As I leapt upon him I had involuntarily closed the door, and as he cried, “Let me go, traitor!” Betty fell on her knees before him, exclaiming, “No, no! he is my preserver.”

Sir B——­ M——­ was too mad with rage to pay any attention to her, and kept on,—–­

“Let me go, traitors”

As may be imagined, I did not pay much attention to this request so long as the loaded pistol was in his hand.

In our struggles he at last fell to the ground and I on top of him.  The landlord and his people had heard the uproar, and were trying to get in; but as we had fallen against the door they could not do so.

Betty had the presence of mind to snatch the pistol from his hand, and I then let him go, calmly observing,

“Sir, you are labouring under a delusion.”

Again Betty threw herself on her knees, begging him to calm himself, as I was her preserver not her betrayer.

“What do you mean by ’preserver’?” said B——­ M——­

Betty gave him the letter, saying,—­

“Read that.”

The Englishman read the letter through without rising from the ground, and as I was certain of its effect I opened the door and told the landlord to send his people away, and to get dinner for three, as everything had been settled.

MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798

Spanish passions, Volume 6c—­Rome
the memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt

The rare unabridged London edition of 1894 translated by Arthur Machen to
which has been added the chapters discovered by Arthur Symons.

RETURN TO ROME

CHAPTER XIII

Rome—­The Actor’s Punishment—­Lord Baltimore—­Naples—­Sara Goudar—­Departure of Betty—­Agatha—­Medina—­Albergoni—­Miss Chudleigh—­The Prince of Francavilla—­The Swimmers

As I fell over the Englishman I had struck my hand against a nail, and the fourth finger of my left hand was bleeding as if a vein had been opened.  Betty helped me to tie a handkerchief around the wound, while Sir B——­ M——­ read the letter with great attention.  I was much pleased with Betty’s action, it shewed she was confident, and sure of her lover’s forgiveness.

I took up my coat and carpet-bag, and went into the next room to change my linen, and dress for dinner.  Any distress at the termination of my intrigue with Betty was amply compensated for by my joy at the happy ending of a troublesome affair which might have proved fatal for me.

I dressed myself, and then waited for half an hour, as I heard Betty and Sir B——­ M——­ speaking in English calmly enough, and I did not care to interrupt them.  At last the Englishman knocked at my door, and came in looking humble and mortified.  He said he was sure I had not only saved Betty, but had effectually cured her of her folly.