第60章

"What’sthat？Twoloversandstillamaid！Idon’tunderstand；

pleasetellmeaboutit，forIhaveneverheardofsuchathing。"

"BeforeIsatisfiedmyfirstloverwhichhappenedwhenIwasonlytwelve，IwasjustthesameasIamnow。"

"It’swonderful。Andwhatdidhesaywhenhesawit？"

"Isworethathewasmyfirst，andhebelievedme，puttingitdowntothepeculiarshapeofmybody。"

"Hewasamanofspirit；butdidn’thehurtyou？"

"Notabit；butthenhewasverygentle。"

"Youmusthaveatryaftersupper，"saidtheAstroditome，"thatwouldbefinefun。"

"No，no，"saidtheLepi，"thegentlemanwouldbetoobigforme。"

"Nonsense！Youdon’twanttotakeinallofhim。Iwillshowyouhowitis。"

Withthesewordstheimpudenthussyproceededtoexhibitme，andI

letherdowhatsheliked。

"That’sjustwhatIshouldhavethought，"criedtheLepi；"itcouldneverbedone。"

"Well，heisratherbig，"answeredtheAstrodi；"butthere’sacureforeverything，andhewillbecontentwithhalf—measures。"

"It’snotthelength，mydear，butthethicknesswhichfrightensme；Iamafraidthedooristoonarrow。"

"Allthebetterforyou，foryoucansellyourmaidenheadafterhavinghadtwolovers。"

Thisconversation，notdevoidofwit，andstillmorethesimplicityofthehunchback，hadmademeresolvetoverifythingsformyself。

Suppercameup，andIhadthepleasureofseeingthetwonymphseatlikestarvingsavages，anddrinkstillbetter。WhentheHermitagehaddoneitsworktheAstrodiproposedthatweshouldcastofftheclotheswhichdisfigurenature。

"Certainly，"saidI；"andIwillturnawaywhileyouaregettingready。"

Iwentbehindthecurtains，tookoffmyclothes，andwenttobedwithmybacktothem。AtlasttheAstroditoldmethattheywereready，andwhenIlookedtheLepitookupallmyattention。Inspiteofherdoubledeformityshewasahandsomewoman。Myglancesfrightenedher，forshewasdoubtlesstakingpartinanorgyforthefirsttime。Igavehercourage，however，bydintofpraisingthosecharmswhichthewhiteandbeautifulhandscouldnothide，andatlastIpersuadedhertocomeandliebesideme。

Herhumppreventedherlyingonherback，buttheingeniousAstrodidoubledupthepillowsandsucceededinplacingherinapositionsimilartothatofashipabouttobelaunched。ItwasalsobythetendercareoftheAstrodithattheintroductionoftheknifewasmanaged，tothegreatdelightofpriestandvictim。

Aftertheoperationwasovershegotupandkissedme，whichshecouldnotdobefore，forhermouthreachedtothemiddleofmychest，whilemyfeetwerescarcelydowntoherknees。Iwouldhavegiventenlouistohavebeenabletoseethecurioussightwemusthavepresentedatwork。

"Nowcomesmyturn，"saidtheAstrodi；"butIdon’twantyoutoinfringeontherightsofmyauditor，socomeandlookroundandseewherethepathlies。Takethat。"

"WhatamItodowiththissliceoflemon？"

"Iwantyoutotrywhethertheplaceisfreefrominfection，orwhetheritwouldbedangerousforyoutopayitavisit。"

"Isthatasuremethod？"

"Infallible；ifeverythingwerenotrightIcouldnotbearthesmart。"

"Thereyouare。How’sthat？"

"Allright；butdon’tdeceiveme，Iwantnohalfmeasures。MyreputationwouldbemadeifIbecamewithchild。"

Iaskmyreader’sleavetodrawaveiloversomeincidentsofthistrulyscandalousorgy，inwhichtheuglywomantaughtmesomethingsIdidnotknowbefore。Atlast，moretiredthanexhausted，Itoldthemtobegone，buttheAstrodiinsistedonfinishingupwithabowlofpunch。Iagreed，butnotwishingtohaveanythingmoretodowitheitherofthemIdressedmyselfagain。However，thechampagnepunchexcitedthemtosuchanextentthatatlasttheymademesharetheirtransports。TheAstrodiplacedherfriendinsuchasingularpositionthatthehumpswerenolongervisible，andimaginingthatIhadbeforemethehighpriestessofJove，Ipaidheralongsacrifice，inwhichdeathandresurrectionfollowedoneanotherinsuccession。ButIfeltdisgustedwithmyself，anddrewawayfromtheirlasciviousfrenzies，andgavethemtenLouistogetridofthem。TheAstrodifellonherknees，blessedme，thankedme，calledmehergod；andtheLepiweptandlaughedforjoyatthesametime；andthusforaquarterofanhourIwastreatedtoasceneofanextraordinarykind。

Ihadthemtakenhomeinmycarriage，andslepttillteno’clocknextmorning。JustasIwasgoingoutforawalkStuardcametomyroomandtoldme，withanairofdespair，thatifIdidnotgivehimthemeansofgoingawaybeforeIlefthewouldthrowhimselfintheRhine。

"That’srathertragic，"saidI，"butIcanfindacure。Iwilldisbursetwenty—fiveLouis，butitisyourwifewhomustreceivethem；andtheonlyconditionisthatshemustreceivemealoneforanhour，andbeentirelykind。"

"Sir，weneedjustthatsum；mywifeisdisposedtoreceiveyou；

goandtalktoher。Ishallnotbeintillnoon。"

Iputtwenty—fiveLouisinaprettylittlepurse，andleftmyroomthinkingthatthevictorywaswon。Ienteredherroomandapproachedherbedrespectfully。Whensheheardmeshesatupinbedwithouttakingthetroubletocoverherbreast，andbeforeI

couldwishhergood—dayshespoketomeasfollows:

"Iamready，sir，topaywithmybodyforthewretchedtwenty—fiveLouisofwhichmyhusbandisinneed。Youcandowhatyoulikewithme；butrememberthatintakingadvantageofmypositiontoassuageyourbrutallustyouarethevilerofthetwo，forIonlysellmyselfsocheaplybecausenecessitycompelsmetodoso。

Yourbasenessismoreshamefulthanmine。Comeon；hereIam。"

Withthisflatteringaddressshethrewoffthecoverletwithavigorousgesture，anddisplayedallherbeauties，whichImighthavegazedonwithsuchdifferentfeelingsfromthosewhichnowfilledmybreast。ForamomentIwassilentwithindignation。

Allmypassionhadevaporated；inthosevoluptuousroundedlimbsI

sawnowonlythecoveringofawildbeast’ssoul。Iputbackthecoverletwiththegreatestcalmness，andaddressedherinatoneofcoldcontempt:

"No，madam，Ishallnotleavethisroomdegradedbecauseyouhavetoldmeso，butIshallleaveitafterimpartingtoyouafewdegradingtruths，ofwhichyoucannotbeignorantifyouareawomanofanydecencywhatever。Herearetwenty—fivelouis，awretchedsumtogiveavirtuouswomaninpaymentofherfavours，butmuchmorethanyoudeserve。Iamnotbrutal，andtoconvinceyouofthefactIamgoingtoleaveyouintheundisturbedpossessionofyourcharms，whichIdespiseasheartilyasIshouldhaveadmiredthemifyourbehaviourhadbeendifferent。IonlygiveyouthemoneyfromafeelingofcompassionwhichIcannotovercome，andwhichistheonlyfeelingInowhaveforyou。

Nevertheless，letmetellyouthatwhetherawomansellsherselffortwenty—fivelouisortwenty—fivemillionlouissheisasmuchaprostituteintheonecaseasintheother，ifshedoesnotgiveherlovewithherself，oratalleventsthesemblanceoflove。

Farewell。"

Iwentbacktomyroom，andincourseoftimeStuardcametothankme。

"Sir，"saidI，"letmealone；Iwishtohearnomoreaboutyourwife。"

TheywentawaythenextdayforLyons，andmyreaderswillhearofthemagainatLiege。

IntheafternoonDolcitookmetohisgardenthatImightseethegardener’ssister。Shewaspretty，butnotsoprettyashewas。

Hesoongotherintoagoodhumour，andaftersometriflingobjectionsheconsentedtobelovedbyhiminmypresence。IsawthatthisAdonishadbeenrichlydoweredbynature，andItoldhimthatwithsuchaphysicalconformationhehadnoneedofemptyinghisfather’spursetotravel，andbeforelonghetookmyadvice。

ThisfairGanymedemighteasilyhaveturnedmeintoJove，ashestruggledamorouslywiththegardener’ssister。

AsIwasgoinghomeIsawayoungmancomingoutofaboat；hewasfromtwentytotwenty—fiveyearsold，andlookedverysad。Seeingmelookingathim，heaccostedme，andhumblyaskedforalms，shewingmeadocumentauthorizinghimtobeg，andapassportstatinghehadleftMadridsixweeksbefore。HecamefromParma，andwasnamedCosta。WhenIsawParmamynationalprejudicespokeinhisfavour，andIaskedhimwhatmisfortunehadreducedhimtobeggary。

"Onlylackofmoneytoreturntomynativecountry，"saidhe。

"WhatwereyoudoingatMadrid，andwhydidyouleave？"

"IwastherefouryearsasvalettoDr。Pistoria，physiciantotheKingofSpain，butonmyhealthfailingIlefthim。HereisacertificatewhichwillshewyouthatIgavesatisfaction。"

"Whatcanyoudo？"

"Iwriteagoodhand，Icanassistagentlemanashissecretary，andIintendbeingascribewhenIgethome。HerearesomeversesIcopiedyesterday。"

"Youwritewell；butcanyouwritecorrectlywithoutabook？"

"IcanwritefromdictationinFrench，Latin，andSpanish。"

"Correctly？"

"Yes，sir，ifthedictationisdoneproperly，foritisthebusinessoftheonewhodictatestoseethateverythingiscorrect。"

IsawthatMasterGaetanCostawasanignoramus，butinspiteofthatItookhimtomyroomandtoldLeDuctoaddresshiminSpanish。Heansweredwellenough，butonmydictatingtohiminItalianandFrenchIfoundhehadnottheremotestideasonorthography。

"Butyoucan’twrite，"saidItohim。However，Isawhewasmortifiedatthis，andIconsoledhimbysayingthatIwouldtakehimtohisowncountryatmyexpense。Hekissedmyhand，andassuredmethatIshouldfindafaithfulservantinhim。

Thisyoungfellowtookmyfancybyhisoriginality；hehadprobablyassumedittodistinguishhimselffromtheblockheadsamongstwhomhehadhithertolived，andnowuseditinperfectgoodfaithwitheverybody。Hethoughtthattheartofascribesolelyconsistedinpossessingagoodhand，andthatthefairestwriterwouldbethebestscribe。HesaidasmuchwhilehewasexaminingapaperIhadwritten，andasmywritingwasnotaslegibleashishetacitlytoldmeIwashisinferior，andthatI

shouldthereforetreathimwithsomedegreeofrespect。Ilaughedatthisfad，and，notthinkinghimincorrigibleItookhimintomyservice。IfithadnotbeenforthatoddnotionofhisIshouldprobablyhavemerelygivenhimalouis，andnomore。Hesaidthatspellingwasofnoconsequence，asthosewhoknewhowtospellcouldeasilyguessthewords，whilethosewhodidnotknowwereunabletopickoutthemistakes。Ilaughed，butasIsaidnothinghethoughtthelaughsignifiedapproval。InthedictationIgavehimtheCouncilofTrenthappenedtooccur。AccordingtohissystemhewroteTrentbyathreeandanought。Iburstoutlaughing；buthewasnotintheleastputout，onlyremarkingthatthepronunciationbeingthesameitwasofnoconsequencehowthewordwasspelt。Inpointoffactthisladwasafoolsolelythroughhisintelligence，matchedwithignoranceandunboundedself—confidence。Iwaspleasedwithhisoriginalityandkepthim，andwasthusthegreaterfoolofthetwo，asthereaderwillsee。

IleftAvignonnextday，andwentstraighttoMarseilles，nottroublingtostopatAix。Ihaltedatthe"TreizeCantons，"

wishingtostayforaweekatleastinthisancientcolonyofthePhocaeans，andtodoasIlikedthere。WiththisideaItooknoletterofintroduction；Ihadplentyofmoney，andneedednobody’shelp。Itoldmylandlordtogivemeachoicefishdinnerinmyownroom，asIwasawarethatthefishinthosepartsisbetterthananywhereelse。

Iwentoutthenextmorningwithaguide，totakemebacktotheinnwhenIwastiredofwalking。NotheedingwhereIwent，I

reachedafinequay；IthoughtIwasatVeniceagain，andIfeltmybosomswell，sodeeplyistheloveoffatherlandgravenontheheartofeverygoodman。IsawanumberofstallswhereSpanishandLevantinewineswerekept，andanumberofpeopledrinkinginthem。Acrowdofbusinessmenwenthitherandthither，runningupagainsteachother，crossingeachother’spaths，eachoccupiedwithhisownbusiness，andnotcaringwhosewayhegotinto。

Hucksters，welldressedandilldressed，women，prettyandplain，womenwhostaredboldlyateveryone，modestmaidenswithdowncasteyes，suchwasthepictureIsaw。

Themixtureofnationalities，thegraveTurkandtheglitteringAndalusian，theFrenchdandy，thegrossNegro，thecraftyGreek，thedullHollander；everythingremindedmeofVenice，andI

enjoyedthescene。

Istoppedamomentatastreetcornertoreadaplaybill，andthenIwentbacktotheinnandrefreshedmywearybodywithadeliciousdinner，washeddownwithchoiceSyracusanwine。AfterdinnerIdressedandtookaplaceintheamphitheatreofthetheatre。

CHAPTERIII

Rosalie——Toulon——Nice——IArriveatGenoa——M。Grimaldi——VeroniqueandHerSisterInoticedthatthefourprincipalboxesonbothsidesoftheprosceniumwereadornedwithprettywomen，butnotasinglegentleman。IntheintervalbetweenthefirstandsecondactsI

sawgentlemenofallclassespayingtheirdevoirstotheseladies。

SuddenlyIheardaKnightofMaltasaytoagirl，whowasthesoleoccupantofaboxnexttome，"Iwillbreakfastwithyouto—morrow。"

Thiswasenoughforme。IlookedathermorecloselyandfindinghertobeadaintymorselIsaid，assoonastheknighthadgone，—

"Willyougivememysupper？"

"Withpleasure；butIhavebeentakeninsooftenthatIshan’texpectyouwithoutanearnest。"

"HowcanIgiveyouanearnest？Idon’tunderstand。"

"Youmustbeanew—comerhere。"

"Justarrived。"

Shelaughed，calledtheknight，andsaid，——

"Bepleasedtoexplaintothisgentleman，whohasjustaskedmeforsupper，themeaningoftheword’earnest。’"

Thegood—naturedknightexplained，withasmile，thatthelady，fearinglestmymemoryshouldprovedefective，wantedmetopayformysupperinadvance。Ithankedhim，andaskedherifalouiswouldbeenough；andonherreplyingintheaffirmative，IgavehertheLouisandaskedforheraddress。Theknighttoldmepolitelythathewouldtakemetherehimselfafterthetheatre，adding，——

"She’sthewantonestwenchinallMarseilles。"

HethenaskedmeifIknewthetown，andwhenItoldhimthatI

hadonlycomethatdayhesaidhewasgladtobethefirsttomakemyacquaintance。Wewenttothemiddleof，theamphitheatreandhepointedoutascoreofgirlstorightandleft，allofthemreadytotreatthefirstcomertosupper。Theyareallonthefreelist，andthemanagerfindstheyservehisendsasrespectablewomenwillnotsitintheirboxes，andtheydrawpeopletothetheatre。InoticedfiveorsixofabettertypethantheoneIhadengaged，butIresolvedtosticktoherfortheevening，andtomaketheacquaintanceoftheothersanothertime。

"Isyourfavouriteamongstthem？"Isaidtotheknight。

"No，Ikeepaballet—girl，andIwillintroduceyoutoher，asI

amgladtosaythatIamfreefromalljealousy。"

Whentheplaycametoanendhetookmetomynymph’slodging，andwepartedwiththeunderstandingthatweweretoseemoreofoneanother。

Ifoundtheladyinundress——acircumstancewhichwentagainsther，forwhatIsawdidnotpleaseme。Shegavemeacapitalsupper，andenlivenedmebysomewittyandwantonsallieswhichmademeregardherinamorefavourablelight。Whenwehadsuppershegotintobed，andaskedmetofollowherexample；butItoldherthatIneversleptout。ShethenofferedmetheEnglisharticlewhichbringspeacetothesoul，butIdidnotaccepttheonesheofferedasIthoughtitlookedofacommonmake。

"Ihavefinerones，buttheyarethreefrancseach，andthemakeronlysellsthembythedozen，"shesaid。"Iwilltakeadozeniftheyarereallygood，"Ireplied。

Sherangthebell，andayoung，charming，andmodest—lookinggirlcamein。Iwasstruckwithher。

"Youhavegotanicemaid，"Iremarked，whenthegirlhadgonefortheprotectivesheaths。

"Sheisonlyfifteen，"shesaid，"andwon’tdoanything，assheisnewtoit。"

"Willyouallowmetoseeformyself？"

"Youmayaskherifyoulike，butIdon’tthinkshewillconsent。"

Thegirlcamebackwiththepacket，andputtingmyselfinaproperpositionItoldhertotryoneon。Sheproceededtodosowithasulkyairandwithakindofrepugnancewhichmademefeelinterestedinher。Numberonewouldnotgoon，soshehadtotryonasecond，andtheresultwasthatIbesprinkledherplentifully。Themistresslaughed，butshewasindignant，threwthewholepacketinmyface，andranawayinarage。Iwantednothingmoreafterthis，soIputthepacketinmypocket，gavethewomantwoLouis，andlefttheroom。ThegirlIhadtreatedsocavalierlycametolightmedownstairs，andthinkingIowedheranapologyIgaveheraLouisandbeggedherpardon。Thepoorgirlwasastonished，kissedmyhand，andbeggedmetosaynothingtohermistress。

"Iwillnot，mydear，buttellmetrulywhetheryouarestilla’virgointacta’。"

"Certainly，sir！"

"Wonderful！buttellmewhyyouwouldn’tletmeseeformyself？"

"Becauseitrevoltedme。"

"Neverthelessyouwillhavetodoso，forotherwise，inspiteofyourprettiness，peoplewillnotknowwhattomakeofyou。Wouldyouliketoletmetry？"

"Yes，butnotinthishorriblehouse。"

"Where，then？"

"Gotomymother’sto—morrow，Iwillbethere。Yourguideknowswhereshelives。"

WhenIgotoutside，Iaskedthemanifheknewher。Herepliedintheaffirmative，andsaidhebelievedhertobeanhonestgirl。

"Youwilltakemeto—morrowtoseehermother，"Isaid。

Nextmorninghetookmetotheendofthetown，toapoorhouse，whereIfoundapoorwomanandpoorchildrenlivingonthegroundfloor，andeatinghardblackbread。

"Whatdoyouwant？"saidshe。

"Isyoudaughterhere？"

"No，andwhatifshewere？Iamnotherbawd。"

"No，ofcoursenot，mygoodwoman。"

Justthenthegirlcamein，andtheenragedmotherflunganoldpotwhichcamehandy，atherhead。Luckilyitmissed，butshewouldnothaveescapedhermother’s