“They found her in her dressing-room.  ‘Well gentlemen,’ she said, ’what lucky wind has brought you here together at this hour?

“‘It is a bet, madam,’ answered the unbelieving officer, ’and you alone can be the umpire in our quarrel.  This gentleman has been boasting of having obtained from you everything a woman can grant to the most favoured lover.  I have given him the lie in the most impressive manner, and a duel was to ensue, when he offered to have the truth of his boast certified by you.  I have bet twenty-five Louis that you would not admit it, and he has taken my bet.  Now, madam, you can say which of us two is right.’

“You have lost, sir,” she said to him; ’but now I beg both of you to quit my house, and I give you fair warning that if you ever dare to shew your faces here again, you will be sorry for it.’

“The two heedless fellows went away dreadfully mortified.  The unbeliever paid the bet, but he was deeply vexed, called the other a coxcomb, and a week afterwards killed him in a duel.

“Since that time the lady goes to the casino, and continues to mix in society, but does not see company at her own house, and lives in perfect accord with her husband.”

“How did the husband take it all?”

“Quite well, and like an intelligent, sensible man.  He said that, if his wife had acted differently, he would have applied for a divorce, because in that case no one would have entertained a doubt of her being guilty.”

“That husband is indeed a sensible fellow.  It is certain that, if his wife had given the lie to the indiscreet officer, he would have paid the bet, but he would have stood by what he had said, and everybody would have believed him.  By declaring him the winner of the bet she has cut the matter short, and she has avoided a judgment by which she would have been dishonoured.  The inconsiderate boaster was guilty of a double mistake for which he paid the penalty of his life, but his adversary was as much wanting in delicacy, for in such matters rightly-minded men do not venture upon betting.  If the one who says yes is imprudent, the one who says no is a dupe.  I like the lady’s presence of mind.”

“But what sentence would you pass on her.  Guilty or not guilty?”

“Not guilty.”

“I am of the same opinion, and it has been the verdict of the public likewise, for she has since been treated even better than before the affair.  You will see, if you go to the casino, and I shall be happy to introduce you to her”

I invited the officer to sup with us, and we spent a very pleasant evening.  After he had gone, I remarked with pleasure that Marina was capable of observing the rules of propriety.  She had taken a bedroom to herself, so as not to hurt the feelings of her respectable fellow-dancer.

When I arrived in Mantua, I put up at St. Mark’s hotel.  Marina, to whom I had given a notice that my intention was to call on her but seldom, took up her abode in the house assigned to her by the theatrical manager.