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Leonilda's frankness inspired my confidence, and I led the conversation to love, on which she talked like a past mistress. "Love," said she, "unless it leads to the possession of the beloved object, is a mere torment; if bounds are placed to passion, love must die." "You are right; and the enjoyment of a beautiful object is not a true pleasure unless it be preceded by love."
As for myself, as I pondered gloomily and compared Leonilda's age with the period at which I had been intimate with Lucrezia Castelli, I could see that it was quite possible that she might be my daughter; but I told myself that the mother could not be certain of the fact, as at the time she lived with her husband, who was very fond of her and not fifty years of age.
Leonilda's frankness inspired my confidence, and I led the conversation to love, on which she talked like a past mistress. "Love," said she, "unless it leads to the possession of the beloved object, is a mere torment; if bounds are placed to passion, love must die." "You are right; and the enjoyment of a beautiful object is not a true pleasure unless it be preceded by love."
Early next morning I went to his room, and after an affectionate embrace I told him not to forget that we were going to breakfast with his fair mistress. We both put on great coats and went to Leonilda's pretty house. We found her sitting up in bed, negligently but decently dressed, with a dimity corset tied with red ribbons. She looked beautiful, and her graceful posture added to her charms.
We ended the scene by mutual embraces, and when I took my burning lips from Leonilda's I felt consumed with a fire which I could not conceal. When we left I told the duke that I would see his mistress no more, unless he would give her up to me, declaring that I would marry her and give her a dower of five thousand ducats. "Speak to her, and if she consents I will not oppose it.
I felt curious to learn more about this generous Tuscan, so I proceeded to read Leonilda's letter. His name, it appeared, was M . He was a rich merchant established in London, and had been commended to her husband by a Knight of Malta. Leonilda said he was generous, good-hearted, and polished, and assured me that I should like him.
Donna Lucrezia approved of the arrangement as she did not want the marquis to think that I had only come to Salerno for her sake. My apartments were next to Leonilda's, but before I could get into her room I should be obliged to pass through that occupied by Anastasia, who slept with another maid still prettier than herself.
I took Leonilda's hand and pressed my lips to it, and just as the duke thought he had triumphed I besprinkled him, and went off into a roar of laughter. He laughed too, and went to get a napkin. The girl could see nothing of all this, as it went on under the table; and while my burning lips rested on her hand, my eyes were fixed on hers and our breath mingled.
We ended the scene by mutual embraces, and when I took my burning lips from Leonilda's I felt consumed with a fire which I could not conceal. When we left I told the duke that I would see his mistress no more, unless he would give her up to me, declaring that I would marry her and give her a dower of five thousand ducats. "Speak to her, and if she consents I will not oppose it.
As for myself, as I pondered gloomily and compared Leonilda's age with the period at which I had been intimate with Lucrezia Castelli, I could see that it was quite possible that she might be my daughter; but I told myself that the mother could not be certain of the fact, as at the time she lived with her husband, who was very fond of her and not fifty years of age.
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