Wellesley's carriage drove up to my door in less than an hour after his gentleman had left me. His lordship appeared the very essence of everything most _recherché_, in superfine elegance. He was in fact all essence! Such cambric, white as driven snow! Such embroidery! Such diamonds! Such a brilliant snuff-box! Such seals and chain! And then, the pretty contrast between the broad, new, blue ribbon across his breast, and his delicate white waistcoat! It was too much, too overpowering for a poor, honest unaffected Suissess like me:--and I almost wished myself safe in my Canton de Berne; for never before stood I in such presence, nor breathed I in such essence! What a pretty little thing too it would be, methought, if it were but once deposited unhurt in one's bonnet-box, and one could shut him down whenever the essence became too strong for one's nerves. It was a graceful thing too in miniature, and its countenance was good and its speech was all honey, until I very quietly and very unceremoniously mentioned the worthy clergyman having passed the whole of the night preceding with Moll Raffles, consoling her, _en prêtre_, for his lordship's absence. His lordship now asked me, in a voice trembling more with agitation than age, or rage, what I meant? "Simply, what I have stated." "Merciful powers! what do you say? what do you mean? what do you hint at? what do you think? what are you doing?" If his lordship's want of breath had not given a momentary check to his volubility and proved a kind of turnpike in his rapid course, and if I had not caught the critical opportunity to say-- "Nothing--your fair friend must do for us both"--I have little doubt that the little marquis must and would have fallen a victim to exhaustion: but thus, having happily had a moment to recover himself, he proceeded, "Nay, nay, nay," and laying his white hand, rings and all, on my shoulder, in much tribulation and hurry of speech and manner, "Nay--think of what you are saying--think how you may be injuring that lovely sweet being--that sweetest unsophisticated! lovely! sweet!" "Oh, what a bed or sweets, yours must be!" interrupted I. "I know well enough," continued Wellesley, pacing up and down the room with a feverish rapidity. "I know she went to Vauxhall with Beauclerc; but then she told me there was nothing in all this." "Poor Beauclerc!" ejaculated I; "and what can his lordship do better than attend so sweet a creature? Come, come," I continued, "my lord! Mrs. Raffles is rich, and can do without you, kindly assisted as she is by the little parson!--Don't fret for her, nor for yourself; but, if you still love her, receive her from the hands of the good clergyman." "Impossible!" Wellesley exclaimed. "I must reproach her with her faults, and then--she will throw the plates and dishes in my face!" "No! Would she be so vulgar?" "It is not vulgarity in her," said Wellesley. "What then?" "Nature," was his reply.