Volume I Part 58 (2/2)
I threw ratitude, and e him my father He folded me in his arms, called me his dear son; I promised to love and to obey him; his two friends, who lived in the same palace, embraced me affectionately, and ore eternal fraternity
Such is the history ofme from the vile profession of a fiddler, raised randee
CHAPTER XVIII
I lead a dissolute life--Zawoiski--Rinaldi--L'Abbadie--the young countess--the Capuchin friar Z Steffani--Ancilla--La Rao to Mestra
Fortune, which had taken pleasure in giving me a specimen of its despotic caprice, and had insured es would disavow, had not the power to make me adopt a system of moderation and prudence which alone could establish my future welfare on a firm basis
My ardent nature, my irresistible love of pleasure, my unconquerable independence, would not allow me to submit to the reserve which an to lead a life of co but whatas I respected the laws, I could trample all prejudices under my feet I fancied that I could live free and independent in a country ruled entirely by an aristocratic government, but this was not the case, and would not have been so even if fortune had raised overn that its pririty, finds itself the slave of its own policy, and is bound to sacrifice everything to self-preservation, before which the laws themselves cease to be inviolable
But let us abandon the discussion of a principle now too trite, for humankind, at least in Europe, is satisfied that unliulated state of society I have touched lightly on the ive to my readers soan to tread a path which was to lead me to a state prison as inscrutable as it was unconstitutional
With enoughphysical appearance, a confirreat talker, very far fro after pretty woood company but that which ministered to my enjoyment, I was certain to be disliked; but, ever ready to expose er, and to take the responsibility of allI pleased, for I always broke down abruptly every obstacle I found in reeable to the three worthy men whose oracle I had become, but they did not like to coadin would only tellhim a repetition of the foolish life he had hie, but that I must prepare to pay the penalty of my follies, and to feel the punish in the respect I owed his into jest, and continue ance However, I ave adro, a woman full of wit in spite of her sixty years, I hadPolish noble money from Poland, but in the mean ti all very much in love with his handsoood friends, my purse was his, but, twenty years later, he assisted reater extent in Munich Zawoiski was honest, he had only a sh for his happiness He died in Trieste five or six years ago, the ambassador of the Elector of Treves I will speak of hi ht a free-thinker because he frequented the society of Angelo Querini and Lunardo Venier, presented , to an unknown countess who took , and, after introducing me to her husband, Count Rinaldi, she invited us to remain and have supper
The count , I punted with his wife as a partner, and won some fifty ducats
Very much pleased with my new acquaintance, I called alone on the countess the nextfor his as not up yet, took raceful ease, and, her husband having left us alone, she had the art to letherself; when I took leave of her, she invitedAfter supper I played, still in partnershi+p with her, won again, and went away very much in love I did not fail to pay her another visit the next , but when I presented one out
I called again in the evening, and, after she had excused herself for not having been at hoan, and I lost allthe countess for uests had retired, I reive us our revenge As I had no more money, I played upon trust, and the count thren the cards after I had lost five hundred sequins I went away in great sorroas bound in honour to pay the next roat Love increasedthe esteem of a woman by whom I was sadin e ed me to confess my troubles to him I was conscious that it was my only chance, and candidly related the whole affair, and I ended by saying that I should not survivethat my debt would be cancelled in the course of the day, if I would swear never to play again upon trust I took an oath to that effect, and kissing his hand, I went out for a walk, relieved froreat load I had no doubt thatthe day, and I enjoyed my anticipation the honour I would derive, in the opinion of the lovely countess, by e of th toenerosity ofmy promise
I dined with the three friends, and thefroadin a letter and a parcel
He read the letter, asked me to follow him into his study, and the moment ere alone, he said;
”Here is a parcel for you”
I opened it, and found sohed merrily and handed me the letter, the contents of which ran thus:
”M de Casanova ht was only a joke: he owes old which he has lost in cash ”COUNT RINALDI”
I looked at M de Bragadin, perfectly auessed the truth, thanked hi him tenderly I promised to be wiser for the future The mist I had before my eyes was dispelled, I felt that my love was defunct, and I remained rather ashamed, when I realized that I had been the dupe of the wife as well as of the husband
”This evening,” said ay supper with the char, my dear, respected benefactor, I will have supper with you You have given me a masterly lesson”
”The next time you lose money upon trust, you had better not pay it”
”But I should be dishonoured”