Volume I Part 23 (2/2)
”I thought you had,” she answered
”In that case, I will begin to shave as soon as I reach Rome, for this is the first ti a beard”
”My dear wife,” exclaiue; perhaps the reverend abbe is going to Ro a Capuchin friar”
The pleasantrythat he should have the last word, I answered that he had guessed rightly, that such had been my intention, but that I had entirely altered ,” said the joyous Neapolitan, ”for my wife is very fond of Capuchins, and if you wish to please her, you had better follow your original vocation” Our conversation continued in the sareeablewe had a very poor supper at Garillan, but we made up for it by cheerfulness and witty conversation My dawning inclination for the advocate's wife borrowed strength from the affectionate manner she displayed towards me
The next day she asked me, after we had resu stay in Ro no acquaintances in Rome, I was afraid ers are liked in Rome,” she said, ”I feel certain that you will be pleased with your residence in that city”
”May I hope, madam, that you will allow me to pay youon us,” said the advocate
My eyes were fixed upon his char wife She blushed, but I did not appear to notice it I kept up the conversation, and the day passed as pleasantly as the previous one We stopped at Terracina, where they gave us a rooe one between the two others It was natural that the two sisters should take the large bed; they did so, and undressed the at the table, with our backs turned to theone to rest, the advocate took the bed on which he found his nightcap, and I the other, which was only about one foot distant froe bed I remarked that the lady by whom I was captivated was on the side nearest my couch, and, withoutonly to chance
I put the light out and laid down, revolving in my mind a project which I could not abandon, and yet durst not execute In vain did I court sleep A very faint light enabled , and my eyes would, in spite of ht have done at last (I had already fought a hard battle with et out of her bed, and go and lay herself down near her husband, who, most likely, did not wake up, and continued to sleep in peace, for I did not hear any noise
Vexed, disgusted I tried to co the beautiful wandering star in her own bed, I got up, dressedall my companions fast asleep I returned to the inn only at the time fixed for our departure, and I found the advocate and the two ladies already in the coach, waiting forcared for her coffee; I pleaded as an excuse a desire for an early walk, and I took care not to honour her even with a look; I feigned to be suffering from the toothache, and reed to whisper to me that my toothache was all sham; I was pleased with the reproach, because it heralded an explanation which I craved for, in spite ofthe afternoon I continuedI was morose and silent until we reached Serinonetta, where ere to pass the night We arrived early, and the weather being fine, the lady said that she could enjoy a walk, and asked me politely to offer her my arm I did so, for it would have been rude to refuse; besides I had had enough of, but I did not kno to force it upon the lady Her husband followed us at soh in advance, I ventured to ask her why she had supposed ned
”I am very candid,” she said; ”it is because the difference in your manner was soat h the whole day A toothache would not have prevented you froned for some purpose But I arounds for such a rapid change in your e, and you, madam, are only half sincere”
”You are iven you any ood enough to tell ht to coht, the sarants to every one of its members Speak, and shew yourself as sincere as I am”
”You are certainly bound not to know, or to pretend not to know the real cause, but you e that my duty is to remain silent”
”Very well; now it is all over; but if your duty bids you to conceal the cause of your bad humour, it also bids you not to shew it Delicacy soentleht implicate either himself or others; it is a restraint for the e when its effect is to render more amiable the man who forces hiu her beautiful hand to
”You would see me at your feet,” I exclai you---”
”Do not let us allude to the matter any more,” she answered
And, pleased with iveness that, without being afraid of auguilt, I took my lips off her hand and I raised the mouth
Intoxicated with rapture, I passed so rapidly fro cheerfulness that during our supper the advocate enjoyed a thousand jokes upon my toothache, so quickly cured by the si day we dined at Velletri and slept in Marino, where, although the toas full of troops, we had two sood supper I could not have been on better terh I had received but a rapid proof of her regard, it had been such a true one--such a tender one! In the coach our eyes could not say much; but I was opposite to her, and our feet spoke a very eloquent language
The advocate had toldto Rome on some ecclesiastical business, and that he intended to reside in the house of his e, two years ago, and her sister hoped to remain in Rome, where she expected to aveinvitation to call upon them, and I promised to devote allour dessert, whenmy snuff-box, told her husband that she wished she had one like it