Volume I Part 75 (2/2)

At all events, thanks to h reat a dupe, and the daughter not so unhappy, unless the result should prove as unfortunate for her as it had been for poor Lucy, of Pasean

The moment that Javotte became in my eyes an object of holy horror, my departure was decided The resolution was all the ht have witnessed all , in which case the most Holy, or, if you like, theinforht me and enhanced my fahtest wish to be the principal actor It struck me as so entirely within the limits of probability that I sent at once for Franzia and Capitani, and in the presence of the unpolluted virgin I told the over the treasure all the necessary particulars, but that I had been coreement with theuardianshi+p I told Franzia that I would hand to hi all the inforive me I produced, in reality, a few minutes afterwards, a document similar to the one I had concocted at the public library in Mantua, adding that the treasure consisted of diaold dust I made him take an oath on my pocket-book to wait for ave him an account of the treasure in every way si in his hands I ordered his carefully until my return

”As for you, Capitani,” I said to my companion, ”proceed at once to Cesena, and reht by thethat poor Javotte lookedto her very tenderly, I pro I told her at the sa been perforer necessary, and that she was at liberty to ood opportunity offered itself

I at once returned to the city, where I found Capitani o, and then to Mantua He toldlike a child, that his father would be in despair when he saw him come back without the knife of Saint Peter

”You may have it,” I said, ”with the sheath, if you will let me have the one thousand Roe:”

He thought it an excellent bargain, and accepted it joyfully I gave hin a paper by which he undertook to return the sheath whenever I brought the sa for it

I did not knohat to do with the wonderful sheath, and I was not in want of money, but I should have considered ; besides, I thought it a good joke to levy a contribution upon the ignorant credulity of a count palatine created by the grace of the Pope In after days, however, I would willingly have refunded his money, but, as fate would have it, we did not see each other for a long tiain I was not in a position to return the amount It is, therefore, only to chance that I was indebted for the su, for being the possessor of 'gladiuina' he truly believed himself the master of every treasure concealed in the Papal States

Capitani took leave ofday, and I intended to proceed at once to Naples, but I was again prevented; this is how it happened

As I returned to the inn after a short walk,four perfor no acquaintance of o to the play in the evening, and to start early the next day with post-horses A reedthat spies were atthe house I went into the actresses dressing-roo Her nana I bowed to her, and after the common-place conversation usual in such cases, I asked her whether she was free

”I aer,” she answered

”Have you any lover?”

”No”

”I offer myself for the post, if you have no objection”

She sly, and said,

”Will you take four tickets for the four perfor care to let her see that it ell filled, and when she gave me the four tickets, presented the her and was prettier than the le word She called me back; I pretended not to hear her, and took a ticket for the pit After the first ballet, finding the whole perfor to look towards the chief box, I saw to my astonishment that it was tenanted by the Venetian Manzoni and the celebrated Juliette The reader will doubtless reave at my house in Venice, and the smack hich she saluted my cheek on that occasion

They had not yet noticed me, and I enquired from the person seated next toso many diamonds He told me that she was Madame Querini, from Venice, who near her, had brought with hilad to hear that M Querini hadthe acquaintance, for reasons which otten if he recollects our quarrel when I had to dress her as an abbe I was on the point of going ahen she happened to seeto be known by anyone, I whispered to her thatto her excellency, Madah a letter which I have received froratulations to Mada me a baron on the spot He invited me most kindly to co to, etc, and begged the pleasure of

Ten years before, he had been Juliette's friend in Vienna, when Maria Theresa, having been inforave her notice to quit the city She had renewed her acquaintance with hina on a pleasure trip M Manzoni, her old folloho gave me all this inforood conduct before M Querini I must say that Manzoni was not a well-chosen chaperon

In Venice she wanted everybody to believe that Querini had ues she did not think such a foreneral to all the nobility of Cesena as Mada jealous of the count, for he was an old acquaintance ould do no harning lover who is jealous of an old acquaintance is nothing but a fool, and ought to be treated as such

Juliette,indiscreet, had lost no ti that I had likewise some reason to fear her want of discretion, she felt reassured From the first moment I treated her politely, and with every consideration due to her position

I found nueneral's, and so Juliette, I enquired for her from M Manzoni, who toldher money I saw her seated next to the banker, who turned pale at the sight of my face He was no other than the so-called Count Celi He offered me a card, which I refused politely, but I accepted Juliette's offer to be her partner She had about fifty sequins, I handed her the same sum, and took a seat near her After the first round, she asked me if I knew the banker; Celi had heard the question; I answered negatively A lady on my left told me that the banker was Count Alfani Half an hour later, Madame Querini went seven and lost, she increased her stake of ten sequins; it was the last deal of the game, and therefore the decisive one I rose from my chair, and fixed my eyes on the banker's hands But in spite of that, he cheated before eneral offered her his arold on the table, and after supper, having played again, she lost every sequin

I enlivened the supper by my stories and witty jests I captivated everybody's friendshi+p, and particularly the general's, who, having heard ratify an amorous fancy, entreated me to spend a month with him and to sacrifice my whied to see Lucrezia and Therese, whose charms after five years I could scarcely recollect I only consented to reeneral intended to stay