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and originality of character, which distinguishes them, not only from each other, but from all the world befides.

I had a few of King William's fhillings as smooth as glass in my pocket; and forefeeing they would be of ufe in the illuftration of my hypothefis, I had got them into my hand, when I had proceeded fo

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See, Monf. le Comte, faid I, rifing up, and laying them before him upon the table-by jingling and rubbing one againft another for seventy years together in one body's pocket or another's, they are become so much alike, you can scarce diftinguish one fhilling from another.

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The English, like ancient medals, kept more apart, and passing but few people's hands, preserve the first sharpnesses which the fine hand of Nature has given themthey are not so pleasant to feel — but, return, the legend is so visible, that, at the firft look, you see whose image and fuperfcription they bear. But the French, Monf. le Comte, added I, (wishing to foften what I had said) have so many excellencies, they can the better spare this

-they are a loyal, a gallant, a generous, an ingenious, and good-temper'd people as is under Heaven--if they have a fault, they are too ferious.

Mon Dieu! cried the Count, rifing out of his chair.

Mais vous plaisantez, said he, correcting his exclamation. —I laid my hand upon my breaft, and with earneft gravity assured him, it was my moft settled opi

nion.

The Count faid, he was mortified he could not ftay to hear my reasons, being engaged to go that moment to dine with the Duc de C***.

But, if it is not too far to come to Ver. failles to eat your foup with me, I beg, before you leave France, I may have the pleasure of knowing you retract your opinion or, in what manner you support it-But if you do fupport it, Monf. Anglois, faid he, you must do it with all your powers, because you have the whole world against you. I promised the Count I would do myself the honour of dining with him before I fet out for Italy-fo took my leave.

THE TEMPTATION.

PARIS.

WHEN I alighted at the hotel, the porter told me a young woman with a band-box had been that moment inquiring for me. I do not know, faid the porter, whether fhe is gone away or no. I took the key of my chamber of him, and went up ftairs; and when I had got within ten fteps of the top of the landing before my door, I met her coming easily down.

It was the fair fille de chambre I had walked along the Quai de Conti with: Madame de R*** had fent her upon fome commiffion to a marchande de modes, within a step or two of the hotel de Modene; and, as I had failed in waiting upon her, had bid her inquire if I had left Paris; and if so, whether I had not left a letter addressed to her.

As the fair fille de chambre was so near my door, fhe returned back, and went into the room with me for a moment or two, whilft I wrote a card.

It was a fine ftill evening, in the latter end of the month of May

the crimfon

window curtains (which were of the same colour of thofe of the bed) were drawn

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close the fun was setting, and reflected through them fo warm a tint into the fair fille de chambre's face-I thought she blushed the idea of it made me blush myfelf we were quite alone; and that superinduced a fecond blush, before the firft could get off.

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There is a fort of a pleafing half-guilty blush, where the blood is more in fault than the man- it is fent impetuous from the heart, and virtue flies after it

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to call it back, but to make the fenfation of it more delicious to the nerves-it is affociated.

I felt fome

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But I will not describe it thing at firft within me which was not in ftrict unifon with the lesson of virtue I had given her the night before I fought five minutes for a card-I knew I had -I took up a pen I laid it down again-my hand trembled-the devil was in me.

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I know, as well as any one, he is an

adversary, whom, if we refift, he will fly from us - but I feldom refift him at all; from a terror, that, though I may conquer, I may ftill get a hurt in the combat-fo I give up the triumph for security; and inftead of thinking to make him fly, I generally fly myself.

The fair fille de chambre came close up to the bureau where I was looking for a card-took up firft the pen I caft down, then offered to hold me the ink: The offered it so sweetly, I was going to acceptit—but I durft not-I have nothing, my dear, said I, to write it upon.-Write it, said she, fimply, upon any thing —

I was juft going to cry out, Then I will write it, fair girl! upon thy lips..

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If I do, faid I, I shall perifh-so I took her by the hand, and led her to the door, and begg'd she would not forget the lesson I had given her- She faid, indeed fhe would not- and as fhe uttered it with fome earneftness, she turned about, and gave me both her hands, closed together, into mire-it was impoffible not to com prefs them in that fituation-I wifhed to let them go; and all the time I held them,

Vol. 11.

R

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