IntheprincipalityofMonacotherewasaFrenchgarrison，whichwasworthapensionofahundredthousandfrancstotheprince——averywelcomeadditiontohisincome。
Acurledandscentedyoungofficer，passingbyourroom，thedoorofwhichwasopen，stoppedshort，andwithunblushingpolitenessaskedusifwewouldallowhimtojoinourparty。Irepliedpolitely，butcoldly，thathedidushonour——aphrasewhichmeansneitheryesnorno；butaFrenchmanwhohasadvancedonestepneverretreats。
Heproceededtodisplayhisgracesforthebenefitoftheladies，talkingincessantly，withoutgivingthemtimetogetinaword，whenhesuddenlyturnedtomeandsaidthathewonderedhowitwasthattheprincehadnotaskedmeandmyladiestodinner。ItoldhimthatIhadnotsaidanythingtotheprinceaboutthetreasureIhadwithme。
Ihadscarcelyutteredthewords，whenthekindlyblockheadroseandcriedenthusiastically，——
\"Parbleu！Iamnolongersurprised。Iwillgoandtellhishighness，andIshallsoonhavethehonourofdiningwithyouatthecastle。\"