Paris and Holland

The Eternal Quest: Paris And
Holland
by Jacques Casanova
de Seingalt

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Title: The Eternal Quest: Paris And Holland The Memoirs Of Jacques
Casanova De Seingalt 1725-1798
Author: Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
Release Date: December 11, 2004 [EBook #2961]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PARIS
AND HOLLAND ***

Produced by David Widger

MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798
THE ETERNAL QUEST, Volume 2a--PARIS AND HOLLAND
THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894
TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN
ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED BY ARTHUR SYMONS.

PARIS AND HOLLAND
CHAPTER I
Count Tiretta of Trevisa Abbe Coste--Lambertini, the Pope's Niece Her
Nick--Name for Tiretta The Aunt and Niece--Our Talk by the
Fireside--Punishment of Damien--Tiretta's Mistake Anger of
Madame***--Their Reconciliation--My Happiness with Mdlle. de la
Meure Silvia's Daughter--Mdlle, de la Meure Marries My Despair and
Jealousy--A Change far the Better
In the beginning of March, 1757, I received a letter from my friend
Madame Manzoni, which she sent to me by a young man of good
appearance, with a frank and high-born air, whom I recognized as a
Venetian by his accent. He was young Count Tiretta de Trevisa,
recommended to my care by Madame Manzoni, who said that he would
tell me his story, which I might be sure would be a true one. The kind
woman sent to me by him a small box in which she told me I should
find all my manuscripts, as she did not think she would ever see me
again.
I gave Tiretta the heartiest of welcomes, telling him that he could not
have found a better way to my favour than through a woman to whom I
was under the greatest obligations.
"And now, that you may be at your ease with me, I should like to know
in what manner I can be of service to you?"
"I have need of your friendship, perhaps of your purse, but at any rate

of your protection."
"You have my friendship and my protection already, and my purse is at
your service."
After expressing his gratitude to me, Tiretta said,
"A year ago the Supreme Council of my country entrusted me with an
employment dangerous to one of my years. I was made, with some
other young gentlemen of my own age, a keeper of the Mont de Piete.
The pleasures of the carnival having put us to a good deal of expense,
we were short of money, and borrowed from the till hoping to be able
to make up the money before balancing-day, but hoping all in vain.
"The fathers of my two companions, richer than mine, paid the sums
they had taken, and I, not being able to pay, took the part of escaping
by flight from the shame and the punishment I should have undergone.
"Madame Manzoni advised me to throw myself on your mercy, and she
gave me a little box which you shall have to-day. I only got to Paris
yesterday, and have only two louis, a little linen, and the clothes on my
back. I am twenty-five, have an iron constitution, and a determination
to do all in my power to make an honest living; but I can do nothing. I
have not cultivated any one talent in a manner to make use of it now. I
can play on the flute, but only as an amateur. I only know my own
language, and I have no taste for literature. So what can you make of
me? I must add that I have not a single expectation, least of all from my
father, for to save the honour of the family he will be obliged to sell my
portion of the estate, to which I shall have to bid an eternal farewell."
If the count's story had surprised me, the simplicity with which he told
it had given me pleasure; and I was resolved to do honour to Madame
Manzoni's introduction, feeling that it was my duty to serve a
fellow-countryman, who was really guilty of nothing worse than gross
thoughtlessness.
"Begin," said I, "by bringing your small belongings to the room next to
mine, and get your meals there. I will pay for everything while I am

looking out for something which may do for you.
"We will talk of business to-morrow, for as I never dine here I rarely if
ever come home till late, and I do