If he acted in this manner to afford me the opportunity of a delightful conversation, he did not favour a fool, for I availed myself of this interview, not knowing when I should have a more favourable one, to declare my passion. I called forth all my genius, which served me well enough on the occasion, and the lady enchanted me by the delicacy of her replies; in the mean time, the father still pretending to be very busy, now and then asked pardon for being no better company; I returned him compliment for compliment, and following my point, still courted the daughter in a low voice, as if afraid of disturbing him in his reading. We had been three hours together, when the Banker thinking proper to put an end to our conversation, came and joined us, and Eugenia after having made a curtesy disappeared. I now felt so much esteem, or rather was so much in love with this lady, that I could not forbear breaking out in praise of her; and speaking from the fullness of my heart, I told Don Andrea, that no one could possibly be more sensible of his daughter’s merit than I was. The old fox listened to me very attentively, and to encourage me to explain myself more clearly, he held a long discourse on the necessity of persons of my age marrying, to avoid an infinite number of precipices to which they are daily exposed, and on the importance of the choice of a wife, since it commonly decided the happiness or misery of her husband. He then proceeded to assure me of the good opinion he had conceived of me; telling me that I had won his heart by my ingenuous manners and the confidence I had placed in him; and that I might rely that there was nothing that lay in his power which he would not do to convince me of it. I was not much behind hand with him in professions. I opened my whole heart to him, and protested that he might make me the happiest of men in giving me Eugenia. He considered for some time, or appeared to do so, to persuade me that I set his friendship at too great a trial; however, before we parted, I knew what I had to expect. He embraced me tenderly when I left him, and told me he had certain views of establishing his daughter more advantageously, but that he had given them all up to shew me how dear I was to him. At these words, I took one of his hands, and kissed it with a transport that proved more fully than all I could have said, the gratitude of my heart.