“They were perfectly right not to accept your chocolate: but I see you do not know the ways of Turin. Do you find yourself comfortable in your present lodging?” “Quite so.” “Are you perfectly free to do what you like?” “I think so.” “Can you give supper to anyone you like in your own rooms? I am certain you can’t.” “I have not had the opportunity of trying the experiment so far, but I believe . . . .” “Don’t flatter yourself by believing anything; that house is full of the spies of the police.” “Then you think that I could not give you and two or three of your girls a little supper?” “I should take very good care not to go to it, that’s all I know. By next morning it would be known to all the town, and especially to the police.” “Well, supposing I look out for another lodging?” “It’s the same everywhere. Turin is a perfect nest of spies; but I do know a house where you could live at ease, and where my girls might perhaps be able to bring you your purchases. But we should have to be very careful.” “Where is the house I will be guided by you in everything.” “Don’t trust a Piedmontese; that’s the first commandment here.” She then gave me the address of a small furnished house, which was only inhabited by an old door-keeper and his wife. “They will let it you by the month,” said she, “and if you pay a month in advance you need not even tell them your name.” I found the house to be a very pretty one, standing in a lonely street at about two hundred paces from the citadel. One gate, large enough to admit a carriage, led into the country. I found everything to be as Madame R---- had described it. I paid a month in advance without any bargaining, and in a day I had settled in my new lodging. Madame R---- admired my celerity. I went to the Jewish wedding and enjoyed myself, for there is something at once solemn and ridiculous about the ceremony; but I resisted all Leah’s endeavours to get me once more into her meshes. I hired a close carriage from her father, which with the horses I placed in the coach-house and stables of my new house. Thus I was absolutely free to go whenever I would by night or by day, for I was at once in the town and in the country. I was obliged to tell the inquisitive Gama where I was living, and I hid nothing from Desarmoises, whose needs made him altogether dependent on me. Nevertheless I gave orders that my door was shut to them as to everyone else, unless I had given special instructions that they were to be admitted. I had no reason to doubt the fidelity of my two servants.