'Oh, yes! — I'll preserve it in memory of the delicious use you will have made of it!' I replied with a smile. She blushed prettily.
While we were exchanging the loving kisses which follow so tender an encounter, we heard a little voice at the door!
'Cousin, cousin, haven't you finished killing the rats yet?' We had absolutely forgotten all about the child that was patiently waiting outside!
'Yes, yes!' called out my lovely companion raising herself hurriedly and flushing scarlet — 'I'm just coming! — I've killed the last I think!'
We couldn't maintain our seriousness at the plaintive trouble in the little voice that had thus interrupted us.
'Here I am, dear, I'm just coming. Don't come in!'
'Good-bye Bertha, my darling!' I, whispered, — when again?'
'Oh! — never, never!'
'You little humbug! Shall we say tomorrow?'
'No, no!.. I'll tell you, later!'
'One last kiss then!' She gave me a delicious one in which her tongue and mine also said goodbye!' Now goodbye!..Au revoir!'
As she neared the door, she brushed and dusted herself, took a glance in a pocket mirror she had with her, wave her hand lovingly to me, said goodbye again with her eyes, — then slipped out.
As soon as I considered she would got to a safe distance, I in my turn crept out, hurried off to my bedroom and quickly changed my things, as they carried evident traces of our sweet combat! Then I picked up my cartridge pouch and set off to rejoin the shooting party, my absence being hardly an hour. How one can employ time sometimes!
From that day, for Mme. de Baisieux and me, the term to kill a rat became synonymous with 'have a turn.' In spite of her innocent air, she was full of mischief, and did not hesitate to let herself loose in her love-letters to me. In memory of the adventure she adopted the following formula in her billets-doux.
'Mon cher Monsieur, will you give the pleasure of your company at a rat hunt on… next at the usual place.' She continued to send me these invitations after we had returned to Paris, even when her husband was there; he did not stay there long, but his presence nevertheless was a nuisance as it of necessity reduced the frequency of our 'hunts and the consequent opportunities of satisfying our desires!
When our liaison had become very intimate I told her that one day I had surprised her in the act of 'frigging' herself! I was sweetly scolded for thus playing the spy on a 'poor lone woman,' but I was soon pardoned, and she consented to let me see the book which seemed to arouse the desires which she strove thus to satisfy. She had found it among her brother's papers. It was The Confessions of a Woman of the 'World,' illustrated in the most lascivious way, — enough to excite anyone's senses!
'On the day we first killed the rat, what bit were you reading?' I asked softly.
In pretty embarrassment she pointed out to me the following lines, which we then read together:
'As I lay on my back on my sofa, stretched out at full length with my legs widely parted, my lover fell on his knees in front of me and in the most delicious way sucked me till I spent in thrilling delirium!'
Needless to sat we did not read any more that day! And I take this opportunity to express to the amiable author and to his clever illustrator my sincere thanks for having thus aroused a fire which I was able to extinguish in the pleasantest way possible!
CHAPTER 4
If from time immemorial the French woman, especially the Parisienne, has enjoyed the reputation of being in love affairs the most agreeable and the most sprightly of her sex, and of knowing how to impart to her favours a piquancy which greatly augments their value, I venture to consider that the Vienna ladies should be allowed to participate in this praise, especially such as have had the benefit of Parisian education, — for their elegance, their air of distinction, their coquetry, their talent for being discreetly provoking, in no way ranks behind their Parisian sisters whom often they surpass in beauty of form and figure. Full of curiosity in all matters appertaining to sexual love, they delight to make a study of them and to lose themselves in dream eroticism, in meditations of the most refined lubricity, — after which they will resume in the easiest manner possible the outward appearance of the most virtuous and well-behaved woman.
Such at all events was Mme. de Schoenfutz. Transplanted from the banks of the Danube to those of the Seine, she had there found so many subjects for amorous study that she did not long live in accord with her legal lord and master; the latter, like a wise man, avoided any scandal by quietly letting her live as she chose while he in turn did as he also pleased.
It was I who was the privileged mortal with whom she took her first lessons in the Art of Love, with whom she made her first studies, — which we did not hesitate to carry on to extremes!
She was a delicious pupil, so full of enthusiasm! I could conduct her and teach her the most outrageous method of unrestrained lust as long as I did so by agreeable and picturesquely amusing paths! — and there was little doubt that I had hit off the right way, as very soon she became most expert!
But everything comes to an end, even such delightful refinements of amorous pleasure. She began to put into practice with others the lessons I had taught her, — while I passed on to the education of other pupils. Since then we had often met — but Our Lady Venus did not receive any sweet sacrifice from us, partly because the occasions were not propitious and time was wanting. Now the attractions of the hunting season had brought us together at the Chateau de V…
My Viennese charmer had become even more beautiful than before; to the charms of her face and figure was now added a certain trick in the way she looked at you, which under the air of distinction nevertheless indicated she was not wanting either in enterprise or audacity. In short I found myself ready if she should indicate that she was willing. But do not think that I imagined that I had only to ask her to let me have (so to speak) my latchkey again. — To have done so would have been both foolish and fatal, for a woman requires to be re-conquered by any man whose caresses she has forgotten. Accordingly I laid siege to her in the regular way, but at first all the encouragement I got lay in vague half-promises, such as 'Perhaps!.. if you're very good!' But little by little I made progress, — now snatching a hasty kiss, now a significant pressure of her corsage, sometimes a hand slipped under her clothes but not permitted to!..
One day, we went out fox-hunting. Mme. de Schoenfutz both rode well and looked well on horse-back, having something of the elegance of seat and style of the late Empress Elizabeth of Austria, whom indeed she resembled in more ways than one.
The atmosphere was heavy and thunderous, the heat stifling. The sport was poor. Twice the hounds had to be whipped off a false scent. A state of confusion prevailed, and the riders formed little groups as they watched the proceedings and held themselves ready to gallop off as soon as the signal was given. Presently the sky began to be covered with black threatening clouds which presaged a serious storm. Was it good enough to go on? — wouldn't it be as well to get to shelter? But before any general decision was arrived at, a roll of thunder shook the air and large drops of rain began to fall.
Immediately there was a general skedaddle, — a wild rush for the carriages. Several riders galloped off to the kennels not far off, others to the village of T… The men ceased to chat with their lady friends and with each other, concerned now to make the best of their way to shelter. But M. de Z. (who I suspected to be in Mme. de Schoenfutz's high favour) remained by her and asked her what she proposed to do.
'I'm going back home, 'she said.
'You'd much better come to T…, the rain will soon be over and we can then resume hunting.'
'Many thanks! in the forest, all dripping! I've had enough for one day already!'
'But really it is not going to be wet.'
' Please don't let me keep you from hunting! I'm going off, I hate rain!'
