第65章

Leonildalookedaway，andIfeltshocked，butconcealedmyfeelings。

"Iaminthesamestateasyou，"saidI，"butIwillnottakethetroubleofconvincingyou。"

"Thatcan’tbe，"saidhe；andpassinghishandrapidlyovermeheassuredhimselfthatitwasso。"It’sastonishing，"hecried；

"youmustbeasimpotentasIam。"

"IfIwantedtocontrovertthatassertiononeglanceintoLeonilda’seyeswouldbeenough。"

"Lookathim，dearestLeonilda，thatImaybeconvinced。"

Leonildalookedtenderlyatme，andherglanceproducedtheresultIhadexpected。

"Givemeyourhand，"saidI，tothepoorduke，andhedidso。

"Iwasinthewrong，"heexclaimed，butwhenheendeavouredtobringthesurprisingobjecttolightIresisted。Hepersistedinhisendeavours，andIdeterminedtoplayonhimatrick。ItookLeonilda’shandandpressedmylipstoit，andjustasthedukethoughthehadtriumphedIbesprinkledhim，andwentoffintoaroaroflaughter。Helaughedtoo，andwenttogetanapkin。

Thegirlcouldseenothingofallthis，asitwentonunderthetable；andwhilemyburninglipsrestedonherhand，myeyeswerefixedonhersandourbreathmingled。Thisclosecontacthadenabledmetobaptisetheduke，butwhenshetookinthejokewemadeagroupworthyofthepenofAretin。

Itwasadelightfulbreakfast，thoughwepassedcertainboundswhichdecencyoughttohaveproscribedtous，butLeonildawaswonderfullyinnocentconsideringherposition。Weendedthescenebymutualembraces，andwhenItookmyburninglipsfromLeonilda’sIfeltconsumedwithafirewhichIcouldnotconceal。

WhenweleftItoldthedukethatIwouldseehismistressnomore，unlesshewouldgiveheruptome，declaringthatIwouldmarryherandgiveheradoweroffivethousandducats。

"Speaktoher，andifsheconsentsIwillnotopposeit。Sheherselfwilltellyouwhatpropertyshehas。"

Ithenwenttodressfordinner。Ifoundtheduchessinthemidstofalargecircle，andshetoldmekindlythatshewasverysorrytohearofmylosses。

"Fortuneisthemostfickleofbeings，butIdon’tcomplainofmyloss——nay，whenyouspeakthusIloveit，andIeventhinkthatyouwillmakemewinthisevening。"

"Ihopeso，butIamafraidnot；youwillhavetocontendagainstMonteLeone，whoisusuallyverylucky。"

Inconsideringthematterafterdinner，Ideterminedforthefuturetoplaywithreadymoneyandnotonmywordofhonour，lestIshouldatanytimebecarriedawaybytheexcitementofplayandinducedtostakemorethanIpossessed。Ithought，too，thatthebankermighthavehisdoubtsafterthetwoheavylossesIhadsustained，andIconfessthatIwasalsoactuatedbythegambler’ssuperstitionthatbymakingachangeofanykindonechangestheluck。

IspentfourhoursatthetheatreinLeonilda’sbox，whereIfoundhermoregayandcharmingthanIhadseenherbefore。

"DearLeonilda，"Isaid，"theloveIfeelforyouwillsuffernodelayandnorivals，noteventheslightestinconstancy。IhavetoldthedukethatIamreadytomarryyou，andthatIwillgiveyouadoweroffivethousandducats。"

"Whatdidhesay？"

"ThatImustaskyou，andthathewouldoffernoopposition。"

"ThenweshouldleaveNaplestogether。"

"Directly，dearest，andthenceforthdeathalonewouldpartus。"

"Wewilltalkofitto—morrow，dearDonGiacomo，andifIcanmakeyouhappyIamsureyouwilldothesamebyme。"

Asshespokethesedelightfulwordsthedukecamein。

"DonGiacomoandIaretalkingofmarrying，"saidshe。

"Marriage，miacarissima，"hereplied，"oughttobewellconsideredbeforehand。"

"Yes，whenonehastime；butmydearGiacomocannotwait，andweshallhaveplentyoftimetothinkitoverafterwards。"

"Asyouaregoingtomarry，"saidtheduke，"youcanputoffyourdeparture，orreturnafterthewedding。"

"Icanneitherputitoffnorreturn，mydearduke。Wehavemadeupourminds，andifwerepentwehaveplentyoftimebeforeus。"

Helaughedandsaidwewouldtalkitovernextday。Igavemyfuturebrideakisswhichshereturnedwithardour，andthedukeandIwenttotheclub，wherewefoundtheDukedeMonteLeonedealing。

"Mylord，"saidI，"Iamunluckyplayingonmywordofhonour，soIhopeyouwillallowmetostakemoney。"

"Justasyouplease；itcomestothesamething，butdon’ttroubleyourself。Ihavemadeabankoffourthousandducatsthatyoumaybeabletorecoupyourselfforyourlosses。"

"Thanks，Ipromisetobreakitortoloseasmuch。"

Idrewoutsixthousandducats，gavetwothousandducatstotheDukedeMatalone，andbegantopuntatahundredducats。Afterashorttimethedukeleftthetable，andIfinallysucceededinbreakingthebank。Iwentbacktotheplacebymyself，andwhenI

toldthedukeofmyvictorythenextday，heembracedmewithtearsofjoy，andadvisedmetostakemoneyforthefuture。

AsthePrincessdeValewasgivingagreatsupper，therewasnoplaythatevening。Thiswassomerespite。WecalledonLeonilda，andputtingofftalkingofourmarriagetillthedayafterwespentthetimeinviewingthewondersofnaturearoundNaples。IntheeveningIwasintroducedbyafriendattheprincess’ssupper，andsawallthehighestnobilityoftheplace。

Nextmorningtheduketoldmethathehadsomebusinesstodo，andthatIhadbettergoandseeLeonilda，andthathewouldcallformelateron。IwenttoLeonilda，butasthedukedidnotputinanappearancewecouldnotsettleanythingaboutourmarriage。I

spentseveralhourswithher，butIwasobligedtoobeyhercommands，andcouldonlyshewmyselfamorousinwords。BeforeleavingIrepeatedthatitonlyrestedwithhertouniteourlivesbyindissolubleties，andtoleaveNaplesalmostimmediately。

WhenIsawthedukehesaid，——

"Well，DonGiacomo，youhavespentallthemorningwithmymistress；doyoustillwishtomarryher？"

"Morethanever；whatdoyoumean？"

"Nothing；andasyouhavepassedthistrialtowhichIpurposelysubjectedyou，wewilldiscussyouruniontomorrow，andIhopeyouwillmakethischarmingwomanhappy，forshewillbeanexcellentwife。"

"Iagreewithyou。"

WhenwewenttoMonteLeone’sintheevening，wesawabankerwithagooddealofgoldbeforehim。TheduketoldmehewasDonMarcoOttoboni。Hewasafine—lookingman，butheheldthecardssocloselytogetherinhislefthandthatIcouldnotseethem。Thisdidnotinspiremewithconfidence，soIonlypuntedaducatatatime。Iwaspersistentlyunlucky，butIonlylostascoreofducats。Afterfiveorsixdealsthebanker，askedmepolitelywhyIstakedsuchsmallsumsagainsthim。

"BecauseIcan’tseehalfthepack，"Ireplied，"andIamafraidoflosing。"

Someofthecompanylaughedatmyanswer。

NextnightIbrokethebankheldbythePrincetheCassaro，apleasantandrichnobleman，whoaskedmetogivehimrevenge，andinvitedmetosupperathisprettyhouseatPosilipo，wherehelivedwithavirtuosaofwhomhehadbecomeamorousatPalermo。

HealsoinvitedtheDukedeMataloneandthreeorfourothergentlemen。ThiswastheonlyoccasiononwhichIheldthebankwhileIwasatNaples，andIstakedsixthousandducatsafterwarningtheprincethatasitwastheeveofmydepartureIshouldonlyplayforreadymoney。

Helosttenthousandducats，andonlyrosefromthetablebecausehehadnomoremoney。Everybodylefttheroom，andIshouldhavedonethesameiftheprince’smistresshadnotowedmeahundredducats。Icontinuedtodealinthehopethatshewouldgethermoneyback，butseeingthatshestilllostIputdownthecards，andtoldherthatshemustpaymeatRome。Shewasahandsomeandagreeablewoman，butshedidnotinspiremewithanypassions，nodoubtbecausemymindwasoccupiedwithanother，otherwiseI

shouldhavedrawnabillonsight，andpaidmyselfwithoutmeddlingwithherpurse。Itwastwoo’clockinthemorningwhenI

gottobed。

BothLeonildaandmyselfwishedtoseeCasertabeforeleavingNaples，andthedukesentusthereinacarriagedrawnbysixmules，whichwentfasterthanmosthorses。Leonilda’sgovernessaccompaniedus。

Thedayafter，wesettledtheparticularsofourmarriageinaconversationwhichlastedfortwohours。

"Leonilda，"begantheduke，"hasamother，wholivesatashortdistancefromhere，onanincomeofsixhundredducats，whichI

havegivenherforlife，inreturnforanestatebelongingtoherhusband；butLeonildadoesnotdependonher。Shegaveheruptomesevenyearsago，andIhavegivenheranannuityoffivehundredducats，whichshewillbringtoyou，withallherdiamondsandanextensivetrousseau。Hermothergaveheruptomeentirely，andIgavemywordofhonourtogetheragoodhusband。

Ihavetakenpeculiarcareofhereducation，andashermindhasdevelopedIhaveputheronherguardagainstallprejudices，withtheexceptionofthatwhichbidsawomankeepherselfintactforherfuturehusband。YoumayrestassuredthatyouarethefirstmanwhomLeonilda（whoisadaughtertome）haspressedtoherheart。"

Ibeggedtheduketogetthecontractready，andtoaddtoherdowerthesumoffivethousandducats，whichIwouldgivehimwhenthedeedwassigned。

"Iwillmortgagethem，"saidhe，"onahousewhichisworthdouble。"

ThenturningtoLeonilda，whowassheddinghappytears，hesaid，——

"Iamgoingtosendforyourmother，whowillbedelightedtosignthesettlement，andtomaketheacquaintanceofyourfuturehusband。"

ThemotherlivedattheMarquisGaliani’s，aday’sjourneyfromNaples。Thedukesaidhewouldsendacarriageforherthenextday，andthatwecouldallsuptogetherthedayafter。

"Thelawbusinesswillbealldonebythen，andweshallbeabletogotothelittlechurchatPortici，andthepriestwillmarryyou。ThenwewilltakeyourmothertoSt。Agathaanddinewithher，andyoucangoyourwaywithhermaternalblessing。"

Thisconclusiongavemeaninvoluntaryshudder，andLeonildafellfaintingintheduke’sarms。Hecalledherdearchild，caredforhertenderly，andbroughthertoherself。

Weallhadtowipeoureyes，aswewereallequallyaffected。

Iconsideredmyselfasamarriedmanandunderobligationtoaltermywayofliving，andIstoppedplaying。Ihadwonmorethanfifteenthousandducats，andthissumaddedtowhatIhadbeforeandLeonilda’sdowryshouldhavesufficedforanhonestlivelihood。

Nextday，asIwasatsupperwiththedukeandLeonilda，shesaid，——

"Whatwillmymothersayto—morrowevening，whensheseesyou？"

"Shewillsaythatyouaresillytomarryastrangerwhomyouhaveonlyknownforaweek。Haveyoutoldhermyname，mynation，mycondition，andmyage？"

"Iwrotetoherasfollows:

"’Dearmamma，comedirectlyandsignmymarriagecontractwithagentlemanintroducedtomebytheduke，withwhomIshallbeleavingforRomeonMondaynext。’"

"Myletterranthus，"saidtheduke，"’Comewithoutdelay，andsignyourdaughter’smarriagecontract，andgiveheryourblessing。Shehaswiselychosenahusbandoldenoughtobeherfather；heisafriendofmine。’"

"That’snottrue，"criedLeonilda，rushingtomyarms，"shewillthinkyouarereallyold，andIamsorry。"

"Isyourmotheranelderlywoman？"

"She’sacharmingWoman，"saidtheduke，"fullofwit，andnotthirty—eightyet。"

"WhathasshegottodowithGaliani？"

"Sheisanintimatefriendofthemarchioness’s，andsheliveswiththefamilybutpaysforherboard。"

Nextmorning，havingsomebusinesswithmybankertoattendto，I

toldthedukethatIshouldnotbeabletoseeLeonildatillsupper—time。Iwentthereateighto’clockandIfoundthethreesittinginfrontofthefire。

"Hereheis！"criedtheduke。

Assoonasthemothersawmeshescreamedandfellnearlyfaintingonachair。Ilookedatherfixedlyforaminute，andexclaimed，——

"DonnaLucrezia！Iamfortunateindeed！"

"Letustakebreath，mydearfriend。Comeandsitbyme。Soyouaregoingtomarrymydaughter，areyou？"

Itookachairandguesseditall。Myhairstoodonend，andI

relapsedintoagloomysilence。

ThestupefiedastonishmentofLeonildaandthedukecannotbedescribed。TheycouldseethatDonnaLucreziaandIkneweachother，buttheycouldnotgetanyfarther。Asformyself，asI

ponderedgloomilyandcomparedLeonilda’sagewiththeperiodatwhichIhadbeenintimatewithLucreziaCastelli，Icouldseethatitwasquitepossiblethatshemightbemydaughter；butItoldmyselfthatthemothercouldnotbecertainofthefact，asatthetimeshelivedwithherhusband，whowasveryfondofherandnotfiftyyearsofage。Icouldbearthesuspensenolonger，so，takingalightandbeggingLeonildaandtheduketoexcuseme，I

askedLucreziatocomeintothenextroomwithme。

Assoonasshewasseated，shedrewmetoherandsaid，——

"MustIgrievemydearonewhenIhavelovedsowell？Leonildaisyourdaughter，Iamcertainofit。Ialwayslookeduponherasyourdaughter，andmyhusbandknewit，butfarfrombeingangry，heusedtoadoreher。Iwillshewyoutheregisterofherbirth，andyoucancalculateforyourself。MyhusbandwasatRome，anddidnotseemeonce，andmydaughterdidnotcomebeforehertime。

Youmustrememberaletterwhichmymothershouldhavegivenyou，inwhichItoldyouIwaswithchild。ThatwasinJanuary，1744，andinsixmonthsmydaughterwillbeseventeen。MylatehusbandgaveherthenamesofLeonildaGiacominaatthebaptismalfont，andwhenheplayedwithherhealwayscalledherbythelattername。Thisideaofyourmarryingherhorrifiesme，butIcannotopposeit，asIamashamedtotellthereason。Whatdoyouthink？

Haveyoustillthecouragetomarryher？Youseemtohesitate。

Haveyoutakenanyearnestofthemarriage—bed？"

"No，dearLucrezia，yourdaughterisaspureasalily。"

"Ibreatheagain。"

"Ah，yes！butmyheartistornasunder。"

"Iamgrievedtoseeyouthus。"

"Shehasnolikenesstome。"

"Thatprovesnothing；shehastakenafterme。Youareweeping，dearest，youwillbreakmyheart。"

"Whowouldnotweepinmyplace？Iwillsendtheduketoyou；hemustknowall。"

IleftLucrezia，andIbeggedtheduketogoandspeaktoher。

TheaffectionateLeonildacameandsatonmyknee，andaskedmewhatthedreadfulmysterywas。Iwastoomuchaffectedtobeabletoanswerher；shekissedme，andwebegantoweep。WeremainedthussadandsilenttillthereturnofthedukeandDonnaLucrezia，whowastheonlyonetokeepherheadcool。

"DearLeonilda，saidshe，"youmustbeletintothesecretofthisdisagreeablemystery，andyourmotheristheproperpersontoenlightenyou。Doyourememberwhatnamemylatehusbandusedtocallyouwhenhepettedyou？"

"HeusedtocallmehischarmingGiacomina。"

"ThatisM。Casanova’sname；itisthenameofyourfather。Goandkisshim；hisbloodflowsinyourveins；andifhehasbeenyourlover，repentofthecrimewhichwashappilyquiteinvoluntary。"

Thescenewasapatheticone，andwewerealldeeplymoved。

Leonildaclungtohermother’sknees，andinavoicethatstruggledwithsobsexclaimed，——

"Ihaveonlyfeltwhatanaffectionatedaughtermightfeelforafather"

Atthispointsilencefellonus，asilencethatwasonlybrokenbythesobsofthetwowomen，whoheldeachothertightlyembraced；whilethedukeandIsatasmotionlessastwoposts，ourheadsbentandourhandscrossed，withoutasmuchaslookingateachother。

Supperwasserved，andwesatattableforthreehours，talkingsadlyoverthisdramaticrecognition，whichhadbroughtmoregriefthanjoy；andwedepartedatmidnightfullofmelancholy，andhopingthatweshouldbecalmeronthemorrow，andabletotaketheonlystepthatnowremainedtous。

Asweweregoingawaythedukemadeseveralobservationsonwhatmoralphilosopherscallprejudices。Thereisnophilosopherwhowouldmaintainorevenadvancethethesisthattheunionofafatheranddaughterishorriblenaturally，foritisentirelyasocialprejudice；butitissowidespread，andeducationhasgravenitsodeeplyinourhearts，thatonlyamanwhoseheartisutterlydepravedcoulddespiseit。Itistheresultofarespectforthelaws，itkeepsthesocialschemetogether；infact，itisnolongeraprejudice，itisaprinciple。

Iwenttobed，butasusual，aftertheviolentemotionIhadundergone，Icouldnotsleep。TherapidtransitionfromcarnaltopaternallovecastmyphysicalandmentalfacultiesintosuchastateofexcitementthatIcouldscarcelywithstandthefiercestrugglethatwastakingplaceinmyheart。

TowardsmorningIfellasleepforashorttime，andwokeupfeelingasexhaustedastwoloverswhohavebeenspendingalongandvoluptuouswinter’snight。

WhenIgotupItoldthedukethatIintendedtosetoutfromNaplesthenextday；andheobservedthataseverybodyknewIwasontheeveofmydeparture，thishastewouldmakepeopletalk。

"Comeandhavesomebrothwithme，"saidhe；"andfromhenceforthlookuponthismarriageprojectasoneofthemanypranksinwhichyouhaveengaged。Wewillspendthethreeorfourdayspleasantlytogether，andperhapswhenwehavethoughtoverallthisforsometimeweshallendbythinkingitmatterformirthandnotsadness。

Believemethemother’sasgoodasthedaughter；recollectionisoftenbetterthanhope；consoleyourselfwithLucrezia。Idon’tthinkyoucanseeanydifferencebetweenherpresentappearanceandthatofeighteenyearsago，forIdon’tseehowshecaneverhavebeenhandsomerthansheisnow。"

Thisremonstrancebroughtmetomysenses。IfeltthatthebestthingIcoulddowouldbetoforgettheillusionwhichhadamusedmeforfourorfivedays，andasmyself—esteemwasnotwoundeditoughtnottobeadifficulttask；butyetIwasinloveandunabletosatisfymylove。

Loveisnotlikemerchandise，whereonecansubstituteonethingforanotherwhenonecannothavewhatonewants。Loveisasentiment，onlytheobjectwhohaskindledtheflamecansoothetheheatthereof。

Wewenttocallonmydaughter，thedukeinhisusualmood，butI

lookingpale，depressed，weary，andlikeaboygoingtoreceivetherod。IwasextremelysurprisedwhenIcameintotheroomtofindthemotheranddaughterquitegay，butthishelpedonmycure。Leonildathrewherarmsroundmyneck，callingmedearpapa，andkissingmewithalladaughter’sfreedom。DonnaLucreziastretchedoutherhand，addressingmeasherdearfriend。

Iregardedherattentively，andIwasforcedtoconfessthattheeighteenyearsthathadpassedawayhaddonelittleilltohercharms。Therewasthesamesparklingglance，thatfreshcomplexion，thoseperfectshapes，thosebeautifullips——infine，allthathadcharmedmyyouthfuleyes。

Wemutelycaressedeachother。Leonildagaveandreceivedthetenderestkisseswithoutseemingtonoticewhatdesiresshemi