登陆注册
25527900000674

第674章

little resistance sharpens the appetite, while favours granted with too much ease lose a great deal of their charm. Annette was only fourteen, she had a soft heart, no knowledge of the world or her own rights, and she would not have resisted my embraces for fear of being rude. That sort of thing would only please a rich and voluptuous Turk.

I begged her to do my hair, intending to dismiss her directly after, but when she had finished I asked her to give me the ointment.

"What do you want it for?"

"For the blisters that cursed saddle on which I rode six miles gave me."

"Does the ointment do them good?"

"Certainly; it takes away the smart, and by to-morrow I shall be cured, but you must send Costa to me, as I cannot put it on myself."

"Can't I do it?"

"Yes, but I am afraid that would be an abuse of your kindness."

"I guess why; but as I am short-sighted, how shall I see the blisters?"

"If you want to do it for me, I will place myself so that it will be easier for you. Stay, put the candle on this table."

"There you are, but don't let Costa put it on again to-morrow, or he will guess that I or my sister did it to-night."

"You will do me the same service, then, to-morrow?"

"I or my sister, for she will get up early."

"Your sister! No, my dear; she would be afraid of giving me too much pleasure by touching me so near."

"And I am only afraid of hurting you. Is that right? Good heavens! what a state your skin is in!"

"You have not finished yet."

"I am so short-sighted; turn round."

"With pleasure. Here I am."

The little wanton could not resist laughing at what she saw, doubtless, for the first time. She was obliged to touch it to continue rubbing the ointment in, and I saw that she liked it, as she touched it when she had no need, and not being able to stand it any longer I took hold of her hand and made her stop her work in favour of a pleasanter employment.

When she had finished I burst out laughing to hear her ask, in the most serious way, the pot of ointment still in her left hand, "Did I do it right!"

"Oh, admirably, dear Annette! You are an angel, and I am sure you know what pleasure you gave me. Can you come and spend an hour with me?"

"Wait a bit."

She went out and shut the door, and I waited for her to return;

but my patience being exhausted I opened the door slightly, and saw her undressing and getting into bed with her sister. I went back to my room and to bed again, without losing all hope. I was not disappointed, for in five minutes back she came, clad in her chemise and walking on tip-toe.

"Come to my arms, my love; it is very cold."

"Here I am. My sister is asleep and suspects nothing; and even if she awoke the bed is so large that she would not notice my absence."

"You are a divine creature, and I love you with all my heart."

"So much the better. I give myself up to you; do what you like with me, on the condition that you think of my sister no more."

"That will not cost me much. I promise that I will not think of her."

I found Annette a perfect neophyte, and though I saw no blood on the altar of love next morning I did not suspect her on that account. I have often seen such cases, and I know by experience that the effusion of blood or its absence proves nothing. As a general rule a girl cannot be convicted of having had a lover unless she be with child.

I spent two hours of delight with this pretty baby, for she was so small, so delicate, and so daintily shaped all over, that I can find no better name for her. Her docility did not detract from the piquancy of the pleasure, for she was voluptuously inclined.

When I rose in the morning she came to my room with Veronique, and I was glad to see that while the younger sister was radiant with happiness the elder looked pleasant and as if she desired to make herself agreeable. I asked her how she was, and she told me that diet and sleep had completely cured her. "I have always found them the best remedy for a headache." Annette had also cured me of the curiosity I had felt about her. I congratulated myself on my achievement.

I was in such high spirits at supper that M. de Grimaldi thought I

had won everything from Veronique, and I let him think so. I

promised to dine with him the next day, and I kept my word. After dinner I gave him a long letter for Rosalie, whom I did not expect to see again except as Madame Petri, though I took care not to let the marquis know what I thought.

In the evening I supped with the two sisters, and I made myself equally agreeable to both of them. When Veronique was alone with me, putting my hair into curl-papers, she said that she loved me much more now that I behaved discreetly.

"My discretion," I replied, "only means that I have given up the hope of winning you. I know how to take my part."

"Your love was not very great, then?"

"It sprang up quickly, and you, Veronique, could have made it increase to a gigantic size."

She said nothing, but bit her lip, wished me good night and left the room. I went to bed expecting a visit from Annette, but I

waited in vain. When I rang the next morning the dear girl appeared looking rather sad. I asked her the reason.

"Because my sister is ill, and spent the whole night in writing,"

said she.

Thus I learnt the reason of her not having paid me a visit.

"Do you know what she was writing about?"

"Oh, no! She does not tell me that kind of thing, but here is a letter for you."

I read through the long and well-composed letter, but as it bore marks of craft and dissimulation it made me laugh. After several remarks of no consequence she said that she had repulsed me because she loved me so much and that she was afraid that if she satisfied my fancy she might lose me.

"I will be wholly yours," she added, "if you will give me the position which Rosalie enjoyed. I will travel in your company, but you must give me a document, which M. de Grimaldi will sign as a witness, in which you must engage to marry me in a year, and to give me a portion of fifty thousand francs; and if at the end of a year you do not wish to marry me, that sum to be at my absolute disposal."

同类推荐
  • 饮水词

    饮水词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 隆平集

    隆平集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 開原縣志

    開原縣志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Ramsey Milholland

    Ramsey Milholland

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 法海经

    法海经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 拎仙人

    拎仙人

    天地释、道、武、儒四极相融,世间祥和数万年。怎奈生灵的欲望无穷尽,又有人、灵、妖、魔错综复杂的异族仇恨,因此天下大乱。无尽之海终有岸,祸起还是祸终?尚未可知。此时,天地亟需一个井然有序的新规则,于是天地开始风起云涌!
  • 忍武

    忍武

    柴娜大陆,武,忍,道三族鼎立。千百年来,武国尊大,道宗羸弱,而忍族苟延于东部海岛。相互之间往来甚少,也算是各自为政,繁衍生息,一时太平。大武国吴朝,历37年。自丰臣家族率火雷忍军横扫泽泮,一统忍族后,信心爆棚,胆魄一时无两。丰臣明秀亲率百万雄狮,横渡钓鱼湾海峡,征讨大武,意在广袤富饶的柴娜大陆。面对国恨家仇,从不习武的少年罗轲,迎来了人生中波澜壮阔的新篇章。仅以此文,纪念世界反法西斯战争胜利70周年!!!
  • 别动,我是丧尸

    别动,我是丧尸

    洛雪重生了,回到末世到来的一个月前。这一世看清了堂妹和男友的真面目。前世,就是被这对狗男女推进丧尸群,害我变丧尸,洛雪发誓让这对狗男女血债血偿,还要守护爱我的人。“可是这位美男我没说要守护你啊”美男:“呵,不是说要守护爱你的人吗?我也爱你呀”
  • 天运阴阳

    天运阴阳

    修道之人的报应,五弊三缺我犯鳏弊,千年僵尸,红衣女鬼,更甚至地府的鬼差都会在那些个最不合适的时间登场。然而在这个时间里一个天运与真运的掐架在人间拉开那令人蛋疼的帷幕。
  • 被囚困的爱丽丝

    被囚困的爱丽丝

    卡罗尔的贡献在于发现了一个新世界,就在兔子洞的另一边。同时他也痛苦地隐藏真相,让爱丽丝告诉我们她进入了仙境(wonderland)。没人知道该世界的真实情况如何,直到日本生存类漫画《弥留之际的爱丽丝》的诞生,一种全新的可能性展现在我们眼前。是生存下去即使不得不杀死对方,还是把活下去的机会让给对方?文明世界让我们回避了曾经主宰我们生命的丛林法则,某天当这一切不复存在,我们必须做出选择时,一个全新的甚至充满浪漫气息的世界便悄悄地诞生了。在想明白人性本善还是本恶之前,请一定要活下去。所以:快跑,爱丽丝!
  • 拳术者

    拳术者

    燕胤自小受父亲影响,深知拳术之道,纵横武者林立的世界中,杀尽无数凶狠非常的异兽,掌握令人神往的无穷力量,一步步踏上巅峰,成就拳术者传奇!
  • 凤舞九天邪尊站住

    凤舞九天邪尊站住

    她,神界神女,出生时一笑百花盛开,为她倾尽一世芳华。他,魔界帝君,掌管一切冥物的吸血鬼族,终日饮血为生……明明是两个毫不相干的人,甚至是敌对的种族,可却互相恋上了彼此,天命难违,他们终究有缘无分。大战前夕,她问:“我们真的要走到如今的地步吗……”他只是沉默,“好,我知道你的答案了,呵,终究是我太傻……”女子癫笑着走了。当大战开始时,男子终于明白了,原来那是她给自己最后的机会,可是,他却再也见不到她了,只能眼睁睁得看着她散尽三魂七魄消失在漫漫云海中,他疯了,在亿万个界面疯狂寻找复活她的方法,终于,他找到了,当看到手中的那一缕光芒射向远空,他笑了,念叨道“舞儿我来陪你了……”
  • 就这样爱上你了

    就这样爱上你了

    “木学长,我功课太差,你能帮帮我吗?”白暮雪两眼冒金星的说。某北和某祺听到这话,立即将白暮雪拖走。白暮雪还不死心:“木学长,今晚上再聊。bye~”某北和某祺脸上的黑线又冒出了好几根......“白暮雪。你想怎样~”某祺邪恶的望着白暮雪。完了完了......
  • 泡妞神探

    泡妞神探

    屌丝余林的进化过程……
  • 临终的侦探

    临终的侦探

    选自福尔摩斯探案故事集,包括《临终的侦探》《王冠宝石案》《希腊译员》等多篇脍炙人口的短篇小说。小说结构严谨,情节离奇曲折、引人人胜。以跌宕起伏的情节、缜密的逻辑推理、细致的心理分析,给读者呈现一个冷静、智慧与勇气并存的神探福尔摩斯。