She asked the marquis if she could return to the inn.

“Yes,” said he, “but I have some business in hand, and cannot come with you.”

“Would you be kind enough to escort me?” said she to me.  I bowed in assent.

On the way she told me that if Madame Zeroli were still there she would not have dared to take my arm.  I could only reply by equivocating, as I had no wish to embark in a fresh intrigue.  However, I had no choice; I was obliged to accompany her to her room and sit down beside her; but as I had had no sleep the night before I felt tired and began to yawn, which was not flattering for the lady.  I excused myself to the best of my ability, telling her that I was ill, and she believed me or pretended to believe me.  But I felt sleep stealing upon me, and I should have infallibly dropped off if it had not been for my hellebore, which kept me awake by making me sneeze.

The marquis came in, and after a thousand compliments he proposed a game of quinze.  I begged him to excuse me, and the lady backed me up, saying I could not possibly play in the midst of such a sneezing fit.  We went down to dinner, and afterwards I easily consented to make a bank, as I was vexed at my loss of the day before.  As usual I staked five hundred louis, and about seven o’clock, though two-thirds of the bank had gone, I announced the last deal.  The marquis and two other heavy gamesters then endeavoured to break the bank, but fortune turned, and I not only got back my losses but won three hundred Louis besides.  Thereupon I rose, promising the company to begin again next day.  All the ladies had won, as Desarmoises had orders to let them play as they liked up to a certain limit.

I locked up my money, and warning my faithful Spaniard that I should not be coming back, I went to my idol, having got wet through on the way, and being obliged to undress as soon as I arrived.  The good woman’ of the house took care to dry my clothes.

I found the fair nun dressed in her religious habit, and lying on the small bed.

“Why are you not in your own bed, dearest?”

“Because I feel quite well again, my darling, and I wished to sup with you at table.  We will go to bed afterwards, if that will give you any pleasure.”

“It will give me pleasure if you share in my delight.”

“Alas!  I am undone, and I shall doubtless die when I have to leave you.”

“Do not leave me, sweetheart; come with me to Rome; and leave the matter in my hands.  I will make you my wife, and we will live happily together ever after.”

“That would be too great a bliss, but I could never make up my mind to it; say no more about it.”

I was sure of spending a delicious night—­in the possession of all her charms, and we stayed an hour at table, seasoning the dishes with sweet converse.  When we had done, the woman came up, gave her a packet, and went away again, wishing us good night.