Magick Without Tears

480 MAGICK WITHOUT TEARS It was not so easy a victory as I have perhaps described it, once she slipped in the slime and came down with a thud; and at the end blood spurted from innumerable bites. The whole scene was too much for most of the men; they Ii terally howled like famished wolves, and shook the balustrade until it creaked and groaned. Presently one slipped over, let himself lightly to the floor and charged. Others followed . All had their heart's desire. I was reminded of Swinburne's Laus Veneris: I let mine eyes have all their will of thee I seal myself upon thee with my might. As for the women, the ferocious glitter of their eyes was almost terrifying. One of them, true, would have joined the happy warriors below; but the butler roughly pulled her back, saying in a shocked voice, "Madame est normale." (I enjoyed that!) Others consoled themselves by capturing those males who were too timid to risk the jump. I swallowed a last glass of champagne, and then je filai a l:Anglais. Summary: a pleasant time was had by all. Note for political economists: the woman took 10,000 francs (at about 125 to the £; she took three weeks in hospital and three weeks' holiday between the shows. She was, or had been, the mistress of a Minister with 'Peuple' ideas, though he was an aristocrat of very old vintage; and he helped her to have her daughters brought up in one of the most exclusive convents in France.