M.F---- had married her on the very day she had left the convent; she was only seventeen years of age then, and he had brought her on board his galley immediately after the marriage ceremony.
I saw her for the first time at the dinner-table on the very day of my installation at M.D---- R-----'s, and she made a great impression upon me.

I thought I was gazing at a supernatural being, so infinitely above all the women I had ever seen, that it seemed impossible to fall in love with her She appeared to me of a nature different and so greatly superior to mine that I did not see the possibility of rising up to her.

I even went so far as to persuade myself that nothing but a Platonic friendship could exist between her and M.D---- R-----, and that M.F---- was quite right now not to shew any jealousy.

Yet, that M.F---- was a perfect fool, and certainly not worthy of such a woman.

The impression made upon me by Madame F---- was too ridiculous to last long, and the nature of it soon changed, but in a novel manner, at least as far as I was concerned.
My position as adjutant procured me the honour of dining at M.
D---- R-----'s table, but nothing more.