They went into the next room for a moment, I did the same, and we then sat on the sofa before the fire. As I sat between them I observed that our legs were perfectly alike, and that I could not imagine why women stuck so obstinately to their petticoats. While I talked I touched their legs, saying it was just as if I were to touch my own. They did not interrupt this examination which I carried up to the knee, and I told Emilie that all the reward I would ask for my services was that I might see her thighs, to compare them with Armelline’s. “She will be bigger than I,” said Armelline, “though I am the taller.” “Well, there would be no harm in letting me see.” “I think there would.” “Well, I will feel with my hands.” “No, you would look at the same time.” “I swear I will not.” “Let me bandage your eyes.” “Certainly; but I will bandage yours too.” “Yes; we will play, at blindman’s buff.” Before the bandaging began I took care to make them swallow a good dose of punch, and, then we proceeded to play. The two girls let me span their thighs several times, laughing and falling over me whenever my hands went too high. I lifted the bandage and saw everything, but they pretended not to suspect anything. They treated me in the same way, no doubt to see what it was that they felt when they fell upon me. This delightful game went on; till exhausted, nature would not allow me to play it any more. I put myself in a state of decency, and then told them to take off their bandages. They did so and sat beside me, thinking, perhaps, that they would be able to, disavow everything on the score of the bandage. It seemed to me that Emilie had had a lover, though I took good care not to tell her so; but Armelline was a pure virgin. She was meeker than her friend, and her great eyes shone as voluptuously but more modestly. I would have snatched a kiss from her pretty mouth, but she turned away her head, though she squeezed my hands tenderly. I was astonished at this refusal after the liberties I had taken with her. We had talked about balls, and they were both extremely anxious to see one. The public ball was the rage with all the young Romans. For ten long years the Pope Rezzonico had deprived them of this pleasure. Although Rezzonico forbade dancing, he allowed gaming of every description. Ganganelli, his successor, had other views, and forbade gaming but allowed dancing. So much for papal infallibility; what one condemns the other approves. Ganganelli thought it better to let his subjects skip than to give them the opportunity of ruining themselves, of committing suicide, or of becoming brigands; but Rezzonico did not see the matter in that light. I promised the girls I would take them to the ball as soon as I could discover one where I was not likely to be recognized.