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Updated: June 8, 2025
We called on Leonilda, and putting off talking of our marriage till the day after we spent the time in viewing the wonders of nature around Naples. In the evening I was introduced by a friend at the princess's supper, and saw all the highest nobility of the place.
When a woman is pretty, one recognizes her charms instantaneously; if one has to examine her closely, her beauty is doubtful. Leonilda was strikingly beautiful. I smiled and looked at the duke, who had told me that he loved her like a daughter, and that he only kept her for form's sake. He understood the glance, and said, "You may believe me." "It's credible," I replied.
I will send the duke to you; he must know all." I left Lucrezia, and I begged the duke to go and speak to her. The affectionate Leonilda came and sat on my knee, and asked me what the dreadful mystery was. I was too much affected to be able to answer her; she kissed me, and we began to weep.
I continued my recital, and when I was telling them how Donna Lucrezia shewed me Leonilda naked, M M went out, and the sly little puss asked me how I assured myself that my daughter was a maid. I took bold of her through the fatal grating, against which she placed her pretty body, and shewed her how assured myself of the fact, and the girl liked it so much that she pressed my hand to the spot.
"She is longing to see you, and her husband too; he is a worthy old man, and will be so glad to know you." "How does he know of my existence?" "Leonilda has mentioned your name a thousand times during the five years they have been married. He is aware that you gave her five thousand ducats. We shall sup together."
I was determined to start the next day so as to be at Rome for the last week of the carnival and I begged the duke to let me give Leonilda the five thousand ducats which would have been her dower if she had become my bride. "As she is your daughter," said he, "she can and ought to take this present from her father, if only as a dowry for her future husband."
"That is M. Casanova's name; it is the name of your father. Go and kiss him; his blood flows in your veins; and if he has been your lover, repent of the crime which was happily quite involuntary." The scene was a pathetic one, and we were all deeply moved. Leonilda clung to her mother's knees, and in a voice that struggled with sobs exclaimed,
She has wisely chosen a husband old enough to be her father; he is a friend of mine." "That's not true," cried Leonilda, rushing to my arms, "she will think you are really old, and I am sorry." "Is your mother an elderly woman?" "She's a charming Woman," said the duke, "full of wit, and not thirty-eight yet." "What has she got to do with Galiani?"
I sat between her and Leonilda at dinner; and as I could no longer think of the daughter, it was natural that my old flame for Lucrezia should rekindle; and whether from the effect of her gaiety and beauty, or from my need of someone to love, or from the excellence of the wine, I found myself in love with her by the dessert, and asked her to take the place which her daughter was to have filled.
Before he went, however, he said he should like to present me to a lady whom he was sure I should be very glad to see again. The first persons I thought of were Donna Leonilda, or Donna Lucrezia, her mother; but what was my surprise to see Agatha, the dancer with whom I had been in love at Turin after abandoning the Corticelli.
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