CALAIS. I perceived that fomething darken'd the passage more than myself, as I stepp'd along it to my room; it was effectually Monf. Deffein, the mafter of the hôtel, who had just return'd from vefpers, and, with his hat under his arm, was moft complaisantly following me, to put me in mind of my wants. I had wrote myself pretty well out of conceit with the Defobligeant; and Monf. Deffein speaking of it, with a fhrug, as if it would no way fuit me, it immediately ftruck my fancy that it belong'd to fome innocent traveller, who, on his return home, had left it to Monf. Dessein's honour to make the most of. Four months had elapfed elapsed since it had finish'd its career of Europe in the corner of Monf. Defsein's coachyard; and having fallied out from thence but a vampt-up business at the first, though it had been twice taken to pieces on Mount Sennis, it had not profited much by its adventures-but by none fo little as the standing fo many months un pitied in the corner of Monf. Deffein's coachyard. Much indeed was not to be faid for it-but fomething might-and when a few words will rescue misery out of her difstress, I hate the man who can be a churl of them. -Now was I the master of this hô tel, faid I, laying the point of my forefinger on Monf. Dessein's breaft, I would inevitably make a point of getting rid of this unfortunate Desobligeant- it stands fwinging reproaches at you every time you pass by it Mon Mon Dieu! faid Monf. Defsfein-I have no intereft-Except the interest, said I, which men of a certain turn of mind take, Monf. Dessein, in their own fenfations-I'm perfuaded, to a man who feels for others as well as for himself, every rainy night, disguise it as you will, must cast a damp upon your spirits-You fuffer, Monf. Deffein, as much as the machine I have always observed, when there is as much four as sweet in a compliment, that an Englishman is eternally at a loss within himself, whether to take it, or let it alone: a Frenchman never is: Monf. Dessein made me a bow. -C'est bien vrai, faid he-But in this case I should only exchange one difquietude for another, and with loss: figure to yourself, my dear Sir, that in giving you a chaise which would fall to pieces before you had got half way to Paris-figure to yourself how much I should fuffer, in giving an ill impreffion of myself to a man of honour, and lying at the mercy, as I must do, d'un homme d'esprit. |