xviii INTRODUCTION. 
and In his corps, he was afterwards alway* 
called by the name of his character. 
Thefe ingenious diverfions afforded mc, I 
confefs, much amufement ; but the idea that 
moft pleafed me was to fee them transferred to 
Africa ; that is to fay, in the neighbourhood 
of lions, panthers, and hysenas. As for the 
Creoles, who had never witnefTed before 
any thing of the kind, they were abfolutely 
inchanted. Nothing was talked of in every 
company throughout the town but the French 
plays. To add to the general pleafure, ladies 
of the firft rank confidered it as incumbent 
on them to lend lo the military adors and 
adreflcs, their laces, jewels, rich dreffes, and 
moft valuable ornaments. But fome of them 
had caufe to repent of their condefcenfion ; for 
it happened more than once that the countefs 
of Almaviva having left in pledge at the 
futtling-houfe her borrowed decorations, the 
2 owaer. 
