Volume II Part 74 (1/2)
I Find a Lodging in the House of the Chief of the Sbirri--I Pass a Good Night There and Recover My Strength--I Go to Mass--A Disagreeable Meeting I Aer--Arrived at Munich--Balbi I Set Out for Paris--My Arrival--Attempt on the Life of Louis XV
As soon as I saw Father Balbi far enough off I got up, and seeing at a little distance a shepherd keeping his flock on the hill-side, I made my way-towards him to obtain such infore, nor,” he answered, to my surprise, for I found I was ht I next asked him the owners of five or six houses which I saw scattered around, and the persons he mentioned chanced to be all known to me, but were not the kind of men I should have cared to trouble withhied to the Grimanis, the chief of as a State Inquisitor, and then resident at the palace, so I had to take care not to let hi the owner of a red house in the distance, he told ed to the chief of the sbirri Bidding farewell to the kindly shepherd I began to go down the hill mechanically, and I am still puzzled to knohat instinct directed my steps towards that house, which common sense and fear also should have ht line, and I can say with truth that I did so quite unwittingly If it be true that we have all of us an invisible intelligence--a beneficent genius who guides our steps aright--as was the case with Socrates, to that alone I should attribute the irresistible attraction which drew me towards the house where I had most to dread However that may be, it was the boldest stroke I have played in my whole life
I entered with an easy and unconstrained air, and asked a child as playing at top in the court-yard where his father was Instead of replying, the child went to call his mother, and directly afterwards appeared a pretty woman in the family ho politely askedfor his absence
”I ah at the sahted to ossip? You will be M Vetturi, then? My husband told me that you had kindly prohted to know you, but my husband will be very vexed to have been away:
”I hope he will soon return, as I wanted to ask hio anywhere in the state you see me”
”You shall have the best bed in the house, and I will get you a good supper My husband when he co us so o, and I don't expect him back for three or four days”
”Why is he away for such a long time, my dear madam?”
”You have not heard, then, that two prisoners have escaped from The Leads? One is a noble and the other a private individual named Casanova
My husband has received a letter fro him to make a search for them; if he find them he will take them back to Venice, and if not he will return here, but he will be on the look-out for three days at least”
”I am sorry for this accident, my dear madam, but I should not like to put you out, and indeed I should be glad to lie down immediately”
”You shall do so, and my mother shall attend to your wants But what is theon the ave myself some severe wounds, and aentleentleman! But mytold her of my necessities she went out This pretty sbirress had not the wit of her profession, for the story I had told her sounded like a fairy-tale On horseback hite silk stockings! Hunting in sarcenet, without cloak and without a ame of her when he came back; but God bless her for her kind heart and benevolent stupidity Her mother tended me with all the politeness I should have met with in the best families
The worthy woman treated me like a mother, and called me ”son” as she attended to my wounds The name sounded pleasantly in my ears, and did no little towards my cure by the sentiments it awoke in my breast If I had been less taken up with the position I was in I should have repaid her care with soratitude I felt, but the place I was in and the part I was playing made the situation too serious a one forelse
This kindly wohs, told ht be sure of being cured by theAll I had to do was to bear the application of medicated linen to my wounds, and not to stir till the next day I promised to bear the pain patiently, and to do exactly as she told iven an excellent supper, and I ate and drank with good appetite
I then gave myself up to treat to me I suppose she undressedabout it when I woke up--I was, in fact, totally unconscious Though I hadfor food and to regain th, and sleep came to me with an irresistible force, asmyself out of it I took , and I heard six striking as I awoke I see es, and I was astonished to find my wounds healed and quite free from pain I didthe door of my room open I went downstairs, crossed the court, and left the house behindto notice two individuals ere standing outside, and then the distance between me and the place where I had found the kindliest hospitality, the utmost politeness, the th, and as I walked I could not help feeling terrified at the danger I had been in I shuddered involuntarily; and at the present moment, after so many years, I still shudder when I think of the peril to which I had so heedlessly exposed o in, and still more how I came out; it seemed absurd that I should not be followed For five hours I tra a soul besides a few countryfolk, and turning neither to the right nor left
It was not yet noon, when, as I went along h ground, and looking in the direction from which the sound caoing towards it to hear mass My heart desired to express thankfulness for the protection of Providence, and, though all nature was a temple worthy of its Creator, custom drewthought seems an inspiration It was All Souls' Day I went down the hill, and came into the church, and saw, to my astonishment, M Marc Antoine Grimani, the nephew of the State Inquisitor, with Madame Marie Visani, his wife I made my bohich was returned, and after I had heard mass I left the church M Griot nearhere, Casanova, and what has becoiven him what little money I had for him to escape by another road, whilst I, without a penny into reach a place of safety by this way If your excellence would kindly give me soive you anything, but you will find recluses on your on't let you die of hunger But tell me how you contrived to pierce the roof of The Leads”
”The story is an interesting one, but it would take up too ht eat up the food which is to keep er”
With this sarcasm I made hireat want, his refusal pleased entleman than the ”excellence” who had referred me to the charity of recluses I heard at Paris afterwards that when his wife heard of it she reproached him for his hard-hearted behaviour There can be no doubt that kindly and generous feelings are more often to be found in the hearts of women than of men