Volume VI Part 71 (1/2)

A few days later, the princess told Cardinal Orsini that she had taken a peculiar interest in two of the young recluses, and desiring to provide them with suitable establishain to the theatre so as to give thee of the world She undertook to take the them back herself or only to confide them to sure hands The cardinal replied that the superioress should receive instructions to oblige her in every particular

As soon as I heard of this from the princess, I said that I would ascertain what orders had been actually received at the convent

The next day the superioress told ht best for the welfare of the young people coe

”I have also received orders,” she added, ”to send in the nae of thirty, and wish to leave the convent, that they may receive a warrant for their two hundred crowns I have not yet published this coet rid of a score at least”

I told the princess of the cardinal's orders, and she agreed with enerous

Cardinal Bernis, as by, advised her that the first tio in person, and tell the superioress that she would always send her carriage and liveried servants to fetch them

The princess approved of this advice, and a few days later she called for Eht them to her palace, where I awaited them with the cardinal, the prince, and the duchess of Fiano

They elcoh, and to say as in theirthemselves for the first time in a splendid apartment surrounded by brilliant company, they were so confounded that they could not say a word E from her seat whenever she was addressed, and Armelline shone only by her beauty and the vivid blush which suffused her face whenever she was addressed The princess ht kiss her as e to return her kisses

At last Are to take the princess's hand and kiss it, but when the lady kissed her on the lips the girl renorant of such a natural and easyof a kiss

The cardinal and the prince laughed; the duchess said that so much restraint was unnatural As for me I was on thorns, such aardness seemed to me near akin to stupidity, for Armelline had only to do to the princess's lips what she had already done to her hand No doubt she fancied that to do to the princess what the princess had done to her would shew too much familiarity

The cardinal took me on one side and said he could not believe that I had not initiated her in the course of two months' intirained prejudice

Far this first tine the princess had made up her mind to take them to the Torre di Nonna Theatre, as coh

After the play ent to sup at an inn, and at table the good cheer and an to take some effect on her We persuaded them to drink a little wine, and their spirits iave the princess soay and our applause convinced the

Of course the princess charged uests back to the convent Now, I thought, e I saw that I had reckoned without my host

When I would have kissed, heads were turned aside; when I would have stretched forth an indiscreet hand, dresses rapped htly; when I would have forced my way, I was resisted by force; when I coot in a rage, I was allowed to say on; and when I threatened to see theot to the convent a servant opened the side door, and noticing that she did not shut it after the girls, I went in too, and ith them to see the superioress, as in bed, and did not seem at all astonished to seeback her young charges in person She thanked , and bademe to make as little noise as possible on my way downstairs

I wished the a sequin to the servant who opened the door, and another to the coacharita was asleep on a sofa and welcomed me with abuse, but she soon found out by the ardour of uilty of infidelity

I did not get up till noon, and at three o'clock I called on the princess and found the cardinal already there

They expected to hear the story of my triumph, but the tale I told and my apparent indifference in the matter came as a surprise

I may as well confess that my face was by no ive the thing a co that I did not care for Paive up the adventure

”My dear fellow,” said the cardinal, ”I shall take two or three days before I congratulate you on your self-restraint”

His knowledge of the huht Ias usual; but when the second day went by withoutshe sent her brother to ask if I were ill, for I had never let two days pass without paying her a visit

Menicuccio cahted to find me in perfect health

”Go and tell your sister,” I said, ”that I shall continue to interest the princess on her behalf, but that I shall see her no more”