Asamatteroffact，Ihadnoneedofmoney。Ihadplayedwithmoderation，andmyprofitsamountedtonearlyfourhundredlouis。WhentheluckturnedagainstmeIwaswiseenoughtoturnmybackontheboard。AlthoughthebruisethatMercyhadgivenmewasstillapparent，I
escortedthemarchionesstothetables，andthereshedrewalleyesuponher。Shewasfondofpiquet，andweplayedtogetherforsmallstakesforsometime。Intheendshelosttwentycrownstome，andIwasforcedtotakethemoneyforfearofoffendingher。
WhenwewentbackwemetCroceandConti，whohadbothwon——ContiascoreoflouisatFaro，andCrocemorethanahundredguineasat’passedix’，whichhehadbeenplayingataclubofEnglishmen。Iwasmorelivelyatsupperthandinner，andexcitedCharlottetolaughterbymywit。
HenceforththePolesandtheTomatisonlysawmeatintervals。Iwasinlovewiththefairmarchioness，andeverybodysaiditwasverynatural。
Whenaweekhadelapsed，Croce，findingthatthepigeonswouldnotcometobeplucked，despitethesuppershegave，wenttothepublicroom，andlostcontinually。Hewasasusedtolossastogain，andhisspiritswereunaltered；hewasstillgay，stillatewellanddrankbetter，andcaressedhisvictim，whohadnosuspicionsofwhatwasgoingon。