“ ‘Your intention,’ answered Selim, ‘would be to make Gabalis happy for six months: but, madam, could you not dispose of one quarter of an hour of those pleasures which you design for him?’ Olympia understood him wonderfully well, blushed, stammered; and concluded by exclaiming at the severity of the condition.

“ ‘Let us say no more of the affair,’ replied the colonel with a cold air, ‘Gabalis shall join his regiment: the prince’s service must be done. I might venture to take somewhat on my self: but you are inflexible. At least, madam, if Gabalis departs, it is you that send him away.’

“ ‘I,’ cry’d Olympia sharply: ‘Ah! Sir, make out his warrant quickly, and let him remain here.’ The essential preliminaries of the treaty were ratified on a sofa, and the lady thought she had made sure of Gabalis; when the traitor, who stands before you, took it into his head to ask her, who those two ladies were, who came with her, and whom she left in the next apartment. ‘They are two of my intimate friends,’ replied Olympia.