“I quite agree with you. She hadn't at all any vulgarity, and even those extremely intimate functions she demanded of me were solicited in the most gentle phrases during the peak of excitement, which you will admit is rather unusual.”
“Oh-yes-” and her face flushed to the temples, a lovely brown-haired virgin, and she lowered her eyes, “I–I want-to know, really, what you thought about that. If you thought a girl was crude or immoral-if she used-rather crude expressions-when she was being made love to.”
His eyes widened with ecstatic anticipation. “No, my dear one,” he murmured, “for when two people are closely mated, affectionate lovers, there is nothing that is sordid in their wooing. It is done in privacy and the mutual joy is the only law.”
“Thank you-thank you-for your lovely way of saying you want me-dearest-I want-I want now, oh, yes, so much more than ever before when I stood beside you in church this afternoon, to be the sort of mistress and lover you've always dreamed of. And that is one reason, I confess, that I asked you to tell me so much of your past, so I can learn for myself, so to speak, of your likes and desires.”
He kissed her breast and then her hands dropped to her lap and she whispered, blushing deeply, eyes lowered, “If-if you like, now-you-you may caress them all you like, dearest.”
“No-I've learned from you, too, this night, my darling-to be patient and to prolong our bliss. But if you'll permit it-I'll kiss each lovely globe once-to salute them. Oh they are glorious, Marcia — never have I seen such beautiful, firm ivory breasts as these before. I adore them-and later I shall show you truly just how I worship them.” He had kissed each nipple and the beautiful woman caught her breath sibilantly, her head falling back, her hands clenching while a spasm of desire shook her.
“There. Now to continue. I shall be very patient. To make a long story short-for it's 11:30 and I've much else to tell you-I sodomized sweet Lois, very satisfactory from her viewpoint, and by dint of cupping one of her breasts and fingering her well developed clitoris, I got her to have a superb orgasm, though I myself had none, having been very much more than handsomely depleted by all these handmaidens to Priapus! We then adjourned to the salon to take leave of one another and I felicitated my host and thanked my lovely procurers for those memorable joys experienced with them.
“And that, Marcia, was the highlight of my first trip to London.”
2. my second affair
“What was your next most exciting adventure, darling?”
“Well, Marcia, that experience had changed my attitude towards woman. I don't mean I'd become overnight a Don Juan, but I do mean, darling, that I'd changed the mental pigmentation of my identity, to coin a phrase. Let's put it this way. I got the impression that women never before discovered so many good points in my general outlook. I tried, therefore, to be more differential, more noticing, toward people and of course, especially, women. That, by the way, is one explanation of how, when I first met you at the soiree given by Mrs. Caswell, I said to myself, 'There is a woman for me,' Marcia, and you've revealed already beyond my highest expectations that you are a woman, all that it implies. I had, you see, enveloped myself in a shimmering cloud, a glory cloud. I felt permeated by a sort of electric energy, and why not? Hadn't I proved myself able to cope with four striking attractive women, each of whom had her own special sexual penchant, each of whom I left satisfied with my behaviour as a man and a gentleman. Ergo, I am aware now, you see, of another world which interpenetrates the world of every day, now at one point, now at another. Now that I am on the alert for its manifestations, I can detect its presence everywhere and comprehend that by entering it I can forget the mundane world with all its boredom. This realization of mine becomes a good deal like a magic carpet, as you've so vividly created the term, on which I am free to travel where my will fancies. You see, it came upon me that, throughout the world, wherever I chanced to travel, now that I had zest and depth enough to recognize these women who were candid in their sensual desires, I could recognize the initiates. Or, by entering the room, let's say, could at once discern three or four women who were waiting for the sign. Not that I'd give it to them necessarily, but it was always there.”
“I think I understand, darling. And was I such?” She sat back on the loveseat, hands in her lap generously and fearlessly providing him with the glorious sight of her proud ivory twin turrets taut and full and firm, waiting for that sign.
“Yes-oh, yes-at once, I knew you for my petite mistress-my little sweetheart-from all others apart.”
“I love you, Max,” she breathed. “I am yours, you know that-wait-wait, and let me prove it as nothing can do. But do go on, it's so thrilling to be like this.”
“Thank you, my sweet, for your perfect trust, and I too pledge myself body and soul not to dash your hopes. Now, a year's interlude follows and our scene on my magic carpet changes to Berlin.”
“A German girl this time, eh darling?”
“Yes-a baroness, no less. I was travelling in style, you see.”
“Indeed you were. Tell me all about her and light me another cigarette, with a kiss to flavor it, please.”
He did, then he started: “Well, Marcia, by this time, my business was now nicely founded and I'd gone to Germany in search of pottery, glassware, and Dresdenware. I'd found what I wanted, purchased the stuff, and arranged to have it sent across. Then, I took a two-week holiday in Berlin. After a week, I met an interesting fellow from the German consulate service who spoke flawless English and French and, comparing notes, found that we had a few mutual London friends. After dinner that night he asked me to come make a little speech on American life to a group of wealthy and influential people who gathered regularly-a sort of Union League clique, to put it in an understandable setting.”
“Yes, I understand, dear.”
“Well, I made my little speech about the glories of America. I boosted free trade, as I thought politically wise, and after my speech I was congratulated on all sides. I noticed two women standing far back who were apparently waiting for the others to finish with their remarks. One was between thirty-two and thirty-six, on the plump side but with wonderful black eyes and a dark olive complexion and the kind of face, at once voluptuous and classical, that one sees in Italian pictures of the later Renaissance. The other was younger, probably twenty-five. She stayed in the background and I did not have much time to note her particularly.
“The rather plump lady with the handsome black eyes paid me a number of compliments in excellent English. Then injecting an even stronger note of charm into her smile, she said, 'I am the Baroness-' At the moment, I did not quite catch the name. 'I should have liked to ask you some questions about your country. Would you, if you are staying here in Berlin, find it too great a bore to take tea with me tomorrow at five o'clock?' I hesitated a moment and she added, 'We shall be entirely alone.' This she said with a gleam in her eyes.
“I told her it would be a privilege for me except that my consulate friend had invited me to the theatre at half past seven, and since we'd have a box I'd have to dress formally. What with changing and eating, I'd have but little time to spare. She retorted with that same air of voluptuous magnificence, as if we were old friends, “That can all be arranged. Put on your evening things before you come. No one will notice if you wear an overcoat in the street, and in my house what will it matter how you are dressed? As to a meal, I'll see that you get enough for your tea to keep you from dying of hunger, and you are sure to go on to supper after the play.' She gave me her card and said she lived only a few minutes from the theatres. I thanked her and promised to be at her home at the hour named. I had a feeling that she wanted to introduce me to her friend but some other people came up just then and monopolized me. The name on the card was Baroness Mina Von Kastein.”