Volume II Part 62 (2/2)
”Is he a married man?”
”Yes, his name is Count S---- He is as fond of me as a father would be, and his affection has continued the same since my childhood Even his wife comes to seeinto the country with her, and I hope the fresh air will dowith us and is satisfied He does not know you, but if you like you can lad to hear all this, as I gained a good deal of useful infor to ask any aard questions The friendshi+p of this Greek looked very like love He was the husband of Countess S----, who had taken me to the convent at Muran two years before
I found the count a very polite man He thanked hter, and beggedday, telling me that he would introduce me to his wife I accepted his invitation with pleasure, for I was fond of dra with the countess pro one This invitation bespoke the courteous gentle his praises after he had gone
”My God-father,” said she, ”is in possession of all the necessary docu from the house of Persico our family fortune, which as to me, and my mother has promised my sister and myself to share her dowry between us”
I concluded fro her husband fifteen thousand Venetian ducats
I guessed that she was appealing to me with her fortune, and wished toherself chary of her favours; for whenever I allowed myself any small liberties, she checked me ords, of remonstrance to which I could find no answer I determined to make her pursue another course
Next day I took her withher that I knew the countess I fancied the lady would pretend not to know , as she welcomed me in the handsomest manner as if I were an old friend This, no doubt, was a surprise for the count, but he was too much a man of the world to, shew any astonishment He asked her when she had made my acquaintance, and she, like a wohtest hesitation that we had seen each other two years ago at Mira The matter was settled, and we spent a very pleasant day
Towards evening I took the young lady into shorten the journey I allowedresponded to by reproaches, and for that reason, as soon as she had set foot on her own doorstep, instead of getting out I went to Tonine's house, and spent nearly the whole night there with the ambassador, who caet up till quite late, there was no dancing lesson, and when I excused myself she toldI sat on the balcony far into the night, but she did not come
Vexed at this air of indifference I rose early in the htfall She was on the balcony, but as she kept me at a respectful distance I only talked to her on co I was roused by a tre-gown ran into her roo I had no need to feign an interest in her, for I felt theof July it was extremely hot, and my fair invalid was only covered by a thin sheet She could only speak to h the lids were lowered she looked upon ly! I asked her if she suffered fro my hand upon her heart I pressed a fiery kiss upon her breast This was the electric spark, for she gave a sigh which did her good She had not strength to repulse the hand which I pressed a bolder I fastened uid mouth I warmed her with my breath, and my audacious hand penetrated to the very sanctuary of bliss
She made an effort to push me back, and told me with her eyes, since she could not speak, how insulted she felt I drew back eon ca breath, and by the tiet up I entreated her to stay in bed, and her mother added her voice toher that I would not leave her for a second, and that I would have my dinner by her bedside She then put on a corset and asked her sister to draw a sarcenet coverlet over her, as her lih a crape veil
Having given orders forwith love, and taking her hand and covering it with kisses I told her that I was sure she would get better if she would let herself love
”Alas!” she said, ”who whether I shall be loved in return?”
I did not leave this question unanswered, and continuing the alance I puther to let o no farther, but little by little I attained the center, and strove to give her some pleasant sensations
”Letaway, ”'tis perchance the cause of my illness”
”No, sweetheart,” I replied, ”that cannot be” And my mouth stopped all her objections upon her lips
I was enchanted, for I was now in a fair way, and I saw thecertain that I could effect a cure if the doctor was not ard for herto ask nothing of her but as necessary to feed the fire of ood dinner, and she did justice to it; afterwards saying that she was quite well she got up, and I went away to dress , and found her oninto her face, speaking by turns the language of the eyes and that of sighs, fixing ht rendered sweeter, I made her share in the fire which consumed me; and as I pressed her amorously to my bosom she completed my bliss with such war a favour and not granting one I sacrificed the victi the altar with blood
Her sister cao to bed,” she answered; ”the fresh air is doing er”
As soon as ere alone ent to bed together as if we had been doing it for a whole year, and we passed a glorious night, I full of love and the desire of curing her, and she of tender and ardent voluptuousness
At day-break she embraced me, her eyes deith bliss, and went to lie down in her own bed I, like her, stood in need of a rest, and on that day there was no talk of a dancing lesson In spite of the fierce pleasure of enjoyirl, I did not for a hts as these for three weeks, and I had the pleasure of seeing her thoroughly cured I should doubtless have married her, if an event had not happened to me towards the end of the month, of which I shall speak lower down
You will remember, dear reader, about a romance by the Abbe Chiari, a satirical roiven h at the author's hands I had small reason to be pleased with him, and I let him know , kept upon his guard About the same time I received an anonymous letter, the writer of which toldcare ofthe abbe, for I was threatened by an ier Anonyht to kno, on occasion, to , and reat mistake
About the same time a man named Manuzzi, a stone setter for his first trade, and also a spy, a vile agent of the State Inquisitors--a --found a way toto let ot the entry ofat some books scattered here and there about the rooic