Volume III Part 86 (2/2)
I was deeply moved, and for a quarter of an hour I was silent, and absorbed in irl's norance, her candour, her perfect innocence, and a foolish feeling of pity, whichof which she thought little because she had never been in love
She was religious, but froion was consequently very weak She abhorred sin, because she was obliged to purge herself of it by confession under pain of everlasting damnation, and she did not want to be damned She had plenty of natural common sense, little wit, for the cultivation of which she had no opportunities, and she was in a state of ignorance only pardonable in a nun On weighing these facts I foresaw that I should find it a difficult task to gain those favours which she had granted to Coudert; her repentance had been too bitter for her to expose herself to the saain
The peasant woht us our supper Everything was new--napkins, plates, glasses, spoons, knives, etc, and everything was exquisitely clean The wines were excellent, and the dishes delightful in their siaood fruit I spent an hour and a half at supper, and drank two bottles of wine as I talked to the nun, who ate very little
I was in the highest spirits, and the wohted with my praise of her provision, pro
When I was alone with the nun, whose face filled an to speak of her health, and especially of the inconveniences attached to child-birth She said she felt quite well, and would be able to return to Cha that troubles me is my breasts, but the woman assures me that the milk will recede to-morrow, and that they will then assume their usual shape”
”Allowabout it”
”Look!”
She uncovered her boso to be polite, without supposing I had any concealed desires I passed my hands over two spheres whose perfect shape and whiteness would have restored Lazarus to life I took care not to offend her modesty, but in the coolest manner possible asked her how she felt a little lower down, and as I put the question I softly extended o any further as she still felt a little uneasy I begged her pardon, and said I hoped I should find everything quite right by the next day
”The beauty of your bosoreater interest in you”
So saying I let my mouth meet hers, and I felt a kiss escape as if involuntarily froan to whirl, and I saw that unless I took to a speedy flight I should lose all her confidence I therefore left her, calling her ”dear daughter” as I bade her farewell
It poured with rain, and I got soaked through before I reachedThis was a bath well fitted to diminish the ardour ofthe next
I took out the two portraits of M---- M----, one in a nun's dress, and the other nude, as Venus I felt sure they would be of service to me with the nun
I did not find the fair Zeroli in her room, so I went to the fountain, where she reproached me with a tenderness I assessed at its proper value, and our quarrel was made up in the course of our walk When dinner was over the Marquis the Prie uessed that he wanted to win a lot and lose a little I put down also a hundred louis, and he said that it would be better sport if I did not stake my money on one card only I replied that I would stake a louis on each of the thirteen
”You will lose”
”We will see Here is my hand on the table, and I stake a louis on each of the thirteen cards”
According to the laws of probability, I should certainly have lost, but fate decided otherwise and I won eighty louis At eight o'clock I bowed to the company, and I went as usual to the place whereShe said she had had a little fever, which the country-woman pronounced to be et up by the next day As I stretched out my hand to lift the coverlet; she seized it and covered it with kisses, telling ive me that mark of her filial affection She enty-one, and I was thirty-five A nice daughter for a s for her were not at all of a fatherly character Nevertheless, I told her that her confidence inme in bed, increased rieved if I found her dressed in her nun's clothes next day
”Then I will stop in bed,” said she; ”and indeed I shall be very glad to do so, as I experience great discomfort from the heat of my woollen habit; but I think I should please you more if I were decently dressed; however, as you like it better, I will stop in bed”
The country-woave her the abbess'
letter which her nephew had just brought froave it to me The abbess told her that she would send two lay-sisters to bring her back to the convent, and that as she had recovered her health she could come on-foot, and thus save money which could be spent in better ways She added that as the bishop ay, and she was unable to send the lay-sisters without his permission, they could not start for a week or ten days She ordered her, under pain of the major excommunication, never to leave her room, never to speak to anyto do with anybody except with the wo to have a mass said for the repose of the departed sister's soul
”I a shewn me this letter, but be pleased to tell me if Ihurt to your conscience; for I must tell you I am a man I have only stopped in this place because of the lively interest hich you have inspired me, but if you have the least objection to receive ular excommunication hich you are threatened, I will leave Aix tomorrow Speak”
”Sir, our abbess is lavish of these thunders, and I have already incurred the excommunication hich she threatens me; but I hope it will not be ratified by God, as my fault has made me happy and not miserable I will be sincere with you; your visits are my only joy, and that joy is doubled when you tell me you like to come But if you can answer my question without a breach of confidence, I should like to know for whoine how you astonished and frightened me I have never felt such kisses as those you lavished onparty, and you toldanother”
”I will satisfy your curiosity I think I can do so as you are aware by this tier than the spirit, and that it coht reason You shall hear the history of an amour that lasted for two years with the fairest and the best of all the nuns of Venice”
”Tell me all, sir I have fallen myself, and I should be cruel and unjust if I were to take offence at anything youwith her that Coudert did not do to me”