have liked it more simple than as it was practised at Turin. The ordinary forms would not have disgusted him; but he found here a sort of superstition in the ceremonies and worship of love, which he thought very inconsistent: however, as he had submitted his conduct in that matter to the direction of the Chevalier de Grammont, he was obliged to follow his example, and to conform to the customs of the country.

They enlisted themselves at the same time in the service of two beauties, whose former squires gave them up immediately from motives of politeness. The Chevalier de Grammont chose Mademoiselle de Saint Germain, and told Matta to offer his services to Madame de Senantes. Matta consented, though he liked the other better; but the Chevalier de Grammont persuaded him, that Madame de Senantes was more suitable for him. As he had reaped advantage from the Chevalier's talents in the first projects they had formed, he resolved to follow his instructions in love, as he had done his advice in play.

Mademoiselle de Saint Germain was in the bloom of youth; her eyes were small, but very bright and sparkling, and like her hair were black; her complexion was lively and clear, though not fair: she had an agreeable mouth, two fine rows of teeth, a neck as handsome as one could wish, and a most delightful shape; she had a particular elegance in her elbows, which, however, she did not shew to advantage; her hands were rather large and not very white; her feet, though not of the smallest, were well shaped; she trusted to Providence, and used no art to set off those graces which she had received from nature; but notwithstanding her negligence in the embellishment of her charms, there was something so lively in her person, that the Chevalier de Grammont was caught at

qualities, being quite easy and perfectly charming; she was all mirth, all life, all complaisance and politeness, and all was natural, and always the same without any variation.

The Marchioness de Senantes 15 was esteemed fair, and she might have enjoyed, if she had pleased, the reputation of having red hair, had she not rather chosen to conform to the aste of the age in which she lived, than to follow that of the ncients: she had all the advantages of red hair without any f the inconveniences; a constant attention to her person erved as a corrective to the natural defects of her comlexion. After all, what does it signify, whether cleanliness e owing to nature or to art? it argues an invidious temper, o be very inquisitive about it. She had a great deal of wit, a ood memory, more reading, and a still greater inclination owards tenderness.

She had a husband, whom it would have been criminal ven in chastity to spare. He piqued himself upon being a toic, and gloried in being slovenly and disgusting in honour f his profession. In this he succeeded to admiration; for ⇒ was very fat, so that he perspired almost as much in inter as in summer. Erudition and brutality seemed to be e most conspicuous features of his character, and were disayed in his conversation, sometimes together, sometimes ternately, but always disagreeably: he was not jealous, d yet he was troublesome; he was very well pleased to see tentions paid to his wife, provided more were paid to him. As soon as our adventurers had declared themselves, the hevalier de Grammont arrayed himself in green habiliments, d dressed Matta in blue, these being the favourite colours their new mistresses. They entered immediately upon ty: the Chevalier learned and practised all the ceremonies. this species of gallantry, as if he always had been accus

was not over perfect in practising the other.

He never could remember, that his office was to promote the glory, and not the interest, of his mistress.

The Duchess of Savoy gave the very next day an entertainment at La Venerie, 16 where all the ladies were invited. The Chevalier was so agreeable and diverting, that he made his mistress almost die with laughing. Matta, in leading his lady to the coach, squeezed her hand, and at their return from the promenade he begged of her to pity his sufferings. This was proceeding rather too precipitately, and, although Madame de Senantes was not destitute of the natural compassion of her sex, she nevertheless was shocked at the familiarity of this treatment; she thought herself obliged to shew some degree of resentment, and, pulling away her hand, which he had pressed with still greater fervency upon this declaration, she went up to the royal apartments without even looking at her new lover. Matta, never thinking that he had offended her, suffered her to go, and went in search of some company to sup with him nothing was more easy for a man of his disposition ; he soon found what he wanted, sat a long time at table to refresh himself after the fatigues of love, and went to bed completely satisfied that he had performed his part to perfection.

During all this time the Chevalier de Grammont acquitted himself towards Mademoiselle de Saint Germain with universal applause; and, without remitting his assiduities, he found means to shine, as they went along, in the relation of a thousand entertaining anecdotes, which he introduced in the general conversation. Her Royal Highness heard them with pleasure, and the solitary Senantes likewise attended to them. He perceived this, and quitted his mistress. to inquire what she had done with Matta. "I!" said she, “I have done nothing with him; but I don't know what he would have done with me, if

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solicitations." She then told him in what manner his friend had treated her the very second day of their acquaintance.

The Chevalier could not forbear laughing at it: he told her Matta was rather too unceremonious, but yet she would like him better as their intimacy more improved, and for her consolation he assured her, that he would have spoken in the same manner to her Royal Highness herself; however, he would not fail to give him a severe reprimand. He went the next morning into his room for that purpose; but Matta had gone out early in the morning on a shooting party, in which he had been engaged by his supper companions in the preceding evenAt his return he took a brace of partridges and went to is mistress. Being asked whether he wished to see the narquis, he said no; and the Swiss telling him his lady was ot at home, he left his partridges, and desired him to present hem to his mistress from him.

ng.

The marchioness was at her toilet, and was decorating her ead with all the grace she could devise to captivate Matta, at he moment he was denied admittance: she knew nothing of he matter; but her husband knew every particular. He had aken it in dudgeon, that the first visit was not paid to him, nd as he was resolved that it should not be paid to his wife, he Swiss had received his orders, and had almost been beaten for eceiving the present which had been left. The partridges, owever, were immediately sent back; and Matta, without xamining into the cause, was glad to have them again. He ent to court without ever changing his clothes, or in the ast considering he ought not to appear there without his ly's colours. He found her becomingly dressed; her eyes peared to him more than usually sparkling, and her whole rson altogether divine. He began from that day to be

valler de Grammont; however, he could not help remarking

that she looked but coldly upon him. This appeared to him a very extraordinary return for his services, and, imagining that she was unmindful of her weighty obligations to him, he entered into conversation with her, and severely reprimanded her for having sent back his partridges with so much indifference.

She did not understand what he meant; and highly offended that he did not apologize, after the reprimand which she concluded him to have received, told him, that he certainly had met with ladies of very complying dispositions in his travels, as he seemed to give himself airs that she was by no means accustomed to endure. Matta desired to know, wherein he could be said to have given himself any. "Wherein?" said she: "the second day that you honoured me with your attentions, you treated me as if I had been your humble servant for a thousand years: the first time that I gave you my hand, you squeezed it as violently as you were able. After this commencement of your courtship, I got into my coach, and you mounted your horse; but, instead of riding by the side of the coach, as any reasonable gallant would have done, no sooner did a hare start from her form, than you immediately galloped full speed after her: having regaled yourself, during the promenade, by taking snuff, without ever deigning to bestow a thought on me, the only proof you gave me, on your return, that you recollected me, was by soliciting me to surrender my reputation in terms polite enough, but very explicit. And now you talk to me of having been shooting of partridges, and of some visit or other, which, I suppose, you have been dreaming of, as well as of all the rest."

The Chevalier de Grammont now advanced, to the inter