第74章

"Youhavebeenlosing，then？"

"Yes，butmybrotherhaswonsomething，"saidtheamiableQ————。

"Ihopeluckwilldeclareitselfonyoursidealso。"

"No，wearenotlucky。"

Whentheirauntlefttheroom，theyaskedmeifthelieutenanthadtoldmethataladyfriendoftheirswascomingtotheballwiththem。

"Iknowall，"Ianswered，"andIhopeyouwillenjoyyourselves，butyouwillnotdosomorethanI。Iwanttospeaktothegallantlieutenantto—morrowmorning。"

"Tellusaboutourdisguises。"

"Youwillbedisguisedinsuchamannerthatnobodywillrecognizeyou。"

"Buthowshallwebedressed？"

"Veryhandsomely。"

"Butwhatcostumehaveyougivenus？"

"Thatismysecret，ladies。HowevermuchIshouldliketopleaseyou，Ishallsaynothingtillthetimeforyoutodresscomesround。Don’taskmeanythingmore，asIhavepromisedmyselftheenjoymentofyoursurprise。Iamveryfondofdramaticsituations。Youshallknowallaftersupper。"

"Arewetohavesupper，then？"

"Certainly，ifyouwouldlikeit。IamagreateatermyselfandI

hopeyouwillnotletmeeatalone。"

"Thenwewillhavesomesuppertopleaseyou。Wewilltakecarenottoeatmuchdinner，soastobeabletoviewithyouintheevening。TheonlythingIamsorryabout，"addedMdlle。Q————，"isthatyoushouldbeputtosuchexpense。"

"Itisapleasure；andwhenIleaveMilanIshallconsolemyselfwiththethoughtthatIhavesuppedwiththetwohandsomestladiesinthetown。"

"Howisfortunetreatingyou？"

"Cananowinstwohundredsequinsfrommeeveryday。"

"Butyouwontwothousandfromhiminonenight。"

"YouwillbreakhisbankonSunday。Wewillbringyouluck。"

"Wouldyouliketolookon？"

"Weshouldbedelighted，butmybrothersaysyoudon’twanttogowithus。"

"Quiteso，thereasonisthatIshouldberecognized。ButI

believethegentlemanwhowillaccompanyyouisofthesamefigureasmyself。"

"Exactlythesame，"saidthecousin；"exceptthatheisfair。"

"Allthebetter，"saidI，"thefairalwaysconquerthedarkwithease。"

"Notalways，"saidtheother。"Buttellus，atanyrate，whetherwearetowearmen’sdresses。"

"Fie！fie！IshouldbeangrywithmyselfifIhadentertainedsuchathought。"

"That’scurious；whyso？"

"I’lltellyou。IfthedisguiseiscompleteIamdisgusted，fortheshapeofawomanismuchmoremarkedthanthatofaman，andconsequentlyawomaninman’sdress，wholookslikeaman，cannothaveagoodfigure。"

"Butwhenawomanskewshershapewell？"

"ThenIamangrywithherforskewingtoomuch，forIliketoseethefaceandthegeneraloutlinesoftheformandtoguesstherest。"

"Buttheimaginationisoftendeceptive！"

"Yes，butitiswiththefacethatIalwaysfallinlove，andthatneverdeceivesmeasfarasitisconcerned。ThenifIhavethegoodfortunetoseeanythingmoreIamalwaysinalenientmoodanddisposedtopassoversmallfaults。Youarelaughing？"

"Iamsmilingatyourimpassionedarguments。"

"Wouldyouliketobedressedlikeaman？"

"Iwasexpectingsomethingofthekind，butafteryouhavesaidwecanmakenomoreobjections。"

"Icanimaginewhatyouwouldsay；Ishouldcertainlynottakeyouformen，butIwillsaynomore。"

Theylookedateachother，andblushedandsmiledastheysawmygazefixedontwopre—eminenceswhichonewouldneverexpecttoseeinanyman。Webegantotalkofotherthings，andfortwohoursIenjoyedtheirlivelyandculturedconversation。

WhenIleftthemIwentofftomyapartments，thentotheopera，whereIlosttwohundredsequins，andfinallysuppedwiththecountess，whohadbecomequiteamiable。However，shesoonfellbackintoheroldwayswhenshefoundthatmypolitenesswasmerelyexternal，andthatIhadnointentionswhateveroftroublingherinherbedroomagain。

OntheSaturdaymorningtheyoungofficercametoseeme，andI

toldhimthattherewasonlyonethingthatIwantedhimtodo，butthatitmustbedoneexactlyaccordingtomyinstructions。Hepromisedtofollowthemtotheletter，andIproceeded，——

"Youmustgetacarriageandfour，andassoonasthefiveofyouareinittellthecoachmantodriveasfastashishorsescangallopoutofMilan，andtobringyoubackagainbyanotherroadtothehouse。Thereyoumustgetdown，sendthecarriageaway，afterenjoiningsilenceonthecoachman，andcomein。Aftertheballyouwillundressinthesamehouse，andthengohomeinsedan—chairs。Thusweshallbeabletobaffletheinquisitive，whowillbeprettynumerous，Iwarnyou。"

"Myfriendthemarquiswillseetoallthat，"saidhe，"andI

promiseyouhewilldoitwell，forheislongingtomakeyouracquaintance。"

"Ishallexpectyou，then，atseveno’clockto—morrow。

Warnyourfriendthatitisimportantthecoachmanshouldnotbeknown，anddonotletanybodybringaservant。"

Allthesearrangementsbeingmade，IdeterminedtodisguisemyselfasPierrot。There’snodisguisemoreperfect；for，besidesconcealingthefeaturesandtheshapeofthebody，itdoesnotevenletthecolouroftheskinremainrecognizable。Myreadersmayrememberwhathappenedtomeinthisdisguisetenyearsbefore。ImadethetailorgetmeanewPierrotcostume，whichI

placedwiththeothers，andwithtwonewpurses，ineachofwhichIplacedfivehundredsequins，Irepairedtothepastrycook’sbeforeseveno’clock。Ifoundthetablespread，andthesupperready。IshutupZenobiaintheroomwheretheladiesweretomaketheirtoilette，andatfiveminutespastseventhejoyouscompanyarrived。

Themarquiswasdelightedtomakemyacquaintance，andIwelcomedhimashedeserved。Hewasaperfectgentlemanineveryrespect，handsome，rich，andyoung，verymuchinlovewiththeprettycousinwhomhetreatedwithgreatrespect。Thelieutenant’smistresswasadelightfullittleladyandmadlyfondofherlover。

AstheywereallawarethatIdidnotwantthemtoknowtheircostumestillaftersupper，nothingwassaidaboutit，andwesatdowntotable。Thesupperwasexcellent；Ihadordereditinaccordancewithmyowntastes；thatistosay，everythingwasofthebest，andtherewasplentyofeverything。Whenwehadeatenanddrunkwell，Isaid，——

"AsIamnotgoingtoappearwithyou，Imayaswelltellyouthepartsyouaretoplay。Youaretobefivebeggars，twomenandthreewomen，allragsandtatters。"

Thelongfacestheypulledatthisannouncementwereapleasantsighttosee。

"Youwilleachcarryaplateinyourhandstosolicitalms，andyoumustwalktogetherabouttheball—roomasabandofmendicants。Butnowfollowmeandtakepossessionofyourraggedrobes。"

AlthoughIhadmuchadotorefrainfromlaughingatthevexationanddisappointmentwhichappearedonalltheirfaces，Isucceededinpreservingmyseriousair。Theydidnotseeminanykindofhurrytogettheirclothes，andIwasobligedtotellthemthattheywerekeepingmewaiting。TheyrosefromthetableandI

threwthedooropen，andallwerestruckwithZenobia’sbeautyasshestoodupbythetableonwhichtherichthoughtatteredrobesweredisplayed，bowingtothecompanywithmuchgrace。

"Here，ladies，"saidItothecousins，"areyourdresses，andhereisyours，mademoiselle——alittlesmaller。Hereareyourshifts，yourhandkerchiefsandyourstockings，andIthinkyouwillfindeverythingyourequireonthistable。Herearemasks，thefacesofwhichshewsopoorlybesideyourown，andherearethreeplatestocravealms。Ifanybodylooksashighasyourgarters，theywillseehowwretchedyouare，andtheholesinthestockingswillletpeopleknowthatyouhavenotthewherewithaltobuysilktomendthem。Thispackthreadmustserveyouforbuckles，andwemusttakecarethatthereareholesinyourshoesandalsoinyourgloves，andaseverythingmustmatch，assoonasyouhaveputonyourchemisesyoumusttearthelaceroundtheneck。"

WhileIwasgoingthroughthisexplanationIsawsurpriseanddelighteffacethedisappointmentandvexationwhichhadbeenthereamomentbefore。TheysawwhatarichdisguiseIhadprovidedforthem，andtheycouldnotfinditintheirheartstosay，"Whatapity！"

"Here，gentlemen，areyourbeggar—clothes。Iforgottolacerateyourbeaverhats，butthatissoondone。Well，whatdoyouthinkofthecostume？"

"Now，ladies，wemustleaveyou；shutthedoorfast，foritisacaseofchangingyourshifts。Now，gentlemen，leavetheroom。"

Themarquiswasenthusiastic。

"Whatasensationweshallcreate！"saidhe，"nothingcouldbebetter。"

Inhalfanhourwewereready。Thestockingsinholes，theworn—

outshoes，thelaceinrags，thestragglinghair，thesadmasks，thenotchedplates——allmadeapictureofsumptuousmiseryhardtobedescribed。

Theladiestookmoretimeonaccountoftheirhair，whichfloatedontheirshouldersinfinedisorder。Mdlle。Q————’shairwasespeciallyfine，itextendedalmosttoherknees。

Whentheywerereadythedoorwasopened，andwesaweverythingwhichcouldexcitedesirewithoutwoundingdecency。IadmiredZenobia’sadroitness。Therentsindressesandchemisesdisclosedpartsoftheirshoulders，theirbreasts，andtheirarms，andtheirwhitelegsshonethroughtheholesinthestockings。

Ishewedthemhowtowalk，andtoswaytheirheadstoandfro，toexcitecompassion，andyetbegraceful，andhowtousetheirhandkerchiefstoshewpeoplethetearsinthemandthefinenessofthelace。Theyweredelighted，andlongedtobeattheball，butIwantedtobetherefirsttohavethepleasureofseeingthemcomein。Iputonmymask，toldZenobiatogotobed，aswewouldnotbebacktilldaybreak，andsetoutonmyway。

Ienteredtheball—room，andastherewereascoreofPierrotsnobodynoticedme。Fiveminutesaftertherewasarushtoseesomemaskerswhowerecomingin，andIstoodsoastohaveagoodview。Themarquiscameinfirstbetweenthetwocousins。Theirslow，pitifulstepmatchedthepartwonderfully。Mdlle。Q————

withherflame—coloureddress，hersplendidhair，andherfineshape，drewalleyestowardsher。Theastonishedandinquisitivecrowdkeptsilenceforaquarterofanhouraftertheyhadcomein，andthenIheardoneveryside，"Whatadisguise！""It’swonderful！""Whoarethey？""Whocantheybe？""Idon’tknow。"

"I’llfindout。"

Ienjoyedtheresultsofmyinventiveness。

Themusicstruckup，andthreefinedominoswentuptothethreebeggar—girlstoaskthemtodanceaminuet，buttheyexcusedthemselvesbypointingtotheirdilapidatedshoes。Iwasdelighted；itshewedthattheyhadenteredintothespiritofthepart。

Ifollowedthemaboutforaquarterofanhour，andthecuriosityaboutthemonlyincreased，andthenIpaidavisittoCanano’stable，whereplaywasrunninghigh。AmasquerdressedintheVenetianstylewaspuntingonasinglecard，goingfiftysequinsparoliandpaixdeparoli，inmyfashion。Helostthreehundredsequins，andashewasamanofaboutthesamesizeasmyselfpeoplesaiditwasCasanova，butCananowouldnotagree。InorderthatImightbeabletostayatthetable，Itookupthecardsandpuntedthreeorfourducatslikeabeginner。ThenextdealtheVenetianmasquerhadarunofluck，andgoingparoli，paixdeparoliandtheva，wonbackallthemoneyhehadlost。

Thenextdealwasalsoinhisfavour，andhecollectedhiswinningsandleftthetable。

Isatdowninthechairhehadoccupied，andaladysaid，——

"That’stheChevalierdeSeingalt。"

"No，"saidanother。"Isawhimalittlewhileagointheball—

roomdisguisedasabeggar，withfourothermasquerswhomnobodyknows。"

"Howdoyoumean，dressedasabeggar？"saidCanano。

"Why，inrags，andthefourothers，too；butinspiteofthatthedressesaresplendidandtheeffectisverygood。Theyareaskingforalms。"

"Theyoughttobeturnedout，"saidanother。

Iwasdelightedtohaveattainedmyobject，fortherecognitionofmewasamereguess。Ibeganputtingsequinsononecard，andI

lostfiveorsixtimesrunning。Cananostudiedme，butIsawhecouldnotmakemeout。Iheardwhispersrunningroundthetable。

"Itisn’tSeingalt；hedoesn’tplaylikethat；besides，heisattheball。"

Theluckturned；threedealswereinmyfavour，andbroughtmebackmorethanIhadlost。Icontinuedplayingwithaheapofgoldbeforeme，andonmyputtingafistfullofsequinsonacarditcameout，andIwentparoliandpairdeparoli。Iwonagain，andseeingthatthebankwasatalowebbIstoppedplaying。

Cananopaidme，andtoldhiscashiertogetathousandsequins，andashewasshufflingthecardsIheardacryof，"Herecomethebeggars。"

Thebeggarscameinandstoodbythetable，andCanano，catchingthemarquis’seye，askedhimforapinchofsnuff。MydelightmaybeimaginedwhenIsawhimmodestlypresentingacommonhornsnuffboxtothebanker。Ihadnotthoughtofthisdetail，whichmadeeverybodylaughimmensely。Mdlle。Q————stretchedoutherplatetoaskanalmsofCanano，whosaid，——

"Idon’tpityyouwiththatfinehairofyours，andifyouliketoputitonacardIwillallowyouathousandsequinsforit。"

Shegavenoanswertothispolitespeech，andheldoutherplatetome，andIputahandfulofsequinsonit，treatingtheotherbeggarsinthesameway。

"Pierrotseemstolikebeggars，"saidCanano，withasmile。

Thethreemendicantsbowedgratefullytomeandlefttheroom。

TheMarquisTriulziwhosatnearCanano，said，——

"Thebeggarinthestraw—coloureddressiscertainlyCasanova。"

"Irecognizedhimdirectly，"repliedthebanker，"butwhoaretheothers？"

"Weshallfindoutinduetime。"

"Adearercostumecouldnotbeimagined；allthedressesarequitenew。"

Thethousandsequinscamein，andIcarriedthemalloffintwodeals。

"Wouldyouliketogoonplaying？"saidCanano。

Ishookmyhead，andindicatingwithasignofmyhandthatI

wouldtakeacheque，heweighedmywinningsandgavemeachequefortwenty—ninepoundsofgold，amountingtotwothousand，fivehundredsequins。Iputawaythecheque，andaftershakinghimbythehand，IgotupandrolledawayintruePierrotfashion，andaftermakingthetouroftheball—roomIwenttoaboxonthethirdtierofwhichIhadgiventhekeytotheyoungofficer，andthereIfoundmybeggars。

Wetookoffourmasksandcongratulatedeachotheronoursuccess，andtoldouradventures。Wehadnothingtofearfrominquisitiveeyes，fortheboxesoneachsideofuswereempty。Ihadtakenthemmyself，andthekeyswereinmypocket。

ThefairbeggarstalkedofreturningmethealmsIhadgiventhem，butIrepliedinsuchawaythattheysaidnomoreaboutit。

"Iamtakenforyou，sir，"saidthemarquis，"anditmaycausesomeannoyancetoourfairfriendshere。"

"Ihaveforeseenthat，"Ireplied，"andIshallunmaskbeforetheendoftheball。Thiswillfalsifyallsuppositions，andnobodywillsucceedinidentifyingyou。"

"Ourpocketsarefullofsweetmeats，"saidMdlle。Q————。

"Everybodywantedtofillourplates。"

"Yes，"saidthecousin，"everybodyadmiredus；theladiescamedownfromtheirboxestohaveacloserviewofus，andeveryonesaidthatnoricherdisguisecouldbeimagined。"

"Youhaveenjoyedyourselves，then？"

"Yes，indeed。"

"AndItoo。Ifeelquiteboastfulathavinginventedacostumewhichhasdrawnalleyesuponyou，andyethasconcealedyouridentity。"

"Youhavemadeusallhappy，"saidthelieutenant’slittlemistress。"IneverthoughtIshouldhavesuchapleasantevening。"

"Finiscoronatopus，"Ireplied，"andIhopetheendwillbeevenbetterthanthebeginning。"

SosayingIgavemysweetheart’shandagentlepressure，andwhethersheunderstoodmeornotIfeltherhandtrembleinmine。

"Wewillgodownnow，"saidshe。

"SowillI，forIwanttodance，andIamsureIshallmakeyoulaughasPierrot。"

"Doyouknowhowmuchmoneyyougaveeachofus？"

"Icannotsayprecisely，butIbelieveIgaveeachanequalshare。"

"Thatisso。Ithinkitiswonderfulhowyoucoulddoit。"

"Ihavedoneitathousandtimes。WhenIloseaparolioftensequinsIputthreefingersintomypurse，andamcertaintobringupthirtysequins。IwouldbetIgaveyoueachfromthirty—eighttofortysequins。"

"Fortyexactly。It’swonderful。Weshallrememberthismasquedball。"

"Idon’tthinkanybodywillimitateus，"saidthemarquis。

"No，"saidthecousin，"andwewouldnotdaretowearthesamedressesagain。"

Weputonourmasks，andIwasthefirsttogoout。Afternumerouslittlejocularitieswiththeharlequins，especiallythefemaleones，IrecognizedThereseinadomino，andwalkinguptoherasawkwardlyasIcouldIaskedhertodancewithme。

"YouarethePierrotwhobrokethebank？"shesaid。

Iansweredthequestionintheaffirmativebyanod。

Idancedlikeamadman，alwaysonthepointoffallingtothegroundandneveractuallydoingso。

Whenthedancewasover，Iofferedhermyarmandtookherbacktoherbox，whereGreppiwassittingbyhimself。Sheletmecomein，andtheirsurprisewasgreatwhenItookoffmymask。TheyhadthoughtIwasoneofthebeggars。IgaveM。GreppiCanano’scheque，andassoonashehadhandedmeanacknowledgmentIwentdowntotheball—roomagainwithmymaskoff，muchtotheastonishmentoftheinquisitive，whohadmadesurethatthemarquiswasI。

TowardstheendoftheballIwentawayinasedan—chair，whichI

stoppednearthedoorofanhotel，andalittlefurtheronItookanotherwhichbroughtmetothedoorofthepastry—cook’s。I

foundZenobiainbed。ShesaidshewassureIwouldcomebackbymyself。IundressedasquicklyasIcould，andgotintobedwiththisVenusofawoman。Shewasabsoluteperfection。IamsurethatifPraxiteleshadhadherforamodel，hewouldnothaverequiredseveralGreekbeautiesfromwhichtocomposehisVenus。

Whatapitythatsuchanexquisitefigureshouldbethepropertyofasorrytailor。

Istrippedhernaked，andafterduecontemplationImadeherfeelhowmuchIlovedher。Shewaspleasedwithmyadmiration，andgavemebackasmuchasshegot。Ihadherentirelytomyselfforthefirsttime。Whenweheardthetrotoffourhorsesweroseandputonourclothesinatwinkling。

Whenthecharmingbeggarscamein，ItoldthemthatIshouldbeabletohelpintheirtoiletteastheyhadnottochangetheirchemises，andtheydidnotmakemanyobjections。

MygazewasfixedallthewhileonMdlle。Q————。Iadmiredherchar