Volume V Part 17 (2/2)
”Father Molini, a monk, was irl as then ave us aus that he would take us to the play if ould promise to abstain for a week We promised to do so, and at the end of the ent to tell him that we had kept our word faithfully The next day Father Molini called on my sweetheart's aunt in a mask, and as she knew hio with him Besides, ere mere children; my sweetheart was only a year older than I
”After the play the father took us to an inn, and gave us some supper; and when the meal was over he spoke to us of our sin, and wanted to see our privates 'It's a great sin between two girls,' said he, 'but between a man and a woman it is a venial matter Do you kno men are made?' We both knew, but we said no with one consent 'Then would you like to know?' said he We said we should like to know very much, and he added, 'If you will promise to keep it a secret, I ave our proht of the riches which nature had lavished on him, and in the course of an hour he had turned us into women I must confess that he understood so well hoork on our curiosity that the request came from us Three years later, when I was fourteen, I beca jeweller Then caan by saying that he could not ask ive him any favours till ere married”
”You must have been ah, because I did not know that a priest could geted it at Geneva Curiosity and wantonness made me escape with him; you know the rest”
Thus did Marcoline a, and then ent to bed and slept quietly till theere set down at the ”Hotel du Parc” at Lyons
As soon as I was settled in the pleasant apart in the Place Bellecour, and said, as usual, that she was sure I was co on that day She wanted to know if she had performed the ceremonies correctly, and Paralis, of course, informed her that she had, whereat she wasAranda ith her, and after I had kissed him affectionately I told the marchioness that I would be with her at ten o'clock the next , and so I left her
I kept the appointment and we spent the whole of the day in close conference, asking of the oracle concerning her being brought to bed, how she was to make her will, and how she should contrive to escape poverty in her regenerated shape The oracle told her that she -in, and leave all her possessions to her son, ould not be a bastard, as Paralis proentleman should be sent over to marry her Finally, the oracle ordered her to prepare to start in three days, and to take Aranda with her I had to take the latter to London and return hier aconfessed all; however, I had found a remedy for his indiscretion as for the treachery of the Corticelli and Possano
I longed to return hi of his mother, who constantly wrote hter, who, according to her race and beauty
After the oracular business had been settled, I returned to the ”Hotel du Parc” to dine with Marcoline It was very late, and as I could not take my sweetheart to the play I called on M Bono to enquire whether he had sent one the day before, and that reat enemy, Possano, was still in Lyons, and that I would do well to be on uard as far as he was concerned
”I have seen him,” said Bono; ”he looks pale and undone, and see,' said he, 'for that scoundrel Casanova has had me poisoned; but I will make him pay dearly for his crime, and in this very town of Lyons, where I knoill come, sooner or later'
”In fact, in the course of half an hour, heas if he were in a fury He wants all the world to know that you are the greatest villain unhung, that you are ruining Madame d'Urfe with your ier, an utter of false moneys, a poisoner--in short, the worst of men He does not intend to publish a libellous pa that he wants reparation for the wrongs you have done his person, his honour, and his life, for he says you are killing him by a slow poison He adds that for every article he possesses the strongest proof
”I will say nothing about the vague abuse he adds to these formal accusations, but I have felt it ns that youhe is a miserable wretch, and that you despise hi calumny is”
”Where does the fellow live?”
”I don't know in the least”
”How can I find out?”
”I can't say, for if he is hiding hiet at him”
”Nevertheless, Lyons is not so vast a place”
”Lyons is a perfect -place, especially to a man with money, and Possano has money”
”But what can he do to ainst you in the cri down your good nah you be the most innocent, the most just ofI can do will be to be first in the field”
”So I think, but even then you cannot avoid publicity”
”Tell me frankly if you feel disposed to bear witness to what the rascal has said in a court of justice”
”I will tell all I knoith perfect truth”
”Be kind enough to tell ood advocate”