第96章

CHAPTERIV

MyAmoursWithDonnaIgnazia——MyImprisonmentAtBuenRetiro——MyTriumph——IAmCommendedtotheVenetianAmbassadorbyOneoftheStateInquisitorsWeenteredtheball—roomandwalkedroundseveraltimes。DonnaIgnaziawasinsuchastateofecstasythatIfelthertrembling，andauguredwellformyamorousprojects。Thoughliberty，nay，license，seemedtoreignsupreme，therewasaguardofsoldiersreadytoarrestthefirstpersonwhocreatedanydisturbance。Wedancedseveralminuetsandsquaredances，andatteno’clockwewentintothesupper—room，ourconversationbeingverylimitedallthewhile，shenotspeakingforfearofencouragingmetoomuch，andIonaccountofmypoorknowledgeoftheSpanishlanguage。Ileftheraloneforamomentaftersupper，andwenttothebox，whereIexpectedtofindMadamePichona，butitwasoccupiedbymaskers，whowereunknowntome，soIrejoinedmypartner，andwewentondancingtheminuetsandquadrillestillthefandangowasannounced。I

tookmyplacewithmypartner，whodanceditadmirably，andseemedastonishedtofindherselfsowellsupportedbyaforeigner。Thisdancehadexcitedbothofus，so，aftertakinghertothebuffetandgivingherthebestwinesandliqueursprocurable，Iaskedherifshewerecontentwithme。IaddedthatIwassodeeplyinlovewithherthatunlessshefoundsomemeansofmakingmehappyIshouldundoubtedlydieoflove。I

assuredherthatIwasreadytofaceallhazards。

"Bymakingyouhappy，"shereplied，"Ishallmakemyselfhappy，too。I

willwritetoyouto—morrow，andyouwillfindthelettersewnintothehoodofmydomino。"

"Youwillfindmereadytodoanything，fairIgnazia，ifyouwillgivemehope。"

Atlasttheballwasover，andwewentoutandgotintothecarriage。

Themotherwokeup，andthecoachmandroveoff，andI，takingthegirl’shands，wouldhavekissedthem。However，sheseemedtosuspectthatIhadotherintentions，andheldmyhandsclaspedsotightlythatIbelieveI

shouldhavefounditahardtasktopullthemaway。InthispositionDonnaIgnaziaproceededtotellhermotherallabouttheball，andthedelightithadgivenher。Shedidnotletgomyhandstillwegottothecorneroftheirstreet，whenthemothercalledouttothecoachmantostop，notwishingtogiveherneighboursoccasionforslanderbystoppinginfrontoftheirownhouse。

ThenextdayIsentforthedomino，andinitIfoundaletterfromDonnaIgnazia，inwhichshetoldmethataDonFranciscodeRamoswouldcallonme，thathewasherlover，andthathewouldinformmehowtorenderherandmyselfhappy。

DonFranciscowastednotime，forthenextmorningateighto’clockmypagesentinhisname。HetoldmethatDonnaIgnazia，withwhomhespokeeverynight，shebeingatherwindowandheinthestreet，hadinformedhimthatsheandIhadbeenattheballtogether。ShehadalsotoldhimthatshefeltsureIhadconceivedafatherlyaffectionforher，andshehadconsequentlyprevaileduponhimtocallonme，beingcertainthatI

wouldtreathimasmyownson。Shehadencouragedhimtoaskmetolendhimahundreddoubloonswhichwouldenablethemtogetmarriedbeforetheendofthecarnival。

"IamemployedattheMint，"headded，"butmypresentsalaryisaverysmallone。IhopeIshallgetanincreasebeforelong，andthenIshallbeinapositiontomakeIgnaziahappy。AllmyrelationsliveatToledo，andIhavenofriendsatMadrid，sowhenwesetupouronlyfriendswillbethefatherandmotherofmywifeandyourself，forIamsureyouloveherlikeadaughter。"

"Youhaveprobedmyhearttoitscore，"Ireplied，"butjustnowIamawaitingremittances，andhaveverylittlemoneyaboutme。Youmaycountonmydiscretion，andIshallbedelightedtoseeyouwheneveryoucaretocallonme。"

Thegallantmademeabow，andtookhisdepartureinnogoodhumour。DonFranciscowasayoungmanoftwenty—two，uglyandill—made。Iresolvedtoniptheintrigueinthebud，formyinclinationforDonnaIgnaziawasofthelightestdescription；andIwenttocallonMadamePichona，whohadgivenmesuchapoliteinvitationtocomeandseeher。Ihadmadeenquiriesabouther，andhadfoundoutthatshewasanactressandhadbeenmaderichbytheDukeofMedina—Celi。Thedukehadpaidheravisitinverycoldweather，andfindingherwithoutafire，asshewastoopoortobuycoals，hadsentherthenextdayasilverstove，whichhehadfilledwithahundredthousandpezzosdurosingold，amountingtothreehundredthousandfrancsinFrenchmoney。SincethenMadamePichonalivedathereaseandreceivedgoodcompany。

ShegavemeawarmreceptionwhenIcalledonher，butherlooksweresad。IbeganbysayingthatasIhadnotfoundherinherboxonthelastballnightIhadventuredtocometoenquireafterherhealth。

"Ididnotgo，"saidshe，"foronthatdaydiedmyonlyfriendtheDukeofMedina—Celi。Hewasillforthreedays。"

"Isympathisewithyou。Wasthedukeanoldman？"

"Hardlysixty。Youhaveseenhim；hedidnotlookhisage。"

"WherehaveIseenhim？"

"Didhenotbringyoutomybox？"

"Youdon’tsayso！HedidnottellmehisnameandIneversawhimbefore。"

Iwasgrievedtohearofhisdeath；itwasinallprobabilityamisfortuneformeaswellasMadamePichona。Alltheduke’sestatepassedtoasonofmiserlydisposition，whoinhisturnhadasonwhowasbeginningtoevincetheutmostextravagance。

IwastoldthatthefamilyofMedina—Celienjoysthirtytitlesofnobility。

Onedayayoungmancalledonmetoofferme，asaforeigner，hisservicesinacountrywhichheknewthoroughly。

"IamCountMarazzinidePlaisance，"hebegan，"IamnotrichandIhavecometoMadridtotryandmakemyfortune。IhopetoenterthebodyguardofhisCatholicmajesty。IhavebeenindulgingintheamusementsofthetowneversinceIcame。Isawyouattheballwithanunknownbeauty。I

don’taskyoutotellmehername，butifyouarefondofnoveltyIcanintroduceyoutoallthehandsomestgirlsinMadrid。"

IfmyexperiencehadtaughtmesuchwholesomelessonsasImighthaveexpected，Ishouldhaveshowntheimpudentrascalthedoor。Alas！

Ibegantobewearyofmyexperienceandthefruitsofit；Ibegantofeelthehorrorsofagreatvoid；Ihadneedofsomeslightpassiontowileawaythedrearyhours。IthereforemadethisMercurywelcome，andtoldhimIshouldbeobligedbyhispresentingmetosomebeauties，neithertooeasynortoodifficulttoaccess。

"Comewithmetotheball，"herejoined，"andIwillshewyousomewomenworthyofyourattention。"

Theballwastotakeplacethesameevening，andIagreed；heaskedmetogivehimsomedinner，andIagreedtothatalso。Afterdinnerhetoldmehehadnomoney，andIwasfoolishenoughtogivehimadoubloon。Thefellow，whowasugly，blindofoneeye，andfullofimpudence，shewedmeascoreofprettywomen，whosehistorieshetoldme，andseeingmetobeinterestedinoneofthemhepromisedtobringhertoaprocuress。Hekepthisword，buthecostmedear；forthegirlonlyservedforanevening’samusement。

TowardstheendofthecarnivalthenobleDonDiego，thefatherofDonnaIgnazia，broughtmemyboots，andthethanksofhiswifeandhimselfforthepleasureIhadgivenherattheball。

"Sheisasgoodassheisbeautiful，"saidI，"shedeservestoprosper，andifIhavenotcalledonheritisonlythatIamanxioustodonothingwhichcouldinjureherreputation。"

"Herreputation，SenorCaballero，isaboveallreproach，andIshallbedelightedtoseeyouwheneveryouhonourmewithacall。"

"Thecarnivaldrawsneartoitsend，"Ireplied，"andifDonnaIgnaziawouldliketogotoanotherballIshallbehappytotakeheragain。"

"Youmustcomeandaskheryourself。"

"Iwillnotfailtodoso。"

Iwasanxioustoseehowthepiousgirl，whohadtriedtomakemepayahundreddoubloonsforthechanceofhavingherafterhermarriage，wouldgreetme，soIcalledthesameday。Ifoundherwithhermother，rosaryinhand，whilehernoblefatherwasbotchingoldboots。Ilaughedinwardlyatbeingobligedtogivethetitleofdontoacobblerwhowouldnotmakebootsbecausehewasanhidalgo。Hidalgo，meaningnoble，isderivedfrom’higodealbo’，sonofsomebody，andthepeople，whomthenoblescall’higosdenade’，sonsofnobody，oftenrevengethemselvesbycallingthenobleshideputas，thatistosay，sonsofharlots。

DonnaIgnaziarosepolitelyfromthefloor，whereshewassittingcross—

legged，aftertheMoorishfashion。IhaveseenexaltedladiesinthispositionatMadrid，anditisverycommonintheantechambersoftheCourtandthepalaceofthePrincessoftheAsturias。TheSpanishwomensitinchurchinthesameway，andtherapiditywithwhichtheycanchangethisposturetoakneelingorastandingoneissomethingamazing。

DonnaIgnaziathankedmeforhonouringherwithavisit，addingthatshewouldneverhavegonetotheballifithadnotbeenforme，andthatsheneverhopedtogotoitagain，asIhaddoubtlessfoundsomeoneelsemoreworthyofmyattentions。

"Ihavenotfoundanyoneworthytobepreferredbeforeyou，"Ireplied，"andifyouwouldliketogototheballagainIshouldbemosthappytotakeyou。"

ThefatherandmotherweredelightedwiththepleasureIwasabouttogivetotheirbeloveddaughter。Astheballwastotakeplacethesameevening，Igavethemotheradoubloontogetamaskanddomino。Shewentonhererrand，and，asDonDiegoalsowentoutonsomebusiness，Ifoundmyselfalonewiththegirl。ItooktheopportunityoftellingherthatifshewilledIwouldbehers，asIadoredher，butthatIcouldnotsighforlong。

"Whatcanyouask，andwhatcanIoffer，sinceImustkeepmyselfpureformyhusband？"

"Youshouldabandonyourselftomewithoutreserve，andyoumaybesurethatIshouldrespectyourinnocence。"

Ithenproceededtodeliveragentleattack，whichsherepulsed，withaseriousface。Istoppeddirectly，tellingherthatshewouldfindmepoliteandrespectful，butnotintheleastaffectionate，fortherestoftheevening。

Herfacehadblushedavividscarlet，andsherepliedthathersenseofdutyobligedhertorepulsemeinspiteofherself。

Ilikedthismetaphysicallineofargument。IsawthatIhadonlytodestroytheideaofdutyinherandalltherestwouldfollow。WhatI

hadtodowastoenterintoanargument，andtobearawaytheprizedirectlyIsawheratalossforananswer。

"Ifyourduty，"Ibegan，"forcesyoutorepulsemeinspiteofyourself，yourdutyisaburdenonyou。Ifitisaburdenonyou，itisyourenemy，andifitisyourenemywhydoyousufferitthuslightlytogainthevictory？Ifyouwereyourownfriend，youwouldatonceexpelthisinsolentenemyfromyourcoasts。"

"Thatmaynotbe。"

"Yes，itmay。Onlyshutyoureyes。"

"Likethat？"

"Yes。"

Iimmediatelylaidhandsonatenderplace；sherepulsedme，butmoregentlyandnotsoseriouslyasbefore。

"Youmay，ofcourse，seduceme，"shesaid，"butifyoureallylovemeyouwillsparemetheshame。"

"DearestIgnazia，thereisnoshameinagirlgivingherselfuptothemansheloves。Lovejustifiesallthings。IfyoudonotlovemeIasknothingofyou。"

"ButhowshallIconvinceyouthatIamactuatedbyloveandnotbycomplaisance？"

"LeavemetodowhatIlike，andmyself—esteemwillhelpmetobelieveyou。"

"ButasIcannotbecertainthatyouwillbelieveme，mydutyplainlypointstoarefusal。"

"Verygood，butyouwillmakemesadandcold。"

"ThenIshallbesad，too。"

AttheseencouragingwordsIembracedher，andobtainedsomesolidfavourswithonehardyhand。Shemadenoopposition，andIwaswellpleasedwithwhatIhadgot；andforafirstattemptIcouldnotwellexpectmore。

Atthisjuncturethemothercameinwiththedominosandgloves。I

refusedtoacceptthechange，andwentawaytoreturninmycarriage，asbefore。

Thusthefirststephadbeentaken，andDonnaIgnaziafeltitwouldberidiculousnottojoininwithmyconversationattheballwhichalltendedtoprocuringthepleasureofspendingournightstogether。Shefoundmeaffectionatealltheevening，andatsupperIdidmybesttogethereverythingsheliked。Imadeherseethatthepartshehadatlasttakenwasworthyofpraise，andnotblame。Ifilledherpocketswithsweets，andputintomyownpocketstwobottlesofratafia，whichI

handedovertothemother，whowasasleepinthecarriage。DonnaIgnaziagratefullyrefusedthequadrupleIwishedtogiveher，sayingthatifitwereinmypowertomakesuchpresents，Imightgivethemoneytoherloverwheneverhecalledonme。

"Certainly，"Ianswered，"butwhatshallIsaytopreventhistakingoffence？"

"Tellhimthatitisonaccountofwhatheaskedyou。Heispoor，andI

amsureheisindespairatnotseeingmeinthewindowto—night。I

shalltellhimIonlywenttotheballwithyoutopleasemyfather。"

DonnaIgnazia，amixtureofvoluptuousnessandpiety，likemostSpanishwomen，dancedthefandangowithsomuchfirethatnowordscouldhaveexpressedsowelltheJoysthatwereinstoreforme。Whatadanceitis！Herbosomwasheavingandherbloodallaflame，andyetIwastoldthatforthegreaterpartofthecompanythedancewaswhollyinnocent，anddevoidofanyintention。Ipretendedtobelieveit，butIcertainlydidnot。IgnaziabeggedmetocometomassattheChurchoftheSoledadthenextdayateighto’clock。IhadnotyettoldherthatitwasthereIhadseenherfirst。Shealsoaskedmetocomeandseeherintheevening，andsaidshewouldsendmealetterifwewerenotleftalonetogether。

Islepttillnoon，andwasawokebyMarazzini，whocametoaskmetogivehimsomedinner。Hetoldmehehadseenmewithmyfaircompanionthenightbefore，andthathehadvainlyendeavouredtofindoutwhoshewas。

Iborewiththissingularlymisplacedcuriosity，butwhenitcametohissayingthathewouldhavefollowedusifhehadhadanymoney，Ispoketohiminamannerthatmadehimturnpale。Hebeggedpardon，andpromisedtobridlehiscuriosityforthefuture。HeproposedapartyofpleasurewiththefamouscourtezanSpiletta，whosefavoursweredear，butI

declined，formymindwastakenupwiththefairIgnazia，whomI

consideredaworthysuccessortoCharlotte。

Iwenttothechurch，andshesawmewhenshecamein，followedbythesamecompanionasbefore。

Shekneltdownattwoorthreepacesfromme，butdidnotoncelookinmydirection。Herfriend，ontheotherhand，inspectedmeclosely；sheseemedaboutthesameageasIgnazia，butshewasugly。IalsonoticedDonFrancisco，andasIwasgoingoutofthechurchmyrivalfollowedme，andcongratulatedmesomewhatbitterlyonmygoodfortuneinhavingtakenhismistressasecondtimetotheball。Heconfessedthathehadbeenonourtrackthewholeevening，andthatheshouldhavegoneawaywellenoughpleasedifithadnotbeenforthewayinwhichwedancethefandango。Ifeltthiswasanoccasionforalittlegentlemanagement，andIansweredgood—humouredlythatthelovehethoughthenoticedwaswhollyimaginary，andthathewaswrongtoentertainanysuspicionsastosovirtuousagirlasDonnaIgnazia。AtthesametimeIplacedanounceinhishand，begginghimtotakeitonaccount。Hedidsowithanastonishedstare，and，callingmehisfatherandguardianangel，sworeaneternalgratitude。

IntheeveningIcalledonDonDiego，whereIwasregaledwiththeexcellentratafiaIhadgiventhemother，andthewholefamilybegantospeakoftheobligationsSpainowedtotheCountofAranda。

"Noexerciseismorehealthfulthandancing，"saidAntonia，themother，"andbeforehistimeballswerestrictlyforbidden。Inspiteofthatheishatedforhavingexpelled’lospadresdelacompagniadeJesus’，andforhissumptuaryregulations。Butthepoorblesshisname，forallthemoneyproducedbytheballsgoestothem。"

"Andthus，"saidthefather，"togototheballistodoapiouswork。"

"Ihavetwocousins，"saidIgnazia，"whoareperfectangelsofgoodness。

Itoldthemthatyouhadtakenmetotheball；buttheyaresopoorthattheyhavenohopeofgoing。Ifyoulikeyoucanmakethemquitehappybytakingthemonthelastdayofthecarnival。Theballclosesatmidnight，soasnottoprofaneAshWednesday。"

"Ishallbehappytoobligeyou，allthemoreasyourladymotherwillnotbeobligedtowaitforusinthecarriage。"

"Youareverykind；butIshallhavetointroduceyoutomyaunt；sheissoparticular。Whensheknowsyou，Iamsureshewillconsent，foryouhavealltheairofdiscretion。Goandseeherto—day；shelivesinthenextstreet，andoverherdooryouwillseeanoticethatlaceiswashedwithin。Tellherthatmymothergaveyoutheaddress。To—morrowmorning，aftermass，Iwillseetoeverythingelse，andyoumustcomehereatnoontoagreeastoourmeetingonthelastdayofthecarnival。"

Ididallthis，andthenextdayIheardthatitwassettled。

"Iwillhavethedominosreadyatmyhouse，"Isaid，"andyoumustcomeinatthebackdoor。Wewilldineinmyroom，mask，andgototheball。

Theeldestofyourcousinsmustbedisguisedasaman。"

"Iwon’ttellheranythingaboutthat，forfearshemightthinkitasin，butonceinyourhouseyouwillhavenodifficultyinmanagingher。"

Theyoungerofthetwocousinswasugly，butlookedlikeawoman，whereastheelderlookedlikeanuglydressedmaninwoman’sclothes。ShemadeanamusingcontrastwithDonnaIgnazia，wholookedmostseductivewhenshelaidasideherairofpiety。

Itookcarethateverythingrequisiteforourdisguisesshouldbeathandinaneighbouringcloset，unbeknowntomyrascallypage。Igavehimapieceofmoneyinthemorning，andtoldhimtospendthelastdayofthecarnivalaccordingtohisowntaste，asIshouldnotrequirehisservicestillnoonthedayafter。

Iorderedagooddinner，andawaitertoserveit，atthetavern，andgotridofMarazzinibygivinghimadoubloon。ItookgreatpainsovertheentertainmentIwastogivethetwocousinsandthefairIgnazia，whomI

hopedthatdaytomakemymistress。Itwasallquiteanoveltyforme；I

hadtodowiththreedevotees，twohideousandthethirdravishinglybeautiful，whohadalreadyhadaforetasteofthejoysinstoreforher。

Theycameatnoon，andforanhourIdiscoursedtotheminamoralandunctuousmanner。Ihadtakencaretoprovidemyselfwithsomeexcellentwine，whichdidnotfailtotakeeffectonthethreegirls，whowerenotaccustomedtoadinnerthatlastedtwohours。Theywerenotexactlyinebriated，buttheirspiritswereworkeduptoapitchtheyhadneverattainedbefore。

Itoldtheeldercousin，whomightbetwenty—fiveyearsold，thatIwasgoingtodisguiseherasaman；consternationappearedonherfeatures，butIhadexpectedasmuch，andDonnaIgnaziatoldhershewasonlytoolucky，andhersisterobservedthatshedidnotthinkitcouldbeasin。

"Ifitwereasin，"saidI，"doyousupposethatIshouldhavesuggestedittoyourvirtuoussister。"

DonnaIgnazia，whoknewtheLegendariumbyheart，corroboratedmyassertionbysayingthattheblessedSt。Marinahadpassedherwholelifeinman’sclothes；andthissettledthematter。

Ithenburstintoaveryhigh—flowneulogiumofherintellectualcapacity，soastoenlisthervanityinthegoodcause。

"Comewithme，"saidI，"anddoyouladieswaithere；Iwanttoenjoyyoursurprisewhenyouseeherinman’sclothes。"

Theuglycousinmadeasupremeeffortandfollowedme，andwhenshehaddulyinspectedherdisguiseItoldhertotakeoffherbootsandtoputonwhitestockingsandshoes，ofwhichIhadprovidedseveralpairs。I

satdownbeforeher，andtoldherthatifshesuspectedmeofanydishonourableintentionsshewouldcommitamortalsin，asIw