Beside M.de Bonnefond, the company was composed of several Irish priests, Gascons and others of much the same description.

Our hostess herself had not made the best possible use of her time, and I was the only person at the table who spoke and behaved with decency.

Allurements were thrown out to the young girl.

I took her part, and the joke was then turned against me.
Had I had no natural inclination to the poor girl, compassion and contradiction would have produced it in me: I was always a great friend to decency in manners and conversation, especially in the fair sex.

I openly declared myself her champion, and perceived she was not insensible of my attention; her looks, animated by the gratitude she dared not express by words, were for this reason still more penetrating.
She was very timid, and I was as much so as herself.