_More Adventures of the Author, and his Comrade, till their
Departure from Court._
As the King went often to see his Wives, there is no question but
he was fond to shew them his Watch, and that every one admir'd
the Genius of the Workman. For tho' they had seen the Clock a
thousand times, and seem'd even astonish'd at its Performance,
they thought it nothing in comparison to this pretty Instrument,
which, though small, went as regularly, and pointed out all the
Parts of the Day as exactly as the great one.
Lidola in particular, who was the King's second Wife, gave broad
Hints that she long'd to be Mistress of it; but the King, who did
not care to part with it, and indeed could not, without raising
the Jealousy of all his other Ladies, and making the Empress her
self uneasy, pretended not to understand her Meaning. _Lidola_
was so disobliged by it, that after Supper, when she was to have
entertain'd the King, who had given her to understand that he
would spend that Night with her (which he did very frequently,
because he was much more enamour'd with her than with any of the
other Ladies) she counterfeited an Indisposition, and sent to
desire the King not to come to her that Night. The King,
mistrusting nothing of the Matter, sent next Morning to inquire
after her Health, which he repeated for several Days together.
But at last perceiving no Alteration in her for the better, and
that she not only receiv'd his Messengers very cavalierly, but
that as he himself saw her _en passant_, she look'd upon him with
a Coldness enough to have chill'd the very Blood in his Veins, he
guess'd what she had taken Pet at, but wou'd not seem to know it;
and having a mind to see how far she would carry her
Indifference, he left off his Visits by degrees, and gave himself
up so intirely to his last Queen, that he was very seldom with
any but her.
_La Foret_, who knew no more than my self what had pass'd, was
surpris'd one Evening, as he was walking under the Galleries,
with a Voice that call'd him by his Name. Turning about to it
very hastily, and being suddenly struck with Astonishment at the
Beauty of the finest Lady that ever he had seen in his Life (for
she was not veil'd, tho' 'tis an establish'd Rule of the Country,
that marry'd Women are not seen in Mens Company without a Veil,
which almost hides their Faces) he stood with his Eyes fix'd upon
her, and had not Power to ask what was her Pleasure. Fair Genius,
said she, you seem to be surpris'd, but don't be frighten'd; I
only call'd to you to let you know how glad I am to see you
whenever you pass by my Apartment, and to give you this Melon.
There, take it, and farewel. Then she dropp'd the Fruit, and
immediately withdrew and shut her Casement.
_La Foret_ could never be tax'd either with Stupidity or
Ignorance, yet he knew not what to think of this Frolick. Tho' he
was not nimble enough to catch the Melon before it fell to the
Ground, he snatch'd it up without saying one Word, and brought it
to our Chamber where he told me in Confidence what had pass'd. I
immediately took the Melon, and going to stick my Knife into it,
I perceiv'd it had been open'd already very nicely towards the
Stalk; which made me cautious in cutting it, for fear of spoiling
anything that might happen to be within it, where, instead of the
little Kernels which are by Nature contain'd in that excellent
Fruit, we found a Scroll of the finest Vellum, with Writing on it
in the Language of the Country, to this Effect.
_I have seen you pass by my Window a thousand times, but scarce
ever heard you talk. The Judgment which I form of your Mind, by
your easy Deportment, and your uncommon Productions, excites my
Curiosity to have the Happiness of your Conversation when I am
disengag'd. I fancy that you can say nothing but what is very
good. Prepare therefore to give me that Satisfaction. I expect
you to-morrow without fail at my Door. Be sure to be there at the
first Stroke of your curious Machine, after Midnight, and you'll
oblige_