +me telling me to forbear. + +A hundred times have I thus followed my genius, and occasionally I have +felt inclined to complain that it did not impel me to act against my +reason more frequently. Whenever I did so I found that impulse was right +and reason wrong, and for all that I have still continued reasoning. + +When I arrived at Senegallia, at three stages from Ancona, my vetturino +asked me, just as I was going to bed, whether I would allow him to +accommodate a Jew who was going to Ancona in the chaise. + +My first impulse made me answer sharply that I wanted no one in my +chaise, much less a Jew. + +The vetturino went out, but a voice said within me, "You must take this' +poor Israelite;" and in spite of my repugnance I called back the man and +signified my assent. + +"Then you must make up your mind to start at an earlier hour, for it is +Friday to-morrow, and you know the Jews are not allowed to travel after +sunset." + +"I shall not start a moment earlier than I intended, but you can make +your horses travel as quickly as you like." + +He gave me no answer, and went out. The next morning I found my Jew, an +honest-looking fellow, in the carriage. The first thing he asked me was +why I did not like Jews. + +"Because your religion teaches you to hate men of all other religions, +especially Christians, and you think you have done a meritorious action +when you have deceived us. You do not look upon us as brothers. You are +usurious, unmerciful, our enemies, and so I do not like you." + +"You are mistaken, sir. Come with me to our synagogue this evening, and +you will hear us pray for all Christians, beginning with our Lord the +Pope." + +I could not help bursting into a roar of laughter. + +"True," I replied, "but the prayer comes from the mouth only, and not +from the heart. If you do not immediately confess that the Jews would +not pray for the Christians if they were the masters, I will fling you +out of the chaise." + +Of course I did not carry out this threat, but I completed his confusion +by quoting in Hebrew the passages in the Old Testament, where the Jews +are bidden to do all possible harm to the Gentiles, whom they were to +curse every day. + +After this the poor man said no more. When we were going to take our +dinner I asked him to sit beside me, but he said his religion would not +allow him to do so, and that he would only eat eggs, fruit, and some +foiegras sausage he had in his pocket. He only drank water because he +was not sure that the wine was unadulterated. + +"You stupid fellow," I exclaimed, "how can you ever be certain of the +purity of wine unless you have made it yourself?" + +When we were on our way again he said that if I liked to come and stay +with him, and to content myself with such dishes as God had not +forbidden, he would make me more comfortable than if I went to the inn, +and at a cheaper rate. + +"Then you let lodgings to Christians?" + +"I don't let lodgings to anybody, but I will make an exception in your +case to disabuse you of some of your mistaken notions. I will only ask +you six pauls a day, and give you two good meals without wine." + +"Then you must give me fish and wine, I paying for them as extras." + +"Certainly; I have a Christian cook, and my wife pays a good deal of +attention to the cooking." + +"You can give me the foie gras every day, if you will eat it with me." + +"I know what you think, but you shall be satisfied." + +I got down at the Jew's house, wondering at myself as I did so. However, +I knew that if I did not like my accommodation I could leave the next +day. + +His wife and children were waiting for him, and gave him a joyful welcome +in honour of the Sabbath. All servile work was forbidden on this day +holy to the Lord; and all over the house, and in the face of all the +family, I observed a kind of festal air. + +I was welcomed like a brother, and I replied as best I could; but a word +from Mardocheus (so he was called) changed their politeness of feeling +into a politeness of interest. + +Mardocheus shewed me two rooms for me to choose the one which suited me, +but liking them both I said I would take the two for another paul a day, +with which arrangement he was well enough pleased. + +Mardocheus told his wife what we had settled, and she instructed the +Christian servant to cook my supper for me. + +I had my effects taken upstairs, and then went with Mardocheus to the +synagogue. + +During the short service the Jews paid no attention to me or to several +other Christians who were present. The Jews go to the synagogue to pray, +and in this respect I think their conduct worthy of imitation by the +Christians. + +On leaving the synagogue I went by myself to the Exchange, thinking over +the happy time which would never return. + +It was in Ancona that I had begun to enjoy life; and when I thought it +over, it was quite a shock to find that this was thirty years ago, for +thirty years is a long period in a man's life. And yet I felt quite +happy, in spite of the tenth lustrum so near at hand for me. + +What a difference I found between my youth and my middle age! I could +scarcely recognize myself. I was then happy, but now unhappy; then all +the world was before me, and the future seemed a gorgeous dream, and now +I was obliged to confess that my life had been all in vain. I might live +twenty years more, but I felt that the happy time was passed away, and +the future seemed all dreary. + +I reckoned up my forty-seven years, and saw fortune fly away. This in +itself was enough to sadden me, for without the favours of the fickle +goddess life was not worth living, for me at all events. + +My object, then, was to return to my country; it was as if I struggled to +undo all that I had done. All I could hope for was to soften the +hardships of the slow but certain passage to the grave. + +These are the thoughts of declining years and not of youth. The young +man looks only to the present, believes that the sky will always smile +upon him, and laughs at philosophy as it vainly preaches of old age, +misery, repentance, and, worst of all, abhorred death. + +Such were my thoughts twenty-six years ago; what must they be now, when I +am all alone, poor, despised, and impotent. They would kill me if I did +not resolutely subdue them, for whether for good or ill my heart is still +young. Of what use are desires when one can no longer satisfy them? I +write to kill ennui, and I take a pleasure in writing. Whether I write +sense or nonsense, what matters? I am amused, and that is enough. + + 'Malo scriptor delirus, inersque videri, + Dum mea delectent mala me vel denique fallunt, + Quam sapere.' + +When I came back I found Mardocheus at supper with his numerous family, +composed of eleven or twelve individuals, and including his mother--an +old woman of ninety, who looked very well. I noticed another Jew of +middle age; he was the husband of his eldest daughter, who did not strike +me as pretty; but the younger daughter, who was destined for a Jew of +Pesaro, whom she had never seen, engaged all my attention. I remarked to +her that if she had not seen her future husband she could not be in love +with him, whereupon she replied in a serious voice that it was not +necessary to be in love before one married. The old woman praised the +girl for this sentiment, and said she had not been in love with her +husband till the first child was born. + +I shall call the pretty Jewess Leah, as I have good reasons for not using +her real name. + +While they were enjoying their meal I sat down beside her and tried to +make myself as agreeable as possible, but she would not even look at me. + +My supper was excellent, and my bed very comfortable. + +The next day my landlord told me that I could give my linen to the maid, +and that Leah could get it up for me. + +I told him I had relished my supper, but that I should like the foie gras +every day as I had a dispensation. + +"You shall have some to-morrow, but Leah is the only one of us who eats +it." + +"Then Leah must take it with me, and you can tell her that I shall give +her some Cyprus wine which is perfectly pure." + +I had no wine, but I went for it the same morning to the Venetian consul, +giving him M. Dandolo's letter. + +The consul was a Venetian of the old leaven. He had heard my name, and +seemed delighted to make my acquaintance. He was a kind of clown without +the paint, fond of a joke, a regular gourmand, and a man of great +experience. He sold me some Scopolo and old Cyprus Muscat, but he began +to exclaim when he heard where I was lodging, and how I had come there. + +"He is rich," he said, "but he is also a great usurer, and if you borrow +money of him he will make you repent it." + +After informing the consul that I should not leave till the end of the +month, I went home to dinner, which proved excellent. + +The next day I gave out my linen to the maid, and Leah came to ask me how +I liked my lace got up. + +If Leah had examined me more closely she would have seen that the sight +of her magnificent breast, unprotected by any kerchief, had had a +remarkable effect on me. + +I told her that I left it all to her, and that she could do what she +liked with the linen. + +"Then it will all come under my hands if you are in no hurry to go." + +"You can make me stay as long as you like," said I; but she seemed not to +hear this declaration. + +"Everything is quite right," I continued, "except the chocolate; I like +it well frothed." + +"Then I will make it for you myself." + +"Then I will give out a double quantity, and we will take it together." + +"I don't like chocolate." + +"I am sorry to hear that; but you like foie gras?" + +"Yes, I do; and from what father tells me I am going to take some with +you to-day." + +"I shall be delighted." + +"I suppose you are afraid of being poisoned?" + +"Not at all; I only wish we could die together." + +She pretended not to understand, and left me burning with desire. I felt +that I must either obtain possession of her or tell her father not to +send her into my room any more. + +The Turin Jewess had given me some valuable hints as to the conduct of +amours with Jewish girls. + +My theory was that Leah would be more easily won than she, for at Ancona +there was much more liberty than at Turin. + +This was a rake's reasoning, but even rakes are mistaken sometimes. + +The dinner that was served to me was very good, though cooked in the +Jewish style, and Leah brought in the foie gras and sat down opposite to +me with a muslin kerchief over her breast. + +The foie gras was excellent, and we washed it down with copious libations +of Scopolo, which Leah found very much to her taste. + +When the foie gras was finished she got up, but I stopped her, for the +dinner was only half over. + +"I will stay then," said she, "but I am afraid my father will object." + +"Very good. Call your master," I said to the maid who came in at that +moment, "I have a word to speak to him." + +"My dear Mardocheus," I said when he came, "your daughter's appetite +doubles mine, and I shall be much obliged if you will allow her to keep +me company whenever we have foie gras." + +"It isn't to my profit to double your appetite, but if you like to pay +double I shall have no objection." + +"Very good, that arrangement will suit me." + +In evidence of my satisfaction I gave him a bottle of Scopolo, which Leah +guaranteed pure. + +We dined together, and seeing that the wine was making her mirthful I +told her that her eyes were inflaming me and that she must let me kiss +them. + +"My duty obliges me to say nay. No kissing and no touching; we have only +got to eat and drink together, and I shall like it as much as you." + +"You are cruel." + +"I am wholly dependent on my father." + +"Shall I ask your father to give you leave to be kind?" + +"I don't think that would be proper, and my father might be offended and +not allow me to see you any more." + +"And supposing he told you not to be scrupulous about trifles?" + +"Then I should despise him and continue to do my duty." + +So clear a declaration shewed me that if I persevered in this intrigue I +might go on for ever without success. I also bethought me that I ran a +risk of neglecting my chief business, which would not allow me to stay +long in Ancona. + +I said nothing more to Leah just then, and when the dessert came in I +gave her some Cyprus wine, which she declared was the most delicious +nectar she had ever tasted. + +I saw that the wine was heating her, and it seemed incredible to me that +Bacchus should reign without Venus; but she had a hard head, her blood +was hot and her brain cool. + +However, I tried to seize her hand and kiss it, but she drew it away, +saying pleasantly,-- + +"It's too much for honour and too little for love." + +This witty remark amused me, and it also let me know that she was not +exactly a neophyte. + +I determined to postpone matters till the next day, and told her not to +get me any supper as I was supping with the Venetian consul. + +The consul had told me that he did not dine, but that he would always be +delighted to see me at supper. + +It was midnight when I came home, and everyone was asleep except the maid +who let me in. I gave her such a gratuity that she must have wished me +to keep late hours for the rest of my stay. + +I proceeded to sound her about Leah, but she told me nothing but good. +If she was to be believed, Leah was a good girl, always at work, loved by +all, and fancy free. The maid could not have praised her better if she +had been paid to do so. + +In the morning Leah brought the chocolate and sat down on my bed, saying +that we should have some fine foie gras, and that she should have all the +better appetite for dinner as she had not taken any supper. + +"Why didn't you take any supper?" + +"I suppose it was because of your excellent Cyprus wine, to which my +father has taken a great liking." + +"Ah! he like it? We will give him some." + +Leah was in a state of undress as before, and the sight of her half- +covered spheres drove me to distraction. + +"Are you not aware that you have a beautiful breast?" said I. + +"I thought all young girls were just the same." + +"Have you no suspicion that the sight is a very pleasant one for me?" + +"If that be so, I am very glad, for I have nothing to be ashamed of, for +a girl has no call to hide her throat any more than her face, unless she +is in grand company." + +As she was speaking, Leah looked at a golden heart transfixed with an +arrow and set with small diamonds which served me as a shirt stud. + +"Do you like the little heart?" said I. + +"Very much. Is it pure gold?" + +"Certainly, and that being so I think I may offer it to you." + +So saying I took it off, but she thanked me politely, and said that a +girl who gave nothing must take nothing. + +"Take it; I will never ask any favour of you." + +"But I should be indebted to you, and that's the reason why I never take +anything." + +I saw that there was nothing to be done, or rather that it would be +necessary to do too much to do anything, and that in any case the best +plan would be to give her up. + +I put aside all thoughts of violence, which would only anger her or make +her laugh at me. I should either have been degraded, or rendered more +amorous, and all for nothing. If she had taken offense she would not +have come to see me any more, and I should have had nought to complain +of. In fine I made up my mind to restrain myself, and indulge no more in +amorous talk. + +We dined very pleasantly together. The servant brought in some shell- +fish, which are forbidden by the Mosaic Law. While the maid was in the +room I asked Leah to take some, and she refused indignantly; but directly +the girl was gone she took some of her own accord and ate them eagerly, +assuring me that it was the first time she had had the pleasure of +tasting shellfish. + +"This girl," I said to myself, "who breaks the law of her religion with +such levity, who likes pleasure and does not conceal it, this is the girl +who wants to make me believe that she is insensible to the pleasures of +love; that's impossible, though she may not love me. She must have some +secret means of satisfying her passions, which in my opinion are very +violent. We will see what can be done this evening with the help of a +bottle of good Muscat." + +However, when the evening came, she said she could not drink or eat +anything, as a meal always prevented her sleeping. + +The next day she brought me my chocolate, but her beautiful breast was +covered with a white kerchief. She sat down on the bed as usual, and I +observed in a melancholy manner that she had only covered her breast +because I had said I took a pleasure in seeing it. + +She replied that she had not thought of anything, and had only put on her +kerchief because she had had no time to fasten her stays. + +"You are whole right," I said, smilingly, "for if I were to see the whole +breast I might not think it beautiful." + +She gave no answer, and I finished my chocolate. + +I recollected my collection of obscene pictures, and I begged Leah to +give me the box, telling her that I would shew her some of the most +beautiful breasts in the world. + +"I shan't care to see them," said she; but she gave me the box, and sat +down on my bed as before. + +I took out a picture of a naked woman lying on her back and abusing +herself, and covering up the lower part of it I shewed it to Leah. + +"But her breast is like any other," said Leah. + +"Take away your handkerchief." + +"Take it back; it's disgusting. It's well enough done," she added, with +a burst of laughter, "but it's no novelty for me." + +"No novelty for you?" + +"Of course not; every girl does like that before she gets married." + +"Then you do it, too?" + +"Whenever I want to." + +"Do it now." + +"A well-bred girl always does it in private." + +"And what do you do after?" + +"If I am in bed I go to sleep." + +"My dear Leah, your sincerity is too much for me. Either be kind or +visit me no more." + +"You are very weak, I think." + +"Yes, because I am strong." + +"Then henceforth we shall only meet at dinner. But chew me some more +miniatures." + +"I have some pictures which you will not like." + +"Let me see them." + +I gave her Arentin's figures, and was astonished to see how coolly she +examined them, passing from one to the other in the most commonplace way. + +"Do you think them interesting?" I said. + +"Yes, very; they are so natural. But a good girl should not look at such +pictures; anyone must be aware that these voluptuous attitudes excite +one's emotions." + +"I believe you, Leah, and I feel it as much as you. Look here!" + +She smiled and took the book away to the window, turning her back towards +me without taking any notice of my appeal. + +I had to cool down and dress myself, and when the hairdresser arrived +Leah went away, saying she would return me my book at dinner. + +I was delighted, thinking I was sure of victory either that day or the +next, but I was out of my reckoning. + +We dined well and drank better. At dessert Leah took the book out of her +pocket and set me all on fire by asking me to explain some of the +pictures but forbidding all practical demonstration. + +I went out impatiently, determined to wait till next morning. + +When the cruel Jewess came in the morning she told me that she wanted +explanations, but that I must use the pictures and nothing more as a +demonstration of my remarks. + +"Certainly," I replied, "but you must answer all my questions as to your +sex." + +"I promise to do so, if they arise naturally from the pictures." + +The lesson lasted two hours, and a hundred times did I curse Aretin and +my folly in shewing her his designs, for whenever I made the slightest +attempt the pitiless woman threatened to leave me. But the information +she gave me about her own sex was a perfect torment to me. She told me +the most lascivious details, and explained with the utmost minuteness the +different external and internal movements which would be developed in the +copulations pictured by Aretin. I thought it quite impossible that she +could be reasoning from theory alone. She was not troubled by the +slightest tincture of modesty, but philosophized on coition as coolly and +much more learnedly than Hedvig. I would willingly have given her all I +possessed to crown her science by the performance of the great work. She +swore it was all pure theory with her, and I thought she must be speaking +the truth when she said she wanted to get married to see if her notions +were right or wrong. She looked pensive when I told her that the husband +destined for her might be unable to discharge his connubial duties more +than once a week. + +"Do you mean to say," said she, "that one man is not as good as another?" + +"How do you mean?" + +"Are not all men able to make love every day, and every hour, just as +they eat, drink and sleep every day?" + +"No, dear Leah, they that can make love every day are very scarce." + +In my state of chronic irritation I felt much annoyed that there was no +decent place at Ancona where a man might appease his passions for his +money. I trembled to think that I was in danger of falling really in +love with Leah, and I told the consul every day that I was in no hurry to +go. I was as foolish as a boy in his calf-love. I pictured Leah as the +purest of women, for with strong passions she refused to gratify them. +I saw in her a model of virtue; she was all self-restraint and purity, +resisting temptation in spite of the fire that consumed her. + +Before long the reader will discover how very virtuous Leah was. + +After nine or ten days I had recourse to violence, not in deeds but in +words. She confessed I was in the right, and said my best plan would be +to forbid her to come and see me in the morning. At dinner, according to +her, there would be no risk. + +I made up my mind to ask her to continue her visits, but to cover her +breast and avoid all amorous conversation. + +"With all my heart," she replied, laughing; "but be sure I shall not be +the first to break the conditions." + +I felt no inclination to break them either, for three days later I felt +weary of the situation, and told the consul I would start on the first +opportunity. My passion for Leah was spoiling my appetite, and I thus +saw myself deprived of my secondary pleasure without any prospect of +gaining my primary enjoyment. + +After what I had said to the consul I felt I should be bound to go, and I +went to bed calmly enough. But about two o'clock in the morning I had, +contrary to my usual habit, to get up and offer sacrifice to Cloacina. I +left my room without any candle, as I knew my way well enough about the +house. + +The temple of the goddess was on the ground floor, but as I had put on my +soft slippers, and walked very softly, my footsteps did not make the +least noise. + +On my way upstairs I saw a light shining through a chink in the door of a +room which I knew to be unoccupied. I crept softly up, not dreaming for +a moment that Leah could be there at such an hour. But on putting my eye +to the chink I found I could see a bed, and on it were Leah and a young +man, both stark naked, and occupied in working out Aretin's postures to +the best of their ability. They were whispering to one another, and +every four or five minutes I had the pleasure of seeing a new posture. +These changes of position gave me a view of all the beauties of Leah, and +this pleasure was something to set against my rage in having taken such a +profligate creature for a virtuous woman. + +Every time they approached the completion of the great work they stopped +short, and completed what they were doing with their hands. + +When they were doing the Straight Tree, to my mind the most lascivious of +them all, Leah behaved like a true Lesbian; for while the young man +excited her amorous fury she got hold of his instrument and took it +between her lips till the work was complete. I could not doubt that she +had swallowed the vital fluid of my fortunate rival. + +The Adonis then shewed her the feeble instrument, and Leah seemed to +regret what she had done. Before long she began to excite him again; but +the fellow looked at his watch, pushed her away, and began to put on his +shirt. + +Leah seemed angry, and I could see that she reproached him for some time +before she began to dress. + +When they were nearly clothed I softly returned to my room and looked out +of a window commanding the house-door. I had not to wait long before I +saw the fortunate lover going out. + +I went to bed indignant with Leah; I felt myself degraded. She was no +longer virtuous, but a villainous prostitute in my eyes; and I fell to +sleep with the firm resolve of driving her from my room the next morning, +after shaming her with the story of the scene I had witnessed. But, +alas, hasty and angry resolves can seldom withstand a few hours' sleep. +As soon as I saw Leah coming in with my chocolate, smiling and gay as +usual, I told her quite coolly all the exploits I had seen her executing, +laying particular stress on the Straight Tree, and the curious liquid she +had swallowed. I ended by saying that I hoped she would give me the next +night, both to crown my love and insure my secrecy. + +She answered with perfect calm that I had nothing to expect from her as +she did not love me, and as for keeping the secret she defied me to +disclose it. + +"I am sure you would not be guilty of such a disgraceful action," said +she. + +With these words she turned her back on me and went out. + +I could not help confessing to myself that she was in the right; I could +not bring myself to commit such a baseness. She had made me reasonable +in a few words: + +"I don't love you." There was no reply to this, and I felt I had no +claim on her. + +Rather it was she who might complain of me; what right had I to spy over +her? I could not accuse her of deceiving me; she was free to do what she +liked with herself. My best course was clearly to be silent. + +I dressed myself hastily, and went to the Exchange, where I heard that a +vessel was sailing for Fiume the same day. + +Fiume is just opposite Ancona on the other side of the gulf. From Fiume +to Trieste the distance is forty miles, and I decided to go by that +route. + +I went aboard the ship and took the best place, said good-bye to the +consul, paid Mardocheus, and packed my trunks. + +Leah heard that I was going the same day, and came and told me that she +could not give me back my lace and my silk stockings that day, but that I +could have them by the next day. + +"Your father," I replied coolly, "will hand them all over to the Venetian +consul, who will send them to me at Trieste." + +Just as I was sitting down to dinner, the captain of the boat came for my +luggage with a sailor. I told him he could have my trunk, and that I +would bring the rest aboard whenever he liked to go. + +"I intend setting out an hour before dusk." + +"I shall be ready." + +When Mardocheus heard where I was going he begged me to take charge of a +small box and a letter he wanted to send to a friend. + +"I shall be delighted to do you this small service." + +At dinner Leah sat down with me and chattered as usual, without troubling +herself about my monosyllabic answers. + +I supposed she wished me to credit her with calm confidence and +philosophy, while I looked upon it all as brazen impudence. + +I hated and despised her. She had inflamed my passions, told me to my +face she did not love me, and seemed to claim my respect through it all. +Possibly she expected me to be grateful for her remark that she believed +me incapable of betraying her to her father. + +As she drank my Scopolo she said there were several bottles left, as well +as some Muscat. + +"I make you a present of it all," I replied, "it will prime you up for +your nocturnal orgies." + +She smiled and said I had had a gratuitous sight of a spectacle which was +worth money, and that if I were not going so suddenly she would gladly +have given me another opportunity. + +This piece of impudence made me want to break the wine bottle on her +head. She must have known what I was going to do from the way I took it +up, but she did not waver for a moment. This coolness of hers prevented +my committing a crime. + +I contented myself with saying that she was the most impudent slut I had +ever met, and I poured the wine into my glass with a shaking hand, as if +that were the purpose for which I had taken up the bottle. + +After this scene I got up and went into the next room; nevertheless, in +half an hour she came to take coffee with me. + +This persistence of hers disgusted me, but I calmed myself by the +reflection that her conduct must be dictated by vengeance. + +"I should like to help you to pack," said she. + +"And I should like to be left alone," I replied; and taking her by the +arm I led her out of the room and locked the door after her. + +We were both of us in the right. Leah had deceived and humiliated me, +and I had reason to detest her, while I had discovered her for a monster +of hypocrisy and immodesty, and this was good cause for her to dislike +me. + +Towards evening two sailors came after the rest of the luggage, and +thanking my hostess I told Leah to put up my linen, and to give it to her +father, who had taken the box of which I was to be the bearer down to the +vessel. + +We set sail with a fair wind, and I thought never to set face on Leah +again. But fate had ordered otherwise. + +We had gone twenty miles with a good wind in our quarter, by which we +were borne gently from wave to wave, when all of a sudden there fell a +dead calm. + +These rapid changes are common enough in the Adriatic, especially in the +part we were in. + +The calm lasted but a short time, and a stiff wind from the west-north- +west began to blow, with the result that the sea became very rough, and I +was very ill. + +At midnight the storm had become dangerous. The captain told me that if +we persisted in going in the wind's eye we should be wrecked, and that +the only thing to be done was to return to Ancona. + +In less than three hours we made the harbour, and the officer of the +guard having recognized me kindly allowed me to land. + +While I was talking to the officer the sailors took my trunks, and +carried them to my old lodgings without waiting to ask my leave. + +I was vexed. I wanted to avoid Leah, and I had intended to sleep at the +nearest inn. However, there was no help for it. When I arrived the Jew +got up, and said he was delighted to see me again. + +It was past three o'clock in the morning, and I felt very ill, so I said +I would not get up till late, and that I would dine in my bed without any +foie gras. I slept ten hours, and when I awoke I felt hungry and rang my +bell. + +The maid answered and said that she would have the honour of waiting on +me, as Leah had a violent headache. + +I made no answer, thanking Providence for delivering me from this +impudent and dangerous woman. + +Having found my dinner rather spare I told the cook to get me a good +supper. + +The weather was dreadful. The Venetian consul had heard of my return, +and not having seen me concluded I was ill, and paid me a two hours' +visit. He assured me the storm would last for a week at least. I was +very sorry to hear it; in the first place, because I did not want to see +any more of Leah, and in the second, because I had not got any money. +Luckily I had got valuable effects, so this second consideration did not +trouble me much. + +As I did not see Leah at supper-time I imagined that she was feigning +illness to avoid meeting me, and I felt very much obliged to her on this +account. As it appeared, however, I was entirely mistaken in my +conjectures. + +The next day she came to ask for chocolate in her usual way, but she no +longer bore upon her features her old tranquillity of expression. + +"I will take coffee, mademoiselle," I observed; "and as I do not want +foie gras any longer, I will take dinner by myself. Consequently, you +may tell your father that I shall only pay seven pauls a day. In future +I shall only drink Orvieto wine." + +"You have still four bottles of Scopolo and Cyprus" + +"I never take back a present; the wine belongs to you. I shall be +obliged by your leaving me alone as much as possible, as your conduct is +enough to irritate Socrates, and I am not Socrates. Besides, the very +sight of you is disagreeable to me. Your body may be beautiful, but +knowing that the soul within is a monster it charms me no longer. You +may be very sure that the sailors brought my luggage here without my +orders, or else you would never have seen me here again, where I dread +being poisoned every day." + +Leah went out without giving me any answer, and I felt certain that after +my plain-spoken discourse she would take care not to trouble me again. + +Experience had taught me that girls like Leah are not uncommon. I had +known specimens at Spa, Genoa, London, and at Venice, but this Jewess was +the worst I had ever met. + +It was Saturday. When Mardocheus came back from the synagogue he asked +me gaily why I had mortified his daughter, as she had declared she had +done nothing to offend me. + +"I have not mortified her, my dear Mardocheus, or at all events, such was +not my intention; but as I have put myself on diet, I shall be eating no +more foie gras, and consequently I shall dine by myself, and save three +pauls a day." + +"Leah is quite ready to pay me out of her private purse, and she wants to +dine with you to assure you against being poisoned, as she informs me +that you have expressed that fear." + +"That was only a jest; I am perfectly aware that I am in the house of an +honest man. I don't want your daughter to pay for herself, and to prove +that I am not actuated by feelings of economy, you shall dine with me +too. To offer to pay for me is an impertinence on her part. In fine, I +will either dine by myself and pay you seven pawls a day, or I will pay +you thirteen, and have both father and daughter to dine with me." + +The worthy Mardocheus went away, saying that he really could not allow me +to dine by myself. + +At dinner-time I talked only to Mardocheus, without glancing at Leah or +paying any attention to the witty sallies she uttered to attract me. I +only drank Orvieto. + +At dessert Leah filled my glass with Scopolo, saying that if I did not +drink it neither would she. + +I replied, without looking at her, that I advised her only to drink water +for the future, and that I wanted nothing at her hands. + +Mardocheus, who liked wine, laughed and said I was right, and drank for +three. + +The weather continued bad, and I spent the rest of the day in writing, +and after supper I retired and went to sleep. + +Suddenly I was aroused by a slight noise. + +"Who is there?" said I. + +I heard Leah's voice, whispering in reply, + +"'Tis I; I have not come to disturb you, but to justify myself." + +So saying she lay down on the bed, but on the outside of the coverlet. + +I was pleased with this extraordinary visit, for my sole desire was for +vengeance, and I felt certain of being able to resist all her arts. I +therefore told her politely enough that I considered her as already +justified and that I should be obliged by her leaving me as I wanted to +go to sleep. + +"Not before you have heard what I have to say." + +"Go on; I am listening to you." + +Thereupon she began a discourse which I did not interrupt, and which +lasted for a good hour. + +She spoke very artfully, and after confessing she had done wrong she said +that at my age I should have been ready to overlook the follies of a +young and passionate girl. According to her it was all weakness, and +pardonable at such an age. + +"I swear I love you," said she, "and I would have given you good proof +before now if I had not been so unfortunate as to love the young +Christian you saw with me, while he does not care for me in the least; +indeed I have to pay him. + +"In spite of my passion," she continued, "I have never given him what a +girl can give but once. I had not seen him for six months, and it was +your fault that I sent for him, for you inflamed me with your pictures +and strong wines." + +The end of it all was that I ought to forget everything, and treat her +kindly during the few days I was to remain there. + +When she finished I did not allow myself to make any objection. I +pretended to be convinced, assuring her that I felt I had been in the +wrong in letting her see Aretin's figures, and that I would no longer +evince any resentment towards her. + +As her explanation did not seem likely to end in the way she wished, she +went on talking about the weakness of the flesh, the strength of self- +love which often hushes the voice of passion, etc., etc.; her aim being +to persuade me that she loved me, and that her refusals had all been +given with the idea of making my love the stronger. + +No doubt I might have given her a great many answers, but I said nothing. +I made up my mind to await the assault that I saw was impending, and then +by refusing all her advances I reckoned on abasing her to the uttermost. +Nevertheless, she made no motion; her hands were at rest, and she kept +her face at a due distance from mine. + +At last, tired out with the struggle, she left me pretending to be +perfectly satisfied with what she had done. + +As soon as she had gone, I congratulated myself on the fact that she had +confined herself to verbal persuasion; for if she had gone further she +would probably have achieved a complete victory, though we were in the +dark. + +I must mention that before she left me I had to promise to allow her to +make my chocolate as usual. + +Early the next morning she came for the stick of chocolate. She was in a +complete state of negligee, and came in on tiptoe, though if she chose to +look towards the bed she might have seen that I was wide awake. + +I marked her artifices and her cunning, and resolved to be equal to all +her wiles. When she brought the chocolate I noticed that there were two +cups on the tray, and I said,-- + +"Then it is not true that you don't like chocolate?" + +"I feel obliged to relieve you of all fear of being poisoned." + +I noticed that she was now dressed with the utmost decency, while half an +hour before she had only her chemise and petticoat her neck being +perfectly bare. The more resolved she seemed to gain the victory, the +more firmly I was determined to humiliate her, as it appeared to me the +only other alternative would have been my shame and dishonour; and this +turned me to stone. + +In spite of my resolves, Leah renewed the attack at dinner, for, contrary +to my orders, she served a magnificent foie gras, telling me that it was +for herself, and that if she were poisoned she would die of pleasure; +Mardocheus said he should like to die too, and began regaling himself on +it with evident relish. + +I could not help laughing, and announced my wish to taste the deadly +food, and so we all of us were eating it. + +"Your resolves are not strong enough to withstand seduction," said Leah. +This remark piqued me, and I answered that she was imprudent to disclose +her designs in such a manner, and that she would find my resolves strong +enough when the time came. + +A faint smile played about her lips. + +"Try if you like," I said, "to persuade me to drink some Scopolo or +Muscat. I meant to have taken some, but your taunt has turned me to +steel. I mean to prove that when I make up my mind I never alter it." + +"The strong-minded man never gives way," said Leah, "but the good-hearted +man often lets himself be overpersuaded." + +"Quite so, and the good-hearted girl refrains from taunting a man for his +weakness for her." + +I called the maid and told her to go to the Venetian consul's and get me +some more Scopolo and Muscat. Leah piqued me once more by saying +enthusiastically,-- + +"I am sure you are the most good-hearted of men as well as the firmest." +Mardocheus, who could not make out what we meant, ate, drank, and +laughed, and seemed pleased with everything. + +In the afternoon I went out to a cafe in spite of the dreadful weather. +I thought over Leah and her designs, feeling certain that she would pay +me another nocturnal visit and renew the assault in force. I resolved to +weaken myself with some common woman, if I could find one at all +supportable. + +A Greek who had taken me to a disgusting place a few days before, +conducted me to another where he introduced me to a painted horror of a +woman from whose very sight I fled in terror. + +I felt angry that in a town like Ancona a man of some delicacy could not +get his money's worth for his money, and went home, supped by myself, and +locked the door after me. + +The precaution, however, was useless. + +A few minutes after I had shut the door, Leah knocked on the pretext that +I had forgotten to give her the chocolate. + +I opened the door and gave it her, and she begged me not to lock myself +in, as she wanted to have an important and final interview. + +"You can tell me now what you want to say." + +"No, it will take some time, and I should not like to come till everyone +is asleep. You have nothing to be afraid of; you are lord of yourself. +You can go to bed in peace." + +"I have certainly nothing to be afraid of, and to prove it to you I will +leave the door open." + +I felt more than ever certain of victory, and resolved not to blow out +the candles, as my doing so might be interpreted into a confession of +fear. Besides, the light would render my triumph and her humiliation +more complete. With these thoughts I went to bed. + +At eleven o'clock a slight noise told me that my hour had come. I saw +Leah enter my room in her chemise and a light petticoat. She locked my +door softly, and when I cried, "Well; what do you want with me?" she let +her chemise and petticoat drop, and lay down beside me in a state of +nature. + +I was too much astonished to repulse her. + +Leah was sure of victory, and without a word she threw herself upon me, +pressing her lips to mine, and depriving me of all my faculties except +one. + +I utilised a short moment of reflection by concluding that I was a +presumtuous fool, and that Leah was a woman with a most extensive +knowledge of human nature. + +In a second my caress became as ardent as hers, and after kissing her +spheres of rose and alabaster I penetrated to the sanctuary of love, +which, much to my astonishment, I found to be a virgin citadel. + +There was a short silence, and then I said,-- + +"Dearest Leah, you oblige me to adore you; why did you first inspire me +with hate? Are you not come here merely to humiliate me, to obtain an +empty victory? If so, I forgive you; but you are in the wrong, for, +believe me, enjoyment is sweeter far than vengeance." + +"Nay, I have not come to achieve a shameful victory, but to give myself +to you without reserve, to render you my conqueror and my king. Prove +your love by making me happy, break down the barrier which I kept intact, +despite its fragility and my ardour, and if this sacrifice does not +convince you of my affection you must be the worst of men." + +I had never heard more energetic opinions, and I had never seen a more +voluptuous sight. I began the work, and while Leah aided me to the best +of her ability, I forced the gate, and on Leah's face I read the most +acute pain and pleasure mingled. In the first ecstasy of delight I felt +her tremble in every limb. + +As for me, my enjoyment was quite new; I was twenty again, but I had the +self-restraint of my age, and treated Leah with delicacy, holding her in +my arms till three o'clock in the morning. When I left her she was +inundated and exhausted with pleasure, while I could do no more. + +She left me full of gratitude, carrying the soaking linen away with her. +I slept on till twelve o'clock. + +When I awoke and saw her standing by my bedside with the gentle love of +the day after the wedding, the idea of my approaching departure saddened +me. I told her so, and she begged me to stay on as long as I could. I +repeated that we would arrange everything when we met again at night. + +We had a delicious dinner, for Mardocheus was bent on convincing me that +he was no miser. + +I spent the afternoon with the consul, and arranged that I should go on a +Neapolitan man-of-war which was in quarantine at the time, and was to +sail for Trieste. + +As I should be obliged to pass another month at Ancona, I blessed the +storm that had driven me back. + +I gave the consul the gold snuff-box with which the Elector of Cologne +had presented me, keeping the portrait as a memento. Three days later he +handed me forty gold sequins, which was ample for my needs. + +My stay in Ancona was costing me dear; but when I told Mardocheus that I +should not be going for another month he declared he would no longer feed +at my expense. Of course I did not insist. Leah still dined with me. + +It has always been my opinion, though perhaps I may be mistaken, that the +Jew was perfectly well aware of my relations with his daughter. Jews are +usually very liberal on this article, possibly because they count on the +child being an Israelite. + +I took care that my dear Leah should have no reason to repent of our +connection. How grateful and affectionate she was when I told her that I +meant to stay another month! How she blessed the bad weather which had +driven me back. We slept together every night, not excepting those +nights forbidden by the laws of Moses. + +I gave her the little gold heart, which might be worth ten sequins, but +that would be no reward for the care she had taken of my linen. She also +made me accept some splendid Indian handkerchiefs. Six years later I met +her again at Pesaro. + +I left Ancona on November 14th, and on the 15th I was at Trieste. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Pittoni--Zaguri--The Procurator Morosini--The Venetian Consul--Gorice-- +The French Consul--Madame Leo--My Devotion to The State Inquisitors-- +Strasoldo--Madame Cragnoline--General Burghausen + + +The landlord asked me my name, we made our agreement, and I found myself +very comfortably lodged. Next day I went to the post-office and found +several letters which had been awaiting me for the last month. I opened +one from M. Dandolo, and found an open enclosure from the patrician Marco +Dona, addressed to Baron Pittoni, Chief of Police. On reading it, I +found I was very warmly commended to the baron. I hastened to call on +him, and gave him the letter, which he took but did not read. He told me +that M. Donna had written to him about me, and that he would be delighted +to do anything in his power for me. + +I then took Mardocheus's letter to his friend Moses Levi. I had not the +slightest idea that the letter had any reference to myself, so I gave it +to the first clerk that I saw in the office. + +Levi was an honest and an agreeable man, and the next day he called on me +and offered me his services in the most cordial manner. He shewed me the +letter I had delivered, and I was delighted to find that it referred to +myself. The worthy Mardocheus begged him to give me a hundred sequins in +case I needed any money, adding that any politeness shewn to me would be +as if shewn to himself. + +This behaviour on the part of Mardocheus filled me with gratitude, and +reconciled me, so to speak, with the whole Jewish nation. I wrote him a +letter of thanks, offering to serve him at Venice in any way I could. + +I could not help comparing the cordiality of Levi's welcome with the +formal and ceremonious reception of Baron Pittoni. The baron was ten or +twelve years younger than I. He was a man of parts, and quite devoid of +prejudice. A sworn foe of 'meum and tuum', and wholly incapable of +economy, he left the whole care of his house to his valet, who robbed +him, but the baron knew it and made no objection. He was a determined +bachelor, a gallant, and the friend and patron of libertines. His chief +defect was his forgetfulness and absence of mind, which made him +mismanage important business. + +He was reputed, though wrongly, to be a liar. A liar is a person who +tells falsehoods intentionally, while if Pittoni told lies it was because +he had forgotten the truth. We became good friends in the course of a +month, and we have remained friends to this day. + +I wrote to my friends at Venice, announcing my arrival at Trieste, and +for the next ten days I kept my room, busied in putting together the +notes I had made on Polish events since the death of Elizabeth Petrovna. +I meant to write a history of the troubles of unhappy Poland up to its +dismemberment, which was taking place at the epoch in which I was +writing. + +I had foreseen all this when the Polish Diet recognized the dying czarina +as Empress of all the Russians, and the Elector of Brandenburg as King of +Prussia, and I proceeded with my history; but only the first three +volumes were published, owing to the printers breaking the agreement. + +The four last volumes will be found in manuscript after my death, and +anyone who likes may publish them. But I have become indifferent to all +this as to many other matters since I have seen Folly crowned king of the +earth. + +To-day there is no such country as Poland, but it might still be in +existence if it had not been for the ambition of the Czartoryski family, +whose pride had been humiliated by Count Bruhl, the prime minister. To +gain vengeance Prince Augustus Czartoryski ruined his country. He was so +blinded by passion that he forgot that all actions have their inevitable +results. + +Czartoryski had determined not only to exclude the House of Saxony from +the succession, but to dethrone the member of that family who was +reigning. To do this the help of the Czarina and of the Elector of +Brandenburg was necessary, so he made the Polish Diet acknowledge the one +as Empress of all the Russians, and the other as King of Prussia. The +two sovereigns would not treat with the Polish Commonwealth till this +claim had been satisfied; but the Commonwealth should never have granted +these titles, for Poland itself possessed most of the Russias, and was +the true sovereign of Prussia, the Elector of Brandenburg being only Duke +of Prussia in reality. + +Prince Czartoryski, blinded by the desire of vengeance, persuaded the +Diet that to give the two sovereigns these titles would be merely a form, +and that they would never become anything more than honorary. This might +be so, but if Poland had possessed far-seeing statesmen they would have +guessed that an honorary title would end in the usurpation of the whole +country. + +The Russian palatin had the pleasure of seeing his nephew Stanislas +Poniatowski on the throne. + +I myself told him that these titles gave a right, and that the promise +not to make any use of them was a mere delusion. I added jokingly--for +I was obliged to adopt a humorous tone--that before long Europe would +take pity on Poland, which had to bear the heavy weight of all the +Russias and the kingdom of Prussia as well, and the Commonwealth would +find itself relieved of all these charges. + +My prophecy has been fulfilled. The two princes whose titles were +allowed have torn Poland limb from limb; it is now absorbed in Russia and +Prussia. + +The second great mistake made by Poland was in not remembering the +apologue of the man and the horse when the question of protection +presented itself. + +The Republic of Rome became mistress of the world by protecting other +nations. + +Thus Poland came to ruin through ambition, vengeance, and folly--but +folly most of all. + +The same reason lay at the root of the French Revolution. Louis XVI. +paid the penalty of his folly with his life. If he had been a wise ruler +he would still be on the throne, and France would have escaped the fury +of the Revolutionists. France is sick; in any other country this +sickness might be remedied, but I would not wonder if it proved incurable +in France. + +Certain emotional persons are moved to pity by the emigrant French +nobles, but for my part I think them only worthy of contempt. Instead of +parading their pride and their disgrace before the eyes of foreign +nations, they should have rallied round their king, and either have saved +the throne or died under its ruins. What will become of France? It was +hard to say; but it is certain that a body without a head cannot live +very long, for reason is situate in the head. + +On December 1st Baron Pittoni begged me to call on him as some one had +come from Venice on purpose to see me. + +I dressed myself hastily, and went to the baron's, where I saw a fine- +looking man of thirty-five or forty, elegantly dressed. He looked at me +with the liveliest interest. + +"My heart tells me," I began, "that your excellence's name is Zaguri?" + +"Exactly so, my dear Casanova. As soon as my friend Dandolo told me of +your arrival here, I determined to come and congratulate you on your +approaching recall, which will take place either this year or the next, +as I hope to see two friends of mine made Inquisitors. You may judge of +my friendship for you when I tell you that I am an 'avogador', and that +there is a law forbidding such to leave Venice. We will spend to-day and +to-morrow together." + +I replied in a manner to convince him that I was sensible of the honour +he had done me; and I heard Baron Pittoni begging me to excuse him for +not having come to see me. He said he had forgotten all about it, and a +handsome old man begged his excellence to ask me to dine with him, though +he had not the pleasure of knowing me. + +"What!" said Zaguri. "Casanova has been here for the last ten days, and +does not know the Venetian consul?" + +I hastened to speak. + +"It's my own fault," I observed, "I did not like calling on this +gentleman, for fear he might think me contraband." + +The consul answered wittily that I was not contraband but in quarantine, +pending my return to my native land; and that in the meanwhile his house +would always be open to me, as had been the house of the Venetian consul +at Ancona. + +In this manner he let me know that he knew something about me, and I was +not at all sorry for it. + +Marco Monti, such was the consul's name, was a man of parts and much +experience; a pleasant companion and a great conversationalist, fond of +telling amusing stories with a grave face--in fact, most excellent +company. + +I was something of a 'conteur' myself, and we soon became friendly rivals +in telling anecdotes. In spite of his thirty additional years I was a +tolerable match for him, and when we were in a room there was no question +of gaining to kill the time. + +We became fast friends, and I benefited a good deal by his offices during +the two years I spent in Trieste, and I have always thought that he had a +considerable share in obtaining my recall. That was my great object in +those days; I was a victim to nostalgia, or home sickness. + +With the Swiss and the Sclavs it is really a fatal disease, which carries +them off if they are not sent home immediately. Germans are subject to +this weakness also; whilst the French suffer very little, and Italians +not much more from the complaint. + +No rule, however, lacks its exception, and I was one. I daresay I should +have got over my nostalgia if I had treated it with contempt, and then I +should not have wasted ten years of my life in the bosom of my cruel +stepmother Venice. + +I dined with M. Zaguri at the consul's, and I was invited to dine with +the governor, Count Auersperg, the next day. + +The visit from a Venetian 'avogador' made me a person of great +consideration. I was no longer looked upon as an exile, but as one who +had successfully escaped from illegal confinement. + +The day after I accompanied M. Zaguri to Gorice, where he stayed three +days to enjoy the hospitality of the nobility. I was included in all +their invitations, and I saw that a stranger could live very pleasantly +at Gorice. + +I met there a certain Count Cobenzl, who may be alive now--a man of +wisdom, generosity, and the vastest learning, and yet without any kind of +pretention. He gave a State dinner to M. Zaguri, and I had the pleasure +of meeting there three or four most charming ladies. I also met Count +Tomes, a Spaniard whose father was in in the Austrian service. He had +married at sixty, and had five children all as ugly as himself. His +daughter was a charming girl in spite of her plainness; she evidently got +her character from the mother's side. The eldest son, who was ugly and +squinted, was a kind of pleasant madman, but he was also a liar, a +profligate, a boaster, and totally devoid of discretion. In spite of +these defects he was much sought after in society as he told a good tale +and made people laugh. If he had been a student, he would have been a +distinguished scholar, as his memory was prodigious. He it was who +vainly guaranteed the agreement I made with Valerio Valeri for printing +my "History of Poland." I also met at Gorice a Count Coronini, who was +known in learned circles as the author of some Latin treatises on +diplomacy. Nobody read his books, but everybody agreed that he was a +very learned man. + +I also met a young man named Morelli, who had written a history of the +place and was on the point of publishing the first volume. He gave me +his MS. begging me to make any corrections that struck me as desirable. +I succeeded in pleasing him, as I gave him back his work without a single +note or alteration of any kind, and thus he became my friend. + +I became a great friend of Count Francis Charles Coronini, who was a man +of talents. He had married a Belgian lady, but not being able to agree +they had separated and he passed his time in trifling intrigues, hunting, +and reading the papers, literary and political. He laughed at those +sages who declared that there was not one really happy person in the +world, and he supported his denial by the unanswerable dictum: + +"I myself am perfectly happy." + +However, as he died of a tumor in the head at the age of thirty-five, he +probably acknowledged his mistake in the agonies of death. + +There is no such thing as a perfectly happy or perfectly unhappy man in +the world. One has more happiness in his life and another more +unhappiness, and the same circumstance may produce widely different +effects on individuals of different temperaments. + +It is not a fact that virtue ensures happiness for the exercise of some +virtues implies suffering, and suffering is incompatible with happiness. + +My readers may be aware that I am not inclined to make mental pleasure +pre-eminent and all sufficing. It may be a fine thing to have a clear +conscience, but I cannot see that it would at all relieve the pangs of +hunger. + +Baron Pittoni and myself escorted Zaguri to the Venetian border, and we +then returned to Trieste together. + +In three or four days Pittoni took me everywhere, including the club +where none but persons of distinction were admitted. This club was held +at the inn where I was staying. + +Amongst the ladies, the most noteworthy was the wife of the merchant, +David Riguelin, who was a Swabian by birth. + +Pittoni was in love with her and continued so till her death. His suit +lasted for twelve years, and like Petrarch, he still sighed, still hoped, +but never succeeded. Her name was Zanetta, and besides her beauty she +had the charm of being an exquisite singer and a polished hostess. Still +more noteworthy, however, was the unvarying sweetness and equability of +her disposition. + +I did not want to know her long before recognizing that she was +absolutely impregnable. I told Pittoni so, but all in vain; he still fed +on empty hope. + +Zanetta had very poor health, though no one would have judged so from her +appearance, but it was well known to be the case. She died at an early +age. + +A few days after M. Zaguri's departure, I had a note from the consul +informing me that the Procurator Morosini was stopping in my inn, and +advising me to call on him if I knew him. + +I was infinitely obliged for this advice, for M. Morosini was a +personage of the greatest importance. He had known me from childhood, +and the reader may remember that he had presented me to Marshal +Richelieu, at Fontainebleau, in 1750. + +I dressed myself as if I had been about to speak to a monarch, and sent +in a note to his room. + +I had not long to wait; he came out and welcomed me most graciously, +telling me how delighted he was to see me again. + +When he heard the reason of my being at Trieste, and how I desired to +return to my country, he assured me he would do all in his power to +obtain me my wish. He thanked me for the care I had taken of his nephew +at Florence, and kept me all the day while I told him my principal +adventures. + +He was glad to hear that M. Zaguri was working for me, and said that they +must concert the mater together. He commended me warmly to the consul, +who was delighted to be able to inform the Tribunal of the consideration +with which M. Morosini treated me. + +After the procurator had gone I began to enjoy life at Trieste, but in +strict moderation and with due regard for economy, for I had only fifteen +sequins a month. I abjured play altogether. + +Every day I dined with one of the circle of my friends, who were the +Venetian consul, the French consul (an eccentric but worthy man who kept +a good cook), Pittoni, who kept an excellent table, thanks to his man who +knew what was to his own interests, and several others. + +As for the pleasures of love I enjoyed them in moderation, taking care of +my purse and of my health. + +Towards the end of the carnival I went to a masked ball at the theatre, +and in the course of the evening a harlequin came up and presented his +columbine to me. They both began to play tricks on me. I was pleased +with the columbine, and felt a strong desire to be acquainted with her. +After some vain researches the French consul, M. de St. Sauveur, told me +that the harlequin was a young lady of rank, and that the columbine was a +handsome young man. + +"If you like," he added, "I will introduce you to the harlequin's family, +and I am sure you will appreciate her charms when you see her as a girl." + +As they persisted in their jokes I was able, without wounding decency +overmuch, to convince myself that the consul was right on the question of +sex; and when the ball was over I said I should be obliged by his +introducing me as he had promised. He promised to do so the day after +Ash Wednesday. + +Thus I made the acquaintance of Madame Leo, who was still pretty and +agreeable, though she had lived very freely in her younger days. There +was her husband, a son, and six daughters, all handsome, but especially +the harlequin with whom I was much taken. Naturally I fell in love with +her, but as I was her senior by thirty years, and had begun my addresses +in a tone of fatherly affection, a feeling of shame prevented my +disclosing to her the real state of my heart. Four years later she told +me herself that she had guessed my real feelings, and had been amused by +my foolish restraint. + +A young girl learns deeper lessons from nature than we men can acquire +with all our experience. + +At the Easter of 1773 Count Auersperg, the Governor of Trieste, was +recalled to Vienna, and Count Wagensberg took his place. His eldest +daughter, the Countess Lantieri, who was a great beauty, inspired me with +a passion which would have made me unhappy if I had not succeeded in +hiding it under a veil of the profoundest respect. + +I celebrated the accession of the new governor by some verses which I had +printed, and in which, while lauding the father, I paid conspicuous +homage to the charms of the daughter. + +My tribute pleased them, and I became an intimate friend of the count's. +He placed confidence in me with the idea of my using it to my own +advantage, for though he did not say so openly I divined his intention. + +The Venetian consul had told me that he had been vainly endeavouring for +the last four years to get the Government of Trieste to arrange for the +weekly diligence from Trieste to Mestre to pass by Udine, the capital of +the Venetian Friuli. + +"This alteration," he had said, "would greatly benefit the commerce of +the two states; but the Municipal Council of Trieste opposes it for a +plausible but ridiculous reason." + +These councillors, in the depth of their wisdom, said that if the +Venetian Republic desired the alteration it would evidently be to their +advantage, and consequently to the disadvantage of Trieste. + +The consul assured me that if I could in any way obtain the concession it +would weigh strongly in my favour with the State Inquisitors, and even in +the event of my non-success he would represent my exertions in the most +favourable light. + +I promised I would think the matter over. + +Finding myself high in the governor's favour, I took the opportunity of +addressing myself to him on the subject. He had heard about the matter, +and thought the objection of the Town Council absurd and even monstrous; +but he professed his inability to do anything himself. + +"Councillor Rizzi," said he, "is the most obstinate of them all, and has +led astray the rest with his sophisms. But do you send me in a +memorandum shewing that the alteration will have a much better effect on +the large commerce of Trieste than on the comparatively trifling trade of +Udine. I shall send it into the Council without disclosing the +authorship, but backing it with my authority, and challenging the +opposition to refute your arguments. Finally, if they do not decide +reasonably I shall proclaim before them all my intention to send the +memoir to Vienna with my opinion on it." + +I felt confident of success, and wrote out a memoir full of +incontrovertible reasons in favour of the proposed change. + +My arguments gained the victory; the Council were persuaded, and Count +Wagensberg handed me the decree, which I immediately laid before the +Venetian consul. Following his advice, I wrote to the secretary of the +Tribunal to the effect that I was happy to have given the Government a +proof of my zeal, and an earnest of my desire to be useful to my country +and to be worthy of being recalled. + +Out of regard for me the count delayed the promulgation of the decree for +a week, so that the people of Udine heard the news from Venice before it +had reached Trieste, and everybody thought that the Venetian Government +had achieved its ends by bribery. The secretary of the Tribunal did not +answer my letter, but he wrote to the consul ordering him to give me a +hundred ducats, and to inform me that this present was to encourage me to +serve the Republic. He added that I might hope great things from the +mercy of the Inquisitors if I succeeded in negotiating the Armenian +difficulty. + +The consul gave me the requisite information, and my impression was that +my efforts would be in vain; however, I resolved to make the attempt. + +Four Armenian monks had left the Convent of St. Lazarus at Venice, having +found the abbot's tyranny unbearable. They had wealthy relations at +Constantinople, and laughed the excommunication of their late tyrant to +scorn. They sought asylum at Vienna, promising to make themselves useful +to the State by establishing an Armenian press to furnish all the +Armenian convents with books. They engaged to sink a capital of a +million florins if they were allowed to settle in Austria, to found their +press, and to buy or build a convent, where they proposed to live in +community but without any abbot. + +As might be expected the Austrian Government did not hesitate to grant +their request; it did more, it gave them special privileges. + +The effect of this arrangement would be to deprive Venice of a lucrative +trade, and to place it in the emperor's dominions. Consequently the +Viennese Court sent them to Trieste with a strong recommendation to the +governor, and they had been there for the past six months. + +The Venetian Government, of course, wished to entice them back to Venice. +They had vainly induced their late abbot to make handsome offers to them, +and they then proceeded by indirect means, endeavoring to stir up +obstacles in their way, and to disgust them with Trieste. + +The consul told me plainly that he had not touched the matter, thinking +success to be out of the question; and he predicted that if I attempted +it I should find myself in the dilemma of having to solve the insoluble. +I felt the force of the consul's remark when I reflected that I could not +rely on the governor's assistance, or even speak to him on the subject. +I saw that I must not let him suspect my design, for besides his duty to +his Government he was a devoted friend to the interests of Trieste, and +for this reason a great patron of the monks. + +In spite of these obstacles my nostalgia made me make acquaintance with +these monks under pretence of inspecting their Armenian types, which they +were already casting. In a week or ten days I became quite intimate with +them. One day I said that they were bound in honour to return to the +obedience of their abbot, if only to annul his sentence of +excommunication. + +The most obstinate of them told me that the abbot had behaved more like a +despot than a father, and had thus absolved them from their obedience. +"Besides," he said, "no rascally priest has any right to cut off good +Christians from communion with the Saviour, and we are sure that our +patriarch will give us absolution and send us some more monks." + +I could make no objection to these arguments; however, I asked on another +occasion on what conditions they would return to Venice. + +The most sensible of them said that in the first place the abbot must +withdraw the four hundred thousand ducats which he had entrusted to the +Marquis Serpos at four per cent. + +This sum was the capital from which the income of the Convent of St. +Lazarus was derived. The abbot had no right whatever to dispose of it, +even with the consent of a majority among the monks. If the marquis +became bankrupt the convent would be utterly destitute. The marquis was +an Armenian diamond merchant, and a great friend of the abbot's. + +I then asked the monks what were the other conditions, and they replied +that these were some matters of discipline which might easily be settled; +they would give me a written statement of their grievances as soon as I +could assure them that the Marquis Serpos was no longer in possession of +their funds. + +I embodied my negotiations in writing, and sent the document to the +Inquisitors by the consul. In six weeks I received an answer to the +effect that the abbot saw his way to arranging the money difficulty, but +that he must see a statement of the reforms demanded before doing so. +This decided me to have nothing to do with the affair, but a few words +from Count Wagensberg made me throw it up without further delay. He gave +me to understand that he knew of my attempts to reconcile the four monks +with their abbot, and he told me that he had been sorry to hear the +report, as my success would do harm to a country where I lived and where +I was treated as a friend. + +I immediately told him the whole story, assuring him that I would never +have begun the negotiation if I had not been certain of failure, for I +heard on undoubted authority that Serpos could not possibly restore the +four hundred thousand ducats. + +This explanation thoroughly dissipated any cloud that might have arisen +between us. + +The Armenians bought Councillor Rizzi's house for thirty thousand +florins. Here they established themselves, and I visited them from time +to time without saying anything more about Venice. + +Count Wagensberg gave me another proof of his friendship. Unhappily for +me he died during the autumn of the same year, at the age of fifty. + +One morning he summoned me, and I found him perusing a document he had +just received from Vienna. He told me he was sorry I did not read +German, but that he would tell me the contents of the paper. + +"Here," he continued, "you will be able to serve your country without in +any way injuring Austria. + +"I am going to confide in you a State secret (it being understood of +course that my name is never to be mentioned) which ought to be greatly +to your advantage, whether you succeed or fail; at all hazards your +patriotism, your prompt action, and your cleverness in obtaining such +information will be made manifest. Remember you must never divulge your +sources of information; only tell your Government that you are perfectly +sure of the authenticity of the statement you make. + +"You must know," he continued, "that all the commodities we export to +Lombardy pass through Venice where they have to pay duty. Such has long +been the custom, and it may still be so if the Venetian Government will +consent to reduce the duty of four per cent to two per cent. + +"A plan has been brought before the notice of the Austrian Court, and it +has been eagerly accepted. I have received certain orders on the matter, +which I shall put into execution without giving any warning to the +Venetian Government. + +"In future all goods for Lombardy will be embarked here and disembarked +at Mezzola without troubling the Republic. Mezzola is in the territories +of the Duke of Modem; a ship can cross the gulf in the night, and our +goods will be placed in storehouses, which will be erected. + +"In this way we shall shorten the journey and decrease the freights, and +the Modenese Government will be satisfied with a trifling sum, barely +equivalent to a fourth of what we pay to Venice. + +"In spite of all this, I feel sure that if the Venetian Government wrote +to the Austrian Council of Commerce expressing their willingness to take +two per cent henceforth, the proposal would be accepted, for we Austrians +dislike novelties. + +"I shall not lay the matter before the Town Council for four or five +days, as there is no hurry for us; but you had better make haste, that +you may be the first to inform your Government of the matter. + +"If everything goes as I should wish I hope to receive an order from +Vienna suspending the decree just as I am about to make it public." + +Next morning the governor was delighted to hear that everything had been +finished before midnight. He assured me that the consul should not have +official information before Saturday. In the meanwhile the consul's +uneasy state of mind was quite a trouble to me, for I could not do +anything to set his mind at ease. + +Saturday came and Councillor Rizzi told me the news at the club. He +seemed in high spirits over it, and said that the loss of Venice was the +gain of Trieste. The consul came in just then, and said that the loss +would be a mere trifle for Venice, while the first-shipwreck would cost +more to Trieste than ten years' duty. The consul seemed to enjoy the +whole thing, but that was the part he had to play. In all small trading +towns like Trieste, people make a great account of trifles. + +I went to dine with the consul, who privately confessed his doubts and +fears on the matter. + +I asked him how the Venetians would parry the blow, and he replied,-- + +"They will have a number of very learned consultations, and then they +will do nothing at all, and the Austrians will send their goods wherever +they please." + +"But the Government is such a wise one." + +"Or rather has the reputation of wisdom." + +"Then you think it lives on its reputation?" + +"Yes; like all your mouldy institutions, they continue to be simply +because they have been. Old Governments are like those ancient dykes +which are rotten at the base, and only stay in position by their weight +and bulk." + +The consul was in the right. He wrote to his chief the same day, and in +the course of the next week he heard that their excellencies had received +information of the matter some time ago by extraordinary channels. + +For the present his duties would be confined to sending in any additional +information on the same subject. + +"I told you so," said the consul; "now, what do you think of the wisdom +of our sages?" + +"I think Bedlam of Charenton were their best lodging." + +In three weeks the consul received orders to give me another grant of a +hundred ducats, and to allow me ten sequins a month, to encourage me to +deserve well of the State. + +>From that time I felt sure I should be allowed to return in the course of +the year, but I was mistaken, for I had to wait till the year following. + +This new present, and the monthly payment of ten sequins put me at my +ease, for I had expensive tastes of which I could not cure myself. I +felt pleased at the thought that I was now in the pay of the Tribunal +which had punished me, and which I had defied. It seemed to me a +triumph, and I determined to do all in my power for the Republic. + +Here I must relate an amusing incident, which delighted everyone in +Trieste. + +It was in the beginning of summer. I had been eating sardines by the +sea-shore, and when I came home at ten o'clock at night I was astonished +to be greeted by a girl whom I recognized as Count Strasoldo's maid. + +The count was a handsome young man, but poor like most of that name; he +was fond of expensive pleasures, and was consequently heavily in debt. +He had a small appointment which brought him in an income of six hundred +florins, and he had not the slightest difficulty in spending a year's pay +in three months. He had agreeable manners and a generous disposition, +and I had supped with him in company with Baron Pittoni several times. +He had a girl in his service who was exquisitely pretty, but none of the +count's friends attempted her as he was very jealous. Like the rest, I +had seen and admired her, I had congratulated the count on the possession +of such a treasure in her presence, but I had never addressed a word to +her. + +Strasoldo had just been summoned to Vienna by Count Auersperg who liked +him, and had promised to do what he could for him. He had got an +employment in Poland, his furniture had been sold, he had taken leave of +everyone, and nobody doubted that he would take his pretty maid with him. +I thought so too, for I had been to wish him a pleasant journey that +morning, and my astonishment at finding the girl in my room may be +imagined. + +"What do you want, my dear?" I asked. + +"Forgive me, sir, but I don't want to go with Strasoldo, and I thought +you would protect me. Nobody will be able to guess where I am, and +Strasoldo will be obliged to go by himself. You will not be so cruel as +to drive me away?" + +"No, dearest." + +"I promise you I will go away to-morrow, for Strasoldo is going to leave +at day-break." + +"My lovely Leuzica (this was her name), no one would refuse you an +asylum, I least of all. You are safe here, and nobody shall come in +without your leave. I am only too happy that you came to me, but if it +is true that the count is your lover you may be sure he will not go so +easily. He will stay the whole of to-morrow at least, in the hope of +finding you again." + +"No doubt he will look for me everywhere but here. Will you promise not +to make me go with him even if be guesses that I am with you?" + +"I swear I will not." + +"Then I am satisfied." + +"But you will have to share my bed." + +"If I shall not inconvenience you, I agree with all my heart." + +"You shall see whether you inconvenience me or not. Undress, quick! But +where are your things?" + +"All that I have is in a small trunk behind the count's carriage, but I +don't trouble myself about it." + +"The poor count must be raging at this very moment." + +"No, for he will not come home till midnight. He is supping with Madame +Bissolotti, who is in love with him." + +In the meantime Leuzica had undressed and got into bed. In a moment I +was beside her, and after the severe regimen of the last eight months I +spent a delicious night in her arms, for of late my pleasures had been +few. + +Leuzica was a perfect beauty, and worthy to be a king's mistress; and if +I had been rich I would have set up a household that I might retain her +in my service. + +We did not awake till seven o'clock. She got up, and on looking out of +the window saw Strasoldo's carriage waiting at the door. + +I confronted her by saying that as long as she liked to stay with me no +one could force her away. + +I was vexed that I had no closet in my room, as I could not hide her from +the waiter who would bring us coffee. We accordingly dispensed with +breakfast, but I had to find out some way of feeding her. I thought I +had plenty of time before me, but I was wrong. + +At ten o'clock I saw Strasoldo and his friend Pittoni coming into the +inn. They spoke to the landlord, and seemed to be searching the whole +place, passing from one room to another. + +I laughed, and told Leuzica that they were looking for her, and that our +turn would doubtless come before long. + +"Remember your promise," said she. + +"You may be sure of that." + +The tone in which this remark was delivered comforted her, and she +exclaimed,-- + +"Well; well, let them come; they will get nothing by it." + +I heard footsteps approaching, and went out, closing the door behind me, +and begging them to excuse my not asking them in, as there was a +contraband commodity in my room. + +"Only tell me that it is not my maid," said Strasoldo, in a pitiable +voice. "We are sure she is here, as the sentinel at the gate saw her +come in at ten o'clock." + +"You are right, the fair Leuzica is at this moment in my room. I have +given her my word of honour that no violence shall be used, and you may +be sure I shall keep my word." + +"I shall certainly not attempt any violence, but I am sure she would come +of her own free will if I could speak to her." + +"I will ask her if she wishes to see you. Wait a moment." + +Leuzica had been listening to our conversation, and when I opened the +door she told me that I could let them in. + +As soon as Strasoldo appeared she asked him proudly if she was under any +obligations to him, if she had stolen anything from him, and if she was +not perfectly free to leave him when she liked. + +The poor count replied mildly that on the contrary it was he who owed her +a year's wages and had her box in his possession, but that she should not +have left him without giving any reason. + +"The only reason is that I don't want to go to Vienna," she replied. +"I told you so a week ago. If you are an honest man you will leave me my +trunk, and as to my wages you can send them to me at my aunt's at Laibach +if you haven't got any money now." + +I pitied Strasoldo from the bottom of my heart; he prayed and entreated, +and finally wept like a child. However, Pittoni roused my choler by +saying that I ought to drive the slut out of my room. + +"You are not the man to tell me what I ought and what I ought not to do," +I replied, "and after I have received her in my apartments you ought to +moderate your expressions." + +Seeing that I stood on my dignity he laughed, and asked me if I had +fallen in love with her in so short a time. + +Strasoldo here broke in by saying he was sure she had not slept with me. + +"That's where you are mistaken," said she, "for there's only one bed, and +I did not sleep on the floor." + +They found prayers and reproaches alike useless and left us at noon. +Leuzica was profuse in her expressions of gratitude to me. + +There was no longer any mystery, so I boldly ordered dinner for two, and +promised that she should remain with me till the count had left Trieste. + +At three o'clock the Venetian consul came, saying that Count Strasoldo +had begged him to use his good offices with me to persuade me to deliver +up the fair Leuzica. + +"You must speak to the girl herself," I replied; "she came here and stays +here of her own free will." + +When the worthy man had heard the girl's story he went away, saying that +we had the right on our side. + +In the evening a porter brought her trunk, and at this she seemed touched +but not repentant. + +Leuzica supped with me and again shared my couch. The count left Trieste +at day-break. + +As soon as I was sure that he was gone, I took a carriage and escorted +the fair Leuzica two stages on her way to Laibach. We dined together, +and I left her in the care of a friend of hers. + +Everybody said I had acted properly, and even Pittoni confessed that in +my place he would have done the same. + +Poor Strasoldo came to a bad end. He got into debt, committed +peculation, and had to escape into Turkey and embrace Islam to avoid the +penalty of death. + +About this time the Venetian general, Palmanova, accompanied by the +procurator Erizzo, came to Trieste to visit the governor, Count +Wagensberg. In the afternoon the count presented me to the patricians +who seemed astonished to see me at Trieste. + +The procurator asked me if I amused myself as well as I had done at Paris +sixteen years ago, and I told him that sixteen years more, and a hundred +thousand francs less, forced me to live in a different fashion. +While we were talking, the consul came in to announce that the felucca +was ready. Madame de Lantieri as well as her father pressed me to join +the party. + +I gave a bow, which might mean either no or yes, and asked the consul +what the party was. He told me that they were going to see a Venetian +man-of-war at anchor in the harbor; his excellence there being the +captain I immediately turned to the countess and smilingly professed my +regret that I was unable to set foot on Venetian soil. + +Everybody exclaimed at me,-- + +"You have nothing to fear. You are with honest people. Your suspicion +is quite offensive." + +"That is all very fine, ladies and gentlemen, and I will come with all my +heart, if your excellences will assure me that my joining this little +party will not be known to the State Inquisitors possibly by to-morrow." + +This was enough. Everybody looked at me in silence, and no objections +could be found to my argument. + +The captain of the vessel, who did not know me, spoke a few whispered +words to the others, and then they left. + +The next day the consul told me that the captain had praised my prudence +in declining to go on board, as if anyone had chanced to tell him my name +and my case whilst I was on his ship, it would have been his duty to +detain me. + +When I told the governor of this remark he replied gravely that he should +not have allowed the ship to leave the harbour. + +I saw the procurator Erizzo the same evening, and he congratulated me on +my discretion, telling me he would take care to let the Tribunal know how +I respected its decisions. + +About this time I had the pleasure of seeing a beautiful Venetian, who +visited Trieste with several of her admirers. She was of the noble +family of Bon, and had married Count Romili de Bergamo, who left her free +to do whatever she liked. She drew behind her triumphal chariot an old +general, Count Bourghausen, a famous rake who had deserted Mars for the +past ten years in order to devote his remaining days to the service of +Venus. He was a delightful man, and we became friends. Ten years later +he was of service to me, as my readers will find in the next volume, +which may perhaps be the last. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +Some Adventures at Trieste--I Am of Service to the Venetian Government-- +My Expedition to Gorice and My Return to Trieste--I Find Irene as an +Actress and Expert Gamester + + +Some of the ladies of Trieste thought they would like to act a French +play, and I was made stage manager. I had not only to choose the pieces, +but to distribute the parts, the latter being a duty of infinite +irksomeness. + +All the actresses were new to the boards, and I had immense trouble in +hearing them repeat their parts, which they seemed unable to learn by +heart. It is a well-known fact that the revolution which is really +wanted in Italy is in female education. The very best families with few +exceptions are satisfied with shutting up their daughters in a convent +for several years till the time comes for them to marry some man whom +they never see till the eve or the day of their marriage. As a +consequence we have the 'cicisbeo', and in Italy as in France the idea +that our nobles are the sons of their nominal fathers is a purely +conventional one. + +What do girls learn in convents, especially in Italian convents? A few +mechanical acts of devotion and outward forms, very little real religion, +a good deal of deceit, often profligate habits, a little reading and +writing, many useless accomplishments, small music and less drawing, no +history, no geography or mythology, hardly any mathematics, and nothing +to make a girl a good wife and a good mother. + +As for foreign languages, they are unheard of; our own Italian is so soft +that any other tongue is hard to acquire, and the 'dolce far niente' +habit is an obstacle to all assiduous study. + +I write down these truths in spite of my patriotism. I know that if any +of my fellow-countrywomen come to read me they will be very angry; but I +shall be beyond the reach of all anger. + +To return to our theatricals. As I could not make my actresses get their +parts letter perfect, I became their prompter, and found out by +experience all the ungratefulness of the position. + +The actors never acknowledged their debt to the prompter, and put down +to his account all the mistakes they make. + +A Spanish doctor is almost as badly off; if his patient recovers, the +cure is set down to the credit of one saint or another; but if he dies, +the physician is blamed for his unskilful treatment. + +A handsome negress, who served the prettiest of my actresses to whom I +shewed great attentions, said to me one day,-- + +"I can't make out how you can be so much in love with my mistress, who +is as white as the devil." + +"Have you never loved a white man?" I asked. + +"Yes," said she, "but only because I had no negro, to whom I should +certainly have given the preference." + +Soon after the negress became mine, and I found out the falsity of the +axiom, 'Sublata lucerna nullum discrimen inter feminas', for even in the +darkness a man would know a black woman from a white one. + +I feel quite sure myself that the negroes are a distinct species from +ourselves. There is one essential difference, leaving the colour out of +account--namely, that an African woman can either conceive or not, and +can conceive a boy or a girl. No doubt my readers will disbelieve this +assertion, but their incredulity would cease if I instructed them in the +mysterious science of the negresses. + +Count Rosenberg, grand chamberlain of the emperor, came on a visit to +Trieste in company with an Abbe Casti, whose acquaintance I wished to +make on account of some extremely blasphemous poems he had written. +However, I was disappointed; and instead of a man of parts, I found the +abbe to be an impudent worthless fellow, whose only merit was a knack of +versification. + +Count Rosenberg took the abbe with him, because he was useful in the +capacities of a fool and a pimp-occupations well suited to his morals, +though by no means agreeable to his ecclesiastical status. In those +days syphilis had not completely destroyed his uvula. + +I heard that this shameless profligate, this paltry poetaster, had been +named poet to the emperor. What a dishonour to the memory of the great +Metastasio, a man free from all vices, adorned with all virtues, and of +the most singular ability. + +Casti had neither a fine style, nor a knowledge of dramatic +requirements, as appears from two or three comic operas composed by him, +in which the reader will find nothing but foolish buffooneries badly put +together. In one of these comic operas he makes use of slander against +King Theodore and the Venetian Republic, which he turns into ridicule by +means of pitiful lies. + +In another piece called The Cave of Trophonius, Casti made himself the +laughing-stock of the literary world by making a display of useless +learning which contributes nothing towards the plot. + +Among the persons of quality who came to Gorice, I met a certain Count +Torriano, who persuaded me to spend the autumn with him at a country +house of his six miles from Gorice. + +If I had listened to the voice of my good genius I should certainly +never have gone. + +The count was under thirty, and was not married. He could not exactly +be called ugly in spite of his hangdog countenance, in which I saw the +outward signs of cruelty, disloyalty, treason, pride, brutal sensuality, +hatred, and jealousy. The mixture of bad qualities was such an +appalling one that I thought his physiognomy was at fault, and the goods +better than the sign. He asked me to come and see him so graciously +that I concluded that the man gave the lie to his face. + +I asked about him before accepting the invitation, and I heard nothing +but good. People certainly said he was fond of the fair sex, and was a +fierce avenger of any wrong done to him, but not thinking either of +these characteristics unworthy of a gentleman I accepted his invitation. +He told me that he would expect me to meet him at Gorice on the first +day of September, and that the next day we would leave for his estate. + +In consequence of Torriano's invitation I took leave of everybody, +especially of Count Wagensberg, who had a serious attack of that malady +which yields so easily to mercury when it is administered by a skilled +hand, but which kills the unfortunate who falls amongst quacks. Such +was the fate of the poor count; he died a month after I had left +Trieste. + +I left Trieste in the morning, dined at Proseco, and reached Gorice in +good time. I called at Count Louis Torriano's mansion, but was told he +was out. However, they allowed me to deposit what little luggage I had +when I informed them that the count had invited me. I then went to see +Count Torres, and stayed with him till supper-time. + +When I got back to the count's I was told he was in the country, and +would not be back till the next day, and that in the meantime my trunks +had been taken to the inn where a room and supper had been ordered. + +I was extremely astonished, and went to the inn, where I was served with +a bad supper in an uncomfortable room; however, I supposed that the +count had been unable to accommodate me in his house, and I excused him +though I wished he had forewarned me. I could not understand how a +gentleman who has a house and invites a friend can be without a room +wherein to lodge him. + +Next morning Count Torriano came to see me, thanked me for my +punctuality, congratulated himself on the pleasure he expected to derive +from my society, and told me he was very sorry we could not start for +two days, as a suit was to be heard the next day between himself and a +rascally old farmer who was trying to cheat him. + +"Well, well," said I, "I will go and hear the pleadings; it will be an +amusement for me." + +Soon after he took his leave, without asking me where I intended dining, +or apologizing for not having accommodated me himself. + +I could not make him out; I thought he might have taken offence at my +descending at his doors without having given him any warning. + +"Come, come, Casanova," I said to myself, "you may be all abroad. +Knowledge of character is an unfathomable gulf. We thought we had +studied it deeply, but there is still more to learn; we shall see. He +may have said nothing out of delicacy. I should be sorry to be found +wanting in politeness, though indeed I am puzzled to know what I have +done amiss." + +I dined by myself, made calls in the afternoon, and supped with Count +Tomes. I told him that I promised myself the pleasure of hearing the +eloquence of the bar of Gorice the next day. + +"I shall be there, too," said he, "as I am curious to see what sort of a +face Torriano will put on it, if the countryman wins. I know something +about the case," he continued, "and Torriano is sure of victory, unless +the documents attesting the farmer's indebtedness happen to be +forgeries. On the other hand, the farmer ought to win unless it can be +shewn that the receipts signed by Torriano are forgeries. The farmer +has lost in the first court and in the second court, but he has paid the +costs and appealed from both, though he is a poor man. If he loses to- +morrow he will not only be a ruined man, but be sentenced to penal +servitude, while if he wins, Torriano should be sent to the galleys, +together with his counsel, who has deserved this fate many times +before." + +I knew Count Tomes passed for somewhat of a scandal-monger, so his +remarks made little impression on me beyond whetting my curiosity. The +next day I was one of the first to appear in the court, where I found +the bench, plaintiff and defendant, and the barristers, already +assembled. The farmer's counsel was an old man who looked honest, while +the count's had all the impudence of a practised knave. The count sat +beside him, smiling disdainfully, as if he was lowering himself to +strive with a miserable peasant whom he had already twice vanquished. + +The farmer sat by his wife, his son, and two daughters, and had that air +of modest assurance which indicates resignation and a good conscience. + +I wondered how such honest people could have lost in two courts; I was +sure their cause must be a just one. + +They were all poorly clad, and from their downcast eyes and their humble +looks I guessed them to be the victims of oppression. + +Each barrister could speak for two hours. + +The farmer's advocate spoke for thirty minutes, which he occupied by +putting in the various receipts bearing the count's signature up to the +time when he had dismissed the farmer, because he would not prostitute +his daughters to him. He then continued, speaking with calm precision, +to point out the anachronisms and contradictions in the count's books +(which made his client a debtor), and stated that his client was in a +position to prosecute the two forgers who had been employed to compass +the ruin of an honest family, whose only crime was poverty. He ended +his speech by an appeal for costs in all the suits, and for compensation +for loss of time and defamation of character. + +The harangue of the count's advocate would have lasted more than two +hours if the court had not silenced him. He indulged in a torrent of +abuse against the other barrister, the experts in hand-writing, and the +peasant, whom he threatened with a speedy consignment to the galleys. + +The pleadings would have wearied me if I had been a blind man, but as it +was I amused myself by a scrutiny of the various physiognomies before +me. My host's face remained smiling and impudent through it all. + +The pleadings over, the court was cleared, and we awaited the sentence +in the adjoining room. + +The peasant and his family sat in a corner apart, sad, sorry, and +comfortless, with no friend to speak a consoling word, while the count +was surrounded by a courtly throng, who assured him that with such a +case he could not possibly lose; but that if the judges did deliver +judgment against him he should pay the peasant, and force him to prove +the alleged forgery. + +I listened in profound silence, sympathising with the countryman rather +than my host, whom I believed to be a thorough-paced scoundrel, though I +took care not to say so. + +Count Torres, who was a deadly foe to all prudence and discretion, asked +me my opinion of the case, and I whispered that I thought the count +should lose, even if he were in the right, on account of the infamous +apostrophes of his counsel, who deserved to have his ears cut off or to +stand in the pillory for six months. + +"And the client too," said Tomes aloud; but nobody had heard what I had +said. + +After we had waited for an hour the clerk of the court came in with two +papers, one of which he gave to the peasant's counsel and the other to +Torriano's. Torriano read it to himself, burst into a loud laugh, and +then read it aloud. + +The court condemned the count to recognize the peasant as his creditor, +to pay all costs, and to give him a year's wages as damages; the +peasant's right to appeal ad minimum on account of any other complaints +he might have being reserved. + +The advocate looked downcast, but Torriano consoled him by a fee of six +sequins, and everybody went away. + +I remained with the defendant, and asked him if he meant to appeal to +Vienna. + +"I shall appeal in another sort," said he; but I did not ask him what he +meant. + +We left Gorice the next morning. + +My landlord gave me the bill, and told me he had received instructions +not to insist on my paying it if I made any difficulty, as in that case +the count would pay himself. + +This struck me as somewhat eccentric, but I only laughed. However, the +specimens I had seen of his character made me imagine that I was going +to spend six weeks with a dangerous original. + +In two hours we were at Spessa, and alighted at a large house, with +nothing distinguished about it from an architectural point of view. We +went up to the count's room, which was tolerably furnished, and after +shewing me over the house he took me to my own room. It was on the +ground floor, stuffy, dark, and ill furnished. + +"Ah!" said he, "this is the room my poor old father used to love to sit +in; like you, he was very fond of study. You may be sure of enjoying +perfect liberty here, for you will see no one." + +We dined late, and consequently no supper was served. The eating and +the wine were tolerable, and so was the company of a priest, who held +the position of the count's steward; but I was disgusted at hearing the +count, who ate ravenously, reproach me with eating too slowly. + +When we rose from table he told me he had a lot to do, and that we +should see each other the next day. + +I went to my room to put things in order, and to get out my papers. I +was then working at the second volume of the Polish troubles. + +In the evening I asked for a light as it was growing dark, and presently +a servant came with one candle. I was indignant; they ought to have +given me wax lights or a lamp at least. However, I made no complaint, +merely asking one of the servants if I was to rely on the services of +any amongst them. + +"Our master has given us no instructions on the subject, but of course +we will wait on you whenever you call us." + +This would have been a troublesome task, as there was no bell, and I +should have been obliged to wander all over the house, to search the +courtyard, and perhaps the road, whenever I wanted a servant. + +"And who will do my room?" I asked. + +"The maid." + +"Then she has a key of her own?" + +"There is no need for a key, as your door has no lock, but you can bolt +yourself in at night." + +I could only laugh, whether from ill humour or amusement I really cannot +say. However, I made no remark to the man. + +I began my task, but in half an hour I was so unfortunate as to put out +the candle whilst snuffing it. I could not roam about the house in the +dark searching for a light, as I did not know my way, so I went to bed +in the dark more inclined to swear than to laugh. + +Fortunately the bed was a good one, and as I had expected it to be +uncomfortable I went to sleep in a more tranquil humour. + +In the morning nobody came to attend on me, so I got up, and after +putting away my papers I went to say good morning to my host in +dressing-gown and nightcap. I found him under the hand of one of his +men who served him as a valet. I told him I had slept well, and had +come to breakfast with him; but he said he never took breakfast, and +asked me, politely enough, not to trouble to come and see him in the +morning as he was always engaged with his tenants, who were a pack of +thieves. He then added that as I took breakfast he would give orders to +the cook to send me up coffee whenever I liked. + +"You will also be kind enough to tell your man to give me a touch with +his comb after he has done with you." + +"I wonder you did not bring a servant." + +"If I had guessed that I should be troubling you, I should certainly +have brought one." + +"It will not trouble me but you, for you will be kept waiting." + +"Not at all. Another thing I want is a lock to my door, for I have +important papers for which I am responsible, and I cannot lock them up +in my trunk whenever I leave my room." + +"Everything is safe in my house." + +"Of course, but you see how absurd it would be for you to be answerable +in case any of my papers were missing. I might be in the greatest +distress, and yet I should never tell you of it." + +He remained silent for some time, and then ordered his man to tell the +priest to put a lock on my door and give me the key. + +While he was thinking, I noticed a taper and a book on the table beside +his bed. I went up to it, and asked politely if I might see what kind +of reading had beguiled him to sleep. He replied as politely, +requesting me not to touch it. I withdrew immediately, telling him with +a smile that I felt sure that it was a book of prayers, but that I would +never reveal his secret. + +"You have guessed what it is," he said, laughing. + +I left him with a courteous bow, begging him to send me his man and a +cup of coffee, chocolate, or broth, it mattered not which. + +I went back to my room meditating seriously on his strange behaviour, +and especially on the wretched tallow candle which was given me, while +he had a wax taper. My first idea was to leave the house immediately, +for though I had only fifty ducats in my possession my spirit was as +high as when I was a rich man; but on second thoughts I determined not +to put myself in the wrong by affronting him in such a signal manner. + +The tallow candle was the most grievous wrong, so I resolved to ask the +man whether he had not been told to give me wax lights. This was +important, as it might be only a piece of knavery or stupidity on the +part of the servant. + +The man came in an hour with a cup of coffee, sugared according to his +taste or that of the cook. This disgusted me, so I let it stay on the +table, telling him, with a burst of laughter (if I had not laughed I +must have thrown the coffee in his face), that that was not the way to +serve breakfast. I then got ready to have my hair done. + +I asked him why he had brought me a wretched tallow candle instead of +two wax lights. + +"Sir," the worthy man replied, humbly, "I could only give you what the +priest gave me; I received a wax taper for my master and a candle for +you." + +I was sorry to have vexed the poor fellow, and said no more, thinking +the priest might have taken a fancy to economise for the count's profit +or his own. I determined to question him on the subject. + +As soon as I was dressed I went out to walk off my bad humour. I met +the priest-steward, who had been to the locksmith. He told me that the +man had no ready-made locks, but he was going to fit my door with a +padlock, of which I should have the key. + +"Provided I can lock my door," I said, "I care not how it's done." + +I returned to the house to see the padlock fitted, and while the +locksmith was hammering away I asked the priest why he had given a +tallow candle instead of one or two wax tapers. + +"I should never dare to give you tapers, sir, without express orders +from the count." + +"I should have thought such a thing would go without saying." + +"Yes, in other houses, but here nothing goes without saying. I have to +buy the tapers and he pays me, and every time he has one it is noted +down." + +"Then you can give me a pound of wax lights if I pay you for them?" + +"Of course, but I think I must tell the count, for you know . . . ." + +"Yes, I know all about it, but I don't care:" + +I gave him the price of a pound of wax lights, and went for a walk, as +he told me dinner was at one. I was somewhat astonished on coming back +to the house at half-past twelve to be told that the count had been half +an hour at table. + +I did not know what to make of all these acts of rudeness; however, I +moderated my passion once more, and came in remarking that the abbe had +told me dinner was at one. + +"It is usually," replied the count, "but to-day I wanted to pay some +calls and take you with me, so I decided on dining at noon. You will +have plenty of time." + +He then gave orders for all the dishes that had been taken away to be +brought back. + +I made no answer, and sat down to table, and feigning good humour ate +what was on the table, refusing to touch those dishes which had been +taken away. He vainly asked me to try the soup, the beef, the entrees; +I told him that I always punished myself thus when I came in late for a +nobleman's dinner. + +Still dissembling my ill humour, I got into his carriage to accompany +him on his round of visits. He took me to Baron del Mestre, who spent +the whole of the year in the country with his family, keeping up a good +establishment. + +The count spent the whole of the day with the baron, putting off the +other visits to a future time. In the evening we returned to Spessa. +Soon after we arrived the priest returned the money I had given him for +the candles, telling me that the count had forgotten to inform him that +I was to be treated as himself. + +I took this acknowledgement for what it was worth. + +Supper was served, and I ate with the appetite of four, while the count +hardly ate at all. + +The servant who escorted me to my room asked me at what time I should +like breakfast. I told him, and he was punctual; and this time the +coffee was brought in the coffee-pot and the sugar in the sugar basin. + +The valet did my hair, and the maid did my room, everything was changed, +and I imagined that I had given the count a little lesson, and that I +should have no more trouble with him. Here, however, I was mistaken, as +the reader will discover. + +Three or four days later the priest came to me one morning, to ask when +I would like dinner, as I was to dine in my room. + +"Why so?" I asked. + +"Because the count left yesterday for Gorice, telling me he did not know +when he should come back. He ordered me to give you your meals in your +room." + +"Very good. I will dine at one." + +No one could be more in favour of liberty and independence than myself, +but I could not help feeling that my rough host should have told me he +was going to Gorice. He stayed a week, and I should have died of +weariness if it had not been for my daily visits to the Baron del +Mestre. Otherwise there was no company, the priest was an uneducated +man, and there were no pretty country girls. I felt as if I could not +bear another four weeks of such a doleful exile. + +When the count came back, I spoke to him plainly. + +"I came to Spessa," I said, "to keep you company and to amuse myself; +but I see that I am in the way, so I hope you will take me back to +Gorice and leave me there. You must know that I like society as much as +you do, and I do not feel inclined to die of solitary weariness in your +house." + +He assured me that it should not happen again, that he had gone to +Gorice to meet an actress, who had come there purposely to see him, and +that he had also profited by the opportunity to sign a contract of +marriage with a Venetian lady. + +These excuses and the apparently polite tone in which they were uttered +induced me to prolong my stay with the extraordinary count. + +He drew the whole of his income from vineyards, which produced an +excellent white wine and a revenue of a thousand sequins a year. +However, as the count did his best to spend double that amount, he was +rapidly ruining himself. He had a fixed impression that all the tenants +robbed him, so whenever he found a bunch of grapes in a cottage he +proceeded to beat the occupants unless they could prove that the grapes +did not come from his vineyards. The peasants might kneel down and beg +pardon, but they were thrashed all the same. + +I had been an unwilling witness of several of these arbitrary and cruel +actions, when one day I had the pleasure of seeing the count soundly +beaten by two peasants. He had struck the first blow himself, but when +he found that he was getting the worst of it he prudently took to his +heels. + +He was much offended with me for remaining a mere spectator of the fray; +but I told him very coolly that, being the aggressor, he was in the +wrong, and in the second place I was not going to expose myself to be +beaten to a jelly by two lusty peasants in another man's quarrel. + +These arguments did not satisfy him, and in his rage he dared to tell me +that I was a scurvy coward not to know that it was my duty to defend a +friend to the death. + +In spite of these offensive remarks I merely replied with a glance of +contempt, which he doubtless understood. + +Before long the whole village had heard what had happened, and the joy +was universal, for the count had the singular privilege of being feared +by all and loved by none. The two rebellious peasants had taken to +their heels. But when it became known that his lordship had announced +his resolution to carry pistols with him in all future visits, everybody +was alarmed, and two spokesmen were sent to the count informing him that +all his tenants would quit the estate in a week's time unless he gave +them a promise to leave them in peace in their humble abodes. + +The rude eloquence of the two peasants struck me as sublime, but the +count pronounced them to be impertinent and ridiculous. + +"We have as good a right to taste the vines which we have watered with +the sweat of our brow," said they, "as your cook has to taste the dishes +before they are served on your table." + +The threat of deserting just at the vintage season frightened the count, +and he had to give in, and the embassy went its way in high glee at its +success. + +Next Sunday we went to the chapel to hear mass, and when we came in the +priest was at the altar finishing the Credo. The count looked furious, +and after mass he took me with him to the sacristy, and begun to abuse +and beat the poor priest, in spite of the surplice which he was still +wearing. It was really a shocking sight. + +The priest spat in his face and cried help, that being the only revenge +in his power. + +Several persons ran in, so we left the sacristy. I was scandalised, and +I told the count that the priest would be certain to go to Udine, and +that it might turn out a very awkward business. + +"Try to prevent his doing so," I added, "even by violence, but in the +first place endeavour to pacify him." + +No doubt the count was afraid, for he called out to his servants and +ordered them to fetch the priest, whether he could come or no. His +order was executed, and the priest was led in, foaming with rage, +cursing the count, calling him excommunicated wretch, whose very breath +was poisonous; swearing that never another mass should be sung in the +chapel that had been polluted with sacrilege, and finally promising that +the archbishop should avenge him. + +The count let him say on, and then forced him into a chair, and the +unworthy ecclesiastic not only ate but got drunk. Thus peace was +concluded, and the abbe forgot all his wrongs. + +A few days later two Capuchins came to visit him at noon. They did not +go, and as he did not care to dismiss them, dinner was served without +any place being laid for the friars. Thereupon the bolder of the two +informed the count that he had had no dinner. Without replying, the +count had him acommodated with a plateful of rice. The Capuchin refused +it, saying that he was worthy to sit, not only at his table, but at a +monarch's. The count, who happened to be in a good humour, replied that +they called themselves "unworthy brethren," and that they were +consequently not worthy of any of this world's good things. + +The Capuchin made but a poor answer, and as I thought the count to be in +the right I procceded to back him up, telling the friar he ought to be +ashamed at having committed the sin of pride, so strictly condemned by +the rules of his order. + +The Capuchin answered me with a torrent of abuse, so the count ordered a +pair of scissors to be brought, that the beards of the filthy rogues +might be cut off. At this awful threat the two friars made their +escape, and we laughed heartily over the incident. + +If all the count's eccentricities had been of this comparatively +harmless and amusing nature, I should not have minded, but such was far +from being the case. + +Instead of chyle his organs must have distilled some virulent poison; he +was always at his worst in his after dinner hours. His appetite was +furious; he ate more like a tiger than a man. One day we happened to be +eating woodcock, and I could not help praising the dish in the style of +the true gourmand. He immediately took up his bird, tore it limb from +limb, and gravely bade me not to praise the dishes I liked as it +irritated him. I felt an inclination to laugh and also an inclination +to throw the bottle at his head, which I should probably have indulged +in had I been twenty years younger. However, I did neither, feeling +that I should either leave him or accommodate myself to his humours. + +Three months later Madame Costa, the actress whom he had gone to see at +Gorice, told me that she would never have believed in the possibility of +such a creature existing if she had not known Count Torriano. + +"Though he is a vigorous lover," she continued, "it is a matter of great +difficulty with him to obtain the crisis; and the wretched woman in his +arms is in imminent danger of being strangled to death if she cannot +conceal her amorous ecstacy. He cannot bear to see another's pleasure. +I pity his wife most heartily." + +I will now relate the incident which put an end to my relations with +this venomous creature. + +Amidst the idleness and weariness of Spessa I happened to meet a very +pretty and very agreeable young widow. I made her some small presents, +and finally persuaded her to pass the night in my room. She came at +midnight to avoid observation, and left at day-break by a small door +which opened on to the road. + +We had amused ourselves in this pleasant manner for about a week, when +one morning my sweetheart awoke me that I might close the door after her +as usual. I had scarcely done so when I heard cries for help. I +quickly opened it again, and I saw the scoundrelly Torriano holding the +widow with one hand while he beat her furiously with a stick he held in +the other. I rushed upon him, and we fell together, while the poor +woman made her escape. + +I had only my dresing-gown on, and here I was at a disadvantage; for +civilized man is a poor creature without his clothes. However, I held +the stick with one hand, while I queezed his throat with the other. On +his side he clung to the stick with his right hand, and pulled my hair +with the left. At last his tongue started out and he had to let go. + +I was on my feet again in an instant, and seizing the stick I aimed a +sturdy blow at his head, which, luckily for him, he partially parried. + +I did not strike again, so he got up, ran a little way, and began to +pick up stones. However, I did not wait to be pelted, but shut myself +in my room and lay down on the bed, only sorry that I had not choked the +villain outright. + +As soon as I had rested I looked to my pistols, dressed myself, and went +out with the intention of looking for some kind of conveyance to take me +back to Gorice. Without knowing it I took a road that led me to the +cottage of the poor widow, whom I found looking calm though sad. She +told me she had received most of the blows on her shoulders, and was not +much hurt. What vexed her was that the affair would become public, as +two peasants had seen the count beating her, and our subsequent combat. + +I gave her two sequins, begging her to come and see me at Gorice, and to +tell me where I could find a conveyance. + +Her sister offered to shew me the way to a farm, where I could get what +I wanted. On the way she told me that Torriano had been her sister's +enemy before the death of her husband because she rejected all his +proposals. + +I found a good conveyance at the farm, and the man promised to drive me +in to Gorice by dinner-time. + +I gave him half-a-crown as an earnest, and went away, telling him to +come for me. + +I returned to the count's and had scarcely finished getting ready when +the conveyance drove up. + +I was about to put my luggage in it, when a servant came from the count +asking me to give him a moment's conversation. + +I wrote a note in French, saying that after what had passed we ought not +to meet again under his roof. + +A minute later he came into my room, and shut the door, saying,-- + +"As you won't speak to me, I have come to speak to you." + +"What have you got to say?" + +"If you leave my house in this fashion you will dishonour me, and I will +not allow it." + +"Excuse me, but I should very much like to see how you are going to +prevent me from leaving your house." + +"I will not allow you to go by yourself; we must go together." + +"Certainly; I understand you perfectly. Get your sword or your pistols, +and we will start directly. There is room for two in the carriage." + +"That won't do. You must dine with me, and then we can go in my +carriage." + +You make a mistake. I should be a fool if I dined with you when our +miserable dispute is all over the village; to-morrow it will have +reached Gorice." + +"If you won't dine with me, I will dine with you, and people may say +what they like. We will go after dinner, so send away that conveyance." + +I had to give in to him. The wretched count stayed with me till noon, +endeavouring to persuade me that he had a perfect right to beat a +country-woman in the road, and that I was altogether in the wrong. + +I laughed, and said I wondered how he derived his right to beat a free +woman anywhere, and that his pretence that I being her lover had no +right to protect her was a monstrous one. + +"She had just left my arms," I continued, "was I not therefore her +natural protector? Only a coward or a monster like yourself would have +remained indifferent, though, indeed, I believe that even you would have +done the same." + +A few minutes before we sat down to dinner he said that neither of us +would profit by the adventure, as he meant the duel to be to the death. + +"I don't agree with you as far as I am concerned," I replied; "and as to +the duel, you can fight or not fight, as you please; for my part I have +had satisfaction. If we come to a duel I hope to leave you in the land +of the living, though I shall do my best to lay you up for a +considerable time, so that you may have leisure to reflect on your +folly. On the other hand, if fortune favours you, you may act as you +please" + +"We will go into the wood by ourselves, and my coachman shall have +orders to drive you wherever you like if you come out of the wood by +yourself." + +"Very good indeed; and which would you prefer--swords or pistols?" + +"Swords, I think." + +"Then I promise to unload my pistols as soon as we get into the +carriage." + +I was astonished to find the usually brutal count become quite polite at +the prospect of a duel. I felt perfectly confident myself, as I was +sure of flooring him at the first stroke by a peculiar lunge. Then I +could escape through Venetian territory where I was not known. + +But I had good reasons for supposing that the duel would end in smoke as +so many other duels when one of the parties is a coward, and a coward I +believed the count to be. + +We started after an excellent dinner; the count having no luggage, and +mine being strapped behind the carriage. + +I took care to draw the charges of my pistols before the count. + +I had heard him tell the coachman to drive towards Gorice, but every +moment I expected to hear him order the man to drive up this or that +turning that we might settle our differences. + +I asked no questions, feeling that the initiative lay with him; but we +drove on till we were at the gates of Gorice, and I burst out laughing +when I heard the count order the coachman to drive to the posting inn. + +As soon as we got there he said,-- + +"You were in the right; we must remain friends. Promise me not to tell +anyone of what has happened." + +I gave him the promise; we shook hands, and everything was over. + +The next day I took up my abode in one of the quietest streets to finish +my second volume on the Polish troubles, but I still managed to enjoy +myself during my stay at Gorice. At last I resolved on returning to +Trieste, where I had more chances of serving and pleasing the State +Inquisitors. + +I stayed at Gorice till the end of the year 1773, and passed an +extremely pleasant six weeks. + +My adventure at Spessa had become public property. At first everybody +addressed me on the subject, but as I laughed and treated the whole +thing as a joke it would soon be forgotten. Torriano took care to be +most polite whenever we met; but I had stamped him as a dangerous +character, and whenever he asked me to dinner or supper I had other +engagements. + +During the carnival he married the young lady of whom he had spoken to +me, and as long as he lived her life was misery. Fortunately he died a +madman thirteen or fourteen years after. + +Whilst I was at Gorice Count Charles Coronini contributed greatly to my +enjoyment. He died four years later, and a month before his death he +sent me his will in ostosyllabic Italian verses--a specimen of +philosophic mirth which I still preserve. It is full of jest and wit, +though I believe if he had guessed the near approach of death he would +not have been so cheerful, for the prospect of imminent destruction can +only enliven the heart of a maniac. + +During my stay at Gorice a certain M. Richard Lorrain came there. He +was a bachelor of forty, who had done good financial service under the +Viennese Government, and had now retired with a comfortable pension. He +was a fine man, and his agreeable manners and excellent education +procured him admission into the best company in the town. + +I met him at the house of Count Torres, and soon after he was married to +the young countess. + +In October the new Council of Ten and the new Inquisitors took office, +and my protectors wrote to me that if they could not obtain my pardon in +the course of the next twelve months they would be inclined to despair. +The first of the Inquisitors was Sagredo, and intimate friend of the +Procurator Morosini's; the second, Grimani, the friend of my good +Dandolo; and M. Zaguri wrote to me that he would answer for the third, +who, according to law, was one of the six councillors who assist the +Council of Ten. + +It may not be generally known that the Council of Ten is really a +council of seventeen, as the Doge has always a right to be present. + +I returned to Trieste determined to do my best for the Tribunal, for I +longed to return to Venice after nineteen years' wanderings. + +I was then forty-nine, and I expected no more of Fortune's gifts, for +the deity despises those of ripe age. I thought, however, that I might +live comfortably and independently at Venice. + +I had talents and experience, I hoped to make use of them, and I thought +the Inquisitors would feel bound to give me some sufficient employment. + +I was writing the history of the Polish troubles, the first volume was +printed, the second was in preparation, and I thought of concluding the +work in seven volumes. Afterwards I had a translation of the "Iliad" in +view, and other literary projects would no doubt present themselves. + +In fine, I thought myself sure of living in Venice, where many persons +who would be beggars elsewhere continue to live at their ease. + +I left Gorice on the last day of December, 1773, and on January 1st I +took up my abode at Trieste. + +I could not have received a warmer welcome. Baron Pittoni, the Venetian +consul, all the town councillors, and the members of the club, seemed +delighted to see me again. My carnival was a pleasant one, and in the +beginning of Lent I published the second volume of my work on Poland. + +The chief object of interest to me at Trieste was an actress in a +company that was playing there. She was no other than the daughter of +the so-called Count Rinaldi, and my readers may remember her under the +name of Irene. I had loved her at Milan, and neglected her at Genoa on +account of her father's misdeeds, and at Avignon I had rescued her at +Marcoline's request. Eleven years had passed by since I had heard of +her. + +I was astonished to see her, and I think more sorry than glad, for she +was still beautiful, and I might fall in love again; and being no longer +in a position to give her assistance, the issue might be unfortunate for +me. However, I called on her the next day, and was greeted with a +shriek of delight. She told me she had seen me at the theatre, and felt +sure I would come and see her. + +She introduced me to her husband, who played parts like Scapin, and to +her nine-year-old daughter, who had a talent for dancing. + +She gave me an abridged account of her life since we had met. In the +year I had seen her at Avignon she had gone to Turin with her father. +At Turin she fell in love with her present husband, and left her parents +to join her lot to his. + +"Since that," she said, "I have heard of my father's death, but I do not +know what has become of my mother." + +After some further conversation she told me she was a faithful wife, +though she did not push fidelity so far as to drive a rich lover to +despair. + +"I have no lovers here," she added, "but I give little suppers to a few +friends. I don't mind the expense, as I win some money at faro." + +She was the banker, and she begged me to join the party now and then. + +"I will come after the play to-night," I replied, "but you must not +expect any high play of me." + +I kept the appointment and supped with a number of silly young +tradesmen, who were all in love with her. + +After supper she held a bank, and I was greatly astonished when I saw +her cheating with great dexterity. It made me want to laugh; however, I +lost my florins with a good grace and left. However, I did not mean to +let Irene think she was duping me, and I went to see her next morning at +rehearsal, and complimented her on her dealing. She pretended not to +understand what I meant, and on my explaining myself she had the +impudence to tell me that I was mistaken. + +In my anger I turned my back on her saying, "You will be sorry for this +some day." + +At this she began to laugh, and said, "Well, well, I confess! and if you +tell me how much you lost you shall have it back, and if you like you +shall be a partner in the game." + +"No, thank you, Irene, I will not be present at any more of your +suppers. But I warn you to be cautious; games of chance are strictly +forbidden." + +"I know that, but all the young men have promised strict secrecy." + +"Come and breakfast with me whenever you like." + +A few days later she came, bringing her daughter with her. The girl was +pretty, and allowed me to caress her. + +One day Baron Pittoni met them at my lodgings, and as he liked young +girls as well as I he begged Irene to make her daughter include him in +her list of favoured lovers. + +I advised her not to reject the offer, and the baron fell in love with +her, which was a piece of luck for Irene, as she was accused of playing +unlawful games, and would have been severely treated if the baron had +not given her warning. When the police pounced on her, they found no +gaming and no gamesters, and nothing could be done. + +Irene left Trieste at the beginning of Lent with the company to which +she belonged. Three years later I saw her again at Padua. Her daughter +had become a charming girl, and our acquaintance was renewed in the +tenderest manner. + + [Thus abruptly end the Memoirs of Giacome Casanova, + Chevalier de Seingalt, Knight of the Golden Spur, + Prothonotary Apostolic, and Scoundrel Cosmopolitic.] + + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +SPANISH PASSIONS, Vol. 6d, FLORENCE TO TRIESTE +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + diff --git a/old/jcflt10.zip b/old/jcflt10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..271a8c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcflt10.zip diff --git a/old/jcflt11.txt b/old/jcflt11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4367a65 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcflt11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4893 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Florence to Trieste, by Casanova +#29 in our series by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 +SPANISH PASSIONS, Volume 6d--FLORENCE TO TRIESTE + + + +THE MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA DE SEINGALT + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR MACHEN TO +WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + + + + +FLORENCE to TRIESTE + + +CHAPTER XVIII +Madame Denis--Dedini--Zanovitch--Zen--I Am Obliged to Leave--I Arrive at +Bologna--General Albergati + +Without speaking at any length I asked the young grand duke to give me an +asylum in his dominions for as long as I might care to stay. I +anticipated any questions he might have asked by telling him the reasons +which had made me an exile from my native land. + +"As to my necessities," I added, "I shall ask for help of no one; I have +sufficient funds to ensure my independence. I think of devoting the +whole of my time to study." + +"So long as your conduct is good," he replied, "the laws guarantee your +freedom; but I am glad you have applied to me. Whom do you know in +Florence?" + +"Ten years ago, my lord, I had some distinuished acquaintances here; but +now I propose to live in retirement, and do not intend renewing any old +friendships." + +Such was my conversation with the young sovereign, and after his +assurances I concluded that no one would molest me. + +My adventures in Tuscany the years before were in all probability +forgotten, or almost forgotten, as the new Government had nothing in +common with the old. + +After my interview with the grand duke I went to a bookseller's shop and +ordered some books. A gentleman in the shop, hearing me making enquiries +about Greek works, accosted me, and we got on well together. I told him +I was working at a translation of the "Iliad," and in return he informed +me that he was making a collection of Greek epigrams, which he wished to +publish in Greek and Italian. I told him I should like to see this work, +whereupon he asked me where I lived. I told him, learnt his name and +address, and called on him the next day. He returned the visit, and we +became fast friends, though we never either walked or ate together. + +This worthy Florentine was named (or is named, if he be still alive) +Everard de Medici. + +I was very comfortable with Allegranti; I had the quiet so necessary to +literary labours, but nevertheless I made up my mind to change my +lodging. Magdalena, my landlord's niece, was so clever and charming, +though but a child, that she continually disturbed my studies. She came +into my room, wished me good day, asked me what kind of a night I had +spent, if I wanted anything, and the sight of her grace and beauty and +the sound of her voice so ravished me, that I determined to seek safety +in flight. + +A few years later Magdalena became a famous musician. + +After leaving Allegranti I took rooms in a tradesman's house; his wife +was ugly, and he had no pretty daughters or seductive nieces. There I +lived for three weeks like Lafontaine's rat, very discreetly. + +About the same time, Count Stratico arrived at Florence with his pupil, +the Chevalier Morosini, who was then eighteen. I could not avoid calling +on Stratico. He had broken his leg some time before and was still unable +to go out with his pupil, who had all the vices and none of the virtues +of youth. Consequently, Stratico was always afraid of something +happening to him, and he begged me to make myself his companion, and even +to share his pleasures, so that he might not go into bad company and +dangerous houses alone and undefended. + +Thus my days of calm study vanished away. I had to partake in the +debauchery of a young rake, and all out of pure sensibility. + +The Chevalier Morosini was a thorough-paced profligate. He hated +literature, good society, and the company of sensible people. His daily +pleasures were furious riding, hard drinking, and hard dissipation with +prostitutes, whom he sometimes almost killed. + +This young nobleman paid a man for the sole service of getting him a +woman or a girl every day. + +During the two months which he passed in Florence I saved his life a +score of times. I got very tired of my duty, but I felt bound to +persevere. + +He was liberal to the verge of recklessness, and would never allow me to +pay for anything. Even here, however, disputes often arose between us; +as he paid, he wanted me to eat, drink, and dissipate in the same +measures as himself. However, I had my own way on most occasions, only +giving in when it suited me to do so. + +We went to see the opera at Lucca, and drought two of the dancers home to +supper. As the chevalier was drunk as usual, he treated the woman he had +chosen--a superb creature--very indifferently. The other was pretty +enough, but I had done nothing serious with her, so I proceeded to avenge +the beauty. She took me for the chevalier's father, and advised me to +give him a better education. + +After the chevalier was gone I betook myself to my studies again, but I +supped every night with Madame Denis, who had formerly been a dancer in +the King of Prussia's service, and had retired to Florence. + +She was about my age, and therefore not young, but still she had +sufficient remains of her beauty to inspire a tender passion; she did not +look more than thirty. She was as fresh as a young girl, had excellent +manners, and was extremely intelligent. Besides all these advantages, +she had a comfortable apartment on the first floor of one of the largest +cafes in Florence. In front of her room was a balcony where it was +delicious to sit and enjoy the cool of the evening. + +The reader may remember how I had become her friend at Berlin in 1764, +and when we met again at Florence our old flames were rekindled. + +The chief boarder in the house where she lived was Madame Brigonzi, whom +I had met at Memel. This lady, who pretended that she had been my +mistress twenty-five years before, often came into Madame Denis's rooms +with an old lover of hers named Marquis Capponi. + +He was an agreeable and well-educated man; and noticing that he seemed to +enjoy my conversation I called on him, and he called on me, leaving his +card as I was not at home. + +I returned the visit, and he introduced me to his family and invited me +to dinner. For the first time since I had come to Florence I dressed +myself with elegance and wore my jewels. + +At the Marquis Capponi's I made the acquaintance of Corilla's lover, the +Marquis Gennori, who took me to a house where I met my fate. I fell in +love with Madame a young widow, who had been spending a few months in +Paris. This visit had added to her other attractions the charm of a good +manner, which always counts for so much. + +This unhappy love made the three months longer which I spent in Florence +painful to me. + +It was at the beginning of October, and about that time Count Medini +arrived at Florence without a penny in his pocket, and without being able +to pay his vetturino, who had arrested him. + +The wretched man, who seemed to follow me wherever I went, had taken up +his abode in the house of a poor Irishman. + +I do not know how Medini found out that I was at Florence, but he wrote +me a letter begging me to come and deliver him from the police, who +besieged his room and talked of taking him to prison. He said he only +wanted me to go bail for him, and protested that I should not run any +risk, as he was sure of being able to pay in a few days. + +My readers will be aware that I had good reason for not liking Medini, +but in spite of our quarrel I could not despise his entreaty. I even +felt inclined to become his surety, if he could prove his capability of +paying the sum for which he had been arrested. I imagined that the sum +must be a small one, and could not understand why the landlord did not +answer for him. My surprise ceased, however, when I entered his room. + +As soon as I appeared he ran to embrace me, begging me to forget the +past, and to extract him from the painful position in which he found +himself. + +I cast a rapid glance over the room, and saw three trunks almost empty, +their contents being scattered about the floor. There was his mistress, +whom I knew, and who had her reasons for not liking me; her young sister, +who wept; and her mother, who swore, and called Medini a rogue, saying +that she would complain of him to the magistrate, and that she was not +going to allow her dresses and her daughter's dresses to be seized for +his debts. + +I asked the landlord why he did not go bail, as he had these persons and +their effects as security. + +"The whole lot," he answered, "won't pay the vetturino, and the sooner +they are out of my house the better I shall be pleased." + +I was astonished, and could not understand how the bill could amount to +more than the value of all the clothes I saw on the floor, so I asked the +vetturino to tell me the extent of the debt. + +He gave me a paper with Medini's signature; the amount was two hundred +and forty crowns. + +"How in the world," I exclaimed, "could he contract this enormous debt?" + +I wondered no longer when the vetturino told me that he had served them +for the last six weeks, having conducted the count and the three women +from Rome to Leghorn, and from Leghorn to Pisa, and from Pisa to +Florence, paying for their board all the way. + +"The vetturino will never take me as bail for such an amount," I said to +Medini, "and even if he would I should never be so foolish as to contract +such a debt." + +"Let me have a word with you in the next room," said he; "I will put the +matter clearly before you." + +"Certainly." + +Two of the police would have prevented his going into the next room, on +the plea that he might escape through the window, but I said I would be +answerable for him. + +Just then the poor vetturino came in and kissed my hand, saying that if I +would go bail for the count he would let me have three months wherein to +find the money. + +As it happened it was the same man who had taken me to Rome with the +Englishwoman who had been seduced by the actor l'Etoile. I told him to +wait a moment. + +Medini who was a great talker and a dreadful liar thought to persuade me +by shewing me a number of open letters, commending him in pompous terms +to the best houses in Florence. I read the letters, but I found no +mention of money in them, and I told him as much. + +"I know," said he, "but there is play going on in these houses, and I am +sure of gaining immense sums." + +"You may be aware that I have no confidence in your good luck." + +"Then I have another resource." + +"What is that?" + +He shewed me a bundle of manuscript, which I found to be an excellent +translation of Voltaire's "Henriade" into Italian verse. Tasso himself +could not have done it better. He said he hoped to finish the poem at +Florence, and to present it to the grand duke, who would be sure to make +him a magnificent present, and to constitute him his favourite. + +I would not undeceive him, but I laughed to myself, knowing that the +grand duke only made a pretence of loving literature. A certain Abbe +Fontaine, a clever man, amused him with a little natural history, the +only science in which he took any interest. He preferred the worst prose +to the best verse, not having sufficient intellect to enjoy the subtle +charms of poetry. In reality he had only two passions--women and money. + +After spending two wearisome hours with Medini, whose wit was great and +his judgment small, after heartily repenting of having yielded to my +curiosity and having paid him a visit, I said shortly that I could do +nothing for him. Despair drives men crazy; as I was making for the door, +he seized me by the collar. + +He did not reflect in his dire extremity that he had no arms, that I was +stronger than he, that I had twice drawn his blood, and that the police, +the landlord, the vetturirco, and the servants, were in the next room. I +was not coward enough to call for help; I caught hold of his neck with +both hands and squeezed him till he was nearly choked. He had to let go +at last, and then I took hold of his collar and asked him if he had gone +mad. + +I sent him against the wall, and opened the door and the police came in. + +I told the vetturino that I would on no account be Medini's surety, or be +answerable for him in any way. + +Just as I was going out, he leapt forward crying that I must not abandon +him. + +I had opened the door, and the police, fearing he would escape, ran +forward to get hold of him. Then began an interesting battle. Medini, +who had no arms, and was only in his dressing-gown, proceeded to +distribute kicks, cuffs, and blows amongst the four cowards, who had +their swords at their sides, whilst I held the door to prevent the +Irishman going out and calling for assistance. + +Medini, whose nose was bleeding and his dress all torn, persisted in +fighting till the four policemen let him alone. I liked his courage, and +pitied him. + +There was a moment's silence, and I asked his two liveried servants who +were standing by me why they had not helped their master. One said he +owed him six months' wages, and the other said he wanted to arrest him on +his own account. + +As Medini was endeavouring to staunch the blood in a basin of water, the +vetturino told him that as I refused to be his surety he must go to +prison. + +I was moved by the scene that I had witnessed, and said to the vetturino, + +"Give him a fortnight's respite, and if he escapes before the expiration +of that term I will pay you." + +He thought it over for a few moments, and then said,-- + +"Very good, sir, but I am not going to pay any legal expenses." + +I enquired how much the costs amounted to, and paid them, laughing at the +policemen's claim of damages for blows they had received. + +Then the two rascally servants said that if I would not be surety in the +same manner on their account, they would have Medini arrested. However, +Medini called out to me to pay no attention to them whatever. + +When I had given the vetturino his acknowledgment and paid the four or +five crowns charged by the police, Medini told me that he had more to say +to me; but I turned my back on him, and went home to dinner. + +Two hours later one of his servants came to me and promised if I would +give him six sequins to warn me if his master made any preparations for +flight. + +I told him drily that his zeal was useless to me, as I was quite sure +that the count would pay all his debts within the term; and the next +morning I wrote to Medini informing him of the step his servant had +taken. He replied with a long letter full of thanks, in which he exerted +all his eloquence to persuade me to repair his fortunes. I did not +answer. + +However, his good genius, who still protected him, brought a person to +Florence who drew him out of the difficulty. This person was Premislas +Zanovitch, who afterwards became as famous as his brother who cheated +the Amsterdam merchants, and adopted the style of Prince Scanderbeck. I +shall speak of him later on. Both these finished cheats came to a bad +end. + +Premislas Zanovitch was then at the happy age of twenty-five; he was the +son of a gentleman of Budua, a town on the borders of Albania and +Dalmatia, formerly subject to the Venetian Republic and now to the Grand +Turk. In classic times it was known as Epirus. + +Premislas was a young man of great intelligence, and after having studied +at Venice, and contracted a Venetian taste for pleasures and enjoyments +of all sorts, he could not make up his mind to return to Budua, where his +only associates would be dull Sclavs--uneducated, unintellectual, coarse, +and brutish. Consequently, when Premislas and his still more talented +brother Stephen were ordered by the Council of Ten to enjoy the vast sums +they had gained at play in their own country, they resolved to become +adventurers. One took the north and the other the south of Europe, and +both cheated and duped whenever the opportunity for doing so presented +itself. + +I had seen Premislas when he was a child, and had already heard reports +of a notable achievement of his. At Naples he had cheated the Chevalier +de Morosini by persuading him to become his surety to the extent of six +thousand ducats, and now he arrived in Florence in a handsome carriage, +bringing his mistress with him, and having two tall lackeys and a valet +in his service. + +He took good apartments, hired a carriage, rented a box at the opera, had +a skilled cook, and gave his mistress a lady-in-waiting. He then shewed +himself at the best club, richly dressed, and covered with jewellery. He +introduced himself under the name of Count Premislas Zanovitch. + +There is a club in Florence devoted to the use of the nobility. Any +stranger can go there without being introduced, but so much the worse for +him if his appearance fails to indicate his right to be present. The +Florentines are ice towards him, leave him alone, and behave in such a +manner that the visit is seldom repeated. The club is at once decent and +licentious, the papers are to be read there, games of all kinds are +played, food and drink may be had, and even love is available, for ladies +frequent the club. + +Zanovitch did not wait to be spoken to, but made himself agreeable to +everyone, and congratulated himself on mixing in such distinguished +company, talked about Naples which he had just left, brought in his own +name with great adroitness, played high, lost merrily, paid after +pretending to forget all about his debts, and in short pleased everyone. +I heard all this the next day from the Marquis Capponi, who said that +someone had asked him if he knew me, whereat he answered that when I left +Venice he was at college, but that he had often heard his father speak of +me in very high terms. He knew both the Chevalier Morosini and Count +Medini, and had a good deal to say in praise of the latter. The marquis +asked me if I knew him, and I replied in the affirmative, without feeling +it my duty to disclose certain circumstances which might not have been +advantageous to him; and as Madame Denis seemed curious to make his +acquaintance the Chevalier Puzzi promised to bring him to see her, which +he did in the course of a few days. + +I happened to be with Madame Denis when Puzzi presented Zanovitch, and I +saw before me a fine-looking young men, who seemed by his confident +manner to be sure of success in all his undertakings. He was not exactly +handsome, but he had a perfect manner and an air of gaiety which seemed +infectious, with a thorough knowledge of the laws of good society. He +was by no means an egotist, and seemed never at a loss for something to +talk about. I led the conversation to the subject of his country, and he +gave me an amusing description of it, talking of his fief-part of which +was within the domains of the sultan-as a place where gaiety was unknown, +and where the most determined misanthrope would die of melancholy. + +As soon as he heard my name he began speaking to me in a tone of the most +delicate flattery. I saw the makings of a great adventurer in him, but I +thought his luxury would prove the weak point in his cuirass. I thought +him something like what I had been fifteen years ago, but as it seemed +unlikely that he had my resources I could not help pitying him. + +Zanovitch paid me a visit, and told me that Medini's position had excited +his pity, and that he had therefore paid his debts. + +I applauded his generosity, but I formed the conclusion that they had +laid some plot between them, and that I should soon hear of the results +of this new alliance. + +I returned Zanovitch's call the next day. He was at table with his +mistress, whom I should not have recognized if she had not pronounced my +name directly she saw me. + +As she had addressed me as Don Giacomo, I called her Donna Ippolita, but +in a voice which indicated that I was not certain of her identity. She +told me I was quite right. + +I had supped with her at Naples in company with Lord Baltimore, and she +was very pretty then. + +Zanovitch asked me to dine with him the following day, and I should have +thanked him and begged to be excused if Donna Ippolita had not pressed me +to come. She assured me that I should find good company there, and that +the cook would excel himself. + +I felt rather curious to see the company, and with the idea of shewing +Zanovitch that I was not likely to become a charge on his purse, I +dressed myself magnificently once more. + +As I had expected, I found Medini and his mistress there, with two +foreign ladies and their attendant cavaliers, and a fine-looking and +well-dressed Venetian, between thirty-five and forty, whom I would not +have recognized if Zanovitch had not told me his name, Alois Zen. + +"Zen was a patrician name, and I felt obliged to ask what titles I ought +to give him. + +"Such titles as one old friend gives another, though it is very possible +you do not recollect me, as I was only ten years old when we saw each +other last." + +Zen then told me he was the son of the captain I had known when I was +under arrest at St. Andrews. + +"That's twenty-eight years ago; but I remember you, though you had not +had the small-pox in those days." + +I saw that he was annoyed by this remark, but it was his fault, as he had +no business to say where he had known me, or who his father was. + +He was the son of a noble Venetian--a good-for-nothing in every sense of +the word. + +When I met him at Florence he had just come from Madrid, where he had +made a lot of money by holding a bank at faro in the house of the +Venetian ambassador, Marco Zen. + +I was glad to meet him, but I found out before the dinner was over that +he was completely devoid of education and the manners of a gentleman; but +he was well content with the one talent he possessed, namely, that of +correcting the freaks of fortune at games of chance. I did not wait to +see the onslaught of the cheats on the dupes, but took my leave while the +table was being made ready. + +Such was my life during the seven months which I spent at Florence. + +After this dinner I never saw Zen, or Medini, or Zanovitch, except by +chance in the public places. + +Here I must recount some incidents which took place towards the middle of +December. + +Lord Lincoln, a young man of eighteen, fell in love with a Venetian +dancer named Lamberti, who was a universal favourite. On every night +when the opera was given the young Englishman might be seen going to her +camerino, and everyone wondered why he did not visit her at her own +house, where he would be certain of a good welcome, for he was English, +and therefore rich, young, and handsome. I believe he was the only son +of the Duke of Newcastle. + +Zanovitch marked him down, and in a short time had become an intimate +friend of the fair Lamberti. He then made up to Lord Lincoln, and took +him to the lady's house, as a polite man takes a friend to see his +mistress. + +Madame Lamberti, who was in collusion with the rascal, was not niggardly +of her favours with the young Englishman. She received him every night +to supper with Zanovitch and Zen, who had been presented by the Sclav, +either because of his capital, or because Zanovitch was not so +accomplished a cheat. + +For the first few nights they took care to let the young nobleman win. +As they played after supper, and Lord Lincoln followed the noble English +custom of drinking till he did not know his right hand from his left, he +was quite astonished on waking the next morning to find that luck had +been as kind to him as love. The trap was baited, the young lord +nibbled, and, as may be expected, was finally caught. + +Zen won twelve thousand pounds of him, and Zanovitch lent him the money +by installments of three and four hundred louis at a time, as the +Englishman had promised his tutor not to play, on his word of honour. + +Zanovitch won from Zen what Zen won from the lord, and so the game was +kept up till the young pigeon had lost the enormous sum of twelve +thousand guineas. + +Lord Lincoln promised to pay three thousand guineas the next day, and +signed three bills of exchange for three thousand guineas each, payable +in six months, and drawn on his London banker. + +I heard all about this from Lord Lincoln himself when we met at Bologna +three months later. + +The next morning the little gaming party was the talk of Florence. Sasso +Sassi, the banker, had already paid Zanovitch six thousand sequins by my +lord's orders. + +Medini came to see me, furious at not having been asked to join the +party, while I congratulated myself on my absence. My surprise may be +imagined, when, a few days after, a person came up to my room, and +ordered me to leave Florence in three days and Tuscany in a week. + +I was petrified, and called to my landlord to witness the unrighteous +order I had received. + +It was December 28th. On the same date, three years before, I had +received orders to leave Barcelona in three days. + +I dressed hastily and went to the magistrate to enquire the reason for my +exile, and on entering the room I found it was the same man who had +ordered me to leave Florence eleven years before. + +I asked him to give me his reasons, and he replied coldly that such was +the will of his highness. + +"But as his highness must have his reasons, it seems to me that I am +within my rights in enquiring what they are." + +"If you think so yqu had better betake yourself to the prince; I know +nothing about it. He left yesterday for Pisa, where he will stay three +days; you can go there." + +"Will he pay for my journey?" + +"I should doubt it, but you can see for yourself." + +"I shall not go to Pisa, but I will write to his highness if you will +promise to send on the letter." + +"I will do so immediately, for it is my duty." + +"Very good; you shall have the letter before noon tomorrow, and before +day-break I shall be in the States of the Church." + +"There's no need for you to hurry yourself." + +"There is a very great hurry. I cannot breathe the air of a country +where liberty is unknown and the sovereign breaks his word; that is what +I am going to write to your master." + +As I was going out I met Medini, who had come on the same business as +myself. + +I laughed, and informed him of the results of my interview, and how I had +been told to go to Pisa. + +"What! have you been expelled, too?" + +"Yes." + +"What have you done?" + +"Nothing." + +"Nor I. Let us go to Pisa." + +"You can go if you like, but I shall leave Florence tonight." + +When I got home I told my landlord to get me a carriage and to order four +post-horses for nightfall, and I then wrote the following letter to the +grand duke: + +"My Lord; The thunder which Jove has placed in your hands is only for the +guilty; in launching it at me you have done wrong. Seven months ago you +promised that I should remain unmolested so long as I obeyed the laws. +I have done so scrupulously, and your lordship has therefore broken your +word. I am merely writing to you to let you know that I forgive you, and +that I shall never give utterance to a word of complaint. Indeed I would +willingly forget the injury you have done me, if it were not necessary +that I should remember never to set foot in your realms again. The +magistrate tells me that I can go and see you at Pisa, but I fear such a +step would seem a hardy one to a prince, who should hear what a man has +to say before he condemns him, and not afterwards. + +"I am, etc." + + +When I had finished the letter I sent it to the magistrate, and then I +began my packing. + +I was sitting down to dinner when Medini came in cursing Zen and +Zanovitch, whom he accused of being the authors of his misfortune, and of +refusing to give him a hundred sequins, without which he could not +possibly go. + +"We are all going to Pisa," said he, "and cannot imagine why you do not +come, too." + +"Very good," I said, laughingly, "but please to leave me now as I have to +do my packing." + +As I expected, he wanted me to lend him some money, but on my giving him +a direct refusal he went away. + +After dinner I took leave of M. Medici and Madame Dennis, the latter of +whom had heard the story already. She cursed the grand duke, saying she +could not imagine how he could confound the innocent with the guilty. +She informed me that Madame Lamberti had received orders to quit, as also +a hunchbacked Venetian priest, who used to go and see the dancer but had +never supped with her. In fact, there was a clean sweep of all the +Venetians in Florence. + +As I was returning home I met Lord Lincoln's governor; whom I had known +at Lausanne eleven years before. I told him of what had happened to me +through his hopeful pupil getting himself fleeced. He laughed, and told +me that the grand duke had advised Lord Lincoln not to pay the money he +had lost, to which the young man replied that if he were not to pay he +should be dishonoured since the money he had lost had been lent to him. + +In leaving Florence I was cured of an unhappy love which would doubtless +have had fatal consequences if I had stayed on. I have spared my readers +the painful story because I cannot recall it to my mind even now without +being cut to the heart. The widow whom I loved, and to whom I was so +weak as to disclose my feelings, only attached me to her triumphal car to +humiliate me, for she disdained my love and myself. I persisted in my +courtship, and nothing but my enforced absence would have cured me. + +As yet I have not learnt the truth of the maxim that old age, especially +when devoid of fortune, is not likely to prove attractive to youth. + +I left Florence poorer by a hundred sequins than when I came there. I +had lived with the most careful economy throughout the whole of my stay. + +I stopped at the first stage within the Pope's dominions, and by the last +day but one of the year I was settled at Bologna, at "St. Mark's Hotel." + +My first visit was paid to Count Marulli, the Florentine charge +d'affaires. I begged him to write and tell his master, that, out of +gratitude for my banishment, I should never cease to sing his praises. + +As the count had received a letter containing an account of the whole +affair, he could not quite believe that I meant what I said. + +"You may think what you like," I observed, "but if you knew all you would +see that his highness has done me a very great service though quite +untentionally." + +He promised to let his master know how I spoke of him. + +On January 1st, 1772, I presented myself to Cardinal Braneaforte, the +Pope's legate, whom I had known twenty years before at Paris, when he had +been sent by Benedict XVI. with the holy swaddling clothes for the newly- +born Duke of Burgundy. We had met at the Lodge of Freemasons, for the +members of the sacred college were by no means afraid of their own +anathemas. We had also some very pleasant little suppers with pretty +sinners in company with Don Francesco Sensate and Count Ranucci. In +short, the cardinal was a man of wit, and what is called a bon vivant. + +"Oh, here you are!" cried he, when he saw me; "I was expecting you" + +"How could you, my lord? Why should I have come to Bologna rather than +to any other place?" + +"For two reasons. In the first place because Bologna is better than many +other places, and besides I flatter myself you thought of me. But you +needn't say anything here about the life we led together when we were +young men." + +"It has always been a pleasant recollection to me." + +"No doubt. Count Marulli told me yesterday that you spoke very highly of +the grand duke, and you are quite right. You can talk to me in +confidence; the walls of this room have no ears. How much did you get of +the twelve thousand guineas?" + +I told him the whole story, and shewed him a copy of the letter which I +had written to the grand duke. He laughed, and said he was sorry I had +been punished for nothing. + +When he heard I thought of staying some months at Bologna he told me that +I might reckon on perfect freedom, and that as soon as the matter ceased +to become common talk he would give me open proof of his friendship. + +After seeing the cardinal I resolved to continue at Bologna the kind of +life that I had been leading at Florence. Bologna is the freest town in +all Italy; commodities are cheap and good, and all the pleasures of life +may be had there at a low price. The town is a fine one, and the streets +are lined with arcades--a great comfort in so hot a place. + +As to society, I did not trouble myself about it. I knew the Bolognese; +the nobles are proud, rude, and violent; the lowest orders, known as the +birichini, are worse than the lazzaroni of Naples, while the tradesmen +and the middle classes are generally speaking worthy and respectable +people. At Bologna, as at Naples, the two extremes of society are +corrupt, while the middle classes are respectable, and the depository of +virtue, talents, and learning. + +However, my intention was to leave society alone, to pass my time in +study, and to make the acquaintance of a few men of letters, who are +easily accessible everywhere. + +At Florence ignorance is the rule and learning the exception, while at +Bologna the tincture of letters is almost universal. The university has +thrice the usual number of professors; but they are all ill paid, and +have to get their living out of the students, who are numerous. Printing +is cheaper at Bologna than anywhere else, and though the Inquisition is +established there the press is almost entirely free. + +All the exiles from Florence reached Bologna four or five days after +myself. Madame Lamberti only passed through on her way to Venice. +Zanovitch and Zen stayed five or six days; but they were no longer in +partnership, having quarreled over the sharing of the booty. + +Zanovitch had refused to make one of Lord Lincoln's bills of exchange +payable to Zen, because he did not wish to make himself liable in case +the Englishman refused to pay. He wanted to go to England, and told Zen +he was at liberty to do the same. + +They went to Milan without having patched up their quarrel, but the +Milanese Government ordered them to leave Lombardy, and I never heard +what arrangements they finally came to. Later on I was informed that the +Englishman's bills had all been settled to the uttermost farthing. + +Medini, penniless as usual, had taken up his abode in the hotel where I +was staying, bringing with him his mistress, her sister, and her mother, +but with only one servant. He informed me that the grand duke had +refused to listen to any of them at Pisa, where he had received a second +order to leave Tuscany, and so had been obliged to sell everything. Of +course he wanted me to help him, but I turned a deaf ear to his +entreaties. + +I have never seen this adventurer without his being in a desperate state +of impecuniosity, but he would never learn to abate his luxurious habits, +and always managed to find some way or other out of his difficulties. He +was lucky enough to fall in with a Franciscan monk named De Dominis at +Bologna, the said monk being on his way to Rome to solicit a brief of +'laicisation' from the Pope. He fell in love with Medini's mistress, who +naturally made him pay dearly for her charms. + +Medini left at the end of three weeks. He went to Germany, where he +printed his version of the "Henriade," having discovered a Maecenas in +the person of the Elector Palatin. After that he wandered about Europe +for twelve years, and died in a London prison in 1788. + +I had always warned him to give England a wide berth, as I felt certain +that if he once went there he would not escape English bolts and bars, +and that if he got on the wrong side of the prison doors he would never +come out alive. He despised my advice, and if he did so with the idea of +proving me a liar, he made a mistake, for he proved me to be a prophet. + +Medini had the advantage of high birth, a good education, and +intelligence; but as he was a poor man with luxurious tastes he either +corrected fortune at play or went into debt, and was consequently obliged +to be always on the wing to avoid imprisonment. + +He lived in this way for seventy years, and he might possibly be alive +now if he had followed my advice. + +Eight years ago Count Torio told me that he had seen Medini in a London +prison, and that the silly fellow confessed he had only come to London +with the hope of proving me to be a liar. + +Medini's fate shall never prevent me from giving good advice to a poor +wretch on the brink of the precipice. Twenty years ago I told Cagliostro +(who called himself Count Pellegrini in those days) not to set his foot +in Rome, and if he had followed this counsel he would not have died +miserably in a Roman prison. + +Thirty years ago a wise man advised me to beware visiting Spain. I went, +but, as the reader knows, I had no reason to congratulate myself on my +visit. + +A week after my arrival at Bologna, happening to be in the shop of +Tartuffi, the bookseller, I made the acquaintance of a cross-eyed priest, +who struck me, after a quarter of an hour's talk as a man of learning and +talent. He presented me with two works which had recently been issued by +two of the young professors at the university He told me that I should +find them amusing reading, and he was right. + +The first treatise contended that women's faults should be forgiven them, +since they were really the work of the matrix, which influenced them in +spite of themselves. The second treatise was a criticism of the first. +The author allowed that the uterus was an animal, but he denied the +alleged influence, as no anatomist had succeeded in discovering any +communication between it and the brain. + +I determined to write a reply to the two pamphlets, and I did so in the +course of three days. When my reply was finished I sent it to M. +Dandolo, instructing him to have five hundred copies printed. When they +arrived I gave a bookseller the agency, and in a fortnight I had made a +hundred sequins. + +The first pamphlet was called "Lutero Pensante," the second was in French +and bore the title "La Force Vitale," while I called my reply "Lana +Caprina." I treated the matter in an easy vein, not without some hints +of deep learning, and made fun of the lucubrations of the two physicians. +My preface was in French, but full of Parisian idioms which rendered it +unintelligible to all who had not visited the gay capital, and this +circumstance gained me a good many friends amongst the younger +generation. + +The squinting priest, whose name was Zacchierdi, introduced me to the +Abbe Severini, who became my intimate friend in the course of ten or +twelve days. + +This abbe made me leave the inn, and got me two pleasant rooms in the +house of a retired artiste, the widow of the tenor Carlani. He also made +arrangements with a pastrycook to send me my dinner and supper. All +this, plus a servant, only cost me ten sequins a month. + +Severini was the agreeable cause of my losing temporarily my taste for +study. I put by my "Iliad," feeling sure that I should be able to finish +it again. + +Severini introduced me to his family, and before long I became very +intimate with him. I also became the favourite of his sister, a lady +rather plain than pretty, thirty years old, but full of intelligence. + +In the course of Lent the abbe introduced me to all the best dancers and +operatic singers in Bologna, which is the nursery of the heroines of the +stage. They may be had cheaply enough on their native soil. + +Every week the good abbe introduced me to a fresh one, and like a true +friend he watched carefully over my finances. He was a poor man himself, +and could not afford to contribute anything towards the expenses of our +little parties; but as they would have cost me double without his help, +the arrangement was a convenient one for both of us. + +About this time there was a good deal of talk about a Bolognese nobleman, +Marquis Albergati Capacelli. He had made a present of his private +theatre to the public, and was himself an excellent actor. He had made +himself notorious by obtaining a divorce from his wife, whom he did not +like, so as to enable him to marry a dancer, by whom he had two children. +The amusing point in this divorce was that he obtained it on the plea +that he was impotent, and sustained his plea by submitting to an +examination, which was conducted as follows: + +Four skilled and impartial judges had the marquis stripped before them, +and did all in their power to produce an erection; but somehow or other +he succeeded in maintaining his composure, and the marriage was +pronounced null and void on the ground of relative impotence, for it was +well known that he had had children by another woman. + +If reason and not prejudice had been consulted, the procedure would have +been very different; for if relative impotence was considered a +sufficient ground for divorce, of what use was the examination? + +The marquis should have sworn that he could do nothing with his wife, and +if the lady had traversed this statement the marquis might have +challenged her to put him into the required condition. + +But the destruction of old customs and old prejudices is often the work +of long ages. + +I felt curious to know this character, and wrote to M. Dandolo to get me +a letter of introduction to the marquis. + +In a week my good old friend sent me the desired letter. It was written +by another Venetian, M. de Zaguri, an intimate friend of the marquis. + +The letter was not sealed, so I read it. I was delighted; no one could +have commended a person unknown to himself but the friend of a friend in +a more delicate manner. + +I thought myself bound to write a letter of thanks to M. Zaguri. I said +that I desired to obtain my pardon more than ever after reading his +letter, which made me long to go to Venice, and make the acquaintance of +such a worthy nobleman. + +I did not expect an answer, but I got one. M. Zaguri said that my desire +was such a flattering one to himself, that he meant to do his best to +obtain my recall. + +The reader will see that he was successful, but not till after two years +of continuous effort. + +Albergati was away from Bologna at the time, but when he returned +Severini let me know, and I called at the palace. The porter told me +that his excellence (all the nobles are excellences at Bologna) had gone +to his country house, where he meant to pass the whole of the spring. + +In two or three days I drove out to his villa. I arrived at a charming +mansion, and finding no one at the door I went upstairs, and entered a +large room where a gentleman and an exceedingly pretty woman were just +sitting down to dinner. The dishes had been brought in, and there were +only two places laid. + +I made a polite bow, and asked the gentleman if I had the honour of +addressing the Marquis Albergati. He replied in the affirmative, +whereupon I gave him my letter of introduction. He took it, read the +superscription, and put it in his pocket, telling me I was very kind to +have taken so much trouble, and that he would be sure to read it. + +"It has been no trouble at all," I replied, "but I hope you will read the +letter. It is written by M. de Zaguri, whom I asked to do me this +service, as I have long desired to make your lordship's acquaintance." + +His lordship smiled and said very pleasantly that he would read it after +dinner, and would see what he could do for his friend Zaguri. + +Our dialogue was over in a few seconds. Thinking him extremely rude I +turned my back and went downstairs, arriving just in time to prevent the +postillion taking out the horses. I promised him a double gratuity if he +would take me to some village at hand, where he could bait his horses +while I breakfasted. + +Just as the postillion had got on horseback a servant came running up. +He told me very politely that his excellence begged me to step upstairs. + +I put my hand in my pocket and gave the man my card with my name and +address, and telling him that that was what his master wanted, I ordered +the postillion to drive off at a full gallop. + +When we had gone half a league we stopped at a good inn, and then +proceeded on our way back to Bologna. + +The same day I wrote to M. de Zaguri, and described the welcome I had +received at the hands of the marquis. I enclosed the letter in another +to M. Dandolo, begging him to read it, and to send it on. I begged the +noble Venetian to write to the marquis that having offended me grievously +he must prepare to give me due satisfaction. + +I laughed with all my heart next day when my landlady gave me a visiting +card with the inscription, General the Marquis of Albeygati. She told me +the marquis had called on me himself, and on hearing I was out had left +his card. + +I began to look upon the whole of his proceedings as pure gasconnade, +only lacking the wit of the true Gascon. I determined to await M. +Zaguri's reply before making up my mind as to the kind of satisfaction I +should demand. + +While I was inspecting the card, and wondering what right the marquis had +to the title of general, Severini came in, and informed me that the +marquis had been made a Knight of the Order of St. Stanislas by the King +of Poland, who had also given him the style of royal chamberlain. + +"Is he a general in the Polish service as well?" I asked. + +"I really don't know." + +"I understand it all," I said to myself. "In Poland a chamberlain has +the rank of adjutant-general, and the marquis calls himself general. But +general what? The adjective without a substantive is a mere cheat." + +I saw my opportunity, and wrote a comic dialogue, which I had printed the +next day. I made a present of the work to a bookseller, and in three or +four days he sold out the whole edition at a bajocco apiece. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Farinello and the Electress Dowager of Saxony--Madame Slopitz--Nina-- +The Midwife--Madame Soavi--Abbe Bolini--Madame Viscioletta-- +The Seamstress--The Sorry Pleasure of Revenge--Severini Goes to Naples +--My Departure--Marquis Mosca + + +Anyone who attacks a proud person in a comic vein is almost sure of +success; the laugh is generally on his side. + +I asked in my dialogue whether it was lawful for a provost-marshal to +call himself simply marshal, and whether a lieutenant-colonel had a right +to the title of colonel. I also asked whether the man who preferred +titles of honour, for which he had paid in hard cash, to his ancient and +legitimate rank, could pass for a sage. + +Of course the marquis had to laugh at my dialogue, but he was called the +general ever after. He had placed the royal arms of Poland over the gate +of his palace, much to the amusement of Count Mischinski, the Polish +ambassador to Berlin, who happened to be passing through Bologna at that +time. + +I told the Pole of my dispute with the mad marquis, and persuaded him to +pay Albergati a visit, leaving his card. The ambassador did so, and the +call was returned, but Albergati's cards no longer bore the title of +general. + +The Dowager Electress of Saxony having come to Bologna, I hastened to pay +my respects to her. She had only come to see the famous catstrato +Farinello, who had left Madrid, and now lived at Bologna in great +comfort. He placed a magnificent collation before the Electress, and +sang a song of his own composition, accompanying himself on the piano. +The Electress, who was an enthusiastic musician, embraced Farinello, +exclaiming,-- + +"Now I can die happy." + +Farinello, who was also known as the Chevalier Borschi had reigned, as it +were, in Spain till the Parmese wife of Philip V. had laid plots which +obliged him to leave the Court after the disgrace of Enunada. The +Electress noticed a portrait of the queen, and spoke very highly of her, +mentioning some circumstances which must have taken place in the reign of +Ferdinand VI. + +The famous musician burst into tears, and said that Queen Barbara was as +good as Elizabeth of Parma was wicked. + +Borschi might have been seventy when I saw him at Bologna. He was very +rich and in the enjoyment of good health, and yet he was unhappy, +continually shedding tears at the thought of Spain. + +Ambition is a more powerful passion than avarice. Besides, Farinello had +another reason for unhappiness. + +He had a nephew who was the heir to all his wealth, whom he married to a +noble Tuscan lady, hoping to found a titled family, though in an indirect +kind of way. But this marriage was a torment to him, for in his impotent +old age he was so unfortunate as to fall in love with his niece, and to +become jealous of his nephew. Worse than all the lady grew to hate him, +and Farinello had sent his nephew abroad, while he never allowed the wife +to go out of his sight. + +Lord Lincoln arrived in Bologna with an introduction for the cardinal +legate, who asked him to dinner, and did me the honour of giving me an +invitation to meet him. The cardinal was thus convinced that Lord +Lincoln and I had never met, and that the grand duke of Tuscany had +committed a great injustice in banishing me. It was on that occasion +that the young nobleman told me how they had spread the snare, though he +denied that he had been cheated; he was far too proud to acknowledge such +a thing. He died of debauchery in London three or four years after. + +I also saw at Bologna the Englishman Aston with Madame Slopitz, sister of +the Charming Cailimena. Madame Slopitz was much handsomer than her +sister. She had presented Aston with two babes as beautiful as Raphael's +cherubs. + +I spoke of her sister to her, and from the way in which I sang her +praises she guessed that I had loved her. She told me she would be in +Florence during the Carnival of 1773, but I did not see her again till +the year 1776, when I was at Venice. + +The dreadful Nina Bergonci, who had made a madman of Count Ricla, and was +the source of all my woes at Barcelona, had come to Bologna at the +beginning of Lent, occupying a pleasant house which she had taken. She +had carte blanche with a banker, and kept up a great state, affirming +herself to be with child by the Viceroy of Catalonia, and demanding the +honours which would be given to a queen who had graciously chosen Bologna +as the place of her confinement. She had a special recommendation to the +legate, who often visited her, but in the greatest secrecy. + +The time of her confinement approached, and the insane Ricla sent over a +confidential man, Don Martino, who was empowered to have the child +baptized, and to recognize it as Ricla's natural offspring. + +Nina made a show of her condition, appearing at the theatre and in the +public places with an enormous belly. The greatest noble of Bologna paid +court to her, and Nina told them that they might do so, but that she +could not guarantee their safety from the jealous dagger of Ricla. She +was impudent enough to tell them what happened to me at Barcelona, not +knowing that I was at Bologna. + +She was extremely surprised to hear from Count Zini, who knew me, that I +inhabited the same town as herself. + +When the count met me he asked me if the Barcelona story was true. I did +not care to take him into my confidence, so I replied that I did not know +Nina, and that the story had doubtless been made up by her to see whether +he would encounter danger for her sake. + +When I met the cardinal I told him the whole story, and his eminence was +astonished when I gave him some insight into Nina's character, and +informed him that she was the daughter of her sister and her grandfather. + +"I could stake my life," said I, "that Nina is no more with child than +you are." + +"Oh, come!" said he, laughing, "that is really too strong; why shouldn't +she have a child? It is a very simple matter, it seems to me. Possibly +it may not be Ricla's child but there can be no doubt that she is with +somebody's child. What object could she have for feigning pregnancy?" + +"To make herself famous by defiling the Count de Ricla, who was a model +of justice and virtue before knowing this Messalina. If your eminence +knew the hideous character of Nina you would not wonder at anything she +did." + +"Well, we shall see." + +"Yes." + +About a week later I heard a great noise in the street, and on putting my +head out of the window I saw a woman stripped to the waist, and mounted +on an ass, being scourged by the hangman, and hooted by a mob of all the +biricchini in Bologna. Severini came up at the same moment and informed +me that the woman was the chief midwife in Bologna, and that her +punishment had been ordered by the cardinal archbishop. + +"It must be for some great crime," I observed. + +"No doubt. It is the woman who was with Nina the day before yesterday." + +"What! has Nina been brought to bed?" + +"Yes; but of a still-born child." + +"I see it all." + +Next day the story was all over the town. + +A poor woman had come before the archbishop, and had complained bitterly +that the midwife Teresa had seduced her, promising to give her twenty +sequins if she would give her a fine boy to whom she had given birth a +fortnight ago. She was not given the sum agreed upon, and in her despair +at hearing of the death of her child she begged for justice, declaring +herself able to prove that the dead child said to be Nina's was in +reality her own. + +The archbishop ordered his chancellor to enquire into the affair with the +utmost secrecy, and then proceed to instant and summary execution. + +A week after this scandal Don Martino returned to Barcelona; but Nina +remained as impudent as ever, doubled the size of the red cockades which +she made her servants wear, and swore that Spain would avenge her on the +insolent archbishop. She remained at Bologna six weeks longer, +pretending to be still suffering from the effects of her confinement. +The cardinal legate, who was ashamed of having had anything to do with +such an abandoned prostitute, did his best to have her ordered to leave. + +Count Ricla, a dupe to the last, gave her a considerable yearly income on +the condition that she should never come to Barcelona again; but in a +year the count died. + +Nina did not survive him for more than a year, and died miserably from +her fearful debauchery. I met her mother and sister at Venice, and she +told me the story of the last two years of her daughter's life; but it is +so sad and so disgusting a tale that I feel obliged to omit it. + +As for the infamous midwife, she found powerful friends. + +A pamphlet appeared in which the anonymous author declared that the +archbishop had committed a great wrong in punishing a citizen in so +shameful a manner without any of the proper formalities of justice. The +writer maintained that even if she were guilty she had been unjustly +punished, and should appeal to Rome. + +The prelate, feeling the force of these animadversions, circulated a +pamphlet in which it appeared that the midwife had made three prior +appearances before the judge, and that she would have been sent to the +gallows long ago if the archbishop had not hesitated to shame three of +the noblest families in Bologna, whose names appeared in documents in the +custody of his chancellor. + +Her crimes were procuring abortion and killing erring mothers, +substituting the living for the dead, and in one case a boy for a girl, +thus giving him the enjoyment of property which did not belong to him. + +This pamphlet of the prelate reduced the patrons of the infamous midwife +to silence, for several young noblemen whose mothers had been attended by +her did not relish the idea of their family secrets being brought to +light. + +At Bologna I saw Madame Marucci, who had been expelled from Spain for the +same reason as Madame Pelliccia. The latter had retired to Rome, while +Madame Marucci was on her way to Lucca, her native country. + +Madame Soavi, a Bolognese dancer whom I had known at Parma and Paris, +came to Bologna with her daughter by M. de Marigni. The girl, whose name +was Adelaide, was very beautiful, and her natural abilities had been +fostered by a careful education. + +When Madame Soavi got to Bologna she met her husband whom she had not +seen for fifteen years. + +"Here is a treasure for you," said she, shewing him her daughter. + +"She's certainly very pretty, but what am I to do with her? She does not +belong to me." + +"Yes she does, as I have given her to you. You must know that she has +six thousand francs a year, and that I shall be her cashier till I get +her married to a good dancer. I want her to learn character dancing, and +to make her appearance on the boards. You must take her out on +holidays." + +"What shall I say if people ask me who she is?" + +"Say she is your daughter, and that you are certain, because your wife +gave her to you." + +"I can't see that." + +"Ah, you have always stayed at home, and consequently your wits are +homely." + +I heard this curious dialogue which made me laugh then, and makes me +laugh now as I write it. I offered to help in Adelaide's education, but +Madame Soavi laughed, and said,-- + +"Fox, you have deceived so many tender pullets, that I don't like to +trust you with this one, for fear of your making her too precocious." + +"I did not think of that, but you are right." + +Adelaide became the wonder of Bologna. + +A year after I left the Comte du Barri, brother-in-law of the famous +mistress of Louis XV., visited Bologna, and became so amorous of Adelaide +that her mother sent her away, fearing he would carry her off. + +Du Barri offered her a hundred thousand francs for the girl, but she +refused the offer. + +I saw Adelaide five years later on the boards of a Venetian theatre. +When I went to congratulate her, she said,-- + +"My mother brought me into the world, and I think she will send me out of +it; this dancing is killing me." + +In point of fact this delicate flower faded and died after seven years of +the severe life to which her mother had exposed her. + +Madame Soavi who had not taken the precaution to settle the six thousand +francs on herself, lost all in losing Adelaide, and died miserably after +having rolled in riches. But, alas! I am not the man to reproach anyone +on the score of imprudence. + +At Bologna I met the famous Afflisio, who had been discharged from the +imperial service and had turned manager. He went from bad to worse, and +five or six years later committed forgery, was sent to the galleys, and +there died. + +I was also impressed by the example of a man of a good family, who had +once been rich. This was Count Filomarino. He was living in great +misery, deprived of the use of all his limbs by a succession of venereal +complaints. I often went to see him to give him a few pieces of money, +and to listen to his malevolent talk, for his tongue was the only member +that continued active. He was a scoundrel and a slanderer, and writhed +under the thought that he could not go to Naples and torment his +relations, who were in reality respectable people, but monsters according +to his shewing. + +Madame Sabatini, the dancer, had returned to Bologna, having made enough +money to rest upon her laurels. She married a professor of anatomy, and +brought all her wealth to him as a dower. She had with her her sister, +who was not rich and had no talents, but was at the same time very +agreeable. + +At the house I met an abbe, a fine young man of modest appearance. The +sister seemed to be deeply in love with him, while he appeared to be +grateful and nothing more. + +I made some remark to the modest Adonis, and he gave me a very sensible +answer. We walked away together, and after telling each other what +brought us to Bologna we parted, agreeing to meet again. + +The abbe, who was twenty-four or twenty-five years old, was not in +orders, and was the only son of a noble family of Novara, which was +unfortunately poor as well as noble. + +He had a very scanty revenue, and was able to live more cheaply at +Bologna than Novara, where everything is dear. Besides, he did not care +for his relations; he had no friends, and everybody there was more or +less ignorant. + +The Abbe de Bolini, as he was called, was a man of tranquil mind, living +a peaceful and quiet life above all things. He liked lettered men more +than letters, and did not trouble to gain the reputation of a wit. He +knew he was not a fool, and when he mixed with learned men he was quite +clever enough to be a good listener. + +Both temperament and his purse made him temperate in all things, and he +had received a sound Christian education. He never talked about +religion, but nothing scandalized him. He seldom praised and never +blamed. + +He was almost entirely indifferent to women, flying from ugly women and +blue stockings, and gratifying the passion of pretty ones more out of +kindliness than love, for in his heart he considered women as more likely +to make a man miserable than happy. I was especially interested in this +last characteristic. + +We had been friends for three weeks when I took the liberty of asking him +how he reconciled his theories with his attachment to Brigida Sabatini. + +He supped with her every evening, and she breakfasted with him every +morning. When I went to see him, she was either there already or came in +before my call was over. She breathed forth love in every glance, while +the abbe was kind, but, in spite of his politeness, evidently bored. + +Brigida looked well enough, but she was at least ten years older than the +abbe. She was very polite to me and did her best to convince me that the +abbe was happy in the possession of her heart, and that they both enjoyed +the delights of mutual love. + +But when I asked him over a bottle of good wine about his affection for +Brigida, he sighed, smiled, blushed, looked down, and finally confessed +that this connection was the misfortune of his life. + +"Misfortune? Does she make you sigh in vain? If so you should leave +her, and thus regain your happiness." + +"How can I sigh? I am not in love with her. She is in love with me, and +tries to make me her slave." + +"How do you mean?" + +"She wants me to marry her, and I promised to do so, partly from +weakness, and partly from pity; and now she is in a hurry." + +"I daresay; all these elderly girls are in a hurry." + +"Every evening she treats me to tears, supplications, and despair. She +summons me to keep my promise, and accuses me of deceiving her, so you +may imagine that my situation is an unhappy one." + +"Have you any obligations towards her?" + +"None whatever. She has violated me, so to speak, for all the advances +came from her. She has only what her sister gives her from day to day, +and if she got married she would not get that." + +"Have you got her with child?" + +"I have taken good care not to do so, and that's what has irritated her; +she calls all my little stratagems detestable treason." + +"Nevertheless, you have made up your mind to marry her sooner or later?" + +"I'd as soon hang myself. If I got married to her I should be four times +as poor as I am now, and all my relations at Novara would laugh at me for +bringing home a wife of her age. Besides, she is neither rich nor well +born, and at Novara they demand the one or the other." + +"Then as a man of honour and as a man of sense, you ought to break with +her, and the sooner the better." + +"I know, but lacking normal strength what am I to do? If I did not go +and sup with her to-night, she would infallibly come after me to see what +had happened. I can't lock my door in her face, and I can't tell her to +go away." + +"No, but neither can go on in this miserable way. + +"You must make up your mind, and cut the Gordian knot, like Alexander." + +"I haven't his sword." + +"I will lend it you." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Listen to me. You must go and live in another town. She will hardly go +after you there, I suppose." + +"That is a very good plan, but flight is a difficult matter." + +"Difficult? Not at all. Do you promise to do what I tell you, and I +will arrange everything quite comfortably. Your mistress will not know +anything about it till she misses you at supper." + +"I will do whatever you tell me, and I shall never forget your kindness; +but Brigida will go mad with grief." + +"Well my first order to you is not to give her grief a single thought. +You have only to leave everything to me. Would you like to start to- +morrow?" + +"To-morrow?" + +"Yes. Have you any debts?" + +"No." + +"Do you want any money?" + +"I have sufficient. But the idea of leaving tomorrow has taken my breath +away. I must have three days delay." + +"Why so?" + +"I expect some letters the day after to-morrow, and I must write to my +relations to tell them where I am going." + +"I will take charge of your letters and send them on to you." + +"Where shall I be?" + +"I will tell you at the moment of your departure; trust in me. I will +send you at once where you will be comfortable. All you have to do is to +leave your trunk in the hands of your landlord, with orders not to give +it up to anyone but myself." + +"Very good. I am to go without my trunk, then." + +"Yes. You must dine with me every day till you go, and mind not to tell +anyone whatsoever that you intend leaving Bologna." + +"I will take care not to do so." + +The worthy young fellow looked quite radiant. I embraced him and thanked +him for putting so much trust in me. + +I felt proud at the good work I was about to perform, and smiled at the +thought of Brigida's anger when she found that her lover had escaped. +I wrote to my good friend Dandolo that in five or six days a young abbe +would present himself before him bearing a letter from myself. I begged +Dandolo to get him a comfortable and cheap lodging, as my friend was so +unfortunate as to be indifferently provided with money, though an +excellent man. I then wrote the letter of which the abbe was to be the +bearer. + +Next day Bolini told me that Brigida was far from suspecting his flight, +as owing to his gaiety at the thought of freedom he had contented her so +well during the night she had passed with him that she thought him as +much in love as she was. + +"She has all my linen," he added, "but I hope to get a good part of it +back under one pretext or another, and she is welcome to the rest." + +On the day appointed he called on me as we had arranged the night before, +carrying a huge carpet bag containing necessaries. I took him to Modena +in a post chaise, and there we dined; afterward I gave him a letter for +M. Dandolo, promising to send on his trunk the next day. + +He was delighted to hear that Venice was his destination, as he had long +wished to go there, and I promised him that M. Dandolo should see that he +lived as comfortably and cheaply as he had done at Bologna. + +I saw him off, and returned to Bologna. The trunk I dispatched after him +the following day. + +As I had expected, the poor victim appeared before me all in tears the +next day. I felt it my duty to pity her; it would have been cruel to +pretend I did not know the reason for her despair. I gave her a long but +kindly sermon, endeavouring to persuade her that I had acted for the best +in preventing the abbe marrying her, as such a step would have plunged +them both into misery. + +The poor woman threw herself weeping at my feet, begging me to bring her +abbe back, and swearing by all the saints that she would never mention +the word "marriage" again. By way of calming her, I said I would do my +best to win him over. + +She asked where he was, and I said at Venice; but of course she did not +believe me. There are circumstances when a clever man deceives by +telling the truth, and such a lie as this must be approved by the most +rigorous moralists. + +Twenty-seven months later I met Bolini at Venice. I shall describe the +meeting in its proper place. + +A few days after he had gone, I made the acquaintance of the fair +Viscioletta, and fell so ardently in love with her that I had to make up +my mind to buy her with hard cash. The time when I could make women fall +in love with me was no more, and I had to make up my mind either to do +without them or to buy them. + +I cannot help laughing when people ask me for advice, as I feel so +certain that my advice will not be taken. Man is an animal that has to +learn his lesson by hard experience in battling with the storms of life. +Thus the world is always in disorder and always ignorant, for those who +know are always in an infinitesimal proportion to the whole. + +Madame Viscioletta, whom I went to see every day, treated me as the +Florentine widow had done, though the widow required forms and ceremonies +which I could dispense with in the presence of the fair Viscioletta, who +was nothing else than a professional courtezan, though she called herself +a virtuosa. + +I had besieged her for three weeks without any success, and when I made +any attempts she repulsed me laughingly. + +Monsignor Buoncompagni, the vice-legate, was her lover in secret, though +all the town knew it, but this sort of conventional secrecy is common +enough in Italy. As as ecclesiastic he could not court her openly, but +the hussy made no mystery whatever of his visits. + +Being in need of money, and preferring to get rid of my carriage than of +anything else, I announced it for sale at the price of three hundred and +fifty Roman crowns. It was a comfortable and handsome carriage, and was +well worth the price. I was told that the vice-legate offered three +hundred crowns, and I felt a real pleasure in contradicting my favoured +rival's desires. I told the man that I had stated my price and meant to +adhere to it, as I was not accustomed to bargaining. + +I went to see my carriage at noon one day to make sure that it was in +good condition, and met the vice-legate who knew me from meeting me at +the legate's, and must have been aware that I was poaching on his +preserves. He told me rudely that the carriage was not worth more than +three hundred crowns, and that I ought to be glad of the opportunity of +getting rid of it, as it was much too good for me. + +I had the strength of mind to despise his violence, and telling him dryly +that I did not chaffer I turned my back on him and went my way. + +Next day the fair Viscioletta wrote me a note to the effect that she +would be very much obliged if I would let the vice-legate have the +carriage at his own price, as she felt sure he would give it to her. I +replied that I would call on her in the afternoon, and that my answer +would depend on my welcome, I went in due course, and after a lively +discussion, she gave way, and I signified my willingness to sell the +carriage for the sum offered by the vice-legate. + +The next day she had her carriage, and I had my three hundred crowns, and +I let the proud prelate understand that I had avenged myself for his +rudeness. + +About this time Severini succeeded in obtaining a position as tutor in an +illustrious Neapolitan family, and as soon as he received his journey- +money he left Bologna. I also had thoughts of leaving the town. + +I had kept up an interesting correspondence with M. Zaguri, who had made +up his mind to obtain my recall in concert with Dandolo, who desired +nothing better. Zaguri told me that if I wanted to obtain my pardon I +must come and live as near as possible to the Venetian borders, so that +the State Inquisitors might satisfy themselves of my good conduct. +M. Zuliani, brother to the Duchess of Fiano, gave me the same advice, and +promised to use all his interest in my behalf. + +With the idea of following this counsel I decided to set up my abode at +Trieste, where M. Zaguri told me he had an intimate friend to whom he +would give me a letter of introduction. As I could not go by land +without passing through the States of Venice I resolved to go to Ancona, +whence boats sail to Trieste every day. As I should pass through Pesaro +I asked my patron to give me a letter for the Marquis Mosca, a +distinguished man of letters whom I had long wished to know. Just then +he was a good deal talked about on account of a treatise on alms which he +had recently published, and which the Roman curia had placed on the +"Index." + +The marquis was a devotee as well as a man of learning, and was imbued +with the doctrine of St. Augustine, which becomes Jansenism if pushed to +an extreme point. + +I was sorry to leave Bologna, for I had spent eight pleasant months +there. In two days I arrived at Pesaro in perfect health and well +provided for in every way. + +I left my letter with the marquis, and he came to see me the same day. +He said his house would always be open to me, and that he would leave me +in his wife's hands to be introduced to everybody and everything in the +place. He ended by asking me to dine with him the following day, adding +that if I cared to examine his library he could give me an excellent cup +of chocolate. + +I went, and saw an enormours collection of comments on the Latin poets +from Ennius to the poets of the twelfth century of our era. He had had +them all printed at his own expense and at his private press, in four +tall folios, very accurately printed but without elegance. I told him my +opinion, and he agreed that I was right. + +The want of elegance which had spared him an outlay of a hundred thousand +francs had deprived him of a profit of three hundred thousand. + +He presented me with a copy, which he sent to my inn, with an immense +folio volume entitled "Marmora Pisaurentia," which I had no time to +examine. + +I was much pleased with the marchioness, who had three daughters and two +sons, all good-looking and well bred. + +The marchioness was a woman of the world, while her husband's interests +were confined to his books. This difference in disposition sometimes +gave rise to a slight element of discord, but a stranger would never have +noticed it if he had not been told. + +Fifty years ago a wise man said to me: "Every family is troubled by some +small tragedy, which should be kept private with the greatest care. In +fine, people should learn to wash their dirty linen in private." + +The marchioness paid me great attention during the five days I spent at +Pesaro. In the day she drove me from one country house to another, and +at night she introduced me to all the nobility of the town. + +The marquis might have been fifty then. He was cold by temperament, had +no other passion but that of study, and his morals were pure. He had +founded an academy of which he was the president. Its design was a fly, +in allusion to his name Mosca, with the words 'de me ce', that is to say, +take away 'c' from 'musca' and you have 'musa'. + +His only failing was that which the monks regard as his finest quality, +he was religious to excess, and this excess of religion went beyond the +bounds where 'nequit consistere rectum'. + +But which is the better, to go beyond these bounds, or not to come up to +them? I cannot venture to decide the question. Horace says,-- + + "Nulla est mihi religio!" + +and it is the beginning of an ode in which he condemns philosophy for +estranging him from religion. + +Excess of every kind is bad. + +I left Pesaro delighted with the good company I had met, and only sorry I +had not seen the marquis's brother who was praised by everyone. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A Jew Named Mardocheus Becomes My Travelling Companion--He Persuades Me +to Lodge in His House--I Fall in Love With His Daughter Leah-- +After a Stay of Six Weeks I Go to Trieste + + +Some time elapsed before I had time to examine the Marquis of Mosca's +collection of Latin poets, amongst which the 'Priapeia' found no place. + +No doubt this work bore witness to his love for literature but not to his +learning, for there was nothing of his own in it. All he had done was to +classify each fragment in chronological order. I should have liked to +see notes, comments, explanations, and such like; but there was nothing +of the kind. Besides, the type was not elegant, the margins were poor, +the paper common, and misprints not infrequent. All these are bad +faults, especially in a work which should have become a classic. +Consequently, the book was not a profitable one; and as the marquis was +not a rich man he was occasionally reproached by his wife for the money +he had expended. + +I read his treatise on almsgiving and his apology for it, and understood +a good deal of the marquis's way of thinking. I could easily imagine +that his writings must have given great offence at Rome, and that with +sounder judgment he would have avoided this danger. Of course the +marquis was really in the right, but in theology one is only in the right +when Rome says yes. + +The marquis was a rigorist, and though he had a tincture of Jansenism he +often differed from St. Augustine. + +He denied, for instance, that almsgiving could annul the penalty attached +to sin, and according to him the only sort of almsgiving which had any +merit was that prescribed in the Gospel: "Let not thy right hand know +what thy left hand doeth." + +He even maintained that he who gave alms sinned unless it was done with +the greatest secrecy, for alms given in public are sure to be accompanied +by vanity. + +It might have been objected that the merit of alms lies in the intention +with which they are given. It is quite possible for a good man to slip a +piece of money into the palm of some miserable being standing in a public +place, and yet this may be done solely with the idea of relieving +distress without a thought of the onlookers. + +As I wanted to go to Trieste, I might have crossed the gulf by a small +boat from Pesaro; a good wind was blowing, and I should have got to +Trieste in twelve hours. This was my proper way, for I had nothing to do +at Ancona, and it was a hundred miles longer; but I had said I would go +by Ancona, and I felt obliged to do so. + +I had always a strong tincture of superstition, which has exercised +considerable influence on my strange career. + +Like Socrates I, too, had a demon to whom I referred my doubtful +counsels, doing his will, and obeying blindly when I felt a voice within +me telling me to forbear. + +A hundred times have I thus followed my genius, and occasionally I have +felt inclined to complain that it did not impel me to act against my +reason more frequently. Whenever I did so I found that impulse was right +and reason wrong, and for all that I have still continued reasoning. + +When I arrived at Senegallia, at three stages from Ancona, my vetturino +asked me, just as I was going to bed, whether I would allow him to +accommodate a Jew who was going to Ancona in the chaise. + +My first impulse made me answer sharply that I wanted no one in my +chaise, much less a Jew. + +The vetturino went out, but a voice said within me, "You must take this' +poor Israelite;" and in spite of my repugnance I called back the man and +signified my assent. + +"Then you must make up your mind to start at an earlier hour, for it is +Friday to-morrow, and you know the Jews are not allowed to travel after +sunset." + +"I shall not start a moment earlier than I intended, but you can make +your horses travel as quickly as you like." + +He gave me no answer, and went out. The next morning I found my Jew, an +honest-looking fellow, in the carriage. The first thing he asked me was +why I did not like Jews. + +"Because your religion teaches you to hate men of all other religions, +especially Christians, and you think you have done a meritorious action +when you have deceived us. You do not look upon us as brothers. You are +usurious, unmerciful, our enemies, and so I do not like you." + +"You are mistaken, sir. Come with me to our synagogue this evening, and +you will hear us pray for all Christians, beginning with our Lord the +Pope." + +I could not help bursting into a roar of laughter. + +"True," I replied, "but the prayer comes from the mouth only, and not +from the heart. If you do not immediately confess that the Jews would +not pray for the Christians if they were the masters, I will fling you +out of the chaise." + +Of course I did not carry out this threat, but I completed his confusion +by quoting in Hebrew the passages in the Old Testament, where the Jews +are bidden to do all possible harm to the Gentiles, whom they were to +curse every day. + +After this the poor man said no more. When we were going to take our +dinner I asked him to sit beside me, but he said his religion would not +allow him to do so, and that he would only eat eggs, fruit, and some +foiegras sausage he had in his pocket. He only drank water because he +was not sure that the wine was unadulterated. + +"You stupid fellow," I exclaimed, "how can you ever be certain of the +purity of wine unless you have made it yourself?" + +When we were on our way again he said that if I liked to come and stay +with him, and to content myself with such dishes as God had not +forbidden, he would make me more comfortable than if I went to the inn, +and at a cheaper rate. + +"Then you let lodgings to Christians?" + +"I don't let lodgings to anybody, but I will make an exception in your +case to disabuse you of some of your mistaken notions. I will only ask +you six pauls a day, and give you two good meals without wine." + +"Then you must give me fish and wine, I paying for them as extras." + +"Certainly; I have a Christian cook, and my wife pays a good deal of +attention to the cooking." + +"You can give me the foie gras every day, if you will eat it with me." + +"I know what you think, but you shall be satisfied." + +I got down at the Jew's house, wondering at myself as I did so. However, +I knew that if I did not like my accommodation I could leave the next +day. + +His wife and children were waiting for him, and gave him a joyful welcome +in honour of the Sabbath. All servile work was forbidden on this day +holy to the Lord; and all over the house, and in the face of all the +family, I observed a kind of festal air. + +I was welcomed like a brother, and I replied as best I could; but a word +from Mardocheus (so he was called) changed their politeness of feeling +into a politeness of interest. + +Mardocheus shewed me two rooms for me to choose the one which suited me, +but liking them both I said I would take the two for another paul a day, +with which arrangement he was well enough pleased. + +Mardocheus told his wife what we had settled, and she instructed the +Christian servant to cook my supper for me. + +I had my effects taken upstairs, and then went with Mardocheus to the +synagogue. + +During the short service the Jews paid no attention to me or to several +other Christians who were present. The Jews go to the synagogue to pray, +and in this respect I think their conduct worthy of imitation by the +Christians. + +On leaving the synagogue I went by myself to the Exchange, thinking over +the happy time which would never return. + +It was in Ancona that I had begun to enjoy life; and when I thought it +over, it was quite a shock to find that this was thirty years ago, for +thirty years is a long period in a man's life. And yet I felt quite +happy, in spite of the tenth lustrum so near at hand for me. + +What a difference I found between my youth and my middle age! I could +scarcely recognize myself. I was then happy, but now unhappy; then all +the world was before me, and the future seemed a gorgeous dream, and now +I was obliged to confess that my life had been all in vain. I might live +twenty years more, but I felt that the happy time was passed away, and +the future seemed all dreary. + +I reckoned up my forty-seven years, and saw fortune fly away. This in +itself was enough to sadden me, for without the favours of the fickle +goddess life was not worth living, for me at all events. + +My object, then, was to return to my country; it was as if I struggled to +undo all that I had done. All I could hope for was to soften the +hardships of the slow but certain passage to the grave. + +These are the thoughts of declining years and not of youth. The young +man looks only to the present, believes that the sky will always smile +upon him, and laughs at philosophy as it vainly preaches of old age, +misery, repentance, and, worst of all, abhorred death. + +Such were my thoughts twenty-six years ago; what must they be now, when I +am all alone, poor, despised, and impotent. They would kill me if I did +not resolutely subdue them, for whether for good or ill my heart is still +young. Of what use are desires when one can no longer satisfy them? I +write to kill ennui, and I take a pleasure in writing. Whether I write +sense or nonsense, what matters? I am amused, and that is enough. + + 'Malo scriptor delirus, inersque videri, + Dum mea delectent mala me vel denique fallunt, + Quam sapere.' + +When I came back I found Mardocheus at supper with his numerous family, +composed of eleven or twelve individuals, and including his mother--an +old woman of ninety, who looked very well. I noticed another Jew of +middle age; he was the husband of his eldest daughter, who did not strike +me as pretty; but the younger daughter, who was destined for a Jew of +Pesaro, whom she had never seen, engaged all my attention. I remarked to +her that if she had not seen her future husband she could not be in love +with him, whereupon she replied in a serious voice that it was not +necessary to be in love before one married. The old woman praised the +girl for this sentiment, and said she had not been in love with her +husband till the first child was born. + +I shall call the pretty Jewess Leah, as I have good reasons for not using +her real name. + +While they were enjoying their meal I sat down beside her and tried to +make myself as agreeable as possible, but she would not even look at me. + +My supper was excellent, and my bed very comfortable. + +The next day my landlord told me that I could give my linen to the maid, +and that Leah could get it up for me. + +I told him I had relished my supper, but that I should like the foie gras +every day as I had a dispensation. + +"You shall have some to-morrow, but Leah is the only one of us who eats +it." + +"Then Leah must take it with me, and you can tell her that I shall give +her some Cyprus wine which is perfectly pure." + +I had no wine, but I went for it the same morning to the Venetian consul, +giving him M. Dandolo's letter. + +The consul was a Venetian of the old leaven. He had heard my name, and +seemed delighted to make my acquaintance. He was a kind of clown without +the paint, fond of a joke, a regular gourmand, and a man of great +experience. He sold me some Scopolo and old Cyprus Muscat, but he began +to exclaim when he heard where I was lodging, and how I had come there. + +"He is rich," he said, "but he is also a great usurer, and if you borrow +money of him he will make you repent it." + +After informing the consul that I should not leave till the end of the +month, I went home to dinner, which proved excellent. + +The next day I gave out my linen to the maid, and Leah came to ask me how +I liked my lace got up. + +If Leah had examined me more closely she would have seen that the sight +of her magnificent breast, unprotected by any kerchief, had had a +remarkable effect on me. + +I told her that I left it all to her, and that she could do what she +liked with the linen. + +"Then it will all come under my hands if you are in no hurry to go." + +"You can make me stay as long as you like," said I; but she seemed not to +hear this declaration. + +"Everything is quite right," I continued, "except the chocolate; I like +it well frothed." + +"Then I will make it for you myself." + +"Then I will give out a double quantity, and we will take it together." + +"I don't like chocolate." + +"I am sorry to hear that; but you like foie gras?" + +"Yes, I do; and from what father tells me I am going to take some with +you to-day." + +"I shall be delighted." + +"I suppose you are afraid of being poisoned?" + +"Not at all; I only wish we could die together." + +She pretended not to understand, and left me burning with desire. I felt +that I must either obtain possession of her or tell her father not to +send her into my room any more. + +The Turin Jewess had given me some valuable hints as to the conduct of +amours with Jewish girls. + +My theory was that Leah would be more easily won than she, for at Ancona +there was much more liberty than at Turin. + +This was a rake's reasoning, but even rakes are mistaken sometimes. + +The dinner that was served to me was very good, though cooked in the +Jewish style, and Leah brought in the foie gras and sat down opposite to +me with a muslin kerchief over her breast. + +The foie gras was excellent, and we washed it down with copious libations +of Scopolo, which Leah found very much to her taste. + +When the foie gras was finished she got up, but I stopped her, for the +dinner was only half over. + +"I will stay then," said she, "but I am afraid my father will object." + +"Very good. Call your master," I said to the maid who came in at that +moment, "I have a word to speak to him." + +"My dear Mardocheus," I said when he came, "your daughter's appetite +doubles mine, and I shall be much obliged if you will allow her to keep +me company whenever we have foie gras." + +"It isn't to my profit to double your appetite, but if you like to pay +double I shall have no objection." + +"Very good, that arrangement will suit me." + +In evidence of my satisfaction I gave him a bottle of Scopolo, which Leah +guaranteed pure. + +We dined together, and seeing that the wine was making her mirthful I +told her that her eyes were inflaming me and that she must let me kiss +them. + +"My duty obliges me to say nay. No kissing and no touching; we have only +got to eat and drink together, and I shall like it as much as you." + +"You are cruel." + +"I am wholly dependent on my father." + +"Shall I ask your father to give you leave to be kind?" + +"I don't think that would be proper, and my father might be offended and +not allow me to see you any more." + +"And supposing he told you not to be scrupulous about trifles?" + +"Then I should despise him and continue to do my duty." + +So clear a declaration shewed me that if I persevered in this intrigue I +might go on for ever without success. I also bethought me that I ran a +risk of neglecting my chief business, which would not allow me to stay +long in Ancona. + +I said nothing more to Leah just then, and when the dessert came in I +gave her some Cyprus wine, which she declared was the most delicious +nectar she had ever tasted. + +I saw that the wine was heating her, and it seemed incredible to me that +Bacchus should reign without Venus; but she had a hard head, her blood +was hot and her brain cool. + +However, I tried to seize her hand and kiss it, but she drew it away, +saying pleasantly,-- + +"It's too much for honour and too little for love." + +This witty remark amused me, and it also let me know that she was not +exactly a neophyte. + +I determined to postpone matters till the next day, and told her not to +get me any supper as I was supping with the Venetian consul. + +The consul had told me that he did not dine, but that he would always be +delighted to see me at supper. + +It was midnight when I came home, and everyone was asleep except the maid +who let me in. I gave her such a gratuity that she must have wished me +to keep late hours for the rest of my stay. + +I proceeded to sound her about Leah, but she told me nothing but good. +If she was to be believed, Leah was a good girl, always at work, loved by +all, and fancy free. The maid could not have praised her better if she +had been paid to do so. + +In the morning Leah brought the chocolate and sat down on my bed, saying +that we should have some fine foie gras, and that she should have all the +better appetite for dinner as she had not taken any supper. + +"Why didn't you take any supper?" + +"I suppose it was because of your excellent Cyprus wine, to which my +father has taken a great liking." + +"Ah! he like it? We will give him some." + +Leah was in a state of undress as before, and the sight of her half- +covered spheres drove me to distraction. + +"Are you not aware that you have a beautiful breast?" said I. + +"I thought all young girls were just the same." + +"Have you no suspicion that the sight is a very pleasant one for me?" + +"If that be so, I am very glad, for I have nothing to be ashamed of, for +a girl has no call to hide her throat any more than her face, unless she +is in grand company." + +As she was speaking, Leah looked at a golden heart transfixed with an +arrow and set with small diamonds which served me as a shirt stud. + +"Do you like the little heart?" said I. + +"Very much. Is it pure gold?" + +"Certainly, and that being so I think I may offer it to you." + +So saying I took it off, but she thanked me politely, and said that a +girl who gave nothing must take nothing. + +"Take it; I will never ask any favour of you." + +"But I should be indebted to you, and that's the reason why I never take +anything." + +I saw that there was nothing to be done, or rather that it would be +necessary to do too much to do anything, and that in any case the best +plan would be to give her up. + +I put aside all thoughts of violence, which would only anger her or make +her laugh at me. I should either have been degraded, or rendered more +amorous, and all for nothing. If she had taken offense she would not +have come to see me any more, and I should have had nought to complain +of. In fine I made up my mind to restrain myself, and indulge no more in +amorous talk. + +We dined very pleasantly together. The servant brought in some shell- +fish, which are forbidden by the Mosaic Law. While the maid was in the +room I asked Leah to take some, and she refused indignantly; but directly +the girl was gone she took some of her own accord and ate them eagerly, +assuring me that it was the first time she had had the pleasure of +tasting shellfish. + +"This girl," I said to myself, "who breaks the law of her religion with +such levity, who likes pleasure and does not conceal it, this is the girl +who wants to make me believe that she is insensible to the pleasures of +love; that's impossible, though she may not love me. She must have some +secret means of satisfying her passions, which in my opinion are very +violent. We will see what can be done this evening with the help of a +bottle of good Muscat." + +However, when the evening came, she said she could not drink or eat +anything, as a meal always prevented her sleeping. + +The next day she brought me my chocolate, but her beautiful breast was +covered with a white kerchief. She sat down on the bed as usual, and I +observed in a melancholy manner that she had only covered her breast +because I had said I took a pleasure in seeing it. + +She replied that she had not thought of anything, and had only put on her +kerchief because she had had no time to fasten her stays. + +"You are whole right," I said, smilingly, "for if I were to see the whole +breast I might not think it beautiful." + +She gave no answer, and I finished my chocolate. + +I recollected my collection of obscene pictures, and I begged Leah to +give me the box, telling her that I would shew her some of the most +beautiful breasts in the world. + +"I shan't care to see them," said she; but she gave me the box, and sat +down on my bed as before. + +I took out a picture of a naked woman lying on her back and abusing +herself, and covering up the lower part of it I shewed it to Leah. + +"But her breast is like any other," said Leah. + +"Take away your handkerchief." + +"Take it back; it's disgusting. It's well enough done," she added, with +a burst of laughter, "but it's no novelty for me." + +"No novelty for you?" + +"Of course not; every girl does like that before she gets married." + +"Then you do it, too?" + +"Whenever I want to." + +"Do it now." + +"A well-bred girl always does it in private." + +"And what do you do after?" + +"If I am in bed I go to sleep." + +"My dear Leah, your sincerity is too much for me. Either be kind or +visit me no more." + +"You are very weak, I think." + +"Yes, because I am strong." + +"Then henceforth we shall only meet at dinner. But chew me some more +miniatures." + +"I have some pictures which you will not like." + +"Let me see them." + +I gave her Arentin's figures, and was astonished to see how coolly she +examined them, passing from one to the other in the most commonplace way. + +"Do you think them interesting?" I said. + +"Yes, very; they are so natural. But a good girl should not look at such +pictures; anyone must be aware that these voluptuous attitudes excite +one's emotions." + +"I believe you, Leah, and I feel it as much as you. Look here!" + +She smiled and took the book away to the window, turning her back towards +me without taking any notice of my appeal. + +I had to cool down and dress myself, and when the hairdresser arrived +Leah went away, saying she would return me my book at dinner. + +I was delighted, thinking I was sure of victory either that day or the +next, but I was out of my reckoning. + +We dined well and drank better. At dessert Leah took the book out of her +pocket and set me all on fire by asking me to explain some of the +pictures but forbidding all practical demonstration. + +I went out impatiently, determined to wait till next morning. + +When the cruel Jewess came in the morning she told me that she wanted +explanations, but that I must use the pictures and nothing more as a +demonstration of my remarks. + +"Certainly," I replied, "but you must answer all my questions as to your +sex." + +"I promise to do so, if they arise naturally from the pictures." + +The lesson lasted two hours, and a hundred times did I curse Aretin and +my folly in shewing her his designs, for whenever I made the slightest +attempt the pitiless woman threatened to leave me. But the information +she gave me about her own sex was a perfect torment to me. She told me +the most lascivious details, and explained with the utmost minuteness the +different external and internal movements which would be developed in the +copulations pictured by Aretin. I thought it quite impossible that she +could be reasoning from theory alone. She was not troubled by the +slightest tincture of modesty, but philosophized on coition as coolly and +much more learnedly than Hedvig. I would willingly have given her all I +possessed to crown her science by the performance of the great work. She +swore it was all pure theory with her, and I thought she must be speaking +the truth when she said she wanted to get married to see if her notions +were right or wrong. She looked pensive when I told her that the husband +destined for her might be unable to discharge his connubial duties more +than once a week. + +"Do you mean to say," said she, "that one man is not as good as another?" + +"How do you mean?" + +"Are not all men able to make love every day, and every hour, just as +they eat, drink and sleep every day?" + +"No, dear Leah, they that can make love every day are very scarce." + +In my state of chronic irritation I felt much annoyed that there was no +decent place at Ancona where a man might appease his passions for his +money. I trembled to think that I was in danger of falling really in +love with Leah, and I told the consul every day that I was in no hurry to +go. I was as foolish as a boy in his calf-love. I pictured Leah as the +purest of women, for with strong passions she refused to gratify them. +I saw in her a model of virtue; she was all self-restraint and purity, +resisting temptation in spite of the fire that consumed her. + +Before long the reader will discover how very virtuous Leah was. + +After nine or ten days I had recourse to violence, not in deeds but in +words. She confessed I was in the right, and said my best plan would be +to forbid her to come and see me in the morning. At dinner, according to +her, there would be no risk. + +I made up my mind to ask her to continue her visits, but to cover her +breast and avoid all amorous conversation. + +"With all my heart," she replied, laughing; "but be sure I shall not be +the first to break the conditions." + +I felt no inclination to break them either, for three days later I felt +weary of the situation, and told the consul I would start on the first +opportunity. My passion for Leah was spoiling my appetite, and I thus +saw myself deprived of my secondary pleasure without any prospect of +gaining my primary enjoyment. + +After what I had said to the consul I felt I should be bound to go, and I +went to bed calmly enough. But about two o'clock in the morning I had, +contrary to my usual habit, to get up and offer sacrifice to Cloacina. I +left my room without any candle, as I knew my way well enough about the +house. + +The temple of the goddess was on the ground floor, but as I had put on my +soft slippers, and walked very softly, my footsteps did not make the +least noise. + +On my way upstairs I saw a light shining through a chink in the door of a +room which I knew to be unoccupied. I crept softly up, not dreaming for +a moment that Leah could be there at such an hour. But on putting my eye +to the chink I found I could see a bed, and on it were Leah and a young +man, both stark naked, and occupied in working out Aretin's postures to +the best of their ability. They were whispering to one another, and +every four or five minutes I had the pleasure of seeing a new posture. +These changes of position gave me a view of all the beauties of Leah, and +this pleasure was something to set against my rage in having taken such a +profligate creature for a virtuous woman. + +Every time they approached the completion of the great work they stopped +short, and completed what they were doing with their hands. + +When they were doing the Straight Tree, to my mind the most lascivious of +them all, Leah behaved like a true Lesbian; for while the young man +excited her amorous fury she got hold of his instrument and took it +between her lips till the work was complete. I could not doubt that she +had swallowed the vital fluid of my fortunate rival. + +The Adonis then shewed her the feeble instrument, and Leah seemed to +regret what she had done. Before long she began to excite him again; but +the fellow looked at his watch, pushed her away, and began to put on his +shirt. + +Leah seemed angry, and I could see that she reproached him for some time +before she began to dress. + +When they were nearly clothed I softly returned to my room and looked out +of a window commanding the house-door. I had not to wait long before I +saw the fortunate lover going out. + +I went to bed indignant with Leah; I felt myself degraded. She was no +longer virtuous, but a villainous prostitute in my eyes; and I fell to +sleep with the firm resolve of driving her from my room the next morning, +after shaming her with the story of the scene I had witnessed. But, +alas, hasty and angry resolves can seldom withstand a few hours' sleep. +As soon as I saw Leah coming in with my chocolate, smiling and gay as +usual, I told her quite coolly all the exploits I had seen her executing, +laying particular stress on the Straight Tree, and the curious liquid she +had swallowed. I ended by saying that I hoped she would give me the next +night, both to crown my love and insure my secrecy. + +She answered with perfect calm that I had nothing to expect from her as +she did not love me, and as for keeping the secret she defied me to +disclose it. + +"I am sure you would not be guilty of such a disgraceful action," said +she. + +With these words she turned her back on me and went out. + +I could not help confessing to myself that she was in the right; I could +not bring myself to commit such a baseness. She had made me reasonable +in a few words: + +"I don't love you." There was no reply to this, and I felt I had no +claim on her. + +Rather it was she who might complain of me; what right had I to spy over +her? I could not accuse her of deceiving me; she was free to do what she +liked with herself. My best course was clearly to be silent. + +I dressed myself hastily, and went to the Exchange, where I heard that a +vessel was sailing for Fiume the same day. + +Fiume is just opposite Ancona on the other side of the gulf. From Fiume +to Trieste the distance is forty miles, and I decided to go by that +route. + +I went aboard the ship and took the best place, said good-bye to the +consul, paid Mardocheus, and packed my trunks. + +Leah heard that I was going the same day, and came and told me that she +could not give me back my lace and my silk stockings that day, but that I +could have them by the next day. + +"Your father," I replied coolly, "will hand them all over to the Venetian +consul, who will send them to me at Trieste." + +Just as I was sitting down to dinner, the captain of the boat came for my +luggage with a sailor. I told him he could have my trunk, and that I +would bring the rest aboard whenever he liked to go. + +"I intend setting out an hour before dusk." + +"I shall be ready." + +When Mardocheus heard where I was going he begged me to take charge of a +small box and a letter he wanted to send to a friend. + +"I shall be delighted to do you this small service." + +At dinner Leah sat down with me and chattered as usual, without troubling +herself about my monosyllabic answers. + +I supposed she wished me to credit her with calm confidence and +philosophy, while I looked upon it all as brazen impudence. + +I hated and despised her. She had inflamed my passions, told me to my +face she did not love me, and seemed to claim my respect through it all. +Possibly she expected me to be grateful for her remark that she believed +me incapable of betraying her to her father. + +As she drank my Scopolo she said there were several bottles left, as well +as some Muscat. + +"I make you a present of it all," I replied, "it will prime you up for +your nocturnal orgies." + +She smiled and said I had had a gratuitous sight of a spectacle which was +worth money, and that if I were not going so suddenly she would gladly +have given me another opportunity. + +This piece of impudence made me want to break the wine bottle on her +head. She must have known what I was going to do from the way I took it +up, but she did not waver for a moment. This coolness of hers prevented +my committing a crime. + +I contented myself with saying that she was the most impudent slut I had +ever met, and I poured the wine into my glass with a shaking hand, as if +that were the purpose for which I had taken up the bottle. + +After this scene I got up and went into the next room; nevertheless, in +half an hour she came to take coffee with me. + +This persistence of hers disgusted me, but I calmed myself by the +reflection that her conduct must be dictated by vengeance. + +"I should like to help you to pack," said she. + +"And I should like to be left alone," I replied; and taking her by the +arm I led her out of the room and locked the door after her. + +We were both of us in the right. Leah had deceived and humiliated me, +and I had reason to detest her, while I had discovered her for a monster +of hypocrisy and immodesty, and this was good cause for her to dislike +me. + +Towards evening two sailors came after the rest of the luggage, and +thanking my hostess I told Leah to put up my linen, and to give it to her +father, who had taken the box of which I was to be the bearer down to the +vessel. + +We set sail with a fair wind, and I thought never to set face on Leah +again. But fate had ordered otherwise. + +We had gone twenty miles with a good wind in our quarter, by which we +were borne gently from wave to wave, when all of a sudden there fell a +dead calm. + +These rapid changes are common enough in the Adriatic, especially in the +part we were in. + +The calm lasted but a short time, and a stiff wind from the west-north- +west began to blow, with the result that the sea became very rough, and I +was very ill. + +At midnight the storm had become dangerous. The captain told me that if +we persisted in going in the wind's eye we should be wrecked, and that +the only thing to be done was to return to Ancona. + +In less than three hours we made the harbour, and the officer of the +guard having recognized me kindly allowed me to land. + +While I was talking to the officer the sailors took my trunks, and +carried them to my old lodgings without waiting to ask my leave. + +I was vexed. I wanted to avoid Leah, and I had intended to sleep at the +nearest inn. However, there was no help for it. When I arrived the Jew +got up, and said he was delighted to see me again. + +It was past three o'clock in the morning, and I felt very ill, so I said +I would not get up till late, and that I would dine in my bed without any +foie gras. I slept ten hours, and when I awoke I felt hungry and rang my +bell. + +The maid answered and said that she would have the honour of waiting on +me, as Leah had a violent headache. + +I made no answer, thanking Providence for delivering me from this +impudent and dangerous woman. + +Having found my dinner rather spare I told the cook to get me a good +supper. + +The weather was dreadful. The Venetian consul had heard of my return, +and not having seen me concluded I was ill, and paid me a two hours' +visit. He assured me the storm would last for a week at least. I was +very sorry to hear it; in the first place, because I did not want to see +any more of Leah, and in the second, because I had not got any money. +Luckily I had got valuable effects, so this second consideration did not +trouble me much. + +As I did not see Leah at supper-time I imagined that she was feigning +illness to avoid meeting me, and I felt very much obliged to her on this +account. As it appeared, however, I was entirely mistaken in my +conjectures. + +The next day she came to ask for chocolate in her usual way, but she no +longer bore upon her features her old tranquillity of expression. + +"I will take coffee, mademoiselle," I observed; "and as I do not want +foie gras any longer, I will take dinner by myself. Consequently, you +may tell your father that I shall only pay seven pauls a day. In future +I shall only drink Orvieto wine." + +"You have still four bottles of Scopolo and Cyprus" + +"I never take back a present; the wine belongs to you. I shall be +obliged by your leaving me alone as much as possible, as your conduct is +enough to irritate Socrates, and I am not Socrates. Besides, the very +sight of you is disagreeable to me. Your body may be beautiful, but +knowing that the soul within is a monster it charms me no longer. You +may be very sure that the sailors brought my luggage here without my +orders, or else you would never have seen me here again, where I dread +being poisoned every day." + +Leah went out without giving me any answer, and I felt certain that after +my plain-spoken discourse she would take care not to trouble me again. + +Experience had taught me that girls like Leah are not uncommon. I had +known specimens at Spa, Genoa, London, and at Venice, but this Jewess was +the worst I had ever met. + +It was Saturday. When Mardocheus came back from the synagogue he asked +me gaily why I had mortified his daughter, as she had declared she had +done nothing to offend me. + +"I have not mortified her, my dear Mardocheus, or at all events, such was +not my intention; but as I have put myself on diet, I shall be eating no +more foie gras, and consequently I shall dine by myself, and save three +pauls a day." + +"Leah is quite ready to pay me out of her private purse, and she wants to +dine with you to assure you against being poisoned, as she informs me +that you have expressed that fear." + +"That was only a jest; I am perfectly aware that I am in the house of an +honest man. I don't want your daughter to pay for herself, and to prove +that I am not actuated by feelings of economy, you shall dine with me +too. To offer to pay for me is an impertinence on her part. In fine, I +will either dine by myself and pay you seven pawls a day, or I will pay +you thirteen, and have both father and daughter to dine with me." + +The worthy Mardocheus went away, saying that he really could not allow me +to dine by myself. + +At dinner-time I talked only to Mardocheus, without glancing at Leah or +paying any attention to the witty sallies she uttered to attract me. I +only drank Orvieto. + +At dessert Leah filled my glass with Scopolo, saying that if I did not +drink it neither would she. + +I replied, without looking at her, that I advised her only to drink water +for the future, and that I wanted nothing at her hands. + +Mardocheus, who liked wine, laughed and said I was right, and drank for +three. + +The weather continued bad, and I spent the rest of the day in writing, +and after supper I retired and went to sleep. + +Suddenly I was aroused by a slight noise. + +"Who is there?" said I. + +I heard Leah's voice, whispering in reply, + +"'Tis I; I have not come to disturb you, but to justify myself." + +So saying she lay down on the bed, but on the outside of the coverlet. + +I was pleased with this extraordinary visit, for my sole desire was for +vengeance, and I felt certain of being able to resist all her arts. I +therefore told her politely enough that I considered her as already +justified and that I should be obliged by her leaving me as I wanted to +go to sleep. + +"Not before you have heard what I have to say." + +"Go on; I am listening to you." + +Thereupon she began a discourse which I did not interrupt, and which +lasted for a good hour. + +She spoke very artfully, and after confessing she had done wrong she said +that at my age I should have been ready to overlook the follies of a +young and passionate girl. According to her it was all weakness, and +pardonable at such an age. + +"I swear I love you," said she, "and I would have given you good proof +before now if I had not been so unfortunate as to love the young +Christian you saw with me, while he does not care for me in the least; +indeed I have to pay him. + +"In spite of my passion," she continued, "I have never given him what a +girl can give but once. I had not seen him for six months, and it was +your fault that I sent for him, for you inflamed me with your pictures +and strong wines." + +The end of it all was that I ought to forget everything, and treat her +kindly during the few days I was to remain there. + +When she finished I did not allow myself to make any objection. I +pretended to be convinced, assuring her that I felt I had been in the +wrong in letting her see Aretin's figures, and that I would no longer +evince any resentment towards her. + +As her explanation did not seem likely to end in the way she wished, she +went on talking about the weakness of the flesh, the strength of self- +love which often hushes the voice of passion, etc., etc.; her aim being +to persuade me that she loved me, and that her refusals had all been +given with the idea of making my love the stronger. + +No doubt I might have given her a great many answers, but I said nothing. +I made up my mind to await the assault that I saw was impending, and then +by refusing all her advances I reckoned on abasing her to the uttermost. +Nevertheless, she made no motion; her hands were at rest, and she kept +her face at a due distance from mine. + +At last, tired out with the struggle, she left me pretending to be +perfectly satisfied with what she had done. + +As soon as she had gone, I congratulated myself on the fact that she had +confined herself to verbal persuasion; for if she had gone further she +would probably have achieved a complete victory, though we were in the +dark. + +I must mention that before she left me I had to promise to allow her to +make my chocolate as usual. + +Early the next morning she came for the stick of chocolate. She was in a +complete state of negligee, and came in on tiptoe, though if she chose to +look towards the bed she might have seen that I was wide awake. + +I marked her artifices and her cunning, and resolved to be equal to all +her wiles. When she brought the chocolate I noticed that there were two +cups on the tray, and I said,-- + +"Then it is not true that you don't like chocolate?" + +"I feel obliged to relieve you of all fear of being poisoned." + +I noticed that she was now dressed with the utmost decency, while half an +hour before she had only her chemise and petticoat her neck being +perfectly bare. The more resolved she seemed to gain the victory, the +more firmly I was determined to humiliate her, as it appeared to me the +only other alternative would have been my shame and dishonour; and this +turned me to stone. + +In spite of my resolves, Leah renewed the attack at dinner, for, contrary +to my orders, she served a magnificent foie gras, telling me that it was +for herself, and that if she were poisoned she would die of pleasure; +Mardocheus said he should like to die too, and began regaling himself on +it with evident relish. + +I could not help laughing, and announced my wish to taste the deadly +food, and so we all of us were eating it. + +"Your resolves are not strong enough to withstand seduction," said Leah. +This remark piqued me, and I answered that she was imprudent to disclose +her designs in such a manner, and that she would find my resolves strong +enough when the time came. + +A faint smile played about her lips. + +"Try if you like," I said, "to persuade me to drink some Scopolo or +Muscat. I meant to have taken some, but your taunt has turned me to +steel. I mean to prove that when I make up my mind I never alter it." + +"The strong-minded man never gives way," said Leah, "but the good-hearted +man often lets himself be overpersuaded." + +"Quite so, and the good-hearted girl refrains from taunting a man for his +weakness for her." + +I called the maid and told her to go to the Venetian consul's and get me +some more Scopolo and Muscat. Leah piqued me once more by saying +enthusiastically,-- + +"I am sure you are the most good-hearted of men as well as the firmest." +Mardocheus, who could not make out what we meant, ate, drank, and +laughed, and seemed pleased with everything. + +In the afternoon I went out to a cafe in spite of the dreadful weather. +I thought over Leah and her designs, feeling certain that she would pay +me another nocturnal visit and renew the assault in force. I resolved to +weaken myself with some common woman, if I could find one at all +supportable. + +A Greek who had taken me to a disgusting place a few days before, +conducted me to another where he introduced me to a painted horror of a +woman from whose very sight I fled in terror. + +I felt angry that in a town like Ancona a man of some delicacy could not +get his money's worth for his money, and went home, supped by myself, and +locked the door after me. + +The precaution, however, was useless. + +A few minutes after I had shut the door, Leah knocked on the pretext that +I had forgotten to give her the chocolate. + +I opened the door and gave it her, and she begged me not to lock myself +in, as she wanted to have an important and final interview. + +"You can tell me now what you want to say." + +"No, it will take some time, and I should not like to come till everyone +is asleep. You have nothing to be afraid of; you are lord of yourself. +You can go to bed in peace." + +"I have certainly nothing to be afraid of, and to prove it to you I will +leave the door open." + +I felt more than ever certain of victory, and resolved not to blow out +the candles, as my doing so might be interpreted into a confession of +fear. Besides, the light would render my triumph and her humiliation +more complete. With these thoughts I went to bed. + +At eleven o'clock a slight noise told me that my hour had come. I saw +Leah enter my room in her chemise and a light petticoat. She locked my +door softly, and when I cried, "Well; what do you want with me?" she let +her chemise and petticoat drop, and lay down beside me in a state of +nature. + +I was too much astonished to repulse her. + +Leah was sure of victory, and without a word she threw herself upon me, +pressing her lips to mine, and depriving me of all my faculties except +one. + +I utilised a short moment of reflection by concluding that I was a +presumtuous fool, and that Leah was a woman with a most extensive +knowledge of human nature. + +In a second my caress became as ardent as hers, and after kissing her +spheres of rose and alabaster I penetrated to the sanctuary of love, +which, much to my astonishment, I found to be a virgin citadel. + +There was a short silence, and then I said,-- + +"Dearest Leah, you oblige me to adore you; why did you first inspire me +with hate? Are you not come here merely to humiliate me, to obtain an +empty victory? If so, I forgive you; but you are in the wrong, for, +believe me, enjoyment is sweeter far than vengeance." + +"Nay, I have not come to achieve a shameful victory, but to give myself +to you without reserve, to render you my conqueror and my king. Prove +your love by making me happy, break down the barrier which I kept intact, +despite its fragility and my ardour, and if this sacrifice does not +convince you of my affection you must be the worst of men." + +I had never heard more energetic opinions, and I had never seen a more +voluptuous sight. I began the work, and while Leah aided me to the best +of her ability, I forced the gate, and on Leah's face I read the most +acute pain and pleasure mingled. In the first ecstasy of delight I felt +her tremble in every limb. + +As for me, my enjoyment was quite new; I was twenty again, but I had the +self-restraint of my age, and treated Leah with delicacy, holding her in +my arms till three o'clock in the morning. When I left her she was +inundated and exhausted with pleasure, while I could do no more. + +She left me full of gratitude, carrying the soaking linen away with her. +I slept on till twelve o'clock. + +When I awoke and saw her standing by my bedside with the gentle love of +the day after the wedding, the idea of my approaching departure saddened +me. I told her so, and she begged me to stay on as long as I could. I +repeated that we would arrange everything when we met again at night. + +We had a delicious dinner, for Mardocheus was bent on convincing me that +he was no miser. + +I spent the afternoon with the consul, and arranged that I should go on a +Neapolitan man-of-war which was in quarantine at the time, and was to +sail for Trieste. + +As I should be obliged to pass another month at Ancona, I blessed the +storm that had driven me back. + +I gave the consul the gold snuff-box with which the Elector of Cologne +had presented me, keeping the portrait as a memento. Three days later he +handed me forty gold sequins, which was ample for my needs. + +My stay in Ancona was costing me dear; but when I told Mardocheus that I +should not be going for another month he declared he would no longer feed +at my expense. Of course I did not insist. Leah still dined with me. + +It has always been my opinion, though perhaps I may be mistaken, that the +Jew was perfectly well aware of my relations with his daughter. Jews are +usually very liberal on this article, possibly because they count on the +child being an Israelite. + +I took care that my dear Leah should have no reason to repent of our +connection. How grateful and affectionate she was when I told her that I +meant to stay another month! How she blessed the bad weather which had +driven me back. We slept together every night, not excepting those +nights forbidden by the laws of Moses. + +I gave her the little gold heart, which might be worth ten sequins, but +that would be no reward for the care she had taken of my linen. She also +made me accept some splendid Indian handkerchiefs. Six years later I met +her again at Pesaro. + +I left Ancona on November 14th, and on the 15th I was at Trieste. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Pittoni--Zaguri--The Procurator Morosini--The Venetian Consul--Gorice-- +The French Consul--Madame Leo--My Devotion to The State Inquisitors-- +Strasoldo--Madame Cragnoline--General Burghausen + + +The landlord asked me my name, we made our agreement, and I found myself +very comfortably lodged. Next day I went to the post-office and found +several letters which had been awaiting me for the last month. I opened +one from M. Dandolo, and found an open enclosure from the patrician Marco +Dona, addressed to Baron Pittoni, Chief of Police. On reading it, I +found I was very warmly commended to the baron. I hastened to call on +him, and gave him the letter, which he took but did not read. He told me +that M. Donna had written to him about me, and that he would be delighted +to do anything in his power for me. + +I then took Mardocheus's letter to his friend Moses Levi. I had not the +slightest idea that the letter had any reference to myself, so I gave it +to the first clerk that I saw in the office. + +Levi was an honest and an agreeable man, and the next day he called on me +and offered me his services in the most cordial manner. He shewed me the +letter I had delivered, and I was delighted to find that it referred to +myself. The worthy Mardocheus begged him to give me a hundred sequins in +case I needed any money, adding that any politeness shewn to me would be +as if shewn to himself. + +This behaviour on the part of Mardocheus filled me with gratitude, and +reconciled me, so to speak, with the whole Jewish nation. I wrote him a +letter of thanks, offering to serve him at Venice in any way I could. + +I could not help comparing the cordiality of Levi's welcome with the +formal and ceremonious reception of Baron Pittoni. The baron was ten or +twelve years younger than I. He was a man of parts, and quite devoid of +prejudice. A sworn foe of 'meum and tuum', and wholly incapable of +economy, he left the whole care of his house to his valet, who robbed +him, but the baron knew it and made no objection. He was a determined +bachelor, a gallant, and the friend and patron of libertines. His chief +defect was his forgetfulness and absence of mind, which made him +mismanage important business. + +He was reputed, though wrongly, to be a liar. A liar is a person who +tells falsehoods intentionally, while if Pittoni told lies it was because +he had forgotten the truth. We became good friends in the course of a +month, and we have remained friends to this day. + +I wrote to my friends at Venice, announcing my arrival at Trieste, and +for the next ten days I kept my room, busied in putting together the +notes I had made on Polish events since the death of Elizabeth Petrovna. +I meant to write a history of the troubles of unhappy Poland up to its +dismemberment, which was taking place at the epoch in which I was +writing. + +I had foreseen all this when the Polish Diet recognized the dying czarina +as Empress of all the Russians, and the Elector of Brandenburg as King of +Prussia, and I proceeded with my history; but only the first three +volumes were published, owing to the printers breaking the agreement. + +The four last volumes will be found in manuscript after my death, and +anyone who likes may publish them. But I have become indifferent to all +this as to many other matters since I have seen Folly crowned king of the +earth. + +To-day there is no such country as Poland, but it might still be in +existence if it had not been for the ambition of the Czartoryski family, +whose pride had been humiliated by Count Bruhl, the prime minister. To +gain vengeance Prince Augustus Czartoryski ruined his country. He was so +blinded by passion that he forgot that all actions have their inevitable +results. + +Czartoryski had determined not only to exclude the House of Saxony from +the succession, but to dethrone the member of that family who was +reigning. To do this the help of the Czarina and of the Elector of +Brandenburg was necessary, so he made the Polish Diet acknowledge the one +as Empress of all the Russians, and the other as King of Prussia. The +two sovereigns would not treat with the Polish Commonwealth till this +claim had been satisfied; but the Commonwealth should never have granted +these titles, for Poland itself possessed most of the Russias, and was +the true sovereign of Prussia, the Elector of Brandenburg being only Duke +of Prussia in reality. + +Prince Czartoryski, blinded by the desire of vengeance, persuaded the +Diet that to give the two sovereigns these titles would be merely a form, +and that they would never become anything more than honorary. This might +be so, but if Poland had possessed far-seeing statesmen they would have +guessed that an honorary title would end in the usurpation of the whole +country. + +The Russian palatin had the pleasure of seeing his nephew Stanislas +Poniatowski on the throne. + +I myself told him that these titles gave a right, and that the promise +not to make any use of them was a mere delusion. I added jokingly--for +I was obliged to adopt a humorous tone--that before long Europe would +take pity on Poland, which had to bear the heavy weight of all the +Russias and the kingdom of Prussia as well, and the Commonwealth would +find itself relieved of all these charges. + +My prophecy has been fulfilled. The two princes whose titles were +allowed have torn Poland limb from limb; it is now absorbed in Russia and +Prussia. + +The second great mistake made by Poland was in not remembering the +apologue of the man and the horse when the question of protection +presented itself. + +The Republic of Rome became mistress of the world by protecting other +nations. + +Thus Poland came to ruin through ambition, vengeance, and folly--but +folly most of all. + +The same reason lay at the root of the French Revolution. Louis XVI. +paid the penalty of his folly with his life. If he had been a wise ruler +he would still be on the throne, and France would have escaped the fury +of the Revolutionists. France is sick; in any other country this +sickness might be remedied, but I would not wonder if it proved incurable +in France. + +Certain emotional persons are moved to pity by the emigrant French +nobles, but for my part I think them only worthy of contempt. Instead of +parading their pride and their disgrace before the eyes of foreign +nations, they should have rallied round their king, and either have saved +the throne or died under its ruins. What will become of France? It was +hard to say; but it is certain that a body without a head cannot live +very long, for reason is situate in the head. + +On December 1st Baron Pittoni begged me to call on him as some one had +come from Venice on purpose to see me. + +I dressed myself hastily, and went to the baron's, where I saw a fine- +looking man of thirty-five or forty, elegantly dressed. He looked at me +with the liveliest interest. + +"My heart tells me," I began, "that your excellence's name is Zaguri?" + +"Exactly so, my dear Casanova. As soon as my friend Dandolo told me of +your arrival here, I determined to come and congratulate you on your +approaching recall, which will take place either this year or the next, +as I hope to see two friends of mine made Inquisitors. You may judge of +my friendship for you when I tell you that I am an 'avogador', and that +there is a law forbidding such to leave Venice. We will spend to-day and +to-morrow together." + +I replied in a manner to convince him that I was sensible of the honour +he had done me; and I heard Baron Pittoni begging me to excuse him for +not having come to see me. He said he had forgotten all about it, and a +handsome old man begged his excellence to ask me to dine with him, though +he had not the pleasure of knowing me. + +"What!" said Zaguri. "Casanova has been here for the last ten days, and +does not know the Venetian consul?" + +I hastened to speak. + +"It's my own fault," I observed, "I did not like calling on this +gentleman, for fear he might think me contraband." + +The consul answered wittily that I was not contraband but in quarantine, +pending my return to my native land; and that in the meanwhile his house +would always be open to me, as had been the house of the Venetian consul +at Ancona. + +In this manner he let me know that he knew something about me, and I was +not at all sorry for it. + +Marco Monti, such was the consul's name, was a man of parts and much +experience; a pleasant companion and a great conversationalist, fond of +telling amusing stories with a grave face--in fact, most excellent +company. + +I was something of a 'conteur' myself, and we soon became friendly rivals +in telling anecdotes. In spite of his thirty additional years I was a +tolerable match for him, and when we were in a room there was no question +of gaining to kill the time. + +We became fast friends, and I benefited a good deal by his offices during +the two years I spent in Trieste, and I have always thought that he had a +considerable share in obtaining my recall. That was my great object in +those days; I was a victim to nostalgia, or home sickness. + +With the Swiss and the Sclavs it is really a fatal disease, which carries +them off if they are not sent home immediately. Germans are subject to +this weakness also; whilst the French suffer very little, and Italians +not much more from the complaint. + +No rule, however, lacks its exception, and I was one. I daresay I should +have got over my nostalgia if I had treated it with contempt, and then I +should not have wasted ten years of my life in the bosom of my cruel +stepmother Venice. + +I dined with M. Zaguri at the consul's, and I was invited to dine with +the governor, Count Auersperg, the next day. + +The visit from a Venetian 'avogador' made me a person of great +consideration. I was no longer looked upon as an exile, but as one who +had successfully escaped from illegal confinement. + +The day after I accompanied M. Zaguri to Gorice, where he stayed three +days to enjoy the hospitality of the nobility. I was included in all +their invitations, and I saw that a stranger could live very pleasantly +at Gorice. + +I met there a certain Count Cobenzl, who may be alive now--a man of +wisdom, generosity, and the vastest learning, and yet without any kind of +pretention. He gave a State dinner to M. Zaguri, and I had the pleasure +of meeting there three or four most charming ladies. I also met Count +Tomes, a Spaniard whose father was in in the Austrian service. He had +married at sixty, and had five children all as ugly as himself. His +daughter was a charming girl in spite of her plainness; she evidently got +her character from the mother's side. The eldest son, who was ugly and +squinted, was a kind of pleasant madman, but he was also a liar, a +profligate, a boaster, and totally devoid of discretion. In spite of +these defects he was much sought after in society as he told a good tale +and made people laugh. If he had been a student, he would have been a +distinguished scholar, as his memory was prodigious. He it was who +vainly guaranteed the agreement I made with Valerio Valeri for printing +my "History of Poland." I also met at Gorice a Count Coronini, who was +known in learned circles as the author of some Latin treatises on +diplomacy. Nobody read his books, but everybody agreed that he was a +very learned man. + +I also met a young man named Morelli, who had written a history of the +place and was on the point of publishing the first volume. He gave me +his MS. begging me to make any corrections that struck me as desirable. +I succeeded in pleasing him, as I gave him back his work without a single +note or alteration of any kind, and thus he became my friend. + +I became a great friend of Count Francis Charles Coronini, who was a man +of talents. He had married a Belgian lady, but not being able to agree +they had separated and he passed his time in trifling intrigues, hunting, +and reading the papers, literary and political. He laughed at those +sages who declared that there was not one really happy person in the +world, and he supported his denial by the unanswerable dictum: + +"I myself am perfectly happy." + +However, as he died of a tumor in the head at the age of thirty-five, he +probably acknowledged his mistake in the agonies of death. + +There is no such thing as a perfectly happy or perfectly unhappy man in +the world. One has more happiness in his life and another more +unhappiness, and the same circumstance may produce widely different +effects on individuals of different temperaments. + +It is not a fact that virtue ensures happiness for the exercise of some +virtues implies suffering, and suffering is incompatible with happiness. + +My readers may be aware that I am not inclined to make mental pleasure +pre-eminent and all sufficing. It may be a fine thing to have a clear +conscience, but I cannot see that it would at all relieve the pangs of +hunger. + +Baron Pittoni and myself escorted Zaguri to the Venetian border, and we +then returned to Trieste together. + +In three or four days Pittoni took me everywhere, including the club +where none but persons of distinction were admitted. This club was held +at the inn where I was staying. + +Amongst the ladies, the most noteworthy was the wife of the merchant, +David Riguelin, who was a Swabian by birth. + +Pittoni was in love with her and continued so till her death. His suit +lasted for twelve years, and like Petrarch, he still sighed, still hoped, +but never succeeded. Her name was Zanetta, and besides her beauty she +had the charm of being an exquisite singer and a polished hostess. Still +more noteworthy, however, was the unvarying sweetness and equability of +her disposition. + +I did not want to know her long before recognizing that she was +absolutely impregnable. I told Pittoni so, but all in vain; he still fed +on empty hope. + +Zanetta had very poor health, though no one would have judged so from her +appearance, but it was well known to be the case. She died at an early +age. + +A few days after M. Zaguri's departure, I had a note from the consul +informing me that the Procurator Morosini was stopping in my inn, and +advising me to call on him if I knew him. + +I was infinitely obliged for this advice, for M. Morosini was a +personage of the greatest importance. He had known me from childhood, +and the reader may remember that he had presented me to Marshal +Richelieu, at Fontainebleau, in 1750. + +I dressed myself as if I had been about to speak to a monarch, and sent +in a note to his room. + +I had not long to wait; he came out and welcomed me most graciously, +telling me how delighted he was to see me again. + +When he heard the reason of my being at Trieste, and how I desired to +return to my country, he assured me he would do all in his power to +obtain me my wish. He thanked me for the care I had taken of his nephew +at Florence, and kept me all the day while I told him my principal +adventures. + +He was glad to hear that M. Zaguri was working for me, and said that they +must concert the mater together. He commended me warmly to the consul, +who was delighted to be able to inform the Tribunal of the consideration +with which M. Morosini treated me. + +After the procurator had gone I began to enjoy life at Trieste, but in +strict moderation and with due regard for economy, for I had only fifteen +sequins a month. I abjured play altogether. + +Every day I dined with one of the circle of my friends, who were the +Venetian consul, the French consul (an eccentric but worthy man who kept +a good cook), Pittoni, who kept an excellent table, thanks to his man who +knew what was to his own interests, and several others. + +As for the pleasures of love I enjoyed them in moderation, taking care of +my purse and of my health. + +Towards the end of the carnival I went to a masked ball at the theatre, +and in the course of the evening a harlequin came up and presented his +columbine to me. They both began to play tricks on me. I was pleased +with the columbine, and felt a strong desire to be acquainted with her. +After some vain researches the French consul, M. de St. Sauveur, told me +that the harlequin was a young lady of rank, and that the columbine was a +handsome young man. + +"If you like," he added, "I will introduce you to the harlequin's family, +and I am sure you will appreciate her charms when you see her as a girl." + +As they persisted in their jokes I was able, without wounding decency +overmuch, to convince myself that the consul was right on the question of +sex; and when the ball was over I said I should be obliged by his +introducing me as he had promised. He promised to do so the day after +Ash Wednesday. + +Thus I made the acquaintance of Madame Leo, who was still pretty and +agreeable, though she had lived very freely in her younger days. There +was her husband, a son, and six daughters, all handsome, but especially +the harlequin with whom I was much taken. Naturally I fell in love with +her, but as I was her senior by thirty years, and had begun my addresses +in a tone of fatherly affection, a feeling of shame prevented my +disclosing to her the real state of my heart. Four years later she told +me herself that she had guessed my real feelings, and had been amused by +my foolish restraint. + +A young girl learns deeper lessons from nature than we men can acquire +with all our experience. + +At the Easter of 1773 Count Auersperg, the Governor of Trieste, was +recalled to Vienna, and Count Wagensberg took his place. His eldest +daughter, the Countess Lantieri, who was a great beauty, inspired me with +a passion which would have made me unhappy if I had not succeeded in +hiding it under a veil of the profoundest respect. + +I celebrated the accession of the new governor by some verses which I had +printed, and in which, while lauding the father, I paid conspicuous +homage to the charms of the daughter. + +My tribute pleased them, and I became an intimate friend of the count's. +He placed confidence in me with the idea of my using it to my own +advantage, for though he did not say so openly I divined his intention. + +The Venetian consul had told me that he had been vainly endeavouring for +the last four years to get the Government of Trieste to arrange for the +weekly diligence from Trieste to Mestre to pass by Udine, the capital of +the Venetian Friuli. + +"This alteration," he had said, "would greatly benefit the commerce of +the two states; but the Municipal Council of Trieste opposes it for a +plausible but ridiculous reason." + +These councillors, in the depth of their wisdom, said that if the +Venetian Republic desired the alteration it would evidently be to their +advantage, and consequently to the disadvantage of Trieste. + +The consul assured me that if I could in any way obtain the concession it +would weigh strongly in my favour with the State Inquisitors, and even in +the event of my non-success he would represent my exertions in the most +favourable light. + +I promised I would think the matter over. + +Finding myself high in the governor's favour, I took the opportunity of +addressing myself to him on the subject. He had heard about the matter, +and thought the objection of the Town Council absurd and even monstrous; +but he professed his inability to do anything himself. + +"Councillor Rizzi," said he, "is the most obstinate of them all, and has +led astray the rest with his sophisms. But do you send me in a +memorandum shewing that the alteration will have a much better effect on +the large commerce of Trieste than on the comparatively trifling trade of +Udine. I shall send it into the Council without disclosing the +authorship, but backing it with my authority, and challenging the +opposition to refute your arguments. Finally, if they do not decide +reasonably I shall proclaim before them all my intention to send the +memoir to Vienna with my opinion on it." + +I felt confident of success, and wrote out a memoir full of +incontrovertible reasons in favour of the proposed change. + +My arguments gained the victory; the Council were persuaded, and Count +Wagensberg handed me the decree, which I immediately laid before the +Venetian consul. Following his advice, I wrote to the secretary of the +Tribunal to the effect that I was happy to have given the Government a +proof of my zeal, and an earnest of my desire to be useful to my country +and to be worthy of being recalled. + +Out of regard for me the count delayed the promulgation of the decree for +a week, so that the people of Udine heard the news from Venice before it +had reached Trieste, and everybody thought that the Venetian Government +had achieved its ends by bribery. The secretary of the Tribunal did not +answer my letter, but he wrote to the consul ordering him to give me a +hundred ducats, and to inform me that this present was to encourage me to +serve the Republic. He added that I might hope great things from the +mercy of the Inquisitors if I succeeded in negotiating the Armenian +difficulty. + +The consul gave me the requisite information, and my impression was that +my efforts would be in vain; however, I resolved to make the attempt. + +Four Armenian monks had left the Convent of St. Lazarus at Venice, having +found the abbot's tyranny unbearable. They had wealthy relations at +Constantinople, and laughed the excommunication of their late tyrant to +scorn. They sought asylum at Vienna, promising to make themselves useful +to the State by establishing an Armenian press to furnish all the +Armenian convents with books. They engaged to sink a capital of a +million florins if they were allowed to settle in Austria, to found their +press, and to buy or build a convent, where they proposed to live in +community but without any abbot. + +As might be expected the Austrian Government did not hesitate to grant +their request; it did more, it gave them special privileges. + +The effect of this arrangement would be to deprive Venice of a lucrative +trade, and to place it in the emperor's dominions. Consequently the +Viennese Court sent them to Trieste with a strong recommendation to the +governor, and they had been there for the past six months. + +The Venetian Government, of course, wished to entice them back to Venice. +They had vainly induced their late abbot to make handsome offers to them, +and they then proceeded by indirect means, endeavoring to stir up +obstacles in their way, and to disgust them with Trieste. + +The consul told me plainly that he had not touched the matter, thinking +success to be out of the question; and he predicted that if I attempted +it I should find myself in the dilemma of having to solve the insoluble. +I felt the force of the consul's remark when I reflected that I could not +rely on the governor's assistance, or even speak to him on the subject. +I saw that I must not let him suspect my design, for besides his duty to +his Government he was a devoted friend to the interests of Trieste, and +for this reason a great patron of the monks. + +In spite of these obstacles my nostalgia made me make acquaintance with +these monks under pretence of inspecting their Armenian types, which they +were already casting. In a week or ten days I became quite intimate with +them. One day I said that they were bound in honour to return to the +obedience of their abbot, if only to annul his sentence of +excommunication. + +The most obstinate of them told me that the abbot had behaved more like a +despot than a father, and had thus absolved them from their obedience. +"Besides," he said, "no rascally priest has any right to cut off good +Christians from communion with the Saviour, and we are sure that our +patriarch will give us absolution and send us some more monks." + +I could make no objection to these arguments; however, I asked on another +occasion on what conditions they would return to Venice. + +The most sensible of them said that in the first place the abbot must +withdraw the four hundred thousand ducats which he had entrusted to the +Marquis Serpos at four per cent. + +This sum was the capital from which the income of the Convent of St. +Lazarus was derived. The abbot had no right whatever to dispose of it, +even with the consent of a majority among the monks. If the marquis +became bankrupt the convent would be utterly destitute. The marquis was +an Armenian diamond merchant, and a great friend of the abbot's. + +I then asked the monks what were the other conditions, and they replied +that these were some matters of discipline which might easily be settled; +they would give me a written statement of their grievances as soon as I +could assure them that the Marquis Serpos was no longer in possession of +their funds. + +I embodied my negotiations in writing, and sent the document to the +Inquisitors by the consul. In six weeks I received an answer to the +effect that the abbot saw his way to arranging the money difficulty, but +that he must see a statement of the reforms demanded before doing so. +This decided me to have nothing to do with the affair, but a few words +from Count Wagensberg made me throw it up without further delay. He gave +me to understand that he knew of my attempts to reconcile the four monks +with their abbot, and he told me that he had been sorry to hear the +report, as my success would do harm to a country where I lived and where +I was treated as a friend. + +I immediately told him the whole story, assuring him that I would never +have begun the negotiation if I had not been certain of failure, for I +heard on undoubted authority that Serpos could not possibly restore the +four hundred thousand ducats. + +This explanation thoroughly dissipated any cloud that might have arisen +between us. + +The Armenians bought Councillor Rizzi's house for thirty thousand +florins. Here they established themselves, and I visited them from time +to time without saying anything more about Venice. + +Count Wagensberg gave me another proof of his friendship. Unhappily for +me he died during the autumn of the same year, at the age of fifty. + +One morning he summoned me, and I found him perusing a document he had +just received from Vienna. He told me he was sorry I did not read +German, but that he would tell me the contents of the paper. + +"Here," he continued, "you will be able to serve your country without in +any way injuring Austria. + +"I am going to confide in you a State secret (it being understood of +course that my name is never to be mentioned) which ought to be greatly +to your advantage, whether you succeed or fail; at all hazards your +patriotism, your prompt action, and your cleverness in obtaining such +information will be made manifest. Remember you must never divulge your +sources of information; only tell your Government that you are perfectly +sure of the authenticity of the statement you make. + +"You must know," he continued, "that all the commodities we export to +Lombardy pass through Venice where they have to pay duty. Such has long +been the custom, and it may still be so if the Venetian Government will +consent to reduce the duty of four per cent to two per cent. + +"A plan has been brought before the notice of the Austrian Court, and it +has been eagerly accepted. I have received certain orders on the matter, +which I shall put into execution without giving any warning to the +Venetian Government. + +"In future all goods for Lombardy will be embarked here and disembarked +at Mezzola without troubling the Republic. Mezzola is in the territories +of the Duke of Modem; a ship can cross the gulf in the night, and our +goods will be placed in storehouses, which will be erected. + +"In this way we shall shorten the journey and decrease the freights, and +the Modenese Government will be satisfied with a trifling sum, barely +equivalent to a fourth of what we pay to Venice. + +"In spite of all this, I feel sure that if the Venetian Government wrote +to the Austrian Council of Commerce expressing their willingness to take +two per cent henceforth, the proposal would be accepted, for we Austrians +dislike novelties. + +"I shall not lay the matter before the Town Council for four or five +days, as there is no hurry for us; but you had better make haste, that +you may be the first to inform your Government of the matter. + +"If everything goes as I should wish I hope to receive an order from +Vienna suspending the decree just as I am about to make it public." + +Next morning the governor was delighted to hear that everything had been +finished before midnight. He assured me that the consul should not have +official information before Saturday. In the meanwhile the consul's +uneasy state of mind was quite a trouble to me, for I could not do +anything to set his mind at ease. + +Saturday came and Councillor Rizzi told me the news at the club. He +seemed in high spirits over it, and said that the loss of Venice was the +gain of Trieste. The consul came in just then, and said that the loss +would be a mere trifle for Venice, while the first-shipwreck would cost +more to Trieste than ten years' duty. The consul seemed to enjoy the +whole thing, but that was the part he had to play. In all small trading +towns like Trieste, people make a great account of trifles. + +I went to dine with the consul, who privately confessed his doubts and +fears on the matter. + +I asked him how the Venetians would parry the blow, and he replied,-- + +"They will have a number of very learned consultations, and then they +will do nothing at all, and the Austrians will send their goods wherever +they please." + +"But the Government is such a wise one." + +"Or rather has the reputation of wisdom." + +"Then you think it lives on its reputation?" + +"Yes; like all your mouldy institutions, they continue to be simply +because they have been. Old Governments are like those ancient dykes +which are rotten at the base, and only stay in position by their weight +and bulk." + +The consul was in the right. He wrote to his chief the same day, and in +the course of the next week he heard that their excellencies had received +information of the matter some time ago by extraordinary channels. + +For the present his duties would be confined to sending in any additional +information on the same subject. + +"I told you so," said the consul; "now, what do you think of the wisdom +of our sages?" + +"I think Bedlam of Charenton were their best lodging." + +In three weeks the consul received orders to give me another grant of a +hundred ducats, and to allow me ten sequins a month, to encourage me to +deserve well of the State. + +From that time I felt sure I should be allowed to return in the course of +the year, but I was mistaken, for I had to wait till the year following. + +This new present, and the monthly payment of ten sequins put me at my +ease, for I had expensive tastes of which I could not cure myself. I +felt pleased at the thought that I was now in the pay of the Tribunal +which had punished me, and which I had defied. It seemed to me a +triumph, and I determined to do all in my power for the Republic. + +Here I must relate an amusing incident, which delighted everyone in +Trieste. + +It was in the beginning of summer. I had been eating sardines by the +sea-shore, and when I came home at ten o'clock at night I was astonished +to be greeted by a girl whom I recognized as Count Strasoldo's maid. + +The count was a handsome young man, but poor like most of that name; he +was fond of expensive pleasures, and was consequently heavily in debt. +He had a small appointment which brought him in an income of six hundred +florins, and he had not the slightest difficulty in spending a year's pay +in three months. He had agreeable manners and a generous disposition, +and I had supped with him in company with Baron Pittoni several times. +He had a girl in his service who was exquisitely pretty, but none of the +count's friends attempted her as he was very jealous. Like the rest, I +had seen and admired her, I had congratulated the count on the possession +of such a treasure in her presence, but I had never addressed a word to +her. + +Strasoldo had just been summoned to Vienna by Count Auersperg who liked +him, and had promised to do what he could for him. He had got an +employment in Poland, his furniture had been sold, he had taken leave of +everyone, and nobody doubted that he would take his pretty maid with him. +I thought so too, for I had been to wish him a pleasant journey that +morning, and my astonishment at finding the girl in my room may be +imagined. + +"What do you want, my dear?" I asked. + +"Forgive me, sir, but I don't want to go with Strasoldo, and I thought +you would protect me. Nobody will be able to guess where I am, and +Strasoldo will be obliged to go by himself. You will not be so cruel as +to drive me away?" + +"No, dearest." + +"I promise you I will go away to-morrow, for Strasoldo is going to leave +at day-break." + +"My lovely Leuzica (this was her name), no one would refuse you an +asylum, I least of all. You are safe here, and nobody shall come in +without your leave. I am only too happy that you came to me, but if it +is true that the count is your lover you may be sure he will not go so +easily. He will stay the whole of to-morrow at least, in the hope of +finding you again." + +"No doubt he will look for me everywhere but here. Will you promise not +to make me go with him even if be guesses that I am with you?" + +"I swear I will not." + +"Then I am satisfied." + +"But you will have to share my bed." + +"If I shall not inconvenience you, I agree with all my heart." + +"You shall see whether you inconvenience me or not. Undress, quick! But +where are your things?" + +"All that I have is in a small trunk behind the count's carriage, but I +don't trouble myself about it." + +"The poor count must be raging at this very moment." + +"No, for he will not come home till midnight. He is supping with Madame +Bissolotti, who is in love with him." + +In the meantime Leuzica had undressed and got into bed. In a moment I +was beside her, and after the severe regimen of the last eight months I +spent a delicious night in her arms, for of late my pleasures had been +few. + +Leuzica was a perfect beauty, and worthy to be a king's mistress; and if +I had been rich I would have set up a household that I might retain her +in my service. + +We did not awake till seven o'clock. She got up, and on looking out of +the window saw Strasoldo's carriage waiting at the door. + +I confronted her by saying that as long as she liked to stay with me no +one could force her away. + +I was vexed that I had no closet in my room, as I could not hide her from +the waiter who would bring us coffee. We accordingly dispensed with +breakfast, but I had to find out some way of feeding her. I thought I +had plenty of time before me, but I was wrong. + +At ten o'clock I saw Strasoldo and his friend Pittoni coming into the +inn. They spoke to the landlord, and seemed to be searching the whole +place, passing from one room to another. + +I laughed, and told Leuzica that they were looking for her, and that our +turn would doubtless come before long. + +"Remember your promise," said she. + +"You may be sure of that." + +The tone in which this remark was delivered comforted her, and she +exclaimed,-- + +"Well; well, let them come; they will get nothing by it." + +I heard footsteps approaching, and went out, closing the door behind me, +and begging them to excuse my not asking them in, as there was a +contraband commodity in my room. + +"Only tell me that it is not my maid," said Strasoldo, in a pitiable +voice. "We are sure she is here, as the sentinel at the gate saw her +come in at ten o'clock." + +"You are right, the fair Leuzica is at this moment in my room. I have +given her my word of honour that no violence shall be used, and you may +be sure I shall keep my word." + +"I shall certainly not attempt any violence, but I am sure she would come +of her own free will if I could speak to her." + +"I will ask her if she wishes to see you. Wait a moment." + +Leuzica had been listening to our conversation, and when I opened the +door she told me that I could let them in. + +As soon as Strasoldo appeared she asked him proudly if she was under any +obligations to him, if she had stolen anything from him, and if she was +not perfectly free to leave him when she liked. + +The poor count replied mildly that on the contrary it was he who owed her +a year's wages and had her box in his possession, but that she should not +have left him without giving any reason. + +"The only reason is that I don't want to go to Vienna," she replied. +"I told you so a week ago. If you are an honest man you will leave me my +trunk, and as to my wages you can send them to me at my aunt's at Laibach +if you haven't got any money now." + +I pitied Strasoldo from the bottom of my heart; he prayed and entreated, +and finally wept like a child. However, Pittoni roused my choler by +saying that I ought to drive the slut out of my room. + +"You are not the man to tell me what I ought and what I ought not to do," +I replied, "and after I have received her in my apartments you ought to +moderate your expressions." + +Seeing that I stood on my dignity he laughed, and asked me if I had +fallen in love with her in so short a time. + +Strasoldo here broke in by saying he was sure she had not slept with me. + +"That's where you are mistaken," said she, "for there's only one bed, and +I did not sleep on the floor." + +They found prayers and reproaches alike useless and left us at noon. +Leuzica was profuse in her expressions of gratitude to me. + +There was no longer any mystery, so I boldly ordered dinner for two, and +promised that she should remain with me till the count had left Trieste. + +At three o'clock the Venetian consul came, saying that Count Strasoldo +had begged him to use his good offices with me to persuade me to deliver +up the fair Leuzica. + +"You must speak to the girl herself," I replied; "she came here and stays +here of her own free will." + +When the worthy man had heard the girl's story he went away, saying that +we had the right on our side. + +In the evening a porter brought her trunk, and at this she seemed touched +but not repentant. + +Leuzica supped with me and again shared my couch. The count left Trieste +at day-break. + +As soon as I was sure that he was gone, I took a carriage and escorted +the fair Leuzica two stages on her way to Laibach. We dined together, +and I left her in the care of a friend of hers. + +Everybody said I had acted properly, and even Pittoni confessed that in +my place he would have done the same. + +Poor Strasoldo came to a bad end. He got into debt, committed +peculation, and had to escape into Turkey and embrace Islam to avoid the +penalty of death. + +About this time the Venetian general, Palmanova, accompanied by the +procurator Erizzo, came to Trieste to visit the governor, Count +Wagensberg. In the afternoon the count presented me to the patricians +who seemed astonished to see me at Trieste. + +The procurator asked me if I amused myself as well as I had done at Paris +sixteen years ago, and I told him that sixteen years more, and a hundred +thousand francs less, forced me to live in a different fashion. +While we were talking, the consul came in to announce that the felucca +was ready. Madame de Lantieri as well as her father pressed me to join +the party. + +I gave a bow, which might mean either no or yes, and asked the consul +what the party was. He told me that they were going to see a Venetian +man-of-war at anchor in the harbor; his excellence there being the +captain I immediately turned to the countess and smilingly professed my +regret that I was unable to set foot on Venetian soil. + +Everybody exclaimed at me,-- + +"You have nothing to fear. You are with honest people. Your suspicion +is quite offensive." + +"That is all very fine, ladies and gentlemen, and I will come with all my +heart, if your excellences will assure me that my joining this little +party will not be known to the State Inquisitors possibly by to-morrow." + +This was enough. Everybody looked at me in silence, and no objections +could be found to my argument. + +The captain of the vessel, who did not know me, spoke a few whispered +words to the others, and then they left. + +The next day the consul told me that the captain had praised my prudence +in declining to go on board, as if anyone had chanced to tell him my name +and my case whilst I was on his ship, it would have been his duty to +detain me. + +When I told the governor of this remark he replied gravely that he should +not have allowed the ship to leave the harbour. + +I saw the procurator Erizzo the same evening, and he congratulated me on +my discretion, telling me he would take care to let the Tribunal know how +I respected its decisions. + +About this time I had the pleasure of seeing a beautiful Venetian, who +visited Trieste with several of her admirers. She was of the noble +family of Bon, and had married Count Romili de Bergamo, who left her free +to do whatever she liked. She drew behind her triumphal chariot an old +general, Count Bourghausen, a famous rake who had deserted Mars for the +past ten years in order to devote his remaining days to the service of +Venus. He was a delightful man, and we became friends. Ten years later +he was of service to me, as my readers will find in the next volume, +which may perhaps be the last. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +Some Adventures at Trieste--I Am of Service to the Venetian Government-- +My Expedition to Gorice and My Return to Trieste--I Find Irene as an +Actress and Expert Gamester + + +Some of the ladies of Trieste thought they would like to act a French +play, and I was made stage manager. I had not only to choose the pieces, +but to distribute the parts, the latter being a duty of infinite +irksomeness. + +All the actresses were new to the boards, and I had immense trouble in +hearing them repeat their parts, which they seemed unable to learn by +heart. It is a well-known fact that the revolution which is really +wanted in Italy is in female education. The very best families with few +exceptions are satisfied with shutting up their daughters in a convent +for several years till the time comes for them to marry some man whom +they never see till the eve or the day of their marriage. As a +consequence we have the 'cicisbeo', and in Italy as in France the idea +that our nobles are the sons of their nominal fathers is a purely +conventional one. + +What do girls learn in convents, especially in Italian convents? A few +mechanical acts of devotion and outward forms, very little real religion, +a good deal of deceit, often profligate habits, a little reading and +writing, many useless accomplishments, small music and less drawing, no +history, no geography or mythology, hardly any mathematics, and nothing +to make a girl a good wife and a good mother. + +As for foreign languages, they are unheard of; our own Italian is so soft +that any other tongue is hard to acquire, and the 'dolce far niente' +habit is an obstacle to all assiduous study. + +I write down these truths in spite of my patriotism. I know that if any +of my fellow-countrywomen come to read me they will be very angry; but I +shall be beyond the reach of all anger. + +To return to our theatricals. As I could not make my actresses get their +parts letter perfect, I became their prompter, and found out by +experience all the ungratefulness of the position. + +The actors never acknowledged their debt to the prompter, and put down +to his account all the mistakes they make. + +A Spanish doctor is almost as badly off; if his patient recovers, the +cure is set down to the credit of one saint or another; but if he dies, +the physician is blamed for his unskilful treatment. + +A handsome negress, who served the prettiest of my actresses to whom I +shewed great attentions, said to me one day,-- + +"I can't make out how you can be so much in love with my mistress, who +is as white as the devil." + +"Have you never loved a white man?" I asked. + +"Yes," said she, "but only because I had no negro, to whom I should +certainly have given the preference." + +Soon after the negress became mine, and I found out the falsity of the +axiom, 'Sublata lucerna nullum discrimen inter feminas', for even in the +darkness a man would know a black woman from a white one. + +I feel quite sure myself that the negroes are a distinct species from +ourselves. There is one essential difference, leaving the colour out of +account--namely, that an African woman can either conceive or not, and +can conceive a boy or a girl. No doubt my readers will disbelieve this +assertion, but their incredulity would cease if I instructed them in the +mysterious science of the negresses. + +Count Rosenberg, grand chamberlain of the emperor, came on a visit to +Trieste in company with an Abbe Casti, whose acquaintance I wished to +make on account of some extremely blasphemous poems he had written. +However, I was disappointed; and instead of a man of parts, I found the +abbe to be an impudent worthless fellow, whose only merit was a knack of +versification. + +Count Rosenberg took the abbe with him, because he was useful in the +capacities of a fool and a pimp-occupations well suited to his morals, +though by no means agreeable to his ecclesiastical status. In those +days syphilis had not completely destroyed his uvula. + +I heard that this shameless profligate, this paltry poetaster, had been +named poet to the emperor. What a dishonour to the memory of the great +Metastasio, a man free from all vices, adorned with all virtues, and of +the most singular ability. + +Casti had neither a fine style, nor a knowledge of dramatic +requirements, as appears from two or three comic operas composed by him, +in which the reader will find nothing but foolish buffooneries badly put +together. In one of these comic operas he makes use of slander against +King Theodore and the Venetian Republic, which he turns into ridicule by +means of pitiful lies. + +In another piece called The Cave of Trophonius, Casti made himself the +laughing-stock of the literary world by making a display of useless +learning which contributes nothing towards the plot. + +Among the persons of quality who came to Gorice, I met a certain Count +Torriano, who persuaded me to spend the autumn with him at a country +house of his six miles from Gorice. + +If I had listened to the voice of my good genius I should certainly +never have gone. + +The count was under thirty, and was not married. He could not exactly +be called ugly in spite of his hangdog countenance, in which I saw the +outward signs of cruelty, disloyalty, treason, pride, brutal sensuality, +hatred, and jealousy. The mixture of bad qualities was such an +appalling one that I thought his physiognomy was at fault, and the goods +better than the sign. He asked me to come and see him so graciously +that I concluded that the man gave the lie to his face. + +I asked about him before accepting the invitation, and I heard nothing +but good. People certainly said he was fond of the fair sex, and was a +fierce avenger of any wrong done to him, but not thinking either of +these characteristics unworthy of a gentleman I accepted his invitation. +He told me that he would expect me to meet him at Gorice on the first +day of September, and that the next day we would leave for his estate. + +In consequence of Torriano's invitation I took leave of everybody, +especially of Count Wagensberg, who had a serious attack of that malady +which yields so easily to mercury when it is administered by a skilled +hand, but which kills the unfortunate who falls amongst quacks. Such +was the fate of the poor count; he died a month after I had left +Trieste. + +I left Trieste in the morning, dined at Proseco, and reached Gorice in +good time. I called at Count Louis Torriano's mansion, but was told he +was out. However, they allowed me to deposit what little luggage I had +when I informed them that the count had invited me. I then went to see +Count Torres, and stayed with him till supper-time. + +When I got back to the count's I was told he was in the country, and +would not be back till the next day, and that in the meantime my trunks +had been taken to the inn where a room and supper had been ordered. + +I was extremely astonished, and went to the inn, where I was served with +a bad supper in an uncomfortable room; however, I supposed that the +count had been unable to accommodate me in his house, and I excused him +though I wished he had forewarned me. I could not understand how a +gentleman who has a house and invites a friend can be without a room +wherein to lodge him. + +Next morning Count Torriano came to see me, thanked me for my +punctuality, congratulated himself on the pleasure he expected to derive +from my society, and told me he was very sorry we could not start for +two days, as a suit was to be heard the next day between himself and a +rascally old farmer who was trying to cheat him. + +"Well, well," said I, "I will go and hear the pleadings; it will be an +amusement for me." + +Soon after he took his leave, without asking me where I intended dining, +or apologizing for not having accommodated me himself. + +I could not make him out; I thought he might have taken offence at my +descending at his doors without having given him any warning. + +"Come, come, Casanova," I said to myself, "you may be all abroad. +Knowledge of character is an unfathomable gulf. We thought we had +studied it deeply, but there is still more to learn; we shall see. He +may have said nothing out of delicacy. I should be sorry to be found +wanting in politeness, though indeed I am puzzled to know what I have +done amiss." + +I dined by myself, made calls in the afternoon, and supped with Count +Tomes. I told him that I promised myself the pleasure of hearing the +eloquence of the bar of Gorice the next day. + +"I shall be there, too," said he, "as I am curious to see what sort of a +face Torriano will put on it, if the countryman wins. I know something +about the case," he continued, "and Torriano is sure of victory, unless +the documents attesting the farmer's indebtedness happen to be +forgeries. On the other hand, the farmer ought to win unless it can be +shewn that the receipts signed by Torriano are forgeries. The farmer +has lost in the first court and in the second court, but he has paid the +costs and appealed from both, though he is a poor man. If he loses to- +morrow he will not only be a ruined man, but be sentenced to penal +servitude, while if he wins, Torriano should be sent to the galleys, +together with his counsel, who has deserved this fate many times +before." + +I knew Count Tomes passed for somewhat of a scandal-monger, so his +remarks made little impression on me beyond whetting my curiosity. The +next day I was one of the first to appear in the court, where I found +the bench, plaintiff and defendant, and the barristers, already +assembled. The farmer's counsel was an old man who looked honest, while +the count's had all the impudence of a practised knave. The count sat +beside him, smiling disdainfully, as if he was lowering himself to +strive with a miserable peasant whom he had already twice vanquished. + +The farmer sat by his wife, his son, and two daughters, and had that air +of modest assurance which indicates resignation and a good conscience. + +I wondered how such honest people could have lost in two courts; I was +sure their cause must be a just one. + +They were all poorly clad, and from their downcast eyes and their humble +looks I guessed them to be the victims of oppression. + +Each barrister could speak for two hours. + +The farmer's advocate spoke for thirty minutes, which he occupied by +putting in the various receipts bearing the count's signature up to the +time when he had dismissed the farmer, because he would not prostitute +his daughters to him. He then continued, speaking with calm precision, +to point out the anachronisms and contradictions in the count's books +(which made his client a debtor), and stated that his client was in a +position to prosecute the two forgers who had been employed to compass +the ruin of an honest family, whose only crime was poverty. He ended +his speech by an appeal for costs in all the suits, and for compensation +for loss of time and defamation of character. + +The harangue of the count's advocate would have lasted more than two +hours if the court had not silenced him. He indulged in a torrent of +abuse against the other barrister, the experts in hand-writing, and the +peasant, whom he threatened with a speedy consignment to the galleys. + +The pleadings would have wearied me if I had been a blind man, but as it +was I amused myself by a scrutiny of the various physiognomies before +me. My host's face remained smiling and impudent through it all. + +The pleadings over, the court was cleared, and we awaited the sentence +in the adjoining room. + +The peasant and his family sat in a corner apart, sad, sorry, and +comfortless, with no friend to speak a consoling word, while the count +was surrounded by a courtly throng, who assured him that with such a +case he could not possibly lose; but that if the judges did deliver +judgment against him he should pay the peasant, and force him to prove +the alleged forgery. + +I listened in profound silence, sympathising with the countryman rather +than my host, whom I believed to be a thorough-paced scoundrel, though I +took care not to say so. + +Count Torres, who was a deadly foe to all prudence and discretion, asked +me my opinion of the case, and I whispered that I thought the count +should lose, even if he were in the right, on account of the infamous +apostrophes of his counsel, who deserved to have his ears cut off or to +stand in the pillory for six months. + +"And the client too," said Tomes aloud; but nobody had heard what I had +said. + +After we had waited for an hour the clerk of the court came in with two +papers, one of which he gave to the peasant's counsel and the other to +Torriano's. Torriano read it to himself, burst into a loud laugh, and +then read it aloud. + +The court condemned the count to recognize the peasant as his creditor, +to pay all costs, and to give him a year's wages as damages; the +peasant's right to appeal ad minimum on account of any other complaints +he might have being reserved. + +The advocate looked downcast, but Torriano consoled him by a fee of six +sequins, and everybody went away. + +I remained with the defendant, and asked him if he meant to appeal to +Vienna. + +"I shall appeal in another sort," said he; but I did not ask him what he +meant. + +We left Gorice the next morning. + +My landlord gave me the bill, and told me he had received instructions +not to insist on my paying it if I made any difficulty, as in that case +the count would pay himself. + +This struck me as somewhat eccentric, but I only laughed. However, the +specimens I had seen of his character made me imagine that I was going +to spend six weeks with a dangerous original. + +In two hours we were at Spessa, and alighted at a large house, with +nothing distinguished about it from an architectural point of view. We +went up to the count's room, which was tolerably furnished, and after +shewing me over the house he took me to my own room. It was on the +ground floor, stuffy, dark, and ill furnished. + +"Ah!" said he, "this is the room my poor old father used to love to sit +in; like you, he was very fond of study. You may be sure of enjoying +perfect liberty here, for you will see no one." + +We dined late, and consequently no supper was served. The eating and +the wine were tolerable, and so was the company of a priest, who held +the position of the count's steward; but I was disgusted at hearing the +count, who ate ravenously, reproach me with eating too slowly. + +When we rose from table he told me he had a lot to do, and that we +should see each other the next day. + +I went to my room to put things in order, and to get out my papers. I +was then working at the second volume of the Polish troubles. + +In the evening I asked for a light as it was growing dark, and presently +a servant came with one candle. I was indignant; they ought to have +given me wax lights or a lamp at least. However, I made no complaint, +merely asking one of the servants if I was to rely on the services of +any amongst them. + +"Our master has given us no instructions on the subject, but of course +we will wait on you whenever you call us." + +This would have been a troublesome task, as there was no bell, and I +should have been obliged to wander all over the house, to search the +courtyard, and perhaps the road, whenever I wanted a servant. + +"And who will do my room?" I asked. + +"The maid." + +"Then she has a key of her own?" + +"There is no need for a key, as your door has no lock, but you can bolt +yourself in at night." + +I could only laugh, whether from ill humour or amusement I really cannot +say. However, I made no remark to the man. + +I began my task, but in half an hour I was so unfortunate as to put out +the candle whilst snuffing it. I could not roam about the house in the +dark searching for a light, as I did not know my way, so I went to bed +in the dark more inclined to swear than to laugh. + +Fortunately the bed was a good one, and as I had expected it to be +uncomfortable I went to sleep in a more tranquil humour. + +In the morning nobody came to attend on me, so I got up, and after +putting away my papers I went to say good morning to my host in +dressing-gown and nightcap. I found him under the hand of one of his +men who served him as a valet. I told him I had slept well, and had +come to breakfast with him; but he said he never took breakfast, and +asked me, politely enough, not to trouble to come and see him in the +morning as he was always engaged with his tenants, who were a pack of +thieves. He then added that as I took breakfast he would give orders to +the cook to send me up coffee whenever I liked. + +"You will also be kind enough to tell your man to give me a touch with +his comb after he has done with you." + +"I wonder you did not bring a servant." + +"If I had guessed that I should be troubling you, I should certainly +have brought one." + +"It will not trouble me but you, for you will be kept waiting." + +"Not at all. Another thing I want is a lock to my door, for I have +important papers for which I am responsible, and I cannot lock them up +in my trunk whenever I leave my room." + +"Everything is safe in my house." + +"Of course, but you see how absurd it would be for you to be answerable +in case any of my papers were missing. I might be in the greatest +distress, and yet I should never tell you of it." + +He remained silent for some time, and then ordered his man to tell the +priest to put a lock on my door and give me the key. + +While he was thinking, I noticed a taper and a book on the table beside +his bed. I went up to it, and asked politely if I might see what kind +of reading had beguiled him to sleep. He replied as politely, +requesting me not to touch it. I withdrew immediately, telling him with +a smile that I felt sure that it was a book of prayers, but that I would +never reveal his secret. + +"You have guessed what it is," he said, laughing. + +I left him with a courteous bow, begging him to send me his man and a +cup of coffee, chocolate, or broth, it mattered not which. + +I went back to my room meditating seriously on his strange behaviour, +and especially on the wretched tallow candle which was given me, while +he had a wax taper. My first idea was to leave the house immediately, +for though I had only fifty ducats in my possession my spirit was as +high as when I was a rich man; but on second thoughts I determined not +to put myself in the wrong by affronting him in such a signal manner. + +The tallow candle was the most grievous wrong, so I resolved to ask the +man whether he had not been told to give me wax lights. This was +important, as it might be only a piece of knavery or stupidity on the +part of the servant. + +The man came in an hour with a cup of coffee, sugared according to his +taste or that of the cook. This disgusted me, so I let it stay on the +table, telling him, with a burst of laughter (if I had not laughed I +must have thrown the coffee in his face), that that was not the way to +serve breakfast. I then got ready to have my hair done. + +I asked him why he had brought me a wretched tallow candle instead of +two wax lights. + +"Sir," the worthy man replied, humbly, "I could only give you what the +priest gave me; I received a wax taper for my master and a candle for +you." + +I was sorry to have vexed the poor fellow, and said no more, thinking +the priest might have taken a fancy to economise for the count's profit +or his own. I determined to question him on the subject. + +As soon as I was dressed I went out to walk off my bad humour. I met +the priest-steward, who had been to the locksmith. He told me that the +man had no ready-made locks, but he was going to fit my door with a +padlock, of which I should have the key. + +"Provided I can lock my door," I said, "I care not how it's done." + +I returned to the house to see the padlock fitted, and while the +locksmith was hammering away I asked the priest why he had given a +tallow candle instead of one or two wax tapers. + +"I should never dare to give you tapers, sir, without express orders +from the count." + +"I should have thought such a thing would go without saying." + +"Yes, in other houses, but here nothing goes without saying. I have to +buy the tapers and he pays me, and every time he has one it is noted +down." + +"Then you can give me a pound of wax lights if I pay you for them?" + +"Of course, but I think I must tell the count, for you know . . . ." + +"Yes, I know all about it, but I don't care:" + +I gave him the price of a pound of wax lights, and went for a walk, as +he told me dinner was at one. I was somewhat astonished on coming back +to the house at half-past twelve to be told that the count had been half +an hour at table. + +I did not know what to make of all these acts of rudeness; however, I +moderated my passion once more, and came in remarking that the abbe had +told me dinner was at one. + +"It is usually," replied the count, "but to-day I wanted to pay some +calls and take you with me, so I decided on dining at noon. You will +have plenty of time." + +He then gave orders for all the dishes that had been taken away to be +brought back. + +I made no answer, and sat down to table, and feigning good humour ate +what was on the table, refusing to touch those dishes which had been +taken away. He vainly asked me to try the soup, the beef, the entrees; +I told him that I always punished myself thus when I came in late for a +nobleman's dinner. + +Still dissembling my ill humour, I got into his carriage to accompany +him on his round of visits. He took me to Baron del Mestre, who spent +the whole of the year in the country with his family, keeping up a good +establishment. + +The count spent the whole of the day with the baron, putting off the +other visits to a future time. In the evening we returned to Spessa. +Soon after we arrived the priest returned the money I had given him for +the candles, telling me that the count had forgotten to inform him that +I was to be treated as himself. + +I took this acknowledgement for what it was worth. + +Supper was served, and I ate with the appetite of four, while the count +hardly ate at all. + +The servant who escorted me to my room asked me at what time I should +like breakfast. I told him, and he was punctual; and this time the +coffee was brought in the coffee-pot and the sugar in the sugar basin. + +The valet did my hair, and the maid did my room, everything was changed, +and I imagined that I had given the count a little lesson, and that I +should have no more trouble with him. Here, however, I was mistaken, as +the reader will discover. + +Three or four days later the priest came to me one morning, to ask when +I would like dinner, as I was to dine in my room. + +"Why so?" I asked. + +"Because the count left yesterday for Gorice, telling me he did not know +when he should come back. He ordered me to give you your meals in your +room." + +"Very good. I will dine at one." + +No one could be more in favour of liberty and independence than myself, +but I could not help feeling that my rough host should have told me he +was going to Gorice. He stayed a week, and I should have died of +weariness if it had not been for my daily visits to the Baron del +Mestre. Otherwise there was no company, the priest was an uneducated +man, and there were no pretty country girls. I felt as if I could not +bear another four weeks of such a doleful exile. + +When the count came back, I spoke to him plainly. + +"I came to Spessa," I said, "to keep you company and to amuse myself; +but I see that I am in the way, so I hope you will take me back to +Gorice and leave me there. You must know that I like society as much as +you do, and I do not feel inclined to die of solitary weariness in your +house." + +He assured me that it should not happen again, that he had gone to +Gorice to meet an actress, who had come there purposely to see him, and +that he had also profited by the opportunity to sign a contract of +marriage with a Venetian lady. + +These excuses and the apparently polite tone in which they were uttered +induced me to prolong my stay with the extraordinary count. + +He drew the whole of his income from vineyards, which produced an +excellent white wine and a revenue of a thousand sequins a year. +However, as the count did his best to spend double that amount, he was +rapidly ruining himself. He had a fixed impression that all the tenants +robbed him, so whenever he found a bunch of grapes in a cottage he +proceeded to beat the occupants unless they could prove that the grapes +did not come from his vineyards. The peasants might kneel down and beg +pardon, but they were thrashed all the same. + +I had been an unwilling witness of several of these arbitrary and cruel +actions, when one day I had the pleasure of seeing the count soundly +beaten by two peasants. He had struck the first blow himself, but when +he found that he was getting the worst of it he prudently took to his +heels. + +He was much offended with me for remaining a mere spectator of the fray; +but I told him very coolly that, being the aggressor, he was in the +wrong, and in the second place I was not going to expose myself to be +beaten to a jelly by two lusty peasants in another man's quarrel. + +These arguments did not satisfy him, and in his rage he dared to tell me +that I was a scurvy coward not to know that it was my duty to defend a +friend to the death. + +In spite of these offensive remarks I merely replied with a glance of +contempt, which he doubtless understood. + +Before long the whole village had heard what had happened, and the joy +was universal, for the count had the singular privilege of being feared +by all and loved by none. The two rebellious peasants had taken to +their heels. But when it became known that his lordship had announced +his resolution to carry pistols with him in all future visits, everybody +was alarmed, and two spokesmen were sent to the count informing him that +all his tenants would quit the estate in a week's time unless he gave +them a promise to leave them in peace in their humble abodes. + +The rude eloquence of the two peasants struck me as sublime, but the +count pronounced them to be impertinent and ridiculous. + +"We have as good a right to taste the vines which we have watered with +the sweat of our brow," said they, "as your cook has to taste the dishes +before they are served on your table." + +The threat of deserting just at the vintage season frightened the count, +and he had to give in, and the embassy went its way in high glee at its +success. + +Next Sunday we went to the chapel to hear mass, and when we came in the +priest was at the altar finishing the Credo. The count looked furious, +and after mass he took me with him to the sacristy, and begun to abuse +and beat the poor priest, in spite of the surplice which he was still +wearing. It was really a shocking sight. + +The priest spat in his face and cried help, that being the only revenge +in his power. + +Several persons ran in, so we left the sacristy. I was scandalised, and +I told the count that the priest would be certain to go to Udine, and +that it might turn out a very awkward business. + +"Try to prevent his doing so," I added, "even by violence, but in the +first place endeavour to pacify him." + +No doubt the count was afraid, for he called out to his servants and +ordered them to fetch the priest, whether he could come or no. His +order was executed, and the priest was led in, foaming with rage, +cursing the count, calling him excommunicated wretch, whose very breath +was poisonous; swearing that never another mass should be sung in the +chapel that had been polluted with sacrilege, and finally promising that +the archbishop should avenge him. + +The count let him say on, and then forced him into a chair, and the +unworthy ecclesiastic not only ate but got drunk. Thus peace was +concluded, and the abbe forgot all his wrongs. + +A few days later two Capuchins came to visit him at noon. They did not +go, and as he did not care to dismiss them, dinner was served without +any place being laid for the friars. Thereupon the bolder of the two +informed the count that he had had no dinner. Without replying, the +count had him acommodated with a plateful of rice. The Capuchin refused +it, saying that he was worthy to sit, not only at his table, but at a +monarch's. The count, who happened to be in a good humour, replied that +they called themselves "unworthy brethren," and that they were +consequently not worthy of any of this world's good things. + +The Capuchin made but a poor answer, and as I thought the count to be in +the right I procceded to back him up, telling the friar he ought to be +ashamed at having committed the sin of pride, so strictly condemned by +the rules of his order. + +The Capuchin answered me with a torrent of abuse, so the count ordered a +pair of scissors to be brought, that the beards of the filthy rogues +might be cut off. At this awful threat the two friars made their +escape, and we laughed heartily over the incident. + +If all the count's eccentricities had been of this comparatively +harmless and amusing nature, I should not have minded, but such was far +from being the case. + +Instead of chyle his organs must have distilled some virulent poison; he +was always at his worst in his after dinner hours. His appetite was +furious; he ate more like a tiger than a man. One day we happened to be +eating woodcock, and I could not help praising the dish in the style of +the true gourmand. He immediately took up his bird, tore it limb from +limb, and gravely bade me not to praise the dishes I liked as it +irritated him. I felt an inclination to laugh and also an inclination +to throw the bottle at his head, which I should probably have indulged +in had I been twenty years younger. However, I did neither, feeling +that I should either leave him or accommodate myself to his humours. + +Three months later Madame Costa, the actress whom he had gone to see at +Gorice, told me that she would never have believed in the possibility of +such a creature existing if she had not known Count Torriano. + +"Though he is a vigorous lover," she continued, "it is a matter of great +difficulty with him to obtain the crisis; and the wretched woman in his +arms is in imminent danger of being strangled to death if she cannot +conceal her amorous ecstacy. He cannot bear to see another's pleasure. +I pity his wife most heartily." + +I will now relate the incident which put an end to my relations with +this venomous creature. + +Amidst the idleness and weariness of Spessa I happened to meet a very +pretty and very agreeable young widow. I made her some small presents, +and finally persuaded her to pass the night in my room. She came at +midnight to avoid observation, and left at day-break by a small door +which opened on to the road. + +We had amused ourselves in this pleasant manner for about a week, when +one morning my sweetheart awoke me that I might close the door after her +as usual. I had scarcely done so when I heard cries for help. I +quickly opened it again, and I saw the scoundrelly Torriano holding the +widow with one hand while he beat her furiously with a stick he held in +the other. I rushed upon him, and we fell together, while the poor +woman made her escape. + +I had only my dresing-gown on, and here I was at a disadvantage; for +civilized man is a poor creature without his clothes. However, I held +the stick with one hand, while I queezed his throat with the other. On +his side he clung to the stick with his right hand, and pulled my hair +with the left. At last his tongue started out and he had to let go. + +I was on my feet again in an instant, and seizing the stick I aimed a +sturdy blow at his head, which, luckily for him, he partially parried. + +I did not strike again, so he got up, ran a little way, and began to +pick up stones. However, I did not wait to be pelted, but shut myself +in my room and lay down on the bed, only sorry that I had not choked the +villain outright. + +As soon as I had rested I looked to my pistols, dressed myself, and went +out with the intention of looking for some kind of conveyance to take me +back to Gorice. Without knowing it I took a road that led me to the +cottage of the poor widow, whom I found looking calm though sad. She +told me she had received most of the blows on her shoulders, and was not +much hurt. What vexed her was that the affair would become public, as +two peasants had seen the count beating her, and our subsequent combat. + +I gave her two sequins, begging her to come and see me at Gorice, and to +tell me where I could find a conveyance. + +Her sister offered to shew me the way to a farm, where I could get what +I wanted. On the way she told me that Torriano had been her sister's +enemy before the death of her husband because she rejected all his +proposals. + +I found a good conveyance at the farm, and the man promised to drive me +in to Gorice by dinner-time. + +I gave him half-a-crown as an earnest, and went away, telling him to +come for me. + +I returned to the count's and had scarcely finished getting ready when +the conveyance drove up. + +I was about to put my luggage in it, when a servant came from the count +asking me to give him a moment's conversation. + +I wrote a note in French, saying that after what had passed we ought not +to meet again under his roof. + +A minute later he came into my room, and shut the door, saying,-- + +"As you won't speak to me, I have come to speak to you." + +"What have you got to say?" + +"If you leave my house in this fashion you will dishonour me, and I will +not allow it." + +"Excuse me, but I should very much like to see how you are going to +prevent me from leaving your house." + +"I will not allow you to go by yourself; we must go together." + +"Certainly; I understand you perfectly. Get your sword or your pistols, +and we will start directly. There is room for two in the carriage." + +"That won't do. You must dine with me, and then we can go in my +carriage." + +You make a mistake. I should be a fool if I dined with you when our +miserable dispute is all over the village; to-morrow it will have +reached Gorice." + +"If you won't dine with me, I will dine with you, and people may say +what they like. We will go after dinner, so send away that conveyance." + +I had to give in to him. The wretched count stayed with me till noon, +endeavouring to persuade me that he had a perfect right to beat a +country-woman in the road, and that I was altogether in the wrong. + +I laughed, and said I wondered how he derived his right to beat a free +woman anywhere, and that his pretence that I being her lover had no +right to protect her was a monstrous one. + +"She had just left my arms," I continued, "was I not therefore her +natural protector? Only a coward or a monster like yourself would have +remained indifferent, though, indeed, I believe that even you would have +done the same." + +A few minutes before we sat down to dinner he said that neither of us +would profit by the adventure, as he meant the duel to be to the death. + +"I don't agree with you as far as I am concerned," I replied; "and as to +the duel, you can fight or not fight, as you please; for my part I have +had satisfaction. If we come to a duel I hope to leave you in the land +of the living, though I shall do my best to lay you up for a +considerable time, so that you may have leisure to reflect on your +folly. On the other hand, if fortune favours you, you may act as you +please" + +"We will go into the wood by ourselves, and my coachman shall have +orders to drive you wherever you like if you come out of the wood by +yourself." + +"Very good indeed; and which would you prefer--swords or pistols?" + +"Swords, I think." + +"Then I promise to unload my pistols as soon as we get into the +carriage." + +I was astonished to find the usually brutal count become quite polite at +the prospect of a duel. I felt perfectly confident myself, as I was +sure of flooring him at the first stroke by a peculiar lunge. Then I +could escape through Venetian territory where I was not known. + +But I had good reasons for supposing that the duel would end in smoke as +so many other duels when one of the parties is a coward, and a coward I +believed the count to be. + +We started after an excellent dinner; the count having no luggage, and +mine being strapped behind the carriage. + +I took care to draw the charges of my pistols before the count. + +I had heard him tell the coachman to drive towards Gorice, but every +moment I expected to hear him order the man to drive up this or that +turning that we might settle our differences. + +I asked no questions, feeling that the initiative lay with him; but we +drove on till we were at the gates of Gorice, and I burst out laughing +when I heard the count order the coachman to drive to the posting inn. + +As soon as we got there he said,-- + +"You were in the right; we must remain friends. Promise me not to tell +anyone of what has happened." + +I gave him the promise; we shook hands, and everything was over. + +The next day I took up my abode in one of the quietest streets to finish +my second volume on the Polish troubles, but I still managed to enjoy +myself during my stay at Gorice. At last I resolved on returning to +Trieste, where I had more chances of serving and pleasing the State +Inquisitors. + +I stayed at Gorice till the end of the year 1773, and passed an +extremely pleasant six weeks. + +My adventure at Spessa had become public property. At first everybody +addressed me on the subject, but as I laughed and treated the whole +thing as a joke it would soon be forgotten. Torriano took care to be +most polite whenever we met; but I had stamped him as a dangerous +character, and whenever he asked me to dinner or supper I had other +engagements. + +During the carnival he married the young lady of whom he had spoken to +me, and as long as he lived her life was misery. Fortunately he died a +madman thirteen or fourteen years after. + +Whilst I was at Gorice Count Charles Coronini contributed greatly to my +enjoyment. He died four years later, and a month before his death he +sent me his will in ostosyllabic Italian verses--a specimen of +philosophic mirth which I still preserve. It is full of jest and wit, +though I believe if he had guessed the near approach of death he would +not have been so cheerful, for the prospect of imminent destruction can +only enliven the heart of a maniac. + +During my stay at Gorice a certain M. Richard Lorrain came there. He +was a bachelor of forty, who had done good financial service under the +Viennese Government, and had now retired with a comfortable pension. He +was a fine man, and his agreeable manners and excellent education +procured him admission into the best company in the town. + +I met him at the house of Count Torres, and soon after he was married to +the young countess. + +In October the new Council of Ten and the new Inquisitors took office, +and my protectors wrote to me that if they could not obtain my pardon in +the course of the next twelve months they would be inclined to despair. +The first of the Inquisitors was Sagredo, and intimate friend of the +Procurator Morosini's; the second, Grimani, the friend of my good +Dandolo; and M. Zaguri wrote to me that he would answer for the third, +who, according to law, was one of the six councillors who assist the +Council of Ten. + +It may not be generally known that the Council of Ten is really a +council of seventeen, as the Doge has always a right to be present. + +I returned to Trieste determined to do my best for the Tribunal, for I +longed to return to Venice after nineteen years' wanderings. + +I was then forty-nine, and I expected no more of Fortune's gifts, for +the deity despises those of ripe age. I thought, however, that I might +live comfortably and independently at Venice. + +I had talents and experience, I hoped to make use of them, and I thought +the Inquisitors would feel bound to give me some sufficient employment. + +I was writing the history of the Polish troubles, the first volume was +printed, the second was in preparation, and I thought of concluding the +work in seven volumes. Afterwards I had a translation of the "Iliad" in +view, and other literary projects would no doubt present themselves. + +In fine, I thought myself sure of living in Venice, where many persons +who would be beggars elsewhere continue to live at their ease. + +I left Gorice on the last day of December, 1773, and on January 1st I +took up my abode at Trieste. + +I could not have received a warmer welcome. Baron Pittoni, the Venetian +consul, all the town councillors, and the members of the club, seemed +delighted to see me again. My carnival was a pleasant one, and in the +beginning of Lent I published the second volume of my work on Poland. + +The chief object of interest to me at Trieste was an actress in a +company that was playing there. She was no other than the daughter of +the so-called Count Rinaldi, and my readers may remember her under the +name of Irene. I had loved her at Milan, and neglected her at Genoa on +account of her father's misdeeds, and at Avignon I had rescued her at +Marcoline's request. Eleven years had passed by since I had heard of +her. + +I was astonished to see her, and I think more sorry than glad, for she +was still beautiful, and I might fall in love again; and being no longer +in a position to give her assistance, the issue might be unfortunate for +me. However, I called on her the next day, and was greeted with a +shriek of delight. She told me she had seen me at the theatre, and felt +sure I would come and see her. + +She introduced me to her husband, who played parts like Scapin, and to +her nine-year-old daughter, who had a talent for dancing. + +She gave me an abridged account of her life since we had met. In the +year I had seen her at Avignon she had gone to Turin with her father. +At Turin she fell in love with her present husband, and left her parents +to join her lot to his. + +"Since that," she said, "I have heard of my father's death, but I do not +know what has become of my mother." + +After some further conversation she told me she was a faithful wife, +though she did not push fidelity so far as to drive a rich lover to +despair. + +"I have no lovers here," she added, "but I give little suppers to a few +friends. I don't mind the expense, as I win some money at faro." + +She was the banker, and she begged me to join the party now and then. + +"I will come after the play to-night," I replied, "but you must not +expect any high play of me." + +I kept the appointment and supped with a number of silly young +tradesmen, who were all in love with her. + +After supper she held a bank, and I was greatly astonished when I saw +her cheating with great dexterity. It made me want to laugh; however, I +lost my florins with a good grace and left. However, I did not mean to +let Irene think she was duping me, and I went to see her next morning at +rehearsal, and complimented her on her dealing. She pretended not to +understand what I meant, and on my explaining myself she had the +impudence to tell me that I was mistaken. + +In my anger I turned my back on her saying, "You will be sorry for this +some day." + +At this she began to laugh, and said, "Well, well, I confess! and if you +tell me how much you lost you shall have it back, and if you like you +shall be a partner in the game." + +"No, thank you, Irene, I will not be present at any more of your +suppers. But I warn you to be cautious; games of chance are strictly +forbidden." + +"I know that, but all the young men have promised strict secrecy." + +"Come and breakfast with me whenever you like." + +A few days later she came, bringing her daughter with her. The girl was +pretty, and allowed me to caress her. + +One day Baron Pittoni met them at my lodgings, and as he liked young +girls as well as I he begged Irene to make her daughter include him in +her list of favoured lovers. + +I advised her not to reject the offer, and the baron fell in love with +her, which was a piece of luck for Irene, as she was accused of playing +unlawful games, and would have been severely treated if the baron had +not given her warning. When the police pounced on her, they found no +gaming and no gamesters, and nothing could be done. + +Irene left Trieste at the beginning of Lent with the company to which +she belonged. Three years later I saw her again at Padua. Her daughter +had become a charming girl, and our acquaintance was renewed in the +tenderest manner. + + [Thus abruptly end the Memoirs of Giacome Casanova, + Chevalier de Seingalt, Knight of the Golden Spur, + Prothonotary Apostolic, and Scoundrel Cosmopolitic.] + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +SPANISH PASSIONS, Vol. 6d, FLORENCE TO TRIESTE +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + diff --git a/old/jcflt11.zip b/old/jcflt11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..64f4a92 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jcflt11.zip |