第29章

Myvisitproveduseless；heknewnothing，andIdidnotenlightenhisignorance。HetoldmeagreatmanylieswhichIpretendedtoacceptasgospel，andgivinghimtwosequinsIwentaway，wishinghimapromptrelease。

Iwasrackingmybraintocontrivesomewaytoknowthepositionofmymistress——forIfeltcertainitwasafearfulone——andbelievinghertobeunhappyIreproachedmyselfmostbitterlyasthecauseofhermisery。IhadreachedsuchastateofanxietythatIcouldneithereatnorsleep。

Twodaysaftertherefusalofthefather，M。deBragadinandhistwofriendswenttoPaduaforamonth。Ihadnothadthehearttogowiththem，andIwasaloneinthehouse。IneededconsolationandI

wenttothegaming—table，butIplayedwithoutattentionandlostagreatdeal。IhadalreadysoldwhateverIpossessedofanyvalue，andIowedmoneyeverywhere。Icouldexpectnoassistanceexceptfrommythreekindfriends，butshamepreventedmefromconfessingmypositiontothem。Iwasinthatdispositionwhichleadseasilytoself—destruction，andIwasthinkingofitasIwasshavingmyselfbeforeatoilet—glass，whentheservantbroughttomyroomawomanwhohadaletterforme。Thewomancameuptome，and，handingmetheletter，shesaid，"Areyouthepersontowhomitisaddressed？"

IrecognizedatonceasealwhichIhadgiventoC————C————；I

thoughtIwoulddropdowndead。Inordertorecovermycomposure，I

toldthewomantowait，andtriedtoshavemyself，butmyhandrefusedtoperformitsoffice。Iputtherazordown，turnedmybackonthemessenger，andopeningtheletterIreadthefollowinglines，"BeforeIcanwriteallIhavetosay，Imustbesureofmymessenger。Iamboardinginaconvent，andamverywelltreated，andIenjoyexcellenthealthinspiteoftheanxietyofmymind。Thesuperiorhasbeeninstructedtoforbidmeallvisitorsandcorrespondence。Iam，however，alreadycertainofbeingabletowritetoyou，notwithstandingtheseverystrictorders。Ientertainnodoubtofyourgoodfaith，mybelovedhusband，andIfeelsurethatyouwillneverdoubtaheartwhichiswhollyyours。Trusttomefortheexecutionofwhateveryoumaywishmetodo，forIamyoursandonlyyours。Answeronlyafewwordsuntilwearequitecertainofourmessenger。

"Muran，June12th。"

Inlessthanthreeweeksmyyoungfriendhadbecomeaclevermoralist；itistruethatLovehadbeenherteacher，andLovealonecanworkmiracles。AsIconcludedthereadingofherletter，Iwasinthestateofacriminalpardonedatthefootofthescaffold。I

requiredseveralminutesbeforeIrecoveredtheexerciseofmywillandmypresenceofmind。

Iturnedtowardsthemessenger，andaskedherifshecouldread。

"Ah，sir！ifIcouldnotread，itwouldbeagreatmisfortuneforme。TherearesevenwomenappointedfortheserviceofthenunsofMuran。OneofuscomesinturntoVeniceonceaweek；IcomeeveryWednesday，andthisdayweekIshallbeabletobringyouananswertotheletterwhich，ifyoulike，youcanwritenow。"

"Thenyoucantakechargeofthelettersentrustedtoyoubythenuns？"

"Thatisnotsupposedtobeoneofourdutiesbutthefaithfuldeliveryoflettersbeingthemostimportantofthecommissionscommittedtoourcare，weshouldnotbetrustedifwecouldnotreadtheaddressofthelettersplacedinourhands。ThenunswantedtobesurethatweshallnotgivetoPetertheletteraddressedtoPaul。

Thegoodmothersarealwaysafraidofourbeingguiltyofsuchblunders。ThereforeIshallbehereagain，withoutfail，thisdayweekatthesamehour，butpleasetoorderyourservanttowakeyouincaseyoushouldbeasleep，forourtimeismeasuredasifitweregold。Aboveall，relyentirelyuponmydiscretionaslongasyouemployme；forifIdidnotknowhowtokeepasilenttongueinmyheadIshouldlosemybread，andthenwhatwouldbecomeofme——

awidowwithfourchildren，aboyeightyearsold，andthreeprettygirls，theeldestofwhomisonlysixteen？YoucanseethemwhenyoucometoMuran。Ilivenearthechurch，onthegardenside，andIamalwaysathomewhenIamnotengagedintheserviceofthenuns，whoarealwayssendingmeononecommissionoranother。Theyounglady——

Idonotknowhernameyet，forshehasonlybeenoneweekwithus——

gavemethisletter，butsocleverly！Oh！shemustbeaswittyassheispretty，forthreenunswhoweretherewerecompletelybamboozled。Shegaveittomewiththisotherletterformyself，whichIlikewiseleaveinyourhands。Poorchild！shetellsmetobediscreet！Sheneednotbeafraid。Writetoher，Ientreatyou，sir，thatshecantrustme，andanswerboldly。Iwouldnottellyoutoactinthesamemannerwithalltheothermessengersoftheconvent，althoughIbelievethemtobehonest——andGodforbidIshouldspeakillofmyfellow—creature——buttheyareallignorant，yousee；anditiscertainthattheybabble，atleast，withtheirconfessors，ifwithnobodyelse。Asforme，thankGod！IknowverywellthatIneednotconfessanythingbutmysins，andsurelytocarryaletterfromaChristianwomantoherbrotherinChristisnotasin。Besides，myconfessorisagoodoldmonk，quitedeaf，Ibelieve，fortheworthymanneveranswersme；butthatishisbusiness，notmine！"

Ihadnotintendedtoaskheranyquestions，butifsuchhadbeenmyintentionshewouldnothavegivenmetimetocarryitintoexecution；andwithoutmyaskingheranything，shewastellingmeeverythingIcaredtoknow，andshedidsoinheranxietyformetoavailmyselfofherservicesexclusively。

Iimmediatelysatdowntowritetomydearrecluse，intendingatfirsttowriteonlyafewlines，asshehadrequestedme；butmytimewastooshorttowritesolittle。Myletterwasascreedoffourpages，andverylikelyitsaidlessthanhernoteofoneshortpage。

Itoldherherletterhadsavedmylife，andaskedherwhetherI

couldhopetoseeher。IinformedherthatIhadgivenasequintothemessenger，thatshewouldfindanotherforherselfunderthesealofmyletter，andthatIwouldsendherallthemoneyshemightwant。

IentreatedhernottofailwritingeveryWednesday，tobecertainthatherletterswouldneverbelongenoughtogivemefullparticulars，notonlyofallshedid，ofallshewasallowedtodo，butalsoofallherthoughtsrespectingherreleasefromimprisonment，andtheovercomingofalltheobstacleswhichwereinthewayofourmutualhappiness；forIwasasmuchhersasshewasmine。Ihintedtoherthenecessityofgainingtheloveofallthenunsandboarders，butwithouttakingthemintoherconfidence，andofshewingnodislikeofherconventlife。Afterpraisingherfortheclevermannerinwhichshehadcontrivedtowritetome，inspiteofsuperiororders，Imadeherunderstandhowcarefulshewastobetoavoidbeingsurprisedwhileshewaswriting，becauseinsuchacaseherroomwouldcertainlybesearchedandallherpapersseized。

"Burnallmyletters，darling，"Iadded，"andrecollectthatyoumustgotoconfessionoften，butwithoutimplicatingourlove。Sharewithmeallyoursorrows，whichinterestmeevenmorethanyourjoys。"

Isealedmyletterinsuchamannerthatnoonecouldpossiblyguessthattherewasasequinhiddenunderthesealingwax，andIrewardedthewoman，promisingherthatIwouldgiveherthesamerewardeverytimethatshebroughtmealetterfrommyfriend。WhenshesawthesequinwhichIhadputinherhandthegoodwomancriedforjoy，andshetoldmethat，asthegatesoftheconventwereneverclosedforher，shewoulddelivermyletterthemomentshefoundtheyoungladyalone。

HereisthenotewhichC————C————hadgiventothewoman，withtheletteraddressedtome:

"GodHimself，mygoodwoman，promptsmetohaveconfidenceinyouratherthaninanybodyelse。TakethislettertoVenice，andshouldthepersontowhomitisaddressednotbeinthecity，bringitbacktome。Youmustdeliverittothatpersonhimself，andifyoufindhimyouwillmostlikelyhaveananswer，whichyoumustgiveme，butonlywhenyouarecertainthatnobodycanseeyou。"

IfLoveisimprudent，itisonlyinthehopeofenjoyment；butwhenitisnecessarytobringbackhappinessdestroyedbysomeuntowardaccident，Loveforeseesallthatthekeenestperspicacitycouldpossiblyfindout。Theletterofmycharmingwifeoverwhelmedmewithjoy，andinonemomentIpassedfromastateofdespairtothatofextremefelicity。IfeltcertainthatIshouldsucceedincarryingheroffevenifthewallsoftheconventcouldboastofartillery，andafterthedepartureofthemessengermyfirstthoughtwastoendeavourtospendthesevendays，beforeIcouldreceivethesecondletter，pleasantly。Gamblingalonecoulddoit，buteverybodyhadgonetoPadua。Igotmytrunkready，andimmediatelysentittotheburchiellothenreadytostart，andIleftforFrusina。FromthatplaceIposted，andinlessthanthreehoursIarrivedatthedooroftheBragadinPalace，whereIfoundmydearprotectoronthepointofsittingdowntodinner。Heembracedmeaffectionately，andseeingmecoveredwithperspirationhesaidtome，"Iamcertainthatyouareinnohurry。"

"No，"Ianswered，"butIamstarving。"

Ibroughtjoytothebrotherlytrio，andIenhancedtheirhappinesswhenItoldmyfriendsthatIwouldremainsixdayswiththem。DelaHayedinedwithusonthatday；assoonasdinnerwasoverheclosetedhimselfwithM。Dandoio，andfortwohourstheyremainedtogether。Ihadgonetobedduringthattime，butM。DandolocameuptomeandtoldmethatIhadarrivedjustintimetoconsulttheoraclerespectinganimportantaffairentirelyprivatetohimself。

Hegavemethequestions，andrequestedmetofindtheanswers。HewantedtoknowwhetherhewouldactrightlyifheacceptedaprojectproposedtohimbyDelaHaye。

Theoracleanswerednegatively。

M。Dandolo，rathersurprised，askedasecondquestion:hewishedParalistogivehisreasonsforthedenial。

Iformedthecabalisticpile，andbroughtoutthisanswer:

"IaskedCasanova’sopinion，andasIfinditopposedtotheproposalmadebyDelaHaye，Idonotwishtohearanymoreaboutit。"

Oh！wonderfulpowerofself—delusion！Thisworthyman，pleasedatbeingabletothrowtheodiumofarefusalonme，leftmeperfectlysatisfied。Ihadnoideaofthenatureoftheaffairtowhichhehadbeenalluding，andIfeltnocuriosityaboutit；butitannoyedmethataJesuitshouldinterfereandtrytomakemyfriendsdoanythingotherwisethanthroughmyinstrumentality，andIwantedthatintriguertoknowthatmyinfluencewasgreaterthanhisown。

Afterthat，Idressed，maskedmyself，andwenttotheopera，whereI

satdowntoafaro—tableandlostallmymoney。Fortunewasdeterminedtoshewmethatitdoesnotalwaysagreewithlove。Myheartwasheavy，Ifeltmiserable；Iwenttobed。WhenIwokeinthemorning，IsawDelaHayecomeintomyroomwithabeamingcountenance，and，assuminganairofdevotedfriendship，hemadeagreatshowofhisfeelingstowardsme。Iknewwhattothinkofitall，andIwaitedforthe’denouement’。

"Mydearfriend，"hesaidtomeatlast，"whydidyoudissuadeM。DandolofromdoingwhatIhadinsinuatedtohim。？"

"Whathadyouinsinuatedtohim？"

"Youknowwellenough。"

"IfIknewit，Iwouldnotaskyou"

"M。Dandolohimselftoldmethatyouhadadvisedhimagainstit。"

"Advisedagainst，thatmaybe，butcertainlynotdissuaded，forifhehadbeenpersuadedinhisownmindhewouldnothaveaskedmyadvice。"

"Asyouplease；butmayIenquireyourreasons？"

"Tellmefirstwhatyourproposalwas。"

"Hashenottoldyou？"

"Perhapshehas；butifyouwishtoknowmyreasons，Imusthearthewholeaffairfromyourownlips，becauseM。Dandolospoketomeunderapromiseofsecrecy。"

"Ofwhatgoodisallthisreserve？"

"Everyonehashisownprinciplesandhisownwayofthinking:IhaveasufficientlygoodopinionofyoutobelievethatyouwouldactexactlyasIdo，forIhaveheardyousaythatinallsecretmattersoneoughttoguardagainstsurprise。"

"Iamincapableoftakingsuchanadvantageofafriend；butasageneralruleyourmaximisarightone；Ilikeprudence。Iwilltellyouthewholeaffair。YouareawarethatMadameTripolohasbeenleftawidow，andthatM。Dandoloiscourtingherassiduously，afterhavingdonethesameforfourteenyearsduringthelifeofthehusband。Thelady，whoisstillyoung，beautifulandlovely，andalsoisveryrespectable，wishestobecomehiswife。Itistomethatshehasconfidedherwishes，andasIsawnothingthatwasnotpraiseworthy，eitherinatemporalorinaspiritualpointofview，inthatunion，forafterallweareallmen，Itooktheaffairinhandwithrealpleasure。IfanciedeventhatM。Dandolofeltsomeinclinationforthatmarriagewhenhetoldmethathewouldgivemehisdecisionthismorning。Iamnotastonishedathishavingaskedyouradviceinsuchanimportantaffair，foraprudentmanisrightinaskingtheopinionofawisefriendbeforetakingadecisivestep；

butImusttellyoucandidlythatIamastonishedatyourdisapprovalofsuchamarriage。Prayexcusemeif，inordertoimprovebytheinformation，Iaskwhyyouropinionisexactlythereverseofmine。"

Delightedathavingdiscoveredthewholeaffair，athavingarrivedintimetopreventmyfriendwhowasgoodnessitselfcontractinganabsurdmarriage，IansweredthehypocritethatIlovedM。Dandolo，thatIknewhistemperament，andthatIwascertainthatamarriagewithawomanlikeMadameTripolowouldshortenhislife。

"Thatbeingmyopinion，"Iadded，"youmustadmitthatasatruefriendIwasrightinadvisinghimagainstyourproposal。Doyourecollecthavingtoldmethatyounevermarriedfortheverysamereason？DoyourecollectyourstrongargumentsinfavourofcelibacywhilewewereatParma？Consideralso，Ibeg，thateverymanhasacertainsmallstockofselfishness，andthatImaybeallowedtohaveminewhenIthinkthatifM。Dandolotookawifetheinfluenceofthatwifewouldofcoursehavesomeweight，andthatthemoreshegainedininfluenceoverhimthemoreIshouldlose。Soyouseeitwouldnotbenaturalformetoadvisehimtotakeastepwhichwouldultimatelyproveverydetrimentaltomyinterests。Ifyoucanprovethatmyreasonsareeithertriflingorsophistical，speakopenly:I

willtellM。Dandolothatmymindhaschanged；MadameTripolowillbecomehiswifewhenwereturntoVenice。Butletmewarnyouthatthoroughconvictioncanalonemoveme。"

"Idonotbelievemyselfcleverenoughtoconvinceyou。IshallwritetoMadameTripolothatshemustapplytoyou。"

"Donotwriteanythingofthesorttothatlady，orshewillthinkthatyouarelaughingather。DoyousupposeherfoolishenoughtoexpectthatIwillgivewaytoherwishes？SheknowsthatIdonotlikeher。"

"Howcanshepossiblyknowthat？"

"ShemusthaveremarkedthatIhavenevercaredtoaccompanyM。Dandolotoherhouse。Learnfrommeonceforall，thataslongasIlivewithmythreefriendstheyshallhavenowifebutme。Youmaygetmarriedassoonasyouplease；Ipromisenottothrowanyobstacleinyourway；butifyouwishtoremainonfriendlytermswithmegiveupallideaofleadingmythreefriendsastray。"

"Youareverycausticthismorning。"

"Ilostallmymoneylastnight。

"ThenIhavechosenabadtime。Farewell。"

>Fromthatday，DelaHayebecamemysecretenemy，andtohimIwasinagreatmeasureindebted，twoyearslater，formyimprisonmentunderTheLeadsofVenice；notowingtohisslanders，forIdonotbelievehewascapableofthat，Jesuitthoughhewas——andevenamongstsuchpeoplethereissometimessomehonourablefeeling——butthroughthemysticalinsinuationswhichhemadeinthepresenceofbigotedpersons。Imustgivefairnoticetomyreadersthat，iftheyarefondofsuchpeople，theymustnotreadtheseMemoirs，fortheybelongtoatribewhichIhavegoodreasontoattackunmercifully。

Thefinemarriagewasneveragainalludedto。M。Dandolocontinuedtovisithisbeautifulwidoweveryday，andItookcaretoelicitfromParalisastronginterdictionevertoputmyfootinherhouse。

DonAntonioCroce，ayoungMilanesewhomIhadknowninReggio，aconfirmedgambler，andadownrightcleverhandinsecuringthefavoursofDameFortune，calledonmeafewminutesafterDelaHayehadretired。Hetoldmethat，havingseenmeloseallmymoneythenightbefore，hehadcometooffermethemeansofretrievingmylosses，ifIwouldtakeanequalinterestwithhiminafarobankthathemeanttoholdathishouse，andinwhichhewouldhaveaspunterssevenoreightrichforeignerswhowerecourtinghiswife。

"Ifyouwillputthreehundredsequinsinmybank，"headded，"youshallbemypartner。Ihavethreehundredsequinsmyself，butthatisnotenoughbecausethepuntersplayhigh。Comeanddineatmyhouse，andyouwillmaketheiracquaintance。WecanplaynextFridayastherewillbenoopera，andyoumayrelyuponourwinningplentyofgold，foracertainGilenspetz，aSwede，maylosetwentythousandsequins。"

Iwaswithoutanyresources，oratalleventsIcouldexpectnoassistanceexceptfromM。deBragadinuponwhomIfeltashamedofencroaching。IwaswellawarethattheproposalmadebyCrocewasnotstrictlymoral，andthatImighthavechosenamorehonourablesociety；butifIhadrefused，thepurseofMadameCroce’sadmirerswouldnothavebeenmoremercifullytreated；anotherwouldhaveprofitedbythatstrokeofgoodfortune。Iwasthereforenotrigidenoughtorefusemyassistanceasadjutantandmyshareofthepie；I

acceptedCroce’sinvitation。

CHAPTERXIV

IGetRichAgain——MyAdventureAtDolo——AnalysisofaLongLetter>FromC。C。——MischievousTrickPlayedUponMeByP。C。——AtVincenza——ATragi—comedyAttheInnNecessity，thatimperiouslawandmyonlyexcuse，havingmademealmostthepartnerofacheat，therewasstillthedifficultyoffindingthethreehundredsequinsrequired；butIpostponedthetaskoffindingthemuntilafterIshouldhavemadetheacquaintanceofthedupesofthegoddesstowhomtheyaddressedtheirworship。CrocetookmetothePratodeltaValle，wherewefoundmadamesurroundedwithforeigners。Shewaspretty；andasasecretaryoftheimperialambassador，CountRosemberg，hadattachedhimselftoher，notoneoftheVenetiannoblesdaredcourther。ThosewhointerestedmeamongthesatellitesgravitatingaroundthatstarweretheSwedeGilenspetz，aHamburger，theEnglishmanMendez，whohasalreadybeenmentioned，andthreeorfourotherstowhoreCrocecalledmyattention。

Wedinedalltogether，andafterdinnertherewasageneralcallforafarobank；butCrocedidnotaccept。Hisrefusalsurprisedme，becausewiththreehundredsequins，beingaveryskilfulplayer，hehadenoughtotryhisfortune。Hedidnot，however，allowmysuspicionstolastlong，forhetookmetohisownroomandshewedmefiftypiecesofeight，whichwereequaltothreehundredsequins。

WhenIsawthattheprofessionalgamblerhadnotchosenmeashispartnerwiththeintentionofmakingadupeofme，ItoldhimthatI

wouldcertainlyprocuretheamount，anduponthatpromiseheinvitedeverybodytosupperforthefollowingday。Weagreedthatwewoulddividethespoilsbeforepartingintheevening，andthatnooneshouldbeallowedtoplayontrust。

Ihadtoprocuretheamount，buttowhomcouldIapply？IcouldasknoonebutM。deBragadin。Theexcellentmanhadnotthatsuminhispossession，forhispursewasgenerallyempty；buthefoundausurer—

—aspeciesofanimaltoonumerousunfortunatelyforyoungmen——who，uponanoteofhandendorsedbyhim，gavemeathousandducats，atfivepercent。foronemonth，thesaidinterestbeingdeductedbyanticipationfromthecapital。ItwasexactlytheamountIrequired。

Iwenttothesupper；Croceheldthebankuntildaylight，andwedividedsixteenhundredsequinsbetweenus。Thegamecontinuedthenextevening，andGilenspetzalonelosttwothousandsequins；theJewMendezlostaboutonethousand。Sundaywassanctifiedbyrest，butonMondaythebankwonfourthousandsequins。OntheTuesdaywealldinedtogether，andtheplaywasresumed；butwehadscarcelybegunwhenanofficerofthepodestamadehisappearanceandinformedCrocethathewantedalittleprivateconversationwithhim。Theylefttheroomtogether，andafterashortabsenceCrocecamebackrathercrestfallen；heannouncedthatbysuperiorordershewasforbiddentoholdabankathishouse。Madamefaintedaway，thepuntershurriedout，andIfollowedtheirexample，assoonasIhadsecuredone—halfofthegoldwhichwasonthetable。Iwasgladenoughitwasnotworse。AsIleft，CrocetoldmethatwewouldmeetagaininVenice，forhehadbeenorderedtoquitPaduawithintwenty—fourhours。I

expecteditwouldbeso，becausehewastowellknown；buthisgreatestcrime，intheopinionofthepodesta，wasthatheattractedtheplayerstohisownhouse，whilsttheauthoritieswantedalltheloversofplaytolosetheirmoneyattheopera，wherethebankersweremostlynoblemen