"de Musset, Alfred - Tizianello" - читать интересную книгу автора (Musset Alfred De)

thought it too early as yet to present himself before his patroness, and while
waiting, strolled about under the Procuraties.
As luck willed it, whom should he meet there but Monna Bianchina, who was
purchasing some cloth. He entered the store and without exactly knowing why,
after a few commonplace remarks, he said to her, "Monna Bianchina, you sent me
this morning a nice present, and gave me good advice. I tender you my most
humble thanks."
Speaking in this tone of certainty, he perhaps expected at once to rid himself
of the doubt that had tormented him. But Monna Bianchina was too cunning to
exhibit surprise before having discovered if it was to her interest to show any.
Although she had really sent nothing to the young man, she saw that here was the
means of putting him off the scent. It is true, she answered that she did not
know of what he was speaking, but she took good care, in saying this, to laugh
so slyly and blush so modestly that Pippo remained convinced, despite
appearances, that the purse was from her. "And since when," he asked her, "have
you had that pretty negress at your command?"
Disconcerted by this question, and not knowing how to answer, Monna Bianchina
hesitated a moment, and then gave a hearty laugh and bruskly left him. Alone and
disappointed Pippo gave up the visit he had planned, He went home, threw the
purse in a corner, and no longer thought about it.
But some days later it happened that he lost a large sum in gambling and gave
his note. As he went out to pay his debt, it seemed convenient for him to make
use of this purse, which was large and looked well in his belt. So he took it,
and that very night he played again and lost still more.
"Are you going on?" asked Ser Vespasiano, the old notary of the Chancellor's
office, when Pippo had no more money.
"No," answered he, "I do not wish to play any more, on my note of hand."
"But I will lend you whatever you want," cried the Comtesse Orsini.
"And I also," said Ser Vespasiano.
"And I also," repeated one of the Comtesse's numerous nieces in a soft and
sonorous voice; "but open your purse, Signor Vecellio, there is still another
sequin inside."
Pippo smiled, and at the bottom of his purse found, in fact, a sequin, which he
had forgotten. "So be it," said he, "let us have another throw, but I will risk
no more." He took the dice-box, won, and, doubling the stakes, continued to
play. In short, at the end of an hour he had made up his loss of the night
before and that of the evening. "Are you going on?" in his turn he asked Ser
Vespasiano, who no longer had anything in front of him.
"No! For I must be a big fool to allow myself to be drained by a man who would
risk but one sequin. Cursed be that purse! No doubt it is bewitched."
The notary left the room furious. Pippo was preparing to follow him, when the
niece, who had advised him, laughingly remarked, "Since it is to me you owe your
luck, make me a present of the sequin which helped you to gain it."
This sequin had a small mark on it by which it could be recognized, Pippo looked
for it, found it and he was already handing it over to the pretty niece, when he
suddenly cried:
"No, my beautiful one, you can not have it. But to show you I am not greedy,
here are ten others which I beg you to accept. As for this one, I wish to follow
some advice lately given me and I present it to Providence."
So speaking, he threw the sequin out of the window. "Is it possible," he said to