I Am Curious (Thirty)

April 24

“You’re a sadist,” I said.

“DeSade was a bore,” he said. “A madman with a single preoccupation and an extremely limited grasp of logic. I can’t imagine anyone reading him except for titillation, and there are so many more effective pornographers of that sort.”

I looked at him.

“A sadist? A disciple of his? Could you honestly believe that of me?”

“I meant you take pleasure from inflicting pain. Sadomasochism. That bag.”

“Everyone does,” he said briskly. “It has nothing to do with that French idiot.”