第102章

WhenwewereatMontefiasconeshesaid，——

"Youseemyloverisonlywithoutmoneybychance；hehasabillofexchangeforalargeamount。"

"Ibelieveittobeaforgery。"

"Youarereallytoocruel。"

"Notatall；IonlywishIweremistaken，butIamsureofthecontrary。

TwentyyearsagoIshouldhavetakenitforagoodone，butnowit’sanotherthing，andifthebillisagoodone，whydidhenotnegotiateitatSienna，Florence，orLeghorn？"

"Itmaybethatbehadnotthetime；hewasinsuchahurrytobegone。

Ah！ifyouknewall！"

"Ionlywanttoknowwhatyouliketotellme，butIwarnyouagainthatwhatIsayisnovaguesuspicionbuthardfact。"

"Thenyoupersistintheideathathedoesnotloveme。"

"Nay，helovesyou，butinsuchafashionastodeservehatredinreturn。"

"Howdoyoumean？"

"Wouldyounothateamanwholovedyouonlytotrafficinyourcharms？"

"Ishouldbesorryforyoutothinkthatofhim。"

"Ifyoulike，IwillconvinceyouofwhatIsaythisevening。"

"Youwillobligeme；butImusthavesomepositiveproof。Itwouldbeasorepaintome，butalsoatrueservice。"

"Andwhenyouareconvinced，willyouceasetolovehim？"

"Certainly；ifyouprovehimtobedishonest，mylovewillvanishaway。"

"Youaremistaken；youwillstilllovehim，evenwhenyouhavehadproofpositiveofhiswickedness。Hehasevidentlyfascinatedyouinadeadlymanner，oryouwouldseehischaracterinitstruelightbeforethis。"

"Allthismaybetrue；butdoyougivemeyourproofs，andleavetomethecareofshewingthatIdespisehim。"

"Iwillprovemyassertionsthisevening；buttellmehowlongyouhaveknownhim？"

"Aboutamonth；butwehaveonlybeentogetherforfivedays。"

"Andbeforethattimeyouneveraccordedhimanyfavours？"

"Notasinglekiss。Hewasalwaysundermywindows，andIhadreasontobelievethathelovedmefondly。"

"Oh，yes！helovesyou，whowouldnot？buthisloveisnotthatofamanofhonour，butthatofanimpudentprofligate。"

"Buthowcanyoususpectamanofwhomyouknownothing？"

"WouldthatIdidnotknowhim！Ifeelsurethatnotbeingabletovisityou，hemadeyouvisithim，andthenpersuadedyoutoflywithhim。"

"Yes，hedid。Hewrotemealetter，whichIwillshewyou。HepromisestomarrymeatRome。"

"Andwhoistoanswerforhisconstancy？"

"Hisloveismysurety。"

"Doyoufearpursuit？"

"No。"

"Didhetakeyoufromafather，alover，orabrother？"

"Fromalover，whowillnotbebackatLeghornforaweekortendays。"

"Wherehashegone？"

"ToLondononbusiness；Iwasunderthechargeofawomanwhomhetrusted。"

"That’senough；Ipityyou，mypoorBetty。TellmeifyouloveyourEnglishman，andifheisworthyofyourlove。"

"Alas！IlovedhimdearlytillIsawthisFrenchman，whomademeunfaithfultoamanIadored。Hewillbeindespairatnotfindingmewhenhereturns。"

"Isherich？"

"Notvery；heisabusinessman，andiscomfortablyoff。"

"Isheyoung？"

"No。Heisamanofyourage，andathoroughlykindandhonestperson。

Hewaswaitingforhiscomsumptivewifetodietomarryme。"

"Poorman！Haveyoupresentedhimwithachild？"

"No。IamsureGoddidnotmeanmeforhim，forthecounthasconqueredmecompletely。"

"Everyonewhomloveleadsastraysaysthesamething。"

"Nowyouhaveheardeverything，andIamgladItoldyou，forIamsureyouaremyfriend。"

"Iwillbeabetterfriendtoyou，dearBetty，inthefuturethaninthepast。Youwillneedmyservices，andIpromisenottoabandonyou。I

loveyou，asIhavesaid；butsolongasyoucontinuetolovetheFrenchmanIshallonlyaskyoutoconsidermeasyourfriend。"

"Iacceptyourpromise，andinreturnIpromisenottohideanythingfromyou。"

"Tellmewhyyouhavenoluggage。"

"Iescapedonhorseback，butmytrunk，whichisfulloflinenandothereffects，willbeatRometwodaysafterus。Isentitoffthedaybeforemyescape，andthemanwhoreceiveditwassentbythecount。"

"Thengood—byetoyourtrunk！"

"Why，youforeseenothingbutmisfortune！"

"Well，dearBetty，Ionlywishmypropheciesmaynotbeaccomplished。

AlthoughyouescapedonhorsebackIthinkyoushouldhavebroughtacloakandacarpetbagwithsomelinen。"

"Allthatisinthesmalltrunk；Ishallhaveittakenintomyroomtonight。"

WereachedViterboatseveno’clock，andfoundthecountverycheerful。

InaccordancewiththeplotIhadlaidagainstthecount，IbeganbyshewingmyselfdemonstrativelyfondofBetty，envyingthefortunatelover，praisinghisheroicbehaviourinleavinghertome，andsoforth。

Thesillyfellowproceededtobackmeupinmyextravagantadmiration。

Heboastedthatjealousywasutterlyforeigntohischaracter，andmaintainedthatthetrueloverwouldaccustomhimselftoseehismistressinspiredesiresinothermen。

Heproceededtomakealongdissertationonthistheme，andIlethimgoon，forIwaswaitingtillaftersuppertocometotheconclusivepoint。

DuringthemealImadehimdrink，andapplaudedhisfreedomfromvulgarprejudices。Atdessertheenlargedonthedutyofreciprocitybetweenlovers。

"Thus，"heremarked，"BettyoughttoprocuremetheenjoymentofFanny，ifshehasreasontothinkIhavetakenafancytoher；andpercontra，asIadoreBetty，ifIfoundthatshelovedyouIshouldprocureherthepleasureofsleepingwithyou。"

Bettylistenedtoallthisnonsenseinsilentastonishment。

"Iconfess，mydearcount，"Ireplied，"that，theoreticallyspeaking，yoursystemstrikesmeassublime，andcalculatedtobringaboutthereturnoftheGoldenAge；butIamafraiditwouldproveabsurdinpractice。Nodoubtyouareamanofcourage，butIamsureyouwouldneverletyourmistressbeenjoyedbyanotherman。Herearetwenty—fivesequins。Iwillwagerthatamountthatyouwillnotallowmetosleepwithyourwife。"

"Ha！ha！Youaremistakeninme，Iassureyou。I’llbetfiftysequinsthatIwillremainintheroomacalmspectatorofyourexploits。MydearBetty，wemustpunishthissceptic；gotobedwithhim。"

"Youarejoking。"

"Notatall；tobedwithyou，Ishallloveyouallthemore。"

"Youmustbecrazy，Ishalldonothingofthekind。"

Thecounttookherinhisarms，andcaressingherinthetenderestmannerbeggedhertodohimthisfavour，notsomuchforthetwenty—fiveLouis，astoconvincemethathewasabovevulgarprejudices。Hiscaressesbecameratherfree，butBettyrepulsedhimgentlythoughfirmly，sayingthatshewouldneverconsent，andthathehadalreadywonthebet，whichwasthecase；infinethepoorgirlbesoughthimtokillherratherthanobligehertodoadeedwhichshethoughtinfamous。

Herwords，andthepatheticvoicewithwhichtheywereuttered，shouldhaveshamedhim，buttheyonlyputhimintoafuriousrage。Herepulsedher，callingherthevilestnames，andfinallytellingherthatshewasahypocrite，andhefeltcertainshehadalreadygrantedmeallaworthlessgirlcouldgrant。

Bettygrewpaleasdeath，andfuriousinmyturn，Iranformysword。I

shouldprobablyhaverunhimthrough，iftheinfamousscoundrelhadnotfledintothenextroom，wherehelockedhimselfin。

IwasindespairatseeingBetty’sdistress，ofwhichIhadbeentheinnocentcause，andIdidmybesttosootheher。

Shewasinanalarmingstate。Herbreathcamewithdifficulty，hereyesseemedreadytostartoutofherhead，herlipswerebloodlessandtrembling，andherteethshuttighttogether。Everyoneintheinnwasasleep。Icouldnotcallforhelp，andallIcoulddowastodashwaterinherface，andspeaksoothingwords。

Atlastshefellasleep，andIremainedbesideherformorethantwohours，attentivetoherleastmovements，andhopingthatshewouldawakestrengthenedandrefreshed。

Atday—breakIheardl’Etoilegoingoff，andIwasgladofit。Thepeopleoftheinnknockedatourdoor，andthenBettyawoke。

"Areyoureadytogo，mydearBetty？"

"Iammuchbetter，butIshouldsolikeacupoftea。"

TheItalianscannotmaketea，soItookwhatshegaveme，andwenttoprepareitmyself。

WhenIcamebackIfoundherinhalingthefreshmorningairatthewindow。Sheseemedcalm，andIhopedIhadcuredher。Shedrankafewcupsoftea（ofwhichbeveragetheEnglishareveryfond），andsoonregainedhergoodlooks。

Sheheardsomepeopleintheroomwherewehadsupped，andaskedmeifI

hadtakenupthepursewhichIhadplacedonthetable。Ihadforgottenitcompletely。

Ifoundmypurseandapieceofpaperbearingthewords，"billofexchangeforthreethousandcrowns。"Theimpostorhadtakenitoutofhispocketinmakinghisbet，andhadforgottenit。ItwasdatedatBordeaux，drawnonawinemerchantatParistol’Etoile’sorder。Itwaspayableatsight，andwasforsixmonths。Thewholethingwasutterlyirregular。

ItookittoBetty，whotoldmesheknewnothingaboutbills，andbeggedmetosaynothingmoreaboutthatinfamousfellow。Shethensaid，inavoiceofwhichIcangivenoidea，——

"Forpity’ssakedonotabandonapoorgirl，moreworthyofcompassionthanblame！"

Ipromisedheragaintohaveallafather’scareforher，andsoonafterweproceededonourjourney。

Thepoorgirlfellasleep，andIfollowedherexample。Wewereawokebythevetturinowhoinformedus，greatlytoourastonishment，thatwewereatMonterosi。Wehadsleptforsixhours，andhaddoneeighteenmiles。

WehadtostayatMonterositillfouro’clock，andweweregladofit，forweneededtimeforreflection。

InthefirstplaceIaskedaboutthewretcheddeceiver，andwastoldthathehadmadeaslightmeal，paidforit，andsaidhewasgoingtospendthenightatLaStorta。

Wemadeagooddinner，andBettypluckingupaspiritsaidwemustconsiderthecaseofherinfamousbetrayer，butforthelasttime。

"Beafathertome，"saidshe；"donotadvisebutcommand；youmayreckononmyobedience。Ihavenoneedtogiveyouanyfurtherparticulars，foryouhaveguessedallexceptthehorrorwithwhichthethoughtofmybetrayernowinspiresme。Ifithadnotbeenforyou，hewouldhaveplungedmeintoanabyssofshameandmisery。"

"CanyoureckonontheEnglishmanforgivingyou？"

"Ithinkso。"

"ThenwemustgobacktoLeghorn。Areyoustrongenoughtofollowthiscounsel？Iwarnyouthatifyouapproveofit，itmustbeputintoexecutionatonce。Young，pretty，andvirtuousasyouare，youneednotimaginethatIshallallowyoutogobyyourself，orinthecompanyofstrangers。IfyouthinkIloveyou，andfindmeworthyofyouresteem，thatissufficientregardforme。Iwilllivewithyoulikeafather，ifyouarenotinapositiontogivememarksofamoreardentaffection。

BesureIwillkeepfaithwithyou，forIwanttoredeemyouropinionofmen，andtoshewyouthattherearemenashonourableasyourseducerwasvile。"

Bettyremainedforaquarterofanhourinprofoundsilence，herheadrestingonherelbows，andhereyesfixedonmine。Shedidnotseemeitherangryorastonished，butasfarasIcouldjudgewaslostinthought。Iwasgladtoseeherreflective，forthusshewouldbeabletogivemeadecidedanswer:Atlastshesaid:

"Youneednotthink，mydearfriend，thatmysilenceproceedsfromirresolution。IfmymindwerenotmadeupalreadyIshoulddespisemyself。Iamwiseenoughatanyratetoappreciatethewisdomofyourgenerouscounsels。IthankProvidencethatIhavefallenintothehandsofsuchamanwhowilltreatmeasifIwerehisdaughter。"

"ThenwewillgobacktoLeghorn，andstartimmediately。"

"MyonlydoubtishowtomanagemyreconcilliationwithSirB————M————。

Ihavenodoubthewillpardonmeeventually；butthoughheistenderandgood—heartedheisdelicatewhereapointofhonourisconcerned，andSubjecttosuddenfitsofviolence。ThisiswhatIwanttoavoid；forhemightpossiblykillme，andthenIshouldbethecauseofhisruin。"

"Youmustconsideritontheway，andtellmeanyplansyoumaythinkof。"

"Heisanintelligentman，anditwouldbehopelesstoendeavourtodupehimbyalie。Imustmakeafullconfessioninwritingwithouthidingasinglecircumstance；forifhethoughthewasbeingdupedhisfurywouldbeterrible。Ifyouwillwritetohimyoumustnotsaythatyouthinkmeworthyofforgiveness；youmusttellhimthefactsandleavehimtojudgeforhimself。HewillbeconvincedofmyrepentancewhenhereadstheletterIshallbedewwithmytears，buthemustnotknowofmywhereaboutstillhehaspromisedtoforgiveme。Heisaslavetohiswordofhonour，andweshalllivetogetherallourdayswithoutmyeverhearingofthisslip。IamonlysorrythatIhavebehavedsofoolishly。"

"YoumustnotbeoffendedifIaskyouwhetheryouhaveevergivenhimlikecauseforcomplaintbefore。"

"Never。"

"Whatishishistory？"

"Helivedveryunhappilywithhisfirstwife；andhewasdivorcedfromhissecondwifeforsufficientreasons。TwoyearsagohecametoourschoolwithNancy’sfather，andmademyacquaintance。Myfatherdied，hiscreditorsseizedeverything，andIhadtoleavetheschool，muchtoNancy’sdistressandthatoftheotherpupils。AtthisperiodSirB————

M————tookchargeofme，andgavemeasumwhichplacedmebeyondthereachof，wantfortherestofmydays。Iwasgrateful，andbeggedhimtotakemewithhimwhenhetoldmehewasleavingEngland。Hewasastonished；and，likeamanofhonour，saidhelovedmetoowelltoflatterhimselfthatwecouldtraveltogetherwithouthisentertainingmoreardentfeelingsformethanthoseofafather。Hethoughtitoutofthequestionformetolovehim，saveasadaughter。

"Thisdeclaration，asyoumayimagine，pavedthewayforafullagreement。"

"’Howeveryouloveme，’Isaid，’Ishallbewellpleased，andifIcandoanythingforyouIshallbeallthehappier。’

"Hethengavemeofhisownfreewillawrittenpromisetomarrymeonthedeathofhiswife。Westartedonourtravels，andtillmylateunhappyconnectionInevergavehimtheslightestcauseforcomplaint。"

"Dryyoureyes，dearBetty，heissuretoforgiveyou。IhavefriendsatLeghorn，andnooneshallfindoutthatwehavemadeacquaintance。I

willputyouingoodhands，andIshallnotleavethetowntillIhearyouarebackwithSirB————M—————。IfheproveinexorableIpromisenevertoabandonyou，andtotakeyoubacktoEnglandifyoulike。"

"Buthowcanyousparethetime？"

"Iwilltellyouthetruth，mydearBetty。IhavenothingparticulartodoatRome，oranywhereelse。LondonandRomearealiketome。"

"HowcanIshewmygratitudetoyou？"

Isummonedthevetturino，andtoldhimwemustreturntoViterbo。Heobjected，butIconvincedhimwithacoupleofpiastres，andbyagreeingtousetheposthorsesandtosparehisownanimals。

WegottoViterbobyseveno’clock，andaskedanxiouslyifnoonehadfoundapocket—bookwhichIpretendedIhadlost。Iwastoldnosuchthinghadbeenfound，soIorderedsupperwithcalmness，althoughbewailingmyloss。ItoldBettythatIactedinthissorttoobviateanydifficultieswhichthevetturinomightmakeabouttakingusbacktoSienna，ashemightfeelithisdutytoplaceherinthehandsofhersupposedhusband。Ihadupthesmalltrunk，andafterwehadforcedthelockBettytookouthercloakandthefeweffectsshehadinit，andwetheninspectedtheadventurer’sproperties，mostlikelyallhepossessedintheworld。Afewtatteredshirts，twoorthreepairsofmendedsilkstockings，apairofbreeches，ahare’sfoot，apotofgrease，andascoreoflittlebooks—playsorcomicoperas，andlastlyapacketofletters；suchwerethecontentsofthetrunk。

Weproceededtoreadtheletters，andthefirstthingwenotedwastheaddress:"ToM。L’Etoile，Actor，atMarseilles，Bordeaux，Bayonne，Montpellier，etc。"

IpitiedBetty。Shesawherselfthedupeofavileactor，andherindignationandshameweregreat。

"Wewillreaditallto—morrow，"saidI；"to—daywehavesomethingelsetodo。"

Thepoorgirlseemedtobreatheagain。

Wegotoveroursupperhastily，andthenBettybeggedmetoleaveheraloneforafewmomentsforhertochangeherlinenandgotobed。

"Ifyoulike，"saidI，"Iwillhaveabedmadeupformeinthenextroom。"

"No，dearfriend，oughtInottoloveyoursociety？Whatwouldhavebecomeofmewithoutyou？"

Iwentoutforafewminutes，andwhenIreturnedandcametoherbedsidetowishhergoodnight，shegavemesuchawarmembracethatIknewmyhourwascome。

Reader，youmusttaketherestforgranted。Iwashappy，andIhadreasontobelievethatBettywashappyalso。

Inthemorning，wehadjustfallenasleep，whenthevettuyinoknockedatthedoor。

Idressedmyselfhastilytoseehim。

"Listen，"Isaid，"itisabsolutelynecessaryformetorecovermypocket—book，andIhopetofinditatAcquapendente。"

"Verygood，sir，verygood，"saidtherogue，atrueItalian，"paymeasifIhadtakenyoutoRome，andasequinadayforthefuture，andifyoulike，IwilltakeyoutoEnglandonthoseterms。"

Thevetturinowasevidentlywhatiscalledwideawake。Igavehimhismoney，andwemadeanewagreement。Atseveno’clockwestoppedatMontefiasconetowritetoSirB————M————，sheinEnglish，andIinFrench。

BettyhadnowanairofsatisfactionandassurancewhichIfoundcharming。Shesaidshewasfullofhope，andseemedhighlyamusedatthethoughtofthefigurewhichtheactorwouldcutwhenhearrivedatRomebyhimself。Shehopedthatweshouldcomeacrossthemaninchargeofhertrunk，andthatweshouldhavenodifficultyingettingitback。

"Hemightpursueus。"

"Hedarenotdoso。"

"Iexpectnot，butifhedoesIwillgivehimawarmwelcome。IfhedoesnottakehimselfoffIwillblowouthisbrains。"

BeforeIbeganmylettertoSirB————M————。Bettyagainwarnedmetoconcealnothingfromhim。

"Noteventherewardyougaveme？"

"Oh，yes！Thatisalittlesecretbetweenourselves。"

Inlessthanthreehourstheletterswerecomposedandwritten。Bettywassatisfiedwithmyletter；andherown，whichshetranslatedformybenefit，wasaperfectmasterpieceofsensibility，whichseemedtomecertainofsuccess。

IthoughtofpostingfromSienna，toensureherbeinginaplaceofsafetybeforethearrivalofherlover。

Theonlythingthattroubledmewasthebillofexchangeleftbehindbyl’Etoile，forwhetheritweretrueor