Volume VI Part 23 (2/2)

”It is not so impossible after all”

We went to see the splendid but barbarous spectacle in which Spaniards take so irls placed themselves in front of the only vacant box, and I sat behind on the second bench, which was a foot and a half higher than the first There were already two ladies there, and much to my amusement one of them was the famous duchess of Villadorias She was in front of me, and sat in such a position that her head was alnizedone another; and then noticing Donna Ignazia, as close to her, she congratulated me in French on her charms, and asked me whether she was my mistress or hed in vain She replied, with a s to Donna Ignazia began a pleasant and airl to be as learned in the laws of love as herself She whispered sonazia blush, and the duchess, becoirl in Madrid, and that she would be delighted to see us both at her country house

I proed to be excused na the day Nevertheless, she made me pro me, much to h, but too notorious a character; and such a visit would have given rise to talk

Happily the fight began, and silence becaeneral, for the Spaniards are passionately devoted of bull fighting

So much has been written on the subject that ht I may say that the sport is, in my opinion, a most barbarous one, and likely to operate unfavourably on the national morals; the arena is sometimes drenched in the blood of bulls, horses, and even of the unfortunate picadores andhich they irritate the bull

When it was over I escorted the girls--who had enjoyed thely cousin stay to supper, as I foresaw that they would again sleep together

We supped together, but it was a o ay, and I did not feel in the hunazia became pensive when, in reply to a question of hers, I said that it would be absolutely rude of o to the duchess's

”You will come with me some day,” I added, ”to dine at her country house”

”You need not look for that”

”Why not?”

”Because she is a madwoman She talked to me in a way that would have offendedaside her rank”

We rose from table, and after I had diso and to enjoy the delicious evening breezes

As we sat near to each other in the twilight, so favourable to lovers'

vows, I looked into Donna Ignazia's eyes, and saw there thatwith uessed the flao and see the duchess?”

”No, if you will proo to confession next Sunday”

”But ill he say if I do not go?”

”Nothing at all, if he understands his business But let us talk it over a little”

We were so tightly clasped together that the cousin, like a good girl, left us, and went to the other end of the balcony, taking care to look away fro my position, in spite of the temptation to do so, I asked her if she felt in the humour to repent of the sin she was ready to co of repentance just then, but as you reo to confession”

”And after you have been to confession will you love ive th to offend Hi race, yet I feel sure that on Sunday evening you will refuse rant”

”Indeed I will, sweetheart; but why should we talk of that now?”

”Because if I abandon myself to pleasure now I shall be more in love with you than ever, and consequently more unhappy than ever, when the day of your repentance coo to confession whilst I reive the fatal order now, and bidthat it will be refused me on Sunday”