Volume I Part 62 (1/2)

I found the lovely countess in bed, but awake, and her eyes beaht I had only seen her sad, htful Her pleased countenance, which I naturally ascribed to my influence, filled me with joy We commenced as all happy lovers always do, and ere both unsparing of the ratitude

After our delightful amorous sport, I told her the news, but love had so completely taken possession of her pure and sensitive soul, that what had been important was now only an accessory But the news of her seducer having turned a Capuchin friar filled her with a very sensible remarks on the extraordinary event, she pitied Steffani When we can feel pity, we love no longer, but a feeling of pity succeeding love is the characteristic only of a great and generousinfor under my protection, and she left toa reconciliation with her father

Now and then we recollected that the tirief was bitter, but we contrived to forget it in the ecstacy of our a for ever to each other?” the charirl would exclaim ”It is not my acquaintance with Steffani, it is your loss which will sealour delightful interview to a close, for the hours were flying with fearful rapidity I left her happy, her eyes ith tears of intense felicity

At the dinner-table M Barbaro told me that he had paid a visit to his relative, Steffani's mother, and that she had not appeared sorry at the decision taken by her son, although he was her only child

”He had the choice,” she said, ”between killing hi friar, and he took the wiser course”

The woood Christian, and she professed to be one; but she spoke like an unfeeling mother, and she was truly one, for she ealthy, and if she had not been cruelly avaricious her son would not have been reduced to the fearful alternative of co a Capuchin friar

The last and most serious motive which caused the despair of Steffani, who is still alive, remained a mystery for everybody My Me about it

The count and his son were, of course, greatly surprised, and the eventlady In order to obtain a clue to her place of refuge, the count had resolved on su before the Council of Ten all the parties, accused and accusing, whose names he had on his list, with the exception of myself

His deterhter was in adin undertook to let him know the truth

We were all invited to supper by the count, and ent to his hostelry, with the exception of M de Bragadin, who had declined the invitation

I was thus prevented fro I made up for lost time, and as it had been decided that her father would on that very day be inforether until noon We had no hope of contriving anotherher brother in the afternoon

The count and his son dined with us, and after dinner M de Bragadin said,

”I have joyful news for you, count; your beloved daughter has been found!”

What an agreeable surprise for the father and son! M de Bragadin handed thee written by Steffani, and said,

”This, gentlee of one from C---- without her She left your house alone on foot, and as she landed in Venice Providence threw her in the way of this young man, who induced her to follow him, and has placed her under the care of an honest woman, whom she has not left since, whom she will leave only to fall in your ariveness for the folly she has co her,” exclai toof you not to delay the fortunate moment on which the whole happiness ofthat his daughter would be restored to hi day, and that I would let his son see her that very afternoon, so as to give hirees for that happy reconciliation M Barbaro desired to accoeratitude

We went out all three together, and a gondola carried us in a fewa treasure olden apples of the Hesperides But, alas! I was on the point of losing that treasure, the re

I precededfriend for the visit, and when I told her that, according to e day:

”Ah!” she exclaimed with the accent of true happiness, ”then we can spend a fewmy brother”

I returned with my companions, but how can I paint that truly dramatic situation? Oh! how inferior art ht beaht shade of confusion on that of the sister, the pure joy shi+ning in the midst of their tender caresses, the most eloquent exclamations followed by a stilllooks which see in the s blushes on her countenance, when she recollects that she has forgotten her duty towards a nobleman whom she sees for the first ti one, but yet thepicture to which the most skilful painter could not have rendered full justice

We sat down at last, the young countess between her brother and M

Barbaro, on the sofa, I, opposite to her, on a low foot-stool

”To who found you again?”