Volume IV Part 96 (1/2)

”And will you do so?”

”I shall be obliged to, but as you will not coive me twenty sequins, which will enable me to leave Milan My cousin owes me ten thousand livres, and will not pay o”

”I haven't a farthing, and that mask of yours has made me lose a thousand sequins, which I do not kno to pay

”I know I a bad luck to all ive you a card, in the hope that it would change the run against you”

”Is she a Milanese girl?”

”No, she coent

I fell in love with her, seduced her, and carried her off to her unhappiness I had plenty of money then, but, wretch that I am, I lost it all at Genoa, where I had to sell all my possessions to enable ive me the ithal to escape”

I was touched with coave the hiood; itwith the ether at ht in amorous pleasures It was the Saturday, the last day of the carnival at Milan, and I spent the whole of the Sunday in bed, for thesleep would restore ht nature, and ran as follows:

”Have co M de la Croix has gone away in despair He has leftGood God! ill becoive me your advice”

I did not hesitate for a acy that I went, but froreat coat, and in the sairl, about whose face there was so peculiarly noble and attractive I saw in her innocence and modesty oppressed and persecuted As soon as I ca dared to trouble me, and she asked me to tell a woman as in the room to leave it, as she did not speak Italian

”She has been tiring me for more than an hour I cannot understand what she says, but I can make out that she wants to do me a service However, I do not feel inclined to accept her assistance”

”Who told you to co lady?” said I, to the woman

”One of the servants of the inn told n parts had been left alone here, and that she was s of humanity made me coood hands, and I alad of it for her sake, poor dear!”

I saw that the woman was a procuress, and I only replied with a sirl then told me briefly what I had already heard, and added that Croce, who called hi-table as soon as he had got my twenty sequins, and that he had then taken her back to the inn, where he had spent the next day in a state of despair, as he did not dare to shew hi he put on his

”Soon after he put on his great coat and got ready to go out, telling me that if he did not return he would co me your address, of which I have made use as you know

He has not coone off on foot without a penny in his pocket The landlord wants to be paid, and by selling all I have I could satisfy his claiood God! what is to become of me, then?”

”Dare you return to your father?”

”Yes, sir, I dare return to hiive me when on my knees and with tears in my eyes I tell hiood! then I will take you to Marseilleswith some honest people Till then, shut yourself up in your room, do not admit anyone to see you, and be sure I will have a care for you”

I summoned the landlord and paid the bill, which was a very small one, and I told hiirl was duood-bye kindly and left her without even taking her hand It was not altogether a case of the devil turning monk; I always had a respect for distress