Milan | Page 9

Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
she
said,--
"Is it possible that a man of your years has not yet learnt to respect a
woman?"
"Really, countess," said he, "I thought it would be very disrespectful to
continue sitting while you were standing."
While Clairmont was taking the clothes off the chairs, the marquis
noticed the mantles and the beautiful dress, and asked me if I were
expecting a lady.
"No," said I, "but I hope to find someone at Milan who will be worthy
of such presents." I added, "I know the Prince Triulzi, at Venice; I
suppose he is of your family?"

"He says he is, and it may be so; but I am certainly not a member of his
family."
This let me know that I should do well to say no more about the prince.
"You must stay to dinner, marquis," said Count A---- B----; "and as you
only like dishes prepared by your own cook you had better send for
them."
The marquis agreed, and we made good cheer. The table was covered
with fair linen and handsome plate, the wine was good and plentiful,
and the servants quick and well dressed. I could now understand the
marquis's position in the house. It was his wit and mirth which kept the
conversation going, and the countess came in for a share of his
pleasantries, while she scolded him for his familiarity.
I could see, however, that the marquis did not want to humiliate her; on
the contrary, he was fond of her, and only wished to bring down her
exaggerated pride. When he saw her on the point of bursting into tears
of rage and shame, he quieted her down by saying that no one in Milan
respected her charms and her high birth more than he.
After dinner the tailor who was to measure the countess for a domino
for the ball was announced. On the marquis's praising the colours and
the beauty of the materials, she told him that I had brought her the
sarcenet from Turin, and this reminded her to ask me whether I had
been paid.
"Your husband settled with me," said I, "but you have given me a
lesson I can never forget."
"What lesson?" said the marquis.
"I had hoped that the countess would have deigned to receive this poor
present at my hands."
"And she wouldn't take it? It's absurd, on my life."

"There is nothing to laugh at," said the countess, "but you laugh at
everything."
While the man was measuring her, she complained of feeling cold, as
she was in her stays, and her beautiful breast was exposed. Thereupon,
the marquis put his hands on it, as if he were quite accustomed to use
such familiarities. But the Spaniard, no doubt ashamed because of my
presence, got into a rage, and abused him in the most awful manner,
while he laughed pleasantly, as if he could calm the storm when he
pleased. This was enough to inform me of the position in which they
stood to one another, and of the part I ought to take.
We remained together till the evening, when the countess and the
marquis went to the opera, and the count came with me to my room, till
my carriage was ready to take us there too. The opera had begun when
we got in, and the first person I noticed on the stage was my dear
Therese Palesi, whom I had left at Florence. It was a pleasant surprise
to me, and I foresaw that we should renew our sweet interviews while I
remained at Milan I was discreet enough to say nothing to the count
about his wife's charms, or the way their house was managed. I saw
that the place was taken, and the odd humours of the lady prevented my
falling in love with her. After the second act we went to the assembly
rooms, where five or six banks at faro were being held; I staked and
lost a hundred ducats as if to pay for my welcome, and then rose from
the table.
At supper the countess seemed to unbend a little, she condoled with me
on my loss, and I said that I was glad of it as it made her speak so.
Just as I rang my bell the next morning, Clairmont told me that a
woman wanted to speak to me.
"Is she young?"
"Both young and pretty, sir."
"That will do nicely, shew her in."

I saw a simply dressed girl, who reminded me of Leah. She was tall and
beautiful, but had not as high pretensions as the Jewess; as she only
wanted to know whether she could do my washing for me. I was quite
taken with her. Clairmont had just brought me my chocolate, and I
asked
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