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 had just heard of his friend’s misfortune, and hastened to relieve his necessities,—As he approached, Belfunt, rising from his chair, ran to meet him ‘It is some consolation,’ said he, ‘for the disappointments I have experienced, to find the man whom I most valued, not unworthy the esteem I bore him.’ ‘This’ continued he, ‘more than recompenses the ingratitude of those mercenary wretches, who cannot recollect the features of their friend when shaded by the veil of affected distress.

The conclusion of Belfont’s address forcibly struck Lord Bremere, who repeated the words, “!”—Adding, with much surprise,—“Are, then, your misfortunes bred by the title of the town.”

“No, my lord,” returned Belfont; “not from those contemptible beings, who eagerly busy themselves with every bodies affairs, while they neglect their own, and who are only industrious in the propagation of scandal, but from myself arose the tale of my distress. I invented it, merely to prove the sincerity of those protestations of eternal friendship, which every day the siren. Flattery, whispered in my ear; and which, to speak the,truth, were become most intolerably disgusting, Among my female friends,” continued he, “a lady on whom I looked with partial eyes, and who, in fact, had male some faint impressions on my heart, had the cruelty to smile at my distress; but I thanked her