第104章

"Really？"

"Yes，really；anditwillbetoyouthatmyhusbandwillowethehappinesshehassolongdesired。Hetoldmesowhenheleftmeanhourago。

"Ishallbedelightedtoaddtoyourmutualhappiness。"

ShelookedsofreshandhappythatIlongedtokissher，butIwasobligedtorestrainmyselfasshewassurroundedbyherprettymaids。

ThebettertothrowanyspiesoffthescentIbegantomakelovetoAnastasia，andLeonildapretendedtoencourageme。

Ifeignedapassionatedesire，andIcouldseethatIshouldnothavemuchtroubleingainingmysuit。IsawIshouldhavetobecarefulifI

didnotwanttobetakenatmyword；Icouldnotbearsuchasurfeitofpleasures。

Wewenttobreakfastwiththemarquis，whowasdelightedtoseeus。Hewasquitewell，exceptthegoutwhichpreventedhiswalking。

Afterbreakfastweheardmass，andIsawabouttwentyservantsinthechapel。AftertheserviceIkeptthemarquiscompanytilldinner—time。

HesaidIwasverygoodtosacrificethecompanyoftheladiesforhissake。

Afterdinnerwesetoutforhiscountryhouse；Iinacarriagewiththetwoladies，andthemarquisinalitterbornebytwomules。

Inanhourandahalfwearrivedathisfineandwell—situatedcastle。

Thefirstthingthemarchionessdidwastotakemeintothegarden，wheremyardourreturnedandsheoncemoreabandonedherselftome。

WeagreedthatIshouldonlygotoherroomtocourtAnastasia，asitwasnecessarytoavoidtheslightestsuspicion。

Thisfancyofmineforhiswife’smaidamusedthemarquis，forhiswifekepthimwellpostedintheprogressofourintrigue。

DonnaLucreziaapprovedofthearrangementasshedidnotwantthemarquistothinkthatIhadonlycometoSalernoforhersake。MyapartmentswerenexttoLeonilda’s，butbeforeIcouldgetintoherroomIshouldbeobligedtopassthroughthatoccupiedbyAnastasia，whosleptwithanothermaidstillprettierthanherself。

Themarquiscameanhourlater，andhesaidhewouldgethispeopletocarryhiminanarm—chairroundthegardens，sothathemightpointouttheirbeautiestome。Aftersupperhefelttiredandwenttobed，leavingmetoentertaintheladies。

Afterafewmoments’conversation，Iledthemarchionesstoherroom，andshesaidIhadbettergotomyownapartmentthroughthemaids’room，tellingAanastasiatoshewmetheway。

Politenessobligedmetoshewmyselfsensibleofsuchafavour，andI

saidIhopedshewouldnotbesoharshastolockherdooruponme。

"Ishalllockmydoor，"saidshe，"becauseitismydutytodoso。Thisroomismymistress’scloset，andmycompanionwouldprobablymakesomeremarkifIleftthedooropencontrarytomyusualcustom。"

"Yourreasonsaretoogoodformetoovercome，butwillyounotsitdownbesidemeforafewminutesandhelpmetorecollecthowIusedtoteaseyou？"

"Idon’twantyoutorecollectanythingaboutit；pleaseletmego。"

"Youmustpleaseyourself，"saidI；andafterembracingherandgivingherakiss，Iwishedhergoodnight。

Myservantcameinasshewentout，andItoldhimthatIwouldsleepbymyselfforthefuture。

ThenextdaythemarchionesslaughinglyrepeatedthewholeofmyconversationwithAnastasia。

"Iapplaudedhervirtuousresistance，butIsaidshemightsafelyassistatyourtoiletteeveryevening。"

LeonildagavethemarquisafullaccountofmytalkwithAnastasia。TheoldmanthoughtIwasreallyinlovewithher，andhadherintosupperformysake，soIwasincommondecencyboundtoplaythelover。

Anastasiawashighlypleasedatmypreferringhertohercharmingmistress，andatthelatter’scomplaisancetowardsourlove—making。

Themarquisinhisturnwasequallypleasedashethoughttheintriguewouldmakemestaylongerathishouse。

IntheeveningAnastasiaaccompaniedmetomyroomwithacandle，andseeingthatIhadnovaletsheinsistedcombingmyhair。Shefeltflatteredatmynotpresumingtogotobedinherpresence，andkeptmecompanyforanhour；andasIwasnotreallyamorousofher，Ihadnodifficultyinplayingthepartofthetimidlover。Whenshewishedmegoodnightshewasdelightedtofindmykissesasaffectionatebutnotsodaringasthoseofthenightbefore。

Themarchionesssaid，thenextmorning，thatiftherecitalshehadheardweretrue，shewasafraidAnastasia’scompanytiredme，assheverywellknewthatwhenIreallylovedIcasttimiditytothewinds。

"No，shedoesn’ttiremeatall；sheisprettyandamusing。ButhowcanyouimaginethatIreallyloveher，whenyouknowverywellthatthewholeaffairisonlydesignedtocastdustineveryone’seyes？"

"Anastasiafullybelievesthatyouadoreher，andindeedIamnotsorrythatyoushouldgiveheralittletasteforgallantry。"

"IfIcanpersuadehertoleaveherdooropenIcaneasilyvisityou，forshewillnotimagineforamomentthatafterleavingherIgotoyourroominsteadofmyown。"

"Takecarehowyousetaboutit。"

"IwillseewhatIcandothisevening。"

ThemarquisandLucreziahadnottheslightestdoubtthatAnastasiaspenteverynightwithme，andtheyweredelightedattheidea。

ThewholeofthedayIdevotedtotheworthymarquis，whosaidmycompanymadehimhappy。Itwasnosacrificeonmypart，forIlikedhisprinciplesandhiswayofthinking。

OntheoccasionofmythirdsupperwithAnastasiaIwasmoretenderthanever，andshewasverymuchastonishedtofindthatIhadcooleddownwhenIgottomyroom。

"Iamgladtoseeyousocalm，"saidshe，"youquitefrightenedmeatsupper。"

"ThereasonisthatIknowyouthinkyourselfindangerwhenyouarealonewithme。"

"Notatall；youaremuchmorediscreetthanyouwerenineyearsago。"

"WhatfollydidIcommitthen？"

"Nofolly，butyoudidnotrespectmychildhood。"

"Ionlygaveyouafewcaresses，forwhichIamnowsorry，asyouarefrightenedofme，andpersistinlockingyourdoor。"

"Idon’tmistrustyou，butIhavetoldyoumyreasonsforlockingthedoor。Ithinkthatyoumustmistrustme，asyouwon’tgotobedwhileI

amintheroom。"

"Youmustthinkmeverypresumptuous。Iwillgotobed，butyoumustnotleavemewithoutgivingmeakiss。"

"Ipromisetodoso。"

Iwenttobed，andAnastasiaspenthalfanhourbesideme。Ihadagooddealofdifficultyincontrollingmyself，butIwasafraidofhertellingthemarchionesseverything。

AssheleftmeshegavemesuchakindembracethatIcouldbearitnolonger，andguidingherhandIskewedherthepowersheexercisedoverme。Shethenwentaway，andIshallnotsaywhethermybehaviourirritatedorpleasedher。

ThenextdayIwascurioustoknowhowmuchshehadtoldthemarchioness，andonhearingnothingoftheprincipalfactIfeltcertainshewouldnotlockherdoorthatevening。

WhentheeveningcameIdefiedhertoskewthesameconfidenceinmeasI

hadshewninher。Sherepliedthatshewoulddosowithpleasure，ifI

wouldblowoutmycandleandpromisenottoputmyhandonher。Ieasilygavehertherequiredpromise，forImeanttokeepmyselffreshforLeonilda。

Iundressedhastily，followedherwithbarefeet，andlaidmyselfbesideher。

Shetookmyhandsandheldthem，towhichIofferednoresistance。Wewereafraidofawakeningherbedfellow，andkeptperfectsilence。Ourlipshowevergavethemselvesfreecourse，andcertainmotions，naturalunderthecircumstances，musthavemadeherbelievethatIwasintorments。ThehalfhourIpassedbesideherseemedextremelylongtome，butitmusthavebeendelicioustoher，asgivinghertheideathatshecoulddowhatshelikedwithme。

WhenIleftherafterwehadsharedanecstaticembrace，Ireturnedtomyroom，leavingthedooropen。AssoonasIhadreasontosupposethatshewasasleep，Ireturned，andpassedthroughherroomtoLeonilda’s。Shewasexpectingme，butdidnotknowofmypresencetillInotifieditwithakiss。

AfterIhadgivenherastrongproofofmylove，ItoldherofmyadventurewithAnastasia，andthenouramorousexploitsbeganagain，andIdidnotleavehertillIhadspenttwomostdelicioushours。Weagreedthattheyshouldnotbethelast，andIreturnedtomyroomontiptoeasIhadcome。

Ididnotgetuptillnoon，andthemarquisandhiswifejestedwithmeatdinneronthesubjectofmylaterising。AtsupperitwasAnastasia’sturn，andsheseemedtoenjoythesituation。Shetoldmeintheeveningthatshewouldnotlockherdoor，butthatImustnotcomeintoherroom，asitwasdangerous。Itwouldbemuchbetter，shesaid，forustotalkinmyroom，wheretherewouldbenoneedofputtingoutthelight。SheaddedthatIhadbettergotobed，asthenshewouldfeelcertainthatshewasnottiringmeinanyway。

Icouldnotsayno，butIflatteredmyselfthatIwouldkeepmystrengthintactforLeonilda。

Ireckonedwithoutmyhost，astheproverbgoes。

WhenIheldAnastasiabetweenmyarmsinbed，herlipsgluedtomine，I

toldher，asindutybound，thatshedidnottrustinmeenoughtoliebesidemewithherclothesoff。

ThereuponsheaskedmeifIwouldbeverydiscreet。

IfIhadsaidno，Ishouldhavelookedafool。Imadeupmymind，andtoldheryes，determinedtosatisfytheprettygirl’sdesires。

Inamomentshewasinmyarms，notatallinclinedtokeepmetomypromise。

Appetite，itissaid，comesineating。Herardourmademeamorous，andI

renderedhomagetohercharmstillIfellasleepwithfatigue。

AnastasialeftmewhileIwasasleep，andwhenIawokeIfoundmyselfinthesomewhatridiculouspositionofbeingobligedtomakeafullconfessiontothemarchionessastowhyIhadfailedinmydutiestoher。

WhenItoldLeonildamytale，shebegantolaughandagreedthatfurthervisitswereoutofthequestion。Wemadeupourminds，andfortheremainderofmyvisitouramorousmeetingsonlytookplaceinthesummerhousesinthegarden。

IhadtoreceiveAnastasiaeverynight，andwhenIleftforRomeanddidnottakeherwithmesheconsideredmeasatraitor。

Theworthymarquisgavemeagreatsurpriseontheeveofmydeparture。

Wewerealonetogether，andhebeganbysayingthattheDukeofMatalonehadtoldhimthereasonwhichhadpreventedmemarryingLeonilda，andthathehadalwaysadmiredmygenerosityinmakingherapresentoffivethousandducats，thoughIwasfarfromrich。

"Thesefivethousandducats，"headded，"withseventhousandfromtheduke，composedherdower，andIhaveaddedahundredthousand，sothatsheissureofacomfortableliving，evenifIdiewithoutasuccessor。

"Now，Iwantyoutotakebackthefivethousandducatsyougaveher；andsheherselfisasdesirousofyourdoingsoasIam。Shedidnotliketoaskyouherself；sheistoodelicate。"

"Well，IshouldhaverefusedLeonildaifshehadaskedme，butIacceptthismarkofyourfriendship。Arefusalwouldhavebornewitnesstonothingbutafoolishpride，asIamapoorman。IshouldlikeLeonildaandhermothertobepresentwhenyougivemethemoney。"

"Embraceme；wewilldoourbusinessafterdinner。"

Napleshasalwaysbeenatempleoffortunetome，butifIwenttherenowIshouldstarve。Fortunefloutsoldage。

LeonildaandLucreziaweptwithjoywhenthegoodmarquisgavemethefivethousandducatsinbanknotes，andpresentedhismother—in—lawwithanequalsuminwitnessofhisgratitudetoherforhavingintroducedmetohim。

Themarquiswasdiscreetenoughnottorevealhischiefreason。DonnaLucreziadidnotknowthattheDukeofMatalonehadtoldhimthatLeonildawasmydaughter。

Anexcessofgratitudelessenedmyhighspiritsfortherestoftheday，andAnastasiadidnotspendaverylivelynightwithme。

Iwentoffateighto’clockthenextmorning。Iwassad，andthewholehousewasintears。

IpromisedthatIwouldwritetothemarquisfromRome，andIreachedNaplesateleveno’clock。

IwenttoseeAgatha，whowasastonishedatmyappearanceasshehadthoughtIwasatRome。Herhusbandwelcomedmeinthemostfriendlymanner，althoughhewassufferingagreatdeal。

IsaidIwoulddinewiththemandstartdirectlyafterwards，andIaskedtheadvocatetogetmeabillonRomeforfivethousandducats，inexchangeforthebanknotesIgavehim。

Agathasawthatmymindwasmadeup，andwithoutendeavoringtopersuademetostaywentinsearchofCallimena。

ShetoohadthoughtIwasinRome，andwasinanecstasyofdelighttoseemeagain。

Mysuddendisappearanceandmyunexpectedreturnwerethemysteryoftheday，butIdidnotsatisfyanyone’scuriosity。

Ileftthematthreeo’clock，andstoppedatMontecasino，whichIhadneverseen。Icongratulatedmyselfonmyidea，forImettherePrinceXaverdeSaxe，whowastravellingunderthenameofComtedeLusacewithMadameSpinucci，aladyofFermo，withwhomhehadcontractedasemi—

clandestinemarriage。HehadbeenwaitingforthreedaystohearfromthePope，forbySt。Benedict’srulewomenarenotallowedinmonasteries；andasMadameSpinucciwasextremelycuriousonthesubject，herhusbandhadbeenobligedtoapplyforadispensationtotheHolyFather。

IsleptatMontecasinoafterhavingseenthecuriositiesoftheplace，andIwentontoRome，andputupwithRoland’sdaughterinthePlaced’Espagne。

CHAPTERXV

Margarita——MadameBuondcorsi——TheDuchessofFiano——CardinalBernis——

ThePrincessSantaCroce——MenicuccioandHisSisterIhadmadeupmymindtospendaquietsixmonthsatRome，andthedayaftermyarrivalItookapleasantsuiteofroomsoppositetheSpanishAmbassador，whosenamewasd’Aspura。Ithappenedtobethesameroomsaswereoccupiedtwenty—sevenyearsagobytheteacheroflanguages，towhomIhadgoneforlessonswhileIwaswithCardinalAcquaviva。Thelandladywasthewifeofacookwhoonly，sleptwithhisbetterhalfonceaweek。

Thewomanhadadaughterofsixteenorseventeenyearsold，whowouldhavebeenveryprettyifthesmall—poxhadnotdeprivedherofoneeye。

Theyhadprovidedherwithanill—madeartificialeye，ofawrongsizeandabadcolour，whichgaveaveryunpleasantexpressiontoherface。

Margarita，asshewascalled，madenoimpressiononme，butImadeherapresentwhichshevaluedveryhighly。TherewasanEnglishoculistnamedTaylorinRomeatthattime，andIgothimtomakeheraneyeoftherightsizeandcolour。ThismadeMargaritaimaginethatIhadfalleninlovewithher，andthemother，adevotee，wasinsometroubleastowhethermyintentionswerestrictlyvirtuous。

Imadearrangementswiththemothertosupplymewithagooddinnerandsupperwithoutanyluxury。Ihadthreethousandsequins，andIhadmadeupmymindtoliveinaquietandrespectablemanner。

ThenextdayIfoundlettersformeinseveralpost—offices，andthebankerBelloni，whohadknownmeforseveralyears，hadbeenalreadyadvisedofmybillofexchange。MygoodfriendDandolosentmetwolettersofintroduction，ofwhichonewasaddressedtoM。Erizzo，theVenetianambassador。HewasthebrotheroftheambassadortoParis。

Thisletterpleasedmegreatly。TheotherwasaddressedtotheDuchessofFiano，byherbrotherM。Zuliani。

IsawthatIshouldbefreeofallthebesthouses，andIpromisedmyselfthepleasureofanearlyvisittoCardinalBernis。

Ididnothireeitheracarriageoraservant。AtRomeboththesearticlesareprocurableatamoment’snotice。

MyfirstcallwasontheDuchessofFiano。Shewasanuglywoman，andthoughshewasreallyverygood—natured，sheassumedthecharacterofbeingmalicioussoastoobtainsomeconsideration。

Herhusband，whoborethenameofOttoboni，hadonlymarriedhertoobtainanheir，butthepoordevilturnedouttobewhattheRomanscall’babilano’，andweimpotent。Theduchesstoldmeasmuchontheoccasionofmythirdvisit。Shedidnotgivemetheinformationinacomplainingtone，orasifshewasfaintobeconsoled，butmerelytodefyherconfessor，whohadthreatenedherwithexcommunicationifshewentontellingpeopleaboutherhusband’scondition，orifshetriedtocurehimofit。

Theduchessgavealittlesuppereveryeveningtoherselectcircleoffriends。Iwasnotadmittedtothesereunionsforaweekortendays，bywhichtimeIhadmademyselfgenerallypopular。Thedukedidnotcareforcompanyandsuppedapart。

ThePrinceofSantaCrocewastheduchess’s’cavaliereservante’，andtheprincesswasservedbyCardinalBernis。TheprincesswasadaughteroftheMarquisFalconieri，andwasyoung，pretty，lively，andintendedbynatureforalifeofpleasure。However，herprideatpossessingthecardinalwassogreatthatshedidnotgiveanyhopetoothercompetitorsforherfavour。

Theprincewasafinemanofdistinguishedmannersandgreatcapability，whichheemployedinbusinessspeculations，beingofopinion，andrightly，thatitwasnoshameforanoblemantoincreasehisfortunebytheexerciseofhisintelligence。Hewasacarefulman，andhadattachedhimselftotheduchessbecauseshecosthimnothing，andherannoriskoffallinginlovewithher。

TwoorthreeweeksaftermyarrivalheheardmecomplainingoftheobstaclestoresearchintheRomanlibraries，andheofferedtogivemeanintroductiontotheSuperioroftheJesuits。Iacceptedtheoffer，andwasmadefreeofthelibrary；IcouldnotonlygoandreadwhenI

liked，butIcould，onwritingmynamedown，takebooksawaywithme。

Thekeepersofthelibraryalwaysbroughtmecandleswhenitgrewdark，andtheirpolitenesswassogreatthattheygavemethekeyofasidedoor，sothatIcouldslipinandoutasIpleased。

TheJesuitswerealwaysthemostpoliteoftheregularclergy，or，indeed，Imaysaytheonlypolitemenamongstthem；butduringthecrisisinwhichtheyweretheninvolved，theyweresimplycringing。

TheKingofSpainhadcalledforthesuppressionoftheorder，andthePopehadpromisedthatitshouldbedone；buttheJesuitsdidnotthinkthatsuchablowcouldeverbestruck，andfeltalmostsecure。TheydidnotthinkthatthePope’spowerwassuperhumansofarastheywereconcerned。Theyevenintimatedtohimbyindirectchannelsthathisauthoritydidnotextendtothesuppressionoftheorder；buttheyweremistaken。Thesovereignpontiffdelayedthesignatureofthebull，buthishesitationproceededfromthefactthatinsigningithefearedlestheshouldbesigninghisownsentenceofdeath。Accordinglyheputitofftillhefoundthathishonourwasthreatened。TheKingofSpain，themostobstinatetyrantinEurope，wrotetohimwithhisownhand，tellinghimthatifhedidnotsuppresstheorderhewouldpublishinallthelanguagesofEuropethelettershehadwrittenwhenhewasacardinal，promisingtosuppresstheorderwhenhebecamePope。OnthestrengthoftheselettersGanganellihadbeenelected。

Anothermanwouldhavetakenrefugeincasuistryandtoldthekingthatitwasnotforapopetobeboundtothecardinal’spromises，inwhichcontentionhewouldhavebeensupportedbytheJesuits。However，inhisheartGanganellihadnolikingforthe