“I will persuade the countess,” said Triulzi.

“To make your task an easier one, I may as well tell you that the wedding is that of the fair Zenobia.”

“Bravo!  I am sure the countess will come to that.”

The count went out, and shortly reappeared with Zenobia.  The marquis congratulated her, and encouraged her to ask the countess to the wedding.  She seemed doubtful, so the marquis took her by the hand and let her into the proud Spaniard’s room.  In half an hour they returned informing us that my lady had deigned to accept the invitation.

When the marquis had gone, the count told me that I might go and keep his wife company, if I had nothing better to do, and that he would see to some business.

“I have the thousand sequins in my pocket,” I remarked, “and if I find her reasonable, I will leave them with her.”

“I will go and speak to her first.”

“Do so.”

While the count was out of the room, I exchanged the thousand sequins for the fifteen thousand francs in bank notes which Greppi had given me.

I was just shutting up my cash-box when Zenobia came in with my lace cuffs.  She asked me if I would like to buy a piece of lace.  I replied in the affirmative, and she went out and brought it me.

I liked the lace, and bought it for eighteen sequins, and said,—­

“This lace is yours, dearest Zenobia, if you will content me this moment.”

“I love you well, but I should be glad if you would wait till after my marriage.”

“No, dearest, now or never.  I cannot wait.  I shall die if you do not grant my prayer.  Look! do you not see what a state I am in?”

“I see it plainly enough, but it can’t be done.”

“Why not?  Are you afraid of your husband noticing the loss of your maidenhead?”

“Not I, and if he did I shouldn’t care.  I promise you if he dared to reproach me, he should not have me at all.”

“Well said, for my leavings are too good for him.  Come quick!”

“But you will shut the door, at least?”

“No, the noise would be heard, and might give rise to suspicion.  Nobody will come in.”

With these words I drew her towards me, and finding her as gentle as a lamb and as loving as a dove, the amorous sacrifice was offered with abundant libations on both sides.  After the first ecstacy was over, I proceeded to examine her beauties, and with my usual amorous frenzy told her that she should send her tailor out to graze and live with me.  Fortunately she did not believe in the constancy of my passion.  After a second assault I rested, greatly astonished that the count had not interrupted our pleasures.  I thought he must have gone out, and I told Zenobia my opinion, whereon she overwhelmed me with caresses.  Feeling at my ease, I set her free from her troublesome clothes, and gave myself up to toying with her in a manner calculated to arouse the exhausted senses; and then for the third time we were clasped to each other’s arms, while I made Zenobia put herself into the many attitudes which I knew from experience as most propitious to the voluptuous triumph.