Roxana, The Fortunate Mistress Section 08

In which the narrator recounts the careful precautions taken to keep her liaison with a prince discreet, while she luxuriates in his abundant gifts and close companionship, amidst the busy intrigues of Parisian society. She reflects on the peculiar ease with which she justifies her conduct to herself, and on the curious vanity and folly of men who lavish immense wealth on women of ill repute, elevating their own ruin by such profuse indulgence.