Milan and Mantua | Page 8

to pay in advance. But I have broken none of her limbs,
and I took care to apply my blows only on her posteriors, on which spot
I have no doubt that all the marks may be seen. In the evening I made
her dress herself again, and sent her back in a boat which chanced to
pass, and she was landed in safety. The mother received ten sequins,
the daughter has kept her hateful maidenhood, and, if I am guilty of
anything, it is only of having given a thrashing to an infamous girl, the
pupil of a still more infamous mother.
My declaration had no effect. The magistrate was acquainted with the
girl, and the mother laughed at having duped me so easily. I was
summoned, but did not appear before the court, and a writ was on the
point of being issued against my body, when the complaint of the
profanation of a grave was filed against me before the same magistrate.
It would have been less serious for me if the second affair had been
carried before the Council of Ten, because one court might have saved
me from the other.
The second crime, which, after all, was only a joke, was high felony in
the eyes of the clergy, and a great deal was made of it. I was summoned
to appear within twenty-four hours, and it was evident that I would be
arrested immediately afterwards. M. de Bragadin, who always gave
good advice, told me that the best way to avoid the threatening storm
was to run away. The advice was certainly wise, and I lost no time in
getting ready.
I have never left Venice with so much regret as I did then, for I had
some pleasant intrigues on hand, and I was very lucky at cards. My
three friends assured me that, within one year at the furthest, the cases
against me would be forgotten, and in Venice, when public opinion has
forgotten anything, it can be easily arranged.

I left Venice in the evening and the next day I slept at Verona. Two
days afterwards I reached Mantua. I was alone, with plenty of clothes
and jewels, without letters of introduction, but with a well- filled purse,
enjoying excellent health and my twenty-three years.
In Mantua I ordered an excellent dinner, the very first thing one ought
to do at a large hotel, and after dinner I went out for a walk. In the
evening, after I had seen the coffee-houses and the places of resort, I
went to the theatre, and I was delighted to see Marina appear on the
stage as a comic dancer, amid the greatest applause, which she
deserved, for she danced beautifully. She was tall, handsome, very well
made and very graceful. I immediately resolved on renewing my
acquaintance with her, if she happened to be free, and after the opera I
engaged a boy to take me to her house. She had just sat down to supper
with someone, but the moment she saw me she threw her napkin down
and flew to my arms. I returned her kisses, judging by her warmth that
her guest was a man of no consequence.
The servant, without waiting for orders, had already laid a plate for me,
and Marina invited me to sit down near her. I felt vexed, because the
aforesaid individual had not risen to salute me, and before I accepted
Marina's invitation I asked her who the gentleman was, begging her to
introduce me.
"This gentleman," she said, "is Count Celi, of Rome; he is my lover."
"I congratulate you," I said to her, and turning towards the so- called
count, "Sir," I added, "do not be angry at our mutual affection, Marina
is my daughter."
"She is a prostitute."
"True," said Marina, "and you can believe the count, for he is my
procurer."
At those words, the brute threw his knife at her face, but she avoided it
by running away. The scoundrel followed her, but I drew my sword,
and said,

"Stop, or you are a dead man."
I immediately asked Marina to order her servant to light me out, but she
hastily put a cloak on, and taking my arm she entreated me to take her
with me.
"With pleasure," I said.
The count then invited me to meet him alone, on the following day, at
the Casino of Pomi, to hear what he had to say.
"Very well, sir, at four in the afternoon," I answered.
I took Marina to my inn, where I lodged her in the room adjoining mine,
and we sat down to supper.
Marina, seeing that I was thoughtful, said,
"Are you sorry to have saved me from the rage of that brute?"
"No, I am glad