The Memoirs of Casanova — Volume 23: English by Giacomo Casanova
page 24 of 106 (22%)
page 24 of 106 (22%)
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pledge, telling him that he should have it back on payment of forty
pounds. I wrote out a formal release, and in his presence and in that of the alderman I burnt the four notes and set him free. Two days afterwards the so-called countess came to my house, saying that now Castelbajac and Schewirin were gone, she knew not where to lay her head. She complained bitterly of Lord Pembroke, who deserted her after making her give him the clearest proofs of her affection. By way of consolation I told her that it would be very foolish of him to have abandoned her before instead of after. To get rid of her I was obliged to give her the money to pay her journey to Calais. She told me she did not want to rejoin the Gascon, who was not really her husband. We shall hear more of these persons in the course of three years. Two or three days later an Italian called on me, and gave me a letter from my friend Baletti, which recommended the bearer, Constantini, a native of Vicenza, to my good offices. He had come to London on a matter of importance in which I could help him. I assured M. Constantini that I was only too happy to do anything to justify the confidence placed in my by one of my best friends, and he said that the long journey had almost exhausted his purse; but he added,-- "I know that my wife lives here, and that she is rich. I shall easily find out where she lives, and you know that as I am her husband all that |
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