“You make me blush, marquis, for not having called on you yet.”

“No, no; there can be nothing of that kind between men of the world, who know the world’s worth.”

“We are agreed there, at all events.”

“By the way, I hear you have decided on selling me that handsome dress of yours.  I am really very much obliged to you, and will give you the fifteen thousand livres whenever you like.”

“You can come and take it to-morrow morning.”

He then proceeded to tell me about the various ladies I noticed in the theatre.  Seizing the opportunity, I said,—­

“When I was in church the other day I saw two exquisite beauties.  A man at my side told me they were cousins, the Marchionesses Q——­ and I——­, I think he said.  Do you know them?  I am quite curious to hear about them.”

“I know them.  As you say, they are charming.  It’s not very difficult to obtain access to them; and I suppose they are good girls, as I have not heard their names in connection with any scandal.  However, I know that Mdlle.  F has a lover, but it is a great secret; he is the only son of one of the noblest of our families.  Unfortunately, they are not rich; but if they are clever, as I am sure they are, they may make good matches.  If you like I can get someone to introduce you there.”

“I haven’t made up my mind yet.  I may be able to forget them easily only having seen them once.  Nevertheless, I am infinitely obliged to you for your kind offer”

After the ballet I went into the assembly-room and I heard “there he is” several times repeated as I came in.  The banker made me a bow, and offered me a place next to him.  I sat down and he handed me a pack of cards.  I punted, and with such inveterate bad luck that in less than an hour I lost seven hundred sequins.  I should probably have lost all the money I had in my pocket if Canano had not been obliged to go away.  He gave the cards to a man whose looks displeased me, and I rose and went home and got into bed directly, so as not to be obliged to conceal my ill temper.

In the morning Barbaro came to claim the two hundred sequins.  He gave me the right to sequestrate his pay by way of surety.  I do not think I should have had the heart to exercise my rights if things had gone wrong, but I liked to have some control over him.  When I went out I called on Greppi, and took two thousand sequins in gold.

CHAPTER XIX

Humiliation of The Countess—­Zenobia’s Wedding—­Faro Conquest of The Fair Irene—­Plan for a Masquerade

On my return I found the count with one of the marquis’s servants, who gave me a note, begging me to send the dress, which I did directly.

“The marquis will dine with us,” said the count, “and, no doubt, he will bring the money with him for this treasure.”

“You think it a treasure, then?”

“Yes, fit for a queen to wear.”