Volume VI Part 43 (1/2)
He cursed the Duke of Parh there was no mint in existence in the duchy, and his talents were consequently wasted there
I listened to all his corateful in not conferring the Order of St Michael on him; that Venice had rewarded his services very shabbily; that Spain was stingy, and Naples devoid of honesty, etc, etc When he had finished, I asked hiive me a bill on a banker for fifty sequins
He replied in the iveto a banker for such a wretched sueto repay him at an early date, but I have never been able to do so I do not knohether he is alive or dead, but if he were to attain the age of Methuselah I should not entertain any hopes of paying hiet poorer every day, and feel that na, and the day after in Florence, where I met the Chevalier Morosini, nephew of the Venetian procurator, a youngwith Count Stratico, professor of ave me a letter for his brother, a Jacobin monk, and professor of literature at Pisa, where I stopped for a couple of hours on purpose to reater than his faer stay for the purpose of enjoying his society
I stopped an hour at the Wells, where I made the acquaintance of the Pretender to the throne of Great Britain, and frohorn, where I found Count Orloff still waiting, but only because contrary winds kept hilish consul, ho, introduced me at once to the Russian adht He told me he would be charmed if I would coe taken off at once, as he would set sail with the first fair wind When he was gone the English consul asked me ould be my status with the admiral
”That's just what Imy effects”
”You won't be able to speak to hi I called on Count Orloff, and sent hiive me a short interview before I embarked my mails
An officer ca in bed, and hoped I would wait
”Certainly”
I had been waiting a few ent at Venice and an old friend ofhere,for an intervieith the adlio coolly went into the admiral's room This was impertinent of him; it was as if he said in so many words that the admiral was too busy to see me, but not too busy to see him
A moment after, Marquis Manucci caratulated horn, and then said he had read my work on Venice, and had been surprised to find himself in it
He had some reason for surprise, for there was no connection between him and the subject-matter; but he should have discovered before that the unexpected often happens He did not give me tilio had done
I was vexed to see how these gentlemen were ad with Orloff began to displease me
In five hours Orloff came out followed by a numerous train He told me pleasantly that we could have our talk at table or after dinner
”After dinner, if you please,” I said
He cauests
Orloff kept on saying, ”Eat away, gentleave his secretary letters all the tilanced up atme by the hand led e, as he should sail before theif the wind kept up
”Quite so; but kindly tell me, count, what is to be my status or employment an board your shi+p?”
”At present I have no special eive you; that will come in time Come on board as my friend”
”The offer is an honourable one so far as you are concerned, but all the other officers arded as a kind of fool, and I should probably kill the first man who dared to insult me Give me a distinct office, and let me wear your uniform; I will be useful to you I know the country for which you are bound, I can speak the language, and I ae”