CHAPTER IV.
I Receive Good News From Venice, to Which City I Return with De la Haye and Bavois--My Three Friends Give Me a Warm Welcome; Their Surprise at Finding Me a Model of Devotion--Bavois Lures Me Back to My Former Way of Living--De la Haye a Thorough Hypocrite--Adventure with the Girl Marchetti--I Win a Prize in the Lottery--I Meet Baletti--De la Haye Leaves M.de Bragadin's Palace--My Departure for Paris Whilst De la Haye was every day gaining greater influence over my weakened mind, whilst I was every day devoutly attending mass, sermons, and every office of the Church, I received from Venice a letter containing the pleasant information that my affair had followed its natural course, namely, that it was entirely forgotten; and in another letter M.de Bragadin informed me that the minister had written to the Venetian ambassador in Rome with instructions to assure the Holy Father that Baron Bavois would, immediately after his arrival in Venice, receive in the army of the Republic an appointment which would enable him to live honourably and to gain a high position by his talents.
That letter overcame M.de la Haye with joy, and I completed his happiness by telling him that nothing hindered me from going back to my native city.
He immediately made up his mind to go to Modena in order to explain to his pupil how he was to act in Venice to open for himself the way to a brilliant fortune.

De la Haye depended on me in every way; he saw my fanaticism, and he was well aware that it is a disease which rages as long as the causes from which it has sprung are in existence.

As he was going with me to Venice, he flattered himself that he could easily feed the fire he had lighted.

Therefore he wrote to Bavois that he would join him immediately, and two days after he took leave of me, weeping abundantly, praising highly the virtues of my soul, calling me his son, his dear son, and assuring me that his great affection for me had been caused by the mark of election which he had seen on my countenance.

After that, I felt my calling and election were sure.
A few days after the departure of De la Haye, I left Parma in my carriage with which I parted in Fusina, and from there I proceeded to Venice.
After an absence of a year, my three friends received me as if I had been their guardian angel.