the memories of casanova 117

the memories of casanova 117

On St. Catherine's Day, the patroness of my dear C---- C----, I

bethought myself of affording that lovely prisoner the pleasure of

seeing me. As I was leaving the church after mass, and just as I was

going to take a gondola, I observed that a man was following me. It

looked suspicious, and I determined to ascertain whether I was right.

The man took a gondola and followed mine. It might have been purely

accidental; but, keeping on my guard for fear of surprise, I alighted in

Venice at the Morosini Palace; the fellow alighted at the same place;

his intentions were evident. I left the palace, and turning towards the

Flanders Gate I stopped in a narrow street, took my knife in my hand,

waited for the spy, seized him by the collar, and pushing him against

the wall with the knife at his throat I commanded him to tell me what

business he had with me. Trembling all over he would have confessed

everything, but unluckily someone entered the street. The spy escaped

and I was no wiser, but I had no doubt that for the future that fellow

at least would keep at a respectful distance. It shewed me how easy it

would be for an obstinate spy to discover my identity, and I made up my

mind never to go to Muran but with a mask, or at night.

 

The next day I had to see my beautiful nun in order to ascertain which

day she would sup with me in Venice, and I went early to the convent.

She did not keep me waiting, and her face was radiant with joy. She

complimented me upon my having resumed my attendance at their church;

all the nuns had been delighted to see me again after an absence of

three weeks.

 

"The abbess," she said, "told me how glad she was to see you, and that

she was certain to find out who you are."

 

I then related to her the adventure of the spy, and we both thought that

it was most likely the means taken by the sainted woman to gratify her

curiosity about me.

 

"I have resolved not to attend your church any more."

 

"That will be a great deprivation to me, but in our common interest I

can but approve your resolution."

 

She related the affair of the treacherous crack in the partition, and

added,

 

"It is already repaired, and there is no longer any fear in that

quarter. I heard of it from a young boarder whom I love dearly, and who

is much attached to me. I am not curious to know her name, and she has

never mentioned it to me."

 

"Now, darling angel, tell me whether my happiness will be postponed."

 

"Yes, but only for twenty-four hours; the new professed sister has

invited me to supper in her room, and you must understand I cannot

invent any plausible excuse for refusing her invitation."

 

"You would not, then, tell her in confidence the very legitimate

obstacle which makes me wish that the new sisters never take supper?"

 

"Certainly not: we never trust anyone so far in a convent. Besides,

dearest, such an invitation cannot be declined unless I wish to gain a

most bitter enemy."

 

"Could you not say that you are ill?"

 

"Yes; but then the visits!"

 

"I understand; if you should refuse, the escape might be suspected."

 

"The escape! impossible; here no one admits the possibility of breaking

out of the convent."

 

"Then you are the only one able to perform that miracle?"

 

"You may be sure of that; but, as is always the case, it is gold which

performs that miracle."

 

"And many others, perhaps."

 

"Oh! the time has gone by for them! But tell me, my love, where will you

wait for me to-morrow, two hours after the setting of the sun?"

 

"Could I not wait for you at your casino?"

 

"No, because my lover will take me himself to Venice."

 

"Your lover?"

 

"Yes, himself."

 

"It is not possible."

 

"Yet it is true."

 

"I can wait for you in St. John and St. Paul's Square behind the

pedestal of the statue of Bartholomew of Bergamo."

 

"I have never seen either the square or the statue except in engravings;

it is enough, however, and I will not fail. Nothing but very stormy

weather could prevent me from coming to a rendezvous for which my heart

is panting."

 

"And if the weather were bad?"

 

"Then, dearest, there would be nothing lost; and you would come here

again in order to appoint another day."

 

I had no time to lose, for I had no casino. I took a second rower so as

to reach St. Mark's Square more rapidly, and I immediately set to work

looking for what I wanted. When a mortal is so lucky as to be in the

good graces of the god Plutus, and is not crackbrained, he is pretty

sure to succeed in everything: I had not to search very long before I

found a casino suiting my purpose exactly. It was the finest in the

neighbourhood of Venice, but, as a natural consequence, it was likewise

the most expensive. It had belonged to the English ambassador, who had

sold it cheap to his cook before leaving Venice. The owner let it to me

until Easter for one hundred sequins, which I paid in advance on

condition that he would himself cook the dinners and the suppers I might

order.

 

I had five rooms furnished in the most elegant style, and everything

seemed to be calculated for love, pleasure, and good cheer. The service

of the dining-room was made through a sham window in the wall, provided

with a dumb-waiter revolving upon itself, and fitting the window so

exactly that master and servants could not see each other. The drawing-

room was decorated with magnificent looking-glasses, crystal

chandeliers, girandoles in gilt, bronze, and with a splendid pier-glass

placed on a chimney of white marble; the walls were covered with small

squares of real china, representing little Cupids and naked amorous

couples in all sorts of positions, well calculated to excite the

imagination; elegant and very comfortable sofas were placed on every

side. Next to it was an octagonal room, the walls, the ceiling, and the

floor of which were entirely covered with splendid Venetian glass,

arranged in such a manner as to reflect on all sides every position of

the amorous couple enjoying the pleasures of love. Close by was a

beautiful alcove with two secret outlets; on the right, an elegant

dressing-room, on the left, a boudoir which seemed to have been arranged

by the mother of Love, with a bath in Carrara marble. Everywhere the

wainscots were embossed in ormolu or painted with flowers and

arabesques.

 

After I had given my orders for all the chandeliers to be filled with

wax candles, and the finest linen to be provided wherever necessary, I

ordered a most delicate and sumptuous supper for two, without regard to

expense, and especially the most exquisite wines. I then took possession

of the key of the principal entrance, and warned the master that I did

not want to be seen by anyone when I came in or went out.

 

I observed with pleasure that the clock in the alcove had an alarum, for

I was beginning, in spite of love, to be easily influenced by the power

of sleep.

 

Everything being arranged according to my wishes, I went, as a careful

and delicate lover, to purchase the finest slippers I could find, and a

cap in Alencon point.

 

I trust my reader does not think me too particular; let him recollect

that I was to receive the most accomplished of the sultanas of the

master of the universe, and I told that fourth Grace that I had a

casino. Was I to begin by giving her a bad idea of my truthfulness? At

the appointed time, that is two hours after sunset, I repaired to my

palace; and it would be difficult to imagine the surprise of his honour

the French cook, when he saw me arrive alone. Not finding all the

chandeliers lighted-up as I had ordered, I scolded him well, giving him

notice that I did not like to repeat an order.

 

"I shall not fail; sir, another time, to execute your commands."

 

"Let the supper be served."

 

"Your honour ordered it for two."

 

"Yes, for two; and, this time, be present during my supper, so that I

can tell you which dishes I find good or bad."

 

The supper came through the revolving: dumb-waiter in very good order,

two dishes at a tune. I passed some remarks upon everything; but, to

tell the truth, everything was excellent: game, fish, oysters, truffles,

wine, dessert, and the whole served in very fine Dresden china and

silver-gilt plate.

 

I told him that he had forgotten hard eggs, anchovies, and prepared

vinegar to dress a salad. He lifted his eyes towards heaven, as if to

plead guilty, to a very heinous crime.

 

After a supper which lasted two hours, and during which I must certainly

have won the admiration of my host, I asked him to bring me the bill. He

presented it to me shortly afterwards, and I found it reasonable. I then

dismissed him, and lay down in the splendid bed in the alcove; my

excellent supper brought on very soon the most delicious sleep which,

without the Burgundy and the Champagne, might very likely not have

visited me, if I had thought that the following night would see me in

the same place, and in possession of a lovely divinity. It was broad

day-light when I awoke, and after ordering the finest fruit and some

ices for the evening I left the casino. In order to shorten a day which

my impatient desires would have caused me to find very long, I went to

the faro-table, and I saw with pleasure that I was as great a favourite

with fortune as with love. Everything proceeded according to my wishes,

and I delighted in ascribing my happy success to the influence of my

nun.

 

I was at the place of meeting one hour before the time appointed, and

although the night was cold I did not feel it. Precisely as the hour

struck I saw a two-oared gondola reach the shore and a mask come out of

it, speak a few words to the gondolier, and take the direction of the

statue. My heart was beating quickly, but seeing that it was a man I

avoided him, and regretted not having brought my pistols. The mask,

however, turning round the statue, came up to me with outstretched

hands; I then recognized my angel, who was amused at my surprise and

took my arm. Without speaking we went towards St. Mark's Square, and

reached my casino, which was only one hundred yards from the St. Moses

Theatre.

 

I found everything in good order; we went upstairs and I threw off my

mask and my disguise; but M---- M---- took delight in walking about the

rooms and in examining every nook of the charming place in which she was

received. Highly gratified to see me admire the grace of her person, she

wanted me likewise to admire in her attire the taste and generosity of

her lover. She was surprised at the almost magic spell which, although

she remained motionless, shewed her lovely person in a thousand

different manners. Her multiplied portraits, reproduced by the looking-

glasses, and the numerous wax candles disposed to that effect, offered

to her sight a spectacle entirely new to her, and from which she could not withdraw her eyes.