第63章

"WhatareyougoingtodoinRome？"saidhe，indifferently。

"IamgoingtobegthePopetousehisinfluenceinmyfavourwiththeStateInquisitorsatVenice。"

Itwasnotthetruth，butonelieisasgoodasanother，andifI

hadsaidIwasonlygoingforamusement’ssakehewouldnothavebelievedme。Totellthetruthtoanunbelievingmanistoprostitute，tomurderit。Hethenbeggedmetoenterintoacorrespondencewithhim，andasthatboundmetonothingIagreedtodoso。

"Icangiveyouamarkofmyfriendship，"saidhe，"byintroducingyoutotheMarquisdeBotta—Adamo，GovernorofTuscany；heissupposedtobeafriendoftheregent’s。"

Iacceptedhisoffergratefully，andhebegantosoundmeaboutTherese，butfoundmylipsastightlyclosedasthelidofamiser’scoffer。ItoldhimshewasachildwhenImadetheacquaintanceofherfamilyatBologna，andthattheresemblancebetweenherbrotherandmyselfwasamereaccident——afreakofnature。Hehappenedtocatchsightofawell—writtenmanuscriptonthetable，andaskedmeifthatsuperbwritingwasmysecretary’s。Costa，whowaspresent，answeredinSpanishthathewroteit。Gamaoverwhelmedhimwithcompliments，andbeggedmetosendCostatohimtocopysomeletters。Iguessedthathewantedtopumphimaboutme，andsaidthatIneededhisservicesalltheday。

"Well，well，saidtheabbe，"anothertimewilldo。"Igavehimnoanswer。Suchisthecharacterofthecurious。

Iamnotreferringtothatcuriositywhichdependsontheoccultsciences，andendeavourstopryintothefuture——thedaughterofignoranceandsuperstition，itsvictimsareeitherfoolishorignorant。ButtheAbbeGamawasneither；hewasnaturallycurious，andhisemploymentmadehimstillmoreso，forhewaspaidtofindouteverything。Hewasadiplomatist；ifhehadbeenalittlelowerdowninthesocialscalehewouldhavebeentreatedasaspy。

Heleftmetopaysomecalls，promisingtobebackbydinner—time。

Dr。Vanninibroughtmeanotherservant，ofthesameheightasthefirst，andengagedthatheshouldobeyordersandguessnothing。

Ithankedtheacademicianandinn—keeper，andorderedhimtogetmeasumptuousdinner。

TheCorticelliwasthefirsttoarrive，bringingwithherherbrother，aneffeminate—lookingyoungman，whoplayedtheviolinmoderatelywell，andhermother，whoinformedmethatsheneverallowedherdaughtertodineoutwithoutherselfandherson。

"Thenyoucantakeherbackagainthisinstant，"saidI，"ortakethisducattodinesomewhereelse，asIdon’twantyourcompanyoryourson’s。"

Shetooktheducat，sayingthatshewassureshewasleavingherdaughteringoodhands。

"Youmaybesureofthat，"saidI，"sobeoff。"

ThedaughtermadesuchwittyobservationsontheabovedialoguethatIcouldnothelplaughing，andIbegantobeinlovewithher。Shewasonlythirteen，andwassosmallthatshelookedten。

Shewaswell—made，lively，witty，andfairerthanisusualwithItalianwomen，buttothisdayIcannotconceivehowIfellinlovewithher。

Theyoungwantonbeggedmetoprotectheragainstthemanageroftheopera，whowasaJew。Intheagreementshehadmadewithhimhehadengagedtoletherdancea’pasdedeux’inthesecondopera，andhehadnotkepthisword。ShebeggedmetocompeltheJewtofulfilhisengagement，andIpromisedtodoso。

ThenextguestwasRedegonde，whocamefromParma。Shewasatall，handsomewoman，andCostatoldmeshewasthesisterofmynewfootman。AfterIhadtalkedwithherfortwoorthreeminutesIfoundherremarkswellworthyofattention。

ThencametheAbbeGama，whocongratulatedmeonbeingseatedbetweentwoprettygirls。Imadehimtakemyplace，andhebegantoentertainthemasiftothemannerborn；andthoughthegirlswerelaughingathim，hewasnotintheleastdisconcerted。Hethoughthewasamusingthem，andonwatchinghisexpressionIsawthathisself—esteempreventedhimseeingthathewasmakingafoolofhimself；butIdidnotguessthatImightmakethesamemistakeathisage。

Wretchedistheoldmanwhowillnotrecognizehisoldage；

wretchedunlesshelearnthatthesexwhomheseducedsooftenwhenhewasyoungwilldespisehimnowifhestillattemptstogaintheirfavour。

MyfairTherese，withherhusbandandmyson，wasthelasttoarrive。IkissedThereseandthenmyson，andsatdownbetweenthem，whisperingtoTheresethatsuchadearmysterioustrinitymustnotbeparted；atwhichTheresesmiledsweetly。TheabbesatdownbetweenRedegondeandtheCorticelli，andamusedusallthetimebyhisagreeableconversation。

IlaughedinternallywhenIobservedhowrespectfullymynewfootmanchangedhissister’splate，whoappearedvainofhonourstowhichherbrothercouldlaynoclaim。Shewasnotkind；shewhisperedtome，sothathecouldnothear，——

"Heisagoodfellow，butunfortunatelyheisratherstupid。"

Ihadputinmypocketasuperbgoldsnuff—box，richlyenamelledandadornedwithaperfectlikenessofmyself。IhadhaditmadeatParis，withtheintentionofgivingittoMadamed’Urfe，andI

hadnotdonesobecausethepainterhadmademetooyoung。IhadfilleditwithsomeexcellentHavanasnuffwhichM。deChavignyhadgivenme，andofwhichTheresewasveryfond；IwaswaitingforhertoaskmeforapinchbeforeIdrewitoutofmypocket。

TheAbbeGama，whohadsomeexceedinglygoodsnuffinanOrigonelabox，sentapinchtoTherese，andshesenthimhersnuffinatortoise—shellboxencrustedwithgoldinarabesques——anexquisitepieceofworkmanship。GamacriticisedTherese’ssnuff，whileI

saidthatIfounditdeliciousbutthatIthoughtIhadsomebettermyself。Itookoutmysnuff—box，andopeningitofferedherapinch。Shedidnotnoticetheportrait，butsheagreedthatmysnuffwasvastlysuperiortohers。

"Well，wouldyouliketomakeanexchange？"saidI。"Certainly，givemesomepaper。"

"Thatisnotrequisite；wewillexchangethesnuffandthesnuff—

boxes。"

Sosaying，IputTherese’sboxinmypocketandgavehermineshut。Whenshesawtheportrait，shegaveacrywhichpuzzledeverybody，andherfirstmotionwastokisstheportrait。

"Look，"saidshetoCesarino，"hereisyourportrait。"

Cesarinolookedatitinastonishment，andtheboxpassedfromhandtohand。Everybodysaidthatitwasmyportrait，takentenyearsago，andthatitmightpassforalikenessofCesarino。

Theresegotquiteexcited，andswearingthatshewouldneverlettheboxoutofherhandsagain，shewentuptohersonandkissedhimseveraltimes。WhilethiswasgoingonIwatchedtheAbbeGama，andIcouldseethathewasmakinginternalcommentsofhisownonthisaffectingscene。

Theworthyabbewentawaytowardstheevening，tellingmethathewouldexpectmetobreakfastnextmorning。

IspenttherestofthedayinmakinglovetoRedegonde，andTherese，whosawthatIwaspleasedwiththegirl，advisedmetodeclaremyself，andpromisedthatshewouldaskhertothehouseasoftenasIliked。ButTheresedidnotknowher。

NextmorningGamatoldmethathehadinformedMarshalBottathatIwouldcomeandseehim，andhewouldpresentmeatfouro’clock。

Thentheworthyabbe，alwaystheslaveofhiscuriosity，reproachedmeinafriendlymannerfornothavingtoldhimanythingaboutmyfortune。

"Ididnotthinkitwasworthmentioning，butasyouareinterestedinthesubjectImaytellyouthatmymeansaresmall，butthatIhavefriendswhosepursesarealwaysopentome。"

"Ifyouhavetruefriendsyouarearichman，buttruefriendsarescarce。"

IlefttheAbbeGama，myheadfullofRedegonde，whomIpreferredtotheyoungCorticelli，andIwenttopayheravisit；butwhatareception！Shereceivedmeinaroominwhichwerepresenthermother，heruncle，andthreeorfourdirty，untidylittlemonkeys:

thesewereherbrothers。’

"Haven’tyouabetterroomtoreceiveyourfriendsin？"saidI。

"Ihavenofriends，soIdon’twantaroom。"

"Getit，mydear，andyouwillfindthefriendscomefastenough。

Thisisallverywellforyoutowelcomeyourrelationsin，butnotpersonslikemyselfwhocometodohomagetoyourcharmsandyourtalents。"

"Sir，"saidthemother，"mydaughterhasbutfewtalents，andthinksnothingofhercharms，whicharesmall。"

"Youareextremelymodest，andIappreciateyourfeelings；buteverybodydoesnotseeyourdaughterwiththesameeyes，andshepleasedmegreatly。"

"Thatisanhonourforher，andwearedulysensibleofit，butnotsoastobeover—proud。Mydaughterwillseeyouasoftenasyouplease，buthere，andinnootherplace。"

"ButIamafraidofbeinginthewayhere。"

"Anhonestmanisneverintheway。"

Ifeltashamed，fornothingsoconfoundsalibertineasmodestyinthemouthofpoverty；andnotknowingwhattoanswerItookmyleave。

ItoldThereseofmyunfortunatevisit，andweboth，laughedatit；itwasthebestthingwecoulddo。

"Ishallbegladtoseeyouattheopera，"saidshe，"andyoucangetintomydressing—roomifyougivethedoor—keeperasmallpieceofmoney。"

TheAbbeGamacameashepromised，totakemetoMarshalBotta，amanofhightalentswhomtheaffairofGenoahadalreadyrenderedfamous。HewasincommandoftheAustrianarmywhenthepeople，growingangryatthesightoftheforeigners，whohadonlycometoputthemundertheAustrianyoke，roseinrevoltandmadethemleavethetown。ThispatrioticriotsavedtheRepublic。Ifoundhiminthemidstofacrowdofladiesandgentlemen，whomhelefttowelcomeme。HetalkedaboutVeniceinawaythatshewedheunderstoodthecountrythoroughly，andIconversedtohimonFrance，and，Ibelieve，satisfiedhim。InhisturnhespokeoftheCourtofRussia，atwhichhewasstayingwhenElizabethPetrovna，whowasstillreigningattheperiodinquestion，soeasilymountedthethroneofherfather，PetertheGreat。"ItisonlyinRussia，"saidhe，"thatpoisonentersintopolitics。"

Atthetimewhentheoperabeganthemarshallefttheroom，andeverybodywentaway。Onmywaytheabbeassuredme，asamatterofcourse，thatIhadpleasedthegovernor，andIafterwardswenttothetheatre，andobtainedadmissiontoTherese’sdressing—roomforatester。Ifoundherinthehandsofherprettychamber—

maid，andsheadvisedmetogotoRedegonde’sdressing—room，assheplayedaman’spart，andmight，perhaps，allowmetoassistinhertoilette。

Ifollowedheradvice，butthemotherwouldnotletmecomein，asherdaughterwasjustgoingtodress。IassuredherthatIwouldturnmybackallthetimeshewasdressing，andonthisconditionsheletmein，andmademesitdownatatableonwhichstoodamirror，whichenabledmetoseeallRedegonde’smostsecretpartstoadvantage；aboveall，whensheliftedherlegstoputonherbreeches，eithermostawkwardlyormostcleverly，accordingtoherintentions。Shedidnotloseanythingbywhatsheshewed，however，forIwassopleased，thattopossesshercharmsIwouldhavesignedanyconditionsshecaredtoimposeuponme。

"Redegondemustknow，"Isaidtomyself，"thatIcouldseeeverythingintheglass；"andtheideainflamedme。Ididnotturnroundtillthemothergavemeleave，andIthenadmiredmycharmerasayoungmanoffivefeetone，whoseshapeleftnothingtobedesired。

Redegondewentout，andIfollowedhertothewings。

"Mydear，"saidI，"Iamgoingtotalkplainlytoyou。YouhaveinflamedmypassionsandIshalldieifyoudonotmakemehappy。"

"Youdonotsaythatyouwilldieifyouchancetomakemeunhappy。"

"Icouldnotsayso，becauseIcannotconceivesuchathingaspossible。Donottriflewithme，dearRedegonde，youmustbeawarethatIsawallinthemirror，andIcannotthinkthatyouaresocruelastoarousemypassionsandthenleavemetodespair。"

"Whatcouldyouhaveseen？Idon’tknowwhatyouaretalkingabout。"

"Maybe，butknowthatIhaveseenallyourcharms。WhatshallI

dotopossessyou？"

"Topossessme？Idon’tunderstandyou，sir；I’manhonestgirl。"

"Idaresay；butyouwouldn’tbeanylesshonestaftermakingmehappy。DearRedegonde，donotletmelanguishforyou，buttellmemyfatenowthisinstant。"

"Idonotknowwhattotellyou，butyoucancomeandseemewheneveryoulike"

"WhenshallIfindyoualone？"

"Alone！Iamneveralone。"

"Well，well，that’sofnoconsequence；ifonlyyourmotherispresent，thatcomestothesamething。Ifsheissensible，shewillpretendnottoseeanything，andIwillgiveyouahundredducatseachtime。"

"Youareeitheramadman，oryoudonotknowwhatsortofpeopleweare。"

Withthesewordsshewenton，andIproceededtotellTheresewhathadpassed。

"Begin，"saidshe，"byofferingthehundredducatstothemother，andifsherefuses，havenomoretodowiththem，andgoelsewhere。"

Ireturnedtothedressing—room，whereIfoundthemotheralone，andwithoutanyceremonyspokeasfollows:——

"Goodevening，madam，Iamastrangerhere；Iamonlystayingaweek，andIaminlovewithyourdaughter。Ifyouliketobeobliging，bringhertosupwithme。Iwillgiveyouahundredsequinseachtime，soyouseemypurseisinyourpower。"

"Whomdoyouthinkyouaretalkingto，sir？Iamastonishedatyourimpudence。AskthetownsfolkwhatsortofcharacterIbear，andwhethermydaughterisanhonestgirlornot！andyouwillnotmakesuchproposalsagain。"

"Good—bye，madam。"

"Good—bye，sir。"

AsIwentoutImetRedegonde，andItoldherwordforwordtheconversationIhadhadwithhermother。Sheburstoutlaughing。

"HaveIdonewellorill？"saidI。

"Wellenough，butifyoulovemecomeandseeme。"

"Seeyouafterwhatyourmothersaid？"

"Well，whynot，whoknowsofit？"

"Whoknows？Youdon’tknowme，Redegonde。Idonotcaretoindulgemyselfinidlehopes，andIthoughtIhadspokentoyouplainlyenough。"

Feelingangry，andvowingtohavenomoretodowiththisstrangegirl，IsuppedwithTherese，andspentthreedelightfulhourswithher。Ihadagreatdealofwritingtodothenextdayandkeptindoors，andintheeveningIhadavisitfromtheyoungCorticelli，hermotherandbrother。Shebeggedmetokeepmypromiseregardingthemanagerofthetheatre，whowouldnotletherdancethe’pasdedeux’stipulatedforintheagreement。

"Comeandbreakfastwithmeto—morrowmorning，"saidI，"andI

willspeaktotheIsraeliteinyourpresence——atleastIwilldosoifhecomes。"

"Iloveyouverymuch，"saidtheyoungwanton，"can’tIstopalittlelongerhere。"

"Youmaystopaslongasyoulike，butasIhavegotsomeletterstofinish，Imustaskyoutoexcusemyentertainingyou。"

"Oh！justasyouplease。"

ItoldCostatogivehersomesupper。

Ifinishedmylettersandfeltinclinedforalittleamusement，soImadethegirlsitbymeandproceededtotoywithher，butinsuchawaythathermothercouldmakenoobjection。Allatoncethebrothercameupandtriedtojoininthesport，muchtomyastonishment。

"Getalongwithyou，"saidI，"youarenotagirl。"

Atthistheyoungscoundrelproceededtoshewmehissex，butinsuchanindecentfashionthathissister，whowassittingonmyknee，burstoutlaughingandtookrefugewithhermother，whowassittingattheotherendoftheroomingratitudeforthegoodsupperIhadgivenher。Irosefrommychair，andaftergivingtheimpudentpederastaboxontheearIaskedthemotherwithwhatintentionsshehadbroughttheyoungrascaltomyhouse。Bywayofreplytheinfamouswomansaid，——

"He’saprettylad，isn’the？"

IgavehimaducatfortheblowIhadgivenhim，andtoldthemothertobegone，asshedisgustedme。Thepathictookmyducat，kissedmyhand，andtheyalldeparted。

Iwenttobedfeelingamusedattheincident，andwonderingatthewickednessofamotherwhowouldprostituteherownsontothebasestofvices。

NextmorningIsentandaskedtheJewtocallonme。TheCorticellicamewithhermother，andtheJewsoonafter，justasweweregoingtobreakfast。

Iproceededtoexplainthegrievanceoftheyoungdancer，andI

readtheagreementhehadmadewithher，tellinghimpolitelythatIcouldeasilyforcehimtofulfilit。TheJewputinseveralexcuses，ofwhichtheCorticellidemonstratedthefutility。AtlastthesonofJudahwasforcedtogivein，andpromisedtospeaktotheballet—masterthesameday，inorderthatshemightdancethe’pas’withtheactorshenamed。

"Andthat，Ihope，willpleaseyourexcellency，"headded，withalowbow，whichisnotoftenaproofofsincerity，especiallyamongJews。

WhenmyguestshadtakenleaveIwenttotheAbbeGama，todinewithMarshalBottawhohadaskedustodinner。ImadetheacquaintancethereofSirMann，theEnglishambassador，whowastheidolofFlorence，veryrich，ofthemostpleasingmannersalthoughanEnglishman；fullofwit，taste，andagreatloverofthefinearts。Heinvitedmetocomenextdayandseehishouseandgarden。Inthishomehehadmade——furniture，pictures，choicebooks——allshewedthemanofgenius。Hecalledonme，askedmetodinner，andhadthepolitenesstoincludeTherese，herhusband，andCesarinointheinvitation。Afterdinnermysonsatdownattheclavieranddelightedthecompanybyhisexquisiteplaying。

Whileweweretalkingoflikenesses，SirMannshewedussomeminiaturesofgreatbeauty。

Beforeleaving，Theresetoldmethatshehadbeenthinkingseriouslyofme。

"Inwhatrespect？"Iasked。

"IhavetoldRedegondethatIamgoingtocallforher，thatI

willkeephertosupper，andhavehertakenhome。Youmustseethatthislastconditionisproperlycarriedout。Cometosuppertoo，andhaveyourcarriageinwaiting。Ileavetheresttoyou。

Youwillonlybeafewminuteswithher，butthat’ssomething；andthefirststepleadsfar。"

"Anexcellentplan。Iwillsupwithyou，andmycarriageshallbeready。Iwilltellyouallaboutitto—morrow。"

Iwenttothehouseatnineo’clock，andwaswelcomedasanunexpectedguest。ItoldR