"Oh, he is quite well."
"And what is his trade?"
"He is a keeper at the gates of Lille."
"What is his name?"
"Rouchat."
"But I perceive that I have been asking you questions for an hour, and I have not enquired of you why Monsieur Beruchet frightened you so?"
"Because he always tried to kiss me."
"You don't say so!"
"He followed me everywhere, and I never dared to go without a light into the back shop, because I was always sure of finding him there."
"Then you did not like him to kiss you?"
"Oh, not at all!"
"And why were you displeased so?"
"Because he is so ugly, and then I thought he did not only want to kiss me."
"But what did he want else?"
"I don't know."
I looked at her to see whether she wasn't making fun of me. But I perceived from her innocent look, that she was perfectly in earnest.
"Well, then, what did he do, besides kissing you?"
"He came up to my room yesterday when I was in bed; at least I think it was he, and he tried to open my door."
"Did he say anything?"
"No, but during the day, he said: 'Do not shut your door as you did yesterday, little one, I have something of importance to tell you.'"
"And you locked your door all the same."
"Oh, yes I did. More securely than ever."
"Did he come?"
"Yes, he did come. He tried all he could to open the door. He tapped and tapped; then he knocked louder. Then he said 'It is I, little Violette'. You may well imagine that I gave no reply. I was shaking with fright in my bed. The more he said, 'It is I', the more he called me darling Violette, the more I put my blanket over my head. At last after waiting at least half an hour, he went away grumbling."
"All day he looked sulky so that I was in hopes he would leave me alone tonight. I was half undressed, as you see me, when I thought of bolting the door. But the bolt had been taken off during the day and there was no lock there; so, without losing a moment I ran off and knocked at your door. Oh! how lucky I did so!" And the child threw her arms around my neck.
"So you're not frightened of me?"
"Oh, no!"
"And if I wished to kiss you, would you run away?"
"See now," said she, and she applied her humid and fresh mouth to my parched lips.
I could not help keeping my lips on hers for a few seconds while I caressed her teeth with the tip of my tongue. She closed her eyes and leaned her head backwards, saying: "Oh, how nice, is that kind of kiss!"
"You've never been kissed that way?" I inquired.
"No," she said, passing her tongue over her burning lips. "Is it the usual way?"
"Yes, when you love the person."
"Then, you do love me?"
"If I am not yet in love with you I am afraid I soon shall be."
"Just like me!"
"So much the better!"
"And what do people do who love one another?"
"They exchange kisses as we just have done."
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
"Well, that is funny. It seemed to me I wished for something else; as if this kiss, however sweet it may be, were only the beginning of love."
"What did you feel?"
"I cannot say; a kind of languid sensation in all my body. A pleasure such as I have experienced sometimes in dreams."
"And when you awoke after these dreams, how did you feel?"
"I was quite exhausted."
"Did you never have that sensation except in a dream?"
"Yes, indeed, just now, when you kissed me."
"Am I then the first man who ever kissed you?"
"In that way, you are. My father often kissed me, but it was not at all the same thing."
"Then you are still a virgin?"
"Virgin, what does that mean?"
Evidently, from her tone she was sincere!"
I took pity, or rather I felt respect for that innocence which then put itself so entirely at my mercy. It seemed as if it were a crime to rob her of that sweet treasure, which she unconsciously possessed, and which, when once given away, is lost forever.
"And now let us talk seriously, my dear girl," I said, releasing her from my embrace.
"Oh, you are not going to send me away, surely?"
"No, I am too happy to have you here." Then, after a pause: "Listen," I said, "this is what we are going to do. We will go and fetch your clothes."
"Very well, and where shall I go?"
"That's my business. First of all let us go to your room."
"And Monsieur Beruchet?"
"It is probable that he has left, for it is nearly three o'clock in the morning."
"What shall we do in my room?"
"We will take away all your things."
"And then?"
"And then I shall take you with your little luggage to a room in town, whence you will write to Monsieur Beruchet a letter which I shall dictate. Are you willing?"
"Oh, I shall do as you bid me."
How charming this confidence of innocence and youth! The darling girl, she would certainly have done all I bade her, there and then.
We went up to the lockless room, and put her scanty belongings into a carpetbag.
Violette finished dressing herself, we came downstairs, and, as there were no cabs about, we set out arm in arm, as happy and light-hearted as two school chums, repaired to the Rue Saint Augustin, where I kept a room for a night's debauch when I felt so inclined.
An hour later I was home again, without having tried to make further progress in my amours with Violette.
CHAPTER 2
The room which I kept in the Rue Saint Augustin was not in a lodging house. It was a room which I had furnished myself, in view of its destination, with such taste as would have satisfied the most dainty lady.
It was hung all around in carnation velvet; the window curtains and bed curtains were of the same material. The bed was covered with velvet also, and the whole set off by Torsells and bands of gold satin.
A looking glass occupied the whole of the wall inside the bed and corresponded with the mirror placed between the two windows so that images were reproduced ad infinitum.
The rest of the furniture was in keeping with this elegant decoration. A bath was hidden in a sofa and a large bearskin made the pretty feet which rested on it look still whiter.
A pretty little lady's maid, whose only functions were to keep the room in order and to attend to the different lady visitors, had her room on the same landing.
I bade her prepare a bath in the dressing room without awaking the occupant of the bedroom.
We entered without a light, and only lit a night lamp in a vase of rose coloured Bohemian glass. Then I turned away to allow the young girl to undress freely, an operation which in her innocence she would have done in my presence. After which I kissed her on both eyes, bade her good night and returned home as I said before.
In spite of the emotions of the day, Violette went to bed, where she nestled like a little pussy. She said goodbye with a yawn, and I am sure she must have been fast asleep before I was well in the street.
As for me, the case was different, and I could not close my eyes. I confess-that bosom from which my hand had rebounded, that mouth which had been glued to my lips that half opened chemise which had disclosed such lovely treasures-the recollection kept me awake and in a state of great excitement.
I am certain male readers will not ask for any explanation of my conduct, for they fully understand why I stopped half way.
But lady readers more inquisitive or more ignorant of certain articles of our code, will surely wish to know why I went no further.
I must say that it was not for lack of desire, but Violette, as I stated before, was barely fifteen years old, and then she was so innocent that it would have seemed like a crime to take possession of charms given away, so to speak, without any consciousness of the seriousness of the act. And again, I must add, that I am one of those who delight in the relish of all the preliminary delicacies of love, all the voluptuousness of its most complicated pleasures.
Innocence is a flower which should be left unculled as long as possible on its stalk, and should be plucked only leaf by leaf.