Bellino's History--I Am Put Under Arrest--I Run Away Against My Will--My Return To Rimini, and My Arrival In Bologna Dear reader, I said enough at the end of the last chapter to make you guess what happened, but no language would be powerful enough to make you realize all the voluptuousness which that charming being had in store for me.

She came close to me the moment I was in bed.

Without uttering one word our lips met, and I found myself in the ecstasy of enjoyment before I had had time to seek for it.

After so complete a victory, what would my eyes and my fingers have gained from investigations which could not give me more certainty than I had already obtained?
I could not take my gaze off that beautiful face, which was all aflame with the ardour of love.
After a moment of quiet rapture, a spark lighted up in our veins a fresh conflagration which we drowned in a sea of new delights.

Bellino felt bound to make me forget my sufferings, and to reward me by an ardour equal to the fire kindled by her charms.
The happiness I gave her increased mine twofold, for it has always been my weakness to compose the four-fifths of my enjoyment from the sum-total of the happiness which I gave the charming being from whom I derived it.
But such a feeling must necessarily cause hatred for old age which can still receive pleasure, but can no longer give enjoyment to another.