that he received an invitation to dine here on

Thursday.

When Lord Annandale came to my dressing-room, and related the interview he had just had, I thought I should have fallen from my chair; but he was fastening one of the studs of his chemise, so did not observe my agitation.

"The expression of le Chevalier Carency's face does not please me," said Lord Annandale ; "but his manners are remarkably insinuating, notwithstanding a certain brusquerie that occasionally breaks forth, indicating that he has spent most of his time in camps. But you say nothing of your friend, dearest, though he professes to have known you. since your childhood?"

Think, Delphine, what must have been my feelings!

I said, that I certainly had known him

in my early youth, but that I did not like

him.

"le

"Yet, we must be civil to him,” replied Lord Annandale; " or he will return to Paris, and tell the Marquise de Villeroi that you behave ill to your former friends. It is astonishing how soon foreigners make themselves au fait of what is passing in every country they visit," continued Lord Annandale, musingly : Chevalier de Carency said some very civil and judicious things, too, about my speech in the House, the other night. By Jove! he understood the bearing of the question wonderfully. He certainly is very clever; and must have been a devilish good-looking fellow, too, malgré the satanique expression of his eyes and mouth."

The wretch has already discovered the côté faible of my husband, and has availed himself of it most dexterously, if I may judge by the favourable impression he has made;

for Lord Annandale has more than once recurred to what he terms the judicious observations of the chevalier.

Oh, why should vanity, the sole defect in his nature, thus render him the dupe of the vicious and designing! It was by this medium that I acquired an empire over him; and now, one still more unworthy, and still more capable of making the vilest use of it, seems likely to obtain a similar influence. And it is through me that he is brought in contact with this atrocious man! yet I dare not reveal his real character, nor terminate an acquaintance from which I predict some fatal result. Yes, I will watch over my husband, and endeavour, if possible, to preserve him from the pollution of this wretch's society. Let him wreak his worst vengeance on me, in preference to injuring this, the only being on earth who loves me.

VOL. III.

M

When I reflect how encompassed I am by the snares of this dreadful man, I feel as if in a dream; and when I hear my husband talk of him, in utter unconsciousness of his real character, I shudder, lest he should, by any fatality, ever be brought into hostile collision with such a monster.

I am continually placed in embarrassing situations with regard to money. No later than this day, Lord Annandale told me that he had put his name to a subscription for the relief of a very deserving family, reduced to poverty by the sudden death of a father who had held a clerkship in a public office too short a time to be entitled to a pension; and he recommended me to subscribe also.

"Shall I send your money with mine?" asked he.

The consciousness of not having a guinea at my command made me feel, and look too,

so embarrassed, that he appeared surprised, and added," Perhaps you disapprove of the system of subscribing; and, if so, I will not urge your compliance."

I am

He must think me mean, illiberal, and uncharitable, not to have given the money; but it is better that he should entertain this opinion than know that all the funds which his liberality bestowed on me have been expended to purchase the silence of a wretch; or know me for what -a degraded, a lost woman-dependent for my position in society on the dearlybought forbearance of the vilest and most detestable of his sex. I tremble at the thought of meeting this wretch on Thursday; but it would be still worse to have Lord Annandale exposed to his machinations. You shall hear the result of our interview.

Adieu ! Votre

CAROLINE.