Adventure stories; Biographical fiction; Casanova, Giacomo, 1725-1798 -- Fiction; Europe -- Fiction; Sex customs -- Fiction
Disregarding further entreaties, he went to the turret chamber, and
first of all changed his attire, since the simpler suit must suffice
for the journey. He then packed his valise, and listened for Lorenzi’s
footsteps with an interest which grew keener from moment to moment.
Before the time was up, Lorenzi, knocking once at the door, entered,
wearing a dark blue riding-cloak. Without a word, he slipped the cloak
from his shoulders and let it fall to the floor, where it lay between
the two men, a shapeless mass of cloth. Casanova withdrew his kerchief
filled with the gold pieces from beneath the bolster, and emptied the
money on the table. He counted the coins under Lorenzi’s eyes--a process
which was soon over, for many of the gold pieces were worth several
ducats each. Putting the stipulated sum into two purses, he handed
these to Lorenzi. This left about a hundred ducats for himself. Lorenzi
stuffed the purses into his tail-pockets, and was about to leave, still
silent.
“Wait a moment, Lorenzi,” said Casanova. “Our paths in life may cross
once again. If so let us meet as friends. We have made a bargain like
many another bargain; let us cry quits.”
Casanova held out his hand. Lorenzi would not take it. He spoke for the
first time. “I cannot recall that anything was said about this in our
agreement.” Turning on his heel he left the room. “Do we stand so
strictly upon the letter, my friend?” thought Casanova. “It behooves me
all the more to see to it that I am not duped in the end.” In truth, he
had given no serious thought to this possibility. He knew from personal
experience that such men as Lorenzi have their own peculiar code of
honor, a code which cannot be written in formal propositions, but which
they can be relied upon to observe.
He packed Lorenzi’s cloak in the top of the valise. Having stowed away
upon his person the remaining gold pieces, he took a final glance round
the room which he was never likely to revisit. Then with sword and hat,
ready for the journey, he made his way to the hall, where he found
Olivo, Amalia, and the children already seated at table. At the same
instant, Marcolina entered by the garden door. The coincidence was
interpreted by Casanova as a propitious sign. She answered his
salutation with a frank inclination of the head.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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