第39章

Stairs，takingnonoticeofFatherBalbi，whokeptcabling:out"Tothechurch！tothechurch！"

Thechurchdoorwasonlyabouttwentypacesfromthestairs，butthechurcheswerenolongersanctuariesinVenice；andnooneevertookrefugeinthem。Themonkknewthis，butfrighthaddeprivedhimofhisfaculties。Hetoldmeafterwardsthatthemotivewhichimpelledhimtogotothechurchwasthevoiceofreligionbiddinghimseekthehornsofthealtar。

"Whydidn’tyougobyyourself？"saidI。

"Ididnot，liketoabandonyou，"butheshouldratherhavesaid，"I

didnotliketolosethecomfortofyourcompany。"

ThesafetyIsoughtwasbeyondthebordersoftheRepublic，andthitherwardIbegantobendmysteps。Alreadythereinspirit，I

mustneedsbethereinbodyalso。Iwentstraighttowardsthechiefdoorofthepalace，andlookingatnoonethatmightbetemptedtolookatmeIgottothecanalandenteredthefirstgondolathatI

cameacross，shoutingtotheboatmanonthepoop，"IwanttogotoFusina；bequickand，callanothergondolier。"

Thiswassoondone，andwhilethegondolawasbeinggotoffIsatdownontheseatinthemiddle，andBalbiattheside。Theoddappearanceofthemonk，withoutahatandwithafinecloakonhisshoulders，withmyunseasonableattire，wasenoughtomakepeopletakeusforanastrologerandhisman。

Assoonaswehadpassedthecustom—house，thegondoliersbegantorowwithawillalongtheGiudeccaCanal，bywhichwemustpasstogotoFusinaortoMestre，whichlatterplacewasreallyourdestination。WhenwehadtraversedhalfthelengthofthecanalI

putmyheadout，andsaidtothewatermanonthepoop，"WhendoyouthinkweshallgettoMestre？"

"ButyoutoldmetogotoFusina。"

"Youmustbemad；IsaidMestre。"

TheotherboatmansaidthatIwasmistaken，andthefoolofamonk，inhiscapacityofzealousChristianandfriendoftruth，tookcaretotellmethatIwaswrong。Iwantedtogivehimaheartykickasapunishmentforhisstupidity，butreflectingthatcommonsensecomesnotbywishingforitIburstintoapealoflaughter，andagreedthatImighthavemadeamistake，butthatmyrealintentionwastogotoMestre。Tothattheyanswerednothing，butaminuteafterthemasterboatmansaidhewasreadytotakemetoEnglandifIliked。

"Bravelyspoken，"saidI，"andnowforMestre，ho！""Weshallbethereinthreequartersofanhour，asthewindandtideareinourfavour。"

WellpleasedIlookedatthecanalbehindus，andthoughtithadneverseemedsofair，especiallyastherewasnotasingleboatcomingourway。Itwasagloriousmorning，theairwasclearandglowingwiththefirstraysofthesun，andmytwoyoungwatermenrowedeasilyandwell；andasIthoughtoverthenightofsorrow，thedangersIhadescaped，theabodewhereIhadbeenfastboundthedaybefore，allthechanceswhichhadbeeninmyfavour，andthelibertyofwhichInowbegantotastethesweets，IwassomovedinmyheartandgratefultomyGodthat，wellnighchokedwithemotion，Iburstintotears。

Mynicecompanionwhohadhithertoonlyspokentobackupthegondoliers，thoughthimselfboundtooffermehisconsolations。HedidnotunderstandwhyIwasweeping，andthetonehetookmademepassfromsweetafflictiontoastrangemirthfulnesswhichmadehimgoastrayoncemore，ashethoughtIhadgotmad。Thepoormonk，asIhavesaid，wasafool，andwhateverwasbadabouthimwastheresultofhisfolly。Ihadbeenunderthesadnecessityofturninghimtoaccount，butthoughwithoutintendingtodosohehadalmostbeenmyruin。ItwasnousetryingtomakehimbelievethatIhadtoldthegondolierstogotoFusinawhilstIintendedtogotoMestre；hesaidIcouldnothavethoughtofthattillIgotontotheGrandCanal。

InduecoursewereachedMestre。Therewerenohorsestoridepost，butIfoundmenwithcoacheswhodidaswell，andIagreedwithoneofthemtotakemetoTrevisainanhourandaquarter。Thehorseswereputininthreeminutes，andwiththeideathatFatherBalbiwasbehindmeIturnedroundtosay"Getup，"butliewasnotthere。I

toldanostlertogoandlookforhim，withtheintentionofreprimandinghimsharply，evenifhehadgoneforanecessaryoccasion，forwehadnotimetowaste，noteventhus。Themancamebacksayinghecouldnotfind’him，tomygreatrageandindignation。

Iwastemptedtoabandonhim，butafeelingofhumanityrestrainedme。Imadeenquiriesallround；everybodyhadseenhim，butnotasoulknewwherehewas。IwalkedalongtheHighStreet，andsomeinstinctpromptingmetoputmyheadinatthewindowofacaf？

Isawthewretchedmanstandingatthebardrinkingchocolateandmakinglovetothegirl。Catchingsightofme，hepointedtothegirlandsaid——

"She’scharming，"andtheninvitedmetotakeacupofchocolate，sayingthatImustpay，ashehadn’tapenny。Ikeptbackmywrathandanswered，"Idon’twantany，anddoyoumakehaste！"andcaughtholdofhisarminsuchsortthatheturnedwhitewithpain。Ipaidthemoneyandwewentout。Itrembledwithanger。Wegotintoourcoach，butwehadscarcelygonetenpacesbeforeIrecognised:aninhabitant，ofMestrenamedBalbiTommasi，agoodsortofman；butreportedtobeoneofthefamiliarsoftheHolyOffice。Heknewme，too，andcomingupcalledout，"Iamdelightedtoseeyouhere。Isupposeyouhavejustescaped。

Howdidyoudoit？"

"Ihavenotescaped，buthavebeensetatliberty。"

"No，no，that’snotpossible，asIwasatM。Grimani’syesterdayevening，andIshouldhaveheardofit。"

Itwillbeeasierforthereadertoimaginemystateofmindthanformetodescribeit。IwasdiscoveredbyamanwhomIbelievedtobeahiredagentoftheGovernment，whoonlyhadtogiveaglancetooneofthesbirriwithwhomMestreswarmedtohavemearrested。Itoldhimtospeaksoftly，andgettingdownIaskedhimtocometooneside。Itookhimbehindahouse，andseeingthattherewasnobodyinsight，aditchinfront，beyondwhichtheopencountryextended，I

graspedmypikeandtookhimbytheneck。Atthis:hegaveastruggle，slippedoutofmyhands，leaptovertheditch，andwithoutturningroundsetofftorunat，fullspeed。Assoonashewassomewayoffheslackenedhiscourse，turnedroundandkissedhishandtome，intokenofwishingmeaprosperousjourney。Andassoon；ashewasoutofmysightIgavethankstoGodthat，thismanbyhisquicknesshad—preservedmefromthecommissionofacrime，forI

wouldhavekilledhim；andhe，asitturnedout，boremenoillwill。

Iwasinaterribleposition。Inopenwarwithallthepowersof—

theRepublic，everythinghadtogivewaytomysafety，whichmademeneglectnomeansofattainingmyends。

Withthegloomofamanwhohaspassedthroughagreatperil，Igaveaglanceofcontempttowardsthemonk，whonowsawtowhatdangerhehadexposedus，andthengotupagainintothecarriage。WereachedTrevisawithoutfurtheradventure，andItoldtheposting—mastertogetmeacarriageandtwohorsesreadybyteno’clock；thoughIhadnointentionofcontinuingmyjourneyalongthehighway，bothbecause。Ilackedmeans；andbecauseIfearedpursuit。Theinn—

keeperaskedme，ifIwouldtakeanybreakfast，ofwhichIstoodingreatneed，forIwasdyingwithhunger，butIdidnotdareto，accepthisoffer，asaquarterofanhour’sdelaymight，provefatal。

Iwasafraidofbeingretaken，andofbeingashamedofitfortherestofmylife；foramanofsenseoughttobeabletosnaphisfingersatfourhundredthousandmenintheopencountry，andifhecannotescapecapturehemustbeafool。

IwentoutbySt。Thomas’sGateasifIwasgoingforashortwalk，andafterwalkingforamileonthehighwayIstruckintothefields，resolvingnottoleavethemaslongasIshouldbewithinthebordersoftheRepublic。TheshortestwaywasbyBassano，butItookthelongerpath，thinkingImightpossiblybeexpectedonthemoredirectroad，whiletheywouldneverthinkofmyleavingtheVenetianterritorybywayofFeltre，whichisthelongestwayofgettingintothestatesubjecttotheBishopofTrent。

AfterwalkingforthreehoursIletmyselfdroptotheground，forI

couldnotmoveastepfurther。Imusteithertakesomefoodordiethere，soItoldthemonktoleavethecloakwithmeandgotoafarmIsaw，theretobuysomethingtoeat。Igavehimthemoney，andhesetoff，tellingmethathethoughtIhadmorecourage。Themiserablemandidnotknowwhatcouragewas，buthewasmorerobustthanmyself，andhehad，doubtless，takeninprovisionsbeforeleavingtheprison。Besideshehadhadsomechocolate；hewasthinandwiry，andamonk，andmentalanxietieswereunknowntohim。

Althoughthehousewasnotaninn，thegoodfarmer’swifesentmeasufficientmealwhichonlycostmethirtyVenetiansous。Aftersatisfyingmyappetite，feelingthatsleepwascreepingonme，Isetoutagainonthetramp，wellbracedup。Infourhours’timeI

stoppedatahamlet，andfoundthatIwastwenty—fourmilesfromTrevisa。Iwasdoneup，myankleswereswollen，andmyshoeswereinholes。Therewasonlyanotherhourofday—lightbeforeus。

StretchingmyselfoutbeneathagroveoftreesImadeFatherBalbisitbyme，anddiscoursedtohiminthemannerfollowing:

"WemustmakeforBorgodiValsugano，itisthefirsttownbeyondthebordersoftheRepublic。WeshallbeassafethereasifwewereinLondon，andwecantakeoureaseforawhile；buttogettherewemustgocarefullytowork，andthefirstthingwemustdoistoseparate。

YoumustgobyMantelloWoods，andIbythemountains；youbytheeasiestandshortestway，andIbythelongestandmostdifficult；

youwithmoneyandIwithoutapenny。Iwillmakeyouapresentofmycloak，whichyoumustexchangeforagreatcoatandahat，andeverybodywilltakeyouforacountryman，asyouareluckilyratherlikeoneintheface。Taketheseseventeenlivres，whichisallthatremainstomeofthetwosequinsCountAsquingaveme。YouwillreachBorgobythedayafterto—morrow，andIshallbetwenty—fourhourslater。Waitformeinthefirstinnontheleft—handsideofthestreet，andbesureIshallcomeindueseason。Irequireagoodnight’srestinagoodbed；andProvidencewillgetmeonesomewhere，butImustsleepwithoutfearofbeingdisturbed，andinyourcompanythatwouldbeoutofthequestion。Iamcertainthatwearebeingsoughtforonallsides，andthatourdescriptionshavebeensocorrectlygiventhatifwewentintoanyinntogetherweshouldbecertaintobearrested。YouseethestateIamin，andmyurgentnecessityforatenhours’rest。Farewell，then，doyougothatwayandIwilltakethis，andIwillfindsomewherenearherearestforthesoleofmyfoot。"

"Ihavebeenexpectingyoutosayasmuch，"saidFatherBalbi，"andforanswerIwillremindyouofthepromiseyougavemewhenIletmyselfbepersuadedtobreakintoyourcell。Youpromisedmethatweshouldalwayskeepcompany；andsodon’tflatteryourselfthatI

shallleaveyou，yourfateandminearelinkedtogether。Weshallbeabletogetagoodrefugeforourmoney，wewon’tgototheinns，andnoonewillarrestus。"

"Youaredetermined，areyou，nottofollowthegoodadviceIhavegivenyou？"

"Iam。"

"Weshallseeaboutthat。"

Irosetomyfeet，thoughwithsomedifficulty，andtakingthemeasureofhisheightImarkeditoutupontheground，thendrawingmypikefrommypocket，Iproceededwiththeutmostcoolnesstoexcavatetheearth，takingnonoticeofthequestionsthemonkaskedme。Afterworking:foraquarterofanhourIsetmyselftogazesadlyuponhim，andItoldhimthatIfeltobligedasaChristiantowarnhimtocommendhissoultoGod，"sinceIamabouttoburyyouhere，aliveordead；andifyouprovethestronger，youwillburyme。

Youcanescapeifyouwishto，asIshallnotpursueyou。"

Hemadenoreply，andIbetookmyselftomyworkagain，butIconfessthatIbegantobeafraidofbeing（rushedtoextremitiesbythisbrute，ofwhomIwasdeterminedtoridmyself。

Atlast，whetherconvincedbymyargumentsorafraidOfmypike，hecametowardsme。Notguessing。Whathewasabout，Ipresentedthepointofmypiketowardshim，butIhadnothingtofear。

"Iwilldowhatyouwant，"saidhe。

IstraightwaygavehimallthemoneyIhad，andpromisingtorejoinhimatBorgoIbadehimfarewell。AlthoughIhadnotapennyinmypocketandhadtworiverstocrossover，Icongratulatedmyselfonhavinggotridofamanofhischaracter，forbymyselfIfeltconfidentofbeingabletocrosstheboundsoftheRepublic。

CHAPTERXXXI

IFindaLodgingintheHouseoftheChiefoftheSbirri——IPassaGoodNightThereandRecoverMyStrength——IGotoMass——

ADisagreeableMeetingIAmObligedtoTakeSixSequinsbyForce——

OutofDanger——ArrivedatMunich——BalbiISetOutforParis——

MyArrival——AttemptontheLifeofLouisXV

AssoonasIsawFatherBalbifarenoughoffIgotup，andseeingatalittledistanceashepherdkeepinghisflockonthehill—side，I

mademyway—towardshimtoobtainsuchinformationasIneeded。

"Whatisthenameofthisvillage，myfriend？"saidI。

"ValdePiadene，signor，"heanswered，tomysurprise，forIfoundI

wasmuchfartheronmywaythatIthought。InextaskedhimtheownersoffiveorsixhouseswhichIsawscatteredaround，andthepersonshementionedchancedtobeallknowntome，butwerenotthekindofmenIshouldhavecaredtotroublewithmypresence。Onmyaskinghimthenameofapalacebeforeme，hesaiditbelongedtotheGrimanis，thechiefofwhomwasaStateInquisitor，andthenresidentatthepalace，soIhadtotakecarenottolethimseeme。Finally，anmyenquiringtheownerofaredhouseinthedistance，hetoldme，muchtomysurprise，thatitbelongedtothechiefofthesbirri。

BiddingfarewelltothekindlyshepherdIbegantogodownthehillmechanically，andIamstillpuzzledtoknowwhatinstinctdirectedmystepstowardsthathouse，whichcommonsenseandfearalsoshouldhavemademeshun。Isteeredmycourseforitinastraightline，andIcansaywithtruththatIdidsoquiteunwittingly。Ifitbetruethatwehaveallofusaninvisibleintelligence——abeneficentgeniuswhoguidesourstepsaright——aswasthecasewithSocrates，tothataloneIshouldattributetheirresistibleattractionwhichdrewmetowardsthehousewhereIhadmosttodread。Howeverthatmaybe，itwastheboldeststrokeIhaveplayedinmywholelife。

Ienteredwithaneasyandunconstrainedair，andaskedachildwhowasplayingattopinthecourt—yardwherehisfatherwas。Insteadofreplying，thechildwenttocallhismother，anddirectlyafterwardsappearedaprettywomaninthefamilyway，whopolitelyaskedmemybusinesswithherhusband，apologizingforhisabsence。

"Iamsorry，"Isaid，"tohearthatmygossipisnotin，thoughatthesametimeIamdelightedtomaketheacquaintanceofhischarmingwife。"

"Yourgossip？YouwillbeM。Vetturi，then？Myhusbandtoldmethatyouhadkindlypromisedtobethegod—fatherofournextchild。Iamdelightedtoknowyou，butmyhusbandwillbeveryvexedtohavebeenaway:

"Ihopehewillsoonreturn，asIwantedtoaskhimforanight’slodging。Idarenotgoanywhereinthestateyouseeme。"

"Youshallhavethebestbedinthehouse，andIwillgetyouagoodsupper。Myhusbandwhenhecomesbackwillthankyourexcellencefordoingussomuchhonour。Hewentawaywithallhispeopleanhourago，andIdon’texpecthimbackforthreeorfourdays。"

"Whyisheawayforsuchalongtime，mydearmadam？"

"Youhavenotheard，then，thattwoprisonershaveescapedfromTheLeads？OneisanobleandtheotheraprivateindividualnamedCasanova。MyhusbandhasreceivedaletterfromMesser—Grandeorderinghimtomakeasearchforthem；ifhefindthemhewilltakethembacktoVenice，andifnothewillreturnhere，buthewillbeonthelook—outforthreedaysatleast。"

"Iamsorryforthisaccident，mydearmadam，butIshouldnotliketoputyouout，andindeedIshouldbegladtoliedownimmediately。"

"Youshalldoso，andmymothershallattendtoyourwants。Butwhatisthematterwithyourknees？"

"Ifelldownwhilsthuntingonthemountains，andgavemyselfsomeseverewounds，andammuchweakenedbylossofblood。"

"Oh！mypoorgentleman，mypoorgentleman！Butmymotherwillcureyou。"

Shecalledhermother，andhavingtoldherofmynecessitiesshewentout。Thisprettysbirresshadnotthewitofherprofession，forthestoryIhadtoldhersoundedlikeafairy—tale。Onhorsebackwithwhitesilkstockings！Huntinginsarcenet，withoutcloakandwithoutaman！Herhusbandwouldmakefinegameofherwhenhecameback；

butGodblessherforherkindheartandbenevolentstupidity。HermothertendedmewithallthepolitenessIshouldhavemetwithinthebestfamilies。Theworthywomantreatedmelikeamother，andcalledme"son"assheattendedtomywounds。Thenamesoundedpleasantlyinmyears，anddidnolittletowardsmycurebythesentimentsitawokeinmybreast。IfIhadbeenlesstakenupwiththepositionIwasinIshouldhaverepaidhercarewithsomeevidentmarksofthegratitudeIfelt，buttheplaceIwasinandthepartI

wasplayingmadethesituationtooseriousaoneformetothinkofanythingelse。

Thiskindlywoman，afterlookingatmykneesandmythighs，toldmethatImustmakemymindtosufferalittlepain，butImightbesureofbeingcuredbythemorning。AllIhadtodowastobeartheapplicationofmedicatedlinentomywounds，andnottostirtillthenextday。Ipromisedtobearthepainpatiently，andtodoexactlyasshetoldme。

Iwasgivenanexcellentsupper，andIateanddrankwithgoodappetite。Ithengavemyselfuptotreatment，andfellasleepwhilstmynursewasattendingtome。Isupposesheundressedmeasshewouldachild，butIrememberednothingaboutitwhenIwokeup——I

was，infact，totallyunconscious。ThoughIhadmadeagoodsupperI

hadonlydonesotosatisfymycravingforfoodandtoregainmystrength，andsleepcametomewithanirresistibleforce，asmyphysicalexhaustiondidnotleavemethepowerofarguingmyselfoutofit。Itookmysupperatsixo’clockintheevening，andIheardsixstrikingasIawoke。Iseemedtohavebeenenchanted。Rousingmyselfupandgatheringmywitstogether，Ifirsttookoffthelinenbandages，andIwasastonishedtofindmywoundshealedandquitefreefrompain。Ididmyhair，dressedmyselfinlessthanfiveminutes，andfindingthedoorofmyroomopenIwentdownstairs，crossedthecourt，andleftthehousebehindme，withoutappearingtonoticetwoindividualswhowerestandingoutside，andmusthavebeensbirri。ImadehastetolengthenthedistancebetweenmeandtheplacewhereIhadfoundthekindliesthospitality，theutmostpoliteness，themosttendercare，andbestofall，newhealthandstrength，andasIwalkedIcouldnothelpfeelingterrifiedatthedangerIhadbeenin。Ishudderedinvoluntarily；andatthepresentmoment，aftersomanyyears，IstillshudderwhenIthinkoftheperiltowhichIhadsoheedlesslyexposedmyself。IwonderedhowI

managedtogoin，andstillmorehowIcameout；itseemedabsurdthatIshouldnotbefollowed。ForfivehoursItrampedon，keepingtothewoodsandmountains，notmeetingasoulbesidesafewcountryfolk，andturningneithertotherightnorleft。

Itwasnotyetnoon，when，asIwentalongmyway，Istoppedshortatthesoundofabell。Iwasonhighground，andlookinginthedirectionfromwhichthesoundcameIsaw，alittlechurchinthevalley，andmany，peoplegoingtowardsittohearmass。MyheartdesiredtoexpressthankfulnessfortheprotectionofProvidence，and，thoughallnaturewasatempleworthyofitsCreator，customdrewmetothechurch。Whenmenareintrouble，everypassingthoughtseemsaninspiration。ItwasAllSouls’Day。Iwentdownthehill，andcameintothechurch，andsaw，tomyastonishment，M。

MarcAntoineGrimani，thenephewoftheStateInquisitor，withMadameMarieVisani，hiswife。Imademybow；whichwasreturned，andafterIhadheardmassIleftthechurch。M。Grimanifollowedmebyhimself，andwhenhehadgotnearme，calledmebyname，saying，"Whatareyoudoinghere，Casanova，andwhathasbecomeofyourfriend？"

"IhavegivenhimwhatlittlemoneyIhadforhimtoescapebyanotherroad，whilstI，withoutapennyinmypocket，amendeavouringtoreachaplaceofsafetybythisway。Ifyourexcellencewouldkindlygivemesomehelp，itwouldspeedmyjour