第107章

AsIhadexpected，IfoundMediniandhismistressthere，withtwoforeignladiesandtheirattendantcavaliers，andafine—lookingandwell—dressedVenetian，betweenthirty—fiveandforty，whomIwouldnothaverecognizedifZanovitchhadnottoldmehisname，AloisZen。

"Zenwasapatricianname，andIfeltobligedtoaskwhattitlesIoughttogivehim。

"Suchtitlesasoneoldfriendgivesanother，thoughitisverypossibleyoudonotrecollectme，asIwasonlytenyearsoldwhenwesaweachotherlast。"

ZenthentoldmehewasthesonofthecaptainIhadknownwhenIwasunderarrestatSt。Andrews。

"That’stwenty—eightyearsago；butIrememberyou，thoughyouhadnothadthesmall—poxinthosedays。"

Isawthathewasannoyedbythisremark，butitwashisfault，ashehadnobusinesstosaywherehehadknownme，orwhohisfatherwas。

HewasthesonofanobleVenetian——agood—for—nothingineverysenseoftheword。

WhenImethimatFlorencehehadjustcomefromMadrid，wherehehadmadealotofmoneybyholdingabankatfarointhehouseoftheVenetianambassador，MarcoZen。

Iwasgladtomeethim，butIfoundoutbeforethedinnerwasoverthathewascompletelydevoidofeducationandthemannersofagentleman；buthewaswellcontentwiththeonetalenthepossessed，namely，thatofcorrectingthefreaksoffortuneatgamesofchance。Ididnotwaittoseetheonslaughtofthecheatsonthedupes，buttookmyleavewhilethetablewasbeingmadeready。

SuchwasmylifeduringthesevenmonthswhichIspentatFlorence。

AfterthisdinnerIneversawZen，orMedini，orZanovitch，exceptbychanceinthepublicplaces。

HereImustrecountsomeincidentswhichtookplacetowardsthemiddleofDecember。

LordLincoln，ayoungmanofeighteen，fellinlovewithaVenetiandancernamedLamberti，whowasauniversalfavourite。OneverynightwhentheoperawasgiventheyoungEnglishmanmightbeseengoingtohercamerino，andeveryonewonderedwhyhedidnotvisitheratherownhouse，wherehewouldbecertainofagoodwelcome，forhewasEnglish，andthereforerich，young，andhandsome。IbelievehewastheonlysonoftheDukeofNewcastle。

Zanovitchmarkedhimdown，andinashorttimehadbecomeanintimatefriendofthefairLamberti。HethenmadeuptoLordLincoln，andtookhimtothelady’shouse，asapolitemantakesafriendtoseehismistress。

MadameLamberti，whowasincollusionwiththerascal，wasnotniggardlyofherfavourswiththeyoungEnglishman。ShereceivedhimeverynighttosupperwithZanovitchandZen，whohadbeenpresentedbytheSclav，eitherbecauseofhiscapital，orbecauseZanovitchwasnotsoaccomplishedacheat。

Forthefirstfewnightstheytookcaretolettheyoungnoblemanwin。

Astheyplayedaftersupper，andLordLincolnfollowedthenobleEnglishcustomofdrinkingtillhedidnotknowhisrighthandfromhisleft，hewasquiteastonishedonwakingthenextmorningtofindthatluckhadbeenaskindtohimaslove。Thetrapwasbaited，theyounglordnibbled，and，asmaybeexpected，wasfinallycaught。

Zenwontwelvethousandpoundsofhim，andZanovitchlenthimthemoneybyinstallmentsofthreeandfourhundredlouisatatime，astheEnglishmanhadpromisedhistutornottoplay，onhiswordofhonour。

ZanovitchwonfromZenwhatZenwonfromthelord，andsothegamewaskeptuptilltheyoungpigeonhadlosttheenormoussumoftwelvethousandguineas。

LordLincolnpromisedtopaythreethousandguineasthenextday，andsignedthreebillsofexchangeforthreethousandguineaseach，payableinsixmonths，anddrawnonhisLondonbanker。

IheardallaboutthisfromLordLincolnhimselfwhenwemetatBolognathreemonthslater。

ThenextmorningthelittlegamingpartywasthetalkofFlorence。SassoSassi，thebanker，hadalreadypaidZanovitchsixthousandsequinsbymylord’sorders。

Medinicametoseeme，furiousatnothavingbeenaskedtojointheparty，whileIcongratulatedmyselfonmyabsence。Mysurprisemaybeimagined，when，afewdaysafter，apersoncameuptomyroom，andorderedmetoleaveFlorenceinthreedaysandTuscanyinaweek。

Iwaspetrified，andcalledtomylandlordtowitnesstheunrighteousorderIhadreceived。

ItwasDecember28th。Onthesamedate，threeyearsbefore，IhadreceivedorderstoleaveBarcelonainthreedays。

Idressedhastilyandwenttothemagistratetoenquirethereasonformyexile，andonenteringtheroomIfounditwasthesamemanwhohadorderedmetoleaveFlorenceelevenyearsbefore。

Iaskedhimtogivemehisreasons，andherepliedcoldlythatsuchwasthewillofhishighness。

"Butashishighnessmusthavehisreasons，itseemstomethatIamwithinmyrightsinenquiringwhattheyare。"

"Ifyouthinksoyquhadbetterbetakeyourselftotheprince；Iknownothingaboutit。HeleftyesterdayforPisa，wherehewillstaythreedays；youcangothere。"

"Willhepayformyjourney？"

"Ishoulddoubtit，butyoucanseeforyourself。"

"IshallnotgotoPisa，butIwillwritetohishighnessifyouwillpromisetosendontheletter。"

"Iwilldosoimmediately，foritismyduty。"

"Verygood；youshallhavetheletterbeforenoontomorrow，andbeforeday—breakIshallbeintheStatesoftheChurch。"

"There’snoneedforyoutohurryyourself。"

"Thereisaverygreathurry。Icannotbreathetheairofacountrywherelibertyisunknownandthesovereignbreakshisword；thatiswhatIamgoingtowritetoyourmaster。"

AsIwasgoingoutImetMedini，whohadcomeonthesamebusinessasmyself。

Ilaughed，andinformedhimoftheresultsofmyinterview，andhowIhadbeentoldtogotoPisa。

"What！haveyoubeenexpelled，too？"

"Yes。"

"Whathaveyoudone？"

"Nothing。"

"NorI。LetusgotoPisa。"

"Youcangoifyoulike，butIshallleaveFlorencetonight。"

WhenIgothomeItoldmylandlordtogetmeacarriageandtoorderfourpost—horsesfornightfall，andIthenwrotethefollowinglettertothegrandduke:

"MyLord；ThethunderwhichJovehasplacedinyourhandsisonlyfortheguilty；inlaunchingitatmeyouhavedonewrong。SevenmonthsagoyoupromisedthatIshouldremainunmolestedsolongasIobeyedthelaws。

Ihavedonesoscrupulously，andyourlordshiphasthereforebrokenyourword。IammerelywritingtoyoutoletyouknowthatIforgiveyou，andthatIshallnevergiveutterancetoawordofcomplaint。IndeedIwouldwillinglyforgettheinjuryyouhavedoneme，ifitwerenotnecessarythatIshouldremembernevertosetfootinyourrealmsagain。ThemagistratetellsmethatIcangoandseeyouatPisa，butIfearsuchastepwouldseemahardyonetoaprince，whoshouldhearwhatamanhastosaybeforehecondemnshim，andnotafterwards。

"Iam，etc。"

WhenIhadfinishedtheletterIsentittothemagistrate，andthenI

beganmypacking。

IwassittingdowntodinnerwhenMedinicameincursingZenandZanovitch，whomheaccusedofbeingtheauthorsofhismisfortune，andofrefusingtogivehimahundredsequins，withoutwhichhecouldnotpossiblygo。

"WeareallgoingtoPisa，"saidhe，"andcannotimaginewhyyoudonotcome，too。"

"Verygood，"Isaid，laughingly，"butpleasetoleavemenowasIhavetodomypacking。"

AsIexpected，hewantedmetolendhimsomemoney，butonmygivinghimadirectrefusalhewentaway。

AfterdinnerItookleaveofM。MediciandMadameDennis，thelatterofwhomhadheardthestoryalready。Shecursedthegrandduke，sayingshecouldnotimaginehowhecouldconfoundtheinnocentwiththeguilty。

SheinformedmethatMadameLambertihadreceivedorderstoquit，asalsoahunchbackedVenetianpriest，whousedtogoandseethedancerbuthadneversuppedwithher。Infact，therewasacleansweepofalltheVenetiansinFlorence。

AsIwasreturninghomeImetLordLincoln’sgovernor；whomIhadknownatLausanneelevenyearsbefore。Itoldhimofwhathadhappenedtomethroughhishopefulpupilgettinghimselffleeced。Helaughed，andtoldmethatthegranddukehadadvisedLordLincolnnottopaythemoneyhehadlost，towhichtheyoungmanrepliedthatifhewerenottopayheshouldbedishonouredsincethemoneyhehadlosthadbeenlenttohim。

InleavingFlorenceIwascuredofanunhappylovewhichwoulddoubtlesshavehadfatalconsequencesifIhadstayedon。IhavesparedmyreadersthepainfulstorybecauseIcannotrecallittomymindevennowwithoutbeingcuttotheheart。ThewidowwhomIloved，andtowhomIwassoweakastodisclosemyfeelings，onlyattachedmetohertriumphalcartohumiliateme，forshedisdainedmyloveandmyself。Ipersistedinmycourtship，andnothingbutmyenforcedabsencewouldhavecuredme。

AsyetIhavenotlearntthetruthofthemaximthatoldage，especiallywhendevoidoffortune，isnotlikelytoproveattractivetoyouth。

IleftFlorencepoorerbyahundredsequinsthanwhenIcamethere。I

hadlivedwiththemostcarefuleconomythroughoutthewholeofmystay。

IstoppedatthefirststagewithinthePope’sdominions，andbythelastdaybutoneoftheyearIwassettledatBologna，at"St。Mark’sHotel。"

MyfirstvisitwaspaidtoCountMarulli，theFlorentinecharged’affaires。Ibeggedhimtowriteandtellhismaster，that，outofgratitudeformybanishment，Ishouldneverceasetosinghispraises。

Asthecounthadreceivedalettercontaininganaccountofthewholeaffair，hecouldnotquitebelievethatImeantwhatIsaid。

"Youmaythinkwhatyoulike，"Iobserved，"butifyouknewallyouwouldseethathishighnesshasdonemeaverygreatservicethoughquiteuntentionally。"

HepromisedtolethismasterknowhowIspokeofhim。

OnJanuary1st，1772，IpresentedmyselftoCardinalBraneaforte，thePope’slegate，whomIhadknowntwentyyearsbeforeatParis，whenhehadbeensentbyBenedictXVI。withtheholyswaddlingclothesforthenewly—

bornDukeofBurgundy。WehadmetattheLodgeofFreemasons，forthemembersofthesacredcollegewerebynomeansafraidoftheirownanathemas。WehadalsosomeverypleasantlittlesupperswithprettysinnersincompanywithDonFrancescoSensateandCountRanucci。Inshort，thecardinalwasamanofwit，andwhatiscalledabonvivant。

"Oh，hereyouare！"criedhe，whenhesawme；"Iwasexpectingyou"

"Howcouldyou，mylord？WhyshouldIhavecometoBolognaratherthantoanyotherplace？"

"Fortworeasons。InthefirstplacebecauseBolognaisbetterthanmanyotherplaces，andbesidesIflattermyselfyouthoughtofme。Butyouneedn’tsayanythinghereaboutthelifeweledtogetherwhenwewereyoungmen。"

"Ithasalwaysbeenapleasantrecollectiontome。"

"Nodoubt。CountMarullitoldmeyesterdaythatyouspokeveryhighlyofthegrandduke，andyouarequiteright。Youcantalktomeinconfidence；thewallsofthisroomhavenoears。Howmuchdidyougetofthetwelvethousandguineas？"

Itoldhimthewholestory，andshewedhimacopyoftheletterwhichI

hadwrittentothegrandduke。Helaughed，andsaidhewassorryIhadbeenpunishedfornothing。

WhenheheardIthoughtofstayingsomemonthsatBolognahetoldmethatImightreckononperfectfreedom，andthatassoonasthematterceasedtobecomecommontalkhewouldgivemeopenproofofhisfriendship。

AfterseeingthecardinalIresolvedtocontinueatBolognathekindoflifethatIhadbeenleadingatFlorence。BolognaisthefreesttowninallItaly；commoditiesarecheapandgood，andallthepleasuresoflifemaybehadthereatalowprice。Thetownisafineone，andthestreetsarelinedwitharcades——agreatcomfortinsohotaplace。

Astosociety，Ididnottroublemyselfaboutit。IknewtheBolognese；

thenoblesareproud，rude，andviolent；thelowestorders，knownasthebirichini，areworsethanthelazzaroniofNaples，whilethetradesmenandthemiddleclassesaregenerallyspeakingworthyandrespectablepeople。AtBologna，asatNaples，thetwoextremesofsocietyarecorrupt，whilethemiddleclassesarerespectable，andthedepositoryofvirtue，talents，andlearning。

However，myintentionwastoleavesocietyalone，topassmytimeinstudy，andtomaketheacquaintanceofafewmenofletters，whoareeasilyaccessibleeverywhere。

AtFlorenceignoranceistheruleandlearningtheexception，whileatBolognathetinctureoflettersisalmostuniversal。Theuniversityhasthricetheusualnumberofprofessors；buttheyareallillpaid，andhavetogettheirlivingoutofthestudents，whoarenumerous。PrintingischeaperatBolognathananywhereelse，andthoughtheInquisitionisestablishedtherethepressisalmostentirelyfree。

AlltheexilesfromFlorencereachedBolognafourorfivedaysaftermyself。MadameLambertionlypassedthroughonherwaytoVenice。

ZanovitchandZenstayedfiveorsixdays；buttheywerenolongerinpartnership，havingquarreledoverthesharingofthebooty。

ZanovitchhadrefusedtomakeoneofLordLincoln’sbillsofexchangepayabletoZen，becausehedidnotwishtomakehimselfliableincasetheEnglishmanrefusedtopay。HewantedtogotoEngland，andtoldZenhewasatlibertytodothesame。

TheywenttoMilanwithouthavingpatcheduptheirquarrel，buttheMilaneseGovernmentorderedthemtoleaveLombardy，andIneverheardwhatarrangementstheyfinallycameto。LateronIwasinformedthattheEnglishman’sbillshadallbeensettledtotheuttermostfarthing。

Medini，pennilessasusual，hadtakenuphisabodeinthehotelwhereI

wasstaying，bringingwithhimhismistress，hersister，andhermother，butwithonlyoneservant。HeinformedmethatthegranddukehadrefusedtolistentoanyofthematPisa，wherehehadreceivedasecondordertoleaveTuscany，andsohadbeenobligedtoselleverything。Ofcoursehewantedmetohelphim，butIturnedadeafeartohisentreaties。

Ihaveneverseenthisadventurerwithouthisbeinginadesperatestateofimpecuniosity，buthewouldneverlearntoabatehisluxurioushabits，andalwaysmanagedtofindsomewayorotheroutofhisdifficulties。HewasluckyenoughtofallinwithaFranciscanmonknamedDeDominisatBologna，thesaidmonkbeingonhiswaytoRometosolicitabriefof’laicisation’fromthePope。HefellinlovewithMedini’smistress，whonaturallymadehimpaydearlyforhercharms。

Medinileftattheendofthreeweeks。HewenttoGermany，whereheprintedhisversionofthe"Henriade，"havingdiscoveredaMaecenasinthepersonoftheElectorPalatin。AfterthathewanderedaboutEuropefortwelveyears，anddiedinaLondonprisonin1788。

IhadalwayswarnedhimtogiveEnglandawideberth，asIfeltcertainthatifheoncewenttherehewouldnotescapeEnglishboltsandbars，andthatifhegotonthewrongsideoftheprisondoorshewouldnevercomeoutalive。Hedespisedmyadvice，andifhedidsowiththeideaofprovingmealiar，hemadeamistake，forheprovedmetobeaprophet。

Medinihadtheadvantageofhighbirth，agoodeducation，andintelligence；butashewasapoormanwithluxurioustastesheeithercorrectedfortuneatplayorwentintodebt，andwasconsequentlyobligedtobealwaysonthewingtoavoidimprisonment。

Helivedinthiswayforseventyyears，andhemightpossiblybealivenowifhehadfollowedmyadvice。

EightyearsagoCountToriotoldmethathehadseenMediniinaLondonprison，andthatthesillyfellowconfessedhehadonlycometoLondonwiththehopeofprovingmetobealiar。

Medini’sfateshallneverpreventmefromgivinggoodadvicetoapoorwretchonthebrinkoftheprecipice。TwentyyearsagoItoldCagliostro（whocalledhimselfCountPellegriniinthosedays）nottosethisfootinRome，andifhehadfollowedthiscounselhewouldnothavediedmiserablyinaRomanprison。

ThirtyyearsagoawisemanadvisedmetobewarevisitingSpain。Iwent，but，asthereaderknows，Ihadnoreasontocongratulatemyselfonmyvisit。

AweekaftermyarrivalatBologna，happeningtobeintheshopofTartuffi，thebookseller，Imadetheacquaintanceofacross—eyedpriest，whostruckme，afteraquarterofanhour’stalkasamanoflearningandtalent。HepresentedmewithtwoworkswhichhadrecentlybeenissuedbytwooftheyoungprofessorsattheuniversityHetoldmethatIshouldfindthemamusingreading，andhewasright。

Thefirsttreatisecontendedthatwomen’sfaultsshouldbeforgiventhem，sincetheywerereallytheworkofthematrix，whichinfluencedtheminspiteofthemselves。Thesecondtreatisewasacriticismofthefirst。

Theauthorallowedthattheuteruswasananimal，buthedeniedtheallegedinfluence，asnoanatomisthadsucceededindiscoveringanycommunicationbetweenitandthebrain。

Ideterminedtowriteareplytothetwopamphlets，andIdidsointhecourseofthreedays。WhenmyreplywasfinishedIsentittoM。

Dandolo，instructinghimtohavefivehundredcopiesprinted。WhentheyarrivedIgaveabooksellertheagency，andinafortnightIhadmadeahundredsequins。

Thefirstpamphletwascalled"LuteroPensante，"thesecondwasinFrenchandborethetitle"LaForceVitale，"whileIcalledmyreply"LanaCaprina。"Itreatedthematterinaneasyvein，notwithoutsomehintsofdeeplearning，andmadefunofthelucubrationsofthetwophysicians。

MyprefacewasinFrench，butfullofParisianidiomswhichrendereditunintelligibletoallwhohadnotvisitedthegaycapital，andthiscircumstancegainedmeagoodmanyfriendsamongsttheyoungergeneration。

Thesquintingpriest，whosenamewasZacchierdi，introducedmetotheAbbeSeverini，whobecamemyintimatefriendinthecourseoftenortwelvedays。

Thisabbemademeleavetheinn，andgotmetwopleasantroomsinthehouseofaretiredartiste，thewidowofthetenorCarlani。Healsomadearrangementswithapastrycooktosendmemydinnerandsupper。Allthis，plusaservant，onlycostmetensequinsamonth。

Severiniwastheagreeablecauseofmylosingtemporarilymytasteforstudy。Iputbymy"Iliad，"feelingsurethatIshouldbeabletofinishitagain。

Severiniintroducedmetohisfamily，andbeforelongIbecameveryintimatewithhim。Ialsobecamethefavouriteofhissister，aladyratherplainthanpretty，thirtyyearsold，butfullofintelligence。

InthecourseofLenttheabbeintroducedmetoallthebestdancersandoperaticsingersinBologna，whichisthenurseryoftheheroinesofthestage。Theymaybehadcheaplyenoughontheirnativesoil。

Everyweekthegoodabbeintroducedmetoafreshone，andlikeatruefriendhewatchedcarefullyovermyfinances。Hewasapoormanhimself，andcouldnotaffordtocontributeanythingtowardstheexpensesofourlittleparties；butasthey