and my fair invalid was only covered by a thin sheet.  She could only speak to me with her eyes, but though the lids were lowered she looked upon me so lovingly!  I asked her if she suffered from palpitations, and laying my hand upon her heart I pressed a fiery kiss upon her breast.  This was the electric spark, for she gave a sigh which did her good.  She had not strength to repulse the hand which I pressed amorously upon her heart, and becoming bolder I fastened my burning lips upon her languid mouth.  I warmed her with my breath, and my audacious hand penetrated to the very sanctuary of bliss.  She made an effort to push me back, and told me with her eyes, since she could not speak, how insulted she felt.  I drew back my hand, and at that moment the surgeon came.  Hardly was the vein opened when she drew a long breath, and by the time the operation was over she wished to get up.  I entreated her to stay in bed, and her mother added her voice to mine; at last I persuaded her, telling her that I would not leave her for a second, and that I would have my dinner by her bedside.  She then put on a corset and asked her sister to draw a sarcenet coverlet over her, as her limbs could be seen as plainly as through a crape veil.

Having given orders for my dinner, I sat down by her bedside, burning with love, and taking her hand and covering it with kisses I told her that I was sure she would get better if she would let herself love.

“Alas!” she said, “whom shall I love, not knowing whether I shall be loved in return?”

I did not leave this question unanswered, and continuing the amorous discourse with animation I won a sigh and a lovelorn glance.  I put my hand on her knee, begging her to let me leave it there, and promising to go no farther, but little by little I attained the center, and strove to give her some pleasant sensations.

“Let me alone,” said she, in a sentimental voice, drawing away, “’tis perchance the cause of my illness.”

“No, sweetheart,” I replied, “that cannot be.”  And my mouth stopped all her objections upon her lips.

I was enchanted, for I was now in a fair way, and I saw the moment of bliss in the distance, feeling certain that I could effect a cure if the doctor was not mistaken.  I spared her all indiscreet questions out of regard for her modesty; but I declared myself her lover, promising to ask nothing of her but what was necessary to feed the fire of my love.  They sent me up a very good dinner, and she did justice to it; afterwards saying that she was quite well she got up, and I went away to dress myself for going out.  I came back early in the evening, and found her on my balcony.  There, as I sat close to her looking into her face, speaking by turns the language of the eyes and that of sighs, fixing my amorous gaze upon those charms which the moonlight rendered sweeter, I made her share in the fire which consumed me; and as I pressed her amorously to my bosom she completed my bliss with such warmth that I could easily see that she thought she was receiving a favour and not granting one.  I sacrificed the victim without staining the altar with blood.