第35章

"No，butIhaveoftenseenyoupassingundermywindow。IliveatSt。Roch，nearthebridge。"

Thewayinwhichthewomantoldheryarnconvincedusthatshewasanadeptinthescienceofprostitution，butwethoughtCapsucefalo，inspiteofthecount，worthyofthepillory。ThegirlwasabouttenyearsolderthanM。M。，shewaspretty，butlight—complexioned，whilemybeautifulnunhadfinedarkbrownhairandwasatleastthreeinchestaller。

Aftertwelveo’clockwesatdowntosupper，anddidhonourtotheexcellentmealwhichmydearAntoinettehadpreparedforus。Wewerecruelenoughtoleavethepoorwretchwithoutofferinghersomuchasaglassofwine，butwethoughtitourduty。

Whileweweretalking，thejollyEnglishmanmadesomewittycommentsonmyeagernesstoconvincehimthathehadnotenjoyedM。M。’sfavours。

"Ican’tbelieve，"saidhe，"thatyouhaveshewnsomuchinterestwithoutbeinginlovewiththedivinenun。"

IansweredbysayingthatifIwereherloverIwasmuchtobepitiedinbeingcondemnedtogototheparlour，andnofarther。

"Iwouldgladlygiveahundredguineasamonth，"saidhe，"tohavetheprivilegeofvisitingheratthegrating。"

Sosayinghegavememyhundredsequins，complimentingmeonmysuccess，andIslippedthemforthwithintomypocket。

Attwoo’clockinthemorningweheardasoftknockonthestreetdoor。

"Hereisourfriend，"Isaid，"bediscreet，andyouwillseethathewillmakeafullconfession。"

HecameinandsawMurrayandthelady，butdidnotdiscoverthatathirdpartywaspresenttillheheardtheante—roomdoorbeinglocked。Heturnedroundandsawme，andasheknewme，merelysaid，withoutlosingcountenance:

"Ah，youarehere；youknow，ofcourse，thatthesecretmustbekept？"

Murraylaughedandcalmlyaskedhimtobeseated，andheenquired，withthelady’spistolsinhishands，wherehewasgoingtotakeherbeforeday—break。

"Home。"

"Ithinkyoumaybemistaken，asitisverypossiblethatwhenyouleavethisplaceyouwillbothofyoubeprovidedwithabedinprison。"

"No，Iamnotafraidofthathappening；thethingwouldmaketoomuchnoise，andthelaughwouldnotbeonyourside。Come，"saidhetohismate，"putonyourcloakandletusbeoff。"

Theambassador，wholikeanEnglishmankeptquitecoolthewholetime，pouredhimoutaglassofChambertin，andtheblackguarddrankhishealth。Murrayseeinghehadonafineringsetwithbrilliants，praisedit，andshewingsomecuriositytoseeitmorecloselyhedrewitoffthefellow’sfinger，examinedit，founditwithoutflaw，andaskedhowmuchitwasworth。Capsucefalo，alittletakenaback，saiditcosthimfourhundredsequins。

"Iwillholditasapledgeforthatsum，"saidtheambassador，puttingtheringintohispocket。Theotherlookedchop—fallen，andMurraylaughingathisretiringmannerstoldthegirltoputonhercloakandtopackoffwithherworthyacolyte。Shedidsodirectly，andwithalowbowtheydisappeared。

"Farewell，nunprocurer！"saidtheambassador，butthecountmadenoanswer。

AssoonastheyweregoneIthankedMurraywarmlyforthemoderationhehadshewn，asascandalwouldhaveonlyinjuredthreeinnocentpeople。

"Besure，"saidhe，"thattheguiltypartiesshallbepunishedwithoutanyone’sknowingthereason"

IthenmadeToninecomeupstairs，andmyEnglishfriendofferedheraglassofwine，whichshedeclinedwithmuchmodestyandpoliteness。

Murraylookedatherwithflamingglances，andleftaftergivingmehisheartiestthanks。

PoorlittleToninehadbeenresigned，andobedientformanyhours，andshehadgoodcausetothinkIhadbeenunfaithfultoher；

however，Igaveherthemostunmistakableproofsofmyfidelity。Westayedinbedforsixhours，androsehappyinthemorning。

AfterdinnerIhurriedofftomynobleM————M————，andtoldherthewholestory。Shelistenedeagerly，hervariousfeelingsflittingacrossherface。Fear，anger，wrath，approvalofmymethodofclearingupmynaturalsuspicions，joyatdiscoveringmestillherlover——allweredepictedinsuccessioninherglance，andintheplayofherfeatures，andintheredandwhitewhichfollowedoneanotheronhercheeksandforehead。ShewasdelightedtohearthatthemaskerwhowaswithmeintheparlourwastheEnglishambassador，butshebecamenoblydisdainfulwhenItoldherthathewouldgladlygiveahundredguineasamonthforthepleasureofvisitingherintheparlour。Shewasangrywithhimforfancyingthatshehadbeeninhispower，andforfindingalikenessbetweenherandaportrait，when，soshesaid，therewasnolikenessatall；Ihadgivenhertheportrait。Sheadded，withashrewdsmile，thatshewassureIhadnotletmylittlemaidseethefalsenun，asshemighthavebeenmistaken。

"Youknow，doyou，thatIhaveayoungservant？"

"Yes，andaprettyone，too。SheisLaura’sdaughter，andifyouloveherIamveryglad，andsoisC————C————。Ihopeyouwillletmehaveasightofher。C————C————hasseenherbefore。"

AsIsawthatsheknewtoomuchformetobeabletodeceiveher，I

tookmycuedirectlyandtoldherindetailthehistoryofmyamours。

Sheshewedhersatisfactiontooopenlynottobesincere。BeforeI

lefthershesaidherhonourobligedhertogetCapsucefaloassassinated，forthewretchhadwrongedherbeyondpardon。BywayofquietingherIpromisedthatiftheambassadordidnotridusofhimwithintheweekIwouldchargemyselfwiththeexecutionofourcommonvengeance。

AboutthistimediedBragadintheprocurator，brotherofmypatron，leavingM。deBragadinsufficientlywelloff。However，asthefamilythreatenedtobecomeextinct，hedesiredawomanwhohadbeenhismistress，andofwhomhehadhadanaturalson，tobecomehiswife。

Bythismarriagethesonwouldhavebecomelegitimate，andthefamilyrenewedagain。TheCollegeofCardinalswouldhaverecognizedthewifeforasmallfee，andallwouldhavegoneadmirably。

Thewomanwrotetome，askingmetocallonher；andIwasgoingto，curioustoknowwhatawoman，whomIdidnotknowfromAdam，couldwantwithme，whenIreceivedasummonsfromM。deBragadin。HebeggedmetoaskParalisifheoughttofollowDelaHaye’sadviceinamatterhehadpromisednottoconfidetome，butofwhichtheoraclemustbeinformed。Theoracle，naturallyopposedtotheJesuit，toldhimtoconsulthisownfeelingsandnothingelse。AfterthisIwenttothelady。

Shebeganbytellingmethewholestory。Sheintroducedhersontome，andtoldmethatifthemarriagecouldbeperformed，adeedwouldbedeliveredinmyfavourbywhich，atthedeathofM。deBragadin，Ishouldbecomeentitledtoanestateworthfivethousandcrownsperannum。

AsIguessedwithoutmuchtroublethatthiswasthesamematterwhichDelaHayehadproposedtoM。deBragadin，IansweredwithouthesitationthatsinceDelaHayewasbeforemeIcoulddonothing，andthereuponmadehermybow。

IcouldnothelpwonderingatthisJesuit’scontinuallyintriguingtomarrymyoldfriendswithoutmyknowledge。Twoyearsago，ifIhadnotsetmyfaceagainstit，hewouldhavemarriedM。Dandolo。I

carednotawhitwhetherthefamilyofBragadinbecameextinctornot，butIdidcareforthelifeofmybenefactor，andwasquitesurethatmarriagewouldshortenitbymanyyears；hewasalreadysixty—

three，andhadrecoveredfromaseriousapoplecticstroke。

IwenttodinewithLadyMurray（English—womenwhoaredaughtersoflordskeepthetitle），andafterdinnertheambassadortoldmethathehadtoldM。Cavallithewholestoryofthefalsenun，andthatthesecretaryhadinformedhim，theeveningbefore，thateverythinghadbeendonetohisliking。CountCapsucefalohadbeensenttoCephalonia，hisnativecountry，withtheordernevertoreturntoVenice，andthecourtezanhaddisappeared。

Thefinepart，orratherthefearfulpart，aboutthesesentencesisthatnooneeverknowsthereasonwhyorwherefore，andthatthelotmayfallontheinnocentaswellastheguilty。M。M。wasdelightedwiththeevent，andIwasmorepleasedthanshe，forIshouldhavebeensorrytohavebeenobligedtosoilmyhandswiththebloodofthatrascallycount。

Thereareseasonsinthelifeofmenwhichmaybecalled’fasti’and’nefasti’；Ihaveprovedthisofteninmylongcareer，andonthestrengthoftherubsandstrugglesIhavehadtoencounter。Iamable，aswellasanyman，toverifythetruthofthisaxiom。Ihadjustexperiencedarunofluck。Fortunehadbefriendedmeatplay，I

hadbeenhappyinthesocietyofmen，andfromloveIhadnothingtoask；butnowthereverseofthemedalbegantoappear。Lovewasstillkind，butFortunehadquiteleftme，andyouwillsoonsee，reader，thatmenusedmenobetterthantheblindgoddess。

Nevertheless，sinceone’sfatehasphasesaswellasthemoon，goodfollowsevilasdisasterssucceedtohappiness。

Istillplayedonthemartingale，butwithsuchbadluckthatIwassoonleftwithoutasequin。AsIsharedmypropertywithM。M。Iwasobligedtotellherofmylosses，anditwasatherrequestthatI

soldallherdiamonds，losingwhatIgotforthem；shehadnowonlyfivehundredsequinsbyher。Therewasnomoretalkofherescapingfromtheconvent，forwehadnothingtoliveon！Istillgamed，butforsmallstakes，waitingfortheslowreturnofgoodluck。

OnedaytheEnglishambassador，aftergivingmeasupperathiscasinowiththecelebratedFannyMurray，askedmetolethimsupatmycasinoatMuran，whichInowonlykeptupforthesakeofTonine。

Igrantedhimthefavour，butdidnotimitatehisgenerosity。Hefoundmylittlemistresssmilingandpolite，butalwayskeepingwithintheboundsofdecency，fromwhichhewouldhaveverywillinglyexcusedher。Thenextmorninghewrotetomeasfollows:

"IammadlyinlovewithTonine。IfyouliketohandherovertomeIwillmakethefollowingprovisionforher:IwillsetherupinasuitablelodgingwhichIwillfurnishthroughout，andwhichIwillgivetoherwithallitscontents，providedthatImayvisitherwheneverIplease，andthatshegivesmealltherightsofafortunatelover。Iwillgiveheramaid，acook，andthirtysequinsamonthasprovisionfortwopeople，withoutreckoningthewine，whichIwillprocuremyself。BesidesthisIwillgiveheralifeincomeoftwohundredcrownsperannum，overwhichshewillhavefullcontrolafterlivingwithmeforayear。Igiveyouaweektosendyouranswer。"

IrepliedimmediatelythatIwouldlethimknowinthreedayswhetherhisproposalwereaccepted，forToninehadamotherofwhomshewasfond，andshewouldpossiblynotcaretodoanythingwithoutherconsent。Ialsoinformedhimthatinallappearancethegirlwaswithchild。

ThebusinesswasanimportantoneforTonine。Ilovedher，butI

knewperfectlywellthatwecouldnotpasstherestofourlivestogether，andIsawnoprospectofbeingabletomakeherasgoodaprovisionasthatofferedbytheambassador。ConsequentlyIhadnodoubtsonthequestion，andtheverysamedayIwenttoMuranandtoldherall。

"Youwishtoleaveme，then，"saidshe，intears。

"Iloveyou，dearest，andwhatIproposeoughttoconvinceyouofmylove。"

"Notso；Icannotservetwomasters。"

"Youwillonlyserveyournewlover，sweetheart。Ibegofyoutoreflectthatyouwillhaveafinedowry，onthestrengthofwhichyoumaymarrywell；andthathowevermuchIloveyouIcannotpossiblymakesogoodaprovisionforyou。"

"Leavemeto—dayfortearsandreflection，andcometosupperwithmeto—morrow。"

Ididnotfailtokeeptheappointment。

"IthinkyourEnglishfriendisaveryprettyman，"shesaid，"andwhenhespeaksintheVenetiandialectitmakesmediewithlaughter。

Ifmymotheragrees，Imight，perhaps，forcemyselftolovehim。

Supposingwedidnotagreewecouldpartattheendofayear，andI

shouldbethericherbyanincomeoftwohundredcrowns。"

"Iamcharmedwiththesenseofyourarguments；speakaboutittoyourmother。"

"Idaren’t，sweetheart；thiskindofthingistoodelicatetobediscussedbetweenamotherandherdaughterspeaktoheryourself。"

"Iwill，indeed。"

Laura，whomIhadnotseensinceshehadgivenmeherdaughter，askedfornotimetothinkitover，butfullofgleetoldmethatnowherdaughterwouldbeabletosootheherdecliningyears，andthatshewouldleaveMuranofwhichshewastired。SheshewedmeahundredandthirtysequinswhichToninehadgainedinmyservice，andwhichshehadplacedinherhands。

Barberine，Tonine’syoungersister，cametokissmyhand。Ithoughthercharming，andIgaveherallthesilverinmypocket。Ithenleft，tellingLaurathatIshouldexpectheratmyhouse。Shesoonfollowedme，andgaveherchildamother’sblessing，tellingherthatsheandherfamilycouldgoandliveinVeniceforsixtysousaday。

Tonineembracedher，andtoldherthatsheshouldhaveit。

Thisimportantaffairhavingbeenmanagedtoeverybody’ssatisfaction，IwenttoseeM————M————，whocameintotheparlourwithC————C————，whomIfoundlookingsad，thoughprettierthanever。Shewasmelancholy，butnonethelesstender。Shecouldnotstayformorethanaquarterofanhourforfearofbeingseen，asshewasforbiddenevertogointotheparlour。ItoldM。M。thestoryofTonine，whowasgoingtolivewithMurrayinVenice；shewassorrytohearit，"for，"saidshe，"nowthatyouhavenolongeranyattractionatMuran，Ishallseeyoulessthanever。"Ipromisedtocomeandseeheroften，butvainpromises！Thetimewasnearwhichpartedusforever。

ThesameeveningIwenttotellthegoodnewstomyfriendMurray。

Hewasinatransportofjoy，andbeggedmetocomeandsupwithhimathiscasinothedayafternext，andtobringthegirlwithme，thatthesurrendermightbemadeinform。Ididnotfailhim，foroncethematterwasdecided，Ilongedtobringittoanend。InmypresenceheassignedtohertheyearlyincomeforherlifeoftwohundredVenetianducats，andbyaseconddeedhegaveherallthecontentsofthehousewithwhichhewasgoingtoprovideher，providedalwaysthatshelivedwithhimforayear。Heallowedhertoreceivemeasafriend，alsotoreceivehermotherandsisters，andshewasfreetogoandseethemwhenshewould。Toninethrewherarmsabouthisneck，andassuredhimthatshewouldendeavourtopleasehimtotheutmostofherability。"Iwillseehim，"saidshe，pointingtome，"butashisfriendheshallhavenothingmorefromme。"Throughoutthistrulyaffectingsceneshekeptbackhertears，butIcouldnotconcealmine。Murraywashappy，butIwasnotlongawitnessofhisgoodfortune，thereasonofwhichIwillexplainalittlelater。

ThreedaysafterwardsLauracametome，toldmethatshewaslivinginVenice，andaskedmetotakehertoherdaughter’s。Iowedthiswomantoomuchtorefuseher，andItookherthereforthwith。ToninegavethankstoGod，andalsotome，andhermothertookupthesong，fortheywerenotquitesurewhethertheyweremoreindebtedtoGodortome。ToninewaseloquentinherpraiseofMurray，andmadenocomplaintatmynothavingcometoseeher，atwhichIwasglad。AsIwasgoingLauraaskedmetotakeherbackinmygondola，andaswehadtopassbythehouseinwhichshelivedshebeggedmetocomeinforamoment，andIcouldnothurtherfeelingsbyrefusing。IoweittomyhonourtoremarkherethatIwasthuspolitewithoutthinkingthatIshouldseeBarberineagain。

Thisgirl，asprettyashersister，thoughinanotherstyle，beganbyawakeningmycuriosity——aweaknesswhichusuallyrenderstheprofligatemaninconstant。Ifallwomenweretohavethesamefeatures，thesamedisposition，andthesamemanners，menwouldnotonlyneverbeinconstant，butwouldneverbeinlove。Underthatstateofthingsonewouldchooseawifebyinstinctandkeeptohertilldeath，butourworldwouldthenbeunderadifferentsystemtothepresent。Noveltyisthemasterofthesoul。Weknowthatwhatwedonotseeisverynearlythesameaswhatwehaveseen，butwearecurious，weliketobequitesure，andtoattainourendswegiveourselvesasmuchtroubleasifwewerecertainoffindingsomeprizebeyondcompare。

Barberine，wholookeduponmeasanoldfriend——forhermotherhadaccustomedhertokissmyhandwheneverIwentthere，whohadundressedmorethanonceinmypresencewithouttroublingaboutme，whoknewIhadmadehersister’sfortuneandthefamilyfortuneaswell，andthoughtherselfprettierthanToninebecauseherskinwasfairer，andbecauseshehadfineblackeyes，desiringtotakehersister’splace，knewthattosucceedshemusttakemebystorm。HercommonsensetoldherthatasIhardlyevercametothehouse，I

shouldnotbelikelytobecomeamorousofherunlessshewonmebystorm；andtothisendsheshewedtheutmostcomplaisancewhenshehadthechance，sothatIwonherwithoutanydifficulty。Allthisreasoningcamefromherownhead，forIamsurehermothergavehernoinstructions。Laurawasamotherofakindcommontheworldover，butespeciallyinItaly。Shewaswillingtotakeadvantageoftheearningsofherdaughters，butshewouldneverhaveinducedthemtotakethepathofevil。Therehervirtuestoppedshort。

AfterIhadinspectedhertworoomsandherlittlekitchen，andhadadmiredthecleannesswhichshoneallaround，BarberineaskedmeifI

wouldliketoseetheirsmallgarden。

"Withpleasure，"Ireplied，"foragardenisararityinVenice。"

Hermothertoldhertogivemesomefigsiftherewereanyripeones。

Thegardenconsistedofaboutthirtysquarefeet，andgrewonlysaladherbsandafinefigtree。Ithadnotagoodcrop，andItoldherthatIcouldnotseeanyfigs。

"Icanseesomeatthetop，"saidBarberine，"andIwillgatherthemifyouwillholdmetheladder。"

"Yes，climbaway；Iwillholditquitefirmly。"

Shesteppeduplightly，andstretchingoutanarmtogetatsomefigstoonesideofher，sheputherbodyoffitsbalance，holdingontotheladderwiththeotherhand。

"MydearBarberine，whatdoyouthinkIcansee？"

"Whatyouhaveoftenseenwithmysister。"

"That’strue！butyouareprettierthansheis。"

Thegirlmadenoreply，but，asifshecouldnotreachthefruit，sheputherfootonahighbranch，andspewedmethemostseductivepicture。Iwasinanecstasy，andBarberine，whosawit，didnothurryherself。AtlastIhelpedhertocomedown，andlettingmyhandwanderindiscreetly，IaskedherifthefruitIheldhadbeenplucked，andshekeptmealongtimetellingmeitwasquitefresh。

Itookherwithinmyarms，andalreadyhercaptive，Ipressedheramorouslytomyheart，printingonherlipsafierykiss，whichshegavemebackwithasmuchardour。

"WillyougivemewhatIhavecaught，dearest？"

"MymotherisgoingtoMuranto—morrow，andshewillstaytherealltheday；ifyoucome，thereisnothingIwillrefuseyou。"

Whenspeechlikethisproceedsfromamouthstillinnocent，themantowhomitisaddressedoughttobehappy，fordesiresarebutpainandtorment，andenjoymentissweetbecauseitdeliversusfromthem。

Thisshewsthatthosewhopreferalittleresistancetoaneasyconquestareinthewrong；butatooeasyconquestoftenpointstoadepravednature，andthismendonotlike，howeverdepravedtheythemselvesmaybe。

Wereturnedtothehouse，andIgaveBarberineatenderkissbeforeLaura’seyes，tellingherthatshehadaveryjewelinherdaughter——

acomplimentwhichmadeherfacelightupwithpleasure。Igavethedeargirltensequins，andIwentawaycongratulatingmyself，butcursingmyluckatnotbeingabletomakeasgoodprovisionforBarberineasMurrayhadmadeforhersister。

Toninehadtoldmethatformanners’sakeIshouldsuponcewithher。

IwentthesameeveningandfoundRigheliniandMurraythere。Thesupperwasdelicious，andIwasdelightedwiththeexcellentunderstandingthetwolovershadalreadycometo。Icomplimentedtheambassadoronthelossofoneofhistastes，andhetoldmeheshouldbeverysorryatsuchaloss，asitwouldwarnhimofhisdecliningpowers。

"But，"saidI，"youusedtoliketoperformthemysterioussacrificeofLovewithoutaveil。"

"ItwasnotIbutAncillawholikedit，andasIpreferredpleasinghertopleasingmyself，Igaveintohertastewithoutanydifficulty。"

"Iamdelightedwithyouranswer，asIconfessitwouldcostmesomethingtobethewitnessofyourexploitswithTonine。"

HavingcasuallyremarkedthatIhadnolongerahouseinMura