Volume II Part 31 (2/2)
”In that case I will try to find a private box”
”Very well; wait for us at such a place”
The scoundrel did not speak of his letters of exchange again, and as he saw that I was no longer paying my attentions to his mistress, and that I was in love with his sister, he had for her to hter who had confidence in such a e to resist the temptation I even went so far as to persuade myself that as I loved her it was my duty to accept the offer, in order to save her froht have found some other ht that in my company her innocence ran no risk
I took a box at the St Sa for the before the tihted antly masked, and her brother wore his unifornized on account of her brother, Ilanded near the house of his mistress, as ill, he said, and he added that he would soon join us in our box I was astonished that C---- C---- did not shew any surprise or repugnance at reondola; but I did not think the conduct of her brother extraordinary, for it was evident that it was all arranged beforehand in his ondola until the opening of the theatre, and that as the heat was intense she would do well to take off her mask, which she did at once The law I had laid upon myself to respect her, the noble confidence which was bea on her countenance and in her looks, her innocent joy--everything increased the ardour ofwhat to say to her, for I could speak to her of nothing but love--and it was a delicate subject--I kept looking at her charlobes shaped by the Graces, for fear of giving the alarm to her modesty ”Speak to me,”
she said at last; ”you only look at le word
You have sacrificed yourself for me, because my brother would have taken you with hie froel”
”I have seen that lady”
”I suppose she is very witty”
”She , for I have never visited her, and I do not intend ever to call upon her Do not therefore ihtest sacrifice for your sake”
”I was afraid you had, because as you did not speak I thought you were sad”
”If I do not speak to you it is because I aelic confidence in lad it is so; but how could I not trust you? I feel much more free, much more confident with you than with my brother himself My mother says it is impossible to be mistaken, and that you are certainly an honestI askedme that you envied the fate of the man ould havethat your ould be the happiest woman in Venice”
These words, uttered with the most candid artlessness, and with that tone of sincerity which comes from the heart, had upon me an effect which it would be difficult to describe; I suffered because I could not i kiss upon the sweet lips which had just pronounced them, but at the same time it caused el loved s,” I said, ”ould, lovely C----, be perfectly happy, if we could be united for ever But I ah to be your father”
”You ! Do you know that I aht?”
”Well, where can you see a hter of mine? If hten o to the theatre had corossed all her attention Her brother joined us only when it was nearly over; it had certainly been a part of his calculation I took them to an inn for supper, and the pleasure I experienced in seeing the charet that I had had no dinner I hardly spoke during the supper, for love made me sick, and I was in a state of excite In order to excusefrom the toothache
After supper, P---- C---- told his sister that I was in love with her, and that I should certainly feel better if she would allow irl was to offerlips, which see; butcreature was such that I only kissed her cheek, and even that in a manner very cold in appearance
”What a kiss!” exclaiood lover's kiss!”
I did nother head aside sadly, said,
”Do not press hiave the alars