Page 165 (1/2)

Soon after his arrival at Venice, Montoni received a packet from M

Quesnel, in which the latter mentioned the death of his wife's uncle,

at his villa on the Brenta; and that, in consequence of this event, he

should hasten to take possession of that estate and of other effects

bequeathed to him This uncle was the brother of Madame Quesnel's late

mother; Montoni was related to her by the father's side, and though

he could have had neither clai these

possessions, he could scarcely conceal the envy which M Quesnel's

letter excited Emily had observed with concern, that, since they left France, Montoni

had not even affected kindness towards her aunt, and that, after

treating her, at first, with neglect, he now met her with uniform

ill-humour and reserve She had never supposed, that her aunt's foibles

could have escaped the discernure were of a kind to deserve his attention Her surprise, therefore,

at this match, had been extreme; but since he had made the choice, she

did not suspect that he would so openly have discovered his contempt of

it

But Montoni, who had been allured by the see wealth of Madame

Cheron, was now severely disappointed by her cohly exasperated by the deceit she had eer necessary He had been deceived in an affair,

wherein heof a wo he despised, and to whom he had

sacrificed his pride and his liberty, without saving himself from the

ruin, which had impended over his head Madareatest part of what she really did possess, settled upon

herself: what reh it was totally inadequate both to her

husband's expectations, and to his necessities, he had converted into