Count Alexis

CHAPTER FOUR

The Count's carriage is at the door and we are soon on the way to his villa, which is situated near Poissy. It is a pretty, modern, cheerful place with gardens on three sides, the other side sloping gently to the Seine, wooded, with narrow paths through it to the river.

The sun is setting and it is one of those beautiful autumn days that remind one rather of spring than the commencement of winter.

A butler does the honours of the house and if there are any other servants they do not appear.

There is a pretty parlour on the first floor, very richly decorated and furnished with sofas and armchairs and mirrors. I am much surprised at the style of the room, to the great amusement of the Count, who passes his arm through mine and leads me to the dining room.

The table is ready and a stroke of the bell brings the butler, to whom he gives orders for serving our meal.

After an excellent supper I stretched myself out in an armchair and the conversation begins.

The Count, who is a good talker, tells many personal adventures, which are all new and hail from all parts of the world. With a large fortune at his command, he has been able to satisfy every whim, and has travelled through America, Asia and part of Africa.

There is no country in Europe with which he is not perfectly familiar and he speaks several languages fluently; in fact he is a charming fellow.

"I had just been travelling in Switzerland," began the Count in his now familiar and well modulated voice, "and I had enjoyed the trip so much that I was tempted to extend my travels further south. I visited all the principal cities in Italy, and the occasion presenting itself to make the trip from Naples to Marseilles with an English family, I accepted the invitation with pleasure, and we set sail.

"For four days the vessel glided smoothly on the Mediterranean and I was almost sorry at last when we arrived at our destination.

"During the trip I had made the conquest of the younger of the girls, who had proposed the most embarrassing things to me: to elope with her or to marry her on her arrival at Marseilles. I got out of the difficulty by promising to go to Manchester the following season, which of course I was careful not to do.

"After taking leave of the Anderson family and thanking them for their kind invitation to visit them in England, I was taken with a severe attack of spleen and hesitated between following the little Misswhich I thought would be ridiculous-and returning to Moscow.

"I do not know what notion possessed me to visit Algiers, which the French had just conquered, but I took passage on the best steamer of the line which was then beginning to run every fortnight.

"The first meal on board the vessel brought together all the passengers around a long dining table. During the first part of the meal I could not fail to see that my neighbour was doing his best to start a conversation with me, and I would have ignored his overtures longer had it been possible. But giving me a nudge on the arm, he said:

"'This is excellent roast beef, sir, just what we have at home!' "I turned, and for the first time saw his features. He had a good natured, big round face- simplicity itself-was about forty years of age, and showed that he belonged to the class of well-to-do merchants.

"'Yes, sir, an excellent roast,' I answered at last.

"'You are doubtless going to Algiers on business, like myself,' he continued.

"'No,' I replied, 'I am going on a pleasure trip.' "'On a pleasure trip!' cried the good man in amazement.

"'Certainly, to see the country, hunt, kill time. I cannot kill anything else.' "'You are a Parisian,' said he with the air of a man who thinks that only a Parisian could conceive such an extravagant idea.

"'No, I am a Russian, from Moscow,' I answered.

"'And I am from Carpentras,' he returned proudly. 'I am going to Algiers on business and I am taking my wife with me. The poor little thing would not be separated from me, so I took her along. We have only been married for six months, he added confidentially with another nudge as he laughed his great big laugh.

"I was undecided whether to continue my conversation with him or to go and take a stroll on the deck, but my companion was a regular sticking plaster.

"Once on deck he talked loud enough to be heard a mile away. I was obliged to listen to the history of his fortune and count it over with him several times.

"His name was Theodore Paillard. At about eleven that evening, we retired to our cabins. My cabin was next to his and before I went to sleep, I heard him relating to his wife a lot of things about me of which I was totally ignorant but which he found in his fertile Southern imagination. I then heard Madame Paillard tell him to stop, that she was sleepy, but he would not be quiet, he wanted it, he said… he had not had it for three days.

"She said: 'No, it is not convenient in this little box.' I then heard her scold him. "'You are too big, Theodore. I assure you that you hurt me.

Then you are so heavy, you smother me. Let me put it in myself, you are so awkward. Now go ahead, easy. Oh… I don't feel anything. Get it for yourself and be quick about it. Don't pinch me like that, you hurt me, I tell you! How long you are… You have been drinking, I am certain.' "Then all was silent for a moment until Madame Paillard's voice rose once more, but this time in anger.

"'You are always the same, you satisfy yourself and leave me full of your stuff. You are selfish! I have really only had it once since we are married. Ah, now you are going to sleep and I must get up and wash.' "'My dear, I am very tired. I promise you that I will give it to you in the morning,' replied he in a pitiful tone. Then I heard the noise of a syringe. Theodore was snoring like a satiated beast. I dreamed all night of Madame Paillard and when I awoke during the night I got to wondering whether she was pretty, or if she were only passable! One is easily satisfied on board ship.

"Early the next morning I was on deck. I was not alone, however; a young woman was walking up and down, stamping her tiny feet from time to time to warm them.

"When she turned I was literally dazzled. An Andalusian beauty with the delicate features of a Princess. This beautiful lady had a superb skin and large black eyes as soft as velvet; she was, moreover, a blonde.

I never saw a more beautiful woman in my life. She passed me, smiling, and apparently wholly ignorant of her beauty, which added to it an irresistible charm. I was stunned, fascinated!

"When she turned to walk back I was still in the same spot. I could not lift my eyes from her. All at once a familiar voice fell disagreeably on my ear. It was that of the man from Carpentras, Paillard, whom I was going to send to the devil, when the beautiful lady suddenly took his arm and said coaxingly:

"'Theodore, please walk with me, I am so cold.' "Was this Madame Paillard, then; my head was in a whirl.

"'Come, Virginia, let me introduce you to my friend from Moscow,' he cried in his big voice.

"One must have been very deaf not to have heard him, and advancing towards the ill-assorted couple, I saluted the young woman in my best possible style.

"She received me most gracefully, and turning to her husband, reproached him for not giving my name. I presented my card to her and as she found my name hard to pronounce, she said:

"'I will call you Mr. Alexis, if you will allow me.' "We then all three walked the deck for a while, talking and chatting.

Theodore was still looking at my card, trying to make out my name.

The breakfast bell was a welcome sound as the sea air had given me a ravenous appetite.

"When Madame Paillard was relieved of her wrap, I perceived a full bust that made her tight dress look tighter still. She was twice as pretty, and many curious thoughts rushed through my brain.

"I could scarcely eat. On the second day I became more intimate with the lady and on the third, as we were nearing the Balearic Islands, the sea became quite rough, so she remained in her berth.

"The exuberant nature of Theodore needed more space and air; he could not live closeted in these cabins, he said.

"He came to me to explain the situation and asked me to go down to reassure his young wife, who was terribly afraid of the rolling and tossing of the ship. Lying on a little sofa in the cabin, she looked lovely in her negligee. She got up to meet me and I could see her firm bosoms, entirely without support, like two soft spheres, shaking with every movement.

"We talked of a thousand different things and little by little our conversation turned on burning grounds. She told me that she had come to marry Mr. Paillard who had been so kind to her mother! She said this with a sigh, and I felt a rush of desire go through me.

"I could see under her thin dress, and between that dress and her flesh there was a chemise. Attracted to her by an irresistible force, I drew nearer, and as I did so, I had an intense desire to feel that woman's flesh against my own. I could not tell you what I talked about and very likely she did not hear a word.

"Suddenly we seized one another by the shoulders and our mouths formed one, our lips were glued together, my eyes plunged into her and we drank without reserve of the voluptuous bliss of love, that fiery passion beyond compare. There seemed to be a communicative excitement in the very feel of her bare skin, which intoxicated me.

"We would certainly have been surprised by the husband had it not been for his incorrigible habit of loud talking.

"He found me standing by the door. He had not come to remain, he said, but only wanted to see how Virginia was, and finding that she looked well (I should think she would, under the circumstances) he tapped her on either cheek and forced me to sit down on the edge of the bed. He seemed quite delighted to find me so obliging, the poor man. Pshaw! It was his own fault. Why did he want to take advantage of the gratitude of this poor young girl. She was really to be pitied.

"Once more alone, we did not know how to resume the interrupted conversation. Our eyes, however, spoke for us. I went back to my seat at her side and her hands were soon between mine.

"I pressed her voluptuous bosoms with both my hands and carried the license so far as to unbutton her dress and kiss them.

"'Virginia,' I said, 'let me kiss those treasures. Let me admire this skin, so soft and white!' and I held up one bosom which filled both my hands.

"The little pink tip, hidden at first in the flesh of the globes, all at once appeared triumphant, I seized it between my lips, then between my teeth and sucked and bit it. I then sought the vermilion mouth of my beauty; her moist lips were trembling, they seemed to invade mine, and when my tongue entered her mouth, I thought she was going into spasms.

"Her whole body quivered, she was almost delirious. What would you have done in my place, with a tool as stiff as an iron bar in your trousers? I carefully raised her dress and as I supposed, there was only a long linen chemise to defend her virtue.

"The obstacle was soon removed and as her legs were parted, it was an easy task to introduce my prick and penetrate into the grotto of love. It was as narrow as that of a maidenhead. She felt a slight pain when I pressed further in but feeling my stiff prick in her tiny, moss covered bower, she became furiously agitated and seizing me by the neck, would have smothered me between her large bosoms, had I not freed myself.

"To maintain my position in this retreat, I was obliged to pass my hand beneath her bottom and moderate the hysterical leaps she made, due to a desire so long repressed.

"I now slipped my tongue between her teeth and ran my weapon of war up and down along her little furrow. She suddenly seemed to quiet down and enjoy calmly my amorous embraces.

"Nothing could indicate that she had attained the supreme point of bliss when I was about to spurt my provision of sperm into her retreat, except a slight shudder, followed by complete exhaustion.

"I left her undisturbed for a few minutes while I admired her magnificent thighs, her superb body, so round and firm, and her little pussy of hair like that of a child of sixteen. I proceeded then to wash her, remembering the reproaches she had addressed to her husband the night before.

"The contact of the cold water brought her to her senses. She opened her eyes in astonishment, until she remembered all, and then, jumping down, she threw her arms around my neck and pressed her lips passionately to mine.

"The same scene was renewed the following day amid long talks. She regretted the separation which must come at our landing and it also worried me, for I really hungered after the woman, I had not possessed her enough. I promised to accompany her everywhere but when she thought of how she would be obliged to submit to her husband whom she did not love, burning tears would roll down her cheeks. I was kissing them away gently one day when an idea struck me, and I resolved to communicate it to her and convince her of the success of my scheme whereby we would not be separated on landing.

"I communicated to Virginia my idea whereby we could continue our relationship but she refused to listen at first. The more she refused, the more feasible it seemed to me and I insisted. At last she laughed heartily and was ready to put it into execution. I explained the intrigue to her in every detail.

"Soon after our arrival she was to appear unhappy. Theodore was to find her always gloomy and two days before the departure of the steamer she was to propose returning to France.

"He, stingy, and going to Algiers for the purpose of making money, would not think of consenting to go back with her, and would not allow her to return alone. I would advise him to let her go alone, and the journey being short, the Captain and stewardess would take good care of her.

"By degrees he would become accustomed to the idea, then I would whisper in his ear that without his wife, he could take advantage of the innumerable chances which were never wanting here. Ah, if he should only find a Moorish beauty! One of those ideal women which exist in novels at home, but which are here in flesh and blood.

"I was certain of the success of the scheme. She was to go on board of the steamer, excuse herself a few minutes and go into a cabin where she would find a Moorish costume which I would provide for her.

When the first bell rang for the departure, she was to go back on land and leave the rest to me.

"'But you see, Alexis, the thing is impossible! When I go on land I will find my husband with you. He will accost me and then what language will I speak? I only speak French as it is, and no other language but this and Spanish.' "This remark disconcerted me for a moment but I soon found a solution.

At a pinch we might speak French; there would be nothing extraordinary in a Moorish woman speaking French, but we would have less liberty. He might recognize the voice and a familiar expression might spoil the whole game.

"However, I remembered that when at college in France, the pupils had a way of conversing by adding a termination to each monosyllable, article, etc., being careful to make it accord in sound with the words used. You finally got an outlandish jargon, which no one could understand who did not possess the key.

"Madame Paillard was quite sure that her husband, who was somewhat of a simpleton anyway, would not understand such a language. So everything was settled.

"The young woman, in ten minutes understood the whole system and I left her, recommending that she practice speaking in this manner when alone, feeling that in two or three days she would speak it with facility.

"A few days after our arrival in Algiers, according to program, Madame Paillard became very gloomy; her husband seemed quite uneasy and one day when I told her that a steamer sailed within fortyeight hours, she declared to Theodore that she wanted to return to France. She was dying with ennui, she said.

"Everything happened as we had foreseen. I became really eloquent in the cause and Paillard decided to let her return alone. I arranged everything with the Captain and Stewardess. Madame Paillard's trunks were to remain in Marseilles until further orders.

"We accompanied her to the steamer and at the last moment, the husband would go with her, but the magic words 'Moorish Beauty,' whispered in his ear, decided him to remain. The young woman excused herself and disappeared down the companion way, smothering her laughter.

"At the first signal for departure, Theodore wished to rush down and kiss her once more good-bye but at that instant a woman, heavily veiled, showing her two handsome eyes, passed by as light as a butterfly and brushing by our friend on the way, she gave him a burning glance.

"'There is a Moorish woman!' I said hurriedly, 'come do not let us lose this chance, it is a rare one, I assure you.' "He instantly forgot wife and all, and trotted breathlessly after the woman who was walking a few steps ahead of him. He overtook the beauty and was talking to her when I joined them but, of course, she did not understand a word of French. 'She does not understand French, Mr. Alexis,' said he in such pitiful tones that I could not help bursting out laughing.

"'Do not distress yourself,' I said, 'I understand her language and will talk to her,' and there I was, chattering away with the Moorish woman in the language I had taught her in ten minutes.

"I was obliged to translate M. Paillard's propositions, which were businesslike, and I made him understand that being in a foreign country, under no consideration whatever to attempt to raise the woman's veil for that meant instant death.

"He promised faithfully not to try the experiment and I felt no more uneasiness on that score.

"I had rented a little villa about five minutes walk from the city, surrounded by beautiful gardens. I explained once more to Mr. Paillard that Moorish women never uncovered their faces; that they always eat and dress alone. To seek to uncover their face is a crime. He was easily convinced.

"'Do you think I could sleep with her?' he asked eagerly.

"'Certainly! Nothing easier!' I answered. 'You will certainly succeed on that point.' "Everything passed without mishap. I talked all day to the young woman (Madame Paillard), and when it was time to retire at night, she hung on my arm and gave Theodore to understand that she would prefer spending the first night at least with me.

"Theodore retired to the room next to ours and was soon snoring the snore of the just. Left alone, I seized the young woman in my arms.

"She was lovely in her somewhat original costume. I helped her to undress and for fear of a surprise, we concluded she had best sleep with the veil.

"The night was warm and I persuaded her to sleep naked. I felt a foolish desire to view her charms, and took off her chemise in spite of her remonstrances.

"She was a mixture of strength and weakness; her neck was slender and I have already spoken of her handsome bosom. Her luxuriant bottom was enough to make the Colonel of the Tenth Cuirassiers jealous, as they say in Russia.

"I did not know what to handle first; I went from her cunt to these two beautiful globes, which stood out as firm as marble. I felt like eating her up and when I put my face between her admirable thighs, she held my head tight enough to smash it.

"I took her beautiful body in my arms and laid her on the bed; then, placing myself over her, I began to explore her sweet little cunny with my tongue. My prick was placed just above her face and in her excitement she took hold of it and rolled it with her hands. My tongue was shooting a thousand strokes into her vagina and she would lift up her body in her passion, then give a sudden pressure of her legs on my head which nearly sent me wild.

"The very tip of my prick was burning with ardent fire. I put it into her mouth. Oh, how she sucked it! Her tongue gave me an indescribable sensation; my ardour became double and I sucked and bit the lips of her little cunny in a perfect storm of passion.

"Feeling that I was about to spend in her mouth, I withdrew my prick and pushed it between her beautiful bosoms, telling her to press them against my prick as I tickled her two little strawberries.

"This sensation, added to the sensuous lingering of my tongue in her voluptuous vulva, soon threw her into the wildest spasms of delight, and with true cries of delirious joy, she inundated my tongue with her delightful fluid.

"Her cries had awakened Theodore and suddenly I heard him jump from his bed to the floor.

"I had neglected to lock the door and he walked in without further ceremony. Fortunately the light was out and we had time to prepare ourselves. He said his prick was in such a state of erection that he absolutely must have the Moorish woman. What was to be done?

"She did not want him in the least, and he was bound to be satisfied. I made him believe that it was bad form to enter into the vagina of a Moorish woman at the first meeting and that he must content himself with rubbing his prick between the cheeks of her bottom; that she would agree to it, I guaranteed.

"He was so excited that his teeth chattered and he agreed to accept anything that we proposed.

"'Tell him to make haste,' said the young woman.

"'You must move your arse so as to hasten matters,' I suggested.

"'I will,' answered the poor boob.

"He was soon astride her bottom and placing his immense prick between the two hillocks, he began to rub and she to wriggle.

Sometimes she raised herself and rubbed her behind against his prick so that he touched her cunt.

"'It is strange but this backside reminds me of my wife's,' he would say almost out of breath.

"'Do not talk that way!' I said boldly.

"He soon began puffing like a porpoise and lay down on the young woman's bottom.

"She complained that he was smothering her and I was obliged to raise him up and tell him to be more lively in his movements. She rubbed him a little while longer and when finally a jet of sperm inundated her back, she gave a sigh of relief, which caused him to ask her if she had spent.

"'Oh, yes, yes,' she replied, and he went away quite satisfied to resume his snoring. I washed-her, poor little thing, and fatigued with such hard work, she fell asleep.

"Ever after that I locked the door carefully.

"This went on for a month and only once during that time was he allowed to even rub his cock between the buttocks of his wife. He was far from suspecting her of being his own wife and everything went well with one exception.

"Then it happened in broad daylight when he could not possibly contain himself any longer. I unfastened the full, Turkish trousers of the beauty and held her head between my legs. She took advantage of this to suck me gently while her husband agitated his prick between the cheeks of her bottom.

"This time it rather amused her. She did not pretend to help him and he kept asking me to tell her to move-her arse more. He had to spend, however, and I advised him to catch the sperm in his handkerchief. I did not care to receive the charge.

"To tell you of the delightful nights I spent with that lovely woman during that month would take me a very long time and become monotonous, so I will end by saying that all went well.

"It did not surprise Paillard that I should take the beautiful woman to France with me. On arriving at Marseilles, I pretended to leave her at the Hotel until she could be dressed as other women dress in Europe, and she started at once for Carpentras; her mother was to say that she had spent a month with her and everything would be settled all right.

"I parted with her reluctantly but she promised to see me again some day. I detained her husband a day in Marseilles in order to give her time to have everything settled.

"Thus ends my story.

"Ah, you want a conclusion; well, here it is!

"After leaving the husband at the station, I started for Paris where I remained some months and as I was about to leave the city, I received a letter from Theodore, announcing the birth of a boy whom he had named Alexis, with the full consent of his wife.

"Dear old Paillard-this act of courtesy was really due to me."

The Count had been very animated as he related this adventure, but now he became grave and melancholy and seemed pensive, shaking his head as though to cast off some thought.

"My dear friend, thrown as I have been for the past fifteen years amid pleasure, with no time to study the exact moment for my conquest, I have certainly committed acts which sober people might call indelicate.

"If indeed I have sometimes gone too far in my mad career, if I have brought grief to some hearts and pain to some young slits, at least once in my life I have had scruples.

"Let me confide this strange adventure to you; it will be a relief to me.

You have made a study of mankind and I feel certain that you will not laugh at me but will understand my feelings in the matter."