第73章

butasIsawGreppiintheboxtowhichshetookme，IhadnodoubtthatitmustbeTherese，whichdidnotpleasemequitesowell。Inshort，theladytookoffhermask；itwasTherese，andI

complimentedheronherdisguise。

"Buthowdidyourecognizeme，dearest？"

"Byyoursnuff—box。Iknewit，otherwiseIshouldneverhavefoundyouout。"

"Thenyouthinkthatnobodyhasrecognizedme？"

"Nobody，unlessinthesamewayasIdid。"

"Noneofthepeopleherehaveseenmysnuff—box。"

ItooktheopportunityofhandingovertoGreppiCanano’scheque，andhegavemeareceiptforit。Thereseaskedustosupperfortheensuingevening，andsaid，——

"Therewillbefourofusinall。"

Greppiseemedcurioustoknowwhothefourthpersoncouldbe，butIrightguesseditwouldbemydearsonCesarino。

AsIwentdownoncemoretotheball—roomtwoprettyfemaledominosattackedmerightandleft，tellingmethatMesser—Grandewaswaitingformeoutside。Theythenaskedmeforsomesnuff，andIgavethemaboxornamentedwithanindecentpicture。Ihadtheimpudencetotouchthespringandshewitthem，andafterinspectingittheyexclaimed，——

"Fie，fie！yourpunishmentisnevertoknowwhoweare。"

Iwassorrytohavedispleasedthetwofairmasquers，whoseemedworthknowing，soIfollowedthem，andmeetingBarbaro，whokneweverybody，Ipointedthemouttohim，andheardtomydelightthattheywerethetwoMarchionessesQ————andF————。IpromisedBarbarotogoandseethem。Hesaidthateverybodyintheball—

roomknewme，andthatourbankwasdoingverywell，though，ofcourse，thatwasatrifletome。

Towardstheendoftheball，whenitwasalreadyfulldaylight，amasquer，dressedasaVenetiangondolier，wasaccostedbyaladymasquer，alsoinVenetiancostume。ShechallengedthegondoliertoprovehimselfaVenetianbydancingthe’forlana’withher。

Thegondolieraccepted，andthemusicstruckup，buttheboatman，whowasapparentlyaMilanese，washooted，whiletheladydancedexquisitely。Iwasveryfondofthedance，andIaskedtheunknownVenetianladytodanceitagainwithme。Sheagreed，andaringwasformedroundus，andweweresoapplaudedthatwehadtodanceitoveragain。Thiswouldhavesufficedifaveryprettyshepherdesswithoutamaskhadnotbeggedmetodanceitwithher。

Icouldnotrefuseher，andshedancedexquisitely；goingroundandroundthecirclethreetimes，andseemingtohoverintheair。

Iwasquiteoutofbreath。Whenitwasfinished，shecameuptomeandwhisperedmynameinmyear。Iwasastonished，andfeelingthecharmofthesituationdemandedhername。

"Youshallknow，"saidshe，inVenetian，"ifyouwillcometothe’ThreeKings。’"

"Areyoualone？"

"No，myfatherandmother，whoareoldfriendsofyours，arewithme"

"IwillcallonMonday。"

Whatanumberofadventurestohaveinonenight！Iwenthomewearily，andwenttobed，butIwasonlyallowedtosleepfortwohours。Iwasrousedandbeggedtodressmyself。Thecountess，themarquis，andthecount，allreadyforZenobia’swedding，teasedmetillIwasready，tellingmeitwasnotpolitetokeepabridewaiting。Thentheyallcongratulatedmeonmybreakingthebankandtherunofluckagainstme。Itoldthemarquisthatitwashismoneythathadbroughtmeluck，butherepliedbysayingthatheknewwhathadbecomeofhismoney。

Thisindiscretioneitheronthecount’spartorthecountess’ssurprisedmegreatly；itseemedtomecontrarytoalltheprinciplesinintrigue。

"Cananoknewyou，"saidthemarquis，"bythewayyouopenedyoursnuff—box，andhehopestoseeustodinnerbeforelong。Hesayshehopesyouwillwinahundredpoundsweightofgold；hehasafancyforyou。"

"Canano，"saidI，"haskeeneyes，andplaysfaroadmirably。I

havenottheslightestwishtowinhismoneyfromhim。"

Wethenstartedforthe"AppleGarden，"wherewefoundascoreofhonestfolksandthebrideandbridegroom，whooverwhelmeduswithcompliments。Wesoonputthecompanyattheirease。Atfirstourpresenceoverawedthem，butalittlefamiliaritysoonrestoredthegeneralhilarity。Wesatdowntodinner，andamongtheguestsweresomeveryprettygirls，butmyheadwastoofullofZenobiatocareaboutthem。Thedinnerlastedthreehours。Itwasanabundantrepast，andtheforeignwinesweresoexquisitethatitwaseasytoseethatthesumIhadfurnishedhadbeenexceeded。

Goodfellowshipprevailed，andafterthefirstbumperhadpassedroundeverybodyproposedsomebodyelse’shealth，andaseachtriedtosaysomethingdifferenttohisneighbourthemostfearfulnonsenseprevailed。Theneverybodythoughthimselfboundtosing，andtheywerenotatallfirst—ratevocalistsbyanymeans。Welaughedheartilyandalsocausedlaughter，forourspeechesandsongswereasbadasthoseofourhumblefriends。

Whenwerosefromthetablekissingbecamegeneral，andthecountesscouldnotresistlaughingwhenshefoundherselfobligedtoholdouthercheeksforthesaluteofthetailor，whothoughtherlaughteraspecialmarkoffavour。

Strainsofsweetmusicwereheard，andtheballwasdulyopenedbythenewly—marriedcouple。Zenobiadanced，ifnotexactlywell，atleastgracefully；butthetailor，whohadneverputhislegstoanyotherusebesidescrossingthem，cutsucharidiculousfigurethatthecountesshadmuchadotorestrainherlaughter。ButinspiteofthatIledoutZenobiaforthenextminuet，andtheproudcountesswasobligedtodancewiththewretchedtailor。

Whentheminuetsstoppedthesquaredancesbegan，andrefreshmentswereliberallyhandedround。Confetti，akindofsweetmeat，evenbetterthanthatmadeatVerdun，wereveryplentiful。

WhenwewerejustgoingIcongratulatedthehusbandandofferedtobringZenobiahomeinmycarriage，whichhewaspleasedtostyleaveryhonourableoffer。IgavemyhandtoZenobia，andhelpedherintothecarriage，andhavingtoldthecoachmantogoslowlyIputheronmyknee，extinguisherfashion，andkeptherthereallthetime。Zenobiawasthefirsttogetdown，andnoticingthatmybreechesofgreyvelvetwerespoiled，ItoldherthatIwouldbewithherinafewminutes。IntwominutesIputonapairofblacksatinbreeches，andIrejoinedtheladybeforeherhusbandcamein。SheaskedwhatIhadbeendoing，andonmytellingherthatourexploitsinthecarriagehadleftveryevidentmarksonmytrousers，shegavemeakiss，andthankedmeformyforethought。

Beforelongthehusbandandhissisterarrived。Hethankedme，callingmehisgossip，andthennoticingthechangeinmydressheaskedmehowIhadcontrivedtomakethealterationsoquickly。

"Iwenttomyroom，leavingyourwifeatyourhouse，forwhichI

begyourpardon。"

"Didn’tyouseethatthegentlemanhadspiltacupofcoffeeoverhishandsomebreeches？"saidZenobia。

"Mydearwife，"saidthecraftytailor，"Idon’tseeeverything，norisitnecessarythatIshoulddoso，butyoushouldhaveaccompaniedthegentlemantohisroom。"

Thenturningtomewithalaugh，heaskedmehowIhadenjoyedthewedding。

"Immensely，andmyfriendshavedonethesame；butyoumustletmepayyou，deargossip，forwhatyouspentoverandabovethetwenty—foursequins。Youcantellmehowmuchitis。"

"Verylittle，ameretrifle；Zenobiashallbringyouthebill。"

Iwenthomefeelingvexedwithmyselffornothavingforeseenthattheroguewouldnoticemychangeofdress，andguessthereason。

However，Iconsoledmyselfwiththethoughtthatthetailorwasnofool，andthatitwasplainthathewascontenttoplaythepartwehadassignedtohim。Soafterwishinggoodnighttothecount，thecountessandthemarquis，whoallthankedmeforthehappydaytheyhadspent，Iwenttobed。

AssoonasIwasawake，Ithoughtoftheshepherdesswhohaddancedthe’forlana’sowellattheball，andIresolvedtopayheravisit。Iwasnotmoreinterestedinherbeautythantofindoutwhoherfatherandmother，"oldfriendsofmine，"couldbe。I

dressedandwalkedtothe"ThreeKings，"andonwalkingintotheroomwhichtheshepherdesshadindicatedtome，whatwasmyastonishmenttofindmyselffacetofacewiththeCountessRinaldi，whomZavoiskyhadintroducedmetoatthe’locanda’ofCastellettosixteenyearsago。ThereaderwillrememberhowM。deBragadinpaidherhusbandthemoneyhewonfrommeatplay。

MadameRinaldihadagedsomewhat，butIknewherdirectly。

However，asIhadneverhadmorethanapassingfancyforher，wedidnotgobacktodayswhichdidneitherofusanyhonour。

"Iamdelightedtoseeyouagain，"saidI；"areyoustilllivingwithyourhusband？"

"Youwillseehiminhalfanhour，andhewillbegladtopresenthisrespectstoyou。"

"Ishouldnotatallcareforitmyself，madam；thereareoldquarrelsbetweenuswhichIdonotwanttorenew，so，madam，farewell。"

"No，no，don’tgoyet，sitdown。"

"Pardonme。"

"Irene，don’tletthegentlemango。"

AtthesewordsIreneranandbarredtheway——notlikeafiercemastiff，butlikeanangel，entreatingmetostaywiththatmingledlookofinnocence，fear，andhope，ofwhichgirlsknowtheeffectsowell。IfeltIcouldnotgo。

"Letmethrough，fairIrene，"saidI，"wemayseeeachothersomewhereelse。"

"Praydonotgobeforeyouhaveseenmyfather:"

Thewordswerespokensotenderlythatourlipsmet。Irenewasvictorious。Howcanoneresistaprettygirlwhoimploreswithakiss？Itookachair，andIrene，proudofhervictory，satonmykneeandcoveredmewithkisses。

ItookitintomyheadtotaskthecountesswhereandwhenIrenewasborn。

"AtMantua，"saidshe，"threemonthsafterIleftVenice。"

"AndwhendidyouleaveVenice？"

"SixmonthsafterImetyou。"

"Thatisacuriouscoincidence，andifwehadbeentenderlyacquaintedyoumightsaythatIrenewasmydaughter，andIshouldbelieveyou，andthinkthatmyaffectionforherwaspurelypaternal。"

"Yourmemoryisnotverygood，sir，Iwonderatthat。"

"Imaytellyou，thatIneverforgetcertainthings，ButIguessyourmeaning。YouwantmetosubduemylikingforIrene。Iamwillingtodoso，butshewillbetheloser。"

ThisconversationhadsilencedIrene，butshesoontookcourage，andsaidshewaslikeme。

"No，no，"Ianswered，"ifyouwerelikemeyouwouldnotbesopretty。"

"Idon’tthinkso；Ithinkyouareveryhandsome。"

"Youflatterme。"

"Staytodinnerwithus。"

"No，ifIstayedImightfallinlovewithyou，andthatwouldbeapity，asyourmothersaysIamyourfather。"

"Iwasjoking，"saidthecountess，"youmayloveIrenewithagoodconscience。"

"Wewillseewhatcanbedone。"

WhenIrenehadlefttheroom，Isaidtothemother，——

"Ilikeyourdaughter，butIwon’tbelongsighingforher，andyoumustn’ttakemeforadupe。"

"Speaktomyhusbandaboutit。Weareverypoor，andwewanttogotoCremona。"

"IsupposeIrenehasalover？"

"No。"

"Butshehashadone，ofcourse？"

"Neveranythingserious。"

"Ican’tbelieveit。"

"It’strue，nevertheless。Ireneisintact。"

JustthenIrenecameinwithherfather，whohadagedtosuchanextentthatIshouldneverhaveknownhiminthestreet。Hecameuptomeandembracedme，beggingmetoforgetthepast。"Itisonlyyou，"headded，"whocanfurnishmewithfundstogotoCremona。

Ihaveseveraldebtshere，andaminsomedangerofimprisonment。

Nobodyofanyconsequencecomestoseeme。MydeardaughteristheonlythingofvaluewhichIstillpossess。Ihavejustbeentryingtosellthispinchbeckwatch，andthoughIaskedonlysixsequins，whichishalfwhatitisworth，theywouldnotgivememorethantwo。Whenamangetsunfortunate，everythingisagainsthim。"

Itookthewatch，andgavethefathersixsequinsforit，andthenhandedittoIrene。Shesaidwithasmilethatshecouldnotthankme，asIonlygaveherbackherown，butshethankedmeforthepresentIhadmadeherfather。

"Here，"saidsheseriouslytotheoldman，"youcansellitagainnow。"

Thismademelaugh。Igavethecounttensequinsinaddition，embracedIrene，andsaidImustbegone，butthatIwouldseethemagaininthreeorfourdays。

Ireneescortedmetothebottomofthestairs，andassheallowedmetoassuremyselfthatshestillpossessedtheroseofvirginity，Igaveheranothertensequins，andtoldherthatthefirsttimeshewentalonetotheballwithmeIwouldgiveherahundredsequins。Shesaidshewouldconsultherfather。

FeelingsurethatthepoordevilwouldhandoverIrenetome，andhavingnoapartmentinwhichIcouldenjoyherinfreedom，I

stoppedtoreadabillinapastrycook’swindow。Itannouncedaroomtolet。Iwentin，andthepastrycooktoldmethatthehousebelongedtohim，andhisprettywife，whowassucklingababy，beggedmetocomeupstairsandseetheroom。Thestreetwasalonelyone，andhadapleasingairofmysteryaboutit。Iclimbedtothethirdfloor，buttheroomstherewerewretchedgarretsofnousetome。

"Thefirstfloor，"saidthewoman，"consistsofasuiteoffournicerooms，butweonlyletthemtogether。"

"Letusgoandseethem。Good！theywilldo。Whatistherent？"

"Youmustsettlethatwithmyhusband。"

"Andcan’tIsettleanythingwithyou，mydear？"

SosayingIgaveherakisswhichshetookverykindly，butshesmeltofnursing，whichIdetested，soIdidnotgoanyfartherdespiteherradiantbeauty。

Imademybargainwiththelandlord，andpaidamonth’srentinadvanceforwhichhegavemeareceipt。ItwasagreedthatI

shouldcomeandgoasIpleased，andthatheshouldprovidemewithfood。Igavehimanamesocommonastotellhimnothingwhateveraboutme，butheseemedtocareverylittleaboutthat。

AsIhadagreedwithBarbarotovisitthefairmarchionesses，I

dressedcarefully，andafteraslightrepastwiththecountess，whowaspleasantbutdidnotquitepleaseme，Imetmyfellow—

countrymanandwecalledonthetwocousins。

"Ihavecome，"saidI，"tobegyourpardonsforhavingrevealedtoyouthesecretofthesnuff—box。"

Theyblushed，andscoldedBarbaro，thinkingthathehadbetrayedthem。OnexaminingthemIfoundthemfarsuperiortoIrene，mypresentflame，buttheirmanner，therespecttheyseemedtorequire，frightenedme。Iwasnotatalldisposedtodanceattendanceonthem。Irene，onthecontrary，wasaneasyprey。I

hadonlytodoherparentsaservice，andshewasinmypower；

whilethetwocousinshadtheirfullshareofaristocraticpride，whichdebasesthenobilitytothelevelofthevilestofthepeople，andonlyimposesuponfools，whoafterallareinthemajorityeverywhere。FurtherIwasnolongeratthatbrilliantagewhichfearsnothing，andIwasafraidthatmyappearancewouldhardlyovercomethem。ItistruethatBarbarohadmademehopethatpresentswouldbeofsomeuse，butafterwhattheMarquisTriulzihadsaid，IfearedthatBarbarohadonlyspokenonsupposition。

Whenthecompanywassufficientlynumerous，thecard—tableswerebroughtin。IsatdownbyMdlle。Q————，anddisposedmyselftoplayforsmallstakes。Iwasintroducedbytheaunt，themistressofthehouse，toayounggentlemaninAustrianuniformwhosatbesideme。

Mydearcountrymanplayedlikeatruesharper，muchtomydispleasure。Myfairneighbour，attheendofthegame，whichlastedfourhours，foundherselfthegainerofafewsequins，buttheofficer，whohadplayedonhiswordofhonour，afterlosingallthemoneyinhispockets，owedtenlouis。Thebankwasthewinneroffiftysequins，includingtheofficer’sdebt。Astheyoungmanlivedatsomedistancehehonouredmebycominginmycarriage。

Ontheway，BarbarotoldushewouldintroduceustoagirlwhohadjustcomefromVenice。Theofficercaughtfireatthis，andbeggedthatweshouldgoandseeherdirectly，andweaccordinglywent。Thegirlwaswellenoughlooking，butneitherInortheofficercaredmuchabouther。Whiletheyweremakingsomecoffeeforus，andBarbarowasentertainingtheyounglady，Itookapackofcards，andhadnotmuchdifficultyininducingtheofficertorisktwentysequinsagainstthetwentyIputonthetable。WhilewewereplayingIspoketohimofthepassionwithwhichtheyoungmarchionessinspiredme。

"She’smysister，"saidhe。

Iknewasmuch，butpretendedtobeastonished，andIwentonplaying。TakingtheopportunityItoldhimthatIknewofnoonewhocouldletthemarchionessknowofmyaffectionbetterthanhe。

Imadehimlaugh，andashethoughtIwasjestingheonlygavevagueanswers；butseeingthatwhileItalkedofmypassionI

forgotmycard，hesoonwonthetwentysequinsfromme，andimmediatelypaidthemtoBarbaro。IntheexcessofhisjoyheembracedmeasifIhadgivenhimthemoney；andwhenwepartedhepromisedtogivemesomegoodnewsofhissisteratournextmeeting。

IhadtogotosupperwithTherese，Greppi，andmyson，buthavingsomesparetimebeforemeIwenttotheopera—house。Thethirdactwasgoingon，andIaccordinglyvisitedthecardroom，andtherelosttwohundredsequinsatasingledeal。IlefttheroomalmostasifIwasflyingfromanenemy。Cananoshookmebythehand，andtoldmeheexpectedmeandthemarquistodinnereveryday，andIpromisedwewouldcomeattheearliestopportunity。

IwenttoTherese’s，andfoundGreppitherebeforeme。ThereseandDonCesarino，whomIcoveredwithkisses，cameinaquarterofanhourafterwards。Thebankerstaredathiminspeechlesswonder。Hecouldnotmakeoutwhetherhewasmysonormybrother。Seeinghisamazement，TheresetoldhimCesarino