 separation was, the recollection of what I had formerly endured, from her entrance into the convent, with the fond hope of our re-meeting in a few months, have abated its anguish; and some very extraordinary accidents, which have happened within these few hours, have taken up my whole attention, and carried me, as it were, out of myself.
THE count de Clerembaut, for whom you know I have a sincere frindship, came to see me yesterday morning.—He told me he was just come from the tenis-court, where there had been a very warm brouiderie between two English gentlemen. One of their names, he said, was Ransford, who quitted the field to his antagonist, but with a look and manner, that seemed to say, he was determined to meet him elsewhere.
I WAS alarmed at this account, and immediately ordered my chariot, and drove to the marchioness's. Ransford was not at home—I came back to my hotel, and wrote to him; expatiated on the ill consequences of fighting a duel in Paris; begged him to defer his resentments, till his

opponent, whom I understood to be an Englishman, and he should meet in their own country; but if he should be circumstanced, as to be under a necessity of rejecting my advice, I hoped he would at least accept of my service to attend him to the field, or command me in whatever way he thought proper.
IN about three hours I received the following answer.


I am truly thankful for your kind attention to me; but I am at present too far embarked to recede; and even your admonition must therefore come too late. Let the consequence be what it will, I cannot think of heightening my distress, by involving you in it. But I have a much more material act of friendship to implore from you.—The marchioness will stand in need of your protection.—I need say no more—hasten to her; the affair will be over, before you receive this. I have the satisfaction to think that captain Barnard deserves his fate if he should fall by my hand, as he has this day added fresh insult to former injury.

WILLIAM RANSFORD.
I INSTANTLY ran, or rather flew to the marchioness, whom I found waiting dinner for Mr. Ransford—She seemed surprized at my entrance, as she had heard that I had been there in the morning.—The anxiety of my countenance became contagious; and she enquired with the greatest earnestness, if I knew any thing about Mr. Ransford? before I could reframe a reply, the lieutenant de Police was
