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so much as turning his head toward his questioners； to whom he
vouchsafed no reply whatever。 Probably； as an ex…hussar and a sprig of
nobility； he may have held his head a little above those of his present
brother officers； and preferred disregarding their familiarity to resenting it；
as he might have done if it had come from men whom he considered on a
footing of equality with himself。 Such； at least； was my impression； and it
was confirmed by the friendly advances which he made toward me； from
that day forth； and by the persistence with which he sought my society。 I
thought he seemed to wish for some companion whose ideas had not been
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developed exclusively in barrack atmosphere； and I； on my side； was not
unwilling to listen to the chatter of a lively； good…natured young fellow； at
intervals； during my long idle days。
It was at the end of a week； I think； or thereabouts； that he honoured
me with his full confidence。 We had been sea…fishing in a small open boat
which he had purchased； and which he managed without assistance； that is
to say； that we had provided ourselves with what was requisite for the
pursuit of that engrossing sport； and that the young count had gone
through the form of dropping his line over the side and pulling it up；
baitless and fishless； from time to time； while I had dispensed with even
this shallow pretence of employment； and had stretched myself out full
length upon the cushions which I had thoughtfully brought with me；
inhaling the salt…laden breeze； and luxuriating in perfect inaction； till such
time as it had become necessary for us to think of returning homeward。
My companion had been sighing portentously every now and again all
through the afternoon； and had repeatedly given vent to a sound as though
he had been about to say something； and had as often checked himself；
and fallen back into silence。 So that I was in a great measure prepared for
the disclosure that fell from him at length as we slipped before the wind
across the broad lagoon； toward the haze and blaze of sunset which was
glorifying the old city of the doges。
〃Do you know；〃 said he； suddenly； 〃that I am desperately in love？〃 I
said I had conjectured as much； and he seemed a good deal surprised at
my powers of divination。 〃Yes；〃 he resumed； 〃I am in love； and with an
Italian lady too； unfortunately。 Her name is Bianca；the Signorina Bianca
Marinelli；and she is the most divinely beautiful creature the sun ever
shone upon。〃
〃That；〃 said I； 〃is of course。〃
〃It is the truth； and when you have seen her； you will acknowledge that
I do not exaggerate。 I have known her nearly two months now。 I became
acquainted with her accidentallyshe dropped her handkerchief in a shop；
and I took it to her； and so we got to be upon speaking terms； andand
But I need not give you the whole history。 We have discovered that we are
all the world to each other； we have sworn to remain faithful to each other
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all our lives long； and we renew the oath whenever we meet。 But that；
unhappily； is very seldom！ for her father； the Marchese Marinelli； scarcely
ever lets her out of his sight； and he is a sour； narrow…minded old fellow；
as proud as he is poor； an intense hater of all Austrians； and if he were to
discover our attachment； I shudder to think of what the consequences
might be。〃
〃And your own fatherthe stern old general of whom you told me
what would he say to it all？〃
〃Oh； he； of course； would not hear of such a marriage for a moment。
He detests and despises the Venetians as cordially as the marchese abhors
the /Tedeschi/； and； as I am entirely dependent upon him； I should not
dream of saying a word to him about the matter until I was married； and
nothing could be done to separate me from Bianca。〃
〃So that； upon the whole； you appear to stand a very fair chance of
starvation； if everything turns out according to your wishes。 And pray； in
what way do you imagine that I can assist you toward this desirable end？
For I take it for granted that you have some reason for letting me into your
secret。〃
Von Rosenau laughed good…humouredly。
〃You form conclusions quickly；〃 he said。 〃Well； I will confess to you
that I have thought lately that you might be of great service to me without
inconveniencing yourself much。 The other day； when you did me the
honour to introduce me to your sister； I was very nearly telling her all。 She
has such a kind countenance； and I felt sure that she would not refuse to
let my poor Bianca visit her sometimes。 The old marchese； you see； would
have no objection to leaving his daughter for hours under the care of an
English lady； and I thought that perhaps when Miss Jenkinson went out to
work at her paintingI might come in。〃
〃Fortunate indeed is it for you；〃 I said； 〃that your confidence in the
kind countenance of my sister Anne did not carry you quite to the point of
divulging this precious scheme to her。 I； who know her pretty well； can tell
you exactly the course she would have pursued if you had。 Without one
moment's hesitation； she would have found out the address of the young
lady's father； hurried off thither； and told him all about it。 Anne is a
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thoroughly good creature； but she has little sympathy with love…making；
still less with surreptitious love…making； and she would as soon think of
accepting the part you are so good as to assign to her as of forging a
check。〃
He sighed； and said he supposed； then； that they must continue to meet
as they had been in the habit of doing； but that it was rather unsatisfactory。
〃It says something for your ingenuity that you contrive to meet at all；〃
I remarked。
〃Well； yes； there are considerable difficulties； because the old man's
movements are so uncertain； and there is some risk too； for； as you heard
the other day； we have been seen together。 Moreover； I have been obliged
to tell everything to my servant Johann； who waylays the marchese's
housekeeper at market in the