Arthur Machen Ultimate Collection

by Arthur Machen

  "If your wife asks me whether I have received the money, be sure I will answer in the affirmative."

  He went out shedding grateful tears, while I felt indebted to him for having given me the opportunity of doing him a service; for I was very fond of him.

  In the morning, the countess being invisible, I watched my man spreading out my suits over the chairs, amongst them being some handsome women's cloaks, and a rich red dress deeply trimmed with fur, which had been originally intended for the luckless Corticelli. I should no doubt have given it to Agatha, if I had continued to live with her, and I should have made a mistake, as such a dress was only fit for a lady of rank.

  At one o'clock I received another visit from the count, who told me that the countess was going to introduce me to their best friend. This was the Marquis Triuizi, a man of about, my own age, tall, well made, squinting slightly, and with all the manner of a nobleman. He told me that besides coming to have the honour of my acquaintance, he also came to enjoy the fire, "for," said he, "there's only one fireplace in the house and that's in your room."

  As all the chairs were covered, the marquis drew the countess on to his knee and made her sit there like a baby; but she blushed, and escaped from his grasp. The marquis laughed heartily at her confusion, and she said,—

  "Is it possible that a man of your years has not yet learnt to respect a woman?"

  "Really, countess," said he, "I thought it would be very disrespectful to continue sitting while you were standing."

  While Clairmont was taking the clothes off the chairs, the marquis noticed the mantles and the beautiful dress, and asked me if I were expecting a lady.

  "No," said I, "but I hope to find someone at Milan who will be worthy of such presents." I added, "I know the Prince Triulzi, at Venice; I suppose he is of your family?"

  "He says he is, and it may be so; but I am certainly not a member of his family."

  This let me know that I should do well to say no more about the prince.

  "You must stay to dinner, marquis," said Count A—— B——; "and as you only like dishes prepared by your own cook you had better send for them."

  The marquis agreed, and we made good cheer. The table was covered with fair linen and handsome plate, the wine was good and plentiful, and the servants quick and well dressed. I could now understand the marquis's position in the house. It was his wit and mirth which kept the conversation going, and the countess came in for a share of his pleasantries, while she scolded him for his familiarity.

  I could see, however, that the marquis did not want to humiliate her; on the contrary, he was fond of her, and only wished to bring down her exaggerated pride. When he saw her on the point of bursting into tears of rage and shame, he quieted her down by saying that no one in Milan respected her charms and her high birth more than he.

  After dinner the tailor who was to measure the countess for a domino for the ball was announced. On the marquis's praising the colours and the beauty of the materials, she told him that I had brought her the sarcenet from Turin, and this reminded her to ask me whether I had been paid.

  "Your husband settled with me," said I, "but you have given me a lesson I can never forget."

  "What lesson?" said the marquis.

  "I had hoped that the countess would have deigned to receive this poor present at my hands."

  "And she wouldn't take it? It's absurd, on my life."

  "There is nothing to laugh at," said the countess, "but you laugh at everything."

  While the man was measuring her, she complained of feeling cold, as she was in her stays, and her beautiful breast was exposed. Thereupon, the marquis put his hands on it, as if he were quite accustomed to use such familiarities. But the Spaniard, no doubt ashamed because of my presence, got into a rage, and abused him in the most awful manner, while he laughed pleasantly, as if he could calm the storm when he pleased. This was enough to inform me of the position in which they stood to one another, and of the part I ought to take.

  We remained together till the evening, when the countess and the marquis went to the opera, and the count came with me to my room, till my carriage was ready to take us there too. The opera had begun when we got in, and the first person I noticed on the stage was my dear Therese Palesi, whom I had left at Florence. It was a pleasant surprise to me, and I foresaw that we should renew our sweet interviews while I remained at Milan I was discreet enough to say nothing to the count about his wife's charms, or the way their house was managed. I saw that the place was taken, and the odd humours of the lady prevented my falling in love with her. After the second act we went to the assembly rooms, where five or six banks at faro were being held; I staked and lost a hundred ducats as if to pay for my welcome, and then rose from the table.

  At supper the countess seemed to unbend a little, she condoled with me on my loss, and I said that I was glad of it as it made her speak so.

  Just as I rang my bell the next morning, Clairmont told me that a woman wanted to speak to me.

  "Is she young?"

  "Both young and pretty, sir."

  "That will do nicely, shew her in."

  I saw a simply dressed girl, who reminded me of Leah. She was tall and beautiful, but had not as high pretensions as the Jewess; as she only wanted to know whether she could do my washing for me. I was quite taken with her. Clairmont had just brought me my chocolate, and I asked her to sit down on the bed; but she answered modestly that she did not want to trouble me, and would come again when I was up.

  "Do you live at any distance?"

  "I live on the ground floor of this house."

  "All by yourself?"

  "No sir, I have my father and mother."

  "And what is your name?"

  "Zenobia."

  "Your name is as pretty as you are. Will you give me your hand to kiss?"

  "I can't," she replied, with a smile, "my hand is another's."

  "You are engaged, are you?"

  "Yes, to a tailor, and we are going to be married before the end of the carnival."

  "Is he rich or handsome?"

  "Neither the one nor the other."

  "Then why are you going to marry him?"

  "Because I want to have a house of my own."

  "I like you, and will stand your friend. Go and fetch your tailor. I will give him some work to do."

  As soon as she went out I got up and told Clairmont to put my linen on a table. I had scarcely finished dressing when she came back with her tailor. It was a striking contrast, for he was a little shrivelled-up man, whose appearance made one laugh.

  "Well, master tailor," said I, "so you are going to marry this charming girl?"

  "Yes, sir, the banns have been published already."

  "You are a lucky fellow indeed to have so much happiness in store. When are you going to marry her?"

  "In ten or twelve days."

  "Why not to-morrow?"

  "Your worship is in a great hurry."

  "I think I should be, indeed," said I, laughing, "if I were in your place. I want you to make me a domino for the ball to-morrow."

  "Certainly, sir; but your excellency must find me the stuff, for nobody in Milan would give me credit for it, and I couldn't afford to lay out so much money in advance."

  "When you are married you will have money and credit too. In the meanwhile here are ten sequins for you."

  He went away in high glee at such a windfall.

  I gave Zenobia some lace to do up, and asked her if she was afraid of having a jealous husband.

  "He is neither jealous nor amorous," she replied. "He is only marrying me because I earn more than he does."

  "With your charms I should have thought you might have made a better match."

  "I have waited long enough; I have got tired of maidenhood. Besides, he is sharp if he is not handsome, and perhaps a keen head is better than a handsome face."

  "You are sharp enough yourself, anyhow. But why does he put off the wedding?"

  "Because
he hasn't got any money, and wants to have a fine wedding for his relations to come to. I should like it myself."

  "I think you are right; but I can't see why you should not let an honest man kiss your hand."

  "That was only a piece of slyness to let you know I was to be married. I have no silly prejudices myself."

  "Ah, that's better! Tell your future husband that if he likes me to be the patron of the wedding I will pay for everything."

  "Really?"

  "Yes, really. I will give him twenty-five sequins on the condition that he spends it all on the wedding."

  "Twenty-five sequins! That will make people talk; but what care we? I will give you an answer to-morrow."

  "And a kiss now?"

  "With all my heart."

  Zenobia went away in great delight, and I went out to call on my banker and dear Therese.

  When the door was opened the pretty maid recognized me, and taking me by the hand led me to her mistress, who was just going to get up. Her emotion at seeing me was so great that she could not utter a word, but only claps me to her breast.

  Our natural transports over, Therese told me that she had got tired of her husband, and that for the last six months they had not been living together. She had made him an allowance to get rid of him, and he lived on it at Rome.

  "And where is Cesarino?"

  "In this town. You can see him whenever you like."

  "Are you happy?"

  "Quite. People say that I have a lover, but it is not true; and you can see me at any time with perfect liberty."

  We spent two pleasant hours in telling each other of our experiences since our last meeting, and then, finding her as fresh and fair as in the season of our early loves, I asked her if she had vowed to be faithful to her husband.

  "At Florence," she replied, "I was still in love with him; but now, if I am still pleasing in your eyes, we can renew our connection, and live together till we die."

  "I will soon shew you, darling, that I love you as well as ever."

  She answered only by giving herself up to my embrace.

  After action and contemplation I left her as amorous as she had been eighteen years before, but my passion found too many new objects to remain constant long.

  Countess A—— B—— began to be more polite. "I know where you have been," said she, with a pleased air; "but if you love that person, you will not go and see her again, or else her lover will leave her."

  "Then I would take his place, madam."

  "You are right in amusing yourself with women who know how to earn your presents. I am aware that you never give anything till you have received evident proofs of their affection."

  "That has always been my principle."

  "It's an excellent way to avoid being duped. The lover of the person you have been with kept a lady in society for some time in great splendour, but all the rest of us despised her."

  "Why so, if you please?"

  "Because she lowered herself so terribly. Greppi is absolutely a man of no family whatever."

  Without expressing my surprise at the name of Greppi, I replied that a man need not be well born to be an excellent lover.

  "The only thing needful," said I, "is a fine physique and plenty of money, and those ladies who despised their friend were either ridiculously proud or abominably envious. I have not the slightest doubt that if they could find any more Gieppis they would be willing enough to lower themselves."

  She would doubtless have made a sharp reply, for what I had said had angered her; but the Marquis Triulzi arriving, she went out with him, while her husband and myself went to a place where there was a bank at faro, the banker only having a hundred sequins before him.

  I took a card and staked small sums like the rest of the company. After losing twenty ducats I left the place.

  As we were going to the opera the poor count told me I had made him lose ten ducats on his word of honour, and that he did not know how he could pay it by the next day. I pitied him, and gave him the money without a word; for misery has always appealed strongly to me. Afterwards I lost two hundred ducats at the same bank to which I had lost money the evening before. The count was in the greatest distress. He did not know that Greppi, whom his proud wife considered so worthless, had a hundred thousand francs of my money, and that I possessed jewellery to an even greater amount.

  The countess, who had seen me lose, asked me if I would sell my beautiful dress.

  "They say it's worth a thousand sequins," said she.

  "Yes, that is so; but I would sell everything I possess before parting with any of the articles which I intend for the fair sex."

  "Marquis Triulzi wants it badly to present to someone."

  "I am very sorry, but I cannot sell it to him."

  She went away without a word, but I could see that she was exceedingly vexed at my refusal.

  As I was leaving the opera-house I saw Therese getting into her sedan-chair. I went up to her, and told her that I was sure she was going to sup with her lover. She whispered in my ear that she was going to sup by herself, and that I might come if I dared. I gave her an agreeable surprise by accepting the invitation.

  "I will expect you, then," she said.

  I asked the count to ride home in my carriage, and taking a chair I reached Therese's house just as she was going in.

  What a happy evening we had! We laughed heartily when we told each other our thoughts.

  "I know you were in love with Countess A—— B——," said she, "and I felt sure you would not dare to come to supper with me."

  "And I thought I should confound you by accepting your invitation, as I knew Greppi was your lover."

  "He is my friend," she replied. "If he loves me in any other way than that of friendship, I pity him, for as yet he has not discovered the secret of seduction."

  "Do you think he ever will?"

  "No, I don't. I am rich."

  "Yes, but he is richer than you."

  "I know that, but I think he loves his money better than he loves me."

  "I understand. You will make him happy if he loves you well enough to ruin himself."

  "That is it, but it will never come to pass. But here we are, together again after a divorce of nearly twenty years. I don't think you will find any change in me."

  "That is a privilege which nature grants to the fair sex only. You will find me changed, but you will be able to work miracles."

  This was a piece of politeness, for she was hardly capable of working any miracle. However, after an excellent supper, we spent two hours in amorous raptures, and then Morpheus claimed us for his own. When we awoke I did not leave her before giving her a good day equal to the good night which had sent us to sleep.

  When I got back I found the fair Zenobia, who said the tailor was ready to marry her next Sunday if my offer was not a joke.

  "To convince you of the contrary," said I, "here are the twenty-five sequins."

  Full of gratitude she let herself fall into my arms, and I covered her mouth and her beautiful bosom with my fiery kisses. Therese had exhausted me, so I did not go any further, but the girl no doubt attributed my self-restraint to the fact that the door was open. I dressed carefully, and made myself look less weary, and to freshen myself up I had a long drive in an open carriage.

  When I returned, I found the Marquis of Triulzi teasing the countess as usual. On that day he furnished the dinner, and it was consequently, a very good one.

  The conversation turned on the dress in my possession, and the countess told the marquis, like an idiot, that it was destined for the lady who would make me desirous and gratify my desire.

  With exquisite politeness the marquis told me that I deserved to enjoy favours at a cheaper rate.

  "I suppose you will be giving it to the person with whom you spent the night," said the countess.

  "That's an impossibility," I answered, "for I spent the night in play."

  Just then Clairmont came in, and told me an officer wanted to
speak to me. I went to the door, and saw a handsome young fellow, who greeted me with an embrace. I recognized him as Barbaro, the son of a Venetian noble, and brother of the fair and famous Madame Gritti Scombro, of whom I spoke ten years ago, whose husband had died in the citadel of Cattaro, where the State Inquisitors had imprisoned him. My young friend had also fallen into disgrace with the despotic Inquisitors. We had been good friends during the year before my imprisonment, but I had heard nothing of him since.

  Barbaro told me the chief incidents in a life that had been adventurous enough, and informed me that he was now in the service of the Duke of Modena, the Governor of Milan.

  "I saw you losing money at Canano's bank," said he, "and remembering our old friendship I want to communicate to you a sure way of winning money. All that is necessary is for me to introduce you to a club of young men who are very fond of play, and cannot possibly win."

  "Where does this club meet?"

  "In an extremely respectable house. If you agree I will keep the bank myself, and I am sure of winning. I want you to lend me capital, and I only ask a fourth of the profits."

  "I suppose you can hold the cards well."

  "You are right."

  This was as much as to tell me that he was an adroit sharper, or, in other words, a skilful corrector of fortune's mistakes. He concluded by saying that I should find something worth looking at in the house he had mentioned.

  "My dear sir," I replied, "I will give you my decision after seeing the club to which you want to introduce me."

  "Will you be at the theatre coffee-house at three o'clock to-morrow?"

  "Yes, but I hope to see you at the ball in the evening."

  Zenobia's betrothed brought me my domino, and the countess had hers already. As the ball did not begin till the opera was over, I went to hear Therese's singing. In the interval between the acts I lost another two hundred sequins, and then went home to dress for the ball. The countess said that if I would be kind enough to take her to the ball in my carriage and fetch her home in it, she would not send for the Marquis Triulzi's. I replied that I was at her service.