登陆注册
25527900000215

第215章

One day I took a fancy to call upon her, and he accompanied me to her house.

I saw an old, broken-down crone whose toilet astonished me as much as her person. In spite of her wrinkles, her face was plastered with red and white, and her eyebrows were indebted to India ink for their black appearance. She exposed one-half of her flabby, disgusting bosom, and there could be no doubt as to her false set of teeth. She wore a wig which fitted very badly, and allowed the intrusion of a few gray hairs which had survived the havoc of time. Her shaking hands made mine quiver when she pressed them. She diffused a perfume of amber at a distance of twenty yards, and her affected, mincing manner amused and sickened me at the same time. Her dress might possibly have been the fashion twenty years before. I was looking with dread at the fearful havoc of old age upon a face which, before merciless time had blighted it, had evidently been handsome, but what amazed me was the childish effrontery with which this time-withered specimen of womankind was still waging war with the help of her blasted charms.

Baletti, who feared lest my too visible astonishment should vex her, told her that I was amazed at the fact that the beautiful strawberry which bloomed upon her chest had not been withered by the hand of Time. It was a birth-mark which was really very much like a strawberry. "It is that mark," said the old woman, simpering, "which gave me the name of 'La Fragoletta.'"

Those words made me shudder.

I had before my eyes the fatal phantom which was the cause of my existence. I saw the woman who had thirty years before, seduced my father: if it had not been for her, he would never have thought of leaving his father's house, and would never have engendered me in the womb of a Venetian woman. I have never been of the opinion of the old author who says, 'Nemo vitam vellet si daretur scientibus'.

Seeing how thoughtful I was, she politely enquired my name from Baletti, for he had presented me only as a friend, and without having given her notice of my visit. When he told her that my name was Casanova, she was extremely surprised.

"Yes, madam," I said, "I am the son of Gaetan Casanova, of Parma."

"Heavens and earth! what is this? Ah! my friend, I adored your father! He was jealous without cause, and abandoned me. Had he not done so, you would have been my son! Allow me to embrace you with the feelings of a loving mother."

I expected as much, and, for fear she should fall, I went to her, received her kiss, and abandoned myself to her tender recollections.

Still an actress, she pressed her handkerchief to her eyes, pretending to weep, and assuring me that I was not to doubt the truth of what she said.

"Although," she added, "I do not look an old woman yet."

"The only fault of your dear father," she continued, "was a want of gratitude"

I have no doubt that she passed the same sentence upon the son, for, in spite of her kind invitation, I never paid her another visit.

My purse was well filled, and as I did not care for Mantua, I

resolved on going to Naples, to see again my dear Therese, Donna Lucrezia, Palo father and son, Don Antonio Casanova, and all my former acquaintances. However, my good genius did not approve of that decision, for I was not allowed to carry it into execution. I

should have left Mantua three days later, had I not gone to the opera that night.

I lived like an anchorite during my two months' stay in Mantua, owing to the folly. I committed on the night of my arrival. I played only that time, and then I had been lucky. My slight erotic inconvenience, by compelling me to follow the diet necessary to my cure, most likely saved me from greater misfortunes which, perhaps, I should not have been able to avoid.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 绝世神灵师

    绝世神灵师

    这天道已变,强者为王弱者为寇,而这天才少年又如何改写这个不公平的世界呢?
  • 中学理科课程资源-了解化学名人

    中学理科课程资源-了解化学名人

    追溯数理化的演变历程,对话最新颖权威的方法,探索最成功的课程教学,感受最前沿的科技动态,理科教育的全程解码,数理化的直面写真。
  • 就想萌化你:冷少校草的娇萌妻

    就想萌化你:冷少校草的娇萌妻

    不花痴,不拜金,可爱霸道却又孤独普通的她,凭优等成绩进入圣樱,遇到影响自己一生的人。冷淡的他,从小过着贵族生活,因为表妹而认识了平凡的她,从此坠入爱河。“谁?”一道冷漠的声音传来。“你又是谁?”“你是谁?不知道这是禁地么?”“什么禁地,你不也在么?”第一次的完美邂逅造就了后面的相知相识相爱。面对家族威胁,面对深爱的她,面对不可奈何的放手,他会不会放弃?面对身世之谜,面对爱之入骨的他,面对一次次的挑战和波折,面对痴情的另一个他,面对伤痕累累的自己,她会如何抉择?
  • 机战封神

    机战封神

    神秘的“神庭星”上隐藏着一座古老的宫殿,本来籍籍无名的微小行星却因马尔斯封神之后成为所有机甲师心中的圣地。传说当一个机甲师超脱人类的极限,登上机甲师的巅峰之际便会接到来自“神庭星”的召唤,开启无尚封神之路。林简生,十六岁的王级机甲师,荣耀同盟史上最天才的少年,意外跌落神坛,被宣告死亡的他是苟延残喘,还是打败死神重新走上荣誉之路?浩瀚星空、浴血战场,封神一途、舍我其谁?
  • 消费心理分析

    消费心理分析

    本书共分15章,内容包括:认识消费心理分析、消费者的心理需要与动机分析、消费者的购买决策与行为分析等。
  • 对不起你太闪耀

    对不起你太闪耀

    这是我的处女座请大家多多支持这篇小说主要写了男主鹿晗和女主夏语沫的故事,请大家多多期待!(我是鹿饭也是行星饭,本命是鹿晗哦!)
  • 梦幻地带

    梦幻地带

    无业青年巴哥在网上找了一个游戏测试的工作,结果面试过程如同特务接头一样神秘。‘梦幻’头盔是正在研发的最新游戏头盔,能让玩家在梦里进行游戏。星际旅行,魔法时代,超能英雄……巴哥成了各种大片的主角,在一波又一波的梦幻中寻找他的真理和真爱!
  • 新约战记

    新约战记

    未知的物体,神秘的组织,究竟有多少秘密?我也不知道。
  • 生存位面

    生存位面

    梁程觉得生活真的很奇妙,前一分钟还在夏威夷度假,而下一刻却发现自己在一艘英伦式的轮船上面。。。。这是什么?我穿越了?
  • 锁:虐心禁恋

    锁:虐心禁恋

    “不!别走,回来!你给我滚回来啊,呜`````”晶莹的泪珠悄然滑落,平静的声音越喊越沙哑。剩下女人独自蹲在角落,痛不欲生。女人双手撑住额头,不断地抽泣。男人在偏僻小巷里一盏路灯下停住脚步,慢慢转身……