“I suppose if there’s a money shortage on the earth you’ll get some
down from the moon!” I said he must not go on gambling for a single
day longer. His losses were already huge and we must not take the risk
of increasing them. I said that his losses would have to be divided
into four parts, and borne by me, by him (that is to say his father),
Signora Malfenti and Ada; that we must return at once to sound,
unspeculative business methods, and that I refused ever to see Nilini
or any other broker in our office again.
He very gently asked me not to shout so much, because the neighbours
might hear us.
I made a great effort to calm myself, and succeeded in so far as only
to go on abusing him under my breath. I said it was positively criminal
to lose as much as he had done, and in such a way: one must be an
absolute idiot and worse, to get into such an impasse. I was determined
that not a word of my lecture should be lost on him.
But here Guido made a mild protest. Was there anyone who had not at
some time or other speculated on the Bourse? Our father-in-law, for
instance, who was such a respectable business man, had not let a
day pass without some speculation. And then, Guido was sure, I had
speculated myself.
I protested that there was gambling and gambling. He had staked the
whole of his patrimony on the Bourse; I had only staked a month’s
income.
Guido’s childish attempts to shift his responsibilities on to some one
else made a melancholy impression on me. He asserted that Nilini had
induced him to play for much higher stakes than he had ever meant to,
by holding out to him the hope of winning a great fortune.
I laughed and made fun of him. It was no use to blame Nilini; he was
only looking after his own interests. Besides, after he had left
Nilini, hadn’t he plunged headlong into still further losses through
the medium of another broker? It would have been time enough to boast
of his new business connection if, unknown to Nilini, he had begun
speculating _à la baisse_. What was the use of changing his broker only
to pursue the same ill-fated policy as before? Guido begged me at last
to leave him in peace, and with a sob in his throat acknowledged his
error.
I left off attacking him. I was genuinely sorry for him now, and would
gladly have embraced him, if he had allowed me. I said I would at
once see about providing my share of the money and that I would also
undertake to speak to our mother-in-law. He, for his part, was to tell
Ada all about it.
My pity for him increased when he confessed to me that he would not
mind speaking to his mother-in-law instead of me, but that he was
tortured by the thought of having to speak to Ada.
“You know what women are! They don’t understand business, or at least
only when it turns out well.” He said he would prefer not to speak to
Ada, but could ask her mother to tell her what had happened instead.
This decision removed a great weight off his mind, and we went out
together. When I saw him walking along beside me with his head
drooping, I repented of having been so cruel to him. But if one was
fond of him, what else could one do? He really must be brought to his
senses, or he would be totally ruined. What sort of terms must he be on
with his wife, if he was so afraid of speaking to her?
But he almost immediately contrived to enrage me again. As we walked
along he was engaged in perfecting the plan he had thought so
brilliant. Not only was there no need for him to speak to his wife, but
he would not see her at all that evening, for he would go straight out
shooting. Having made this proposal he cast all care aside. The mere
thought of getting out into the open air and leaving all his troubles
behind was enough to restore him completely, and drive every cloud from
his brow. I was furious with him! He might easily go back to the Bourse
with the same regardless air and play away the whole remaining capital
of his family and mine.
He said:
“I am going to allow myself this one last pleasure, and I invite you
to come too, on condition that you undertake not to say a single word
which would remind me of what has happened to-day.”
Up to this point he had been talking gaily. But when he saw my serious
face, he became more serious too. He added:
“You must agree that I need a little rest after such a shock as this
has been. It will be easier for me afterwards to take my place again in
the fight.”
His voice trembled with emotion; I could not doubt his sincerity, so
that I succeeded in controlling my irritation, or only showed it in so
far as to refuse his invitation, saying that I must remain in town to
see about collecting the necessary funds. This was surely a reproof
in itself! I, the innocent one, must remain at my post, while he, the
culprit, could go off and amuse himself as he pleased.
We had already reached Signora Malfenti’s front door. His face had not
resumed the joyous expression it had worn before at the thought of the
pleasant hours which awaited him; so long as he was with me he kept on
his face the fixed expression of conventional grief which I had called
back to it. But before leaving me he gave vent to his feelings by a
display of independence which I felt was partly inspired by resentment.
He said he was surprised to find what a good friend he had in me. He
hesitated to accept the sacrifice I had offered to make for him. He
wished me definitely to understand that he did not consider me bound
in any way whatever, and that I was free to give or not exactly as I
thought fit.