登陆注册
4606300000228

第228章

found a very fine English carriage which could not have cost less than two hundred guineas. Its noble proprietor was then at supper, so I sent him my name, requesting him not to dispose of his carriage until the next morning, and I went back to the hotel well pleased with my discovery. At supper I arranged with the captain that we would not leave Cesena till after dinner on the following day, and the conversation was almost entirely a dialogue between Henriette and myself; it was my first talk with a French woman. I thought this young creature more and more charming, yet I could not suppose her to be anything else but an adventurers, and I was astonished at discovering in her those noble and delicate feelings which denote a good education. However, as such an idea would not have suited the views I had about her, I rejected it whenever it presented itself to my mind. Whenever I tried to make her talk about the captain she would change the subject of conversation, or evade my insinuations with a tact and a shrewdness which astonished and delighted me at the same time, for everything she said bore the impress of grace and wit.

Yet she did not elude this question:

"At least tell me, madam, whether the captain is your husband or your father."

"Neither one nor the other," she answered, with a smile.

That was enough for me, and in reality what more did I want to know?

The worthy captain had fallen asleep. When he awoke I wished them both good night, and retired to my room with a heart full of love and a mind full of projects. I saw that everything had taken a good turn, and I felt certain of success, for I was young, I enjoyed excellent health, I had money and plenty of daring. I liked the affair all the better because it must come to a conclusion in a few days.

Early the next morning I called upon Count Dandini, the owner of the carriage, and as I passed a jeweller's shop I bought a pair of gold bracelets in Venetian filigree, each five yards long and of rare fineness. I intended them as a present for Javotte.

The moment Count Dandini saw me he recognized me. He had seen me in Padua at the house of his father, who was professor of civil law at the time I was a student there. I bought his carriage on condition that he would send it to me in good repair at one o'clock in the afternoon.

Having completed the purchase, I went to my friend, Franzia, and my present of the bracelets made Javotte perfectly happy. There was.

not one girl in Cesena who could boast of possessing a finer pair, and with that present my conscience felt at ease, for it paid the expense I had occasioned during my stay of ten or twelve days at her father's house four times over. But this was not the most important present I offered the family. I made the father take an oath to wait for me, and never to trust in any pretended magician for the necessary operation to obtain the treasure, even if I did not return or give any news of myself for ten years.

"Because," I said to him, "in consequence of the agreement in which I

have entered with the spirits watching the treasure, at the first attempt made by any other person, the casket containing the treasure will sink to twice its present depth, that is to say as deep as thirty-five fathoms, and then I shall have myself ten times more difficulty in raising it to the surface. I cannot state precisely the time of my return, for it depends upon certain combinations which are not under my control, but recollect that the treasure cannot be obtained by anyone but I."

I accompanied my advice with threats of utter ruin to his family if he should ever break his oath. And in this manner I atoned for all I

had done, for, far from deceiving the worthy man, I became his benefactor by guarding against the deceit of some cheat who would have cared for his money more than for his daughter. I never saw him again, and most likely he is dead, but knowing the deep impression I

left on his mind I am certain that his descendants are even now waiting for me, for the name of Farusi must have remained immortal in that family.

Javotte accompanied me as far as the gate of the city, where I kissed her affectionately, which made me feel that the thunder and lightning had had but a momentary effect upon me; yet I kept control over my senses, and I congratulate myself on doing so to this day. I told her, before bidding her adieu, that, her virginity being no longer necessary for my magic operations, I advised her to get married as soon as possible, if I did not return within three months. She shed a few tears, but promised to follow my advice.

I trust that my readers will approve of the noble manner in which I

concluded my magic business. I hardly dare to boast of it, but I

think I deserve some praise for my behaviour. Perhaps, I might have ruined poor Franzia with a light heart, had I not possessed a well-

filled purse. I do not wish to enquire whether any young man, having intelligence, loving pleasure, and placed in the same position, would not have done the same, but I beg my readers to address that question to themselves.

As for Capitani, to whom I sold the sheath of St. Peter's knife for rather more than it was worth, I confess that I have not yet repented on his account, for Capitani thought he had duped me in accepting it as security for the amount he gave me, and the count, his father, valued it until his death as more precious than the finest diamond in the world. Dying with such a firm belief, he died rich, and I shall die a poor man. Let the reader judge which of the two made the best bargain. But I must return now to my future travelling companions.

同类推荐
  • 二老堂杂志

    二老堂杂志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 五拳总诀歌

    五拳总诀歌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • PENROD

    PENROD

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说未曾有经

    佛说未曾有经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 小八义上

    小八义上

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 谁是谁的太阳:尼采随笔

    谁是谁的太阳:尼采随笔

    《谁是谁的太阳:尼采随笔》随笔包括了尼采对哲学、科学、生命、自由、偏见、家庭、宗教、伦理等各个方面的见解,充满了心理学的洞见和艺术的奥秘,以振聋发聩的真知灼见和横空出世的警世恒言向世人展示了他的思想和生活。
  • 黑白边境:晨光暮色(全集)

    黑白边境:晨光暮色(全集)

    一对富家子弟,由住进疯人院的哥哥所引诱,弟弟艾伦对自己同父异母刚出生不久的妹妹实施了绑架,带着人质逃进城市的贫民地带,而兄弟俩极权的父亲放弃了正规途径来救出自己的孩子,转而求助当地的地头蛇,令其追杀自己的儿子艾伦,艾伦在逃亡中碰巧被教会所救,更联合其中的孤儿实施了第二起绑架案以求自保,但最终引发一连串血腥的仇杀。十八年后,住进疯人院的哥哥早已出院,弟弟艾伦则在父亲死后,重新继承了整个家业,一切离奇的发展,让警探皮特重新注意到这两兄弟,为了侦破自己父亲未曾了解的真相,警探皮特经过重重考验,终于揭开了整个谜团与真相。
  • 觉醒

    觉醒

    肖班以主人公艾德娜·庞特里耶的自我意识和性意识的觉醒为主题,大胆而又直率地从深层次探索了已婚女性的内心世界。
  • 生命高于一切:企业安全生产第一法则

    生命高于一切:企业安全生产第一法则

    无论何地,安全第一。安全不是挂在嘴边,而是要放在心里。对于安全生产,企业能做到就是从制度上下功夫,加强员工的安全防范意识,加大安全知识的普及力度,以及在生产中的执行力度。要让安全的种子在每一个人的心中生根发芽,要让安全知识普及到生产的方方面面,具体到每一个环节、每一个细节。只有如此,才能做到将安全风险降到最低。为了和谐社会的构建,为了企业的快速发展,为了幸福美满的家庭,为了你,为了我,为了大家,让我们携手前行,牢记“安全重于泰山,生命高于一切”的使命与责任。
  • 华严七处九会颂释章

    华严七处九会颂释章

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 末端也是你

    末端也是你

    童允倩和易斯言青梅竹马,同班到大。原应该两小无猜,互诉衷肠,谁知两人是冤家路窄。直到严池的出现,让懵懂的喜欢,变得清晰可见。缘起因你,末端也因是你。
  • 夺命爱人

    夺命爱人

    她因为赔不起一件衬衣被迫帮他洗一年的衣服,从此陷入不断的麻烦中。这个男生很不对劲,太专横,太暧昧,对她太上心又实在看不出有什么居心。是想太多了还是真有桃花运?当她不知不觉被吸引,一场致命的阴谋也在渐渐接近……
  • 穿越不做妾

    穿越不做妾

    她可是从大好时代剩下的极品,凭什么来到这鸟不拉屎的地方当一个小妾。无论他多么喜欢她,她还是要逃。恶人果然有恶报,他的婚礼成了一场杀戮。不过是救了她一次,竟然以为她对他好是报恩。更可气的是她竟然隐隐喜欢这烂男人。既然他没娶上老婆,她大发慈悲嫁给他何妨?不过,肯定不会那么便宜他的。
  • 造梦师

    造梦师

    他以做梦为职业,以盗梦为爱好,然后通过这种猥琐的方式做着自诩为神圣的事情。多年以后,当他被众人追捧,他只是淡淡地宣布——请叫我造(dao)梦师!
  • 最强修罗幻神

    最强修罗幻神

    许下泣血宏愿甘当往生河卒三万年,换取转世重生的机会。重生于世,凭借胸中万千,修炼速度无人能及。他一改前世怯懦,修炼霸王蛮骨功,以凛然之姿,横行四方。无数天才黯淡无光,成就御天大帝。