Volume V Part 14 (1/2)

CHAPTER IV

I Leave Marseilles--Henriette at Aix--Irene at Avignon-- Treachery of Possano--Mada only interested me because of the bride The plentiful rather than choice repast, the numerous and noisy company, the ehter at very poor jokes--all this would have driven me to despair if it had not been for Madame Audibert, who bride about like a shadow, and the latter, as going to Genoa in a week, wanted Marcoline to co to have her taken to Venice by a person of trust, buther froo to Venice,” she said, ”till you send e did notrefused the young wine ratulating her she confessed her joy to be great, adding that it was increased by the fact that she owed it all toto Genoa, where she was sure of finding a true friend in Rosalie, ould sy been very sian toI disposed of was the box containing the planetary offerings I kept the diaold and silver to Rousse de Cosse, who still held the sum which Greppi had placed to e on Tourton and Bauer, for I should not be wanting any money at Lyons as Madame d'Urfe was there, and consequently the three hundred louis I had about me would be ample I acted differently where Marcoline was concerned I added a sufficient suive her a capital in round nuot a bill drawn on Lyons for that amount, for I intended at the first opportunity to send her back to Venice, and with that idea had her trunks packed separately with all the linen and dresses which I had given her in abundance

On the eve of our departure we took leave of the newly-married couple and the whole fa each other a lifelong friendshi+p

The next day we set out intending to travel all night and not to stop till we got to Avignon, but about five o'clock the chain of the carriage broke, and we could go no further until a right had repaired the dae We settled ourselves down to wait patiently, and Clairht, which was approached by an alley of trees As I had only one postillion, I did not allow hiClairmont reappear with two servants, one of whom invited me, on behalf of his ht at his house It would have been churlish to refuse this invitation which was in the true spirit of French politeness, so leaving Clairan to wend our way towards the hospitable abode

Three ladies and two gentleratulated themselves on my small mishap, since it enabled madam to offer me her house and hospitality I turned towards the lady who, that I hoped not to trouble her long, but that I was deeply grateful for her kindness She raceful curtsy, but I could not , and she and her two friends had drawn their hoods almost entirely over their faces Marcoline's beautiful head was uncovered and her hair strearaceful bows and smiles to the coentleave her his arhter Marcoline smiled and I answered that she was my cousin, and that ere both Venetians

A French a pretty woman that he will always do so, even if it be at the expense of a third party nobody could really think that Marcoline was h I enty years older than she was, I looked ten years younger than estively

We were just going into the house when a largea pretty spaniel, and the lady, being afraid of getting bitten, began to run, round We ran to help her, but she said she had sprained her ankle, and lientleht in, and I saw that Marcoline looked uneasy in the co to her I hastened to excuse her, saying that she did not speak French As a un to talk a sort of French, but thespoken badly, and I had begged her not to speak at all till she had learned to express herself properly It is better to reh by odd expressions and absurd equivocations

The less pretty, or rather the uglier, of the two ladies said that it was astonishi+ng that the education of young ladies was neglected in such a shockingthe, but in es nor round games These important branches of education are attended to afterwards”

”Then you are a Venetian, too?”

”Yes, ht so”

I made a bow in return for this compli toto the rest of ht ass lady understands French,” said our flattering friend, ”she laughs exactly in the right place”

”Yes, she understands it, and as for her laughter it was due to the fact that she knows me to be like all other Venetians”

”Possibly, but it is easy to see that you have lived a long time in France”

”Yes, madam,” said Marcoline; and these words in her pretty Venetian accent were a pleasure to hear

The gentleman who had taken the lady to her rooone to bed hoping ould all co in a splendid bed, placed in an alcove which the thick curtains of red satinor old, pretty or ugly I said that I was very sorry to be the indirect cause of her ood Italian that it was a matter of no consequence, and that she did not think she could pay too dear for the privilege of entertaining such pleasant guests

”Your ladyshi+p e with so much correctness”

”No, I have never been there, but I have associated a good deal with Venetians”

A servant caht had arrived, and that he would take four hours to e, so I went downstairs Thethe carriage pole with ropes, I could drive to his place, and wait there for the carriage to be entleman who did the honours of the house came and asked ht at her house, as to go to the right's would be out of ht, I should be uncomfortable, and the ould be ill done I assented to the countess's proposal, and having agreed with thehis tools with his into the rooned to me

When I returned to the countess's roo at Marcoline's sallies, which the countess translated I was not astonished at seeing the way in which ed at not being able to see her, for I knew Marcoline would not treat any woman in that manner unless she were pretty

The table was spread in the bedroom of the countess, whom I hoped to see at supper-time, but I was disappointed; for she declared that she could not take anything, and all supper-tience, education, and a great knowledge of Italian She let fall the expression, ”my late husband,” so I knew her for a , but as I did not dare to ask any questions, e ended at that point When Clairof the family that was no addition to my information