Produced by David Widger
MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798
ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH, Volume 4b—RETURN TO ITALY
THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR MACHEN TOWHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR SYMONS.
RETURN TO ITALY
GENOA—TUSCANY—ROME
CHAPTER IV
The Play—The Russian—Petri—Rosalie at the Convent
When the marquis had gone, seeing Rosalie engaged with Veronique, I setmyself to translate the 'Ecossaise' for the actors at Genoa, who seemedpretty good ones, to play.
I thought Rosalie looking sad at dinner, and said,
"What is the matter, dearest? You know I do not like to see you lookingmelancholy."
"I am vexed at Veronique's being prettier than I."
"I see what you mean; I like that! But console your self, Veronique isnothing compared to you, in my eyes at all events. You are my onlybeauty; but to reassure you I will ask M. de Grimaldi to tell her motherto come and fetch her away, and to get me another maid as ugly aspossible."
"Oh, no! pray do not do so; he will think I am jealous, and I wouldn'thave him think so for the world."
"Well, well, smile again if you do not wish to vex me."
"I shall soon do that, if, as you assure me, she will not make me loseyour love. But what made the old gentleman get me a girl like that? Doyou think he did it out of mischief?"
"No, I don't think so. I am sure, on the other hand, that he wanted tolet you know that you need not fear being compared with anybody. Are youpleased with her in other respects?"
"She works well, and she is very respectful. She does not speak fourwords without addressing me as signora, and she is careful to translatewhat she says from Italian into French. I hope that in a month I shallspeak well enough for us to dispense with her services when we go toFlorence. I have ordered Le Duc to clear out the room I have chosen forher, and I will send her her dinner from our own table. I will be kind toher, but I hope you will not make me wretched."
"I could not do so; and I do not see what there can be in common betweenthe girl and myself."
"Then you will pardon my fears."
"The more readily as they shew your love."
"I thank you, but keep my secret."
I promised never to give a glance to Veronique, of whom I was alreadyafraid, but I loved Rosalie and would have done anything to save her theleast grief.
I set to at my translation after dinner; it was work I liked. I did notgo out that day, and I spent the whole of the next morning with M. deGrimaldi.
I went to the banker Belloni and changed all my gold into gigliatisequins. I made myself known after the money was changed, and the headcashier treated me with great courtesy. I had bills on this banker forforty thousand Roman crowns, and on Lepri bills for twenty thousand.
Rosalie did not want to go to the play again, so I got her a piece ofembroidery to amuse her in the evening. The theatre was a necessity forme; I always went unless it interfered with some still sweeter pleasure.I went by myself, and when I got home I found the marquis talking to mymistress. I was pleased, and after I had embraced the worthy nobleman Icomplimented Rosalie on having kept him till my arrival, adding gentlythat she should have put down her work.
"Ask him,