Volume VI Part 92 (1/2)
Ifound ood supper
The weather was dreadful The Venetian consul had heard ofseen me concluded I was ill, and paid me a two hours'
visit He assured me the storm would last for a week at least I was very sorry to hear it; in the first place, because I did not want to see any ot any ot valuable effects, so this second consideration did not trouble ined that she was feigning illness to avoid ed to her on this account As it appeared, however, I was entirely mistaken in my conjectures
The next day she caer bore upon her features her old tranquillity of expression
”I will take coffee, ras any longer, I will take dinner by myself Consequently, you may tell your father that I shall only pay seven pauls a day In future I shall only drink Orvieto wine”
”You have still four bottles of Scopolo and Cyprus”
”I never take back a present; the wine belongs to you I shall be obliged by your leaving h to irritate Socrates, and I areeable tothat the soul within is a er You e here without ain, where I dread being poisoned every day”
Leah went out without giving me any answer, and I felt certain that after my plain-spoken discourse she would take care not to trouble irls like Leah are not uncommon I had known specimens at Spa, Genoa, London, and at Venice, but this Jeas the worst I had ever met
It was Saturday When Mardocheus caaily why I had hter, as she had declared she had done nothing to offend me
”I have not mortified her, my dear Mardocheus, or at all events, such was not my intention; but as I have put ras, and consequently I shall dine by myself, and save three pauls a day”
”Leah is quite ready to pay me out of her private purse, and she wants to dine with you to assure you against being poisoned, as she informs me that you have expressed that fear”
”That was only a jest; I am perfectly aware that I ahter to pay for herself, and to prove that I as of economy, you shall dine with me too To offer to pay for me is an impertinence on her part In fine, I will either dine by myself and pay you seven pawls a day, or I will pay you thirteen, and have both father and daughter to dine withthat he really could not allow me to dine by myself
At dinner-ti at Leah or paying any attention to the witty sallies she uttered to attract lass with Scopolo, saying that if I did not drink it neither would she
I replied, without looking at her, that I advised her only to drink water for the future, and that I wanted nothing at her hands
Mardocheus, who liked wine, laughed and said I was right, and drank for three
The weather continued bad, and I spent the rest of the day in writing, and after supper I retired and went to sleep
Suddenly I was aroused by a slight noise
”Who is there?” said I
I heard Leah's voice, whispering in reply,
”'Tis I; I have not co she lay down on the bed, but on the outside of the coverlet