I could not get this adventure out of my head the whole of the morning; towards evening I walked up and down before the banker’s window again, and my trouble was not lost. I had a full view of the banker, who was conversing with his daughter on a balcony, who appeared to be a very personable man. As for the lady I cannot say that she was a perfect beauty, but she had an agreeable air and easy manners, which pleased me extremely, and prepossessed me in favour of her mind. If I had been charmed in the morning, how much more so was I in the evening. I returned home quite in love with her, and resolved to get acquainted with her father the very next day; which I accomplished in the manner I am about to relate to you. Since my arrival at Madrid, I had the precaution to have my diamonds all new set, for fear my relations should give advice to their correspondents, and cause me to be arrested. I had even run a great risk in showing them to the jeweller. I carried these to the amount of ten or twelve thousand franks to the banker, telling him at the same time, that I had others at home of more considerable value. He looked at them with an eager eye, valued them at twelve thousand franks, and offered to pay me that sum in six months, if I would allow him to sell them for me. As I had no other intention but to begin a train of business with him, I accepted of his offer, and even refused his note of hand for the value of the jewels, telling him that I knew too well what reputation he had in the world to require of him any other security than his own word. We then agreed that he should pay me in three months six thousand franks, and the other six thousand in three months after. My way of dealing charmed him so much, that he thanked me for the confidence I placed in him, and made me many protestations of service. He then shewed me all over his house, which was richly furnished. I observed equipages for him and his daughter, with a great number of servants. All these objects dazzled my eyes so much, that I was easily inclined to look upon him as one of the richest bankers in Spain. If all that was offered to my sight tended to confirm me in this opinion, his discourse was still more calculated to mislead me. He told me that he transacted business to the amount of two or three millions of franks every day. That the court always made use of him, and of his purse, to remit considerable sums to foreign countries; that he had access to the ministers when he pleased; that the greatest lords were his friends, and that but few of them who had not dealings with him.