第21章

"Ishouldbedelighted，forwecouldhavesomeconversation，buttakecare，sir，yourtaskwillnotbeaneasyone，youwilloftenfindyourselfobligedtotranslateforbothofus。"

"Ishalldosowithgreatpleasure；Iamonlysorrythatthejourneyisnotlonger。Wecanarrangeeverythingatsupper—time；allowmetoleaveyounowasIhavesomebusinesstosettle。"

Mybusinesswasinreferencetoacarriage，fortheoneIhadboastedofexistedonlyinmyimagination。Iwenttothemostfashionablecoffee—house，and，asgoodluckwouldhaveit，heardthattherewasatravellingcarriageforsale，whichnoonewouldbuybecauseitwastooexpensive。Twohundredsequinswereaskedforit，althoughithadbuttwoseatsandabracket—stoolforathirdperson。ItwasjustwhatIwanted。Icalledattheplacewhereitwouldbeseen。I

foundaveryfineEnglishcarriagewhichcouldnothavecostlessthantwohundredguineas。Itsnobleproprietorwasthenatsupper，soIsenthimmyname，requestinghimnottodisposeofhiscarriageuntilthenextmorning，andIwentbacktothehotelwellpleasedwithmydiscovery。AtsupperIarrangedwiththecaptainthatwewouldnotleaveCesenatillafterdinneronthefollowingday，andtheconversationwasalmostentirelyadialoguebetweenHenrietteandmyself；itwasmyfirsttalkwithaFrenchwoman。Ithoughtthisyoungcreaturemoreandmorecharming，yetIcouldnotsupposehertobeanythingelsebutanadventurers，andIwasastonishedatdiscoveringinherthosenobleanddelicatefeelingswhichdenoteagoodeducation。However，assuchanideawouldnothavesuitedtheviewsIhadabouther，Irejecteditwheneveritpresenteditselftomymind。WheneverItriedtomakehertalkaboutthecaptainshewouldchangethesubjectofconversation，orevademyinsinuationswithatactandashrewdnesswhichastonishedanddelightedmeatthesametime，foreverythingshesaidboretheimpressofgraceandwit。

Yetshedidnoteludethisquestion:

"Atleasttellme，madam，whetherthecaptainisyourhusbandoryourfather。"

"Neitheronenortheother，"sheanswered，withasmile。

Thatwasenoughforme，andinrealitywhatmoredidIwanttoknow？

Theworthycaptainhadfallenasleep。WhenheawokeIwishedthembothgoodnight，andretiredtomyroomwithaheartfullofloveandamindfullofprojects。Isawthateverythinghadtakenagoodturn，andIfeltcertainofsuccess，forIwasyoung，Ienjoyedexcellenthealth，Ihadmoneyandplentyofdaring。Ilikedtheaffairallthebetterbecauseitmustcometoaconclusioninafewdays。

EarlythenextmorningIcalleduponCountDandini，theownerofthecarriage，andasIpassedajeweller’sshopIboughtapairofgoldbraceletsinVenetianfiligree，eachfiveyardslongandofrarefineness。IintendedthemasapresentforJavotte。

ThemomentCountDandinisawmeherecognizedme。HehadseenmeinPaduaatthehouseofhisfather，whowasprofessorofcivillawatthetimeIwasastudentthere。Iboughthiscarriageonconditionthathewouldsendittomeingoodrepairatoneo’clockintheafternoon。

Havingcompletedthepurchase，Iwenttomyfriend，Franzia，andmypresentofthebraceletsmadeJavotteperfectlyhappy。Therewas。

notonegirlinCesenawhocouldboastofpossessingafinerpair，andwiththatpresentmyconsciencefeltatease，foritpaidtheexpenseIhadoccasionedduringmystayoftenortwelvedaysatherfather’shousefourtimesover。ButthiswasnotthemostimportantpresentIofferedthefamily。Imadethefathertakeanoathtowaitforme，andnevertotrustinanypretendedmagicianforthenecessaryoperationtoobtainthetreasure，evenifIdidnotreturnorgiveanynewsofmyselffortenyears。

"Because，"Isaidtohim，"inconsequenceoftheagreementinwhichI

haveenteredwiththespiritswatchingthetreasure，atthefirstattemptmadebyanyotherperson，thecasketcontainingthetreasurewillsinktotwiceitspresentdepth，thatistosayasdeepasthirty—fivefathoms，andthenIshallhavemyselftentimesmoredifficultyinraisingittothesurface。Icannotstatepreciselythetimeofmyreturn，foritdependsuponcertaincombinationswhicharenotundermycontrol，butrecollectthatthetreasurecannotbeobtainedbyanyonebutI。"

Iaccompaniedmyadvicewiththreatsofutterruintohisfamilyifheshouldeverbreakhisoath。AndinthismannerIatonedforallI

haddone，for，farfromdeceivingtheworthyman，Ibecamehisbenefactorbyguardingagainstthedeceitofsomecheatwhowouldhavecaredforhismoneymorethanforhisdaughter。Ineversawhimagain，andmostlikelyheisdead，butknowingthedeepimpressionI

leftonhismindIamcertainthathisdescendantsareevennowwaitingforme，forthenameofFarusimusthaveremainedimmortalinthatfamily。

Javotteaccompaniedmeasfarasthegateofthecity，whereIkissedheraffectionately，whichmademefeelthatthethunderandlightninghadhadbutamomentaryeffectuponme；yetIkeptcontrolovermysenses，andIcongratulatemyselfondoingsotothisday。Itoldher，beforebiddingheradieu，that，hervirginitybeingnolongernecessaryformymagicoperations，Iadvisedhertogetmarriedassoonaspossible，ifIdidnotreturnwithinthreemonths。Sheshedafewtears，butpromisedtofollowmyadvice。

ItrustthatmyreaderswillapproveofthenoblemannerinwhichI

concludedmymagicbusiness。Ihardlydaretoboastofit，butI

thinkIdeservesomepraiseformybehaviour。Perhaps，ImighthaveruinedpoorFranziawithalightheart，hadInotpossessedawell—

filledpurse。Idonotwishtoenquirewhetheranyyoungman，havingintelligence，lovingpleasure，andplacedinthesameposition，wouldnothavedonethesame，butIbegmyreaderstoaddressthatquestiontothemselves。

AsforCapitani，towhomIsoldthesheathofSt。Peter’sknifeforrathermorethanitwasworth，IconfessthatIhavenotyetrepentedonhisaccount，forCapitanithoughthehaddupedmeinacceptingitassecurityfortheamounthegaveme，andthecount，hisfather，valuedituntilhisdeathasmorepreciousthanthefinestdiamondintheworld。Dyingwithsuchafirmbelief，hediedrich，andIshalldieapoorman。Letthereaderjudgewhichofthetwomadethebestbargain。ButImustreturnnowtomyfuturetravellingcompanions。

AssoonasIhadreachedtheinn，IpreparedeverythingforourdepartureforwhichIwasnowlonging。Henriettecouldnotopenherlipswithoutmydiscoveringsomefreshperfection，forherwitdelightedmeevenmorethanherbeauty。ItstruckmethattheoldcaptainwaspleasedwithalltheattentionIshewedher，anditseemedevidenttomethatshewouldnotbesorrytoexchangeherelderlyloverforme。Ihadallthebetterrighttothinkso，inasmuchasIwasperfectionfromaphysicalpointofview，andI

appearedtobewealthy，althoughIhadnoservant。ItoldHenriettethat，forthesakeofhavingnone，Ispenttwiceasmuchasaservantwouldhavecostme，that，bymybeingmyownservant，Iwascertainofbeingservedaccordingtomytaste，andIhadthesatisfactionofhavingnospyatmyheelsandnoprivilegedthieftofear。SheagreedwitheverythingIsaid，anditincreasedmylove。

ThehonestHungarianinsistedupongivingmeinadvancetheamounttobepaidforthepost—horsesatthedifferentstagesasfarasParma。

WeleftCesenaafterdinner，butnotwithoutacontestofpolitenessrespectingtheseats。Thecaptainwantedmetooccupythebackseat—

nearHenriette，butthereaderwillunderstandhowmuchbettertheseatoppositetohersuitedme；thereforeIinsistedupontakingthebracket—seat，andhadthedoubleadvantageofshewingmypoliteness，andofhavingconstantlyandwithoutdifficultybeforemyeyesthelovelywomanwhomIadored。

Myhappinesswouldhavebeentoogreatiftherehadbeennodrawbacktoit。Butwherecanwefindroseswithoutthorns？WhenthecharmingFrenchwomanutteredsomeofthosewittysayingswhichproceedsonaturallyfromthelipsofhercountrywomen，IcouldnothelppityingthesorryfaceofthepoorHungarian，and，wishingtomakehimsharemymirth，IwouldundertaketotranslateinLatinHenriette’ssallies；butfarfrommakinghimmerry，Ioftensawhisfacebearalookofastonishment，asifwhatIhadsaidseemedtohimratherflat。IhadtoacknowledgetomyselfthatIcouldnotspeakLatinaswellasshespokeFrench，andthiswasindeedthecase。Thelastthingwhichwelearninalllanguagesiswit，andwitnevershinessowellasinjests。IwasthirtyyearsofagebeforeIbegantolaughinreadingTerence，PlautusandMartial。

Somethingbeingthematterwiththecarriage，westoppedatForlitohaveitrepaired。Afteraverycheerfulsupper，Iretiredtomyroomtogotobed，thinkingofnothingelsebutthecharmingwomanbywhomIwassocompletelycaptivated。Alongtheroad，HenriettehadstruckmeassostrangethatIwouldnotsleepinthesecondbedintheirroom。Iwasafraidlestsheshouldleaveheroldcomradetocometomybedandsleepwithme，andIdidnotknowhowfartheworthycaptainwouldhaveputupwithsuchajoke。Iwished，ofcourse，topossessthatlovelycreature，butIwantedeverythingtobesettledamicably，forIfeltsomerespectforthebraveofficer。

Henriettehadnothingbutthemilitarycostumeinwhichshestood，notanywoman’slinen，notevenonechemise。Forachangeshetookthecaptain’sshirt。Suchastateofthingswassonewtomethatthesituationseemedtomeacompleteenigma。

InBologna，excitedbyanexcellentsupperandbytheamorouspassionwhichwaseveryhourburningmorefiercelyinme，Iaskedherbywhatsingularadventureshehadbecomethefriendofthehonestfellowwholookedherfatherratherthanherlover。

"Ifyouwishtoknow，"sheanswered，withasmile，"askhimtorelatethewholestoryhimself，onlyyoumustrequesthimnottoomitanyoftheparticulars。"

OfcourseIappliedatoncetothecaptain，and，havingfirstascertainedbysignsthatthecharmingFrenchwomanhadnoobjection，thegoodmanspoketomethus:

"Afriendofmine，anofficerinthearmy，havingoccasiontogotoRome，Isolicitedafurloughofsixmonths，andaccompaniedhim。I

seizedwithgreatdelighttheopportunityofvisitingacity，thenameofwhichhasapowerfulinfluenceontheimagination，owingtothememoriesofthepastattachedtoit。IdidnotentertainanydoubtthattheLatinlanguagewasspokenthereingoodsociety，atleastasgenerallyasinHungary。ButIwasindeedgreatlymistaken，fornobodycanspeakit，noteventhepriests，whoonlypretendtowriteit，anditistruethatsomeofthemdosowithgreatpurity。

IwasthereforeratheruncomfortableduringmystayinRome，andwiththeexceptionofmyeyesmysensesremainedperfectlyinactive。I

hadspentaverytediousmonthinthatcity，theancientqueenoftheworld，whenCardinalAlbanigavemyfrienddispatchesforNaples。

BeforeleavingRome，heintroducedmetohiseminence，andhisrecommendationhadsomuchinfluencethatthecardinalpromisedtosendmeverysoonwithdispatchesfortheDukeofParma，Piacenza，andGuastalla，assuringmethatallmytravellingexpenseswouldbedefrayed。AsIwishedtoseetheharbourcalledinformertimesCentumcellaeandnowCivita—Vecchia，Igaveuptheremainderofmytimetothatvisit，andIproceededtherewithaciceronewhospokeLatin。

"IwasloiteringabouttheharbourwhenIsaw，comingoutofatartan，anelderlyofficerandthisyoungwomandressedassheisnow。Herbeautystruckme，butIshouldnothavethoughtanymoreaboutit，iftheofficerhadnotputupatmyinn，andinanapartmentoverwhichIhadacompleteviewwheneverIopenedmywindow。IntheeveningIsawthecoupletakingsupperatthesametable，butIremarkedthattheelderlyofficerneveraddressedawordtotheyoungone。Whenthesupperwasover，thedisguisedgirllefttheroom，andhercompaniondidnotlifthiseyesfromaletterwhichhewasreading，asitseemedtome，withthedeepestattention。Soonafterwardstheofficerclosedthewindows，thelightwasputout，andIsupposemyneighborswenttobed。Thenextmorning，beingupearlyasismyhabit，Isawtheofficergoout，andthegirlremainedaloneintheroom。

"Isentmycicerone，whowasalsomyservant，totellthegirlinthegarbofanofficerthatIwouldgivehertensequinsforanhour’sconversation。Hefulfilledmyinstructions，andonhisreturnheinformedmethatheranswer，giveninFrench，hadbeentotheeffectthatshewouldleaveforRomeimmediatelyafterbreakfast，andthat，onceinthatcity，Ishouldeasilyfindsomeopportunityofspeakingtoher。

"’Icanfindoutfromthevetturino，’saidmycicerone，’wheretheyputupinRome，andIpromiseyoutoenquireofhim。’

"SheleftCivita—Vecchiawiththeelderlyofficer，andIreturnedhomeonthefollowingday。

"Twodaysafterwards，thecardinalgavemethedispatches，whichwereaddressedtoM。Dutillot，theFrenchminister，withapassportandthemoneynecessaryforthejourney。Hetoldme，withgreatkindness，thatIneednothurryontheroad。

"Ihadalmostforgottenthehandsomeadventuress，when，twodaysbeforemydeparture，myciceronegavemetheinformationthathehadfoundoutwhereshelived，andthatshewaswiththesameofficer。I

toldhimtotrytoseeher，andtoletherknowthatmydeparturewasfixedforthedayafterthemorrow。Shesentmewordbyhimthat，ifIwouldinformherofthehourofmydeparture，shewouldmeetmeoutsideofthegate，andgetintothecoachwithmetoaccompanymeonmyway。IthoughtthearrangementveryingeniousandduringthedayIsenttheciceronetotellherthehouratwhichIintendedtoleave，andwhereIwouldwaitforheroutsideofthePortodelPopolo。Shecameattheappointedtime，andwehaveremainedtogethereversince。Assoonasshewasseatednearme，shemademeunderstandbysignsthatshewantedtodinewithme。Youmayimaginewhatdifficultywehadinunderstandingoneanother，butweguessedsomehowthemeaningexpressedbyourpantomime，andIacceptedtheadventurewithdelight。

"Wedinedgailytogether，speakingwithoutunderstanding，butafterthedessertwecomprehendedeachotherverywell。IfanciedthatI

hadseentheendofit，andyoumayimaginehowsurprisedIwaswhen，uponmyofferingherthetensequins，sherefusedmostpositivelytotakeanymoney，makingmeunderstandthatshewouldrathergowithmetoParma，becauseshehadsomebusinessinthatcity，anddidnotwanttoreturntoRome。

"Theproposalwas，afterall，ratheragreeabletome；Iconsentedtoherwishes。Ionlyregrettedmyinabilitytomakeherunderstandthat，ifshewasfollowedbyanyonefromRome，andifthatpersonwantedtotakeherback，Iwasnotinapositiontodefendheragainstviolence。Iwasalsosorrythat，withourmutualignoranceofthelanguagespokenbyeachofus，wehadnoopportunityofconversation，forIshouldhavebeengreatlypleasedtohearheradventures，which，Ithink，mustbeinteresting。Youcan，ofcourse，guessthatIhavenoideaofwhoshecanbe。IonlyknowthatshecallsherselfHenriette，thatshemustbeaFrenchwoman，thatsheisasgentleasaturtledove，thatshehasevidentlyreceivedagoodeducation，andthatsheenjoysgoodhealth。Sheiswittyandcourageous，aswehavebothseen，IinRomeandyouinCesenaatGeneralSpada’stable。Ifshewouldtellyouherhistory，andallowyoutotranslateitformeinLatinshewouldindeedpleasememuch，forIamsincerelyherfriend，andIcanassureyouthatitwillgrievemetopartfromherinParma。PleasetotellherthatI

intendtogiveherthethirtysequinsIreceivedfromtheBishopofCesena，andthatifIwererichIwouldgivehermoresubstantialproofsofmytenderaffection。Now，sir，IshallfeelobligedtoyouifyouwillexplainitalltoherinFrench。"

IaskedherwhethershewouldfeeloffendedifIgaveheranexacttranslation。Sheassuredmethat，onthecontrary，shewishedmetospeakopenly，andItoldherliterallywhatthecaptainhadrelatedtome。

Withanoblefranknesswhichaslightshadeof—shamerenderedmoreinteresting，Henrietteconfirmedthetruthofherfriend’snarrative，butshebeggedmetotellhimthatshecouldnotgranthiswishrespectingtheadventuresofherlife。

"Begoodenoughtoinformhim，"sheadded，"thatthesameprinciplewhichforbidsmetoutterafalsehood，doesnotallowmetotellthetruth。Asforthethirtysequinswhichheintendstogiveme，Iwillnotacceptevenoneofthem，andhewoulddeeplygrievemebypressingthemuponme。ThemomentwereachParmaIwishhimtoallowmetolodgewhereverImayplease，tomakenoenquirieswhateveraboutme，and，incaseheshouldhappentomeetme，tocrownhisgreatkindnesstomebynotappearingtohaveeverknownme。"

Assheutteredthelastwordsofthisshortspeech，whichshehaddeliveredveryseriouslyandwithamixtureofmodestyandresolution，shekissedherelderlyfriendinamannerwhichindicatedesteemandgratituderatherthanlove。Thecaptain，whodidnotknowwhyshewaskissinghim，wasdeeplygrievedwhenItranslatedwhatHenriettehadsaid。Hebeggedmetotellherthat，ifhewastoobeyherwithaneasyconscience，hemustknowwhethershewouldhaveeverythingsherequiredinParma。

"Youcanassurehim，"sheanswered，"thatheneednotentertainanyanxietyaboutme。"

Thisconversationhadmadeusallverysad；weremainedforalongtimethoughtfulandsilent，until，feelingthesituationtobepainful，Irose，wishingthemgoodnight，andIsawthatHenriette’sfaceworealookofgreatexcitement。

AssoonasIfoundmyselfaloneinmyroom，deeplymovedbyconflictingfeelingsoflove，surprise，anduncertainty，Ibegantogiveventtomyfeelingsinakindofsoliloquy，asIalwaysdowhenIamstronglyexcitedbyanything；thinkingisnot，inthosecases，enoughforme；Imustspeakaloud，andIthrowsomuchaction，somuchanimationintothesemonologuesthatIforgetIamalone。WhatIknewnowofHenriettehadupsetmealtogether。

"Whocanshebe，"Isaid，speakingtothewalls；"thisgirlwhoseemstohavethemostelevatedfeelingsundertheveilofthemostcynicallibertinism？ShesaysthatinParmashewishestoremainperfectlyunknown，herownmistress，andIcannot，ofcourse，flattermyselfthatshewillnotplacemeunderthesamerestrictionsasthecaptaintowhomshehasalreadyabandonedherself。Goodbyetomyexpectations，tomymoney，andmyillusions！Butwhoisshe——whatisshe？ShemusthaveeitheraloverorahusbandinParma，orshemustbelongtoarespectablefamily；or，perhaps，thankstoaboundlesslovefordebaucheryandtoherconfidenceinherowncharms，sheintendstosetfortune，misery，anddegradationatdefiance，andtotrytoenslavesomewealthynobleman！Butthatwouldbetheplanofamadwomanorofapersonreducedtoutterdespair，anditdoesnotseemtobethecasewithHenriette。Yetshepossessesnothing。

True，butsherefused，asifshehadbeenprovidedwithallsheneeded，thekindassistanceofamanwhohastherighttoofferit，andfromwhom，insooth，shecanacceptwithoutblushing，sinceshehasnotbeenashamedtogranthimfavourswithwhichlovehadnothingtodo。Doesshethinkthatitislessshamefulforawomantoabandonherselftothedesiresofamanunknownandunlovedthantoreceiveapresentfromanesteemedfriend，andparticularlyattheeveoffindingherselfinthestreet，entirelydestituteinthemiddleofaforeigncity，amongstpeoplewhoselanguageshecannotevenspeak？Perhapsshethinksthatsuchconductwilljustifythe’fauxpas’ofwhichshehasbeenguiltywiththecaptain，andgivehimtounderstandthatshehadabandonedherselftohimonlyforthesakeofescapingfromtheofficerwithwhomshewasinRome。Butsheoughttobequitecertainthatthecaptaindoesnotentertainanyotheridea；heshewshimselfsoreasonablethatitisimpossibletosupposethatheeveradmittedthepossibilityofhavinginspiredherwithaviolentpassion，becauseshehadseenhimoncethroughawind