The next morning P—— C—— called on me with an air of triumph; he told me that his sister had confessed to her mother that we loved one another, and that if she was ever to be married she would be unhappy with any other husband.
“I adore your sister,” I said to him; “but do you think that your father will be willing to give her to me?”
“I think not; but he is old. In the mean time, love one another. My mother has given her permission to go to the opera this evening with us.”
“Very well, my dear friend, we must go.”
“I find myself under the necessity of claiming a slight service at your hands.”
“Dispose of me.”
“There is some excellent Cyprus wine to be sold very cheap, and I can obtain a cask of it against my bill at six months. I am certain of selling it again immediately with a good profit; but the merchant requires a guarantee, and he is disposed to accept yours, if you will give it. Will you be kind enough to endorse2 my note of hand?”
“With pleasure.”
I signed my name without hesitation3, for where is the man in love who in such a case would have refused that service to a person who to revenge himself might have made him miserable4? We made an appointment for the evening, and parted highly pleased with each other.
After I had dressed myself, I went out and bought a dozen pairs of gloves, as many pairs of silk stockings, and a pair of garters embroidered5 in gold and with gold clasps, promising6 myself much pleasure in offering that first present to my young friend.
I need not say that I was exact in reaching the appointed place, but they were there already, waiting for me. Had I not suspected the intentions of P—— C— — their coming so early would have been very flattering to my vanity. The moment I had joined them, P—— C—— told me that, having other engagements to fulfil, he would leave his sister with me, and meet us at the theatre in the evening. When he had gone, I told C—— C—— that we would sail in a gondola7 until the opening of the theatre.
“No,” she answered, “let us rather go to the Zuecca Garden.”
“With all my heart.”
I hired a gondola and we went to St. Blaze, where I knew a very pretty garden which, for one sequin, was placed at my disposal for the remainder of the day, with the express condition that no one else would be allowed admittance. We had not had any dinner, and after I had ordered a good meal we went up to a room where we took off our disguises and masks, after which we went to the garden.
My lovely C—— C—— had nothing on but a bodice made of light silk and a skirt of the same description, but she was charming in that simple costume! My amorous8 looks went through those light veils, and in my imagination I saw her entirely9 naked! I sighed with burning desires, with a mixture of discreet10 reserve and voluptuous11 love.
The moment we had reached the long avenue, my young companion, as lively as a fawn12, finding herself at liberty on the green sward, and enjoying that happy freedom for the first time in her life, began to run about and to give way to the spirit of cheerfulness which was natural to her. When she was compelled to stop for want of breath, she burst out laughing at seeing me gazing at her in a sort of ecstatic silence. She then challenged me to run a race; the game was very agreeable to me. I accepted, but I proposed to make it interesting by a wager13.
“Whoever loses the race,” I said, “shall have to do whatever the winner asks.”
“Agreed!”
We marked the winning-post, and made a fair start. I was certain to win, but I lost on purpose, so as to see what she would ask me to do. At first she ran with all her might while I reserved my strength, and she was the first to reach the goal. As she was trying to recover her breath, she thought of sentencing me to a good penance14: she hid herself behind a tree and told me, a minute afterwards, that I had to find her ring. She had concealed15 it about her, and that was putting me in possession of all her person. I thought it was a delightful16 forfeit17, for I could easily see that she had chosen it with intentional18 mischief19; but I felt that I ought not to take too much advantage of her, because her artless confidence required to be encouraged. We sat on the grass, I visited her pockets, the folds of her stays, of her petticoat; then I looked in her shoes, and even at her garters which were fastened below the knees. Not finding anything, I kept on my search, and as the ring was about her, I was of course bound to discover it. My reader has most likely guessed that I had some suspicion of the charming hiding-place in which the young beauty had concealed the ring, but before coming to it I wanted to enjoy myself. The ring was at last found between the two most beautiful keepers that nature had ever rounded, but I felt such emotion as I drew it out that my hand was trembling.
“What are you trembling for?” she asked.
“Only for joy at having found the ring; you had concealed it so well! But you owe me a revenge, and this time you shall not beat me.”
“We shall see.”
We began a new race, and seeing that she was not running very fast, I thought I could easily distance her whenever I liked. I was mistaken. She had husbanded her strength, and when we had run about two-thirds of the race she suddenly sprang forward at full speed, left me behind, and I saw that I had lost. I then thought of a trick, the effect of which never fails; I feigned20 a heavy fall, and I uttered a shriek21 of pain. The poor child stopped at once, ran back to me in great fright, and, pitying me, she assisted me to raise myself from the ground. The moment I was on my feet again, I laughed heartily22 and, taking a spring forward, I had reached the goal long before her.
The charming runner, thoroughly23 amazed, said to me,
“Then you did not hurt yourself?”
“No, for I fell purposely.”
“Purposely? Oh, to deceive me! I would never have believed you capable of that. It is not fair to win by fraud; therefore I have not lost the race.”
“Oh! yes, you have, for I reached the goal before you.”
“Trick for trick; confess that you tried to deceive me at the start.”
“But that is fair, and your trick is a very different thing.”
“Yet it has given me the victory, and
“Vincasi per fortund o per ingano,
Il vincer sempre fu laudabil cosa” . . .
“I have often heard those words from my brother, but never from my father. Well, never mind, I have lost. Give your judgment24 now, I will obey.”
“Wait a little. Let me see. Ah! my sentence is that you shall exchange your garters for mine.”
“Exchange our garters! But you have seen mine, they are ugly and worth nothing.”
“Never mind. Twice every day I shall think of the person I love, and as nearly as possible at the same hours you will have to think of me.”
“It is a very pretty idea, and I like it. Now I forgive you for having deceived me. Here are my ugly garters! Ah! my dear deceiver, how beautiful yours are! What a handsome present! How they will please my mother! They must be a present which you have just received, for they are quite new.”
“No, they have not been given to me. I bought them for you, and I have been racking my brain to find how I could make you accept them. Love suggested to me the idea of making them the prize of the race. You may now imagine my sorrow when I saw that you would win. Vexation inspired me with a deceitful stratagem25 which arose from a feeling you had caused yourself, and which turned entirely to your honour, for you must admit that you would have shewn a very hard heart if you had not come to my assistance.”
“And I feel certain that you would not have had recourse to that stratagem, if you could have guessed how deeply it would pain me.”
“Do you then feel much interest in me?”
“I would do anything in the world to convince you of it. I like my pretty garters exceedingly; I will never have another pair, and I promise you that my brother shall not steal them from me.”
“Can you suppose him capable of such an action?”
“Oh! certainly, especially if the fastenings are in gold.”
“Yes, they are in gold; but let him believe that they are in gilt26 brass27.”
“Will you teach me how to fasten my beautiful garters?”
“Of course I will.”
We went upstairs, and after our dinner which we both enjoyed with a good appetite, she became more lively and I more excited by love, but at the same time more to be pitied in consequence of the restraint to which I had condemned28 myself. Very anxious to try her garters, she begged me to help her, and that request was made in good faith, without mischievous29 coquetry. An innocent young girl, who, in spite of her fifteen years, has not loved yet, who has not frequented the society of other girls, does not know the violence of amorous desires or what is likely to excite them. She has no idea of the danger of a tete-a-tete. When a natural instinct makes her love for the first time, she believes the object of her love worthy30 of her confidence, and she thinks that to be loved herself she must shew the most boundless31 trust.
Seeing that her stockings were too short to fasten the garter above the knee, she told me that she would in future use longer ones, and I immediately offered her those that I had purchased. Full of gratitude32 she sat on my knees, and in the effusion of her satisfaction she bestowed33 upon me all the kisses that she would have given to her father if he had made her such a present. I returned her kisses, forcibly keeping down the violence of my feelings. I only told her that one of her kisses was worth a kingdom. My charming C—— C—— took off her shoes and stockings, and put on one of the pairs I had given her, which went halfway34 up her thigh35. The more innocent I found her to be, the less I could make up my mind to possess myself of that ravishing prey36.
We returned to the garden, and after walking about until the evening we went to the opera, taking care to keep on our masks, because, the theatre being small, we might easily have been recognized, and my lovely friend was certain that her father would not allow her to come out again, if he found out that she had gone to the opera.
We were rather surprised not to see her brother. On our left we had the Marquis of Montalegre, the Spanish ambassador, with his acknowledged mistress, Mdlle. Bola, and in the box on our right a man and a woman who had not taken off their masks. Those two persons kept their eyes constantly fixed38 upon us, but my young friend did not remark it as her back was turned towards them. During the ballet, C—— C—— having left the libretto39 of the opera on the ledge37 of the box, the man with the mask stretched forth40 his hand and took it. That proved to me that we were known to him, and I said so to my companion, who turned round and recognized her brother. The lady who was with him could be no other than Madame C——. As P—— C—— knew the number of our box, he had taken the next one; he could not have done so without some intention, and I foresaw that he meant to make his sister have supper with that woman. I was much annoyed, but I could not prevent it without breaking off with him, altogether, and I was in love.
After the second ballet, he came into our box with his lady, and after the usual exchange of compliments the acquaintance was made, and we had to accept supper at his casino. As soon as the two ladies had thrown off their masks, they embraced one another, and the mistress of P—— C—— overwhelmed my young friend with compliments and attentions. At table she affected42 to treat her with extreme affability, and C—— C—— not having any experience of the world behaved towards her with the greatest respect. I could, however, see that C— — in spite of all her art, could hardly hide the vexation she felt at the sight of the superior beauty which I had preferred to her own charms. P—— C— — who was of an extravagant43 gaiety, launched forth in stupid jokes at which his mistress alone laughed; in my anger, I shrugged44 my shoulders, and his sister, not understanding his jests, took no notice of them. Altogether our ‘partie caree’ was not formed of congenial spirits, and was rather a dull affair.
As the dessert was placed on the table, P—— C— — somewhat excited by the wine he had drunk, kissed his lady-love, and challenged me to follow his example with his sister. I told him that I loved Mdlle. C—— C—— truly, and that I would not take such liberties with her until I should have acquired a legal right to her favours. P—— C—— began to scoff45 at what I had said, but C—— stopped him. Grateful for that mark of propriety46, I took out of my pocket the twelve pairs of gloves which I had bought in the morning, and after I had begged her acceptance of half a dozen pairs I gave the other six to my young friend. P—— C—— rose from the table with a sneer47, dragging along with him his mistress, who had likewise drunk rather freely, and he threw himself on a sofa with her. The scene taking a lewd48 turn, I placed myself in such a manner as to hide them from the view of my young friend, whom I led into the recess49 of a window. But I had not been able to prevent C—— C—— from seeing in a looking- glass the position of the two impudent50 wretches51, and her face was suffused52 with blushes; I, however, spoke53 to her quietly of indifferent things, and recovering her composure she answered me, speaking of her gloves, which she was folding on the pier-table. After his brutal54 exploit, P—— C—— came impudently55 to me and embraced me; his dissolute companion, imitating his example, kissed my young friend, saying she was certain that she had seen nothing. C—— C—— answered modestly that she did not know what she could have seen, but the look she cast towards me made me understand all she felt. If the reader has any knowledge of the human heart, he must guess what my feelings were. How was it possible to endure such a scene going on in the presence of an innocent girl whom I adored, when I had to fight hard myself with my own burning desires so as not to abuse her innocence56! I was on a bed of thorns! Anger and indignation, restrained by the reserve I was compelled to adopt for fear of losing the object of my ardent57 love, made me tremble all over. The inventors of hell would not have failed to place that suffering among its torments58, if they had known it. The lustful59 P—- C—— had thought of giving me a great proof of his friendship by the disgusting action he had been guilty of, and he had reckoned as nothing the dishonour60 of his mistress, and the delicacy61 of his sister whom he had thus exposed to prostitution. I do not know how I contrived62 not to strangle him. The next day, when he called on me, I overwhelmed him with the most bitter reproaches, and he tried to excuse himself by saying that he never would have acted in that manner if he had not felt satisfied that I had already treated his sister in the tete-a-tete in the same way that he treated his mistress before us.
My love for C—— C—— became every instant more intense, and I had made up my mind to undertake everything necessary to save her from the fearful position in which her unworthy brother might throw her by selling her for his own profit to some man less scrupulous63 than I was. It seemed to me urgent. What a disgusting state of things! What an unheard-of species of seduction! What a strange way to gain my friendship! And I found myself under the dire64 necessity of dissembling with the man whom I despised most in the world! I had been told that he was deeply in debt, that he had been a bankrupt in Vienna, where he had a wife and a family of children, that in Venice he had compromised his father who had been obliged to turn him out of his house, and who, out of pity, pretended not to know that he had kept his room in it. He had seduced65 his wife, or rather his mistress, who had been driven away by her husband, and after he had squandered66 everything she possessed67, and he found himself at the end of his wits, he had tried to turn her prostitution to advantage. His poor mother who idolized him had given him everything she had, even her own clothes, and I expected him to plague me again for some loan or security, but I was firmly resolved on refusing. I could not bear the idea of C—— C—— being the innocent cause of my ruin, and used as a tool by her brother to keep up his disgusting life.
Moved by an irresistible68 feeling, by what is called perfect love, I called upon P—— C—— on the following day, and, after I had told him that I adored his sister with the most honourable69 intentions, I tried to make him realize how deeply he had grieved me by forgetting all respect, and that modesty70 which the most inveterate71 libertine72 ought never to insult if he has any pretension73 to be worthy of respectable society.
“Even if I had to give up,” I added, “the pleasure of seeing your angelic sister, I have taken the firm resolution of not keeping company with you; but I candidly74 warn you that I will do everything in my power to prevent her from going out with you, and from being the victim of some infamous75 bargain in your hands.”
He excused himself again by saying that he had drunk too much, and that he did not believe that my love for his sister was such as to despise the gratification of my senses. He begged my pardon, he embraced me with tears in his eyes, and I would, perhaps have given way to my own emotion, when his mother and sister entered the room. They offered me their heart-felt thanks for the handsome present I had given to the young lady. I told the mother that I loved her daughter, and that my fondest hope was to obtain her for my wife.
“In the hope of securing that happiness, madam,” I added, “I shall get a friend to speak to your husband as soon as I shall have secured a position giving me sufficient means to keep her comfortably, and to assure her happiness.”
So saying I kissed her hand, and I felt so deeply moved that the tears ran down my cheeks. Those tears were sympathetic, and the excellent woman was soon crying like me. She thanked me affectionately, and left me with her daughter and her son, who looked as if he had been changed into a statue.
There are a great many mothers of that kind in the world, and very often they are women who have led a virtuous76 life; they do not suppose that deceit can exist, because their own nature understands only what is upright and true; but they are almost always the victims of their good faith, and of their trust in those who seem to them to be patterns of honesty. What I had told the mother surprised the daughter, but her astonishment77 was much greater when she heard of what I had said to her brother. After one moment of consideration, she told him that, with any other man but me, she would have been ruined; and that, if she had been in the place of Madame C— — she would never have forgiven him, because the way he had treated her was as debasing for her as for himself. P—— C—— was weeping, but the traitor78 could command tears whenever he pleased.
It was Whit79 Sunday, and as the theatres were closed he told me that, if I would be at the same place of Appointment as before, the next day, he would leave his sister with me, and go by himself with Madame C— — whom he could not honourably80 leave alone.
“I will give you my key,” he added, “and you can bring back my sister here as soon as you have supper together wherever you like.”
And he handed me his key, which I had not the courage to refuse. After that he left us. I went away myself a few minutes afterwards, having previously81 agreed with C—— C—— that we would go to the Zuecca Garden on the following day.
I was punctual, and love exciting me to the highest degree I foresaw what would happen on that day. I had engaged a box at the opera, and we went to our garden until the evening. As it was a holiday there were several small parties of friends sitting at various tables, and being unwilling82 to mix with other people we made up our minds to remain in the apartment which was given to us, and to go to the opera only towards the end of the performance. I therefore ordered a good supper. We had seven hours to spend together, and my charming young friend remarked that the time would certainly not seem long to us. She threw off her disguise and sat on my knees, telling me that I had completed the conquest of her heart by my reserve towards her during the supper with her brother; but all our conversation was accompanied by kisses which, little by little, were becoming more and more ardent.
“Did you see,” she said to me, “what my brother did to Madame C—— when she placed herself astride on his knees? I only saw it in the looking-glass, but I could guess what it was.”
“Were you not afraid of my treating you in the same manner?”
“No, I can assure you. How could I possibly fear such a thing, knowing how much you love me? You would have humiliated83 me so deeply that I should no longer have loved you. We will wait until we are married, will we not, dear? You cannot realize the extent of the joy I felt when I heard you speak to my mother as you did! We will love each other for ever. But will you explain to me, dearest, the meaning of the words embroidered upon my garters?”
“Is there any motto upon them? I was not aware of it.”
“Oh, yes! it is in French; pray read it.”
Seated on my knees, she took off one of her garters while I was unclasping the other, and here are the two lines which I found embroidered on them, and which I ought to have read before offering them to her:
‘En voyant chaque jour le bijou de ma belle84,
Vous lui direz qu’Amour veut qu’il lui soit fidele.’
Those verses, rather free I must confess, struck me as very comic. I burst out laughing, and my mirth increased when, to please her, I had to translate their meaning. As it was an idea entirely new to her, I found it necessary to enter into particulars which lighted an ardent fire in our veins85.
“Now,” she observed, “I shall not dare to shew my garters to anybody, and I am very sorry for it.”
As I was rather thoughtful, she added,
“Tell me what you are thinking of?”
“I am thinking that those lucky garters have a privilege which perhaps I shall never enjoy. How I wish myself in their place: I may die of that wish, and die miserable.”
“No, dearest, for I am in the same position as you, and I am certain to live. Besides, we can hasten our marriage. As far as I am concerned, I am ready to become your wife to-morrow if you wish it. We are both free, and my father cannot refuse his consent.”
“You are right, for he would be bound to consent for the sake of his honour. But I wish to give him a mark of my respect by asking for your hand, and after that everything will soon be ready. It might be in a week or ten days.”
“So soon? You will see that my father will say that I am too young.”
“Perhaps he is right.”
“No; I am young, but not too young, and I am certain that I can be your wife.”
I was on burning coals, and I felt that it was impossible for me to resist any longer the ardent fire which was consuming me.
“Oh, my best beloved!” I exclaimed, “do you feel certain of my love? Do you think me capable of deceiving you? Are you sure that you will never repent86 being my wife?”
“More than certain, darling; for you could not wish to make me unhappy.”
“Well, then, let our marriage take place now. Let God alone receive our mutual87 pledges; we cannot have a better witness, for He knows the purity of our intentions. Let us mutually engage our faith, let us unite our destinies and be happy. We will afterwards legalize our tender love with your father’s consent and with the ceremonies of the Church; in the mean time be mine, entirely mine.”
“Dispose of me, dearest. I promise to God, I promise to you that, from this very moment and for ever, I will be your faithful wife; I will say the same to my father, to the priest who will bless our union — in fact, to everybody.”
“I take the same oath towards you, darling, and I can assure you that we are now truly married. Come to my arms! Oh, dearest, complete my felicity!”
“Oh, dear! am I indeed so near happiness!”
After kissing her tenderly, I went down to tell the mistress of the house not to disturb us, and not to bring up our dinner until we called for it. During my short absence, my charming C—— C—— had thrown herself dressed on the bed, but I told her that the god of love disapproved88 of unnecessary veils, and in less than a minute I made of her a new Eve, beautiful in her nakedness as if she had just come out of the hands of the Supreme89 Artist. Her skin, as soft as satin, was dazzlingly white, and seemed still more so beside her splendid black hair which I had spread over her alabaster90 shoulders. Her slender figure, her prominent hips91, her beautifully-modelled bosom92, her large eyes, from which flashed the sparkle of amorous desire, everything about her was strikingly beautiful, and presented to my hungry looks the perfection of the mother of love, adorned93 by all the charms which modesty throws over the attractions of a lovely woman.
Beside myself, I almost feared lest my felicity should not prove real, or lest it should not be made perfect by complete enjoyment94, when mischievous love contrived, in so serious a moment, to supply me with a reason for mirth.
“Is there by any chance a law to prevent the husband from undressing himself?” enquired96 beautiful C—— C——.
“No, darling angel, no; and even if there were such a barbarous law, I would not submit to it.”
In one instant, I had thrown off all my garments, and my mistress, in her turn, gave herself up to all the impulse of natural instinct and curiosity, for every part of my body was an entirely new thing to her. At last, as if she had had enough of the pleasure her eyes were enjoying, she pressed me against her bosom, and exclaimed,
“Oh! dearest, what a difference between you and my pillow!”
“Your pillow, darling? You are laughing; what do you mean?”
“Oh! it is nothing but a childish fancy; I am afraid you will be angry.”
“Angry! How could I be angry with you, my love, in the happiest moment of my life?”
“Well, for several days past, I could not go to sleep without holding my pillow in my arms; I caressed97 it, I called it my dear husband; I fancied it was you, and when a delightful enjoyment had left me without movement, I would go to sleep, and in the morning find my pillow still between my arms.”
My dear C—— C—— became my wife with the courage of a true heroine, for her intense love caused her to delight even in bodily pain. After three hours spent in delicious enjoyment, I got up and called for our supper. The repast was simple, but very good. We looked at one another without speaking, for how could we find words to express our feelings? We thought that our felicity was extreme, and we enjoyed it with the certainty that we could renew it at will.
The hostess came up to enquire95 whether we wanted anything, and she asked if we were not going to the opera, which everybody said was so beautiful.
“Have you never been to the opera?”
“Never, because it is too dear for people in our position. My daughter has such a wish to go, that, God forgive me for saying it! she would give herself, I truly believe, to the man who would take her there once.”
“That would be paying very dear for it,” said my little wife, laughing. “Dearest, we could make her happy at less cost, for that hurts very much.”
“I was thinking of it, my love. Here is the key of the box, you can make them a present of it.”
“Here is the key of a box at the St. Moses Theatre,” she said to the hostess; “it costs two sequins; go instead of us, and tell your daughter to keep her rose-bud for something better.”
“To enable you to amuse yourself, my good woman; take these two sequins,” I added. “Let your daughter enjoy herself well.”
The good hostess, thoroughly amazed at the generosity98 of her guests, ran in a great hurry to her daughter, while we were delighted at having laid ourselves under the pleasant necessity of again going to bed. She came up with her daughter, a handsome, tempting99 blonde, who insisted upon kissing the hands of her benefactors100.
“She is going this minute with her lover,” said the mother. “He is waiting for her; but I will not let her go alone with him, for he is not to be trusted; I am going with them.”
“That is right, my good woman; but when you come back this evening, let the gondola wait for us; it will take us to Venice.”
“What! Do you mean to remain here until we return?”
“Yes, for this is our wedding-day.”
“To-day? God bless you!”
She then went to the bed, to put it to rights, and seeing the marks of my wife’s virginity she came to my dear C—— C—— and, in her joy, kissed her, and immediately began a sermon for the special benefit of her daughter, shewing her those marks which, in her opinion, did infinite honour to the young bride: respectable marks, she said, which in our days the god of Hymen sees but seldom on his altar.
The daughter, casting down her beautiful blue eyes, answered that the same would certainly be seen on her wedding-day.
“I am certain of it,” said the mother, “for I never lose sight of thee. Go and get some water in this basin, and bring it here. This charming bride must be in need of it.”
The girl obeyed. The two women having left us, we went to bed, and four hours of ecstatic delights passed off with wonderful rapidity. Our last engagement would have lasted longer, if my charming sweetheart had not taken a fancy to take my place and to reverse the position. Worn out with happiness and enjoyment, we were going to sleep, when the hostess came to tell us that the gondola was waiting for us. I immediately got up to open the door, in the hope that she would amuse us with her description of the opera; but she left that task to her daughter, who had come up with her, and she went down again to prepare some coffee for us. The young girl assisted my sweetheart to dress, but now and then she would wink101 at me in a manner which made me think that she had more experience than her mother imagined.
Nothing could be more indiscreet than the eyes of my beloved mistress; they wore the irrefutable marks of her first exploits. It is true that she had just been fighting a battle which had positively102 made her a different being to what she was before the engagement.
We took some hot coffee, and I told our hostess to get us a nice dinner for the next day; we then left in the gondola. The dawn of day was breaking when we landed at St. Sophia’s Square, in order to set the curiosity of the gondoliers at fault, and we parted happy, delighted, and certain that we were thoroughly married. I went to bed, having made up my mind to compel M. de Bragadin, through the power of the oracle103, to obtain legally for me the hand of my beloved C—— C——. I remained in bed until noon, and spent the rest of the day in playing with ill luck, as if Dame41 Fortune had wished to warn me that she did not approve of my love.
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1
intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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endorse
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| vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意 | |
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3
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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7
gondola
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| n.威尼斯的平底轻舟；飞船的吊船 | |
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8
amorous
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| adj.多情的；有关爱情的 | |
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9
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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voluptuous
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| adj.肉欲的，骄奢淫逸的 | |
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12
fawn
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| n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承 | |
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13
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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14
penance
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| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
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15
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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16
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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17
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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18
intentional
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| adj.故意的，有意（识）的 | |
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19
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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20
feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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21
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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22
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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23
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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24
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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25
stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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26
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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27
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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28
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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29
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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30
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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31
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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32
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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33
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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35
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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36
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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39
libretto
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| n.歌剧剧本，歌曲歌词 | |
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40
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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41
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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42
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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43
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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44
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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45
scoff
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| n.嘲笑，笑柄，愚弄；v.嘲笑，嘲弄，愚弄，狼吞虎咽 | |
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46
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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47
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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48
lewd
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| adj.淫荡的 | |
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49
recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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50
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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51
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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52
suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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54
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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55
impudently
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56
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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57
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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58
torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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59
lustful
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| a.贪婪的；渴望的 | |
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60
dishonour
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| n./vt.拒付（支票、汇票、票据等）；vt.凌辱，使丢脸；n.不名誉，耻辱，不光彩 | |
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61
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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65
seduced
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| 诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
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66
squandered
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| v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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69
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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70
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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71
inveterate
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| adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的 | |
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72
libertine
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| n.淫荡者；adj.放荡的，自由思想的 | |
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73
pretension
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| n.要求；自命，自称；自负 | |
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74
candidly
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| adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地 | |
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75
infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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76
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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77
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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78
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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79
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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80
honourably
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| adv.可尊敬地，光荣地，体面地 | |
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81
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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82
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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83
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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84
belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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85
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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86
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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87
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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88
disapproved
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| v.不赞成( disapprove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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90
alabaster
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| adj.雪白的；n.雪花石膏；条纹大理石 | |
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91
hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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92
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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93
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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94
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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95
enquire
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| v.打听，询问；调查，查问 | |
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96
enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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97
caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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98
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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99
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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100
benefactors
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| n.捐助者，施主( benefactor的名词复数 )；恩人 | |
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101
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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102
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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103
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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