第94章

"I told the judge everything.Besides, he had tried to sell me to an Englishman,--that's why he wanted to disgrace me here with you; he thought I would resist less.The judge told me I might go, I had done right; then I confessed to a priest, and he gave me absolution.""But, cara mia, what can you do in France? Better stay in Italy;besides, I am not rich."

She smiled disdainfully.

"I shall not cost you much," she said; "on the contrary, I can save you money.""How so?"

"I can be the model for your statues if I choose.Besides which, I am a capital housekeeper.If Benedetto had behaved properly, we should have had a good home,--per che, I know how to make one; and I've another great talent too!"She ran to a guitar, which was hanging on the wall, and began to sing a bravura air, accompanying herself with singular energy.

"In France," she said, when she had finished, "I could take lessons and go upon the stage, where I know I should succeed; that was Benedetto's idea.""But why not do that in Italy?"

"I am hiding from that Englishman," she replied; "he wants to carry me off.I am determined to go to France; I have learned to speak French.

If I stay here, I shall throw myself into the Tiber."By abandoning such a nature, more terrible than seductive, to itself, Monsieur de l'Estorade will, I think, agree that I was likely to cause some misfortune.I consented, therefore, that Signora Luigia should accompany me to Paris.Since then she has managed my household with discretion and economy.She even offered to pose for my Pandora; but the memory of that scene with her husband has, as you may well believe, kept me from accepting her offer.I have given her a singing-master, and she is now almost prepared to make her appearance on the stage.But in spite of her theatrical projects, she, pious like all Italians, has joined the sisterhood of the Virgin in Saint-Sulpice, my parish church, and during the month of May, which began a few days ago, the letter of chairs counts on her beautiful voice for part of her receipts.She is assiduous at the services, confesses, and takes the sacrament regularly.Her confessor, a most respectable old man, came to see me lately to request that she might not be required to pose for any more of my statues, saying that she would not listen to him on that point, believing herself bound in honor to me.

My own intention, if I am elected, which now seems probable, is to separate from this woman.In a position which will place me more before the public, she would become an object of remark as injurious to her reputation and future prospects as to mine.I have talked with Marie-Gaston about the difficulty I foresee in making this separation.

Until now, my house has been the whole of Paris to this poor woman;and the thought of flinging her alone into the gulf, of which she knows nothing, horrifies me.