‘Gentlemen,’ said they to us, ‘you are expected this night to supper at the dutchess Asteria’s.’ Those who were not of the party, congratulated us on our good fortune: and after some turns in the gardens, they left us, and we went into our coach, in order to reap the benefit of it.

“We alight at a little door, at the foot of a very narrow pair of stairs, where we climbed up to a second floor; and I found the apartments more spacious and better furnished than they would appear to me at present. I was presented to the mistress of the house, to whom I made one of the most profound reverences, which I accompanied with so respectuous a compliment, that she was almost unhinged. Supper was served up, and I was seated next to a little charming person, who fell to acting the dutchess to admiration. Truly I can’t tell how I dared to fall in love with her: but so it was.”

“Then you have loved once in your life,” interrupted the favorite.