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She looked deep into my eyes for a moment; and then she turned away。



26th。I have written nothing for a good many days; but meanwhile I 

have been half a dozen times to Casa Salvi。  I have seen a good deal 

also of my young friendhad a good many walks and talks with him。  I 

have proposed to him to come with me to Venice for a fortnight; but 

he won't listen to the idea of leaving Florence。  He is very happy in 

spite of his doubts; and I confess that in the perception of his 

happiness I have lived over again my own。  This is so much the case 

that when; the other day; he at last made up his mind to ask me to 

tell him the wrong that Madame de Salvi had done me; I rather checked 

his curiosity。  I told him that if he was bent upon knowing I would 

satisfy him; but that it seemed a pity; just now; to indulge in 

painful imagery。



〃But I thought you wanted so much to put me out of conceit of our 

friend。〃



〃I admit I am inconsistent; but there are various reasons for it。  In 

the first placeit's obviousI am open to the charge of playing a 

double game。  I profess an admiration for the Countess Scarabelli; 

for I accept her hospitality; and at the same time I attempt to 

poison your mind; isn't that the proper expression?  I can't exactly 

make up my mind to that; though my admiration for the Countess and my 

desire to prevent you from taking a foolish step are equally sincere。  

And then; in the second place; you seem to me; on the whole; so 

happy!  One hesitates to destroy an illusion; no matter how 

pernicious; that is so delightful while it lasts。  These are the rare 

moments of life。  To be young and ardent; in the midst of an Italian 

spring; and to believe in the moral perfection of a beautiful woman

what an admirable situation!  Float with the current; I'll stand on 

the brink and watch you。〃



〃Your real reason is that you feel you have no case against the poor 

lady;〃 said Stanmer。  〃You admire her as much as I do。〃



〃I just admitted that I admired her。  I never said she was a vulgar 

flirt; her mother was an absolutely scientific one。  Heaven knows I 

admired that!  It's a nice point; however; how much one is hound in 

honour not to warn a young friend against a dangerous woman because 

one also has relations of civility with the lady。〃



〃In such a case;〃 said Stanmer; 〃I would break off my relations。〃



I looked at him; and I think I laughed。



〃Are you jealous of me; by chance?〃



He shook his head emphatically。



〃Not in the least; I like to see you there; because your conduct 

contradicts your words。〃



〃I have always said that the Countess is fascinating。〃



〃Otherwise;〃 said Stanmer; 〃in the case you speak of I would give the 

lady notice。〃



〃Give her notice?〃



〃Mention to her that you regard her with suspicion; and that you 

propose to do your best to rescue a simple…minded youth from her 

wiles。  That would be more loyal。〃  And he began to laugh again。



It is not the first time he has laughed at me; but I have never 

minded it; because I have always understood it。



〃Is that what you recommend me to say to the Countess?〃 I asked。



〃Recommend you!〃 he exclaimed; laughing again; 〃I recommend nothing。  

I may be the victim to be rescued; but I am at least not a partner to 

the conspiracy。  Besides;〃 he added in a moment; 〃the Countess knows 

your state of mind。〃



〃Has she told you so?〃



Stanmer hesitated。



〃She has begged me to listen to everything you may say against her。  

She declares that she has a good conscience。〃



〃Ah;〃 said I; 〃she's an accomplished woman!〃



And it is indeed very clever of her to take that tone。  Stanmer 

afterwards assured me explicitly that he has never given her a hint 

of the liberties I have taken in conversation withwhat shall I call 

it?with her moral nature; she has guessed them for herself。  She 

must hate me intensely; and yet her manner has always been so 

charming to me!  She is truly an accomplished woman!



May 4th。I have stayed away from Casa Salvi for a week; but I have 

lingered on in Florence; under a mixture of impulses。  I have had it 

on my conscience not to go near the Countess againand yet from the 

moment she is aware of the way I feel about her; it is open war。  

There need be no scruples on either side。  She is as free to use 

every possible art to entangle poor Stanmer more closely as I am to 

clip her fine…spun meshes。  Under the circumstances; however; we 

naturally shouldn't meet very cordially。  But as regards her meshes; 

why; after all; should I clip them?  It would really be very 

interesting to see Stanmer swallowed up。  I should like to see how he 

would agree with her after she had devoured him(to what vulgar 

imagery; by the way; does curiosity reduce a man!)  Let him finish 

the story in his own way; as I finished it in mine。  It is the same 

story; but why; a quarter of a century later; should it have the same 

denoument?  Let him make his own denoument。



5th。Hang it; however; I don't want the poor boy to be miserable。



6th。Ah; but did my denoument then prove such a happy one?



7th。He came to my room late last night; he was much excited。



〃What was it she did to you?〃 he asked。



I answered him first with another question。  〃Have you quarrelled 

with the Countess?〃



But he only repeated his own。  〃What was it she did to you?〃



〃Sit down and I'll tell you。〃  And he sat there beside she candle; 

staring at me。  〃There was a man always thereCount Camerino。〃



〃The man she married?〃



〃The man she married。  I was very much in love with her; and yet I 

didn't trust her。  I was sure that she lied; I believed that she 

could be cruel。  Nevertheless; at moments; she had a charm which made 

it pure pedantry to be conscious of her faults; and while these 

moments lasted I would have done anything for her。  Unfortunately 

they didn't last long。  But you know what I mean; am I not describing 

the Scarabelli?〃



〃The Countess Scarabelli never lied!〃 cried Stanmer。



〃That's just what I would have said to any one who should have made 

the insinutation!  But I suppose you are not asking me the question 

you put to me just now from dispassionate curiosity。〃



〃A man may want to know!〃 said the innocent fellow。



I couldn't help laughing out。  〃This; at any rate; is my story。  

Camerino was always there; he was a sort of fixture in the house。  If 

I had moments of dislike for the divine Bianca; I had no moments of 

liking for him。  And yet he was a very agreeable fellow; very civil; 

very intelligent; not in the least disposed to make a quarrel with 

me。  The trouble; of course; was simply that I was jealous of him。  I 

don't know; however; on what ground I could have quarrelled with him; 

for I had no definite rights。  I can't say what I expectedI can't 

say what; as the matter stood; I was prepared to do。  With my name 

and my prospects; I might perfectly have offered her my hand。  I am 

not sure that she would have accepted itI am by no means clear that 

she wanted that。  But she wanted; wanted keenly; to attach me to her; 

she wanted to have me about。  I should have been capable of giving up 

everythingEngland; my career; my familysimply to devote myself to 

her; to live near her and see her every day。〃



〃Why didn't you do it; then?〃 asked Stanmer。



〃Why don't you?〃



〃To be a proper rejoinder to my question;〃 he said; rather neatly; 

〃yours should be asked twenty…five years hence。〃



〃It remains perfectly true that at a given moment I was capable of 

doing as I say。  That was what she wanteda rich; susceptible; 

credulous; convenient young Englishman established near her en 

permanence。  And yet;〃 I added; 〃I must do her complete justice。  I 

honestly believe she was fond of me。〃  At this Stanmer got up and 

walked to the window; he stood looking out a moment; and then he 

turned round。  〃You know she was older than I;〃 I went on。  〃Madame 

Scarabelli is older than you。  One day in the garden; her mother 

asked me in an angry tone why I disliked Camerino; for I had been at 

no pains to conceal my feeling about him; and something had just 

happened to bring it out。  'I dislike him;' I said; 'because you like 

him so much。'  'I assure you I don't like him;' she answered。  'He 

has all the appearance of being your lover;' I retorted。  It was a 

brutal speech; certainly; but any other man in my place would have 

made it。  She took it very strangely; she turned pale; but she was 

not indignant。  'How can he be my lover after what he has done?' she 

asked。  'What has he done?'  She hesitated a good while; then she 

said:  'He killed my husband。'  'Good heavens!' I cried; 'and you 

receive him!'  Do you know what she said?  She said; 'Che voule?'〃



〃Is that all?〃 asked Stanmer。



〃No; she went on to say that Camerino had killed Count Salvi in a 

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