for a mere trifle embarrass the woman for whom he professed
the most unlimited love, and whose principles he pretended to hold in
the utmost veneration. Indeed, his confidence in my integrity was not
without foundation; for many wives, with one half of my provocation,
would have ruined him to all intents and purposes; whereas,
notwithstanding all the extraordinary expenses to which I had been
exposed by his continual persecution, he never paid a shilling on my
account except one thousand pounds, exclusive of the small allowance
which was my due. In a word, so much time elapsed before my lord could
prevail upon himself to advance the bare four hundred, that I was
involved in fresh difficulties, from which I found it impossible to
extricate myself; and though I had occasion to write a letter to my
benefactor Lord --, in which I expressed my acknowledgment of past
favours, I could not venture to solicit more, even when I was encouraged
by a very obliging answer, wherein he declared, that the good qualities
of my mind and heart would bind him to me in friendship for ever.

"While I ruminated on my uncomfortable situation, which would neither
permit me to return to England, nor to stay much longer where I was, a
young Englishman of immense fortune took Paris in his way from Italy,
accompanied by a most agreeable Scotchman of very good sense and great
vivacity. It was my good or ill fortune to become acquainted with these
gentlemen, who, having seen me at the opera, expressed a desire of being
known to me, and accordingly favoured me with a visit one afternoon,
when the brisk North Briton engrossed the whole conversation, while
the other seemed fearful and diffident even to a degree of bashfulness,
through which, however, I could discern a delicate sensibility and
uncommon understanding. There was in his person, which was very
agreeable, as well as in his behaviour, a certain naivete that was very
pleasing; and, at this first interview, we relished each other's company
so well, that a sort of intimacy immediately commenced, and was carried
on in a succession of parties of pleasure, in the course of which I
found him fraught with all the tenderness and sentiment that render
the heart susceptible of the most refined love; a disposition that
immediately made me partial to him, while it subjected his own heart to
all the violent impressions of a passion, which I little imagined our
correspondence would have produced.

"Neverthel