We arrived at Sinigaglia late at night, and I went to the best inn, and, after choosing a comfortable room, ordered supper.  As there was but one bed in the room, I asked Bellino, in as calm a tone as I could assume, whether he would have a fire lighted in another chamber, and my surprise may be imagined when he answered quietly that he had no objection to sleep in the same bed with me.  Such an answer, however, unexpected, was necessary to dispel the angry feelings under which I was labouring.  I guessed that I was near the denouement of the romance, but I was very far from congratulating myself, for I did not know whether the denouement would prove agreeable or not.  I felt, however, a real satisfaction at having conquered, and was sure of my self-control, in case the senses, my natural instinct, led me astray.  But if I found myself in the right, I thought I could expect the most precious favours.

We sat down to supper opposite each other, and during the meal, his words, his countenance, the expression of his beautiful eyes, his sweet and voluptuous smile, everything seemed to announce that he had had enough of playing a part which must have proved as painful to him as to me.

A weight was lifted off my mind, and I managed to shorten the supper as much as possible.  As soon as we had left the table, my amiable companion called for a night-lamp, undressed himself, and went to bed.  I was not long in following him, and the reader will soon know the nature of a denouement so long and so ardently desired; in the mean time I beg to wish him as happy a night as the one which was then awaiting me.

CHAPTER XII

Bellino’s History—­I Am Put Under Arrest—­I Run Away Against My Will—­My Return To Rimini, and My Arrival In Bologna

Dear reader, I said enough at the end of the last chapter to make you guess what happened, but no language would be powerful enough to make you realize all the voluptuousness which that charming being had in store for me.  She came close to me the moment I was in bed.  Without uttering one word our lips met, and I found myself in the ecstasy of enjoyment before I had had time to seek for it.  After so complete a victory, what would my eyes and my fingers have gained from investigations which could not give me more certainty than I had already obtained?  I could not take my gaze off that beautiful face, which was all aflame with the ardour of love.

After a moment of quiet rapture, a spark lighted up in our veins a fresh conflagration which we drowned in a sea of new delights.  Bellino felt bound to make me forget my sufferings, and to reward me by an ardour equal to the fire kindled by her charms.

The happiness I gave her increased mine twofold, for it has always been my weakness to compose the four-fifths of my enjoyment from the sum-total of the happiness which I gave the charming being from whom I derived it.  But such a feeling must necessarily cause hatred for old age which can still receive pleasure, but can no longer give enjoyment to another.  And youth runs away from old age, because it is its most cruel enemy.