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 her dangerons case, he (Mr. L) had been informed by especial communication, but which he received and treated with the most heartless indifference to the expected consequence.

Notwithstanding all this, which one might have supposed quite enough to have operated a change in his conduct, favourable to his wife and family in a return to his bounden duties as a husband and a father, still Rachel's command of actions and his will continued unalterable in the sway she held over them. Nay more, he now became so proud of his connection with her, that he at various times invited persons of his acquaintance to witness, what he called, "her exquisite perfections," purposely for the pleasure he derived from the praises they would bestow upon her charms, which few, (however they reprobated his criminal attachment to her,) could withhold. Of whom one was a Monsieur Le Charbonnier, who was intimately acquainted as well as commercially connected with him; a French gentleman, a man of keen penetration, and what was still more, a man of open honest sentiment.

This gentleman being one evening at the house, and during Rachel's temporary absence from the sitting-room, having had the usual questions put to him by Mr. L, of "is she not a heavenly creature? so much tenderness in every look: is not she an exquisite beauty, such perfection, so enchantingly kind to every one and obligingly convenient in her manners, eh?" He replied, "Oui, Monsieur L; me vil allow vat she is all beauty vat you say agreeable, and so to all your friend, vat me can see as your money vil make convenient; mais, toujours a soi meme," said he, "elle est commode parfaitement, il paroit! Nothing more than as your purse, mon ami, sur ma foi!"

Mr. L received this reply with no very pleasing feelings of disappointment: he remained silent, but his countenance very intelligibly spoke out his chagrin: which being observed, the worthy Frenchman rejoined, "me do no mean to hurt your pride in this voman, but as my vord on it, you vil so find de end of it no good." Mr L waived the conversation,—Rachel re-entered the apartment, and in a short time, afterwards Monsieur Le Charbonnier rose from