out of my pocket, ready to give him, as he took me in his turn-He passed by me without asking any thing—and yet did not go five steps further before he asked charity of a little woman I was much more likely to have given of the two He had scarce done with the woman, when he pulled off his hat to another who was coming the same way. An ancient gentleman came slowly and, after him, a young smart one→→ He let them both pass, and asked nothing; I stood observing him half an hour, in which time he had made a dozen turns backwards and forwards, and found that he invariably pursued the same plan.

There were two things very singular in this, which set my brain to work, and to no purpose

the first was, why the man should only tell his story to the sex- - and secondly—what kind of story it was, and what species of eloquence it could be, which softened the hearts of the wo men, which he knew it was to no purpose to practise upon the men.

There were two other circumstances which entangled this mystery the one was, he told every woman what he had to say in her ear, and in a way which had much more the air of a secret than a petition the other was,

it was

always successful - he never stopped a woman, but she pulled out her purse, and immediately gave him something.

I could form no system to explain the phe

nomenon.

I had got a riddle to amuse me for the rest of the evening, so I walked up stairs to my chamber.

LIV. THE CASE OF CONSCIENCE.

PARIS.

I

WAS immediately followed up by the master of the hotel, who came into my room to tell me I must provide lodgings elsewhere How so, friend? said I. He answered, I had had a young woman locked up with me two hours that evening in my bed-chamber, and it was against the rules of his house. Very well, said I, we will all part friends then for the girl is no worse

and I am no worse

I found you.

- It was enough, he said, to overthrow the credit of his hotel. Voyez-vous, Monsieur? said he, pointing to the foot of the bed we had been sitting upon. I own it had something of the appearance of an evidence; but my pride not suffering me to enter into any detail of the case, I exhorted him to let his soul sleep in peace, as I resolved to let mine do that night, and that I would discharge what I owed him at breakfast.

I should not have minded, Monsieur, said he, if you had had twenty girls—It is a score more, replied I, interrupting him, than I ever reckoned

upon - Provided, added he, it had been but in

a morning. And does the difference of the time of the day at Paris make a difference in the sin? It made a difference, he said, in the scandal. I like a good distinction in my heart; and cannot say I was intolerably out of temper with the I own it is necessary, re-assumed the master of the hotel, that a stranger at Paris should have the opportunities presented to him of buying lace and silk stockings and ruffles, et tout cela· and it is nothing if a woman comes with a bandbox. O' my conscience, said I, she had one;

man.

but I never looked into it.

said he, has bought nothing - Not one earthly thing, replied I. commend one to you who would use you en conscience. - But I must see her this night, said

Because, said he, I could re

I.

- He made me a low bow, and walked down. Now shall I triumph over this maître d'hôtel, cried I- and what then? Then I shall let him see I know he is a dirty fellow. And what then? What then! I was too near myself to say it was for the sake of others. I had no good answer left there was more of spleen than principle in my project, and I was sick of it before the execution.

In a few minutes the grisette came in with her box of lace- I will buy nothing, however, said I within myself.

The grisette would shew me every thing

I was hard to please: she would not seem to see it; she opened her little magazine, and laid all her laces one after another before me unfolded and folded them up again, one by one, with the most patient sweetness—I might buy ·

-or not she would let me have every thing at my own price-the poor creature seemed anxious to get a penny; and laid herself out to win me, and not so much in a manner which seemed artful, as in one I felt simple and caressing.

If there is not a fund of honest cullibility in man, so much the worse my heart relented, and I gave up my second resolution as quietly as the first Why should I chastise one for the trespass of another? if thou art tributary to this tyrant of an host, thought I, looking up in her face, so much harder is thy bread.

If I had not had more than four louis d'or in my purse, there was no such thing as rising up and shewing her the door, till I had first laid three of them out in a pair of ruffles.

-The master of the hotel will share the profit with her -no matter then I have only paid, as many a poor soul has paid before me, for an act he could not do, or think of.

WHEN La Fleur came up to wait upon me

at supper, he told me how sorry the master of the hotel was for his affront to me in bidding me change my lodgings.

A man who values a good night's rest will not lie down with enmity in his heart, if he can help it-So I bid La Fleur tell the master of the hotel, that I was sorry, on my side, for the occasion I had given him and you may tell him, if you will, La Fleur, added I, that if the young woman should call again, I shall not see her.

This was a sacrifice, not to him, but myself, having resolved, after so narrow an escape, to run no more risks, but to leave Paris, if it was possible, with all the virtue I entered it.

C'est déroger à la noblesse, Monsieur, said La Fleur, making me a bow down to the ground as he said it Et encore, Monsieur, said he, may change his sentiments—and if (par hasard) he should like to amuse himself I find no amusement in it, said I, interrupting him·

Mon Dieu! said La Fleur- and took away.

In an hour's time he came to put me to bed, and was more than commonly officious -something hung upon his lips to say to me, or ask me, which he could not get off; I could not con