I had no sooner paid and sent away the Tailor, than my host came up and
informed me that the Grand Duke had sent me, while I slept, a present of
wine, fruits, and sweetmeats. This was a compliment that this Prince was
in the habit of making to the illustrious foreigners who visited his
court. The landlord added that he would not disturb my repose to
acquaint me with it. I was not sorry that I had not seen the gentleman
whom the Duke had sent with this present, as I must have paid pretty
roundly for the carriage; and I could not be too frugal, considering how
much I should need money to enable me to make any appearance at Court. I
thought then that I should escape this expense, in which I was a little
mistaken. Scarcely had my host ordered the Prince’s fruit and wine to be
brought into my chamber, when his Highness’s gentleman was announced to
me. I was obliged to endure a common place harangue, which ended in
informing me that the Duchess hoped to see me in the afternoon. I made
upon that an abundance of compliments to this gentleman, and Sayavedra,
like a well-bred valet, attended him to the door to slip a few crowns
into his hand. I amused myself then by trying on the rest of our
purchases: such as silk stockings, a superfine hat, ribbons, gay shoes,
linen, gloves, and every other necessary article of dress. Seeing that
nothing was wanting, I began by shaving, combing, cleaning, and
powdering myself; then being dressed, and looking at myself continually
in a glass, I turned towards my confidant, to ask him if he thought
there was any thing wanting. He answered, that I looked so well, that he
was much mistaken if I did not that day distract all the men with
jealousy and all the women with love. I did not fail then to put on my
elegant gold chain, and fasten below it with a ribbon a miniature
portrait of my dear master which he had given me the day before my
departure.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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