第109章

ThedayafterIaccompaniedM。ZaguritoGorice，wherehestayedthreedaystoenjoythehospitalityofthenobility。Iwasincludedinalltheirinvitations，andIsawthatastrangercouldliveverypleasantlyatGorice。

ImetthereacertainCountCobenzl，whomaybealivenow——amanofwisdom，generosity，andthevastestlearning，andyetwithoutanykindofpretention。HegaveaStatedinnertoM。Zaguri，andIhadthepleasureofmeetingtherethreeorfourmostcharmingladies。IalsometCountTomes，aSpaniardwhosefatherwasinintheAustrianservice。Hehadmarriedatsixty，andhadfivechildrenallasuglyashimself。Hisdaughterwasacharminggirlinspiteofherplainness；sheevidentlygothercharacterfromthemother’sside。Theeldestson，whowasuglyandsquinted，wasakindofpleasantmadman，buthewasalsoaliar，aprofligate，aboaster，andtotallydevoidofdiscretion。Inspiteofthesedefectshewasmuchsoughtafterinsocietyashetoldagoodtaleandmadepeoplelaugh。Ifhehadbeenastudent，hewouldhavebeenadistinguishedscholar，ashismemorywasprodigious。HeitwaswhovainlyguaranteedtheagreementImadewithValerioValeriforprintingmy"HistoryofPoland。"IalsometatGoriceaCountCoronini，whowasknowninlearnedcirclesastheauthorofsomeLatintreatisesondiplomacy。Nobodyreadhisbooks，buteverybodyagreedthathewasaverylearnedman。

IalsometayoungmannamedMorelli，whohadwrittenahistoryoftheplaceandwasonthepointofpublishingthefirstvolume。HegavemehisMS。beggingmetomakeanycorrectionsthatstruckmeasdesirable。

Isucceededinpleasinghim，asIgavehimbackhisworkwithoutasinglenoteoralterationofanykind，andthushebecamemyfriend。

IbecameagreatfriendofCountFrancisCharlesCoronini，whowasamanoftalents。HehadmarriedaBelgianlady，butnotbeingabletoagreetheyhadseparatedandhepassedhistimeintriflingintrigues，hunting，andreadingthepapers，literaryandpolitical。Helaughedatthosesageswhodeclaredthattherewasnotonereallyhappypersonintheworld，andhesupportedhisdenialbytheunanswerabledictum:

"Imyselfamperfectlyhappy。"

However，ashediedofatumorintheheadattheageofthirty—five，heprobablyacknowledgedhismistakeintheagoniesofdeath。

Thereisnosuchthingasaperfectlyhappyorperfectlyunhappymanintheworld。Onehasmorehappinessinhislifeandanothermoreunhappiness，andthesamecircumstancemayproducewidelydifferenteffectsonindividualsofdifferenttemperaments。

Itisnotafactthatvirtueensureshappinessfortheexerciseofsomevirtuesimpliessuffering，andsufferingisincompatiblewithhappiness。

MyreadersmaybeawarethatIamnotinclinedtomakementalpleasurepre—eminentandallsufficing。Itmaybeafinethingtohaveaclearconscience，butIcannotseethatitwouldatallrelievethepangsofhunger。

BaronPittoniandmyselfescortedZaguritotheVenetianborder，andwethenreturnedtoTriestetogether。

InthreeorfourdaysPittonitookmeeverywhere，includingtheclubwherenonebutpersonsofdistinctionwereadmitted。ThisclubwasheldattheinnwhereIwasstaying。

Amongsttheladies，themostnoteworthywasthewifeofthemerchant，DavidRiguelin，whowasaSwabianbybirth。

Pittoniwasinlovewithherandcontinuedsotillherdeath。Hissuitlastedfortwelveyears，andlikePetrarch，hestillsighed，stillhoped，butneversucceeded。HernamewasZanetta，andbesidesherbeautyshehadthecharmofbeinganexquisitesingerandapolishedhostess。Stillmorenoteworthy，however，wastheunvaryingsweetnessandequabilityofherdisposition。

Ididnotwanttoknowherlongbeforerecognizingthatshewasabsolutelyimpregnable。ItoldPittoniso，butallinvain；hestillfedonemptyhope。

Zanettahadverypoorhealth，thoughnoonewouldhavejudgedsofromherappearance，butitwaswellknowntobethecase。Shediedatanearlyage。

AfewdaysafterM。Zaguri’sdeparture，IhadanotefromtheconsulinformingmethattheProcuratorMorosiniwasstoppinginmyinn，andadvisingmetocallonhimifIknewhim。

Iwasinfinitelyobligedforthisadvice，forM。Morosiniwasapersonageofthegreatestimportance。Hehadknownmefromchildhood，andthereadermayrememberthathehadpresentedmetoMarshalRichelieu，atFontainebleau，in1750。

IdressedmyselfasifIhadbeenabouttospeaktoamonarch，andsentinanotetohisroom。

Ihadnotlongtowait；hecameoutandwelcomedmemostgraciously，tellingmehowdelightedhewastoseemeagain。

WhenheheardthereasonofmybeingatTrieste，andhowIdesiredtoreturntomycountry，heassuredmehewoulddoallinhispowertoobtainmemywish。HethankedmeforthecareIhadtakenofhisnephewatFlorence，andkeptmeallthedaywhileItoldhimmyprincipaladventures。

HewasgladtohearthatM。Zaguriwasworkingforme，andsaidthattheymustconcertthematertogether。Hecommendedmewarmlytotheconsul，whowasdelightedtobeabletoinformtheTribunaloftheconsiderationwithwhichM。Morosinitreatedme。

AftertheprocuratorhadgoneIbegantoenjoylifeatTrieste，butinstrictmoderationandwithdueregardforeconomy，forIhadonlyfifteensequinsamonth。Iabjuredplayaltogether。

EverydayIdinedwithoneofthecircleofmyfriends，whoweretheVenetianconsul，theFrenchconsul（aneccentricbutworthymanwhokeptagoodcook），Pittoni，whokeptanexcellenttable，thankstohismanwhoknewwhatwastohisowninterests，andseveralothers。

AsforthepleasuresofloveIenjoyedtheminmoderation，takingcareofmypurseandofmyhealth。

TowardstheendofthecarnivalIwenttoamaskedballatthetheatre，andinthecourseoftheeveningaharlequincameupandpresentedhiscolumbinetome。Theybothbegantoplaytricksonme。Iwaspleasedwiththecolumbine，andfeltastrongdesiretobeacquaintedwithher。

AftersomevainresearchestheFrenchconsul，M。deSt。Sauveur，toldmethattheharlequinwasayoungladyofrank，andthatthecolumbinewasahandsomeyoungman。

"Ifyoulike，"headded，"Iwillintroduceyoutotheharlequin’sfamily，andIamsureyouwillappreciatehercharmswhenyouseeherasagirl。"

AstheypersistedintheirjokesIwasable，withoutwoundingdecencyovermuch，toconvincemyselfthattheconsulwasrightonthequestionofsex；andwhentheballwasoverIsaidIshouldbeobligedbyhisintroducingmeashehadpromised。HepromisedtodosothedayafterAshWednesday。

ThusImadetheacquaintanceofMadameLeo，whowasstillprettyandagreeable，thoughshehadlivedveryfreelyinheryoungerdays。Therewasherhusband，ason，andsixdaughters，allhandsome，butespeciallytheharlequinwithwhomIwasmuchtaken。NaturallyIfellinlovewithher，butasIwasherseniorbythirtyyears，andhadbegunmyaddressesinatoneoffatherlyaffection，afeelingofshamepreventedmydisclosingtohertherealstateofmyheart。Fouryearslatershetoldmeherselfthatshehadguessedmyrealfeelings，andhadbeenamusedbymyfoolishrestraint。

Ayounggirllearnsdeeperlessonsfromnaturethanwemencanacquirewithallourexperience。

AttheEasterof1773CountAuersperg，theGovernorofTrieste，wasrecalledtoVienna，andCountWagensbergtookhisplace。Hiseldestdaughter，theCountessLantieri，whowasagreatbeauty，inspiredmewithapassionwhichwouldhavemademeunhappyifIhadnotsucceededinhidingitunderaveiloftheprofoundestrespect。

IcelebratedtheaccessionofthenewgovernorbysomeverseswhichIhadprinted，andinwhich，whilelaudingthefather，Ipaidconspicuoushomagetothecharmsofthedaughter。

Mytributepleasedthem，andIbecameanintimatefriendofthecount’s。

Heplacedconfidenceinmewiththeideaofmyusingittomyownadvantage，forthoughhedidnotsaysoopenlyIdivinedhisintention。

TheVenetianconsulhadtoldmethathehadbeenvainlyendeavouringforthelastfouryearstogettheGovernmentofTriestetoarrangefortheweeklydiligencefromTriestetoMestretopassbyUdine，thecapitaloftheVenetianFriuli。

"Thisalteration，"hehadsaid，"wouldgreatlybenefitthecommerceofthetwostates；buttheMunicipalCouncilofTriesteopposesitforaplausiblebutridiculousreason。"

Thesecouncillors，inthedepthoftheirwisdom，saidthatiftheVenetianRepublicdesiredthealterationitwouldevidentlybetotheiradvantage，andconsequentlytothedisadvantageofTrieste。

TheconsulassuredmethatifIcouldinanywayobtaintheconcessionitwouldweighstronglyinmyfavourwiththeStateInquisitors，andevenintheeventofmynon—successhewouldrepresentmyexertionsinthemostfavourablelight。

IpromisedIwouldthinkthematterover。

Findingmyselfhighinthegovernor’sfavour，Itooktheopportunityofaddressingmyselftohimonthesubject。Hehadheardaboutthematter，andthoughttheobjectionoftheTownCouncilabsurdandevenmonstrous；

butheprofessedhisinabilitytodoanythinghimself。

"CouncillorRizzi，"saidhe，"isthemostobstinateofthemall，andhasledastraytherestwithhissophisms。ButdoyousendmeinamemorandumshewingthatthealterationwillhaveamuchbettereffectonthelargecommerceofTriestethanonthecomparativelytriflingtradeofUdine。IshallsenditintotheCouncilwithoutdisclosingtheauthorship，butbackingitwithmyauthority，andchallengingtheoppositiontorefuteyourarguments。Finally，iftheydonotdecidereasonablyIshallproclaimbeforethemallmyintentiontosendthememoirtoViennawithmyopiniononit。"

Ifeltconfidentofsuccess，andwroteoutamemoirfullofincontrovertiblereasonsinfavouroftheproposedchange。

Myargumentsgainedthevictory；theCouncilwerepersuaded，andCountWagensberghandedmethedecree，whichIimmediatelylaidbeforetheVenetianconsul。Followinghisadvice，IwrotetothesecretaryoftheTribunaltotheeffectthatIwashappytohavegiventheGovernmentaproofofmyzeal，andanearnestofmydesiretobeusefultomycountryandtobeworthyofbeingrecalled。

Outofregardformethecountdelayedthepromulgationofthedecreeforaweek，sothatthepeopleofUdineheardthenewsfromVenicebeforeithadreachedTrieste，andeverybodythoughtthattheVenetianGovernmenthadachieveditsendsbybribery。ThesecretaryoftheTribunaldidnotanswermyletter，buthewrotetotheconsulorderinghimtogivemeahundredducats，andtoinformmethatthispresentwastoencouragemetoservetheRepublic。HeaddedthatImighthopegreatthingsfromthemercyoftheInquisitorsifIsucceededinnegotiatingtheArmeniandifficulty。

Theconsulgavemetherequisiteinformation，andmyimpressionwasthatmyeffortswouldbeinvain；however，Iresolvedtomaketheattempt。

FourArmenianmonkshadlefttheConventofSt。LazarusatVenice，havingfoundtheabbot’styrannyunbearable。TheyhadwealthyrelationsatConstantinople，andlaughedtheexcommunicationoftheirlatetyranttoscorn。TheysoughtasylumatVienna，promisingtomakethemselvesusefultotheStatebyestablishinganArmenianpresstofurnishalltheArmenianconventswithbooks。TheyengagedtosinkacapitalofamillionflorinsiftheywereallowedtosettleinAustria，tofoundtheirpress，andtobuyorbuildaconvent，wheretheyproposedtoliveincommunitybutwithoutanyabbot。

AsmightbeexpectedtheAustrianGovernmentdidnothesitatetogranttheirrequest；itdidmore，itgavethemspecialprivileges。

TheeffectofthisarrangementwouldbetodepriveVeniceofalucrativetrade，andtoplaceitintheemperor’sdominions。ConsequentlytheVienneseCourtsentthemtoTriestewithastrongrecommendationtothegovernor，andtheyhadbeenthereforthepastsixmonths。

TheVenetianGovernment，ofcourse，wishedtoenticethembacktoVenice。

Theyhadvainlyinducedtheirlateabbottomakehandsomeofferstothem，andtheythenproceededbyindirectmeans，endeavoringtostirupobstaclesintheirway，andtodisgustthemwithTrieste。

Theconsultoldmeplainlythathehadnottouchedthematter，thinkingsuccesstobeoutofthequestion；andhepredictedthatifIattempteditIshouldfindmyselfinthedilemmaofhavingtosolvetheinsoluble。

Ifelttheforceoftheconsul’sremarkwhenIreflectedthatIcouldnotrelyonthegovernor’sassistance，orevenspeaktohimonthesubject。

IsawthatImustnotlethimsuspectmydesign，forbesideshisdutytohisGovernmenthewasadevotedfriendtotheinterestsofTrieste，andforthisreasonagreatpatronofthemonks。

InspiteoftheseobstaclesmynostalgiamadememakeacquaintancewiththesemonksunderpretenceofinspectingtheirArmeniantypes，whichtheywerealreadycasting。InaweekortendaysIbecamequiteintimatewiththem。OnedayIsaidthattheywereboundinhonourtoreturntotheobedienceoftheirabbot，ifonlytoannulhissentenceofexcommunication。

Themostobstinateofthemtoldmethattheabbothadbehavedmorelikeadespotthanafather，andhadthusabsolvedthemfromtheirobedience。

"Besides，"hesaid，"norascallypriesthasanyrighttocutoffgoodChristiansfromcommunionwiththeSaviour，andwearesurethatourpatriarchwillgiveusabsolutionandsendussomemoremonks。"

Icouldmakenoobjectiontothesearguments；however，IaskedonanotheroccasiononwhatconditionstheywouldreturntoVenice。

ThemostsensibleofthemsaidthatinthefirstplacetheabbotmustwithdrawthefourhundredthousandducatswhichhehadentrustedtotheMarquisSerposatfourpercent。

ThissumwasthecapitalfromwhichtheincomeoftheConventofSt。

Lazaruswasderived。Theabbothadnorightwhatevertodisposeofit，evenwiththeconsentofamajorityamongthemonks。Ifthemarquisbecamebankrupttheconventwouldbeutterlydestitute。ThemarquiswasanArmeniandiamondmerchant，andagreatfriendoftheabbot’s。

Ithenaskedthemonkswhatweretheotherconditions，andtheyrepliedthattheseweresomemattersofdisciplinewhichmighteasilybesettled；

theywouldgivemeawrittenstatementoftheirgrievancesassoonasI

couldassurethemthattheMarquisSerposwasnolongerinpossessionoftheirfunds。

Iembodiedmynegotiationsinwriting，andsentthedocumenttotheInquisitorsbytheconsul。InsixweeksIreceivedananswertotheeffectthattheabbotsawhiswaytoarrangingthemoneydifficulty，butthathemustseeastatementofthereformsdemandedbeforedoingso。

Thisdecidedmetohavenothingtodowiththeaffair，butafewwordsfromCountWagensbergmademethrowitupwithoutfurtherdelay。Hegavemetounderstandthatheknewofmyattemptstoreconcilethefourmonkswiththeirabbot，andhetoldmethathehadbeensorrytohearthereport，asmysuccesswoulddoharmtoacountrywhereIlivedandwhereIwastreatedasafriend。

Iimmediatelytoldhimthewholestory，assuringhimthatIwouldneverhavebegunthenegotiationifIhadnotbeencertainoffailure，forI

heardonundoubtedauthoritythatSerposcouldnotpossiblyrestorethefourhundredthousandducats。

Thisexplanationthoroughlydissipatedanycloudthatmighthavearisenbetweenus。

TheArmeniansboughtCouncillorRizzi’shouseforthirtythousandflorins。Heretheyestablishedthemselves，andIvisitedthemfromtimetotimewithoutsayinganythingmoreaboutVenice。

CountWagensberggavemeanotherproofofhisfriendship。Unhappilyformehediedduringtheautumnofthesameyear，attheageoffifty。

Onemorninghesummonedme，andIfoundhimperusingadocumenthehadjustreceivedfromVienna。HetoldmehewassorryIdidnotreadGerman，butthathewouldtellmethecontentsofthepaper。

"Here，"hecontinued，"youwillbeabletoserveyourcountrywithoutinanywayinjuringAustria。

"IamgoingtoconfideinyouaStatesecret（itbeingunderstoodofcoursethatmynameisnevertobementioned）whichoughttobegreatlytoyouradvantage，whetheryousucceedorfail；atallhazardsyourpatriotism，yourpromptaction，andyourclevernessinobtainingsuchinformationwillbemademanifest。Rememberyoumustneverdivulgeyoursourcesofinformation；onlytellyourGovernmentthatyouareperfectlysureoftheauthenticityofthestatementyoumake。

"Youmustknow，"hecontinued，"thatallthecommoditiesweexporttoLombardypassthroughVenicewheretheyhavetopayduty。Suchhaslongbeenthecustom，anditmaystillbesoiftheVenetianGovernmentwillconsenttoreducethedutyoffourpercenttotwopercent。

"AplanhasbeenbroughtbeforethenoticeoftheAustrianCourt，andithasbeeneagerlyaccepted。Ihavereceivedcertainordersonthematter，whichIshallputintoexecutionwithoutgivinganywarningtotheVenetianGovernment。

"InfutureallgoodsforLombardywillbeembarkedhereanddisembarkedatMezzolawithouttroublingtheRepublic。MezzolaisintheterritoriesoftheDukeofModem；ashipcancrossthegulfinthenight，andourgoodswillbeplacedinstorehouses，whichwillbeerected。

"Inthiswayweshallshortenthejourneyanddecreasethefreights，andtheModeneseGovernmentwillbesatisfiedwithatriflingsum，barelyequivalenttoafourthofwhatwepaytoVenice。

"Inspiteofallthis，IfeelsurethatiftheVenetianGovernmentwrotetotheAustrianCouncilofCommerceexpressingtheirwillingnesstotaketwopercenthenceforth，theproposalwouldbeaccepted，forweAustriansdislikenovelties。

"IshallnotlaythematterbeforetheTownCouncilforfourorfivedays，asthereisnohurryforus；butyouhadbettermakehaste，thatyoumaybethefirsttoinformyourGovernmentofthematter。

"IfeverythinggoesasIshouldwishIhopetoreceiveanorderfromViennasuspendingthedecreejustasIamabouttomakeitpublic。"

Nextmorningthegovernorwasdelightedtohearthateverythinghadbeenfinishedbeforemidnight。HeassuredmethattheconsulshouldnothaveofficialinformationbeforeSaturday。Inthemeanwhiletheconsul’suneasystateofmindwasquiteatroubletome，forIcouldnotdoanythingtosethismindatease。

SaturdaycameandCouncillorRizzitoldmethenewsattheclub。Heseemedinhighspiritsoverit，andsaidthatthelossofVenicewasthegainofTrieste。Theconsulcameinjustthen，andsaidthatthelosswouldbeameretrifleforVenice，whilethefirst—shipwreckwouldcostmoretoTriestethantenyears’duty。Theconsulseemedtoenjoythewholething，butthatwastheparthehadtoplay。InallsmalltradingtownslikeTrieste，peoplemakeagreataccountoftrifles。

Iwenttodinewiththeconsul，whoprivatelyconfessedhisdoubtsandfearsonthematter。

Iaskedhi