Volume I Part 50 (2/2)

As soon as I announced that I had co a troupe of actors to perforers of the two companies then in Otranto came to the parlour to speak to me I told them at once that I wished to see all the perforavethe other to bring his troupe first The harbour-master told me that the only way to settle the matter was to say myself which of the two companies I would see first: one was froave the preference to the first Don Fastidio, the lia, the director of the second, was delighted because he hoped that, after seeing the Neapolitan troupe, I would engage his own

An hour afterwards, Fastidio returned with all his perforst thenized Petronio and his sister Marina, who, the , and threw herself in h words passed between Fastidio and the harbour- in the service of Fastidio, the captain compelled him to confine her to the lazaretto, where she would have to perforirl cried bitterly, but I could not remedy her i Fastidio to shew ed to his company, and performed the lovers He told lad to see a Venetian of my acquaintance who played the pantaloon in the pantomime, three tolerably pretty actresses, a pulcinella, and a scaraether, the troupe was a decent one

I told Fastidio to na hiive the preference to his rival, if he should ask me too much

”Sir,” he answered, ”we are twenty, and shall require six roo-room for all of us, and thirty Neapolitan ducats a day, all travelling expenses paid Here is my stock of plays, and ill perfor of poor Marina ould have to ree at Otranto, I told Fastidio to get the contract ready, as I wanted to go away immediately

I had scarcely pronounced these words than war broke out again between the lia, in his rage, called Marina a harlot, and said that she had arranged beforehand with Fastidio to violate the rules of the lazaretto in order to co his sister's part, joined Fastidio, and the unlucky Battipaglia was dragged outside and treated to a generous dose of blows and fisticuffs, which was not exactly the thing to console hihtrich accordingly, and waiting for , I left Otranto with twenty actors, and six large trunks containing their co froht have carried us to Corfu in ten hours, but e had sailed about one hour ht a shi+p which et hold of us I was unwilling to risk anything, so I ordered them to lower the sails and return to Otranto

At day-break we sailed again with a good westerly wind, which would also have taken us to Corfu; but after we had gone two or three hours, the captain pointed out toher course so as to get to ard of us I told hio by starboard, to see if the brigantine would follow us, but she io back to Otranto, and I had no wish to go to Africa, so I ordered the men to shape our course, so as to land on the coast of Calabria, by hard rowing and at the nearest point The sailors, ere frightened to death, communicated their fears toEvery one of thele prayer to God did I hear The bewailings of scaramouch, the dull and spiritless despair of Fastidio, offered a picture which would have inary and not real Marina alone was cheerful and happy, because she did not realize the danger ere running, and she laughed at the terror of the crew and of her co, so I ordered them to clap on all sail and scud before the wind, even if it should get stronger In order to escape the pirate, I had h the night, and in the htyWe were in the ue, but I had no longer any fear A gale began to blow fro so hard that ere compelled to sail close to the wind in a fearful manner The felucca looked every moment as if it must capsize Every one looked terrified but kept complete silence, for I had enjoined it on penalty of death In spite of our dangerous position, I could not help laughing when I heard the sobs of the cowardly scaraale being steady I felt ould reach Corfu without hted the town, and at nine in thewe landed at Mandrachia

Everybody was surprised to see us arrive that way

As soon asofficers naturally came to inspect the actresses, but they did not find them very desirable, with the exception of Marina, who received uncoly the news that I could not renew my acquaintance with her I felt certain that she would not lack ad, produced a very different effect on the stage, and particularly the pantaloon's wife M Duodo, co master pantaloon intolerant on the subject of his better-half, gave him a feith his cane Fastidio informed me the next day that the pantaloon and his wife refused to perfor theht

The pantaloon's as much applauded, but she felt insulted because, in the midst of the applause, the pit called out, ”Bravo, Duodo!”

She presented herself to the general in his own box, in which I was generally, and coeneral proht for the close of the carnival, and I was of course compelled to ratify his proreedy actors, I abandoned to hts I had reserved for ave to Marina was at the special request of Madareat favour since she had had the honour of breakfasting alone with M D---- R---- in a villa outside of the city

My generosity cost ht h I never held the cards,up all reat kindness; it was clearly seen that I carried on no intrigue with any of the so Mada that she had not entertained such a good opinion of h the carnival to think of love, even of the passion which filledof Lent, and after the departure of the cos

One er who, summoned me to her presence It was eleven o'clock; I immediately went to her, and enquired what I could do for her service

”I wanted to see you,” she said, ”to return the two hundred sequins which you lent ive me back er in my possession I have deposited it in a sealed envelope with the notary who, according to this receipt of his, can return it only to you”

”Why did you not keep it yourself?”

”Because I was afraid of losing it, or of having it stolen And in the event of my death I did not want such a docureat proof of your extreht to have reserved the right of taking it out of the notary's custody yourself”

”I did not forsee the possibility of calling for itThen I can send word to the notary to transmit it to me?”

”Certainly, madam; you alone can claiht the himself

She tore the envelope open, and found only a piece of paper besible, except her own name, which had not been touched