登陆注册
4606300000627

第627章

As soon as I was alone with the charming nun, whose face recalled to my memory the happy hours I had passed with M---- M----, my imagination began to kindle, and drawing close to her I began to talk of her seducer, telling her I was surprised that be had not helped her in the cruel position in which he had placed her. She replied that she was debarred from accepting any money by her vow of poverty and obedience, and that she had given up to the abbess what remained of the alms the bishop had procured her.

"As to my state when I was so fortunate as to meet you, I think he cannot have received my letter."

"Possibly, but is he a rich or handsome man?"

"He is rich but certainly not handsome. On the contrary, he is extremely ugly, deformed, and over fifty."

"How did you become amorous of a fellow like that?"

"I never loved him, but he contrived to gain my pity. I thought he would kill himself, and I promised to be in the garden on the night he appointed, but I only went there with the intention of bidding him begone, and he did so, but after he had carried his evil designs into effect."

"Did he use violence towards you, then?"

"No, for that would have been no use. He wept, threw himself on his knees, and begged so hard, that I let him do what he liked on the condition that he would not kill himself, and that he would come no more to the garden."

"Had you no fear of consequences?"

"I did not understand anything about it; I always thought that one could not conceive under three times at least."

"Unhappy ignorance! how many woes are caused by it! Then he did not ask you to give him any more assignations?"

"He often asked me, but I would not grant his request because our confessor made me promise to withstand him thenceforth, if I wished to be absolved."

"Did you tell him the name of the seducer?"

"Certainly not; the good confessor would not have allowed me to do so; it would have been a great sin."

"Did you tell your confessor the state you were in?"

"No, but he must have guessed it. He is a good old man, who doubtless prayed to God for me, and my meeting you was, perhaps, the answer to his prayers."

I was deeply moved, and for a quarter of an hour I was silent, and absorbed in my thoughts. I saw that this interesting girl's misfortune proceeded from her ignorance, her candour, her perfect innocence, and a foolish feeling of pity, which made her grant this monster of lubricity a thing of which she thought little because she had never been in love. She was religious, but from mere habit and not from reflection, and her religion 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 same danger over again.

The peasant woman returned, laid the table for two, and brought 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 simplicity. We had roast game, fish, cheese with cream, and very good 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 woman, delighted with my praise of her provision, promised I should be served the same way every evening.

When I was alone with the nun, whose face filled me with such burning recollections, I began 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 Chamberi on foot. "The only thing 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."

"Allow me to examine them, I know something about it."

"Look!"

She uncovered her bosom, not thinking it would give me any pleasure, but wishing 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 my hand. However, she kept it back gently, telling me not to go 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 bosom," I added, "makes me take a still greater interest in you."

So saying I let my mouth meet hers, and I felt a kiss escape as if involuntarily from her lips. It ran like fire through my veins, my brain began 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 reached my lodging. This was a bath well fitted to diminish the ardour of my passion, but it made me very late in rising the next morning.

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 made a bank, but as he only put down a hundred louis I guessed 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."

同类推荐
  • THE HOUSE OF MIRTH

    THE HOUSE OF MIRTH

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说八阳神咒经

    佛说八阳神咒经

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 孝行览

    孝行览

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 前寄左省张起居一百

    前寄左省张起居一百

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 远山堂曲品

    远山堂曲品

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 雷达兵

    雷达兵

    每个人心中都有一个军队梦,曾经的他文弱,如今的他,却如大树般扎根在部队,魔鬼般的训练,不断的严格要求,军队的氛围,早就了军人,钢铁般的军人,一个特殊军种的军人,是如何在铁与血中磨练成长的。
  • 远行纪

    远行纪

    由于好友爽约,陆仲意独自坐上去西藏的列车,历尽千辛万苦,这次远行最终却无疾而终。回校后,仲意口述,好友孟珂珂记录,产生了一部远行故事。代表现实世界的“白仲意”和象征幻想世界的“黑仲意”交替讲述了这个故事,但记录者孟珂珂打乱了故事真实与虚构的边界,将家庭矛盾、成长叛逆、校园冲突和对陌生世界的看法糅在一起,成就了仲意在远行过程中的成长与顿悟,以及陆仲意的命运。
  • 崩坏:起源

    崩坏:起源

    【正统末世文,一部微观的成长史,一部宏观的兴亡史】【非套路,很黑,玻璃心慎入】这是最好的时代,这是最坏的时代。这是信仰的时代,这是怀疑的时代。这是希望之春,这是绝望之冬。人们正在直登天堂,人们正在直下地狱。1.669753858(此群热闹,喜欢聊天的进)2.463481546(此群全员禁言,不说话的进)
  • 我在异界叠魔法

    我在异界叠魔法

    什么?!EZ的Q技能带了小法的被动?!主宰龙的儿子是弟弟?!反曲之弓是神器?!主角爱上了自己的姐姐(当然不是亲姐姐啦)?!……巧合?运气?实力?热血?……em....我已经说不下去了……欢迎进群:635698232
  • 历史的拐点:改变中国历史的偶然事件

    历史的拐点:改变中国历史的偶然事件

    曾经的历史,包含了无数的可能,某一历史事实,只是在众多可能中实现了的一种可能。而在实现与未实现之间,有一个拐点,它充当着很有可能改写历史的重任。中国历史上有许多这样的拐点:或是一个默默无闻的小人物改变了历史的进程,或是一件不起眼的小事影响了后来的历史。历史已潜藏的必然变化,终于因为一些偶然因素的介入而赫然凸现出来了。就让我们在这些拐点之处,体会历史变化的魅力吧!
  • 孤独的两面

    孤独的两面

    一个平凡微胖女孩因事事不顺在生活和学习中挣扎,患得抑郁症和双重人格等精神疾病。学校来了一个外地转学生无意中看见她第二人格的样子心生好奇,总围在她身边想和她交朋友。另一个学校外面奶茶店的店主被女孩以为的新店员因实习到店工作,女孩喜欢喝奶茶常光顾店里,他也就时常关注着女孩。微胖女孩的生活从下半个高中开始改变,她同时也拼命努力改造自己。只有自己变得优秀,才配得上更优秀的人。
  • 高冷国师无良妻

    高冷国师无良妻

    心里一万头草泥马从苏素心里呼啸而过,这是什么节奏?随随便便摔一下也能穿越,她要不要去买彩票?穿越后的小日子嘛……凑合凑合勉勉强强吧,就是渣爹不亲,后娘心狠,渣妹作死,苏素心疼原主一秒钟。其实这些都是次要的。最主要的是她好像没有招惹这个男人吧,这也就算了,这个在甩都甩不下去的男人是谁?说好的高冷呢?是不是她穿越的方式不太对?情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 乘风交叶

    乘风交叶

    “呜…呜…呜…,我死得好冤呀,为什么死得冤,因为我是睡死的,为什么会睡死,因为我爱睡懒觉,为什么你不死,你死了我就可以转生了。呜…呜…呜…,我死得好冤呀…”凌晨5点在一阵诡异的嘀咕声中我睁开双眼。
  • 玉米玫瑰

    玉米玫瑰

    发现新事物新感觉是好的,似乎觉得在旧的事情上又有了一点新的意思更是深厚的甜蜜。
  • 每天学点成功学

    每天学点成功学

    《每天学点成功学全集》是一部给渴望成功的人指点迷津的书。《每天学点成功学全集》没有激情澎湃的语言,没有空洞无力的说教,只有朴实无华的文字和生动翔实的例证。翻开《每天学点成功学全集》,你将知道怎样离成功更近一步,最后到达成功的彼岸。《每天学点成功学全集》以平实的文字和生动的语言,从认知成功、培养心态、注重细节、及时行动以及把握机遇几个方面人手,告诉你如何树立成功的目标,如何让自己拥有成功者的心态以及如何面对成功路上的挫折。