Volume IV Part 18 (1/2)

”Where did you get this letter?”

”Froave ive the letter to the lady without your seeing ht hi, sir, as the lady was at perfect liberty to tell you”

”That's all very well, but you ave me the letter unopened, as you can see for yourself, is offended with you”

I called Le Duc, who paid the man and sent him away I opened the letter, and found it to be fro to read the contents The letter ran as follows:

”I have seen you,out of the theatre, escorted by the Marquis de Grimaldi, who is my Godfather

I have not deceived you; I was still intending to co, as I proood Rosalie I am ready to marry you here in the presence ofI promise never to speak of it, for I know that it was I who led you astray Tell me, I entreat you, whether I ard to you I aentle, provided you are not his wife Be sure, if you are still free, that you can only recover your honour byyour seducer”

”This letter coht to myself, ”and that's more than I shall be, unless I marry her ave her the letter, and begged her to read it attentively She did so, and gave itme if I advised her to accept Petri's offer

”If you do dear Rosalie, I shall die of grief; but if I do not yield you, my honour bids me marry you, and that I airl threw herself onin the voice of true love, ”I love you and you alone, darling; but it is not true that your honour bids you e of the heart; our love is h for my happiness”

”Dear Rosalie, I adore you, but I ae of my own honour

If Petri is a well-to-do ive you up or take you myself”

”No, no; there is no hurry to decide If you love me I am happy, for I love you and none other I shall not answer the letter, and I don't want to hear anything more of Petri”

”You may be sure that I will say no more of him, but I am sure that the marquis will have a hand in it”

”I daresay, but he won't speak to me twice on the subject”

After this treaty--a more sincere one than the Powers of Europe usually ot some letters for Florence and Rome In the meanwhile all was peace and love between htest shadow of jealousy in her soul, and M de Grimaldi was the sole witness of our happiness

Five or six days later I went to see the marquis at his casino at St

Pierre d'Arena, and he accostedthat he was happy to see me as he had an iuessed what it would be, but begged him to explain himself He then spoke as follows:

”A worthyo He toldman is my Godson, and he asked me to protect him I answered that as his Godfather I owed him my protection, and I promised to do what I could

”He left my Godson to talk it over with me, and he informed me that he knew your mistress before you did at Marseilles, that he had pro, that he had seen her infollowed us he found out that she lived with you He was told that she was your wife, but not believing it, wrote her a letter saying that he was ready to marry her; but this letter fell into your hands, and he has had no reply to it

”He could not make up his mind to lose a hope which ood offices, whether Rosalie would accept his proposition He flatters hi me of his prosperous condition, I can tell you that he is a likely man to make his wife happy I told him that I knew you, and would speak to you on the matter, and afterwards inform him of the result of our interview

”I have made enquires into his condition, and find that he has already amassed a considerable sum of money His credit, morals, and reputation, are all excellent; besides, he is his uncle's sole heir, and the uncle passes for a man very comfortably off And now, my dear M Casanova, tell me what answer I aed to hi away in three or four days Rosalie loves me, and I her, and I am ready to ; but I should have thought a man like you would prefer freedom to a woman, however beautiful, to whom you would be bound by indissoluble ties Will you allow me to speak to Rosalie myself about it?”

”You need not ask, my leave; speak to her, but in your own person and not as representing my opinions I adore her, and would not have her think that I could cherish the thought of separating from her”

”If you don't want me to meddle in the matter, tell me so frankly”

”On the contrary, I wish you to see for yourself that I am not the tyrant of the woht”