Volume II Part 15 (1/2)
Balbi askedthe last touches tofor me to do would be to coht until the end of the Carnival ”Gratarol's letter has certainly been spread broadcast before now over Venice I do not ive him an answer What I propose would be the bestSacchi for his want of faith--since the theatre will certainly be empty--and Gratarol for his delirious importunity But, if your Excellency permits me, I shall walk abroad I should like to let a certain lady, who bolstered up ainst my will, and who protected a reckless avaricious comedian--I should like her to see and read in this letter to what she has conde a fly, by her wrong-headed, whiainst a madman”
While I spoke thus toin my veins Concealed from him, I had quite other plans in preparation They were not consistent with philosophy; they were not in agreement with the Gospel Some time later, but not till nised and condeotten by the blindness of the natural nor Balbi offered to acconora Caterina Dolfin Tron; and I was rejoiced to have so excellent a witness of our interview On presenting ourselves, and being received with her custoaiety, I contented myself with these feords: ”Your Excellencies have been ahe d'Ae The amusements which fall to my poor share are these” I handed her the letter
She cast her eyes over the page, and I could read upon her countenance and by the treht for eful caprice against Signor Gratarol which caused this lady to involve ratitude for the cordial eesture I saw that she felt for , and by conversation with the vaunted _esprits forts_ of our ”unprejudiced” age, her heart reht place and unconta, she only said: ”Leave this paper in my hands” I obeyed, and took my departure
It is needless to add that innumerable copies of the precious letter flew about the city There was not a house, a shop, in which Signor Gratarol's chivalrous proclas did not forht to have used circu ht perhaps to have reflected that onist was a man who showed his prowess mainly in ambuscades[74] But it was never in my nature to knohat fear is; and the perils to which I exposed nore it Therefore, returning to what I hinted so desire, concealed from every friend, was to find myself face to face with the author of that brutal cartel[75] Day and night, alone and unattended, I prowled around his casino at S Mose, nursing this condemnable desire within my breast Of a truth, I should have been forced to set fire to the house before I drew him from its shelter That I shall prove; but I was not an incendiary
Doctor Andrea Comparetti, professor of medicine now in the University of Padua, expressed astonish the darkest and the ht of that famous 18th of January He lectured me upon my want of prudence, and rehed the matter off, and he had to leave ine, however, that I a of the desire which burned n of heroisart From a man who could pen a letter like Gratarol's I had to expect some stab in the dark It was only a blind huh how to distinguish recklessness froe
LXI
_The sequel to Gratarol's missive of defiance--My personal relations with hi of the 19th I rose from sleep with a calm mind, and recovered entleht it their duty to pay me respects after the event of yesterday They were not a little eager to learn how I had been dragged into a mess so much at variance with the well-known tenor oftheir excusable curiosity with a candid and humorous account of the whole ht with hie of Venice,[76] who
In compliance with this nobleain ”So then,” he said, ” of the facts you have described to me Put it in the form of a memorial to the Supreme Tribunal Petition to have your honour vindicated
Enclose Gratarol's defa you think of use, and bring the whole to me”
I obeyed him blindly; and I do not suppose that any one will be so foolish as to iine that I departed in one hair's-breadth fro to those awful Three, before the very name of whom the whole town tre series of closely connected incidents preventedmy memorial as short as I could have wished
Such as it was, I took it, with its appended docuh, he said: ”I must confess that the tribunal before which this document will appear is not accustoth Yet I can find no superfluities which could be omitted So it will serve its purpose”
What happened to my supplication is utterly unknown toof the 23rd of January, while I was still in bed, the saht me the letter of the 18th was introduced into : ”My ive this note into your own hands” I took it, and read what follows:--
”SIR COUNT, my most revered friend,--In complete contradiction of the senti you to understand by these present, which are in no way different froood-will I have entertained for you through etting byegones,[78] I shall continue to profess toward you the sa fro commensurate with the candour of my declaration
”From my house, the 23rd of January 1776/1777
”Your most devoted servant and friend,
”PIETRO ANTONIO GRATAROL”
Folding the paper, I bade the servant carry my respects to his master
Visitors arrived, and Gratarol's letter of retractation circulated through the city in a score of copies There was the usual result of tittle-tattle, especially a the idlest and most numerous members of the community