she had known them give
advice which has entailed misery and ruin.

Her acquaintance hitherto had been of such a nature as to leave her mind
inactive. She now began to feel a desire, to which she had before been a
stranger. She wished to possess a friend, to whom she might communicate
her most secret thoughts, and happily, just at that time, she found one
among those who surrounded her, possessed of every requisite quality,
and who seemed, in every respect, worthy of her confidence.

This gentleman was by birth a Genoese, and resided at Naples, for the
purpose of transacting some commercial business of great importance, for
the house with which he was connected. In possession of good parts, he had,
in addition received a very finished education. His knowledge was
extensive; and no less care had been bestowed on his body, than on his
mind. He was inspired with the commercial spirit natural to his countrymen,
and considered mercantile affairs on a grand scale. His situation was,
however, not the most enviable; his house had unfortunately been drawn
into hazardous speculations, which were afterwards attended with expensive
law-suits. The state of his affairs grew daily more intricate, and the
uneasiness thereby produced gave him an air of seriousness, which in the
present case was not to his disadvantage; for it encouraged our young
heroine to seek his friendship, rightly judging, that he himself stood in
need of a friend.

Hitherto, he had seen her only occasionally, and at places of public
resort; she now, on his first request, granted him access to her house;
she even invited him very pressingly, and he was not remiss in obeying the
invitation.

She lost no time in making him acquainted with her wishes, and the
confidence she reposed in him. He was surprised, and rejoiced at the
proposal. She was urgent in the request that he might always remain her
friend, and never shade that sacred name with the ambiguous claims of a
lover. She made him acquainted with some difficulties which then perplexed
her, and on which his experience would enable him to give the best advice,
and propose the most speedy means for her relief. In return for this
confidence, he did not hesitate to disclose to her his own situation; and
her endeavours to soothe and console him were, in reality, not without a
beneficial consequence, as they served to put him in that state of mind,
so necessary for acting with deliberation and effect. Thus a frien