However，youarenottheonlypersonwithwhomIambehindhand：I
assureyou，onthecontrary，thatyouareoneofaverynumerousandfashionablecompany，towhom，towardsthedischargeofmydebts，Iproposetoconsecratefourhoursto-day。Igiveyouthepreferencetoalltheworld，eventothelovelyDuchessofSanSeverino，adeliciousItalian，whom，formyspecialhappiness，I
metlastsummerattheWatersofAix。IhavealsoamostimportantnegotiationtoconcludewithoneofourPrincesofFinance：butn’importe，Icommencewiththee：friendshipbeforeloveormoney——
friendshipbeforeeverything。Mydespatchesconcluded，IamengagedtoridewiththeMarquisdeGrigneure，theComtedeCastijars，andLordCobham，inorderthatwemayrecover，forabreakfastattheRocherdeCancalethatGrigneurehaslost，theappetitewhichweallofussocruellyabusedlastnightattheAmbassador’sgala。Onmyhonor，mydearfellow，everybodywasofacapriceprestigieuxandacomfortablemirobolant。Fancy，forabanquet-hall，aroyalorangeryhungwithwhitedamask。theboxesoftheshrubstransformedintosomanysideboards。lightsgleamingthroughthefoliage。and，forguests，theloveliestwomenandmostbrilliantcavaliersofParis。OrleansandNemourswerethere，dancingandeatinglikesimplemortals。Inaword，Albiondidthethingveryhandsomely，andIaccorditmyesteem。
HereIpause，tocallformyvalet-de-chambre，andcallfortea。