the consideration of the Senators.  Working in my master’s yard, I used to see him now and again being carried in his chair to this great house or that, half a dozen link-boys before him, and his valet behind carrying his sword and gloves.  Virginia often met him in the course of her errands, but, as she said, was never recognised by him.  We nattered ourselves that he had forgotten our co-existence with him upon this planet.  Hope never stooped to falser cozenage; we were to be rudely undeceived.

CHAPTER XXXIII

TREACHERY WORKS AGAINST US

One evening—­I believe, as I said, that it was after nearly six months’ calm and temperate life that our troubles began—­upon returning from my day’s work, I found Virginia in a pensive mood.  She accepted, but hardly returned, my salute, was very silent throughout the preparation and eating of our supper; now and then, glancing at her, I caught her gaze fixed upon me, and fancied that there was a hard light in her eyes.  Our companions, Gioiachino and his wife Teresa, rallied us on what they thought to be one of those domestic differences common to the most affectionate couples.  “A tiff, a tiff!” said they, nudging each other.  “Virginia has caught him with the gardener’s wife.  We shall get no sleep to-night.”  This gardener’s wife was an obese and asthmatic matron of some two-score years; who occupied a room in our little house, and was kinder to me than I cared for.  It was not until Gioiachino and his Teresa were asleep that I could hope to discover what had affected Virginia.  She then told me that, as she had been at work that afternoon, kneeling on the boards by the river with the other women, the Cavaliere Aquamorta with a party of gentlemen had come by the meadows and stopped to jest and bandy familiarities with the laundresses.  Although he had pretended not to recognise her, Virginia was not deceived.  Finding his opportunity, he drew near to her side, and whispered in her ear, “Can I believe my senses?  You, my charming consort of a few weeks ago, in such a plight, in such a company!” Virginia had replied that the company had been of her own choosing up to this hour, and that what he complained of now could be remedied very easily, and by himself only.  He said, “No, my honour will not allow it.  I must needs remember what I might have made you, and what you have become.  Count upon Aquamorta, who has never yet failed his friends.  Count upon his memory and passionate aspirations.”

“I told him,” said Virginia, “that I should do nothing of the kind.  I said that I was wife to a gentleman born, who also happened to be an honest man.  ‘If,’ I said finally, ’you wish to do Virginia a real service, you will be pleased to forget that you ever saw her.’  He laughed, and said that that was impossible to a man of his tumultuous passions, and went away with a profound salutation.  This,” said my poor Virginia, “has troubled me more than I care to own.  I think we should be wise to leave Lucca until—­evil wind that he is—­he blows over.”