get half-way down, but near the door 'tis more for ornament than use: you fee it as a fix'd star of

the leaft magnitude; it burns

to the world, that we know of.

but does little good

In returning along this passage, I difcern'd, as 1. approach'd within five or fix paces of the door, twa ladies standing arm in arm, with their backs against the wall, waiting, as I imagined, for a fiacre - as they were next the door, I thought they had a prior right; so edged myself up within a yard or little more of them, and quietly took my stand - I was in black, and scarce seen.

The lady next me was a tall lean figure of a woman of about thirty-fix; the other of the same fize and make, of about forty; there was no mark of wife or widow in any one part of either of them they feem'd to be two upright vestal fifters, unfapp'd by caresses, unbroke in upon by tender falutations: I could have wish'd to have made them happy - their happiness was destin'd, that night, to come from another quarter.

A low voice, with a good turn of expression, and fweet cadence at the end of it, begg'd for a twelveYous piece betwixt them, for the love of heaven. thought it fingular, that a beggar should fix the quota of an alms- and that the sum should be twelve

I

times as much as what is usually given in the dark. They both seemed astonish'd at it as much as myself, -Twelve fous! faid one A twelve-sous piece! faid the other - and made no reply.

The poor man faid, He knew not how to ask less of ladies of their rank; and bow'd down his head to the ground.

Poo! said they we have no money.

The beggar remained filent for a moment or two, and renew'd his fupplication,

Do not, my fair young ladies, faid he, stop your good ears against me - Upon my word, honest man! faid the younger, we have no change - Then God bless you, said the poor man, and multiply those joys which you can give to others without change! I observed the elder sifter put her hand into her pocket - I'll fee, faid she, if I have a sous. fous! give twelve, said the supplicant; Nature has been bountiful to you, be bountiful to a poor man.

A

I would, friend, with all my heart, said the younger, if I had it.

My fair charitable! said he, addressing himself to the

elder - What is it but your goodness and humanity which makes your bright eyes so sweet, that they outshine the morning even in this dark passage? and what was it which made the Marquis de Santerre and his brother say so much of you both as they just pass'd by?

The two ladies seemed much affected; and impulfively at the same time they both put their hands into their pocket, and each took out a twelve-fous piece.

The contest betwixt them and the poor fupplicant was no more it was continued betwixt themselves, which of the two should give the twelve-sous piece in charity and to end the dispute, they both gave it together, and the man went away,

t

THE THE RIDDLE EXPLAINED.

PARIS.

I stepp'd hastily after him: it was the very man whose success in asking charity of the women before the door of the hotel had fo puzzled me and found at once his secret, or at least the basis of it 'twas flattery.

Delicious essence! how refreshing art thou to na ture! how strongly are all its powers and all its weaknesses on thy fide! how sweetly dost thou mix with the blood, and help it through the most difficult and tortuous passages to the heart!

The poor man, as he was not Itraighten'd for time, had given it here in a larger dose: 'tis certain he had a way of bringing it into less form, for the many fudden cases he had to do with in the streets; but how he contrived to correct, sweeten, concentre, and qualify it - I vex not my spirit with the inquiry - it is enough, the beggar gain'd two twelvefous pieces and they can best tell the rest, who have gain'd much greater matters by it.

PA

PARIS.

We get forwards in the world not fo much by doing services, as receiving them: you take a withering twig, and put it in the ground; and then you water it; because you have planted it.

Monf. le Count de B-, merely because he had done me one kindness in the affair of my Pafsport, would go on and do me another, the few days he was at Paris, in making me known to a few people of rank; and they were to prefent me to others, and so on.

I had got master of my secret just in time to turn these honours to some little account; otherwise, as is commonly the cafe, I should have din'd or fupp'd a fingle time or two round, and then by translating French looks and attitudes into plain English, I should presently have seen, that I had got hold of the couvert* of some more entertaining guest; and in course should have resigned all my places one after another, merely upon the principle that I could not keep them. -As it was, things did not go much amifs.

1

I had the honour of being introduced to the old

Marquis de B: in days of yore he had signaliz'd him

* Plate, napkin, knife, fork, and spoon.