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Updated: June 8, 2025
That was in January, 1744, and in six months my daughter will be seventeen. My late husband gave her the names of Leonilda Giacomina at the baptismal font, and when he played with her he always called her by the latter name. This idea of your marrying her horrifies me, but I cannot oppose it, as I am ashamed to tell the reason. What do you think? Have you still the courage to marry her?
She looked so fresh and happy that I longed to kiss her, but I was obliged to restrain myself as she was surrounded by her pretty maids. The better to throw any spies off the scent I began to make love to Anastasia, and Leonilda pretended to encourage me. I feigned a passionate desire, and I could see that I should not have much trouble in gaining my suit.
It would be much better, she said, for us to talk in my room, where there would be no need of putting out the light. She added that I had better go to bed, as then she would feel certain that she was not tiring me in any way. I could not say no, but I flattered myself that I would keep my strength intact for Leonilda. I reckoned without my host, as the proverb goes.
A moment after the door opened, and Leonilda laughed heartily to see her mother in my arms, and threw herself upon us, covering us with kisses. The duke came in a little later, and we supped together very merrily. He thought me the happiest of men when I told him I was going to pass the night honourably with my wife and daughter; and he was right, for I was so at that moment.
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.
We remained thus sad and silent till the return of the duke and Donna Lucrezia, who was the only one to keep her head cool. "Dear Leonilda," said she, "you must be let into the secret of this disagreeable mystery, and your mother is the proper person to enlighten you. Do you remember what name my late husband used to call you when he petted you?" "He used to call me his charming Giacomina."
"Think, Leonilda, what you can do for my friend." "I don't see that I can do anything." The duke told her to dress, that we might go and breakfast in the painted closet. She began at once, and preserved a just mean in what she let us see and what she concealed, and thus set me in flames, though I was already captivated by her face, her wit, and her charming manners.
Come and see me to-morrow with the duke." The duke came in at that moment, and asked me if I had liked the opera. Leonilda answered for me, "We have been talking about love all the time, so we don't know what has been going on the stage." "You have done well." "I trust you will bring M. Casanova to see me tomorrow morning, as I hope he will bring me news that he has won."
"I will marry you," said I, "and we will all of us go to Rome on Monday, for since Leonilda is my daughter I do not like to leave her at Naples." At this the three guests looked at each other and said nothing. I did not repeat my proposal, but led the conversation to some other topic.
When we left I took care not to give the duke time to condole with me on my loss, but began to talk to him about his delicious Leonilda. Early next day he sent a page to my room to tell me that if I wanted to come with him and kiss the king's hand I must put on my gala dress.
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