第106章

ArmellineandEmiliehadbothbeautifulbreasts，andknewit；theywerethereforeastonishedatmyindifference，perhapsthoughtthatIhadneverseenafinebreast。AsamatteroffactafinefigureismuchmorescarceatRomethanaprettyface。

Thus，inspiteoftheirmodesty，theirvanityimpelledthemtoshewmethatmyindifferencewasill—placed，butitwasmyparttoputthemattheirease，andtomakethemflingshametothewinds。

TheywereenchantedwhenItoldthemtotrytheirhandsatabowlofpunch，andtheysimplydancedforjoywhenIpronounceditbetterthanmyownbrew。

Thencametheoyster—game，andIscoldedArmellineforhavingswallowedtheliquidasIwastakingtheoysterfromherlips。Iagreedthatitwasveryhardtoavoiddoingso，butIofferedtoshewthemhowitcouldbedonebyplacingthetongueintheway。Thisgavemeanopportunityofteachingthemthegameoftongues，whichIshallnotexplainbecauseitiswellknowntoalltruelovers。ArmellineplayedherpartwithsuchevidentrelishthatIcouldseesheenjoyeditaswellasI，thoughsheagreeditwasaveryinnocentamusement。

ItsochancedthatafineoysterslippedfromitsshellasIwasplacingitbetweenEmilie’slips。Itfellontoherbreast，andshewouldhaverecovereditwithherfingers；butIclaimedtherightofregainingitmyself，andshehadtounlaceherbodicetoletmedoso。Igotholdoftheoysterwithmylips，butdidsoinsuchamannerastopreventhersuspectingthatIhadtakenanyextraordinarypleasureintheact。

Armellinelookedonwithoutlaughing；shewasevidentlysurprisedatthelittleinterestIhadtakeninwhatwasbeforemyeye。Emilielaughedandrelacedherbodice。

Theopportunitywastoogoodtobelost，sotakingArmellineonmykneeI

gaveheranoysterandletitslipasEmilie’shadslipped，muchtothedelightoftheelder，whowantedtoseehowheryoungcompanionwouldgothroughtheordeal。

Armellinewasreallyasmuchdelightedherself，thoughshetriedtoconcealherpleasure。

"Iwantmyoyster，"saidI。

"Takeit，then。"

Therewasnoneedtotellmetwice。Iunlacedhercorsetinsuchawayastomakeitfallstilllower，bewailingthenecessityofhavingtosearchforitwithmyhands。

Whatamartyrdomforanamorousmantohavetoconcealhisblissatsuchamoment！

IdidnotletArmellinehaveanyoccasiontoaccusemeoftakingtoomuchlicence，forIonlytouchedheralabasterspheressomuchaswasabsolutelynecessary。

WhenIhadgottheoysteragainIcouldrestrainmyselfnomore，andaffixingmylipstooneoftheblossomsofherbreastIsuckeditwithavoluptuouspleasurewhichisbeyondalldescription。

Shewasastonished，butevidentlymoved，andIdidnotleavehertillmyenjoymentwascomplete。

Whenshemarkedmydreamylangourousgaze，sheaskedmeitithadgivenmemuchpleasuretoplaythepartofaninfant。

"Yes，dearest，"Ireplied，"butit’sonlyaninnocentjest。"

"Idon’tthinkso；andIhopeyouwillsaynothingaboutittothesuperioress。Itmaybeinnocentforyou，butitisnotforme，asI

experiencedsensationswhichmustpartakeofthenatureofsin。Wewillpickupnomoreoysters。"

"Thesearemeretrifles，"saidEmilie，"thestainofwhichwilleasilybewipedoutwithalittleholywater。Atalleventswecanswearthattherehasbeennokissingbetweenus。"

Theywentintothenextroomforamoment，Ididthesame，andwethensatonthesofabeforethefire。AsIsatbetweenthemIobservedthatourlegswereperfectlyalike，andthatIcouldnotimaginewhywomenstucksoobstinatelytotheirpetticoats。

WhileItalkedItouchedtheirlegs，sayingitwasjustasifIweretotouchmyown。

TheydidnotinterruptthisexaminationwhichIcarrieduptotheknee，andItoldEmiliethatalltherewardIwouldaskformyserviceswasthatImightseeherthighs，tocomparethemwithArmelline’s。

"ShewillbebiggerthanI，"saidArmelline，"thoughIamthetaller。"

"Well，therewouldbenoharminlettingmesee。"

"Ithinktherewould。"

"Well，Iwillfeelwithmyhands。"

"No，youwouldlookatthesametime。"

"IswearIwillnot。"

"Letmebandageyoureyes。"

"Certainly；butIwill:bandageyourstoo。"

"Yes；wewillplay，atblindman’sbuff。"

BeforethebandagingbeganItookcaretomakethemswallowagooddoseofpunch，and，thenweproceededtoplay。Thetwogirlsletmespantheirthighsseveraltimes，laughingandfallingovermewhenevermyhandswenttoohigh。

Iliftedthebandageandsaweverything，buttheypretendednottosuspectanything。

Theytreatedmeinthesameway，nodoubttoseewhatitwasthattheyfeltwhentheyfelluponme。

Thisdelightfulgamewenton；tillexhausted，naturewouldnotallowmetoplayitanymore。Iputmyselfinastateofdecency，andthentoldthemtotakeofftheirbandages。

Theydidsoandsatbesideme，thinking，perhaps，thattheywouldbeableto，disavoweverythingonthescoreofthebandage。

ItseemedtomethatEmiliehadhadalover，thoughItookgoodcarenottotellherso；butArmellinewasapurevirgin。Shewasmeekerthanherfriend，andhergreateyesshoneasvoluptuouslybutmoremodestly。

Iwouldhavesnatchedakissfromherprettymouth，butsheturnedawayherhead，thoughshesqueezedmyhandstenderly。IwasastonishedatthisrefusalafterthelibertiesIhadtakenwithher。

Wehadtalkedaboutballs，andtheywerebothextremelyanxioustoseeone。

ThepublicballwastheragewithalltheyoungRomans。FortenlongyearsthePopeRezzonicohaddeprivedthemofthispleasure。

AlthoughRezzonicoforbadedancing，heallowedgamingofeverydescription。Ganganelli，hissuccessor，hadotherviews，andforbadegamingbutalloweddancing。

Somuchforpapalinfallibility；whatonecondemnstheotherapproves。

Ganganellithoughtitbettertolethissubjectsskipthantogivethemtheopportunityofruiningthemselves，ofcommittingsuicide，orofbecomingbrigands；butRezzonicodidnotseethematterinthatlight。

IpromisedthegirlsIwouldtakethemtotheballassoonasIcoulddiscoveronewhereIwasnotlikelytoberecognized。

Threeo’clockstruck，andItookthembacktotheconvent，wellenoughpleasedwiththeprogressIhadmade，thoughIhadonlyincreasedmypassion。IwassurerthaneverthatArmellinewasborntoexerciseanirresistibleswayovereverymanwhoowedfealtytobeauty。

Iwasamongstherliegemen，andamsostill，buttheincenseisallgoneandthecenserofnovalue。

Icouldnothelpreflectingonthesortofglamourwhichmademefallinlovewithonewhoseemedallnewtome，whileIlovedherinexactlythesamemannerasIhadlovedherpredecessor。Butinrealitytherewasnorealnovelty；thepiecewasthesame，thoughthetitlemightbealtered。

ButwhenIhadwonwhatIcoveted，didIrealizethatIwasgoingoveroldground？DidIcomplain？DidIthinkmyselfdeceived？

Notonewhit；anddoubtlessforthisreason，thatwhilstIenjoyedthepieceIkeptmyeyesfixedonthetitlewhichhadsotakenmyfancy。

Ifthisbeso，ofwhatuseistitleatall？Thetitleofabook，thenameofadish，thenameofatown——ofwhatconsequenceareallthesewhenwhatonewantsistoreadthebook，toeatthedish，andtoseethetown。

Thecomparisonisasophism。Manbecomesamorousthroughthesenses，which，touchexcepted，allresideinthehead。Inloveabeautifulfaceisamatterofthegreatestmoment。

Abeautifulfemalebodymightwellexciteamantocarnalindulgence，eventhoughtheheadwerecovered，butnevertoreallove。Ifatthemomentofphysicaldelightthecoveringweretakenaway，andafaceofhideous，revoltinguglinessdisclosed，onewouldflyinhorror，inspiteofthebeautiesofthewoman’sbody。

Butthecontrarydoesnotholdgood。Ifamanhasfalleninlovewithasweet，enchantingface，andsucceedsinliftingtheveilofthesanctuaryonlytofinddeformitiesthere，stillthefacewinstheday，atonesforall，andthesacrificeisconsummated。

Thefaceisthusparamount，andhenceithascometobeagreedthatwomen’sbodiesshallbecoveredandtheirfacesdisclosed；whilemen’sclothesarearrangedinsuchawaythatwomencaneasilyguessatwhattheycannotsee。

Thisarrangementisundoubtedlytotheadvantageofwomen；artcanconcealtheimperfectionsoftheface，andevenmakeitappearbeautiful，butnocosmeticcandissembleanuglybreast，stomach，oranyotherpartofthemanbody。

Inspiteofthis，IconfessthatthephenomeridesofSpartawereintheright，likeallwomenwho，thoughtheypossessafinefigure，havearepulsiveface；inspiteofthebeautyofthepiece，thetitledrivesspectatorsaway。Stillaninterestingfaceisaninseparableaccidentoflove。

Thricehappyaretheywho，likeArmelline，havebeautybothinthefaceandbody。

WhenIgothomeIwassofortunateastofindMargaritainadeepsleep。

Itookcarenottoawakeher，andwenttobedwithaslittlenoiseaspossible。Iwasinwantofrest，forInolongerenjoyedthevigourofyouth，andIslepttilltwelve。

WhenIawoke，Margaritatoldmethatahandsomeyoungmanhadcalledonmeatteno’clock，andthatshehadamusedhimtilleleven，notdaringtoawakeme。

"Imadehimsomecoffee，"saidshe，"andhewaspleasedtopronounceitexcellent。Hewouldnottellmehisname，buthewillcomeagaintomorrow。Hegavemeapieceofmoney，butIhopeyouwillnotmind。

Idon’tknowhowmuchitisworth。"

IguessedthatitwastheFlorentine。Thepiecewasoftwoounces。I

onlylaughed，fornotlovingMargaritaIwasnotjealousofher。Itoldhershehaddonequiterighttoamusehimandtoacceptthepiece，whichwasworthforty—eightpauls。

Shekissedmeaffectionately，andthankstothisincidentIheardnothingaboutmyhavingcomehomesolate。

IfeltcurioustolearnmoreaboutthisgenerousTuscan，soIproceededtoreadLeonilda’sletter。

Hisname，itappeared，wasM————。HewasarichmerchantestablishedinLondon，andhadbeencommendedtoherhusbandbyaKnightofMalta。

Leonildasaidhewasgenerous，good—hearted，andpolished，andassuredmethatIshouldlikehim。

Aftertellingmethefamilynews，Leonildaconcludedbysayingthatshewasinafairwaytobecomeamother，andthatshewouldbeperfectlyhappyifshegavebirthtoason。Shebeggedmetocongratulatethemarquis。

Whetherfromanaturalinstinctortheeffectsofprejudice，thisnewsmademeshudder。Iansweredherletterinafewdays，enclosingitinalettertothemarquis，inwhichItoldhimthatthegraceofGodwasnevertoolate，andthatIhadneverbeensomuchpleasedbyanynewsasathearinghewaslikelytohaveanheir。

InthefollowingMayLeonildagavebirthtoason，whomIsawatPrague，ontheoccasionofthecoronationofLeopold。HecalledhimselfMarquisC————，likehisfather，orperhapswehadbettersaylikehismother’shusband，whoattainedtheageofeighty。

Thoughtheyoungmarquisdidnotknowmyname，Igotintroducedtohim，andhadthepleasureofmeetinghimasecondtimeatthetheatre。Hewasaccompaniedbyapriest，whowascalledhisgovernor，butsuchanofficewasasuperfluityforhim，whowaswiserattwentythanmostmenareatsixty。

Iwasdelightedtoseethattheyoungmanwasthelivingimageoftheoldmarquis。IshedtearsofjoyasIthoughthowthislikenessmusthavepleasedtheoldmanandhiswife，andIadmiredthischancewhichseemedtohaveabettednatureinherdeceit。

IwrotetomydearLeonilda，placingtheletterinthehandsofherson。

ShedidnotgetittilltheCarnivalof1792，whentheyoungmarquisreturnedtoNaples；andashorttimeafterIreceivedananswerinvitingmetoherson’smarriageandbeggingmetospendtheremainderofmydayswithher。

"Whoknows？Imayeventuallydoso。

IcalledonthePrincessSantaCroceatthreeo’clock，andfoundherinbed，withthecardinalreadingtoher。

Thefirstquestionsheaskedwas，whyIhadlefttheoperaattheendofthesecondact。

"Princess，Icantellyouaninterestinghistoryofmysixhoursofadventure，butyoumustgivemeafreehand，forsomeoftheepisodesmustbetoldstrictlyafternature。"

"IsitanythinginthestyleofSisterM————M————？"askedthecardinal。

"Yes，mylord，somethingofthekind。"

"Princess，willyoubedeaf？"saidhiseminence，"OfcourseIwill，"shereplied。

IthentoldmytalealmostasIhavewrittenit。Theslippingoystersandthegameofblindman’sbuffmadetheprincessburstwithlaughing，inspiteofherdeafness。SheagreedwiththecardinalthatIhadactedwithgreatdiscretion，andtoldmethatIshouldbesuretosucceedonthenextattempt。

"Inthreeorfourdays，"saidthecardinal，"youwillhavethedispensation，andthenEmiliecanmarrywhomshelikes。"

ThenextmorningtheFlorentinecametoseemeatnineo’clock，andI

foundhimtoanswertothemarchioness’sdescription；butIhadabonetopickwithhim，andIwasnonethebetterpleasedwhenhebeganaskingmeabouttheyoungpersoninmyboxatthetheatre；hewantedtoknowwhethersheweremarriedorengaged，ifshehadfather，mother，oranyotherrelations。

Ismiledsardonically，andbeggedtobeexcusedgivinghimtherequiredinformation，astheyoungladywasmaskedwhenhesawher。

Heblushed，andbeggedmypardon。

IthankedhimfordoingMargaritathehonourofacceptingacupofcoffeefromherhands，andbeggedhimtotakeonewithme，sayingIwouldbreakfastwithhimnextmorning。HelivedwithRoland，oppositeSt。

Charles，whereMadameGabrieli，thefamoussinger，nicknamedlaCoghetta，lived。

AssoonastheFlorentinewasgone，IwenttoSt。Paul’sinhothaste，forIlongedtoseewhatreceptionIshouldhavefromthetwovestalsI

hadinitiatedsowell。

WhentheyappearedInoticedagreatchange。Emiliehadbecomegay，whileArmellinelookedsad。

Itoldtheformerthatsheshouldhaveherdispensationinthreedays，andherwarrantforfourhundredcrownsinaweek。

"Atthesametime，"Iadded，"youshallhaveyourgrantoftwohundredcrowns。"

Atthishappytidingssherantotellthesuperioressofhergoodfortune。

AssoonasIwasalonewithArmellineItookherhandsandcoveredthemwithkisses，begginghertoresumeherwontedgaiety。

"WhatshallIdo，"saidshe，"withoutEmilie？WhatshallIdowhenyouaregone？Iamunhappy。Ilovemyselfnolonger。"

Sheshedtearswhichpiercedmetotheheart。IsworeIwouldnotleaveRometillIhadseenhermarriedwithadowryofathousandcrowns。

"Idon’twantathousandcrowns，butIhopeyouwillseememarriedasyousay；ifyoudonotkeepyourpromiseitwillkillme。"

"Iwoulddieratherthandeceiveyou；butyouonyoursidemustforgivemylove，which，perhaps，mademegotoofartheotherevening。"

"Iforgiveyoueverythingifyouwillremainmyfriend。"

"Iwill；andnowletmekissyourbeautifullips。"

Afterthisfirstkiss，whichItookasapledgeofcertainvictory，shewipedawayhertears；andsoonafterEmiliereappeared，accompaniedbythesuperioress，whotreatedmewithgreatcordiality。

"IwantyoutodoasmuchforArmelline’snewfriendasyouhavedoneforEmilie，"saidshe。

"Iwilldoeverythinginmypower，"Ireplied；"andinreturnIhopeyouwillallowmetotaketheseyoungladiestothetheatrethisevening。"

"Youwillfindthemready；howcouldIrefuseyouanything？"

WhenIwasalonewiththetwofriendsIapologisedforhavingdisposedofthemwithouttheirconsent。

"Ourconsent！"saidEmilie:"weshouldbeungratefulindeedifwerefusedyouanythingafterallyouhavedoneforus。"

"Andyou，Armelline，willyouwithstandmylove？"

"No；solongasitkeepswithinduebounds。Nomoreblindman’sbuff！"

"Anditissuchanicegame！Youreallygrieveme。"

"Well，inventanothergame，"saidEmilie。

Emiliewasbecomingardent，somewhattomyannoyance，forIwasafraidArmellinewouldgetjealous。Imustnotbechargedwithfoppishnessonthisaccount。Iknewthehumanheart。

WhenIleftthemIwenttotheTordinonaTheatreandtookabox，andthenorderedagoodsupperatthesameinn，notforgettingtheoysters，thoughIfeltsureIshouldnotrequiretheiraid。

Ithencalledonamusician，whomIrequestedtogetmethreeticketsforaball，wherenoonewouldbelikelytoknowme。

Iwenthomewiththeideaofdiningbymyself，butIfoundanotefromtheMarchionessd’Aout，reproachingmeinafriendlymannerfornothavingbrokenbreadwithher，andinvitingmetodinner。Iresolvedtoaccepttheinvitation，andwhenIgottothehouseIfoundtheyoungFlorentinealreadythere。

ItwasatthisdinnerthatIfoundoutmanyofhisgoodqualities，andI

sawthatDonnaLeonildahadnotsaidtoomuchinhisfavour。

TowardstheendofthemealthemarchionessaskedwhyIhadnotstayedtilltheendoftheopera。

"Becausetheyoungladiesweregettingtired。"

"IhavefoundoutthattheydonotbelongtotheVenetianambassador’shousehold。

"Youareright，andIhopeyouwillpardonmysmallfiction。"

"Itwasanimpromptuefforttoavoidtellingmewhotheyare，buttheyareknown。"

"ThenIcongratulatethecurious。"

"TheoneIaddresseddeservestoexcitegeneralcuriosity；butifIwereinyourplaceIshouldmakeherusealittlepowder。"

"Ihavenottheauthoritytodoso，andifIhad，Iwouldnottroubleherfortheworld。"

IwaspleasedwiththeFlorentine，wholistenedtoallthiswithoutsayingaword。IgothimtotalkofEnglandandofhisbusiness。HetoldmethathewasgoingtoFlorencetotakepossessionofhisinheritance，andtogetawifetotakebackwithhimtoLondon。AsI

left，ItoldhimthatIcouldnothavethepleasureofcallingonhimtillthedayafternext，asIwaspreventedbyimportantbusiness。HetoldmeImustcomeatdinnertime，andIpromisedtodoso。

Fullofloveandhope，Iwentformytwofriends，whoenjoyedthewholeplaywithoutanyinterruption。

WhenwealightedattheinnItoldthecoachmantocallformeattwo，andwethenwentuptothethirdfloor，wherewesatbeforethefirewhiletheoysterswerebeingopened。Theydidnotinterestusastheyhaddonebefore。

Emiliehadanimportantair；shewasabouttomakeagoodmarriage。

Armellinewasmeek，smiling，andaffectionate，andremindedmeofthepromiseIhadgivenher。Irepliedbyardentkisseswhichreassuredher，whiletheywarnedherthatIwouldfainincreasetheresponsibilityIhadalreadycontractedtowardsher。However，sheseemedresigned，andIsatdowntotableinahappyframeofmind。

AsEmiliewasontheeveofherwedding，shenodoubtputdownmyneglectofhertomyrespectforthesacramentofmatrimony。

WhensupperwasoverIgotonthesofawithArmelline，andspentthreehourswhichmighthavebeendeliciousifIhadnotobstinatelyendeavouredtoobtaintheutmostfavour。Shewouldnotgivein；allmysupplicationsandentreatiescouldnotmoveher；shewassweet，butfirm。

Shelaybetweenmyarms，butwouldnotgrantwhatIwanted，thoughshegavemenohar