La Rose D'Amour.
Or the Adventures of a Gentleman in search of Pleasure. Translated from the French.
PART VII.
(Continued.)
I FELT CONSIDERABLY ENERVATED FOR A DAY OR TWO AND REFRAINED FROM AGAIN ENTERING THE LISTS OF VENUS UNTIL I HAD FAIRLY SET SAIL ON MY PROJECTED CRUISE IN SEARCH OF LOVE AND BEAUTY IN THE HESPERIAN CLIMES, WHERE I HOPED FOR THE MOST EXQUISITE PLEASURES IN THE ARMS OF THE ARDENT LADIES OF CUBA AND SPANISH MAIN.
I coasted round and put into Bordeaux for the purpose of giving the sailors a chance of getting themselves girls.
In two days they were all mated, and we put off for Havana, intending to stop there a short time, as I had heard much of the beauty of the women of the island.
Arriving at Havana, I took some rooms at one of the best hotels, giving orders to the Captain to keep the brig in sailing order so as to be able to sail at a moment's notice.
At the table d'hote I noticed a handsome, vivacious brunette, evidently an inhabitant of the island. Her eyes were fairly hidden under a mass of deep black hair which overshadowed them; but I could perceive whilst at the table, she was continually glancing at me, and the moment my eyes met hers she would suddenly drop her eyes on the plate or look in another direction. From this I augured favourably and deemed success certain, thinking that I had made a conquest.
In the evening I attended the theatre accompanied by the Captain, and both of us well armed. I there saw the lady in a box in company with a couple of elderly gentlemen.
The one whom I took to be her husband was a cross-grained, ugly looking fellow.
I followed her home with the intent to win her.
In the morning I got an introduction to Senor Don Manuel Vasquer, the husband of Donna Isabel, my lovely vis-a-vis at the table.
I told him I was a gentleman of rank and fortune, traveling for the pleasure with a vessel of my own, and invited him down to the harbour to look at the brig.
He accepted the invitation and was very much pleased with the neat cleanliness of everything on deck, and with the luxury displayed in the fittings of the cabin.
I had a lunch set out and plied him well with champagne so that when he left the vessel, he was in very high spirits. On reaching the hotel he invited me up to his apartment and introduced me to his wife and a couple of other ladies we found with her.
I endeavoured as well as my looks could express to let her see that I had taken particular notice of her, and was much smitten by her charms.
After conversing for a short time I retired to my room to dress for dinner and penned a declaration to the Donna Isabel, declaring my passion for her and imploring her grant me an interview, as I had read in her eyes that I was not disagreeable to her.
After dinner I joined her and her husband and slipped my note into her hand, which she immediately hid in the folds of her dress. I then went to my room to wait for an answer, which I felt sure would soon be sent to me. Nor had I to wait long, for in a couple of hours a negro-wench opened the door, poking her head in to ascertain if I was in the room, threw a note to me, and shutting the door without saying a word, retired.
I hastily picked up the note and opening it found my expectations confirmed!
She granted me an interview. Her note stated that her husband would go out to his plantations the next day and that at three o'clock in the afternoon she would be alone taking her siesta.
The evening, night and morning hung heavily on me, and after dining, I retired to my room, laid my watch on the table and sat gazing at the dial to see the weary hours pass away; but as the minute-hand pointed to three; the same black wench again opened the door, poked her head in, looked round and drew back, leaving the door open.
I jumped up and followed her to the rooms of her mistress.
Here I found Donna Isabel reclining in an elegant dishabille, on a sofa. She held out her hand to me in welcome, which I took and pressed to my lips.
She invited me to be seated and I placed myself on a foot-stool at her side. Taking her hand between mine, I disclosed my passion for her, imploring her not to refuse my love. At first she pretended to be much surprised that I should make a declaration of my love to her and appeared half angry. But as I proceeded with my tale of love and pressed her for an answer favourable to the passion which was consuming me, she appeared to relent, and rising from her reclining position made room for me to sit beside her on the couch.