Volume V Part 32 (1/2)
I visited the theatres of Covent Garden and Drury Lane, but I could not extract much enjoylish I dined at all the taverns, high and low, to get solish In the e, where I made soot lish, French, and Italian with equal facility; and the same individual procured nios where a rich man can sup, bathe, and sleep with a fashi+onable courtezan, of which species there are nificent debauch and only costs six guineas The expense may be reduced to a hundred francs, but economy in pleasure is not to ant toilette and went to Court about eleven, and ed He introduced e III, who spoke to me, but in such a low voice that I could not understand hi, however, and I was delighted to observe that the proud ambassador from my beloved Venice was also present When M de Guerchi introduced alt, Zuccato looked astonished, for Mr Morosini had called me Casanova in his letter The queen askedfrom my answer that I was from Venice, she looked at the Venetian ambassador, who bowed as if to say that he had no objection to make Her Majesty then asked me if I knew the aratulate the king, and I replied that I had the pleasure of knowing them intimately, and that I had spent three days in their society at Lyons, where M Morosini gave remont and M Zuccato
”M Querini amused me extremely,” said the queen; ”he called hness is as witty as an angel”
I longed for the queen to ask me why I had not been presented by M
Zuccatto, for I had a reply on the tip of ue that would have deprived the ambassador of his sleep for a week, while I should have slept soundly, for vengeance is a divine pleasure, especially when it is taken on the proud and foolish; but the whole conversation was a cos, as is usual in courts
After ot into my sedan-chair and went to Soho Square A man in court dress cannot walk the streets of London without being pelted with h
All customs must be respected; they are all at once worthy and absurd
When I got to the house of Madaro Jarbe were shewn upstairs, and conducted through a suite of gorgeous apart with two English ladies and two English gentlemen She received me with familiar politeness, made me sit down in an arlish without introducing ave orders for the children to be brought down
I had long desired this , and when I saw Sophie I ran to meet her; but she, who had profited by her mother's instructions, drew back with profound courtesy and a co for fear I should erieved to the heart
Mada the co his education for six years She spoke in French, so I was glad to see that her friends understood that language
We sat down to table; Madame Cornelis between her two children, and I between the two Englishwohted me by her pleasant wit I attached myself to her as soon as I noticed that the mistress of the house only spoke to me by chance, and that Sophie did not look at me She was so like me that no mistake was possible I could see that she had been carefully tutored by her mother to behave in this manner, and I felt this treatment to be both absurd and impertinent
I did not want to let anyone see that I was angry, so I began to discourse in a pleasant strain on the peculiarities of English ht wound the insular pride of the English guests My idea was to reeable, and I succeeded, but not a word did I speak to Madame Cornelis; I did not sothe beauty of my lace, asked me as the news at Court
”It was all news to me,” said I, ”for I went there to-day for the first ti?” said Sir Joseph Cornelis
”My dear, you should not ask such questions,” said his entleman may not wish to answer the questioned I have been teaching your son for the last six years to be always asking soe He who asks nothing knows nothing”
I had touched her to the quick, and she fell into a sulky silence
”You have not told ”
”Yes,and the queen, and both their majesties did me the honour to speak to me”
”Who introduced you?”
”The French aree with me,” said the mother, ”that last question was a little too much”
”Certainly it would be if it were addressed to a stranger, but not to me who am his friend You will notice that the reply he extracted from me did me honour If I had not wished it to be known that I had been at Court, I should not have coood; but as you like to be questioned, may I ask you why you were not presented by your own ambassador?”