anonymous - The Memoirs of a Voluptuary

"Why don't you go, Charlie?" said Bob. "That would settle everything nicely. You won't have long to wait for us, and I know my cousin will make you feel at home. It seems a shame that he should be kept all by himself waiting for us."

Thus urged, I agreed to the proposal, and acquainted Lord Henry of my decision. He sent a further telegram, asking me to let him know the train I should come by, which I did; so, to cut matters short, I may say that I started alone on the long journey to the North, having impressed upon my friends that they must join me as soon as possible.

It was late and quite dark when I reached the little station where I was to alight, and I did not feel in very good spirits after the prolonged and chilly journey. A tall man, muffled up in a thick overcoat and with a tweed cap pulled well down on his head, stood on the platform, and as, I got out he came towards me, saying, "Master Powerscourt I presume?"

I replied in the affirmative, and he held out his hand, exclaiming, "How do you do? I am very pleased to meet you. Although we have not seen each other before, I seem to know you quite well, after all that my cousin Bob and that young scamp Jimmy have told me about you. But I mustn't keep you waiting here in the cold. Come along!"

A closed carriage stood ready for us, and we set out on a long drive. The darkness did not permit me to see much of where we were going, but I noticed that we passed between hedgerows and across open moorlands, the country all about seeming to be quite uninhabited. My companion did his best to enliven the way with genial talk, but I was cold, and, moreover, felt a little bashful in his presence, so that I am afraid my society did not afford him very much satisfaction.

At length we stopped at a battlemented gateway, with tall and ponderous doors, which were presently opened for us and closed and barred after we had gone through. Our way then led along a drive, between tall, overhanging trees, and we finally pulled up at a deeply recessed Norman porch. As the carriage stopped, the door was flung open, letting a flood of light upon the scene. We stepped out and made our way to the door, the tall towers and buttresses of the castle looming hugely before us in the uncertain dimness of the night. As soon as we had entered, a gigantic negro carefully closed the door after us, and we proceeded up a steep, stone staircase, lighted by tiny, grated windows, which led to a lofty and spacious vestibule with groined roof and pavement of stone flags, all in good repair, but quite bare of furniture. However, when we had gone through a pair of double doors, the scene changed, and I found myself in a tall-ceilinged corridor, wainscotted and floored with oak, thickly carpeted, and lighted by foliated casements of painted glass, with antique benches and armoires, horns and skins, and stands of armour and weapons here and there.

Passing along this, the negro went on ahead, and drew aside a curtain at the further end, which gave us access to a large and brilliantly lighted saloon or hall, where the walls were hung with exquisite productions of Eastern looms, and the floor was spread with splendid specimens of tiger and other skins, while on every hand were to be seen masterpieces of art from the far Orient, in the shape of wonderful carved and lacquered cabinets, sculptured and inlaid tables and chairs, marvellous porcelains and bronzes, and countless other similar objects.

Welcome to Hebworth!" exclaimed Lord Henry, flinging of his cap and coat; and now that he had removed these and was in the light, I was able to take stock of him. He was, as I have already said, tall, and had an Apollo-like figure, broad- shouldered and slim-waisted. He was under thirty, I fancied, and the absence of a moustache gave him a still more youthful appearance. His face was a handsome one, with clear-cut features, hair of the deepest brown, almost black; and eyes that had a peculiar intensity of expression in them. The sensuous lines round the lips betokened the aesthete and the voluptuary; but withal, there was a nobleness about the forehead, and a look of kindly sympathy in the long-lashed hazel eyes, that showed his nature to be altogether foreign to the cruel callousness of the genuine roue.

"You must be tired and hungry after your long journey, Charlie," he said presently. "Go and have a wash. That will refresh you, and in the meantime I will have something got ready for you to eat; Peter will show you the way."

The negro conducted me to a dressing-room, where I freed myself from the stains of travel, and when I had done so I returned to the saloon. Lord Henry was awaiting my appearance, and at once conducted me to a room nearby. Eastern tapestries and carpets, furs, carved furniture and quaint ornaments also entered into the appointments of this chamber, and a table near the hearth was laid with an appetising meal. Lord Henry bade me sit down to this, and I was able to do full justice to it; but all the while I was conscious that my host was regarding me with a very intent gaze.

When I had finished, the table was cleared by Peter, assisted by another negro, equally as gigantic. Lord Henry saw me observing them, and when they had gone out and closed die door, he said, "they are two very good fellows indeed, and devoted to me. I picked them up in South Africa a year or two ago, and they have been with me ever since. I have christened them Peter and Paul, as their native names are too cumbersome for ordinary use."

We were left to ourselves now, and my companion bent his shining eyes in a strange way upon me. The effect was half- hypnotic, and made me feel just a little uncomfortable, so that I was only able to answer in monosyllables, or in the shortest possible sentences, the questions that were put to me.

A little while passed in silence, and then Lord Henry, who had been gazing for a brief space into the fire, which glowed brightly in the broad, low grate, turned and beckoned me to him.

"You are very friendly with my two young relatives, Charlie, are you not? Both of them mentioned you in the warmest way in their letters, so I know the intimacy must be an exceedingly close one. They have doubtless often spoken to you of me, and have, I am sure, told you that I am extremely fond of boys, and like to see them in the utmost freedom possible. Now! would it be too much to ask of you to reveal yourself to me in beauty unadorned?"

I flushed at the words, as their import dawned upon me, but under the commanding fire of his eyes I felt unable to refuse. As.I did not speak he took my dumbness for consent, and said, "It is quite warm here. You can undress with perfect comfort."

I took the hint, and mechanically acted upon it, slowly unfastening my garments, while he sat with his chin on his hand, watching me with a steady glance. I did not especially like the idea, as, after all, he was an absolute stranger to me, but I was impelled by the subtle influence he exercised upon me to carry out his wish. With mute imperiousness he made me go on until I stood in utter nakedness before him. The crimson blood mantled my cheeks again, and my eyes dropped downcast, as Lord Henry, without moving from his seat, surveyed me critically and with a look of unfeigned admiration, while I seemed to feel the actual, contact of his sight, as his eyes roved over my body and limbs from head to foot in a minute and protracted examination. When he had sufficiently feasted his gaze upon my front, he bade me: turn round, so that he might wander with his burning vision over my back, keeping me thus, in perturbation of spirit, for several more minutes.

When he had finally satisfied himself with this, he rose, apologising for having troubled me, and thanking me in the most gracious terms. Drawing up a large, broad couch near to the fireplace, he directed me to lie on this at full length, and, bending down, gave me a warm, wine-laced kiss, full on the lips.