pproved, and the cavalier rewarded
him for it with four reals. It was carried into effect at once; the
first guest was compelled, with manifest reluctance, to open the door;
the second entered the room with many apologies for the intrusion, to
which the first made no reply, nor did he even show his face; for
instantly hastening back into bed, he turned to the wall, and pretended
to be asleep. The last comer also went to bed, hoping to have his
curiosity satisfied in the morning when they both got up.

The night was one of the long and weary ones of December, when the cold
and the fatigues of the day should naturally have disposed the two
travellers to sleep; but they had not that effect on the first of the
pair, who not long after midnight began to sigh and moan as if his heart
would break. His lamentations awoke the occupant of the other bed, who
distinctly overheard the following soliloquy, though uttered in a faint
and tremulous voice, broken by sighs and sobs.

"Wretch that I am! Whither is the irresistible force of my destiny
hurrying me? What a path is mine; and what issue can I hope for out of
the labyrinth in which I am entangled? O my youth and inexperience!
Honour disregarded! Love ungratefully repaid! Regard for honoured
parents and kindred trampled under foot! Woe is me a thousand times to
have thus given the reins to my inclinations! O false words which I have
too trustingly responded to by deeds! But of whom do I complain? Did I
not wilfully betray myself? Did not my own hands wield the knife that
cut down my reputation, and destroyed the trust which my parents reposed
in my rectitude? O perjured Marco Antonio! Is it possible that your
honeyed words concealed so much of the gall of unkindness and disdain?
Where art thou, ingrate? Whither hast thou fled, unthankful man? Answer
her who calls upon thee! Wait for her who pursues thee; sustain me, for
I droop; pay me what thou owest me; succour me since thou art in so many
ways bound to me!"

Here the sorrowing stranger relapsed into silence, broken only by sobs.
The other, who had been listening attentively, inferred from what he had
heard that the speaker was a woman. The curiosity he had before felt was
now excited to the highest degree: he was several times on the point of
approaching the lady's bed; and he would have done so at last, but just
then he heard her open the door, call to the landlord, and bid him
saddle the nag, for she wanted to go. It was a