My Viennese charmer had become even more beautiful than before; to the charms of her face and figure was now added a certain trick in the way she looked at you, which under the air of distinction nevertheless indicated she was not wanting either in enterprise or audacity. In short I found myself ready if she should indicate that she was willing. But do not think that I imagined that I had only to ask her to let me have (so to speak) my latchkey again. — To have done so would have been both foolish and fatal, for a woman requires to be re-conquered by any man whose caresses she has forgotten. Accordingly I laid siege to her in the regular way, but at first all the encouragement I got lay in vague half-promises, such as "Perhaps!.. if you're very good!" But little by little I made progress, — now snatching a hasty kiss, now a significant pressure of her corsage, sometimes a hand slipped under her clothes but not permitted to!..
One day, we went out fox-hunting. Mme. de Schoenfutz both rode well and looked well on horse-back, having something of the elegance of seat and style of the late Empress Elizabeth of Austria, whom indeed she resembled in more ways than one.
The atmosphere was heavy and thunderous, the heat stifling. The sport was poor. Twice the hounds had to be whipped off a false scent. A state of confusion prevailed, and the riders formed little groups as they watched the proceedings and held themselves ready to gallop off as soon as the signal was given. Presently the sky began to be covered with black threatening clouds which presaged a serious storm. Was it good enough to go on? — wouldn't it be as well to get to shelter? But before any general decision was arrived at, a roll of thunder shook the air and large drops of rain began to fall.
Immediately there was a general skedaddle, — a wild rush for the carriages. Several riders galloped off to the kennels not far off, others to the village of T… The men ceased to chat with their lady friends and with each other, concerned now to make the best of their way to shelter. But M. de Z. (who I suspected to be in Mme. de Schoenfutz's high favour) remained by her and asked her what she proposed to do.
"I'm going back home, "she said.
"You'd much better come to T…, the rain will soon be over and we can then resume hunting."
"Many thanks! in the forest, all dripping! I've had enough for one day already!"
"But really it is not going to be wet."
" Please don't let me keep you from hunting! I'm going off, I hate rain!"
"Then let me come with you! You don't know the road and you will most likely take the longest way round…"
But Mme. de Schoenfutz had galloped off as he spoke! And now I recognised why old Ovid had included the chase among his Remedies for Love! M. de Z… did not insist on following. The lady riders all dismounted quickly and crowded into carriages to drive back to the Chateau, while the men unanimously allowed them to go off unescorted while they themselves made the best of their way to T… to wait there till the rain was over and the hunt could be resumed.
"This is much jollier than with all those petticoats hanging about!" remarked F…, a woman-hating sportsman. "Come along to T… — there's a good hotel there, a good stable, and a good billiard table on which we can have a game while we wait."
"Sorry I can't come, old chap," I replied, — "I must go off to see one of the keepers about a dog. Well's meet presently."
It had stopped raining, but the sky was more threatening than ever. My intention was not to stop at the keeper's but to get off to the Chateau and try and find Mme. de Schoenfutz, — for in such panics, it is seldom that an enterprising gallant does not have some luck, because everybody is too busy looking after himself or herself to notice what any one else is doing. So after a few minutes at the keeper's house, I galloped down a bridle path which was a short cut to the Chateau and led into the road Mme. de Schoenfutz had taken.
As I joined the road I saw some way down a lady riding slowly by herself. It was she! I soon caught her up.
"What! not home yet?" I exclaimed.
"No," she replied. "My horse has a stone in his hoof and I have nothing to get it out with. So I am forced to go slowly."
I had with me the necessary implement and soon put matters right, then remounted.
"Are they all coming this way?" she asked.
"Yes, the carriages are just behind, with all the women inside them."
"Then let us get out of their way, — for if they see me with you after the way I rushed off, they will conclude that our meeting was premeditated."
"You are quite right! Let us ride down here."
As soon as we had got out of sight of any one on the road, I drew alongside my fair companion and slipped my arm round her slender waist, then drawing her quickly to me I kissed her lips ardently.
"Enough!.. enough!" she exclaimed, trying to release herself, "here comes the rain!"
"I don't mind the rain as long as I have you!" And I renewed my amorous assault, clasping her passionately against me as I kissed her furiously, darting my tongue into her mouth, squeezing her waist with one hand while the other attacked her bosom, her knees, her thighs which I felt and pressed through the cloth of her habit. So impetuous was my attack that I nearly caused her to fall off her horse.
"Oh!.. oh!.. what are you doing! — is it the storm that has made you so mad?"
"Yes!.. yes! a storm of love and desire! I am full of love's electricity, like the clouds."
"And so you want me to be your lightning-conductor! but I thought I had become incapable of electrifying you to such an extent."
"You know well that you are to me what no other woman can be. And if you would like a proof of your power over me…"
"As a matter of fact, folk that have known of our old liaison suspect me now to be with any one but you."
"But you haven't answered my question! Do let us take advantage of our security! Let me prove to you that you have electrified me to the uttermost of my capacity! Will you?… may I?…"
"Well… yes I… but you're not allowing for the storm!"
As a matter of fact the rain now had begun to come down heavily, rain that clears the air but which is a horrible nuisance to an out-of-doors rendez-vous without any curtains beyond the kindly trees!
We went off at a gallop down the path. Was it never coming to an end? Soon I noticed that we were going away from our proper course, the fault of our hasty flight. I was somewhat upset by this, but said nothing. We continued to gallop. Presently a signpost came in sight, I rode up to it — the chateau was a good three miles from where we were.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"Oh, not far off."
"Then which is the road? This way?"
Just then I caught sight of a shanty (or hut) hidden in the forest. It was a sort of hunting shelter with a lean-to for the horse's. The sight put a droll idea into my mind, — here was a nest for an amorous pair!
At all events it would be only prudent to avail ourselves of this unexpected shelter. We tied the horses under the lean-to, and forcing open the locked door we went inside. We found ourselves in a fair sized room, quite bare except for one or two straw seated chairs and a fireplace. In the ceiling there was a trap door which evidently communicated with a hay-loft.
Hardly had we entered when the rain began to come down in torrents. What we had experienced was nothing to what was now falling, a veritable deluge! I kindled a fine fire in the hearth with the debris and straw I found lying about, — then I took off my coat and hung it across the back of a chair in front of the fire. Mme. de Schoenfutz slipped out of her riding-habit and did the same.
She looked deliciously piquant as she stood thus, decollete, her pretty arms bare, with her riding-breeches, her dainty riding-boots and little man's silk hat!