Volume III Part 36 (2/2)
”I a all this worry in these early days of your e I suppose your father knew about your husband's circumstances; how about your dowry?”
”My dowry of six thousand francs has served, oods which would pay our debts three times over; but in bad times capital sunk is capital dead”
”I am sorry to hear all this, as if peace is not o on your needs will becoreater”
”Yes, for when my husband is better we may have children”
”What! Do youyou a mother? I can't believe it”
”I don't see how I can be a mother who am still a maid; not that I care much about the matter”
”I shouldn't have believed it! How can a ony of death feel ill beside you? He must be dead”
”Well, he is not exactly dead, but he doesn't shew h, and under cover ofmuch resistance The first kiss was like an electric spark; it fired ination and I increased my attentions till she became as submissive as a lamb
”I will help you, dearest, to ently into a closet where a soft divan formed a suitable altar for the completion of an amorous sacrifice
I was enchanted to find her submissive to reatly when, as I placed myself in readiness for the consummation of the act, and was already in the proper posture between the two coluht at first that it was only one of those devices intended todifficulties in the way; but, finding that her resistance was genuine, I exclaimed,
”Hoas I to expect a refusal like this at a ht I saw my ardours reflected in your eyes?”
”Your eyes did not deceive you; but ould my husband say if he found me otherwise than as God has made me?”
”He can't have left you untouched!”
”He really has done so You can see for yourself if you like Can I, then, give to you what appertains to the genius of the el; this fruit must be kept for a mouth unworthy to taste it I pity and adore you Co The fruit shall not be daed; I will but taste the outer surface and leave no trace behind”
We passed three hours in trifling together in a manner calculated to inflaain poured forth I was consoled by her swearing to bethat she was his, and, after taking her on the Boulevards, I left her at her door, with a present of twenty-five Louis
I was in love with her as I had never been before, and I passed the shop three or four ti round and round, to the wrath ofmy horses I was happy to see her watch for theher pretty fingers to her n to leave e At last this day, so ardently desired and so long waited for, arrived The sign was given, and I stopped the coach and she cao and wait for her at the church door of St Germain l'Auxerrois
I was curious to knohat the results would be, and had not been at the place appointed more than a quarter of an hour when she caot into the carriage and, saying that she wanted to ed me to take her to the shops
I had business ofbusiness too, but who can refuse the Beloved Object anything? I told the coachman to drive to the Place Dauphine, and I prepared to loosento treat me as a friend In point of fact she left few shops unvisited, going from jewels to pretty trifles and toys of different kinds, and from these to dresses of the latest fashi+on, which they displayed before her, addressing her as princess, and saying that this would become her admirably She looked at me, and said it must be confessed that it was very pretty and that she would like it if it were not so dear I was a willing dupe, and assured her that if she liked it it could not be too dear, and that I would pay
Whileone trifle after another ht about an incident which placed me in a fearful situation four years afterwards The chain of events is endless
I perceived at irl of twelve or thirteen, with an old and ugly woirl had in her hands, and on which she had evidently set her heart: she looked sad at not being able to buy them I heard her say to the old woman that they would irl's hands and told her to, come away
”I can let you have a cheaper pair and al lady said she did not; care about it, and was getting ready to go,a profound reverence to n of respect went up to her, called her little queen, told her she was as fair as a May , and asked the old woman her name,