Volume V Part 7 (1/2)

”Then I won't play,” said I, to the keeper of the roo the scales”

The banker then said that when play was over he would give four crowns of six livres for every louis that the company had won, and the matter was settled In a moment the board was covered with stakes

We each punted a louis at a time, and I and my niece lost twenty Louis, but Marcoline, who had never possessed two sequins in her life before, o hundred and forty Louis She played on the figure of an abbe which ca full of crown pieces, and we returned to the felucca

The as contrary, and we had to row all night, and in the h that we had to put in at Mentone My teethearts were very sick, as also my brother and Possano, but I was perfectly well I took the two invalids to the inn, and allowed my brother and Possano to land and refresh themselves The innkeeper told me that the Prince and Princess of Monaco were at Mentone, so I resolved to pay them a visit It was thirteen years since I had seen the prince at Paris, where I had amused him and his mistress Caroline at supper It was this prince who had taken me to see the horrible duchess of Rufec; then he was unain in his principality with his wife, of whom he had already two sons The princess had been a duchess de Borgnoli, a great heiress, and a delightful and pretty woman

I had heard all about her, and I was curious to verify the facts for myself

I called on the prince, was announced, and after a long wait they introduced hness, which I had never done at Paris, where he was not known under his full style and title He received me politely, but with that coolness which lets one know that one is not an over-welcome visitor

”You have put in on account of the bad weather, I suppose?” said he

”Yes, prince, and if your highness will allow me I will spend the whole day in your delicious villa” (It is far fro delicious)

”As you please The princess as well as myself likes it better than our place at Monaco, so we live here by preference”

”I should be grateful if your highness would presentto present e opened the door of a handsome roo at the piano, but as soon as she saw ed to introduce , and no doubt the princess felt the position, for she pretended not to notice it, and addressed me with the utmost kindness and politeness, and in a way that shewed that she was learned in the ood society I immediately became very much at my ease, and proceeded in a lordly h I said nothing about my two lady friends

The princess was handsoood-natured Her mother, who knew that a hter happy, opposed theive in when the girl said,--

”O Monaco O monaca” (Either Monaco or a convent)

We were still occupied in the trifles which keep up an ordinary conversation, when the prince ca her escape, laughing The princess pretended not to see hi The scene displeased me, and I took leave of the princess, ishedout, and he invited me to come and see him whenever I passed that way

”Certainly,” said I; andany ood dinner for three

In the principality of Monaco there was a French garrison, which orth a pension of a hundred thousand francs to the prince--a very welco officer, passing by our room, the door of which was open, stopped short, and with unblushi+ng politeness asked us if ould allow him to join our party I replied politely, but coldly, that he did us honour--a phrase which means neither yes nor no; but a Frenchman who has advanced one step never retreats

He proceeded to display his graces for the benefit of the ladies, talking incessantly, without giving theet in a word, when he suddenly turned to me and said that he wondered hoas that the prince had not asked me andto the prince about the treasure I had with me

I had scarcely uttered the words, when the kindly blockhead rose and cried enthusiastically,--