Casanovas Homecoming | Page 3

He was still holding Casanova's hands,
and he pressed them fondly.
"We have so much to thank you for, Signor Casanova. How could we
ever forget our benefactor? Should we do so ..."
"Don't speak of it," interrupted Casanova. "How is Signora Amalia? Do
you know, I have been living in Mantua three months, very quietly to
be sure, but taking plenty of walks as I always have done. How is it,
Olivo, that I never met you or your wife before?"
"The matter is simple, Signor Casanova. Both Amalia and I detest the
town, and we gave up living there a long time ago. Would you do me
the favor to jump in? We shall be at home in an hour."
Casanova tried to excuse himself, but Olivo insisted.
"I will take no denial. How delighted Amalia will be to see you once
more, and how proud to show you our three children. Yes, we have
three, Signor Casanova. All girls. Thirteen, ten, and eight--not one of
them old enough yet--you'll excuse me, won't you--to have her head
turned by Casanova."
He laughed good-humoredly, and made as if to help Casanova into the
carriage. The latter shook his head. He had been tempted for a moment
by natural curiosity to accept Olivo's invitation. Then his impatience
returned in full force, and he assured his would-be host that
unfortunately urgent business called him away from Mantua that very
afternoon.
What could he expect to find in Olivo's house? Sixteen years were a
long time! Amalia would be no younger and no prettier. At his age, a

girl of thirteen would not find him interesting. Olivo, too, whom he had
known in old days as a lean and eager student, was now a portly,
countrified paterfamilias. The proposed visit did not offer sufficient
attractions to induce Casanova to abandon a journey that was to bring
him thirty or forty miles nearer to Venice.
Olivo, however, was disinclined to take no for an answer. Casanova
must at least accept a lift back to the inn, a kindly suggestion that could
not decently be refused. It was only a few minutes' drive. The hostess, a
buxom woman in the middle thirties, welcomed Casanova with a
glance that did not fail to disclose to Olivo the tender relationship
between the pair. She shook hands with Olivo as an old acquaintance.
She was a customer of Signer Olivo's, she explained to Casanova, for
an excellent medium-dry wine grown on his estate.
Olivo hastened to announce that the Chevalier de Seingalt (the hostess
had addressed Casanova by this title, and Olivo promptly followed suit)
was so churlish as to refuse the invitation of an old friend, on the
ridiculous plea that to-day of all days he had to leave Mantua. The
woman's look of gloom convinced Olivo that this was the first she had
heard of Casanova's intended departure, and the latter felt it desirable to
explain that his mention of the journey had been a mere pretext, lest he
should incommode his friend's household by an unexpected visit, and
that he had, in fact, an important piece of writing to finish during the
next few days, and no place was better suited for the work than the inn,
where his room was agreeably cool and quiet.
Olivo protested that the Chevalier de Seingalt would do his modest
home the greatest possible honor by finishing the work in question
there. A change to the country could not but be helpful in such an
undertaking. If Casanova should need learned treatises and works of
reference, there would be no lack of them, for Olivo's niece, the
daughter of a deceased half-brother, a girl who though young was
extremely erudite, had arrived a few weeks before with a whole
trunkful of books. Should any guests drop in at times of an evening, the
Chevalier need not put himself about--unless, indeed, after the labors of
the day, cheerful conversation or a game of cards might offer welcome

distraction. Directly Casanova heard of the niece, he decided he would
like to make her acquaintance, and after a show of further reluctance he
yielded to Olivo's solicitation, declaring, however, that on no account
would he be able to leave Mantua for more than a day or two. He
begged the hostess to forward promptly by messenger any letters that
should arrive during his absence, since they might be of the first
importance.
Matters having thus been arranged to Olivo's complete satisfaction,
Casanova went to his room, made ready for the journey, and returned to
the parlor in a quarter of an hour. Olivo, meanwhile, had been having a
lively business talk with the hostess. He now rose, drank off his glass
of wine, and with a significant wink promised to bring the Chevalier