Alas! my dear child, notwithstanding the wish of us both, you were not witness to Adelaide's first interview with the Chevalier de Valmont! Mons. d' Aimeri, who was not to leave S— till the 20th, arrived here last night, and visited me this morning. Adelaide had just left me to go and write. I was alone in my closet, when, all at once, Mons. d' Aimeri and the Chevalier were announced. This last name raised in me a kind of emotion, which must have discovered my secret to Madame de Limours, had she been present. We must not value ourselves on our prudence, for there are moments when the most cautious women are very indiscreet. – But to return to the Chevalier; I am equally pleased with his deportment, his countenance, and his manners. After a quarter of an hour's conversation, Mons. d' Aimeri asked me to let him see Adelaide: I rang directly, and ordered her to be called, and she came running in directly: but perceiving Mons. d' Aimeri and his grand-son, she stopped all on a sudden with an embarrassed air, made a low curtsey, looked simple, and blushed in a very particular manner. What emotion was it made her blush? was it shyness, surprise, instinct, or foresight? This is what perhaps we may never know. You will readily imagine my looks were directed to the Chevalier at that instant, and I was very well satisfied with the impression I saw on his countenance. He looked on Adelaide with as much pleasure as curiosity, and I am certain he was charmed with her. Madame d' Almane came into my closet, and pressed Madame d' Aimeri to stay dinner. When we rose from table, Mons. d' Aimeri went up to Adelaide, and told her, the Chevalier de Valmont, recollecting the taste she shewed in her childhood for natural history, made a collection of choice pebbles during his travels; ‘and my grand-son,’ continued he, ‘not daring to presume to offer them to you himself, has intreated me to present them.’