I was learning French, and making extracts from ministerial letters.
His eminence was in the habit of receiving every evening, and his rooms were thronged with the highest nobility of Rome; I had never attended these receptions.

The Abbe Gama told me that I ought to do so as well as he did, without any pretension.

I followed his advice and went; nobody spoke to me, but as I was unknown everyone looked at me and enquired who I was.

The Abbe Gama asked me which was the lady who appeared to me the most amiable, and I shewed one to him; but I regretted having done so, for the courtier went to her, and of course informed her of what I had said.

Soon afterwards I saw her look at me through her eye-glass and smile kindly upon me.