Volume VI Part 14 (1/2)

Although I had a fine view of her thighs, I observed no traces of a blush on her face I then gave her a pair, of h I was five inches taller than she, but this difference was compensated by the posterior proportions, hich, like most women, she was bountifully endowed I turned away to let her put theiven her a linen shi+rt, she told me she had finished before she had buttoned it at the neck There may possibly have been a little coquetry in this, as I buttoned the shi+rt for her, and was thus gratified with a sight of her splendid breast

I need not say whether she was pleased or not ather upon her fine proportions When her toilette was finished I surveyed her from head to foot, and pronounced her to be a perfect man, with the exception of one blemish

”I ae your shi+rt so as to obviate it?”

”I shall be ed, as I have never dressed in man's clothes before”

I then sat down in front of her, and, after unbuttoning the fly, arranged the shi+rt in a properso I allowed myself some small liberties, but I toyed with such a serious air that she seemed to take it all as a matter of course

When I had put on her donazia congratulated her on her disguise, saying that anybody would take her for a er one

”Go with him,” said the elder, ”Don Jaime is as honest a man as you will find in Spain”

There was really notsinazia a long tie her kerchief, and a dozen other trifles When she was ready I brought her forth, and Donna Ignazia noticing that she had changed her stockings and kerchief, asked her whether I were as expert at dressing a lady as at turning a lady into a gentle for hter, and as soon as I had her in the closet I didwith an air that seeive in because I can't resist” Wishi+ng to save her honour I withdrew in time, but in the second combat I held her for half an hour to my arms However, she was naturally of a passionate disposition, and nature had endowed her with a teorous attacks When decency made us leave the closet, she reht I should never have done; I had to alter the whole fit of the dohtfall ent to the ball, at which the fandango e, but the croas so great that dancing was out of the question At ten we had supper, and then walked up and down, till all at once the two orchestras becaht the carnival was over, and Lent had begun

This rapid transition froanis and unnatural about it At fifty-nine ht sounds, and in a ht low, and the heart to be full of humble repentance; it is an absurdity, an iirls to my house to take off their dominos, and we then escorted the two cousins honazia told me that she would like a little coffee I understood her, and took her tosure of two hours of oing out to order the coffee when I met Don Francisco, who asked nazia go in with e and disappoint that his hted at this unexpected visit I went upstairs, and he followedthe lady on the pleasant surprise

I expected that she would play her part as well as I had played e she told hiive her a cup of coffee if she had foreseen this piece of ientleman he would have known better than to intrude hier I felt that Iwith a tin kettle tied to his tail I tried to cal her that Don Francisco had seen us by a mere accident, and that it was I who had asked hi her

Donna Ignazia feigned to be persuaded and asked her lover to sit down, but she did not speak another word to hi how much she had enjoyed the ball, and how kind I had been to take her cousins

After he had taken a cup of coffee, Don Francisobde us a good night

I told him I hoped he would conazia only vouchsafed hih, that she was sorry he had deprived us both of our pleasure, and that she was sure Don Francisco was still hanging about the place, and that she dared not expose herself to his vengeance ”So take ain The trick the stupid fellow has played me shall cost him dear Are you sure I don't love him?”

”Quite certain, for you love ave me a hasty proof of her affection, and I escorted her ho her that she would be the sole object ofas I stayed at Madrid

The next day I dined with Mengs, and the day after that I was accosted in the street by an ill-looking felloho badeof importance to communicate to me

As soon as he saw that ere unobserved, he toldto pay ht with a band of police, ”of whom,” he added, ”I am one He knows you have concealed weapons in your roos which authorize him to seize your person and to take you to the prison where persons destined for the galleys are kept I give you all this warning because I believe you to be a man of honour Despise not et into some place of security”

I credited what he toldarave the nazia, as I intended, I went back tothe weapons underword at the cafe to send s's house I was safe, as it belonged to the king