riches thus to be parted with? No: he would offer her his hand:—he! could he thus inconsiderately resign himself to eternal bondage? A thousand confused thoughts agitated his mind, when his steward, who had entered the library on tip-toe, expressed great surprize at seeing him, at that early hour, in that solitude and in such an emotion. Nadir told him what had happened,—and the other smiled: “My Lord,” said he, “that house appears to be the abode of honest mediocrity; but perhaps exposed to want. I agree with your Lordship,—you must not forsake Elma; but it would be unbecoming in you to speak to her before you have sent her presents, unquestionable pledges of your affection, and of which I offer to be the bearer.”
Nadir was no longer the man he had been; pride and haughtiness, with a mixture of licentious bluntness had taken possession of his soul. He dispatched the complaisant messenger, and, notwithstanding he expected his return with some degree of impatience, he doubted not but Elma would be flattered at sight of his gifts, and would repay him in proportion to the high value of the presents. The Ambassador, however, did not appear to be satisfied with the result of his mission: “My Lord,” said he, “the young woman, I confess, is handsome enough, but she behaved in the most ridiculous manner. I addressed her most courteously, but she did not even lift up her eyes from her tambour frame. When I mentioned your name, together with all the titles that were best calculated to please her vanity, and produced your costly presents, I could see her tears flow on the letters she was embroidering; the name most likely of some of her village sweethearts.”—“Don’t you say that Elma was embroidering?”—“She had just finished, my Lord; but, would you believe it, she threatened to leave the room, if I would not withdraw myself.”—“Tell me what letters had Elma been working?”—“I did not pay great attention, my Lord; I think however, I read Nad.”—“Oh! my good friend, how happy I am! come, take me immediately to Elma.”—“Will you, my Lord, have patience enough to hear me to the end? I took very little notice of the lady’s menaces, but deposited my valuables on the mantle-piece. You may easily judge of my surprise, when on turning round I found that the bird was flown. I ran down stairs, and hallooed out with all my might; an old woman now making her appearance, I caught hold of her arm, and put several questions to her.—‘Alas! my kind gentleman,’ answered she to me, ‘the dear child is labouring under some secret affliction that makes her seek solitude; but she is so good natured, and so virtuous, pray do not attempt to seduce her.’
“I replied to the old woman that I had been commissioned by a friend, on his death bed, to return those jewels and the money to their right owner. The good woman, delighted at the idea of Elma getting rich, promised to seek after her, wherever she might be, and to bring her to reason; so that I left the whole in the possession of the old dame.” (This part of the story was not very correct, but a steward is no more bound to speak the truth than to be disinterested.) “My Lord,” continued he, “I doubt not but we shall find out Elma. Keep up your spirits, and wait for the event. A crowd of people are waiting to pay their respects to you. Allow me to introduce them, some may be bearers of agreeable tidings. For my part I consider gold as the principal of all enjoyments, since it can purchase them all, and is the real antidote to the sorrows of love.” This said, the fellow retired, and the visitors were admitted.
The first who made his appearance was a projector, who proposed to Nadir’s acceptance a scheme, in consequence of which he might derive immense riches without being one single taël out of pocket. A second brought him bonds to a large amount, as a compliment for not having crossed him in a certain financial operation. The third was a young nobleman, over head and ears in debt, who, for a trifling sum in ready money, offered to make a transfer of a considerable patrimony. Next comes an agent to inform him that his ship Fortune is arrived, bringing in with her several rich prizes. Now enters another agent, to let him know that some articles of merchandize which he had put up to sale, were claimed by a broker; and that one of his creditors is a bankrupt. Last of all he is addressed, in a mysterious way, by a cer-
