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which she had come all the way from England to admire； and； as Venice
was an old haunt of mine； she very excusably expected me to act as
cicerone to her； and allowed me but little rest between the hours of
breakfast and of the /table d'hote/。 At last； however； she conceived the
modest and felicitous idea of making a copy of Titian's 〃Assumption〃； and；
having obtained the requisite permission for that purpose； set to work upon
the first of a long series of courageous attempts； all of which she
conscientiously destroyed when in a half… finished state。 At that rate it
seemed likely that her days would be fully occupied for some weeks to
come； and I urged her to persevere； and not to allow herself to be
disheartened by a few brilliant failures； and so she hurried away； early
every morning； with her paint…box； her brushes； and her block； and I was
left free to smoke my cigarettes in peace； in front of my favourite cafe on
the Piazza San Marco。
I was sitting there one morning； watching； with half…closed eyes； the
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pigeons circling overhead under a cloudless sky； and enjoying the fresh
salt breeze that came across the ruffled water from the Adriatic； when I
was accosted by one of the white…coated Austrian officers by whom
Venice was thronged in those days； and whom I presently recognised as a
young fellow named Von Rosenau； whom I had known slightly in Vienna
the previous winter。 I returned his greeting cordially； for I always like to
associate as much as possible with foreigners when I am abroad； and little
did I foresee into what trouble this fair…haired； innocent…looking youth was
destined to lead me。
I asked him how he liked Venice； and he answered laughingly that he
was not there from choice。 〃I am in disgrace；〃 he explained。 〃I am always
in disgrace； only this time it is rather worse than usual。 Do you remember
my father； the general？ No？ Perhaps he was not in Vienna when you were
there。 He is a soldier of the old school； and manages his family as they tell
me he used to manage his regiment in former years； boasting that he never
allowed a breach of discipline to pass unpunished； and never will。 Last
year I exceeded my allowance； and the colonel got orders to stop my leave；
this year I borrowed from the Jews； the whole thing was found out； and I
was removed from the cavalry； and put into a Croat regiment under orders
for Venice。 Next year will probably see me enrolled in the police； and so it
will go on； I suppose； till some fine morning I shall find myself driving a
two…horse yellow diligence in the wilds of Carinthia； and blowing a horn
to let the villagers know that the imperial and royal mail is approaching。〃
After a little more conversation we separated； but only to meet again；
that same evening； on the Piazza San Marco； whither I had wandered to
listen to the band after dinner； and where I found Von Rosenau seated with
a number of his brother officers in front of the principal cafe。 These
gentlemen； to whom I was presently introduced； were unanimous in
complaining of their present quarters。 Venice； they said； might be all very
well for artists and travellers； but viewed as a garrison it was the dullest of
places。 There were no amusements； there was no sport； and just now no
society； for the Italians were in one of their periodical fits of sulks； and
would not speak to； or look at； a German if they could possibly avoid it。
〃They will not even show themselves when our band is playing；〃 said one
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of the officers； pointing toward the well…nigh empty piazza。 〃As for the
ladies； it is reported that if one of them is seen speaking to an Austrian； she
is either assassinated or sent off to spend the rest of her days in a convent。
At all events； it is certain that we have none of us any successes to boast of；
except Von Rosenau； who has had an affair； they say； only he is pleased to
be very mysterious about it。〃
〃Where does she live； Von Rosenau？〃 asked another。 〃Is she rich？ Is
she noble？ Has she a husband； who will stab you both？ or only a mother；
who will send her to a nunnery； and let you go free？ You might gratify our
curiosity a little。 It would do you no harm； and it would give us something
to talk about。〃
〃Bah！ he will tell you nothing；〃 cried a third。 〃He is afraid。 He knows
that there are half a dozen of us who could cut him out in an hour。〃
〃Von Rosenau；〃 said a young ensign； solemnly； 〃you would do better
to make a clean breast of it。 Concealment is useless。 Janovicz saw you
with her in Santa Maria della Salute the other day； and could have
followed her home quite easily if he had been so inclined。〃
〃They were seen together on the Lido； too。 People who want to keep
their secrets ought not to be so imprudent。〃
〃A good comrade ought to have no secrets from the regiment。〃
〃Come； Von Rosenau； we will promise not to speak to her without
your permission if you will tell us how you managed to make her
acquaintance。〃
The object of all these attacks received them with the most perfect
composure； continuing to smoke his cigar and gaze out seaward； without
so much as turning his head toward his questioners； to whom he
vouchsafed no reply whatever。 Probably； as an ex…hussar and a sprig of
nobility； he may have held his head a little above those of his present
brother officers； and preferred disregarding their familiarity to resenting it；
as he might have done if it had come from men whom he considered on a
footing of equality with himself。 Such； at least； was my impression； and it
was confirmed by the friendly advances which he made toward me； from
that day forth； and by the persistence with which he sought my society。 I
thought he seemed to wish for some companion whose ideas had not been
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developed exclusively in barrack atmosphere； and I； on my side； was not
unwilling to listen to the chatter of a lively； good…natured young fellow； at
intervals； during my long idle days。
It was at the end of a week； I think； or thereabouts； that he honoured
me with his full confidence。 We had been sea…fishing in a small open boat
which he had purchased； and which he managed without assistance； that is
to say； that we had provided ourselves with what was requisite for the
pursuit of that engrossing sport； and that the young count had gone
through the form of dropping his line over the side and pulling it up；
baitless and fishless； from time to time； while I had dispensed with even
this shallow pretence of employment； and had stretched myself out full
length upon the cushions which I had thoughtfully brought with me；
inhaling the salt…laden breeze； and luxuriating in perfect inaction； till such
time as it had become necessary for us to think of returning homeward。
My companion had been sighing portentously every now and again all
through the afternoon； and had repeatedly given vent to a sound as though
he had been about to say something； and had as often checked himself；
and fallen back into silence。 So that I was in a great measure prepared for
the disclosure that fell from him at length as we slipped before the wind
across the broad lagoon； toward the haze and blaze of sunset which was
glorifying the old city of the doges。
〃Do you know；〃 said he； suddenly； 〃that I am desperately in love？〃 I
said I had conjectured as much； and he seemed a good deal surprised at
my powers of divination。 〃Yes；〃 he resumed； 〃I am in love； and with an
Italian lady too； unfortunately。 Her name is Bianca；the Signorina Bianca
Marinelli；and she is the most divinely beautiful creature the sun ever
shone upon。〃
〃That；〃 said I； 〃is of course。〃
〃It is the truth； and when you have seen her； you will acknowledge that
I do not exagge