with a dish of grilled hare for the house dog, who had a particular
fancy for game dressed in that manner! These attentions and
assiduities were faithfully continued for several years, till the
grand dauphin died, and then no more morning and evening visits,
no more presents to either mistress or dog. Apply the story well,"
added the duke, as he terminated his recital. Unfortunately the
application of the tale presented itself but too soon, and I have
experienced the sad truth of the history of mademoiselle Choin.
At the death of the king so, did my visitors disappear; and poor
Dorine has partaken of the disgrace of the comtesse du Barry.

The second object of my regard was Zamor, a young African boy,
full of intelligence and mischief; simple and independent in his
nature, yet wild as his country. Zamor fancied himself the equal
of all he met, scarcely deigning to acknowledge the king himself
as his superior. This son of Africa was presented to me by the
duc de Richelieu, clad in the picturesque costume of his native
land; his head ornamented with feathers of every colour, a short
petticoat of plaited grass around his waist, while the richest
bracelets adorned his wrists, and chains of gold, pearls, and
rubies, glittered over his neck and hung from his ears. Never
would any one have suspected the old marechal, whose parsimony
was almost proverbial, of making such a magnificent present.

In honour of the tragedy of Alzire, I christened my little negro
Zamor, to whom by degrees I became attached with all the tenderness
of a mother. You ask me why? Indeed that is more than I can
tell; perhaps at first I looked upon him as a sort of puppet or
plaything, but, imperceptibly to myself, I became passionately
fond of my little page, nor was the young urchin slow in perceiving