Some surmises were at length insinuated to Mr Lee, to his wife's dishonour. He paid little attention to them--but coming home one night flushed with wine, and finding Mr Villars alone at supper with her, (no unusual matter, and by his own request) he drew his sword, and wounded him before he had time to defend himself! Mrs Lee fainted away----on her recovery she removed herself from a house to which no entreaties on his part could prevail on her to return--declaring she would live no longer with a man who could at once suspect her virtue, endanger his friend's life, and ruin her reputation. The world talked differently about this affair. Should not the example of the law be followed, which is so tender in criminal cases, that delinquents are often found _not guilty_, for want of legal evidence, at the same time that the court, the jury, and every one present at the trial feel the strongest _moral_ conviction of their _guilt_? Scandal on the contrary always gives its most important and fatal decisions from _appearances_ and _suppositions_, though reputation is dearer to a woman of honor than life itself. Mrs Lee experienced the malevolence of her own sex particularly. What, said they, could engage Mr Villars to devote all his time to her? is not friendship between a man and a woman a chimera, the mark of a passion which honor or self-interest bids them conceal? But whilst the world represented this affair in the worst colours, Lady Frances wrote her an affectionate letter, offering her assistance, and begging she would communicate her real situation, that she might the more effectually be enabled to serve her; to which Mrs Lee returned the following answer. 'Dear Madam.