“For your brother Toulongeon, whose disposition I am acquainted with, will not have the complaisance to die, to favour your pretensions:  but suppose you had a competent fortune for you both—­and that is supposing a good deal—­are you acquainted with the delicacy, not to say capriciousness, of this fair one about such an engagement?  Do you know that she has had the choice of the best matches in England?  The Duke of Richmond paid his addresses to her first; but though he was in love with her, still he was mercenary:  however, the king, observing that want of fortune was the only impediment to the match, took that article upon himself, out of regard to the Duke of Ormond, to the merit and birth of Miss Hamilton, and to her father’s services; but, resenting that a man, who pretended to be in love, should bargain like a merchant, and likewise reflecting upon his character in the world, she did not think that being Duchess of Richmond was a sufficient recompense for the danger that was to be feared from a brute and a debauchee.

“Has not little Jermyn, notwithstanding his uncle’s great estate, and his own brilliant reputation, failed in his suit to her?  And has she ever so much as vouchsafed to look at Henry Howard, who is upon the point of being the first duke in England, and who is already in actual possession of all the estates of the house of Norfolk?  I confess that he is a clown, but what other lady in all England would not have dispensed with his stupidity and his disagreeable person, to be the first duchess in the kingdom, with twenty-five thousand a year?

“To conclude, Lord Falmouth has told me himself, that he has always looked upon her as the only acquisition wanting to complete his happiness:  but, that even at the height of the splendour of his fortune, he never had had the assurance to open his sentiments to her; that he either felt in himself too much weakness, or too much pride, to be satisfied with obtaining her solely by the persuasion of her relations; and that, though the first refusals of the fair on such occasions are not much minded, he knew with what an air she had received the addresses of those whose persons she did not like.  After this, Monsieur le Chevalier, consider what method you intend to pursue:  for, if you are in love, the passion will still increase, and the greater the attachment, the less capable will you be of making those serious reflections that are now in your power.”

“My poor philosopher,” answered the Chevalier de Grammont, “you understand Latin very well, you can make good verses, you understand the course, and are acquainted with the nature of the stars in the firmament; but, as for the luminaries of the terrestrial globe, you are utterly unacquainted with them:  you have told me nothing about Miss Hamilton, but what the king told me three days ago.  That she has refused the savages you have mentioned is all in her favour if she had admitted their addresses, I would have had nothing to say to her, though I love her to distraction.  Attend now to what I am going to say:  I am resolved to marry her, and I will have my tutor Saint Evremond himself to be the first man to commend me for it.  As for an establishment, I shall make my peace with the king, and will solicit him to make her one of the ladies of the bed-chamber to the queen:  this he will grant me.  Toulongeon will die, without my assistance.