“Good heavens! Do you think I have a heart of stone?” “Calm yourself; I see you pity me. Leave me, and I hope I shall be able to get some sleep.” I went to sleep soon after, and I did not wake till I had slept for seven hours. I felt restored to life. I rang the bell, my housekeeper came in, and told me the surgeon of the place had called. She looked very melancholy, but on seeing my more cheerful aspect I saw gladness reappearing on her pretty face. “We will dine together, dearest,” said I, “but tell the surgeon to come in. I want to know what he has to say to me.” The worthy man entered, and after looking carefully round the room to see that we were alone, he came up to me, and whispered in my ear that Le Duc had a malady of a shameful character. I burst out laughing, as I had been expecting some terrible news. “My dear doctor,” said I, “do all you can to cure him, and I will pay you handsomely, but next time don’t look so doleful when you have anything to tell me. How old are you?” “Nearly eighty.” “May God help you!” I was all the more ready to sympathize with my poor Spaniard, as I expected to find myself in a like case. What a fellow-feeling there is between the unfortunate! The poor man will seek in vain for true compassion at the rich man’s doors; what he receives is a sacrifice to ostentation and not true benevolence; and the man in sorrow should not look for pity from one to whom sorrow is unknown, if there be such a person on the earth. My housekeeper came in to dress me, and asked me what had been the doctor’s business. “He must have said something amusing to make you laugh.” “Yes, and I should like to tell you what it was; but before I do so I must ask you if you know what the venereal disease is?” “Yes, I do; Lady Montagu’s footman died of it while I was with her.” “Very good, but you should pretend not to know what it is, and imitate other ladies who assume an ignorance which well becomes them. Poor Le Duc has got this disease.” “Poor fellow, I am sorry for him! Were you laughing at that?” “No; it was the air of mystery assumed by the old doctor which amused me.” “I too have a confidence to make, and when you have heard it you must either forgive me or send me away directly.” “Here is another bother. What the devil can you have done? Quick! tell me.” “Sir, I have robbed you!” “What robbed me? When? How? Can you return me what you have taken? I should not have thought you capable of such a thing. I never forgive a robber or a liar.” “You are too hasty, sir. I am sure you will forgive me, as I robbed you only half an hour ago, and I am now going to return to you the theft.” “You are a singular woman, my dear. Come, I will vouchsafe full forgiveness, but restore immediately what you have taken.” “This is what I stole.” “What! that monster’s letter? Did you read it?” “Yes, of course, for otherwise I should not have committed a theft, should I?”