having done?'
'No,” she said, shaking her head. “She never does! And she would kill me if she knew that I had done it to you! She even refuses us the pleasure among ourselves!'
'Have no fear that she will ever find out from me,” I said, kissing her gently. “But I want to know more about this woman,” I continued. “I want to know why she is never active in her pleasures. Can't you arrange to visit me very soon? She allows you to go out, does she not?'
'Yes,” answered the other, “but she watches every step we take! I'm afraid!'
Again I looked through the curtains. The picture was the same, except that the countess was now reclining, quite as though she had forgotten she had an audience. Motioning the other ahead of me, for I had seen enough, I followed to where I had left my clothes.
'Tell me,” I said, for we could talk more freely here, “why don't you leave this dreadful place? What is there to keep you here?'
There was a wild look in her eyes. “I don't know,” she answered, glancing with her ever-widening eyes toward the second set of curtains. “I don't know!'
'Has this woman something which she holds over your head? Something she might use against you, that would hold you here against your will?'
'Oh, yes! No! Oh-I don't know! I don't know! I'm frightened!'
It was the strangest reaction I had ever seen in my life. The girl was either insane or lived in dreadful fear, there was no doubt about that. But how, I thought, was I to get to the bottom of the secret? How was I to find out the mystery of this den?
I gave it up. “Bring me the bottle from the other room,” I said.
A moment later, with this in my hand, I drank deeply. I wondered why I didn't dress and flee this strange house. But I didn't. Why I didn't, I do not know, though no great damage resulted by staying.
'Well,” said a voice off to one side, “how did you enjoy the little performance I staged for you? You are an actress, so you should be able to judge.'
It was the countess, still naked, and just as pretty as ever. “It was splendid,” I said, trying my best to smile, and making, I guess, a rotten job of it. “I enjoyed it as I have never enjoyed anything in my life.” Trying to be flippant, I added, “Won't you have a drink? Personally, I always insist upon wine after an attack like the one you just enjoyed.'
The countess threw herself down upon another divan. “I am disappointed,” she said, “I didn't enjoy it in the least.'
'Indeed!” I said, lifting my brows, “You seemed to, if I am any judge. What was the cause of your disappointment?'
'It was your fault,” came the startling answer.
'My fault?'
'Yes,” she said. “I had planned on having you as my victim. A pretty woman always excites me.'
'I am sorry,” I said, “but I could never stand to be punished like that. However, I am dreadfully sorry.'
'Oh, I didn't mean about the whipping,” she said.
'No?” I said, toying with the half-emptied glass.
'No. I was looking forward to having you suck me.'
The brazenness of the woman startled me. I said, “What prompted you, my dear, to think that I would do anything like that?'
She partly rose from the divan, looked at me with wide eyes, then said, “Can it be possible that I have been misinformed?'
I smiled. “I have no idea what you have been informed of, but of this I am sure: I am no garbage bucket for anyone-not even a so-called countess!'
She stared at me for long moments, then said, “I'm sorry, my dear; I did not understand. I hope you will forgive me.'
An instant after I had rebuked her, I was sorry, but the words slipped from me. I softened, however, and said, “It is quite all right, my dear-it is I who should be sorry.'
I began drawing on my stockings. “You are going?” she said. “I had hoped you would stay for dinner. I shall be dreadfully disappointed if you do not stay.'
I gazed at her; I knew I had her bested. “Are you in the habit of allowing your guests to suffer while you enjoy yourself? I, too, am but human, you know.” I continued dressing.
She rose and came to my side. “What did you mean by that?'
'I mean,” I said, “that watching two pretty women, as I have had the pleasure of doing, has greatly aroused me, so I shall have to return to my own apartment for a like relief. You offer what appears to be delightfully tasty, but I, too, have something to offer, though you have seen fit to ignore it. Tell me,” I went on, giving her a splendid opportunity to get her fill of my secret charms, “is mine so repulsive as to cause you to decline it? Especially after having expected me to take yours? I am correct in that you intended me to do so?'
For a long moment she stared at me, then said, “Am I given to understand that you would partake providing I would return the compliment?'
'You will have to draw your own conclusions about that part of it,” I said. “What your presumptions are matters little to me. The fact remains, however, that I, as I have already said, am human. I am dreadfully sorry, but I must have relief; watching your delightful game has aroused me dreadfully; nothing short of a cock measuring two hundred and fifty meters would come anywhere near satisfying me.'
The countess seemed greatly put out that I would not stay. But I was persistent. Turning at the door, I said, “You must come to see me. And in as much as you delight in having a pretty girl, I shall take great pleasure in furnishing one or two for you.'
So you see, my friend, I did not gain much by this visit. True, I had had the pleasure of having a very talented girl perform for me, but I had set the countess as my game and, like her, I was disappointed.
Anna and Nina, who were almost daily visitors at my apartment, were waiting for me when I returned. They were anxious to hear the results of my visit.
'The huntress goes forth to conquer and returns empty-handed!” cried Nina, springing up to embrace me, smiling the while.
'Not entirely,” I said, passing into my room that I might get out of my clothes. “I'll admit my trip wasn't entirely a success, but it wasn't without a certain amount of pleasure; the countess has some very pretty maids,” I said, looking at her from the corner of my eye.
'But I'll bet a pretty penny you didn't capture the countess,” she insisted. “If you did, you are the first.'
'Nina, dear,” I said as I settled myself to enjoy a rest before going to the theater, “there is something about that house that is next to terrifying, and I would give much to penetrate its secret.” Both girls listened in rapt attention as I related everything that had transpired in the countess’ home. I described with minute detail everything as I remembered it. I told how she had almost openly solicited me; how I had had the pleasure of beating her in her scheme. And I told them of the brief conversation between the girl and myself.
When I ended my recital, Anna said, “All right, my dear. You wanted to take the matter into your own hands and you have failed. Now we'll tell you the truth of the matter. No, don't look so startled; you would never have been satisfied until you made that call, and now that you have been there yourself-and gotten nowhere-we'll tell you what we know about her.'
'Tell me this first,” I said. “Why do those girls remain there for the sole purpose of being whipped? What power does she hold over them, and why are they deprived of the pleasure afforded most young women who crave the flesh?'
'One question at a time, dearie,” suggested Nina. “Let us take them in the order asked. To begin with, this woman, as you undoubtedly know, is Russian. She is of a class who delight in lording it all over those beneath her. She was reared, undoubtedly, in an atmosphere of mock splendor; lived and breathed wealth and power. The girls do not remain with her through their own initiative; they are held there quite against their will. Why? Listen carefully and I shall tell you. Our friend, the countess, has a brother. Like her, he is a low beast-I have met him and know, as has my pretty sister. At the moment, he is chief jailer at a prison in Budapest. He rules like a czar; the people of Budapest look upon him as something akin to the unnatural, and that is exactly what he is: an unnatural beast.
