Nothing could be more indiscreet than the eyes of my beloved mistress; they wore the irrefutable marks of her first exploits.  It is true that she had just been fighting a battle which had positively made her a different being to what she was before the engagement.

We took some hot coffee, and I told our hostess to get us a nice dinner for the next day; we then left in the gondola.  The dawn of day was breaking when we landed at St. Sophia’s Square, in order to set the curiosity of the gondoliers at fault, and we parted happy, delighted, and certain that we were thoroughly married.  I went to bed, having made up my mind to compel M. de Bragadin, through the power of the oracle, to obtain legally for me the hand of my beloved C——­ C——.  I remained in bed until noon, and spent the rest of the day in playing with ill luck, as if Dame Fortune had wished to warn me that she did not approve of my love.

CHAPTER XIII

Continuation of My Intrigues with C. C.—­M. de Bragadin Asks the Hand of
That Young Person for Me—­Her Father Refuses, and Sends Her to a
Convent—­De la Haye—­I Lose All my Money at the Faso-table—­My
Partnership with Croce Replenishes My Purse—­Various Incidents

The happiness derived from my love had prevented me from attaching any importance to my losses, and being entirely engrossed with the thought of my sweetheart my mind did not seem to care for whatever did not relate to her.

I was thinking of her the next morning when her brother called on me with a beaming countenance, and said,

“I am certain that you have slept with my sister, and I am very glad of it.  She does not confess as much, but her confession is not necessary.  I will bring her to you to-day.”

“You will oblige me, for I adore her, and I will get a friend of mine to ask her in marriage from your father in such a manner that he will not be able to refuse.”

“I wish it may be so, but I doubt it.  In the mean time, I find myself compelled to beg another service from your kindness.  I can obtain, against a note of hand payable in six months, a ring of the value of two hundred sequins, and I am certain to sell it again this very day for the same amount.  That sum, is very necessary to me just now, but the jeweller, who knows you, will not let me have it without your security.  Will you oblige me in this instance?  I know that you lost a great deal last night; if you want some money I will give you one hundred sequins, which you will return when the note of hand falls due.”

How could I refuse him?  I knew very well that I would be duped, but I loved his sister so much: 

“I am ready,” said I to him, “to sign the note of hand, but you are wrong in abusing my love for your sister in such a manner.”