Volume IV Part 79 (2/2)
”That has always beenduped The lover of the person you have been with kept a lady in society for soreat splendour, but all the rest of us despised her”
”Why so, if you please?”
”Because she lowered herself so terribly Greppi is absolutely amy surprise at the name of Greppi, I replied that a man need not be well born to be an excellent lover
”The only thing needful,” said I, ”is a fine physique and plenty of money, and those ladies who despised their friend were either ridiculously proud or abohtest doubt that if they could find any h to lower themselves”
She would doubtless have ered her; but the Marquis Triulzi arriving, she went out with him, while her husband and myself went to a place where there was a bank at faro, the banker only having a hundred sequins before him
I took a card and staked s twenty ducats I left the place
As ere going to the opera the poor count told me I had made him lose ten ducats on his word of honour, and that he did not kno he could pay it by the next day I pitied hiave him the ly to me Afterwards I lost two hundred ducats at the sa before The count was in the greatest distress He did not know that Greppi, whom his proud wife considered so worthless, had a hundred thousand francs of reater amount
The countess, who had seen me lose, asked me if I would sell my beautiful dress
”They say it's worth a thousand sequins,” said she
”Yes, that is so; but I would sell everything I possess before parting with any of the articles which I intend for the fair sex”
”Marquis Triulzi wants it badly to present to someone”
”I am very sorry, but I cannot sell it to him”
She went aithout a word, but I could see that she was exceedingly vexed atthe opera-house I saw Therese getting into her sedan-chair I went up to her, and told her that I was sure she was going to sup with her lover She whispered in ht co the invitation
”I will expect you, then,” she said
I asked the count to ride ho a chair I reached Therese's house just as she was going in
What a happy evening we had! We laughed heartily e told each other our thoughts
”I know you were in love with Countess A---- B----,” said she, ”and I felt sure you would not dare to coht I should confound you by accepting your invitation, as I knew Greppi was your lover”
”He is my friend,” she replied ”If he loves me in any other way than that of friendshi+p, I pity him, for as yet he has not discovered the secret of seduction”
”Do you think he ever will?”
”No, I don't I am rich”
”Yes, but he is richer than you”