Volume II Part 10 (2/2)

I Stop at Ferrara, Where I Have a Comic Adventure-- My Arrival in Paris

Precisely at twelve o'clock the peotta landed o Oscuro, and I immediately took a post-chaise to reach Ferrara in ti the waiter up the stairs, when a joyful uproar, which suddenly burst from a room the door of which was open, made me curious to ascertain the cause of so much mirth I peeped into the room, and saw some twelve persons, men and women, seated round a well-supplied table It was a very natural thing, and I wason, when I was stopped by the exclamation, ”Ah, here he is!” uttered by the pretty voice of a wo the table, ca,

”Quick, quick, a seat for hi man came up, and she said to him, ”Well, I told you he would arrive to-day?”

She made me sit near her at the table, after I had been saluted by all the guests who had risen to dory;” and as she spoke she squeezed my foot under the table ”Here isto introduce to you, as well as uests round the table are friends of the family But, my dear cousin, tell me why my mother has not come with you?”

At last I had to open my lips!

”Your mother, my dear cousin, will be here in three or four days, at the latest”

I thought that my newly-found cousin was unknown to me, but when I looked at her with more attention, I fancied I recollected her features

She was the Catinella, a dancer of reputation, but I had never spoken to her before I easily guessed that she was giving me an impromptu part in a play of her own composition, and I was to be a 'deux ex ular and unexpected has always attracted ly to the joke, entertaining no doubt that she would reward reeable manner

All I had to do was to playave her the opportunity of speaking and of infor me by hints of what I had to know, in order not tothe reason of ence by saying so it was necessary forcould not take place until the arrival of herthe wardrobe and the dia to Turin to compose the e of the Duke of Savoy This last discovery pleased reatly, because I saw that I should have no difficulty in taking an to enjoy the part I had to play Yet, if I had not reckoned upon the reward, I ht very well have informed the honourable coh Catinella was very near thirty, she was very pretty and celebrated for her intrigues; that was enough, and she could turn er

The future mother-in-laas seated opposite, and to do lass and offered it to me Already identified with lass, but seeing that my hand was somewhat bent, she said to me,

”What is theserious, ht sprain which a little rest will soon cure”

At these words, Catinella, laughing heartily, said that she regretted the accident because it would deprive her friends of the pleasure they would have enjoyed in hearing hing h, because it rened to have in order not to dance”

After coffee, the mother-in-laho evidently understood as proper, said that most likely my cousin wanted to talk with ht to be left alone

Every one of the guests left the room

As soon as I was alone with her in my room, which was next to her own she threw herself on a sofa, and gave way to a h I only know you by name,” she said to me, ”I have entire confidence in you, but you will do well to go away to-morrow I have been here for twobut a few dresses and some linen, which I should have been compelled to sell to defray h to inspire the son of the landlord with the deepest love I have flattered his passion by proe portion twenty thousand croorth of diamonds which I am supposed to have in Venice, and whichwith her Butof the affair, therefore she is not likely to leave Venice”

”But, tell anza?

I aic turn at the last”

”You areone, too

I a every hour the arrival of Count Holstein, brother of the Elector of Mainz He has written to me from Frankfort; he has left that city, and must by this tiio, and if ry, the count will thrash him and pay my bill, but I am detero away, I have only to whisper in his ear that I will certainly return, and it will be all right I know my promise to become his wife as soon as I come back will make him happy”