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In the meanwhile all was peace and love between
myself and Rosalie. She had not the slightest shadow of jealousy in her
soul, and M. de Grimaldi was the sole witness of our happiness.
Five or six days later I went to see the marquis at his casino at St.
Pierre d'Arena, and he accosted me by saying that he was happy to see
me as he had an important matter he wished to discuss with me. I
guessed what it would be, but begged him to explain himself. He then
spoke as follows:
"A worthy merchant of the town brought his nephew, a young man
named Petri, to see me two days ago. He told me that the young man is

my godson, and he asked me to protect him. I answered that as his
godfather I owed him my protection, and I promised to do what I could.
"He left my godson to talk it over with me, and he informed me that he
knew your mistress before you did at Marseilles, that he had promised
to marry her next spring, that he had seen her in my company, and that
having followed us he found out that she lived with you. He was told
that she was your wife, but not believing it, wrote her a letter saying
that he was ready to marry her; but this letter fell into your hands, and
he has had no reply to it.
"He could not make up his mind to lose a hope which made his
happiness, so he resolved to ascertain, through my good offices,
whether Rosalie would accept his proposition. He flatters himself that
on his informing me of his prosperous condition, I can tell you that he
is a likely man to make his wife happy. I told him that I knew you, and
would speak to you on the matter, and afterwards inform him of the
result of our interview.
"I have made enquires into his condition, and find that he has already
amassed a considerable sum of money. His credit, morals, and
reputation, are all excellent; besides, he is his uncle's sole heir, and the
uncle passes for a man very comfortably off. And now, my dear M.
Casanova, tell me what answer I am to make."
"Tell him that Rosalie is much obliged to him, and begs him to forget
her. We are going away in three or four days. Rosalie loves me, and I
her, and I am ready to marry her whenever she likes."
"That's plain speaking; but I should have thought a man like you would
prefer freedom to a woman, however beautiful, to whom you would be
bound by indissoluble ties. Will you allow me to speak to Rosalie
myself about it?"
"You need not ask, my leave; speak to her, but in your own person and
not as representing my opinions. I adore her, and would not have her
think that I could cherish the thought of separating from her."

"If you don't want me to meddle in the matter, tell me so frankly."
"On the contrary, I wish you to see for yourself that I am not the tyrant
of the woman I adore."
"I will talk to her to-night."
I did not come home till supper-time, that the marquis might say what
he had to say in perfect freedom. The noble Genoese supped with us,
and the conversation turned on indifferent subjects. After he had gone,
my sweetheart told me what had passed between them. He had spoken
to her in almost the same words that he had addressed to me, and our
replies were nearly identical, though she had requested the marquis to
say no more about his godson, to which request he had assented.
We thought the matter settled, and busied ourselves with preparations
for our departure; but three or four days after, the marquis (who we
imagined had forgotten all about his godson) came and asked us to dine
with him at St. Pierre d'Arena, where Rosalie had never been.
"I want you to see my beautiful garden before you go," said M.
Grimaldi to her; "it will be one more pleasant recollection of your stay
for me."
We went to see him at noon the next day. He was with an elderly man
and woman, to whom he introduced us. He introduced me by name,
and Rosalie as a person who belonged to me.
We proceeded to walk in the garden, where the two old people got
Rosalie between them, and overwhelmed her with politeness and
complimentary remarks. She, who was happy and in high spirits,
answered in Italian, and delighted them by her intelligence, and the
grace which she gave to her mistakes in grammar.
The servants came to tell us that dinner