Barbaro told me the chief incidents in a life that had been adventurous enough, and informed me that he was now in the service of the Duke of Modena, the Governor of Milan.
“I saw you losing money at Canano’s bank,” said he, “and remembering our old friendship I want to communicate to you a sure way of winning money. All that is necessary is for me to introduce you to a club of young men who are very fond of play, and cannot possibly win.”
“Where does this club meet?”
“In an extremely respectable house. If you agree I will keep the bank myself, and I am sure of winning. I want you to lend me capital, and I only ask a fourth of the profits.”
“I suppose you can hold the cards well.”
“You are right.”
This was as much as to tell me that he was an adroit sharper, or, in other words, a skilful corrector of fortune’s mistakes. He concluded by saying that I should find something worth looking at in the house he had mentioned.
“My dear sir,” I replied, “I will give you my decision after seeing the club to which you want to introduce me.”
“Will you be at the theatre coffee-house at three o’clock to-morrow?”
“Yes, but I hope to see you at the ball in the evening.”