第64章

"Weshallbepleasedtoheartheendofthestorywithoutanyonebeinginformedofourinnocentcuriosity。"

Withthesewords，alongbenedictiondeliveredwithmuchunctioninformedmethatmyaudiencewasatanend。

AsIwasleavingHisHoliness’spalace，Iwasaccostedbyanoldabbe，whoaskedmerespectfullyifIwerenottheM。CasanovawhohadescapedfromTheLeads。

"Yes，"saidI，"Iamtheman。"

"Heavenbepraised，worthysir，thatIseeyouagaininsuchgoodestate！"

"ButwhomhaveIthehonourofaddressing？"

"Don’tyourecollectme？IamMomolo，formerlygondolieratVenice。"

"Haveyouenteredholyorders，then？"

"Notatall，buthereeveryonewearsthecassock。Iamthefirstscopatore（sweeper）ofHisHolinessthePope。"

"Icongratulateyouonyourappointment，butyoumustn’tmindmelaughing。"

"Laughasmuchasyoulike。MywifeanddaughterslaughwhenI

putonthecassockandbands，andIlaughmyself，butherethedressgainsonerespect。Comeandseeus。"

"Wheredoyoulive？"

"BehindtheTrinityofMonti；here’smyaddress。"

"Iwillcometo—night。"

Iwenthomedelightedwiththismeeting，anddeterminedtoenjoytheeveningwithmyVenetianboatman。Igotmybrothertocomewithme，andItoldhimhowthePopehadreceivedme。

TheAbbeWinckelmanncameintheafternoonandinformedmethatI

wasfortunateenoughtobehighinfavourwithhiscardinal，andthatthebookIhadsenthimwasveryvaluable；itwasararework，andinmuchbetterconditionthantheVaticancopy。

"Iamcommissionedtopayyouforit。"

"Ihavetoldhiseminencethatitwasapresent。"

"Heneveracceptsbooksaspresents，andhewantsyoursforhisownlibrary；andasheislibrarianoftheVaticanLibraryheisafraidlestpeoplemightsayunpleasantthings。"

"That’sverywell，butIamnotabookseller；andasthisbookonlycostmethetroubleofacceptingit，Iamdeterminedonlytosellitatthesameprice。Prayaskthecardinaltohonourmebyacceptingit。"

"Heissuretosenditbacktoyou。"

"Hecanifhelikes，butIwillsendbackhisfuneraloration，asIamnotgoingtobeunderanobligationtoanyonewhorefusestotakeapresentfromme。"

NextmorningtheeccentriccardinalreturnedmemyPandects，andI

immediatelyreturnedhisfuneraloration，withaletterinwhichI

pronounceditamasterpieceofcomposition，thoughIlaidbarelyglancedoveritinreality。MybrothertoldmeIwaswrong，butI

didnottroublewhathesaid，notcaringtoguidemyselfbyhisrulings。

IntheeveningmybrotherandIwenttothe’scopatoresantissimo’，whowasexpectingme，andhadannouncedmetohisfamilyasaprodigyofaman。Iintroducedmybrother，andproceededtoaclosescrutinyofthefamily。Isawanelderlywoman，fourgirls，ofwhomtheeldestwastwenty—four，twosmallboys，andabovealluniversalugliness。Itwasnotinvitingforamanofvoluptuoustastes，butIwasthere，andthebestthingwastoputagoodfaceonit；soIstayedandenjoyedmyself。Besidesthegeneralugliness，thehouseholdpresentedthepictureofmisery，forthe’scopatoresantissimo’andhisnumerousfamilywereobligedtoliveontwohundredRomancrownsayear，andastherearenoperquisitesattachedtotheofficeofapostolicsweeper，hewascompelledtofurnishallneedsoutofthisslendersum。InspiteofthatMomolowasamostgenerousman。Assoonashesawmeseatedhetoldmeheshouldhavelikedtogivemeagoodsupper，buttherewasonlyporkchopsandapolenta。

"Theyareverynice，"saidI；"butwillyouallowmetosendforhalfadozenflasksofOrvietofrommylodging？"

"Youaremasterhere。"

IwroteanotetoCosta，tellinghimtobringthesixflasksdirectly，withacookedham。Hecameinhalfanhour，andthefourgirlscriedwhentheysawhim，"Whatafinefellow！"IsawCostawasdelightedwiththisreception，andsaidtoMomolo，"IfyoulikehimaswellasyourgirlsIwilllethimstay。"

Costawascharmedwithsuchhonourbeingshewnhim，andafterthankingmewentintothekitchentohelpthemotherwiththepolenta。

Thelargetablewascoveredwithacleancloth，andsoonaftertheybroughtintwohugedishesofpolentaandanenormouspanfullofchops。Wewerejustgoingtobeginwhenaknockingonthestreetdoorwasheard。

"’TisSignoraMariaandhermother，"saidoneoftheboys。

AtthisannouncementIsawthefourgirlspullingawryface。

"Whoaskedthem？"saidone。"Whatdotheywant？"saidanother。

"Whattroublesomepeopletheyare！"saidathird。"Theymighthavestayedathome，"saidthefourth。Butthegood，kindlyfathersaid，"Mychildren，theyarehungry，andtheyshallsharewhatProvidencehasgivenus。"

Iwasdeeplytouchedwiththeworthyman’skindness。IsawthattrueChristiancharityismoreoftentobefoundinthebreastsofthepoorthantherich，whoaresowellprovidedforthattheycannotfeelforthewantsofothers。

WhileIwasmakingthesewholesomereflectionsthetwohungryonescamein。Onewasayoungwomanofamodestandpleasantaspect，andtheotherhermother，whoseemedveryhumbleandasifashamedoftheirpoverty。Thedaughtersalutedthecompanywiththatnaturalgracewhichisagiftofnature，apologizinginsomeconfusionforherpresence，andsayingthatshewouldnothavetakenthelibertytocomeifshehadknowntherewascompany。TheworthyMomolowastheonlyonewhoansweredher，andhesaid，kindly，thatshehaddonequiterighttocome，andputherachairbetweenmybrotherandmyself。Ilookedatherandthoughtheraperfectbeauty。

Thentheeatingbeganandtherewasnomoretalking。Thepolentawasexcellent，thechopsdelicious，andthehamperfect，andinlessthananhourtheboardwasasbareasiftherehadbeennothingonit；buttheOrvietokeptthecompanyingoodspirts。

Theybegantotalkofthelotterywhichwastobedrawnthedayafternext，andallthegirlsmentionedthenumbersonwhichtheyhadriskedafewbajocchi。

"IfIcouldbesureofonenumber，"saidI，"Iwouldstakesomethingonit。"

MariucciatoldmethatifIwantedanumbershecouldgivemeone。

Ilaughedatthisoffer，butinthegravestwayshenamedmethenumber27。

"Isthelotterystillopen？"IaskedtheAbbeMomolo。

"Tillmidnight，"hereplied，"andifyoulikeIwillgoandgetthenumberforyou。"

"Herearefiftycrowns，"saidI，"puttwenty—fivecrownson27—

thisforthesefiveyoungladies；andtheothertwenty—fiveon27

comingoutthefifthnumber，andthisIwillkeepformyself。"

Hewentoutdirectlyandreturnedwiththetwotickets。

Myprettyneighbourthankedmeandsaidshewassureofwinning，butthatshedidnotthinkIshouldsucceedasitwasnotprobablethat27wouldcomeoutfifth。

"Iamsureofit，"Ianswered，"foryouarethefifthyoungladyI

sawinthishouse。"Thismadeeverybodylaugh。Momolo’swifetoldmeIwouldhavedonemuchbetterifIhadgiventhemoneytothepoor，butherhusbandtoldhertobequiet，asshedidnotknowmyintent。Mybrotherlaughed，andtoldmeIhaddoneafoolishthing。"Ido，sometimes，"saidI，"butweshallseehowitturnsout，andwhenoneplaysoneisobligedeithertowinorlose。"

Imanagedtosqueezemyfairneighbour’shand，andshereturnedthepressurewithallherstrength。FromthattimeIknewthatmyfatewithMariucciawassealed。Ileftthematmidnight，beggingtheworthyMomolotoaskmeagainintwodays’time，thatwemightrejoicetogetheroverourgains。OnourwayhomemybrothersaidIhadeitherbecomeasrichasCroesusorhadgonemad。Itoldhimthatbothsuppositionswereincorrect，butthatMariucciawasashandsomeasanangel，andheagreed。

NextdayMengsreturnedtoRome，andIsuppedwithhimandhisfamily。Hehadanexceedinglyuglysister，whoforallthat，wasagoodandtalentedwoman。Shehadfallendeeplyinlovewithmybrother，anditwaseasytoseethattheflamewasnotyetextinguished，butwhenevershespoketohim，whichshedidwhenevershecouldgetanopportunity，helookedanotherway。

Shewasanexquisitepainterofminiatures，andacapitalhandatcatchingalikeness。TothebestofmybeliefsheisstilllivingatRomewithMaroniherhusband。Sheoftenusedtospeakofmybrothertome，andonedayshesaidthathemustbethemostthanklessofmenorhewouldnotdespiseherso。Iwasnotcuriousenoughtoenquirewhatclaimshehadtohisgratitude。

Mengs’swifewasagoodandprettywoman，attentivetoherhouseholddutiesandverysubmissivetoherhusband，thoughshecouldnothavelovedhim，forhewasanythingbutamiable。Hewasobstinateandfierceinhismanner，andwhenhedinedathomehemadeapointofnotleavingthetablebeforehewasdrunk；outofhisownhousehewastemperatetotheextentofnotdrinkinganythingbutwater。Hiswifecarriedherobediencesofarastoserveashismodelforallthenudefigureshepainted。Ispoketoheronedayaboutthisunpleasantobligation，andshesaidthatherconfessorhadchargedhertofulfilit，"for，"saidhe，"ifyourhusbandhasanotherwomanforamodelhewillbesuretoenjoyherbeforepaintingher，andthatsinwouldbelaidtoyourcharge。"

Aftersupper，Winckelmann，whowasasfargoneasalltheothermaleguests，playedwithMengs’schildren。Therewasnothingofthepedantaboutthisphilosopher；helovedchildrenandyoungpeople，andhischeerfuldispositionmadehimdelightinallkindsofenjoyment。

Nextday，asIwasgoingtopaymycourttothePope，IsawMomolointhefirstante—chamber，andItookcaretoremindhimofthepolentafortheevening。

AssoonasthePopesawme，hesaid，——

"TheVenetianambassadorhasinformedusthatifyouwishtoreturntoyournativeland，youmustgoandpresentyourselfbeforethesecretaryoftheTribunal。"

"MostHolyFather，Iamquitereadytotakethisstep，ifYourHolinesswillgrantmealetterofcommendationwrittenwithyourownhand。WithoutthispowerfulprotectionIshouldneverdreamofexposingmyselftotheriskofbeingagainshutupinaplacefromwhichIescapedbyamiracleandthehelpoftheAlmighty。"

"Youaregailydressed；youdonotlookasifyouweregoingtochurch。"

"True，mostHolyFather，butneitheramIgoingtoaball。"

"Wehaveheardallaboutthepresentsbeingsentback。Confessthatyoudidsotogratifyyourpride。"

"Yes，butalsotolowerapridegreaterthanmine。"

ThpPopesmiledatthisreply，andIkneltdownandbeggedhimtopermitmetopresentthevolumeofPandectstotheVaticanLibrary。Bywayofreplyhegavemehisblessing，whichsignifies，inpapallanguage，"Rise；yourrequestisgranted。"

"Wewillsendyou，"saidhe，"amarkofoursingularaffectionforyouwithoutyourhavingtopayanyfees。"

Asecondblessingbidmebegone。Ihaveoftenfeltwhatagoodthingitwouldbeifthiskindofdismissalcouldbeemployedingeneralsocietytosendawayimportunatepetitioners，towhomonedoesnotdaresay，"Begone。"

IwasextremelycurioustoknowwhatthePopehadmeantby"amarkofoursingularaffection。"Iwasafraidthatitwouldbeablessedrosary，withwhichIshouldnothaveknownwhattodo。

WhenIgothomeIsentthebookbyCostatotheVatican，andthenIwenttodinewithMengs。Whilewewereeatingthesoupthewinningnumbersfromthelotterywerebroughtin。Mybrotherglancedatthemandlookedatmewithastonishment。Iwasnotthinkingofthesubjectatthatmoment，andhisgazesurprisedme。

"Twenty—seven，"hecried，"cameoutfifth。"

"Allthebetter，"saidI，"weshallhavesomeamusementoutofit。"

ItoldthestorytoMengs，whosaid，——

"It’saluckyfollyforyouthistime；butitalwaysisafolly。"

Hewasquiteright，andItoldhimthatIagreedwithhim；butI

addedthattomakeaworthyuseofthefifteenhundredromancrownswhichfortunehadgivenme，IshouldgoandspendfifteendaysatNaples。

"Iwillcometoo，"saidtheAbbeAlfani。"Iwillpassforyoursecretary。"

"Withallmyheart，"Ianswered，"Ishallkeepyoutoyourword。"

IaskedWinckelmanntocomeandeatpolentawiththescopatoresantissimo，andtoldmybrothertoshewhimtheway；andIthencalledontheMarquisBelloni，mybanker，tolookintomyaccounts，andtogetaletterofcreditonthefirmatNaples，whowerehisagents。Istillhadtwohundredthousandfrancs:Ihadjewelleryworththirtythousandfrancs，andfiftythousandflorinsatAmsterdam。

IgottoMomolo’sintheduskoftheevening，andIfoundWinckelmannandmybrotheralreadythere；butinsteadofmirthreigningroundtheboardIsawsadfacesonallsides。

"What’sthematterwiththegirls？"IaskedMomolo。

"Theyarevexedthatyoudidnotstakefortheminthesamewayasyoudidforyourself。"

"Peopleareneversatisfied。IfIhadstakedforthemasIdidformyself，andthenumberhadcomeoutfirstinsteadoffifth，，theywouldhavegotnothing，andtheywouldhavebeenvexedthen。

Twodaysagotheyhadnothing，andnowthattheyhavetwenty—sevenpoundsapiecetheyoughttobecontented。"

"That’sjustwhatItelltheir，butallwomenarethesame。"

"Andmentoo，dearcountryman，unlesstheyarephilosophers。Golddoesnotspellhappiness，andmirthcanonlybefoundinheartsdevoidofcare。Letussaynomoreaboutit，butbehappy。"

Costaplacedabasketcontainingtenpacketsofsweets，uponthetable。

"Iwilldistributethem，"saidI，"wheneverybodyishere。"

Onthis，Momolo’sseconddaughtertoldmethatMariucciaandhermotherwerenotcoming，butthattheywouldsendthemthesweets。

"Whyaretheynotcoming？"

"Theyhadaquarrelyesterday，"saidthefather，"andMariuccia，whowasintheright，wentawaysayingthatshewouldnevercomehereagain。"

"Youungratefulgirls！"saidI，tomyhost’sdaughters，"don’tyouknowthatitistoherthatyouoweyourwinnings，forshegavemethenumbertwenty—seven，whichIshouldneverhavethoughtof。

Quick！thinkofsomewaytomakehercome，orIwillgoawayandtakeallthesweetswithme。"

"Youarequiteright，"saidMomolo。

Themortifiedgirlslookedatoneanotherandbeggedtheirfathertofetchher。

"Ira，"saidhe，"thatwon’tdo；youmadehersaythatshewouldnevercomehereagain，andyoumustmakeupthequarrel。"

Theyheldashortconsultation，andthen，askingCostatogowiththem，theywenttofetchher。

Inhalfanhourtheyreturnedintriumph，andCostawasquiteproudoftheparthehadtakeninthereconciliation。Ithendistributedthesweets，takingcaretogivethetwobestpacketstothefairMary。

Anoblepolentawasplacedupontheboard，flankedbytwolargedishesofporkchops。ButMomolo，whoknewmytastes，andwhomI

hadmaderichinthepersonofhisdaughters，addedtothefeastsomedelicatedishesandsomeexcellentwine。Mariucciawassimplydressed，buthereleganceandbeautyandthemodestyofherdemeanourcompletelyseducedme。

Wecouldonlyexpressourmutualflamesbysqueezingeachother’shands；andshedidthissofeelinglythatIcouldnotdoubtherlove。AsweweregoingoutItookcaretogodownstairsbesideherandaskedifIcouldnotmeetherbyherself，towhichsherepliedbymakinganappointmentwithmefarthenextdayateighto’clockattheTrinityofMonti。

Mariucciawastall:andshapely，aperfectpicture，asfairasawhiterose，andcalculatedtoinspirevoluptuousdesires。Shehadbeautifullightbrownhair，darkblueeyes，andexquisitelyarchedeyelids。Hermouth，thevermilionofherlips，andherivoryteethwereallperfect。Herwell—shapedforeheadgaveheranairapproachingthemajestic。Kindnessandgaietysparkledinhereyes；whileherplumpwhitehands，herroundedfinger—tips，herpinknails，herbreast，whichthecorsetseemedscarcelyabletorestrain，herdaintyfeet，andherprominenthips，madeherworthyofthechiselofPraxiteles。Shewasjustonhereighteenthyear，andsofarhadescapedtheconnoisseurs。ByaluckychanceIcameacrossherinapoorandwretchedstreet，andIwasfortunateenoughtoinsureherhappiness。

ItmayeasilybebelievedthatIdidnotfailtokeeptheappointment，andwhenshewassureIhadseenhershewentoutofthechurch。Ifollowedherataconsiderabledistance:sheenteredaruinedbuilding，andIafterher。Sheclimbedaflightofstepswhichseemedtobebuiltinair，andwhenshehadreachedthetopsheturned。

"Noonewillcomeandlookformehere，"saidshe，"sowecantalkfreelytogether。"

Isatbesideheronastone，andIthendeclaredmypassionateloveforher。

"Tellme，"Iadded，"whatIcandotomakeyouhappy；forIwishtopossessyou，butfirsttoshewmydeserts。"

"Makemehappy，andIwillyieldtoyourdesires，forIloveyou。"

"TellmewhatIcando。"

"Youcandrawmeoutofthepovertyandmiserywhichoverwhelmme。

Ilivewithmymother，whoisagoodwoman，butdevouttothepointofsuperstition；shewilldamnmysoulinhereffortstosaveit。Shefindsfaultwithmykeepingmyselfclean，becauseIhavetotouchmyselfwhenIwash，andthatmightgiverisetoevildesires。

Ifyouhadgivenmethemoneyyoumademewininthelotteryasasimplealmsshewouldhavemademerefuseit，becauseyoumighthavehadintentions。Sheallowsmetogobymyselftomassbecauseourconfessortoldhershemightdoso；butIdarenotstayawayaminutebeyondthetime，exceptonfeastdays，whenI

amallowedtoprayinthechurchfortwoorthreehours。Wecanonlymeethere，butifyouwishtosoftenmylotinlifeyoucandosoasfollows:

"Afineyoungman，whoisahairdresser，andbearsanexcellentcharacter，sawmeatMomolo’safortnightago，andmetmeatthechurchdoornextdayandgavemealetter。Hedeclaredhimselfmylover，andsaidthatifIcouldbringhimadowryoffourhundredcrowns，hecouldopenashop，furnishit，andmarryme。

"’Iampoor，’Ianswered，’andIhaveonlyahundredcrownsincharitytickets，whichmyconfes