my maidenhead.”
“Is there any difference?”
“Certainly, my dear. The virgin is a girl that never was touched by anybody; the innocent one who knows nothing of love's pleasures. But she of the maidenhead is the one who in spite of her own private practices, or her intercourse with others, has been able to keep whole the membrane of the Hymen.”
“Ah! then I have found a girl whom man never sullied! Oh! my beautiful Florence, I can hardly believe it.”
“You can ascertain for yourself,” said Florence; “the more so as I have to reproach you with stopping short when I was just about to feel the approach of pleasure. Begin again, my beloved Odette, and should there be any further occasion for astonishment, wait till you have done before you express it.”
“One word more?”
“Certainly.”
“Then you have still your maidenhead, but you are no longer a virgin?”
“No, indeed I am not.”
“Are men responsible for your being no longer a virgin?”
“Not for the world. The gaze of man never rested on my form; never did man touch me.”
“Ah!” cried Odette, “that is all I wished to know,” and she threw herself on Florence, and applied her lips to the sanctuary.
Florence gave a little shriek. She felt, perhaps too acutely the impression of the teeth which caressed her, but almost at the same time, Odette's tongue replaced the teeth and that clever tongue at once ascertained the accuracy of Florence's statement, and that if she was no longer a virgin, her maidenhead was still intact.
As for Florence she experienced all the pleasure which can be given by a skilful tongue, and it was so intense that she could hardly help uttering little shrieks as if in pain. She was almost in a swoon when the Countess began giving her on the mouth kisses which had been so profusely distributed elsewhere.
“Ah! it is my turn!” she said in a state of great excitement.
And she let herself glide from the bed in the posture of the wounded gladiator. The Countess took her place on the bed and drew her body close to Florence's inclined head.
“Ah!” she murmured: “If a man had seen and heard what you just heard and saw, I should never dare to lift up my head again.”
At that very moment the Countess was so close to her that her hair brushed Florence's head.
The beautiful actress gave a start, her nostrils quivered; she raised her head, opened her eyes, and perceived that her mouth was close to that fiery bouquet which at first sight had so excited her.
But the ardour of her desires had abated, and Florence, slightly tired, but not satiated, had now more leisure to devote to pleasure. She fondly kissed the perfumed hair and began returning the caresses which the Countess had lavished upon her; but suddenly she seemed struck with a novel idea, and, laying the Countess at full length on the bed, she applied her mouth to the latter's parted thighs, whilst she placed herself in a similar but reversed position.
Then the two bodies became one-the breasts were pressed on the respective bellies. During some moments all conversation ceased, for the two eager mouths were at work; nothing could be heard but the panting respiration of the women and sighs of pleasure, and suddenly both became motionless, quite exhausted.
This time there was a protracted pause. Both seemed as if sleeping. At last both appeared to revive, and simultaneously exclaimed:
“Oh, what bliss!” then, quite panting, dishevelled, with languid eyes, weakened by their exertions, they slipped from the bed and lay down on a long and spacious couch.
“Ah! beautiful Florence! What pleasure you gave me!” said Odette.
“Well, I am so glad I found something new.”
“Oh, darling! I thought I should die!”
“Then you had much pleasure?”
“Oh, yes; but I fancy that it cannot equal that which a man can give.”
“Do you think, then that a man in that respect is our superior?”
“Indeed I do. We but light the fire. We do not put it out.”
“Whereas man…”
“Ah! Man thoroughly stamps it out Luckily we have some inventions which supply the place of what nature refused us.
“Have you not heard of dildoes?”
“Is it a fact that such things really exist?”
“No doubt, have you never seen any?”
“Never!”
“Would you like to see one?”
“Indeed I should very much like to.”
“Do you know the shape of a man's attributes?”
“As much as I could judge from statues.”
“Not otherwise?”
“No.”
“You have never seen a man?”
“Never!”
“Oh, then I shall be able in my turn to show you something new.”
“Have you any?”
“Yes, of every description.”
“Oh, let me see them.”
“Wait a little then,” said Odette, “I will fetch all my treasures.”
“Can I go with you?”
“Come.”
Odette took Florence to her dressing room and then, opening a secret drawer in her necessaire, she drew forth a casket and two cases like those used for pistols.
She brought forth the whole collection and laid it on the couch for inspection.
“First of all,” said Odette, “I must show you the contents of the casket. The jewel which it encloses is not only a historical jewel, but also a work of art. It is said to be the production of the great Benvenuto Cellini.”
Odette opened the casket of red velvet, and exhibited a true masterpiece of carved ivory.
This was an exact life-size reproduction of man's organs of generation, and was altogether an admirable work of art. On one side of it were carved the lillies of France, and on the other side the three crescents of Diane de Poitiers.
No doubt this marvellous jewel had been the property of Monsieur de Saint Vallier's daughter, the widow of Monsieur de Breze and mistress of Francis I, and Henri II.
Florence examined it, with astonishment at first, then with curiosity, and finally with admiration. With astonishment, because it was the first time that she beheld and touched a. like object; with curiosity because she did not know how it worked; finally, with admiration, because Florence was a thorough artist, and it was a genuine work of art.
At the base of the instrument there was a cavity which came to view by unscrewing a portion of it, and that contained works almost as complicated as those of a clock, setting in motion a rod, which caused some liquid to spurt out in imitation of the natural process.
Florence was rather astonished, and wondered at the great size of the instrument, but the Countess, with a smile, replied by making some very elementary demonstrations and experiments. She applied the instrument to her own person, and so managed matters that in a short time it was altogether lost to view.
“You perceive how it works!” she said. “Yet you must confess that the receptacle is not apparently in proportion with its contents.”
Florence leaned forward to make a closer inspection.
There was indeed no exaggeration. What the Countess stated was perfectly correct.
At first she put her hand to the appliance and moved it up and down.
