Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/401

 Such was my friend's success. He first began to make the old man his friend, and at last became his most intimate confidant. The duke thought it his duty to introduce him to his spouse, however averse he had previously represented her to great company, and however fond of solitude. At last not a day passed without his pressing Selami to stay dinner or supper with him. The rest of the night was spent in revels in places of public resort, in the streets, in houses of ill-fame, and under various disguises, so that the duke and he were often in danger of losing their life, getting a sound drubbing, or being prosecuted.

Although I was certain of the count's suffering himself to be thus led about with inward reluctance, and his participating in those dissipations only as far as they kept the duke from his lady, and brought himself the nearer to her, yet methought he went too far.

As to the duchess she felt herself secretly obliged to my friend for this dissolute course of life. It afforded an opportunity to both, to make sure not only of every present happy