Then, indeed, I changed the whole tone of my conversation.

Sentiment succeeded to satire, and the pretence of feeling to that of affectation.

In short, I was so resolved to please that I could scarcely fail to succeed.
In this main object of the evening I was not however solely employed.
I should have been very undeserving of that character for observation which I flatter myself I peculiarly deserve, if I had not during the three hours I stayed at Madame D--g's, conned over every person remarkable for any thing, from rank to a ribbon.

The duchesse herself was a fair, pretty, clever woman, with manners rather English than French.

She was leaning, at the time I paid my respects to her, on the arm of an Italian count, tolerably well known at Paris.