Two - had a small cane under his arm - was dress'd in
a dark drab-colour'd coat, waistcoat, and breeches, which seem'd to
have seen some years service: - they were still clean, and there
was a little air of frugal proprete throughout him. By his pulling
off his hat, and his attitude of accosting a good many in his way,
I saw he was asking charity: so I got a sous or two out of my
pocket ready to give him, as he took me in his turn. - He pass'd by
me without asking anything - and yet did not go five steps further
before he ask'd charity of a little woman. - I was much more likely
to have given of the two. - He had scarce done with the woman, when
he pull'd off his hat to another who was coming the same way. - An
ancient gentleman came slowly - and, after him, a young smart one. -
He let them both pass, and ask'd nothing. I stood observing him
half an hour, in which time he had made a dozen turns backwards and
forwards, and found that he invariably pursued the same plan.
There were two things very singular in this, which set my brain to
work, and to no purpose: - the first was, why the man should ONLY
tell his story to the sex; - and, secondly, - what kind of story it
was, and what species of eloquence it could be, which soften'd the
hearts of the women, which he knew 'twas to no purpose to practise
upon the men.
There were two other circumstances, which entangled this mystery; -
the one was, he told every woman what he had to say in her ear, and
in a way which had much more the air of a secret than a petition; -
the other was, it was always successful. - He never stopp'd a woman,
but she pull'd out her purse, and immediately gave him something.
I could form no system to explain the phenomenon.
I had got a riddle to amuse me for the rest of the evening; so I
walk'd upstairs to my chamber.
THE CASE OF CONSCIENCE. PARIS.
I was immediately followed up by the master of the hotel, who came
into my room to tell me I must provide lodgings elsewhere. - How so,
friend? said I. - He answered, I had had a young woman lock'd up
with me two hours that evening in my bedchamber, and 'twas against
the rules of his house. - Very well, said I, we'll all part friends
then, - for the girl is no worse, - and I am no worse, - and you will
be just as I found you. - It was enough, he said, to overthrow the
credit of his hotel. - Voyez vous, Monsieur, said he, pointing to
the foot of the bed we had been sitting upon. - I own it had
something of the appearance of an evidence; but my pride not
suffering me to enter into any detail of the case, I exhorted him
to let his soul sleep in peace, as I resolved to let mine do that
night, and that I would discharge what I owed him at breakfast.
I should not have minded, Monsieur, said he, if you had had twenty
girls - 'Tis a score more, replied I, interrupting him, than I ever
reckon'd upon - Provided, added he, it had been but in a morning. -
And does the difference of the time of the day at Paris make a
difference in the sin? - It made a difference, he said, in the
scandal. - I like a good distinction in my heart; and cannot say I
was intolerably out of temper with the man. - I own it is necessary,
resumed the master of the hotel, that a stranger at Paris should
have the opportunities presented to him of buying lace and silk
stockings and ruffles, et tout cela; - and 'tis nothing if a woman
comes with a band-box. - O, my conscience! said I, she had one but I
never look'd into it. - Then Monsieur, said he, has bought nothing?-
-Not one earthly thing, replied I. - Because, said he, I could
recommend one to you who would use you en conscience. - But I must
see her this night, said I. - He made me a low bow, and walk'd down.
Now shall I triumph over this maitre d'hotel, cried I, - and what
then? Then I shall let him see I know he is a dirty fellow. - And
what then? What then? - I was too near myself to say it was for the
sake of others. - I had no good answer left; - there was more of
spleen than principle in my project, and I was sick of it before
the execution.
In a few minutes the grisette came in with her box of lace. - I'll
buy nothing, however, said I, within myself.
The grisette would show me everything. - I was hard to please: she
would not seem to see it; she opened her little magazine, and laid
all her laces one after another before me; - unfolded and folded
them up again one by one with the most patient sweetness. - I might
buy, - or not; - she would let me have everything at my own price: -
the poor creature seem'd anxious to get a penny; and laid herself
out to win me, and not so much in a manner which seem'd artful, as
in one I felt simple and caressing.
If there is not a fund of honest gullibility in man, so much the
worse; - my heart relented, and I gave up my second resolution as
quietly as the first. - Why should I chastise one for the trespass
of another? If thou art tributary to this tyrant of an host,
thought I, looking up in her face, so much harder is thy bread.
