Iam now arrived at that dangerous period, at which the preceptor should redouble his care and vigilance, if he would not run the risk of losing all his labour. My pupil is but fifteen and a half, and he is in love. I have long foreseen that his passions would be strong, and would shew themselves early: but he has a command over himself; he has a friendship for me; and his young heart is already filled with the love of glory.

You have not surely forgot Alexis Stezin and his daughter, the young and charming Stolina, to whom the Prince formerly gave his pellise. We saw her again two years ago, and I thought her so handsome, that I resolved with myself to make no more visits to Alexis Stezin. But notwithstanding her retreat and obscurity, Stolina is but too well known by her charms. Her mother, two months since, coming to town to consult a physician, brought Stolina with her. The physician's son-in-law, an excellent painter, saw her, and drew her picture clandestinely, without either the mother or daughter perceiving the theft; and a fortnight after Stolina's picture was to be sold at all the jewellers. The Prince was soon apprised of it; and from that moment was very curious to inspect all the shew-boxes that were brought him. At length he found what he sought; he met with the portrait of Stolina; he knew it in an instant, and examined it with much attention and disorder. The day after, going through a long gallery leading to the apartment of the Princess his mother, he stopped at a jeweller's shop, telling me his watch was out of order, and that he would have another. I thought he only wanted to see if the portrait of Stolina were in that shop; and endeavoured to engage him to pursue his way, by offering him my watch. He answered he had a mind to buy one: and at the same time, without looking into the shew-glasses, he asked to see some watches.