'Girls, Jack has come here to dine and have some pleasure. He tells me he's famished. He'd like a companion during dinner.' Aida faced Varney. 'They're all famished too. You may have your choice.'

Varney's eyes fastened on the first of the trio, introduced as Fanny. She was an extremely busty blonde, with a narrow waist and obviously voluptuous thighs.

Before he could speak, Aida spoke. 'I see you can't take your eyes off Fanny. Can't say that I blame you. She's one of our most popular girls. Would you like Fanny to dine with you?'

Varney could hardly find his voice. His eyes feasted on the lush creature. 'That – that would be wonderful.'

'She's all yours, then,' said Aida. Fanny jumped gaily to her feet as Aida told her, 'Dear, take Jack to the restaurant and acquaint him with what's available.' Aida shook hands with Varney once more. 'Have a good time in the Everleigh Club. I'll see you again later.'

Fanny slipped her arm through Varney's and cheerfully led him off.

Momentarily, at the entrance to the large restaurant with its silver candelabras, glistening crystal goblets, and lavish floral centrepieces, Varney was intimidated. He'd once eaten at the Palmer House with the mayor's staff, but the Everleigh restaurant was much more splendid. Fanny had him by the arm as she drew him inside. Passing several other diners, Fanny waved familiarly to one obese, elderly man and his two male companions.

Fanny settled Varney at an isolated table in a corner, and instead of taking the chair opposite, she brought her chair closer to his and sat down beside him. A coloured waiter materialized with the menu, but Fanny ignored him.

'I think it would be nice to start with a bottle of Mumm's champagne. Would that suit you?'

'Fine.'

'Now, unless you have some dish you prefer, I could make a few suggestions.'

'I'll trust you,' said Varney. 'I'll have whatever you have.'

Fanny was pleased. 'I'd suggest we start with Romano-Beluga caviar. After that, prime roast beef. How would you like yours done?'

'Rare.'

'Me too. I love rare meat. It gives one energy. Then we might have some crepes Suzette. How's that?'

'Perfect, Ma'am.'

'Jack, my name is Fanny. You needn't be formal with me. I hope we get to know each other much better.'

'I hope so too, Fanny.'

When the silver bucket appeared with the Mumm's and the bottle was uncorked and poured, Varney tried to concentrate on his mission. He was here because Mayor Harrison wanted to prove that this was still' a whorehouse. Varney's assignment was to go to bed with a whore. How did one go about it? Fanny seemed too ladylike, yet she had served up several double entendres. Varney determined to relax and play it by ear.

'I know you're a beer king,' Fanny was saying as they sipped their drinks. 'I hope you don't mind that I ordered champagne. It just seemed more appropriate for a good time.'

'It is, it is,' Varney agreed.

She had said a good time. He wondered if he dared read what he hoped to read in those words.

As the supper was served, Varney tried to answer Fanny's questions about St Louis. He had never been there, but neither had she, so he was safe. Then they talked about entertainment in Chicago.

'Do you like stage plays?' Fanny asked. 'Very much,' said Varney. 'Especially Trelawny of the Wells with Ethel Barrymore. I saw Peter Pan with Maude Adams.'

'Actually, I prefer vaudeville,' Fanny confided. 'The last stage play I saw was Uncle Tom's Cabin, with real live bloodhounds.'

'No kidding?'

'But give me vaudeville any day. Harrigan, the tramp juggler, or that magician, Herrmann the Great, or Princess Rajah, who dances with a python around her. I think the best act is "Sober Sue – You Can't Make Her Laugh". A $1,000 reward if you can. All the comedians try and fail. The rumour is that Sober Sue has paralysed facial muscles. You know what my favourite fun thing is?' 'No, what?'

'That new invention – movies,' said Fanny. 'At the Chicago Opera House I saw The Great Train Robbery, starring Bronco Billy Anderson. It was my first movie ever, but it was too short. Only fifteen minutes. Since then I've seen Cinderella, which has wonderful camera effects. There's a scene where the pumpkin changes into a carriage. The best one is The Passion Play, which is ten times longer than the average movie. You should try a movie some time.'

'I will,' promised Varney. 'I heard they were coming to St Louis.'

They had run out of entertainment topics to discuss, and silently swallowed the last of their crepes. Fanny touched her napkin to her mouth and murmured, 'Yum, that was good.'

'Very good,' Varney agreed.

'I should thank you for a marvellous meal,' she said. 'I want to thank you.'

She leaned over, across him, her full breasts pressing like twin cushions against his arms, and she planted a delicious kiss on his open lips. Her tongue darted out to find his and then teased against his tongue.

Varney could feel an immediate erection.

Fanny reached down and patted his stomach. 'How does it feel? Have you had all you want?' Before he could reply, her palm slid down his stomach, and reached his crotch and curled around his erection.

Withdrawing her hand slowly, she gave him a seductive smile. 'Or would you like more?'

'More,' he gulped, relieved that he didn't have to ask her to bed. She was plainly asking him. His confidence grew along with the size of his penis, and he added firmly, 'Much more. I want you, Fanny.'

'You have me,' she said simply, taking his hand. 'It's only a short walk.'

They went up the thickly carpeted mahogany staircase, between the potted palms and the statues of nude Grecian goddesses, to the upstairs corridor. There Fanny led Varney along a row of doors until she reached her own.

Opening the door, she turned on a lamp and beckoned Varney inside the boudoir. Its magnificence stopped him in his tracks. What caught his eye first was the Turkish-style headboard of brass, inlaid with marble. Nearby was a window covered from floor to ceiling by red velvet drapes with silk borders. On one wall stood an elaborately carved wooden mantel splashed with gold paint. There were freshly cut roses in two iron urns on the mantel.

This, thought Varney, is paradise.

Fanny was undoing the jet buttons of her blouse. As Varney moved to assist her, she said, 'It would take you too long to undress me, Jack. These buttons, then the hooks and eyes, and after that my blouse and skirt, and the petticoats, ruffles, and whalebone stays, and then my shoes to unbutton, and my stockings to roll down. It would take you half an hour, and by then you'd lose your erection.'

'I wouldn't,' he said adamantly.

'Believe me,' Fanny said. 'But I can go to the bathroom and get unpeeled in five minutes. I know how to do it. So you stay here and take your clothes off. I'll be with you in a jiffy.'

When she was gone, Varney took his clothes off slowly. When he was naked, he could feel that he was losing his erection. He glanced at the bathroom door, imagined what she'd be like, and immediately his penis began to rise.

Moments later she emerged wearing only a filmy pink dressing-gown. She considered his nakedness, nodded approval, and padded straight to the bed. She threw off her dressing-gown, and dropped to the bed on her back. The instant Varney's gaze moved from her blonde hair and beautiful face to the huge mounds of breasts, the sleek pinkish-white abdomen, the great pubic patch, as she lifted her fleshy thighs and spread them apart, Varney's penis hardened fully and stood straight out.

'Come on, young man,' Fanny beckoned. 'Let me enjoy that.'

Varney was on the bed immediately, atop her, and between her legs.

She shut her eyes, squealed with delight, put her arms around him to draw him in tighter.