On Good Friday, when I got to the casino, I found the lovers over-whelmed with grief.  Supper was served, but the ambassador, downcast and absent, neither ate nor spoke; and M——­ M——­ was like a statue that moves at intervals by some mechanism.  Good sense and ordinary politeness prevented me from asking any questions, but on M——­ M——­ leaving us together, M. de Bemis told me that she was distressed, and with reason, since he was obliged to set out for Vienna fifteen days after Easter.  “I may tell you confidentially,” he added, “that I believe I shall scarcely be able to return, but she must not be told, as she would be in despair.”  M——­ M——­ came back in a few minutes, but it was easy to see that she had been weeping.

After some commonplace conversation, M. de Bernis, seeing M——­ M——­ still low-spirited, said,

“Do not grieve thus, sweetheart, go I must, but my return is a matter of equal certainty when I have finished the important business which summons me to Vienna.  You will still have the casino, but, dearest, both friendship and prudence make me advise you not to come here in my absence, for after I have left Venice I cannot depend upon the faith of the gondoliers in my service, and I suspect our friend here cannot flatter himself on his ability to get reliable ones.  I may also tell you that I have strong reasons for suspecting that our intercourse is known to the State Inquisitors, who conceal their knowledge for political reasons, but I fancy the secret would soon come to light when I am no longer here, and when the nun who connives at your departure from the convent knows that it is no longer for me that you leave it.  The only people whom I would trust are the housekeeper and his wife.  I shall order them, before I go, to look upon our friend here as myself, and you can make your arrangements with them.  I trust all will go well till my return, if you will only behave discreetly.  I will write to you under cover of the housekeeper, his wife will give you my letters as before, and in the same way you may reply.  I must needs go, dearest one, but my heart is with you, and I leave you, till my return, in the hands of a friend, whom I rejoice to have known.  He loves you, he has a heart and knowledge of the world, and he will not let you make any mistakes.”

M——­ M——­ was so affected by what the ambassador had said that she entreated us to let her go, as she wished to be alone and to lie down.  As she went we agreed to sup together on the following Thursday.

As soon as we were alone the ambassador impressed me with the absolute necessity of concealing from her that he was going to return no more.  “I am going,” said he, “to work in concert with the Austrian cabinet on a treaty which will be the talk of Europe.  I entreat you to write to me unreservedly, and as a friend, and if you love our common mistress, have a care for her honour, and above all have the strength of mind to resist all projects which are certain to involve you in misfortune,