Continuation of My Intrigues with C. C.—­M. de Bragadin Asks the Hand of
That Young Person for Me—­Her Father Refuses, and Sends Her to a
Convent—­De la Haye—­I Lose All my Money at the Faso-table—­My
Partnership with Croce Replenishes My Purse—­Various Incidents

The happiness derived from my love had prevented me from attaching any importance to my losses, and being entirely engrossed with the thought of my sweetheart my mind did not seem to care for whatever did not relate to her.

I was thinking of her the next morning when her brother called on me with a beaming countenance, and said,

“I am certain that you have slept with my sister, and I am very glad of it.  She does not confess as much, but her confession is not necessary.  I will bring her to you to-day.”

“You will oblige me, for I adore her, and I will get a friend of mine to ask her in marriage from your father in such a manner that he will not be able to refuse.”

“I wish it may be so, but I doubt it.  In the mean time, I find myself compelled to beg another service from your kindness.  I can obtain, against a note of hand payable in six months, a ring of the value of two hundred sequins, and I am certain to sell it again this very day for the same amount.  That sum, is very necessary to me just now, but the jeweller, who knows you, will not let me have it without your security.  Will you oblige me in this instance?  I know that you lost a great deal last night; if you want some money I will give you one hundred sequins, which you will return when the note of hand falls due.”

How could I refuse him?  I knew very well that I would be duped, but I loved his sister so much: 

“I am ready,” said I to him, “to sign the note of hand, but you are wrong in abusing my love for your sister in such a manner.”

We went out, and the jeweller having accepted my security the bargain was completed.  The merchant, who knew me only by name, thinking of paying me a great compliment, told P——­ C——­ that with my guarantee all his goods were at his service.  I did not feel flattered by the compliment, but I thought I could see in it the knavery of P——­ C——­, who was clever enough to find out, out of a hundred, the fool who without any reason placed confidence in me when I possessed nothing.  It was thus that my angelic C——­ C——­, who seemed made to insure my happiness, was the innocent cause of my ruin.

At noon P——­ C——­ brought his sister; and wishing most likely to prove its honesty—­for a cheat always tries hard to do that—­he gave me back the letter of exchange which I had endorsed for the Cyprus wine, assuring me likewise that at our next meeting he would hand me the one hundred sequins which he had promised me.

I took my mistress as usual to Zuecca; I agreed for the garden to be kept closed, and we dined under a vine-arbour.  My dear C——­ C——­ seemed to me more beautiful since she was mine, and, friendship being united to love we felt a delightful sensation of happiness which shone on our features.  The hostess, who had found me generous, gave us some excellent game and some very fine fish; her daughter served us.  She also came to undress my little wife as soon as we had gone upstairs to give ourselves up to the sweet pleasures natural to a young married couple.