The loves of a musical student

little doubt to render his ability equal to his desire, he would gladly repair the injury by making her his wife; he entreated her to consider the utter impossibility of recalling what had taken place and the folly of giving way to unavailing grief-by vows like these he at length succeeded in soothing the sorrows of the ruined fair one and finally, with her own consent, the intimacy was renewed.

And now all sense of shame, fear or anger was lost in the pleasures of the moment and as the young lord lay luxuriously between the legs of the little fifteen-year-old lady's maid, her innately passionate temperament came into play, and stripping herself entirely naked she strove by every means in her power to assist the passage of his long and aristocratically slender prickle as it pushed its delighted way into the rosy "garden" and passed throbbing to the innermost recesses of her little young body.

Notwithstanding his every argument to the contrary, enforced by many burning references to the pleasures of their late encounter, she determined to leave the house without delay; and as shame prevented her from meeting any member of the family, she penned a letter to her mistress, giving as a reason for her sudden departure the illness of her father; and before the family returned she had removed to apartments taken for her by her seducer, who continued his visits of seeming affection for nearly six months, when after remaining in anxious expectations for three tedious days she received a letter containing a bank note for one hundred pounds and a statement that, having been compelled, in compliance with the wishes of his mother, to select the hand of a young lady, he had availed himself of the present method of bidding her an eternal farewell, advising her with the enclosed sum to endeavour to get into some way of business as he could not, consistently with honour to his intended bride, continue an intimacy of such a nature as that which had so long existed between them.

It was a long time before she recovered from the shock which this unfeeling letter inflicted, but when she did her first resolve was to remove immediately to less expensive lodgings, fully determined to lead a virtuous life and gain a living by honest industry. But a stranger, as she was, in the midst of a populous city like London, to whom could she apply? And even if successful in hearing of a situation, to whom could she refer for a character? She could not think of sending them to Lady C-, after quitting her service so abruptly.

Nothwithstanding the strictest economy her little capital was gradually diminishing, and to what could she have recourse when it was entirely exhausted? At length she determined upon writing her father, explaining to him without disguise her unfortunate situation and trusting to his parental feeling for pity and forgiveness. But how can I describe her grief and horror when upon inquiry she learned that her father had died suddenly and insolvent, the sale of his effects having been insufficient to satisfy his creditors.

She now felt herself entirely destitute, and after much consideration determined to apply at one of those establishments where they profess themselves both able and willing, for a trifling consideration, to procure situations for servants of every description; and should she be so fortunate as to hear of anything likely to suit her, be it ever so laborious, it was her resolve candidly and truly to relate to the master or mistress the story of her sufferings, trusting to their humanity to rescue her from destruction.

She accordingly waited upon the office keeper, who, upon the payment of half a crown, informed her that he believed he knew of a situation at that very moment which would exactly meet her wishes; her only employment, should she succeed in her application, would be to wait upon an elderly gentleman and his daughter; that she would in fact be considered as a member of the family, "and," he added with an arch look, "should you be lucky enough to please the old gent-who was once a schoolfellow of mine-it will be the making of you. And, by the by, I have no doubt but the mention of my name, which you are at perfect liberty to use, will be considered as a sufficient recommendation; in which case you may enter on your service immediately."

Thanking the friendly office keeper for his disinterested kindness, she received the direction and without further delay proceeded on her mission.

After walking for nearly an hour, she arrived at the house, and while her heart swelled high with hope knocked at the door, which was instantly opened by a middle-aged woman of rather forbidding aspect, her whole appearance bespeaking her to belong to that laborious class termed charwomen, who may at any time be hired for a day or longer, in the absence of a regular servant.

On inquiring for Miss B-she was answered in a strong Irish brogue,

"And is it the young mistress you're speaking of? Och! then, just be sitting there awhile and I'll be after bringing ye to the fore in a jiffy, me darlin'."

She ascended the stairs and shortly returning continued in the same strain.

"Ye'll jist mount them stairs, and ye'll see thecreature herself. Faith, and it's no bad quarters ye'll be getting, an ye can manage to palaver the mistress."

Delia, following the woman's direction, entered a neat drawing room and beheld a young lady of exquisite form seated on a sofa, engaged in poring over the contents of a volume she held in her hand; but as she raised her head at thesound of the opening door, what was Delia's surprise when her astonished eyes rested on the well-known features of one of her most intimate playfellows in infant days-the daughter of a poor cottager formerly in the employment of her late father!

She started a few paces back and exclaimed involuntarily, "Good God! is it possible? Do I really behold Rebecca T-?"

"Delia L-s!" cried the other as the book fell from her hands. "Heavens! how is it that I see you here? But tarry not a moment, fly from this hateful spot; for should the arch destroyer once behold those dazzling charms you are lost!"

And as Delia was about to speak, she placed her hand upon her mouth to prevent reply and continued: "Waste not the precious moments in useless inquiries, which now I cannot answer; in a few minutes he will be here-tell me only where you can be found and I will shortly pay you a visit."

Having obtained the necessary directions, she almost thrust the astonished Delia down stairs in her anxiety to see her once more safely in the street; this done, the door was quickly closed and Delia, pondering on the singular behaviour of her old acquaintance, was slowly and sorrowfully proceeding towards her humble lodgings; she had scarcely turned the corner of the street, however, when someone touched her shoulder; upon turning her head she beheld a most benign looking old gentleman, apparently between sixty and seventy years of age; he was very respectably attired in a suit of black, wore powder, and his general appearance was that of a clergyman of the established church.

He begged pardon for the liberty he had taken but begged to inquire if he was mistaken in his belief that she was the same person who had a minute before quitted the house, No. 29, in the next street. Upon her answering in the affirmative he informed her that he was the owner of the house, and having from some distance perceived her leaving it he had hastened to overtake her, and he now very politely begged she would inform him to what circumstance he was indebted for the intended honour of such a visit.

As she gazed upon his venerable countenance, so different in appearance from what her alarmed imagination had pictured from the few words which had fallen from Rebecca in alluding to him, she found it impossible to reconcile the idea of the reverend looking gentleman before her being the arch destroyer from whose sight her friend had appeared so very anxious to conceal her. She even began to suspect the motives of the latter and that she might have some secret object in view in thus preventing their meeting, so greatly was she interested by the respectful, nay, almost paternal, look with which he regarded her while speaking.

After truly stating to him the motive with which she had sought his house that morning (concealing only the singular recognition between herself and his reputed daughter), he expressed his regret that one so young and beautiful should be reduced to a state of servitude so much beneath her deserts; adding that it was quite evident nature had intended her for a very different sphere of life; for his own part, he was satisfied that she had seen better days and begged so earnestly that she would acquaint him with the story of her misfortunes that shame alone prevented her from fully gratifying his curiosity; again and again did he solicit her full confidence, urging, as a reason, that when he knew all it might probably be in his power to procure for her a situation more worthy of her acceptance than the humble one that she had that day applied for.

Delia at length permitted him to accompany her home, determined to hide nothing from so benevolent a man, but by a candid acknowledgment of her real situation endeavour to prove herself worthy of the generous friend whom-she was now fully persuadedHeaven had sent to her relief.

He listened with the greatest attention and absolutely shed tears as she related the cause and manner of her ruin. He called upon Heaven to pour forth its direst vengeance on the head of the cruel despoiler who could have the heart to abandon one so young, so innocent, and so lovely. Moved by his tears and the interest he appeared to take in her misfortunes, she endeavoured in her turn to soothe the violence of his emotions; and as he called her his dear suffering child, allowed him to take what he termed a fatherly salute; he now insisted on sending the landlady for some refreshment; and a cold fowl and ham, with two bottles of wine, were procured from a neighbouring tavern, of which, as he said, for the purpose of preventing her from thinking that he was actuated by any immoral motive, the landlady was invited to partake.

After upwards of two hours had been passed in cheerful conversation he rose to depart, begging that he might be allowed to repeat his visit on the following day, which being granted he took his leave, the landlady escorting him downstairs; but, to the surprise of Delia, half an hour elapsed ere he left the house; and it was evident that he had been, during the whole of that period, in earnest conversation with the gratified hostess, who returned to Delia with eyes beaming with delight.

"Well," she exclaimed, "here's a friend indeed! You may thank your lucky stars-he has desired me to let you want for nothing and has given me this five pound note to meet any present emergency; and this excess of feeling upon his part, he has just informed me with tears in his eyes, arises from the extraordinary likeness you bear to a dearly beloved daughter, of whom he was deprived by death some four years ago; so striking, he says, is the resemblance that he could almost imagine that Heaven had restored his lost child to bring peace and happiness once again to the heart of a bereaved father."

Early on the following morning she was visited by Rebecca, who, anxious to account for her apparent want of feeling towards the friend of her infancy, hastened to give the requisite explanation. It appeared that Mr. B. had first beheld her at the village school when she had scarcely entered into her fourteenth year; he was frequently in the habit of calling and questioning the children and evinced much satisfaction at their gradual improvement; he seemed more particularly struck with Rebecca and having at various times made her several trifling presents, she, as might be expected from a girl of such tender age, could not conceal the pleasure she derived whenever she saw him coming.

But how great was her astonishment, on one Sunday afternoon while sitting with her father in their humble cottage, to see Mr. B" accompanied by an elderly lady, crossing the little garden which fronted their abode.

"There, my dear," said he, addressing the lady as they entered, "there, my dear, this is my little favourite; what do you think of her? I hope you'll acknowledge that I have done her no more than justice in the description I have given."

The lady, whom he now introduced as his wife, replied with a smile,

"Well, indeed, if she be as good as she is pretty I should say you certainly have not. Come hither, child, what say you-should you like to quit the country to live with me in London?"

Rebecca curtsied, and frankly replied, "Yes, ma'am, if my father pleases."

Mr. B. then proceeded to explain: He had been greatly attracted towards Rebecca from the time he had first beheld her, in consequence of the extraordinary resemblance which she bore to an only daughter (this was, in fact, his usual mode of accounting for his singular attachments), and hearing of her father's extreme poverty he had spoken of his intentions to his wife, whom he had at last prevailed upon to accompany him in order that she might judge for herself; the result, he was happy to say, was perfectly satisfactory-and should it meet with his (the father's) approbation, she might prepare herself to accompany them to London in the following week, where she would be in every respect treated as their own child.

The old lady herself seconded her husband's desires and painted the advantages that the dear child would derive from the proposed arrangements in such glowing colours that the delighted parent, thinking that his daughter's fortune was made forever, hesitated not in giving his permission, in consequence of which Rebecca was soon installed in her new habitation as the adopted daughter of the wealthy Mr. and Mrs. B.

The young girl was at first delighted at a change so greatly for the better, but could not refrain from expressing her astonishment at the secluded manner in which Mrs. B. seemed to live. This, she was informed, was entirely owing to the bad state of her health and that it was enjoined by her medical adviser that she should confine herself as much as possible to her own apartment. Such being the case, Rebecca and her protector generally took their meals together; once in every day she was allowed to visit the invalid, with whom she stayed for about an hour; the old lady always received her with the greatest kindness and never failed at parting to impress upon her mind the importance of her doing all in her power to retain the affection of Mr.

B. by striving continually to please him and to study carefully all his little peculiarities. He, in the meantime, continued to behave towards her with the most devoted affection, and each evening upon the removal of the tea equipage he would endeavour to improve her in reading and writing; he would occasionally seek to divert her by reading to her some amusing story, which by degrees assumed a rather voluptuous character, so much so, indeed, that without knowing why she would feel her young cheeks glow with the blush of confusion as she listened to the amatory descriptions rather too vividly explicit. At other times he would sit gazing at her for several minutes exclaiming, as to himself, "How lovely, how very like!" Then, seizing her in his arms, he would seat her upon his knee and almost stifle her with kisses. One evening he, by accident, discovered that she had a small mole underneath her left breast. Wonderful similitude! so had his dear departed child; and this was a sufficient excuse for frequently uncovering her youthful bosom in order that he might kiss and finger the beloved spot which so strongly reminded him of his lost daughter.

But he was all a cheat. He had never been married-never had a child; the hypocritical old beldame who resided with him had been once a well-known procuress whom he paid to assist him in his nefarious practices, and by their united efforts too often fatally succeeded in their diabolical designs. Thus, in the present instance, he so artfully proceeded by imperceptible degrees to undermine the virtue of the artless Rebecca that ere she had become sensible of her danger she had nothing left to grant, or he to ask. Her innocence thus destroyed, she was easily persuaded to keep her father in ignorance of her fall. The vile assistant was rewarded and dismissed; and the degraded girl consented to be introduced to her neighbours as the daughter of the man who had so cruelly abused her confidence.

At this tender age (she had not yet completed her eighteenth year) had the once innocent girl consented to become a pander to the lusts of this hoary-headed miscreant, who having long been satiated with the charms of his young victim had repeatedly threatened to cast her forth upon the world if she refused to assist him in luring fresh victims to his frightful lair, and as she had no home save that of her betrayer, for shame and guilt would for ever prevent her from returning to her father, she determined to avoid the horrors of more general prostitution by reluctantly becoming his agent.

The office keeper was liberally rewarded for directing any young or beautiful girl to his house, where she was introduced to the supposed daughter: an appointment was then made with the intended victim and the rest may be conceived.

As Rebecca was entirely unacquainted with the misfortunes of Delia-and fearing that the innocent friend of her childhood was upon the brink of destruction-she, in the impulse of the moment, acted in the manner previously described.

Rebecca listened to Delia's history with the greatest astonishment and commiseration, but candidly advised her that having nothing to lose she could not do better under existing circumstances than endeavour to make the most of what fortune had thrown in her way. "If," said she,

"you can make up your mind to submit to the embraces of the old brute, you'll find him liberal enough, for his wealth is boundless and, after all, it is but the idea; for I can assure you," she added, laughingly,

"that with him a little coaxing goes a very great way; play your cards, therefore, as well as you can, and if you succeed in making him your dupe, why it's no more than he deserves. And so farewell; for should he come while I am here all would be destroyed." They embraced and parted.

On the afternoon Mr. B. arrived according to promise and remained with Delia until the evening was far advanced, during which time he did not venture on the most trifling liberty but contented himself with pressing her hand occasionally during the conversation and kissing her lips at parting; this conduct he pursued for more than a week, when grown somewhat bolder he would, in a gentle manner, force her to sit upon his knee, and as he pretended to discover some still greater resemblance to his (imaginary) daughter, make that a pretext for repeating his kisses more frequently and with greater fervour.

Delia having in the meantime seriously reflected on her present friendless situation, and seeing no other mode of escaping from a life of infamy, the bare contemplation of which filled her mind with horror, and secretly determined of two evils to choose the least and submit to the wishes of her antiquated admirer with the best possible grace.

When therefore upon one evening in particular she perceived by the increased sparkling of his eyes and the nervous trembling of his limbs that he had made up his mind to bring things to a crisis (with which intent he was, in his most insinuating manner, endeavouring to prevail on her to take an additional quantity of wine, while his own glass was frequently passed untouched), she resolved to humour his whim and accordingly assumed the greatest hilarity, laughing at his jokes and at intervals even returning his caresses, drinking freely of the wine which he continued to press upon her the more quickly as her excitement increased. This she found it absolutely necessary to do, in order to conceal the disgust she in reality experienced during the scene which it now became plain was to ensue that very evening. Her plan succeeded, her brain began to reel, her head sank upon his shoulder and in a state of unconsciousness he bore her to her chamber and quickly followed.

The day was dawning as she awoke to a full sense of her degradation and the tears she shed were neither feigned or hypothetical, although her tempter, believing that they flowed from a different cause, begged her to moderate her grief and be consoled. He pretended to regret the indiscretion he had been guilty of, which he declared would never have happened had not his nature been completely changed from the effects of the wine he had taken, and that his remorse was equal to her own. He then endeavoured to soothe her by the consideration of how much better it really was that the error had been committed with a man of years and experience like himself than with a vain young coxcomb, who having gratified his vanity at the expense of her peace would leave her in despair and wretchedness, while he, on the contrary, would never forsake her; his life should be passed in one continued endeavour to make her forget her sorrows, trusting to time and her own feelings for a repetition of the great reward that he had in the present instance so ungenerously wrested from her; his protestations were mingled with caresses and he ultimately succeeded not only in obtaining forgiveness for the past but in exhorting from her a promise that while she accepted from him the protection of a father, she would not, at all times, withhold from him the rights and privileges of a husband.

The result of this arrangement was her removal to comfortable apartments at Islington, for which he paid one guinea and a half per week; he generally saw her once a week, leaving her on the following morning with a sum of money more than sufficient to cover all her necessary expenses until his next visit. This intimacy had now continued for nearly two years, and such was her precise situation at the commencement of our acquaintance.

She assured me that she had but few friends, notwithstanding she had been so long away from home; in fact, with the exception of Rebecca, who had some months back left the house of her reputed father under the protection of a young ensign who had since forsaken her, she was on visiting terms with no one; and it was at the invitation of that young lady that she had attended the ball on the previous evening, and at her lodgings she had changed her dress, both going and returning.

Having finished her narrative, she continued with an affectionate smile, "And now, sir, you perceive that young as I am, I have experienced none of the joys, but an abundance of the bitterness, of love. It's true that for a time I certainly did admire the fine figure and external appearance of my first ravisher, but although forced from necessity to share his home and suffer his caresses, the memory of the unmanly advantage he had taken to deprive me of my innocence made him almost hateful to me. How little did I imagine two days ago that I was about to become myself a suitor; yet such is the fact, and I boldly confess that at the very moment when my delighted ears were charmed with the sweetness of your voice, my heart first felt the power of love and owned you for its master. Do not despise me for this folly; I own that I am quite unworthy and have, therefore, shown myself to you without disguise. Think of me as you will; for from this moment I am all your own."

And flinging her arms around my neck she pressed her open mouth to mine with such enduring fervency that I was, for a time, completely deprived of breath; and gently forcing myself from her embrace affected to treat the whole affair as one of commonplace compliment, so frequently adopted by females of a certain class; and as I believe few men are less prone to vanity than myself, I attributed her present conduct to the influence of the potent liquor we had been imbibing; I therefore laughingly thanked her for her good opinion of me, and glancing at the clock observed that as it was growing somewhat late; she must, therefore, excuse me for the present as I had to dress for the evening's concert; to which she answered, "No, no, indeed, we part not so; I have made up my mind that you shall at least take tea with me; a coach will in a few moments convey us to my residence and we can then adjourn to the concert together."

I now began to feel my situation anything but pleasant. I had promised to escort both Bessy and Emma to the very place where my beautiful plague now promised to accompany me; I therefore stammered out an excuse-that I was sorry I could not have the pleasure of her company upon that occasion as I had no power to introduce anyone without a ticket, all of which had been previously disposed of. Judge of my consternation when I found that for this contingency she had previously provided, as she exclaimed, producing a ticket from her bosom. "I saw the programme this morning, and not expecting the pleasure of meeting you purchased a ticket there and then; I would not miss the hearing of that charming serenade for ten times the amount."

What was to be done? I could never willingly give pain or disappointment to a female; how could I do so now- to one so lovely, and who thought so highly of me as she had professed to do. But then again, how to dispose of Bessy and her companion, who were doubtless even at that moment in momentary expectation of my arrival.

But as something must be done, and that quickly, "Well, my dear," said I, "I will just step to my lodgings which are close at hand, make a slight alteration in my dress, and return to you here."

But this, to my increased mortification, she would by no means listen to; she was determined to accompany me. In vain I told her that my landlady was a most particular person, and that I dared not think of taking a female there and subjecting her to insult. At length it was agreed that she should wait for me at the end of the street, from whence she could command a view of my door. "But mind," she cried as I left her (glancing at her watch), "only five minutes; if you stay an instant longer I shall knock at the door and inquire for you."

This was a pretty fix, for I felt perfectly satisfied that my lady would be as good as her word and I must extricate myself in the best way I could.

I therefore hastened home, sought my expecting Bessy, and expressed my regret at having to deny myself the pleasure of accompanying her to the concert that evening, urging as an excuse that I had found it impossible to obtain a copy of one of the songs in the programme, for which purpose I had been to almost every music seller in London, but in vain; that as a last resource I was then going to the extreme end of the town, from whence I could not possibly return home previous to the performance, but begged that she would not allow this trifling disappointment to interfere with her arrangements for the evening, as I should expect to have the happiness of meeting her and Mrs. S. on my arrival.

She accepted my apology, and without entering my own apartment I left the house, but just in time to prevent the threatened call of my new acquaintance, whom I met coming down the street with the intention, as she afterwards told me, of knocking at my door. With a significant glance, which she appeared to understand, I crossed the road while she continued to follow me, but on the opposite side of the way. Having gained the main road she overtook me, and hailing a coach from the first stand we were in a short time set down at the cosy lodgings of my fair importunate, in W- Row, Islington.

Here, then, behold me seated at an amply furnished tea table; the refreshing beverage was quickly prepared by her own fair hands and the conversation that passed during the meal was such as the most prudent of her sex might have listened to without the slightest impropriety.

But still I was ill at ease, for although far from insensible to the beauty of the charming girl who was exerting her every faculty to give me pleasure, my thoughts were faithful to my Bessy still and I was racking my brain for some excuse by which I might escape the honour of my present companion's society, for this evening at least. I began by expressing my dislike of the promised entertainment-the place in which it was held-and the purpose for which it was got up; I even assured her that if she would give up all thoughts of attending this sadly conducted affair that I would call upon her on the following Tuesday for the purpose of escorting her to one infinitely superior in every respect; but vain was all my reasoning. She was determined to go-her mind was made up-and nothing human should, or could, prevent her.

"Well, then," I exclaimed, rising from my chair, "be it so; in an hour I shall meet you there; but you must for that time excuse me, at all events, for," I added, laughing, "you were so very hard upon me, and allowed me such a very short time for preparation at home that, in order to prevent any unpleasant altercation, you may perceive that I have not even made the contemplated alteration in my dress requisite for the duties of the evening. I will do so with all possible promptitude and rejoin you at the rooms."

"And so you still wish to leave me," she replied, "but your excuse is a bad one and can easily be rectified. Only place yourself in my hands for a few minutes and I will undertake that even you shall be satisfied with your appearance without taking the unnecessary trouble of going so far."

And placing her hands upon my shoulders she gently forced me back into the chair I had quitted, patted me playfully upon the cheek, pressed her lips to mine, and left the room.

I must here observe that the effects of the liquor she had taken during the afternoon had entirely disappeared; this was doubtlessly owing, in a great measure, to the strong and truly excellent tea which had followed; at all events she was now as calm and collected as the most fastidious puritan could have desired.

Having re-entered the apartment she proceeded to fold, in the neatest manner, a light-blue satin handkerchief which she fitted upon me in such a form as to give it the appearance of a handsome underwaistcoat, and in the frill of my shirt she placed a magnificent brooch, shaped like a small branch, the leaves of which were formed of emeralds, the fruit by minute diamonds; having completed her task evidently to her own entire satisfaction, she held a toilet glass before me that I might witness the effect of her handiwork, saying as she did so, "There, my love, were you going to sing before the king himself your dress would not disgrace the royal party. And now, my dear, if you'll endeavour to amuse yourself for a few minutes by looking over my little library," pointing to a well-filled bookcase, "I shall then be ready to accompany you."

I did as she desired; and when she returned to the room I absolutely stared with astonishment at the change she had undergone in so short a time; she was attired in a handsome dress of violet-coloured crepe, over white satin, richly embroidered, with a magnificent border in wreaths of silver vine; the sleeves were looped up with silver cordage, supported by eagles of the same material; a topaz necklace graced her swan-like neck, bracelets of gold encircled her well-turned arms, and her headdress was a wreath of snow-white roses; the effect was truly electrical, for, "She looked a goddess, and she moved a queen!"

I must confess that as I gazed upon the lovely object before me a feeling of vanity came over me for a moment, sufficiently powerful to banish even the image of Bessy from my heart, and I eagerly saluted the proffered lips and, for the first time, pressed her closely to my enchanted bosom.

Having procured a coach, we proceeded to our destination, which, as we approached, how shall I describe the emotions which agitated me; for the momentary transport over, I had leisure to reflect upon the probable events about to ensue! How could I account to my confiding Bessy for the appearance of my majestic companion-how could I perform my public duties under the influence of her reproachful glance-ere I had time to determine, the coach stopped and, with feelings more resembling those of a condemned criminal on his way to execution than of a man in the act of escorting a charming woman to a pleasure party, I entered the assembly.

One glance satisfied me that my party had not yet arrived, and for a moment I breathed more freely-probably offended at my apparent slight they will not come- and for once in my life I absolutely rejoiced at the absence of Bessy. But my pleasure was of short duration for, in the midst of my first song, I had the mortification of beholding Bessy and Emma conducted to their seats by the obsequious director.

My efforts were rewarded by an unanimous encore, in the loud call for which, to my unspeakable confusion, the excited Delia vied with the most vociferous gentleman present; by this indecorous conduct she became the object of universal observation-every eye was fixed upon her-the female portion of the audience regarded her with astonishment and the gentlemen, while they could not conceal their admiration of her beauty, expressed to each other in audible whispers that they were not greatly at variance in their opinions as to the character of the lovely but incautious girl before them.

I lingered about the orchestra until the conclusion of the first part and then, with feelings that I will not attempt to describe, sneaked into the refreshment room, where I was quickly followed by my two disappointed fair ones.

I was most agreeably surprised at the friendly warmth with which they both received me; by this I at once perceived that my apology had been perfectly satisfactory, and could I have retired at that moment all would have been well; but such was not to be, for while I was speaking my fair tormentor, from whom I foolishly imagined I had escaped for the present, having witnessed my departure from the concert room, now approached us, bearing in her hand a glass of smoking negus which she had procured from the waiter for my especial benefit; in vain did I attempt, by sundry winks and divers significant grimaces; to put her on her guard; she either did not, or would not, understand me.

On she came, smiling gaily, and handing me the glass, exclaimed,

"Come, my dear, I'm sure you stand in need of something after so much exertion."

Scarcely conscious of what I was doing, I put it to my lips and again returned it to her, when she continued, "Are these ladies friends of yours?"

I slightly bowed my head.

"Then why behave so ungallantly! Ladies, I'm sure you'll excuse his inattention-he seems quite bewildered — but no doubt it's entirely owing to the fatigue-do me the honour of partaking-"

And she pressed the glass upon Emma, who, thus taken by surprise and not prepared to offer an excuse, condescended to sip the beverage which she then presented to her companion, who, after darting at me a glance of the most withering contempt, disdainfully pushed back the hand that bore the glass, overturning in her fury the greater, portion of its contents over the dress of Emma and in a voice almost inarticulate with anger, said, "Come, let us be going; I'm sure we are not wanted here; and you, sir, shall be made to remember this insult."

With these words, and eyes flashing fury, she took the arm of her friend and quitted the room.

"Well, I'm sure," exclaimed the astonished Delia, "what airs! But it's a good riddance whoever she may be; and how you look; why should you care for the insolence of a mean-looking little baggage like that?

Come love, drink again and rouse yourself, or the company will perceive your confusion."

I took the goblet, unconsciously swallowed the whole of its contents, and in a few minutes became sufficiently composed to re-enter the public room, having previously cautioned Delia to be more guarded in her conduct, or at all events not to give vent to her feelings in the audible manner she had previously done.

I was not a moment too soon, for the symphony to my next song had commenced as I entered. I mounted the stage and got through my task-not at all to my own satisfaction, although from their continued applause I have reason to believe that I had been successful in my endeavour to conceal my trepidation from the audience. Delia declared that I had never sung better; but I fear she was a very partial critic and one whose judgment could not be relied on.

I was now rapidly regaining my self-possession when the door opened and Bessy, who by this time I had fancied was more than half way on her return home, with an expression of wildness in her bright black eyes advanced towards where I was sitting and in a low, trembling voice murmured, "Mr. -, I wish to speak a word or two in private; will you allow me that honour?"

"With the greatest pleasure," I replied, and with faltering steps and throbbing heart I followed her from the room.

The concert room was divided from the bar of the tavern by a long, arched hall or passage, paved and covered with matting to prevent the echo of footsteps from interrupting the music. I had continued to follow the indignant lady until we had traversed half the extent of this passage, when she turned suddenly round and fixing her glaring eyes full upon my face, exclaimed, "Now, sir, what am I to understand from the base and unmanly treatment I have experienced from you this evening?"

I affected the greatest astonishment and added that in fact I was about to make a similar enquiry of her, for I could plainly perceive that something had ruffled her temper previous to her favouring me with her company; and I really considered that respect for my public reputation might have induced her to choose some other time and place to vent her ill-humour upon me instead of making me, as she had done, an object of contempt before strangers.

"Indeed, sir!" she replied, "and so you are villain enough to add insult to injury! But you will find that I am not the easy fool you seem to think me. Pray, sir, who is the odious hussy for whom you have thought proper to outrage my feelings so cruelly as you have done tonight?"

I attempted to take her hand, which she scornfully withdrew, as with a feigned laugh I answered, "And is it possible that poor Delia has been the innocent cause of pain to one I love so tenderly-you have heard me speak of cousin Deelie, my uncle William's daughter, this is the very girl. I met her by sheer accident and with much difficulty prevailed upon her to accompany me hither for the express purpose of introducing her to you-I did not believe you could have been so silly-come, call Mrs. S. and let us return; I shall be happy to see you better acquainted."

The angry blood mounted to her cheeks, as she loudly exclaimed, "And dare you insult the memory of your respectable parents by falsely declaring their relationship to a strumpet-shame on you; and I suppose that trumpery about your neck belongs to her?"

She had observed the brooch and handkerchief I have before spoken of.

"It's no use to deny it; I see guilt in your face!"

"I don't understand you when you speak of guilt, nor do I attempt to deny that not having time sufficient to return home my cousin was kind enough to oblige me with the loan-"

I was proceeding when, with the fury of an enraged tigress, she sprung upon me, tore the valuable brooch from my breast with a portion of the shirt itself and trampled it beneath her feet, threatening to return to the concert room and serve the vile owner in the same way; the splendid handkerchief was rent into a half a dozen pieces and the brooch shared a similar fate; nor was I rescued from her grasp until she had torn a tolerable handful of hair from my head. I was at length indebted for my liberty to Emma, who had been waiting for her at the end of the passage and, alarmed at the scuffle, now hastened to the rescue.

"For God's sake," cried she, "consider where you are; come home if you are wise; why continue to expose yourself; think of your child; let me persuade you, there's a dear, come."

Bessy suffered herself to be led from the spot. I ran before them, called a coach, and assisted in handing them in. As I was giving the necessary instructions to the coachman, to my utter astonishment Bessy seized my arm, burst into tears, and kissing my hand sank back in her seat as the horses started. The next moment I felt myself seized from behind; I turned and encountered Delia, who the moment she beheld my disordered appearance, exclaimed, "What has happened, tell me, are you hurt-but never mind, I know it all, it's that gipsy-looking vixen's work, but let her look to herself, if I don't serve her out my name's not Delia L-s!"

I endeavoured to soothe her, assuring her that it was nothing but a slight misunderstanding that would speedily be rectified; and while she returned for her shawl, etc., I succeeded in gathering up the fragments of her property. The handkerchief was past recovery, but as to the brooch, the stones being uninjured, a few shillings paid to a jeweller soon restored it to its pristine beauty.

The attentive kindness of Delia, contrasted with the violent indignation of her rival, determined me, and I resolved to conform myself entirely to the will of the former. The disordered state of my apparel was such as to render a return to the public room out of the question, and in a short time we were again set down at Islington where, having supped, she insisted on my retiring at once to bed, and seizing a candle led the way to the adjoining chamber.

I offered my assistance to aid her in undressing, but this she would by no means allow. She would see me fairly in bed before she removed a single particle of her own attire. I reminded her that such conduct upon my part would be quite out of order and begged she would consider how very ungallant it would appear in me to receive a lady in bed, but my arguments were all in vain and she began with her own fair hands to remove my cravat, etc. Finding her so fully determined I ceased to expostulate, and quickly divesting myself of my clothes, lay down naked upon the bed and prepared to watch the delightful spectacle of her disrobing. But little did I anticipate the intellectual as well as sensual entertainment in store for me. For I was now to learn that the charming girl had conceived the humorous fancy of pretending that she was alone! Slipping off her bodice and releasing a pair of large and finely moulded breasts from her corset, she threw herself backwards upon a low divan, opened her legs, and picking up her petticoats, seized a long bolster and thrusting it between her thighs and clasping it in her naked arms proceeded with many gasps and sighs and tumultuous heavings of her bottom to go through the whole pantomime of love with such extraordinary fervour and fidelity to nature that at last the very bolster seemed to be alive and I could have found it in my heart to drive a knife into the horsehair bowels of my supplanter!

However, I managed to remember that I should very soon find myself in the position now occupied by the happy bolster and so determined to wait and see the pretty comedy to its end.

Delia now pushed away her imaginary lover and moved from the sofa to her looking-glass. Here she let down her masses of wavy brown hair, threw off her stays, slipped her chemise to the floor and stood for a moment seemingly spellbound at the reflection of her own beauty!

At length her lips parted and by straining my ears I could just catch the words she uttered:

"Ah, Heavens, what an ill-assorted world is this! Here am I, poor lonely forsaken Delia, longing, craving, dying for a lusty man. Within hail are hundreds, nay thousands, of such men not one of whom but would leap from his bed and fly to me as if the Devil were after him could he but know that I stand here naked, my fingers itching, my vulva throbbing, and my tongue vainly twisting this way and that to enclose a glorious, standing pizzle in their embrace! That beautiful singer, now! If I only had him here! Does he know the pleasure of a girl's fresh red mouth upon his sugar-stick? I'll go bail he knows it not. And yet mine is fresh and red, and the lips are full and ripe and made for amorous clinging.

With what rapture would they fasten upon his tool and suck it in to meet the onslaught of my tongue, which should curl its whole length about the stiffening column nor rest until it had drawn from him a torrent of love's delicious nectar! But a few minutes to repose and then I would lock my arms around his neck and fingering his member so deftly that it could not choose but stand again, would clasp him naked to my naked breasts and pray him to hitter me till one or the other should cry mercy! All this and a thousand other sweet and pleasant things would I do, were my dear love but with me now!"

The reader may imagine with what feelings I had listened to this impassioned harangue. But my powers of self-restraint were at last exhausted and leaping from the bed I rushed upon the naked girl and covered her with passionate kisses from head to foot. Waves of lascivious delight coursed up and down her body and as I stood before her, breathless from my late exertions, she sank to her knees, and after looking up into my face with a gaze of speechless love and longing, softly passed her tongue over the nut of my yard and then pushing it slowly and lovingly between her lips, began to suck it with incredible ardour and enjoyment.

I was just beginning to revel in the exquisite sensations produced by the contact of Delia's mouth and tongue and wondering how long I could stave off the crisis which was already threatening to arrive, when a thundering double knocking at the street door broke the silence of night with an echoing sound that seemed sufficient to shake every house in that retired row to its foundation; and Delia, starting from my arms, leapt into the middle of the room.

"Good God!" I exclaimed, "what can this mean? surely 'tis an alarm of fire."

"Worse, worse!" she replied, "unfortunate wretch that I am! Too well I know the meaning of these sounds. It's my old tyrant, B-, returned a week before his time; but let him come; I'll brave it all; he can but turn me out of doors, and you, my dear, will not forsake me."

With a few hasty words I succeeded in convincing her of the folly of such conduct; and taking my clothes upon my arm urged her to endeavour to think of some place of concealment from which I could at a convenient moment escape undiscovered from the house. The knocking was now renewed more furiously than before, mingled with the violent ringing of the bell in such a manner as to bespeak plainly the wild impatience of the operator.

She seized my arm and led me in silence across the landing place; and having descended a couple of steps opened the door of a small chamber, and having kissed me whispered, "For my sake be cautious," she closed the door and departed, leaving me in a state of nudity and in utter darkness. In a few moments I heard her returning footsteps, mingled with those of a man, who, in no very gentle terms, was expressing his discontent at having been kept so long waiting in the street, which she attributed to her having been in her first sleep. At length they entered the chamber I had so recently quitted under such very disastrous circumstances, and the door being closed I was at once convinced from the very faint murmurs that met my ear, notwithstanding he was still speaking rather loudly, that I might without danger of being overheard venture to put on my clothes; in which attempt I had entirely succeeded, with the exception of my boots, and was cautiously rising for the purpose of seeking the door in order to make good my retreat when a ray of light suddenly illumined the apartment and I felt the grasp of what appeared to be the long bony fingers of a skeleton hand upon my shoulders.

On turning round to ascertain the cause of my alarm, I discovered that I had been unconsciously sitting upon what is termed by brokers a stump bedstead, upon which an aged woman was at the time sleeping, who having been disturbed by my movements had in the impulse of her momentary terror grasped my shoulder with one hand and drawn back a thick curtain which covered the window with the other. This accounted for the sudden ray of light, for the moon was shining brilliantly and rendered every object in that small chamber distinctly visible.

Her head was graced by a dirty flannel nightcap tied under the chin; her eyes, which were strained to their utmost extent, were fixed upon my face; they were of that description vulgarly called "velvet-bound," being edged with a rich crimson border, and a stream of rheum ran gently down a deep gutterlike wrinkle formed on each side of her nose, which was long, skinny, and hooked; while from her expanded nostrils issued a current of a dark mahogany colour, doubtless the effects of the quantities of snuff she was in the habit of taking; a pair of lengthy discoloured fangs protruded from her upper jaw, forming a barrier to keep the under lip from falling inwards; a profusion of long, grey hair shaded her withered shoulders; and a pair of breasts, resembling nothing earthly so much as a couple of dingy wash-leather saddle bags, with a stone in the bottom of each to keep them pendant, rested upon the well-worn counterpane. This delicate creature continued to gaze upon me for some time without uttering a sentence, her hands resting on my shoulders, and as she advanced her hideous countenance nearer to my own I experienced a feeling of suffocation from the exhalations of her breath, perfumed as it was with the combined fragrance of gin, onions, and tobacco.

At length in a subdued tone of voice she muttered thus, "Oh, oh! I see it all, yes, yes, I understand, and so Miss Deelie with all her prudery is no better than the rest of her kidney; she has her favourites on the sly; well, I cannot blame her, and must confess that she has proved herself a girl of taste; but never fear, lad, I am not given to gossip, but upon this occasion I think that silence should at least earn me a new gown; bless my heart, what a soft hand the boy has; I could almost fancy I was pressing that of a delicate young lady; and dear me, now I look again, how very like my dear dead and gone Jim Grundy when we were first acquainted; ah, youngster, I was a very, very different person to look at then than I am now; time works wondrous changes in us all!"

And the old crone, having amused herself while she was speaking by passing her fingers through my hair, now proceeded to clasp me round the waist, and fearing that the beldame was absolutely growing amorous, with a sudden effort I extricated myself from her embrace, exclaiming with an attempted smile, "Enough, enough, good mother, let me now think of effecting a retreat, all shall be explained the first opportunity; in the mean time only be discreet, and your reward shall not be forgotten."

With these words, taking my boots in my hand, I proceeded downstairs, opened the street door, which I did not wait to shut after me, and having gained the street never ceased running until I arrived at the Angel Inn; here finding the coast clear I drew on my boots, and slackening my pace, endeavoured as I approached my home to frame the best excuse I could possibly devise to dispel the merited anger of Bessy and her more cautious but no less indignant companion.

I have previously mentioned that in order to remove all jealous doubts from my mind, Bessy had been for several months in the habit of leaving a candle burning, by means of which I could at all times satisfy myself that she did not share her husband's bed, and upon arriving home on this eventful night, or rather morning, my first glance was directed towards the aperture in the window shutter; alas, no welcome gleam appeared to gladden my sight; my mind misgave me; I unlocked the outer door, and applying my eye to the well-known keyhole all was dark and drear; at this moment a ray of moonlight rested upon the opposite couch, so long the solitary resting place of my beloved! it was forsaken. My worst fears were confirmed. I had proved myself unworthy; her confidence in my honour had been shaken and she had returned to the embraces of her liege lord. I cursed my own folly-and retired to my lonely bed, not to sleep but to ponder over the gulf of misery I had opened for myself by yielding too easily to the dictates of gallantry.

Nor were my fears without foundation, as I afterwards learnt from the blushing Bessy's own confession when a reconciliation had taken place between us. It appears that on her returning home with Emma after the scene so recently described, she was assailed by her tyrant in the most violent manner, in consequence of her having dared to go out without his knowledge; vainly did the good-natured Emma endeavour to take all the blame upon herself; even she did not escape a portion of the abuse which the unfeeling blackguard showered on his wife, charging her with an undue partiality for me, to whom he loudly declared his honour had been sacrificed, and it was not until he had become completely exhausted by the fury of his passion that he suffered himself to be persuaded that his wife was innocent.

Peace having been thus restored and the fond couple left alone, Mr. E., probably ashamed of his late conduct, endeavoured by the most abject protestations to regain the affections of his wife and induce her to admit him once again to the privileges of a husband from which he had been so long excluded. He went on his knees before her and in the most earnest terms begged she would pardon his late unjust suspicions, which having at length obtained he proceeded to urge his suit still further. By receiving him again to her arms he should be at once satisfied that he was really forgiven and the remaining portion of his life should be passed in one continued endeavour to promote her happiness. What could she do? The proof she had that evening received of my inconstancy was sufficient to convince her that her dependence upon me was indeed precarious-she had no security that I was not at that very moment seeking for a plausible excuse to abandon her for another; added to which her positive conviction that certain "living consequences" of our indiscretion would soon become apparent; and in the event of which, as she had too much reason to fear, finding herself deserted by me, how could she account to her husband for such an addition to his family when she had for so many months estranged herself from his arms.

Under these circumstances, having no alternative, she yielded to his importunities and submitted herself once more to his loathed embraces. With the utmost mortification I listened to the hateful story, nor could I chide the amiable sufferer. I only was to blame; but although in justice compelled to admit that she was blameless, I from that moment abandoned the idea of ever making her my own undivided property, and it was not until after the birth of her child that I succeeded in my endeavours to persuade her to renew our former intimacy; but this once accomplished was never afterwards denied; for as she candidly acknowledged in one fond hour of blissful dalliance, notwithstanding my ungenerous conduct and her strenuous endeavors to drive me from her thoughts, the impression I had made upon her heart was too deep ever to be eradicated, and though compelled by circumstances to yield obedience to her wedded lord her love was all my own.

Owing to my precaution, Mr. E. never had an opportunity of seeing us together; for obvious reasons I had ceased to be his tenant and our interviews took place at my own private lodgings, I having introduced her to my new landlady as an only sister, under which character we passed many happy hours together.

Her husband, as she told me, seldom mentioned my name except, indeed, when some of his former suspicions would for a moment revive as he gazed upon his infant son, when he would exclaim, "The boy is cursedly like that infernal singer. I don't know how it is, Bess! I think you've acted right enough; but people can't at all times command their thoughts and when he was got, I'm d-d if you were not thinking more of the blasted tenor than you was of me."

I will now proceed with my tale. I suppose that towards the approach of day I must have fallen into a troubled sleep, for I was awoke about eight o'clock in the morning by the gruff voice of Mr. E., who exclaimed as he rapped at my door, "Hallo, there! here's a letter for you. I have thrust it under the door and there's a youngster waiting for an answer."

I immediately leaped from my bed and opening the note read as follows:

My dearest Love,

After the occurrences of last night, I tremble to address you; but if your heart is not devoid of pity, pray let me see you once again; I am very very ill, and have much to tell you. For God's sake, come some time today, and do not by a refusal add to the despair of the wretched Delia.

I partly unclosed the door and requested Mr. E. to inform the bearer that the writer's request should be attended to; I then hurried on my clothes and, the weather being fine, took a seat in the garden, pretending to be occupied in the perusal of a book. I was in fact anxiously expecting that chance would favour me with an opportunity of seeking an explanation with my insulted Bessy, for I now remembered that it was the Sabbath and consequently the husbands of my two enamoured fair ones would in all probability remain at home the whole of the day.

At one end of the garden was a small building which was used as a wash house, etc., and was in fact continually open for the accommodation of all. I accordingly placed my chair in such a position that in order to reach this place the person wishing to do so must pass so very closely to where I was sitting as to be within hearing of the softest whisper.

I had not remained long here ere the gentle Emma came tripping down the path, eyeing me as she advanced with a look full of meaning, while a malicious smile was playing round the corners of her tempting mouth. I would have caught her round the waist, but with a lightning glance at an upper window she gave me to understand that she was not unwatched; this, however, did not prevent her as she returned from pausing for a moment while in a subtle tone she archly exclaimed,

"Now, can you say that I am a false prophetess. Did I not tell you long ago, that Mrs. E. would betray herself, and has she not done so with a witness?" And shaking her finger archly at me, she departed.

In a few minutes after, with swollen eyes and downcast brow, Bessy entered the garden. As she approached me our eyes met. I was about to take,her hand, but with a withering frown and a forced smile expressive of the utmost contempt she avoided my touch; and as she returned in a moment after, passed me with averted face, scorning to favour me with a single glance. In returning to my room, her door (which I have said fronted mine) stood open, and to add to my mortification at the very moment that she was conscious my eyes were upon her she placed her hand upon her husband's shoulder, and as he looked upwards into her face with the utmost satisfaction pressed a kiss upon his willing lips!

This was too much; and with feelings compared to which those of the damned would have been enviable, I entered my apartment, swallowed a huge bumper of the strongest brandy, and then, in order to conceal from her the effects of her cruelty, sat down to my piano and for the next hour continued to play a succession of the most lively and exhilarating melodies.

Having at length succeeded in soothing my ruffled spirits, I dressed myself with the utmost care, and, prompted by something like vanity in order that she might see and contrast my gay appearance with that of her loutish husband, I rapped at her door, which being opened by herself, I, with the greatest self-composure, stated that in the event of any enquiries being made for me I should not be home until the following evening.

I was revenged. It was now her turn to suffer. The blood rushed into her face and it was with the greatest difficulty that she could articulate,

"Very well, sir." I then with a polite bow closed the door and quitted the house.

Having made an early dinner at a respectable ordinary, I hastened to Islington. The door was opened by the old lady whose appearance I have already described and who, with a low chuckle, beckoning me to follow, led the way upstairs, opened the door, and immediately taking her departure I was left alone with Delia.

She was reclining on the bed, her lovely eyes suffused in tears, and, amongst other evils, labouring under that most tedious of all painsthe toothache. She smiled as I approached and extended her hand, which I received but coldly; for, to speak candidly, the idea of her having passed the night in the arms of a man old enough to be her father had considerably cooled my ardour; since I am, notwithstanding my love of variety, rather delicate in matters of a tender nature.

She doubtlessly guessed the nature of my thoughts and when, after some time passed in conversation, I acknowledged that such was indeed the subject of them, she exclaimed with a look of the most tender reproach, "And do you think me then so abandoned a creature as to have sent for you had I suffered myself to have been abused so recently? Do you believe that I could have submitted to the embraces of so loathsome a wretch when my soul was full of love for you? No!

Death itself would have been much more welcome. It was no difficult task for me to make the old dotard believe that I was too unwell to receive his caresses. I walked the room during the whole of the night and he is now on his way to the continent, from whence he will not return for many weeks; it is in consequence of my remaining for so long a time partly undressed, and with the window open, that I am suffering the pain I now endure."

This was really the case; the poor girl had taken a violent cold in consequence of her devotion to me. Could I remain insensible to the advances of such a creature? No. I pressed her to my arms and covered her with ardent kisses! This done I went on to remind her of the soliloquy I had been so miraculously privileged to overhear on the previous evening and of the divine pleasure she was causing me at the moment of our cruel interruption. I assured her of my anxiety to reciprocate in kind and of the zest which I was convinced the preliminary insertion of my tongue into her crack would certainly lend to our subsequent encounter. At this her language became at once free and impassioned and she besought me to lay my head between her legs and kiss her without delay. Nothing loath, I turned round and kneeling over her with my feet towards the pillows applied my lips with rapture to the dainty feast, taking care at the same time that my probe should occupy a position which left her no choice but to bury it within her rosy mouth.

In deference to my lady readers, of whom I confidently look forward to including a goodly number, I abstain from further details of this particular item in our salacious programme. Suffice it to say that the performance was carried out with a perfect frenzy of desire on both sides, each striving with might and main (and believe me, dear ladies, this is the fundamental secret of all amatory successes) to enhance the pleasures of the other and to render as acute and as protracted as possible the ecstasies of the incoitable crisis.

After this light and spirited overture the more classic but equally enjoyable numbers were "taken," as musicians have it, in varying tempo. Constituting myself the conductor, I made the measured beat of my baton the guiding influence of our movements and allegretto succeeded to andante with a rhythm and precision which left nothing to be desired. To quit the language of metaphor and come to plain prose, Delia and I fleshmongered one another in every position known to the most experienced copulators, until at length a not unnatural exhaustion ensued and we fell asleep locked in each other's arms.

When I awoke my fair companion had already risen: the tea was smoking on the table and the savoury muffins, prepared by her delicate hands, seemed to invite me to the welcome repast. Never do I remember having partaken of a more delightful meal. The remaining portion of the evening was passed in charming converse, during which the animated girl suddenly exclaimed, "You call yourself a musician, but that is not the only science in which you are skilled."

"Indeed! what mean you?"

"Why, that you are either a physician or a magician- you have so completely driven away my toothache that until this moment I had forgotten all about it; and indeed, the cure has been effected in the most charming manner in the world!"

With these words she threw herself into my arms and hid her blushing face upon my bosom with the result that more than one piece performed at the late concert was unanimously encored!

I remained with my charming Delia till the following day when, after a tender parting coupled with a promise to return in the evening, I hurried home.

I must confess that my dalliance and oft-repeated love exchanges with Delia had somewhat weakened me, and as I reached my room I felt enervated to such a degree that I fell upon my bed through sheer exhaustion.

True to my promise, I called at the appointed hour of the succeeding night at the house of Delia but was met at the door by the old crone, her servant, who informed me that I must go away for the present as Delia's old protector had unexpectedly returned and was at the moment in her chamber. Muttering a low curse at this unlooked-for interruption of my anticipated night of enjoyment, I turned from the house and, it being comparatively early, I bent my steps towards Regent's Park.

I had not proceeded far when I perceived that the gate of a large and elegant garden had been carelessly left open. Without any hesitation I passed in, and after carefully closing the entrance I paused to examine the appearance of the place.

In the centre of the garden, which was tastily laid out, stood a large and splendid mansion-evidently the abode of one of the aristocracy; a few rods from the house was a small, artificial lake of perhaps some two hundred feet in diameter. Around the house rose a row of gigantic oaks, whose broad trunks and interlacing links almost hid the building from sight. An air of quiet-I had almost said of desertion-pervaded the place.

"There does not seem to be any one here," I muttered, as I passed up one of the graveled walks towards the mansion, "and as no one will disturb me, I might as well see all that is to be seen."

I walked on without interruption till I reached the back of the house, when I was startled suddenly by the sound of voices.

Fearful of discovery, I crouched behind the nearest tree and listened.

The rear door of the mansion was thrown half open and I could hear every word distinctly. The voices were evidently those of a man and his wife, and the very first words startled me.

I was, at first, under the impression that I had found my way into the garden of some wealthy and refined nobleman; but the tone and expression of the man's voice convinced me at once that he was some low, vulgar tradesman, whose money alone had placed him in possession of the splendid property upon which I had obtruded.

"I tell you, madam, you are a faithless strumpet, and you must die. I'll drag you to the lake and throw you in. What? I'll be arrested for murder-will I? No such thing, madam. It will be thought that you committed suicide and I will depose to expressions of yours that shall strengthen theidea. Come on-Come on."

"Mercy!"

"No-no. I am a desperate man and will have no mercy. Horns are on my head, and no wonder they drive me half mad. I saw you wink at Sir Barnaby Grubbs too, and I am quite sure that you trod upon the toe of Lord Lovemall. Oh, I have eyes in my head and something else on the top of it. I'm a desperate man! I'm a desperate man!"

"In mercy, spare me!"

"I will not. It is quite music to me to hear you say that. I only wish all your lovers heard you, madam. If the devil himself were to come and ask me to save you, I would not."

There was now a scuffling noise and the jealous husband was evidently dragging his wife towards the door. I had made up my mind to interfere with the affair from the very first. It was not exactly the thing for me to stand by and let a jealous husband have his own way.

"I will see the end of this adventure," said I to myself. "By the sound of the lady's voice she should be young and fair, and if she be I will take her part from pure love of the young and fair; but if she be not, why, I will yet see justice done to her, for then I should say she is decidedly innocent."

Suddenly the door was thrown open and two persons came out. The one was a female and she was evidently being pushed forward by the other, who was the husband.

"You dare not-you cannot kill me," said the lady. "All this is merely done to terrify me. You could not for your life and soul's sake commit so unmanly an action as to kill me, sir."

"Dare I not? We shall soon see that. In such cases as mine there can be but one course to pursue, and that must consist of the death of the object; I will kill you, and then I will leave England."

"Help! Help!"

"Nay, madam, it is of no use your calling help here. You know as well as I do that your cries cannot be heard."

"But I am innocent-indeed I am!"

"The Major! — the Major!"

"Well, I repulsed him."

"Wretch! Then you own that he solicited you?"

"I do. But surely this is no fault of mine? If I repulsed him, what more could the most virtuous woman the world ever saw do, I would ask?"

"It is quite sufficient. I am a desperate and dishonoured husband, and as I said before the devil himself should not save you."

Upon this I thought there was a capital opportunity of saying something; and assuming suddenly a deep, low, and sepulchral voice I stepped forward, saying, "Who calls on me?"

"Gracious Heaven," cried the lady, "what is that?"

"I was called and I have come!" said I, advancing so that in the dim light I was but faintly seen.

The husband staggered back until he reached the wall close to the door, and then in a voice of great trepidation he said, "Who-who are you?"

"When such deeds as that which you contemplated are being done," said I, still speaking in a strange and monstrous voice, "I am always there; but I do not appear-I dare not appear-unless I am called upon. You mentioned my name and I am here. What would you with me?"

"You-you don't mean to say that you are the-the devil himself?"

"Exactly."

The husband turned round and fled with the greatest precipitation towards the house. Fear had taken possession, the most complete possession, of him, and from the sound of his footsteps it was quite clear that he was taking the nearest route that he could, quite heedless of flower beds or other obstacles, to his home.

The lady likewise turned and fled, for whatever might be the slight nature of her objections to a murder-lover, she certainly did not seem to think one from the infernal regions at all desirable.

"Stop!" I cried.

She only fled the quicker, but owing to the intense darkness in the garden, for it was in consequence of the numerous trees within it darker than the heath itself, she caught her foot in some flowering shrub and fell to the ground. In a moment I was up to her.

"Do not be at all alarmed," I said in my natural voice. "I am a gentleman, and thought it would be a good thing to punish your jealous husband by giving him a good fright."

"Are you, indeed, a gentleman?"

"I assure you I am."

"But the-the certain party is called the Old Gentleman, I have heard?"

"Yes. But if there were light sufficient you would soon see that I am certainly not the Old Gentleman."

"Should I?"

"You would indeed. What do you think of me now?"

I raised her up and kissed her cheek.

"Well, I don't know what to think; but be you whom you may, you have certainly done me a service; but do you know that my arms are bound round by a cord that my husband put on me unawares?"

"That I will soon release you from if you will stand still for a few moments. I have a sharp knife in my pocket and I can feel the cords, I dare say, and so cut them without doing you any harm. Will you trust me?" Yes. Oh, yes."

I found no great difficulty in cutting the cords that held the lady in bondage, and then said, "It is a monstrous thing that your husband should let his jealousy of you go to such a length."

"Alas! sir, it is; but what can I do?"

"Be revenged upon him in the only way that is in your power and in the way that all wrongfully jealous husbands should be served. Give him real cause."

"Ah, now I am afraid that you are really the devil or you would not so advise me. No-no! No more kissing, if you please. One Satanic salute is quite enough."

"Well, I ought to have a kiss as payment for cutting the rope that bound you."

"You paid yourself beforehand. But as my husband really seems to think that you are the evil one himself, you will do me a signal service if you frighten him out of his jealousy."

"I will do so with pleasure, but how would you have me proceed? Shall I follow him now into the house-or in what way shall I accomplish the object?"

The lady seemed to reflect for a moment or two, and then said, "It is worth trying. I only wish I knew that you were a man of honour, sir, whom I might trust."

"I have no means of convincing you. Of course, mere assertion is no proof. If you will trust me, well and good; if you will not-good night."

It is very questionable, indeed, if I would have gone had the lady echoed my "good night": but she did not put me to that trial, for she said, "I will trust you-follow me. I will lead you into the house by a way that will enable you to reach my bed-room. Once there, I must leave it to your own ingenuity to frighten my husband; who, I think, will now abandon his attempt upon my life for tonight, but who, if he be not well terrified, may renew it on another occasion."

"Take me where you will," said I; "I will obey your orders and you will find your confidence not at all misplaced."

The lady took me by the hand and led me into the house and through several rooms until she came to one in which she left me for a moment or two, saying, "Be not impatient; I will soon return to you."

The room was profoundly dark; but in the course of a few moments I saw a dim light coming through a crevice of a door leading into some other apartment; but before I could make up my mind whether to go towards it or to stay where I was, it opened and the lady made her appearance.

"This way," she said, "this way."

I sprang after her, and in a moment more found myself in a very handsome room fitted up as a sleeping chamber. The general appointments of the place were really superb; and it was quite evident that some more refined taste than that of the jealous husband-or probably than that of the lady, who may or who may not have given

him cause for such jealousy-had at one time presided over the appointments of that room.

"A handsome chamber," said I.

"Hush!" cried the lady. "Hide yourself in that wardrobe. He will be here shortly. Hide yourself at once; and remember that I leave all to your discretion."

"You may, indeed, safely do so."

"I hope I may."

She pushed me into the wardrobe, and scarcely had the door been closed upon me before the husband entered the room. The tone of his voice was very much subdued as he said, "Madam, you must know as well as I that the appearance in the garden was all a delusion. It was only some man who had chanced to overhear what was going on between us."

"I should be very sorry," said the lady, affecting to shudder, "to think that he was really what he said he was; but you ought to know best."

"I! How should I know?"

"Why, you must be probably aware that jealous people are generally waited upon by something from that place which it is as well not to mention; but as you stooped to the contemplation of actual murder it is not very hard for one to think that the evil spirit himself may have thought proper to appear to you."

"Stuff-stuff!"

"Very well."

"I have no sort of fear of the-the-"

"The what? Why do you hesitate to pronounce his name, if you have no fear of him."

"Because I think it is just as well not to be too familiar with such names, madam, in ordinary discourse. That is the reason, however you may be inclined to attach some other to it. Therefore, I particularly desire that you drop the conversation and come to bed at once. I am willing, if your conduct for the future is what it ought to be, to forget the past."

"You will?"

"Yes; I say I am willing to do so, only you must never again speak to Lord A., or the Major, or, or-in fact, I will give you a list of people you must not speak to on any account."

"But will not that look very awkward in society?"

"Society be hanged, madam. Do you want to drive me mad with your woman's answers!"

The husband by this time had got into bed, and the lady having leisurely disrobed herself and having exhibited to my delighted eyes each single charm of a form as lovely as her face, proceeded to put on a very elegant nightgown trimmed with rich lace, and in the quietest manner in the world slipped into the bed likewise, saying, "Shall I leave the light?"

"Yes, leave it, confound you. What a life you lead me with your dancing and your flirting and your-Hulloa! what's that! Why the light has gone out."

I had found a pair of silk stockings in the wardrobe, nicely knotted together, and I had thrown them with so good an aim at the candle that they at once extinguished it.

"It's very extraordinary," said the lady, "for it was a whole candle as you yourself saw."

"Yes-yes," stammered the husband. "I–I can't at all make it out, my love."

"Don't my love me, sir. By your violence and your threats you have brought the devil on the premises, and now heaven only knows when we shall get rid of him again."

"But, my dear-Good God, you don't really think, or really mean to say that-that-"

"Yes, I do; and shouldn't at all wonder if I was to be smothered with sulphur before the morning. Oh, you have much to answer for, and if the devil-"

"Hush! Good gracious. Hush, don't mention him, I beg of you. If anything more than another will be likely to- the Lord have mercy upon us, did you hear that?"

I had given utterance to a hideous growl from the wardrobe and so ghostly and horrible had I made the sound that even the lady herself could not help giving a slight start of alarm.

"Mercy?" said the husband. "I begin to think he is here, I begin to feel sure. Oh, wife-wife, by your conduct you see you have raised the thingummy."

"I? You mean yourself, by your conduct. Did you not in the garden actually say such things that the enemy of mankind thought proper to make his appearance to us! There it is again!"

I gave another groan more hideous than the first, and the husband was so alarmed that, forgetting all his caution about not mentioning that name which is not usually mentioned to ears polite, he cried, "The devil! the devil! Oh, the devil is here and we are lost-lost-lost! Help!

Help! Murder! The devil is here. He is here, I know. Speak to him, wife, and ask him what he wants."

"What do you want?" said the wife in an affected, trembling voice, "oh, what do you want here?"

"My due," said I.

"And good Mr. D., what may that be?"

"A groundlessly jealous husband. A man who, because his wife is fair and pleasant, must, forsooth, fancy her criminal. Such is the man I want."

"Merciful Providence," said the husband, "that is me."

"It is," said I; "are you prepared?"

"No, I am not. I am quite the reverse of prepared; I don't want to be jealous any more. I am cured-most effectually cured. Say no more to me, I beg. I am not the man I was. I will no more threaten my wife."

"But yet, as a token, it is necessary that I should hold your hand in mine for a moment. One moment will suffice. Your hand will turn perfectly black, so that whenever you look at it the memory of my visit should be with you."

"Oh, no-no-no."

"It must be. I come-I come-I come."

As I took good care to make my advance quite manifest as regarded the side of the bed I was upon, the husband, whose fears had almost worked him into madness, sprang out at the other side and with a yell of horror darted from the room.

"A thousand thanks," said the lady. "I do think you have made an impression upon him, that he will never in this world forget. I owe you very much."

"But he will be back again?"

"Certainly not; I make no doubt but that he will lock himself up in his study for the remainder of the night; and the discomfort he will there experience will be a proper punishment for his conduct towards me."

"I quite agree with you, my dear madam. He will be cold and uncomfortable in the study as a punishment, while I shall be warm and snug in his bed as a reward."

"Sir!"

It was very dark, but I succeeded in stopping her mouth with a kiss, then I whispered, "Do you think I could be insensible to your beauty?

Ah, no; what I have done has been done for the love I bear towards you."

"Help!" said the lady in a whisper. "Help!"

"Help is near," I replied, "so near indeed that you may even put your hand upon it!"

"Where?" she whispered again with a low laugh, reaching forth a white hand from the bed.

"Here," I answered, as I placed it upon my member.

"Ah, that is help indeed!" said my lady passing her dainty fingers rapidly up and down the length of the column which reared its head in full majesty under her lascivious and evidently practised touch. "And now, kind and generous stranger," she went on, "you shall have your reward for your disinterested conduct, and I-unless this magnificent weapon greatly belies his shape and proportions-my compensation for a night of terror. How nobly erect he stands! How inviting is his coral head! so close to my lips too, that I could almost find it in my heart-but no! that must be for another time-"

I ventured to remind her that there was no time like the present, but she went on as if not hearing me.

"And now, my dear preserver, I will light another candle, lock the door, remove this superfluous garment of mine whilst you also undress yourself, and then you shall lie between my legs and your Satanic Majesty's most royal sceptre shall push its amorous way into my womb."

Almost before the words were out of her mouth I had stripped myself to the skin, and the lovely girl being by this time in a similar condition, I flung myself upon her naked body and bearing her gently but most firmly down upon the edge of the bed I slid between her widely open thighs, and as she crossed her legs tightly round my buttocks I raked her with long, powerful and deeply penetrating strokes, each one of which was accurately responded to by an answering heave of her charming bottom until the tide of love broke its bounds and I lay glued upon her bosom in a spasm of unutterable rapture.

Did I attempt to recount the number of times our pleasures were renewed that night I should fear to be regarded as a species of erotic Baron Munchausen. I will therefore confine myself to saying that dawn was on the point of breaking as I glided from the mansion and made my way home.

My new mistress was, I had already divined, the wife of a rich and vulgar tradesman whose only merit consisted in his wealth.

Mrs. Finch-that was her name-was admirably formed by nature both for love and intrigue. Long ere we parted we had given each other our confidence and provided a plan for a continuance of our intrigue.

It was settled that I was to visit her during the day and that I was to present myself to the servants as Count Stophet. All this, of course, was to cost money; for to appear like a count one must dress like a count and fee servants like a count-and to do either of these things was somewhat beyond my income. My sweet mistress understood this matter at once and forced upon me a two hundred pound note.

"Take it," she smilingly persisted, in spite of my remonstrance; "it is every thing to you at present but a mere nothing to me. My husband has plenty and lavishes it upon me like dirt. One of these days you may yourself be rich, and then, if you insist upon it, you can return it to me."

I had, then, no other resource than to accept the money as a boon.

Having repaid my charming friend with another warm embrace for her generosity and promised to visit and comfort her as frequently as possible, I tore myself away, as I have already said, as dawn was on the point of breaking and I steered for home. As I threw myself on my bed I could not help thanking my stars for bringing Delia's old protector so unexpectedly home, since his coming, if it had for the time being robbed me of one mistress, had provided me with another.

I slept that day away and forgot (so much was I infatuated with my new mistress) that there was such a creature as either Emma or the lovely, though jealous Bessy, in the world.

In the evening I repaired to a tailor's and provided myself with a suit in every way worthy of a count; and having satisfied myself that my appearance was equal to that of the finest lord in London, I returned to my lodging to impatiently count the hours when I was to present myself to my new mistress.

While ascending to my room I encountered Bessy upon the stairs and made her a gracious bow. She returned it slightly and blushed as I swept past her. There was an air of surprise, too, upon her features, as she furtively regarded the splendour of my appearance.

"Good!" thought I. "If Bessy is surprised at the elegance of my ensemble, what will be the effect of it upon Mrs. Finch?"

About two on the following day I left my lodgings and taking a carriage proceeded to the Finches. As I announced my name to the porter, the effect was electrical. He bowed himself to the very floor, and a moment later I was ushered with much ceremony into the drawing room. There were two ladies there, in waiting to receive meMrs. Finch, and a widowed friend of hers, the Marchioness of Simplan, to whom my charming mistress introduced me in due form.

An hour passed away very pleasantly when another visitor was announced-Lord Glozy, a young, tolerably handsome and carefully dressed fellow, who eyed me at first with considerable coldness, which however wore away ere we had been half an hour in company.

The young lord appeared to have met the marchioness at the Finches more by appointment than design, although his efforts to make an impression upon the young and elegant widow, as it seemed to me, were entirely thrown away. The marchioness seldom took her eyes off me and gave me to understand in more ways than one that she was pleased with me and would have no objection to a more intimate acquaintance. In less than an hour she took her departure with Lord Glozy and I was left alone with my charming mistress.

"You are handsome enough for me to eat you!" cried she, throwing herself into my arms.

"You Batter me!"

"No. If you are not a count, you ought to be. One thing, however, is certain-I would not give you up for all the counts in the world!"

There was a languishing light in her dark eyes which could not be mistaken.

"Which is the way to your boudoir?" said I, embracing her.

"I'll show you," she answered, taking me by the hand. We passed unseen up to the second floor and thence into an apartment which led to the bower of love.

My charmer trembled with anticipative joy to such a degree that she came near falling, to prevent which I raised her in my arms and bore her to the couch, on which she lay, panting like one in ecstasy. A moment later she drew me towards her and whispering, "I have not forgotten my promise," began to unbutton my clothes, with her own delicate fingers released my member and, fastening her fresh cool lips upon the acorn, gave a little sigh of delight and buried it in her eager mouth.

Her skill in this incomparable pastime proved to be of a high order, and after she had experienced the penetrative quality of my tongue in the corresponding part of her person we warmly congratulated each other upon our mutual addiction to this form of erotic amusement, of which we proceeded to give practical evidence by gama-huching one another in every position which our inflamed desires suggested.

A fortnight flew by, and not a day passed without witnessing fresh evidences of love on thepart of my charming mistress and myself.

Meanwhile the marchioness had contrived during her visits, which had become almost as frequent as my own, to let me know that a visit to her home in Grosvenor Square would be duly appreciated; and as I was by this time getting somewhat satiated with Mrs. Finch, I determined to pay the other lady a visit.

The marchioness was young, pretty and plump, and she received me very graciously. I sought no favours from her till our third interview when, after a little pretended resistance, she allowed me to give her, on the sofa in the drawing room, an evidence of my manly powers. From that hour we might be said to have become artists in love matters-it became with us a study in which position we could best partake of it in order to obtain from it the greatest amount of rapture and delight. The marchioness was no novice either in love or intrigue, and she soon taught me that she understood these affairs as well as I could teach her.

In one thing only did I astonish her-my vigour. She confessed that I could do what she never before believed to be possible in any nobleman in England-satiate her. The splendid creature never dreamed for a moment that I was anything less than what Mrs. Finch represented me to be-a French count spending a few months in London on a lark!

The marchioness introduced me to her friends as "the most charming Frenchman out of France," and I became quite a lion-at least among the ladies.

My friend the marchioness was, however, apt at times to give way to fits of jealousy; since she had given herself up to me she insisted that I should give up all other women, To this I agreed, but only on the condition that she should renounce all other men. The marchioness was indignant at such a proposal. She pretended to be exceedingly virtuous, declaring that with the exception of her late husband and myself she had never known what it was to exchange amatory dalliance. As I had nothing to win by contradicting this laughable statement I affected to believe her, and agreed to reserve myself expressly for her love. Unfortunately, she detected me, two days afterward, in a position with Mrs. Finch which left no room for doubt in regard to the nature of the tie which subsisted between the charming wife of the wealthy tradesman and myself. Trembling with jealousy and rage, the marchioness turned from the apartment and tore homeward, biting her lips with passion till they bled. From that moment all friendship between Mrs. Finch and herself ceased. As for the poor Count Stophet, on encountering me in Regent's Park a week or two afterward, she satirically wished me joy of my conquest of the merchant's wife but notified to me that, as for herself, she was done with me.

"Pho-pho!" I exclaimed.

"To show you, sir," she said, "that I am in earnest, I will inform you that there is to be a rout at my house tonight, and that the Count Stophet is not invited!"

"Nonsense, my pretty marchioness!" said I. "Have done with me?

Impossible! We were made for each other, and what Providence has done, you cannot undo. Although not invited, I shall do myself the honour to be with you at two, you may depend on it!"

"The doors will be closed against you."

"I will break them open."

"The other guests in my house shall, by force, remove you, impertinent villain."

"I will fight them and kiss you, my dear marchioness; so don't say another word about it."

With these words, I lifted my hat, made her a low bow, and passed on with a quiet smile.

A plan had entered my head, while the pretty marchioness was venting her spleen upon me, which I silently determined to carry out.

At one o'clock the next!" morning I left my lodgings and proceeded towards the mansion of the marchioness. On coming in sight of the building I beheld, as I had expected, a train of carriages of nearly a quarter of a mile in extent in waiting. Picking up a pebble and aiming it at the nearest coachman, who was drowsing, half asleep, half awake, upon his box, I fired it, and with such force as to knock his hat from off his head. In an instant he was awake.

"Who the deuce did that?" he demanded fiercely and in a tone that roused the half slumbering jehus near him to their feet. "Who did that?" he repeated, springing down from his box. "I can thrash the rascal, whoever he is, in two minutes!"

"What's the matter, what's the matter?" asked a dozen coachmen, approaching him. "Who hit you, Mike?"

"Stop this noise-stop this noise!" cried a burly watchman, stepping from his box and approaching the group. "The peace and quiet of the city mustn't be disturbed in this unchristian way. Silence!"

"Silence yourself!" returned the aggrieved coachman, storming with rage, "or I'll give you something to make you crow in another fashion!"

"What!" shouted the indignant guardian of the night, "Do you dare to threaten one of His Majesty's officers? I'll give you sum'at for this! Come along, you rascal! to the watch'us!"

"Rascal yourself!" roared the jarvey, foaming with rage. "Take that!" and he gave the burly watchman a blow in the breast that made him reel.

The latter sprung his rattle and calling on all around in the name of the king to aid him in the arrest of the 'Violator of the king's peace," rushed forward to capture the assailant.

In an instant all was uproar and confusion-many of the coachmen siding with their enraged brother jarvey and pushing back others who took the part of the guardian of the night. In a few moments the jehus all along the line sprang from their boxes and came running towards the scene of strife. A few minutes later and the guardians of the night, summoned by the roar and din, approached from all quarters and mingled in the fray.

Meanwhile, I remained quiet, looking down the street in the direction of the watchman's box which stood a few paces from the main entrance of the marchioness's dwelling. By and by, the door of this box opened and its occupant, alarmed by the noisy din which was gradually increasing, stepped out and, springing his alarm rattle in his flight, ran rapidly in the direction of the throng. The moment I saw this I darted forward to meet him and purposely ran against him with such force that he lost his balance and fell like one stunned.

In an instant I had his huge top coat off and threw it on myself. Then seizing his club and rattle, I ran down the street shouting "Murder!" On reaching the house of the marchioness I darted up the steps leading to the entrance and rang the bell with a sudden violence that brought the servants to the door in a crowd.

"Murder!" I cried, in answer to their looks of inquiry and surprise and pointing at the same time with an energetic gesture up the street.

"There's murder and riot going on up there and I summon you in the king's name to give assistance to the servants of His Majesty! Hark! don't you hear the roar!"

They darted down the steps in a body, and while some ran off to mingle in the melee, the remainder stood gazing in the direction of the throng.

Taking advantage of their interest in the event to which I had thus called their attention, I quietly slipped into the hall and passed into a dressing room, the door of which was open, where, throwing off my disguise and arranging my hair and dress in a presentable trim, took a glance in the glass at my appearance and then passed out into the hall, where I encountered a party of eight persons; they had just arrived, all laughing and talking very loudly, for they had come from some other entertainment, where they had not been very scrupulous as to the manner in which they had sacrificed Bacchus; mingling and slipping up along with them, I reached the door of the saloon without being noticed by any of the marchioness's attendants, who were all perfectly possessed of the fact that upon no pretence whatever was the Count Stophet to be admitted.

While the others were being announced, I quietly slipped into the rooms and lounged about my ease. I well knew that, although the marchioness might give stringent orders regarding me to the servants, she would say nothing to her guests of such an affair; so I was not at all impressed at the calm manner in which I was welcomed by those whom I encountered in the gaudy saloon.

But it was the marchioness herself that I looked for, and her ladyship was in an inner saloon, with what she called a select circle about her.

No doubt she fully believed that she had taken such steps for my exclusion that evening, that it was impossible I could triumph over her by making my appearance in spite of her interdiction.

"Ladies," she said, "of course you have all had lovers of all kinds and descriptions, some impertinent and some modest; but a young friend of mine lately spoke to me about a lover of hers in a way that quite surprised me."

"Indeed," cried everybody.

"Yes, my dear friends," said the marchioness. "It appeared that this lady had done her lover the honour to invite him to an entertainment, but preceding the night upon which the entertainment was to take place, she discovered something that induced her to alter her mind with regard to him and to forbid him from coming to the party."

"And very proper too," said three ladies in a breath.

"No doubt of that," said three more.

"But that," continued the marchioness to the admiring throng which pressed closer around her in the hope of hearing some bit of scandal of the most delightful character, "that was not the difficulty, ladies; and what perplexed this young lady was that the wretch said, that having no invitation to the entertainment, he would attend it in spite of her."

"In spite of her?" said eight ladies.

"Yes. He said come he would, whether she liked it or not; and that she had no power to keep him out. Now, ladies, as this young friend of mine is in great distress upon this account, I would fain seek your advice by asking you what she had better do under such extraordinary circumstances?"

"Keep him out, by all means," said the whole lot.

"Yes, ladies, that is quite agreed; but the means of doing so? That is the question. What would you do, and how far would you go in strong resources provided he should have come to the door and make an effort to force his way past the servants?"

"Really, my dear marchioness," said the ugliest of the party, "I should call upon some gentleman to draw in my defence, for there's no saying how far such a man might go."

"I should give him to the watch," said another.

"And I," said a third, "should stand myself in my hall with a drawn sword and run him through if he persisted in entering the house without my permission."

"But the lady," resumed the marchioness, "has plenty of servants to keep the fellow out, and surely they ought to do it."

"But what," said I, suddenly making my way into the circle of ladies,

"but what, my dear marchioness, if he came down the chimney?"

The marchioness gave a shriek, and then cried, "There he is!" while the throng of ladies immediately called me their dear count and hoped I was quite well.

"Perfectly, ladies," I replied. "Ah, I need not ask of you such a question; your blooming cheeks and love-charming eyes sufficiently assure me of the fact."

"You monster!" cried the marchioness.

"Monster?" cried all the ladies. "Call the handsome Count Stophet a monster. Why we have been looking for him all the evening. Surely, marchioness, the case was not your own and you really could not wish to exclude the count?"

Her ladyship bit her lips with rage and her eyes flashed as though fire were in them.

"Audacious man!" she said, "how dare you intrude here? You have suborned my servants; not one of them shall remain another day with me."

"My dear marchioness," said I, "do not blame your servants, for they have not the remotest notion of my presence here. So do not blame them, my dear marchioness; and above all things, too, I beg of you not to make a scene. If you must say something angry to me, let it be elsewhere than here.

"Where, sir?"

"Oh, anywhere; upstairs will do."

The ladies tittered, and the marchioness seemed upon the point of doing something violent, beyond all precedent, but I spoke again saying, "Madam, I said that in spite of all the impediments you could possibly throw in my way I would be here tonight, and I have kept my word. Having done so, I am satisfied; and, if you wish it, I will now leave this house at once, and in that case with an equal obstinate adherence to my word, I promise you that its threshold shall never again be crossed by me."

At these words the marchioness turned rather pale. She had wanted to triumph over me, not to lose me.

"Say the word, madam, and I am gone."

"How very affecting," said all the ladies.

"You deserve that I should say go," the marchioness replied, in a low voice. "Your audacity deserves as much."

"I acknowledge it, madam."

"Then, for that acknowledgment, I will pardon you."

"How very affecting," said all the ladies again, and I made a low bow.

"Perhaps, madam," I added, "your servants had better be informed that I am no longer one of the proscribed."

"I will see it done at once!" was her reply.

It was now getting time for the rout to be over and, indeed, a number of the guests of the marchioness had already left. Determined to have a complete triumph over my petulant mistress I now approached the marchioness and announced that I had come to bid her adieu.

"Allow me to hope," I said, "that I have full pardon for the past and that all that I have done tonight may be attributed to its right motive, namely, intense admiration of yourself without the countenance and acquaintance of whom, believe me, I could not, and would not, exist in the world of fashion in London. May I hope for the happiness of seeing you soon?"

"You may hope."

"But will that delightful hope tomorrow be converted into a certainty?"

"It will."

I then bade adieu to some others of the guests with whom I was personally acquainted and who were all upon the point of leaving and then on reaching the landing, instead of walking downstairs, walked up.

No one noticed this remarkable deviation from the ordinary route upon my part, or if they did they were much too well bred to take the smallest apparent heed of it. It was no business of theirs, and in the course of another quarter of an hour the last carriage rolled away from the door of the witty, elegant, beautiful, but not very particular marchioness.

I did not stop till I had got to the top of the staircase I was ascending, that is to say upon the landing from which opened the principal bedchambers of the house, and then I paused to hear the last guest depart and to listen to the fastening up of the outer door by the servants of the establishment.

"All's right," I muttered. "I shall be much cosier here tonight than I should be at home."

All was profoundly dark in the suite of rooms in which I now found myself, and I held my hands out before me lest I should run against something, a contact with which might possibly be more energetic than pleasant.

I knew perfectly well that the bedroom of the marchioness was upon this floor and it was there that I meant to conceal myself until all the guests had left the house.

After peeping into a room or two I came to the one of which I was in search. A light was upon the dressing table and I had only just time to hide myself behind one of the curtains of the bed when I heard footsteps rapidly approaching the room.

I considered that this must be the marchioness, but I was mistaken in that conjecture as it appeared.

I had hardly been two minutes in the room when carrying a small silver hand lamp the waiting maid of the marchioness made her appearance. I knew this extremely pretty girl by sight and was in the hope that she would merely place the light upon the dressing table and then leave the room; but in that hope I was disappointed.

The very first thing she did was to begin altering the arrangement of the curtains of the bed so that I felt my discovery was a certainty. With such a coincidence I thought the best thing I could do was to step out of my place of concealment at once.

"How are you, Annette," I said, as I suddenly confronted the girl.

She gave a loud scream and dropped the hand lamp which she had in her hand; the scream was just loud enough to be heard all over the house and I felt that any further concealment in the room would be impossible.

"Why did you call out in that way?" I said.

"Why did you pop out in that way?" said Annette. "What business have you here?"

"It is not business at all," said I; "but you with your foolish squabbling have spoilt the whole affair, so off I must go. Now mind, Annette, you have seen no one."

"But-but-"

I did not wait to hear what objection the waiting maid had to keeping my secret, but I at once dashed from the room and placed myself in an obscure corner of the landing place. I was not at all disappointed as to the result of the outcry that Annette had made, for in a moment the marchioness came up the stairs. She passed me and went into the bedroom, saying, "Annette, was that you? What is the matter?"

"Oh, madam, I thought I saw-"

"What? — what?"

"A ghost, madam!"

"You silly girl. I did think that you were above such folly as that.

Really, Annette, I shall have to part with you if anything of this sort happens again."

"I am sorry, madam, but I did think at the moment, that I saw something in the room, and I screamed; but if I frightened your ladyship, I am very sorry."

"You have not frightened me, girl; but folly of any kind or description always annoys me. You can go, now; I shall not want you any more tonight."

Annette left the room, and as she passed me upon the staircase she placed her finger upon her lips to intimate, in all probability that she had said nothing of my presence in the house. I comprehended in a moment what she meant and nodded and smiled my thanks. When she had got down the staircase some distance she beckoned to me, and when I had crept softly to where she was, she said, "For Heaven's sake, come now, count! I will let you out."

"Nay, Annette, I am decidedly too late to go any where else tonight and must needs stay here."

"But you cannot; it is impossible, I tell you. There is a reason."

"What is it?"

"That I dare not tell you, but there is a reason and I beg of you to go.

Besides, you will compromise me now by staying, for I told my mistress that I had seen a ghost, and if she should see you now she will guess that it was you whom I saw and that I only mentioned a ghost to screen you."

"There may be something in what you say," I replied, "and if anything could induce me to leave at once, it would be that by staying I did any mischief to you. But cannot you conveniently hide me somewhere? I tell you in confidence that I have a particular reason for not going home tonight."

"No-no, I cannot."

"Nay, think again, Annette. Think again. What the deuce is that?"

The sound of someone ascending the staircase to where they were came upon my ears. It was the footstep of a man, treading very cautiously, but yet firmly enough to be heard by both Annette and myself. The waiting maid caught me by the arms and dragged me into a room that opened from one of the steps, whispering as she did so, "Do not speak or move."

"But I may look?"

"No-no."

The person who was coming up the stairs had no light, so that although I kept in such a position that he could command a good view of the stairs I would not have seen who it was if the marchioness had not emerged from her bedroom and leant over the balustrades of the staircase with a light in her hand, saying, "Is that you, Charles?"

"Yes," replied a voice which I recognised at once as Lord Glozy's. I smiled as he passed up the staircase, and when he had disappeared in the bedroom of the marchioness I said to Annette, "So that was the special reason, was it, why you were urging upon me to go?"

"It was."

"Well, I won't deny but it's a good one, and now that I know as much I will go, and if you can let me out of this infernal house without any of the servants being aware that I am here I shall be much obliged."

"I can do that," said Annette. "Come this way at once."

As she spoke there was a look in her soft eyes which plainly said, "The mistress being otherwise engaged, why not try the maid?"

At the moment we were passing through a small sitting room with a convenient sofa, upon which I gently laid Annette and lifting the pretty girl's daintily frilled petticoats above her waist treated her to a short but eminently satisfactory tromboning, for which she was profoundly grateful.

Annette found no trouble in letting me out of the house, and giving her a guinea I hastily made my way home and threw myself upon my bed-vexed, put out, and mortified with myself and all the world.

"No one is true!" I muttered to myself. "I fancied-fool that I was-I fancied that the artful creature loved me! Ah! well," I continued with a sigh, "let her go. I have had enough in one short month of high-life; and as the money that Mrs. Finch gave me is all gone, I will now give up the farce of my countship and return once more to my original sphere!"

I felt more comfortable after this resolution, and with my mind at ease I quietly dropped asleep.

It was late when I awoke. I had dreamt of Bessy-whom I had not spoken to for weeks-and as the memory of her genuine love uprose before me I felt grieved and ashamed of my conduct in return, and I determined to take the first opportunity and seek her forgiveness.

As I arose, I glanced mechanically towards Bessy's window. She was sitting beside the window sill with her head bowed upon her hands, and weeping. Around her were a number of women, Emma among the rest, trying to console her.

Something had happened, but what it could be was of course unknown to me.

Emma, at length, while glancing casually in my direction, caught my eye and made a sign for me to approach.

I hurriedly completed my toilet and then hastened to the abode of my charmer. But judge of my astonishment when, on entering the outer room, I beheld the body of Bessy's brutal husband, pale, calm and outstretched upon a temporarily raised platform.

One glance was enough. The brute was no more-having suddenly been carried off that morning, as I subsequently heard, by a fit of apoplexy.

I approached the newly-made widow, surrounded as she was by her friends, to offer her my condolence. But she paid no attention to my presence and did not even deign to thank me for my sympathy.

I felt hurt, and after exchanging a glance with Emma I retired.

The relatives of her deceased husband took charge of the body and at the end of two days Bessy and her children were alone.

On the evening of the third day I determined to pay a visit to the young widow and, if necessary, to make an advance towards a reconciliation.

As I was about to leave my chamber I perceived a note lying upon the floor close to the threshold. It had evidently been placed there by some one who had passed it under the door.

I took it up and ran my eye over its contents. It was from Emma and stated that her husband would be from home till next day and wished me to spend the night with her.

At almost any other time this invitation would have been responded to with transport. But on the present occasion my reflections were all centered upon Bessy, and my imagination had been reveling all day upon my anticipated visit, our reconciliation, and the rapture that was sure to follow. I therefore tore up the note and without giving a second thought to the obliging Emma I proceeded towards the apartment of my lovely, adored, and charming Bessy.

As I softly approached the door of the outer room the murmur of voices arrested me.

I started back a step or two and my blood fled from my head to my heart, for one of the voices was that of a stranger. The words-"I have but a thousand pounds to offer you"-fell on my ears and, raging with jealousy, I staggered from the spot.

"She is prompt in receiving bids for her charms!" I muttered as I turned towards the staircase.

As I was in the act of leaving the landing a light hand was laid upon my shoulder.

I turned and beheld Emma in her dishabille. She held a light in her left hand, and while a smile lit up her fair features she beckoned me silently to enter her room.

"I'll do it!" I muttered to myself, "yes, I'll punish Bessy for her perfidy!"

I entered Emma's apartment. A table was set, and on it were refreshments.

"I am so glad you are come," said Emma, throwing her arms around me.

"See now if we shall not know a night of happiness. Do you know that I was fearful, when I saw you on the landing, that you were going away without seeing me!"

I was about to stammer a reply when she relieved me from my embarrassment by adding, "But I soon perceived how it was. You had come as far as my door, and then becoming fearful that my husband might, after all, still be at home, you concluded it was best to retire till you received some definite information upon the matter."

"Yes," said I, smiling gratefully at this clear explanation; "that was it!

But now that I am here-now that we are at length together-we will make up for lost time!"

And I feigned a rapture which I did not feel.

"Ah! you impatient rogue!" returned Emma with a smile that would on any other occasion have been wholly irresistible. "But come," she added, leading me to the table, "sit down; after we have supped we will go to bed."

"You must sit with me then," I rejoined, playfully drawing her upon my knee.

"Of course," she replied, throwing her arms around me and pressing her ruby lips, which were hot with amorous desire, to mine. "Where else should I sit but here? But see," she continued, raising her beautiful head and pointing to the table, "here is some cold pheasant. Let me help you to some; and here is a bottle of Madeira. With these, and that white bread and this lettuce and those baked potatoes, we shall sup well enough."

"And add," said I, "the music of your voice and the sweetness of your kisses and-"

"Cease your flatteries, you rogue! But take a sip of this Madeira-"

"I'll take a sip of nectar from your lips first!"

Passion now was beginning to rise, and under its influence I glued my mouth to hers. Emma was no novice in these affairs, and opening her mouth she ran her tongue in between my lips till it encountered mine.

In a moment I was like one on fire. I trembled and became hot and cold by turns. As for Emma, a soft flame of desire beamed from her dark eyes. Her lips were riveted to mine. Her breasts heaved with an ungovernable agitation. She looked at me and hot sighs expressed the intensity of her fever and her wishes. I lifted, her up in my arms, bore her to the bed on which I laid her, and then commenced stripping for the rich feast that was before me.

I must have been unusually slow in disrobing myself, or else my fair companion must have been unusually impetuous, for she sprang from the bed and with her own hands assisted me in unbuttoning and throwing off my garments.

As she looked upon my nakedness a perfect frenzy of lust appeared to take possession of her. Not one of our former love sports was omitted.

My phallus was plunged into her mouth and sucked with delirious ardour. My tongue dived into her bush, reveling in its familiar task.

Anon I stretched myself at ease between her legs, strained by her naked arms against her swelling breasts, I felt the quick beating of her heart as I goosed her with furious intensity and a new relish born of our long abstention.

One act of love now followed another in quick succession, and so powerful was the sensual charm exercised upon me by the superlatively randy doings of my present bedfellow that at last my piercer seemed to acquire a permanent erection upon which repeated emissions had no material effect, and whether throbbing under the luscious caresses of her velvet mouth and twining tongue, or held as in a vice by the eager nipping of her pussy, continued to pour forth its pearly treasures into either delicious receptacle with impartial volume and unflagging enjoyment.

In the midst of our raptures someone knocked at the door. Emma and I looked at each other in dismay.

We remained silent and after a few moments the knock was repeated.

"Who can it be?" I asked. "Your husband?"

"No. He is twenty miles from here by this time."

A few moments later and we heard footsteps retiring from the door.

The footsteps were so light that I felt convinced they were those of a woman.

Emma, as I perceived by her looks, was of the same opinion.

"It must have been Bessy," she said in a whisper.

"What could she want?"

"I cannot guess. But it matters little. Now that she is gone let us resume our enjoyment! Can you spend once more? Ah! what a lover you are!

So! your stick in my mouth and your tongue in my oracle: there's just one other place where there is room for a finger-that's it! A little further in, please. Now push your darling muscle down my throat and work away to your heart's content. I will hang on to it with my lips and twist my tongue round and round it as it slips in and out. Pass your tongue over the lips of my snuggery first, and then plunge it in as deep as it will go. Let me feel your mouth all over my park. Suck it with might and main as I will suck you. Keep back the finish as long as possible, but when it comes let your tail lie buried in my mouth and spend your soul upon my tongue, as I will spend mine upon yours. Now my lips are upon the rosy head! Your tongue please, beloved! One, two, three! Go!!"

A long compulsory silence followed, broken at last by short feverish cries of rapture as with mouth and tongue pressed upon the respective objects of their attention we received each other's tribute of love with ecstasy unspeakable.

It wanted but an hour or two of daylight when, tired and spent out with my night's enjoyment, I withdrew from the arms of the equally exhausted Emma and proceeded to my chamber.

It was quite dark and I could not see an inch before me. I threw off my clothes and feeling my way to the bed threw myself upon it.

I had scarcely lain down when my ears were saluted by sighs and low breathings. They appeared to come from someone near me, and cautiously stretching out my hand it touched the silken garments of a woman. Astonished, I got up slowly and grasped my way to the mantel for a match. I soon found one, and having lit it quietly approached the bed.

Judge of my astonishment on discovering that the stranger was no other than Bessy.

She had thrown herself even without undressing upon my bed. Her hair was disordered. Her face was very pale and wan. Traces of tears were plainly visible on her cheeks. An expression of mental agony was impressed upon her somewhat ruffled brow and around her halfcompressed lips. Her whole appearance indicated that she had spent a night of mental suffering, and at length wept herself asleep.

I could not look upon her pale features without emotion.

"Ah!" I murmured, "I have wrung her loving heart with jealousy and, by my folly, caused her to shed bitter tears. Still she loves me. I know it-I feel it. Have I not had the most convincing evidences of it? And how have I treated her noble and self-sacrificing affection? She, who gave up all for me, too-her husband, her children, her honour-aye, even her pride! forgetting even her jealousy! And how — how have I treated her in return!" — I felt humbled and ashamed and, hardened as I was in libertinism, I could scarcely look upon her without blushing.

Just then came the memory of the evening before-the strange voice that I had heard in her chamber; and the words too, "I have but a thousand pounds to offer you!" At these recollections I staggered and, almost boiling over with jealousy, I threw away the now consumed match and dropped upon a chair beside the bed.

"But how," I muttered, as reason came at length to my aid, "if she had concluded to give herself to another-to that d-d profferer of the thousand pounds-how then came she here?"

This was a question that could not be easily answered. Still, it was plain that if she did not still love me-and love me, too, with an intensity which enabled her to set even pride and jealousy at defiance-she would not have so far forgotten herself as to come to my chamber.

"If love had not been stronger than pride, yea, stronger even than her jealousy," I muttered, "she would not have been the one to make the first advances towards a reconciliation. And, far from seeking me, she would have left it for me to seek her and apologise for my infidelityfor it was I who committed the first wrong!"

And now in coming to my chamber, in seeking me out, it was plainly evident that she felt that she could live no longer without me, no longer without a reconciliation.

As for the stranger and his thousand pounds, she could doubtless satisfactorily explain them away.

With these thoughts my heart softened towards Bessy.

Meanwhile her breathing appeared to be growing more and more uneasy and her sighs became deeper and more frequent.

"Poor girl!" I murmured, creeping into bed beside her, "all is forgotten-all forgiven! Your sighs henceforth shall be those of rapture, of perfect happiness-not of misery. From this hour I cancel all ties whose continuance would give pain to your loving heart.

Delia-Emma-all, all shall be henceforth forgotten; there shall be no more delinquencies, no more desertions, no more infidelities. I give them all up, from this hour. For your heart, my Bessy, is loving, pure, and true-your affection deep, trusty, and noble. I'll trifle with you no more. Henceforth, we are one. And not as a mistress only shall I know you-but as a wife-my honoured wife!"

I had, unconsciously, given utterance aloud to my thoughts, and a moment later the meeting of two soft arms around my neck-the pressing of two heaving breasts to mine-the glueing of two warm, glowing lips to mine-joyful cries and tears of rapture-told me that I was heard and that what I had uttered was appreciated by as true and loving a heart as ever beat in the breast of woman.

There was now, as I whispered to Bessie, but one slight obstacle between us and happiness, and this was quickly removed by my dear girl herself who sprang from the bed at my suggestion and in an instant had stripped herself naked. Observing the glow of love and admiration in my eyes, she clasped her hands behind her head and stood erect beside the bed that I might feast my eyes upon her glorious nudity. After remaining thus for a few moments she bent her charming head and kissed my gristle. Then looking into my eyes with a bright smile of love and tenderness, she slowly mounted the couch and passing her left leg daintily across my chest brought her adorable shaggy-face over my mouth and seizing my upstander between her lips settled herself down easily and comfortably for a long gamahuche.

With my pizzle thus buried in the mouth of the woman of my heart and my tongue plunged within her bird's nest, I felt that life could have no deeper joys for me, and as her lust took fire and her rich red lips sucked me with ever increasing passion, I swore a silent oath upon her clinging cherry pit that I would take to myself the unshared right to kiss those perfumed pouting lips, to wind my tongue around that trembling clitoris, and to futter that incomparable body till impotence or death should come to part us.

I have but little more to add; but that little is, perhaps, important.

I learned from Bessy that the stranger who had offered her the thousand pounds was none other than her late husband's uncle-who, not liking her, had offered that sum to relinquish in his favour her claims upon the first child, which strangely resembled its father. She acquiesced in the proposal and accepted the money-but declared that worlds could not induce her to part with her second child, which, as I have mentioned elsewhere, strangely resembled another person.

This explanation made me perfectly happy, and as an evidence of the great satisfaction it gave me I promised Bessy to make her my wife as soon as things could be arranged to permit the ceremony.

And I kept my word.

A week afterwards we quitted London and hastened down to Gretna Green, in Scotland, where we were soon made one and where we spent five or six months of uninterrupted love and enjoyment and then returned to the metropolis. Here, at the suggestion of Bessy, we opened a small thread and needle shop, which, fortunately, did well and yielded us a snug and comfortable living.

As I anticipated, Bessy's love, instead of weakening or diminishing after marriage, continued to strengthen and increase. She made a fond, devoted and useful wife, and never had a thought that was not for our mutual happiness.

True to the promise I had made her, I never saw either Emma or Delia afterwards; and I equally refrained from "looking after other women."

Bessy filled my whole heart and was to me mistress, wife-everything.

And I-as my loving Bess has often told me-I, who knew so well how to play the rake, knew equally as well how to fill the role of the husband.