“When the ambassador had gone, the Charpillon, finding herself at liberty once more, had Lord Baltimore, Lord Grosvenor, and M. de Saa, the Portuguese ambassador, in turn, but no titular lover.  I insisted on having my night with her according to agreement, but both mother and daughter laughed at me when I spoke of it.  I cannot arrest her, because she is a minor, but I will have the mother imprisoned on the first opportunity, and you will see how the town will laugh.  Now you know why I go to their house; and I assure you you are wrong if you think I have any part in their councils.  Nevertheless, I know they are discussing how they may catch you, and they will do so if you do not take care.”

“Tell the mother that I have another hundred guineas at her service if she will let me have her daughter for a single night.”

“Do you mean that?”

“Assuredly, but I am not going to pay in advance.”

“That’s the only way not to be duped.  I shall be glad to execute your commission.”

I kept the rogue to dinner, thinking he might be useful to me.  He knew everything and everybody, and told me a number of amusing anecdotes.  Although a good-for-nothing fellow, he had his merits.  He had written several works, which, though badly constructed, shewed he was a man of some wit.  He was then writing his “Chinese Spy,” and every day he wrote five or six news-letters from the various coffee-houses he frequented.  I wrote one or two letters for him, with which he was much pleased.  The reader will see how I met him again at Naples some years later.

The next morning, what was my surprise to see the Charpillon, who said with an air that I should have taken for modesty in any other woman,—­

“I don’t want you to give me any breakfast, I want an explanation, and to introduce Miss Lorenzi to you.”

I bowed to her and to her companion, and then said,—­

“What explanation do you require?”

At this, Miss Lorenzi, whom I had never seen before, thought proper to leave us, and I told my man that I was not at home to anybody.  I ordered breakfast to be served to the companion of the nymph, that she might not find the waiting tedious.

“Sir,” said the Charpillon, “is it a fact that you charged the Chevalier Goudar to tell my mother that you would give a hundred guineas to spend the night with me?”

“No, not to spend a night with you, but after I had passed it.  Isn’t the price enough?”

“No jesting, sir, if you please.  There is no question of bargaining; all I want to know is whether you think you have a right to insult me, and that I am going to bear it?”

“If you think yourself insulted, I may, perhaps, confess I was wrong; but I confess I did not think I should have to listen to any reproaches from you.  Gondar is one of your intimate friends, and this is not the first proposal he has taken to you.  I could not address you directly, as I know your arts only too well.”