The Life and Adventures of Guzman D'Alfarache, or the Spanish Rogue, vol. 3/3

——— TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH EDITION OF MONS. LE SAGE. ——— BY JOHN HENRY BRADY. ——— SECOND EDITION, CORRECTED AND CONSIDERABLY IMPROVED. ——— IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. ——— LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, BROWN, AND GREEN, PATERNOSTER-ROW. — 1823.
London: Printed by J. Nichols and Son, 25, Parliament-street.

Guzman appears at the Grand Duke’s Court, where a Lady falls in love with him.
The Grand Duchess had lately been brought to bed of a Prince, or rather she was just recovering from her accouchement; and there was an entertainment every day at the palace, where all persons of distinction of both sexes did not fail to resort. The Cavaliers who lodged in the same hotel with me, and who were of the first class of nobility of the country, being only come to Florence to join in those diversions, were so much the more assiduous in their attendance, as by these means they made their court to their Prince. My host inquired of me the first evening of my stay, whether I would eat by myself or with those gentlemen. I replied, that I would do myself the honour of supping with them; and when the time came, I entered the room just as they were seating themselves at table. I assumed an easy carriage, and affected the man of consequence, of which I was quite capable, and after I had saluted them politely, I seated myself at the upper end of the room in a chair which was handed me by Sayavedra, who performed his part of the ceremony to admiration.
This bold step attracted the attention of all the company present, who, wishing to know who I was, were uselessly employed in inquiring that information of each other in a whisper. They were most impatient to hear me speak, hoping to discover my nation by my accent. I was malicious enough to keep them in doubt even on this point. In vain did they endeavour to provoke me to speak by little attentions at table; I answered all their civilities either by most gracious looks or by an inclination of the head. Being obliged, however, to utter a few words, I passed in their opinion for a Roman; but afterwards giving orders to Sayavedra in Spanish, puzzled them as much as before.