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64
THE FRENCH CONVERT.

ſervice, and reſolved to travel in ſearch of Deidamia, though he knew not which way to bend his courſe: But after many a tedious journey, enquiring amongſt thoſe who were favourers of Hugonots, he could hear no tidings of her; ſo that, full of grief and ſorrow, he led a retired melancholy life in his own houſe, abſenting himſelf from all company, and mourning like a turtle that had loſt her mate, though his friends, by all means poſſible, endeavoured to comfort him; perſuading him to ſurceaſe his grief, for that it was probable, Deidamia by ſome misfortune or other was dead; and therefore they adviſed him to think of a ſecond marriage, as that which would reſtore his former gaiety, and make him forget Deidamia. But the more they endeavoured to perſuade him, the more he was reſolved to the contrary; and therefore, to avoid their continued importunities, he fixed his reſolution once more to travel in queſt of her; which accordingly he did, but without ſucceſs; and therefore he reſolved to return again to his own houſe, and there ſpend the remainder of his days in ſolitude.

But as he was returning home, in his way, he met with a vaſt concourſe of people, and demanding the occaſion of it, he was told a criminal was going to be broken on the wheel, for a murder he had committed; upon which, curioſity led him to ſee the execution; and getting pretty near, the malefactor caſt his eyes upon him, and ſtraightway knew him to be Alanſon, the huſband of Deidamia; and being ſmitten with remorſe of conſcience, he beckoned Alanſon to come near, and humbly begged his pardon for the wrong he had done him. At this Alanſon, both ſtarted and fell a trembling, fear-

ing