On the day following this partial reconciliation, M. F——­, her husband,
begged my commanding officer, D---- R-----, to let me go with him to
Butintro for an excursion of three days, his own adjutant being seriously
ill.

Butintro is seven miles from Corfu, almost opposite to that city; it is the nearest point to the island from the mainland.  It is not a fortress, but only a small village of Epirus, or Albania, as it is now called, and belonging to the Venetians.  Acting on the political axiom that “neglected right is lost right,” the Republic sends every year four galleys to Butintro with a gang of galley slaves to fell trees, cut them, and load them on the galleys, while the military keep a sharp look-out to prevent them from escaping to Turkey and becoming Mussulmans.  One of the four galleys was commanded by M. F——­ who, wanting an adjutant for the occasion, chose me.

I went with him, and on the fourth day we came back to Corfu with a large provision of wood.  I found M. D——­ R——­ alone on the terrace of his palace.  It was Good Friday.  He seemed thoughtful, and, after a silence of a few minutes, he spoke the following words, which I can never forget: 

“M.  F-----, whose adjutant died yesterday, has just been entreating me to
give you to him until he can find another officer.  I have told him that I
had no right to dispose of your person, and that he, ought to apply to
you, assuring him that, if you asked me leave to go with him, I would not
raise any objection, although I require two adjutants.  Has he not
mentioned the matter to you?”

“No, monsignor, he has only tendered me his thanks for having accompanied him to Butintro, nothing else.”

“He is sure to speak to you about it.  What do you intend to say?”

“Simply that I will never leave the service of your excellency without your express command to do so.”

“I never will give you such an order.”

As M. D——­ R——­ was saying the last word, M. and Madame F——­ came in.  Knowing that the conversation would most likely turn upon the subject which had just been broached, I hurried out of the room.  In less than a quarter of an hour I was sent for, and M. F——­ said to me, confidentially,

“Well, M. Casanova, would you not be willing to live with me as my adjutant?”

“Does his excellency dismiss me from his service?”

“Not at all,” observed M. D——­ R——­, “but I leave you the choice.”

“My lord, I could not be guilty of ingratitude.”

And I remained there standing, uneasy, keeping my eyes on the ground, not even striving to conceal my mortification, which was, after all, very natural in such a position.  I dreaded looking at Madame F——­, for I knew that she could easily guess all my feelings.  An instant after, her foolish husband coldly remarked that I should certainly have a more fatiguing service with him than with M. D——­ R——­, and that, of course, it was more honourable to serve the general governor of the galeazze than a simple sopra-committo.  I was on the point of answering, when Madame F——­ said, in a graceful and easy manner, “M.  Casanova is right,” and she changed the subject.  I left the room, revolving in my mind all that had just taken place.