Volume I Part 70 (2/2)
”You know me and I do not know you Tellthe same dexterity upon the back of his companion, but the tards took to their heels, and there was nothing for us to do but to sheathe our weapons Thus did the duel end in athan Marina herself had anticipated
My brave French so hiave him; the name which I had assuave Marina a full description of the adventure
”I will,” she said, ”a with the story of yourBut that which pleases me most is that, if your second is really a dancer, he can be no other than M Baletti, who is engaged with me for the Mantua Theatre”
I stored all ain, and went to the opera, where I saw Baletti, who recognized me, and pointedthe adventure He joined me after the performance, and accompanied me to the inn Marina, who had already returned, came to my room as soon as she heard my voice, and I was amused at the surprise of the a artist hoh an excellent dancer, did not like the serious style Those two handsoan an amorous warfare which made me enjoy my supper immensely, because, as he was a fellow artist, Marina assumed towards Baletti a tone well adapted to the circumstances, and very different to her usual manner with other , and was in an excellent temper, for she had been much applauded by the public, the true version of the Celi business being already well known
The theatre was to be open only for ten hts, and as Marina wished to leave Milan im together In the mean time, I invited Baletti (it was an Italian na the remainder of our stay in Milan The friendshi+p between us had a great influence upon all the subsequent events of reat talent as a dancer, but that was the least of his excellent qualities He was honest, his feelings were noble, he had studied iven in those days in France to a nobleman
On the third day I saw plainly that Marina wished to reat advantageher She had a post-chaise for two persons, and I easily persuaded her to take Baletti with her, saying that I wished to arrive alone in Mantua for several reasons which I could not confide to her The fact was that if I had arrived with her, people would have naturally supposed that I was her lover, and I wished to avoid that
Baletti was delighted with the proposal; he insisted upon paying his share of the expenses, but Marina would not hear of it The reasons alleged by the younghis own expenses were excellent ones, and it ith great difficulty that I prevailed upon him to accept Marina's offer, but I ultimately succeeded I promised to wait for theether, and on the day appointed for our departure I left Milan one hour before the the city of Cremona very early, where we intended to sleep, I took a walk about the streets, and, finding a coffee-house, I went in
I made there the acquaintance of a French officer, and we left the coffee-rooether to take a short rae, and my companion stopped her to say a feords Their conversation was soon over, and the officer joined ain
”Who is that lovely lady?” I enquired
”She is a truly char wo trans to exaggerate, for the adventure is known to everybody in Creifted it greater even than her beauty, and here is a specisther, when Marshal de Richelieu was co treated by her with more favour than all the others, and one day, in the very coffee-room where we met, he advised a brother officer not to lose his ti her, because he had no chance whatever of obtaining any favour
”'My dear fellow,' said the other officer, 'I have a ive you that piece of advice; for I have already obtained froranted to a lover'
”'I a man, 'and I request you to follow ly,' said the indiscreet swain, 'but what is the good of ascertaining the truth through a duel and of cutting our throats, when I can make the lady herself certify the fact in your presence'
”'I bet twenty-five louis that it is all untrue,' said the incredulous officer
”'I accept your bet Let us go'
”The two contending parties proceeded together towards the dwelling of the lady whom you saw just noas to name the winner of the twenty-five louis
”They found her in her dressing-rooht you here together at this hour?
”'It is a bet,officer, 'and you alone can be the u of having obtained frorant to the iven him the lie in the most impressive manner, and a duel was to ensue, when he offered to have the truth of his boast certified by you I have bet twenty-five Louis that you would not admit it, and he has taken ht'
”You have lost, sir,” she said to hiive you fair warning that if you ever dare to shew your faces here again, you will be sorry for it'
”The two heedless felloent away dreadfully mortified The unbeliever paid the bet, but he was deeply vexed, called the other a coxcomb, and a week afterwards killed him in a duel