The Perfume of Eros · Chapter
II: The Pocket Venus explained
Fanny and Sylvia discuss Fanny's hat and Sylvia's upcoming marriage to Annandale.
What happens
Fanny and Sylvia discuss Fanny's hat and Sylvia's upcoming marriage to Annandale. Fanny jokes about her debts and Loftus. Annandale arrives and invites them to lunch at Sherry's, where they encounter Orr and Loftus. Loftus flirts with Fanny, and they exchange witty barbs. The chapter highlights the social dynamics and flirtations among the group.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Marriage
The chapter discusses Sylvia's engagement to Annandale and the social expectations surrounding marriage.
Love and Deception
Fanny's flirtatious banter with Loftus and her comments about her debts suggest a world of social games and hidden motives.
Wealth and Materialism
Fanny's concerns about her bills and the setting at Sherry's highlight the importance of money and appearances.
Characters to notice
- Fanny
Shows off her hat, jokes about her debts and Loftus, flirts with Loftus at Sherry's.
- Sylvia Waldron
Engaged to Annandale, discusses wedding plans with Fanny, tries to mediate between Fanny and Loftus.
- Arthur Annandale
Invites the girls to lunch, orders at Sherry's, observes Loftus's flirtation with Fanny.
- Royal Loftus
Joins the table at Sherry's, sits next to Fanny, flirts with her and makes a gallant remark to Sylvia.
- Melanchthon Orr
Joins the table with Loftus, sits between Loftus and Sylvia.
- Mrs. Waldron
Sylvia's mother, declines the lunch invitation, jokes about being old-fashioned.
Key passages
““Fanny! How could you? He might have offered to pay them.” “If he had only offered to owe them!””
Sylvia is shocked that Fanny told Loftus about her debts, but Fanny jokes that she would have preferred him to offer to owe them rather than pay them.
Fanny's witty retort reveals her financial troubles and her playful relationship with Loftus.
““I am here congratulating Sylvia.” “I congratulate myself that you are. I have a motor at the door, and I propose to take you both to Sherry’s, afterward, if you like, to the races. There you may congratulate me.””
Annandale says he is there to congratulate Sylvia, but he also congratulates himself for being with her. He offers to take them to Sherry's and then to the races.
Annandale's self-congratulatory tone and his invitation highlight his confidence and social standing.
““Appointment,” Fanny announced, “is very good English for rendezvous .” “And taisez-vous, mademoiselle , is very good French for I wish it were with yourself.””
Fanny teases Loftus about his 'appointment', suggesting it is a rendezvous. Loftus retorts in French, saying he wishes the appointment were with her.
This exchange shows the flirtatious and witty banter between Fanny and Loftus.