Volume II Part 52 (2/2)
The next day, having gone early to the casino, I found the ambassador already there, and he welcomed me in the most friendly manner He told me that, if he had known me in Paris he would have introduced me at the court, where I should certainly have made my fortune Nohen I think of that, I say to ood would it have been to me?” Perhaps I should have fallen a victim of the Revolution, like so many others M de Bernis himself would have been one of those victims if Fate had not allowed hih wealthy, unless his feelings had undergone a coe before his death, and I do not believe it
I asked him whether he liked Venice, and he answered that he could not do otherwise than like that city, in which he enjoyed excellent health, and in which, with plenty of money, life could be enjoyed better than anywhere else
”But I do not expect,” he added, ”to be allowed to keep this eh to let that remain between us I do not wish toin all confidence when M---- M---- arrived with her young friend, who showed her surprise at seeing another ed her by the most tender welcoht of the stranger at being answered by her in good French It gave us both an opportunity of paying the warht her so well
C---- C---- was truly charht andto me:” I wished to see her shi+ne before our friends; and I contrived to conquer a cowardly feeling of jealousy which, in spite of et hold of me
I took care to make her talk on such subjects as I knew to be faence, and had the satisfaction of seeing her admired
Applauded, flattered, animated by the satisfaction she could read in y to M de Bernis, and, oh! what a contradiction of the human heart! I was pleased, yet I trema! I was intent myself upon a hich would have causedthe supper, which orthy of a king, the ambassador treated C---- C---- with the most delicate attentions Wit, cheerfulness, decent htful party, and did not expel the gaiety and the merry jests hich a French critic ithout being acquainted with us, wished to guess whether love was present at our happy party, ht have suspected, perhaps, but he certainly could not have affirmed, that it was there
M---- M---- treated the a towards me than that of deep esteem, and she behaved to C---- C---- with the tender affection of a sister M de Bernis was kind, polite, and areatest interest in every word uttered by C---- C----, who played her part to perfection, because she had only to follow her own nature, and, that nature being beautiful, C---- C---- could not fail to be htful hours, and the ambassador seemed more pleased even than any of us M---- M---- had the air of a person satisfied with her oork, and I was playing the part of an approving spectator C---- C---- looked highly pleased at having secured the general approbation, and there was, perhaps, a slight feeling of vanity in her arising from the special attention which the a, and I could easily understand the language of her soul, by which she wished to tell me that she felt perfectly well the difference between the society in which she was then, and that in which her brother had given us such a disgusting speciht it was time to think of our departure, and M de Bernis undertook all the coreeable supper he had ever made in his life, he contrived to make her offer a repetition of it for two days afterwards, and he asked me, for the sake of appearance, whether I should not find asas hi affirmatively? I believe not, for I had placed reed, we parted coht of that exe what the ultireat fortune entirely to the fair sex, because he possessed to the highest degree the art of coddling love; and as his nature was ee in it, because he kne to call desires into existence, and this procured him enjoyments worthy of his delicate taste I saw that he was deeply in love with C---- C----, and I was far fro at her lovely eyes He certainly had soed, and M---- M----, in spite of all her honesty, was the prier of it
I knew that she would carry it on with such delicate skill that I should not see any evidence of it Although I did not feel disposed to shew more compliance than was strictly just, I foresaw that in the end I should be the dupe, and ly-contrived trick I could not race, or to throw obstacles in the way, and, believingherself to anything likely to displease uard, and to rely upon the difficulty of seducing her Stupid calculation! Self-love and sha ue kept me in a state of fever because I was afraid of its consequences, and yet curiosityfor the result I knew very well that a second edition of the supper did not imply that the same play would be perfores would be strongly ht myself bound in honour not to retract I could not lead the intrigue, but I believed s
After all those considerations, however, considerations which enabled me to assume the countenance of false bravery, the inexperience of C---- C----, who, in spite of all the knowledge she had lately acquired, was only a novice, caused reat anxiety It was easy to abuse her natural wish to be polite, but that fear gave way very soon before the confidence I had in M---- M---- s delicacy I thought that, having seen how I had spent six hours with that young girl, knowing for a certainty that I intended to uilty of such base treason All these thoughts, worthy only of a weak and bashful jealousy, brought no conclusive decision I had to follow the current and watch events
At the appointed time I repaired to the casino, where I found ,Frenchman?”
”He has not arrived yet,” answered M---- M----, ”but he will doubtless soon be here”
I took off ave theood care not to shew any preference, and although I knew that they were aware of the unquestionable right I had upon both of theratulated them upon the mutual inclination they felt for each other, and I saw that they were pleased not to have to blush on that account
More than one hour was spent in gallant and friendly conversation, withoutdesires M---M---- attracted me more than C---- C----, but I would not for the world have offended the char to shew some anxiety about the absence of M de Bernis, when the door-keeper brought her a note froo, prevents ht, for I a the dispatches I have received I trust that you will forgive and pity rant me on Friday the pleasure of which I am so unfortunately deprived to-day? Let me know your answer by to-morroish ardently, in that case, to find you with the sa you will present my affectionate compliments”
”Well,” said M---- M----, ”it is not his fault We will sup without hireatest pleasure But what is the matter with you, dear C---- C----? You look sad”
”Sad, no, unless it should be for the sake of ing gentlelad he has rendered you so sensible”
”What do you mean? Could anyone be insensible to his ree with you Only tell me if you love hio and tell him?
Besides, I a, she sat down on M---- M----'s knee, calling her her own little wife, and an to bestow on one another caresses whichtheir sport, I excited the been acquainted