In fact, her cheeks were blooming with good health.
— What she needs is the invigorating country air, he went on, why wouldn't she come and spend a few days at Crepon? I am sure it would do her a lot of good.
— You would be kind enough to have my daughter as your guest for a few days? said the marchioness, beaming.
— I shall be very pleased, Choisy assured her.
— But that will cause you a lot of trouble.
— You mean a lot of pleasure, amended Choisy politely.
And Choisy was sincere. Mrs. de la Grise, out of principle, accepted the invitation for two days later only, as she did not want to appear too eager. So it was agreed that the countess of Barres would come and pick up Angela in her gig.
Choisy, back home, broke the happy news to Lisette.
— The poor girl, he said, was so upset that she was struck dumb.
— Don't be too hasty with her, though, Lisette advised.
— I'll hasten slowly, he assured her, but you be careful not to put your foot in it.
Lisette scraped a mock bow and answered:
— Madam will be satisfied with my services.
Then she took off her chemise-which was the only garment she was wearing at the time-threw it in a ball at Choisy's head and flung herself on him with sexual frenzy. She had been conquered by him and she adored him even though he was coveting a young virgin.
She held him close to her and bit his shoulder to excite him. But he needed no encouragement and his cock was ready for its work-if you can call it work. It penetrated with as much ease as a sharp knife into butter on a hot summer day, and when it came out it was a soggy red mess, as Lisette had started having her monthlies.
Two days later, the countess of Barres (Choisy) came to fetch the young la Grise. Her mother gave her the usual last-minute recommendations as it was the first time she was separated from her dear daughter.
During the trip by coach, Angela cried a little but Choisy patted her hand affectionately and comforted her with tender words.
When they arrived Lisette busied herself at once to make Angela feel at home.
The following morning, Lisette went into Choisy's bedroom, slipped into his bed and soon woke up his drowsing senses with direct caresses. Then, when she had had her fill of caresses (but no fucking, alas, for she now had her menses), she gave him a few indications on Angela.
— Last night I helped her undress and tucked her in, and I daresay she is a little thin.
— You will have to prepare hearty meals for her, said Choisy.
— It will take some time for her breasts to fill up. At her age, mine had already grown pretty much.
Angela was treated like a princess. The countess of Barres did her very best to entertain her-he took her for walks, and together they plucked flowers, read the verses of Ronsard and played some music. Gradually Angela was losing her shyness. She was naturally gay and soon she was laughing and singing.
— You've been married, she asked the countess of Barres, is it pleasant to be married?
— That all depends on the husband, Choisy answered. As far as I am concerned I like it so much that I want to rest on my souvenirs.
— So you have no intention of marrying again?
— Yes, perhaps, with you.
Angela was moved by this act of friendship and spontaneously kissed Choisy. Then she was quite astonished by her own boldness.
— When one is married, one sleeps in the same bed together, isn't that right? she asked naively.
— By right, Choisy answered.
— And, after supper, he asked her:
— Shall we get married tonight?
This offer filled her with glee and she followed Choisy to his room, and even let him help her off with her clothes. She slipped into the bed, where Choisy joined her, after having extinguished all but one small candle.
On that first night, Choisy caressed her but little for he did not wish to risk frightening her. Slow but surely was his motto, or, as they said in Venice, “chi va piano va sano.”
On the second night he went a little further and made her come with his fingers.
On the third night he went further still and he practically raped her without her realizing what he had actually done, and she still took him to be a woman, (but a really strange woman, she could not help thinking). She was still a child, but was gradually becoming a woman, and that is the age when girls are at their most responsive to influences. She loved caresses, and was thrilled by them, but she did not realize that she was committing a sin. It came naturally to her and, giving her body, she imagined she was just giving her heart. So she was perverted and innocent at the same time. And that sort of thing occurs quite often in youth. She loved the countess of Barres for having been the first to teach her what love really meant and for having opened up unknown vistas of voluptuousness to her, such as she had never dreamed could exist. That is all the art of seducing and in that the seducer is much superior to the husband who opens the “door” with force because he knows he has the legal right to do so. The seducer gradually has the door open without the occupant realizing it-or realizing it too late-always pleased and never shocked. And, needless to say, Choisy was a past master in the art of seducing women-young and old, fat and thin, duchesses or maids-of-all work.
Angela was getting to like her night games more and more. She found that the countess was a matchless companion who had discovered all the possible pleasure that one can get out of one's body, and thought that it was not a reprehensible thing since nature had seen to it that we should all be provided with such senses. On the contrary, she reflected, we should make the best of what we have. Quite innocently, she told Lisette all about her experiences.
— I thought that in bed one could do nothing but sleep, but the countess has taught me that one could do many pleasant things in bed.
— What will it be, then, when you are in bed with your husband! exclaimed Lisette.
— But the countess of Barres is my husband, isn't she?
— Yes and no, Lisette answered, embarrassed.
— What would be the difference if I were married with that Mr. Balisier?
— He is a councilor, isn't he? asked Lisette, avoiding Angela's question by asking one of her own.
— Yes, something like that, and mother finds him a very important person.
With diplomacy Lisette contrived to avoid answering questions about the precise things Choisy did at night with Angela and the latter, after her long conversation with Lisette, found she had learned nothing.
And Lisette thought with wonder about Choisy:
— What a cunning man he is! He has finally obtained what he wanted, and much faster than I imagined. And in what way, too!
But, as Choisy was far from neglecting Lisette where lovemaking was concerned, he got out of her an esteem and an aid greater than ever. Lisette thought that since Choisy was a man capable of behaving amorously with two mistresses, she had nothing to complain about. If only all women had her philosophy, the world would be a quieter place.
The affair could have lasted indefinitely if Mrs. de la Grise had not felt sad about her daughter's absence. So, one day, without warning, she arrived at Crepon to spend an afternoon with Angela.
The first she saw of her daughter was as she was in the garden walking with the countess of Barres who was holding her in a rather tender embrace. Mrs. de la Grise was struck by the expression on her daughter's face: she seemed very happy and excited at the same time. As she remarked upon it, Choisy said it must be the healthy country air.
— There is something new in Angela, something I can't define, said Mrs. de la Grise.
— I do my best so that she should feel happy at Crepon. Isn't it a replica of the Garden of Eden? Choisy said.
Angela, blushing, approved. Choisy called Lisette and told her to prepare a specially fine meal for his new guest for the day.
They had a good lunch with pleasantness all round and everybody happy. Then the evening came and it was
