Memoirs of Casanova — Volume 21: South of France by Giacomo Casanova
page 45 of 135 (33%)
page 45 of 135 (33%)
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drunk at table, so we each emptied a bottle of excellent Burgundy, and
when we had finished supper the rowers rested on their oars, although the wind was very light. I had the lamps put out and went to bed with my two sweethearts, one on each side of me. The light of dawn awoke me, and I found my darlings still sleeping in the same position. I could kiss neither of them, since one passed for my niece, and my sense of humanity would not allow me to treat Marcoline as my mistress in the presence of an unfortunate brother who adored her, and had never obtained the least favour from her. He was lying near at hand, overwhelmed with grief and seasickness, and watching and listening with all his might for the amorous encounter he suspected us of engaging in. I did not want to have any unpleasantness, so I contented myself with gazing on them till the two roses awoke and opened their eyes. When this delicious sight was over, I got up and found that we were only opposite Final, and I proceeded to reprimand the master. "The wind fell dead at Savona, sir"; and all the seamen chorused his excuse. "Then you should have rowed instead of idling." "We were afraid of waking you. You shall be at Antibes by tomorrow." After passing the time by eating a hearty meal, we took a fancy to go on shore at St. Remo. Everybody was delighted. I took my two nymphs on land, and after forbidding any of the others to disembark I conducted the ladies to an inn, where I ordered coffee. A man accosted us, and invited us to come and play biribi at his house. |
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