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.