第80章

Iimmediatelycalledonmyadvocate，andtoldhimoftherascal’sproposal；andhesaidIwasquiterighttorefusetohaveanydealingswithsuchafellow。HeaddedthatasIhadM。BonoasawitnessIoughttomakePossano’sadvocatepresenthisplea，andI

authorizedhimtotakeproceedingsinmyname。

Aclerkwasimmediatelysenttothecriminallieutenant，prayinghimtocommandtheadvocatetobringbeforehim，inthreedays，thepleaofoneAnami，aliasPogomas，aliasPossano，thesaidpleabeingagainstJacquesCasanova，commonlycalledtheChevalierdeSeingalt。

Thisdocument，towhichIaffixedmysignature，waslaidbeforethecriminallieutenant。

Ididnotcareforthethreedays’delay，butmycounseltoldmeitwasalwaysgiven，andthatImustmakeupmymindtosubmittoallthevexationIshouldbeobligedtoundergo，evenifwewerewhollysuccessful。

AsMadamed’UrfehadtakenherdepartureinconformitywiththeordersofParalis，IdinedwithMarcolineattheinn，andtriedtoraisemyspiritsbyallthemeansinmypower。Itookmymistresstothebestmillinersanddressmakersinthetown，andboughthereverythingshetookafancyto；andthenwewenttothetheatre，whereshemusthavebeenpleasedtoseealleyesfixedonher。

MadamePernon，whowasinthenextboxtoours，mademeintroduceMarcolinetoher；andfromthewaytheyembracedeachotherwhentheplaywasoverIsawtheywerelikelytobecomeintimate，theonlyobstacletotheirfriendshipbeingthatMadamePernondidnotknowawordofItalian，andthatMarcolinedidnotdaretospeakawordofFrenchforfearofmakingherselfridiculous。Whenwegotbacktotheinn，MarcolinetoldmethathernewfriendhadgivenhertheFlorentinekiss:thisistheshibbolethofthesect。

Theprettynick—nacksIhadgivenherhadmadeherhappy；herardourwasredoubled，andthenightpassedjoyously。

Ispentthenextdayingoingfromshoptoshop，makingfreshpurchasesforMarcoline，andwesuppedmerrilyatMadamePernon’s。

Thedayafter，M。Bonocametoseemeatanearlyhourwithasmileofcontentonhisface。

"Letusgoandbreakfastatacoffee—house，"saidhe；"wewillhavesomediscussiontogether。"

WhenwewerebreakfastingheshewedmealetterwrittenbyPossano，inwhichtherascalsaidthathewasreadytoabandonproceedingsprovidedthatM。deSeingaltgavehimahundredlouis，onreceiptofwhichhepromisedtoleaveLyonsimmediately。

"Ishouldbeagreatfool，"saidI，"ifIgavetheknavemoremoneytoescapefromthehandsofjustice。Lethimgoifhelikes，Iwon’tpreventhim；buthehadbetternotexpectmetogivehimanything。

Hewillhaveawritoutagainsthimto—morrow。Ishouldliketoseehimbrandedbythehangman。Hehasslanderedme，hisbenefactor，toogrievously；lethimprovewhathesays，orbedishonouredbeforeallmen。"

"Hisabandoningtheproceedings，"saidM。Bono，"wouldinmyopinionamounttothesamethingashisfailingtoprovehischarges，andyouwoulddowelltopreferittoatrialwhichwoulddoyourreputationnogood，evenifyouwerecompletelysuccessful。Andthehundredlouisisnothingincomparisonwiththecostsofsuchatrial。"

"M。Bono，Ivalueyouradviceveryhighly，andstillmorehighlythekindlyfeelingswhichpromptyou，butyoumustallowmetofollowmyownopinioninthiscase。"

IwenttomycounselandtoldhimofthefreshproposalthatPossanohadmade，andofmyrefusaltolistentoit，begginghimtotakemeasuresforthearrestofthevillainwhohadvowedmydeath。

ThesameeveningIhadMadamePernonandM。Bono，whowasherlover，tosupwithme；andasthelatterhadagoodknowledgeofItalianMarcolinewasabletotakepartinthemerrimentofthecompany。

ThenextdayBonowrotetotellmethatPossanohadleftLyonsnevertoreturn，andthathehadsignedafullandsatisfactoryretraction。

Iwasnotsurprisedtohearofhisflight，buttheothercircumstanceIcouldnotunderstand。IthereforehastenedtocallonBono，whoshowedmethedocument，whichwascertainlyplainenough。

"Willthatdo？"saidhe。

"SowellthatIforgivehim，butIwonderhedidnotinsistonthehundredLouis。"

"Mydearsir，Igavehimthemoneywithpleasure，topreventascandalousaffairwhichwouldhavedoneusallharminbecomingpublic。IfIhadtoldyounothing，youcouldn’thavetakenanystepsinthematter，andIfeltmyselfobligedtorepairthemischiefIhaddoneinthisway。Youwouldhaveknownnothingaboutit，ifyouhadsaidthatyouwerenotsatisfied。Iamonlytoogladtohavebeenenabledtoskewmyfriendshipbythistriflingservice。Wewillsaynomoreaboutit。"

"Verygood，"saidI，embracinghim，"wewillsaynomore，butpleasetoreceivetheassuranceofmygratitude。"

IconfessIfeltmuchrelievedatbeingfreedfromthistroublesomebusiness。

EndToLondonByJacquesCasanovaMEMOIRSOFJACQUESCASANOVAdeSEINGALT1725—1798

INLONDONANDMOSCOW，Volume5b——TOLONDON

THEMEMOIRSOFJACQUESCASANOVADESEINGALT

THERAREUNABRIDGEDLONDONEDITIONOF1894TRANSLATEDBYARTHUR

MACHENTOWHICHHASBEENADDEDTHECHAPTERSDISCOVEREDBYARTHUR

SYMONS。

TOLONDON

CHAPTERV

IMeettheVenetianAmbassadorsatLyons，andalsoMarcoline’sUncle——IPartfromMarcolineandSetOutforParis——AnAmorousJourneyThusfreedfromthecareswhichthedreadfulslandersofPossanohadcausedme，IgavemyselfuptotheenjoymentofmyfairVenetian，doingallinmypowertoincreaseherhappiness，asifIhadhadapremonitionthatweshouldsoonbeseparatedfromoneanother。

ThedayafterthesupperIgavetoMadamePernonandM。Bono，wewenttothetheatretogether，andintheboxoppositetousIsawM。

Querini，theprocurator，Morosini，M。Memmo，andCountStratico，aProfessoroftheUniversityofPadua。Iknewallthesegentlemen；

theyhadbeeninLondon，andwerepassingthroughLyonsontheirreturntoVenice。

"Farewell，fairMarcoline！"Isaidtomyself，feelingquitebroken—

hearted，butIremainedcalm，andsaidnothingtoher。ShedidnotnoticethemasshewasabsorbedinherconversationwithM。Bono，andbesides，shedidnotknowthembysight。IsawthatM。Memmohadseenmeandwastellingtheprocuratorofmypresence，andasIknewthelatterverywellIfeltboundtopaythemmyrespectsthenandthere。

Querinireceivedmeverypolitelyforadevotee，asalsodidMorosini，whileMemmoseemedmoved；butnodoubtherememberedthatitwaschieflyduetohismotherthatIhadbeenimprisonedeightyearsago。IcongratulatedthegentlemenontheirembassytoEngland，ontheirreturntotheirnativeland，andforform’ssakecommendedmyselftotheirgoodofficestoenablemetoreturnalso。

M。Morosini，noticingtherichnessofmydressandmygeneralappearanceofprosperity，saidthatwhileIhadtostayawayhehadtoreturn，andthatheconsideredmetheluckierman。

"Yourexcellencyiswellaware，"saidI，"thatnothingissweeterthanforbiddenfruit。"

Hesmiled，andaskedmewhitherIwentandwhenceIcame。

"IcomefromRome，"Ianswered，"whereIhadsomeconversewiththeHolyFather，whomIknewbefore，andIamgoingthroughParisonmywaytoLondon。

"Callonmehere，ifyouhavetime，Ihavealittlecommissiontogiveyou。"

"Ishallalwayshavetimetoserveyourexcellencyin。Areyoustoppinghereforlong？"

"Threeorfourdays。"

WhenI’gotbacktomyboxMarcolineaskedmewhowerethegentlementowhomIhadbeenspeaking。Iansweredcoollyandindifferently，butwatchingherasIspoke，thattheyweretheVenetianambassadorsontheirwayfromLondon。Theflushofhercheekdiedawayandwasreplacedbypallor；sheraisedhereyestoheaven，loweredthem，andsaidnotaword。Myheartwasbroken。AfewminutesafterwardssheaskedmewhichwasM。Querini，andafterIhadpointedhimouttohershewatchedhimfurtivelyfortherestoftheevening。

Thecurtainfell，weleftourbox，andatthedoorofthetheatrewefoundtheambassadorswaitingfortheircarriage。Minewasinthesamelineastheirs。TheambassadorQuerinisaid，——

"Youhaveaveryprettyyoungladywithyou。"

Marcolinesteppedforward，seizedhishand，andkisseditbeforeI

couldanswer。

Querini，whowasgreatlyastonished，thankedherandsaid，——

"WhathaveIdonetodeservethishonour？"

"Because，"saidMarcoline，speakingintheVenetiandialect，"IhavethehonourofknowinghisexcellencyM。Querini。"

"WhatareyoudoingwithM。Casanova？"

"Heismyuncle。"

Mycarriagecameup。Imadeaprofoundbowtotheambassadors，andcalledouttothecoachman，"Tothe’HotelduParc’。"ItwasthebesthotelinLyons，andIwasnotsorryfortheVenetianstohearwhereIwasstaying。

Marcolinewasindespair，forshesawthatthetimeforpartingwasnearathand。

"Wehavethreeorfourdaysbeforeus，"saidI，"inwhichwecancontrivehowtocommunicatewithyouruncleMattio。ImustcommendyouhighlyforkissingM。Querini’shand。Thatwasamasterstrokeindeed。Allwillgooffwell；butIhopeyouwillbemerry，forsadnessIabhor。"

WewerestillattablewhenIheardthevoiceofM。Memmointheante—chamber；hewasayoungman，intelligentandgood—natured。I

warnedMarcolinenottosayawordaboutourprivateaffairs，buttodisplayamoderategaiety。Theservantannouncedtheyoungnobleman，andwerosetowelcomehim；buthemadeussitdownagain，andsatbesideus，anddrankaglassofwinewiththeutmostcordiality。HetoldmehowhehadbeensuppingwiththeolddevoteeQuerini，whohadhadhishandkissedbyayoungandfairVenetian。Theambassadorsweremuchamusedatthecircumstance，andQuerinihimself，inspiteofhisscrupulousconscience，wasgreatlyflattered。

"MayIaskyou，mademoiselle，"headded，"howyoucametoknowM。

Querini？"

"It’samystery，sir。"

"Amystery，isit？Whatfunweshallhavetomorrow！Ihavecome，"

hesaid，addressinghimselftome，"toaskyoutodinewithusto—

morrow，andyoumustbringyourcharmingniece。"

"Wouldyouliketogo，Marcoline？"

"’Congrandissimopiacere’！WeshallspeakVenetian，shallwenot？"

"Certainly。"

"’Eviva’！IcannotlearnFrench。"

"M。Queriniisinthesameposition，"saidM。Memmo。

Afterhalfanhour’sagreeableconversationheleftus，andMarcolineembracedmewithdelightathavingmadesuchagoodimpressiononthesegentlemen。

"Putonyourbestdressto—morrow，"saidI，"anddonotforgetyourjewels。Beagreeabletoeverybody，butpretendnottoseeyourUncleMattio，whowillbesuretowaitattable。"

"YoumaybesureIshallfollowyouradvicetotheletter。"

"AndImeantomaketherecognitionasceneworthyofthedrama。I

intendthatyoushallbetakenbacktoVenicebyM。Querinihimself，whileyourunclewilltakecareofyoubyhisspecialorders。"

"Ishallbedelightedwiththisarrangement，provideditsucceeds。"

"Youmaytrusttomeforthat。"

Atnineo’clockthenextdayIcalledonMorosiniconcerningthecommissionshehadforme。HegavemealittleboxandaletterforLadyHarrington，andanotherletterwiththewords，——

"TheProcuratorMorosiniisverysorrynottohavebeenabletotakealastleaveofMdlle。Charpillon。"

"WhereshallIfindher？"

"Ireallydon’tknow。Ifyoufindher，givehertheletter；ifnot，itdoesn’tmatter。That’sadazzlingbeautyyouhavewithyou，Casanova。"

"Well，shehasdazzledme。"

"ButhowdidsheknowQuerini？"

"ShehasseenhimatVenice，butshehasneverspokentohim。"

"Ithoughtso；wehavebeenlaughingoverit，butQueriniishugelypleased。Buthowdidyougetholdofher？Shemustbeveryyoung，asMemmosaysshecannotspeakFrench。"

"Itwouldbealongstorytotell，andafterallwemetthroughamerechance。"

"Sheisnotyourniece。"

"Nay，sheismore——sheismyqueen。"

"YouwillhavetoteachherFrench，aswhenyougettoLondon。"

"Iamnotgoingtotakeherthere；shewantstoreturntoVenice。"

"Ipityyouifyouareinlovewithher！Ihopeshewilldinewithus？"

"Oh，yes！sheisdelightedwiththehonour。"

"Andwearedelightedtohaveourpoorrepastanimatedbysuchacharmingperson。"

"Youwillfindherworthyofyourcompany；sheisfullofwit。"

WhenIgotbacktotheinnItoldMarcolinethatifanythingwassaidatdinneraboutherreturntoVenice，shewastoreplythatnoonecouldmakeherreturnexceptM。Querini，butthatifshecouldhavehisprotectionshewouldgladlygobackwithhim。

"Iwilldrawyououtofthedifficulty，"saidI；andshepromisedtocarryoutmyinstructions。

Marcolinefollowedmyadvicewithregardtohertoilette，andlookedbrilliantinallrespects；andI，wishingtoshineintheeyesoftheproudVenetiannobles，haddressedmyselfwiththeutmostrichness。

Iworeasuitofgreyvelvet，trimmedwithgoldandsilverlace；mypointlaceshirtwasworthatleastfiftylouis；andmydiamonds，mywatches，mychains，myswordofthefinestEnglishsteel，mysnuff—

boxsetwithbrilliants，mycrosssetwithdiamonds，mybucklessetwiththesamestones，werealtogetherworthmorethanfiftythousandcrowns。Thisostentation，thoughpuerileinitself，yethadapurpose，forIwishedM。deBragadintoknowthatIdidnotcutabadfigureintheworld；andIwishedtheproudmagistrateswhohadmademequitmynativelandtolearnthatIhadlostnothing，andcouldlaughattheirseverity。

Inthisgorgeousstylewedrovetotheambassador’sdinnerathalf—

pastone。

AllpresentwereVenetians，andtheywelcomedMarcolineenthusiastically。ShewhowasbornwiththeinstinctofgoodmannersbehavedwiththegraceofanymphandthedignityofaFrenchprincess；andassoonasshewasseatedbetweentwograveandreverendsignors，shebeganbysayingthatshewasdelightedtofindherselftheonlyrepresentativeofhersexinthisdistinguishedcompany，andalsothattherewerenoFrenchmenpresent。

"Thenyoudon’tliketheFrench，"saidM。Memmo。

"IlikethemwellenoughsofarasIknowthem，butIamonlyacquaintedwiththeirexterior，asIdon’tspeakorunderstandthelanguage。"

Afterthiseverybodyknewhowtotakeher，andthegaietybecamegeneral。

Sheansweredallquestionstothepoint，andentertainedthecompanywithherremarksonFrenchmanners，sodifferenttoVenetiancustoms。

InthecourseofdinnerM。Queriniaskedhowshehadknownhim，andsherepliedthatshehadoftenseenhimatDivineservice，whereatthedevoteeseemedgreatlyflattered。M。Morosini，pretendingnottoknowthatshewastoreturntoVenice，toldherthatunlessshemadehastetoacquireFrench，theuniversallanguage，shewouldfindLondonverytedious，astheItalianlanguagewasverylittleknownthere。

"Ihope，"shereplied，"thatM。deSeingaltwillnotbringmeintothesocietyofpeoplewithwhomIcannotexchangeideas。IknowI

shallneverbeabletolearnFrench。"

WhenwehadleftthetabletheambassadorsbeggedmetotellthestoryofmyescapefromTheLeads，andIwasgladtoobligethem。

Mystorylastedfortwowholehours；andasitwasnoticedthatMarcoline’seyesbecamewetwithtearswhenIcametospeakofmygreatdanger。Shewasrallieduponthecircumstance，andtoldthatnieceswerenotusuallysoemotional。

"Thatmaybe，gentlemen，"shereplied，"thoughIdonotseewhyanieceshouldnotloveheruncle。ButIhaveneverlovedanyoneelsebuttheheroofthetale，andIcannotseewhatdifferencetherecanbebetweenonekindofloveandanother。"

"Therearefivekindsofloveknowntoman，"saidM。Querini。"Theloveofone’sneighbour，theloveofGod，whichisbeyondcompare，thehighestofall，lovematrimonial，theloveofhouseandhome，andtheloveofself，whichoughttocomelastofall，thoughmanyplaceitinthefirstrank。"

Thenoblemancommentedbrieflyonthesediversekindsoflove，butwhenhecametotheloveofGodhebegantosoar，andIwasgreatlyastonishedtoseeMarcolinesheddingtears，whichshewipedawayhastilyasiftohidethemfromthesightoftheworthyoldmanwhomwinehadmademoretheologicalthanusual。Feigningtobeenthusiastic，Marcolinetookhishandandkissedit，whileheinhisvainexaltationdrewhertowardshimandkissedheronthebrow，saying，"Poveretta，youareanangel！"

Atthisincident，inwhichtherewasmoreloveofourneighbourthanloveofGod，weallbitourlipstopreventourselvesburstingoutlaughing，andtheslylittlepusspretendedtobeextremelymoved。

IneverknewMarcoline’scapacitiestillthen，forsheconfessedthatheremotionwaswhollyfictitious，anddesignedtowintheoldman’sgoodgraces；andthatifshehadfollowedherowninclinationsshewouldhavelaughedheartily。Shewasdesignedtoactaparteitheruponthestageoronathrone。Chancehadordainedthatsheshouldbebornofthepeople，andhereducationhadbeenneglected；butifshehadbeenproperlytutoredshewouldhavebeenfitforanything。

Beforereturninghomewewerewarmlyinvitedtodinnerthenextday。

Aswewantedtobetogether，wedidnotgotothetheatrethatdayandwhenwegothomeIdidnotwaitforMarcolinetoundresstocoverherwithkisses。

"Dearheart，"saidI，"youhavenotshewnmeallyourperfectionstillnow，whenweareabouttopart；youmakemeregretyouaregoingbacktoVenice。Todayyouwonallhearts。"

"Keepmethen，withyou，andIwilleverbeasIhavebeento—day。

Bytheway，didyouseemyuncle？"

"Ithinkso。Wasitnothewhowasincontinualattendance？"

"Yes。Irecognizedhimbyhisring。Didhelook，atme？"

"Allthetime，andwithanairofthegreatestastonishment。I

avoidedcatchinghiseye，whichrovedfromyoutomecontinually。"

"Ishouldliketoknowwhatthegoodmanthinks！Youwillseehimagainto—morrow。IamsurehewillhavetoldM。Querinithat，Iamhisniece，andconsequentlynotyours。

"Iexpectso，too。"

"AndifM。Querinisaysasmuchtometo—morrow，I，expectIshallhaveto，admitthefact。Whatdoyouthink？"

"Youmustundoubtedlytellhimthetruth，butfranklyandopenly，andsoasnottolethimthinkthatyouhaveneedofhimtoreturntoVenice。Heisnotyourfather，andhasnorightoveryourliberty。"

"Certainlynot。"

"Verygood。YoumustalsoagreethatIamnotyouruncle，andthatthebondbetweenusis，ofthemosttenderdescription。Will，therebeanydifficultyisthat？"

"Howcanyouaskmesuchaquestion？Thelinkbetweenusmakesmefeelproud，andwilleverdoso。"

"Well，well，Isaynomore。Itrustentirelyinyourtact。RememberthatQueriniandnoothermusttakeyoubacktoVenice；hemusttreatyouasifyouwerehisdaughter。Ifhewillnotconsent，youshallnotreturnatall。"

"WouldtoGoditwereso！"

EarlythenextmorningIgotanotefromM。Querinirequestingmetocallonhim，ashewantedtospeaktomeonamatterofimportance。

"Wearegettingon，"saidMarcoline。"Iamverygladthatthingshavetakenthisturn，forwhenyoucomebackyoucantellmethewholestory，andIcanregulatemyconductaccordingly。"

IfoundQueriniandMorosinitogether。TheygavemetheirhandswhenIcamein，andQueriniaskedmetositdown，sayingthattherewouldbenothinginourdiscussionwhichM。Morosinimightnothear。

"Ihaveaconfidencetomaketoyou，M。Casanova，"hebegan；"butfirstIwantyoutodomethesamefavor。"

"Icanhavenosecretsfromyourexcellency。"

"Iamobligedtoyou，andwilltrytodeserveyourgoodopinion。

Ibegthatyouwilltellmesincerelywhetheryouknowtheyoungpersonwhoiswithyou，fornoonebelievesthatsheisyourniece。"

"Itistruethatsheis——notmyniece，butnotbeingacquaintedwithherrelationsorfamilyIcannotbesaid