Volume IV Part 30 (2/2)

”I daresay that everybody will be putting down his wooden baptism to my account”

”No,” said the abbe, ”people say that M Casanova did the deed for good reasons of his own”

”It will be difficult to pitch on the right man,” I answered, ”the rascal has pushed so reathim”

The conversation then passed to other topics, and we had a very pleasant dinner

In a few days the Jew left his bed with a large plaster on his nose, and although I was generally regarded as the author of his radually allowed to drop, as there were only vague suspicions to go upon But the Corticelli, in an ecstasy of joy, was stupid enough to talk as if she were sure it was I who had avenged her, and she got into a rage when I would not adh to do so, as her i h a, when one day Vannini gave me a letter which someone had left for me I opened it in his presence, and found it contained a bill of exchange for two hundred Florentine crowns on Sasso Sassi Vannini looked at it and told ood one I went into my rooned ”Charles Ivanoff” He dated it from Pistoia, and told me that in his poverty andFlorence for Lucca, and had generously given hie for two hundred crohich he had written in his presence It was made payable to bearer

”I daren't cash it in Florence,” said he, ”as I a arrested for my unfortunate affair at Genoa I entreat you, then, to have pity ono”

It looked like a very siht be forged; and even if it were not I should be declaring myself a friend or a correspondent, at all events, of a man who had been posted In this dilee to hi establishment, hired two horses, and drove to Pistoia The landlord himself took me to the rascal's room, and left me alone with him

I did not stay more than three minutes, and all I said was that as Sassi knew me I did not wish him to think that there was any kind of connection between us

”I advise you,” I said, ”to give the bill to your landlord, ill cash it at M Sassi's and bring you your change”

”I will follow your advice,” he said, and I therewith returned to Florence

I thought no more of it, but in two days' time I received a visit from M Sassi and the landlord of the inn at Pistoia The banker shewed iven it lishlish any e

”The inn-keeper here,” said he, ”discounted the bill, the Russian has gone off, and when I told hiery he said that he knew Charles Ivanoff had it of you, and that thus he hadit; but noants you to return him two hundred crowns”

”Then he will be disappointed!”

I told all the circumstances of the affair to Sassi; I shewed hiiven it me, come up, and he said he was ready to swear that he had seen e out of the letter, that he had exaood

On this the banker told the inn-keeper that he had no business to ask me to pay him the money; but he persisted in his demand, and dared to say that I was an acconation I ran for my cane, but the banker held me by the arm, and the i

”You had a right to be angry,” said M Sassi, ”but you must not take any notice of what the poor fellow says in his blind rage”

He shook me by the hand and went out

Next day the chief of police, called the auditor at Florence, sentme to call on hier I felt that I ht look on this invitation as an intimation

He received me very politely, but he said I should have to repay the landlord his two hundred crowns, as he would not have discounted the bill if he had not seen e he could not condehthe repeated that I would have to pay

”Sir,” I replied, ”I will not pay”

He rang the bell and bowed, and I left hi towards the banker's, to whom I imparted the conversation I had had from the auditor He was extremely astonished, and at my request called on him to try and make hi with the Abbe Gama

When I saw the abbe I told him what had happened, and he uttered a loud exclamation of astonishment

”I foresee,” he said, ”that the auditor will not let go his hold, and if M Sassi does not succeed with him I advise you to speak to Marshal Botta”