“Signora Isola-Bella will be delighted to see her.”

“As the marquis did not mention her in his letter, I did not take the liberty of bringing her.”

The marquis left a few moments afterwards, and soon after Annette came in with her mother.  The girl had developed in an incredible manner while I was away.  Her cheeks blossomed like the rose, her teeth were white as pearls, and her breasts, though modestly concealed from view, were exquisitely rounded.  I presented her to her mistress, whose astonishment amused me.

Annette, who looked pleased to be in my service again, went to dress her new mistress; and, after giving a few sequins to the mother I sent her away, and proceeded to make my toilette.

Towards noon, just as I was going out with my niece to dine at Rosalie’s, my landlady brought me the agreement Possano had made, and introduced the new cook.  I ordered the next day’s dinner, and went away much pleased with my comic victory.

A brilliant company awaited us at the Paretti’s, but I was agreeably surprised on introducing my niece to Rosalie to see them recognize each other.  They called each other by their respective names, and indulged in an affectionate embrace.  After this they retired to another room for a quarter of an hour, and returned looking very happy.  Just then Paretti entered, and on Rosalie introducing him to my niece under her true name he welcomed her in the most cordial manner.  Her father was a correspondent of his, and drawing a letter he had just received from him from his pocket, he gave it to her to read.  My niece read it eagerly, with tears in her eyes, and gave the signature a respectful pressure with her lips.  This expression of filial love, which displayed all the feelings of her heart, moved me to such an extent that I burst into tears.  Then taking Rosalie aside, I begged her to ask her husband not to mention the fact to his correspondent that he had seen his daughter.

The dinner was excellent, and Rosalie did the honours with that grace which was natural to her.  However, the guests did not by any means pay her all their attentions, the greater portion of which was diverted in the direction of my supposed niece.  Her father, a prosperous merchant of Marseilles, was well known in the commercial circles of Genoa, and besides this her wit and beauty captivated everybody, and one young gentleman fell madly in love with her.  He was an extremely good match, and proved to be the husband whom Heaven had destined for my charming friend.  What a happy thought it was for me that I had been the means of rescuing her from the gulf of shame, misery, and despair, and placing her on the high road to happiness.  I own that I have always felt a keener pleasure in doing good than in anything else, though, perhaps, I may not always have done good from strictly disinterested motives.

When we rose from the table in excellent humour with ourselves and our surroundings, cards were proposed, and Rosalie, who knew my likings, said it must be trente-quarante.  This was agreed to, and we played till supper, nobody either winning or losing to any extent.  We did not go till midnight, after having spent a very happy day.