Itookachairandsatdownbesideher。
Shewasnearherfiftiethyear，thoughsomemighthavedoubtedwhethershewouldeverseeitagain；hermannerwasgoodandhonest，andherfeaturesborethetracesofthebeautythattimehadruined。
AlthoughIamnotaprejudicedman，thepresenceofthetwoevil—smellingmonksannoyedmeextremely。Ithoughttheobstinatewayinwhichtheystayedlittlelessthananinsult。Truetheyweremenlikemyself，inspiteoftheirgoats’beardsanddirtyfrocks，andconsequentlywereliabletothesamedesiresasI；butforallthatIfoundthemwhollyintolerable。Icouldnotshamethemwithoutshamingthelady，andtheyknewit；monksareadeptsatsuchcalculations。
IhavetravelledalloverEurope，butFranceistheonlycountryinwhichIsawadecentandrespectableclergy。
AttheendofaquarterofanhourIcouldcontainmyselfnolonger，andtoldtheauntthatIwishedtosaysomethingtoherinprivate。I
thoughtthetwosatyrswouldhavetakenthehint，butIcountedwithoutmyhost。Theauntarose，however，andtookmeintothenextroom。
Iaskedmyquestionasdelicatelyaspossible，andshereplied，——
"Alas！Ihaveonlytoogreataneedoftwentyducats（abouteightyfrancs）topaymyrent。"
Igaveherthemoneyonthespot，andIsawthatshewasverygrateful，butIleftherbeforeshecouldexpressherfeelings。
HereImusttellmyreaders（ifIeverhaveany）ofaneventwhichtookplaceonthatsameday。
AsIwasdininginmyroombymyself，IwastoldthataVenetiangentlemanwhosaidheknewmewishedtospeaktome。
Iorderedhimtobeshewn。in，andthoughhisfacewasnotwhollyunknowntomeIcouldnotrecollectwhohewas。
Hewastall，thinandwretched，miseryandhungerspewingplainlyinhiseveryfeature；hisbeardwaslong，hisheadshaven，hisrobeadingybrown，andboundabouthimwithacoarsecord，whencehungarosaryandadirtyhandkerchief。Inthelefthandheboreabasket，andintherightalongstick；hisformisstillbeforeme，butIthinkofhimnotasahumblepenitent，butasabeinginthelaststateofdesperation；almostanassassin。
"Whoareyou？"Isaidatlength。"IthinkIhaveseenyoubefore，andyet……"
"Iwillsoontellyoumynameandthestoryofmywoes；butfirstgivemesomethingtoeat，forIamdyingofhunger。Ihavehadnothingbutbadsoupforthelastfewdays。"
"Certainly；godownstairsandhaveyourdinner，andthencomebacktome；
youcan’teatandspeakatthesametime。"
Mymanwentdowntogivehimhismeal，andIgaveinstructionsthatIwasnottobeleftalonewithhimasheterrifiedme。
IfeltsurethatIoughttoknowhim，andlongedtohearhisstory。
Inthreequartersofanhourhecameupagain，lookinglikesomeoneinahighfever。
"Sitdown，"saidI，"andspeakfreely。"
"MynameisAlbergoni。"
"What！"
AlbergoniwasagentlemanofPadua，andoneofmymostintimatefriendstwenty—fiveyearsbefore。Hewasprovidedwithasmallfortune，butanabundanceofwit，andhadagreatleaningtowardspleasureandtheexerciseofsatire。Helaughedatthepoliceandthecheatedhusbands，indulgedinVenusandBacchustoexcess，sacrificedtothegodofpederasty，andgamedincessantly。Hewasnowhideouslyugly，butwhenI
knewhimfirsthewasaveryAntinous。
Hetoldmethefollowingstory:
"Aclubofyoungrakes，ofwhomIwasone，hadacasinoattheZuecca；wepassedmanyapleasanthourtherewithouthurtinganyone。Someoneimaginedthatthesemeetingswerethescenesofunlawfulpleasures，theenginesofthelawweresecretlydirectedagainstus，andthecasinowasshutup，andwewereorderedtobearrested。AllescapedexceptmyselfandamannamedBranzandi。Wehadtowaitforourunjustsentencefortwoyears，butatlastitappeared。Mywretchedfellowwascondemnedtolosehishead，andafterwardstobeburnt，whileIwassentencedtotenyears’imprisonment’incarcereduro’。In1765Iwassetfree，andwenttoPaduahopingtoliveinpeace，butmypersecutorsgavemenorest，andIwasaccusedofthesamecrime。Iwouldnotwaitforthestormtoburst，soIfledtoRome，andtwoyearsafterwardstheCouncilofTencondemnedmetoperpetualbanishment。
"ImightbearthisifIhadthewherewithaltolive，butabrother—in—lawofminehaspossessedhimselfofallIhave，andtheunjustTribunalwinksathismisdeeds。
"ARomanattorneymademeanofferofanannuityoftwopawlsadayontheconditionthatIshouldrenounceallclaimsonmyestate。Irefusedthisiniquitouscondition，andleftRometocomehereandturnhermit。I
havefollowedthissorrytradefortwoyears，andcanbearitnomore。"
"GobacktoRome；youcanliveontwopawlsaday。"
"Iwouldratherdie。"
Ipitiedhimsincerely，andsaidthatthoughIwasnotarichmanhewaswelcometodineeverydayatmyexpensewhileIremainedinNaples，andI
gavehimasequin。
Twoorthreedayslatermymantoldmethatthepoorwretchhadcommittedsuicide。
Inhisroomwerefoundfivenumbers，whichhebequeathedtoMediniandmyselfoutofgratitudeforourkindnesstohim。ThesefivenumberswereveryprofitabletotheLotteryofNaples，foreveryone，myselfexcepted，rushedtogetthem。Notasingleoneprovedawinningnumber，butthepopularbeliefthatnumbersgivenbyamanbeforehecommitssuicideareinfallibleistoodeeplyrootedamongtheNeapolitanstobedestroyedbysuchamisadventure。
Iwenttoseethewretchedman’sbody，andthenenteredacafe。Someonewastalkingofthecase，andmaintainingthatdeathbystrangulationmustbemostluxuriousasthevictimalwaysexpireswithastrongerection。
Itmightbeso，buttheerectionmightalsobetheresultofanagonyofpain，andbeforeanyonecanspeakdogmaticallyonthepointhemustfirsthavehadapracticalexperience。
AsIwasleavingthecafeIhadthegoodlucktocatchahandkerchiefthiefintheact；itwasaboutthetwentiethIhadstolenfrommeinthemonthIhadspentatNaples。Suchpettythievesaboundthere，andtheirskillissomethingamazing。
Assoonashefelthimselfcaught，hebeggedmenottomakeanynoise，swearinghewouldreturnallthehandkerchiefshehadstolenfromme，which，asheconfessed，amountedtosevenoreight。
"Youhavestolenmorethantwentyfromme。"
"NotI，butsomeofmymates。Ifyoucomewithme，perhapsweshallbeabletogetthemallback。"
"Isitfaroff？"
"IntheLargodelCastello。Letmego；peoplearelookingatus。"
Thelittlerascaltookmetoanevil—lookingtavern，andshewedmeintoaroom，whereamanaskedmeifIwantedtobuyanyoldthings。AssoonasheheardIhadcomeformyhandkerchiefs，heopenedabigcupboardfullofhandkerchiefs，amongstwhichIfoundadozenofmine，andboughtthembackforatrifle。
AfewdaysafterIboughtseveralothers，thoughIknewtheywerestolen。
TheworthyNeapolitandealerseemedtothinkmetrustworthy，andthreeorfourdaysbeforeIleftNapleshetoldmethathecouldsellme，fortenortwelvethousandducats，commoditieswhichwouldfetchfourtimesthatamountatRomeorelsewhere。
"Whatkindofcommoditiesarethey？"
"Watches，snuff—boxes，rings，andjewels，whichIdarenotsellhere。"
"Aren’tyouafraidofbeingdiscovered？"
"Notmuch，Idon’ttelleveryoneofmybusiness。"
Ithankedhim，butIwouldnotlookathistrinkets，asIwasafraidthetemptationofmakingsuchaprofitwouldbetoogreat。
WhenIgotbacktomyinnIfoundsomeguestshadarrived，ofwhomafewwereknowntome。BartoldihadarrivedfromDresdenwithtwoyoungSaxons，whosetutorhewas。Theseyoungnoblemenwererichandhandsome，andlookedfondofpleasure。
Bartoldiwasanoldfriendofmine。HehadplayedHarlequinattheKingofPoland’sItalianTheatre。Onthedeathofthemonarchhehadbeenplacedattheheadoftheopera—buffabythedowagerelectress，whowaspassionatelyfondofmusic。
AmongsttheotherstrangerswereMissChudleigh，nowDuchessofKingston，withanoblemanandaknightwhosenamesIhaveforgotten。
Theduchessrecognizedmeatonce，andseemedpleasedthatIpaidmycourttoher。AnhourafterwardsMr。Hamiltoncametoseeher，andIwasdelightedtomakehisacquaintance。Wealldinedtogether。Mr。
Hamiltonwasagenius，andyetheendedbymarryingameregirl，whowascleverenoughtomakehiminlovewithher。Suchamisfortuneoftencomestoclevermenintheiroldage。Marriageisalwaysafolly；butwhenamanmarriesayoungwomanatatimeoflifewhenhisphysicalstrengthisrunninglow，heisboundtopaydearlyforhisfolly；andifhiswifeisamorousofhimshewillkillhimevenyearsagoIhadanarrowescapemyselffromthesamefate。
AfterdinnerIpresentedthetwoSaxonstotheduchess；theygavehernewsofthedowagerelectress，ofwhomshewasveryfond。Wethenwenttotheplaytogether。Aschancewouldhaveit，MadameGoudaroccupiedtheboxnexttoours，andHamiltonamusedtheduchessbytellingthestoryofthehandsomeIrishwoman，buthergracedidnotseemdesirousofmakingSara’sacquaintance。
AftersuppertheduchessarrangedagameofquinzewiththetwoEnglishmenandthetwoSaxons。Thestakesweresmall，andtheSaxonsprovedvictorious。Ihadnottakenanypartinthegame，butIresolvedtodosothenextevening。
ThefollowingdaywedinedmagnificentlywiththePrinceofFrancavilla，andintheafternoonhetookustothebathbytheseashore，wherewesawawonderfulsight。Aprieststrippedhimselfnaked，leaptintothewater，andwithoutmakingtheslightestmovementfloatedonthesurfacelikeapieceofdeal。Therewasnotrickinit，andthemarvelmustbeassignedtosomespecialqualityinhisorgansofbreathing。Afterthistheprinceamusedtheduchessstillmorepleasantly。Hemadeallhispages，ladsoffifteentoseventeen，gointothewater，andtheirvariousevolutionsaffordedusgreatpleasure。Theywereallthesweetheartsoftheprince，whopreferredGanymedetoHebe。
TheEnglishmenaskedhimififhewouldgiveusthesamespectacle，onlysubsitutingnymphsforthe’amoyini’，andhepromisedtodosothenextdayathissplendidhousenearPortici，wheretherewasamarblebasininthemidstofthegarden。
CHAPTERXIV
MyAmourswithGallimena——JourneytoSoyento——Medini——Goudar——
MissChudleigh——TheMarquisPetina——Gaetano——MadameCornelis’sSon——
AnAnecdoteofSaraGoudar——TheFlorentinesMockedbytheKing——
MyJourneytoSalerno，ReturntoNaples，andArrivalatRomeThePrinceofFrancavillawasarichEpicurean，whosemottowas’Fovetetfavet’。
HewasinfavourinSpain，butthekingallowedhimtoliveatNaples，ashewasafraidofhisinitiatingthePrinceofAsturias，hisbrothers，andperhapsthewholeCourt，intohispeculiarvices。
Thenextdayhekepthispromise，andwehadthepleasureofseeingthemarblebasinfilledwithtenortwelvebeautifulgirlswhoswamaboutinthewater。
MissChudleighandthetwootherladiespronouncedthisspectacletedious；theynodoubtpreferredthatofthepreviousday。
InspiteofthisgaycompanyIwenttoseeCallimenatwiceaday；shestillmademesighinvain。
Agathawasmyconfidante；shewouldgladlyhavehelpedmetoattainmyends，butherdignitywouldnotallowofhergivingmeanyovertassistance。ShepromisedtoaskCallimenatoaccompanyusonanexcursiontoSorento，hopingthatIshouldsucceedinmyobjectduringthenightweshouldhavetospendthere。
BeforeAgathahadmadethesearrangements，HamiltonhadmadesimilaroneswiththeDuchessofKingston，andIsucceededingettinganinvitation。
IassociatedchieflywiththetwoSaxonsandacharmingAbbeGuliani，withwhomIafterwardsmadeamoreintimateacquaintanceatRome。
WeleftNaplesatfouro’clockinthemorning，inafeluccawithtwelveoars，andatninewereachedSorrento。
Wewerefifteeninnumber，andallweredelightedwiththisearthlyparadise。
HamiltontookustoagardenbelongingtotheDukeofSerraCapriola，whochancedtobetherewithhinbeautifulPiedmontesewife，wholovedherhusbandpassionately。
Thedukehadbeensenttheretwomonthsbeforeforhavingappearedinpublicinanequipagewhichwasadjudgedtoomagnificent。TheministerTanuccicalledonthekingtopunishthisinfringementofthesumptuarylaws，andasthekinghadnotyetlearnttoresisthisministers，thedukeandhiswifewereexiledtothisearthlyparadise。Butaparadisewhichisaprisonisnoparadiseatall；theywerebothdyingofennui，andourarrivalwasbalminGileadtothem。
AcertainAbbeBettoni，whoseacquaintanceIhadmadenineyearsbeforeatthelateDukeofMatalone’s，hadcometoseethem，andwasdelightedtomeetmeagain。
TheabbewasanativeofBrescia，buthehadchosenSorentoashisresidence。Hehadthreethousandcrownsayear，andlivedwell，enjoyingallthegiftsofBacchus，Ceres，Comus，andVenus，thelatterbeinghisfavouritedivinity。Hehadonlytodesiretoattain，andnomancoulddesiregreaterpleasurethanheenjoyedatSorento。IwasvexedtoseeCountMediniwithhim；wewereenemies，andgaveeachotherthecoldestofgreetings。
Weweretwenty—twoattableandenjoyeddeliciousfare，forinthatlandeverythingisgood；theverybreadissweeterthanelsewhere。Wespenttheafternoonininspectingthevillages，whicharesurroundedbyavenuesfinerthantheavenuesleadingtothegrandestcastlesinEurope。
AbbeBettonitreatedustolemon，coffee，andchocolateices，andsomedeliciouscreamcheese。Naplesexcellsinthesedelicacies，andtheabbehadeverythingofthebest。Wewerewaitedonbyfiveorsixcountrygirlsofravishingbeauty，dressedwithexquisiteneatness。Iaskedhimwhetherthatwerehisseraglio，andherepliedthatitmightbeso，butthatjealousywasunknown，asIshouldseeformyselfifIcaredtospendaweekwithhim。
Ienviedthishappyman，andyetIpitiedhim，forhewasatleasttwelveyearsolderthanI，andIwasbynomeansyoung。Hispleasurescouldnotlastmuchlonger。
Intheeveningwereturnedtotheduke’s，andsatdowntoasuppercomposedofseveralkindsoffish。
TheairofSorentogivesanuntiringappetite，andthesuppersoondisappeared。
Aftersuppermyladyproposedagameatfaro，andBettoni，knowingMedinitobeaprofessionalgamester，askedhimtoholdthebank。Hebeggedtobeexcused，sayinghehadnotenoughmoney，soIconsentedtotakehisplace。
Thecardswerebroughtin，andIemptiedmypoorpurseonthetable。Itonlyheldfourhundredounces，butthatwasallIpossessed。
Thegamebegan；andonMediniaskingmeifIwouldallowhimashareinthebank，Ibeggedhimtoexcusemeonthescoreofinconvenience。
Iwentondealingtillmidnight，andbythattimeIhadonlyfortyouncesleft。EverybodyhadwonexceptSirRosebury，whohadpuntedinEnglishbanknotes，whichIhadputintomypocketwithoutcounting。
WhenIgottomyroomIthoughtIhadbetterlookatthebanknotes，forthedepletionofmypursedisquietedme。Mydelightmaybeimagined。I
foundIhadgotfourhundredandfiftypounds——morethandoublewhatI
hadlost。
Iwenttosleepwellpleasedwithmyday’swork，andresolvednottotellanyoneofmygoodluck。
Theduchesshadarrangedforustostartatnine，andMadamedeSerraCapriolabeggedustotakecoffeewithherbeforegoing。
AfterbreakfastMediniandBettonicamein，andtheformeraskedHamiltonwhetherhewouldmindhisreturningwithus。Ofcourse，Hamiltoncouldnotrefuse，sohecameonboard，andattwoo’clockIwasbackatmyinn。
Iwasastonishedtobegreetedinmyantechamberbyayounglady，whoaskedmesadlywhetherIrememberedher。ShewastheeldestofthefiveHanoverians，thesamethathadfledwiththeMarquisdellsPetina。
Itoldhertocomein，andordereddinnertobebroughtup。
"Ifyouarealone，"shesaid，"Ishouldbegladtoshareyourrepast。"
"Certainly；Iwillorderdinnerfortwo。"
Herstorywassoontold。ShehadcometoNapleswithherhusband，whomhermotherrefusedtorecognize。Thepoorwretchhadsoldallhepossessed，andtwoorthreemonthsafterhehadbeenarrestedonseveralchargesofforgery。Hispoormatehadsupportedhiminprisonforsevenyears。ShehadheardthatIwasatNaples，andwantedmetohelpher，notastheMarquisdellaPetinawished，bylendinghimmoney，butbyemployingmyinfluencewiththeDuchessofKingstontomakethatladytakehertoEnglandwithherinherservice。
"Areyoumarriedtothemarquis？"
"No。"
"Thenhowcouldyoukeephimforsevenyears？"
"Alas……Youcanthinkofahundredways，andtheywouldallbetrue。"
"Isee。"
"Canyouprocuremeaninterviewwiththeduchess？"
"Iwilltry，butIwarnyouthatIshalltellherthesimpletruth。"
"Verygood。"
"Comeagainto—morrow。"
Atsixo’clockIwenttoaskHamiltonhowIcouldexchangetheEnglishnotesIhadwon，andhegavemethemoneyhimself。
BeforesupperIspoketotheduchessaboutthepoorHanoverian。Myladysaidsherememberedseeingher，andthatshewouldliketohaveatalkwithherbeforecomingtoanydecision。Ibroughtthepoorcreaturetoherthenextday，andleftthemalone。TheresultoftheinterviewwasthattheduchesstookherintoherserviceintheplaceofaRomangirl，andtheHanoverianwenttoEnglandwithher。Ineverheardofheragain，butafewdaysafterPetinasenttobegmetocomeandseehiminprison，andIcouldnotrefuse。IfoundhimwithayoungmanwhomIrecognizedashisbrother，thoughhewasveryhandsomeandthemarquisveryugly；
butthedistinctionbetweenbeautyanduglinessisoftenhardtopointout。
Thisvisitprovedaverytediousone，forIhadtolistentoalongstorywhichdidnotinterestmeintheleast。
AsIwasgoingoutIwasmetbyanofficial，whosaidanotherprisonerwantedtospeaktome。
"What’shisname？"
"HisnameisGaetano，andhesaysheisarelationofyours。"
MyrelationandGaetano！Ithoughtitmightbetheabbe。
Iwentuptothefirstfloor，andfoundascoreofwretchedprisonerssittingonthegroundroaringanobscenesonginchorus。
Suchgaietyisthelastresourceofmencondemnedtoimprisonmentonthegalleys；itisnaturegivingherchildrensomerelief。
Oneoftheprisonerscameuptomeandgreetedmeas"gossip。"Hewouldhaveembracedme，butIsteppedback。Hetoldmehisname，andI
recognizedinhimthatGaetanowhohadmarriedaprettywomanundermyauspicesashergodfather。ThereadermayrememberthatIafterwardshelpedhertoescapefromhim。
"Iamsorrytoseeyouhere，butwhatcanIdoforyou？"
"Youcanpaymethehundredcrownsyouoweme，forthegoodssuppliedtoyouatParisbyme。"
Thiswasalie，soIturnedmybackonhim，sayingIsupposedimprisonmenthaddrivenhimmad。
AsIwentawayIaskedanofficialwhyhehadbeenimprisoned，andwastolditwasforforgery，andthathewouldhavebeenhangedifithadnotbeenforalegalflaw。Hewassentencedtoimprisonmentforlife。
Idismissedhimfrommymind，butintheafternoonIhadavisitfromanadvocatew...剩余内容请长按扫描二维码或下载丁香书院APP继续免费看：
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