第103章

Itookachairandsatdownbesideher。

Shewasnearherfiftiethyear，thoughsomemighthavedoubtedwhethershewouldeverseeitagain；hermannerwasgoodandhonest，andherfeaturesborethetracesofthebeautythattimehadruined。

AlthoughIamnotaprejudicedman，thepresenceofthetwoevil—smellingmonksannoyedmeextremely。Ithoughttheobstinatewayinwhichtheystayedlittlelessthananinsult。Truetheyweremenlikemyself，inspiteoftheirgoats’beardsanddirtyfrocks，andconsequentlywereliabletothesamedesiresasI；butforallthatIfoundthemwhollyintolerable。Icouldnotshamethemwithoutshamingthelady，andtheyknewit；monksareadeptsatsuchcalculations。

IhavetravelledalloverEurope，butFranceistheonlycountryinwhichIsawadecentandrespectableclergy。

AttheendofaquarterofanhourIcouldcontainmyselfnolonger，andtoldtheauntthatIwishedtosaysomethingtoherinprivate。I

thoughtthetwosatyrswouldhavetakenthehint，butIcountedwithoutmyhost。Theauntarose，however，andtookmeintothenextroom。

Iaskedmyquestionasdelicatelyaspossible，andshereplied，——

"Alas！Ihaveonlytoogreataneedoftwentyducats（abouteightyfrancs）topaymyrent。"

Igaveherthemoneyonthespot，andIsawthatshewasverygrateful，butIleftherbeforeshecouldexpressherfeelings。

HereImusttellmyreaders（ifIeverhaveany）ofaneventwhichtookplaceonthatsameday。

AsIwasdininginmyroombymyself，IwastoldthataVenetiangentlemanwhosaidheknewmewishedtospeaktome。

Iorderedhimtobeshewn。in，andthoughhisfacewasnotwhollyunknowntomeIcouldnotrecollectwhohewas。

Hewastall，thinandwretched，miseryandhungerspewingplainlyinhiseveryfeature；hisbeardwaslong，hisheadshaven，hisrobeadingybrown，andboundabouthimwithacoarsecord，whencehungarosaryandadirtyhandkerchief。Inthelefthandheboreabasket，andintherightalongstick；hisformisstillbeforeme，butIthinkofhimnotasahumblepenitent，butasabeinginthelaststateofdesperation；almostanassassin。

"Whoareyou？"Isaidatlength。"IthinkIhaveseenyoubefore，andyet……"

"Iwillsoontellyoumynameandthestoryofmywoes；butfirstgivemesomethingtoeat，forIamdyingofhunger。Ihavehadnothingbutbadsoupforthelastfewdays。"

"Certainly；godownstairsandhaveyourdinner，andthencomebacktome；

youcan’teatandspeakatthesametime。"

Mymanwentdowntogivehimhismeal，andIgaveinstructionsthatIwasnottobeleftalonewithhimasheterrifiedme。

IfeltsurethatIoughttoknowhim，andlongedtohearhisstory。

Inthreequartersofanhourhecameupagain，lookinglikesomeoneinahighfever。

"Sitdown，"saidI，"andspeakfreely。"

"MynameisAlbergoni。"

"What！"

AlbergoniwasagentlemanofPadua，andoneofmymostintimatefriendstwenty—fiveyearsbefore。Hewasprovidedwithasmallfortune，butanabundanceofwit，andhadagreatleaningtowardspleasureandtheexerciseofsatire。Helaughedatthepoliceandthecheatedhusbands，indulgedinVenusandBacchustoexcess，sacrificedtothegodofpederasty，andgamedincessantly。Hewasnowhideouslyugly，butwhenI

knewhimfirsthewasaveryAntinous。

Hetoldmethefollowingstory:

"Aclubofyoungrakes，ofwhomIwasone，hadacasinoattheZuecca；wepassedmanyapleasanthourtherewithouthurtinganyone。Someoneimaginedthatthesemeetingswerethescenesofunlawfulpleasures，theenginesofthelawweresecretlydirectedagainstus，andthecasinowasshutup，andwewereorderedtobearrested。AllescapedexceptmyselfandamannamedBranzandi。Wehadtowaitforourunjustsentencefortwoyears，butatlastitappeared。Mywretchedfellowwascondemnedtolosehishead，andafterwardstobeburnt，whileIwassentencedtotenyears’imprisonment’incarcereduro’。In1765Iwassetfree，andwenttoPaduahopingtoliveinpeace，butmypersecutorsgavemenorest，andIwasaccusedofthesamecrime。Iwouldnotwaitforthestormtoburst，soIfledtoRome，andtwoyearsafterwardstheCouncilofTencondemnedmetoperpetualbanishment。

"ImightbearthisifIhadthewherewithaltolive，butabrother—in—lawofminehaspossessedhimselfofallIhave，andtheunjustTribunalwinksathismisdeeds。

"ARomanattorneymademeanofferofanannuityoftwopawlsadayontheconditionthatIshouldrenounceallclaimsonmyestate。Irefusedthisiniquitouscondition，andleftRometocomehereandturnhermit。I

havefollowedthissorrytradefortwoyears，andcanbearitnomore。"

"GobacktoRome；youcanliveontwopawlsaday。"

"Iwouldratherdie。"

Ipitiedhimsincerely，andsaidthatthoughIwasnotarichmanhewaswelcometodineeverydayatmyexpensewhileIremainedinNaples，andI

gavehimasequin。

Twoorthreedayslatermymantoldmethatthepoorwretchhadcommittedsuicide。

Inhisroomwerefoundfivenumbers，whichhebequeathedtoMediniandmyselfoutofgratitudeforourkindnesstohim。ThesefivenumberswereveryprofitabletotheLotteryofNaples，foreveryone，myselfexcepted，rushedtogetthem。Notasingleoneprovedawinningnumber，butthepopularbeliefthatnumbersgivenbyamanbeforehecommitssuicideareinfallibleistoodeeplyrootedamongtheNeapolitanstobedestroyedbysuchamisadventure。

Iwenttoseethewretchedman’sbody，andthenenteredacafe。Someonewastalkingofthecase，andmaintainingthatdeathbystrangulationmustbemostluxuriousasthevictimalwaysexpireswithastrongerection。

Itmightbeso，buttheerectionmightalsobetheresultofanagonyofpain，andbeforeanyonecanspeakdogmaticallyonthepointhemustfirsthavehadapracticalexperience。

AsIwasleavingthecafeIhadthegoodlucktocatchahandkerchiefthiefintheact；itwasaboutthetwentiethIhadstolenfrommeinthemonthIhadspentatNaples。Suchpettythievesaboundthere，andtheirskillissomethingamazing。

Assoonashefelthimselfcaught，hebeggedmenottomakeanynoise，swearinghewouldreturnallthehandkerchiefshehadstolenfromme，which，asheconfessed，amountedtosevenoreight。

"Youhavestolenmorethantwentyfromme。"

"NotI，butsomeofmymates。Ifyoucomewithme，perhapsweshallbeabletogetthemallback。"

"Isitfaroff？"

"IntheLargodelCastello。Letmego；peoplearelookingatus。"

Thelittlerascaltookmetoanevil—lookingtavern，andshewedmeintoaroom，whereamanaskedmeifIwantedtobuyanyoldthings。AssoonasheheardIhadcomeformyhandkerchiefs，heopenedabigcupboardfullofhandkerchiefs，amongstwhichIfoundadozenofmine，andboughtthembackforatrifle。

AfewdaysafterIboughtseveralothers，thoughIknewtheywerestolen。

TheworthyNeapolitandealerseemedtothinkmetrustworthy，andthreeorfourdaysbeforeIleftNapleshetoldmethathecouldsellme，fortenortwelvethousandducats，commoditieswhichwouldfetchfourtimesthatamountatRomeorelsewhere。

"Whatkindofcommoditiesarethey？"

"Watches，snuff—boxes，rings，andjewels，whichIdarenotsellhere。"

"Aren’tyouafraidofbeingdiscovered？"

"Notmuch，Idon’ttelleveryoneofmybusiness。"

Ithankedhim，butIwouldnotlookathistrinkets，asIwasafraidthetemptationofmakingsuchaprofitwouldbetoogreat。

WhenIgotbacktomyinnIfoundsomeguestshadarrived，ofwhomafewwereknowntome。BartoldihadarrivedfromDresdenwithtwoyoungSaxons，whosetutorhewas。Theseyoungnoblemenwererichandhandsome，andlookedfondofpleasure。

Bartoldiwasanoldfriendofmine。HehadplayedHarlequinattheKingofPoland’sItalianTheatre。Onthedeathofthemonarchhehadbeenplacedattheheadoftheopera—buffabythedowagerelectress，whowaspassionatelyfondofmusic。

AmongsttheotherstrangerswereMissChudleigh，nowDuchessofKingston，withanoblemanandaknightwhosenamesIhaveforgotten。

Theduchessrecognizedmeatonce，andseemedpleasedthatIpaidmycourttoher。AnhourafterwardsMr。Hamiltoncametoseeher，andIwasdelightedtomakehisacquaintance。Wealldinedtogether。Mr。

Hamiltonwasagenius，andyetheendedbymarryingameregirl，whowascleverenoughtomakehiminlovewithher。Suchamisfortuneoftencomestoclevermenintheiroldage。Marriageisalwaysafolly；butwhenamanmarriesayoungwomanatatimeoflifewhenhisphysicalstrengthisrunninglow，heisboundtopaydearlyforhisfolly；andifhiswifeisamorousofhimshewillkillhimevenyearsagoIhadanarrowescapemyselffromthesamefate。

AfterdinnerIpresentedthetwoSaxonstotheduchess；theygavehernewsofthedowagerelectress，ofwhomshewasveryfond。Wethenwenttotheplaytogether。Aschancewouldhaveit，MadameGoudaroccupiedtheboxnexttoours，andHamiltonamusedtheduchessbytellingthestoryofthehandsomeIrishwoman，buthergracedidnotseemdesirousofmakingSara’sacquaintance。

AftersuppertheduchessarrangedagameofquinzewiththetwoEnglishmenandthetwoSaxons。Thestakesweresmall，andtheSaxonsprovedvictorious。Ihadnottakenanypartinthegame，butIresolvedtodosothenextevening。

ThefollowingdaywedinedmagnificentlywiththePrinceofFrancavilla，andintheafternoonhetookustothebathbytheseashore，wherewesawawonderfulsight。Aprieststrippedhimselfnaked，leaptintothewater，andwithoutmakingtheslightestmovementfloatedonthesurfacelikeapieceofdeal。Therewasnotrickinit，andthemarvelmustbeassignedtosomespecialqualityinhisorgansofbreathing。Afterthistheprinceamusedtheduchessstillmorepleasantly。Hemadeallhispages，ladsoffifteentoseventeen，gointothewater，andtheirvariousevolutionsaffordedusgreatpleasure。Theywereallthesweetheartsoftheprince，whopreferredGanymedetoHebe。

TheEnglishmenaskedhimififhewouldgiveusthesamespectacle，onlysubsitutingnymphsforthe’amoyini’，andhepromisedtodosothenextdayathissplendidhousenearPortici，wheretherewasamarblebasininthemidstofthegarden。

CHAPTERXIV

MyAmourswithGallimena——JourneytoSoyento——Medini——Goudar——

MissChudleigh——TheMarquisPetina——Gaetano——MadameCornelis’sSon——

AnAnecdoteofSaraGoudar——TheFlorentinesMockedbytheKing——

MyJourneytoSalerno，ReturntoNaples，andArrivalatRomeThePrinceofFrancavillawasarichEpicurean，whosemottowas’Fovetetfavet’。

HewasinfavourinSpain，butthekingallowedhimtoliveatNaples，ashewasafraidofhisinitiatingthePrinceofAsturias，hisbrothers，andperhapsthewholeCourt，intohispeculiarvices。

Thenextdayhekepthispromise，andwehadthepleasureofseeingthemarblebasinfilledwithtenortwelvebeautifulgirlswhoswamaboutinthewater。

MissChudleighandthetwootherladiespronouncedthisspectacletedious；theynodoubtpreferredthatofthepreviousday。

InspiteofthisgaycompanyIwenttoseeCallimenatwiceaday；shestillmademesighinvain。

Agathawasmyconfidante；shewouldgladlyhavehelpedmetoattainmyends，butherdignitywouldnotallowofhergivingmeanyovertassistance。ShepromisedtoaskCallimenatoaccompanyusonanexcursiontoSorento，hopingthatIshouldsucceedinmyobjectduringthenightweshouldhavetospendthere。

BeforeAgathahadmadethesearrangements，HamiltonhadmadesimilaroneswiththeDuchessofKingston，andIsucceededingettinganinvitation。

IassociatedchieflywiththetwoSaxonsandacharmingAbbeGuliani，withwhomIafterwardsmadeamoreintimateacquaintanceatRome。

WeleftNaplesatfouro’clockinthemorning，inafeluccawithtwelveoars，andatninewereachedSorrento。

Wewerefifteeninnumber，andallweredelightedwiththisearthlyparadise。

HamiltontookustoagardenbelongingtotheDukeofSerraCapriola，whochancedtobetherewithhinbeautifulPiedmontesewife，wholovedherhusbandpassionately。

Thedukehadbeensenttheretwomonthsbeforeforhavingappearedinpublicinanequipagewhichwasadjudgedtoomagnificent。TheministerTanuccicalledonthekingtopunishthisinfringementofthesumptuarylaws，andasthekinghadnotyetlearnttoresisthisministers，thedukeandhiswifewereexiledtothisearthlyparadise。Butaparadisewhichisaprisonisnoparadiseatall；theywerebothdyingofennui，andourarrivalwasbalminGileadtothem。

AcertainAbbeBettoni，whoseacquaintanceIhadmadenineyearsbeforeatthelateDukeofMatalone’s，hadcometoseethem，andwasdelightedtomeetmeagain。

TheabbewasanativeofBrescia，buthehadchosenSorentoashisresidence。Hehadthreethousandcrownsayear，andlivedwell，enjoyingallthegiftsofBacchus，Ceres，Comus，andVenus，thelatterbeinghisfavouritedivinity。Hehadonlytodesiretoattain，andnomancoulddesiregreaterpleasurethanheenjoyedatSorento。IwasvexedtoseeCountMediniwithhim；wewereenemies，andgaveeachotherthecoldestofgreetings。

Weweretwenty—twoattableandenjoyeddeliciousfare，forinthatlandeverythingisgood；theverybreadissweeterthanelsewhere。Wespenttheafternoonininspectingthevillages，whicharesurroundedbyavenuesfinerthantheavenuesleadingtothegrandestcastlesinEurope。

AbbeBettonitreatedustolemon，coffee，andchocolateices，andsomedeliciouscreamcheese。Naplesexcellsinthesedelicacies，andtheabbehadeverythingofthebest。Wewerewaitedonbyfiveorsixcountrygirlsofravishingbeauty，dressedwithexquisiteneatness。Iaskedhimwhetherthatwerehisseraglio，andherepliedthatitmightbeso，butthatjealousywasunknown，asIshouldseeformyselfifIcaredtospendaweekwithhim。

Ienviedthishappyman，andyetIpitiedhim，forhewasatleasttwelveyearsolderthanI，andIwasbynomeansyoung。Hispleasurescouldnotlastmuchlonger。

Intheeveningwereturnedtotheduke’s，andsatdowntoasuppercomposedofseveralkindsoffish。

TheairofSorentogivesanuntiringappetite，andthesuppersoondisappeared。

Aftersuppermyladyproposedagameatfaro，andBettoni，knowingMedinitobeaprofessionalgamester，askedhimtoholdthebank。Hebeggedtobeexcused，sayinghehadnotenoughmoney，soIconsentedtotakehisplace。

Thecardswerebroughtin，andIemptiedmypoorpurseonthetable。Itonlyheldfourhundredounces，butthatwasallIpossessed。

Thegamebegan；andonMediniaskingmeifIwouldallowhimashareinthebank，Ibeggedhimtoexcusemeonthescoreofinconvenience。

Iwentondealingtillmidnight，andbythattimeIhadonlyfortyouncesleft。EverybodyhadwonexceptSirRosebury，whohadpuntedinEnglishbanknotes，whichIhadputintomypocketwithoutcounting。

WhenIgottomyroomIthoughtIhadbetterlookatthebanknotes，forthedepletionofmypursedisquietedme。Mydelightmaybeimagined。I

foundIhadgotfourhundredandfiftypounds——morethandoublewhatI

hadlost。

Iwenttosleepwellpleasedwithmyday’swork，andresolvednottotellanyoneofmygoodluck。

Theduchesshadarrangedforustostartatnine，andMadamedeSerraCapriolabeggedustotakecoffeewithherbeforegoing。

AfterbreakfastMediniandBettonicamein，andtheformeraskedHamiltonwhetherhewouldmindhisreturningwithus。Ofcourse，Hamiltoncouldnotrefuse，sohecameonboard，andattwoo’clockIwasbackatmyinn。

Iwasastonishedtobegreetedinmyantechamberbyayounglady，whoaskedmesadlywhetherIrememberedher。ShewastheeldestofthefiveHanoverians，thesamethathadfledwiththeMarquisdellsPetina。

Itoldhertocomein，andordereddinnertobebroughtup。

"Ifyouarealone，"shesaid，"Ishouldbegladtoshareyourrepast。"

"Certainly；Iwillorderdinnerfortwo。"

Herstorywassoontold。ShehadcometoNapleswithherhusband，whomhermotherrefusedtorecognize。Thepoorwretchhadsoldallhepossessed，andtwoorthreemonthsafterhehadbeenarrestedonseveralchargesofforgery。Hispoormatehadsupportedhiminprisonforsevenyears。ShehadheardthatIwasatNaples，andwantedmetohelpher，notastheMarquisdellaPetinawished，bylendinghimmoney，butbyemployingmyinfluencewiththeDuchessofKingstontomakethatladytakehertoEnglandwithherinherservice。

"Areyoumarriedtothemarquis？"

"No。"

"Thenhowcouldyoukeephimforsevenyears？"

"Alas……Youcanthinkofahundredways，andtheywouldallbetrue。"

"Isee。"

"Canyouprocuremeaninterviewwiththeduchess？"

"Iwilltry，butIwarnyouthatIshalltellherthesimpletruth。"

"Verygood。"

"Comeagainto—morrow。"

Atsixo’clockIwenttoaskHamiltonhowIcouldexchangetheEnglishnotesIhadwon，andhegavemethemoneyhimself。

BeforesupperIspoketotheduchessaboutthepoorHanoverian。Myladysaidsherememberedseeingher，andthatshewouldliketohaveatalkwithherbeforecomingtoanydecision。Ibroughtthepoorcreaturetoherthenextday，andleftthemalone。TheresultoftheinterviewwasthattheduchesstookherintoherserviceintheplaceofaRomangirl，andtheHanoverianwenttoEnglandwithher。Ineverheardofheragain，butafewdaysafterPetinasenttobegmetocomeandseehiminprison，andIcouldnotrefuse。IfoundhimwithayoungmanwhomIrecognizedashisbrother，thoughhewasveryhandsomeandthemarquisveryugly；

butthedistinctionbetweenbeautyanduglinessisoftenhardtopointout。

Thisvisitprovedaverytediousone，forIhadtolistentoalongstorywhichdidnotinterestmeintheleast。

AsIwasgoingoutIwasmetbyanofficial，whosaidanotherprisonerwantedtospeaktome。

"What’shisname？"

"HisnameisGaetano，andhesaysheisarelationofyours。"

MyrelationandGaetano！Ithoughtitmightbetheabbe。

Iwentuptothefirstfloor，andfoundascoreofwretchedprisonerssittingonthegroundroaringanobscenesonginchorus。

Suchgaietyisthelastresourceofmencondemnedtoimprisonmentonthegalleys；itisnaturegivingherchildrensomerelief。

Oneoftheprisonerscameuptomeandgreetedmeas"gossip。"Hewouldhaveembracedme，butIsteppedback。Hetoldmehisname，andI

recognizedinhimthatGaetanowhohadmarriedaprettywomanundermyauspicesashergodfather。ThereadermayrememberthatIafterwardshelpedhertoescapefromhim。

"Iamsorrytoseeyouhere，butwhatcanIdoforyou？"

"Youcanpaymethehundredcrownsyouoweme，forthegoodssuppliedtoyouatParisbyme。"

Thiswasalie，soIturnedmybackonhim，sayingIsupposedimprisonmenthaddrivenhimmad。

AsIwentawayIaskedanofficialwhyhehadbeenimprisoned，andwastolditwasforforgery，andthathewouldhavebeenhangedifithadnotbeenforalegalflaw。Hewassentencedtoimprisonmentforlife。

Idismissedhimfrommymind，butintheafternoonIhadavisi