“You are wrong, and perhaps you know it, for I am more than tempted.”
With these words I lifted the sheets of the bed. Marcoline shrieked but did not move, but my niece earnestly begged me to replace the bed-clothes. However, the picture before me was too charming to be concealed.
At this point Annette came in, and in obedience to her mistress replaced the coverlet over the two Bacchantes. I felt angry with Annette, and seizing her threw her on the bed, and then and there gave the two sweethearts such an interesting spectacle that they left their own play to watch us. When I had finished, Annette, who was in high glee; said I was quite right to avenge myself on their prudery. I felt satisfied with what I had done, and went to breakfast. I then dressed, and visited my brother.
“How is Marcoline?” said he, as soon as he saw me.
“Very well, and you needn’t trouble yourself any more about her. She is well lodged, well dressed, and well fed, and sleeps with my niece’s maid.”
“I didn’t know I had a niece.”
“There are many things you don’t know. In three or four days she will return to Venice.”
“I hope, dear brother, that you will ask me to dine with you to-day.”
“Not at all, dear brother. I forbid you to set foot in my house, where your presence would be offensive to Marcoline, whom you must not see any more.”
“Yes, I will; I will return to Venice, if I have to hang for it.”