nobility.  This Branicki was said to have been originally a Cossack, Branecki by name.  He became the king’s favorite and assumed the name of Branicki, pretending to be of the same family as the illustrious marshal of that name who was still alive; but he, far from recognizing the pretender, ordered his shield to be broken up and buried with him as the last of the race.  However that may be, Branicki was the tool of the Russian party, the determined enemy of those who withstood Catherine’s design of Russianising the ancient Polish constitution.  The king liked him out of habit, and because he had peculiar obligations to him.

The life I lived was really exemplary.  I indulged neither in love affairs nor gaming.  I worked for the king, hoping to become his secretary.  I paid my court to the princess-palatine, who liked my company, and I played tressette with the palatin himself.

On the 4th of March, St. Casimir’s Eve, there was a banquet at Court to which I had the honour to be invited.  Casimir was the name of the king’s eldest brother, who held the office of grand chamberlain.  After dinner the king asked me if I intended going to the theatre, where a Polish play was to be given for the first time.  Everybody was interested in this novelty, but it was a matter of indifference to me as I did not understand the language, and I told the king as much.

“Never mind,” said he, “come in my box.”

This was too flattering an invitation to be refused, so I obeyed the royal command and stood behind the king’s chair.  After the second act a ballet was given, and the dancing of Madame Caracci, a Piedmontese, so pleased his majesty that he went to the unusual pains of clapping her.

I only knew the dancer by sight, for I had never spoken to her.  She had some talents.  Her principal admirer was Count Poninski, who was always reproaching me when I dined with him for visiting the other dancers to the exclusion of Madame Caracci.  I thought of his reproach at the time, and determined to pay her a visit after the ballet to congratulate her on her performance and the king’s applause.  On my way I passed by Madame Binetti’s dressing-room, and seeing the door open I stayed a moment.  Count Branicki came up, and I left with a bow and passed on to Madame Caracci’s dressing-room.  She was astonished to see me, and began with kindly reproaches for my neglect; to which I replied with compliments, and then giving her a kiss I promised to come and see her.

Just as I embraced her who should enter but Branicki, whom I had left a moment before with Madame Binetti.  He had clearly followed me in the hopes of picking a quarrel.  He was accompanied by Bininski, his lieutenant-colonel.  As soon as he appeared, politeness made me stand up and turn to go, but he stopped me.

“It seems to me I have come at a bad time; it looks as if you loved this lady.”

“Certainly, my lord; does not your excellency consider her as worthy of love?”