It is long, my dear Aza, since I have been able to give up a moment to my favourite occupation, and I have a great many extraordinary things to tell you, which makes me catch this short leisure to begin my detail.

The day after I had visited the palace, Deterville caused a very fine habit, of the fashion of his country, to be brought to me. After my little China had put it on according to her fancy, she led me to that ingenious piece of mechanism which doubles objects. Though I was now habituated to the effects, yet I could not help being surprised at seeing my figure stand as if I was over-against myself. My new accoutrements did not displease me. Perhaps I should have regretted leaving off my old, if they had not continually exposed me to be stared at.

The Cacique came into my chamber just as the girl was adding some ornaments to my dress. He stopt at the door, and gazed at me some time without speaking. So deep was his reverie, that he stepp'd aside to let the China go out, and put himself into her place without being sensible of it. His eyes fixed upon me; he examined all my person with so serious an attention that I was a little confused, tho' I knew not his reason.

However, to shew my gratitude for his new benefactions, I offered him my hand, and not being able to express my sentiments, I thought I could say nothing more agreeable to him than some of those words which he amused himself with teaching me to repeat: I endeavoured even to give them the same tone that he did in pronunciation.

The effect they produced startled me; his eyes sparkled, his cheeks reddened, he approached me trembling, and seemed to have a mind to snatch me in his arms; then stopping suddenly, he pressed my hand, and pronounced in a passionate tone – “No, respect her virtue” – and many other words which I understood no better than these.