We then went to our bedroom, and after we had washed and dressed, we drove to a restaurant and dined; afterwards going to a theatre, and finishing up with a supper before returning home.
XII
A few days afterwards, when we were out driving, I suddenly took it into my head to ask Frances if she thought she could find Mrs. Leslie’s house in Kensington, She replied that she was sure she could; and at once directed the coachman which way to go. In a short time we arrived in a street which Frances said was the right one, and after we had driven a short distance down it, she pointed to a house, exclaiming: “There it is! I wonder if the horrid woman is living in it still? Oh! how I should like to spank her with a thick slipper every day for three days, as she did me.” Then she smiled, and taking my hand, pressed it, remarking:
“Though after all if she had not turned me out, I should never have met my sweetheart”
“Would you like to call and see her? She may still be living there,” I observed, smiling.
“No. I don’t want to see her face again; though I should like to see her bottom reddening under my slaps,” she replied, laughing.
We then drove home, and while we were at dinner, the thought struck me that it would be rather good fun to pay a visit to Mrs. Leslie and see what sort of an establishment she kept.
She might still be carrying on the business.
So, as soon as I had finished my cigar after dinner, I told Frances that I was going to my club, and as I should not be back rill late, she was not to sit up for me. She said “very well,” and gave me a kiss, for she never bothered me with questions as to where I went, or what I did. I left the villa, hailed a passing hansom, and told the driver to go to the club; intending to have a talk with a chum of mine named Ford, who was generally to be found in the smoking-room after dinner. He was there, as I had expected, smoking a cigar, with a cup of black coffee on a little table beside him.
Ford and I were old friends; he was a man about my own age, and like me, a bachelor, and we had had many queer adventures together.
I sat down beside him, lit a cigar, and asked him if he knew whether a certain Mrs. Leslie still kept a “gay” establishment in Blank-street, Kensington. “Yes,” he replied, “she does. I have never been there, but I have heard that it is a first-class house of its kind. Patronized by the nobility, and I believe occasionally by royalty,” he added with a laugh.
“I am going there to-night to have a look round,” I said. “Will you come with me?”
“Yes, I will. I am feeling rather inclined for a spree to-night Come along.” Leaving the club, we took a hansom, telling the man to drive to Blank-street, Kensington. When we reached the corner of the street, I stopped the cab, and we got out, paid the driver, and then walked the rest of the way to the house. I touched the electric bell, and the gate was soon opened by a smartly-dressed maid-servant; whom I asked if we could see Mrs. Leslie. The woman smiled at such an unnecessary question, and merely saying: “Step this way, gentlemen,” preceded us into the house and ushered us into a large, brilliantly-lighted drawing-room, where she left us, saying that Mrs. Leslie would be with us in a short time.
“A well got-up shop,” observed Ford, laughing, and seating himself in a luxurious easy-chair.
I walked round the room which was handsomely furnished in a most tasteful style; the only thing about it at all suggestive, being the number of broad, low softly-cushioned couches and ottomans which were ranged round the walls, and also in the middle of the floor.
At one end of the apartment, there was a deep, broad recess, apparently opening into another room; but I could not be certain, as the place was screened by heavy curtains of dark crimson velvet.
I had often been in establishments of the same sort in London, and also in Paris, Vienna, and other cities on the Continent; but I had never seen a better appointed drawing-room, than the one I was in.
In about five minutes time, Mrs. Leslie came into the room, and greeted us as if we had been old friends, smilingly telling us to sit down and make ourselves comfortable. Then she sank down on one of the couches, displaying a pair of neat feet and ankles, cased in black silk stockings. I took a good look at the woman who had treated my pretty Frances so cruelly. She was by no means bad-looking; being a tall, dark-haired, well-preserved woman about forty years of age; she had a buxom, but shapely figure; she was handsomely dressed, and she was quite lady-like, both in speech and manner.
After a little chat, Mrs. Leslie smiled, saying: “Well, I suppose you two gentlemen did not come here merely to talk to me. Wouldn’t you like to sec my young ladies? None of them are engaged at this moment, so you will be able to see them all.”
We both intimated that we should be delighted to make the acquaintance of the young ladies. She rose from her seat, and going to the end of the apartment, touched the button of an electric bed three times; and in about five minutes, no less than eight young women and girls came trooping into the room from behind the curtains. They were all introduced to us, their names being Alice,’ Kate, Edith, Fanny, Rose, Helen, Ethel, and Clara, They were beautifully dressed, and they were of various ages: two of them, Clara and Ethel, who were wearing short petticoats, and who had their hair flowing loosely over their shoulders, were not more than fourteen or fifteen years old. But these two, I afterwards found out, were not available for poking.
The other young ladies ranged in age from eighteen to twenty-five years; some were slim, and some were plump; some were dark, and some were fair; some were tall, and some were short; but all of them were more or less pretty, and one or two were rather handsome.
We ordered plenty of champagne, and sat down on the comfortable couches surrounded by the pretty girls with whom we intended to have a regular bit of sport-though personally I did not intend to poke one of them.
They were full of fun, and by no means shy, so we all soon got very merry, and there was a great deal of laughter, and no end of chaff; a little broad sometimes, but nothing indecent was said or done by any of us, just then. I began to enjoy myself thoroughly, as it was a long time since I had gone in for a spree of that sort. Ford also appeared to be very jolly. After a time, Mrs. Leslie beckoned us aside, and taking us to the end of the room out of earshot of the girls, said: “Now gentlemen; what would you like to do?
Have either of you any particular fancy? We can give you plenty of variety in this house. You can go to bed with one or more girls if it pleases you to do so. If either of you is fond of the rod, I have a room fitted up with everything necessary, where you can tie up and strip any girl you fancy and give her a little birching; or if you like it better, you can see a girl birched by another. Or would you prefer to see some Tableaux Vivants? I pride myself especially upon them.
“I can show you tableaux with scenery, and with the girls dressed in character; and I can show you some tableaux of statuary, with the girls naked; and I can also show you some very naughty tableaux.”
Ford and I consulted together for a moment, then I said: “We should like to see a selection of tableaux: some of all sorts.”
“So you shall. Are either of you fond of seeing the rod used?”
We both admitted that we had a liking for such a sight.
“Well then,” she said, “I will show you two tableaux of whipping; then a couple of tableaux from mythological subjects; and finish up with two naughty tableaux.”
Both of us were perfectly satisfied with the programme she offered, and we said so.
She then told us to take our seats on two easy-chairs which were placed a few feet distant from the curtains, and she added that we should have to wait a short time, as the scenery had to be set, and the girls dressed for the first two tableaux.
Then she made a sign to the girls, and went behind the curtains, followed by the whole troop of laughing damsels.
As we sat waiting for the entertainment to commence, we could hear the girls bustling about, chattering to each other in low tones, and occasionally laughing as they dressed themselves.
