There was a rich farmer [308] who had one only daughter, and she was
to be his heiress. She fell in love with a count who had no money--at
least only ten scudi a month. When he went to the farmer to ask her
in marriage he would not hear of the alliance, and sent him away.
But the girl and he were bent on the marriage, and this is how they
brought it about. The girl had a thousand scudi of her own; half
of this she gave to him, and said: 'Go over a certain tract of the
Campagna and visit all the peasants about, and give five piastres to
one and ten to another according to their degree, that they may say
when they are asked that they all belong to Signor Cajusse. Then take
papa round to hear what they say, and he will think you are a great
proprietor, and will let us marry.'
Signor Cajusse, for such was his name, took the money and did as
she told him, and then hired a carriage and came to her father, and
said: 'You are quite mistaken in thinking I'm too poor to marry your
daughter; come and take a drive with me, and I will show you what a
great man I am.'
So the farmer got into his carriage, and he drove him round to all
the peasants he had bribed. First they stopped at a farm. [309]
'Good morning, Signor Cajusse,' said the tenant, who had been duly
primed, bowing down to the ground; and then he began to tell him
about his crops, as if he had been really proprietor.
After this he proposed to walk a little way, and all the labourers left
their work and flocked after him, crying, 'Good day, Signor Cajusse;
health to you and long life, and may God prosper you!' and they tried
to kiss his hand.
Further along they came to a villa where Cajusse had ascertained that
the real proprietor would not come that day. Here he went straight
up to the casino, where the servant in charge, who had been also duly
bribed, received him with all the honours due to a master.
'Welcome, Signor Cajusse,' he said, and opened the doors and shutters
and set the chairs.
'Bring a little of that fine eight-year-old wine,' ordered Cajusse; 'we
have brought a packet of biscuits, and will have some luncheon.' [310]
'Very good, Signor Cajusse,' replied the servant respectfully,
and shortly after brought in a bottle of wine handed to him for the
purpose by Cajusse the day before. When they had drunk they took a
stroll round the place, and wherever they turned the labourers all
had a greeting and a blessing for Signor Cajusse.
When the merchant saw all this he hardly knew how to forgive himself
for having run the risk of losing such a son-in-law. He was all smiles
and civility as they drove home, and the next day was as anxious to
hurry on the match as he had been before to put it off. As all were
equally in a hurry to have it, of course it was not long before it was
celebrated. With the girl's remaining five hundred scudi a handsome
apartment was hired to satisfy appearances before the parents, and
for a few days they lived on what was left over.
They sat counting their last two or three scudi. 'What is to be done
now?' said Cajusse; 'that will soon be spent, and then how are we
to live?'
'I'll set it right,' answered the bride. 'Now we're married that's
all that signifies. Now it's done they can't help it.'
So she went to her mother and told her all, and the good woman,
knowing the thing could not be altered, talked over the father; and
he gave them something to live upon and found a place for Cajusse,
and they were very happy.