第101章

TheChevalierdeBrechecametotheLuganoFairtobuysomehorses，andstoppedafortnight。IoftenmethimatM。deR————’s，forwhosewifehehadagreatadmiration，andIwassorrytoseehimgo。

IleftLuganomyselfafewdayslater，havingmadeupmymindtowinterinTurin，whereIhopedtoseesomepleasantsociety。

BeforeIleftIreceivedafriendlyletterfromPrinceLubomirski，withabillforahundredducats，inpaymentoffiftycopiesofmybook。TheprincehadbecomelordhighmarshalonthedeathofCountBilinski。

WhenIgottoTurinIfoundaletterfromthenobleVenetianM。GirolamoZulian，thesamethathadgivenmeanintroductiontoMocenigo。HislettercontainedanenclosuretoM。Berlendis，therepresentativeoftheRepublicatTurin，whothankedmeforhavingenabledhimtoreceiveme。

Theambassador，arichman，andagreatloverofthefairsex，keptupasplendidestablishment，andthiswasenoughforhisGovernment，forintelligenceisnotconsideredanecessaryqualificationforaVenetianambassador。Indeeditisapositivedisadvantage，andawittyambassadorwouldnodoubtfallintodisgracewiththeVenetianSenate。However，Berlendisrannoriskwhateveronthisscore；therealmofwitwasanunknownlandtohim。

IgotthisambassadortocalltheattentionofhisGovernmenttotheworkIhadrecentlypublished，andtheanswertheStateInquisitorsgavemayastonishmyreaders，butitdidnotastonishme。ThesecretaryofthefamousandaccursedTribunalwrotetosaythathehaddonewelltocalltheattentionoftheInquisitorstothiswork，astheauthor’spresumptionappearedonthetitle—page。Headdedthattheworkwouldbeexamined，andinthemeantimetheambassadorwasinstructedtoshewmenosignalmarksoffavourlesttheCourtshouldsupposehewasprotectingmeasaVenetian。

Nevertheless，itwasthesametribunalthathadfacilitatedmyaccesstotheambassadortoMadrid——Mocenigo。

ItoldBerlendisthatmyvisitsshouldbelimitedinnumber，andfreefromallostentation。

Iwasmuchinterestedinhisson’stutor；hewasapriest，amanofletters，andapoet。HisnamewasAndreis，andheisnowresidentinEngland，whereheenjoysfullliberty，thegreatestofallblessings。

IspentmytimeatTurinverypleasantly，inthemidstofasmallcircleofEpicureans；thereweretheoldChevalierRaiberti，theComtedelaPerouse，acertainAbbeRoubien，adelightfulman，thevoluptuousComtedeRiva，andtheEnglishambassador。TotheamusementswhichthissocietyaffordedIaddedacourseofreading，butnoloveaffairswhatever。

WhileIwasatTurin，amilliner，Perouse’smistress，feelingherselfin’articulomortis’，swallowedtheportraitofherloverinsteadoftheEucharist。Thisincidentmademecomposetwosonnets，whichpleasedmeagooddealatthetime，andwithwhichIamstillsatisfied。Nodoubtsomewillsaythateverypoetispleasedwithhisownhandiwork，butasamatteroffact，theseverestcriticofasensibleauthorishimself。

TheRussiansquadron，underthecommandofCountAlexisOrloff，wasthenatLeghorn；thissquadronthreatenedConstantinople，andwouldprobablyhavetakenitifanEnglishmanhadbeenincommand。

AsIhadknownCountOrloffinRussia，IimaginedthatImightpossiblyrendermyselfofservicetohim，andatthesametimemakemyfortune。

TheEnglishambassadorhavinggivenmealetterfortheEnglishconsul，I

leftTurinwithverylittlemoneyinmypurseandnoletterofcreditonanybanker。

AnEnglishmannamedActoncommendedmetoanEnglishbankeratLeghorn，butthisletterdidnotempowermetodrawanysupplies。

Actonwasjusttheninvolvedinacuriouscomplication。WhenhewasatVenicehehadfalleninlovewithaprettywoman，eitheraGreekoraNeapolitan。Thehusband，bybirthanativeofTurin，andbyprofessionagood—for—nothing，placednoobstacleinActon’sway，astheEnglishmanwasgenerouswithhismoney；buthehadaknackofturningupatthosemomentswhenhisabsencewouldhavebeenmostdesirable。

ThegenerousbutproudandimpatientEnglishmancouldnotbeexpectedtobearthisforlong。Heconsultedwiththelady，anddeterminedtoshewhisteeth。Thehusbandpersistedinhisuntimelyvisits，andonedayActonsaid，dryly，——

"Doyouwantathousandguineas？Youcanhavethemifyoulike，ontheconditionthatyourwifetravelswithmeforthreeyearswithoutourhavingthepleasureofyoursociety。"

Thehusbandthoughtthebargainagoodone，andsignedanagreementtothateffect。

Afterthethreeyearswereoverthehusbandwrotetohiswife，whowasatVenice，toreturntohim，andtoActontoputnoobstacleintheway。

Theladyrepliedthatshedidnotwanttolivewithhimanymore，andActonexplainedtothehusbandthathecouldnotbeexpectedtodrivehismistressawayagainstherwill。Heforesaw，however，thatthehusbandwouldcomplaintotheEnglishambassador，anddeterminedtobebefore—

handedwithhim。

InduecoursethehusbanddidapplytotheEnglishambassador，requestinghimtocompelActontorestoretohimhislawfulwife。HeevenaskedtheChevalierRaibertitowritetotheCommendatoreCamarana，theSardinianambassadoratVenice，toapplypressureontheVenetianGovernment，andhewoulddoubtlesshavesucceededifM。Raibertihaddonehimthisfavour。However，asitwashedidnothingofthesort，andevengaveActonawarmwelcomewhenhecametoTurintolookintothematter。HehadlefthismistressatVeniceundertheprotectionoftheEnglishconsul。

Thehusbandwasashamedtocomplainpublicly，ashewouldhavebeenconfrontedwiththedisgracefulagreementhehadsigned；butBerlendismaintainedthathewasintheright，andarguedthequestioninthemostamusingmanner。Ontheonehandheurgedthesacredandinviolablecharacterofthemarriagerite，andontheotherheshewedhowthewifewasboundtosubmittoherhusbandinallthings。Iarguedthematterwithhimmyself，shewinghimhisdisgracefulpositionindefendingamanwhotradedonhiswife’scharms，andhewasobligedtogiveinwhenI

assuredhimthatthehusbandhadofferedtorenewtheleaseforthesametimeandonthesametermsasbefore。

TwoyearslaterImetActonatBologna，andadmiredthebeautywhomheconsideredandtreatedashiswife。SheheldonherkneesafinelittleActon。

IleftTurinforParmawithaVenetianwho，likemyself，wasanexilefromhiscountry。Hehadturnedactortogainalivelihood；andwasgoingtoParmawithtwoactresses，oneofwhomwasinteresting。AssoonasIfoundoutwhohewas，webecamefriends，andhewouldhavegladlymademeapartnerinallhisamusements，bytheway，ifIhadbeeninthehumourtojoinhim。

ThisjourneytoLeghornwasundertakenundertheinfluenceofchimercialideas。IthoughtImightbeusefultoCountOrloff，intheconquesthewasgoingtomake，asitwassaid，ofConstantinople。IfanciedthatithadbeendecreedbyfatethatwithoutmehecouldneverpassthroughtheDardanelles。Inspiteofthewildideaswithwhichmymindwasoccupied，Iconceivedawarmfriendshipformytravellingcompanion，whosenamewasAngeloBentivoglio。TheGovernmentneverforgavehimacertaincrime，whichtothephilosophiceyeappearsameretrifle。Infouryearslater，whenIdescribemystayatVenice，Ishallgivesomefurtheraccountofhim。

AboutnoonwereachedParma，andIbadeadieutoBentivoglioandhisfriends。TheCourtwasatColorno，buthavingnothingtogainfromthismockeryofacourt，andwishingtoleaveforBolognathenextmorning，I

askedDubois—Chateleraux，ChiefoftheMint，andatalentedthoughvainman，togivemesomedinner。ThereaderwillrememberthatIhadknownhimtwentytwoyearsbefore，whenIwasinlovewithHenriette。Hewasdelightedtoseeme，andseemedtosetgreatstorebymypolitenessingivinghimthebenefitofmyshortstayatParma。ItoldhimthatCountOrloffwaswaitingformeatLeghorn，andthatIwasobligedtotraveldayandnight。

"Hewillbesettingsailbeforelong，"saidhe；"IhaveadvicesfromLeghorntothateffect。"

Isaidinamysterioustoneofvoicethathewouldnotsailwithoutme，andIcouldseethatmyhosttreatedmewithincreasedrespectafterthis。HewantedtodiscusstheRussianExpedition，butmyairofreservemadehimchangetheconversation。

AtdinnerwetalkedagooddealaboutHenriette，whomhesaidhehadsucceededinfindingout；butthoughhespokeofherwithgreatrespect，Itookcarenottogivehimanyinformationonthesubject。HespentthewholeafternooninutteringcomplaintsagainstthesovereignsofEurope，theKingofPrussiaexcepted，ashehadmadehimabaron，thoughInevercouldmakeoutwhy。

HecursedtheDukeofParmawhopersistedinretaininghisservices，althoughtherewasnomintinexistenceintheduchy，andhistalentswereconsequentlywastedthere。

Ilistenedtoallhiscomplaints，andagreedthatLouisXV。hadbeenungratefulinnotconferringtheOrderofSt。Michaelonhim；thatVenicehadrewardedhisservicesveryshabbily；thatSpainwasstingy，andNaplesdevoidofhonesty，etc。，etc。Whenhehadfinished，Iaskedhimifhecouldgivemeabillonabankerforfiftysequins。

Herepliedinthemostfriendlymannerthathewouldnotgivemethetroubleofgoingtoabankerforsuchawretchedsumasthat；hewouldbedelightedtoobligemehimself。

Itookthemoneypromisingtorepayhimatanearlydate，butIhaveneverbeenabletodoso。Idonotknowwhetherheisaliveordead，butifheweretoattaintheageofMethuselahIshouldnotentertainanyhopesofpayinghim；forIgetpoorereveryday，andfeelthatmyendisnotfaroff。

ThenextdayIwasinBologna，andthedayafterinFlorence，whereImettheChevalierMorosini，nephewoftheVenetianprocurator，ayoungmanofnineteen，whowastravellingwithCountStratico，professorofmathematicsattheUniversityofPadua。Hegavemealetterforhisbrother，aJacobinmonk，andprofessorofliteratureatPisa，whereI

stoppedforacoupleofhoursonpurposetomakethecelebratedmonk’sacquaintance。Ifoundhimevengreaterthanhisfame，andpromisedtocomeagaintoPisa，andmakealongerstayforthepurposeofenjoyinghissociety。

IstoppedanhourattheWells，whereImadetheacquaintanceofthePretendertothethroneofGreatBritain，andfromtherewentontoLeghorn，whereIfoundCountOrloffstillwaiting，butonlybecausecontrarywindskepthimfromsailing。

TheEnglishconsul，withwhomhewasstaying，introducedmeatoncetotheRussianadmiral，whoreceivedmewithexpressionsofdelight。HetoldmehewouldbecharmedifIwouldcomeonboardwithhim。Hetoldmetohavemyluggagetakenoffatonce，ashewouldsetsailwiththefirstfairwind。WhenhewasgonetheEnglishconsulaskedmewhatwouldbemystatuswiththeadmiral。

"That’sjustwhatImeantofindoutbeforeembarkingmyeffects。"

"Youwon’tbeabletospeaktohimtillto—morrow。"NextmorningI

calledonCountOrloff，andsenthiminashortnote，askinghimtogivemeashortinterviewbeforeIembarkedmymails。

Anofficercameouttotellmethattheadmiralwaswritinginbed，andhopedIwouldwait。

"Certainly。"

Ihadbeenwaitingafewminutes，whenDaLoglio，thePolishagentatVeniceandanoldfriendofmine，camein。

"Whatareyoudoinghere，mydearCasanova？"saidhe。

"Iamwaitingforaninterviewwiththeadmiral。"

"Heisverybusy。"

Afterthis，DaLogliocoollywentintotheadmiral’sroom。Thiswasimpertinentofhim；itwasasifhesaidinsomanywordsthattheadmiralwastoobusytoseeme，butnottoobusytoseehim。

Amomentafter，MarquisManuccicameinwithhisorderofSt。Anneandhisformalair。HecongratulatedmeonmyvisittoLeghorn，andthensaidhehadreadmyworkonVenice，andhadbeensurprisedtofindhimselfinit。

Hehadsomereasonforsurprise，fortherewasnoconnectionbetweenhimandthesubject—matter；butheshouldhavediscoveredbeforethattheunexpectedoftenhappens。Hedidnotgivemetimetotellhimso，butwentintotheadmiral’sroomasDaLogliohaddone。

IwasvexedtoseehowthesegentlemenwereadmittedwhileIdancedattendance，andtheprojectofsailingwithOrloffbegantodispleaseme。

InfivehoursOrloffcameoutfollowedbyanumeroustrain。Hetoldmepleasantlythatwecouldhaveourtalkattableorafterdinner。

"Afterdinner，ifyouplease，"Isaid。

Hecameinandsatdownattwoo’clock，andIwasamongtheguests。

Orloffkeptonsaying，"Eataway，gentlemen，eataway；"andreadhiscorrespondenceandgavehissecretarylettersallthetime。

Afterdinnerhesuddenlyglancedupatme，andtakingmebythehandledmetothewindow，andtoldmetomakehastewithmyluggage，asheshouldsailbeforethemorningifthewindkeptup。

"Quiteso；butkindlytellme，count，whatistobemystatusoremploymentanboardyourship？"

"AtpresentIhavenospecialemploytogiveyou；thatwillcomeintime。

Comeonboardasmyfriend。"

"Theofferisanhonourableonesofarasyouareconcerned，butalltheotherofficersmighttreatmewithcontempt。Ishouldberegardedasakindoffool，andIshouldprobablykillthefirstmanwhodaredtoinsultme。Givemeadistinctoffice，andletmewearyouruniform；I

willbeusefultoyou。Iknowthecountryforwhichyouarebound，Icanspeakthelanguage，andIamnotwantingincourage。"

"Mydearsir，Ireallyhavenoparticularofficetogiveyou。"

"Then，count，Iwishyouapleasantsail；IamgoingtoRome。Ihopeyoumayneverrepentofnottakingme，forwithoutmeyouwillneverpasstheDardanelles。"

"Isthataprophecy？"

"It’sanoracle。"

"Wewilltestitsveracity，mydearCalchus。"

SuchwastheshortdialogueIhadwiththeworthycount，who，asamatteroffact，didnotpasstheDardanelles。WhetherhewouldhavesucceededifIhadbeenonboardismorethanIcansay。

NextdayIdeliveredmyletterstoM。RivarolaandtheEnglishbanker。

Thesquadronhadsailedintheearlymorning。

ThedayafterIwenttoPisa，andspentapleasantweekinthecompanyofFatherStratico，whowasmadeabishoptwoorthreeyearsafterbymeansofaboldstrokethatmighthaveruinedhim。HedeliveredafuneralorationoverFatherRicci，thelastgeneraloftheJesuits。ThePope，Ganganelli，hadthechoiceofpunishingthewriterandincreasingtheodiumofmanyofthefaithful，orofrewardinghimhandsomely。Thesovereignpontifffollowedthelattercourse。Isawthebishopsomeyearslater，andhetoldmeinconfidencethathehadonlywrittentheorationbecausehefeltcertain，fromhisknowledgeofthehumanheart，thathispunishmentwouldbeagreatreward。

ThisclevermonkinitiatedmeintoallthecharmsofPisansociety。Hehadorganizedalittlechoirofladiesofrank，remarkablefortheirintelligenceandbeauty，andhadtaughtthemtosingextemporetotheguitar。HehadhadtheminstructedbythefamousGorilla，whowascrownedpoetess—laureateatthecapitolbynight，sixyearslater。ShewascrownedwhereourgreatItalianpoetswerecrowned；andthoughhermeritwasnodoubtgreat，itwas，nevertheless，moretinselthangold，andnotofthatordertoplaceheronaparwithPetrarchorTasso。

Shewassatirisedmostbitterlyaftershehadreceivedthebays；andthesatiristswereevenmoreinthewrongthantheprofanersofthecapitol，forallthepamphletsagainstherlaidstressonthecircumstancethatchastity，atallevents，wasnotoneofhermerits。Allpoetesses，fromthedaysofHomertoourown，havesacrificedonthealtarofVenus。NoonewouldhaveheardofGorillaifshehadnothadthesensetochooseherloversfromtheranksofliterarymen；andshewouldneverhavebeencrownedatRomeifshehadnotsucceededingainingoverPrinceGonzagaSolferino，whomarriedtheprettyMdlle。Rangoni，daughteroftheRomanconsul，whomIknewatMarseilles，andofwhomIhavealreadyspoken。

ThiscoronationofGorillaisablotonthepontificateofthepresentPope，forhenceforthnomanofgenuinemeritwillacceptthehonourwhichwasoncesocarefullyguardedbythegiantsofhumanintellect。

TwodaysafterthecoronationGorillaandheradmirersleftRome，ashamedofwhattheyhaddone。TheAbbePizzi，whohadbeenthechiefpromoterofherapotheosis，wassoinundatedwithpamphletsandsatiresthatforsomemonthshedarednotshewhisface。

Thisisalongdigression，andIwillnowreturntoFatherStratico，whomadethetimepasssopleasantlyforme。

Thoughhewasnotahandsomeman，hepossessedtheartofpersuasiontoperfection；andhesucceededininducingmetogotoSienna，wherehesaidIshouldenjoymyself。HegavemealetterofintroductionfortheMarchionessChigi，andalsoonefortheAbbeChiaccheri；andasIhadnothingbettertodoIwenttoSiennabytheshortestway，notcaringtovisitFlorence。

TheAbbeChiaccherigavemeawarmwelcome，andpromisedtodoallhecouldtoamuseme；andhekepthisword。HeintroducedmehimselftotheMarchionessChigi，whotookmebystormassoonasshehadreadtheletteroftheAbbeStratico，herdearabbe，asshecalledhim，whenshereadthesuperscriptioninhiswriting。

Themarchionesswasstillhandsome，thoughherbeautyhadbeguntowane；

butwithherthesweetness，thegrace，andtheeaseofmannersuppliedthelackofyouth。Sheknewhowtomakeacomplimentoftheslightestexpression，andwastotallydevoidofanyaffectionofsuperiority。

"Sitdown，"shebegan。"Soyouaregoingtostayaweek，Isee，fromthedearabbe’sletter。That’sashorttimeforus，butperhapsitmaybetoolongforyou。Ihopetheabbehasnotpaintedusintoorosycolours。"

"HeonlytoldmethatIwastospendaweekhere，andthatIshouldfindwithyouallthecharmsofintellectandsensibility。"

"Straticoshouldhavecondemnedyoutoamonthwithoutmercy。"

"Whymercy？WhathazarddoIrun？"

"Ofbeingtiredtodeath，orofleavingsomesmallmorselofyourheartatSienna。"

"Al