I did not know by whom the ball was to be given, or when it was to take place, but scenting pleasure from afar off I hastened to make enquiries about it, and heard that all the good families in Cologne were going.  It was a masked ball, and consequently open to all.  I decided then that I would go; indeed I concluded that I had had orders to that effect, and at all events my lady would be there, and I might hope for a happy meeting with her.  But as I wished to keep up my incognito as much as possible, I resolved to reply to all who asked me that important business would prevent my being present.

It fell out that the general asked me this very question in the presence of the lady, and without regard to the orders I had received from her I replied that my health would forbid my having that pleasure.

“You are very wise, sir,” said the general, “all the pleasures on earth should be sacrificed when it is a question of one’s health.”

I think so, too, now, but I thought differently then.

On the day of the ball, towards the evening, I set out in a post-chaise, disguised so that not a soul in Cologne could have recognized me, and provided with a box containing two dominoes; and on my arrival at Bonn I took a room and put on one of the dominoes, locking up the other in the box; and I then had myself carried to the ball in a sedan-chair.

I got in easily and unperceived, and recognized all the ladies of Cologne without their masks, and my mistress sitting at a faro-table risking a ducat.  I was glad to see in the banker, Count Verita of Verona, whom I had known in Bavaria.  He was in the Elector’s service.  His small bank did not contain more than five or six ducats, and the punters, men and women, were not more than twelve.  I took up a position by my mistress, and the banker asked me to cut.  I excused myself with a gesture, and my neighbour cut without being asked.  I put ten ducats on a single card, and lost four times running; I played at the second deal, and experienced the same fate.  At the third deal nobody would cut, and the general, who was standing by but not playing, agreed to do so.  I fancied his cutting would be lucky, and I put fifty ducats on one card.  I won.  I went ‘paroli’, and at the second deal I broke the bank.  Everybody was curious about me; I was stared at and followed, but seizing a favourable opportunity I made my escape.

I went to my room, took out my money, changed my costume, and returned to the ball.  I saw the table occupied by new gamesters, and another banker who seemed to have a good deal of gold, but not caring to play any more I had not brought much money with me.  I mingled in all the groups in the ballroom, and on all sides I heard expressions of curiosity about the mask who broke the first bank.

I did not care to satisfy the general curiosity, but made my way from one side of the room to the other till I found the object of my search talking to Count Verita, and as I drew near I found out that they were talking of me.  The count was saying that the Elector had been asking who had broken the bank, and that General Kettler had expressed his opinion that it was a Venetian who had been in Cologne for the last week.  My mistress answered that she did not think I was there, as she had heard me say that the state of my health would keep me at home.