Towards the end of March M——­ M——­ wrote to me herself, saying that she believed herself out of danger, and that by taking care she hoped to be able to leave her room after Easter.  I replied that I should not leave Muran till I had the pleasure of seeing her at the grating, where, without hurrying ourselves, we could plan the execution of our scheme.

It was now seven weeks since M. de Bragadin had seen me, and thinking that he would be getting anxious I resolved to go and see him that very day.  Telling Tonine that I should not be back till the evening, I started for Venice without a cloak, for having gone to Muran masked I had forgotten to take one.  I had spent forty-eight days without going out of my room, chiefly in tears and distress, and without taking any food.  I had just gone through an experience which flattered my self-esteem.  I had been served by a girl who would have passed for a beauty anywhere in Europe.  She was gentle, thoughtful, and delicate, and without being taxed with foppishness I think I may say that, if she was not in love with me, she was at all events inclined to please me to the utmost of her ability; for all that I had been able to withstand her youthful charms, and I now scarcely dreaded them.  Seeing her every day, I had dispersed my amorous fancies, and friendship and gratitude seemed to have vanquished all other feelings, for I was obliged to confess that this charming girl had lavished on me the most tender and assiduous care.

She had passed whole nights on a chair by my bedside, tending me like a mother, and never giving me the slightest cause for complaint.

Never had I given her a kiss, never had I allowed myself to undress in her presence, and never (with one exception) had she come into my room without being properly dressed.  For all that, I knew that I had fought a battle, and I felt inclined to boast at having won the victory.  There was only one circumstance that vexed me—­namely, that I was nearly certain that neither M. M. nor C. C. would consider such continence to be within the bounds of possibility, if they heard of it, and that Laura herself, to whom her daughter would tell the whole story, would be sceptical, though she might out of kindness pretend to believe it all.

I got to M. de Bragadin’s just as the soup was being served.  He welcomed me heartily, and was delighted at having foreseen that I should thus surprise them.  Besides my two other old friends, there were De la Haye, Bavois, and Dr. Righelini at table.

“What! you without a cloak!” said M. Dandolo.

“Yes,” said I; “for having gone out with my mask on I forgot to bring one:” 

At this they laughed, and, without putting myself out, I sat down.  No one asked where I had been so long, for it was understood that that question should be left to me to answer or not.  Nevertheless, De la Haye, who was bursting with curiosity, could not refrain from breaking some jests on me.