The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2Maupassant, Guy de
General
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2
Maupassant, Guy de
French fiction -- Translations into English; Short stories, French -- Translations into English
Lieutenants Otto and Fritz, who were as polite as if they had been with
fashionable ladies, rather intimidated their neighbors, but Baron von
Kelweinstein gave the reins to all his vicious propensities, beamed,
made obscene remarks, and seemed on fire with his crown of red hair. He
paid them compliments in French from the other side of the Rhine, and
sputtered out gallant remarks, only fit for a low pot-house, from
between his two broken teeth.
They did not understand him, however, and their intelligence did not
seem to be awakened until he uttered nasty words and broad expressions,
which were mangled by his accent. Then all began to laugh at once, like
mad women, and fell against each other, repeating the words, which the
baron then began to say all wrong, in order that he might have the
pleasure of hearing them say dirty things. They gave him as much of that
stuff as he wanted, for they were drunk after the first bottle of wine,
and, becoming themselves once more, and opening the door to their usual
habits, they kissed the moustaches on the right and left of them,
pinched their arms, uttered furious cries, drank out of every glass, and
sang French couplets, and bits of German songs, which they had picked up
in their daily intercourse with the enemy.
Soon the men themselves, intoxicated by that female flesh which was
displayed to their sight and touch, grew very amorous, shouted and
broke the plates and dishes, while the soldiers behind them waited on
them stolidly. The commandant was the only one who put any restraint
upon himself.
Mademoiselle Fifi had taken Rachel onto his knees, and, getting excited,
at one moment kissed the little black curls on her neck, inhaling the
pleasant warmth of her body, and all the savor of her person, through
the slight space there was between her dress and her skin, and at
another he pinched her furiously through the material, and made her
scream, for he was seized by a species of ferocity, and tormented by his
desire, to hurt her. He often held her close to him, as if to make her
part of himself, and put his lips in a long kiss on the Jewess's rosy
mouth, until she lost her breath; and at last he bit her until a stream
of blood ran down her chin and onto her bodice.
For the second time, she looked him full in the face, and as she bathed
the wound, she said: "You will have to pay for that!" But he merely
laughed a hard laugh, and said: "I will pay."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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