Volume I Part 26 (1/2)
”I have loved Barbara for the last six iven o, ere betrayed by the servant, and the father caught us in a rather delicate position He left the roo of throwing myself at his feet; but, as I appeared before hihly to the door, and forbade ain at his house
I cannot claie, because one of my brothers is married, and my father is not rich; I have no profession, andAlas, now that I have confessed all to you, tell me, I entreat you, how she is I am certain that she is as et a letter delivered to her, for she does not leave the house, even to attend church Unhappy wretch! What shall I do?”
I could but pity him, for, as a man of honour, it was impossible for me to interfere in such a business I told hi what to say, I gave him the advice which is tendered by all fools under siet his mistress
We had then reached the quay of Ripetta, and, observing that he was casting dark looks towards the Tiber, I feared his despair ainst his own life, and, in order to cals, I promised to make some enquiries from the father about his mistress, and to inform him of all I heard He felt quieted by et hih my veins ever since the excursion to Testaccio, I had not seen i's suavehe had ive me no more advice But, unable to resist my desires, I called upon Lucrezia after my French lesson, and found her alone, sad and dispirited
”Ah!” she exclaiht find time to come and see me!”
”My beloved one, it is not that I cannot find time, but I am so jealous of my love that I would rather die than let it be known publicly I have been thinking of inviting you all to dine with me at Frascati I will send you a phaeton, and I trust that some lucky accident will smile upon our love”
”Oh! yes, do, dearest! I am sure your invitation will be accepted:”
In a quarter of an hour the rest of the fa Sunday, which happened to be the Festival of St Ursula, patroness of Lucrezia's youngest sister I begged Donna Cecilia to bring her as well as her son My proposal being readily accepted, I gave notice that the phaeton would be at Donna Cecilia's door at seven o'clock, and that I would coe for two persons
The next day I went to M Dalacqua, and, afterfrom one room to another, dropped a paper and earnestly looked at me I felt bound to pick it up, because a servant, as at hand,another addressed to her lover The note for me ran thus: ”If you think it to be a sin to deliver the enclosed to your friend, burn it Have pity on an unfortunate girl, and be discreet”
The enclosed letter which was unsealed, ran as follows: ”If you love me as deeply as 'I love you, you cannot hope to be happy without me; we cannot correspond in any other way than the one I a to unite our lives until death
Consider and decide”
The cruel situation of the poor girl moved me almost to tears; yet I determined to return her letter the next day, and I enclosed it in a note in which I begged her to excuse me if I could not render her the service she required at my hands I put it in my pocket ready for delivery The next day I went forBarbara, I had no opportunity of returning her letter, and postponed its delivery to the following day Unfortunately, just after I had returned to my room, the unhappy lover , his voice hoarse; he drew such a vivid picture of hissome mad action counselled by despair, I could not withhold froive This was my first error in this fatal business; I was the victim of my own kindness
The poor fellow read the letter over and over; he kissed it with transports of joy; he wept, huggedhis life, and finally entreated e of his answer, as his belovedfor consolation asme that his letter could not in any way implicate me, and that I was at liberty to read it
And truly, although very long, his letter contained nothing but the assurance of everlasting love, and hopes which could not be realized
Yet I rong to accept the character of Mercury to the two young lovers To refuse, I had only to recollect that Father Georgi would certainly have disapproved of my easy compliance
The next day I found M Dalacqua ill in bed; his daughter gave ht that perhaps she had obtained her pardon I contrived to give her her lover's letter, which she dextrously conveyed to her pocket, but her blushes would have easily betrayed her if her father had been looking that way After the lesson I gave M
Dalacqua notice that I would not come on the morrow, as it was the Festival of St Ursula, one of the eleven thousand princesses and , at the reception of his eh persons of distinction seldo to the beautiful Marchioness G----, to whoht her the handsorace,” said the Cardinal, ”wishes to knohether you are e, which she speaks adreat deal, but that I was not yet bold enough to speak
”You should be bold,” said theany pretension It is the best way to disarly lent to the words ”You should be bold” awhich had very likely been far from the idea of the marchioness, I turned very red, and the handsoed the conversation and dis, at seven o'clock, I was at Donna Cecilia's door The phaeton was there as well as the carriage for two persons, which this ti that Donna Cecilia praised it highly when she took her seat
”I shall have my turn as we return to Rome,” said Lucrezia; and I bowed to her as if in acceptance of her promise
Lucrezia thus set suspicion at defiance in order to prevent suspicion arising My happiness was assured, and I gave way to my natural flow of spirits I ordered a splendid dinner, and we all set out towards the Villa Ludovisi As we reed to ain at the inn at one o'clock The discreettook the arelique rehtful share; Ursula and her brother were running about together, and in less than a quarter of an hour I had Lucrezia entirely to myself
”Did you remark,” she said, ”hat candour I secured for us two hours of delightful 'tete-a-tete', and a 'tete-a-tete' in a 'vis-a-vis', too! How clever Love is!”