few knots of the same ribband, which appeared to have been made on purpose for her, brown as she was. Miss Price returned her a thousand thanks, and promised to do herself the honour of wearing them at the ball. 'You ' will oblige me if you do,' said Miss Hamilton, but if you mention that such a trifle as this comes from me, I 'shall never forgive you; but,' continued she, do not go and rob poor "Miss Blague of the Marquis Brisacier,

as you already have of Dongan: I 'know very well that it is wholly in your power: you have wit; you speak French; and were he once to converse with you ever so little, the 'other could have no pretensions to

him.' This was enough: Miss Blague was only ridiculous and coquettish: Miss Price was ridiculous, coquettish, and something else besides.

The day being come, the court, more splendid than ever, exhibited all its magnificence at this masquerade. The company were all met except the Chevalier de Grammont: every body was astonished that he should be one of the last at such a time, as his readiness was so remarkable on every occasion; but they were still more surprised, to see him at length appear in an ordinary court-dress, which he had worn before. The thing was preposterous on such an occasion, and very extraordinary with respect to him: in vain had he the finest point-lace, with the largest and best powdered peruque imaginable: his dress, magnificent enough for any other purpose, was not at all proper for this entertainment.

The king immediately took notice of it: 'Chevalier,' said he, 'Termes is

6

not arrived then? Pardon me, Sire,' said he, God be thanked!' Why 'God be thanked!' said the king; has any thing happened to him on 'the road?' 'Sire,' said the Chevalier de Grammont, this is the history of 'my dress, and of Termes, my messen'ger.' At these words the ball, ready to begin, was suspended; the dancers making a circle around the Chevalier de Grammont, he continued his story in the following manner:

'It is now two days since this fel'low ought to have been here, accord'ing to my orders and his promises. You may judge of my impatience all 'this day, when I found he did not 'come at last, after I had tired my'self in bestowing imprecations upon him, about an hour ago he arrived, splashed all over from head to foot, 'booted up to the waist, and looking

like a man excommunicated: Very well, you scoundrel, said I, this is 'just like you, you must be waited for 'to the very last minute, and it is a 'miracle that you are arrived at all. "Yes, faith, said he, it is a miracle.

You are always grumbling: I had 'the finest suit in the world made for 'you, which the Duke de Guise him'self was at the trouble of ordering. 'Give it me then, caitiff, said I. Sir, 'said he, if I did not employ a dozen ' embroiderers upon it, who did no

thing but work day and night, I am 'a rascal: I never left them one mo

ment. And where is it, you villain? 'do not stand here prating, while I 'should be dressing I had, conti'nued he, packed it up, made it tight, ' and folded it in such a manner, that all the rain in the world could never

have been able to penetrate it; and

C

1

I rode post, day and night, knowing your impatience, and that you were 'not to be trifled with. -But where is it? said I. Lost, Sir! said he, clasping his hands. How, lost! cried I in surprise. Yes, lost, perished, 'swallowed up: what can I say more? 'What! was the packet-boat cast away 'then? Oh, indeed, Sir, a great deal worse, as you shall see, answered he: I was within half a league of Calais 'yesterday morning, and I was re'solved to go by the sea-side, to make greater haste; but, indeed, they say very true, that nothing is like the highway; for I got into a quicksand, 'where I sunk up to the chin. A quicksand, said I, near Calais! Yes, Sir, said he, and such a quick-sand, that, the devil take me, if they saw any 'thing but the top of my head when they pulled me out: as for my horse,