Whatever trick Virginia may have designed for the humiliation of the cavaliere—­and I never inquired of her what it was—­it failed of any apparent effect.  He presented himself before us in the morning with undisturbed serenity, and the same elaborate professions of good-will.  He was going, he said, to spend the day in my rehabilitation.  “Be of good cheer, my dear Don Francis,” were his comfortable words, “for I never yet failed a friend.  It would, indeed—­to put it at its lowest—­be a deplorable want of policy on my part, for since I wish to be thought a gentleman, every act of my life must be more gentlemanlike than that of the greatest gentleman in Europe.  As you have found me hitherto, so you shall find me now.  Make me your banker at the tailor’s, the perruquier’s, the barber’s, the shirtmaker’s, the hosier’s, and the hatter’s.  Add the shoemaker to your list, to oblige me.  I go out to beat at every influential door in Lucca in your favour.  Before nightfall, you shall have papers of identity and safe-conduct which will take you all over our peninsula.”

I thanked him, but declined any assistance whatsoever.  I had money enough for my needs; my wife was prepared to share the fortunes of her husband.  I said that I intended to take a small lodging, to settle myself there, and by honest industry to make my way in the world.  Both of us could work; we had no desire for fine society; and as for credentials, the excellency of our handiwork and our obedience to the laws would be the best in the world.

He was vexed, and showed that he was.  “As for your handiwork, my dear sir,” says he, “all that I have seen of it is that it has left you with scarce a shirt to your back.  Your respect for the law has induced you to shoot a Capuchin in broad daylight, and forced you to leave Florence disguised as a manservant.  However, these things are no concern of mine.  Go your own way, young gentleman, consider me your friend, and permit me to kiss your lady’s hand, vowing myself her grateful and obliged servant for more favours than perhaps you would care to hear recounted.”

Scorning such insinuations as they deserved, Virginia held him out her hand, which he kissed as if he would have bitten it.  I ought to have been warned by the glitter in his hard black eyes, but being conscious of my moral altitude above the base wretch, I took no further notice of him.

I had still in my possession my fifty guineas, with which, judiciously laid out, I had no doubt but that we could make our way good in Lucca.  Full of hope, and fortified by all the privileges which the Church can bestow upon a Christian, or a complaisant wife upon her husband, I set about my business, which was to secure honourable employment for both of us.  After much discussion with Virginia and the exhibition of reasons on my part with which I shall be less particular to trouble the reader, since I have dwelt upon them more than once already, I decided to begin in one