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?"