第28章

Papafava，whowashergod—father，wouldbegladtoseeme。Icalledatherhouseearlythenextmorning，andIfoundherinbedwithherson，who，thankstotheprinciplesinwhichhehadbeeneducated，gotupandlefttheroomassoonashesawmeseatednearhismother’sbed。Ispentthreehourswithher，andIrecollectthatthelastwasdelightful；thereaderwillknowtheconsequenceofthatpleasanthourlater。IsawherasecondtimeduringthefortnightshepassedinVenice，andwhensheleftIpromisedtopayheravisitinBayreuth，butIneverkeptmypromise。

Ihadatthattimetoattendtotheaffairsofmyposthumousbrother，whohad，ashesaid，acallfromHeaventothepriesthood，buthewantedapatrimony。Althoughhewasignorantanddevoidofanymeritsaveahandsomeface，hethoughtthatanecclesiasticalcareerwouldinsurehishappiness，andhedependedagreatdealuponhispreaching，forwhich，accordingtotheopinionofthewomenwithwhomhewasacquainted，hehadadecidedtalent。Itookeverythingintomyhands，andIsucceededinobtainingforhimapatrimonyfromM。

Grimani，whostillowedusthevalueofthefurnitureinmyfather’shouse，ofwhichhehadneverrenderedanyaccount。Hetransferredtohimalife—interestinahouseinVenice，andtwoyearsafterwardsmybrotherwasordained。Butthepatrimonywasonlyfictitious，thehousebeingalreadymortgaged；theAbbeGrimaniwas，however，akindJesuit，andthosesaintedservantsofGodthinkthatalliswellthatendswellandprofitablytothemselves。Ishallspeakagainofmyunhappybrotherwhosedestinybecameinvolvedwithmine。

TwodayshadpassedsinceIhadpaidmyvisittoP————C————，whenI

methiminthestreet。Hetoldmethathissisterwasconstantlyspeakingofme，thatshequotedagreatmanythingswhichIhadtoldher，andthathismotherwasmuchpleasedatherdaughterhavingmademyacquaintance。"Shewouldbeagoodmatchforyou，"headded，"forshewillhaveadowryoftenthousandducats。Ifyouwillcallonmeto—morrow，wewilltakecoffeewithmymotherandsister。"

Ihadpromisedmyselfneveragaintoenterhishouse，butIbrokemyword。Itiseasyenoughforamantoforgethispromisesundersuchcircumstances。

IspentthreehoursinconversationwiththecharminggirlandwhenI

leftherIwasdeeplyinlove。AsIwentaway，ItoldherthatI

enviedthedestinyofthemanwhowouldhaveherforhiswife，andmycompliment，thefirstshehadeverreceived，madeherblush。

AfterIhadleftherIbegantoexaminethenatureofmyfeelingstowardsher，andtheyfrightenedme，forIcouldneitherbehavetowardsMdlle。C————C————asanhonestmannorasalibertine。

Icouldnothopetoobtainherhand，andIalmostfanciedIwouldstabanyonewhoadvisedmetoseduceher。IfeltthatIwantedsomediversion:Iwenttothegaming—table。Playingissometimesanexcellentlenitivetocalmthemind，andtosmothertheardentfireoflove。Iplayedwithwonderfulluck，andIwasgoinghomewithplentyofgold，wheninasolitarynarrowstreetImetamanbentdownlessbyagethanbytheheavyweightofmisery。AsIcamenearhimIrecognizedCountBonafede，thesightofwhommovedmewithpity。Herecognizedmelikewise。Wetalkedforsometime，andatlasthetoldmethestateofabjectpovertytowhichhewasreduced，andthegreatdifficultyhehadtokeephisnumerousfamily。"Idonotblush，"headded，"inbeggingfromyouonesequinwhichwillkeepusaliveforfiveorsixdays。"Iimmediatelygavehimten，tryingtopreventhimfromloweringhimselfinhisanxietytoexpresshisgratitude，butIcouldnotpreventhimfromsheddingtears。Asweparted，hetoldmethatwhatmadehimmostmiserablewastoseethepositionofhisdaughter，whohadbecomeagreatbeauty，andwouldratherdiethanmakeasacrificeofhervirtue。"Icanneithersupportherinthosefeelings，"hesaid，withasigh，"norrewardherforthem。"

ThinkingthatIunderstoodthewisheswithwhichmiseryhadinspiredhim，Itookhisaddress，andpromisedtopayhimavisit。IwascurioustoseewhathadbecomeofavirtueofwhichIdidnotentertainaveryhighopinion。Icalledthenextday。Ifoundahousealmostbareoffurniture，andthedaughteralone——

acircumstancewhichdidnotastonishme。Theyoungcountesshadseenmearrive，andreceivedmeonthestairsinthemostamiablemanner。Shewasprettywelldressed，andIthoughtherhandsome，agreeable，andlively，asshehadbeenwhenImadeheracquaintanceinFortSt。Andre。Herfatherhavingannouncedmyvisit，shewasinhighspirits，andshekissedmewithasmuchtendernessasifIhadbeenabelovedlover。Shetookmetoherownroom，andaftershehadinformedmethathermotherwasillinbedandunabletoseeme，shegavewayagaintothetransportofjoywhich，asshesaid，shefeltinseeingmeagain。Theardourofourmutualkisses，givenatfirstundertheauspicesoffriendship，wasnotlonginexcitingoursensestosuchanextentthatinlessthanaquarterofanhourIhadnothingmoretodesire。Whenitwasallover，itbecameusboth，ofcourse，tobe，oratleasttoappeartobe，surprisedatwhathadtakenplace，andIcouldnothonestlyhesitatetoassurethepoorcountessthatitwasonlythefirsttokenofaconstantandtruelove。Shebelievedit，orshefeignedtobelieveit，andperhapsI

myselffancieditwastrue——forthemoment。Whenwehadbecomecalmagain，shetoldmethefearfulstatetowhichtheywerereduced，herbrotherswalkingbarefootedinthestreets，andherfatherhavingpositivelynobreadtogivethem。

"Thenyouhavenotanylover？"

"What？alover！WherecouldIfindamancourageousenoughtobemyloverinsuchahouseasthis？AmIawomantosellmyselftothefirstcomerforthesumofthirtysous？ThereisnotamaninVenicewhowouldthinkmeworthmorethanthat，seeingmeinsuchaplaceasthis。Besides，Iwasnotbornforprostitution。"

Suchaconversationwasnotverycheerful；shewasweeping，andthespectacleofhersadness，joinedtothepictureofmiserywhichsurroundedme，wasnotatallthethingtoexcitelove。Ileftherwithapromisetocallagain，andIputtwelvesequinsinherhand。

Shewassurprisedattheamount；shehadneverknownherselfsorichbefore。IhavealwaysregrettedIdidnotgivehertwiceasmuch。

ThenextdayP————C————calledonme，andsaidcheerfullythathismotherhadgivenpermissiontoherdaughtertogototheoperawithhim，thattheyounggirlwasdelightedbecauseshehadneverbeentherebefore，andthat，ifIliked，Icouldwaitforthematsomeplacewheretheywouldmeetme。

"Butdoesyoursisterknowthatyouintendmetojoinyou？"

"Sheconsidersitagreatpleasure。"

"Doesyourmotherknowit？"

"No；butwhensheknowsitshewillnotbeangry，forshehasagreatesteemforyou。"

"InthatcaseIwilltrytofindaprivatebox。"

"Verywell；waitforusatsuchaplace。"

Thescoundreldidnotspeakofhislettersofexchangeagain，andashesawthatIwasnolongerpayingmyattentionstohismistress，andthatIwasinlovewithhissister，hehadformedthefineprojectofsellinghertome。Ipitiedthemotherandthedaughterwhohadconfidenceinsuchaman；butIhadnotthecouragetoresistthetemptation。IevenwentsofarastopersuademyselfthatasIlovedheritwasmydutytoaccepttheoffer，inordertosaveherfromothersnares；forifIhaddeclinedherbrothermighthavefoundsomeothermanlessscrupulous，andIcouldnotbeartheidea。Ithoughtthatinmycompanyherinnocencerannorisk。

ItookaboxattheSt。SamuelOpera，andIwaswaitingforthemattheappointedplacelongbeforethetime。Theycameatlast，andthesightofmyyoungfrienddelightedme。Shewaselegantlymasked，andherbrotherworehisuniform。Inordernottoexposethelovelygirltobeingrecognizedonaccountofherbrother，Imadethemgetintomygondola。Heinsisteduponbeinglandednearthehouseofhismistress，whowasill，hesaid，andheaddedthathewouldsoonjoinusinourbox。IwasastonishedthatC————C————didnotshewanysurpriseorrepugnanceatremainingalonewithmeinthegondola；butIdidnotthinktheconductofherbrotherextraordinary，foritwasevidentthatitwasallarrangedbeforehandinhismind。

ItoldC————C————thatwewouldremaininthegondolauntiltheopeningofthetheatre，andthatastheheatwasintenseshewoulddowelltotakeoffhermask，whichshedidatonce。ThelawIhadlaiduponmyselftorespecther，thenobleconfidencewhichwasbeamingonhercountenanceandinherlooks，herinnocentjoy——everythingincreasedtheardourofmylove。

Notknowingwhattosaytoher，forIcouldspeaktoherofnothingbutlove——anditwasadelicatesubject——Ikeptlookingathercharmingface，notdaringtoletmyeyesrestupontwobuddingglobesshapedbytheGraces，forfearofgivingthealarmtohermodesty。

"Speaktome，"shesaidatlast；"youonlylookatmewithoututteringasingleword。Youhavesacrificedyourselfforme，becausemybrotherwouldhavetakenyouwithhimtohislady—love，who，tojudgefromwhathesays，mustbeasbeautifulasanangel。"

"Ihaveseenthatlady。"

"Isupposesheisverywitty。"

"Shemaybeso；butIhavenoopportunityofknowing，forIhavenevervisitedher，andIdonotintendevertocalluponher。Donotthereforeimagine，beautifulC————C————，thatIhavemadetheslightestsacrificeforyoursake。"

"Iwasafraidyouhad，becauseasyoudidnotspeakIthoughtyouweresad。"

"IfIdonotspeaktoyouitisbecauseIamtoodeeplymovedbyyourangelicconfidenceinme。"

"Iamverygladitisso；buthowcouldInottrustyou？Ifeelmuchmorefree，muchmoreconfidentwithyouthanwithmybrotherhimself。

Mymothersaysitisimpossibletobemistaken，andthatyouarecertainlyanhonestman。Besides，youarenotmarried；thatisthefirstthingIaskedmybrother。Doyourecollecttellingmethatyouenviedthefateofthemanwhowouldhavemeforhiswife？Well，atthatverymomentIwasthinkingthatyourwifewouldbethehappiestwomaninVenice。"

Thesewords，utteredwiththemostcandidartlessness，andwiththattoneofsinceritywhichcomesfromtheheart，haduponmeaneffectwhichitwouldbedifficulttodescribe；IsufferedbecauseIcouldnotimprintthemostlovingkissuponthesweetlipswhichhadjustpronouncedthem，butatthesametimeitcausedmethemostdeliciousfelicitytoseethatsuchanangellovedme。

"Withsuchconformityoffeelings，"Isaid，"wewould，lovelyC————，beperfectlyhappy，ifwecouldbeunitedforever。ButIamoldenoughtobeyourfather。"

"Youmyfather？Youarejoking！DoyouknowthatIamfourteen？"

"DoyouknowthatIamtwenty—eight？"

"Well，wherecanyouseeamanofyouragehavingadaughterofmine？

Ifmyfatherwerelikeyou，hewouldcertainlyneverfrightenme；I

couldnotkeepanythingfromhim。"

Thehourtogotothetheatrehadcome；welanded，andtheperformanceengrossedallherattention。Herbrotherjoinedusonlywhenitwasnearlyover；ithadcertainlybeenapartofhiscalculation。Itookthemtoaninnforsupper，andthepleasureI

experiencedinseeingthecharminggirleatwithagoodappetitemademeforgetthatIhadhadnodinner。Ihardlyspokeduringthesupper，forlovemademesick，andIwasinastateofexcitementwhichcouldnotlastlong。Inordertoexcusemysilence，Ifeignedtobesufferingfromthetoothache。

Aftersupper，P————C————toldhissisterthatIwasinlovewithher，andthatIshouldcertainlyfeelbetterifshewouldallowmetokissher。Theonlyansweroftheinnocentgirlwastooffermeherlaughinglips，whichseemedtocallforkisses。Iwasburning；butmyrespectforthatinnocentandnaiveyoungcreaturewassuchthatI

onlykissedhercheek，andeventhatinamannerverycoldinappearance。

"Whatakiss！"exclaimedP————C————。"Come，come，agoodlover’skiss！"

Ididnotmove；theimpudentfellowannoyedme；buthissister，turningherheadasidesadly，said，"Donotpresshim；Iamnotsohappyastopleasehim。"

Thatremarkgavethealarmtomylove；Icouldnolongermastermyfeelings。

"What！"Iexclaimedwarmly，"what！beautifulC————，youdonotcondescendtoascribemyreservetothefeelingwhichyouhaveinspiredmewith？Yousupposethatyoudonotpleaseme？Ifakissisallthatisneededtoprovethecontrarytoyou，oh！receiveitnowwithallthesentimentthatisburninginmyheart！"

Thenfoldingherinmyarms，andpressingherlovinglyagainstmybreast，IimprintedonhermouththelongandardentkisswhichIhadsomuchwishedtogiveher；butthenatureofthatkissmadethetimiddovefeelthatshehadfallenintothevulture’sclaws。Sheescapedfrommyarms，amazedathavingdiscoveredmyloveinsuchamanner。Herbrotherexpressedhisapproval，whileshereplacedhermaskoverherface，inordertoconcealherconfusion。Iaskedherwhethershehadanylongeranydoubtsastomylove。

"Youhaveconvincedme，"sheanswered，"but，becauseyouhaveundeceivedme，youmustnotpunishme。"

Ithoughtthatthiswasaverydelicateanswer，dictatedbytruesentiment；butherbrotherwasnotpleasedwithit，andsaiditwasfoolish。

Weputonourmasks，lefttheinn，andafterIhadescortedthemtotheirhouseIwenthomedeeplyinlove，happyinmyinmostsoul，yetverysad。

ThereaderwilllearninthefollowingchapterstheprogressofmyloveandtheadventuresinwhichIfoundmyselfengaged。

CHAPTERXII

ProgressofMyIntriguewiththeBeautifulC。C。

ThenextmorningP————C————calledonmewithanairoftriumph；hetoldmethathissisterhadconfessedtohermotherthatwelovedoneanother，andthatifshewasevertobemarriedshewouldbeunhappywithanyotherhusband。

"Iadoreyoursister，"Isaidtohim；"butdoyouthinkthatyourfatherwillbewillingtogivehertome？"

"Ithinknot；butheisold。Inthemeantime，loveoneanother。Mymotherhasgivenherpermissiontogototheoperathiseveningwithus。"

"Verywell，mydearfriend，wemustgo。"

"Ifindmyselfunderthenecessityofclaimingaslightserviceatyourhands。"

"Disposeofme。"

"ThereissomeexcellentCypruswinetobesoldverycheap，andIcanobtainacaskofitagainstmybillatsixmonths。Iamcertainofsellingitagainimmediatelywithagoodprofit；butthemerchantrequiresaguarantee，andheisdisposedtoacceptyours，ifyouwillgiveit。Willyoubekindenoughtoendorsemynoteofhand？"

"Withpleasure。"

Isignedmynamewithouthesitation，forwhereisthemaninlovewhoinsuchacasewouldhaverefusedthatservicetoapersonwhotorevengehimselfmighthavemadehimmiserable？Wemadeanappointmentfortheevening，andpartedhighlypleasedwitheachother。

AfterIhaddressedmyself，Iwentoutandboughtadozenpairsofgloves，asmanypairsofsilkstockings，andapairofgartersembroideredingoldandwithgoldclasps，promisingmyselfmuchpleasureinofferingthatfirstpresenttomyyoungfriend。

IneednotsaythatIwasexactinreachingtheappointedplace，buttheyweretherealready，waitingforme。HadInotsuspectedtheintentionsofP————C————，theircomingsoearlywouldhavebeenveryflatteringtomyvanity。ThemomentIhadjoinedthem，P————C————

toldmethat，havingotherengagementstofulfil，hewouldleavehissisterwithme，andmeetusatthetheatreintheevening。Whenhehadgone，ItoldC————C————thatwewouldsailinagondolauntiltheopeningofthetheatre。

"No，"sheanswered，"letusrathergototheZueccaGarden。"

"Withallmyheart。"

IhiredagondolaandwewenttoSt。Blaze，whereIknewaveryprettygardenwhich，foronesequin，wasplacedatmydisposalfortheremainderoftheday，withtheexpressconditionthatnooneelsewouldbeallowedadmittance。Wehadnothadanydinner，andafterI

hadorderedagoodmealwewentuptoaroomwherewetookoffourdisguisesandmasks，afterwhichwewenttothegarden。

MylovelyC————C————hadnothingonbutabodicemadeoflightsilkandaskirtofthesamedescription，butshewascharminginthatsimplecostume！Myamorouslookswentthroughthoselightveils，andinmyimaginationIsawherentirelynaked！Isighedwithburningdesires，withamixtureofdiscreetreserveandvoluptuouslove。

Themomentwehadreachedthelongavenue，myyoungcompanion，aslivelyasafawn，findingherselfatlibertyonthegreensward，andenjoyingthathappyfreedomforthefirsttimeinherlife，begantorunaboutandtogivewaytothespiritofcheerfulnesswhichwasnaturaltoher。Whenshewascompelledtostopforwantofbreath，sheburstoutlaughingatseeingmegazingatherinasortofecstaticsilence。Shethenchallengedmetorunarace；thegamewasveryagreeabletome。Iaccepted，butIproposedtomakeitinterestingbyawager。

"Whoeverlosestherace，"Isaid，"shallhavetodowhateverthewinnerasks。"

"Agreed！"

Wemarkedthewinning—post，andmadeafairstart。Iwascertaintowin，butIlostonpurpose，soastoseewhatshewouldaskmetodo。

AtfirstsheranwithallhermightwhileIreservedmystrength，andshewasthefirsttoreachthegoal。Asshewastryingtorecoverherbreath，shethoughtofsentencingmetoagoodpenance:shehidherselfbehindatreeandtoldme，aminuteafterwards，thatIhadtofindherring。Shehadconcealeditabouther，andthatwasputtingmeinpossessionofallherperson。Ithoughtitwasadelightfulforfeit，forIcouldeasilyseethatshehadchosenitwithintentionalmischief；butIfeltthatIoughtnottotaketoomuchadvantageofher，becauseherartlessconfidencerequiredtobeencouraged。Wesatonthegrass，Ivisitedherpockets，thefoldsofherstays，ofherpetticoat；thenIlookedinhershoes，andevenathergarterswhichwerefastenedbelowtheknees。Notfindinganything，Ikeptonmysearch，andastheringwasabouther，Iwasofcourseboundtodiscoverit。MyreaderhasmostlikelyguessedthatIhadsomesuspicionofthecharminghiding—placeinwhichtheyoungbeautyhadconcealedthering，butbeforecomingtoitIwantedtoenjoymyself。Theringwasatlastfoundbetweenthetwomostbeautifulkeepersthatnaturehadeverrounded，butIfeltsuchemotionasIdrewitoutthatmyhandwastrembling。

"Whatareyoutremblingfor？"sheasked。

"Onlyforjoyathavingfoundthering；youhadconcealeditsowell！

Butyouowemearevenge，andthistimeyoushallnotbeatme。"

"Weshallsee。"

Webegananewrace，andseeingthatshewasnotrunningveryfast，I

thoughtIcouldeasilydistanceherwheneverIliked。Iwasmistaken。Shehadhusbandedherstrength，andwhenwehadrunabouttwo—thirdsoftheraceshesuddenlysprangforwardatfullspeed，leftmebehind，andIsawthatIhadlost。Ithenthoughtofatrick，theeffectofwhichneverfails；Ifeignedaheavyfall，andI

utteredashriekofpain。Thepoorchildstoppedatonce，ranbacktomeingreatfright，and，pityingme，sheassistedmetoraisemyselffromtheground。ThemomentIwasonmyfeetagain，Ilaughedheartilyand，takingaspringforward，Ihadreachedthegoallongbeforeher。

Thecharmingrunner，thoroughlyamazed，saidtome，"Thenyoudidnothurtyourself？"

"No，forIfellpurposely。"

"Purposely？Oh，todeceiveme！Iwouldneverhavebelievedyoucapableofthat。Itisnotfairtowinbyfraud；thereforeIhavenotlosttherace。"

"Oh！yes，youhave，forIreachedthegoalbeforeyou。

Trickfortrick；confessthatyoutriedtodeceivemeatthestart。"

"Butthatisfair，andyourtrickisaverydifferentthing。"

"Yetithasgivenmethevictory，andVincasiperfortundoperingano，Ilvincersemprefulaudabilcosa"……

"Ihaveoftenheardthosewordsfrommybrother，butneverfrommyfather。Well，nevermind，Ihavelost。Giveyourjudgmentnow，I

willobey。"

"Waitalittle。Letmesee。Ah！mysentenceisthatyoushallexchangeyourgartersformine。"

"Exchangeourgarters！Butyouhaveseenmine，theyareuglyandworthnothing。"

"Nevermind。TwiceeverydayIshallthinkofthepersonIlove，andasnearlyaspossibleatthesamehoursyouwillhavetothinkofme。"

"Itisaveryprettyidea，andIlikeit。NowIforgiveyouforhavingdeceivedme。Herearemyuglygarters！Ah！mydeardeceiver，howbeautifulyoursare！Whatahandsomepresent！Howtheywillpleasemymother！Theymustbeapresentwhichyouhavejustreceived，fortheyarequitenew。"

"No，theyhavenotbeengiventome。Iboughtthemforyou，andI

havebeenrackingmyb