My movements in the meantime had been erratic, for my appetite was by no means small, and new features always possessed a certain piquancy for me which prevented too protracted a residence in one locality.
It was thus I found means to overhear a conversation which not a little astonished me; but which, as it bears directly upon the events I am describing, I do not hesitate to disclose.
It was thus I became acquainted with the real depth and subtlety of the character of Father Ambrose.
I am not going to reproduce this discourse here as I heard it from my vantage-ground; it will be sufficient, if I explain the principal ideas it conveyed and relate the application.
It was clear that Ambrose was annoyed and discomforted at the abrupt participation of his confreres in the enjoyment of his latest acquisition, and he concocted a daring and devilish scheme to frustrate their interference, while at the same time appearing himself to be entirely innocent of the business.
In short, with this view, Ambrose went direct to Bella’s uncle, and related how he had discovered his niece and her young lover in Cupid’s alliance, and how there was no doubt she had received and reciprocated the last tokens of his passion.
In so doing the wily priest had an ulterior object in view. He well knew the character of the man with whom he had to deal. He knew also that sufficient of his own real life was not entirely hidden from the uncle.
In fact, the pair pretty well understood one another.
Ambrose had strong passions, and was amatory to an extraordinary extent. So was Bella’s uncle.
The latter had confessed as much to Ambrose, and in the course of this confession, had given evidence of such irregular desire as to raise no difficulties in making him a ready participator in the plans which the other had originated.
Mr Verbouc’s eyes had long been cast in secret upon his niece. He had confessed it. Ambrose brought him suddenly a piece of news which opened his eyes to the fact that she had begun to entertain sentiments of the same sort for others of his sex.
The character of Ambrose occurred immediately to him. He was his spiritual confessor, he asked his advice.
The holy man gave him to understand that his chance had come, and that it would be to their mutual advantage to share the prize between them.
This proposition touched a chord in the character of Verbouc of which Ambrose was already not entirely ignorant. If any fact lent greater enjoyment to his sensuality, or gave more poignancy to his indulgences, it was to witness another in the act to complete carnal copulation, and then afterwards to complete his own gratification by a second penetration and emission upon the body of the same patient.
Thus the compact was soon made; an opportunity was found; the necessary privacy secured, for Bella’s aunt was an invalid and confined to her room; and then Ambrose prepared Bella for the event about to take place.
After a short preliminary discourse, in which he cautioned her not to say a word of their previous intimacy, and informed her that her relative had somehow discovered her intrigue, he led her round gradually to the fact which he had all along had in view. He even told her of the passion her uncle had conceived for her, and declared, in plain terms, that the surest way to avoid his heavy resentment was to prove obedient to all he might require of her.
Mr Verbouc was a man of hale and vigorous build, and of about fifty years of age. As her uncle he had always inspired Bella with the greatest respect, in which was mingled not a little awe of his presence and authority. He had treated her since the death of his brother, if not with affection, at least not unkindly, though with a reserve which was natural to his character.
Bella had evidently no reason to hope for any clemency on this occasion, or to expect any escape from her indignant relative.
I pass over the first quarter of an hour, the tears of Bella, and the embarrassment with which she found herself at once the recipient of her uncle’s too tender embraces and of his well-deserved caress.
The interesting comedy proceeded little by little, until Mr Verbouc, taking his pretty niece between his knees, audaciously unfolded the design he had formed to enjoying her himself.
“There must be no silly resistance, Bella,” continued her uncle, “I will have no hesitation, no affectation of modesty .It is sufficient that this good Father has sanctified the operation, and I must therefore possess and enjoy your body as your imprudent young companion has already done with your consent.”
Bella was utterly confounded. Although sensual, as we have already seen, to an extend not often found in girls of such tender age, she had been brought up in those strict and conventional views which assorted with the severe and repelling character of her relative. All her horror of such a crime at once rose before her. Not even the presence and alleged sanction of Father Ambrose could lessen the distrust with which she viewed the horrible proposal now deliberately made to her.
Bella trembled with surprise and terror at the nature of the crime contemplated. This new position shocked her. The change from the reserved and severe uncle, whose wrath she had always deprecated and feared, and whose precepts she had long accustomed herself to receive with reverence, to the ardent admirer, thirsting for possession of those favours which she had so recently bestowed upon another, struck her dumb with amazement and disgust.
Meanwhile Mr Verbouc, who was evidently not disposed to allow time for reflection, and whose disorder was plainly visible in more ways than one, took his young niece in his arms, and despite her reluctance, covered her face and neck with forbidden and passionate kisses
Ambrose, to whom the girl turned in this exigency afforded her no solace, but on the contrary smiling grimly at the other’s emotion, encouraged him by secret glances to carry to the last extremity his pleasures and his lubricity.
Resistance, under such trying circumstances, was difficult.
Bella was young and comparatively powerless in the strong grip of her relative. Lashed to frenzy by the contact and obscene touches in which he now indulged himself, Mr Verbouc sought his redoubled energy to possess himself of the person of his niece. Already his nervous fingers pressed the beautiful satin of her thighs. Another determined push, and in spite of the close pressure which Bella continued to exert in her defence, the lewd hand covered the rosy lips, and the trembling fingers divided the close and moistened chink of modesty’s stronghold.
Up to this point Ambrose had remained a quiet observer of this exciting conflict; now, however, he also advanced, and passing his powerful left arm round the young girl’s slender waist, seized both her small hands in his right, and having thus pinned her, left her an easy prey to the lascivious approaches of her relative.
“For mercy’s sake,” moaned Bella, panting with her exertions, “Let me go; it is too horrible—it is monstrous cruel that you are! I am lost!”
“Nay, my pretty niece, not lost,” replied her uncle, “only awakened to those pleasures which Venus had in store for her votaries, and which love reserves for those who are bold enough to seize upon them and enjoy them, while they may.”
“I have been horribly deceived,” cried Bella, little softened by this ingenious explanation. “I see it all. Oh! shame. I cannot let you, I cannot let you, I cannot. Oh, no! I cannot. Holy Mother! Let me go, Uncle. Oh! oh!”
“Be quiet, Bella; you must indeed submit; I will enjoy you by force, if you do not allow me to do so otherwise. There, open these pretty legs, let me feel these exquisite calves these soft luscious thighs: let me put my hand upon this heaving little belly—nay, hold still, little fool. You are mine at last. Oh, how I have longed for this, Bella”
Bella, however, still kept up a certain resistance, which only served to whet the unnatural appetite of her assailant, while Ambrose held her firmly in his clutches.
“Oh, the beautiful bottom!” exclaimed Verbouc, as he slipped his intruding hand beneath the velvet thighs of poor Bella, and felt the rounded globes of her charming ‘derriere’. “Ah! the glorious bottom. All is mine now. All shall be feted in good time.”
“Let me go,” cried Bella. “Oh! Oh!”
These last exclamations were wrung from the pretty girl, as between the two men they forced her backwards upon the couch which stood conveniently within reach.
As she fell, she reclined upon the stout body of Ambrose, while Mr Verbouc, who had now raised her clothes, and lewdly exposed the silk-clad legs and exquisite proportions of his niece, drew back for a moment to enjoy at his ease the indecent exhibition which he had forcibly provided for his own amusement.
“Uncle, are you mad?” cried Bella, once more, as with wriggling limbs, she vainly strove to conceal the
