_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_
I was alarm'd at the reading of this Billet, and told _La Foret_ what I thought of it, very seriously; but it all signify'd nothing. He was lusty, well-proportion'd, as vigorous as a Man could possibly be at 30 Years of Age, and no Enemy to the Sex. The Friendship the King shew'd to us, induc'd him to think that he would be far from suspecting him of a Design upon any of his Wives, and therefore, without weighing the Consequences, he resolv'd to lay hold of the Opportunity at all Events. What confounded him most was his want of Eloquence, and the other necessary Talents for expressing himself politely; for he came of an obscure Family, and had seen but little of the World. As he knew not how to behave, and had a better Opinion of me than of himself, he would fain have engag'd me to take the first Step, and to pave the way for him: But besides that, his Stature and mine were very different, he being at least taller than me by the Head, which would have been too gross a Cheat to pass, I had other Reasons against embarking in an Affair of this Nature. But all this did not discourage _La Foret_.