"You would confer a real kindness on me if you would both accept a seat
in my chaise; it holds four persons, and there is plenty of room."
"It is a good fortune which we were far from expecting"
"Not at all, uncle; I will not go with this gentleman."
"Why not, my dear niece?"
"Because I will not."
"Such is the way," I remarked, without looking at her, "that sincerity
is generally rewarded."
"Sincerity, sir! nothing of the sort," she exclaimed, angrily, "it is
sheer wickedness. There can be no true black eyes now for you in the
world, but, as you like them, I am very glad of it."
"You are mistaken, lovely Christine, for I have the means of
ascertaining the truth."
"What means?"
"Only to wash the eyes with a little lukewarm rose-water; or if the lady
cries, the artificial colour is certain to be washed off."
At those words, the scene changed as if by the wand of a conjuror. The
face of the charming girl, which had expressed nothing but indignation,
spite and disdain, took an air of contentment and of placidity
delightful to witness. She smiled at her uncle who was much pleased with
the change in her countenance, for the offer of the carriage had gone to
his heart.
"Now you had better cry a little, my dear niece, and 'il signore' will
render full justice to your eyes."
Christine cried in reality, but it was immoderate laughter that made her
tears flow.
That species of natural originality pleased me greatly, and as we were
going up the steps at the landing-place, I offered her my full
apologies; she accepted the carriage. I ordered breakfast, and told a
'vetturino' to get a very handsome chaise ready while we had our meal,
but the curate said that he must first of all go and say his mass.
"Very well, reverend sir, we will hear it, and you must say it for my
intention."
I put a silver ducat in his hand.
"It is what I am in the habit of giving," I observed.
My generosity surprised him so much that he wanted to kiss my hand. We
proceeded towards the church, and I offered my arm to the niece who, not
knowing whether she ought to accept it or not, said to me,
"Do you suppose that I cannot walk alone?"
"I have no such idea, but if I do not give you my arm, people will think
me wanting in politeness."
"Well, I will take it. But now that I have your arm, what will people
think?"
"Perhaps that we love each other and that we make a very nice couple."
"And if anyone should inform your mistress that we are in love with each
other, or even that you have given your arm to a young girl?"
"I have no mistress, and I shall have none in future, because I could
not find a girl as pretty as you in all Venice."
"I am very sorry for you, for we cannot go again to Venice; and even if
we could, how could we remain there six months? You said that six months
were necessary to know a girl well."
"I would willingly defray all your expenses."
"Indeed? Then say so to my uncle, and he will think it over, for I could
not go alone."
"In six months you would know me likewise."
"Oh! I know-you very well already."
"Could you accept a man like me?"
"Why not?"
"And will you love me?"
"Yes, very much, when you are my husband."
I looked at the young girl with astonishment. She seemed to me a
princess in the disguise of a peasant girl. Her dress, made of 'gros de
Tours' and all embroidered in gold, was very handsome, and cost
certainly twice as much as the finest dress of a Venetian lady. Her
bracelets, matching the neckchain, completed her rich toilet. She had
the figure of a nymph, and the new fashion of wearing a mantle not
having yet reached her village, I could see the most magnificent bosom,
although her dress was fastened up to the neck. The end of the richly-
embroidered skirt did not go lower than the ankles, which allowed me to
admire the neatest little foot and the lower part of an exquisitely
moulded leg. Her firm and easy walk, the natural freedom of all her
movements, a charming look which seemed to say, "I am very glad that you
think me pretty," everything, in short, caused the ardent fire of
amorous desires to circulate through my veins. I could not conceive how
such a lovely girl could have spent a fortnight in Venice without
finding a man to marry or to deceive her. I was particularly delighted
with her simple, artless way of talking, which in the city might have
been taken for silliness.
Absorbed in my thoughts, and having resolved in my own mind on rendering
brilliant homage to her charms, I waited impatiently for the end of the
mass.
After breakfast I had great difficulty in convincing the curate that my
seat in the carriage was the last one, but I found it easier to persuade
him on our arrival in Treviso to remain for dinner and for supper at a
small, unfrequented inn, as I took all the expense upon myself. He
accepted very willingly when I added that immediately after supper a
carriage would be in readiness to convey him to P----, where he would
arrive in an hour after a peasant journey by moonlight. He had nothing
to hurry him on, except his wish to say mass in his own church the next
morning.
I ordered a fire and a good dinner, and the idea struck me that the
curate himself might pledge the ring for me, and thus give me the
opportunity of a short interview with his niece. I proposed it to him,
saying that I could not very well go myself, as I did not wish to be
known. He undertook the commission at once, expressing his pleasure at
doing something to oblige me.
He left us, and I remained alone with Christine. I spent an hour with
her without trying to give her even a kiss, although I was dying to do
so, but I prepared her heart to burn with the same desires which were
already burning in me by those words which so easily inflame the
imagination of a young 'girl.
The curate came back and returned me the ring, saying that it could not
be pledged until the day after the morrow, in consequence of the
Festival of the Holy Virgin. He had spoken to the cashier, who had
stated that if I liked the bank would lend double the sum I had asked.
"My dear sir," I said, "you would greatly oblige me if you would come
back here from P---- to pledge the ring yourself. Now that it has been
offered once by you, it might look very strange if it were brought by
another person. Of course I will pay all your expenses."
"I promise you to come back."
I hoped he would bring his niece with him.
I was seated opposite to Christine during the dinner, and discovered
fresh charms in her every minute, but, fearing I might lose her
confidence if I tried to obtain some slight favour, I made up my mind
not to go to work too quickly, and to contrive that the curate should
take her again to Venice. I thought that there only I could manage to
bring love into play and to give it the food it requires.
"Reverend sir," I said, "let me advise you to take your niece again to
Venice. I undertake to defray all expenses, and to find an honest woman
with whom your Christine will be as safe as with her own mother. I want
to know her well in order to make her my wife, and if she comes to
Venice our marriage is certain."
"Sir, I will bring my niece myself to Venice as soon as you inform me
that you have found a worthy woman with whom I can leave her in safety."
While we were talking I kept looking at Christine, and I could see her
smile with contentment.
"My dear Christine," I said, "within a week I shall have arranged the
affair. In the meantime, I will write to you. I hope that you have no
objection to correspond with me."
"My uncle will write for me, for I have never been taught writing."
"What, my dear child! you wish to become the wife of a Venetian, and you
cannot write."
"Is it then necessary to know how to write in order to become a wife? I
can read well."
"That is not enough, and although a girl can be a wife and a mother
without knowing how to trace one letter, it is generally admitted that a
young girl ought to be able to write. I wonder you never learned."
"There is no wonder in that, for not one girl in our village can do it.
Ask my uncle."
"It is perfectly true, but there is not one who thinks of getting
married in Venice, and as you wish for a Venetian husband you must
learn."
"Certainly," I said, "and before you come to Venice, for everybody would
laugh at you, if you could not write. I see that it makes you sad, my
dear, but it cannot be helped."
"I am sad, because I cannot learn writing in a week."
"I undertake," said her uncle, "to teach you in a fortnight, if you will
only practice diligently. You will then know enough to be able to
improve by your own exertions."
"It is a great undertaking, but I accept it; I promise you to work night
and day, and to begin to-morrow."
After dinner, I advised the priest not to leave that evening, to rest
during the night, and I observed that, by going away before day-break,
he would reach P---- in good time, and feel all the better for it. I
made the same proposal to him in the evening, and when he saw that his
niece was sleepy, he was easily persuaded to remain. I called for the
innkeeper, ordered a carriage for the clergyman, and desired that a fire
might be lit for me in the next room where I would sleep, but the good
priest said that it was unnecessary, because there were two large beds
in our room, that one would be for me and the other for him and his
niece.
"We need not undress," he added, "as we mean to leave very early, but
you can take off your clothes, sir, because you are not going with us,
and you will like to remain in bed to-morrow morning."
"Oh!" remarked Christine, "I must undress myself, otherwise I could not
sleep, but I only want a few minutes to get ready in the morning."
I said nothing, but I was amazed. Christine then, lovely and charming
enough to wreck the chastity of a Xenocrates, would sleep naked with her
uncle! True, he was old, devout, and without any of the ideas which
might render such a position dangerous, yet the priest was a man, he had
evidently felt like all men, and he ought to have known the danger he
was exposing himself to. My carnal-mindedness could not realize such a
state of innocence. But it was truly innocent, so much so that he did it
openly, and did not suppose that anyone could see anything wrong in it.
I saw it all plainly, but I was not accustomed to such things, and felt
lost in wonderment. As I advanced in age and in experience, I have seen
the same custom established in many countries amongst honest people
whose good morals were in no way debased by it, but it was amongst good
people, and I do not pretend to belong to that worthy class.
We had had no meat for dinner, and my delicate palate was not over-
satisfied. I went down to the kitchen myself, and I told the landlady
that I wanted the best that could be procured in Treviso for supper,
particularly in wines.
"If you do not mind the expense, sir, trust to me, and I undertake to
please you. I will give you some Gatta wine."
"All right, but let us have supper early."
When I returned to our room, I found Christine caressing the cheeks of
her old uncle, who was laughing; the good man was seventy-five years
old.
"Do you know what is the matter?" he said to me; "my niece is caressing
me because she wants me to leave her here until my return. She tells me
that you were like brother and sister during the hour you have spent
alone together this morning, and I believe it, but she does not consider
that she would be a great trouble to you."
"Not at all, quite the reverse, she will afford me great pleasure, for I
think her very charming. As to our mutual behaviour, I believe you can
trust us both to do our duty."
"I have no doubt of it. Well, I will leave her under your care until the
day after to-morrow. I will come back early in the morning so as to
attend to your business."
This extraordinary and unexpected arrangement caused the blood to rush
to my head with such violence that my nose bled profusely for a quarter
of an hour. It did not frighten me, because I was used to such
accidents, but the good priest was in a great fright, thinking that it
was a serious haemorrhage.
When I had allayed his anxiety, he left us on some business of his own,
saying that he would return at night-fall. I remained alone with the
charming, artless Christine, and lost no time in thanking her for the
confidence she placed in me.
"I can assure you," she said, "that I wish you to have a thorough
knowledge of me; you will see that I have none of the faults which have
displeased you so much in the young ladies you have known in Venice, and
I promise to learn writing immediately."
"You are charming and true; but you must be discreet in P----, and
confide to no one that we have entered into an agreement with each
other. You must act according to your uncle's instructions, for it is to
him that I intend to write to make all arrangements."
"You may rely upon my discretion. I will not say anything even to my
mother, until you give me permission to do so."
I passed the afternoon, in denying myself even the slightest liberties
with my lovely companion, but falling every minute deeper in love with
her. I told her a few love stories which I veiled sufficiently not to
shock her modesty. She felt interested, and I could see that, although
she did not always understand, she pretended to do so, in order not to
appear ignorant.
When her uncle returned, I had arranged everything in my mind to make
her my wife, and I resolved on placing her, during her stay in Venice,
in the house of the same honest widow with whom I had found a lodging
for my beautiful Countess A---- S----.
We had a delicious supper. I had to teach Christine how to eat oysters
and truffles, which she then saw for the first time. Gatta wine is like
champagne, it causes merriment without intoxicating, but it cannot be
kept for more than one year. We went to bed before midnight, and it was
broad daylight when I awoke. The curate had left the room so quietly
that I had not heard him.
I looked towards the other bed, Christine was asleep. I wished her good
morning, she opened her eyes, and leaning on her elbow, she smiled
sweetly.
"My uncle has gone. I did not hear him."
"Dearest Christine, you are as lovely as one of God's angels. I have a
great longing to give you a kiss."
"If you long for a kiss, my dear friend, come and give me one."
I jump out of my bed, decency makes her hide her face. It was cold, and
I was in love. I find myself in her arms by one of those spontaneous
movements which sentiment alone can cause, and we belong to each other
without having thought of it, she happy and rather confused, I
delighted, yet unable to realize the truth of a victory won without any
contest.
An hour passed in the midst of happiness, during which we forgot the
whole world. Calm followed the stormy gusts of passionate love, and we
gazed at each other without speaking.
Christine was the first to break the silence
"What have we done?" she said, softly and lovingly.
"We have become husband and wife."
"What will my uncle say to-morrow?"
"He need not know anything about it until he gives us the nuptial
benediction in his own church."
"And when will he do so?"
"As soon as we have completed all the arrangements necessary for a
public marriage."
"How long will that be?"
"About a month."
"We cannot be married during Lent."
"I will obtain permission."
"You are not deceiving me?"
"No, for I adore you."
"Then, you no longer want to know me better?"
"No; I know you thoroughly now, and I feel certain that you will make me
happy."
"And will you make me happy, too?"
"I hope so."
"Let us get up and go to church. Who could have believed that, to get a
husband, it was necessary not to go to Venice, but to come back from
that city!"
We got up, and, after partaking of some breakfast, we went to hear mass.
The morning passed off quickly, but towards dinner-time I thought that
Christine looked different to what she did the day before, and I asked
her the reason of that change.
"It must be," she said, "the same reason which causes you to be
thoughtful."
"An air of thoughtfulness, my dear, is proper to love when it finds
itself in consultation with honour. This affair has become serious, and
love is now compelled to think and consider. We want to be married in
the church, and we cannot do it before Lent, now that we are in the last
days of carnival; yet we cannot wait until Easter, it would be too long.
We must therefore obtain a dispensation in order to be married. Have I
not reason to be thoughtful?"
Her only answer was to come and kiss me tenderly. I had spoken the
truth, yet I had not told her all my reasons for being so pensive. I
found myself drawn into an engagement which was not disagreeable to me,
but I wished it had not been so very pressing. I could not conceal from
myself that repentance was beginning to creep into my amorous and well-
disposed mind, and I was grieved at it. I felt certain, however, that
the charming girl would never have any cause to reproach me for her
misery.
We had the whole evening before us, and as she had told me that she had
never gone to a theatre, I resolved on affording her that pleasure. I
sent for a Jew from whom I procured everything necessary to disguise
her, and we went to the theatre. A man in love enjoys no pleasure but
that which he gives to the woman he loves. After the performance was
over, I took her to the Casino, and her astonishment made me laugh when
she saw for the first time a faro bank. I had not money enough to play
myself, but I had more than enough to amuse her and to let her play a
reasonable game. I gave her ten sequins, and explained what she had to
do. She did not even know the cards, yet in less than an hour she had
won one hundred sequins. I made her leave off playing, and we returned
to the inn. When we were in our room, I told her to see how much money
she had, and when I assured her that all that gold belonged to her, she
thought it was a dream.
"Oh! what will my uncle say?" she exclaimed.
We had a light supper, and spent a delightful night, taking good care to
part by day-break, so as not to be caught in the same bed by the worthy
ecclesiastic. He arrived early and found us sleeping soundly in our
respective beds. He woke me, and I gave him the ring which he went to
pledge immediately. When he returned two hours later, he saw us dressed
and talking quietly near the fire. As soon as he came in, Christine
rushed to embrace him, and she shewed him all the gold she had in her
possession. What a pleasant surprise for the good old priest! He did not
know how to express his wonder! He thanked God for what he called a
miracle, and he concluded by saying that we were made to insure each
other's happiness.
The time to part had come. I promised to pay them a visit in the first
days of Lent, but on condition that on my arrival in P---- I would not
find anyone informed of my name or of my concerns. The curate gave me
the certificate of birth of his niece and the account of her
possessions. As soon as they had gone I took my departure for Venice,
full of love for the charming girl, and determined on keeping my
engagement with her. I knew how easy it would be for me to convince my
three friends that my marriage had been irrevocably written in the great
book of fate.
My return caused the greatest joy to the three excellent men, because,
not being accustomed to see me three days absent, M. Dandolo and M.
Barbaro were afraid of some accident having befallen me; but M. de
Bragadin's faith was stronger, and he allayed their fears, saying to
them that, with Paralis watching over me, I could not be in any danger.
The very next day I resolved on insuring Christine's happiness without
making her my wife. I had thought of marrying her when I loved her
better than myself, but after obtaining possession the balance was so
much on my side that my self-love proved stronger than my love for
Christine. I could not make up my mind to renounce the advantages, the
hopes which I thought were attached to my happy independence. Yet I was
the slave of sentiment. To abandon the artless, innocent girl seemed to
me an awful crime of which I could not be guilty, and the mere idea of
it made me shudder. I was aware that she was, perhaps, bearing in her
womb a living token of our mutual love, and I shivered at the bare
possibility that her confidence in me might be repaid by shame and
everlasting misery.
I bethought myself of finding her a husband in every way better than
myself; a husband so good that she would not only forgive me for the
insult I should thus be guilty of towards her, but also thank me at the
end, and like me all the better for my deceit.
To find such a husband could not be very difficult, for Christine was
not only blessed with wonderful beauty, and with a well-established
reputation for virtue, but she was also the possessor of a fortune
amounting to four thousand Venetian ducats.
Shut up in a room with the three worshippers of my oracle, I consulted
Paralis upon the affair which I had so much at heart. The answer was:
"Serenus must attend to it."
Serenus was the cabalistic name of M. de Bragadin, and the excellent man
immediately expressed himself ready to execute all the orders of
Paralis. It was my duty to inform him of those orders.
"You must," I said to him, "obtain from the Holy Father a dispensation
for a worthy and virtuous girl, so as to give her the privilege of
marrying during Lent in the church of her village; she is a young
country girl. Here is her certificate of birth. The husband is not yet
known; but it does not matter, Paralis undertakes to find one."
"Trust to me," said my father, "I will write at once to our ambassador
in Rome, and I will contrive to have my letter sent by special express.
You need not be anxious, leave it all to me, I will make it a business
of state, and I must obey Paralis all the more readily that I foresee
that the intended husband is one of us four. Indeed, we must prepare
ourselves to obey."
I had some trouble in keeping my laughter down, for it was in my power
to metamorphose Christine into a grand Venetian lady, the wife of a
senator; but that was not my intention. I again consulted the oracle in
order to ascertain who would be the husband of the young girl, and the
answer was that M. Dandolo was entrusted with the care of finding one,
young, handsome, virtuous, and able to serve the Republic, either at
home or abroad. M. Dandolo was to consult me before concluding any
arrangements. I gave him courage for his task by informing him that the
girl had a dowry of four thousand ducats, but I added that his choice
was to be made within a fortnight. M. de Bragadin, delighted at not
being entrusted with the commission, laughed heartily.
Those arrangements made me feel at peace with myself. I was certain that
the husband I wanted would be found, and I only thought of finishing the
carnival gaily, and of contriving to find my purse ready for a case of
emergency.
Fortune soon rendered me possessor of a thousand sequins. I paid my
debts, and the licence for the marriage having arrived from Rome ten
days after M. de Bragadin had applied for it, I gave him one hundred
ducats, that being the sum it had cost. The dispensation gave Christine
the right of being married in any church in Christendom, she would only
have to obtain the seal of the episcopal court of the diocese in which
the marriage was to take place, and no publication of banns was
required. We wanted, therefore, but one thing--a trifling one, namely,
the husband. M. Dandolo had already proposed three or four to me, but I
had refused them for excellent reasons. At last he offered one who
suited me exactly.
I had to take the diamond ring out of pledge, and not wishing to do it
myself, I wrote to the priest making an appointment in Treviso. I was
not, of course, surprised when I found that he was accompanied by his
lovely niece, who, thinking that I had come to complete all arrangements
for our marriage, embraced me without ceremony, and I did the same. If
the uncle had not been present, I am afraid that those kisses would have
caused all my heroism to vanish. I gave the curate the dispensation, and
the handsome features of Christine shone with joy. She certainly could
not imagine that I had been working so actively for others, and, as I
was not yet certain of anything, I did not undeceive her then. I
promised to be in P---- within eight or ten days, when we would complete
all necessary arrangements. After dinner, I gave the curate the ticket
for the ring and the money to take it out of pledge, and we retired to
rest. This time, very fortunately, there was but one bed in the room,
and I had to take another chamber for myself.
The next morning, I went into Christine's room, and found her in bed.
Her uncle had gone out for my diamond ring, and alone with that lovely
girl, I found that I had, when necessary, complete control over my
passions. Thinking that she was not to be my wife, and that she would
belong to another, I considered it my duty to silence my desires. I
kissed her, but nothing more.
I spent one hour with her, fighting like Saint Anthony against the
carnal desires of my nature. I could see the charming girl full of love
and of wonder at my reserve, and I admired her virtue in the natural
modesty which prevented her from making the first advances. She got out
of bed and dressed herself without shewing any disappointment. She
would, of course, have felt mortified if she had had the slightest idea
that I despised her, or that I did not value her charms.
Her uncle returned, gave me the ring, and we had dinner, after which he
treated me to a wonderful exhibition. Christine had learned how to
write, and, to give me a proof of her talent, she wrote very fluently
and very prettily in my presence.
We parted, after my promising to come back again within ten days, and I
returned to Venice.
On the second Sunday in Lent, M. Dandolo told me with an air of triumph
that the fortunate husband had been found, and that there was no doubt
of my approval of the new candidate. He named Charles---- whom I knew by
sight--very handsome young man, of irreproachable conduct, and about
twenty-two years of age. He was clerk to M. Ragionato and god-son of
Count Algarotti, a sister of whom had married M. Dandolo's brother.
"Charles," said M. Dandolo to me, "has lost his father and his mother,
and I feel satisfied that his godfather will guarantee the dowry brought
by his wife. I have spoken to him, and I believe him disposed to marry
an honest girl whose dowry would enable him to purchase M. Ragionato's
office."
"It seems to promise very well, but I cannot decide until I have seen
him."
"I have invited him to dine with us to-morrow."
The young man came, and I found him worthy of all M. Dandolo's praise.
We became friends at once; he had some taste for poetry, I read some of
my productions to him, and having paid him a visit the following day, he
shewed me several pieces of his own composition which were well written.
He introduced me to his aunt, in whose house he lived with his sister,
and I was much pleased with their friendly welcome. Being alone with him
in his room, I asked him what he thought of love.
"I do not care for love," he answered: "but I should like to get married
in order to have a house of my own."
When I returned to the palace, I told M. Dandolo that he might open the
affair with Count Algarotti, and the count mentioned it to Charles, who
said that he could not give any answer, either one way or the other,
until he should have seen the young girl, talked with her, and enquired
about her reputation. As for Count Algarotti, he was ready to be
answerable for his god-son, that is to guarantee four thousand ducats to
the wife, provided her dowry was worth that amount. Those were only the
preliminaries; the rest belonged to my province.
Dandolo having informed Charles that the matter was entirely in my
hands, he called on me and enquired when I would be kind enough to
introduce him to the young person. I named the day, adding that it was
necessary to devote a whole day to the visit, as she resided at a
distance of twenty miles from Venice, that we would dine with her and
return the same evening. He promised to be ready for me by day-break. I
immediately sent an express to the curate to inform him of the day on
which I would call with a friend of mine whom I wished to introduce to
his niece.
On the appointed day, Charles was punctual. I took care to let him know
along the road that I had made the acquaintance of the young girl and of
her uncle as travelling companions from Venice to Mestra about one month
before, and that I would have offered myself as a husband, if I had been
in a position to guarantee the dowry of four thousand ducats. I did not
think it necessary to go any further in my confidences.
We arrived at the good priest's house two hours before mid-day, and soon
after our arrival, Christine came in with an air of great ease,
expressing all her pleasure at seeing me. She only bowed to Charles,
enquiring from me whether he was likewise a clerk.
Charles answered that he was clerk at Ragionato.
She pretended to understand, in order not to appear ignorant.
"I want you to look at my writing," she said to me, "and afterwards we
will go and see my mother."
Delighted at the praise bestowed upon her writing by Charles, when he
heard that she had learned only one month, she invited us to follow her.
Charles asked her why she had waited until the age of nineteen to study
writing.
"Well, sir, what does it matter to you? Besides, I must tell you that I
am seventeen, and not nineteen years of age."
Charles entreated her to excuse him, smiling at the quickness of her
answer.
She was dressed like a simple country girl, yet very neatly, and she
wore her handsome gold chains round her neck and on her arms. I told her
to take my arm and that of Charles, which she did, casting towards me a
look of loving obedience. We went to her mother's house; the good woman
was compelled to keep her bed owing to sciatica. As we entered the room,
a respectable-looking man, who was seated near the patient, rose at the
sight of Charles, and embraced him affectionately. I heard that he was
the family physician, and the circumstance pleased me much.
After we had paid our compliments to the good woman, the doctor enquired
after Charles's aunt and sister; and alluding to the sister who was
suffering from a secret disease, Charles desired to say a few words to
him in private; they left the room together. Being alone with the mother
and Christine, I praised Charles, his excellent conduct, his high
character, his business abilities, and extolled the happiness of the
woman who would be his wife. They both confirmed my praises by saying
that everything I said of him could be read on his features. I had no
time to lose, so I told Christine to be on her guard during dinner, as
Charles might possibly be the husband whom God had intended for her.
"For me?"
"Yes, for you. Charles is one of a thousand; you would be much happier
with him than you could be with me; the doctor knows him, and you could
ascertain from him everything which I cannot find time to tell you now
about my friend."
The reader can imagine all I suffered in making this declaration, and my
surprise when I saw the young girl calm and perfectly composed! Her
composure dried the tears already gathering in my eyes. After a short
silence, she asked me whether I was certain that such a handsome young
man would have her. That question gave me an insight into Christine's
heart and feelings, and quieted all my sorrow, for I saw that I had not
known her well. I answered that, beautiful as she was, there was no
doubt of her being loved by everybody.
"It will be at dinner, my dear Christine, that my friend will examine
and study you; do not fail to shew all the charms and qualities with
which God has endowed you, but do not let him suspect our intimacy."
"It is all very strange. Is my uncle informed of this wonderful change?"
"No."
"If your friend should feel pleased with me, when would he marry me?"
"Within ten days. I will take care of everything, and you will see me
again in the course of the week:"
Charles came back with the doctor, and Christine, leaving her mother's
bedside, took a chair opposite to us. She answered very sensibly all the
questions addressed to her by Charles, often exciting his mirth by her
artlessness, but not shewing any silliness.
Oh! charming simplicity! offspring of wit and of ignorance! thy charm is
delightful, and thou alone hast the privilege of saying anything without
ever giving offence! But how unpleasant thou art when thou art not
natural! and thou art the masterpiece of art when thou art imitated with
perfection!
We dined rather late, and I took care not to speak to Christine, not
even to look at her, so as not to engross her attention, which she
devoted entirely to Charles, and I was delighted to see with what ease
and interest she kept up the conversation. After dinner, and as we were
taking leave, I heard the following words uttered by Charles, which went
to my very heart:
"You are made, lovely Christine, to minister to the happiness of a
prince."
And Christine? This was her answer:
"I should esteem myself fortunate, sir, if you should judge me worthy of
ministering to yours."
These words excited Charles so much that he embraced me!
Christine was simple, but her artlessness did not come from her mind,
only from her heart. The simplicity of mind is nothing but silliness,
that of the heart is only ignorance and innocence; it is a quality which
subsists even when the cause has ceased to be. This young girl, almost a
child of nature, was simple in her manners, but graceful in a thousand
trifling ways which cannot be described. She was sincere, because she
did not know that to conceal some of our impressions is one of the
precepts of propriety, and as her intentions were pure, she was a
stranger to that false shame and mock modesty which cause pretended
innocence to blush at a word, or at a movement said or made very often
without any wicked purpose.
During our journey back to Venice Charles spoke of nothing but of his
happiness. He had decidedly fallen in love.
"I will call to-morrow morning upon Count Algarotti," he said to me,
"and you may write to the priest to come with all the necessary
documents to make the contract of marriage which I long to sign."
His delight and his surprise were intense when I told him that my
wedding present to Christine was a dispensation from the Pope for her to
be married in Lent.
"Then," he exclaimed, "we must go full speed ahead!"
In the conference which was held the next day between my young
substitute, his god-father, and M. Dandolo, it was decided that the
parson should be invited to come with his niece. I undertook to carry
the message, and leaving Venice two hours before morning I reached P----
early. The priest said he would be ready to start immediately after
mass. I then called on Christine, and I treated her to a fatherly and
sentimental sermon, every word of which was intended to point out to her
the true road to happiness in the new condition which she was on the
point of adopting. I told her how she ought to behave towards her
husband, towards his aunt and his sister, in order to captivate their
esteem and their love. The last part of my discourse was pathetic and
rather disparaging to myself, for, as I enforced upon her the necessity
of being faithful to her husband, I was necessarily led to entreat her
pardon for having seduced her. "When you promised to marry me, after we
had both been weak enough to give way to our love, did you intend to
deceive me?""Certainly not." |
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