 you ill, my lord, but I have been severely punished for my

crime; I dare not hope you should again receive me into your favour, but come and accept of all the restitution that is now in my power to make you; I live in the Strada del Santo Marco; my tyrant will be asleep by eleven o'clock, I shall then at least have an opportunity of imploring your forgiveness—I dare not talk to you longer, adieu."

Despise me as you will, Lucan, I confess that I felt my tenderness for this infamous woman revive, and instead of going directly to a magistrate, or endeavouring to do myself justice on her, and her vile accomplice, I counted the minutes with impatient expectation of that happy one, which should again restore me to the pleasure of seeing and conversing with her.

At the time appointed I repaired to my rendezvous, which was at a considerable distance from the place where I lived, and in a very retired part of the town: as I passed through an unfrequented street, I was set upon by four bravos; I instantly drew my sword, and determined to sell my life as dear as possible—As I had the advantage of a wall at my back, I defended myself successfully, for a few minutes; but should have been overpowered if providence had not sent Sir George Cleveland, and another gentleman, to my rescue. At their approach the bravoes would have fled, but I secured one of them whom I had wounded, and who proved to be the pretended priest and brother of Margarita.

When we had lodged him properly, and I had got a slight wound, which I had received, dressed, I communicated the whole of my adventure frankly to Sir George, and wished him to accompany me in pursuit of that worthless woman, whom I supposed to be an accomplice in the intended assassination, and whom I now resolved to give up to justice.
Sir George is a gallant fellow, Lucan. He talked so very rationally, that he dissuaded me from my purpose, as he said the bringing Margarita to punishment, if I should have resolution sufficient to do so, must of necessity expose myself; observing also, that I ought not to pursue a wretch with too much rigour, whom I had formerly contributed to render abandoned.

His remarks upon the folly and baseness of men, in their commerce with the unhappy of the other sex, were truly generous—I remember but one of them at present. I think he said,
"That we first take pains to destroy the foundation of every female virtue, modesty; and are
