nothing, or rather I assented to the yes of my two nymphs.  The dinner was excellent, and after the bill was paid, and we were on the point of returning to Paris, I noticed that a ring, which I had taken off to shew to one of the adventurers named Santis, was still missing.  It was an exceedingly pretty miniature, and the diamond setting had cost me twenty-five Louis.  I politely begged Santis to return me the ring, and he replied with the utmost coolness that he had done so already.

“If you had returned it,” said I, “it would be on my finger, and you see that it is not.”

He persisted in his assertion; the girls said nothing, but Santis’s friend, a Portuguese, named Xavier, dared to tell me that he had seen the ring returned.

“You’re a liar,” I exclaimed; and without more ado I took hold of Santis by the collar, and swore I would rot let him go till he returned me my ring.  The Portuguese rose to come to his friend’s rescue, while I stepped back and drew my sword, repeating my determination not to let them go.  The landlady came on the scene and began to shriek, and Santis asked me to give him a few words apart.  I thought in all good faith that he was ashamed to restore the ring before company, but that he would give it me as soon as we were alone.  I sheathed my sword, and told him to come with me.  Xavier got into the carriage with the four girls, and they all went back to Paris.

Santis followed me to the back of the inn, and then assuming a pleasant smile he told me that he had put the ring into his friend’s pocket for a joke, but that I should have it back at Paris.

“That’s an idle tale,” I exclaimed, “your friend said that he saw you return it, and now he has escaped me.  Do you think that I am green enough to be taken in by this sort of thing?  You’re a couple of robbers.”

So saying, I stretched out my hand for his watch-chain, but he stepped back and drew his sword.  I drew mine, and we had scarcely crossed swords when he thrust, and I parrying rushed in and ran him through and through.  He fell to the ground calling, “Help!” I sheathed my sword, and, without troubling myself about him, got into my coach and drove back to Paris.

I got down in the Place Maubert, and walked by a circuitous way to my hotel.  I was sure that no one could have come after me there, as my landlord did not even know my name.

I spent the rest of the day in packing up my trunks, and after telling Costa to place them on my carriage I went to Madame d’Urfe.  After I had told her of what had happened, I begged her, as soon as that which she had for me was ready, to send it to me at Augsburg by Costa.  I should have told her to entrust it to one of her own servants, but my good genius had left me that day.  Besides I did not look upon Costa as a thief.

When I got back to the hotel I gave the rascal his instructions, telling him to be quick and to keep his own counsel, and then I gave him money for the journey.