remember little of the scene that followed. I received the huge organ of virile manhood with a gasping sigh of wild delight-a little cry of mingled pain and pleasure. My assailant lost no time, his arms were around my light body, his own was in determined conjunction with mine. He seemed to be anxious to incorporate himself with me. He worked with vigor. He did not spare me. He seemed incapable of controlling his emotions. Mrs. Hodge remained beside me. A few whispered words of encouragement came from her parted lips as the significant sounds and movements progressed beneath her. Then there came a time when I held my breath, when the long pent-up forces of nature seemed about to give way. Suddenly I knew the climax had been reached-the end attained. I received a copious outpouring of nature's prolific balm. Then my companion lay still as death, save for the fluttering of his breath upon my neck.
I draw discreetly the veil over the remainder of that night's pleasure. It was already late when, guided by my faithful conductress, I again found myself within the precincts of my own chamber. I enjoyed the long slumber of satisfied nature. I woke in the broad sunlight to a new sensation-a new hope.
' 'My sweet Eveline is looking all the better for her stay in the delicious air of Cumberland. I quite envy you that lovely little paradise you have there.'
'Indeed, papa, I feel much stronger. It is the air, as you say, which has done me so much good. I have, I am sure, derived much benefit from my visit there. Endover has gone to his moor again.'
'You have not forgotten your promise, my dear child. We were to repeat our experiences of the peephole. Will you join me there this afternoon? I have arranged something for your gratification.'
'Do tell me what the nature of it is, dear papa.'
'Well, it is a rather peculiar affair in which the actors will have no knowledge of the presence of witnesses whatever.'
'And we two are to be the witnesses? Oh, that will be lovely!'
'Yes, my dear, there are two convenient apertures through which we can enjoy together the interview which will take place. I have reason to believe it will be of exceptional interest to us both.'
'You quite raise my curiosity, dear papa. Do tell me-what is the affair to be like?'
'I must first say that it is not the ordinary thing at all. It appears that a certain gentleman, whose name and personality are both unknown to me, takes a young girl to this place. I am told by my informant who conducts this very private establishment that she is very young-in fact a mere child, although a very charming and beautiful one. It also appears that the gentleman is suspected of a close connection with this pretty child. We shall probably know more by and by. Anyhow it is not the business of my informant to trouble herself about such trifles. She is discretion itself.'
He well knew my perversion-my passion all in accord with his own. It was evidently his desire to play upon it-to afford another practical example of the amiable weakness so lightly recorded by Voltaire in the case of the great Charlemagne.
'Do you mean to say, dear papa, that the gentleman is a near relation? That it is-in fact-a-a case of incest?'
'I believe it is, Eveline, from all I have been told.'
'Oh, how delicious! Yes, certainly we must see that.'
'You charming darling! How our views conjoin! How closely our tastes-our passions coincide! Listen, my child, while I tell you more of this subject which engrosses us both.'
'The crime, if crime it be, is as the world-at least as the Biblical account of it. Did not the children of Adam and Even, brothers and sisters, copulate and procreate? The Bible is full of instances of this original and entrancing weakness. Not to quote the example of Lot, the brother-in-law of Abraham, whose two young daughters, for want of a male, as the version goes, but in reality from a real lascivious passion to play with a parental sugar stick, made their father jolly with the fermented juice of the grape. They then excited him to such an extent that the vigorous parent lay with them both and all three united in a copulative orgy.
'King David's favorite son, Amnon, was possessed of so absorbing a passion for his sister, Tamar, that nothing short of violating her could satisfy his virile passion. Only picture that scene-the brother exalted by uncontrolled lust, seizing upon his beautiful sister as she struggled before him, and then reveling in her virgin charms. Not that the virgin so much dreaded the act itself, but she feared the foolish position in which she would be placed, and suggested that her father, King David, would not deny them their little irregularity if his consent were asked. Do not newspapers of our own times frequently give us lecherous details of these convenient family relations of fathers with their daughters, of brothers with their sisters, and of mothers with their sons?'
Chapter 8
That same afternoon papa and I duly ensconced ourselves in the snug little closet on the left in the narrow passage which led to the chamber I already knew.
We had not long to wait. Our door was bolted-the two apertures were uncorked. We had found that each commanded a most complete view of the bedroom. Our heads were not six inches apart. We had chairs on which to sit with soft cushions upon them. I noticed that the legs of these seats were covered with India-rubber pads, so that no sound would be audible if they were moved. They were the caps or cups which are supplied for sticks and crutches. A soft carpet covered the floor and a padded rest was fixed above each peephole upon which to lay the forehead. Everything was luxuriously complete. Presently I heard the sound of footsteps in the corridor. The door of the bedroom opened. A voice in gentle accents murmured: 'This way, please.' The door was closed again after giving ingress to two individuals. Then there was silence-profound, but for the gentle breathing of papa behind me.
The first who came under my view was a short, thick-set man of some five and forty years of age. His hair was already turning gray; his closely cut beard and heavy moustache were of the same grizzly shade. His features struck me as being ordinary without vulgarity, and he possessed a look of ardent sensuality which, to my practiced eye, there was no possibility of mistaking.
The second comer interested me more. She was a girl with a build like that of the man, although she was thinner and very appealing. Indeed, she had a very youthful face and long limbs. She was far from being either full- grown or fully developed. What, however, struck me most was her extreme beauty. She had skin like alabaster, white and soft. She was fair and plump for a child of her age. Her features were regular and good and bore a close resemblance to those of her companion. I noticed that she was dressed in the usual fashion of the age. She had very short skirts and wore socks so that her calves were without stockings, showing the naked legs about the tops of her perfectly fitting, high and delicate little kid boots.
Having carefully bolted the door, the man threw himself upon a lounge. The girl set herself to examine and take note of the apartment. He watched her every movement as a cat studies a mouse. I thought I already detected a flash of obscene desire in his liquid eye as he rapidly scrutinized every change of position. Then he threw off his coat, opened his waistcoat, deposited his watch and chain on the adjoining table, and removed his necktie and shirt collar.
'Do you see her boots?' whispered a voice at my ear. 'What nice legs she has! What is he going to do?'
'Yes, and so pretty too! Do you notice the likeness, dear papa?'
We could distinctly hear every word they spoke.
'Come here, Lucy!'
The girl obeyed with an air of indifference which appeared to me to hide a certain amount of fear. The man put her upon his knee.
'When did I do it last?'
The girl blushed scarlet.
'It was Wednesday, a week ago-the day mother went to Liverpool.'
'What did I promise you this time, if you were good.'
'You said you would give me a new photographic album and a whole pound of chocolate fondants.'
'What-all that! Well, I suppose I must be as good as my word. Now then, Lucy, let's see if you are getting to
