for, as I
said, I had two of them, who thought this was the way to introduce
people as often as she pleased; and so indeed it was. They played high
and stayed late, but begged my pardon, only asked leave to make an
appointment for the next night. I was as gay and as well pleased as any
of them, and one night told one of the gentlemen, my Lord ----, that
seeing they were doing me the honour of diverting themselves at my
apartment, and desired to be there sometimes, I did not keep a
gaming-table, but I would give them a little ball the next day if they
pleased, which they accepted very willingly.

Accordingly, in the evening the gentlemen began to come, where I let
them see that I understood very well what such things meant. I had a
large dining-room in my apartments, with five other rooms on the same
floor, all which I made drawing-rooms for the occasion, having all the
beds taken down for the day. In three of these I had tables placed,
covered with wine and sweetmeats, the fourth had a green table for play,
and the fifth was my own room, where I sat, and where I received all the
company that came to pay their compliments to me. I was dressed, you may
be sure, to all the advantage possible, and had all the jewels on that I
was mistress of. My Lord ----, to whom I had made the invitation, sent me
a set of fine music from the playhouse, and the ladies danced, and we
began to be very merry, when about eleven o'clock I had notice given me
that there were some gentlemen coming in masquerade. I seemed a little
surprised, and began to apprehend some disturbance, when my Lord ----
perceiving it, spoke to me to be easy, for that there was a party of the
guards at the door which should be ready to prevent any rudeness; and
another gentleman gave me a hint as if the king was among the masks. I
coloured as red as blood itself could make a face look, and expressed a
great surprise; however, there was no going back, so I kept my station
in my drawing-room, but with the folding-doors wide open.

A while after the masks came in, and began with a dance _a la comique_,
performing wonderfully indeed. While they were dancing I withdrew, and
left a lady to answer for me that I would return immediately. In less
than half-an-hour I returned, dressed in the habit of a Turkish
princess; the habit I got at Leghorn, when my foreign prince bought me a
Turkish slave, as I have said. The Maltese man-of-war had, it seems,
taken a Turkish vessel goin