登陆注册
4606300000881

第881章

"Yes, and without being as comfortable as you I spend four times as much. You must know that I live in London like a stranger. I never dine at my own house. I wonder at your dining alone."

"I can't speak English. I like soup and good wine, and that is enough to keep me from your taverns."

"I expect so, with your French tastes."

"You will confess that they are not bad tastes."

"You are right, for, good Englishman as I am, I get on very well in Paris."

He burst out laughing when I told him how I had dispatched a score of wenches at the "Staven Tavern," and that my disappointment was due to him.

"I did not tell you what names to send for, and I was wrong."

"Yes, you ought to have told me."

"But even if I did they wouldn't have come, for they are not at the orders of the procurers. If you will promise to pay them as I do, I

will give you some tickets which will make them come."

"Can I have them here?"

"Just as you like."

"That will be most convenient for me. Write out the tickets and let them know French if you can."

"That's the difficulty; the prettiest only speak English."

"Never mind, we shall understand each other well enough for the purpose I dare say."

He wrote several tickets for four and six guineas each; but one was marked twelve guineas.

"She is doubly pretty, is she?" said I.

"Not exactly, but she has cuckolded a duke of Great Britain who keeps her, and only uses her once or twice a month."

"Would you do me the honour of testing the skill of my cook?"

"Certainly, but I can't make an appointment."

"And supposing I am out."

"I'll go to the tavern."

Having nothing better to do I sent Jarbe to one of the four-guinea wenches, telling him to advise her that she would dine with me. She came. She did not attract me sufficiently to make me attempt more than some slight toying. She went away well pleased with her four guineas, which she had done nothing to earn. Another wench, also at four guineas, supped with me the following evening. She had been very pretty, and, indeed, was so still, but she was too melancholy and quiet for my taste, and I could not makeup my mind to tell her to undress.

The third day, not feeling inclined to try another ticket, I went to Covent Garden, and on meeting an attractive young person I accosted her in French, and asked her if she would sup with me.

"How much will you give me at dessert?"

"Three guineas."

"Come along."

After the play I ordered a good supper for two, and she displayed an appetite after mine own heart. When we had supped I asked for her name and address, and I was astonished to find that she was one of the girls whom Lord Pembroke had assessed at six guineas. I

concluded that it was best to do one's own business, or, at any rate, not to employ noblemen as agents. As to the other tickets, they procured me but little pleasure. The twelve-guinea one, which I had reserved for the last, as a choice morsel, pleased me the least of all, and I did not care to cuckold the noble duke who kept her.

Lord Pembroke was young, handsome, rich, and full of wit. I went to see him one day, and found him just getting out of bed. He said he would walk with me and told his valet to shave him.

"But," said I, "there's not a trace of beard on your face."

"There never is," said he, "I get myself shaved three times a day."

"Three times?"

"Yes, when I change my shirt I wash my hands; when I wash my hands I

have to wash my face, and the proper way to wash a man's face is with a razor."

"When do you make these three ablutions?"

"When I get up, when I dress for dinner, and when I go to bed, for I

should not like the woman who is sleeping with me to feel my beard."

We had a short walk together, and then I left him as I had some writing to do. As we parted, he asked me if I dined at home. I

replied in the affirmative, and foreseeing that he intended dining with me I warned my cook to serve us well, though I did not let him know that I expected a nobleman to dinner. Vanity has more than one string to its bow.

I had scarcely got home when Madame Binetti came in, and said that if she were not in the way, she would be glad to dine with me. I gave her a warm welcome, and she said I was really doing her a great service, as her husband would suffer the torments of hell in trying to find out with whom she had dined.

This woman still pleased me; and though she was thirty-five, nobody would have taken her for more than twenty-five. Her appearance was in every way pleasing. Her lips were of the hue of the rose, disclosing two exquisite rows of teeth. A fine complexion, splendid eyes, and a forehead where Innocence might have been well enthroned, all this made an exquisite picture. If you add to this, that her breast was of the rarest proportions, you will understand that more fastidious tastes than mine would have been satisfied with her.

She had not been in my house for half an hour when Lord Pembroke came in. They both uttered an exclamation, and the nobleman told me that he had been in love with her for the last six months; that he had written ardent letters to her of which she had taken no notice.

"I never would have anything to do with him," said she, "because he is the greatest profligate in all England; and it's a pity," she added, "because he is a kindhearted nobleman."

This explanation was followed by a score of kisses, and I saw that they were agreed.

We had a choice dinner in the French style, and Lord Pembroke swore he had not eaten so good a dinner for the last year.

"I am sorry for you," he said, "when I think of you being alone every day."

Madame Binetti was as much a gourmet as the Englishman, and when we rose from table we felt inclined to pass from the worship of Comus to that of Venus; but the lady was too experienced to give the Englishman anything more than a few trifling kisses.

I busied myself in turning over the leaves of some books I had bought the day before, and left them to talk together to their heart's content; but to prevent their asking me to give them another dinner I

said that I hoped chance would bring about such another meeting on another occasion.

同类推荐
  • 诸佛集会陀罗尼经

    诸佛集会陀罗尼经

    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。
  • 伯乐相马经

    伯乐相马经

    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。
  • Agamemnon

    Agamemnon

    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。
  • 上清众真教戒德行经

    上清众真教戒德行经

    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。
  • 示儿长语

    示儿长语

    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
  • 护肤小窍门

    护肤小窍门

    三类肌肤的粗大毛孔应对方案毛孔粗大的问题困扰着很多人,原本光洁的肌肤因为显眼的毛孔而破坏了整体的美感。
  • 器炼洪荒

    器炼洪荒

    天武世界修行之风颇盛,铸器师地位尊崇,丹道传承几乎断绝。欧治,炼器世家欧家少爷,幼时父亲战死,与母亲相依为命,天赋极差,被骂“废物”,饱受欺凌……他愤怒不屈,手指苍天,“命若天定,我就破了这个天!”天降一道福祸霹雳,竟令他武脉贯通……一篇修炼灵魂法诀,一份丹道传承,他能否凭此屹立于大陆强者之林,问鼎诸天?
  • 中国树

    中国树

    本文收录了杨如风的:中国情结、中国树、孤独的灵魂、石头、孤独的猫头鹰等诗。
  • 意千宠

    意千宠

    父亲是崩坏版陈世美,继母是典型白莲花。叶浔一生都在和两个人渣较劲,伤人伤己。重新活过,躲过算计,沿途风景流光溢彩。前世无言守候的有情人,此生得以常相伴。不曾奢望的千般宠溺万般深情,尽在手中。
  • 鲁滨逊漂流记

    鲁滨逊漂流记

    《鲁滨逊漂流记》通过惊险曲折的故事情节描写了航海家鲁滨逊的冒险历程。鲁滨逊出生在一个富有的商人家庭,从小并没有多大的志向,只是在一次朋友唆使的海上旅行后就爱上了航海。他多次偷偷地离家出走,经历了海盗、可怕的热带风暴等磨难,终于又在一次长途的海上旅行中遇到了海难。同行的水手、乘客全部遇难,唯有鲁滨逊幸存,只身漂流到一个荒无人烟的孤岛上。在荒岛上,他自己种植粮食,驯养野生动物,自制面包机、陶瓷工具,制造独木舟。最后,鲁滨逊凭借惊人的毅力和胆识,顽强的自我保护能力,丰富的生活经验,超人的智慧和创造精神,在岛上生活28年后,终于奇迹般地回到阔别了35年的故乡英国。
  • 傲妃选夫

    傲妃选夫

    她,心如尘,黑白两道闻风丧胆的杀手‘魅影’,果断狠绝,却抵不过心爱之人的算计被炸得灰飞烟灭。她,安平燕,镇国将军之嫡女,东朝国寒王之正妃,骄横跋扈,陷害寒王心仪之怀孕侧妃落水从此香消玉殒。当现代杀手心如尘意外重生古代寒王妃,那又将如何?她傲然怒天:绝情绝爱,我命由我不由天!片段一:“签字!”心如尘看着冷酷阴沉的寒王,丝毫不在意书房中惊鹜好奇的众人,傲然无畏。“休书?”寒王浑身冷冽,握紧拳头重重向书桌拍去,书桌瞬间坍塌,咬牙切齿:“你以为你逃得出本王的手掌心么?”拿起另一份休书,心如尘衣袖一甩,头也不回绝然离开。片段二:“活?死?”心如尘看着眼前伤痕累累,气若游丝的黑衣男子,无动于衷。“活!”男子寒冷如冰,倔强屹立:“我命由你!你生,我生;你死,我死!”纵身飞跃,心如尘得一誓死追随者。片段三:“酬劳!”心如尘看着淡雅出尘的绝色男子,平静无波。“卖身?”谪仙男子玉手一挥,银票顿时化为份末,冷声自嘲:“我的清白就值这点?”扔下一张万两银票,心如尘嗤之以鼻。片段四:“战?合?”心如尘看着邪魅腹黑的邻国太子,谌若战神。“战!”邻国太子狂妄嚣张,不可一世:“你做我女人!”利剑出鞘,心如尘血洗邻国。片段五:。。。。。傲妃现,天下乱,英雄美人,谁与争锋?推荐奈奈的新文:《无心妃》推荐奈奈的完结文:《邪女惑心》《冷情王爷御八夫》《落怀翘妻》【好友文文链接】(穿越时空之女王陛下)(霸妻坐拥之夫)(黑腹庶女)(猎夫)女主:心如尘(安平燕)由亲亲妖娆月魔领养;美男一:夜无心(血冥宫主)由亲亲月儿领养;美男二:康文骥(碧泉山庄庄主)由亲亲刘千绮领养;美男三:江逸枫(武林盟主)由亲亲清澈明醒领养;美男四:东方霖(东朝国太子)由亲亲欣ran林辉琪同养;美男五:华清(绝色神医)由亲亲朴小冉领养;美男六:西陵凯泽(西夏国太子)由亲亲momolong领养;美男七:阎离尧(武林世家当家)由亲亲greenshine123领养;美男八:张含冰(御林军首领)由亲亲浅唱你的好领养;美男九:北门君浩(北夕国太子)美男十:
  • 无空主宰

    无空主宰

    不出则已,一出惊天!一名青年凭空出世,他重情重义!不屈不饶!杀伐果断!所向披靡!主宰天地!傲世古今!
  • 诡秘之主

    诡秘之主

    蒸汽与机械的浪潮中,谁能触及非凡?历史和黑暗的迷雾里,又是谁在耳语?我从诡秘中醒来,睁眼看见这个世界:枪械,大炮,巨舰,飞空艇,差分机;魔药,占卜,诅咒,倒吊人,封印物……光明依旧照耀,神秘从未远离,这是一段“愚者”的传说。
  • 捡个丫鬟非常弱

    捡个丫鬟非常弱

    长的不绝美,身份不特殊,我认了米有爹娘疼,老是被虐待,我认了可是…为毛我是从棺材里爬出来的?!…从棺材里爬出来的也就算了…为毛还遇上群战?!“你们继续…”看着眼前血腥的画面,某人讪讪的爬回棺材。————————这是一个漂亮的神医美人捡到了一个贰货穿越丫鬟的故事。这个丫鬟.长相很弱!?这个丫鬟.身手很弱!?这个丫鬟.脑子很弱!?到底弱不弱!谁捡谁知道!
  • The Good Soldier

    The Good Soldier

    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。