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"Then, sir," continued Burnet, opening an escrutoire, "I will give you the money and write the paper I spoke of."

As he put his hand to a drawer, he heard voices in an adjoining passage; and instantly shutting up the desk, caught up the things on the table, threw them behind a curtain, and hastily taking the Count by the hand, "My dear sir," cried he, " do oblige me and step into that closet! you will find a chair. A person is coming, whom I will despatch in a few seconds."

Thaddeus, rather surprised at such hurry, did as he was desired; and the door was closed on him, just as the parlour door opened. Being aware, from the concealing of him, that the visitor came on secret business, he found his situation not a little awkward. Seated behind a curtain window, which the lights in the room made transparent, he could not avoid seeing, as well as hearing every thing that passed.

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My dear Mr. Burnet," cried an elegant young crea ture who ran into the apartinent, " positively without your assistance I shall be undone."

"Any thing in my power, madam," returned Mr. Burnet in a distant, respectful voice; will your ladyship

sit down ?"

"Yes give me a chair: I am half dead with distraction. Mr. Burnet, I must have another hundred upon those jewels."

"Indeed, my lady, it is not in my power; you have already had twelve hundred, and upon my honor that is a hundred and fifty more than I ought."

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Pugh, who minds the honor of a pawn-broker !" cried the lady laughing ; you know very well you live by cheating."

"Well, ma'am," returned he, with a good natured smile," as your ladyship pleases.'

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"Then I please that you let me have another hundred. Why, man, you know you lent Mrs. Hinchinbroke two thousand upon a case of diamonds not a quarter so many as mine."

"But consider, madam, Mrs Hinchinbroke's were o. the best water."

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"Positively, Mr. Burdet," exclaimed her ladyship, purposely miscalling his name, not better than mine. king of Sardinia gave them to Sir Charles when he knighted him. I know mine are the best, and 1 must have another hundred.-Upon my soul, my servants have not had a guinea of their wages these four months, and they tell me they are starving! Come, make haste, Mr. Burnet; you cannot expect me to stay here all night."

"Indeed, my lady, I cannot."

"Heavens, what a brute of a man you are! There," cried she, taking a string of pearls from her neck, and throwing it on the table; "lend me some of your trumpery out of your shop, for I am going immediately from hence to take up the Miss Dundases to the play; and so give me the hundred off that, and let me go."

"This is not worth a hundred.”

"What a teasing man are you!" cried her ladyship angrily."Well, let me have the money now, and I will send you the bracelets that belong to the necklace to-mor

row.

"Upon those conditions, I will give your ladyship another hundred."

"O, do; you are the veriest miser I ever met with. You are worse than Shylock, or-Good Lord! what is this?" exclaimed she, interrupting herself, and taking up the draft he had laid before her; "And have you the conscience to think, Mr. Pawn-Broker, that I will offer this at your banker's? that I will expose myself so far? No, no; take it back, and give me gold. Come despatch! else 1 cannot go to the play. Look there is my purse," added she, showing it, "make haste and fill it."

After satisfying her demands, Mr. Burnet handed her la dyship out the way she came which was by a private passage and having seated her in her carriage, made his bow.

Meanwhile, the Count Sobieski, wrapped in astonishment at the profligacy which the scene he had witnessed implied, remained in his concealment, till the pawn-broker returned and opened the closet door.

"Sir," said he colouring," you have, undesignedly on

your part, been privy to a very delicate affair; but my credit, sir, and your honor-"

"Shall both be sacred," replied the Count, anxious to relieve the poor man from the perplexity in which he seemed to think himself involved, and therefore forbearing to express any surprise, but Burnet perceived it in his look; and before he proceeded to fulfil his engagement with him, stepped half way to the escrutoire, and resumed.

You appear amazed, sir, at what you have seen. And if I am not mistaken, you are from abroad."

"Indeed I am amazed," replied Sobieski: "and I am from a country where the slightest suspicion of a transaction such as this, would brand the woman with infamy."

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"And so it ought," answered Burnet; "though by that sentiment I speak against my own interest; for it is by such ladies as lady Villiers, that we make our money. Now, sir," continued he drawing nearer to the table, perhaps, after what you have just behield, you will not hesitate to credit what I am going to tell you. I have now in my hands the jewels of one Duchess, three Countesses, and women of fashion without number. When they have an ill run at play, they apply to me in their exigencies? first by bringing their diamonds here, when their husbands suppose them at their bankers, or in their own house and as their occasions require, on this deposit I lend them money; for which they make me a handsome present when they are released.

"Gracious Heaven!" exclaimed Thaddeus "what a degrading system of deceit must be the whole lives of these

women.

"It is very lamentable," returded Burnet," but so it is And they continue to manage matters very cleverly. By giving me their note or word of honour, (for if these ladies are not honorable with me, I have their reputations so much in my power, that I could destroy them at once, therefore I hold them in awe; and whatever be their characters, I have no fears on that head,) I allow them to have the jewels out for the birth-days, and receive them again when their exhibition is over. As a compensation for these little indulgences, I generally have additions to the present at the end."

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Thaddeus could hardly believe such a history of those women, whom travellers mentioned, as not only the most lovely, but the most amiable creatures in the world.

"Surely, Mr. Burnet" cried he, "these women must despise each other and become contemptible even to our

sex ?"

"O, no," rejoined the pawn-broker; "they seldom trust each other in these affairs. All my fair customers are not so silly as that pretty little lady who just now left us. She, and another woman of quality, have made each other confidants in this business. And Lord have mercy upon me when they come together! They are as ravenous of my money as if I had no other use for it than to supply them. As to their husbands, brothers, and fathers, they are usually the last people who suspect or hear of these matters. Their applications, when they run out, are made to Jews and professed usurers, a race completely out of our line."

"But, are all English woman of quality of this disgraceful stamp ?"

"No, Heaven forbid !" cried Burnet;" if these spend. thrift madams were not held in awe by their dread of superior characters, we should have no dependence whatever on their promises. O, no; there are ladies about court whose virtues are as eminent as their rank: women, whose actions might all be performed in mid-day, before the world; and them, I never see within my doors."

"Well Mr. Burnet," rejoined Thaddeus smiling, "I am glad to hear that. Yet I cannot forget the unexpected view of the so famous British fair, which this night has offered to my eyes. It is strange!"

"It is very bad, indeed sir," returned the man, giving him the money, and the paper that he had been preparing; "but if you should have occasion to call again upon me, perhaps you may be astonished still farther."

The count bowed, and thanking him for his kindness, wished him a good evening and left the shop.

It was about seven o'clock when Thaddeus arrived at the apothecary's. Mr. Vincent was from home. To say the truth, he had purposely gone out of the way. For though he did not hesitate to commit a shabby action, he K

VOL. I.

had not courage to face its consequences; and, to avoid the probable remonstrances of Mrs. Robson, he had commissioned his assistant, to receive the amount of the bill. The Count, without making an observation, having paid the man, was returning homeward, along Duke's-street, and the Piazzas of Drury-lane theatre, when the crowd that was pressing round the doors, constrained him to stop.

After two or three more ineffectual attempts to get through the bustle without throwing himself into the midst of the splendid groups, that were passing from their carriages to the doors, he retreated a little behind the mob, at the moment when a chariot drew up, and a gentleman stepping out with two ladies, darted with them into the house. One glance was sufficient for the Count, who recognised his friend Pembroke Somerset, in high dress, gay, and laughing. The heart of Thaddeus sprang to him at the sight; and forgetting his neglect and his own misfortunes, he ejaculated "Somerset."

Trembling with eagerness and pleasure, he pressed through the crowd, and entered the passage, at the instant the green door shut in upon his friend.

This disappointinent was dreadful. To be so near Somerset and to lose him, was more than he could sustain. His bounding heart recoiled; and the chill of despair running through his veins, turned him almost faint. Leaning against the door, he took his hat off to give himself a little

air.

He had scarcely stood a minute in this situation, revolving whether he should follow his friend into the house, or wait till he came out again, when a gentleman begged him to make way for a party of ladies that were entering. Thaddeus moved on one sile; but the opening of the green door casting a strong light, both on his face, and the group behin, his eyes and those of the impertinent inquisitor of the Hummains met each other.

Whether the man was conscious that he deserved chas tisement for his former insolence, and dreaded to meet it now, cannot be explained; but he turned pale and shuff. led by Thaddeus, as if he were fearful to trust himself a second time within reach of his grasp. For the Count, be

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