I had seen Premislas when he was a child, and had already heard reports of a notable achievement of his.  At Naples he had cheated the Chevalier de Morosini by persuading him to become his surety to the extent of six thousand ducats, and now he arrived in Florence in a handsome carriage, bringing his mistress with him, and having two tall lackeys and a valet in his service.

He took good apartments, hired a carriage, rented a box at the opera, had a skilled cook, and gave his mistress a lady-in-waiting.  He then shewed himself at the best club, richly dressed, and covered with jewellery.  He introduced himself under the name of Count Premislas Zanovitch.

There is a club in Florence devoted to the use of the nobility.  Any stranger can go there without being introduced, but so much the worse for him if his appearance fails to indicate his right to be present.  The Florentines are ice towards him, leave him alone, and behave in such a manner that the visit is seldom repeated.  The club is at once decent and licentious, the papers are to be read there, games of all kinds are played, food and drink may be had, and even love is available, for ladies frequent the club.

Zanovitch did not wait to be spoken to, but made himself agreeable to everyone, and congratulated himself on mixing in such distinguished company, talked about Naples which he had just left, brought in his own name with great adroitness, played high, lost merrily, paid after pretending to forget all about his debts, and in short pleased everyone.  I heard all this the next day from the Marquis Capponi, who said that someone had asked him if he knew me, whereat he answered that when I left Venice he was at college, but that he had often heard his father speak of me in very high terms.  He knew both the Chevalier Morosini and Count Medini, and had a good deal to say in praise of the latter.  The marquis asked me if I knew him, and I replied in the affirmative, without feeling it my duty to disclose certain circumstances which might not have been advantageous to him; and as Madame Denis seemed curious to make his acquaintance the Chevalier Puzzi promised to bring him to see her, which he did in the course of a few days.

I happened to be with Madame Denis when Puzzi presented Zanovitch, and I saw before me a fine-looking young men, who seemed by his confident manner to be sure of success in all his undertakings.  He was not exactly handsome, but he had a perfect manner and an air of gaiety which seemed infectious, with a thorough knowledge of the laws of good society.  He was by no means an egotist, and seemed never at a loss for something to talk about.  I led the conversation to the subject of his country, and he gave me an amusing description of it, talking of his fief-part of which was within the domains of the sultan-as a place where gaiety was unknown, and where the most determined misanthrope would die of melancholy.

As soon as he heard my name he began speaking to me in a tone of the most delicate flattery.  I saw the makings of a great adventurer in him, but I thought his luxury would prove the weak point in his cuirass.  I thought him something like what I had been fifteen years ago, but as it seemed unlikely that he had my resources I could not help pitying him.