I
became his confidant, he informed me of his amour with his cousin,
adding that he was tired of the business, and wished to break with her;
also, as an excellent joke, the punishment which he had inflicted upon
the friar Anselmo.
He was a great proficient with the small sword, an accomplishment, which
of course had been neglected in my education, and which I accounted for
by stating that until the death of my elder brother, I had been intended
for the church. I accepted his offer to be my instructor, and my first
rudiments in the science were received from him. Afterwards I applied to
a professor, and, constantly practising, in the course of a few months,
I knew, from occasional trials of skill with the officer, that I was his
superior. My revenge, which hitherto had been controlled was now ripe.
But in narrating my adventures abroad, it must not be supposed that I
neglected every thing that prudence or caution could suggest, to avoid
discovery. On the contrary, now that I had the means of enjoying
myself, I was more careful that I did not by any indiscretion excite
surmises. I generally devoted four days out of the seven in the week to
the convent and to my professional occupation as music-master. To
increase the difficulty of identification, I became more serious in my
manner, more dirty in my person, as the brother Anselmo. I pretended to
have imbibed a fancy for snuff, with which I soiled my face and monastic
attire, and seldom if ever spoke, or if I did, in a very solemn voice.
Pages:
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78