and Madame Dinville the abbe had disappeared. The good lady had seen him go out, but, thinking that I also was aware of his absence, she did not say a word to me about him. In a few moments she leaned towards me, and took my hand with a languid look that plainly told me that there was no obstacle on her part to my happiness, and let it fall on her thighs, which she opened and closed in a most lascivious manner. Still supposing that the abbe was in the room, I hesitated to make my advances, though I could not help observing her reproachful looks.
“Are you asleep, Silas?” she at last exclaimed.
A gallant by profession would have profited by such an occasion to vent a whole load of nonsense, but I simply replied:
“No, madam, I am not.”
Though this answer made her think me less forward than my conduct at our previous meeting implied, it did me no injury in her estimation, but rather the contrary; it suggested the idea that I was a novice in the art of love, and she would have the pleasure of giving me the first lesson. My indifference showed her that the mode of attack she had adopted was not suitable, and that something more striking was requisite to move me. Accordingly she threw herself into a posture that rendered visible a greater portion of her charms. The sight of them aroused me from my reverie, drove the idea of Susan from my mind, and made me over, body and soul, to Madame Dinville. Perceiving the effect produced upon me by this stratagem, and still further to encourage me, she asked what had become of the abbe. When I looked round and saw he was no longer there, I felt what a fool I had been.
“He is gone out!” said she, and affecting to arrange the counterpane, because she was too hot, she discovered a thigh of an extraordinary whiteness, on the top of which the corner of her chemise seemed to be laid for the express purpose of preventing me seeing further, or rather to excite my curiosity in a greater degree. I caught a glimpse, however, of something reddish, that caused an emotion of which she well knew the cause; and she adroitly reconcealed the place that had produced the very effect she desired. I took her hand without the slightest resistance on her part, and kissed it passionately; my eyes were inflamed, and hers bright and all animation. Everything seemed to be going on miraculously well, but it was written that in spite of all these fine chances I should not be successful; for a cursed chambermaid came at the very nick of time when she was not wanted. I dropped the hand in a moment, as the girl approached, laughing like a mad thing; she stopped a moment at the door to have her laugh out before she came into her lady's presence.
“What's the matter now?” said the lady rather sternly.
“O madam,” replied the wench, “the abbe…”
At this moment in came the abbe, covering his face with a handkerchief, and the servant laughed louder than before.
“What ails you, sir?” cried the lady.
“Look at my face,” said he, “and see what Susan has done.”
“Susan!” exclaimed the lady, laughing with the rest of us.
“Yes; this is what a kiss has cost me,” said he coolly; “but I do not think it is buying it too dear.”
The abbe did not seem much to mind the infliction, and joined the laugh against himself with a good grace.' Madame Dinville, after flinging a few jokes at the poor abbe, rose and went to arrange her toilette for dinner, and the little gentleman was very communicative of his advice on every particular, much to the discomfiture of the maid, who no doubt wished him to the devil. At the conclusion of this little business we all went to the dining- room.
There were four of us at dinner: Madame Dinville, Susan, the abbe, and myself. I cut rather a foolish figure, when seated opposite to Susan; but the abbe, who sat by her side, put a good face on the matter, and pretended not to mind the raillery of our hostess. Susan was rather confused, and I saw by her stolen glances at me that she wanted us to be alone. When the dinner was over, I made a sign to Susan, which she understood, and went out directly; I was going to follow her, but the lady stopped me, saying that I must be her squire, and that she was going to take a walk.
To walk at four o'clock in the afternoon appeared somewhat absurd to the abbe, but it was not for him that she proposed it. The abbe was unwilling to expose his complexion to the sun, so he decided on remaining within. I had much rather have run after Susan than follow my hostess, but I was forced to sacrifice my own wishes to one who did me so much honor.
The abbe looked after us, laughing till he almost swooned, as he saw us pacing up and down the walks beneath the broiling heat of the sun; to which the lady only opposed her fan, and I nothing, being always used to it. We made several turns with an indifference that amazed the abbe; I did not penetrate her plot, not could I conceive how she was able to bear such excessive heat. My quality of squire was becoming irksome, and I would willingly have resigned the honor; but I knew not what pleasant duties were in reserve to counterbalance the disagreeableness of the first.
When the abbe retired from his post as spectator, we were at the end of the walk, and my lady turned aside into a charming little grove which promised us a most delightful, cool walk, if we chose to enjoy it, and I made a remark to that effect.
“Very true,” said she, endeavoring to read in my eyes whether I understood the object of her promenade; but I had not the least idea of it.
She put her arm round me most affectionately, and leaning her head on my shoulder, her face came so near to mine that I should have been a fool not to kiss her. She let me do so, and I repeated it without any opposition; then I was awake to my position.
“O! This is just the thing,” said I; “here we shall be quite secure from interruption.”
I was not misunderstood; so we advanced in the labyrinth, the shelter of which was amply sufficient to seclude us from the sight of every body. She at last seated herself under a shady tree, and I followed her example, placing myself close by her side. She looked at me, pressed my hand, and laid herself down.
The lucky moment seemed come at last, and I began to prepare myself for action, when I perceived that the lady had suddenly fallen asleep. For a moment I thought it was only a drowsiness, induced by our promenade in the sun, which it would be very easy to dissipate, but seeing that it continued to increase rather than diminish, I could not tell what to make of it. I could have forgiven all this readily, if she had first allowed me to gratify my desires, but was exceedingly annoyed at being thus balked in the very instant of my triumph. My desires prompted me to awaken her, yet I dared not, lest I should displease and lose the enjoyment that I flattered myself awaited me when her nap was over. I could not refrain from putting my hand into her bosom, and I then withdrew her fan which she had stuck there. This not appearing to disturb her, I ventured on a kiss, of which she took not the least notice. I was becoming bolder every moment and wanted to descend a little lower. I put my head between her feet, with my face to the earth, and sought to explore the regions of love, but nothing could I see, for one leg was thrown over the other so as to completely cut off the prospect. Finding that I could not see, I was resolved to feel, and accordingly slipped my hand right up her thigh to the foot of the mount. When I reached the entrance of the grotto, I scarcely dared think of doing more; but I only felt more miserable for this partial success. I was eager to examine with my eyes what I touched with my hand. I then looked again at her face, not the slightest change was visible; the most imperturbable sleep seemed to reign over her; a twinkling of one eye rather disquieted me for a moment, and made me somewhat mistrustful, and had it not closely shut up almost immediately, I should have contented myself with what I had already done. I returned, however, to my lower post of observation, and began to raise the petticoat a little. The lady started, and I, trembling at my impudence, ceased all proceedings and resumed my place beside her, without daring to look towards her. I did not remain long in this constraint; I saw she was still asleep, and blessed my stars on observing that her legs were no longer crossed, the petticoat was drawn up, and all her charms lay exposed to my astonished eyes.
Her legs were most beautifully shaped, and her ivory thighs, round, soft, and firm, surmounted by a quim of bright carnation, encircled with a hedge of bushy hair, as black as jet, and exhaling an odor more exquisite than all the essences of the perfumers. I put my finger to it and tickled it a little, and afterwards, putting my head between her legs, I endeavored to thrust in my tongue. I stood with such force that nothing could arrest me. I could have poked the favorite sultana in the presence of a thousand eunuchs with drawn scimitars, ready to wash away my pleasures in my blood. Supporting myself on my hands, I touched her with nothing but my member; and a motion at once gentle and regular made me drink long draughts of pleasure, which were but the earnest of what I was to enjoy.
I gazed steadfastly in the face of my partner, and from time to time imprinted a burning kiss upon her lips. The precaution I had taken of bearing my weight on my hands in the rapture of the moment was altogether
