When we were ready I thanked the marquis, and asked him to supper for the next ball night without any pretence of our going to the masquerade, if the ladies had no objection.  The lieutenant answered for them in the affirmative, and his mistress threw her arms round his neck, reproaching him for having slept all night.  The marquis confessed to the same fault, and I repeated the words like an article of faith, while the ladies kissed us, and thanked us for our kindness to them.  We parted in the same way as before, except that this time the marquis remained with Zenobia.

I went to bed as soon as I got home, and slept till three o’clock.  When I got up I found the house was empty, so I went to dine at the pastry-cook’s, where I found Zenobia and her husband, who had come to enjoy the leavings of our supper.  He told me that I had made his fortune, as the marquis had given his wife twenty-four sequins and the woman’s dress he had worn.  I gave her mine as well.  I told my gossip that I should like some dinner, and the tailor went away in a grateful mood.

As soon as I was alone with Zenobia I asked her if she were satisfied with the marquis.

“He paid me well,” she answered, a slight blush mounting on her cheeks.

“That is enough,” said I, “no one can see you without loving you, or love you without desiring to possess your charms.”

“The marquis did not go so far as that.”

“It may be so, but I am surprised to hear it.”

When I had dined, I hastened to call on the fair marchioness, whom I loved more than ever after the delicious night she had given me.  I wanted to see what effect she would have on me, after making me so happy.  She looked prettier than ever.  She received me in a way becoming in a mistress who is glad to have acquired some rights over her lover.

“I was sure,” said she, “that you would come and see me;” and though her cousin was there she kissed me so often and so ardently that there was no room for doubt as to the manner in which we had spent our night together.  I passed five hours with her, which went by all too quickly, for we talked of love, and love is an inexhaustible subject.  This five hours’ visit on the day after our bridal shewed me that I was madly in love with my new conquest, while it must have convinced her that I was worthy of her affection.

Countess A——­ B——­ had sent me a note asking me to sup with her, her husband, and the Marquis Triulzi, and other friends.  This engagement prevented my paying a visit to Canano, who had won a thousand sequins of me since my great victory as Pierrot.  I knew that he boasted that he was sure of me, but in my own mind I had determined to gain the mastery.  At supper the countess waged war on me.  I slept out at night.  I was rarely visible.  She tried hard to steal my secret from me, and to get some information as to my amorous adventures.  It was known that I sometimes supped at Therese’s with Greppi, who was laughed at because he had been silly enough to say that he had nothing to dread from my power.  The better to conceal my game, I said he was quite right.