Produced by David Widger
MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798
ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH, Volume 4e—MILAN
I Give up Agatha to Lord Percy—I Set out for Milan—The Actress at
Pavia—Countess A * * * B * * *—Disappointment—Marquis
Triulzi—Zenobia—The Two Marchionesses Q * * *—The Venetian Barbaro
Far from punishing the Corticelli by making her live with Redegonde, theCount d'Aglie seemed to have encouraged her; and I was not sorry for it,since as long as she did not trouble me any more I did not care how manylovers she had. She had become a great friend of Redegonde's, and didexactly as she pleased, for their duenna was much more easy going thanthe Pacienza.
Nobody knew of the trick which Lord Percy had played me, and I took careto say nothing about it. However, he did not give up his designs onAgatha, his passion for her was too violent. He hit upon an ingeniousmethod for carrying out his plans. I have already said that Percy wasvery rich, and spent his money wildly, not caring at what expenditure hegratified his passion. I was the last person to reproach him for hisextravagance, and in a country where money is always scarce his guineasopened every door to him.
Four or five days after the ball night, Agatha came to tell me that themanager of the Alexandria Theatre had asked her if she would take thepart of second dancer throughout the carnival time.
"He offered me sixty sequins," she added, "and I told him I would let himknow by to-morrow. Do you advise me to accept his offer?"
"If you love me, dearest Agatha, you will prove it by refusing allengagements for a year. You know I will let you want for nothing.
"I will get you the best masters, and in that time you can perfect yourdancing, and will be able to ask for a first-class appointment, with asalary of five hundred sequins a year."
"Mamma thinks that I should accept the offer, as the dancing on the stagewill improve my style, and I can study under a good master all the same.I think myself that dancing in public would do me good."
"There is reason in what you say, but you do not need the sixty sequins.You will dishonour me by accepting such a poor offer, and you will doyourself harm too, as you will not be able to ask for a good salary aftertaking such a small one."
"But sixty sequins is not so bad for a carnival engagement."
"But you don't want sixty sequins; you can have them without dancing atall. If you love me, I repeat, you will tell the manager that you aregoing to rest for a year."
"I will do what you please, but it seems to me the best plan would be toask an exorbitant sum."
"You are right; that is a good idea. Tell him you must be first dancer,and that your salary must be five hundred sequins."
"I will do so, and am only too happy to be able to prove that I loveyou."
Agatha had plenty of inborn common sense, which only needed development.With that and the beauty which Heaven had given her her future wasassured.
She was eventually happy, and she deserved her happiness.
The next day she told me that the manager did not appear at allastonished at her demands.
"He reflected a few minutes," said she, "and told me he m