第79章

AttheplayMarcolinedidnothingbutchatterwithBabetRangoni，whowantedmetobringthefairVenetiantoseeher，butIhadmyownreasonsfornotdoingso。

IwasthinkinghowIcouldsendMadamed’UrfetoLyons，forIhadnofurtheruseforheratMarseilles，andshewasoftenembarrassing。

Forinstance，onthethirddayafterherregeneration，sherequestedmetoaskParaliswhereshewastodie——thatis，tobebroughttobed。Imadetheoraclereplythatshemustsacrificetothewater—

spiritsonthebanksoftworivers，atthesamehour，andthatafterwardsthequestionofherlying—inwouldberesolved。TheoracleaddedthatImustperformthreeexpiatorysacrificestoSaturn，onaccountofmytooharshtreatmentofthefalseQuerilinthos，andthatSemiramisneednottakepartintheseceremonies，thoughsheherselfmustperformthesacrificestothewater—spirits。

AsIwaspretendingtothinkofaplacewheretworiversweresufficientlyneartoeachothertofulfiltherequirementsoftheoracle，SemiramisherselfsuggestedthatLyonswaswateredbytheRhoneandtheSaone，andthatitwouldbeanexcellentplacefortheceremony。Asmaybeimagined，Iimmediatelyagreedwithher。OnaskingParalisiftherewereanypreparationstobemade，herepliedthatitWouldbenecessarytopourabottleofsea—waterintoeachriverafortnightbeforethesacrifice，andthatthisceremonywastobeperformedbySemiramisinperson，atthefirstdiurnalhourofthemoon。

"Then，"saidthemarchioness，"thebottlesmustbefilledhere，fortheotherFrenchportsarefartheroff。IwillgoassoonaseverI

canleavemybed，andwillwaitforyouatLyons；forasyouhavetoperformexpiatorysacrificestoSaturninthisplace，youcannotcomewithme。"

Iassented，pretendingsorrowatnotbeingabletoaccompanyher。

ThenextmorningIbroughthertwowell—sealedbottlesofsea—water，tellingherthatshewastopourthemoutintothetworiversonthe15thofMay（thecurrentmonth）。Wefixedherdepartureforthe11th，andIpromisedtorejoinherbeforetheexpirationofthefortnight。Igaveherthehoursofthemooninwriting，andalsodirectionsforthejourney。

AssoonasthemarchionesshadgoneIleftthe"TreizeCantons"andwenttolivewithMarcoline，givingherfourhundredandsixtylouis，which，withthehundredandfortyshehadwonatbiribi，gaveheratotalofsixhundredlouis，orfourteenthousandfourhundredfrancs。

Withthissumshecouldlookthefutureinthefacefearlessly。

ThedayafterMadamed’Urfe’sdeparture，thebetrothedofMdlle。

CrosinarrivedatMarseilleswithaletterfromRosalie，whichhehandedtomeonthedayofhisarrival。Shebeggedmeinthenameofourcommonhonourtointroducethebearerinpersontothefatherofthebetrothed。Rosaliewasright，butastheladywasnotmyrealniecethereweresomedifficultiesintheway。IwelcomedtheyoungmanandtoldhimthatIwouldfirsttakehimtoMadameAudibert，andthatwecouldthengotogethertohisfather—in—lawinprospective。

TheyoungGenoesehadgonetothe"TreizeCantons，"wherehethoughtIwasstaying。Hewasdelightedtofindhimselfsonearthegoalofhisdesires，andhisecstacyreceivedanewmomentumwhenhesawhowcordiallyMadameAudibertreceivedhim。Weallgotintomycarriageanddrovetothefather’swhogavehimanexcellentreception，andthenpresentedhimtohiswife，whowasalreadyfriendlydisposedtowardshim。

Iwaspleasantlysurprisedwhenthisgoodandsensiblemanintroducedmetohiswifeashiscousin，theChevalierdeSeingalt，whohadtakensuchcareoftheirdaughter。Thegoodwifeandgoodmother，herhusband’sworthypartner，stretchedoutherhandtome，andallmytroublewasover。

Mynewcousinimmediatelysentanexpressmessengertohissister，tellingherthatheandhiswife，hisfutureson—in—law，MadameAudibert，andacousinshehadnotmetbefore，wouldcomeanddinewithheronthefollowingday。Thisdoneheinvitedus，andMadameAudibertsaidthatshewouldescortus。ShetoldhimthatIhadanotherniecewithme，ofwhomhisdaughterwasveryfond，andwouldbedelightedtoseeagain。Theworthymanwasoverjoyedtobeabletoincreasehisdaughter’shappiness。

I，too，waspleasedwithMadameAudibert’stactandthoughtfulness；

andasmakingMarcolinehappywastomakemehappyalso，Iexpressedmygratitudetoherinverywarmterms。

ItooktheyoungGenoesetotheplay，toMarcoline’sdelight，forshewouldhavelikedtheFrenchverymuchifshecouldhaveunderstoodthem。Wehadanexcellentsuppertogether，inthecourseofwhichI

toldMarcolineofthepleasurewhichawaitedheronthemorrow。I

thoughtshewouldhavegonewildwithjoy。

ThenextdaywewereatMadameAudibert’saspunctuallyasAchillesonthefieldofbattle。TheladyspokeItalianwell，andwascharmedwithMarcoline，reproachingmefornothavingintroducedherbefore。

AtelevenwegottoSt。Louis，andmyeyeswerecharmedwiththedramaticsituation。Mylateniecehadanairofdignitywhichbecamehertoadmiration，andreceivedherfuturehusbandwithgreatgraciousness；andthen，afterthankingmewithapleasantsmileforintroducinghimtoherfather，shepassedfromdignitytogaiety，andgavehersweetheartahundredkisses。

Thedinnerwasdelicious，andpassedoffmerrily；butIalonepreservedatendermelancholy，thoughIlaughedtomyselfwhentheyaskedmewhyIwassad。IwasthoughttobesadbecauseIdidnottalkinmyusualvivaciousmanner，butfarfrombeingreallysadthatwasoneofthehappiestmomentsofmylife。Mywholebeingwasabsorbedinthecalmdelightwhichfollowsagoodaction。Iwastheauthorofthecomedywhichpromisedsuchahappyending。Iwaspleasedwiththethoughtthatmyinfluenceintheworldwasmoreforgoodthanforill，andthoughIwasnotbornakingyetIcontrivedtomakemanypeoplehappy。Everyoneattablewasindebtedtomeforsomepartoftheirhappiness，andthefather，themother，andthebetrothedpairwhollyso。ThisthoughtmademefeelapeacefulcalmwhichIcouldonlyenjoyinsilence。

Mdlle。CrosinreturnedtoMarseilleswithherfather，hermother，andherfuturehusband，whomthefatherwishedtotakeuphisabodewiththem。IwentbackwithMadameAudibert，whomademepromisetobringthedelightfulMarcolinetosupwithher。

Themarriagedependedonthereceiptofaletterfromtheyoungman’sfather，inanswertoonefrommyniece’sfather。Itwillbetakenforgrantedthatwewereallaskedtothewedding，andMarcoline’saffectionformeincreasedeveryday。

WhenwewenttosupwithMadameAudibertwefoundarichandwittyyoungwinemerchantatherhouse。HesatbesideMarcoline，whoentertainedhimwithhersallies；andastheyoungmancouldspeakItalian，andeventheVenetiandialect（forhehadspentayearatVenice），hewasmuchimpressedbythecharmsofmynewniece。

Ihavealwaysbeenjealousofmymistresses；butwhenarivalpromisestomarrythemandgivethemagoodestablishment，jealousygiveswaytoamoregenerousfeeling。ForthemomentIsatisfiedmyselfbyaskingMadameAudibertwhohewas，andIwasdelightedtohearthathehadanexcellentreputation，ahundredthousandcrowns，alargebusiness，andcompleteindependence。

Thenextdayhecametoseeusinourboxatthetheatre，andMarcolinereceivedhimverygraciously。WishingtopushthematteronIaskedhimtosupwithus，andwhenhecameIwaswellpleasedwithhismannersandhisintelligence；toMarcolinehewastenderbutrespectful。OnhisdepartureItoldhimIhopedhewouldcomeandseeusagain，andwhenwewerealoneIcongratulatedMarcolineonherconquest，andshewedherthatshemightsucceedalmostaswellasMdlle。Crosin。Butinsteadofbeinggratefulshewasfuriously，angry。

"Ifyouwanttogetridofme，"saidshe，"sendmebacktoVenice，butdon’ttalktomeaboutmarrying。"

"Calmyourself，myangel！Igetridofyou？Whatanidea！Hasmybehaviourledyoutosupposethatyouareinmyway？Thishandsome，well—educated，andrichyoungmanhascomeundermynotice。Iseehelovesyouandyoulikehim，andasIloveyouandwishtoseeyoushelteredfromthestormsoffortune，andasIthinkthispleasantyoungFrenchmanwouldmakeyouhappy，Ihavepointedouttoyoutheseadvantages，butinsteadofbeinggratefulyouscoldme。Donotweep，sweetheart，yougrievemyverysoul！"

"IamweepingbecauseyouthinkthatIcanlovehim。"

"Itmightbeso，dearest，andwithoutmyhonourtakinganyhurt；butletussaynomoreaboutitandgetintobed。"

Marcoline’stearschangedtosmilesandkisses，andwesaidnomoreabouttheyoungwinemerchant。Thenextdayhecametoourboxagain，butthescenehadchanged；shewaspolitebutreserved，andI

darednotaskhimtosupperasIhaddonethenightbefore。WhenwehadgothomeMarcolinethankedmefornotdoingso，addingthatshehadbeenafraidIwould。

"Whatyousaidlastnightisasufficientguideformeforthefuture。"

InthemorningMadameAudibertcalledonbehalfofthewinemerchanttoaskustosupwithhim。IturnedtowardsthefairVenetian，andguessingmythoughtsshehastenedtoreplythatshewouldbehappytogoanywhereincompanywithMadameAudibert。Thatladycameforusintheevening，andtookustotheyoungman’shouse，wherewefoundamagnificentsupper，butnootherguestsawaitingus。Thehousewasluxuriouslyfurnished，itonlylackedamistress。Themasterdividedhisattentionbetweenthetwoladies，andMarcolinelookedravishing。

Everythingconvincedmethatshehadkindledtheardouroftheworthyyoungwinemerchant。

ThenextdayIreceivedanotefromMadameAudibert，askingmetocallonher。WhenIwentIfoundshewantedtogivemyconsenttothemarriageofMarcolinewithherfriend。

"Theproposalisaveryagreeableonetome，"Ianswered，"andI

wouldwillinglygiveherthirtythousandfrancsasadowry，butIcanhavenothingtodowiththematterpersonally。Iwillsendhertoyou；andifyoucanwinheroveryoumaycountonmyword，butdonotsaythatyouarespeakingonmybehalf，forthatmightspoileverything。"

"Iwillcomeforher，andifyoulikesheshalldinewithme，andyoucantakehertotheplayintheevening。"

MadameAudibertcamethefollowingday，andMarcolinewenttodinnerwithher。Icalledforheratfiveo’clock，andfindingherlookingpleasedandhappyIdidnotknowwhattothink。AsMadameAudibertdidnottakemeasideIstifledmycuriosityandwentwithMarcolinetothetheatre，withoutknowingwhathadpassed。

OnthewayMarcolinesangthepraisesofMadameAudibert，butdidnotsayawordoftheproposalshemusthavemadetoher。Aboutthemiddleofthepiece，however，IthoughtIsawtheexplanationoftheriddle，fortheyoungmanwasinthepit，anddidnotcometoourboxthoughthereweretwoemptyplaces。

WereturnedhomewithoutawordaboutthemerchantorMadameAudibert，butasIknewinmyownmindwhathadhappened，Ifeltdisposedtobegrateful，andIsawthatMarcolinewasoverjoyedtofindmemoreaffectionatethanever。Atlast，amidstouramorousassaults，Marcoline，feelinghowdearlyIlovedher，toldmewhathadpassedbetweenherandMadameAudibert。

"Shespoketomesokindlyandsosensibly，"saidshe，"butI

contentedmyselfwithsayingthatIwouldnevermarrytillyoutoldmetodoso。AllthesameIthankyouwithallmyheartforthetenthousandcrownsyouarewillingtogiveme。YouhavetossedtheballtomeandIhavesentitback。IwillgobacktoVenicewheneveryoupleaseifyouwillnottakemetoEnglandwithyou，butIwillnevermarry。Iexpectweshallseenomoreoftheyounggentleman，thoughifIhadnevermetyouImighthavelovedhim。"

Itwasevidentlyallover，andIlikedherforthepartshehadtaken，foramanwhoknowshisownworthisnotlikelytosighlongatthefeetofanobduratelady。

Thewedding—dayofmylateniececameround。Marcolinewasthere，withoutdiamonds，butcladinarichdresswhichsetoffherbeautyandsatisfiedmyvanity。

CHAPTERIV

ILeaveMarseilles——HenrietteatAix——IreneatAvignon——TreacheryofPossano——Madamed’UrfeLeavesLyonTheweddingonlyinterestedmebecauseofthebride。Theplentifulratherthanchoicerepast，thenumerousandnoisycompany，theemptycompliments，thesillyconversation，theroarsoflaughteratverypoorjokes——allthiswouldhavedrivenmetodespairifithadnotbeenforMadameAudibert，whomIdidnotleaveforamoment。

Marcolinefollowedtheyoungbrideaboutlikeashadow，andthelatter，whowasgoingtoGenoainaweek，wantedMarcolinetocomeinhertram，promisingtohavehertakentoVenicebyapersonoftrust，butmysweetheartwouldlistentonoproposalforseparatingherfromme，——

"Iwon’tgo。toVenice，"shesaid，"tillyousendmethere。"

Thesplendoursofherfriend’smarriagedidnotmakeherexperiencetheleastregretathavingrefusedtheyoungwinemerchant。Thebridebeamedwithhappiness，andonmycongratulatinghersheconfessedherjoytobegreat，addingthatitwasincreasedbythefactthatsheoweditalltome。ShewasalsoverygladtobegoingtoGenoa，whereshewassureoffindingatruefriendinRosalie，whowouldsympathizewithher，theirfortuneshavingbeenverysimilar。

ThedayaftertheweddingIbegantomakepreparationsformydeparture。ThefirstthingIdisposedofwastheboxcontainingtheplanetaryofferings。Ikeptthediamondsandpreciousstones，andtookallthegoldandsilvertoRoussedeCosse，whostillheldthesumwhichGreppihadplacedtomycredit。ItookabillofexchangeonTourtonandBauer，forIshouldnotbewantinganymoneyatLyonsasMadamed’Urfewasthere，andconsequentlythethreehundredlouisIhadaboutmewouldbeample。IacteddifferentlywhereMarcolinewasconcerned。Iaddedasufficientsumtohersixhundredlouistogiveheracapitalinroundnumbersoffifteenthousandfrancs。I

gotabilldrawnonLyonsforthatamount，forIintendedatthefirstopportunitytosendherbacktoVenice，andwiththatideahadhertrunkspackedseparatelywithallthelinenanddresseswhichI

hadgivenherinabundance。

Ontheeveofourdeparturewetookleaveofthenewly—marriedcoupleandthewholefamilyatsupper，andwepartedwithtears，promisingeachotheralifelongfriendship。

ThenextdaywesetoutintendingtotravelallnightandnottostoptillwegottoAvignon，butaboutfiveo’clockthechainofthecarriagebroke，andwecouldgonofurtheruntilawheelwrighthadrepairedthedamage。Wesettledourselvesdowntowaitpatiently，andClairmontwenttogetinformationatafinehouseonourright，whichwasapproachedbyanalleyoftrees。AsIhadonlyonepostillion，Ididnotallowhimtoleavehishorsesforamoment。

BeforelongwesawClairmontreappearwithtwoservants，oneofwhominvitedme，onbehalfofhismaster，toawaitthearrivalofthewheelwrightathishouse。ItwouldhavebeenchurlishtorefusethisinvitationwhichwasinthetruespiritofFrenchpoliteness，soleavingClairmontinchargeMarcolineandIbegantowendourwaytowardsthehospitableabode。

Threeladiesandtwogentlemancametomeetus，andoneofthegentlemensaidtheycongratulatedthemselvesonmysmallmishap，sinceitenabledmadamtooffermeherhouseandhospitality。I

turnedtowardstheladywhomthegentlemanhadindicated，andthankedher，saying，thatIhopednottotroubleherlong，butthatIwasdeeplygratefulforherkindness。Shemademeagracefulcurtsy，butIcouldnotmakeoutherfeatures，forastormywindwasblowing，andsheandhertwofriendshaddrawntheirhoodsalmostentirelyovertheirfaces。Marcoline’sbeautifulheadwasuncoveredandherhairstreaminginthebreeze。Sheonlyrepliedbygracefulbowsandsmilestothecomplimentswhichwereaddressedtoheronallsides。

Thegentlemanwhohadfirstaccostedmeaskedme，ashegaveherhisarm，ifsheweremydaughter。MarcolinesmiledandIansweredthatshewasmycousin，andthatwewerebothVenetians。

AFrenchmanissobentonflatteringaprettywomanthathewillalwaysdoso，evenifitbeattheexpenseofathirdparty。NobodycouldreallythinkthatMarcolinewasmydaughter，forthoughIwastwentyyearsolderthanshewas，Ilookedtenyearsyoungerthanmyrealage，andsoMarcolinesmiledsuggestively。

Wewerejustgoingintothehousewhenalargemastiffrantowardsus，chasingaprettyspaniel，andthelady，beingafraidofgettingbitten，begantorun，madeafalsestep，andfelltotheground。Werantohelpher，butshesaidshehadsprainedherankle，andlimpedintothehouseonthearmofoneofthegentlemen。Refreshmentswerebroughtin，andIsawthatMarcolinelookeduneasyinthecompanyofaladywhowastalkingtoher。Ihastenedtoexcuseher，sayingthatshedidnotspeakFrench。Asamatteroffact，MarcolinehadbeguntotalkasortofFrench，butthemostcharminglanguageintheworldwillnotbearbeingspokenbadly，andIhadbeggedhernottospeakatalltillshehadlearnedtoexpressherselfproperly。Itisbettertoremainsilentthantomakestrangerslaughbyoddexpressionsandabsurdequivocations。

Thelesspretty，orrathertheuglier，ofthetwoladiessaidthatitwasastonishingthattheeducationofyoungladieswasneglectedinsuchashockingmanneratVenice。"FancynotteachingthemFrench！"

"Itiscertainlyverywrong，butinmycountryyoungladiesareneithertaughtforeignlanguagesnorroundgames。Theseimportantbranchesofeducationareattendedtoafterwards。"

"ThenyouareaVenetian，too？"

"Yes，madam。"

"Really，Ishouldnothavethoughtso。"

Imadeabowinreturnforthiscompliment，whichinrealitywasonlyaninsult；forifflatteringtomeitwasinsultingtotherestofmyfellow—countrymen，andMarcolinethoughtasmuchforshemadealittlegrimaceaccompaniedbyaknowingsmile。

"IseethattheyoungladyunderstandsFrench，"saidourflatteringfriend，"shelaughsexactlyintherightplace。"

"Yes，sheunderstandsit，andasforherlaughteritwasduetothefactthatsheknowsmetobelikeallotherVenetians。"

"Possibly，butitiseasytoseethatyouhavelivedalongtimeinFrance。"

"Yes，madam，"saidMarcoline；andthesewordsinherprettyVenetianaccentwereapleasuretohear。

Thegentlemanwhohadtakentheladytoherroomsaid