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Therese had exhausted me, so I did not go any further, but the girl no doubt attributed my self-restraint to the fact that the door was open. I dressed carefully, and made myself look less weary, and to freshen myself up I had a long drive in an open carriage. When I returned, I found the Marquis of Triulzi teasing the countess as usual.
I have not the slightest doubt that if they could find any more Gieppis they would be willing enough to lower themselves." She would doubtless have made a sharp reply, for what I had said had angered her; but the Marquis Triulzi arriving, she went out with him, while her husband and myself went to a place where there was a bank at faro, the banker only having a hundred sequins before him.
"It is said that they are Venetians, and that they went to Bergamo." "It may be so, but I know nothing about them. I left the ball before they did." In the evening I supped with the countess, her husband, and Triulzi. They were of the same opinion as Canano. Triulzi said that I had let the cat out of the bag by giving the beggars handfuls of sequins. "That is a mistake," I answered.
Further I was no longer at that brilliant age which fears nothing, and I was afraid that my appearance would hardly overcome them. It is true that Barbaro had made me hope that presents would be of some use, but after what the Marquis Triulzi had said, I feared that Barbaro had only spoken on supposition. When the company was sufficiently numerous, the card-tables were brought in.
I shall be delighted to see your niece, but if she knows me you must see that she knows her part as well." On leaving Madame Paretti I called on the Signora Isola-Bella, and gave her the Marquis Triulzi's letter. Soon after she came into the room and welcomed me, saying that she had been expecting me, as Triulzi had written to her on the subject.
No one replied; but after some thought the Marquis Triulzi said that to make the chances perfectly equal the players would have to be equal, which was almost out of the question. "All that is too sublime for me," said Canano; "I don't understand it." But, after all, there was not much to understand.
The three mendicants bowed gratefully to me and left the room. The Marquis Triulzi who sat near Canano, said, "The beggar in the straw-coloured dress is certainly Casanova." "I recognized him directly," replied the banker, "but who are the others?" "We shall find out in due time." "A dearer costume could not be imagined; all the dresses are quite new."
"Then I will get you an invitation from the fair bride herself on the condition that the countess comes as well. I must warn you that the company will consist of honest people of the lower classes, and I cannot have them humiliated in any way." "I will persuade the countess," said Triulzi. "To make your task an easier one, I may as well tell you that the wedding is that of the fair Zenobia."
"Triulzi will give you a thousand sequins; that will fit you up again." "For the dress you mean?" "Yes." "I wanted to give it to your wife, but she said she would despise it, coming from my hands." "You astonish me; she is mad after it. You must have wounded her haughty temper in some way or another. But sell it, and get the thousand sequins." "I will let you know to-morrow."
"They say it's worth a thousand sequins," said she. "Yes, that is so; but I would sell everything I possess before parting with any of the articles which I intend for the fair sex." "Marquis Triulzi wants it badly to present to someone." "I am very sorry, but I cannot sell it to him." She went away without a word, but I could see that she was exceedingly vexed at my refusal.
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