poor, his house was small, his furniture shabby, and his
footman's livery threadbare; instead of plate he had china, and one of
the countess's maids was chief cook. He had no carriages nor horses,
not even a saddle horse of any kind. Clairmont gave me all this
information, and added that he had to sleep in a little kitchen, and was
to share his bed with the man who had waited at table.
I had only one room, and having three heavy trunks found myself very
uncomfortable, and I decided on seeking some other lodging more
agreeable to my tastes.
The count came early in the morning to ask what I usually took for
breakfast.
"My dear count," I replied, "I have enough fine Turin chocolate to go
all round. Does the countess like it?"
"Very much, but she won't take it unless it is made by her woman."
"Here are six pounds: make her accept it, and tell her that if I hear
anything about payment I shall take it back."
"I am sure she will accept it, and thank you too. Shall I have your
carriage housed?"
"I shall be extremely obliged to you, and I shall be glad if you would
get me a hired carriage, and a guide for whom you can answer."
"It shall be done."
The count was going out when the priest, who had supped with us the
night before, came in to make his bow. He was a man of forty- one of
the tribe of domestic chaplains who are so common in Italy --who, in
return for keeping the accounts of the house, live with its master and
mistress. In the morning this priest said mass in a neighbouring church,
for the rest of the day he either occupied himself with the cares of the
house, or was the lady's obedient servant.
As soon as We were alone he begged me to say that he had paid me the
three hundred Milanese crowns for the sarcenet, if the countess asked
me about it.
"Dear, dear, abbe!" said I, laughing, "this sort of thing is not exactly
proper in a man of your sacred profession. How can you advise me to
tell a lie? No, sir; if the countess asks me any such impertinent question,
I shall tell her the truth."
"I am sure she will ask you, and if you answer like that I shall suffer for
it."
"Well, sir, if you are in the wrong you deserve to suffer."
"But as it happens, I should be blamed for nothing."
"Well, go and tell her it's a present; and if she won't have that, tell her I
am in no hurry to be paid."
"I see, sir, that you don't know the lady or the way in which this house
is managed. I will speak to her husband."
In a quarter of an hour the count told me that he owed me a lot of
money, which he hoped to pay back in the course of Lent, and that I
must add the sarcenet to the account. I embraced him and said that he
would have to keep the account himself, as I never noted down any of
the moneys that I was only too happy to lend to my friends.
"If your wife asks me whether I have received the money, be sure I will
answer in the affirmative."
He went out shedding grateful tears, while I felt indebted to him for
having given me the opportunity of doing him a service; for I was very
fond of him.
In the morning, the countess being invisible, I watched my man
spreading out my suits over the chairs, amongst them being some
handsome women's cloaks, and a rich red dress deeply trimmed with
fur, which had been originally intended for the luckless Corticelli. I
should no doubt have given it to Agatha, if I had continued to live with
her, and I should have made a mistake, as such a dress was only fit for
a lady of rank.
At one o'clock I received another visit from the count, who told me that
the countess was going to introduce me to their best friend. This was
the Marquis Triuizi, a man of about, my own age, tall, well made,
squinting slightly, and with all the manner of a nobleman. He told me
that besides coming to have the honour of my acquaintance, he also
came to enjoy the fire, "for," said he, "there's only one fireplace in the
house and that's in your room."
As all the chairs were covered, the marquis drew the countess on to his
knee and made her sit there like a baby; but she blushed, and escaped
from his grasp. The marquis laughed heartily at her confusion, and
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