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seeing Rosalie engaged with Veronique, I
set myself to translate the 'Ecossaise' for the actors at Genoa, who
seemed pretty good ones, to play.
I thought Rosalie looking sad at dinner, and said,
"What is the matter, dearest? You know I do not like to see you looking
melancholy."
"I am vexed at Veronique's being prettier than I."
"I see what you mean; I like that! But console your, self, Veronique is
nothing compared to you, in my eyes at all events. You are my only
beauty; but to reassure you I will ask M. de Grimaldi to tell her mother
to come and fetch her away, and to get me another maid as ugly as
possible."
"Oh, no! pray do not do so; he will think I am jealous, and I wouldn't
have him think so for the world."
"Well, well, smile again if you do not wish to vex me."
"I shall soon do that, if, as you assure me, she will not make me lose
your love. But what made the old gentleman get me a girl like that? Do
you think he did it out of mischief?"
"No, I don't think so. I am sure, on the other hand, that he wanted to let
you know that you need not fear being compared with anybody. Are
you pleased with her in other respects?"
"She works well, and she is very respectful. She does not speak four
words without addressing me as signora, and she is careful to translate
what she says from Italian into French. I hope that in a month I shall
speak well enough for us to dispense with her services when we go to
Florence. I have ordered Le Duc to clear out the room I have chosen for
her, and I will send her her dinner from our own table. I will be kind to
her, but I hope you will not make me wretched."

"I could not do so; and I do not see what there can be in common
between the girl and myself."
"Then you will pardon my fears."
"The more readily as they shew your love."
"I thank you, but keep my secret."
I promised never to give a glance to Veronique, of whom I was already
afraid, but I loved Rosalie and would have done anything to save her
the least grief.
I set to at my translation after dinner; it was work I liked. I did not go
out that day, and I spent the whole of the next morning with M. de
Grimaldi.
I went to the banker Belloni and changed all my gold into gigliati
sequins. I made myself known after the money was changed, and the
head cashier treated me with great courtesy. I had bills on this banker
for forty thousand Roman crowns, and on Lepri bills for twenty
thousand.
Rosalie did not want to go to the play again, so I got her a piece of
embroidery to amuse her in the evening. The theatre was a necessity for
me; I always went unless it interferred with some still sweeter pleasure.
I went by myself, and when I got home I found the marquis talking to
my mistress. I was pleased, and after I had embraced the worthy
nobleman I complimented Rosalie on having kept him till my arrival,
adding gently that she should have put down her work.
"Ask him," she replied, "if he did not make me keep on. He said he
would go if I didn't, so I gave in to keep him."
She then rose, stopped working, and in the course of an interesting
conversation she succeeded in making the marquis promise to stay to
supper, thus forestalling my intention. He was not accustomed to take
anything at that hour, and ate little; but I saw he was enchanted with

my treasure, and that pleased me, for I did not think I had anything to
fear from a man of sixty; besides, I was glad at the opportunity of
accustoming Rosalie to good society. I wanted her to be a little
coquettish, as a woman never pleases in society unless she shews a
desire to please.
Although the position was quite a strange one for her, she made me
admire the natural aptitude of women, which may be improved or
spoiled by art but which exists more or less in them all, from the throne
to the milk-pail. She talked to M. de Grimaldi in a way that seemed to
hint she was willing to give a little hope. As our guest did not eat, she
said graciously that he must come to dinner some day that she might
have an opportunity of seeing whether he really had any appetite.
When he had gone I took her on my