love, it rather was a strange sort of a nameless desire. The shape and the manners of the lovers inspired the rest with a jealousy which rather seemed to be owing to offended vanity than to a particular inclination towards us. The general good understanding was soon interrupted; the favoured fair ones indulged themselves with several little liberties; the rest did not care to disguise their indignation; and, besides, we were not the sole lovers of our partners. It was owing merely to the supposed superiority of our rank, which was confirmed by the noble carriage of the Count, that this general disatisfaction did not break out: however, the silence which began to prevail around us rapidly encreased every moment; the general inebriation of pleasure gradually vanished as one little troop separated itself by degrees from the rest; and those who were inspired with similar sentiments, retired at some distance in small groups, taking no farther share in our diversion.Our
