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THE CONFESSION OF A FOOL 43
a vision, coming down the spiral staircase, which wound
in endless perspective at the back of the galleries. She
lifted the straight folds of her blue dress, showing her
perfect feet and slender ankles, looking at me furtively,
with a sidelong glance, tempting me to the betrayal of
her husband, soliciting me with that treacherous and
voluptuous smile which I had yesterday seen for the first
time. The apparition awakened all the sensuality which
had lain dormant in my heart for the last three months,
for the pure atmosphere which surrounded her had kept
away from me all lascivious thoughts. Now all the
passion which burnt in me concentrated itself on a single
object. I desired her. My imagination painted for me
the exquisite beauty of her white limbs. I selected a
work on art which contained illustrations of all the famous
sculptures in the Italian museuiiis, hoping to discover
this woman’s formula by systematic scientific research.
I wanted to find out species and genus to which she
belonged. I had plenty to choose from.
Was she Venus, full-bosomed and broad-hipped, the
normal woman, who awaits her lover, sure of her triumph-
ant beauty?
No!
Juno, then, the fertile mother, who keeps her regal
charms for the marriage-bed?
By no means !
Minerva, the blue-stocking, the old maid, who hides
her flat bosom under a coat of mail ?
On no account !
Diana then, the pale goddess of night, fearful of the
sun, cruel in her enforced chastity, more boy than girl,
modest because she needs must be so—Diana, who could
not forgive Acteeon for having watched her while bathing ?
Was she Diana ? The species, perhaps, but not the genus !
The future will speak the last word ! With that
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