第37章

Thelongnightsofwinterdistressedme，forIhadtopassnineteenmortalhoursindarkness；andonthecloudydays，whicharecommonenoughatVenice，thelightIhadwasnotsufficientformetobeabletoread。WithoutanydistractionsIfellbackontheideaofmyescape，andamanwhoalwaysthinksononesubjectisindangerofbecomingamonomaniac。Awretchedkitchen—lampwouldhavemademehappy，buthowamItogetsuchathing？Oblessedprerogativeofthought！howhappywasIwhenIthoughtIhadfoundawaytopossessmyselfofsuchatreasure！TomakesuchalampIrequiredavase，wicks，oil，aflintandsteel，tinder，andmatches。Aporringerwoulddoforthevase，andIhadonewhichwasusedforcookingeggsinbutter。Pretendingthatthecommonoildidnotagreewithme，I

gotthemtobuymeLuccaoilformysalad，andmycottoncounterpanewouldfurnishmewithwicks。IthensaidIhadthetoothache，andaskedLawrencetogetmeapumice—stone，butashedidnotknowwhatImeantItoldhimthatamusket—flintwoulddoaswellifitweresoakedinvinegarforaday，and，thenbeingappliedtothetooththepainwouldbeeased。LawrencetoldmethatthevinegarIhadwasexcellent，andthatIcouldsoakthestonemyself，andhegavemethreeorfourflintshehadinhispocket。AllIhadtodowastogetsomesulphurandtinder，andtheprocuringofthesetwoarticlessetallmywitstowork。Atlastfortunecametomyassistance。

Ihadsufferedfromakindofrash，whichasitcameoffhadleftsomeredspotsonmyarms，andoccasionallycausedmesomeirritation。ItoldLawrencetoaskthedoctorforacure，andthenextdayhebroughtmeapieceofpaperwhichthesecretaryhadseen，andonwhichthedoctorhadwritten，"Regulatethefoodforaday，andtheskinwillbecuredbyfourouncesofoilofsweetalmondsoranointmentofflourofsulphur，butthislocalapplicationishazardous。"

"Nevermindthedanger，"saidItoLawrence；"buymetheointment，orrathergetmethesulphur，asIhavesomebutterbyme，andIcanmakeitupmyself。Haveyouanymatches？Givemeafew。"

Hefoundsomeinhispockets，andhegavemethem。

Whatasmallthingbringscomfortindistress！Butinmyplacethesematcheswerenosmallthing，butratheragreattreasure。

IhadpuzzledmyheadforseveralhoursastowhatsubstituteIcouldfindfortinder——theonlythingIstilllacked，andwhichIcouldnotaskforunderanypretensewhatsoever——whenIrememberedthatIhadtoldthetailortoputsomeunderthearmpitsofmycoattopreventtheperspirationspoilingthestuff。Thecoat，quitenew，wasbeforeme，andmyheartbegantobeat，butsupposingthetailorhadnotputitin！ThusIhungbetweenhopeandfear。Ihadonlytotakeasteptoknowall；butsuchastepwouldhavebeendecisive，andIdarednottakeit。AtlastIdrewnigh，andfeelingmyselfunworthyofsuchmerciesIfellonmykneesandferventlyprayedofGodthatthetailormightnothaveforgottenthetinder。AfterthisheartfeltprayerItookmycoat，unsewedit，andfound—thetinder！Myjoyknewnobounds。InaturallygavethankstoGod，sinceitwaswithconfidenceinHimthatItookcourageandsearchedmycoat，andI

returnedthankstoHimwithallmyheart。

Inowhadallthenecessarymaterials，andIsoonmademyselfalamp。

Letthereaderimaginemyjoyathavinginamannermadelightinthemidstofdarkness，anditwasnolesssweetbecauseagainsttheordersofmyinfamousoppressors。Nowtherewasnomorenightforme，andalsonomoresalad，forthoughIwasveryfondofittheneedofkeepingtheoiltogivelightcausedmetomakethissacrificewithoutitcostingmemanypangs。IfixeduponthefirstMondayinLenttobeginthedifficultworkofbreakingthroughthefloor，forI

suspectedthatinthetumultofthecarnivalImighthavesomevisitors，andIwasintheright。

Atnoon，onQuinquagesimaSunday，Iheardthenoiseofthebolts，andpresentlyLawrenceentered，followedbyathick—setmanwhomI

recognizedastheJew，GabrielSchalon，knownforlendingmoneytoyoungmen。

Wekneweachother，soexchangedcompliments。Hiscompanywasbynomeansagreeabletome，butmyopinionwasnotasked。Hebeganbycongratulatingmeonhavingthepleasureofhissociety；andbywayofanswerIofferedhimtosharemydinner，butherefused，sayinghewouldonlytakealittlesoup，andwouldkeephisappetiteforabettersupperathisownhouse。

"When？"

"Thisevening。YouheardwhenIaskedformybedhetoldmethatwewouldtalkaboutthatto—morrow。ThatmeansplainlythatIshallhavenoneedofit。Anddoyouthinkitlikelythatamanlikemewouldbeleftwithoutanythingtoeat？"

"Thatwasmyexperience。"

"Possibly，butbetweenourselvesourcasesaresomewhatdifferent；

andwithoutgoinganyfartherintothatquestion，theInquisitorshavemadeamistakeinarrestingme，andtheywillbeinsometrouble，Iamcertain，astohowtoatonefordoingso。"

"Theywillpossiblygiveyouapension。Amanofyourimportancehastobeconciliated。"

"True，there’snotabrokerontheexchangemoreusefulthanmyself，andthefivesageshaveoftenprofitedbytheadviceIhavegiventhem。Mydetentionisacuriousincident，which，perchance，willbeofservicetoyou。"

"Indeed。How，mayIask？"

"Iwillgetyououtofhereinamonth’stime。Iknowtowhomtospeakandwhatwaytodoit:"

"Ireckononyou，then。"

"Youmaydoso。"

Thisknaveandfooltogetherbelievedhimselftobesomebody。Hevolunteeredtoinformmeastowhatwasbeingsaidofmeinthetown，butasheonlyrelatedtheidletalesofmenasignorantashimself，heweariedme，andtoescapelisteningtohimItookupabook。Thefellowhadtheimpudencetoaskmenottoread，ashewasveryfondoftalking，buthenceforthhetalkedonlytohimself。Ididnotdaretolightmylampbeforethiscreature，andasnightdrewonhedecidedonacceptingsomebreadandCypruswine，andhewasafterwardsobligedtodoasbesthecouldwithmymattress，whichwasnowthecommonbedofallnew—comers。

Inthemorninghehadabedandsomefoodfromhisownhouse。Iwasburdenedwiththiswretchedfellowfortwomonths，forbeforecondemninghimtotheFoursthesecretaryhadseveralinterviewswithhimtobringtolighthisknaveries，andtoobligehimtocancelagoodlynumberofillegalagreements。HeconfessedtomehimselfthathehadboughtofM。DomenicoMichelitherighttomoneyswhichcouldnotbelongtothebuyertillafterthefatherofthesellerwasdead。

"It’strue，"saidhe，"thatheagreedtogivemefiftypercent。，butyoumustconsiderthatifhediedbeforehisfatherIshouldloseall。"Atlast，seeingthatmycursedfellowdidnotgo，Ideterminedtolightmylampagainafterhavingmadehimpromisetoobservesecrecy。Heonlykepthispromisewhilehewaswithme，asLawrenceknewallaboutit，butluckilyheattachednoimportancetothefact。

Thisunwelcomeguestwasatrueburdentome，ashenotonlypreventedmefromworkingformyescapebutalsofromreading。Hewastroublesome，ignorant，superstitious，abraggart，cowardly，andsometimeslikeamadman。Hewouldhavehadmecry，sincefearmadehimweep，andhesaidoverandoveragainthatthisimprisonmentwouldruinhisreputation。OnthiscountIreassuredhimwithasarcasmhedidnotunderstand。Itoldhimthathisreputationwastoowellknowntosufferanythingfromthislittlemisfortune，andhetookthatforacompliment。Hewouldnotconfesstobeingamiser，butImadehimadmitthatiftheInquisitorswouldgivehimahundredsequinsforeverydayofhisimprisonmenthewouldgladlypasstherestofhislifeundertheLeads。

HewasaTalmudist，likeallmodernJews，andhetriedtomakemebelievethathewasverydevout；butIonceextractedasmileofapprobationfromhimbytellinghimthathewouldforswearMosesifthePopewouldmakehimacardinal。Asthesonofarabbihewaslearnedinalltheceremoniesofhisreligion，butlikemostmenheconsideredtheessenceofareligiontolieinitsdisciplineandoutwardforms。

ThisJew，whowasextremelyfat，passedthree—quartersofhislifeinbed；andthoughheoftendozedinthedaytime，hewasannoyedatnotbeingabletosleepatnight——allthemoreashesawthatIsleptexcellently。HeoncetookitintohisheadtowakemeupasIwasenjoyingmysleep。

"Whatdoyouwant？"saidI；"wakingmeupwithastartlikethis。"

"Mydearfellow，Ican’tsleepawink。Havecompassiononmeandletushavealittletalk。"

"Youscoundrel）Youactthusandyoudaretocallyourselfmyfriend！

Iknowyourlackofsleeptormentsyou，butifyouagaindeprivemeoftheonlyblessingIenjoyIwillariseandstrangleyou。"

Iutteredthesewordsinakindoftransport。

"Forgiveme，formercy’ssake！andbesurethatIwillnottroubleyouagain。"

ItispossiblethatIshouldnothavestrangledhim，butIwasverymuchtemptedtodoso。Aprisonerwhoishappyenoughtosleepsoundly，allthewhilehesleepsisnolongeracaptive，andfeelsnomoretheweightofhischains。Heoughttolookuponthewretchwhoawakenshimasaguardwhodepriveshimofhisliberty，andmakeshimfeelhismiseryoncemore，since，awakening，hefeelsallhisformerwoes。Furthermore，thesleepingprisoneroftendreamsthatheisfreeagain，inlikemannerasthewretchdyingofhungerseeshimselfindreamsseatedatasumptuousfeast。

Icongratulatedmyselfonnothavingcommencedmygreatworkbeforehecame，especiallyasherequiredthattheroomshouldbesweptout。

Thefirsttimeheaskedforittobedote，theguardsmademelaughbysayingthatitwouldkillme。However，heinsisted；andIhadmyrevengebypretendingtobeill，butfrominterestedmotivesImadenofurtheropposition。

OntheWednesdayinHolyWeekLawrencetoldusthatthesecretarywouldmakeusthecustomaryvisitintheafternoon，theobjectbeingtogivepeacetothemthatwouldreceivethesacramentatEaster，andalsotoknowiftheyhadanythingtosayagainstthegaoler。"So，gentlemen，"saidLawrence，"ifyouhaveanycomplaintstomakeofmemakethem。Dressyourselvesfully，asiscustomary。"ItoldLawrencetogetmeaconfessorfortheday。

Iputmyselfintofulldress，andtheJewfollowedmyexample，takingleaveofmeinadvance，sosurewashethatthesecretarywouldsethimfreeonhearingwhathehadtosay。"Mypresentiment，"saidhe，"isofthesamekindasIhavehadbefore，andIhaveneverbeendeceived。"

"Icongratulateyou，butdon’treckonwithoutyourhost。"HedidnotunderstandwhatImeant。

Incourseoftimethesecretarycame，andassoonasthecell—doorwasopenedtheJewranoutandthrewhimselfathisfeetonbothknees，Iheardforfiveminutesnothingbuthistearsandcomplaints，forthesecretarysaidnotoneword。Hecameback，andLawrencetoldmetogoout。Withabeardofeightmonths’growth，andadressmadeforlove—makinginAugust，Imusthavepresentedasomewhatcuriousappearance。MuchtomydisgustIshiveredwithcold，andwasafraidthatthesecretarywouldthinkIwastremblingwithfear。AsIwasobligedtobendlowtocomeoutofmyhole，mybowwasreadymade，anddrawingmyselfup，Ilookedathimcalmlywithoutaffectinganyunseasonablehardihood，andwaitedforhimtospeak。Thesecretaryalsokeptsilence，sothatwestoodfacingeachotherlikeapairofstatues。Attheendoftwominutes，thesecretary，seeingthatI

saidnothing，gavemeaslightbow，andwentaway。Ire—enteredmycell，andtakingoffmyclothesinhaste，gotintobedtogetwarmagain。TheJewwasastonishedatmynothavingspokentothesecretary，althoughmysilencehadcriedmoreloudlythanhiscowardlycomplaints。Aprisonerofmykindhasnobusinesstoopenhismouthbeforehisjudge，excepttoanswerquestions。OnMaundyThursdayaJesuitcametoconfessme，andonHolySaturdayapriestofSt。Mark’scametoadministertometheHolyCommunion。MyconfessionappearingrathertoolaconictothesweetsonofIgnatiushethoughtgoodtoremonstratewithmebeforegivingmehisabsolution。

"DoyoupraytoGod？"hesaid。

"Fromthemorninguntotheevening，andfromtheeveninguntothemorning，for，placedasIam，allthatIfeel——myanxiety，mygrief，allthewanderingsofmymind——canbebutaprayerintheeyesoftheDivineWisdomwhichaloneseesmyheart。"

TheJesuitsmiledslightlyandrepliedbyadiscourserathermetaphysicalthanmoral，whichdidnotatalltallywithmyviews。

Ishouldhaveconfutedhimoneverypointifhehadnotastonishedmebyaprophecyhemade。"Sinceitisfromus，"saidhe，"thatyoulearntwhatyouknowofreligion，practiseitinourfashion，praylikeus，andknowthatyouwillonlycomeoutofthisplaceonthedayofthesaintwhosenameyoubear。"Sosayinghegavemeabsolution，andleftme。Thismanleftthestrongestpossibleimpressiononmymind。Ididmybest，butIcouldnotridmyselfofit。Iproceededtopassinreviewallthesaintsinthecalendar。

TheJesuitwasthedirectorofM。FlaminioCorner，anoldsenator，andthenaStateInquisitor。Thisstatesmanwasafamousmanofletters，agreatpolitician，highlyreligious，andauthorofseveralpiousandasceticworkswritteninLatin。Hisreputationwasspotless。

OnbeinginformedthatIshouldbesetfreeonthefeast—dayofmypatronsaint，andthinkingthatmyinformantoughttoknowforcertainwhathetoldme，Ifeltgladtohaveapatron—saint。"Butwhichisit？"Iaskedmyself。"ItcannotbeSt。JamesofCompostella，whosenameIbear，foritwasonthefeast—dayofthatsaintthatMesser—Grandeburstopenmydoor。"Itookthealmanacandlookingforthesaints’daysnearestathandIfoundSt。George——asaintofsomenote，butofwhomIhadneverthought。IthendevotedmyselftoSt。Mark，whosefeastfellonthetwenty—fifthofthemonth，andwhoseprotectionasaVenetianImightjustlyclaim。Tohim，then，Iaddressedmyvows，butallinvain，forhisfeastcameroundandstillIwasinprison。ThenItookmyselftoSt。James，thebrotherofChrist，whocomesbeforeSt。Philip，butagaininthewrong。ItriedSt。Anthony，who，ifthetaletoldatPaduabetrue，workedthirteenmiraclesaday。Heworkednoneforme。ThusI

passedfromonetotheother，andbydegreesIgottohopeintheprotectionofthesaintsjustasonehopesforanythingonedesires，butdoesnotexpecttocometopass；andIfinishedupbyhopingonlyinmySaintBar，andinthestrengthofmyarms。NeverthelessthepromiseoftheJesuitcametopass，sinceIescapedfromTheLeadsonAllHallowsDay；anditiscertainthatifIhadapatron—saint，hemustbelookedforintheirnumbersincetheyareallhonouredonthatday。

AfortnightafterEasterIwasdeliveredfrommytroublesomeIsraelite，andthepoordevilinsteadofbeingsentbacktohishomehadtospendtwoyearsinTheFours，andonhisgaininghisfreedomhewentandsetupinTrieste，whereheendedhisdays。

NosoonerwasIagainalonethanIsetzealouslyaboutmywork。I

hadtomakehasteforfearofsomenewvisitor，who，liketheJew，mightinsistonthecellbeingswept。Ibeganbydrawingbackmybed，andafterlightingmylampIlaydownonmybelly，mypikeinmyhand，withanapkinclosebyinwhichtogatherthefragmentsofboardasIscoopedthemout。Mytaskwastodestroytheboardbydintofdrivingintoitthepointofmytool。AtfirstthepiecesI

gotawaywerenotmuchlargerthangrainsofwheat，buttheysoonincreasedinsize。

Theboardwasmadeofdeal，andwassixteeninchesbroad。Ibegantopierceitatitsjuncturewithanotherboard，andastherewerenonailsorclampsmyworkwassimple。Aftersixhours’toilItiedupthenapkin，andputitononesidetoemptyitthefollowingdaybehindthepileofpapersinthegarret。Thefragmentswerefourorfivetimeslargerinbulkthantheholefromwhencetheycame。Iputbackmybedinitsplace，andonemptyingthenapkinthenextmorningItookcaresotodisposethefragmentsthattheyshouldnotbeseen。

Havingbrokenthroughthefirstboard，whichIfoundtobetwoinchesthick，IwasstoppedbyasecondwhichIjudgedtobeasthickasthefirst。TormentedbythefearofnewvisitorsIredoubledmyefforts，andinthreeweeksIhadpiercedthethreeboardsofwhichthefloorwascomposed；andthenIthoughtthatallwaslost，forIfoundIhadtopierceabedofsmallpiecesofmarbleknownatVeniceasterrazzomarmorin。Thisformstheusualfloorofvenetianhousesofallkinds，exceptthecottages，foreventhehighnobilityprefertheterrazzotothefinestboardedfloor。Iwasthunderstrucktofindthatmybarmadenoimpressiononthiscomposition；but，nevertheless，Iwasnotaltogetherdiscouragedandcastdown。I

rememberedHannibal，who，accordingtoLivy，openedupapassagethroughtheAlpsbybreakingtherockswithaxesandotherinstruments，havingpreviouslysoftenedthemwithvinegar。IthoughtthatHannibalhadsucceedednotbyaceto，butaceta，whichintheLatinofPaduamightwellbethesameasascia；andwhocanguaranteethetexttobefreefromtheblundersofthecopyist？Allthesame，IpouredintotheholeabottleofstrongvinegarIhadbyme，andinthemorning，eitherbecauseofthevinegarorbecauseI，refreshedandrested，putmorestrengthandpatienceintothework，IsawthatIshouldovercomethisnewdifficulty；forIhadnottobreakthepiecesofmarble，butonlytopulverizewiththeendofmybarthecementwhichkeptthemtogether。Isoonperceivedthatthegreatestdifficultywasonthesurface，andinfourdaysthewholemosaicwasdestroyedwithoutthepointofmypikebeingatalldamaged。

BelowthepavementIfoundanotherplank，butIhadexpectedasmuch。

Iconcludedthatthiswouldbethelast；thatisthefirsttobeputdownwhentheroomsbelowwerebeingceiled。Ipierceditwithsomedifficulty，as，theholebeingteninchesdeep，ithadbecometroublesometoworkthepike。AthousandtimesIcommendedmyselftothemercyofGod。ThoseFree—thinkerswhosaythatprayingisnogooddonotknowwhattheyaretalkingabout；forIknowbyexperiencethat，havingprayedtoGod，Ialwaysfeltmyselfgrowstronger，whichfactamplyprovestheusefulnessofprayer，whethertherenewalofstrengthcomestraightfromGod，orwhetheritcomesonlyfromthetrustonehasinHim。

Onthe25thofJune，onwhichdaytheRepubliccelebratesthewonderfulappearanceofSt。Markundertheformofawingedlionintheducalchurch，aboutthreeo’clockintheafternoon，asIwaslabouringonmybellyatthehole，starknaked，coveredwithsweat，mylampbesideme。Iheardwithmortalfeartheshriekofaboltandthenoiseofthedoorofthefirstpassage。Itwasafearfulmoment！

Iblewoutmylamp，andleavingmybarintheholeIthrewintoitthenapkinwiththeshavingsitcontained，andasswiftaslightningIreplacedmybedasbestIcould，andthrewmyselfonitjustasthedoorofmycellopened。IfLawrencehadcomeintwosecondssoonerhewouldhavecaughtme。Hewasabouttowalkoverme，butcryingoutdolefullyIstoppedhim，andhefellback，saying，"Truly，sir，Ipityyou，fortheairhereisashotasafurnace。

Getup，andthankGodforgivingyousuchgoodcompany。"

"Comein，mylord，comein，"saidhetothepoorwretchwhofollowedhim。Then，withoutheedingmynakedness，thefellowmadethenoblegentlemanenter，andheseeingmetobenaked，soughttoavoidmewhileIvainlytriedtofindmyshirt。

Thenew—comerthoughthewasinhell，andcriedout，"WhereamI？MyGod！wherehaveIbeenput？Whatheat！Whatastench！WithwhomamI？"

Lawrencemadehimgoout，andaskedmetoputonmyshirttogointothegarretforamoment。Addressinghimselftothenewprisoner，hesaidthat，havingtogetabedandothernecessaries，hewouldleaveusinthegarrettillhecameback，andthat，inthemeantime，thecellwouldbefreedfromthebadsmell，whichwasonlyoil。WhatastartitgavemeasIheardhimuttertheword"oil。"InmyhurryI

hadforgottentosnuffthewickafterblowingitout。AsLawrenceaskedmenoquestionsaboutit，Iconcludedthatheknewall，andtheaccursedJewmusthavebetrayedme。Ithoughtmyselfluckythathewasnotabletotellhimanymore。

>FromthattimetherepulsionwhichIhadfeltforLawrencedisappeared。

Afterputtingonmyshirtanddressing—gown，Iwentoutandfoundmynewcompanionengagedinwritingalistofwhathewantedthegaolertogethim。Assoonashesawme，heexclaimed，"Ah！it’sCasanova。"

I，too，recognisedhimastheAbbeandCountFenarolo，amanoffifty，amiable，rich，andafavouriteinsociety。Heembracedme，andwhenItoldhimthatIshouldhaveexpectedtoseeanybodyinthatplaceratherthanhim，hecouldnotkeepbackhistears，whichmademeweepalso。

WhenwewerealoneItoldhimthat，assoonashisbedcame，Ishouldofferhimtherecess，begginghimatthesametimenottoacceptit。

Iaskedhim，also，nottoasktohavethecellswept，sayingthatI

wouldtellhimthereasonanothertime。Hepromisedtokeepallsecrecyinthematter，andsaidhethoughthimselffortunatetobeplacedwithme。HesaidthatasnooneknewwhyIwasimprisoned，everyonewasguessingatit。SomesaidthatIwastheheresiarchofanewsect；othersthatMadameMemmohadpersuadedtheInquisitorsthatIhadmadehersonsAtheists，andothersthatAntonyCondulmer，theStateInquisitor，hadmeimprisonedasadisturberofthepeace，becauseIhissedAbbeChiari’splays，andhadformedadesigntogotoPaduafortheexpresspurposeofkillinghim。

Alltheseaccusation