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toallowmyselftobemassacredforthegoodofsociety.Ishouldhavebeenonemoreofthemartyrsofhumanity—SaintPhilipBrandolini!' Iofferedhermyarm,suggestingasaunterthroughthegardens....Wewanderedalongcoolpathsborderedwithmyrtleandlaurelandcypresstreestheairwasfilledwiththesongofbirds,andagentlebreezeboretousthescentofthespringflowers.By-and-bywecametoalittlelawnshutinbytallshrubsinthemiddleafountainwasplaying,andundertheshadowofachestnut-treewasamarbleseatsupportedbygriffinsinonecornerstoodastatueofVenusframedingreenbushes.Wehadleftthethrongofguestsfarbehind,andtheplacewasverystillthebirds,asifoppressedwithitsbeauty,hadceasedtosing,andonlythefountainbrokethesilence.Theunceasingfallofwaterwaslikealullabyinitsmonotony,andtheairwasscentedwithlilac. Wesatdown.Thequietwasdelightfulpeaceandbeautyfilledone,andIfeltagreatsenseofhappinesspassintome,likesomesubtleliquidpermeatingeverycornerofmysoul.ThesmellofthelilacwasbeginningtointoxicatemeandfrommyhappinessissuedasentimentoflovetowardsallnatureIfeltasthoughIcouldstretchoutmyarmsandembraceitsimpalpablespirit.TheVenusinthecornergainedflesh-liketintsofgreenandyellow,andseemedtobemeltingintolifethelilaccameacrosstomeingreatwaves,oppressive,over-powering. IlookedatClaudia.Ithoughtshewasaffectedasmyselfshe,too,wasoverwhelmedbythemurmurofthewater,thewarmth,thescentedair.AndIwasstruckagainwiththewonderfulvoluptuousnessofherbeautyhermouthsensualandmoist,thelipsdeepredandheavy.Herneckwaswonderfullymassive,sowhitethattheveinsshowedclearandblueherclingingdressrevealedthefulnessofherform,itsundulatingcurves.SheseemedsomegoddessofSensuality.AsIlookedatherIwasfilledwithasuddenblinddesiretopossessher.Istretchedoutmyarms,andshe,withacryofpassion,likeananimal,surrenderedherselftomyembrac