第77章

Thelandladycameinwithourbreakfast，andaskedmynieceifshewouldliketobuyafinesilkshawlmadeintheGenoesefashion。I

didnotletherbeconfusedbyhavingtoanswer，buttoldthelandladytoletusseeit。Soonafterthemillinercamein，butbythattimeIhadgivenmyyoungfriendtwentyGenoesesequins，tellingherthatshemightusethemforherprivatewants。Shetookthemoney，thankingmewithmuchgrace，andlettingmeimprintadeliciouskissonherlovelylips。

Ihadsentawaythemillinerafterhavingboughttheshawl，whenPossanotookituponhimselftoremonstratewithmeinthematterofthecook。

"Iengagedthemanbyyourorders，"saidhe，"forthewholetimeyoustayedatGenoa，atfourfrancsaday，withboardandlodging。"

"Whereismyletter？"

"Hereitis:’Getmeagoodcook；IwillkeephimwhileIstayinGenoa。’"

"Perhapsyoudidnotremarktheexpression，dgoodcook？Well，thisfellowisaverybadcook；and，atallevents，Iamthebestjudgewhetherheisgoodorbad。"

"Youarewrong，forthemanwillprovehisskill。Hewillciteyouinthelawcourts，andwinhiscase。"

"Thenyouhavemadeaformalagreementwithhim？"

"Certainly；andyourletterauthorizedmetodoso。"

"Tellhimtocomeup；Iwanttospeaktohim。"

WhilePossanowasdownstairsItoldClairmonttogoandfetchmeanadvocate。Thecookcameupstairs，Ireadtheagreement，andIsawthatitwaswordedinsuchamannerthatIshouldbeinthewronglegally；butIdidnotchangemymindforallthat。

"Sir，"saidthecook，"Iamskilledinmybusiness，andIcangetfourthousandGenoesetoswearasmuch。"

"Thatdoesn’tsaymuchfortheirgoodtaste；butwhatevertheymay—

say，theexecrablesupperyougavemelastnightprovesthatyouareonlyfittokeepaloweating—house。"

Asthereisnothingmoreirritablethanthefeelingsofaculinaryartist，Iwasexpectingasharpanswer；butjustthentheadvocatecamein。Hehadheardtheendofourdialogue，andtoldmethatnotonlywouldthemanfindplentyofwitnessestohisskill，butthatI

shouldfindaverygreatdifficultyingettinganybodyatalltosweartohiswantofskill。

"Thatmaybe，"Ireplied，"butasIsticktomyownopinion，andthinkhiscookinghorrible，hemustgo，forIwanttogetanother，andIwillpaythatfellowasifhehadservedmethewholetime。"

"Thatwon’tdo，"saidthecook；"Iwillsummonyoubeforethejudgeanddemanddamagesfordefamationofcharacter。"

Atthismybileoverpoweredme，andIwasgoingtoseizehimantithrowhimoutofthewindow，whenDonAntonioGrimaldicamein。Whenheheardwhatwasthematter，helaughedandsaid，withashrugofhisshoulders，"Mydearsir，youhadbetternotgointocourt，oryouwillbecastincosts，fortheevidenceisagainstyou。Probablythismanmakesaslightmistakeinbelievinghimselftobeanexcellentcook，butthechiefmistakeisintheagreement，whichoughttohavestipulatedthatheshouldcookatrialdinner。Thepersonwhodrewuptheagreementiseitheragreatknaveoragreatfool。"

AtthisPossanostruckininhisrudeway，andtoldthenoblemanthathewasneitherknavenorfool。

"Butyouarecousintothecook，"saidthelandlady。

Thistimelyremarksolvedthemystery。Ipaidanddismissedtheadvocate，andhavingsentthecookoutoftheroomIsaid，"DoIoweyouanymoney，Possano？"

"Onthecontrary，youpaidmeamonthinadvance，andtherearetenmoredaysofthemonthtorun。"

"Iwillmakeyouapresentofthetendaysandsendyouawaythisverymoment，unlessyourcousindoesnotleavemyhouseto—day，andgiveyouthefoolishengagementwhichyousignedinmyname。"

"That’swhatIcallcuttingtheGordianknot，"saidM。Grimaldi。

Hethenbeggedmetointroducehimtotheladyhehadseenwithme，andIdidso，tellinghimshewasmyniece。

"SignoraIsola—Bellawillbedelightedtoseeher。"

"Asthemarquisdidnotmentionherinhisletter，Ididnottakethelibertyofbringingher。"

Themarquisleftafewmomentsafterwards，andsoonafterAnnettecameinwithhermother。ThegirlhaddevelopedinanincrediblemannerwhileIwasaway。Hercheeksblossomedliketherose，herteethwerewhiteaspearls，andherbreasts，thoughmodestlyconcealedfromview，wereexquisitelyrounded。Ipresentedhertohermistress，whoseastonishmentamusedme。

Annette，wholookedpleasedtobeinmyserviceagain，wenttodresshernewmistress；and，aftergivingafewsequinstothemotherI

sentheraway，andproceededtomakemytoilette。

Towardsnoon，justasIwasgoingoutwithmyniecetodineatRosalie’s，mylandladybroughtmetheagreementPossanohadmade，andintroducedthenewcook。Iorderedthenextday’sdinner，andwentawaymuchpleasedwithmycomicvictory。

AbrilliantcompanyawaitedusattheParetti’s，butIwasagreeablysurprisedonintroducingmyniecetoRosalietoseethemrecognizeeachother。Theycalledeachotherbytheirrespectivenames，andindulgedinanaffectionateembrace。Afterthistheyretiredtoanotherroomforaquarterofanhour，andreturnedlookingveryhappy。JustthenParettientered，andonRosalieintroducinghimtomynieceunderhertruenamehewelcomedherinthemostcordialmanner。Herfatherwasacorrespondentofhis，anddrawingaletterhehadjustreceivedfromhimfromhispocket，hegaveittohertoread。Myniecereaditeagerly，withtearsinhereyes，andgavethesignaturearespectfulpressurewithherlips。Thisexpressionoffiliallove，whichdisplayedallthefeelingsofherheart，movedmetosuchanextentthatIburstintotears。ThentakingRosalieaside，Ibeggedhertoaskherhusbandnottomentionthefacttohiscorrespondentthathehadseenhisdaughter。

Thedinnerwasexcellent，andRosaliedidthehonourswiththatgracewhichwasnaturaltoher。However，theguestsdidnotbyanymeanspayheralltheirattentions，thegreaterportionofwhichwasdivertedinthedirectionofmysupposedniece。Herfather，aprosperousmerchantofMarseilles，waswellknowninthecommercialcirclesofGenoa，andbesidesthisherwitandbeautycaptivatedeverybody，andoneyounggentlemanfellmadlyinlovewithher。Hewasanextremelygoodmatch，andprovedtobethehusbandwhomHeavenhaddestinedformycharmingfriend。WhatahappythoughtitwasformethatIhadbeenthemeansofrescuingherfromthegulfofshame，misery，anddespair，andplacingheronthehighroadtohappiness。

IownthatIhavealwaysfeltakeenerpleasureindoinggoodthaninanythingelse，though，perhaps，Imaynotalwayshavedonegoodfromstrictlydisinterestedmotives。

Whenwerosefromthetableinexcellenthumourwithourselvesandoursurroundings，cardswereproposed，andRosalie，whoknewmylikings，saiditmustbetrente—quarante。Thiswasagreedto，andweplayedtillsupper，nobodyeitherwinningorlosingtoanyextent。

Wedidnotgotillmidnight，afterhavingspentaveryhappyday。

WhenwewereinourroomIaskedmyniecehowshehadknownRosalie。

"Iknewherathome；sheandhermotherusedtobringlinenfromthewash。Ialwayslikedher。"

"Youmustbenearlythesameage。"

"SheistwoyearsolderthanIam。Irecognizedherdirectly。"

"Whatdidshetellyou？"

"ThatitwasyouwhobroughtherfromMarseillesandmadeherfortune。"

"Shehasnotmadeyouthedepositaryofanyotherconfidences？"

"No，buttherearesomethingswhichdon’tneedtelling。"

"Youareright。Andwhatdidyoutellher？"

"Onlywhatshecouldhaveguessedforherself。Itoldherthatyouwerenotmyuncle，andifshethoughtyouweremyloverIwasnotsorry。YoudonotknowhowIhaveenjoyedmyselfto—day，youmusthavebeenborntomakemehappy。"

"ButhowaboutLaCroix？"

"Forheaven’ssakesaynothingabouthim。"

Thisconversationincreasedmyardour。ShecalledAnnette，andI

wenttomyroom。

AsIhadexpected，Annettecametomeassoonashermistresswasinbed。

"Iftheladyisreallyyourniece，"saidshe，"mayIhopethatyoustillloveme？"

"Assuredly，dearAnnette，Ishallalwaysloveyou。Undress，andletushavealittletalk。"

Ihadnotlongtowait，andinthecourseoftwovoluptuoushoursI

quenchedtheflamesthatanotherwomanhadkindledinmybreast。

NextmorningPossanocametotellmethathehadarrangedmatterswiththecookwiththehelpofsixsequins。Igavehimthemoney，andtoldhimtobemorecarefulforthefuture。

IwenttoRosalie’sformybreakfast，whichshewasdelightedtogiveme:andIaskedherandherhusbandtodinneronthefollowingday，tellinghertobringanyfourpersonssheliked。

"Yourdecision，"saidI，"willdecidethefateofmycook；itwillbehistrialdinner。"

Shepromisedtocome，andthenpressedmetotellherthehistoryofmyamourswithherfaircountry—woman。

"Alas！"Isaid，"youmaynotbelieveme，butIassureyouIamonlybeginningwithher。"

"Ishallcertainlybelieveyou，ifyoutellmeso，thoughitseemsverystrange。"

"Strangebuttrue。Youmustunderstand，however，thatIhaveonlyknownherforaveryshorttime；and，again，Iwouldnotbemadehappysavethroughlove，meresubmissionwouldkillme。"

"Good！butwhatdidshesayofme？"

IgaveherareportofthewholeconversationIhadhadwithmyniecethenightbefore，andshewasdelighted。"

"Asyouhavenotyetgonefarwithyourniece，wouldyouobjectiftheyoungmanwhoshewedhersomuchattentionyesterdaywereofthepartyto—morrow？"

"Whoishe？Ishouldliketoknowhim。"

"M。N————，theonlysonofarichmerchant。"

"Certainly，bringhimwithyou。"

WhenIgothomeIwenttomyniece，whowasstillinbed，andtoldherthatherfellow—countrymanwoulddinewithusto—morrow。I

comfortedherwiththeassurancethatM。ParettiwouldnottellherfatherthatshewasinGenoa。Shehadbeenagooddealtormentedwiththeideathatthemerchantwouldinformherfatherofall。

AsIwasgoingouttosupperItoldherthatshecouldgoandsupwithRosalie，ortakesupperathomeifshepreferredit。

"Youaretookindtome，mydearuncle。IwillgotoRosalie’s。"

"Verygood。AreyousatisfiedwithAnnette？"

"Oh！bytheway，shetoldmethatyouspentlastnightwithher，andthatyouhadbeenherloverandhersister’satthesametime。"

"Itistrue，butsheisveryindiscreettosayanythingaboutit。"

"Wemustforgiveher，though。ShetoldmethatsheonlyconsentedtosleepwithyouontheassurancethatIwasreallyyourniece。Iamsuresheonlymadethisconfessionoutofvanity，andinthehopeofgainingmyfavour，whichwouldbenaturallybestowedonawomanyoulove。"

"Iwishyouhadtherighttobejealousofher；andIswearthatifshedoesnotcomportherselfwiththeutmostobediencetoyouineveryrespect，Iwillsendherpacking，indespiteofourrelations。

Asforyou，youmaynotbeabletoloveme，andIhavenorighttocomplain；butIwillnothaveyoudegradeyourselfbybecomingmysubmissivevictim。"

IwasnotsorryformyniecetoknowthatImadeuseofAnnette，butmyvanitywaswoundedatthewayshetookit。Itwasplainthatshewasnotatallinlovewithme，andthatshewasgladthattherewasasafeguardinthepersonofhermaid，andthatthuswecouldbetogetherwithoutdanger，forshecouldnotignorethepowerofhercharms。

Wedinedtogether，andauguredwelloftheskillofthenewcook。

M。Parettihadpromisedtogetmeagoodman，andhepresentedhimselfjustaswewerefinishingdinner，andImadeapresentofhimtomyniece。Wewentforadrivetogether，andIleftmynieceatRosalie’s，andIthenrepairedtoIsola—Bella’s，whereIfoundanumerousandbrilliantcompanyhadassembledconsistingofallthebestpeopleinGenoa。

Justthenallthegreatladiesweremadover’biribi’，aregularcheatinggame。ItwasstrictlyforbiddenatGenoa，butthisonlymadeitmorepopular，andbesides，theprohibitionhadnoforceinprivatehouses，whichareoutsideofthejurisdictionoftheGovernment；inshort，IfoundthegameinfullswingattheSignoraIsola—Bella’s。Theprofessionalgamesterswhokeptthebankwentfromhousetohouse，andtheamateurswereadvisedoftheirpresenceatsuchahouseandatsuchatime。

AlthoughIdetestedthegame，Ibegantoplay——todoastheothersdid。

Intheroomtherewasaportraitofthemistressofthehouseinharlequincostume，andtherehappenedtobethesamepictureononeofthedivisionsofthebiribi—table:Ichosethisoneoutofpoliteness，anddidnotplayonanyother。Iriskedasequineachtime。Theboardhadthirty—sixcompartments，andifonelost，onepaidthirty—twotinestheamountofthestake；this，ofcourse，wasanenormousadvantageforthebank。

Eachplayerdrewthreenumbersinsuccession，andtherewerethreeprofessionals；onekeptthebag，anotherthebank，andthethirdtheboard，andthelasttookcaretogatherinthewinningsassoonastheresultwasknown，andthebankamountedtotwothousandsequinsorthereabouts。Thetable，thecloth，andfoursilvercandlesticksbelongedtotheplayers。

IsatattheleftofMadameIsola—Bella，whobegantoplay，andastherewerefifteenorsixteenofusIhadlostaboutfiftysequinswhenmyturncame，formyharlequinhadnotappearedonce。Everybodypitiedme，orpretendedtodoso，forselfishnessisthepredominantpassionofgamesters。

Myturncameatlast。Idrewmyharlequinandreceivedthirty—twosequins。Ileftthemonthesamefigure，andgotathousandsequins。

Ileftfiftystillontheboard，andtheharlequincameoutforthethirdtime。Thebankwasbroken，andthetable，thecloth，thecandlesticks，andtheboardallbelongedtome。Everyonecongratulatedme，andthewretchedbankruptgamesterswerehissed，hooted，andturnedoutofdoors。

Afterthefirsttransportswereover，Isawthattheladieswereindistress；forastherecouldbenomoregamingtheydidnotknowwhattodo。IconsoledthembydeclaringthatIwouldbebanker，butwithequalstakes，andthatIwouldpaywinningcardsthirty—sixtimesthestakeinsteadofthirty—two。Thiswaspronouncedcharmingofme，andIamusedeverybodytillsupper—time，withoutanygreatlossesorgainsoneitherside。BydintofentreatyImadetheladyofthehouseacceptthewholeconcernasapresent，andaveryhandsomeoneitwas。

Thesupperwaspleasantenough，andmysuccessatplaywasthechieftopicofconversation。BeforeleavingIaskedSignoraIsola—Bellaandhermarquistodinewithme，andtheyeagerlyacceptedtheinvitation。WhenIgothomeIwenttoseemyniece，whotoldmeshehadspentadelightfulevening。

"Averypleasantyoungman，"saidshe，"whoiscomingtodinewithusto—morrow，paidmegreatattention。"

"Thesame，Isuppose，thatdidsoyesterday？"

"Yes。AmongstotherprettythingshetoldmethatifIlikedhewouldgotoMarseillesandaskmyhandofmyfather。Isaidnothing，butIthoughttomyselfthatifthepooryoungmangavehimselfallthistroublehewouldbewoefullymisled，ashewouldnotseeme。"

"Whynot？"

"BecauseIshouldbeinanunnery。Mykindgoodfatherwillforgiveme，butImustpunishmyself。"

"Thatisasaddesign，whichIhopeyouwillabandon。Youhaveallthatwouldmakethehappinessofaworthyhusband。ThemoreIthinkitover，themoreIamconvincedofthetruthofwhatIsay。"

Wesaidnomorejustthen，forsheneededrest。Annettecametoundressher，andIwasgladtoseethegoodnessofmyniecetowardsher，butthecoolnesswithwhichthegirlbehavedtohermistressdidnotescapemynotice。AssoonasshecametosleepwithmeIgentlyremonstratedwithher，biddinghertodoherdutybetterforthefuture。Insteadofansweringwithacaress，assheoughttohavedone，shebegantocry。

"Mydearchild，"saidI，"yourtearswearyme。Youareonlyheretoamuseme，andifyoucan’tdothat，youhadbettergo。"

Thishurtherfoolishfeelingsofvanity，andshegotupandwentawaywithoutaword，leavingmetogotosleepinaverybadtemper。

InthemorningItoldher，inasternvoice，thatifsheplayedmesuchatrickagainIwouldsendheraway。Insteadoftryingtosoothemewithakissthelittlerebelburstoutcryingagain。I

sentheroutoftheroomimpatiently，andproceededtocountmygains。

Ithoughtnomoreaboutit，butpresentlymyniececameinandaskedmewhyIhadvexedpoorAnnette。

"Mydearniece，"saidI，"tellhertobehavebetterorelseIwillsendherbacktohermother’s。"

Shegavemenoreply，buttookahandfulofsilverandfled。Ihadnottimetoreflectonthissingularconduct，forAnnettecameinrattlinghercrownsinherpocket，andpromised，withakiss，nottomakemeangryanymore。

Suchwasmyniece。SheknewIadoredher，andshelovedme；butshedidnotwantmetobeherlover，thoughshemadeuseoftheascendancywhichmypassiongaveher。Inthecodeoffemininecoquetrysuchcasesarenumerous。

Possanocameuninvitedtoseeme，andcongratulatedmeonmyvictoryoftheeveningbefore。

"Whotoldyouaboutit？"

"Ihavejustbeenatthecoffee—house，whereeverybodyistalkingofit。Itwasawonderfulvictory，forthosebiribantiareknavesofthefirstwater。Youradventureismakingagreatnoise，foreveryonesaysthatyoucouldnothavebrokentheirbankunlessyouhadmadeanagreementwiththemanthatkeptthebag。"

"Mydearfellow，Iamtiredofyou。Here，takethispieceofmoneyforyourwifeandbeoff。"

ThepieceofmoneyIhadgivenhimwasagoldcoinworthahundredGenoeselivres，whichtheGovernmenthadstruckforinternalcommerce；therewerealsopiecesoffiftyandtwenty—fivelivres。

IwasgoingonwithmycalculationswhenClairmontbroughtmeanote。

ItwasfromIrene，andcontainedatenderinvitationtobreakfastwithher。IdidnotknowthatshewasinGenoa，andthenewsgavemeverygreatpleasure。Ilockedupmymoney，dressedinhaste，andstartedouttoseeher。Ifoundheringoodandwell—furnishedrooms，andheroldfather，CountRinaldi，embracedmewithtearsofjoy。

Aftertheordinarycomplimentshadbeenpassed，theoldmanproceededtocongratulatemeonmywinningsofthenightbefore。

"Threethousandsequins！"heexclaimed，"thatisagrandhaulindeed。"

"Quiteso。"

"Thefunnypartofitisthatthemanwhokeepsthebagisinthepayoftheothers。"

"Whatstrikesyouasfunnyinthat？"

"Why，hegainedhalfwithoutanyrisk，otherwisehewouldnothavebeenlikelytohaveenteredintoanagreementwithyou。"

"Youthink，then，thatitwasacaseofconnivance？"

"Everybodysaysso；indeedwhatelsecoulditbe？Therascalhasmadehisfortunewithoutrunninganyrisk。AlltheGreeksinGenoaareapplaudinghimandyou。"

"Asthegreaterrascalofthetwo？"

"Theydon’tcallyouarascal；theysayyou’reagreatgenius；youarepraisedandenvied。"

"IamsureIoughttobeobligedtothem。"

"Ihearditallfromagentlemanwhowasthere。Hesaysthatthesecondandthethirdtimethemanwiththebaggaveyoutheoffice。"

"Andyoubelievethis？"

"Iamsureofit。Nomanofhonourinyourpositioncouldhaveactedotherwise。However，whenyoucometosettleupwiththefellowI

adviseyoutobeverycareful，fortherewillbespiesonyourtracks。Ifyoulike，Iwilldothebusinessforyou。"

Ihadenoughself—restrainttorepresstheindignationandrageI

felt。WithoutawordItookmyhatandmarchedoutoftheroom，sternlyrepulsingIrenewhotriedtopreventmefromgoingasshehaddoneoncebefore。Iresolvednottohaveanythingmoretodowiththewretchedold