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Massimilla¡¡Doni

by¡¡Honore¡¡de¡¡Balzac

Translated¡¡by¡¡Clara¡¡Bell¡¡and¡¡James¡¡Waring





DEDICATION

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MASSIMILLA¡¡DONI



As¡¡all¡¡who¡¡are¡¡learned¡¡in¡¡such¡¡matters¡¡know£»¡¡the¡¡Venetian¡¡aristocracy
is¡¡the¡¡first¡¡in¡¡Europe¡£¡¡Its¡¡/Libro¡¡d'Oro/¡¡dates¡¡from¡¡before¡¡the
Crusades£»¡¡from¡¡a¡¡time¡¡when¡¡Venice£»¡¡a¡¡survivor¡¡of¡¡Imperial¡¡and
Christian¡¡Rome¡¡which¡¡had¡¡flung¡¡itself¡¡into¡¡the¡¡waters¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡the
Barbarians£»¡¡was¡¡already¡¡powerful¡¡and¡¡illustrious£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the
political¡¡and¡¡commercial¡¡world¡£

With¡¡a¡¡few¡¡rare¡¡exceptions¡¡this¡¡brilliant¡¡nobility¡¡has¡¡fallen¡¡into
utter¡¡ruin¡£¡¡Among¡¡the¡¡gondoliers¡¡who¡¡serve¡¡the¡¡Englishto¡¡whom
history¡¡here¡¡reads¡¡the¡¡lesson¡¡of¡¡their¡¡future¡¡fatethere¡¡are
descendants¡¡of¡¡long¡¡dead¡¡Doges¡¡whose¡¡names¡¡are¡¡older¡¡than¡¡those¡¡of
sovereigns¡£¡¡On¡¡some¡¡bridge£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡glide¡¡past¡¡it£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡are¡¡ever¡¡in
Venice£»¡¡you¡¡may¡¡admire¡¡some¡¡lovely¡¡girl¡¡in¡¡rags£»¡¡a¡¡poor¡¡child
belonging£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡famous¡¡patrician¡¡families¡£¡¡When
a¡¡nation¡¡of¡¡kings¡¡has¡¡fallen¡¡so¡¡low£»¡¡naturally¡¡some¡¡curious¡¡characters
will¡¡be¡¡met¡¡with¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡surprising¡¡that¡¡sparks¡¡should¡¡flash¡¡out
among¡¡the¡¡ashes¡£

These¡¡reflections£»¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡justify¡¡the¡¡singularity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡persons
who¡¡figure¡¡in¡¡this¡¡narrative£»¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡be¡¡indulged¡¡in¡¡any¡¡longer£»¡¡for
there¡¡is¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡intolerable¡¡than¡¡the¡¡stale¡¡reminiscences¡¡of
those¡¡who¡¡insist¡¡on¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡Venice¡¡after¡¡so¡¡many¡¡great¡¡poets¡¡and
petty¡¡travelers¡£¡¡The¡¡interest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tale¡¡requires¡¡only¡¡this¡¡record¡¡of
the¡¡most¡¡startling¡¡contrast¡¡in¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡man£º¡¡the¡¡dignity¡¡and
poverty¡¡which¡¡are¡¡conspicuous¡¡there¡¡in¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡as¡¡they¡¡are¡¡in
most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡houses¡£

The¡¡nobles¡¡of¡¡Venice¡¡and¡¡of¡¡Geneva£»¡¡like¡¡those¡¡of¡¡Poland¡¡in¡¡former
times£»¡¡bore¡¡no¡¡titles¡£¡¡To¡¡be¡¡named¡¡Quirini£»¡¡Doria£»¡¡Brignole£»¡¡Morosini£»
Sauli£»¡¡Mocenigo£»¡¡Fieschi£»¡¡Cornaro£»¡¡or¡¡Spinola£»¡¡was¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡the
pride¡¡of¡¡the¡¡haughtiest¡£¡¡But¡¡all¡¡things¡¡become¡¡corrupt¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡present
day¡¡some¡¡of¡¡these¡¡families¡¡have¡¡titles¡£

And¡¡even¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time¡¡when¡¡the¡¡nobles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡aristocratic¡¡republics¡¡were
all¡¡equal£»¡¡the¡¡title¡¡of¡¡Prince¡¡was£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡given¡¡at¡¡Genoa¡¡to¡¡a
member¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Doria¡¡family£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡sovereigns¡¡of¡¡the¡¡principality¡¡of
Amalfi£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡title¡¡was¡¡in¡¡use¡¡at¡¡Venice£»¡¡justified¡¡by¡¡ancient
inheritance¡¡from¡¡Facino¡¡Cane£»¡¡Prince¡¡of¡¡Varese¡£¡¡The¡¡Grimaldi£»¡¡who
assumed¡¡sovereignty£»¡¡did¡¡not¡¡take¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡Monaco¡¡till¡¡much
later¡£

The¡¡last¡¡Cane¡¡of¡¡the¡¡elder¡¡branch¡¡vanished¡¡from¡¡Venice¡¡thirty¡¡years
before¡¡the¡¡fall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Republic£»¡¡condemned¡¡for¡¡various¡¡crimes¡¡more¡¡or
less¡¡criminal¡£¡¡The¡¡branch¡¡on¡¡whom¡¡this¡¡nominal¡¡principality¡¡then
devolved£»¡¡the¡¡Cane¡¡Memmi£»¡¡sank¡¡into¡¡poverty¡¡during¡¡the¡¡fatal¡¡period
between¡¡1796¡¡and¡¡1814¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡twentieth¡¡year¡¡of¡¡the¡¡present¡¡century
they¡¡were¡¡represented¡¡only¡¡by¡¡a¡¡young¡¡man¡¡whose¡¡name¡¡was¡¡Emilio£»¡¡and
an¡¡old¡¡palace¡¡which¡¡is¡¡regarded¡¡as¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡ornaments¡¡of¡¡the
Grand¡¡Canal¡£¡¡This¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Venice¡¡the¡¡Fair¡¡had¡¡for¡¡his¡¡whole¡¡fortune
this¡¡useless¡¡Palazzo£»¡¡and¡¡fifteen¡¡hundred¡¡francs¡¡a¡¡year¡¡derived¡¡from¡¡a
country¡¡house¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Brenta£»¡¡the¡¡last¡¡plot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lands¡¡his¡¡family¡¡had
formerly¡¡owned¡¡on¡¡/terra¡¡firma/£»¡¡and¡¡sold¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Austrian¡¡government¡£
This¡¡little¡¡income¡¡spared¡¡our¡¡handsome¡¡Emilio¡¡the¡¡ignominy¡¡of
accepting£»¡¡as¡¡many¡¡nobles¡¡did£»¡¡the¡¡indemnity¡¡of¡¡a¡¡franc¡¡a¡¡day£»¡¡due¡¡to
every¡¡impoverished¡¡patrician¡¡under¡¡the¡¡stipulations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cession¡¡to
Austria¡£

At¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡winter£»¡¡this¡¡young¡¡gentleman¡¡was¡¡still¡¡lingering
in¡¡a¡¡country¡¡house¡¡situated¡¡at¡¡the¡¡base¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Tyrolese¡¡Alps£»¡¡and
purchased¡¡in¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡spring¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Duchess¡¡Cataneo¡£¡¡The¡¡house£»
erected¡¡by¡¡Palladio¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Piepolo¡¡family£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡square¡¡building¡¡of
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marble¡¡portico¡¡on¡¡each¡¡side£»¡¡the¡¡vestibules¡¡are¡¡crowded¡¡with¡¡frescoes£»
and¡¡made¡¡light¡¡by¡¡sky¡­blue¡¡ceilings¡¡across¡¡which¡¡graceful¡¡figures
float¡¡amid¡¡ornament¡¡rich¡¡in¡¡design£»¡¡but¡¡so¡¡well¡¡proportioned¡¡that¡¡the
building¡¡carries¡¡it£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡carries¡¡her¡¡head¡­dress£»¡¡with¡¡an¡¡ease
that¡¡charms¡¡the¡¡eye£»¡¡in¡¡short£»¡¡the¡¡grace¡¡and¡¡dignity¡¡that¡¡characterize
the¡¡/Procuratie/¡¡in¡¡the¡¡piazetta¡¡at¡¡Venice¡£¡¡Stone¡¡walls£»¡¡admirably
decorated£»¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡rooms¡¡at¡¡a¡¡pleasantly¡¡cool¡¡temperature¡£¡¡Verandas
outside£»¡¡painted¡¡in¡¡fresco£»¡¡screen¡¡off¡¡the¡¡glare¡£¡¡The¡¡flooring
throughout¡¡is¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Venetian¡¡inlay¡¡of¡¡marbles£»¡¡cut¡¡into¡¡unfading
flowers¡£

The¡¡furniture£»¡¡like¡¡that¡¡of¡¡all¡¡Italian¡¡palaces£»¡¡was¡¡rich¡¡with
handsome¡¡silks£»¡¡judiciously¡¡employed£»¡¡and¡¡valuable¡¡pictures¡¡favorably
hung£»¡¡some¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Genoese¡¡priest£»¡¡known¡¡as¡¡/il¡¡Capucino/£»¡¡several¡¡by
Leonardo¡¡da¡¡Vinci£»¡¡Carlo¡¡Dolci£»¡¡Tintoretto£»¡¡and¡¡Titian¡£

The¡¡shelving¡¡gardens¡¡were¡¡full¡¡of¡¡the¡¡marvels¡¡where¡¡money¡¡has¡¡been
turned¡¡into¡¡rocky¡¡grottoes¡¡and¡¡patterns¡¡of¡¡shells£»the¡¡very¡¡madness
of¡¡craftsmanship£»terraces¡¡laid¡¡out¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fairies£»¡¡arbors¡¡of¡¡sterner
aspect£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡cypress¡¡on¡¡its¡¡tall¡¡trunk£»¡¡the¡¡triangular¡¡pines£»¡¡and
the¡¡melancholy¡¡olive¡¡mingled¡¡pleasingly¡¡with¡¡orange¡¡trees£»¡¡bays£»¡¡and
myrtles£»¡¡and¡¡clear¡¡pools¡¡in¡¡which¡¡blue¡¡or¡¡russet¡¡fishes¡¡swam¡£¡¡Whatever
may¡¡be¡¡said¡¡in¡¡favor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡or¡¡English¡¡garden£»¡¡these¡¡trees£»
pruned¡¡into¡¡parasols£»¡¡and¡¡yews¡¡fantastically¡¡clipped£»¡¡this¡¡luxury¡¡of
art¡¡so¡¡skilfully¡¡combined¡¡with¡¡that¡¡of¡¡nature¡¡in¡¡Court¡¡dress£»¡¡those
cascades¡¡over¡¡marble¡¡steps¡¡where¡¡the¡¡water¡¡spreads¡¡so¡¡shyly£»¡¡a¡¡filmy
scarf¡¡swept¡¡aside¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡and¡¡immediately¡¡renewed£»¡¡those¡¡bronzed
metal¡¡figures¡¡speechlessly¡¡inhabiting¡¡the¡¡silent¡¡grove£»¡¡that¡¡lordly
palace£»¡¡an¡¡object¡¡in¡¡the¡¡landscape¡¡from¡¡every¡¡side£»¡¡raising¡¡its¡¡light
outline¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Alps£»all¡¡the¡¡living¡¡thoughts¡¡which
animate¡¡the¡¡stone£»¡¡the¡¡bronze£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡or¡¡express¡¡themselves¡¡in
garden¡¡plots£»this¡¡lavish¡¡prodigality¡¡was¡¡in¡¡perfect¡¡keeping¡¡with¡¡the
loves¡¡of¡¡a¡¡duchess¡¡and¡¡a¡¡handsome¡¡youth£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡are¡¡a¡¡poem¡¡far
removed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡coarse¡¡ends¡¡of¡¡brutal¡¡nature¡£

Any¡¡one¡¡with¡¡a¡¡soul¡¡for¡¡fantasy¡¡would¡¡have¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡see£»¡¡on¡¡one¡¡of
those¡¡noble¡¡flights¡¡of¡¡steps£»¡¡standing¡¡by¡¡a¡¡vase¡¡with¡¡medallions¡¡in
bas¡­relief£»¡¡a¡¡negro¡¡boy¡¡swathed¡¡about¡¡the¡¡loins¡¡with¡¡scarlet¡¡stuff£»
and¡¡holding¡¡in¡¡one¡¡hand¡¡a¡¡parasol¡¡over¡¡the¡¡Duchess'¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the
other¡¡the¡¡train¡¡of¡¡her¡¡long¡¡skirt£»¡¡while¡¡she¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡Emilio¡¡Memmi¡£
And¡¡how¡¡far¡¡grander¡¡the¡¡Venetian¡¡would¡¡have¡¡looked¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡dress¡¡as
the¡¡Senators¡¡wore¡¡whom¡¡Titian¡¡painted¡£

But¡¡alas£¡¡¡in¡¡this¡¡fairy¡¡palace£»¡¡not¡¡unlike¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Peschieri¡¡at
Genoa£»¡¡the¡¡Duchess¡¡Cataneo¡¡obeyed¡¡the¡¡edicts¡¡of¡¡Victorine¡¡and¡¡the
Paris¡¡fashions¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡on¡¡a¡¡muslin¡¡dress¡¡and¡¡broad¡¡straw¡¡hat£»¡¡pretty
shot¡¡silk¡¡shoes£»¡¡thread¡¡lace¡¡stockings¡¡that¡¡a¡¡breath¡¡of¡¡air¡¡would¡¡have
blown¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡over¡¡her¡¡shoulders¡¡a¡¡black¡¡lace¡¡shawl¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡thing
which¡¡no¡¡one¡¡could¡¡ever¡¡understand¡¡in¡¡Paris£»¡¡where¡¡women¡¡are¡¡sheathed
in¡¡their¡¡dresses¡¡as¡¡a¡¡dragon¡­fly¡¡is¡¡cased¡¡in¡¡its¡¡annular¡¡armor£»¡¡was
the¡¡perfect¡¡freedom¡¡with¡¡which¡¡this¡¡lovely¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡Tuscany¡¡wore
her¡¡French¡¡attire£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡Italianized¡¡it¡£¡¡A¡¡Frenchwoman¡¡treats¡¡her
shirt¡¡with¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡seriousness£»¡¡an¡¡Italian¡¡never¡¡thinks¡¡about¡¡it£»
she¡¡does¡¡not¡¡attempt¡¡self¡­protection¡¡by¡¡some¡¡prim¡¡glance£»¡¡for¡¡she
knows¡¡that¡¡she¡¡is¡¡safe¡¡in¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡devoted¡¡love£»¡¡a¡¡passion¡¡as¡¡sacred
and¡¡serious¡¡in¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡as¡¡in¡¡those¡¡of¡¡others¡£

At¡¡eleven¡¡in¡¡the¡¡forenoon£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡walk£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡a¡¡table
still¡¡strewn¡¡with¡¡the¡¡remains¡¡of¡¡an¡¡elegant¡¡breakfast£»¡¡the¡¡Duchess£»
lounging¡¡in¡¡an¡¡easy¡­chair£»¡¡left¡¡her¡¡lover¡¡the¡¡master¡¡of¡¡these¡¡muslin
draperies£»¡¡without¡¡a¡¡frown¡¡each¡¡time¡¡he¡¡moved¡£¡¡Emilio£»¡¡seated¡¡at¡¡her
side£»¡¡held¡¡one¡¡of¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡between¡¡his£»¡¡gazing¡¡at¡¡her¡¡with¡¡utter
absorption¡£¡¡Ask¡¡not¡¡whether¡¡they¡¡loved£»¡¡they¡¡loved¡¡only¡¡too¡¡well¡£¡¡They
were¡¡not¡¡reading¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡book£»¡¡like¡¡Paolo¡¡and¡¡Francesca£»¡¡far
from¡¡it£»¡¡Emilio¡¡dared¡¡not¡¡say£º¡¡¡¨Let¡¡us¡¡read¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡gleam¡¡of¡¡those¡¡eyes£»
those¡¡glistening¡¡gray¡¡irises¡¡streaked¡¡with¡¡threads¡¡of¡¡gold¡¡that
started¡¡from¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡like¡¡rifts¡¡of¡¡light£»¡¡giving¡¡her¡¡gaze¡¡a¡¡soft£»
star¡­like¡¡radiance£»¡¡thrilled¡¡him¡¡with¡¡nervous¡¡rapture¡¡that¡¡was¡¡almost
a¡¡spasm¡£¡¡Sometimes¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡splendid¡¡black¡¡hair¡¡that
crowned¡¡the¡¡adored¡¡head£»¡¡bound¡¡by¡¡a¡¡simple¡¡gold¡¡fillet£»¡¡and¡¡falling¡¡in
satin¡¡tresses¡¡on¡¡each¡¡side¡¡of¡¡a¡¡spacious¡¡brow£»¡¡was¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡give¡¡him
a¡¡ringing¡¡in¡¡his¡¡ears£»¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡tide¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡rushing¡¡through¡¡his
veins¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡must¡¡burst¡¡his¡¡heart¡£¡¡By¡¡what¡¡obscure¡¡phenomenon¡¡did
his¡¡soul¡¡so¡¡overmaster¡¡his¡¡body¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡his
independent¡¡self£»¡¡but¡¡was¡¡wholly¡¡one¡¡with¡¡this¡¡woman¡¡at¡¡the¡¡least¡¡word
she¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡that¡¡voice¡¡which¡¡disturbed¡¡the¡¡very¡¡sources¡¡of¡¡life¡¡in
him£¿¡¡If£»¡¡in¡¡utter¡¡seclusion£»¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡of¡¡moderate¡¡charms¡¡can£»¡¡by¡¡being
constantly¡¡studied£»¡¡seem¡¡supreme¡¡and¡¡imposing£»¡¡perhaps¡¡one¡¡so
magnificently¡¡handsome¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Duchess¡¡could¡¡fascinate¡¡to¡¡stupidity¡¡a
youth¡¡in¡¡whom¡¡rapture¡¡found¡¡some¡¡fresh¡¡incitement£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡had¡¡really
absorbed¡¡his¡¡young¡¡soul¡£

Massimilla£»¡¡the¡¡heiress¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Doni£»¡¡of¡¡Florence£»¡¡had¡¡married¡¡the
Sicilian¡¡Duke¡¡Cataneo¡£¡¡Her¡¡mother£»¡¡since¡¡dead£»¡¡had¡¡hoped£»¡¡by¡¡promoting
this¡¡marriage£»¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡her¡¡rich¡¡and¡¡happy£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡Florentine
custom¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡concluded¡¡that¡¡her¡¡daughter£»¡¡emerging¡¡from¡¡a¡¡convent
to¡¡embark¡¡in¡¡life£»¡¡would¡¡achieve£»¡¡under¡¡the¡¡laws¡¡of¡¡love£»¡¡that¡¡second
union¡¡of¡¡heart¡¡with¡¡heart¡¡which£»¡¡to¡¡an¡¡Italian¡¡woman£»¡¡is¡¡all¡¡in¡¡all¡£
But¡¡Massimilla¡¡Doni¡¡had¡¡acquired¡¡in¡¡her¡¡convent¡¡a¡¡real¡¡taste¡¡for¡¡a
religious¡¡life£»¡¡and£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡had¡¡pledged¡¡her¡¡troth¡¡to¡¡Duke¡¡Cataneo£»
she¡¡was¡¡Christianly¡¡content¡¡to¡¡be¡¡his¡¡wife¡£

This¡¡was¡¡an¡¡untenable¡¡position¡£¡¡Cataneo£»¡¡who¡¡only¡¡looked¡¡for¡¡a
duchess£»¡¡thought¡¡himself¡¡ridiculous¡¡as¡¡a¡¡husband£»¡¡and£»¡¡when¡¡Massimilla
complained¡¡of¡¡this¡¡indifference£»¡¡he¡¡calmly¡¡bid¡¡her¡¡look¡¡about¡¡her¡¡for
a¡¡/cavaliere¡¡servente/£»¡¡even¡¡offering¡¡his¡¡services¡¡to¡¡introduce¡¡to¡¡her
some¡¡youths¡¡from¡¡whom¡¡to¡¡choose¡£¡¡The¡¡Duchess¡¡wept£»¡¡the¡¡Duke¡¡made¡¡his
bow¡£

Massimilla¡¡looked¡¡about¡¡her¡¡at¡¡the¡¡world¡¡that¡¡crowded¡¡round¡¡her£»¡¡her
mother¡¡took¡¡her¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Pergola£»¡¡to¡¡some¡¡ambassadors'¡¡drawing¡­rooms£»¡¡to
the¡¡Cascinewherever¡¡handsome¡¡young¡¡men¡¡of¡¡fashion¡¡were¡¡to¡¡be¡¡met£»
she¡¡saw¡¡none¡¡to¡¡her¡¡mind£»¡¡and¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡travel¡£¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡lost¡¡her
mother£»¡¡inherited¡¡her¡¡property£»¡¡assumed¡¡mourning£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡her¡¡way¡¡to
Venice¡£¡¡There¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡Emilio£»¡¡who£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡went¡¡past¡¡her¡¡opera¡¡box£»
exchanged¡¡with¡¡her¡¡a¡¡flash¡¡of¡¡inquiry¡£

This¡¡was¡¡all¡£¡¡The¡¡Venetian¡¡was¡¡thunderstruck£»¡¡while¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡in¡¡the
Duchess'¡¡ear¡¡call

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