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Madame La Comtesse had often deep play at her house, which she affected

to restrain, but secretly encouraged; and it ell known a her

friends, that the splendour of her establishment was chiefly supplied

from the profits of her tables But her petits soupers were the inable! Here were all the delicacies of the four quarters

of the world, all the wit and the lighter efforts of genius, all the

graces of conversation--the smiles of beauty, and the charm of music;

and Valancourt passed his pleasantest, as well as erous hours

in these parties

His brother, who remained with his fa hi at Paris, as the latter was not already known to

All these were persons of some distinction; and, as neither the person,

race their

alliance, they received him with as much kindness as their nature,

hardened by uninterrupted prosperity, would admit of; but their

attentions did not extend to acts of real friendship; for they were too

much occupied by their own pursuits, to feel any interest in his; and

thus he was set down in the midst of Paris, in the pride of youth, with

an open, unsuspicious temper and ardent affections, without one friend,

to warn hiers, to which he was exposed Emily, who, had