We were once more alone. I had left with Violette the preceding evening, a copy of a letter for M. Beruchet. She had written it and forwarded it; there was nothing further to be done in that quarter, and we might rest in peace. No unpleasant enquiries or researches would now be made on account of Violette's sudden disappearance.
She had been too busy thinking to feel dull. All I had told her made an impression on her mind, and she had been pondering on the mysteries I had disclosed. Then, her curiosity being awakened, she had divested herself of all her garments, lighted the candles, and minutely examined her person. But as she had never seen any other woman naked she could not judge the degree of perfection or imperfection of the different parts of her form. Getting tired of this examination, she had set herself to read, but as chance would have it, the book she had taken up was just the sort of book that would set her mind to working. She was in an utter state of perplexity, for the work she was perusing was, Mademoiselle de Maupin by Theophile Gautier.
Now Mademoiselle de Maupin, in the garb of a dashing cavalier, made love to a young lady, and the intrigue wound up by one of those enigmatical scenes of which only a perfect knowledge of the ways of ancient civilization could furnish any clue.
This was the very scene that made poor Violette wonder so. I explained that, in the same way that among molluscs and plants hermaphrodites are to be found (or beings possessing either sex) there were in the animal kingdom, on woman especially, instances of bisexual organs, in appearance at least, on account of the large proportions of the clitoris. I told her that the Greeks, great worshippers, or rather fanatics, of physical beauty, with the view of creating beauteous forms not existing in nature, supposed that the son of Mercury and Venus had been seen bathing in the waters of a fountain, by the nymph Salamacis, who begged the gods to unite her body to that of her lover. The gods granted her prayer, and from the adjunction of female beauty to male beauty there sprang a creature with both sexes, experiencing the same amorous desires for man or woman, and able to satisfy them in both ways.
I promised to take her to the museum to see the Hermaphrodite of Farnese, which, reclining in an easy position on a couch, combines in his person the beauty of both man and woman.
But I explained that this perfect distinction of sexes did not exist in nature, though it is a fact that women with an elongated clitoris often have a marked penchant for persons of their own sex. This was an occasion for relating the story of Sappho, the founder of that worship which, though established hundreds of years ago, has still so many disciples in modern society.
I told her there were two Sapphos-one from Eresas, the other from Mitylene; the one a courtesan, the other a priestess; the one of perfect beauty, the other of ordinary attractions. The adoration of the Greeks for beauty was so great that they struck medals representing the courtesan of Eresas as though she had been a queen.
The other, the Sappho of Mitylene, the less attractive, had reached the marriageable age without having loved or being loved, and she resolved, in imitation of the Amazons of old, to form a league against men, but this new league was still more complete, insomuch that once a year the Amazons allowed their husbands to visit them in their island, whereas the disciples of Sappho made the vow to keep aloof altogether from males, and to have lovers none but persons of their own sex.
“But,” asked Violette, innocently, “what can women do together?”
“They can do what I did to you the day before yesterday with finger and tongue; besides, the name which was given them explains the arts to which they give themselves up. They are called Tribades, from a verb which signifies to rub.”
Sappho moreover, invented an instrument made of certain materials which in shape and appearance resembled the virile member.
Ezekiel, who lived three hundred years after Sappho, reproached the women of Jerusalem with making use of these kinds of images made of gold and silver.
The scandal caused by Sappho grew to such proportions that Venus thought it high time to put an end to it, the more so as the Lesbian religion was being propagated to the other islands of Greece, and, in consequence, her altars were in danger of-being left without worshippers.
There existed a handsome ferryman named Phon, who took passengers from one shore to the other in the harbour of Mitylene. She disguised herself as an old beggar woman, and asked the ferryman to take her over free of charge. But on reaching the opposite bank it so happened that Phon became aware that his passenger was not an old beggar woman, but the goddess of Beauty and Love.
The sight of Venus produced so potential and visible an effect upon the handsome boatman that it would have been ungrateful on her part not to grant him a reward. Venus therefore blew all round them a cloud which enveloped and hid them from view.
After an hour the cloud was wafted away. Phon found himself alone, but Venus had presented him with a certain perfumed oil which, when applied to his person, would make him loved by all women.
Phon, of course, did not fail to make use of his oil, and as Sappho, when passing him by chance, inhaled the perfume from his locks, she fell in love with handsome Phon, and loved him as she was capable of loving, that is, madly.
Phon jilted her. This was the revenge of the goddess. Seeing that Phon was not to be won, and not being able to renew the miracle of Samilies, Sappho proceeded to Leucate to leap off the rock.
“Why should she jump off a rock?” asked Violette.
“Because disappointed lovers who leaped from the rock into the sea were cured if they could safely reach the bank; if drowned, the cure was still more complete.”
“And do you say there are such women?”
“Many.”
“Wait a little.”
“What?”
“I remember-”
“Ah, I suppose some fair lady fell in love with you.”
“Well, I believe that may be the case.”
“'Pon my word, it would be an amusing thing. Tell me all about it.”
She settled down on my knees.
“Well,” she said, “when I was at Madame Beruchet's, there came sometimes in a fine carriage and pair, with a black footman, a great lady whom they called Madame la Comtesse. When she bought corsets, or dressing gowns or drawers, she would have me in the back shop, to see that the articles fitted her.
“At first she did not pay more attention to me than to the others, but by degrees, it seemed to her that nothing she bought would suit her unless it passed through my hands; so much so that she would buy any article offered to her as my own make, though I had never touched it.
“Four days ago-but you will see I had never given any thought to it at the time, but I remember now-they had some goods to be delivered to her, and she sent her carriage saying that I, and no other girl, should take them to her. I went and found her alone in a small boudoir hung with satin, and a quantity of vases and beautiful china about. The lady's maid was there and asked whether she should wait on her, but the Comtesse dismissed her, saying she would not for the time require her services. Indeed, when we were alone, she said it was all very well, but I must try on myself all the articles ordered, because if she tried them on she would never be able to tell whether they fitted.
“I pointed out that I was shorter by a head, and that consequently, it would be impossible to know how they would fit her; but she would not hear me, and began to undress me.
“I offered no resistance though I was quite ashamed, and I dared not open my lips while she divested me of my kerchief and my bodice, exclaiming the while: 'Oh! the pretty neck! Ah! what beautiful shoulders! What charming little bubbles!' and she kissed my neck, my throat and bosom, passing her hands all over and her lips afterwards. Suddenly she said: 'But I forgot, you must try on the drawers.'