第110章

"Trytopreventhisdoingso，"Iadded，"evenbyviolence，butinthefirstplaceendeavourtopacifyhim。"

Nodoubtthecountwasafraid，forhecalledouttohisservantsandorderedthemtofetchthepriest，whetherhecouldcomeorno。Hisorderwasexecuted，andthepriestwasledin，foamingwithrage，cursingthecount，callinghimexcommunicatedwretch，whoseverybreathwaspoisonous；swearingthatneveranothermassshouldbesunginthechapelthathadbeenpollutedwithsacrilege，andfinallypromisingthatthearchbishopshouldavengehim。

Thecountlethimsayon，andthenforcedhimintoachair，andtheunworthyecclesiasticnotonlyatebutgotdrunk。Thuspeacewasconcluded，andtheabbeforgotallhiswrongs。

AfewdayslatertwoCapuchinscametovisithimatnoon。Theydidnotgo，andashedidnotcaretodismissthem，dinnerwasservedwithoutanyplacebeinglaidforthefriars。Thereuponthebolderofthetwoinformedthecountthathehadhadnodinner。Withoutreplying，thecounthadhimacommodatedwithaplatefulofrice。TheCapuchinrefusedit，sayingthathewasworthytosit，notonlyathistable，butatamonarch’s。Thecount，whohappenedtobeinagoodhumour，repliedthattheycalledthemselves"unworthybrethren，"andthattheywereconsequentlynotworthyofanyofthisworld’sgoodthings。

TheCapuchinmadebutapooranswer，andasIthoughtthecounttobeintherightIproccededtobackhimup，tellingthefriarheoughttobeashamedathavingcommittedthesinofpride，sostrictlycondemnedbytherulesofhisorder。

TheCapuchinansweredmewithatorrentofabuse，sothecountorderedapairofscissorstobebrought，thatthebeardsofthefilthyroguesmightbecutoff。Atthisawfulthreatthetwofriarsmadetheirescape，andwelaughedheartilyovertheincident。

Ifallthecount’seccentricitieshadbeenofthiscomparativelyharmlessandamusingnature，Ishouldnothaveminded，butsuchwasfarfrombeingthecase。

Insteadofchylehisorgansmusthavedistilledsomevirulentpoison；hewasalwaysathisworstinhisafterdinnerhours。Hisappetitewasfurious；heatemorelikeatigerthanaman。Onedaywehappenedtobeeatingwoodcock，andIcouldnothelppraisingthedishinthestyleofthetruegourmand。Heimmediatelytookuphisbird，toreitlimbfromlimb，andgravelybademenottopraisethedishesIlikedasitirritatedhim。Ifeltaninclinationtolaughandalsoaninclinationtothrowthebottleathishead，whichIshouldprobablyhaveindulgedinhadIbeentwentyyearsyounger。However，Ididneither，feelingthatIshouldeitherleavehimoraccommodatemyselftohishumours。

ThreemonthslaterMadameCosta，theactresswhomhehadgonetoseeatGorice，toldmethatshewouldneverhavebelievedinthepossibilityofsuchacreatureexistingifshehadnotknownCountTorriano。

"Thoughheisavigorouslover，"shecontinued，"itisamatterofgreatdifficultywithhimtoobtainthecrisis；andthewretchedwomaninhisarmsisinimminentdangerofbeingstrangledtodeathifshecannotconcealheramorousecstacy。Hecannotbeartoseeanother’spleasure。

Ipityhiswifemostheartily。"

Iwillnowrelatetheincidentwhichputanendtomyrelationswiththisvenomouscreature。

AmidsttheidlenessandwearinessofSpessaIhappenedtomeetaveryprettyandveryagreeableyoungwidow。Imadehersomesmallpresents，andfinallypersuadedhertopassthenightinmyroom。Shecameatmidnighttoavoidobservation，andleftatday—breakbyasmalldoorwhichopenedontotheroad。

Wehadamusedourselvesinthispleasantmannerforaboutaweek，whenonemorningmysweetheartawokemethatImightclosethedoorafterherasusual。IhadscarcelydonesowhenIheardcriesforhelp。I

quicklyopeneditagain，andIsawthescoundrellyTorrianoholdingthewidowwithonehandwhilehebeatherfuriouslywithastickheheldintheother。Irusheduponhim，andwefelltogether，whilethepoorwomanmadeherescape。

Ihadonlymydresing—gownon，andhereIwasatadisadvantage；forcivilizedmanisapoorcreaturewithouthisclothes。However，Iheldthestickwithonehand，whileIqueezedhisthroatwiththeother。Onhissideheclungtothestickwithhisrighthand，andpulledmyhairwiththeleft。Atlasthistonguestartedoutandhehadtoletgo。

Iwasonmyfeetagaininaninstant，andseizingthestickIaimedasturdyblowathishead，which，luckilyforhim，hepartiallyparried。

Ididnotstrikeagain，sohegotup，ranalittleway，andbegantopickupstones。However，Ididnotwaittobepelted，butshutmyselfinmyroomandlaydownonthebed，onlysorrythatIhadnotchokedthevillainoutright。

AssoonasIhadrestedIlookedtomypistols，dressedmyself，andwentoutwiththeintentionoflookingforsomekindofconveyancetotakemebacktoGorice。WithoutknowingitItookaroadthatledmetothecottageofthepoorwidow，whomIfoundlookingcalmthoughsad。Shetoldmeshehadreceivedmostoftheblowsonhershoulders，andwasnotmuchhurt。Whatvexedherwasthattheaffairwouldbecomepublic，astwopeasantshadseenthecountbeatingher，andoursubsequentcombat。

Igavehertwosequins，begginghertocomeandseemeatGorice，andtotellmewhereIcouldfindaconveyance。

Hersisterofferedtoshewmethewaytoafarm，whereIcouldgetwhatIwanted。OnthewayshetoldmethatTorrianohadbeenhersister’senemybeforethedeathofherhusbandbecausesherejectedallhisproposals。

Ifoundagoodconveyanceatthefarm，andthemanpromisedtodrivemeintoGoricebydinner—time。

Igavehimhalf—a—crownasanearnest，andwentaway，tellinghimtocomeforme。

Ireturnedtothecount’sandhadscarcelyfinishedgettingreadywhentheconveyancedroveup。

Iwasabouttoputmyluggageinit，whenaservantcamefromthecountaskingmetogivehimamoment’sconversation。

IwroteanoteinFrench，sayingthatafterwhathadpassedweoughtnottomeetagainunderhisroof。

Aminutelaterhecameintomyroom，andshutthedoor，saying，——

"Asyouwon’tspeaktome，Ihavecometospeaktoyou。"

"Whathaveyougottosay？"

"Ifyouleavemyhouseinthisfashionyouwilldishonourme，andIwillnotallowit。"

"Excuseme，butIshouldverymuchliketoseehowyouaregoingtopreventmefromleavingyourhouse。"

"Iwillnotallowyoutogobyyourself；wemustgotogether。"

"Certainly；Iunderstandyouperfectly。Getyourswordoryourpistols，andwewillstartdirectly。Thereisroomfortwointhecarriage。"

"Thatwon’tdo。Youmustdinewithme，andthenwecangoinmycarriage。"

Youmakeamistake。IshouldbeafoolifIdinedwithyouwhenourmiserabledisputeisalloverthevillage；to—morrowitwillhavereachedGorice。"

"Ifyouwon’tdinewithme，Iwilldinewithyou，andpeoplemaysaywhattheylike。Wewillgoafterdinner，sosendawaythatconveyance。"

Ihadtogiveintohim。Thewretchedcountstayedwithmetillnoon，endeavouringtopersuademethathehadaperfectrighttobeatacountry—womanintheroad，andthatIwasaltogetherinthewrong。

Ilaughed，andsaidIwonderedhowhederivedhisrighttobeatafreewomananywhere，andthathispretencethatIbeingherloverhadnorighttoprotectherwasamonstrousone。

"Shehadjustleftmyarms，"Icontinued，"wasInotthereforehernaturalprotector？Onlyacowardoramonsterlikeyourselfwouldhaveremainedindifferent，though，indeed，Ibelievethatevenyouwouldhavedonethesame。"

Afewminutesbeforewesatdowntodinnerhesaidthatneitherofuswouldprofitbytheadventure，ashemeantthedueltobetothedeath。

"Idon’tagreewithyouasfarasIamconcerned，"Ireplied；"andastotheduel，youcanfightornotfight，asyouplease；formypartIhavehadsatisfaction。IfwecometoaduelIhopetoleaveyouinthelandoftheliving，thoughIshalldomybesttolayyouupforaconsiderabletime，sothatyoumayhaveleisuretoreflectonyourfolly。Ontheotherhand，iffortunefavoursyou，youmayactasyouplease"

"Wewillgointothewoodbyourselves，andmycoachmanshallhaveorderstodriveyouwhereveryoulikeifyoucomeoutofthewoodbyyourself。"

"Verygoodindeed；andwhichwouldyouprefer——swordsorpistols？"

"Swords，Ithink。"

"ThenIpromisetounloadmypistolsassoonaswegetintothecarriage。"

Iwasastonishedtofindtheusuallybrutalcountbecomequitepoliteattheprospectofaduel。Ifeltperfectlyconfidentmyself，asIwassureofflooringhimatthefirststrokebyapeculiarlunge。ThenI

couldescapethroughVenetianterritorywhereIwasnotknown。

ButIhadgoodreasonsforsupposingthattheduelwouldendinsmokeassomanyotherduelswhenoneofthepartiesisacoward，andacowardI

believedthecounttobe。

Westartedafteranexcellentdinner；thecounthavingnoluggage，andminebeingstrappedbehindthecarriage。

Itookcaretodrawthechargesofmypistolsbeforethecount。

IhadheardhimtellthecoachmantodrivetowardsGorice，buteverymomentIexpectedtohearhimorderthemantodriveupthisorthatturningthatwemightsettleourdifferences。

Iaskednoquestions，feelingthattheinitiativelaywithhim；butwedroveontillwewereatthegatesofGorice，andIburstoutlaughingwhenIheardthecountorderthecoachmantodrivetothepostinginn。

Assoonaswegottherehesaid，——

"Youwereintheright；wemustremainfriends。Promisemenottotellanyoneofwhathashappened。"

Igavehimthepromise；weshookhands，andeverythingwasover。

ThenextdayItookupmyabodeinoneofthequieteststreetstofinishmysecondvolumeonthePolishtroubles，butIstillmanagedtoenjoymyselfduringmystayatGorice。AtlastIresolvedonreturningtoTrieste，whereIhadmorechancesofservingandpleasingtheStateInquisitors。

IstayedatGoricetilltheendoftheyear1773，andpassedanextremelypleasantsixweeks。

MyadventureatSpessahadbecomepublicproperty。Atfirsteverybodyaddressedmeonthesubject，butasIlaughedandtreatedthewholethingasajokeitwouldsoonbeforgotten。Torrianotookcaretobemostpolitewheneverwemet；butIhadstampedhimasadangerouscharacter，andwheneverheaskedmetodinnerorsupperIhadotherengagements。

Duringthecarnivalhemarriedtheyoungladyofwhomhehadspokentome，andaslongashelivedherlifewasmisery。Fortunatelyhediedamadmanthirteenorfourteenyearsafter。

WhilstIwasatGoriceCountCharlesCoroninicontributedgreatlytomyenjoyment。Hediedfouryearslater，andamonthbeforehisdeathhesentmehiswillinostosyllabicItalianverses——aspecimenofphilosophicmirthwhichIstillpreserve。Itisfullofjestandwit，thoughIbelieveifhehadguessedthenearapproachofdeathhewouldnothavebeensocheerful，fortheprospectofimminentdestructioncanonlyenliventheheartofamaniac。

DuringmystayatGoriceacertainM。RichardLorraincamethere。Hewasabachelorofforty，whohaddonegoodfinancialserviceundertheVienneseGovernment，andhadnowretiredwithacomfortablepension。Hewasafineman，andhisagreeablemannersandexcellenteducationprocuredhimadmissionintothebestcompanyinthetown。

ImethimatthehouseofCountTorres，andsoonafterhewasmarriedtotheyoungcountess。

InOctoberthenewCouncilofTenandthenewInquisitorstookoffice，andmyprotectorswrotetomethatiftheycouldnotobtainmypardoninthecourseofthenexttwelvemonthstheywouldbeinclinedtodespair。

ThefirstoftheInquisitorswasSagredo，andintimatefriendoftheProcuratorMorosini’s；thesecond，Grimani，thefriendofmygoodDandolo；andM。Zaguriwrotetomethathewouldanswerforthethird，who，accordingtolaw，wasoneofthesixcouncillorswhoassisttheCouncilofTen。

ItmaynotbegenerallyknownthattheCouncilofTenisreallyacouncilofseventeen，astheDogehasalwaysarighttobepresent。

IreturnedtoTriestedeterminedtodomybestfortheTribunal，forI

longedtoreturntoVeniceafternineteenyears’wanderings。

Iwasthenforty—nine，andIexpectednomoreofFortune’sgifts，forthedeitydespisesthoseofripeage。Ithought，however，thatImightlivecomfortablyandindependentlyatVenice。

Ihadtalentsandexperience，Ihopedtomakeuseofthem，andIthoughttheInquisitorswouldfeelboundtogivemesomesufficientemployment。

IwaswritingthehistoryofthePolishtroubles，thefirstvolumewasprinted，thesecondwasinpreparation，andIthoughtofconcludingtheworkinsevenvolumes。AfterwardsIhadatranslationofthe"Iliad"inview，andotherliteraryprojectswouldnodoubtpresentthemselves。

Infine，IthoughtmyselfsureoflivinginVenice，wheremanypersonswhowouldbebeggarselsewherecontinuetoliveattheirease。

IleftGoriceonthelastdayofDecember，1773，andonJanuary1stI

tookupmyabodeatTrieste。

Icouldnothavereceivedawarmerwelcome。BaronPittoni，theVenetianconsul，allthetowncouncillors，andthemembersoftheclub，seemeddelightedtoseemeagain。Mycarnivalwasapleasantone，andinthebeginningofLentIpublishedthesecondvolumeofmyworkonPoland。

ThechiefobjectofinteresttomeatTriestewasanactressinacompanythatwasplayingthere。Shewasnootherthanthedaughteroftheso—calledCountRinaldi，andmyreadersmayrememberherunderthenameofIrene。IhadlovedheratMilan，andneglectedheratGenoaonaccountofherfather’smisdeeds，andatAvignonIhadrescuedheratMarcoline’srequest。ElevenyearshadpassedbysinceIhadheardofher。

Iwasastonishedtoseeher，andIthinkmoresorrythanglad，forshewasstillbeautiful，andImightfallinloveagain；andbeingnolongerinapositiontogiveherassistance，theissuemightbeunfortunateforme。However，Icalledonherthenextday，andwasgreetedwithashriekofdelight。Shetoldmeshehadseenmeatthetheatre，andfeltsureIwouldcomeandseeher。

Sheintroducedmetoherhusband，whoplayedpartslikeScapin，andtohernine—year—olddaughter，whohadatalentfordancing。

Shegavemeanabridgedaccountofherlifesincewehadmet。IntheyearIhadseenheratAvignonshehadgonetoTurinwithherfather。

AtTurinshefellinlovewithherpresenthusband，andleftherparentstojoinherlottohis。

"Sincethat，"shesaid，"Ihaveheardofmyfather’sdeath，butIdonotknowwhathasbecomeofmymother。"

Aftersomefurtherconversationshetoldmeshewasafaithfulwife，thoughshedidnotpushfidelitysofarastodrivearichlovertodespair。

"Ihavenolovershere，"sheadded，"butIgivelittlesupperstoafewfriends。Idon’tmindtheexpense，asIwinsomemoneyatfaro。"

Shewasthebanker，andshebeggedmetojointhepartynowandthen。

"Iwillcomeaftertheplayto—night，"Ireplied，"butyoumustnotexpectanyhighplayofme。"

Ikepttheappointmentandsuppedwithanumberofsillyyoungtradesmen，whowereallinlovewithher。

Aftersuppersheheldabank，andIwasgreatlyastonishedwhenIsawhercheatingwithgreatdexterity。Itmademewanttolaugh；however，I

lostmyflorinswithagoodgraceandleft。However，IdidnotmeantoletIrenethinkshewasdupingme，andIwenttoseehernextmorningatrehearsal，andcomplimentedheronherdealing。ShepretendednottounderstandwhatImeant，andonmyexplainingmyselfshehadtheimpudencetotellmethatIwasmistaken。

InmyangerIturnedmybackonhersaying，"Youwillbesorryforthissomeday。"

Atthisshebegantolaugh，andsaid，"Well，well，Iconfess！andifyoutellmehowmuchyoulostyoushallhaveitback，andifyoulikeyoushallbeapartnerinthegame。"

"No，thankyou，Irene，Iwillnotbepresentatanymoreofyoursuppers。ButIwarnyoutobecautious；gamesofchancearestrictlyforbidden。"

"Iknowthat，butalltheyoungmenhavepromisedstrictsecrecy。"

"Comeandbreakfastwithmewheneveryoulike。"

Afewdayslatershecame，bringingherdaughterwithher。Thegirlwaspretty，andallowedmetocaressher。

OnedayBaronPittonimetthematmylodgings，andashelikedyounggirlsaswellasIhebeggedIrenetomakeherdaughterincludehiminherlistoffavouredlovers。

Iadvisedhernottorejecttheoffer，andthebaronfellinlovewithher，whichwasapieceofluckforIrene，asshewasaccusedofplayingunlawfulgames，andwouldhavebeenseverelytreatedifthebaronhadnotgivenherwarning。Whenthepolicepouncedonher，theyfoundnogamingandnogamesters，andnothingcouldbedone。

IreneleftTriesteatthebeginningofLentwiththecompanytowhichshebelonged。ThreeyearslaterIsawheragainatPadua。Herdaughterhadbecomeacharminggirl，andouracquaintancewasrenewedinthetenderestmanner。

[ThusabruptlyendtheMemoirsofGiacomeCasanova，ChevalierdeSeingalt，KnightoftheGoldenSpur，ProthonotaryApostolic，andScoundrelCosmopolitic。]

EndOldAgeandDeathByJacquesCasanovaMEMOIRSOFJACQUESCASANOVAdeSEINGALT1725—1798

SPANISHPASSIONS，Volume6e——OLDAGEANDDEATH

THEMEMOIRSOFJACQUESCASANOVADESEINGALT

THERAREUNABRIDGEDLONDONEDITIONOF1894TRANSLATEDBYARTHURMACHENTO

WHICHHASBEENADDEDTHECHAPTERSDISCOVEREDBYARTHURSYMONS。

OLDAGEANDDEATHOFCASANOVA

APPENDIXANDSUPPLEMENT

Whethertheauthordiedbeforetheworkwascomplete，whethertheconcludingvolumesweredestroyedbyhimselforhisliteraryexecutors，orwhethertheMS。fellintobadhands，seemsamatterofuncertainty，andthematerialsavailabletowardsacontinuationoftheMemoirsareextremelyfragmentary。Weknow，however，thatCasanovaatlastsucceededinobtaininghispardonfromtheauthoritiesoftheRepublic，andhereturnedtoVenice，whereheexercisedthehonourableofficeofsecretagentoftheStateInquisitors——inplainlanguage，hebecameaspy。ItseemsthattheKnightoftheGoldenSpurmadearatherindifferent"agent；"notsurely，asaFrenchwritersuggests，becausethedirtyworkwastoodirtyforhisfingers，butprobablybecausehewasgettingoldandstupidandout—of—date，andfailedtokeepintouchwithnewformsofturpitude。HeleftVeniceagainandpaidavisittoVienna，sawbelovedParisoncemore，andtheremetCountWallenstein，orWaldstein。Theconversationturnedonmagicandtheoccultsciences，in，whichCasanovawasanadept，asthereaderoftheMemoirswillremember，andthecounttookafancytothecharlatan。InshortCasanovabecamelibrarianatthecount’sCastleofDux，nearTeplitz，andtherehespentthefourteenremainingyearsofhislife。

AsthePrincedeLigne（fromwhoseMemoirswelearntheseparticulars）

remarks，Casanova’slifehadbeenastormyandadventurousone，anditmighthavebeenexpectedthathewouldhavefoundhispatron’slibraryapleasantrefugeaftersomanytoilsandtravels。Butthemancarriedroughweatherandstorminhisownheart，andfounddailyopportunitiesofmortificationandresentment。Thecoffeewasillmade，themaccaroninotcookedinthetrueItalianstyle，thedogshadbayedduringthenight，hehadbeenmadetodineatasmalltable，theparishpriesthadtriedtoconverthim，thesouphadbeenservedtoohotonpurposetoannoyhim，hehadnotbeenintroducedtoadistinguishedguest，thecounthadlentabookwithouttellinghim，agroomhadnottakenoffhishat；

suchwerehiscomplaints。ThefactisCasanovafelthisdependentpositionandhisutterpoverty，a