第76章

"Shewon’tbeabletohelplaughing；besides，youaredressed。"

Theopportunitywastootempting，andtakingoffmydressing—gown，Igentlycreptintothebed，andEleanorecoveredmeuptomyneck。Shelaughed，butmyheartwasbeatingrapidly。Icouldnotgivetheaffairtheappearanceofajoke，andIhopedClementinewouldbesometimebeforesheawokethatImighthavetimetocomposemyself。

Ihadbeeninthispositionforaboutfiveminutes，whenClementine，halfasleepandhalfawake，turnedover，andstretchingoutherarm，gavemeahastykiss，thinkingIwashersister。Shethenfellasleepagaininthesameposition。I

shouldhavestayedstilllongenough，forherwarmbreathplayedonmyface，andgavemeaforetasteofambrosia；butEleanorecouldrestrainherselfnolonger，and，burstingintoapealoflaughter，forcedClementinetoopenhereyes。Nevertheless，shedidnotdiscoverthatsheheldmeinherarmstillshesawhersisterstandinglaughingbesidethebed。

"Thisisafinetrick，"saidshe，"youaretwocharmersindeed！"

Thisquietreceptiongavemebackmyself—composure，andIwasabletoplaymypartproperly。

"Yousee，"saidI，"IhavehadakissfrommysweetHebe。"

"IthoughtIwasgivingittomysister。’TisthekissthatAmaryllisgavetoMistillo。"

"Itcomestothesamething。Thekisshasproduceditseffects，andIolasisyoungagain。"

"DearEleanore，youhavegonetoofar，forweloveeachother，andIwasdreamingofhim。"

"No，no，"saidhersister，"Iolasisdressed。Look！"

Sosaying，thelittlewantonwithaswiftmovementuncoveredme，butatthesametimesheuncoveredhersister，andClementinewithalittlescreamveiledthecharmswhichmyeyeshaddevouredforamoment。Ihadseenall，butasoneseeslightning。Ihadseenthecorniceandthefriezeofthealtaroflove。

Eleanorethenwentout，andIremainedgazingatthetreasureI

desiredbutdidnotdaretoseize。AtlastIbrokethesilence。

"DearestHebe，"saidI，"youarecertainlyfairerthanthecupbearerofthegods。IhavejustseenwhatmusthavebeenseenwhenHebewasfalling，andifIhadbeenJupiterIshouldhavechangedmymind。"

"SardinitoldmethatJupiterdroveHebeaway，andnowIoughttodriveJupiterawayoutofrevenge。"

"Yes；but，myangel，IamIolas，andnotJupiter。Iadoreyou，andIseektoquenchthedesireswhichtortureme。"

"ThisisatrickbetweenyouandEleanore。"

"Mydearest，itwasallpurechance。IthoughtIshouldfindyoudressed，andIwentintowishyougoodday。Youwereasleepandyoursisterwasdressing。Igazedatyou，andEleanoresuggestedthatIshouldliedownbesideyoutoenjoyyourastonishmentwhenyouawoke。Ioughttobegratefultoherforapleasurewhichhasturnedoutsopleasantly。ButthebeautiesshediscoveredtomesurpassalltheideasIhadformedonthesubject。MycharmingHebewillnotrefusetopardonme。"

"No，sinceallistheeffectofchance。Butitiscuriousthatwhenonelovespassionatelyonealwaysfeelsinquisitiveconcerningthepersonofthebelovedobject。"

"Itisaverynaturalfeeling，dearest。Loveitselfisakindofcuriosity，ifitbelawfultoputcuriosityintherankofthepassions；butyouhavenotthatfeelingaboutme？"

"No，forfearyoumightdisappointme，forIloveyou，andIwanteverythingtospeakinyourfavour。"

"Iknowyoumightbedisappointed，andconsequentlyImustdoeverythinginmypowertopreserveyourgoodopinion。"

"Thenyouaresatisfiedwithme？"

"Surely。Iamagoodarchitect，andIthinkyouaregrandlybuilt。"

"Stay，Iolas，donottouchme；itisenoughthatyouhaveseenme。"

"Alas！itisbytouchingthatonerectifiesthemistakesoftheeyes；onejudgesthusofsmoothnessandsolidity。Letmekissthesetwofairsourcesoflife。IpreferthemtothehundredbreastsofCybele，andIamnotjealousofAthys。"

"Youarewrongthere；SardinitoldmethatitwasDianaofEphesuswhohadthehundredbreasts。"

HowcouldIhelplaughingtohearmythologyissuingfromClementine’smouthatsuchamoment！Couldanyloverforeseesuchanincident？

Ipressedwithmyhandheralabasterbreast，andyetthedesireofknowledgesubduedloveintheheartofClementine。ButfarfrommistakingherconditionIthoughtitagoodomen。Itoldherthatshewasperfectlyright，andthatIwaswrong，andafeelingofliteraryvanitypreventedheropposingmypressingwithmylipsarosybud，whichstoodoutinreliefagainstthealabastersphere。

"Youapplyyourlipsinvain，mydearIolas，thelandisbarren。

Butwhatareyouswallowing？"

"Thequintessenceofakiss。"

"Ithinkyoumusthaveswallowedsomethingofme，sinceyouhavegivenmeapleasurablesensationIhaveneverbeforeexperienced。"

"DearHebe，youmakemehappy。"

"Iamgladtohearit，butIthinkthekissonthelipsismuchbetter。"

"Certainly，becausethepleasureisreciprocal，andconsequentlygreater。"

"Youteachbypreceptandexampletoo。Cruelteacher！Enough，thispleasureistoosweet。Lovemustbelookingatusandlaughing。"

"Whyshouldwenotlethimenjoyavictorywhichwouldmakeusbothhappier？"

"Becausesuchhappinessisnotbuiltonasurefoundation。No，no！putyourarmsdown。Ifwecankilleachotherwithkisses，letuskisson；butletususenootherarms。"

Afterourlipshadclungtoeachothercruellybutsweetly，shepaused，andgazingatmewitheyesfullofpassionshebeggedmetoleaveheralone。

ThesituationinwhichIfoundmyselfisimpossibletodescribe。

Ideploredtheprejudicewhichhadconstrainedme，andIweptwithrage。Icooledmyselfbymakingatoilettewhichwasextremelynecessary，andreturnedtoherroom。

Shewaswriting。

"Iamdelightedtoseeyouback，"saidshe，"Iamfullofthepoeticfrenzyandproposetotellthestoryofthevictorywehavegainedinverse。"

"Asadvictory，abhorredbylove，hatefultonature。"

"Thatwilldonicely。Willeachwriteapoem；Itocelebratethevictoryandyoutodeploreit。Butyoulooksad。"

"Iaminpain；butasthemasculineanatomyisunknowntoyou，I

cannotexplainmatters。"

Clementinedidnotreply，butIcouldseethatshewasaffected。

Isufferedadullpaininthatpartwhichprejudicehadmademeholdaprisonerwhileloveandnaturebademegiveitperfectfreedom。Sleepwastheonlythingwhichwouldrestorethebalanceofmyconstitution。

Wewentdowntodinner，butIcouldnoteat。IcouldnotattendtothereadingofthetranslationwhichM。Vigihadbroughtwithhim，andIevenforgottocomplimenthimuponit。Ibeggedthecounttoholdthebankforme，andaskedthecompanytoallowmetoliedown；nobodycouldtellwhatwasthematterwithme，thoughClementinemighthavehersuspicions。

Atsupper—timeClementine，accompaniedbyaservant，broughtmeadelicatecoldcollation，andtoldmethatthebankhadwon。Itwasthefirsttimeithaddoneso，forIhadalwaystakencaretoplayalosinggame。Imadeagoodsupper，butremainedstillmelancholyandsilent。WhenIhadfinishedClementinebademegoodnight，sayingthatshewasgoingtowriteherpoem。

I，too，wasinthevein:Ifinishedmypoem，andmadeafaircopyofitbeforeIwenttobed。InthemorningClementinecametoseeme，andgavemeherpiece，whichIreadwithpleasure；thoughI

suspectthatthedelightmypraisesgavewasequaltomine。

Thencametheturnofmycomposition，andbeforelongInoticedthatthepictureofmysufferingswasmakingaprofoundimpressiononher。Bigtearsrolleddownhercheeks，andfromhereyesshotforthtenderglances。WhenIhadfinished，Ihadthehappinessofhearinghersaythatifshehadknownthatpartofphysiologybetter，shewouldnothavebehavedso。

Wetookacupofchocolatetogether，andIthenbeggedhertoliedownbesidemeinbedwithoutundressing，andtotreatmeasIhadtreatedherthedaybefore，thatshemighthavesomeexperienceofthemartyrdomIhadsunginmyverses。Shesmiledandagreed，ontheconditionthat1shoulddonothingtoher。

Itwasacruelcondition，butitwasthebeginningofvictory，andIhadtosubmit。Ihadnoreasontorepentofmysubmission，forIenjoyedthedespotismsheexercisedonme，andthepainshemustbeinthatIdidnothingtoher，whilstIwouldnotletherseethecharmswhichsheheldinherhands。InvainIexcitedhertosatisfyherself，torefuseherdesiresnothing，butshepersistedinmaintainingthatshedidnotwishtogoanyfurther。

"Yourenjoymentcannotbesogreatasmine，"saidI。Buthersubtlewitneverleftherwithoutareply。

"Then，"saidshe，"youhavenorighttoaskmetopityyou。"

Thetest，however，wastoosharpforher。Sheleftmeinastateofgreatexcitement，givingmeakisswhichtookalldoubtsaway，andsayingthatinlovewemustbeallornothing。

Wespentthedayinreading，eating，andwalking，andinconversegraveandgay。Icouldnotsee，however，thatmysuithadprogressed，asfarastheeventsofthemorningseemedtoindicate。ShewantedtoreversethemedalofAristippus，whosaid，inspeakingofLois，"Ipossessher，butshedoesnotpossessme。"Shewantedtobemymistress，withoutmybeinghermaster。Iventuredtobewailmyfatealittle，butthatdidnotseemtoadvancemycause。

Threeorfourdaysafter，IaskedClementineinthepresenceofhersistertoletmelieinbedbesideher。Thisisthetestproposedtoanun，awidow，agirlafraidofconsequences，anditnearlyalwayssucceeds。ItookapacketoffineEnglishlettersandexplainedtheirusetoher。Shetookthemexaminedthemattentively，andafteraburstoflaughterdeclaredthemtobescandalous，disgusting，horribleinwhichanathemahersisterjoined。InvainItriedtopleadtheirutilityindefence，butClementinemaintainedthattherewasnotrustingthem，andpushedherfingerintoonesostronglythatitburstwithaloudcrack。

Ihadtogiveway，andputmyspecialtiesinmypocket，andherfinaldeclarationwasthatsuchthingsmadehershudder。

Iwishedthemgoodnight，andretiredinsomeconfusion。I

ponderedoverClementine’sstrangeresistance，whichcouldonlymeanthatIhadnotinspiredherwithsufficientlove。Iresolvedonovercomingherbyanalmostinfalliblemethod。Iwouldprocureherpleasuresthatwerenewtoherwithoutsparingexpense。I

couldthinkofnothingbetterthantotakethewholefamilytoMilan，andtogivethemasumptuousbanquetatmypastry—cook’s。

"Iwilltakethemthere，"Isaidtomyself，"withoutsayingawordaboutourdestinationtillweareonourway，forifIweretonameMilanthecountmightfeelboundtotellhisSpanishcountess，thatshemighthaveanopportunityofmakingtheacquaintanceofhersisters—in—law，andthiswouldvexmetothelastdegree。"Thepartywouldbeagreattreattothesisters，whohadneverbeeninMilan，andIresolvedtomaketheexpeditionassplendidasIpossiblycould。

WhenIawokethenextmorningIwrotetoZenobiatobuythreedressesofthefinestLyonssilkforthreeyoungladiesofrank。

Isentthenecessarymeasurements，andinstructionsastothetrimming。TheCountessAmbrose’sdresswastobewhitesatinwitharichborderofValencienneslace。IalsowrotetoM。Greppi，askinghimtopayforZenobia’spurchases。Itoldhertotakethethreedressestomyprivatelodgings，andlaythemuponthebed，andgivethelandlordanoteIenclosed。Thisnoteorderedhimtoprovideabanquetforeightpersons，withoutsparingexpense。Onthedayandhourappointed，Zengbiawastobeatthepastrycook’sreadytowaitonthethreeladies。IsenttheletterbyClairmont，whoreturnedbeforedinner，bearinganotefromZenobiaassuringmethatallmywishesshouldbecarriedout。AfterdessertIbroachedmyplantothecountess，tellingherthatI

wantedtogiveapartyliketheoneatLodi，butontwoconditions:thefirst，thatnoonewastoknowourdestinationtillwewereinthecarriages，andthesecond，thatafterdinnerweshouldreturntoSt。Angelo。

Outofpolitenessthecountesslookedatherhusbandbeforeacceptingtheinvitation，buthecriedout，withoutceremony，thathewasreadytogoifItookthewholefamily。

"Verygood，"saidI，"wewillstartateighto’clockto—morrow，andnobodyneedbeatanytrouble，thecarriagesareordered。"

Ifeltobligedtoincludethecanon，becausehewasagreatcourtierofthecountess，andalsobecausehelostmoneytomeeveryday，andthusitwashe，infact，whowasgoingtopayfortheexpedition。Thateveninghelostthreehundredsequins，andwasobligedtoaskmetogivehimthreeday’sgracetopaythemoney。IrepliedbyassuringhimthatallIhadwasathisservice。

WhenthecompanybrokeupIofferedmyhandtoHebe，andescortedherandhersistertotheirroom。WehadbeguntoreadFontenelle’s"PluralityofWorlds，"andIhadthoughtweshouldfinishitthatnight；butClementinesaidthatasshehadtogetupearly，shewouldwanttogettosleepearlyalso。

"Youareright，dearestHebe，doyougotobed，andIwillreadtoyou。"

Shemadenoobjection，soItooktheAriosto，andbegantoreadthehistoryoftheSpanishprincesswhofellinlovewithBradamante。IthoughtthatbythetimeIhadfinishedClementinewouldbeardent，butIwasmistaken；bothsheandhersisterseemedpensive。

"Whatisthematterwithyou，dearest？HasRicciardettodispleasedyou？"

"Notatall，hehaspleasedme，andintheprincess’splaceI

shouldhavedonethesame；butweshallnotsleepallnight，anditisyourfault。"

"WhathaveIdone，pray？"

"Nothing，butyoucanmakeushappy，andgiveusagreatproofofyourfriendship。"

"Speak，then。Whatisityouwantofme？Iwoulddoanythingtopleaseyou。Mylifeisyours。Youshallsleepsoundly。"

"Well，then，telluswherewearegoingto—morrow。"

"HaveInotalreadysaidthatIwouldtellyoujustaswearegoing？"

"Yes，butthatwon’tdo。Wewanttoknownow，andifyouwon’ttellusweshan’tsleep，allnight，andweshalllookfrightfulto—morrow。"

"Ishouldbesosorry，butIdon’tthinkthatyoucouldlookfrightful。"

"Youdon’tthinkwecankeepasecret。Itisnothingveryimportant，isit？"

"No，itisnotveryimportant，butallthesameitisasecret。"

"Itwouldbedreadfulifyourefusedme。"

"DearestHebe！howcanIrefuseyouanything？IconfessfreelythatIhavebeenwronginkeepingyouwaitingsolong。Hereismysecret:youaretodinewithmeto—morrow。"

"Withyou？Where？"

"Milan。"

Intheirimmoderatejoytheygotoutofbed，andwithoutcaringfortheirstateofundress，threwtheirarmsroundmyneck，coveredmewithkisses，claspedmetotheirbreasts，andfinallysatdownonmyknees。

"WehaveneverseenMilan，"theycried，"andithasbeenthedreamofourlivestoseethatsplendidtown。HowoftenIhavebeenputtotheblushwhenIhavebeenforcedtoconfessthatIhaveneverbeentoMilan。"

"Itmakesmeveryhappy，"saidHebe，"butmyhappinessistroubledbytheideathatweshallseenothingofthetown，forweshallhavetoreturnafterdinner。Itiscruel！ArewetogofifteenmilestoMilanonlytodineandcomebackagain？Atleastwemustseeoursister—in—law。"

"Ihaveforeseenallyourobjections，andthatwasthereasonI

madeamysteryofit，butithasbeenarranged。Youdon’tlikeit？Speakandtellmeyourpleasure。"

"Ofcoursewelikeit，dearIolas。Thepartywillbecharming，andperhaps，ifweknewall，theveryconditionsareallforthebest。"

"Itmaybeso，butImaynottellyouanymorenow。"

"Andwewillnotpressyou。"

Inanecstasyofjoyshebegantoembracemeagain，andEleanoresaidthatshewouldgotosleepsoastobemoreonthealertforthemorrow。Thiswasthebestthingshecouldhavedone。Iknewthefortunatehourwasathand，andexcitingClementinebymyfierykisses，anddrawingnearerandnearer，atlastIwasinfullpossessionofthetempleIhadsolongdesiredtoattain。Hebe’spleasureanddelightkepthersilent；shesharedmyecstasies，andmingledherhappytearswithmine。

Ispenttwohoursinthismanner，andthenwenttobed，impatienttorenewthecombatonthefollowingdaymoreatmyeaseandwithgreatercomfort。

Ateighto’clockwewereallassembledroundthebreakfast—table，butinspiteofmyhighspiritsIcouldnotmaketherestofthecompanysharethem。Allweresilentandpensive；curiositysheweditselfoneveryface。Clementineandhersisterpretendedtopartakethegeneralfeeling，andweresilentliketherestwhileI

lookedonandenjoyedtheirexpectancy。

Clairmont，whohadfulfilledmyinstructionstotheletter，cameinandtoldusthatthecarriageswereatthedoor。Iaskedmygueststofollowme，andtheydidsoinsilence。IputthecountessandClementineinmycarriage，thelatterholdingthebabyonherlap，hersisterandthethreegentlemenbeingseatedintheothercarriage。Icalledout，withalaugh，"DrivetoMilan。"

"Milan！Milan！"theyexclaimedwithonevoice。"Capital！

capital！"

Clairmontgallopedinfrontofusandwentoff。Clementinepretendedtobeastonished，buthersisterlookedasifshehadknownsomethingofourdestinationbefore。Allcare，however，haddisappeared，andthehighestspiritsprevailed。Westoppedatavillagehalf—waybetweenSt。AngeloandMilantoblowthehorses，andeverybodygotdown。

"Whatwillmywifesay？"askedthecount。

"Nothing，forshewillnotknowanythingaboutit，andifshedoesIamtheonlyguiltyparty。YouaretodinewithmeinasuiteofroomswhichIhaveoccupiedincognitosinceIhavebeenatMilan；

foryouwillunderstandthatIcouldnothavemywantsattendedtoatyourhouse，wheretheplaceisalreadytaken。"

"AndhowaboutZenobia？"

"Zenobiawasaluckychance，andisaverynicegirl，butshewouldnotsufficeformydailyfare。"

"Youarealuckyfellow！"

"Itrytomakemyselfcomfortable。"

"Mydearhusband，"saidtheCountessAmbrose，"youproposedavisittoMilantwoyearsago，andthechevalierproposeditafewhoursago，andnowweareonourway。"

"Yes，sweetheart，butmyideawasthatweshouldspendamonththere。"

"Ifyouwanttodothat，"saidI，"Iwillseetoeverything。"

"Thankyou，mydearsir；youarereallyawonderfulman。"

"Youdometoomuchhonour，count，thereisnothingwonderfulaboutme，exceptthatIexecuteeasilyaneasytask。"

"Yes；butyouwillconfessthatathingmaybedif