“No exercise is more healthful than dancing,” said Antonia, the mother, “and before his time balls were strictly forbidden.  In spite of that he is hated for having expelled ‘los padres de la compagnia de Jesus’, and for his sumptuary regulations.  But the poor bless his name, for all the money produced by the balls goes to them.”

“And thus,” said the father, “to go to the ball is to do a pious work.”

“I have two cousins,” said Ignazia, “who are perfect angels of goodness.  I told them that you had taken me to the ball; but they are so poor that they have no hope of going.  If you like you can make them quite happy by taking them on the last day of the carnival.  The ball closes at midnight, so as not to profane Ash Wednesday.”

“I shall be happy to oblige you, all the more as your lady mother will not be obliged to wait for us in the carriage.”

“You are very kind; but I shall have to introduce you to my aunt; she is so particular.  When she knows you, I am sure she will consent, for you have all the air of discretion.  Go and see her to-day; she lives in the next street, and over her door you will see a notice that lace is washed within.  Tell her that my mother gave you the address.  To-morrow morning, after mass, I will see to everything else, and you must come here at noon to agree as to our meeting on the last day of the carnival.”

I did all this, and the next day I heard that it was settled.

“I will have the dominos ready at my house,” I said, “and you must come in at the back door.  We will dine in my room, mask, and go to the ball.  The eldest of your cousins must be disguised as a man.”

“I won’t tell her anything about that, for fear she might think it a sin, but once in your house you will have no difficulty in managing her.”

The younger of the two cousins was ugly, but looked like a woman, where as the elder looked like an ugly dressed man in woman’s clothes.  She made an amusing contrast with Donna Ignazia, who looked most seductive when she laid aside her air of piety.

I took care that everything requisite for our disguises should be at hand in a neighbouring closet, unbeknown to my rascally page.  I gave him a piece of money in the morning, and told him to spend the last day of the carnival according to his own taste, as I should not require his services till noon the day after.

I ordered a good dinner, and a waiter to serve it, at the tavern, and got rid of Marazzini by giving him a doubloon.  I took great pains over the entertainment I was to give the two cousins and the fair Ignazia, whom I hoped that day to make my mistress.  It was all quite a novelty for me; I had to do with three devotees, two hideous and the third ravishingly beautiful, who had already had a foretaste of the joys in store for her.

They came at noon, and for an hour I discoursed to them in a moral and unctuous manner.  I had taken care to provide myself with some excellent wine, which did not fail to take effect on the three girls, who were not accustomed to a dinner that lasted two hours.  They were not exactly inebriated, but their spirits were worked up to a pitch they had never attained before.