Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/264

 for villainy to work its own ends out of is this; happy for me it was that Dumont is of a temper entirely opposite; for though I have experienced his bravery, yet he even fights with the calmness of a philosopher. "'Le Neuf would often take opportunities to tell stories of false friends; of people who, under the pretence of love, had betrayed and made their own advantage of the undesigning and artless; and would always conclude with some remarks on the folly of people's confiding too strongly in others, unless a long experience had convinced them of their sincerity. We neither of us had the least suspicion of his aim, and, as he had an entertaining manner of telling stories, used to hearken to them with the utmost attention. "'There was a boy belonging to the academy who had a voice so Uke Dumont's that in another room it was very difficult to distinguish them from each other. Le Neuf one day got this lad into a chamber adjoining to mine, and, when he had given him his lesson, began to talk very loud, and mentioned my name with such an eagerness as gave me a curiosity to hear what they were talking of; but what was my surprise when I heard Dumont (as I then thought) use me with great contempt; swear he would never have had anything to say to such a fool if my command of money had not put it in his power to make a proper use of me. And then endeavoured to inveigle Le Neuf, that they two may join together in order to make me the greater dupe; but said he must still keep up the appearance of generosity and unwillingness to take anything from me, lest I should suspect him. Le Neuf immediately answered that he would not for the world deceive me; but would let me know what a friend I had in Dumont, if it was not for fear that he would have art enough to make him