第71章

"Certainly，"saidI，"forIamnotinlovewithher。"

Osoriolookedatmeslyly，andobserved，"SomehowIdon’tthinkyourindifferencewillbeverypleasingtothevirtuousduenna。"

Iunderstoodwhathemeant，butpersonallyIwasdelightednottobeabletoseetheCorticellisaveinthepresenceofafemaledragon。Itwouldmakepeopletalk，andIlovedalittlescandal，andfeltcurioustoseewhatwouldhappen。

WhenIreturnedtomyhouseIfoundtheGenoesePassano，abadpoetandworsepainter，towhomIhadintendedtogivethepartofaRosicrucian，becausetherewassomethinginhisappearancewhichinspired，ifnotrespect，atleastaweandacertainfeelingoffear。Inpointoffact，thiswasonlyanaturalpresentimentthatthemanmustbeeitheracleverrogueoramoroseandsullenscholar。

Imadehimsupwithmeandgavehimaroomonthethirdfloor，tellinghimnottoleaveitwithoutmypermission。AtsupperI

foundhiminsipidinconversation，drunken，ignorant，andilldisposed，andIalreadyrepentedofhavingtakenhimundermyprotection；butthethingwasdone。

Thenextday，feelingcurioustoseehowtheCorticelliwaslodged，Icalledonher，takingwithmeapieceofLyonssilk。

Ifoundherandhermotherinthelandlady’sroom，andasIcameinthelattersaidthatshewasdelightedtoseemeandthatshehopedIwouldoftendinewiththem。Ithankedherbrieflyandspoketothegirlcoollyenough。

"Shewmeyourroom，"saidI。Shetookmethereinhermother’scompany。"Hereissomethingtomakeyouawinterdress，"saidI，skewingherthesilk。

"Isthisfromthemarchioness？"

"No，itisfromme"

"Butwherearethethreedressesshesaidshewouldgiveme？"

"Youknowverywellonwhatconditionsyouweretohavethem，soletussaynomoreaboutit。"

Sheunfoldedthesilkwhichshelikedverymuch，butshesaidshemusthavesometrimmings。ThePacienzaofferedherservices，andsaidshewouldsendforadressmakerwholivedcloseby。I

acquiescedwithanod，andassoonasshehadlefttheroomtheSignoraLaurasaidshewasverysorryonlytobeabletoreceivemeinthepresenceofthelandlady。

"Ishouldhavethought，"saidI，"thatavirtuouspersonlikeyouwouldhavebeendelighted。"

"IthankGodforiteverymorningandnight。"

"Youinfernaloldhypocrite！"saidI，lookingcontemptuouslyather。

"Uponmyword，anybodywhodidn’tknowyouwouldbetakenin。"

InafewminutesVictorineandanothergirlcameinwiththeirband—boxes。

"AreyoustillatMadameR————’s"saidI。

"Yessir，"saidshe，withablush。

WhentheCorticellihadchosenwhatshewantedItoldVictorinetopresentmycomplimentstohermistress，andtellherthatIwouldcallandpayforthearticles。

Thelandladyhadalsosentforadressmaker，andwhiletheCorticelliwasbeingmeasured，sheshewedmeherfigureandsaidshewantedacorset。Ijestedonthepregnancywithwhichshethreatenedme，andofwhichtherewasnownotrace，pityingCountN————forbeingdeprivedofthejoysoffatherhood。Ithengaveherwhatmoneysherequiredandtookmyleave。Sheescortedmetothedoor，andaskedmeifsheshouldhavethepleasureofseeingmeagainbeforelong。

"It’sapleasure，isit？"Ireplied；"well，Idon’tknowwhenyouwillhaveitagain；itdependsonmyleisureandmyfancy。"

ItiscertainthatifIhadanyamorousfeelingsorevencuriosityaboutthegirl，Ishouldnothaveleftherinthathouseforamoment；butIrepeatmyloveforherhadentirelyvanished。Therewasonething，however，whichannoyedmeintolerably，namely，thatinspiteofmycoolnesstowardsher，thelittlehussypretendedtothinkthatIhadforgottenandforgiveneverything。

OnleavingtheCorticelli，Iproceededtocallonmybankers，amongstothersonM。Martin，whosewifewasjustlyfamousforherwitandbeauty。

Ichancedtomeetthehorse—dealingJew，whohadmademoneyoutofmebymeansofhisdaughterLeah。Shewasstillpretty，butmarried；andherfigurewastooroundedformytaste。Sheandherhusbandwelcomedmewithgreatwarmth，butIcaredforhernolonger，anddidnotwishtoseeheragain。

IcalledonMadameR————，whohadbeenawaitingmeimpatientlyeversinceVictorinehadbroughtnewsofme。IsatdownbythecounterandhadthepleasureofhearingfromherlipstheamoroushistoriesofTurinforthepastfewmonths。

"VictorineandCatonaretheonlytwooftheoldsetthatstillremain，butIhavereplacedthemwithothers。"

"HasVictorinefoundanyonetooperateonheryet？"

"No，sheisjustasyoulefther，butagentlemanwhoisinlovewithherisgoingtotakehertoMilan。"

ThisgentlemanwastheComtedePerouse，whoseacquaintanceImadethreeyearsafterwardsatMilan。Ishallspeakofhiminduetime。MadameR————toldmethat，inconsequenceofhergettingintotroubleseveraltimeswiththepolice，shehadbeenobligedtopromisetheCountd’Aglieonlytosendthegirlstoladies，and，consequently，ifIfoundanyofthemtomytasteIshouldbeobligedtomakefriendswiththeirrelationsandtakethemtothefestas。Sheshewedmethegirlsinthework—room，butIdidnotthinkanyofthemworthtakingtroubleabout。

ShetalkedaboutthePacienza，andwhenItoldherthatIkepttheCorticelli，andofthehardconditionstowhichIwasobligedtosubmit，sheexclaimedwithastonishment，andamusedmebyherjestsonthesubject。

"Youareingoodhands，mydearsir，"saidshe；"thewomanisnotonlyaspyofd’Aglie’s，butaprofessionalprocuress。IwondertheChevalierRaibertiplacedthegirlwithher。"

ShewasnotsosurprisedwhenItoldherthatthechevalierhadgoodreasonsforhisaction，andthatImyselfhadgoodreasonsofmyownforwishingtheCorticellitoremainthere。

Ourconversationwasinterruptedbyacustomerwhowantedsilkstockings。Hearinghimspeakofdancing，IaskedhimifhecouldtellmetheaddressofDupre，theballet—master。

"Noonebetter，sir，forIamDupre，atyourservice。"

"Iamdelightedatthishappychance。TheChevalierRaibertigavemetounderstandthatyoumightbeabletogivedancinglessonstoaballet—girlofmyacquaintance。"

"M。deRaibertimentionedyournametomethismorning。YoumustbetheChevalierdeSeingalt？"

"Exactly。"

"Icangivetheyoungladylessonseverymorningatnineo’clockatmyownhome。"

"No，doyoucometoherhouse，butatwhateverhouryoulike。I

willpayyou，andIhopeyouwillmakeheroneofyourbestpupils。Imustwarnyou，however，thatsheisnotanovice。"

"Iwillcallonherto—day，andto—morrowIwilltellyouwhatI

canmakeofher；butIthinkIhadbettertellyoumyterms:I

chargethreePiedmonteselivresalesson。"

"Ithinkthatisveryreasonable；Iwillcallonyouto—morrow。"

"Youdomehonour。Hereismyaddress。Ifyouliketocomeintheafternoonyouwillseetherehearsalofaballet。"

"Isitnotrehearsedatthetheatre？"

"Yes，butatthetheatrenoon—lookersareallowedbytheordersofthesuperintendentofpolice。"

"Thissuperintendentofyoursputshisfingerintoagoodmanypies。"

"Intoomany。"

"Butatyourownhouseanybodymaycome？"

"Undoubtedly，butIcouldnothavethedancersthereifmywifewerenotpresent。Thesuperintendentknowsher，andhasgreatconfidenceinher。"

"Youwillseemeattherehearsal。"

Thewretchedsuperintendenthaderectedafearfulsystemofsurveillanceagainsttheloversofpleasure，butitmustbeconfessedthathewasoftencheated。Voluptuousnesswasallthemorerampantwhenthusrestrained；andsoiteverwillbewhilemenhavepassionsandwomendesires。Toloveandenjoy，todesireandtosatisfyone’sdesires，suchisthecircleinwhichwemove，andwhencewecanneverbeturned。WhenrestrictionsareplaceduponthepassionsasinTurkey，theystillattaintheirends，butbymethodsdestructivetomorality。

AttheworthyMazzali’sIfoundtwogentlementowhomsheintroducedme。Onewasoldandugly，decoratedwiththeOrderoftheWhiteEagle——hisnamewasCountBorromeo；theother，youngandbrisk，wasCountA————B————ofMilan。AftertheyhadgoneIwasinformedthattheywerepayingassiduouscourttotheChevalierRaiberti，fromwhomtheyhopedtoobtaincertainprivilegesfortheirlordshipswhichwereundertheSardinianrule。

TheMilanesecounthadnotapenny，andtheLordoftheBorromeanIsleswasnotmuchbetteroff。Hehadruinedhimselfwithwomen，andnotbeingabletoliveatMilanhehadtakenrefugeinthefairestofhisisles，andenjoyedthereperpetualspringandverylittleelse。IpaidhimavisitonmyreturnfromSpain，butI

shallrelateourmeetingwhenIcometomyadventures，mypleasures，mymisfortunes，andaboveallmyfolliesthere，forofsuchthreadswastheweftofmylifecomposed，andfollywastheprominentelement。

Theconversationturnedonmyhouse，andthelivelyMazzoliaskedmehowIlikedmycook。IrepliedthatIhadnotyettriedhim，butIproposedtoputhimtotestthenextday，ifsheandthegentlemenwoulddomethehonourofsuppingwithme。

Theinvitationwasaccepted，andshepromisedtobringherdearchevalierwithher，andtowarnhimoftheevent，ashishealthonlyallowedhimtoeatonceaday。

IcalledonDupreintheafternoon。Isawthedancers，maleandfemale，thelatteraccompaniedbytheirmothers，whostoodononesidemuffledupinthickcloaks。AsIpassedthemunderreviewinmylordlymanner，Inoticedthatoneofthemstilllookedfreshandpretty，whichauguredwellforherdaughter，thoughthefruitdoesnotalwayscorrespondtothetree。

Dupreintroducedmetohiswife，whowasyoungandpretty，butwhohadbeenobligedtoleavethetheatreowingtotheweaknessofherchest。ShetoldmethatiftheCorticelliwouldworkhardherhusbandwouldmakeagreatdancerofher，asherfigurewaseminentlysuitedfordancing。WhileIwastalkingwithMadameDupre，theCorticelli，lateLascaris，camerunninguptomewiththeairofafavourite，andtoldmeshewantedsomeribbonsandlacestomakeabonnet。Theothersgirlsbegantowhispertoeachother，andguessingwhattheymustbesayingIturnedtoDuprewithouttakinganynoticeofMadameMadcap，andgavehimtwelvepistoles，sayingthatIwouldpayforthelessonsthreemonthsinadvance，andthatIhopedhewouldbringhisnewpupilonwell。

Suchaheavypaymentinadvancecausedgeneralsurprise，whichI

enjoyed，thoughpretendingnottobeawareofit。NowIknowthatIactedfoolishly，butIhavepromisedtospeakthetruthintheseMemoirs，whichwillnotseethelighttillalllighthasleftmyeyes，andIwillkeepmypromise。

Ihavealwaysbeengreedyofdistinction；Ihavealwayslovedtodrawtheeyesofmentowardsmen，butImustalsoaddthatifI

havehumiliatedanyoneithasalwaysbeenaproudmanorafool，forithasbeenmyruletopleaseeveryoneifIcan。

Isatononeside，thebettertoobservetheswarmofgirls，andI

soonfixedmyeyesononewhoseappearancestruckme。Shehadafinefigure，delicatefeatures，anobleair，andapatientlookwhichinterestedmeinthehighestdegree。Shewasdancingwithamanwhodidnotscrupletoabuseherinthecoarsestmannerwhenshemadeanymistakes，butsheboreitwithoutreplying，thoughanexpressionofcontemptmingledwiththesweetnessofherface。

InstinctdrewmetothemotherIhaveremarkedon，andIaskedhertowhomthedancerthatinterestedmebelonged。

"Iamhermother，"shereplied。

"You，madam！Ishouldnothavethoughtitpossible。"

"Iwasveryyoungwhenshewasborn。"

"Ishouldthinkso。Wheredoyoucomefrom？"

"IamfromLucca，andwhatismore—apoorwidow。"

"Howcanyoubepoor，whenyouarestillyoungandhandsome，andhaveanangelforadaughter？"

Sherepliedonlybyanexpressiveglance。Iunderstoodherreserve，andIstayedbyherwithoutspeaking。Soonafter，Agatha，asherdaughterwasnamed，cameuptohertoaskforahandkerchieftowipeherface。

"Allowmetoofferyoumine，"saidI。Itwasawhitehandkerchief，andscentedwithattarofroses；thislattercircumstancegaveheranexcuseforacceptingit，butaftersmellingitshewantedtoreturnittome。

"Youhavenotusedit，"saidI！；"doso。"

Sheobeyed，andthenreturnedittomewithabowbywayofthanks。

"Youmustnotgiveitmeback，fairAgatha，tillyouhavehaditwashed。"

Shesmiled，andgaveittohermother，glancingatmeinagratefulmanner，whichIconsideredofgoodomen。

"MayIhavethepleasureofcallingonyou？"saidI。"Icannotreceiveyou，sir，exceptinthepresenceofmylandlady。"

"ThiscursedrestrictionisgeneralinTurin，then？"

"Yes，thesuperintendentuseseverybodyinthesameway。"

"ThenIshallhavethepleasureofseeingyouagainhere？"

IntheeveningIhadoneofthebestsuppersIeverhadinmylife，ifIexceptthoseIenjoyedduringmystayatTurin。MycookwasworthyofaplaceinthekitchenofLucullus；butwithoutdetractingfromhisskillImustdojusticetotheproductsofthecountry。Everythingisdelicious；game，fish，birds，meat，vegetables，fruit，milk，andtruffles——allareworthyofthetableofthegreatestgourmets，andthewinesofthecountryyieldtonone。WhatapitythatstrangersdonotenjoylibertyatTurin！

Itistruethatbettersociety，andmorepoliteness，suchasarefoundinseveralFrenchandItaliantowns，aretobewishedfor。

ThebeautyofthewomenofTurinisnodoubtduetotheexcellenceoftheairanddiet。

IhadnotmuchtroubleinextractingapromisefromMadameMazzoliandthetwocountstosupwithmeeverynight，buttheChevalierdeRaibertiwouldonlypromisetocomewheneverhecould。

AttheCarignanTheatre，whereopera—bouffewasbeingplayed，I

sawRedegonde，withwhomIhadfailedatFlorence。Shesawmeinthepitandgavemeasmile，soIwrotetoher，offeringmyservicesifthemotherhadchangedherwayofthinking。Sheansweredthathermotherwasalwaysthesame，butthatifIwouldasktheCorticellishecouldcomeandsupwithme，thoughthemotherwoulddoubtlesshavetobeoftheparty。Igavehernoanswer，asthetermsshenamedwerebynomeanstomytaste。

IhadaletterfromMadameduRumain，enclosingonefromM。deChoiseultoM。deChauvelin，theFrenchambassadoratTurin。ItwillberememberedthatIhadknownthisworthynoblemanatSoleure，andhadbeentreatedwithgreatpolitenessbyhim，butI

wishedtohaveamoreperfecttitletohisacquaintance；henceI

askedMadameduRumaintogivemealetter。

M。deChauvelinreceivedmewiththegreatestcordiality；andreproachingmeforhavingthoughtaletterofintroductionnecessary，introducedmetohischarmingwife，whowasnolesskindthanherhusband。Threeorfourdayslaterheaskedmetodinewithhim，andImetathistableM。Imberti，theVenetianambassador，whosaidhewasverysorrynottobeabletopresentmeatCourt。OnhearingthereasonM。deChauvelinofferedtopresentmehimself，butIthoughtitbesttodeclinewiththanks。

Nodoubtitwouldhavebeenagreathonour，buttheresultwouldbethatIshouldbemorespiedonthaneveninthistownofspies，wherethemostindifferentactionsdonotpassunnoticed。Mypleasureswouldhavebeeninterferedwith。

CountBorromeocontinuedtohonourmebycomingeverynighttosupwithme，preservinghisdignitythewhile，forasheaccompaniedMadameMazzoliitwasnottobesupposedthathecamebecausehewasinneedofameal。CountA————B————camemorefrankly，andI

waspleasedwithhim。HetoldmeonedaythatthewayIputupwithhisvisitsmadehimextremelygratefultoProvidence，forhiswifecouldnotsendhimanymoney，andhecouldnotaffordtopayforhisdinnerattheinn，sothatifitwerenotformykindnesshewouldoftenbeobligedtogohungrytobed。Heshewedmehiswife’sletters；hehadevidentlyahighopinionofher。"Ihope，"

hewouldsay，"thatyouwillcomeandstaywithusatMilan，andthatshewillpleaseyou。"

HehadbeenintheserviceofSpain，andbywhathesaidIjudgedhiswifetobeapleasingbrunetteoftwenty—fiveortwenty—six。

ThecounthadtoldherhowIhadlenthimmoneyseveraltimes，andofmygoodnesstohim，andshereplied，begginghimtoexpresshergratitudetome，andtomakemepromisetostaywiththematMilan。Shewrotewittily，andherlettersinterestedmetosuchanextentthatIgaveaformalpromisetojourneytoMilan，ifitwereonlyforthesakeofseeingher。

IconfessthatindoingsoIwasovercomebymyfeelingsofcuriosity。Iknewtheywerepoor，andIshouldnothavegivenapromisewhichwouldeitherbringthemintodifficultiesorexposemetopayingtoodearlyformylodging。However，bywayofexcuse，Icanonlysaythatcuriosityisnearakintolove。I

fanciedthecountesssensiblelikeanEnglishwoman，passionatelikeaSpaniard，caressinglikeaFrenchwoman，andasIhadagoodenoughopinionofmyownmerit，Ididnotdoubtforamomentthatshewouldrespondtomyaffection。Withthesepleasantdelusionsinmyhead，IcountedonexcitingthejealousyofalltheladiesandgentlemenofMilan。Ihadplentyofmoney，andIlongedforanopportunityofspendingit。

Nevertheless，IwenteverydaytorehearsalatDupre’s，andIsoongotmadlyinlovewithAgatha。MadameDuprewonoverbyseveralpresentsImadeher，receivedmyconfidenceswithkindness，andbyaskingAgathaandhermothertodinnerprocuredmethepleasureofamoreprivatemeetingwithmycharmer。Iprofitedbytheopportunitytomakeknownmyfeelings，andIobtainedsomeslightfavours，butsoslightweretheythatmyflameonlygrewthefiercer。

AgathakeptontellingmethateverybodyknewthattheCorticelliwasmymistress，andthatforallthegoldintheworldshewouldnothaveitsaidthatshewasmylastshift，asIcouldnotseetheCorticelliinprivate。IsworetoherthatIdidnotlovetheCorticelli，andthatIonlykepthertopreventM。Raibertibeingcompromised；butallthiswasofnoavail，shehadformedherplans，andnothingwouldcontentherbutaformalrupturewhichwouldgiveallTurintounderstandthatIlovedherandheralone。

Ontheseconditionsshepromisedmeherheart，andeverythingwhichfollowsinsuchcases。

Ilovedhertoowellnottoendeavourtosatisfyher，sincemysatisfactiondependedonhers。WiththisideaIgotDupretogiveaballatmyexpenseinsomehouseoutsidethetown，andtoinviteallthedancers，maleandfemale，whowereengagedforthecarnivalatTurin。Everygentlemanhadtherighttob