“A courier,” he wrote, “who arrived two hours ago, prevents my being happy to-night, for I am compelled to pass it in answering the dispatches I have received.  I trust that you will forgive and pity me.  May I hope that you will kindly grant me on Friday the pleasure of which I am so unfortunately deprived to-day?  Let me know your answer by to-morrow.  I wish ardently, in that case, to find you with the same guests, to whom I beg you will present my affectionate compliments.”

“Well,” said M——­ M——­, “it is not his fault.  We will sup without him.  Will you come on Friday?”

“Yes, with the greatest pleasure.  But what is the matter with you, dear C——­ C——?  You look sad.”

“Sad, no, unless it should be for the sake of my friend, for I have never seen a more polite and more obliging gentleman.”

“Very well, dear, I am glad he has rendered you so sensible.”

“What do you mean?  Could anyone be insensible to his merit?”

“Better still, but I agree with you.  Only tell me if you love him?”

“Well, even if I loved him, do you think I would go and tell him?  Besides, I am certain that he loves my friend.”

So saying, she sat down on M——­ M——­’s knee, calling her her own little wife, and my two beauties began to bestow on one another caresses which made me laugh heartily.  Far from troubling their sport, I excited them, in order to enjoy a spectacle with which I had long been acquainted.

M——­ M——­ took up a book full of the most lascivious engravings, and said, with a significant glance in my direction: 

“Do you wish me to have a fire lighted in the alcove?”

I understood her, and replied: 

“You would oblige me, for the bed being large we can all three sleep comfortably in it.”

I guessed that she feared my suspecting the ambassador of enjoying from the mysterious closet the sight of our amorous trio, and she wished to destroy that suspicion by her proposal.

The table having been laid in front of the alcove, supper was served, and we all did honour to it.  We were all blessed with a devouring appetite.  While M——­ M——­ was teaching her friend how to mix punch, I was admiring with delight the progress made in beauty by C——­ C——.

“Your bosom,” I said to her, “must have become perfect during the last nine months.”

“It is like mine,” answered M——­ M——­, “would you like to see for yourself?”

Of course I did not refuse.  M——­ M——­ unlaced her friend, who made no resistance, and performing afterwards the same office upon herself, in less than two minutes I was admiring four rivals contending for the golden apple like the three goddesses, and which would have set at defiance the handsome Paris himself to adjudge the prize without injustice.  Need I say what an ardent fire that ravishing sight sent coursing through my veins?  I placed immediately an the table the Academie des Dames, and pointed out a certain position to M——­ M——­, who, understanding my wishes, said to C——­ C——­ :