第31章

Wantingalittlerest，andunderstandingeachotherasifbyanaturalinstinct，shesaidtome，"Myfriend，Ihaveanappetitewhichpromisestodohonourtothesupper；areyouabletokeepmegoodcompany？"

"Yes，"Isaid，knowingwellwhatIcoulddointhatline，"yes，I

can；andafterwardsyoushalljudgewhetherIamabletosacrificetoLoveaswellastoComus。"

Sherangthebell，andawoman，middle—agedbutwell—dressedandrespectable—looking，laidoutatablefortwopersons；shethenplacedonanothertableclosebyallthatwasnecessarytoenableustodowithoutattendance，andshebrought，oneaftertheother，eightdifferentdishesinSevresporcelainplacedonsilverheaters。Itwasadelicateandplentifulsupper。

WhenItastedthefirstdishIatoncerecognizedtheFrenchstyleofcooking，andshedidnotdenyit。WedranknothingbutBurgundyandChampagne。Shedressedthesaladcleverlyandquickly，andineverythingshedidIhadtoadmirethegracefuleaseofhermanners。

Itwasevidentthatsheowedhereducationtoaloverwhowasafirst—rateconnoisseur。Iwascurioustoknowhim，andasweweredrinkingsomepunchItoldherthatifshewouldgratifymycuriosityinthatrespectIwasreadytotellhermyname。

"Lettime，dearest，"sheanswered，"satisfyourmutualcuriosity。"

M————M————had，amongstthecharmsandtrinketsfastenedtothechainofherwatch，asmallcrystalbottleexactlysimilartoonethatIworemyself。Icalledherattentiontothatfact，andasminewasfilledwithcottonsoakedinottoofrosesImadehersmellit。

"Ihavethesame，"sheobserved。

Andshemademeinhaleitsfragrance。

"Itisaveryscarceperfume，"Isaid，"andveryexpensive。"

"Yes；infactitcannotbebought。"

"Verytrue；theinventorofthatessencewearsacrown；itistheKingofFrance；hismajestymadeapoundofit，whichcosthimthirtythousandcrowns。"

"Minewasagiftpresentedtomylover，andhegaveittome:"

"MadamedePompadoursentasmallphialofittoM。deMocenigo，theVenetianambassadorinParis，throughM。deB————，nowFrenchambassadorhere。"

"Doyouknowhim？"

"IhavehadthehonourtodinewithhimontheverydayhecametotakeleaveoftheambassadorbywhomIhadbeeninvited。M。deB————

isamanwhomfortunehassmiledupon，buthehascaptivateditbyhismerit；heisnotlessdistinguishedbyhis’talentsthanbyhisbirth；heis，Ibelieve，CountdeLyon。Irecollectthathewasnicknamed’BelleBabet，’onaccountofhishandsomeface。Thereisasmallcollectionofpoetrywrittenbyhimwhichdoeshimgreathonour。"

Itwasnearmidnight；wehadmadeanexcellentsupper，andwewerenearagoodfire。Besides，Iwasinlovewithabeautifulwoman，andthinkingthattimewasprecious——Ibecameverypressing；butsheresisted。

"Crueldarling，haveyoupromisedmehappinessonlytomakemesufferthetorturesofTantalus？Ifyouwillnotgivewaytolove，atleastobeythelawsofnatureaftersuchadelicioussupper，gotobed。"

"Areyousleepy？"

"OfcourseIamnot；butitislateenoughtogotobed。Allowmetoundressyou；Iwillremainbyyourbedside，orevengoawayifyouwishit。"

"Ifyouweretoleaveme，youwouldgrieveme。"

"Mygriefwouldbeasgreatasyours，believeme，butifIremainwhatshallwedo？"

"Wecanliedowninourclothesonthissofa。"

"Withourclothes！Well，letitbeso；Iwillletyousleep，ifyouwishit；butyoumustforgivemeifIdonotsleepmyself；fortosleepnearyouandwithoutundressingwouldbeimpossible。"

"Waitalittle。"

Sherosefromherseat，turnedthesofacrosswise，openedit，tookoutpillows，sheets，blankets，andinoneminutewehadasplendidbed，wideandconvenient。Shetookalargehandkerchief，whichshewrappedroundmyhead，andshegavemeanother，askingmetorenderherthesameservice。Ibeganmytask，dissemblingmydisgustforthewig，butapreciousdiscoverycausedmethemostagreeablesurprise；for，insteadofthewig，my，handsfoundthemostmagnificenthairIhadeverseen。Iutteredascreamofdelightandadmiration。whichmadeherlaugh，andshetoldmethatanunwasundernootherobligationthantoconcealherhair，fromtheuninitiated。Thereuponshepushedmeadroitly，andmademefall’anthesofa。Igotupagain，and，havingthrownoffmyclothesasquickaslightningIthrewmyselfonherratherthannearher。Shewasverystrong；andfoldingmeinherarmsshethoughtthatIoughttoforgiveherforallthetortureshewascondemningmeto。Ihadnotobtainedanyessentialfavour；Iwasburning，butIwastryingtomastermyimpatience，forIdidnotthinkthatIhadyettherighttobeexacting。Icontrivedtoundofiveorsixbowsofribbons，andsatisfied，withhernotopposinganyresistanceinthatquartermyheart—throbbedwithpleasure，andIpossessedmyselfofthemostbeautifulbosom，whichIsmotheredundermykisses。Butherfavourswentnofurther；andmyexcitementincreasinginproportiontothenewperfectionsIdiscoveredinher，Idoubledmyefforts；allinvain。Atlast，compelledtogivewaytofatigue，Ifellasleepinherarms，holdinghertightly，againstme。Anoisychimeofbellswokeus。

"Whatisthematter？"Iexclaimed。

"Letusgetup，dearest；itistimeformetoreturntotheconvent。"

"Dressyourself，andletmehavethepleasureofseeingyouinthegarbofasaint，sinceyouaregoingawayavirgin。"

"Besatisfiedforthistime，dearest，andlearnfrommehowtopracticeabstinence；weshallbehappieranothertime。WhenIhavegone，ifyouhavenothingtohurryyou，youcanresthere。"

Sherangthebell，andthesamewomanwhohadappearedintheevening，andwasmostlikelythesecretministerandtheconfidanteofheramorousmysteries，camein。Afterherhairhadbeendressed，shetookoffhergown，lockedupherjewelleryinherbureau，putonthestaysofanun，inwhichshehidthetwomagnificentglobeswhichhadbeenduringthatfatiguingnighttheprincipalagentsofmyhappiness，andassumedhermonasticrobes。Thewomanhavinggoneouttocallthegondoliers，M————M————kissedmewarmlyandtenderly，andsaidtome，"Iexpecttoseeyouthedayafterto—morrow，soastohearfromyouwhichnightIamtomeetyouinVenice；andthen，mybelovedlover，youshallbehappyandItoo。Farewell。"

Pleasedwithoutbeingsatisfied，Iwenttobedandsleptsoundlyuntilnoon。

Ileftthecasinowithoutseeinganyone，andbeingwellmaskedI

repairedtothehouseofLaura，whogavemealetterfrommydearC————C————。Hereisacopyofit:

"Iamgoingtogiveyou，mybestbeloved，aspecimenofmywayofthinking；andItrustthat，farfromloweringmeinyourestimation，youwilljudgeme，inspiteofmyyouth，capableofkeepingasecretandworthyofbeingyourwife。Certainthatyourheartismine，Idonotblameyouforhavingmadeamysteryofcertainthings，andnotbeingjealousofwhatcandivertyourmindandhelpyoutobearpatientlyourcruelseparation，Icanonlydelightinwhateverprocuresyousomepleasure。Listennow。Yesterday，asIwasgoingalongoneofthehalls，Idroppedatooth—pickwhichIheldinmyhand，andtogetitagain，Iwascompelledtodisplaceastoolwhichhappenedtobeinfrontofacrackinthepartition。Ihavealreadybecomeascuriousasanun——afaultverynaturaltoidlepeople——I

placedmyeyeagainstthesmallopening，andwhomdidIsee？Youinperson，mydarling，conversinginthemostlivelymannerwithmycharmingfriend，SisterM————M————。Itwouldbedifficultforyoutoimaginemysurpriseandjoy。Butthosetwofeelingsgavewaysoontothefearofbeingseenandofexcitingthecuriosityofsomeinquisitivenun。Iquicklyreplacedthestool，andIwentaway。

Tellmeall，dearestfriend，youwillmakemehappy。HowcouldI

cherishyouwithallmysoul，andnotbeanxioustoknowthehistoryofyouradventure？Tellmeifsheknowsyou，andhowyouhavemadeheracquaintance。Sheismybestfriend，theoneofwhomIhavespokensooftentoyouinmyletters，withoutthinkingitnecessarytotellyouhername。SheisthefriendwhoteachesmeFrench，andhaslentmebookswhichgavemeagreatdealofinformationonamattergenerallylittleknowntowomen。Ifithadnotbeenforher，thecauseoftheaccidentwhichhasbeensonearcostingmemylife，wouldhavebeendiscovered。Shegavemesheetsandlinenimmediately；toherIowemyhonour；butshehasnecessarilylearnedinthatwaythatIhavealover，asIknowthatshehasone；butneitherofushasshewnanyanxietytoknowthesecretsoftheother。

SisterM————M————isararewoman。Ifeelcertain，dearest，thatyouloveoneanother；itcannotbeotherwisesinceyouareacquainted；butasIamnotjealousofthataffection，Ideservethatyoushouldtellmeall。Ipityyouboth，however；forallyoumaydowill，Ifear，onlyirritateyourpassion。Everyoneintheconventthinksthatyouareill，andIamlongingtoseeyou。Come，atleast，once。Adieu！"

TheletterofC————C————inspiredmewiththedeepestesteemforher，butitcausedmegreatanxiety，because，althoughIfelteveryconfidenceinmydearlittlewife，thesmallcrackinthewallmightexposeM————M————andmyselftotheinquisitivelooksofotherpersons。Besides，Ifoundmyselfcompelledtodeceivethatamiable，trustingfriend，andtotellafalsehood，fordelicacyandhonourforbademetotellherthetruth。IwrotetoherimmediatelythatherfriendshipforM————M————madeitherdutytowarnherfriendatoncethatshehadseenherintheparlourwithamaskedgentleman。

Iaddedthat，havingheardagreatdealofM————M————’smerit，andwishingtomakeheracquaintance，Ihadcalledonherunderanassumedname；thatIentreatedhernottotellherfriendwhoIwas，butshemightsaythatshehadrecognizedinmethegentlemanwhoattendedtheirchurch。IassuredherwithbarefacedimpudencethattherewasnolovebetweenM————M————andme，butwithoutconcealingthatIthoughtherasuperiorwoman。

OnSt。Catherine’sDay，thepatronessofmydearC————C————，I

bethoughtmyselfofaffordingthatlovelyprisonerthepleasureofseeingme。AsIwasleavingthechurchaftermass，andjustasIwasgoingtotakeagondola，Iobservedthatamanwasfollowingme。Itlookedsuspicious，andIdeterminedtoascertainwhetherIwasright。

Themantookagondolaandfollowedmine。Itmighthavebeenpurelyaccidental；but，keepingonmyguardforfearofsurprise，IalightedinVeniceattheMorosiniPalace；thefellowalightedatthesameplace；hisintentionswereevident。Ileftthepalace，andturningtowardstheFlandersGateIstoppedinanarrowstreet，tookmyknifeinmyhand，waitedforthespy，seizedhimbythecollar，andpushinghimagainstthewallwiththeknifeathisthroatIcommandedhimtotellmewhatbusinesshehadwithme。Tremblingalloverhewouldhaveconfessedeverything，butunluckilysomeoneenteredthestreet。

ThespyescapedandIwasnowiser，butIhadnodoubtthatforthefuturethatfellowatleastwouldkeepatarespectfuldistance。Itshewedmehoweasyitwouldbeforanobstinatespytodiscovermyidentity，andImadeupmymindnevertogotoMuranbutwithamask，oratnight。

ThenextdayIhadtoseemybeautifulnuninordertoascertainwhichdayshewouldsupwithmeinVenice，andIwentearlytotheconvent。Shedidnotkeepmewaiting，andherfacewasradiantwithjoy。Shecomplimentedmeuponmyhavingresumedmyattendanceattheirchurch；allthenunshadbeendelightedtoseemeagainafteranabsenceofthreeweeks。

"Theabbess，"shesaid，"toldmehowgladshewastoseeyou，andthatshewascertaintofindoutwhoyouare。"

Ithenrelatedtohertheadventureofthespy，andweboththoughtthatitwasmostlikelythemeanstakenbythesaintedwomantogratifyhercuriosityaboutme。

"Ihaveresolvednottoattendyourchurchanymore。"

"Thatwillbeagreatdeprivationtome，butinourcommoninterestI

canbutapproveyourresolution。"

Sherelatedtheaffairofthetreacherouscrackinthepartition，andadded，"Itisalreadyrepaired，andthereisnolongeranyfearinthatquarter。IheardofitfromayoungboarderwhomIlovedearly，andwhoismuchattachedtome。Iamnotcurioustoknowhername，andshehasnevermentionedittome。"

"Now，darlingangel，tellmewhethermyhappinesswillbepostponed。"

"Yes，butonlyfortwenty—fourhours；thenewprofessedsisterhasinvitedmetosupperinherroom，andyoumustunderstandIcannotinventanyplausibleexcuseforrefusingherinvitation。"

"Youwouldnot，then，tellherinconfidencetheverylegitimateobstaclewhichmakesmewishthatthenewsistersnevertakesupper？"

"Certainlynot:wenevertrustanyonesofarinaconvent。Besides，dearest，suchaninvitationcannotbedeclinedunlessIwishtogainamostbitterenemy。"

"Couldyounotsaythatyouareill？"

"Yes；butthenthevisits！"

"Iunderstand；ifyoushouldrefuse，theescapemightbesuspected。"

"Theescape！impossible；herenooneadmitsthepossibilityofbreakingoutoftheconvent。"

"Thenyouaretheonlyoneabletoperformthatmiracle？"

"Youmaybesureofthat；but，asisalwaysthecase，itisgoldwhichperformsthatmiracle。"

"Andmanyothers，perhaps。"

"Oh！thetimehasgonebyforthem！Buttellme，mylove，wherewillyouwaitformeto—morrow，twohoursafterthesettingofthesun？"

"CouldInotwaitforyouatyourcasino？"

"No，becausemyloverwilltakemehimselftoVenice。"

"Yourlover？"

"Yes，himself。"

"Itisnotpossible。"

"Yetitistrue。"

"IcanwaitforyouinSt。JohnandSt。Paul’sSquarebehindthepedestalofthestatueofBartholomewofBergamo。"

"Ihaveneverseeneitherthesquareorthestatueexceptinengravings；itisenough，however，andIwillnotfail。Nothingbutverystormyweathercouldpreventmefromcomingtoarendezvousforwhichmyheartispanting。"

"Andiftheweatherwerebad？"

"Then，dearest，therewouldbenothinglost；andyouwouldcomehereagaininordertoappointanotherday。"

Ihadnotimetolose，forIhadnocasino。ItookasecondrowersoastoreachSt。Mark’sSquaremorerapidly，andIimmediatelysettoworklookingforwhatIwanted。WhenamortalissoluckyastobeinthegoodgracesofthegodPlutus，andisnotcrackbrained，heisprettysuretosucceedineverything:IhadnottosearchverylongbeforeIfoundacasinosuitingmypurposeexactly。ItwasthefinestintheneighbourhoodofVenice，but，asanaturalconsequence，itwaslikewisethemostexpensive。IthadbelongedtotheEnglishambassador，whohadsolditcheaptohiscookbeforeleavingVenice。

TheownerletittomeuntilEasterforonehundredsequins，whichI

paidinadvanceonconditionthathewouldhimselfcookthedinnersandthesuppersImightorder。

Ihadfiveroomsfurnishedinthemostelegantstyle，andeverythingseemedtobecalculatedforlove，pleasure，andgoodcheer。Theserviceofthedining—roomwasmadethroughashamwindowinthewall，providedwithadumb—waiterrevolvinguponitself，andfittingthewindowsoexactlythatmasterandservantscouldnotseeeachother。Thedrawing—roomwasdecoratedwithmagnificentlooking—

glasses，crystalchandeliers，girandolesingilt，bronze，andwithasplendidpier—glassplacedonachimneyofwhitemarble；thewallswerecoveredwithsmallsquaresofrealchina，representinglittleCupidsandnakedamorouscouplesinallsortsofpositions，wellcalculatedtoexcitetheimagination；elegantandverycomfortablesofaswereplacedoneveryside。Nexttoitwasanoctagonalroom，thewalls，theceiling，andthefloorofwhichwereentirelycoveredwithsplendidVenetianglass，arrangedinsuchamannerastoreflectonallsideseverypositionoftheamorouscoupleenjoyingthepleasuresoflove。Closebywasabeautifulalcovewithtwosecretoutlets；ontheright，anelegantdressing—room，ontheleft，aboudoirwhich，seemedtohavebeenarrangedbythemotherofLove，withabathinCarraramarble。Everywherethewainscotswereembossedinormoluorpaintedwithflowersandarabesques。

AfterIhadgivenmyordersforallthechandelierstobefilledwithwaxcandles，andthefinestlinentobeprovidedwherevernecessary，Iorderedamostdelicateandsumptuoussupperfortwo，withoutregardtoexpense，andespeciallythemostexquisitewines。Ithentookpossessionofthekeyoftheprincipalentrance，andwarnedthemasterthatIdidnotwanttobeseenbyanyonewhenIcameinorwentout。

Iobservedwithpleasurethattheclockinthealcovehadanalarum，forIwasbeginning，inspiteoflove，tobeeasilyinfluencedbythepowerofsleep。

Everythingbeingarrangedaccordingtomywishes，Iwent，asacarefulanddelicatelover，topurchasethefinestslippersIcouldfind，andacapinAlenconpoint。

Itrustmyreaderdoesnotthinkmetooparticular；lethimrecollectthatIwastoreceivethemostaccomplishedofthesultanasofthemasteroftheuniverse，andItoldthatfourthGracethatIhadacasino。WasItobeginbygivingherabadideaofmytruthfulness？

Attheappointedtime，thatistwohoursaftersunset，Irepairedtomypalace；anditwouldbedifficulttoimaginethesurpriseofhishonourtheFrenchcook，whenhesawmearrivealone。Notfindingallthechandelierslighted—upasIhadordered，Iscoldedhimwell，givinghimnoticethatIdidnotliketorepeatanorder。

"Ishallnotfail；sir，anothertime，toexecuteyourcommands。"

"Letthesupperbeserved。"

"Yourhonourordereditfortwo。"

"Yes，fortwo；and，thistime，bepresentduringmysupper，sothatI

cantellyouwhichdishesIfindgoodorbad。"

Thesuppercamethroughtherevolving:dumb—waiterinverygoodorder，twodishesatatune。Ipassedsomeremarksuponeverything；

but，totellthetruth，everythingwasexcellent:game，fish，oysters，truffles，wine，dessert，andthewholeservedinveryfineDresdenchinaandsilver—giltplate。

Itoldhimthathehadforgottenhardeggs，anchovies，andpreparedvinegartodressasalad。Heliftedhiseyestowardsheaven，asiftopleadguilty，toaveryheinouscrime。

Afterasupperwhichlastedtwohours，andduringwhichImustcertainlyhavewontheadmirationofmyhost，Iaskedhimtobringmethebill。Hepresentedittomeshortlyafterwards，andIfounditreasonable。Ithendismissedhim，andlaydowninthesplendidbedinthealcove；myexcellentsupperbroughtonverysoonthemostdelicioussleepwhich，withouttheBurgundyandtheChampagne，mightverylikelynothavevisitedme，ifIhadthoughtthatthefollowingnightwouldseemeinthesameplace，andinpossessionofalovelydivinity。Itwasbroadday—lightwhenIawoke，andafterorderingthefinestfruitandsomeicesfortheeveningIleftthecasino。Inordertoshortenadaywhichmyimpatientdesireswouldhavecausedmetofindverylong，Iwenttothefaro—table，andIsawwithpleasurethatIwasasgreatafavouritewithfortuneaswithlove。

Everythingproceededaccordingtomywishes，andIdelightedinascribingmyhappysuccesstotheinfluenceofmynun。

Iwasattheplaceofmeetingonehourbeforethetimeappointed，andalthoughthenightwascoldIdidnotfeelit。PreciselyasthehourstruckIsawatwo—oaredgondolareachtheshoreandamaskcomeoutofit，speakafewwordstothegondolier，andtakethedirectionofthestatue。Myheartwasbeatingquickly，butseeingthatitwasamanIavoidedhim，an