“Oh! by the way,” she suddenly exclaimed, “I have a pleasant surprise for you.”

She went out, and a moment afterward returned with Veronique, who had become her maid.  I was glad to see her and embraced her affectionately, asking after Annette.  She said her sister was well, and was working with her mother.

“I want her to come and wait on my niece while we are here,” said I.

At this Rosalie burst out laughing.

“What! another niece?  You have a great many relations!  But as she is your niece, I hope you will bring her with you to-morrow.”

“Certainly, and all the more willingly as she is from Marseilles.”

“From Marseilles?  Why, we might know each other.  Not that that would matter, for all your nieces are discreet young persons.  What is her name?”

“Crosin.”

“I don’t know it.”

“I daresay you don’t.  She is the daughter of a cousin of mine who lived at Marseilles.”

“Tell that to someone else; but, after all, what does it matter?  You choose well, amuse yourself, and make them happy.  It may be wisdom after all, and at any rate I congratulate you.  I shall be delighted to see your niece, but if she knows me you must see that she knows her part as well.”

On leaving Madame Paretti I called on the Signora Isola-Bella, and gave her the Marquis Triulzi’s letter.  Soon after she came into the room and welcomed me, saying that she had been expecting me, as Triulzi had written to her on the subject.  She introduced me to the Marquis Augustino Grimaldi delta Pietra, her ‘cicisbeoin-chief’ during the long absence of her husband, who lived at Lisbon.

The signora’s apartments were very elegant.  She was pretty with small though regular features, her manner was pleasant, her voice sweet, and her figure well shaped, though too thin.  She was nearly thirty.  I say nothing of her complexion, for her face was plastered with white and red, and so coarsely, that these patches of paint were the first things that caught my attention.  I was disgusted at this, in spite of her fine expressive eyes.  After an hour spent in question and reply, in which both parties were feeling their way, I accepted her invitation to come to supper on the following day.  When I got back I complimented my niece on the way in which she had arranged her room, which was only separated from mine by a small closet which I intended for her maid, who, I told her, was coming the next day.  She was highly pleased with this attention, and it paved the way for my success.  I also told her that the next day she was to dine with me at a substantial merchant’s as my niece, and this piece of news made her quite happy.

This girl whom Croce had infatuated and deprived of her senses was exquisitely beautiful, but more charming than all her physical beauties were the nobleness of her presence and the sweetness of her disposition.  I was already madly in love with her, and I repented not having taken possession of her on the first day of our journey.  If I had taken her at her word I should have been a steadfast lover, and I do not think it would have taken me long to make her forget her former admirer.