Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 3).djvu/248

 to mix sometimes in the entertainments of the city. She refused no request of her father's, but no change appeared in her disposition.

"One day Mr. D'Alenberg received a letter from his friend, who had introduced Count Wolfran to his notice. He lamented that he had not the power to punish a villain who had so basely deceived him, but that, after the most minute inquiries, he had reason to believe the Count had left the kingdom, to avoid the disgrace and shame attendant on a conviction of such vile actions as he had been guilty of.

This letter the good gentleman read to his daughter in my presence, both of us carefully watching its effects on her. No change appeared in her countenance.—"Poor wretch," said she, "what a mind must he possess, conscious of his base duplicity!"

"How, my dear!" exclaimed Mr. D'Alenberg, "do you pity him?"

"I do, Sir," answered she.—"When we can despise the man, and know he has failed