It was, therefore, the custom with them to marry first, and then to commence to make love. The servants had, besides, not been over-careful to conceal our rank; and we had rendered ourselves very suspected the first night. The father of the two girls being heartily tired of the trouble of guarding their virgin treasure, and seeing their former lovers relinquish them, applied frankly to the Count, desiring him to declare whether we would marry his girls or not. S******i wanted to pacify him by an evasive answer and vague excuses: however, the farmer declared he perceived the drift of our courtship, and knew very well that it was impossible a serious alliance between ourselves and his daughters could ever take place; desiring him, at the same time, in the politest manner, never to enter his house again, nor to appear under the window, if he did not choose to expose himself to disagreeable accidents. My poor friend really was seized with despair; for although hehad
