Volume V Part 35 (1/2)

She sat down,me sit on one side and Sophie on the other

Madame Cornelis then made her appearance, and everyone asked her the same questions, and made the same remarks about me She said bravely that I was her best and her oldest friend, and that the likeness between ht possibly be capable of explanation Everyone laughed and said it was very natural that it should be so To change the subject, Madame Cornelis remarked that Sophie had learnt the minuet and danced it adton, ”that weartist's perforun, and as soon as the violinist appeared, I stepped forward and danced with Sophie, to the delight of the select circle of spectators

The ball lasted all night without ceasing, as the company ate by relays, and at all tiality orthy of a prince's palace I made the acquaintance of all the nobility and the Royal Fa and queen, and the Prince of Wales Madauineas, but the outlay was enorainst the thefts, which must have been perpetrated on all sides She tried to introduce her son to everybody, but the poor lad looked like a victi but make profound bows I pitied hiot home I went to bed and spent the whole of the next day there The day after I went to the ”Staven Tavern,” as I had been told that the prettiest girls in London resorted to it Lord Peave me this piece of inforot to the tavern I asked for a private roolish, accosted me in French, and carave and reverend , and did not like to tell hilishworeat deal of circumlocution, that I did not knohether Lord Pe irls in London at his house

”No, sir,” said he, ”my lord has not deceived you, and you can have as many as you like”

”That's what I ca lad et ne The lad went out, and presently a girl of herculean proportions entered

”Sir,” said I, ”I don't like the looks of this girl”

”Give her a shi+lling and send her away We don't trouble ourselves about ceremonies in London”

This putand called for a prettier wench The second orse than the first, and I sent her away, and ten others after her, while I could see that my fastidiousness airls,” said I at last, ”let ood dinner I think the procurer as”

”It's very likely; indeed it often happens so when a gentleive the na as I alking in St Ja, and wishi+ng to see the place I took a coach and drove there, intending to aht, and to find a beauty to my taste

I was pleased with the rotunda I had some tea, I danced soh I saw several pretty woot tired, and as it was nearto find one, and I did not knohat to do An extree in the doorway, noticed my distress, and said that if I lived anywhere near Whitehall, she could take ratefully, and told her where I lived Her carriage came up, herot to e, I burst out into expressions of gratitude; and after telling herseen her at Soho Square

”I was not in London,” she replied, ”I returned fro met her I covered her hands with kisses, and dared to kiss her on the cheek; and finding that she s had given her an unequivocal mark of the ardour hich she had inspired me

She took my attentions so easily that I flattered ed her to tell me where I could call on her and pay my court while I remained in London, but she replied,--

”We shall see each other again; we ed her no e stopped, I kissed her hand and was set down at ht I saw nothing of her, but I ton had toldher name It was Lady Betty German's, and I found her out, but was asked to sit down and wait as she would be in soon I was pleasantly surprised to finda newspaper I conceived the idea of asking her to introduce me to Lady Betty, so I went up to her and proffered my request, but she replied politely that she could not do so not having the honour to know my name

”I have told you my name, madam Do you not remember me?”

”I remember you perfectly, but a piece of folly is not a title of acquaintance”

I was dumbfounded at the extraordinary reply, while the lady calmly returned to her newspaper, and did not speak another word till the arrival of Lady Betty

The fair philosopher talked for two hours without giving the least sign of knoho I was, although she answered reat politeness whenever I ventured to address her She turned out to be a lady of high birth and of great reputation

Happening to call on Martinelli, I asked hi her hands to me from the house opposite I was pleasantly surprised to hear that she was a dancer nareat service at Stuttgart, but I did not know she was in London I took leave of Martinelli to go and see her, and did so all the erly when I heard that she had parted froether at the Hay nized me directly

”I am surprised, my dear elder,” said she, ”to see you in London”