第99章

Whenshehadexhaustedheramorousfuryshethrewherselfintoabath，thencameback，drankabottleofMalmseyMadeira，andfinallymadeherbrutalloverdrinktillhefellontothefloor。

Ifledintothenextroom，notbeingabletobearitanylonger，butshefollowedme。Shewasstillnaked，andseatingherselfbesidemeonanottomansheaskedmehowIhadenjoyedthespectacle。

Itoldherboldythatthedisgustwithwhichherwretchedcompanionhadinspiredmewassogreatthatithadutterlyannulledtheeffectofhercharms。

"Thatmaybeso，butnowheisnothere，andyetyoudonothing。Onewouldnotthinkit，tolookatyou。"

"Youareright，forIhavemyfeelingslikeanyotherman，buthehasdisgustedmetoomuch。Waittilltomorrow，andletmenotseethatmonstersounworthyofenjoyingyou。"

"Hedoesnotenjoyme。IfIthoughthedidIwouldratherdiethanlethimhavetodowithme，forIdetesthim。"

"What！youdonotlovehim，andyetyoumakeuseofhiminthewayyoudo？"

"Yes，justasImightuseamechanicalinstrument。"

InthiswomanIsawaninstanceofthedepthsofdegradationtowhichhumannaturemaybebrought。

Sheaskedmetosupwithheronthefollowingday，tellingmethatwewouldbealone，asMolinariwouldbeill。

"Hewillhavegotovertheeffectsofthewine。"

"Itellyouhewillbeill。Cometo—morrow，andcomeeveryevening。"

"Iamgoingthedayafterto—morrow。"

"Youwillnotgoforaweek，andthenwewillgotogether。"

"That’simpossible。"

"Ifyougoyouwillinsultmebeyondbearing。"

Iwenthomewithmymindmadeuptodepartwithouthavinganythingmoretodowithher；andthoughIwasfarfrominexperiencedinwickednessofallkinds，IcouldnothelpfeelingastonishedattheunblushingfranknessofthisMegaera，whohadtoldmewhatIalreadyknew，butinwordsthatIhadneverheardawomanusebefore。

"Ionlyusehimtosatisfymydesires，andbecauseIamcertainthathedoesnotloveme；ifIthoughthedidIwouldratherdiethanallowhimtodoanythingwithme，forIdetesthim。"

ThenextdayIwenttoheratseveno’clockintheevening。Shereceivedmewithanairoffeignedmelancholy，saying，——

"Alas！weshallhavetosupalone；Molinarihasgotthecolic。"

"Yousaidhewouldbeill；haveyoupoisonedhim？"

"Iamquitecapableofdoingso，butIhopeInevershall。"

"Butyouhavegivenhimsomething？"

"Onlywhathelikeshimself；butwewilltalkofthatagain。Letussupandplaytillto—morrow，andtomorroweveningwewillbeginagain。"

"Iamgoingawayatseveno’clockto—morrow。"

"No，no，youarenot；andyourcoachmanwillhavenocauseforcomplaint，forhehasbeenpaid；hereisthereceipt。"

Theseremarks，deliveredwithanairofamorousdespotism，flatteredmyvanity。Imadeupmymindtosubmitgaily，calledherwanton，andsaidI

wasnotworththepainsshewastakingoverme。

"Whatastonishesme，"saidI，"isthatwiththisfinehouseyoudonotcaretoentertaincompany。"

"Everybodyisafraidtocome；theyfearRicla’sjealousy，foritiswellknownthatthatanimalwhoisnowsufferingfromthecolictellshimeverythingIdo。Heswearsthatitisnotso，butIknowhimtobealiar。Indeed，IamverygladhedoeswritetoRicla，andonlywishhehadsomethingofrealimportancetowriteabout。"

"HewilltellhimthatIhavesuppedalonewithyou。"

"Allthebetter；areyouafraid？"

"No；butIthinkyououghttotellmeifIhaveanythingreallytofear。"

"Nothingatall；itwillfallonme。"

"ButIshouldnotliketoinvolveyouinadisputewhichmightbeprejudicialtoyourinterests。"

"Notatall；themoreIprovokehim，thebetterhelovesme，andIwillmakehimpaydearlywhenheasksmetomakeitup。"

"Thenyoudon’tlovehim？"

"Yes，toruinhim；butheissorichthattheredoesn’tseemmuchhopeofmyeverdoingthat。"

BeforemeIsawawomanasbeautifulasVenusandasdegradedasLucifer；

awomanmostsurelyborntobetheruinofanyonewhohadthemisfortunetofallinlovewithher。Ihadknownwomenofsimilarcharacter，butneveronesodangerousasshe。

IdeterminedtomakesomemoneyoutofherifIcould。

Shecalledforcards，andaskedmetoplaywithheratagamecalledprimiera。Itisagameofchance，butofsocomplicatedanaturethatthebestplayeralwayswins。InaquarterofanhourIfoundthatIwasthebetterplayer，butshehadsuchluckthatattheendofthegameI

hadlosttwentypistoles，whichIpaidonthespot。Shetookthemoney，promisingtogivememyrevenge。

Wehadsupper，andthenwecommittedallthewantonnessshewishedandI

wascapableofperforming，forwithmetheageofmiracleswaspast。

ThenextdayIcalledtoseeherearlierintheevening。Weplayedagain；andshelost，andwentonlosingeveningafterevening，tillIhadwonamatteroftwoorthreehundreddoubloons，nounwelcomeadditiontomysomewhatdepletedpurse。

Thespyrecoveredfromhiscolicandsuppedwithuseveryevening，buthispresencenolongerinterferedwithmypleasuresinceNinahadceasedtoprostituteherselftohiminmypresence。Shedidtheopposite；

givingherselftome，andtellinghimtowritetotheComtedeRiclawhateverheliked。

Thecountwroteheraletterwhichshegavemetoread。Thepoorlove—

sickviceroyinformedherthatshemightsafelyreturntoBarcelona，asthebishophadreceivedanorderfromtheCourttoregardherasmerelyauactress，whosestayinhisdiocesewouldonlybetemporary；shewouldthusbeallowedtolivethereinpeacesolongassheabstainedfromgivingcauseforscandal。ShetoldmethatwhilstshewasatBarcelonaI

couldonlyseeherafterteno’clockatnight，whenthecountalwayslefther。SheassuredmethatIshouldrunnoriskwhatever。

PossiblyIshouldnothavestayedatBarcelonaatallifNinahadnottoldmethatshewouldalwaysbereadytolendmeasmuchmoneyasI

wanted。

SheaskedmetoleaveValentiaadaybeforeher，andtoawaitheratTarragona。Ididso，andspentaverypleasantdayinthattown，whichaboundsinremainsofantiquity。

Iorderedachoicesupperaccordingtoherinstructions，andtookcarethatsheshouldhaveaseparatebedroomsoastoavoidanyscandal。

Shestartedinthemorningbeggingmetowaittilltheevening，andtotravelbynightsoastoreachBarcelonabyday—time。Shetoldmetoputupatthe"SantaMaria，"andnottocalltillIhadheardfromher。

Ifollowedallthedirectionsgivenmebythiscuriouswoman，andfoundmyselfcomfortablylodgedatBarcelona。MylandlordwasaSwisswhotoldmeinconfidencethathehadreceivedinstructionstotreatmewell，andthatIhadonlytoaskforwhatIwanted。

Weshallseesoonwhatwastheresultofallthis。

CHAPTERVIII

MyImprudence——Passano——IAmImprisoned——MyDeparturefromBarcelona——

MadameCastelbajacatMontpellier——Nimes——IArriveatAixAlthoughmySwisslandlordseemedanhonestandtrustworthykindofman，IcouldnothelpthinkingthatNinahadactedveryimprudentlyincommendingmetohim。Shewastheviceroy’smistress；andthoughtheviceroymightbeaveryagreeableman，hewasaSpaniard，andnotlikelytobeeasy—goinginhisloveaffairs。Ninaherselfhadtoldmethathewasardent，jealous，andsuspicious。Butthemischiefwasdone，andtherewasnohelpforit。

WhenIgotupmylandlordbroughtmeavaletdeplace，forwhosecharacterhesaidhecouldanswer，andhethensentupanexcellentdinner。Ihadslepttillthreeo’clockintheafternoon。

AfterdinnerIsummonedmyhost，andaskedhimwhetherNinahadtoldhimtogetmeaservant。Heansweredintheaffirmative，andaddedthatacarriagewasawaitingmycommandsatthedoor；ithadbeentakenbytheweek。

"Iamastonishedtohearit，fornoonebutmyselfcansaywhatIcanaffordornot。"

"Sir，everythingispaidfor。"

"Paidfor！Iwillnothaveit！"

"Youcansettlethatwithher，butIshallcertainlytakenopayment。

Isawdangersahead，butasIhavenevercaredtocherishforbodingsI

dismissedtheidea。

IhadaletterofintroductionfromtheMarquisdelasMorastoDonMigueldeCevallos，andanotherfromColonelRoyastoDonDiegodelaSecada。Itookmyletters，andthenextdayDonDiegocametoseeme，andtookmetotheComtedePeralda。ThedayafterDonMiguelintroducedmetotheComtedeRicla，ViceroyofCatalonia，andtheloverofNina。

TheComtedePeraladawasayoungmanwithapleasantfacebutwithanill—proportionedbody。Hewasagreatdebaucheeandloverofbadcompany，anenemyofreligion，morality，andlaw。HewasdirectlydescendedfromtheComtedePeralada，whoservedPhilipII。sowellthatthiskingdeclaredhim"countbythegraceofGod。"TheoriginalpatentofnobilitywasthefirstthingIsawinhisantechamber，whereitwasframedandglazedsothatallvisitorsmightseeitinthequarterofanhourtheywerekeptwaiting。

Thecountreceivedmewithaneasyandcordialemanner，whichseemedtosaythatherenouncedallthedignitiesofhisrank。HethankedDonDiegoforintroducingme，andtalkedagooddealaboutColonelRoyas。HeaskedmeifIhadseentheEnglishgirlhewaskeepingatSaragossa，andonmyreplyingintheaffirmative，hetoldmeinawhisperthathehadsleptwithher。

Hetookmetohisstables，wherehehadsomesplendidhorses，andthenaskedmetodinewithhimthenextday。

Theviceroyreceivedmeinaverydifferentmanner；hestoodupsothathemightnothavetooffermeachair，andthoughIspokeItalian，withwhichlanguageIknewhimtobewellacquainted，heansweredmeinSpanish，stylingme’ussia’（acontractionof’vuestrasenoria’，yourlordship，andusedbyeveryoneinSpain），whileIgavehimhispropertitleofexcellence。

HetalkedagooddealaboutMadrid，andcomplainedthatM。deMocenigohadgonetoParisbyBayonneinsteadofBarcelona，ashehadpromisedhim。

Itriedtoexcusemyambassadorbysayingthatbytakingtheotherroutehehadsavedfiftyleaguesofhisjourney，buttheviceroyrepliedthat’tenirlapalabra’（keepingtoone’swords）comesbeforeallelse。

HeaskedmeifIthoughtofstayinglongatBarcelona，andseemedsurprisedwhenItoldhimthat，withhisleave，Ihopedtomakealongstay。

"Ihopeyouwillenjoyyourself，"hesaid，"butImustwarnyouthatifyouindulgeinthepleasureswhichmynephewPeraladawilldoubtlessofferyou，youwillnotenjoyaverygoodreputationatBarcelona。"

AstheComtedeRiclamadethisobservationinpublic，IthoughtmyselfjustifiedincommunicatingittoPeraladahimself。Hewasdelighted，andtoldme，withevidentvanity，thathehadgonetoMadridthreetimes，andhadbeenorderedtoreturntoCataloniaoneachoccasion。

Ithoughtmybestplanwouldbetofollowtheviceroy’sindirectadvice，soIrefusedtojoininanyofthelittlepartiesofpleasurewhichPeraladaproposed。

Onthefifthdayaftermyarrival，anofficercametoaskmetodinnerattheviceroy’s。Iacceptedtheinvitationwithmuchpleasure，forIhadbeenafraidoftheviceroy’shavingheardofmyrelationswithNina，andthoughtitpossiblethathemighthavetakenadisliketome。Hewasverypleasanttomeatdinner，oftenaddressinghisobservationstome，butalwaysinatoneofgreatgravity。

IhadbeeninBarcelonaforaweek，andwasbeginningtowonderwhyIhadnotheardfromNina；butoneeveningshewrotemeanote，beggingmetocomeonfootandalonetoherhouseatteno’clockthesamenight。

IfIhadbeenwiseIshouldnothavegone，forIwasnotinlovewiththewoman，andshouldhaverememberedtherespectduetotheviceroy；butI

wasdevoidofallwisdomandprudence。AllthemisfortunesIhaveexperiencedinmylonglifenevertaughtmethosetwomostnecessaryvirtues。

AtthehourshehadnamedIcalledonher，wearingmygreatcoat，andwithaswordformyonlyweapon。IfoundNinawithhersister，awomanofthirty—sixorthereabouts，whowasmarriedtoanItaliandancer，nicknamedSchizza，becausehehadaflatternosethananyTartar。

Ninahadjustbeensuppingwithherlover，whohadleftheratteno’clock，accordingtohisinvariablecustom。

ShesaidshewasdelightedtohearIhadbeentodinnerwithhim，asshehadherselfspokentohiminmypraise，sayinghowadmirablyIhadkepthercompanyatValentia。

"Iamgladtohearit，butIdonotthinkyouarewiseininvitingmetoyourhouseatsuchlatehours。"

"Ionlydosotoavoidscandalamongstmyneighbours。"

"Inmyopinionmycomingsolateisonlylikelytoincreasetheprobabilityofscandal，andtomakeyourviceroyjealous。"

"Hewillneverhearofyourcoming。"

"Ithinkyouaremistaken。"

Iwentawayatmidnight，afteraconversationofthemostdecentcharacter。Hersisterdidnotleaveusforamoment，andNinagavehernocausetosuspecttheintimacyofourrelations。

Iwenttoseehereveryevening，withoutencroachingonthecount’spreserves。Ithoughtmyselfsecure，butthefollowingwarningshouldhavemademedesistifIhadnotbeencarriedawaybytheforcesofdestinyandobstinacyincombination。

AnofficerintheWalloonGuardsaccostedmeonedayasIwaswalkingbymyselfjustoutsidethetown。Hebeggedmeinthemostpolitemannertoexcusehimifhespokeonamatterwhichwasindifferenttohimbutofgreatconsequencetome。

"Speak，sir，"Ireplied，"Iwilltakewhateveryousayingoodpart。"

"Verygood。Youareastranger，sir，andmaynotbeacquaintedwithourSpanishmanners，consequentlyyouareunawareofthegreatriskyouruningoingtoseeNinaeveryeveningafterthecounthaslefther。"

"WhatriskdoIrun？Ihavenodoubtthatthecountknowsallaboutitanddoesnotobject。"

"Ihavenodoubtastohisknowingit，andhemaypossiblypretendtoknownothingbeforeher，ashefearsaswellaslovesher；butifshetellsyouthathedoesnotobject，sheeitherdeceivesherselforyou。

Hecannotloveherwithoutbeingjealous，andajealousSpaniard……

"Followmyadvice，sir，andforgivemyfreedom。"

"Iamsincerelyobligedtoyouforyourkindinterestinme，butIcannotfollowyouradvice，asbydoingsoIshouldbewantinginpolitenesstoNina，wholikestoseemeandgivesmeawarmwelcome。Ishallcontinuetovisithertillsheordersmenottodoso，ortillthecountsignifiestomehisdispleasureatmyvisitstohismistress。"

"Thecountwillneverdosuchathing；heistoocarefulofhisdignity。"

TheworthyofficerthennarratedtomealltheactsofinjusticewhichRiclahadcommittedsincehehadfalleninlovewiththiswoman。Hehaddismissedgentlemenfromhisserviceonthemeresuspicionthattheywereinlovewithher；somehadbeenexiled，andothersimprisonedononefrivolouspretextoranother。BeforehehadknownNinahehadbeenapatternofwisdom，justice，andvirtue，andnowhehadbecomeunjust，cruel，blindlypassionate，andineverywayascandaltothehighpositionheoccupied。

Allthisshouldhaveinfluencedme，butithadnottheslightesteffect。

Itoldhimforpoliteness’sakethatIwouldendeavourtopartfromherbydegrees，butIhadnointentionofdoingso。

WhenIaskedhimhowheknewthatIvisitedNina，helaughedandsaiditwasacommontopicofconversationalloverthetown。

ThesameeveningIcalledonherwithoutmentioningmyconversationwiththeofficer。TherewouldhavebeensomeexcuseformeifIhadbeeninlovewithher，butasitwas……Iactedlikeamadman。

Onthe14thofNovemberIwenttoseeherattheusualtime。Ifoundherwithamanwhowasshewingherminiatures。IlookedathimandfoundthathewasthescoundrelPassano，orPogomas。

Mybloodboiled；ItookNina’shandandledherintoaneighbouringroom，andtoldhertodismisstherogueatonce，orIwouldgotoreturnnomore。

"He’sapainter。"

"Iamwellacquaintedwithhishistory，andwilltellyouallaboutitpresently；butsendhimaway，orIshallgo。"

Shecalledhersister，andtoldhertoordertheGenoesetoleavethehouseandnevertoenteritagain。

Thethingwas’doneinamoment，butthesistertoldusthatashewentouthehadsaid，——

"Senepentira"（"Heshallbesorryforit"）。

IoccupiedanhourinrelatingsomeoftheinjuriesIhadreceivedfromthisscoundrellyfellow。

Thenextday（November15th），IwenttoNinaattheusualtime，andafterspendingtwohoursinpleasantconversewithherandhersisterIwentoutastheclockswerestrikingmidnight。

Thedoorofthehousewasunderanarcade，whichextendedtotheendofthestreet。Itwasadarknight；andIhadscarcelygonetwenty—fivepaceswhentwomensuddenlyrushedatme。

Isteppedback，drawingmysword，andexclaiming，"Assassins！"andthenwitharapidmovement，Ithrustmybladeintothebodyofthenearestassailant。Ithenleftthearcade，andbegantorundownthestreet。

Thesecondassassinfiredapistolatme，butitfortunatelymissedme。

Ifelldownanddroppedmyhatinmyrapidflight，andgotupandcontinuedmycoursewithouttroublingtopickitup。IdidnotknowwhetherIwaswoundedornot，butatlastIgottomyinn，andlaiddownthebloodyswordonthecounter，underthelandlord’snose。Iwasquiteoutofbreath。

Itoldthelandlordwhathadhappened，andontakingoffmygreatcoat，I

foundittobepiercedintwoplacesjustbelowthearmpit。

"Iamgoingtobed，"Isaidtothelandlord，"andIleavemygreatcoatandtheswordinyourcharge。TomorrowmorningIshallaskyoutocomewithmebeforethemagistratetodenouncethisactofassassination，forifthemanwaskilleditmustbeshewnthatIonlyslewhimtosavemyownlife。"

"IthinkyourbestplanwouldbetoflyBarcelonaimmediately。"

"ThenyouthinkIhavenottoldyouthestricttruth？"

"Iamsureyouhave；butIknowwhencetheblowcomes，andGodknowswhatwillbefallyou！"

"Nothingatall；butifIflyIshallbeaccountedguilty。Takecareofthesword；theytriedtoassassinateme，butIthinktheassassinsgottheworstofit。"

Iwenttobedsomewhatperturbed，butIhadtheconsolingthoughtthatifIhadkilledamanIhaddonesotoself—defence；myconsciencewasquiteclear。

Atseveno’clockthenextmorningIheardaknockingatmydoor。I

openedit，andsawmylandlord，accompaniedbyanofficer，whotoldmetogivehimallmypapers，todress，andtofollowhim，addingthatheshouldbecompelledtouseforceincaseofresistance。

"Ihavenointentionofresisting，"Ireplied。"Bywhoseauthoritydoyouaskmeformypapers？"

"Bytheauthorityofthegovernor。Theywillbereturnedtoyouifnothingsuspiciousisfoundamongstthem。"

"Whereareyougoingtotakeme？"

"Tothecitadel。"

Iopenedmytrunk，tookoutmylinenandmyclothes，whichIgavetomylandlord，andIsawtheofficer’sastonishmentatseeingmytrunkhalffilledwith