登陆注册
25527900000306

第306章

She unfortunately indulged in numerous caprices with which my readers will become acquainted. She was an excellent musician, but her fortune was not altogether owing to her talent; her charms had done more for her than anything else. She told me her adventures, very likely with some restrictions, and we parted after a conversation of two hours. She invited me to breakfast for the following day. She told me that the margrave had her narrowly watched, but being an old acquaintance I was not likely to give rise to any suspicion; that is the aphorism of all women addicted to gallantry. She added that I

could, if I liked, see her that same evening in her box, and that M.

Papafava, who was her god-father, would be glad to see me. I called at her house early the next morning, and I found her in bed with her son, who, thanks to the principles in which he had been educated, got up and left the room as soon as he saw me seated near his mother's bed. I spent three hours with her, and I recollect that the last was delightful; the reader will know the consequence of that pleasant hour later. I saw her a second time during the fortnight she passed in Venice, and when she left I promised to pay her a visit in Bayreuth, but I never kept my promise.

I had at that time to attend to the affairs of my posthumous brother, who had, as he said, a call from Heaven to the priesthood, but he wanted a patrimony. Although he was ignorant and devoid of any merit save a handsome face, he thought that an ecclesiastical career would insure his happiness, and he depended a great deal upon his preaching, for which, according to the opinion of the women with whom he was acquainted, he had a decided talent. I took everything into my hands, and I succeeded in obtaining for him a patrimony from M.

Grimani, who still owed us the value of the furniture in my father's house, of which he had never rendered any account. He transferred to him a life-interest in a house in Venice, and two years afterwards my brother was ordained. But the patrimony was only fictitious, the house being already mortgaged; the Abbe Grimani was, however, a kind Jesuit, and those sainted servants of God think that all is well that ends well and profitably to themselves. I shall speak again of my unhappy brother whose destiny became involved with mine.

Two days had passed since I had paid my visit to P---- C----, when I

met him in the street. He told me that his sister was constantly speaking of me, that she quoted a great many things which I had told her, and that his mother was much pleased at her daughter having made my acquaintance. "She would be a good match for you," he added, "for she will have a dowry of ten thousand ducats. If you will call on me to-morrow, we will take coffee with my mother and sister."

I had promised myself never again to enter his house, but I broke my word. It is easy enough for a man to forget his promises under such circumstances.

I spent three hours in conversation with the charming girl and when I

left her I was deeply in love. As I went away, I told her that I

envied the destiny of the man who would have her for his wife, and my compliment, the first she had ever received, made her blush.

After I had left her I began to examine the nature of my feelings towards her, and they frightened me, for I could neither behave towards Mdlle. C---- C---- as an honest man nor as a libertine.

I could not hope to obtain her hand, and I almost fancied I would stab anyone who advised me to seduce her. I felt that I wanted some diversion: I went to the gaming-table. Playing is sometimes an excellent lenitive to calm the mind, and to smother the ardent fire of love. I played with wonderful luck, and I was going home with plenty of gold, when in a solitary narrow street I met a man bent down less by age than by the heavy weight of misery. As I came near him I recognized Count Bonafede, the sight of whom moved me with pity. He recognized me likewise. We talked for some time, and at last he told me the state of abject poverty to which he was reduced, and the great difficulty he had to keep his numerous family. "I do not blush," he added, "in begging from you one sequin which will keep us alive for five or six days." I immediately gave him ten, trying to prevent him from lowering himself in his anxiety to express his gratitude, but I could not prevent him from shedding tears. As we parted, he told me that what made him most miserable was to see the position of his daughter, who had become a great beauty, and would rather die than make a sacrifice of her virtue. "I can neither support her in those feelings," he said, with a sigh, "nor reward her for them."

Thinking that I understood the wishes with which misery had inspired him, I took his address, and promised to pay him a visit. I was curious to see what had become of a virtue of which I did not entertain a very high opinion. I called the next day. I found a house almost bare of furniture, and the daughter alone--

a circumstance which did not astonish me. The young countess had seen me arrive, and received me on the stairs in the most amiable manner. She was pretty well dressed, and I thought her handsome, agreeable, and lively, as she had been when I made her acquaintance in Fort St. Andre. Her father having announced my visit, she was in high spirits, and she kissed me with as much tenderness as if I had been a beloved lover. She took me to her own room, and after she had informed me that her mother was ill in bed and unable to see me, she gave way again to the transport of joy which, as she said, she felt in seeing me again. The ardour of our mutual kisses, given at first under the auspices of friendship, was not long in exciting our senses to such an extent that in less than a quarter of an hour I had nothing more to desire. When it was all over, it became us both, of course, to be, or at least to appear to be, surprised at what had taken place, and I could not honestly hesitate to assure the poor countess that it was only the first token of a constant and true love. She believed it, or she feigned to believe it, and perhaps I

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 重生:妹妹是反派

    重生:妹妹是反派

    尔落帝国的公主,帝国第二舰队的指挥官安狄秋·尔落因为一次失败的战役而身陨最后重生为联盟第一元帅的新生女儿千子念……这宇宙最大宿敌最终快乐幸福地生活在一起……喂喂!!这到底是什么鬼!!
  • 1939浴火

    1939浴火

    你见过蝗虫,它们怎么过河么?第一个走下水边,被水冲去了,于是第二个又来,于是第三个,于是第四个;到后来,它们的死骸堆积起来,成了一座桥,其余的便过去了。那过去的人不是我们的真生命,那座桥才是我们的真生命,永远的生命!一个山村的懵懂少年,有一个温馨幸福的大家庭,然而鬼子的到来粉碎了一切。他,怀抱家仇国恨,毅然走向抗日战场,在民族解放、独立的艰难道路上,勇敢的成长。终究成为那座桥上的一份子,铸就永恒......
  • 生活小窍门全集

    生活小窍门全集

    生活是由许许多多的小事情组成的,我们每天都在不断的重复着这些小事情,而这些小事情并不会样样都顺心。在日常生活中,我们总会遇到这样那样的小问题,这些问题并不是什么大难题,但却会给我们的生活带来许多的不便。书中既讲道理又教方法,通俗易懂,实用价值很高,力求使大家不但知道产生问题的原因,而且细致讲解实际操作技巧,能保证读者自己动手解决问题,适合于每一个家庭阅读和使用。在日常生活中,当您遇到麻烦时,只需拿起本书,翻开对照处理,你的问题就迎刃而解了。
  • 异界之无限下载

    异界之无限下载

    一个异变的下载软件,一份直接把“修炼境界”当成灵气来修炼的奇特功法,一件没有酒喝就罢工的灵宝……还有一位莫名穿越到灵修大陆的男人以及他所踏上的那条精彩纷呈、波澜壮阔的强者之路。——————“哇,这人真是肥得流油啊,地阶上品灵药服用了5粒,靠竟然还有天阶灵药;地阶上品灵宝就安装了三件,天阶灵宝倒是没有,但老天,他的炼宝灵基里就没地阶以外其他品阶的灵宝炼图了。”林羽看着迅雷光屏的链接源页面,满眼放光,狂咽口水地喃喃自语。——————要问林羽最懊悔的一件事,那就是:“尼玛的,穿越前我怎么不买个大点容量的电脑啊,这才只有80G的下载空间,能下多少东西啊?”要问林羽最舒坦的一件事,那就是:“他乃的,咱现在也是有爱疯的人,虽然它不能打电话,不能上网,不能发短信、发微博,但是它能被炼解成各种拥有强大灵技的灵宝,山寨那从来都比正版牛B。”
  • 异妖说

    异妖说

    她叫林初然。一场意外的反噬,改变了平凡轨迹。她说,维护世界和平,成了此生最大愿望。一路上旁观了不少‘妖、鬼’的风花雪月,待俗世沉浮,岁月荏苒,她迷茫,是否万物生灵心中都住着一只恶魔?要知道,在凝视深渊的时候,深渊也在反凝视阿…
  • 黑色江湖梦

    黑色江湖梦

    本书内容会贴近现实,带你们体验不一样的江湖,由于是小说所以一定会加一些渲染和虚构部分,不过绝对不会出现一拳打死一个人的现象。我一定写一本完整的小说,所以请大家不要纠结时间问题,本书可能会分为两部分,第一部分为稚嫩期,第二部分会体现主角的老练,凶狠!总之这是一部爱情加热血的黑色幽默小说!大家一定会喜欢的!
  • 浮华如水,许你一世无悔

    浮华如水,许你一世无悔

    越子扬编制了个密密麻麻的情网,将林沫兮网罗。是温水煮青蛙,也是循序渐进,让不在触碰爱情的她,不知不觉间走进他所布置的甜蜜婚房内,带着盎然的春意和淡淡的桃花香……只要有你,我们的青春依然飞扬!
  • 月尘落雪

    月尘落雪

    正邪战,尸骨山,江湖生死劫!暗潮起,翻云涌,血雨腥风起!残忍、阴谋、暗斗,谁在背后?灭门、杀戮、血战,谁在主宰?黄昏时分,山河茫茫,乐白伫立湖边,波澜不惊。“为何你我之间,活下的人是我?!”“东宫忘尘!为何不拔剑?!”“雪儿,为何那么傻.....”挥刀、狂舞!水花四溅,而脸上,一片朦胧......是十年前的延续,还是新的篇章?月尘落雪,爱与恨交织的一段故事。
  • 旁观者

    旁观者

    交流群:292936691如果是注定旁观,你怎么说?有些事能否在看清本质后,还能安然只做看客?主人公殷凝,拥有着强大的力量,和改变一切的权力,可特殊的身份使她的存在很矛盾,即使有能力改变一切,也不得不只做看客,心肠及软的她能否撑到使命和责任到来的那一刻,她又如何解决,或者应该说是观看宿命的不公与不平......
  • 傲剑唐门

    傲剑唐门

    一名唐门叛逆,重生在一个陌生的妖修世界。一柄神剑破尽天下万邪。斩烛龙,灭万法。踏青龙,战苍穹。何为强,何为弱。吾为尊,汝为奴。泣血路,踏歌行。斩苍穹,破万法。笑看风云暗淡,我自逍遥天地间。洪荒神兽现世,万众妖魔汇聚。饕鬄、穷奇、夔牛、泰坦、刻耳柏洛斯、血族、八岐……破之,斩之,杀之。妖修鹏万里,终是不归路。