Volume I Part 59 (2/2)
”He was right then, for he would have been appointed if I had not ainst hiht policy forbade the governner”
”I am much surprised, for your excellency was not of that opinion the day before yesterday”
”Very true, but then I did not know M de l'Abbadie I found out only yesterday that the ent to fill the position he was soliciting Is he likely to possess a sane judgment when he refuses to lend you one hundred sequins? That refusal has cost him an important appointment and an income of three thousand crohich would now be his”
When I was taking my walk on the same day I met Zawoiski with L'Abbadie, and did not try to avoid them L'Abbadie was furious, and he had sorily, ”that the one hundred sequins were intended as a gag to stop M de Bragadin's mouth, I would have contrived to procure them for you”
”If you had had an inspector's brains you would have easily guessed it”
The Frenchman's resentment proved very useful to me, because he related the circumstance to everybody The result was that froe of the senator applied tobeen in existence, and will long rehest of favours, all that is necessary is to obtain the good-will of a minister's favourite or even of his valet My debts were soon paid
It was about that time that my brother Jean cae of paintings, as travelling at the expense of His Majesty the King of Poland, and Elector of Saxony It was the converted Jeho had purchased for His Majesty the gallery of the Duke of Modena for one hundred thousand sequins
Guarienti and my brother left Venice for Rome, where Jean res, e shall ain hereafter
Now, as a faithful historian, I ive my readers the story of a certain adventure in which were involved the honour and happiness of one of thewomen in Italy, ould have been unhappy if I had not been a thoughtless fellow
In the early part of October, 1746, the theatres being opened, I alking about with my mask on when I perceived a woman, whose head ell enveloped in the hood of her e which had just arrived Seeing her alone, and observing her uncertain walk, I felt uided me
I come up to her, and offer my services if I can be of any use to her
She answers timidly that she only wants to ht place for conversation,” I say to her; ”but if you would be kind enough to come with me to a cafe, you would be able to speak and to explain your wishes”
She hesitates, I insist, and she gives way The tavern was close at hand; we go in, and are alone in a private room I take off my mask, and out of politeness she e muslin head-dress conceals half of her face, but her eyes, her nose, and her pretty h to let me see on her features beauty, nobleness, sorrow, and that candour which gives youth such an undefinable charood letter of introduction, the unknown at once captivatedaway a few tears which are flowing, in spite of all her efforts, she tells s to a noble family, that she has run away fro in God, to meet a Venetian noble her everlastinghie?”
”He has engaged his faith toThe only favour I claim from your kindness is to take me to his house, to leave me there, and to keep s of a man of honour I am worthy of your trust Have entire confidence in me, for I already take a deep interest in all your concerns Tell ive way to fate”
With these words, she takes out of her boso of Zanetto Steffani It was a proed his word of honour tocountess A---- S---- When I have read the paper, I return it to her, saying that I knew the writer quite well, that he was connected with the chancellor's office, known as a great libertine, and deeply in debt, but that he would be rich after his mother's death
”For God's sake takeyou wish; but have entire confidence in o to his house He has already done you great injury, and, even supposing that you should happen to find hi you badly; if he should not be at home, it is most likely that his mother would not exactly welcome you, if you should tell her who you are and what is your errand Trust to me, and be quite certain that God has sent me on your way to assist you I promise you that to-morrow at the latest you shall knohether Steffani is in Venice, what he intends to do with you, and e may compel him to do Until then my advice is not to let him know your arrival in Venice”
”Good God! where shall I go to-night?”
”To a respectable house, of course”
”I will go to yours, if you are married”
”I am a bachelor”
I knew an honest ho resided in a lane, and who had two furnished roo countess to follow , she tells hbourhood for necessary repairs to his travelling-carriage, and that, on the saone with her ratulations to a newly-h,” she continued, ”to inspire him with love, and he postponed his departure He re, and spending every night underwith me He swore a thousand times that he adored me, that his intentions were honourable I entreated hie, but he always excused hi me that he could not be happy unless I shewed hi of me to make upthat my honour should not suffer from such a step, because, three days afterhis wife, and he assuredme back on a visit to e Alas, sir! what shall I say now? Love blinded reed to everything He gave ht I allowed hih theunder which he was in the habit of conversing with uilty of a crime which I believed would be atoned for within three days, and he left ain under my , ready to receive me in his arms Could I possibly entertain any doubt after the fearful crime I had committed for hi, but in vain