My host exerted himself to entertain me, though he tried (and I cannot blame him) to entertain the company at the same time.  Perhaps his curiosity got the better of his good nature; certainly he pumped me as dry as I could be induced to go, and it was not until he had learned everything I cared to tell him that he remembered that he could impart as well as receive.  He discussed my master (as he supposed him to be), the cavaliere, and by what he told me gave me some entertainment not unmixed with anxiety.  That obliging and imperturbable person was, I found out, a gentleman of fortune—­a term which implies that he was not a gentleman at all and had no kind of fortune but what he could secure of his neighbours.  He travelled like a prince, and spent his money freely, but all was, as my host said, a case of casting nets.  “Not but what my gentleman loves his belly as much as you or I,” said the master-cook; “and small blame to him if he do.  A man’s head has no more stout ally than his paunch, while it is well lined, and no more arrant deserter if he cut short the supplies.  But if you suppose, sir, that the banquet which I have sent upstairs is all for Aquamorta and his lady to consume en tete-a-tete, you know very little about him.  Why, I’ll wager that demirep of a valet of his has collected half our young blades to the board.  Good food, good wine, good talk there will be, never fear.  And afterwards—­what follows?  So soon as the tables are cleared out come the cards and the fishes.  His Excellency, to oblige the company, will make a faro-bank; the company—­well fed and well drunken—­to oblige his Excellency, will punt.  The signora will do the same for the ladies, the ladies for the signora.  Now do you see the drift of his net?  Should any little dispute arise—­as will be on occasion—­the cavaliere’s sword is at the disposition of the gentleman offended.  He is something of a marksman, too, as you cannot fail to have heard if you are a traveller.  He has killed a man and undone a couple of ladies in every Court of Europe.  He has been under the leads at Venice, and out again, deuce knows how.  He has been expelled from half the cities of Italy, and has turned the story into capital in the other half.  A most exorbitant, irresistible droll of a master you have there, sir; but who his decoy-duck of the moment may be, I dare say you can tell better than I. A fine young woman, and a cool hand, I could see for myself.  I thought she looked waspish and gave herself more graces than were hers by nature.  He has a taste for a bitter with his food, it appears; something tart and sharp to give an edge to his palate, perhaps.  Do you happen to know her name?”

I said she was known to me as Donna Virginia, whereat he laughed gaily, and taking Gentucca round the waist, kissed her heartily, saying that she was the virgin for him.