第61章

"Well，well，smileagainifyoudonotwishtovexme。"

"Ishallsoondothat，if，asyouassureme，shewillnotmakemeloseyourlove。Butwhatmadetheoldgentlemangetmeagirllikethat？Doyouthinkhediditoutofmischief？"

"No，Idon’tthinkso。Iamsure，ontheotherhand，thathewantedtoletyouknowthatyouneednotfearbeingcomparedwithanybody。Areyoupleasedwithherinotherrespects？"

"Sheworkswell，andsheisveryrespectful。Shedoesnotspeakfourwordswithoutaddressingmeassignora，andsheiscarefultotranslatewhatshesaysfromItalianintoFrench。IhopethatinamonthIshallspeakwellenoughforustodispensewithherserviceswhenwegotoFlorence。IhaveorderedLeDuctoclearouttheroomIhavechosenforher，andIwillsendherherdinnerfromourowntable。Iwillbekindtoher，butIhopeyouwillnotmakemewretched。"

"Icouldnotdoso；andIdonotseewhattherecanbeincommonbetweenthegirlandmyself。"

"Thenyouwillpardonmyfears。"

"Themorereadilyastheyshewyourlove。"

"Ithankyou，butkeepmysecret。"

IpromisednevertogiveaglancetoVeronique，ofwhomIwasalreadyafraid，butIlovedRosalieandwouldhavedoneanythingtosavehertheleastgrief。

Isettoatmytranslationafterdinner；itwasworkIliked。I

didnotgooutthatday，andIspentthewholeofthenextmorningwithM。deGrimaldi。

IwenttothebankerBelloniandchangedallmygoldintogigliatisequins。Imademyselfknownafterthemoneywaschanged，andtheheadcashiertreatedmewithgreatcourtesy。IhadbillsonthisbankerforfortythousandRomancrowns，andonLepribillsfortwentythousand。

Rosaliedidnotwanttogototheplayagain，soIgotherapieceofembroiderytoamuseherintheevening。Thetheatrewasanecessityforme；Ialwayswentunlessitinterferredwithsomestillsweeterpleasure。Iwentbymyself，andwhenIgothomeI

foundthemarquistalkingtomymistress。Iwaspleased，andafterIhadembracedtheworthynoblemanIcomplimentedRosalieonhavingkepthimtillmyarrival，addinggentlythatsheshouldhaveputdownherwork。

"Askhim，"shereplied，"ifhedidnotmakemekeepon。HesaidhewouldgoifIdidn’t，soIgaveintokeephim。"

Shethenrose，stoppedworking，andinthecourseofaninterestingconversationshesucceededinmakingthemarquispromisetostaytosupper，thusforestallingmyintention。Hewasnotaccustomedtotakeanythingatthathour，andatelittle；butIsawhewasenchantedwithmytreasure，andthatpleasedme，forIdidnotthinkIhadanythingtofearfromamanofsixty；

besides，IwasgladattheopportunityofaccustomingRosalietogoodsociety。Iwantedhertobealittlecoquettish，asawomanneverpleasesinsocietyunlesssheshewsadesiretoplease。

Althoughthepositionwasquiteastrangeoneforher，shemademeadmirethenaturalaptitudeofwomen，whichmaybeimprovedorspoiledbyartbutwhichexistsmoreorlessinthemall，fromthethronetothemilk—pail。ShetalkedtoM。deGrimaldiinawaythatseemedtohintshewaswillingtogivealittlehope。Asourguestdidnoteat，shesaidgraciouslythathemustcometodinnersomedaythatshemighthaveanopportunityofseeingwhetherhereallyhadanyappetite。

WhenhehadgoneItookheronmyknee，andcoveringherwithkissesaskedherwhereshehadlearnttotalktogreatpeoplesowell。

"It’saneasymatter，"shereplied。"Youreyesspeaktomysoul，andtellmewhattodoandwhattosay。"

Aprofessedrhetoriciancouldnothaveansweredmoreelegantlyormoreflatteringly。

Ifinishedthetranslation；IhaditcopiedoutbyCostaandtookittoRossi，themanager，whosaidhewouldputitondirectly，whenItoldhimIwasgoingtomakehimapresentoftheplay。I

namedtheactorsofmychoice，andaskedhimtobringthemtodinewithmeatmyinn，thatImightreadtheplayanddistributetheparts。

Aswillbeguessed，myinvitationwasaccepted，andRosalieenjoyeddiningwiththeactorsandactresses，andespeciallyhearingherselfcalledMadameCasanovaeverymoment。Veroniqueexplainedeverythingshedidnotunderstand。

Whenmyactorswereroundmeinaring，theybeggedmetotellthemtheirparts，butIwouldnotgiveinonthispoint。

"Thefirstthingtobedone，"saidI，"isforyoutolistenattentivelytothewholepiecewithoutmindingaboutyourparts。

WhenyouknowthewholeplayIwillsatisfyyourcuriosity。"

Iknewthatcarelessoridleactorsoftenpaynoattentiontoanythingexcepttheirownparts，andthusapiece，thoughwellplayedinitsparts，isbadlyrenderedasawhole。

Theysubmittedwithatolerablygoodgrace，whichthehighandmightyplayersoftheComedieFrancaisewouldcertainlynothavedone。JustasIwasbeginningmyheadingtheMarquisdeGrimaldiandthebankerBellonicameintocallonme。Iwasgladforthemtobepresentatthetrial，whichonlylastedanhourandaquarter。

AfterIhadheardtheopinionoftheactors，whobytheirpraiseofvarioussituationsshewedmethattheyhadtakenintheplot，I

toldCostatodistributetheparts；butnosoonerwasthisdonethanthefirstactorandthefirstactressbegantoexpresstheirdispleasure；she，becauseIhadgivenherthepartofLadyAlton；

he，becauseIhadnotgivenhimMurray’spart；buttheyhadtobearitasitwasmywill。Ipleasedeverybodybyaskingthemalltodinnerforthedayafterthemorrow，afterdinnerthepiecetoberehearsedforthefirsttime。

ThebankerBelloniaskedmetodinnerforthefollowingday，includingmylady，whoexcusedherselfwithgreatpoliteness，intheinvitation；andM。Grimaldiwasgladtotakemyplaceatdinneratherrequest。

WhenIgottoM。Belloni’s，IwasgreatlysurprisedtoseetheimpostorIvanoff，whoinsteadofpretendingnottoknowme，asheoughttohavedone，cameforwardtoembraceme。Isteppedbackandbowed，whichmightbeputdowntoafeelingofrespect，althoughmycoldnessandscantceremonywouldhaveconvincedanyobservanteyeofthecontrary。Hewaswelldressed，butseemedsad，thoughhetalkedagooddeal，andtosomepurpose，especiallyonpolitics。TheconversationturnedontheCourtofRussia，whereElizabethPetrovnareigned；andhesaidnothing，butsighedandturnedawaypretendingtowipethetearsfromhiseyes。Atdessert，heaskedmeifIhadheardanythingofMadameMorin，adding，asiftorecallthecircumstancetomymemory，thatwehadsuppedtogetherthere:

"Ibelievesheisquitewell，"Ianswered。

Hisservant，inyellowandredlivery，waitedonhimattable。

Afterdinnerhecontrivedtotellmethathehadamatterofthegreatestimportancehewantedtodiscusswithme。

"Myonlydesiresir，istoavoidallappearanceofknowinganythingaboutyou。"

"Onewordfromyouwillgainmeahundredthousandcrowns，andyoushallhavehalf。"

Iturnedmybackonhim，andsawhimnomoreatGenoa。

WhenIgotbacktotheinnIfoundM。deGrimaldigivingRosaliealessoninItalian。

"Shehasgivenmeanexquisitedinner，"saidhe，"youmustbeveryhappywithher。"

Inspiteofhishonestface，M。Grimaldiwasinlovewithher，butIthoughtIhadnothingtofear。Beforehewentsheinvitedhimtocometotherehearsalnextday。

WhentheactorscameInoticedamongstthemayoungmanwhosefaceIdidnotknow，andonmyenquiringRossitoldmehewastheprompter。

"Iwon’thaveanyprompter；sendhimabouthisbusiness。"

"Wecan’tgetonwithouthim。"

"You’llhaveto；Iwillbetheprompter。"

Theprompterwasdismissed，butthethreeactressesbegantocomplain。

"Ifweknewourpartsaswellasthe’paternoster’weshouldbecertaintocometoadeadstopiftheprompterisn’tinhisbox。"

"Verygood，"saidItotheactress，whowastoplayLindane，"I

willoccupytheboxmyself，butIshallseeyourdrawers。"

"Youwouldhavesomedifficultyindoingthat，"saidthefirstactor，"shedoesn’twearany。"

"Somuchthebetter。"

"Youknownothingaboutit，"saidtheactress。

Theseremarksputusallinhighspirits，andtheministersofThaliaendedbypromisingthattheywoulddispensewithaprompter。Iwaspleasedwiththewaythepiecewasread，andtheysaidtheywouldbeletter—perfectinthreedays。Butsomethinghappened。

OnthedayfixedfortherehearsaltheycamewithouttheLindaneandMurray。Theywerenotwell，butRossisaidtheywouldnotfailuseventually。ItookthepartofMurray，andaskedRosalietobetheLindane。

"Idon’treadItalianwellenough，"shewhispered，"andIdon’twishtohavetheactorslaughingatme；butVeroniquecoulddoit。"

"Askifshewillreadthepart。"

However，Veroniquesaidthatshecouldrepeatitbyheart。

"Allthebetter，"saidItoher，laughinginternally，asIthoughtofSoleure，forIsawthatIshouldthusbeobligedtomakelovetothegirltowhomIhadnotspokenforthefortnightshehadbeenwithus。Ihadnotevenhadagoodlookatherface。IwassoafraidofRosalie（whomIlovedbettereveryday）takingfright。

WhatIhadfearedhappened。WhenItookVeronique’shand，andsaid，"Si，bellaLindana，debbeadorarvi！"everybodyclapped，becauseIgavethewordstheirproperexpression；butglancingatRosalieIsawashadowonherface，andIwasangryatnothavingcontrolledmyselfbetter。Nevertheless，IcouldnothelpfeelingamazedatthewayVeroniqueplayedthepart。WhenItoldherthatIadoredhersheblusheduptohereyes；shecouldnothaveplayedthelove—sickgirlbetter。

Wefixedadayforthedress—rehearsalatthetheatre，andthecompanyannouncedthefirstnightaweekinadvancetoexcitepubliccuriosity。Thebillsran:

"WeshallgiveVoltaire’sEcossaise，translatedbyananonymousauthor:noprompterwillbepresent。"

IcannotgivethereaderanyideaofthetroubleIhadtoquietRosalie。Sherefusedtobecomforted；weptincessantly，andtouchedmyheartbygentlereproaches。

"YouloveVeronique，"saidshe，"andyouonlytranslatedthatpiecetohaveanopportunityofdeclaringyourlove。"

Isucceededinconvincingherthatshewrongedme，andatlastafterIhadlavishedcaressesonhershesufferedherselftobecalmed。Nextmorningshebeggedpardonforherjealousy，andtocureitinsistedonmyspeakingconstantlytoVeronique。Herheroismwentfarther。ShegotupbeforemeandsentmemycoffeebyVeronique，whowasasastonishedasIwas。

AtheartRosaliewasagreatcreature，capableofnobleresolves，butlikeallwomenshegavewaytosuddenemotions。Fromthatdayshegavemenomoresignsofjealousy，andtreatedhermaidwithmorekindnessthanever。Veroniquewasanintelligentandwell—

manneredgirl，andifmyhearthadnotbeenalreadyoccupiedshewouldhavereignedthere。

ThefirstnightoftheplayItookRosalietoabox，andshewouldhaveVeroniquewithher。M。deGrimaldididnotleaveherforamoment。Theplaywaspraisedtotheskies；thelargetheatrewasfullofthebestpeopleinGenoa。Theactorssurpassedthemselves，thoughtheyhadnoprompter，andwereloudlyapplauded。Thepieceranfivenightsandwasperformedtofullhouses。Rossi，hopingperhapsthatIwouldmakehimapresentofanotherplay，askedmyleavetogivemyladyasuperbpelisseoflynx—fur，whichpleasedherimmensely。

Iwouldhavedoneanythingtosparemysweethearttheleastanxiety，andyetfrommywantofthoughtIcontrivedtovexher。

IshouldneverhaveforgivenmyselfifProvidencehadnotordainedthatIshouldbethecauseofherfinalhappiness。

"Ihavereasontosuspect，"shesaidoneday，"thatIamwithchild，andIamenchantedatthethoughtofgivingyouadearpledgeofmylove。"

"Ifitcomesatsuchatimeitwillbemine，andIassureyouI

shallloveitdearly。"

"Andifitcomestwoorthreeweekssooneryouwillnotbesurethatyouaretheparent？"

"Notquitesure；butIshallloveitjustaswell，andlookuponitasmychildaswellasyours。"

"Iamsureyoumustbethefather。ItisimpossiblethechildcanbePetri’s，whoonlyknewmeonce，andthenveryimperfectly，whilstyouandIhavelivedintenderloveforsolongatime。"

Shewepthottears。

"Calmyourself，dearest，Iimploreyou！Youareright；itcannotbePetri’schild。YouknowIloveyou，andIcannotdoubtthatyouarewithchildbymeandbymealone。Ifyougivemeababyasprettyasyourself，itwillbemineindeed。Calmyourself。"

"HowcanIbecalmwhenyoucanhavesuchasuspicion？"

Wesaidnomoreaboutit；butinspiteofmytenderness，mycaresses，andallthetriflingcareswhichbearwitnesstolove，shewasoftensadandthoughtful。HowmanytimesIreproachedmyselfbitterlyforhavingletoutmysillycalculations。

Afewdayslatershegavemeasealedletter，saying，——

"Theservanthasgivenmethisletterwhenyouwereaway。Iamoffendedbyhisdoingso，andIwantyoutoavengeme。"

Icalledtheman，andsaid，——

"Wheredidyougetthisletter？"

"Fromayoungman，whoisunknowntome。Hegavemeacrown，andbeggedmetogivethelettertotheladywithoutyourseeingme，andhepromisedtogivemetwocrownsmoreifIbroughthimareplytomorrow。IdidnotthinkIwasdoingwrong，sir，astheladywasatperfectlibertytotellyou。"

"That’sallverywell，butyoumustgo，asthelady，whogavemetheletterunopened，asyoucanseeforyourself，isoffendedwithyou。"

IcalledLeDuc，whopaidthemanandsenthimaway。Iopenedtheletter，andfoundittobefromPetri。Rosalieleftmyside，notwishingtoreadthecontents。Theletterranasfollows:

"Ihaveseenyou，mydearRosalie。Itwasjustasyouwerecomingoutofthetheatre，escortedbytheMarquisdeGrimaldi，whoismygodfather。Ihavenotdeceivedyou；IwasstillintendingtocomeandmarryyouatMarseillesnextspring，asIpromised。Iloveyoufaithfully，andifyouarestillmygoodRosalieIamreadytomarryyouhereinthepresenceofmykinfolk。IfyouhavedonewrongIpromisenevertospeakofit，forIknowthatitwasIwholedyouastray。Tellme，Ientreatyou，whetherImayspeaktotheMarquisdeGrimaldiwithregardtoyou。Iamreadytoreceiveyoufromthehandsofthegentlemanwithwhomyouareliving，providedyouarenothiswife。Besure，ifyouarestillfree，thatyoucanonlyrecoveryourhonourbymarryingyourseducer。"

"ThislettercomesfromanhonourablemanwhoisworthyofRosalie，"Ithoughttomyself，"andthat’smorethanIshallbe，unlessImarryhermyself。ButRosaliemustdecide。"

Icalledhertome，gavehertheletter，andbeggedhertoreaditattentively。Shedidso，andgaveitmeback，askingmeifI

advisedhertoacceptPetri’soffer。

"IfyoudodearRosalie，Ishalldieofgrief；butifIdonotyieldyou，myhonourbidsmemarryyou，andthatIamquitereadytodo。"

Atthisthecharminggirlthrewherselfonmybreast，cryinginthevoiceoftruelove，"Iloveyouandyoualone，darling；butitisnottruethatyourhonourbidsyoumarryme。Oursisamarriageoftheheart；ourloveismutual，andthatisenoughformyhappiness。"

"DearRosalie，Iadoreyou，butIamthebestjudgeofmyownhonour。IfPetriisawell—to—domanandamanwhowouldmakeyouhappy，Imusteithergiveyouuportakeyoumyself。"

"No，no；thereisnohurrytodecide。IfyoulovemeIamhappy，forIloveyouandnoneother。Ishallnotanswertheletter，andIdon’twanttohearanythingmoreofPetri。"

"YoumaybesurethatIwillsaynomoreofhim，butIamsurethatthemarquiswillhaveahandinit。"

"Idaresay，buthewon’tspeaktometwiceonthesubject。"

Afterthistreaty——amoresincereonethanthePowersofEuropeusuallymake——IresolvedtoleaveGenoaassoonasIgotsomelettersforFlorenceandRome。InthemeanwhileallwaspeaceandlovebetweenmyselfandRosalie。Shehadnottheslightestshadowofjealousyinhersoul，andM。deGrimaldiwasthesolewitnessofourhappiness。

FiveorsixdayslaterIwenttoseethemarquisathiscasinoatSt。Pierred’Arena，andheaccostedmebysayingthathewashappytoseemeashehadanimportantmatterhewishedtodiscusswithme。Iguessedwhatitwouldbe，butbeggedhimtoexplainhimself。Hethenspokeasfollows:

"Aworthymerchantofthetownbroughthisnephew，ayoungmannamedPetri，toseemetwodaysago。Hetoldmethattheyoungmanismygodson，andheaskedmetoprotecthim。IansweredthatashisgodfatherIowedhimmyprotection，andIpromisedtodowhatIcould。

"Heleftmygodsontotalkitoverwithme，andheinformedmethatheknewyourmistressbeforeyoudidatMarseilles，thathehadpromisedtomarryhernextspring，thathehadseenherinmycompany，andthathavingfollowedushefoundoutthatshelivedwithyou。Hewastoldthatshewasyourwife，butnotbelievingit，wroteheralettersayingthathewasreadytomarryher；butthisletterfellintoyourhands，andhehashadnoreplytoit。

"Hecouldnotmakeuphismindtoloseahopewhichmadehishappiness，soheresolvedtoascertain，throughmygoodoffices，whetherRosaliewouldaccepthisproposition。Heflattershimselfthatonhisinformingmeofhisprosperouscondition，Icantellyouthatheisalikelymantomakehiswifehappy。ItoldhimthatIknewyou，andwouldspeaktoyouonthematter，andafterwardsinformhimoftheresultofourinterview。

"Ihavemadeenquiresintohiscondition，andfindthathehasalreadyamassedaconsiderablesumofmoney。Hiscredit，morals，andreputation，areallexcellent；besides，heishisuncle’ssoleheir，andtheunclepassesforamanverycomfortablyoff。Andnow，mydearM。Casanova，tellmewhatanswerIamtomake。"

"TellhimthatRosalieismuchobligedtohim，andbegshimtoforgether。Wearegoingawayinthreeorfourdays。Rosalielovesme，andIher，andIamreadytomarryherwhenevershelikes。"

"That’splainspeaking；butIshouldhavethoughtamanlikeyouwouldpreferfreedomtoawoman，howeverbeautiful，towhomyouwouldbeboundbyindissolubleties。WillyouallowmetospeaktoRosaliemyselfaboutit？"

"Youneednotask，myleave；speaktoher，butinyourownpersonandnotasrepresentingmyopinions。Iadoreher，andwouldnothaveherthinkthatIcouldcherishthethoughtofseparatingfromher。"

"Ifyoudon’twantmetomeddleinthematter，tellmesofrankly。"

"Onthecontrary，IwishyoutoseeforyourselfthatIamnotthetyrantofthewomanIadore。"

"Iwilltalktoherto—night。"

Ididnotcomehometillsupper—time，thatthemarquismightsaywhat