406 GRIMALDI, 



took her gently by the hand, led her into his cabinet, 

 difclofed to her the tranfacldon with Grimaldi, and 

 ihewed her his golden treafure. Doft thou now enter- 

 tain any doubt of the truth of my ingot of gold ? added 

 he with a finite. 



We may judge of the Satisfaction this gave to Valen-? 

 tina ; for this was the name of Fazio's wife. She fell 

 upon his neck, and thanked, and flattered him as, 

 much j as before fhe had teized him with reproaches 

 and objections. A multitude of plans were ftruck out 

 of future happinefs and glory; and preparations for 

 the journey were made with all fpeed. But when the 

 very day fixt for his departure was come, Valentina, 

 on whom Fazio, as we may eafily imagine, had incul- 

 cated the profoundeft filence, Vaientina, I fay, did 

 dot fail to make common caufe with the reft of the fa- 

 mily, and remonftrated againft the journey as before. 

 She pretended as if fhe Hill had her doubts, was la- 

 vijh of her prayers and intreaties, and was almofl: dif- 

 iolved in tears, without feeling the leaft uneafinefs, 

 Fazio palled for a fool. The whole town made game 

 of him, and he laughed at the whole town in return. 



While he was on the way to Maneilles, his wife, 

 whom he had left behind at Pifa, continued to play 

 the, part fhe had begun. She was inceffantly com- 

 plaining of her poverty, while in private fhe had plenty 

 of all things. For her hufband had left with her a fum 

 of money which was more than fufficient for defraying 

 her necefTary expences. Every one lamented her fate 5 

 and yet fhe had no caufes for pity but what fhe was, 

 forced to affect, 



Fazio 



