Volume VI Part 25 (2/2)

I had unfortunately al He had coood society, and of filling his pocket with the money of the dupes he aspired toto their infernal clique, but they have always persisted in believing that I too am a ”Greek”

As soon as this baron heard that I was in Madrid he called on ed ht shew or introductions Iconorant fellow, but a Frenchreeable A Frenchman who kno to present himself, who is well dressed, and has the society air, is usually accepted without demur or scrutiny He had been a cavalry captain, but had been fortunate enough to obtain an everlasting furlough

Four or five days after his appearance the baron asked h to lend him a score of louis, as he was hard up I replied as quietly, thanking hi him that I really could not lend him the money, as I wanted what little I had for ether, and you cannot possibly be ood business, but I do know that I want my money and cannot part with it”

”We are at our wits' end to quiet our landlord; come and speak to hiood He would ask me if I would answer for you, and I should reply that you are one of those noblemen who stand in need of no surety All the same, the landlord would think that if I did not stand your surety, itdoubts as to your solvency”

I had introduced Fraiture to Count Manucci, on the Pando, and he requested me to take hih to accede

A few days later the baron opened his soul to Manucci

He found the Venetian disposed to be obliging, but wary He refused to lend money himself, but introduced the baron to soes without interest

The baron and his friend did a little ga and won a little money, but I held aloof from them to the best of nazia, and wanted to live peacefully; and if I had spent a single night away froirl would have been filled with alaro went as ambassador to France, and was replaced by M Querini Querini was a o only liked music and his own peculiar kind of love

The new ambassador was distinctly favourable to me, and in a few days I had reason to believe that he would do o would have done

In thea retreat to France There was no ga at the Court; they must return to France, but they owed money to their landlord, and they wanted , Manucci would give the; we both pitied them, but our duty to ourselves ht trouble on us

OneManucci came to see me in evident perturbation

”What is the matter?” said I

”I do not know exactly For the last week I have refused to see the Baron Fraiture, as not being able to give him money, his presence only wearied me He has written me a letter, in which he threatens to blow out his brains to-day if I will not lend hi to o; but I replied that I would bet two hundred pistoles that he would do nothing of the kind This ht a duel with me; but I declined on the plea that as he was a desperate e over me or I, over him Give him the same answer, or, better still, no answer at all”

”I cannot follow your advice Here are the hundred pistoles Take theenerosity and agreed to carry out his commission I called on the baron, who see his position I was not at all surprised

I informed him that I was the bearer of a thousand francs from Count Manucci, who thereby placed hie his affairs and to leave Madrid He received the ratitude, and wrote out the receipt He assured me that he and his friend would start for Barcelona and France on the following day

I then took the docu from some mental trouble; and I remained to dinner with the ambassador It was for the last time

Three days after I went to dine with the aether), but to my astonishment the porter told me that he had received orders not to admit me

The effect of this sentence on me was like that of a thunderbolt; I returned home like a man in a drea him why I had been subjected to such an insult; but Philippe, ht me back the letter unopened