his friend did not deserve.  He was soon favourably heard upon this topic; and as soon as they were agreed, they consulted upon two measures necessary to be taken, the one to deceive her husband, the other his friend, which was not very difficult:  Matta was not at all suspicious:  and the stupid Senantes, towards whom the Chevalier had already behaved as Matta had refused to do, could not be easy without him.  This was much more than was wanted; for as soon as ever the Chevalier was with the Marchioness, her husband immediately joined them out of politeness; and on no account would have left them alone together, for fear they should grow weary of each other without him.

Matta, who all this time was entirely ignorant that he was disgraced, continued to serve his mistress in his own way.  She had agreed with the Chevalier de Grammont, that to all appearance everything should be carried on as before; so that the court always believed that the Marchioness only thought of Matta, and that the Chevalier was entirely devoted to Mademoiselle de Saint Germain.

There were very frequently little lotteries for trinkets:  the Chevalier de Grammont always tried his fortune, and was sometimes fortunate; and under pretence of the prizes he had won, he bought a thousand things which he indiscreetly gave to the Marchioness, and which she still more indiscreetly accepted:  the little Saint Germain very seldom received any thing.  There are meddling whisperers everywhere:  remarks were made upon these proceedings; and the same person that made them communicated them likewise to Mademoiselle de Saint Germain.  She pretended to laugh, but in reality was piqued.  It is a maxim religiously observed by the fair sex, to envy each other those indulgences which themselves refuse.  She took this very ill of the Marchioness.  On the other hand, Matta was asked if he was not old enough to make his own presents himself to the Marchioness de Senantes, without sending them by the Chevalier de Grammont.  This roused him; for of himself, he would never have perceived it:  his suspicions, however, were but slight, and he was willing to have them removed.  “I must confess,” said he to the Chevalier de Grammont, “that they make love here quite in a new style; a man serves here without reward:  he addresses himself to the husband when he is in love with the wife, and makes presents to another man’s mistress, to get into the good graces of his own.  The Marchioness is much obliged to you for-----”

“It is you who are obliged,” replied the Chevalier, “since thus was done on your account:  I was ashamed to find you had never yet thought of presenting her with any trifling token of your attention:  do you know that the people of this court have such extraordinary notions, as to think that it is rather owing to inadvertency that you never yet have had the spirit to make your mistress the smallest present?  For shame! how ridiculous it is, that you can never think for yourself?”