Volume II Part 58 (1/2)
”The only thing I ask you is to come sharp to time; and not to come too late for a convent”
”Will an hour after sunset suit you?”
”Admirably”
”I shall also make it my business to coh it be M M herself”
”So to wait, if you will take her to a casino which I irl of whom I am amorous I will take care that she shall not be there on the appointed day, and I will give you the key of the casino I shall also see that you find a delicate cold supper ready”
”That is admirable, but I must be able to point out the place to ive you a supper to-reatest secrecy to be observed between us We will go to o out by the street door; thus you will know the way by land and water You will only have to tell the procurer the name of the canal and of the house, and on the day fixed you shall have the key You will only find there an old round floor, and he will see neither those who go out nor those who co and will not be seen; and all, trust in to think that I have lost hted with the plan; ”but it ain” We made our appointto sup with her, and to bring two of reat court to Bacchus as to Cupid, I took care to send my little housekeeper several bottles of excellent wine
Char the honours of the table, Tonine only asked o away after supper I said yes, and this reply made her happy; she only cared for the dessert
After leaving her I went to the convent and passed an hour with M M in the parlour I was glad to see that she was getting back her health and her beauty every day, and having co my two friends kept their appointments to the minute, and ent to my little casino at two hours after sunset
Our supper was delicious, and e I was delighted to see Righelini enchanted, and the ambassador due my friends to cajole my sweetheart, but I became full of complaisance when time had cooled the heat oftaken Mr Murray to the spot where I was to wait for hi Tonine as she deserved She praisedour English friend going away, fresh and ni emptied by himself six bottles of my best wine Murray looked like a fine Bacchus after Rubens
On Whit Sunday Righelini calish aements with the pretended procurer of M M for Whit Tuesday I gave him the keys of my abode at Muran, and told him to assure Murray that I would keep the appointed upon
My iht on palpitation of the heart, which was extre an eye; for although I was convinced of M---- M----'s innocence, itation was extreme But whence all this anxiety? Merely from a desire to see the ambassador undeceived M M must in his eyes have seemed a coed to confess hiuery would re-establish the honour of the nun
Mr Murray was as impatient asupon the adventure as a coic shuddered with indignation
On Tuesday et a cold supper after hts ready, and having sent in several bottles of wine I bade her keep to the room occupied by the old landlord, and not to coone She pro her I went to the convent parlour, and asked to see M---- M---- Not expecting to see eant of the Bucentaur, which, the weather being favourable, would set out on this day I do not knohat I answered, but I know that she found my words little to the purpose I ca to ask a favour of her, on which rant blindly without asking any questions
”Tell me what I am to do, sweetheart,” said she, ”and be sure I will refuse nothing whichan hour after sunset, and ask for you at this grating; co of you to say a feords of politeness; you can then leave us Let us find some pretext to justify the unseasonable hour”
”I will do what you ask, but you cannot iine how troublesome it is in a convent, for at six o'clock the parlours are shut up and the keys are taken to the abbess' room However, as you only want me for fivea letter fro only You ive me a letter that the nun ill be with uilty of deception”
”You will not come alone, then?”
”I should not dare even to ask for such a privilege”
”Very good, but try to cohted”
”I will keep the light in the background”
”Pray do not do so, my beloved; on the contrary, place it so that you e, but I have prohts May I hope that you will explain this riddle to me at your next interview?”
”By to-morrow, at latest, you shall know the whole story”