XCI.
THE CALVES.
"Non formosus erat sed erat facundus Ulixes."
OVID.
Zulma had run forward to meet him. He took hold of both her hands and made her sit down close beside him on the sofa.
—Well, what is the news? How have they received you here? Are you satisfied? Have you had a good dinner?
—Too good, replied Zulma: I am afraid I have spent a deal of money.
—A deal of money! Eh, eh! the good little girl! But you have nothing to pay here, my little puss. Nothing at all to pay, nothing at all. All the expense is my concern, and the more you spend, the better pleased I shall be. Have they not told you that, told you that, told you that?
—You are too kind, Monsieur; but I, what shall I do then for you?
—She is heavenly, eh, eh! But I want nothing, darling, nothing, nothing … except to see your pretty eyes. When we see them once, we have only one wish, and that is to see them again, again, again. I am well paid for the little I have done for you, since I have that pleasure. Yes, yes, yes. We are only too happy for what we can do for a charming little face like yours, and when we have obliged it, we say thank you! That is what I do, my little duck; thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.
—I am very grateful to you….
—That is what I was thinking. I want to kiss you for that kind word. Alas, we come across so many ungrateful people in the world…. What a fine and velvety skin; how soft it is under the lips … again, again…. I could eat it … again…. Ah, you do not want to again. What are you afraid of? I might be your father…. Come, another little kiss for poor papa.
Zulma let him kiss her again.
[PLATE V: THE CALVES. "I want to see them again, again, again."
—Well, there they are, but do not touch.
—Oh, oh, you are cheating. That is only half, I want to see them all … up to the knees.]
[Illustration]
—Ah, what a pretty girl! Look how strong and well made she is! continued the old President passing his trembling hand over the young girl's waist: have not these breasts grown a little thin? Yes, I believe, a little, a little, but how firm they are! like a rock, like a rock; hard as a rock, heavenly girl…. Eh, eh! you are drawing back, you are afraid of me … of me who might be your papa.
—And perhaps my grandpapa, said Zulma.
—Grandpapa! Ah, the little girl is not flattering. Grandfather! you think then that I am quite old? I am going to pinch her calves for that naughty word, those big calves which I saw at Vic, and which have turned my head. Have they grown smaller too? Let us see, let us see.
Zulma held back the too presumptuous hand.
—What, said the worthy man astonished, you will not show your calves?
—What is the good, since you have seen them at Vic?
—I want to see them again, again, again.
—Well, there they are, but do not touch.
—Oh, oh, you are cheating. That is only half, I want to see them all … up to the knees; at the least what I saw in the market-place.
—No, sir.
—Ah, you must not say no to me…. I do not like no. Let me help you, my pretty. Women always have a lot of strings under their petticoats and sometimes there are knots, knots, knots. I know that, so let me do it.
—But I don't want to, I tell you.
—Nevertheless, just to show me your calves, your fine big calves.
—You have seen them enough.
—What, cried Monsieur Tibulle, indignant at length at such obstinacy, you refuse to show to me what you exhibit in public, to everybody, in the market-places, in the streets, to the first who comes along; you refuse me when I am all alone, in this little room where nobody sees us. Ah, it is very wrong, wrong, wrong. I intend to punish you for that naughty act.
—In public, that is my profession, and besides I have a costume.
—She is nice enough to eat! A costume! If you only want that, it is very easy to find. I know of a little costume, very nice and not dear; and if you like, we will both of us put it on.
—What is it?
—That which God gave us. It is the best of all, and besides it is that which will become you the best. Ah, my little dear, nothing is equal to the gifts of God, and all the fripperies of women will never serve them as well as the simple attire of our first mother. We are going then to try the costume of Adam and Eve. Does that suit you, little one? You will no longer be afraid then of showing your calves. Come, come, Sophie, my dear, enough of these affectations.
—My name is not Sophie.
—Your name is Zulma, and also Aspasia, and Phryne, and again it is Eve. For it is long since you ate of the forbidden fruit, is it not, you little rogue?
—Let me alone, I ask you.
—Leave you alone! you would think I was very silly. Come, heavenly Eve, be quick into the costume of your part; I will play Adam and you shall see what a fine apple we will eat.
—Sir, a man of your age!
—Old men are always more amorous than the young ones, you will see, you will see.
—I don't want to see anything, let me go.
—Go! and where do you want to go to? A man does not let a little duck like you go away when he has hold of her, for I have you, you little rogue, yes, yes, I have you. Listen. We will go away to-morrow morning, each our own way, neither seen, nor known. And I assure you that you will be satisfied. My wife does not expect me till to-morrow.
—Your wife? What, you are married?…
—Does that surprise you? My wife is an old she-goat who is good for nothing more. Therefore I make no more use of her. Come, let us be quick; into the costume of Eve, and if you absolutely keep to it, I will fasten a fig-leaf on to you.
But Zulma was not the girl to allow herself to be forced in this way; and the worthy old man, who wanted to add deeds to words, received a vigorous slap on the face.
He stopped, quite confused, and rubbed his cheek.
—She has a strong wrist, he said. Who would suspect that such a little hand could hit so hard? But the ice is broken now, and you are going to pay me for it.