He was instructed to sell the furniture, and to place me, as well as my brothers and my sister, in a good boarding-house.  I called upon Grimani to assure him of my perfect disposition to obey his commands.

The rent of the house had been paid until the end of the year; but, as I was aware that the furniture would be sold on the expiration of the term, I placed my wants under no restraint.  I had already sold some linen, most of the china, and several tapestries; I now began to dispose of the mirrors, beds, etc.  I had no doubt that my conduct would be severely blamed, but I knew likewise that it was my father’s inheritance, to which my mother had no claim whatever, and, as to my brothers, there was plenty of time before any explanation could take place between us.

Four months afterwards I had a second letter from my mother, dated from Warsaw, and enclosing another.  Here is the translation of my mother’s letter: 

“My dear son, I have made here the acquaintance of a learned Minim friar, a Calabrian by birth, whose great qualities have made me think of you every time he has honoured me with a visit.  A year ago I told him that I had a son who was preparing himself for the Church, but that I had not the means of keeping him during his studies, and he promised that my son would become his own child, if I could obtain for him from the queen a bishopric in his native country, and he added that it would be very easy to succeed if I could induce the sovereign to recommend him to her daughter, the queen of Naples.

“Full of trust in the Almighty, I threw myself at the feet of her majesty, who granted me her gracious protection.  She wrote to her daughter, and the worthy friar has been appointed by the Pope to the bishopric of Monterano.  Faithful to his promise, the good bishop will take you with him about the middle of next year, as he passes through Venice to reach Calabria.  He informs you himself of his intentions in the enclosed letter.  Answer him immediately, my dear son, and forward your letter to me; I will deliver it to the bishop.  He will pave your way to the highest dignities of the Church, and you may imagine my consolation if, in some twenty or thirty years, I had the happiness of seeing you a bishop, at least!  Until his arrival, M. Grimani will take care of you.  I give you my blessing, and I am, my dear child, etc., etc.”

The bishop’s letter was written in Latin, and was only a repetition of my mother’s.  It was full of unction, and informed me that he would tarry but three days in Venice.

I answered according to my mother’s wishes, but those two letters had turned my brain.  I looked upon my fortune as made.  I longed to enter the road which was to lead me to it, and I congratulated myself that I could leave my country without any regret.  Farewell, Venice, I exclaimed; the days for vanity are gone by, and in the future I will only think of a great, of a substantial career!  M. Grimani congratulated me warmly on my good luck, and promised all his friendly care to secure a good boarding-house, to which I would go at the beginning of the year, and where I would wait for the bishop’s arrival.