not to attempt returning this money, or any thing similar to it, for I declare most solemnly, if you do, I will not let you know my route; in which case your intention will be defeated: for, beside the hazard, I can in that case return what you send; whereas you will be deprived of a similar advantage. At the same time, to make you perfectly easy, I will permit you to do what you can for me, if I should be in actual necessity.
You see, my dear Mrs. Marlow, I must still be proud; but ought not a man to be so who is determined to impose upon all the world? He ought to be a clever fellow, and therefore should be proud. In truth, one should not laugh at this, for I cannot conceive a more melancholy reflection than that the intellects of mankind are so very slender, so filmy, such a perfect cobweb, that nothing in nature is so easy as to dupe these lords of the creation, through their own connivance.
Adieu: write immediately, directed to the

post office, but do not, upon any account, venture a second letter till I have answered the first. Another thing remember: put all letters into the post yourself. My whole downfal among the Roebucks is imputable, you know, to intercepted letters; though they, poor dupes—is it not true that people are easily duped?—do not even yet believe it.
Your affectionate friend, CHARLES HAZARD.

As I mean now to watch our hero's progress for some time, which, by the bye, is but fair—as he is deserted by every other friend—I shall say, at present, that nothing of any consequence happened to him at Ostend, but the receipt of the following letter, from Mrs. Marlow, in answer to the preceding one.

Before I received your letter, I had gathered a great deal of news for you. God be praised that you are in a place of safety. Here I

believe the people are all mad. The madest of them is her you and I, a month ago, would have sworn was not to be changed. In short, what signifies hiding it, Miss Roebuck that was, is now Mrs. Gloss. I have seen her myself, and spoken to her; but indeed I am so flurried I don't know where to begin first. They have made me mad among them, but I have left off writing to cry a little, and now I shall have patience to tell you every thing in form.
You must