Volume I Part 39 (2/2)
The driver told o to Revero, and say that we came from Mantua, and that the only difficulty would be in the absence of the sanitary certificate which is delivered in Mantua, and which was certain to be asked for in Revero I suggested that the best way to e would be for him to say that he had lost it, and a little money reates of Revero, I representedto Venice to meet the Duke of Modena (whoreatest importance The sanitary certificate was not even demanded, military honours were duly paid to me, and I was most civilly treated A certificate was i forth that I was travelling from Revero, and with it I crossed the Po, without any difficulty, at Ostiglia, froo There I left ood luck which had attended our journey, and, taking post-horses, I reached Venice in the evening I remarked that it was the and of April, 1744, the anniversary ofmy life, has beenI went to the exchange in order to procure a passage to Constantinople, but I could not find any passenger shi+p sailing before two or three ed a berth in a Venetian shi+p called, Our Lady of the Rosary, Commander Zane, which was to sail for Corfu in the course of thethus preparedto s, called me imperiously to Constantinople, I went to St: Mark's Square in order to see and to be seen, enjoying by anticipation the surprise of er an abbe I et to state that at Revero I had decorated ht that ht, due to the Abbe Grimani
The moment he saw ht I was still with Cardinal Acquaviva, on the road to a political career, and he saw standing before him a son of Mars He had just left the dinner-table as I entered, and he had co the Spanish uniform, but I was not put out of countenance I told the Abbe Grih Venice, and that I had felt it a duty and a pleasure to pay my respects to him
”I did not expect to see you in such a costuarb which could not procure me a fortune likely to satisfy ?”
”To Constantinople; and I hope to find a quick passage to Corfu, as I have dispatches from Cardinal Acquaviva”
”Where do you come froo”
These words were hardly spoken, when I heard the voice of a young noble;
”That is not true”
”The profession to which I belong,” I said to hiiveall round, I went aithout taking any notice of those ere calling me back
I wore an unifor that sensitive and haughty pride which forer a priest: I could not bear being given the lie, especially when it had been given to me in so public ato see She was very happy to see me, and did not fail to remind me of her prediction I told her my history, which amused her much; but she said that if I went to Constantinople I should ain
After my visit to Madame Manzoni I went to the house of Madame Orio, where I found worthy M Rosa, Nanette, and Marton They were all greatly surprised, indeed petrified at seeing me The two lovely sisters looked more beautiful than ever, but I did not think it necessary to tell them the history of my nine months absence, for it would not have edified the aunt or pleased the nieces I satisfied ht fit, and aood old lady was carried away by her enthusiasm, I told her that I should be very happy to pass under her roof the four or five weeks of ive me a room and supper, but on condition that I should not prove a burden to her or to her char nieces
”I should be only too happy,” she answered, ”to have you so long, but I have no room to offer you”
”Yes, you have one, hts within two hours”
It was the roo the chamber of the two sisters Nanette said immediately that she would come downstairs with her sister, but Madame Orio answered that it was unnecessary, as they could lock themselves in their room
”There would be no need for them to do that, madam,” I said, with a serious and htest disturbance, I can remain at the inn”
”There will be no disturbance whatever; but forgive h opinion of theed, I forced upon Mada her that I was rich, and that I had reat deal more if I kept e, and take upthe whole of the conversation, I could see the eyes ofwith pleasure, and they reconquered all their influence over e was, all the sa infidelity, but not inconstancy
On the following day I called at the war office, but, to avoid every chance of unpleasantness, I took care to remove my cockade I found in the office Major Pelodoro, who could not control his joy when he saw ht As soon as I had explained to hih in uniforoing to Turkey with the bailo, who intended to leave within two months, and even to try to obtain service in the Venetian army
His advice suited me exactly, and the secretary of ho had knownto see me, summoned na which had infor that he knew that I would not acknowledge it He then askedthe Spanish are, as I was never in the service”
”And how did youquarantine?”
”Persons co from Mantua are not subject to it”