A blessed portion has Miss Monckton of these latter recommendations. But seven thousand pounds can't buy me. Six thousand pounds per annum! There's the bribe, Walter. And if I must have a counter-balancing evil, why e'en let it be the vice of nature, rather than a vice of education and art.--Ay: but I forgot. Miss Valmont has her art too; and a devilish deep-rooted art it is.--And now dare I not, with all my zealous wishes perpetually impelling me to the discovery, yet dare I not spoil their pleasures. To blast Montgomery is to betray myself. By my soul, Walter, she is a most lovely creature.--'_Oh Clement! Clement! art thou safe, my love?_'--What! The hour of assignation was past, no doubt! Happy fellow! Favoured Montgomery! Who nightly turns the dwelling of horror into Mahomet's paradise with this Houri. Be in London, to meet me by the twenty-eighth. FILMAR This instant has it shot across my mind to ask Valmont for letters to his pupil. The lad can't be here and there too. It will afford me a fine and safe opportunity of setting scrutiny on foot. Adieu. LETTER II FROM ARTHUR MURDEN TO CLEMENT MONTGOMERY '_Thou wilt make her thy wife._'--Good God what an implication! And is her claim yet to be enforced!--'_I will make her my wife._'--How often, since I read thy letter, have I repeated those words--those despicable words! Trust me, Clement, I have no settled ill will towards thee. No: by heaven, have I not--yet, there are moments when I hate thee heartily. The severity with which I speak may dissolve the bond of our intimacy:--was it ever a bond of friendship?--Carry me back to its origin.--'Mr. Murden,' said the good natured Du Bois, 'I have a young gentleman committed to my care whom I wish to make known to you.'--And then he expatiated on the greatness of your expectations, the astonishing privacy of your education, and the singular naiveté of your manners. Such as he described, you were; and I neglected all my former acquaintance, to run with you through the round of town amusements:--With what enthusiasm did you enjoy! with what fire did you describe! No moment of disgust or lassitude assailed you. The existing pleasure was still the best, the greatest. All to you, was rapture, fascination, enchantment.