I began to think myself somebody since the gigantic stride I had made this evening at the cardinal's assembly.

The Marchioness de G.
had shewn in the most open way the interest she felt in me, and, under cover of her grandeur, had not hesitated to compromise herself publicly by the most flattering advances.

But who would have thought of disapproving?
A young abbe like me, without any importance whatever, who could scarcely pretend to her high protection! True, but she was precisely the woman to grant it to those who, feeling themselves unworthy of it, dared not shew any pretensions to her patronage.

On that head, my modesty must be evident to everyone, and the marchioness would certainly have insulted me had she supposed me capable of sufficient vanity to fancy that she felt the slightest inclination for me.

No, such a piece of self-conceit was not in accordance with my nature.