Volume VI Part 98 (1/2)
A handsoress, who served the prettiest of reat attentions, said to me one day,--
”I can't make out how you can be so much in love with my mistress, who is as white as the devil”
”Have you never loved a white man?” I asked
”Yes,” said she, ”but only because I had no negro, to whoiven the preference”
Soon after the negress became mine, and I found out the falsity of the axiom, 'Sublata lucerna nullum discrimen inter feminas', for even in the darkness a man would know a black woman froroes are a distinct species fro the colour out of account--namely, that an African woirl No doubt my readers will disbelieve this assertion, but their incredulity would cease if I instructed theresses
Count Rosenberg, grand chamberlain of the emperor, came on a visit to Trieste in company with an Abbe Casti, whose acquaintance I wished to make on account of some extremely blasphemous poems he had written
However, I was disappointed; and instead of a man of parts, I found the abbe to be an impudent worthless fellohose onlytook the abbe with him, because he was useful in the capacities of a fool and a pih by no reeable to his ecclesiastical status In those days syphilis had not completely destroyed his uvula
I heard that this shaate, this paltry poetaster, had been named poet to the ereat Metastasio, a man free froular ability
Casti had neither a fine style, nor a knowledge of dramatic requirements, as appears from two or three comic operas co but foolish buffooneries badly put together In one of these co Theodore and the Venetian Republic, which he turns into ridicule by means of pitiful lies
In another piece called The Cave of Trophonius, Casti -stock of the literary world bytowards the plot
A the persons of quality who came to Gorice, I met a certain Count Torriano, who persuaded me to spend the autumn with him at a country house of his six miles froenius I should certainly never have gone
The count was under thirty, and was not ly in spite of his hangdog countenance, in which I saw the outward signs of cruelty, disloyalty, treason, pride, brutal sensuality, hatred, and jealousy Theone that I thought his physiognon He asked raciously that I concluded that the ave the lie to his face
I asked about hiood People certainly said he was fond of the fair sex, and was a fierce avenger of any wrong done to hi either of these characteristics unworthy of a gentleman I accepted his invitation
He told me that he would expect me to meet him at Gorice on the first day of September, and that the next day ould leave for his estate
In consequence of Torriano's invitation I took leave of everybody, especially of Count Wagensberg, who had a serious attack of that malady which yields so easily to mercury when it is administered by a skilled hand, but which kills the unfortunate who falls ast quacks Such was the fate of the poor count; he died a month after I had left Trieste
I left Trieste in the ood time I called at Count Louis Torriano's mansion, but was told he was out However, they allowed e I had when I informed them that the count had invited me I then went to see Count Torres, and stayed with hiot back to the count's I was told he was in the country, and would not be back till the next day, and that in the meantime my trunks had been taken to the inn where a room and supper had been ordered
I was extremely astonished, and went to the inn, where I was served with a bad supper in an uncomfortable room; however, I supposed that the count had been unable to accoh I wished he had forewarned entleman who has a house and invites a friend can be without a roo Count Torriano caratulated himself on the pleasure he expected to derive from my society, and told me he was very sorry we could not start for two days, as a suit was to be heard the next day between hi to cheat hio and hear the pleadings; it will be an amusement foraccoht heat his doors without having given hi
”Come, come, Casanova,” I said to e of character is an unfathoht we had studied it deeply, but there is stillout of delicacy I should be sorry to be found wanting in politeness, though indeed I am puzzled to knohat I have done amiss”
I dined by myself, made calls in the afternoon, and supped with Count To the eloquence of the bar of Gorice the next day
”I shall be there, too,” said he, ”as I am curious to see what sort of a face Torriano will put on it, if the country about the case,” he continued, ”and Torriano is sure of victory, unless the docueries On the other hand, the farned by Torriano are forgeries The farmer has lost in the first court and in the second court, but he has paid the costs and appealed froh he is a poor man If he loses to-morroill not only be a ruined man, but be sentenced to penal servitude, while if he wins, Torriano should be sent to the galleys, together with his counsel, who has deserved this fate many times before”