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 mere pretense. I am surprised that you can be deceived by such a protestation.”

“But Maria Felicia does nothing for a pretense, illustrious master; she has not the modest and pleasant qualities of her sex—but she also lacks its faults. She never dissembles, never lies, she is often hopelessly truthful. She has already given many proofs that she does not intend to marry. No man has ever yet interested her. The flower of our noblemen lie at her feet; when she is not in their company she does not think about them, and if they pay her attentions, she only amuses herself with them.”

“Be patient; she will soon change her mind.”

“How happy I should be if your prophecy should prove true! She treats her admirers just now worse than she has ever done before. At our last reception her willfulness really reached a serious height. Disappearing shortly before the close of the ball, she sent me a message by one of her servants that she had gone to say good-bye to one of the ladies who had