I slept more soundly that night than the last, and as soon as I rose the next day I sent the present of sweat-meats I had received from the Grand Duke, except some fruits and a bottle of wine, to my beautiful Brunette, thinking I could not make a better use of it. I added to it gloves, and all sorts of ribbons, which I had ordered Sayavedra to choose and buy for me. My present pleased the widow exceedingly, as well as the note I sent with it, and to which I was told she would in the evening give me an answer by word of mouth, at the lady’s house, who expected to see me. Unluckily the hour appointed for that visit was nearly the same I had promised to be at court to finish the lessons of the two dances which the Duchess had began to learn with me. To conciliate matters, I resolved to go somewhat sooner than I was expected to the Princess’s, in the hope of thus being able still to keep my appointment with the lady also. I was mistaken in my reckoning; her Highness, who had a great desire to make herself perfect in those two dances, made me dance them so often with her, that it was not possible for me to take my leave of her for that happy assignation, the hour of which to my great sorrow was already passed, and caused within me the most expressive signs of impatience. The Duchess perceived it, notwithstanding all my endeavours to dissimulate. “What is the matter,” said she, “there is something that makes you uneasy. I see what it is, your widow makes you think the rehearsal rather too long; is it not so?” I plainly confessed the truth, and owned the cause of my uneasiness, thinking by that she would let me go sooner, but she did not. On the contrary she ordered me to remain with her; but, rather than lose my company, she sent for my lovely widow, ordering the messenger to make my excuses, and taking all the blame upon herself. Nothing could be more gracious; I returned her Highness my thanks in the most grateful terms, and then recovering my usual gaiety, I repaid so much kindness, by saying a thousand pleasant sallies, which made my conversation very agreeable to the Princess. When the amiable Brunette came, extremely pleased with the honour the Grand Duchess had done her, her Highness told her that she had sent for her to make amends for the pleasure she had been deprived of while she detained me; then caressing the lady on my account, she said so many obliging and tender things in my favour, that it put me in confusion. We three then began a little ball, till the hour fixed for the great one, which no sooner arrived than we entered the ball-room, and as long as it lasted my mistress and I did nothing but exert ourselves to make our court to her Highness, who was fond of seeing us dance together. From that very night our mutual love became public; every one looked upon us as a couple of happy lovers. My rivals alone thought otherwise.