contemporary abstract painting

whom, had I been ever so free, I- warned as I was of the risks, the
horrors, the loathings of incongruous unions- would have asked to
marry me. Disappointment made me reckless. I tried dissipation-
never debauchery: that I hated, and hate. That was my Indian
Messalina's attribute: rooted disgust at it and her restrained me
much, even in pleasure. Any enjoyment that bordered on riot seemed
to approach me to her and her vices, and I eschewed it.
'Yet I could not live alone; so I tried the companionship of
mistresses. The first I chose was Celine Varens- another of those
steps which make a man spurn himself when he recalls them. You already
know what she was, and how my liaison with her terminated. She had two
successors: an Italian, Giacinta, and a German, Clara; both considered
singularly handsome. What was their beauty to me in a few weeks?
Giacinta was unprincipled and violent: I tired of her in three months.
Clara was honest and quiet; but heavy, mindless, and unimpressible:
not one whit to my taste. I was glad to give her a sufficient sum to
set her up in a good line of business, and so get decently rid of her.
But, Jane, I see by your face you are not forming a very favourable
opinion of me just now. You think me an unfeeling, loose-principled
rake: don't you?'