Phoebe Kissagen ,or the remarkable adventures, schemes wiles and devilries of une maquerelle

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Your billet came safe to hand, and I honoured by your ladyship's commands,in duty bound, I shall obey to the best of my ability. You express surprise, my lady,should be so expert with my pen; perhaps ladyship is not aware that Sir Charles took a deal of trouble with my education; being naturally of quick parts, I profited by the instruction of the good genttleman. Then his conversation was ful to me, for he could talk history I devoutly believe, knew by heart every particular of all the amours of our kings and queens from the days of Guinevere, the fair, frail spouse of King Arthur; but what most delighted him were the witty memoirs of the Comte de Grammont, in which a full account is given of the voluptuons Court of Charles II. So it came to pass that what with hearing him read out of that book, and tell anecdotes he had read elsewhere, I gained an insight to men and manners, and, as courtesy and the politeness are the same in every age, I learnt the meaning of those qualities, and also gained some knowledge of taste.

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