第72章

Hedidnotevendrawhisswordonthewaiterwhohadcaughtholdofhim，thoughthemanonlyhadaknifeinhisbelt。

"Atallevents，"headded，"Iwillgooutwithyou。"

Itoldhimthathehaddonewellthistime，butthatforthefuturehemustnotinterfereinmyaffairs。

"Sir，"hereplied，"youraffairsofthiskindareminetoo，I

shalltakecarenottogobeyondmyduty。"

Withthisspeech，whichIthoughtverysensible，thoughIdidnottellhimso，hetookoneofmypistolsandsawtothepriming，smilingatmesignificantly。

AllgoodFrenchservantsareofthesamestampasClairmont；theyaredevotedandintelligent，buttheyallthinkthemselvesclevererthantheirmasters，whichindeedisoftenthecase，andwhentheyaresureofittheybecomethemastersoftheirmasters，tyrannizeoverthem，andgivethemmarksofcontemptwhichthefoolishgentlemenendeavourtoconceal。Butwhenthemasterknowshowtomakehimselfrespected，theClairmontsareexcellent。

Thelandlordofmyinnsentareportoftheaffairtothepolice，andtheFrenchofficerwasbanishedfromthetownthesameday。

AtdinnerColonelBasiliaskedtohearthestory，andsaidthatnoonebutaFrenchofficerwouldthinkofattackingamaninhisownroominsuchafoolishmanner。Idifferedfromhim。

"TheFrencharebrave，"Ireplied，"butgenerallytheyareperfectlypoliteandhavewonderfultact。Wretchednessandlove，joinedtoafalsespiritofcourage，makesafoolofamanalltheworldover。"

Atsuppertheballet—girlthankedmeforriddingherofthepoordevil，who（asshesaid）wasalwaysthreateningtokillher，andweariedherbesides。Thoughshewasnotbeautiful，therewassomethingcaptivatingaboutthisgirl。Shewasgraceful，well—

mannered，andintelligent，hermouthwaswell—shaped，andhereyeslargeandexpressive。IthinkIshouldhavefoundheragoodbargain，butasIwantedtogetawayfromPavia，andpiquedmyselfonhavingbeengood—naturedwithoutulteriormotive，Ibadeherfarewellaftersupper，withmanythanksforherkindnessincoming。Mypolitenessseemedrathertoconfuseher，butshewentawayreiteratinghergratitude。

NextdayIdinedatthecelebratedChartreuse，andintheeveningIreachedMilan，andgotoutatCountA————B————’s，whohadnotexpectedmetillthefollowingday。

Thecountess，ofwhommyfancyhadmadeaperfectwoman，disappointedmedreadfully。Itisalwayssowhenpassiongivesreinstotheimagination。TheCountesswascertainlypretty，thoughtoosmall，andImightstillhavelovedher，inspiteofmydisappointment，butatourmeetingshegreetedmewithagravitythatwasnottomytaste，andwhichgavemeadisliketoher。

Aftertheusualcompliments，Igaveherthetwopiecesofsarcenetshehadcommissionedmetoget。Shethankedme，tellingmethatherconfessorwouldreimbursemeformyexpenditure。Thecountthentookmetomyroom，andleftmetheretillsupper。Itwasnicelyfurnished，butIfeltillatease，andresolvedtoleaveinadayortwoifthecountessremainedimmovable。Twenty—fourhourswasasmuchasIcaredtogiveher。

Wemadeapartyoffouratsupper；thecounttalkingallthetimetodrawmeout，andtohidehiswife’ssulkiness。Iansweredinthesamegaystrain，speakingtohiswife，however，inthehopeofrousingher。Itwasalllostlabour。Thelittlewomanonlyrepliedbyfaintsmileswhichvanishedalmostastheycame，andbymonosyllabicanswersofthebriefestdescription，withouttakinghereyesoffthedisheswhichshethoughttasteless；anditwastothepriest，whowasthefourthpersonpresent，thatsheaddressedhercomplaints，almostspeakingaffablytohim。

AlthoughIlikedthecountverywell，Icouldnothelppronouncinghiswifedecidedlyungracious。IwaslookingathertoseeifI

couldfindanyjustificationforherillhumouronherfeatures，butassoonasshesawmesheturnedawayinaverymarkedmanner，andbegantospeakaboutnothingtothepriest。Thisconductoffendedme，andIlaughedheartilyathercontempt，orherdesignsonme，forasshehadnotfascinatedmeatallIwassafefromhertyranny。

Aftersupperthesarcenetwasbroughtin；itwastobeusedforadresswithhoops，madeaftertheextravagantfashionthenprevailing。

Thecountwasgrievedtoseeherfallsoshortofthepraiseshehadlavishedonher，andcametomyroomwithme，beggingmetoforgiveherSpanishways，andsayingthatshewouldbeverypleasantwhensheknewmebetter。

Thecountwaspoor，hishousewassmall，hisfurnitureshabby，andhisfootman’sliverythreadbare；insteadofplatehehadchina，andoneofthecountess’smaidswaschiefcook。Hehadnocarriagesnorhorses，notevenasaddlehorseofanykind。

Clairmontgavemeallthisinformation，andaddedthathehadtosleepinalittlekitchen，andwastosharehisbedwiththemanwhohadwaitedattable。

Ihadonlyoneroom，andhavingthreeheavytrunksfoundmyselfveryuncomfortable，andIdecidedonseekingsomeotherlodgingmoreagreeabletomytastes。

ThecountcameearlyinthemorningtoaskwhatIusuallytookforbreakfast。

"Mydearcount，"Ireplied，"IhaveenoughfineTurinchocolatetogoallround。Doesthecountesslikeit？"

"Verymuch，butshewon’ttakeitunlessitismadebyherwoman。"

"Herearesixpounds:makeheracceptit，andtellherthatifI

hearanythingaboutpaymentIshalltakeitback。"

"Iamsureshewillacceptit，andthankyoutoo。ShallIhaveyourcarriagehoused？"

"Ishallbeextremelyobligedtoyou，andIshallbegladifyouwouldgetmeahiredcarriage，andaguideforwhomyoucananswer。"

"Itshallbedone。"

Thecountwasgoingoutwhenthepriest，whohadsuppedwithusthenightbefore，cameintomakehisbow。Hewasamanofforty—

oneofthetribeofdomesticchaplainswhoaresocommoninItaly——who，inreturnforkeepingtheaccountsofthehouse，livewithitsmasterandmistress。Inthemorningthispriestsaidmassinaneighbouringchurch，fortherestofthedayheeitheroccupiedhimselfwiththecaresofthehouse，orwasthelady’sobedientservant。

AssoonasWewerealonehebeggedmetosaythathehadpaidmethethreehundredMilanesecrownsforthesarcenet，ifthecountessaskedmeaboutit。

"Dear，dear，abbe！"saidI，laughing，"thissortofthingisnotexactlyproperinamanofyoursacredprofession。Howcanyouadvisemetotellalie？No，sir；ifthecountessasksmeanysuchimpertinentquestion，Ishalltellherthetruth。"

"Iamsureshewillaskyou，andifyouanswerlikethatIshallsufferforit。"

"Well，sir，ifyouareinthewrongyoudeservetosuffer。"

"Butasithappens，Ishouldbeblamedfornothing。"

"Well，goandtellherit’sapresent；andifshewon’thavethat，tellherIaminnohurrytobepaid。"

"Isee，sir，thatyoudon’tknowtheladyorthewayinwhichthishouseismanaged。Iwillspeaktoherhusband。"

Inaquarterofanhourthecounttoldmethatheowedmealotofmoney，whichhehopedtopaybackinthecourseofLent，andthatImustaddthesarcenettotheaccount。Iembracedhimandsaidthathewouldhavetokeeptheaccounthimself，asInevernoteddownanyofthemoneysthatIwasonlytoohappytolendtomyfriends。

"IfyourwifeasksmewhetherIhavereceivedthemoney，besureI

willanswerintheaffirmative。"

Hewentoutsheddinggratefultears，whileIfeltindebtedtohimforhavinggivenmetheopportunityofdoinghimaservice；forI

wasveryfondofhim。

Inthemorning，thecountessbeinginvisible，Iwatchedmymanspreadingoutmysuitsoverthechairs，amongstthembeingsomehandsomewomen’scloaks，andarichreddressdeeplytrimmedwithfur，whichhadbeenoriginallyintendedforthelucklessCorticelli。IshouldnodoubthavegivenittoAgatha，ifIhadcontinuedtolivewithher，andIshouldhavemadeamistake，assuchadresswasonlyfitforaladyofrank。

Atoneo’clockIreceivedanothervisitfromthecount，whotoldmethatthecountesswasgoingtointroducemetotheirbestfriend。ThiswastheMarquisTriuizi，amanofabout，myownage，tall，wellmade，squintingslightly，andwithallthemannerofanobleman。Hetoldmethatbesidescomingtohavethehonourofmyacquaintance，healsocametoenjoythefire，"for，"saidhe，"there’sonlyonefireplaceinthehouseandthat’sinyourroom。"

Asallthechairswerecovered，themarquisdrewthecountessontohiskneeandmadehersittherelikeababy；butsheblushed，andescapedfromhisgrasp。Themarquislaughedheartilyatherconfusion，andshesaid，——

"Isitpossiblethatamanofyouryearshasnotyetlearnttorespectawoman？"

"Really，countess，"saidhe，"Ithoughtitwouldbeverydisrespectfultocontinuesittingwhileyouwerestanding。"

WhileClairmontwastakingtheclothesoffthechairs，themarquisnoticedthemantlesandthebeautifuldress，andaskedmeifI

wereexpectingalady。

"No，"saidI，"butIhopetofindsomeoneatMilanwhowillbeworthyofsuchpresents。"Iadded，"IknowthePrinceTriulzi，atVenice；Isupposeheisofyourfamily？"

"Hesaysheis，anditmaybeso；butIamcertainlynotamemberofhisfamily。"

ThisletmeknowthatIshoulddowelltosaynomoreabouttheprince。

"Youmuststaytodinner，marquis，"saidCountA————B————；"andasyouonlylikedishespreparedbyyourowncookyouhadbettersendforthem。"

Themarquisagreed，andwemadegoodcheer。Thetablewascoveredwithfairlinenandhandsomeplate，thewinewasgoodandplentiful，andtheservantsquickandwelldressed。Icouldnowunderstandthemarquis’spositioninthehouse。Itwashiswitandmirthwhichkepttheconversationgoing，andthecountesscameinforashareofhispleasantries，whileshescoldedhimforhisfamiliarity。

Icouldsee，however，thatthemarquisdidnotwanttohumiliateher；onthecontrary，hewasfondofher，andonlywishedtobringdownherexaggeratedpride。Whenhesawheronthepointofburstingintotearsofrageandshame，hequietedherdownbysayingthatnooneinMilanrespectedhercharmsandherhighbirthmorethanhe。

Afterdinnerthetailorwhowastomeasurethecountessforadominofortheballwasannounced。Onthemarquis’spraisingthecoloursandthebeautyofthematerials，shetoldhimthatIhadbroughtherthesarcenetfromTurin，andthisremindedhertoaskmewhetherIhadbeenpaid。

"Yourhusbandsettledwithme，"saidI，"butyouhavegivenmealessonIcanneverforget。"

"Whatlesson？"saidthemarquis。

"Ihadhopedthatthecountesswouldhavedeignedtoreceivethispoorpresentatmyhands。"

"Andshewouldn’ttakeit？It’sabsurd，onmylife。"

"Thereisnothingtolaughat，"saidthecountess，"butyoulaughateverything。"

Whilethemanwasmeasuringher，shecomplainedoffeelingcold，asshewasinherstays，andherbeautifulbreastwasexposed。

Thereupon，themarquisputhishandsonit，asifhewerequiteaccustomedtousesuchfamiliarities。ButtheSpaniard，nodoubtashamedbecauseofmypresence，gotintoarage，andabusedhiminthemostawfulmanner，whilehelaughedpleasantly，asifhecouldcalmthestormwhenhepleased。Thiswasenoughtoinformmeofthepositioninwhichtheystoodtooneanother，andofthepartI

oughttotake。

Weremainedtogethertilltheevening，whenthecountessandthemarquiswenttotheopera，andthecountcamewithmetomyroom，tillmycarriagewasreadytotakeustheretoo。Theoperahadbegunwhenwegotin，andthefirstpersonInoticedonthestagewasmydearTheresePalesi，whomIhadleftatFlorence。Itwasapleasantsurprisetome，andIforesawthatweshouldrenewoursweetinterviewswhileIremainedatMilanIwasdiscreetenoughtosaynothingtothecountabouthiswife’scharms，orthewaytheirhousewasmanaged。Isawthattheplacewastaken，andtheoddhumoursoftheladypreventedmyfallinginlovewithher。

Afterthesecondactwewenttotheassemblyrooms，wherefiveorsixbanksatfarowerebeingheld；Istakedandlostahundredducatsasiftopayformywelcome，andthenrosefromthetable。

Atsupperthecountessseemedtounbendalittle，shecondoledwithmeonmyloss，andIsaidthatIwasgladofitasitmadeherspeakso。

JustasIrangmybellthenextmorning，Clairmonttoldmethatawomanwantedtospeaktome。

"Issheyoung？"

"Bothyoungandpretty，sir。"

"Thatwilldonicely，shewherin。"

Isawasimplydressedgirl，whoremindedmeofLeah。Shewastallandbeautiful，buthadnotashighpretensionsastheJewess；

assheonlywantedtoknowwhethershecoulddomywashingforme。

Iwasquitetakenwithher。Clairmonthadjustbroughtmemychocolate，andIaskedhertositdownonthebed；butsheansweredmodestlythatshedidnotwanttotroubleme，andwouldcomeagainwhenIwasup。

"Doyouliveatanydistance？"

"Iliveonthegroundfloorofthishouse。"

"Allbyyourself？"

"Nosir，Ihavemyfatherandmother。"

"Andwhatisyourname？"

"Zenobia。"

"Yournameisasprettyasyouare。Willyougivemeyourhandtokiss？"

"Ican’t，"shereplied，withasmile，"myhandisanother’s。"

"Youareengaged，areyou？"

"Yes，toatailor，andwearegoingtobemarriedbeforetheendofthecarnival:"

"Isherichorhandsome？"

"Neithertheonenortheother。"

"Thenwhyareyougoingtomarryhim？"

"BecauseIwanttohaveahouseofmyown:"

"Ilikeyou，andwillstandyourfriend。Goandfetchyourtailor。Iwillgivehimsomeworktodo。"

AssoonasshewentoutIgotupandtoldClairmonttoputmylinenonatable。Ihadscarcelyfinisheddressingwhenshecamebackwithhertailor。Itwasastrikingcontrast，forhewasalittleshrivelled—upman，whoseappearancemadeonelaugh。

"Well，mastertailor，"saidI，"soyouaregoingtomarrythischarminggirl？"

"Yes，sir，thebannshavebeenpublishedalready。"

"Youarealuckyfellowindeedtohavesomuchhappinessinstore。

Whenareyougoingtomarryher？"

"Intenortwelvedays。"

"Whynotto—morrow？"

"Yourworshipisinagreathurry。"

"IthinkIshouldbe，indeed，"saidI，laughing，"ifIwereinyourplace。Iwantyoutomakemeadominofortheballto—

morrow。"

"Certainly，sir；butyourexcellencymustfindmethestuff，fornobodyinMilanwouldgivemecreditforit，andIcouldn’taffordtolayoutsomuchmoneyinadvance。"

"Whenyouaremarriedyouwillhavemoneyandcredittoo。Inthemeanwhileherearetensequinsforyou。"

Hewentawayinhighgleeatsuchawindfall。

IgaveZenobiasomelacetodoup，andaskedherifshewasafraidofhavingajealoushusband。

"Heisneitherjealousnoramorous，"shereplied。"HeisonlymarryingmebecauseIearnmorethanhedoes。"

"WithyourcharmsIshouldhavethoughtyoumighthavemadeabettermatch。"

"Ihavewaitedlongenough；Ihavegottiredofmaidenhood。

Besides，heissharpifheisnothandsome，andperhapsakeenheadisbetterthanahandsomeface。"

"Youaresharpenoughyourself，anyhow。Butwhydoesheputoffthewedding？"

"Becausehehasn’tgotanymoney，andwantstohaveafineweddingforhisrelationstocometo。Ishouldlikeitmyself。"

"Ithinkyouareright；butIcan’tseewhyyoushouldnotletanhonestmankissyourhand。"

"ThatwasonlyapieceofslynesstoletyouknowIwastobemarried。Ihavenosillyprejudicesmyself。"

"Ah，that’sbetter！TellyourfuturehusbandthatifhelikesmetobethepatronoftheweddingIwillpayforeverything。"

"Really？"

"Yes，really。Iwillgivehimtwenty—fivesequinsontheconditionthathespendsitallonthewedding。"

"Twenty—fivesequins！Thatwillmakepeopletalk；butwhatcarewe？Iwillgiveyouananswerto—morrow。"

"Andakissnow？"

"Withallmyheart。"

Zenobiawentawayingreatdelight，andIwentouttocallonmybankeranddearTherese。

Whenthedoorwasopenedtheprettymaidrecognizedme，andtakingmebythehandledmetohermistress，whowasjustgoingtogetup。Heremotionatseeingmewassogreatthatshecouldnotutteraword，butonlyclapsmetoherbreast。

Ournaturaltransportsover，Theresetoldmethatshehadgottiredofherhusband，andthatforthelastsixmonthstheyhadnotbeenlivingtogether。Shehadmadehimanallowancetogetridofhim，andhelivedonitatRome。

"AndwhereisCesarino？"

"Inthistown。Youcanseehimwheneveryoulike。"

"Areyouhappy？"

"Quite。PeoplesaythatIhavealover，butitisnottrue；andyoucanseemeatanytimewithperfectliberty。"

Wespenttwopleasanthoursintellingeachotherofourexperiencessinceourlastmeeting，andthen，findingherasfreshandfairasintheseasonofourearlyloves，Iaskedherifshehadvowedtobefaithfultoherhusband。

"AtFlorence，"shereplied，"Iwasstillinlovewithhim；butnow，ifIamstillpleasinginyoureyes，wecanrenewourconnection，andlivetogethertillwedie。"

"Iwillsoonshewyou，dearling，thatIloveyouaswellasever。"

Sheanswe