Coraliewasawomanofatypethatexertsatwillapoweroffascinationovermen.Withanovalfaceofdeepivorytint,amouthredasapomegranate,andachinsubtlydelicateinitscontourastheedgeofaporcelaincup,CoraliewasaJewessofthesublimetype.Thejetblackeyesbehindtheircurvinglashesseemedtoscorchhereyelids;youcouldguesshowsofttheymightgrow,orhowsparksoftheheatofthedesertmightflashfromtheminresponsetoasummonsfromwithin.Thecirclesofoliveshadowaboutthemwereboundedbythickarchinglinesofeyebrow.Magnificentmentalpower,well-nighamountingtogenius,seemedtodwellintheswarthyforeheadbeneaththedoublecurveofebonyhairthatlayuponitlikeacrown,andgleamedinthelightlikeavarnishedsurface;butlikemanyanotheractress,Coraliehadlittlewitinspiteofheraptnessatgreenroomrepartee,andscarcelyanyeducationinspiteofherboudoirexperience.Herbrainwaspromptedbyhersenses,herkindnesswastheimpulsivewarm-heartednessofgirlsofherclass.ButwhocouldtroubleoverCoralie\'spsychologywhenhiseyesweredazzledbythosesmooth,roundarmsofhers,thespindle-shapedfingers,thefairwhiteshoulders,andbreastcelebratedintheSongofSongs,theflexiblecurvinglinesofthroat,thegraciouslymouldedoutlinesbeneaththescarletsilkstockings?Andthisbeauty,worthyofanEasternpoet,wasbroughtintoreliefbytheconventionalSpanishcostumeofthestage.Coraliewasthedelightofthepit;alleyesdweltontheoutlinesmouldedbytheclingingfoldsofherbodice,andlingeredovertheAndalusiancontourofthehipsfromwhichherskirthung,flutteringwantonlywitheverymovement.ToLucien,watchingthiscreature,whoplayedforhimalone,caringnomoreforCamusotthanastreet-boyinthegallerycaresforanapple-paring,therecameamomentwhenhesetdesireabovelove,andenjoymentabovedesire,andthedemonofLuststirredstrangethoughtsinhim.
\"Iknownothingofthelovethatwallowsinluxuryandwineandsensualpleasure,\"hesaidwithinhimself.\"Ihavelivedmorewithideasthanwithrealities.Youmustpassthroughallexperienceifyoumeantorenderallexperience.Thiswillbemyfirstgreatsupper,myfirstorgyinanewandstrangeworld;whyshouldInotknow,foronce,thedelightswhichthegreatlordsoftheeighteenthcenturysoughtsoeagerlyofwantonsoftheOpera?Mustonenotfirstlearnofcourtesansandactressesthedelights,theperfections,thetransports,theresources,thesubtletiesoflove,ifonlytotranslatethemafterwardsintotheregionsofahigherlovethanthis?
Andwhatisallthis,afterall,butthepoetryofthesenses?Twomonthsagothesewomenseemedtometobegoddessesguardedbydragonsthatnoonedaredapproach;IwasenvyingLousteaujustnow,buthereisanotherhandsomerthanFlorine;whyshouldInotprofitbyherfancy,whenthegreatestnoblesbuyanightwithsuchwomenwiththeirrichesttreasures?Whenambassadorssetfootinthesedepths,theyflingasideallthoughtofyesterdayorto-morrow.Ishouldbeafooltobemoresqueamishthanprinces,especiallyasIlovenooneasyet.\"
LucienhadquiteforgottenCamusot.ToLousteauhehadexpressedtheutmostdisgustforthismosthatefulofallpartitions,andnowhehimselfhadsunktothesamelevel,and,carriedawaybythecasuistryofhisvehementdesire,hadgiventhereinstohisfancy.
\"Coralieisravingaboutyou,\"saidLousteauashecamein.\"Yourcountenance,worthyofthegreatestGreeksculptors,hasworkedunutterablehavocbehindthescenes.Youareinluckmydearboy.