I started from the hotel of the "Treize Cantons" with four post-horses, Le Duc and Costa sitting on the coachman's seat. The guide, whom I had paid well for his services, took us to Rosalie's door. I got out of the carriage, and after thanking the kindly old landlord, who was sorry to lose so good a boarder, I made her get in, sat down beside her, and ordered the postillions to go to Toulon, as I wished to see that fine port before returning to Italy. We got to Toulon at five o'clock. My Rosalie behaved herself at supper like the mistress of a house accustomed to the best society. I noticed that Le Duc as head man made Costa wait upon her, but I got over him by telling my sweetheart that he would have the honour of doing her hair, as he could do it as well as the best barber in Paris. He swallowed the golden pill, and gave in with a good grace, and said, with a profound bow, that he hoped to give madam satisfaction. We went out next morning to see the port, and were shewn over the place by the commandant, whose acquaintance we made by a lucky chance. He offered his arm to Rosalie, and treated her with the consideration she deserved for her appearance and the good sense of her questions. The commandant accepted my invitation to dinner, at which Rosalie spoke to the point though not to excess, and received the polite compliments of our worthy guest with much grace. In the afternoon he took us over the arsenal, and after having him to dinner could not refuse his invitation to supper. There was no difficulty about Rosalie; the commandant introduced her immediately to his wife, his daughter, and his son. I was delighted to see that her manner with ladies even surpassed her manner with gentlemen. She was one of Nature's own ladies. The commandant's wife and daughter caressed her again and again, and she received their attentions with that modest sensibility which is the seal of a good education. They asked me to dinner the next day, but I was satisfied with what I had seen, so I took leave, intending to start on the morrow. When we got back to the inn I told her how pleased I was with her, and she threw her arms round my neck for joy. "I am always afraid," said she, "of being asked who I am." "You needn't be afraid, dearest; in France no gentleman or lady would think of asking such a question." "But if they did, what ought I to do?" "You should make use of an evasion." "What's an evasion?" "A way of escaping from a difficulty without satisfying impertinent curiosity." "Give me an example." "Well, if such a question were asked you, you might say, 'You had better ask this gentleman.'" "I see, the question is avoided; but is not that impolite?" "Yes; but not so impolite as to ask an embarrassing question." "And what would you say if the question was passed on to you?"