the memories of casanova 136
Tonine was naturally quick-witted, but she did not know either how to
read or to write. She was enchanted to see herself become rich (for she
thought herself so) without a soul at Muran being able to breathe a word
against her honour. I passed three weeks in the company of this
delightful girl--weeks which I still reckon among the happiest of my
life; and what embitters my old age is that, having a heart as warm as
ever, I have no longer the strength necessary to secure a single day as
blissful as those which I owed to this charming girl.
Towards the end of April I saw M. M. at the grating, looking thin and
much changed, but out of danger. I therefore returned to Venice. In my
interview, calling my attachment and tender feelings to my aid, I
succeeded in behaving myself in such wise that she could not possibly
detect the change which a new love had worked in my heart. I shall be, I
trust, easily believed when I say that I was not imprudent enough to let
her suspect that I had given up the idea of escaping with her, upon
which she counted more than ever. I was afraid lest she should fall ill
again, if I took this hope away from her. I kept my casino, which cost
me little, and as I went to see M. M. twice a week I slept there on
those occasions, and made love with my dashing Tonine.
Having kept my word with my friends by dining with them on St. Mark's
Day, I went with Dr. Righelini to the parlour of the Vierges to see the
taking of the veil.
The Convent of the Vierges is within the jurisdiction of the Doge, whom
the nuns style "Most Serene Father." They all belong to the first
families in Venice.
While I was praising the beauty of Mother M---- E---- to Dr. Righelini,
he whispered to me that he could get her me for a money payment, if I
were curious in the matter. A hundred sequins for her and ten sequins
for the go-between was the price fixed on. He assured me that Murray had
had her, and could have her again. Seeing my surprise, he added that
there was not a nun whom one could not have by paying for her: that
Murray had the courage to disburse five hundred sequins for a nun of
Muran--a rare beauty, who was afterwards the mistress of the French
ambassador.
Though my passion for M---- M---- was on the wane, I felt my heart
gripped as by a hand of ice, and it was with the greatest difficulty
that I made no sign. Notwithstanding, I took the story for an atrocious
calumny, but yet the matter was too near my heart for me to delay in
bringing it to light at the earliest opportunity. I therefore replied to
Righelini in the calmest manner possible, that one or two nuns might be
had for money, but that it could happen very rarely on account of the
difficulties in most convents.
"As for the nun of Muran, justly famous for her beauty, if she be M----
M----, nun of the convent..., I not only disbelieve that Murray ever had
her, but I am sure she was never the French ambassador's mistress. If he
knew her it could only have been at the grating, where I really cannot
say what happens."
Righelini, who was an honourable and spirited man, answered me coldly
that the English ambassador was a man of his word, and that he had the
story from his own lips.
"If Mr. Murray," he continued, "had not told it me under the seal of
secrecy I would make him tell it you himself. I shall be obliged if you
will take care that he never knows I told you of it."
"You may rely on my discretion."
The same evening, supping at Murray's casino with Righelini, having the
matter at heart, and seeing before me the two men who could clear up
everything to my satisfaction, I began to speak with enthusiasm of the
beauty of M---- E----, whom I had seen at the Vierges.
Here the ambassador struck in, taking the ball on the hop:
"Between friends," said he, "you can get yourself the enjoyment of those
charms, if you are willing to sacrifice a sum of money--not too much,
either, but you must have the key."
"Do you think you have it?"
"No, I am sure; and had less trouble than you might suppose."
"If you are sure; I congratulate you, and doubt no more. I envy your
fortune, for I don't believe a more perfect beauty could be found in all
the convents of Venice."
"There you are wrong. Mother M---- M----, at---- in Muran, is certainly
handsomer."
"I have heard her talked of and I have seen her once, but I do not think
it possible that she can be procured for money."
"I think so," said he, laughing, "and when I think I mostly have good
reasons."
"You surprise me; but all the same I don't mind betting you are
deceived."
"You would lose. As you have only seen her once, I suppose you would not
recognize her portrait?"
"I should, indeed, as her face left a strong impression on my mind."
"Wait a minute."
He got up from the table, went out, and returned a minute after with a
box containing eight or ten miniatures, all in the same style, namely,
with hair in disorder and bare necks.
"These," said I, "are rare charms, with which you have doubtless a near
acquaintance?"
"Yes, and if you recognize any of them be discreet."
"You need not be afraid. Here are three I recognize, and this looks like
M---- M----; but confess that you may have been deceived--at least, that
you did not have her in the convent or here, for there are women like
her."
"Why do you think I have been deceived? I have had her here in her
religious habit, and I have spent a whole night with her; and it was to
her individually that I sent a purse containing five hundred sequins. I
gave fifty to the good procurer."
"You have, I suppose, visited her in the parlour, after having her
here?"
"No, never, as she was afraid her titular lover might hear of it. You
know that was the French ambassador."
"But she only saw him in the parlour."
"She used to go to his house in secular dress whenever he wanted her. I
was told that by the man who brought her here."
"Have you had her several times?"
"Only once and that was enough, but I can have her whenever I like for a
hundred sequins."
"All that may be the truth, but I would wager five hundred sequins that
you have been deceived."
"You shall have your answer in three days."
I was perfectly certain, I repeat, that the whole affair was a piece of
knavery; but it was necessary to have it proved, and I shuddered when
the thought came into my head that after all it might be a true story.
In this case I should have been freed from a good many obligations, but
I was strongly persuaded of her innocence. At all events, if I were to
find her guilty (which was amongst possible occurrences), I resigned
myself to lose five hundred sequins as the price of this horrible
discovery and addition to my experience of life. I was full of restless
anguish--the worst, perhaps, of the torments of the mind. If the honest
Englishman had been the victim of a mystification, or rather knavery, my
regard for M---- M----'s honour compelled me to find a way to undeceive
him without compromising her; and such was my plan, and thus fortune
favoured me. Three or four days after, Mr. Murray told the doctor that
he wished to see me. We went to him, and he greeted me thus:
"I have won; for a hundred sequins I can have the fair nun!
"Alas!" said I, "there go my five hundred sequins."
"No, not five hundred, my dear fellow, for I should be ashamed to win so
much of you, but the hundred she would cost me. If I win, you shall pay
for my pleasure, and if I lose I shall give her nothing."
"How is the problem to be solved?" "My Mercury tells me that we must
wait for a day when masks are worn. He is endeavouring at present to
find out a way to convince both of us; for otherwise neither you nor I
would feel compelled to pay the wager, and if I really have M. M. my
honour would not allow me to let her suspect that I had betrayed the
secret."
"No, that would be an unpardonable crime. Hear my plan, which will
satisfy us both; for after it has been carried out each of us will be
sure that he has fairly won or fairly lost.
"As soon as you have possessed yourself of the real or pretended nun,
leave her on some pretext, and meet me in a place to be agreed upon. We
will then go together to the convent, and I will ask for M. M.
"Will seeing her and speaking to her convince you that the woman you
have left at home is a mere impostor?"
"Perfectly, and I shall pay my wager with the greatest willingness."
"I may say the same. If, when I summon M. M. to the parlour, the lay-
sister tells us she is ill or busy, we will go, and the wager will be
yours; you will sup with the fair, and I will go elsewhere."
"So be it; but since all this will be at nighttime, it is possible that
when you ask for her, the sister will tell you that no one can be seen at such an hour."
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