the memories of casanova 140

the memories of casanova 140

"I am charmed with the sense of your arguments; speak about it to your

mother."

 

"I daren't, sweetheart; this kind of thing is too delicate to be

discussed between a mother and her daughter speak to her yourself."

 

"I will, indeed."

 

Laura, whom I had not seen since she had given me her daughter, asked

for no time to think it over, but full of glee told me that now her

daughter would be able to soothe her declining years, and that she would

leave Muran of which she was tired. She shewed me a hundred and thirty

sequins which Tonine had gained in my service, and which she had placed

in her hands.

 

Barberine, Tonine's younger sister, came to kiss my hand. I thought her

charming, and I gave her all the silver in my pocket. I then left,

telling Laura that I should expect her at my house. She soon followed

me, and gave her child a mother's blessing, telling her that she and her

family could go and live in Venice for sixty sous a day. Tonine embraced

her, and told her that she should have it.

 

This important affair having been managed to everybody's satisfaction, I

went to see M---- M----, who came into the parlour with C---- C----,

whom I found looking sad, though prettier than ever. She was melancholy,

but none the less tender. She could not stay for more than a quarter of

an hour for fear of being seen, as she was forbidden ever to go into the

parlour. I told M. M. the story of Tonine, who was going to live with

Murray in Venice; she was sorry to hear it, "for," said she, "now that

you have no longer any attraction at Muran, I shall see you less than

ever." I promised to come and see her often, but vain promises! The time

was near which parted us for ever.

 

The same evening I went to tell the good news to my friend Murray. He

was in a transport of joy, and begged me to come and sup with him at his

casino the day after next, and to bring the girl with me, that the

surrender might be made in form. I did not fail him, for once the matter

was decided, I longed to bring it to an end. In my presence he assigned

to her the yearly income for her life of two hundred Venetian ducats,

and by a second deed he gave her all the contents of the house with

which he was going to provide her, provided always that she lived with

him for a year. He allowed her to receive me as a friend, also to

receive her mother and sisters, and she was free to go and see them when

she would. Tonine threw her arms about his neck, and assured him that

she would endeavour to please him to the utmost of her ability. "I will

see him," said she, pointing to me, "but as his friend he shall have

nothing more from me." Throughout this truly affecting scene she kept

back her tears, but I could not conceal mine. Murray was happy, but I

was not long a witness of his good fortune, the reason of which I will

explain a little later.

 

Three days afterwards Laura came to me, told me that she was living in

Venice, and asked me to take her to her daughter's. I owed this woman

too much to refuse her, and I took her there forthwith. Tonine gave

thanks to God, and also to me, and her mother took up the song, for they

were not quite sure whether they were more indebted to God or to me.

Tonine was eloquent in her praise of Murray, and made no complaint at my

not having come to see her, at which I was glad. As I was going Laura

asked me to take her back in my gondola, and as we had to pass by the

house in which she lived she begged me to come in for a moment, and I

could not hurt her feelings by refusing. I owe it to my honour to remark

here that I was thus polite without thinking that I should see Barberine

again.

 

This girl, as pretty as her sister, though in another style, began by

awakening my curiosity--a weakness which usually renders the profligate

man inconstant. If all women were to have the same features, the same

disposition, and the same manners, men would not only never be

inconstant, but would never be in love. Under that state of things one

would choose a wife by instinct and keep to her till death, but our

world would then be under a different system to the present. Novelty is

the master of the soul. We know that what we do not see is very nearly

the same as what we have seen, but we are curious, we like to be quite

sure, and to attain our ends we give ourselves as much trouble as if we

were certain of finding some prize beyond compare.

 

Barberine, who looked upon me as an old friend--for her mother had

accustomed her to kiss my hand whenever I went there, who had undressed

more than once in my presence without troubling about me, who knew I had

made her sister's fortune and the family fortune as well, and thought

herself prettier than Tonine because her skin was fairer, and because

she had fine black eyes, desiring to take her sister's place, knew that

to succeed she must take me by storm. Her common sense told her that as

I hardly ever came to the house, I should not be likely to become

amorous of her unless she won me by storm; and to this end she shewed

the utmost complaisance when she had the chance, so that I won her

without any difficulty. All this reasoning came from her own head, for I

am sure her mother gave her no instructions. Laura was a mother of a

kind common the world over, but especially in Italy. She was willing to

take advantage of the earnings of her daughters, but she would never

have induced them to take the path of evil. There her virtue stopped

short.

 

After I had inspected her two rooms and her little kitchen, and had

admired the cleanness which shone all around, Barberine asked me if I

would like to see their small garden.

 

"With pleasure," I replied, "for a garden is a rarity in Venice."

 

Her mother told her to give me some figs if there were any ripe ones.

The garden consisted of about thirty square feet, and grew only salad

herbs and a fine fig tree. It had not a good crop, and I told her that I

could not see any figs.

 

"I can see some at the top," said Barberine, "and I will gather them if

you will hold me the ladder."

 

"Yes, climb away; I will hold it quite firmly."

 

She stepped up lightly, and stretching out an arm to get at some figs to

one side of her, she put her body off its balance, holding on to the

ladder with the other hand.

 

"My dear Barberine, what do you think I can see?"

 

"What you have often seen with my sister."

 

"That's true! but you are prettier than she is."

 

The girl made no reply, but, as if she could not reach the fruit, she

put her foot on a high branch, and spewed me the most seductive picture.

I was in an ecstasy, and Barberine, who saw it, did not hurry herself.

At last I helped her to come down, and letting my hand wander

indiscreetly, I asked her if the fruit I held had been plucked, and she

kept me a long time telling me it was quite fresh. I took her within my

arms, and already her captive, I pressed her amorously to my heart,

printing on her lips a fiery kiss, which she gave me back with as much

ardour.

 

"Will you give me what I have caught, dearest?"

 

"My mother is going to Muran to-morrow, and she will stay there all the

day; if you come, there is nothing I will refuse you."

 

When speech like this proceeds from a mouth still innocent, the man to

whom it is addressed ought to be happy, for desires are but pain and

torment, and enjoyment is sweet because it delivers us from them. This

shews that those who prefer a little resistance to an easy conquest are

in the wrong; but a too easy conquest often points to a depraved nature,

and this men do not like, however depraved they themselves may be.

 

We returned to the house, and I gave Barberine a tender kiss before

Laura's eyes, telling her that she had a very jewel in her daughter--a

compliment which made her face light up with pleasure. I gave the dear

girl ten sequins, and I went away congratulating myself, but cursing my

luck at not being able to make as good provision for Barberine as Murray

had made for her sister.

 

Tonine had told me that for manners' sake I should sup once with her. I

went the same evening and found Righelini and Murray there. The supper

was delicious, and I was delighted with the excellent understanding the

two lovers had already come to. I complimented the ambassador on the

loss of one of his tastes, and he told me he should be very sorry at

such a loss, as it would warn him of his declining powers.

 

"But," said I, "you used to like to perform the mysterious sacrifice of

Love without a veil."

 

"It was not I but Ancilla who liked it, and as I preferred pleasing her

to pleasing myself, I gave in to her taste without any difficulty."

 

"I am delighted with your answer, as I confess it would cost me

something to be the witness of your exploits with Tonine."

 

Having casually remarked that I had no longer a house in Muran,

Righelini told me that if I liked he could get me a delightful house at

a low rent on the Tondamente Nuovo.

 

As this quarter facing north, and as agreeable in summer as disagreeable

in winter, was opposite to Muran, where I should have to go twice a

week, I told the doctor I should be glad to look at the house.

 

I took leave of the rich and fortunate ambassador at midnight, and

before passing the day with my new prize I went to sleep so as to be

fresh and capable of running a good course.

 

I went to Barberine at an early hour, and as soon as she saw me she

said,

 

"My mother will not be back till the evening, and my brother will take

his dinner at the school. Here is a fowl, a ham, some cheese, and two

bottles of Scopolo wine. We will take our mess whenever you like:"

 

"You astonish me, sweetheart, for how did you manage to get such a good

dinner?"

 

"We owe it to my mother, so to her be the praise."

 

"You have told her, then, what we are going to do?"

 

"No, not I, for I know nothing about it; but I told her you were coming

to see me, and at the same time I gave her the ten sequins."

 

"And what did your mother say?"

 

"She said she wouldn't be sorry if you were to love me as you loved my

sister."

 

"I love you better, though I love her well."

 

"You love her? Why have you left her, then?"

 

"I have not left her, for we supped together yesterday evening; but we

no longer live together as lovers, that is all. I have yielded her up to

a rich friend of mine, who has made her fortune."

 

"That is well, though I don't understand much about these affairs. I

hope you will tell Tonine that I have taken her place, and I should be

very pleased if you would let her know that you are quite sure you are my first lover."