Overwhelmed with grief by the discovery I had just made, but thinking that I should get rid of the inconvenience as I had done three times before, I prepared myself for a strict diet, which would restore my health in six weeks without anyone having any suspicion of my illness, but I soon found out that I had not seen the end of my troubles; Melulla had communicated to my system all the poisons which corrupt the source of life.  I was acquainted with an elderly doctor of great experience in those matters; I consulted him, and he promised to set me to rights in two months; he proved as good as his word.  At the beginning of September I found myself in good health, and it was about that time that I returned to Venice.

The first thing I resolved on, as soon as I discovered the state I was in, was to confess everything to Madame F——.  I did not wish to wait for the time when a compulsory confession would have made her blush for her weakness, and given her cause to think of the fearful consequences which might have been the result of her passion for me.  Her affection was too dear to me to run the risk of losing it through a want of confidence in her.  Knowing her heart, her candour, and the generosity which had prompted her to say that I was more to be pitied than blamed, I thought myself bound to prove by my sincerity that I deserved her esteem.

I told her candidly my position and the state I had been thrown in, when I thought of the dreadful consequences it might have had for her.  I saw her shudder and tremble, and she turned pale with fear when I added that I would have avenged her by killing myself.

“Villainous, infamous Melulla!” she exclaimed.

And I repeated those words, but turning them against myself when I realized all I had sacrificed through the most disgusting weakness.

Everyone in Corfu knew of my visit to the wretched Melulla, and everyone seemed surprised to see the appearance of health on my countenance; for many were the victims that she had treated like me.

My illness was not my only sorrow; I had others which, although of a different nature, were not less serious.  It was written in the book of fate that I should return to Venice a simple ensign as when I left:  the general did not keep his word, and the bastard son of a nobleman was promoted to the lieutenancy instead of myself.  From that moment the military profession, the one most subject to arbitrary despotism, inspired me with disgust, and I determined to give it up.  But I had another still more important motive for sorrow in the fickleness of fortune which had completely turned against me.  I remarked that, from the time of my degradation with Melulla, every kind of misfortune befell me.  The greatest of all—­that which I felt most, but which I had the good sense to try and consider a favour—­was that a week before the departure of the army M. D——­ R——­ took me again for his adjutant, and M. F——­ had to engage another