The World of Courtesans c8.189

c8.189

After gaining the confidence of the lover the courtesan behaved like a chaste woman. She not only granted him sexual liberties but showed that she owed complete obedience to him. She retained in her company her mother or in her absence a foster mother who looked after her business interests. Such was the force of the command of this person that she could separate the woman from her lover whenever she liked. The courtesan was unhappy but dared not disobey her orders. If she wanted to transfer her love to a new client, the courtesan pretended illness and did not meet her lover. But she kept up the show of love for him by sending her maid to him to bring back the flower garlands used by him and the *pan* that had remained uneaten by him.